stances of his disappearance as the young man could give. He had never known the precise nature of the charges against his father, but was able to make it quite clear that his innocence was established.

"I knew your mother, also," continued the soldier; "I was in love with her when she married your father." I have a letter from her, dated ten days ago," said the Lieutenant. "My brother is a nine months' man in New Orleans."

After a little desultory conversation, the soldier took from under his coat a leathern wallet, and disclosed a daguerreotype case. The hasp was gone, and the corners were rounded by wear.

Will you oblige me," he said, "by looking at this, alone, in your tent?"

Agitated, almost beyond control, the young officer took the case, and hurried away. He had seen the picture before. It represented a man and a woman sitting side by side, with a boy at the knee of each.

The romantic story moved the commander of the division to grant the young man a furlough, and both father and son reached home in a few days after. The reader is left to imagine the sequel.

GENERAL NELSON AT PITTSBURG LANDING.

It was nearly sunset when Nelson, at the head of his troops, landed on the west bank of the river, in the midst of the conflict. The landing and shore of the

river, up and down, were covered with demoralized and beaten soldiers, whom no appeals or efforts could ralley.

Nelson with difficulty forced his way through the crowd, shaming them for their cowardice as he passedrode upon a knoll overlooking his disembarking men, and cried out in stentorian tones: "Colonel A., have you your regiment formed?" "In a moment, General," was the reply. "Be quick; time is precious; moments are golden." "I am ready, now, General." "Forwardmarch!" was the command, and the gallant 6th Ohio was led quickly to the field.

That night Nelson asked Captan Guynne, of the Tyler, "to send him a bottle of wine, and a box of cigars; for to-morrow I will show you a man-of-war fight."

During the night Buell came up, and crossed the river, and by daylight next morning, our forces attacked Beauregard, and then was fought the desperate battle of Shiloh. Up till 12 M. we had gained no decided advantage; in fact, the desperate courage of the enemy had caused us to fall back.

General Buell now came to the front, and held a hasty consultation with his Generals. They decided to charge the Rebels, and drive them back. Nelson rode rapidly to the head of his column, his gigantic figure conspicuous to the enemy in front, and in a voice that rang like a trumpet over the clangor of battle, called for four of his finest regiments in succession-the 24th Ohio: 36th Indiana: 17th Kentucky: and 6th Ohio.

"Trail arms-forward-double-quick time-march!" -and away with thundering cheers, went those gallant boys. The brave Captain, now Brigadier-General 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, and at them!" The enemy broke, and their retreat commenced. "That was the happiest moment of my life," said the officer, my informant, “when Nelson called my regiment to make that grand charge."

Let the country mourn the sad fate of General Nelson; he was a loyal Kentuckian; fought gallantly the battles of his country; earned all his distinction by gallant deeds. All his faults were those of a commander anxious to secure the highest efficiency of his troops, by the most rigid discipline of his officers, and in this severe duty he at last lost his life.

SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NELSON was a native of Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. He entered the Naval School, at Annapolis, at the age of fifteen, and graduating, was appointed a Midshipman in the United States Navy, January 28th, 1840. He was first attached to the Sloop-of-war Yorktown, in commission for the Pacific, and soon after joined the Pacific squadron, under Commodore T. Ap Catesby Jones. In 1845, he was commissioned as passed Midshipman, and ordered to the Frigate Raritan, forty-four guns, attached to the Home Squadron, under Commodore David Conner.

In 1847, he was made Acting Master of the Steamer Scourge, a three gun vessel in the Home Squadron, then commanded by Commodore Perry. During the Mexican war, he commanded a navy battery at the

siege of Vera Cruz, and won a high reputation as an artillerist.

Subsequently he commanded the Steamer Michigan, a one-gun vessel, running up and down the lakes. Shortly after his appointment, he was transferred to the flag ship of Commodore Morgan, the Independence, a fifty-four-gun razeed ship of the line, of the Mediterranean squadron. He was afterward transferred to the Cumberland, a forty-four-gun frigate, and at length returned home in the Mississippi, of ten guns, Captain Long, which brought over Kossuth. In April, 1855, he was commissioned Lieutenant, and put in command of the Store Ship Fredonia, of four guns, attached to the Pacific squadron.

He returned home in 1857, and went in 1858 in the Niagara, to return to Africa the negroes taken from the Steamer Echo. He was next ordered on the St. Louis, a war sloop of twenty guns, Commander Ogden, of the Home Squadron, where he remained until May, 1860, when he was ordered home, and at the commencement of 1861, was reported in the Navy Register as being on ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard.

At the commencement of the Rebellion he was detached from the Navy Department, and placed on special duty in the War Department. In the spring of 1861, he was detailed to command the Ohio River fleet of gunboats.

While on the Ohio River, in consideration of his extensive acquaintance with the people of Kentucky, and his large relationship in that State, he was considered the person, during the ill health of General Anderson, to be sent into Kentucky, to sound the loyal sentiment there, and strengthen it.

In April he went thither, and began the formation of a camp, and the recruiting of troops, at a point between Garrardsville and Danville, which was named "Camp Dick Robinson." He afterward formed a camp at Washington, Mason County, and others at other points, and was highly successful in raising and organizing troops. He was next engaged in pursuit of the Rebels in the mountainous regions of Eastern Kentucky, defeating them on several occasions. He also fought and whipped Humphrey Marshall repeatedly. He afterward was appointed to command the 2d Division of General Buell's army, advancing with him through Kentucky and Tennessee, acting as Major-General, though commissioned as a Brigadier.

He participated in the battle of Shiloh, at Pittsburg Landing, where his bravery was conspicuous. He commanded in person at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, was wounded, and being partially recovered, returned to Louisville, and took command of the forces there; having been, in the interim, made Major-General of volunteers.

He was a man about forty years of age, of massive, fine physique, of commanding presence, and imperious manners, which last resulted in his death, on the morning of the 29th of September, at the Galt House, in Louisville, at the hands of Brigadier-General J. C. Davis, who shot him with a pistol in the abdomen. His death ensued in half an hour.