Copiah County news. [volume] (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1860-1861, 1861-08-21
For the Copiah County News.
Not All q Dream.

am standing upon a lofty peak. |
look around, all is silent, and it
seems that solitude alone reigns. but
casting my eyes below, they rest
upon scene at once grand, gloomy
and picturesque. 'Tis the soldiers
encampment. Diana floats upon.
here car at ease amid her vfNsn
train" The camp-6res are sprinkled
through the dark and the white tents
like angels brooding wings, sleep
in the distance. The soldiers sleep.
l am impressed strongly by the
scene, those thousands lying still
and motionless, as if in the embrace
Of death. Not a sound is heard
save the tread of the seutinels, as
they slowly march to and fro. /
gaze upon that sleeping multitude,
and there behold familiar faces, but
my eyes rest upon that one with the
noble brow, lying apart from his fer
low soldiers. His is "cold pillow
where the sweet stars keep their
golden watches DER the battle plain"
The zephyrs play among his locks,
and the dews drop their cool baptis-
mails on his brow, yet still he sleeps.
I gaze above him, and feeling of
mysterious awo creeps over me, for
that bright, that beautiful being that
watches over him is not human. She
is one Of heavenly birth, and in her
hands there ia an extended scroll,
with battle scene stamped upon it.
'Nhc most prominent figure in the
scene is that of o noble looking COM
nander, his horse. falling under him.,
and written above see the single
word "Beauregard." I notice the
face of the horseman and glance at
the sleeping soldier. They are the
same. know tits Beauregard then.
He sleeps all needless Of the angel
visitant.
Something whispers, danger is
near those dreamers" yet l have no
power to rouse them. On, on, they
sleep, till "the dark midnight to the
purple dawn goes, crowned with
Jewels" then my heart sickens, for
danger is nearer still. hear the
cannon's roar. All! the sentinels
hear the sound, and the hoarse drum
now breaks across the slumbers of
our braves. There is sudden
awakening. Calmly, deliberately,
those valiant ones grid on their
armor, and there is a look on each
face, which seems to say, "victory or
DEATH" Now l see the enemy, and
I fain would look away-for they
seem innumerable-but o strange
power impels me to gaze on. / see
our army advancing to meet the foe.
hear shout, the clashing of steel,
and the roar Of the cannon. Men
are falling ON every side. Oh :! tits
a spectacle horrible to witness, but
I cannot look away. There is des-
perate struggle, and my hands grasp
each other in a paroxysm Of dread
But Oh l hear a cry
in one part, "all is lost, all is lost"
Our men are falling back. Gloom
and despair crouch at my side. their
gaunt hands tugging at the anchor
of hope, A dizziness steals over me.
/ seem sinking down, down, down,
lower, still lower. All seems dark
around me, and ] cannot raise my
head, until / hear voice ofsrare
saying, "look up" | look,
and behold the scene is changed,
One not like. unto man goes before
our army, bearing a banner all shin,
ing and beautiful. / will fight your
battles for you.
"Onward for the truths of God
Onward for the right
is written upon it in letters of goids
All eyes are turned upon the glori-
ous standard-bearer. Hope with
smile in her eye, glides once again
before the dropping soldiers. They
fight with renewed vigor. The faces
OF the enemy turn pale. Ihey trem-
bic. They are panic-sticken and
run. ! see the Southern braves pur-
suing. ! watch them while they are
no longer visible.
Then my heart is faint and sick, for
! gaze around me, and behold a bat
covered with the dead and
dying. Groans Of agony greet my
ears. Ibehold those ! know, lying
still and pale, and one ! recognize as.
q friend, lying senseless, and ! see