[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, allother inconsistencies are as in the original. Author's spelling hasbeen maintained. 

Page 204: A word was missing after "The Major was right, for a little""while" has been added. 

Bold words are marked with =. ]

[Illustration: Alf BURNETT. From A Photograph By Winder. ]

 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR:

 Humorous, Pathetic, and

 Descriptive. 

 By

 ALF BURNETT, Comic Delineator, Army Correspondent, Humorist, Etc. , Etc. 

 CINCINNATI: RICKEY & CARROLL, PUBLISHERS, 73 WEST FOURTH STREET. 1863. 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by RICKEY & CARROLL, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio. 

 Stereotyped at the Franklin Type Foundry, CINCINNATI. 

SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. 

By Enos B. Reed. 

The author of the following sketches, letters, etc. , has been known tous for lo, these many years. We have always found him "a fellow ofinfinite jest, " and one who, "though troubles assailed, " always lookedupon the bright side of life, leaving its reverse to those who couldnot behold the silver lining to the darkling clouds of their moralhorizon. We could fill a good-sized volume with anecdotes illustratingthe humorous in Mr. Burnett's composition, and his keen appreciationof the grotesque and ludicrous--relating how he has, many a time andoft, "set the table in a roar, " by his quaint sayings and the peculiarmanner in which they were said; but we are "admonished to be brief, "four pages only being allotted to "do up" the veritable "DonAlfredus, " better known by the familiar appellation "Alf. "

Mr. Burnett has been a resident of Cincinnati for the pasttwenty-seven years, his parents removing thereto from Utica, New York, in 1836. Alf, at the Utica Academy, in his earliest youth, was quitenoted as a declaimer; his "youth but gave promise of the man, " Mr. B. , at the present time, standing without a peer in his peculiar line ofdeclamation and oratory. In 1845, he traveled with Professor DeBonneville, giving his wonderful rendition of "The Maniac, " so as toattract the attention of the _literati_ throughout the country. 

Perhaps one great reason for Mr. Burnett's adopting his presentprofession was a remark made by the celebrated tragedian, EdwinForrest. Mr. B. Had been invited to meet Mr. Forrest at the residenceof S. S. Smith, Esq. Mr. Burnett gave several readings, which causedMr. Forrest to make the remark, that "Mr. B. Had but to step upon thestage to reach fortune and renown. " "Upon this hint" Mr. B. Acted, andat once entered upon the duties of his arduous profession. In hisreadings and recitations he soon discovered that it was imperative, toinsure a pleasant entertainment, that humor should be largely mingledwith pathos; hence, he introduced a series of droll and comicalpieces, in the rendition of which he is acknowledged to have no equal. As a mimic and ventriloquist he stands preeminent, and hisentertainment is so varied with pathos, wit, and humor, that anevening's amusement of wonderful versatility is afforded. 

Mr. Burnett is a remarkably ready writer--too ready, to pay that careand attention to the "rules, " which is considered, and justly so, tobe indispensable to a correct writer. To illustrate the rapidity withwhich he composes, we have but to repeat a story, which a mutualfriend relates. He met Alf, one afternoon, about five o'clock, hebeing announced to deliver an original poem in the evening, ofsomething less than a hundred verses. In the midst of the conversationwhich ensued, Alf suddenly recollected that he had not written a linethereof, and, making his excuses, declared he must go home and writeup the "_little affair_. " In the evening a voluminous poem wasforthcoming, Alf, in all probability, having "done it up" in half anhour "by Shrewsbury clock. "

Mr. Burnett has contributed various poems to the literature of thecountry, which have stamped him as being possessed of a more thanordinary share of the divine afflatus. Among them is "The Sexton'sSpade, " which has gained a world-wide celebrity. The writer has beenconnected with Mr. Burnett in the publication of two or three papers, which, somehow or other, never won their way into popular favor:either the public had very bad taste, or the "combined forces" had notthe ability to please, or the perseverance to continue until successcrowned their labors. 

In the commencement of the war, Mr. Burnett was on a tour of theState, in the full tide of prosperity. Immediately after Sumter fell, he summoned to him, by telegraph, his traveling agent, together withMr. George Humphreys, who had, as an assistant, been with him foryears. A consultation was held, which resulted in the determination ofall three to enlist in the service of their country. The agentrepaired to Chillicothe and joined the 27th Ohio; Humphreys joined the5th Ohio, and Mr. Burnett enlisted as high private in the 6th Ohio, and served with his regiment in West Virginia, throughout thatmemorable campaign. 

Mr. Burnett was subsequently engaged by the Cincinnati _Press_, _Times_, and _Commercial_, as war correspondent. His letters were readwith great avidity, and were replete with wit, humor, and interestinganecdote. His extensive acquaintance enabled him to gather theearliest information, and his letters were always considered among themost reliable. A number of them will be found in the succeeding pages. 

That "Incidents of the War" will be found instructive andentertaining, we can but believe, although Mr. Burnett's professionalengagements precluded the possibility of his devoting that time andattention to its preparation which was almost imperative. It lays noparticular claim to merit as a literary production--being a collectionof letters and incidents, which Mr. B. 's publishers thought would bepalatable to the public in their present form. 

In the volume will be found several pieces for the superior renditionof which Mr. Burnett has been highly extolled. At the close will befound a famous debate, which, although not an incident of the war, ispeculiarly spirited, and was delivered by Mr. Burnett before GeneralRosecrans. 

For the graphic illustrations accompanying the volume, Mr. Burnett isindebted to Messrs. Jones & Hart, engravers, and Messrs. Ball &Thomas, photographic artists. 

Mr. Burnett is still engaged in giving readings and recitations, incity and village, and, since the death of Winchell, stands almostalone in his profession. Upon a visit to England, some years since, hegained the praise of the English press and public, as a correctdelineator of the passions, mimic, and humorist. He is never so wellpleased as when before an audience, and receiving the applause of thejudicious. 

In conclusion, let us hope that "Incidents of the War" may be welcomedby that large number who have had relatives in the armies of theUnion, and whose names may, perchance, be found in its pages, while weknow the numerous friends of Mr. Burnett will hail its appearance withunfeigned delight. 

CONTENTS. 

 PAGE CHAPTER I 13

 Preparatory Remarks -- Camp-Life -- Incidents of the Battle of Perryville -- Brigadier-General Lytle -- Captain McDougal, of the 3d Ohio -- Colonel Loomis -- After the Battle -- Rebels Playing 'Possum -- Skeered! That Aint no Name for it -- Camp Fun, in a Burlesque Letter to a Friend. 

 CHAPTER II 23

 General Nelson -- The General and the Pie-Women -- The Watchful Sentinel of the 2d Kentucky -- The Wagon-Master of the 17th Indiana -- Death of General Nelson -- His Funeral -- Colonel Nick Anderson's Opinion of Nelson. 

 CHAPTER III 37

 Description of a Battle -- The 2d Ohio (Colonel Harris) at Perryville -- Major-General McCook's Report -- Major-General Rousseau's Report -- Sketch of Major-General A. McD. McCook. 

 CHAPTER IV 47

 Looking for the Body of a Dead Nephew on the Field of Murfreesboro -- The 6th Ohio at Murfreesboro -- The Dead of the 6th -- The 36th Indiana -- Putting Contrabands to Some Service -- Anxiety of Owners to Retain their Slaves -- Conduct of a Mistress -- "Don't Shoot, Massa, here I Is!" -- Kidd's Safeguard -- "Always Been a Union Man" -- Negroes Exhibiting their Preference for their Friends. 

 CHAPTER V 57

 Cutting Down a Rebel's Reserved Timber -- Home again -- Loomis and his Coldwater Battery -- Secession Poetry -- Heavy Joke on an "Egyptian" Regiment. 

 CHAPTER VI 64

 General Turchin -- Mrs. General Turchin in Command of the Vanguard of the 19th Illinois -- The 18th Ohio at Athens -- Children and Fools always Tell the Truth -- Picket Talk -- About Soldiers Voting -- Captain Kirk's Line of Battle. 

 CHAPTER VII 70

 Comic Scenes -- Importation of Yankees -- Wouldn't Go Round -- Major Boynton and the Chicken -- Monotony of Camp-Life -- Experience on a Scouting Expedition -- Larz Anderson, Esq. , in Camp -- A Would-be Secessionist Caught in his Own Trap -- Guthrie Gray Bill of Fare for a Rebel "Reception" -- Pic Russell among the Snakes. 

 CHAPTER VIII 80

 Fun in the 123d Ohio -- A Thrilling Incident of the War -- General Kelley -- Vote under Strange Circumstances -- Die, but never Surrender. 

 CHAPTER IX 87

 Our Hospitals -- No Hope -- A Short and Simple Story -- A Soldier's Pride -- The Last Letter -- Soldierly Sympathy -- The Hospitals at Gallatin, and their Ministering Angels. 

 CHAPTER X 99

 Sports in Camp -- Anecdote of the 63d Ohio and Colonel Sprague -- Soldier's Dream of Home -- The Wife's Reply. 

 CHAPTER XI 107

 The Atrocities of Slavery -- The Beauties of the Peculiar Institution -- A few Well-substantiated Facts -- Visit to Gallatin, Tennessee. 

 CHAPTER XII 124

 General Schofield -- Colonel Durbin Ward -- Colonel Connell -- Women in Breeches -- Another Incident of the War -- Negro Sermon. 

 CHAPTER XIII 135

 Letter from Cheat Mountain -- the Women of the South -- Gilbert's Brigade. 

 CHAPTER XIV 143

 Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-Guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweetharts" against War. 

 CHAPTER XV 156

 The Winter Campaign in Virginia -- Didn't Know of the Rebellion -- General W. H. Lytle -- Drilling -- A Black Nightingale's Song. 

 CHAPTER XVI 167

 Old Stonnicker and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio -- General Garnett and his Dogs -- "Are You the Col-o-nel of this Post?" -- Profanity in the Army -- High Price of Beans in Camp -- A Little Game of "Draw. "

 CHAPTER XVII 172

 Hard on the Sutler: Spiritualism Tried -- A Specimen of Southern Poetry -- Singular -- March to Nashville -- General Steadman Challenged by a Woman -- Nigger Question -- "Rebels Returning. "

 CHAPTER XVIII 181

 Going into Battle -- Letter to the Secesh -- General Garfield, Major-General Rosecrans's Chief of Staff -- General Lew Wallace -- The Siege of Cincinnati -- Parson Brownlow -- Colonel Charles Anderson. 

 CHAPTER XIX 188

 An Episode of the War -- Laughable Incident -- Old Mrs. Wiggles on Picket Duty -- General Manson -- God Bless the Soldiers -- Negro's Pedigree of Abraham Lincoln -- A Middle Tennessee Preacher -- A Laconic Speech. 

 CHAPTER XX 194

 Union Men Scarce -- How They Are Dreaded -- Incidents -- The Wealthy Secessionists and Poor Union Widows -- The John Morgans of Rebellion -- A Contraband's Explanation of the Mystery -- Accident at the South Tunnel -- Impudence of the Rebels -- A Pathetic Appeal, etc. 

 CHAPTER XXI 201

 A Friendly Visit for Corn into an Egyptian Country -- Ohio Regiments -- "Corn or Blood" -- "Fanny Battles" -- The Constitution Busted in Several Places -- Edicts against Dinner-horns, by Colonel Brownlow's Cavalry -- A Signal Station Burned -- Two Rebel Aids Captured. 

 CHAPTER XXII 207

 Reward for a Master -- Turning the Tables -- Dan Boss and his Adventure -- Major Pic Russell -- A Visit to the Outposts with General Jeff C. Davis -- Rebel Witticisms -- Hight Igo, Ye Eccentric Quarter-Master -- Fling Out to the Breeze, Boys. 

 CHAPTER XXIII 216

 Defense of the Conduct of the German Regiments at Hartsville -- To the Memory of Captain W. Y. Gholson -- Colonel Toland vs. Contraband Whisky. 

 CHAPTER XXIV 222

 War and Romance -- Colonel Fred Jones -- Hanging in the Army -- General A. J. Smith vs. Dirty Guns. 

 CHAPTER XXV 232

 A Trip into the Enemy's Country -- The Rebels twice Driven back by General Steadman -- Incidents of the Charge of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry, under Major Tracy -- The 35th and 9th Ohio in the Fight -- Colonel Moody and the 74th Ohio -- Colonel Moody on the Battle-field. 

 CHAPTER XXVI 240

 A Wedding in the Army -- A Bill of Fare in Camp -- Dishonest Female Reb -- Private Cupp -- To the 13th Ohio. 

 CHAPTER XXVII 248

 The Oath -- A Conservative Darkey's Opinion of Yankees -- Visit to the Graves of Ohio and Indiana Boys -- Trip from Murfreesboro to Louisville -- Nashville Convalescents -- A Death in the Hospital -- Henry Lovie Captured. 

 CHAPTER XXVIII 256

 General Steadman Superseded by General Schofield, of Missouri -- Colonel Brownlow's Regiment -- His Bravery -- A Rebel Officer Killed by a Woman -- Discontent in East Tennessee -- Picket Duty and its Dangers -- A Gallant Deed and a Chivalrous Return. 

 CHAPTER XXIX 263

 An Incident at Holly Springs, Miss. -- The Raid by Van Dorn -- Cincinnati Cotton-Dealers in Trouble -- Troubles of a Reporter. 

 CHAPTER XXX 268

 A Reporter's Idea of Mules -- Letter from Kentucky -- Chaplain Gaddis Turns Fireman -- Gaddis and the Secesh Grass-Widow. 

 CHAPTER XXXI 279

 A Visit to the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry -- A Proposed Sermon -- Its Interruption -- How ye Preacher is Bamboozled out of $15 and a Gold Watch -- Cavalry on the Brain -- Old Stonnicker Drummed Out of Camp -- Now and Then. 

 CHAPTER XXXII 289

 An Incident of the 5th O. V. I. -- How to Avoid the Draft -- Keep the Soldiers' Letters -- New Use of Blood-hounds -- Proposition to Hang the Dutch Soldiers -- The Stolen Stars. 

 Debate Between Slabsides and Garrotte. 303

 Sermon From "Harp of a Thousand Strings. " 308

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

 PORTRAIT OF ALF BURNETT. 

 SKEERED! THAT AINT NO NAME FOR IT. 

 RUNAWAY SCRAPE IN VIRGINIA. 

 SPORTS IN CAMP. 

 FAT VOLUNTEER. 

 OLD STONNICKER DRUMMED OUT OF CAMP. 

 DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GARROTTE. 

 SERMON--"HARP OF A THOUSAND STRINGS. "

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

CHAPTER I. 

 Preparatory Remarks -- Camp-Life -- Incidents of the Battle of Perryville -- Brigadier-General Lytle -- Captain McDougal, of the 3d Ohio -- Colonel Loomis -- After the Battle -- Rebels Playing 'Possum -- Skeered! That Aint no Name for it. 

In a two-years' connection with the army, a man with the most ordinarycapacity for garnering up the humorous stories of camp may find his_repertoire_ overflowing with the most versatile of incidents. Aconnection with the daily press is, however, of great service, especially as a letter-writer is expected to know all that occurs incamp--and _more too_!

The stories that I shall relate are no fictions, but veritable facts, to most of which I was myself an eye-witness. 

The hardships of camp-life have been so often depicted by other pensthat it will be unnecessary for me to bring them anew before thepublic. A few jolly spirits in a regiment frequently sway the crowd, and render the hours pleasant to the boys which otherwise would proveexceedingly wearisome; and many a surgeon has remarked, that it wouldamply remunerate Government to hire good, wholesome amusement for thebenefit of the soldiers when not on active duty. Frequently, whenvisiting various hospitals, have I noticed the brightening eye of thepatients as I have told them some laughable incident, or given anhour's amusement to the crowd of convalescents--a far preferable dose, they told me, to quinine. A word of praise to the suffering hero is ofgreat value. 

I remember, the day after the battle of Perryville, visiting thehospital of which Dr. Muscroft was surgeon. I had assisted all day inbringing in the wounded from the field-hospital, in the rear of thebattle-ground. The boys of the 10th and 3d Ohio were crowded into alittle church, each pew answering for a private apartment for awounded man. One of the surgeons in attendance requested me to assistin holding a patient while his leg was being amputated. This was myfirst trial, but the sight of the crowd of wounded had rendered myotherwise sensitive nerves adamant, and as the knife was hastilyplunged, the circle-scribe and the saw put to its use, the limb off, scarce a groan escaped the noble fellow's lips. Another boy of the10th had his entire right cheek cut off by a piece of a shell, lacerating his tongue in the most horrible manner: this wound had tobe dressed, and again my assistance was required, and I could butnotice the exhilarating effect a few words of praise that I bestowedupon his powers of endurance had. This was invariably the case withall those whom it was my painful duty to assist. The effect of a fewwords of praise seemed quite magical. 

Men frequently fight on, though severely wounded, so great is theexcitement of battle, and I am cognizant of several instances of menfainting from loss of blood, who did not know they were wounded, until, several minutes afterward, they were brought to a realizationof the fact through a peculiar dizzy, sickening feeling. Brigadier-General (then Colonel) Lytle, who commanded a brigade duringthat battle, it is said, by boys who were near him, after the severewound he received, fought on several minutes. A field-officer, whosename I have forgotten, being shot from his horse, requested to belifted back into the saddle, and died shortly afterward. CaptainMcDougal, of Newark, Ohio, commanding a company in the 3d Ohio, who, with sword upraised, and cheering on his noble boys, received a fatalshot, actually stepped some eight or ten paces before falling. ColonelLoomis, of the celebrated Loomis Battery, who did such service in thatengagement, says he saw no dead about him; yet there they lay, withina few feet of his battery. Loomis at one time sighted one of hisfavorite pieces, taking what he called a "fair, square, deliberateaim, " and, sure enough, he knocked over the rebel gun, throwing itsome feet in the air; at the sight of which he was so elated that hefairly jumped with delight, and cheer after cheer rang out from themen of his command, and it was not until a whizzing shot from theremaining guns of the rebels' battery warned him that they were notyet conquered, that his boys were again put to work, and eventuallyquieted their noisy antagonists. At one time, during that fight, therebels tried to charge up the hill from "Bottom's farm-house, " butwere repulsed. At that time the 10th and 3d Ohio, aided by the 15thKentucky Regiment, were holding the eminence; the rebels wereprotected by a stone wall that skirted the entire meandering creek, giving them, at times, the advantage of an enfilading fire; our boyswere partly covered by what was known as "Bottom's barn. " Many of ourwounded had crawled into this barn for protection, but a rebel shellexploding directly among the hay set the barn on fire, and several ofour poor wounded boys perished in the flames. 

Colonel Reed, of Delaware, Ohio, was in command at Perryville, sometime after the battle, and it is a disgraceful fact that the rebelsleft their dead unburied. At one spot, in a ravine, they had piled upthirty bodies in one heap, and thrown a lot of cornstalks over them;and on the Springfield road, to the right, as you entered the town ofPerryville, a regular line of skirmishers lay dead, each one about tenpaces from the other; they had evidently been shot instantly dead, andhad fallen in their tracks; and there they laid for four days. One, afine-looking man, with large, black, bushy whiskers, was within a fewyards of the toll-gate keeper's house, (himself and family residingthere, ) who, apparently, was too lazy to dig a grave for the receptionof the rebel's body. 

As a matter of course, the first duty is to the wounded, but thesepeople seemed to pay no attention to either dead or wounded. And itwas not until a peremptory order from Colonel Reed was issued, thatthe rebel-sympathizing citizens condescended to go out and bury theirConfederate friends; and this was accomplished by digging a deep holebeside the corpse, and the diggers, taking a couple of fence-rails, would pry the body over and let it fall to the bottom: thus thesepoor, deluded wretches found a receptacle in mother Earth. 

Accompanied by Mr. A. Seward, the special correspondent of thePhiladelphia _Inquirer_, the day after the fight I visited animprovised hospital in the woods in the rear of the battle-ground. There we found some twenty Secesh, who had strayed from their command, and were playing sick and wounded to anybody who came along. They hadguards out watching, and, as I suspected they were playing sharp, Ibethought me of trying "diamond cut diamond;" so I dismounted, andhaving on a Kentucky-jeans coat, I ventured a "HOW-DE, BOYS?"

They eyed us pretty severely, and ventured the remark that they neededfood, and would like some coffee or sugar for the wounded boys. I wentinside the log-house, telling them I would send some down; that wewere farming close by there; "Dry-fork" was the place; we would sendthem bread. After we had gained their confidence, they wanted to knowhow they could get out of the State without being captured; said theyhad not been taken yet, although several of the Yanks had been there;but the "d--d fools" thought they were already paroled. 

We told them that as soon as they got well we would pilot them safelyout. They said they had already been promised citizens' clothing byMrs. Thompson and some other rebel ladies. They then openly confessedthat there was only one of them wounded, and that they had used hisbloody rags for arm-bandages and head-bandages only for the briefperiod when they were visited by _suspicious_-looking persons; but, as we were all right, they had no hesitancy in telling us they werepart of Hardee's corps, and were left there by accident when the rebelforces marched. 

By a strange _accident_ they were all taken prisoners that afternoonby a dozen Federal prowlers, who kindly took them in out of the wet. 

SKEERED! THAT AINT NO NAME FOR IT. 

About a mile and a half to the rear of the field of battle therestands, in a large, open field, a solitary log-house containing tworooms. The house is surrounded by a fence inclosing a small patch ofground. The chimney had been partly torn away by a cannon-ball. Ashell had struck the roof of the building, ripping open quite a gutterin the rafters. A dead horse lay in the little yard directly in frontof the house, actually blocking up the doorway, while shot and shellwere scattered in every direction about the field in front and rear ofthis solitary homestead. I dismounted, determined to see who or whatwas in the house--

 "Darkness there, and nothing more. "

A board had been taken from the floor, exhibiting a large hole betweentwo solid beams or logs. An empty bedstead, a wooden cupboard, andthree chairs were all the furniture the house contained. Hurryingacross the field, we caught up with a long, lank, lean woman. She hadtwo children with her: a little boy about nine, and a girl about fouryears of age. The woman had a table upon her head. The table, turnedupside down, contained a lot of bedding. She had a bucket full ofcrockery-ware in one hand, and was holding on to the table with theother. The children were loaded down with household furniture of greatconvenience. As it was growing dark, I inquired the nearest road toPerryville. The woman immediately unloaded her head, and pointing thedirection, set one leg on the table, and yelled to the boy--

"Whoray up, Jeems; you are so slow!"

"How far is it, madam?"

"O, about a mile and a half. It aint more nor that, no how. "

"Who lived in that house?" said I, pointing to the log-cabin I hadjust left. 

"I did. "

"Were you there during the fight?"

"Guess I was. "

"Where was your husband?"

"He wor dead. "

"Was he killed in the battle?"

"No; he died with the measles. "

"Why didn't you leave when you found there was going to be a fight?"

"I did start for to go, but I seed the Yankees comin' thick, and Ihurried back t'other way; and jest as I e'enamost got to the brushyonder, I seed the 'Confeds' jest a swarmin' out of the woods. So, seeing I was between two fires, I rund back to the house. "

"Wasn't you afraid you'd be killed?"

"Guess I was. "

"What did you do when they commenced firing?"

"I cut a hole in the floor with the ax, and hid between the jists. "

"Did they fight long upon your ground?"

"It seemed to me like it wor TWO WEEKS. "

"You must have been pretty well scared; were you not?"

"Humph! _skeered!_ Lor bless you, _skeered! That aint no name forit!_"

CAMP FUN IN A BURLESQUE LETTER TO A FRIEND. 

The other morning I was standing by Billy Briggs, in our tent. 

"Hand me them scabbards, Jimmy, " said he. 

"Scabbards!" said I, looking round. 

"Yes; boots, I mean. I wonder if these boots were any relation to thatbeef we ate yesterday. If they will only prove as tough, they'll lastme a long time. I say, Cradle!" he called out, "where are you?"

Cradle was our contraband, with a foot of extraordinary length, andheel to match. 

"What do you call him Cradle for?" I inquired. 

"What would _you_ call him? If he aint a cradle, what's he got rockerson for?"

Cradle made his appearance, with a pair of perforated stockings. 

"It's no use, " said Billy, looking at them. "Them stockings will do toput on a sore throat, but won't do for feet. It is humiliating for aman like me to be without stockings. A man may be bald-headed, andit's genteel; but to be barefooted, it's ruination. The legs are good, too, " he added, thoughtfully, "but the feet are gone. There issomething about the heels of stockings and the elbows of stove-pipes, in this world, that is all wrong, Jimmy. "

A supply of stockings had come that day, and were just being givenout. A pair of very large ones fell to Billy's lot. Billy held them upbefore him. 

"Jimmy, " said he, "these are pretty bags to give a little fellow likeme. Them stockings was knit for the President, or a young gorilla, certain!" and he was about to bestow them upon Cradle, when a soldier, in the opposite predicament, made an exchange. "Them stockings made methink of the prisoner I scared so the other day, " said Billy. 

"How's that?" said I. 

"He saw a big pair of red leggings, with feet, hanging up before ourtent. He never said a word, till he saw the leggings, and then heasked me what they were for. 'Them!' said I, 'them's General Banks'sstockings. ' He looked scared. 'He's a big man, is General Banks, ' saidI, 'but then he ought to be, the way he lives. ' 'How?' said he. 'Why, 'said I, 'his regular diet is bricks buttered with mortar. '"

The next day Billy got a present of a pair of stockings from a lady; anice, soft pair, with his initials, in red silk, upon them. He wasvery happy. "Jimmy, " said he, "just look at 'em, " and he smoothed themdown with his hand--"marked with my initials, too; 'B, ' for myChristian name, and 'W' for my heathen name. How kind! They came justin the right time, too; I've got such a sore heel. "

Orders came to "fall in. " Billy was so overjoyed with his newstockings he didn't keep the line well. 

"Steady, there!" growled the sergeant; "keep your place, and don't bemoving round like the Boston post-office!"

We were soon put upon the double-quick. After a few minutes, Billygave a groan. 

"What is it, Billy?" said I. 

"It's all up with 'em, " said he. 

I didn't know what he meant, but his face showed something bad hadhappened. When we broke ranks and got to the tent, he looked thepicture of despair--shoes in hand, and his heels shining through hisstockings like two crockery door-knobs. 

"Them new stockings of yours is breech-loading, aint they, Billy?"said an unfeeling volunteer. 

"Better get your name on both ends, so that you can keep 'emtogether, " said another. 

"Shoddy stockings, " said a third. 

Billy was silent. I saw his heart was breaking, and I said nothing. Weheld a council on them, and Billy, not feeling strong-hearted enoughfor the task, gave them to Cradle to sew up the small holes. 

I saw him again before supper; he came to me looking worse than ever, the stockings in his hand. 

"Jimmy, " said he, "you know I gave them to Cradle, and told him to sewup the small holes; and what do you think he has done? He's gone andsewed up the heads. "

"It's a hard case, Billy; in such cases, tears are almostjustifiable. "

CHAPTER II. 

 General Nelson -- The General and the Pie-Women -- The Watchful Sentinel of the 2d Kentucky -- The Wagon-Master of the 17th Indiana -- Death of General Nelson -- His Funeral -- Colonel Nick Anderson's Opinion of Nelson. 

A great many stories have been told about General Nelson, with whomthe writer was upon the most intimate terms. That Nelson was a noble, warm-hearted, companionable man, those even most opposed to his roughmanner, at times, will readily admit. 

Nelson was strongly attached to the 6th Ohio. From his very firstacquaintance he said he fell in love with it, and his feeling wasreciprocated, for the 6th was as ardently devoted to him. 

At Camp Wickliffe the General was very much annoyed by women cominginto his camp, and he had given strict orders that none should beadmitted on the following Sunday, as he intended reviewing thedivision that day. His chagrin and rage can only be imagined by thosewho knew him, when, upon this veritable occasion, he saw at leastthirty women huddled together, on mares, mules, jacks, jennies, andhorses. The General rode hastily to Lieutenant Southgate, exclaiming--

"Captain Southgate, I thought I ordered that no more of those d--dwomen should come into my camp. What are they doing here?"

"I promulgated your order, General, " replied Captain Southgate. 

"Well, by ----, what are they here for?" and riding up to the bevy ofwomen in lathed and split bonnets, he inquired, in a ferocious manner, "What in ---- are all you women doing here?"

Now, the party was pretty well frightened, but there was one with moredaring than the rest, who sidled up to the General, and, with what wasintended to be a smile, (but the General said he never saw a more"sardonic grin" in his life, ) she answered for the party, and said:

"_Sellin' pies, Gin'ral. _"

"Selling pies, eh! Selling pies, eh! Let me see 'em; let me see 'em, quick!"

The woman untied one end of a bolster-slip, and thrust her arm downthe sack, and brought forth a specimen of the article, which Nelsonseized, and vainly endeavored to break. It was like leather. TheGeneral gave it a sudden twist and broke it in two, when out droppedthree or four pieces of dried apple. 

"By ----, madam, you call them pies, do you? Pies, eh! Those thingsare just what are _giving all my boys the colic_! Get out of this campevery one of you! Clear yourselves!"

The camp was thus cleared of pie-venders, who escaped on thedouble-quick. 

[Illustration: Skeered! That ain't no name for it. See page 18. ]

General Nelson was a strict disciplinarian, and frequently tested hispickets by a personal visit. Upon one occasion he rode through adrenching rain to the outposts; it was a dark night, and mud andwater were knee-deep in some parts of the road. A portion of the 2dKentucky was on guard, and as the General rode up he met the stern"Halt" of the sentinel, and the usual "Who comes there?"

"General Nelson, " was the reply. 

"Dismount, General Nelson, and give the countersign, " was thesentinel's command. 

"Do you know who you are talking to, sir? I tell you I am yourGeneral, and you have the impudence to order me to dismount, youscoundrel!"

"Dismount, and give the countersign, or I will fire upon you, " was thestern rejoinder. 

And Nelson did dismount, and gave the countersign, and at the sametime inquired the sentinel's name, and to what regiment he belonged. The following day the man was sent for, to appear forthwith athead-quarters. The soldier went with great trepidation, anticipatingsevere treatment from the General for the previous night's conduct. Imagine his surprise when the General invited him in, complimented himhighly, in the presence of his officers, and requested, if at any timehe required any service from him, to just mention that he was thesoldier of the 2d Kentucky who had made him dismount in mud and rain, and give the countersign. 

On another occasion he was riding along the road, and was accosted bytwo waggish members of the 6th Ohio. 

"Hallo! mister, " said one of the boys, "won't you take a drink?"

"Where are you soldiers going to?" inquired the General. 

"O, just over here a little bit. "

"What regiment do you belong to?"

"Sixth Ohio. "

"Well, get back to your camp, quick!"

The boys, although they knew him well, took advantage of the fact thatthe General displayed no insignia of his rank, and replied:

"They guessed they'd go down the road a bit, first. "

"Come back! come back!" shouted the General. "How dare you disobey me?Do you know who I am, you scoundrels?"

"No, I don't, " said one of the boys; and then, looking impudently andinquiringly into his face, said: "_Why! ain't you the wagon-master ofthe 17th Indiana?_"

Nelson thought activity the best cure for "_ennui_, " and consequentlykept his men busy. One day, calling his officers together, he orderedthem to prepare immediately for a regular, old-fashioned day's work;"for, " said he, "there has been so little work done here since therain set in, that I fear _drilling_ has fallen in the market; but ifwe succeed in keeping up that article, I am sure _cotton_ must comedown. "

He was exceedingly bitter in his denunciations of the London _Times_and rebel British sympathizers, remarking to me, one evening, that hewas exceedingly anxious this war should speedily end, "for, " said he, "I would like nothing better than to see our people once more unitedas a nation; and then I want fifty thousand men at my command, so thatI could march them to Canada, and go through those provinces like adose of croton. "

I was present at the Galt House, in Louisville, when General Nelsonwas shot by General Davis, and immediately telegraphed the sad news tothe daily press of Cincinnati. The following was my dispatch:

 General Nelson Shot by General Davis. 

 Louisville, _September 29_. 

 Eds. Times: I just witnessed General Jeff C. Davis shoot General Nelson. It occurred in the Galt House, in the entry leading from the office. The wound is thought to be mortal. 

 Alf. 

 Later. --General Nelson Dead. 

 Louisville, _September 29_, 10 A. M. 

 General Nelson is dead. I will telegraph particulars as soon as possible. 

 Alf. 

 THIRD DISPATCH. 

 Particulars of the Affair. 

 Louisville, _September 29_, 11 A. M. 

 Eds. Times: Jefferson C. Davis, of Indiana, went into the Galt House, at half-past eight o'clock this morning. He met General Nelson, and referred to the treatment he had received at his hands in ordering him to Cincinnati. Nelson cursed him, and struck Davis in the face several times. Nelson then retired a few paces, Davis borrowing a pistol from a friend, who, handing it to him, remarked, "It is a Tranter trigger--be careful. "

 I had just that moment been in conversation with the General. 

 Alf. 

The particulars were afterward given in a letter, which is hereinserted:

 Louisville, _September 29, 1862_. 

The greatest excitement of the day has been in discussing the death ofGeneral Nelson, and the causes which led to the terrible _denouement_. 

Sauntering out in search of an "item"--my custom always in themorning--I happened to be in the Galt House just as the altercationbetween General Nelson and General Jeff C. Davis was reaching itsclimax, and of which I telegraphed you within ten minutes after itsoccurrence. From what I learn, from parties who saw the commencement, it would seem that General Davis felt himself grossly insulted byNelson's overbearing manner at their former meeting; and seeing himstanding talking to Governor Morton, Davis advanced and demanded anexplanation, upon which Nelson turned and cursed him, calling him aninfamous puppy, and using other violent language unfit forpublication. Upon pressing his demand for an explanation, Nelson, whowas an immensely powerful and large man, took the back of his hand anddeliberately slapped General Davis's face. Just at this juncture Ientered the office. The people congregated there were giving Nelson awide berth. Recognizing the General, I said "Good morning, General, "(at this time I was not aware of what had passed). His reply to mewas: "Did you hear that d----d insolent scoundrel insult me, sir? Isuppose he don't know me, sir. I'll teach him a lesson, sir. " Duringthis time he was retiring slowly toward the door leading to theladies' sitting-room. At this moment I heard General Davis ask for aweapon, first of a gentleman who was standing near him, and thenmeeting Captain Gibson, who was just about to enter the dining-room, he asked him if he had a pistol? Captain Gibson replied, "I alwayscarry the article;" and handed one to him, remarking, as Davis walkedtoward Nelson, "It is a Tranter trigger. "

Nelson, by this time, reached the hall, and was evidently getting outof the way, to avoid further difficulty. 

Davis's face was livid, and such a look of mingled indignation, mortification, and determination I never before beheld. His hand wasslowly raised; and, as Nelson advanced, Davis uttered the one word, "Halt!" and fired. Nelson, with the bullet in his breast, completedthe journey up the entire stairs, and then fell. As he reached thetop, John Allen Crittenden met him and said, "Are you hurt, General?"He replied, "Yes, I am, mortally. " "Can I do any thing for you?"continued Crittenden. "Yes; send for a surgeon and a priest, quick. "

A rush was made by the crowd toward the place as soon as he was shot. No effort, as far as I can learn, has been made to arrest GeneralDavis. 

A few minutes after the occurrence I was introduced to the Aid ofGovernor Morton, who told me he saw it all, from the verycommencement, and that, had not Davis acted as he did, after the grossprovocation he received, Davis would have deserved to have been shothimself. 

It is a great pity so brave a man should have had so little controlover his temper. Although very severe in his discipline and rough inhis language, the boys of his division were devotedly attached to him, _because he was a fighting man_. The 6th Ohio, especially, were hisardent admirers. He was hated here, bitterly hated, by all_Secessionists_; this of itself should have endeared him to Union men. 

The Louisville _Journal_, this afternoon, in speaking of the affair, says:

"General Nelson, from the first, thought the wound was a mortal one, and expressed a desire to have the Rev. Mr. Talbott, of CalvaryChurch, summoned. This gentleman resides about three miles below thecity, but was unable to get home on Sunday after service, and passedthe night at the Galt House. He immediately obeyed the summons, as hewas well acquainted with the General. The reverend gentleman informsus that the dying man spoke no word concerning the difficulty, andmade no allusion to his temporal affairs, but was exceedinglysolicitous as to the salvation of his soul, and desired Mr. Talbott toperform the rite of baptism, and receive him into the bosom of theChurch. 

"After five minutes' conversation, to ascertain his state ofpreparedness, the clergyman assented to his wish, and the solemnordinance was administered with unusual impressiveness, in thepresence of Dr. Murray, the medical director, Major-GeneralCrittenden, and a few other personal friends. When the serviceconcluded, he was calm, and sank into his last sleep quietly, with noapparent physical pain, but with some mental suffering. The lastaudible words that he uttered were a prayer for the forgiveness of hissins. That appeal was made to Almighty God. Let, then, hisfellow-mortals be proud of his many virtues, his lofty patriotism, andundaunted courage, while they judge leniently of those faults, which, had they been curbed, might have been trained into virtues. Let it notbe said of our friend--

 "'The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones. '"

THE FUNERAL. 

The funeral of General Nelson took place yesterday afternoon. Thecorpse of the General was incased in a most elegant rosewood coffin, mounted with silver. The American flag, that he had so nobly foughtunder at Shiloh, was wrapped about it; his sword, drawn for the lasttime by that once brave hand, lay upon the flag. Bouquets were strewedupon the coffin. 

Major-General Granger, Major-General McCook, and Major-GeneralCrittenden, and Brigadier-General Jackson, assisted by other officers, conveyed the remains from the hearse to the church-door, and down theaisle. As they entered the building, Dr. Craig commenced reading theburial service for the dead. As soon as they reached the pulpit, andset down the corpse, the choir chanted a requiem in the mostimpressive manner. Rev. Dr. Craig then read the 15th chapter of theFirst Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 21st to the 29th verses:

 "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. "

After the reading of this, the Rev. Mr. Talbott, he whom GeneralNelson had sent for immediately upon being shot, and who hadadministered to his spiritual welfare, and received him into theChurch, delivered one of the most beautiful and eulogistic discoursesI ever heard. 

He said that the General had been, in private life, one of the mostcongenial and warm-hearted of men; his hand ever open to the needy. He had known him well. 

The last half-hour of his life was devoted entirely to the salvationof his soul; he did not refer to worldly matters. Mr. Talbott told himhe must forgive all whom he thought had injured him. His reply was, "O! I do, I do forgive--I do forgive. Let me, " said Nelson, "bebaptized quick, for I feel I am fast going. "

Mr. T. Then administered to him the sacred rite, and in a few minutes, conscious to the last, smiling and serene, he passed to "that bournefrom which no traveler returns. "

"A more contrite heart and thorough Christian resignation, " said thedivine, "I never saw. "

The discourse over, the body was conveyed again to the hearse. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, of the 6th Ohio, had command of theescort, which consisted of two companies of the 2d Ohio, and twocompanies of the 6th, all being from his old and tried division. Norelatives, I believe, were here, except Captain Davis, afoster-brother, belonging to the 2d Minnesota Regiment. 

General Nelson's gray horse was led immediately behind the hearse, theGeneral's boots reversed and fastened in the stirrups. An artillerycompany and cavalry squadron completed the _cortège_, which movedslowly down Second Street to the beat of the muffled drum. 

He has gone to his long home! Though rash and impetuous at times, wemust not forget our country has lost a noble defender, a man of truecourage--one who was looked up to by his division. 

To-day he _was_ to join them; and as I went through the old FourthDivision, last Sunday, the boys were all in a jubilee, because Nelsonwas going to be with them, and they remarked, "If he is along, he'lltake us where _we'll have fighting_!"

As I have before told you, everywhere Secessionists are rejoicing athis death, and Kentucky ones especially. The Union men of Kentuckyhave lost a noble defender. 

Yesterday General Rousseau's division of ten thousand men wasreviewed. They are a splendid body of men. 

There will be no examination of Jeff C. Davis before the civilauthorities, but the affair is to be investigated by a court-martial. 

A singular incident is related of General Nelson. It is said that theRev. Dr. Talbott, who resides a few miles from the city, wished toreturn home on Sunday night last. Nelson refused him the pass. OnMonday morning it was this reverend gentleman who was sent for byNelson, and received Nelson into the Church, and who performed thefuneral services to-day. 

 Yours, Alf. 

The gallant Colonel Nick Anderson, who so bravely led the 6th Ohio atShiloh, and more recently at Murfreesboro, in speaking of Nelson, says:

"And what is said will be assented to by all who shared his familiarmoments, that, outside of his military duties, he was a refinedgentleman. Whatever may be said of his severe dealing with hissubordinates, his violent manner when reprimanding them, every onewho knew him will bear witness that it was only to exact that irondiscipline which makes an army irresistible. His naval education, inwhich discipline is so mercilessly enforced, will explain clearly hisintensity of manner when preparing his forces for the terrible trialsof the march or the battle-field. However much he was disliked bysubordinate and inefficient officers, he was beloved by his men, theprivate soldiers. 

"How carefully he looked after all their wants, their clothing, theirfood--in short, whatever they needed to make them strong and brave!for it was a maxim with him, that, unless a man's back was kept warmand his stomach well supplied, he could not be relied upon as asoldier. All who know Buell's army will bear witness to the splendidcondition of Nelson's division. 

"General Nelson earned his rank as major-general by no mysteriousinfluences at head-quarters, but by splendid achievements on thebattle-field. It has been said that his division was the first toenter Nashville; so it was the first in Corinth; but these are thepoorest of his titles to distinction. It was his success in EasternKentucky, in destroying the army of General Marshall; and, greatest ofall, his arrival, by forced marches, at Pittsburg Landing, earlyenough on Sunday afternoon, the 9th of April, to stop the victoriousprogress of General Beauregard, that placed him among his country'sbenefactors and heroes, and which will 'gild his sepulcher, and embalmhis name. '

"But for Nelson, Grant's army might have been destroyed. His forcedmarch, wading deep streams, brought him to the field just in time. Anhour later, and all might have been lost. "

An officer of his division has recounted to me some thrillingincidents of that memorable conflict. 

"It was nearly sunset when Nelson, at the head of his troops, landedon the west bank of the river, in the midst of the conflict. Thelanding and shore of the river, up and down, were covered by fivethousand of our beaten and demoralized soldiers, whom no appeals orefforts could rally. Nelson, with difficulty, forced his way throughthe crowd, shaming them for their cowardice as he passed, and ridingupon a knoll overlooking his disembarking men, cried out, instentorian tones: 'Colonel A. , have you your regiment formed?' 'In amoment, General, ' was the reply. 'Be quick; time is precious; momentsare golden. ' 'I am ready now, General. ' 'Forward--march!' was hiscommand; and the gallant 6th Ohio was led quickly to the field. 

"That night Nelson asked Captain Gwynne, of the 'Tyler, ' to send him abottle of wine and a box of cigars; 'for to-morrow I will show you aman-of-war fight. '

"During the night Buell came up and crossed the river, and by daylightnext morning our forces attacked Beauregard, and then was fought thedesperate battle of Shiloh. Up to twelve M. We had gained no decisiveadvantage; in fact, the desperate courage of the enemy had caused usto fall back. 'General Buell, ' said my informant, 'now came to thefront, and held a hasty consultation with his Generals. They decidedto charge the rebels, and drive them back. Nelson rode rapidly to thehead of his column, his gigantic figure conspicuous to the enemy infront, and in a voice that rang like a trumpet over the clangor ofbattle, he called for four of his finest regiments in succession--the24th Ohio, 36th Indiana, 17th Kentucky, and 6th Ohio. 'Trail arms;forward; double-quick--march;' and away, with thundering cheers, wentthose gallant boys. The brave Captain (now Brigadier-General) Terrell, who alone was left untouched of all his battery, mounted his horse, and, with wild huzzas, rode, with Nelson, upon the foe. 

"It was the decisive moment; it was like Wellington's 'Up, guards, andat them!' The enemy broke, and their retreat commenced. That was thehappiest moment of my life when Nelson called my regiment to make thatgrand charge. 

"Let the country mourn the sad fate of General Nelson. He was a loyalKentuckian; fought gallantly the battles of his Government; earned allhis distinction by gallant deeds. All his faults were those of acommander anxious to secure the highest efficiency of his troops bythe most rigid discipline of his officers, and in this severe duty hehas, at last, lost his life. 

"His death, after all, was beautiful. He told Colonel Moody, inNashville, that, though he swore much, yet he never went to bedwithout saying his prayers; and now, at last, we find him on hisdeath-bed, not criminating or explaining, but seeking the consolationsof religion. _Requiescat in pace!_"

CHAPTER III. 

 Description of a Battle -- The 2d Ohio (Colonel Harris) at Perryville -- Major-General McCook's Report -- Major-General Rousseau's Report -- Sketch of Major-General A. McD. McCook. 

 "Then shook the hills with thunder riven, Then rushed the steeds to battle driven, And, louder than the bolts of heaven, Far flashed the red artillery!"

Many of you have, no doubt, looked upon the field of battle wherecontending hosts have met in deadly strife. But there are those whoseeyes have never gazed upon so sad a sight; and to such I may beenabled to present a picture that will at best give you but a faintidea of the terrible reality of a fiercely-contested field. 

Imagine thousands upon thousands on either side, spreading over a vastexpanse of ground, each armed with all the terrible machinery ofmodern warfare, and striving to gain the advantage of their opponentsby some particular movement, studied long by those learned in the artof war. 

Then comes the clang of battle; steel meets steel, drinking the bloodof contending foes. The sabers flash and glitter in the sunlight, descending with terrible force upon devoted heads, which were oncepillowed on the bosoms of fond and devoted mothers. Jove's dreadcounterfeit is heard on every hand; the balls and shells go whistlingand screaming by, the most terrible music to ears not properly attunedto the melody of war. Thousands sink upon the ground overpowered, tobe trodden under foot of the flying steed, or their bones to be leftwhitening the incarnadined field. Blows fall thick and heavy on everyhand. The cries of the wounded and the orders of the commanders mingletogether; and, to the uninitiated, all appears "confusion worseconfounded. "

But there is a method in all this _seeming_ madness; and that whichappears confusion is the result of well-laid plans. But as there is"many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, " so there are slips in theactions of the best regulated armies. Gunpowder, shot, shell, andsteel are not always to be implicitly relied upon: even they sometimesfail in carrying out what were conceded to be designs infallible; sotrue it is that "man proposes, _but God disposes_. "

It has been my province to witness battles wherein Western men werethe heroes; and that Western men will fight, has been pretty wellauthenticated during the present war. I have noticed the brave conductof the gallant troops, the fighting boys of the various regiments ofthe West, and have never known them to falter in the hour of danger. They left their homes totally uneducated in warfare; they are nowveterans--each a hero. 

