b
The Tloga/IWty Ablator;
BY ,'lfe B. COBB.
Pabliahed ereigr and mailed to
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p«r year, always IN
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ience. -v
The Agitator is . tbl Official paper of Tioga Co.,
and circulates- in eyeiy|teighbbrhood therein. Sub
scription* being oh the udvance-pay system, it circu
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to reach. Terms to as liberal as those of
fered by any paper of ejaal, circulation is-Nonfaern
Pennsylvania. \ \ ■ 1- "■
SSS* A cross on: tat|. margin of a paper, denotes
that the subscription is Jibout to expire.
Papers will be popped when the subscription
time expires, unless agpnt orders their oontinu
aocc. ■ *• i'.-. *
. [Pcf 'll* igitiitor.i
MAKBJFIEHy |OAMAL SCHOOL.
Mr. Editor: Will allow me to, express a few
thoughts to your readers in regard to this Normal
School enterprise? %\ expect" some persons are not
rightly estimating requisite for its succeed
I hear the ideA Jjtsome localities that they
have only to send theft here and they will be
educated free o,f cost*[ i thqy think free os
in the District schools, j ;Ct’ is true provision is made
by the Legislature for, 1 ft think, one to be sen! from
each School district freest tuition charges, on certain
conditions to be by vote.of the Direc
tors of the several towtS-lilps. Tet we'are told that
the two Normal School pt Millersville and Edm
boro, receive but very Jfy students in this way. I
think it doubtful if msSjy'are sent in here, having
their tuition‘paid by pul ' For i£thcy conyj in
free this mjist be the wa. P\ The school must be made,
if possible, aolf-supporti g; And how can this' be
done without payment fruition. This Spring term
the teachers are on 'the express condition
that they receive the tuittan os their wages, running
their own risk as to .the amount. They do run a risk,
for it is expected the endance will not be large.
((Tet I may* remark by the way, it is hoped such
satisfaction will be.given »nd iarerest raised that the
attendance will be inerted aa*tho term advances.
For students can enter time.; and if intending
to continue the fall termvthey can enter the last half
term with-good profit.) j i ,
Another mistaken' impression I fear is abroad is
abroad in regard to th|| enterprise: .an impression
that the Seminary having been adapted as a Normal
School, and so being under the patronage of the
State; that, having bpoifallowed an appropriation of
$5~OOO, and /more beingjfaaticipated hereafter, why
surely, the institution will now be a success. “ Uncle
Sam is rich; he will now|to6t all bills on the Semina
ry ; and we can getr tbo highest* price for every thing
we furnish there hercaft|iV’ . Precisely hero is one
great danger in regard institution. I fear that
old creditors, whose claijwi were incurred upon the
old which was Tnirned, and who failed of
their pay because $3,000 ftffuratce was not received,
and all creditors will lattice the idea that now they
may claim the full among* °f tbeir bills.* 'Numbers
offered to deduct 50 percent, of their claim last
year; some more and vittne less than this} while a
few did not report their-routas at all. *
'-v This mistaken view oltbe ownership and respon
sibility of "the State pcr.h&lng to this Normal School,
is much like the which some persons have
made in regard to thb r-fJishops jOf ‘ the Methodist
Church owning all the efc’Srdbedifices-and parsonages.
The Disbops'do'uot dwh 3je church edifices and par
sonages; the State docs'.iik pwa the Normal schools.
The people, pay their for the property in both
cases, the Bishops and th# Stale owning Just so much
as they pay in as person* and no more; and in both
casep trustees hold the'&operty in trust to be used
io a specified, way. The w>urch restricts the trustees
to hold the church ,aqd parsonages to be oc
cupied according to **ilcs and Usages of the clTufcli;
the State restricts
school property and it,is occupied according
to the rules and usng * ifa&itnted by the Legislature.
Stockholders, not £taW, appoint the trustees; and.
the trustees--appoin , the i Faculty,. and manage its
finances. The trusto' same in number and
have the some gener I responsibilities now as under
the old chattor. ' ; :
Tbo public bare stsoed?rae in a position where I
think I am able to J»ivo&n enlightened opinion in
regard to the best ijitpfccsjtgpf those eld creditors abd
all creditors I have A£toekt*and the best interests of
the ioetittttioD. My opiniup is .these creditors should
settle on juetlts eaty,te£ois as they would have done
if this Seminary Yad 1 bot.Ucen accepted as a Normal
School. lias yet the institution. The State
does just enough lo save ■§' to thq people. The best
economy needs to in settling iiccounts,
and in managing its affairs?; With this economy, and
by every one who deals with it Being moderate and
patriotic in Iheic bo a great blessing to
Northern jT
Unless this course is twraued the institution will be ,
no better off, financially «fbin to have remained under .
