1
BY S. J. EOV.
CLEARFIELD, PA, "WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1862.
VOL. 8.AT0. 20.
THE MOTHER'S CONSOLATION.
My babe ii dead, but memory brings
That happy moment now, .
When first with fond parental pride,
1 gazed upon its brow.
A rratofDl heart was in my breast ;
A new born feeling there ;
And from that welling fount of love,
There flowed a mother's prayer.
'That i'i my babe, our God in love,
To me had kindly given,
Might be a star to light my path.
When all soouiei false but heaven.
But. oh! alas! my hopes were crushed,
And gunless grew life's sky
Diaease had plucked tho rose of health,
And doomed my babe to die.
Again a prayer was on my lips :
My heart was in tho prayer :
Thou, God, who little children blessed,
O, spare my babe ! 0, spare !"
A "still email voice'' in whispers said ,
'Lct not your heart be riven :
lie calls your babe, who eaid, 'Of such,
The kindotnjis of heaven.' "
" Thy will bo done.' 0 God,"' I cried,
"In tbee my trust shall be !
Make thou my babo a holy tie,
To bind my soul tolhoe !'
THE BLUE YARN STOCKINGS:
OR KATE MAXWELL.
"What have you here, Katie ?" asked a
young man, in ill familiar tone of an intimate
acquaintance, touching a small bundle ou Miss
Katie' arm.
"Guess," said Katie ; a smile, sweet but se
rious, went rippling for an instant about her
lips, and then faded off. Her calm eyes, clear
and strong, looked steadily into her compan
ion's face. They had met casually, and were
standing on the street.
Zephyr 7" -and he pushed bis fingers into
the bundle.
"No," answered Katie.
"I give it up," said the young man.
Blue yarn."
There was a lifting of the eyebrows, and a
half-amubcd expression about the young man's
mouth. -'Blue yarn and knitting needles."
Yes." Katie's voice was firm. She did
not shrink from the covert satire that lurked
in his tone and manner.
No!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," answered Katie, emphatically.
They gazed steadily at each other for some
moments, and then the young man gave way to
a brief fit of laughter.
Blue yarn and knitting needles.' Jla .' ha!
Soldiers stockings of couise."
Of course."
There was no smile on Katie's face, no play-
Inl light in her eye, but a deepening shadow
Tho levity shown by her lriend was In such
contrariety to thu state of mind in which she
happened to be, that it hurt instead of amusing
her hurt, because he was more than a com
inon acquaintance.
From tho beginning of our troubles, Kate
Maxwell's heart had been In them, iler father
ws a man of true loyal stamp, loyal to his
country, clear seeing in regard to the issues at
stake, brave and self-sacriticinz. lie had dis
peissed liberally of his means in the outfit of
men for the war, and more than this, he had
fiven two souo, yet of tender age, to the
defense of his country. Kite was living,
therefore, in the very atmosphere of patriot
ism. She drank in at every breath the spirit
of heroism and self-sacrifice. "What can I
do?'" whs the oftcnest on her lips; and when
lie call came for women to supply stockings
1'i-r the soldier in time for tho approaching
winter campaign, she was among the first who
roponded. It was only on the morning of
this d.y that the Quartermaster General's ap
peal had gone forth, and already she had sup
plied hertelt with blue yarn and knitting
needles.
'I did not believe you were such a lit
lio "
The yonng man had uttered so much of his
reply to Katie's, "of course," when sho lifted
her band with a sudden impulse, and said, al
inust sternly :
"Take tare, George !"
Takecaro I Of what ?"
He affected still to be amused.
"Tuke car.i of how you trifle with things
that should be held out of the roign of tri
fling." "Soldiors blue yarn stockings for instance,
ha! ha I"
"Laugh if you will, but bear in mind one
thing."
"What ?"
"That I am in no laughing mood."
Her clear strong eyes rested on him with
something of rebuke in their expresaion.
"Tut, tut, Katie ! don't look at mo so seri
ously. But indeed I can't help laughing.
Ton knitting blue yarn stockings! Well, it
is funny."
"Good morning, George."
She was turning away.
"Good morning, Katie,"
lightly. "I'll cull around this
was answered
evening to see
how the stocking are corn intr on."
