1 4j 0CfTf f BY S. J. KOW. CLEARFIELD, PA.. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1862. VOL. 8W. 47. 11 i" v. NEVER PUT OFF. Whene'er duty waits Tor thee, With sober judgment view it, And never idly wish it done Begin at once and do it. Fur sloth saith falsely, "By and by Is just as well to do it ;" But present strength is purest strength j Begin at once and do it. Ami find no lions in the way, Nor faint if thorns bestrew it Hut bravely try, and strength will come, for God will help thee do it. DON'T PROPOSE IN THE DARK. The pretty, square farm house, standing at the corner near Kllbea lane (for the Hist phrase, although giving by far the closest pic ture of the place, does, it must be confessed, look rather Irish), and where the brook winds away by another lane, until it spreads into river like dignity, as it lueand.-rs through the atinny plain of Hartley common, and finally disappears amidst the green recesses ofTerge wood that pretty, square farm house, half hidden by the titll elms in the flower court be fore it, which with the spacious girden and orchsrd behind, and I tie extensive barns, yard Mtul ouitmildings, so completely occupies one f the angles formed by the crossing of the lane and the stream that pretty farm house contains one of the happiest and most prosper oi a families in Aberleigh the large and thriv ing lain I ly ol farmer J-.vatis. Whether from skill or from good fortune or, as is mutt probable, from a very lucky miitiire of b ith every thing goes right on bis great farm. Mis crops are the host in the parish j Ills bay never spoiled ; his cattle never die bis servants never thieve j his children aie never ill liu buys cheap and sell dour ; money gulhvrs upon him like a snowball and yet, In spite of all this provoking and in tolerable prosperity, everybody loves Fanner hvatift. lie Is so hospltablo, so good naturod, ao generous and so homely I There, alter all, Ilea tho charm. Itlchcs have only not spoilt the man, but they have not altered him. lie is Just the same in look, and word, and way, that ho was thirty years ago, when lie and his wife, with two sorry horses, a cow and three pigs, began the world at Duau Gate, a little bargain of twenty milusotl. Ay, and 1:1s wife is the Matin wo man the sumo frugal, tidy, Industrious, good unliin'd Mrs. Evans so noted for her activity In lougue and limb, her good looks and plain dressing as frugal, as good iiiatured, as ac tive, as plain dressing Is Mrs. Kvaus at forty five as she was at nineteen, and in a different May almost as good looking. The children, six "boys," as Fartn-r Evans protuiscuoiily calls thorn, whose uges vary fiotu eight to twenty, ml three girls, two grown up and one the youngest of the lumily, are just what we might expect from parents who are so simple and so good. The young men. Intelligent and well conducted the boys docile aid promising; and the little girl, us pretty a littlo curly headed, rosy cheeked puppet as erer was the pet and plaything of a large family. It Is, however, w ith tho eldest daughters we have to do. Jane ami Tatty Evans were as much alike as liutli ever befallen any two sisters not born at oiio time ; lor, in the matter r f twin children, there has been a series of puzzles ever since the days of the Dromio. Nearly of an age, t-xactly of u stature (so high that Frederick Ihe Great would hare coveted them for his tall regiment), with hazel eyes, huge mouths, full lips, white teeth, brown hair, clear, heal thy complexion, and that sort of a rrti.se which ImiciU'er Greek nor Konian, nor aquiline, nor pttit ntz ret routse, that some persons prefer to them all, but a nose which moderately prominent, and sullicioutly well shaped, is yet at far as I know, anonymous, althougti it may be, perhaps, as common or as well looking a feature as is to been seen on an English face. Altogether, they were a pair of tall and comely maidens, and being const intly attired in gar ments of tlie same color and fashion, looked at times so much alike that no stranger ever dreamed of knowing them apart, and even their acquaintances were rather accustomed to speak and think of them as the "Evanses" than as the separate individuals Jano and Fatty. Even those who did prutedd to distin guish the no from the other were not exempt from mistakes, which the Misters Fatty espe cially, who delighted in the fun so often pro. duced ty the unusual resemblance were apt to tavor by changing places in a walk, or slipping from one side to the other at a coun try tea party, or playing a hundred innocent tricks, to occasion at once a grave blunder and a merry laugh. Old Dinah Goodwin, for instance who, be ing rather purblind, was jealous of being sus pected t f seeing less clearly than her neigh bors, and had defied even the Evanses to puz zle her desccrnment