Burnside as the headquarters of the Sani-
tary Commission for his division, "Aunt
Charlotte" came into the employ of the
Sanitary Inspector for the Department of

General Palmer was riding along his and their fates with the disunionists, and lines to inspect some breastworks that had their premises were assigned by General been thrown up during the previous night, he came suddenly upon some of the boys of Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, who had just shot a two hundred pound hog, and were engaged in the interesting process of skinning it. The soldiers were startled; their chief looked astonished and sorrowful.

"Ah! a body, a corpse. Some poor fellow gone to his last home. Well, he must be buried with military honors. Sergeant, call the officer of the guard."

The officer was speedily at hand, and received orders to have a grave dug and the body buried forthwith. The grave

was soon prepared, and then the company were mustered. Pall bearers placed the body of the dead upon a stretcher. The order was given to march, and with reversed arms and funeral tread, the solemn procession of sixty men followed the body to the grave. Not a word passed, North Carolina, and many a sick and nor a muscle of the face stirred, while the wounded soldier from the States of New last rites of sepulture were being per- York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and formed. The ceremony over, the General and his staff waved their adieux, and were soon lost in the distance.

Massachusetts, had reason to bless the culinary accomplishments of this venerable contraband cook, and to praise the alacrity with which, in times of their greate t need, she exerted her skill to save them from suffering.

The philosophy of a soldier is usually equal to the emergency. He has read and pondered. He can painfully realize that flesh is as grass, and that life is but On one occasion, soon after the battle, a shadow. But he thinks of the resur- when a steamboat load of sick and woundrection,' and his gloom passes away. So ed soldiers from the battle-field were unwith the philosophie boys of Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois. Ere the General was fairly seated at his own breakfast table, there was a raising of the dead, and savory pork steaks were frying in many camp pan.

"Aunt Charlotte," the Old Cook at Newbern.

a

expectedly landed in Newbern, and found themselves in a bare hall, with no accommodations for the night, without any provisions or any appliances for cooking, and too late in the evening for any relief from the ordinary" regulation" sources, "our old cook" was appealed to, and the alacrity with which she came to the relief of those sick and wounded men, will never be forgotten.

"Aunt Charlotte was one of the institutions within the Union Lines at New- By the time comfortable beds had been bern, N. C. She was an old family cook. prepared for their occupation, "Aunt When her master and mistress ran away Charlotte" had sent over a warm and and deserted her, to join their fortunes bountiful supper for some forty or more

famished and exhausted patients—a supper | without further trouble to her employer, of those choice materials with which the no- was secured the proper regulation and deble charity of northern ladies had so gener- portment of all the servants" on the lot" ously supplied the service through the men, women and children—and of all Sanitary Commission, and which the skill who visited them. Nothing ever hapof "our old cook," on that night of wretch-pened among them to annoy or displease, edness, served up to the wan and hungry the household being as well ordered as if soldiers with a nicety and a delicacy of the white mistress were still there to diflavor which can only come from an ac- rect. complished cuisine, but which all palates, "Aunt Charlotte's" domestic relations however unsophisticated, can appreciate. were as well ordered as the household. The poor soldiers were no less surprised She had children, grandchildren, and great than gratified at such unexpected relief grandchildren. Her old husband—“ Unfrom the sufferings of that wretched day cle Sam"-in propria persona-but almost of exposure and hunger. And their ex-superannuated, at the age of seventy-five, pressions of satisfaction, as they quietly was General Burnside's gardener. It was dropped off to sleep after their hunger was touching to witness the habitual care appeased and their wants attended to, which "Old Aunty" took of this venerawould almost have paid the old slave wo-ble partner of her life and her bondage. man for her long life of bondage. The As regular as the clock, the old man, with next morning, and the next night, and his staff, came in at mid afternoon from a second morning, did this old "col- his daily employment. He invariably ored lady" add to her ordinary day's la- found a chair set for him on the kitchen bor the preparation of suitable food for piazza, by the side of a well-scoured deal this whole hospital of sick and wounded table. On this, "Old Aunty" placed besoldiers. fore him a plate well filled from all the dishes which she had that day served from her employer's table.

