0:<; OOLLAH PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA:
Thursday Morning, Angnst 7, 1862.
jshlccttb Haetrji.
RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
Red wai the lightuing's flashing.
And down through the driving rain,
We saw the red eyes dashing
Of the merciless midnight train ;
Soon many crowded together.
Under the lamp's red glow,
But 1 saw one figure ouly—
Ah ! why did I tremble so ?
The eyes that gazed iu the darkness
After the midnight train,
Are read with watching aud weeping,
For it brings none back again,
Clouds bang in the west like banners,
It d banners of war unfurled.
And tbe prairie sod is crimson
With the best biood in the world.
White faces are pressed to the window,
Watching the suu go down,
Looking out to the coming darkness,
That covers the noi:-y town.
White are the hands, too, and quiet,
Over the pulseless breast;
KG more will the vision of parting
Disturb the white sleeper's rest,
Over sleeper, and grave and tombstone,
Like a pitying mantle spread,
The snow comes down in the night time,
Wi;h a shy and uoiaeiess tread.
Blue smoke rolls away on the north wind.
Blue skies grow dusk in the din,
Bins waters look dark with the shadow
That gathers the world within ;
Rigid aud blue are the fingers
That clu'.ch at the fading ky ;
Blue lips iu their agony mutter :
•• 0 God .' let this cup pass by "
Blue eye - growing weary with watching ;
Strong hand* with waiting to do ;
While brave hearts echo tbe watchword :
' Hurrah : for the ed. White ard Bine."
|ll i s 1111 aitca us.
MARY MOORE.
AH my life long I had known Mary Moore.
All my life luntr. too, I had loved iier.
Our mothers were old playmates and first
cousins My first recollection ;s of u young
gentleman in a turkey red frock and morocco
shots, rocking a cradle, in which reposed u
funnv Inn reel, lilustycd baby not qn'.e a year
old That young gentleman was myself, Harry
Church ; that blue eyed baby was Mary
Moore.
Later still I saw myself at the little red
vchoo! house, drawing my painted sled up to
•lie door,an 1 arranging my overcoat on it that
Mary migtit ride home. Many a black eye I
have gained on such occasions ; for other boys
liked her beside me, and she, I am afiaid was
something of a flirt, even iu her piunifore.—
How Uainily she came tripping down the steps
when I called her name ! how sweetly her blue
eyes looked up to me from the envious folds of
htr winter iioo 1 ! how gaily her merry laugh
rung out when by dint o ! ' suopcbnman tjce'.-
t ions 1 kept. her*.'"d hi-lore the r si and let
her stand upon tlie sups exuitingiy to sec
tiiein all go by ! Toe fairy laugh 1 No one
hut M iry could let her heart lay up so upon
her iip> ! I followed that laugh up trom my
days of childhood till I grew an awkward,
blushing youth 1 followed it through the
healed noon of manhood, and now, when the
frosts of age are silvcriu.' my hair, and many
children climb my knee and call me "Father,"
i find that music still. VVtieu I was fifteen,
the first great so: row of uiy life came upon me
I was sent away to a western school uud was
obliged to part with Mary. We were not to
see each oilier for three long years I This to
me, was a sentence of death, for Mary was
Eke life io ine. Bit hearts are very tough
things alter all. 1 left college in all the flash
and vigor of uiv nineteenth year. I was no
longer awkward aud embarrassed,l had grown
into a tall, slender strippling, with very good
opinion of uivselt in general and particular. —
If I thought of Mary Moore, it was to imagine
bow I would d.iz/.ie and bewilder her with my
good looks and wonderful attainments never
tlii* king mat she ungli dazzle and bewilder me
still more ; I was asa l puppy, I know, but as
youth and good looks hate fled, 1 trust 1 may
tie believed when I say the sell-couOeit has let
aie also.
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at this lime, and accepting,l gave up all ideas
of profession and prepared logo to the Indies.
In my hurried visit home 1 saw nuthirg of
Mary Moore, ti lie had gone to a boarding
school in Massachusetts, and was not expect
cd home till the next fall. 1 gave oue sigh to
'he next full. I gave one sigh to the memory
of uiy litile blue eyed playmate, and then call
ed myself a man again.
