midnight
They died in defence of their country 's honor ; and he almost envied them the death which wrote their names , subject to no future stain , upon the roll of fame . The sight of these boxes , and a knowledge of their contents , also awakened sad reflections in the mind of Uncle Nathan . But his reflections were of a different character from those of the soldier . War he regarded as an unnecessary evil , -- one which men had no more right to countenance than they had the deeds of the midnight assassin . The honor of a nation were better sacrificed than that the blood of innocent men should flow in its support . He was a thorough disciple of the peace movement . With such views as these , his sympathies naturally reverted to the dwelling of the departed hero ; to the home rendered desolate by the untimely death of a father ; to the circle which gathered in tears around the fire-side , to deplore the loss of an affectionate brother and son ; to the widow and the orphan , whom war 's desolating hand cast into the world to tread alone its dreary path .