seeking in vain on Fat ty's haud the cut finger which she bad dressed on Jane's, ascribed the incredible cure to her own incomparable salve, and could hardly be undeceived, even by the pulling otf of Jane's glove and the exhibition of the lacerated digit sewed round by her own bandage, loung George Kelly, too, the greatest beau in the parish, having bet at a Christmas party that he would dance with every pretty girl in the oom, lost his wager, which Patty had over beard, by that saucy damsel slipping into her sister's place, and persuading her to join her own unconscious partner ; so that George danced twice with Fatty and not at all with Jane a bantering piece of malice which ptov ed, as the young gentleman (a rustic exqui site of the first water) was pleased to assert, that Miss Patty was not displeased with her partner. How little does a vain man know of womankind. If she had liked him, she would fut have played the trick for the mines ol Golconda. Jo short from their school days, hen Jane was chidden for Patty's bad work, nd Patty slapped for Jane's bad spinning, down to the prime of womanhood, there had keen no end to the confusion produced by this remarkable instance of family likeness. And yet nature who setts some mark of Individuality upon even ber meanest produc tions, making some unnoted difference be tecn the lambs dropped from one ewe, the robing bred in one nesF, the flowers growing o one stock, and tbe leaves growing on one tree Lad not left these maidens without one Permanent distinction a natural and a strik. ,Qg dissimilarity of temper. Equally Indus trious, afiectionate, bappy and kind ; each was ind, happy, affectionate and industrious in a "ilV-rent way. Jano was grave j Patty was gay. If you heard a laugh, or a song, be sure it wai Fatty 5 she who jumped the style, when her sister opeped the gate, was Tatty ; she who chased tho pigs from the garden, as mer rny as it she were running u race, so that the pigs aia not mind ber, was Tatty. On tho other hand, she that so carefully was making wun its own ravelled threads, an invisible darn in her mother's hnndkerbhicf, and was Hearing ner sister read the while ; flic that so patiently was feeding, one by one, two broods of young turkeys ; she, too, that so pensively was watering her own bed of delicate and somewhat rare flowers the Dale hues of the Alpine pink, or the alabaster blossoms of the white evening primrose, whose modest Dowers, dying oil" in the blush, resembling her own cnaracter was Jane. Some of the gos sips of Aberleigh used to assert that Jane's sighing over tho flowers, as well as the early steadiness of her character, arose from an engagement to my lord's head gaidiner, an intelligent, sedate, sober and steady young scoicnnian. ut tills I know nothing. Cer tain it is that the prettiest and newest plants were always to be found In Jane's little Dower garden j and If Mr. Archibald Machine did sometimes come to look after them, I did not see mat it was anybody's business. In the meantime, a visitor of another de scription arrived at the farm. A cousin ol .mo. i.THHs nan oeen as succcssiui in trade us ... i t. . . 1 I .. . . . her husband bad been in agriculture, and now he sent his only son to become acquainted with 1111 loiallous, and to spend some weeks in their family. Charles Foster wa a fine young man, whose father was neither more or less than a linen draper in a Croat town, but whoso inanneis, education, mind und character might nave ioiie honor to a far higher station. He was, In a word, mm of nature's gentleman, and III nothing did he more thoroughly show bis taste and good breeding than by entering en tirely Into the homely ways and old fashioned habit of his country cousins. He was de lighted with the simplicity, ftugality and in dustry which blended well with the sterling goodness mid genuine prudence ol the great English farm house. The women especially pleusod him much. They foimed a strong contrast with any ho had met with before. No finery, no coquetry, 110 French, no piano. It In impossible to describe tho sensat ion of relief und comfort with which Chuiles Foster, sick of musical misses, ascertained that tho whole dwelling did not contain a single musi cal Instrument except tho bassoon, on which George Evans wus wont, every Sabbath, at Church, to excruciate the ears of the whole congregation. Ho liked both sisters. Jane's softness and coiisidoratcnes engaged his full esteem. Tatty's Innocent playfulness suited best with his own high spirits and animated convocation. Ho had known thorn apart from thu llrst, and indeed denied that the likenesses were at all puzzling, or more than is usual anions sisters 5 and secretly thought Tatty as much prettier than her sister as she was avowedly merrier. In doors und out ho was constantly at her