The conduct of the 2d Ohio at Perryville is spoken of thus by acorrespondent:

"The brigade of Len Harris was in the center, and met the shocksimultaneously with the left and right. The whole brigade was in theopen fields, with the rebels in the woods before them. Long andgallantly did they sustain their exposed positions. An Illinoisregiment, of Terrell's brigade, flying from the field, ran throughthis brigade, with terrible cries of defeat and disaster; but thegallant boys of the 2d Ohio and 38th Indiana only laughed at them, as, lying down, they were literally run over by the panic-strickenIllinoisans. Hardly had they disappeared in the woods in Harris's rearwhen the rebels appeared in the woods in his front. At the same timeRousseau came galloping along the line, and they received him withcheers, and the rebels with a terrible fire. Terrible was the shock onthis part of the line, but gallant was the resistance. Up the hillcame the rebels, and made as gallant a charge as ever was met by bravemen. But, O! so terrible and bloody was the repulse! Along the line ofthe 2d Ohio and 38th Indiana and Captain Harris's battery, I saw asimultaneous cloud of smoke arise. One moment I waited. The cloudarose, and revealed the broken column of rebels flying from the field, but, in the distance, a second rapidly advancing. The shout that arosefrom our men drowned the roar of cannon, and sent dismay into theretreating, broken column. "

In Major-General McCook's report of that battle, he says it was "_thebloodiest battle in modern times_ for the number of troops engaged onour side, " and "the battle was principally fought by _Rousseau'sdivision_; and if there are, or ever were, better soldiers than theold troops engaged, I have neither seen nor read of them. " Speakingof the new troops, General McCook points out those under the commandof Colonel Harris, saying: "For instance, in the Ninth Brigade, wherethe 2d and 33d Ohio, 68th Indiana, and 10th Wisconsin fought so well, I was proud to see the 94th and 98th Ohio vie with their brethren indeeds of heroism. " The 94th and 98th were new troops, and the exampleof the old soldiers in Colonel Harris's brigade, and the distinguishedcourage and good judgment of the Colonel, gave them confidence, andthey stood in the storm like veterans. 

GENERAL ROUSSEAU'S REPORT OF THE BATTLE. 

. . . "I then returned to Harris's brigade, hearing that the enemy wasclose upon him, and found that the 33d Ohio had been ordered furtherto the front by General McCook, and was then engaged with the enemy, and needed support. General McCook, in person, ordered the 2d Ohio toits support, and sent directions to me to order up the 24th Illinoisalso, Captain Mauf commanding. I led the 24th Illinois, in line ofbattle, immediately forward, and it was promptly deployed asskirmishers by its commander, and went gallantly into action, on theleft of the 33d Ohio. The 2d Ohio, moving up to support the 33d Ohio, was engaged before it arrived on the ground where the 33d wasfighting. The 38th Indiana, Colonel B. F. Scribner commanding, thenwent gallantly into action, on the right of the 2d Ohio. Then followedin support the 94th Ohio, Colonel Frizell. I wish here to say thatthis regiment, although new, and but few weeks in the service, behaved most gallantly, under the steady lead of its brave ColonelFrizell. Colonel Harris's whole brigade--Simonson's battery on itsright--was repeatedly assailed by overwhelming numbers, but gallantlyheld its position. The 38th Indiana and 2d Ohio, after exhaustingtheir ammunition and that taken from the boxes of the dead and woundedon the field, still held their position, as did also, I believe, the10th Wisconsin and 33d Ohio. For this gallant conduct these brave menare entitled to the gratitude of the country, and I thank them here, as I did on the field of battle. . . . 

"I had an opportunity of seeing and knowing the conduct of ColonelStarkweather, of the Twenty-eighth Brigade, Colonel Harris, of theNinth Brigade, and of the officers and men under their command, and Ican not speak too highly of their bravery and gallantry on thatoccasion. They did, cheerfully and with alacrity, all that brave mencould do. . . . "

"I herewith transmit the reports of Colonels Starkweather, Harris, andPope, and also a list of casualties in my division, amounting, in all, to 1, 950 killed and wounded. My division was about 7, 000 strong whenit went into the action. We fought the divisions of Anderson, Cheatham, and Buckner. 

"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "Lovell H. ROUSSEAU. "

It will not be amiss here to give a brief outline of the earlyhistory, coming down to a recent date, of the renowned hero, Major-General A. McD. McCOOK, United States Volunteers. 

He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 22, 1831. At the age ofsixteen he entered the Military Academy at West Point, as a cadet. Hegraduated in July, 1852, and was commissioned Brevet SecondLieutenant, in the 3d Regiment United States Infantry. After beingassigned to duty for a few months, at Newport Barracks, Ky. , he wasordered, in April, 1853, to join his regiment, then serving in theTerritory of New Mexico. Here he remained nearly five years, constantly on active duty in the field, and participating in all theIndian campaigns on that wild and remote frontier. His long servicesand good conduct were mentioned in General Orders by Lieutenant-GeneralWinfield Scott. In January, 1858, he was ordered from New Mexico toWest Point, and assigned to duty in the Military Academy, asinstructor in Tactics and the Art of War. On the breaking out of therebellion he was relieved from duty there, and ordered, in April, 1861, to Columbus, Ohio, to muster in volunteers. Before his arrivalthere he was elected Colonel of the 1st Ohio Volunteers, athree-months regiment, already on its way to the seat of war inVirginia; and hastening to join the command, to which he was electedwithout his knowledge or solicitation, soon had an opportunity ofexhibiting those admirable qualities as a field-officer for which hehas since become so justly distinguished. His coolness in theunfortunate affair at Vienna, and his consummate military skill in themanagement of his command at Bull Run, were universally commended. Atthe close of that eventful conflict he marched his regiment back toCenterville in the same good order in which it had left there, anhonorable exception to the wide-spread confusion and disorder thatprevailed elsewhere among the National forces. 

When the three-months troops were mustered out of the service hereceived permission to raise the 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteers, athree-years regiment; but on the 3d of September, 1861, and beforehis command was ready to take the field, he was appointedBrigadier-General of Volunteers, and assigned to command the advanceof the Federal forces then in Kentucky, at Camp Nevin. Here, and atGreen River, he organized his splendid Second Division, with which heafterward marched to Nashville, and thence toward the Tennessee River. 

On the 6th of April, 1862, alarmed by the sullen sound of distantartillery, and learning the precarious situation of Grant's army, hemoved his division, over desperate roads, twenty-two miles, toSavannah, and there embarked on steamboats for Pittsburg Landing. After clearing a way with the bayonet through the army of stragglersthat swarmed upon the bank of the river, soon after daylight on themorning of the 7th of April, the Second Division of the Army of theOhio advanced through the sad scenes of our defeat the day before, anddeployed, with stout hearts and cheers, upon the field of Shiloh. General McCook fought his troops that day with admirable judgment. Heheld them in hand; his line of battle was not once broken--it was notonce retired; but was steadily and determinedly advanced until theenemy fled, and the reverse of the day before was more than redeemedby a splendid victory. 

In the movement on Corinth, a few weeks after the battle of Shiloh, General McCook had the honor of being in the advance of GeneralBuell's army corps, and his skirmishers were among the first to scalethe enemy's works. 

The rank of major-general of volunteers was soon after conferred uponhim, in view of his distinguished services--a promotion notundeserved. 

After the evacuation of Corinth, the command of General McCook wasmoved through Northern Alabama to Huntsville, thence to Battle Creek, where his forces remained for two months, in front of Bragg's army atChattanooga. Upon the withdrawal of Buell's army from Alabama andTennessee, General McCook moved his division, by a long march of fourhundred miles, back to Louisville. 

Here he was assigned to command the First Corps in the Army of theOhio, and started on a new campaign, under Buell, in pursuit of Bragg. The enemy were met and engaged near Perryville, and two divisions ofMcCook's corps (one of them composed of raw recruits) bore the assaultof almost the entire army of General Bragg. The unexpected andunannounced withdrawal of General Gilbert's forces on his right; thesad and early loss of those two noble soldiers, Terrell and Jackson, and the tardiness of reinforcements, made the engagement a desperateone, and resulted in a victory, incomplete but honorable, to the Unionforces. After the battle of Chaplin Hills, Bragg's army, worn andbroken, fled in dismay from Kentucky. The army corps of Major-GeneralMcCook was afterward moved to Nashville, and he assumed command of theFederal forces in that vicinity. 

On the 6th of November, 1862, on the arrival of Major-GeneralRosecrans, who succeeded Major-General Buell in command, GeneralMcCook was assigned to command the right wing in the Department of theCumberland. On the 26th of December, 1862, the Army of the Cumberlandmoved from Nashville to attack the enemy in position in front ofMurfreesboro. General McCook commanded the right. On the evening ofDecember 30 the two armies were in line of battle, confronting eachother. Rosecrans had massed his reserves on the left, to crush therebel right with heavy columns, and turn their position. Bragg, unfortunately, learning of his dispositions during the night, massedalmost his entire army in front of McCook, and in the gray of thefollowing morning, and before we had attacked on the left, advancedwith desperate fury upon the right wing. Outnumbered, outflanked, andoverpowered, the right was forced to retire, not, however, until itsline of battle was marked with the evidences of its struggle and thefearful decimation of the enemy. To check the advancing rebel masses, already flushed with anticipated victory, the Federal reserves movedrapidly to the rescue. The furious onslaught of the enemy wasresisted, and the right and the fortunes of the day were saved. 

The rebels, whipped on the left and center, checked on the right, foiled in every attack, having lost nearly one-third of their numbers, fled from the field on the night of the 3d of January, and thevictorious Union army advanced through their intrenchments intoMurfreesboro. The great battle of Stone River, dearly won, andincomplete in its results, was yet a victory. 

The right was turned and forced to retire in the first day's fight. Whether this was attributable to accidental causes, that decide somany important engagements, or to the superior generalship of therebel commander, it is at least certain that generalship was notwanting in the disposition of the forces under General McCook; nor wascourage wanting in his troops. 

Major-General McCook now commands the Twentieth Army Corps. 

CHAPTER IV. 

 Looking for the Body of a Dead Nephew on the Field of Murfreesboro -- The 6th Ohio at Murfreesboro -- The Dead of the 6th -- The 35th Indiana -- Putting Contrabands to Some Service -- Anxiety of Owners to Retain their Slaves -- Conduct of a Mistress -- "Don't Shoot, Massa, here I Is!" -- Kidd's Safeguard -- "Always Been a Union Man" -- Negroes Exhibiting their Preference for their Friends. 

On the gory field of Murfreesboro, upon the ushering in of the newyear, many a noble life was ebbing away. It was a rainy, dismal night;and, on traversing that field, I saw many a spot sacred to the memoryof my loved companions of the glorious 6th Ohio. I incidentally heardof the death of a nephew in that fight. I thought of his poor mother. How could I break the news to her! Yes, there was I, surrounded byhundreds of dead and wounded, _pitying the living_. O, how true it isthat--

 Death's swift, unerring dart brings to its victim calm and peaceful rest, While those _who live_ mourn and live on--the arrow in their breast!

With anxious haste I sought his body during that night. Many anupturned face, some with pleasing smile, and others with vengeancedepicted, seemed to meet my gaze. 

Stragglers told me to go further to the left. "There's whereCrittenden's boys gave 'em h--l!" Just to the right of the railroad Ifound young Stephens, of the 24th Ohio. His leg was shattered. Hecalled me by name, and begged me to get him some water, as he wasperishing. I went back to the river, stripped three or four dead oftheir canteens, and filled them, and returned. He told me that youngTommy Burnett was only wounded. He saw him carried back. This relievedmy anxiety. The next day the dead were buried. There, amid the shotand shell and other _debris_ of the battle-field, the dead heroes ofthe 6th lie, until the last trump shall call. 

A few days afterward I met one of the officers of that regiment. Ofhim I eagerly inquired as to its fate. A tear fell from his manly eyeas he exclaimed, "O, sad enough, Alf! Our boys were terribly cut up;but they fought like tigers--no flinching there; no falling out ofline; shoulder to shoulder they stood amid the sheeted flame; and, though pressed by almost overwhelming numbers, no blanched cheek, nocraven look, not the slightest token of fear was visible. The boyswere there to do or die. They were Ohio boys, and felt a pride inbattling for their country and her honor. " And when I asked of namesfamiliar, the loss, indeed, seemed fearful. "What became, " said I, "ofOlly Rockenfield?" "Dead!" was the reply. "And George Ridenour?""Wounded--can not live!"

Dave Medary, a perfect pet of the regiment, a boy so childlike, soquiet in his deportment, yet with as brave a heart as JuliusCæsar--LITTLE DAVE was killed! I saw his grave a few days after. Itwas half a mile to the left of the railroad; and, although it wasJanuary, the leaves of the prairie-rose were full and green, bendingover him as if in mourning for the early dead. 

Jack Colwell--few of the typos of Cincinnati but knew Jack, or ADD, ashe was frequently called--poor Jack died from want of attention! Hiswound was in the leg, below the knee. I saw him a week after thebattle, and the ball was not yet extracted. 

Adjutant Williams, Lieutenant Foster, Captain McAlpin, Captain Tinker, Lieutenant Schaeffer, young Montaldo, Harry Simmonds, A. S. Shaw, JohnCrotty, and many others, were wounded or killed in the terrific stormof shot and shell sent by the rebel horde under Breckinridge. At onetime every standard-bearer was wounded, and for a moment the flag ofthe 6th lay in the dust; but Colonel Anderson seized it and waved itin proud defiance, wounded though he was. The Colonel soon foundclaimants for the flag, and had to give it up to those to whose proudlot it fell to defend it. 

O! the wild excitement of a fight! How completely carried away menbecome by enthusiasm! They know no danger; they see none--areoblivious to every thing but _hope of victory_! Men behold their booncompanions fall, yet onward they dash with closed ranks, themselvesthe next victims. 

There are few in the Army of the Cumberland who have not heard of the35th Indiana, commanded by Colonel Mullen, of Madison, and as fine anIrish regiment as ever trod the poetic sod of the Emerald Isle. Ontheir march up from Huntsville, Alabama, toward Louisville, Kentucky, on the renowned parallel run between Buell and Bragg, the command wereshort of provisions. _Half-rations_ were considered a rarity. FatherCony, who is at all times assiduous in his duties to his flock, hadcalled his regiment together, and was instilling into their minds thenecessity of their trusting in Providence. He spoke of Jesus feedingthe multitude upon three barley loaves and five small fishes. Just atthis juncture an excitable, stalwart son of Erin arose and shouted:"Bully for him! He's the man we want for the _quarter-master of thisregiment_!"

Early in January General Rosecrans issued his orders that all the menthat could possibly be spared from detail duty should be immediatelyplaced into the ranks, and that negroes should be "conscripted" orcaptured to take their places as teamsters, blacksmiths, cooks, etc. By this means the Third Division of the Army of the Cumberland, thenunder General James B. Steadman, was increased eight hundred men--menacclimated--men who could shoulder a musket. This was all done in lessthan three weeks. The negroes were all taken from rebel plantations. 

One morning Colonel Vandeveer, of the 35th Ohio, commanding the ThirdBrigade, sent an orderly to my tent to inquire if I would not like toaccompany an excursion into the enemy's country. As items were scarce, I at once assented; and, although scarce daybreak, off we went. TheColonel informed me that, as I was a good judge of darkeys, GeneralSteadman had advised my going with the party. 

We called first at Mrs. Carmichael's, and got two boys, aged, respectively, fifteen and seventeen. Mrs. Carmichael begged, and, finally, wept quite bitterly at the prospect of losing her boys--saidthose were all she had left--(she had sent the others South). Sheplead with us not to take "them boys"--said "they wern't noaccount--couldn't do nothing nohow. " But the _mother_ of these boystold our men a different story, and begged us to take the boys, "For, "said she, "dey does all de plantin' corn and tendin' in de feel. Dey'smy chill'n, and if I never sees 'em agin, I want de satisfaction ofknowin' _dey is free_!"

Mrs. Carmichael's supplications for the negroes not to be taken fromher were quite pitiful. She said they had been _allers_ raised _jest_like as they were her own flesh and blood, and she just _keered_ for'em the same. But, as Mrs. Carmichael had two sons in the rebel army, the boys were taken. Upon the first order to come with us they seemeddelighted, which caused the mistress to become very wrathy. I told theboys to go to their cabin and get their blankets, as they would needthem. Judge my surprise when this _kind-hearted_ woman, who had justinformed me that she had "allers treated them boys as if they were herown flesh and blood"--this woman seized the blankets from thehalf-naked boys, and fairly shrieked at them: "You nasty, dirty littlenigger thieves! if them Yankees want to steal you, let 'em find you inblankets; _I'm not a-going to do it!_" I merely inquired if that wasthe way in which she treated _her other children_--those in the REBEL_army_?

From thence we went to Mrs. Kidd's, who had a husband and two sons inthe rebel service. On our approach she endeavored to secrete some ofthe blacks, _but they_ wouldn't "_stay hid_. " The cause of the visitwas explained. The rebels had been driving most of the likely negroesSouth. They were using them against the Government; and it wasthought, by some, that they might as well work for as _against_ theUNION. They were raising their crops, running their mills, manufacturing their army-wagons, etc. , besides supporting the familiesof the rebels, thus placing every able-bodied white man of the Southin the hands of the government. The Federal service needed teamstersand hospital nurses and cooks. 

Mrs. Kidd seemed quite a reasonable woman--said she thought sheunderstood the policy of the North, and that the South knew that_slavery_ was their strength. I made the remark, that, probably, ifher husband knew she would be left without help, perhaps he would beinduced to return and respect the old flag that had at all times, while he was loyal to it, defended him. 

This little speech on my part elicited a rejoinder from a young miss, a daughter of Mrs. Kidd, sixteen or seventeen years of age, whoflirted around, and with a nose that reached the altitude of at least"eighty-seven" degrees, exclaimed--

"I don't want my PAR nor my brothers to come home not till every oneof you _Yankees_ is driven from our sile!"

Some of the boys were busy hunting for a secreted negro, one whom thisyoung lady had stored away for safety. A soldier opened a smoke-housedoor, at which the young Secesh fairly yelled--

"There aint no nigger there! You Yankees haint a bit o' sense! Youdon't know a smoke-house from a hut, nohow!"

Supposing the negro, who we felt almost sure was there, might possiblyhave escaped, we were about retiring with those already collected, when I suggested, loud enough for any one to hear about the building, that the whole squad should pour a volley through that rickety olddormer-window that projected from the room, when, much to ourastonishment, and amid roars of laughter, appeared a woolly head, white eye-balls distended, the darkey yelling loud and fast--

"DON'T SHOOT, MASSA! don't shoot! HERE I IS! I's a comin'! De missusmade me clime on dis roof. I wants to go wid you folks anyhow!"

Mr. Crossman's plantation was then visited; but, as the rebels haddriven him away because of his Unionism, and taken his horses, hisproperty was undisturbed by us. 

From thence we visited Nolinsville--met a gang of twenty"likely-looking boys, " stout, healthy fellows, who had clubbedtogether to come to the Union camp. They told us the rebs were onlyfour miles off, "scriptin' all the niggers dar was in de fields, anda-runnin' 'em South. " These were added to our stock in trade. 

On our way back, a couple of old, sour-looking WOMEN were standing onthe steps that were built for them to _climb_ a _fence_, who, seeingso many blacks, inquired what we were taking them for. "To work, " wasthe reply. "The rebels were about to run them South, and we wantedthem to work for us. "

"Now who told you that?" they inquired. 

"The negroes themselves, madam. Many of them came voluntarily, toescape being sent South. "

"O, yes! you Federals git your information from the _niggersaltogether_. "

"Yes, madam!" facetiously replied Captain Dickerson, of the 2dMinnesota Regiment, "that's a fact. All the _reliable_ informationdoes come from them. "

On our homeward trip we called at what is known as "Kidd's Mills, "between Concord Church and Nolinsville. There were there quite anumber employed upon the lumber and grist. A selection was made fromthe lot. They _all_ wanted to come, but some were too young, andothers too _old_. 

Old man Kidd said he had a "safeguard from the Gineral. The Gineralhad been up to see his darters, Delilah and Susan, and give him asafeguard. " Upon examination it was found to be a mere request. Requests don't stand in military (not arbitrary enough). Then the oldman declared he had always been a Union man--"allers said this warwern't no good--that the South had better stand by the old flag. "

I at once told him if _such was the case_ he was all right--to justget his horse and come with me, and if he had "_allers_" been a"_Union man_" or a non-combatant, why, they would all be returned tohim. 

The negroes were grouped around with anxious faces, and with ratherastonished looks; and, as Mr. Kidd went to the stable, a venerable, white-haired old darkey, who had been told to stand back--he was tooold to join the Union teamsters--came forward, and begged to be taken. "Why, I does heap o' work. I tends dis mill; I drives a team fustrate. _Please take de ole man_, and let him _die free_!"

Another negro, too old to take, spoke up and said: "What was dat deold man Kidd told you?"

"Why, " I replied, "he said he had always been a Union man. "

"DE LOR' BRESS MY SOUL! Did he say dat _he_ was a Union man?"

"Yes!"

"Well! well! well! Dat he was a Union man! Well! well! well! And he'sgwine to de Gineral for to tell him dat; and dat ole man is a memberob de Church! Well! well! well! Why, look heah, my Men', when de rebswas here only a few weeks ago--when dey was here, dat ole man got onhis white hoss, and took de seceshum flag, and rode, and rode, andwaved dat rebel flag and shouted, and more dan hollered for JeffDavis, and _now_ he Union man! He wants de Gineral to gib up dese herecolored people--_dat's what's de matter wid him_!"

In an hour after we arrived in camp, sure enough, the old Kidd andother parties were there, expecting or hoping to get their darkeysback; but General Steadman told them if the negroes _wished_ toreturn, they could do so, but, if they chose rather to work for "UNCLESAM, " why, his orders were to use them. 

"Well, _Gineral_, you just tell my niggers that they can go home withme, " said Kidd. 

"O! they can if they want to. " So, out goes Kidd, smiling as a "basketof chips. "

"Boys, the Gineral says you can all go home _with me_. "

"IF YOU WANT TO, " was my addition _to his sentence_. 

Not a negro stirred from the line. After a brief consultation, in anunder tone, at which Kidd, I noticed, was becoming very impatient, Kidd broke the quietude by saying:

"Come on, boys--come, Jim. "

Jim looked over to Bob and said: "Bob, what are you going to do?"

"Me! Ise gwine to stay for de UNION!"

Old man Kidd looked beaten. "Well, Jim, what will _you_ do?"

"O! I does what Bob does!"

_This same old Kidd_ had been in the habit of going over the countryenlisting recruits for the rebel service--telling them that he was anold man, or he would go himself; that the old folks expected to betaxed to take care of the soldiers' families; that if they wanted cornor any thing from his mill, while they were in the army, to come andget it. By such language he induced several men, who had only smallfamilies, to enlist. One of them was indebted to Kidd about thirteendollars, and after he had been in the army a month or two, Kidd dunnedhim for the old bill, remarking:

"Well, John, you're in the army now, gittin' your regular paynow--guess you can pay that little bill now, can't you?"

CHAPTER V. 

 Cutting Down a Rebel's Reserved Timber -- Home again -- Loomis and his Coldwater Battery -- Secession Poetry -- Heavy Joke on an "Egyptian" Regiment. 

Just after General Schofield took command of the Third Division, RoddyPatterson, aided by a division of infantry, made his appearance nearour camp, and, as we were weak in numbers, fortifications were erectedin every direction, trenches dug, and efforts made to place the troopsin the best trim to give the rebs a "fine reception. "

There was one splendid piece of timber-land that might possibly comein possession of the rebels and do us much mischief. General Schofieldordered it cleared, and soon twelve hundred axes were resoundingthrough the vast forest, and Abe's rail-splitters were at work forming"abatis" from the fallen trees, while earthworks commanding theposition were soon erected. 

Captain Stinchcomb was the provost-marshal of the division, and oldman Jordan was in the habit of going to him with all his grievances. The soldiers had made an awful gap in his _reserved_ timber before hefound it out; but, as soon as he did so, he made for head-quarters, and found the Captain at dinner. 

_Scene I--Act 1--Enter Old Man. _

"Look a-heah, Gineral Stinchcomb, them boys of yourn is cuttin' all mytimber down!"

Captain Stinchcomb, affecting great surprise, exclaimed, "Is itpossible! is it possible!"

"Y-a-a-a-s; all my _resarve, too_! There! there! do you hear that?Them's trees a-fallin', and them's the boys yellin' as they fall. "

"What are they cutting them for, Mr. Jordan?"

"God only knows! I don't. I think just for to be doin' mischief. _Nauen_ else in this world. "

"Why didn't you stop them?" inquired Stinchcomb. 

"O! kase I was afeared. There! there! do you hear that agin? Them's mytrees!"

"Well, you'd better go right down and order them to stop. "

"O, no, Gineral. It wouldn't do a bit of good. Them there boys would_just cuss the life out of me_. They only laugh at me. Won't youplease go and have it stopped? Won't you?"

Suffice it to say, when Captain S. Got there _it was too late_. 

There are many little incidents connected with the army, which, beingjotted down in my "day-book, " during service, belong to the public. 

"Home Again" is a song ever joyous to the soldier, and I remember alittle incident in relation to that song and a serenading party of"young and festive cusses" belonging to Uncle Sam's service. 

There is residing near Murfreesboro a Secession family consisting of arebel widow and four sprightly daughters. 

Now, our "blue-coats" are proverbial for their gallantry in presenceof the ladies, and the Secesh girls smile as benignly upon a Federalsoldier, if he be good-looking, as they would upon the most ultrafire-eater of the South. The mothers don't like this--but motherscan't help themselves in many instances. Our boys will visit and enjoya lively chat with the girls whenever occasion offers. A quartette, offine vocal abilities, belonging to the gallant Rousseau's division, had practiced several beautiful ballads, preparatory to a grandserenade to the daughters of the buxom widow. 

Night threw her mantle o'er the earth just as the serenaders startedupon their expedition. Arriving in dew course of time, they commencedtheir melodies. The moon was peeping out from behind the far-distanthill as they commenced, "Roll on, silver moon, "

at which I suggested to the party there should be a big premium, justnow, on "_silver_ moons. " The serenaders smiled grimly, in token ofadmiration of the "_goak_, " and commenced--

 "Thine eyes, like the stars that are gleaming, Have entered the depths of my soul. "

Now, the repetition of "my soul" sounded to me exactly like mice-hole, and I suggested the propriety of substituting a rat-hole, at whichseveral became wrathy, and proposed a mustard-plaster for my head. 

The young ladies, aroused from their nocturnal slumbers, glided likesylphs to the windows, and threw several bouquets to the "gallantchoristers, " after the reception of which, and sundry pressures tofond hearts of the "beautiful flowers, " the quartette commenced thesong of "Home Again, " etc. , and

 "O, it fills my soul with joy, to meet my friends once more. "

This brought the widow to the window, who, hastily flinging back theshutter, screamed out, at the top of her voice: "If it will give youYankees any greater joy to get home than it will me, I hope togracious you'll stop your confounded noise and go home and meet yourfriends, for you've got none here. "

This was a bomb-shell thrown right at the party, and such a crouchingdown and gradual sliding off you can scarcely imagine. To be led, as't were, to the seventh heaven of bliss by the fair daughters'presentation of beautiful bouquets, and then to have all their hopesblasted by the termagant voice of the mamma! If any of my readers evervisit Rousseau's division and inquire for the serenaders, my word forit, the gentlemen concerned will have no recollection of the serenade. 

Colonel Loomis, whose name is now engraven in history, and whosebattery is mentioned with pride everywhere in the Army of theCumberland, was, during the Virginia campaign, _Captain_ Loomis. Hewas late Chief of Artillery upon Rousseau's staff. Captain Loomis, with his train, arrived in Cincinnati one Sunday morning, on his wayto the Army of Virginia. Upon each caisson and every piece ofartillery was plainly painted "Coldwater Battery. "

Services in a church on Sixth Street were just concluded, and thewarlike array attracted the congregation's attention, and the rathersplendid figure of the young though "venerable-looking" Captain Loomisdemanded a large share of attention. The pastor of the churchintroduced himself, spoke with admiration of the fine appearance ofthe Captain's men, etc. , and, with a hearty pressure of the hand, remarked:

"Captain Loomis, yours is a noble motto; stick to that, stick to that, my young soldier. You have many hardships to undergo, but yourglorious motto of COLD WATER will carry you safely through. "

Loomis, for the first time, caught the idea of the parson, but was toocourteous to undeceive the preacher by informing him that his batterywas raised in the town of Coldwater, Michigan. I have spent many apleasant hour with the Captain, but never could "see" the "cold water"part of his battery. 

A very pretty and pathetic little poem was handed me by one ofSecessia's daughters, upon a prolific theme, entitled

THE DYING SOLDIER. 

 My noble commander! thank God, you have come; You know the dear ones who are waiting at home, And O! it were dreadful to die here alone, No hand on my brow, and my comrades all gone. 

 I thought I would die many hours ago, And those who are waiting me never could know That here, in the faith of its happier years, My soul has not wandered one moment from theirs. 

 The dead were around; but my soul was away With the roses that bloom round my cottage to-day. I thought that I sat where the jessamine twines, And gathered the delicate buds from the vines. 

 And there--like a bird that had folded its wings, At home, 'mid the smile of all beautiful things, With sweet words of welcome, and kisses of love-- Was one I will miss in yon heaven above. 

 By the light that I saw on her radiant brow, She watches and waits there and prays for me now. My captain, bend low; for this poor, wounded side Is draining my heart of its last crimson tide. 

 Some day, when you leave this dark place, and go free, You will meet a fair girl--she will question of me! She has kissed this bright curl, as it lay on my head; When it goes back alone, she will know I am dead. And tell her the soul, which on earth was her own, Is waiting and weeping in heaven alone. 

 MY MOTHER! God help her! Her grief will be wild When she hears the mad Hessians have murdered her child; But tell her 'twill be one sweet chime in my knell, That the flag of the South now waves where I fell!

 It is well, it is well, thus to die in my youth, A martyr to Freedom and Justice and Truth! Farewell to earth's hopes--precious dreams of my heart-- My life's going out; but my love shall depart, On the wings that my soul has unfurled, Going up, soft and sweet, to that beautiful world. 

A JOKE ON AN "EGYPTIAN" REGIMENT. 

A well-known commander was drilling a brigade at "Kripple Kreek, " ashort time since, and in it was a slim portion of the "1159th"Illinois. Quite a large number of this regiment have deserted uponevery occasion offered, the men generally being very inattentive. Thecommanding officer of "all that is left of them" was severelycensured, the other day, for dereliction of duty. The General swore bythe Eternal he wished the Colonel of the "1159th" would "_go home_ andjoin his regiment. "

CHAPTER VI. 

 General Turchin -- Mrs. General Turchin in Command of the Vanguard of the 19th Illinois -- The 18th Ohio at Athens -- Children and Fools always Tell the Truth -- Picket Talk -- About Soldiers Voting -- Captain Kirk's Line of Battle. 

It is well known by all that General Turchin has been fullyvindicated. Captain Heaton, of Columbiana County, who was aneye-witness of his trial, and who knew the noble Russian, said to me, in speaking of this gallant soldier, "He looked like a lion among aset of jackals!" General Turchin was basely persecuted. He came out ofthe ordeal unscathed. The correspondent of the _Gazette_, who was inHuntsville, gave an account of affairs under Rousseau, who was asrigid in the punishment of rebels as Mitchel was before him. Thecourt-martial convened to try Turchin for _punishing traitors_ bidfair to last for months, under Buell's management. 

Mrs. Turchin, before the arrest of her husband, had been making thecampaign of Northern Alabama in his company, enduring, with the utmostfortitude, and for weeks together, all the hardships incident to asoldier's life. To ride on horseback, forty or fifty miles per day, was to her a mere matter of amusement, and in the recent march of the19th Illinois, from Winchester to Bellefonte, she is said to havetaken command of the vanguard, and to have given most vigorous andvaluable directions for driving off and punishing the infamousbushwhackers who infested the road. These and similar things had somuch excited the admiration of Colonel Turchin's men, that they wouldhave followed his gallant lady into the field of battle with all theenthusiasm that fired the hearts of the French chivalry when gatheredaround the standard of the Maid of Orleans. As soon as Colonel Turchinwas arrested, Mrs. Turchin suddenly disappeared. The next that washeard from her she was in Washington City; and now the story goes, that when she left the South she hastened to Chicago, enlisted thesympathies of noble-hearted men in the cause of her husband, prevailing upon a delegation of noble Illinoisans to accompany her toWashington, and, with their assistance, secured the confirmation ofthe Colonel as a brigadier-general of volunteers. Truly, in thelottery matrimonial, Colonel Turchin had the fortune to draw aninvaluable prize. 

All that has been alleged against Generals Turchin and Mitchelauthorizing the sacking of Athens, Alabama, appears to have reacted;and, except General Rousseau, they were the most popular officers inthat region. 

The 18th Ohio was stationed at Athens, and encamped upon thefair-grounds. Here they were assailed by Scott's rebel cavalry. Theyresisted for some hours, when, learning through their scouts that anoverwhelming force of the enemy were advancing against them, theythought best to retire, which they did in good order. As they passedthrough the town, on their way to Huntsville, some rash, inconsideraterebel sympathizers jeered at and insulted them, cheering lustily forJeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy. One or two of them, also, seized their guns, and when the rebel forces made their appearance, joined them in pursuit of our soldiers. A feeling of vindictive wrathsprang up in the minds of the boys of the 18th, and when they met the19th Illinois and other troops, who, under command of Colonel Turchin, were coming to the rescue, they naturally magnified their own loss, and told the rescuers exaggerated stories of the manner in which theyhad been treated by the citizens of Athens. 

Under those circumstances the whole force re-entered the town, drivingthe rebels before them, and, in the midst of great excitement, vowingvengeance. Then came the inevitable result: some good soldiers werecarried away into acts of unwarrantable violence, and a fewunprincipled scoundrels seized upon the opportunity to plunder, pilfer, and steal. But the mass of the forces entered the place underthe impression (as appears from the testimony before thecourt-martial) that it was to be sacked and burned, as a just andproper military punishment. This impression was, unfortunately, notcorrected by Colonel Turchin, because it was, in all probability, unknown to him. It arose, no doubt, from the fact that a general orderhad been issued, or, as reported, was about to be issued, denouncing, in severe terms, all citizens who should fire upon, or in any waymolest our troops, and threatening both them and their property withdestruction. Such a proclamation or order was, in fact, issued aboutthis time. 

Notwithstanding it was generally understood that the plundering ofAthens was permitted, at least three-fourths of the soldiersvoluntarily abstained from laying their hands upon a single dollar'sworth of private property. 

Now, as to the outrages themselves, I unhesitatingly pronounce thatthey have been greatly exaggerated. To say that the town was in anyway "ruined" is simply an exhibition of ignorance on the part of thosewho are not acquainted with the facts, and a falsehood on the part ofthose who are. 

Some three or four stores were broken into, and the most valuable partof the merchandise abstracted; the contents of the apothecary's shopwere badly injured, and articles of value were taken from at least adozen houses; some thousands of dollars' worth of horses, mules, and"niggers" were taken out of the town and suburbs; two or threescoundrels abused the persons of as many colored women; and this wasthe extent of the "ruin" inflicted upon Athens. I visited it more thana month ago. I saw no sign of "ruin, " dissolution, or decay, and I amtoo good a friend of the Athenians not to say that I consider theirbeautiful town as being to-day the most flourishing in all NorthAlabama; and if a citizen from any other place, especially fromHuntsville, should go to Athens and say otherwise, nothing but thepresence of the military would prevent him from getting a thrashingupon the spot. 

It is an old and trite saying, that "children and fools always tellthe truth. " Captain Moar and Lieutenant Wood, of General Steadman'sstaff, went out with a full expedition. It was under Colonel Bishop, of the 2d Minnesota; but these staff officers preceded the party. Wearrived at the proposed field, where we were to bivouac for the night. A house was near, and Colonel Moar proposed to go there and ordersupper. There were four females in the house. All pretended to be gladto receive us. We brought them sugar and coffee, articles they had notenjoyed for over a year. While supper was preparing, Lieutenant Wood, seeing a very pretty little girl, said to her, "Come here, sissy. "

The child reluctantly advanced, and as the Lieutenant placed her uponhis knee, the little innocent looked up and said, "I HATE YANKEES!"

The mother tried to catch the eye of the child. 

Lieutenant Wood said, "O, no, you don't!"

"Yes, I do, " reiterated the child. 

"Why, sissy, what makes you hate Yankees?"

"_'Cause mother told me I must_, " was the child's reply. 

The mother blushed crimson, and said, very confusedly, "WHY, HATTIE! INEVER!"

PICKET TALK. 

I have often heard pickets chaff one another. Just after the captureof New Orleans, one of our boys, on picket duty, as light dawned, discovered a rebel just lighting his breakfast-fire up a ravine. Ourpicket called out to the rebel to stop building fires and come overand take breakfast with him. The rebel replied:

"No, I shan't, You haven't got any coffee. "

"Yes, I have, " says the Union soldier. 

"Well, you haven't any sugar?"

"Yes, we have. We've got _Orleans_. "

The man who makes the assertion that our boys in the field, whencalled upon to vote on resolutions, are influenced by fear ofofficers, _is most grossly mistaken_. Why, your American soldier isthe most independent "cuss" in the world; and if a regiment is inline, and asked to vote, you may rest assured they vote as theyplease, and are governed by the dictates of their own consciences. Thegreat address that was sent from the army was voted upon in this way:The regiments were drawn up in line, the address read, and thecolor-bearers were asked, "Do you indorse the address to which youhave listened?" From every one came the hearty "I do!" when the colorswere ordered two paces front. The regiments then voted on the address, the "ayes" stepping out in line with the colors, and, if there hadbeen any "noes, " they were to stand fast; but I have yet to hear ofthe man who did so. They rallied on their colors to a man, and stoodwith an unbroken front. 

During the fight this side of Chapel Hill, Captain Kirk, one of theGeneral's aids, seeing two rebels a little way off, on a by-road, putspurs to horse and gave chase. We all watched him very eagerly untilhe ascended the hill, when three more rebs joined the two, and made astand. Kirk, thinking discretion the better part of valor, reined inhis horse, when, to the infinite amusement of the staff, young Lu. Steadman (a son of the General, and, though but sixteen years of age, a gallant boy) exclaimed: "Father, father, look yonder; _Kirk hasformed a line of battle!_" It is scarcely necessary to say that Kirksoon changed his base on a _double-quick_. 

CHAPTER VII. 

 Comic Scenes -- Importation of Yankees -- Wouldn't Go Round -- Major Boynton and the Chicken -- Monotony of Camp Life -- Experience on a Scouting Expedition -- Larz Anderson, Esq. , in Camp -- A Would-be Secessionist Caught in his Own Trap -- Guthrie Gray Bill of Fare for a Rebel "Reception" -- Pic Russell among the Snakes. 

 Army of the Cumberland, Third Division, Camp near Triune, Tenn. , _May 2, 1863_. 

"What will become of all of us women?" said an excited female toColonel Vandeveer, one morning. "The States-rights men 'scripted allthe young men, and you are drivin' all the old away. What will weladies do?"

"Import Yankees, " was the gallant Colonel's reply. 

"We are raising a big stock especially for this market, and can spareany quantity. "

"O! but Yankees don't suit us; we'd rather have our own people, " wasSecesh's reply. 

"O! if that's the case, you women had better use your influence to getthe traitors to lay down their arms and return to their homes, andbehave themselves as honest men should, and that will end this littledispute, and you can have all the men you want. "

"Well, Colonel, we are all tired of this war, and would be mighty gladto know our kinfolks were on their way home; but it will be mightygrindin' to 'em to have to come back and acknowledge that theycouldn't lick you Yankees. "

Deserters from the rebel army, I am told by citizens, are fast makingtheir appearance wherever they can get the protection of our forces, and as we advance they will no doubt increase. 

The provost-marshal of the division was kept busy administering theoath to those who came in from the surrounding country to Triune. Manyvery laughable incidents occurred at the swearing-in. 

One long, lean, lank specimen of the rebel order came up to CaptainStinchcomb, who was proposing the oath. 

"Hallo, mister, are you the captain of these ridgements around here?Dr. Wilson, my neighbor over across Spring Bottom, said I must comeover to the feller what swored in folks, and get the Constitution, andkeep it as long as you folks staid around here. "

WOULDN'T GO ROUND. 

Captain Airhardt, who was well known as the Topographical Engineer ofthis division, and one of the best-natured men in the world, wasengaged in strengthening the fortifications around the camp nearTriune, and in doing so had occasion to use some fifty men from the 2dMinnesota. As the boys had worked faithfully for four hours, theCaptain thought he would issue a ration of whisky to each, and, nothaving any himself, he borrowed some from General Steadman's tent, without leave, from a keg the General had been keeping for his ownmedical purposes. He drew off about a gallon. The boys were drawn upin line, and the Captain commenced the issue, and as each manreceived his portion he was ordered to fall out. They did so, however, seeking the first opportunity to retire to the other end of the line, and again resume a position in the ranks. The Captain went afterreinforcements of the _creature comfort_ from the before-mentionedkeg, and the _reinstated_ members of the ditch-diggers were againready for active service. 

This state of things continued as long as the whisky lasted, and asthe Captain handed the last ration, he looked at the few remainingboys, whom he supposed would have to go without any, and expressed hissorrow that he _hadn't enough to go round_. The fact was, every bodyhad had at least three drinks. 

I spent a very pleasant evening among a party of ladies who residenear our camp. Our officers are very attentive to them, and the ladiesseem thankful for the protection. The house was furnished in elegantstyle. We had music, songs, and an elocutionary entertainment; everything passing off pleasantly. As I am above suspicion myself, I mayremark that I fear for the hearts of several of this brigade. Mine isalready engaged; had it not been, I could not swear to theconsequences of that visit. One really pretty specimen of Secesh sang"The Bonnie Blue Flag, " by particular desire. She acknowledged sheused to go it strong for dissolution, but let us hope she is becomingenlightened. 

[Illustration: Runaway scrape in Virginia. See page 76. ]

MAJOR BOYNTON AND THE CHICKEN. 

Miss Mollie Jordan is a peculiar specimen of _ye Southern maiden_. Iheard a good story illustrative of her rebellious nature some timeago:

Our troops were then stationed at Concord Church, and, in theirperegrinations for fodder, came out this way, and, among other things, took off several contrabands belonging to Miss Mollie. Some timeafterward she rode into camp and inquired for Colonel Vandeveer, andriding right up to him, she said, "How do, Colonel?" The Coloneltipped his hat, _a la militaire_, in token of recognition. "Colonel, you've been out our way and stole all my niggers, and I've just riddeninto camp to see if you would be magnanimous enough to lend me myblacksmith to shoe this horse?"

The Colonel assisted her in alighting; had her boy hunted up, and thehorse shod. 

Dinner being ready, the lady was invited to partake of the repast;and, as she noticed a chicken upon the table almost as large as aturkey, she looked across at the Colonel, and then at the good-lookingMajor Boynton, and inquired whom she was dining with. 

"O, with the Major, Miss. Why did you ask?" said the Colonel. 

"I merely wished to know who stole my chickens; for those wereparticular pets of mine, and the only ones of that breed in thecountry. "

The reader can imagine the laugh that took place at the Major'sexpense. As a matter of course, neither the Major nor the Colonel knewany thing as to where the servant-man had _bought_ the fowls. 

The Tennessee cavalry were out again yesterday, with Colonel Brownlow, and touched up the Alabamians. They brought in six prisoners. Therebels massed their men and undertook to charge us, but our Tennesseeboys stood their ground, and the rebels backed out. They outnumberedus three to one; but they were not aware of that, or perhaps theywould have given us fits. Now Brownlow is a daring, dashing fellow, and, in fact, all the officers and men seem made of the same material. 

I suppose you will begin to think I've got cavalry on the brain, Italk so much of those boys; but they, at present, are the only onesout this way doing the fighting. When this bully division of infantrydoes go in, you can depend upon it somebody will get hurt. 

All the regiments are quartered in elegant little pup-tents, as theycall them. These tents are handsomely sheltered with evergreens andvarious bushes, presenting a picturesque appearance. The Lancaster, Chillicothe, and Cincinnati boys are vieing with each other as to whoshall have the neatest camp. 

A chicken-fight is to take place this evening between two game-cocks. One is owned by the fat boy of the 35th, the other by the newgrocery-keeper of this brigade--he with the yellow vest andspectacles. Spectacles can whip fat boy, sure, so I must hurry up tosee it done. We are striving our best to break up this love of cruelsports, but fear our efforts will be fruitless. 

The weather is delightful; garden truck is progressing finely; thewheat and oat-fields are waving delightfully, while the corn isbecoming like a man drinking whisky--_elevated_. With the above horridjoke I close. 

Yours, dismally, till I see my love, Alf. 

REMINISCENCE OF CAMP LIFE IN VIRGINIA, IN 1861. 

 Camp Beverly, Va. , _July 31, 1861_. 

A soldier's life becomes irksome when he is encamped for any greatlength of time at any one point. A change of scenery, or the busybustle of a march, wearisome though it be, makes the hours passlightly. This is our eighth day at this place, and beautiful thoughthe surroundings are, yet they begin to weary the eye. The boys wantaction, and if no prospect of a fight is here, they wish for stillfurther progress. 

The chief product of this never-ending and infernal mountainous regionseems to be rain and ignorant people. It rains from Monday tillSaturday, and commences fresh on Sunday; and if you put a question ofthe most commonplace order, the only answer you are likely to receiveis the vacant stare of those you speak to. The first relief to thismonotony occurred a few days since. Captain Bracken, editor of theIndianapolis _Sentinel_, who is in command of a splendid cavalrycompany, sent me an invitation to accompany him upon a scoutingexcursion, as a number of houses in the vicinity needed a littleexamination; so, accompanied by his two lieutenants and our gallantMajor, Alex. Christopher, together with the ever-affable Andy Hall, the scouts, mounted upon as fine horses as could be selected byCaptain Bracken, started jovially on duty. "_Now up the mead, now downthe mead_, " and then over hill and dale they sped. Soon the outerpickets were passed, and we were in the enemy's country, where, 'tissaid, the faster your horse travels the less likelihood there is ofbeing shot by guerrillas. In the course of the afternoon we visitedseveral houses, at one of which quite a quantity of contraband stuffwas found, _which was placed in our canteens_. 

At dusk we commenced a homeward tramp; and having to pass a house inwhich I had previously enjoyed the hospitality of its inmates, Ialighted to refresh myself with a cool drink of water, the balance ofthe party going on. I had but just mounted my horse, when he tookfright, and in a moment he was beyond control. Your humble servantclung with tenacity to the brute, and although I told him to "whoa, "he wouldn't do it. Now he takes a by-road; away he flies withlightning speed; 'tis getting dark, and the _fool horse_ is runningfurther and further from camp. I tried kicking the animal so as toinduce him to believe that it was me that was forcing him to hisutmost speed, but 't was no go. Then, as I came near falling, I"_affectionately_" threw my arms around his neck, thinking, if lifewas spared, what a fine item this runaway would make. In vain I triedkicks, seesawing, jerks, coaxing, whoaing; in despair, I gave a loosehold of the reins to the runaway, hoping he would get tired, endeavoring, however, to keep him in the middle of the road. He jumpedditches, turned curves, until I began to think I would make a goodcircus performer, and eventually hire out to John Robinson, if safelydelivered from this perilous expedition. At last he took me off myguard: turning abruptly to the left on a by-road, your correspondentwent to the right, heels up in the air for a brief space--in fact, aballoon ascension; the balloon's burst was the next vivid thing in mymind, for I remembered scratching in the air, and then an almostinstantaneous collision with mother Earth, alighting upon the rightside of my head, from which the blood gushed in a slight attempt at adeluge. As luck would have it, some friendly folks came to my rescue, and bathed my head with camphor; I remounted, and, in a few minutes, met my companions, who were in search for me. They wet my lips withsome of that stuff in the canteens. On arriving at camp, and sendingfor a surgeon, my wounds were dressed. A broken bone in my right hand, a terrific black eye and disfigured forehead, a sprained leg andbattered side were the result of my excursion. This is the firstletter I have been able to write since. 

Last Saturday the whole regiment was in the finest spirits at seeingamong us the kindly face of Cincinnati's universally-beloved citizen, Larz Anderson, and it did one good to see the hearty shake of handsour gallant officers and men gave him. He leaves for home to-day, laden with, no doubt, messages of love to many. God bless and speedhim on his journey. 

