nd, fellow soldiers, when you get home among those who will
interest you more than anything I can say, just call to mind where
you were twelve months ago. You remember the Kenesaw Peak and
Little Kenesaw. It is not a year since you stormed them, and lost
my old partner and friend, Dan. McCook. That was on the 27th June,
1864. In June, 1865, you stand in the midst of Chicago, surrounded
by bright colors, and ladies, and children. Then you were lying in
the mud, the rocks and the dirt, and you knew that there was an
enemy we had to fight with and conquer, and we did not exactly know
how to do it. (Laughter.) But we were patient; we reconnoitered--we
watched their flanks--we studied the ground--and in three days we
had Johnston and his whole army pinned; he retired, and we did not
give him a chance of stopping until he had put the Chattahoochie
between us and him. That is a lesson to you. Temporary defeat is
nothing when a man is determined to succeed. You are not
conquered--you never can be conquered when the mind is clear and
determined in its purpose; you must succeed--no temporary defeat
can cause failure.

You will remember that on the 4th of July we stood close to each
other, and we told them then that they would have to go farther
than Atlanta, for we should continue to go on. (Cheers.) You will
remember how their pickets told us they had reinforcements. Yes,
but what? They had one of our Corps--Schofield's. (Laughter.)
Before General Johnston knew, or dreamed of it, I had reinforced
his side of the Chattahoochie by General Schofield's 23rd Corps.

From this, my fellow soldiers I want you to learn the lesson, no
matter where you are, to-day or to-morrow, by keeping a purpose
close in your mind, in the end you will succeed, whether it be in
military, civil, social or family affairs. Let no difficulty appal
you--let no check alarm you--let your purpose in life be clear and
steadfast--keep in view the object and design of your life, and
just as sure as you are now before me in health and strength, you
will succeed.

You are now returned to your homes, and the task now allotted to
you is that of the future. The past is disposed of--it may soon be
forgotten; but the future is before you, and that future will be
more glorious than the past. Look at your own State of
Illinoi