Chapter I. The War Meeting

by Horatio Alger

　　The Town Hall in Rossville stands on a moderate elevationoverlooking the principal street. It is generally open only whena meeting has been called by the Selectmen to transact townbusiness, or occasionally in the evening when a lecture ontemperance or a political address is to be delivered. Rossvilleis not large enough to sustain a course of lyceum lectures, andthe townspeople are obliged to depend for intellectual nutrimentupon such chance occasions as these. The majority of theinhabitants being engaged in agricultural pursuits, thepopulation is somewhat scattered, and the houses, with theexception of a few grouped around the stores, stand atrespectable distances, each encamped on a farm of its own.One Wednesday afternoon, toward the close of September, 1862, agroup of men and boys might have been seen standing on the stepsand in the entry of the Town House. Why they had met will bestappear from a large placard, which had been posted up on barnsand fences and inside the village store and postoffice.It ran as follows: WAR MEETING!The citizens of Rossville are invited to meet at the Town Hall,on Wednesday, September 24, at 3 P. M. to decide what measuresshall be taken toward raising the town's quota of twenty-fivemen, under the recent call of the President of the United States.All patriotic citizens, who are in favor of sustaining the freeinstitutions transmitted to us by our fathers, are urgentlyinvited to be present.The Hon. Solomon Stoddard is expected to address the meeting.Come one, come all.At the appointed hour one hundred and fifty men had assembled inthe hall. They stood in groups, discussing the recent call andthe general management of the war with that spirit of independentcriticism which so eminently characterizes the little democracieswhich make up our New England States."The whole thing has been mismanaged from the first," remarked asapient-looking man with a gaunt, cadaverous face, addressing twolisteners. "The Administration is corrupt; our generals areeither incompetent or purposely inefficient. We haven't got anofficer that can hold a candle to General Lee. Abraham Lincolnhas called for six hundred thousand men. What'll he do with 'emwhen he gets 'em? Just nothing at all. They'll melt away likesnow, and then he'll call for more men. Give me a third of sixhundred thousand, and I'll walk into Richmond in less'n thirtydays."A quiet smile played over the face of one of the listeners. Witha slight shade of irony in his voice he said, "If such are yourconvictions, Mr. Holman, I think it a great pity that you are notin the service. We need those who have clear views of what isrequired in the present emergency. Don't you intend tovolunteer?""I!" exclaimed the other with lofty scorn. "No, sir; I wash myhands of the whole matter. I ain't clear about the justice ofwarring upon our erring brethren at all. I have no doubt theywould be inclined to accept overtures of peace if accompaniedwith suitable concessions. Still, if war must be waged, I believeI could manage matters infinitely better than Lincoln and hiscabinet have done.""Wouldn't it be well to give them the benefit of your ideas onthe subject?" suggested the other quietly."Ahem!" said Mr. Holman, a little suspiciously."What do you mean, Mr. Frost?""Only this, that if, like you, I had a definite scheme, which Ithought likely to terminate the war, I should feel it my duty tocommunicate it to the proper authorities, that they might take itinto consideration.""It wouldn't do any good," returned Holman, still a littlesuspicious that he was quietly laughed at. "They're too set intheir own ways to be changed."At this moment there was a sharp rap on the table, and a voicewas heard, saying, "The meeting will please come to order."The buzz of voices died away; and all eyes were turned toward thespeaker's stand."It will be necessary to select a chairman to preside over yourdeliberations," was next heard. "Will any one nominate?""I nominate Doctor Plunkett," came from a man in the corner.The motion was seconded, and a show of hands resulted in favor ofthe nominee.A gentlemanly-looking man with a pleasant face advanced to thespeaker's stand, and with a bow made a few remarks to thiseffect:"Fellow citizens: This is new business to me, as you aredoubtless aware. My professional engagements have not oftenallowed me to take part in the meetings which from time to timeyou have held in this hall. On the present occasion, however, Ifelt it to be my duty, and the duty of every loyal citizen, toshow by his presence how heartily he approves the object whichhas called us together. The same consideration will not suffer meto decline the unexpected responsibility which you have devolvedupon me. Before proceeding farther, I would suggest that a clerkwill be needed to complete the organization."A young man was nominated and elected without opposition.Doctor Plunkett again addressed the meeting: "It is hardlynecessary," he said, "to remind you of the object which hasbrought us together. Our forces in the field need replenishing.The Rebellion has assumed more formidable proportions than weanticipated. It is quite clear that we cannot put it down withone hand. We shall need both. Impressed with this conviction,President Lincoln has made an extraordinary levy upon thecountry. He feels that it is desirable to put down the Rebellionas speedily as possible, and not suffer it to drag through aseries of years. But he cannot work single-handed. The loyalStates must give their hearty cooperation. Our State, thoughinferior in extent and population to some others, has not fallenbehind in loyal devotion. Nor, I believe, will Rossville be foundwanting in this emergency. Twenty-five men have been called for.How shall we get them? This is the question which we are calledupon to consider. I had hoped the Honorable Solomon Stoddardwould be here to address you; but I regret to learn that atemporary illness will prevent his doing so. I trust that thosepresent will not be backward in