National Republican., 1880-07-08
"a Nnfernn,s Drenm.n ~

We had inst finished n bloody battle and
were in hot pursuit Of the routed and fast re-
treating enemy. The old Second corps were
pushing along narrow road, the boys singing
the war song of "Iramp, Tramp Tramp the
Boys are Marching" We had passed over eight
or ten miles ofthc dust.cloudcd road, when the
bugles sounded halt At this tho dreamer,
with several comrades, started back ON the
road short distance to fill their canteens at
tho well OF an old farm house. Just before
reaching the latter place We saw an officer sit
ting on an old stone fcnco % little OF TO the
road, and holding in his hands large flag
staff, the flag apparently iurlod up aud COW
cred. On closer approach we found the officer
to be our gallant commander, General w. s.
Hancock. The dreamer feeling that some.
| thing was wrong from the strange position of
! tho general, went over to where he was, and
after warm greeting tho following cOlloquy
| took place:
Dreamer--Why, general this is au odd posi-.
tion for you to be in. No coat, no belt or
sabre, no horse, and you sitting on this old
fence with that flag in your hand. Are you
sick2
General-No, captain, ! am not sick, but l
am in very deep, deep study.
Dreamer-What about? Are you afraid that
General Mcclellan will order general halt
again, go into camp and allow the enemy to
get away aud reorganize his scattered forces ?
btntINl--NOt ~ ull. hll lHllhlnp Oh lnc
| dear friends have lost in to.day's battle aud
the thousands of noble boys dead and wounded,
| who have sacrificed home, lilo aud limbs in
this bloody fight forced upon US by the cursed
rebels and traitors.
Drcamer-Nory true, general, but we arc
| all willing to take the chances of war and TO
! fight OIL and forever that the old flag and the
country Of our fathers shall live and not perish
| by the hands of bloodthrsty rebels. But,
general, this is 10 time for sad reflections.
| We have just gained glorious victory. The
| boys are in harness and on the tramp for Bob
! Lee and his Johunys.
GGneral-Well, captain, l think the terrible
battle fought and the grand victory gained
by our forces today must satisfy the rebels
| that to obtain their infamous purposes by wal
will prove failure and their utter aunihi.
laton. But look ut this flag sent TO me to.
| day by council of prominent rebel officers
| 1t is Il large white sheet nailed TO the staff
| Tho council state In their communication
which accompanied the flag" that they have
| lately met with nothing but severe losses and
roverses, and their forces have become so de.
! mOraIized that they cannot stand another
| battle, and therefore pray me TO unfurl this
sheet, call Il truce, and state my terms for
| their surrender, ana that if | will accede to
| their requests they will rcpudiato their
! leaders, choose me as tn cir general and pro.
mote me to the highest houors aud authority,
/ so thub thcy may shape their Efforts to gain
| in peace what they have failed to accomplish
in this bloody war; Now, captain, what do
| you think OF It?
| Dieamer--Whut do l tlinl; of it? Why,
| general, God knows that the boys throughout
the armies honor and love you. But for your
own sake and the sake OF everything you hold
dear aud precious to your heart, reject tho
! proposition as you wOuld.a demand from Jefi
! Davis to surrender the Second corps, because
| if this matter should come to the knowledge
of the army the boys would break out in open
mutiny that nothing could withstand and in
which you would be dragged down from your
present illustrious estate and fame and there
after consigned TO utter oblivion. But | must
| leave, my dear general; the buglcs arc sound.
ing the advance, the boys are moving on, aud
don't you hear that soul.stirriug soug--"Wc
will rally round the flag, boys; we'll rally
oHcc again? Goodbye, General Hancock
don't play with fire.
| SrcOSD CORps Vr.r