Jocko Podcast - 393: 4th of July, 1863

Episode Date: July 4, 2023

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This is Jocko podcast number 393 with Kerry Helton and me Jocco Willink. Good evening, Kerry. Good evening. On the 4th of July, we took part in a reconnaissance over the wreck-strewn field amidst the scene of unsupportable horror. Pushing as far out as Willoughby's run, finding no enemy, we returned to our ground. We were now told to rest and be ready to move from the field the next day. But there was neither removal.

rest for us till we had gone up the round top slopes to bid farewell to our dead we found them there on sheltered lawn where we had laid them on the velvet moss fringed by low cedars that veiled the place with peace and beauty I rode up near and flinging the rain upon my horse's neck dismounted to bend over them for a soldier's farewell there they lay side by side with touch of elbow still, brave, bronzed faces where the last thought was written, manly resolution, heroic self-giving, divine reconciliation, or where on some young face the sweet mother look had come out under death's soft whisper. We buried them there in a grave, alas, too wide, on the sunny side of a great rock,

eternal witnesses of their worth, the rock and the sun. Rude headboards made of ammunition boxes, rudely carved under tear, dimmed eyes, marked and named each grave, and told each home. I went, it is not long ago, to stand again upon that crest

whose one day's crown of fire has passed into the blazoned coronet of fame, to look again upon the rocks whereon we laid as on the altar of lives of Vincent and O'Rourke of weed and Haslett, all the chief commanders. And farther on were my own young heroes mounted to fall no more. Billings, the valor of whose onward-looking eyes not death itself could quench. Kendall, almost maiden sweet and fair, yet heeding not the bolt that dashed his life blood on the rocks. Estes and steel, and noias and buck,

lifted high above self, pure in heart as they that shall see God. And far up the rugged sides of great roundtop, swept in darkness and silence like its own, where the impetuous Lin-Scott had halted at last before the morning star. I thought of those other noble men of every type, commanders all who bore their wounds so bravely many to meet their end on later fields and

those on whose true hearts further high trusts were to be laid nor did I forget those others whether their names are written on the scrolls of honor and fame or their dust left on some far field and nameless nameless never to me nor nameless I trust in God where they are tonight so that right there is an excerpt from Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's book bayonet forward and that is a section where he recounts the burying of his men on the 4th of July after the Battle of Gettysburg and this is what I think of now on the 4th of july I know that we celebrate our freedom.

I know we cook hot dogs. I know we watch fireworks. And I know that we enjoy the incredible blessings of this great nation. But I remember also that on this day, 160 years ago, a brave commander buried the men he had lost, men who were defending a hill, defending the Union flank, defending the Union army,

and preserving the United States of America. Talked about Chamberlain before. We covered parts of this book on Podcast 323 with Jason Gardner. I also covered this broadly talking about the Battle of Gettysburg on the Civil War excursion with J.D. Episode 6. Chamberlain was kind of epic, to be honest with you. Soldier, leader, a warrior, also a scholar. He received the Medal of Honor for his leadership at Gettysburg.

for specifically little roundtop but he also fought that wasn't well that wasn't all for him He also fought Fredericksburg Chancellor'sville Spotsylvania Cold Harbor Petersburg five forks He was wounded five times in battle and two of those times where he was wounded They probably should have been fatal of all the Soldiers and officers it was Chamberlain who was chosen to receive the flag of surrender at Appomattox on April 12th 1865 and after the war Chamberlain went back to Maine where he was elected governor four times he was also a lawyer he was a real estate developer served as president Bowden College and he's incredibly articulate incredible writer and communicator and his writing is a little bit lofty for us today

Just a little bit not not too much But like Shakespeare he has a command of language that we have to work a little bit to appreciate But when we do the work we are rewarded with enlightenment Through his words so back to the context of the 4th of July This gruesome and heroic battle for little round top and the message that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain delivers is one that that we must never forget. So let's set the stage, Gettysburg. After victory for the Confederates

in Chancellivor, Chancelliville in May of 1863, General Lee, the commander of the Confederate, the Army of normal Northern Virginia, he wanted to invade the North. That's what we wanted to do. He was tired of fighting down in the South when these wars took place back then, like the Civil War,

The soldiers and the horses they basically were like locusts moving through the land and they would just eat everything in sight and generally wanted to take the pressure off of the south especially his home state of Virginia and he thought that if he could do that some of the northern politicians they would think to themselves look this is too much trouble I don't want this kind of beef right We don't need this. Let's just let the South go. Just let him go. Let him go do their own thing.

That's fine. He was hoping that the northern politicians would be convinced in that, of that if generally invaded. So that's what he did. He marched his army to the north. Eventually, they massed about 70,000 troops. This battle of Gettysburg started on July 1st, 1863. The union's general Buford. It was a cavalry commander spotted the Confederates.

And instead of doing what cavalry is supposed to do, which is go back and tell headquarters what's going on, instead he knew that they need to be slowed down. He needed to slow down the Confederates. And so that's what he did. He attacked them, sort of set up little picket lines and would harass them for a while and then run away and then harass them some more

and then run away and harass them some more. And it did slow down the Confederates. And it allowed the Union troops time to move into position, which is what they did. And on the second day of the battle, which is July 2nd, most of both armies had been assembled. And the Union Army was on the high ground, well, a stretch of high ground, cemetery ridge, and Colp's Hill, and eventually little roundtop down there to the south. And the Confederate forces were aligned on Seminary Ridge. And it was on that second delay, second day of the battle, July 2, 1863, that the 4th, the 15th, and the 47th, Alabama regiments,

along with the 4th and 5th, Texas regiments attacked the left flank of the Union line. And it was a storm of close combat that lasted almost three hours. And it's our duty today that their deeds and their names are. captured in those scrolls of honor as Chamberlain said and in this case the scrolls written by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain himself so let's go to the book as Chamberlain takes position on little round top again remember this is the second day of battle there is already chaos going on and they recognize the Union recognized that they had to get troops down there to this left flank so they could hold the left flank because they knew if

they got if they got overtaken on their left flank they would probably get rolled up very very quickly and so this is now Chamberlain moving his troops into position on little roundtop and I'm going to do my best it's a weird it's a weird balancing act because I just want to read it but I also want to take time to discuss what he's saying and even when I got done with that first passage I was like man there's so many things I want to cue in on the things that he's saying are so powerful so I'll try to do a little bit of both so here we are going to the book bayonet forward once again this little section is called hold the line at all costs as we neared the summit of the mountain the shot so raked the crest that we had to keep

our men below it to save our heads, although this did not wholly avert the visits of tree tops and splinters of rock and iron while the boulders and clefts and pitfalls in our path made them seem like the replica of the evil den across the sweetly named Plum Run. So here they are. They're just trying to get in position and they can't go over the crest of the mountain or they'll get killed. but there's so much shrapnel coming down on them that it seems like to him over across the way over across plum run which is a little like a little road is the devil's den which is another part of the getty's beat get a get a getysfield gettysburg battlefield it's another part of it and there's all these rocks and weird little formations in there where there was a lot of heavy fighting and death but he's saying this was like their own little replethe's of the devil's den just imagine you're going to get in position on a line that you're being going to be told you have to hold and there's so much fire coming your way that

you can't dare to get your head over that crest so that's what they're rolling into back to the book reaching the southern face of little round top I found Vincent there with intense poise and look he said with a voice of awe as if translated the tables of eternal law. Like, who writes that? Right there. So this is Strong Vincent, one of the commanders. He said with a voice of awe,

as if translating the tables of eternal law. First of all, I don't even know what that means. I mean, I've never heard of the eternal law. Have you? No. No. It's just, but we know what it means, but we don't know what it means.

