INCIDENTS OF the Battle of Resaca, Ga. – May 18.-"I have just been over that portion of the battle-field where the Twentieth corps repulsed the enemy yesterday, and the sight presented is enough to make the heart of one long accustomed to war ache. The ambulance corps, so complete in all its details, is gathering in the wounded, and the groans of the sufferers are grating to the ear. All the rebel dead and wounded are left in our hands to be cared for. The ground is thickly strewn with the victims in about equal proportions, excepting at those places where desperate charges were made upon our line, when the enemy came out of his breastworks; there the rebels largely predominate. There, within a few yards of me, a wounded rebel iş stopping the blood that endeavors to make its exit through a ghastly grape wound in the leg of a Union soldier; while over yonder, beneath an oak, a wounded Federal is in the act of giving water from his canteen to an enemy who fell beside him, and whose life-blood discolors the garments of both. After the shock of battle has passed, the helpless inhabitants of the rifle pits and trenches are no longer enemies. A common sympathy seems to inspire them, and they are once more friends and brothers - children of one Father. him from temporary inconvenience, and presented him with fifty dollars in good money. The offer was gratefully accepted, of course, with suitable acknowledgments of the generosity which prompted it. AN HEROIC SAILOR.- In the record of the war, not the least interesting features are the heroic deeds of the humble men who compose the rank and file of the army and navy. Instances of individual heroism and self-sacrifice present themselves in abundance, and furnish a rich harvest of materials for the annalist and historian. One of the most conspicuous of these is the case of the gallant tar, John Davis, whose courage in the attack on Elizabeth City, N. C., is made the subject of special mention by his immediate commander and by Commodore Goldsborough, who thus unite to make manifest the bond of true chivalry which binds together all brave men, however widely separated their station. The following is the story of this brave sailor: "Lieutenant J. C. Chapin, commanding United States steamer Valley City, off Roanoke Island, writes to Commodore Goldsborough under date of February 25th, noticing a magnanimous act of bravery by John Davis, gunner's mate on "On the field, yesterday, on the left, near Tilton, board his vessel, at the taking of Elizabeth City. where our cavalry engaged the enemy, a beauti- He says John Davis was at his station, during the ful garden, clothed in all the loveliness that rare action, in the magazine issuing powder, when a plants and southern flowers could give it, at- shell from the enemy's battery penetrated into tracted my attention, and I was drawn to it. The the magazine, and exploded outside of it. He house had been deserted by its owners, and the threw himself over a barrel of powder, protecting smiling magnolias and roses seemed to stand it with his own body from the fire, while at the guard over the deserted premises. I entered same time passing out the powder for the guns. through an open gate, stooped to pluck a rose Commodore Goldsborough, in transmitting this from the bush, when I discovered one of the letter to the Navy Department, says: 'It affords enemy's pickets lying partially covered by the me infinite pleasure to forward this communicagrass and bushes dead. He was a noble-look-tion to the Navy Department, to whose especial ing man, and upon his countenance there seemed consideration I beg leave to recommend the gallant to rest the remnant of a smile. The right hand and noble sailor alluded to;' and he adds in a clasped a rose, which he was in the act of sever-postscript: Davis actually seated himself on the ing from its stem when he received the messen-barrel, the top being out, and in this position he ger of death. In the afternoon the cavalry dug remained until the flames were extinguished."" a narrow grave, and, with Federal soldiers for pall-bearers, and the beautiful flowers for mourners, he was laid to rest, the rose still clasped in his stiffened hand. Nothing was found to identify him, and in that lonely grave his life's history lies entombed. No sister's tears will baptize the grave among the roses where the dead picket sleeps." GENERAL TERRY AND COLONEL OLMSTED. Major Gardiner, of the Seventh Connecticut regiment, tells this characteristic story of General Terry, the late Colonel of his regiment: "After Fort Pulaski had been placed in General Terry's charge, and as its rebel commander, Colonel Olmsted, was about to be sent North as a prisoner of war, General Terry, appreciating the embarrassments to which he might be subjected, told him that as it was not probable that he was supplied with current money, and as Confederate money was valueless except as a curiosity, he desired that he would accept of a sum that might free The Navy Department promptly rewarded