Captain Burdsall arrived to-day from Cheat Mountain. His command willremain here a few days, acting as mounted scouts. The Captain receiveda serious kick from his horse a week or two ago, and has been confinedto his bed ever since. This company has been a very valuable auxiliaryto the brigade, both at Cheat River Mountain and this place. We aresorry to hear of their intended return to Cincinnati in a few weeks. 

The battle-field of Rich Mountain is about four miles from this place, and to-day I met with an old veteran, upon whose ground they fought. He is a thorough Union man, and was a prisoner in the hands of theSecession party. The rebels, to spite the old veteran, dug a trencharound his house, for burying their dead, only eighteen inches belowthe surface. They also ruined his well by throwing in decayedhorse-flesh--in fact, ruined his old homestead, by cutting down hisfruit-trees, and various other specimens of Vandalism. 

An incident occurred during the preparation for that battle worthmentioning. Mr. ----, an old man of this town, a Representative in theLegislature, one who was elected as a Union candidate, and then baselybetrayed his constituents, and afterward was re-elected as aSecessionist--this man, on the eve of the battle, having partakenfreely of liquor, heard of the advance of our army, and, mounting hishorse, rode hastily to the rebel camp, to inform them of the intendedattack. He passed the outer pickets, but was halted by a full companyof Georgians, who, hearing of the advance of our men, had been thrownout to reconnoiter. He, much frightened, supposing he was mistaken andwas in the Union men's camp, begged them not to shoot, exclaiming, "_Iam a Union man. _" Scarce had the lying words passed his lips when adozen balls pierced his body. 

An announcement, made last night, that the rebels were advancing uponthis post, put the boys in excellent humor. Every piece was put inorder, and preparations made for a warm reception of the rebel gentry. Extra pickets were sent out by Colonel Bosley, who has entire commandof this post, Captain Wilmington being field-officer of the day. The_guests_, however, did not arrive, thus greatly disappointing theboys, who had a magnificent _banquet_ in store for them. The bill offare consisted of

 Bullet Soup--with Gunpowder Sauce; Bayonets--drawn from Scabbards; Minié Muskets--nicely _ranged_; Twelve Six-pound Dumplings--U. S. On the margin; 2, 600 Harper's Ferry Clickers;

besides numerous little delicacies in the way of Colt's "RevolvingPudding-hitters" and "_Derangers_, " lightning-powder, Bowies, slashers, etc. 

But as they refused the banquet, why, we will keep it, for the timebeing, ready for them in case of an intended _surprise party_. 

A serenade in camp is sweet music, indeed. Last night the GuthrieSerenading Club, consisting of E. P. Perkins, W. B. Sheridan, CharlieFoster, Captain Wilmington, Zeke Tatem, W. Craven, and S. B. Rice, gave the denizens of this town and camp a taste of their quality. Thehills resounded with sweet sounds. 

 "Music soft, music sweet, lingers on the ear. "

Captain Pic Russell had an acquisition to his company a few eveningssince--in fact, a Secession emblem: a snake seven feet long--a regular"black sarpent"--quietly coiled himself in the Captain's blanket. Hewas, as soon as discovered, put to death. This region, of countryabounds in serpents, the rattlesnake being a prolific article. 

I must close, as the mail is about to start. 

 Yours, Alf. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

 Fun in the 123d Ohio -- A Thrilling Incident of the War -- General Kelley -- Vote under Strange Circumstances -- Die, but never Surrender. 

FUN IN THE 123d OHIO. 

One of the boys furnished me with a copy of his experiences of camp, entitled "_Ye Chronicles of ye One Hundred and Twenty-thirdRegiment. _"

1st. Man that is born of woman, and enlisteth as a soldier in the OneHundred and Twenty-third Ohio, is few of days and short of rations. 

2d. He cometh forth at reveille, is present also at retreat, yea, evenat tattoo, and retireth, apparently, at taps. 

3d. He draweth his rations from the commissary, and devoureth thesame. He striketh his teeth against much hard tack, and is satisfied. He filleth his canteen with apple-jack, and clappeth the mouth thereofupon the bung of a whisky-barrel, and after a little while goeth away, rejoicing in his strategy. 

4th. Much soldiering has made him sharp; yea, even the seat of hisbreeches is in danger of being cut through. 

5th. He covenanteth with the credulous farmer for many turkeys andchickens; also, at the same time, for much milk and honey, to be paidfor promptly at the end of each ten days; and lo! his regiment movethon the ninth day to another post. 

6th. His tent is filled with potatoes, cabbage, turnips, krout, andother delicate morsels of a delicious taste, which abound not in theCommissary Department. 

7th. And many other things not in the "returns, " and which never willreturn; yet, of a truth, it must be said of the soldier of the OneHundred and Twenty-third, that he taketh nothing that he can notreach. 

8th. He fireth his Austrian rifle at midnight, and the whole camp isaroused and formed in line of battle, when lo! his mess come bearingin a nice porker, which he solemnly declareth so resembled a Seceshthat he was compelled to pull trigger. 

9th. He giveth the provost-marshal much trouble, often capturing hisguard, and possesseth himself of the city. 

10th. At such times "lager" and pretzels flow like milk and honey fromhis generous hand. He giveth without stint to his own comrades; yea, and withholdeth not from the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio VolunteerInfantry, or from the lean, lank, expectant Hoosier of theEighty-seventh Indiana. 

11th. He stretcheth forth his hand to deliver his fellow-soldiers ofthe One Hundred and Sixteenth from the power of the enemy; yea, starteth at early dawn from Petersburg, even on a "double-quick" dothhe go, and toileth on through much heat, suffering, privation, andmuch "vexation of spirit, " until they are delivered. Verily I say untoyou, after that he suffereth for want of tents and camp-kettles. Yea, on the hights of Moorfield his voice may be heard proclaiming loudlyfor "hard tack and coffee, " yet he murmureth not. 

12th. But the grunt of a pig or the crowing of a cock awakeneth himfrom, the soundest sleep, and he goeth forth until halted by theguard, when he instantly clappeth his hands upon his "bread-basket, "and the guard, in commiseration, alloweth him to pass to the rear. 

13th. No sooner hath he passed the sentry's beat than he striketh a"bee-line" for the nearest hen-roost, and, seizing a pair of plumppullets, returneth, soliloquizing: "The noise of a goose saved Rome;how much more the flesh of chickens preserveth the soldier!"

14th. He even playeth at eucher with the parson, to see whether or notthere shall be preaching in camp on the following Sabbath; and bydexterously drawing from the bottom a Jack, goeth away rejoicing thatthe service is postponed. 

15th. And many other things doeth he; and lo! are they not recorded inthe "morning reports" of Company B? Yea, verily. 

A THRILLING INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 

Captain Theodore Rogers, son of the Rev. E. P. Rogers, of New YorkCity, formerly of Albany, N. Y. , enlisted in May, 1861. After a variedexperience he returned home, and, on the 7th of January, 1862, wasmarried, in Cazenovia, New York, to the adopted daughter of H. TenEyck, Esq. , a young lady who, we may be allowed at least to say, wasevery way worthy of the hand of the gallant soldier. The bridal dayswere passed in the camp, where a few weeks of happiness were affordedthem. 

Six months roll away, and the battle at Gaines's Mills opens. Mr. Rogers, having left home as first lieutenant, was, on account of hissuperior qualities as a soldier and as a man, promoted to the officeof captain. His indefatigable efforts to discharge the duties of hisposition seriously impaired his health, and, previous to the battlereferred to, he was lying sick in his tent. But the booming of theenemy's cannon roused the spirit of the soldier, and he forgot himselfin his desire to win a victory for his country. 

An account of the last scene is given by an officer in the rebel army, and, coming from such a source, its accuracy can not be questioned. Colonel McRae, while passing through Nassau, N. P. , on his way toEngland, sought an introduction to a lady, who, he was informed, wasfrom Albany. Finding that she knew Dr. Rogers and his family, shewrites that his whole face lighted up, and he said: "O, I am so glad!I have been longing for months to see some one who knew the family ofthe brave young soldier who fell before my eyes. "

He then said: "It was just at evening on Friday, June 27, at thebattle of Gaines's Mills, as your army was falling back, I was struckwith the appearance of a young man, the captain of a company, who wasrushing forward at the head of his men, encouraging them, and leadingthem on, perfectly regardless of his own life or safety. His gallantryand bravery attracted our notice, and I felt so sure that he mustfall, and so regretted the sacrifice of his life, that I tried hardto take him prisoner. But all my efforts were vain; and when at last Isaw him fall, I gave orders at once that he should be carried from thefield. It was the last of the fight, and in a few moments GeneralGarland (also of the Confederate army) and I went in search of him, and found him under the tree whither I had ordered him to be carried. "

Here the voice of the Colonel trembled so that he was hardly able toproceed. Recovering himself, he added: "I took from his pocket hiswatch, some money, and three letters--one from his wife, another fromhis father, and the third from his mother. As General Garland (who hassince been killed) and I read the letters, standing at the side of theyouthful husband and son, we cried like children--tears of grief andregret for the brave and honored soldier, and at the thought of thosewho would mourn him at home. "

The Colonel said: "Tell his wife and father and mother that, though hewas an enemy of whom we say it, he died the bravest and most gallantman that ever fell on the battle-field--encouraging and leading hismen on, going before them to set the example. Tell them, also, that wesaw him laid tenderly in his grave, (by himself, ) and that, when thishateful war is over, I can take his wife to the very spot where herhusband lies. "

Colonel McRae was very anxious to know whether the letters and watchhad been received by his wife, as he said that he gave them into thehands of Colonel T----, of the 23d Regiment, who had promised to sendthem by a flag of truce. 

From all that could be gathered, the lamented youth never spoke a wordafter receiving his death-wound. 

While in the Army of Virginia I obtained the following facts in regardto the shooting of Colonel (now General) Kelley. A Staunton (Virginia)paper contained the following boastful article:

"Colonel Kelley, the commandant of a portion of Lincoln's forces atPhilippa, was shot by Archey McClintic, of the Bath Cavalry, CaptainRichards. Leroy and Foxall Dangerfield, (brothers, ) and ArcheyMcClintic, soldiers of the Bath Cavalry, were at the bridge, when ahorse belonging to their company dashed through the bridge without itsrider, whereupon these soldiers attempted to cross the bridge for thepurpose of seeing what had been the fate of the owner of the riderlesshorse, when they were met by a portion of the enemy, led on by ColonelKelley. As they met, Archey McClintic shot Colonel Kelley with apistol. Seeing that they would be overcome by the number of the enemy, this gallant trio wheeled and retreated through the bridge. As theywere retreating, they heard the enemy exclaim, 'Shoot the d--d rascalon the white horse!' meaning McClintic, who had shot Colonel Kelley. They fired, and broke the leg of Leroy P. Dangerfield. As McClinticwas able to unhorse the colonel of a regiment with an old pistol, wehope that no soldier will disdain to use the old-fashioned pistol. They are as good as any, if in the proper hands. "

From the same paper I cut the following:

"We have been informed that the gallant men who were under the commandof Captain J. B. Moomau, in the precipitate retreat from Philippa, positively refused, after going a mile or two, to retreat any further. They were told that, if they would not retreat any further, they hadbetter send a flag of truce to the enemy and surrender. It wasproposed to decide the matter by a vote, when the men _unanimously_voted that they would _rather die than surrender_. The word'surrender' does not belong to the vocabulary of the brave men of ourmountains. They are as heroic as Spartans. They are willing to _die_, if needs be; but surrender, _never!_ Though the enemy were constantlyfiring Minié muskets at them, they were not at all alarmed, and, beingtrue republicans, they were resolved to take the vote of the menbefore they would agree to send a flag of truce, or think for a momentof surrendering. Who ever heard of a vote being taken under suchcircumstances? They were flying before the superior and overwhelmingforce of the enemy, yet they were sufficiently calm and self-composedto get through with the republican formality of taking the vote of thecompany. The men then under the command of Captain Moomau, ofPendleton, were his own company and some fifty belonging to thecompany of Captain Hull, of Highland, who had become separated fromthe other portion of their own company. Such soldiers will never beconquered--they may be killed, but they will never surrender. "

A few days afterward these "never-surrender" Spartan chaps werebrought into camp, the most hang-dog looking set of villains I evermet. 

CHAPTER IX. 

 Our Hospitals -- No Hope -- A Short and Simple Story -- A Soldier's Pride -- The Last Letter -- Soldierly Sympathy -- The Hospitals at Gallatin, and their Ministering Angels. 

OUR HOSPITALS. 

I have visited many of the hospitals, both on the field and thoselocated in cities where every convenience obtainable for money wasprofuse. Those in Nashville, Gallatin, and Louisville were, at alltimes, in the most perfect order. Still, in the field, and often incities, cut off as Nashville and Murfreesboro sometimes are, the mensuffer from the want of many little things. Miss LOUISA ALLCOTT, ofBoston, who has been kindly administering to the wants of the sick andwounded in the hospitals, says:

One evening I found a lately-emptied bed occupied by a large, fairman, with a fine face, and the serenest eyes I ever met. One of theearlier comers had often spoken of a friend who had remained behind, that those apparently worse wounded than himself might reach a shelterfirst. It seemed a David and Jonathan sort of friendship. The manfretted for his mate, and was never tired of praising John, hiscourage, sobriety, self-denial, and unfailing kindliness ofheart--always winding up with--"He's an out-and-out fine feller, ma'am; you see if he aint. " I had some curiosity to behold this pieceof excellence, and, when he came, watched him for a night or twobefore I made friends with him; for, to tell the truth, I was afraidof the stately-looking man, whose bed had to be lengthened toaccommodate his commanding stature--who seldom spoke, uttered nocomplaint, asked no sympathy, but tranquilly observed all that went onabout him; and, as he lay high upon his pillows, no picture of dyingstatesman or warrior was ever fuller of real dignity than thisVirginia blacksmith. 

NO HOPE. 

A most attractive face he had, framed in brown hair and beard, comely-featured and full of vigor, as yet unsubdued by pain, thoughtful, and often beautifully mild, while watching the afflictionsof others, as if entirely forgetful of his own. His mouth was firm andgrave, with plenty of will and courage in its lines, but a smile couldmake it as sweet as any woman's; and his eyes were child's eyes, looking one fairly in the face, with a clear, straightforward glance, which promised well for such as placed their faith in him. He seemedto cling to life as if it were rich in duties and delights, and he hadlearned the secret of content. The only time I saw his composuredisturbed was when my surgeon brought another to examine John, whoscrutinized their faces with an anxious look, asking of the elder: "Doyou think I shall pull through, sir?" "I hope so, my man. " And, as thetwo passed on, John's eyes followed them with an intentness whichwould have won a clearer answer from them had they seen it. Amomentary shadow flitted over his face; then came the smile ofserenity, as if, in that brief eclipse, he had acknowledged theexistence of some hard futurity, and, asking nothing, yet hoping allthings, left the issue in God's hand, with that submission which istrue piety. 

At night, as I went my rounds with the surgeon, I happened to askwhich man in the room probably suffered the most, and, to my greatsurprise, he glanced at John. 

"Every breath he draws is like a stab; for the ball pierced the leftlung, broke a rib, and did no end of damage here and there; so thepoor lad can find neither forgetfulness nor ease, because he must lieon his wounded back or suffocate. It will be a hard struggle, and along one, for he possesses great vitality; but even his temperate lifecan't save him. I wish it could. "

"You don't mean he must die, Doctor?"

"Bless you, there is not the slightest hope for him, and you'd bettertell him so before long--women have a way of doing such thingscomfortably; so I leave it to you. He won't last more than a day ortwo at furthest. "

I could have sat down on the spot and cried heartily, if I had notlearned the propriety of bottling up one's tears for leisure moments. Such an end seemed very hard for such a man, when half a dozenworn-out, worthless bodies round him were gathering up the remnants ofwasted lives, to linger on for years, perhaps burdens to others, daily reproaches to themselves. The army needed men like John, earnest, brave, and faithful, fighting for liberty and justice, withboth heart and hand--a true soldier of the Lord. I could not give himup so soon, or think with any patience of so excellent a nature robbedof its fulfillment, and blundered into eternity by the rashness orstupidity of those at whose hands so many lives may be required. Itwas an easy thing for Dr. P---- to say, "Tell him he must die, " but acruelly hard thing to do, and by no means as "comfortable" as hepolitely suggested. I had not the heart to do it then, and privatelyindulged the hope that some change for the better might take place, inspite of gloomy prophesies, so rendering my task unnecessary. 

A SHORT AND SIMPLE STORY. 

After that night, an hour of each evening that remained to him wasdevoted to his ease or pleasure. He could not talk much, for breathwas precious, and he spoke in whispers; but from occasionalconversations I gleaned scraps of private history, which only added tothe affection and respect I felt for him. Once he asked me to write aletter, and, as I settled with pen and paper, I said, with anirrepressible glimmer of female curiosity, "Shall it be addressed tomother or wife, John?"

"Neither, ma'am: I've got no wife, and will write to mother, myself, when I get better. Did you think I was married because of this?" heasked, touching a plain gold ring he wore, and often turnedthoughtfully on his finger when he lay alone. 

"Partly that, but more from a settled sort of look you have--a lookyoung men seldom get until they marry. "

"I don't know that; but I'm not so very young, ma'am--thirty in May, and have been what you might call settled these ten years, formother's a widow. I'm the oldest child she has, and it wouldn't do forme to marry till Lizzie has a home of her own, and Laurie has learnedhis trade; for we're not rich, and I must be father to the children, and husband to the dear old woman, if I can. "

"No doubt you are both, John; yet how came you to go to the war, ifyou felt so? Wasn't enlisting as bad as marrying?"

"No, ma'am, not as I see it; for one is helping my neighbor, the otherpleasing myself. I went because I couldn't help it. I didn't want theglory or the pay; I wanted the right thing done, and the people saidthe men who were in earnest ought to fight. I was in earnest, the Lordknows; but I held off as long as I could, not knowing what was myduty. Mother saw the case, gave me her ring to keep me steady, andsaid 'Go;' so I went. "

A short story, and a simple one; but the man and the mother wereportrayed better than pages of fine writing could have done it. 

A SOLDIER'S PRIDE. 

"Do you ever regret that you came, when you lie here suffering somuch?"

"Never, ma'am. I haven't helped a great deal, but I've shown I waswilling to give my life, and perhaps I've got to; but I don't blameany body, and if it was to do over again, I'd do it. I'm a littlesorry I wasn't wounded in front. It looks cowardly to be hit in theback; but I obeyed orders, and it don't matter much in the end, Iknow. "

Poor John! it did not matter now, except that a shot in front mighthave spared the long agony in store for him. He seemed to read thethought that troubled me, as he spoke so hopefully when there was nohope, for he suddenly added:

"This is my first battle--do they think it's going to be my last?"

"I'm afraid they do, John. "

It was the hardest question I had ever been called upon to answer;doubly hard with those clear eyes fixed upon mine, forcing a truthfulanswer by their own truth. He seemed a little startled at first, pondered over the fateful fact a moment, then shook his head, with aglance at the broad chest and muscular limbs stretched out before him. 

"I'm not afraid; but it is difficult to believe all at once. I'm sostrong, it does not seem possible for such a little wound to kill me. "

THE LAST LETTER. 

"Shall I write to your mother now?" I asked, thinking that thesesudden tidings might change all plans and purposes; but they did not:for the man received the order of the Divine Commander to march withthe same unquestioning obedience with which the soldier had receivedthat of the human one, doubtless remembering that the first led him tolife, the last to death. 

"No, ma'am--to Laurie, just the same; he'll break it to her best, andI'll add a line to her, myself, when you get done. "

So I wrote the letter, which he dictated, finding it better than any Ihad sent, for, though here and there a little ungrammatical orinelegant, each sentence came to me briefly worded, but mostexpressive, full of excellent counsel to the boy, tenderly bequeathing"mother and Lizzie" to his care, and bidding him good-by in words thesadder for their simplicity. He added a few lines, with steady hand, and, as I sealed it, said, with a patient sort of sigh, "I hope theanswer will come in time for me to see it. " Then, turning away hisface, he laid the flowers against his lips, as if to hide some quiverof emotion at the thought of such a sudden sundering of all the dearhome ties. 

Those things had happened two days before. Now John was dying, and theletter had not come. I had been summoned to many death-beds in mylife, but to none that made my heart ache as it did then, since mymother called me to watch the departure of a spirit akin to this, inits gentleness and patient strength. As I went in, John stretched outboth his hands. 

"I knew you'd come! I guess I'm moving on, ma'am. "

He was, and so rapidly that, even while he spoke, over his face I sawthe gray veil falling that no human hand can lift. I sat down by him, wiped the drops from his forehead, stirred the air about him with theslow wave of a fan, and waited to help him die. He stood in sore needof help, and I could do so little; for, as the doctor had foretold, the strong body rebelled against death, and fought every inch of theway, forcing him to draw each breath with a spasm, and clench hishands with an imploring look, as if he asked, "How long must I endurethis, and be still?" For hours he suffered, without a moment's respiteor a moment's murmuring. His limbs grew cold, his face damp, his lipswhite, and again and again he tore the covering off his breast, as ifthe lightest weight added to his agony; yet, through it all, his eyesnever lost their perfect serenity, and the man's soul seemed to sittherein, undaunted by the ills that vexed his flesh. 

SOLDIERLY SYMPATHY. 

One by one the men awoke, and round the room appeared a circle of palefaces and watchful eyes, full of awe and pity; for, though a stranger, John was beloved by all. Each man there had wondered at his patience, respected his piety, admired his fortitude, and now lamented his harddeath; for the influence of an upright nature had made itself deeplyfelt, even in one little week. Presently, the Jonathan who so lovedthis comely David came creeping from his bed for a last look and word. The kind soul was full of trouble, as the choke in his voice, thegrasp of his hand betrayed; but there were no tears, and the farewellof the friends was the more touching for its brevity. 

"Old boy, how are you?" faltered the one. 

"Most through, thank heaven!" whispered the other. 

"Can I say or do any thing for you, anywheres?"

"Take my things home, and tell them that I did my best. "

"I will! I will!"

"Good-by, Ned. "

"Good-by, John; good-by!"

They kissed each other tenderly as women, and so parted; for poor Nedcould not stay to see his comrade die. For a little while there was nosound in the room but the drip of water from a pump or two, and John'sdistressful gasps, as he slowly breathed his life away. I thought himnearly gone, and had laid down the fan, believing its help no longerneeded, when suddenly he rose up in his bed, and cried out, with abitter cry, that broke the silence, sharply startling every one withits agonized appeal, "For God's sake, give, me air!"

It was the only cry pain or death had wrung from him, the only boon hehad asked, and none of us could grant it, for all the airs that blowwere useless now. Dan flung up the window; the first red streak ofdawn was warming the gray east, a herald of the coming sun. John sawit, and, with the love of light which lingers in us to the end, seemedto read in it a sign of hope, of help, for over his whole face brokethat mysterious expression, brighter than any smile, which often comesto eyes that look their last. He laid himself down gently, andstretching out his strong right arm, as if to grasp and bring theblessed air to his lips in fuller flow, lapsed into a mercifulunconsciousness, which assured us that for him suffering was foreverpast. 

As we stood looking at him, the ward-master handed me a letter, sayingit had been forgotten the night before. It was John's letter, comejust an hour too late to gladden the eyes that had looked and longedfor it so eagerly--yet he had it; for after I had cut some brown locksfor his mother, and taken off the ring to send her, telling how wellthe talisman had done its work, I kissed this good son for her sake, and laid the letter in his hand, still folded as when I drew my ownaway. 

On my visit to the hospital at Gallatin, I was called to the bedsideof a dying boy, who belonged in Columbus, Ohio. There I met Dr. W. P. Eltsun, Dr. Armington, Dr. Landis, and other surgeons, all workingfaithfully for the suffering men; but Death had marked this boy forhis own. I took his almost pulseless hand in mine, wiped the coldsweat from his brow, and, as I did so, he murmured, in a soft tone--atone of sweet sadness--and with a half vacant stare, "Mother, is thatyou? O, how long I've waited for your coming! Tell sister I'm betternow. Good-by, Charlie. Halt! who goes there?" and then a sudden startseemed to bring him to a realization of his situation, and he quietlygazed at me for a moment, called me by name, and said, "Alf, will youwrite a letter for me to-morrow?" This I promised, should he be ableto dictate to me what I should write. In a few minutes he again calledthe sweet name of "Mother! Mother!" and with the words "good-by" uponhis lips, and a smile of joy beaming on his face, he fell into thatsleep that knows no waking. 

There were three ministering angels, who had left all the luxuries ofa home, attending in this hospital. They had volunteered as nurses, and had come from Indianapolis, to render all the aid they could toour country's noble defenders. Indiana should remember the names ofMiss Bates, Miss Cathcart, and Mrs. Ketchum. 

[Illustration: Sports in camp. See page 99. ]

THE ENSIGN-BEARER. 

Written Expressly for Mr. Alf. BURNETT, by Miss Cora M. EAGER. 

 Never mind me, Uncle Jared, never mind my bleeding breast; They are charging in the valley, and you're needed with the rest; All the day through, from its dawning till you saw your kinsman fall, You have answered fresh and fearless to our brave commander's call, And I would not rob my country of your gallant aid to-night, Though your presence and your pity stay my spirit in its flight. 

 All along that quivering column, see the death-steeds trampling down Men whose deeds this day are worthy of a kingdom and a crown. Prithee, hasten, Uncle Jared--what's the bullet in my breast To that murderous storm of fire, raining tortures on the rest? See, the bayonets flash and falter--look I the foe begins to win! See, see our faltering comrades! God! how the ranks are closing in!

 Hark! there's muttering in the distance, and a thundering in the air, Like the snorting of a lion just emerging from his lair; There's a cloud of something yonder, fast unrolling like a scroll; Quick, quick! if it be succor that can save the cause a soul! Look! a thousand thirsty bayonets are flashing down the vale, And a thousand hungry riders dashing onward like a gale. 

 Raise me higher, Uncle Jared; place the ensign in my hand; I am strong enough to wave it, while you cheer that flying band. Louder! louder! shout for Freedom, with prolonged and vigorous breath; Shout for Liberty, and Union, and--the victory over death! See! they catch the stirring numbers, and they swell them to the breeze, Cap, and plume, and starry banner, waving proudly through the trees. 

 Mark! our fainting comrades rally--mark! that drooping column rise; I can almost see the fire newly kindled in their eyes. Fresh for conflict, nerved to conquer, see them charging on the foe, Face to face, with deadly meaning, shot, and shell and trusty blow; See the thinned ranks wildly breaking; see them scatter toward the sun! I can die now, Uncle Jared, for the glorious day is won. 

 But there's something, something pressing with a numbness on my heart, And my lips, with mortal dumbness, fail the burden to impart. O, I tell you, Uncle Jared, there is something, back of all, That a soldier can not part with when he heeds his country's call. Ask the mother what, in dying, sends the yearning spirit back Over life's broken marches, where she's pointed out the track?

 Ask the dear ones gathered nightly round the shining household hearth, What to them is brighter, better than the choicest things of earth? Ask that dearer one, whose loving, like a ceaseless vestal flame, Sets my very soul a-glowing at the mention of her name; Ask her why the loved, in dying, feels her spirit linked with his In a union death but strengthens? she will tell you what it is. 

 And there's something, Uncle Jared, you may tell her, if you will, That the precious flag she gave me I have kept unsullied still; And--this touch of pride forgive me--where Death sought our gallant host, Where our stricken lines were weakest, there it ever waved the most; Bear it back, and tell her, fondly, brighter, purer, steadier far, 'Mid the crimson strife of battle, shone my life's unsetting star!

 But, forbear, dear Uncle Jared, when there's something more to tell, And her lips, with rapid blanching, bid you answer how I fell; Teach your tongue the trick of slighting, though 'tis faithful to the rest, Lest it say her brother's bullet is the bullet in my breast. But, if it must be that she learn it, despite your tender care, 'T will soothe her bleeding heart to know my bayonet pricked the air. 

 Life is ebbing, Uncle Jared; my enlistment endeth here; Death, the conqueror, has drafted--I can no more volunteer. But I hear the roll-call yonder, and I go with willing feet Through the shadows to the valley where victorious armies meet. Raise the ensign, _Uncle Jared_--let its dear folds o'er me _fall_; Strength and Union for my country, and _God's_ banner over _all_. 

CHAPTER X. 

 Sports in Camp -- Anecdote of the 63d Ohio and Colonel Sprague -- Soldier's Dream of Home -- The Wife's Reply. 

 Army of the Cumberland, Camp near Triune, Tenn. , _May 12, 1863_. 

There are, at all times, sunny sides as well as the dark andmelancholy picture, in camp life. Men whose business is that ofslaughter--men trained to slay and kill, will, amid the greatestdestruction of life, become oblivious to all surrounding scenes ofdeath and carnage. 

I have seen men seated amid hundreds of slain, quietly enjoying a gameof "seven-up, " or having _a little draw_. Yet let them once return totheir homes, and enjoy the society and influence of the gentler sex, and they will soon forget the excitement and vices of camp, and returnto the more useful and ennobling enjoyments of life. 

Yesterday a lively time, generally, was had in camp. After thedrilling of the division, a grand cock-fight occurred on the hill. Some of the boys, who are regular game-fanciers, brought some splendidchickens, and, as a consequence, a good deal of money changed hands. The birds fought nobly: three were killed, one of them killing hisopponent the first round, and instantly crowing, much to the amusementof the Sports. This fighting with gaffs is not a cruel sport, as oneor the other is soon killed. 

Snakes are not so prevalent in these parts as they were when we firstcame: then it was not uncommon to find a nice little "garter" quietlyensconced in one's pocket, or in your pantaloon leg, or taking a napin one corner of your tent. 

A prize-fight occurred in the division a few days ago. A couple ofsons of _Ethiopia_, regular young bucks, feeling their dignityinsulted by various epithets hurled at each other, from loud-mouthingadjourned to fight it out in the woods--a big crowd following to enjoythe fun. A ring was soon formed, and at it they went, _a la_ Sayersand Heenan. Umpires were improvised for the occasion, andtime-keepers, etc. , chosen. 

The first clash was a _butter_ and a _rebutter_, their heads comingtogether, fairly making the _wool_ fly. This was round first. 

_Round 2d. _--35th Ohio darkey came boldly to the scratch; as he onlyweighed sixty-five pounds more than his opponent, and with the_slight_ difference of one foot six inches higher, he pitched in mostvaliantly, and received a splendid hit on the sconce, which made himfeel as if a _flea_ bit him. After full ten minutes skirmishing, during which time neither struck the other, both retired to thefurther _corner_ of the _ring_, until time was called. 

_Round 3d. _--Minnesota Ethiopian, who had been weakening in the pulsefor some time, came up shaky, and was received with laughter by hisopponent; but the little fellow hit out splendidly, and launched aneye-shutter at the stalwart form of the 35th darkey. First bloodclaimed for the 2d Minnesota. 

_Round 4th_ was, per agreement, a rough and tumble affair, as thespectators were growing impatient; and such "wool-carding" was neverbefore exhibited. Both fought plucky; but the 2d Minnesota having butjust recovered from a _sick of fitness_, as he said, was about beingoverpowered, when the officer of the day interfered; and thus endedthe dispute for the time. Betters _drew_ their money, as the fight wasa _draw_. 

BALL IN CAMP. 

Last night we had a fancy-dress ball, a _recherché_ affair, a finedancing-floor having been laid down in Company I's ground. Afirst-rate cotillion band was engaged, and played up lively airs. Yourcorrespondent had a special invitation to be present, and enjoyed theparty amazingly. 

The belles of the evening were Miss Allers, the Widow Place, MissStewart, Miss Austin, and Miss Dodge, all of Minnesota. 

Miss Dodge wore an elegant wreath of red clover, mingled withbeech-leaves, and was dressed in red and white--the red being part ofa shirt, kindly furnished by one of the friends of the lady; the whitewas expressly manufactured by the Widow Place, dressmaker and millinerfor this regiment. 

Miss Stewart is a beautiful creature, of a bronzed hue, from excessiveexposure to the sun. She also wore a wreath of young clover, mingledwith bunches of wheat. 

Miss Allers was rather undignified in her actions; her dress wethought too short at the bottom, and too high in the neck; however, Miss A. Was dressed in Union colors, having an American flag for anapron, and blue and red dress, with a neat-fitting _waste_--ofmaterials. 

But the one in whom we felt the deepest interest was the Widow. Shehad all the grace and elegance of a hippopotamus, and her style wasenchanting. She wore a low-necked dress, with a bouquet ofcauliflowers and garlick in her bosom, a wreath of onion-greens in herhair, full, red dress, and elaborate hoops, which continually said, "Don't come a-nigh me. " Her bashful behavior was the talk of theevening, and the gay Widow and your correspondent, when upon thefloor, were the cynosure of all eyes. The dance continued until theColonel ordered a _double tattoo_ sounded, so that we could hear it. Several intruders were put out, for conduct unbecoming gentlemen. Theball was strictly _private_, as no _commissioned_ officers wereallowed to participate. 

However, the officers were truly amused at the fun, and, as womenhave, ere this, been dressed in _men's_ clothes, there is no reasonthe boot shouldn't, this time, be on the other leg. 

Miss Austin's dance of the Schottische, with double-soled militaryboots, was excellent. Miss Austin belongs in Louisville, and has longbeen known as a female _auctioneer_. 

The 9th Ohio band has arrived, and the boys are delighted. This is anew band, all Cincinnati musicians, and they are truly welcome to thecamp. 

Boys want to hear from home as often as possible. It will be well forthe girls to bear this in mind, and write often. Letters of love, wemay say, alphabetically speaking, are X T Z to those who get them. 

ANECDOTE OF THE 63d OHIO AND COLONEL SPRAGUE. 

The 63d boys love Colonel Sprague; they are not exactly afraid of him, but many a one would rather be whipped, any day, than take a reprimandfrom him. For instance: several nights ago one of the men, instigatedby the love of good eating, and not having the fear of God before hiseyes, attempted to pinch, as they say in the 63d, a can of fruit atthe sutler's tent. But, unluckily for him, the sutler saw him, sprangout of bed, caught him by the collar and took him prisoner. As soon asthe sutler got hold of him he began to address him in language moreforcible than polite. "You d--d thief, I'll pay you for this; I'lltake you before the Colonel, and, if I had my boots on, I'd take itout in kicking you. "

"I'll tell you what, " said the soldier, "I'll wait here till you putyour boots on, and you may kick me as much as you please, if you won'ttake me before the Colonel. "

The following exquisite poem was handed me by Colonel Durbin Ward, ofthe 17th Ohio. I wish I knew the author. They are beautiful lines:

THE SOLDIER'S DREAM OF HOME. 

 You have put the children to bed, Alice-- Maud and Willie and Rose; They have lisped their sweet "Our Father, " And sunk to their night's repose. 

 Did they think of me, dear Alice? Did they think of me, and say, "God bless him, and God bless him, Dear father, far away?"

 O, my very heart grows sick, Alice, I long so to behold Rose, with her pure white forehead, And Maud, with her curls of gold; And Willie, so gay and sprightly, So merry and full of glee--, O, my heart yearns to enfold ye, My smiling group of three. 

 I can bear the noisy day, Alice-- The camp life, gay and wild, Shuts from my yearning bosom The thoughts of wife and child; But when the night is round me, And under its starry beams I gather my cloak about me, And dream such long, sad dreams!

 I think of a pale young wife, Alice, Who looked up in my face When the drum beat at evening And called me to my place. I think of three sweet birdlings, Left in the dear home-nest, And my soul is sick with longings, That will not be at rest. 

 O, when will the war be over, Alice? O, when shall I behold Rose, with her pure white forehead, And Maud, with her curls of gold; And Will, so gay and sprightly, So merry and full of glee, And more than all, the dear wife Who bore my babes to me?

 God guard and keep you all, Alice; God guard and keep me, too, For if only one were missing, What would the others do? O, when will the war be over, And when shall I behold Those whom I love so dearly, Safe in the dear home-fold?

 * * * * *

THE WIFE'S REPLY. 

Dedicated to the Author of "The Soldier's Dream of Home. "

 You say you dream of us, Willie, When fall the shades of night, And you wrap your cloak around you By the camp-fire's flickering light; And you wonder if our little ones Have bowed their curly heads, And asked a blessing for you, Before they sought their beds!

 It was but this very night, Willie, That our Willie came to me, And looking up into my face, As he stood beside my knee, He said, "Mamma, I wonder When will this war be o'er, For O, I long so much to see My dear papa once more. "

 My heart was full of tears, Willie, But I kept them from my eyes, And the answer that I made him Opened his with sad surprise--? "Suppose he should _never_ come, Willie!" "But, mamma, I _know_ he will, For I pray to Jesus every night To spare my father still. "

 I clasped him in my arms, Willie, I pressed him to my breast; His childish faith it shamed me, And my spirit's vague unrest; And I felt that our Heavenly Father, From his throne in the "City of Gold, " Would watch you and guard you and bring you Safe back to the dear home-fold. 

 We think of you every night, Willie; We think of you every day; Our every prayer wafts to Heaven the name Of one who is far away. And Rose, with her pure white forehead, And Maud, with her curls of gold, Are talking in whispers together, Of the time when they shall behold

 The father they love so dearly; And Willie, with childish glee, Is bidding me "not to forget to tell Papa to remember me. " So we think of you every night, Willie By the camp-fire's fitful gleams, Until the war shall be over, Let us mingle still in your dreams. 

 A. L. Y. 

CHAPTER XI. 

 The Atrocities of Slavery -- The Beauties of the Peculiar Institution -- A few Well-substantiated Facts -- Visit to Gallatin, Tennessee. 

THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY. 

A late number of the _Atlantic Monthly_ gives the following inrelation to General Butler and his administration in Louisiana:

Among the many personal anecdotes are the following, which are almosttoo horrible to be published, but for the impressive lesson theyconvey. One of the incidents was related more briefly by the Generalhimself, when in New York, in January last. We quote from the writerin the _Atlantic_. 

Just previous to the arrival of General Banks at New Orleans, I wasappointed Deputy Provost-Marshal of the city, and held the office forsome days after he had assumed command. One day, during the last weekof our stay in the South, a young woman of about twenty years calledupon me to complain that her landlord had ordered her out of herhouse, because she was unable longer to pay the rent, and she wishedme to authorize her to take possession of one of her father's housesthat had been confiscated, he being a wealthy rebel, then in theConfederacy, and actively engaged in the rebellion. 

The girl was a perfect blonde in complexion; her hair was of a verypretty light shade of brown, and perfectly straight; her eyes a clear, honest gray; and her skin as delicate and fair as a child's. Hermanner was modest and ingenuous, and her language indicated muchintelligence. 

Considering these circumstances, I think I was justified in wheelingaround in my chair, and indulging in an unequivocal stare ofincredulous amazement, when, in the course of conversation, shedropped a remark about having been born a slave. 

"Do you mean to tell me, " said I, "that you have negro blood in yourveins?" And I was conscious of a feeling of embarrassment at asking aquestion so apparently preposterous. 

"Yes, " she replied, and then related the history of her life, which Ishall repeat as briefly as possible:

"My father, " she commenced, "is Mr. Cox, formerly a judge of one ofthe courts in this city. He was very rich, and owned a great manyhouses here. There is one of them over there, " she remarked, naively, pointing to a handsome residence opposite my office in Canal Street. "My mother was one of his slaves. When I was sufficiently grown, heplaced me at school, at the Mechanics' Institute Seminary, onBroadway, New York. I remained there until I was about fifteen yearsof age, when Mr. Cox came on to New York and took me from the schoolto a hotel, where he obliged me to live with him as his mistress; andto-day, at the age of twenty-one, I am the mother of a boy five yearsold, who is my father's son. After remaining some time in New York, hetook me to Cincinnati and other cities at the North, in all of which Icontinued to live with him as before. During this sojourn in the FreeStates I induced him to give me a deed of manumission; but on ourreturn to New Orleans he obtained it from me and destroyed it. At thistime I tried to break off the unnatural connection, whereupon hecaused me to be publicly whipped in the streets of the city, and thenobliged me to marry a colored man; and now he has run off, leaving mewithout the least provision against want or actual starvation, and Iask you to give me one of his houses, that I may have a home formyself and three little children. "

Strange and improbable as this story appeared, I remembered, as itprogressed, that I had heard it from Governor Shepley, who, as well asGeneral Butler, had investigated it, and learned that it was not onlytrue in every particular, but was perfectly familiar to the citizensof New Orleans, by whom Judge Cox had been elected to administerjustice. 

The clerks of my office, most of whom were old residents of the city, were well informed in the facts of the case, and attested the truth ofthe girl's story. 

I was exceedingly perplexed, and knew not what to do in the matter;but, after some thought, I answered her thus:

"This department has changed rulers, and I know nothing of the policyof the new commander. If General Butler were still in authority, Ishould not hesitate a moment to grant your request; for, even if Ishould commit an error of judgment, I am perfectly certain he wouldoverlook it, and applaud the humane impulse that prompted the act; butGeneral Banks might be less indulgent, and make very serious troublewith me for taking a step he would perhaps regard as unwarrantable. "

I still hesitated, undecided how to act, when suddenly a happy thoughtstruck me, and, turning to the girl, I added--

"To-day is Thursday: next Tuesday I leave this city With GeneralButler for a land where, thank God! such wrongs as yours can notexist; and, as General Banks is deeply engrossed in the immediatebusiness at head-quarters, he will hardly hear of my action before theship leaves--so I am going to give you the house. "

I am sure the kind-hearted reader will find no fault with me that Itook particular pains to select one of the largest of her father'shouses, (it contained forty rooms, ) when she told me that she wantedto let the apartments as a means of support for herself and herchildren. 

My only regret in the case was that Mr. Cox had not been considerateenough to leave a carriage and a pair of bays on my hands, that Imight have had the satisfaction of enabling his daughter to disportherself about the city in a style corresponding to her importance as amember of so respectable and wealthy a family. 

And this story, that I have just told, reminds me of another, similarin many respects. 

One Sunday morning, late last summer, as I came down-stairs to thebreakfast-room, I was surprised to find a large number of personsassembled in the library. When I reached the door, a member of thestaff took me by the arm and drew me into the room toward a young anddelicate mulatto girl, who was standing against the opposite wall, with the meek, patient bearing of her race, so expressive of thesystem of oppression to which they have been so long subjected. Drawing down the border of her dress, my conductor showed me a sightmore revolting than I trust ever again to behold. The poor girl's backwas flayed until the quivering flesh resembled a fresh beefsteakscorched on a gridiron. With a cold chill creeping through my veins, Iturned away from the sickening spectacle, and, for an explanation ofthe affair, scanned the various persons about the room. 

In the center of the group, at his writing-table, sat the General. Hishead rested on his hand, and he was evidently endeavoring to fix hisattention upon the remarks of a tall, swarthy-looking man who stoodopposite, and who, I soon discovered, was the owner of the girl, andwas attempting a defense of the foul outrage he had committed upon theunresisting and helpless person of his unfortunate victim, who stoodsmarting, but silent, under the dreadful pain inflicted by the brutallash. 

By the side of the slaveholder stood our Adjutant-General, his facelivid with almost irrepressible rage, and his fists tight-clenched, asif to violently restrain himself from visiting the guilty wretch withsummary and retributive justice. Disposed about the room, in variousattitudes, but all exhibiting in their countenances the same minglingof horror and indignation, were other members of the staff--while nearthe door stood three or four house-servants, who were witnesses inthe case. 

To the charge of having administered the inhuman castigation, Landry(the owner of the girl) pleaded guilty, but urged, in extenuation, that the girl had dared to make an effort for that freedom which herinstincts, drawn from the veins of her abuser, had taught her was theGod-given right of all who possess the germ of immortality, --no matterwhat the color of the casket in which it is hidden. I say "drawn fromthe veins of her abuser, " because she declared she was his daughter;and every one in the room, looking upon the man and woman confrontingeach other, confessed that the resemblance justified the assertion. 

After the conclusion of all the evidence in the case, the Generalcontinued in the same position as before, and remained for some timeapparently lost in abstraction. I shall never forget the singularexpression on his face. I had been accustomed to see him in a storm ofpassion at any instance of oppression or flagrant injustice; but onthis occasion he was too deeply affected to obtain relief in the usualway. His whole air was one of dejection, almost listlessness; hisindignation too intense, and his anger too stern, to find expressioneven in his countenance. 

Never have I seen that peculiar look but on three or four occasionssimilar to the one I am narrating, when I knew he was pondering uponthe fatal curse that had cast its withering blight upon all around, until the manhood and humanity were crushed out of the people, andoutrages such as the above were looked upon with complacency, and theperpetrators treated as respected and worthy citizens, and that he wasrealizing the great truth, that, however man might endeavor to guidethis war to the advantage of a favorite idea or a sagacious policy, the Almighty was directing it surely and steadily for the purificationof our country from this greatest of national sins. 

But to return to my story. After sitting in the mood which I havedescribed at such length, the General again turned to the prisoner, and said, in a quiet, subdued tone of voice--

"Mr. Landry, I dare not trust myself to decide to-day what punishmentwould be meet for your offense, for I am in that state of mind that Ifear I might exceed the strict demands of justice. I shall, therefore, place you under guard for the present, until I conclude upon yoursentence. "

A few days after, a number of influential citizens having representedto the General that Mr. Landry was not only a "high-toned gentleman, "but a person of unusual "AMIABILITY" of character, and was, consequently, entitled to no small degree of leniency, he answeredthat, in consideration of the prisoner's "high-toned" character, andespecially of his "amiability, " of which he had seen so remarkable aproof, he had determined to meet their views, and therefore orderedthat Landry give a deed of manumission to the girl, and pay a fine offive hundred dollars, to be placed in the hands of a trustee for herbenefit. 

BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION--A FEW WELL-SUBSTANTIATED FACTS. 

A Mr. P----, deceased, of Gallatin, Tenn. , for years a slave-trader, had children both by his wife and her body-servant, a beautifulmulatto woman--thus making, generally, the additions to his family in_duplicate_. One of his illegitimate daughters--a beautiful, hazel-eyed mulatto girl--is now the waiting-maid of his widow. Thisbright mulatto girl is married to a slave belonging to a prominentmember of Congress from Tennessee, and has a son, a particularly aptand intelligent boy, whom the rebel women used to send around thecamps, head-quarters, and street corners, to obtain the latest news, and report the same to them. Although but eight years old, he was tooshrewd to remain quietly a slave. When the daughter of a Federalofficer opened a little school, to teach a few contrabands, he came, and learned very rapidly. But his intellectual growth was suddenlystopped by the interference of his _grand_mother, who followed him tothe school one day, and dragged him from the room in a perfect rage, threatening to kill him if he ever dared enter a _free_-school again, at the same time declaring to him that "he was not President Lincolnyet. "

Another instance: The wealthy and prominent Colonel G----, ofGallatin, Tenn. , a very _respectable_ and _high-toned_ gentleman, whois reputed a _kind-hearted_ and benevolent man, _remarkably lenient_toward his slaves, whose praise is in the mouths of our Northernsoldiers for his kind hospitalities, finding that his slaves, in viewof the coming difficulties, did not increase fast enough for profit, called them all together on the 1st of January, 1862, and said tothem: "Now, wenches, mind, every one of you that aint 'big' in threeor four months, I intend to sell to the slave-trader. " He afterwardchuckled over it, adding that it "brought them to terms. " Commentneedless. 