When Katie Maxwell left home an hour be
fore, her steps were light and her countenance
glowing with her heart's enthusiasm. lint she
wlRed now, with her eyes cast down, and a
eil of unqniet thought shadowing her counte
nance. This interview with one whom her
heart was deeply interested in, had ruffled the
xirface of her smoothly gliding thoughts.
The catuo of her country, aud the needs of
those who were offering their lives ir its de
fense, were things so full of sober reality in
her regard, that the light words of George
uson had jarred her feelings, and not only
JHTed them, but awakened doubts of the most
painful character.
Kate Maxwell sat down alone In her room,
'th her hands crossed in her lap and her eyes
"ed in deep thought. She had tossed the
,n!l bundle of yarn upon the bed, and laid
''de her bonnet and cloak. Now she was
WAijngcprtatn new questions which had come
"Pi'Hgtt in the face. Was there in the heart
George Mason true loyalty to bis country 1
t was one of the quotations. It bad never
Presented itself in a distinct form until now.
''easingood health, strong and of manly
aPpearance, No imperative cause held him
'thorne. During tho summer he had taken a
tr'P to Niagara, taken a trip down the St. Law
eGce, enjoyod the White Mountains, and in a
scleral way, managed to get a good share of
P'easure to himself. The state of the times
fcVer seemed to trouble him. It would all
rao right in the end, be did not hesitate to
but not a hand did he raise In defense
of his country, not a sacrifice did he make for
her safety. And yet. ho criticized sharply
oflicial acts and army movements, sneering at
Generals, and condemned as weak or venal,
patriotic men in high places, who were giving
not only their noblest efforts but their Tery
lives to the cause. All this ; yet were his
bands held back from tho work.
Occasionally these things had pressed them
selves on tbe mind of Kate Maxwell, but she
had put them aside as unwelcome. Now they
were belore her in bold relief.
"He is not against the country .v Ho is not
a traitor I He is sound m principles." Such
were the answers that shaped themselves in
ber mind.
"If for his country, why, in this time of
peril, does he sit with his hands folded ?" was
replied. "Is he afraid to look danger in the
face To endure suffering 1 If he loved his
country he would, self forgetting, spring to
her defense as hundreds of thousands of true
hearted men are doing."
Moved by this strong thought utterance,
Katie arose and stood with her slight form
drawn to its full erectness, her hands clenched
and her eyes flashing.
"And, not enough be holds off, line a cow
ard or an easo-loving imbecile, he must assail,
with covert sneers, the nets of those who
would minister to the wants of men whose
brave acts shame bim ! Loyal to hi? country !
Is that loyalty ? Do such things help or
harm I Do friends hurt and hinder ? Sound
in principle! I am a Urn id not. By their
fruits ye shall know them. Where- are his
fruits ?""
Kate stood for a little while quivering under
excitement. Then, sitting down, she crouch
ed as one whose thoughts were pressing back
upon the mind like heavy burdens. There
was a dull sense of pain at the heart. George
Mason had been dear to her. But the shadow
of a cloud had fallen upon the idol of her
heart. It had been gathering like a thin, al
most viewless vapor for some time past ; aud
now compacting itself almost in an instant, it
was dark enough to bide the sunlight.
Gradually the brave, true-hearted girl for
she was brave aud true-hearted rose into the
serener atmosphere from which she had fallen.
The pain left her heart, though apressureasa
weight lay still on her bosom. The smile that
played about her lips as she joined the family
circle, not long afterward, waa more fleeting
than usual ; but no one remarked the sober
cast of her countenance as it died away. Her
skein of blue yarn was speedily wound into a
ball, and the requisite number of sticbes cast
on her needle, and then away went bur busy
fingers not busier than her thoughts.
"What's the matter, Katie V
Tho unusual silence of her daughter had at
tracted Mrs. Maxwell's attention, and she had
been, unnoticed by Katie, examining her face.
The maiden started at the question, and
colored just ajittle as she glanced up at her
mother.
"You look sober," said ber mother.
"Do I 1" and Katie forced herself to smile.
"Yes," was the reply.
"Perhaps I feel so." Then, after a. pause,
she added, "I don't think this kind of work
very favorable to high spirits. I can't belp
thinking of Frank and Will. Poor boys J Are
they not soldiers ?"
"Der brave boys !" said tbe mother with
feeling. "Yes they are soldiers true soldiers,
I trust."
But what a change for them mother!
Home life and camp life could anything be
more different ?"