its old charier—undet £hq#bstertng care of a Chris
tian churdi instead of thepSVate. Every person .who
does a chore or service fbr this Normal School must
not think ho may charge tbfc highest price : nor must
he who .sells it anything.Teel that he may make a
great bargain out it ;bpctf£|e “ Uncle Sam has it in
charge.” It will not do behave any official leeches -
here. If that course’ ia the Institution will
swrely be crippled.* the 1 * 4 People’s College”
of New York State? It understand, its doors are
is doing nothtog; as I see it, because the
people have thought: 'The State has it in charge,
and of course it Will go' oty.
Fearing this style or’iHeatment, I feared to have
thtff Seminary constituit&n Normal School. -I judg
ed it would be better car«'for, and more economi
cally managed, while a ••religious denomination hod
the chief, responsibility, f£>r Its success. Evidence
way yet appear ihdfi by‘continuing that relationship
the public*of NortharC Pennsylvania would have
been as highly in its present relations.
But some creditors, and citizens, thought a
change of relation desirp.w[e, and work to bring it
about. I thoujriit it wou.Sd be better lo make it a
Norinal School than to U*ow it to pass into private
bAttds; better tbamthat Didny honest creditors should
get nothing; and havo;beartily joined in the effort
to pass.it is done. It may bo mado in
this way a great! blcssia-g j but in -order to this.it
euust be well worked. A Contract was arranged this
week between the trusteufi'fcnd the heaviest creditors,
- which makes its financistyiffairs so plainly manage
able that I do not expect to fice-«the Sem
inary advertised for sale sy-tb© But to sue
ceed well, old creditors %nd new dealers, must bo
kind to the institution would.be to an indi
vidual friend, as fj have ; m)ove urged. No one reli
gious denonjinniiyn or of people have now any
ipecial care or vcspotlsibSity for its success, All
should be and|tnjoso who -do its business
must see to its interested pot all who can, for
the sake of the public help., them ; and all re
frain from throwing in their way ?
iMansfield, May 2, - W. Cociirax.
I.IBT Of 1 JtTHWS—m:ay teem.
GlUtfDaJijßOnS. , 4
Blyst —Reifbwi F. CAark«(o)i-j-D,Eoom;
Chatham —Han ey X»eiib i-^Cphington —Hollaud Cl«tn
ona; Delmar-i Geo, 'is igUih>; Deerfield —E> ,BoweD ;
Clytiter —C. "Fannin f on —W. Case;
Jackson —o. IfKbo; —H. Middaugh ; Mid
dtcbtiry—J. Ei firett, p A.i Jacob Uytnes, J. E.
Loslngor: JA<F/if6ifrj—|A.' Webster; Liberty —John
Ault; itichmfyd —Willitpv Tourers, itiitland —W. W.
BenUcy ; Tiojjta Garretson ; Tiogn
A . HatbflSray; 'Union —Bcoj. Irvin,
Wfm. Vfllbor;. Harrison,
JlihSiis—
limpings; Cacinglon TotcnMp
—C. «omens, Stephen SSRichards; Cobiunton Ron'
-J. Hagonbaugh; Blair, Wm. D. Harris;
Furmwgton— Jas. Bcebfct! ffwttiM-JRcscU M. Smith;
Everett, 80,11 Tillmghsst; Liberty —J.
ftwk,.fc,.Conrad Kibljhfm. Merrill; SUddUllry-
Moms Eefse;,ilha'njibck, Ca'sta^d;
. Hammings Richmond— \Vm. J. Brow
star, Wm. Day, Reel I'rlst, S, L. Hakes, P. S. Ripley,
Semner Wilson; Rwl&d- —Eli Bartlett, 0. M.Van
Alien John 0. Rose; Tioga Borough—
?■ „ L , o *f' I r >*l« TAhip—K, Mitchell; Hard—
j; ;
. S«onS*B' ee t.'
bih CbtTp, MarS -?f’ JM*»«y-U. S. Dieffen-
TiddUhS. Borditt Wilson;
Jacob Briie. Iplt»er^jn® 1 p lt » er^jn ®i t ’ Joha Brown, Wm. Rue,
Holland • Al £" e Beach, Wm.
CUvSmVtn I Bryant; Riehmoud-A.
H. Oldroii?' ra A ‘ Sherwood; Rutland—
Strait • ’ Euiliean—Sanford
wold ’ Fi,b ■■■ “«-*■ Gria
rvide, "^W-Che.t.r
THE
» to tbe &xttmion of tfce &vtu of iFmHom anir the Sprrah of J^cfomn.
