Heroism of Sherman on the Battle-field of fore Atlanta, on the day when his death

Shiloh.

At the battle of Shiloh, a cavalry officer having occasion to report personally to General Sherman about noon of the first day at that place, found him dismounted, his arm in a sling, his hand bleeding, his horse dead, himself covered with dust, his face besmeared with powder and blood; he was giving directions at the moment to Major Taylor, his chief of artillery, who had just brought a battery into position. Mounted orderlies were coming and going in haste; staff officers were making anxious inquiries; everybody but himself was excited. The battle raged terrifically in every direction. Just then there seemed to be universal commotion on our right, when it was observed that our men were giving back, General Sherman said—

"I was looking for that, but I am ready for them."

occurred. About noon, the General received a report from one of his officers that the enemy were approaching upon the left-the extreme of his line-in heavy force. Arrangements were immediately set in motion to meet the expected attack, but as the blow was delayed, apprehension for a time was lulled. The General had ridden from left to right in superintending the advance of his skirmish line, and was returning again to the right. He was alone, or had with him only one of his orderlies, a faithful sergeant. Not being aware of the presence of the rebels so near him, he came upon a party lying in ambush, who, running from their covert between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps, cried out wildly

"There they come; give 'em hell!"

A volley accompanied this, and the General was shot through the breast, the His quick, sharp eyes gleamed, and his ball entering his right side and lodging in war-begrimmed face beamed with satisfac- his body. He fell from his horse. A tion. The enemy's packed columns now party of half a dozen rebels ran out from made their appearance, and as quickly the the woods, and coming up to where the guns which Sherman had so carefully sergeant was already bending over the placed in position began to speak. The body, they snatched a handful of papers deadly effect on the enemy was apparent. from the General's side-pocket, took his While Sherman was still managing the gold watch, and, calling to the sergeant to artillery, Major Sanger, a staff officer, follow them as a prisoner, were starting called his attention to the fact that the off. The sergeant feigned to be wounded, enemy's cavalry were charging towards and was left to care for the dying General. the battery. The General's quick reply to Immediately afterward, officers and orderthis waslies meeting Colonel Strong, Inspector"Order up those two companies of in- General, and Captain Buell, both of Genfantry." eral McPherson's staff, accompanied by a The General coolly went on with his few orderlies, related the whole circumguns, and the cavalry made a gallant stance. Colonel Strong instantly drew the charge-but their horses carried back party into line, and ordered a charge. empty saddles. The enemy was evidently This handful of brave and impetuous men, foiled. Our men, gaining fresh courage, regardless of the foemen in front, dashed rallied again, and for the first time that gallantly ahead, and drove off the thieving day the enemy was held stubbornly in enemy. But the thieving was not all check. A moment more, and he fell back over the piles of his dead and wounded.

Close of McPherson's Noble Career. General McPherson's Grand Division held the left of the line in the fighting be

done by the enemy. Improving their chance, two Federal soldiers came up and took the General's pocket-book, containing three hundred dollars in money. One of them expressing a wish to see that it was safely kept to be restored, asked the other

his name, at the same time giving his own. | boro'. He was, however, not doomed to The only reply he received was to let him fall by the sword,' nor yet by the rifle. see the pocket-book, which the miscreant The Major had been to Lavergne, and took, extracted the money, and then throw- paid the Union troops there, and was on ing the pocket-book down, ran away. his way to Stockade No. 2, six miles from General McPherson all this time was still Nashville, in an ambulance, accompanied alive, but unconscious. While Captain by a Lieutenant and two or three men. Buell, with his revolver, kept the enemy at bay, Colonel Strong, assisted by the orderlies, lifted the nude body, stripped of every article of clothing save a glove and a sock, to his own horse, and bore it safely from the field. Beneath the light glove covering the left hand was a diamond ring, which the vandals failed to discover. All this occurred in less time than it takes to describe it, and the daring and determined charge made by Colonel Strong for the body of his noble and loved chief formed one of the most gallant episodes of the

war.

Before arriving at the stockade he sent the men forward to reconnoitre, feeling that such a precaution was necessary. Suddenly, half a dozen guerrillas made a dash on his ambulance, the Major seized the safe key and took out all the large bills, and fled with them to the bushes.

The Lieutenant took a Henry rifle with him, and fled also. The horses attached to the ambulance immediately took fright, and had gone but a few rods when the safe fell out on the ground; at this the marauders dismounted, one of them exclaiming with gusto, "Here is what we are after!" They at once threw down the guns, and were about helping themselves to the money, when the Lieutenant, who, with the paymaster, was secreted in some bushes near by, fired and wounded one of

to his assistance, when a second shot brought the fellow to the ground, a corpse. The others, warned by this example, then fled without securing any of the coveted

The General's body was conveyed in an ambulance to the head-quarters of General Sherman at Howard's house, where the officers who had heard of the sad event hurriedly assembled, to take a farewell view of their honored General. The body the men. A comrade immediately went was still warm. General Sherman, who, up to this moment, had appeared unmoved by the untoward events of the hour, and by all the alarming reports brought to him, became deeply moved at the sight of booty. the dead body of the General. He reverIn the dead guerrilla, Major Hale reently uncovered his head as the corpse cognized a man who was at Lavergne that was brought in, all present doing the same, very morning, trying to get a pass to Nashand gathered around the body. The noble ville as a loyal citizen! features were as placid as if the dead were reposing in calm sleep. Officers and men, and the servants and orderlies of the departed, mingled their tears over the lifeless form of the great and good man who lay before them. Thus closed the noble career of one of the most brilliant officers in the national cause.

