We have
a flaming comet in the sky. It comes unannounced, and takes a northwestern
course. I dreamed last night that I saw a great black ball moving in the
heavens, and it obscured the moon. The stars were in motion, visibly, and for a
time afforded the only light. Then a brilliant halo illuminated the zenith like
the quick-shooting irradiations of the aurora boroalis. And men ran in different
directions, uttering cries of agony. These cries, I remember distinctly, came
from men. As I gazed upon the fading and dissolving moon, I thought of the
war brought upon us, and the end of the United States Government. My family
were near, all of them, and none seemed alarmed or distressed. I experienced no
perturbation; but I awoke. I felt curious to prolong the vision, but sleep had
fled. I was gratified, however, to be conscious of the fact that in this
illusory view of the end of all things sublunary, I endured no pangs of remorse
or misgivings of the new existence it seemed we were about to enter upon.
SOURCE:
John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 1, p. 56
No comments:
Post a Comment