WhilethevolumeisnotintendedtobeaconnectedhistoricalnarrativeoftheparticularperiodoftheWaroftheRebellioninwhichitsscenesarelaid,theincidentsaccuratelyconformtothefacts,andespeciallytothespirit,oftheeventfulyearsinwhichtheyareplaced,asrecordedinthechroniclesofthegreatstruggle,andastheyexistinthememoryofthewriter.
Itismorethanthirtyyearssincethewarbegan,andthousandsuponthousandsoftheactiveparticipantsinthestrifeassoldiersandsailors,includingnearlyallthegreatcommanders,havepassedontotheireternalreward.
ThousandsuponthousandsofmenandwomenhavebeenbornandreachedtheirmaturitysincethemosttremendouswarofmoderntimesendedinAVictoriousUnion.
Theknowledgeofthestirringeventsofthosefouryearsofconflict,andofthepatrioticspiritwhichinspiredandunderlaidthem,hascome,orwillcome,toatleastone-halfthepopulationofthisvastnationofsixty-fivemillionsfromtheprintedpageorthroughthelisteningear.
Theothermoiety,moreorless,eitheraschildrenoradults,livedintheperiodofaction,sawthegatheringbattalions,andheardorreadthedailyreportsfromtheensanguinedbattle-fields.
InsomeoftheStatesthatremainedloyaltotheUnionthroughoutthelongstruggle,amilitaryparadehadbeenregardedbymanyassomethingverymuchinthenatureofacircusdisplay,as“fussandfeathers,”suchastickledthevanityofbothofficerandprivate.
Thenthesoldierbecamethemostprominentandhonoredmemberofthecommunity,andexistingmilitarybodiesbecamethenucleusofthearmiesthatweretofightthebattlesoftheRepublic.
Theloveofcountryhasbeendiligentlyfosteredandnurturedintheyoung,andpublicopinionhasbeenvoicedandenergizedinthestatutesofmanyStates,andintheeducationalmachineryofmanymunicipalities.
OvervastnumbersofschoolhousesinourlandfloatstheAmericanflag,thesymboloftheUnionandtheprinciplesthatunderlieit.
Theflag,thebannernowofareunitednation,meanssomethingmorethanthesentimentofloyaltytotheUnionasthehomeoffreedom;foritimpliesthedutyofdefendingthehonorofthatflag,therepresentativeideaofallweholddearinFatherland.
IntheEastandtheWestaconsiderableproportionofthehighschoolsmakemilitarytacticsapartoftheireducationalcourse.
Companies,battalions,andregimentsofyoungmenintheirteensparadethestreetsofsomeofourcities,showinginwhatmannerthemilitaryspiritiskeptalive,and,atthesametime,howtheflagfloatingoveroureducationalinstitutions,whichmeanssomuchmorethaneverbeforetoourpeople,istobedefendedandperpetuatedinthefuture.
TheauthorofthesixvolumesofTheBlueandtheGraySeries,aswellasofTheArmyandNavySeries,thelatterbegunintheheatofthewarthirtyyearsago,earnestlybelievesinkeepingactiveinthemindsoftheyoungthespiritofpatriotism.
Inthepresentvolume,asinthosewhichhaveprecededit,hehasendeavoredtopresenttohisreaders,notonlyaherowhoisbrave,skilful,andreadytogivehislifeforhiscountry,butonewhoisunselfishlypatriotic;onewhoisnotfightingforpromotionandprize-money,buttosavetheUnioninwhoseintegrityandnecessityhebelievesasthesafeguardandsubstanceofAmericanliberty.
Peacehasreignedinourlandfornearlythirtyyears,andtheasperitiesofarelentlesswarhavebeensupplantedbybetterandmorebrotherlyrelationsbetweentheNorthandtheSouth.
Thewriterwouldnotprintawordthatwoulddisturbtheseimprovingconditions;andifhehaserredatallinpicturingtheintercoursebetweenAmericansasenemies,hehasmadesuretodosointheinterestsofjusticeandmagnanimityonbothsides.
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