" In a year," I thought, as the siage whirl
ed away Ironi our door, "in a year three at
at tlie most, I will return, and if Mary is as
pretty as she used to be—why then perhaps i
day marry her.
I stroked my budding mustache with com
piaceucy, while I settled the future of a voting
Hdy 1 i, a d ho t ,; ecn f, r (our years I never
timughi of tlie possibility of her refusing me—
l ever dreamed that she would not stoop with
gratelul teats to pick up the handkerchief
1 chose to throw it at her feet.
But now I know that hud M iry met rue then
sl'e would have despised me. She was as fur
a hove me as the heavens are above the earth.
I erlntps iu the scented and effected student
tni<rht have found plenty of sport ; but as
fur loving me. or feeling .o slightest interest
"i me, save a regret that I should make such
au uiiiui igated donkey of myself I know she
ft ould uot.
India was my salvation not merely because
0i the plentiful share of gold I had laid up,but
t'cau&e iny earnest laoor counteracted the
V >l of nature and made me a better man. And
'! J u at the end of three yews I prepared to
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
return, I wrote nothing to the dear ones I was
about to meet of the reformations which I
knew had taken place. "They loved me as I
was," I murmured to myself, " and they shall
find for themselves if I am better worth the
loving as I am."
I packed up many a token from that land
of gold for the many friends I was to meet.—
The g ft for Mary Moore was one I selected
wiih a beatiug heart. A ring of rough virgin
gold, with my name and hers iugraved inside.
That was all, and yet the little toy thrilled me
strangely as I balanced it on the tip of my fin
ger. To the eyes of others it was but a small
plain circlet suggesting thoughts, by its dain
tiness, of the dainty white haud that was to
wear it. But to me—oh, me, how much was
embodied there ! A loving smile una beauti
ful face—low words of welcome—a happy
home and a sweei face smiling there—a group
of merry children to climb my knee—all these
delights weiehidden vvitbiu that little ring of
gold.
**********
A tab, bearded, sun bronzed man. I knock
ed at the door of my father's house. Tlie lights
iu the parlor windows, and the hum of conver
sat ion, and die cheerful laughter showed me
that company were assembled ther*. I hoped
that my siair Lzz e would come to the uoor
and that I might greet uiy family when uo
strangers eyes were looking curiously on.—
Bat no—a servant answered my summons ;
they were to merry in the parlor to bend
tliu long absent one when he asks for ad
; mitt mice Some such flitter thought was
passing through my mind, us I heard the
sound Irom Hie parlor and saw the half eup
| pressed smiles upou the servant's face
1 hesitated a moment before I made my
self known, or asked for the family. Aud
while I stood silent a strange apparition
grew up before me. From behind the servant
peered out a small, golden head,a tiuv,delicate
form followed, and a Kweet childish face and
I blue eyes -ere lifted up to mine ; so like the
one I bat had brightened my boyhood that I
started back with a sudden feeling of pain.
| " What may your name be, little one ?" I
asked, while the wcudeiiug servant held the
' door.
She lifted up her hand as if to shade her.
I (I had seen that v*ry attitude in another, iu
i my boyhood, many and many a lime) and
| answered iu a sweet, bird like voice.
I " Mary Moore,"
" And what else ?•' I asked.
" Mary Moore Chester," lisped tao little
• •! I
child.
My heart sunk down like lead. Here was
i an end to all the bright dreams and hopes of
my youth and manhood. Frank Chester, my
boyish rival who hod often tried in vain to
| uMirp my place besirn the girl, had succeeded
at last, and won ihe woman away trom me 1—
| This was his child—his child and Mary's.—
And I must go in there and meet her once
again, and then go away forever and die—if
i God would let tne 1
I sank body and soul beneath this blow and
hiding my face in my hands I leaned against
the door The little one gazed at me grieved
I and amazed, and put up her pretty lips as if
! about to cry, while the perplexed servant step
, pen to th" 1 tiurlor door and called my sister oat
i to liii ;i who it could be that conducted him
! si If so strangely.
1 heard a light step and a pleasant voice,
j saying •
" Did von wish to see ray father, sir ?"