side; and before he had been a month in the house all the inmates had given Charles Foster as a lover of his young cousin; and she, when rallied on the sullied, cried 10 !" and Tish !" and "Tshaw I" and wondered how people could talk such nonsense und liked to have such nonesuiise talked to her better than anything in the world. A flairs were in this state, when one night Jano appeared even graver and more thought ful than usual, and lr, far sadder. She sigh ed deeply ; and Tatty' for tho two sisters oc cupied the saiut.' room inquired what ailed her. She burst into tears, whilst Tatty hung over her and soothed her. At length she roused herself by a strong effort, and turning away from her affectionate comforter, said in a low tone : 'I have had a great vexation to-nighr, Tat ty ; Charles Foster has asked me to marry j him." "Charles Foster! did you say Charles Fos ter?" asked poor Tatty, trembling, unwilling even to turn her own senses against tho evi dence of her heart ; "Charles Foster 7" "Yes ; our cousin, Charles Foster !" 'And you have accepted him ?" inquired Tatty, in a hoarse voice. Oli ! no no no ! Did you think I had forgotten poor Archibald 1 Besides, 1 am not the person whom he ought to have astied to many him false and heartless as he is; I would not be his wife cruel, unfeeling, un manly as his conduct has been ! No ! not if he would make me queen of England 1" "l"ou refused him, then V "No; my father met us suddenly, just as I was recovering from the surprise and indigna tion that at first stauck me dumb. But I shall refuse him the false, deceitful, ungrateful villiuu !" "Toor father he will be disappointed. So will mother." They will both be disappointed, and both angry, but not at my refusal. Oh 1 bow they will despise him !" added Jane. Poor Tatty, melted by her sister's sympa thy, and touched by an iudignatioo most un usual in that mild and gentle gill, could no longer command her feeling, but threw her self on the bed in that agony of passion and grief which the first-great sorrow seldom fails to excite in the young heart.- After a while she again resumed the covcrsation. We must not blame him too severely. Perhaps my vanity made me think his atten tions meant more than be really did, and you bad all taken up the notion. But you must not speak of him so unkindly. He has done nothing but what is natural. You are so much better and wiser than I am, my own dear Jane! He laughed and talked with me but he felt your goodness ; and he was right. I was never worthy of hini, and you are ; and, if it were not for Archibald, I should rejoice from the bottom of my heart," continued Pat ty, sobbing, "if you would accept" but, un able to speak her generous wish, she burst in to a fresh flow of tears ; and the sisters, mu tually and strongly affected, wept in each other's arms and were comforted. That night Patty cried herself to sleep, but such sleen is not of long duration. Before dawn she was up, and pacing wun reswess irritability the dewy grass walks of the garden and orchard. In less than ha If an hour a light, elastic step she knew the sound well came rapidly behind her; a band-oh! bow often bad she thrilled at the touch of that hand tried to draw hers within his arm; whilst a well-known voice addressed ber in the softest and tenderest accents: "Patty my own sweet Patty! have you thought of what I said to you last night?" to me V replied Patty, with bitter "Ay, to be sure to your owu dear self ! do you not remember the question 1 asked you when your good father lor tho first time an. welcome joined us so suddenly that you had uvt 1 line 10 say 'yes,' now J" "Mr. Jtoster," said Tatty with some spirit, vou are under a mistake here! It was to Jane that you made the proposal, last even mg, ana you are taking mo for her this very moment. "Mistake you for your sister ! Propose to Jane! Incredible 1 Impossible! You are jesting!" "then he mistook Jane fo me last night, and he is no deceiver !" thought Tatty to her- seu, as, with smiles beaming brightly through her tears, she turned round at his reiterated prayers, and yielded tho hand he sought to his pressure. "He mistook her for me 1 lie Hint defied us to perplex him 1" And so it was! an unconscious and unob- servud change of place, as either sister resum ed her station beside, little Betty, who had scampered away after a glow-worm, added to the deepening twilight and the lover's eiubar rassment, produced the confusion which gave poor ratty a uightof misery, to be followed by u lifetime of happiness. Jane was almost as glad to lose a lover as her sifter was to re gain one. Charles has gono home to bis la ther's to make preparations for his bride. Archibald has taken a great nursery garden, and there is some talk in Aberleigh that tho marriage of the two sisters is to be