"Life's highest enjoyment is In the mind
Katie. They are doing their duty, and that
concionsness. will more than compensate for
loss of ease and bodily comfort. Jlow cheer
ful and bravely they write home to us! No
complainings no looking back no cowards
fears! Wnat a thrill went over me as I came
to the closing words of Willy's last letter:
"For God and my country first; and next for
you, my darling mother!" And the words
thrill me over and over again, as I think of
them, with a new and deep emotion."
Katie turned her face a little farther away
from her mother, and bent a little lower over
ber knitting. Often had the contrast between
the spirit of her brothers boys still and that
of George Mason presented itself ; now it
stood out before her in sharp relief. As she
sat working in silence for she did not re
spond to her mother's last remark her
thoughts went back in review. She conned
over well remembered sentiments which Mason
had uttered in her presence, and saw in them
a lukewarmness, if not a downright indiffer
ance, to the great issues at stake, felt before
now perceived distinctly. Her father talked
of scarcely anything but the state of the coun
try ; George found many themes of interest
outside of this absorbing question, nnd when
bo did converse on matters of public concern
it was with so little earnestness aud compre
hensive intelligence that she always experi
enced a feeling of dissatisfaction.
The light tono oi ridicule with which he had
treated Katie's declaration that she was going
to knit stockings for the soldiers, hurt ber at
tho time, for her mind was m a glow of earn
est enthusiasm, and the pain that followed
quickened all her perceptions.
The incident pushed young Mason back from
the very near position In which he had for
some time stood, and gave Katie an opportu
nity to look at him with less embarrassment
and a more discriminating inspection. Be
fore, there had been a strong sphere of attrac
tion when she thought of him ; now, she was
sensible of a counteracting repulsion. Lan
guage that seemed to mean little when spoken,
remembered now, had marked significance.
It was observed by both Mr. and Mrs. Max
well that Katie was unusually absent minded
at tea time. Mr. Maxwell talked about nation
al affairs, as was his custom, and Katie listen
ed attentively, as was her wont. Among
othfr things, he said :
"In love of country which involves an un
selfish n-gard for the good of all in the coun
try every virtue is included. The man who
is not a true patriot cannot be a true citizen
nor a true Christain ; for love of country is
that vessel in the natural mind down into
which flows a love of God's kingdom ; and be
who lovts and seeks to establish that which is
highest as God's universal kingdom to the
earth, helps to establish all that is lowest. In
times like these, when our national existence
is threatened by' a force of giant magnitude
and intense purpose when all that we hold
dear as a people is threatened with destruction
there must be, in any man who can look on
quietly and take his ease ; who can be luke
warm, or put eren straws as his hindcrance In i
the way of any patriotic end, however humbly
exhibited, a leaven of selfishness so vital with
its own mean life that it will pervade the
wnoie cnaracter, and give its quality to every
action. I hold such men and they are all
arouna us at a distance. I mark them as
born of base elements. I do not mean to trust
them in the futnrc. If I were a maiden, and
bad a lover, and if that lover were not for his
country outspoken and outacting, full of ar-
uor ana among me orst to spring to her de
lense I would turn from bim. Tbe man who
is not true to his country and the indifferent
are not true will be false to all obligations in
the hour of trial. Trust no man who ia not
ready in this hour, to do his utmost."
Katie listened and her soul was fired. She
drank in fully of her fathers spirit. That eve
ning as she sat knitting alone in the parlor,
she heard the bell ring, and knew by the
sound whose hand had pulled the wire. Her
fingers grew unsteady, aud she began to drop
stiches. So she let the stocking upon which
she was at work fall into ber lap. She sat
very still dow, her heart beating strongly.
The heavy tread of George Mason was in the
hall. Then the door opened, and the young
man entered. She did not rise. In fact, so
strong was her inward disturbance that she
felt the necessity for remaining as externally
quiet as possible, in order to keep from betray
ing hci actual state of mind.
"Good evening," said Mason, almost gayly,
as he stepped into the room. Then pausing
suddenly, ana ntting up both hands in mock
surprise, he exclaimed : "Bine varn and sol
diers' stockings ! Oh Katie Maxwell !"
Katie did not move nor reply. Her heart
was Buttering when he came in, but in an in
stant it regained an even beat There was
more in bis toues than even in his words
The clear, strong eyes were on his face.
