THE SPRINGFIELD COMMITTEE.

147

as to be worth the keeping in all future time. It will then have been proved that among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet, and that they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the cost. And there will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonet, they have helped mankind on to this great consummation; while I fear there will be some white ones unable to forget that with malignant heart and deceitful speech they have striven to hinder it. Still, let us not be over sanguine of a speedy, final triumph. Let us be quite sober. Let us diligently apply the means, never doubting that a just God, in His own good time, will give us the rightful result.”

The careless yet most genuine eloquence of passages such as the last is not easily to be surpassed.

The Autumn of 1863 saw one serious Federal General, Rosecranz had crowned his

reverse.

already great military reputation by his pursuit

148

FEDERAL DEFEAT AT CHICKAMAUGA.

of General Bragg through South Eastern Tennessee, till he had at last compelled him (9th September) to evacuate the Confederate stronghold of Chattanooga-key to all the lines of communication through what has been termed "a great mountain labyrinth." Simultaneously with this movement, General Burnside advanced through Eastern Tennessee, till now unwillingly subject to Confederate rule, and entered, amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants, its chief city, Knoxville. But whether or not rendered overconfident by success, Rosecranz received, ten days later, at Chickamauga (19th September), a terrible defeat from Bragg, reinforced by Longstreet, Lee's best lieutenant, losing upwards of 16,000 men in killed and wounded, and missing. Only one portion of Rosecranz's army, that under Thomas, repelled successfully all attacks, and no doubt saved Chattanooga, where, however, the Federals found themselves shut up with very scant supplies; Longstreet meanwhile being sent off against Burnside at Knoxville. Rosecranz was at once replaced by

MR. LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG SPEECH. 149

Grant in command of the Federal army of the Tennessee; whilst Sherman, with a portion of that of the Mississippi, was hurried on to reinforce him.

Under these somewhat gloomy circumstances President Lincoln had to speak (19th November, 1863), on the dedication of a national burying-ground on the field of Gettysburg. His speech on this occasion appears to me simply one of the noblest extant specimens of human eloquence:*

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met

66

* "Je ne crois pas que l'éloquence moderne ait jamais rien produit de plus élevé que le discours prononcé par lui" (i. e. by President Lincoln) sur la tombe des soldats morts à Gettysburg," (M. E. Dusergier de Hauranne, "Revue des Deux Mondes," for Jan. 15, 1866, p. 489).

150

THE GETTYSBURG SPEECH.

We have

on a great battle-field of that war. come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But

in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE.

151

The reverse of Chickamauga might have added solemnity to the President's words. The words themselves were heralds of triumph. Grant had taken in hand the beaten army, adding to it his own veterans. On the 23rd, he moved out to attack Bragg, and on the 25th, in great measure through Sherman's desperate valour, the Confederates were driven from their strong positions, and pursued by Thomas and Hooker into Georgia, whilst Granger and Sherman were sent to relieve Burnside at Knoxville. But already Longstreet had been beaten off in an assault; he now raised the siege, but effected a masterly retreat into Virginia. The President called for another thanksgiving (7th of December.)

I need not dwell upon Mr. Lincoln's third Annual Message (9th of December, 1863). Appended to it is, however, a remarkable proclamation (8th December,) containing his scheme for reconstruction of the Union. With certain exceptions, a full amnesty was tendered to all who should take an oath of loyalty to the United