We know that the tables of eternal law. We know what they are, but we don't know what they are. He says, I place you here. This is the left of the union line. You understand. You are to hold this ground at all costs.

I did understand full well, but had more to learn about costs. So the left flank of the union line. So of the, I forget, I think it's 80 or 90,000 union soldiers that are there. They're all in a big line. And the far left flank is these guys. guys from the 20th main he goes on to say the regiment coming up right in the front was put in position by a quite uncommon order on the right by file into line both that we should thus be facing the enemy when we came to a front and also be ready to commence firing as fast as each

man arrived this is a rather slow style of formation but this time it was it was needful knowing that we had no support on the left I dispatched a stalwart commander under the level headed captain morel in that direction with orders to move along up the valley to our front and left between us and the eastern base of the great roundtop to keep within supporting distance of us and act and to act as the exigencies of the battle should require this is decentralized command coming at you so when you're on little Roundtop and thankfully I've been there a bunch of times now when you're on little roundtop it just kind of it's a smaller No and then it goes down into a little valley and then it picks up and that's the big round top great round top And he sends Captain Morel with a few others guys these sharpshooters. He sends them down and Maintains supporting distance so that means they're supposed to stay close enough that they can hear each other That they can definitely support each other with fire and he says hey you do what you need to do as the battle requires.

That's decentralized command, loud and clear. Hey, go over there and be ready to just do what you got to do. Next, the 20th Maine regiment had 358 men equipped for duty in the ranks with 28 officers. They were all well-seasoned soldiers and what is more well-rounded men, body and brain. So he's got 358 men. And the needle is on to this. one somewhat important side note must have place here in order properly to appreciate the mental and moral attitude of the men before us 120 of these men from the second main were recruits whom some recruiting officer had led into the belief that they should be discharged with their regiment at the end of its term of service in their enthusiasm they had not noticed that they were signing enlistment papers for quote three years of the war

end quote and when they had been held in the field after the discharge of the regiment they had refused to do military duty and had been sequestrated in a prisoners camp as mutineers waiting court-martial so a hundred of these guys are people that had gotten screwed over by their recruiter the recruiter said hey you're you'll you're just going when the regiment goes and when the regiment disbands you you guys don't have to do anything else the fine print was you're You owe three years to the war. So these guys were like, oh, we're not doing it anymore.

We're done. And they get put into a prison camp as mutineers and they're waiting for a court marshal continuing on. The exigency of our movement, the last of May had not permitted this semi-civil treatment and orders from the Secretary of War had directed me to take these men upon my roles and put them to duty. So now they didn't have time for all this. So they tell him, hey, you're going to take these guys.

This made it still harder for them to accept as they had never enlisted in this regiment. However, they had been soon brought over to me under the guard of the 118th Pennsylvania with fixed bayonets, with orders to me to take them into my regiment and make them do duty or shoot them down the moment they refused. So there's a bunch of Pennsylvania soldiers that have these guys at bayonet point. They march them over and tell Chamberlain, all right, you can have these guys do military duty. If they don't do it, kill them. These had been the very words of the Corps commander in person. The responsibility I had thought gave me some discretionary power.

So I had placed their names on our roles, distributed them by groups to equalize companies, and particularly to break up the espried corps of banded mutineers. That's a good move, right? You got a hundred guys roll in? You don't want to keep them in a pack because now they're talking to each other. No, you put them in the different companies. So now they're around a bunch of other guys that are going to kind of sway them in another direction. Then I had called them together and pointed out to them the situation, that they could not be entertained as civilian guests by me, that they were by authority of the United States on my roles as.

soldiers and I should treat them as soldiers should be treated that they should lose no rights by obeying orders and I would see what could be done for their claim it is pleasant to record that all but one or two had gone back manfully to duty to become some of the best soldiers in the regiment as I was to prove this very day how's that for a leadership story freaking prisoners that just want to leave the war they've seen enough they've had enough they've done what they believe they should have done they show up as prisoners at bayonet point and he gets him to fight and fight hard this next section's called not a man waivers now the exigency was great i released the prisoners and provost guards all together and sent them to their companies all but the drummer boys

and hospital attendants went into the ranks even the cooks and servants not liable to such service asked to go in so here you are you're a cook they're taking the line you're taking fire and you're like yo I'm putting down my spatula I'm picking up a rifle let's go others whom I knew to be sick or foot soar and had given a pass to fall out on the forced marches of the day and night before came up now that the battle was on dragging themselves along on the lame and bleeding feet finding their regiment with the sagacy of the brave and their places where need is greatest and hearts truest so guys that were hurt guys that were sore guys that have fallen out of the force march they finally get up there and they're

getting in the line places did any of these heroic men ever leave them although for all too many we pass their names that evening roll call thereafter with only the heart's answer here forever so did these guys maintain their place yes they did and to the point where when they pass their evening roll call only the heart answered that they were there forever our line looked toward the great round top frowning above us not a gunshot away and raising grave thoughts of what might happen if the enemy should gain foothold there even if impracticable for artillery we had enough of that as it was for the tremendous candidate from across the plum run gorge was still pounding the little roundtop crests happily not as yet striking my line which it would have

enfilade if it got into range so they are looking at the bigger of the two round tops and he realizes that it's going to be bad if they get up there and they're still taking fire this whole time the other regiments of the brigade were forming on our right the 83rd pennsylvania the 44th new york and the 16th michigan i was observing and meditating as to the impending and the possible when something of the real was substituted by a visit from colonel rice he thought it would be profitable for us to utilize these few minutes by going to the clearer space on the right of the rich regiment to take a look at the aspect of things in plum run valley the direction of the advance on our front it was a forewarning indeed the enemy had already turned the third core left the devil's den was a

smoking crater the plum run gorge a whirling maelstrom one force was charging our advanced batteries near the wheat field the flanking force was pressing past the base of the round tops all rolling toward us in tumultuous waves. That's got to be a freaking nightmare right there. So you're standing on Little Roundtop and you move over a little bit because where the 20th Mainz ends up because it's further south, you don't get quite get the vantage point as if you move a little north on Little Round Top and then you can kind of see the whole battle. So Colonel Rice comes over and comes like come check this out, bro.

