Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-02-08

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throughout this watery boundary, I
beheld with as much distinctness as
you, s1r, see that Corporal's guard pas
sing there.
"This sight filed me with delightful
surprise but it would be utterly i'm
| possible for me to describe the ecstat-
ic amazement that followed as within
the limits I mention, my eyes took in,
in minute but lightning like detail, ev-
cry meadow, every riyulet, every riy-
er, every city, every village, every
camp, every tent, every body of men,
every sentinel, every cannon, and l
may say, dispensing with further de-
tai, every living and every dead thing,
no matter what its height or bulk.
my blood seemed TO stop IN It's
channels with Joy, as I thought that
the knowledge, and thereby advant-
age, thus given to me would insure a
speedy and happy termination of the
war. And this one idea was engross-
ing my mind when, once more, that
slow, solemn voice said:
" General Nc CIellan, take your map
and note what You behold. Tarry not
Your time is short
8 started, and g,ancing at the un-
earthly speaker | saw him extend Lis
arm and point thwardly.
Still | saw no features.
Smoothing out the largest and
most accurate one Of my maps, [ seiz-
ed a pencil, and once more bent my
gaze OFT 0ver the living map.
&" As | looked this time q cold, thrill
ing chilli ran over me, and the huge,
rough icicIe again began its saving mo-
ton through my heart. For, as pencil
III hand, | compared the map beside
me with the living map, saw masses
OF the enemy's forces being hurried to
certain points SO as to thWart move
ments that, within day or two, in
points; while on two particular APP
proaohes to Washington [ beheld
heavy columns Of the foe posted for
concentrated attack, that ] instantly
saw must succeed in its object unless
speedily prevented.
"' Treachery! treachery!' cried [ in
despair. And as before my blood
seemed to stop in its channels for Joy,
it now did 50 for fear. Ruin and de-
feat seemed to stare me in the face -
At this moment that same slow, solemn
voice struck once more upon my ears,
saying:
* General Mcclellan, you have
been betrayed ana had not God will
ed It otherwise, ere the sun Of to-mor-
row had set, the Confederate FLAG had
tioated above the Capitol and your
own grave. Bat note what YOU see
Your time is short! larry not
Ere the words had left the lips Of
my apory Mentor, my pencil was fy-
ing with the speed Of thought, trans
terring to the map before me all that
| saw on the living map. Some mys-
terious and unea:thly influence was
upon me, and I noticed and recorded
the minutest point | beheId, 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, how
ever, [ had become conscious that
there was a shining light on my left,
that steadily increased until the mo-
ment | ceased my task, when it became
in an instant more intense than the
MONDAY sun.
"QuickIy l raised my eyes, and ncy-
er, were | to live forever, should | for
get what I saw. The dim, shadowy
figure was no longer a dim, shadowy
figure, but the glorious and resplend-
ent SPIRIT OF WAsH1NGToN, the Faith
er Of his Country, and now & second
time q Savior.
My friend, it would be utterly i'm
possible for me to attempt to describe
the mighty returned spirit. I can on
ly say that Washington, as I beheld
him in my dream or trance, as YOU may
choose to term it, was the most God
like being l could ever have conceived
of.
"Like a weak, dazzled bird, I sat
gazing at the heavenly vision. From
the sweet and silent repose of Mount
Vernon our Washington had risen, to
once more encircle and raise up, with
his saving arm, our fallen, bleeding
country.
GAS | continued to look, an express
ion Of sublime benignity came gently
upon the visage, and for the last time
I heard his solemn voice, saying to
me something like this:
"' General Mcclellan, while yet in
the flesh | beheld the birth of the
American Republic. It was indeed a
hard and bloody one, but Gods bless
ing was upon the nation and, therefore,
through this, her First struggle for ex-
istence, brought her out triumphantly.
"' \ century has not passed since