WHILE THEBE SHALL BE A WRONG UNSIGHTED, AND UNTIL “MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN” SHALL CEASE, AGITATION MUST CONTINUE,
VOL. IX.
Stora> of tl>e 221 ar.
[For the Agitator.]
COMING BOMS.
BY GRACE LEE.
Yes! Charlie H was coming home !
Two. years before, when President Lincoln
called for seventy-five thousand loyal union men
to put down the Southern. Rebellion, he was
among the earliest* volunteers, and acqnitted
himself nobly, all the while be was in the ser
vice', winning the respect of both officers and
privates in his regiment.
At the battle of Dranesyille the Reserve
Corps was called for but his regiment did not
arrive in time to take part in the action ; and
writing home afterwards he says: “It is one
of the greatest disappointments I -have mot
with since I entered the army; that of not be
ing able to send a bullet to some rebel heart on
this hotly contested field.”
lie was engaged in the seven great battles
before Richmond, in July 1862, and on the day
of the last-battle was taken prisoner and car
ried to the rebel capital, where -be was kept
for three long, weary months, because he would
not take the oath of allegiance to the Southern
Confederacy. Said he to them, “ I entered
the army to, fight against your Confederacy,
and not to take tfllegiance to it!”
While imprisoned in Richmond he, with a
prisoner oomrpde, determined not to be wholly
conquered by the traitors, sang the “ Star
Spangled Banner,” and made the walla resound
with cheers for the glorious old fiag, under
which tbs brave Northmen are fighting. ' For
this act, they were kept upon bread and water
two days ; and when the offence was repeated,
only half rations were given to them for three
days. At last he was exchanged, and rejoined
his regiment wj>ich was engaged in the battle
of Fredericksburg, Va.
llowmnxiously loving friends looked over the
lists of •* killed and wounded,” and came, by
and by, to the terrible sentence “ Charlie
H ,Co. —, Reg’t P. V. R. C. severely
wounded and a prisoner.” Two weeks of anx
ious suspense to those at home passed by, when
a letter came, saying be bad been sent to An
napolis, aod was better.
there came another letter and this time
himself. “I am better, and the
physician who «ttends 1 me thinks I shall re
cover. After I was wounded, I lay forty-eight
hours upon the wet ground before I was cap-
tured, and when I wns taken to Richmond, the
rebel surgeon said he did not think I could live
thirty minutes. It was a dark time to me then;
it seemed so hard to die all alone amoqg stran
gers, and I thought if I could but see home and
its loved ones once more, I could die contented ;
knowing that my life wouW never bo given in
a nobler cause than the' one for which I have
fought. But the surgeon’s predictions did not
prove true, and now I am at Annapolis, and
am coming home on a furlough, as soon as 1
can travel. There were glad hearts iq the
family circle that night, and they laid many
plans for happiness “ when 'Charlie comes,”
Oh ! bow £ttd it iSi that in this life of ours,
where joy find sorrow are so strangely blended,
the shadow should always follow the sunshine.
If we could only read the future before the-page
is unrolled before us, we would gather so much
gladness into our hearts to have it ruthlessly
destroyed, by Fate, but we would live as if,
each day, we expected all which we loved to be
taken from us ; and then when the trial came
the heart chords, being disciplined by different
tensions of grief, would not be so rudely bro
ken, hut would dilate and contract like the
strings of a musical instrument.
Only a week passed by when the surgeon
wrote that Charlie II had been taken sud
denly worse and could live but a few days ;
and if his father wished to see him while liv
ing ho must come immediately. The sands of
life were nearly expended when Mr. II
reached him.
“Father, I knew you would come,” and the
invalid reached oat his white, wasted hand.
Oh my sod ! my son I” and the strong man
bowed *his head and wept, aa he saw his eldest
son lying before him, with the Brown hair
brushed away from the white forehead where
the deatlf dowa were slowly gathering.
Tell them at home, father, that I thought
of them, oh, so often, and looked forward with
such delight to the time when, I should join
them again in the home circle. Tell my broth
ers and sisters to remember Charlie, and some
times in the long summer twilights to go to ray
grave—for you will carry me homo, father, and
lay me in the old graveyard on the hill—and
leaning over4he grassy mound, talk to me for
I shall get lonely, lying there alone, so long,
waiting for the Resurrection angel.”
“ And my mother, 0 if I could only feel her
kiss once more upon my forehead, I could go
out into the great unknown with every wish
satisfied. Tell her, that her son did not forget
the Chrietinn precepts she taught him in early
life, and that through the changes of camp-life
her memory was the golden chain that bound
him to virtue. 1 am not afraid to die, for I
know in whom I have pntruy trust, and had I
my life to live over again, I would give it for
my country’s sake, just aa I have done now.