Anderson and his brave little Company leaving Fort Sumter.

Having defended Fort Sumter for thirtyfour hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge wall seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of the heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder A narrow escape was that of Major only being available, and no provisions but Hale's, who was paying the troops sta- pork remaining, Major Anderson accepted tioned between Nashville and Murfrees- the terms of evacuation offered by Gen

Missing their Booty.

eral Beauregard, and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, April 14th, 1861, with colors flying and drums beating.

Safe Across the River.

The escape of a portion of the Massachusetts Twentieth, at the Ball's Bluff struggle, constituted one of the most memorable of the events connected with that awful tragedy.

The terms of evacuation were, that the garrison should take all their individual and company's property with them; that they should march out with their side and After all was finished, and the fragother arms, with all the honors in their ments of the regiment were brought toown way and in their own time, and that gether on the water's edge, it was deterthey should salute their flag and bear it mined to push upward along the shore away with them. Beauregard previously with the uncertain hope of finding some had asked Major Anderson if he would means of re-crossing to the Maryland side. not accept of the terms without the salute. Major Anderson replied, "No!" It was late on Saturday night when the terms demanded were finally agreed to; and then Beauregard sent word to Major Anderson that he would furnish the Isabel, or any other vessel at his command, to convey him and his men to any port in the United States he should choose.

On Sunday, therefore, the Isabel came down from Charleston, and anchored near Fort Sumter, and the little steamer Clinch lay alongside the wharf to transport Major Anderson and his men to the larger vessel.

When the baggage had been all put on board the Clinch, the soldiers being inside the fort under arms, a number were detailed to salute the United States flag. At the fiftieth gun the flag was lowered and the men set up a loud cheer. In firing, however, this last discharge, a premature explosion took place which killed one man instantly, seriously wounded another, and injured less seriously two other men. These were the only casualties of moment during the whole conflict.

The troops, having now been formed, were marched out, while the band played merrily "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail to the Chief." Remaining on board the Isabel during the night, in consequence of the state of the tide, Major Anderson and his men were transferred next morning to the Baltic, and during the evening of the day after sailed for New York.

In the event of meeting the enemy, however, it was decided to surrender at once, since any contest under the circumstances would be a useless sacrifice of life. After progressing a mile or so, the officers (Captains Bartlett and Tremlett, and Lieutenants Whittier and Abbott,) discovered a mill surrounded by cottages, about which numbers of persons were seen moving. Here it seemed that they must yield themselves. The officers ordered a halt, and directed the men to cast all their arms into the river, so that the enemy should gain as little as possible by the surrender.

"Shall we be accountable if we throw them away?" asked one or two.

"Guess not, if an officer orders us," said others.

So everything went over. Lieutenant Whittier went on in advance with a white handkerchief tied on his sword, to be used when occasion should demand. The first person met was an old negro, who, though greatly terrified at encountering so large and unexpected an assemblage, contrived to reveal that an old boat was stored near the mill, which might be bailed out and used to convey the fugitives across the river. A gift of five dollars insured his services, and the boat was in due time launched and ready for use. It was small, and only a few could pass each trip, but they were all transferred in safety..

Hoax upon Rebel Sharpshooters..

One morning, some boys of the Fifteenth Illinois, who were doing duty in the rifle

Whether it was that General Grant himself was in doubt as to the path which should be pursued, or that he felt the need of seeing for himself the actual situation

pits at Vicksburg, manufactured an imita- | face and chin as of a bull-dog or close-set tion soldier and accoutred him in the reg-steel trap-that is Grant; the tall figure, ulation uniform. When the bogus imita- with the nervous, emphatic articulation tion was completed, they raised it up slight- and action, and face as of antique parchly above the work, when whizz-whizz-ment-that is Meade,—and the antipodes whizz-went the rifles of the rebel sharp- could not bring together a greater conshooters, and two bullets penetrated the trast. spot where the brains ought to have been. Dropping him down, they soon exposed the figure again, and repeated it several times to the great amusement of the soldiers, who were delighted to see the rebels so completely humbugged into wasting their time as well as powder, in firing at a log of wood. The hoax was at length discovered by a lynx-eyed rebel, who, in clear clarion tones which were distinctly heard in our lines, shouted out, "Oh, you Yankees, no more of your infernal wooden nutmeg and white oak cheese jokes. They are played out, and be you!"

for from the thickness of the woods everything was hid as by a veil-is not known, but he suddenly mounted his horse, and rode rapidly down (an occasional shot or shell passing over his head and falling around at head-quarters) to the head-quarters of General Hancock, and afterward to those of General Wright; and when he came back it was plain there would be no to renewal of the battle, for they all rode leisurely again to the old camp occupied the night before.

