Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

and men.

dress parade, he asked F. why he did that. He replied, "To look as much alike as possible."The Colonel burst out laughing, and went, after parade, to the store and bought him a pair of shoes with his own money.

GEN. HARDEE AND THE STRAGGLER.— While on a forced march in some of the army movements in Mississippi, Gen. Hardee came up with a straggler who had fallen some distance in

the rear of his command. The General ordered weak and broken down, not having had even half him forward, when the soldier replied that he was rations for several days.

The inhabitants, male and female, came from their houses into the streets, waving their hats and handkerchiefs as greetings of welcome. "We have been looking for you for a long time," said one. "You have got here at last," exclaimed another. "God bless you." And many like ex"That's hard," replied the General, "but you pressions. American flags were brought out and must push forward, my good fellow, and join suspended over doors and from windows. One old lady expressed herself very glad to see your command, or the provost guard will take Gen. Terry and his staff, for, said the ancient you in hand." The soldier halted, and, looking up at the Gendame, “when I first seed you I thought you were Confederate officers come looking up tobacco." eral, asked: The colored people seemed beside themselves with joy; they sang and jumped, and shouted for joy.

"Aint you
Gen. Hardee ?"
"Yes," replied the General.
"Didn't you write Hardee's Tactics?
"Yes."

"

"Well, General, I've studied them tactics, and know 'em by heart. You've got an order thar u?" to double column at half distance, aint you order to do with your case?" "Well," asked the General, "what has that

The sight of the colored troops filled the measure of their ecstatic joy. The men danced in jubilation, the women screamed and went into hysterics, then and there, on the sidewalks. And their sable brethren in arms marched past, proud and erect, singing their "John Brown " hymn, "I'm a good soldier, General, and obey all that where it was never sung before. Some of the larger houses were closed and abandoned; the is possible to be obeyed: but if you can show people inhabiting these dwellings were affiliated me an order in your tactics, or anybody else's with treason and rebellion. To their imagina- tactics, to double distance on half rations, then tion, and their guilty consciences prompted the I'll give in." imaginings, our soldiers were not deliverers, but the avenging agents of the government which they had wantonly and without cause outraged

and insulted.

Even from some of the finest mansions came forth the inmates with smiles of welcome for the defenders of the Union. What houses were

closed or abandoned were of the first class. The middle class are nearly all loyal and four years' experience of secession has convinced even many of the slave-holding aristocracy that they committed a grave mistake, as well as a great crime, when they attempted to sever the bands of our common Union.

LOOKING ALIKE.-The following incident illustrates how desirous the volunteers are to obey orders, and the good result of their efforts:

I suppose you will see that I have written mother's letter with a pencil, and yours with pen and ink. It is because we have just had a lot of pen-holders and pens given us by the government. We have also had a box and a half of shoe-blacking given to each man. You will remember that in my last letter I stated that G. F., one of the privates, had no shoes. When the Colonel gave us the blacking he said he wanted us to look as much alike as possible. So G. F. went to work and blacked his feet and polished them; and when the Colonel came along on

The General, with a hearty laugh, admitted that there were no tactics to meet the case, and putting spurs to his horse, rode forward.

HOW A LIEUTENANT ESCAPED.-The following incident is connected with the flight at Sommerville, during the raid of Forrest through Tennessee:- Lieut. McIntyre, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, who was sent by Gen. Grierson with dispatches from Newcastle, eight miles east of Sommerville and twelve miles north of the La Grange, finding himself suddenly surrounded, threw away his arms and crawled under a house. From there he crept to a cotton gin near by. In the gin was a large pile of cotton seeds. The lieutenant dug a hole in it, crawled in, pulled a large basket over his head, and was thus completely ensconced, save his legs, over which he drew sufficient to conceal them, some of the seed. No sooner had he hid, than a surgeon of the Seventh Illinois also came rushing into the gin, pursued by ten rebels. He had just time to conceal himself between some boards in the loft, when the rebels came rushing up, and began to search for him. They had not seen the lieutenant enter the gin, but they were certain the surgeon was there. They put a guard at every avenue of escape, at each door and window, and then commenced the search. They went all through the building upstairs, tried upon the

plank beneath which lay the surgeon, but did not find him. They peeped into every knot-hole but in vain.

Not long after it was ascertained that Forrest had returned South, and the various columns of infantry, cavalry and artillery were accordingly ordered back and went into camp.