expressing their opinions."Mr. Holman was already on his feet. His speech consisted ofdisconnected remarks on the general conduct of the war, mingledwith severe denunciation of the Administration.He had spoken for fifteen minutes in this strain, when thechairman interfered----"Your remarks are out of order, Mr. Holman. They are entirelyirrelevant to the question."Holman wiped his cadaverous features with a red silkpocket-handkerchief, and inquired, sarcastically, "Am I tounderstand that freedom of speech is interdicted in this hall?""Freedom of speech is in order," said the chairman calmly,"provided the speaker confines himself to the question underdiscussion. You have spoken fifteen minutes without once touchingit.""I suppose you want me to praise the Administration," saidHolman, evidently thinking that he had demolished the chairman.He looked around to observe what effect his shot had produced."That would be equally out of order," ruled the presidingofficer. "We have not assembled to praise or to censure theAdministration, but to consider in what manner we shall go towork to raise our quota."Holman sat down with the air of a martyr.Mr. Frost rose next. It is unnecessary to report his speech. Itwas plain, practical, and to the point. He recommended that thetown appropriate a certain sum as bounty money to volunteers.Other towns had done so, and he thought with good reason. Itwould undoubtedly draw in recruits more rapidly.A short, stout, red-faced man, wearing gold spectacles, rosehastily."Mr. Chairman," he commenced, "I oppose that suggestion. I thinkit calculated to work serious mischief. Do our young men need tobe hired to fight for their country? I suppose that is what youcall patriotism. For my part, I trust the town will have too muchgood sense to agree to any such proposition. The consequence ofit would be to plunge us into debt, and increase our taxes to aformidable amount."It may be remarked that Squire Haynes, the speaker, was thewealthiest man in town, and, of course, would be considerablyaffected by increased taxation. Even now he never paid his annualtax-bill without an inward groan, feeling that it was so muchdeducted from the sum total of his property.Mr. Frost remained standing while Squire Haynes was speaking, andat the close continued his speech:"Squire Haynes objects that my proposition, if adopted, will makeour taxes heavier. I grant it: but how can we expect to carry onthis gigantic war without personal sacrifices? If they only comein the form of money, we may account ourselves fortunate. I takeit for granted that there is not a man here present who does notapprove the present war--who does not feel that we are waging itfor good and sufficient reasons."Here Mr. Holman moved uneasily in his seat, and seemed on thepoint of interrupting the speaker, but for some reason forbore."Such being the case, we cannot but feel that the burden ought tofall upon the entire community, and not wholly upon anyparticular portion. The heaviest sacrifices must undoubtedly bemade by those who leave their homes and peril life and limb onthe battlefield. When I propose that you should lighten thatsacrifice so far as it lies in your power, by voting them abounty, it is because I consider that money will compensate themfor the privations they must encounter and the perils they willincur. For that, they must look to the satisfaction that willarise from the feeling that they have responded to theircountry's call, and done something to save from ruin theinstitutions which our fathers transmitted as a sacred trust totheir descendants. Money cannot pay for loss of life or limb. Butsome of them leave families behind. It is not right that thesefamilies should suffer because the fathers have devotedthemselves to the sacred cause of liberty. When our soldiers goforth, enable them to feel that their wives and children shallnot lack for the necessaries of life. The least that those whoare privileged to stay at home can do is to tax their purses forthis end.""Mr. Chairman," said Squire Haynes sarcastically, "I infer thatthe last speaker is intending to enlist."Mr. Frost's face flushed at this insinuation."Squire Haynes chooses to impute to me interested motives. I needenter into no defense before an audience to whom I am well known.I will only inquire whether interested motives have nothing to dowith his opposition to voting bounties to our soldiers?"This was such a palpable hit that Squire Haynes winced under it,and his red face turned redder as he saw the smiles of thoseabout him."Impudent puppy!" he muttered to himself; "he seems to forgetthat I have a mortgage of eight hundred dollars on his farm. Whenthe time comes to foreclose it, I will show him no mercy. I'llsell him out, root and branch!"Mr. Frost could not read the thoughts that were passing throughthe mind of his creditor. They might have given him a feeling ofuneasiness, but would not in the least have influenced hisaction. He was a man loyal to his own convictions of duty, and noapprehension of personal loss would have prevented his speakingin accordance with what he felt to be right.The considerations which had been urged were so reasonable thatthe voters present, with very little opposition, voted to pay onehundred and fifty dollars to each one who was willing to enlistas one of the town's quota. A list was at once opened, and afterthe close of the meeting four young men came forward and put downtheir names, amid the applause of the assembly."I wanted to do it before," said John Drake, one of the number,to Mr. Frost, "but I've got a wife and two little childrendependent upon me for support. I couldn't possibly support themout of my thirteen dollars a month, even with the State aid. Butyour motion has decided me. I could do better by staying at home,even with that; but that isn't the question. I want to help mycountry in this hour of her need; and now that my mind is at easeabout my family, I shall cheerfully enter the service.""And I know of no one who will make a better soldier!" said Mr.Frost heartily.