In the fall of 1861, in Piketon, Ky. , at the headwaters of the BigSandy, were two families--one known as the Slone family, the other asthe Johnson family. The slaves of the former were all liberated aboutseventeen years before, by a will, stipulating that they should remainwith his wife and work the plantation while she lived. Mrs. Slone diedabout two years after her husband, and not only emancipated theseslaves, according to the last will and testament of her deceasedhusband, but, as they had taken more care of the old lady in herdeclining years than her sons, she thought it but equitable and rightto disinherit the sons and leave the remnant of a once large estate, reduced to $9, 000, to the slaves. But the gloating avarice of hergambling sons, backed by a vile public sentiment, prompted theseunnatural sons to attempt to break the wills of their father andmother. After litigating the case about twelve years, and having beendefeated in the highest courts in Kentucky, they went back and set upa claim of $2, 000 against their father's estate, when these despoiledslaves had to deposit the last of their estate as security, havingbeen for more than twelve years thus harassed and perplexed byvexatious lawsuits. When the Union army under General Nelson came intothat country, and had that trumpeted battle at Ivy Mountain, and ourtroops reached Prestonburg, twenty-five miles from Piketon, thesehunted and plundered ones concluded that _now_ was the time for themto escape to the "promised land. " They gathered together their little_all_, cut fifty or sixty saw-logs, made a raft, loaded their worldlygoods on it, and floated down the river. When they reachedPrestonburg, General Nelson had them arrested, cut their raft topieces, and sent them back to Piketon. Afterward, when our troops, under the intrepid Garfield, moved up the river, and made theirhead-quarters at Piketon, these tormented and persecuted ones weretold that now they might avail themselves of the Government boats togo down the river and leave the land of their tormentors. 

The Johnson family slaves were liberated, at the death of their owner, by a will, the writer and executor of which had run off into the rebelarmy, carrying it with him. A distant relative of Mr. Johnson, aworthless, shiftless, ignorant fellow, moved upon the plantation, andclaimed not only the property, but the slaves. "When our troops wereabout leaving Piketon, the most intelligent of the Slone family askedof Captain H----, A. A. Q. M. , the privilege of using a push-boat totransport the family down the river. Consent was given them, and, thenext morning, the _two_ families gathered together, the old and young, men and women and children, numbering fifty-nine souls, and starteddown the river. Colonel C----, commanding the post, had them arrested, and ordered them back. One of his own officers represented to him thatthese people had an order for the boat from General Garfield, and, becoming alarmed, he let them go upon their way. Soon, however, thebiped hounds were on their track, in hot pursuit. Two slaves, marriedinto these families, had escaped and followed this boat-load. Althoughtheir villainous masters had fought in the rebel army, they werefurnished with passes to pursue their fleeing slaves, under theprotection of the United States arms. These pursuers, weary andexhausted, stopped at a slave-trader's above Paintsville, where alarge bend in the river enabled them to gain several miles by a crosscut, took horses, and arrived at foot of Buffalo Shoals just as theboat-load of fifty-nine frightened souls were going over it. They atonce leveled their rifles, and ordered the boat to lie-to, supposingtheir slaves were aboard. They did so, and occupied a small vacant huton the bank of the river, awaiting a Government boat that would bedown on the following morning. Early the next morning, (Sunday, ) twolewd fellows of the baser sort, pursuing them in a skiff, landed atthe place of rendezvous, and were about to rush into the cabin, whenthe leader of the negroes stopped them, saying:

"Porter and Radcliff, _you can't enter here_; we have none of yourslaves. "

But the boldest of these desperadoes, tiger-like, crouched on hishands and knees, and got in the rear of the cabin. Then, suddenlyrushing upon the old man, said, "Damn you, I'll shoot you any way, "and fired, the ball lodging in the abdomen. He continued to fire, indiscriminately, into the group of women and children, hitting onegirl in the knee, and a younger child on the side of the head. Thenthese cowardly miscreants rushed away, but not until a ball from therifle of one of these freedmen took effect in the thigh of Radcliff. These men seemed to love the negro so well that they were not willingto let even freedmen leave the State, if they have but the least taintof African blood in their veins; and now they stand as sentinelsaround the tottering bastile, lest some of the victims escape. 

Another instance: In Hospital No. 2, in Gallatin, there is now at worka girl eighteen years of age, of pure Anglo-Saxon blood. This girl'sreputed mother says, that when her own child was born, it was takenaway from her, and this white child put in its place. She is satisfiedit was the illegitimate child of her master's daughter, which she had_by her own father_. 

In September, 1862, at Stevenson, Alabama, in collecting contrabandsto work on the fortifications, we found a _white man_, sixty-threeyears old, who had all his life been compelled to herd with negroes. He had been forced to live with four different black women as hiswives, by whom he had twenty-eight children. Colonel Straight, of the51st Indiana Regiment, saw one of the old man's daughters, and saidshe was as white and had as beautiful blue eyes as any girl he eversaw in his own State. His was the same sad story--that he was anillegitimate son of his master's daughter, in Virginia; was taken tothe slave-pen, where, with one hundred and twenty-seven others, he wasraised for the market. We started him to Governor Morton, of Indiana, as a specimen of the men made chattels, and for which the South wasfighting. He was captured on his way North. This is wickedness, "naked, but not ashamed. "

We copy the following from the Montgomery (Alabama) _Advertiser_:

 One Hundred Dollars Reward--Or Fifty Dollars if arrested in the State, will be paid for the arrest and confinement in jail, so that I may get him, of my boy Lewis, who left home on Sunday, the 14th inst. Lewis is about five feet, seven inches high, _light complexion, nearly white_, spare made, well dressed, wore mustache and goatee, quick to reply when spoken to, has "traveled, " and _may attempt to pass for a white person_; he may endeavor to get to Richmond, where his mother and family reside. 

 William Foster. 

 Tuskegee, Ala. , _June 14, 1863_. 

We suppose that this "nearly white" slave, who, it is suspected, willtry to "pass for a white person, " is William Foster's grandson, orperhaps his own offspring. Foster, no doubt, thinks that the negro isindebted to slavery for his moral and religious training. We advisethe conservative journals to copy the above advertisement, and commentindignantly on the practice of amalgamation. The occasion will be agood one; and we assure them that the instances are as plenty asblackberries in Dixie. 

At Athens, Alabama, in the summer of 1862, when that noble, earnest, and efficient officer, General Turchin, was court-martialed because he_hurt_ the rebels of that State, General G---- was invited to make hishead-quarters at Dr. Nicklin's, one of the largest slaveholders inthat part of the State, a devoted member of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch, and really a highly cultivated and courteous gentleman. Oneday he charged the General with being _radical_. The General said, "No, I'm only a Republican; but I have a most radical commissary onmy staff. " The next day the radical commissary was invited to thehouse by Mrs. N----, who said she "wanted to see a Yankee who wouldnot deny being an Abolitionist. " While at dinner the Doctor proposedto investigate the causes of our wide differences. Captain H----remarked at the same time:

"Would it not be better, while enjoying your hospitalities, to talkupon subjects of agreement?"

"No, " said the Doctor; "we arrive at truth only by comparing notes. "

"Then, " the Captain said, "I must be a freeman, and talk from my ownplatform. "

"Certainly, " was the answer. 

"Then, " said the Captain, "you are on trial. You must give a reasonfor the hope within you. We charge you with having commenced a wickedand causeless war. And now give us your reasons for it. "

"Well, in the first place, the Abolitionists are fighting against theBible, and against God. The Bible, an express revelation from Heaven, says, 'When these servants, or slaves, are to be procured of theheathen round about you, of them shall ye buy, and they shall be yourpossession forever. ' That settles the question of _moral_ right; andin relation to the political question, you were for excluding us fromthe territories, when they were manifestly ours equal with yours. We had the same right there with our property that you had. Equalityof rights was the cardinal principle of our Government. In yourpolitical action you strike a blow at the very foundation of ourGovernment--equality of rights. "

To which Captain H---- replied: "Though not much of a theologian, Ihave, nevertheless, looked into the Levitical law, and found aparagraph like the following: 'He that stealeth a man, or selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, shall surely be put to death. ' Let usanalyze this 'stealeth a man'--the _foreign_ slave-trader--'andselleth him'--the American slave-seller, or, 'if he be found in hishands'--the American slaveholder. If you will show me how any of thesecan escape punishment, then I will pursue the Biblical argument. Inregard to the political question, the citizen of Ohio and the citizenof Alabama are treated just alike. A citizen of Ohio can take hishousehold goods, merchandise, and cattle into the territories. Acitizen from Alabama has the _same_ right, but he can not take hisslave; nor yet can a citizen of Ohio. Hence, they _have_ equalrights. "

At the close of the discussion the Doctor said, that "his neighborswere greatly alarmed when the Union army came into the district, forfear the slaves would leave them; but I said to my slaves, 'If youprefer to go away and leave me, do so: come and tell me; don't sneakaway at night with your little bundle, but come right up and tell me, "We want to leave, " and I will give you five dollars, and let you go, with this condition, that you never show your faces around myplantation. '"

Captain H---- looked as though it were doubtful, but said nothing. About a week afterward, the Doctor said to the General--

"I want you to take a ride with me over to the plantation. YouNorthern men don't know how well our slaves love us. Whenever I go tosee them, they run out to meet me; inquire after my wife and childrenwith as much interest as _your_ children would inquire after you. "

The General said he "would be glad to avail himself of the opportunityto see the workings of their system, " and started off with the Doctor. 

On the way down, the Doctor remarked that he "had another reason forwishing him to go down;" that "there were three cases ofinsubordination, and I want to show you _my mode_ of controllingslaves. When I told your Abolition commissary, Captain H----, theother day, how I managed my boys, I saw he did not believe one word Isaid. Now I want you to see for yourself; then you can convince him. "

Arriving at the plantation, sure enough, the slaves came out, and madespecial inquiries about his wife and family. The General said that thesaddest sight of all was, that all these women and _children_ gavepromise to increase the number of slaves--girls eleven years old wereamong these. 

The Doctor called up the culprits and addressed the principaloffender. "Aleck, " said he, "unless you submit to the mild punishmentof our plantation discipline, all order and discipline will be lost. You know my rule. I have told you before, whenever you are notsatisfied, just say so, and I will let you go. What do you say, Aleck, Bob, and Dick?"

Bowing very low, the darkeys said, "Well, den, massa, gib us de fibedollars and we go. "

He turned pale, and, being utterly dumfounded, after regaininghimself, and _not giving_ them the money, said, "Be off, then!" He hadtoo much of the Southern chivalry to back out, and came away a wiserif not a better man, but said "nary word" about convincing theAbolition commissary. 

CHAPTER XII. 

 General Schofield -- Colonel Durbin Ward -- Colonel Connell -- Women in Breeches -- Another Incident of the War -- Negro Sermon. 

 Triune, Tenn. , _April 29, 1863_. 

The last letter I wrote you was from the Missouri army. I am socontinually _flying_ around that I have won the cognomen of "thekite. " It is astonishing what a charm there is in camp life; boys thathave been away but a short time feel a craving to once more resumetheir duties among their comrades. With me 'tis a great pleasure toget back to the familiar faces of this splendid division. 

Our new commander, General Schofield, is fast winning the devotion ofhis troops; his policy in Missouri meeting the cordial approbation ofmen and officers here. Leniency is played out; nothing but the mostextreme rigor of military law will bring these traitors to arealization of the villainous stand they have taken. Nothing but thedriving of every enemy from our lines, as we go, will bring themisguided citizen to his senses. The men and women, who have beenallowed so many privileges, have all along been acting as spies. A fewdays since, a little boy, only eight years of age, was caught goingover to his "uncle Palmer's;" he said his mother wanted him to goover and get a chicken, as the "sogers" ate all theirs up, and hismother was sick. The picket was about to let the child pass, on suchan errand as that, and being such a small specimen of humanity. Thelieutenant of the guard questioned the child closely, but could notglean any information of importance. As the child started off, downthe road, he again called him, and, upon searching, found in the heelof his little stocking, _sewed in_, a full description of the entirecamp and fortifications. The boy knew nothing of this, but was merelyan instrument in the hands of the parents. As a matter of course thehouse was immediately searched, but the whole mystery is solved in thefact that several of the Secesh _dam-sells_ were quite favorites incamp. 

General Schofield is driving all known sympathizers beyond his lines, and permitting none but the undoubted Union men to remain. 

A few nights since, as I was about retiring beneath the umbrageousshade of a lovely maple, a voice from above shouted, "Is 'Alf' here?"

"Yes, sir, " was the response. 

The voice emanated from the epigastrium of a huge fellow-wanderer inthis wilderness, who was mounted upon a fiery steed. 

"You are sent for by the commanding officers of the First Brigade, andI have orders to take you there, _peaceably_, if I can; _forcibly_, ifI must. "

As our camp was just getting wrapped in the arms of "Murphy, " and notwishing to disturb them in their slumber, I consented to go. It wasabout a mile, over hill, through woods and thicket, to their camp. Ipreferred walking; but the gentle persuader on the horse induced meto "double up, " and, after various efforts, I succeeded in mounting. Itold the driver I was a poor rider, and convinced him of it beforelong. As the horse objected to my being placed so far back on hishaunch, and I couldn't get forward, there naturally arose a dispute, which eventuated in the horse running off with both of us. After beingduly deposited on the ground, the horse seemed delighted, andexpressed his pleasure by kicking up his heels. After variousvicissitudes, I was safely deposited at the head-quarters of the FirstBrigade, under the command of Colonel Connell. 

Upon the announcement that "Alf" had "arriv, " I heard the stentorianlungs of Colonel Durbin Ward ask: "Dead or alive?"

With fear and trembling I entered the tent, and found Colonel Connell, with nearly all his officers. I think Byron says something about therebeing

 "A sound of revelry by night. "

Well, so there was. Byron can prove it by me. O, shades of the"vine-clad hills of Bingen, " but the "Isabella" was profuse! Iremember being kept busy for two hours telling yarns and riddles, andthe next day was accused of borrowing a horse and leading him home. Mymedical adviser, Dr. Wright, of the 35th Ohio, kept with me until theroads forked, and then he _deviated_. 

Yesterday I paid a visit to the lamented Bob McCook's "Old Ninth"Regiment. The men are in splendid condition--the pride of thedivision. They are noted as the most ingenious battalion in the Armyof the Cumberland. They have improvised a turning-shop, andmanufacture chessmen, checkers, and every variety of specimens in thatline. They have a flying-Dutchman, revolving swing, quoits, bag races, etc. , while the lovers of horse-racing and cock-fighting can be dulyamused every day in the week by members of the different regiments, each tenacious of the fair fame of his favorite battalion. Last nighta fine game-cock, belonging to the 2d Minnesota, whipped one owned bythe 35th Ohio, and, as a matter of course, the 2d Minnesota are inhigh glee, "crowing" over their chicken. 

The 2d Minnesota, the 35th Ohio, and 9th Ohio Regiments are wedded. Each will vie with the other for the laurels in case of a fight. Wehave here, close at hand, the 17th, 31st, and 34th Ohio, besides thosealready mentioned. Our force is adequate for all the rebels dare sendagainst us. 

The voice of the boys is universally for the Union, against alltraitors, whether those who openly meet them in the field, or the moredastardly coward that remains at home and backbites, and aids theenemy by words of comfort, and spreading dissensions in the rear. 

The soldiers are unanimous upon the war question. They want nomilk-and-water policy, and all they ask is, that the friends at homewill back them in the field. Let all, whether Democrat, Republican, Abolitionist, or Pro-slavery, _unite_ upon the _Union_. Let us havethe Government sustained, regardless of all else. People at home haveno right to dictate to our leaders what policy they should pursue. They are presumed to know what is best. If slavery falls, whysympathize with the owners? What claims have they upon yoursympathies? A strange change has come over the people since formeryears. One party accused the other, and all who were opposed toslavery, as having "nigger on the brain. " Now it is reversed. Therebel sympathizer, the ultra pro-slavery man, is the individual who isnow troubled with this complaint. 

Let us hope our whole people will be thoroughly united at the comingelections, and let their motto be: "We are unalterably opposed to thesecession of one inch of the territory of the American Union. " Then I, for one, and I know it is the universal feeling of this entiredivision, will not care if the man who comes in on that platform beDemocrat, Whig, or Republican; he should have the support of all truelovers of his country. 

WOMEN IN BREECHES. 

Whether the women in modern times have taken the cue from the poet'swords, "Once more unto the _breech_, dear friends, "

and merely added the plural, making it "breeches, " I know not; but thepresent war for the Union has elicited much enthusiasm among thegentler sex, causing them, in many instances, to lay aside theiraccustomed garb, and assume the exterior of the sterner portion ofcreation; in proof of which the following story of the war is given:

A young woman arrived in Chicago from Louisville, Ky. , whose historyis thus related in the _Post_ of that city:

"She gave her name as Annie Lillybridge, of Detroit, and stated thather parents reside in Hamilton, Canada. Last spring she was employedin a dry-goods store in Detroit, where she became acquainted with aLieutenant W----, of one of the Michigan regiments, and an intimacyimmediately sprang up between them. They corresponded for some time, and became much attached to each other. Some time during last summer, Lieutenant W---- was appointed to a position in the 21st MichiganInfantry, then rendezvousing in Ionia County. The thought of partingfrom the gay lieutenant nearly drove her mad, and she resolved toshare his dangers and be near him. No sooner had she resolved uponthis course than she proceeded to the act. Purchasing male attire, shevisited Ionia, enlisted in Captain Kavanagh's company, 21st Regiment. While in camp she managed to keep her secret from all; not even theobject of her attachment, who met her every day, was aware of herpresence so near him. 

"Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed through all thedangers and temptations of a camp life, endured long marches, andsleeping on the cold ground, without a murmur. At last, the nightbefore the battle of Pea Ridge, (or Prairie Grove, ) in which herregiment took part, her sex was discovered by a member of her company;but she enjoined secrecy upon him, after relating her previoushistory. On the following day she was under fire, and, from a lettershe has in her possession, it appears she behaved with markedgallantry, and, with her own hand, shot a rebel captain, who was inthe act of firing upon Lieutenant W----. But the fear of revealing hersex continually haunted her. After the battle, she was sent out, withothers, to collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found byher was the soldier who had discovered her sex. 

"Days and weeks passed on, and she became a universal favorite withthe regiment, so much so that her Colonel (Stephens) frequentlydetailed her as regimental clerk, a position that brought her in closecontact with her lover, who, at this time, was either major oradjutant of the regiment. A few weeks subsequently she was out onpicket duty, when she received a shot in the arm that disabled her, and, notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeon, her wound continuallygrew worse. She was sent to the hospital at Louisville, where she hasbeen ever since, until a few weeks ago, when she was discharged by thepost surgeon, as her arm was stiffened and rendered useless for life. She implored to be permitted to return to her regiment; but thesurgeon was unyielding, and discharged her. Annie immediately hurriedtoward home, and, by the aid of benevolent strangers, reached thiscity. At Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevolent lady, and wassupplied with female attire. She declares that she will enlist in herold regiment again, if there is a recruiting officer for the 21st inMichigan. She still clings to the lieutenant, and says she must benear him if he falls or is taken down sick; that where he goes shewill go; and when he dies, she will end her life by her own hand. "

ANOTHER INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 

A few weeks since, a captain, accompanied by a young soldier, apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived in this city, incharge of some rebel prisoners. During their stay in the city, theyoung soldier alluded to had occasion to visit head-quarters, and atonce attracted the attention of Colonel Mundy, as being exceedinglysprightly, and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Being inneed of such a young man at Barracks No. 1, the Colonel detailed himfor service in that institution. He soon won the esteem of hissuperior officers, and became a general favorite with all connectedwith the barracks. A few days ago, however, the startling secret wasdisclosed that the supposed young man was a young lady, and the factwas established beyond doubt, by a soldier who was raised in the sametown, with her, and knew her parents. She "acknowledged the corn, " andbegged to be retained in the position to which she had been assigned;having been in the service ten months, she desired to serve during thewar. Her wish was accordingly granted, and she is still at her post. 

We learned the facts above stated, and took occasion to visit thebarracks, and was introduced to "Frank Martin, " (her assumed name, )and gleaned the following incidents connected with her extraordinarycareer during the past ten months:

Frank was born near Bristol, Penn. , and her parents reside inAlleghany City, where she was raised. They are highly respectablepeople, and in very good circumstances. She was sent to the convent inWheeling, Va. , at twelve years of age, where she remained until thebreaking out of the war, having acquired a superior education, and allthe accomplishments of modern days. She visited home after leaving theconvent; and, after taking leave of her parents, proceeded to thiscity, in July last, with the design of enlisting in the 2d EastTennessee Cavalry, which she accomplished, and accompanied the Army ofthe Cumberland to Nashville. She was in the thickest of the fight atMurfreesboro, and was severely wounded in the shoulder, but foughtgallantly, and waded Stone River into Murfreesboro, on the memorableSunday on which our forces were driven back. She had her wounddressed, and here her sex was disclosed, and General Rosecrans madeacquainted with the fact. She was accordingly mustered out of service, notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be allowed to serve the causeshe loved so well. The General was very favorably impressed with herdaring bravery, and superintended the arrangements for her safetransmission to her parents. She left the Army of the Cumberland, resolved to enlist again in the first regiment she met. 

NEGRO SERMON DELIVERED AT TRIUNE, TENN. 

 Camp near Triune, Tenn. , _May 16, 1863_. 

Last Sunday week there was a grand revival meeting of the numerouscontrabands, at the Brick Church, near the village. The house wascrowded by the most fashionable black belles in the county, many ofthem dressed "_a la mode_. " An old man arose, and stated that he hadformerly been a _circus_ preacher, and "done been ober de country fromstation to station, preachin' de gospel, " and he now felt like"talkin' to de brudders and sistern. " He commenced his discourse:

"MY BELUBED BREDERN--I haben't got no Bible. De rebels, when deysquatulated from dis place, done toted dem all off wid 'em. Derefore, I am destrained to make a tex' myself, and ax you, "'WHAR DO YOU LIB?'

"Is your dwellin' in de tents of wickedness? Now, my belubed bredern, de world am a whirlin' and a whirlin', jest as it allers hes bin. Dishhere world nebber stan' still for de Yanks or for de rebs, but keepson its course jest de same, and why shouldn't you do so likewise?

"If de Lord is a smilin' on us dark sheep ob de flock, and FaderAbraham has got his bosom ready for to _deceib_ us, why should we notbe _preparred_ for de glory ob dat day?

"My tex' _requires_ ob you, '_Whar do you lib?_'

"Is you strollin' round, wid no hope of de future freedom starrin' youin de face? Massa Linkum has done tole you, dat if you work for desalvation ob de Union, dat you shall be saved, no matter what deLegislatur' ob Kaintuck may say to de reverse contrary dereof--_datis_, if de _Union_ be saved _likewise_; and Massa Linkum is de manwhat will stand up to de rack; so, derefore, I ax you, '_Whar do youlib?_'

"De good book done tole you dat you can't serb two masters; but dat isa passenger ob Scriptur' I nebber could understan' wid all my larnin', for de most ob us has been serbin' a heap o' masters durin' discomboberation ob de white folks, wherein we colored gemmen isinterested; derefore I ask, agin and agin, de momentus question ob'_Whar do you lib?_'

"Now, my brudders, I is perfec'ly awar dat many ob you don't lib much, but dat you jest 'sassiate round;' you isn't de right stripe; _youdon't lib nowhar_. 

"Wharfor is dis state ob society, after all de white folks am a doinfor you?

"Look aroun' an' aroun' you, an' see de glorious names oh our coloredbredern what is fitin' an a fitin' for you in de army. Dars HoraceGreeley and Fred Douglass; dars Jack Mims and Wendal Phlips; darsLennox Ramond and Lloyd Garrison. De last-mentioned colored pusson isa tic'lar friend ob mine, and is named after a place whar dey now istrainin' a lot ob our race. De Garrison was named after de garrison. 

"Den dars Mrs. Beechum Sto; look at dat lady; isn't she going from decamp to de camp just like de Martingale--what de English people had inde las' war in Florence; and don't dey call her de Florence Martingaleob dis hemisphere?

"Be ye also ready to answer de question as to '_Whar do you lib?_'

"So dat de glorification ob Uncle Abraham Linkum shall resound ober deearth, and we darkeys no longer hab to hoe de corn, but lib foreber onde fat ob de lan'. Brudder Jerry will please pass aroun' de hat. "

CHAPTER XIII. 

 Letter from Cheat Mountain -- The Women of the South -- Gilbert's Brigade. 

LETTER FROM CHEAT MOUNTAIN. 

 Camp of 6th Ohio, at Elkwater, Va. , 1861. 

The trees begin to look barren, the bronzed hue of the surroundinghills admonishing us that October, chill and drear, is upon us. Everything in nature is cheerless, and, adding to nature, man has, withdespoiling hands, laid waste the country for miles about our presentlocation. Pen can not describe the devastation of an army: orchardsare swept away; of fences scarce a trace is left; houses are convertedinto stables, fodder-cribs, and store-houses; corn-fields are used aspastures; forests must fall to supply our men with fire-wood; in fact, with the soldier nothing is sacred. And why should any thing be sacredin this "section, " where traitors have been fostered, and where everyvote cast was for secession? Let them reap the harvest they themselveshave sown. 

The farmers come daily into camp, whining because our men cut downtheir sugar-trees, or "find" a few cabbages or apples; but, as theColonel is aware that the boys must be kept in fire-wood, he isheedless of their whimperings. 

The cold is telling fearfully upon the men at night, and I fear, if asupply of clothing is not soon forthcoming, much suffering will be theconsequence. It is a burning disgrace to somebody, that such thingsshould be, and it is galling to our regiment to see Indiana troops, just mustered into service, passing our encampment with large, heavyovercoats, and every thing about them denoting comfort and anattention to their wants. The cold frosts are beginning to leave theirimprints; already snow is capping the mountain-tops, and God help usif we get winter-bound in this "neck of woods. " Some few are gloryingin the thought of the fine deer and bear hunts they will have. Thelatter I can't _bear_ to think about, and the former a man must be_der_anged to think of catching upon, these mountains. 

The paymaster has been disbursing his funds for the past three days, and the boys are all in excellent spirits. Theodore Marsh and LeonardSwartz will go home heavily laden with the hard earnings of thisregiment. How many hearts will be gladdened by the receipt of thelittle pittances sent, and how loth many will be to use the money whenthey remember the toil endured to obtain it! But let the friends restassured that the _money_ was not thought of. A purer, a more noblethought and higher aim animated the breasts, of those who have sonobly suffered--a determination to see their country's honormaintained. 

Our pickets have scoured the country around, far and near, but nosigns of the enemy can be found. There is no doubt but that they haveretired for the winter. There will, however, be plenty left to guardthe interests of the Federal army until spring, when, no doubt, thecampaign will be opened with vigor, if not sooner settled. 

In the reconnoissance by our regiment, a week since, traces of CaptainBense and his party were found in the Secession camp; several of Hall& Cobb's (our sutlers) checks being found in their camp, and aprisoner, afterward brought in, said they had been forwarded toRichmond, Va. 

A rumor that this regiment is to be immediately ordered to Cincinnatiset the boys fairly dancing; but Madame Rumor is so frequent a visitorthat the more sensible scarcely noticed her arrival. The mostauthentic rumor is, that Colonel Bosley is to be made abrigadier-general. "We shall see what we shall see. "

The sky is threatening, and dark as midnight, the air intensely cold, and we are hourly expecting a regular old snow-storm. Chestnuts, fineand ripe, are abundant; there are hundreds of bushels all over thesehills, while wild grapes are as abundant as hops in Kent. 

Yesterday, a wild-cat was shot and brought into camp by one of the 3dOhio boys. He was about three feet in length, and a "varmint" Ishouldn't like to meet on a dark night. 

 Yours, Alf. 

THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. 

A great deal has been written about them, and there is no doubt butthey are a thousandfold more bitter than the men. They were, and manyare yet, perfectly venomous; and the more ignorant, the more spitefulthey seem. The following act was blazoned forth as wonderfully heroicin its character, just after our forces occupied Philippa, Beelington, and Beverly:

"The two noble heroines, Misses Abbie Kerr and Mary McLeod, ofFairmont, Marion County, who rode from their home to Philippa, adistance of thirty-odd miles, to apprise our forces there of theapproach of the enemy, arrived in Staunton by the western train, onWednesday night last, and remained till Friday morning, when they wentto Richmond. While here they were the 'observed of all observers, ' andwere received with a cordial welcome. Great anxiety was manifested byall to hear a detailed account of their interesting adventures fromtheir own lips. 

"They left Fairmont at six o'clock on Sunday morning, and hastened, without escorts, to Philippa. They had not gone a great distancebefore they found that a shoe of one of the horses needed fixing. Theystopped at a blacksmith's shop for that purpose, and while there aUnion man came up and questioned them very closely as to who theywere, and on what mission they were going. Miss McLeod replied to hisinterrogatories, telling him that their surname was Fleming, and thatthey were going to Barbour County, to see their relations. Theirinterrogator seemed to be very hard to satisfy, and it taxed theingenuity of Miss McLeod to improvise a story which would succeed inimposing upon him. As soon as the horse-shoe had been fixed, theyagain proceeded upon their way, but had not gone far before their evilgenius, their interrogator at the blacksmith's shop, dashed by them onhorseback. They perceived that his suspicions had not been allayed, and that he was going on in advance of them to herald the approach ofspies. They allowed him to pass out of sight, in advance, and thendestroyed the letters they had in their possession, that the search oftheir persons, to which they then anticipated they would be requiredto submit, might not betray them. When they arrived at the village ofWebster, they found it in commotion, and many persons were anxiouslyawaiting their arrival, in the eager hope of capturing the spies. 

"They were there subjected to a rigorous cross-examination. Theheroines were calm and self-possessed--answering questions withouthesitancy, and expressing a perfect willingness to have their personssearched by any lady who might be selected for that purpose. They wereallowed to pass on, after being detained for some time, though therewere some in the crowd who were very much opposed to it. As soon asthey got out of sight of that village they rode very rapidly, for fearthey might still be arrested by some of those who were so much opposedto allowing them to proceed. They arrived at Philippa about twoo'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and told Colonel Porterfieldthat the enemy would attack his camp that night or the next morning. 

"These ladies then went to the house of a Mr. Huff, about a mile and ahalf from Philippa, where they stayed all night. The next morning theyheard the report of the firing at Philippa, and, in disguise, accompanied by a countrywoman, returned to Philippa, on foot, to seewhat had been the result. They moved about among the enemy withoutbeing detected or molested in the least degree. Going into one of thehouses, they found James Withers, of the Rockbridge Cavalry, who hadconcealed himself there to prevent the enemy from capturing him. Theseladies immediately told him that they would effect his rescue, if hewould trust to them. He very readily consented; whereupon these ladiesdisguised him as a common countryman, by furnishing him with some oldclothes; they then gave him a basket of soap, with a recipe for makingit, that he might pass as a peddler of that necessary article. Withthese old clothes, and a basket of soap on his arm, and gallantlymounted upon a mule, accompanied by his guardian angels, he passedsafely through the crowds of the enemy, and was brought by them, safeand sound, into the camp of his friends at Beverly, after a circuitousand hard ride over precipitous mountains, where persons had seldom, ifever, ridden before. His fellow-soldiers and friends rejoiced greatlywhen he arrived, for they thought that he was either killed or takenprisoner by the enemy; they rejoiced that the supposed 'dead wasalive, ' and the 'lost was found. ' He is now known in our camp as the'peddler of soap. ' The heroic conduct of these ladies will live inhistory, and they will become the heroines of many a thrilling storyof fiction, in years to come. "

We have no doubt but that their names will live in history. BenedictArnold is still in the memory of every American, loathed and despised, as Davis and his crew will eventually be, without doubt. 

GILBERT'S BRIGADE. 

In May last, the 124th Ohio was near Franklin, Tenn. , a part ofGeneral Granger's division, and belonging to Gilbert's brigade. Friend "Esperance, " in writing about the regiment, says: "We areencamped near Franklin, in a beautiful situation as regards the viewof the country; and in a military point of view it is excellent, beingsurrounded with sufficient elevations of land to enable ourfortifications to sweep the whole country in every direction. Thebrigade is composed of the 113th, 124th, 125th, and the 121st OhioVolunteers, and the 78th Illinois. The 124th Ohio was organized inCleveland, but contains two companies from Cincinnati--company G, under the command of William A. Powell, of your city, and company I, under the command of Captain J. H. Frost, also of Cincinnati. CaptainPowell has been in the service ever since the commencement of the war;he has served in Virginia and Maryland, also in Missouri, in GeneralFremont's Body-guard. He was again in Maryland last summer, atCumberland, in command of a company in the 84th Ohio VolunteerInfantry, and is, in all respects, strictly a military man, verygenerally liked by his company, and respected by his superiorofficers. Captain Frost has also been in the service before, and ismuch liked by his men, and esteemed by all who know him here. Thehealth of the regiment is good, and of the two companies fromCincinnati especially so. 

"With regard to the army of General Rosecrans, it is by us consideredinvincible. General Rosecrans is looked upon as a host in himself. Every soldier appears anxious to meet the enemy; the idea of a defeatnever seems to enter into their imagination, but all are enthusiasticin their expectation of being able to restore the South andSouth-west of our common country to subjection to the Constitution, and obedience to the laws. "

 * * * * *

A chaplain of an Indiana regiment recently married one of the Hoosierboys to a Tennessee girl, and concluded the ceremony by remarking, the_oath_ was binding for three years, or _during the war_!

CHAPTER XIV. 

 Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War. 

CONFESSIONS OF A FAT MAN--HOME-GUARD. 

The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were calledupon to rally to its defense. Being large and able-bodied, I enrolledwith the home-guard. The drill was very severe in hot weather, and Iwanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water. 

I am constantly reminded that one of the first requirements of asoldier is to throw out his chest and draw in his stomach. Having beenburned out several times, while occupying an attic, I have hadconsiderable practice in throwing out my chest; but by what system ofpractice could I ever hope to draw in my stomach? I can't "dress up;"it's no use of my trying. If my vest buttons are in a line, I am farin the rear. If I toe the mark, a fearful bulge indicates my position. Once we had a new drill-sergeant, who was near-sighted. Running hiseye along the line, he exclaimed sharply:

"What is that man doing in the ranks with a base drum?"

He pointed at me; but I hadn't any drum; it was the surplus stomach, that I couldn't, for the life of me, draw in. I am the butt ofnumberless jokes, as you may well suppose. They have got a story inthe Guards, that, when I first heard the command "order arms, " Idropped my musket, and, taking out my notebook, began drawing an_order_ on the Governor for what arms I needed. They say I ordered aWinans steam-gun, with a pair of Dahlgren howitzers for side arms!Base fabrication! My ambition never extended beyond a rifled cannon, and they know it!

Although, in respect to size, I belong to the "heavies, " my preferenceis for the light infantry service. My knapsack is marked "LightInfantry!" One evening the spectators seemed convulsed aboutsomething, and my comrades tittered by platoons, whenever my back wasturned. It was a mystery to me till I laid off my knapsack. Somewretch had erased the two final letters, and I had been parading, allthe evening, labeled, "LIGHT INFANT!"

The above is one of the thousand annoyances to which I am subjected, and nothing but my consuming patriotism could ever induce me to submitto it. I overheard a spectator inquire of the drill-sergeant one day:

"Do you drill that fat man all at once?"

"No, " he returned, in an awful whisper; "_I drill him by squads!_"

I could have _drilled_ him, if I had had a bayonet. 

Specifications have been published in regard to my uniform, andcontractors advertised for; the making will be let out to the lowestbidder. In case the Guards are ordered to take the field, a specialcommissary will be detailed to draw my rations. 

[Illustration: The fat volunteer. See page 143. ]

That reminds me of a harrowing incident. On last night's drill an oldfarmer, who dropped in to see us drill, took me aside, and said hewanted to sell me a yoke of powerful oxen. 

"My ancient agriculturist, " said I, smiling at his simplicity, "I haveno use for oxen. "

"Perhaps not at present, " quoth he, "but if you go to war you willwant them. "

"For what?" said I, considerably annoyed. 

"Want 'em to _draw your rations_!"

The Guards paid me a delicate compliment at their last meeting:elected me _Child_ of the Regiment, with the rank of a First_Corpulent_. I was about to return thanks in a neat speech, when theytold me it was no use; that a reporter, who was present, had got thewhole thing in type--speech and all--and I could read it in theevening paper. I got his views, and held my own. 

Yours for the Union, including the Stars, also the Stripes. 

 Fat Contributor. 

"What are you going to do, you bad woman's boy?" said Mrs. Wiggles, asher youngest son passed through the kitchen into the garden. 

"Down with the Seceshers!" he shouted; and she looked out just in timeto see the top of a rose-bush fall before the artillery-sword of herson, that the youngster held in his hand. 

"You had better go to Molasses Jugtion, if you want to do that, " shesaid, restraining his hand as 't was lifted against a favoritefuschia, that she had trained with so much care. 

"Dear me!" she murmured, half to herself; "what a terrible thing waris, when children show signs of such terrible consanguinity!"

THE NEGRO ON THE FENCE. 

 "Hearken to what I now relate, And on its moral meditate. "

 A Wagoner, with grist for mill, Was stalled at bottom of a hill. A brawny negro passed that way, So stout he might a lion slay. "I'll put my shoulder to the wheels, If you'll bestir your horse's heels. " So said the African, and made As if to render timely aid. "No, " cried the wagoner, "stand back! I'll take no help from one that's black;" And, to the negro's great surprise, Flourished his whip before his eyes. Our "darkey" quick "skedaddled" thence, And sat upon the wayside fence. Then went the wagoner to work, And lashed his horses to a jerk; But all his efforts were in vain; With shout, and oath, and whip, and rein, The wheels budged not a single inch, And tighter grow the wagoner's pinch. Directly there came by a child, With toiling step, and vision wild, "Father, " said she, with hunger dread, "We famish for the want of bread. " Then spake the negro: "If you will, I'll help your horses to the mill. " The wagoner, in grievous plight, Now swore and raved with all his might, Because the negro wasn't white; And plainly ordered him to go To a certain place, that's down below; Then, rushing, came the wagoner's wife, To save her own and infant's life; By robbers was their homestead sacked, And smoke and blood their pillage tracked. 

 Here stops our tale. When last observed, The wagoner was still "conserved" In mud, at bottom of the hill, But bent on getting to the mill; And hard by, not a rod from thence, The negro sat upon the fence. 

A CAMP LETTER OF EARLY TIMES. 

Our camp is alive; our camp is exuberant; our camp is in a _furore_. "Who's that man with 'Secesh' clothes?" says one; and "Who's thatbig-faced, genial, good-natured looking feller?" says another. "Arethey prisoners?" "Maybe it's the paymaster; and that short, chunky manis here to watch the other feller, and see that the money is paid allon the square. " "No, it aint one nor t' other--'tis Cons Millar, theever-vigilant and hard-working Cons, of the _Commercial_; and thegood-natured looking feller is INVISIBLE GREEN, or, as he isfamiliarly called, Bill Crippen, of the _Times_. " They have broughtsunshine into camp, for a merrier set of soldiers the sun never shoneon than are the Guthrie Grays to-night. Cons has just had supper, andBill is "spreading devastation" over the table of Captain Andrews. They have both been up inspecting intrenchments, which are _in statuquo_, the brave Lee having retreated some sixteen miles, or, morepolitely speaking, "fallen back. " So I suppose we will soon have tocreep up on the gallant gentleman once more, and see if he can not beinduced to fall still further back. 

The news of the gallant conduct of our Cincinnati boys at the latefight under Rosecrans sent a thrill of pleasure to the hearts of allour men, and a feeling of envy that we were not with them to share theglory of that day. Colonel Lytle, Stephen McGroarty, and the otherbrave fellows' names, are on the lips of all, and a fervent "God blessthem" is frequently uttered. Our encampment now may be said to extendover four miles, a brigade of twelve thousand; and I can assure youthey make a formidable appearance. Three splendid batteries, three orfour fine cavalry companies, and any quantity of men, are yet on theway. 

One of the best Secesh tricks I have heard of was attempted, a shorttime since, by a rebel telegrapher. When Lee was about to advance uponthis point, wishing to ascertain the number of troops here, he sentout this operator, with pocket implements, to attach to our wires. So, carefully picking his way through the woods, Mr. Operator came upon asecluded part of the road; climbing the pole, he attached his battery, and "click, click, click, " he inquires of our operator athead-quarters, "How many troops have you altogether, that can, at anypressing event, be sent to aid us if we attack Lee?" Just as heconcluded the query, one of the ever-vigilant pickets of the Indianaregiments, who infest the woods and roads in every direction, espiedthe gentleman, and brought him into camp with his non-confiscatedhorse. A minute more and the fellow, doubtless, would have been fullyinformed, as he had guarded against cipher-telegraphing bytelegraphing that the cipher-operator was out, and the general wantedan immediate answer. 

Our boys continue to scour the woods, and constantly are findingSecesh documents. The following _beautiful poem_ is from the pen ofMiss M. H. Cantrell, of Jonesboro, Tennessee, and was found in thepocket of a "Secesher, " who had invaliantly fled, dropping hisovercoat and love-epistles. It is entitled:

 SWEETHARTS AGAINST WAR. 

 O Dear! its shameful I declare To make the men all go And leive so manny sweetharts here Wit out a single bough. 

 We like to see them leave 'tis true, And wold not urge them stay; But what are we poor girls to do When you are all away?

 We told you we cold spare you here Before you had to go, But Bless your Harts, wernt aware That we would miss you sow. 

 We miss you all in manny ways, But troth will ware out; The gratest things we miss you for Joy going withe out. 

 On Sunday when we go to church, We look in vane for sum To mete us smilin on the porch, And ask to see us home. 

 And then we dont enjoy a walk Since all the bows have gone; For what the good to us plain talk If we must trip alone?

 But what the use talkin thus We will try to beecontent And if you cannot come to us A message may bee cent. 

 And that one comfort any way Although we are Apart, There is no reason why we may Not open hart to hart. 

 We trust it may not ever come To any War like test, We want to see our Southern home Secured in peaceful rest. 

 But if the blood of those we love In freedoms cause must floo, With fervent trust in Lov Above We bid them onward go. 

 Written By your friend, M. H. Cantrell. 

I inclose you the original document. I suppose the aforesaid lovyerdid "onward go, " and, no doubt, is still going, if he has not alreadyreached the town of Jonesboro, and met his gal upon "the porch" as shereturned from church. 

Snake-hunting has given way to trout-fishing. As a matter of course, the noise of camp has driven all trout four miles from our presentabode; but scarcely a day passes but our men return with a nice stringof these delicious denizens of the brooks hereabouts. 

I have often, heretofore, thought I would like much to be a cavalrysoldier, but I'll swear I wouldn't like to be a cavalry horse; for, ofall the hay-forsaken, fleshless-looking animals eyes ever gazed upon, the horses out here take the premium. Well, 'pon my word, I tookCaptain Bracken's horse (the roan I once rode) a quart of oats, sentfrom Beverly; well, the horse wouldn't eat them; he didn't know whatthey were! and I had to break or smash some of them so that he mightsmell the "aroma, " to facilitate his knowledge, and he was too weak toinhale air enough to inflate his nostrils, so that he could smell thedainty meal I had in my kindness brought him. Captain Bracken promisedto have them parched and made into a tea for the animal. 

_September 30. _--What a jump of time! Well, I'll tell you the cause. The morning I intended to post this letter the entire regiment wasordered to make an advance upon Mingo Flats, a Secession hole fifteenmiles from this place. They were accompanied by Howe's battery and anIndiana regiment. The boys were not more than fairly started when aterrific rain-storm set in. O! what a pitiless, deluging rain! Thevery thought of that _sprinkle_ of twenty hours of unceasing torrentmakes me, even now, feel as if I should forever have an antipathyagainst drinking water. Onward the boys trudged, seemingly not caringa cuss if school kept or not. The Elkwater soon assumed a ratherformidable appearance; night came on, and with it an increase of theflood. We stood up against trees to rest; some crawled infence-corners; a few, more lucky, found an old log stable and asmoke-house; these were quickly filled from "pit to dome, " as FredHunt would say, for some slept on rafters, cross-beams, etc. Still itpoured down; still the fountains of heaven gushed _forth_, fifth, tenth, or twentieth; anyhow, it continued to rain, and at daybreak itrained yet, and the regiment moved on to Mingo Flats; drove in therebel pickets; heard the Secesh varmints beat the long roll; knew theywere scared; _and still it rained_! Colonel Sullivan, of the Indianaregiment, was in, command: sent out a big gun; boys went on a bighill; found the enemy were eight or ten thousand strong; big gunordered back, and as we only had two thousand men, remembered theaxiom about "discretion being the better part of valor;" obeyed theaforesaid axiom. _Still, recollect, it kept raining in torrents_;dripping down Quarter-master Shoemaker's pants into his boots; runningover Colonel Anderson's back. Major Christopher looked dry, in orderto get a drink: but that was a failure. Captain Westcott looked sad;in fact he said it was the wettest time he ever knew or heard tellof--wondered if old Noah ever explored these big hills. 

Captain Russell picked out a fine hill to locate upon, if this reallyintended to be another deluge. Captain Clark observed he was fond of_heavy wet_. Jules Montagnier said it was _due_ time to _dry up_. _Still it rained. _ The regiments were ordered to fall back. Well, themud was so infernal slippery it was very easily done; some fellforward in the vain endeavor to fall back. After killing seven oreight poor, pauper-looking, "Secesh varmints, " the boys set fire toMarshall's store, the enterprising proprietor being away from hisbusiness--a very notorious Secessionist, having donated $25, 000 tothe C. S. A. The building made a _beautiful_ fire, and our boysbrought away a fine lot of saws, augers, and various other articles of_dry goods_. The loss of the augers, Colonel Anderson says, will be agreat _bore_ to Marshall. _Please don't forget how infernal hard itwas raining all this time. _

Well, they reached the first ford on their return trip; a sad misnomernow, for it was an unfordable ford. The water of old Elkwater wasrearing and plunging, and furiously wild. Every mountain (and thereare myriads) was sending out its wet _aid_ to swell the ragingtorrent; the regiment, at this time, only three miles from theSecessionists. A bold front had to be put on, as it was a sure thing, if the rebels found out the weakness of our force, we were goners. There was no doubt, however, but that they were terribly frightened, as they had heard we were twenty thousand strong. Anxiously the boyswaited the falling of the mighty waters. _It had now rained twenty-sixhours. _ Large trees came whistling by with lightning speed; the riverseemed wild with delight, and the waves clapped their hands, leapinghigher and higher; but, _as you know_, (no reflection meant, ) Mr. Editor, a drunken man will get sober if not supplied with more liquor, so the river will _subside_ if not furnished with the "aqueous fluid. "

Colonel Anderson was the first to cross the stream. His horse plungedin boldly, but was within an ace of being carried away by the stillalmost resistless current. There goes "Shoemaker, " the easy, good-natured "Ned, " as he is called. Yes, sure enough, there he doesgo, for his horse has plunged, and the torrent is too wild, for theyare both beyond their depth, and the horse is going down, down. Everyeye is bent upon "Shoe. " He is carried further and further. He graspsa tree and pulls himself up, looking the picture of despair. The majorsays, "H-o-l-d, b-o-y-s! d-o-n't b-e i-n t-o-o m-u-c-h h-u-r-r-y;" butthey, eager to get back, walked a foot-bridge of rough timber and oldlogs, very narrow. Several crossed upon this, Captain Russell making avery narrow escape with his life. Colonel Anderson, perceiving thedanger, ordered that no more should cross, threatening to shoot thefirst man who should disobey the order. This, as a matter of course, was done to deter the men from hazarding their lives needlessly. Colonel Anderson had but just given the order, when Frank Guhra, aprivate in Captain Clark's company, made the attempt, reached themiddle of the stream, lost his balance, fell, and in a moment waswhirled out of sight, the current running at the rate of twenty milesan hour. Several lost their guns. It was three or four hours beforethey succeeded in crossing. 