Father, I am going now;, when ydu lay me
in my coffin wrap the old (Tog, I have loved so
well, around me and it will make ray death
sleep sweet. Dear, dear father, good bye.”
Just one moan and the life-barque of Char
lie If- was loosed from its fastenings to the
shores of thne and was drifting out upon the
silver-crested waves of the sea of eternity.
Yes! Charlie H had reached homej at
.last, bat how different the coming from what it
" had been dreamed to be. There were no warm
hand-pressures, and joyous 'greetings and pas
t sionatef kisses at the threshold; only, the low
sobbings of grief from the half-broken hearts,
as strong arms bore the coffin into the -little
parlor, and uncovering the face let the weeping
frinds look- open their precious dead. -
“ Oh! are not meetings in this world of change
gadder than partings oft ?” ->
But deep as was their grief, like a soothing
balm came those words “|l am not afraid to
die, for I know in whom I have put'my trust,”
and then they knew be haji but gone before
WELLSBORO, TIOGA COUNTY, PAi, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 20, 1863.
them jnto that land of light and beauty where
loves hre never broken; and, that by-and by,
when !the life-work was all eompleted, they
should meet him.
So, with that truest in their hearts, they
buried him, and winter'dropped his white man
tle over the monnd, on emblem .of the purity,
and virtue of him who sleeps beneath.
Oh! the sad “ comings home,” when "will
they cease f and when will there be no more
home-circles draped in mourning for loved ones
who gave.their life on Southern battle-fields.
Mansfield, 1863.
Select J&isccUang.
I lately dined in company with one of those
insaneiyoung gentlemen who, as- Theodore AVin
throp says in “ Cecil Dreeme,” praise slavery
and think they are aristocratic. The young
gentleman went for some time, when Mrs.
; said to him, politely ;
“ If you sympathize with the rebels, why
don’t you go and join them
“I, raadame ? I assure you I am perfectly
loyal.”
“ Indeed V’ . '
“ Why certainly, I only'stand by the govern
ment, not by the administration.” '
“ So Vallandigham says.”
“ I mean I am no abolitionist.”
“ So Brooks says.”
“ That is, I am afraid we are alienating, the
South.”
“ So Torn Seymour says.”
“ In other words, I nm a Union man but I
dont think war can restore it.”
“ So Toucey says."
“ Bat, my dear madnme, the war is unconsti
tutionally carried on.”
“ So-George Ticknor Curtis says.”
“ I mean that our liberties are in danger.”
“ So YerSando Wood says.”
“ Well, but isn’t the war fratricidal ?”
“ So Ben Wood says.”
“ Come, then, isn’t it hopeless ?”
11 So the London Times says.”
“ Yes my dear madame, but what on earth
do you say ?”
“ I say that whoever stands against the ad
ministration in this war stands against the
government I say that whoever says ha is
no abolitionist means that he intends to embar
rass the war. 1 say that whoever is afraid of
alienating the Sooth is afraid of irritating a
snako that has already stung him. I say that
whoever says that force cannot restore the
Cnion°does not know that union is the most
irresistible instinct of tbe American peoplb.
I say* that whoever says the war is uncon
stitutionally pnrriprt rm is jo Hancrpr of lipinp
split py the tempest in which he is trying to
split hairs. I say that whoever says our liber
ties are : imperiled by the government and not
by the -rebellion, works and prays for the suc
cess of the rebellion and the annihilation of all
civil liberty and order. I say that whoever
dills the war fratricidal has no more conception
of national honor than lottery dealers are said
to have nf honesty. I say that whoever consid
ers the cause of the United States hopeless hates
that cause in hie heart, and is utterly igno
rant of tbe character of tbe people and the
facts of the situation. That is what I say, and
that is what every truly American man and
woman says and believes.”
The young gentleman made no reply; but
the next day, at the club, ho said to a friend,
“ I dined yesterday at Mrs. 'e. What an
awful abolitionist she is !”— Harper's Weekly.
Not many miles from Boston, some time since,
tbere was a revival, and a Merchant who was
noted for dishonesty, suddenly became pious
and joined the church. He took to exhorting
and one evening remarked that be had done
many things lor which he'was sorry, and deem
ed it bis duty to make full restitution to those
he had wronged.
He therefore notified all such that if they
would call at bis store, he would certainly do so.
About 4 o’clock the next morning a gentle
man called at the Merchant’s bouse and arous
ed him from bed.
