hero tales from american history-第23部分

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ountry　and　of　the　time　came　to　him；　and　he　was　ready。　He　has　been　singled　out　for　remembrance　from　among　many　others　of　equal　sacrifice；　and　a　monument　is　rising　to　his　memory　in　Boston；　because　it　was　his　peculiar　fortune　to　live　and　die　for　a　great　principle　of　humanity；　and　to　stand　forth　as　an　ideal　and　beautiful　figure　in　a　struggle　where　the　onward　march　of　civilization　was　at　stake。　He　lived　in　those　few　and　crowded　years　a　heroic　life；　and　he　met　a　heroic　death。　When　he　fell；　sword　in　hand；　on　the　parapet　of　Wagner；　leading　his　black　troops　in　a　desperate　assault；　we　can　only　say　of　him　as　Bunyan　said　of　〃Valiant　for　Truth〃：　〃And　then　he　passed　over；　and　all　the　trumpets　sounded　for　him　on　the　other　side。〃



CHARLES　RUSSELL　LOWELL

Wut's　wurds　to　them　whose　faith　an'　truth　　On　war's　red　techstone　rang　true　metal；　Who　ventered　life　an'　love　an；　youth　　For　the　gret　prize　o'　death　in　battle？

To　him　who；　deadly　hurt；　agen　　Flashed　on　afore　the　charge's　thunder；　Tippin'　with　fire　the　bolt　of　men　　Thet　rived　the　rebel　line　asunder？　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lowell。


CHARLES　RUSSELL　LOWELL

Charles　Russell　Lowell　was　born　in　Boston；　January　2；　1835。　He　was　the　eldest　son　of　Charles　Russell　and　Anna　Cabot　（Jackson）　Lowell；　and　the　nephew　of　James　Russell　Lowell。　He　bore　the　name；　distinguished　in　many　branches；　of　a　family　which　was　of　the　best　New　England　stock。　Educated　in　the　Boston　public　schools；　he　entered　Harvard　College　in　1850。　Although　one　of　the　youngest　members　of　his　class；　he　went　rapidly　to　the　front；　and　graduated　not　only　the　first　scholar　of　his　year；　but　the　foremost　man　of　his　class。　He　was；　however；　much　more　than　a　fine　scholar；　for　even　then　he　showed　unusual　intellectual　qualities。　He　read　widely　and　loved　letters。　He　was　a　student　of　philosophy　and　religion；　a　thinker；　and；　best　of　all；　a　man　of　ideals〃the　glory　of　youth；〃　as　he　called　them　in　his　valedictory　oration。　But　he　was　something　still　better　and　finer　than　a　mere　idealist；　he　was　a　man　of　action；　eager　to　put　his　ideals　into　practice　and　bring　them　to　the　test　of　daily　life。　With　his　mind　full　of　plans　for　raising　the　condition　of　workingmen　while　he　made　his　own　career；　he　entered　the　iron　mills　of　the　Ames　Company；　at　Chicopee。　Here　he　remained　as　a　workingman　for　six　months；　and　then　received　an　important　post　in　the　Trenton　Iron　Works　of　New　Jersey。　There　his　health　broke　down。　Consumption　threatened　him；　and　all　his　bright　hopes　and　ambitions　were　overcast　and　checked。　He　was　obliged　to　leave　his　business　and　go　to　Europe；　where　he　traveled　for　two　years；　fighting　the　dread　disease　that　was　upon　him。　In　1858　he　returned；　and　took　a　position　on　a　Western　railroad。　Although　the　work　was　new　to　him；　he　manifested　the　same　capacity　that　he　had　always　shown；　and　more　especially　his　power　over　other　men　and　his　ability　in　organization。　In　two　years　his　health　was　reestablished；　and　in　1860　he　took　charge　of　the　Mount　Savage　Iron　Works；　at　Cumberland；　Maryland。　He　was　there　when　news　came　of　the　attack　made　by　the　mob　upon　the　6th　Massachusetts　Regiment；　in　Baltimore。　Two　days　later　he　had　made　his　way　to　Washington；　one　of　the　first　comers　from　the　North；　and　at　once　applied　for　a　commission　in　the　regular　army。　While　he　was　waiting；　he　employed　himself　in　looking　after　the　Massachusetts　troops；　and　also；　it　is　understood；　as　a　scout　for　the　Government；　dangerous　work　which　suited　his　bold　and　adventurous　nature。

