more
difficult than that up Cardigan! If all earthly troubles could be as
easily surmounted as Kearsarge! Possibly they might be if we went forth
to meet them with the same stout heart and determined spirit.

"Daily with souls that cringe and plot,
We Sinais climb and know it not"

* * * * *

THE MARCH OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.

By Rev. Charles Babbidge, Chaplain.

Should a motto ever be needed for some prospective medal commemorative
of the "Old Sixth Reg." none would seem to be more appropriate than a
quotation from Virgil,--"Primus tentare viam." Though but little honor
attaches to being first, where all were equally ready to be foremost,
still, the "chances of war" gave some little advantage to this fortunate
military body. Its ready re-response to the call "To Arms," served to
awaken a similar enthusiasm in all the other military organizations of
the Commonwealth. The admirable state of discipline to which the
regiment had been brought by its accomplished and efficient commander,
Col. Edward F. Jones, and his subordinate officers, was fully competent
to secure the respect and confidence of the multitudes of patriotic
citizens with whom it came in contact after leaving Massachusetts; and
it is only doing justice to the soldiers of this regiment to say, that
amid all the excitement of the commencement of a campaign, and all the
flattering attentions and entertainments which they received from every
quarter, and on all occasions, they maintained the solid, steady
deportment of soldiers well trained, of citizens accustomed to good
society, and of patriots ready and willing to do whatever these
qualities imply and require.

It can hardly be said that "the order to march" came unlooked for,
though it most certainly was sudden. The tender of the services of the
regiment had long since been in the hands of Gov. Andrew; meetings of
the field and staff officers had been held; there was a free and
thorough interchange of opinions and sentiments among the line officers;
and not a single soldier could be found who had not fully digested all
the particulars of a possible future.

The ready response of our citizen-soldiers to the call of the governor
furnishes an apt illustration of the peculiar character of our people.
Under a government that requires the constant maintenance of a strong
military force, "General Orders" would have been issued to the various
camps and garriso