Eaising the window, be demanded the busi
ness of his visitor at that early hour in the mor-
ning.
“ Is this Mr. W V’
“ Thht is my name.”
“ Well, I understand that you offered to make
restitution to those you have cheated. You
will remember that upon ono occasion I suffer
ed to the extent of fifty dollars, and have called
to get it.”
•• Why did you not trait until proper hours
and then cgli at my store ?”
■“ Simply because I thought if I did there
would be such a rush there that 1 would npt get
it I”
The window wont down with a slam.
Potatoes.— Any time in May is entirely too firs of so many hostile guns; and yet it soon
early to plant potatoes, in our -opinion, for tho , became evident that we must get out of that or
main crop. Yet there are many who, from long suffer much loss. One ahqll killed S“and woun
oustom, continue to plant this month, and malty , Jed 7 or 8 in our regiment. Another struck
who echo the opinion universally prevalent in in the 90th Pennsylvania, just in front of ps,
northern joarriais, that early planting is more | and one to the right in the lilth Massacbsetts,
exempt from rot. In a certain condition of the killing and wounding several in each case,
crop it is liable to be affected by the sort of Many struck in the ground all about us, and I
weatbet that produces rot, and this may be folded up a half-read letter to attend to other
early or late, but the early planted is almost duties. We were ordered back to the road un
sure td be forming the bulb when our July , der cover of the hedge along its side, where we
drouth comes on,and to be out short by it The ! were comparatively safe. It is not a pleasure
varieties require different limes to mature, and Itobe sc unmercifully shelled without,an op
of course those requiring the'longer time should 1 portunity to return the compliment; jn truth,
be planted earlier. The poach blow; undoubt-' it is no pleasure at best, but there is an excite
edly one of tho most valuable sorts, is one of 1 ment and martial glory about a conflict, which,
these, and the 10th of June is quite early one who escapes safely, reviews with pleasure;
enough for them. ‘ I There were none from Tijga county killed or
: '" ! wounded that day.
1 To Desteot Milkweed. —ln the Farmer for \ In the evening our regiment was ordered
October, John Milton, Canada West, inquires , down to take up a pontoon bridge, which kept
how to destroy the common milkweed. I will jus there tilV late in the evening, and after it
tell him how I have known them thoroughly was loadeds.upotT'the wagons we were ordered
subdued in two jffiars. Let them grow until jto follow it, as a guard, to Banks’ Ford. I
they are in blow: then take a pole, like a bean ! escaped this tiresome march, and remained,
pole] and whip off all the flowers and leaves, | with a few others, where the .arms were left
breaiking down the stalks bat Two, or | with the brigade. In fact, there was no netes
nt any rate three such floggings will discourage | sity of mors than 100 men to accompany it.
them.—Wn. Howe, Xorth Almond, X. J*. . They marched all uight, and it was mid day
-r
*
„ *
AGITATOR.
! -i
i |
LOYAL OR DISLOYAL.
Wanted to be in Season.
SLtttetß from tDe Slrmi?.
ZVem the 136th Pennsylvania Regiment.
Camp bei.ow Falmouth, Ya., May 8,1863.
Friend Agitator : Fatigued, lamed and de
pressed with a very hard but unfortunate cam
paign of ten days from our old camp, I sit
down onco more to write a brief nnd imperfect
account of the important events which have
transpired within the last four days. I should
have written sooner, but I have had no oppor
tunity, and even now I do not expect time to
finish this letter without interruption.
On the 28th ultimo we bade adieu, as we had
good reason to expect, for the last time to our
old camp neat Belle Plain. It seemed almost
like leaving home. There we bad spent many
happy, or at least, contented hours. We went
there entirely worn out by long marches of the
late fall and early winter, and at lost defeated
at the unfortunate battle of Fredericksburg in
I December. We had recuperated our wasted
| energies, had seen a great and powerful army
brought up into a most perfect state ; and now
onr hopes were high. Our time, it is true, was
nearly out, and men who haveHsmilies depend
ing upon their daily toil, could but think of
their needy families, and hope that they might
come safely 'through the conflict at hand, and
not lie for months wounded nnd maimed after
the expiration of their time without pay. Yet
wo were soldiers; and though they were not
anxious to risk their lives again, they believed
that a victory was before, nnd were proud to
march to the van to help gain it.
The day was warm and the march was brisk.
