The generous Southern youth.
Patrick Henry sat the ball of the Revolution of '76 in motion while he was in a dead minority.
The women and the boys — the glorious women of '76, and those noble boys who honored their mothers and secured liberty to their country — stood by him and carried the Revolution in opposition to the middle-aged and the old conservatives, who considered it the wickedest of all things.
Thank God, our own determination to separate from the
Yankees was concurred in by all ages and both sexes of our people.
Never, in the annals of nations, was there such an exhibition of unanimity of sentiment and resolution.
In the Revolution of '76 the land was full of "tories," who were embodied and armed in open and active resistance to the
Republican forces.
Indeed, they did the cause of the rebellion then more harm, and embarrassed our
Generals and our Government more than the
British army did. Now we of the
South are united.
Save a few companies enlisted, or rather drafted, in the border country, within the enemy's lines, there are no armed Southern men opposing the cause of the
South.
We have right and justice on our side so clearly and indubitably that our people, with one accord and with patriotic alacrity, sustain it.
Nevertheless, we still look to those important, those invaluable auxiliaries of
Patrick Henry — without whom he could not have succeeded in his agitation — the Women and boys, as our main stay in the great struggle.
It is for woman to cheer on the soldier, to clothe him, to nurse him in sickness, and to pour oil and wine upon his wounds.
It is for the gallant youth to rush to their country's standard and defend her in the field.
The reliance upon both will not be disappointed.
The examples they have afforded are everywhere and been at all times seen since the war begun.
It is true that men of all ages are found in the ranks fighting for their country, yet it is to the young men that we look to replenish those ranks thinned by disease and death in the fight.
They are taking their places as they arrive at the proper age, and among them the skulkers are rare indeed.
The difficulty has been to restrain them from entering the service before that age. It has made the heart ache to see hundreds of boys, whose frames had not been knitted firmly, and whose constitutions had not been formed, dying in hospital from the effects of the life they were not prepared to follow.
The patriotic and generous emotions so difficult to restrain do not permit them to dally after the proper age, and they come gladly, with the glow of youth upon the cheek, to pour out their young blood for their country.
It is a cheering contemplation, though the unbidden tear springs up as we behold it, to look upon these loyal and brave boys, as their time arrives, taking their places in the line as their country's defenders.
This they will continue to do until the day of our deliverance.
They will never allow the country to cry in vain for men to bear her standard on to victory against her ruthless foes.
God bless the noble boys of the
South!
