^^ ,^^^ " vr^^.^., ^^. ,^'^^ -^ .c^, 1^ - yi.T^ A'-^ ,0,^ X^' '^^, •'^AV^ ;^-^ ^=t ^ -O- ,.^' - ^.5- : = ^^..^ .<^- * ^A >^' C>' "'-^^ '■' .. . n ■ .<0-' %. ^^'i^ ''^>. .^' v^"^ ''-'^- i' \^ ^^/^b. .0 -. <■>. : ,A^> ,0o. •^oo^ -^/. <^ •s'^ <^. y '/ N^- •>?^ - ;#^V vO .V7 -■^ .^^' THE BUGLE BLAST; OR, SPIRIT OF THE CONFLICT. COMPRISING NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPLOITS, DASHING RAIDS, HEROIC DEEDS, THRILLING INCIDENTS, SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, ETC., ETC. When Northerner -vrith "outhron meets, Except the Southron fly, I tell you then is bloody strife, For one or both must die. E. S. S. EOUSE PHILADELPHIA : JAMES CHALLEN & SON 1864. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by JAMES CHALLEN & SON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. ->^ ^ ^^ \, CONTEI»» TERRIBLE FATE OF THE PRIVATEER PETREL. 85 STORY XYIII. TERRIBLE FATE OF THE REBEL PRIVATEER PETREL. The United States frigate St. Lawrence had cruised for a month along the Atlantic coast; between Cape Henrj and Savannah, and on the morning of the 1st of August, 1861; while just outside the harbor of Charles- toU; espied a long rakish schooner, filled with men, and mounting three or four guns, sailing rapidly down upon her. The port-holes were still shut, but the flag was at the peak, and the St. Lawrence looked not unlike a great lumber] y merchantman, becalmed in a strange latitude, and too unwieldy for any purpose save the holding of a large cargo for the avarice of an enemy to court, and a daring privateer to secure. As the stranger came down, the St. Lawrence hoisted all sail, and affected to be anxious to get out to sea. In reality, however, she was edging in closer to shore, and making arrangements below to receive the reckless visi- tors with appropriate largess. Directly, a shot came skipping over the water, falling into the sea a few rods ahead of the frigate, and. a num- ber followed it in quick succession, but nearly all either falling short or passing over. The final discharge con- sisted of grape and canister, which made some little dalliance with the frigate's rigging, admonished the commander that the play was growing serious. At this time the vessels were Avithin speaking distance, and a man in uniform was seen mounted upon the pirate's deck, who shouted to the St. Lawrence to lay-to H * S(y TEKRIBLE FATE OF" THE PRIVATEER PETREL. and send over a boat. The crew were distinctly seen flonrishmg their cutlasses, and the gunners ramming and pointing their guns. She carried three guns, sup posed to be rifled cannon. Then the St. Lawrence threw up her ports, and dis- closed a whole broadside of cannon, with the gunners at the breech of the guns, holding lighted fuses/ and directly the broad decks were filled with seamen in blue jackets, armed with muskets, who sprung into the shrouds, and ran out on the yards, laying prone in the maintop, on the bowsprit, in the forecastle, and at every point where aim could be taken with advantage. In a word, the ugly merchantman was metamorphosed into a bristling war ship, with a man at every point, and a broadside of cannon looking into the eyes of the pirates. The latter, taken aback, recoiled a moment; but, before they had time for action, even for thought, the guns belched forth iron and fire, splintering the masts, cutting the rigging and sails as with knives, breaking the spars and the booms, and literally carving the schooner into pieces, and opening gulfs into which the waters rushed as through sluices, filling the hold, and admonishing the Eebels that their sole hopes of life lay in the ship's boat, or in wrestling with the sea. The fire still continued, and the water was full of drift-wood. Many of the men jumped overboard, and the rest, launching the life-boat, jumped in, and held up a white handkerchief as a sign of surrender. The St. Lawrence still continued the fire Avith small arms, but, directiug their aim at the hulk, and not at the small boat, the crew, excepting four men, were not injured. In ten minutes from the firing of her first DEATH OF GENERAL LYON. 87 gun, the vessel swayed heavily, and went under, carry- ing down four men. The officers of the St. Lawrence now discovered the life-boat and the flag of humiliation. They dropped a boat and made out to the Eebels, and finally passed them on board ship, where they were ironed as fast as received, and securely confined below. In the engagement the St. Lawrence received two shots, one in the foresail, the other in the quarter-deck. She transferred her prisoners, thirty-seven in number, to the Flag, on Sunday morning, and they were at once taken to Philadelphia, where they were confined in the Moyamensing prison to await the action of the proper authorities. These pirates were mostly Irishmen by birth, poorly dressed, and appeared to have no regular uniform. As far as appearances were concerned, they were admirably fitted for their nefarious business. The Petrel was formerly the United States revenue cutter Wm. Aiken, and Avas surrendered in Charleston harbor by her commander, on the 27th of December, 1860. STORY XIX DEATH OF GENERAL LYON, AT THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK, AUGUST 10th, 1861. General Lyon had already received two wounds and had his horse shot under him, but immediately mounted another and continued giving orders. The First Iowa, under Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt, 88 DEATH OF GENEEAL LYOIT. and part of the Kansas troops, were ordered to take the place of the First Missouri, who were almost exhausted, from over two hours severe fighting, and were in danger of being overpowered by a fourth body of fresh troops, now brought against them. The lowans and Kansans marched to the front with a firm tread, in excellent order, and, fighting like tigers, saved our army from overwhelming defeat. General Lyon saw and highly commended their indomitable bravery. General Lyon now desired the men to prepare to make a bayonet charge immediately after their next fire ; when the lowans at once offered to go, and asked for a leader. There was no time to designate a leader ; the enemy were advancing in force. " I will lead you ! Come on, bravo menf exclaimed Lyon, placing him- self in the van of the lowans, and General Sweeney leading the Kansas troops. The enemy advanced, discharged their pieces, and then retired before the destructive fire of our men. At this time, the brave General Lyon fell. He was imme- diately placed in an ambulance, to be carried to Springfield. General Sweeney being at the same time disabled by a shot in his right leg, the command devolved upon Major Sturgis. The battle having commenced in front before six o'clock in the morning, and continued with but little intermission until eleven o'clock, and the enemy being finally driven from the field; Major Sturgis, upon learning that Captain Totten's cannon ammunition was nearly expended, ordered the ambulances, laden with wounded officers and soldiers, to move toward Spring- field; Lieutenant Dubois' battery having been sent back DEATH OF GENEEAL LYON". 89 to tlie hill, at the nortli of the valley, to protect the retreat, in case the enemy should return. , The remnant of our brave army, though victorious in battle, then commenced returning to Springfield, in face of an enemy greatly superior in numbers, who were, however, so terribly whipped, as to be unable to make any attempt to follow. This was one of the bloodiest battles on record. General Lyon's force was 5,200 men, while that of the enemy, as ascertained from their captured muster-rolls, was 23,000. Our loss was 223 killed, 721 wounded, and 291 missing. The Eebel loss was much greater. The remains of General Lyon were placed in a metallic cof&n, and in charge of his relatives and friends, accompanied by a military escort, were trans- ported to, Eastport, Conn., the place of his nativity, where they were interred with military honors and marked demonstrations of public regard. Thus, in the prime of life, closed the career of one of the bravest and noblest men that ever devoted his life and energies to our country's service. A wail on the wind, From the far Western border : Our nation is stricken In grief and disorder ! A hero hath fallen ! The tidings how solemn ! Facing the foeman, At the head of his column ! Brave lowas called For a hero to lead 'em. To again front the battle For the Union and freedom. 90 DEATH OF GENEEAL LYON. Its battle cry " onward !" That phalanx all gory ! Brave Lyon now leads it, To death, or to glory ! Never marched army-men Braver or bolder, Up to the canon's mouth, Shoulder to shoulder. '' Charge, with the bayonet ! Cleave, with the sabre ! Thoughtless of danger, And reckless of labor. " No time is left us With traitors to trifle ! Give them the contents Of musket and rifle." * * * * * Lo ! the base Eebels, Disorderly flying. Mid the din of the battle, And moans of the dying ! Thick o'er the battle-field, Carnage is scattered ! Hundreds of heroes lie Mangled and shattered! Death sends his messenger. Heavy and leaden, Again Lyon's heart's blood His drmor doth redden ! He falleth, while flieth Base traitors before him : A victor he dieth, And glory waves o'er him. A wail on the wind From the far Western border : Our nation is stricken la griei and disorder ! ZAaONYl's CHARGE. 91 STOEY XX. ZAGONYI'S CHAEGE. It was a glorio-as fight. These is nothing more bril- liant known to our history — perhaps^ to any history. Wilson's Creek is doubly historic ground ; upon it, on the 10th of August, 1861, occurred the terrible battle in which a thousand of our brave men poured out their blood like water; and the heroic Lyon laid down his life for the country which shall ever cherish his name in green and grateful remembrance; and eleven weeks after, on the head waters of the same stream, was made that charge of the Fremont Body -Guard, under the gallant Zagonyi. which will be ever coupled hereafter with that of the Light Brigade of Balaklava, when — " Into the jaws of death, Into the gates of hell. Rode the six hundred." Time will not permit me to record any thing more than a few incidents of the battle, if battle it can be called; but it is clear beyond dispute, that 150 raw men, never before under fire, after a wearying ride of fifty miles, deliberately rode through a galling fire for more than a quarter of a mile, dismounted, tore down a fence, remounted and formed, all while the bullets were flying about them like hail, and then, with enthusiastic shouts for "Fremont and the Union," charged through and through a body of more than 1,000 cavalry and infan- try, completely routing and dispersing them ; that they then dashed into the city and chased the remainder of 92 ZAGONYI'S CHAEGE. the flying Kebels tlirougli tlie streets for an hour and a half, until the last man of them was driven out of Springfield; in short, that 150 men defeated and drove 2,000 away, so effectually, that the little guard left behind was able to hold the town for two days, until the remainder of the army came up. The loss of the Body- Guard, as far as could be ascer- tained at the time, amounted to 16 killed, 25 wounded, and 10 missing. Many who were slightly wounded were not included in these figures. Major Zagonj^i, who rode at the head of his men through the whole fight, did not receive a single scratch ; though one bullet cut his clothing across the breast. One of his sergeants had three horses shot under him. Another of his men received one ball in a blacking-box, which he carried in his pocket; and a second bullet passed through his coat, vest, and shirt, but did not break the skin. Sergeant Hunter of Com- pany C, had his horse shot in seven places ; and more than two-thirds of all the horses were wounded. On visiting the field on the west side of town, where the first change was made, I found the dead horses still lying upon the ground. The trees in the vicinity were cut and torn with balls, and thirty -six bullet holes were found in a single fence rail, and the ground was in many places still red with blood. There were three companies of the body-guard in the engagement — A, B, and C. The latter was armed with Beal's revolvers, and sabres ; the two former, in addi- tion to those weapons, carried Colt's revolving carbines. After having once given all their fire, there was no time to reload, and the most efi'ective work of the day 93 was done witli tlie sabres. At tlie close of it, almost every sabre of tlie command was stained with blood. The funeral of fourteen of tbe body-guard, and two of Major White's men, occurred on the 29th of October, the third day after the fight, and was attended" by the major-general and his staff, a portion of the army, and many of the people of Springfield. The bodies were enclosed in plain, unpainted cofiins, and all interred in one grave, with military honors. The services were conducted by the Eev. C. M. Blake, the staff' chaplain. The sixteen riderless horses, which followed the re- mains to the grave, told the cost at which the victory was won ; and while the dust was being^ committed to dust, with the solemn and impressive Episcopal service, there were few dry eyes among the stricken band who had gathered together to do the last earthly honors to their fallen comrades. When Major Zagonyi was sent out to reconnoitre the country, and if practicable, take possession of Spring- field, it was not supposed that there were more than three or four hundred Eebels there, as Avas actually the case but a few days before. When he reached that vicinity, and learned of their overwhelming numbers, it would doubtless have been good generalship for him to have fallen back, and wait for reinforcements. But the idea had been so industriously given out, by those who seemed to hate the commanding general of that department, more than they loved the Union, that the body-guard was a sort of kid-glove ornamental corps, intended only to swell the retinue, and add to the dis- play of General Fremont, and not fit for hard service ; that every man in it was eager to remove the unjust, and ungenerous imputation. That they accomplished 94: ZAGONYl'S CHAEGE. it, none ayHI deny, and if anj think tlie cost great, let them remember where the blame lies. — Cor. W. Y. Tribune. The following is Major Zagonyi's dispatch to Greneral Fremont : Five miles sonth of Bolivar, Mo., ) October 26th, 1 A. M. J General : — I report, respectfully, that yesterday afternoon, at four o'clock, I met, in Springfield, from 2,000 to 2,200 of the Eebels, in their camp, formed in line of battle. They gave me a warm reception — warmer than I expected. But your guard, with one feeling, made a charge, and in less than three minutes^ the 2,000 or 2,200 Eebels were routed by 150 men of the body guard. W e cleared out the city perfectly from every Eebel, and raised the Union flag on . the court-house. It getting too dark, I concluded to leave the city, not being able to keep it with 150 men. Major White's men did not participate in the charge. Allow me, General, to make you acquainted with the soldiers and officers. I have seen charges; but such brilliant unanimity and bravery, I had never seen, and did not expect it. Their war cry, "Fremont and the Union," broke forth like thunder. Our loss is comparatively small; I expected to remain on the field with them all. I will write about particulars. With the highest respect, your obedient servant, Chas. Zagonyi, Major CommandiDg Body-Guard. ZAGONYl'S CHARGE. 95 ZAGONYI. Bold captain of tlie body-guard, I'll troll a stave to thee ! My voice is somewhat harsh and hard, And rough my minstrelsy. I've cheered until my throat is sore For how our boys at Beaufort bore, Yet here's a cheer for thee ! I hear thy jingling spears and reins, Thy sabre at thy knee ; The blood runs lighter through my veins, As I before me see Thy hundred men, wath thrusts and blows, Eide down a thousand stubborn foes. The foremost led by thee With pistol snap, and rifle crack — Mere salvos fired to honor thee — Ye plunge, and stamp, and shoot, and hack, The way your swords made free ; Then back again, the path is wide This time. Ye gods ! it was a ride. The ride they took with thee ! No guardsman of the whole command, Halts, quails, or turns to flee ; With bloody spur and steady hand. They gallop where they see Thy leading plume stream out ahead, O'er flying, wounded, dying, dead — They can but follow thee. So, captain of the body-guard, I pledge a health to thee ! I hope to see thy shoulders starred. My Paladin ; and we Shall laugh at fortune in the fray, Whene'er you lead your well-known way To death or victory. — G. H. Boker. 96 CAPTUEE OF FORT HATTERAS. STOEY XXI. CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. A NAVAL and military expedition was fitted ont and sailed from Hampton Eoads on Monday, the 26tli of August, 1861, without notifying the New York reporters, and, consequently, the public were not ad- vised of it, either North or South, in time to frustrate the purposes of the Government. The destination of the armament was Forts Hatteras and Clark, which commanded Hatteras Inlet, the prin- cipal entrance to Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and key to the North Carolina interior coast, the principal rendezvous and headquarters of the pirates and smug- glers. The fleet consisted of the frigates Minnesota and Wabash, the sloop-of-war Pawnee, the Cumberland, the Susquehanna, the Monticello, the Harriet Lane, the steamers Adelaide and George Peabody, two propellers, a large number of schooners, barges, and other small craft. The fleet was under command of Flag-Officer Stringham. Its armament Avas upwards of 100 guns. The land forces, commanded by General Butler, were shipped on board the Adelaide and George Peabody, and consisted of 500 of the Twentieth New York, Colonel Weber ; 220 of the Ninth New York, Colonel Hawkins; 100 of the Union Coast Guard, Captain Nixon, and 60 of the United States Artillery, Lieuten- ant Larned commanding ; constituting a total force of 880 men, designed to operate, in conjunction with the fleet, against the Rebel forts. CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. 97 Tlie fleet arrived off Hatteras lulet late on Tuesday afternoon, and the next morning, at day-break, disposi- tions were made for an attack upon the forts by the fleet and for landing the troops, which was found to be a difficult matter, owing to the previous prevalence of southwest gales, which caused the breaking of a heavy surf upon the beach. Though a laborious effort was made to land the troops, onl}?- 315 were landed, including 55 marines from the fleet and a number of regulars. Fortunately, a rifled 12-pounder cannon and a 12-pound howitzer were also landed, when, the boats all being broken up or swamped and the wind rising, further landing was rendered impracticable. The landing had been effected under cover of shells from the Monticello and Harriet Lane, and those who reached the shore were thoroughly wet. The bombardment was commenced by the Minne- sota, about two miles and a half distant, on Wednesday, at eleven o'clock, A. M., and she was soon after joined by the whole fleet. The scene was magnificent. The bombardment from the fleet was incessant, and the shells pitched into the forts and exploded with terrible effect; the forts re- sponding at long intervals. After about three hours, the nearest fort (Fort Clark) was silenced, and its flag struck, the garrison abandoning it and taking refuge in Fort Ilatteras. A small party of the Coast Guard, led by Mr. Wie- gel, a volunteer aid, advanced and took possession of the abandoned fort, and raised the American flao\ The Monticello which, to protect the land force, had reached the inlet and unfortunately grounded, became 98 CAPTUKE OF FOET HATTEKAS. the object of a terrible fire from Fort Hatteras, to whicL. slie replied sliarply with shell, and held her own for fifty minutes, in which time she threw fiftj-five shells, partially silencing her assailants. She finally succeeded in getting off, and withdrew for repairs, having had seven 8 -inch shells shot through her, one of them below water, and one or two men slightly bruised, but no others hurt. As night was approaching, and the weather appeared threatening, prudence required the ships to make an ofiing. It "was reluctantly done, leaving the troops on shore, a part of them in possession of Fort Clark, and the rest bivouacked on the beach near the place of land- ing, about two miles north of the forts. At eight o'clock next morning, the fleet having ap- proached as near as the depth of water would permit, the firing upon Fort Hatteras was renewed, first by the Susquehannah, and, in a few minutes, the fire of the entire fleet was concentrated upon that fort, which, for near half an hour, failed to reply, and after that its shots all fell short. A large steamer came down the sound with reinforce- ments for the fort, but was prevented from landing by Captain Johnson, of the Coast Guard, who, with two guns that had been landed, and a 6 -pounder found on shore, had constructed a sand battery, from which he opened fire upon the steamer, compelling her to retire. The bombardment from the fleet continued without intermission till half-past eleven o'clock, when our shells began to range accurately upon the bomb-proof, where they were deposited with rapidity, and one of them actually passed down the ventilator into a room next to the magazine, where some three hundred terrified CAPTUEE OF FORT HATTERAS. 99 Eebels had taken refuge from tlie bursting shells; but, fortunately for them, this unwelcome visitor failed to explode. At this stage of imminent danger and great terror and excitement in the fort, a white flag was displayed in token of surrender; when our land forces under Colonel Weber, and those at Fort Clark, with loud shouts, started up the beach and were met by a flag of truce, and a signal was at the same time made for the flag-ship to cease firing. General Butler, who was proceeding on board the propeller Fanny for the purpose of landing the rest of the troops, passed over the bar of the inlet into the channel just as the white flag appeared at the fort, and the Kebel steamer Winslow, with a large Secession force on board, which she had been prevented from landing, escaped up the sound, a shot from the Fanny failing to reach her. General Butler then sent Lieutenant Crosby on shore to demand the meaning of the white flag. The boat soon returned bringing Mr. Wiegel, Avith the following note from the commandant of the fort : '' Memorandmn. Flag-of&cer Samuel Barron, C. S. Navy, offers to surrender Fort Hatteras, with all the arms and munitions of war ; the of&cers allowed to go out with side arms, the men, without arms, to retire. "S. Barrox, '' Commanding naval defence, Va. and N. C. ''Fort Hatteras, August 29, 1861." He also sent, at the same time, a verbal communica- tion purporting "that he had in the fort 715 men, and 1,000 more within an hour's call, but that he was anx- ious to spare the effusion of blood." General Butler replied as follows : 100 CAPTURE OF FORT IIATTERAS. " Meraorandiim. Benjamin F. Butler, Major-General United States Army, commanding, in reply to tlie com- munication of Samnel Barron, commanding the forces at Fort Hatteras, cannot admit the terms proposed. The terms offered are these — fall capitulation ; the offi- cers and men to be treated as prisoners of war. No other terms admissible. Commanding officers to meet on board the flag-ship Minnesota, to arrange details, ''Aufjusi2^, 1861." Lieutenant Crosby returned in three-quarters of an hour, bringing with him Captain Barron, Major An- drews, and Colonel Martin, of the Eebel forces, who informed General Butler that they accepted the terms proposed by him, and had come to surrender them- selves and their commands as prisoners of war. The General replied, that as the expedition Avas formed of the army and navy, the surrender must be made on board the flag-ship, to Flag-officer Sringham, as well as to himself. They then went on board the Minnesota, where articles of capitulation were signed. The surrender was in conformity with General But- ler's proposal, unconditional, saving the stipulation that the officers and men should receive the treatment due to prisoners of war. The capture comprised Forts Hatteras and Clarke, 35 cannon, 1,000 stand of arms, five stands of colors, a quantity of ammunition, hospital stores, two schooners, one loaded with tobacco, and the other with provisions, one brig loaded with cotton, two light-boats, two surf- boats, 45 officers, several being of high rank, and 670 privates ; the Rebels admitting a loss of 8 killed and 35 wounded. On our part there was no casualty what- ever worthy of notice. This was owing mainly to our CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. 101 ships being for the most part out of range of their guns. The official report of the Rebel Major Andrews describes the firing from the fleet as being tremendous. He sajs : " The shower of shell in half an hour became literally tremendous, as we had falling into and imme- diately around the works, not less, on an average, than ten each minute; and the sea being smooth, the firing was remarkably accurate. One officer counted twenty- eight shells as falling so as to damage us, in one minute, and several others counted twenty in a minute. ^ * * For three hours and twenty minutes Fort Hatteras re- sisted a storm of shells, perhaps more terrible than ever fell upon any other works. ^ •» ^ One shell had fallen into the room adjoining the magazine, and the magazine was reported on fire." Colonel Martin, who was in command at Fort Clark, says of the first day's operations, that Fort Clark was exposed to a "flood of shells," which poured upon it and the skirts of the adjacent woods for several hours, which " fire was promptly returned, until every charge of powder and every primer was exhausted, when a retreat to Fort Hatteras was ordered." The troops having all been landed. General Butler took a formal surrender of the forts, with all the men and munitions of Avar ; inspected the troops, to see that all the arms had been properly surrendered, marched them out, and embarked them on board the Adelaide ; and march his own troops into the Fort, and raised the United States flag upon it, amid the cheers of the troops and a salute of tliirteen guns, which had been shotted by the enemy. In view of the great strength of Fort Hatteras, and its importance as the key to the Albemarle, General Butler 102 MAJOR-GENEEAL IRWIN m'DOWELL. held a consultation witli Flag- Officer Stringliam and Commander Stehvagen, when it was determined to hold possession of it. General Bntler thereupon left Colonel Hawkins, with the troops, in charge, and re- embarked the regulars and marines. The prisoners were also embarked on the Minnesota, and all the necessary arrangements having been made Commodore Stringham, leaving the steamers Monticello and Pawnee inside the channel, in a position to com- mand all approaches to the forts by the Sound, sailed from the inlet on the 30th of August, and arrived at Kew York Harbor on the 2d of September, where he was greeted with every demonstration of joy. General Butler sailed on the Adelaide, Commander Stelwagen, with the wounded prisoners for Annapolis, and arrived at Washington city on the 1st of Septem- ber, where at evening, he was serenaded at the National Hotel by a military band, and when he appeared was greeted with much enthusiam. The ships of the fleet proceeded, some of them to their blockading stations, others returned to Fortress Monroe and other points, as directed. Thus ended suc- cessfully the Hatteras expedition, its results being of the highest importance. Major-General Irwin McDowell, of Ohio, was a graduate of West Point, of the class of 1838. He was twenty-third in a class of forty-five, of which Beaure- gard was second. He was promoted by brevet for gallantry at Buena Vista. He was in command of the Army of the Potomac at the first battle of Bull Run, of which disaster he made a very candid report. THE FAITHFUL DOG OF SHILOH. 103 STOEY XXII. THE FAITHFUL DOG OF SHILOH. On Shiloh's hot-contested field. The Eebels were constrained to yield : Yet solemn truth requires to tell, There many a Union hero fell. There new-made mounds of earth disclosed Where many a gallant one reposed ; And one there was in quiet nook, That might not, after, be mistook : 'Twas by his faithful comrades made. And there Lieutenant Pfieff was laid. For twelve long days since first he fell, His faithful dog did guard it well. ^ ^ ^ * * From far off Illinoian plains, His widowed wife sought his remains. She came : — the faithful dog approached. To learn what stranger-foot encroached — Beheld her — and with eager mood. Entreated her, as best he could, To follow him without delay, While he should lead the devious way. He led, she followed o'er the ground. Until at length they reached the mound That he so long had guarded well. Since that sad day his master fell. Soon was the imprisoning clay removed. And soon she clasped the form she loved. As homeward she that form conveyed, That faithful dog his best essayed. At consolation and relief, By sympathizing in her grief, Evincing more than tongue could tell, His sad lament for what befel. 104 HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BREECHES. STOEY XXIII. HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BREECHES. The "Jessie Scouts" will no doubt occupy a page in the thrilling tales yet to be told. This company of youthful but hardy, circumspect^ and fearless adventur- ers, was constantly employed for some dangerous duty ; and their captain, an agile young fellow named Car- penter, was never better pleased than when engaged in some desperate affair, whether alone or accompanied by some of his men. One of the latter, S. J. Hale, lately returned from an expedition with a very lugubrious countenance, superinduced by the result of an adven- ture thus narrated : Mounted on a swift horse, he was carrying dispatches, secreted on his person, to a certain post in this State, (Missouri,) and was somewhere in the vicinity of Wa- verly. He had ridden some ten miles, and was very disconsolate for want of an adventure, for the boys cannot sit patiently in their saddles if something stir- ring does not turn up occasionally. He made up his mind to stop the first suspicious looking individual he should meet, and had not long to wait. An independent Secesh came along on a horse, carry- ing a shot gun and whistling "Dixie." Hale presented his revolver at the fellow and ordered him to dismount, which he did. The scout took possession of horse and gun, and saw the Kebel vanish in the woods. It was after this that the joke occurred which made poor Hale a wiser if not a happier man. Lost in reverie he rode along, and unconsciously began to whistle Yankee Doodle, but had scarcely gone two bars of the tune, when out sprang from the woods HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BEEECHES. 105 a large and fierce-looking man, wlio, qnick as thonglit, took a deadly aim at the yonng adventurer, within a few feet of liis breast. The scout was at his wit's end in a moment, and saw that he could not escape. To draw his revolver would have been madness, so he made no movement, but asked "Who are you?" The Rebel's answer was, " I may be a ghost, but alive or dead, you can't fool this child; you're a Lincoln horde ; come off that horse." Off came Hale, and into the Rebel's hands soon went his pistols. The poor felloAV thought he Avould now be allowed to go, but he was startled with the hoarse order of the Rebel — " Off' with them boots !" and off came the boots. " Off with them pants or die !" said the terrible Se- cesh, and off came the breeches. It didn't take the Rebel long to exchange his ragged habilaments for the sound ones which he had secured, and mounting his newly acquired horse he said, "Farewell, old codger; you're played out. Your company don't suit, and your suit is gone." A very quaint remark, but painfully true. Poor Hale's only remark was in the language of an old or new play, we don't remember which : " Done brown, by lieaven ! Eet this pernicious hour Stand accursed in the calendar ! Somebody catch me. I feel very faint. I'm very sick. Let me go home and die in comfort !" The last thing Hale remembered of the Rebel was hearing him loudly sing : "Tn Dixie's land I'll take my stand. Wish you were in Dixie." Over the subsequent travels of the breechesless young man we delicately throw a veiL 106 CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. STORY XXIY. CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL, SOUTH CAROLINA. On Tuesday, October 29tli, 1861, the fleet, under command of Flag- Officer S. F. Dupont, sailed from Hampton Eoads, numbering, with the army transports, fifty vessels. It was, in consequence of the delay in the arrival of some of the transports intended for conveying the troops of General T. W. Sherman's command, which constituted a principal feature of the expedition, that its departure was not effected sooner. It was calculated that the passage to Port Royal would be effected in five days, at most ; but, in conse- quence of adverse winds, and a perilous storm on the day and night of the 1st of November, in which the fleet was almost entirely dispersed, and two or three of the transports lost, (the men, however, all being saved, excepting seven,) the fleet did not arrive at Port Royal until the 4th of November, and then in straggling order. Commodore Dupont says: "The fleet was utterly dispersed, and, on Saturday morning, one sail only was in sight from the deck of the Wabash. On the follow- ing day the weather moderated, and the steamers and ships began to re-appear. As the vessels re-joined, reports came in of disasters. I expected to hear of many ; but, when the severity of the gale and the character of the vessels are considered, we have only cause for great thankfulness." It Avas on Monday, at eight o'clock in the morning, that the Wabash (the flag-ship) anchored off' the bar, CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. 107 with some twenty-five vessels in company and many more lieavins: in sisrht. All the buoys and aids to navigation had been removed by the enemy, but the efficiency and skill of Commander Davis, the fleet captain, and Mr. Boutelle, assistant of the Coast Survey, with the steamer Vixen, soon found and buoyed out the channel, so that by three o'clock, P. M., the lighter transports and the gun- boats commenced passing the bar, and before dark, were securely anchored in the roadstead of Port Eoyal. On Tuesday morning, a reconnoissance in force was made by the gunboats Octavia and Seneca and the steamship Flag, which drew the fire of the batteries on Hilton Head and Bay Point, sufficiently to show that the fortifications were w^orks of strength and scien- tificall}^ constructed. Captain Davis and Mr. Boutelle having reported water enough for the AYabash to enter, she crossed the bar in safety, closely followed by the frigate Susque- hanna, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and other transports of deep draft, running through that portion of the fleet already in. The safe passage of the Wabash over the bar was hailed with gratifying cheers from the crowded vessels. She anchored, and immediately commenced preparing for action. But the delay occasioned by the planting of buoys, to designate shoals to be avoided, rendered it too late, in the judgment of Commodore Dupont, before it was possible to leave anchorage with the attacking squadron. The next day the wind blew a gale from the southward and AYcstward, and the attack was unavoidably postponed. At nine o'clock, A. M., November 7th, the flag-ship 108 CAPTUEE OF PORT ROYAL. made the signal to fall in and form in order of battle, the Wabash leading the main column, composed of the following vessels: Wabash, Susquehanna, Mohicon, Seminole, Pawnee, Unadilla, Ottawa, Pembina and Yandalia. The starboard column w^as composed of the following vessels: Bienville, Seneca, Curlew, Penguin and Augusta. At ten o'clock, A. M., the batteries on each side of the river opened fire on the head of the column, from long range heavy guns, which the flag-ship promptly replied to, and soon the action became general along the whole line, as the ships came within range. At 10 : 30 the flag- ship winded the line, turning to the southward, when she engaged, for a few minutes, three Rebel steamers, within long range, up the river, which were soon put to flight, when she again pro- ceeded in the order of battle down within close range of Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, when the firing became very spirited on both sides. After passing the batteries, the line was again winded in a circle, during which time our men kept up a steady fire. " I kept under way," says the Commodore," and made three turns, though I passed five times between the forts. I had a flanking division of five ships to watch, and old Tatnall too, who had eight small, swift steamers ready to pounce in upon any of ours, should they be disabled. I could get none of my big frigates u.p." The previous reconnoissance had satisfied all with the superiority of Fort Walker, and to that the Commodore directed his special efforts, engaging it at 800 yards, and afterward at 600. But the plan of attack brought the squadron near enough to Fort Beauregard to re- CAPTUKE OF PORT EOYAL. 109 ceive its fire, and tlie ships were frequently figliting the batteries on both sides at the same time. A well directed fire from the heavy guns of our gun boats and small steamers, soon drove the enemy from his defences, and so concluded a well contested fight, by a glorious victory. The defeat of the enemy ter minated in utter rout and confusion. Their quarters and encampments were abandoned, without an attempt to carry away either private or public property. At half past two o'clock the American ensign was hoisted on the flag staff of Fort A¥alker, and on the next morning at sunrise, on that of Fort Beauregard. The ground over which the Kebels had fled was found strewn with the arms of private soldiers, and even the ofl&cers had retired in too much haste to be impeded with the incumbrance of their swords. Landing the marines and a company of seamen, the commodore took possession of the abandoned ground, and held the forts on Hilton Head, till the arrival of General Sherman, to whom he transferred their com- mand. With these forts were captured 43 pieces of cannon, most of them being of very heavy calibre, and the most improved design. Their sights were found graduated at 600 yards. Their rifled guns never missed. An 80-pounder rifle ball Vv^ent through the mainmast of the Wabash, in the very centre, making an awful hole. They fought bravely, and their confidence was extreme that they could drive away their assailants. When the Kebels once broke, the stampede was in- tense ; and not a gun was spiked. In truth, says the Commodore, I nev^r conceived of such a fire as that of this ship, on her second turn, and I am told that its 110 CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. effect upon tlie spectators outside of lier was intense. I learn that when they saw our flag on shore the troops were powerless to cheer, but wept. General Sherman was deeply affected, and the soldiers were loud and unstinting in their expressions of admiration and grati- tude. General Sherman says, I consider the performance a masterly one, and it ought to have been seen, to be fully appreciated. After the works were reduced, I took possession of them with the land forces. The beautifully constructed work on Hilton Head was severely crippled, and many of the guns dismounted. Much slaughter had evidently been made there, many bodies having been buried in the fort, and some twenty or thirty were found a half mile distant. The island, for many miles, was found strewed with the arms, and accoutrements, and baQ^f^asfe of the Eebels, which they threw away in their retreat. We also came into possession of about forty pieces of ordnance, and a large quantity of ammunition and camp equipage. Our loss was reported by the Commodore, of&cially, at eight killed, and twenty-three wounded. The moment General Drayton, the Eebel commander, took to his horse, in the panic of the 7th, his 200 ser- vants went directly to the Wabash. This was worthy of notice as putting down the nonsense that the slaves were ready to fight for their masters. — Dupont, et al. SKETCH OF GENERAL T. W. SHEEMAN. Ill SKETCH OF GEI^EEAL T. W. SHERMAN. General T. W. Sherman, commanding the land forces of the Port Royal expedition, entered the mili- tary service from the State of Rhode Island, and gradu- ated at "West Point, in 1836, the eighteenth in his class. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Third Artillery on July 1st, 1836 ; assistant commissary of subsistence, in March, 1837; first lieutenant of artillery, in March, 1838 ; captain, in May, 1846, and a brevet major in May, 1848, for '^gallant and meritorious ser- vices, at the battle of Buena Vista," on the 23d of February, 1847. Gardner's Military Dictionary says he was distin- guished by his prudence and firmness in preventing a war with certain of the Sioux Indians, 1857. He was for years in command of light artillery, well known as Sherman's Battery, and had always stood well, in the estimation of the army, for his skill and attainments as an artillerist. On the breaking out of the Rebellion, when the new regiments were authorized to be added to the army, he was appointed a lieutenant- colonel of the Fifth Ar- tillery. He was among the first appointments of brigadier generals of volunteers ; and soon after the battle of Bull Run he was assigned to the important duty of organizing the land forces of the Port Royal expedition, and established his Camp of Instruction at Hempsted, Long Island. Prior to sailing on the Port Royal expedition, in con- sequence of an expected advance of the Rebels, his entire force was transferred to Washington. 112 DEATH OF JOHN A. WASHINGTON. STORY XXY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH OF JOHN A. WASHING- TON-DESECRATOR OF A NOBLE NAME. A CORRESPONDENT of tlie Gazette, writing from Cheat Mountain, Ya., says : " I have the pleasure, and indeed it is a pleasure, to send you the news of the death of John A. Washington, who was killed yester- day afternoon, (September 15, 1861,) about seven miles south of Elk Water camp. " The circumstances were as follows : — In company with three other of&cers he was approaching our fortifi- cations with a view of making a reconnoissance. Se- creted in the bushes by the road-side were a number of the 17th Indiana regiment, and, as Washington and his companions came up the road, the Indiana boys rose from their concealment and fired. Washington fell from his horse on the first round, having received three bullets, two of which passed entirely through his body, entering at the right breast ; and one of the others was also hit, but the two remaining rmhurt man- aged to get him away by supporting him on his horse. " The body of Washington was conveyed to the quarters of Colonel AYaggoner. He lived for the space of half an hour, and never spoke, save to utter once, ' 0, my God ! ' The next day his body was sent to the Rebel camp under a flag of truce. In the pockets of Washington was found one hundred dollars in United States gold currency, and a splendid gold watch. His dress was new, and of the most elegant make, broad- cloth coat and pants, and a white satin vest. His PORT ROYAL CONTRABANDS. 113 sTioulder-straps denoted liim to be a colonel — of one of tlie Virginia regiments, I suppose." This was the same Washington who lived near Har- per's Ferr}^, and figured somewhat as one of the unhurt victims of John Brown's raid. In the early stage of the war our authorities were so afraid of exasperating the Eebels that they strove to subdue them with bul- rushes; as Homer's frogs fou.ght the mice. Washing- ton's money and watch were therefore taken from the captors and restored to his relatives, under cover of a flag of truce. STOEY XXYI. PORT ROYAL CONTRABANDS. The negroes, as yet, show few symptoms of vindict- iveness : but in two instances they have assisted in the capture of their former masters. A Mr. Cuthbert, the owner of several large planta- tions on St. Helena Island and the main, was caught by Captain Falkner with the assistance of his own ne- groes. A small reconnoitering party, on the Coosaw river, met a boat containing half a dozen blacks and a white man, a German. This boat was seized, the blacks interrogated — they belonged to Cuthbert, and were going to meet him at a neighboring point. Captain Falkner took the place of the captured white man, (whom he left in the care of his troops,) and or- dered the negroes to row him back to tlieir master. Another boat, containing a squad of Union men, fol- 114 POET EOYAL CONTRABANDS. lowed at a short distance. It was nearly dnsk, and as Falkner approached the place where Cuthbert stood waiting his boat, the latter cried out, "Who comes there ? " The negroes answered and were recognized. Captain Falkner at once jumped ashore with the blacks and seized the Eebel. A scuffle ensued, for the Southerner was armed, and a large and powerful man, Falkner small. The negroes took no part, (they had not yet gotten over their awe of a master,) and not till the second boat arrived was Cuthbert secured. While he was being rowed ofP, a prisoner in his own boat, and by his own slaves, they burst out into singing, to the tune of one of their own rude hymns, making the ver- sicles as they went along : " massa a Eebel we row liim to prison, hallelujah. Massa no whip me any more, hallelujah. We hab no massa now, we free, hallelujah. We hab cle yankees dey no run away, hallelujah. O ! all our ole massas run away, hallelujah. O ! massa gwine to cle prison now, hallelujah." Cuthbert, who had come to the island for the purpose of preventing the escape of his slaves, was a lieutenant of the boat — a patrol established for protecting the coast at once against the Nationalists and the negroes. He had, in conversation with Captain Falkner, scrupu- lously maintained that the negroes loved their masters, and wanted no freedom ; but when the exulting chants were sung in his hearing, he acknowledged that so long as the Union forces remained, the South Carolinians were in danger from their slaves. He was sent North a prisoner. STOKY OF THE WRECKS. 115 STORY XXYII. STORY OF THE WRECKS. The following account of tlie fate of tlie wrecked transports, during tlie terrible gale of tlie 1st of Kovem- ber, 1861, condensed from the correspondence of the Tribune, is deemed a proper appendage to the preced- ing account of the capture of Port Rojal : As our fleet slowly straggled into the harbor of rendezvous, after that most fearful tempest, and as we noted the continued absence of one after another of our noble vessels, we reluctantly made up our unwilling minds to the sad belief that at least six of our smaller steamers had gone down : the ferry-boats Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry, the transports Union, Peerless, Governor and Belvidere. There was also much anxiety about the Ocean Ex- press, though as she was a large and staunch sailing ship, it was hoped that she had merely been blown out of her course, and would weather the gale and yet make her appearance. This latter vessel was, to a great extent, the right arm of the expedition, for she carried all the heavy cannon with which it was proposed to make our Palmetto foothold good. Upon the same ship also, by a strange oversight of the chief of ordnance (Captain McXutt), had been placed the entire stock of gun- powder with which it had been intended to fill the magazines, for the use of the siege-trains that might be organized from Port Royal for the benefit of Charles- ton or Savannah. 116 STOEY OF THE WEECKS. Should the Ocean Express be lost; the army Avould be so crippled as to be almost powerless for offensive operations, until new supplies could be sent. If such a great loss should come to the knowledge of the enemjr, it was «asy to see what advantage might be taken of it. The act of loading all the stores of such an indispen- sable nature on a single ship, was one so strange as hardly to be credible of an old and experienced of&cer, and the condemnation of the mistake was as universal as was the feverish anxiety regarding the fate of the ship. This strange proceeding was, however, subse- quently accounted for when, on a medical examination, held by request of his friends, the officer was pro- nounced insane. The anxiety was less concerning the other vessels than perhaps it otherwise would have been, from the fact that, with one exception, they carried no men beside their OAvn crcAvs. On board the Governor, how- ever, were Major John G. Eeynold's battalion of marines, 340 men, all told. The Peerless was an English steamer, of small size, and had on board 87 live beef-cattle, for the use of the army. The Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry were two ferry-boats, formerly emploj^ed on the Williamsburg ferries, and were of the same pattern and size as those that ply on the East river. It is a matter for surprise that they were ever deemed adequate to weather Hat- teras in a November gale. However, they were to attempt the passage, and were intended to be employed in landing troops, after the fleet had reached its destina- tion. The Belvidero had on board horses and commissary STOKY OF THE WEECKS. 