n^*'^^iif:'v'--':^: v' ^•;.r 111' « f!'!^ yW' V..^'■■•^■- ,'•,-.< I '-: t..l'y, i,-.L- ■•.•ir..v'i|i\ r.;ii.: . .'. ••*|^1M•. . .V . .;, W^:..:: M^^,:^ .' m!^?' '<-' -V!;!!;: ,,v, ,■ /M (,.'t::.;. ^ Z.C" Gass. Book. L^ d b c rJ «-> 6 /££■ fj^ ^^ THE GMYJACKETS: f" Call all! Call all!" 117 Black, the Scotch deserter, at Leesburg 118 A new use for a shell 119 An Englishman in Missis- sippi 120 Anecdotes of Stonewall Jack- son 123 General Lee 124 Jackson at Kernstowu 125 General Sidr-ey Johnson's pa- triotism 126 CONTENTS. A slight mistake 126 Crossing the border 127 A modest wish 137 Anecdotes of General R. E. Stonewall Jackson and the farmer 139 A very long war 141 Demoralized 142 Lee 138 ,.-Zollicofifer 142 / PAET II. THE GRAYJACKETS IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL The Angel of the Hospital. . 143 Heroism of Southern troops. 147 Execution of Captain Web- ster 148 A war picture 150 A spicy correspondence 156 Carrying out his orders 157 The lone Sentry 158 Conscript Quakers 160 Letters to soldiers 160 Sharp-shooting 161 A night cruise in Charleston Harbor 163 Preaching under tire 167 Don't shoot any more, that's father 169 Badly sold 170 John Pelham 171 A just tribute 172 Don't belong to Butler's army 175 Cavalry vj. Infantry 175 Destroying a railroad 176 A Confederate heroine 177 A snow -ball battle 177 On the battle-field 179 The fate of a Spy 182 The private soldier 184 Falling back at the wrong moment 187 Somebody's darling 187 Southern valor 189 Mr. Davis's trap for Grant.. 191 A remarkable adventure 191 The closing scenes at Shiloh. 193 A Conscript story 202 Grand rounds 203 General Polk in a very tight place 203 A gallant lieutenant 205 An incident at Gettysburg.. 206 The fall of Island Number Ten 206 Stonewall Jackson's way 210 The Reserves at Petersburg, Virginia 212 A friendly warning 220 Just for a sick man 221 Selling a parson 222 Under fire 223 Hard to move 229 A Review in General Lee's army 229 An effort for freedom 233 Ragged Texans — Boots and Booty 235 An impudent reply 236 Sad death of a soldier.... 238 Escaping from Fort Dela- ware 239 Endurance in camp life 240 Sxmiter in ruins 241 Looking on at Gettysburg. 242 Who ate the dog ?. 1 257 A friendly offer 258 The neutral cornfield 259 Life in Battery Wagner.... 260 Longstreet and the spy 267 The Bible on the battle-field. 268 General Cheatham's escape.. 268 Camp life 269 The Confederates in Mary- land 273 CONTENTS. 9 PAGE A Story of Shiloh 276 The band in the phies 277 Jackson's parting with his old brigade 277 The Good Samaritan 280 A full ration for once 280 The man who swallowed a drum 282 The burial of Stuart 282 PAOB The last six days of the army of Northern Virginia... 285 General Green believes he was shot at 298 A hero 300 Most extraordinary marches on record 300 " All quiet along the Poto- mac" 301 PAET III. PARTISAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE. The guerrillas 303 The capture of Catlett's Sta- tion 306 In the wrong place 308 Lieutenant McNeill's ex- ploit 309 A Dutchman's opinion of Jackson 314 Insulting women-folks 315 Anecdote of John Morgan... 316 The Marion of the war 317 Incidents of General Morgan's career 318 A brave deed 322 He wanted to see Morgan 323 Colonel Morgan buys a horse. 326 Quick work 327 One of Morgan's exploits.. . . 327 A noble deed 329 Selling a Federal general.... 331 Exploit of one of Morgan's men 331 The Kentucky partisan 332 An honest foe better than a false friend 335 General Morgan's escape from the Ohio peniten- tiary 336 Death of General Morgan. , . 346 A patriotic fellow 349 Narrow escape of Yan Dorn. 349 Jackson's strategy 352 A thrilling event 355 Don't believe it 357 Stuart's ride around McClel- lan 358 The moimtain partisan 366 Anecdote of Mosby 368 Innocent for once 369 A natural movement 369 A raid into Kentucky 370 Prompt settlement of a claim . 384 Not wounded 385 The return 385 A kind of a sentinel 387 A friendly warning 387 Preferred to die on the field. . 388 The death of Ashby . ....... 389 The romantic Mosby 391 The barefooted boys 394 Harry Gilmor attacks the enemy 395 General Hardee and the Ar- kansas soldier 401 Charging endways - 402 Mosby in the Federal lines. . . 403 Jackson 405 He saw Jackson 406 10 CONTENTS. PAET IT. THE GRAYJACKETS ON THE HIGH SEAS. The naval fight on the Mis- sissippi river 407 The cruise of the Alabama. . 412 The light of the Hatteras and the Alabama 423 The river devils 424 Cheer up. my lads 42G The attack on the Ironsides.. 427 The cruise of the Florida 429 Use for them 436 Two things that sounded alike 437 A daring feat 438 Praise from an enemy 441 Seaimes outwitting the Van- derbilt 441 A pleasant hoax all round 442 A bold dash 444 Anecdote of Stonewall Jack- son 44.T Vicksburg 447 The wreck of the Vesta 44.") A burial at sea 451 Capture of gunboats in the Rappahannock 452 Civille Bellura 4G0 The Confederate cniisers.. . . 