I It oked up. There stood a pretty, sweet
faced maiden of twenty, not much cbaiigid
from the dear little sister I had loved so Weil :
I looked at her a tnomeut and then stilling the
1 tumult of my heart by a nrigh'y effun, I opeu
i cd ruy arms and said :
" Jennie, don't you know me ?"
"Harry, Oil my brother Harry ?" she cried,
i and threw herself upou my breast. She wept
| as if her heart would break. I could not weep,
i 1 drew her gently into the lighted pirior, aud
| stood with her before them a!! Tuere was a
: rush and cry of joy ; and then my mother and
i my father sprang towards me, and welcome nie
. home with heartfelt tears. Oh, strange and
passing sweet is such a greeiiug to the way
worn traveler. And as 1 held old mother to
rnv heart and grasped my father's hand, while
Jennie clung beside me, I felt that all was not
! yet lost, aud though another had secured life's
I choicest blessing. Many a joy reinatued for
: me in this dear sanctuary of home.
Tin-re were four others, inmates of the room
who iad arisen on my sudden entrance. One
was the blue eved child whom I had already
I seen, and now stood by Frank Chester, cling
|to his h nd. N<ar by stood Lizz e, Mary
Moore's ehl>-st sister, and in a distant corner,
where she had hurridly retreated when my
i name was spoken, stood a tall and slender
figure halt bidden by the heavy window cur
tain that t 1 on the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was over
f Jei.tim led uie forward with a timid grace, and
and Frank Chester grasped my hand,
i " Welcome home my boy,"' he saiu with the
loud cheerful tones I remembered so well.—
" Von have changed so much 1 never would
have known \ou —but no matter for that your
heart is in the right place I know.
" How can you suy he is changed?" said my
! mother, gently. "To be sure he looks older
and graver aud more like a man than when he
went away, but his eyes and his smiles are the
same as ever. It is that heavy beard that
changes him. He is my boy still."
God help me? At that moment I felt like
a boy und It would have been a blessed relief
, to have wept upon her bosom, as I had done in
my infancy. But I kept down the beating of
my heart and the tremor of my lip, und
answered quietly, as 1 looked in liis full baud
some face—
" You have changed too Frank, but I think
! for the better."
" Oh yes thank yon for the compliment.—
My wife tells me I grow handsomer every
day "
His wife I Coald I hear that name and
keep silent still ?
" And have yon seen my little girl ?" be
added, lifting tbe infant io bis arms, and kisa-
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. 0. GOODRICH.
ing her crimson cheek. I tell you, Harry,
there is not another like her in the United
States. Dou't you think she looks very much
like her mother used to ?"
" Very much 1 faltered."
" llallo !" said Frank, with a suddenness
that made roe starte violently, " I had forgot
ten to introduce you to my wife, I believe you
and she used to be playmates in your days.—
Eh. Harry 1" and he slapped me on the back.
'• For the sake of old tines, and because you
were not here at the wedding, I will give yon
leave to kiss h j .r oi c ■ —but mind old fallow,
dou't repeat the ceremony. Come—here she
is, and for once I will manage those ferocious
moustaches of yours iu the operation."
He pushed Lizzy, laughing and blushing,
toward me. A gleatn of light and hope, al
most too dazzling to bear, came over me, and
I cried out before I thought : " Not Mary."
It mu>t have betrayed uiy secrets to every
one in the room; but nothiiig was said—even
Frank was this tiu-e silent. 1 kissed the fair
cheek of the young wife ; and hurried to the
silent figure looking out of the window.
" Mary—Mary Moore," said I, in a low
voice, "have you alone no welcome to give the
wanderer ?"
She turned ar.d laid her band in mine aud
murmured hurledly—
" I am giud to see you here, Harry?"
Simple words—and yet how blest tney made
me I I would not have yielded up that mo
meut for un Emperor's crown. There was the
happy home group and the dear home fire
side and there sweet Mary Moore ! The
eyes I had dreamed of by night and by day
were falling before the ardent gaze of mine—
and the sweet face I had so long prayed to see
was thf.LA belore me—more beautiful more
womanly and more loving than before I I
never knew tiii that moment the meuuiug of
happiness.
