Mozart died finishing the requiem that was first destined to enchant over its creator, and then to enchant creation. De Lisle wrote the chant that conducted him to the scaffold, and which, then and since, is the war cry of his Nation — “The Marsellaise.” Tasso lived long, yet died only when appreciated— the blithe notes of fairies singing him out of the world with the laurels on his brow for a death chaplet. And James B. McPherson was slain in the very moment of victory. His death produced a temporary check in our advance. In the midst of this fiery tempest there stood Logan, pale as marble — not from fear — as he viewed the wild lines of glittering rebel steel, his clarion voice heard above the thunders of the storm, exclaiming : " McPherson and revenge. The renowned Army of the Tennessee, that never quailed when led by its intrepid leader, were fully aroused — then gleamed from their eyes a flash of the old fire, and with knitted brows, they brought their bayonets to the charge. Nine thousand dead and mangled rebels were left on the field it was truly a dreadful revenge. History points few picture nobler than the fiery Logan, dashing from one Corps to another, shouting “McPherson and revenge." General Logan participated in the tedious and successful movements round Atlanta, culminating in the capture of that city. Impaired in health he went home, and spent he time in stumping the States for the election of President Lincoln. He participated in the subsequent campaigns in the Carolinas, and after the surrender of Johnston, marched his victorious troops to Washington, where they formed a part of the imposing pageant that took place at the National Capital.
But to form a correct estimate of this brave man, we must not merely consider him as the accomplished soldier, but also are the eloquent orator. Logan's genius as an orator lies in his fertility of illustration — in a fervid eloquence — in a beautiful combination of musical words, and in a voice of silvery harmony. His style as a public speaker, as has been observed of the distinguished British Commoner, Richard Cobden, is characteristic of his nature. No one commands mote thoroughly the ear of an audience; not Webster whose eloquence was described as rolling and resistless as the waves of the Atlantic; not Clay's silver voice and balanced declamation; not Sumner's thrilling periods, nor Meagher's impassioned rhetoric ever exercised a more perfect control over the attention of a popular assembly than did the unadorned and unpretending style of John A. Logan.
To convey a vivid impression of his style of eloquence, and of its powerful effect upon his hearers, is no easy task. He certainly stands alone among the public speakers of the day— knowing no paucity of words, and uttering them with a wonderful rapidity. All his words are ideas, and they come forth, flash! Flash! Flash! — Till you are dazzled at the quick succession, and almost puzzled in your comprehension. In common phrase, he thinks lightning. A steam sun discharging its hundred shots in continuous succession, is not more sudden, sustained, or certain. Keep up the discharges for three-quarters of an hour unintermittingly, and you have some faint type of the physical effect of one of Logan's speeches these physical effects of his oratory are what strike an observer first. Imagine a little, wiry, bright-eyed man! Suppose him under the influence of strong and overmastering zeal or rhetorical passion. He has already dashed into the full tide of his theme, his clear, shrill voice has been gradually rising in tone; it grows more clear, round, ringing as the orator advances with his subject and warms in the atmosphere of party, stimulated by the cheers of his friends, as he ably makes a rapier thrust aside from the straight line oi his course, taunted by the irony of his opponents at some involuntary admission, or stung by a scornful sneer on the lip of some personal antagonist in debate. Still .the stream of sound pours on — continuous, ever flowing; still the same clear, sharp, expressive voice is heard, now low and tremulous in tones of thrilling pathos; now mounting into what, were it not still musical, would be a scream — its wailing note, as the voice dies for a moment on the ear, heard amidst the bursts of cheering around, like the shriek of the seamen in the storm. Ere. you have recovered from the excitement into which the last burst of passionate eloquence has buried you, he is away again on fresh wing to a new theme, or following up with renewed energy the old, and you hear the same voice, tremulous this time with triumph, no less than with passion, soaring again in the full tide of eloquent declamation, the orator bearing your own sympathies with him, more by the example of his own passionate excitement, and the shining impulse communicated by his own fervid soul, than by any absolute identity of feeling between joy and then, how magnificently he works up a peroration. Perhaps the finest instance of this is found in his elaborate address, delivered in Louisville, Kentucky, in July, 1866. The effect of his sudden outbursts of eloquence was thrilling. The impetuosity of the speaker — the exquisite melody of his voice— -his remarkable actions — all combined to make this a fine piece of rhetorical declamation. The speeches he has recently delivered on national polities have many fine passages, and the memory can dwell upon them with pleasure. It retains the echo of his eloquence like a remembered strain of music. It is very difficult to report his speeches, even the practiced and accomplished "Mack" confesses occasionally to be riveted and spell-bound by Logan's vehement and resistless eloquence.