"Ha ! ha!" he laughed gayly, now advanc
ing until he had come within a few feet of
the maiden. Then she roso and moved back
a pace or two, with a strange, cold dignity of
manner that surprised her visitor.
"What a good actress you would make!"
be said, still speaking lightly, for he did not
think her in earnest 4A Goddess of Liberty !
Hero is my cane, raise your stockings, and tbe
representation will he perfect."
"I am not acting George." She spoke
with an air of severity that sobered him.
'You are not ?"
"No; I cautioned you this morning abont
trifling with things that should be held out of
the reign of trifling," she answered, steadily.
"If you are not sufficiently inspired with love
of country to lift an arm in her defence, don't
I pray you, hinder, with light words even tbe
feeble service that a weak woman's hands may
render. I am not a man, and cannot therefore
fight for liberty and good government; but
what I am able to do 1 am doing, from a state
of mind hurt by levity. I am in earnest; and
ifyou are not, it is time that vou looked down
into jnur heart and make some effort to under
stand its springs of action. You are of man's
e8tate,you are in good health, you are not
trammeled by any legal or social hindrances.
Why, then, are you not in the field, George
Mason? I khave asked myself an hundred
times this question and can come to no satis
factory answer.
Katie Maxwell stood before the young man
like one inspired, her eyes flashing, hr face
in a glow, her lips firmly set, but arched, her
slender form drawn up to its full height, al
most imperilous.
In the field !" he said in astonishment, and
not wit hout confusion of manner.
"Yes, in the field ! lu arms for your
country !"
He shrugged his shoulders with an affected
indifferencu that was mingled with something
of contempt, saying blindly for he did not
give himself space to reflect "I've no partic
ular fancy for salt pork, hard tack, and Min
nie bullets."
Nor 1 for cowards!" exclaimed Katie,
borne away by her feelings ; and she pointed
sternly toward the door.
The young man went out. As he shut the
door she sunk into a chair from which she had
arisen, weak and quivering. The blue yarn
stocking did not grow under her band that
night ; but her fingers moved with unwearied
diligence through all the next day, and a sol
diers' sock, thick, and soft and warm, was
laid beside her father's plate when he came to
tho evening meal. Very sweet to her were
the approving sentences that fell from his lips,
and they had balm in them for tbe pain which
had wrought at her heart lor many hours.
Only a day or two the pain lasted. Then it
died out; and even as it died there were
whispers on the air touching George Mason,
that, as they came to her ears, impelled her
to say,
"Thank God that he is nothing to me!"
There are no such things as trifles in the
biography of man. Drops make, up the sea.
Acorns cover tbe earth with oaks, and the
ocean with navies. Sands make up the bar in
the harbor's mouth, on which vessels are
wrecked ; and little things in youth accumu
late into character in age, and destiny in eter
nity. All the links in that glorious chain
which is in all and around all, we can see and
admire, or at least admit; but the staple to
which all ia fastened, and which is the Throne
of Deity.
Without the girdle ef truth, you may fall
into error. Without the breastplate of right
eousness, you may fall into lethargy. With
out the shoes of the gospel of peace, yon may
fall into despondency. Without the shield of
faith, you may fall into apostacy. Without
the helmet of salvation, you may fall into de
spair. Without the sword of the spirit, yon
may fall into cowardice. And without prayer
and watching, you may fall into any thing
however bad or dangerous.
Proverbs are the expressions of the moral
ideas of a nation. In high antiquity, when
there were not those means of communication
which was, after ages introduced, these con
cise axioms, so easy to be impressed upon the
memory, served to spread moral ideas among
tbe people. !
A cobbler at Leyden, who used to attend
the public disputations held at the Academy,
was once asked if he understood Latin "No,"
replied the mechanic, "but I know who is
wrong in the argument." "How f" replied
his frletd. "Why, by seeing who is angry
first." . -
YouDg folks, when falling in love with each
other, must take care not to fall out.
THE WAR INCIDENTS AND NEWS.
Oflicial Reports of the Naval Fight.
