The rain cloud has passed over & the heavy thunder is mutering away on its retreat & as I sit here on the bank of the "Father of waters" & see the fierce glare of lightning I am reminded of the dense clouds of conflicting men as they are massed for the deadly conflict in front of & in the "wilderness" before Richmond & Atlanta.  This cloud has poured out rain, to refresh & cheer the parched earth - They have poured out blood to desolate the homes of patriots & traitors.  Now the sun is shining as brightly as though the stormcloud had not passed over - That storm of Lead & iron hail will cause hearts to bleed & tears to flow long after the sun of national peace shall have shed its benign & happy influence over the bereft, & those who have not felt the pangs of bereavement.  How long O how long must this dark cloud of treason - hatched out of the depths of Hades lower over our land. how long until the wrath of an offended & an indignant God shall be asuaged.  Truly our gold has become dross. Years of desolating war will not suffice - our Government Oficials many of them are as corupt as coruption itself.  The love of Greenbacks has perverted the aims of an honest headed administration. Seekers after cotton have led our armies to defeat & smoothly penned oficial reports conceal the facts & so the war goes on.  My mind has been irresistably led to draw this ugly picture.  but after all it is real as far as it goes, no pen will ever picture the rascality practiced on the soldier & the people - I will "subside"
