Freedom for the Slaves.

381

forth its hands to Ethiopia, instead of Ethiopia stretching forth her hands to the government.' His idea was that it would be considered our last shriek' on the retreat. 'Now,' continued Mr. Seward, 'while I approve the measure, I suggest, sir, that you postpone its issue until you can give it to the country supported by military success, instead of issuing it, as would be the case now, upon the greatest disasters of the war.'

"The wisdom of the Secretary of State struck me with very great force. It was an aspect of the case that in all my thought upon the subject I had entirely overlooked. The result was that I put the draft of the proclamation aside, as you do your sketch for a picture, waiting for a victory. From time to time I added or changed a line, touching it up here and there, waiting the progress of events. Well, the next news we had was of Pope's disaster at Bull Run. Things looked darker than ever. Finally came the week of Antietam. I determined to wait no longer. The news came, I think, on Wednesday, that the advantage was on our side. I was then staying at the Soldiers' Home. Here I finished writing the second draft of the preliminary proclamation; came up on Saturday, called the cabinet together to hear it, and it was published the following Monday."

An incident of the last-mentioned cabinet meeting not mentioned by Lincoln was related to Mr. Carpenter by Secretary Chase. The President, he said, began by remarking that the time for the annunciation of the emancipation policy could no longer be delayed. Public sentiment, he thought, would sustain it, many of his warmest friends and supporters demanded it, and he had promised his God that he would do it. The last part of this was uttered in a low tone, and appeared to be heard by no one but Mr. Chase, who was sitting near him. He asked the President if he correctly understood him.

Mr. Lincoln replied: "I made a solemn vow before God that if General Lee were driven back from Pennsylvania I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves."

[From the Richmond, Va., Times, Jan. 30, 1898.]

THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.

A Beautiful Poem by A. C. GORDON, of Staunton.

To the Editor of the Times:

In reading the excellent address of Capt. R. S. Parks to the veterans [see ante pp. 354-364], as reported in your paper, and the beautiful and fitting verses with which he closed, it occurred to me that you would enjoy, if you have never seen it, or read it, the entire poem as delivered by the author, the Hon. A. C. Gordon, of Staunton, Va., upon the occasion of unveiling the monument erected to the Confederate dead at Staunton, Va., and I enclose you a copy. The late Professor George Fred. Holmes told the writer of this that he considered Mr. Armistead Gordon's poem "the finest on such an occasion he had read since the war." With many other distinguishing qualities, I am happy that Virginia has in this son one who writes so beautifully in verse."

*

Waynesboro, Va., January 25, 1898.

G. JULIAN PRATT.

THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.

"The grief that circled his brow with a crown of thorns was also that which wreathed them with the splendor of immortality."Castelar's "Savonarola.”

I.

Where are they who marched away,

Sped with smiles that changed to tears,

Glittering lines of steel and gray
Moving down the battle's way-

Where are they these many years?

Garlands wreathed their shining swords;
They were girt about with cheers,
Children's lispings, women's words,
Sunshine and the songs of birds-

They are gone so many years.

* He has written as well in prose, it may be assumed, for, as fellow student with Thomas Nelson Page at the University of Virginia, he yielded to the latter (it has been admitted), some conceptions-upon which our dialect writer rose to fame and wealth.

The Confederate Dead.

"Lo! beyond their brave array

Freedom's august dawn appears: ' Thus we said: "The brighter day Breaks above that line of gray."

Where are they these many years?

All our hearts went with them there,
All our love, and all our prayers;
What of them? How do they fare,
They who went to do and dare,

And are gone so many years?

What of them who went away

Followed by our hopes and fears?

Braver never marched than they,

Closer ranks to fiercer fray.—

Where are they these many years?

II.

Borne upon the Spartan shield

Home returned that brave array From the blood-stained battle-field They might neither win nor yield; That is all, and here are they.

That is all, The soft sky bends

O'er them, lapped in earth away;
Her benignest influence lends,
Dews and rains and radiance sends
Down upon them, night and day.

Over them the Springtide weaves
All the verdure of her May:
Past them drift the sombre leaves
When the heart of Autumn grieves
O'er their slumbers.-What care they?

What care they, who failed to win
Guerdon of that splendid day-
Freedom's day-they saw begin,
But that, 'mid the battle's din,
Faded in eclipse away?