Washington, March 12. The oflicial report
of Lieut Pendergrast. of the Congress,address
ed to Commander Marston, has been received
at the Navy Department. lie states :
That, owing to the death of the late com
manding officer, James B. Smith, it becomes
my painful duty to make a report to you of
the part which tbe U. S. frigate Congress took
in the efforts of our vessels at Newport News
to repel the attack of the rebel flotilla on the
8th March. When the Merrimac, with three
small gunboats, were seen steering down from
Norfolk and had approached near enough to
discover her character, the ship was cleared
for action. At 10 minutes after 2 o'clock the
Merrimac opened with her bow gun with grape,
passing us on the starboard side at a distance
of about 300 yards, receiving our broadside
and giving us one in return. After passing the
Congress she ran into and sunk the sloop-of-war
Cumberland. The smaller vessels then
attacked us, killing and wounding many of our
crew. Seeing the fall of the Cumberland, we
set jib and top-sail, and with the assistance of
the tug-boat Zouave ran the vessel ashore. At
4-past 2 the Merrimac. took a position astern
ot us at a distance of about one hundred and
fifty yards.and raked us fore and aft with shells,
while one of the small steamers kept up a fire
on our st ai board quarter. In the meantime
the Patrick IJenry and the Thomas Jefferson,
two rebel steamers, approaebeti us from np the
James river, firing with precision and doing
us great damage. Two stern guns were our
only means of defence. These were soon dis
abled one no ing dismounted and the other
having its muzzle knocked away. Tho men
were knocked away from them with great ra
pidity and slaughter by the terrible fire of the
enemy. 1 first learned of the death of Lieut.
Smith at 4J o'clock, the death happened ten
minutes previous. Seeing that our men were
being killed without tho prospect of any relief
irora tne Minnesota, which vessel was run a
shore in attempting to get to us from Hamn
ton Roads, and not being able to get a single
gun to bear upon the enemy, and the ship be
ing on fire in several places, noon consultation
with Com. Wm. Smith, we deemed it proper
to haul down onr colors without any further
loss of life on our part. We were soon board
ed by an officer of the Merrimac, who said be
wonld take charge of the shin. He left short
ly afterwards and a small tug came alongside.
whose captain demanded we should surrender
and get out of the ship, as he intended to burn
her immediately. A sharp fire with muskets
and artillery was maintained from onr troous
on 'shore upon the tug, having the effect of
driving her off. The Merrimac again opened
fire on us, although we had a peak to show
that we were out of action. After having fir
ed several shells into us, she left us and en
gaged the Minnesota and tbe shore batteries,
after which the wounded were taken ashore in
small boats, the ship having been on fire from
the beginning of the action, from the hot shot
fired by the Merrimac.
The following extracts from the report of
Com. Purviance of the U. S. frigate St. Law
recce in regard to the actiou with the rebel flo
tilla at Hampton Roads, is also of interest :
At half past 8 we got under way in tow of
the Cambridge, and when abreast of the rebel
battery at SeweH's Point, the battery opened
fire, one of the shells exploding under the lore
foot of the St. Lawrence doing, however, no
material injury. The fire was returned, and it
s believed with some effect. The Cumber
land had at this time gone down, having been
run into by the Merrimac, and the Congress
had surrendered after a terrible slaughter of
ber men, and when rendered perfectly power
less by the fire of the enemy. . . The Minneso
to was aground, and was engaging the enemy,
whose fire consisted of the rebel steam ram
and four or five side wheel gunboats. When
near tbe Minnesota the St. Lawrence ground
ed, and at that time opened fire, but her shot
done no execution. Tbe armor of the Merri
mac proved invulnerable to her comparatively
feeble projectiles. Taking advantage of these
nortentuous circumstances the Merrimac di
rected her attention to firing several projec
tiles of formidable dimensions, one of which
an eighty pound shell, penetrated the star
board quarter about four inches above the wa
ter line, passed through the pantry and the
guard room into the state room of the assist
ant surgeon, on tbe port side, completely de
molishing the bulkhead and then struck a
gainst a strong iron bar which secured the.
bulls eye of tbe port, then returned into the
ward room where it expended. It fortunately
did not explode and no one was injured. Tho
damage done by this shot proved the power of
the projectiles which she employed, and read
ily explaiued the quick destruction of our
wooden and antiquated frigates. Our position
at this time was one of anxiety, as we were a
ground. The tug Young America came along
side and got us off, after which a powerful
broadside from the Bpar and gun deck of the i
St. Lawrence, then distant about half a mile,
thrown into the Merrimac, induced that vessel
to withdraw, but whether from necessity or
discretion is not kpown.
