Bright Constellation! How the world's lorn hope, Through groaning centuries tossed so wearily On the heaving waters of Oppression's sea, Joyed at thy rising! Shall she, weeping, grope In gloom again-thy glory dimmed and rent By traitors? No. The mighty North hath sworn That from thy glory-clustered firmament A single beaming star shall ne'er be torn. Even now that vow on History's brightest page Is writ in patriot blood; and every age That Time henceforth shall add unto the vast Wide-circling dome that spans the mighty past, Shall glow more brightly for the earnest vow We breathe into the ear of Heaven now. AD POETAS. BY GEORGE H. BOKER. O brother bards, why stand ye silent all, While drum and fife, and the fierce trumpet-call, Now is the time, if ever time there was, 'Tis not for all, like Norman Taillefere, Nor yet to frame a lay whose moving rhyme Shall flow in music North and South, And fill with passion, till the end of time, The nation's choral mouth. VOL. II.-POETRY 10 Yet surely, while our country rocks and reels, Your sweetly-warbled olden strains Would mitigate the deadly shock she feels, And soothe her in her pains. Some knight of old romance, in full career, Heard o'er his head the sky-lark sing, And pausing, leaned upon his bloody spear, Lost in that simple thing. If by your songs no heroes shall be made To look death boldly eye to eye, They may glide gently to the martyr's aid When he lies down to die. And many a soldier, on his gory bed, May turn himself, with lessened pain, And bless you for the tender words you said, Now singing in his brain. So ye, who hold your breath amidst the fight, THE SONS OF OLD LUZERNE. All honor to our Luzerne boys, Who volunteered to save our land! Who left kind friends and fireside joys, To join the patriotic band. When freedom's blast was issued forth To answer to their country's call— Then Luzerne's noble sons it found, Immersed in trade; in works of skill; In the deep mines; in lore profound; In pleading law, for others' will; In farming, too, were many more, Each busy in his peaceful home, Who ne'er had taken thought before, That soldier he should e'er become. But when our country, in her need, Proclaimed that treason must be crushed, The Luzerne patriot sons gave heed, And forth, to offer help, they rushed. Each branch of trade sent forth her men, The Lawyer left his client's cause; Went forth in honest, patriot pride. Mothers and sisters said "Good-bye," And bade them ne'er to treason bend; And wives, though with a tearful eye, Said, "Go, our Union's flag defend." Our noble braves we love and bless; We think of them with glowing pride; Their valor will insure success; In battle's roar from danger shield. -Wilkesbarre (Pa.) Advocate, July 3. STRIKING PROOF OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.-We have seen nothing which has so strikingly displayed public confidence in the Government and its financial administration, in the great struggle in which it is embarked for the Union and the Constitution, as the promptness with which the sum of five million dollars was advanced to the Secretary of the Treasury in New York on Tuesday last, in response to a call for that sum-on such liberal terms, too, in the face of the great loan of two hundred and fifty millions about to be authorized by Congress. It was after business hours on Monday, the 8th inst., that Secretary Chase sent the following telegraphic despatch to the Assistant Treasurer at New York: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 8, 1861. John J. Cisco, New York, will issue six per cent. Treasury Notes at sixty days, to amount of five million dollars for five millions in coin. Please make arrangements forthwith. S. P. CHASE. The despatch was received the following morning, and Mr. Cisco immediately called a meeting of the leading Bank officers and started a subscription, and before the close of business hours of the same day, the following despatches were sent to the Secretary, and reached Washington before he had left the Department for dinner : NEW YORK, July 9, 1861. TO HON. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury: I have obtained the subscription for the entire amount of five millions. Over three millions have already been paid in. JOHN J. CISCO. NEW YORK, July 9, 1861. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury: JOHN A. STEVENS, We doubt whether the history of the Department shows an instance of similar despatch in negotiations. -National Intelligencer, July 10. THE REBELS BOMBS.-A correspondent of the Troy (N. Y.) Times says:- -“Among the instruments of death fired at our forces from the enemy's rifled cannon at the battle of Great Bethel, was a large percussion shell of a new pattern, which failed to explode, and was borne from the field by our forces as a trophy of war. It was kept for some time at Camp Hamilton, and finally sent as a present to Wm. E. Hagan, of this city. Its outside appearance has already been described in the papers. Of course, it was supposed to be filled with combustibles, and spectators gazed on it with that kind of awe inspired by chained tigers, or high-pressure steam-engines. "But it was determined to solve the mystery, and the shell was sent to the United States Arsenal, for the purpose of having a hari kari Japanese process performed upon it, and thus