nt Lincoln will proclaim the freedom of four
millions of human slaves, the most important event in the history
of the world since Christ was born. Our boast that this is a land
of liberty has been a flaunting lie. Henceforth it will be a
veritable reality. The defeats of our armies in the past we have
deserved, because we waged a war to protect and perpetuate and to
rivet firmer the chains of slavery. Hereafter we shall prosecute
the war to establish and perpetuate liberty for all mankind beneath
the flag; and the Lord God Almighty will fight on our side, and he
is a host, and the Union armies will triumph_."

This is the character of speech that aroused the soldiers to voiceful
demonstrations on the summit of the Appalachian chain on this cold
and stormy mid-winter morning. The sequel shows how Milroy's
prophecy was fulfilled; but not always did victory come to the
Union arms. As in the days of the Crusades, when the Lord was
supposed to battle on the side of the Crusaders, victory was not
uniformly with them. Charles Martel, believing in prayer for divine
aid on going into battle, yet testified that the "Lord always fights
on the side of the heaviest battalions"; which was only another
way of saying, "The Lord helps those who help themselves."

Milroy's command debouched into the Valley of the Shenandoah,
already memorable for its many bloody conflicts, and destined to
become yet more memorable by reason of still other and far bloodier
battles.

This war-stricken valley, from Staunton to the Potomac, was beautiful
and rich, and its inhabitants were, prior to the war, proud and
boastful; they possessed many slaves to till the soil and for
personal servants. It was also a breeding-ground for slaves which,
in a more southern market, brought great profit to their owners.
Winchester was the home of the Masons and others, distinguished as
statesmen and soldiers through all the history of Virginia.

But not all the inhabitants of the Shenandoah valley were disloyal.
A majority of its voting population was, before the war actually
commenced, in favor of the Union, and its Representatives voted
against an Ordinance of Secession. I have seen an address of Philip
Williams, Esq., an old, respected, and distinguished lawyer of
Winchester, made when the question of Secession was pending, in
which he attempted to depict the horrors of the war that would
follow an attempt to set up an independent government. He prophes