The privates.
Whilst laurels are heaped upon the heads of the victorious leaders of our armies, the people will ever embalm in their gratitude the noble soldiers through whose disinterested and sublime self-sacrifice our wonderful successes have been achieved.
Whilst behind none in admiration of the genius and courage by which our armies are directed, and without which the best armies would be like ships without helmsmen or captains, we cannot but feel for the humble soldiers in the ranks emotion of respect and affection as deep and pervading as any which successful rank can elicit.
Even if we do not take into consideration the fact that a large proportion of the privates in the
Southern army are gentleman of education, refinement and high social position, the most profound sympathies of every generous heart must be awakened by the toils, the sufferings, and the matchless daring of these heroic men. They have given up homes where none of them ever knew want or hardship, for a life in which they have cheerfully endured such privations, labors and perils as have rarely fallen to the lot of humanity.
They have endured the extremities of heat and cold, and the keener pangs of long and, perhaps, unending separation from their homes, to save a country which is dearer to them than life.
They have done all without even the prospect of reward, or even distinction, for the miserable pittance which is all that the
Government can bestow is no compensation for services like theirs, and the honors won by the whole are so widely diffused that the individual share of glory is small indeed.
It is a touching sight to be hold these modest, war-worn heroes, often without an arm or a leg, by whom even a kind word or a look is received as a benefaction, and who are too often treated with official insolence by those who are not worthy to tie the latchets of their shoes.
But virtue, in its humblest estate, must, here or hereafter, receive its appropriate reward from Him who knows how to estimate the value of every human action, and whose treasury is large enough to reward ultimately without stint all who deserve favor at His hands.
