Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

GENERAL HAMIER.-EMBARK FOR THE BRAZOS. 23
out," and addressed the troops. The last, and of course the
best speaker, was General Hamer, who possessed an extended
and enviable reputation as an orator, but whom it had never
been my good fortune to hear until that. day; and never
before or since have I listened to a more witching speech.
His manner was natural; his gestures, graceful; his words
well selected from an abundant store; his figures, beautiful
and striking; and his voice, clear and musical as a trumpet.
As a few of the men had previously evinced a mutinous disposition, he seized the occasion to denounce a spirit so dangerous to the happiness of the soldier and the success of the
regiment. He illustrated the importance of subordination
and discipline by examples from history; he dwelt upon the
privations and sufferings of the men of the Revolution;
teaching his hearers that glory was the sweet fruit of toil and
danger, not of idleness and pleasure.' For sluggard's brow the laurel never grows,
Renown is not the child of indolent repose."
Such a speech was not without its influence, and proved
again the superior efficacy of words wisely wielded, in the
conquest of human passions. Hamer was indeed a perfect
master of that eloquence which, either in sprightly conversation or grave discourse, went directly to the soldiers' hearts.
Early in July we arrived at New Orleans, whence the regiment immediately sailed for Brazos Santiago, leaving the
writer, who had been attacked by fever on the Miississippi, to
mend or end his humble existence in that city, not remarkable
for its salubrity in the dog days. Two long weeks of solitude
and pain there passed heavily by, during which time the sound