John Davis, the brave sailor who so courageously protected from the flames a barrel of gunpowder on the steamer Valley City during the attack upon Elizabeth City. He was a gunner's mate, receiving a salary of twenty-five dollars per month, or three hundred dollars per year. The evidence of his bravery was received at the Navy Department on the evening of the 10th instant, and on the next day Secretary Welles sent him the following letter, appointing him a gunner, an office which carries with it a salary of one thousand dollars per year, and is a life appointment, the salary increasing by length of service to one thousand four hundred and fifty dollars: "NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 11, 1862. "SIR: Your commanding officer and the FlagOfficer of the Northern Atlantic Blockading Squadron, have brought to the notice of the Department your courage and presence of mind, displayed on the 10th ultimo, in protecting with your person a barrel of gunpowder from the flames. "As a mark of appreciation of your bravery, you are hereby appointed an acting-gunner in the navy of the United States from this date. "Enclosed herewith is a blank oath of office, which, having executed, you will return to the Department, accompanied by your letter of accept ance. "If, after you have served six months at sea, you shall furnish the Department with satisfactory testimonials from your commanding officer, a warrant will be issued to you, bearing the same date of this acting appointment. "I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, GIDEON WELLES." A JOAN D'ARC. A maurauding band of rebels in Kentucky, on their way to Mount Sterling, stopped at the house of a Mr. Oldom, and, he being absent at the time, plundered him of all his horses, and among them a valuable one belonging to his daughter Cornelia. She resisted the outrage as long as she could, but finding all her efforts in vain, she sprang upon another horse, and started post haste towards the town to give the alarm. Her first animal gave out, when she seized another, and meeting the messenger from Middleton, she sent him as fast as his horse could carry him to convey the necessary warning to Mount Sterling, where he arrived most opportunely. Miss Oldom then retraced her way towards home, taking with her a double-barrelled shot-gun. She found a pair of saddle-bags on the road, belonging to a rebel officer, which contained a pair of revolvers, and soon she came up with the advancing maurauders, and ordered them to halt. Perceiving that one of the thieves rode her horse, she ordered him to surrender her horse; this he refused, and finding that persuasion would not gain her ends, she levelled the shot-gun at the rider, commanded him, as Damon did the traveller, "down from his horse," and threatened to fire if he did not comply. Her indomitable spirit at last prevailed, and the robbers, seeing something in her eye that spoke a terrible menace, surrendered her favorite steed. When she had regained his back, and patted him on the neck, he gave a neigh of mingled triumph and recognition, and she turned his head homeward and cantered off as leisurely as if she were taking her morning exercise. THE BALLAD OF ISHMAEL DAY. ONE summer morning a daring band Over the prosperous peaceful farms, The clatter of hoofs and the clang of arms. Fresh from the South, where the hungry pine, They ate like Pharaoh's starving kine; They swept the land like devouring surge, And left their path, to its farthest verge, Bare as the track of the locust-scourge. Some paled, and cowered, and sought to hide ; Some stood erect in their fearless pride; And women shuddered, and children cried. But others- vipers in human form, Stinging the bosom that kept them warmWelcomed with triumph the thievish band, Hurried to offer the friendly hand, As the rebels rode into Maryland, — Made them merry with food and wine, Clad them in garments rich and fine, For rags and hunger to make amends, Flattered them, praised them with selfish ends: "Leave us scathless, for we are friends!" Could traitors trust a traitor? No! Little they favored friend or foe, eral guard on the platform of the car. The old York River shore, where his father had resided, man, seeing his son, presumed to take more liberty than the rule allowed, and put his head outside the door. His son hastily advanced, piece at the shoulder, with a sharp "Get back there, you old rebel!" INCIDENTS OF THE PENINSULA.-During the first day's skirmish near Lee's Mills, two soldiers, one from Maine, the other from Georgia, posted themselves each behind a tree, and indulged in sundry shots, without effect on either side, at the same time keeping up a lively chat. Finally, that getting a little tedious, Georgia calls out to Maine, "Give me a show," meaning step out, and give an opportunity to hit. Maine, in response, pokes out his head a few inches, and Georgia | cracks away, and misses. "Too high," says Maine. "Now give me a show." Georgia pokes out her head, and Maine blazes away. Too low," sings Georgia. In this way the two alternated several times, without hitting. Finally, Maine sends a ball so as to graze the tree within an inch or two of the ear of Georgia. Cease firing," shouts Georgia. "Cease it is," responds Maine. Look here," says one, "we have carried on this business long enough for one day. 