This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ...feel and what he would do when Rebellion raised its angry crest against our Federal Union. In his diary, intended for no eye but his own, he wrote with calm deliberation: "I would prefer to go into the war if I knew I was to die or be killed in the course of it, than to live through and after it without taking any part ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ...feel and what he would do when Rebellion raised its angry crest against our Federal Union. In his diary, intended for no eye but his own, he wrote with calm deliberation: "I would prefer to go into the war if I knew I was to die or be killed in the course of it, than to live through and after it without taking any part in it." There spoke the pure soul of the man. Looking before and after, discerning the country's need and peril, laying aside all personal regard, listening only to the voice of patriotic duty, without hesitation or doubt or fear of consequences, he formed his high resolve, he chose with unfaltering purpose "on whose party he should stand." And into the war he went, and for four years gave heart and soul to its bloody business, doing with all his mind and might every task assigned him, heedless of personal peril and too busy with the work in hand to give a thought to questions of rank or promotion. He was glad to shed his blood that the good cause might prosper. Friends in Cincinnati might nominate him for Congress, if they thought his name would strengthen the Union ticket, while the tide of war was at flood in the Shenandoah valley. But when they asked him to seek a furlough and come home to make speeches, that was quite another, thing. Instantly, with something like indignation at the thought, he wrote: "Your suggestion about getting a furlough to take the stump was certainly made without reflection. An officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in congress ought to be scalped. You may feel perfectly sure I shall do no such thing." Let the election go as it might; his duty was with the colors on "the perilous edge of battle." It was a crisis in the Republ...
Read Less
