The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-04

anu tHeHCe up the eMISSlSSlppl, TOTt LICK
ems, and in fact every forlifcation along
this water boundary, | beheld with as
much distinctness as you, sir, see thai
Corporal's guard passing there.
This sight filed me with delightful
surprise but it would be utterly impos,
sible for me TO describe the ecstalic
amazement that followed, as within the
limits | mention, my eyes took in, in
minute, but lghtning-like detail, every
mountain range, every hill, every valley
every forest, every meadow, every river,
every city, every camp, every tent, every
body of men, every sentinel, every earth
work, every cannon, and | may say, dis
pensing with further detail, every living
and every dead thing, no matter what its
bulk or height.
Ny blood seemed to stop in its chan
nels, with JOY, as | thought that the
knowledge, and thereby advantage, thus
given TO me, would insure a speedy and
happy termination ofth war. And this
one idea was engrossing my mind, when
once more, that slow, solemn voice, said
General Mcclellan, take your map,
and note what you behold. larry not
your time is short
started, and glanced at the unearth-
~ speaker, saw him ex,end his arm and
point southwardly.
SILL / saw no features. Smoothing
out the largest and most accurate one OF
my maps, seized pencil, and once
more bent my gaze out over the living
map. As | looked this time, cold
thrilling chill ran over me, aud The huge
rough lclcle again began It's saving mo-
ton through my heart. For, as, pencil
IN hand, | compared the map before me
with the living map, saw masses of the
enemy's forces being hurried TO certain
points 50 as to thwart movements that,
within day or two, intended to make
at those identical points while on two
particular approaches 10 Washington
beheld heavy columns Of the foe posted
tor concentrated attack, that instantly
saw must succeed in its object unless
speedily prevented.
TIeachery treachery = cried l, in
despair. And, as before my blood seem
ed 10 stop in its channels for JOY, it now
did so for fear Ruin ana defeat seemed
to stare me in the face. At this dread
tu moment, that same slow, solemn voice
struck once more upon my ears, saying :
General Mcclellan, You have been
betrayed and. had God wiled other
wise, ere the sun of tomorrow had set.
the Confederate flag would have hoated
above the Capitol and your own grave
Bat note what you see. Your time is
short. Tarry not %
Ere the words bad left the lips of my
vapory mentor, my pencil was flying
with the speed Of thought, nsferrinsr
to the map before me all that saw upon
the living map. Some mysterious and
unearthly Influence was upon me, and /
noted and recorded the minutest point |
beheld without 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,
mad become conscious that there was a
SHINING Of light on my left, that steadily
increased unul the moment | ceased my
task when II became in an instant more
intense than the noon day sun. Quick
ly raised my eyes, aud never, were 70
live forever, will | forget what | saw.
The dim, shadowy figure was no longer
dim, shadowy figure, but the glorfied
and refulgent spirit Of Washington, the
Father OF his country, and now a second
time its saviour. My friend, it would be
utterly useless for me to attempt to dies.
cribe the mighty returned spirit. can
only say that Washington, as | behell
HIM III my dream, or trance as YOU may
choose 10 term il, was the most God like
being | could have conceived of Like
weak, dazzled bird, SAT gazing at the
heavenly vision. From the sweet and
silent repose of Mount Vernon. our
Washington had risen 10 once more en-.
circle and raise up with his saving arm.
our fallen, bleeding country AsI con.
tlnued looking, an expression of sublime
benlgmty came gently upon his yisage.
and, for the last time, heard that slow
and solemn voice, saying 10 me some
thing like this:
General Nc Clelau, while yet in the
lesh, | beheld the birth OF the American
Republic. Ii was, indeed hard and
bloody one, but Gods blessing was upon
the nation, aud, therefore. through his
her first great struggle for existence, he
sustained her, and with His mighty hand
brought her out triumphanily. A cen
Jury has not passed since then, and vet
the child Republic has taken her posi-
uon peer with nations whose pare of
history extends for ages into the past.
She has, since those dark days, bv the
favor Of God greatly prospered. And
how by very reason Of this prosperity
has she been brought 10 her second srea,
struggle. This is by far the most peril.
Gus ordeal she has to endure. Passing
as She IS from childhood to opening ma
tarity, she is called on 10 accomplish
that vast result. selfconquest. 10 learn
that important lesson, ll.conlrol, self
rule, that IN future viii place her in the
van OF power and civilization. Ii is
here that all nations have hitherto failed
and she. too. the Republic of the earth.
had not God wlled otherwise, would, hy
70 morrow's sunset have been a broken
heap ot stones cast up over the final
grave of human liberty