461 Capture of the Underwriter. 463 Belle Boyd runs the blockade. 470 Capture of a blockade runner. 475 Lucky moment on board the Sumter 479 / PART Y. HOME LIFE U DIXIE. Scene in the South Carolina convention 481 Prepared for it this time 482 The Fredericksburp; exiles. . . 483 Lines written on the back of a Confedererate note 486 A Sp.iitaa dame and her young 488 'J'he arrest of Marshal Kane. 489 A Baltimore unconquerable. 490 Proof acainst Federal gal- lantry 494 Charleston women under fire. 495 Queer drafting in Maryland. . 49G A Southern scene 490 Dcatli and burial of Stuart.. 499 A girl worth having 504 A romance of the war 505 A brave boy 506 Quite the youngest recruit in the service 507 Each for his own side 597 Home life in the Soutli 508 A str.ingc resemblance 510 The Rebel sock 510 Noble Southern women 513 The little girl's kindness to the soldiers Spirit of the women of Va ... Travelling under a flag of truce Inaiiguration of President Davis An impudent fellow Letter from a brave woman. Spoken like Cornelia The desolation in Tennessee. Ben. McCuUoch and Joe Bax- ter The empty sleeve A narrow escape Graphic picture of a sacked city Saw the elephant Banished from home A city under fire A travelled lady Impressment by v.'omi-i; Evacuation of Savannah. . . . Social lif'"' in B;^luiuo"c.- . . .. Harry Gilmor visits liome.. . Ashes of glory 515 516 516 .524 527 528 529 529 5.31 533 535 536 538 539 5J0 546 547 .549 552 565 573 PART I. IARRATITE8 OF PERSONAL DARLNG AND ^D V EISTTURE A DAEING FEAT. Among tlie many feats of personal gallantry wliich marked the campaign of the fall of 1862, is the following, which occurred on the night after the battle of Cedar Eun. After the battle was over for that day, four membcrc of the twenty-seventh Ya. regiment, which had participated in the hottest of the fight, took it into their heads to have a little private reconnoissance into the Yankee lines on their own account. Their names are Hospital Stewart Patton, of Company D ; Color-bearer Powell, of Company G ; Lieuten' ant Edgar, of Company E ; and Sergeant Davis, of Company F. The enemy had been driven three miles, and the tv/uiiiy seventh regiment was resting for the night on the remote line of the battle-field, next to their rear column. After travelling cautiously for several hundred yards without interruption, these four daring Confederate soldiers, saving 11 12 A DARING FEAT. only two muskets in their possession, passed into tlie Federal lines. Shortly afterward they heard low talking in some thick underbrush, and immediately demanded: "Who's there?" " Union pickets," was the quick rejoinder. "Ad- vance, Union pickets, throw down your arms, and surrender, or we will fire into you, for you are our prisoners," at once exclaimed Patton. " Who are you— and how many of you?" asked the " Union picket," with evident alarm. " You will soon find out," said Powell. " Wheel into line— cock your guns, and be prepared to fire at the word — ^steady, boys, steady !" " Hold on !" fairly shrieked the " Union pickets," " we are coming — don't fire, for God's sake !" " Come on then, at once, for we have no time to wait here in idle talk," broke in Edgar and Davis, simultaneously. Immediately afterwards, one by one, they came forward, throwing their muskets, side arms, etc., at the feet of Powell, who received them with dignity, but convulsive laughter concealed. One who seemed to be an officer stepped up to Patton, and presented a brace of fine pistols and a ten dollar United States note as a bribe to let him escape. "No, no," said Patton, "you may keep your money, but we will take both you and your pistols into our custody." When the last of the " Union pickets" had come forward, and found such a disparity in the numbers of captors and captives, for a moment he seemed to hesitate whether to yield or not. Instantly the click of two musket cocks was heard, and two muzzles pointing directly at the doubting and wavering captive. It is needless to add, that no one deposited his arms on the heap quicker than he. In a few moments thereafter these four intrepid Confederate '"' rebels" marched into the camp of the twenty-seventh, thirteen captured "Union pickets," and handed them over to be sent to the rear. IN THE WRONG PLACE. 