utallotherlocksandcementstoshame.Ishouldnothavewonderedbythistimetofindthattheyhadtheirrespectivemusicalbandsstationedonsomeeminentchip,andplayingtheirnationalairsthewhile,toexcitetheslowandcheerthedyingcombatants.Iwasmyselfexcitedsomewhatevenasiftheyhadbeenmen.Themoreyouthinkofit,thelessthedifference.AndcertainlythereisnotthefightrecordedinConcordhistory,atleast,ifinthehistoryofAmerica,thatwillbearamoment’scomparisonwiththis,whetherforthenumbersengagedinit,orforthepatriotismandheroismdisplayed.FornumbersandforcarnageitwasanAusterlitzorDresden.ConcordFight!Twokilledonthepatriots’side,andLutherBlanchardwounded!WhyhereeveryantwasaButtrick,—“Fire!forGod’ssakefire!”—andthousandssharedthefateofDavisandHosmer.Therewasnotonehirelingthere.Ihavenodoubtthatitwasaprincipletheyfoughtfor,asmuchasourancestors,andnottoavoidathree-pennytaxontheirteaandtheresultsofthisbattlewillbeasimportantandmemorabletothosewhomitconcernsasthoseofthebattleofBunkerHill,atleast.
ItookupthechiponwhichthethreeIhaveparticularlydescribedwerestruggling,carrieditintomyhouse,andplaceditunderatumbleronmywindow-sill,inordertoseetheissue.Holdingamicroscopetothefirst-mentionedredant,Isawthat,thoughhewasassiduouslygnawingatthenearfore-legofhisenemy,havingseveredhisremainingfeeler,hisownbreastwasalltornaway,exposingwhatvitalshehadtheretothejawsoftheblackwarrior,whosebreastplatewasapparentlytoothickforhimtopierceandthedarkcarbunclesofthesufferer’seyesshonewithferocitysuchaswaronlycouldexcite.Theystruggledhalfanhourlongerunderthetumbler,andwhenIlookedagaintheblacksoldierhadseveredtheheadsofhisfoesfromtheirbodies,andthestilllivingheadswerehangingoneithersideofhimlikeghastlytrophiesathissaddle-bow,stillapparentlyasfirmlyfastenedasever,andhewasendeavoringwithfeeblestruggles,beingwithoutfeelersandwithonlytheremnantofaleg,andIknownothowmanyotherwounds,todivesthimselfofthemwhichatlength,afterhalfanhourmore,heaccomplished.Iraisedtheglass,andhewentoffoverthewindow-sillinthatcrippledstate.Whetherhefinallysurvivedthatcombat,andspenttheremainderofhisdaysinsomeHoteldesInvalides,IdonotknowbutIthoughtthathisindustrywould