The report of Captain T. J. Van Brent, in
command of tbe Minnesota has been received
at the Navy Department. He states :
The Monitor came alongside the Minnesota
at two o'clock on the afternoon of the 9th of
March, having arrived the night previous. All
on board, at her appearance, rejoiced that they
had found a friend that would stand by them
in their hour of trial. At six o'clock on that
day, tbe enemy again appeared, when tbe crews
were beat to quarters, but he ran past tbe Min
nesota and the tugs. At this time the Minne
sota being aground, I ordered some of the spar
deck guns to be thrown overboard, and sent
half the crew on board a tug to lighten the
ship, after which superhuman efforts were
made to get her off. After succeeding in get
ting her a half mile she strnck again, for tbe
tide bad fallen so much that there was not wa
ter enough to float her in the channel. At
length, however, she was towed out of the mud
into deep water, and at the time of writing tbe
report, the Minnesota was at anchor opposite
Fortress Monroe.
Fleet Surgeon Wood, of the Minnesota re
ports 3 killed and 13 wounded.
The Killed and Wounded, eto.
Three officers on board the Congress were
killed, Lieut. Jos. B. Smith, commanding,
acting master Tbo. Moore! and coast pilot
Wm. Rhoads. Capt. Wm. Smith who, until
recently transferred, commanded tbe Congress,
was unhurt. The most recent estimate of the
number, killed is fifty, twenty-seven were sent
ashore wounded and forty were taken prison
ers, not including any officers. So far as
known Master's mate Peter Harzons is missing
and may be among tho prisoners. On board
tbe Cumberland, the Rer. Mr. Lenhart the
chaplain waa drowned, and the Master's Mate
John M. Harrington was killed; no other offi
cers were lost and none are knowu to be seri
ously wounded. But few of the wounded on
board escaped t the shore, and the remainder
were drowned. The whole loss is probably
not over one hundred and fifty. On tho
White Hall, Andrew Nesbit, third assistant en
gineer, Robert Waugh and Charles 0"Conner,
seamen, were killed, three men were wounded
on the Oregon, but none killed. Tbe Minne
sota had six men killed and seventeen wound
ed. She received a large number of shots
and was well riddled. The Roanoke received
two shots, doing no damige. No casualties
occured on board, except the falling of a man
from the rigging.
Tho gunboat White Hall took fire at 2 o'
clock on the 10th, and was totally destroyed.
Three of her guns, which were all shotted,
went off at intervals, and one shell burst in
the air, sending several fragments in various
directions, doing no damage. The other gun
was saved by the harbor crew. The Minneso
ta was not afloat when so reported in my letter
of Sunday. Her crew having been sent on
shore, her guns were spiked preparatory to
her destruction, when, by tho exertions of
Capt. Howe, of the Spaulding, she was finally
got off during the night, and resumed her usu
al position at tho entrance of the roads.
The Monitor came down early this morning,
and was most enthusiastically cheered ss she
passed the various vessels in the harbor. A
number of gentleman went on board during
the day. She does not appear to have suffered
at all, and is as ready as ever for another en
gagement. Tier officers and men speak in tbe
nignest terms of her performances, and think
tbey might have destroyed the Merrimac with
out much difficulty if they had been allowed
an opportunity.
Assistant Secretary Fox, of the Navy, tele-
grapns, that satisfactory information has been
received at Fortress Monroe, that the Merri
mac was very much disabled In the fight. He
is of the opinion also that the Monitor is more
than the equal of the Merrimac, and that the
fact will be proved if the two iron-clad should
again come in conflict.
The Norfolk Day-Book gives a highly color
ed account of the naval fight. It pays a great
compliment to the bravery of the crew of the
Cumberland, and admits that some of the shot
from that vessel entered the Merrimac. and
one shell killed seventeen men, and wounded
Captain Buchanan, who subsequently died
It admits the Monitor as formidable, and says
she appeared like a big black Yankee cheese
box on a raft. Some slight repairs are neces
sary to the Merrimac, which vessel was com
manded by Thomas A. Catesly Jones, on Sun
day. I be reason why the Congress was not
first attacked, was because Captain Buchanan
had a brother on board as Paymaster.
Two Union men who arrived at St. Louis
from New Orleans say that city is lull of se
cret Union clubs, and at least twelve thousand
citizens belong to these clubs : and that much
distress prevails, that the city on the south is
pretty well defended.and that on the north the
lortitications run back to Carrolton.