117 stores ; and tlae Union had also a few head of cattle, and quartermasters' stores. The fleet began to arrive in Port Eoyal harbor on Sunday night, but no one of the above missing vessels was seen until Thursday morning, when the Ocean Express came in, to the great relief of all. Meanwhile, the most doleful accounts had reached us of the others. It was asserted that the Governor had gone down with 200 marines ; this number, by degrees, came doAvn to 20, at which point it remained till some of the rescued men arrived, to set the matter right. The other missing vessels were all believed to have gone do-wn. It was afterward ascertained, however, that the Union went ashore on the coast of North Carolina, and all her crew were saved, though 73 soldiers were made prisoners, there being a few in her. The Belvidere, after such a struggle with the storm as few ships ever live to tell of, came safely out. The two ferry-boats, the Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry, finding they could not weather the gale, put back for Fortress Monroe, which place they finally reached. The Pear- less and Governor both went down, under the follomng circumstances : The steamer Governor started from Fortress Monroe with the rest of the fleet, on Tuesday, October 29th, and proceeded pleasantly enough tmtil she encountered the gale, which began on Thursday night, and which soon increased to a tempest. On Friday she was struck by a number of heavy seas, which made crashing work with every thing on deck. Beyond carrying away the deck-load, and smashing up some of the lighter wood-work, no serious 118 STOEY OF THE WEECKS. damage was done, until tliree, P. M., Friday; when seven or eiglit terrible seas, in quick succession, struck her, and broke her hog-braces. In a few minutes another sea carried her smoke-stack overboard, thus, for the moment, adding the terrible danger of fire to the perils of the winds and waves. At eight, P. M., the steam-pipe burst ; and at two, A. M., on Saturday, the packing of the cylinder blew out, thus com])letely disabling the engines. At four, A. M., the rudder-chains broke, leaving her, for a time, totally unmanageable. The tiller was pre- sently rigged, but in a few minutes the rudder-head broke short off, depriving the vessel of all her steer- ing apparatus, and leaving her a helpless wreck on the water, in one of the hardest gales that ever blew on this coast. After a few hours of agonizing suspense, during which, all on board made up their minds that death awaited themi, speedy and certain, they spoke the gun- boat Isaac Smith, which had been attracted by the Governor's signals of distress, and the bark Young Eover. Both promised to stay by her; but in the tremendous sea then running, neither could render the slightest assistance. The Rover, however, cheered their sinking hearts, by telling them that a large frigate was bearing down to their relief The men went into ecstacies of extravagant joy when the frigate hove in sight. She proved to be the Sabine, and Captain Ringgold promised to do every thing in his power for their aid — a promise he most nobly redeemed. By order of Captain Ringgold, the two ships were fastened together by two powerful hawsers. The Sabine STORY OF THE WRECKS. 119 then veered out chain enono;h to brins: her stern within o o thirty feet of that of the Governor. Tavo heavy spars were then ric^ored from the stern of the Sabine, in the direction of the sinking ship, and were there made securely fast. The spars were projected nearly over the bows of the Governor, but they rose and fell with each tremendous swell, so that it would have been hopeless for any per- son to cross from one ship to the other by crawling along the spars ; this, however, had not been intended, bu.t a safer plan was adopted. From the ends of the spars were lowered strong ropes, rigged to run easily through pulley-blocks; at the end of the rope which dropped on board the Governor a running loop was made, and the crew of the Sabine manned the other end. All things being ready, the loop Avas made fast under the arms of a man, the crew of the Sabine gave a quick run aft, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the man was raised in the air and swuno; on board the frio-ate. Thirty men were thus saved when both hawsers broke and the ships separated. The Governor was then brought close under the quarter of the Sabine, and about forty more leapt to her deck, and the others, all, excepting a corporal and six men, were finally assisted on board. Of those lost, four were washed over, in trying to cross on the hawsers from ship to ship ; one was crushed be- tween the ships, and the other three slipped overboard and were drowned. They saved all their muskets but twenty; 10,000 cartridges and some clothing were lost. The Peerlesss was a small steamer, chartered to be used in the shallow Avaters of the Southern rivers and creek. She had on board 87 beef-cattle, was caught in 120 A GALLANT DEED AND CHIVALROUS RETURN. in tlie gale, and made signal of distress, wlien the Star of the South ran down to her aid, and going too close, ran into the Peerless, doing her much damage. The cap- tain then lightened the ship by throwing the cattle over- board ; but the ship continuing to sink, he was obliged to leave her. The crew were all taken off by the Mohican. The captain was the last to leave her — she went down within an hour. STORY XXYIII. KOMANCE OF THE WAR— A GALLANT DEED AND CHIVAL ROUS RETURN. In a movement of Stoneman's cavalry, in May, 1863, the advance was led by Lieutenant Paine, of the 1st Maine cavalry. Being separated by a considerable dis- tance from the main body, he unexpectedly encountered a superior force of Eebel cavalry, and his whole party were taken prisoners. They were hurried off as rap- idly as possible to get them out of the way of our advancing force, and, in crossing a rapid deep stream, Lieutenant Henry, commanding the Rebel force, was swept off his horse. As none of his men seemed to think or care anything about saving him, his prisoner. Lieutenant Paine, leaped off his horse, seized the drowning man by the collar, swam ashore with him, and saved his life, thus literally capturing his captor. He was sent to Richmond with the rest of the prisoners, and the facts being made known to General Fitzhugh Lee, he wrote a statement of them to General Winder, the Provost Marshal of 121 Riclimond, who ordered the instant release of Lieuten- ant Paine, without even parole, promise or condition; and, we presume, with the compliments of the Confed- eracy, and he 'arrived soon after in Washington. This act of generosity, as well as justice, must com- mand our highest admiration. There is some hope for men who can behave in such a manner. But the strangest part of the story is yet to come. Lieutenant Paine, on arriving in Washington, learned that the offi- cer, whose life he had thus gallantly saved, had since been taken prisoner by our forces, had just and been confined in the Old Capitol prison. The last we heard of him he was on his way to General Martindale's headquarters to obtain a pass to visit his beneficiary and benefactor. Such are the vicissitudes of war. We could not help thinking, when we heard this story, of the profound observation of Mrs. Gump : " Sich is life, vich likewise is the hend of hall things hearthly." We leave it to casuists to determine whether, when these two gallant soldiers meet on the battle-field, they should fight like enemies, or embrace like Christians? For our part, we do not believe that their swords will be any the less sharp, nor their zeal any the less determined, for this haphazard exchange of soldierly courtesy. STORY XXIX THE "CONTRABAND'S" MISTAKE. While General McClellan commanded our army in Western Virginia, a stout male " contraband " suddenly 122 THE contraband's mistake. disappeared from liis master in an inexplicable manner. He was afterward discovered harmlessly pursuing the avocation of cook in the camp of the 19th Ohio. Sambo was suddenly confronted with his master, in the General's presence. Quoth our legal military friend, Lieutenant- Colonel Key, " What's your name, boy? " " Pompey Johnson, sah," replied Sambo. " Where are you from ? " continued the Colonel. " Johnsontown, Cumb'land County, State ob Ohio," said the negro, with sublime audacity, " Do you know that man ? " asked the Colonel, desig- nating Sambo's master. The darkey eyed his master, coolly, from head to foot, as if he was prejoaring to swear to his inches, and, without winking, responded — " No, sah — dun' 'no him ; neber seed him afore — stranga to me, sah." '^Why, you rascal," interposed his master, "I raised you — bought you when you were nine years old ; every body in town knoAVs you're my nigger." " Dun' 'no you, sah ! Stranga to me, sah ! I'se free cullud pussun, sah! Cum from 'hio, sah, wid the so- gers." The neighbors identified Pompey as the claimant's chattel, and he was remanded to servitude, when he suddenly regained his consciousness, and retired obedi- ently. He had been captured from his master, a Seces sionist, by some of the lads of tlie 19th Ohio, who desired him for a cook, and had instructed him to play the part he assumed. The darkey, however, mistook th.e name of the county he was to hail from, substituting Cumberland for Trumbull. BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. 123 STOEY XXX. BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. The affair commonly known as tlie "Battle of Clies naburg," AvHch occurred in the Kanawha campaign of 1861, is deserving of a place in onr war history. General Cox's division had been moving from place to place, and finally encamped in the vicinity of Spiral Knob. No enemy in force had for some time appeared and the army was eager for a fight. One evening a celebrated scout from a neighboring State went out, and had proceeded about seven miles, when he came upon the pickets of the enemy. Crawl- ing up to the encampment, he alarmed the sentinels, who gave chase, but finally eluding them, he returned to camp with the joyful tidings that several thousand Secessionists were encamped in a cornfield, about seven miles off. Upon receipt of the news, the countenances of the of&cers and men beamed with delight at the prospect of a fight. It was at once decided that the Secesh should be attacked the same night, and the colonel of the regiment to which the scout belonged claimed the honor of leading the attack, as one of his men had discovered the enemy. That evening, at dress parade, the order was read to the attacking force to maxch at a certain hour. The gallant colonel, not wishing that any should be forced to fight who were disinclined, and that he should not be embarrassed by any cowardly spirits, addressed his men, telling them that all such as were afraid could 124 BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. remain behind. Tlie men were worked up to a good fighting pitch, and when the hour for marching came^ all were found in their places, The regiment moved oft] each man determined to win or die, and was followed by a supporting force, at a proper distance. Silently, they marched for several miles, with the determined tread of men who were resolved on victory or an honorable death. The road was rugged and crooked, winding around mountains and through ravines, as only mountain roads can. When near the camp of the vile Secesh, General M., who had command of the whole force, rode to the front and engaged in conversation with the colonel command- ing the advance. Having attained the summit of a mountain ridge, which gave a view of the opposite hills, they soon espied the pickets of the enemy. The lines were formed and everything put in readiness for a charge, when General M., raising himself in his stir- rups, exclaimed: "Why, Colonel, those are my 'pichets ! and, hy golly, that is. my camj) f^ The effect of this announcement may be better imaoined than described. Just think of two or three o thousand men being roused from their slumbers at midnight, marched seven miles over one of the worst roads in creation, and then being brought up before their own camp ! The matter was finally explained. The road they had followed ran in an easterly or southeasterly direction from the camp, then winding round among the moun- tains, ran directly west^ and came out into the road at the south end of the encampment. The scout had also followed the same road, and came very near being caught by his own friends, in his own camp. FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 125 This ludicrous affair has been appropriately christ- ened, and will hereafter be known, in the Cheat Moun- tain region, as the Battle of Chesnaburg. STOEY XXXI. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. The expedition for the capture of New Orleans, under Major-General Benjamin F. Butler of the land forces, and Flag Officer Farragut of the naval forces, and Cap- tain D. D. Porter of the mortar flotilla, beino- in the lower Mississippi, on the morning of the 17th. of April, 1862, passed up and anchored on the west shore. The advance vessels were about a mile below a chain barrier, which the enemy had stretched across the river on hulks, but which proved not very difficult of removal. The purpose of the Commodore was to bombard the forts, Jackson and St. Philips, from about half a mile above our position, the forts being distinctly visible from our mast heads. The hulls of the mortar boats were screened by woods, and the masts Avere disguised with evergreens, a precaution adopted by the sailors, so that from the forts they were scarcely distinguishable from the trees. Fire rafts were sent down by the rebels, designed to destroy our fleet, but were prevented b}^ the precaution- ary measures of Captain Porter. Failing to reduce the forts after six days of incessant 126 RUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF fire, having commenced on the 18th, Flag Officer Farra- gut determmed to attempt then- passage with his whole fleet; except that portion of it under the immediate com- mand of Captain Porter, known as the mortar fleet, being the Harriet Lane, Westfield, Owasco, Clifton and Marine, also the Jackson, towing the Portsmouth. This flotilla was to remain below, so that when the Commo- dore should have eflected his passage above the forts, the enemy would be placed between two fires, with his supplies from New Orleans cut ofij thus rendering his surrender merely a question of time. About eleven o'clock P. M. of the 23d, the Itasca signaled that the chain w^as clear, and that the fleet could proceed when ready. The night was moderately dark, and the mortar vessels kept vip an incessant roar. The first division of the fleet was lying along the right bank of the river, the second division was formed on the left bank, while the third division was in the centre of the lines. The whole Avere to sail in the fol- lowing order : l.s^ Division, Flag Officer Farragut commanding. Hartford, Com. Wainright, Brooklyn, Capt. T. T. Craven. Richmond, Com. Alden. 2d Division, Capt. Bailey commandiiig. Cayuga, Lieut. Harrison. -Verona, Com. C. L. Boggs. Pensacola, Capt. Morris. Kalahdin, Lieut. Preble. Mississippi, Com. Smith, Kneodout, Com. Ransom. Oneida, Com. J. P. Lee. Wissaliickon, Lieut. A. A. Smith. 3c? Division, Capt. Bell commanding. Sciota, Capt. H. H. Bell. Jtasca Iroquois. Winona, Lieut. Edw. Nichols. Pinola. Kennebec. At one o'clock A. M. on the 21:th, all hands were FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 127 called, hammocks stowed, and everytliing put in order to weigh anchor at two o'clock. At two o'clock two red lights at the Hartford's mizen peak annonnced the time to get under way. The second division from some cause did not start at the signal, and the whole were delayed half an hour. At three o'clock the moon arose, and a silvery path was bright before us upon the placid waters ; and in thirty minu.tes we were gliding over it swiftly to the conflict ; while the signal fires of the enemy, enhancing the lunar light, rendered ou.r approach distinctly visible to them. The advance column, led by the gunboat Cayuga, Captain Bailey, approaching Fort St. Philip at a quarter to 4 o'clock, both forts opened their fire. At ten min-" utes to four o'clock, having brought her guns to bear, the Cayuga opened fire with grape and shrapnel on Fort St. Philip. At four o'clock she passed the line of the fort, and encountered eleven gunboats above. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet were not idle ; the Oneida and Yerona coming up, pitched gallantly into the fight. The flag ship Hartford joined in the fight at five minutes to four, replying to Fort Jackson with a nine inch shell, soon followed by rapid broadside firing, the other vessels of the division following suit ; while to add to the deafening noise the mortar boats inces- santly belched forth their destructive missiles with con- tinuous roar. Shot, shell, grape and canister filled the air. Steadily we steamed on, giving them shell; the forts firing rifled shot and shell, ten inch, columbiads forty -two, thirtj^-two, and twenty-four pounder balls ; and at the same time thirteen steamers and the floating battery Louisiana, 128 EUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF were pouring into and around us a hailstorm of iron, perfectly indescribable. Their steamers were crowded Avith troops who fired volleys of rifle balls at us with but little effect. One of them neared us, containing some 200 men, when our howitzer opened on her, and Captain Proome, of the Marine Corps, also opened upon her with two nine-inch guns, when was heard an explosion, terrific yells, a careen, and that fellow was done for. The Yerona sunk six of them in succession, and was herself sunk by a ram. The Cayuga, as before stated, encountered a fleet of them, which she succeeded in discomfitting, either sinking, capturing, firing, or driv- ing them ashore. At half past five o'clock, having been under a terrific fire for an hour and twenty min- utes, the Hartford passed the forts badly cut up, and saw several Eebel steamers which had encountered the Cayuga, and other boats of the advance, in flames along each side of the river. The Hartford passed up to the quarantine, which had previously surrendered to Cap- tain Bailey, of the Cayuga. In the afternoon, Commander Farragut dispatched Captain Boggs, of the Yerona, to Captain Porter, with the following letter : " Dear Porter : We had a rough time of it, as Boggs will tell you ; but, thank God, the number of killed and wounded was very small, considering. This ship had two killed, and eight wounded. We destroyed the ram in a single combat between him and the old Mississippi ; but the ram backed out when he saw the the Mississippi coming at him so rampantly, and he dodged her and ran on shore, Avhereupon Smith put two or three broadsides throudi him and knocked him FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 129 all to pieces. The ram pnsliecl a fire-raft on to me, and in trying to avoid it I ran the ship on shore. He again pushed the fire-raft on me, and got the ship on fire all along one side. I thought it was all up witli us, but we put it out, and got on again, proceeding up the river, fighting our waj^. " We have destroyed all but two of the gunboats, and these will have to surrender with the forts. I intend to follow up my success, and push for New Orleans, and then come down and attend to the forts, so you hold them in statue quo until I come back. I think if you send a flag of truce and demand their surrender, they will yield, for their intercourse with the city is cut off. We have cut the wires above the quarantine, and are now going ahead. I took three or four hundred prisoners at Quarantine. They surrended, and I paroled them not to take up arms again. I could not stop to take care of them. " If the General will come up to the bayou and land a few men, or as many as he pleases, he will find two of our gunboats there to protect him from the gunboats that are at the forts. I wish to get to the English Turn where they have not placed a battery yet, but have two above New Orleans. They Avill not be idle, and neither will I. You supported us nobly. " Very truly, yours, "D. C. Farragut. " To Captain D. D. Poeter, " Commanding Mortar Flotilla." Captain Boggs, the bearer of this letter, late com- mander of the Yerona, stated that before the Yerona sunk, she destroyed, alone, six of the Rebel steamers, of which he learned the names of four, viz. : the Wm. H. 9 130 EUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF Webb, Pabiietto, Phenix, and Jackson. As lie passed the forts, the Verona, as well as all the other vessels, received their fire. The Richmond, and one or two more of the large steam-sloops, slackened speed, and poured three or four broadsides each into the enemy. The Yerona, after discharging two broadsides, passed on a mile or two above, and came in contact with several Rebel gunboats, by which she was attacked, two or three assailing her at once, butting her with their iron-cased prows, and making several large holes in her. Captain Boggs fought them bravely with his guns as long as his vessel floated, and drove the Rebel steamers ashore, where they were fired by their own crews. One of his shot disabled still another steamer, by making a hole in her boiler, when she surrendered to the Oneida, which took her officers and crew prisoners. The Yerona's last guns were fired when her decks were under water, and no clothing or property of any kind on board was saved. She lost three of her crew killed, and seven wounded. Eleven Rebel steamers, including the ram, were destroyed, and the captain of the ram captured. After the fight, the whole squadron that passed the forts, numbering twelve vessels, repaired to the Quaran- tine anchorage, seven miles above the fort. Tliere the dead were buried, and the wounded cared for. Our killed and wounded was estimated, by Captain Boggs, at about one hundred and twenty-five ; the enemy's loss was thought to be enormous. Captain Porter, acting on the suggestion of Commo- dore Farragut, sent Captain Guest, with a flag of truce, up to the forts, with a demand for an unconditional surrender. As the captain approached Fort St. Philip, FOKTS JACKSON. AND ST. PHILIP. 131 liis flag was fired on several times^ when lie immedi- ately returned. Half an lionr after, a gig came down • from the Rebel fort, bearing a white flag and a Rebel lieutenant with a motley crew. After learning the na- ture of our demand, he went back to the fort, and soon returned again with an answer from Colonel Higginson that our terms were inadmissible, and that the forts would never surrender. Soon after the Rebel answer had been received by Captain Porter, the bombardment of the forts was renewed by him, and continued until the mortar fleet was ordered down the river on the approach of the burning ships and the ram Manassas, with a view to obtaining greater sea room for advantageous manoeu- vring. The larger part of the squadron having passed the forts, cheers of exultation, vehemently reiterated, made the welkin ring. Of the gallantry, courage and conduct of this heroic action, unprecedented in naval warfare, considering the character of the work and the river, too much cannot be said. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 25th, the fleet weighed anchor and steamed up the river for N'ew Orleans, leaving the Kineo and Wissahickon to guard the qu.arantine and keep possession of the canals lead- ing out to the sea. The sequel of this story, involving the su.rrender of the forts, I shall render very briefly. It had been arrang^ed between the fla!2:-officer and General Butler, that in case the forts were not reduced, and a portion of the fleet succeeded in passing them, that the General should make a landing from the Gulf side, in rear of 132 CAPTUEE OF NEW ORLEANS. tlie forts at the quarantine, and from thence attempt Fort St. Philip by assault, while the bombardment was continued by the fleet. The General went with his troops to Sable Island, twelve miles in rear of Fort St. Philip. The 26th Mas- sachusetts Volunteers, Colonel Jones, were then shipped on board the light draught steamer Miami, and taken within six miles of the fort, and from thence, with the aid of some thirty row-boat, conveyed four and a half miles further, the men, a part of the way, dragging the boats singly, themselves waist-deep in water. The enemy not considering this mode of attack possible, took no measures to oppose it. We occupied at once both sides of the river, effectually cutting them off from all supplies, while we made our dispositions for the assault. Captain Porter had sent two schooners into the bayou to cut off all escape, and General Phelps had two re2:iments in the river below. Thus sur- rounded, and the men in mutiny, the forts surrendered to Captain Porter on the 28th of April, and were at once occupied by General Butler. STORY XXXII CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. Leaving the Kneodout and "VYissahickon to guard the quarantine and keep possession of the canals which lead out seaward, the fleet started up the river for New Orleans, at eleven o'clock, A. M., of the 24th of April, 1862. CAPTUEE OF NEW OELEANS. 133 For miles from their anchorage they found, on both sides of the river, the houses were decorated with white flags, and in many instances, tattered and torn Ameri- can ensigns waved over fishing luggers and houses, while the people expressed their joy by hearty greet- ings, and waving of handkerchiefs. The precaution had been taken of cutting the telegraph wires every few miles, but the people of Orleans had been early warned of the fall of the forts, and made preparation to give the invaders a characteristic reception. As the fleet proceeded, the negroes of the plantations left their labors and flocked to the levee, in apparent ecstacies of joy at' its approach, ludicrously bomng, courtesying, and tossing hats and caps in the air. During the afternoon dense columns of smoke were visible in the direction of New Orleans, indicating that something was on fire. The flames continued all the evening. At eight o'clock the fleet anchored eighteen miles below the city. Getting under way again at half past five, A. M., on the 25th, we soon passed five large ships, laden with cotton, nearly consumed, evidently the source of the smoke and flames seen the evening before. At a quar- ter to eleven the Chelmette batteries were discovered on each side of the river, the one mounting ten guns, the other eight. They both opened fire on our advance, but were silenced in a few minutes, with the loss of one man overboard. " This last affair," says Farragut, '4s what I call one of the elegancies of the profession — a dash and a victory." The river was filled with ships on fire, and along the levee were burning vessels, no less than eighteen being on fire at one time, and others were bein"^ fired as fast as 134 CAPTUKE OF NEW OELEANS. tlie torch could be applied. A terrible rain storm came on and tlie fleet came to anchor at one o'clock, P. M. The view from the decks was such as will probably never be witnessed again. A large city lay at the mercy of our fleet. Its levee was crowded by an excited mob. The smoke of the ruins of millions of dollars worth of cotton and shipping at times^ concealed the people. While men were hastening up the levee, firing ships and river craft as fast as possible, others were rushing to and fro. Some, Avho cheered for the Union, were fired upon by the crowd; men, women and children being armed with pistols, knives, and various weapons. Some cheered for Jefi'. Davis and Beauregard, using the most insolent and defiant language toward the old flag : order being a thing past and forgotten. At two o'clock. Captain Bailey went on shore, bear- ing a flag of truce, for the purpose of communicating with the authorities. As the boats drew near the levee, the mob cursed the old flag and everything pertaining to it. It was with the greatest dif&cu.lty that the naval officers reached the City Hall, where the City Council, the Mayor and Major-General Lovell were awaiting their arrival. Fla2:-0fficer Farrao^ut sent word to the authorities that he demanded the surrender of the City of New Orleans, and assured them of the protection of the " old flag." The city being under martial-law, of course the civil authorities could do nothing ; but General Lovell, with much pomposity and bluster, replied that he would never surrender. But, on beino- informed that the city was in our power, he agreed to evacuate the city with his troops, numbering, some ten or fifteen thousand, and leave matters to the civil authorities. CAPTUEE OF NEW ORLEANS. 185 Captain Bailey and his aid, Lieutenant Perkins, tlien returned to the boats, suffering many insults and indig- nities by. the way, as also did the officer in charge of the boats in their- absence. The next morning Mayor Monroe sent his secretary and chief of police to Commodore Farragut, to say that he would convene the Council at ten o'clock, and give him an answer : that the general had retired, and that he had resumed the duties of his office as mayor, and would endeavor to preserve order in the city and pre- vent the destruction of property. Flag- Officer Farragut sent the mayor a letter by his secretary, demanding a surrender of the city, in con- formity with the demand made by him the day pre- vious, through Captain Bailey. This second letter was as follows : United States Flag-ship Hartford, ) off New Orleans, April 26, 1862. j To his Excellency the Mayor of the City of New Orleans. Sir : — Upon my arrival before your city, I had the honor to send to your honor, Captain Bailey, U. S. IST. second in command of the expedition, to demand of , you the surrender of New Orleans to me, as the repre- sentative of the Government of the United States. Captain Bailey reported the result of an interview with yourself and the military authorities. It must occur to your honor, that it is not within the province of a naval officer to assume the duties of a military com- mandant. I came here to reduce New Orleans to obedionce to the laws of, and to vindicate the offended majesty of the Government of the United States. The rights of persons and property shall be secured. I, therefore, as its representative, demand the un- 136 CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. 'qualified surrender of tlie citj, and that tlie emblem of the sovereignty of the United States be hoisted over the city hall, mint and custom-house, by meridian this day, and all flags and emblems of sovereignty, other than this of the United States, be removed from all the public buildings by that hour. I particularly request that you shall exercise your authority to quell disturbances, restore order, and call upon all the good people of New Orleans to return at once to their vocations ; and I particularly demand that no person shall be molested in person, property or sentiments of loyalty to their Government. I shall speedily and severely punish any person or persons who shall commit such outrages as were wit- nessed yesterday, by armed men firing upon helpless women and children, for giving expression to their pleasure at witnessing the " old flag." I am, very respectfully, D. Gr. Farragut, Flag-Officer Western Gulf Squadron. To this demand, the mayor replied at length, in what may be termed a subdued tone of insolence and arro- gance in distress. Professing to givfe expression to the universal sentiment of his constituents, he says : '^ The city is yours by brutal force, not by my choice or the consent of its inhabitants. It is for you to determine what will be the fate that awaits her. As to hoisting any flag not of our own adoption and allegi- ance, let me tell you that the man lives not in our midst whose hand and heart would not be paralyzed at the mere thought of such an act. Nor could I • find, in my whole constituency, so desperate and wretched a CAPTUKE OF NEW OELEANS. 137 renegade as would dare to profane witli his hand the sacred emblem of onr aspirations. ^ ^ -5^ -x- " You have a gallant people to administrate during your occupancy of this city, a people sensitive to all that can in the least affect their dignity and self-respect. Pray, so, do not fail to regard their susceptibilities. ¥r ^ -:f Your occupying the city does not transfer allegiance from the Government of their choice, to one which they have deliberately repudiated, and that they yield the obedience which the conqueror is entitled to extort from the conquered." Flag- Officer Farragut then sent the following : U. S. Flag-Ship Hartford, at anchor, "I off City of New Orleans, April 26. j To liis Honor, the Mayor of New Orleans : Your Honor will please give directions that no flag but that of the United States Avill be permitted to fly in presence of this fleet, so long as it has the power to prevent it ; and as all displays of that kind may cause bloodshed, I have to request that you will give this communication as general circulation as possible. J). G. Farragut, Flag Officer. At ten o'clock the Commodore sent on shore Lieu- tenant Kortz, of the navy, and Lieutenant Brown, of the marines, with a marine guard to hoist the flag on the Custom-house, but the excitement was so great that the Mayor and councillnen thought it would produce a conflict, and great loss of life. At eleven o'clock, pursuant to General Orders, all the officers and crews of the fleet assembled " to return thanks to Almighty God, for his great goodness and 138 CAPTURE OF NEW OELEANS. mercy in permitting tliem to pass tliroiigli tlie events of the last two days witli so little loss of life and blood." Early on the same morning a boat's crew were sent to hoist the flag on the Mint, which having been done it was speedily torn down by one W. B. Mumford, assisted by the Eebels, Lieutenant Holmes, Sergeant Burns, and James Eeed. They took the flag in triumph up St. Charles street, where it was torn in shreds and distributed. General Butler, after taking possession of the forts on the 28th, and finding them defensible, and well pro- visioned, and a good store of ammunition, left the 26th regiment Massachusetts voLmteers in garrison, and pro- ceeded up the river with his main forces, to occupy New Orleans, being informed of its capture. On arriving at New Orleans, General Butler reported officially, '^I find the city under the dominion of the mob. They have insulted our flag, torn it down with indignity. This outrage will be punished in such manner as in my judgment will cau.tion both' the per- petrators and abettors of the act, so that they shall fear the stripes, if they do not reverence the stars of our banner. "^^ General Butler, on assuming the authority of the city, issued his proclamation and caused it to be ofiered for publication to the several newspaper ofiices, but they all refusing, the guard took possession of the True Delta office, sent for northern printers, set it up, put it in the form, and worked it oft' in the edition. The main noticeable points of the proclamation, were the following : * iMumrurd, tlic priiicipiil in tlic outrage, was afterwards hung for it. GENEEAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. 139 All persons in arms against tlie United States were required to surrender. All ensignS; flagS; and devices, tending to uphold any authority whatever, save the flag of the United States, and of foreign consulates, must be suppressed. All persons still holding allegiance to the Confederate States to be held as rebels and enemies. All rights of property to be held inviolate, subject to the laws of the United States. All inhabitants enjoined to pursue their usual avo- cations. The circulation of Confederate bonds to be suppressed. All assemblages of persons in the streets by night or day to be suppressed. All requirements of martial law to be enforced as long as United States authorities deem necessary. STOEY XXXIII GENERAL BUTLER IX NEW ORLEANS. The following; incident, illustrating; General Butler's mode of dealing with refractory cases at New Orleans, during his administration there, is vouched for by the very best authority. A merchant of that city, who was a Secessionist of that stamp that took great pleasure in spouting about "Picayune Butler," found himself Avith arms in his hands on the Eebel side of the lines, after the taking of Xew Orleans. But he was under tlie necessity of writing frequently to the agent Avho had his property in charge. In his 140 GENERAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. letters lie frequently indulged in execrations of General Butler, and in one of them expressed a warm sj^mpatliy for men suffering under his tyrannous rule there, saying, that he believed a personal chastisement could be in- flicted on Butler, and offering his friend and agent five thousand dollars to do the job. It happened that this letter v/as seen by Butler, " and contents noted." Soon afterward the order was issued requiring all persons who wished to hold their estates in that city, real and personal, to register their names and take the oath of alleg^iance. The merchant in question had too much to lose, and slipping within our lines again, endeavored to make himself at home around the city, as though he had never been away; but while busy at the preparatory work, General Butler's orderly waited on him with a polite invitation to call at headquarters. He did so, suspecting nothing. General Butler received him very kindly, and begged to show him something^ of interest; takino^ the letter in question from his desk, he asked him if that was his handwriting and signature ; and the convicted hater of Picayune Butler could do no less than own up. General Butler then said to him, that as he was evi- dently a man of substance, with money to spare for good purposes, he might give his §5,000 to the fund for the support of the poor loyalists, as he had not been able to secure the threshing that he first proposed to pay it out for, and that he might have twenty-four hours in which to place the money in that fund, or go to the fort below, and wear a ball and chain. The man made haste to liquidate, and registered him- self on the side of General Butler's authority thereafter. EUNNING THE VICKSBURG BLOCKADE. 141 STOEY XXXIV. RUNNING THE VICKSBURG BLOCKADE. On tlie 1st of February, 1863, it was determined that the rams Monarcli and Queen of the West should run past Yickburg on the following morning, at daybreak. For some cause the Monarch did not raise steam at the proper time, nor join the attempt, and the Queen did not get off as soon as was expected. At six o'clock she started, under a full head of steam. She was under command of Colonel Ellet, who aided in capturing Memphis, in June previous. The Yicks- burgers w^ere evidently not taken by surprise, as they opened fire promptly on the ram. The Queen was four miles distant from Yicksburg when she started. When she had proceeded half a mile, a signal-light was hoisted on " the cupola of the Vicksburg Court- house, and in five minutes three batteries opened. The Queen kept steadily on her way, the guns bear- ing on her increasing in number, momentarily, until finally, every battery seemed playing. Her progress was so rapid, that the batteries could not get range, with any degree of accuracy. Out of two hundred shots fired, only three took effect. Her capstan was shot away. One 7 -inch shell lodged in the state-room, but did not explode. Had it done so. Colonel Ellet thought the ram would have been destroyed. Xo one on board was hurt. The Queen attempted no reply to the batteries, but ran into the gun-boat Vicksburg, at the wharf, striking her forward of the cook-house, damag-ins^ her to some 142 ASSASSINATION OF GEN. EGBERT L. m'COOK. extent. In less than one hour from starting, the Queen of the AYest was safelj anchored below the city, at the mouth of the new cut-off. She carried two long Parrot guns, and the intention of running her below, was to cut off' steamboat communication between Yicksburg and Port Hudson. STOKY XXXIY. ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL ROBERT L. McCOOK. On the 5th day of August, 1862, as General McCook was on his way with his brigade from Hazel Green to Winchester, Tennessee, when about six miles from Salem, Alabama, contiguous to the State line, it being about ten o'clock in the morning, he fell a victim to guerrillas. He was riding in an ambulance, or small wagon, being ill, having been sick about six weeks, and was accompanied by Captain Hunter Brooke, who was nursing him. He was not in advance of his command, as has been erroneously stated, but between regiments, the 18 th regulars and part of the 1st Ohio cavalry, having preceded him. His usual escort of twelve of the 1st Ohio cavalry were in attendance. While on the road, they were attacked by a party ol men in citizen's clothes, and were fired upon by them, some fifteen or twenty times ; the men rushing out of the brush, by the road side, where they had lain secreted, and undiscovered by the advance regiments. Unfortunately, the General had sent three of his ASSASSINATION OF GEN. KOBERT L. m'COOK. 143 escort with orders to different parts of tlie brigade, and three others off the road to select a suitable camping- ground, tbns reducing his escort to six. As the guerrillas made for .the ambulance, during the firing, the remainder of the escort fled, without firing a shot; seeing which, the driver of the ambulance attempted to escape them bj running it half or three- quarters of a mile, but finding escape impossible, he stopped by running it against a bank ; when General McCook and Captain Brooke both rose up and raised up their hands in token of having surrendered. The assassin, John A. Gurley, rode up, (being fifteen or twenty yards in advance of the rest of the party,) and fired three shots from a revolver. The first shot took no effect, the second shot passed through Captain Brooke's coat, and the third shot struck General McCook in the left side, just at the lower rib, while he was in an upright position, with his hands raised. After the performance of this dastardly deed, Gurley rode on, and rejoined his command about twelve o'clock at New Market, where Captain Brooke, who had been taken along as a prisoner, charged him with it, and he admitted that he did it. Another Eebel rode up after Gurley ceased firing, and aimed his gun, when the General told him re- proachfully, " You needn't shoot ; I am already fatally wounded." The ball had passed entirely through his body, fatally tearing the intestines. The main body of the guerrillas pursued the fleeing escort, but three or four remaining with their victim. Captain Brooke and Gurley drove the General to the house where he died. He lived about twenty-four hours after being wounded, and retained his conscious- 144 ASSASSINATION OF GEN. ROBERT L. m'COOK. ncss to the last, tliougli frequently unable to speak, from tlie dreadful pain he suffered. He stated that when the party came up to the house, the occupants, men, women and children, claj^joed their hands in appro- hation of the Rebel achievement. The whole brigade arrived at the house, about an hour after he. was wounded. The men came up in double-quick, panting and shouting for vengeance. The effect of the sad sight, of their mortally wounded Gene- ral, upon them, was most distressing. All day and night the faithful soldiery were grouped about the house, waiting their turns to bid a last farewell to their commander. Neither among the officers or men was there a dry eye, or a lip not quivering with anguish. A more moving scene has rarely been witnessed. The brigade did not resume its march until the General had breathed his last. Ketribution — terrible retribution was dealt by the 9th Ohio. The hands of the men that cheered Eebel murderers will clap no more. With fire and sword and bayonet, the scene of the foul assassination was reduced to a state of desolation, from which it will not recover until time will have swept away the remem- brance of the death of Kobert L. McCook. The corpse of General McCook was taken to Nash- ville on the 7th day of August, and from thence removed to Ohio, his State. Captain Brooke was taken from the Eebel house soon after his arrival there, and was paroled the next day, and came within our lines, but not in time to accompany the corpse. A CUTE YANKEE TRICK. 145 ELEGY There's a wail o'er the land, for the brave McCook, And tears to his mem'ry are flowing, To mingle and swell the sacred brook — A tribute the nation is owing ! He hath fallen, alas ! by a traitorous foe — The hell-born Confederation: And freedom bewaileth the dastardly blow, Which in gloom hath enshrouded a nation ! Brave heroes he leadeth to battle no more, The foremost and head of the column ; Yet still he preceddh, as ever before — To the tomb ! oh ! how truthful and solemn ! Then tears to the mem'ry of the brave McCook, Whose fair fame surviveth in story ; Whose name is enrolled in freedom's fair book. And whose spirit hath gone up to glory ! STORY XXXYI. A CUTE YANKEE TRICK. A GOOD "Yankee trick" was plavecl oft' in February, 1862, on some t\Yentj-five or tbirty Baltimore Seces- sion aspirants. They were anxious to spirit their way to "Dixie," and agreed with a Yankee captain, o\vner of a schooner, to land them in Yirginia for two hun- dred and fifty dollars. This he agreed to, stipulating that they should fork over the sum in advance. They agreed. A given night approached, when the sly craft was in waiting at a designated point, over the river, some miles from Baltimore. N 10 146 MAJOR- CtENEEAL wtlltam s. rosecrans. TLe aspiring Dixeyites arrived, paid their money, and went aboard all in jovial spirits. Sails were spread, and off went tlie schooner, to plow her Avay through the briny deep, while those who had taken passage exclaimed — " Nor care what land thou bringest us to So not again to ours." The night was long, dark, and dreary, but while stars yet were peeping, the Yankee captain made a point on the Maryland shore, told his passengers it was Virginia, landed them safely, and advised them to make the best of their way toward Kichmond, when he pushed off' and was soon out of sight. Morning broke, but only to reveal the sad conscious- ness that these recruits for Jeff*. Davis and Beauregard were still on Maryland soil, minus their money, and in a worse condition than when they started. Every day or two, for a while, brought back to his Baltimore home, one or more of these cheerless wan- derers, in an awful dilapidated condition. Whether or not our Ycmkee Salt succeeded in getting another such cargo, is considered extra-problematical. Major-General William S. Eosecrans, of Ohio, Avas fifth in the class of 1842, numbering fifty-six. Being a professor at West Point, during the entire period of the Mexican war, he was kept away from battle until that of Rich Mountain, where, by his skill and bravery, Avas most unquestionably achieved the brilliant victory accredited to General McClellan. Ilis subsequent achievements, as commander of the Army of the Cumberland, at Murfreesboro' and Chickamauga are matters of Avell -known history. THE FEDERAL MAJOR AXD TEXAX WIDOW. 147 STORY XXXYII THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. A ROMANTIC STORY. The following amiTsing episode, as tlie sequel will show, lately occurred on a trip to New Orleans, as related by a gallant captain of the 27tli Army Corps. He says : — " We had a very pleasant trip down to the Crescent City, with some political prisoners from the Department of the Missouri, and persons Avho were allowed to pass into the Confederate lines to see their relations, look after their property, &c. " Among the exiles was Ashton P. Johnston of St. Louis, Marmaduke, late of the Convention, Eev. Father Donnelly, of St. Joseph, and other of less import. "Among the 'voluntaries' were young maids and old maids, wives and widows. Among the young maids was one who confidentially told me that she was going to Mobile to be married. It looked to me very much like sending supplies to the' enemy ; but I couldn't ^ help'' it, so let it go. They nearly all came to this place in charge of Captain Dwight, Assistant-Inspector General of the Department of the Missouri. "In the party was a young widow. 