will take it as an inspiration.' I opened the book at the following passage: "Go on, and search the mountain, and the gates of the city shall not be shut against you." All concurred in the definite statement of the passage, and the heroic explorer once more led his men into the wild country of the Indians. INCIDENT OF ANTIETAM.-At the battle of Antietam, as one of the regiments was for the second time going into the conflict, a soldier staggered. It was from no wound, but in the group of dying and dead, through which they were passing, he saw his father, of another regiment, lying dead. There, too, was a wounded man who knew them both, who pointed to the father's corpse, and then upwards, saying only, "It is all right with him.' Onward went the son, by his father's corpse, to do his duty in the line, which, with bayonets fixed, advanced upon the enemy. When the battle was over, he came back, and with other help, buried his father. From his person he took the only thing he had, a Bible, given to the father years before, when he was an apprentice. was apprehended that the rebels were going to "On one inspection occasion, a Sergeant, who had been wounded in the head, was pointed out to the surgeon in charge, as being considered well enough for the convalescent camp.' 'Don't send him,' says the doctor, with noble consideration for the patient, and, with a smile, added, HOMESICK IN THE HOSPITAL. A correspond-They are in the habit there of cutting off almost ent, writing from the general hospital at Nashville, everything that is wounded; if you send the man Tenn., says: "Perhaps the greatest fault military there, they may conclude to cut his head off.' To surgeons are apt to fall into, is to be too military save the gallant soldier's head, it was decided not in their treatment of their patients. A soldier, to send him to the 'convalescent camp.' Another when he enters a hospital as a patient, is no case of homesickness I am reminded of. A poor longer a soldier, but a patient, and should be boy, from the front, was brought into this ward, treated as such, and not as a soldier. In civil with the camp dysentery. A more attenuated life, we all know how tenderly the sick are treated, living being I had never seen. Home, with him, and in the great majority of cases, how benefi- too, was the absorbing subject of his thoughts. cent to them is our medication. And, ordinarily, I want to see my mother,' was his constant uttoo, when a man is stricken down, even, with a terance. Often he wept like a child to go home. formidable disease, there are good constitutional I put him off from time to time, endeavoring to efforts in his system to carry him through his feed and stimulate him, to bring him into a condiillness. This is seldom the case with our hospi- tion fit to be sent home. One morning, coming tal patients. In their sickness we have gener- into the ward, I found his bed empty. 'What! ally to contend with a broken-down or exhausted poor Jimmy dead?' I asked of the ward master. constitution, and often the babe in the cradle is 'No,' he answered, 'Jimmy started for home, under not entitled to more tender and skilful treatment the care of our female nurse.' Here was a case to save its flickering life, than the now sick and where a resolute and conscientious woman volbroken-down soldier. Through want of a uni- untarily took charge of a helpless boy, to take form understanding on the part of our military, him to his home, a thousand miles away, solely beand even some of our medical officers on this cause she felt that she could thereby save his life. very point, many lives are sacrificed. There is in She succeeded in getting him home alive, and we this city the convalescent camp.' I don't be- have heard he is now getting along well. lieve our convalescent soldiers have any fear of "Homesickness is one of the most frequent, any more dreadful doom than to be consigned to difficult, and annoying complications we have in this place. When they get well of their diseases, the treatment of hospital patients. When a solthey beg hard for some other destination than dier gets sick, he wishes himself at home. It is this camp. They will cheerfully go front, or to well for the surgeon to gratify this feeling, when their regiments, or any other place, than the the patient is in a fit condition to go. And when dreaded convalescent camp.' I think the rea- the case is such that it is not for the patient's son for the odium this place has for the convales-benefit to leave the hospital, and he cannot concent soldier, is the one above stated. They are trol himself to submit to circumstances, he is, in treated as soldiers, and not as convalescents. a medical point of view, exceedingly difficult to "Soon after I got into this hospital, a very sick manage. It is thus that nostalgia has helped to boy was brought into my ward from the conva- send many a lamented soldier to his grave. lescent camp. He had been prematurely sent to