Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-29
From the New York Observer.
Diary of a Chaplain
IN THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION.
BY J. T. HEADLEY

BY J. T. HEADLEY
AueUsr 1sr.-The- summer is wearing
away, and nothing is done. A thousand
men are constantly at work, but we seem
no nearer a general engagement than al
the first. Sometimes furious cannonade
will open, and battle is expected immedi.
ately, but it soon subsidies, and the old rou.
tine is renewed. Both armies are disin,
clined to leave their intrenchments. The
people are getting impatient, and COM
plants are heard on every side of our mac
tivity. 1t has been a lovely summer day,
and the sunset from the summit of Pros
pect Hill was exceedingly beautiful. The
view below and around me was very pic
turesqe. In the distance foated the Eng
lish banners over their fortifcstion, while
nearer, as as the eye could reach, stretched
our eneampment, dotting the whole surface
of the country. Over the various forts
and redonbts streamed flags of pure Grim
son, looking banners of fire, in the brilliant
sunset. 1t has very gay appearance on
the field, but think it should bear some
national device. Here and there were
groups of soldiers strolIing about, off duty !;
others were exercising under the drill Off
Ger; the shrill notes of the fife, the loud
and ringing notes of the bugle, and the
roll of the. drum, gave animation to the
scene. Beyond were green fields waving
trees, and grazing herds. Not a cloud
was in the sky, and nature seemed at rest.
How strange that man should not be more
in harmony with nature. Everything was
SO calm and sweet, it seemed impossible
that these two armies could be painting for
each others destruction. Istood, drinking
in the delicious sea breeze that foated in
land from the harbor, till sunset. The
sudden loud roar of the British evening
gun, and the stern and startling response
sent back by our own, awakened me from
my pleasant reverie, to all the sad realities
of the scene. Before another August sun
shall be shining on these green fields and
slopes, how many of these two armies will
be sleeping in death.
Poor Henry Clary, on whom called on
my way home, l fear has but few hours TO
live. Habits of dissipation acquired in
College, together with the exposures of his
camp life, brought on the disease which is
now hurrying him to the grave. have
been the more especially interested in him,
as he is the son of a clergyman. A year
ago he graduated at Yale, but habits of
dissipation, brought on by bad companion
ship, placed him at the foot of his class,
and he took his degree without honor. He
returned home only to give a shock to bis
father by his drunkenness.
His exbostulations, and the earnest, pit
eous appeals of his mother, failed to break
the spell by which be was bound. Moved
even to tears by them, he would resolve to
abandon his cups, and for few days lead
a reformed life. But his evil destiny soon
returned upon him, and he would relapse
into his old ways. The good and respect
able at length Stunned him, and he was al
ways found at the tavern with low compan-
ions. During his sickness, he has often
told me that no one knows with what des-
perate energy he strove to break off his
evil course. Again and again he thought |
he had conquered, only to fall again. His
repentance is apparently very sincere. and
he cannot speak without tears.
"Oh," said he once TO me, show that |
mother loved me, and how have broken
her heart. l cannot repair the wrong
have done. 1t is too late, too late, now
Cut off in my youth, disgrace to my pa
rents and relations, why was l born? L fell
without forethought; indeed l was fast
bound before | knew it, .
When the war broke ont lie enlisted to
get rid of himself and his disgrace. He
has informed me that he was engaged while
in college to young lady. From his aver
tion to speak Of her, and the painful express
sion that passes over his countenance when
he docs, | fear that all is not right there.
He has given me a package of letters to
forward to her after his death. What a
contrast between him and young William.
Both young men of intellect and culture,
and yet one full of thought, composed and
peaceful on his sick bed, the other racked
With painful memories and bitter anticipa-
tons. One kindling with patriotism at the
mention of his country's wrongs, and pant
ing for the hour when he can again strike
for her freedom. The other looking upon
the army only as q shelter from disgrace,
and the battles as the means by which he
may, without crime, get rid of life that is
only burden. What deep gulf one bad
habit will make between two charactcrs!!
The Siamese Twins Nowhere!
A correspondent of the Louis vile jour
nal, writing from Henderson, KY, gives the
following account of "lusus nature' in
that place, that surpasses all the freaks of
that occasionally whimsical lady, Dame
Nature, that we ever heard Of:
"I have just returned from visit to one
of the most extraordinary curiosities ever
known in the history of the human race
A Negro woman belonging to Mr.. Samuel
Sites, Of this place, gave birth, eight days
ago, to four living children, joined together
by pairs in still more peculiar manner
than the Siamese Twins. The two boys
are connected at the shoulder, and from the
hip to the knee joint, leaving the lower
oint of the legs and the feet Of each per
rectly free. The girls are joined at the
shoulder, with this difference from the
boys, that they have but one arm issuing
from the junction of their shoulders. They
,re Joined from the hip down to the foot
.he two legs ending in one feot.
In regard to the color Of the children,
nature seems to have been quite as eccen-
tric as in their formation, one Of the boys