The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-09-18
EBEISBJRG. SEPTEMBER IS. 1851.

FR0M THE HOME JOURNAL.
SEREICE WiIDERINGS.
BY an OFFICER OF ARTILLERY.
TIE A11gistiee- -B,lrsqk-TAs d5rqe-Soldis.s is.ss.
Grasf--fass- gaVez-Stsp 10 San 4a9st-hlg5%
nsare-4gae and fe0er-Beat up quarters-
No kay-L3trasion- Womqn's sympathy
Glorious suecsss-TIs pretty girls and young
YaaEees-FLln at tie facsory-H HoonhgAf-
Nr. Graham-Nusic and dancing-TFe star
sgangLed 5annsr-LccEed out.
THE gorgeous sun of the tropics was decking
every tree and shrub with diamond drops, only
to exhale the brilliauee which he bestowed,
when, after drying as well as 7 could the water
from my clothes, and relaxing my stiffened
limbs and muscles, I set out 70 learn something
about our further movements; but l had not
gone far before the drums of my regiment
sounded tie "roll, " and the men were soon
formed To Jlsry The dead. The escort preceded
the rude biers, covered with tho flag; the band
poured forth its dirge in such wailing notes,
that our hearts throbbed in responsive sympa-
thy; and headed By the good Chaplain, book
in hand, we followed to consign them to the
clay upon the spo: where they fell.
I have dwelt upon that burial, because there
were in it circumstances Of no ordinary inter
est. Those whom we were mourning had not
gone Outiut darkness full Of years and honours,
nor with the warning of disease or harbinger
IF death. The day before, they
Were the proudest in their strength,
he ,,Fr oil
and now they were nothing-dust-no ..nest-
ling-place for love" Yesterday, upon that
spot had stalked, in thunder and blood, {" bat
ties magnifcently stern array to-day, each
mourning note rose upon that rarefed air, as
if startled at .' the sound itself had made"
Woman's heart was to bleed, and voman's
eye to drop burning tears over the grave of
" eaTth's best uobleness," when the wing of
time should bear the shaft to our Northern
homes; but now. swarthy faces with wiry
boards we're bending over their graves, and
manly eyes were shedding affections tribute
upon the mingling dust.
Many 4 tremulous voice responded with de-
vout Aas7 the graves were flied, the guns
discharged, the dust was dust and we left the
dead to await in silence their glorious trans
hguration, '.when these vile bodies shall be
changed
The band, touched by a wondrous spell,
burst into gay and springing quick-step;
the football chimed, our spirits rose. Clet 10
man doubt the sincerity of our grief) and we
E. marched away" to the Dash;ng White Ser
geant," towards our Indicated position. We
were going 10 make peace-the fighting was
over: Mr.. Commissioner Trist had the papers
all ready, and We were to garrison the sub
urban villages until the terms had been settled.
Such was the current news, and turning It over
in my rumjnations, linped away most uu-
gracefully at the head Of my company, Of
which for the first time in my life I was in
command and, with the rest of the regiment,
came to q halt in the little plaza of San Angel,
amid the open-mouthed gaze Of all sorts OF
brown and yellow people How much that
gaze expressed each face was study. They
might hate us, but respect and admire they
must. We had almost verified the legends of
the conquest, Il am not creduous > had brushed
away with ungoved hands the swarms Of their
best troops, and were standing deferceless our
selves at the door of their proud hive of Mex
leo, able 70 enter, $50 we said and 50 we proved
but iuciuing TO mercy in granting them the
terms of honourable peace. What marvel they
opened their eyes and mouths in gaping Won
der?
One half-hour sufficed to erect our little regi-
mental city of canvas, and as evening ap-
preaching, turned in to sleep off the battles.
Since leaving Puebla, 1 had occupied tent
with my Captain and many a time and oft, -
after tattoo, have we chatted away the hours
of the night, stretched upon our blankets, the
moons rays rendering the sides of the tent
translucent, so that We could see each other,
until the drowsy monotone of voice would
launch upon the sea of dreams. On this
first night of our encanpment, (but one had
intervened since the battle, l was too tired to
sleep, my nerves were unstrung, my brain was
whirling if l were intoxicated, and as lay
sleepless aud tossing, it was not strange that
my thoughts should cling with wonderful te-
nacity TO my former terminate. turned them
away; l endeavoured to fix them upon the gay,
the beautiful the glorious of my past expert
ence or future hope; l sent them TO roam Ter
The pleasant fields, traversed so oft
In Efe's morning march, when my bosom was
young;