"Aunt Charlotte was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but came many years ago to Newbern, and was the slave of one of its wealthiest citizens. She is about sixty-five years old; has a great deal of

Working the Monster Parrott Gun. There being, of course, no manual laid

character, and follows a thorough, system- down for the operating of that novel Phiatic routine of life-always at her post-listine in military practice, the "threealways reliable. She possesses no mean hundred-pounder Parrott," the mode of administrative abilities, reminding one of working it will be best understood by an an old merchant, habituated to a regular, explanation free from technical languagesystematic life, with ability enough to thus: The piece is on its carriage and keep all surroundings subordinate to that" from battery." Implements, no two in system. It seemed as if, were she to be the same place and no one in its proper superseded in that kitchen, she would lose place. The instructor gives the command, her hold on life, and the whole "darkey" appendage to the domestic establishment would be deprived of its balance wheel.

"Load her up!" At this command the gunner says, "Some of you fellers bring a shell," and "John, bring a cartridge." When, therefore, on the first occupation Some of the 'fellers' take a small handof the premises, she was told that so long barrow and bring a shell. Gunner says, as she did right, she would keep her place "Stick in that powder." "Now, boys, in the kitchen, and receive six dollars a hold on till I get out a fuse." "Stick it month, the "old lady" appreciated her in." All hands by hard heaving get the position at once, and from that day forth, shell to the embrasure.

Gunner says,

"Swab her out." She is swabbed out.

66

planted in the rear of the train, and began "Now, heave and haul, and in it goes." It firing shells up the road, over the wagons, goes in accordingly. "Now, ram it down." at the longest range, and with a good eleIt is rammed down. "Now, run her in." vation. A few of those "rotten cannon She is run in. "Screw down the recoil- balls" bursting over the train roused the bands." They are screwed down. Gun- laggards and fixed the business. Believner aims. "Slew her round a little." ing that the rebels were thus close-very "All right!" "Where's that primer?" close upon them, the wagon-masters and "Now, git out of the way, everybody." teamsters applied whip and spur, and the All go to windward, and No. 3 steps round whole caravan was moved off safely. a corner, so as not to be hit if the gun bursts. Gunner says, "Blaze away!" She blazes away. Remark of the gunner on returning to the gun: "HOW ARE YOU SUMTER?" Repeat.

History of a Sword.

Major William Stubbs captured a sword at the battle of Shiloh, which has a history which pertains to few weapons of its kind, or indeed to any other. It had been

Buford's Method of Spurring up Teamsters.presented to him by his fellow-conductors While Meade's army was on its retro- on the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, grade movement, an incident occurred which showed that General Buford was as fertile in expedients as he was brave in an

and bore an appropriate inscription of respect from the donors to the Major. When captured it fell into the hands of a Con

federate Lieutenant- Colonel, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Corinth by a private of the Tenth Missouri regiment. The private, however, having no use for the article, gave it to his Lieutenant. After the fall of Vicksburg the original owner of the sword was exchanged, and the Missouri private, reading a list in a Chicago paper, saw the

name of the officer, which emergency. While bringing up the rear, was the same as that inscribed upon the with the rebels not far behind him, he sword. He thereupon wrote to the Major, came up with a train of wagons several who answered in person, and the sword miles long, numbering, in all, some eight was returned. It had passed through hundred. The train was stopped, and three campaigns, sometimes wielded for Buford could find no one in command to and sometimes against the Union. start it. No time was to be lost. The enemy were coming-coming! and Buford's command would be cut up and the train captured. The teamsters in that long line could not be made to comprehend and act. But General Buford, in a few seconds, both comprehended and acted. He ordered one of his rifled pieces to be

Soldier Mechanics.

Captain Arnold, of company E, Rhode Island Fourth regiment, was one day ordered to take possession of the cross-roads at Havelock station. Near this place he came upon a large and valuable property, in the shape of a corn and flour mill, com

Could not Wait for Death.

bined with a saw-mill, belonging to Dr. mechanism, from the soldier-boys of the Master, of Newbern. He found the place victorious army. deserted, and the machinery purposely thrown out of gear to prevent its use by the Yankees. The turbine wheel had wedges and clogs placed in it, so that it would be both difficult and dangerous to attempt to start the mill. Being a practical mechanic, and withal possessing some experience in the management of mills,

Inflating the Pontoon.

