and commanded a battery. As his year drew to a close he managed to get his leave indefinitely extended. The term of his battery, the First Ohio artillery, having expired, he was ordered to Cincinnati, to be mustered out of the service.

His next appearance with his battery was under General Hooker, and by the name of "Leatherbreeches" he became known to every officer and soldier in the army of the Cumberland. In all the battles which occurred, from Lookout Mountain to Peachtree Creek, Dilger was on hand. He was the first to open fire upon the eve of a battle, taking his guns nearly up to the skirmish line. So often had he done this, that some officer, appreciating the frightful destruction which his practice wrought,

Horrors of the Old Bull Run Battle-Field. At the old Bull Run battle-field, adjacent to the Warrenton pike, as described by a visitor fourteen months after, bullets are still picked up and exhibited by the handful. In the long, luxuriant grass, the visitor strikes his foot against skulls and bones, mingled with the deadly missiles that brought them to the earth. Hollow skulls lie contiguous to hemispheres of ex

presented the Captain with bayonets for ploded shells. The shallow graves rise

his pieces.

here and there above the grass, sometimes At one time, upon the eventful day of in rows, semetimes alone, or scattered at the Hooker and Johnston contest, Captain irregular intervals. Through the thin Dilger took his "smooth bores" up to Gen-layer of soil one sees the protruding ribs eral Johnston's line of battle, and for half whence the rain has washed their covering, an hour poured a raking fire of grape and a foot or an arm reaching out beyond its canister into the enemy in front of Hooker. earthy bed; and in one case one of these So conspicuous and deadly was his move- long sleepers was seen covered snugly up ment, that he became at one time the to the chin, but with the entire face exposed target for three rebel batteries, and lost and turned up to the passer by,-one could seven men during the day. He fired by imagine him a soldier lying on the field volley when he got a 'good thing,' and the wrapped up in his blanket, but the blanket acclamations of the infantry drowned the was of clay and the face was fleshless and reverberation of the cannon's roar on all eyeless. such occasions. Captain Dilger impressed every one by his fine appearance; he always wore close buckskin breeches, with top boots, and stood by his gun in his shirtsleeves during battle, eliciting the admiration of the whole army by his coolness and intrepidity when in action.

In one case a foot protruded, with the flesh still partially preserved; in another, an entire skeleton, lay exposed upon the surface, without any covering whatever. The tatters of what had been his uniform showed that he had been a cavalryman. The flesh was decomposed; but the tan

ned and shrivelled skin still incased the way of celebrating victory, certainly. Of bony framework of the body, and even the course, the shrieks of the dying or the finger-nails were in their places. The maimed and mangled sufferers beyond the ligaments that fasten the joints must have federal lines, formed no part of the chorus been preserved, for he was lifted by the as heard by the celebrants; but what was belt which was still around the waist, heard was novel and warlike, in the highand not a bone fell out of its place. est degree. When found, he lay in the attitude of Away, above all, in its majestic sweep, calm repose, like one who had fallen asleep the " Petersburg Express" sped on its from weariness. This was in the camp of way from the far rear to the devoted city the Ninth Massachusetts regiment. He in the far front. Curve crossed curve of was buried, as were more that night, who fire. Blazing ball passed blazing ball. had waited a long fourteen months for Hiss, and howl, and crash, and crackle, their funeral rites. In fact, the different mingled in the burdened air. Ragged pioneer corps were engaged some time in fragments of iron fell all around. Bits paying this last tribute to the gallant dead. of singing lead flew by or dropped briskly The Pennsylvania reserves bivouacked, about. fourteen months afterwards, for a night, on When the salute was finished, there the same ground where they themselves was some cross-firing of words between were engaged in the deadly strife of bat- the aroused pickets along the vidette line. tle, and the skulls and bones of some of "How are you, Atlanta?" cried out one their former companions in arms lay of the Yankee boys. "You'd better try around within the light of their camp and take Petersburg, now," was the rebelfires. It may even have happened that response. "Sherman is after you fellows, men pitched their tents over the grave of sharp," said Yank. "Won't you send a lost comrade, and again unwittingly rested under the same shelter with one who had often before shared their couch on the tented field. A soldier of the First ed the Yankees, tauntingly. "Wouldn't regiment struck his foot against a cartridge box, near his tent, and, picking it up, read on it the name of an old associate who had been among the missing, and unexpected,—the poor soldiers having for whose death was only known from his prolonged absence. His resting place had at length been found.