13 IN THE WEONG PLACE. DUEING the battles of the "Wilderness, in May, 1864, the gallant General Gordon, of Georgia, made a brilliant and successful attack upon the enemy's right wing, and drcve :t back in disorder for several miles. When the darkness had put an end to the battle, General Gordon, accompanied only by a single courier, rode to th« front to look after his pickets, and, passing them through mistake, rode into the Federal lines. Supposing them to be his own men, he rode on for some distance, when his courier said, in a low tone : " General, these are Yankees." Paying but little attention to this, he still rode on, when the courier said again : " General, I tell you these are Yankees. Can't you see their clothes are too dark for our men ?" About this time the General was made aware of his critical situa- tion by hearing all around him such calls as " Kally here, Pennsylvania regiment," etc. Preserving his presence of mind, he whispered to his courier, " Follow me quietly and without a word, Beasely ;" but his uniform attracted the attention of the Federals, and they began to call out : " Who are youV " Halt ! halt !" etc. Seeing that he was now dig- covered. General Gordon threw himself upon the side of his horse, called out, " Come on, courier," and putting spurs to his gallant steed, dashed by the men into the woods and made good his escape into his own lines, unharmed by the showers of bullets sent after him. 14 A SCOUTING .'LDVENTURE ON THE PENINSULA. FIGHTIN' OBER A BONE. The following amusing dialogue is said to have actually occurred at one of the leading hotels in Dixie, just after the passage by Congress of the law for raising colored troops for the Confederate service : Guest. "Well, Jim, you are going to join a colored regiment at once, I suppose ?" Jim. " Me, Massa ? no, me nebber tink ob it at all." Guest. " Never thought of it ? I am surprised ! I sup- posed all your people would embrace the first opportunity to take up arms eagerly. But why are you not going to fight?" Jim. " Well, Massa, I tell yer. . Did yer ebber see two dogs fightin' ober a bone ?" Guest. " Yes, of course ; but what has that to do Avith it ?" Jim. " Why, don't yer see, Massa ? de hone nebber fight ; de bone take no part in de conflic'. De Norf an^ Sou/ are de two dogs fightin^ ober a hone ; we niggers are de hone ; we don^t take no part in de confiic' /" A SCOUTING ADVENTURE ON THE PENINSULA. A CORRESPONDENT of the Selma {Ala.) Reporter., relates the following : " I may here mention an act of bravery which is worthy the attention of the historian, whose duty it will be to chronicle the daring and gallant feats accomplished by our soldiery during this bloody struggle. It being of great importance that our Commanding General should be well A SCOUTING ADVENTURE ON THE PENINSULA. 15 informed as to the locations and numbers of the enemy's force then landing near West Point, private Cussons and Sergeant Hartley, of our regin;ient, readily volunteered for this dangerous service. They were both men universally liked, and well fitted, by some experience of frontier life, for this perilous duty. They left the regiment at dusk on the evening of the 6th, armed with their trusty rifles. The night was clear, and a full rjioon shone on their figures as they disappeared from my view beneath the dark shadows of the woods. This was the last I saw of poor Hartley. " Pursuing their way cautiously and in silence, they soon reached the enemy's outposts, which they succeeded in safely passing. Once within the enemy's line, their progress was « somewhat slow, as greater caution had to be exercised to evade the numerous pickets, which were posted through the woods. It was near midnight, when these two bi'tive scouts reached the bank of the river. From the position they oc- cupied, just below the crest of the bank, and within three hundred yards of the enemy, they had a fine bird's eye view of every thing that was going on. Two boats were rapidly disembarking artillery and wagons, and forty-three were lying off in the river. After remaining in this position for about half an hour, the scouts determined to pass a few hun- dred yards higher up the river, for the purpose of getting nearer the enemy's forces, and learning something from their conversation: To do this, it was necessary for them to with- draw from the bank, and make a detour through the woods. And while thus changing position, a most lamentable casu- alty occurred. Passing continuously through the deep shade of a narrow vista in the woods, just as the moon was going down, their attention was attracted by the sharp click of a gun lock, and, at the same instant, they discoivered the faint 16 HOW BUTLER WAS SOLD. outline of four of the enemy, standing within five paces of them. The scouts halted, side by side, with their guns cocked and at the ' ready.' After a brief pause, one of the four, who appeared to be in command, ordered the scouts to advance. Cussons replied by a demand to surrender. There was another pause ; then a quick motion on the part of the Federals ; then four shots, almost simultaneous, and in an instant later two more. At the first fire poor Hartley fell dead, and two of the enemy bit the dust. Cussons reloaded, and stepped behind a tree. While capping his gun at that moment, the four men