In　May　he　received　his　commission　as　captain　in　the　United　States　cavalry。　Employed　at　first　in　recruiting　and　then　in　drill；　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　study　of　tactics　and　the　science　of　war。　The　career　above　all　others　to　which　he　was　suited　had　come　to　him。　The　field；　at　last；　lay　open　before　him；　where　all　his　great　qualities　of　mind　and　hearthis　high　courage；　his　power　of　leadership　and　of　organization；　and　his　intellectual　powers　could　find　full　play。　He　moved　rapidly　forward；　just　as　he　had　already　done　in　college　and　in　business。　His　regiment；　in　1862；　was　under　Stoneman　in　the　Peninsula；　and　was　engaged　in　many　actions；　where　Lowell's　cool　bravery　made　him　constantly　conspicuous。　At　the　close　of　the　campaign　he　was　brevetted　major；　for　distinguished　services　at　Williamsburg　and　Slatersville。

In　July；　Lowell　was　detailed　for　duty　as　an　aid　to　General　McClellan。　At　Malvern　Hill　and　South　Mountain　his　gallantry　and　efficiency　were　strongly　shown；　but　it　was　at　Antietam　that　he　distinguished　himself　most。　Sent　with　orders　to　General　Sedgwick's　division；　he　found　it　retreating　in　confusion；　under　a　hot　fire。　He　did　not　stop　to　think　of　orders；　but　rode　rapidly　from　point　to　point　of　the　line；　rallying　company　after　company　by　the　mere　force　and　power　of　his　word　and　look；　checking　the　rout；　while　the　storm　of　bullets　swept　all　round　him。　His　horse　was　shot　under　him；　a　ball　passed　through　his　coat；　another　broke　his　sword…hilt；　but　he　came　off　unscathed；　and　his　service　was　recognized　by　his　being　sent　to　Washington　with　the　captured　flags　of　the　enemy。

The　following　winter　he　was　ordered　to　Boston；　to　recruit　a　regiment　of　cavalry；　of　which　he　was　appointed　colonel。　While　the　recruiting　was　going　on；　a　serious　mutiny　broke　out；　but　the　man　who；　like　Cromwell's　soldiers；　〃rejoiced　greatly〃　in　the　day　of　battle　was　entirely　capable　of　meeting　this　different　trial。　He　shot　the　ringleader　dead；　and　by　the　force　of　his　own　strong　will　quelled　the　outbreak　completely　and　at　once。

In　May；　he　went　to　Virginia　with　his　regiment；　where　he　was　engaged　in　resisting　and　following　Mosby；　and　the　following　summer　he　was　opposed　to　General　Early　in　the　neighborhood　of　Washington。　On　July　14；　when　on　a　reconnoissance　his　advance　guard　was　surprised；　and　he　met　them　retreating　in　wild　confusion；　with　the　enemy　at　their　heels。　Riding　into　the　midst　of　the　fugitives；　Lowell　shouted；　〃Dismount！〃　The　sharp　word　of　command；　the　presence　of　the　man　himself；　and　the　magic　of　discipline　prevailed。　The　men　sprang　down；　drew　up　in　line；　received　the　enemy；　with　a　heavy　fire；　and　as　the　assailants　wavered；　Lowell　advanced　at　once；　and　saved　the　day。