and they walk out there and they just see they see this epic force moving forward these confederate soldiers they they they were devil's den was a smoking crater plum gorge was a whirling maelstrom the third core had already broken like this is just it's gnarly and you're sitting up there with like what do you say 350 guys it was a stirring not to say appalling sight Here a whole battery of shot and shell cutting a ragged chasm through a serried mass, flinging men and horses like drift aside. There, a rifle volley at close range with reeling shock, hands tossed in air. Muskets dropped with death's quick relax or clutched with last convulsive energy, men falling like grass before the scythe, others with manhoods, proud, calm, and rally. There, a little group kneeling above some favorite officer slain, his intense spirit still animating the fiery steed, pressing headlong with empty saddle into the van.

Basically, every one of those little phrases, flinging men and horses like drift aside, just people getting thrown around by cannonballs. They're a rifle volley at close range with reeling shock, hands tossed in the air. Muskets drop that death's quick relax. or clutched with last convulsive energy men falling like grass before the scythe others with manhood's proud calm rally there a little group kneeling above some officer slain so there's a bunch of guys huddled around some some favorite officer and yet his horse is still going forward with nothing in the saddle towards the front of the battle Here a defiant regimen of ours broken slaughtered captured or survivors of both sides

Crouching among the rocks for shelter from the terrible crossfire where there is no rear But all advancing all the frenzied force victors and vanquished each scarcely knowing which surging and foaming Towards us death around behind before and madness everywhere it's mayhem it's mayhem the people that are winning and the people that are losing they don't even know there's no rear there's nowhere where you're safe surging and foaming death everywhere advancing all and everyone's advancing yes brave colonel rice it was well for us to see this the better to see it through a look into each other's eyes without a word we resumed our respective places so they're looking like I said with little round top which

isn't a it's not like a mountain it's a noel maybe a little bigger than a null but it's not huge but when you move to that northern part of it it gives you a really good view of the rest of the battlefield so they go out there they see this may have in the wheat field, which the wheat field doesn't get talked a lot about, but the wheat field, there were so many people, it's probably about the size of two or three football fields, maybe four football fields.

And this is from memory, I apologize if I'm wrong, but there's accounts of it that there were so many dead on the wheat field that you could walk from one side to the other without touching the ground. So that's what they're looking down. They're looking down on all this.

And they know that it's, It's their job that they're the last defense for the union. Next section's called a lull. Then the crash of hell. Ten minutes had not passed. Suddenly the thunder of artillery and the crash of iron that had all the while been roaring over the roundtop crests stopped short. We understood this too.

The storming lines that had swept past the third course flank had got up to the base of little roundtop. And under the range and reach of their guns, they were now close upon, they were now close upon us among the rocks. We knew, unseen, because so near. In a minute more came the role of musketry. It struck the exposed right center of our brigade, promptly answered, repulsed, and renewed again and again. It soon reached us, still extending. Two brigades of Hood's division had attacked, Texas and Alabama.

The fourth Alabama reached our right. The 47th Alabama joined and crowded in, but gradually owing to their echelon advance. Soon, seven companies of this regiment were in our front. We had all we could stand. My attention was sharply called, now here, now there. In the thick and smoke, Lieutenant Nichols, a bright officer near our center, ran up to tell me something queer was going on to his front behind those engaging us. I sprang forward, mounted a great rock in the midst of his company line,

and was soon able to resolve the queer impression into positive knowledge. Thick groups in gray were pushing up along the smooth dail between the round tops in the direction to gain our left flank. There was no mistaking this. they could hold our attention by a hot fight in front while they got in force on that flank it would be bad for us and our whole defense so they're getting attacked from the base of little round top and one of the lieutenants lieutenant Nichols runs over to him and says yo look down there and sure enough he sees what is he called a mass of gray they thick troops in gray they're

pushing and they're trying to sneak in between the two round tops so they can get over to the flank that's what's happening then actually when you go to little roundtop you can stand on that rock and there's a couple there's a debate on which rock it is jd's got his opinion he loves that rock i'm gonna go i'm gonna go agree with him we'll take it uh because when you get up on that specific rock you can definitely see a lot of what is going on there's another rock that's up for debate It doesn't quite give you the advantage, but we're going with JD. Back to the book, how many were coming we could not know. We were rather too busy to send out a reconnaissance.

If a strong force should gain our rear, our brigade would be caught as by a mighty shears blade and be cut and crushed. What would follow, it was easy to foresee. This must not be. our orders to hold that ground had to be liberally interpreted that front had to be held and that rear covered something must be done quickly and coolly i called the captains and told them my tactics to keep the front fire at the hottest without special regard to its need or immediate effect and at the same time as they found opportunity to take sidesteps to the left coming gradually into one rank, file closers and all. Then I took the colors with their guard and placed them at our extreme left where a great boulder gave token and support,

thence bending back at a right angle, the whole body gained ground leftward and made twice our original front. And were not long in doing it. This was a difficult movement to execute under such a fire, requiring coolness. as well as heat of rare quality were my officers and men I shall never cease to admire and honor them for what they did in this desperate crisis so they're in one line and basically what he tells them to do is we're about to get flanked so he has to kind of fold that line back at a right angle so that they can protect the rest of their flank and that's what he does and he does this under fire

which requires coolness as well as heat Meantime the tremendous blow of the fourth and fifth Texas struck the right of our brigade and our 16th Michigan reeled and staggered back under the shock Confusion followed Vincent felt that all was lost unless the very gods should intervene Soared aloft and face aflame he rushed in among the broken companies in desperate effort to rally them man by man by sheer force of his supreme personality he restored a portion of his line and was urging up the rest don't yield an inch now men or all is lost he cried when answering a volley scorched the very faces of the men and vincent's soul went up in a chariot of fire so this is one of the other commanders up there they're about they get they get smashed by the fourth and fifth texas and they're about to break and strong Vincent goes in the line

and man to man getting them to hold the line and under one of these volleys he's killed in that agonizing moment came tearing up the 140th New York Gallant O'Rourke at the head not waiting to load a musket or form a line

they sprang forward into that turmoil Met by a withering Vali that killed its fine young colonel and laid low many of his intrepid officers and a hundred of his men This splendid regiment as by a Providence we may well call divine saved us all in that moment of threatened doom So this is the this is the hundred and 140th New York with O'Rourke and you can go to if you go to Gettysburg you can go to O'Rourke's pub But these guys come up they don't even

As Vincent is about to like get overrun up shows O'Rourke and they don't even they don't even organize. They just freaking go into the line. And when you get up there to Little Roundtop, this is like the northern section of Little Roundtop. It's a little bit steeper of like a cliff. So they're kind of diving off this cliff in order to engage in combat. I mean by cliff I mean, you know, it's like little rocks four or five feet. they're jumping down. Chaos.