that place when recovering from pneumonia. It "Great is the variety of wounds in a military hospital. One remarkable fact connected with wounds is, that a man's life is not alway jeopar- bureaus. The clerk was momentarily nonplused, dized in proportion to the number of wounds he but instantly recovering his gravity, blandly remay have received. One from a slight wound plied in the affirmative. Dinah, with an air of may die. Another may be fearfully mutilated, mystery, and speaking in a confidential whisper, and yet get well. After the battle of Chicka- said: "I have come for my bureau; now give me mauga, we received two patients in this hospital, a pretty large one, with a glass top; I have a who afforded a striking illustration of this. I wash-stand at home, but it is too small to put my asked one of them where he was wounded. All fixins' in." over,' he answered. I directed the nurse to divest him of his clothes, and found his word pretty much verified. This warrior was perforated by more than half a dozen balls, and yet he got well. Another one had a slight wound on the left knee, caused by a buckshot. The little missile was extracted, and after he had suffered most severely for two months he died." A FAITHFUL DOG. -The widow of Lieut. Pheff, of Illinois, was enabled to find her husband's grave, at Pittsburg Landing, by seeing a dog which had accompanied the Lieutenant to the war. The dog approached her with the most intense manifestations of joy, and immediately indicated to her, as well as he was able, his desire that she should follow him. She did so, and he led the way to a distant part of the field, and stopped before a single grave. She caused it to be opened, and there found the body of her dead husband. It appears from the statements of some of the soldiers, that when Lieut. Pheff fell, his dog was by his side, and thus remained, licking his wounds, until he was taken from the field and buried. He then took his station by the grave, and nothing could induce him to abandon it, but for a sufficient length of time each day to satisfy his hunger, until, by some means, he was made aware of the presence of his mistress. Thus he watched for twelve days by the grave of his slain master. DECEMBER IN VIRGINIA. DE leaves hab blown away, De rain am in de air. De strings ob Nature's lyre; De roads am mud an mire. De wheels am stickin thar; De Lord! how he do swar! De nigger disremember; DE-CEMBER ! FREEDMEN'S BUREAUS. —An ancient colored woman appeared at the office of the Freedmen's Bureau, at Chattanooga, Tenn., and asked if that was the place where they kept the freedmen's A WONDERFUL OLD SOLDIER.-The Thirtyseventh regiment of Iowa, doing duty in St. Louis, in 1862, was a regiment of exempts-few, if any, of its members being under forty-five years of age, and many of them over eighty. "Take them all together," says a correspondent, "they are a band of hardy veterans, whom the exigencies of the situation have fired with a zealous patriotism well worthy of imitation by younger men. But the most remarkable member of this regiment is a private of company H, named Curtis King, whose history and description are truly curious. He is over eighty-one years of age, six feet two inches in height, of brawny and stalwart frame, baring his bosom to the cold winds of winter without endangering his health, and moving in his round of duties with the celerity of a youth of eighteen. Owing to his great age, and the fact of his being blind of an eye, he found great difficulty, when the regiment was forming, in getting permission to enlist, two or three companies refusing to take him; but he was at length successful, and since the regiment has been on duty he has proved one of the most efficient men in it. He is, and has been from his youth, a Democrat of the old Jackson school, and even now indulges industrious invective against the Abolitionists. He was born in Culpepper County, Va., and claims to be a lineal descendant of Pocahontas; and this statement is verified by his physiognomy, which betrays the characteristics of an Indian. He has been twice married, (first when only nineteen years of age,) and is the father of twenty-one children, one of which was, two weeks since, only fifteen months old when it died. He claims to be able to repeat every word of the Bible from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, and can neither read nor writea daughter having read the book to him, his wonderful memory allowing him to retain it after committing it to memory. The daughter commenced her reading to him at five years of age, he being then twenty-six. In 1815 he emigrated to Ohio, resided there some twenty-five years, and then removed to Wapello County, Iowa, where his home now is, and where he enlisted. Mr. King's family is somewhat celebrated for longevity, his mother having lived to the age of 103, and one grandfather to 105 years. The history of this country is familiar to him, and his citations