The American Union Speaker Part 80

404. CCLx.x.xVI. From the author's speeches in the memorable canva.s.s with Douglas for the senators.h.i.+p in Illinois.

406. CCLx.x.xVII. This extract and the succeeding one, are from the author's last great speech delivered at Springfield, Illinois, in 1861.

423. CCXCVIII. GEORGE THOMPSON, the great English agitator and anti-slavery leader delivered numerous addresses in different parts of England, during the summer of 1863, in defence of the American cause. This extract, from one delivered at Carlisle, England, was written out by the author, especially for this book.

433. CCCV. This extract and the two following were taken from an oration delivered July 4, 1863, before the munic.i.p.al authorities of Boston.

440. CCCXI. From a eulogy on Webster, delivered in Boston, September 17, 1859, on the occasion of the inauguration of his statue, in front of the State House.

441. CCCXII. From an oration delivered at the Dedication of the Soldiers'

National Cemetery at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863.

449. CCCXVII. From a speech delivered in Tremont Temple, Boston, 1862.

451. CCCXVIII. From a speech delivered in New Orleans, at a grand celebration, on the occasion of the election of a Union Governor.

455. CCCXXI. From a discourse delivered in Boston, before the Ancient and honorable Artillery Company, at their anniversary, June, 1861.

462. CCCXXVI. Suggested by the President's first call for volunteers, April 16, 1861. The fabulous bell Roland, of Ghent, was an object of great affection to the people because it rang them to arms when Liberty was in danger.

468 CCCXXIX. GAIL HAMILTON, the nom de plume of Miss Abigail Dodge, a popular auth.o.r.ess, who resides in the town of Hamilton Ma.s.s.

472. CCCx.x.xI. Ziska's hunted flock, (s.h.i.+sh'-ka): the Hussites in Bohemia.--Toussaint L'Ouverture, the great St. Domingo chief, an unmixed.

negro, with no drop of white blood in his veins, having been treacherously arrested by his French foe, he was taken to France, and then sent by Napoleon to the Castle of St. Joux, to a dungeon twelve feet by twenty, built wholly of stone, where he was finally left to starve to death.

478. CCCx.x.xV. On Sat.u.r.day, the 7th of March, 1862, the United States sloopof-war c.u.mberland, commanded by Captain Morris, was sunk in Hampton Roads, by the Confederate iron-clad. Merrimac, her men firing a broadside as she went down, with her flag flying.

490. CCCXLIV. The subject of these stanzas was Ormsby McKnight Mitch.e.l.l, a distinguished astronomer, and major-general of volunteers in the United States service, who was born in Kentucky, August 28, 1810, and died at Beaufort, S. C., October 30, 1862. He was commander of the department of the South, and was making preparations for a vigorous campaign when he fell a victim to the yellow fever.

493. CCCXLVI. This is one of the finest productions which the present crisis has called forth. General Banks, in his official report of the a.s.sault on the fortifications of Port Hudson, on May 27th, thus speaks of the negro troops: "On the extreme right of our line I posted the 1st and 2d regiments of negro troops. . . . . The position occupied by these troops was one of importance and called for the utmost steadiness and bravery in those to whom it was confided. It gives me pleasure to report that they answered every expectation. In many respects their conduct was heroic,--no troops could, be more determined or more daring. They made during the day, three charges upon the batteries of the enemy, suffering very heavy losses, and holding their positon at nightfall with the other troops on the right of our lines. The highest commendation is bestowed upon them by all the officers in command on the right." And thus the question which had been so often asked, Will the negroes fight? was answered, and settled, and ever since our brave white soldiers have been glad to "Hail them as comrades tried."

511. CCCLV. C. F. BROWN, the comic writer, known as Artemus Ward.