on the next picket post, attracted by the firing, advanced at a run. Cussons waited until they were within about fifteen paces, and then shot down the foremost one. The others seeing their companion fall, turned and fled without firing. By this time the entire picket was aroused, and Cussons drew off some sixty or seventy yards into the woods, when he laid down and waited until the enemy had form-^d into squads, and carried the pursuit half a mile beyond him. He then quietly flanked up the river, and passed around them, reaching our camp about sunrise, evidently none the worse for the night's adventure. In the fight of "Wednesday, our forces took the remainder of the picket (one company) prisoners, and from them we learn that two were killed and the other mortally wounded. One o^ the killed was orderly sergeant of the company." HOW BUTLER WAS SOLD. General Butler had a dandy regiment in New Orleans — one a little nicer in uniform and personal habits than any HOW BUTLER WAS SOLD. 17 other ; and so ably commanded, that it had not lost a man by disease since leaving New England, One day, the colonel of this fine regiment came to headquarters, wearing the ex- pression of a man who had something exceedingly pleasant to communicate It was just before the fourth of July, and this is Mr. Parton's narration of what followed : " General," said he, " two young ladies have been to me— beautiful girls — who say they have made a set of colors for the regiment, which they wish to present on the fourth of July." " But is their father willing ?" asked the general, well knowing what it must cost two young ladies of New Orleans, at that early time, to range themselves so conspicuously on the side of the Union. " Oh, yes," replied the colonel ; " their father gave them the money, and will attend at the ceremony. But have you any objections?" " Not the least, if their father is willing." " Will you ride out and review the regiment on the occasion?" " With pleasure." So, in the cool twilight of the evening of the fourth, the general, in his best uniform, with chapeau and feathers, worn then for the first time in New Orleans, reviewed the regi- ment amid a concourse of spectators. One of the young ladies made a pretty presentation speech, to which the gal- ■ lant oolonel handsomely replied. The general made a brief address. It was a gay and joyful scene ; every thing passed off with the highest eclat^ and was chronicled with all the due editorial flourish in th^ Delta^ ^ Subsequently, the young ladies addressed a note to the regiment, of which the following is a copy : 18 HOW BUTLER WAS SOLD. " New Orleans, July 5, 1862. " Gentlemen : — We congratulate and thank you all for the manner in which you have received our flag. We did not expect such a reception. We ofi'ered the flag to you as a gift from our hearts, as a reward for your noble conduct. Be assured, gentlemen, that that day will be always present in our minds, and that we will never forget that we gave it to the bravest of the brave ; but if ever danger threatens your heads, rally under that banner, call again your courage to defend it, as you have promised, and remember that those from whom you received it, will help you by their prayers to win the palm of victory and triumph over your enemies. We tender our thanks to General Butler for lending his presence to the occasion, and for his courtesies to us. May he continae his noble work, and ere long may we behold the Union victorious over its foes and reunited throughout our great and glorious country. Very respecfully." A few days later, an officer of the regiment came into the office of the commanding General, his countenance not clad in smiles. He looked like a man who had seen a ghost, or one who had suddenly heard of some entirely crushing calamity. " General," he gasped, " we have been sold. They were negroes !" "What! Those lovely blondes, with blue eyes and light hair ? Impossible !" " General, it's as true as there's a heaven above. The whole town is laughing at us." "Well," said^J^p General, "there's no harm done. Say nothing about it. I suppose we must keep it out of the papers, and hush it up as well as we can." JUST HEARD THE NEAYS. 