ascertain the contents, just as we open a book for the same purpose. The arsenal employees approached the dangerous plaything with some trepidation, and performed the unscrewing of the percussion tip with fear and trembling. Carefully they proceeded, and slowly the outer wrappers of the missile came off. And then came a surprise, and then ensued a laugh. The dangerous shell that was to have burst with such terrible effect, was found to be filled with rice. There was a sufficiency of the Southern staple in the shell to furnish seed for a planConfederate forces are filled with a similarly harmless tation. If all the other shells thrown by the valiant explosive,' they will not do much execution, except on a direct fire. this discovery." Our soldiers should be informed of from the South, but my exact whereabouts in that ADVENTURE OF A SPY.-"I have lately returned region, for obvious reasons, it would not be politic to state. Suspected of being a Northerner, it was often my advantage to court obscurity. Known as a spy, vented the blotting of this paper. a short shrift' and a ready rope would have preHanging, disguised, on the outskirts of a camp, mixing with its idlers, laughing at their jokes, examining their arms, counting their numbers, endeavoring to discover the plans of their leaders, listening to this party and pursuing that, joining in the chorus of a rebel song, betting on rebel success, cursing Abolitionism, reviling Lincoln, traducing Scott, extolling Gen. Beauregard, despising Northern fighters, laughing at their tactics and sneering at their weapons, praising the beauty of Southern belles and decrying that of Northern, calling New York a den of cut-throats, and New Orleans a paradise of immaculate chivalry, is but a small portion of the practice of my profession as a spy. This may not seem honorable nor desirable. As to the honor, let the country that benefits by the investigations and warnings of the spy be judge; and the danger, often incurred, is more serious and personal than that of the battle-field, which may, perhaps, detract from its desirability. "It was a dark night. Not a star on the glimmer. I had collected my quotum of intelligence, and was on the move for the Northern lines. I was approaching the banks of a stream whose waters I had to cross, and had then some miles to traverse before I could reach the pickets of our gallant troops. A feeling of uneasiness began to creep over me; I was on the outskirt of a wood fringing the dark waters at my feet, whose presence could scarcely be detected but for their sullen murmurs as they rushed through the gloom. The wind sighed in gentle accordance. I walked forty or fifty yards along the bank. I then crept on all-fours along the ground, and groped with my hands. I paused-I groped again-my breath thickened, perspiration oozed from me at every pore, and I was prostrated with horror! I had missed my landmark, and knew not where I was. Below or above, beneath the shelter of the bank, lay the skiff I had hidden ten days before, when I commenced my operations among the followers of Jeff. Davis. "As I stood gasping for breath, with all the unmistakable proofs of my calling about me, the sudden cry of a bird or plunging of a fish would act like magnetism on my frame, not wont to shudder at a shadow. No matter how pressing the danger may be, if a man sees an opportunity for escape, he breathes with freedom. But let him be surrounded by darkness, impenetrable at two yards' distance, within rifle's length of concealed foes, for what knowledge he has to the contrary; knowing, too, with painful accuracy, the detection of his presence would reward him with a sudden and violent death, and if he breathes no faster, and feels his limbs as free and his spirits as light as when taking a favorite promenade, he is more fitted for a hero than I am. "In the agony of that moment-in the sudden and utter helplessness I felt to discover my true bearings -I was about to let myself gently into the stream, and breast its current, for life and death. There was no alternative. The Northern pickets must be reached in safety before the morning broke, or I should soon swing between heaven and earth, from some green limb of the black forest in which I stood. "At that moment the low, sullen bay of a bloodhound struck my ear. The sound was reviving-the fearful stillness broken. The uncertain dread flew before the certain danger. I was standing to my middle in the shallow bed of the river, just beneath the jutting banks. After a pause of a few seconds I began to creep mechanically and stealthily down the stream, followed, as I knew from the rustling of the grass and frequent breaking of twigs, by the insatiable brute; although, by certain uneasy growls, I felt assured he was at fault. Something struck against my breast. I could not prevent a slight cry from escaping me, as, stretching out my hand, I grasped the gunwale of a boat moored beneath the bank. Between surprise and joy I felt half choked. In an instant I had scrambled on board and began to search for the painter in the bow, in order to cast her from her fastenings. "Suddenly a bright ray of moonlight-the first gleam of hope in that black night-fell directly on the spot, revealing the silvery stream, my own skiff, (hidden there ten days before,) lighting the deep