'Spose we adjourn for rations ?" 66 Agreed," says the other. And so the two marched away in different directions, one whistling "Yankee Doodle," the other "Dixie." 66 "While coming home from a scout," says a soldier at Yorktown, "we called at a house, and found a couple of ladies, quite young, and one as handsome as a Hebe. They were secesh to the 'backbone,' and had each a lover in the rebel army; one of them was at Yorktown, and only left the day before, to pick his way back along the York River, and carry such information as he had gotten from us. The young lady showed us his photograph, a good-looking Lieutenant, and hoped we should meet him face to face, that he might leave us for dead. 'O,' said she, if all the Yankees were one man, and I had a sword here, I should like to cut his throat!' "And she said it with a vim, too. We told her we would take good care of young Lieutenant White, and see that Miss Florill had an opportunity to change her name after the battle was over, hoping for an invitation to the wedding; and as she had called me the Divine,' chaplain of the regiment, I proposed to marry them. 6 "Never,' said she. I hope he will come home dead before you shall take Yorktown. I would wade in blood up to my knees to bury his body.' "She spoke of poison in a glass of water we drank, but I replied that one look of her angel face, one smile from her lovely features, would be an antidote to the rankest poison.' 'Yes,' she replied, and to your hatred of the South too?' "The flirtation nearly made her in favor of Union, and us, the more so. But we had not gone far when we observed a company of soldiers approaching, who brought with them the lover a corpse upon a litter, returning to his sweetheart. He had been shot, while trying to avoid the quick eye of our sharpshooters, near a house upon the and where a negro informed the soldiers that his mother and sister were at the house where we had been in conversation with the ladies, one of whom was his sister, and our soldiers had, after receiving orders, carried him to be buried. "We did not mar the sorrow of the relatives by stopping to witness the reception of the body." "MILITARY NECESSITY.". A knot of newspaper correspondents in the department of the Rappahannock took formal possession of certain rebel premises, and adopted the following declaratory resolutions: "1. Resolved, That the house belonged to the Federal Government by reason of its owner's secession and abandonment, and not to the officers who occupied it. That we were equally children of Uncle Sam, and that, inasmuch as Uncle Sam has repudiated primogeniture from his first start out in life, all his children were entitled to share alike, at present and in prospective, and that the house was ours to use, as much as the officers That we, therefore, should take possession of any unoccupied portion of it. That the dining-room was unoccupied for the night, and that there we should take up our lodgings. "2. Resolved, Of all the appliances of comfort that we could find unappropriated, ditto. That we should take some wood, enough to keep a roaring fire all night, to warm our feet by. "3. Resolved, Of everything to eat, ditto; provided that we could get cook's consent, acknowledging valid authority over the matter in him, derived from his skill and labor in making it eatable. "4. Resolved, That we do all these things as a military necessity, and in strict conformity to, and most devoted regard for, the constitution of the doers." - A BRAVE PENNSYLVANIAN. - At the battle and capture of Port Gibson, Sergeant Charles Bruner, a Pennsylvanian, of Northampton County, with a squad of fifty men of the Twenty-third regiment Wisconsin volunteers, was the first to enter the fort. The flag-sergeant being wounded, Sergeant Bruner seized the colors, and, amid cheers and a rain of bullets, planted the Stars and Stripes upon the ramparts. Again, at Champion Hill, the Twenty-third was about breaking, when Sergeant Bruner took the colors in his hand, and cried, "Boys, follow! don't flinch from your duty!" and on they went, following their brave color-bearer; and the intrenchment was taken. Again, at the battle of Big Black, company B, of the Twenty-third Wisconsin, got orders from General Grant to plant a cannon, and try to silence a battery, which was bravely done; when the cannon was dismantled, Captain and First Lieutenant were gone and wounded. Sergeant Bruner again cheered on his men, and in a handto-hand fight the enemy were routed. The Sergeant was made prisoner twice; but his captors were soon put hors du combat by his brave followers, who would die for their gallant Sergeant, and now Captain. The rebels were driven back, with