"Preface American Patriotism Civil War Military

PREFACE.

This book is, properly, a monument in memory of deceased soldiers of Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa. It will undoubtedly be considered a novelty, though it is not a novel. The tears and sorrows of our people during the years of war were real tears and real sorrows. The heroes of this war were real heroes. Do we delight to read of imaginary heroes, and weep if they are represented as having met with misfortune, when there are thousands who yielded up their lives fighting heroically in defense of our country, whom we are forgetting? They were our neighbors, and friends, and brothers, and sons. Let the tears of grateful memory moisten our cheeks for them. Let us annually strew flowers on their hallowed graves. Let us preserve a careful record of their deeds and patriotic words—a monument of their love of God, and home, and country. Will it not be considered a sacred book by all true patriots? Will it not be esteemed a rich inheritance by the children of these martyrs? Is it not in harmony with the character of our institutions—this book about "common men"—in our "land of the people?" Presenting a true picture of the heart world in the breasts of the people, it exhibits in a clear light their patriotism and religion—the pure and holy motives that led them to take up arms in defense of the insulted and torn flag of our country. Foremost amongst the heroes of the war are those who, with hearts full of love of God and country, marched to the front with muskets on their shoulders.

This volume comprises names of men from nearly every State in the Union, and it is not, therefore, entirely of local interest; but it is truly national. Should it not attract and interest readers in other States and sections of our country; if it be deemed worthy of preservation here in the centre of beautiful Iowa, I shall be satisfied. It contains descriptions of all the great battles fought by the armies of the West, given in letters written by soldiers who afterwards lost their lives in the service.

The writing and publishing of this, is by many looked upon from a financial point of view, as a "wild adventure," for it has cost me, in time, two and a half years of the most valuable part of my life, and I have also risked in it my home and all I possess. Will the people sustain me in this undertaking? I confidently believe they will. Though the worst come, I thank God I am yet a young man, and live in the richest portion of God's heritage on earth. I have known only poverty and toil from my childhood up, and if I fail in this and lose all, I can support my family at the forge, or at the plough, or in the school-room, if the same blessed Father, who has always been my Friend, shall still vouchsafe to me good health; but if this work prove successful, I shall soon publish another volume entitled "The Rise and Growth of our Present Liberties—A Series of Lectures to Young Men;" and I hope that I may yet be enabled to complete a poetical work I have in contemplation entitled "America."

I will here take occasion to extend grateful acknowledgments to E. R. Clapp, N. T. Vorse, and B. F. Allen for the trust they have reposed in me. A host of friends have laid me under obligation: G. A. Stewart, P. M. Cassady, Thomas Mitchell, F. R. West, H. H. Griffiths, A. G. Studer, J. C. Jordan, Lewis Jones, J. S. Clarkson, George Sneer, William Porter, Redhead & Wellslager, Mills & Co., H. Monroe, Laird Brothers, R. W. Sypher, A. Newton, William H. McHenry, J. M. Dixon, Samuel Gray, Hoyt Sherman, William De Ford, J. A. Nash, James Smith, A. J. Stevens, F. W. Palmer, G. W. Cleveland—but space fails me to name all. To this whole community I am truly grateful for encouragement in the past.

Leonard Brown.

Des Moines, Sept. 1, 1868.

Polk Co. IAGenWeb

PREFACE.