19 They did not quite succeed in keeping it out of the papers, for one of the " foreign neutrals" of the city sent an account of the affair to the Courier des Mats Unis, in New York, with the inevitable French decorations. JUST HEARD THE NEWS. When the Union troops under McClellan and Rosecrans, in the summer of 1861, were penetrating the mountain region of West Virginia, as they marched through a quiet nook on the side of Laurel Ridge, they saw a venerable matron standing in the door of a log cabin. One of the ruen fell into conversation with her, and found her views on the issues of the day were not very well defined. At length he said : " You'll not refuse to hurrah for Old Abe, will you, old lady ?" "Who's Old Abe ?" asked the dame, growing more astou ished every minute. " Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States." "Why, hain't General Washington President?" " No ! he's been dead for more than sixty years." " Grenejal Washington dead?" she repeated in blank amaze- ment. Then, rushing into the cabin, she called, "Yeou Sam! — " "Well, what is it, mother?" said a voice within. In a moment she reappeared with a boy of fifty, whom the men afterward learned was her son. " Only to think, Sam," she cried excitedly, " General Washington's dead. Sakes alive! I wonder what's going to happen next." 20 CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURG. CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURa. Colonel Fontaine, the father of Lamar Fontaine, the young man whose remarkable adventures are related below, gave the following description of his son's exploit to the Southern press during the war : " Lamar is almost continually in the saddle, and employed in very hazardous enterprises. His last feat of arms was the most daring he has yet performed. " He left my house, under orders from General Johnston, to bear a verbal despatch to General Pemberton, in Yicks- burg, and to carry a supply of percussion caps to our troops in that besieged city. I parted with him, hardly hoping ever to see him again alive, for I knew that Yicksburg was closely invested on all sides. The enemy's lines of circum- vallation extend from Snyder's Bluff", on the Yazoo, to War- renton, on the Mississippi, and the rivers and their opposite shores are filled and lined with their forces. " He was well mounted, but was burdened with forty pounds of percussion caps, besides his blanket and crutches. He has no use of his broken leg, and cannot walk a step with- out a crutch ; and, in mounting his horse, he has to lift it over the saddle with his right hand. But he accomplishes this operation with much dexterity, and without assistance. I loaned him a very fine sabre, with wooden scabbard, to prevent rattling, and a very reliable revolver, which has never missed fire when loaded by me. " The family were called together for prayers, and we prayed fervently that the God of our fathers would shield him from all danger, and enable him to fulfil his mission to Yicksburg successfully, and give him a safe return to us all_ I then exhorted him to remember that, if it was the will of CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURG. 21 God for him to live and serve his country, all the Yankees owned by Lincoln could not kill him ; but if it was the divine will that he should die, he would be in as much danger at home as in Vicksburg, and death would certainly find him, no matter where he might be. I charged him to use his best endeavors to kill every one of the jackals who should attempt to stop his course, or come within reach of his sword or pistol. " He crossed Big Black river that night, and the next day got between their lines and the division of their army, which was at Mechanicsburg. He hid his horse in a ravine, and ensconced himself in a fallen tree, overlooking the road, dur- ing that day. From his hiding-place he witnessed the retreat of the Yankees, who passed him in considerable haste and confusion. After their columns had gone by, and the night had made it safe for him to move, he continued his route in the direction of Snyder's Bluff. As he entered the tele- graphic road from Yazoo City to "Vicksburg, he was hailed by a picket, but dashed by him. A volley was fired at him by the Yankees. He escaped unhurt ; but a Minnie ball wounded his horse mortally. The spirited animal, however, carried him safely to the bank of the Yazoo river, where he died, and left him afoot. He lost one of his crutches in making his escape. This was jerked from him by the limb of a tree, and he had no time to pick it up. "With the assistance of one crutch, he carried his baggage, and groped along the Yazoo, until he providentially discov- ered a small log canoe, tied by a rope, within his reach. He pressed this into his service, and paddled down the river, until he met three Yankee gunboats coming up to Yazoo City. He avoided them by running under some willows overhanging the water, and lying concealed until they 22 CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURG. passed. Soon afterward lie floated bj Snyder's Bluff, wliich was illuminated, and alive with Yankees and negroes, parti- cipating in tiie amusement of a grand ball of mixed races. He lay flat in his canoe, which was nothing but a hollow log, and could hardly be distinguished from a piece of drift- wood, and glided safely through the gunboats, transports, aud barges of the amalgamationists. He reached the back- water of the