The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-08-31
LOOKINGS ON AT THE WAR
BY n. p. WILLIS.

A trip Of Fifty miles down the Potomac,
in one Of the superb black steamers built
for ocean navigation, helped yesterday to
di.pel the gloom for the Manassassinated-
the public, that is to say, for whom Msnas-
sas bad been the blow too much. 1. was a
relief to a remembrance of day, the feel
ing Of which seem to have been exactly
described by Job :-s'As for that day le.
darkness seize upon it, let it not be joined
unto the days Of the year; let it not come in.
to the number of the MONTHS"
The most interesting point which We were
to pass, on the Virginia shore of the Po-
tomac, Of course, was Mount Vernon and
as we approached it every officer and guest
seemed to have hurried eagerly to the for.
ward deck for a sooner view. The chances
Of atmosphere and weather were singularly
favorably to the poetry of the scene. 1t
was one of those tender gray days. with 4
humid and fragrant South wind-days,
when the pores, as if rem nembaring that they
were 6rst opened in Paradise, have kind
Of enraptured seriousness Of turning Ed.
onward once more-and with eyes thus
made ready for the enjoyment of beauty,
We came in sight Of the green lawn before
the door of Washington. The clumps Of
shrubbery broke picturesquely the formal
the upland shore of the Potomac gave fne
raassiv eness to the more immediate land.
ecape of the estato-but there was an acci.
dental phenomenon, at the moment OF oul
passing which seemed to strike every be.
holder on our crowded deck with supernat.
ural awe. | must venture to describe the
scene and its concomitants, with the care OF
one who feels that he is stunning down a
leaf" for future poetry, or even for history.
Bv command of the captain, the slow toll
ling Of the steamers heavy bell commenced
just before We came opposite of the man.
sion, and the bald head of the most Apos-
tolically beautiful Of men, the Bishop Of
Ohio, was the sign for the uncoveripg of the
crowd. Secretary Chase, and the fourteen
or fifteen member of Congress, represented
the government in this solemn homage to
the memory Of the Father Of our Country,
and in it joined the other forty Or more
guests, some military and some distiDg guish-
cd civilians--tbe whole assemblags Of the
deck, guests, officers and men, recognizing
the sacred spot by this act Of silent rever-
ence. And then came what seemed like a
miracle! At the momen1 Of our arriving
in front of the lawn, a small cloud which
overhung that spot alone, commenced drop
ping its gentle summer rain-the shower
limited, apparently, to the confines OF Noun,
Vernon, and no other shower visible within
the circuit of the horizon. Turning to ex-
change look Of sympa.hizing wonder with
Bishop Mclanine, who stood, the center OF
our thoughtful crowd, saw that the eyes
of the venerable man we're filed with tears,
while his angelic countenance was turned
toward the marvel, and every face, in that
company Of spectators, showed a heart
touched with the significance Of the sign.
Passing the spot dearest to the country,
with doubt that it war ours was II
strange that this little cloud should seem to
US to weep over the Mecca that was lost
tn us