There was nothing lacking in General Devens to the complete
soldierly character. He had a passionate love of his country;
he was absolutely fearless; he never flinched before danger,
sickness, suffering or death. He was prompt, resolute and
cool in the face of danger. He had a warm and affectionate
heart. He loved his comrades, especially the youth who were
under his command. He had that gentle and placable nature
which so often accompanies great courage. He was incapable
of a permanent anger. He was still less capable of revenge
or of willingness to inflict injury or pain.
As Clarendon says of Falkland: "He had a full appetite of
fame by just and generous actions, so he had an equal contempt
for it by base and servile expedients." He never for an instant
tolerated that most pernicious and pestilent heresy, that
so long as each side believed itself to be in the right there
was no difference between the just and the unjust cause. He
knew that he was contending for the life of his country, for
the fate of human liberty on this continent. No other cause
would have led him to draw his sword; and he cared for no
other earthly reward for his service.
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