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ence of mind, and intrepidity of the brave men associated in the enterprise, was performed Monday night, October 6, 1863. This was no less than an attempt to blow up the United States steamer New Ironsides, lying off Morris Island. Though not fully meeting the expectations of those who conceived the plan, and those who carried it into execution, it called forth unbounded admiration for the brilliant heroism of the actors in their dangerous but patriotic and self-sacrificing undertaking.

Lieut. Glassell gave the order to back, but it was found impossible. In this condition, with no shelter, and no hope of escape, they thought it best to surrender, and hailed the enemy to that effect. The Yankees, however, paid no attention to the call. It was then proposed to put on their life-preservers, jump overboard, and endeavor to swim to the shore. All but Pilot Cannon consented. The latter, being unable to swim, said he would stay and take his chances in the boat. Lieut. Glassell, Engineer Toombs, and Sullivan the fireman, left the boat, the first two having on life-preservers, and the latter supporting himself on one of the hatches thrown to him by the

with his clothing in the water, got back to the boat, and was assisted in by Cannon.

The torpedo steamer David, with a crew of four volunteers, consisting of Lieut. Wm. T. Glassell, J. H. Toombs, chief engineer, and James Sullivan, fireman of the gunboat Chicora, with J. W. Can-pilot. Engineer Toombs, becoming embarrassed non, assistant pilot of the gunboat Palmetto State, left South Atlantic Wharf between six and seven o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of running The boat was then rapidly drifting from the out to the Ironsides, exploding a torpedo under Ironsides. He now fortunately found a match, and that vessel near amidships, and if possible blow lighting a torch, crept back to the engine, discovher up. The weather, being dark and hazy, fa- ered and removed the cause of its not working, vored the enterprise. The boat, with its gallant and soon got it in order. Engineer Toombs and little crew, proceeded down the harbor, skirting Cannon reached their wharf in the city about along the shoals on the inside of the channel, un-midnight, fatigued, and presenting a worn-out til nearly abreast of their formidable antagonist, appearance, but rejoicing at their fortunate and the New Ironsides. narrow escape.

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The boat was now put bow on, and aimed directly for the Ironsides. As the little steamer darted forward, the lookout on the Ironsides hailed them with: "Take care there; you will run into

us.

What steamer is that?" Lieut. Glassell replied by discharging one barrel at the Yankee sentinel, and tendering the gun to Pilot Cannon, told him there was another Yankee, pointing to one with his body half over the bulwarks, and asked Cannon to take care of him with the other barrel.

The next moment they had struck the Ironsides, and exploded the torpedo about fifteen feet from the keel, on the starboard side. An immense volume of water was thrown up, covering the little boat, and going through the smoke-stack, entered the furnace, completely extinguishing the fires.

In addition to this, pieces of the ballast had fallen into the works of the engine, rendering it unmanageable at that time. Volley after volley of musketry from the crew of the Ironsides and from the launches began to pour in upon them.

CAVALRY SONG.

BY ELBRIDGE JEFFERSON CUTLER.

THE squadron is forming, the war-bugles play.
To saddle, brave comrades, stout hearts for a fray!
Our Captain is mounted strike spurs, and away!
No breeze shakes the blossoms or tosses the grain ;
But the wind of our speed floats the galloper's mane,
As he feels the bold rider's firm hand on the rein.
Lo! dim in the starlight their white tents appear!
Ride softly! ride slowly! the onset is near !
More slowly! more softly! the sentry may hear!
Now fall on the rebel a tempest of flame!
Strike down the false banner whose triumph were
shame!

Strike, strike for the true flag, for freedom and
fame!

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THE END OF THE ALABAMA.-A Confederate soldier gives the following account of the sinking of that famous vessel and his subsequent adventures:

"I was with Semmes everywhere he went, in the naval brigade, and in blockade running, and was on the Alabama all the time he commanded her. I was with him when she sank, and was picked up when he was, by the Deerhound. A sharp fight it was, I assure you, but it wasn't altogether the eleven-inch guns of the Kearsarge that did the business. We never had a chance of success, and our men knew it; and then we had no gunners to compare with the Kearsarge's.

"Our gunners fired by routine, and when they had a gun loaded, fired it off blind. They never changed the elevation of their guns all through the fight, and the Kearsarge was working up all the time, taking advantage of every time she was hid by the smoke to work a little nearer, and then her gunners took aim for every shot. We never tried to board the Kearsarge, but, on the contrary, tried our best to get away, from the time the fight commenced.

"We knew very well that if we got in range of her Dahlgren howitzers she would sink us in ten minutes.