Eight days rations nnd the necessary outfit of
soldier, placed a heavy burden upon the
shoulders of men who had become somewhat
effeminated through the inactivity of the win
ter, and many of them were unable to keep up
on the march.’ We halted just at night fall,
very near where we are now encamped, perhaps
the distance of 4 miles below Fredericksburg,
and 1 i from the Bappahannock. In the morn
ing we filed ont of the wood into an open field,
and remained there till mid-afternoon. During
the day it was that the pontoon bridge was laid
down, after a most gallant charge across the
river in boats, by the Wisconsin Brigade in
Wordsworth’s Division. This was probably
one of tho most brilliant affairs of the war.' I
this morning had a detailed account of it from
Lt. Prutsman of the 7th Wisconsin, who took
part, but have not time or space to*>append it.
They rushed across suddenly in boats, charged
up a steep hill in the face of the rebels in rifie
pits, took 209 prisoners, killed 17, and wound
ed a largo number, with a lass on onr side of
only 30. General Wordsworth swam the river
on horse.
That nirht 1 Wednesday “ion- .) '-r
iu a plain by the bank of the river, where the
bridges were across, some two miles below
where we crossed in December. During the
night a rain set in, but we managed to
make ourselves quite comfortable with what we
had carried. The rebels could be seen upon
Jhe hills across, but there was no firing save an
occasional exchange of the skirmishers, whom
we could sec away across tho river on the large
plain, which here stretches along. Tho next
day passed without event hf importance here
(though we could bear heavy firing away up
the river) till about 3 p. u., when the rebels
opened their batteries upon us. It seemed
very strange tojne that we should be left there
so much exposed, when we had no opportunity
to I had been down to the first
Brigade listening to eloquent addresses and
prayers, "upon the occasion of tho day, 30th
April, appointed for fasting nnd prayer by the
President.
Even while they spake the earth trembled
and heaven resounded with the shock of can
non ! It was truly an impressive scene. How
many of our own friends at home now engaged
in the same holy devotion, praying God for onr
safety, and for the success bf the holy cause in
which the Nation is engaged ! But all could
not be saved : some must fall; and ns I turned
away impressed with the eloquent solemnity of
the scene, in such a place, nnd at each a time,
memory carried me hack to the home of my
childhood, where a kind mother first taught me
to murmur a simple prayer, and to remember
the Creator of all things in the devotion of the
heart.
I stood beside Lt. Lindsay of our own regi
ment, hnf there was something strangely unlike
himself in his manner, and we passed but few
words. It was hut a few moments ere he was
wounded by a'shell, a victim of the tyranny of
war, soon, in a few hours, to look for the last
time upon the beauties of this world ! He wae
a model of manhood, a Christian, atfd a mere
youth, not more than 18, with- a mind capable
of conquest, and truly a pattern for all!
We had scarcely returned to the regiment
before the shells began to scatter around, and
we to realise that, thougb a river intervened,
we were getting in danger. The firing was not
so fearfully terrific as on the 13th of December,
when wo were lying on the ground under the
I when the regiment arrived. The dny vrna very
| warm, and the men completely overcome with
the! fatigues of the march. This was the first
Jof May. Beautiful. May 3ay ! Bright, suhliy,
| warm, and yet the scene of such'terrible strife.
Little going on down here, but nwsy up on the
right there was heavy firing all day.
That night we bivouaced again in the road.
At daylight we cooked coffee, and were ready
to march at any moment. About 7 o’clock we
moved off up the river. 1 We had scarcely mo
ved away before the batteries were opened on
both sides. Just back of us that night there
Were 20 pieces of rifled cannon, six 20-pound
Parrot guns. Soon 'the' Bnn shone down very
warmly, and although we marched at a mode
rate rate, it was very oppressive. We halted
occasionally, hut some of the boys were unable
to keep up. Just back of Falmouth, as we
were resting, we saw a Secesh on the other
side of the river jjtowing ! M Think’s J,” to
myself, “ sir, you are pretty cool.”
All day we hurried along, nor halted even
long enough to cook a cup of coffee. Tlie first
division of our corps, which- was across the
river here, was ordered btick, and followed us
in the afternoon. It was just about sunset as
we crossed the pontoons at United States Fordj.
and after we had marched about a mile we
halted, as wo supposed for the night. So we
built little-fires and got some coffee over, when
in company with"the Colonel ojnd a few others,
we walked out upon the rise of ground away
in front of us, to ; liatsnr“fo. thb terrific battle
raging some 4 or 5 miles away. It was an
hour fraught with great consequences ; and we
could but think it must end in our favor. But
it was the hour when we suffered most up
there, Saturday evening, when the lltb Corps
was so vehemently attacked and driven in.