Upon their return to camp an unwelcome sight was presented; the waterhad swept nearly every thing away. The tents had been, many of them, three and four feet in water; some had to take to trees to save life. The water had subsided, leaving a nasty slime, a foot thick, all overthe camp-ground. Camp-kettles, knapsacks haversacks, and numerousfloatable, light articles, had passed down stream--Captain Wilmingtonlosing every thing. I saw the Captain trying to borrow a pair ofpantaloons, he running around in his drawers. An old resident of thislocality (Mr. Stonnicker) says this is the biggest flood ever known inthis region. By the by, Mr. Stonnicker has a beautiful daughter, MissDelilah, who seems to be fairly "the child of the regiment, "especially of the officers. I will not mention names, as the wives athome would be jealous. 

I see you talk of sending out a gentleman to take money home to thefamilies of the volunteers. But cuss the paymaster, "or any otherman. " Why don't the paymaster come? Send _me_ some papers. I can't getany without a peck of trouble. 

CHAPTER XV. 

 The Winter Campaign in Virginia -- Didn't Know of the Rebellion -- General W. H. Litle -- Drilling -- A Black Nightingale's Song. 

THE WINTER CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. 

Your correspondent has been sick. Your correspondent has been in bed;has had the rheumatism in his back, neck, arms, legs, toes; is downwith the mountain-fever; tries in vain to sleep; howling dog, belonging to Captain Russell's "brigade, " keeps up such an infernalhowling it makes me mad: wish Russell had to eat him, hair and all. Itwas raining when I last wrote; think we had just been flooded out. Well, the very next day we were again ordered over that Godforsakenroad, when the clouds again blackened up, and five hundred men trampedit. What have the Sixth done that the heavens should open theirfloodgates? All I wonder is, how the boys stand it. But they do bearup under it nobly, remembering the Shakspearian passage, slightlyaltered:

 "The same clouds that lower upon the house of Abe Lincoln Look frowningly upon Jeff Davis. "

The boys are truly "ragged and sassy;" very many are shoeless, andwith a flag of truce protruding from the rear. The service in thesewoods wears out more clothing than ordinary service should. Some ofthe boys are careless, but many are, helplessly, nearly naked. Ourofficers have used every exertion to get apparel, but the apparel is, like a paymaster, "hard to get hold of. " Our men have been sorelytantalized by seeing regiment after regiment of the Indiana troopspaid off, before their very eyes. In fact, they have been runninground camp, with five, ten, and twenty-dollar gold pieces, shakingthem in our faces. Add Colwell--Corporal Add--paid an Indiana boy ofthe 17th Regiment three slices of bacon and half a pound of coffeejust for the privilege of hefting and rubbing his eye with an _eagle_. Colwell is a good printer; Colwell is a good writer; and, last andbest of all, he can eat more gingerbread than any other one man in thearmy: he wants Wash Armstrong to send him a box of the article. 

Since the accidental shooting of Lieutenant Moses Bidwell, by Adams, of the 17th Indiana, we have had another accident. Mr. Hopkins has hadhis collar-bone broken, and his shoulder-blade thrown completely outof place, by the falling of a tree. 

We are having jovial times out here, rain or shine. A convocation ofgood fellows met at Captain Abbott's quarters, 3d Ohio. Captain Abbottis from Zanesville. Captain McDougal of Newark, Captain Dana ofAthens, Captain Rossman of Hamilton, Lieutenants House and Swasey ofColumbus, Lieutenants Bell and Dale of Newark, not forgettingMiles--the smiling, good-natured Miles--of the 17th Indiana, Quarter-master Shoemaker, Andy Hall, J. W. Slanker, W. B. Sheridan, and Self, all of the 6th Ohio, made up the party. The landlord filledhis flowing bowl, and stories, songs, and recitations were the orderof the evening, and the

 "Glow-worm '_began_' to show the matin to be near"

ere we started to separate. 

Miles invited those who would, to go over to his palace, and promisedus a sardine supper; accordingly, but few refused the invitation. Now, Miles had a _jug of oil_, just from the Thurston House, Paris, _Bourbon_ County, Ky. This oil was put to good use; and soon a _box_of herring was opened, and the oil again distributed, and then somespeeches were made. 

The meeting was called to order by the fat Quarter-master, Shoemaker. 

A motion was made that we adjourn and go to Cincinnati. This was voteddown. Motions were continually made to take a drink. These werecarried, every _pop_, by _Sherry_, your correspondent being the onlyone having the moral courage to vote in the negative. 

Now, Miles is from Columbus; a jolly, good fellow, and, when the timefor retiring arrived, proffered me his bed, provided I would noticehim in my next letter. This I promised, and accepted his hospitality. The party dispersed, and Miles was soon in the arms of Morpheus; hehad fallen asleep making an eloquent appeal to the _chair_. I had justgot into a nice doze, when I was aroused by the sound of a voice. 

"Gen'l'men, you're all my frens, every one of you. But, gen'l'men, Iinvite you, freely, to my sardines. You, 'specially, Ned Shoemaker;'specially you, Andy Hall, and all of you. 

"The country is a momentous question, "----

Here I ventured to inquire of him as to whom he was addressing hisconversation?

"Why, my frens, " replied he. "Isn't that Ned Shoemaker?" pointing to abarrel, upon the top of which was my hat; "and are not those mycompanions, " pointing to a pile of cheese-boxes, herring-kegs, etc. , that were strewn around. 

He was much astonished when I assured him his friends had _departed_an hour since, at least. 

DIDN'T KNOW OF THE REBELLION. 

Going out with a party of scouts, one day, in Virginia, we espied, away up a little ravine, a log-house, completely isolated. Anticipating a good, substantial meal, we rode up to the domicile, where an old woman, with a face with all the intelligence of a pigbeaming from it, came to the door, looking the very picture ofconsternation. We dismounted, and asked for something to eat. 

"What! wittles?" exclaimed the horrible-looking creature. "Whar didyou come from? And what be sogers doin' on here?"

"Well, I came from Indianapolis, " said Captain Bracken, "and am aftersomething to eat. Are there any Secesh in these parts?"

"Any what?"

"Secesh. "

"Why, gracious, what's them?"

"Are you and your folks for the Union?"

"Why, sartain; thar's the old man neow. "

Just at this moment there came a gaunt-eyed, slim-livered, carnivorous, yellow-skinned, mountain Virginian--no doubt belonging toone of the first families, as his name was Rhett. 

"Look-a-hear, " continued the old woman; "this ere soger wants to knowif you be for Union?"

The old man looked, if any thing, more astonished than the old womanat the soldier. In the course of conversation we asked the man, "Whathe thought of the war?"

"What war?" exclaimed the old fellow; "the Revolution?"

"Yes. The rebellion, we call it. "

"Ah! we gin the Britishers fits, didn't we?"

It was evident the man knew nothing of the rebellion going on. 

When asked if he heard the fight, the other day, only six miles fromhis house, he opened his eyes widely, and said he "heard it'_thunderin'_' mighty loud, but couldn't see no clouds, and didn'tknow what to make _on it_. "

The fact was, these people live up in this place; raise what littlewill keep them from year to year; never read a paper, ('cause why, they can't); and they scarcely ever visit anybody. 

There are many cases of this kind within a few miles of this place, where as much _pent-up_ ignorance is displayed. If North Carolina isany worse, in Heaven's name send no more money to _distant heathen_, but attend to those at home. 

GENERAL WILLIAM H. LYTLE, Of whom our city has cause to be justly proud, has won for himself aname, engraven on the scroll of honor, as one of our country's heroes. A brief mention of his military career may be summed up as follows:

He was, during the Mexican campaign, on General Scott's line, and, although but a mere youth, he commanded an independent company ofvolunteer infantry, from Cincinnati, that was afterward attached tothe 2d Ohio, on Scott's line, and commanded by Colonel William Irwin, of Lancaster, Ohio. They were stationed most of the time at the "RioFrio, " keeping open the line of communication between the cities ofPuebla and Mexico. Brigadier-General Robert Mitchell, of Kansas, andBrigadier-General McGinnis, of Iowa, were captains in the sameregiment. At the termination of that war General Lytle studied andentered into the practice of the law. 

In 1857 he was elected Major-General of the First District of OhioVolunteers. On the 19th of April, 1861, he was ordered by the Governorof Ohio to organize a camp for four regiments of infantry, and the dayafter receiving this order General Lytle took into Camp Harrison the5th and 6th Ohio Infantry, and shortly after the 9th and 10th Ohio. The latter regiment tendered him the colonelcy, which was accepted;and he led it through the Virginia campaign, under McClellan andRosecrans, up to the date of Carnifex Ferry, where he was wounded, September 10, 1861. Recovering from his wounds, he reported for dutyin January, 1862, and was placed by General Buell in command of theCamp of Instruction at Bardstown, Ky. , relieving General Wood. InMarch he was relieved, and reporting at Nashville, was placed incommand of Dumont's brigade, Major-General O. M. Mitchel's division, at Murfreesboro, and made, with General Mitchel, the campaign inNorthern Alabama, and conducted the evacuation of Huntsville, August31, 1862, under orders from Major-General Buell. He commanded theSeventeenth Brigade up to the battle of Chaplin Hills, where he wasagain wounded, October 8, 1862. During the following winter he waspromoted to Brigadier-General, dating from November 29, 1862, andreported for duty to the Army of the Cumberland in the spring of 1863, and was assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Third Division, of the Twentieth Army Corps. 

A TRIBUTE TO THE TENTH OHIO. 

When Colonel Mulligan was in Cincinnati, he and the noble William H. Lytle were invited to the dedication of the Catholic Institute. It wasthe 22d of November, 1861. Lytle had just recovered from his CarnifexFerry wound. The Colonel was called upon for a speech. He said:

"When I go back and tell my men how, for their sakes, you havereceived me to-night, _they will feel very proud_. They often think ofyou, my fellow-citizens; and the brother, mother, wife, or sister, among you, in spirit visits the soldier as he rests in his chill tentat night. 

"It does not become me to speak of my own regiment, for I know thathe who putteth his armor on can not boast as he that puts it off. But, as it is distant, and can not hear my words, I may say this much: theTenth has been ever true to the motto inscribed upon its flag--'Godand the Union. '"

The Colonel paid a feeling tribute to John Fitzgibbons, the deadcolor-bearer of the Tenth, and hoped that the memory of his deeds, ofKavanagh, and others, who fell on the field in defense of theircountry, might inspire their countrymen to rise and avenge them. 

DRILLING. 

 Sweet Amy asked, with pleading eyes, "Dear Charley, teach me, will you, The words I've heard your captain say? I should so like to drill you!"

 "What! little one, you take command! Well, Amy, I'm quite willing; In such a company as yours, I can't have too much drilling. 

 "Stand over, then, and sing out clear, Like this: 'Squad! stand at ease!'" "O, Charles! you'll wake papa, up stairs; Don't shout like that, love, please. "

 "Now, stand at ease, like this, you see! And then, I need scarce mention, The next command you have to give, Is this one: 'Squad! attention!'

 "Now, Amy, smartly after me; (You're sure, dear, it won't bore you?) 'Forward, march! Halt! Front! Right dress!' There, now, I'm close before you. 

 "'Present arms!'" "Well, it does look odd. " "You don't believe I'd trifle! We hold our arms out, just like this, In drill without the rifle. 

 "Now say, 'Salute your officer!'" "O, Charles! for shame! how can you? I thought you were at some such trick, You horrid, naughty man you. "

 Charles "ordered arms" without command; She smoothed her ruffled hair, And pouted, frowned, and blushed, and then Said softly, "_As you were_!"

A BLACK NIGHTINGALE'S SONG. 

Shortly after our troops occupied one of the towns in Virginia, asquad occupying a tent near a dwelling heard delightful music. Theunknown vocalist sang in such sweet, tremulous, thrilling notes, thatthe boys strained their ears to drink in every note uttered. 

On the following day they made some excuse to visit the house, but noone was there. Once they observed a sylph-like form, but she was notthe person; and so they lived on, each night hearing the same divinemusic. 

One night, when they were gathered together, the voice was againheard. "By Jove!" said one, "I'm bound to find out who that is; shemust be discovered. " A dozen voices took up the remark, and a certainnervous youth was delegated to reconnoiter the place. He crept ontiptoe toward the dwelling, leaped the garden-wall, and finally, undiscovered, but pallid and remorseful, gained the casement. Softlyraising his head, he peeped within. The room was full of music; heseemed to grow blind for a moment, when lo! upon the kitchen-table satthe mysterious songster, an ebony-hued negress, scouring the tinware, and singing away. Just as he was peering through the window, the ebonysongster discovered him. The soldier's limbs sank beneath him, and theblack specimen of humanity shouted:

"Go 'way dar, you soger-man, or I'll let fly de fryin' pan at yourhead! You musn't stan' dar peekin' at dis chile. "

The soldier left, his romantic vision dispelled. 

OUR HOOSIER BOYS. 

Dedicated to the Brave Soldiers of Indiana. 

 From East to West your camp-fires blaze, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! On Vicksburg's hights our flag you raise, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! And on Virginia's trait'rous soil, In answer to your country's call, The echoes of your footsteps fall, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

 While Southern suns upon you beat, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! You sternly march the foe to meet, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! Two winters, numbered with the past, Have o'er you swept with stormy blast, Since home's dear walls inclosed you last; Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

 By Richmond's fields, baptized with blood, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! By precious dust 'neath Shiloh's sod, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! By every martyred hero's grave, By sacred rights they died to save. We'll cherish in our hearts the brave Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys!

 While yet a vacant place is here, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! From hearts and homes will rise the prayer, Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! "God bless our gallant men and true, And let foul treason meet its due!" That faithful hearts may welcome you Home again, our Hoosier boys!

CHAPTER XVI. 

 Old Stonnicker and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio -- General Garnett and his Dogs -- "Are You the Col-o-nel of this Post?" -- Profanity in the Army -- High Price of Beans in Camp -- A Little Game of "draw. "

OLD STONNICKER AND COLONEL MARROW, OF 3d OHIO. 

A Peculiar specimen of the "genus Virginia" had a great deal oftrouble while our army was encamped at Elkwater. Stonnicker's fencesand sugar-camp were used for fire-wood, corn-field for fodder, apple-trees stripped. 

Stonnicker's family were sick. One of his oldest gals had the "soger'sfever. " He "guessed she must o' cotched it from either the 3d Ohio or17th Ingeeana Regiment, as the officers kept a comin' there so much. "

One day he sent for Colonel Marrow, and the Colonel obeying thesummons, Stonnicker said:

"Colonel, one of my children is dead, and I haven't any thing to burythe child in. "

The Colonel, a kind-hearted gentleman, had a neat coffin made; lentthe old man horses and an ambulance, and attended personally to theburial, at which the old man took on "_amazingly_. "

An hour or two after the funeral, old Stonnicker strolled up to theColonel's quarters. 

"Colonel, " said he, as the tears rolled down his cheeks; "Colonel, what shall I do?"

The Colonel, thinking he was mourning over the loss of hislately-buried child, replied:

"O, bear up under such trials like a man. "

"Wal, I know I orto; but, Colonel, can't you do something for me? Itis too bad! I feel so miserable! Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!"

"O, come, be a man, " said the Colonel; "any thing I can do for youshall be done, willingly. "

"O, Colonel! I knowed it; I knowed it. My old woman allers said youwas a fust-rate feller; and, Colonel, ef you'll only pay me for themtwo stacks of hay your men took from my field, I shall be mighty glad, for I want the money. "

It is needless to say that the Colonel's sympathies instantly ceased, and, turning on his heel, he might have been heard to say, "O, d----nyou and your hay. "

GENERAL GARNETT AND HIS DOGS. 

It was said by the boys that at the battle in which General Garnettwas killed, a favorite dog of his was with him on the field. Duringthe three months following I saw not less than fifty dogs, each onesaid, positively, to be the identical dog belonging to the rebelgeneral. 

ARE YOU THE COL-O-NEL OF THIS POST?

I was seated one day in the telegraph office at Beverly. Prince wasthe telegrapher, and he was communicating with some female atBuckhannon, telling her to come over on the next train. While enjoyinga lump of white sugar dissolved in hot water, sent by Uncle PeterThomson, especially to cure my cold, a big, brawny Irishman enteredthe office, and, as I was rigged out in the Secession uniform ofCaptain Ezzard, of the Gate City Guards, Atlanta, Georgia, I wasmistaken for a general by the said Irishman, who accosted me muchafter this style:

"Good mornin' to ye, sur. And how are yees dis mornin'?"

"Good morning, sir, " said I. 

"Sure, sir, " said he; "are you the Col-o-nel of this post? for it washim I was towld to ax for--for a pass to get to see my wife, who livesfive miles away from here, adjoining the white church, forninst thefirst woods to the right as you go to Huttonsville. "

As soon as he finished his speech I informed him I was not theCol-o-nel, but that Colonel William Bosley was the gentleman he mustsee. I told him, moreover, that "the Colonel was a very cross man;very strict in his discipline: if he didn't approach him "just so, " hewould very likely refuse any pass, and kick him into the bargain. "

"Thank you, sur; thank you, sur. O, but I'll approach him right. Neverfear me!"

I pointed him to the marquee, in front of which was a large stake, orpost, for hitching horses. 

"There, " said I, "you see; that's the post. "

"Well, sur; plaise to tell me what I must do?"

"You must go three times round the post; make your bow; place yourhands behind you; walk to the entrance of his tent, and inquire, 'Ifhe commands that post?' Tell him you want to see your wife, and thepass, no doubt, will be given you. "

The Irishman did as requested. Colonel Bosley said he knew there was ajoke up, and humored it; and after putting all sorts of grotesquequestions to the man, he was allowed to go on his way, rejoicing. 

HIGH PRICE OF BEANS IN CAMP--A LITTLE GAME OF "DRAW. "

Beans were excessively high, one season, in our army. I have seenCharley Brutton and Lieutenant Southgate and Captain Frank Ehrman, andother officers, pay as high as five cents apiece for them. Bruttonsaid he intended to make bean-soup of his. Often, while I stoodlooking at parties around a table, I heard remarks like these:

"Ten beans better than you. "

I suppose he meant that his ten beans were better than his opponent'sten beans. Then some one of the party, seated at the end of the table, would say:

"I SEE THEM TEN BEANS. "

Well, so did I, and everybody else about there. We couldn't help butsee them. Why, therefore, need he make so superfluous a remark? Thenthe other would say:

"I CALL YOU. "

But I didn't hear him _call_. All he would do was, to lay his beans onthe pile in the middle of the table, and soon they all spread out somepictures and dots that were printed on white pasteboard. Then _oneman_ reaches out his hand and _draws_ over the beans to his side; andhe smiles complacently, and all the others look beat and crabbed. Andthis they call a little game of _draw_. 

Charley Clark and Captain Westcott say 'tis a bad practice; _and theyought to know_. 

PROFANITY IN THE ARMY. 

It is astonishing how rapidly men in the service become profane. Inever before appreciated the oft-quoted phrase, "He swears like atrooper. " Young men whom I have noticed, in times gone by, for theirurbanity and quiet demeanor, now use language unbecoming gentlemenupon any occasion. But here it is overlooked, because "_everybody doesit_;" but, to my mind, "'Tis a custom more honored in the breach than the observance. "

Gambling, too! O, how they take to it! "O, it's just for pastime, "says one. Yes; but it is a pastime that will grow and grow, and dragmany a one to ruin. Among the many ways that the boys have of evadingthe law against it in camp is, going off into the woods and taking a"quiet game, " as they term it. Chuck-a-luck, sweat-cloth, and everyspecies of device for swindling are resorted to by the baser sort. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

 Hard on the Sutler: Spiritualism Tried -- A Specimen of Southern Poetry -- Singular -- March to Nashville -- General Steadman Challenged by a Woman -- Nigger Question -- "Rebels Returning. "

HARD ON THE SUTLER--SPIRITUALISM TRIED. 

The officers of some regiments will drink--that is, they can be_induced_. 

There was a sutler, a great devotee to the modern science--if scienceit can be called--of spiritualism. The officers found this out, anddetermined to play upon his credulity. The quarter-master was quite awag, and lent himself to the proposed fun. His large tent wasprepared: holes were made in it, and long black threads attached tovarious articles in the apartment, and one or two persons stationed toplay upon these strings. 

The party met as per agreement; every thing was arranged; thecredulous sutler present. While enjoying the evening, the crowd weresurprised to see things jumping around; a tumbler was jerked off atable, no one near it; clothing lifted up from the line runningthrough the length of the tent. Some one suggested "spirits. " Allacknowledged the mystery, while some would, and others would not, accept the spiritual hypothesis as a correct solution. The mattermust be tested, and the sutler was appointed chief interrogator. 

"If, " said he, "there are really spirits, why can they not prove it, by knocking this candlestick from my hand?"

"Why can't they?" echoed others. 

And, sure enough, no sooner said than done, and done so quickly thatno one but the performer was the wiser, whose knuckles, he said, pained him for a week afterward. Another of the party said to thespirit, "Fire a pistol. "

Bang! was the reply. 

The sutler became terrified. Again it was agreed that they should tryquestioning by the rapping process. The sutler proceeded:

"Are there any spirits present?"

Rap! rap! rap!

"Is it the spirit of a deceased relative?"

Rap! rap! rap!

"Whose relative is it? The Quarter-master's?"

Rap. 

"The Adjutant's?"

Rap. 

"Mine?"

Rap! rap! rap!

Here the sutler was requested to ask if there was anybody in the roomwho had committed any crime. The question was asked, and

Rap! rap! rap! was the reply. 

"Is it the Quarter-master?"

Rap. 

"Is it the Colonel?"

Rap!

"Is it the Adjutant?"

Rap!

"Is it the Surgeon?"

Rap!

"Is it m-m-e?"

Rap! rap! rap!

"O yes; I know it!" exclaimed the conscience-stricken sutler. (Thefirst case of the kind I ever knew. ) "O yes; I confess I was aMethodist class-leader, and now, here I am, drinking whisky, andselling it, and getting three prices from the boys for every thing Isell. O! I'll go and pray!" And he accordingly departed. The sutlerreported, in the morning, that he had prayed, and felt much relieved. It so wrought upon his mind that the joke had to be explained to him, to prevent his being driven to distraction. 

A SPECIMEN OF SOUTHERN POETRY. 

From the appended exquisite gem of "Southern poetry, " it will be seenthat they wish to raise the black flag. Well, _why don't they raiseit?_ Let us hope that for every black flag they raise, Uncle Abrahamwill raise a _black regiment_. It is from the Chattanooga _Rebel_, andis entitled

 THE BLACK FLAG. 

 Raise now the sable flag! high let it wave O'er all Secessia's hills and flowery vales, And on its sable folds the motto trace, "For victory or death!" The hated foe Have gathered in our lovely land, and trod, With desecrating steps, our State's proud Capital. They've pillaged in our cities, burned our homes, Exiled our stanch, true-hearted patriots, Arrested loyal citizens, and sent Them to those hungry bastiles of the North, The ignominious "Chase" and "Johnson's Isle. " Our clergy--God's anointed--who refused To take a black, obnoxious oath, to perjure Their own souls, they placed in "durance vile. " The noble daughters of the "sunny South, " Whose hearts were with their country's cause, they forced To yield obedience to their hated laws, Nor heeded cries of pity; whether from Matron staid, beseeching them to leave her, For her little ones, her own meat and bread; Or from the bright-eyed boy, with manly grace, Who brooks, with sorrowing looks, the insults she Is forced to bear, and dares not to resent; Or from the gray-haired sire, whose cord of life Is nearly loosed, who, in enfeebled tones, Prays them to cease their vexing raids, and let An old man die in peace. Nor will they list To maiden fair, whose virtue is their goal. They've desolated every home where once Abundance bloomed, and with the weapons of A warrior (?)--fire and theft--have laid our homes In ashes, plundered their effects, and sworn Th' extermination of Secessia's sons. Then raise the ebon flag! with Spring's warm breath Let it unfurl its night-like folds, and wave Where noble "Freeman" fills a martyr's grave. Then strike! but not for booty, soldiers brave; Fight to defend your liberties and homes-- The joy it gives to see the Vandals fall, And catch the music of their dying groans. Go! burn their cities, scourge their fertile lands; Teach them retaliation; plow their fields, And slay by thousands with your iron hail; Scorn every treaty, every Yankee clan. Defy with Spartan courage. _Vengeance_ stamp Upon your bayonets; and let the hills and Vales resound with _Blood_--your battle-cry. 

SINGULAR. 

Civilians are often puzzled, in reading reports of battles, tounderstand how it is that a thousand troops in a body can "stand thegalling fire of the enemy" for an hour or more, and come out with buttwo or three killed and half a dozen wounded; or how they can "mowdown the enemy at every shot" for a long time, and yet not kill over adozen or so of them. Every thing that is done now-a-days is a complete"rout;" all the enemy's camp equipage, guns, ammunition, etc. , aretaken. Will somebody wiser than I am please explain?

THE MODERN TROUBADOUR. 

A Camp Song. 

 Gaily the bully boy smoked his cigar, As he was hastening off for the war; Singing--"To Secesh land, thither I go: Rebuels! rebuels! fight all you know!"

 'Lize for the bully boy gave nary weep, Knowing full well he'd his promise keep, And make her his little wife; so this was her song-- "Bully boy! bully boy! come right along!"

 In Camp, Near Tennessee Line, _October 7, 1862_. 

At five o'clock this morning struck tents at camp, a few miles thisside of Bowling Green, and were on the march for "any place whereordered. " I am thus indefinite, because the publication of the"ultimate destination" is contraband news. Yesterday we were encampedin a wildly picturesque part of Kentucky--_intensely_ rocky--aboundingin caverns and subterranean streams; to-day we marched through whathas been a delightful country, beautifully rolling land, andhighly-cultivated farms; but now, what a sad picture is presented!Scarce a fence standing; no evidences of industry; all is desolation, and the demon of devastation seems to have stalked through the entireState with unchecked speed--houses burned, roads neglected, farmsdestroyed, in fact, nothing but desolation staring you in the face, turn which way you will. 

Early this morning the road was very dusty, but by nine o'clock we hada splendid representation of "Bonaparte crossing the Alps, " minus theAlps, and nothing but active marching kept the boys from feeling theextra keenness of old Winter's breath. Still, the boys trudged merrilyon, feeling confident the present march is not to be fruitless in itsresults, as preceding ones have been. This campaign now presents anactive appearance, every thing indicating a head to conceive and thewill to do. 

At three o'clock to-day we passed through the neat-looking town ofFranklin. It looks very new, most of the houses being substantialbricks. Here we met General Fry, the man who _slewed_ Zollicoffer. TheGeneral is of plain, unostentatious appearance, a keen eye, lipscompressed, the whole countenance denoting determination and quicknessof perception. 

GENERAL STEADMAN CHALLENGED BY A WOMAN. 

Riding along to-day with General Steadman, who, in his province ascommander of this brigade, had called at the dwellings on theroad-side, to see about the sick soldiers left in the houses, theGeneral knocked at a door, and a voice within yelled "Come in. "Obeying the injunction, he opened the door, and inquired how many menwere there, and, also, if they had the requisite attention shown them. After a few minutes' talk with the soldiers, General Steadman enteredinto conversation with Mr. Reynolds, the owner of the property, who, among other things, asked the General when he thought the war wouldend; to which the General replied:

"Not till the rebels lay down their arms, or the Secessionists getperfectly tired of having their country devastated. "

This reply brought in a third party--old Mrs. Reynolds, a regularspitfire, a she-Secessionist of the most rabid, cantankerousspecies--a tiger-cat in petticoats. This she specimen of the "Spiritof the South, " of the demon of desolation, had bottled up her venomduring the conversation of her son, but could hold in no longer; her_vial_ of wrath "busted, " the cork flew out, and the way she came atthe General was a caution to the wayfarers over this road, at anyrate. 

"O, yes! and that's all you nasty Yankees come here for, is, todestroy our property, invade our sile, _deserlatin'_ our homes. This'ere whole war is nothing but a Yankee speculation, gotten up by theNorth, so that they can steal niggers and drive us from our homes. "

"Well, madam, as it is not my province to quarrel with a woman, Ishall not talk to you. You get excited, and don't know what you'retalking about. "

"O! but I'll talk to _you_ as much as I please. You're all a sneakingset of thieves. You can just take yourself out of my house, you dirtypup. You're drunk. "

The General very placidly listened to the old termagant, and merelyremarked, "It was too cold to go out of the house just then; heguessed he'd warm himself first. "

"Get out, quick, " said she, opening the door. "I'll let you know I'm aHarney. Yes, I'm a grand-daughter of General Harney, of Revolutionaryfame. "

"Well, madam, I have before told you I don't want to quarrel with awoman, but if you have any of the male Harneys about the house, whowill give me the tenth part of the insolence that I have listened tofrom the lips of 'one old enough to know better, ' I will soon show himof what mettle I'm made. "

"Jeemes, give me your six-shooter, " fairly shrieked the old woman;"I'll soon show him. _I'll fight you at ten paces, sir!_"

The General laughed at her last remark; seeing which, she becameperfectly furious. Her sons and daughters begged her to desist fromsuch talk; but the more they cried "Don't, " the less she "_don'ted_. "

The family, by this time, had been made aware that it was a realGeneral at whom this insolence of tongue was being hurled, and thetribulation of the son was great. The General, after thoroughlywarming himself, quietly walked out with his staff. The son followedto the door, making all sorts of apologies for his mother--that shehad been sick, was peevish, and, at times, out of her head. Isuggested to him, that I didn't think she would _be so apt to go outof her head if John Morgan had come along_, instead of a Union man. 

Lucky for that house and its inmates that the 9th Ohio, or any ofGeneral Steadman's command, were not apprised of the proceedings. TheGeneral, in the kindness of his heart, and for the sake of thesoldiers quartered there, placed a guard around her house, to preventher being troubled in the least while the regiments were passing. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

 Going into Battle -- Letter to the Secesh -- General Garfield, Major-General Rosecrans's Chief of Staff -- General Lew Wallace -- The Siege of Cincinnati -- Parson Brownlow -- Colonel Charles Anderson. 

GOING INTO BATTLE. 

Many wonder if men wear their coats and knapsacks, and carry blankets, when going into battle. That depends upon circumstances. Sometimes, when marching, they find themselves in battle when they least expectit. Upon such occasions, soldiers drop every thing that is likely toincommode them, and trust to luck for the future. 

Many wonder if regiments fire regularly, in volleys, or whether eachman loads and fires as fast as he can. That, also, depends uponcircumstances. Except when the enemy is near, the regiments fire onlyat the command of their officers. 

You hear a drop, drop, drop, as a few of the skirmishers fire, followed by a rattle and a roll, which sounds like the falling of abuilding, just as you may have heard the brick walls at a fire. 

Sometimes, when a body of the enemy's cavalry are sweeping down upon aregiment to cut it to pieces, the men form in a square, with theofficers and musicians in the center. The front rank stand withbayonets charged, while the second rank fires as fast as it can. Sometimes they form in four ranks deep--the two front ones kneeling, with their bayonets charged, so that, if the enemy should come uponthem, they would run against a picket-fence of bayonets. When theyform this way, the other two ranks load and fire as fast as they can. Then the roar is terrific, and many a horse and rider go down beforethe terrible storm of leaden hail. 

LETTER TO THE SECESH. 

My Dear Rebs: Having just learned that Vicksburg has gone up--PortHudson caved--Jackson surrendered--Bragg unwell--I thought I would askyou a few questions, for instance:

How are you, any how?

How does "dying in the last ditch" agree with your general health?

How is the Constitution down your way?

Do you think there is any Government?

How is King Kotting?

Is Yancey well and able to hold his oats?

Has Buckner taken Louisville yet?

I understand Tilghman _has quit_ hanging Union men. 

Is Floyd still _rifling_ cannon, and other small arms?

How is the Southern heart?

Are you still able to whip five to one?

What is your opinion of the Dutch race?

When will England and France recognize you?

What have you done with the provisional government of Kentucky?

Where is the Louisville-Bowling-Green-Nashville-Atlanta _Courier_published now? Say--

What do you think of yourselves any how?

A prompt answer will relieve many anxious hearts. 

 Yours, in a horn, A Lincoln Man. 

GENERAL GARFIELD, MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS'S CHIEF OF STAFF. 

The rather brilliant career of the General is worthy of a moreextended notice than I have room for. 

General Garfield was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1831. It issaid that, in his early love of freedom, he formed a strong attachmentfor horses, and, to gratify this feeling, he ran away from home andbecame a driver on the canal. Possessing remarkable endurance, andgreat strength, with no small amount of combative spirit, he soonbecame a "shoulder-hitter, " whipping all opponents who were any waynear his own age, and becoming a terror to the quarrelsome rowdies whohad previously ruled the ditch. 

During the hight of his wild career he attended a revival meeting, became converted, found new and wealthy friends, who supplied him withfunds to attend college, and, in 1856, he graduated at William'sCollege, Massachusetts, with the highest honors. 

Returning to Ohio, he at once settled as a clergyman and president ofthe college at Hiram, Portage County. He here became very popular asan eloquent divine, as a lecturer before lyceums, and as a profoundscholar. The success of his school was without a precedent. Two yearsago he was elected, by an immense majority, as a member of the StateSenate. At the first call for troops, he at once entered the field, and rallied round him some of the ablest boys to be found in theState. 

General Garfield is what would be called, by ladies, a really handsomeman; has large, blue eyes, an expressive mouth, the outlines of whichdenote good nature. It was prophesied at once, after his enlistment, that, "Let Rev. Mr. Garfield have a chance at the rebels, and he woulddie in the field, or win a victory. " He has, at all times, so far, been on the winning side. 

Humphrey Marshall--the barn-door of the Southern Confederacy--it issaid, once beat General Garfield, during the early Kentucky campaign. Marshall was in a trap, and, wanting a little time, called uponGarfield with a white flag, who was commanding a brigade, and asked--

"Is there no way to settle this without fighting?"

"No, sir, " said Garfield, "none but to fight--_somebody_ has got toget hurt. "

But Marshall didn't see it in that light--retired to consult--and, inthe mean time, beat a hasty retreat, and thus beat _Garfield_. 

GENERAL LEW WALLACE. 

General Lew Wallace was formerly colonel of the 11th Indiana(three-months men, ) known as Zouaves, who were noted for their daringbravery and dash. When the regiment returned to Indiana to bereorganized for the war, General Wallace remained quiet a few days, when the trouble in Missouri aroused his energies, and he issued aspirited call to his fellow-citizens, which was responded to with thegreatest enthusiasm. They flocked to his standard, and were sent tothe Department of Missouri, and thence to Paducah, after which he waspromoted to a generalship in the division of General C. F. Smith. 

General Wallace made himself a legion of friends in his ablemanagement of affairs during the memorable siege of Cincinnati by therebels. At a public meeting in Columbus, Ohio, a _Flagg_ was raised, and the following war poem recited:

THE SIEGE OF CINCINNATI. 

 Who saved our city, when the foe Swore in his wrath to lay it low, And turned to joy our tears of woe? Lew Wallace. 

 Who taught us how to cock the gun, And aim it straight, and never run, And made us heroes, every one? Lew Wallace. 

 And told us how to face and wheel, Or charge ahead with pointed steel, While cannon thundered, peal on peal? Lew Wallace. 

 Who, when all in bed did sleep, About us watch and ward did keep, Like watch-dog round a flock of sheep? Lew Wallace. 

 Who made us all, at his commands, With fainting hearts and blistering hands, Dig in the trench with contrabands? Lew Wallace. 

 Who would have led us, warriors plucky, To bloody fields far in Kentucky? But Wright said, No!--and that was lucky? Lew Wallace. 

 Who sat his prancing steed astraddle, Upon a silver-mounted saddle, And saw the enemy skedaddle? Lew Wallace. 

 And who, "wha hae wi' Wallace" fed, On pork and beans and army bread, Will e'er forget, when he is dead, Lew Wallace?

PARSON BROWNLOW. 

The Knoxville _Register_ thus laments the release of the Parson fromthe prison of that city:

"In brief, Brownlow has preached at every church and school-house, made stump-speeches at every crossroad, and knows every man, woman, and child, and their fathers and grandfathers before them, in EastTennessee. As a Methodist circuit-preacher, a political stump-speaker, a temperance orator, and the editor of a newspaper, he has beenequally successful in our division of the State. Let him but oncereach the confines of Kentucky, with his knowledge of the geographyand the population of East Tennessee, and our section will soon feelthe effect of his hard blows. From among his own old partisan andreligious sectarian parasites he will find men who will obey him withthe fanatical alacrity of those who followed Peter the Hermit in thefirst Crusade. We repeat again, let us not underrate Brownlow. "

The gallant Colonel Charles Anderson, of the 93d Ohio, in a speech inColumbus, said:

"The South laugh at the little shams of the hour with which theyagitate us; but their purpose is deep and dark. They mean to carryout their system of 'oligarchy' at whatever cost. Looking upon slaveryas I now do, having seen it from every side, and knowing that theSouth intend the destruction of this Union--were I to stand before thecongregated world, I would declare it--I will hew slavery from crestto hip, from hip to heel, and cut my way through white, black, andyellow--nerve, muscles, bone--tribes and races, to the Gulf of Mexico, to save the Union. "

CHAPTER XIX. 

 An Episode of the War -- Laughable Incident -- Old Mrs. Wiggles on Picket Duty -- General Manson -- God Bless the Soldiers -- Negro's Pedigree of Abraham Lincoln -- A Middle Tennessee Preacher -- A Laconic Speech. 

AN EPISODE OF THE WAR. 

During the early part of the rebellion, when the rebels were in forceon Munson's Hill, McClellan laid a plan to surround and capture them. This plan was only known to McClellan, General Scott, and ColonelScott, a relation of the General, by marriage. As the troops startedout at night, for their assault, a signal rocket went up fromWashington. On their arrival at Munson's Hill, the bird had flown. McClellan, being informed of this, immediately called on GeneralScott, finding there Colonel Scott. He immediately said to theGeneral: "The enemy have been warned of our movements by a rocket;they must have been so warned by one of us. Which is the traitor?" Noanswer was given. McClellan then called on the President, andmentioned the above facts, stating his conviction that Colonel Scottwas the delinquent, and insisted upon his immediate imprisonment, orhis banishment, or his own resignation. Then followed General Scott'sresignation, then his journey to Paris, and the self-banishment ofColonel Scott. 

A LAUGHABLE INCIDENT. 

Considerable merriment and not a few immodest expressions wereelicited at Washington, one day, by the action of the patrol, whoperambulate the Avenue on horseback, a terror to all fast riders. Onthis occasion they made an onslaught upon the darkeys, who, for sometime past, had luxuriated in the uniform of United States volunteers. How the articles of wearing apparel were obtained by the contrabandsalluded to we have not inquired. The patrol rode up to eachunfortunate "Sambo" that made his appearance, and proceeded to divesthim of each of the articles enumerated, save where the bare necessityof the case would not admit of such a procedure. Caps, vests, andcoats rapidly disappeared from "Sambo's" body, and were deposited inthe street at the feet of the horses. 

"Take off your breeches, " we heard escape the lips of one of thepatrol. The darkey grinned, then rolled his eyes, gazed at some ladiespassing, and then, with an astonished countenance, looked up into theface of the patrol. "Massa, " he said, "I aint got nuffin else on whenI take dese off. " This was something of a puzzle to the guard onhorseback, and so, not wishing to shock the modesty of the street, "Sambo" was allowed to depart with his linen and trowsers. 

OLD MRS. WIGGLES ON PICKET DUTY. 

"As for sleeping on a picket, " said Mrs. Wiggles to the three-monthsvolunteer who had dropped in to see her, "I don't see how they can doit without hurting them. Sleeping on a post would be a good deal moresensible, unless there's a nail in it, which might be prejudiciousfor the uniform. Every one to his taste, and such things as where aman shall sleep is at his own auction; but nobody can help thinkingthat either a picket or a post is a very uncomfortable place to sleepon. At any rate, there isn't much room for more than one in a bed. "

GENERAL MANSON. 

Brigadier-General Manson was in camp at Glenn's Fork, Pulaski County, eighteen miles from the scene of the Mill Spring battle, and, with hisbrigade, made a forced march that distance, over horrible midwinterroads, arriving just in time to engage honorably in the fight. Thegallant 10th Indiana lost seventy-five men. Its colonel, commandingthe brigade as above, is an officer of great bravery and ability. Hisconduct at the battle of Rich Mountain, in Western Virginia, ascolonel of that regiment, and his experience in the war with Mexico, constitute a happy preface to his late brilliant achievement. Thissame 10th Indiana is fully up to the feat of rapid marches. At onetime, being detailed to go to Greensburg from Campbellsville, to repelan anticipated attack of Secesh, the march was made by the Hoosierboys in three hours, a distance of twelve miles, eight of which wasover a dirt-road that had had the advantage of a hard rain the nightprevious. 

GOD BLESS THE SOLDIER. 

A young and beautiful lady of Louisville (Minnie Myrtle) says; "Godbless the soldier!" O, could we but look into the almost burstingheart of the rough-clad, tired soldier, as he plods his way, weary andworn, casting a glance, at intervals, to see one kind smile, to hearone kind and gentle voice to remind him of home, and the "loved ones"left far behind to the mercies of a cold and heartless world--could webut look into that fond heart and see the aching void, we would claspthat hand tenderly, and draw him gently to our homes, a welcome guest. O, did you but think, for a moment, of the sacrifice made by the onesyou term "striplings, " you would smother the thought before it risesto your pure lips, and your cheeks would burn with the sisterly blush, and your lips would breathe a prayer instead for the wanderer. 

Come with me to yon snow-covered cabin. 'Tis a rude hut; but pause ereyou enter, and behold the scene: An aged mother, bowed in deep andearnest prayer; and, as she prays for her jewels, a smile, not ofsadness, but a settled calmness, gives place to one of extreme agony;her boys--she has but two, the pride of her declining years--both shegave, as did "Abraham of old, " a living sacrifice upon the "altar ofher country. " Come with me to yonder habitation, not of wealth, butcomfort. Hark! What shriek was that which rent the air? A widowedmother kneels beside the fatherless babe, and asks God in mercy to letthe bitter cup pass from her. Another sacrifice to the dark and bloodyground! Pause, then, sisters, and give that thought not utterance. Your lips should breathe a prayer for the friendless soldier. If youhave a brother, then love the soldier for your brother's sake; and ifyou have none, the honest-hearted soldier will be a brother andprotector. But, O, for the love of God, speak kindly to the soldier. 

A NEGRO'S PEDIGREE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

A full-blooded African, who was taken prisoner on the steamer Lewis, on which he is now employed as a cook, in the service of the UnitedStates, was encountered one evening by the surgeon of one of the navalships, who asked him his name. "Nathaniel, " replied the negro. "Anyother name?" said the doctor; to which Sambo replied: "Why, de lastname is always de massa's name--Massa Johnson. " "What do the peoplesay this war is about?" asked the doctor. Nat replied: "Why, sir, deysay that some man, called Linkum, is going to kill all de women an' dechildren, an' drive de massa away; and all de colored folks will besold to Cuba. " Nathaniel then proceeded to give some new and highlyinteresting particulars respecting the genealogy of the family of theChief Magistrate of the United States. "Dey say his wife was a blackwoman, and dat his fadder and mudder come from Ireland, " said he, speaking with emphasis. The doctor indignantly refuted the aspersionscast upon the family of the President, and disabused the mind of thenegro of the false impressions which he had received from theSecessionists of the place. 

One morning I accosted a contraband named Dick, who was employed inthe fort. "Have you any other name?" said I. "Dey calls me Dick, deMajor, " was his answer. In reply to interrogatories, he gave anaccount of his life. "I was born in Virginny, " said he, holding onthe rim of a slouchy felt hat, and raising it at every inquiry. "Massasold me, fore I was old 'nuff to know my mudder, to a preacher man inFlorida. Bimeby massa die, and missus, she had a musical turn o' mind, and swapped me off for a fiddler; but de people all got de laf on deole 'oman, for in two or free months the old fiddler died, and shelost us both, " and the darkey laughed vehemently. 

A MIDDLE TENNESSEE PREACHER. 

A Secesh preacher, who was elected to a captaincy in the Home-Guardsat Chattanooga, hearing they were likely to be called out, sent in thefollowing note:

"dear curnel i beg to resind my commishen. Being a disciple of Krist ican not take up the sord. "

A LACONIC SPEECH. 

An amusing sword presentation took place one day in camp. The 78thPennsylvania presented a sword to their colonel, William Sirwell. Captain Gillespie spoke as follows:

"Here _we_ are, and here _it_ is. This is a bully sword, and comesfrom bully boys; take it, and use it in a bully manner. "

Colonel Sirwell replied:

"Captain, that was a bully speech. Let's all take a bully drink. "

CHAPTER XX. 

 Union Men Scarce -- How they are Dreaded -- Incidents -- The Wealthy Secessionists and Poor Union Widows -- The John Morgans of Rebellion -- A Contraband's Explanation of the Mystery -- Accident at the South Tunnel -- Impudence of the Rebels -- A Pathetic Appeal, etc. 

 Camp near Gallatin, Tenn. , _November 20, 1862_. 

A trip from the tunnel to Gallatin, and back, is a good day's sport, for it behooves all to be on the alert, to avoid being captured bycitizen guerrillas. A number of this brigade have already been"gobbled up, " while out hunting luxuries at farm-houses. This becameso frequent that the General in command issued an order prohibitingthe boys from leaving camp without special permission. 

Folks at home have frequently heard of the strong Union sentimentpervading Tennessee, but, "cuss me" if I haven't hunted in vain forthe article during the past two weeks, and, with no exceptionwhatever, save among the laboring class, have I found an out-and-outUnion man. They answer with a "double meaning, " when questioned, andare _professed_ Union men while the army is here, and strongSecessionists when the rebel army can protect them. 

The fact is, all the true Union men have been driven by the mercilessfoe into the woods--at any rate from their homes. Acts of the mostfiendish barbarity have been committed, and the aiders and abettorsare within a few miles of this camp, unmolested, enjoying the comfortsof a home, while the true patriot, driven from his family to the hillsof his native State, is

 "Unsheltered by night, and unrested by day; The heath for his barracks--revenge for his pay. "

An incident occurred in General Fry's division a few days since. Twoof the 2d Minnesota Regiment, John A. Smith and Mr. Mervis, both ofSt. Paul, went out, by permission of their captain, in search ofbutter and eggs. They took two good horses with them, and although aweek has passed, neither men nor horses have returned. The sequelproves that these men were captured by armed residents of thisneighborhood, as yesterday a company were sent out for forage, andwith them a number of servants were sent for eatables. Arriving at thehouse of 'Squire McMurray, a well-known Secessionist, who has two sonsin the rebel army, the boys made inquiries of the servants in regardto their missing comrades, and found out they had been taken by aparty of guerrillas from near this very house. The old scoundrelMcMurray openly exulted over the fact, and thought it very comical tohave the "Yankees" jerked up once in awhile. "It will teach them, "said he, "to stay at home. " The boys wanted to purchase some chickensand turkeys, but he refused to sell to "Yanks, " swearing his turkeyswere not fattened for "Down-easters. " Mrs. McMurray hurriedly cameout, and ordered all her black servants in the house, as she said shedidn't want her niggers contaminated with "sich white trash. "

About two hours after this conversation the brigade teams _drove up_, and soon _drove off_ with ten loads of corn and oats, amounting tosixty dollars. 'Squire McMurray refused to receive a voucher offeredby the Quarter-master, and said they were of no account to him--it wasonly a trick of the Abolition Government to rob the farmers; they hadalready sixty wagon-loads, and he guessed he could spare a few more. This man has a splendid farm, finely stocked with valuable importedCashmere sheep, some of them worth from four to five hundred dollarsapiece. This man is living in luxury, and upon ground that should beoccupied by the poor and devoted families of those who, by hisconnivance, have been driven forth upon the world. Yet the greatshield of the law--the law he has so basely violated, the Constitutionhe has, and yet does, openly defy--is made his safeguard. Is it at allastonishing our men weary of this favoritism, this premium upontraitors?

