Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-12-31
From the Piusbsrsh Christian Advocate.
"Daring and Suffering"
BY REV. W. b. WATKINS.


Daring and Suffering"
Mf BY rev. w. B. wNTEINs.
War, beyond any other phase Of human
society, develops the brave, the courageous,
the heroic in man. Our present national
conflict, conceived and conducted in such
stupcndous proportions and sweep. has sf-
forded theat3r for the accom- plishment oil
the most daring exploits ever enacted; but,
in the whirl and excitement resultant in
more gigantic issues, many Of these have
been measurabfy lost from sight, or have
been rescued from q athreatened oblivion only
by those whom the fortunes Of war have
given involuntary leisure.
The most deeply laid scheme, and on the
grandest scale, that has arisen during this
or perhaps any other war, was that of the
great Railroad Adventure, undertaken by
the or'ler oi the lamcnted General Mitchell,
and sent by him into the heart of the rebel
Coniederacy to destroy the Georgia State
Railroad, and thereby cut of cummunica-
ton between the rebellion, with its supplies
and reiniorcements, on the one side, aud the
rebel General Beauregard and bis army on
the other-"an expedition which," says
Hon. Joseph Holt, in his official report 10
the Secretary OF War, ''in the daring Of its
concs ption. had the wildncss Of romance;
while, in the gigantic and overwhelming re-
suks il sought aud was likely to accomplish,
it was absolutely sublime"
Your readers will recollect an account OF
this adventure which appeared in rebel
newspaper and was reproduced in the Ad.
vocate, about . year ago, and they will re.
call with what intense interest they read the
thrilling details Of the exciting locomotive
chase rs recorded from n Southern stand
point; but when these facts are narrated
with graphic power by one of the adventur-
ers, in q style at once clear, simple, and
earnest, but profoundly impressive from It's
very clearness and simplicity, the interest is
superlatively enhanced, and the grand, stir.
ring, and eventful scenes pass before mind
with all the vividncss of living reality.
Such a book is that of Lieut.. William
Pittonger, entitled Daring and Suffering:
A History of the Great Railroad Adven-
ture. !" recently issued from the press of j.
W. Daughadsy, Philadelphia,-a book in
which the incidents of daring and suffer
ing" are so striking, and withal SO adlnira-
bly, told, that the readers attention is at
once arrested, and he reads on and on with
unhagging Interest, reluctant to lay the
book aside for a moment, until he reaches
the last word Of the last chapter. The pub
Usher speaks truly when he says that moth
in the history ofour country is more start
ling than this adventure-nothing so heart
touching as the protracted trials and priva-
tioDs Of these prisoned adventurers, as rela-
ted by the pen of the gifted author Of this
work" .....-
The writer hereof is personally acquaint-
ed with Lieut.. Pittenger, and has heard
from his own lips the recital Of suferings
endured by him in rebel prisons during
eleven months of weary and oftentimes hope.
less risonmeDt--suferings which well
nigh cost him his life-and while he has lis
tened has bsen impressed with the truthful
ness Of the sentimen. that
| There's divinity that shapes our ends,
| Rough hew them how we will;
for, although the author of this book went
forth to serve his country stranger to that
faith which "disarms destruction, and alb
solves from every clamorous charge the
guiltless tomb" he has returned to us q
publisher Of that salvation which he found
in n loathsome prison in an enemy's land,
and in the pulpit occupied by the writer
first essayed to ltI .....,
Preach the Joys Of heaven and pains of hell,
| And wurn the si'lner with becoming zeal"
or his conversion we cannot do better than
to furnish your readers with brief extract
IN MS own uhoucst, Iervtu, anu sinceTe WOrusi
aud while it displays the Divine providence
Of the stylo of the book itself. For no 9th
er crime than that Of engaging in legiti
mate military expedition, seven of his com.
punions we're ton from the prison, and with
indecent haste were executed upon the scat
fold. or the effects OF this seven fold mur,
der upon himself and comrades the author
says,
That afternoon was one of deepest gloom
for those who remained. We knew mo-
how soon We might bc compelled to follow
in the same path, and drink the same bit
ter cup our comrades drank Once durnl
the trial we had offered to accept the aware
Of the court 10 ore the cases rs the sen
tence Of all, since we could not see tn,
slightest reason for leaving some and ia
king others. At that time, however, We
believed that all would be acquitted. Nov
every hope had vanished.
"But even without the addition of fea
) tor ourselves, the parting from our lovet
friends, whose voices were still ringing il
our ears, while they themselves had passet
beyond the gates of death into the un
: known land ofshadows, was enough to rent
the stoutest heart There were tears thel
from eyes that shrank before no danger.
"But could not shed tear. A clout
Of burning heat rushed to my head, tina
! seemed to scorch through every vein. Fo
, hours l scarcely knew where | was or tn,
loss / had sustained. Every glance arount
, the room, which revealed the vacant place
Of our friends, would bring our sorrow fresh
ly on us again. Thus the afternoon passe,
away in grief TOO deep for words Slowl.
and silently the moments wore on, and n,
+ one ventured to whisper. '
"At last some voice suggested that W
: should seek relief in prayer, The. very ide,
seemed to convey consolation, and Was es
gerly accepted. Soon we knelt around tn
bare walls of our strange sanctuary, aud will
bleeding hearts drew near the throne o
God. Captain Fry FIRST led u.s. and minsle,
sobs with strong supplications. Then each fol
lowed in his turn, with but ono or two excep
tions, & even these wet kneeling with the rest
: As the twilight deepened, our devotional ex
, ercises grew more solemn. In the lonely
shadow Of coming night, with eternity thu
. | l.x hAtA nd oka lsxa~ -.