any

Farewell Scene among the Tars.
On the departure of Commodore Foote,

sage of these vessels was a most beautiful flag, was conveyed on board the flag-ship, sight, only to be realized by seeing. They which but a few minutes before he had passed over without an accident, except left with countenance smiling as was his the unshipping of one or two rudders. wont. The scene was witnessed by all the troops, and the vessels were heartily cheered as they went over. Next morning, at ten o'clock, the Louisville, Chillicothe, Ozark, of the Mississippi Flotilla, in 1862, on acand two tugs passed over without count of his impaired health, produced by accident except the loss of a man, who too laborious service, a scene was presentwas swept off the deck of one of the tugs, ed which abundantly showed the strong By three o'clock that afternoon the vessels hold which that gallant officer had upon were all coaled, ammunition replaced, the hearts of his brave and noble men. and all steamed down the river with the About three o'clock, the officers and crew convoy of transports in company. A good of the flag-ship were assembled in one of the deal of difficulty was anticipated in getting gunrooms, when the Commodore presented over the bars in Lower Red River, the Captain Davis to them, assuring him that depth of water reported being only five a more gallant crew never trod the deck feet, while the gunboats were drawing six. of a ship. As the friend of his boyhood, But there was fortunately a rise from the manhood and age, he hoped the Captain back-water of the Mississippi-that river would never forget that these sun-browned, being very high just then, the back-wa- weather-beaten tars, were also his friends, ter extending to Alexandria, one hundred and that their best interests would always and fifty miles distant, enabling them to be near his heart. The old hero then pass all the bars and obstructions with took leave of his men in a few touching safety. Eight valuable gunboats were remarks, which brought tears to many an thus saved from destruction. eye unaccustomed to weeping.

An hour later he hobbled on board the His Favorite Flag for a Winding Sheet. Cairo packet, De Soto, and seated himself The brave Captain Rodgers, as if under on the guards of the boat, in full view of a presentiment of what was awaiting him his men, who all crowded the decks of the in the conflict soon to take place, the night flag-ship to see him off. The scene was before he was killed wrote a letter to his affecting in the extreme. The Commowife, which he left with his servant, to be dore was agitated and very nervous. He handed to the Admiral in case any thing looked emaciated and worn, bit his fingershould happen to him. After his vessel, nails, and frequently raised a palm-leaf the Catskill, had moved up toward her fan to his face to conceal the briny drops fighting position, Captain Rodgers with- which would force themselves, in spite of drew her from range, and taking a small all he could do, from his sunken eyes and boat, returned to the flag-ship to get a flag roll down his hollow cheeks. As the which he denominated as "his own flag." packet moved off, he rose to say a few It was the one which he fought under, on farewell words, but the hissing of the the Catskill, in the April attack on Sum- steam prevented his being distinctly heard. ter; and, wishing praise for the same flag There could only be caught such fragon the Catskill during the coming, he went mentary sentences as "God bless you!" to the flag-ship, secured it, and returning "You are engaged in a holy cause!" "I to the Catskill, again moved up into action, know you will succeed!" &c. Then the and in ten minutes was a corpse. Strange Lieutenant-Commanding said, "Now, to say, his body wrapped up in that same three hearty cheers, my lads," and they

were given with a will, although the poor tars felt more like weeping than cheering. The order was in questionable taste,but the applause was infectious, and the crews of other gunboats took it up and made the welkin ring, till the steamer turned the point and was lost to view. A few months elapsed, and a nation mourned the death of one of its most heroic officers.

Gallantry of Commodore Farragut to Miss

Victor.

treated with such consideration as their condition merited. Every officer vied in acts of kindness, and offered the protection of the flag to those who, shorn of their property, were thankful to escape from the outrages of guerrillas and the shells of the Union fleet.

Semmes Outwitting the Vanderbilt. The intelligence that the Confederate privateer Alabama was cruising about the The truly brave are always good,-and Cape of Good Hope, created much exthe following is one among many instances citement. In the Straits of Sunda she which confirm the adage. Miss Victor, captured some United States merchant Principal of St. Mary's Female Academy, vessels, and was put upon her speed by at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was one of the Vanderbilt. When night came on, the those who really adorned the society of Alabama was about twenty miles ahead the South. She was a northern-born lady, of her pursuer, and, under cover of darkof excellent standing as a teacher, and be-ness, she unshipped her funnel, put out her fore secession swept over the land, she fires, and set sail. The ship was then put was a much courted member of the refined about, and stood in the direction of where circle in which she moved. The lady was true to the instincts and principles of her northern birth, and, of course, received the favors of old friends, and the hatred of those who sympathized with the plotters of the nation's ruin. Enough to say, the lady suffered so much at the hands of this latter class, that she welcomed the advent of Commodore Farragut's fleet.

