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Major King attacked and drove this force through Humansville, capturing their last cannon.

peace at the polls, and to prevent the persistent-State militia. The force had entered Humansly disloyal from voting, constitutes just cause of ville from the north, in pursuit of Hunter and offence to Maryland. I think she has her own Coffee, four hours after I had passed through it example for it. If I mistake not, it is precisely toward the west. what General Dix did when your Excellency was elected Governor. I revoke the first of the three propositions in General Schenck's General Order No. 53, not that it is wrong in principle, but because the military being, of necessity, exclusive judges as to who shall be arrested, the provision is liable to abuse. For the revoked part I substitute the following:

That all provost-marshals and other military officers do prevent all disturbance and violence at or about the polls, whether offered by such persons as above described, or by any other person or persons whatsoever.

The other two propositions of the order I allow to stand. General Schenck is fully determined, and has my strict order besides, that all loyal men may vote, and vote for whom they please. Your obedient servant,

A. LINCOLN, President of the United States.

Doc. 216.

THE PURSUIT OF SHELBY.

GEN. JOHN MCNEIL'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FRONTIER DISTRICT, FORT SMITH, November 1, 1863. GENERAL I have the honor to report the following facts as the result of the expedition, to the command of which I was verbally ordered at St. Louis on the ninth of October :

I arrived at Lebanon on the twelfth, and finding that Lieutenant-Colonel Quin Morton had marched to Linn Creek with a detachment of the Twenty-third Missouri infantry volunteers, and another of the Second Wisconsin cavalry, and that he expected to be joined by a detachment of the Sixth and Eighth cavalry, Missouri State militia, I ordered Major Eno, in command, to fall back on Lebanon, and proceeded to Buffalo, where I found Colonel John Edwards, Eighteenth Iowa volunteers, in command, with a few cavalry and some enrolled militia. I at once addressed myself to the work of concentrating force enough for pursuit when the enemy should cross the Osage on his retreat south.

With about two hundred and sixty men and a section of Rabb's battery, I marched to Bolivar, where General Holland was in camp with part of two regiments enrolled militia, and a demi-battery under Lieutenant Stover. Leaving the General directions to observe and pursue Coffee and Hunter, if they should cross the Osage at Warsaw, I marched in the direction of Lamar, via Humansville and Stockton, to cut off Shelby, who was reported in full flight south of Sny bar, with General Ewing in pursuit. At Stockton I was joined by Major King, Sixth cavalry, Missouri State militia, with three hundred and seventy-five men of the Sixth and Eighth Missouri

Finding that Shelby had passed through Stockton in advance of me, I marched to Greenfield and Sarcoxie, via Bower's Mill, and on the night of the nineteenth camped at Keitsville, when I learned of scouts of Colonel Phelps, commanding at Cassville, that the enemy had crossed the telegraph road at Cross-Timbers that day about noon.

I kept up a rapid pursuit, following the trail of our flying foe via Sugar Creek and Early's Ferry, to Huntsville; our advance party, entering Huntsville with a dash, took quite a number of soldiers of Brooks's rebel command, with their horses and arms. I was there joined by Colonel Edwards, Eighteenth Iowa infantry, with three hundred men of his regiment, and Major Hunt, First Arkansas cavalry volunteers, one hundred and seventy-five men and two mountain howitzers. This gave me an effective force of six hundred cavalry and three hundred infantry, with four guns, two of these being twelvepounder mountain howitzers; these last would have been a much greater acquisition to me than they proved had they been properly supplied with ammunition. They were sent from Fayetteville with only sixty-seven rounds for the two howitzers, and of course could not be relied upon for any length of time.

We had here information that Shelby and Brooks had united their forces on War Eagle Creek, and that Hunter and Coffee were also there; the combined force amounting to two thousand five hundred men. We marched toward this camp to attack, but found that the enemy had gone.

On the twenty-fourth, we marched across a tremendous mountain, called Buffalo Mountain, and found the enemy in camp in a snug little valley on the other side, attacked and drove him, at sundown dropping into his camp. The mountain on the other side was too steep and the passes too narrow for a night pursuit, and we had to content ourselves by waiting for the light of morning. At early dawn we struck again into the mountains; our advance under Major Hunt, First Arkansas cavalry, was skirmishing with the enemy all day, driving them before us. On the twenty-sixth, while engaged in an attack on the enemy's rear-guard, who were posted in a narrow pass, Lieutenant Robinson, of the First Arkansas cavalry, was mortally wounded; he was brought into camp, and died that night at ten o'clock.