'Pretty!' In my judgment she was interesting — when was a young and pretty Avidow not? Being young, pretty, and a widow, is it strange that a young officer, to whose care she was intrusted, should extend to her all the cour- tesies and attention proper and consistent wuth his official position ? It was not strange ; nor was it strange 148 THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. tliat in return for liis kindness^ and at Lis solicitation, she should confide to him the tale of her woes. " She was from Mexico ; her husband had been con- scripted in Texas, into the Kelel arni}^ ; had died, leav- ing her the sole proprietress of numerous droves of mustangs, and the mother of two small children, (mostly boys and girls.) "Her spirits and her person, draped in the habili- ments of mourning, for the length of time deemed pro- per, she resolved to quit the place where each familiar object reminded her of the time spent in conjugal felicity with the dear departed one; that one 'gone to a ranch from which there was no return;' so all the personal property, with the exception of some unruly mustangs, who refused to be 'cotched,' and some colored individual, who, having heard of the Proclamation, re- fused to be considered personal property, and wouldn't be 'catched neither,' was converted into Confederate tr — cash, and the ranch vacated. "At Metamoras the Confederate money was ex- changed for gold, passage secured on a Spanish vessel to Havana, which was soon bounding across the Gulf. Tears were shed, as on leaving one's native land they always will be : but it was all for the best ; a residence upon the beautiful island of Cuba, a place in the affec- tions and family of the dear relations who anticipated her coming; quiet walks beneath fragrant orange groves; the air of that delightful and salubrious cli- mate, would go far in dispelling the gloom which shrouded her young and ardent soul. "But, alas! for the orange groves, and ambrosial atmosphere, a storm arose, the ship was driven into an inlet off' the coast of Florida, was taken by our block- THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXA^T WIDOW. 149 ading squadron off Key West, for a blackade runner, and sent to New York, where, after an examination, she was released, and sent on her wa_y. " The fair Avidow, having escaped the dangers of the sea, resolved not to venture again, till her nerves had regained their wonted firmness. Having friends at St. Louis, she resolved to visit that city. Arriving there — there she remained until the fall of Yicksburg and Port Hudson, and the consequent opening of the Mis- sissippi river, when she resolved to attempt Havana, this time via New Orleans. Major B. was on the boat. The major, you must know is a very gallant man. The ladies, dear creatures, will fall in love with him. In fact, the citadel of their affections invariably capitulates when he lays, siege. " The major was introduced to the fair widow by the captain in charge, and he had a soul to sympathize with her in her affliction, so to his special care she was consigned. It was soon a mutual discovery that their tastes and sympaties were similar. Did he admire any particular scenery along the shores? — ditto, she. To- gether they Avould pass hours in some retired place upon the guards of the boat, in sweet interchange of thouo'ht and sentiment. " He had never met one before for whom he. had formed an attachment so sincere, and she, from the moment when first introduced, felt that she saw in him. the realization of her hopes. In him she saw the only one who should ever catch the untamed mustangs, and again bring joy to the ranch. " Thus did this enamored pair pass the long hours of the journey. Arrived in New Orleans. Would the major be so kind as to secure her rooms at the hotel, 150 THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. and to make some inquiry after her micle, who resided somewhere in the city ? Of course he would. Mine host of the St. Charles provided the proper apartments, and the Avidow duly domiciled therein, the Major sallied forth to make inquiries after " our uncle," in which ho was entirely unsuccessful ; not being able to find any gentleman of that name. The widow felt sad, was dis- appointed. " Her uncle was formerly a man of wealth and influ- ence, and she had not calculated upon having any difficult}^ in finding him ; but this cruel war had changed everything ; and then the beautiful eyes of the fair and and fascinating widow filled with tears. "It grew rather embarrassing to the Major. He was expecting to meet his wife, who was waiting in the city for him, having come around via the Gulf. Bu.t the fair creature whose head was reclining upon his shoulder, and whose heaving bosom was beating against his own, knew nothing of that; she only knew as she said, that in that great city, among strangers, without the Major her heart would break. "How benevolent the Major's intentions may have been, we can only conjecture, for u.nlooked for events will sometimes play the deuce with one's arrangements. At least it was so in this case. The fact was, the wife of the Major learning of his arrival made inquiries, and ascertaining that he had taken No. , resolved upon a pleasant surprise for him, so with two of the little majors in tow she proceeded to No. . Passing an adjoining room she overheard the voice of the one sought for, and thinking there must be some mistake in the number of the room, and that where that familiar voice was heard must be the right one, she pushed open the door and entered. COLONEL LOKI^' ANDEEWS. 151 " Whether the scene which met her eye, was calculated to increase her faith in the constancy of her spouse, or otherwise, we leave those who are able to judge to decide. We do know, though, that the Major's bag- gage was removed to another part of the house before many hours had expired, and that he was the recipient of a note from the clerk of the house to the followinsr o effect : " ' Dear Major : — Having unexpectedly found my uncle, I will relieve you and yours from any further care upon my part, if you will be so kind as to settle the bill which the clerk will present to you. Adios. L. P. S. Not having sold my gold yet, it is inconvenient for me to refund you the dollars which you so kindly loaned to me. L.' " The major is a wiser man : he looks meek, but will fire up upon any allusion being made to mustangs or Spanish widows." COLONEL LOEIN ANDEEWS. Few braver and more patriotic men than Lorin An- drews ever lived. At the breaking out of the Slave- holders' Eebellion, he was the first man in Ohio to tender his services to Governor Tod. Knowing what would be necessaTy, he did not wait fo'r the requisition to be made on the State for troops, but hastened to offer his services in whatever position the Governor might designate. He was appointed Colonel of the 4th In- fantry, Ohio volunteers, under the President's requisi- 152 COLONEL LORIN ANDREWS. tion, served wivli tlie regiment in Western Virginia, with ardor, ability, and fidelity, until be was taken sick in August, 1862, when lie returned to his family in Gambler, and died in September following, lamented by all who knew him. The following is submitted as a tribute to his memory : A brave man lies low ! And sad is our sorrow, And deep is our woe ! Tliougli Kenyon bewail him, In sadness and gloom, 'Twill nothing avail him. Low m the dark tomb ! No more will he heighten The fame of her glades ; Nor with science enlighten Her classical shades. Ye vot'ries of learning ! Well may ye deplore So sad a bereavement To freedom and lore ! At the call of our country He flew to her aid : He mounted his charger. And wielded his blade How faithful in friendship ! How stern in his wrath ! And woe to the Rebel That countered his path I His courage undaunted, And " onward" his word, His faith in dry powder. And trust in the Lord. HOW THE POWDEK WAS SAVED FROM EXPLODING. 153 But life's toilsome battle, With him is now o'er ; Since death has disarmed him, He armeth no more. He hath ceased from his labor, He heareth no call, His pistols and sabre Now hang in the hall. The good man hath fallen — The brave man lies low 1 And sad is our sorrow, And deep is our woe ! STORY XXXYIII. HOW THE POWDER WAS SAVED FROM EXPLODING. During the engagement the Gunboat Yalley City was fighting two Rebel boats at once, working her guns on both sides, when a shell entered her port-bow, passed into her masrazine, knocked the head off a half- barrel of powder, and exploded in a locker, which was filled with blue-lights, rockets, and Coston signal lights. The fire-works were ignited at the instant, and, in the close box, bu.rnt with fury, filling the magazine mth sulphurous fumes. The quarter gunner, instead of leaving his post, as most men would have done, at such a terrible juncture, immediately sat upon the open barrel, to keep the sparks from falling into the powder. Captain J. Gr. Chaplin, commander of the vessel, called all hands to fire-quarters, but seeing that this would take too many from the guns, said he would go 154 GEN'ERAL BUTLER's ACCOUNT OF HIS into the magazine himself, and extinguish the fire. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped into the perilous place, and giving orders to keep up the fight, he passed up powder with one hand, and buckets of water down with the other, until the fire was quenched. On entering the magazine and seeing the gunner sitting so quietly on the powder-barrel, he thought he was either shirking his duty, or bewildered by fear, and asked him sternly Avhat he was doing there. "Ah, Sir," said the splendid fellow, "this 'ere shell have stove off the head of the barrel, and if I get up, a little spark might fall in, and blow us all to smithereens in a minute." Courage like this of Captain Chaplin and his quarter gunner has seldom been shown in any navy, and their conduct should be noted amono^ the brio;htest incidents of the war. Search the wide workl over, and still you will find In our army and our navy, are the bravest of mankind. STOEY XXXIX. GENERAL BUTLER'S ACCOUNT OF HIS RECRUITING OPERA- TIONS IN LOUISIANA. Extracted trom nis testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War. " I ISSUED an order that any Confederate soldier, who chose to desert and leave the Kebel army, might come into Xew Orleans and register his name. " There had come into New Orleans, up to this time, something over 6,000 men. who had been soldiers in the Kebel army, and registered themselves as paroled EECRUITIXG 0PERATI0X3 IX LOUISIANA. 155 prisoners ; so that I "had in New Orleans nearly twice as many men who had been soldiers in the Confederate army as I had of Union soldiers. " I had asked for leave, which had been graated, to recruit my regiments. I recruited in Louisiana all my old regiments np to the full standard ; raised two new white regiments, and four companies of cavalry — all of men living in Louisiana. They fought bravely at Baton Rouge. Out of 460 men of the 14th Maine, who Avere in line, 200 of them were recruits from Louisiana. They, of course, were healthy men, not having suffered the troubles either of Camp Parapet or Yicksburg. " I ordered $8 a month to be paid out of the provost fund to the widows and mothers of quite a number of Louisiana soldiers that were killed under our flag, because I knew it would take a long time to get it from Washington, and I wanted to encourage others to enlist. The provost fund was made up of fines and for- feitures, sales of confiscated projDerty, and two dollars charged for each pass, &c. "I asked for liberty to raise 5,000 native Louisiani- ans, and raised nearly that number, including recruits in the old regiments. White recruiting began then to fall off", because of the high wages beginning to be paid for white labor on the plantations, in order to save the sugar crop where the negroes had left. "I had written to Washington for reinforcements, but they replied that they could not give me any, though they wrote that I must hold New Orleans at all hazards. I determined to do that, if for no other reason, because the Rebels had offered a reward for my head, and it would have been rather inconvenient to me to have lost it. 156 GENERAL BUTLER's ACCOUNT OF HIS "Upon examining the records, I found that Gover- nor Moore, of Louisiana, had raised a regiment of free colored people, and organized and officered it; and I found one of his commissions. I sent for a colored man, as an of&cer of that regiment, and got some fifteen or sixteen of the of&cers together — black, and mulatto, light and dark colored — and asked them what thej meant by being organized under the Eebels. " They said they had been ordered out, and could not refuse ; but that the Eebels had never trusted them with arms. They had been drilled in company drill. I asked them if that organization could be resuscitated, provided they were supplied with arms. They said that it could. Yery well, I said, then I will resuscitate that regiment of Louisiana militia. "I, therefore, issued an order, stating the precedent furnished by Governor Moore, and in a week from that time, I had in that regiment a thousand men, reason- ably drilled, and well- disciplined ; better disciplined than any other regiment I had there, because the blacks had always been taught to do as they were told. It was composed altogether of freemen; made free under some law. " There was a very large French and English popu- lation in Louisiana. I ascertained that neither French nor English law permitted French or English subjects to hold slaves in a foreign country. According to the French law, any French citizen holding slaves in a foreign country, forfeits his citizenship. According to the British law, any Englishman holding slaves in a foreign country, forfeits one hundred pounds. " I, thereupon issued an order, that every person should register himself; the loyal as loyal; French RECKUITING OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA. 157 subjects, as Frencli subjects ; Englisli subjects, as Eng- lisli subjects, &c., under their own hands, so that there could be no mistake in the books of the Provost Mar- shaL That was accordingly done. " I then said to those who claimed to be French and English subjects: 'According to the law of the country to which you claim, by this register, to owe allegiance, all the negroes claimed by you as slaves are free, and being free, I may enlist as many of them as I please.' And I accordingly enlisted one regiment and part of another, from men in that condition. "We had a great many difficulties about it. But the English Consul came fairly up to the mark, and decided that the negroes claimed as slaves by those who had registered themselves as British subjects, were free ; so that I never enlisted a slave. Indeed, it was a general order, that no slave should be enlisted. 4f * * * 4f -Jf -Sf " I sent an expedition under General Weitzel to Don- aldsonville, and swept down through that country to Berwick Bay; drove out the enemy, who were there in considerable force, and brought the whole of that region, from one end to the other, within the Union lines. * -H- * -K- -Jf iv * "In taking possession of that district, which had heretofore been in possession of the enemy, we ob- tained possession of a region of country containing more sugar plantations, and more slaves, than any other portion of Louisiana. Some 15,000, perhaps 20,000 slaves came, by that one expedition, under our control ; and, as Congress had passed a law declaring that all slaves held by Eebels, in regions that after- 158 SCENE IN THE CAPITAL GROUNDS, WASHINGTON. ward sliould come into our possession, should be free, all those slaves became free. "I enlisted a third regiment, and two batteries of heavy artillery, from among those negroes thus made free. Two of these colored regiments were employed in guarding the Opelousas Kailroad, running from Algiers to Berwick Bay, and when I left there they were still thus employed. ^:- -X- ^ -jf ^ * * "I turned over to my successor, of soldiers, 17,800, incKiding the black regiments, though I had but 18,700 to start on." STOEY XL. SCENE IN THE CAPITOL GPvOUNDS, WASHINGTON. An amusing scene is represented by a newspaper cor- respondent, as having occurred in August, 1862, in the capitol grounds at Washington. lie says : While on the steamer Adelaide, the Fortress Monroe boat from Baltimore, I became acquainted with a Mr. Graves, an English gentleman from Manchester, who was on his way to the fortress for the purpose of making a visit to the army of the Potomac. When the army evacuated Harrison Landing he started for Washington, and it was within half an hour after he left there, that an amusing scene occurred, of which the following is his own version. lie entered the capitol grounds and asked an officer whom he met, what that maGrnificent structure was used for ? (meaning the capitol.) SCENE IN THE CAPITAL GEOUNDS, WASHINGTON. 159 " That," answered tlie officer, " is tlie bakery for tlie United States army. (The basement was in fact appro- priated for that purpose at that time.) This singular answer somewhat took Mr. Graves aback, who, remon- strating at what he considered an unwarrantable joke, under the circumstances, received for reply, " That is the only answer you will get, sir, and if you don't like it you must take your own remedy." When the gen- tleman asked his name, " John Smith," answered the officer. Highly incensed at this second indignity, Mr. Graves demanded his card, producing his own. The officer now appeared to wish to get rid of the matter, turning on his heel in the direction of the cap- itol exclaiming ^'' Pshaw!" The Englishman followed him up the steps of the capitol. On reaching the top, the officer turned round and said, " Well, sir, what are you following me for ? What do you want?" "I want your name," answered Mr. Gra,ves, " and I will follow you till I learn what it is." The officer ordered him to leave the place, but to no purpose. Both parties ap- peared to be getting excited, when fortunately, at this instant a door opened, and Captain 'Darling made his appearance. " Captain Darling," commanded the officer, ''take this man away." Captain Darling at once ad- vanced and took charge of Mr. Graves. " I demand that you tell me the name of that officer," said Mr. Graves, " before I leave." " That," said Captain Dar- ling," is General Halleck, commander-in-chief of the American army." The Englishman wilted. 160 NAKROW ESCAPES. STOKY XLI, NARROW ESCAPES. At the battle of Fort Henry, a soldier had the plate of his belt struck by a bullet, and the U in the U. S. entirely obliterated : and yet he was unhurt. Another had the pictures of his wife and mother in separate cases in his side pocket, and a ball passed throuo'h both, and Iodised in the inside one ; the cases thus saving his life. He sent them to his wife by express. A member of the 8th Missouri had a half dollar in his pocket, which was struck with so much force as to bend the edges together and enclose the ball. A colonel of one of the regiments found four of his men hid behind a stump, and riding up with great gravity, asked them if that stump needed so large a guard. At that instant a cannon ball sent it a kiting, without hurting one of them. A private soldier received ten wounds, and yet sat on a log and loaded and fired as long as he could see the enemy. Amonor the wounded who arrived in Louisville after o the battle of Murfreesboro, was Joseph Eock, a private in Company B, 23d Kentucky, aged eighteen years, who was in the thickest of the fight. He was shot in the right breast, a Minnie ball striking the buckle of his suspender, driving it through a portion of the lungs, and lodging under the skin in his back. The surgeon cut through the skin and took out the ball and buckle, which were fastened together. Beside this, he had three ENLISTING NEGEOES. 161 balls to pass thro"agli the leg of his pants ; and the stock of his gun was shivered by a ball while he was taking aim. He was lodged in hospital No. 4, and when last heard from was rapidly recovering from his injuries. At the battle of Fort Donelson^ Peter ^forton, of the 13th Illinois^ had the case of his watch^ which he wore in his upper vest pocket; immediately over his heart, torn away by a canister shot; and the watch still con- tinued to keep time. STOEY XLIL ENLISTING NEGROES. The following matter of fact occurred at Nashville, as stated by the Nashville Union : A slaveholder from the country approached an old acquaintance, also a slaveholder, residing in the city, and said: "I have several ne^^ro men lurkino' about here, somewhere. I wish you would look out for them, and when you find them do Avith them as if they were your own." " Certainly I will," replied his friend. A few days after the parties met again, and the planter asked, "Have you found my slaves?" "I have." " And w^here are they ?" "Well, you told me to with them as if they were my own, and as I made my men enlist in the Union army, I did the same with yours." The astounded planter absquatulated. 11 162 A HEROIC UNION GIRL. STOEY XLIII. A HEROIC UNION GIRL. Paducah, Fehruary 11, 1862. In tliese times of terror and peril in this district, some of tlie most heroic acts have been performed, but per- haps the noblest of all was enacted a few days since, by a young lady of Graves County, well known to the writer. Miss Anna Bassford. Her father and family are devotedly for the Union ; the old man having in- formation that the notorious H. C. King, (expelled from our Legislature for treason,) and his robber band, in- tended to visit the house for the purpose of taking horses, guns, &c., hid his gun, and brought his horses to this place. While here, three of King's robber band visited the house, demanded the gun, and alarmed Mrs. Bassford, who ordered a son, some fifteen years old, to find the gun, and deliver it to them. The boy, after considerable search, found the gun; the robbers then demanded a pistol, Avhich they were informed belonged in the family ; whereupon the daughter, some seventeen years old, told them she knew where the pistol was, but they could not get it. The robbers insisted, with loud, vulgar oaths, but the girl was determined; and seeing they were foiled in this, they ordered the feeble, sickly boy to mount up behind one of their clan, as they intended to take him to Camp Beauregard, in place of his " d — d Lincolnite father." The boy and mother in tears, protested, but to no A GALLANT STAND BY AN ILLINOIS COMPANY. 163 efiect, and tlie boy was in tlie act of mounting, when the heroic sister stepped between her brother and the robbers, and, dra^\dng, cocking, and presenting the pistol, ordered her brother to the house, and with eagle-piercing eye fastened on the robbers, and death-dealing determi- nation in her countenance, dared them to hinder or touch her brother, and she would lay the one that did so dead at her feet. Su.fiice it to say, the three brigands scampered off, and left the family without further mo- lestation. • STOEY XLIY. A GALLANT STAND BY AN ILLINOIS COMPANY. .DUKING the Eebel raid in West Virginia, in the spring of 1863, an event occurred worthy of record. Captain Wallace, Company G, 23d Illinois, in command of a part of his company and a detachment of Company A, 14th Virginia, under Captain Smith, in all eighty men, occupied a church at the mouth of Greenland Gap, so advantageously placed as to command the gap, and compel the enemy to capture it before they could ad- vance. From morning until dark this brave little force withstood a Eebel force of fifteen hundred men. Three times the enemy charged up to the church, and were repulsed. Five out of eight of the officers of their first battalion were killed or wounded in the first charge. The number of the enemy slain was more than the whole force opposed to them. ^'Bravely they fought — long and well," but sorrowful to relate, as night drew on, the 164 BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY. enemy took advantage of the sliacle to fire tlie building. Even then the nndannted braves refused to surrender, and it was not till the blazing roof fell in, that they yielded. Glory to the fallen heroes. General Kelley pronounces it one of the most gallant afiairs of the war. STORY XLY BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY. RELATED BY AN EYE-WITNESS. On the 11th of April, 1862, at five o'clock P. M., an event, both thrilling and amusing, occurred at our camp in front of Yorktown. The commander-in-chief had appointed Fitz-John Porter to conduct the siege. He was a soldierly New Hampshire gentleman, of the regular army, had fought gallantly in Mexico, was forty years of age, — handsome, enthusiastic, ambitious, and popular. He had made several ascensions with Pro- fessor Lowe, and learned to go aloft alone. One day he ascended thrice, and seemed as cosily at home in the firmament, as upon the solid earth. It is needless to say that he grew careless, and on this par- ticular morning, leaped into the car, and demanded the cables to be let out with all speed. I saw, with some surprise, that the flurried assistants were sending up the great straining canvass with a single rope attached. The balloon was but partially inflated, and the loose folds opened and shut with a crack like that of a musket. Noiselessly, fitfully, the yellow mass rose into the sky, the basket rocking like a feather in the zephyr ; BALLOONING EXTRAOKDINAEY. 165 and JTist as I turned to speak to a comrade, a sound from overhead, like the explosion of a shell, and some- thing striking me across the face, laid me flat upon the ground. Half-blind and stunned, I staggered to my feet, but the air seemed full of cries and curses. Opening my eyes ruefully, I saw all faces turned upward, and when I looked above — the balloon was adrift. The treacher- ous cable, rotted with vitriol, had snapped in twain ; one fragment had been the cause of my downfall, and the other trailed, like a great entrail, from the receding car, where Fitz-John Porter was bounding upward, upon a Pegasus that he could neither check nor direct. The whole army was agitated by the unwonted occur- rence. From battery No. 1, on the brink of the York, to the mouth of Warwick river, every soldier and of&cer was absorbed. Far within the Confederate lines the excitement extended. We heard the enemy's alarm-guns, and directly the signal flags were waving up and down our front. The General appeared directly over the edge of the car. He was tossing his hands frightenedly, and shout- ing something that we could not comprehend. " Open the valve !" called Lowe, in his shrill tones : " climb — to — the — netting — ^and reach — the valve — rope." "The valve! — the valve!" repeated a multitude of tongues, and all gazed with thrilling interest at the retreating hulk, that still kept straight upward, swerving neither to the east nor the west. It was a weird spectacle — that frail, fading, oval, glidmg against the sky, floating in the serene azure, the little vessel swinging silently beneath, and a hun- 166 BALLOONING EXTEAORDINARY. dred thousand martial men, watcliing the loss of their brother-in-arms, but powerless to relieve^ or recover him. Had Fitz-John Porter been drifting down the rapids of Niagara; he could not have been so far from human assistance. But we saw him directly, no bigger than a child's toy, clambering up the netting, and reaching for the cord. " He can't do it," muttered a man beside me ; " the wind blows the valve-rope to and fro, and only a spry, cool-headed fellow can catch it." We saw the General descend, and appearing again over the edge of the basket, he seemed to be motioning to the breathless hordes below, the story of his failure. Then he dropped out of sight, and when we next saw him, he was reconnoitring the Confederate works, through a long, black spy-glass. A great laugh went up and down the lines, as this cool procedure was observed, and then a cheer of ap- plause ran from group to group. For a moment it was doubtfal that the balloon would float in either direc- tion ; it seemed to faulter like an irresolute being, and moved reluctantly southeasterly, toward Fortress Mon- roe. A huzza, half uttered, quivered on every lip. All eyes glistened, and some were dim with tears of joy. Eu.t the wayward canvass now turned du.e west- ward, and was blown rapidly toward the Confederate works. Its course was finally direct, and the wind seemed to veer often, as if contrary currents, conscious of the opportunity, were struggling for the possession of the daring navigator. The south wind held mastery for a while, and the balloon passed the Federal front, amid a howl of despair from the soldiery. It kept right on, over sharp-shooters, BALLOONING EXTEAORDINAEY. 167 rifle-pits, and outworks, and finally passed, as if to deliver np its freight^ directly over the heights of Yorktown. The cool courage; either of heroism or despair, had seized upon Fitz-John Porter. lie turned his black glass upon the ramparts and masked cannon below, upon the remote camps, upon the beleagured town, upon the guns of Gloucester Point, and upon distant Norfolk. Had he been reconnoitering from a secure perch at the tip of the moon, he could not have been more vigi- lant : and the Confederates probably thought this some Yankee device to peer into their sanctuary, in despite of ball or shell. None of their great guns could be brought to bear upon the balloon ; but there were some discharges of musketry that appeared to have no effect, and finally, even these demonstrations ceased. Both armies in solemn silence were gazing aloft, while the impurturable mariner continued to spy out the land. The sun was now rising behind us, and roseate rays struggled up to the zenith, like the arcs made by ■ showery bomb^ They threw a hazy atmosphere upon the balloon, and the light shone through the net-work, like the sun through the ribs of the skeleton ship, in the " Ancient ^lariner." Then, as all looked agape, the air craft "plunged and racked and veered," and drifted rapidly toward the Federal lines again. The hallelujah that now went up shook the spheres, and when he had regained our camp-limits, the General was seen clambering up again, to clutch the valve-rope. . This time he was successful, and the balloon fell sud- denly, so that all hearts once more leaped up, and the cheers were hushed. 168 BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. Cavalry rode pell-mell from several directions; to reach, tlie place of descent ; and the General's personal staff galloped past me like the wind, to be the first at his debarkation. I followed the throng of soldiers with due haste^ and came up to the horsemen in a few minutes. The balloon had struck a canvass tent with great violence, felling it as by a bolt, and the Greneral, un- harmed, had disentangled himself from innumerable folds of oiled canvass, and was now the cynosure of an immense number of people. While the officers shook his hands, the rabble bawled their satisfaction in hurrahs, and a band of music marching up directly, the throng of foot and horse gave him a vociferous escort to his quarters. STOEY XLYI. INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE. From Captain William D. Wilkins, Xof the staff of General A. S. Williams, commander of a division of the Twelfth Army Corps,) who was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Chancellorville, and subse- quently paroled and returned to Detroit, the Free Press learned some interesting particulars. The captain was placed in charge of a squad and taken to a plank road in the rear, where he met General ■Jackson and staff. Jackson had at this time formed a column of attack on the plank road, with the design of flanking our army, and obtaining possession of the BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. 169 United States Ford, wliicli would undoubtedly have resulted in the total discomfiture of our army. The column consisted of 15,000 men and three batteries of artillery. Jackson was sitting on his horse at the head of the column, surrounded by his staff. He had a peculiarly sad and gloomy expression of countenance, as though he already had a premonition of his fate. It was but fifteen minutes later that he was mortally wounded. As they came into his presence, the guard announced " a Yankee officer." Captain Wilkins asked if it was Major-General Thomas J. Jackson? On being answered in the affirmative, he raised his hat. General Jackson said, " A regular army officer, I suppose ; your officers do not often salute ours." Captain Wilkins replied, " No, I am not ; I salute you out of respect to you as a gallant officer." He then asked his name and rank. On being informed, he further inquired what corps and commanders were opposed in front. Captain Wilkins replied that as an of&cer he could not return a truthful answer to such questions. Jackson then turned to the guard and ordered them to search him. He then had in the breast pocket of his coat Hooker's confidential orders to corps commanders, giving a plan, in part, of the campaign, the countersigns of the field for a week in advance, and the field returns of the Twelfth Corps on the preceding day. These were all exceedingly important papers. Fortunately, before the guard could carry the orders into execution, a terrific raking fire was opened on Jackson's column by twenty pieces of artillery, com- manded by Captain Best, from an eminence on the plank road. The first eight or ten shots flew over the p 170 BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. heads of the column. The men and gunners dismounted, leaving their horses and guns. Our artillery soon got the range with more precision, and the shell and round shot ricocheted and plowed through this dense mass of the enemy with terrific effect. Shells were continually bursting, and the screams and groans of the wounded and dying could be heard on every side. As an instance of the terrible effect of this fire, one of the guard was struck by a solid shot just below the hips, sweeping off both his legs. A battery came dash- ing up, but when they got into the vortex of the fire, the gunners fled, deserting their guns, and could not be made to man them. An officer, splendidly mounted and equipped, attempted in a most gallant manner to rally them. A ball struck him on the neck, completely severing his head from his body, and leaving his spinal column standing. His body rolled to the ground and and his horse galloped to the rear. One of the shells struck a caisson full of artillery ammunition, which exploding, ascended in a crator of various colored flame, and showered down on the heads of the men below a mass of fragments of shot and shell. The loss inflicted by this fire must have been terrible ; placing considerably over one thousand men hors de combat, and effectually breaking up the contemplated attack of the column. An officer of Jackson's staff subsequently stated that it was about fifteen minutes after this that General Jack- son with staff advanced to the front, to reconnoiter our position ; having accomplished which, he returned by a diflerent path toward his own men, who mistaking his approach for that of a party of our cavalry, fired upon him, killing and wounding four of his staff, and wound- STORY OF GENERAL m'CELLAN. 171 ing Jackson, once in tlie right arm, and twice in the left arm and hand. While Captain Wilkins was being taken to the rear, he devoted his attention to disposing of the important papers which he had on his person. He dared not take them from his pocket to attempt to tear them up, but constantly kept his hand in his pocket, and worked the papers into a ball, and as they were passing along, got them into his bosom, and finally into the pit under his arm, where he carried them all that night. The next morning the guard halted to get their break- fast, and a soldier Avas trying to kindle a fire to cook some coffee which they had taken from our men. The wood was damp and the fire refused to burn. The soldier swore at it until his patience gave out, when Cap- tain Wilkins asked him if he would not like some kindlings, and handed him the important papers. The soldier took them, and not dreaming of their import- ance, used them to kindle his fire. STOEY ^LYII. STORY OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. The Washington Correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, is responsible for the following story of Greneral McClellan, while in command of the army of the Po- tomac: "General McClellan was in the habit of ridins^ o around occasionally, in citizen's dress, accompanied by a few of his stafi*. One day he was walking through one of the encampments, and passing the rear of the 172 STORY OF GENERAL m'CLELLAN-. tents, he saw a bucket of coffee standing near a fire. He asked wliat it was, and one of the soldiers said ^coffee.' 'It looks more like slops/ lie replied. ' Oli/ said the soldier, ' it is not fit to drink, but we have to pnt up with it; and our other food is not a bit better.' 'Well, whose fault is it?' he asked. 'Oh, our Quarter- master is drunk most of the time, and when he is not, he is studying how to cheat.' "McClellan passed on, and seeing more evidence of the dirty and slovenly manner in which the Quarter- master conducted his operations in his tent, he accosted him with the remark that the men were complaining of bad treatment from him. The Quartermaster flew into a passion, and swore it was none of his business ; and he had better not come sneaking around trying to make mischief. McClellan answered him, telling him he had better be cautions how he talked. Quartermaster re- plied, 'Who are you, that you assume so much ap- parent authority?' 'I am George B. McClellan, and you can pack up your traps and leave.' The Quarter- master was struck dumb, and McClellan turned and left him. " That evening the Quartermaster left to the tune of the ' Eogue's March,' played by some of the boj^s who had got wind of it. He was superseded by a Quarter- master who did not 'get drunk and cheat.' The story was soon circulated around some of the camps, and the officers kept on the lookout for the General, and of course did not have much lying around loose : and the men were ready to risk their lives at the cannon's mouth for the man who did care how they were pro- vided for." 178 MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN. George B. McClellan", tlie son of a physician of Philadelpliia; was born in tliat city, December 3d, 1826. He entered West Point Academy at the age of sixteen, and graduated at twenty, as brevet Second Lieutenant of Engineers. He served in the Mexican war, with a company of sappers and miners, as Second Lieutenant, was breveted First Lieutenant at Contreras, and Captain after the capture of the City of Mexico. After the war he remained on duty with the sappers and miners, at West Point, until June, 1851. He next served as Engineer at the construction of Fort Delaware. In the spring of 1852 he was assigned to duty imder Major E. B. Marcy, in the Expedition for the Explora- tion of Eed Eiver. Thence he was ordered direct to Texas, as Senior Engineer on the staff of General Per- sifer F. Smith, and was engaged on the coast of Texas, on surveys of Elvers and Harbors. In 1853 he was ordered to the Pacific coast, in com- mand of the Western Division of the Survey of the North Pacific Eailroad route. He returned to the East in 1854, on duty connected mth the Pacific survey. The folio-wing year he received a commission in the 1st Eegiment of Cavalry, and was sent to Europe as a member of the Military Commission, to the seat of war, in the Crimea, and in Northern Eussia. He resigned in January, 1857, to take the position of Yice-President and Chief Engineer of the Illinois Cen- tral Eailroad, which he held about three years, and re- linquished for the presidency of the Ohio and Mississippi Eailroad Company, of which he also acted as General Superintendent; and was acting in that capacity when the rebellion broke out. 174 LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMEE BOY. In the month of April, 1861, he was appointed Major- General of the Ohio State forces, mnstered into the United States service April 23d of that year, and on the 14th of May, ensuing, was commissioned as Major- General in the United States army, and assigned to the Department of Ohio, including Western Virginia = Since then his course is of public notoriety. STOEY XLYIII. LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY OF EAST TENNESSEE. I have a sad tale worth relating, And stating to you ; And more so, by my estimating. Because it is true. 'Tis about little Eddie, the drummer, And young refugee ; Whose mother, with him was a comer From East Tennessee. 'Twas a few days before we had orders, Brave Lyon to join. And march to where Wilson's creek borders Missouri's fair line. That our drummer was sick and unable More duty to do. When a " contraband," stalwart and sable, Our lines ventured through. Then straightway the " boy" was arrested, And marched to the tent ; Where our captain politely requested — " For what was you sent ?" He replied that he knew of a drummer, Would like to enlist, — A boy who was lately a comer From Tennessee —East. LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. 175 The captain commanded, " inform him, I'll give extra pay. If he'll be on the ground in the morning, For marching away," A good-looking middle aged woman, Next morning was seen, With a lad, sharp and sprightly uncommon, Not more than thirteen. Her story was briefly narrated — A poor refugee, By murderous Rebels unmated. In East Tennessee- She sought in St. Louis a sister. Her burden to share ; But she had unluckily missed her — Not finding her there. She craved but the boon of a station. For her drummer boy ; Then she, in some honest vocation. Her time would employ. Thus having rehearsed her brief story, The captain looked grum : " Fear not," cried the lad, '' it's my glory, And sure I can drum." Said the captain, " Well, w^ell, (to the sergeant,) " The fifer must come, Go tell him our business is urgent, And bring you the drum." . By side of the long legged fifer. From far Illinois, He seemed a diminutive cypher. That refugee boy. Stooping down from his tall elevation, To see who had come. The fifer made interrogation, *' My man can you drum ?" 176 LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. "Yes, sir ; 1 wish that last summer, You'd been there to see. How for brave Captain Hill I was drummer, In East Tennessee." The fifer struck up, (for his trying,) A beautiful tune ; Which at once set his drum sticks a flying, Like hail stones in June. Was it fifing, or piping, or tooting, * Of diflBcuIt chime. The drummer boy skillfully put in. The rub-a-dub time. Says the captain, ^' good madam, I'll take him, Pray what is his name ?" ** EdAvard Lee," she said, " do not forsake him, Return him the same." Said he, " In six weeks we'll restore, It cannot be more ; Should he 'scape all the dangers before him, And may-be in four." Said she, " I trust him in your keeping ." And fast fell her tears — She kissed Eddie, and went away weeping, AVith motherly fears. We marched, and were soon in that battle. Too dreadful to tell, — Boomed the cannons, and muskets did rattle, And brave Lyon fell ! The night after that terrible hissing or balls in the air, Little Eddie was counted as missing, But no one knew where. •3«- -Jfr * -x- -X- -Sf On guard as the morning was breaking, Soon to my ears come, The sound, there could be no mistaking. The sound of his drum. LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. 177 That sound, when permitted to follow, Little Eddie, I found, With his back to a log in the hollow. His seat was the ground. His drum, which was hanging quite near him, On a bush that grew there. He beat that his comrades might hear him, And come to his care. He saw me, and then stopped his drumming, As quick as you'd think — " corporal, I'm glad of your coming, 0, give me some drink !" I turned to the brook for some water, My canteen was dry — "0, corporal," he cried do not loiter. And leave me to die !" Returning I quickly discovered That both of his feet, As he sat with his limbs all uncovered, Were shot off complete ! He drank, then said, " do but assure me You don't think I'll die ! This man said the surgeon could cure me, This man that's near by." I perceived that a Rebel lay near him. Whose spirit had fled : Pitying Eddie, he had tried to cheer him, Himself was now dead. He was shot in his bowels, (so said he,) And crawled along there, And trying to save little Eddie, He died without care. He had taken his buckskin suspender, And corded each limb Of Eddie so careful and tender — The Lord pity him ! 