Let me tell your readers of what I was an eye-witness, a few eveningsago. You that have comfortable homes and warm firesides, with no warat your doors, can have but a faint idea of the horrors that arebroadcast over this once happy country. A poor woman came to thecommanding General of this brigade and begged for protection. Shelived eight miles from this camp, and the rebels had threatened toburn her barn and house. Now, what do you think was this woman'soffense? Her husband had joined the Union army at Nashville lastAugust, and when, a few days afterward, he returned to arrange hisfamily affairs, the "guerillas" found out his return, and five of theincarnate fiends walked into his house, and while he was seated at thetable, partaking of his breakfast, these men shot him--there, in thepresence of his wife and six children, these fiends, that our worthyPresident deliberately "commutes, " murdered their only protector; andnow, not satisfied with their former atrocity, they return to drivethe poor widow and her children from the desolate little homestead!

O! if there is one hell deeper than another, please, God, send thesewretches, who would persecute a poor woman thus, to it!

The General, upon hearing the story of her troubles, sent out twocompanies of the 2d Minnesota Regiment to guard and bring into campher children, and what few chattels were left. Company A, underCaptain Barnes, and Company G, under Captain Keifer, were assigned toperform this act of deserved charity. 

It was ten o'clock at night, cold and windy, the rain penetrating tothe very bones, and dark as Egypt, when the two companies returnedwith Mrs. Crane and her six children. One rickety wagon, a mangy oldhorse, a cow, some bedding, and a few cooking utensils, were thetrophies of the trip. These things told a tale of poverty, but theywere all the poor widow of the murdered soldier possessed. 

The children were all barefooted, and most scantily attired; thelittle ones shivered with the cold, and the older ones wrapped theirtattered garments closer as the wind played rudely with them. A littlefour-year-old boy eyed the soldiers with a side glance, and clung tohis mother, as she held her infant to her breast. 

If I were to decide what to do in such a case, I would quickly turnout Mr. 'Squire McMurray, and let Mrs. Crane and her little onespossess the well-stocked farm. To-day the General is endeavoring toget transportation to Indiana for this family, at the expense of theGovernment. 

An old negro resident near this camp, in conversation, a few dayssince, said to me:

"Look-a-heah! all you white folks, when any debbeltry is done, allerslay it to Massa John Morgan. "

"Well, " said I, "don't he do a large share of it?"

"Yes, he does do a heap; but, Lor bress you, massa, gib de _debble_his due; he don't do de half what de white folks say. You see dattunnel, don't you?" said he, rolling the white of his eyes to theobliteration of all sight of the pupil. 

"Yes, I see it, " I replied. 

"Well, sah! Massa Morgan had no more to do wid dat tunnel dan you doyourself. Morgan _warnt_ no way nigh dis place when dat was done; defolks what lib all round here was de _Morganses_ what do dat work;why, dey done toted rails for _free_ days, and packed 'em in dattunnel, and we darkeys had to help 'em, and den dey set 'em on fire, and sich a cracklin' as you nebber heard, and in less dan a weekebbery body all over de country was a-tellin' about how as _JohnMorgan burnt de tunnel_. "

IMPUDENCE OF THE REBELS. 

"Here, sir, I've got an order for you, " said an acknowledgedwell-known rebel citizen, as he entered the head-quarters of theGeneral commanding the Third Brigade of the First Division of theOhio. From the pompous manner of the Tennesseean, the General didn'tknow, for a moment, but that he was about being ordered under arrestby the citizen. The General merely replied in his usual style:

"The hell you have, sir! Who is it from?"

"From General Fry, sir. "

"Ah! let me see it. "

The order was produced. It requested the General not to allow too muchof any one man's stock of corn to be taken. The General read the_request_, and instantly inquired of the Tennesseean: "Are you a Unionman?" and as instantly received the reply of "No, sir, I am not. "

"Then, G----d d----n you, sir, how dare you have the impudence to comewithin my lines?"

The Tennesseean, seeing he had a man of the pure grit to deal with, shook slightly in his boots, and did not put on so much "style, " andwas about to explain something, when the General interrupted him witha quick order to leave forthwith, or he would have a dozen bayonets inhis rear "d----n quick. "

"But, General, how shall I get out of camp? Won't you _please_ give mea pass?"

"Me give a pass to a rebel! No, sir. How did you get within my lines?"

"Why, sir, I just walked straight in. "

"Well, sir, you can just walk straight out, and if ever I see youinside my lines again, I'll have you sent where you belong; and, afterthis, when you have any 'order' for me, if it is from General Halleck, 'or any other man, ' don't you dare to bring it, but _send_ it in tome, or you will rue the day. "

A PATHETIC APPEAL. 

I found the following "pathetic" appeal from the women of New Orleans. It was laid carefully by, with a lock of hair, bearing theinscription, "To Mary Looker, from her cousin Jane. Please send thisappeal to all our male friends around Gallatin. "

 "AN APPEAL FROM THE WOMEN OF NEW ORLEANS. 

 "To every Soldier:

 "We turn to you in mute agony! Behold our wrongs, fathers! husbands! brothers! sons! We know these bitter, burning wrongs will be fully avenged. Never did Southern women appeal in vain for protection from insult! But, for the sakes of our sisters throughout the South, with tears we implore you not to surrender your cities, 'in consideration of the defenseless women and children. ' Do not leave your women to the merciless foe! Would it not have been better for New Orleans to have been laid in ruins, and we buried beneath the mass, than subjected to these untold sufferings? Is life so priceless a boon that, for the preservation of it, no sacrifice is too great? Ah, no! ah, no! Rather let us die with you! O, our fathers! rather, like Virginius, plunge your own swords into our breasts, saying, 'This is all we can give our daughters. '

 "The Daughters of the South. 

 "New Orleans, _May 14, 1862_. "

[Illustration: Old Stonnicker drummed out of Camp. See page 284. ]

CHAPTER XXI. 

 A Friendly Visit for Corn into an Egyptian Country -- Ohio Regiments -- "Corn or Blood" -- "Fanny Battles" -- The Constitution Busted in Several Places -- Edicts against Dinner Horns, by Colonel Brownlow's Cavalry -- A Signal Station Burned -- Two Rebel Aids Captured. 

 Camp at Triune, Tennessee, _April 26, 1863_. 

Last Thursday was a "gay day" for a portion of the Third Division. General Schofield, thinking it requisite to lay in a good supply ofprovender, ordered out one hundred and fifty wagons, to go on anerrand of mercy to our benighted "brethren of the South, " and _borrow_of them some corn, oats, and fodder, for Federal horses. Well, as itis a recognized breach of etiquette to send such a train withoutescort, therefore, the General sent a retinue, consisting of the 35thOhio, under Colonel Long; 9th Ohio, Colonel Josephs; 17th Ohio, Colonel Durbin Ward; 31st Ohio, Colonel Phelps; also, the 87thIndiana, Colonel Shyrock; and the 2d Minnesota, under Colonel George;together with two pieces belonging to the 4th Regular Battery, underLieutenants Rodney and Stevenson. We went forward with thedetermination of obtaining food--"peacefully, if we could; forcibly, if we must;" but we had to use the rebel women's motto, lately madepublic in Richmond, "Food or Blood. " Our new commander accompaniedthe expedition. We started, after partaking of an early breakfast, andcrossed Harpeth River about nine o'clock. I had forgotten to mentionthat the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry were along: the rebels haven'tforgotten it, however, as they were ordered to the front, and, as I amfond of seeing them "go in, " I was appointed chief aid andbottle-holder to the command under Majors Burkhardt and Tracy, and hada splendid opportunity of seeing the "Secession elephant. " Afterpassing through the town of College Grove, we commenced feeling ourway carefully, as we wished to make our visit a sort of "surpriseparty" to the "brethren in arms;" as a matter of course, this was onlythe "by-play, " for while the Tennessee boys were unloading theirmuskets, the teamsters were loading corn and oats from Secesh cribs. They are excellent _cribbage_-players by this time. 

As our cavalry advanced, the rebel cavalry fell back, declining tohold any communication. Major Tracy and "ye correspondent" went offthe main road, in pursuit of knowledge, and came upon half a dozennegroes working in a field. The Major introduced "ye innocent lamb" asGeneral Morgan, and demanded of the darkeys if any d----d Yankees hadbeen about there lately. The darkeys replied very evasively; would notsay a word that would injure the cause of the Union forces; denied allknowledge of them or their whereabouts. There were some two or threehundred fat sheep on the farm, and a good lot of cattle. I suggestedthe propriety of driving them within our lines, but was astonishedwhen the Major told me it was "against orders" to do so. All the malesof the family who owned the negroes and _other cattle_ were in therebel army--the master and two sons. While talking there, we heardfiring, and so started for the fun, and soon came upon some of the"gentry, " yclept "butternuts. " The Major had about twelve men in thelead; a few others, with the colors, remaining a quarter of a mile tothe rear--the _regiment_ a mile in rear of the advance. When wearrived at what is known as Tippets's farm, the rebels, who weresheltered by Wilson's house, poured a volley down the road, andwithout inquiring the cause of such unkind treatment, on their part, this "individual" _retired_ some twenty yards. I have before heard thesound of the Enfield-rifle ball, and have heard many persons say, 'tis"quite musical;" but "_I can't see it_. " The boys advanced in the mostdaring manner on the open road, while the _valiant_ and "_noblechivalry_" of Alabama kept continually retreating. In order to obtaina better view of the fight, and watch the maneuvers of the combatants, I went upon the side-hill of an open field to the left of the road, and while quietly looking on, three rebs came out from behind Wilson'shouse, and, without as much as saying, "By your leave, " they blazedaway at me. Isn't it a shame that these fellows should act so? Why, they "_busted_ the Constitution all to the devil, " in firing at _me_. The Major kindly rode up and told me, in his usual bland and benignstyle, that I was a d----n fool; that "them fellers was a-shootin' atme. " I merely replied that I guessed he was mistaken, as I saw thebullets _plowing_ the field some twenty yards in front of me. Whilethis conversation was going on between the Major and myself, therebels reloaded their guns and gave us another trial of their skill, and settled the dispute at once, as I had asseverated; their bulletswould not reach that distance. The Major was right, for a little whilethe nastiest shriek I ever heard came from that volley. The Major'shorse didn't like it much, and _cavorted_ like the "fiery, untamedsteed" ridden by the fair "Adah Isaacs. " Then we changed our base: wewent toward the chaps, and, when they would get ready to fire, putspurs to our horses and ran from them. This so delighted the "rebs, "that we gratified them with two or three trials, and every time weran, they shouted and said _bad words_. After placing five men inambush, we retired, as if leaving the field, and as the traitors wereadvancing directly into the trap of three hours' hard setting, theWilson family came to the door and told them to go back, as the"Yankees" were in the orchard there by Tippets's house. The men werethen within two hundred yards of the ambush, and, upon being soinformed, hastily wheeled their horses and left on a double-quick. This act on the part of a citizen rebel so exasperated the men thatWilson was given one hour to get out of the house with his furniture, as all houses used for military purposes, signal stations, etc. , wouldmeet with destruction. 

While the house was burning, the women boasted they had warned them, and would do it again. One virago-looking Secesh asseverated, in avoice of unearthly screechiness, that they had lots of "_Southernfriends_, and _millions of money_. "

The citizens along the road will learn a lesson by this occurrence. Itwill teach them not to make signal stations of their houses. 

BLOWING HORNS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 

Another source of annoyance to our men was the frequent blasts upondinner-horns. These "quiet, peaceful" citizens, as our men advanced, gave the enemy information by this _blasted_ method. Upon beingquestioned as to the "cause why" they did so much blowing, theyreplied, "They were calling in the boys from the field, for fear theywould get shot;" and Mrs. Tippets said, "'T was near dinner-time. " Oneof the men said he would like something to eat, and went in the house, but no sign of dinner preparation could be seen. Major Tracy took thehorn from Mrs. Tippets, at which the lady (?) protested mostviolently; said there "was no reason in that man, " and asked me, "ifit wasn't agin the Constitution for that feller to take that horn. "

I told her, in a _pacific manner_, that that was nothing; Tracy tookfrom ten to fifteen horns a day. She didn't see the joke, and I becamedisgusted with her want of penetration, and left. 

Mr. Wilson and a man who was in his employ were brought into camp asprisoners. Mr. Wilson protested he didn't tell the States-rights menany thing, and held that he "couldn't hender the women talkin'. "

About four o'clock we commenced a retrograde movement for the "oldcamp, " and soon caught up with the big train, filled with all thedelicacies of the season, for the brute portion of our division. 

The Miss Fanny Battles who is now so sweetly sojourning in theSeminary at Columbus, Ohio, under the guardianship of "Uncle Samuel, "was a resident of this county. Our troops were encamped upon theBattles farm for a month. Miss Battles was very industrious incirculating about the country. When she was taken, she had her_drawers_ stuffed with letters, and was trying to steal through ourpicket-lines. The _Secretary_ of State, or those connected with the_bureaus_, will, we hope, see that there are no more such _drawers_allowed within the lines. 

THE DIFFERENCE. 

At the house of a Mr. Bolerjack are the wounded men belonging to the1st Tennessee Cavalry. I called there yesterday, and, in conversationwith Mr. B. , he expressed surprise at what he termed the differencebetween our wounded and the rebel wounded. He said that he had a housefull of Secesh at one time, but that they kept moaning and groaningall night and day, and kept his family busy, while our men have nevermuttered, but, on the contrary, are always cheerful, and only anxiousto get back in their saddles. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

 Reward for a Master -- Turning the Tables -- Dan Boss and his Adventure -- Major Pic Russell -- A Visit to the Outposts with General Jeff C. Davis -- Rebel Witticisms -- Hight Igo, ye Eccentric Quarter-master -- Fling Out to the Breeze, Boys. 

REWARD FOR A MASTER--TURNING THE TABLES. 

The darkeys of Secession masters fairly flocked into camp on manyoccasions. When near Lebanon, Ky. , a bright darkey, very witty, keptthe camp alive with his humor. During the day some Kentuckians hadposted up in camp an advertisement: "One Hundred Dollars Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber, my man Bob, " etc. Jim Duncan, the darkey Ihave referred to, soon after issued the following, and posted itbeside the other:

 Fifty Cents Reward. --Ran away from dis chile, an' leff him all alone to take care of his-seff, after I done worked twenty-six years for him faithfully, my massa, "BILL DUNCAN. " Massa Bill is supposed to have gone off wid de Secesh _for to hunt for his rights_; and I 'spect he done got lost. Any pusson 'turnin' him to dis chile, so dat he can take keer ob me, (as he allers said niggers couldn't take keer demselves, ) will be much oblige to dis chile. 

 N. B. --Pussons huntin' for him will please look in all de "lass ditches, " as I offen heern him tellin' about dyin' dar. 

 'Specfull' submitted, Jim. 

The poster created a great deal of merriment in camp, while theresidents thought Jim a very sassy nigger. 

DAN BOSS AND HIS ADVENTURE. 

All railroad men know Dan Boss, of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, andChicago Railroad. Dan was in Louisville, on Government business, during the raid, with a lot of cars. Dan thought he would ride out afew miles on the Bardstown pike one fine afternoon, with a friend, andfor this purpose hired a fine horse and buggy. Dan went out gaily, andin fine spirits, jokingly observing he was about to reconnoiter. Onlyten miles from the city Dan was captured. The rebels demanded asurrender of all his personal effects, which consisted of a rare lotof old passes over all the railroads in the United States, several"bottles, " etc. Dan told them he was all right on the goose, and theytold him to turn round and go back; upon which Dan was delighted, thinking he had deceived them, when he was accosted by several more ofthe gang, who wanted to try the speed of Dan's horse. Dan begged forthe horse; said it wasn't his, to which the rebs replied, "Well! as itis not '_yourn_, ' why, we'll take care of it, " and then drove off, leaving Dan and his friend to foot it home. 

MAJOR PIC RUSSELL

Says that, on the march to Louisville from Huntsville, Ala. , he methundreds of stragglers from Bragg's army. One tall specimen of Secesh, going back to his Southern home, the Major halted. 

"Hallo!" said the Major, "where are you going?"

The fellow looked at the Major very intently, and replied, "Home, sir. "

"Where do you live?" inquired Russell. 

"Lewis County, Alabama!"

"Why, " said the Major, "you don't think you will ever be able to walkall that distance, do you?"

"Well, I do, " was his response. "I tell you, Major, I wouldn't take_five hundred dollars for my chance_. "

The distance to his home was over seven hundred miles, throughKentucky, Tennessee, and Northern Alabama. 

The Major told me it was a common sight to see them trudging along, singing merrily, no doubt thinking of "_Home, sweet home_. "

A VISIT TO THE OUTPOSTS WITH GEN. JEFF C. DAVIS. 

General Davis I found an active, intelligent gentleman, with an eyedenoting great determination, and very pleasing in his conversationalpowers; always on the alert, leaving nothing to subordinates that hecould do himself. The General's division commanded the Shelbyvillepike. I spent two nights with Colonel Heg, who had a brigade occupyingthe most dangerous position. The 25th Illinois and 8th Kansas were inhis brigade. 

Colonel Heg's regiment is mostly composed of Norwegians, orScandinavians. They are generally from, and are known as the 15thWisconsin; are a splendid body of well-disciplined men, and all speakour language fluently. I heard an amusing anecdote of one of theircaptains, who, a short time since, took a lot of rebel prisoners. Asthis Norwegian captain had them drawn up in line, he said to them, inbroken English, and in accent very like the German: "Say, you fellers, you putternuts, I vant you all to schwear a leetle. It do you goot toschwear mit de Constitution. I schwear him tree year ago; now youschwear him. Now, recollect, you schwear him goot; no d----n nonsense. You schwear him, and keep him down, and not _puke him up again_!"

The 24th Illinois are close at hand, also the 8th Kansas. These boysare in view of the rebels every day. 

There is in the 24th Illinois Regiment a very clever officer who hasan intolerably red nose. He says he can't "help it;" he strives totemper it, but it is no go. A friend inquired of him, how much it costto color it out here; his reply was, "$2. 50 a canteen. "

The "rebs" played quite a trick upon the chaplain of the 24thIllinois. After they received his papers, they refused to send any inreturn. This would have been termed a nasty _Yankee trick_, had any ofour boys committed such a breach of faith with them. But such isSouthern _honor_. 

REBEL WITTICISMS. 

The following is copied from the Chattanooga _Rebel_:

If it is true that General Marmaduke hung the regiment of armednegroes at Helena, he certainly made a center shot at old Abe'semancipation-insurrection scheme; for he "knocked the _black_ out"every time he hung a darkey. 

We do not know for certain that the price of negroes is going up; butthere must have been a slight _advance_ upon a regiment of them atHelena, the other day, if the wires were correct. 

Grant's permitting his dead soldiers to decay and create a stencharound Vicksburg presents the worst feature of the Yankee _die-nasty_we have yet had to chronicle. 

Richmond papers announce that Hooker has again, "changed his base. " Hetook it out of the saddle awhile ago, to go and tell old Abe "how thething was did. "

The soil of the South is becoming so fertilized with. Yankee bodies, that we will be able to raise nothing but wooden nutmegs after thewar. 

The "typos" of the _Rebel_ suggest the necessity of the immediatereturn of Vallandigham, and our finishing up the Yankee raid onVicksburg. Both exciting subjects cause too heavy a "run" on thecapital "V" box. 

The Yankee officers who lead armed negroes against the Southern peoplewill have "a _high_ old time, " for our boys will certainly hang them"as high as Haman. "

The Chicago _Tribune_ says: "There are already twenty thousand coloredtroops in the Federal army. " Does he mean the _blue-bellied_ ones, orthe black ones?

"_Breakers ahead" for Yankee merchantmen!_ The Alabama and Florida! Ifthey are not breakers to the ships, they will soon break all theship-owners. 

The Yankee corpses lying around Vicksburg are becoming fetid as fastas the living ones are becoming _de_-feated. 

HIGHT IGO, YE ECCENTRIC QUARTER-MASTER. 

Everybody in the Third Division of Crittenden's corps knows theQuarter-master of the 35th Indiana, Hight Igo; in fact, his fame isnot confined to General Van Cleve's division. No, sir! not by anymeans! His eccentricities are the theme of conversation from Triune toStone River, from "Kripple Kreek" to Nashville. 

His first introduction to the favorable notice of high militaryauthority occurred at Louisville. Shortly after the gallant 35th cameinto service, he stopped General Wood one day in the streets ofLouisville, to inquire upon the subject of "yarn socks. " The Generalinformed him he never transacted business on the street, and suggestedthe propriety of calling at head-quarters. A short time after this theGeneral met Igo on the street, and having heard something queer aboutIgo's forage account, requested information in regard thereto. Igocoolly remarked: "General, I never transact business on the street. You will please call at my quarters, when I shall be happy to affordyou an insight into my affairs. "

The next day a couple of the General's staff-officers called upon theincorrigible Igo, to investigate matters, and they investigated "in ahorn. " Igo remarked that, if they had waited until next morning tomake their report, things would have worked; but they foolishly wentinto the presence of the General immediately upon their arrival; andwhen they reported "Quar-hic-termaster Igo's busi-ness all-hic-sound, "the General "couldn't see it, " and dispatched another officer, whocould resist the blandishments of whisky-punch long enough to conductthe investigation. 

The result of this move was a rather tart request--from theQuarter-master-General's Department--for Lieutenant Igo to send allthe papers belonging to his department to Washington, for adjustment;a request which our friend complied with by heading up vouchers, receipts, requisitions, etc. , in an ammunition-keg, with a letterstating that, inasmuch as the Department had a great many more clerksat its command than he had, and were probably better acquainted withthe "biz" of making out quarterly reports or returns, they might beable to understand how things stood between him and the Government;confessing, at the same time, that he "couldn't make head or tail outof the blasted figures. " In due course of mail Igo received acommunication from the Department, informing him that if he did notimmediately send in his report for the quarter ending on the 31st ofOctober, he would find himself in Washington, under arrest. To thisIgo answered thus:

 Sir--Yours of -- date received. Contents noted. I have long been desirous of visiting the city of "magnificent distances, " but have not hitherto been able to realize sufficient funds at any one time to gratify that desire; I therefore gratefully avail myself of your obliging offer to defray the expenses of my journey, and most respectfully suggest the propriety of your "going on with your rat-killing. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, MARTIN IGO, Lieutenant and A. A. Q. M. , 35th Ind. Vols. 

This closed Igo's official correspondence with the Department atWashington. He had the "_good luck_" to be captured by Morgan lastfall, and, of course, Morgan destroyed all his papers. That struck abalance for him for the quarter ending last October. He had anotherstroke of good fortune at Stone River, on the 1st of January, inhaving a wagon captured. Of course, all his papers were in thatidentical wagon. He was very indignant that a battle did not takeplace about the last of March, as that would have saved him a heap oftrouble. Do not think, however, that our Quarter-master has done anything that will not bear investigation, for a more honest orconscientious man is not to be found in the Quarter-master'sDepartment; but Igo has a holy horror of vouchers and invoices, andreceipts all in triplicate; and small blame to him for it. 

FLING OUT TO THE BREEZE, BOYS!

Dedicated to the Second Brigade, Second Division, M'cook's Corps. 

By W. A. OGDEN. 

 Fling out to the breeze, boys, That old starry flag-- Let it float as in days famed in story; For millions of stout hearts And bayonets wait, To clear its old pathway to glory. 

 When the first wail of war That was heard on our shore Re-echoed with fierce promulgation, Columbia's brave sons Then rallied and fought, In defense of our glorious nation. 

 From East, West, North, and South, Their numbers did pour, Alike seemed their courage and daring; While boldly they stood, As the fierce battle raged, Each nobly the proud contest sharing. 

 Those patriots have passed-- They now sleep 'neath the sod; But _their_ flag shall be _our_ flag forever! We'll boldly march forward, And strike to the earth The fiends who it from us would sever. 

 Hark! hark! from the South Comes a sound, deep and shrill-- 'Tis the sound of the cannon's deep rattle! Up! forward! brave boys, And beat back with a will The foe from the red field of battle. 

 We'll rally and rally, And rally again, To our standard now pennoned and flying; And we swear, 'neath its bright folds Of crimson and gold, To _own_ it, though living or dying. 

 Then fling to the breeze, boys, That dear, blood-bought flag-- It must float as in days famed in story; For millions of _stout hearts_ And _bayonets_ wait, To clear its old pathway to glory. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

 Defense of the Conduct of the German Regiments at Hartsville -- To the Memory of Captain W. Y. Gholson -- Colonel Toland vs. Contraband Whisky. 

 Camp near Gallatin, Tenn. , _December 14, 1862_. 

After a careful investigation of the facts relative to the late fightat Hartsville, having visited the battle-field, and having conversedwith numerous officers and privates who were wounded in thatengagement, I am satisfied that gross injustice has been done thenoble raw recruits of the 106th and 108th Ohio Regiments. I am notbiased in the least on account of their being Cincinnati men, althoughI confess to a city pride; and I feel the greatest satisfaction intelling you that those regiments acted in the most heroic manner. Thata few acted cowardly and shirked their duty, there is no doubt; butthat the entire regiments should bear the blame is very hard. 

I notice the Louisville _Journal_ is particularly severe on the menand officers; and, also, that W. D. B. "pitches in, " and terms them"Scott's Cowardly Brigade. "

W. D. B. Goes into _minutiæ_ in regard to Scott, who, he says, commanded. He is entirely mistaken. Scott, finding the place adangerous one, requested, a week previously, to be allowed to rejoinhis regiment, and his request was granted. The Scott who had command, and was relieved, belonged to Turchin's old regiment, and was theirLieutenant-Colonel. Scott told Colonel Moore of the dangers of thepost, and Colonel Moore, feeling his weakness, protested against beingleft there. The fault lies beyond these new regiments. 

Why were three regiments of raw recruits placed in such a dangerousposition, with but two guns and a handful of cavalry? As soon as thefight began, a courier was sent to Castilian Springs, a distance ofonly five miles, for reinforcements. The brigade was sent, but arrivedtoo late. Instead of marching by column, on a double-quick, these menwere deployed as skirmishers. The 106th and 108th Ohio and 104thIllinois held the ground for full two hours, until completelysurrounded and driven to the brink of the river, where another largeforce of rebels awaited them. Yet these undisciplined men are calledcowards--these men, who bravely held the ground, against odds of threeto one, against the disciplined rebels belonging to the 2d and 9thKentucky, and under the immediate command of Morgan! Yet these men areto bear the disgrace and receive the anathemas of the press, in orderto shield some imbecile officer!

I paid a visit to the hospital to-day, and I tell you it was apitiable sight to see a large room crowded with the gallant wounded. They told me they didn't care for the wounds, but to be so malignedwas more than they could bear. One noble fellow read the remarks ofthe Louisville _Journal_, and the big tears rolled down his manlycheek, as he made the remark to me, "GOOD GOD! _is that all the thankswe get for fighting as we did?_"

Newspapers may publish what they please, but here is a fact thatspeaks loud in praise of the daring Ohio boys, and proves that the106th and 108th fought well: it is, that Company G, of the 106th, lostevery commissioned officer, two sergeants, one corporal, and twelveprivates. 

Colonel Moore, Lieutenant-Colonel Hapeman, and Major Wiedman refusedto be paroled. 

Lieutenant Gessert, of the 106th, tells me he was present, a weeksince, when a colored boy came to Lieutenant Szabo, of the 106th, whowas on picket. The boy stated that he overheard Morgan tell his masterhe was laying a plan to "capture them d----d Cincinnati Dutch withinthree days. " The boy was sent to head-quarters, where he repeated hisstory, but no notice was taken of it. 

To-day, Dr. Dyer, surgeon of the 104th Illinois, who went over thefield directly after the fight, and assisted in dressing the wounds ofour men, handed me a green seal ring belonging to Adjutant Gholson. The rebels had stripped the body of boots, coat and hat, and, fearingthis ring would be taken, the Doctor placed it in his pocket. 

The Doctor says a rebel captain took a fancy to his (the Doctor's)hat, and insisted upon buying it--swore he would shoot him if hedidn't sell it; and told him he went in for raising the black flag onthe d----d Yankees. 

The Doctor quietly went on with his work, attending to the wounded, while the rebel captain was robbing the dead. 

I telegraphed you in regard to Adjutant Gholson's death. He diedheroically leading his command. His praise is upon every tongue. Iwill send his body home on to-day's train. 

 Alf. 

The lines following are a touching tribute to the memory of one of thenoblest young men sacrificed in the war. Captain Gholson was a brave, earnest, talented, honorable man, in whose death his many friends feela sorrowing pride:

TO THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN W. Y. GHOLSON. 

 'Neath Western skies I'm dreaming, This drear December morn, Of joys forever vanished, Of friendships rudely torn;

 Of the friend so lately taken From the heartless world away; Of the well-beloved warrior Now sleeping 'neath the clay. 

 The links of youthful friendship, Unsullied kept through years, Grim Death hath rudely shattered-- Ay, dimmed by Memory's tears. 

 Thou wilt be missed sincerely By the well-remembered band, Who've proved, through endless changes, United heart and hand. 

 Thy mother's pain and anguish Through life will never cease; The grief she's now enduring No earthly power can ease. 

 A father mourns the idol Which God hath taken home, Hath borne to sunnier regions, Where guardian spirits roam. 

 And for the grieving sister, Whose joyous days are o'er, There cometh gleams of sunshine From yonder golden shore. 

 From the throne of God eternal, Where the angel roameth free, _He_ speaketh words of music To parents dear, and thee. 

 To friends and weeping kindred He speaketh words of cheer: "Be ye prepared to meet me, Prepared to meet me here. "

 Lizzie A. F. 

COLONEL TOLAND vs. CONTRABAND WHISKY. 

"Volunteer" told me a good story of one of the gallant 34th Ohio andColonel Toland. 

During their stay at Barboursville, the Colonel noticed, one day, anextraordinary number of intoxicated soldiers in camp. Where theyobtained their whisky was a mystery to the command. The orders werevery strict in regard to its prohibition. After considerable effort, the Colonel succeeded in finding out the guilty party. The culprit hada little log hut on the banks of the Guyandotte River, and was dealingit out with a profuseness entirely unwarranted. The Colonel sent hisorderly for Corporal Minshall, of Company G. On his arrival, theColonel said:

"Corporal, you will take ten men, sir, and go to the whisky-cabin onthe banks of the Guyandotte, seize all the whisky you find, and pourit out. "

"All right, " said the Corporal; "your order will be obeyed forthwith. "

The Corporal got his men together, and ordered them to string all thecanteens they could find around their necks. On arriving at the cabin, they seized upon and "poured out" the whisky. After a thoroughloading-up, the Corporal returned and reported at head-quarters. 

"You poured it out, did you?" inquired the Colonel. 

"Yes, sir, " categorically replied the Corporal. 

The Colonel noticed a canteen about the Corporal's neck, and thoughthe smelled something, and, looking him steadily in the face, repeated:

"You poured it out, sir, did you?"

"Yes, sir, " emphatically replied the Corporal. 

"And where did you pour it, sir?"

"In our canteens, Colonel, " he replied. 

For a moment his eyes flashed with anger; but, on second thought, thejoke struck him as being too good, and the pleasant smile socharacteristic of the Colonel wreathed his face in a moment. 

"Well, Corporal, " continued he, "I suppose that is some of the'poured-out' in your canteen, eh?"

"Yes, sir, " he replied, with the utmost _sang froid_, and, at the sametime, gracefully disengaging the strap from his neck, said, "Won't youtry some, Colonel?"

"I don't care if I do, " said the Colonel; whereupon he imbibed, saying, as he lowered the vessel, "Not a bad article--not a badarticle; but, Corporal, next time I send you to pour out whisky I willtell you _where_ to pour it. "

CHAPTER XXIV. 

 War and Romance -- Colonel Fred Jones -- Hanging in the Army -- General A. J. Smith vs. Dirty Guns. 

WAR AND ROMANCE. 

During the late movement against Vicksburg the national transportswere fired upon by a rebel battery at Skipwith Landing, not many milesfrom the mouth of the Yazoo. No sooner was the outrage reported athead-quarters than the Admiral sent an expedition to remove thebattery and destroy the place. The work of destruction was effectuallydone; not a structure which could shelter a rebel head was leftstanding in the region for several miles around. 

Among other habitations destroyed was that of a Mrs. Harris, a widowlady, young, comely, and possessed of external attractions in theshape of a hundred and fifty "negroes, " which she had contrived tosave from the present operation of "the decree, " by sending them upthe Yazoo River. But Mrs. Harris was a rebel--intense, red-hot in heradvocacy of Southern rights and her denunciation of Northern wrongs. Although she had not taken up arms against the Government, she wasnone the less subject to the indiscriminating swoop of theProclamation; her niggers, according to that document, were free, andif the Confederacy failed, she could only get pay for them byestablishing her loyalty in a court of justice. Her loyalty to theYankee nation?--not she! She was spunky as a widow of thirty can be. She would see Old Abe, and every other Yankee, in the happy land ofCanaan before she would acknowledge allegiance to the WashingtonGovernment. Nevertheless, being all she possessed of this world'svaluables, she would like to save those niggers. 

"Nothing easier, " suggested Captain Edward W. Sutherland, of theUnited States steam-ram Queen of the West, who, attracted by hersnapping black eyes, engaged in a friendly conversation with the ladyafter burning her house down. "Nothing easier in the world, madam. "

"How so, Captain? You don't imagine I will take that odious oath, doyou? I assure you I would not do it for every nigger in the South. "

"But you need not take that oath, madam--at least not _the_ oath. "

"I do not understand you, Captain, " said the widow, thoughtfully. 

"I said you need not take the oath of allegiance; you can establishyour loyalty without it--at least, " with a respectful bow, "I canestablish it for you. "

"Indeed! How would you do it, Captain?"

"Simply enough. I am in the Government service; I command one of theboats of the Western navy--technically denominated a ram, madam--downhere in the river. Of course, my loyalty is unimpeached, and, madam, Iassure you it is unimpeachable. Now, if I could only say to theGovernment, those niggers are mine"----

The Captain waited a moment, to see what effect his speech wasproducing. 

"Well!" said the widow, impatiently tapping with her well-shaped footone of the smoking timbers of her late domicile. 

"In short, my dear madam, you can save the niggers, save yourconscientious scruples, and save me from a future life of misery, bybecoming my wife!"

The Captain looked about wildly, as if he expected a sudden attackfrom guerrillas. The widow tapped the smoldering timber more violentlyfor a few minutes, and then, turning her bright eyes full upon theCaptain, said:

"I'll do it!"

The next arrival at Cairo from Vicksburg brought the intelligence thatCaptain Sutherland, of the ram Queen of the West, was married, a fewdays since, on board the gunboat Tylor, to Mrs. Harris, of SkipwithLanding. Several officers of the army and navy were present to witnessthe ceremony, which was performed by a Methodist clergyman, andAdmiral Porter gave away the blushing bride. She is represented to bea woman of indomitable pluck, and, for the present, shares the life ofher husband, on the ram Queen of the West. 

COLONEL FRED JONES. 

I was with him on his last trip from Cincinnati to Louisville, andfrom thence to the army. Little did I think it was the last meeting. Noble Fred! He has left a name that will never be erased from honor'sscroll. A writer in the Cincinnati _Commercial_, who knew him fromboyhood up, says:

"He is a native of this city, and favorably known as one of our mostbrilliant young men. 

"Colonel Jones was a graduate of Woodward High School, of this city, receiving his diploma, with the highest honor of his class, in 1853. He then entered the law-office of Rufus King, Esq. As a student, andevinced, in the pursuit of a legal education, a remarkable zeal andtalent. Two years ago he was elected Prosecuting-Attorney of thePolice Court, which office he held at the breaking out of the war, in1861. It was but a few days after the first call for troops, when hethrew his business into the hands of a brother lawyer, and became asoldier. He was first an adjutant to General Bates, but, in June, 1861, he received a lieutenant-colonel's commission in the 31st Ohio, with which he went into active service. He was afterward transferred, with the same rank, to the 24th Ohio, of which regiment he becamecolonel in May last. 

"He distinguished himself at the Battle of Shiloh, to which, indeed, he owed his promotion. He enjoyed the highest reputation with hissuperiors as an officer. 

"Colonel Jones was about twenty-seven years of age, of fineappearance, with a peculiarly happy manner and disposition. He was avery fine _extempore_ orator, and possessed great military ardor fromchildhood. The writer, a fellow-student, remembers him as captain of acompany of school-boys, at Woodward, which, drilling for pastime, became very proficient in tactics. 

"We can pay no more eloquent tribute to his memory than the muteimpression his history will impart. He is dead! Our city has offeredno heavier sacrifice in any of her sons, and parted with no purer ofthe jewels which have been so rudely torn from her. "

HANGING IN THE ARMY. 

 Head-quarters 3d Division, 14th Army Corps, Murfreesboro, _June 6, 1863_. 

William A. Selkirk, who resided in an adjoining county, murdered, in amost brutal manner, a man by the name of Adam Weaver. Selkirk was amember of a roving band of guerrillas. He entered, with others, thehouse of Weaver, who was known to have money, and demanded itssurrender. Weaver, not complying, was seized, his ears cut off, histongue torn out, and he was then stabbed. These facts being proved tothe court, Selkirk was condemned to death. 

At twelve o'clock, yesterday, the crowd commenced congregating at theCourt-house, eyeing with curiosity a large, uncovered ambulance, inwhich was built a platform. The trap was a leaf, acting as a sort oftailboard to the wagon. This trap, or leaf, was supported by a stripof wood that ran into a notch, similar to the old figure-four trap. Attached to the ambulance were six splendid horses. At one o'clock tworegiments of infantry, under Colonel Stoughton, arrived upon theground and formed in line. The ambulance and military then moved alongto the jail; the rough wooden coffin was placed in the vehicle, andthe prisoner then, for the first time, made his appearance. He had apale and care-worn look, and a decidedly Southern air. His step wasfirm, and he got into the wagon with but little assistance. He wasaccompanied by Father Cony, chaplain of the 35th Indiana. Theprocession then moved off toward the gallows, erected a short distancefrom the town, upon the Woodbury pike. The eager crowd thronged theavenues leading to the place of execution--rushing, crushing, cursingand swearing, laughing and yelling. Samuel Lover, the Irish poet, describes, in his poem of "Shamus O'Brien, " a hanging, thus:

 "And fasther and fasther the crowd gathered there, Boys, horses, and gingerbread, _just like a fair_; And whisky was sellin', and 'cosamuck' too, And old men and young women enjoying the view; And thousands were gathered there, if there was one, Waiting till such time as the hanging would come. "

The morbid appetite depicted upon that sea of upturned faces wasterrible to think of. 

By the kindness of Colonel Stoughton, I was given a very prominentplace in the procession. 

General Order No. 123, from head-quarters, was read. The prisoner thenknelt, and was baptized by the clergyman before mentioned. After thebaptism was over, Rev. Mr. Patterson, of the 11th Michigan, made amost fervent and eloquent prayer, the prisoner on his knees, with eyesuplifted to heaven, and seemingly praying with all the fervor of hissoul. After Mr. Patterson had finished praying, the prisoner was toldhe had five minutes to live, and to make any remarks he wished. Selkirk arose, with steady limbs, and said:

"Gentlemen and friends: I am not guilty of the murder of Adam Weaver;I did not kill him. I hope you will all live to one day find out whowas the guilty man. I believe my Jesus is waiting to receive my poorsoul. I am not guilty of Weaver's murder. I was there, but did notkill him. "

He then knelt down and joined in prayer. After prayer was over, hestood up, and stepped on the scaffold again, to have the fatal ropeplaced around his neck. While the rope was being adjusted, he prayedaudibly, and his last words on earth were:

"Sweet Jesus, take me to thyself. O, Lord, forgive me for all mysins;" and again, as the person who escorted him was tightening therope, he said, "For God's sake don't choke me before I am hung. " Then, when the black cap was drawn over his eyes, he seemed to know that ina few seconds he would be consigned to "that bourne from whence notraveler returns, " and said, "Lord, have mercy on my soul. "

The words were scarcely uttered, when that which was, a few momentsbefore, a stout, healthy man, was nothing but an inanimate form. Asthe "black cap" was about being put on him, Sarah Ann Weaver, theyoungest daughter of the murdered man, Adam Weaver, made herappearance inside the square, and quite close to the scaffold. Sheasked Captain Goodwin and Major Wiles the privilege of adjusting therope around his neck, but they would not grant it. She is a youngwoman of about seventeen years, rather prepossessing and intelligentlooking. She stood there unmoved, while the body hung dangling betweenheaven and earth. She seemed to realize that the murderer of herfather had now paid the penalty with his life. I asked her what shethought of the affair, and she curtly remarked: "He will never murderanother man, I think. " After the body had remained about fifteenminutes swinging in the air, and surgeon Dorr pronounced life extinct, it was cut down and put in a coffin. The assemblage departed, somelaughing, some crying, and some thinking of the fate of the deceased. 

GENERAL A. J. SMITH vs. RUSTY GUNS. 

Last winter General Smith's head-quarters were on board the steamerDes Arc; he was in command of a division of Grant's army. One day, ona trip from Arkansas Post to Young's Point, there were on this boatthree companies of a nameless regiment. Now it happened that these menhad rather neglected to clean their guns, which the sharp eye of theold veteran soon discovered. It was in the morning of our third dayout, the wind was blowing terribly, and the weather unusually cold, rendering it very unpleasant to remain long on the hurricane-roof, that the General came rushing into the cabin, where nearly all theofficers were comfortably seated around a warm stove. 

"Captain, " exclaimed the General, in no very mild tone, addressinghimself to the commander of one of the aforesaid companies, "have youhad an inspection of arms this morning?"

"No, General, " timidly replied the Captain, "I have not. "

"Have you held an inspection of your company at any time since thebattle of Arkansas Post, sir?" sharply asked the General. 

"No, sir; the weather has been so unpleasant, and I thought I wouldlet my men rest awhile, " hesitatingly replied the Captain, alreadynervous, through fear, that something disagreeable was about to turnup. 

"You thought you'd let them rest awhile? Indeed! The d----l you did!Who pays you, sir, for permitting your men to lay and rot in idleness, while such important duties remain unattended to? What kind ofcondition are your arms in, now, to defend this boat, or even thelives of your own men, in case we should be attacked by the enemy thismoment? What the d----l are you in the service for, if you thusneglect your most important duty?" fairly yelled the old General. Andthen, starting menacingly toward the quaking captain, said he, imperatively:

"Mount, sir, on that roof, this moment, and call your men instantlyinto line, that I may examine their arms. "

"And you, " resumed he, turning to the lieutenants, who commanded theother companies, "are fully as delinquent as the captain. Sirs! I mustsee your men in line within ten minutes. "

It is scarcely necessary to state that the officers in question madethe best of their time in drumming up their men, whom they foundscattered in all parts of the boat. Finally, however, the companiesreferred to were duly paraded on the "hurricane, " and an abridged formof inspection was gone through with. The General, finding their armsin bad condition, very naturally inflicted some severe talk, threatening condign punishment in case such neglect should berepeated. 

But during the time in which one of these companies was falling in, which operation was not executed with that degree of promptness, onthe part of the rank and file, satisfactory to the lieutenantcommanding, that officer called out, in a most imploring strain, "Fallin, gentlemen! Fall in, lively, gentlemen!" That application of theword "gentlemen" fell upon the ear of General Smith, who, turningquickly around, hastily inquired:

"Are you the lieutenant in command of that company, sir?" addressingthe individual who had given the command in such a polite manner. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the trembling subaltern. 

"Then, who the d----l are you calling gentlemen?" cried the General. "I am an old soldier, " continued he, approaching and looking moreearnestly at the lieutenant, "but I must confess, sir, that I neverbefore heard of the rank of gentleman in the army. Soldiers, sir, areALL supposed to be gentlemen, of course; but, hereafter, sir, when youaddress soldiers, remember to say soldiers, or men; let us have nomore of this 'bowing and scraping' where it is your duty to command. "

Then, turning upon his heel, his eyes snapping with impatience, theold gentleman gave vent to the following words:

"_Gentlemen! gentlemen, forsooth!_ And _rusty guns! Umph!_ The d----l!I like that! Rusty guns! and gentlemen!"

CHAPTER XXV. 

 A Trip into the Enemy's Country -- The Rebels twice driven back by General Steadman -- Incidents of the Charge of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry, under Major Tracy -- The 35th and 9th Ohio in the Fight -- Colonel Moody and the 74th Ohio -- Colonel Moody on the Battle-field. 

A TRIP INTO THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 

 Triune, Tennessee, _March 8, 1863_. 

After a four-days' trip, without tents, we are once more in camp. LastTuesday afternoon General Steadman ordered Colonel Bishop, of the 2dMinnesota, to take his regiment, a section of the 4th Regular Battery, under Lieutenant Stevenson, and six hundred of Johnson's 1st EastTennessee Cavalry, and proceed forthwith to Harpeth River. Anticipating a fight, I went with the detachment. As we passed throughNolinsville and Triune the few butternut inhabitants gazed withapparent envy at our well-clad soldiers. About nine o'clock at nightwe reached the river. Here the infantry bivouacked for the night; theartillery planted their pieces in eligible positions, while thecavalry crossed the river and commenced to search for rebel gentry whowere supposed to be on short leave of absence at their homes. Quite anumber of _citizen_ soldiers were thus picked up. Major Tracy, of thecavalry, then proceeded, with a dozen men, to the residence ofGeneral Starnes, and surrounded it, hoping to find the General athome. But the bird had flown the day previous. The Major, however, being a _searching_ man, and full of inquiry, looked under the beds, and in the closets, and asked who was up-stairs. "No one, " was thereply, "but my brother, and he has never been in the army. " MajorTracy took a candle, went up, saw the young man, and asked where theman had gone who had been in bed with him. The young man protested noone had been there, and Mrs. Starnes pledged her word, on the "_honorof a Southern lady_, " that there was no one else in the house. ButTracy turned down the sheets, and, being a discerning man, discoveredthe imprint of another person in the bed, and, from the distance theyhad slept apart, he felt sure it was not a woman. So telling Mrs. S. He hadn't much faith in the honor of a Southern woman, under suchcircumstances, he thought he would take a peep through a dormer-windowthat projected from the roof; there, sure enough, sat Major Starnes, ason of the rebel general, in his shirt-tail, breeches and boots inhand, afraid to stir. It was a bitter cold night, and the poor fellowshook like an aspen leaf. He presented at once a pitiable yetludicrous aspect. After collecting some twenty or thirty horses, theyreturned to their head-quarters, this side of the river. At night, notrelishing the thought of sleeping on a rail, I had the good fortune ofsharing a bed with Lieutenant Stevenson, who commanded the battery. 