Mississippi before day, and in the darkness missed the outlet of the Yazoo, and got into what is called ' Old Eiver.' After searching in vain for a pass into the Mississippi, day dawned, and he discovered his mistake. He was forced to conceal his boat and himself, and lie by for another day. He had been two days and nights without food, and began to suffer the pangs of hunger. " At night he paddled back into the Yazoo, and descended it to the Mississippi, passing forty or fifty of the Yankee transports. Only one man hailed him, from the stern of a steamboat, and asked him where he was going. He replied that he was going to his fishing lines. In the bend above Vicksburg, he floated by the mortar fleet, lying flat in his canoe. The mortars were in full blast,- bombard- ing the city. The next morning he tied a white handker- chief to his paddle, raised himself up in the midst of our picket boats at Yicksburg, and gave a loud huzza for Jeff. Davis and the Southern Confederacy, amid the vivas of our sailors, who gave him a joyful reception, and assisted him to Greneral Pemberton's headquarters. "After resting a day and a night in the city, he started out with a despatch from General Pemberton to General John- ston. He embarked on his same canoe, and soon reached the enemy's fleet below the city. He avoided their picket boats on both shores, and floated near their gunboats. He CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURG. 23 passed so near one of these that, through an open port-hole, he could see men playing cards and hear them converse. At Diamond place he landed, and bade adieu to his faithful ' dug-out.' After hobbling through the bottom to the hills, he reached the residence of a man who had been robbed by the savages of all his mules and horses, except an old worth- less gelding and a half-broken colt. He gave him the choice of them, and he mounted the colt, but found that he travelled badly. Providentially he came upon a very fine horse in the bottom, tied by a blind-bridle, without a saddle. As a bas- ket and old bag were lying near him, he inferred that a negro had left him there, and that a Yankee camp was not far dis- tant. He exchanged bridles, saddled the horse and mounted him, after turning loose the colt. " After riding so as to avoid the supposed position of the Yankees, he encountered one of the thieves, who was return- ing to it from, a successful plundering excursion. He was loaded with chickens and a bucket of honey. He com- menced catechising Lamar in the true Yankee style, who concluded it best to satisfy his curiosity by sending him where could know all that the devil could teach him. With a pistol bullet through his forehead, he left him, with his honey and poultry lying in the path, to excite the conjec- tures of his fellow-thieves. " He approached with much caution the next settlement. There he hired a guide, for fifty dollars, to pilot him to Hankerson's ferry on Big Black Eiver, which he wished to reach near that point, without following any road. The fellow he hired proved to be a traitor. When he got near the ferry, Lamar sent him ahead to ascertain whether any Yankees were in the vicinity. The conversation and man- ners of the man had excited his suspicions, and as soon as he Pi CARRYING DESPATCHES TO VICKSBURG. left him he concealed himself, but remained where he could watch his return. He remained much longer than he expect- ed ; but returned and reported that the way was open, and that no Yankees were near the ferry. After paying him, he took the precaution to avoid the ferry, and to approach the river above it, instead of following the guide's directions By this he flanked a force of the Yankees posted to intercept him ; but as he entered the road near the river bank, one of them, who seemed to be on the right flank of a long line of sentinels, suddenly rose up within ten feet of him, and ordered him to halt. He replied with a pistol shot, which killed the sentinel dead, and, wheeling his horse, galloped through the bottom up the river ; but the Yankees sent a shower of balls after him, two of which wounded his right hand, injuring four of his fingers. One grazed his right leg, cutting two holes through his pantaloons, and another cut through one side of my sword scabbard, spoiling its beauty, but leaving a mark which makes me prize it more highly. Seven bullets struck the horse, which reeled under him, but had strength and speed to bear him a mile from his pursuers before he fell and died. Lamar then divided his clothes and arms into packages, and swam Big Black Eiver safely. He did not walk far before a patriotic lady supplied him with the only horse she had — a stray one, which came to her house after the Yankees had carried off all the animals belonging to the place. On this he reached Eaymond at two o'clock in the morning, changed his horse for a fresh one, carried his despatch to Jackson that morning, and re- joiced us all by an unexpected visit the same day." EASILY. SATISFIED. 