celebrated 011 the samu day. The Hashes of lightning often observed on a summer nvoiiitig, unaccompanied by thunder, und popularly known as "heat lightning," are merely mo ngnt iroiu discharges of electricity from an ordinary thunder cloud, beneath the horizon of the observer rellectod from crouds, or perhaps from ; the air itself, as In Ihe case ot twilight. Mr. Brooks, one of the directors ol the teh'gniph lino between Tltts iitirg and l liiladelpbia, informs us that on 0110 occasion, to satisfy himself on this point, ho naked for information (rum distant operator luring me appearance ot flashes of this kind in the distant horizon, and learned that they proceeded from a thunder storm then raging two hundred and filly miles eastward of his place of observation. Thk Akt ok Printing. A jubileo will soon take place in Vienna in honor of tho four hundred years' existence of the art of print Ing In that city. '1 he first Vienna printer. uirlch llaun, opened his printing oilico in 1 132, did not succeed, and emigrated to Homo. He was the cause ot tho Emperor Frederic the r mirth bestowing a privilege on tho prln ters, in the year HGS, which placed them in equal rank with noblemen and scholars, and permitted them to weara sword. A scotch lecturer undertook to explain to vllliage audience tho word phenomenon, "Maybe, ma frocn's, ye dinna ken what a phe nomenon may oe. eel. then, a'll tell 'ee, iu'vb a' seen a coo, (cow) nao doot. Weel u coos nae a phenomenon. le-'vo a' seen an apple tree. Weel, an apple tree nae a phe nomenon. uut gin ye see Tito coo can't up tho apple tree, tail for most, to im' aimlea. mat would do u phenomenon." A farmer received a very polite note from neighbor, requesting tho loan ol'an ass for few days. Being unable to decipher his friend's hieroglyphics and wishing to conceal his ignorance from tho servant, the fanner hastily returned for an answer, very well: tell your master I will wait on him myself pres ently I" In a recent speech, Parson Brownlow said I tell you, upon the honor of a man', that the Southern army and its hangers-on havo stolen more negroes, in Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky during the last six months then the Abolitionists have enticed or aided away in the last forty years ! The gallant exploits of the Irish oflicers and regiments in the American war are eagerly copied by the papers in Ireland, and the birth place and early lite of each hero is proudly narrated. This has already stimulated a pow erful union feeling throughout the entire country. a superintendent 01 ponce once made an entry in his register, from which the follow ing is an extract : "I he prisoners set upon me, called me an ass, a precious dolt, a scare crow, a ragamufun an idiot all of which I cer tify to be true.-' During the last year there has been manu factured at the United States Armory at Springfield; one hundred and two thousand rifled muskets; and in the present year, it is said the number will be doubled. The Protestant clergymen of Nashville having declined to take the oath of allegiance ; Governor Johnson has s-ent nearly all of them to the penitentiary as prisoners of war. The Catholic clergy are all loyal. The Stars and Stripes now wave over the remains of every dead President of the Uni ted States except those of James Monroe whose remains were taken some years since from New York to Richmond. . "Isn't your bat sleepy 7" inquired a littlo urchin of a gentleman, with a "shocking bad one-" "No ; why 7" inquired the gentleman. "Because I think it is a long time since it had a nap," was the answer. An honest Hibernian, upon reading his phy sician's bill, replied that be had no objection to pay him for his medicine, but his visits he would return. The surrender of Norfolk was rather a sheepish aflair: Mayor Lamb surrendered to General Wool, and the ram Merrimac was blown up. JVhat is that word of one syllable which, if I the first two letteis are taken from it becomes a word of two syllabels 1 Plague. Almost every young lady is public-spirited enough to be willing to have her father's house used as a court-house What fruit does a newly-married couple mostly rcscmblo f A green pear. "Said ness. - j CORRESPONDENCE OF THE "JOURNAL.' Camp Near Harrison's Bar I James River, July 5th, 1862. ' f 1 ou requested me, should anything or in terest occur, to forward you nomo of the par ticulars. 