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Generals Grant and Meade in Consultation before Richmond.

Friendship's Strongest Test.

In the terrible engagement at Fort Donelson, an orderly sergeant, seeing a rebel point a rifle at the Captain of his company, threw himself before his beloved officer, received the bullet in his breast, and fell dead in the arms of him he had saved. The brave fellow had been reared and generously treated by the Captain's father, and had declared, when enlisting, that he would be happy to die to save the life of his benefactor's son. The affection shown by Damon and Pythias did not exceed that of this nameless soldier on the battlefield of his loved country.

When the first terrible climax of the battle between Grant and Lee was over, Generals Grant and Meade established their personal head-quarters on the site of Cold Harbor. The great question was: Will the assault be renewed? To those looking into the face of General Grant for an answer to this query, there was no legible response. His is a face that tells no tales-a face impassive in victory or defeat; face of stone; a sphinx face! Not of him can it be said, as Lady Macbeth to her lord: "Thy face, my thane, is as a book, wherein one may read strange things." Rather is it a palimpsest, whose obscured characters escape the scrutiny of Four Strapping Confederates Bagged by a the keenest-eyed searcher.

Union Captain.

Nothing, indeed, could be more striking One night in June the rebels about than the contrast presented by these two Vicksburg came out in force, and by makcommanders, as they stood in consultation ing a long detour got in the rear of three on that bare hill, with their faces turned companies which had been sent out to proRichmond-ward. The small form with the tect the men at work in digging Union slight stoop in the shoulders, sunken gray rifle-pits. They killed, wounded and capeyes, still, reserved demeanor, impassive tured upwards of one hundred of our

soldiers, and got back to their works just ant?" To which he replied, "Very combefore daylight, with small loss. Captain fortable; but I feel as if that stump of a G―, discovering that they were complete- leg you cut off was on again and the toes ly surrounded and that there was no chance were cold." The Captain said it made of escape, contrived to climb a tree, and him shudder to hear William speak so there he remained undiscovered until the coolly, and he turned his head so as to look rebels retreated, when he came down and in his face. As he gazed at him he thought started towards our lines. He had gone his eyes looked strangely. At that mobut a short distance when he suddenly ment William sat up, and in a voice which came upon four rebels armed with rifles, never sounded louder or clearer, shouted who at the same moment saw him. It to his men, "Forward-march!" and fell

was a critical situation, but the Captain back dead. was equal to it. Marching directly up to

dier.

them he said: "What the devil are you Prayers for the President by a Dying Soldoing here?" The secesh were rather taken aback by his authoritative and bold manner, and never doubting for a moment that his Company were at hand, unhesitatingly laid down their arms upon his ordering them to do so. Soon after, our troops and pickets were greatly puzzled by the sight of four strapping Confederates marching in line in the direction of camp with a Federal officer immediately behind, a revolver in one hand, his sword in the other. It was Captain G-, marching his four prisoners to head-quarters.

The attack on Lee's Mills, near Yorktown, by the Fourth and Sixth Vermont regiments will be long remembered, and there was at least one incident connected with that attack which proves how much stranger is truth than fiction. In the summer of 1861, a private was court-martialed for sleeping on his post, out near Chain Bridge on the Upper Potomac. He was convicted, and his sentence was death; the finding was approved of by the General, and the day fixed for his execution. He was a youth of more than ordinary intelli

"Forward! March!"-Last Words of a Fed-gence; he did not beg for pardon, but was

eral Lieutenant at Newbern.

willing to meet his fate. The time drew A touching scene on the battle-field is near; the stern necessity of war required the following, which occurred at Newbern, that an example should be made of some North Carolina: The Lieutenant was in one; his was an aggravated case. But advance of his men in the bayonet charge, the facts reached the ears of the Presiwhen a volley from the enemy shattered dent; he resolved to save him; he signed his right leg and the Captain's left. They a pardon and sent it out; the day came. were both removed and laid side by side," Suppose," thought the President, "my when William called to the Surgeon and pardon has not reached him." The telesaid, "Surgeon, you must amputate my graph was called into requisition; an anleg, I cannot stand this." The Captain swer did not come promptly. "Bring up tried to persuade him not to have it re- my carriage," he ordered. It came, and moved, but he was determined, and said it soon the important State papers were must be done. The surgeon then admin- dropped, and through the hot broiling sun istered chloroform and amputated his leg. and dusty roads he rode to the camp, about As soon as the operation was performed, ten miles, and saw that the soldier was William called for a cigar, and smoked it saved. He perhaps forgot the incident, very leisurely until the fire was near to his but the soldier did not. When the Verlips. The surgeon then came along, and mont regiments charged upon the rifle-pits, inquired, "How do you feel now, Lieuten- the enemy poured a volley upon them.