Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-16
WHOLE NO. 2476.
d The Amenities OF war.

Now and then a little human smile,
brlghtens wars grim visage, like . fssh
of sunshine in an angry day. / remem-r
Der one that Iwish / could daQuerrsotvpe.
The amenities of battle are 30 few, how
precious they becomel Let me give YOU
! that Ettle ''toueh of nature that makes
the whole world" A few months ago the
Sd Ohio Regiment, belonging TO Streieht's
command, entered q town esz Touts for
Richmond, prisoners of war. Worn down,
famished. hearts heavy, and hsyersacks
light, they were herded like dumb, driV-
en- cattle, to wear out the night, A reb-
Ell regiment, the 54th Virginia, being
camped near by, many of its men came
strolling about to see the sorry show Of
poor, supperless Yankees. They did not
stare long, but fastened away TO camp
and came streaming back with coffee ket.
ties, corn bread and bacon, the best they
had, and all they had, snd. straightwsy
little fires began to twinkle, bacon was
suffering the martyrdom Of the saint
Of the gridiron, and the aroma of coffss
rose like the fragrant cloud of thank
Offering. Loyal guests and rebel hosts
were mingled; our hungry boys ate and
were satisfied; and for that one night our
common humanity stood acquitted of the :
heavy charge of total deprayity with B
which it Is blackened. Night and our .
boys departed together. The prisoners
in due time were exchanged and are now
encamped within rife shot of Kelly6sn
Ferry, on the bank of the Tennessee
But often, around the camp fires, ] have
heard them talk of the 54th Virginia,
that proved themselves immeasurably
better ethan brother afar off," heard
them wonder where they were, and dis
cuss the chance that they might ever
meet.
And now comes the sequel that makes
a beautiful poem of the whole of it. On
the day of the storming of Mission Ridge,
among the prisoners was the 54th Virgin
is Regiment, and on Friday it trailed
away across the pontoon bridge, and slang
the mountain road, nine miles TO KeES's
Ferry. Arrived there, it settled upon
the bank, like wasps, awaiting the boat
week elapsed, and your correspondent
suit. The Major of the Sd Ohio
welcomed me to thew warm hos
pitalities of his quarters, and almost tho
hrst thing he said was, " You should have
been here last Friday; you missed the de-
Monument of the beautiful little drama
Of ours, whose first act have told you.--
viii you believe the 54th Virginia has
been here? Some of our boys were on
duty at the landing when it arrived
What Regiment is thisP they asked; and
when the reply was given, they started
for camp like quarter horses, and shout
ed, IN and out among the smoky cones Of
the Sibleys, the 54th Virginia is ct the
FerryP The camp swarmed in three
Treasures of coffee, bacon, su-
gar, beef preserved peaches, every thing
we're turned out in force, and you may
believe they went laden with plenty, At
The double-quick, to the Ferry '''f,
The same old scene. and yet how
strangely changedl The twinkling 6res,
.he grateful incense, the hungry captiYes;
but guests and hosts had changed places;
he star-lit folds hoated aloft for the bon
~ blue flag; debt of honor was paid to
he utmost farthing- If they had > tri-
lmph of arms at Chattanooga, hearts
we're trumps at Kelly's Ferry. And there
{ was that borrid war smiled human
mile, and grateful, gentls light flicker
ID for q moment on the point Of the bay
met. And yet, should the 54th Virginia
'eturn tomorrow, with arms IN their
hands, to the Tennessee, the Sd Ohio
would meet them on the bank, fight them
oot % foot, and beat them back With
ain so pitiless the river would run redi-
lGyIOr's Chattanooga Letter. 'i' ''''i'i
--slti sui. --s5.-- 80 Nta IJs1af ,veuaGr