On the twenty-seventh, we marched into Clarksville, and learned that Shelby had made good his escape, and crossed the river, and that Brooks had gone down into the valley of Big Piney, with about four hundred men, with instructions to pick up stragglers from the rebel

army, and to cut off any train that might be country, pushed forward in the advance from coming to me from Fayetteville.

My cavalry and artillery horses were too badly used up to admit of pursuit across the river, so I turned my course toward Fort Smith. At a point four miles north of Ozark, I sent Colonel Catherwood, with the men of the Sixth and Eighth regiments Missouri State militia, and Major Hunt, with the men and howitzers of the First cavalry Arkansas volunteers, to Springfield and Fayetteville. I arrived in Fort Smith on the evening of the thirtieth. Although I have been disappointed in my earnest hope to attack and destroy the force under Shelby, I feel confident of having done all man could do under the circumstances. We have driven the enemy so that he had to stick to the road, and thus prevented a widely extended pillage, both in Arkansas and Missouri.

We have taken forty-four prisoners, besides discharging as many more, who were conscripts. We have killed and wounded many of his men, and driven numbers to the mountains, where he will not easily get them again. The captures in horses were also large.

My officers and men bore the fatigue and exposure of this campaign without tents and on small rations, in a manner to excite my admiration. Colonels Edwards and Catherwood were earnest in their coöperation in duty. Majors King, Eno, and IIunt, were always ready for any duty assigned them. Major King deserves special mention for his gallant attack on the enemy at Humansville, on the fifteenth, in which he captured the last cannon the enemy brought into Missouri with him-a six-pounder brass gun. Major Hunt, with his battalion of Arkansans, were, on account of their knowledge of the

Huntsville to Clarksville; this duty was promptly and cheerfully performed by the Major and his gallant command, who drove the enemy from every position, killing and wounding many, and taking prisoners at every charge.

To Captain Rabb, Chief of Artillery, and Lieutenant Whicker, Rabb's battery, and Johnson's section of howitzers, I am under obligations for services which mark them as true soldiers. Lieutenant Baubie, Quartermaster of the Eighth Missouri State militia, acted as Chief Quartermaster of the expedition, and gave unqualified satisfaction. Lieutenant Sell, Commissary of the same regiment, acted as Chief Commissary, acquitting himself with great credit.

Captain Hopkins, First Arkansas cavalry, joined me at Clarksville with thirty-four men. I had sent him from Buffalo on the thirteenth toward Duroc, to observe the enemy and report his motions. While on this duty, he ran on to the enemy in force, killing six, and losing but two of his own men. The day after he joined me, he attacked a party belonging to Brooks, of one hundred and fifty strong, and drove them back upon a detachment of the Third Wisconsin cavalry, that had been sent from Van Buren in pursuit of this party, taking several horses, and killing and wounding six of the enemy. The Captain is a most active and efficient scout, and a brave soldier.

The health of the command has been uniformly good. We had but three sick men in all the troops.

I have the honor to be, General, your obedient servant, JOHN MCNEIL, Brigadier-General Volunteers.

POETRY AND INCIDENTS.

OUR COUNTRY'S CALL.

BY JOHN PIERPONT.

AIR-Scots wha Hae.

Men who plough your granite peaks,
O'er whose head the Eagle shrieks,
And for aye of Freedom speaks,

Hear your Country's call!
Swear, each loyal mother's son,
Swear "Our Country shall be ONE!"
Seize your sword, or bring your gun,
Bayonet and ball!

For the land that bore you-Arm!
Shield the State you love from harm!
Catch, and round you spread the alarm;

Hear, and hold your breath!

Hark! the hostile horde is nigh!
See! the storm comes roaring by!
Hear and heed our battle-cry:
"VICTORY OR DEATH!"

Sturdy landsmen, hearty tars,

Can you see your Stripes and Stars
Flouted by the three broad bars,

And cold-blooded feel!

There the rebel banner floats!
Tyrants, vanquished by your votes,

Spring, like bloodhounds, at your throats;
Let them bite your steel!