AN INCIDENT OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. ing the lull in the strife, I rode back to the ond corps' hospitals to see the wounded. "How goes it, boys?" was the question. "All right," said one. "Pretty rough," said another. "They niver will get through the corps," said a Hibernian.

Dur-
Sec-

Second

The lull had become a storm. How fearfully rolled the musketry! It is utterly useless to attempt a description or comparison. It was volley after volley, surge after surge, roll after roll. Maurice Collins, of the Twelfth Massachusetts, was brought in with an ugly wound through his shoulder. He was a Catholic, and the priest was showing him the crucifix.

"Will it be mortal?" he asked.

"Perhaps not, if you will lie still and keep quiet; but you may have to lose your arm.”

"Well, I am willing to give my arm to my country," was the reply of one, who, though born in the ever green isle, while loving the harp and shamrock, adores the stars and stripes of his adopted country.

J THE FLORIDA'S CRUISE.

BY A FORETOP-MAN OF THE C. S. S. FLorida.

Air-Red, White, and Blue (Southern edition).
ONE evening, off Mobile, the Yanks they all knew
That the wind from the north'ard most bitterly blew
They also all knew, and they thought they were sure,
They'd block'd in the Florida, safe and secure.

Huzza! huzza, for the Florida's crew!
We'll range with bold Maffitt the world through
and through.

[blocks in formation]

Their boatswains did pipe, and the blue lights did play,

And the great Drummond light-it turn'd night into
day.

The Cuyler, a boat that's unrival'd for speed,
Quick let slip her cables, and quickly indeed
She thought for to catch us and keep us in play,
Till her larger companions could get under way.
She chas'd and she chas'd, till at dawning of day
From her backers she thought she was too far away,
So she gave up the chase and reported, no doubt,
That she'd sunk us and burnt us somewhere there-
about.

We brought the Estelle to, right under our lee,
So when we were out, boys, all on the salt sea,
And burnt her and sunk her with all her fine gear,
And straight sail'd for Havana the bold privateer.

'Twas there we recruited and took in some stores,
Then kiss'd the senoras and sail'd from their shores,
And on leaving their waters, by way of a joke,
With two Yankee brigs, boys, we made a great smoke.
Our hull was well wash'd with the limestone so white,
Which sailors all know is not quite Christianlike,
Where the Sonoma came foaming, the Rebel to seize.
So to paint her all ship-shape we went to Green Keys,

We put on all sail and up steam right away,
And for forty-eight hours she made us some play,
When our coal being dusty and choking the flue,
Our steam it slack'd down, and nearer she drew.

Oh, ho! cried our captain, I see what's your game!
Clear away the stern pivot, the Bulldog by name,
And two smaller dogs to keep him companie,
For very sharp teeth have these dogs of the sea.

The Sonoma came up, until nearly in range,
When her engines gave out!-now wasn't that
strange?

;-I don't know the truth, but it's my firm belief
She didn't like the looks of the Florida's teeth.

She gave up the chase and returned to Key West,
And told her flag captain that she done her best;
But the story went round, and it grew rather strong,
And the public acknowledg'd that something was

wrong.

We went on a cruising and soon did espy

A fine, lofty clipper, bound home from Shanghai;
We burnt her and sunk her i' th' midst of the sea,
And drank to Old Jeff in the best of Bohea!

We next found a ship with a quakerish name:
A wolf in sheep's clothing oft plays a deep game,
For the hold of that beautiful, mild, peaceful Star
Was full of saltpetre, to make powder for war.

Of course the best nature could never stand that,
Saltpetre for Boston's a little too fat,

So we burnt her and sunk her, she made a great
blaze,

She's a star now gone down, and we've put out her rays.

We next took a schooner well laden with bread;
What the devil got into Old Uncle Abe's head?

To send us such biscuit is such a fine thing,
It sets us all laughing, as we sit and sing.

We next took the Lapwing, right stuff in her hold,
And that was black diamonds that people call coal;
With that in our bunkers we'll tell Uncle Sam,
That we think his gunboats are not worth a damn.

The Mary Jane Colcord to Cape Town was bound,
We bade her heave to though and swing her yards
round,

And to Davy Jones' locker without more delay
We sent her afire, and so sailed on our way.