"Semmes never supposed he could whip the Kearsarge when he went out to fight her. He was bullied into it, and took good care to leave all his valuables on shore, and had a life-preserver on through the fight. I saw him put it on, and I thought if it was wise in him, it wouldn't be foolish in me to do the same. When Semmes saw that the ship was going down, he told us all to swim who could, and was one of the first to jump into the water, and we all made for the Deerhound.

"I was a long way ahead of Semmes, and when I came up to the Deerhound's boat, they asked me if I was Semmes, before they would take me in. They would not take me in till I told them I was an officer on the Alabama, and as soon as they had Semmes aboard they made tracks as fast as they knew how, and left everybody else to be drowned or picked up by the Kearsage."

.

GEN. BUTLER AND THE "PERFECTIONISTS." In Norfolk there was a society called "Perfectionists," and in their behalf some ten or twelve of them addressed a letter to the Commanding General of that department, setting forth their objections to swearing allegiance to any earthly government. The subject was disposed of by Gen. Butler in the following characteristic manner:

HEADQUARTERS OF EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

FORT MONROE, VA., January 13, 1864. J. F. Dozier, E. H. Beaseley, and others: GENTLEMEN: I have read your petition to Gen. Barnes, setting forth your objections to swearing allegiance to any earthly government.

The first reason which you set forth is that “all human governments are a necessary evil, and are continued in existence only by the permission of Jehovah until the time arrives for the establishment of his kingdom, and in the establishment of which all others will be subdued unto it, thus fulfilling that declaration in the eighth of Daniel, fourteenth verse," &c.

You therein establish to your own satisfaction three points:

First. That government, although an evil, is a necessary one. Second. That for a time it is permitted to exist by the wisdom of Jehovah. Third. That the time at which a period is to be put to its existence is not come.

Therefore you ought to swear allegiance to the government of the United States:

First. Because, though an evil, you admit it to be necessary. Second. Although an evil, you admit that it is permitted by the wisdom of Jehovah, and that it is not for his creatures to question the wisdom of his acts. Third. You only claim to be excused when Jehovah's government is substituted, which period, you admit, has not yet arrived. Your obedient servant,

BENJ. F. BUTLER.

FIVE DAYS A PRISONER. Lieutenant Charles O. Phillips was captured, with his orderly, on the morning of the 3d of April, 1865, during the advance on Richmond, and while under orders from General Weitzel, upon whose staff he was serving. "I was taken to General Geary," said he, "and questioned closely by him; he finally concluded by telling me I was a d―d intelligent staff officer,' because I could not tell him the strength of our corps, who commanded it, nor even what troops were entering the city when I was captured.

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"The first day's march was twenty-eight miles on foot, with nothing to eat. I tried to escape that night, but was caught. The second day we marched twenty-three miles, and the rebels promised to feed us at night, but did not. The third day we marched twenty-six miles, Sheridan after us. He took a train of three hundred wagons, with stores, and destroyed the whole. At night (the third) I found so much fault that they gave me two ears of corn to eat. This night I got permission to go to the river and bathe, my feet being very sore and chafed badly. I made arrangements with the guard to desert, but was would shoot me if I attempted to escape again, caught, when the provost marshal told me he would shoot me if I attempted to escape again, well to shoot me as to starve me to death. at which I suggested whether it might not be as well to shoot me as to starve me to death.

"The next day we marched twenty-five miles, and at four P. M. Sheridan was very close to us. I was so completely exhausted that I thought life was not worth much; so down I sat in the road, my orderly doing likewise, determined not to march farther without rest. The Captain threatened to shoot me again, and I told him to act his pleasure, as Uncle Sam knew how, and had as many of their men as they had of ours. finally chose what he thought was his best and most reliable man to leave as guard over myself and orderly, giving him instructions to keep us within their lines at all hazards. Soon I got on the right side of Johnny, and made arrangements to desert with him, whenever an opportunity could be gained.

He

"At dusk we found ourselves in a little pine grove with rebels all around us. The bright moon plagued me considerably, and I feared my plan for escape would not result favorably; but anything, I thought, was preferable to my present condition. At a time when no one was watching us, I succeeded in concealing myself with my two comrades in a deep ravine, under a large cedar. Soon I heard voices, and looking out carefully, I

saw a lieutenant and several men pass along. Creeping out, I followed them, and saw the officer post his men on picket surrounding the ravine. I then followed him to his reserve, ascertained at the next relief that the positions of the men were not changed each time, and then returned to our hiding-place to communicate the good news to the orderly and the Johnny. The latter began to be a little shaky, and I a little doubtful. It was a long time to wait till the moon went down, and finally the guard fell asleep. He had previously agreed to let us go, and he would re-tire party were captured-eight in number. turn to his company, I demanding that he should wait till we had started. Seeing him asleep, I changed my tactics, quietly took his rifle, &c., gently shook him by the shoulder, and informed him that during his short nap affairs had changed. He was now my prisoner, and would do precisely as I said, or his brains were worthless. He looked very much surprised, but saw there was no help for him.

