Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-25

selZed pencil, and once more bent my gaze
out over the living map. AS l looked this
time, cold, thrilling chill ran over me, and
the huge rough icicle again began its saving
motion through my heart. For, as, pencil in
| hand, compared the map before me with the
living map, saw masses of the enemy's for
/ cos being hurried to certain points so as to
| thwart movements that, within a day or two
intended to make at those identic al points
| while on two particular approaches to Wash-
| ingtou l beheld heavy columns of the foe
| posted for concentrated attack, that in
| stanty saw must succeed in its object unless
speedily prevented.
'sTreachery treachery 20 cried in despair.
! And, as before my blood seemed to stop IN its
channels for joy, it now did so for fear. Ruin
and defeat seemed to stare me in the face.
| At this dreadful moment, that same slow,
solemn voice struck once more upon my ears,
| saying
| 'sGeneral Mcclellan, you have been betray-
ed and, had not God willed otherwise ere
the sun of to morrow had set, the Confederate
| titg would have hoatcd above the Capital and
/ your own grave. But notc what Won see
| Your time is short Tarry not!''
| Ere the words had left the lips of my vapory
mentor, my pencil was flying with the speed
OF thought, transferring TO the map before me
| all that saw upon the living map. Some
mysterious and un-arthy influence was upon
| me, and noted and recorded the minutest
potHt 4 without the SHRDteSt ef1Ort, Qe-
lay or mistake. At last the task was done ,and
my pencil dropped from my fingers.
For while previous to this however, I had
become conscious that there was shining of
light on my left, that steadily increased until
the moment | ceased my task, when II became
in an instant more intense than the oon-day
sun. Quickly raised my eyes, and never,
were to live forever, will forget what saw.
The dim, shadowy figure was longer dim
shadowy figure, but the glorified and refugent
spirit of w Washington, the Father of his country,
and now second time its saviour. Ny friend,
1t would be utterly useless for me to attempt
| TO describe the mighty, returned spirit. can
| only say that Washington, as | behcld him in
my dream, or trance, as you may choose to
term 1t, was the most God like being could
have conceived of. Like q weak, daZzled
bird, | sat gazing at the heavenly vision.
From the sweet and silent repose Of Mount
Vernon, our Washington had risen to once
more encrcie and raise up, with his saving
arm, our fallen, bleeding country. AS
| tinued looking, expression OF sublime
benignity came gently upon his visage, and
for the last time, | heard that slow and solemn
| voice, saying to me something like this:
General Mcclellan, while yet in the flesh,
| beheld the birth of the American Republic.
! 1t was, indeed. hard and bloody one, but
Gods blessing was upon the nation, and there
fore, through this, her first great struggle for
existence, he sustained her, and with His
mighty hand brought her out triumphantly.
century has not passed since then, and yet
the child Republic has taken her position, a
peer with nations whose page of history ex-
tends for ages into the past. She has, since
those dark days, by The favor of God, greatly
prospered. And now, by very reason of this
prosperity, has she been brought to her second
great struggle. This is by far the most peril
nus ordeal she has to endure. Passing as she
is, from childhood to opening maturity, she is
lid
conquest, to learn that important lesson, self
control, seif-rule, that in the future will place
her in the van of power and civilization. 1t
is here that all nations have hitherto failed,
and she too, the Republic of the earth, had
rot God willed otherwise, would, by to NOR
rows sunset, have been a broken heap of
stones cast up the final grave Of human
liberty.
sBut her cries have come up out of her bor-
ders like sweet incense unto heaven, and she
will be saved. Thus shall peace, once more,
come upon her, and prosperity dll her with
joy. But her mission will not then be yet
finished, for, ere another century shall have
gone by, the oppressorS Of the whole earth,
hating and envying her exaltation, shall join
themselves together and raise up their hands
against her. But if she still be found worthy
of her high calling, they shall surely be dis
comitted, and then will be ended her third
and last great struggle for existence!
"Thenceforth shall the Republic go on, in
creasing in goodness and power, until her bor-
ders shall end only in the remotest corners of
the earth, and the whole earth shall, beneath
her shadowing wings, become a Universal Re-
public. Let her in her prosperity, however,
remember the Lord her God let her trust be
always in Him, and she shall never be con-
founded"
The heavenly visitant ceased speaking and
as still continued gazing upon him, drew
SDread
hands above me. No sound now passed his
lips, but felt strange influence coming over
me. | inclined my head forward to receive
the blessing, the baptism Of Washington.
The following instant peal of thunder rolled
in upon my ears, and l awOke. The vision
had departed, and again sitting in my
apartment with everything exactly as it was
before fell asleep, with one exception.
The map, on which had dreamed | had
been marking, literally covered with
network of pencil-marks, signs, and figures.
l rose to my feet, and rubbed my eyes, and
took turn or two about the room, to convince
myself that was really awake. again seated
myself but the pencillings were as plain as
ever and had before me as complete map
and repository of information as though had
spent years in gathering and recording its de-
tails. Ny mind became confused with
the strange and mum bcrless ideas and thoughts
that crowded themselves into it, and invol-
UNFAIRLY sank down my knees to seek wis.,
dom and guidance from on high. As l arose,
refreshed in spirit, that same solemn voice /!
seemed to say to me from an infinite distance
ss.Your time is short! Tarry not! =
s.In an instant thought became clear and
active. fastening out couriers, with orders
to have executed certain maneuvers at GER
tain points, (guiding myself by that, now, in |
my eyes, unearthly map,) threw myself into
the saddle, and long ere daylight, galloping
like the tempest, from post to post and camp !