Of this we" then knew nothing. The moon
shown down from the clear blue heavens in all
her wonted splendor, illuminating surrounding
objects almost with the brightness of day. —
We hurried back for we sqw an unusual com
motion, and concluded that we were ordered
on. The coffee was just done, but it was too
hot, and the time too short, to allow us to en
joy it. So we harnessed up again. The bri
gade was deployed into and faced to the
front, with orders to allow no one to pass. —
The was a great, humming, hustling noise in
front of us. What could it mean ? We must
have been repulsed ; for the moment, 1
could but tremble for the event of battle ! Ob,
it would be foo-bad now td be defeated. How
ever, the defeat was not so general as wo had
feared, and as we approached the front, the
ominous sounds died a-wari
Our march was much impeded by bad places
in the road, and it wasljmidnight when we
oFPiraH np nAni* tl.-* !•«.••( Just at
this time tlicre was very sharp fighting just in
(fur front. It was almost as light ns day, and
the rebels undertook to break our center by
repeated charges—a game which seems to be
common with them during this series of en
gagements. But they were repulsed, and the
firing soon died away. "\Ve were sent away
out on the extreme right, and after waiting
with our heavy loads upop our weary should
ers, for nearly an hour, we were thrown out
into line, skirmishers were thrown out to the
front,, oud we had reason to hope that our
labors for the day were about ended. We had
set out at early morn, had marched all day in
the hot sun with no opportunity even to make
coffee, accomplishing the distance of 24 miles,
and now we were to lie down for the remain
ing hours of the night encumbered with our
belts and sleeping on our arms. We bad lain
there but a feiy moments when we were arous
ed to make something of a breast-work Tor the
night. Again we lay down, but wefe distur
bed at intervals so short we got little rest that
night. > - ,
Sunday morning came. At 0 o’clock the
battle was opened in the center, and for more
than five hours it raged with dreadful fury.
We Muld hear the hideous cries of the rebels
os they charged repeatedly upon our lines, and
ns often were compelled to fall hack before jtHe
deadly-fire of our artillery and infantry. The
slh Maine artillery, in which we bave.'fpur
men, was engaged, and lust 3C killed and
wounded, and 48 horses killed. With great
regret I have to report Timothy Sullivan, of
our company, killed, and Jas. Russell wound
ed, though not severely. They were both good
soldiers and brave. The Irish Brigade drew
the battery off by hand.
Monday and Tuesday passed off without
much conflict near us, though we were very
often called in, "when the battle raged in our
center, or there was skirmishing in our front.
Monday afternoon the left wing of our regi
ment was sent out on picket. They were not
relieved, and have just arrived in camp to-day.
'Tuesday evening we were ordered to pack up
without noise, and be ready to march at any
time. Tbo artillery was hastened down to
ward the center. At abopt 2 o’clock we were
again in line and, marched off to the
The recent heavy rain, which had been pour
ing down all night in torrents, had made the
roads very muddy, and our progress was slow.
It was evident that we were to' re-cross the
river. It'was daylight when we arrived at the
bridge. The river was high, though It had
fallen, as wo could see by the. appearances
along the banks. The roads were crowded —
thousands on thousands of soldiers had been
led there, and were being hurried’ across the
Bridge fts fast as possible. We could not see
why that position, which had cost so much, .
should he given up. We had entrenched our
selves so that wo could hold the position ib
opposition to all they could bring against ns.>
Sipce learning of Sedgwick’s reverse here, it 1
is not so strange. The rebels could scud a
division across below here, and cut off our sup
plies, as we have but a small force along the
railroad. Of these things I cannot form a sen
sible opinion from the slight knowledge I now
have of the events of this campaign. -But I
know full well that my step was more weary
when I learned, with great regret, that we had
lost the heights of Fredericksburg.
All day Wednesday we were on the march
back. I never saw men more overcome by
fatigue. At night we halted near Falmouth,
and - remained oyer night. It was cold and
rainy. I was very fortunhte in having s friend 1
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near by “who gave me a good supper and a
warm bed. lie was kind to give me a
nice pair of*eoft woolen socks to replace mine,
which were worn out and wet, from the long
marches of the past few days; and really I
could not be more grateful for anything than
for such a kindness. If every one of the many
thousands tired soldiers could that night have
met so good a friend who would not pass by
“pn the other ‘side/ 7 I myself should have
slept still better, and been even more refreshed
the next, morning. Bat all are not
Few realize, the great hardships which the
weary soldier has to endure, and few, therefore,
go so far to make him comfortable.
Yesterday wc marched a very round-about
way to get to this camp. We are encamped in
a pine grove, and have to-day been marking
out the streets and getting things in shape.