of historical points and the connection with them of great men who flourished during the latter part of the last century, are wonderfully accurate - remembering, as he does, Washington, Jefferson, Randolph, and the Adamses, &c. He has often seen Washington, and remarked as a characteristic of the "Father of his Country," that he never saw him smile; that he seemed to have little sympathy in the enjoyments of other men. The father of Mr. King was a soldier of the Revolution. asked him to be seated. Will you take the "twinkley twinkle," or on the "dab"?' My friend was entirely ignorant of the meaning of these terms, but at a venture chose the former. He About twenty of Mr. K.'s grandsons and some was soon enlightened. The ancient female dipped four or five great-grandsons are now in the United her not over clean fingers into a tumbler of moStates service, and the old man indulges a laudable lasses standing beside her, and allowing the pride in the fact that not one of his family is dis-drippings to fall on the delicacy, presented it to foyal. Eleven of his grandsons responded to the him as twinkley twinkle.' 'On the dab,' was a first call of the President for volunteers. One of spoonful of treacle upon the centre of the fritter." his daughters, who resides in Ohio, weighs 325 pounds. He himself never took a dose of medicine from a doctor, nor did any one of his family while they remained under his control, he being what is called a "root doctor," and having done the physicking for his own people by the use of herb and root teas; his "practice," too, was successful. The opinion of this aged veteran upon the war, though he gives it in a somewhat homely and antique figure of speech, is not to be ignored as devoid of good foundation. When asked his ideas as to the result of the struggle, he replied: "Well, I think the longest pole will knock the persimmon. It may take a long time; but the North has got the most men and the most money,membered that the little Count Mejan once and it is bound to come out first best in the end. And," he continued, "if the young men will do as I intend to do, the rebellion will be put down, for I am in for the war, or as long as I last." The cheerful and contented disposition of this old man might well be taken for an example by younger soldiers, to say nothing of his strict observance of discipline, or the efficiency and value of such men to the service. GEN. ROSECRANS indulges occasionally in a witticism. A lady called upon him for the purpose of procuring a pass, which was declined very politely. Tears came to the lady's eyes as she remarked that her uncle was very ill, and might not recover. "Very sorry, indeed, madam," replied the General. "My uncle has been indisposed for some time. As soon as Uncle Sam recovers a little, you shall have a pass to go where you please.' ANECDOTE OF GEN. BUTLER. · It will be re frantically appealed to the Emperor Napoleon to send an armed force to protect the grog-shopkeepers of New Orleans from an "unconstitutional" tax Gen. Butler had levied upon them. The Emperor was so puzzled to know what his consul had to do with the American Constitution, and on what principles he made himself the champion of whiskey-venders in an American city, that he called the Count home to explain. It will be seen, from what follows, that Gen. Butler's tyranny did not stop at taxing grogshops. It seems that after the expulsion of the rebels and their allies, the Thugs, from New Orleans, the dead walls of that city were suddenly covered with conspicuous bills containing the following sentence: NEGRO SCHOOLS AT NEWBERN.-"I have just visited a negro school," said a letter writer. "I never had such hard work to control my risibles in my life. There sat along the sides of the room, all in one class, little girls of five years, and men of forty-each equally advanced in "Get your shirts at Moody's, 207 Canal Street." their studies. Of course their curiosity was A planter, a secessionist, came to town some excited to see the stranger. So, occasionally they months after Butler had taken the reins in his looked up, which called forth from the old man hands, and marvelled much at the cleanliness and in charge, the admonition, “Confine yersels to good order he found prevailing; also he was suryer buks. Sam, keep yer eyes on yer knowl-prised at this notice, which everywhere stared him edge buks. Miss Susan, stop dat, or I'll give yer in the face. de cowskin 'cross yer legs," and other equally gentle corrections. I heard them read; and as they were standing up in rows, without regard to height or age, reading in concert, interspersed with the old man's scowls over his big brass spectacles, and his threatenings with the cowskin, I could not resist any involuntary smile." "Get your shirts at Moody's?" said he to an acquaintance he met in the street; "what does this mean? I see it everywhere posted up. What does it mean? 66 "O," was the reply, "that is another of the outrageous acts of this fellow Butler. This is one of the orders of which you hear so much. Don't you see? he has ordered us to get our shirts at Moody's, and we have to do so. It is, of course, suspected that he is a silent partner in TWINKLEY TWINKLE.