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they might as well, he said, have taken his heart right out of his body at once and trampled on it, and with the words came the expressive gesture.
We talked with him and his dear little boys for near two hours, and that was my Sunday's sermon.
If you had been with me you could have learned no better lesson.
One of his intimate companions said:—
No one ever saw James so earnest and noble as when he heard the tale of suffering and outrage, and saw before him the way to right the wrongs of the suffering race, if not by his personal arm, at least by the grand sword-arm of his country.
He was promoted to be
Major of the Regiment on June 13, 1862 (
Lieut.-Colonel, Sept. 17); and it is the testimony of all that the period immediately after this was almost the happiest of his life.
His health was good, his gayety overflowing, all diffidence and despondency disappeared, the country in which they were encamped was beautiful, and his daily rides, in the society of his favorite companions (
Shaw,
Russell,
Copeland, and
Dr. Stone), were a constant delight.
The latter writes:—
I think James was never more happy since the time he joined the army than in the short time he acted as Major after receiving his commission.
The fatigue of marching was not to be compared with what he had to bear while in the line.
It was only his strong determination to keep up and do his duty that prevented him many times while in the line from going in an ambulance, as I often tried to persuade him to do. At Little Washington he enjoyed himself exceedingly.
The country was wonderfully beautiful, and the weather lovely; and he rode a great deal, all about the roads along the foot of the Blue Ridge, often early in the morning, coming back to breakfast all fresh and radiant, his only exclamation, “O Doctor, I had such a ride!”
We are now near the end of his career.
For many years his sky had been often overcast, but gleams of joyous sunlight had illuminated the clouds; and as the sun rose higher, its fervors dispelled the mists and shadows, revealing a beautiful and noble landscape.
At last the clouds were almost gone,
