Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-03-01
A PLEASING INCIDENT ToF THE
WAR

/ WAR.
! Now and then little humas smile.
brightens wars grim visago, like q
fash of sunshine in an angry dsy.
remember one that wiih / could
daguerreotype. The ameneiries of
battle are so few, how precious they
become! Let me give you that little
"touch of nature that makes the
whole world kin" Once on q time,
the Sd, Ohio. belonging to Streight's >
command, entered q town en- route
for Richmond, prisoners of war.
Worn down, famished, hearts heavy
and knapsacks light, they were hor-
ded, like dumb, driven cattle, to
wear ont the night A reLel regi-
ment, the oath Virginia, being
camped near by, many Of its men
came strolling about to see the sorry
show of poor supperless Yankees.
They did not stare long, but hastened
away to camp, and came streaming
back with coffee kettle, corn bread
and bacon, the best they had, and all
they had; and straightway little fires
began to twinkle, bacon was suffer
ing the martyrdom of the saint of
the gridiron, and the aroma of coffee
rose like the fragrant cloud of 8
thank offering. Loyal guests and
rebel hosts were mingled. Our hun
cry boys ate, and were satisfied; and
for that one night, our common hui
manity 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
exchanged, and are now encamped
within riae-shot of Kelley's Ferry,
on the bank of the Tennessee, but
often around the campfire, ! have
heard them talk ofthe 54th Virginia,
that proved themselves so immeasur-
ably better "than brother afar off,"
heard them wonder where they were,
and discuss the chance that they
might ever meet. When they de-
nounced the "damnable 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 beautiful poem
of the whole of it.
On 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 aud along the mountain road,
nine miles to Kelly's Ferry. Arrived
there, it settled upon the bank, like
wasps, awaiting the boat. A week
elapsed, and your correspondent
followed suit The Major of the Sd
Ohio welcomed me to the warm hos.
pitalitIes of his quarters and almost
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. Will you
believe?-the 54th was here. Some
of our boys were on duty at the land
ing when it arrived. "What regi-
ment is this?" they asked; and, when
the reply was given, they started for
camp like quarter horses, and
shouted, as they rushed in and o1t
among the smoky cones of the Sib-
ley's. "The 54th Virginia is at the
ferry" The camp swarmed in three
minutes. Treasures Of coffee, ba-
con, sugar, beef, preserved peaches,
everything, were turned out in force;
and you may believe they went Ia
den with plenty, at the double quick,
to the ferry. The same old scene,
and yet how strangely changed-the
twinkling fires. the grateful incense,
the hungry eaptives; but guests and
hosts, had chan ged places; the star
lit folds foated aloft for the bonny
blue flag; debt of honor was paid
to the utmost farthing. If they had
q triumph of arms at Chattanooga,
hearts were trumps at Kelly's Ferry.
And there it was that horrid war
smiled a human smile; and CRATE
full, gentle light fickered for mo-
ment on the point Of the bayCnet.
And yet, should the 54th Virginia
return to morrow, with arms in their
hands, to Tennessee, the Sd Ohio
would meet them on the bank, f ght
them foot to foot, and beat them
back with rain so pitiless the river
would run red -[B. F. Taylor.