-A war correspondent of a New Orleans paper wrote thus from Jack-the concern, and pockets the profits." son, Tenn.: The poor planter listened with eyes and mouth "An officer of my acquaintance, who is inor-open and replied: dinately fond of fritters,' just dropped into a dwelling at Jackson a day or two since, where this delicacy was smoking hot upon the table, and very politely asked to share the meal with the landlady. She graciously complied, and "I don't need any shirts just now, and it's a great piece of tyranny; but this Butler enforces his orders so savagely that it is better to give in at once," and accordingly he went to "Moody's" and purchased half a dozen shirts, on compulsion. BEYOND THE POTOMAC. BY PAUL H. HAYNE. THEY slept on the fields which their valor had won, But arose with the first early blush of the sun, For they knew that a great deed remained to be done, When they passed o'er the River! They rose with the sun, and caught life from his light Those giants of courage, those Anaks in fightAnd they laughed out aloud in the joy of their might, Marching swift for the River! On! on! like the rushing of storms through the hills On! on! with a tramp that is firm as their willsAnd the one heart of thousands grows buoyant and thrills VALUE OF FREE SCHOOLS. — Gen. Negley sent out a foraging expedition from Nashville, with orders to the commander to visit every habitation, mill, barn, and out-house, and seize upon everything fit for consumption by man and beast. During the expedition a squad made a break for a free school-house. "Don't disturb anything there!" cried one of the officers. "If there had been a few more such institutions in the South, there would have been no rebellion." BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. A writer in "In one of Philadelphia relates the following: our beautiful suburban cemeteries was employed a venerable man. For a number of years past he has prepared the last resting-place for those called from among us. Though poor, he raised four gallant boys, giving to each of them a moderate education and a good trade. The two elder went five years ago to New Orleans, where prosperity attended their industry. The two younger brothers remained with their father. George and Frederick were their names. The latter is but seventeen years of age. When the war broke out, both left their employments and enlisted. The elder brothers had constantly written home, and frequent presents accompanied their letters. At the battle of Fredericksburg, in rifle pits at the back of the town, were the two the very front of the line, at the church upon the boys Frederick and George. A sortie was made by the rebel riflemen upon the retreating Federals, and among those who dropped were the two boys, the youngest sons of the old gravedigger. A minie ball had pierced the bodies of each. The rebel soldiers, whose weapons had done the deed, were clad in rags of linsey. They ran with alacrity to secure the clothing, the canteens, and perhaps the money, of the men whom they had laid low. The foremost one reached the body of downward-and to his horror beheld the corpse his dead enemy, turned it over- for the face was with a stream of blood that oozed from a bullet of his youngest brother, his woollen shirt stained hole above the heart. Our informant, a chaplain of the army, could tell us nothing of the other rebel brother. But this one made his way into the Union lines, and is now in the hospital at Alexandria a hopeless maniac. We learn that in their childhood this youngling of the flock had been the especial charge of the eldest brother. was it for the suffering hero, that his dangerous When he left for New Orleans it was in the ex-position was witnessed by Miss Belle Norris, pectation of entering business to which he could whose courage was equal to her patriotism; for, bring up the boy. That boy he lived to shoot in a few moments, being unable to move, he down with his own hands. Unless the remaining would have been crushed by the enemy's cavalry, rebel brother survive, the family are now extinct. charging over the road. Long may sheThe father died of a broken heart, and was buried the many patriotic ladies of the town of Culpeplast Sunday. This is a simple statement of fact. per - live to receive the heartfelt thanks of grateIt is doubtless one of ten thousand never to be ful soldiers for the many acts of kindness they written." have received at her hands. - one of MILES. ADVENTURES IN VIRGINIA. - A correspondent writing from the camp of the Fourth Vir- AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. Corporals Hamginia brigade, on the 11th of November, 1863, ilton and Vaneman, of the 1st Virginia infantry, relates