FIRING ON A HOSPITAL-BOAT.

IN the early part of July, 1863, as the hospital-boats belonging to General Curtis's command were passing down the Mississippi river, they were fired upon by a party of guerrillas upon the bank, who kept following it as they floated slowly down the river, discharging volley after volley upon the sick, wounded, and defenceless men who lay exposed to their murderous fire, expecting every minute to receive, a fatal shot. The officer in charge of the boat shouted to them to stop, that it was a hospital-boat, and pointed to the yellow flag above him. They paid no attention to his appeal, but continued to fire, wounding a great many of the already sick and wounded. A captain on board was wounded seriously while pleading with them to stop. This outrage was continued until one of the Union gunboats came to their assistance. The gunboat fired a few well-directed shots at the cowardly miscreants, which caused them to decamp faster than they had followed the boat. Thus ended the tragedy. The guerillas were commanded by a man who wore the uniform of a Confederate captain, but called himself a guerrilla, to vindicate the government whose orders he was carrying out.*

ASSAULT ON THE FAMILY OF MR. JOHN YOUNG, AND HEROIC CONDUCT OF HIS DAUGHTERS.

EARLY in the progress of the rebellion, it was seen to be the policy of the leaders to overrun Tennessee with

* From Dr. W. H. D. Williamson, of Southern Arkansas.

...T

an armed force drawn from Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, under pretence of drilling the soldiers, and protecting the citizens from depredations. The real purpose of the treacherous crew was to consume and destroy the available resources of the country, and to disarm its inhabitants of every means of defence. Robbery was their great aim; and cruelty and oppression were the means by which they proposed to torture the peaceful inhabitants into submission.

Every movement of the people was met with demonstrations calculated to excite terror and dismay; every sentiment of attachment to the Union or the flag, was sought to be suppressed by the force of the bowie-knife and the bayonet. Violence was the order of the day, "Exterminate the Union men!" the watchword of the hour, with these marauding, murderous bands.

One of these ruffian bands was stationed in Fentress county, Tennessee, a short distance from the residence of Mr. John Young, who was known to be a Union man, and one of the best citizens of the country. His course had been such as to win the esteem of the virtuous in his vicinity. Retiring, industrious, unobtrusive, and correct in his deportment, he was just such an individual as those miscreants deemed it necessary to visit with their deepest vengeance. His influence and example, they thought, might damage the rebel cause, and rebel wickedness might labor under restraint extremely disagreeable to the rebel leaders in their deep guilt of treason and blood. Mr. Young was compelled to lie out in the woods and from his family, to avoid imminent danger of being arrested, and hung, or murdered in some other way.

One evening, at twilight, a large rough soldier came to the dwelling where Mr. Young's family still resided, with pistol in hand, and a bowie-knife in his bosom. He

told Mrs. Young that he wanted lodging for the night. The lady remarked, having two grown daughters with her, that she was not in the habit of entertaining soldiers in the absence of her husband.

The ruffian replied, that "By G-d he had come to stay, and he was going to stay, whether it suited her

or not!"

Mrs. Young then said, "If you are determined to stay, why ask me anything about it?" And turning to one of her daughters, standing near, she directed her to go up-stairs and prepare a bed for the man. The daughter hastened up-stairs, and the soldier took his weapons in his hands and followed her. When he reached the room, he motioned the young lady to take one of the beds. She said "No." He said "He would see to that!" and ad vanced toward her. She, being a stout, vigorous woman, as he came to her, grasped him firmly by both his arms and screamed for help.

Her sister, Miss Mary Young, who was still below, seized an axe which happened to be near and ran up to the rescue. Here she found her sister struggling with the infamous wretch, and still holding him with a firm grasp.

This sister made one stroke at his head with the axe, and its keen edge fell just where the vertebræ join the neck. The blow was as fatal as it was fortunate. It nearly severed the head from the body. The villain fell instantly on the floor, weltering in blood.

Such was the recompense of brutal villany! Vengeance was swift and sure.

*

*General J. B. Rodgers.

MURDER OF DOCTOR WILLIAM MCGLASSEN.

In the early part of November, 1862, a party of rebels under that notorious scoundrel, John Morgan, attacked a small body of United States soldiers near Burksville, Cumberland county, Kentucky. During the engagement three Union citizens were captured, among them Dr. Wm. McGlassen. After securing the doctor, they rode off five or six miles, when they met Champ Furguson and his gang, who proposed to kill the doctor. Morgan's men assented, and offered their assistance. As soon as they had concluded in what manner the prisoner should die, a large number of the marauders dismounted and commenced walking about until they had left him by himself. This done, one of them rushed upon him, levelling his gun at the doctor, and bursting a cap, ordering him at the same time to run for his life.

He started to run, but had hardly proceeded a dozen yards when the whole band fired about one hundred shots at him. The doctor kept running until he reached a deep gulley, into which, through weakness by loss of blood, he fell, when they rushed upon him, drawing their pistols, and discharged their contents at him, several of the shots taking effect in the body, and one or two hitting him in the head, killing him almost instantly. The fiends then commenced robbing the body. They took his watch, and what money he had. Not satisfied with this, lifting up his body, they took off his coat, pantaloons, and vest, and would have stripped his body of the last piece of clothing, had not some one of the murderers, who had a little humanity left, threatened to shoot them. Throwing the body down, they left it, to commit other depredations upon the Unionists in the surrounding

country. This Champ Furguson, in a speech delivered to his admirers at Sparta, Tennessee, in August, 1863, said: "I have killed sixteen Lincolnites, and intend to kill enough more to make it number twenty-five; then I shall be ready to die."

What became of the other two prisoners we are un able to say, but hope they escaped. If not, they were, no doubt, treated in the same manner as Dr. McGlassen. None but the Almighty Ruler can number the many Unionists of the South who have fallen in this way; and their bones are now left bleaching beneath a Southern sun, without a mark to tell to whom they belong.*

FIRING ON UNITED STATES BOATS AFTER THE SURRENDER OF NATCHEZ.

United States Flag Ship Hartford,

Off Natchez, Mississippi, March 17th, 1863.

SIR: I trust that it is unnecessary to remind you of my desire to avoid the necessity of punishing the innocent for the guilty, and to express to you the hope that 'the scene of firing on the United States boats will not be repeated by either the lawless people of Natchez, or by the guerrilla forces; otherwise I shall be compelled to do the act most repugnant to my feelings, by firing on your town in defence of my people, and the honor of my flag.

I should be most happy to see his honor the Mayor on board.

Very respectfully,

D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral. His Honor, the Mayor of Natchez, Mississippi.

* Dr. J. D. Hale, of Tennessee.