All is gone for them. They gave
All for naught. It was their way
Where they loved. They died to save
What was lost. The fight was brave.
That is all; and here are they.

383

INDEX.

Abbeville, S. C., Distinguished men of, 56.

Alabama Heroine, An, 45

Alexandria, Retrocession of, 197.

Allen, Major Wm., 139.

Crutchfield's Artillery Brigade; Operations of
April, 1865, 38, 139, 285.

Cumberland Grays, 21st Va. Infantry, Roster
and Record of, 264.

Ambulance Corps, The Richmond, Members Custer, Gen. Geo. A., 239.

of, 113.

Anderson, General Joseph R., 211.

Appomattox, Surrender at, 20, 263.
Archer, Colonel Fletcher H., 12.
Ashford, Col. John, 257.

Atkinson, Col. John Wilder, 38, 139.
Averill, Col. J. H., 267.

Baldwin, Joseph G, 22.

Barlow, Captain J. W., 139.

Barker, Capt. F. C., 366.

Barnes, Gen. W. F., 78.
Beauregard, Gen. G. T., 206

Benjamin, Judah P., Sketch of, 297, 378.
Bennett, Captain Frank, 171.
Bingham, apt. Robert 345-

Blacknall, Col. C. C., 168, 173.

Blacknall, Dr. Geo. W., 168.

Blacknall, Dr. Oscar, 168.

Blacknall, Maj. T. H., 168.

Blake, Capt. T. B., 139, 286.
Blow, Capt. W. N, 275
Boonsboro, Battle of, 162, 276
Boyd, Miss Belle, 165.

Boy Heroes at Cold Harbor, 234.
Brandy Station, Battle of, 148, 168.
Bristow Station, Battle of, 339.
Bullock, C. S. N., Irvine S., 117.
Burkittsville, Charge at, 148
Burgess' Mill, Battle of, 15, 343.

Cedar Creek, Battle of, 173.
Cedar Run, Battle of, 98, 161.
Centreville, Battle of, 100.
Chambersburg, Battle of, 259.

Danville, Explosion at, April, 1865, 271.
Davis, Pres't Jefferson, 69; at Manassas, 94.
Davis, Sam, A Southern Hero, Tribute to by
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 231.
Deloney, Col. W. G., 147.
Drewry's Bluff, Battle of, 206.
Duke, Col. R. T. W., 138.
Duncan, Col. R. P., 17.

Early, Gen. Jubal A., 109, 153.
Early, Capt. W. T., 135.
Ennals, Bartholomew, 181.
Ewell. Gen. R. S., 40, 105.
Ezekiel, H. T., 297.

Farrar, Judge F. R., 364.

Fayette Artillery, in the Movement on New

Berne, N. C., 288.

Federal Forces, Total of the, 303.

Five Forks, Battle of, 16.

Fitzhugh, Maj. P. H., killed, 14.

Fleming, Robt. I., 355.

Fleming, W. L, 45.

Flowers, Col. Geo. W.. 245.

Forrest, Gen. N. B., Ability of, 45, 54.
Frayser, Capt. R. E., 369.

Frazier's Farm, Battle of, 98, 209, 211.
Fredericksburg, Battle of, 96.

Fugitive Slaves' Law, Author of, 190.
Fulkerson, Col. Abram, 365.

Gaines, E. W., 288.

Gaines' Mill, Battle of, 97.

Garland, Jr, Gen. Sam'l, 157.

Chancellorsville, Disparity of Confederate and Garrett. Col., killed, 171.

Federal forces at, 109, 169, 348.

Chantilly, Battle of, 99.

Christian, Maj. E. J., killed, 159.

Clark, George, 84.

Christie, Col. D. H., killed, 166.

Clayton, Capt. Robert, 139.

Cleery, Major F. D, 5.

Cobb, Gen T. R. R., Legion of, 147.

Coinage Debate in 1852, 200.

Cold Harbor, Battle of, 160, 171, 209, 234.

Colston, Gen. R. E., Tribute to, 346; Ode by, Green, Lieut. J. M., 281.

Gregg, Gen. Maxev, 107
Gregory, Maj. W. F. C., 5.

Confederate Dead, The, Poem by A. C. Gor- Grimball, Lieut. John, C. S. N., 116.