Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-08
A Nieht March III Western Virg

Bickham, of the Cincinnati Commercial,
who is with The army in Western Virginia,
gives this graphic sketch Of the night march
upon ~Blekhannon
But We received 8 most hearty greeting
The gallant 9Th eclosei NC" and marched in
to town speedily, with colos flying and full
band playing the oanyil chorus" The people
were fairly wild with delight. Ladies sudden
ly startled from the sweetest of slumbers-
their amerning nap'-seemed to have for
gotten-What woman rarely forgets-to COM
plete their toilet and stood smiling at the
doors and windows, waving welcome TO
their protectors, and men shouted hoarse
welcome to brave deliverers. During the
darkness Of night the troops had been cheer
ed at humble cots along the highway. The
sudden invasion Of the peaceful solitudes Of
Virginia in the profound quiet Of midnight
had startled the inhabitants from deep slum-
Der. The "honest watch dogs bark" ter
minated in long bowls of terror, and died
away in dismal echoes. Cattle and horses
peacefully grazing in pleasant pastures, gal
Hoped in dismay over The hills and far away.
Our eyes penetrating the obscurity dimly
discerned the faint outlines of human figures
in eager attitudes in the door ways-men
snxiously gazing at the fear inspiring pan
oply Of war, women in simple night attire
timidly shrinking from too close scrutiny +;
children clinging fearfully to their mothers
garments and nestled closely to their bos-
oms. The harsh clanguor OF steel clashing
with steel, the CHATTER of iron hoofs on the
stony highway, the stern rumbling Of artil-
lery wagons over the rocky road, and the
hoarse roar of Thousands of rough voices,
were now and then relieved by cheerful huz-
zss from manly thToats in ambusca1e.-
Sometimes the sweet CHEEKY, welcome tones
of womans voice mingled with the solemn
discordaEt roar-like the notes of q bird
heard in the lun Of estorm. At early dawn
we found the people flying towards the
highway from their humble dwellings on the
edge OF the forests With an occasional ex-
ceptien they watched the spectacle with
joyous admiration and blessed he approach
Of their protectors. About mile and a
half below Buckhannon we wound hFounda
spur Of a mountain and marched suddenly
into full view Of the town. Just here a
pretty nut brown maid skipped down the
hill through the waving grass, and posted
herself on q rustic stile to view the imposing
army. The lads, wit constantly exhibit the
kesnest susceptibility to the pretty creatures,
hailed her with a shout of delight. Some
AGng up their hats with wild enthusiasm,
hothers damned their bayonets through the
tops of their hats, and cut a variety Of other
queer capers for the diversion of the Virginia
lass. She stood boFing and smiling in
blushing acknowledgment Of the tribute
Just ahead Of Us, one of the lads in the
18th Ohio, with more frankness than delica-
cy sung out May I 90 to church with
you, gissf Ut was Sunday morniu6A-
Mas crinsoned most bewitchingly, shrank
momentarily from the charge, but recovering
from the surprise Instantly, she screamed
with merry laughter: "Y-e-s-thank you"
Bat the lad was under orders, and left the
girl behind him. It msy be ungsllant TO
tell of it, but our nut brown maid was in
town after eur troops arrived.