some more of your colored brudders into another mine?" asked Johnny. "Don't you want some coffee and sugar?” inquir

you like to exchange your wormy hard tack for our johnny cake?" was the response. This last hit was a hard one, and

some little time had shockingly bad bread; and though the worms in it were very large and lively, it was not known that they had been seen from the enemy's

Shotted Salute at Midnight from Grant to works! There was much more of this

Sherman's victories and the fall of Atlanta were celebrated in true military Do They Miss Me at Home? style in the army of General Grant before After one of the battles in Louisiana, a Petersburg. By special order of the boy of sixteen was lying on his cot, moGeneral, thirty-six shotted guns from each tionless, from a ball that passed through battery was fired at midnight, directly into the brain. The worthy surgeon in charge the city or into the enemy's works, while was probing the wound, during which, to the bands at the rear played" Hail Col- the astonishment of all, for his young life umbia,' 'Star Spangled Banner,' and 'Red, was ebbing fast away, he sang sweetly, White and Blue.' Pleasant and soldierly clearly and strong, the tender strain, “ Do

they miss me at home?" Poor little fel- ances were revived. A Connecticut serlow, he missed the warm hands and hearts geant found a townsman and schoolmate of his far-off home, which he thus recalled in a sergeant from over the way. A Conin that gentle fireside song.

Neutral Cornfield before Petersburg.

necticut officer found a kinsman in a rebel officer. A loyal Maryland regiment was vis-a-vis with a Maryland secession regiThere was a cornfield between the Un-ment. Many links of union were there. ion and Confederate lines at a certain One found a brother on the other side, and point before Petersburg, during Grant's yet another his own father! After a little autumn campaign, a little to the left of time the swapping of the day was done, Cemetery Hill. The opposing pickets of and officers and men returned to their the two great confronting armies would, respective lines. All was quiet again in spite of all, occasionally creep into that until the artillery re-opened fire. Then a field for a friendly chat, or for a barter, or half score of loiterers sprang up from their for a game of cards! Two of them were concealment in the corn and scrambled playing a game one day, with Abe Lincoln back to their places behind the works. and Jeff Davis as imaginary stakes. The Thus the fighting and the chatting alterLincolnite lost. "There says the win-nated.

99

ner, "Old Abe belongs to me."

66 'Well,

I'll send him over by the 'Petersburg Mower's Successful Trick upon the Rebel

Neutral Cornfield.

Dispatch Bearer.

A capital manœuvre was practiced by General Mower upon the rebels, at Henderson's Hill, and by means of which he gained that little victory over the bewildered chivalry. Overtaking one of the couriers, General Mower, in very indignant terms accused him of being a dYankee spy, at which the rebel dispatch bearer became alarmed, and protested his innocence, asserting that he was a good Confederate, on his way with highly important dispatches. As a proof of his identity he handed over his papers for the General to examine, asking him to read

express,' responded the defeated Yank. them quickly, as he did not wish to be deAt another time there had been lively tained. General Mower pronounced the shelling and some musketry firing during documents forgeries, and saidthe forenoon-of course but little talking.

me in this way."

"You are a Yankee, sir, and I intend After dinner there was a slack of hostili- to take you before the Colonel. I am ties. A Johnny rose up on the parapet General Walker, and you can not deceive of his line, and shook a paper as a sign of truce, then sprang over into the cornfield. At once a hundred men from either line were over their works and side by side, swapping papers for papers, tobacco for coffee or jack-knives, hard tack or sugar Suiting the action to the word, the defor corn cake. New acquaintances were luded rebel piloted General Mower and made. In some instances old acquaint-his staff some two miles. As fast as the

"Very well, General," replied the astonished soldier, "I will lead you to the Colonel's head-quarters, and he will explain that I am not a Yankee."

General neared the cavalry pickets, the line. A short time before noon, Bishop who were seated in picturesque groups Polk made an artillery bark at McPheraround their camp fires, scarcely noticing son, who reciprocated in magnificent style. our troops as they passed, they were or- At this time, Howard's corps was on the dered to the rear. Approaching the extreme left, Schofield to the right of him, encampment on Henderson's Hill, General then old Palmer, and Joe Hooker between Mower sent for two companies of infantry him and McPherson. The thunders comto march forward. Before giving this menced rolling to the left, and Hooker was order, he questioned the courier as to the in for it, throwing the bulk of his corps to disposition of the cavalry and artillery, the right, as McPherson was being most telling him the Yankees were not far off. Eager to be of service, the messenger explained the precise location of each gun to 'his General.'

As soon as the courier overheard the order for infantry to advance, made under such circumstances, he discovered the terrible situation and its consequences into which he had been brought, but it was too late. The terrified soldier expected to be shot, and he became highly excited, telling the General to "hurry and take that gun on that road,"-pointing out the various positions of each cannon.