In　July；　he　was　put　in　command　of　the　〃Provisional　Brigade；〃　and　joined　the　army　of　the　Shenandoah；　of　which　in　August　General　Sheridan　took　command。　He　was　so　struck　with　Lowell's　work　during　the　next　month　that　in　September　he　put　him　in　command　of　the　〃Reserved　Brigade；〃　a　very　fine　body　of　cavalry　and　artillery。　In　the　fierce　and　continuous　fighting　that　ensued　Lowell　was　everywhere　conspicuous；　and　in　thirteen　weeks　he　had　as　many　horses　shot　under　him。　But　he　now　had　scope　to　show　more　than　the　dashing　gallantry　which　distinguished　him　always　and　everywhere。　His　genuine　military　ability；　which　surely　would　have　led　him　to　the　front　rank　of　soldiers　had　his　life　been　spared；　his　knowledge；　vigilance；　and　nerve　all　now　became　apparent。　One　brilliant　action　succeeded　another；　but　the　end　was　drawing　near。　It　came　at　last　on　the　famous　day　of　Cedar　Creek；　when　Sheridan　rode　down　from　Winchester　and　saved　the　battle。　Lowell　had　advanced　early　in　the　morning　on　the　right；　and　his　attack　prevented　the　disaster　on　that　wing　which　fell　upon　the　surprised　army。　He　then　moved　to　cover　the　retreat；　and　around　to　the　extreme　left；　where　he　held　his　position　near　Middletown　against　repeated　assaults。　Early　in　the　day　his　last　horse　was　shot　under　him；　and　a　little　later；　in　a　charge　at　one　o'clock；　he　was　struck　in　the　right　breast　by　a　spent　ball；　which　embedded　itself　in　the　muscles　of　the　chest。　Voice　and　strength　left　him。　〃It　is　only　my　poor　lung；〃　he　announced；　as　they　urged　him　to　go　to　the　rear；　〃you　would　not　have　me　leave　the　field　without　having　shed　blood。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　〃poor〃　lung　had　collapsed；　and　there　was　an　internal　hemorrhage。　He　lay　thus；　under　a　rude　shelter；　for　an　hour　and　a　half；　and　then　came　the　order　to　advance　along　the　whole　line；　the　victorious　advance　of　Sheridan　and　the　rallied　army。　Lowell　was　helped　to　his　saddle。　〃I　feel　well　now；〃　he　whispered；　and；　giving　his　orders　through　one　of　his　staff；　had　his　brigade　ready　first。　Leading　the　great　charge；　he　dashed　forward；　and；　just　when　the　fight　was　hottest；　a　sudden　cry　went　up：　〃The　colonel　is　hit！〃　He　fell　from　the　saddle；　struck　in　the　neck　by　a　ball　which　severed　the　spine；　and　was　borne　by　his　officers　to　a　house　in　the　village；　where；　clear　in　mind　and　calm　in　spirit；　he　died　a　few　hours　afterward。

〃I　do　not　think　there　was　a　quality；〃　said　General　Sheridan；　〃which　I　could　have　added　to　Lowell。　He　was　the　perfection　of　a　man　and　a　soldier。〃　On　October　19；　the　very　day　on　which　he　fell；　his　commission　was　signed　to　be　a　brigadier…general。

This　was　a　noble　life　and　a　noble　death；　worthy　of　much　thought　and　admiration　from　all　men。　Yet　this　is　not　all。　It　is　well　for　us　to　see　how　such　a　man　looked　upon　what　he　was　doing；　and　what　it　meant　to　him。　Lowell　was　one　of　the　silent　heroes　so　much　commended　by　Carlyle。　He　never　wrote　of　himself　or　his　own　exploits。　As　some　one　well　said；　he　had　〃the　impersonality　of　genius。〃　But　in　a　few　remarkable　passages　in　his　private　letters；　we　can　see　how　the　meaning　of　life　and　of　that　great　time　unrolled　itself　before　his　inner　eyes。　In　June；　1861；　he　wrote：

I　cannot　say　I　take　any　great　pleasure　in　the　contemplation　of　the　future。　I　fancy　you　feel　much　as　I　do　about　the　profitableness　of　a　soldier's　life；　and　would　not　think　of　trying　it；　were　it　not　for　a　muddled　and　twisted　idea　that　somehow　or　other　this　fight　was　going　to　be　one　in　which　decent　men　ought　to　engage　for　the　sake　of　humanity；I　use　the　word　in　its　ordinary　sense。　It　seems　to　me　that　within　a　year　the　slavery　question　will　again　take　a　prominent　place；　and　that　many　cases　will　arise　in　which　we　may　get　fearfully　in　the　wrong　if　we　put　our　cause　wholly　in　the　hands　of　fighting　men　and　foreign　legions。

In　June；　1863；　he　wrote：

I　wonder　whether　my　theories　about　self…culture；　etc。；　would　ever　have　been　modified　so　much；　whether　I　should　ever　have　seen　what　a　necessary　failure　they　lead　to；　had　it　not　been　for　this　war。　Now　I　feel　every　day；　more　and　more；　that　a　man　has　no　right　to　himself　at　all；　that；　indeed；　he　can　do　nothing　useful　unless　he　recognizes　this　clearly。　Here　again；　on　July　3；　is　a　sentence　w