12 178 VENTURESOME AND SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING. While hearing this pitiful story, And viewing- the scene, The foe rushed upon us, all gory, Adown the ravine. The leader took up little Eddie, And quickly we sped, And soon reached their camp, wdien already The poor boy was dead ! His mother, now w^ailing and mourning, A poor refugee ; God grant her a happy returning To East Tennessee. STOEY XLIX. VENTURESOME AND SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING EXPEDITION. Captain S. Bard, witli a scouting party of twenty- eight horsemen, left Covington about four o'clock on Sunday evening, taking the Independence pike, and when about eight miles out, branching off to the right. The night being fine, they rode the greater part of the time, and after having gone a distance of about twenty- seven miles, they returned, passing near a little settlement called Ficksville. Captain Bard was at this time a hundred yards in advance of his party, and came upon an armed horseman. As he approached him, he opened with — " Good morning." " Good morning," replied the horseman. " Is there any danger about here ?" said Captain Bard. "From whom?" "Why, from the Federals." " Oh, no," was the reply ; " there's no danger of them A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 179 about here; tliere is none of tliem in this neighbor- hood." ''Think not?" said Captain Bard; "suppose you de- liver up your fire-arms ;" and at this moment he pulled out a pistol and pointed it directly at the Rebel Captain, for such he appeared to be. "Why, you are joking, ain't you?" said Eeb. " N'o ; I'm in earnest ; I want them right away." The latter part of the sentence was delivered in an emphatic manner ; and Captain Butternut, (for he would not give his name,) unbuckled his belt, in which were the pistols, a Colt's navy revolver, and a five-nick cartridge pistol, and delivered it to Captain Bard, at the same time re- marking : " Caught at last, after eighteen months' service. I'll go along." A Eebel private near by yielded himself a prisoner at once. By this time a number of Bard's men had come up. STORY L. A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. In the month of May, 1863, a young woman arrived at Chicago from Louisville, Ky., whose history is thus related in the Chicago Post : " She gave her name as Annie Lilly bridge, of Detroit, and stated that her parents reside in Hamilton, C. W. Last spring, (1862,) she was employed in a drygoods store in Detroit, where she became acquainted with a Lieutenant W , of one of the Michigan regiments, 180 A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. and an intimacy immediately sprang up between them. They corresponded for some time, and became mucli attached to each other. Some time during the ensuing summer Lieutenant W , was appointed to a posi- tion in the 21st Michigan Infantry, then rendezvousing in Ionia county. '' The thought of parting from the gay lieutenant nearly drove her mad, and she resolved to share his dangers and be near him. No sooner had she resolved upon this cou.rse than she proceeded to act. Purchas- ing male attire she visited Ionia, enlisted in Captain Kavanah's Company, 21st Eegiment. A¥hile in camp she managed to keep her secret from all — not even the object of her attachment, who met her every day, was aware of her presence so near him. "Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed through all the dangers and temptations of a camp-life, endured long marches, and sleeping on the cold ground without a murmur. At last, before the battle of Pea Eidge, in which her regiment took part, her sex was discovered by a member of her company, and she enjoined secresy upon him, after relating her previous history. " On the following day she was under fire, and from a letter in her possession, it appears she behaved with marked gallantry, and by her own hand shot a Eebel captain who was in the act of firing upon Lieutenant "VV . But the fear of revealing her sex continu- ally haunted her. "After the battle, she was sent out with others to collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found by her was the soldier who had discovered her sex. Days and weeks passed on and she became a universal A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 181 favorite with the regiment ; so mucli so, that her Colonel (Stephens) frequently detailed her as regimental clerk — a position that brought her in close contact with her lover, who at this time, was Major, or Adjutant of the regiment. "A few weeks subsequently, she was out on picket duty, when she received a shot in the arm that disabled her, and notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeon, her wound continually grew worse. She was sent to the hospital at Louisville, where she remained several months, when she was discharged by the post surgeon, as her arm was stiffened and rendered useless. " She implored to be permitted to return to her regi- ment, but the surgeon was unyielding, and discharged her. Annie immediately hurried toward home. At Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevolent lady, and and was supplied with female attire. " She declares that she will enlist in her old regiment again, if there is a recruiting oflS.cer for the 21st in Michigan. She still clings to the Lieutenant, and says she must be near him if he falls, or is taken down sick ; that where he goes, she will go ; and when he dies, she will end her life by her own hands." An anecdote is reported characteristic of the brave McCook. When advancing in Tennessee, the Rebel General Buckner sent to him by a flag of truce a mes- sage, the purport of which was, that unless he withdrew his troops from the State, within fifteen days, he, (Buck- ner,) would annihilate them. Our gallant general's only reply was a cannon-hall, which he gave to the emissary, telling him to deliver it to Buckner. Q 182 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. Lieutenant- General Ulysses S. Grant was iDorn at Point Pleasant, Ohio, April 27, 1822, and graduated at West Point in 1813., (twenty-first of a class number- ing thirty-nine members,) as brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry. In the Mexican war he participated in Taylor's battles at Palo Alto, Eeseca de la Palma, and Monterey, Afterward his regiment joined Scott at Yera Cruz, and Lieutenant Grant took part in every engagement up to the city of Mexico, receiving brevet first lieutenant and captain for meritorious conduct at the battle of Molino del Eey and Chepultepec. At the close of the war his regiment went to Oregon, where he was promoted to a captaincy, but resigned in 1853, and settled in St. Louis. In 1859 he removed to Galena, 111., where he was engaged in commercial busi- ness when the rebellion broke out. He was among the first to offer his services to Governor Yates, and was made colonel of 21st Illinois Yolunteers, with which he went into service in Missouri. In the summer of 1861, he was made brigadier-gene- ral, and assigned to the district of Cairo. He immedi- ately occupied Paducah, Kentucky ; stopped the flow of supplies for the Eebels up the Tennessee and Cum- berland ; moved soon after on Belmont, Mo., opposite the Kebel stronghold at Columbus, Ky., from which place he was driven only after a desperate fight, by a largely superior force of Eebels. In February, 1862, he led the land forces sent against Fort Henry, but did not participate in the victory ; the LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 183 gunboats having clone tlie work before he got there. Thereupon he marched forthwith upon Fort Donelson, which place he besieged and assaulted, and on the 16th of February, the Kebels raised the white flag, (Pillow and Floyd having stolen off during the night, with 5.000 men, leaving Buckner to surrender,) and sent to Grant for terms. He replied that the surrender must be imconditional, or he would instantly move on the works. This short and soldierly answer gave him the sohriquet of Uncon- ditional Surrender Grant, the initials being the same as of his real name. This fortunate and fairly won vic- tory was rewarded by a major- general's commission. In April he reached Pittsburg Landing, Buell being in his rear with reinforcements, for which, however, the Eebels did not wait, but made a furious onslaught upon Grant, who was forced back to the shelter of the gunboats, where he resisted Johnson mth success. The next day Buell came up, and the Eebels got a severe flogging at what they call the battle of Shiloh, their commander. General Albert S. Johnson, being killed. His subsequent operations, culminating in the capture of Yicksburg, and the opening of the Missis- sippi river, are fresh in the public mind. General Grant is a plain man, about five feet nine inches in height, has sandy hair and whiskers, blue eyes, a firm, determined mouth, well shaped nose, and a complexion that shoAvs the efiects of exposure. He has a good form, and stands squarely on his feet. He never uses profane language, is almost a model of temperance, with the exception of continual smoking. He is of a taciturn habit, attending closely to business, methodical and cautious, though full of daring and dash, 184 DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIRBY SMITH. if need be, and prides himself on his horsemanship. Fortunately General Grant is a soldier, and nothing bnt a soldier, having no aspirations for political preferment. Congress having by law revived the rank of lieuten- ant-general. President Lincoln appointed General Grant to that high office, and on the 9th day of March, 1864, commissioned him, in presence of the entire cabinet, General Halleck, and several others : addressing him as follows: "General Grant —in consequence of the nation's appreciation of what you have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to do in the existing great struggle, you are now presented with this commission, constituting you lieutenant-general in the army of the United States. With this high honor devolves upon you, also, a corresponding responsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so under God it will sustain you. I scarcely need to add that with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty, personal concurrence." General Grant replied in appropriate terms. STOKY LI. DEATH OF COLONEL J. L. KIRBY SMITH, OF THE 43d I. O. V. Soon in the battle of the 4th inst. (battle of Corinth, October, 1862), Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith, of the 43d Ohio fell, with a mortal wound. I have not words to describe the qualities of this model soldier, or to express the loss we have sustained in his death. The best testi- mony I can give to his memory, is the spectacle wit- nessed by myself in the very moment of battle, of stern, brave men, weeping like children, as the word passed, "Kirby Smith is killed." — [General Stanley's Ee- PORT — Battle of Corinth.] DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIEBY SMITH. 185 Let tears cease to flow — in vain we deplore him. The night-clond of death has forever closed o'er him : Dim is the eye late so radiant with fire, As perish'd the son, so perish'd the sire !* He was young, he was pious, and dauntlessly brave : A spirit more beautiful God never gave ; While genius and science beamed forth from his mind, Truth, honor, and love, in his heart were enshrin'd. His present, how brilliant ! his future how grand I Hope saw him the peer of the first in the land : Death smote him in battle ; light turn'd into gloom, And hope, and the hero now sleep in the tomb ! The pride of the army ; fond lover and son, Too soon for his country, his proud race was run ! But ah ! who can paint the sad anguish in store, For the mother and maiden who'll see him no more ! The patriot's afi'ection will hallow his name, The love of his comrades will cherish his fame : For the cause of his country his life-blood was given ; His, the homage of earth, and the glory of heaven. [S.] The 43d Oliio Eegiment was on the left of Fort Eobi- nett, and on the left of the 63d, under the ridge ; but when the desperate attempt to storm that redoubt was made by the Eebels, under Texas Eogers, we were brought into action by changing front forward on the first company, which rested on the fort ; and this enabled us to pour in a cross fire, which sent the Eebel column staggering to the rear. The loss of our regiment (the 43d) in the few mo- ments, required to execute that movement, attests the hazard of the move, and the steadiness, and daunt- * Colonel Smith's father was slain in storming a battery at Molino del Ray, in Mexico. 186 DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIRBY SMITH. less courage of tlie men wlio made it. Here, within the space of ten minutes, ninety of our boys were smitten to the earth by a hurricane of lead. . Here fell dead several of our best and bravest officers, among the first of whom, was our brave and accomplished Colonel, J. L. Kirby Smith, than whom, no more perfect soldier or heroic man has yielded his life during this bloody war. Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith was a native of New York, and was in the twenty-fifth year of his age when he fell, mortally wounded, by a bullet passing through his jaw, and coming out under his ear. He lingered in great suffering, in a state of consciousness, but unable to speak, until Sunday evening, when he died. His remains were taken to Ohio for interment, by Lieutenant Colonel Swayne, of the 43d. He graduated at West Point in 1857, and held a Lieutenant's commission in the regular army upon the breaking out of the rebellion ; when he was appointed Colonel of the 43d Ohio Infantry, which he organized at Mount Yernon, and took the field in February, 1862, and served with distinction in General Pope's command, throughout the Island- Numher- Ten campaign. As a military man, he had few if any superiors among all the Ohio colonels. His loss to the regiment is irreparable. Colonel Smith's father, Captain E. Kirby Smith, was killed at the head of his company in Worth's terrible charge at the battle of Molino del Eey, Mexico, shot through the head. Father and son have shared a soldier's fate, both fallen in the fray, battling for the right. The same volley which wounded Colonel Smith, also killed Captain J. M. Spangler, of Company A, and also mortally wounded Adjutant Charles C. Heyl, of Columbus, an intimate friend of the Colonel. THE HEKO OF COKINTH. 187 STOEY LIL THE HERO OF CORINTH. Private Orrin B. Gould, of Co. G, 27tli Ohio, was the hero of the Battle of Corinth. The following letter to Governor Tod, from Colonel John W. Fuller, com- mander of Brigade, gives the history of young Gould's heroic conduct. It has been announced that the Go- vernor had promoted him to a captaincy, and though severely wounded, his recovery was not despaired of. Colonel Fuller's letter is as follows : "Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 2d Division " Army of the Mississippi. " Near Ripley, Miss., October 9th, 186: -J *'To the Governor of Ohio: " Sir, — I have the honor of forwarding to your Ex- cellency, the " Battle-Flag" of the 9th Texas Regiment, which was captured by a private of the 27th Ohio In- fantry, at the battle of Corinth, October 4th, 1862. " The Rebels, in four close columns, were pressing with gallantry, amounting to recklessness, upon the Ohio Brigade, with the evident intention of breaking our lines, when the terrible and incessant fire of our men drove them back in the utmost confusion. " The 6th Texas bore down upon the left centre of the 27th Ohio, with this flag at the head of their column, and advanced to within six or eight yards of our lines, when Orrin B. Gould, a private of Company G, shot down the color-bearer, and rushed forward for the Rebel flag. "A Rebel of&cer shouted to his men to ^ save the color,' and at the same moment put a bullet into the 188 lEON CLAD BEEASTWOEKS. breast of Gould, but the young hero was not to be in- timidated. With the flag- staff in his hand, and the bullet in his breast, he returned to his regiment, waving the former defiantly in the faces of the enemy. "After the battle, when visiting the hospitals, I found young Gould stretched upon a cot, evidently in great pain. -Upon seeing me his .pale face was instantly radiant with smiles, and pointing to his wound, he said, ' Colonel, I don't care for this, since I got their flag.' " I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient servant, "John W. Flfllee, " Colonel commanding 1st Brigade, 2d Division. "Hon. David Tod, " Governor of Ohio." STOEY LIII, IRON CLAD BREASTWORKS. While search was being made of the passengers on the central train, one evening in June, 1863, a soldier noticed that a lady's dress appeared more full breasted than it naturally should be ; and his quick e3^e also detected the fact that the artificial contents of the lady's bosom were pressed out against the folds of the dress, so as to make it almost certain that pistols were there. He was a very polite soldier, and in the most gentle- manly manner approached the lady and said: "Madam, I want those revolvers." She replied indignantly: "'Sir, I am a respectable woman, and have no revolvers." The soldier again said, very coolly: "Madam, I wish you to give me those revolvers, and pointed to her bosom. She again denied that she had any. FUN IN CAMP. — A DOG STORY. 189 Wifhout further parleying, the soldier, in discharge of his duty, thrust his hand into the place of conceal- ment and drew out a revolver, and kept on repeating the operation until seven were captured. Then gath- ering up the pistols, he politely remarked to the lady : "Madam, your breastworks seem to have been iron clad." STOEY LIY. FUN IN CAMP.— A DOG STORY. A RICH story is told of the boys in the 2d Vermont regiment. It seems that the men of a certain New Jersey regiment had repeatedly stolen the fresh meat from the Vermont boys in the night, and appropriated it to their own use. Some of the Vermont boys there- upon killed a dog, dressed it neatly, and hung it up in the quartermaster's department. The Jerseys, mistaking it for mutton, stole it, as usual, and bore it off in triumph. The Vermonters were on the watch, and ascertained that it was served up the next day upon the table of the Jersey officers. The joke soon became public, and the Jerseys were greeted, when they visited the camp of the Vermonters, with a "bow-wow," by way of friendly salutation. The point of this practical joke, as we were told it at the camp of the Vermonters, where the affair occurred, is omitted in the above narrative. The dog which the mischievous wags converted into mutton, for the benefit of their foraging New Jersey neighbors, was a fine New- foundlander, belonging to the New Jersey colonel. The story in camp goes that a leg of the sacrificed animal was served up at his master's own table. 190 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOG STORY. STOKY LY. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOG STORY. =* Having given an amusing account (page 189) of the joke practiced hj the 2d Yermont regiment on the 26th New Jersey, it is but just to give the Jersey boys the benefit of their version of the matter, by which it ap- pears that the Yermonters were, after all, the victims of their own enterprize. It is as follows : A long-legged, long-bodied, long-tailed feminine ca- nine, for several weeks had roamed throughout the ranks of the brigade, like the ghost of '' Snarleyow," keeping the soldiers awake by her midnight bowlings. The butchers of the 2d Yermont caught, killed and dressed the canine, hanging the carcass on a tree in a grove fronting the camp of the 26th, as a bait for the Jersey boys, who they fondly hoped would take it for mutton. This probably would have been the case, had not a Jersey teamster, William Fagan, while loading the slaughtered beeves of that morning, observed their proceedings, and placed the 26th upon their guard. Some of their boys, thereupon, under cover of twilight, took the carcass into camp, and transmogrified it into very nice looking head-cheese, which was retailed the next day through the Yermont camps at ten cents a roll. The Yermonters missed the carcass, and presumed, of course that the '• Jerseys" had swallowed the bait. But it is not difficult to picture their dismay, when the jubilant question, "How are you dog?" was answered * The reader is notified that the compiler does not vouch for the truth of this or Story JAY. JENKINS MODE OF PAEOLKTG PRISONERS. 101 with the significant reply, "How ,are you head- cheese?" The latent influence of the head- cheese reposing uneasily upon their Green Mountain stomachs, displayed itself in "bow-wow," whenever a Jerseyman hove in sight. The " Jerseys" solaced themselves in whistling for the lost canine, but she never reappeared. And thus were the biters bitten. STORY LVL JENKINS' MODE OF PAROLING PRISONERS. On the arrival of the Rebels at Hagerstown, in their great raid of 1863, a lieutenant and five men, wearing the Federal uniform, crept out of the house where they had been hiding, and gave themselves up to be paroled. They told Jenkins that they did not wish to fight any longer against their Sou.thern brethren. The reply of the general must have greatly astonished the cowardly traitors. He indignantly rejected their claim of brother- hood ; told them that if he had a twenty-fifth cousin as white-livered as they were, 1^ would kill him and set him up in his barn -yard to make sheep own their lambs ; and concluded by detailing six "good lusty fellows with thick boots" to " parole" the recreant Federals by vigorously kicking them out of the camp, to the west border of the town. It is said that the Rebel soldiers were highly tickled with the scene, and highly approved of Jenkins's mode of paroling cowards. The six miserable poltroons must have felt very differently. "What an encouraging pros- pect it must have been for Federal deserters. 192 EEV. GEANVILLE MOODY. STOEY LVII REV. GRANVILLE MOODY, COLONEL OF THE 74TH OHIO. Colonel Moody was one of the most popular Colo- nels in Middle Tennessee. The Secesh call him " the Go-Devil-Preacher- Colonel." His popularity is attrib- utable to a peculiar manner he has of taking hold of things. Shortly after the Colonel was ordered to " occupy, hold^ and possess," Franklin, Tennessee, one of the larger sized Seceshers came into his of&ce on business, and during a conversation which ensued, informed the Colonel that he was " a liar." The Colonel threw out his right, took him in the "tater trap," and brought his man. The Colonel was out taking a walk one evening. He observed his black charger in the distance, coming at full speed, and, as he approached, was surprised to see that he was mounted by an individual dressed in butternut clothes. The Colonel sprang into the middle of the street, and as the h«rse was passing, seized the rein with one hand, and ye breast of ye butternut with the other, bringing said butternut to the ground, head fore- most, as he checked the steed. Had the Colonel missed his hold he would never have seen his charger again, for the rider was a Kebel horse thief. A Eebel, while under arrest, complained that armed men stood about him all the time, stating that if he just had a chance, he could whip as many Yankees as would come at him fair. The Colonel ordered, " Sergeant, put down that gun, put away that pistol and belt. Now, sir," 193 addressing the figliting Secesli, " try that fellow ; you shall have fair play. I give you my word and honor, if you can whip him, you sha 11 not be interfered with." Butternut backed oat, and acknowledged that he had just been acting the fool. The Colonel was never known, but in a single instance, to give up property of any kind he had once taken, and that instance was w^hen a Secesh woman declared that the last words of her dying husband were, " wife, take care of them three bags of salt." One of the bags of salt was returned. The Colonel took possession of all surplus provender that could be found in his reach ; if it belonored to a Union man, he gave a Grovernment receipt for it ; but if it belonged to a Eebel, that was the end of it. STORY LYIII. COLONEL LAWSON'S PAROLE. A St. Louis paper of December 20th, 1862, gives the following good story of Colonel Lawson. It seems that he was captured some two weeks previous to that date, by an irregular bodjr of the Rebels, alias guerillas, numbering nearly one hundred. At first they threat- ened to shoot him, but finally decided to release him on parole. Upon investigation, it proved that of the Rebels who then had him in charge — about a dozen — not one could write a parole, or any thing else. Through their whole youth they had never been sub- jected to the pernicious influence of free schools. R 13 194 GENERAL NELSON's MULE TEAMSTER. At last tliey requested Colonel Lawson liimself to make out the parole and sign it. He immediately wrote an agreement; solemnly pledging himself never to take up arms against the United States of America, or in -any way give aid and comfort to their enemies, — signed it, and was set at liberty. He made the best of his way to our lines, and was not overtaken. It is surmised that when that parole fell into the hands of some Eebel officer who could read, it evoked a good many maledictions upon the head of the " Yankee trickster." STOEY LIX. A PRACTICAL JOKE ON GEN. NELSON'S MULE TEAMSTER. Our boys are furious for practical jokes, and are con- stantly on the watch for subjects. One was recently found in the person of a new teamster, who had the charge of six large, shaggy mules. John was the pro- prietor of two bottles of old Bourbon — a contraband in camp — which a wag discovered, and resolved to possess. Being aware that the driver's presence was an impedi- ment to the theft, he hit upon the following plan to get rid of him : Approaching the driver, who was busy currying his mules, he accosted him with — " I say, old fellow, what are you doing there?" "Can't you see?" replied John, gruffly. " Certainly," responded wag, "but that is not your business. It is after tattoo, and there is a fellow hired GENEEAL nelson's MULE TEAMSTER. 195 here, by the General, who curries all the rallies and horses brought in after tattoo." The mule driver bit at once, and desired to know where the hair- dresser kept himself. Whereupon he was directed to General Nelson's tent, with the assur- ance that there was Avhere the fellow "hung outr "You can't mistake the man," said wag; "he is a large fellow, and puts on a thundering sight of airs for a man in his business. He will probably refuse to do it, and tell you to go to the devil ; but don't mind that, he has been drinking to-day. Make him come out surer Jehu posted off, and entering the tent where our Na- poleon of the 4th Division sat in deep reverie, probably considering the most expeditious method of expelling the Eebel Buckner, from his native State, slapped him on the back with force sufficient to annihilate a man of of ordinary size. Sj^ringing to his feet, the General accosted his uninvited guest with — " Well, sir, who are you, and what the devil do you want?" "Old boss, I've got a job for you now; six mules to be curried, and right off, too," said the Captain of mules, nothing daunted at the flashing eye of the General. "Do you know whom you are addressing, sir?" asked the indignant commander. " Yes," said John, elevating his voice to a pitch which rendered the words audible a square of; "you are the fellow hired by Uncle Sam to clean mules, and I won't have any foolishness. Clean them mules and I'll give you a drink of busthead." " You infernal villain 1" exclaimed the General, now perfectly furious, " I am General Nelson, commander of this Division !" 196 A COSTLY MISTAKE. Jolin placed the thumb of liis right hand against his nose, and extending his fingers, waved them slowly, in a manner supposed by some to be indicative of great wisdom. The Greneral's sword leaped from its scabbard, and John from the tent just in time to save his head. Our boys drank the "big mule driver's health" in the Bourbon, the story soon got out, and became the popu- lar joke of the season. STOEY LX. A COSTLY MISTAKE. 1863. Among the civilian prisoners captured at Eogerville^ East Tennessee, was a gentleman from Connersville, Indiana, who had been visiting Eichmond on army business. He seemed to be impressed with the belief that the Eebels regarded it as an offence worthy of death, to hail from a Northern city, and that when he fell into their hands, the hour of his dissolution drew nigh. During Saturday night, while we were all quietly banking in a corn-field, guarded by Confederate ca- valry, the unsophisticated hoosier determined to rid himself of all the "evidence of his guilt," which he had in his possession. The night was very dark and cloudy. Indiana drew out his pocket-book, and after fumbling over it for some time, took therefrom what he thought was a pass from Governor Morton, authorizing him to leave his native State. lie had now, as he thought, got hold of the instru- A TALK WITH A REBEL AT FORT DONELDSON. 197 ment destined to betray liim even unto death. He resolved to annihilate it^ and placing it in his month, set his vengefnl teeth to work to rednce it to a state of undecipherable pnlp. This done, with one masterly- exhalation, he sent the "quid" over a neighboring fence, and with an easy conscience slept till morning. During Sunday he had occasion to look over his pri- vate papers, and soon found, to his dismay, that Gover- nor Morton's pass was still in his possession, but that a bank draft for three hundred dollars was missing ! He had masticated . the "wrong document, much to his own pecuniary loss. STORY LXI. A TALK WITH A REBEL AT FORT DONELDSON. When I got back to my command, I found one of our lieutenants had Colonel Hanson, of the Kentucky 2d, in custody. He was a rough-looking customer, dressed in citizen's dress, short, muscular, and blear-ejed — he looked to me as a fit person to command a band of pirates. He said he wanted somebody to tell him where to march his men, that he was tired of waiting. He acted and talked like one having a "heap" of authority, and not much like a prisoner. Finding no one to give him, immediately, the information he de- sired, he became sociable. "Well," said he, "you were too hefty for us." " Yes, but you were protected by these splendid de- fences." " Your troops fought like tigers." 198 A TALK AYITH A REBEL AT FOKT DON'ELSO^T. " Do you think now one Southern man can whip five Northern men?" "Not Western men/' he replied, doggedly. "Your troops are better than Yankee troops — fight harder — endure more. The devil and all hell can't stand before such fellows. But we drove you back." "Why didn't you keep us back?" " You had too many reinforcements." " But we had no more troops engaged in the fight than you had." " Well, you whipt us, but you haven't conquered us. You can never conquer the South." " We don't wish to conquer the South ; but will re- store the stars and stripes to Tennessee, if we have to hang ten thousand such dare-devils as you are." " Never mind, sir, you will never get up to Nashville." " Then Nashville will surrender before we start." " Well, well, the old United States flag is played out — ^we intend to have a right Government down here." "What am I to imderstand by a right Government?" "A Government based on property, and not a damned mechanic in it." " Do these poor fellows, who have been fighting for you, understand that they have no voice in the ' right Government'' that you seek to establish?^'' "They don't care. They have no property to pro- tect." Fling the striped bunting out ! Never, never let it drag ! Rally, rally freemen stout, Underneath the starry flag ! COLONEL straight's CAVALRY RAID. 199 STORY LXII. COLONEL STRAIGHT'S CAVALRY RAID INTO GEORGIA, IN APRIL, 18G3. . Colonel A. D. Straight, of tlie 51st Indiana Volun- teers, in command of a brigade of about 1,700 men, for special service, left Murfreesboro', on the 7tli or Sth of April, 1863, to receive an outfit at Nashville. At Nasliville, instead of horses, they received, in part, about nine hundred worn-out Government mules and a few young, unbroken ones. Thus imperfectly outfitted, they embarked on the 10th of April, on transport steam- ers, and proceeded do\^Ti the Cumberland to Palmyra, from whence they marched over land to Fort Donelson. This march tested the bottom of the animals, proving them deficient in all respects. The expectation had been, that the men would be able to secure a better mounting by capturing horses on their route ; but the guerillas, having preceded them, left but small opportu- nity for that operation. From Fort Donelson they marched to Fort Henry, where the troops re-embarked for Eastport, on the Ten- nessee River, about 190 miles above Fort Henry, where they left the boats and started to join General Dodge's forces, at Bear Creek, Alabama. The day after reach- ing Dodge's command, they advanced to Tuscumbia, the Rebels leaving after slight skirmishing, Colonel Straight's brigade bringing up Dodge's rear. After a stay of a day and a half with the General, for some more broken- down mules, Colonel Straight's brigade left Tuscumbia, at midnight, for Russellville, which was reached in six 200 coLON"EL straight's cavalry raid. hours ; the main body proceeding on to Mount Hope, to capture some horses, ascertained to be near there. But the owners of the horses, apprised of their approach, conveyed the animals to the mountains, where they were securely secreted from our scouts. The next day the whole brigade left Mount Hope for Moulton, and, during their march, heard heavy cannon- ading^ in the direction of Town Creek, which was after- ward ascertained was from Dodge's forces advancing on that place, it being his purpose to engage the enemy, and divert their attention from Colonel Straight, and prevent their pursuing him, till he could advance into the heart of their country, beyond their reach ; but heavy rains and the swollen state of Town Creek pre- vented the General from crossing it. Colonel Straight's command reached Moulton at dusk, and left at midnight for the Cumberland Mountains ; his whole force not yet being mounted, one hundred men having to march on foot, greatly impeded his pro- gress. While crossing the mountains, contrahand informa- tion enabled them to capture a sufficient number of horses and mules to mount those of the men who were yet on foot. Having been about two days in the mountains, just as the troops had taken up their line of march, early in the morning, they were attacked by General Forrest, who had overtaken them, with 2,200 men and two pieces of artillery. They, however, went on about three miles, to Day's Gap, where they dismounted, formed in line of battle, and, after a sharp conflict of about two hours, repulsed the rebels, capturing their artillery and a few prisoners. COLONEL straight's CAVIlRY RAID. 201 Colonel Straight piirsned them but a short distance, as being so much better mounted, they soon distanced him. Having buried the dead and cared for the wounded, Colonel Straight resumed his line of march south, and having advanced about twelve miles, was again over- taken by Forrest, who had been strongly reinforced by a brigade of well-mounted infantry, with a battery of six pieces, under the command of Colonel Eoddy. The attack was immediately renewed, in hopes of overwhelming Colonel Straight's command with their superior numbers ; but, to their mortification, they were repulsed two or three times, in a contest of three hours' duration, with heavy loss. In this engagement Colonel Straight made use of the guns he had captured in the morning, as long as possi- ble, but subsequently spiked them and left them on the field, having no suitable ammunition for them, and no spare horses for their removal. This fight lasted till after clask, when Forrest not renewing the attack, Colonel Straight resumed his line of march, being within eighty miles of the Georgia line. While on the field, after the fight, the narrator of the particulars thus far stated (H. K. King, Ass't Surgeon, 61st Penn'a Vols.) was taken prisoner, while looking after the wounded, in company with Brig.-Surg. Wm. L. Peck, who barely escaped a similar fate. Mr. King was taken before Forrest, who inqu.ired of him, " what General commands your forces ?" — to which Mr. King replied, " he is not a General, but a Colonel — • Colonel Straight." Forrest seemed surprised at this, and remarked that the Colonel was " as brave a man as he ever had to contend against !" — that " he understood his business well, showing excellent generalship in the posi- 202 tions lie selected ; and tliat lie was surprised at Colonel Straight's holding out so long as lie did, against supe- rior odds." At Huntsville, Mr. King heard General Forrest remark to some citizens, that he never could have taken Colonel Straight's command, had his men been well mounted. Mr. King also learned that the force pursuing Colonel Straight was 4,000 men, with a battery. After Mr. King was captured, he informs us that he knew nothing more of the proceedings of Colonel Straight's brigade, until he met him and his of&cers in Libby Prison, in Eichmond, Ya. The following is given by Mr. King, as a brief statement given him by Colonel Straight's officers : — *' After the last battle, above alluded to, Colonel Straight again started, marching toward Eome, Ga., and Forrest, as I was told, having telegraphed General Bragg to send a brigade on to Eome, followed him, and overtook him at Bluntsville, where another fight ensued, Forrest being again repulsed. ^' Skirmishes now occurred every day, until out troops were within a few miles of Eome, when another fight took place, at Cedar Blufi^ where Colonel Straight fouG:ht Forrest until all his available ammunition was exhausted — some of it having been wet in the hold of the boat, while on the river — and the mules were com- pletely worn out, so that they would not move, either by coaxing or beating. "Colonel Straight was therefore compelled to sur- render, which he did, on condition that the of&cers should retain their side-arms, and be paroled, and ex- changed immediately. Nevertheless, as soon as he and A HEROIC INCIDENT. 203 his officers liad been removed from General Forrest's command, their side-arms were taken from them. "Previous to his surrender, Colonel Straii2:ht sent three hundred of his men (the only ones in his com- mand who were mounted on horses) to destroy some bridges and alarge rolling-mill, all valued at about two millions of dollars, which they accomplished. "The officers in Colonel Straight's command," con- tinues Mr. King, "justify him in all that he did, express themselves well pleased with his management of the troops, say that he acted as bravely and as nobly as a man could act, and are extremely desirous to continue under his command." Had it not been for the rise in Town Creek, which prevented General Dodge from crossing, and engaging the enem}^, as originally planned, Colonel Straight would have been able to have succeeded in his expedition ; and would, notwithstanding, had his men been well mounted, as was admitted by Forrest, himself. Our entire loss in all the engagements, was seven killed and fifty-eight wounded. The rebel loss was one hundred killed and four hundred wounded, which Mr. King says he ascer- tained while within their lines. STORY LXIII. A HEROIC INCIDENT. A YOUNG man in our employ, says the Mansfield (Ohio) Herald, in April, 1863, received a letter recently, announcino^ the death of a former school fellow, named 204 A HEKOIC INCIDENT. Austm Macy, of Montgomery County, Oliio, by tlie Rebels in Kentucky. The letter gives the following details of tbe courageous manner in wliicb. he met his fate, and Ave doubt if the annals of the war, so prolific of heroism, can parallel young Macy's audacious gal- lantry. Macy belonged to an Ohio regiment, stationed at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, and was sent out with a detachment on a scouting expedition. After a time he became separated from his party, and soon discov- ered a party of Secesh, who did not notice him. Con- cealing himself, he fired on and succeeded in killing seven of them, before they saw where he was hidden. There being no further chance, Macy attempted to escape, but unfortunately, his horse threw him, severely injuring and disabling him. He was thereupon easily captu.red by the Rebels, who deliberately shot him seven times, wounding and mangling him in a most dreadful manner, but not killing him. He was still able to raise up and shoot his eighth man ! An end was then put to this gallant hero by bayonetting him, and his mang^led remains Avere then thrown into a mud- hole. He was in his twenty-second year. The above particulars were obtained from a Union woman, who witnessed a part of the affair, w^hich occurred on her farm. She plead unsuccessfully Avith the leader of the Rebel party, for the privilege of bury- ing Mr, Macy's corpse. He had not the humanity to grant her request. When once a man descends to be a wicked heartless Rebel, His remnant of humanity is scarcely worth a pebble : From lesser to outrageous crimes — the length and breadth of evil, And heighth and depth of infamy, his progress shames the devil. A SAD AND REMARKABLE INCIDENT. 205 STOEY LXIY. A SAD AND REMARKABLE INCIDENT. In the second jenT of tlie war, a private in tlie 19tb Indiana regiment was tried by a court-martial for de- serting his post, and found guilty, the punishment for Avhich is death. His execution was deferred for some time, and he was kept in a painful state of suspense. At last the day was fixed for his execution, and five regiments were drawn up in line to witness it, while a file of twelve men were in advance to execute the sen- tence of death by shooting him. The prisoner was led forward blindfolded, and the usual words of preparation and command were given, in a low, measured tone, by the officer in command. During the interval between the commands — "Take aim," and "Fire," and before the last was given, a horseman rode rapidly up the road, waving in the air a paper, which Avas understood by all to be a reprieve. Covered with dust and perspiration, the horseman rode hurriedly up to the officer in command, and delivered to him what really proved to be a reprieve. The shout " reprieve" fell upon the poor soldier's ear. Avhich was already strained to the utmost, in anticipa- tion of hearing the last, and final word that was to usher his soul into the presence of his Creator — it was too much for him, and he fell back upon his coffin, apparently dead. The bandage was removed from his eyes, but reason had taken its flight, and he became a hopeless maniac. He was discharged from the army, and sent home to his friends. 206 DARING EXPLOIT. His death liacl really never been intended, but it was necessary for tbe good order and discipline of tlie army, to make an impression upon not only himself, but the whole brigade ; for which purpose the forms of the execution were regularly gone through with in its presence, and the reprieve arrived in good time, as intended. It was sought by this means to solemnly impress upon the minds of the soldiers, the necessity of a strict observance of duty and oBedience, under the penalty of an ignominious death. It was a fearful ordeal for the deserter, and it is questionable whether to him the com- pletion of the tragedy would not have been better than the actual result. STORY LXY. DARING EXPLOIT, One of the most daring and successful exploits of the war, was performed by four men, on Saturday night, May 1st, 1863, on Rock creek, in Wayne county, Kentucky. Benjamin Burk, a citizen ; Hudson Burk, a discharged soldier ; James Burk, of Wolford's cavalry, and a citizen named James Davis, having received inti- mation of a band of twenty -eight men, under command of Captain Evans, of the famous band of Rebel robbers, that infested Wayne and Clinton counties, known as Champ Ferguson's men, having stopped at the house of Jonathan Burk to spend the night, determined to attempt their capture. DAEING EXPLOIT. 207 Four men against twentj-eiglit fiends, -who had reveled in tlie blood of innocent neighbors, for a year — think of it ! It seemed like madness, yet the attempt was made. Coming to a sentinel, who stood guard oyer their thirty-one horses, Dayis ordered him to sur- render his gun, which the coward did, and receiyed in return a blow from it that knocked his brains out. The way was now clear to the house, where the remainder of the party were asleep. Surrounding the dwelling, they at once raised a hideous yell, crying, " "Wolford ! Wolford!" at the top of their yoices. The Eebels awakened by the noise, supposed that Wolford's cayalry, whom they dreaded as they did death, was upon them, sprang from their beds, leaving their clothes and guns behind, and rushed for the doors. Out they rushed with nothing on but their shirts and drawers, some without the latter even, to take leg-bail. Hudson Burk met Captain Evans at the door; both fired at the same time. Burk was slightly wounded in the head, but the infamous Evans was instantly killed. Four others were slain, and the remainder of the party escaped. They abandoned every thing; all their horses, per- sonal property, guns, and several thousand dollars in greenbacks, in addition to a considerable amount of Confederate money. Nothing remained for the victo- rious few to do, but to gather up the fruits of their victory, which they divided with William Milligan, a prisoner, whom they had released from the clutches of the marau.ders. 208 ROMANCE OF THE WAR. — A HEROINE. STORY LXVL ROMANCE OF THE WAR.— A HEROINE, The following narrative appeared in tlie Louisville Journal early in May, 1868 : A few weeks since, a captain, accompanied by a young soldier apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived in this city in charge of some Rebel prisoners. During their stay in the city, the young soldier alluded to had occasion to visit headquarters, and at once attracted the attention of Colonel Mundy as being exceedingly sprightly, and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Being in need of such a young man at Barracks No. 1, the colonel detailed him for service in that institution. A few days subsequently, however, the startling secret was disclosed, that the supposed young man was a young lady, and the fact Avas established beyond dou.bt by a soldier who Avas raised in the same town with her, and kneAV her "parents." She "acknowledged the corn," and begged to be retained in the position to which she had been assigned; having been in the service ten months, she desired to serve during the war. Her wish was accordingly granted, and she is still at her post. On learning the facts above stated, we took occasion to visit the barracks, and was introduced to "Frank- Martin," (her assumed name) and gleaned the following incidents connected with her extraordinary career dur- ing the past ten months. Frank was born near Bristol, Pa., and her parents reside in Alleghany city, where she was raised. They EOMANCE OF THE WAR. — A HEROINE. 209 are higlilj respectable people, and in good circumstances. Slie was sent to tlie convent in Wheeling, Ya., at twelve years of age, where she remained until the breaking out of the war, having acquired a superior education, and all the accomplishments of modern usage. She visited home after leaving the convent, and after taking leave of her parents, proceeded to this city in July last, (1862, with the design of enlisting in the 2d East Tennessee Cavalry, which she accomplished, and accompanied the army of the Cumberland to Nashville. She was in the thickest of the fight at Murfreesboro, and was severely wounded in the shoulder, but fought gallantly, and waded Stone river into Murfreesboro, on the memorable Sunday on which our forces were driven back. She had her wound dressed, and here her sex was disclosed, and General Eosecrans made acquainted with the fact. She was accordingly mustered out of the service, notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be allowed to serve the cause she loved so well. The general was very favorably impressed with her daring braver}^, and superintended the arrangements for her safe transmis- sion to her parents. She left the army of the Cumber- land resolved to enlist again in the first regiment she met. When she arrived at Bowling Green she found the 8th Michigan there and enlisted ; since which time she has been and is now connected with it. She is represented as an excellent horseman, and has been honored with the position of regimental bugler to the regiment. She has seen and endured all the pri- vations and hardships incident to the life of the soldier, and gained an enviable reputation as a scout, having 14 210 SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. made several wonderful expeditions, wliicli were attended with signal success. Frank is only eighteen years of age, quite small, and a beautiful figure. She has auburn hair, which she Avears quite short, and large blue eyes, beaming with intelligence. Her complexion is naturally very fair, though slightly bronzed at present from exposure. She is exceedingly pretty and very amiable. Her con- versation denotes more than ordinary accomplishment, and what is stranger than all, she appears very refined in her manners, giving no evidence whatever of the rudeness which might naturally be expected from her late associations. Frank informs us that she has discovered a great many females in the army, and is now intimately ac- quainted with a young lady who is a lieutenant in the army. She has assisted in burying three female soldiers at different times, whose sex was unknown to any but herself. STORY LXVII SIEGE OF VICKSBURG— ADVENTURES OF A REBEL DIS- PATCH BEARER. The Mobile Register published the following in- teresting letter, from the "father of Lamar Fontain," (a pious old Rebel.) Lamar is almost continually in the saddle, and em- ployed in very hazardous enterprises. His last feat of arms was the most daring he has yet performed. He left my house May 24th, 1863. under orders from SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 211 General Johnston to bear a verbal dispatch, to Genera] Pemberton, in Yicksburg, and to c^rry a supply of per- cussion caps to our troops in that besieged city. I parted with him, hardly hoping ever to see him again ; for I knew that Vicksburg was closely invested on all sides. The enemy's lines of circumvallation extend from Snj^der's Bluff, on the Yazoo, to Warrenton, on the Mississippi, and the rivers, and their opposite shores, are filled and lined with their forces. He was well mounted, and was burdened with forty pounds of percussion caps, beside his blanket and crutches. He has no use of his broken leg, and cannot walk a step without a crutch; and in mounting his horse, he has to lift it over the saddle with his ris^ht hand. But he accomplishes this object with much dex- terity, and without assistance. I loaned him a very fine saber, with a wooden scabbard, to prevent rattling, and a very reliable revolver, which has never missed fire, when loaded by me. The family lyere 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 Vicksburg successfully, and give him a safe return. I then exhorted him to remember, that if it was the will of 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 dano^er 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 jackalls who should attempt to stop his course, or to come within reach of his sword or pistol. 212 SIEGE OF VICKSBURa. He crossed Big Black Eiver that night, and the next day got between thfeir lines and the division of their army, which was at Mechanicsbnrg. He hid his horse in a ravine, and ensconced himself in a fallen tree, over- looking the road, during the 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 telegraphic road from Yazoo City to Yicksburg, 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 Eiver, where he died, and left his rider afoot. He lost one of his crutches in making his escape, it being 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 pro- videntially discovered 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 gun- boats coming up to Yazoo City. He avoided them by running under some willows overhanging the water, and lying concealed until they passed. Soon afterward he floated past Snyder's Bluff, which was illuminated, and alive with Yankees and negroes, participating in the amusement of a grand ball of mixed races. He lay flat in his canoe, and could hardly be dis- tinguished from a piece of drift-wood — and he glided STEGE OF VICKSBUEG. 