"At half past four A. M. it was a little cloudy, and I quietly informed Johnny that he was to take the lead, on his hands and knees, my orderly would go next, and myself with Johnny's musket in the rear. In this way we escaped through the enemy's picket line, and reached our friends in safety at half past six o'clock on the morning of the seventh. I turned the rebel guard over to Major Stevens, provost marshal of this (Twenty-fifth) corps, and he immediately took the oath, thanking me for bringing him over.”

passed by, pennant flying, the distinguished gentleman unconscious of the fact that a rifle in a steady hand could, and would, but for obvious reasons, have given him his quietus. Two blockade steamers, of the first class, passed up, and one down, during the first twenty-four hours. When night had fairly set in, the Captain prepared to launch his boat, when two boats rounded the point; and, as he supposed, having discovered his position, they designed to attack him; but it proved to be a returned fishing party. The enCompelling them to act in the capacity of guides, he proceeded to examine all the fortifications, river obstructions, and other objects of interest within three miles of Wilmington. Here he was compelled to pass through a creek, running through a cypress swamp, for several hours, through grass eight feet high, and immense cypress trees on each side, whose shadow cast a dark gloom, only exceeded by darkness.

By two o'clock that morning a road was reached, which proved to be a branch of the main road to Wilmington, and joining it at a point two miles distant. The party were here divided, ten being left to hold this road; and the Captain, taking the remaining eight men, took position at the junction of the roads, one of which was the main. Several prisoners were here captured, but none of importance. At about eleven o'clock in the morning, the rebel courier, with the mails from Fort Fisher and lower batteries, en route to Wilmington, whose approach was awaited, came duly along, and he, with his entire mail, was captured.

CAPTAIN CUSHING'S EXPLOIT. One pleasant night, while the blockading fleet lay off Wilming- On examination, this proved to be a prize of ton, young Cushing, of the gunboat Monticello, value, there being upwards of two hundred docutook a first cutter, with fifteen men and two offi- ments, private and official, and many of great imcers (Acting Ensign Jones and Acting Master's portance. The party, having thus far labored sucMate Howard), and succeeded in passing the cessfully, experienced the necessity for refreshforts of the west bar at Wilmington, and started ment for the inner man, and accordingly Master's up the Cape Fear River. After a narrow escape Mate Howard garbed himself in the courier's of being run over by one of the rebel steamers clothes, and mounting the same worthy's horse, plying the river, he passed the second line of bat-proceeded two miles to a store, and purchased a teries, and continued his course until Old Bruns-supply of provisions, with which he safely rewick was reached, where the rebels had a heavy turned. The prices the mate thought exorbibattery, when he was hailed and fired upon, but tant, but did not feel disposed, in his liberal succeeded in passing unscathed, by feigning to mood, to haggle or beat down. pass down the river, and crossing to the friendly cover of the opposite bank. He then continued his course up the river. By this artifice the rebels were deceived, and signalized to the forts to intercept him as he came down the river, which they supposed was the direction taken.

At half past two the next morning the Captain had reached a point seven miles distant from Wilmington, where he caused the boat to be hauled on the banks, and concealed from view by bushes and marsh grass. Day had now dawned, and it became necessary to select a place of concealment, which was found in the brush on the banks.

Soon after daylight, the rebel steamers, blockade runners, and transports could be seen by the party plying up and down the river; and, in fact, the flagship of the rebel Commodore Lynch

Shortly after, more prisoners were captured, and all that was now required to add to the éclat of the achievement was to capture the courier and mail from Wilmington, whose advent was looked for at five P. M. The impatience of the party may be imagined, when it is stated that the mail would contain the day's papers issued at Wilmington at one P. M., and our nomadic friends were anxious to obtain the latest news early.

The courier arrived slightly in advance of time; but one of the sailors, having moved incautiously across the road, was seen by him, and taking alarm, he took to his heels at full speed. Capt. Cushing, like Paul Duval No. 2, awaited him on the road, with pistol cocked, put spurs to his horse, and pursued for about three miles. But the courier speeded on like a whirlwind, and the

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