1 will endeavor to comply, but it should not lie expected that 1, a mere private, can communicate anything but what passed under my immediate observation, that would be ol interest to you ; aud in speaking of tho events that have transpired, I shall speak only of tho Division to which I belong trusting mat 1 snail not weary you with unnecessary detail. rr 1 t ti . iiie oan was opened on Wednesday ov a shaiply contested skirmish on tho lei' wiug of our army, and about noon on Thursday the scene ol. conflict was suddenly trsnsfered to the extreme right. The first intimation we had of anythlnjr coiner on. was about 1 o'clock 1 . M.. when heavy and rapid canon ulitia- was heard in the direction of HanoverCourt House, ana uy tn- receipt or orders lo have our bag gage packed and horses attached to their re spcctivu pieces, to move directly ou receipt . . I- 1 a 1 .... . . . . 1 ui uruers. ivoout - o ciock ino scene was shifted to another quarter and in close nrox Unity to McUalls Division, a part of which. consisting ol tbe Bucktiils, the 6th regiment, and Battery B 1st Pennsylvania artillery, were out 011 picket in thu vicinity or Mechanics villo. Suddenly the enemy commenced cross ing tho Chickahomlny at Meadow Bridge, in onto milliner ; aim our pickets, not ueinir aoio 10 intercept tiieir passage ol the bridge, weie ordered to fall back about 11 milcsto tho main' Iwdv. which was buinir ranidlv formed on tho east side ol Beaver dam run. - ' - r - - - Tho 6th und Battoiy H reached the Division in safety, but tho Bucktalls who were tbe last to receive the order lo fall back, owing to their having been posted farther out were not so fortunate, us the rapid movements of tho enemy cut them ofl from the direct line of communication. Captain Irvin's conmanv foil Into 1111 ambuscade, and alter vuinlv endeav oiing lo extricate themselves by hard fighting were compelled to yield to the superior force of tho enemy, ami it is leared that the greater part 01 iik-iii are now prisoners. It is report ed that both Capt. Jrvln und Lieut. Welsh are wounded. 1 bo pickets had scarcely reached the main part of the division, when the rebels opened a tremendous tire ot cannon and mus ketry upon our lines, which was quickly re plied to and with marked effect. They fell back, but as quickly rallied, und then with their rapidly accumulating force vainly sought tot 111 n our right wing, but after the most des pcrate lighting for more than an hour they wero repulsed with heavy loss. But still they had no idea ol lottluir us rest. Their broken columns wero rapidly replaced by fresh troops ana ttioy now opened upon our whole lino with the most desperate determination, hoping to crnsii our little band by overwhelm ntr num bcrs. Tho natural barrier interposed between us prevented them from cliarrinir upon us aud tho superior tiro of our rifles and artillery mowed tuem down almost by regiments. It was now 6 o'clock, and tho rebels being foiled and driven back, they once more rallied aud made the most determined efforts to turu our flank on tho left. Here Battery A was sta tioned. Up to this time we had been shelling them briskly along the greater nart of the line, but now our tire was concentrated. Wo were flanked and supported on the left bv the din, who occupied rifle pits which had been previously formed. Tho remnant of the Bucktails, aud one section of our battery. also occupied the pits, while the other soctiou was posted 011 an eminence a fow ,-ods to the right. Batteries G and B 1st Ta. artillery held tho right of the lino, while battery C. 5th Regular artillery, held the centre. The enemy moved forward with solid front and steady tread, and no doubt with confidence thatvictory would crown their last grand ef fort, but they were doomed to disappointment. As I said, they were prevented hitherto from charging upon us by natural barriers which was a miry swamp some 300 yards wide, through which they sought to cross however after repeated trials, iu which some ol them fell an easy prey to our unerring marksmen, as they sank to their necks in tho mire they abandoned the project. But not so now. There was an opening on our left of solid grouud, which ran round the head of the swamp, and running parallel with our lines. The enemy instantly sought to take advant age of this opening and, no doubt, hoped by one grand coup de etat to take easy possession ofour guns. On came their advancing horde. 1 heir design was readily anticipated, and no sooner Lad they emerged lrom cover into an open space, and directly in range, than wo poured into their ranks an incessant stream of shell which mowed down their ranks like grass. But, not apparently in the least intim idated, they moved on and prepared to charge through the open space of solid ground. Here they were compelled to charge in column, as the nature of the ground would not permit them to charge in line. Both infantry and ar tillery reserved their fire till tho enemy bad approached very near us, when, suddenly, we opened upon them, with our guns double shotted with canister, and for the space of 15 minutes nothing could be beard but the crash ing of rifles and musketry, the sullen thunder of artillery, and the groans ot tbe wounded and