With no traitor at their head;
By no braggart coward led,
By no hero caught abed,

While he dreams of flight;
By no "Young Napoleons,"
Kept at bay by wooden guns,
Shall our brothers and our sons,
Be held back from fight!
Like a whirlwind in its course,
Shall again a rebel force,
Jackson's foot or Stuart's horse,

Pass our sleepy posts;
Roam, like Satan, "to and fro,"
And our Laggard let them go ?
No! in thunder answer, "No!

By the Lord of Hosts !"
With the Lord of Hosts we fight,
For his Freedom, Law, and Right-
Strike for these, and his all-might

Shall with victory crown
Loyal brows, alive or dead,
Crush each crawling Copperhead,
And, in bloody battle, tread

This rebellion down!

VOL. VII.-POETRY 1

Talk of "Peace" in hours like this!
'Tis Iscariot's traitor kiss!
'Tis the Old Serpent's latest hiss!
Foil his foul intrigue !
Plant your heel his head upon !
Let him squirm! his race is run!
Now to keep your Country one,
Join our Union League!

LIBERTY NOT DEAD.

Written in reply to a poem, "Liberty-Dead," which_appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, by Mrs. Alice Key Pendleton, daughter of the author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

What though the daughter of a sire

Who gave the noblest song

To grace a nation's poetry

That echo shall prolong,

Whose matchless words and trumpet tones
Make dying soldiers strong;

What though she sing in cadenced verse
That Liberty is dead,

And softly chides the gathered crowd
By whom no tears are shed,
Though powerless seems the snowy hand,
And marble-like the head-

She wrongs the men who, fearless, stood

By dark Antietam's side,

And those whose patriot-blood, outpoured,
The plain of Shiloh dyed,

And those who braved the iron hail
On Mississippi's tide.

She wrongs the fathers, mothers, who
Their children send to war;

For them great Liberty still lives-
Still shineth as a star,
Which passing clouds a moment hide,
Without the power to mar.

What though a moment pallid now,
And lustreless her eye,

The people's will her mighty breath,
She cannot, dare not die;
In homes like ours, her glorious lot
Is Immortality.

Thus living, and to live for aye,

On mountain or in hall, In vain will rhythmic verse essay To spread her funeral pall, And tell her children, Liberty, Alas! is dead to all

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The patriot statesman's stirring song,

ONE VOICE.

BY MINNIE FRY.

One who sat at home in silence

Saw the army hurrying by, And her thoughts gave echo faintly To their eager battle-cry.

L. A. C.

"Ah!" she sang, "some wrong is hidden
Under all our high endeavor;
We shall fail, and fail forever,
Till we work as we are bidden;

Till the last red chain we sever,
Linking us to sin and wrong.
What although the tie be strong?

Yet the spirit sword is stronger,
Keen to sever good from ill;

Ready, when we doubt no longer,
All God's purpose to fulfil,

Ready, waiting for our hand;
Shall our hands hang slack beside us,
Idle till some good betide us

While the war-cloud glooms the land ?”

"Rise, O youth, in strength and glory,
Age with wisdom deep and calm;
Minstrel tune for lofty story;

Women pour the healing balm.
Let the earth feel your upstarting;
Shame on those who careless stand,
While the glory is departing

From the threshold of our land;
Come with freedom for the nation,
Freedom for each man therein;
Spread the glorious proclamation,
Though it be accounted sin;
Though upon the lofty places,

Where ambition spreads her lure,
There be pallid, fear-struck faces-
Make the glorious end secure."
"Ah!" she sang, "so few are dreaming
Of the perfect end of peace;
Ah!" she sang, "so many scheming
How the strife may soonest cease;
Ah! so many name and station
And the watchword of the nation
To ignoble purpose lend;
Here and there a lofty spirit
Shall the hight of love inherit

Faithful found unto the end."
But the end looks through the distance,
Faint and far off, like a star;
Never, save through upward climbing,
Reach we where its glories are.
PLEASANT RIDGE, 0.

THE OLD SHIP OF STATE.

BY DAVID BARKER, OF EXETER, ME.

