Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-13

yet something comparative in the exbiiir.
ating influence of change. And there Is
added to il in passing through Ohio and
Indiana 9 renewed inspiration as the people
turn out In masses TO welcome him and bid
him God speed As little girls throw
wreatbs Of flowers round his neck. kiss his
bronzed cheek. and strew his car with other
offerings of love and devotion.
Such Impressions as we're here received
were never effscod. They touched the
rough heart snew with tenderness, and.
being rem andcr Of all the old home afFec.
tions, only served to deepen his resolution
sooner or later, Ly the blessing of God. IN
reach the goal Of bis ambition; that IL IN
say, with bis com patriots, to secure to his
children and to other children enduring
peace with liberty and an undivided coun.
try
He passes on through Kentucky, through
the battls-helds OF Tennessee, already histor-
icsl. > -. ..s.. ...,.-
The names, Nashv vile, Stone River. Mur.
freesboro, and Tullahoma, reminded him of
past struggles and portended future con-
hicts. \
He il deposited at Bridgeport, Alabama
a houseless, cherries, chilly place, on the
banks of tthe Tennessee; possessing no in
terest further than that furnished BY the
railroad bridge destroyed; and the vet re.
naming rubbish and filth Of an enemy's
camp.
Before many days the soldier treads his
way up the valley of the great river which
winds and twists amid the rugged noun.
tains, till he finds himself beneath the rock
crowned steps OF Lookout.
Flash after fash, volume after volume of
light-colored smoke, and peal on peal of
cannon, the crashing sound of shot and the
screaming of shell are the ominous signs of
unfriendly welcome sent forth to meet him
from this rocky height.
Yet on the marches, in spite of threaten
ing danger, in spite of the ambush along
his route, until he has Joined hands with
his Western brother who had come from
Chattanooga to meet and to greet him.
This is where the valley OF Lookout joins
that Of the Tennessee.
At this place the stories of Eastern and
Western hardship. suffering, battling, and
danger are recapituated and made to blend
sacrifice of the American soldier.
| Were there time, / would gladly take
you, step by step with the soldier, as he
bridges and crosses the broad and rapid
riverj as he ascsnds and storms the height
of Mission Ridge; or as he plants his victo-
rious feet, waves his banner, and flashes his
gun on the top of Lockout Mountain.
would carry you with him across the
death-bearing streams Of Chickamauga. |
would have you follow him in his weary,
barsfooted, wintry march to the relief of
Knoxville and back to Chattanooga.
From his point of view | would opeB up
the spring campaign, where their great
General initiated his remarkable work of
genius and daring.
could point you to the soldier pursuing
his enemy into the strob2holds of Dalten.
behind the stern impossible features of
Rocky Face, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville,
Dallas, New Hope Church. Pckett's Mill,
! Pine top, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw, Cubs
Farm. Smyrna, Camp ground, Peach tree
Creek, Atlanta. from so many points of
view. and Jonesboro, and names of battle
fields upon each Of which soldiers mem.
ory dwells.
For upwards of hundred days he scarce
" rested from the conflict
Skirmished over rocks, hills and moan
tains, through mud, streams and forests.
For hundreds of miles he gave his aid to
dig that endless chain of entrenchments
which compassed every one of the encmy's
fortified positions He accompanied with
those who cQmbatted the obstinate foe on
the front and on the fanks of those noun.
tain fastness which the enemy had deemed
impregnable, and he had right at least to
echo the sentiment of his indefatigabie
leader, ATLANTA is ours and fairly wen."
Could yeu now have patience to turn
back with him and fight those battles over
again, behold his communications cut, his
railroad destroyed fer miles and miles; enter
the bloody fight OF Allatoona, follew him
through the forced marches, via Rome,
Georgia, away back to Resacca, and through
the obstructed gaps of the mountains into
Alabama, you would thank God for giving
him stout heart and an unfiinching faith
in Just and noble cause
Weary and worn, he reposed at Atlanta,
on his return, but one single night, when
he Commenced the memorable march to-
ward Savannah.
The soldier has become veteran he car
march all day with his musket, his KNAPP
sack, his cartridge bex, his haversack, aud
canteen apon his person; his muscles have
become large and rigid. so that what was
once extremely difficult he now accomplish
es with graceful ease.
This fact must he borne in mind when
studying the soldiers marches through
Georgia and the Carolinas.
The enemy burned every bridge across
stream after stream; the rivers bordered
with swamps-for example, the Ocmulgee,
the Oconee, and the 0gechee-were de-
feRded at every crossing. That they were
passed at all by our forces, is due TO the
cheerful, fearless, indomitabe private SOL
dier
On that you had seen him as T have done,
wading creeks half mile in width and
Water waist deep, under FIRE, pressing on
through wide swamps without one falter-
ing step, charging in line upon the most
formidable works. which were well defend.
ed! You could then appreciate him and
what he has accomplished as do. You
could then feel the poignant sorrow that
always did feel when saw him fall bleed
ing to the earth.
I must now leave the soldier to' tell his
own tale amongst the people; of his bold
bloody work at McAllster against the tor
pedoes, abattis, artillery, and musketry; of
his prisations at Savannah; of his struggles
through the swamps, quicksands, and over
the bread rivers Of the Csrolinas: Of the
fights, fires, explosions. doubts, and tri.
umphs suggested by Grisyodville, Rivers
and Binnaker's bridges, Orangebure. Con.
garee creek COlum Ria. CberaW F.vey,a.