STORY LXXX.

MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE UP LOOKOUT VALLEY.

WHILE General Hooker's army was moving up Lookout Valley, from some unknown cause a stampede among the mules occurred, which is worth relating, as it was an incident that afforded much merriment at the expense of the Rebels. It was in the dead of the night, when both armies were resting from the fatigues of the previous day, and the sentinel's tread was the only sound that disturbed the universal quiet.

Rushing from the wagons, to the number of about thirty, the mules made for the enemy's lines like frightened sheep. The drivers were awakened by the noise just in time to witness the disappearance of the animals through our advanced pickets. The enemy's pickets were not caught napping.

Hearing the mule brigade tearing across the valley, they mistook them for Yankee cavalry, discharged their muskets at the supposed "Yanks," and fell back upon a battalion, stationed a little in the rear of them, with the cry that the enemy were upon them. The battalion taking the alarm, sprang to arms, only in time to hear the sound of the frightened mules, whose race was not checked by the volley from the pickets.

They retreated, also, a short distance, to a point where a whole Rebel brigade had stacked their arms, and were calmly dreaming of home and battle scenes. In rushed the battalion, more dead than alive from fright, with the exclamation-"Hooker has surprised us! his cavalry is upon us!" The valiant sons of Mars did not

wait to gather up their blankets or guns, but made the fastest pedestrian time on record back to the main force; leaving upon the field, for the mule brigade, over one thousand stand of arms, among which, were three hundred new Enfield rifles, blankets, small arms, knapsacks, &c.

Meantime our teamsters had given the alarm, and a force was sent out for the recovery of the mules, and in a few hours, the expedition, inaugurated by the mules, returned to our lines with the valuable spoils. This is no fancy sketch; its correctness is vouched for by a member of General Thomas' staff, who was present when the expedition returned.

It will be recollected that in his report of Hooker's victory, General Thomas stated that 1,500 stands of arms were captured. Readers were, no doubt, generally at a loss to discover by what process more arms were taken than prisoners. In the midnight charge of the mule brigade, they may find a solution of the problem. Through its aid a large amount of valuable stores and arms were secured, and General Hooker was enabled to push his advance much nearer the point of ground contended for. All will agree that the charge of the mule brigade is worthy of a place in history.

STORY LXXXI.

STORY OF GENERAL SIGEL.

On the return of General Fremont's army from Southwestern Missouri, Sigel commanded the Division that came by Lebanon to Rolla. A few miles north of Leba

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non the army encamped for the night, on the farm of a man who was in sympathy with the Rebellion, and his fence-rails were all burned for fire-wood, and his farm stripped of whatever was useful and necessary to subsist the troops and horses of the train.

In the morning the farmer came with a large bill of damages, and asked for payment. The Quartermaster came to General Sigel to know what should be done about it. Colonel Warmoth was present, and the General asked him whether the man was a loyal citizen. The Colonel replied that he was a conditional Union man at first, but that he had afterward sympathized with the Rebellion.

Turning to the Quartermaster-General, Sigel then replied "Mr. Quartermaster, then you sympathize with the Government." It is hardly necessary to add, that the Secesh farmer did not obtain what he came for.

STORY LXXXII.

GENERAL ORDER-A HEROINE.

Headquarters, District of Central Missouri,
Jefferson City, August 9th, 1863.

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 42.

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ON the night of the 6th instant, a party of bushwhackers, some three in number, visited the house of a Mr. Schwarltz, about twelve miles from Jefferson City, Cole County, and on demanding admittance, were refused by Miss Schwarltz, a young lady of fifteen. They replied that they would come in, at the same time trying to break down the door.

While this was going on, the other inmates of the

house, viz., Mr. Schwarltz, John Wise, Captain Golden, Government horse-dealer, and a young man in his employ, all left, taking with them (as they supposed) all the arms and ammunition; but in their hasty retreat they left behind a revolver, which Miss Schwarltz appropriated to her own use.

She went to the door, and on opening it, presented the pistol to the leader of the gang, telling them to "come on, if they wanted to, and that some of them would fall, or she would." They threatened to kill her if she did not leave the door. She replied, "the first one who takes one step toward this door, dies, for this is the home of my parents, and my brothers and sisters; and I am able, and shall defend it." Seeing that she was determined in her purpose, after holding a consultation together, they left.

Here is an instance of true courage, in a young girl of fifteen years of age, who, after all the inmates of the house, even her father, had fled, leaving her alone to her fate, with a courage worthy a Joan of Arc, boldly defended her native home, against three blood-thirsty, cowardly ruffians; and by her coolness and heroic daring, succeeded in turning them from their hellish designs.

It is with feelings of no ordinary pride and pleasure, that the Commanding General announces this fact to the citizens and soldiers in his district. On the other hand, those miserable cowards, who deserted this brave girl in the hour of danger, flying from the house, leaving her to her fate, are unworthy the name of men, deserve the scorn and contempt of the community at large, and their society should be shunned by every one who has the least spark of honor or bravery within him. By order of Brigadier-General BROWN.

J. BAINSFORD, A. A. G.

STORY LXXXIII.

GENERAL HOWARD-AN INCIDENT.

AN unrecorded incident of the midnight fight between Hooker's and Longstreet's forces, in Lookout Valley, on the night of the 30th of October, 1863, is related by C. D. Brigham, correspondent of the New York Tribune, as follows:

"A short time subsequent to this magnificent charge on the enemy in their breastworks, by General Geary's brigade, General Howard, taking with him a small escort of cavalry, started for that part of the field where General Geary was supposed to be. He had not gone far, when he came up with a body of infantry. What cavalry is that?' was the hail. All right,' responded General Howard, at the same time calling out, 'What men are these?' 'Longstreet's,' was the reply. 'All right-come here,' said General Howard. The men approached. 'Have we whipped those fellows?' asked the General, in a manner to keep up the deception. 'No, dn them, they were too much for us, and drove us from our rifle-pits, like devils. We're whipped, ourselves.' By this time the Rebels had gathered nearer. 'Lay down your arms!' demanded General H., in a stern voice. The men surrendered.

"Taking his prisoners in charge, General H. proceeded on his way. He had not gone far, before another party of Rebel infantry called out, 'What cavalry is that? All right,' was the response, again, of General Howard, as he proceeded. On approaching the position occupied by Geary, that officer had observed