Captain Raphael Semmes.

At

The guerrilla band which fired upon the boat of the Hartford, and for which act the city was shelled by that ship, designed to take a last revenge on Miss Victor, by destroying her fine estate. But their fear of Federal vengeance induced them to flee before Miss Victor's place was reached. Unfortunately, the shells from the fleet they had last seen the Vanderbilt. found in the Academy a prominent target, daybreak she was within only a mile of and a number of shells were put through her enemy, who actually bore down and it. The inmates fled in dismay, and the inquired if they had seen a large steamer fine building was ruined. Miss Victor standing to the norward. Captain Semand a younger sister fled to the river bank, mes graciously replied, "Yes; she was and signaled for help. A boat put off going ahead, full speed, and must be one from the Hartford and bore them on board. hundred miles away by this." At this inCommodore Farragut, hearing the circum- formation, so opportunely obtained, the stances, acted a noble part. The ladies Vanderbilt immediately put on all steam, were assigned the Captain's cabin, and and went on a wild goose chase, while

Semmes quietly shipped his funnel and Sir, he is my enemy." Subsequently, bore away in an opposite direction.

Taking a Hint.

In one of our squadrons-which may as well be nameless-one of the officers, wanting to get leave of absence, went up to the Commandant's office, where he found no one in but the clerk. The Commandant very soon came in, and anticipating at a glance the errand, and pretending not to see the officer, at once cried out to the clerk, "If any officer comes to-day for leave of absence, order him at once on board the Starling,"-which was about to go on active service. Then turning to the startled officer, he added, "Ah! what can I do for you to day?" "Nothing-nothing at all, thank you," he replied, and made a masterly retreat.

when the staff-officer returned with Buchanan's sword, it was represented to the Admiral that Buchanan had expressed a wish to see him. "Well, Sir, he shan't see me," replied the old Salamander. Then looking with most concentrated expression

6

Literal Understanding of Terms. A surgeon who officiated on one of the ships composing the blockading squadron off Wilmington, North Carolina, states that one day a number of contrabands came on board. One of them wore a ma- of countenance upon the bloody decks of sonic pin, and the Captain, who was a "G his ship, he added: "I suppose he would man," became some troubled by the fact, be friends; but with these brave men, my for a slave can not be a free mason. So comrades, mangled, dying and dead about he called up the intelligent contraband,' me, and, looking upon the destruction he and said, "You are not a mason." "Oh, has caused in the fleet, I can only conyes, massa, I is, I'se a bricklayer!" If sider him an enemy." On the staff-officer there was any difference there, Cuffie getting on board, Admiral Buchanan was found to be severely wounded in the leg. He yielded with a very bad grace-in fact, it was said that, after receiving his wound, he gave orders to his next in command to continue the fight as long as there was a When it was reported to Admiral Far- man left; and then, when he found he ragut that the rebel monster ram Tennes- could do no more, to run the vessel ashore see had surrendered, and that Admiral and blow her up. But there was no alBuchanan was wounded, he sent a staff-ternative. The ram must be surrendered; officer off to receive the rebel Admiral's and this was done. The Stars and Stripes sword. Some one asked Farragut if he were hoisted upon the staff of the magniwould not go off himself and see Buchan- ficent ram, greeted, as they went up, by The former merely replied: "No, the hearty cheers of the whole fleet.

'didn't see it.'

an.

Buchanan's Sword Yielded with a Bad

Grace.

Sharp Practice of Confederate Cruisers in
English Waters.

Well, when they got fairly into the Channel, the latter said, that before going across he wished to make for a certain