213 safely througli tlie gunboats and barges of the amalga- mationists. He reached tlie backwater of the Missis- sippi 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 Missis- sippi, 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 tivo days and nights without food, and began to suffer the pangs of hunger. At night he paddled back into the Yazoo, and de- scended 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 Yicksburg, he floated by the mortar fleet, lying flat in his canoe. The mortars were in full blast, bombarding the city. The next morning he tied a white handkerchief to his paddle, raised him- self 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 General Pemberton's headquarters. After resting a day and a night in the city, he started out with a dispatch from General Pemberton to General Johnston. He embarked in 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 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 214 ^ SIEGE OF VICKSBUEG. faithful " dugout." After hobbling through the bottom to the hills, he reached the residence of a man Avho had been robbed bj the savages of all his mules and horses, except an old, worthless gelding, and a half-broken colt. He gave him the choice of them, and he mounted the colt, but found that he traveled badlj. Providentially he came upon a very fine horse in the bottom, tied by a blind-bridle, without a saddle. As a basket and old bag were lying near him, he inferred that a negro had left him there, and that a Yankee camp was not far distant. He exchanged bridles, and 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 them, who was re- turning from a successful plundering expedition. He was loaded with chickens, and a bucket of honey. He commenced catechising Lamar, in true Yankee style, who concluded it best to satisfy his curiosity, by send- ing him where he could know all that the devil could teach him. With a pistol bullet through his forehead, Lamar left him, with his honey and poultry lying in the path, to excite the conjectures of his fellow-thieves. He approached with caution the next settlement, where 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 manners of the man had excited his suspicions, and as soon as he left him he concealed SIEGE OF VICKSBUEG. 215 himself, but remained where lie could watch his return. The man was gone much longer than Lamar expected ; but returned, and reported that the way was open, and that no Yankees were near the ferry. After paying him, Lamar took the precaution to avoid the ferry, and to approach the river above it, in- stead of following the guide's directions. By this he flanked a force of the Yankees posted to intercept him ; bu.t 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, w^heeling 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 enough to bear him a mile from his pursuers, before he fell and died. Lamar then divided his clothes and arms into two packages, and swam Big Black River 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 Raymond, at two o'clock in the morning, changed his horse for a fresh one, carried his dispatch to Jackson that morning, and rejoiced us all by an imexpected visit the same day. 216 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBQIIG. STOEY LXYIIL THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. On the 13tli of June, 1863, General Lee attacked and captured Winchester, its armament, and part of the garrison. He then crossed the Potomac, near Wil- liamsport, and directed his march upon Harrisbnrg General Hooker followed on his right flank, covering Washington and Baltimore. On reaching Frederick, Maryland, on the 28th of June, General Hooker was, at his own request, relieved from the command, and Major-General Meade appointed in his place. The army of the Potomac was at this time mainly concentrated at Prederick. On the 29th General Meade put his army in motion, and at night was in position, its left at Emmittsburg and right at New Windsor. The advance of Buford's cavalry was at Gettysburg, and Kilpatrick's Division at Hanover, where it encountered Stuart's cavalry, which had passed around the rear and right of our army, without meeting serious opposition. On the 30th, the 1st, 3d, and 11th Corps were con- centrated at Emmittsburg, under General Eeynolds, w^hile the right wing moved up to Manchester. Buford reported the enemy in force on the Cashtown road, near Gettysburg, and Eeynolds moved up to that place on the 1st of July. He found our cavalry warmly engaged with the enemy, and holding him in check on the Cash- to wa road. Eeynolds immediately deployed the ad- vanced Division of the 1st Corps, and ordered the 11th Corps to advance promptly to its support. THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 217 Wadsworth's Division had driven tlie enemy back some distance and captured a large number of prison- ers, when General Eeynolds fell mortally wounded. The arrival of Ewell's Corps, about this time, by the York and "Harrisburg road, compelled General Howard, upon whom the command devolved, to withdraw his force, the 1st and 11th Corps to the Cemetery Eidge, on the south side of Gettysburg. About seven, P. M., Generals Sickles and Slocum came on the field with the 3d and 12th Corps, which took position, one on the left and the other on the right of the new line. The battle, for the day, however, was over. General Meade arrived on the field duringc the nio^ht with the reserves, and posted his troops in line of battle, the 1st Corps on the right, the 11th Corps next, then the 12th Corps, which crossed the Baltimore pike, the 2d and 3d Corps on the Cemetery Eidge, on the left of the 11th Corps. The 5th Corps, pending the arrival of the 6th, formed the reserve. On the arrival of the latter at two o'clock, P. M., it took the place of the 5th, which was ordered to take position on the extreme left. The enemy massed his troops on an exterior ridge, about a mile and a half in front of that occupied by us. General Sickles, misinterpreting his orders, instead of placing the 3d Corps on the prolongation of the 2d, had moved it nearly three-fourths of a mile in advance ; an error which nearly proved fatal in the battle. The enemy attacked this Corps and the 2d with great fury, and it was likely to be utterly annihilated, when the 5th Corps moved up on the left, and enabled it to reform, behind the line it was originally ordered to hold. ' T 218 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. The 6tb. Corps and part of the 1st, were also oppor- tunely thrown into this gap, and succeeded in checking the enemy's advance. About sunset the Eebels retired in confusion and disorder. About eight, P. M., an assault was made from the left of the town, which was gallantly repelled by the 1st, 2d and 11th Corps. On the morning of the 3d we regained, after a spirited contest, a part of our line, the right of which had been yielded to sustain other points on the 2d. About one, P. M., the enemy opened an artillery fire of 125 guns on our centre and left. This was followed by an assault of a heavy infantry column on our left and left centre. This was successfully repulsed with terrible loss to the enemy. This terminated the battle, and the Eebels retired, defeated, from the field. The opposing forces in this sanguinary conflict were nearly equal in numbers, and both fought with the most desperate courage. The commanders were also brave, skillful, and experienced, and both handled their troops on the field with dis- tinguished ability; but to General Meade belongs the honor of a well-earned victory in one of the greatest and best fought battles of the war. The victory, however, like others gained by the army of the Potomac, under other commanders, was not fol- lowed up with the promptness requisite for the realiza- tion of the greatest results, and on the morning of the 14th of July, it was found that Lee, i^ith his army, had crossed to the south side of the Potomac. His rear guard, however, was attacked by our cavalry, and suf- fered considerable loss. Our loss in this short campaign was very severe, viz. : 2,834: killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing, in all MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 219 23,186. We captured 3 guns, 41 standards, 13,621 prisoners, 28,178 small arms. The entire loss of tlie enemy is unknown; but judg- ing from the numbers of bis dead and wounded left on tbe field, it must have been much greater than ours. MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE. The Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Poto- mac, Major-General George G. Meade, was born in Spain, in 1816, during the temporary sojourn of his parents in that country. His father was a Pennsylvanian. He entered the Military Academy at West Point, from the District of Columbia, in September, 1831, graduated July 1st, 1835, and was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 3d Artillery; but resigned on the 26th of October, 1836. May 19th, 1842, he was appointed Second Lieu- tenant of the Topographical Engineers. In the Mexican war he distinguished himself at the battle of Palo Alto ; was brevetted a First Lieutenant for gallant conduct at Monterey, and in August, 1851, attained the full rank of First Lieutenant; and was appointed Captain, May 19th, 1856 ; and on the 31st of Ausrust, 1862, Bria:adier- General of Volunteers. Being assigned to the command of a brigade in Gene- ral McCairs division, he accompanied it to the Peninsula, where he distinguished himself in the battles of Beaver Dam, Gaines' Mills, and Nelson's Farm. In the latter, he was wounded by a fragment of a shell, which passed throus^h his rig^ht side. He was thought to be mortally wounded, and on the day of the battle of Malvern Hill he was placed on a steamer to be sent north to his family. His wound 220 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. proved less serious than had been supposed, and he recovered in time to command a division in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, where he again dis- tinguished himself. He was also in the battle of Fredericksburg, and at Chancellorville he commanded the 5th Corps. When General Hooker was wounded at Antietam, General McClellan placed General Meade in command of the Corps which had just been deprived of its heroic leader. During the action. General Meade received a slight contusion from a spent grape-shot, and had two horses killed under him. He distinguished himself greatly, during the battle, by deeds of daring and valor. On the 28th of June, 186^, Major-General Hooker, at his own request, was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac; and General Meade being ap- pointed to succeed him, assumed the command of that army, which was then principally concentrated at Frede- rick, Md. This was just previous to the sanguinary battle of Gettysburg, the particulars of Avhich are given in Story LXVIIL, to which the reader is referred. In army circles. General Meade has the reputation of being an able, cool-headed, energetic officer ; and what is equally to the purpose, his whole heart is in the cause of the Union. He is a fine-looking man, of nearly six feet stature, with vigorous constitution, and correct habits. His soldiers always admired him, and relied confidently upon his nerve and skill, in action. At the critical period of his assuming the command of the Army of the Potomac, he was so perfectly acquainted witb it, as to be able to put it in motion, with the least possible delay, and achieved a most glorious result. BARBARA FRIETCHIE. 221 STORY LXIX. BARBARA FRIETCHIE. Up from the meadow rich with corn, Clear in the cool September morn, The clustered spires of Frederick stand, Green-walled by the hills of Maryland. Eoimd about them orchards sweep, Apple and peach trees fruited deep ; Fair as a garden of the Lord, To the eyes of the famished rebel horde. On that pleasant morn of the early Fall, When Lee marched over the mountain-wall- Over the mountains winding down. Horse and foot into Frederick town, Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flags with their crimson bars, Flapped in the morning wind : the sun Of noon looked down and saw not one. Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, Bowed with her fourscore years and ten ; Bravest of all in Frederick town. She took up the flag the men hauled down : In her attic-window the stafi" she set. To show that one heart was loyal yet ; Up the street came the Eebel tread, Stonewall Jackson riding ahead. Under his slouched hat left and right, He glanced : the old flag met his sight. " Halt !" the dust-brown ranks stood fast. '' Fire !" out blazed the rifle blast, It shivered the window, pane and sash, It rent the banner with seam and gash ; Quick as it fell from the broken staff, Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf. 222 BARBARA FRTETCHIE. She leanefl fai' out on the window sill, And shook it forth with a royal will : " Shoot, if you must, the old gray head, But spare your country's flag," she said. A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, Over the face of the leader came ; The nobler nature within him stirred To life at that woman's deed and word : *' Who touches a hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog ! march on !" he said. All day long, through Frederick street Sounded the tread of marching feet : All day long that free flag tossed Over the heads of the Kebel host ; Ever its torn folds rose and fell On the loyal minds that loved it well. And through the hill-gaps sunset light Shone over it with a warm good-night : Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er. And the Eebel rides on his raids no more. Honor to her ! and let a tear Fall for her sake on Stonewall's bier ; Over Barbara Frietchie's grave, Flag of freedom and union wave ! Peace and order and beauty draw Round thy symbol of light and law ; And ever the stars above look down On thy stars below in Frederick town ! John G. Whittier. Then fling out our flag most high to-day, Triumphant 'mid the clang of war ; And death to him who shall betray One single stripe or star." COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 223 STOEY LXX. CAPTURE, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF COLONEL LAWRENCE WILLIAMS AND LIEUTENANT WALTER G. PETERS, OF THE REBEL ARMY. Franklin, Tenn., June 9tli, 1863. When the history of this most bloody war is fully written, few, if any incidents will be of more thrilling interest than the capture, trial, and execution of Colonel Williams and Lieutenant Peters. We had been be- sieged for four or five days by General Forrest, our communications with Nashville cut off', and most of the time fighting, and were almost hourly looking for a general assault upon our feeble garrison. Colonel Baird, of the 85th Indiana, had made the best possible disposition of our forces, and all were resolved to sell Franklin as dearly as possible. But on the night of the 8th of June, the dull monotony of dodging shells was relieved, and excitement Avas carried to the highest pitch, as two fine-looking officers, dressed in what appeared the Federal uniform, and mounted on splendid horses, rode up to Colonel J. P. Baird's headquarters and introduced themselves as Col- onel Anton and Major Dunlap, of the United States regular army. They stated that they had, a few days before, been ordered by the War Department to report to General Eosecrans for duty as special inspectors of the army of the Cumberland : that they had entered upon their new field of duty the day before, fully _ equipped and accompanied by two orderlies. 224 CAPTURE, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF They showed proper papers from Adjutant General Thomas, and General Garfield, chief of Rosecrans' staff, and stated that after leaving Mnrfreesboro thej took the direction of Eaglesville ; and when near that place they stopped for dinner, and while at dinner they were surprised by a party of about twenty Eebel scouts, who captured their orderlies, and were so near capturing them as to make it necessary to leave their coats and other baggage; that they were unfortunately out of funds, and wished the loan of fifty dollars of Colonel Baird, that they might go to Nashville to refit them- selves before going further on duty. Colonel Baird, although very suspicious that all was not right, felt compelled to recognize them, with such perfect papers from so high a source. He gave them the fifty dollars and a pass to Nashville, upon receiving which, the two started off at full speed in the direction of Nashville. But they had scarcely disappeared in the dark, when Colonel Watkins, of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, and Colonel Baird both felt such intense anxiety lest they might be imposed upon, that it was instantly resolved to pursue and arrest the two gents, and hold them until they could learn from General Rosecrans the truth of their statements. As no time was to be lost, the gallant Colonel Wat- kins, accompanied by a single orderly, started in pur- suit, and dashing forward toward our pickets, luckily came in sight of the gentlemen. The colonel hailed them and ordered them back to Colonel Baird's head- quarters. Undoubtedly the first impulse of these daring spies was to resist, which they could have done desper- ately, as they were both well armed ; but the cool cour- COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 225 age of Colonel Watkins induced tliem to return. Colonel Williams afterwards stated, that lie put his hand on his pistol to shoot Colonel Watkins, but the hope of not being detected as a spy, caused him to desist. After their arrival at headquarters, Colonels Baird and Watkins questioned them very closely, but could get no clue to anything that would raise a reasonable suspicion, until General Eosencrans telegraph that he had no such of&cers in his department. The prisoners were then informed that they were suspected, and were under arrest imtil they could pro- perly explain themselves. They showed correct maps of our lines, and seemed well acquainted with all the of&cers of the regular army. Their persons were then searched, and the first thing upon examining the sword of the Colonel Anton, re- vealed, the fatal marks, C. S. A ; the die was cast and the blood rushed to the cheeks of the almost petrified prisoners. They acknowledged that they were trapped, and at once confessed their real names, rank and position. The colonel acknowledged himself to be Colonel Lawrence Williams of the 2d Eegular Cavalry, at the breaking out of the AYar, and was recognized by Col- onel- Watkins as a fellow soldier of that regiment: he had entered the confederate service, and was now chief of artillery on General Bragg's staff. That he entered upon this most hazardous enterprise, fully aware of his fate if detected ; but refused to disclose the nature of his business. The younger man said he was Lieutenant Walter G. Peters, of General Wheeler's stafi", and showed some 15 226 CAPTUKE, TEIAL AND EXECUTION OF excitement; but Colonel "Williams was perfectly cool after tlie first moment of detection. Colonel Baird now telegraphed the facts to General EosecranS; and received the laconic reply, to try the prisoners by court-martial, and if found guilty, hang them at once, to prevent all possibility of Forrest's profiting ' by their information. Now came the severe struggle ; the prisoners had confessed their guilt, but to hang two such men, of their rank, was a terrible task, but Colonel Baird was equal to the emergency, and knowing the exigencies of the service, proceeded promptly to obey General Eosecrans order. A court-martial was called by Colonel Baird to sit at once : the charges and specifications were duly pre- sented, and the court thus sitting, at the dead hour of night, after carefully and patiently hearing the confes- sions and other evidence, performed the sad and painful duty of finding the prisoners guilty of being spies, and Colonel Baird, under General Eosecrans' order, approved the finding, and sentenced Colonel Williams and Lieu- tenant Peters to be hung by the neck until dead ! At four o'clock on the morning of the 9th of June, Colonel Baird informed the prisoners of their awful fate, and could not refrain from shedding tears as he announced it to them. Colonel Williams received his sentence with the most perfect coolness; but begged that as his father had fallen in our country's service at Monterey, in the Mexican war, that he might be shot, and asked mercy for Lieutenant Peters; but under Eosecrans' imperative order no clemency could be shown. After the sentence of the prisoners was announced, they began to prepare to meet their fate. They made COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 227 their wills, and wrote letters to tlieir friends full of tlie deepest affection and tenderness. A chaplain was called, and the prisoners partook of the sacrament, and joined in prayer Avith great fervency. They did not attempt to sleep, but spent the whole time in either writing or conversing. At the request of Colonel Williams, Colonel Watkins took charge of his effects, which consisted of eleven hundred and seventy-five dollars in Confederate money, a fine watch, and some private papers. Lieutenant Peters had very few effects about his person, the only one of importance being a gold locket, containing a likeness of his Avife, with a fine gold chain attached. He requested it to be buried with him, which was faithfully done. At nine o'clock in the morning. Captain Alexander, who had taken charge of the execution, reported the scaffold and gallows ready. The infantry and cavalry were formed in hollow square about the place of execu- tion : at half-past nine the prisoners were brought for- ward by the guard. They marched with firm tread, and mounting the scaffold, took an affectionate leave ot each other, when the halters were placed about their necks, and they were launched into eternity. Thus two of&cers, who were born and bred gentle- men, one a regular army ofl&cer of the United States service, who had been educated and given position by our Government, expiated their crimes of treason against the Government they were taught to love and respect, and were bound in. honor and duty to defend. Protected by the forged papers they had in their pos- session, had they succeeded in getting the countersign, on the night of their visit to Colonel Baird's camp, they could have marched a brigade of Eebels into our 228 GATHERING BUTTERNUTS IN TENNESSEE. forts, and captured our whole command without resist- ance ; or if true, as tliey stated, thej had inspected our whole front, they could have given Bragg such informa- tion as might have led to the most appalling disasters to Eosecrans' whole command. — A. B. V., Oor. Cin. Com. Our happy Government fain would tliey subvert, They sought its ruin and they felt its hurt. STORY LXXI. gathering butternuts in TENNESSEE. On Tuesday, the 3d of March, 1863, General Steadman ordered Colonel Bishop, of the 3d Minnesota, to take his regiment, a section of the 4th Regular Battery, under Lieutenant Stephenson, and 600 of Johnson's 1st East Tennessee Cavalry, and proceed forthwith to Harpeth River. Anticipating a fight, I went with the detach- ment. As we passed through Nolinsville and Triune, the few Butternut inhabitants gazed, with apparent envy, at our well-clad soldiers. About nine o'clock at night we reached the river ; where the infantry bivouacked for the night : the artillery planted their pieces in eligible positions; while the cavalry crossed the river, and commenced the search for Rebel gentry, who were sup- posed to be on short leave of absence to their homes. Quite a number of citizen soldiers were thus picked up. Major Tracy, of the cavalry, then proceeded with a dozen men to the residence of General Starnes, and sur- rounded it, hoping to find the General at home : but the bird had flown the day previous. The Major, however, COLONEL BENJAMIN" H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 229 being a searching man, and fall of inquiry, looked under the beds^ and in tlie closets, tlien asked who was up stairs? "No one," Avas the reply, "but my brother, and he has never been in the army." Major Tracy took a candle, went up, saw the young man, and asked him where the man had gone to who had been in the bed with him. The young man pro- tested no one had been there, and Mrs. Starnes pledged her word, on the '^ honor of a Southern lachj!^ that there was no one else in the house. But the Major turned down the sheets, and being a discerning man, discovered the imprint of another person having been in the bed : and from the distance they had lain apart, he felt sure it was not a woman. So, telling Mrs. Starnes he hadn't much faith in the honor of a Southern woman, under such circumstances, he though he would take a peep through a dormant- window that projected from the roof, and there, sure enough, sat Major Starnes, a son of the Eebel General, in his shirt-tail, breeches and boots in hand, afraid to stir. It was a bitter cold night, and the poor fellow shook like an aspen leaf. He presented at once, a pitia- ble, yet ludicrous aspect. After taking him, and col- lecting some twenty or thirty horses, they returned to their headquarters, on this side of the river. — [Alf. Burnett.] STOKY LXXII colonel benjamin H. GRIEESON'S RAID. In pursuance of a plan for the destruction of all lines of communication between the Eebel Army of the "West, 230 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S RAID. and that of General Bragg, in Middle Tennessee, Colonel Grierson, by order of General Grant, moved his forces, consisting of the 6th Illinois Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis ; 7th Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Edward Prince, and the 2d Iowa Cavalry, Colonel Edward Hatch, from Lagrange, Tennessee, out on the Kipley road, and bivouacked for the night, on the plantation of Mr. Davis, five miles northwest of Eipley. This was on the 15th of April, 1863. On the morning of the 18th of April, the command proceeded to Eipley. From thence, the 2d Iowa, march- ing on the left flank of the column, took a southeast course, crossing the Tallahatchie five miles northeast of New Albany. The main body proceeded due south, crossing the river two miles east of that point. Simul- taneously, a battalion of the 7th Illinois, commanded by Major Graham, marched on the right flank of the column, and crossed at New Albany. The Eebel General Chandler, then stationed with a body of troops at Senatobia, a few miles from New Albany, had his pickets on both sides of the river, to prevent our crossing. With these, all portions of Grier- son's command had skirmishing, at times, till they were driven in. They attempted to fire the bridge at New Albany, but were prevented. The 6th and 7th Iowa encamped about four miles south of New Albany ; the 2d Iowa four miles east of the same place. Near midnight, this regiment was attacked by a considerable force of the enemy, which was promptly repulsed. On the morning of the 19th. several movements were made by detachments, for the purpose of inducing the enemy, who were encamped in some force at King's COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIERSON'S RAID. 231 Bridge, nnder Major Chalmers, to believe our object to be to break up tbe different military organizations in that part of the country. The ruse succeeded, and the enemy were left in ignorance of the course taken by our forces. Colonel Grierson, with the main force, at 9 o'clock, A. M., marched in a southerly direction; Colonel Hatch marching on the left flank, as before. The dif- ferent detachments sent out, soon after joined the centre column, when the whole force proceeded to Pontotoc, where the advance encountered a small Eebel force, a portion of Captain Weatherill's command ; which, after the exchange of a few shots, fled, and was pursued through the town by our cavalry. Their entire camp equipage was captured, and 400 bushels of salt, all of which was destroyed. Colonel Grierson continued his march six miles south of Pontotoc, and encamped at eight o'clock, P. M., on the road leading to Houston. Reveille was sounded on the morning of the 20th, at two o'clock ; and at three o'clock. Major Tull, 2d Iowa, with about 175 of the best effective portion of the com- mand, with one piece of flying artillery, and all pri- soners and captured property, proceeded northerly, on Ms return to Lagrange, by order of Colonel Grierson, for the double purpose of relieving the command of all incumbrance, and inducing the enemy to believe he had retraced his steps; which the return of Major Tull would indicate. Major Tulb sent a scout west, to cut the telegraph wires near Oxford. It should have been added, that a large Rebel mail was captured and de- stroyed at Pontotoc, several guerrillas killed and wounded, and a few captured. 232 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIERSON'S RAID. After Major Tull's command liad left. Colonel Grier- son resumed his raarcli southward, passed through Houston, and encamped about ten miles beyond. About five o'clock, A. M., Colonel Hatch was ordered to take his command up the Columbus road, and de- stroy as much as possible of the Mobile and Ohio Rail- road, attack Columbus, if the opposing force there was not too strong, and return to Lagrange, using his own discretion as to the route. In all of which, it was sub- sequently ascertained, he was entirely successful. By this movement, the Rebel General Chalmers, who was on the lookout for Grierson, was com43letely de- ceived ; and thus the main body of our cavalry got two or three days' start. The remaining forces (6th and 7th Illinois Cavalry) continued their march to Starkville, where another mail was captured and destroyed. Four miles from Starkville, at Dismal Swamp, a halt was ordered, and half the command left the rest, and continued on southward about five miles, and after swimming bayous and wading through almost impas- sable swamps, reached one of the principal tanneries in the country; which was fired and entirely destroyed, together with a large stock of boots and shoes, saddles, bridles, &c., and several thousand dollars' worth of clothing. This must have been a severe blow to the Rebel army, as every article was immediately needed, and had been packed for delivery with dispatch. The command reunited on the 22d, and marched to within one mile of Louisville, Mississippi, a distance of twenty-seven miles, over an unpleasant route ; the men, in many cases, having to swim their horses over streams, and lead them through blind marshes, many COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 233 of the animals getting so deep in mire as rendered it impossible to extricate them, and tliej were left to perish. Frequently both horse and rider would go down together, the horse drowning, and the man barely escaping with his life. Continuing on, with great perseverance, overcoming all obstacles, they crossed Pearl Eiver Bridge on the next morning, driving away the Eebels, who were too late in their attempt to burn it, and arriving at Phila- delphia, destroyed the mail, (as they did at every town they passed,) without doing any other damage. About two o'clock, P. M., on the 23d, the command took the road to Decatur, thence to Newton, on the Southern Eailroad; and arrived at the latter place about day- light the next morning. Two trains of cars were there captured — one of twenty-five, and the other of thirteen — ■ loaded mth all kinds of commissary stores and warlike munitions ; which, with the cars and locomotives, were destroyed. Proceeding on, our troops fired the bridge about a mile east of Newton, and three heavy trestle-work bridges, further up the road, in the same direction ; thus occupying themselves till reaching Nichol's plan- tation, seven miles west of War-trace, on the 25th. Here their course was changed to a more southerly one. On reaching Raleigh, a halt was ordered for the night. Here a single scout was detailed to cut the telegraph wire on the Southern Railroad,, between Lake Station and Jackson. Arriving within seven miles of the rail- road, he came upon a regiment of Rebel cavalry, which had come from Brandon in search of Colonel Grierson's forces. The scout was closely questioned, and though the enemy was on the direct road to our own camp, but 234: COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIEESON'S EAID. fourteen miles distant, he succeeded in misleading them, and returned with word of their approach. Colonel Grierson, on learning that they were so near him, moved his command over Leaf Eiver Bridge, which he destroyed, thus preventing the possibility of surprise in the rear. Proceeding to Westville, and crossing Pearl river, about ten miles from there, by ferrying the men and swimming the horses, the two battalions in advance, under Colonel Prince, made a rapid march to the railroad at Hazlehurst Station ; where our men captured and destroyed forty cars, four of which were loaded with shell and ammunition, the rest with quartermaste-r and commissary stores Another train escaped by leaving five minutes before the arrival of our troops. Captain Forbes, Company B, 7th Illinois, was de- tached south of Starkville, with orders to proceed to Macon. Making a bold march to within a short dis- tance of that place, he found the bridge had been de- stroyed, and the place was occupied by a considerable force of Rebels. He then moved to Newton, and from thence to Enterprise, nearly one hundred miles east of the main body of our forces. On reaching Enterprise, Captain Forbes sent a flag of truce to Colonel Goodwin, commanding the Rebel forces there, demanding the surrender of the town. The Rebel Colonel requested an hour to reply, and Captain Forbes finding the Rebel force stronger than he had supposed, and having accomplished his object of diverting their attention — before the expiration of the hour, was on a rapid gallop to join Colonel Grierson, then more than a day's march in advance. Taking a westward course, he soon struck the route taken by the COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON's RAIB. 235 main force at Pearl Eiver, wMcli tie soon joined by rapid marclies. Near Gallatin, our cavalry suddenly came upon a team hauling a 3 2 -pounder, Parrott gun, destined for Port Gibson, which was captured and spiked. About five miles east of Gallatin, Colonel Grierson detached a battalion to march immediately to the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Kailroads at New Haven. They succeeded in destroying the railroad for some distance, burning several cars, water-tanks, and a considerable amount of other property, and cutting the telegraph wires, a very damaging work to Eebel interests. The advance moved on Brook Haven, at daylight, on the 28th, so suddenly, as to surprise and capture two hundred Eebel prisoners. Some of them were found asleep in their quarters. A large number of muskets, packed ready for transportation, also, five hundred tents, at a camp of instruction, were destroyed. The main body of our men, after leaving Gallatin, encountered Garland's cavalry, killing and capturing several, and routing the rest. Making a feint toward Port Gibson, and another toward Nashville, to deceive the enemy, they proceeded to Brook Haven, already occupied by our advance. On the 30th ult. Colonel Grierson moved his force along the railroad, in a southerly direction, destroying all the bridge^ between Brook Haven and Bogue Chito Station. At the latter place fifteen freight cars were found standing on the track, partly loaded with army stores, which, with the depot, and railroad bridge were fired. He then marched rapidly on to Summit, where twenty-eight more freight cars were destroyed. He 236 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. then left tlie line of the railroad, for a point between Magnolia and Liberty, intending to reach the Clinton road. Information was received ^ that a regiment of Eebel cavalry was moving towards Wassita. They were found at Wall's bridge, in Tickfaw. Our cavalry immediately rushed in among them, killing eight or ten, and wounding many more, and completely routing the balance. Our loss was one killed and five wounded. Colonel Blackburne, of the 7th Illinois, who had been conspicuous for his bravery, during the entire raid, was among the latter. He received a wound in the thigh, and slight ones in the head and breast. It was believed he would recover, but it was thought best to leave him at a house by the road side, where a surgeon and one man remained with him. After dispersing the Rebels, our forces proceeded East a short way, when they changed their course, and went directly South. At Edwards' Bridge they found another cavalry regiment posted there to dispute their passage. One battalion was sent to engage the enemy, while the main body went in the direction of Greensburg. At Edwards' Bridge the enemy could not be induced to fight, except in shirmishes, in which they lost several in killed and wounded, while not one of our men was hurt. Thus far the appearance of our forces was a complete surprise to the Rebels wherever found. But at Oscia a deliberate plan had been laid for the capture of Grier- son's command. Hitherto the Rebels had evidently thought it was the intention of our forces to return to Lagrange, and had COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIERSON's EAID. 237 made every effort to intercept them on sucli return. But tliey had at last become convinced of Colonel Grierson's purpose to pursue his hazarous raid entirely through their country, and resolved, if possible, to stop his further advance. In proceeding further South, he must needs cross several bridges, hence a regiment of cavalry was so posted as to flank Colonel Grierson's men, while a regi- ment of infantry was placed in his front to hold him in check until their cavalry could attack him in front and rear. Seeing his danger. Colonel Grierson at once ordered a charge on the infantry, and dashing through their lines, in a few minutes left them far in the rear, without the loss of a man on his part; and* so proceeded on to Greensburg, and thence to Clinton, crossing the Amite ten miles above. On Big Sandy Creek a guerrilla Camp was attacked and 150 tents, camp equipage, and baggage destroyed, and several horses captured. Taking the Greensville Spring road, our forces then marched directly toward Baton Eouge. About ten miles from the latter place they suddenly came upon Stewart's cavalry, who, after a short fight, retreated to the river, were surrounded and captured. On Friday, May 1st, a courier arrived at Baton Eouge with the startling announcement, that a brigade of cav- alry, from General Grant's army, having cut their way through the heart of the Eebel country, were within five miles of the city. This information seemed at first almost incredible; but at four o'clock all doubt was removed, by Colonel Grierson and his heroes being escorted into the city by 238 COLONEL BENJAMIX H. GRIEESON'S RAID. by Captain Godfrey's cavalry. At the picket lines tliey were met by Colonel Dudley and staff, wlio extended to them a hearty welcome. Spontaneously, as it were, the air rans; Avith three cheers, loud enousrh to echo alongr the hills to Port Hudson. The importance of this expedition can hardly be re- alized, without reflection on what it accomplished. In seventeen days the troops marched over eight hundred miles, fighting wherever they met opposition; killing and wounding many of the enemy; capturing more than one thousand men, and over twelve hundred horses; and, destroying more than four millions of dollars worth of property, and completely cutting off all communication with the strongholds of the enemy on two important railroads. As an instance of the activity and perseverance of Colonel Grierson's command, it is stated that while in pursuit of a Eebel cavalry force, they traveled, thirty hours, seventy-five miles, fought four battles, skir- mished considerably, forded a river, and all the time neither men nor horses had any thing to eat. On the evening of the 6th of May, the Union citizens of ISTew Orleans gave to Colonels Grierson and Prince a magnificent reception at the St. Charles Hotel ; com- plimenting Colonel Grierson, by presenting him with a splendid war-horse, and Colonel Prince, by presenting him with a superb military saddle and bridle. Long before the appointed hour, the rotunda was filled to its utmost capacity. The speeches usual on such occasions were made ; Colonel Grierson giving all the credit of his success to the brave men and oflScers under his command. SKETCH OF COL. BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S. 239 SKETCH OF COL. BENJAMIN H. GRIERSON. Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson is a native of Pennsylvania — was born -in Pittsbnrg in Jnly, 1827. Consequently^ lie is (July, 1864,) thirty- seven years of age. At a very early age he was removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, in which State he resided nearly fifteen years, and then removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he resided when the great Rebellion broke out. He was in the produce business, and, to use his own words, " was also a musician, being able to play on any instrument, from a jewsharp to a hand- org an." Shortly after hostilities commenced, he left for Cairo to join a company that had been raised in his town; but on arriving there he was called to the position of Aid to General Prentiss. When the 6th Illinois Cavalry was organized, he was elected Major of that regiment, but remained on de- tached service as Aid to General Prentiss, with whom he served with distinction. On the 28th of March, 1862, when Colonel Cava- haugh resigned. Major Grierson was unanimously elected by the o£B.cers to fill his place, and in Decem- ber, 1862, he was ordered to command the 1st Brigade of Cavalry, consisting of the 6th and 7th Illinois, and 2d Iowa Regiments. Colonel Grierson, with his command, had been en- gaged in all the cavalry skirmishes and raids of West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, up to his memor- able advent into Baton Rouge. In him were happily united to a good physical organization, sagacity and prudence, courage, tact, and indomitable energy, the natural precedents of glorious success. 240 INCIDENTS OF COL. GRIEKSON'S RAID. mCIDENTS OF COL. GKIERSON'S RAID. Although, in many instances, our troops passed them- selves off for the rebel Van Dorn's, or Jackson's, cavalry, yet, whenever recognized by the country people, they were treated in the most respectful manner ; and, on several occasions, the strongest demonstrations of Union feeling were voluntarily made. Our men were frequently cheered, and invited to share hospitalities, in the name of the old flag — all showing that it is only necessary to once more establish the authority of the Government, to bring back to its allegiance the noble old State of Mississippi. In many instances the inhabitants, along the different routes taken by our cavalry, when they found we were not as we had been described — namely, robbers and assassins, insulters of women and children, and every- thing else, base, and contemptible — bade us God speed, and acknowledged that they had been bitterly deceived. In every instance, private property was respected, unless found in the hands of guerrillas. While several of our scouts were feeding their horses, • at the stables of a wealthy planter of secession procli- vities, the proprietor looking on, apparently deeply inte- rested in the proceeding, suddenly exclaimed, "Well, boys, I can't say I have anything against you. I don't know but on the whole, I rather like you. You have not taken anything of mine, except a little corn for your horses, and that you are welcome to. I have heard of you all over the country. You are doing the boldest thing ever done. But you'll be trapped, though ; you'll be trapped, mark me." At another place, where our men thought it advisable to represent themselves as Jackson's cavalry, a whole INCIDENTS OF COL. GEIERSON's RAID. 2^1 company was graciously entertained, by a strong seces- sion lady, who insisted upon whipping a negro, because he did not brins; the hoe-cakes fast enouo;h. On one occasion seven of Colonel Grierson's scouts stopped at the house of a wealthy planter, to feed their jaded horses. Upon ascertaining that he had been doing a little guerrilla business, upon his own account, our men encouraged him in the belief, that as they were the invincible Van Dorn cavalry, they would soon catch the Yankees. The secession gentleman heartily approved of what he supposed to be their intentions, and enjoined upon them the necessity of making as rapid marches as possible. As our men had discovered two splendid carriage- horses in the planter's stable, they thought, under the circumstances, they would be justified in making an exchange, which they accordingly proceeded to do. As they Avere taking the saddles from their own tired steeds, and placing them on the backs of the wealthy guerrilla's horses, the proprietor discovered them, and at once objected. He was met with the reply, that as he was anxious that the Yankees should be speedily overtaken, those after them should have good horses. " All right, gentleman,." said the planter, " I will keep your animals until you return. I suppose you'll be back in two or three days, at the furthest. AYhen you return, you'll find they have been well cared for." Our soldiers were sometimes asked where they got their blue coats. They always replied, when traveling under the name of Yan Dorn's cavalry, that they took them from the Yankees, at Holly Springs. This always excited great laughter among the secessionists. Our scouts, however, usually wore the regular secesh uni- forms. „ 16 242 A MULE chaeCtE ox rebel cavalry. STOEY LXXIII. A MULE CHARGE ON REBEL CAVALRY. Ox Thursday, April — , 1863, Lieutenant Gushing, of the United States Gunboat Commodore Barney, made a gallant reconnoissance, with seventy-five seamen, and a boat howitzer, from the Nansemond up to Chucka- tuck village, about three miles distant from his vessel. It appears that on the morning of that day, a citizen showed himself on the banks of the river, bearing a a white flag, when Acting Master Harris, of the Gun- boat Stepping Stone, sent a boat to see what he wanted Upon the boat nearing the shore, it was treacherously fired into, and one man killed and others wounded. Lieutenant Cushmg organized his expedition to punish this treachery. His officers were Acting En- sign Hunter; Master's Mate Birtwisle, in charge of howiter, and Master's Mates Boardman and Aspinwall, in charge of seamen, acting as infantry; Lieu.tenant Gushing in command. On reaching shore, the gallant young Lieutenant con- fiscated two mule-carts, one for a limber for his howitzer and the other for an ammunition wagon. Proceeding on, he drove in three different vidette parties of cav- alry, and when he reached Ghuckatuck, which contains one long street, he found quite a large body of the Nansemond cavalry drawn up, and preparing to charge on him. Quickly unlimbering his howitzer, he threw in a charge of shrapnel, and gave the enemy its benefit, as they sounded the charge. The discharge of the howitzer LIEUT-COL. PHILLIPS' RAID IN MISSISSIPPI. 243 frightened the mules in the carts, and they dashed up the street at full speed upon the advancing cavalry, the sailors in the carts cheering and yelling and firing as they went. This novel charge threw the cavalry into disorder, and Lieutenant Gushing immediately rushed on with the rest of his force, killing three of the Eebels, and securing their horses, arms, and equipments, only losing one man on his side. He destroyed a quantity of forage, meat, &c., and then retreated in order to his boats, the enemy being rein- forced, and showing a disposition to cut him oif. In his return, a sailor found one of the captured horses rather unmanageable, under nautical rule, and inclined not to mind the tiller-ropes or steerage-gear, as the, jolly tar called the reins. Finding that the animal was de- termined to carry him back to the Rebel side, he brought him to an anchor, by drawing one of the holster pistols, and shooting him through the head. He then rejoined his companions, very well satisfied at having got clear of sucb a lubberly craft. The expedi- tion was planned with great daring and successfully carried out. STORY LXIV. LIEUTENTANT-COLONEL PHILLIPS' RAID IN MISSISSIPPL About the 9th of August, 1863, General Hurlbut, having ascertained that there was a large amount of railroad stock at Grenada, which the Rebels were en- deavoring to get off south, by making temporary repairs 244 MAJOR- GENEEAL JOSEPH HOOKER. to the railroad, with his usual energy and promptness^ arranged an expedition to destroy it. He sent a request to General Grant to make a diver- sion from the south to aid the enterprise. The expedi- tion started from Lagrange, Tennessee, on the 13th of August, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Phillips, of the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry, and reached Gren- ada, on the Mississippi Central Eailroad, on the 17th. After driving General Skinner, with two thousand men, and three pieces of artillery, from the place, they destroyed fifty-seven locomotives, upward of four hun- dred cars, depot buildings, machine shops, blacksmitli shops, and a large quantity of ordnance and commis- sary stores, beside capturing about fifty railroad men, and a number of other prisoners. After Colonel Phillips had thoroughly accomplished his work, Colonel Winslow, from Grant's army, arrived with a force from below. Colonel Phillips's expedition returned in safety to Lagrange, on the 23d of August. Lieutenant- Colonel Phillips and his gallant command were certainly entitled to much commendation, for patiently enduring the hardships of such a march, through Central Mississippi, in the middle of August, and so thoroughly crippling the remaining energy of the Kebellion in the Southwest. MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. Joseph Hooker, of California, was twenty-ninth in a class of fifty members, graduating in 1837. Breveted for gallantry at the battles of Monterey, of the National Bridge, and of Chapultepec. In fighting the Rebels, his heroism has been too conspicuous to neod any comment. BILLY BEAT STOEY LXXY. 245 "BILLY BRAY." A spruce enrolling officer Of Salisbury, one day, On visiting a country house Found all tlie males away. So when the good old lady, Who answered to his call, Had given their names and ages, He asked if that was all. " yes," replied the lady, " I have no more to say. For sure we have none other, Excepting Billy Bray." The officer was zealous That no one should escape, Lest others should grow jealous, And get him in a scrape. *' Ay, ay," said he, " good woman, And where is Billy Bray ?" Quoth she " he's in the barrack, A w^orking at his hay." Then briskly to the barrack The officer he ran. And looked about for Billy, But couldn't find his man. Then to the house he hastened, And asked the worthy dame, And got the age of Billy Bray, And straight enrolled his name. 246 SINKING OF THE GUNBOAT CINCINNATI. And soon the drafting time it came, On the appointed day ; When high among the lucky names Stood that of Billy Bray. But deep was the perplexity Which then and there befell, For who he was, and where he was, No mortal wight could tell : Till he who had enrolled him — The man in " blue and brass," Had looked about, and found him out, A snorting, live jackass ! And still, among those drafted ones. High on the list doth stand, The petted name of " Billy Bray," Of '' 0, my Maryland V STOEY LXXVI SINKING OF THE CINCINNATI (Guuboat), AT VICKSBURG. "On tlie 26tli of May, 1863, it was determined to make an attack upon the rebel batteries to the north of Vicksburg, and opposite General Steele's column. The gunboat Cincinnati, Lieutenant Bache, was to co-operate and attempt to silence the water-batteries, previous to tlie assault from the land side. Accordingly, a little after eight, A. M., she commenced dropping down below Young's Point. When about two miles from Vicks- burg, the famous gun, ' Whistling Dick,' in position just north of the town, opened upon her. " At first the aim was too high, and the balls passed SINKING OF THE GUNBOAT CINCINNATI. 