To add a tragic splendor to this dark scene in the midst of it all, the indomitable Hazlitt was trying to get his guns, 10-pounder rifled parrots, up to a working place on the summit close beyond. Finally, he was obliged to take his horses entirely off and lift his guns by hand and hand-spike up the craggy steep whence he launched death and defiance wide and far around. What a description.

launching death and defiance the roar of all this tumult reached us on the left and heightened the intensity of our resolve Meanwhile the flanking column around to our left and joined with those before us in a fierce assault which lasted with increasing fury for an intense hour These two lines met and broke and mingled in the shock the crush of musketry gave way to cuts and thrusts and thrusts grapplings and wrestlings the edge of conflict swayed to and fro with wild whirlpools and eddies at times I saw around me more of the enemy than of my own men gaps opening swallowing closing again with sharp convulsive energy squads of stalwart men who had cut their way through us disappearing as if translated all around strange mingled roar shouts of defiance rally and desperation and underneath murmured entreaty

and stifled moans gasping prayers snatches of sabbath song whispers of loved names everywhere men torn and broken staggering creeping quivering on the earth and dead faces with strangely fixed eyes staring stark into the sky things which cannot be told nor dreamed there's a lot going on a lot going on I wonder when they make movies

you know like the Gettysburg movie and they try and they do their best to sort of capture this chaos I wonder how well they do that I don't think you can do it yeah how about Braveheart when they are charging at each other and then as the two lines meet, it just gets into chaos.

I think because the scale they did that out and they must have filmed it in a way where they must have said, hey, you just get in there and cause chaos. It has to be unplanned completely. Yeah, there's a fictional Game of Thrones does a pretty good job with their production. There's a battle that takes place. And watching it, it causes that kind of anxiety. You almost feel like you can't breathe because it's, they're, they're all packed in so tight. And there's, you know, combat happening.

And that was one, I remember watching and being like, damn, like they really did a solid job of kind of capturing some of that. Did you watch the terminal list? Yeah. So like the opening of the terminal list where they're doing this mission. And I was watching it with my wife. and we got done watching like that opening scene and I had actually already seen it because I went to the premier Jack Carr,

hooking a brother up, but I went to that and so I had seen it before but now I'm watching it with my wife and I had already told I'd already told Jack like that scene and Chris Pratt I told them both. I was like, yo this opening scene because what makes it good is there's like flashes of light you don't know what's happening, you're confused

and so I get done watching this my wife and she's like that was like I'm not sure what happened that was really confusing I'm like exactly they nailed it it's freaking chaos it's you don't know what's going on there's flashes of light there's muzzle like what you know how you can tell the difference between a muzzle flash from the enemy and you're friendly you can't really oh well that was an okay now you're in like a city like it's it's chaos man it's chaos can you tell the difference a little bit by the sound sure can you look at the muzzle flash but man with when when you're on nods like half nods half nod on nods it's freaking crazy man it's freaking mayhem that's what it is when they captured

that and so this right here these guys just this this battle being so close that there's they go from shooting each other to cutting each other with with bayonets now they're grappling they're wrestling The line is changing back and forth. Like we don't know who's winning. We don't know who's losing. Back to the book. How men held on each one knows not I. But manhood commands admiration.

There was one fine young fellow who had been cut down early in the fight with a ghastly wound across his forehead and who I had thought might possibly be saved with prompt attention. So I had sent him back to our little field hospital at least to die in peace Within a half an hour in a desperate rally, I saw that noble youth amidst the rolling smoke as an apparition from the dead with bloody bandage for the only covering of his head in the thick of the fight high born and pressing on as they that shall see death no more I shall know him again when I see him on whatever shore So to another in the very deepest of the struggle While our shattered line had pressed the enemy well below their first point of contact And the struggle to regain it was fierce I saw through a sudden rift in the thick smoke our colors standing alone

And if you don't know what that is that's our flag I first thought some optical illusion illusion imposed upon me but as forms emerged through the drifting smoke the truth came to view the crossfire had cut keenly the center had been almost shot away only two of the color guard had been left and they were fighting to fill the whole space and in the center wreathed in battle smoke stood the color sergeant andrew tosier his color staff planted in the ground that his side The upper part clasped in his elbow, so holding the flag upright with musket and cartridges

seized from the fallen comrade at his side. He was defending his sacred trust in the manner of songs of chivalry. It was a stirring picture. It's import, still more stirring. That color must be saved and that center too. I sent first to the regiment honor right for a dozen men to help us here. But they could not spare a man. I then called my younger brother Tom the adjutant and sent him forward to close that gap somehow if no men could be drawn from neighboring companies to draw back the salient angle and contract our center the fire down there at this moment was so hot I thought impossible for him to get there alive and I dispatched immediately after him sergeant Thomas whom I had made a special orderly with the same instructions it needed them both and

and both came back with personal proofs of perilous undertaking. It was strange that the enemy did not seize that moment and point of weakness. Perhaps they saw no weakness. Perhaps it was awe or admiration that held them back from breaking in on that sublime scene. It's just freaking amazing. He sends his brother. And he's thinking there's no way you're getting through this. not gonna happen he as soon as he sends his brother he sends backup that's sketch

yeah by the way his brother is there with him and he sends him right into this gaping maw of destruction but they're able to maintain the colors when that mad carnival lulled from some strange instinct in human nature and without any reason in the situation that can be seen when the battling edges drew asunder there stood our little line groups and gaps Notched like saw teeth but sharp as steel Tempered in infernal heats like a magic sword of the goths We were on the appointed and entrusted line

Line we held the ground at all costs Sad surprise it see it had seemed to us we were all the while holding our own and had never left it But now that the smoke dissolved We saw our dead and wounded all out in front of us mingled with more of the enemy They were scattered all the way down to the very feet of the baffled hostile line now rallying in the low shrubbery for a new onset We could not wait for this they knew our weakness now and they were gathering force No place for tactics now the appeal must be to primal instincts of human nature So there's a little lull.

There's a little low in the battle. That's what happens. And as this lull takes place, they start to, smoke starts to settle a little bit. They look down, little round top. They held the line. They're excited about that for a moment. They see the smoke start to settle.

