Show OUR FIGHTING FORCE in the four 5 ears that followed the uprising of the south the people of the north to the armies of alie union nearly of men and the gave to the armies of the confederacy over more from lebs alian of inhabitants and within the space of four ears of men w ere under anns in that terrible conflict contemplate the fact that one in every eight bour entire population or one in c cry four of our male population was actually engaged iu eliat contest and you get some idea of the terrible drain that the war w aa on alie fl sh and blood of our countrymen in alio entire military history of the world there is nothing to be compared to that martial enthusiasm of our countrymen alie celebrated uprising of alie french people in 1793 and that of nearly a century later in war with germany sink into insignificance when compared w ith alie tido eliat moved southward and northa ard to join the armies of alie union and confederacy it is the boadt of Genn rny the great esic military nation of modern times eliat with a population of she can in ti ie of war furnish an army of 1250 men but in alie war of the rebellion the north with a population of only ii dd in actual service at the close of that contest more than 1000 men alie hero of appomattox during the campaigns of 1864 and ga commanded more soldiers alian any kotlier general since alie fall of alio roman empire we are accustomed to of waterloo is alie greatest battle of modern times but in six engagements of the war of the rebellion alie loss upon one side or alie other was greater alian eliat of wellington and alie allied forces at waterloo alie loss of the union army in alie battle of the wilderness nearly equalled equal led alie entire loss of bogli anniea on the field of waterloo no battle haa ever been fought on alie continent of greater determination or with as much los lo s as that of but alie of blood only kept pace w ith eliat of treasure our war expenses alie lait ear of the rebellion exceeded alie expenses of the great w ara between france and england during the career of napoleon and alie french revolution reo lution bore no comparison to that of our w ar the greatest sum of money expended during a single year was great brit ain in 1815 when it amounted to or less alian two thirds of the expenditure of alie north during the year ending in for liala a century waterloo biad stood in history song and story without a parallel it wad reserved to alie descendants ts of the men alio fought under the duke in that famous engagement to convince the world eliat courage and tenacity had not degenerated since alie days of waterloo gettysburg may fairry bo said to be the greatest battle of modern times the numbers engaged exceeded of waterloo alie duration of the battle longer and the loss greater more than anc union arm and half the confederate fei alc tlc d wounded or missing in engagement alie famous charge by pickett on the day and its subsequent repulse will live for all time in military history alie famous old guard veterans in the service of france victors on many a hard fought field possessing alie courage and spirit peculiar to their nation and race wavered before volley from the english batteries at waterloo and at alie second fell back in confusion but division at gettysburg with lesa men alian composed alie old guard advanced a mile under alie galling fire of our batteries its lines unbroken the living stepping into the place of the dead and engaged our forces in a hand to hand fight for the possession of cemetery ridge |