The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-06

issippi river westwardly.
''Before fully fixing my attention upon
the immense scene, however, l thought OF
the mysterious visitant, whose voice had
heard but moment previous, and [ look
ed toward him. An apparition stood on
my left, somewhat in front, at a distance
OF aboat six feet from me. [ sought
for his features, hoping to recognize him.
But I was disappointed, for the statue-like
figure was naught but vapor, cloud,
having only the general outlines OF a man.
This troubled me, and | was turning the
matter over in my mind, when the shad-
owy visitor. in the same slow, solemn
tone as before, said
"General Mcclellan, your time is short
look to the Southwark =
II felt unable to resist this command,
even had [ wished to do SO, and again,
therefore, my eyes were cast upon the
living map.
"Out on the Atlantic [ saw the various
vessels of the blockading squadron loom
ing up with the most perfect distinctness
ia the bright moonshine, that Illuminated
everything with strong but mellow light.
saw Charleston Harbor and its forts,
with their sullcn looking barbette guns.
by eyes followed the ocean line all the
way round into the Gulf, to New Orleans,
and thence up the Mississippi. Fort
Pickens, and in fact, every fortiication
along this water boundary, [ beheld with
as much distinctness as you, sir, see that
Corporal's Guard passing there.
'lrhis sight filled me with delightful
surprise but it wolld be utterly impoSsi-
bic for me to describe the ecstatic amaze
ment that followed, as, within the limits
[ mention, my eyes took in, in a minute,
but lightning like detail, every mountain
range, every hill, every valley, every for
est, 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, 10 matter what It's bulk or
height.
any blood seemed to stop in It's chan
nels, with JOY, as / thought that the
knowledge, and thereby advantage, thus
given to me, would insure speedy and
happy termination Of the war. And this
one idea was cngrossing my mind, when,
once more, that slow, solemn voice
said
General Mcclellan, take your map,
and note what you behold. Tarry not; ;
your time is short
81 started, and glancing at the unearth-
Iy speaker, saw him extend his arm and
point Southwardly
"Still | saw 10 features. Smoothing
out the largest and most accurate one Of
my maps, l seized a pencil, and once more
bent my gaze out over the living map
As [ looked this time, a cold thrilling
chill ran over me, and huge, rough lclc!e
began It's saving motion through my
heart. For, as, pencil in hand, 1 COM
pared the ulap before me with the living
map, / saw masses Of the cnemy's forces
being hurried to certain points SO as to
thwart movements that, within day Or
two, [ intended to make at these identical
points while on two particular approach
es to Washington [ beheld heavy columns
of the foe posted for concentrated attack
that l instantly saw must succeed In its
object unless speedily prevented.
'Treachery. treachery? cried L IN
despair. And, as before my blood seemed
to stop in it's 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 mere upon my ears saying ::
"'General Mcclellan, you have been
betrayed and, had not God willed 9TH
ergise, ere the sun Of to-morroW had set,
the Confederate flag would have foated
above the Capital and your own grave
But note what you see. Your time Is short
Tarly not ?
Gre the words had left the lips of
nv vapory mentor, my pencil was lying
with the speed of thought, transferring to
the map before ME all that [ saw upon
the living map. Some mysterious and
uncarthly influence was upon me, and |
noted ard recorded the mlnutest point |
beheld without the SLIGHTEST effort, delay
or mistake. At last the task was done,
and my pencil dropped from my fingers.
.For a while previous to tdls, however,
[ had become conscious that there was u
shining light on my left, that steadily
increased until the moment / ceased my
task. when it became in an instant more
intense than the noon-day sun Quickly
raised my eyes, and never, were l to 1--we
forever, will ] forget what | saw. The
dim, shadowy figure, but the glorlfed and
rofuleent spirit of Washington, the Faith
or OF his country, and now a second time
its saviour Ny friend, it would be ut