Many years have passed since that happy
night und the hair that was dark and glossy
then is fast turning grey. lam growing to b*
an old man and can look back to a long and
happy aud well spent life. And yet sweet as
it has been I would not recall a single day
fot the love that made my manhood so bright
shines in the old man ! Can this be so ? At
heart I am as ycung as ever. Ana Mary with
her hair parted smoothly from a brow that has
a slight furrow in it is still the Mary of my
early days. To mo she can never grow old or
change. The heart that held Iter in infancy
and sheltered piously in n.i the flet!t aid
beauty of womanhood can never cast htr out
till life shall cea*e to warm it. Mot even
for love still Eves in heaven.
The Canada Thistle.
Many of our readeisure not probably aware
the Senator McCluer's bill to prevent the
spread of Canuda Thistles was passed bv both
branches of tlie Legislature last winter, and
is now the law of tbe State. It provides that
hereafter any individual or corporation allow
ing the Cunuda Tnistle to ripen seed on their
premises shall be liable to line of ten dollars
upon each complaint that is properly establish
ed ; aud any one who may fear the spread of
wbe Canada thistles upon Lis premises from the
lands of his careless neighbor, may, af.er five
days'notice, euter upou uuy larais where the
weed is louud growing, cut it, and recover full
costs for the labor and trouble.
Tnis is a wise law, and the farmer who fails
to enforce it siric.ly is not awake to Lis own
interests. Tbe Cauada thistle is perhaps the
most dangerous weed to agriculture we have
in this sectiou. Its massive roots so completely
occupy the ground wherever it once gets a
footing, that nothing else can be grown upon
the soil, and seed i? so light that the wind will
carry it for miles. There is, therefore, uo safe
ty tor uny farmer if the Canada thistle is any
where within twenty miles of him, for it will
spread iu any direction with most astouisuing
rapidity, and wherever it starts it will in a lit
tle time completely pre-occupy the laud against
any aud every otner crop.
We especially invite the attention of our
readeis to this law. Take immediate steps to
cut it dowu or dig it out, as it will bloom in a
few weeks, uud before another mouth the dow
ny seed will be wafted in every direction as so
many messengers of death to valuable crops.—
Every corporation aud individual who has this
dangerous weed most dig it mib within the next
twenty days to make his work available ; and
it must be renewed each year, for it will re
quire the most careful digging out for several
years to destroy it. Let every farmer resolve
to enforce the new law rigidly, without fear or
favor, and we shall be spared from the further
spread of oue of the most fatal foes knowu to
successful agriculture.
BIG THING ON* THE CONTRIBUTION BOX
Those who go round with tbe contribution box
in California churches, plead aud argue the
case at the pews as they go along. In one in
stance the following dialogue ensued :
Parson L extended the basket to Bill, and
he slowly shook his head.
" Come, William, give us sometbiag," said
the parson.
" Can't doit," replied Bill.
" Why not ? Is not the cause a goon oue?"
" Yes, good enough, but I am not able to
give anything"
" Poh 1 poo ! I know better ; von most
give a better reason than that."
Well, I owe too much money, I must be
just before I am generous, you know."
" But, William, yon owe GOD a larger debt
than yon owe any oue else."
" That's true, parson, but then be ain't
pushing me like the rest of my creditors." The
argumeut was conclusive.
B&- A clergyman observing a poor man in
the road breaking stoDes with a pickaxe, and
kneeling to get at his work better, made the
remark : "Ah, John, I wish 1 could break
the stony hearts of my hearers as easily asyou
are breaking those stones." The mau replied:
" Perhaps, toaster, yon do not work on your
knees."
"REGARDLESS or DENUNCIATION FROM ANT QUARTER."
Carresponbenc t.
Letter from Virginia.
CAIIP NKAR JAMES RIVEB, {
July 8, ISS'i. J
DEAR BROTHER f —Your very welcome letter
was duly received, but owing to the lively
times that have taken place since then, I have
been unable to reply to it, until tbis morning.