General Logan is a man of singular unselfishness of character; kindness, charity and magnanimity are the prominent attributes of his disposition. He has a charm in his manner that attracts a stranger, and in all his life it may be truly said, that he never was guilty of a mean act. He was the idol of the soldiers, particularly those of his own famous old Corps. Interesting their social nature, and proud of his connection with them, he was always at home in their company. Any of his soldiers would die for him, such is their unbounded admiration for this man. On one occasion, when the General was making a speech, a traitor in the crowd took exception to one of his remarks, saying, “that's a lie, John Logan, and you know it." The words had scarcely dropped from the man's mouth, before the clenched fist of a veteran planted itself on the fellow's nose, while in unison with the act, the soldier roared out, "By, I fought with Johnny Logan, and I know that the General can't tell a lie."
The character of Logan, as described by a writer in the United. States Service Magazine, may be summed up in a few words. He has a large mind, stored with liberal views. He has a heart open to acts of the rarest generosity. He never intentionally injured a man in his life. He is a forgiving enemy, only implacable when basely wronged. He is the idol of his soldiers. He talks with them, and mingles with them, and shakes hands with them. Physically he is one of the finest looking officers of the army, a deep and fierce. black eye, heavy black moustache, black hair and very dark complexion, give him a terrible look when aroused, Broad shoulders, well set on a tiiuscular frame, give him the appearance of a man of great power. He usually wears a broad-brimmed black, felt hat, plain Major General's coat, and blue pantaloons, stuck in his boots. He has not the prim appearance of a military dandy, in fact, he looks the citizen all over. Judging from appearance, one would suppose that 1 he left his home in a hurry, to attend to some business, which he had not quite finished. Mounted and in battle there are few in the army who so nearly realize the idea of a great warrior. To see Logan in a fight is magnificent. “The men of the Northwest will know hew way to the Gulf,” exclaimed Logan early in the war. How nobly they have carried out this prophecy. And chief among the leaders to this grand consummation, stands Major General John A. Logan, the orator and soldier, the constant friend of the Government, and one of its noblest citizens.
GENERAL O. O. HOWARD.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Maine, and lie is a sturdy son of the New England type. When Sumpter's walls received the shot aimed at the Republic, the people of glorious Maine were too near the polar star of freedom to brook the blows of slavery, and their hardy ( sons leaped t; arms. We know very little of the early years of General Howard, only that he graduated at West Point, and served as Lieutenant in Florida. He contemplated resigning his position in the army to enter the ministry, but the rebellion breaking out, he accept
ed the Colonelcy of a Maine regiment, commanding it in several engagements in Virginia. In the terrible battle of Fair Oaks, he was severely wounded, losing an arm.
General Howard was early in the war, designated for an important command, and was accordingly commissioned Brigadier General. He participated in the tattles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the Peninsula. In 1864, he was promoted to be a Major General, and assigned to the fourth Corps in the military division of the Mississippi, In the Georgia campaigns he had charge of movements of great importance, securing a measure of successes seldom attained by any commander. After the death of McPherson, he was placed in command of the Army of the Tennessee. When the night of despair seemed gathering its dark mantle over the surrounded and beleaguered Army of the Tennessee, Howard's personal gallantry and presence, like a bright star of hope arose, and by his brilliant deeds, restored confidence and gilded the darksome night with rays of glory.