25 EASILY SATISFIED. Just after the battle of Prairie Grove, a raeeting took place between details of Confederate and Federal ofl&cers for the purpose of arranging a cartel for the exchange of prison- ers. The meeting was held at Cane Hall, Arkansas. In a small building close on the only street of that crooked village, three Confederate ofl&cers, in their best gray uniform, were sitting on one side of a table, and three Federal officers, in blue, on the other. An old gray-headed and gray-bearded man came to the door, and incontinently walked in, with the query — " Es this the Provo's ofias ?" He was dressed, in brown homespun, and had an old white wool hat on his head, tied on with a handkerchief, and he leaned on a brown stick. " Es this the Provo's ofl&s ? I want a pass." Some one here attempted to explain to the old gentleman that he was in the wrong shop ; but the old fellow, who was a little deaf, it seems, mistook this as a hesitation to give him what he wanted. " I'm a good I'yal citizen. I've got my pertection papers. I've been to get paid for my forage. It's all right." There was a slight inclination to laugh by several present ; but the old gentleman continued to make the most earnest protestations as to his " I'yalty." "Look here, my friend," said Colonel W , with a smile, "you had better take care what you say about loyalty. Look at these gentlemen" — pointing over the table — " don't you see they are Southern officers ?" The old man's hand trembled as he now adjusted a dilapi- dated pair of spectacles to his eyes, and closely examined the 26 NORAH m'cARTEY. gray uniforms with the velvet collars and brass stars. His hands trembled more violently. For the time being he seemed to forget the place and surroundings in his fear and bewilderment. At last, in great distress, he turned to the gentlemen, and began to stammer out his explanations : '• Well, gentlemen, I didn't think. I — I didn't mean any thing. I've allers ben a Southern man. I've jest got oiw? son, and he's with Marmaduke. The only other man grown that's fit for sarvice is my darter's husband and he's with Rector, and — and — " " Hold on, old fellow !" cried Colonel W , " what about your being a loyal citizen?" "Will you inform me," asked Colonel P , who sat next to Colonel W , " who paid you for your forage ?" The old man turned to look at t'other side of the table. Again he adjusted his spectacles, and looked at the blue coats, and in an agony of distress he took off his spectacles and his handkerchief and hat, and while he leaned on both hands on the table, the tears ran down the wrinkles of his old face. " Well, well, gentlemen," he at last found words to say, " you go on an' fight it out among yourselves. I can live in any government." NORAH McCARTEY. A REmNISCENCE OF THE MISSOUEI CAMPAIGN". NoRAH McCartey won by her courage the name of the Jennie Deans of the West. She lived in the interior of Missouri — a little, pretty, black-eyed girl, with a soul as NORAH m'CARTEY. 27 huge as a mountain, and a form as frail as a fairy's, and tlie courage and pluck of a buccaneer into the bargain. Her father was an old man — a secessionist. She had but a single brother, just growing from boyhood to youthhood, but sickly and lamed. The family had lived in Kansas during the troubles of '57, when Norah was a mere girl of fourteen, or thereabouts. But even then her beauty, wit and devil- may-care spirii were known far and wide ; and many were the stories told along the border of her sayings and doings. Among other charges laid to her door, it is said that she broke all the hearts of the young bloods far and wide, and tradition does even go so far as to assert that, like Bob Acres, she killed a man once a week, keeping a private church-yard for the purpose of decently burying her dead. Be this as it may, she was then, and is now, a dashing, fine-looking, lively girl, and a prettier heroine than will be found in a novel, as will be seen if the good-natured reader has a mind to follow us to the close of this sketch. Not long after the Federals came into her neighborhood, and after they had forced her father to take the oath, which he did partly because he was a very old man, unable to take the field, and hoped thereby to save the security of his household, and partly because he could not help himself; not long after these two important events in the history of our heroine, a body of men marched up one evening, whilst she was on a visit to a neighbor's, and arrested her sickly, weak brother, bearing him off to Leavenworth City, where he was lodged in the military guard-house. It was nearly night before Norah reached