Oar Regiment has been on duty, and on the
march, almost day and night for nearly two
weeks, and the men are getting almost worn
out, aud are yet doing picket and fatigue du
ty utmost coustantly. To give you something
of an idea of our condition at the present
time, I will commence back, and give you an
account ofeveuts as they have occurred daring
the passed two weeks : A9 you are aware, we
came back and camped near Bottom Bridge,
after the battle of Fair Oaks—in which we
suffered so severely—for the purpose of resting
and recruiting op a little. Yet while there,
the details for guard duty were very heavy,—
especiuily ou the Fifty-second Regiment, as
we were less than two hundred men fit for
duty,aud we had a full regiment's duty to do.
But this is considered asuothing compared to
the duty we had been doing previous to the
battle. After staying there about two weeks,
and during the recent battles of the right wing
of the army, it was ascertained that a siroug
force of rebels had come in from the right, ou
the east side of the Chickahomuy River, be
tweeu us aud the White House lauding, and
were coming up in our rear, with lira evident
iutentious of crossing at Bottom's Budge, aud
attacking the main right wing of the array in
the rear, and thus cm us off from the inteuded
" fail back'' to the James River. According
ly General Naglee, (our Brig.-Genera!) re
ceived orders to guard well the bridge, and
dispute tbe passage of the enemy across it to
the veiy last. This was ou Tuesday, June
24. That uiglit our regiment marched to the
bridge, aud remained ou guard until the next
dav, '"heu we went back to camp abort noon.
Ag: J that night,we were ordered back to the
bridge, k aud commenced eni renchiiig ourselves,
byway of breast works, rifle pits, Ac., and
made preparations to tear up the bridge at a
moments notice*. THUS the night was spent,
uud the next day (Thursday,) we had so far
completed the earth works thut we planted a
battery of six guus behind thera. Iu the mean
time we received information of tbe enemy's
advance toward tbe biidgc in close pursuit of
a large baggage iraiu of waggons, extra hor
***- Ac., which were on their way from the
Wbite House to the bridge. During the day
the wagons came pouring in across the bridge,
amid a perfect stampede of some seven or eight
hundred extra horses which had beeu turned
losse, aud came on in a drove When about
the last wagons had crossed the bridge, the
plank were torn up, aud the limbers cut
away, and in a short time, our cavalry pickets
came .u ou double quick, hotly pursued by the
Rebel cavalry, and even mixed up with one
another, cutting and slasliiug with sabres, and
occasionally was heard the sharp report of a
revolver. Thus they came on to within three
hundred yards of the bridge, when the rebels
turned and went back as fast as they came.—
But the main body came on aud planted a
battery on a hill to our left, nearly opposite
the Rail Lload Bridge, and commenced throw
ing shells among us. Their guns were well
aimed, aud they had a raking shot at us, but
our breast works protected us so that they
did us no damage, meantime,our battery opeu
-1 t-d ou them, and at the same time a battery
from tbe rail road bridge opened on them,
which soou silenced their guus, and they ske
| daddled in .good style. They did not again
! molest us, but they kept their pickets station
i ed in sight of us, so as to be able to observe all
| that was going oa among us. Thus things
! rested until Sunday. Our regiment staying in
! the rifle pits day aud night all this time, doing
ul! tbe guard and picket duty. The men had
no opportunity to rest, or sleep, ctrly as they
could occasionally lie down in the uust and
dirt for an hour or two at a time, with all
their equipments on. We had orders to hold
! the bridge until the maiu right wing of tbe ar
my could fall back from the vicinity of Sav
age's Station, across the White Oak swamp,
where, it was determined to check the enemy,
j should he attempt to follow us At about 5
o'clock Sunday afternoon, alter most of the
array bud moved toward the swamp, a train of
cars at Savage Station, was loaded with sur-
I plus ammunition,&c., aud set ou fire, and with
j a lull head of steaii, started toward the Chic
k, alioiuiny, where the rail road bridge had been
: burned, directly over the main channel.—
} Bottom bridge is from one-halt to three-fortbs
of a mile below the rail road bridge,and a por
tic-u witbiu sight of it, so we could occassional
ly get a giiraps of the burning mass of cars as
it came towurd the river at a fearful rate of
I speed, making the earth over which it passed
j fairly tremble, aud making a sound like that
I of a terrible hail storm,uutil itcame to "where
I the bridge was, but it vas not there," and with
a crash it plunged into the River und at almost
the same iuslaut, the umuuition and boiler of
the engine exploded, aud such an explosion, I
think was never before heard OD the American
Continent. Large sticks of timber were thrown
into tbe air to a fearful heigbr, and pieces of
the engine and boiler, were thrown in every
directiou. Tbis seemed to be tbe signal for
the Rebels to attack our rear guard near Sav
age Station, and immediately ine attack was
made, but tbe enemy found more left there
than he bad evidently bafg&iued for, and he
IN as repulsed, and driven baek with great loss.