When the exam

At the general hospital in Washington, says Prof. Hackett, a soldier from Pennsylvania, who had been severely wounded -so much so as to be beyond recoverywas lying on the floor. ining surgeon of the hospital came along and looked at the condition of the suf ferer, expressing his hopeless belief as to the recovery of the man, to his assistant, he raised his head and said:

"Doctor, will I recover? is there any hope for me?-for, if not, I want you to kill me."

The surgeon tried to calm him, and he appeared to drop into à doze. In a few moments he took a revolver from his

Captain Arnold immediately discovered pocket, placed it resting against his tem"what was the matter with the mill." He ple, and fired; being.so feeble he could not accordingly first drew down the pond, came hold it firmly, and the ball just glanced to the seat of the difficulty, repaired dam- over the skin without starting blood, but ages, and in a few hours the mill was jog- the discharge blackened his face. The ging along as good as new, doing capital pistol was immediately taken from him, service in the cause of the Union by grind- when he said-though then only half an ing corn-meal for the use of the troops. hour before he was a corpse,― After it had been restored, a person, claim- "I do not want to linger in pain withing to be an agent of the Doctor, made his out a hope" appearance, when, everything being made satisfactory, the premises were gracefully turned over to him without any charges for repairs. It was the easiest thing in the world, for Union soldiers from the North and West to improvise machinery of all sorts, repair locomotives, build bridges, dig canals, throw up dams, and, as to pontoons, Prof. Airy himself might have taken lessons in the philosophy of that kind of

Four-legged Messenger proving Disloyal.

A Federal officer who came up from City Point, Virginia, one October's day, to Washington, was observed to have with him an ugly-looking specimen of the genus canine, which he guarded very carefully. The dog, it appears, was a great pet with both the Union and Confederate pickets in front of Hancock's corps. The animal had

been trained to carry messages from time nition might have been sent for some of to time between the pickets. A southern the field-pieces he had placed in the breastpaper would be placed in his mouth, and works. "From the arsenal," said the he would scamper off to the Union lines, driver. "Oh, very well," said Birney,

"I'll take charge of it." This was ammunition sent from the city to the rebels; but Birney and some of his troops, unknown to the driver of the ammunition wagon, occupied Battery No. 9. The General duly appreciated such a timely addition to his supplies. It was the right battery but the wrong General.

Customer for Grant's Biography. Rather an amusing incident concerning General Grant is related as having occurred while he was on a journey in a railroad train, and where he displayed, as usual, none of the insignia of his military rank. A youthful book peddler traversed the cars, crying, "Life of General Grant." A mischief-loving aid pointed the youngdeliver up the paper, and then return with ster to the General's seat, suggesting to a northern paper. He would at other him that "that man might like a copy." times be intrusted with packages of coffee General Grant turned over the pages of and tobacco, which he always delivered the book, and casually asked, "Who is it promptly and safely. The secessionists, this is all about?" The boy, giving him a however, after a while undertook to make most incredulous grimace of indignation use of him for transmitting information and disgust, replied, "You must be a from one portion of their lines to another, and the four-legged messenger having been caught with one of these contraband messages, he had to suffer the penalty of such disloyalty by being confiscated and brought North.

Ammunition Sent by the Enemy Just in
Time.

darned greeny not to know General Grant!" After this volley the Lieutenant-General of course surrendered, and bought his biography.

Consul and General matched against each other in Savannah.

The scene which took place between General Sherman and the British Consul Late one night, after the redoubts had at Savannah was one of the richest and been captured, an ammunition wagon, most piquant during that general's event-drawn by six mules, was driven up from ful peregrinations. On his arrival in that the direction of Petersburg, to a particular city, the General saw a large number of point in the chain of fortifications. Gen- British flags displayed from buildings, and eral Birney, surprised to see it coming from his curiosity was naturally excited to know that direction, asked the driver at once how many "British Consuls" there were what he had in the wagon? The answer in that important city! He soon ascer-was, "Ammunition for Battery No. 9." tained that these flags were on buildings "Where did it come from?" inquired the where cotton had been stored away, andi General, supposing that additional ammu- he at once ordered it to be seized. Soon