shadows of the verging wood, and, on the log half buried in the bank, and from which I had that instant cast the line that had bound me to it, the supple form of the crouching bloodhound, his red eyes gleaming in the moonlight, jaws distended, and poising for the spring. With one dart the light skiff was yards out in the stream, and the savage after it. With an oar I aimed a blow at his head, which, however, he eluded with ease. In the effort thus made, the boat careened over towards my antagonist, who made a desperate effort to get his forepaws over the side, at the same time seizing the gunwale with his teeth. "Now or never was my time to get rid of the accursed brute. I drew my revolver, and placed the muzzle between his eyes, but hesitated to fire; for that one report might bring on me a volley from the shore. Meantime the strength of the dog careened the frail craft so much that the water rushed over the side, threatening to swamp her. I changed my tactics, threw my revolver into the bottom of the skiff, and grasping my bowie,' keen as a Malay creese, and glittering, as I released it from the sheath, like a moonbeam on the stream. In an instant I had severed the sinewy throat of the hound, cutting through brawn and muscle to the nape of the neck. The tenacious wretch gave a wild, convulsive leap half out of the water, then sank, and was gone. Five minutes' pulling landed me on the other side of the river, and in an hour after, without further accident, I was among friends, encompassed by the Northern lines. That night I related at head-quarters the intelligence I had gathered, and in a few days I shall again be gleaning knowledge in the Southern camp.-Missouri Democrat, July 6. going the rounds:-An elderly lady, who attended a meeting of the First Vermont regiment, arose, full of enthusiasm, and said she thanked God that she was able to do something for her country; her two sons, all she possessed in the world, were in the regiment; and the only thing she had to regret was, that she could not have known it twenty years ago—she would have furnished more. ANOTHER HERO FALLEN.-Amid the crash of battle, the roar of artillery, and the dashing bayonet charge, in the fierce excitement of the hour which thrille every nerve and rouses every energy, the soldier who falls is scarcely heeded in the on-sweeping ranks of his victorious comrades. But when the conflict ceases, and the smoke of the cannon rolls away, and the re turning column sorrowfully seeks its slain upon the blood-stained ground, many a heart swells with an guish, many an eye fills with tears to see the prostrate form and meet the dying glance of well-loved friend and brothers, the foremost in the desperate fight. One of the immortal Seven, who sealed in death their devotion to liberty and their native South in the brilliant victory at Bull Run, on Thursday, July 18th, was Carter H. Harrison, Major in the 17th Virginia regiment, one of the heroic leaders whose men so gallantly fought and won the battle of that day. "None knew him but to love him "-of a nature at once gentle and brave, a tender, high-souled, chivalrous man; young in years, old in heroism, foremost in duty, highest in honor-among the first to fall. The friends who loved and mourn him-those who saw him Walking his round of duty, Serenely day by day, With the stroi g man's hand of labor, all who knew his noble life and gallant death, will mingle their tears "with those who weep," over the touching words sent by the Surgeon to his home on the morning of the 19th: "Your husband died in Jesus, this morning." A fitting epitaph to a life like his-at once its eulogy and its lament. Virginia will forever cherish the sacred memory of her patriot sons.—Richmond Dispatch, July 26. SOUTHERN CRITICISM.-The army of the North is as remarkable for its base material as ours for its high morality. Respectable men do not volunteer to go a-rogueing, [shade of Webster!] and the attack on the South is avowedly a rogue's expedition. The Northern troops are, with very few exceptions, paupers, thieves, ignorant foreigners, murderers, bullies, and criminals of every description. They are not half so respectable or well-informed as our negroes, and it adds much to the indignation and exasperation of our troops that they have to meet these nomadic scoundrels.-De Bow's Review. "What do you want of your knapsack?" inquired the head lady of the band of nurses. "I want my knapsack," again said the dying young man. His knapsack was brought to him, and as he took it, his eye gleamed with pleasure, and his face was covered all over with a smile, as he brought out from SHE REGRETTED IT.-The following anecdote is it his hidden treasures. The nurse looked down to see what it was, and there was the face of a beautiful maiden. "Now," said the dying young soldier, "I want you to put all these under my pillow." She did as she was requested, and the poor young man laid him down on them to die, requesting that they should be sent to his parents when he was gone. Calm and joyful was he in dying. It was only going from night to endless day-from death to eternal glory. So the young soldier died.-Christian Inquirer, July 20. A PATRIOTIC SPEECH.