On the edge of the woods, there were many British soldiers who, being slightly wounded, had concealed themselves under brush and in the trees. And it was pitiable to hear the cries for help and water that arose from every quarter of the field. As the Americans gazed on this scene of desolation and suffering, a profound and melancholy silence pervaded the Army. No sounds of exultation or rejoicing were heard. Pity and sympathy had succeeded to the boisterous and savage feelings which a few minutes before had possessed their souls. Many of the Americans stole without leave from their positions, and with their canteens gave water to the dying, and assisted the wounded. Those of their enemy who could walk, the Americans led into the lines, where they received attention from Jackson’s medical staff. Others, who were desperately wounded, the Americans carried into camp on their backs. Jackson sent a message to New Orleans to despatch all the carts and vehicles to the lines. Late in the day, a long procession of these carts was seen slowly winding its way along the levee from the field of battle. They contained the British wounded. The citizens of New Orleans, men and women, pressed forward to tender every aid to their suffering enemies. By private subscription, the citizens supplied mattresses and pillows, lint and old linen; all of which articles were then exceedingly scarce in the city. Women-nurses cared for the British, and watched at their bedsides night and day. Several of the officers, who were grievously wounded, were taken to private residences and there provided with every comfort. Such acts as these ennoble humanity, and soften the horrors of war. _James Parton_ (_Retold_) APRIL 13 THOMAS JEFFERSON THE FRAMER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE _All honour to Jefferson--to the man, who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for National Independence by a single People, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document an abstract truth applicable to all men and all times; and so to embalm it there, that to-day and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of reappearing tyranny and oppression._ ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE FOURTH OF JULY 1826 _“Is it the Fourth?” “No, not yet,” they answered, “but ’t will soon be early morn. We will wake you, if you slumber, when the day begins to dawn.” Then the statesman left the present, lived again amid the past, Saw, perhaps, the peopled Future, lived again amid the Past, Till the flashes of the morning lit the far horizon low, And the sun’s rays, o’er the forest in the East, began to glow._ * * * * *