Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-02-28
Nv gaze was turned southward, and ,

expression can think of as beftting tn
scene. In one grand soup d'oil my eyt
took in the whole expanse of country, a
far South as the Gulf of Mexico, and from
the Atlantic Ocean on the East, to the Mis-
sissippi river westwardly.
Before fully fixing my attention upoI
the immense scene, however, | thought o
the mysterious visisant, whose voice hearC
but moment previous. and | looked to
wards him. An apparition stood on my
left somewhat in front, at a distance o
about six feet from me- I sought for hi:
features hoping to recognize him. But
was disappointd for the statue-ike figure
was naught but vapor, cloud, having
only the outlines Of man. This troubled
me, and I was turning the matter over IL
my mind, when the shadowy visitor, in the
same slow, solemn tone as before, said
General Mcclellan, your time is short
Look to the Southwark !
| I felt unable to resist the command,
even had | wished to do so, and again,
her-fore, my eyes were cast on the living
map.
. Out on the Atlantic | saw the various
vessels Of the bloekading squadron loom
ing up with the most perfect distinctness in
the bright moonshine, that Illuminated
everything with strong but mellow light.
I saw Charleston harbor and its forts. with
their pacing sentinels, and their sullen-
looking barbette guns. My eyes followed
the ocean line all the way round into the
Gulf of New Orleans, and thence up the
Mississippi Fort Pickens, and in fact, ev-
cry fortifcation along this water boundary,
l beheld with as much distinctness as you,
sir, see the Corporal's guard passing there.
This sight filed me with delightful sur
prise but it would be utterly impossible
for me to describe the ecstatic amazement
that followed, as within the limits ! men
tion. my eyes took in, in minute, but light
ning-lille detail, every mountain range,
every mountain hill, every valley, every
forest, every meadow, every river, every
city, every camp, every tent, every body
of men, every sentinel, every earthwork,
every cannon, and may say, dispensing
with further detail, every living and every
dead thing, no matter what It's bulk or
height.
My blood seemed to stop in its channels,
with joy, as I thought that the knowledge
and thereby advantage, thus given to me
would issue speedy and happy termina-
tion of the war. And this one idea was en-
crossing my mind, when once more, that
slow solemn voice said:
General Mcclellan, take your map, and
note what you behold. Talry not; your
time is short.
l started, and glancing at the unearthly
speaker, saw him extend his arm and point
southwardly.
Still I saw no features. Smoothing out
the largest and most accurate maps, |
seized pencil, and cnee more bent my
gaze out over the living map. rs looked
this time, cold, thrilling chill ran over
me, and the huge rough icicle again began
its saving motion thraugh my heart. For,
as, pencil in my hand, | compared the map
before me with the living map,I saw masses
of the enemy's forces being hurried to GER
tain points so as to thwart movements that
within day or two, intended to make
at these identical points; while on two Pc
culiar approaches to Washington beheld
columnssof the foe posted for a concentrated
attack, that instantly saw must succeed
in its object unless speedy prevented.
Treacheryl treachery cried I in dis
pair. And, as before my blood seemed to
stop in its channels for joy, it now did SO
for fear. Ruin and defeat seemed to s'are
me in the face. At this dreadful moment,
that same slow, solemn veice struck once
more upon my ears, saying:
General Mcclellan, you have been be-
trayed and had not God willed other
wise, ere the sun Of tomorrow had set, the
Confederate flag would have foated above
the Capitol and your grave. But note
what YOU 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 If thought, transferring to the
map before me all that | saw upon the liy-
ing map. Some mysterious and unearth-
ly influence was apon me, and noted and
recorded the minutest point | beheld, with
out the slightest effort, delay, or mistake.
At last the task was done and my pencil
dropped from my fingers.
For while previous to this, however,
had become conscious that there was
shining of light on my left, that steadily
increased until the moment | ceased my
task. when it became in an instant more
intense than the monday sun. Quickly |
raised my eyes, and never, were | to live
forever, will I forget what | saw. The
dim shadowy figure was no longer dim,
shadowy figure, but the glorifed and re-
fulgent spirit of Washington, the Father
of his country, and now, a second time, its
savior. My friend, it would be utterly
useless for me to attempt to describe the
mighty returned spirit. can only say
that Washington, as | beheld him in my
dream, or trance, as you may choose to
term it, was the most godlike being could
have conceived Of Like weak, dazzled
bird, l sat gazing at the heavenly vision.
From the sweet and silent repose of Mount
Vernon, our Washington had once more
arisen. to once moro eucirele and raise up
with his saving arm. our fallen bleeding
country. As | continued looking an ex-
nression of sublime benignity came gently
upon bis visage, and for the last time
heard that slow and solemn voice saying
to me something like this:
General Mcclellan, while yet In the