Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-05
War EemInlseense.
BY WH. II. PEGRAM.

1t was during the winter Of 1864
65, which will long be remembered by
the soldiers who took part in the cam
palgn in the Valley Of Virginia, as one
which tried mems souls and tnelr heels
also, that the thrilling scene occurred
which l am about to describe.
The old Fourth Cavalry was on a
forced march down the Valley to meet
a column of the enemy which was adj
yancing, and after days ride went
into bivouac just at night fall on the
road side.
We did not have the cigars and cog
nae, as the old song says, with which
to bivouac, so after hasty bite ol
something to eat and picketing and
feeding horses, we soon rolled ourselves,
head and ears. in our blankets and lay
prone upon the frozen ground.
To tried soldier sleep comes quick
ly, and with it almost entire oblivion,
he rarely dreams, so hardly more than
a minute elapsed after the lying down
before the entire camp was as silent as
the grave.
While preparing fer rest we had been
notified of q coming snow storm, not
only by the black clouds which hung
heavily IN the northeast. but by heralds
in the shape of cutting snowhakes pro-
PEELED by the wintry blast.
1t was fearfully cold; so bitter was it,
indeed, it was thought expedient to
dispense with the usual camp guard SO
as to enable all to obtain whatever ol
comfort was possible under the circum-
stances.
The regiment at that time numbered
between six and seven hundred men,
who, soldier-like, caring only for the
present, and unmindful Of the morrow,
slept soundly and, 1 may add, rapidly.
had slept as had supposed only
few minutes when 1 suddenly awoke 70
consciousness, being made aware of an
immense pressure upon me accompanied
with intolerable heat.
In attempting to move found my
self, as it were, packed tightly in q
mold, which 1 fitted exactly, and l was
unable to turn either to right or left.
soon found that 1 was covered with q
very friendly blanket of snow.
With a vigorous push, I threw my
blanket of, and most curious specta-
Gle presented itself 10 my astonished
gaze.
The black clouds fad passed away
and the bright morning moon shone
down upon the ground covered with a
white mantle of eight inches of snow.
Looking around me, as far as the eye
could reach IN every direction, saw
nothing but the unbroken snow cover
ing what appeared 70 be mounds or
graves in every con ceiyable position. /
was citing upcisht in nv own grave in
the middle of a huge cemetery.
Net human being could 1 discover
anywhere, while everything was as still
as death itself.
While was wrapt in the contempla-
ton of so wonderful scene, the bugle
at headquarters, quarter ola mile OIL
sounded the reveille and 10! what a
change In an instant the quiet scenery
was aliye-all the men arose at once
from their snow grayes, and what was
the stiffness of death but moment be-
fore was now hustle and activity. In
stantly the text flashed Through my
mind THE trumpet shall sound, the
dead shall be raised Words fail me IN
des cribing my feeling at the moment OF
this occurrence. Had 1 had any idea
of the time 1 would have called some oi
my comrades.
AS it was am fortunate enough to
be probably the only person who has
really seen prototype of the resurrec-
ton.