The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-01
From the New York Indepe ndent.
Midnight Thoughts oss the Battle.
field.
THE FIRST NEWS OF THE PROCLAMATION.

At midnight on The battle-f Id, heard
the sound Of coming footsteps. and voice
earnest, but a'most inaudible, in the dis
lance. Now it grows more distinct, and
hear the cry: Heres the New York Time,
and Tribune. got the proc anation of the
President freeing the slaves!'
Sweet as the sound Of angel voices wien
they sang to the shepherds Of Judeah, that
voice rang a. ain and again through the 81
lent and slumbering camp 1t was ones
more the annunciation Of Peace on earth
good will to men!" SEEING the vel.
come messenger and eagerly perusing the
proclamation, | cri, d, Thank God, there is
light ahead. there is hope for the country
all hail the promise OF freedom-if nothin 9
more--to the nation SO long scattered, peel.
ed, ard trodden down. Henceforward God
is on the side of the warning hosts Of liber.
ty. The voice of Freedom and Of Justice
is the voice Of God-and all the people
shall cry, Amen The good and the lust
in ali lands are. from this hour, pledged TO
the struggle now waging agaius! aristocra-
cy and slavery on this continent. and LIB.
erty and Union, now and forever. one and
inseperable." have found new and true cx.
FOUNDER. Every soldiers arm shall be
nerved with new energy--every Heart en-
dowed with fresh courage, for the prayers
OF good men and of angels shall strengthen
him and shield his head in the day OF bat
tle.
l reused one and another. and read to them
the Proclamation. On cot near by lay
the wasted form Of an officer, who sprang
up and clapped bis hands for JOY as he heard
the welcome news. l did T., / { first recog-
nize his voice or features, but coming nearer
to him, discovered it was Col Clark OF
the 2ist Massachusetts Regiment After IN
credible marches. hard fought battles, and
escapes from death on the field,
his regiment reduced to the fragment of
what il was, and himself Frustrated by IN
cessant fighting. he had fallen exhausted at
the camp of General Burnside and was
there waiting the return Of his wasted
strength | had not met him since the battle
vi NewUern. where he bore most gallant
part. and where many OF his brayest officers
and men fell by his side. He has since par
ticipated in al the great battles of the PENN
sula, and more recently those of Virginia,
and now he had scarcely full company
left. Yet he rose up with all bis wonled
energy, and. clappng his hands, thanked
God for the Proclamation. 1t would do
more good than a dozen battles; would
bring to our side. not only the active ard Of
The millions in bondage, but secure 10 US the
and NOR support of every pa
lion in Europe. Besides. ii was in itself a
great act of justice. Such was the feeling
expressed on the subject by ono of the
oravest and most elevated champions OF the
war.
To the majority OF officers and men, the
Proclama ion welcomed as a natural
,vent-one that was certain 10 follow the
ontinuance of the war; and was therefore
lot surprise to any one. II will be ac.
luiesced in even by those who feel little in
crest in the abstract questions Of slavery or
In,i slavery. lit serves 'em right; teey
ave been warned long enough. and the
President has exhibited rare wisdom and
patience in withs,anding SO long the pres.
uro Of different parties upon him. 1t is
light act, performed at the right time, and
viii be sustained by the whole army" were.
ne remarks of most Of those | conversed
nth on the subject. KNOX.
On the .feid Of 1ntietam.