The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1864-02-26
The Amenities of War;

tdot .duI Ine FAMen1cleS Oh war; MmC3
% lNowfand then b. little human smile
brightens wars grim Evisage, Like a fash
tof sppshineiip an angry day. ! remem-
Der ore that / wishiI could daguerTeotype.
|The amenities of Battle are 50 few, how
precious they become! Let me give you
that little 'teuch of nature that makes the
whole world kin" A few months ago the
Third Ohio, belonging to ,Straighgs com.
maud, entered stown en- route for Rich
nsond, prisoners Of war. Worn down,
famished, hearts heavy and hayersacks
light, they were herded like dumbu driven
cattle to wear out the night. A rebel
regiment, the 54th Virginia, being camp.
ed near by, many Of its men came stroll
ing abont tosee the sorry show of poor
supperless Yankees. They did not stare
long, but fastened away to camp, and
came streaming back with coffee kettle,
corn bread and bacon, the best they had,
andstraightway little fires began to twin
kle, bacon was 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 satisfied; and. for that one
night our common humanity stood acquit-
ted of the heavy charge Of tOtal deprayity
with which it is blackened. Night and
our boys departed together. The prison.
ers in due time were exchanged, aud are
now encamped within rife shot Of Kelly's
Ferry, on the bank of the Tennessee. -
But often, around tie camp fires, I have
heard them talk of the 54th Virginia that
proved themselves so Unnecessarily better
"thaa a brother afar. off," beard them
wonder where they were, aud discuss the
chance that they might ever meet
When they denounced the "tdamnable
johnny Reb," the name of one regiment,
you may be sure, was tucked away in a
snug place, quite out OF the way Of hard
words .,ga.g,s III Iaf.s}fe,t,. = r
And now comes the sequel that makes
o beautiful poem of the whole Of it. On
the day, of the storming of Mission Ridge,
among the prisoners was the 54th Vir-
GINA, and onFriday itatsailed away across
the pontoon bridge and along the noun tain
road, nine miles to Kelly's Ferry. Ar
rived there, it settled upon the bank, like
wasps, awaiting the boat. Aweek elaps-
ed and your correspondents followed suit
The major Of the 31st Ohio welcomed me
to the warm inequalities Of bis quarters,
and almost The first thing be said WIS,
"You shfuldlhave been here last Friday !;
you missed the denouement of tho beauti-
full little drama of ours, whose FIRST act /
have told you. Will you believe the Saith
Virginia has been here! Some of our
boyswere on duty at the lapdipg when it
arrivede What regiment is this they
asked; and when the reply vas given,
they started for camp like quarter horses,
and shouted, as they rushed in and out
among the smoky cones of the Sibleys---
thel54ths Virginia is at the ferry The
camp swarmed3in three minutes. TGea-
sures of coffee, bacon sugar, beef, preserve
ed peaches, everything we're turned outiip
forces and you may believe they went la
den with plenty, at the doublequick, ito
the ferry.aa The same old scunc. and yet
how strangely changed. The twinkling
lires, the hungry captives; but guest and
hos. had changed places; the star-iit folds
Aoa,ed aloft for the benny blue flag /; a
debt of honor was spaid to the ,uttermost
hrthing. IT they had triumph Of arms
| at Chattanooga; hearts were trumps at
Kelly's Ferry And there it was that
hpstid war smiieda human smile, and o
| grateful, gentle light aickered for mo,
| ment OH the poift of theahayonet. I And
| yeb should the 54th Virginia, return to-
MORROW / with arms in their hands, to the
tTennessee, tkefSd Ohio would meet them
| on The blink, tight them foot TO- foot and
beat them back with rain SO pitiless that
the river would run ed.l-- 7aylor's Gsas-
taalooga Letter. at 1sdl ileee aahisss9
iaatg l..---. oassos
sd We fyna j 4. nTsr rS pas4pva gse9G45'