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ttle comparatively do we hear at such times of the dogmas on which men differ； very much of the faith and trust in which all sincere Christians can agree。 It is a noble lesson； and nothing less noisy than the voice of cannon can teach it so that it shall be heard over all the angry cries of theological disputants。
Now； too； we have a chance to test the sagacity of our friends； and to get at their principles of judgment。 Perhaps most； of us； will agree that our faith in domestic prophets has been diminished by the experience of the last six months。 We had the notable predictions attributed to the Secretary of State； which so unpleasantly refused to fulfil themselves。 We were infested at one time with a set of ominous…looking seers； who shook their heads and muttered obscurely about some mighty preparations that were making to substitute the rule of the minority for that of the majority。 Organizations were darkly hinted at； some thought our armories would be seized； and there are not wanting ancient women in the neighboring University town who consider that the country was saved by the intrepid band of students who stood guard； night after night； over the G。 R。 cannon and the pile of balls in the Cambridge Arsenal。
As a general rule； it is safe to say that the best prophecies are those which the sages remember after the event prophesied of has come to pass； and remind us that they have made long ago。 Those who； are rash enough to predict publicly beforehand commonly give us what they hope； or what they fear； or some conclusion from an abstraction of their own； or some guess founded on private information not half so good as what everybody gets who reads the papers；never by any possibility a word that we can depend on； simply because there are cobwebs of contingency between every to…day and to…morrow that no field…glass can penetrate when fifty of them lie woven one over another。 Prophesy as much as you like； but always hedge。 Say that you think the rebels are weaker than is commonly supposed； but； on the other hand； that they may prove to be even stronger than is anticipated。 Say what you like；only don't be too peremptory and dogmatic； we know that wiser men than you have been notoriously deceived in their predictions in this very matter。
Ibis et redibis nunquam in bello peribis。
Let that be your model； and remember； on peril of your reputation as a prophet； not to put a stop before or after the nunquam。
There are two or three facts connected with time； besides that already referred to； which strike us very forcibly in their relation to the great events passing around us。 We spoke of the long period seeming to have elapsed since this war began。 The buds were then swelling which held the leaves that are still green。 It seems as old as Time himself。 We cannot fail to observe how the mind brings together the scenes of to…day and those of the old Revolution。 We shut up eighty years into each other like the joints of a pocket… telescope。 When the young men from Middlesex dropped in Baltimore the other day； it seemed to bring Lexington and the other Nineteenth of April close to us。 War has always been the mint in which the world's history has been coined； and now every day or week or month has a new medal for us。 It was Warren that the first impression bore in the last great coinage； if it is Ellsworth now； the new face hardly seems fresher than the old。 All battle…fields are alike in their main features。 The young fellows who fell in our earlier struggle seemed like old men to us until within these few months； now we remember they were like these fiery youth we are cheering as they go to the fight； it seems as if the grass of our bloody hillside was crimsoned but yesterday； and the cannon…ball imbedded in the church… tower would feel warm； if we laid our hand upon it。
Nay； in this our quickened life we feel that all the battles from earliest time to our own day； where Right and Wrong have grappled； are but one great battle； varied with brief pauses or hasty bivouacs upon the field of conflict。 The issues seem to vary； but it is always a right against a claim； and； however the struggle of the hour may go； a movement onward of the campaign； which uses defeat as well as victory to serve its mighty ends。 The very implements of our warfare change less than we think。 Our bullets and cannonballs have lengthened into bolts like those which whistled out of old arbalests。 Our soldiers fight with weapons； such as are pictured on the walls of Theban tombs； wearing a newly invented head…gear as old as the days of the Pyramids。
Whatever miseries this war brings upon us； it is making us wiser； and； we trust； better。 Wiser； for we are learning our weakness； our narrowness； our selfishness； our ignorance； in lessons of sorrow and shame。 Better； because all that is noble in men and women is demanded by the time； and our people are rising to the standard the time calls for。 For this is the question the hour is putting to each of us： Are you ready； if need be； to sacrifice all that you have and hope for in this world； that the generations to follow you may inherit a whole country whose natural condition shall be peace； and not a broken province which must live under the perpetual threat； if not in the constant presence； of war and all that war brings with it？ If we are all ready for this sacrifice； battles may be lost； but the campaign and its grand object must be won。
Heaven is very kind in its way of putting questions to mortals。 We are not abruptly asked to give up all that we most care for； in view of the momentous issues before us。 Perhaps we shall never be asked to give up all； but we have already been called upon to part with much that is dear to us； and should be ready to yield the rest as it is called for。 The time may come when even the cheap public print shall be a burden our means cannot support； and we can only listen in the square that was once the marketplace to the voices of those who proclaim defeat or victory。 Then there will be only our daily food left。 When we have nothing to read and nothing to eat； it will be a favorable moment to offer a compromise。 At present we have all that nature absolutely demands；we can live on bread and the newspaper。
MY HUNT AFTER 〃THE CAPTAIN。〃
In the dead of the night which closed upon the bloody field of Antietam； my household was startled from its slumbers by the loud summons of a telegraphic messenger。 The air had been heavy all day with rumors of battle； and thousands and tens of thousands had walked the streets with throbbing hearts； in dread anticipation of the tidings any hour might bring。
We rose hastily； and presently the messenger was admitted。 I took the envelope from his hand； opened it； and read：
HAGERSTOWN 17th
To__________ H ______
Capt H______ wounded shot through the neck thought not mortal at Keedysville
WILLIAM G。 LEDUC
Through the neck；no bullet left in wound。 Windpipe； food…pipe； carotid； jugular； half a dozen smaller； but still formidable vessels； a great braid of nerves； each as big as a lamp…wick； spinal cord； ought to kill at once； if at all。 Thought not mortal； or not thought mortal；which was it？ The first； that is better than the second would be。 …〃Keedysville； a post…office； Washington Co。； Maryland。〃 Leduc？ Leduc？ Don't remember that name。 The boy is waiting for his money。 A dollar and thirteen cents。 Has nobody got thirteen cents？ Don't keep that boy waiting；how do we know what messages he has got to carry？
The boy had another message to carry。 It was to the father of Lieutenant…Colonel Wilder Dwight； informing him that his son was grievously wounded in the same battle； and was lying at Boonsborough； a town a few miles this side of Keedysville。 This I learned the next morning from the civil and attentive officials at the Central Telegraph Office。
Calling upon this gentleman； I found that he meant to leave in the quarter past two o'clock train； taking with him Dr。 George H。 Gay； an accomplished and energetic surgeon； equal to any difficult question or pressing emergency。 I agreed to accompany them； and we met in the cars。 I felt myself peculiarly fortunate in having companions whose society would be a pleasure； whose feelings would harmonize with my own； and whose assistance I might； in case of need； be glad to claim。
It is of the journey which we began together； and which I finished apart； that I mean to give my 〃Atlantic〃 readers an account。 They must let me tell my story in my own way； speaking of many little matters that interested or amused me； and which a certain leisurely class of elderly persons； who sit at their firesides and never travel； will； I hope； follow with a kind of interest。 For； besides the main object of my excursion； I could not help being excited by the incidental sights and occurrences of a trip which to a commercial traveller or a newspaper…reporter would seem quite commonplace and undeserving of record。 There are periods in which all places and people seem to be in a conspiracy to impress us with their individuality； in which every ordinary locality seems to assume a special significance and to claim a particular notice； in which every per