home. When she did so, and discovered the outrage which had been per- petrated and the grief of her old father, her rage knew no bounds. Although the mists were falling and the night was 28 • NORAH m'cARTEY. closing in, dark and dreary, she ordered her horse to be re- saddled, put on a thick suriout, belted a sash round her waist, and sticking a pair of ivory-handled pistols in her bosom, started off after the soldiers. The post was many miles distant. But that she did not regard. Over hill, through marsh, under cover of the darkness, she galloped on to the head-quarters of the enemy. At last the call of a sentry brought her to a stand, with a hoarse — " Who goes there?" " No matter," she replied. " I wish to see Colonel Prince, your commanding officer, and instantly, too." Somewhat awed by the presence of a young female on horseback at that late hour, and perhaps struck by her im- perious tone of command, the Yankee guard, without hesi- tation, conducted her to the fortifications, and thence to the quarters of the Colonel commanding, with whom she was left alone. " Well, madam," said the Federal officer, with bland politeness, "to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" *' Is this Colonel Prince ?" replied the brave girl, quietly. "It is, and you are—?" " No matter. I have come here to inquire whether you have a lad by the name of McCartey a prisoner ?" " There is such a prisoner." "May I ask why he is a prisoner?" " Certainly ! For being suspected of treasonable connec- tion with the enemy." " Treasonahle connection with the enemy ! Why the boy is sick and lame. He is besides my brother ; and I have come to ask his immediate release." The officer opened his eyes ; was sorry he could not comply with the request of so winning a supplicant ; and must "really beg her to desist and leave the fortress." NORAH m'CARTEY. 29 " I demand his release," cried she, in reply " That you cannot have. The boy is a rebel and a traitor, and unless you retire, madam, I shall be forced to arrest you on a similar suspicion." " Suspicion ! I am a rebel and a traitor too, if you wish ; youDg McCartey is my brother, and I don't leave this tent until he goes with me. Order his instant release or," — here she drew one of the aforesaid ivory handles out of her bosom and levelled the muzzle of it directly at him, — ■" I will put an ounce of lead in your brain before you can call a single sentry to your relief." A picture that ! There stood the heroic girl ; eyes flashing fire, cheek glowing with earnest will, lips firmly set with resolution, and hand outstretched with a loaded pistol ready to send the contents through the now thoroughly frightened, startled, aghast soldier, who cowered, like blank paper before flames, under her burning stare. " Quick !" she repeated. " Order his release, or you die." It was too much. Prince could not stand it. He bade her lower her infernal weapon for God's sake, and the boy should be forthwith liberated. " Give the order first," she replied, unmoved. And the order was given ; the lad was brought out ; and drawing his arm in hers, the gallant sister marched out of the place, with one hand grasping one of his, and the other holding her trusty ivory handle. She mounted her horse, bade him get up behind, and rode off, reaching home with- out accident before midnight. Now that is a fact stranger than fiction, which shows what sort of metal is in our women of the much abused and traduced nineteenth century. 30 TRAVELLING TO DIXIE. A MODEST EEQUEST. "The Land we Love," for January 1867, relates the following ricli story, upon the authority of a member of Stonewall Jackson's staff: During the summer of 1864, while the hospitals in Rich- mond were crowded with wounded, the ladies of the city visited them daily, carrying with them delicacies of every kind, and vied with each other in their efforts to comfort and cheer up the wounded. On one occasion, a bright-eyed damsel of about seventeen summers was distributing flowers and speaking tender words of encouragement to those around her, when she overheard a young ofl&cer, who was suffering from his wounds, exclaim : " Oh, my Lord !" Approaching him rather timidly in order to rebuke his profanity, she said : " I think I heard you call upon the name of the Lord. I am one of his daughters. Is there any thing I can ask him for you?" A hasty glance upon her lovely face and perfect form caused his countenance to brighten, as he instantly replied : " Yes, please ask him to make me his son-in-law^ TRAVELLING TO DIXIE.* In about ten days I heard from Mr. Symonds. The road was not yet open, but a party was waiting to start. He had secured me a henchman in the shape of a private in an Ala- bama regiment, who was anxious to accompany any one south, without fee or reward. The man was said to be well * From "B