In Great Deeds Something Abides

You'll be hearing a lot about that other speech today.  It wasn't half-bad (and you can listen to Charles Laughton's recitation posted by THC here) but thought we'd give you an alternative Gettysburg speech.

Remarks of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at the Dedication of the Maine Monuments at Gettysburg, October 3, 1889

In great deeds something abides. On great fields

something stays.  Forms change and pass; bodies

disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the

vision-place of souls.  And reverent men and women from

afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not

of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things

were suffered and done for them, shall come to this

deathless field, to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of

a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the

power of the vision pass into their souls.

JL Chamberlain (1828-1914); Colonel, 20th Maine Regiment at Gettysburg, being awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in defense of Little Round Top on July 2, 1863; breveted Brigadier General after a wounding presumed to be fatal at Petersburg, June 1864; returned to action, leading his brigade in the assault at Quaker Road, March 29, 1865, during which he was shot in the chest and breveted Major General; three days later once again leading his brigade at the battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865; designated to receive, on behalf of the Army of the Potomac, the formal surrender of the officers and soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, April 12, 1865; President of Bowdoin College; elected four times as Governor of Maine