247 over without doing any damage, but as the boat neared the batteries, it became more accurate, as the sound of the passing balls, growing sharper at every shot, plainly indicated. " In order to attack the upper batteries it was neces- sary to drop below them, and round-to, with the head up stream. This position was a most unfortunate one, as it exposed the vessel to a raking fire, from one bat- tery in front, and another from behind. " The first shot Avhich struck her, hit the iron plating, and did no material damage. But the captain had given orders to push up to within three hundred yards, and by the time she had reached that proximity, the shot hit her with fearful accuracy, generally passing directly through her port-holes. " One battery, which fired from an elevation and at some distance, threw plunging shot, which w^ent through her upper deck, and did great damage. Lieutenant Sokal- ski, of General Steele's staff, who had been sent to point out the position, to be taken in the assault, saj^s that when Lieutenant Bache and two others beside himself were standing in the pilot-house, one of these plunging balls entered the port-hole of the pilot-house, passed through the thigh of the pilot, and then sheered down through the floor on to the gun- deck, at the same time breaking the wheel, and wounding another man through the hand and arm, with the splinters. Lifting the hatchway and rushing down the gun- deck. Lieutenant Sokalski found it filled with mangled and dead. It was a slaughter-pen. Blood and fragments of bodies, shot away, were scat- ■tered over the floor. " It was discovered that one ball had passed through the boat below the water line, and that the boat was 248 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. sinking. It was evident that to continue the fight longer would be to throw aAvay the lives of the crew, and orders were given to start up the river as fast as possible. Lieu- tenant Starr, who, I was told, was second in command, went to the pilot-hon.se and directed movements as best he could with a broken Avheel and sinkins; craft. In the meantime she was riddled by shot after shot, and was fast sinking. For three-quarters of an hour she Avas toiling, crippled, up stream ; while the enemy, seeing her condition, redoubled the fury of the cannonading. More than fifty shot struck her before she reached the shore. But Lieutenant Bache refused to allow the colors to^be lowered, and she sunk like the Cumber- land, with the Stars and Stripes still waving." MAJOE-GENEEAL AYM. T. SHEEMAN. William T. Sherman, of Ohio, was sixth in the West Point class, of 1840, which numbered 42. He was sent with his company to California during the Mexican war, via Cape Horn, reaching there after the fighting was over, and thus saw no battle before that of Bull's Eun, where he was distinguished. He was Superintendent of the Louisiana State Mili- tary Institute when the Eebellion broke out ; but emi- nently loyal as he was, he could not forbear to resign that position, and hasten to the service of his country, under the battle-flag of freedom. His heroism and gene- ralship since then, are too well known to require special notice. JOH^T moegan's eaid. 249 STORY LXXYII. JOHN MORGAN'S RAID. The Rebel General John H. Morgan left Sparta, Tenn., on the 27tli of June, 1863, with detachments from two brigades of cavalry, numbering, according to Captain Cunningham, of Morgan's staff, 2,028 effective men, with four pieces of artillery — two Parrot's and two hoAvitzers, and crossed the Cumberland near Burkesville, on the 1st and 2d of July, in canoes and boats impro- vised for the occasion. He had some difficulty in making the horses swim, but finally succeeded in getting all over by ten A. M. on the 2d. Colonel Dick Morgan then proceeded on a reconnois- ance in force, havins; been told that Colonel Hobson's cavalry were about. He was met by Colonel Jacobs, with the 9th Kentucky cavalry, and repulsed after a gallant fight, yet claiming a victory. The loss was small on both sides. Colonel Alston, Morgan's chief of staff, says that Col- onel Johnston, after much difficulty, succeeded in cross- ing the river, and joined Morgan, with the 2d brigade (number of men not stated,) after dark. He reported, having been much harassed by the enemy, but had succeeded in driving them back. Captain Cunningham says, after driving back Jacob's cavalry, " our column marched on through Columbia, at which point it found the advance of Wolford's cele- brated Kentucky cavaby, numbering 251 men, dis- persed it, killing 7 and wounding 15 men ; our loss, 2 killed and 2 wounded." 250 JOHN morgan's raid. Tlie facts in tlie case were as follows : the force he met at Columbia Avas a company of one hundred men, from the 1st Kentucky and 2d and 45tli Ohio, commanded by Captain Carter, of Wolford's cavalry. Headed by this gallant officer they met and held in check an entire brigade of Morgan's men, for over three hours : and not till their brave commander had fallen, mortally Avounded, and several others severely Avounded, and six of the others slain, and ten or twelve wounded, did they think of retiring from the conflict. Captain Fishback fought them successfully for more than hour after the fall of Captain Carter, AAdien, finding himself nearly surrounded, he AAdthdrcAA^ his command, skillfully and successfully, and joined his regiment at JamestoAvp. Colonel Wolford, then in command at JamestoAvn, having ascertained that Morgan's tAVO brigades passed through Columbia that same night, July 3d, en route for Lebanon, sent dispatches to General Carter, and as soon as possible commenced pursuit, with about 1,200 men from the 1st Kentucky and 2d, 7th, and 45th Ohio regiments. Before reaching Lebanon, he was joined by the 2d East Tennessee, increasing his force to about 1,800 men, Avith tAvo sections of LaAv's hoAvitzer battery. Arriving at the stockade at Green Eiver Bridge, on .the morning of the 4th of Jul}^, says Alston, " General Morgan sent in a flag of truce, and demanded the sur- render ; but Colonel Moore quietly remarked, ' if it was any other day he might consider the demand, but the 4th of July Avas a bad day to talk about surrender, and must therefore decline.' The colonel is aQ:allant man ^ '^ '^ and entitled to the highest credit for military skill. We Avould mark such a man inour army for pro- motion. JOHN" MORGAN S RAID. 251 " The place was judiciously cliosen, and skillfully de- fended," continues Alston, " and tlie result was tliat we were repulsed witli severe loss, about 25 killed and 20 wounded. Among the killed, as usual, were our best men and officers, including Colonel Chenault, Major Brent, Captain Trible, Lieutenants Cowan, Ferguson, and another whose name I do not remember." "Indeed," says Captain Cunningham, "this was the darkest day that ever shone upon our command; 11 commissioned officers were killed, and 9 wounded. After heavy slaughter upon both sides, our forces with- drew ; loss, about 60 killed and wounded on each side." Colonel Moore says, officially, "My position was strong, and his loss Avas over 50 killed, and over 200 wounded. I took no prisoners. My loss was 6 killed, 23 wounded, and one prisoner. The victory was com- j^lete. I fought with my fraction of a regiment of 200 men." On Sunday morning, July 5th, General Morgan appeared before Lebanon Avith a force of 4,600 men, and demanded its immediate surrender, tosrether with the troops, numbering about 325. Colonel Ilanson commanding, refused to surrender, and Morgan imme- diately commenced the attack Avith his four pieces of artillery. " After a fight of seven hours," says Alston, " General Morgan, finding the toAvn could not be taken in any other Avay, ordered a charge to be made. Colonel Han- son still held out, in hopes of receiving reinforcements, and only surrendered, after Ave had fired the buildings in Avliich he Avas posted. By this surrender Ave obtained a sufficient quantity of guns to arm all our men Avho were without them ; also, a quantity of ammunition, of which we stood sorely in need. 252 JOHN morgan's raid. " At the order to charge, Duke's regiment rushed for- ward, and poor Tommy Morgan, Avho was always in the lead, fell back, almost at the first volley, pierced through the heart. This was a crushing blow to Gene- ral Morgan. Our men behaved badly here, breaking open stores, and plundering indiscriminately." Morgan's victory at Lebanon was bought at the loss of fifty-six killed, and one hundred and forty-eight wounded. Our loss was, in action, three killed and six- teen wounded ; after action, two men murdered, first ser- geant, Joseph Slaughter, and private Samuel Ferguson ; both killed on the way to Springfield. While Alston was paroling the prisoners, at Lebanon, lie was informed that a Federal force of two regiments of cavalry and a battery of artillery were approaching ; he thereupon ordered the prisoners to Springfield, as he says, " upon the double-quick," where they arrived after dark, in a deluge of rain. Alston, having been detained at Springfield, the next morning, two hours after the command had left, was himself made a prisoner, by our cavalry, on the Bards- town road. " My God !" says he, " how I hated it, no one can understand. The first thought, after my wife and children, was my fine mare, 'Fannie Johnson,' named after a pretty little cousin, of Eichmond, Yir- ginia. I said, 'poor Fannie, who will treat you as kindly as I have done?' " The stubborn resistance Morgan met with at Colum- bia, Green River Bridge, and Lebanon, had retarded his march, and enabled a concentration of our forces at Lebanon, sufficient to begin the pursuit, with confident hope of success, should they overtake him. " Generals Hobson and Shakleford joined Wolford, near Spring- JOHN morgan's raid. 253 field, and Hobson being tlie senior officer, took com- mand of tlie whole force, increased by the 9th and 12th, and detachments of the 8th and 3d Kentucky cavalry, and one section of an Ohio batterj^, making Ilobson's whole force nearly 8,000 men. We were now twenty-four hours behind Morgan, and with our ammunition and ambulance train, making a column of three miles in length. As we looked along our line of jaded horses, and thought of his fresh ones, being gathered along his line of march, we could hardly be hopeful of success in the pursuit, unless General Judah should head him in front, or General Boyle at Louisville. We pursued, however, with great energ}^, and, until our provisions were exhausted, we gained upon the enemy. He exhausted the supplies of the people before us ; and hence the delay at Lebanon Junction, in order to get rations for a further pursuit. This enabled him to reach the Ohio river, at Bran- denburg, on the 7th of July ; where, as Cunningham says, " Captain Sam Taylor, (of the -old Eough and Eeady famil}^,) had succeeded in capturing two fine steamers." With these Morg^an crossed his forces over to the Indiana shore, not, however, without stout resist- ance from the Home Guards, with one piece of artillery. The crossing, owing in part to this opposition, occu- pied them from eight o'clock, A. M., of the 8th, till seven, A. M., of the 9th ; after this was effected, Morgan took the precaution to burn one of the steamers — the other was released. Our forces arriving soon after, found it necessary to send for another ; and then it took until daylight the next morning to get all our forces over ; thus giving the enemy again twenty-four hours advance. w 254 JOHN moegan's raid. On the Oth, Morgan arrived at Corydon, wliere the militia, in small force, gallantly resisted his advance, killing and wonnding several, and detaining him for some three honrs. Cunningham says — " fighting near there 4,500 State militia, and capti^ring 3,400 of them, and dispersing the remainder 1" With this exception, Morgan met with but little hindrance in all his raid through Indiana and Ohio, till he attempted to recross the Ohio at Bufiington Island. This was not owing to any lack of patriotism among the people, but to the utter surprise and. panic caused by his sudden appearance along their highways. The militia was concentrated at the large towns and cities, and Morgan, informed by his scouts and sympa- thizers, had only to avoid those places and pursue his course. Whatever his original object and prospects may have been, not having met with the promised reception, his purpose now, probably was, to get out of the State, if possible, knowing that his pursuers would allow him but little time for ulterior exploits. The people, through fear, even fed and watered his troops, without delay; and thus enabled him to out- march us, upon the fresh horses stolen, from the coun- try for live miles on each side of his line of march. The country thus stripped of horses inevitably pre- vented us from keeping equal pace with him. But there never was a more enthusiastic reception of troops than we received, all through Indiana and Ohio ; hundreds, yes, thousands of people flocking with pro- visions to aid us in overtaking the invader; while thousands of beautiful young ladies and enthusiastic matrons and children, handed us water and bread as JOHN morgan's raid. 255 we passed their doors. It was one grand clieering pro- cession, urging us forward and enlivening our march, We gathered a few horses, also, by order of the Gene- ral, giving receipts for them ; and some may have been pressed by the soldiers without leaving any ; yet, not- Yvdthstanding all our efforts to keep up the command, more than five hundred men were left on the line of march from the exhaustion of their horses. General Hobson declared his intention to overtake and fight the enemy with five hundred men, should all the rest give out upon the road. Canningham (although a great liar and Eebel scamp, occasionally told some truth,) says: "From Corydon we moved on without a halt, through Salisbury and Palmyra to Salem, at which point, telegraphing with our operator, we first learned the stations and numbers of the enemy aroused for the hunt — discovered that Indianapolis was running over with them — that New Albany contained 10,000; that 3,000 had just arrived at Mitchel ; and, in fact, that 25,000 men were armed and ready to meet the ^bloody invader.' " At Salem they captured 500 Home Guard, and de- stroyed the railroad bridge and track, sent a scou.t to the Ohio and Mississippi road, near Seymour, to burn two bridges and a depot, and destroy the track for two miles, which was done in an incredible short time. From Salem they passed on to Lexington, destroying in the night the depot and track at Vienna. From Lex- ington they passed on north to the Ohio and Mississippi Eailroad, near Vernon, where they "had a skirmish with General ^fanson's infantry force, as a feint, while the main force moved round the town to Dupont, where squads were sent out to cut the various railroads enter- ing at Vernon. 256 JOHN morgan's raid. "Kot mucli briglitsr/' says Cunningliam, "weretlie bonfires and illuminations in celebration of the Yicks- biirg victory; by tlie Yankees, than our counter illu- minations around Yernon. Many old ladies were aroused from their slumbers to rejoice over the bril- liant victories recently achieved. Surmises were various and many. One old lady knew that the city of Richmond was on fire ; another, that Jeff*. Davis had been killed; a third, that the Army of Yirginia had been used up. Not one knew that General John H. Morgan was within two hundred miles of them." From Yernon they proceeded to Yersailles, where Cunningham says they captured 500 militia. " Captain P.; a Presbyterian Chaplain, imitating his commander's demeanor, rode boldly up to the company, and inquired for the captain. Being informed that there was a dis- pute as to who should lead them, he volunteered his services, was soon elected Captain, and when the ad- vance-guard of Morgan's men had passed, ordered them into the road, and surrendered them to Morgan." "Crestfallen, indeed, were the Yanks; but General Morgan treated them kindly, returning to them their guns, advised them to go home, and not come hunting such game again ; as they had every thing to lose and nothing to gain by it." From Yersailles they moved on to Harrison, Ohio, where they burnt a fine bridge, and passed in the night around Cincinnati, between that city and Hamilton, and at daybreak on the 14th were eighteen miles east of Cincinnati. Near Camp Hennison, they captured and burnt a train of cars. "From the 14th to the 19th, every hill-side contained an enemy, and every ravine a blockade. Dispirited JOHN morgan's RlID. 257 and worn down, they readied the river, at three, A. M., on the 19th, at a ford above Pomeroj, called Portland, at Buffington Island, and commenced- crossing." At Lonisville, Kentucky, General Judah had embarked his command on a fleet of steamers, which was increased at Cincinnati, accompanied by the Gunboats Moose and Springfield, Lieutenant Le Roy Fitch commanding, and proceeded up the Ohio, and landed at Portsmouth on the 16th, at four, P. M., and in an hour were in pursuit of Morgan, who was thought to be but little in ad- vance. But he led them on, through Webster, Porter, Centreville, and so on, to Pomeroy. The advance consisted of the advance guard. General Judah, escort and staff) one section of Henshaw's bat- ter}^, and the section belonging to the 5th Indiana Cav- alry. The 5th Indiana Cavalry, 14th Illinois, part of 11th Kentucky, and 8th and 9th Michigan, all cavalry, composed the main body. Ilobson's, Shackleford's, and "Wolford's commands were several miles to the left. John Morgan was in the valley below. Here it was that a fight ensued, which opened rather inauspiciously. Here also the gallant Major McCook received his death-wound, and here also A. A. G. Keyes, of General Judah's staff" was captured. After a momentary check, and some disorder, the gallant 5th Indiana Cavalry, under Colonel Butler, and the no less gallant 14th Illinois, under Colonel Capron, under cover of the fire of a gun of Henshaw's battery, and two guns of the 5th Indiana Cavalry, dashed for- ward, and quickly changed the aspect of affairs ; and Hobson arriving, charged on the enemy's centre and Hank, and the gunboats also opening fire, they found • 17 258 themselves unable to endure it, and broke in wild disorder. General Shackleford and Colonel Wolford, pressing forward to the scene of battle, were met by 500 Eebels under Dick Morgan and Ward, wlio attempted to cut through, our lines and escape. Our line of battle was soon formed, expecting Morgan's whole force to meet it in front. General Shackleford ordered a charge, which being made, the enemy fled, leaving several killed and wounded behind. A flag of truce was then sent into the woods, when the Eebs surrendered, and marched out without further loss of life. "Seeing that the enemy had every advantage of position," says Cunningham, "an overwhelming force of infantry and cavalry, and that we were becoming completely environed in the meshes of the net set for us, the command was ordered to move up the river, at double quick 5 -^ -^ ^ and was moved rapidly off the field, leaving three companies of dismounted men, and perhaps 200 sick and wounded in the enemy's possession. Our c mnon were undoubtedly captured at the river." In fact Dick Morgan, Basil Duke, and Colonel Ward, with their commands were captured, numbering over seven hundred men, and as many horses. Morgan, with the residue of his command, fled in a parallel direction with the Ohio Eiver, keeping out behind the hills, to avoid the gunboats, not approach- ing the river till he reached Bealville, a distance of about fourteen miles, when, supposing he had out- stripped the gunboats, he rode up, with a bold front and demanded of the citizens assistance in crossino-. JOHN morgan's eaid. 259 Under threats tliey ostensibly complied^ jet causing all possible delay ; so that by the time 300 of the com- mand were embarked, occupying all the flats and scows that were furnished, the gunboats appeared in sight, yet did not arrive in time to prevent their escape across the river. Some attempted to ford, but were compelled to swim or drown — the latter alternative being the fate of a few. The inevitable Cunningham says: "My poor mare being too weak to carry me, turned over, and com- menced going down : encumbered by clothes, saber, and pistols, I made but poor progress in the turbid stream. But the recollections of home, of a bright- eyed maiden in the sunny South, the pressing need of soldiers, and an inherent love of life, actuated me to continue swimmino'. ^ * ^ But I hear somethino: behind me snorting ! I feel it passing ! Thank God I am saved ! A riderless horse dashes by ; I grasp his tail — onward he bears me — and the shore is reached I" — ■ Farewell, Cunningham. Lieutenant Fitch reports to Secretary Wells of the Navy, after the BufS.ngton affair, " I followed further up the river, and met another portion of Morgan's force fording, about fourteen miles above, and shelled, and drove most of them back. Several were killed, fifteen to thirty wounded, and twenty horses captured." Morgan fell back, out of reach of the cannon, and drew up his force, seeming to wait a land attack. Judah and Shackleford were a mile or two in the rear, moving up rapidly; our boys on the gunboats were about to land, to attack the Eebels, when two steamers loaded with infantry, appeared in sight, coming down from the direction of Parkersburg, and they, landing above town, succeeded in getting in Morgan's rear. 260 JOHN moegan's eaid. Shacldeford and Judah. coming up, the combined force commenced the attack, completely surprising the Eebels, who had not anticipated the nearness of Hobson's and and Judah's forces ; nor were they aware of the rein- forcements by the steamers. General Shackleford's report to General Burn side says: "We chased John Morgan over fifty miles to- day, (July 20th.) After heavy skirmishing for six or seven miles, between the enemy and the 45th Ohio, (Colonel Carter) of Colonel Wolford's brigade, which was in advance of the enemy, we succeeded in bringing him to a stand, about three o'clock, P. M., when a fight ensued, which lasted an hour, when the Eebels fled, taking refuge upon a high blufi*. I sent a flag of truce demanding an immediate and unconditional surrender of Morgan and his command. "The flag was received by Colonel Coleman and other officers, who came down and asked a private in- terview. They asked an hour for consultation among the officers. I granted them forty minutes, in which time the command, except Morgan, who deserted, taking with him a small squad, surrendered. " It was my understanding that Morgan himself sur- rendered ; and learned it was the understandiDg of his officers and men. " The number of killed and wounded is inconsidera- ble. The number of prisoners is between 1000 and 1500, including a large number of Colonels, Majors, and line officers. I captured between 600 and 700 prisoners yesterday. I think I will capture Morgan himself to-morrow." But Morgan witli tlic remnant of his band continued their flight, but being liotly pursued, had but little time JOHN morgan's raid. 261 for miscliief. His raid being converted into a flight, we must pass rapidly also in our sketch, as to notice the innumerable particulars and incidents would prove tedious. On Saturday morning, the 25th, he was at Antrim, Guernsey County, and reached Cadiz, Harrison County, at eight o'clock. At noon he neared Winterville, four miles from Steubenville, and being headed off by the militia, he moved northward, in the direction of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Kailroad; but his ultimate purpose seemed to be to cross the Ohio Eiver near Wellsville. Major Kue, by order of General Burnside, left Cin- cinnati at midnight on the 23d, with about 400 men, chiefly composed of those who had given out in the chase through Southern Indiana and Ohio, and pro- ceeded by cars to Steubenville. The men had been refreshed by rest, and had fresh horses. On the evening of the 24th, they arrived at Bellair ; and from thence proceeded to Shanghai. Morgan was then at Eichmond, eleven miles west of Steubenville, closely pursued by Major "Way, 7th Michigan, of Gen- eral Shackleford's command. Major Eue unloaded his men and moved forward to Knoxville, Jefferson County, on the direct road to Kew Lisbon, Columbiana County. He pushed rapidly forward, and on Sunday came to a point within four or five miles of N'cav Lisbon. Morgan having turned eastward, was advancing along the Beaver Creek road, toward the river at Smith's Ferry, near the State line. The road on which Major Eue was ad- vancing, was nearly at right angles with that on which Moro-an was advancing. When almost in sight of the road. Major Eue saw a 262 JOHN moegan's eaid. cloud of dust aliead^ and knew that Morgan was coming. The Eebels descried him almost at the same moment, and a race ensued between them to reach first the inter- section of the roads. The Major was doomed to expe- rience the mortification of seeing Morgan pass the point ahead of him, and thought he had escaped. But the Major had a guide who knew the country like a book. It was ascertained that by taking a diago- nal road, there was yet a chance of cutting off the bold Kentucky raider. Leaving thirty men to guard the road where Morgan, as he thought, had passed him, the Major and the rest of the command put spurs to their horses. It was- a tremendous charge. The distance was a mile and a half. His horses comparatively fresh — Morgan's jaded. It was more exciting than a steeple- chase; and this time the Major, to his intense gratifica- tion, struck the Beaver Creek road a " leetle ahead." Some twenty men, who first reached the road with Major Eue, formed across it, the others coming speedily up. The Eebel saw they were caught, and checked up. Major Kue fully expected a fight. But a white flag came forward, and with it a demand to surrender. Major Eu.e replied, that he couldn't see it, and that if Morgan didn't surrender immediately, and uncondition- ally, he would open fire on him. It soon appeared that Morgan had made a sort of quasi surrender to James Burbick, a militia Captain, lolio ivas his prisoner, who, it was pretended, had paroled Morgan and his officers. This proceeding being very properly ignored by T^Iajor Eue, who considered the surrender as made to him, ho advanced and was met by Morgan, who quietly re- marked: "You have beat me this time;" and expressed gratification that he had been taken by a Kentuckian. 263 The surrender took place about two o'clock Sunday, P. M., and in about three-quarters of an hour General Shackleford came up and took charge of the prisoners. Impelled onward by the impetuosity of Major Eue, we passed Major Way with one of Wolford's regiments, on a different road, "West Steubenville, on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, about eight o'clock, he brought Morgan to a stand, near Saline ville, where, he fought, defeated, and utterly routed him — killed from 20 to 30, wounded about 50, and took 200 prisoners, 150 stands of arms, 150 horses, with but little loss on his part ; and subsequently captu.red 55 more of the Eebels. It was after this discomfiture that Morgan encountered Major Eue's command, and was captured near New Lisbon, as before stated. General Shackleford immediately telegraphed as fol- lows : " Headquarters United States Forces. In the field three miles south of New Lisbon July 26, 1863. ■1 " To Colonel Lewis Richmond, A. A. G. : " By the Blessing of Almighty God, I have succeeded in capturing John H. Morgan, Colonel Duke, and the balance of the command, amounting to about 400 prisoners. '^J.M. SHACKLEFORD, " Brigadier-General Commanding." The prisoners were then forwarded by railway to Cincinnati, as those previously taken, had been, by river, on the returning boats. Morgan, Duke, and their staff- officers, with 13 privates, numbering 28, were sent to Columbus for safe keeping, by order of the War 264 JOHN moegan's eaid. Department; where tliey arrived on the 30th of July, and were conducted to the Penitentiary, and turned over by General Mason to the Warden, and placed in close quarters, not only as prisoners of war, but as hos- tasres for Colonel Straio'ht and his officers immured in the Libby Prison at Eichmond. Fifty-two more of Morgan's officers, including Colonel Duke, were trans- ferred to the Penitentiary on the 1st of August from Johnson's Island, where they were at first sent. The 13 privates were transferred to Camp Chase, where were some 1,300 of their comrades. A large number were also sent to Indianapolis. The costs and damages occasioned by the Morgan raid, in Ohio alone, as stated by Governor Tod in his Message to the Legislature, (January 4, 1863,) were — pay of militia, $250,000 ; damages by the enemy, $495,000; by our own troops, $152,000; being an ag- aggregate of $897,000, exclusive of" subsistence and transportation assumed by the General Government. To-day, freedom's children come, And shout with one accord. In praise of Burnside and our boys, And Hobbs and Shackleford ; For Morgan, bandit chief, is caged, Though like a hare in fright. Through sombre woods, from cliff to clifif, He fled both day and night ! So shout, while he and Basil Duke, Within the dreary shades Of prison walls, are musing on The gain of making raids, Through proud Ohio's rich domains, Where men are brave and true. And women love the dear old flag, Of red, and white and blue ! SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 265 Bring forth the rusty guns, and let A joyful noise be made : Lay by the implements of toil — The anvil, ax, and spade : Heed not the silver-tasselled corn, Heed not the new-mown hay, Come all, and lift your voices loud, In songs and shouts to-day. — Hattie German. STOEY LXXYIII SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBURG. INCLUDING THE CHIEF PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS. In December, 1862, General W. T. Sherman, with a strong force of infantry, on steam transports and some gunboats, entered the months of the Yazoo river, on the 28th, and landing the infantry five miles above Yicks- burg, the defences of which, both natural and artificial, were then but little known, commenced an assault with a view to the capture of that place. The attempt being .unsuccessful, and the loss considerable, he retired up the river to Arkansas Post ; which by a most brilliant combined naval and military attack was captured, with nearly 8,000 prisoners, on the 11th of January, 1863. Whatever credit General McClernand may be entitled to, for this result, it is certain that General Sherman commanded in person, the attacking land forces, which, with the gunboats Louisville, De Kalb, Cincinnati, and Lexino^ton, and some lis^ht-drauo-hts, soon silenced the fort, and compelled its unconditional surrender. The expedition next moved down to Milliken's Bend on the 17th of January, and there disembarked. General Grant taking command in person, and feeling satis- 266 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBURG. fied that Vicksburg could only be turned from the south side, set to work enlarging the canal, which had been previously located by General Williams, across the peninsula, on the Louisiana side of the river ; hoping to make a channel which would pass transports for moving the army, and carrying supplies to the new base of operations below. In this he was frustrated by heavy rains and high water. A new rou.te was next explored and judged practi- cable, throu.gh certain bayous communicating with Tensas river. This, with the aid of dredge boats, was so improved that one small steamer and several barges were taken through ; but the river falling rapidly, and the roads becoming passable between Milliken's Bend and New Carthage, near the middle of April, made this route impracticable and unnecessary. Soon after commencing the first canal, the General caused a channel to be cut from the Mississippi river into Lake Providence, which it was thought might afford a passage, by its connection with Bayou Baxter and Bayou Macon, for transports, through Tensas, Wachita, and Ked rivers, to the Mississippi below. Another attempted route was by way of Yazoo Pass, Coldwater, and Tallahatchie rivers into the Yazoo, in the hope of obtaining a foothold on high land above Haines's Bluff; but it was found that a sufficient num- ber of boats of the right class for conveying a sufficient force, could not be had; beside which, it was found that while our troops were opening one end of the route, the enemy were obstructing the other, thus gain- ing time to fortify Fort Pemberton, at Greenwood, so that our gunboats were unable to silence their batteries ; so the project was abandoned. SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 267 Anotlier expedition was attempted by Steele's Bayou, Black Bayou, Deer Creek, Eolling Fork, and Sunflower, to the Yazoo, with the same general objects in view, but failed of success, from want of sufficient knowledge of the ro-ute. These failures were considered by the General as probably Providential, in driving him ulti- mately, to a line of operations, which proved eminently successful. The waters fast falling, and the roads beginning to be passable, about the middle of April. th.e land forces took up the line of march for New Carthage, via Eich- mond ; the 13th Army Corps moving first, commanded by General McClernancl, and the 17th imder General McPherson, soon folloAving. At the same time, prepa- rations were being made for running transports down past the Yicksburg batteries, with Admiral Porter's gunboat fleet. On the night of the 16th of April. Admiral Porter's fleet, and the transports Silver Wave, Forest Queen, and Henry Clay, ran the Yicksburg batteries. The boilers of the transports were protected as well as possible, with bales of hay and cotton. More or less commissary stores were put on each. All three of these boats were struck more or less frequently while passing the batteries, and the Henry Clay, by the explosion of shell, or by other means, was set on fire, and entirely consumed. The other two boats were not seriously disabled. No one on board of either was hurt. Six more boats were then prepared in like manner, for running the batterries, viz. : Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizonia, and Moderator. These left Milliken's Bend on the night of "the 22d of 268 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUKG. April, and five of them got by, but in a somewliat damaged condition. The Tigress received a shot in her hull, below the water line, and sunk on the Louisiana shore, soon after passing the last of the batteries. The crews of these steamers, with the exception of the Forest Queen and Silver Wave, were composed of volunteers from the army. Upon the call for volunteers for this dangerous enter- prise, officers and men presented themselves by hun- dreds, anxious to undertake the trip. Twelve barges, loaded with forage and rations, were sent down in tow of the last six boats, and half of them got through in a condition to be used, and five of the transports were soon put in running order, and the remainder were in a condition to be used as barges, in moving troops* The loth Army Corps having got through to the Mississippi, as much of it as the barges would carry were embarked and conveyed to the front of Grand Gulf on the 29th of April. The plan was for the navy to silence the guns of the enemy, and the troops to land under cover of the gunboats, and carry the place by storm. But this was found impracticable, after five hours bombardment, from the fact of the enemy's guns being too elevated, and the fortifications too strong to be taken from the water side. It was therefore determined to ao^ain run the o-auntlet of the batteries, and turn the enemy's position by efiect- ing a landing below. Orders Avere at once given for the troops to debark at Hard Times, on the Louisiana shore, and to march down to a point opposite Bruinsburg, between Grand Gulf and Rodney. lEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 269 At dark tlie gunboats again engaged the batteries' and all tbe transports ran by, with but little injury. The work of ferrying the troops across to Bruinsburg, was commenced at daybreak in the morning, both gun- boats and transports being used. . As soon as the loth Corps were crossed, three days' rations were given them, and they started at once on the road to Port Gibson. The 17th Corps crossed over, received their rations and followed, as speedily as possible. The 15th Corps, under General Sherman, had remained at Milliken's Bend, with orders to make a demonstration on Haines' Bluff, making as large a show as possible, in order to prevent any heavy reinforcements being sent from Yicksburg to the assistance of the .Grand Gulf forces. This ruse was executed with most admirable success. At two o'clock, on the 1st of May, the advance of the enemy was met eight miles from Bruinsburg, and com- pelled to fall back ; and from position to position they were driven, with considerable loss, all day, toward Port Gibson, where it was thought they would make another stand ; but in the morning it was found they had retreated. Port Gibson taken, Grand Gulf was evacuated by the enemy ; and General Grant, in person, with a small cav- alry escort, went there and made arrangements for changing his base of supplies to that place. General Sherman's Corps having come up, the army moved rapidly on, though upoji different roads, from victory to victory, including in brilliant succession. Champion's Hill, or Baker's Creek, Raymond, Jackson, and Black River Bridge, where the entire garrison and seventeen pieces of artillery were captured. • General Sherman, by the morning of the 18th of 270 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. May, had crossed the Black Eiver, at Bridgeport, above, by means of pontoons, and was ready to inarch on Walnut Hills. McClernand and McPherson built float- ing bridges during the night, and were ready for cross- ing their commands by eight o'clock, A. M., of the 18th. Sherman marched at an early hour, taking the Bridge- port and Vicksburg road, turning to the right when within three and a half miles of Yicksburg, to get pos- session of the Walnut Hills and the Yazoo Eiver, which he successfully accomplished before night. McPherson crossed the Black Eiver above the Jack- son Eoad, and came into the same road with Sherman, but in his rear. He arrived at night-fall with his advance to where Sherman turned to the right. McClernand moved by the Jackson and Yicksburg road to Mount Albans, and there turned to the left, to get into Baldwin's Ferry Eoad. By this disposition, the three army corps covered all the ground their numbers w^ould admit of, and by the morning of the 19th, the investment of Yicksburg was made as complete as could be, by the forces at General Grant's command. During the day there was continuous skirmishing, and, relying upon the demoralization of the enemy, in consequence of their late repeated defeats, a general assault was ordered at two, P. M., in hopes of being able to carry their works. The loth, Sherman's Corps, from having arrived in front of the works on the 18th, to get a good position, were enabled to make a vigorous assault. The 13th and 17th Corps succeeded no further than to gain advanced positions, covered from the fire of the enemy. The 20th .and 21st of May were spent in perfecting communicalions with the army supplies, which, it may SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 271 well be supposed, Avere beginning to be mncb needed, after marching and fighting for twenty days, on an average of about five days' rations drawn from the Commissary Department. On the 21st, the General, having completed his arrangements for drawing supplies of every descrip- tion, determined to make another eflbrt to carry Yicks- burg by assault. Orders were accordingly given for a general assault on the whole line, to commence at ten o'clock, A. M., on the 22d. Promptly, at the appointed time, the three army corps, then in front of the enemy's Avorks, commenced the assault. General Grant had taken a commanding position near McPherson's front, from which he could see all the advancing columns from that corps, and a part of each of Sherman's and McClernand's. A portion of the commands of each, succeeded in planting their flags on the outer slopes of the enemy's bastions, and maintaining them there till night. Each corps had many more men than could possibly be used in the a'ssault, over such unfavorable ground as inter- vened between them and the enemy. The assault was gallant in the extreme, on the part of all the troops; but the enemy's position was too strong, both naturally and artificially, to be taken in that way. At every point assaulted, and at all of them at the same time, the enemy was able to shoAV all the force his works could cover. The assault failed, Avith much loss on our side, but Avithout Aveakening the confidence of our troops in their ability to ultimately succeed. No troops succeeded in entering any of the enemy's AVorkS; Avith the exception of Sergeant Grifiith, of the 272 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICK3BURG. 21st Iowa, and some eleven privates of tlie same regi- ment, none of whom returned except the Sergeant, and possibly one of the privates. After this failure, General Grant determined on pro- secuting a regular siege. The troops being now fully aware of the necessity of it, worked diligently and cheerfully, and the work progressed rapidly and satis- factorily, until the 3d of July, when all was about ready for a final assault. Of this state of readiness on our part, the Eebels were not ignorant ; and dreading the consequences, and anticipating the result of an assault. General Pember- ton, on the afternoon of the 3d of July, sent a letter, under a flag of truce, to General Grant proposing an armistice, and the appointment of commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation. The result was the sur- render of the city and garrison of Yicksburg, at ten o'clock, A. M., July 4th, 1863, on the following terms: — The entire garrison, ofiicers and men, were to be paroled, not to take up arms against the United States, until exchanged by the proper authorities ; officers and men, each to be furnished with a parole, signed by him- self; ofl&cers to be allowed their side-arms, and private baggage; and the field, stafi* and cavalry officers, one horse each; the rank and file to be allowed all their clothing, but no other property ; rations from their own stores, sufficient to last them beyond our lines; ,the necessary cooking utensils for preparing their food ; and thirty wagons to transport such articles as could not be carried. These terms were considered by General Grant, as more favorable to the government than an unconditional surrender, as it saved us the transportation of the pri- CAPITULATION OF POET HUDSON. 273 soners to the North; which at that time would have been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of river transportation on hand, and the expenses of sub- sisting them. Our army was thus left free to operate against John- ston, who was threatening it from the direction of Jack- son ; and our river transportation was ready to be used for the movement of troops to any point the exigency of the service might require. However expedient the arrangement may have been, it failed to receive the hearty approval of the country, from the general lack of confidence that the Eebels would observe it on their part in good faith. That they did not, has been subsequently abundantly shown ; the Rebel government itself sanctioning the wholesale viola- tion of the parole. STORY LXXIX. CAPITULATION OF PORT HUDSON. On the morning of the 7th of July, 1863, a salute was fired from both the upper and lower fleets, im- mediately on the reception of the news from Yicksburg, and the bands of the different regiments struck up national and patriotic airs. The wildest enthusiasm prevailed among the soldiers all day ; and the prox- imity of the contending forces, enabled the Rebels in Port Hudson to hear the cheering, without enlightening them as to the cause. At several points on the lines, the Rebels and our troops were so near together that conversations could be held, and were carried on, without danger to either party. 18 274 CAPITULATION- OF POBT HUDSON. Toward evening, on tTie Tth, the curiosity of tlie Bebels to learn what was going on, became so great, that one of their ofl&cers called out to a Union officer, asking, "What are you making all that noise about?" The answer was, " We have taken Vicksburg." The Eebel officer said he did not believe it, and on being asked what would convince him of its tru.th, he replied, "Nothing but a copy of the dispatch, or some reliable authority." The Union officer then told him he would procure a copy of General Grant's official dispatch, and pass it over the parapet to him. The Eebel said if he would do so, and vouch for its genuineness, on his honor as a gentleman, and a soldier, he would be convinced. The Union officer at once procured a copy of the dis- patch, and taking it to the enemy's breatsworks, gave it to the officer with whom he had been conversing, and at the same time assured him, on the honor of a soldier, that the dispatch was genuine, and that he had copied it with his own hand. The Eebel having read it, said he was satisfied of its truthfulness, and that he thought it useless for Port Hudson longer to attempt to hold out. Things remained in the same position as previous to the interview, until two o'clock the next morning, when a parley was sounded from the Eobel works, aud an officer came out, with a dispatch from the Eebel General Gardner, asking on what terms a surrender would be accepted. As soon as the message could be conveyed to Gen- eral Banks, an answer was returned, in effect, that only an unconditional surrender would be accepted. General Gardner accepted the terms, and asked a few hours to make the necessary arrangements. He was CAPITULATION OF POET HUDSON. 