Now they're kind of, they're, they see all they're wounded and all they're dead. And that's horrific. And as they're contemplating that, what do they see? they see the Confederate soldiers preparing to attack again. And he knows, they can see, they can see that they're almost broken. They can see it. Before they couldn't see it, whatever that moment was earlier,

where the colors were almost taken and they were barely able to hold on and push him back one more time, well now the Confederates are reassembling. They can see that they've got these guys, you know, in a bad way and it continues on shall they die there under the enemy's feet and under our eyes words like those brokenly uttered from heart to heart struck the stalwart troops holding together for a stand and rouse them to the front quicker than any voice or bugle of command so now all the boys start seeing their friends are all shot up down there they get they get to the line these true-hearted men but a little

before buffeted back and forth by superior force and now bracing for a dubious test dashed down the death-strewn slope into the face of the rallied and recovering foe and hurled them tore them from our fallen as the tiger avenges its young nor did they stop till they had cleared the farthest verge of the field redeemed by the loving for the lost the brave for the brave so they go for it as they're reassembling they go back down there and recover some of their guys now came a longer lull so there's another law but this meant not rest but thought and action first it was to gather our wounded and bear them to the sheltered lawn for saving life or peace and dying the dead too that that not even our feet should do them dishonor in the coming encounter

But we're getting our dead off the field. We're not going to step on them. Then such as heavenly human pity, the wounded of our country's foes, brothers in blood for us now, so far from other caring, born like refuge and succor by the drummer boys

who had become angels of the field. So even in the heat of this battle, there's a lull, and they go and help the Confederate soldiers that are wounded but are too far from their own troops. The drummer boys go out and get them. In this lull, I took a turn over the dismal field to see what could be done for the living, in ranks or recumbent, and came upon a manly form and face I well remembered. He was a sergeant earlier in the field of Antietam and of Fredericksburg.

and for refusing to perform some menial personal service for a bullying cornermaster in winter camp was reduced to the ranks by a commander who had not carefully investigated the case. It was a degradation and the injustice of it rankled his high-born spirit. So he sees a guy and he sees this guy who had been busted down in rank by some bullying quartermaster some freaking authoritarian asshole is what we're talking about had busted this guy down and now this injustice had rankled this highborn spirit but his well-bred pride would not allow him to ask for justice as a favor I'd kept this in mind for early action now he was lying there stretched stretched on an open front where a brave stance

had been made face to the sky a great bullet hole in the middle of his breast from which he had loosened the clothing to ease his breathing and the rich blood was pouring in a stream i bent down over him his face lightened his lips moved but i spoke first my dear boy it has gone hard with you you shall be cared for he whispered tell my mother i did not die i can There was the prayer of a homebred manhood poured out with his life's blood. I knew and answered him, you die a sergeant. I promote you for faithful service and noble courage on the field of Gettysburg. This was all he wanted.

No word more. I had him born from the field, but his high spirit had passed to its place. It is needless to add that as soon as he was, add that as soon as a piece of parchment could be found after that battle a warrant was made out promoting George Washington buck to sergeant in the terms told him and this evidence placed the sad proud mother's name on the roles of the country's benefactors palacious battle he has kind of an interesting tangent here as for myself so far I had escaped how close an escape I had had I did not know till afterwards I think I may

mention here as a psychological incident that some years after the war I received a letter written in a homely but manly style by one subscribing himself a member of the 15th Alabama and he wrote dear sir I want to tell you of a little passage in the Battle of Roundtop Gettysburg concerning you and me which I am now glad of twice in that fight I had your life in my hands I got a safe place between two rocks and drew bead fair and square on you you were standing in the open behind the center of your line full exposed I knew your rank by your uniform and your actions and I thought it a mighty good thing to put you out of the

way I rested my gun on the rock and took steady aim I started to pull the trigger but some queer notion stopped me then I got ashamed of my weakness and went through the same motions again I had you perfectly certain but that same queer something shut right down on me I couldn't pull the trigger and gave it up that is your life I am glad of it now and hope you are Yours truly. I thought he was that and answered him accordingly asking him to come up north and see whether I was worth what he missed But my answer never found him nor could I afterwards So who knows? But apparently somebody was gonna kill him

Decided not to This next section is called the last cartridge and bare steel Before you get into that well the first sentence says the silence and the doubt of the momentary lull were quickly dispelled I This is something to think about in life. We used to put putting guys through training and you'd back the opposing force off. So, you know, the seals would be out there in the desert or in the city in a training environment. And there would be other seals, bad guy seals. We call them opt for opposing force.

And they would come and attack. Well, they would put the pressure. They'd start attacking and then they'd back off. and what you'd see a good leader, what you'd see a bad leader do is, like, oh, they're not attacking us, cool. We can just sit here and like get a grip and relax and take a minute to chill out.

You know, maybe not necessarily, quote, chill out, but basically, hey, let one get your breath, check your gear. And that's what you see a bad leader do. And what a good leader would do is maneuver. Like, they're not shooting because they're maneuvering on it. us. They're doing something. They're setting something up. So if we have the opportunity to move right now because they're not shooting at us, let's go. So when there's a lull in life, that's a, that's an opportunity to move, to get better,

to improve your position. A lull when there's not a lot going on is not a time to say, oh, cool, I can take a break. Was that strategic from the opt for to pull back and see what would happen? Or were they just actually maneuvering? A little bit of both. So sometimes we'd be like sometimes it'd be they had too much pressure and they couldn't handle it and look you can just slaughter them all But that's not you know that's that's a black belt just trashing a white belt right You you you want to let them work so sometimes we back and off just to let them work

But if we backed off and they didn't work There's nothing we can I can help you at that point like if you if you if we back off and you sit there in that weak-ass perimeter in the low ground While the off-for is moving to the high ground and enveloping your position, it's not going to go well for you. I can't help you. Going to get destroyed. Yeah, you're going to get thrash.

But if they back off a little bit and you start to maneuver to you get to the high ground, now of a sudden you've got an opportunity to kick their ass. But think about that with life. Think about those little opportunities. You get like, oh, you got to break off. Finally, it's a Sunday. You know, day off, whatever. If you're one of those people that has weekends,

if you're one of those people that believe in weekends, what are you doing? What's going on? Got that little lull you're sitting on an airplane. What are you doing on the airplane? Doing a little travel? What are you doing? You watched, did you downloads or pre-downloads of Netflix, boy?

Got to watch out for that, man. So when you get the chance to, when there's a lull, take advantage of it. Going on here, the silence and the doubt of the momentary lull were quickly dispelled. The formidable 15th Alabama repulsed and as we hope dispersed. now in solid and orderly array still more than twice our numbers came rolling through the fringe of Sharperol on our left and Sharper all is I had to look that one up it's like like a little cluster of dense shrubs no dash no yells no demonstration for effect but settled purpose and determination we opened on them as best we could the fire was returned cutting us to the quick So this time when the 15th Alabama come, they're just no, no yelling, no screaming, we're just coming. The 47th Alabama had rallied on our right.