As we anticipated, an early "_reveille of musketry_" awoke the party, and mounting my sorrel Rosenante, I proceeded to investigate "why wedo these things, " or to learn what the _quarrel is all about_. Crossing the river, I caught up with Major Tracy just as he wasreturning from his expedition to General Starnes's house. It was abouteight o'clock as we came in sight of College Grove, a little villageabout a mile beyond Harpeth River. Here we turned toward Triune, andhad left College Grove half a mile to the rear, when we heard therebels firing upon a few stragglers of the Tennessee Cavalry. MajorTracy promptly countermarched his battalion, which was in the rear, and double-quicked back to the school-house at the town, and within ahundred yards of the rebel cavalry, who were drawn up in a line, inthe front and rear of some houses, on the right of the road. TheMajor, seeing they outnumbered him two to one, halted, and sent wordback to Major Burkhardt to reinforce. He then formed a line of battleacross the road, awaiting the other battalion. Just as it arrived, Major Tracy thought he saw signs of wavering in the rebel line, andimmediately ordered Squadron E to "Forward, by platoons! Double-quick!Charge!" and galloping to the front, along with Lieutenant Thurman, away they go. The rebels waver, break, and now comes the chase. TheMajor gains upon their rear, and brings rebel No. 1 to the dust, bythe aid of a Smith & Wesson revolver. The Major, now wild withexcitement, threw his cap in the air, and, hallooing for the boys tofollow, continued the chase. The race was fully a three-mile heat, inwhich we captured fifty-nine rebels. Thirteen were _wounded by thesaber_, four very severely. There were not more than fifteen or twentyof our men close on their rear at one time, and as the rebels turnedout on the road-side to surrender, the Tennessee boys never stopped tomake sure of them, but yelled to them to drop their guns and dismount, and if they stirred before they returned, they would murder them. After going as far as the few thought it safe, they returned to camp, bringing the prisoners, horses, and various implements of warfare, "sich" as fine English shotguns and the like. 

This was certainly one of the most gallant affairs of the season, andmay be considered among the most successful charges of the war; for, while not a man of ours was injured, fifty-nine rebels were taken, andI saw more saber cuts that day than any time since I have been withthe army. 

At noon, General Steadman arrived with the 35th and 9th Ohio, togetherwith another section of battery, under Lieutenant Smith, commandingCompany I, 4th Regular Artillery, and the whole brigade moved at onceacross the river, and marched out in search of the enemy. We soon cameupon their picket-fires, the pickets having skedaddled. We rested forthe night at Riggs's Cross-roads, and continued the march in themorning. By nine o'clock we met the rebels, drawn up in line ofbattle, about a mile north of Chapel Hill. The Tennessee Cavalry werein the advance; General Steadman and staff occupied the crest of ahill, in full view of the rebels, and where we all could see themovements of the butternuts; the 9th Ohio arriving, was immediatelydeployed to the right, the 2d Minnesota and 35th Ohio and 87th Indianato the left, the battery taking the center. The rebels, consisting oftwo thousand five hundred of Van Dorn's forces, ran helter skelterthrough Chapel Hill, and turned to the left--the Tennessee Cavalryagain proving their valor by sabering half a dozen of the 7thAlabamians. The rebels, as they retreated across Spring Creek, formeda line, and gave us a brisk little brush; but our men steadilyadvanced, driving them back, and, crossing the creek, were in theirlate camp. We skirmished and drove them some three miles beyond theriver, and found we were within one mile of Duck River, eleven mileswithin and beyond their line. Not knowing what forces might come totheir aid, the General did not further pursue them; but, on returning, we destroyed their camp, setting fire to all the houses and largesheds they had been using for shelter. A church, among the rest, wasdestroyed, as it had been used by rebel officers for head-quarters. Onthe return, a great many colored men, women, and children begged to beallowed to come with us. 

To-day, (the 8th, ) Sabbath devotions were disturbed by GeneralSteadman ordering the 35th Ohio and a section of battery, underLieutenant Rodney, of the 4th Artillery, to feel the rebels atHarpeth; so again I thought I might catch an item, and went to thefront. The impudent scamps had crossed, and were within four miles ofour camp. The Tennessee Cavalry drove them back across the river. Therebels occupied a hill on the opposite side, adjoining the residenceof Doctor Webb. After several little brushes by cavalry, our artilleryopened upon the line formed by two thousand six hundred rebels, underPatterson and Roddy, of Van Dorn's division, who were supported by tworegiments of infantry. They stood but two rounds from the Napoleons, before moving off in disorder. Our line advanced, when, much to ourastonishment, the rebels opened up a battery from in front of DoctorWebb's house, which was sharply replied to by Lieutenant Rodney, whosent his compliments to the "gay and festive cusses, " inclosed in atwelve-pounder, and directed to Doctor Webb's house; it was safely_delivered_, as we saw it _enter the house_. Again their four-pounderbelched forth, and one of their shots fell directly in front of the35th Ohio ambulance, but luckily it did not burst. After holding ourposition four hours, and driving the rebels back to their dens, wereturned to camp. 

COLONEL MOODY AND THE 74th OHIO. 

In the fight at Murfreesboro, General Rosecrans said the 74th Ohiobehaved nobly. After General McCook's right had been turned, the wholerebel force came against General Negley's division, to which thisregiment belongs. After the 37th Indiana had retired, it beingterribly cut up, the 74th was ordered to take its place amid such ashower of shot and shell as has scarcely fallen during the war. 

This regiment did not leave its position until an order came fromColonel Miller, commanding the brigade; then, slowly and stubbornly, it came from that well-fought field, leaving many of its members, "whonever shall fight again, " dead upon it. On the Friday following thatbloody Wednesday, they were "in at the death, " in the triumphantcharge of our left. Its commander, Colonel Moody, is "the fightingParson" of the Cumberland Army. Calmly and steadily he led his meninto the seven-times heated furnace of battle, and, "As the battle din, Came rolling in, his voice of cheer and encouragement was heard above its roar. Justbefore they came into the whizzing storm, he said: "Say your prayers, my boys, and give them your bullets as fast as you can. " A conspicuousmark, he was struck by balls in three places, and his horse shot fromunder him; but he took no notice of the hits. Once, during thethickest of the fight, he rode along the line, and was cheered by hismen even in the roar of battle. 

Side by side with Colonel Moody rode, during both battles, the gallantMajor Bell, the new field-officer of this regiment. Ohio's 74th isjustly proud that she has the experience of a gray-headed Colonelunited with the "dash" of a young Major. This regiment has won foritself a place among the "crack" regiments of our army; and GeneralRosecrans told it to-day that he would have to call it "the fightingregiment. "

COLONEL MOODY ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 

The Ohio _Statesman_, speaking of Colonel Moody at the late battle atMurfreesboro, has the following:

"Colonel Moody has been so long accustomed to 'charge home' upon therebellious 'hosts of sin, ' from the pulpit, that he finds himself inno uncongenial position in charging bayonet upon the rebellious hostsof Davis and the Devil upon the battle-field. And, as in the formerposition he ever acquitted himself right valiantly, so, in thislatter position, he is equally heroic and unconquerable. 

"His escape from death in the late fight was so wonderful as to seemclearly Providential. His friends and members of his church inCincinnati had presented him with a pair of handsome revolvers. One ofthese he wore in the breast of his coat during the fight. Apartially-spent Minié-ball had struck him on the breast, pierced hiscoat, and, striking the butt of his pistol, splintered it to piecesdirectly over his heart, _but went no further_. The stroke was soviolent as to hurl him from his horse by the concussion, and he lay, for a moment, insensible. Consciousness soon returned, and, mountinghis horse, he raged on through the battle like an enraged lion. He wonthe most hearty congratulations from General Rosecrans himself. Somuch for having one's life saved by a _bosom_ friend. "

CHAPTER XXVI. 

 A Wedding in the Army -- A Bill of Fare in Camp -- Dishonest Female Reb -- Private Cupp -- To the 13th Ohio. 

A WEDDING IN THE ARMY, And, as it is from the pen of the worthy Chaplain, J. H. Lozier, it isperfectly reliable. 

About as pleasant and romantic a wedding as anybody ever saw, latelytook place in this department. Immediately after the battle, a soldierof the 15th Indiana took sick, from exposure in the fight, and wastaken to Hospital No. 5. Among the attendants there was a prettylittle "Yankee girl, " whose charms occasioned an affliction of theheart which baffled the skill of all the doctors, and they werecompelled to call for the services of the chaplain. 

[Illustration: Debate between Slabsides and Garrotte. See page 303. ]

There are obstructions in "the course of true love, " even inTennessee, and one of these was the difficulty of procuring "thepapers, " as there was no clerk's office in the county, or, at least, no clerk to attend to the office. Again were the resources of theGeneral commanding brought into requisition, and again did he provehimself "equal to the emergency. " The following document, authorizedby General Rosecrans, dictated by General Garfield, and promulgated byMajor Wiles, shows how men get licenses to marry in those countiesin this department where martial law alone exists:

 State of Tennessee, Rutherford County. _Greeting_:

 _To any person empowered by law to perform marriage in Tennessee:_

 You are hereby authorized to join together in marriage Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean, and this shall be your authority for so doing. 

 Witness my hand and official seal of the Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. 

 WILLIAM M. WILES, Major 44th Indiana, and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. 

[Illustration: Seal]

 State of Tennessee, Rutherford County. 

 Be it remembered that, on this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863, personally appeared before me, Major William M. Wiles, Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, one W. T. Mendenhall, Assistant Surgeon of Hospital No. 5, of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, on oath says that he is acquainted with Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean; that said parties are of legal age to marry, without the consent of their parents or guardians, and that he knows of no lawful reason why said parties should not marry. 

 [Signed] W. T. MENDENHALL. Subscribed and sworn to this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863. 

 WILLIAM M. WILES, Major and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. 

[Illustration: Seal]

Now, therefore, I, William M. Wiles, Major of 44th Indiana Volunteers, and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, inconsideration of the fact that this county has been placed undermilitary law, and civil courts and laws, with their officers, are notin existence, do empower John Hogarth Lozier, a regularly ordainedminister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Chaplain of the 37thRegiment of Indiana Volunteers, to join in _Holy Matrimony_ theabove-named parties, and this shall be his full and proper authorityfor so doing. 

Given this 12th day of May, A. D. , 1863. Witness my hand and seal, theday and year above mentioned, W. M. WILES, Major and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. 

[Illustration: Seal L. S. ]

Accordingly the happy pair, together with a large concourse ofofficers and soldiers, and a delightful sprinkling of pretty Northernbelles, met on the battle-field, in a grove on the banks of StoneRiver, on the precise spot where the bridegroom, with his regiment, the noble 15th Indiana, fought on the memorable 31st of December. Alarge, flat rock stood up prominently, and upon this the bride andgroom, with their attendants, and the chaplain, took their position, while an eager throng gathered around to witness the interestingceremony. After announcing the "license, " as above given, the chaplainasked the usual questions as to "objections. " There was a moment'ssilence, in which, if any man had dared to object, he would have doneso at the peril of an immediate "plunging bath" in Stone River, forthe boys were determined to see the ceremony completed. The chaplainthen proceeded, in solemn and impressive tones, to perform theceremony, at the conclusion of which they dropped upon their knees, and a solemn invocation being uttered, they arose, and havingpronounced them husband and wife, he introduced them to the audience. Then followed a rare scene of unrestrained social enjoyment. Themingling of shoulder-straps with plain "high-privates, " and of "stars"with "stripes, " was truly refreshing. We observed threeMajor-Generals, McCook, Crittenden, and Johnson, besides any amount of"lesser lights, " among the crowd. 

I see, by a late Chattanooga _Rebel_, that the editor of that"delectable sheet" is in grief because he has been told that MissFannie Jorden, who resides near our camp, is about to marry CaptainKirk, of General Steadman's staff. The _Rebel_ says: "We are sorry tohear that the niece of the gallant Colonel Rayne has so far forgottenherself as to engage to marry one of the 'Lincoln horde. '"

We have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Fannie upon severaloccasions. She is a very nice young lady, and is not aware of any suchengagement. Captain Kirk is pretty good-looking; but, we rather guesshe is not on the right side of Jorden this time. If the young ladymarries, 'tis more likely she will emigrate to Minnesota than Ohio. Wesincerely hope our neighbor of the _Rebel_ will not have cause to"come to grief. " He had better mind his own business, and let thesoldiers here attend to the "Union" unmolested. 

A strange family feud, quite "Corsican" in its character, came tolight some time ago, while we were at Cunningham's Ford. 

There were two families, Bently by name, residing there. Thesebrothers had not spoken to each other for forty years. They nor theirfamilies have had any intercourse whatever; never recognizing eachother, though they had resided side by side, farms adjoining. Onecould not go to church, or meeting of any kind, or to town, withoutpassing his brother. While we were there, the elder brother died, andhe was buried by his children. The other family knew nothing of it, until told by our soldiers. The cause of the estrangement was, that, in dividing the land left them, more than forty years ago, one claimedthe line was drawn some ten feet too far south, thus losing to theother about six acres of ground, the value, at that time, being abouttwenty-five cents per acre. This feud is now an inheritance, wesuppose, to be handed down forever. Can't you send out a missionary?

Those who can afford it are now enjoying in camp all the luxuries ofthe season. I received an invitation to dine out yesterday. Thefollowing bill of fare was partaken of in a beautiful arbor:

 BILL OF FARE. 

 Mock Turtle Soup. 

 Turkey. Roast Beef. Ham and Eggs. Roast Mutton, with Currant Jelly. Radishes. Lettuce. Onions and Potatoes. Custard. Lemon Pies. Pound Cake. Jellies. 

 The whole concluding with elegant "Mint Juleps, " with straws in them. 

In the 1st Brigade, under Colonel Connell, each company has a largebrick cooking-range erected, and their system is really worthy ofemulation. This entire division is supplied with fine fresh breadevery day. The division baker has three Cincinnati bake-ovens, fromwhich he turns out from three to five hundred loaves a day, besidespies innumerable. It is under the foremanship of Mr. John Wakely, awell-known Cincinnati baker. This arrangement is a great saving to theGovernment in the way of transportation, etc. 

I heard a first-rate story, which, although it did not occur in thisdivision, is too good to lose. A private soldier, named Cupp, who isa German, belonging to the 1st Missouri Cavalry, and now one of thebody-guard of General Granger, was out to the front a few days ago, and seeing a "stray rebel, " "made for him. " The chase commenced--awaywent Mr. Reb and Cupp. Having the fleetest horse, Cupp gained upon himrapidly, crying, "Halt! halt! halt!" every leap his horse would make. But the rebel, bent on getting away, heeded not the call. At lengththe Dutchman reached his rear, and, swinging his saber heavily overhis head, charged the rebel, and brought him to a "_dead stand_. "

"Ah ha!" said the now excited Cupp, "how you vass all de viles? D----nyou, anoder time I hollers halt I speck you stop a leetle, unt not tryto fool mit me so long, you d----d rebel. "

DISHONEST FEMALE REB. 

A rebel sympathizer and his wife, a cross-eyed specimen of the _genushomo_, came within our lines and delivered themselves up, to be wherethey could get something to eat. Captain Parshall, of the 35th Ohio, being Provost-Marshal of Triune, and supposing them honest refugees, endeavored to secure comfortable quarters for the woman at the houseof Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams is a stanch Union man, and willing to doall in his power for suffering humanity. The Doctor told the Captainthat the lady was welcome, but that his wife was away from home. 

Captain Parshall had kindly provided quarters for the husband who, ashe was about going, gazed cautiously around, and eyed the Doctor fromhead to foot, then looked at the woman with an "affectionate" stare, and, with a long-drawn sigh, exclaimed:

"Well, Doctor, I guess I'll risk her with you. "

In about an hour the Captain was startled with the sudden appearanceof Doctor Williams, much excited, who begged that he would have thatwoman taken away, right off, as she was a thief. 

The Captain went over immediately, and interrogated the woman, but shestoutly denied the charge. The Captain, however, noticed a very heavybust where a bust shouldn't be with so hatchet-faced a woman, andasked her what she had in her bosom. 

She replied, that was common with her "every grass;" but the Captain"couldn't see it, " and indelicately placed his masculine fingerswithin the sacred precincts, and drew forth two children's dresses, one from each side; finding she was fairly caught, she begged formercy; said she didn't know what "possessed her, " and declared thatwas all she had. The Captain told her he would have to hang her if shedidn't deliver up every thing. She became frightened, and thencommenced the peeling of petticoats, shawls, chemises, pillow-slips, etc. , much to the amusement and contempt of all honest people. 

Suffice it to say, the woman, with her husband, was sent back toDixie, to feed upon corn-bread and water, as the Union people of thisneighborhood didn't wish to be contaminated by such trash. 

The Doctor's wife has since returned. She told me the story, anddeclares she won't leave the Doctor to keep house any more, as shewon't trust him alone. 

TO THE THIRTEENTH OHIO. 

By Martha M. THOMAS. 

 Our Fathers House is threatened, boys! The Union, grand and free, Has warmed an adder in its heart That saps its great roof-tree. We've sworn to hold it pure, boys-- A first love's holy shrine; A home for all the homeless, boys, For "auld lang syne. "

 Its foemen are our brothers, boys; But still we must not falter; Though dear to us those who offend, They must die by lead or halter. Our Father's House is ours in trust, From Washington's own line; The Union knows no Pleiad lost For "auld lang syne. "

 The rafters of the old house, boys, Must never know pollution; Its cement was our father's blood, Its roof the Constitution; And though, like prodigals astray, Its sons eat husks with swine, And feel the rod, we'll kill the calf, For "auld lang syne. "

 Then let the bugle sound, my boys And forward to the strife; We'll thrash our rebel brothers well, E'en though it cost our life. And when we've whipped them into grace And made each dim star shine, We'll open wide our Father's door, For "auld lang syne. "

CHAPTER XXVII. 

 The Oath -- A Conservative Darkey's Opinion of Yankees -- Visit to the Graves of Ohio and Indiana Boys -- Trip from Murfreesboro to Louisville -- Nashville Convalescents -- A Death in the Hospital -- Henry Lovie Captured. 

THE OATH. 

By Thomas BUCHANAN READ. 

 HAMLET--Swear on my sword. 

 GHOST (below)--_Swear!_--[_Shakspeare. _

 Ye freemen, how long will ye stifle The vengeance that justice inspires? With treason how long will you trifle, And shame the proud name of your sires? Out, out with the sword and the rifle, In defense of your homes and your fires. The flag of the old Revolution Swear firmly to serve and uphold, That no treasonous breath of pollution Shall tarnish one star on its fold. Swear! And hark, the deep voices replying From graves where your fathers are lying, "_Swear, O, swear!_"

 In this moment who hesitates, barters The rights which his forefathers won, He forfeits all claim to the charters Transmitted from sire to son. Kneel, kneel at the graves of our martyrs, And swear on your sword and your gun: Lay up your great oath on an altar As huge and as strong as Stonehenge, And then with sword, fire, and halter, Sweep down to the field of revenge. Swear! And hark, the deep voices replying From graves where your fathers are lying, "_Swear, O, swear!_"

 By the tombs of your sires and brothers, The host which the traitors have slain; By the tears of your sisters and mothers, In secret concealing their pain The grief which the heroine smothers, Consuming the heart and the brain By the sigh of the penniless widow, By the sob of her orphans' despair, Where they sit in their sorrowful shadow, Kneel, kneel, every freeman, and swear; Swear! And hark, the deep voices replying From graves where your fathers are lying, "_Swear, O, swear!_"

 On mounds which are wet with the weeping Where a nation has bowed to the sod, Where the noblest of martyrs are sleeping, Let the winds bear your vengeance abroad, And your firm oaths be held in the keeping Of your patriot hearts and your God. Over Ellsworth, for whom the first tear rose, While to Baker and Lyon you look; By Winthrop, a star among heroes, By the blood of our murdered McCook, Swear! And hark, the deep voices replying From graves where your fathers are lying, "_Swear, O, swear!_"

A CONSERVATIVE DARKEY'S OPINION OF YANKEES. 

There was a large Union meeting in Nashville, and an old house-servantof one of the most aristocratic rebel families, who hates"Lincolnites" and "poor white trash" as heartily as Jeff Davis does, was walking slowly along the square as the grand procession wasforming. Soldiers were moving about in great numbers, the cavalrygalloping to and fro, regiments were forming to the sound of livelymusic, citizens and visitors thronged the sidewalks, children ranabout with banners, and thousands of flags fluttered like fragments ofrainbows, from the various buildings. The conservative contrabandpaced slowly along, rolling his distended eyes in all directions, apparently overwhelmed by the exhibition and bustle around him. Approaching our friend, he exclaimed:

"My God! what are we Southern folks coming to? Massa said, a year ago, dat de Yankees done gone away forever. Now dey is swarmin' aboutthicker dan locusses. Dey runs dere boats on our ribber; dey ispressin' all our niggers; dey lib in our houses; dey drivin' ourwagons, and ringin' our bells; dey 'fisticatin' our property; deyeatin' up our meat and corn; dey done killed up mose all of our men;and, 'fore God, I spec dey are gwine to marry all our widders!"

And, heaving a deep groan from the bottom of his continentalwaistcoat, he shook his head in sadness, and passed slowly onward, tothe joyful chimes of the church-bells and the soul-stirring strains of"Yankee Doodle. "

VISIT TO THE GRAVES OF OHIO AND INDIANA BOYS. 

Traversing the field of battle, near Murfreesboro, a few days afterthe rebel defeat, I could but contrast, in my mind, the terrible quietwith the terrific din and roar of battle of which it was the latescene. 

The _debris_ of battle is strewn for miles and miles. Thousands uponthousands of cannon-balls and shell lie upon the field. The woodspresent the appearance of having been visited by a tornado, and hereand there a pool of blood marks the place where some devoted hero hasrendered up his life. 

The heavy cedar wood is nearly three miles from Murfreesboro, to theright of the pike, going south. The rocks bear evidence of thestruggle, for thousands of bullet and shell traces may be seen. Thesmaller branches of trees are cut as if a severe hail-storm hadvisited the spot. Let us dismount and read the names of those soldierswho fell here. They have been given a soldier's funeral. Ah! the nameshere denote this as a part of the gallant Rousseau's division; for onrough pieces of board we read: W. McCartin, Hamilton, Ohio, Company F, 3d Ohio; F. Burley, Hamilton; John Motram, Company I, Cardington, Ohio; H. K. Bennett, Company A, 3d Ohio; M. Neer, Company D, 3d Ohio. And close beside, a brother Indiana soldier sleeps--Joseph Guest, 42dIndiana. 

Just across the pike, on the left going south, is the grave of A. Hardy, 6th Ohio; and opposite this is the spot where LieutenantFoster, of the noble 6th, yielded up his life, and was buried. Closeby is a log house, perforated with shot and shell. Here some of ourwounded sought shelter during the storm of iron hail, but weremercilessly driven out by the shot poured into their intended refuge. To the left of this house are numerous graves. Among them, FrancisKiggins, Company K, H. Borrien, Company H, W. Keller, Company H, allof the 24th Ohio; Alf Goodman, 58th Indiana; Noah Miller, 58thIndiana; E. D. Tuttles, Company B, C. McElvain, Company A, LeviColwright, James Wright, C. A. McDowell, Company K; J. B. Naylor, H. Lockmeyer, A. B. Endicott, Company A; J. Cunningham, E. Skito, J. Reavis, H. Cure, Company D, all of the 58th Indiana. 

Near this the 26th Ohio lost John Tagg, John Karn, F. Singer, andCharles Bartholomew; Mark E. Rakes, of the 88th Indiana, and GeorgeKumler and William Ogg, of the 93d Ohio, are buried here, togetherwith John Van Waggoner and Lieutenant Black, of the 58th Indiana. Andstill further to the left, along the Chattanooga Railroad, are theremains of Elias M. Scott, 82d Indiana; near this, but across theroad, on the skirt of a wood, are Sergeants Potter and Puttenry, ofthe 24th Ohio, Henry Allen, of the 65th Ohio, and Frank Nitty, of the58th Indiana. Continuing our course to the left, just crossing adirt-road leading toward Murfreesboro, upon a little knoll, are theruins of a once handsome mansion. Behind an upright Southerntimber-fence, just back of the still-standing negro-quarters, there isa beautiful cluster of prairie-roses in full leaf. The wavingbranches, as they bend to the right, cover the graves of threeCincinnati boys, two of whom I knew intimately. Go ask their comrades, and they will bear willing evidence to the chivalrous bearing of thetwo noble youths, Ally Rockenfield and little Dave Medary. Besidethem is the grave of W. S. Shaw, whom I did not know personally. I amtold he died while bravely doing his whole duty. The branches of thesame friendly rose-bush, bending to the left, cover the graves ofCaptain Weller, Lieutenant Harmon, and Major Terry; all of the 24thOhio, forming a beautiful emblem of the unity of those two splendidregiments, the 6th and 24th. Continuing still further to the left, wecross Stone River, where our forces did such good fighting underCrittenden. Just after crossing this stream, upon the first knoll, beneath a large oak, are the remains of Sergeant Jacob McGillen, ofHamilton. He belonged to the 69th Ohio. An incident in regard to thisnoble youth was told me by a gentleman who knew him well. When thatnoble man, William Beckett, of Hamilton, was doing all in his power toassist in raising the 69th Regiment, a number of the "_SouthernRights_" sympathizers tried to dissuade McGillen from joining--biddinghim to hold off until substitutes were called for, and then, if hewould go, they would buy him. He, however, spurned their base offers, and enlisted; and, when crossing the river amid the leaden hail, hereceived a bullet in his arm; he hastily tied up the wound, and, though weakened from loss of blood, rejoined his command, and thesecond ball piercing his breast, he fell. Nearly opposite his restingplace lies Captain Chandler, of the 19th Illinois. 

I have been told, by those high in command, that more _individualprowess_ was manifested upon this battle-field than any during thewar. There were more hand-to-hand encounters, more desperatefighting--men selling their lives as dearly as possible. As to theirGeneral, there is but one acclamation: General Rosecrans has endearedhimself to the whole army; they love him as a child should love itsfather; and all are satisfied that, had it not been for the surpriseupon the right, and Johnson's defeat, the battle would have ended withthe total annihilation of the Southern army. 

NASHVILLE CONVALESCENTS--A DEATH IN THE HOSPITAL. 

On my way back to Nashville I called at the different hospitals, andsaw quite a number of the wounded. The surgeons were doing all theycould toward sending them home. Doctor Ames and Doctor Stevens, of the6th Ohio, in fact, all the surgeons seemed assiduous in theirattentions to the wounded. As a matter of course, many thought theywere neglected; but there were so many to be attended to. 

I met Major Frank Cahill. He told me he had six thousand convalescentsunder his charge at Nashville. 

General Mitchell was kept very busy, although but few passes weregiven to any going South; but Lieutenant Osgood, his chief businessman, was up night and day, ready, at all times, to expedite thosegoing in search of the wounded Union soldiers. Lieutenant Osgoodcertainly did more business in one day than many men, who are calledfast, could do in a week. To know that he did his duty, I will statethat Secessionists hated him, and Union men spoke in high terms ofhim. 

A young lad, who had been sick for a long time, died; his name wasWilliam Stokes, and his home was near Dayton, Ohio. The boy had beenhonorably discharged, but there were no blanks, and _red tape_forbids a surgeon, no matter how high his position, to grant the finaldischarge without the blank forms. For five weeks this poor home-sickboy, only eighteen years of age, worried along, continually speakingof his mother and home; but the inexorable law kept him there to die. 

HENRY LOVIE CAPTURED. 

At Bowling Green I met Henry Lovie, the artist; he had been grosslyabused by a party of a dozen butternuts, at a little town called"Cromwell, " (what's in a name?) They accused him of being anigger-thief--a d----d Abolitionist, and were sworn to hang him. Hisservant, however, happened to have his free papers, and Lovie, exhibiting to them passes from McClellan, Rosecrans, and other "highold names, " they were disposed to cave a little. "Our travelingartist" for Frank Leslie took a horse for self and one for servant, riding twenty-eight miles, fearing the butternuts might receivereinforcements, and reached Bowling Green by early dawn, through mud, slush, snow, and rain. Lovie wants to enlist a company to go and take"Cromwell, " and requested me to see Tom Jones & Co. In regard to thematter. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

 General Steadman Superseded by General Schofield, of Missouri -- Colonel Brownlow's Regiment -- His Bravery -- A Rebel Officer Killed by a Woman -- Discontent in East Tennessee -- Picket Duty and its Dangers -- A Gallant Deed and a Chivalrous Return. 

 Camp near Triune, Tennessee, _April 24, 1862_. 

I arrived in camp day before yesterday, and immediately reported forduty. 

Last night General Schofield took command of this division, GeneralSteadman having been assigned to the Second Brigade. General Schofieldcomes to us with the highest recommendations for gallant daring, andhis appearance among the boys was the signal for a neat ovation. Hewas serenaded by a crowd of singers, and, upon the conclusion of apatriotic song, he came to the front of his head-quarters and made atelling speech, which was enthusiastically received by his command. General Steadman being called for responded, regretting to part withhis old command, but rejoicing that he had been superseded by agentleman and a soldier so worthy of the position that had beenassigned him. General Steadman assured the General that he had as finea set of soldiers as were to be found in the Army of the Cumberland;men who had been tried and never found wanting; men whom he assuredGeneral Schofield would go wherever ordered, and against any foe. After the adjournment of the public demonstration, the two generals, with their staffs, were handsomely entertained by Captain Roper, wheresong, sentiment, and recitation were the order of the evening--ColonelGeorge, Colonel Vandeveer, Colonel Long, and other notables beingamong the guests. 

While thus enjoying ourselves, the General received a telegraphicdispatch from head-quarters, announcing the capture of McMinnville byour forces. 

The command of the Third Division, we feel confident, is in vigilanthands. Brigadier-General Schofield has heretofore proved hisefficiency in Missouri. His staff consists of Major J. A. Campbell, A. A. S. ; W. M. Wherry, Aid-de-camp; A. H. Engle, Aid-de-camp and JudgeAdvocate; Captain Kirk, Quarter-master; Captain Roper, Commissary;Captain Budd, Inspector of Division, and Doctor Gordon, MedicalDirector. 

The East Tennessee Cavalry still continue to prove their gallantry. Ispent a pleasant afternoon with them yesterday, and paid a visit totheir hospital. I saw six of the noble fellows who were wounded in alate fight. About ten days ago, Colonel Brownlow, a regular "chip ofthe old block, " took a part of the regiment out some twelve miles fromcamp, toward Duck River, and, coming upon a large party of secesh, gave them a "taste of his quality. " A short time after, the Colonel, with nine of his men, became detached from the main body, and foundthemselves completely surrounded by the rebels, and were within thirtyyards of the foe, who ordered the Colonel to surrender. A moment'sparley with his men, and the Colonel, with the boys, rode toward therebels, and, with a few adjectives, quite _unparliamentary_ to earspolite, much to their surprise, dashed through their line. Thisaudacity saved them; for, before they had time to recover from theirsurprise, Brownlow and his men were beyond their reach. I was told, byone of the prisoners, that, at one time, twenty rebels were firing atthat "little cuss in the blue jacket, " as they called the Colonel, during the day's performance. Several splendid charges were made bythese Tennesseeans. 

James Mysinger, of Company I, from Green County, after being mortallywounded--the noble fellow--fired three shots. The Colonel dismountedto assist the dying soldier, who, with tears in his eyes, said:

"Colonel, I've only one regret--that I am not spared to kill more ofthose wretched traitors. Tell me, Colonel, " continued he, "have I notalways obeyed orders?"

"Yes, Mysinger, you are a noble fellow, and have always done yourduty, " said the Colonel, patting him on the cheek, and brushing thecold sweat from his brow. 

"Now, Colonel, " said he, "I am ready to die. "

Oliver Miller, Company C, received a severe wound in the arm. He isonly seventeen years of age. John Harris received three balls. RobertAdair was wounded in the head. William Riddle was completely_riddled_, receiving one ball and four buck-shot. David Berry had histhigh broken, jumping from his horse. Berry's father was murdered byrebels at Cumberland Gap. His head was placed upon a block and cutoff, by order of Colonel Brazzleton, of the 1st East Tennessee rebelcavalry. Nearly all these men have not only their country's wrongs toavenge, but the wrongs heaped upon their fathers, mothers, andsisters. I spent an hour in conversation with these wounded men, andall were laughing and talking in the best of spirits. Such men areinvincible. 

A brother of Colonel Brownlow, who is now on a visit to this camp, informs me that he had it from the most reliable source, that therebels in and around Knoxville were actually suffering for food. Anorder was issued by the rebel commander at Knoxville, a few dayssince, to seize all the hams, sides, and bacon belonging to privateparties, leaving only fifty pounds for each family. A Mrs. Tillery, ofKnox County, residing twelve miles from Knoxville, when her house wasvisited for the purpose of being pillaged, in the fulfillment of thisorder, expostulated with the lieutenant in command. She told him thatfifty pounds would not keep her family two weeks, and she had no wayof obtaining more. Notwithstanding her entreaties, the rebellieutenant ordered fifty pounds to be weighed and given to her. He hadscarcely given the order when Mrs. Tillery drew a pistol and shot thelieutenant through the heart. The rebel detail left the meat, and tookoff the corpse of their commander. The spirit of discontent ismanifesting itself in various ways among even the most ultra rebels. They are getting tired of seeing their country devastated by the twoarmies, and are anxious for a settlement; and it only awaits the_daring of a few_ to inaugurate a "rebellion within a rebellion, "which, if once started, will spread like wild-fire. 

PICKET DUTY AND ITS DANGERS. 

Of all the duties of a soldier, outpost duty is the most trying anddangerous. Courage, caution, patience, sleepless vigilance, and ironnerve are essential to its due performance. Upon the picket-guards ofan army rests an immense responsibility. They are the eyes and ears ofthe encamped or embattled host. Hence, if they are negligent orfaithless, the thousands dependent upon their zeal and watchfulnessfor safety, might almost as well be blind and deaf. The bravest army, under such circumstances, is liable, like a strong man in his sleep, to be pounced upon and discomfited by an inferior foe. For this reasonthe laws of war declare that the punishment of a soldier foundsleeping on his post shall be death. 

But although the peril and responsibility involved in picket duty areso great, the heroes who are selected for it rarely receive honorablemention in our military bulletins. Their collisions with the enemy are"skirmishes. " The proportion of killed and wounded in these collisionsmay be double or triple what it was at Magenta or Solferino, but stillthey are mere "affairs of outposts. " "Our pickets were driven in, " or"The enemy's pickets were put to flight, " and that is the end of it. Presently comes the news of a brilliant Union victory; and nobodypauses to consider that if our pickets had been asleep, or faithless, or cowardly, a Union _defeat_ might, nay _must_, have been theconsequence. 

We forget what these men endure--their risks, their privations, theirfatigues, their anxieties, _their battles with themselves_, whensleep--more insidious than even the lurking enemy in the bush--tugs attheir heavy eyelids, and their overwearied senses are barely held totheir allegiance by the strongest mental effort. The soldier whorushes to the charge at the command of his officer is animated by theshouts of his comrades, inspirited by the sounds of martial music, andfull of the ardor and confidence which the consciousness of beingintelligently led and loyally supported engenders. He sees hisadversaries; he fights in an open field; his fate is to be decided bythe ordinary chances of honorable war. Not so the picket-guard. He issurrounded by unseen dangers. The gleam of his bayonet may, at anymoment, draw upon him the fire of some prowling assassin. If he hearsa rustling among the leaves, and inquires, "Who goes there?" theanswer may be a ball in his heart. 

A GALLANT DEED AND A CHIVALROUS RETURN. 

In the recent movement of Stoneman's Cavalry, the advance was led byLieutenant Paine, of the 1st Maine Cavalry. Being separated, by aconsiderable distance, from the main body, he encountered, unexpectedly, a superior force of rebel cavalry, and his whole partywere taken prisoners. They were hurried off as rapidly as possible toget them out of the way of our advancing force, and, in crossing arapid and deep stream, Lieutenant Henry, commanding the rebel force, was swept off his horse. As none of his men seemed to think or careany thing about saving him, his prisoner, Lieutenant Paine, leaped offhis horse, seized the drowning man by the collar, swam ashore withhim, and saved his life, thus literally capturing the captor. Painewas sent to Richmond with the rest of the prisoners, and the factsbeing made known to General Fitz-Hugh Lee, he wrote a statement ofthem to General Winder, Provost-Marshal of Richmond, who ordered theinstant release of Lieutenant Paine, without even parole, promise, orcondition, and, we presume, with the compliments of the Confederacy. He arrived in Washington on Saturday last. This act of generosity, aswell as justice, must command our highest admiration. There is somehope 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 officer whose life he hadthus gallantly saved had since been taken prisoner by our forces, andhad just been confined in the Old Capitol prison. The last we heard ofPaine he was on his way to General Martindale's head-quarters toobtain a pass to visit his imprisoned benefactor. Such are thevicissitudes of war. We could not help thinking, when we heard thisstory, of the profound observation of Mrs. Gamp: "Sich is life, vichlikevays is the hend of hall things hearthly. " We leave it to casuiststo determine whether, when these two gallant soldiers meet on thebattle-field, they should fight like enemies or embrace likeChristians. For our part, we do not believe their swords will be anythe less sharp, nor their zeal any the less determined, for thishap-hazard exchange of soldierly courtesy. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

 An Incident at Holly Springs, Miss. -- The Raid of Van Dorn -- Cincinnati Cotton-Dealers in Trouble -- Troubles of a Reporter. 

AN INCIDENT AT HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS. --THE RAID OF VAN DORN. 

The amount of public and private property captured and destroyed bythe enemy is estimated at something over six millions of dollars. Hehad considerable skirmishing with our troops, whose effective forceColonel R. C. Murphy, commandant of the post, says was less than threehundred. The Confederates lost ten or twelve in killed and wounded, and we six or seven wounded, none fatally. Colonel Murphy says hereceived information from Grant too late to make the necessaryarrangements for the defense of the place. Though there were less thanthree hundred effective Union soldiers in town, all the civilians, tradesmen, speculators, and promiscuous hangers-on to the army werecaptured, swelling the number who gave their parole to about fifteenhundred. The raid, as you may imagine, delighted the residents ofHolly Springs, who turned out _en masse_ to welcome theirbrief-lingering "deliverers, " and were very active in pointing out theplaces where Northerners were boarding. Not a few of the preciouscitizens fired at our troops from the windows, and acted ascontemptibly and dastardly as possible. The women, who had been rarelyvisible before, made their appearance, radiant, and supplied the rebelYahoos with all manner of refreshments. "Good Union men, " who had soldtheir cotton to the Yankees, shook the Treasury-notes in the faces ofthe Union prisoners, saying they had been paid for their property, andhad the pleasure of burning it before the "d----d Abolitionscoundrels' eyes. "

CINCINNATI COTTON-DEALERS IN TROUBLE. 

A number of cotton-buyers were robbed of whatever money they had ontheir persons, and some of them are said to have lost from five to tenthousand dollars apiece, which is, probably, an exaggerated statement. W. W. Cones, of Cincinnati, saved a large sum by an ingenious trick. He had twenty-eight thousand dollars on his person when the enemyentered the place, and immediately throwing off his citizen's garb, heattired himself in the cast-off gauntlets of a private soldier, entered the Magnolia House, employed as a hospital, and, throwinghimself upon a bed, assumed to be exceedingly and helplessly sick, while the foe remained. As soon as the rebels had departed, he becamesuddenly and vigorously healthy, and walked into the street todenounce the traitors. He declared his eleven hours' sickness causedhim less pain, and saved him more money than any illness he everbefore endured. D. W. Fairchild, also of the Queen City, in additionto losing fifty bales of cotton, was robbed of his pocket-book, containing forty-five dollars, in the following manner: Whencaptured, he was taken before General Jackson, popularly known as"Billy Jackson, " considered a high representative of chivalry andsoldiership in this benighted quarter of the globe. Jackson inquiredof Fairchild, in a rough way, if he had any money with him? To whichthe party addressed answered, he had a trifling sum, barely sufficientto pay his expenses to the North. "Hand it over, you d----d niggerthief, " roared the high-toned general, who, as soon as theporte-monnaie was produced, seized it, thrust it into his pocket, androde off with a self-satisfied chuckle. What a noble specimen ofchivalry is this Jackson! He has many kindred spirits in the South, where vulgar ruffians are apotheosized, who would, at an earlier time, have been sent to the pillory. "Sixteen-string Jack, " and all thatdelectable fraternity, whose lives bloom so fragrantly in the pages ofthe saffron-hued literature of the day, would have spat in the facesof such fellows as Jackson, had they dared to claim the acquaintanceof persons so much their superiors. 

When the rebels were playing the part of incendiaries in town, theyset fire to the building containing a great quantity of ourammunition, shells, etc. The consequence was a tremendous explosion, which broke half the windows, and many of the frames, in town, rattleddown ceilings, unsettled foundations, and spread general dismay. Womenand children screamed, and rushed like maniacs into the streets, andfell fainting with terror there. For several hours the shellscontinued to burst, and, I have heard, two or three children werekilled with fragments of the projectiles. Two days after, I sawfamilies suffering from hysterics on account of excessive fright, andseveral seemed to have become quite crazed therefrom. 

TROUBLES OF A REPORTER. 

One morning, hearing that John Morgan was at Elizabethtown, Ky. , Idetermined to go as near as possible, and find out the condition ofthings, and see the fight that was in expectancy. Proceeding as far asI could by rail, I hired a carriage and horses, hoping to reachMunfordville in time for a big item. 

I had proceeded some five miles when a party of eight men, whom I atonce determined were guerrillas, rode hastily to the carriage, anddemanded my credentials. I exhibited a free pass over the Ohio andMississippi Railroad, four Provost-Marshal's passes, a permission toleave the State of Ohio, also one to leave Kentucky, and a ten-centNashville bill. I was afraid to show them my letter from GeneralStarbuck, of the _Daily Times_. 

After looking at them awhile, they were passed round to the balance ofthe fiendish-looking rascals, and I was kept in terrible suspense tenminutes longer. 

I tried to get off several of my well-authenticated bad jokes, but Ichoked in the utterance, and my smile was no doubt a sardonic grin. Iwiped the perspiration from my brow so frequently that one of the mostintellectual of the "brutes" relieved the monotony of the occasion byobserving that it was a very hot day, to which I acquiesced, feelingquite glad to have a guerrilla speak to a prisoner. 

The countryman who had driven me thus far was speechless. He thoughtof his carriage and horses, and visions of their being immediatelypossessed by Morgan or Forrest had rendered him powerless. After a fewquestions as to where we left the train, and as to the number ofpassengers on board, the citizen cavalry, or Union guards, as theyproved to be, told us we might proceed, that we were all right, but tobe very careful, as Forrest was reported near that region; they hardlythought it safe to attempt to get to Green River. 

This brewed fresh trouble to me, the owner of the horses and carriagerefusing positively to proceed on the journey. In vain I expostulated, telling him I would pay for his horses out of the _sinking fund_ ofthe _Times_ office, in case of their loss. It was no go, and I wascompelled to retreat. I felt very much like building somefortifications in the woods, and making a stand, but, remembering thesaying, "Discretion is the better part of valor, " retreated, and fellback upon the National Hotel, in Louisville, with all the luxuriesprepared by Charley Metcalf, Major Harrow, and Colonel Myers. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

 A Reporter's Idea of Mules -- Letter from Kentucky -- Chaplain Gaddis Turns Fireman -- Gaddis and the Secesh Grass-Widow. 

A REPORTER'S IDEA OF MULES. 

Junius Browne, describing a mule and his antics, says: "Now, be itknown, I never had any faith in, though possessed of abundantcommiseration for, a mule. I always sympathized with Sterne in hissentimental reverie over a dead ass, but for a living one, I couldnever elevate my feeling of pity either into love or admiration. Themule in question, however, seemed to be possessed of gentle and kindlyqualifications. He appeared to have reached that degree of culturethat disarms viciousness and softens stubbornness into tractability. Ibelieved the sober-looking animal devoid of tricks peculiar to hiskind, such as attempting to run up dead walls in cities, and climbtrees in the country, mistaking himself for a perpetual motion, andtrying to kick Time through the front window of Eternity. I wasdeceived in the docile-looking brute. He secured me as his rider byfalse pretenses. He won my confidence, and betrayed it shamefully. That he was a good mule, in some respects, I'll willingly testify; butin others, he was deeply depraved. He exhibited a dispositionundreamed of by me, unknown before in the brothers and sisters of hisnumerous family. In brief, he was a sectarian mule; a bigot that heldnarrow views on the subject of religion; believed Hebrew thevernacular of the devil, and regarded the Passover with malevolenteyes. Confound such a creature, there was no hope for him! Who couldexpect to free him from his prejudices? He hated Moses for his fate, and Rebekkah for her forms of worship. He was insane on Judaism. Hewas a monomaniacal Gentile. Who could make out a mental diagnosis, oranticipate the conduct of a mule afflicted with religious lunacy? Wellfor your correspondent had he discovered beforehand the bias of thebrute, or suspected he was a quadruped zealot! Much might have beensaved to him, and more to a number of unoffending gentlemen fromchurch, as the sequel of my 'o'er true tale' will prove. 

"The train got off about eight o'clock, on a cloudy, rainy, muddy, suicidal morning, and the material that composed it was worthy ofillustration by Cruikshank. The procession was singularly varied, andsupremely bizarre. There were the army-wagons, with sick and woundedsoldiers, lumbering heavily along; the paroled prisoners wadingthrough the mire; cotton-buyers, on foot and on horseback; members ofthe twelve tribes of Israel, with all possible modes of conveyance--inbroken buggies, in dilapidated coaches, on bare-boned Rosinantes, onsuperannuated oxen, with fragmentary reins, rope reins, and no reins;spurring, swearing, hallooing, and gesticulating toward Memphis, inmortal terror lest the rebels would capture them again, and some oftheir hard-earned gains. Pauvre Juils! They would have excited thepity of a pawnbroker, if he had not known them, so frightened andanxious and disconsolate they looked. They could not have appearedmore miserable if they had just learned that a brass watch they hadsold for silver had turned out gold. The mule trotted along brisklyand quietly enough until he beheld the grotesque vision of theheterogeneously-mounted Israelites. Then he displayed mostextraordinary conduct. He pawed, he hawed, he kicked, all the whileglancing at the sons of Jerusalem, and braying louder and morediscordant every moment. I could not understand the mule'sidiosyncrasies. Possibly, I thought, the doctrine of themetempsychosis may be true, and this brute, in the early stages of itsdevelopment, once have been in love. He has a fit on him now, Ifancied--he is once more possessed of a petticoat. Why not? If loveconverts men into asses, why should not asses, in their maddestmoments, act like men in love? The mule's ire was culminating. I dugmy spurs into his side. Vain effort! He was bent on mischief, andmalignant against the persecuted race. If he had been in the House ofCommons, (and many of his brethren are there, ) I know he never wouldhave voted for the admission of Jews into the English Parliament. Before I could anticipate his movement, he rushed at severalpedestrian Hebrews and kicked the wind out of their stomachs and threepairs of green spectacles from their noses. While endeavoring torecover their glasses, the mule knocked their hats off with his hoofs, and impaired the perfect semicircle of their proboscis, thus imitatingthe rebels--by destroying their bridges totally. The infuriated brutethen ran for an old buggy, and, by supreme perseverance, kicked itover, and its two Hebrew occupants, into the road, where they fell, head-foremost, into the mire, growling profanely, like tigers thathave learned German imperfectly, and were trying to swear, in choiceTeutonic, about the peculiar qualities of Limburger cheese. In theirsudden subversion, the Israelites dropped three fine watches out oftheir pockets, and the mule, with an unprecedented voracity, anddetermined on having a good time, ate the chronometers without anyapparent detriment to digestion. The owners of the watches werefrenzied. They glanced at my beast, and were about to devour him, hoping thereby to get the timepieces back. They did not violate thethird commandment. They could not. They were too mad. They merelyhissed rage, like a boiling tea-kettle, and grew purple in the face, and spun round in the road, from the excess of their wrath. Yourcorrespondent was alarmed. He feared the mule would devour the Hebrewsthemselves, and he knew, if that were done, the animal would explode, and said animal had not been paid for. No time was given forreflection. Off ran the mule again, and made a pedal attack on a smallHebrew with a huge nasal organ, seated on top of a decayed coach, drawn by a horse, a cow, and three negroes. The quadruped made aherculean effort to kick the diminutive Shylock from his seat, but allin vain. The altitude was too great, and, in the midst of hisexertions, he kicked himself off his feet, and fell over into agulley, in which he alighted and stood on his head, as if he had beentrained in a circus. The position was admirable, and so worthy ofimitation that I stood on my head also, in two feet of mire, andbeckoned with my boots for some passing pedestrians to come and pullme out, as they would a radish from a kitchen-garden. The mule resumedhis normal position speedily, and went off in his well-sustainedcharacter of a Jew-hunter. I was less fortunate. Three teamsters drewmy boots from my feet, and tears from my eyes, before they couldextricate me. And when I was removed from _terra firma_, I resembled ahickory stump dragged out by the roots, or a large cat-fish that hadleft his native element, and, seized with a fit of science, hadendeavored to convert himself into a screw of the Artesian well. Placed feet downward on the ground again, I could not thank mydeliverers or swear at the mule. I was dumb with astonishment and themud, having swallowed eighteen ounces avoirdupois weight of the sacredsoil of Mississippi while endeavoring to express my admiration of theperformance of the mule. When I had removed the mire from my optics, in which cotton-seed would have grown freely, I beheld the mule in thedim distance. I could not see the brute plainly, but I could determinehis course by the frequent falling of a human figure along the road. Iknew the figures were those of his enemies, the much-abusedHebrews--that he was still wreaking his vengeance on therepresentatives of Israel--that he was fulfilling the unfortunatedestiny of a misguided and merciless mule. Strange animal! Had thehonest tradesman ever sold his grandfather a bogus watch? orinveigled his innocent sire into the mysterious precincts of amock-auction? Alas! history does not record, and intuition will notreveal. 

