Field, gunboat, hospital, and prison; or, Thrilling records of the heroism, endurance, and patriotism displayed in the Union army and navy during the great rebellion

Front matter

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Preface

In tlie days of chivalry, when troubadours sang in ladies' bowers, the heroic deeds of brave and gallant knights were often the theme of the minstrel's ballad; and earlier yet, in the classic eras, the exploits of mighty warriors were told in song and story. Even the sacred writings show that this was customary in the childhood of the world ; and the triumphal song of Deborah, the majestic utterances of the prophets, and the unsurpassed poetry of the monarch-bard, are evidences that bravery, heroism, fortitude, and the mighty arm of God displayed in the hour of military triumph, were deemed the legitimate and worthy themes of the poet and historian.

The same idea prevails in our own day, while we have almost infinitely greater facilities for making world-wide the name and fame of our gallant heroes. The printing-press, like a thousand-tongued troubadour, sings the praise not only of the men who fought at Thermopylae and "Waterloo, at Lexington and Bunker Hill, but sings also, and with clarion notes, of the champions of liberty, no less brave and patriotic, who battled for the right upon the sanguinary fields of Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Antietam, Gettysburg, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, and many another field of blood and glory, as well as on the decks of our monitors and gunboats, which have thundered at doors which opened wide only at their summons.

PREFACE.

Principles, and not mere preferences, were at stake ; and our heroes fought as if they believed this.

It is to keep in memory some of the heroic deeds of daring, the Christian acts of self-denial, the unshrinking fortitude, the patient endurance, the pure patriotism, of "our brave boys " who followed the "dear old flag," that this volume is prepared.

It aims to give a graphic picture of Spartan virtues and chivalrous exploits as displayed in the army and navy of the Union during the dark and terrible years of the great Rebellion.

The material has been gathered from various sources, and the anecdotes are believed to be mainly authentic. Some of them are altogether new. As such, they are presented to a public that enjoys truthful pictures of thrilling events and incidents, with the hope that each one as he reads will be led to lift up his heart in devout recognition of that Hand which has guided the nation through seas of unexampled horror and suffering to the harbor of a peace, that, we trust, will be as permanent as it is acceptable.

Other writers have collected anecdotes, and prepared valuable works for reading and reference : this is designed for a niche yet unoccupied, as it is thought, and is sent forth with the humble yet sincere hope, that it may do its part in fostering a true sense of the real dignity of humanity, the value of free institutions, and the immeasurable worth of Christian principles, so that God shall be honored, and his laws revered, till his kingdom shall come, his will shall be done, and a ransomed world sing evermore, Te Dewm laudamus !

p. A. H.

Reading, Mass.