The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-03-10
sUNNYsIDE WAR SCENES.
). NJ. +. FORCES,
Comp Chase, Ohio.

Now and then littlo human smile
brightcns wars grim vissge, like a flash
of sunshine in m angry day. | rcmcm.
bor one that wish could dagucrrectypc.
A few months ago, the Third Ohio Rcgi-
ment, belonging TO Strcight's command,
entered a town en- route for Richmond,
prsorcrs Of war. Worn down, furnished,
| hearts heavy, and havcrsacks light. they
were hcrdcd like dumb, driven cattle, 20
wear out the night. a rebel regiment
the fif,yFou;th Virginia, being comped
near by, many Of its men came strolling
about TO see sorry show Of poor, supper.
less Yankees. They did not stare long,
but hOstcncd away to camp, and came
streaming back with cofice-kettlcs, corn
bread aud bacon, the best they had, aud
all they had, and stroightway little fires
began to twinkle, bacon was suffering
the mortytdom of the saint of the gridiron,
and the aroma Of coffee rose like the fra
grant cloud Of thank Offering. Loyal
guests and rebel hosts were mingled; our
hungry boys ate and were satisfied; aud for
that Que night our common humanity
stood acquitted of the heavy charge Of to.
tai dcpravity with which il is blackcncd.
Night and our boys departed together.
The prisoners in due time were exchanged
and are now encampod within rifle shot
Of Kelly's Ford, on the bank orthc Ten.
nessec. But often, around the camp
fires, have heorr them talk of the Fifty
Fourth Virginia, that proved themselves
so immcnsurubly better "thut brother
oiar of !" heard them wonder where
they were, and discuss tho chuncc that
they might ever meet.
And now comes the sequel that makes
a beautiful poem Of the whole oft. On
tho day Of the storming of Mission Ridge,
among the prisoners was the Fifty. Fourth
Virginia Regiment, and on Friday il
trai!ed away across the pontoon bridge,
and along the mountain road, nine miles
TO Kelly's Ferry. Arrived there, il set.
tied upon the bank, like wusps, awaiting
the boat. A week elapsed, and your
correspondent followed suit. The Mujur
of the THIRD Ohio Regiment welcomed
me to the warm hospitalties of his quar-.
tcrs, and almost the first thing he said
was, "you should have been here last
Friday; you missed the dcnouemcnt Of,
the beautiful little drama Of ours, whose
first act ! have told you. Will you be.
lcve the Fily-Fourth Virginia has been
here Some of our boys were OH duty
ut the landing when II arrived. what
regiment is this ? they asked; and when
the reply was given, they started for
camp like quarter horses, and shouted,
as they rushed in and out among the
smoky. cones of the Sibl,ys, 'Thc Fifty.
Fourth Virginia is at the Ferry The
camp swarmod in three minutes. Treas.
urcs Of coffee, bacon, sugar. beef, pre-
0erved peaches, everything, were turned
out in force, and you may believe they
went laden with plenty, at the double
quick, to the Ferry"
The same old scene, and yet strangely
changed The ,wirkling fires, the
grateful incense, the hungry cnptives
but guests and hosts had changed places;
stor-it folds foated uloft for the bonny
blue flag debt Of honor was paid TO
the utmost farthing. II they had tri-
umph OF arms at Chattanooga, hearts
were trumps ut Kelly's Ferry. And there
il was that horrid war smiled a human
smile, aud grateful, gentle light hickered
for moment on the point Of the bayonet.
And yet, should the Fifty-Fourth Virginia
return Tomorrow, with urms in their
hands, to the Tennessee, tho Third Ohio
would meet them on the bunk, fight them
foot to foot, and beat them back with
rain so pitiless, the river would run red
Chattanooga Letter.