O'er the dark and gloomy horizon that bounds her, Through the storm and the night and the hell that surrounds her,

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We trusted you as brothers,

Until you drew the sword,
With impious hands at Sumter,
You cut the silver cord.
So now you hear our bugles,

We come, the sons of Mars.
To rally round the brave old flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.
CHORUS-Hurrah! hurrah! etc.

We do not want your cotton,
We care not for your slaves,
But rather than divide the land
We'll fill your Southern graves.
With Lincoln for our chieftain,
We wear our country's scars,
We'll rally round the brave old flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.
CHORUS-Hurrah! hurrah! etc.
We deem our cause most holy,
We know we're in the right,
And twenty million freemen
Stand ready for the fight.

* See page 84, Poetry and Incidents, Vol. IV., REBELLION RECORD.

Our pride is fair Columbia,

No stain her beauty mars;
On her we'll raise the brave old flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.
CHORUS-Hurrah, hurrah! etc.

And when this war is over,
We'll each resume our home,
And treat you still as brothers
Wherever you may roam;
We'll pledge the hand of friendship,
And think no more of war,
But dwell in peace beneath the flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.

CHORUS-Hurrah! hurrah! etc.

THE SECOND LOUISIANA.

MAY 27TH, 1863.

BY GEORGE H. BOKER.

Dark as the clouds of even,
Ranked in the western heaven,
Waiting the breath that lifts
All the dread mass, and drifts
Tempest and falling brand
Over a ruined land-
So, still and orderly,
Arm to arm, knee to knee,
Waiting the great event,
Stands the Black Regiment.

Down the long dusky line
Teeth gleam and eyeballs shine;
And the bright bayonet,
Bristling and firmly set,
Flashed with a purpose grand,
Long ere the sharp command
Of the fierce rolling drum
Told them their time had come,
Told them what work was sent
For the Black Regiment.

"Now," the flag-sergeant cried,
"Though death and hell betide,
Let the whole nation see
If we are fit to be

Free in this land; or bound
Down, like the whining hound-
Bound with red stripes of pain
In our old chains again !"
Oh! what a shout there went
From the Black Regiment !
"Charge!" Trump and drum awoke;
Onward the bondmen broke;
Bayonet and sabre-stroke
Vainly opposed their rush.
Through the wild battle's crush,
With but one thought aflush,
Driving their lords like chaff,
In the guns' mouths they laugh,
Or at the slippery brands
Leaping with open hands,
Down they tear man and horse,

Trampling with bloody heel

Down in their awful course;

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"Freedom!" their battle-cry-
"Freedom! or leave to die!"
Ah! and they meant the word,
Not as with us 'tis heard,
Not a mere party-shout:
They gave their spirits out;
Trusted the end to God,
And on the gory sod
Rolled in triumphant blood;
Glad to strike one free blow,
Whether for weal or woe;

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Glad to breathe one free breath,

Though on the lips of death:
Praying-alas! in vain !—

That they might fall again,

So they could once more see
That burst to liberty!

This was what "freedom" lent
To the Black Regiment.

Hundreds on hundreds fell;
But they are resting well;
Scourges and shackles strong
Never shall do them wrong.
Oh! to the living few,
Soldiers, be just and true!
Hail them as comrades tried;
Fight with them side by side;
Never, in field or tent,
Scorn the Black Regiment !

BELLE MISSOURI,

Arise and join the patriot train,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
They shall not plead and plead in vain,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
The precious blood of all thy slain
Arises from each reeking plain;
Wipe out this foul, disloyal stain,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri !

Recall the field of Lexington,

Belle Missouri! my Missouri !

How Springfield blushed beneath the sun,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
And noble Lyon, all undone,
His race of glory but begun,
And all thy freedom yet unwon,

Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
They called the craven to the trust,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
They laid the glory in the dust,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri !
The helpless prey of treason's lust,
The helpless mark of treason's thrust,
Now shall thy sword in scabbard rust?

Belle Missouri! my Missouri!

She thrills! her blood begins to burn,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
She's bruised and weak, but she can turn,
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!
So, on her forehead pale and stern,

A sign to make the traitors mourn,
Now for thy wounds a swift return, cou
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!! 39owa

Stretch out thy thousand loyal hands, for w
Belle Missouri my Missouri noqo wordt
Send out thy thousand loyal bands, 97′OW
Belle Missouri! my Missouri!

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