Joe Johnston's Whipping at Resaca.

The battle of Resaca, Georgia, was one vigorously assaulted; the thundering war of the handsomest operations performed increased in fury, and the whole line eventunder the splendid leading of General ually were using artillery. It was the diapason of five hundred cannon!

Sherman.

Let any one imagine the army of McPherson, with the able corps commanders, Dodge and Logan, on the right, the army of Schofield on the left, and the grand army of the Cumberland, with Thomas, Hooker, Howard and Palmer in the centre, with immense bodies of cavalry upon the flanks, -and there is Sherman's complete army in line of battle.

All of a sudden the brigades were shifted from the right to the left, and considerable changing took place on the left and in the centre. Presently the Federal line wavered, the greater part of it fell back, and some portions of it in confusion. General Judah made a good fight, got severely handled, and was obliged to get out, which he did with confused ranks. Hardee was at work, and was very vicious. General Cox got into a snarl, too, and couldn't be found for some time.

Opposite, on splendid ground, were seventy thousand Confederates, commanded by Joe Johnston, with Hardee on the right, the Right Rev. Bishop Polk on the left, But ah! now the Federals get at them and the one-legged, one-armed fighting again handsomely, and the rebels go back devil, Hood, in the centre. The Federal the way they came, and more rapidly. army being a few thousand stronger, but Johnston having the ground.

This was on Saturday. Early in the morning, skirmishing commenced all along

The gallant Generals Manson and Harker receive wounds. Everything is going on well at the left now; both parties recover and maintain their own ground, and bang

away at each other at a respectful distance. | of the Sabbath transpired. Hooker stormed Considerable hand-to-hand fighting took a fort, and carried the works handsomely, place during the day, and brigades were capturing a number of guns and several pitted against brigades upon several occa- hundred prisoners. During this time, howsions. The happiest thing of the day was ever, a terrible conflict was going on-the the thrashing which General King's Brig- National troops gaining ground. Slowly ade of Regulars administered to a Missis- but surely were the disciplined forces of sippi Brigade under General Anderson, Joe Johnston relinquishing their claims to and an Alabama Brigade under General the field. On, on marched the enthusiastic Deas. columns of the Federals, seemingly attempting to drown the terrific roar of their guns with shouts and yells, while back— back moved the mad columns of the foe, the valor and desperation of the participants degenerating into despair, at times almost precipitating them upon certain destruction.

The heaviest fighting of the day occurred in the centre, Palmer's corps bearing the brunt. Baird's division achieved a multiplicity of successes, and Turchin and Carlin fought like butchers. Wood's splendid division also added to its world-wide renown by its spirited behaviour, and little Willich pitched in, in his usual style, during the afternoon. At a critical moment, Joe Hooker came around with his whole corps, and some magnificent fighting took place, the engagement lasting above an hour.

It was near midnight when the conflict ceased-one of the most remarkable day's fight, and one of the most interesting battles of the war. From eight until ten o'clock P. M., the roar of artillery and small arms, and the additional din, was tumultuous, especially upon the extreme right, where Dodge and Osterhaus had several pitched engagements with the enemy in the moonlight. About an equal number were engaged on both sides, and it was at last settled by the respective parties remaining in the positions which they occupied at the commencement. There was no slaughter whatever compared with the excessive fighting-the entire line being nearly all day at work.

Notwithstanding that with midnight came the cessation of the hostilities of the day before, the battle of Sunday opened at sunrise, and before nine o'clock the fighting was general. Hooker was the man of the day. Early in the conflict his corps was ordered to the extreme left, and there it was that the most brilliant events

The day ended with the Federal troops occupants of the rebel ground.

Vice President Breckinridge's Son. John Tyler, of Virginia, formerly President of the United States, and John C. Breckinridge, formerly Vice President, were the only persons at any time holding those distinguished offices, who raised their voice or their sword against the National Government, and openly sided with its armed enemies. Breckinridge's son, Lieutenant James C., at one time bid fair to duplicate his father's consummate prowess as a leader, but was captured in one of the battles of the Southwest-or rather, was captured in the National lines, having made a mistake while carrying a dispatch. He bore a remarkable resemblance to his father, and was quite youthful in appearance; possessed the fascinating deportment of his sire, and, in conversation, was quite winning. He was on his father's staff, and bad been in service during the past two years. Like the rest of the Confederate officers, he was attired in a coarse, but neat-fitting suit of gray clothes, with a blue military cap. He did not appear to be more than eighteen or twenty years of age, though evidently a young man of more than ordinary ability.