334 SKETCHES IN PROSE. 



his country, and it had gone out in the whirlwind of battle. 

 As he lay dying, the enemy were fleeing from the pursuing 

 Federals. The meadows and hills they had fought to con- 

 quer were ridged with their graves. Thousands of his coun- 

 trymen were yet to die and suffer, but the turning point had 

 come. The Union he fought for was to be saved. 



The curtain had dropped ; the tragedy was over. He who 

 had lain so long, suffering and in delirium, in sight of that 

 rocky height which he had defended, now slept his last sleep 

 in his death-tent under the shadow of Round Top. Those 

 eyes were no more to reflect the fire of battle ; those lips to 

 give forth cheering words to faltering comrades ; those limbs 

 to move in the execution of the dread duties of a soldier. That 

 mind, that form, those features had found rest. No more the 

 morning bugle call would arouse him to his daily duties, nor 

 nightly tattoo close them. With so much to live and hope for, 

 alas ! that it should be so ! 



He died a common soldier ; in his case a symbol of disin- 

 terested patriotism. From his shoulder gleamed no star, nor 

 eagle, nor leaf; neither double nor single bar. He bore not 

 even the insignia of a sergeant. He had campaigned and 

 fought for a year. He was loyal, brave and intelligent ; but 

 when they bore him from his last fight, the sleeve of his torn 

 and battle-stained Zouave jacket showed only the chevrons of 

 a corporal. But better this humble token of rank than the 

 triple stars of those generals who, with jealousy and envy, 

 sulked in their tents, mute to the appeals of their sore pressed 

 comrades. 



A common soldier ! All praise to the man who carried the 

 musket. He reaped scant comfort while living ; he had no 

 separate monument when dead. From the grave of the 

 colonel or general sprang a shaft blazoned with his deeds. 

 The private soldier had, as far as public recognition went, a 

 hundredth part or so of one of those granite columns which in 



