The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-24
Special Correspondence of the Republican.
From the D0wagiBc BOYS.
GAMp KICKER WASHINGTON ID q


Temporal naattantur ct nos mutanaur
ia iUis! But that being a universal fact
known and understood by all men, as es-
tablished by the fixed and immutable
laws of the God Of Heaven, it is no
ground for undue wonderment that we
should see many and mighty changes
wrought in the apparent condition of
our country, even in brief, and 1 may
say almost spasmodic elapss of time !;
or behold, with even greater degree
of wonderment and surprise, the evil
dent radical changes in individuality,
within the circle of our own personal
acquaintance alone. 1t is a principle
consummated by the omniPotant wis
dom of the creator of this grand and
stupendous universe, and no falible
hand, however poten. its sway in this
ethereal sphere, can interdict or change
it. We see the practical workings
of this principle in whatsoever direc-
ton we may turn our eyes. We be-
hold it in the decomposition of all or
ganic and inorganic matter, and cast
our eyes about US in vain that they
may rest upon an object unchanged by
its silent, yet invincible touch. And
these changes are not by any means to
be confined to, and comprehended sole
ly by our optical sense. The labored
studies of the geologist and minerolo-
gist has demonstrated the fact that
changes are necessarily taking place
through all the different strata of both
earth and rock, so that the conclusion
may be fairly deduced, that not only
the times change and zoe change soith
them, but all created matter, both ami
mate and inanimate, change in the
same ratio. We refer to this principle
inculcated into the order Of human
events, more because of the striking H.
Illustrations presented to us of its truth
fulness during the short period of our
life as soldier. We have met with a
number of our old friends since we
came to this city, who have been in the
service from three to five months, and
find in instance marked chand in eve-
ry exteriorevery linament of their whole
being. But, not to dwell upon the
theory of passing events, let us turn to
the subject which it was our purpose
inadvertently to discuss, and which
in the opinion of your correspondent,
will be far more acceptable, namely: a
brief synopsis of our journey from
Camp Lyon, Detroit, to this city, to-
gether with hasty glance at matters
and things in and about Washington.
1t was on Sunday morning, just two
weeks ago this present Sabbath-that
our Regiment took its departure for
Washington, via Cleveland, Pittsburgh,
Harrisburg and Baltimore. From De-
troit we were transported to Cleveland
by the steamers May Queen and Ocean.
The sun had passed the meridian, in its
daily course, ere we were clear from
our mornings, and while we were yet
gliding over the smoothe and unruffied
surface of the deep blue waters of Lake
Erie, about midway between the two
cities of the line, that beautiful sunset,
so radiant with all the glowing splen-
dor of Creative hand, and so efful-
geant in the magnificent grandure of
its tri-colored and seraphic-like tint
ings, came in full upon us; and to him
who admires the inscrutable handiwork
Of the Artist of all Arts, the scene can
be far better imagined than portrayed.
But that beautiful sunset, which came
over us like magic. spell from the far
off realms of mystic space, was but the
passage, so TO speak, of melancholy
incident.
We were nearly off Sandusky City,
if my recollections serve me right, and
night had flung its dark mantle over
the face of the deep, when it became
apparent that there was something
wrong, and soon it was whispered
about that man was overheard. Such
proved to be the case. A soldier from
Company E, by accident no doubt, had
fallen from the deck, which solved the
cause for the excited movements of the
officers to and fro through the cabin
and passageways of the boat. The
small boat was lowered and search
made for the drowning man,-how dill
igent l cannot vouch for-but no trace
of him could be found, although he was
distinctly heard to halloo number OF
times. Thus persisted one who had
volunteered to die, if it were necessary,
that his country might be saved.
Arriving in Cleveland about mid
night we Immediately took the cars fol
L 81. l. Il