Some sieges are remarkable for one
thing, some another. The siege of Washington was more remarkable for
the manner in which the city was defended than the manner in which
it was attacked. No fields were fertilized with carnage, nor banners
bathed in blood.
You, remember, my son, the tale of storied Troy, with all its "pomp
and circumstance of glorious war." But, my son, it has never seemed
to me more interesting than the passage of Thermopyl‘. Nor will
Agamemnon live in history after Leonidas is forgotten. And yet these
events in ancient war were small compared with the battles our Grant
fought. His deeds will brighten as you read of them in history, and
become greater than them all.
And now, my son, let us hie to the siege of Washington. Washington
was besieged and Washington was saved; and the history of its
salvation must not perish. Rome, you know, was saved by the cackling
of a goose. And when I tell you that Washington, the capital city of
this great nation was saved by the too free use of a barrel of
whisky, you must not be surprised. When its great circle of
fortifications, now bristling with cannon, and filled with busy
soldiers, shall become so many grassy mounds, their history must
still live to excite the patriotism of those who come after us.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90