-Owing to alleged bad treatment by the State authorities, the Erie regiment, near Pittsburg, Pa.,began to display a rather ugly, mutinous spirit, whereupon their Colonel (McLane) addressed them in the following pithy and patriotic speech : "Gentlemen, there is one thing I want you to understand, and that is, that I intend to command this regiment. I understand there are a number of you dissatisfied and uneasy because your payments have been stopped. There is no doubt but that we have been badly treated; and by the Eternal, the time shall come when we shall have our rights, and our wrongs shall be redressed. In the mean time, I advise you to act like soldiers and gentlemen. If the State refuses to do its duty towards us, let us do ours, and then they can have no fault to find with us. If there is any among you who wants to leave, he can do so, and I will give him a free pass home. I hope there is no one who will desert his post now, and who rates his patriotism at the paltry sum of $17 23. I have spent $1,000, and have not received a cent in return, but I am determined to do my duty; and if the State of Pennsylvania is too poor to repay me, I will make a free gift of my services to her."-Alton Democrat, July 20. A CORRESPONDENT of the Nashville Christian Advocate gives the following account of a Sabbath in a camp of the rebels : "We spent last Sabbath at Camp Trousdale, about forty miles from Nashville, and within two miles of the Nashville and Louisville Railroad. The former camp, immediately on the road, lacked water, and two weeks ago the troops were removed to their present location, where much water is, and of the very best kind. For shading trees, undulating ground, and cool springs, there could hardly be a more eligible encampment. It is within two miles of the Kentucky | line, and has 5,600 soldiers. At half-past 9 the drumcall gathered our congregation in Col. Battle's regiment. Rev. J. A. Edmondson has lately been elected their chaplain from the ranks. We had a respectful hearing for the sermon, reverent attitude in prayer, and were assisted by some good voices in singing. About the same hour, Brother Armstrong, Chaplain of Col. Hatton's regiment, Brother Crisman, of Col. Newman's, Brother Tucker, of Col. Fulton's, Brother Poindexter, of Col. Savage's, were conducting Divine service. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon we conducted a brief religious service for Col. Palmer's regiment. This regiment held an election last Thursday, and has secured an excellent chaplain, Rev. J. H. Richie, of the Tennessee Conference. Brother Richie went through the Mexican campaign, in the ranks. After dinner, in company with Brother Armstrong, we went through the hospitals located in this region. The sick list-measles-is pretty large in some of the regi ments; but the sick are well cared for, and there never was a better time and place for soldiers to take their camp acclimation. The readers of the Adrocate will be pleased to learn that the Sabbath day is observed in camp. There is no drilling, which here is real hard work six days in the week. The univer sal good order was not only gratifying, but astonishing; the whole day's scene agreeably belied our conceptions of camp life. We saw no dram-drinking or card-playing; heard no profanity. Ladies might be seen visiting friends and relatives, and they can do so with perfect safety, for last week a soldier was put under guard for six days for kissing his hand at a lady unknown to him. The fact is, our volunteer armies are made up of gentlemen, and to an unprecedented degree of Christian gentlemen. If the Lincoln cabinet could visit our camps and witness the stuff our men are made of, and take one day's impression of their physical and moral stamina, we believe the last hope of subjugating such a people would die out of them. We learn with pleasure that a good state of religious feeling pervades the Southern army. In Col. Bates' regiment, now in Virginia, there are many Christians, among them Capt. Henry, a local preacher of the Methodist church from Summer County. Captain Henry has regular prayer meetings among the soldiers. When present, he leads; but when absent, some of the young men conduct the services. The interest, we understand, in these meetings is constantly increasing. Much good will be accomplished, and young men who have gone into the field bearing the name of Christ, will come back with their Christian armor bright. There is a Christian association in Camp Cheatham, Tennessee, who hold prayer meetings at stated times, and exercise an excellent influence. Rev. W. H. Browning, who spent last Sabbath at the camp, makes a very favorable report of its moral condition. At Sparta, Georgia, I heard Bishop Pierce make one of the most eloquent and thrilling addresses to a vast crowd of soldiers and people, on fast-day, after a sermon. He said: Did I know a man here who would refuse to subscribe cotton or money to carry on this war of defence while it lasts, I would never shake his hand, nor darken his doors with my presence.' The Bishop's only son, just married, an accomplished Christian, has volunteered as a private, and the Bishop himself subscribes one-half his crop to the Confederacy.” LOUISVILLE, KY., July 6.-If any good Union men (no others need apply) want a few first-class navy pistols at much less than the ordinary rates, we may make a suggestion for their benefit-if they come to us soon.