Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-01-04
Glimpse of War.

A few hours later the sun looked full
in the face of the moving column. The
road, which there ran by the forest, was
1lled with troops, who swung along
with. the free, full stride of men whose
legs kept time to the quiekstep of earn
est hearts. The weII-clOsed ranks. the
accOutrements in good condition. the
square shoulders, and serious but hone
ful faces, beneath the forage caps, mark
ed them vetrans; and the fairly-refec-
ting steel of the arms shone like a glory
over the entire array, That magnifi-
cent mass Of infantry, apparently with
out end, but presenting the same effec-
tiyeness wherever viewed, looked like
the incarnation of resistless power. As
far as the eye could reach, the curyiDn
country road was vivid with the IiveIV'
but not bOisterOus, blue and steel. On
the left We're green fields, cultivated
and refreshing to the sight. On the
right, the road was bordered by a forest
whose trees were full grown and old.
Through this forest, and by the side of
this magnificent body, Generals Grant
and Ord had been riding together: and
their well mounted staffs and escorts
formed a large and sprghtIy eavaIcade.
winding in and out between the trees,
here. comparatively free frOm un-
dergrOwth. Their rattling sabres, and
their greater vivacity, the more quickly
moving horses, and the occasional
change of pace or direction. gave more
of the notion of nobility than the mo-
nOtOnOus tramp, tramp, of the infantry.
The -swiftly-falling sun in the clear
heavens threw shadows that nlagDified
the originals into an army of giants;
while its direct rays glOrifed all they
touched. Ord had Just fallen back and
Grant was beginning to move ahead at
livelieT gait; the mingled staffs had
said good by, and were again gathered
into their proper groups; the escorts had
closed up IN their respective places
when, from the right and rear two
troopers in the rebel uniform dashed
out of the wood on literary fOam-heck-
ed horses. They were only two; but to
the outward eye their dusty gray clothes
their long hair and wild aspect, and
their general appearance, indeseribable
but typical of Southern cavalry, mark
ed them as unquestionabIy rebels. But
their bold and rapid advance directly
up the column declared them, although
personally unrecOgnized, as scouts. In
quiring for General Grant, they fairly
pushed their horses to run, in their ca
gernesS to Overtake him when the
squadron that followed him was pOinted
out. Just as our party again came up,
Grant, who had halted and read their
despatch, imperturbabIe as ever, turned
to two of his staff: iCOl.--and Col.
-, I wish yOu to 90 with me-
While led horse was being prepared,
he spoke few words to his adiutant-
general, and, before remounting, wrote
a line or two, using a saddled horse as
a desk. Meanwhile, the eeaseIess
stream of infantry was rolling by his
side; the lower and lower sun cast great
er shadows from the huge trees, and
still brighter beams from the polished
barrels; the great clusters of hOrsemen
again cOalesced, full of chat an coniec-
ture; the hard riding scouts at first
lOOsened and then tightened their horses
girths and their own belts; and then.
just as the sun went down, the lieuten-
and the two aides, with an
orderly or two and the mysterious
strangers started off on a long trot di-
Tectly through the daEkened forest, at
right angles to our line of march, and
into a country which, ifit held anything,
held rebels. They were going to the
for Grant had news from Sher-
idan. We had glimpse Ofthe romance
OfWaT.-OLd and Ne1D.