"My narrative is over. I did not go to Memphis. I returned, limping, to town, mentally ejaculating, like many adventurous gentlemen who, before me, have recklessly attempted to ride the peculiar beast, 'D----n a mule, any how!'"

LETTERS FROM KENTUCKY. 

Early in September, 1862, I was sent by General Starbuck & Co. , proprietors of the Cincinnati _Daily Times_, to reconnoiter inKentucky. My first stop was a very pleasant one--at the Galt House, Louisville. From that place I wrote incident after incident concerningthe most inhuman barbarity that had been enacted by citizen guerrillasand butternut soldiers. Louisville was in a foment of excitement, andif the rebels had only possessed the dash, there was scarce a day butthey could have made a foray upon the "Galt, " and captured from fortyto fifty nice-looking officers, from brigadier-generals down tolieutenants. 

It was supposed the Government could spare them; else why were they inthe North, when they should have been in the South?

While there, I met Lieutenant Thomas S. Pennington, of Columbus, Ohio, a gentleman of intelligence, who told me HE SAW CITIZENS OF RICHMOND(Kentucky) who had pretended to be FRIENDLY WITH OUR MEN, SHOOT THEMDOWN AS THEY WERE RETREATING THROUGH THEIR STREETS. G. W. Baker, theregimental blacksmith of the 71st Indiana, who resides in TerreHaute, was in the city in charge of a number of horses left inRichmond. As our boys, worn-out and unarmed, retreated through theplace, Mr. Baker says the men fired from their windows and doors. J. C. Haton, of Point Commerce, Indiana, also corroborates this fiendishpiece of work upon the very men who had for days stood guard overtheir private property. All agree that more of our men were killed bythese incarnate fiends in citizens' clothing than by the secesh inuniforms. Many of the pretended friendly citizens went out (saysLieutenant Pennington) to aid us, and then treacherously picked offour officers. Colonel Topkins, of the 71st Indiana, died nobly, leading his men, who, although undisciplined, stood bravely by theirgallant colonel while there was a shadow of hope. Twice was his horseshot beneath him; and mounting the third horse, he received twobullets. A number of his boys hastily gathered around him. His lastwords were: "Boys, did I do my duty?" With tears coursing their manlycheeks, they replied: "You did, Colonel. " "Then, " said he, "I DIEHAPPY. " Major Concklin, of the 71st, whom I reported wounded, diedshortly afterward. Coming from Shelbyville, I passed more than onehundred wagons, all heavily loaded with the wreck of the late battles, many of the wounded being brought to this city. 

CHAPLAIN GADDIS AND THE 2d OHIO. 

Charley Bunker, in writing from the 2d Ohio, says: "This is theSabbath, which, under present circumstances, can only be known by theneat appearance of the boys, in their shiny boots and clean, boiledshirts, as they make their early morning entrée for company inspectionof arms and accouterments, after which, all is dullness and vacuity. There is a sensible void, apparent to all, requiring something toremove the depressing dullness now surrounding them; and thatsomething is to be found only in the presence of an accommodating andpleasing chaplain. Being to-day in the camp of the 2d Ohio Regiment, Iobserved this lack of a clerical adviser, in the absence of Brother M. P. Gaddis, the pleasing and affable chaplain of this gallant band ofpatriots. Brother Gaddis, being naturally of a pleasing andaccommodating disposition, has won the confidence and favor of hisentire command, and is an ever-welcome guest wherever he may chance tooffer his presence. But one instance can be recorded wherein theparson has met with refusal of friendship and favor--and this can becredited to nothing but the present distracted condition of ourunfortunate country. But, even in this instance, the kind andaccommodating nature of the chaplain was fully manifested; forgettingall party or political prejudices, he viewed all the circumstanceswith a happy mind and Christian heart. The following are thecircumstances of the above-mentioned case: On the first advance of thenational army from Louisville toward the land of Dixie, a portion ofour forces marched along the turnpike, passing in their route thetime-noted tavern-stand, distant some twenty miles north of BowlingGreen, and known to all travelers as "Ball's Tavern. " On the eveningof the arrival of the forces under the immediate command of GeneralMitchel, at this place, one of the buildings attached to the premisesaccidently caught fire. "

CHAPLAIN GADDIS TURNS FIREMAN. 

The 2d Ohio Regiment being encamped near the premises, and observingthe flames bursting from the roof of the building, Brother Gaddis, with a number of others, instantly made their way to the building tosave the entire property from destruction. Entering the building, theymade their way to the top of the house, where the fire was thenraging, and commenced tearing away the wood-work near the devouringelement. No water being convenient, they were obliged to resort to thesnow as a substitute, which, at that time, covered the ground, tosubdue the flames. Having partially succeeded in checking the ragingof the fire, a small aperture was made in the roof of the building, and Dave Thomas, the sutler of the 2d Ohio, being the smallest one ofthe party, was thrust through the hole in the roof, and made adesperate onslaught upon the fire, while Brother Gaddis continued tohand up the snow in hats and caps to the daring firemen on the roof, until the fire was entirely extinguished. The following day BrotherGaddis, knowing the former reputation of the tavern, and, as isnatural with all clerical exponents, preferring _fried chicken to hogmeat_, and warm rolls to hard crackers, wended his way to the tavern, with a craving appetite, and the full expectation of a kind welcomeand an agreeable entertainment. 

Before proceeding further, I must here state that, attached to thesepremises, is a noted subterranean recess, which has ever been theattraction of all travelers who have chanced to pass over thisfrequented thoroughfare, and is known as the "Diamond Cave. "

GADDIS AND THE SECESH GRASS-WIDOW. 

Entering the dwelling, Brother Gaddis sought the landlady, Mrs. Proctor, or the late widow Bell, but now the wife of a Proctor, who, by-the-by, is at present to be found in the ranks of the rebel army, the madam's entire sympathies leading in the same direction. Addressing the landlady in his usual winning manner, Brother Gaddisrequested the privilege of remaining as a guest of the house, andenjoying the luxuries of her well-stored larder and the comforts ofher well-furnished rooms. What was the surprise of the chaplain tofind in the landlady a real she-devil in politics, and utterlyinexorable to all appeals to her charity and hospitality. In herremarks, she observed that "He was on the wrong side of the fence;that she had entertained, the day before the arrival of the Uniontroops, a company of three hundred gentlemen, (referring to thatnumber of rebel cavalry, ) and that they had treated her like a lady, and paid her for what they had received"--(_in Confederate scrip_). Inreply, Brother Gaddis, not wishing to be deprived of her covetedentertainment, inquired "What was the difference which side of thefence he was on, so that he conducted himself with propriety, and paidher for her trouble?" asking if his money was not as good as that ofthose of whom she spoke. She answered, "No!" and positively refused toentertain any of the "hated Yankees" in her house. 

"TURCHIN'S GOT YOUR MULE. "

 A planter came to camp one day, His niggers for to find; His mules had also gone astray, And stock of every kind. The planter tried to get them back, And thus was made a fool, For every one he met in camp Cried, "Mister, here's your mule. " CHORUS. --Go back, go back, go back, old scamp, And don't be made a fool; Your niggers they are all in camp, And Turchin's got your mule. 

 His corn and horses all were gone Within a day or two. Again he went to Colonel Long, To see what he could do. "I can not change what I have done, And won't be made a fool, " Was all the answer he could get, The owner of the mule. CHORUS. --Go back, go back, go back, old scamp, And don't be made a fool; Your niggers they are all in camp, And Turchin's got your mule. 

 And thus from place to place we go, The song is e'er the same; 'Tis not as once it used to be, For Morgan's lost his name. He went up North, and there he stays, With stricken face, the fool; In Cincinnati now he cries, "My kingdom for a mule. " CHORUS. --Go back, go back, etc. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

 A Visit to the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry -- A Proposed Sermon -- Its Interruption -- How ye Preacher is Bamboozled out of $15 and a Gold Watch -- Cavalry on the Brain -- Old Stonnicker Drummed out of Camp -- Now and Then. 

A VISIT TO THE 1st EAST TENNESSEE CAVALRY. 

The cavalry had been kept very busy during the months of March andApril; the picket-duty was arduous and severe, but the East Tennesseesoldiers stood up to the rack manfully. I had been with them on nearlyall their expeditions; shared their toils and dangers, until I felt Iwas a part and parcel of their "institution. " Colonel Johnson, at thistime, was in Nashville, raising a brigade; the command of theregiment, therefore, devolved upon Colonel Brownlow. 

The Colonel had frequently invited me over to the camp, but otherengagements had as frequently deterred me from accepting theinvitation. 

I was seated, one beautiful afternoon, in the tent of Doctor CharlesWright, of the 35th Ohio, conversing with Colonel Brownlow, when MajorTracy, of the Tennessee regiment, with two or three others, agreedthat "now was the appointed time. " A horse was proffered me by JohnLeiter, Esq. , and I proceeded forthwith to the head-quarters of therenowned East Tennesseeans. Arriving there, the Major requested that Iwould entertain the boys, who, as well as they knew me personally, didnot know me _facially_--did not know the "power of facial expression. "

Major Tracy ordered the assembly-call sounded, which was done, and, ina short time, five or six hundred men were congregated in front ofhead-quarters, and as those in the rear could not have a good view ofthe speaker, the Major ordered the front rank to kneel, or squat. Theboys had been told that Alf was going to give them some "fun;" thatAlf was to amuse them for awhile. 

During the congregating of the crowd, I was in the tent--the audiencein waiting. Major T. Went to the front and announced that the REV. EBENEZER SLABSIDES, from Middle Tennessee, would address thecongregation. A table was placed, and I had taken a "_posish_, " withspectacles mounted on my nose, when, just as I had commenced thediscourse, by saying: "MY BELOVED BRETHERING, " I heard a strange voicesay:

"We didn't come to hear no sermon--we come to hear Alf. Put thatfellow out!"

Another voice said: "That's a burlesque on our parson. "

Still I went on, thinking all would be quiet. Presently a big, tall E. T. C. Fellow shouted "Move him, move him!" and shouts of "Alf! where'sAlf?" resounded all over. Here I tried to divest myself of myspectacles, but they stuck, and before I could identify myself to thecrowd as to who I was, I received a _knock-down_ argument. 

I changed my base of operations, and retreated to the Major's tent. Here two stalwart fellows laid violent hands upon me, and each onegetting hold, tried to pull me _through the tent-pole_. Seeing a fineopportunity for a strategical maneuver, I succeeded in planting aheavy blow on the proboscis of one of my tormentors, which bedizzenedhis vision. Again I changed my base, and got to another tent. By thistime the camp was wild; a few, who knew me, were taking my part; blowsfell thick and fast, but I succeeded in guarding my head. I had norelish for cavalry on the brain just then. During the melée theyrobbed me of a watch and about fifteen dollars in money. "_But theycan't do it again! Hallelujah!_"

The news of my _defeat_ spread like wild-fire over the camp beforetatoo; the entire division were talking of it, and seriousconsequences were feared; the cavalry soldiers did not dare showthemselves near the 2d Minnesota for several days, I being quite afavorite with those boys, and that being my home for the time. Themost exaggerated stories were told of the affair. 

In a few days all was quiet on the Harpeth, and again I was with theboys, who all made the most ample apologies, and expressed sorrow forwhat had occurred. 

Colonel Brownlow called upon me the next day, in condolence, renewingthe invitation, but the remembrance of my former reception deterred mefrom making the journey. Some weeks after the occurrence, I wascommissioned by the proprietors of the Cincinnati _Commercial_ toproceed to Murfreesboro as their "Special, " and telegraphed to GeneralGarfield for the requisite permission. Judge of my surprise uponreceiving the following dispatch from General Garfield:

 Head-quarters Army of the Cumberland, Murfreesboro, _May 10, 1863_. 

 Alf Burnett--_Sir_: The commanding General has heard of the occurrence at Triune, and refuses you permission to come to Murfreesboro. 

 J. A. GARFIELD, _Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff_. 

I immediately dispatched a batch of letters from prominent Generals;also sent forward several fine introductory letters that I held, addressed to General Rosecrans and General Garfield. A regulardiplomatic correspondence was opened, and, after hearing the evidence, I received a telegram to this effect:

 Alf Burnett--Report forthwith at these Head-quarters. 

 J. A. GARFIELD. 

 By order of Major-General Rosecrans. 

I arrived at Murfreesboro the following day, but did not "_report_, "for I felt somewhat chagrined at the General's crediting the storiesthat he had heard. The succeeding day, however, I met General AlexMcCook, and his brother, the gallant Colonel Dan McCook, who told methat the General wanted to see me immediately; that the greatestanxiety was felt at head-quarters for my appearance; that I had beenthe subject of conversation for an hour past. I immediately dismountedand walked into the house, presenting my card to an orderly, and, in amoment, General Garfield came to the door with a cordial welcome anda hearty laugh, took me by the hand and introduced the "Preacher fromHepsidam" to Major-General Rosecrans. When this was done, anotheroutburst of laughter was the result. 

Major-General Turchin, Major-General Thomas, and the staffs of thoseheroes were present. General Garfield and "Old Rosey" formed the partywhom I was apprised were a court-martial now duly convened to try the"Preacher from Hepsidam. " General R. Asking me if I was ready fortrial, I told him I was, if he had a pair of spectacles in the "court"room. So he called the court to order, sent for a few of his staff, who were absent, and requested General Garfield to get me a pair ofspectacles from an adjoining room. General Rosecrans took advantage ofGeneral Garfield's absence to tell me that General Garfield had oncebeen a "Hard-shell" Baptist preacher, and requested me, if I could, byany possibility, "bring him in, " to do so. The sermon was given, and, afterward, the "DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GARROTTE, " together withother pieces. At the conclusion of the "trial, " the court unanimouslyresolved that I should not only be honorably acquitted of all charges, but that I was henceforth to be allowed the freedom of the Army of theCumberland. "And, " said the General, "in explanation of my dispatch toyou, refusing you permission to come here, some one told me you weregiving a mock-religious sermon which so disgusted the religioussensibilities of the E. T. C. That they mobbed you; and I thought ifyou could do any thing to shock their feelings, you must be a devilwith '_four horns_;' but, with such a face as you make, no wonder theywere deceived. "

OLD STONNICKER DRUMMED OUT OF CAMP. 

The illustration of this scene will be recognized by thousands of oursoldier-boys who were occupiers of Virginia soil, upon the banks ofthe Elkwater, for some months during the summer and fall of 1861. OldStonnicker's was a name familiar as a household word, and many werethe pranks played upon the poor old man. Ignorant, beyond description, he yet had twice been a "justice" of the peace, and, as he said, "soton the bench. "

The scene illustrated is where Stonnicker was arrested by a "specialorder" from the 6th Ohio, and tried by an impromptu court-martial, forselling liquor to soldiers. The mock-trial took place amid the mostgrotesque queries and absurd improvised telegraph dispatches--thehand-writing of the telegraphic dispatches being sworn to as that ofthe individuals from whom they were just received, the oath being, "Asthey solemnly _hoped for the success of the Southern Confederacy_. "The poor wretch had actually been detected in selling, contrary toexpress orders, liquor to soldiers. He employed counsel, but, notwithstanding all they could do, he was sentenced, by MajorChristopher, to die. He received his sentence with moanings andanguish; he was too frightened to notice the smiles or laughter of thecrowd. He got on his knees and begged for mercy, and, after an hour ofsuspense, the Court relented, and commuted the sentence to beingdrummed out of camp. It is at this juncture the artist has seized theoccasion to illustrate the scene. 

Stonnicker is a by-word to all the boys of Elkwater notoriety to thisday, and was, at one time, "_a password_" at Louisville. 

Poor Stonnicker is dead. In trying, last fall, to ford that madtorrent, Elkwater, during a storm, he was swept from his horse anddrowned. 

Andy Hall, Ned Shoemaker, Doctor Ames, and other notables of the"times that tried men's _soles_, " were the recipients of thehospitality of another of the family of Stonnickers, who lived up a"ravine" about a mile nearer Huttonsville. Doctor Ames had musk uponhis handkerchief, which the young lady, (?) Miss Delilah Stonnicker, noticing, as she waited upon the Doctor at the supper-table, exclaimed: "'Lor', Doctor, how your _hankercher_ stinks!"

"Does it?" said the Doctor, coloring up to his very eyes, roars oflaughter proceeding from all present. 

"Yaas; it stinks just like a skunk. "

"Why, Miss Delilah, do you have skunks out here?" inquired the Doctor. 

"_Yaas, lots on 'em up the gut out thar. _"

NOW AND THEN. 

Written by Enos B. REED, And Recited by Mr. Alf BURNETT, at the Benefit of the Ladies'Soldiers' Aid Society of Cincinnati, Saturday Evening, January 31st, 1863. 

 In other days, as it has oft been told By those who sleep beneath the grave's dank mold, In this, our loved, but now distracted land, Men dwelt together as a household band; Brothers they were, but not alone in name, Sons of Columbia and Columbia's fame-- They loved the land, the fairest 'neath the sun, Home of the brave--the land of Washington!

 Peaceful the rivers as they flowed along The plenteous fields, where swelled the harvest song; Peaceful the mountains, as they reared on high Their snow-capped peaks unto the azure sky-- Peaceful the valleys, where contentment smiled, Blessing alike the parent and the child-- Peaceful the hearts which owned a country blest, And owned their God, who gave them peace and rest!

 The happy matron and the joyous maid Alike were blest--the unknown traveler stayed His weary limbs beneath their roof-tree's shade, While home from toil the husbandman returned, His honest hands the honest pittance earned, Willing to share his humble meal with one Whether from Winter's snows or Southern sun. 

 No North--no South, in those the better days-- Our starry flag o'er all--its genial rays Glistened amid New England's dreary snows, Or shone as proudly where the south wind blows: One flag, one nation, and one God we claimed, And traitors' lips had never yet defamed The land for which our fathers fought and bled-- Hallowed by graves of honored patriot-dead!

 Fruitful the earth, and fair the skies above; The days were blissful, and the nights were love; We were at peace--our land and freedom gained-- Our fair escutcheon with no blot e'er stained-- But all did honor to the fair young State Who made herself both glorious and great; Our Eagle--emblem of the happy free-- Was free to soar o'er foreign land or sea!

 But darkness came, and settled like a pall Funereal, on our hearts; o'er one and all It cast its blighting, withering wing, A horrid, shapeless, and revolting thing-- While dove-eyed Peace bowed down its gentle head And wept for those, though living, worse than dead; And blood, like rivers, flowed from hill to plain 'Till land and sea knew not their ghastly slain. 

 The Northern snows incarnadined with gore-- The Southern vales with blood, like wine, ran o'er-- The battle raging in the morning sun, At night, the warfare scarcely yet begun-- The sire, in arms to meet his foeman-son, Brother, to seek his brother in the strife, Rushed madly on--demanding life for life! And children, orphans made--and worse than widowed, wife!

 And this the land which erst our fathers blest, Favored of Heaven--the pilgrim's hope of rest-- Now cursed by traitors, who with impious hands Have dared to sunder our once-hallowed bands-- Have dared to poison with their ven'mous breath All that was fair--and raise the flag of death; Have dared to blight the country of their birth, Striving her name to banish from the earth!

 God of our fathers! where your lightnings now, To blind their vision, and their hearts to bow? Traitors to all that manhood holds most dear, Without remorse, with neither hope nor fear, They trail our starry banner in the dust, And flaunt their own base emblem in the gust; Like the arch-fiend, who from a Heaven once fell, They'd pull us down to their own fearful hell!

 A boon! O God! a boon from thee we crave-- Shine on this gloomy darkness of the grave; Stretch forth thine arm, and let the waves be still, And Union triumph, as it must and will. God of our Fathers! guide our arms aright, Be near and with us in the deadly fight; Columbia's banner may we still uphold, And keep each star bright in its azure fold. 

 We mourn for those who sleep beneath the wave, Or on the land have found a soldier's grave; Each heart will be an altar to their fame, And ever sacred kept each glorious name. We'll honor those who nobly fought and bled, And fighting fell, where freedom's banner led; Each soldier-son, we'll welcome to our arms, When strife has ceased its din and dread alarms!

 Our soldiers, home returning from the wars, Our dames shall nourish--honored scars Shall mark them heroes, and they live to tell How once they battled--battled brave and well-- For home and country--mountain, plain, and dell-- And how the nation like a phenix rose From out its ashes, spite of fiendish foes; Then once again Columbia shall be blest-- Home of the free, and land for the oppressed!

[Illustration: The preacher from Hepsidam. See page 308. ]

CHAPTER XXXII. 

 An Incident of the 5th O. V. I. -- How to Avoid the Draft -- Keep the Soldiers' Letters -- New Use of Blood-hounds -- Proposition to Hang the Dutch Soldiers -- Stolen Stars. 

AN INCIDENT OF THE 5th O. V. I. 

There is no regiment in the service that has won more enviable renownthan the glorious old 5th; and, although I have met them but twice inmy peregrinations, I can not let them go unnoticed in this volume. Many of the boys I knew intimately--none better than young Jacobs, whowas killed near Fredericksburg, Virginia. A writer in the Cincinnati_Commercial_, soon after his death, penned the following meritedtribute to his memory:

Noble deeds have been recorded, during the past two years, of thefaithful in our armies, who have struggled amid carnage and blood toconsecrate anew our altar of liberty--deeds which have stirred theslumbering fires of patriotism in ten thousand hearts, and revived thenation's hope. I can well conceive that it would be asking too much torecord every merited deed of our brave officers and men; but, whiletoo many have strayed from the ranks when their strong arms have beenmost needed, will you allow a passing tribute to the memory of onewho was always at his post of duty?

Henry G. Jacobs, a private in Company C, 5th Regiment O. V. I. , whowas killed in battle near Fredericksburg, Virginia, was the second sonof E. Jacobs, Esq. , of Walnut Hills. He enlisted in May, 1861, andhad, consequently, been in the service two years. Since his regimentleft Camp Dennison, he had never been absent from it a day until hefought his last battle. I need not speak of his deeds of personalbravery, for he belonged to a regiment of heroes. For unflinchingcourage on the field of battle, the 5th Ohio has few parallels and nosuperior. In that respect, the history of one is the history of all. In the battle of Winchester, Henry escaped with two ball-holes in hiscoat. In the battle of Port Republic, only one (a young man fromCincinnati) besides himself, of all his company who were in theaction, escaped capture. They reached the mountains after being firedat several times, and, two days after, they arrived at their camp. Atthe battle of Cedar Mountain the stock of his gun was shattered in hishands by a rebel shot. He was in the battles of Antietam and SouthMountain, and in over twenty considerable skirmishes. 

Last autumn, his sister wrote, urging him to ask for a furlough andvisit home, if but for a few days. His answer was: "Our country needsevery man at his post, and my place is here with my regiment till thisrebellion is put down. " No young man could be more devotedly attachedto his home, yet he wrote, last winter: "I have never asked for afurlough since I have been in the service; but, if you think father'slife is in danger from the surgical operation which is to beperformed upon his arm, I will try to get home; for you do not knowhow deeply I share with you all in this affliction. "

His talents and education fitted him for what his friends considered ahigher position than the one he occupied. Accordingly, application wasmade to the Governor to commission him as a lieutenant in one of thenew regiments. In signing the application, Professor D. H. Allen, ofLane Seminary, prefaced his signature as follows: "I know no young manin the ranks who, in my opinion, is better qualified for an officer inthe army than Henry C. Jacobs. " In this opinion W. S. Scarborough, Esq. , Colonel A. E. Jones, and many others who were personallyacquainted with him, heartily concurred. Such encouragement wasreceived from the Governor as led his sister to write, congratulatinghim upon the prospect of his appointment. His answer was: "I hadrather be a private in the 5th Ohio than captain in any new regiment. In fact, I do not want a commission. When I enlisted, it was not forpay; I never expected to receive one dollar. I have fought in manybattles, and served my country to the best of my ability; and I wishto remain in the position I now occupy till the war is over. "

It is not only to offer a tribute to the memory of Henry that I wouldintrude upon your readers, but, by presenting an example, encouragefaithfulness and patriotic devotion to the cause of liberty. If anyman, officer or private, has been more faithful, his be the highermonument in a grateful nation's heart when treason is no more. Heshouldered his musket, and it was at his country's service every hourtill it was laid down beside his bleeding, mangled body, on the banksof the Rappahannock. If my country ever forgets such heroes as these, her very name should perish forever. Young men whose hearts are notstirred within them to rush into the breach, avenge the fallen brave, and save their country, are making for themselves no enviable future. Who that calls himself a man will sit with folded arms and carelessmien, under the shade of the tree of liberty, while the wild boar iswhetting his tusks against its bark, and the gaunt stag rudely tearsits branches? It was planted in tears and watered with blood; and ifyou do not protect it now, your names will perish. 

Henry had made two firm resolves: one was to keep out of the hospital, and the other was to keep out of the hands of the rebels. He would notbe taken a prisoner, and, if die he must, he preferred thebattle-field to the hospital. He has realized his wish, and though thebitterness of our anguish at his loss may only wear out with ourlives, our country, in his death, has lost more than his kindred. Weare making history for all time to come. Eternity will tell its ownstory of unending joy for those who have freely shed their blood tolay a firm foundation for the happiness of millions yet unborn. 

 "Give me the death of those Who for their country die; And O! be mine like their repose, When cold and low they lie!

 "Their loveliest Mother Earth Entwines the fallen brave; In her sweet lap who gave them birth They find their tranquil grave. "

HOW TO AVOID THE DRAFT. 

During the troubles of raising men, a rough-looking customer, determined upon evasion, called upon the Military Commission, when thefollowing colloquy ensued, the individual in question remarking:

"Mr. Commissioner, I'm over forty-five. "

"How old _are_ you?"

"I don't know how old I am; but I'm over _forty-five_. "

"In what year did you make your appearance on this mundane sphere?"

"I don't know what you mean; but I'm over forty-five. "

"When were you born?"

"I don't know; but I'm over forty-five. "

"How am I to know you are over age?"

"I don't know and I don't care; but I'm over forty-five. "

"When were you forty-five?"

"I don't know; but I know I'm over forty-five. "

"You must give me some proof that you are over age. "

"I've been in the country thirty-six years, and I'm over forty-five. "

"That does not prove that you are too old to be drafted. "

"I don't care; I know I'm over forty-five. "

"I shall not erase your name until you prove your age. "

"I tell you I've been in this country thirty-six years, and I wentsparking before I came here, and I'm over forty-five. "

"Will you swear it?"

"Yes, I'm over forty-five. D----d if I aint over forty-five. "

"Well, I will exempt you. "

"I don't care whether you do or not, for _I've got a wooden leg_. "

NEW USE OF BLOOD-HOUNDS. 

One fine summer's Sunday afternoon, as a steamboat was stopping at alanding on the Mississippi to take in wood, the passengers weresurprised to see two or three young, athletic negroes perched upon atree like monkeys, and about as many blood-hounds underneath, barkingand yelping, and jumping up in vain endeavors to seize the frightenednegroes. The overseer was standing by, encouraging the dogs, andseveral bystanders were looking on, enjoying the sport. It was onlythe owner of some blood-hounds training his dogs, and keeping them inpractice, so as to be able to hunt down the runaways, who oftensecrete themselves in the woods. It was thought fine sport, anduseful, too, in its way, ten years ago. 

But now the same hounds are being made use of, all through Alabama andMississippi, and, we have no doubt, in other of the Southern States, to hunt down white men hiding in the woods to escape the fierceconscription act, which is now seizing about every man under sixtyyears of age able to carry a gun. Nor is this the worst. It is foundthat those camped out are supplied with food brought them by theirchildren, who go out apparently to play in the woods, and then slipoff and carry provisions to their fathers. To meet this exigency, blood-hounds are now employed to follow these little children on theirpious errands, and the other day a beautiful little girl was thuschased and overtaken in the woods, and there torn in pieces, alone andunaided, by the trained blood-hounds of Jefferson Davis! Nor is this asolitary case. It appears that many white men, women, and childrenhave thus been sacrificed, in order to carry out the conscription actin all its terrors. 

In a large number of cases, those who are thus hunted down are such ashave in some way exhibited Union proclivities; for, although such haveceased to offer any opposition to the rebels, they do not like takingup arms against the flag of the Union, to which many of them have, informer days, sworn allegiance. These persons, and all suspected, areespecially marked out as objects of the conscription and theblood-hound, be their ages and fighting qualities what they may. Andthese are the men hunted down with dogs, and their wives and theirchildren, if they attempt to follow them. There are, however, many mennot Unionists, and willing to contribute of their property to anyamount to support the rebels, but now being drawn into theconscription, or, having tasted the desperate neglects of the rebelservice, have deserted, and will not again take up arms. Their wivesare ladies, most delicate and tender, and their children brought upwith a refinement and delicacy of the most perfect character, untilthis war began. And these are the women that now have to wander alonein the woods, in search of their husbands and brothers and sons; andthese are the little girls, who, going to carry food to theirrelatives, are liable at any moment to be overtaken by swift hounds, let loose and set upon their track by the agents of Jefferson Davis. 

It may be doubted if war itself, ever but once in the history ofmankind, proved so disastrous to a people, by the hands of thoseengaged in carrying it on. Perhaps, in the final destruction ofJerusalem, there may have been scenes of greater and more fiendishcruelty by the factions of John and Simon destroying each other, whileboth were at war with the Romans. And what must be the state of theSouth, when a delicate woman, who would hardly set her feet on theground for delicacy, and used to have servants to attend upon herevery wish and want, is reduced to straits like these, and childrenare torn to pieces by the dogs of humble hunters after white flesh forJefferson Davis's shambles!

KEEP THE SOLDIERS' LETTERS. 

Mother, father, brother, sister, wife, sweetheart, keep that bundlesacredly! Each word will be historic, each line invaluable. When peacehas restored the ravages of war, and our nation's grandeur has madethis struggle the most memorable of those great conflicts by whichideas are rooted into society, these pen-pictures of the humblestevents, the merest routine details of the life led in winning nationalunity and freedom, will be priceless. Not for the historian's sakealone, do I say, keep those letters, but for your sakes who receivethem, and ours who write them. The next skirmish may stop our pulsesforever, and our letters, full of love for you, will be our onlylegacy besides that of having died in a noble cause. And should wesurvive the war, with health and limb uninjured, or bowed withsickness or crippled with wounds, those letters will be dear mementoesto us of dangers past, of trials borne, of privations suffered, ofcomrades beloved. Keep our letters, then, and write to us all the homenews and "gossip. " Bid us Godspeed. Speak kindly, loving, courageouswords to us. If you can't be Spartans--and we don't want you to be--be"lovers, countrymen, and friends. " So shall our feet fall lighter, andour sabers heavier!

PROPOSITION TO HANG THE DUTCH SOLDIERS. 

The following specimen of "chivalric" literature is copied from theKnoxville _Register_, of June 12, 1862:

Of late, in all battles and in all recent incursions made by Federalcavalry, we have found the great mass of Northern soldiers to consistof Dutchmen. The plundering thieves captured by Forrest, who stolehalf the jewelry and watches in a dozen counties of Alabama, wereimmaculate Dutchmen. The national odor of Dutchmen, as distinctive ofthe race as that which, constantly ascending to heaven, has distendedthe nostrils of the negro, is as unmistakable as that peculiar to apolecat, an old pipe, or a lager-beer saloon. Crimes, thefts, andinsults to the women of the South invariably mark the course of thesestinking bodies of _sour-krout_. Rosecrans himself is an unmixedDutchman, an accursed race which has overrun the vast districts ofthe country of the North-west. . . . It happens that we entertain agreater degree of respect for an Ethiopian in the ranks of theNorthern armies, than for an odoriferous Dutchman, who can have nopossible interest in this revolution. 

Why not hang every Dutchman captured? We will, hereafter, hang, shoot, or imprison for life all white men taken in the command of negroes, and enslave the negroes themselves. This is not too harsh. No humanbeing will assert the contrary. Why, then, should we not hang aDutchman, who deserves infinitely less of our sympathy than Sambo? Thelive masses of beer, krout, tobacco, and rotten cheese, which, on twolegs and four (on foot and mounted), go prowling through the South, should be used to manure the sandy plains and barren hill-sides ofAlabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. . . . Whenever a Dutch regiment adornsthe limbs of a Southern forest, daring cavalry raids into the Southshall cease. . . . President Davis need not be specially consulted; andif an accident of this sort should occur to a plundering band, likethat captured by Forrest, we are not inclined to believe our Presidentwould be greatly dissatisfied. 

 * * * * *

"My young colored friend, " said a benevolent chaplain to a contraband, "can you read?"

"Yes, sah, " was the reply. 

"Glad to hear it. Shall I give you a paper?"

"Sartin, massa, if you please. "

"What paper would you choose?" asked the chaplain. 

"_If you chews_, I'll take a paper of terbacker. "

THE STOLEN STARS. 

 [At a dinner party, at which were present Major-General Lewis Wallace, Thomas Buchanan Read, and James E. Murdoch, a conversation sprung up respecting ballads for the soldiers. The General maintained that hardly one had been written suited for the camp. It was agreed that each of them should write one. The following is that by General Wallace:]

 When good old Father Washington Was just about to die, He called our Uncle Samuel Unto his bedside nigh; "This flag I give you, Sammy, dear, " Said Washington, said he; "Where e'er it floats, on land or wave, My children shall be free. "

 And fine old Uncle Samuel He took the flag from him, And spread it on a long pine pole, And prayed, and sung a hymn. A pious man was Uncle Sam, Back fifty years and more; The flag should fly till Judgment-day, So, by the Lord, he swore. 

 And well he kept that solemn oath; He kept it well, and more: The thirteen stars first on the flag Soon grew to thirty-four; And every star bespoke a State, Each State an empire won. No brighter were the stars of night Than those of Washington. 

 Beneath that flag two brothers dwelt; To both 't was very dear; The name of one was Puritan, The other Cavalier. "Go, build ye towns, " said Uncle Sam, Unto those brothers dear; "Build anywhere, for in the world You've none but God to fear. "

 "I'll to the South, " said Cavalier, "I'll to the South, " said he; "I'll to the North, " said Puritan, "The North's the land for me. " Each took a flag, each left a tear To good old Uncle Sam; He kissed the boys, he kissed the flags, And, doleful, sung a psalm. 

 And in a go-cart Puritan His worldly goods did lay; With wife and gun and dog and ax, He, singing, went his way. Of buckskin was his Sunday suit, His wife wore linsey-jeans; And fat they grew, like porpoises, On hoe-cake, pork, and beans. 

 But Cavalier a Cockney was; He talked French and Latin; Every day he wore broadcloth, While his wife wore satin. He went off in a painted ship-- In glory he did go; A thousand niggers up aloft, A thousand down below. 

 The towns were built, as I've heard said; Their likes were never seen; They filled the North, they filled the South, They filled the land between. "The Lord be praised!" said Puritan; "Bully!" said Cavalier; "There's room and town-lots in the West, If there isn't any here. "

 Out to the West they journeyed then, And in a quarrel got; One said 't was his, he knew it was, The other said 't was not. One drew a knife, a pistol t' other, And dreadfully they swore; From Northern lake to Southern gulf Wild rang the wordy roar. 

 All the time good old Uncle Sam Sat by his fireside near, Smokin' of his kinnikinnick, And drinkin' lager-beer. He laughed and quaffed, and quaffed and laughed, Nor thought it worth his while, Until the storm in fury burst On Sumter's sea-girt isle. 

 O'er the waves to the smoking fort, When came the dewy dawn, To see the flag he looked--and lo! _Eleven stars were gone!_ "My pretty, pretty stars, " he cried, And down did roll a tear. "I've got your stars, old Fogy Sam, Ha, ha!" laughed Cavalier. 

 "I've got your stars in my watch-fob; Come take them if you dare!" And Uncle Sam he turned away, Too full of wrath to swear. "Let thunder all the drums!" he cried, While swelled his soul, like Mars; "A million Northern boys I'll get To bring me home my stars. "

 And on his mare, stout Betsey Jane, To Northside town he flew; The dogs they barked, the bells did ring, And countless bugles blew. "My stolen stars!" cried Uncle Sam, "My stolen stars!" cried he, "A million soldiers I must have To bring them back to me. "

 "Dry up your tears, good Uncle Sam; Dry up!" said Puritan, "We'll bring you home your stolen stars, Or perish every man!" And at the words a million rose, All ready for the fray; And columns formed, like rivers deep, And Southward marched away. 

 * * * * *

 And still old Uncle Samuel Sits by his fireside near, Smokin' of his kinnikinnick And drinkin' lager-beer; While there's a tremble in the earth, A gleaming of the sky, And the rivers stop to listen As the million marches by. 

DEBATE

between Rev. Ebenezer SLABSIDES and Honorable Felix GARROTTE, Delivered Before General ROSECRANS and the Society of the Toki. 

 The subject of discussion was--"WHO DESERVED THE GREATEST PRAISE: MR. COLUMBUS, FOR DISCOVERING AMERICA, OR MR. WASHINGTON, FOR DEFENDING IT AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED?" The two characters are personated by an instantaneous change of feature. 

[The Honorable FELIX GARROTTE arose, and said:]

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of this Lyceum:

I suppose the whole country is aware that I take sides with Mr. Kerlumbus, and I hope, Mr. President, that I may be allowed to go aleetle into detail in regard to the history of my hero. I find, Mr. President, after a deal of research, that Mr. Kerlumbus was born inthe year 1492, at Rome, a small town situated on the banks of theNile, a small creek that takes its rise in the Alps, and flows in asouth-westerly direction, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Mr. Kerlumbus's parents were poor; his father was a basket-maker, and, being in such low circumstances, was unable to give his only son thateducation which his talents and genius demanded. He therefore boundhim out to a shepherd, who sot him to watchin' swine on the banks ofthe Nile; and it was thar, sir, by a cornstalk and rush-light fire, areadin' the history of Robinson Crusoe, that first inspired in hisyouthful breast the seeds of sympathy and ambition. Sympathy for what?Why, sir, to rescue that unfortunate hero, Mr. Crusoe, from hissolitary and lone situation upon the island of Juan Fernandeze, andrestore him to the bosom of his family in Germany. He accordingly madeimmediate application to Julius Cæsar for two canoes and a yawl, eightmen, and provisions to last him a three-days' cruise; but, sir, he wasindignantly refused. He was tuk up the next day and tried by acourt-martial for treason, and sentenced to two months' banishmentupon the island of Cuba--a small island situated in the MediterraneanSea--which has lately been purchased by the Sons of Malta for JeffDavis. 

But, sir, he was not to be intimidated by this harsh and crueltreatment. No, sir-ee; on the contrary, he was inspired with renewedzeal and energy; and I can put into the mouth of my hero the immortalwords which Milton spoke to the Duke of Wellington, at the siege ofYorktown:

 "Once more into the breach, dear friends!"

Well, after the tarm of his banishment had expired, he returned toRome, and he found that Cæsar had died again, and that Alexander theGreat had succeeded him. Well, he made the same demand of Alexanderthat he made of Mr. Cæsar, but he met with a similar denial; but, finally, through the intermediation of Cleopatra, (that was Aleck'sfirst wife, ) he ultimately succeeded. 

It is unnecessary for me to go into a detail of his outfit and voyage. Suffice it to say, that, after having been tossed about upon wavesthat ran mountain-high, all his crew was lost, except himself and asmall boy, and they were thrown upon the state of insensibility. 

Well, when he came-to, he rose up, in the majesty of his strength, andfound he was upon an island; so he pulled out his red cotton bandanahandkercher, tied it to a fish-pole, and rared the stake of Alexander, and took formal possession of the territory in his name, and he calledit San Salvador; that was in honor of Cleopatra's eldest daughter. 

Well now, you see, Cleopatra was so well pleased with the honorconferred upon her daughter, that she migrated to this country for tosettle; hence you see the long line of distinguished antecedents thatshe left here previously, and they are known as _pat_riots, fromCleo_patra_. 

Now, sir, having accomplished the great and paramount object of hislife, he was ready for to die. The natives, therefore, for intrudin'upon their sile, tuk him prisoner, stripped him of his hunting-shirtand other clothing, tarred and feathered him, and rid him on a rail!Thus perished that truly great and good man, who lived and died formankind. One more remark, Mr. President, and then I am done; and I layit down as a particular pint in my argument. If it had not have beenfor Mr. Kerlumbus, Mr. Washington would never have been born; besidesall this, Mr. Washington was a coward. With these remarks, I leave thefloor to abler hands. 

 [Here Mr. SLABSIDES arose, much excited at hearing Mr. Washington called a coward, and said:]

Mr. President: I, sir, for one, am sureptaciously surprised at thequiet manner in which you have listened to the base suspersions castupon that glorious and good man. Mr. Washington a coward! Why, sir, lockjawed be the mouth that spoke it. Mr. Washington a coward! Mr. President, my blood's a-bilin' at the idea. Why, sir, look at him atthe battle of Tippecanoe! Look at him at the battle of Sarah Gordon!Look at him at the battle of New Orleans! Did he display cowardicethar, sir, or at any of the similar battles that he fout? I ask you, sir, did he display cowardice at the battle of New Orleans?

 [Mr. GARROTTE arose, and responded to the question. Said he:]

The gentleman will allow me to correct him, one moment. Mr. Washington, sir, never fit the battle of New Orleans. He couldn't havefout that battle, for he'd been dead more'n _two weeks_ afore that arbattle was ever fout. He never fit the battle of New Orleans. 

Mr. Slabsides. --Will the gentleman--will Mr. Garrotte please state whoit was that fit the battle of New Orleans? The gentleman has seen fitto interrupt me; will he please to state who it was fit the battle ofNew Orleans?

Hon. Felix Garrotte. --If the gentleman will have patience to turn toJosephus, or read Benjamin Franklin's History of the Black-Hawk War, you will thar learn, sir, that it was General Douglas that fit thebattle of New Orleans. 

Mr. Slabsides. --I thank my very learned opponent, not only for hisinstructions, but more especially for his corrections, in which he hasshown himself totally ignorant of history, men, and things. I contend, Mr. President, notwithstanding the gentleman's assertion to thecontrary, that Mr. Washington not only fit the battle of New Orleans, but that he is _alive now_, sir! I have only to pint you, Mr. President, and gentlemen of this lyceum, to his quiet and retired homeat _Sandoval_, on the banks of the Tombigbee River, whar he nowresides, conscious of his private worth and of the gloriousachievements heaped upon his grateful brow by his aged countrymen; andallow me to call your attention to the fact that General Douglas neverfit the battle of New Orleans. He couldn't have fout that battle, cause he was dead. Yes, sir, and I can prove it, if you'll have thepatience to turn and look over Horace Greeley's History of the KansasHymn-book War; for there you will find that General Douglas, at thehead of an army of negroes, made a desperate charge on Mason andDixon's line, and Horace said he never breathed afterward. 

 [Hereupon the speaker left in disgust at the ignorance of his opponent. ]

A SERMON FROM THE HARP OF A THOUSAND STRINGS. 

Preached before General Rosecrans and Staff. 

My Beluved Brethering:

I am a plain and unlarnt preacher, of whom you've no doubt heern onafore; and I now appear to expound the scripters, and pint out thenarrow way which leads from a vain world to the streets of theJuroosalum; and my tex which I shall choose for the occasion issomewhar between the second Chronikills and the last chapter ofTimothy Titus, and when found you will find it in these words: "Andthey shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the mountains of Hepsidam, wharthe lion roareth and the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born. "

Now, my beluved brethering, as I have afore told you, I am anunedicated man, and know nothing about grammar talk and collidgehighfaluting; but I'm a plain, unlarnt preacher of the Gospil, what'sbeen foreordained, and called to expound the scripters to a dyin'world, and prepare a perverse generation for the day of wrath; "forthey shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the mountains of Hepsidam, wharthe lion roareth and the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born. "

My beluved brethering, the text says "they shall gnaw a file. " Itdon't say they _may_, but they _shall_. And now, there's more'n onekind of file: there's the hand-saw file, rat-tail file, single file, double file, and profile; but the kind of file spoken of here isn'tone of them kind neither, because it's a figger of speech, mybrethering, and means goin' it alone, getting ukered; "for they shallgnaw a file, and flee unto the mountains of Hepsidam, whar the lionroareth and the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born. "

And now, there be some here with fine clothes on thar backs, brassrings on thar fingers, and lard on thar har, what goes it whilethey're young; and thar be brothers here what, as long as tharconstitutions and forty-cent whisky last, goes it blind; and thar besisters here what, when they get sixteen years old, cut thartiller-ropes and goes it with a rush. But I say, my brethering, takecare you don't find, when Gabriel blows his last trump, that you'veall went it alone and got ukered; "for they shall gnaw a file, andflee unto the mountains of Hepsidam. "

And, my brethering, there's more dam beside Hepsidam: thar'sRotterdam, Haddam, Amsterdam, mill-dam, and don't-care-a-dam; the lastof which, my dear brethering, is the worst of all, and reminds me of acircumstance I once knew in the State of Illinoy. There was a man whatbuilt him a mill on the east fork of Auger Creek, and it was a goodmill, and ground a site of grain; but the man what built it was amiserable sinner, and never give any thing to the church; and, mybrethering, one night thar come a dreadful storm of wind and rain, andthe fountains of the great deep was broken up, and the waters rusheddown and swept that man's mill-dam into kingdom come, and, lo, andbehold! in the morning, when he got up, he found he was not worth adam. Now, my young brethering, when storms of temptation overtake ye, take care you don't fall from grace, and become like that mill--notworth a dam; "for they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the mountainsof Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and the whang-doodle mourneth forits first-born. "

"Whar the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born. " This part of thetex, my brethering, is another figger of speech, and isn't to be takenas it says. It doesn't mean the howlin' wilderness whar John theHard-shell Baptist was fed on locusts and wild asses; but it means, mybrethering, the city of New Yorleans, whar corn is worth six bits abushel one day, and nary red the next; whar gamblers, thieves, andpickpockets go skiting about the streets like weasels in a barnyard;whar they have cream-colored hosses, gilded carriages, marble saloonswith brandy and sugar in 'em; whar honest men are scarcer than hens'teeth; and whar a strange woman once tuk in your beluved preacher, andbamboozled him out of two hundred and twenty-seven dollars; but shecan't do it again, hallelujah! For "they shall gnaw a file, and fleeunto the mountains of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and thewhang-doodle mourneth for its first-born. "

Brother Flint will please pass round the hat, and let every Hard-shellshell out. 

THE END. 

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