The Memphis Appeal represents things as in
a sad state in that place, and advocates the
burning of the city as a last resort ; but the
mayor has issued a proclamation declaring
that any person detected in setting fire to the
houses shall be immediately hung.
Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas.
Tho following is the official report from Gen.
Curtis of the battle of PeaRidge, in the moun
tains of Arkansas :
Headquarters of Akmt or Southwest, (
Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 9A. j
General : OnThursday the 6tb inst.,the
enemy commenced an attack on my right, as
sailing and following the rear guard of detach
ments under General Siegel to my main lines
on Sugar Creek Hollows, but ceased firing
when he met my reinforcements about four
o'clock, P. M. During the night I become
convinced that he had moved on so as to attack
my right or rear. Therefore early on the 7th
I ordered a change of front, to the right, my
right, which thus became my left, still resting
on Sugar Creek Hollow. This brought my
line across rea Kidge, with my new right rest
ing on Head Cross Timber Hollow, which is
tbe head of Big Sugar Creek. I also ordered
an immediate advance of the cavalry and light
artillery under Col. Osterhaus, with orders to
attack and break what I supposod would be the
reinforced line of the enemy.
This movement was in progress, when the
enemy, at 11 a. m., commenced an attack on
my right. The fight continued mainly at these
points during the day, the enemy having gain
ed the psint held by the command of Colonel
Carr, at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely
repulsed with the fall ot Commander McCul-
loch, in the centre, by the forces under Col.
Davis.
The plan of attack on the centre was gal
lantly carried forward by Col. Osterhans, who
was immediately sustained and supported by
Col. Davis's entire division, supported also by
Gen. Sigel's command, which had remained
till near the close of the day on the left. Col.
Carr's division held tbe right, under a galling,
contmuons fire all day. In tbe evening, firing
having entirely ceased in the centre, and the
right being now on tbe left, I reinforced the
right by a portion of tbe second division, un
der Gen. Asboth.
Before the day closed I was convinced that
tbe enemy had concentrated bis main force on
tbe right. I commenced another change of
front forward, so as to face the enemy, where
he bad deployed on my right flank in a strong
position. The change had only been partiaily
effected, but was in full progress, when at sun
rise on tbe 8th my right and centre renewed
the firing, which was immediately answered
by the enemy with renewed energy along the
whole extent of bis line.
My left, under Gen. Siglo, moved close to
tha hills occupied by tbo enemy driving him
from the heights, and advancing steadily to
ward the head of tbe hollows. I immediately
ordered the centre and right wing forward, the
right taming tbe left of tbe enemy, and cross
firing on bis centre. This final position of the
enemy was in the aro of a circle.
A charge of infantry, extending throughout
the whole line, completely routed the whole
rebel force, which retired in great confusion,
but rather sally, through the deep, Impassa
ble defiles of cross limber. Our los Is heavy.
The enemy's can never be ascertained, lor
their dead are scattered over a large field.
Their wonnded, too, may many ol them be lost
and perish. The force" is scattered In all di
rections, but I think his main force has re
turned to Boston Mountains.
Gen. Sigle follows him toward Keittsville,
while my cavalry ia pursuing bim towards tbe
mountains, scouring the country, brScging in
pri soncra, and trying to find tho rebel Major
General Van Dorn, w ho had command of the
entire force at this, the battle of Pea Ridge.
I have not as yet statements of tbe dead
and wounded so as to justify a report, but I
refer you to a dispatch which I will forward
very soon.
Officers and soldiers have displayed such
unusual gallantry that 1 hardly dare to make
distinctions.
I must, however, name the commanders of
divisions ; Gen. Sigel gallantly commanded
tho right, and drove back the left wing of the
enemy. Gen. Asboth, was wounded in tbe
arm in his gallant effort to reinforce tbe right.
Col. and Acting Brig. Gen. Davis, who com
manded the centre where McCulloch fell on
the 7th. and pressed forward the centre on the
8th. Col. and Acting Brig. Gen. Carr, it also
wounded in tbe arm, and was under the con
tinuous fire of the enemy during the two hard
est days of the strujrzle.
Illinois, Indiana, Iow3, Ohio, anJ .Missouri
may proudly share the honorof victory, which
the gallant heroes won over the combined
force of Van Dorn, Price and McCulloch at
Pea Ridge in the mountains of Arkansas.