One Saturday morning a channel steamer put into Plymouth, England, and land- point, meaning the latitude and longitude ed eighteen persons from the Confederate somewhere between Plymouth and Falcruiser, Virginia, formerly the Japan. mouth. "All right," said the skipper, and Two of these persons were men who had away they went and soon arrived at the been scalded through the bursting of a point indicated, and there found a steam feed-pipe in the engine-room of the Vir-vessel, with which the 'gentleman' said ginia, whilst they had been acting as fire- he would like to communicate. He went men. In consequence of this arrival, on board the new steamer, but soon resomething was learnt respecting the man- turned and told the Captain that he had ner, the escape, and the arming of that sold the cargo, and it must be put on board notorious Confederate cruiser, and the tale that vessel. The Newhaven man brought is a curious one. his craft alongside, having the misfortune It appears that the well-known firm of to carry away his boom in so doing. The the Dennys, of Dennys, of Dumbartown, cargo was then transferred to the large built the Japan for, it was supposed, the steamer, which was no other than the ConEmperor of China. She was a very fine federate cruiser Virginia, and said cargo steamer, of seven hundred tons burthen, of the Newhaven steamer was guns, arms and fitted with engines of 250-horse power. and ammunition. The cargo thus safely When she left the Clyde, she had been transferred, some seventeen men were named the Virginia, and some forty car- transhipped from the Virginia to the penters went out in her to construct a Newhaven steamer, and these included the magazine. These returned to Greenock two men injured by scalding. With these in the tug steamer that towed the Virginia men, on the 'gentleman's' directions, the out. The day after she had sailed, an Newhaven steamer made for Plymouth; order arrived at Greenock, directing that and the Virginia went westward on her she be seized. After the Virginia left the Confederate cruise. Clyde she made her way round into the English Channel. In the meantime, one Impressive Sight aboard Ship on Sunday. of the steamers that ply between Newhaven Ten o'clock was the hour for Divine and France, chiefly for the conveyance of service on board the Union fleet at Island French produce, intended for the London No. 10. The church flag was flung out markets, had been taken up by a gentle- on the flag-staff of the Benton, and all man' to carry some packages and hard- the commanders called their crews together ware across the Channel. This gentle- for worship. On board the Pittsburg, man' stipulated for the power of taking Captain Thompson, the crew consisted of the steamer to another port than the one men from Maine, New Hampshire, Massato which he ordinarily traded, or to dis- chusetts, Rhode Island-from the Eastern charge the cargo into another vessel, if he as well as the Western States. Some of thought fit to do so. The steamer, how- them were scholars and teachers in Sabever, did take some passengers for France, bath Schools at home. They were dressed and left Newhaven as if on her regular in dark blue, and each sailor appeared in voyage across the Channel. The Cap- his Sunday suit. A small table was tain, however, had instructions from the brought up from the cabin, and the Stars owners to follow the direction given by and Stripes spread upon it. A Bible was the 'gentleman.' brought. They stood around the Captain

with uncovered heads, while he read the twenty-seventh Psalm. Beautiful and appropriate was that service :

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Had no White Flag on Board. The Federal steamer Star was on her way up the James River, from Fort Wool, with military and political prisoners, the former to be left at Aikin's Landing. The Captain, pilot, and all hands of the crew

After the Psalm, the prayer, "Our Fa- did not number fifteen, the prisoners one ther which art in heaven."

hundred. Though none of the former were armed, there was no feeling of fear or thought of danger. Nothing whatever was apprehended of warlike peril. The matter of hoisting said 'snowy

How impressive! The uncovered group standing around the open Bible, and the low voices of a hundred men in prayer. On the right hand, looking down the river, were the mortars in play, jarring the earth banner' proved, however, of some interwith their heavy thunders. The shells est. There was no such white flag on

were sweeping in graceful curves through board. It had not occurred to Quarterthe air. Upon the left hand, the Benton master or Captain to procure one. Inand Carondelet were covering themselves deed, until they were half a dozen miles with white clouds, which slowly floated up river, nothing had been said or done away over the woodlands, fragrant with on the subject. Approaching the Union the early buds and blossoms of spring. fleet off Newport News, the Captain was The rebel batteries below were flaming and smoking. Solid shot screamed past— shells exploded above. Away beyond the island, beyond the dark green of the forest, rose the cloud of another bombardment, where Commodore Hollins was vainly endeavoring to drive Colonel Plummer from his position. So the prayer was mingled with the deep, wild thunders of

the cannonade.

Sumter and the little Paul Jones.

inquired of why he did not run up the drapeau blanc, to avoid being hailed and stopped, and called on to announce his character and errand. “Besides,” it was added, "Admiral Wilkes may wish to forward letters by us to ships farther up, and if he sees the white flag approaching he will send a barge to deliver them without delay,"-and he did, as the event proved; wished not only to forward such letters, but to deliver certain packages of gold and bills of exchange for several Union The wooden gunboat Paul Jones, com- officers imprisoned in Richmond," and manded by Captain Rhind, was one of the moreover, Captain, we may in less than vessels engaged in the attack on Charles- an hour, be within range of secesh rifles; ton. Captain Rhind steamed right up to and you had better get up your white Sumter, utterly regardless of fear. He pocket-handkerchief before giving those was implored to be careful, but as in the rascals a chance to mistake our character." Keokuk, he was determined to get nearest "the crater." Having delivered two or three effective broadsides, a rebel ball flew over the quarter deck, almost grazing the shoulders of the gallant Captain, who once more let fly vigorously at the fort, and then triumphantly steamed back with flying colors.

"Gracious!" was his first exclamation, "I have not got any flag. What shall I do?"

"Have you any sheets?"

"Plenty; but they are very smallsingle berth sheets."

"Stitch four of them together; make the flag too large not to be seen a mile

The brave old salt was never nearer off; it is sometimes well to have more being a martyr in his life.

than three sheets in the wind.'"