The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-01-04
Was it Providence +?
A True Story of the Civil War.

lie VI Aulletdm. LII was time when the
whole world looked on and held its breath
The contending armies of the North and
the South were about to meet in a conflict
that would go down in history as one of
the great battles of the world. There are
those who remember how the OLD ssIron
Brigade went down as did the famous
Six hundred in its historic charge at Balak-
lava; how but remnant remained of that
devoted band of heroes; and that memory
must be filled with horror as they recall
the awful loss of precious lives.
One of the survivors of this 'Iron
Brigade Il believe but seven answered
the roll call after the battle, wheD before
it the brigade was almost complete, CON
ssting of two regiments, the Sixth and
Seventh Wisconsin Infantry then mere
boy of seventeen summers. tells of most
remarkable incident which is the su bect
OF this narrative; and from the writer's
: personal knowledge Of the man there is
no doubt of its truth.
The day preceding the battle of Antie-
tam he had been one of a skirmish line
that had been deployed to the front. and
they were at nightfall dangerously near
the enemy's lines. But so we'll marshaled
We're they, and picked men, too, thar no
thought of fear entered their heads They
We're alike stealthy in their movements
night came on apace, and very dark The
wind sighed and moaned among the trees.
1t was one ot:those nights When the verv
darkness seems uncanny, But no sound
save the wind could be heard Our skirm-
lshe1s, knowing full well the Importance
OF their mission, made their march in
silence
They were now traversing a ravine, and
one Of the party stopped suddenly, and
Immediately halt was called. Up to the
right, and scarcely fifty PAGES away,
sentry WAS plainly observable. He stood
on rise OF ground, and from " here our
men lay could be easily watched as his
form showed plainly up against the fitful
sky. That he was a Confederate outpost
sentry, no one could doubt What was to
be done was to be done quickly,
Nark! the moment was a supreme one.
III. man was singing softly, but still dis
tinctly enough to be heard. What strange
thing to hear. 1t was an old familiar
hymn, made precious no doubt to that
man there all alone in the darkness, with
danger round about him. by the thought
OF loved ones at home whom he could not
see, and with whom he had Oft in days
gone by sung the dear old song. It was
Saturday night, and perhaps he was think
ing how on the morrow these dear ones
their song worship. Though he was one
OF the boys in gray, and our boys wore
the blue, their hearts were touched with
the pathos and tenderness of that refrain.
Gently and sweetly came the words, so
distinctly tender, Our boys uncovered
thei5 heads; their breasts heaved with
emotion
They could have taken him prisoner;
they could have shot him dead. Indeed,
when first sighted, carbine had been
raised by an impetuous youth, ready to
shoot the enemy where he stood, regard
less nj consequences. Instead he had
taken them eaptive--enuance them as
by magic spell
Tears flowed from eyes long Injured to
the sight Of the hardships and heartless-
ness of grim war, And as the song con
tinued, each knelt down then and thele
in reverence:
- u my trust % thee = stayed,
rs nay hand no price bring
Cover my defens-ess head
" I'm tbt shadow of Thy wing"
The sentry paused, knelt for a moment
with bowed head, That song had doue
its woIk-its mission was fulfilled-and as
by one thought The singer was left I'M
molested, and our boys retraced their
steps.
party, ana bat four Of them We're left to
answer the earthly roll cali after the bat
tie of Antietam.
Years have sped by, and now comes to
my eye newspaper clipping giving the
sequel 10 this strange incident of long ago.
On a transatlantic steamer Sunday ser
wees vert being held. All on board united
IN the singing III the cabin. One of the
Survivors OF Antietam was present.
What was it that causes him to drop his
book and look around full into the face of
worshipper behind him? Surely he had
heard tE;at voice before, But where?
As the slowly returning reason Of the
subject of mental arrangement comes
back, or consciousness to one awakening
from nightmare, came the recollection.
1t tilled him with joy and sorrow inter
ming ed. They were singing, Jesus,
Lover of My Souln
His voice broke; he could sing no more.
Tears Welled mp in his eyes, and the
sfloug man who had faced battles with
out itinching was unnerved. He dropped
his head and memory took him back to
that night before Antietam. He was sure
that ne was face to face again with that
Confederate sentry who had sung that
song So thrilsngiy on that eventful occa-
StbH' 4lt GOdll Uol De mistaken. Inefe
was 4 pathos in it too fervent to be lost
to one who had heard the same voice
before, even though some thirty five years
had elapsed since the never to- be forgotten
night.
When the benediction had been pro-
nounced, and after our friend had re-
gained his usual composure, he sought
out the owner OF the voice, who was a
typical Southern gentleman in appear
ance.
81 beg your pardon, sir" said he, by
way of Introduction, ''but are you not
from the Suuth?'
81 am, was answered in a round mel
low voice; "bnt you have me at an ad-
vantage, for | never recollect having seen
you before"
THAT may all be very true, sir; and l
trust you will sill further pardon me if
my apparent curiosity seems rude to you,
and | will soon explain my reasons
Proceed with your quizzlng," said
the stranger, good naturedly, ''for if |
can be of service to you l am yours to
command
Thank you," responded our friend.
b,tt