| It was the very darkest time of the American | | | | brutal point that slavery was over and a new |
| Civil War. President Lincoln could not find | | | | order was coming. |
| the right superior officer who would take the | | | | |
| charge to the enemy. In contrast, the most | | | | Meanwhile, back at the parade ground in |
| brilliant cadet at West Point Academy to | | | | Washington. Imagine these broken men, mostly |
| train American officers, Robert E. Lee, had | | | | wounded, all exhausted, trying to put on a |
| felt a loyalty to his native Virginia he | | | | brave face for America, at a very perilous |
| could not refuse. His masterful strikes and | | | | hour. As these men limped on by the |
| retreats kept a far superior northern force | | | | Presidential Review Stand, dignitaries all |
| at it's wits end. At the top of the heap of | | | | around, they sang their tribute to the man |
| those wits was the President. | | | | who had given his life and who really |
| | | | triggered the Civil War: John Brown. |
| In contrast, the Senior Union General was | | | | |
| often reported speaking that the nation | | | | As the men straggled by they sang their camp |
| needed a dictator: he had the ideal candidate | | | | fire tribute to the first to die to free the |
| in mind, and it was not President Lincoln. I | | | | slaves, and it was so rudimentary yet so |
| studied the letter Lincoln wrote to that | | | | solemn in the tune that President Lincoln |
| general, and it is a masterpiece of putting | | | | mused out loud that it was a shame that such |
| an arrogant fool in his place, and reminding | | | | an inspiring tune was not connected to more |
| him that first he must give victories, then | | | | noble words. |
| we could all talk about his dictatorship. | | | | |
| | | | And, in the middle of the night, the now |
| It was only when that famous, wonderful | | | | famous wife of a minister who had overheard |
| drunkard, Ulysses S. Grant, began to give | | | | the remarks of Lincoln awoke and jotted down |
| amazing victories down the Mississippi and | | | | the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. |
| especially his masterful taking of Vicksburg | | | | The same tune as the body of John Brown lies |
| and smashing his way across Tennessee; then | | | | a mouldering in the grave: brought us Mine |
| with General Sherman pounding their way | | | | Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of The |
| across the south to the Atlantic and then | | | | Lord, the Saints Go Marching On. It choked me |
| back up towards Richmond, having to make the | | | | up when I read that, I hope it does you too. |