The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-04

TUT i War, Oh, 80 Happy theu-
But that was very long ago.
While TO IA certain extent thesoldiers
OF the war OF the rebellion had ex-
perience in common, the survivors
find upon comparing notes more than
a quarter OF IA century after the war
closed that their lines frequently
diverted In a far greater degree than
they AT that time even dreamed OF.
Hence the re~collections OF years
agone, OF the camp fire. the march
and biyouac. which had been securely
hidden away in memory's cloisters.
are OF profound interest to both soldier
and civilian.
In March. 1865. while the writer
line OF defenses ut City Point. he was
awakened one day. at all events. to u
vivid realization of the horrors and
vicissituoes Of war.
One Sunday morning the boys had
formed alignment in their respective
company streets for the usual
. O'clock inspection. The
NtAANAtA WINS ANlik lAlllls w
sun shone brightly. and the Temporal
ture was that Of "A morning in May.
Every boy in blue seemed TO possess
an intuition respecting an early clos
ing OF the dreadful four years war,
and every heart beat high with the
an~ticipations born OF u return TO the
homes and friends In the North.
How quickly the transformation came
car scarcely yet be realized by the
actors In n OF the closing scenes of
the great war drama.
Scarcely had the inspection begun.
however, ere n mounted orderly
dashed up 10 the head Of each com
pany street. handed dispatches 10
each company commander. and was
OIL again like a shot. Then came the
ominous order: .Unsling k%napsacks.
and run for the fort" There was APP
parently no time to be lost; KNAPP
sacks were unslung and tossed into
the tents OF the owners. and IA grand
s%currying for the various forts along
the line cnsued.
BY this time the artillery duel.
which had been OF a desultory charac-
ter all the morning. had developed
into what seemed IA continuous roar.
and thoughts OF .'tho loved ones at
home" had been changed In "A no.
ment, as IL were, into those OF
apprehension for personal sale
". Within "A half-hour sub
s%equently n body OF soldiers was
deserted approaching from City Point
Nearer they came until the fez. scar
let trousers and white leggings OF the
zouave uniform bespoke the One Hun
dred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania.
On they came. with band playing
lively airs aud their colors waving In
the sunshine and light morning
breeze, as IL they were on parade
rather than on their way, rs suisse
quent events demonstrated. into the
jaws OF death in front OF the formid-
able Confederate defenses OF Peters
burg.
TO the strains OF as inspiring music
as was ever heard in Virginia. the
brave Pennsylvanians passed through
the gateway OF our line. near Fort
mOfeu over the pam toWhru
Petersburg Ia columns OF fours, and
within nm hour were lost TO sight be.
cause OF n small piece OF intervening
woodland.
This was one picture. and a bright
one, IL must be conceded. OF army
life. But the other! Alas! There
wns another. and one which cause,
an involuntary shudder even TO THU
day.
On the following Tuesday, far away
Oft toward Mead station. the writer
heard a locomotive whistle. indicating
the approach OF a train OF Grants
army railroad. At the place whore
the railroad out through our line
there was quite IN embankment, ant