He commanded the right wing of the army in the triumphant march through Georgia and the Carolinas. Howard's disposition of the two corps in this campaign, without the loss of a hundred men, is indeed one of the most brilliant military operations of the war. He finally finished his command of the Army of the Tennessee after it reached Washington, when he was assigned to other duties. Considering the number of battles he has, fought, and the distance marched with his devoted band of heroes, Howard's career deserves to be reckoned amongst the most splendid enactments in our military annals.
The grand characteristic of General Howard is the deep religious feeling and conviction which animates and directs all his thoughts, emotions and actions. Religion is the basis of his character; all his principle are mated with it, all his actions emanate from it. There is as little display in his discharge of religious duties as his other actions. His life may truly be said to be one long hymn of praise to his Creator. Everyone who came in contact with Howard felt that he was sincere, and even those least accessible to devotional sentiments, sympathized with and reverenced it in him.
During Sherman's great march, Howard was regarded as the Havelock of the army. Sherman valued and respited him all the more for his Christian faith and practice. It is a beautiful tribute to General Howard, and his Christian belief, that his influence upon those about him was positive. There was but little use of liquor and a most gratifying absence of profanity about his headquarters. Colonel Nichols says:
I shall never forget his gentle rebuke to a soldier, who, in the presence of death was swearing in a very decided manner. Don't swear so, my man; you may be killed at any moment. Surely you do not wish to go to the next world with dreadful oaths upon your lips.'"
In his speech to the people of Kew Orleans, he spoke of himself as follows:
"When I was a boy of ten years, I lost my father; being the oldest in the family, I was obliged to work. Our only support was a small farm, and the only way we kept out of debt, got ahead, and acquired an education, was by constant, persevering industry. My history in this respect is the history of every young man in the section of country I came from: If he has accomplished anything, ever risen in the world, or attained even a medium degree of prosperity, it has been done by industry, labor and application. After a time I was sent to school, then to the academy, and then to the college, paying my expenses by occasionally teaching school myself. This is our custom where we have had always free labor."
THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER,
Among the officers of the army who appeared at the Grand Review none has a more brilliant reputation for patriotic self-sacrifice, than the eloquent gentleman whose name heads this sketch. The honorable record of this exiled patriot, and scholar, statesman and true soldier, is familiar to every American. He is none of those mushroom men of the times, but his is a name two nation’s honor, and two people praise. In his own beloved land his name was a watchword among the people, and they who could not but differ from him totally, in matters political, yet recognized his genius, admitted his ability, and applauded his honesty. The word of one of the very best of a noble nation, who has dared death a hundred times in the shock of battle, fought for the maintenance of the liberties of the American people — will go for in persuading his countrymen to turn from the slippery paths into which, political demagogues and selfish agitators hare led so many of them. He that has made the name of an Irishman respected wherever the story of the deeds of the Irish Brigade is told, must have weight with the sons of the Green Isle. That persuasive eloquence that held spell bound both Celt and Saxon, is on the side of right. We have given the name — Thomas Francis Meagher — without any prefix or addition :
"Good wine needs no bush."
It is many a day since we saw him in the land of his birth. He left it in sorrow, but not in shame; and since that day no shade of dishonor has sullied his reputation, but on the contrary, has gathered glories, wherever liberty, truth and patriotism were to be defended by the tongue, pen or sword. Would that his spirit of pure patriotism might reign in the heart of every Irishman that dwells beneath the shadow of the flag which this gallant soldier has so often borne in triumph, and so uniformly with honor.