275 given twenty-four honrs, but did not take that length of time. At twelve. M., on the 8th of July, our forces entered Port Hudson, and became the masters of that strong-hold. The Rebels were all drawn up in line of battle, num- bering about four thousand men fit for duty, with their arms stacked in front of them, and surrendered ; and being^ in a suft'ering^ condition for want of food, were promptly fed from the commissariat of our army. In addition to the number aforesaid, there were about fifteen hundred sick and wounded men — about five hundred of the latter. Their wounds were, generally, very severe^in the head, by the bullets of our sharp- shooters. Our batteries had done a great deal of damage, hav- ing destroyed an immense amount of stores. ' The Rebel sick had sufiered terribly, from their almost total destitution of medical stores. The United States flag was run up at nine o'clock, on Thursday morning, the 9th of July, and was saluted by the Hartford as she passed. There was a good supply of ammunition in the fort, all of which fell into our hands. This was the fifth day after the surrender of Vicksburg. There had been much toil, privation, and suflering on both sides; but the justice of our cause had in- spired our troops with a determined, persevering energy, and indomitable bravery, that could not fail, under skillful and courageous leaders, of triumphant success and ultimate victory. "And conquer we must, for our cause it is just, And this be our motto, in 'God is our trust ;' And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the Free, and the home of the Brave." 276 MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE. STOEY LXXX. • MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE UP LOOKOUT VALLEY. While General Hooker's army was moving up Lookout Yalley, from some unknown cause a stampede among the mules occurred, which is worth relating, as it was an incident that afforded much merriment at the expense of the Rebels. It was in the dead of the night; when both armies were resting from the fatigues of the previous day, and the sentinel's tread was the only sound that disturbed the universal quiet. Rushing from the wagons, to the number of about thirty, the mules made for the enemy's lines like fright- ened sheep. The drivers were awakened by the noise just in time to witness the disappearance of the animals through our advanced pickets. The enemy's pickets were not caught napping. Hearing the mule brigade tearing across the valley, they mistook them for Yankee cavalry, discharged their muskets at the supposed " Yanks," and fell back upon a battalion, stationed a little in the rear of them, with the cry that the enemy were upon them. The bat- talion taking the alarm, sprang to arms, only in time to hear the sound of the frightened mules, whose race was not checked by the volley from the pickets. They retreated, also, a short distance, to a point where a whole Rebel brigade had stacked their arms, and were calmly dreaming of home and battle scenes. In rushed the battalion, more dead than alive from fright, with the exclamation — " Hooker has surprised us ! his cavalry is upon us !" The valiant sons of Mars did not STOEY OF GENERAL SIGEL. 277 wait to gather up tlieir blankets or guns, but made the fastest pedestrian time on record back to the main force ; leaving upon the field, for the mule brigade, over one thousand stand of arms, amoDg which, were three hun- dred new Enfield rifles, blankets, small arms, knap- sacks, &c. Meantime our teamsters had given the alarm, and a force was sent out for the recovery of the mules, and in a few hours, the expedition, inaugurated by the mules, returned to our lines with the valuable spoils. This is no fancy sketch ; its correctness is vouched for by a member of General Thomas' staff, who was pre- sent when the expedition returned. It will be recollected that in his report of Hooker's victory. General Thomas stated that 1,500 stands of arms were captured. Eeaders were, no doubt, generally at a loss to discover by what process more arms were taken than prisoners. In the midnight charge of the mule brigade, they may find a solution of the problem. Through its aid a large amount of valuable stores and arms were secured, and General Hooker was enabled to push his advance much nearer the point of ground con- tended for. All will agree that the charge of the mule brigade is worthy of a place in history. STOEY LXXXI. STORY OF GENERAL SIGEL. On the return of General Fremont's army from South- western Missouri, Sigel commanded the Division that came by Lebanon to RoUa. A few miles north of Leba- 278 GENERAL ORDER. — A HEROINE. non tlie army encamped for tlie niglit, on the farm of a man wlio was in sympathy with the Eebellion^ and his fence-rails were all burned for fire- wood, and his farm stripped of whatever was useful and necessary to subsist the troops and horses of the train. In the morning the farmer came with a large bill of damageS; and asked for payment. The Quartermaster came to General Sigel to know what should be done about it. Colonel Warmoth was present, and the Gene- ral asked him whether the man was a loyal citizen. The Colonel replied that he was a conditional Union man at first, but that he had afterward sympathized with the Eebellion. Turning to the Quartermaster- General, Sigel then replied — " Mr. Quartermaster, then you sympathize with the Government." It is hardly necessary to add, that the Secesh farmer did not obtain what he came for. STORY LXXXII. GENERAL ORDER-A HEROINE. Headquarters, District of Central Missouri, \ Jefferson City, August 9tli, 18G3. J GENERAL ORDERS NO. 42. On the night of the 6th instant, a party of bush- whackers, some three in number, visited the house of a Mr. Schwarltz, about twelve miles from Jefierson City, Cole County, and on demanding admittance, were re- fused by Miss Schwarltz, a young lady of fifteen. They replied that they would come in, at the same time trying to break down the door. While this was going on, the other inmates of the GENEEAL OKDEE. — A HEEOINE. 279 toiTse^ VIZ., Mr. Schwarltz, Jolin Wise, Captain Golden, Government horse-dealer, and a young man in Hs employ, all left, taking with them (as they supposed) all the arms and ammunition ; but in their hasty retreat they left behind a revolver, which Miss Schwarltz appropriated to her own use. She went to the door, and on opening it, presented the pistol to the leader of the gang, telling them to " come on, if they wanted to, and that some of them would fall, or she would." They threatened to kill her if she did not leave the door. She replied, " the first one who takes one step toward this door, dies, for this is the home of my parents, and my brothers and sisters ; and I am able, and shall defend it." Seeing that she was determined in her purpose, after holding a consul- tation together, they left. Here is an instance of true courage, in a young girl of fifteen years of age, who, after all the inmates of the house, even her father, had fled, leaving her alone to her fate, with a courage worthy a Joan of Arc, boldly defended her native home, against three blood-thirsty, cowardly ruf&ans ; and by her coolness and heroic dar- ing, succeeded in turning them from their hellish designs. It is with feelings of no ordinary pride and pleasure, that the Commanding General announces this fact to the citizens and soldiers in his district. On the other hand, those miserable cowards, who deserted this brave girl in the hour of danger, flying from the house, leav- ing her to her fate, are unworthy the name of men, deserve the scorn and contempt of the community at large, and their society should be shunned by every one who has the least spark of honor or bravery within him. By order of Brigadier-General Beown. J. BAINSFOED, A. A. G. 280 GENEEAL HOWARD. — AN INCIDENT. STOEY LXXXIII. GENERAL HOWARD— AN INCIDENT. An unrecorded incident of tlie midnight figlit between Hooker's and Longstreet's forces, in Lookout Yalley, on the night of the 30th of October, 1863, is related by C. D. Brigham, correspondent of the New Yorh Tribune, as follows : — " A short time subsequent to this magnificent charge on the enemy in their breastworks, by General Geary's brigade. General Howard, taking with him a small escort of cavaby, started for that part of the field where General Geary was supposed to be. He had not gone far, when he came up with a body of infantry. ' What cavalry is that?' was the hail. 'AH right,' responded General Howard, at the same time calling out, 'What men are these?' 'Longstreet's,' was the reply. 'All right — come here,' said General Howard. The men approached. 'Have we whipped those fellows?' asked the General, in a manner to keep up the deception. ' Xo, d n them, they were too much for us, and drove us from our rifle-pits, like devils. We're whipped, our- selves.' By this time the Kebels had gathered nearer. 'Lay down your arms!' demanded General H., in a stern voice. The men surrendered. "Taking his prisoners in charge. General H. pro- ceeded on his wajT-. He had not gone far, before another party of Rebel infantry called out, ' What cav- alry is that?' 'All right,' was the response, again, of General Howard, as he proceeded. On approaching the position occupied by Gear}^, that officer had observed EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT. 281 the advancing horsemen, and infantry, as tie supposed the prisoners to be, and taking them to be Eebels, he had ordered his guns to be loaded with canister, and in a moment more would have given the intrepid Howard and his little force the benefit of it. " But the General who had successfully deceived the enemy, found a way to make himself known to his friends, and so escaped a reception of that kind," STORY LXXXIV. EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT ON JOHNSON'S ISLAND. Reuben Stout, Company K, 60th Indiana, convicted of desertion, and the murder of Solomon Hoffman, on the 14th of March, 1863, at Madison, Carroll County, Indiana, was shot on Friday, October — , 1863. The exection was on the Bay shore, in front of the prison yard. The Hoffman Battalion was formed in a hollow square, Open on the bay side, where the prisoner was seated on his cofiin. Colonel Pierson and staff" were within the square. The execution party was in command of Lieutenant McElroy, Provost Marshal. The orders and sentence were read by Lieutenant Bailey, Post Adjutant. Portions of the prisoner's statement, as herewith given, were then read by the Chaplain, it being too lengthy to be read entire. Praj^er was offered in Eng- lish by the Chaplain, and also by Rev. M. Miller, pastor of the German Church in Sandusky, in the German language. 282 EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT. After tlie services the cap was placed over the eyes of the prisoner, by E. M. Keith, the Hospital Steward, and the command given to fire by the Provost Marshal. The prisoner fell immediately, seven balls taking effect, there being eight of the execution party, one having a blank cartridge. Dr. Woodbridge, Surgeon of the Post, went up and examined the prisoner, and pronounced him dead. The battalion under the command of Major Scoville, marched past the body, the band playing the dead march. When past the body, they march to the parade ground at a quick step. The remains of the prisoner were decently laid out, and buried in the prison grave-yard on the island. Stout left a statement, Avhicli was published in the Sandusky papers, from which we extract the fol- lowing : — • " I staid with my company and regiment, until No- vember 26th, 1862, when we got a furlough to go home, the regiment having been captured at Crane River, Kentucky, and paroled as prisoners of Avar. We were sent to Indianapolis to be exchanged and draw arms again. All the men of the regiment got furloughs for a few days to go home to their friends. "I went home and staid out my time, and then started to go to- my regiment. I vv^ent as far as La- fayette, my wife and her sister going as far as Dayton, Indiana. I took sick at Lafayette, and stayed there about five days. My father-in-law then took me home to his house to stay till I got well. "After I had been there about two weeks, I was ad- vised by various persons not to go back to the army. They said this was only an 'Abolition war/ and ad- COLONEL long's kaid IN bragg's eear. 283 vised me to stay at home, and they would protect me. I was induced to go to a meeting of the so-called 'Knights of the Grolden Circle,' and was made a mem- ber of that organization. " The obligation of the order bound us to do all we could against the war — to resist a draft, if one should be made, and likewise to resist and oppose all con- fiscation, or emancipation measures, in every possible way. "We were sworn to stand by each other in all measures of resistance. We were pledged to do all we could to prevent another man or dollar going from the State for the further prosecution of the war. I met with this secret meeting several times, and entered into their views and plans. "I was led by the evil counsels of this traitorous organization, to stay away from my post of duty in the army, for which I am truly sorry. I am sorry that I ever lifted my hand against the life of my fellow-man. I would affectionately, and earnestly urge all in the service of their country, not to do as I have done ; but to be faithful to their obligations as soldiers, avoiding all disloyal counsels and obligations." STORY LXXXV. colonel LONG'S RAID IN BRAGG'S REAR. The battle of Chattanooga was fought and won without the aid of cavalry on our side ; the ridge being so steep as to render their use in front impracticable. But the indefatigable Grant did not allow the cavalry to remain idle. 284 coLOXEL long's raid in- bragg's rear. On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 24th of November, 1863, Colonel Long, with one battalion of the 1st Ohio, 3d Ohio, and 4th Michigan Cavalry, and 17th Indiana, and 98 Illinois Mounted Infantry, quiety crossed Sher- man's pontoons, and while the enemy's attention was attracted by Sherman's batteries started for Bragg's rear, and a little after dark were three miles in the rear of his right, where they came upon, and captured, eleven wagons laden with forage ; and then moved on six miles further, when they stopped and fed ; after which they moved on to Altamont, and destroyed the railroad and telegraph, and captured two couriers with important dispatches from Joe Johnson to Bragg. Early on the next morning, having heard of a train of supplies belonging to Cheatham, en route from Long- street to Bragg's army. Colonel Seidell, of the 3d Ohio, supported by the rest of the command, started to cap- ture it. After a rapid ride of ten miles, they came up with, and captured the train which proved to be a very valuable one, consisting of eighty wagons laden with Quartermaster's stores, and Paymaster's chest, contain- ing eighty thousand dollars in Rebel currency, and five hundred in gold and silver. The guard, horses, and mules were also all captured. Retracing their steps, they approached Cleveland, in the suburbs of which, they took six teams, and soon after three well-laden Quartermasters' wagons. The whole command then entered Cleveland, to the surprise and joy of the citizens, and consternation of the 24th Rebel Cavalry; who were not long in putting a safe distance between themselves and the "Yanks." At Cleveland large supplies of wheat and flour were COLONEL long's RAID IN BRAGG'S REAR. 285 captured, and the factory for making percussion caps and shells was destroyed. Wednesday night was spent in Cleveland, and on Thursday morning a detachment was sent to Charleston, where a sharp fight occurred, with the loss to us of private Kasson, 3d Ohio. The 98th Illinois gave it to them with their "Spencers," while the 3d Ohio charged their works, taking eight pri- soners ; the enemy opening on them with a battery on the opposite side of Chickamauga Eiver. They re- turned on the Dalton and Kingston Kailroad, destroyed it for twelve miles, and rejoined the command at Cleve- land. At four o'clock, A.M., on the 26th, the pickets were attacked, and at five the command Avas in line, and fought briskly two hours, and then fell back on the Harrison road, as the enemy appeared in force with artillery. They arrived in Chattanooga, at eight o'clock, P. M., on the 26th, with three hundred and sixty-five pri- soners, four hundred mules, and four Eebel flags ; one of which belonged to the celebrated Buckner Guards, and was inscribed " victory or death." The Union citizens of Cleveland, presented the 3d Ohio with a fine flag ; and seemed anxious to testify their good will in every way. Every thing they could do for the boys, during their short stay, was cheerfull}^ done. This raid was one of the best, and most successful of the war, and its execution could not have been entrusted to worthier hands. They proved themselves a veteran force, and rendered signal service to the army, at a critical time. 286 QUEER ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE. STOKY LXXXYI. QUEER ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE. Lieutenant McInttre of the 9tli Illinois Cavalry, relates that just as tlie fight near Summerville, West Tennessee, commenced, lie arrived on the ground with a dispatch from General Grierson to Colonel Prince. Finding himself surrounded and unable to escape, he •sprang from his horse and crawled under a house ; but fearing that this mi-ght not be a safe place, he crept to a cotton gin a short distance off* In the gin he found a large heap of cotton-seed. Jumping into the heap he covered himself with the seed, so as leave only his head out, over which he pulled a basket. Here the Lieutenant was feeling comparatively safe, an officer of the 7th sprang in the door, with a dozen Eebels at his heels. The officer ran up stairs and hid under some loose boards in the floor. The Eebels put a guard around the house and began a vigorous search. Up stairs and down they went, several times, and every hiding place but the right one was examined. They knew that the officer was there, in some place, and they were determined to have him. Presently the heap of cotton- seed caught their atten- tion, and forthwith they commenced plunging their sabers into it. The heap was probed in all directions, but providentially without touching the Lieutenant's body. At last, one of the Eebs, exasperated beyond endur- ance, at their ill-success, vented his anger on the basket ESCAPE OF DE. WILLIAM T. EUCKER. 287 over tlie Lieutenant's head, by striking it a furious blow with bis sword. Had tbe Lieutenant not kept a vigorous hokl to the handle, the basket would have been knocked a rod. Just then some occurrence outside caused them to hurry away, and both officers escaped. STOEY LXXXYIL ESCAPE OF DR. RUCKER FROM A REBEL PRISON AND HIS SUBSEQUENT ADVENTURES AND FINAL SAFETY. Dr. William T. Euckee, a well-known Union leader of West Virginia, who was captured at the surrender of Summerville, in 'Nicholas county, Va., in July, 1862, arrived in Washington in November, 1863, having escaped from the Eebel Penitentiary in Pittsylvania, Va. The story of his treatment and escape is full of interesting and instructive incident. The Doctor was first sent, with other prisoners, to Sulphur Springs, where he was put in irons and other- wise harshly treated. He was afterward sent to Lynch- burg, where, being well known, his active loyalty induced even greater severity. He was put in double irons, with the cuffs firmly riveted about his arms and legs. In August he was sent to Eichmond, and closely con- fined in Castle Thunder, with a special guard over him, to prevent his escape. While at Eichmond he saw two Union prisoners shot at Libby, and one at Castle Thun- der, on the most trivial provocations. Governor Letcher represented to the Eebel Secretary of War, that Eucker was a notorious character, guilty 288 ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. of treason to the State of Yirginia, and, therefore, he should of right be surrendered to the State authorities for trial. After considerable correspondence on the subject, the Confederate authorities consented, and turned over the prisoner to be tried for crimes alleged to have been committed against the State of Virginia. He was accordingly taken from the prison at Eich- mond, sent to Allegheny county, and confined in a jail to await his trial. Ten separate indictments were brought against him . — one for murder, one for treason, one for arson, three for horse- stealing, one for Avagon- stealing, and one for bridge-burning. Dr. Rucker believes that he escaped being indicted for several other crimes, simply because they did not occur to the minds of the Grand Jury. On the charge of murder, the prisoner pleaded a change of venue, which was sustained, and the case was sent to Botetourt county. On all the other charges he pleaded alieii enemy, but being a citizen of Western Virginia, he was held to be a citizen of Virginia, and hence the plea Avas disallowed. The trial was several times continued, and often deferred, though the prisoner vigorously urged a trial, knowing that the sooner his case was brought to a crisis, the better it would be for him. He was forced to employ four different counsel at $2,000 each, and these were threatened with mob- violence if once they appeared in the defence. When nearly a year had passed in a fruitless effort to procure a trial, during which time Dr. Rucker was held in close confinement, the United States Govern- ment determined to hold one Dr. Greene, an Assistant- Surgeon in the Rebel army as a hostage for his return. In June, 1863, he was removed to the prison in Pitt- ESCAPE OF DR. AVILLIAM T. RUCKER. 289 sylvania, the strongest and most secure prison in tlie State. It was noAV evident to Ms friends that escape was impossible, and he was given over as lost : friends were not allowed to visit him, but bitter enemies had full privilege to taunt and insult him through the prison bars. The Union people were permitted to send him provisions but not to see him. The Eebels told him that the Confederate Government would starvcthe Union prisoners, until the Yankee Government AVould consent to their terms of exchange, and leave such men as himself, Colonel Straight, and officers of negro regi- ments in their hands to be properly punished. By careful observation, Dr. Eucker ascertained that the jailor's son, not twenty months old, at times had the key to the debtor's room, which was directly opposite his cell, to play with ; he at once determined to secure the key and effect his escape. At a favorable moment he bribed the child with chestnuts and fruits, and thus gained possession of the much coveted key. On the night of the 18th of October, 1863, soon after dark, he carefully turned the key, slid back the bolts, and almost in a moment was free. He passed out of the village of Pittsylvania on the Raleigh road, having determined to reach the Union troops on the North Carolina coast. When a short distance on the road he discovered that he had left behind papers that would betray his route through North Carolina, he changed his course, retraced his steps through the village, tra- veled all night as rapidly as possible, (having secured a horse not far from the village,) and Avas at daylight in a toAvn far to the north\\'ard, where he Avas received by a trusty friend and concealed till the 27th. During this time he Avas visited by many old ao- Z 19 290 ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. quaintances^ avIio gave liim proper assistance, and among other things, a blooded horse, vahied at §1,000, provided especially for the occasion. On the night of the 27th, with this animal he traveled sixty-five miles. During the next day he slept soundly at the house of a loyal friend, his horse being concealed in a corn-shuck pen. Early at night he resumed his jour- ney, and at two o'clock next morning passed through Covington, Allegheny county. In this village he called at the house of a supposed friend, to make some in- quiry, and immediately proceeded on his way. When a fcAV miles from Covington he found his strength so rapidly failing, that he determined to stop in a thicket near the road and rest. Soon after day- light, j udging from the noise and confusion along the road, he believed himself betrayed by his Covington friend, and afterward learned that the wife of the gen- tleman, of whom he made inquiry, had published the fact of his passage through the village. He determined to abandon his horse and equipments, and flee to the mountains. He remained two days and nights in the Alleghenies without food, and only once found water. On the evening of tlie 3 1st of October, pressed with hunger, and perishing with cold, he descended to the foot of the mountains. When night set in, a heavy rain commenced falling, and the night was dark and stormy. It was a question of life or death : scouts thirsting for his blood were on every side, and every road: twice they had passed close to his retreat in the mountains, and he knew not what moment he might fall, into their hands. He, however, determined to come out into the valley, and seek relief. The first house he passed he knew to be the residence of a notorious Rebel. ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. 291 As lie was passing a narrow ravine near tliis lioiise, lie suddenly heard a soft and low whistle ; he instantly stood still, as if pierced to the heart, and transformed to stone. While deliberating what to do, the sound was repeated. It might be an enemy signaling to a comrade, or it might perchance be a friend. He seized his pistol and demanded, ''Who's there?" A voice replied . The Doctor thought he recognized both the name, ^and the voice to be those of a faithful negro boy, the pro- perty of the Eebel owner of the house near by. The negro inquired, -"'Are you Dr. Rucker?" "No," said the Doctor, " what do you know about Dr. Eucker ? — come closer." The negro half frightened, yet still con- fident, said, ''Your voice sounds mighty like de doc- tor's." He stepped forward, and -there was a mutual recognition, and short greetings. The loyal negro had come out to save his friend. He told him a guard was stationed on every road, and that he was completely surrounded ; the scouts had been at his master's house, the night before, and he overheard in their conversation that they were after Dr. Eucker, and expected to catch him on the road near by. He had determined to save him if possible, and for that purpose had watched for him in the ravine, where he had pro- vided some bread and meat. This the famished fuo;i- tive eagerly consumed, and then followed his faithful guide, who piloted him round three sets of pickets, and left him safe with a friend, several miles beyond. Thence he made his way across Green Briar Eiver, and was piloted to a concealed fortification, erected by the Union men and conscripts, who were w^ell armed, and determined to defend themselves till death. Dr. Eucker remained in this fortress two days, and 292 GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT MILNE. tlience in three days made his escape to Gauley Bridge, held by the Union troops, commanded by Captain Mer- riman of the 5th Virginia. From this post, the Doctor telegraphed to Secretary Stanton the fact of his escape. STORY LXXXVIIL GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT MILNE. I MUST not forget to mention the gallantry of a young officer in the ens^ao-ement at Lafourche, Louisiana. Ser- geant Henry Milne, of the 4th Wisconsin, was recently promoted to a first lieutenancy in the 1st Louisiana Na- tive Guard, (Heavy Artillery,) and detailed as assistant superintendent of Negro labor. Riding tlirough Lafourche one day, he gave infor- mation of the approach of the enemy to Colonel Stick- ney, of the 17th Massachusetts, the commanding officer of our forces, and informed him that he could success- fully manage the field-piece which stood before them. Although an entire stranger, in the emergency, he was appointed chief of artillery. He dismounted, and im- mediately commenced drilling the artillerists. AVhen the enemy's cavalry appeared, he loaded witli shell, trained the gun and fired. He killed two men, dismounted twelve, and killed two horses. At closer range he used only canister. The enemy charged upon the battery, but he cried, "Steady, boys," — and took good aim. Tlie contest had now become so close, tliat a Rebel soldi(>r had Ids liand clasped tight around tlie throat of 293 an infantry captain, ono of whose soldiers repulsed his impudence by thrusting his bayonet entirely throagli the Eebel's heart. Another ran up to Lieutenant Milne, placed his hand upon the gun and shouted, "Surrender!" "Never!" was the answer. "Hand me a shot, boys," said the Lieutenant. " Don't you fire that again !" screamed the Eebel. Lieutenant Milne, with the strength of a giant, hurled the ball at his antagonist, who fell dead at his feet. Kallying again, to the task before him, he loaded and fired with lightning-like rapidity, until the enemy were repulsed, and the victory won. His faithful horse lay dead under his gun, but eighteen dead butternuts bore him company. General Emory publicly announced his determination to promote the young hero, the gal- lant Lieutenant Milne. STORY LXXXIX. JOHN MORGAN'S RAID AGAIN. INCIDENTS FROM THE NEWSPAPERS. Near Corydon, Indiana, a minister, named Glenn, who owned the finest house in that section, fired upon the Rebels. He was dragged into the house by- his wife, who closed the doors. The Rebels burst open the door, wounded him through both thighs, set fire to the house, and left Glenn to perish in the flames. His wife and other ladies in the house, dragged him out to an orchard, and thus saved him from being roasted alive. Xear Maukport, they also killed Garrett 294 Hunt, and just above the town, tliey murdered Wm. Fraliee. The story runs that Morgan captured Wash. De Pauw, one of the weahhiest men of Southern Indiana, and said to him, " Sir, do you consider your flouring- mill worth $2,000 ?" Mr. De PauAv said he thought It was w^orth that. "Then," said the robber chief, "you can save it for the $2,000." Mr. De Pauw paid the money. "Now," proceeded Morgan, "do you think you woollen-mill is worth $3,000?" Mr. De Pauw admitted that it was probably worth more than that. "Well," said the Eebel, "you can have it for $3,000. And Mr. De Pauw took it. So they levied $5,000 on him. Near Corydon, William Heth, keeper of the toll-gate, fired on the Eebels. They shot him dead and burned his house. They also burned a fine stone-mill in the neighborhood ; and killed Caleb Thomas and Jeremiah Nance. Lieutenant Adams, of Morgan's band, with a squad, after burning a bridge north of Salem, went to a Quaker farmer's house, hard by, and called for some milk. The Friend demurely accompanied the Lieu.tenant to the spring-house, and told him to help himself and men. While drinking the milk, the following conversation occurred : Lieutenant Adams. " You're a Quaker, ain't you ?" Friend, {very soberly) " Yea." LieiUenant Adams. " Then you're an abolitionist ?" Friend. "Yea." Lienienant Adams, {fiercely) "A staunch Union man ?" Friend, {emphatically) "Yea." JOHN morgan's raid AGAIN. 295 Lieutenant Adams, (after a pause ^ " Got any Butter- nuts aroimd here?" Friend. "Yea." Lieutenant Adams. " Then, why don't you hang them ? We have a way of choking such people down our way. At Salem, after burning the depot, Morgan an- nounced his intention to burn all the mills and factories in the town, and issued orders to that effect. He after- wards reconsidered these orders,* and told the owners of such propert}^, that he AYOuld spare it upon the payment of §1,000 for each mill and factory. These levies upon the citizens were responded to, and the money paid over to the free-booter chief. This alone saved the town from a conflag^ration, which the location of the mills would have rendered inevitable. When Morgan took Colonel Craven, of Eipley, he behaved roughly at first. He asked Avhere the Colonel lived. "At Osgood," was the answer. "What, that little town on the railroad?" "Yes," said the Colonel. " Well," said Morgan, " I have just sent sixty men up there to burn the toAvn. " Burn and be d d," said the Colonel, " it isn't much of a toAA'n, any hoA7." Mor- gan Laughed heartily, at this answer, and said : " I like the Avay you talk, old felloAV," and released him, with the injunction to follow till the rear-guard had got past. At Dupont, la., the great John himself did not exhi- bit that chivalry, which in some quarters has" been claimed for him. He selected for his headquarters the residence of Mr. Samuel Stout. The family of Mr. Stout had retired, but were ordered to vacate their beds ; this done, they Avere soon occupied by Morgan and his 296 JOHN mor<3^an's raid again. staff. Mrs. Stout and lier daughters were ordered to prepare breakfast for the crowd, and have it ready pre- cisely at four o'clock. Mr. Stout was told to have every thing in the best manner, and under penalty of death to awaken his guests precisely at four. After partaking of a bountiful repast, Morgan ordered Stout to set out immediately, with his advance guard, as guide. Stout asked the privilege of taking a bite himself; before starting; but was informed that his present well-being required immediate and prompt action. He was at once placed on an old, sharp-backed horse, without a saddle, and started on a long trot. After travelling twelve miles, Mr. Stout informed his captors that his knowledge of the roads extended no further. He was permitted to dismount, a sorer, if not a wiser man, and find his way home on foot as best he could. Till now, in all his troubles and trials, one pleasing sensation would occasionally flit across the bewildered brain of Mr. Stout — Morgan had promised to reward him liberally ; but his visions of green-backs and gold eagles were not realized. The renowned chief had for- gotten his promise. One of the Rebels, says a correspondent of the Com- mercial, very cordially invited me to make a visit at his house, " when this cruel war is over." (My house was honored with thirty or forty Rebel guests.) I gave it as my opinion, that his chances for getting home, to receive compan}', were rather slim. He replied, saying, he supposed I would be pleased to hear that he and his comrades were all killed or cap- tured. T assured him he was correct in his supposition. " I like your honesty," was the RebeFs reply. JOHN MOEGAN's EAID AGAIN. 297 One of them expressed great disgust at "Northern sympathizers :" said he, " if they sympathize with the South, wliy don't the d d coAvardly traitors come and fight for us ?" Upon the whole, I think some good will result from Morgan's raid through Indiana and Ohio. Like a sudden clap of thunder, came Morgan among us, and passed off" to the east like a meteor, leaving the natives gazing after him in stupefied horror, rubbing their eyes, and wondering whether it was all the dream of a nightmare, or a reality. Quite a number of men and boys followed in Morgan train, keeping a safe dis- tance behind, however, hoping to recover their stolen horses. One old Pennsylvania Dutchman, who resides in this neighborhood, (East Sycamore, Hamilton County, 0.,) by some means, lost but one of his horses ; he mounted the other, and hastily pursued the flying Secesh. When near Batavia, he mingled a little too close with them, as may be proved from the fact tliat they took the horse he rode, Avith saddle and bridle. It is told that he gave vent to his injured feelings by saying to the 'Eeb,' who took his liorse, "that is my horse, I wish, him good luck. I wish he preak your neck." " What's that ?" thundered Secesh. " I wish my horse good luck. I wish he preak your G — t t — m neck," repeated the candid German, with the additional expletive. ^Morgan knew, before he crossed the river, who his friends Avere, and who had arms. Upon entering Cory- don, la., he showed a list (and so at. Salem,) of every citizen who had a Henry rifle, or other improved arm, and immediately sent patrols to bring them in. Where tlie K. G. C.'s were the thickest, there was full 298 JOHN" morgan's raid again. information in liis possession, of all lie wished to know ; bnt Avlien he got what he wanted, he treated his tools as badly as enemies, and bade them good-bye, by taking the horses with which they had followed to guide him. On his way through Butler County, Morgan rested a few minutes at the house of a peace Democrat. John, in conversation, learned that liis host had eight horses, and generously proposed to divide, taking four himself. The old man had to accede, and then asked advice, as to how to save the other four. The guerrilla chief told him that his rear-guard would be along in about ten hours, (calculating that Hobson would be along in that time,) and that he must cheer for Vallandig^ham and Jeff. Davis, to save his horseflesh. At the expected time, Hobson's men came along, and Mr. Butternut came out, cheering lustily, as directed. Hobson doesn't see the joke, but takes- off the remaining four horses. It was very wicked of Morgan to cheat and deceive an old admirer. In taking all the horses one gentleman had, there was one, a great favorite, which he begged might be spared, offering to pay over the full price for him. " Plow much do you value him at?" the gentleman was asked. " Two hundred dollars," was the reply. " Pro- duce it then, and you may keep your horse." No sooner was the money placed in the impudent rascal's hands, than he pocketed it, and led off the horse. George T , Jr., living between New Haven and Harrison, met Hobson's men, the morning after Morgan's forces went through, and believing them some of Mor- gan's men, luirrahcd for John IMorgan, and told them he was and had been- a Morgan man. A Union soldier called him to his side, and clubbed him with his car- l)ino, knocking his infernal butternut head nearly off. HOW JOHN MOEGAN GOT 300 HORSES. 299 STOEY XC. HOW JOHN MORGAN GOT 300 HORSES. John Morgan, durmo- his celebrated raid tliroiioii Indiana, took occasion to visit a little town, liard bj, with 350 of his guerrillas, while the main body was marching on. Dashing suddenly into the little "burgh," he found about 300 home-guards,, each having a good horse tied to the fences ; the men standing about in groups, await- ing orders from their aged captain, who appeared to be on the shady side of sixty. The hoosier boys looked at the men with astonish- ment, while the captain Avent up to one of the party and said: — " Whose company is this ?" " Wolford's cavalry," said the Eeb. '' What ? Kentucky boys ? We're glad to see you, boys. Where's Wolford ?" " There he sits," said a ragged, rough Eeb., pointing to Morgan, who was sitting sideways on his horse. The captain walked up to Wolford (as he and all thought), and saluted him : — " Captain, how are you?" " Bully ; how are you ? What are you going to do with all these men and horses ?" said Morgan, looking about. "Well, yoLi see that the d d horse-thieving John Morgan is in this part of the country, with a passel of cut- throats and thieves ; and between you and I, if he comes up this way. Captain, we'll give him the best we've got in the shop." 300 HOW JOHN- MOEGAN GOT 800 HOESES. " He's hard to catcli ; we've been after Mm for four- teen days, and can't see him at all/' said Morgan, good- humoredly. " Ef our hosses would stand fire, we'd be all right." "Won't they stand?" "No, Captain Wolford, 'spose while you're restin' here, you and your company put your saddles on our hosses, and go through a little evolution or two, by way of a lesson to our boys ? I'm told you're a hoss on the drill." And the only man Morgan is afraid of, Wolford (as it were), alighted, and ordered his " boys " to dismount, as he wanted to show the hoosier boys how to give Morgan a warm reception, should he chance to pay them a visit. This delighted the hoosier boys, so that they went to work, and assisted the men to tie their old, weary, worn- out bones to the fences, and place their saddles upon the backs of their fresh horses, which was soon done, and the men were in their saddles, drawn up in line, and ready for the word. The hojs were highly elated at the idea of having their " pet horses " trained for them by Wolford and his men, and more so, to think that they would stand fire, ever afterward. The old Captain advanced, and walking up to Wolford (as he thought), said, "Captain, are you all right now?" Wolford rode up one side of the column, and down the other, when he moved to the front, took ofi* his hat, paused, and said, "Now, Captain, I'm ready. If you and your gallant men Avish to Avitness an evolution, which you, perhaps, have never seen, form a line on each side of the road, and watch us closely, as we pass." CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. 301 The captain did as lie was directed. A lot of ladies were present on the occasion, and all Avas silent as a maiden's sigh. " Are jou ready ?" '' All right, Wolford," shouted the captain. " Forward P^ shouted Morgan, as the whole column rushed through the crowd, with lightning speed, amid the shouts and huzzas of all present — some leading a horse or two, as they went, leaving their frail tenements of horseflesh tied to the fences, to be provided for by the citizens. It soon became whispered about, that it was John Morgan and his gang ; and there was not a man in the town who would " own up " that he Avas gulled out of his horse. The company disbanded that night, though the captain, at last advices, still held the horses as prisoners of war, awaiting an exchange. STORY XCI CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. Early in January, 1864, Captain J. M. Anderson, of the 30th Ohio Infantry, Avho had been detailed as general recruiting of&cer for colored troops in Louisiana, applied to Major-Greneral McPherson, of the 17th Arm}^ Corps, at Vicksburg, for a company of men to make an excursion into the Tensas country, in Louisiana, for negro recruits. Aware of the difficulties and dangers of the under- taking, the Greneral declined giving him the force 2A 302 CAPTAIN Anderson's raid. desired; being fearful of their being captured: where- upon the Captain, nothing daunted, procured six negro recruits in A^icksburg, armed them with muskets, and accompanied by TV. P. Crockett, (son of the old hero, David Crockett,) as guide, and three Northern gentle- men, set out for AVaterproof, Louisiana, ninety miles doAvn the river. With this small, but indomitable party, with but six muskets and two pistols for tlieir entire armament, he landed at Waterproof, by night, and as a side opera- tion, captured a Eebel Lieutenant, a Surgeon, and two privates, who were attempting to cross the river into Mississippi. The captives confessed that they were of the party that had latel}^ fired into the Steamer Welcome, at that place. TLcy were consequently kept under a guard of two men, and delivered to the proper authority, as pri- soners of war, on the Captain's return. Immediately impressing, from the nearest plantation, a sufficient number of mules to mount his party, the Captain pushed on into the country, for Tensas Eiver, thirty-five miles distant. A short distance out he dis- covered, and gave chase to, three Rebel officers, but without s access, as the speed of their horses soon dis- tanced his mules. Continuing on, he gave notice to the negroes on his route, that he should cross the Tensas Eiver the coming night, for a train of mules and contrabands, and return on the following morning, at which time he notified them to be ready mounted, and return with him. Eiding his mules to the extent of their speed, and changing them three times on the journey, he reached the Tensas Eiver, at Kirk's Ferry, crossed on flat boats, CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. 803 and went five miles beyond, to the plantation of Cap- tain King, wlio was absent in the Confederate army. Withont delay, he divested the place of all the able- bodied negroes, mules, horses, and wagons, and with those who flocked to him, on the way, safely recrossed the river at sunset, and visited the plantation of Colonel Hall, friend and confederate of General Harrison, whose 400 cavalry were encamped within four miles. From Colonel Hall, he took his pistols, shot-gun — all his able- bodied negro men, with mules and horses sufficient to mount them. As was afterward learned, a courier got information from the negroes of his intended movements, escaped across the river, and informed the Eebels that the Yankees would recross the Tensas, by daylight in the morning, at the upper crossing. Whereupon, a force of thirty cavalry Avas sent thither, and lay in ambush till the following morning, to intercept the Captain and his party. Meanwhile the raiders had pushed on, capturing mules, horses, pistols, shot-guns, and negroes, and by a forced mai^ch, reached Waterproof, at daylight the next morning, (about thirty hours from the time he had left there,) with a train of over a hundred horses and mules, many wagons, and three hundred and fifty negroes. Here he encamped, and gathered forage, and provisions for the party. About eight o'clock, three negroes arrived on horse- back, announcing that the Eebel cavahy Avere only five miles in their rear, cautiously advancing, for fear of finding a gunboat ; but none was at hand for the Cap- tain's protection. He accordingly sent messengers im- mediately down the river road, to seek one, and send it 304 THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. up, saddled up^ and hastened down tlie river, where, about ten miles below, a gunboat came to his protec- tion, and conveyed the train to Yidalia, opposite Nat- chez, where the Steamboat Diligent was chartered, and took the entire party and train, including mules, horses, and negroes, to Yicksburg. STOEY XCII. THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. Some six or eight years previous to the commence- men of the Avar, a citizen of Massachusetts being unjustly suspected of a crime, suffered the loss of friends, busi- ness, and reputation, which, being unable or unwilling to bear up against, he determined on changing his location. Accordingl}^, having so disposed his property that it could be easily managed by his wife, he suddenly dis- appeared, leaving her a comfortable home and the care of two boys of the ages of ten and twelve years. The first fear that he had soug^ht a violent death, was partly dispelled by the orderly arrangement of his affairs, and tlie discovery that a daguerreotype of the family-group was niissing from the parlor-table. ISTot much effort was made to trace the fugitive. When, afterward, facts were developed wliich estab- lished his innocence of the crime charged, it was found impossible to communicate with him; and, as the publi- cation of the story in several widely circulated papers failed to recall him., lie was generally supposed to be dead. THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. 