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.
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