General Meagher is a native of Waterford, Ireland, and is now forty-five years old. His father was very wealthy and represented his country in the London Parliament. Young Meagher was early destined for the bar, and regularly served his time with a; distinguished Irish attorney. When attending college at Stony Hurst in England, he was regarded by his comrades as an orator of splendid gifts and possessing talents of extraordinary power. Having finished his collegiate studies, and possessing a memory richly stored with modern and classical literature and a judgment and taste to use them with effect, he directed his mind principally to National politics. He determined to relinquish all his golden prospects, that he might at once dedicate his fine talents to the redemption of poor Ireland. He visited Dublin, where he formed a close friendship with several young men of exalted fame— a friendship which endured through all the trying scenes of the Irish insurrection, and continues to the present time.
Meagher was accustomed to speak in the famous Convention Hall, then under the presidency of O’Connell. His great abilities and thrilling eloquence, was a powerful acquisition to the Repeal organization. He was highly appreciated by the young, thousands of whom were captivated by his glowing oratory, his rich vein of thought, his striking originality, his poetry and his classical illustrations, combined as they all were, with true patriotism and fervent appeal. His fame soon extends from Conciliation Hall. Such sparkling oratory has not been heard since the days of Richard Saler Sheil. There is fast developing into being a new brotherhood of poets and orators — a circle composed of such brilliant names as Dillon, McNevin, Dheny, Williams, Reily, Mitchell and the young and glorious Thomas Davis. They formed the Irish Confederation, having for its object the independence of Ireland.
The gifted leaders of this new party were dissatisfied with O'Connell's policy of redeeming the Emerald Isle. The motto of O'Connell was moral force — the watchword of the Young Ireland Party was physical force. The Confederation shines like the morning star. Its genius commands the admiration of all men of mind in ' the Nation. A new soul spoke. The brightness of a constellation centered in one spirit and it rose proud and bright above the Confederation.
Thomas Francis Meagher was the soul and sinew of this movement. O'Connell denounced the organization in a speech full of invectives a stormy discussion followed. Meagher replied in an eloquent and intrepid oration in which he delivered this celebrated apostrophe to the sword:
"Then I do not condemn the use of arms as immoral, nor do I conceive it profane to say, that the King of Heaven — the Lord of Hosts the God of Battles! Bestows his benediction upon those who unsheathe the sword in the hour of a nation's peril. From that evening, on which, in the Valley of Bethulia, He nerved the arm of the Jewish girl to smite the drunken tyrant in his tent down to this our day, in which he has blessed the Belgian patriots, His Almighty hand hath ever been stretched forth from
His throne of right to consecrate the flag of freedom — to bless the patriot's sword! Be it in the defense, or be it in the assertion of a people's liberty, I hail the sword as a sacred weapon; and if it has sometimes taken the shape of the serpent, and reddened the strand of the oppressor with too deep a dye, like the anointed rod of the High Priest, it has at other times, and as often blossomed into celestial flowers to deck the freeman's brow. Abhor — stigmatize the word? No, for at its blow, a giant nation started from the waters of the Atlantic, and by its redeeming magic, and in the quickening of its crimson light, that crippled Colony sprung into the attitude of a proud Republic — prosperous dauntless, and invincible."
The applause that greeted this splendid passage was tremendous and enthusiastic.
It is soon noised through the Provinces that a young Tribune has arisen. Dublin cannot long retain the eloquent pleader for the rights and liberties of Ireland. And now when his powerful orations are stirring the South like a blast of a trumpet, he is invited to address the Protestants of the “Black North" They are said to be prejudiced and bitterly opposed to his progressive and Republican principles. At length who makes his appearance in Belfast, ascending the rostrum of the Music Hall. All eyes are centered on the daring rebel against England. "There is mind and eloquence in him," muttered a then, thoughtful man by my side, as Meagher just finished one of his brilliant illustrations in a beautiful and stately climax. The audience remains quiet for some minutes, when a slight disturbance arises from the friends of O'Connell. His astonishing eloquence, his generous allusions to the Protestants of the North in 1788, his thrilling appeals for the union of Irishmen of all sects, and his evident sincerity, soon began to move the cold, skeptical hearts of his Anglo-Saxon auditors. The cool and statue-like audience shows signs of emotion.
Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas Page 49
