Quote by Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
...On they come, with the old swinging route step and swaying battle flags. In the van, the proud Confederate ensign. Before us in proud humiliation stood the embodiment of manhood; men whom neither toils and sufferings, nor the fact of death could bend from their resolve; standing before us now, thin, worn, and famished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, waking memories that bound us together as no other bond; was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured? On our part not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word, nor whisper or vain-glorying, nor motion of man, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead!
Summary
This quote describes the poignant reunion between Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war. The narrator acknowledges the resilience and bravery of the Confederate soldiers, "men whom neither toils and sufferings, nor the fact of death could bend from their resolve." Despite their weary appearance, the narrator recognizes the shared experiences and bond between these men who had fought on opposing sides during the Civil War. The reunion is depicted as a solemn and somber moment, evoking a sense of reverence for the sacrifices made on both sides and a desire for unity in the renewed Union.
Topics
War
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