Huzza! huzza, for the Florida's crew!
We'll range with bold Maffitt the world through
and through.

that he had always used the Union men well when he had taken them prisoners, and begged that a surgeon be sent; with which request Lieutenant Lyell promptly complied. The surgeon came too late, for two nights afterwards the notorious Frenchy Delaney breathed his last, Colonel Delaney arriving just in time to take a last farewell.

Curious to relate, Colonel Delaney was taken prisoner to Richmond, and his own son was present at the capture. The news of his fate flew fast; on arriving at Dranesville, the officer in charge was accosted by the fair damsels of rebeldom, in terms like this: "Now, have you really shot Frenchy Delaney? Well, now, that is too bad; I hope he wont die." "Yes," replied LyFRENCH DELANEY.-Near Falls Church, ell," and very soon you will have no rebel Virginia, there lived before the war a wealthy beaux to marry? you will have to take up with and highly-respected family of the name of De- Union men." "We will," was the answer, "but laney. When the war broke out one of the we will convert them." Perhaps," said the sons joined Mosby's band, and a daughter became Lieutenant, "we shall convert you." The maida volunteer nurse in a rebel hospital. Both be- ens smiled incredulously, and Lyell left for his came celebrated in their way. The son was command. young, daring and adventurous, the pride of the female sex for thirty miles around the place of his nativity. He was soon the dread of Union soldiers and Union men of Virginia.

Not a stray soldier from picket escaped him, not a Union farmer, but trembled at his name. The vicinity of Dranesville, Chantilly, Falls Church and Vienna can attest to his notoriety and achievement. The father of a rebellious son and daughter sternly maintained his loyalty and fidelity to the Union. At the opening of the war he immediately offered his services to the Federal Government, and was promoted to the rank of colonel in the volunteer service.

66

REMINISCENCES OF GENERAL SUMNER. When the history of this war is faithfully written, Sumner's name will be one of the brightest in that noble army which has illustrated the discipline and valor of Northern troops on so many bloody fields, but which, through a leader infirm of purpose, never yet gathered the ripe fruits of victory. At Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill he decided the fate of the day; and through the whole Peninsular campaign he was in the hottest, deadliest of the fighting.

He had the true soldierly temperament. Not Early one day a scouting party, consisting of only was his whole heart in the war, but if it is detachments from the Thirteenth New York and possible for any man to love fighting, to feel what Second Massachusetts_Cavalry, under the com- the ancients called "the rapture of the strike," mand of Lieutenant E. B. Lyell, started from Sumner was that man. He snuffed the battle Falls Church in pursuit of guerillas, reported to afar off. He went into it with a boyish enthusibe in the neighborhood of Chantilly and Herndon asm. Our generals usually expose themselves station. On the morning following their depart- not too little but too much. If they participated ure, the troops were quietly drinking their coffee less in the peril, they might often economize the within half a mile of the station, five of the ad-lives of their men more and yet achieve the same vance guard posted on the road; suddenly, as if rising from the earth, came galloping at full speed, five men fully armed and equipped.

A volley from the advanced guard caused a momentary pause; the next minute the guerillas turned and fled, the advance starting in pursuit, an exciting chase ensuing for half a mile. A second volley was fired by the pursuers; but still the rebels kept onward in their course till they arrived near the pine woods, when they dashed in and the men dared not follow. A stray horse was seen to gallop from the woods without a rider! A man was shot! Where was he?

results. But in this soldiery imprudence Sumner eclipsed them all. The chronic wonder of his friends was that he ever came out of battle alive; but at last they began to believe with him, that he was invincible. He would get bullets in his hat, his coat, his boots, his saddle, his horse, sometimes have his person scratched, but always escaped without serious injury. His soldiers used to tell, with great relish, the story that in the Mexican war a bullet which struck him square in the forehead fell flattened to the ground without breaking the skin, as the hunter's ball glances from the forehead of the buffalo. It was this The neighborhood was searched, and, in an ad- anecdote which won for him the soubriquet of joining house, stretched on a bed, pale and breath-" Old Bull Sumner." He desired, when his time ing hard, was found a wounded man, a young lady should come, to fall in battle; but it illustrates fanning him tenderly. The officer in command the fortunes of war that the officer who for forty asked him, "Do you belong to the regular Con- years had thus courted death should at last die federate army, and what regiment?" He replied; peacefully in his bed, surrounded by his family. "I belong to Mosby's command." He stated At Fair Oaks, when his troops were stagger

« PreviousContinue »