805 At the outbreak of the war, his eldest son, who had become a young man, was induced by a friend, a Cap- tain in a Western regiment, to enlist in his company. He carried himself well through campaigns in Missouri and Tennessee, and after the capture of Fort Donelson, was rewarded Avith a First Lieutenant's commission. At the battle of Murfreesboro he was wounded in the left arm, but so slightly that he was still able to take care of a squad of wounded prisoners. While performing this duty, he became aware that one of them, a middle-aged man, with a full, heavy beard, was looking at him with fixed attention. The day after the fight, as the officer was passing, the sol- dier gave the military salute, and said : " A word with you, if you please, sir. You remind me of an old friend. Are you from New England?" "lam." "From Massachusetts?" "Yes." "And your name?" The young Lieutenant told his name, and how he came to serve in a AYestern regiment. " I thought so," said the soldier, and turning away, he was silent. Although his curiosity was much ex- cited by the soldier's manner, the officer forbore to question him and withdrew. But, in the afternoon, he took occasion to renew the conversation, and expressed the interest awakened in him by the incident of the morning. "I knew your father," said the prisoner; " is he well?" "We have not seen him for years," said the Lieu- tenant ; " we think he is dead. Then followed such an explanation of the circum- 20 306 GEXERAL XELSOX AT PITTSBURG LANDING. Stances of his disappearance as the young man could give. He had never kaown the precise nature of the charges against his father, but was able to make it quite clear that his innocence was established. '^ I knew your mother, also," continued the soldier ; " I was in love Avith her when she married your father." " I have a letter from her, dated ten days ago," said the Lieutenant. "My brother is a nine months' man in New Orleans." After a little desultory conversation, the soldier took from under his coat a leathern wallet, and disclosed a daguerreotype case. The hasp was gone, and the cor- ners were rounded by wear. " Will you oblige me," he said, " by looking at this, alone, in your tent?" Agitated, almost beyond control, the young officer took the case, and hurried away. He had seen the pic- ture before. It represented a man and a woman sitting side by side, with a boy at the knee of each. The romantic story moved the commander of the division to grant the young man a furlough, and both father and son reached home in a few days after. The reader is left to imagine the sequel. STORY XCIII • GENERAL NELSON AT PITTSBURG LANDING. It was nearly sunset when Nelson, at the head of his troops, landed on the west 'bank of the river, in the midst of the conflict. The landing and shore of the GENERAL NELSON AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 307 river, up and cloY\'n, were covered with demoralized and beaten soldiers, whom no appeals or efforts conld ralley. Kelson with difficulty forced his way through the crowd, shaming them for their cowardice as he passed — rode upon a knoll overlooking his disembarking men, and cried out in stentorian tones : " Colonel A., have 3^ou your regiment formed?" "In a moment. General," was the reply. " Be quick ; time is precious ; moments are golden." "T am ready, now, General." "Forward — march !" was the command, and the gallant 6th Ohio was led quickly to the field. That night Nelson asked Captan Guynne, of the Tyler, "to send him a bottle of wine, and a box of cigars ; for to-morrow I Avill show you a man-of-war fight." During the night Buell came up, and crossed the river, and by daylight next morning, our forces attacked Beauregard, and then was fought the desperate battle of Shiloh. Up till 12 M. we had gained no decided ad- vantage ; in fact, the desperate courage of the enemy had caused us to fall back. General Buell now came to the front, and held a hasty consultation with his Generals. They decided to charge the Eebels, and drive them back. Nelson rode rapidly to the head of his column, his gigantic figure conspicuous to the enemy in front, and in a voice that rang like a trumpet over the clangor of battle, called for four of his finest regiments in succession — the 21th Ohio: 36th Indiana: 17th Kentucky : and 6th Ohio. "Trail arms — forward — double-quick time — march!" — and away with thundering cheers, went those gallant boys. The brave Captain, now Brigadier- General Ter- rell, who alone was left untouched of all his battery, 308 SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON. mounted his horse, and with wild huzzas, rode with Nel- son upon the foe. It was the decisive moment : it was like Wellington's "Up, guards, and at them!" The enemy broke, and their retreat commenced. " That was the happiest mo- ment of my life," said the officer, my informant, " when Nelson called my regiment to make that grand charge." Let the country mourn the sad fate of General Nel- son ; he was a loyal Kentuckian ; fought gallantly the battles of his country ; earned all his distinction by gal- lant deeds. All his faults were those of a commander anxious to secure the highest efficiency of his troops, by the most rigid discipline of his officers, and in this severe duty he at last lost his life. » SKETCH OF GENEEAL NELSON. Major-General William Nelson was a native of Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. He entered the Naval School, at Annapolis, at the age of fifteen, and graduating, was appointed a Midshipman in the United States Navy, January 28th, 1840. He was first at- tached to the Sloop -of- war Yorktown, in commission for the Pacific, and soon after joined the Pacific squad- ron, under Commodore T. Ap Catesby Jones. In 1845, he Avas commissioned as passed Midshipman, and ordered to the Frigate Paritan, forty-four guns, attached to the Home Squadron, under Commodore David Conner. In 1847, he was made Acting Master of the Steamer Scourge, a three gun vessel in the Home Squadron, l!i;^n commanded by Commodore Perry. During the Mexican war, he commanded a navy battery at the SKETCH ON GENERAL NELSON. 309 siege of Yera Cruz, and won a liigh reputation as an artillerist. Subsequently lie commanded the Steamer Michigan, a one-gun vessel, running up and down the lakes. Shortly after his appointment, he was transferred to the flag ship of Commodore Morgan, the Independence, a fifty-fonr-gun razeed ship of the line, of the Mediter- ranean squadron. He was afterward transferred to the Cumberland, a forty-four-gun frigate, and at length re- turned home in the Mississippi, of ten guns. Captain Long, which brought over Kossuth. In April, 1855, he was commissioned Lieutenant, and put in command of the Store Ship Fredonia, of four guns, attached to the Pacific squadron. lie returned home in 1857, and went in 1858 in the Niagara, to return to Africa the negroes taken from the Steamer Echo. He was next ordered on the St. Louis, a war sloop of twenty guns, Commander Ogden, of the Home Squadron, where he remained until May, 1860, when he was ordered home, and at the commencement of 1861, was reported in the Navy Eegister as being on ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard. At the commencement of the Rebellion he was de- tached from the Navy Department, and placed on special duty in the War Department. In the spring of 1861, he was detailed to command the Ohio River fleet of gunboats. While on the Ohio River, in consideration of his ex- tensive acquaintance with the people of Kentucky, and his large relationship in that State, he was considered the person, during the ill health of General Anderson, to be sent into Kentucky, to sound the loyal sentiment there, and strengthen it. 310 SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON. In April he Avent tliitlicr^ and began the formation of a camp, and the recrniting of troops, at a point between Garrardsville and Danville, Avhich was named " Camp Dick Eobinson." He afterward formed a camp at AYash- ington. Mason County, and others at other points, and was highly successful in raising and organizing troops. He was next engaged in pursuit of the Eebels in the mountainous regions of Eastern Kentucky, defeating them on several occasions. He also fought and whipped Humphrey Marshall repeatedly. He afterward was ap- l^ointed to command the 2d Division of General Buell's army, advancing with him through Kentucky and Ten- nessee, actiDg as Major- General, though commissioned as a Bricradier. a He j^articipated in the battle of Shiloh, at Pittsburg Landing, where his bravery was conspicuous. He com- manded in person at the battle of Eichmond, Kentucky, was wounded, and being partially recovered, returned to Louisville, and took command of the forces there; having been, in the interim, made Major-General of volunteers. He was a man about forty years of age, of massive, line ijliysir[ue, of commanding presence, and imperious manners, which last resulted in his death, on the morn- ing of the 29th of September, at the Gait House, in Louisville, at the hands of Brigadier-General J. C. Davis, who shot him with a pistol in the abdomen. His death ensued in half an hour. FOKAGING EXPLOIT. 31? STOKY XCI-Y FORAGING EXPLOIT. After the battle and capture of Mission Eiclge, Gen- eral Palmer pushed his division forward in the direction of GraysvillC; and after securing a large number of arms and provisions, encamped on the north side of Chigka- mauga, and three-fourths of a mile from Graysville. Major D. W. Norton and Lieutenant J. W. Shaw, of the General's staff* were in want of forage for their horses, and crossed the river, with an orderly, on a mid- night forage. Arriving at Graysville, they reconnoi- tered the houses in search of corn, looked in through a window, and discovered seven Eebels asleep before the fire, with their guns stacked. Entering very quietly, they removed the guns, and then awakened the Eebels ; who, springing up, asked— " How far back is the enemy ?" "If you mean the Yankees," replied the Major, "they are not very far." Rebel " What do you mean ?" Major. "I mean that you are our prisoners." The Eebels started for the place where they had de- posited their guns; when the AEajor and Lieutenant drew their revolvers, and ordered them to lie down; informing them that they had the house surrounded, and would stand guard till morning, when they would be sent in. The Eebels obeyed the order, and prepared to finish their nap. Leaving them to sleep, the officers went out, dispatched the orderly for reinforcements, entered other 312 CLINTON WATERS, THE SCOUT. liOLises, wlio]-c tlicy secured more in a similar manner, and when the guard arrived, turned over nineteen Rebel prisoners, that ihey had taken by their sharp strategy, amono- whom were four commissioned officers. o Other houses were searched, in which Rebels were found, and at one o'clock the officers returned to Grene- ral Palmer's camp, with about one hundred prisoners. The exploit was a daring one, and highly pleased " Old Pap," as the boys of the 14th Corps style their popular commander. STORY XCY. CLINTON WATERS, THE SCOUT. Clinton Waters, a member of the 17th Indiana regiment, probably performed as much scouting as any man in the Army of the Cumberland. Just before the entry of our army into Chattanooga, Colonel Wilder, Avith liis conniuuid, was on the north side of the river, awaiting the development of the ene- my's movements, which were such as to excite suspicion. Waters was selected for the duty of obtaining in- formation, and permitted to take his own course. An opportunity soon presented itself The following day our soldiers Avere bathing in the river, on the north side. I'he Rebels came down the southern bank, stripped themselves, and plunged in. A few minutes later the soldiers of the two armies were mingling together in the river, cracking their jokes and enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. Grad- ually Waters made his way to tlie south bank, and by freely expressing his joy at tlie kind reception given hy CLINTON WATEKS, THE SCOUT. 313 the Yankees, excited no suspicion. Arriving at the bank, he leisurely put himself into a suit of Eebel uniform, and made his way up through the town. After mingling with the men, he learned the exact state of affairs, and turned toward the river. As he passed the guards, he observed that they eyed him sus- piciously, and having learned all that was of importance, he reached the river, plunged boldly in, swam across, and soon after presented himself at the Colonel's head- quarters, with the information that the town had been evacuated by Bragg, and that but four regiments of cavalry, and a small force of infantry remained. Waters soon exchanged his Rebel suit for his own dry clothes^ but did not return the stolen wardrobe. A subsequent exploit is also worthy of record, show- ing, as it does, the happy faculty he possessed to improve the opportunities offered. On the day of Wilder's fight with Pegram, at Rock Springs, Georgia, "Waters was captured while carrying a message. He was sent to Richmond, imprisoned, but bribed a Rebel with a gold watch he had concealed, to permit him to act as nurse. Shortly after, an order came for the exchange of some of the prisoners, and, being under charge as a spy, he was determined to escape. Providing himself with a pair of crutches on the day of the exchange, he bandaged his legs, scratched his face, applied court-plaster, and otherwise assumed the appearance of a wounded prisoner. The inmates of his hospital were ordered out, and, assuming the name of a deceased comrade, he succeeded in gaining an exchange, and in due course of time arrived ISTorth. He subsequently raised a company for the 123d Indiana, of which he became Captain. 2B 314 TOEFEDO EXPLOSIOX. STOKY XCVI. TORPEDO EXPLOSION. O^T the 4tli of August, 1863, an expedition left For- tress Monroe, under the direction of Major-General Foster, accompanied by the turreted iron-clad Saga- mon, and gunboats Commodore Barney and Cohasset, and proceeded up James river. When within seven miles of Fort Darling, at a point called Dutch Gap, a torpedo was exploded under the bow of the Commodore Barney, by a lock strongly connected with the shore. The explosion was terrific. It lifted the gun-boat's bow ten feet out of the water, and threw large quanti- ties of water high into the air, which, falling on deck, washed overboard fifteen of the crew. Among them was Lieutenant Cushing, Commander of the Barney. Two sailors were drowned, and the rest were saved. Major-General Foster was on board when the explosion took place. The enemy then opened on them from the shore with 12-pound field-pieces. The Barney was penetrated by fifteen shots, besides a great number of musket-balls, but not a man was injured except the Paymaster, who was slightly wounded by splinters. The gunboat Cohasset received five 12 -pound shots, one of which passed through her pilot-house, instantly killing her commander, Acting-Master Cox, striking him in the back. The object of the reconnoisance being effected, the fleet returned. The Barney went to Newport News for repairs. HOW A GUEERILLA CAME TO GRIEF. 315 STOEY XCVII. now A GUERRILLA CAME TO GRIEF. I^ tlie fall of 1862, Samuel A. High, a notorious West Yirginia guerrilla, who had long been a terror to the loyal people of Hampshire and adjoining coun- ties, for some unknown reason, surrendered himself to the authorities ; who, from motives equally inexpli- cable, knowing him to be a murderer and highway robber, set him at liberty ; after Avhich, he* engaged in kidnapping Union men. On Saturday night, late in October, Mr. John IST. Spencer, of Mill Creek, was laying in the woods, as all loyal men in that region then had to do. The night being rainy, Mr. Spencer became wet and cold, and went to his house and made a fire, when High, and nine or ten other, who seemed to have been waiting for him, rushed from the woods into the house, and seized Spen- cer, and started off' with him in search of another loyal man, near by on the way. High and one of his comrades got up a dispute, as to who should shoot Spencer, but coming to a brother-in- law of High's, High and two others stopped to take care of Spencer, and sent the others on. They Avent into the house, High and the guards set their guns down, and all gathered around the fire. Spencer, in the mean time, not feeling quite easy after the dispute above alluded to, under the pretence of being too warm, slipped his chair back until he could reach High's gun, in which he succeeded, and in a moment the notorious High was a corpse before him. 316 ESC A RE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. Spencer, taking advantage of the consternation of High's two accomplices, made his escape, taking with him High's gun, a hunting rifle. The guards, mean- time, broke and ran after their comrades. Spencer immediately started for New Creek Station, where he arrived in safety with his prize-the gun. He was greeted as the hero of the times, all rejoicing that High's race was run. STOEY XCYIII ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR, OF OHIO, AND OTHERS, FROM RICHMOND. Mr. Murphy, learning that his wife was in deep dis- tress at his imprisonment, determined to effect his escape, and in concert with Lieutenant Raynor, and Captain Hurd, devised a plan. They observed that the surgeons were permitted to pass in and out without obstructions, they being dis- tinguished by a bit of red ribbon ; and as the sentinels were changed every two hours, they could pass by the guard as surgeons, provided they could get the neces- sary badge. Tearing a bit of red flannel from one of their shirts, and putting it on his coat. Lieutenant Raynor passed out without difficulty, and by a previous arrangement, he made a purchase of a pocket compass, and a map of Virginia. Mr. Murphy and Captain Hurd passed out on the next relief, by the same means, and met Lieutenant Raynor on the corner of a neighboring street. This was about eight o'clock. ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. 317 Their plan was to strike a northeast direction from Eichmond, and crossing the Eappahannock, to reach the Potomac, where they expected to reach onr fleet. This they successfully accomplished, after great priva tion and suffering, extending through several days, of which the followins: is a brief narrative : After going half a mile beyond the city limits, they struck the Union turnpike, which they followed out. Owing to the darkness, they successively ran upon a toll-gate, guarded by soldiers, and a breast- work with cannon, from which they retreated, and succeeded in turning, unperceived, through neighboring fields. They met country wagons, all of which they avoided. After travelling fifteen miles, as daylight dawned they went to sleep in the woods. At nine o'clock in the morning they resumed their march, keeping in the woods, however, as long as daylight lasted. They eat during the day their only food, a sandwich each, which they had brought with them. The second night they crossed the Chickahominy river on a mill-dam, and continued their march till day- light, when they reached a large plantation, and nearly encountered a number of negroes going to their work. They succeeded in avoiding them, and continued their journey during the day, crossing the Pamunkey river by means of a raft, which they constructed. They then built a fire in the woods and made a good meal of roasted corn and potatoes, both of which they had secured in fields on their route. During their whole route, the roads frequently took them out of their course ; in which case they would abandon them, and guided by their compass would go across the country till they struck another road which suited their destina- 318 ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. tion. Generall}^, they slept during tlie day, doing most of their travelling by night, and of course at times suf- fering terribly from hunger, thirst and insects. On Saturday they succeeded in crossing the bridge over the Mattapony river, ^\dthout attracting observation. Their map, of course, was of but little use to them as regarded the details of the country through which they were travelling, and they were at a loss to deter- mine where they were. On one of the roads they came to a cou.ntry store, on which they discovered by moon- light a notice posted, which they tore off and took with them to the woods. On lighting a piece of candle, they discovered it to be a notice to the creditors of the late General Garnet, who was killed in Western Virginia, to present their claims at Bowling Green, in Carolina county. This saved them the risk of making personal enquiries as to where they Avere, which they had determined to do the next morning. On that night they met a negro in the woods, but they passed by each other without salutation. They were assisted too, by the inspection of a guide-board, and at this point a negro came suddenly upon them unawares, but in a seeming fright ran away. Fearing that he might give the alarm, they ran for a long dis- tance, that they might be beyond the danger of pursuit. On Wednesday morning, about two o'clock, they reached the Rappahannock where they fortunately found a small boat. Mr. Murphy took off his shoes in passing through a small village near the river, that he might avoid making any noise, and in getting into the boat he accidentally left his shoes on the river bank. This was the occasion of much subsequent suffering, as he HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 319 had to perform the remainder of the journey barefooted, by which his feet became terribly bruised and swollen. Having crossed the Eappahannock they started for the Potomac, and had travelled but a short distance when they found themselves upon the margin of a deep swamp, through which they were compelled to wade in mud knee- deep for half a mile. They continued on their course until they came in sight of the Potomac. They encountered a party of negroes unexpectedly, and were compelled to speak or be subjects of suspicion. They enquired for a boat to carry them across the river, announcing themselves to be Confederate officers, ob- tained a boat and found one of our vessels, which took them on board, thus ending their perilous and fatiguing journey, their bold, hazardous, and successful adventure from gloomy prison walls to liberty and life. STOEY XCIX. HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. The following account of the manner in which a blockade runner Avas caught, is extracted from an English Magazine, and was probably written by an Englishman ; who, with several others, was anxious for a safe passage from Nassau to Dixie. Finding a steamer about to sail, he inquired of the Captain, " When do you start ?" The commander's voice sunk to a whisper, as he told me that at sunset every landsman must come on board, taking boat at some secluded jetty to avoid prying eyes ; and using 320 HOW A BLOCKADE KUXKER WAS CAUGHT. all reasonable caution, since Nassau teamed with North- ern spies. Half an hour after sunset he was to hoist a signal, which was to be replied to ; and then the pilot would come off, and the steamer would stand out to sea. "After dark," muttered Pritcharcl, with an oath, " we may hope to get past that Yankee thief that hangs about the island. The Governor bade her keep at the distance of one marine league, but she's always sneaking in — now for coal, now for bread, now because her engine is out of order; and the United States consul communi- cates Avith her every day. I tell you, shipmate, there isn't one of us that isn't dogged up and down by rascals in Federal hire. See there ! that mulatto hound has been, after me these four daj^s," pointing to a dark-com- lexioned fellow, in the dress of a stevedore, who, on seeing himself observed, as he stood under the geranium hedge, lay down with well-feigned nonchalance, and lit his pipe. I found a good deal of quiet bustle and suppressed excitement on board the Bonnybell. The fires were bunked up, the swarthy faces and red shirts of the en- gineer and his gang, were visible at the hatch of their Cyclopean den, getting a breath of the cool breeze before starting. Some brass guns, that had been hidden under fruit-baskets, hen-coops, and tarpaulins, were visible enough now: and beside them lay piled little heaps of round shot. The crew bustled to and fro, and the Captain was so busy, that he could but return a brief word and a nod to my greeting. The sky grew darker, and surrounding objects dimmer, every instant. Before long the passengers arrived. Several Southern gentlemen, a few ladies and children, all making their HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 821 way back from Europe, to tlieir homes in Carolina and Virginia, by this dangerous route ; and all in danger of imprisonment at least, if captured. By the uncertain light, I could see that most of them were pale and nervous : but they talked in an under- tone among themselves, and did not appear anxious to converse with strangers. "Get up steam I" By this time the hoarse roar of the escaping vapor grew loud and menacing, there was a fresh bustle on deck, and I heard the Captain give orders to stand by for slipping from the moorings, and to hoist the signal, as we only waited for the pilot. " There they are, sleek and right — three red lights, and a green one," murmu.red a tall Virginian, at my elbow; and looking up, I saw the colored lamps glim- mer from the mast head. Instantly, they were answered by a similar signal from some window on shore. " Vv^e'll soon see the pilot now," said Pritchard, rub- bing his hands in a cheery manner ; " the signal's made and repeated. In ten minutes our man will be with us. Helloa! — boat ahoy! — what d'ye want?" "Bonneybell ahoy!" was the rejoinder, in a shrill, harsh voice, cautiously lowered for the occasion, — " pilot wants to come on board." There was a stir, and a start of surprise, among those on deck ; and as a rope was thrown down to the boat- men. Captain Pritchard bent over the side, exclaming : "You're uncommon quick, my hearty. If you've come from shore since the lights Avere hoisted, you must be own cousin to the flying Dutchman. Are you sure you're our pilot?" " I'm the pilot engaged by Colonel Jeremy Carter, of Spottsylvania, if that'll do," answered a very tall, bony, 322 HOW A BLOCKADE RUNXER WAS CAUGHT. black-liairecl man, as he actively ascended the side. "Zack Foster's mj namC; and I know every inch about Charleston where I Avas raised." While the Captain — reassured by the mention of Colonel Carter's name — gave hasty orders to cast off the cable and go ahead, I, in common with the rest of the passengers, and the unoccupied portion of the crew, looked with much interest at the new- corner. The latter was about forty years of age, long and lean of figure, with a hardy, sun-burned face. There was no mistaking the resolute air and daring of the man. His mouth was as firm as iron, though a little dry humor seemed to lurk about his lips, and I hardly liked the expression of his half- shut eyes, which had a lazy cun- ning in their dark glance. Still, though dressed in a black suit of shore- going clothes, and a swallow- tailed coat, of antiquated cut, there was something about Mr. Zack Foster that spoke the thorough-bred seaman. He took no share in the proceedings, for his duty did not begin till we were clear of Nassau Eoadstead ; but yet he seemed impatient for the start, gnawing viciously at his quid, and drumming on the taffrail, Avith a finger that seemed as hard and brown as bronze. It was an anxious time, when the Bonnybell, under a full head of steani, went darting out of the bay, her lookout straining their eyes to pierce the mist, and give warning to the helmsman of vessels ahead; while Pritchard walked to and fro, too fidgetty and eager to endure conversation, listening every instant for some sound that was to indicate that the Federal cruizer had taken the alarm. But on we went Avithout check or hindrance, and all drew our breath more freely, as the lights of the town, began one by one to vanish, as if the HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 823 sea liad swallowed them, and the dark head-lauds faded away into obscurity. The American gunboat was neither seen nor felt; a circumstance which I did not the less regret, because I perceived, not only by the display of the cannon alluded to, but by the resolute demeanor of several of the crew, who stood grouped about a couple of uncov- ered arm-chests, that our pigmy foe would not have found an entirely unresisting prize. One slight circumstance, hardly, as I thought worth mentioning, did occur before we had run half a mile to seaward. There came a long, faint hail, from so great a distance as to be hardly distinguishable, even by a sailor's practiced ear, but which was announced to be addressed to us. " Some boat, perhaps, with a message for a passenger. The lubbers deserve rope's-ending for being so late — can I lie-to safely, do j^ou think?" said Pritchard to the pilot, irresolutely, and giving the word, "Slacken speed." What the pilot answered I know not. I only caught the concluding phrase — " Yankee tricks ; so Cap you'd best look sharp about you." So Pritchard thought. He gave the word to go at full speed, and we heard no more about the matter. The run was speedy and pleasant, over a dimpling summer sea, with no boisterous behavior on Neptune's part, to make even the lady passengers uneasy. We saw several vessels, but none of a hostile character ; and the voyage was as agreeable and safe hitherto, as any yachting excursion in holiday waters. We were all disposed to be pleased, and the pilot, although a satur- nine and m_orose personage, viewed through this rose- 324 now A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. colored haze of satisfaction and hope, became a popular man on board, Captain Pritcbard pronounced bim wortb bis weigbt in gold ; for if tbere were no gales, or rougb seas to tbwart our purpose, fogs were ratber frequent, and bere tbe pilot's intimate acquaintance witb tbe rocks, sboals, and islets — many of wbicb were not noted down in tbe cbart — more tban once saved tbe Bonny bell from an "Ugly tbnmp upon some bidden obstacle. For an American, Zack Foster was singularly silent ; yet tbere was sometbing elepbantine about bis bigb forebead and narrow dark eyes, wbicb suggested shrewd- ness, ratber tban vanity. lie did bis work, answered wben spoken to, but seldom addressed any one. " Land-bo I" sung out tbe look-out man at tbe mast- bead, and Pritcbard and tbe pilot, wbo were pouring together over the map, close to the binnacle, looked up, while tbe passengers edged nearer to bear tbe news. Pritcbard lifted his telescope, while Foster went aloft for a better view ! " Land-ho !" " Edisto Island, as I said. Cap !" bailed tbe pilot ; " and beyond it is tbe Carolina coast. We're close to home, gentlemen and ladies." Tbere was a cheer from the little group gathered near tbe helm, but directly afterward came two shrill cries of " sail bo !" "Uncle Sam's breakers. "We must put out a few miles yet. Cap.," said tbe pilot, as be leisurely descended the rope ladder. There were many good glasses on board, and we all gazed eagerly through them, and witb beating hearts we recognised the port-holes, the grinning I HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 325 cannon, the " star-spangled flags," and warlike display of the Federal blockading squadron." The steamer was put about, and we stood further out, until shore and ships were alike lost to view. The dis- appointment of the passengers, who had been granted a mere glimpse of the land, that to them was home, was considerable ; but none could doubt the prudence of de- laying our entrance into Charleston harbor until night should assist us in eluding the hostile war vessels. There was no going to bed on the Bonnybell that night ; we all kept to the deck, gazing eagerly out over the sparkling and phosphorescent sea, glimmering and glancing with St. Elmo's fires. There was a pale 3^oung moon — a mere sickle of silver — in the sky; and objects were so faintly discernible, that the utmost caution was necessar)r. The second mate took the helm, while the first mate superintended the almost constant heaving of the lead, and the captain and pilot stood on the forecastle, noting the replies of the sailor, chaunted, as they were, in a shrill monotone, in accordance with old custom. " Ten fathoms, sheer ! By the deep, nine ! By the mark, seven !" called out the leadsman from the chains. "Water allers does shoal here, Cap. I know the channel, though, as Avell as I know my parlor ashore, at N'antucket — at Savannah, I mean," said the pilot, with some confusion. "By the mark, five!" was the next call. Captain Pritchard here grew uneasy. He did not pretend to equal the pilot in local knowledge, but he was too good a seaman not to take alarm at the abrupt lessening of the depth. of water. He gave orders to reduce the speed, and we moved but slowly on, the lead ejoing as before, 20 826 HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. "Are you sure, Mr. Foster, you're not mistaken? It seems to me the water shoals at the rate of a fathom for every hundred yards traversed. We may have missed the Swash, left Moultrie to leeward, and got into the net- work of sand banks, near. Hilloa! what's that ahead of us ? Boats, as I'm a sinner 1" At the same moment the pilot thrust his hand rapidly into the breast of his coat, drew out something, and flung it on the deck, vv^here it instantly began to sputter and hiss, and directly afterward, the livid glare of a blue- li2:ht flashed throuo^h the darkness, showin2r funnel and rigging, the pale faces of the passengers, the narrow channel of fretted water, and the sandy islets on either bow. Nor was this all, for by the ghastly light we could distinguish two dark objects on the foamy sea ahead of us — boats full of men pulling swiftly, but noiselessly toward us, and no doubt with muffled oars. " By the mark, two ! — shoal water — we're aground I" cried an ill-boding voice, that of the sailor in the chains ; and the Bonnybell came suddenly to a check, throAvmg most of the landsmen from their feet, while the ominous scrooping of the keel told that the steamer was aground. A loud claiuor instantly arose — many voices shout- ing at once, in tones of inquiry, dismay, or command ; and even above this turmoil arose the hurrah of those who manned the boats, and who now came dashing up, pulling and cheering like madmen. "Treachery! treachery!" cried several of the passen- gers and crew, pointing to where the pilot stood beside the blue-light, that his own perfidious hand had kin- dled ; while already the man-of-war's men, for such we could not doubt them to be, began to scramble on board. HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 827 " The Yankee bloocl-liounds sure enongli ; but you sTiall not live to share the prize-money!" exclaimed Pritchard, snatching up a hand-spike, and aiming a blow at Mr. Zack Foster, that would have been a lethal stroke had not that astute person swerved aside, re- ceiving the weapon on his left shoulder. Our men set up a faint cheer, and a shot was fired, luckil}^ without effect. But resistance would have been madness, so thickly did the American sailors crowd up our gangway, their pistols and cutlasses ready for the fray ; while among them were nine or ten marines, well- armed with musket and bayonet, and who drove the Bonnybell's crew below hatches without any serious show of fighting. The Federal Lieutenant in command, to do him jus- tice, seemed anxious that no needless violence should be used, while proclaiming the vessel a prize to the boats of the United States war-brig Dacotah, he yet restrained the fury of that precious guide, Mr. Zack Foster, who had recovered from the effect of his knock- down blow, drawn a bowie-knife, and rushed upon Pritchard, who was struggling in the hands of his captors. " Gently, sir," said the Lieutenant ; '^ gently Quarter- master Fitch. These caged birds are under Uncle Sam's protection, and I cannot allow any ill-usage of my prisoners. Do you hear me, sir?" " Quartermaster !" exclaimed poor Captain Pritchard, as his wrists were thrust into the handcuffs. "You don't mean that double-dyed villain, that Judas of a pilot, is a Yankee petty officer after all? I wish I'd only guessed the truth a few hours back, and — if I swung for it — I'd have chucked the spy overboard as I would a mangy puppy." 828 ESCAPE FKOM LIBBY PKISOX. The Lieutenant made no answer, but ordered tlie Captain and mates sent below, and proceeded at once to seize the steamer's papers^ to place the passengers mider arrest; and to take steps to get the Bonnybell off the sand-bank. He then compelled the ngineer to set the machinery at work, and we ran down, under the skillful pilotage of Mr. Fitch, to Edisto Island, in which anchorage we came to ou.r moorings under the guns of the Dacotah, and within a short distance of several other vessels of the blockading squadron. STORY C. ESCAPE FROM LIBBT PRISON. Early in December, 1863, the Union officers con- fined in Libby Prison conceived the idea of effecting their escape ; and after the matter had been seriously discussed by a few of them, they undertook to tunnel out, by commencing operations in the cellar, near a chimney ; the cellar being under the hospital, and used as a receptacle of straw, thrown from the beds Avhen changed, and for other refuse matter. Those who were in the secret improvised a rope, and by removing a few stones from the chimney, nightly let working parties down into the cellar, who from thence prosecuted their projected excavation, hiding the dirt under the straw, after tramping it down, so as not to attract observation. As the work progressed, a spittoon from the officer's room with a strin^: attached was used for hauling the ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 329 dirt out, as filled by the digger, and returned empty by similar means. After digging several feet with fingers, knives and chisels, the workers were stopped by piles driven in the ground, at least a foot in diameter. Undismayed, however, by this obstacle, such knives as were to be had were put in requisition, and after a tedious and laborious operation, a passage was effected through them, and then in a few moments the tunnels reached the sewer. But here, the stench of the sewers, and the flow of filthy water, proved an insurmountable obstacle to men whom neither earth nor wood could check, and the pro- ject in that direction was necessarily abandoned. Communicating their failure to others, a party of seven- teen, after viewing the premises and surroundings, con- cluded to tunnel under Carey street, on the opposite side of which was a carriage house, under Avhich they proposed to emerge. There was a high fence around it, the guard being on the outside of it. The prisoners then com- menced digging on the other side of the chimney, but were soon stopped b}'- a stone wall three feet thick. Knives were again called into requisition, by the dili- gent use of which, nineteen days and nights upon the mortar, enabling them to remove the stones, a passage through the wall was effected, and excavation resumed on the other side. After digging some days it was thought the point must be nearly reached for coming out ; and to test the matter. Captain Gallagher, of the 2d Ohio regiment, under pretence of having a box in the carriage house, for which he wished to search, (that place being the receptacle for goods sent the prisoners from the ISTorth,) 380 ESCAPE FKOM LIBBY PRISON". was permitted to go, under guard, to the carriage liouse ; and in passing paced the distance as well as lie could, without exciting suspicion, and concluded that the street was about fifty feet in width. On the 6tli or 7th of February, concluding they had gone far enough, the workers commenced digging up- ward, when hearing the guards talking above them, they found that they were yet a few feet outside the fence. A small hole was made up through the surface of the ground by the falling in of a stone, the noise of which was heard by a sentinel, who asking his comrade what it meant, they after listening aAvhile concluded it was rats, and proceeded on their beats. The hole was stopped with an old pair of pantaloons filled with straw, and supported by boards brought from the prison. The tunnel was then continued six or seven feet fur- ther, and feelinar assured that there was no further impediment to their emerging into daylight, the working party informed others in the prison that there was a way open for escape. One hundred and nine of them decided to make the attempt. Others, fearing the con- sequ«nces of recapture, declined. On the evening of the 9th of February, about half- past eight o'clock, the prisoners started out, Colonel Eose, of New York, leading the van. Before going out they had divided themselves into squads of two, three, and four, and each squad was to take a different route, after getting out, and to push for the Union lines. The aperture was so narrow, that but one man could go out at a time, and each squad carried provisions with them in a haversack. Colonel W. P. Kendrick, of West Tennessee, Captain D. J. Jones, of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, and Lieutenant E. Y. Bradford, of the 2d West ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 831 Tennessee^ were to go out last, and from a window could see tlie fugitives walk out at a gate at tlie otlier end of tlie inclosure, and walk fearlessly away. The street-lamps were extinguislied between one and two o'clock, wlien tlie exit was more safely accomplished. At half past two, Captain Jones, Colonel Kendrick, and Lieutenant Bradford passed out in the order named; and as Colonel K. emerged from the hole, he heard the guard within a few feet of him, sing out " Post No. 7, half past two, in the morning, and all's well!" Once out, they proceeded up the street, keeping in the shade of the buildings, and passed eastwardly through the city. The route through which Colonel Kendrick, and those of his party passed, and the hardships they endured, it will be necessary to state but briefly: Keeping the York Eiver road to the left, and moving toward the Chickahominy Eiver, they passed through Bear Swamp, and crossed the road leading to Bottom Bridge. Sometimes they waded through mud and water, al- most up to their necks, keeping the Bottom Bridge road to the left. While passing through the swamp near the Chickahominy, Colonel Kendrick sprained his ancle and fell ; and while lying there, he looked up and saw in a direct line with them, a swamp bridge and parties passing over it with muskets. They therefore moved further south, and passing through more of the swamp, reached the Chickahominy, about four miles below Bottom Bridge. Here was- a difficulty. The river, though but twenty feet wide, was very deep, and the refugees much fatigued. Chancing, however, to look up. Lieutenant Bradford saw that two trees on opposite sides of the river, had fallen so that their branches were interlocked across the stream : when, 332 ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. by going up one tree and down the other, the fugitives soon reached the east bank of the Chickahominj^-. They subsequently learned from a friendly negro, that if they had crossed the bridge they had seen, they would assuredly have been recaptured ; for Captain Turner, the keeper of the Libby prison, had been out and posted guards there, and had alarmed the inhabit- ants, and organized them as a vigilance committee to capture the escaped prisoners. After crossing over this natural bridge, they laid down on the ground and slept until sunrise on the morning of the 11th, when they continued on their wa}^, as near eastwardly as they cou.ld. Having eaten nothing up to this time, they were almost famished ; for, as should have been stated. Lieutenant Bradford, who had charge of the haversack for this squad, had been compelled to leave it in the tunnel, from the narrow- ness of the passage. About noon they met some negroes, who informed them as to Avhere the Kebel pickets were, and also gave them some food. By advice of the negroes, they remained in the woods until night, when the negroes furnished them a supper, after which they proceeded on their way, having been first directed how to avoid the Eebel pickets. At one point they met a negro woman, who told them that her mistress was a Secesh woman, and that she had a son in the Kebel army. The party, however, being exceedingly hungry, determined to secure some food. This they did by boldly approaching the house, and informing the mistress that they were fugitives from Norfolk, Avho had been driven out by Butler, when the Secesh sympathies of the woman wore at once aroused ; and she ministered to their necessities, and started them ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 333 on their way, witli instructions liow to avoid tlie Yankee soldiers, who occasionally scouted in that vicinity. This information was exceedingly valuable to the refugees, as by it they discovered the position of the Union forces. When about fifteen miles from Wil- liamsburg they came iipon the main road, and found the tracks of a large party of cavalry. A piece of paper found by Captain Jones, satisfied him that they were Union cavalry ; but his companions were sus- picious, and avoided the road, and moved on to the "burnt ordinary " where they awaited the return of the cavalry, and from behind a fence corner, where they were secreted, the fugitives saw the flag of the Union, supported by a squadron of cavalry, which proved to be a detachment of Colonel Spear's 11th Pennsylvania regiment, sent out for the purpose of picking up escaped prisoners, as Colonel Straight had ere this, with a num- ber of other fug^itive of&cers, reached Yorktown. The party rode into Williamsburg with the cavalry ; where they were quartered for the night, and where they found eleven others who had escaped safely, and where they were furnished by Colonel Spear and his command with clothing and other necessaries. At all points along the route, the fugitives were en- thusiastically received by the negroes, and there was no lack of white people who sympathized with them and helped them on their way. Of the one hundred and nine who left the prison, Kebel authorities subsequ.ently claimed to have re- captured forty -three, and sixty are known to have arrived within our lines in safety ; leaving but six un- accounted for ; most of whom it was hoped would yet come in, as the Eebel scouts had given up the pursuit. 334 LITTLE JOHXXY CLEM. Colonel Straight of tlie 51st Indiana Yokmteers, and Captain H. B. Cliamberlain of tlie 97tli New York Volunteers; after leaving the prison took a northeast- erly course, and halted at four o'clock, on the morning of the 10th of February, in a dense wood close by the Chickahominy swamps, and remained the next day. At dark they started again on their journey, crossing the Chickahominy on a fallen tree, and got into a dense thicket, and accomplished only five miles. The third night they started again^ steering for the Pamunkey Eiver. The detours they had to make to keep under cover of the woods, and traversing swamps, took them till daylight to reach midway between the Chicka- hominy and Pamunkey. Next night they reached the Pamunkey ten miles above the White House. The river was up — deep, dangerous and cold — swimming it impracticable. After four day's delay a negro took them across in a boat — another negro piloted them down the river, fifteen miles, they reached York Eiver, got across in a skiff) reached Yorktown on the 21st and Fortress Monroe the 24:th of February. LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. A PLEASANT little incident occurred one evening at General Thomas' Headquarters. Little Johnny Clem, the motherless atom of a drummer-boy, "aged ten," (according to the papers,) who had strayed away from Newark, Ohio, and the first that was known of him, though small enough to live in a drum, was beating LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. 885 tlie long roll for the 3 2d Micliigan, was tlie subject and centre of attraction. At Chickamauga lie had served as " marker," carry- ing the guidon, by means of which the lines are formed — a duty similar to that of the surveyor's flag-man, who flutters a red signal along the metes and bounds. On the Sunday of the battle — the little fellow's occu- pation gone, he picked up a gun that had slipped from some djdng hand, provided himself with ammunition, and began putting in the periods, quite on his own account; blazing away close to the ground, like a fire- fly in the grass. Late in the waning day, the waif, left almost alone in the whirl of the battle, a Eebel Colonel dasted up, and looking down at him, ordered him to surrender. " Sur- render !" he shouted. The word was scarcely out of his mouth, when Johnny brought his piece to " order," and as his hand slipped down to the hammer, he pressed it back, swung his gun up to the position of " charge bayo- net," and as the of&cer raised his sabre to strike it aside, the glancing barrel lifted into range, and the proud Colonel fell dead from his horse. A few swift moments ticked on by musket-shots, and the tiny gunner was swooped up and borne away cap- tive by the Eebels. Soldiers bigger, but not better were taken with him, only to be swept back again, by a surge of Federal troops, and the prisoner of thirty minutes was John Clem, " of ours " again, and General Rosecrans made him a Sergeant, and the stripes of rank covered him all over, like a mouse in harness; and the daughter of Mr. Secretary Chase presented him a sil- ver medal, appropriately inscribed, which he worthily wears, a royal order of honor, upon his left breast ; and 336 LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. all men conspire to spoil liim, but since few ladies can get at him here, perhaps he may be saved. But, what about last night? Well, like Flora McFlimsey, the Sergeant had " nothing to wear ;" the clothing in the wardrobe of loyal livery was not at all like Desdemona's handkerchief, "too little," but like the garments of the man who roamed over a baker's oven, " a world too wide," and so Miss Babcock, of the Sanitary Commission, suggested to a friend, that a uni- form for the little Orderly would be acceptable. Mr. Waite, and other gentlemen of the "Sherman House," order it ; Messrs. A. J). Titsworth & Co., made it ; Chaplain Eaymond brought it ; IMiss Babcock pre- sented it ; and Johnny put it on. Chaplain Eaymond, of the 51st Illinois, by the by, a most earnest and efQ.cient of&cer, accompanied the gift with exceedingly appro- priate suggestions and advice. This morning we happened at the headquarters just as the belted and armed Sergeant was booted and spurred, and ready to ride. Eesplendent in his elegant uniform, rigged cap-a-pie, modest, frank, with a clear eye and a manly face, he looked more like a fancy picture than a living thing. Now he is in his thirteenth year, yet he would be no monster if called but nine. Think of a sixty-three pound Sergeant — fancy a handful of a hero, and then read the " Arabian Nights," and believe them ! Long- live the little Orderly ! TO § 7 8 : '^' '\ -C- c^ <• ,^ u ■^ ^^. ^0°., "\.^^''' .' /^^ ■^^ .0 ■%/^^" v^ » " • » , '> »• <3 » ^'^ •^■- O ■/■ '<' <^^'^-- ^ % ■^^\- ^^^.: V ' -^^ s^ -^Z '^. .S-* a5 -n^ ■^^' <'-- ' " ^ '•^/ 'c. v'^ •^00^ 'C •v^^^ .V ^>^- •^. ■0 \ •*'■ ,:i> ,^ :^^ 0> v^-^^^ /,, %. ^ '^"^' ^^^" %^'^ o. .0 0. ^^. .-J.^ ^ ^ •>-. .V '"^^ S^^ 'A V" .^^ -^^^ -o 0^ v^' ■ ' ^- .#■ •ar s%. ^A v^' V '7^ '■^^- .c\^ , 0-. .-0' LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 763 326 7 #