lost colors. Singular to say, Sergeant Bruner has led on his men in more than thirteen battles, always in front, yet he has never been wounded. He captured with his own hands three rebel flags, which he handed over to General Grant. Sergeant Bruner, the only Pennsylvanian in that regiment, does the old Keystone State great honor. exceedingly affable and pleasant in conversation. On the approach of Captain R., he dismounted, tapped him familiarly on the shoulder, and said, "Let us step aside and talk a little." Seated on a fallen tree, some thirty yards from the staff, the General, à la genuine Yankee, picked up a stick and commenced whittling, and the following conversation ensued: Rosecrans. Where are your lines? Rice. General, it has cost me a great deal of trouble to find your lines; if you take the same amount of trouble, you will find ours. Rose. (Wincing slightly.) What brigade do Rice. Rose. What division? BRAVERY AT LEE'S MILLS. Among the in-you cidents of the fight at Lee's Mills, Virginia, on the 16th of April, 1862, was the recovery from a fever of Sergeant Fletcher, of company É, Third Vermont, on the sick list, and excused from duty, and the use he made of his temporary health. He crossed the stream and went through the fight; then, on his return, was among those who went back and rescued the wounded. On his return to camp, he went into hospital and resumed his fever, with aggravation. John Harrington, a beardless orphan boy of seventeen, unarmed, went over and rescued out of the rifle pit a disabled comrade. Lieutenant Whittemore commanded company E, which is without a Captain for some reason. This officer, with his revolver, covered Harrington in his hazardous expedition, and killed several rebels who aimed their pieces at the boy. His most intimate friend in the company, private Vance, had been killed in the rifle-pit. Whittemore, enraged with sorrow, burst into tears, and seizing the dead soldier's musket, stood over him, and threatened death to any who should retreat; and then stooping down, he took cartridge after cartridge from his friend's box, and killed his man with every fire-raging with a divine fury the while. Among the phenomena of the fight was the condition of the uniform of Captain Bennett, of company K, of the Third Vermont. It had eight bullet holes in it - one through the collar of his coat, one through the right coat-sleeve, one through his pantaloons below the left knee, one through both pantaloons and drawers above the right knee, and four through the skirts of his coat. There was not a scratch upon this man's skin. ROSECRANS AND THE CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN. -The following interview took place, during the progress of the battle of Chickamauga, between General Rosecrans and a Captain Rice, of the First Texas regiment. The Captain was made prisoner on Saturday afternoon, and taken immediately to Rosecrans, who was two hundred and fifty yards in the rear of the portion of his army which was engaged by Hood's division. Rosecrans appeared, dressed in black breeches, white vest, and plain blouse, and was surrounded by a gorgeous staff. The General is short and thickset, with smooth face, rosy cheeks and lips, brilliant black eyes, and is very handsome. He is | Rose. Do you belong to Bragg's army? Rosecrans looked at him, and smiled at his ingenuous manner, so perfectly open and candid the Captain seemed, then again commenced, blandly: Rose. How many of Longstreet's men got here? Rice. About forty-five thousand. Rose. Rice. mand. Rose. Captain, you don't seem to know much, for a man whose appearance seems to indicate so much intelligence. Rice. Well, General, if you are not satisfied with my information, I will volunteer some. We are going to whip you most tremendously in this fight. Rose. Why? Rice. Rose. Because you are not ready to fight. Rice. Yes; we were ready. How do you know we were not ready? Rice. You sent a brigade to burn a bridge. General Bragg sent a brigade to drive yours back. You were forced to reenforce; then General Bragg reenforced, and forced you into an engagement. Rose. I find you know more than I thought you did. You can go to the rear. Southern paper. HOW AN AMPUTATION IS Performed. — Imagine yourself in the hospital of the Sixth corps after a battle. There lies a soldier, whose thigh has been mangled by a shell; and, although he may not know it, the limb will have to be amputated to save his life. Two Surgeons have already pronounced this decision; but, according to the present formation of a hospital in this camp, no one Surgeon, nor two, can order an amputation, even of a finger. The opinion of five, at least, and sometimes more, including the division Surgeon, always a man of superior skill and experience, must first be consulted, and then, if there is an agreement, depend upon it, the operation is necessary. This did not use to be, in the earlier months of the war; but it is so now. Suppose man, that the amputation has been decided upon; the who is a