The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-06-01
4 Touching War stony
BT BENZ. ,. TAYLOR.

Now and then, ltle human smile brighiens
vars vissse, ike the fash OF sunshine on an an
CRY day. l remember one that | wish could
deguerreOtype. The amenities of battle are SO
lew, how precious they become. Let NE give
you that little touch Of nature which makes
the whole world kiu." A lev months ago, the
50 Ohio. belonging 10 Streight's command enter
ed town sn route tor Richmond, prisoners Of
~ar. Worn down, ismshed. hearts heavy and
haVeIsacks light, they were herded. Ike dumb
driven cattle" 10 wear out the night. A rebel
regiment, the 54th Virginia, being camped near
oy, many OF It's men come stroliing about TO see
the sorry slow oi poor, snpperess Yankees
They did not stay long, but fastened aWsy to
camp, and came streaming back with coffee ket-
ties corn bread aud bacon they had and all
they hAd-and straght-way little ffes began 10
t"ilkle, bacon was suffering martyrdom OF the
Saint OF Oridifon. and the aroma OF the coffee
rose like the fragrant cloud OF 4. n our huUgry
boys ale aud were sa'isfed aud for that one
night our common humanity stood acquitted OF
The charge OF total depravi,y with which il is
blackened. Night and our BOYS departed toseth-
er. The prisoneres were 10 due time exchanged.
aud are now encamped within rife shot of Kely's
Ferry, On the bank OF the Tennessee. But, often
around the camp fires, have beard them talk of
the 54th Virginia. who proved themselves 30
lmmeasurabiy better " than brother afar off -
heard them wonder where they were aud di-cuss
the chance that they might ever meet
When they denounced the damnabe John
ny Rebs, the name OF one reg gimenT You NAV
De sure, was tucked awav in a snug place q lite
out OF the range OF hard words
And now comes the sequel that makes a beau
Iiful poem of the whole OF it Ga the day OF the
storming OF Mission Ridge among the prisoners
was the 54th Virginia, and on Friday it trailed
away across the pOntoOn bridge and along the
mountain road, nine miles, TO Kely's Ferry Ar
rived there, it settled upon the bauk like wasps
awaiting the boat A week elapsed, and your
correspondent followed suit.
The Major of the Sd Ohio welcomed me 10 the
warm hOspitalties of his quarters, and Almost the
first thing be 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. Will you believe that the
54lh has been here? Some Of the bows were or
duty at the landing when il arrived. "Wh hat
regiment is this? they asked: and when the re-
ply was given, they started for camp Ike quar-.
ter horses and as they rnshed in aid ont aninng
the smokey cones OF the Sibley's. "The 54th
Virginia is al the Ferry" The camp swarmed in
three minutes. Treasures Of coffee bacon, su
gar, beef, preserved 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 vet how strangely
changed. The twinkliDg fires, the grateful incense
the hungry captves but guests aud hosts had
changed places the Star lit folds float aloft for
"the my bue fl ,g;" debt ofto Tor was paid
to the u'termost iarlhlng lithey had triumph
Of arms at Chattanooga, hearts were trumps at
Kelley's Ferry. Aud there il was that horrid war
smiled human smile, and a grateful gentle light
a'ckered for a moment on the point of the bay
Onet. And yet, should the 54th Virginia return
TO morrow, 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
Nth rain so ptiless the river would run red.