“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” -Mother Teresa

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst

27 May

Memorial Day: Lincoln and the Troops, Third Installment

The common Northern soldier during the Civil War reacted to the bedrock sincerity of Lincoln like a flower to sunlight. As the 1864 election approached a veteran on furlough was asked whether the soldiers wanted Lincoln re-elected. He said enthusiastically.“Why, of course we do! He mustered us in and we’ll be damned if he shan’t stay where he is until he’s mustered us out!”

Would you believe, it was the soldier vote that insured Lincoln’s re-election in 1864! That’s all the more remarkable because

• the Civil War resulted in atronomical casualty figures [the Civil War has the grim distinction of producing over 620,000 casualties, more all other armed conflicts in American history combined, from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan!], and
• his Democratic opponent, General George McClellan, known by his troops affectionally as “Little Mac,” promised an end to the war.

Stay tuned: fourth installment tomorrow.