rebel, and an Irishman, with strong nerve and frame, is approached by one of the Surgeons, and told that he will now be attended to, and whatever is best will be done for him. They cannot examine his wound thoroughly where he lies, so he is tenderly lifted on to a rough table. A rebel Surgeon is among the number present. The man, as I have said, has strong nerve, and is not reduced by loss of blood. So, then, the decision is communicated to him that he must lose his leg. While the operating Surgeon is examining, and they are talking to the poor fellow, chloroform is being administered to him through a sponge. The first sensations of this sovereign balm are like those pleasant ones produced by a few glasses of whiskey, and the Irishman begins to think he is on a spree, and throws out his arms and legs, and talks funnily. The inhalation goes on, and the beating of the pulse is watched; and when it is ascertained that he is totally oblivious to all feeling, the instruments are produced, and the operation commences. Down goes the knife into the flesh, but there is no tremor or indication of pain. The patient is dreaming of the battle out of which he has just come. Hear him, for he's got his rifle pointed over the earthworks at our advancing line of battle: "Arrah, now they come! Give it to 'em! Down goes my man! Load up, load up quick! for there they are again! Hi hi hi! Up they come! Now for another shot!" Such are a sample of the exclamations the Celt makes, in his own brogue, while the Surgeons are cutting, and carving, and sawing away. The leg is off, and carried away; the arteries are tied up, and the skin is neatly sewed over the stump. The effect of the chloroform is relaxed; and when the patient opens his eyes, a short time afterwards, he sees a clean white bandage where his ghastly wound had been, and his lost limb is removed. He feels much easier, and drinks an ounce and a half of good whiskey with gusto. This is a real instance of amputation, and the chief characteristics of the description will answer every one. ANECDOTE OF GENERAL SHERMAN.-On the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah, he saw a large number of British flags displayed from buildings, and had a curiosity to know how many British Consuls there were there. He soon ascertained that these flags were on buildings where cotton had been stored away, and at once ordered it to be seized. Soon after that, while the General was busily engaged at headquarters, a pompous gentleman walked in, apparently in great haste, and inquired if he was General Sherman. Having received an affirmative reply, the pompous gentleman remarked, "that when he left his residence, United States troops were engaged in removing his cotton from it, when it was protected by the British flag." eral. "Consul to Her British Majesty, sir!" "O! indeed!" responded the General. "I hope you will report me to your Government. You will please say to your Government, for me, that I have been fighting the English Government all the way from the Ohio River to Vicksburg, and thence to this point. At every step I have encountered British arms, British munitions of war, and British goods of every description-at every step- sir. I have met them, sir, in all shapes; and now, sir, I find you claiming all the cotton, sir. I intend to call upon my Govern ment to order me to Nassau at once." "What do you propose to do there?" asked the Consul, somewhat taken aback. "I would," replied the General, "take with me a quantity of picks and shovels, and throw that cursed sand-hill into the sea, sir; and then I would pay for it, sir-if necessary! Good day, sir." ONE OF GOD'S NOBLEMEN. - A flat-boat full of soldiers, a few of whom were African, attempted to land at Rodman's Point, on the coast of North Carolina. The rebels were awaiting their approach in ambuscade, and reserved their fire till the end of the boat was resting on the shore, and then opened a deadly fire. Life could only be saved by lying flat on the boat's bottom; and if they remained inactive long, the whole boat-load would be captured. One of the negro soldiers, who saw the situation, and the vital importance of getting the boat off, as well as the imminent danger of the attempt, said: "Somebody got to die to get us all out dis 'ere, and it mought jus' as well be me as anybody!" He then deliberately rose up, stepped on shore, and pushed the boat off. As she swung clear, and the men crouching in the bottom were saved, the body of the noble African fell forward into the end of the boat, pierced by five bullets. STORIES OF WAR.-A Chaplain, on the eve of a battle, bade the soldiers of his corps fight "Stop, sir!" said General Sherman; "not bravely, for those who fell "would sup in heaven," your cotton, sir, but my cotton, in the name and thereupon himself marched to the rear, reof the United States Government, sir. I have plying, when called to stop, "that for his part noticed," continued General Sherman, "a great he never took suppers." A kindred anecdote is |