Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-10-27

out the plank road to the old position of
the 11th Corps A few moments ride
brought us to the scene. What a food
OF thrilling and yet melancholy memories
came rushing through the mind as we
gazed over hlll, field, ravine, and into the
sombre wood where broken branches and
| spllntered trunks still indicate the rava-
ges of battle Every object, every foot
! of ground was familiar All was now
cherry in the bright May sunlight, and
yet it was day so like that fatal one al
most, just two years before, that one for
got the present and lived in the past.
We dismounted, and allowing our hOr-
ses to Craze at will, we walked over the
field. The ground was still streWn with
debris comprising every article used or
carried by the soldiers. Soon we reached
the, to us, memorable trench where the
SD Ohio formed and for a time attempt
ed to Withstand the enemy. Several of
our dead had been thrown into 1t and
covered with the loose earth. Washed
out by the rain was the skull of one of
them half filed with the mould. A
modest little weed had taken root inside
and innOcently protruded from one Of
the oriices. We handled with reverence
this relic of the soldier martyr, not
knowing but it might belong to one of
our lost comrades from whom we had
would have said had we not felt some
thing deeper and more sympathetic.
Passing on we soon found the turf be-
meath us blushing with wild straw berries
we stopped to gather the fruit on the
very spot over which two years before
we had hurried with feverish feet not
knowing but each breath we drew would
be our last. Here is a grave, I think,
said one as he observed a bare spot on
ho Of aQn faE n
and beginning to dig. Soon the
point of the instrument struck hard
elastic substance-it was a human bone.
UncoveTing enough of the remains to sat
isfy ourselves of their identy we returned
them to their kindred dust, and ban king
up the earth affixed head board marked
with the name ofour dear friend q. III. p.
Turning away we consoled ourselves for
his fate with the thought that we had
brought back to this place in triumph the
starry banner which he so much loved
and for which he persisted.
How marvellous are the vieissitudes Of
human life and destiny Here we we're
in triumphant march from the
very heart of the South to the spot where
two years before we had turned back
beaten and discouraged from the advance
on Richmond Then our enemies were
exultant and defiant, now their necks
WGTG uuu6E IG6bs 4uCu VIC MGIC AOb
even permitted to return to care for our
or bury our dead, now there
was no foe left to hinder or molest Then
we hurried back across the Rappahan-
mock amid mud storm and gloom, now
we leisurely crossed that stream at the
same point under the smiles of bright
sun and with brighter beaming in our
hearts, Then we thought of home and
loved ones, and heaVed many despair
ing sigh, but now in the fulpess of hope
of speedy reunion around the familiar
hearth stones in the good old Northland,
our moving host seemed keeping time to
the cadence of the happy strain
'sJoy Joy our exile all is past Hlr n
Wore homeward bound, home at lastl
III fates strong but God is stronger j-
The loved that wait shall wait no longer,
o bliss Of friendship, bliss of heaven ! +i'.
heart OF love, earth's angel leaven
The speed of winds Is IN your feet
soon hands will join and lips will meet,"
A. Z. scotland.