We have bod inspection to-day, and are order
ed to supply-all deficiencies immediately. So
that I have written this In the midst of con
fusion, and interruption | by my own duties,
and it is intended only aa a synopsis the
important events which we h;we so lately wit
nessed. *
We have not been actively engaged, but we
have done our share of the marching, and have
no doubt much affected the balance of
“ Legs" constitute a groat lever in the comnjs
sion of forces; and these Hooker knows how
to use. It was by this sudden transition Of
forces that 'he intended to cross the river; and
be did cross successfully. And it was by
the same kind jgf power that the Rebels com
pelled Sedgwick to retreat, i. e. by a sudden
movement of the right of Lee’s ormy, which
Swung around and drove him off before re
inforcements could arrive. But of these things
you know, better than I
Respectfully yours,
From the 149th Pennsylvania Regiment.
[The following relative to the famous march
of the 149th Reg”! is taken from a private letter.
It will be found interesting by those who have
friends in that Regiment.—sEn.]
Camp near Belle Plain, April 24, 1863.
* * * * At 3 o’clock, v. M.j the; 149th
Reg’t P. V. started on their first expedition
(and if they are all to he like this thbpp their
last). We marched without meeting very
serious mud holes until dark, by which time we
were about six miles from camp, going we knew '
not where, and some of the boys pretty well
tired out. AFe thought of course they would
soon halt, but onward was the word and on
ward we went. About 9 o’clock we entered a
piece of woqde, or rather swamp hole, about two
miles in length, through which the mud was
half leg deep and some of the way over the
top of our boots. It was so dark a person
could not see where the next step would land
him, whether on dry land or into ithe Rappa
hannock. After emerging from this we entered
a cornfield in which between the rows of which
ran a respectable creek. It was laughable to
see the boys tumble around in the mud (or
rather to hear the remarks made, for it was too
dark to permit of seeing). But there is an
end to all things, so there w’as to this. About
2 o’clock a. m., we were halted after marching -
about fourteen miles through the mud and fopd-.
ing several streams knee deep, perfectly-ex
hausted, with no place to lie down but the epld,
muddy ground, and no covering except a”bissU- c
rubber blanket. But the farms were very well
fenced in this neighborhood, so we did-not
suffer for the want of fire. As soon as it was
light we were all stirring, some going off in
search of water, while others replenished the
AA’e scarcely had time to boil a little
cioffee when we were ordered forward. 1 now
had an opportunity of viewing the country, and
was surprised to see so fine a country. I ex
pected to see all-Virginia like the specimen I
had seen around Bell I was, however,
somewhat mistaken. But tbo whole country
wore a desolate and forsaken appearance, ow
ing probably to the fact that a large portion of
the population have taken advantage of Old
Abes’ proclamation and started business on
their own hooks. I conversed with several of t
the inhabitants, one of them told me thoj, at,
at the commencement of the rebellion, be bad ~
fourteen negroes, only six of whom ;
while his neighbor, out of thirty, bad only
seven or eight left. As we approached the
river the Country became almost level, the
buildings were all miserable little log hovels,
around which the peach trees were in full bloom
and the gardens were as forward ours ate in
June. After marching about 22 miles we came
to the Rappahannock at Port Royal and r halted
in full sight of tbo town, and made arrange
ments for battle. The troops, numbering about
4800, under command of Maj. Gen; Doubleday,
were marched down to the river and drawn Op
in line of battle. The pontoon boats were be
ing constructed as fast as possible ani every
thing to our eyes looked as though the inten- ~
tion was to throw us across the river. The ar
tillery, consisting of two six-pounders made of
a pine log and covered with rubber Blankets
came dashing up, and took a position in front
of onr troops as if to cover-our crossing. Just i
at night two boats were put into the river and
all was excitement. Then the old General rode
up and informed us that we wore not to cross
at all; that the movement was all a ruse, (o
attract the attention of the enemy while other
nfovements wore being made. Then for the
first time the hoys got out of patience. They
thought it was too bad after suffering the hard
ships of such a night march, with the expecta
tion of getting a chance of having a brush with
the rebels, to he ordere'd back without being
allowed to even see a rebel, was almost too
much of a tax on their patience. As soon as
it was dark we returned about two miles and
encamped for the night, but I must close for
this time. In my next I will take yon'back to
camp and send yijp the order from Gen. Dou
bleday congratulating us on our good behavior.
A. B. AV. (Farmington.)
“ Ahin’idab, who is Capid V’ “ One of the
boys. He is said to be as blind as a bat; but
if be is blind he’ll do to travel. .He found his
way into Aunt Kan’s affections, and I wouldn’t
have thought any critter coifltl hare worked
hie way into such narrow arrangements with
eyes open!” ' *
1 Jno. I. Mitchell.