January, 1866, General Cox, who had previously been elected Governor of Ohio, resigned his commission in the army. On the 15th of the same month, Generals Parke, Potter, Willcox and Hartranft were "honorably mustered out of the service of the United States." General Parke returned to the corps of engineers, in which he held the rank of brevet Brigadier General. He was afterwards promoted to brevet Major General in the regular army. The other officers returned to civil life. Generals Potter and Willcox resumed the practice of their profession. General Hartranft was elected in October, 1865, Auditor General of Pennsylvania. Thus with honor to themselves and the country did the men and officers of the Ninth Corps close their term of service. But, though the bonds of army life were severed by the completion of the work, to which they had consecrated their powers, the ties of affection which a community of danger and duty had woven still remain strong as ever. The memory of the noble dead is the common inheritance, and the proud consciousness of duty always well performed the common satisfaction, of those brave men whose names are borne on the rolls of the old NINTH ARMY CORPS! 62 CHAPTER IX. CONCLUSION. A1 The more LL history is necessarily imperfect. Even if every detail is told, there still remain many things which cannot be recorded. There are many acts of fidelity, self-sacrifice and heroism of which there can be no chronicle. prominent events of a great struggle, the movements of large armies, the battles in which they engage, the shining exploits which win glory for their actors and secure the admiration of the world, stand conspicuously out before the eyes of mankind. But there are many other deeds, less distinguished and less known, which yet have an important influence upon the course and issue of the strife. Much that is borne and done, both in the camp and in the field, cannot be written down or made the object of the public gaze. No one thinks of telling the story except in some choice circle of friendship. The endurance of hardship, the self-discipline and self-control, the spirit of moderation in victory and of steadfastness in defeat, the sense of imperative duty and the love of a great and noble cause-all the qualities of character, in short, which belong to good soldiers and brave men, and make up the morale of an army, belong to that part of history which may well be called unwritten. Nor is the spirit of a people, which perpetually encourages and reënforces an army in the field, to be disregarded or overlooked. The war of the rebellion was without precedent among the nations of the world. Never was there an army like that which was raised in defence of the Republic. When its numbers, the character of its officers and men for intelligence, faithfulness to duty and patriotic fervor, the spirit of persistrace which animated its action, and wrung the victory of right from the desperation of injustice, and the willingness to suffer and to do all needful things, are considered, the verdict of history must be, that never was a principle more loyally served, and never was its triumph more gloriously won. We have to look beyond the march of armies and the din of battle, to see what it is that carries the day. We have to appreciate the power of invisible forces, the unrecognized virtues and even the unsuccessful heroism, with which every great contest abounds, but which rarely becomes matter of public knowledge, if we wish to understand the greatness of a nation, when struggling for its liberty and its life. There is oftentimes as much heroism in the humblest homes of the people, as on the most famous battle field. Valor in action secures its well-earned meed of honor, but calm and silent endurance also has its exceeding great reward. The trust in God which alleviated the sorrows of bereaved affection, the uncomplaining fortitude, with which the pains of wounds and sickness, and the loneliness of imprisonment were borne, can never be adequately traced by any human. pen. But one book—the book of everlasting life—is alone fit to contain such a glorious record. The soldiers of the Ninth Corps can count many a comrade whose nameless grave lies far away, beneath the turf of southern plain, forest or hill-side. Many were compelled to suffer the rigors and cruelties of southern prisons, and to become familiar with the horrors of Belle Isle, Salisbury and Andersonville. Of the fate of many there is no register and no knowledge, even to this day. They left their homes, they gave up the things which most men think dear, they entered bravely into the struggle, they laid down their lives for their country, and there is no chronicle of their virtues except in the memories of those who mourn their loss. They sank to rest in the silent earth—“ unknelled, uncoffined and unknown." It is manifestly impossible to speak the sufficient praise of the unlaurelled heroism of these unnamed martyrs: “The thousands that, uncheered by praise, And silently, in fearless faith, Bowing their noble souls to death." In the course of this narrative, notices have been inserted, from time to time, of officers who have fallen in battle. It must not be supposed that these alone are thought to be the subjects of · special commendation. Many others, both of officers and men, whose names do not appear in these pages have been equally deserving and equally rich in wealth of duty, courage and selfdevotion. Such men require no eulogy. Every life which has thus been given has aided in accomplishing the great result and in making secure the cause, for which it has been sacrificed. There are some officers, however, who are mentioned in the reports of their division commanders and in other documents, and who should not be permitted to pass unnoticed. One such was Major Gilmour of the 48th Pennsylvania, who was mortally wounded on the 31st of May, 1864, in a skirmish near the Tolopotomoy. He is spoken of by General Potter as invaluable officer. Another was Colonel E. Schall of the 51st Pennsylvania, who was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. He had gone through all the campaigns of the Corps, occupying different grades and always manifesting a distinguished bravery. He at one time, during the campaign in East Tennessee, commanded the second brigade of the second division, and there proved his fitness for a higher post than the command of a regiment. He was gradually but surely winning his promotion, when death put an end to his honorable career on earth. an The names of Major Byington of the second Michigan, who died of wounds received in the brilliant action before Knoxville on the night of November 24th, 1863; of Adjutant Noble, killed in the same action; of Captain Bradley, mortally wounded June 17th, 1864; of Captain Young of the same regiment, killed in the battle of July 30th; of Lieutenant Colonel Com : stock of the 17th Michigan, mortally wounded November 24, 1863 of Lieutenant Colonel Smith of the 20th Michigan, who was killed in front of Knoxville, November 16th, 1863; of Adjutant Seibert who was killed at the battle of Weldon Railroad, September 30th, 1864; of Captain Wiltsie, mortally wounded in front of Knoxville; of Captains Dewey, Carpenter, Blood and McCullom, of the same regiment, who fell during the campaign of 1864; of Major Piper of the 1st Michigan sharpshooters who was killed at Spottsylvania, Major Lewis of the 8th Michigan, killed at Cold Harbor, and Major Moody of the 27th Michigan, mortally wounded in the same battle on the 3d of June; of Zoellner, Billingsly, Galpin, Steadman, Stanley and Clifton Lee, of different regiments, who fell during the siege of Knoxville,* are all names of good and gallant soldiers. Massachusetts, always ready with her offierings, gave her best and noblest. Lientenant Colonel Rice, Captains Frazer, Kelton, Clark, Sampson and Goss of the 21st; Major Chipman, Chaplain Hempstead, Lieutenants Collingwood, Ripley and Pope of the 29th; Major Park, Captains Bartlett, Niles, and White of the 35th; Captains Hastings, Buffum and Holmes, and Lieutenants Holmes, Daniels and Howe of the 36th; Major Putnam of the 56th, Majors Prescott and Doherty of the 57th, Major Ewer, and Captains Upham, McFarland, Johnson and Harley of the 58th, Colonel Gould, Lieutenant Colonel Hodges, and Captains Munroe and Bean of the 59th-are but a few of those who were faithful unto death. Other States have suffered equally with Michigan and Massachusetts. The West and the East have united in a common sacrifice for the salvation of the country which both have served and loved. The roll of honor which the Ninth Corps has made is indeed long, bearing the names of many true, brave and faithful men. A single volume would not suffice to contain the story of their virtue and their valor. Their memory is preserved on the imperishable record which love and friendship keep. *The batteries around Knoxville received the names of the officers who fell in defence of the town. ? |