the following: "Instances of courage stationed at North Mountain, or the Baltimore and daring on the part of private soldiers in our and Ohio Railroad, got permission to visit some army are of no rare occurrence, and consequently friends, in the Virginia regiments encamped about are often passed by unnoticed and unrewarded. Winchester. They started from Martinsburg in a But the bold acts of some will impress themselves stage coach. The coach contained five gentlemen upon the notice of the officers in command, and and three ladies, among them Gen. Cluseret's elicit their admiration. Such was the case with four Adjutant-General, a Lieutenant on Gen. Milroy's privates who received the credit which they merited staff, and a Mr. Greer, from Wheeling. Shortly for the part they acted in the late affair on the Rap- after leaving Martinsburg, the coach was upset, pahannock. When the enemy had taken our re- and the whole party were piled up in a misceldoubts beyond the river, orders were given to burn laneous heap on the road-side. The coach was the pontoon bridge; it was fired, but failed to burn, soon righted, and after proceeding a few miles and before combustible material could be gath- farther, two of the ladies got out. When near ered to fire it again, the enemy had reached the Bunker Hill, the coach was stopped by a gang north side, and placed a heavy guard there to of rebel cavalry, dressed in the uniform of Fedfire upon any party attempting to destroy it. The eral soldiers. The rebels cursed the occupants bridge remained unburned until about 12 o'clock of the coach, and told them to get down and at night, when volunteers were called for to re- surrender, or they would blow out their brains, new the effort to fire it; at the same time, all and of course the passengers surrendered. The were told that the work was a dangerous one, rebels ransacked the trunks and valises. They and none were desired to undertake it, except permitted Mr. Greer and the young lady to go those who were perfectly willing. Four privates unharmed, but ordered the rest to unhitch the of Gen. Pegram's brigade (formerly Gen. Smith's) coach horses; and while this was being done, the volunteered, and successfully fired and destroyed Lieutenant of Gen. Milroy's staff crawled in, and the bridge. They were not fired upon, but the concealed himself between the body of the coach danger was encountered, and their quiet and cool and the coupling pole. The rest of the prisoners demeanor was all that prevented them from being were hurried off in the direction of Front Royal. discovered. Had the enemy heard the least The stage horses, not being "used to much feed," noise, the bridge would have been swept by a were very thin and angular, and the boys thought volley of musketry. The names of the privates it a very severe "rail ride" into Dixie. Upon are Peter Berton, company E, 18th Virginia; reaching a small town called Middlebourne, the Thomas Berton, company E, 18th Virginia; James prisoners and their captors were charged upon by F. Fristoe, company G, 49th Virginia; and San- a body of Union cavalry, under command of the dy Cooper, company A, 49th Virginia-Lieut. Lieutenant who had concealed himself under the Buck, 18th Virginia, commanding. In connec- coach. The rebels were completely routed. About tion with the above, I would mention an inci- fifty shots were exchanged. The Major comdent that occurred at Culpepper Court House, manding the rebels was wounded, as was the in which a lady acted the part of a heroine. In Lieutenant commanding the rescuing party. Two September last, when the Yankee army advanced or three of the rebels were killed, and more than on that town, it was the scene of quite a brisk half of them were captured and taken to Winfight-especially was the artillery firing heavy. chester with the released prisoners. During the fight, one of our wounded heroes, who The Lieutenant, who had concealed himself unwas between the fire of friend and foe, was seen der the coach, as soon as the rebels were out of by a lady, whose tender sympathies were deeply sight, borrowed a horse from a farmer, and startaroused in his behalf; and having resolved to save ed post haste for Winchester. Gen. Milroy imhim, she rushed from her house, regardless of her mediately despatched thirty of the 1st New York own safety, between the combatants, amidst shot cavalry towards Middlebourne in command of his and shell, raised him, bleeding, from the dust, Lieutenant, and fifteen to the point of departure and had almost succeeded in gaining a place of from the main pike. The detachment sent to Midsafety, when (our forces having fallen back) a Yan- dlebourne got there before the rebels, and lay in kee officer rode up, and being struck by her pat- wait for then with the above result. The two Corriotism, dismounted, and assisted her in carrying porals returned to their regiment at North Mounher wounded countryman into the house. Well | tain. |