-Louisville Journal, THE WOUNDED AT BULL RUN.-"During the retreat I was surprised to note the few exclamations of distress from our wounded men. Now and then the mangled soldiers uttered piercing groans; sometimes, during the rough process of transfer from the ambulances, they gave vent to their agony in heart-rending shrieks; but generally their endurance was heroic. Dr. Magruder, soon after the firing on Col. Hunter's column began, took possession of the Sudley church, about half a mile from the field, and instantly the seats were removed, and blankets spread on the floor for the wounded. The little building was soon crowded, and its floor crimsoned with warm blood. The altar table was used for the operations upon the men who were more severely injured. The surgeons of the New Hampshire and Rhode Island regiments, as well as those of the New York Eighth, Fourteenth, and Seventy-first regiments, and of the Fire Zouaves, were in attendance, and worked with great energy. "Within the hospital the victims were chiefly of the Rhode Island regiments. There were some, however, from the Seventy-first, the Fourteenth, and a number of the Zouaves. "In front of the building, in a pleasant grove, the ambulances crowded until it was impossible to unload them with any degree of rapidity. Then a dwellinghouse near at hand, a barn, and a wagon shop, were successively occupied, but all proved insufficient, and the dead and mangled were laid on the grass in every direction. And what a scene it was! Here a poor fellow with shattered arm, imploring the early attention of the surgeons; there a pale youth, exposing his fractured head to the pity of his fellows; then a dying man bathing the green sod with his life's blood; and scores lying about in strange confusion, all more or less injured, and shocking spectacles to behold. It was a sight the memory of which no lapse of time can remove, and such as language must ever fail to describe. It was not so mournful and impressive, however, as the field of battle, where were strewn in wild confusion the dead and the dying, and for a long distance every foot of the soil was drenched with human blood. "Mr. Arnold and myself dismounted, and coöperated with the surgeons, as far as lay in our power, in alleviating the distress of the poor fellows; but many received no attention whatever, and died without an audible murmur. The shell-wounds and those caused by the rifled cannon shot were most frightful. Legs, arms, heads, and entire bodies were fearfully mangled. The musket-wounds were less repulsive; but in all the dreadful sight, there was nothing to disguise the untold horrors of war.-RICHARD MCCORMICK, in the N. Y. Evening Post. REPUDIATION.-The following official notice was published in the Savannah Republican :— MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY OF SAVANNAH, To all persons who may be interested: } Take notice, that from and after this date, during the continuance of the present war existing between the Confederate States and the United States of America, all coupons of the bonds of the city of Savannahı, payable in the city of New York, will be paid only at the office of the Treasurer of the city of Savannah. This notice is made public in pursuance of a resolution of Council, adopted on the 5th instant. CHARLES C. JONES, JR., Mayor. wish I was in Dixie, I'se sure!" continued he. None o' de niggers does; you may bet your sou o' dat!" "Where is Dixie, Charles?" "'S Norfolk-dat's whar 'tis," was the indignant reply. "Kills de niggers in Dixie, jist like sheep, a working in de batteries! " The idea of our contest is fully appreciated by the colored people. The representations at the North, that the slaves do not understand the cause for which the Federal army are moving upon the South, are utterly false. I have seen here and in Hampton scores of the fugitives, and conversed with them, and I have never found one who did not perfectly understand the issue of the war, and hang with terrible anxiety upon its success or failure. I was particularly struck with this at Hampton, when the battle of Great Bethel was progressing. They crowded together in little squads about the streets, listening to the reports of the cannon in the distance, or the accounts of those who came in from the field. Many of them were almost insane with anxiety, and expressed themselves extravagantly. "If the Unioners' get the fight," I said, "what will it do for you?" "Den we'll be free!" answered all who stood near me, almost in one breath. "But if they lose the battle?" "Oh, den it be worser for us dan ebber," they said, shaking their heads mournfully, and in their simplicity believing that all the issue of the war hung upon the result of that day.-Letter from Fort Monroe, N. Y. World, July 3. YANKEE DOODLE ON "THE CRISIS." You may talk about your "Dixie's Land," Yankee Doodle made a name On many a sea and shore, sirs; Secession won't eclipse his fameIle'll only do it more, sirs! Now Dixie's Land is in ferment With their Yancey and their Cobb, sirs; They're plunging in, on ruin bent, And raising the very hob, sirs. Yankee Doodle hears the noise The American eagle flutters; Yankee Doodle is the boy Will make 'em stop their treason, If they will only hold their jaw, And hear a little reason. Have we forgot our country's flag, Your rattlesnakes and pelicans |