We were enveloped in fire and sure to be overwhelmed. In fact, when the great surge struck us, whatever might be otherware, what was here before us was evident, these far outnumbering, confident eyes yet why. for a sign of weakness already I could see the bold flankers on the right darting out and creeping cat like under the smoke to gain our left thrown back as it was it was for us then once for all so he's looking around he sees can imagine how scary that is like you're you know they're attacking and you're watching them crawl up to the flank to your right to your left flank where you're weak our thin

line was broken and the enemy were in our rear of the whole round top defense infantry artillery humanity itself with the round top and the day theirs so they're about to be surrounded now to our fire was slackening our last rounds of shot had been fired what I had sent for could not get to us I saw the faces of my men one after another when they had fired their last cartridge turn anxiously toward mine for a moment then square to the front again to the front for them lay death to the rear what they would die to save my thought was running deep I was combining the elements of a forlorn hope and had just communicated this to captain spear of the wheeling flank on which the

initiative was to fall just then so will a little incident fleck a a brooding cloud of doom with a tint of human tenderness brave warm-hearted lieutenant Melcher of the color company whose captain and nearly half of his men were down came up and asked me if he might take his company and go forward pick up one or two of his men left wounded on the field and bring them in before the enemy got too near this would be a most hazard us move in itself and in this desperate moment we could not break the line but I admired him with a glance he understood I answered yes sir in a moment I am about to order a charge so this guy comes in want to go out and recover some of his people he says standby

we're all going not a moment was about to be lost five minutes more of such a defensive and the last roll call would sound for us desperate as the chances were there was nothing for it but to take the offensive I stepped to the colors the men turned towards me one word was enough bayonet it caught like fire and swept along the ranks the men took it up with a shout one could not say whether from the pit or the song of the morning star it was vain to order forward no mortal could have heard it in the mighty hosanna that was winging the sky nor would he wait to hear it there are things still as the there are things still as of the first creation whose seed is in itself so he's saying he said bayonet but he never gives the order forward because the seed is in itself that everyone knew

Everyone knew what was going to happen. The grating clash of steel and fixing bayonets told its own story. The color rose in front. The whole line quivered for the start. The edge of the left wing rippled, swung, tossed among the rocks, straightened, changed curve from scimitar to sickle shape, and the bristling archers swooped down upon the seried host. down into the face of half a thousand,

200 men. So it just starts. He gives the order to fix bayonets and they start going forward. They have 500 enemy, 200 of them. It was a great right wheel. Our left swung first. The advancing foe stopped,

tried to make a stand amidst the trees and boulders, but the frenzied bayonets pressing through every space forced a constant settling to the rear. More ill with his detached company and remnants of our valorous sharpshooters who had held the enemy so long in check on the slopes of the great roundtop now fell upon the flank of the retiring crowd

and it turned to full retreat some amidst the crags of the great roundtop but most down the smooth veil toward their own main line on plum run. So luckily he'd thrown those guys out there over on a great round top and now as the bayonets come and it's like a hammer and anvil scenario This tended to mass them before our center here their stand was more stubborn

At the first dash the commanding officer I happened to confront coming on fiercely Sword in one hand big Navy revolver on the other fires one barrel almost in my face But seeing the quick saber point at his throat Reverse his arms gives sword and pistol into my hands and yields himself a prisoner. I took him at his word, but could not give him further attention. I passed him over into the custody of a brave sergeant at my side to whom I gave the sword as emblem of his authority, but kept the pistol with its loaded barrels, which I thought might come in handy soon, as indeed it did. So a dude just draws down on him, cracks off around, misses the

headshot. And then Chamberlain's got his sword. at his throat and the dude surrenders ranks were broken many retired before us somewhat hastily some through their muskets to the ground even loaded sunk on their knees threw up their hands calling out we surrender don't kill us as if we wanted to do that we kill only to resist killing and these were manly men whom we could befriend and by no means kill if they came our way in peace and goodwill. Charging right through and over these,

we struck the second line of the 47th Alabama, doing their best to stand, but offering little resistance. Their lieutenant colonel, as I passed, a fine gentleman, was Colonel Bulger, introduced himself as my prisoner, and as he was wounded, I had him cared for as best we could, still swinging to the right as a great gate on its hinges.

we swept the front clean of assailants. We were taking in prisoners by the scores more than we could hold or send to our rear so that many made final escape up Great Roundtop. Halfway down to the throat of the veil, I came upon Colonel Powell of the fourth Alabama, a man of courtly bearing who was badly wounded. I sent him to the 83rd Pennsylvania nearest to us and better able to take care of him. than we were when we reached the front of the 44th New York I thought it far enough beyond on the right the Texas brigade had rallied or rendezvous or rendezvoused I took thought of that most of the

fugitives before us rather than run the gauntlet of our whole brigade had taken shelter of the rocks of the great roundtop on our left as we now faced it was hazardous to be so far out in the very presence of so many baffled but far from beaten veterans of hood's renowned division a sudden rush on either flank might not only have cut us off but cut in behind us and seize that vital point which it was our orders and our trust to hold but it was no light task to get our men to stop so he's trying to get the guys to stop like they're keep pushing and pushing and if you push too far all of a sudden maybe some of the people that are on great roundtop could sneak in behind him and you can have a problem. So he's trying to get the guys to stop. But it was no light task to get our men to stop.

They were under the momentum of their deed. They thought they were on the road to Richmond. They had to be reasoned with, persuaded, but at last faced about and marched back to that dedicated crest with swelling hearts. So he had to stifle their momentum. Not without sad interest and service was the return. For many of the wounded had to be gathered up. There was a burden, too, of the living. Nearly 400 prisoners remained in our hands, two for every man of ours.

