The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-03-24

Now and then little human smile bright
ems wars gri - visage, like a fash Of sun
shine in an angry day.--I remember one
that | wish I could daguerreotvpa. 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 kin" A few months ago the Third
Ohio, belonging to Strieght's command.
entered a town en- route for Richmond, pris.
oRers Of war -Worn down. fatigued, hearts
heavy and haversacks lighter, they were
therded like dumb, driven cattle, to wear ort
he night A rsbsl regiment, the Fifty
fourth Virginia, being campsd n ear by, ma
ny Of its men CAM strolling abont to see
the sorry show Of poor snpperless Yankees,
They can not stare long. but haStened awav
to camp. and came streaming back with cof-
fee kettle. corn bread and bacon, the best
they had and all they had. and straightway
fires began to twinkle; bacon wa; suffering
the nartrydom ofthe gridiron. and the ar
,oma Of coffee rose like. the fragrant cloud Of
a 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 depravity with
which tits hlackenel Night and our boys
departed together. The prisoners in due
nhan .aA nj
ed within rife shot Of Kelly's Ferry, and,
the bank of the Tennessee. But often around
their camp fires have often heard them
talk Of the 54th Virginia, that proved them
selves So, immessurably better "than
brother afar ff'-heard them wonder
where they were. and discuss the chance
that they might ever meet. When they de-
nounce the ''damnahle johnny Reb," the
name of one regiment. you may be sure,
was tucked away in snug place, quite out
of the range Of hard words -,,.. -T...,t ,
And now comes the seqnel that makes a
beautiful poem Of the whole of it. On the
day of the storming of Mission Ridse, among
the prisonersw,s the 54lh Virginia. and on
Friday. it traed away across the poptoon
bridge and along the mountain road. nine
miles to K-llyls Ferry. Arrived there, it
settled upon the hank, ike wasps. awaiting
the boat A week elapsed and your CORES
pendent followed suit. The major Of the
Sd Ohio welcomed me to the warm hospital
tiles Of his quarters. and almost the first
thing he said was, " You shonld have been
here last Friday, you missed the d.nou.
ment Of the beautiful little drama OF ours,
whose first act have told you. Will you
believe the 54th Virginia Mas been here!
Some ofthe boys were on duty at the land.
ing when it arrived. What regiment i,
this? they asked; and when the reply ,ws
given they started for camp like quarter
horses, and shouted. as they rushed IN and
out ofthe smoky conesof the Sitl,ys: The
t54th Virginia IS at the ferryl The camp
swarmed in. three minutes, Treasures. of
coffee, bacon, sugar. beef, preserved caches
every thing were turned out, in force, and
you may believe they went laden with plen-
ty, att double quick to the ferry. The
same old scene, and vet how strang'y
changed, The ,winkling firss.1 the g.ateful
incense, the hungry oaptives; but guests
and hosts had changed places; the star-lit
| folds foated a!oft for the bonny blue flag.
a. A debt Of honor was paid to the utmost
farthing. Ifthey had triumph of arms at
Chattanoo ga, hearts were trumps at KelIy's
Ferry. And there it was that horrid war
smiled human smile. and grateful, gen
tie light fickered for . moment on the point
Of the bayonet. And yet, should the 54th
Virginia return Tomorrow. with arms IN
their hands, to the Tennessee, the Sd Ohio
would meet them on the bank. fight them
foot to foot. and beat them back With rain
so pitiless the river would rnn l--Ey.
ls,'s Ohatto~ooga Letter.