Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-03-19

An Interesting War Story.


In ietter entitled, - Chattanooga Chat" in
the Chicago Journal, Benjamin F. Taylor relates
the following interesting story of the recent cam
paign In Tennessee
Now and then, a little human smile brightens
wars grim visage, like q fash of sunshine in an
angry day. l remember one that wish could
daguerreotype. The amenities of battle 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 Streight's command, entered
town en- route for Richmond, prisoners of war
Worn down, famished, hearts heavy and hayer-
sacks light, they were herded, like dumb
driven CATTLE to wear out the night rebel
regiment the Fifty fourth Virginia, being camped
near by, many of its men came strollng about
to see the sorry show of poor, supperless Yam
KEGS.
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 straightway little fires began to twinkle,
bacon was suffering the martyrdom of the Saint
of the Gridiron, and the aroma OF coffee rose
like the fragment cloud of thank-offering.-
Loyal guests and rebel hosts were mingled our
hungry boys ate and were satisfied and for that
night our common humanity 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 ex-
changed, and are now encamped within rifle shot
of Kelly's Ferry, on the bank Of the Tennessee.
But often, around the camp fires, have heard
them talk of the Fifty-fourth Virginia, that
q brother afar off ; heard them wonder where
they were, and discuss the change that they
might ever meet.
When they denounced the damnabe Johnny
Rebs, the name of one regiment, you may be
sure, was tucked away in snug place, quite out
of the range of hard words.
And now comes the sequel that makes beau
tlful poem of the whole of it, On the day of
the storming of Mission Ridge, among the pris-
oners was the Fifty-fourth Virginia, and on Fri
day it trailed away across the pontoon bridge
and along the mountain road, nine miles to KEEL
ly's Ferry. Arrived there, it settled upon the
bank like wasps, awaiting the boat. week
elapsed, and your correspondent followed suit.
The Major Of the Third Ohio welcomed me to
the warm Inequalities of his quarters, and al
most the first thing he said was, You should
have been here last Friday you missed the
denouement of the beautiful little drama of
ours whose first act have told you. VIII
you believe that the Fifty-fourth Virginia has
been here Some of our boys were on duty at
the landing when it 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 Sibly s-the Fifty-fourth
Virginia is at the ferry The camp swarmed in
three minutes. Treasures of coffee bacon,
sugar, beef and preserved peaches 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 how strangely
changed. The twinkling fires, the grateful in
censeI the hungry captives but guests and hosts
had changed places the star-lit folds foated
aloft for the bonny blue : debt of honor was
paid to the uttermost farthing. If they had
triumph of arms at chattanooga, hearts were
trumps at Kelly's Ferry. And there it that
horrid smiled human smile, had CRATE
full, gentle light fckered for a moment the
point of the bayonet And yet, should the
Fifty-fourth Virginia return tomorrow, with
arms in their hands, to the Tennessee, the Third
Ohio would meet them the bank fight them
foot to foot, and beat them back with rain so
pitileSs the river would run red -