dying. The enemy recoiled, and as they fell back our fire on their receeding columns was unabated. Gradually their fire became weaker, and at 9 o'clock all was comparatively quiet. I am not able to give you tbe casul ties of the four hours fighting, but it was com paratively light in view of the strength of the enemy. The Bucktails sustained tbe heaviest loss, in the misfortune that befel Captain Ir vin's company. The 5th, I believe did not lose many. We lost three men wounded one of them seriously, and three horses killed and three wounded. Some of us retired to rest on the field. while the rest kept watch at the guns, every man at his post. The infantry rested on their arms, while the enemy fell back only to his original position, ready at the light of morn to resume the conflict. During the night we were reinforced by Porter's division. Before it was scarce light on Friday morning our wary foe again silently and stealthily ap proached our lines, with a view, no doubt, of surprising our brave boys, but they were not to be thus easy caught in any such trap. Tbe rebels had fairly got tiieir columns in motion, but had only advanced a short distance until our boys, who bad concealed themselves in the woods, burst out upon them with the most tertinc fire of musketry, which, in tbe death like stillness of the early morning, reverber ated along the lines, sending a shuddering thrill to the very heart of all immediately e loughtand held the enemy in check for half an hour till the fresh troops could relieve us, and were then ordered to fill back five miles to Gaines' Hill on the banks of the Chickahiminy. We fell back in order, pro tecting both the trains of Porter and McCall. destroying all government property we could not remove consisting principally of com missary and quarter-masters' stores-. Porter held the enemy in check till the trains were secure, and then fell back towards McCalf, skirmishing all tho way, till within a mile of us, at Gaines' mill, which point he reached about 11 o'clock. He was there reinforced by Gen. Sykes division, (Regulars) and his exhausted troops had a short respite. Scarce had Porter fell back till skirmishing com menced afresh on our right, which lasted about two hours when all was quiet. But, when less than an hour bad intervened, tho fight was renewed this time in the most de termined manner. The troopi were formed rapidly in line ; Porter anuV Sykes on the ritfht and centre, McCall on the left. The command of the field now fell upon Geneial Toiler us senior officer. Our force was posted in an open space directly in front of woods. and not more than gunshot from it. Why this was dono 1 am unable to say. One thing I know, it gave tho enemy thu advantage of the timber, while the dilliculty of dislodging him lrom his retreat devolved- upon our forces. wo had scarcely loaned in lino when the crnshi tig sound of the discharge of (ire-arms broke upon tbe ear, resembling tbe deep and cracking intonation of falling timber more than anything else I can think of. Soon a dark and sulphurous cloud of smoke rose lrom tho scene, and stretching its . -If far out over the work of death and destruction, seemed to look on in silent wonder. We were success ful in driving tho enemy back upon bis re serve, when wo in turn, had to fall back fiom tho fresh and superior numbers that were pit ted against us. Again our men were replaced by fresh troops, and again did they enter that dismal looking timber iu pursuit of the foe and a secona timo did they drivo him back. Tho battle now raged with furious intensity, f cannot convey to you any adequate idea or the scene. Tho incessent roar of musketry and artillery us they sent their messengers thick and last into each others ranks, beggars all description. Add to this tho moaning of tho wounded -md dying, as they wore being borne from the Hold, and the sight of ghastly wounds and shattered limbs, and you can form some idea of the terrible and awful realities a sanguinary conflict, where tho chances of life disappear like thu morning mist. Up to this time I had been a silent specta tor of tho bloody conflict, but now, about 4 P. M. Our division was ordered to tho support of tbe right where tho light bad been terribly animated. Battery A was also ordered to the right. We had scarcely reached our new po sition, and had not got time to form in bat tery, when our move was quickly anticipated. Never was there a more fatal error committed. This transfer of tho almost entire force of the left gave the enemy tho most decided advan tage, which ho was not slow to avail himself of. Our troops wero immediately ordered back to the lelt, but not, however, till the en emy had almost emerged from the woods and commcDced a flank movement on our left. Iu the meantime, our artillery had commenced