The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-02
The Amenities of War,

|
wars grim visage, like flash of sunshine in an
angry day. I remember one that wish could
daguerreotype The amenities of battle are so
few, how precious they become? Let me give
YOU that little "touch of nature that makes the |
whole world kind.' A few months ago the
Third Ohio, belonging to Streight's command,
entered town en- route for Richmond, prisoners
of war; Worn down, famshed, hearts heavy
and haversacks light, they were herded like
dumb, driven cattle, to wear out the night.
A rebel regiment, the Fifty-fourth Virginia,
being camped near by, many of its men came
strolling about to the sorry show of poor sup
PEERLESS Yankees. They did not stare long, but
FASTENED away to camp and came streaming back
with coffee keete, corn bread and bacon, the best
and all they had, straightway little fires began
to twinkle bacon suffering the martyrdom
of the saint of the gridiron, and the aroma OF
coffee rose like the fragrant cloud of a thank
Offering Loyal guests and rebel hosts were
mingled; our hungry boys ate and were salts
fed and for that one night our common human
ity stood acquitted of the heavy charge OF total
depravity with which it is blackened. Night
and our boys departed together. The prisoners
in due time were exchanged and are now en-
camped within rifie-shot of Kelley's Ferry, on
the banks of the Tennessee.
But often around the camp fires have heard
them talk of the Fifty-fourth Virginia, that
proved themselves UNNECESSARILY better
than a brother afar off''-heard them wonder
where they were and discuss the chance thai
they might even meet. When they denounce
the "damnable Johnny Reb,'' the name of one
regiment YOU may be sure, was tucked away il
snug place, quite out of the range Of hare
words.
And now comes the sequel that makes a beau
tiful poem of the whole of it. On the day of the
storming of Mission Ridge, among the prlso
ners was the Fifty fourth Virginia, and ON FIJI
day it trailed along the mountain road, MIN
miles to Kelly's Ferry Arrived there, 1t settles
upon the bank like wasps, awaiting the boat.
week elapsed, and your correspondent followe
shit. The Major of the Third Ohio welcome
me to the warm Inequalities of his quarters, an
almost the first thing he said was, " You shout
have been here last Friday you missed the de
nouenent of the beautiful little drama of ours
whose first act 1 have told you. Will you be
,eye the Fifty fourth Virginia has been here
Some of our boys were on duty at the landin
when it arrived What regiment is this? the
asked and when the reply was given they star
ed for camp like quarter horses, and shouted, 6
thew rushed in and out among the smoky con'
of the Sibleys: The Fifty-fourth Virginia is
the ferry!
The camp swarmed in three minutes. Urea
ures of coffee, bacon, sugar, beef, preserve
peaches. everything were turned out in fore
and Won NAV believe they went laden with plel
tv. at the double quick to the ferry. The san
old scene. and vet strangely changed. II
twinkling fires, the grateful incense, the hung
cantives : but guests and hosts had chang
places the star lit folds ioated aloft for the DO
nv bJuo Aao A debit of honor was paid to t.