Shortly, the twilight deepened, and we disposed ourselves to meet any new assault that might come from the courage of exasperation, but the attack was not renewed. whether that cold steel had chilled the ardor which flaming muzzles seemed to enliven and sustain or the revulsion of retiring mood was not yet over a wide silence brooded over the hostile line that's an interesting point like shooting your guns get you all fired up but that seeing that bayonet bayonet blade coming at you kind of chills you out a little bit maybe makes you second think second guess what your what you're uh Intentions are our worn-out men bid at last to rest fitted themselves to their environment or followed their souls behest Some bent as if senseless to the earth some gazed up at the stars and sent wireless message through them to dear ones far away Some wandered dreamily away in a search for water to wash from their throats the nitrous fumes of battle

Others too manly to seek a surgeon Looked even for a shred of cartridge paper To stanch a too free wound Or yet more deeply drawn sought the sheltered nook Where our wounded had been born to render such aid as they could And take the farewell message home From the lips of brave men to hearts That had to be more brave

We were withdrawn Being relieved by our first brigade But we were sent to anything but a place of rest our new position was in support of Hancock's troops Near the left center of the union line which proved to be the point aimed at by pickets charge that afternoon So you have what's about to come as pickets charge and they have the entire union line So they pull these guys off the flank which is where you think okay well we'll pull them into the center Hopefully they can get like a little bit of rest and hopefully it won't be in the intense fighting, but that's exactly where Pickett's charge comes This is the story of my participation in the action and the passion of the second day at Gettysburg

It was certainly a narrow chance for us and for the roundtops had we not used up our ammunition and had we continued to meet the enemy musket to musket this give and take would soon have finished us by reason of the enemy's superior numbers so if they just kept shooting at each other well that's just a war of attrition and the enemy the Confederates had more weapon had more bullets so they were lost or had the 15th Alabama continued their onset not regarding our preposterous demonstrations they would have walked over our bodies to their victory or still again if one more Confederate regiment had come upon our flank we must have been rolled into a zero figure and swallowed up in the envelopment it was a psychological success a miracle in the scheme of military science

those brave Alabama fellows none braver or better in either army were victims of a surprise of their quick and mobile imagination so this is where he kind of this is what we opened with right after this happens this is when he goes up and he he buries his men on the 4th of July and once he has the men buried again that's the part that I let off with he says this I sat there alone on the storied crest till the sun went down as it did over the misty hills and the darkness crept up the slopes till from all earthly sight I was buried as with those before but oh what radiant companionship rose around what steadfast ranks of power what bearing of heroic souls oh the glory that beamed through

those nights and days nobody will ever know it here I'm sorry most of all for that proud young valor that rose above the mortal and then at last was mortal after all the chivalry of hand and heart that in other days and other lands would have sent their names ringing down in song and story they did not know it themselves those boys of ours whose remembered faces in every home should be cherished symbols of the true for life or death what were their lofty deeds of body mind heart soul on that tremendous day unknown but kept itself shall be its treasurer it holds something of ours besides graves these strange influences of material nature its mountains and seas its sunset skies and nights of stars its colors and tones and odors carry something of the mutual reciprocal it is a sympathy on that other side it is represented to us as suffering the whole creation travailing in pain together in earnest expectation waiting for the adoption having right then to something which is to be its own

And so these Gettysburg hills, which lifted up such splendid valor and drank in such high heart's blood, shall hold the mighty secret in their bosom till the great day of revelation and recompense. When these heights shall flame again with transfigured light, they too have part in that adoption, which is the manifestation of these sons of God that is how Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain spent the 4th of July 1863 burying his honored dead and six years later in 1889 he was on that hill again to dedicate a monument for his men the men of the 20th Maine.

And luckily, we have some of the words that he spoke on that day. It also contained in the same book. This book is like a compilation of a bunch of different things that he wrote and speeches that he gave. And this is what he said at that dedication, 1889. Today we stand on an awful arena. where character, which was the growth of centuries, was tested and determined by the issues of a single day. That's a bold statement, right?

For centuries, you live a certain way, you learn, you follow the traditions, you follow the standards, but it all gets tested on a single day. We are compassed about by a cloud of witnesses, Not alone the shadowy ranks of those who wrestled here, but the greater parties of action. They for whom these things were done. Forms of thought rise before us as in an amphitheater, circle beyond circle, rank, above rank, the state, the union, the people, and these are one.

Let us, from the arena, contemplate the spirit. spiritual spectators. There is an aspect in which the question at issue might seem to be of forms and not of substance. It was on its face a question of government. There was a boastful pretense that each state held in its hands the death warrant of the nation, that any state had a right without show of justification outside of its own caprice to violate the covenants of the Constitution to break away from the union and set up its own little sovereignty. as sufficient for all human purposes and ends thus leaving it to the mere will or whim of any member of our political system to destroy the body and dissolve the soul of the great people but this was not our theory nor our justification the flag we bore into the field was not that of particular states no matter how many or how loyal arrayed against other states it was the flag of the union the flag of the people vindicating the right and charged with the duty of preventing any

factions no matter how many nor under what pretense from breaking up this common country it was the country of the south as well of the north these men who sought to dismember it belong to it's life was a large life aloof from the dominance of self-surroundings but in it their truest interests were interwoven they suffered themselves to be drawn down from the spiritual ideal by influences of the physical world we fought against no state but for its deliverance we fought the enemies of our common country to overthrow the engines and symbols of its destruction wherever found upon its soil we fought no better perhaps than they we exhibited perhaps no higher individual qualities but the cause for which we fought was higher our thought was wider we

too were fighting for birthright and native soil for home and all the sanctities of life wide over the land and far forward through the years to come for all this belongs to us and we to it that thought was our power we took rank by its height and not of our individual selves it is something great and greatening to cherish an ideal to act in the light of the truth that is far away and far above To set aside the near advantage the momentary pleasure the snatching of seeming good to itself Oder ends for higher good and for interests other than our own to us this people in its life on earth was a moral Personality having a character and a commission hence responsibility hence duty hence right and its authority the Union was the body of a spirit of unity of this we were part responsible to it and for it and our sacrifice was its

service but others above yourself and in delayed gratification right act in the light of the truth that is far away and far above to set aside the near advantage the momentary pleasure the snatching of seeming good to self and act for remoter ends, for higher good, and for interests other than our own. Word. I was frantically trying to write those down as you read. Yeah. Again, like you read these things and he's just making it so, I guess clear wouldn't be the right word because it can be difficult to follow.

but it's just stated in a way that's kind of undeniable. We fought against no state but for its deliverance. We fought no better perhaps than they. We exhibited perhaps no higher individual qualities, but the cause for which we fought was higher and our thought was wider. It goes on to say this. Hence, it is that in question of rank of rights and duties

country must stand supreme the thought goes deeper there is a mysterious law of our nature that in this sense of membership and participation the spirit rises to a magnitude commensurate with that of which it is part the greatness of the whole passes into the consciousness of each the power of the whole seems to become the power of each and the character of the whole is impressed upon each the inspiration of a noble cause involving human interest far and wide enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before and which they were not capable of alone the consciousness of belonging vitally to something beyond individuality of being part of a personality that reaches we know not where in space and time, gratens the heart to the limits of the

soul's ideal and builds out the supreme character. Now, you might think to yourself, well, I mean, aren't we, don't we believe in individual rights? Isn't that? What about individuality and all those things? And yeah, I get it. But if you, if you buy into that, your goals aren't high enough. There's something better you can become. There's no one individual person that can bring what a team can bring, what a unified group can bring. You just can't accomplish the same things.