shelling them at a fearful rate, fairly piling j them in wtnrows, but on they came. They emerged from the woods under tha most gal ling cross lire of our brave Reserve corps, as they passed along the line from the right to left. Tho 5th is on the left ot battery A, but not in supporting distance. Our guns are now worked incessantly with double shotted canister at short range, which opens chasms in tho rebel ranks, but such is the perfectness of their drill that they are almost as quickly filled up and they again present a solid front. They push ou, apparently aiming for the bat teries which are making such havoc among them. Battery A occupies a position iu tho centre immediately on tho crest of a bluff bank. Battery G on lhe left, batterv B and C (Regulars) 011 the right. The rebels have now reuched a large level plain on our left front and are rushing on with hideous yells such as demons only can give. Tho inces sant aud unabated stream of canister the whizzing of bullets the roar of cannon and musketry tho almost suffocating clouds of dust and smoke riderless horses, all go now to make up the tumultuous scene. At this critic il moment the ammunition of our brave boys is expended, aud they fall back from sheer exhaustion. A Regular Batterv ol light mounted artillery wheels into action, fires two or three rounds, limbers up ard is off without a scratch. Ihe enemy is now within 7o yards ol us. Our battery is tiot supported by a man of the infantry. Four squadrons of cavalry draw up iu line on our left and prepare to charge the enemy in support of our battery. They draw their sabres. The men in front begin to topple out of their saddles. Their courage fails them. They wheel to the rear running over some of our men and are ofl. We still continue to work our guns. Some one suggests to the Captian the propnety of retiring. He says, "no ! stand by your guns boys, and if they are taken it will be over my prostrated body V Brave man ! but a few mo ments after,and he was shot dead from his horse. The rebels with awful oaths and imprecations are upon us. One brave fellow draws tbe last lanyard, they receive the contents of tbe gun, he is shot dead. Each one of us then looks out for himself. I rush to my horse, mount him, and away. Some of our boys, who have not had the means of getting away so quick, see the enemy wave the black flag of disunion over our heated Napoleons. They are lost to us, and our army has now fallen back a quar ter of a mile, and is forming again in line. Reinforcements -have just crossed the Chicka bominy to our relief. Among them is Meag her's Irish . Brigade. They are stripped to the shirt. Some of them with hats off, and their brave commander tells them to go in and win or die. They depend on the bayonet. They charge up the hill to tbe left of the line, to the position of our battery, and drive the enemy back under cover of tho woods. They recovered the guns that were lost viz : four from Co. .A, three from C, and two from G. Having no means of bringing them otf the field, they disabled them rendering them useless to tbe enemy. Orders now came from McClellan to hold the field only long enough to get our troops across to the oppo- side of the river. Tl. battery moved across immediately. It con u S,y ,'x','uhers and two caissons, and by daylight next morning the whole of the fighting lorce or Friday was massed o-i the south side ot the river, and one and a half miles from Savages station. The casualties to the battery, was 5 men killed (including the Captain) 7 wounded, ard 8 missing, wtion fate is unknown four guns, whole battery two limbers, two caissons, and twenty horses. Saturday we had a short rest. During the day 1 learned that Capt. Smith bad 7 men sfighriy wounded nono killed, I believe. But while the Reserve was resting the supply trains were being pushed rapidly forward to wards Savage station, and at tha Gen. Smith was skirmishing with with the ene my and holding him in check. At 10 I. .W Saturday, the train of the Reserve com com menced moving, but such was the isru at Sav ages that It was 6 o'clock Sunday morning before we could pass. There every thing was bustle and confusion. All the Government stores that could not be removed were filed up-and' prepared for the flames. We passed along and reached White Oak swamp about noon and prepared to rest tor the remainder of the day. About 4 o'clock an explosion in tho direction ot Savages warned us that the property that was left there was no morn. The last wagon hd left and cot to a saf dis tance when the rebels were again on our track, but we had' sood men and-true in- thw feu tr defend tho train, and all felt secure. By dnyliebt SFouday the last wairon ha-f crossed the swamps and which hnrri.rl ry forwards Jumes river. We got Under v) 1 a. .11., Him pushed rapidly Tot ward for 3 or 4 miles, when we baited w ith the Division about one mile from the main road. We re mained Ikto till- noon when tho hnrrivl re port that the enemy was 011 our left flank with large numbers. In an instant every man a at his post, and as the remnant ol our buttery wa of no possible use iu an engagement wo were ordered to fall in with the wagon train and proceed toward tho river. We ha4 ixt got half way to- tbe main road again till tbe rattling rf musketry and the whistling of shells- burst upon our ears, and, by tbe tim we icached Turkey cieek, the fight became general along tho w hole line, which extended 2J miles--tlm left resting near Turkey bridge. 