While this was going on, oar battery was be
ing removed, silently, and with as little stir as
possible, so that the enemy's pickets should
nut know what was really going on amoug us.
One piece, however, was left, which stood iD
full view of the rebel pickets, until dusk,wheD
it was drawn off by baud, behind a piece of
woods where the teams were attached to it aud
started for White Oak Swamp. Our cavalry
pickets were sent out over the river,
and relieved those on duty, tbe more effectual
ly to bliud the enemy, as to our movements.—
As soon as it was dark,a part of the regiment
filed off in an opposite direction from that we
were to go, until we had passed behind a piece
of woods, skirting tbe river bank, and then
filed to the left, across a low marshy bottom,
where the water in many places was two or
three feet deep, aod struck into the road aod
pushed on at a rapid pace to White Oak
swamp, which was about five miles distant.— :
The remaiude? of the regiment soon followed, |
and we done uai tall traveling, as tbe rest of :
the troops were all ahead of as, aDd it was
feared that tbe Rebels would fiod out what
was going on, aud come in from the front, on
our left, and cut us off, and capture our little
handful of men. Gen. Naglee had stayed with
U9 until we left the bridge. When an army is fall
ing buck, tne rearguard is considered the post
of honor, and Gen. Naglee said he would not
trust his life there with any 'other regiment in
the army. lie rode on a head of us,and when
at last about 11 o'clock at night, we came up
to the main army, this side of the swamp
General Naglee rode np aud asked what regi
ment i 3 this? and received tbe answer tbe 52d.
took off his hat and shouted " good."
After we bad crossed the corduroy bridge, j
across the swamp aud came out into a field, I
we stacked our gnos, spread a blanket on (he j
ground and laid dowu to rest tbe remainder of !
the night. I forgot to mention that Colonel
DODGE went home sick soon after the battle of
Fair Oaks, and tbe regiment was commanded
by Lieut. Col. lIOYT, who, by the way, is be
loved by tlia whole regiment for his many ex
cellent qualities as a gentleman and good sol
dier. He had sent his borse on a head, and
shared with the regiment the fatigue of the
march, ou foot. Next morning (Monday),
about sunrise we cooked oar breakfast aod
again took up our line of march, direct towards
James river, across a large and beautiful farm,
und the whole brigade drew up io line of bat
tle, fronting the swamp, OD a ridge a little to
the rear of our artillery, and there stacked
arms, and fell back into the shade of thp
woods. The weather was then, a*:'' been
for several days intensely hot, and the men had
suffered from the effects of the heat and often
from want of water. We were making our
selves as comfortable as circumstances would
allow, and most of the meu had fallen asleer, i
except the p'eket* immediately in front. Thus
we were resting from oar labors of the previ
ous day, until about 1 o'clock ir the afternoon.
All seemed quiet ; hardly a sound was heard,
w hen all at once the enemy poured iu a volley
ol artillery upon us, from some twenty batter
ies on the opposite side of the swamp ! Ev
ery raau at once sprung to his feet, and rush
ed to his gun —with the exception of a few 1
who thought it safer to rush from, their guns, j
toward the river. Our batteries soon opened j
lire on them, and the eaunonading for about
five hours was terrific. The shot and shell fell
thick aud fast around us, and came rnauy times
so close to our heads that we were compelled
to lie flat on our faces to avoid being struck :
by them. S'ime times we could hear them i
coming, and could tell about where they were
going torougb, and the men woald open ranks
and they would plow through the groaud in
close proximity to us, and the bails would
sometimes strike in front of n9, and come
bounding along on the ground and the boys
would pick them np and put them io piles like
heaps of stone. It was evidently the inten
tion of the rebels, in Ibis engagement, to draw
the attention of our men mostly to this point, |
and if possible to get us to withdraw a large
portiou of our troops from onr left, toward
James river, and fronting Richmond, and then !
throw their main body against that poiut, and
if possible break through and cut off our re-;
treat. It was soon evident that this was iheir '
intention, for about 5 o'clock in the afternoon
they came on to that point iu great force, and
made a most desperate struggle to break our
lines, but our men were too wary to be-caught
1o this trap, and were prepared to meat them.