And importantly, let's not be arrogant enough to think that, oh, we could hold our own personal ideals higher than the group can. That's naive. It's naive and arrogant at the same time. It's like positive peer pressure. How far can you push yourself? You can't push yourself as far as the team can. What standards can you hold?

You're not going to hold the standards as high as the team can. Who would you rather let down? You can let yourself down pretty easily. You don't want to let down your friends. You don't want to let down your family. You don't want to let down your country. when you're part of this, this greatness of the whole

passes into the consciousness of each. That's what happens. The standards that we create that have been created for this country, it passes into the consciousness of each of us. That's what's supposed to happen. He goes on. The inspiration of a noble cause involving human interests

far and wide enables men to do things which they did not dream themselves capable before. And then it continues. It was something like this, I think, which marked our motive, which made us strong to fight the bitter fight to the victorious end. And made us unrevengeful and magnanimous in that victory. Just don't forget that these guys went out, fought, and then helped the wounded Confederate soldiers and accepted their surrender and brought them to medical aid when they could. And then he says, We rose in soul above the things which even the Declaration of Independence pronounces the inalienable rights of human nature for the securing of which governments are instituted among men.

Happiness, liberty, life we laid on the altar of offering or committed to the furies of destruction while our minds were lifted up to a great thought and our hearts swelled to its measure. So those things that you're promised in the Declaration of Independence, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they gave them up. They gave all those up. They sacrificed all those things. They offered them up on the offer of, on the altar of freedom. The things that you're guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence, the reason that governments exist is to protect these rights for people, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These men on this day rose in soul above those things and offered them and sacrificed them. Continuing on, we were beckoned on by the vision of destiny. We saw our country moving forward charged with the sacred trusts of men, of man. We believed in its glorious career, the power of high aims and of strong purpose, the continuity of great endeavor, the onward, upward path of health, history to God.

Every man felt that he gave himself to and belonged to something beyond time and above place, something which could not die. These are the reasons, not fixed in the form of things, but formative of things. Reasons of the soul why we fought for the union. And this is the spirit. in which having overcome the dark powers of denial and disintegration, having restored the people of the South to their place and privilege in the Union, and set on high the old flag, telling of one life and one body,

one freedom and one law over all the people and all the land between the four great waters, we now come, as it were, home. We look into each other's eyes. We speak in softer tones We gather under the atmosphere Of these sacred thoughts and memories Like the high pure air that shines down upon us today Flooding these fields

Where cloud and flash and thunder roll of battle And shrouded us and them in that great three days burial To celebrate this resurrection To rear on these faraway feet fields memorials of familiar names and to honor the states whose honor it was to rear such manhood now you have gathered these bodies here you mark their names with headstones encompass them about with the cordon of the state's proud sorrow you station them here on the ground they held here they will remain not buried but transfigured forms part of the earth they glorified part also of the glory that is to be

no chemistry of frost or rain no overlaying mold of the seasons recurrent life and death can ever separate from the soil of these consecrated fields the life blood so deeply commingled and incorporate here ever hence for under the rolling suns when these hills are touched to splendor with the morning light or smile a farewell to the lingering day the flush that broods upon them shall be rich with a strange and crimson tone not of the earth nor yet of the sky but mediator and hostage between the two but these monuments are not to commemorate the dead alone death was but the divine acceptance of life freely offered by everyone.

Service was the central fact. That and that truth, these monuments commemorate. They mark the centers around which stood the manhood of Maine, steadfast and noble service, to the uttermost, to the uppermost, those who fell here, those who have fallen before, or seen. Since those who linger yet a little longer soon to follow all are mustered in one great company on the shining heights of life with that star of manes armorial ensign upon their foreheads forever like the ranks of the galaxy in great deeds something abides on great fields something stays forms change and pass bodies disappear but spirits linger

to consecrate the ground for the vision place of souls and reverent men and women from afar and generations that know us not and that we know not of heart drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them shall come to this death Deathless field to ponder and dream and low the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom and the power of the vision Pass into their souls that is the great reward of service to live far out and on in the life of others This is the mystery of the Christ to give life's best for such high sake that it shall be found again unto life eternal is what had to say to those who fell here those who have fallen before since those who linger yet a little longer soon to follow and that's us we are here

we are lingering but we are soon to follow what can you do what great deeds can you do who can you help who can you serve forms change in past bodies disappear but spirits linger that is the great reward of service hard to see especially with everything that's going on the world even what's going on in this country right now there is divisiveness in our country there are differences of opinion there are different beliefs there are different ideas yet for all of I mean other than those who truly just detest liberty the rest of us we have this great privilege of living in this country one union one freedom one law one people one flag that is who we are on this fourth of july i think that's all we've got for tonight if you want to support this

Some supplements go to joccofuel.com If you want some American made clothes go to origin USA.com If you want to represent while you're on the path go to jocco store.com If you need help with leadership inside your organization go to ashlandfront.com If you want to come see me live go to jocco live.com I'm going to be in Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 7th, Chicago, July 8th, Boston, July 25th. and Philly July 22nd jocco live.com I'll see you there written a bunch of books you know what they are go get them for you your kids your friends and of course if you want to

connect with us we're on the interwebs carries at carry underscore helton I'm at jocco willink and I want to thank all our service men and women out there in the world right now Standing ready to sacrifice their lives for our higher ideal for our flag and for our freedom. Thanks to all of you and also thanks to our police and law enforcement firefighters, paramedics, EMTs dispatchers, correctional officers, Borough Patrol, Secret Service and all first responders here at home you all sacrifice to keep us safe and we thank you for that and for everyone else out there I want to leave you with a final message from Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his thoughts and this is as he stood after the surrender of the Confederates and he stood there at Appomattox and looked at them and this is what he thought of that situation. He said we could not look at those brave bronzed faces and those battered flags we had met on so many fields where glorious manhood lent a glory to the earth that bore it and think of personal hate and mean revenge. Whoever had misled these men, we had not. We had led them back home.

Whoever had made that quarrel, we had not. It was a remnant of the inherited curse for sin. We had purged it away with blood offerings. We were all of us together factors of that high will, which working often through illusions of the human and following ideals that lead through storms evolves the enfranchisement of man. Forgive us, therefore, if from stern,

steadfast faces eyes dimmed with tears gazed at each other across that piled of storied relics so dearly laid there down and brothers hands were fain to reach across that rushing tide of memories which divided us yet made us forever one chamberlain offers forgiveness if they could after what they had been through then perhaps to cross our divides and remember that we are one people one law one union I'll forget that until next time this is Kerry and Jocko