1 have the honor to be. General, ocr obe
dient servant, Saul. R. Curtis, Brig. Gen.
A messenger who arrived at Springfield,
Mo-, on Monday, March 10, reports that the
battle lasted from Thursday morning till Satur
day evening, and that our loss was about 4C9
killed and wounded. The rebel losi was about
1,0C0 killed and wounded, and 1,000 taken
prisoners, among ihem Col. McRea of an Ar
kansas regiment. The attack was made from
the north and west, our army being completely
surrounded. Generals Van Dorn, Price, Mc
Cnlloch, and Mcintosh were present, with
about 2o,000 men. Generals McCulloch and
Mcintosh are reported to be mortally wound
ed. The attack from the rear was made by
Gen. McCulloch, and was met by Gen. Sigel,
who routed him completely. His corps scat
tered in wild confusion. We have also cap
tured a large amount of stores, cannon, teams
and ammunition.
The Evacuation of Manassas.
Centreville, March 12. Manassas has been
evacuated by the rebels, and our forces have
taken peaceful possession. Upon closer ex
amination, it was discovered that the rebels,
before evacuating tbeir much boasted strong
hold, had set fire to such of their commissary
stores as they conld not conveniently carry off.
The place presented a scene of the utmost
desolation a mass of blackened luins. The
rebels also blew up the bridges along the line
of the Orange and Alexandria railroad for
some miles below Maunassas. Snch of the
locomotives which were out of repair were also
destroyed, it is supposed, by blowing up, and
the vicinity ot the depot is cohered with frag
ments of machinery belonging to the destrov
ed locomotives. It is said that the rebels left
Centreville on Sunday morning. Large num
bers cf contrabands have reached our lines
(which now extend beyond Manassas Junction)
and are still coming in by droves. On our
way from Centrevilie, yesterday morning, we
passed at least one hundred who were making
their way to Washington. Some of the refu
gees have come a distance of twenty miles,
west of Manassas. They all agree in saying
that the rebels left the latter place in great
precipitation, and that the destruction of
their commissaiy stores was commenced at aa
early hour on Sunday. Tbe contrabands state
that a portion of the force which left Mannas
sas passed northwardly. This is considered
improbable, but if they did it was for the pur
pose of reinforcing Jackson at Winchester.
They also state that all bridges along tho
route by which they came had been blown np
by tbe rebels in their retreat, and that the
greater portion of the track is also turned np.
The earthworks at Centrevilie had been great
ly misrepresented. They were not of the
formidable character supposed. The enemy,
before evacuating, had somewhat injured
them by breaking the embrasures and case
mates. The same is probably the case at Ma
nassas, the fortifications of which, however,
have not yet been fully examined. Our troops,
on arriving at Fairfax Court House, found not
more than a dozen families remaining there.
The soldiers rushed into the Conrt House and
brought away some of the records, but on this
being discovered, the officers directed their
return. When our troops learned that Manas
sas had been evacuated their spirits suddenly
became depressed, as they had anticipated a
spirited conflict with tbe enemy. About a
mile and a haJf before reaching Centreville a
Dumber of graves were discovered, principallv
of the Alabama troops. Tbe graves were
marked with head and foot boards, on which
the names of the deceased were inscribed. A
guard was placed near them as if to shield
them from mutilation, although it was not to
be supposed such an act conld be commit
ted. Most of tbe contrabands above alluded
to were cheerful and happy in their liberty.
and remarkably communicative to the extent
of their limited knowledge.
A Frenchman was recently seen bargaining
for a dozen sheep, "What are yon about?"
said a friend. "I. have beard say," replied
monsieur, "that if you want to make money,
yon must bny theep'&nd sell deer. I thai! buy
de sheep and sell de venison !"
"Gentlemen and Ladies." said the showman.
"hers von have the magnificent Daintier of
Daniel in the Lion's Den. Daniel can e&ailr
be distinguished from the lions by the creea
cotton umberella under his arm."
The man who is one thing to-day, and an
other to-morrow who drives so idea pell
mell this week, while it drives him the next
is always in trouble, and does just nothing
from one year's end to the other.
The stream of yonr life is not in all things
like an ordinary stream : yon can't infer that
it is pcra bacanse you distisotly see tie dirt
at the bottoa of it..
9W
II