Soon the whole lir.e, for over two miles, open
ed fire with musketry and artiliery, and the
battle raged witn fierceness. On they came,
confident of success, and elated at the idea of
making a good haul of prisoners, and of de
stroying the whole array by ooe grand " coup
<le grace." They SOOD, however, began to re
coil before the well directed vollies of our
brave men, and to show signs of hesitation and
une-asiuess. To add to their eousternatioD, at
this juncture of affairs, our gunboats opened
fire oa them, aod it was soon plainly to be
seen that thev would not stand much longer,
aud Gen. HF.INTZI.MAN ordered a charge, and
the whole column moved down upon them like
a terrible avaiauch. This was more than they
could stand, and they broke and fled in perfect
confusion. Thus euded the battle of White
Oak Swamp.
Again oer army commenced moving toward
James River, and we our regiment were 3
second time left as a rear guard. From the
commencement of the fight, we had lain in the
field by our gnus exposed to the scorching
ray's of a hot southern sen without water, aud
the ineu were halt choked for tbe want of that
cooling fluid, but as all the water to be ob
tained from where we were was at the frcnt,
uear tbe swamp, we were not allowed to go
there for w&ter.for fear the rebel sharp-shooters
might pick as off while at the spring. In this
situation, we stayed there antil nearly all the
troops had left, und until near II o'clock at
night, aud tbeu we started for the river, in the
rear of a train of artilerv wagons which mov
ed very slow, and making a " detour "of some
14 or 15 miles, wo dragged aloug through tbe
dust, so nearly worn out and tired, that the
meu seemed to stagger at step. It was
not deemed sate for the men to fall out of the
ranks aud lie down, as tbe rebel cavalry might
pick them up and take them to Richmond as
prisoners of war. It was hard to hear the poor
fellows beg to 6top, only for a few momeuts,
that they might lie down and rest, but it could
not be, lor it was necessary to make all possi
ble speed, as we hail so far to march. The
re&sou of our taking this ronte was on accout of
the main road being so crowded with teams
and troops that it would have been aimc3t im
possible to got along that road. While I was
myself nearly fainting from exbnnstion ana
thirst, yet I did, and said all I could to cheer
VOL. XXIII. —NO. 10.
the poor fellows who were declaring they woild
have to fall out of the ranks as they could not
march any farther without rest, and water. I
must confess that I was never so nearly worn
out and exhausted In my life. We came up
with the main army uear the river about sun
rise, and coon as the men had stacked arms,
tbey dropped down on the groonJ, and almost
iastact'y fonrot their troubles in sleep, from
wbicn they did not wake until about 10 o'clock
A. M. We then got some water from a
muddy, riiy creek, made some coffee, ate some
breakfast and then marched a little further
toward the river, to the edge of a Cold of ripe
wheat, and theu stacked arm", and again laid
down iu the shade of the woods and stayed there
the remainder of the day, and until about n>id
night. We were then called ont, and again
stationed in order of battle, aud as the main
a r my were again moving down the river, wo
were a third time to be a rear guard. Soon
after daylight it commenced raining, and it
came down in torrents,and there we stayed un
til late iu the afternoon, when we again took
up cu: line of march lurougb the dreuching
rain aod wading through the mad uearly over
the tops of our boots' until we came into a
large field of wheat, a part of which had been
cut aud put in shocks, and the men were tak
ing the ahieves aod making a road to pet the
baggage wagons through the mad. We pass
ed through tiie wheat field into a field of
clover and lucre s'acked arms for the night,
the rain still pouring down in torrents, and
hastily constructed a sort of shelter to sleep
under. This done we turned in for the night
to sleep on wet blankets, spread on the wet
ground.