1 shall now reiaSe tho rest of tbe events of Monday as I gathered it along the rol. Tho gallant Reserves received tho brunt of tha battle and held the enemy under the most des perate firing, alone for moro than an hour, when they fell back from the preasurn of over powering numbers. They rallied and at them again until finally, arter their ranks were ter ribly decimated, they were reinforced by rreshj troops. All agree iu stating that it was lb most obstinately contested fight of the whobi war. The gun boats co-operated with tbe land forces, and wherever their terrible missiles fell they made sccesh tkuladillt. Towards evening tho fight became general and notbirrg coukl exceed the rear of the artillery that was brought in requisition from every available point. When tho fight ceased we held our position. We lost of the resei ve many gallant officers. The genera! result of the six days fighting that we have a new and permanent base 011 James river for future operations have got the enemy out of his strong holds in front of Richmond have got out of tbe swamps, of the Chickahominy and, according to their own ... T . . . " accounts, they have lost three uieu to our one. While 1 am writing, WillOgdon is here and in good spirits, though his fingers are some what paint ul. When wo reflect upon the e vents of the last few days, and the dangers we have passed through it is a mercy that tbe overwhelming numbers of tbe enemy has mt completely annihilated us. We can attribute our salvation from total destruction only to merciful God, who has given our loaders the wisdom to execute the movement of so large an army under the most trying circumstances, with comparatively so small a loss, when the circumstances surrounding the movement are taken into consideration. And how thankful should we, is individuals, feel lo that Almighty rnler that our unworthy lives have been spared through all the dangers of the past few days. Aud while we would render thanks for our own deliverance, let us not forget to bear up our bumble petitions to a throne of grace in behalf of those battle scarred heroes who are now sulTcring from wounds received while battling nobly lor the right. And O: .above all let us not forget to send up our appeals, in belialt of those loved ones at homo Whose hearthstones have been robbed of many bright ornaments whose places can never be filled. And, while I write, I cannot but think of tb desolation, the sorrow, the scenes and agonies, which will be brought to the hearts of many a loving wife, sister or mother, by the event that have transpired since tho 26th of June. One of the boys of the 5th found EUi Hoover lying in the woods, nearly starved to death, and sutlering from the ravages of Ty phoid fever but lor this accident, he might have died here in a strange land, with no kind mother to smooth his pathway to the tomb, or even a friend to close his eyes in death. Charley Powers is well and hearty. I have written about all I can think ot this time. As ever yours, W. K. B. An Irishman, who lives with a vegetal Un, writes to a friend that if he wants to know what illigsnt living is, he must come to bis house, where tbe breakfast consists of nothing, 'and the supper of what was left at the breakfast. Somebody asked Gen. Cass the other day in Detroit:'4 General, what may we do to save the Union ?" Anything." "May we abolish Slavery?" Abolish any thing on the surface of the earth to save the nation." Tbe Charleston Mercury states that a"Beaa regard hat" is all the rage in that city. At the rate the war is progressing the same Gen eral will furnish a model for a neck-tie that will yet be extensively used at the South. My dear doctor," said a lady, 'I suffer a great deal with my eyes. 'Be patient, mad am," he replied, you would probably sufler great deal more without them. A gentleman was threatening to beat a dog for barking intolerably. Why exclaimed ta Irishman, would you beat the poor dwnb ani mal for xpaking oa" There is a man Ip Virginia who iso aris tocratic that he hu cut bis own acquaintance. site 5 r I i I 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers