Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-05-07
TALES AND SKETCHES.
VICT d R ".

ting-rOom one evening, alter his return IRON
the village post Office, and took vacant
chair among the group gathered about the
ceuter. table.
"Glorious !" cried chorus.of voices.
"a splended achievement Let me read
sou the particulars" Frank continued, with
animation, drawing copy of the Paper
from his pocket, and leading off with a
brilliantly headed article, wherein the adj
vantsges gained in one of those "most gal
liant and daring exploits OF the war;" of
which VIC have had 50 many, were duly set
forth.
II was fine, spirited sketch of the battle
of Chattanooga, and we listened with breath
less attention, following the rapid move.
ments of our gallant troops as they advanc-
ed to storm the enemy's strong entrench-
ments, hearing the imagination the fierce
rattle Of musketry far up the slopes of Mount
Lookout in General Hookers famous battle
above the Clouds" our work falling from
our hands, over hearts standing still as we
watched the brave men charging madly up
the dangerous heights of Mission Ridge,
their cheers mingling with the roar of rebel
guns, the shrieking of rebel shells, and the
sharp dcath-click from the rebel pits-a
wild, stirring, turbulent scene but the key
note of the whole was "victory. victory ~
and every face shone with triumph, every
voice cried jubilaptly, "Well done" when
the recital was ended.
All but one. Cousin Mabel, her fingers
busily employed in the fashoning of some
hospital garment, had listened with paling
face to the thrilling account. her head droop.
ing lower and lower, until at last it rested
on her hands, which, still holding their un-
finished work, had fallen ncryclcssly upon
the table beside her.
Frank, looking up from his paper with
blazing eyes, eagerly searching the faces of
his listeners for token of sympathy and ap-
probation, quickly noticed her attitude and
Silence, and reaching forth his hand laid
it lightly upon her bowed head, saying gay
Iy--
What! not single word of praise or
thanksgiving for this glorious success Of
our.;roops, dear Mabel
She lifted her sweet, earnest face, wet
with tears, looking like pure white lily,
dashed with summer rain.
"As love the Union cause and hope
for its ultimate triumph, do rejoice in this
signal success OF our arms" she said fervent.
iy
"But your attitude just now was one of
deep detection, thought, and there are
telrs upon your cheek, Mabel"
They come of mingled pity and thank
fulncss, think" she answered, wiping them
away, and resuming her work.
"Of pity {" Frank asked vaguely, as if he
scarcely understood her meaning
"What sorrow, anguish, and suffering
thrills in that one word-victory. How
many wrctched, aching hearts, that have
contributed their earthly al! to this triumph
cry cut tonight against the nations cx-
ultation and rejoicing - she said tremulouS-
ly.
"Ah! true. God help them But no
permanent good was ever attained, you
know, without some present loss and mo-
mentary suffering. Let the afflicted gather
courage anc strength from this thought,
and guess at the infnity of their enternal
blessings by the multiplicity of their tem-
poral ills"
ut is easy to say such words--very easy
for US who sit here untouched by loss and
unscathed by the murderous tire whose burn
ing breath swept hundreds of miles from
and whose blasting influence
il felt in many o Northern home. Truly, If
we could keep our eyes fixed always on
eternal issues, sorrow could not touch us
more than it does the immortals. But we
have hearty Of flesh, that fail with fear
and smart with anguish a. We walk the
fiery furnace, and the sublimest reason
ings cannot makS Us quite forge: our
pains"
IF you make such comments on victory
gained at a comparatively small cost, what
shall he said for the defeats which have
occurred to our armies from
time to time since the beginning of this
contest Z"
The true soul recognizes no defeat to
our cause founded in justice and right. I'M
mediate results may not always be such as
are anticipated and desired but ultimate
victory must reward the courageous cham
pions Of truth.s
still" returned Frank, "thcre Is some
thing wonderfully depressing to the spirits
whcn--to use your words-'immediate re-
suits prove not such as are anticipated and
desired The good soldier, who in the hour
of peril strains every nerve in his faithful
performance of duty, feels somehow wrong
ed and defIauded of his rights if the day is
not won. confess to "a thrill of pain, and
regret even now, when think that my good
right arm was lost in that unhappy action
did not perceptibly benefit the cause so
dearly loved. believe we all felt the same,
We maimcd and wretched fellows who were
gathered out of that awful wreck of human
life. We lay in heavy swaths, where the
guns Of the rebels had cut us down in the
earlier part of the action, hearing all around
US the mad confusion at battle. but unable
to tell who were the winners in the combat,
as friend and foe rushed over us, one and
another PROSTATE sufferer lifted his dying
head, and called faintly-'Comrades, how
goes the dayr and sank away into eternity,
never knowing which way the tide OF battle
turned. 0thsrs, and among them, lost for
time the sense Of bodily anguish and men.
tai anxiety In blessed Inconsistencies, and
IL MAS not I'LL days after In the crowded
hospitals that We learned the disastrous re-
suits of that ill-sustained movement upon
the eRemy. Many brave fellow turaed his
face 10 the wall, and groancd heavily when
he heard the truth. Some even wept. Il,
crushed all the manhood out Of US, that dis
heartening account of our unayaillng losses,
and We had no patience with our pains, No
strength OF fortitude "a hear them, feeling
as We did. that our wounds were brands OF
and disgraee rather than marks
of honor sad dis,inetioa,"
"suiiering had made you morhld- kla.
bel said, laying her hand Ieyerontly upon
his empty sleeve, the sight of which always
sent pang TO our heafts. III doesn't mat
ter whether you gave your arm al fr.derleks'
burg or at lhis brave Chattanooga hghI, NC
know that I've lasi blow Mas dealt foF the
riaht"