It continued to rain until Dearly day light
oext morning. About S o'clock iu the men
ing the rebels came down toward the river
with a battery and commenced throwing shell
into the camp, a little to oar right. Our Hoops
near there were ordered not to hre a gun in
—T to them, but to take a Regiment or
two ana creep up to them and charge
on the battery, an"! capture it. This order
was followed, aud Dot ooly were the guns cap
tured, but most of the rebels, themselves, were
captured as prisoners. Wc remaioed in the
clover field, drawn up in line of battle until
pear night, mi ""bed down to the
bank of lim river aud encamped, where we no*
ore. SiDce we have been here, the regiment
has bec-n cuusta-'ly on nicket or fatigue duty,
day aod night. For instance, a-, men in com*
pan? E. who had come off of a 24 hours tour
of picket duly, iast uigui, utter dark, were sent
out on fatigue duty—falling timber, digging
rifle pits, <fcc., the S&JCC night, and workuu all
night. Thus ma.ters go ou with e now, and
doubtless this is the case in the whole brigade.
Our company is rtducted to less than twen
ty five effective m n n, and yet we have thewr'k
of a "full company to do ; but the ™ !,n he?; it
nobly and perform their onerous duties nto&£
heroically and without a murmer.
The weather is very hot and sultry, here. T
think I never saw as hot weather in old Brad
ford as it has been here for a week passed.
Yon may think this state of affairs rather
hard to endure, yet most of the men seem to
stand it very well, and it i& very seldom that I
hear a man complain. Of course, there ara
some who desire nothing so much as to get re
leased from the service, but are men who
enlisted thoughtlessly, and with the idea that
thev woe Id never be called into active service,
and' thought it would be something fanny to
go a " soldiering." When I enlisted I con
sidered the mntier candidly, aud entered tho
service with the intent:' n of doing mv duty
honestly and faithfully, so far as I was capa
ble of doing so, and I have never yet seen a
moment that I would accept of an honorable
discharge—were it offered me—and leave my
companions of this company, here in the field
to battle with the enemy in defence of onr
rights and liberties, aud the glorious old Stars
and Stripes.
'i4e army is now in position aloDg the river
so that the gunboats can c-"> operate with all
our movements, and render the land forces in
calculable service.
Reinforcements continue to arrive la large
numbers, and the facilities for getting supplies,
Arc., to the Tiny, superior to those via.
York and Pamunkeh river, while the army was
operating in that vicinity.
Our mail matter begins to come to us i.ore
regularly now than it has for a time passed,
and I hope wc shall have ro farther trouble
ia this respect hereafter. * * *
Vourfc, Ac..
A.M. UAIGHT,
1.-.-giaseat P. V.
Ta. BATTT.ES BEFORE RICHMOND.— I The fol
lowing are the dates and localities of the va
riouats'lles before Richmond :
Thursday, June 26—Battle of Mechanics
vilie.
Friday, June 27 —Battle of Gainers Mill.
Saturday, June £B—Battle of ChickaUomi
ny.
Sunday, Tuue 2S—Battle of Pench Orchard
—battle of Savage's Station.
Monday, Jane 30—Battle of White Oak
Swamp ; battle of White Oak creek ; battle
of Charles Citv Cross Re ids.
Tuesday, July I—Battle of Turkey Bell i.
An ignorant fellow, who was about to
get married, resolved to make h'.mselt pe-fect
iu the response of the marriage service, but,
by mistake, he committed the office of bepti .cn
for those of riper years ; so when the clergy
man asked him in the charcb, " Wilt then
| have this wimau to be thy wedded wi.e ?" —
! The bridegroom answered in a very solemn
tone, " I renounce them all •!" The astonish
| ed minister said, " I think yon are a fool." —
To which he replied, " All this I steadfastly
believe !"
ONE or THE HEADACHES. —" I say, Sambo,
were you ever intoxicated ?"
" No, Julias, neber ; was you V
"Well, I was, Sambo." Tp
" Yah, but golly, next morning 1 ihoogut
my ued was a Wood shed, and all the niggers
in Christendom were splitting wood in it,"