VOLUME 1.
Army ( orn"*li»i«l» ~K ' c>
LINCOLN I GKNKUAI. HOSPITAL,
Washington I). I'-, July 13,1X(>4.
MR. ('• K. ANDERSON. — Dear Str:£
I write you a few lines according to pr.l
ise. but presume it would be a waste of
time ami paper to give you a summary of
the startling and exciting news about
Washington, at present, as it may be
weeks before you receive this, it the army
now menacing this capital are not driven
back soon. I will endeavor to confine my
self to a few of the scenes and doings iu
and around this city, that have been trans
piring for a few days back.
When we first heard of the rebel raid,
wc felt some little appre
hension for the borders of
and Maryland, although most all looked
upon it as a small force of cavalry, who
sought plunder and supplies; while oth
ers viftwod it, the amount of their forces
increased wonderfully in every ?dJition
of the dailies, as a faint made on Wash
ington and Baltimore, to withdraw or*
loosen the hold Grant has on Petersburg
and Richmond; believing that they aie
desperately forced to'this alternative, and
that it is the hist expiring struggle of the
ill starved and fated rebellion, in case
thej are never suffered to re-cross the
Potomac, this jien is the prcvclent op.n
ion *>f nearly all classes at present. I mean
the cooler portion of the people.
After the defeatof Gen • cw. Wallace,
und his retreat on Baltimore, and the cut
tine; of the rail roads north of that city,
by the rebel cavalry under llarry Gilmore,
»nd their boast that they would have
Baltimore and Washington, by the latter
part of the present week, our military
authorities became alarmed, and with ac
u«t> effort and alacrity, set seriously to
work to receive the "Johnnies" warmly
anil in a style of grandeur and magnifi
cence i suited to their taste, but not
at varien with, m* -unlike, exee'p. on .l
mort L.xtou-Jve scale, sumc oftlmse bio. <dy i
receptions they give our brave boys around
their so called capital.
On Mi..- .y all convalescent soldiers 111 j
h„.-[. : als and belonging to heavy artillery, 1
were sent to the forts. (>ll M<»qpiy mOr- ;
ning about four o'clock a. 111., the long ;
roll was beaten, and all who were able to j
carry a niusket were ordered out immedi
ately. and were setit towards fort Stevens;
about nine hundred were sent from this j
hospital alone. As soon as the drum was j
beaten, the bravo fellows came pouring
out from the different wards, some oa |
crutches, others supporting themselves 011
canes while many had their arms in slijigs
and suffering from wouuds but recently
received, and.lull into line, and when or
dered back to their beads plead to have
the privilege of going to the fortifications,
and in fact some succeeded in eluding the
■yigilcnce of the Medical Officers, and are
being returned, hourly; such was their
desire to help turn back the rebel bri
gands who are hurdling around and mena
cing our capital. llow proud and great
ful the American people should feel, to
think they have such valorous defenders,
who, when covered with wouuds and
emaciated from suffering, rush forward
and ask that they shall goto battle against
the enemies of their flag.
On hearing the drum and seeing con
tusion aud excitement in aud around
here, the rebels wouuded in this hospital
became quite bold and insolent, but they
were shortly given to understand that
each nurse ha 3 six balls of lead for them
upon the first show of insubordination. In
passing Old Capital Prison yesterday, I
observed" tlrat those confined there were
crowding the wiudows looking towards
the north-west, where there was consid
erable firing going oa, their countenances
seemed to express a look of speedy deliv
erance. «
The Oth Corps passed through here on
Monday last, they marched out seventh
street. 1 saw a number of the 102 d aud
139 th llegt's. and they all looked wel,
and seemed glad to have an opportunity
to meet their old foes here, as they will
have some chance for au equal contest,
and in the evcut of a capture of this city
it would have to be done over the dead
bodies of the gallaut fightiug Oth, who
#ve the dread of the enemy.
The clerks of the various government
(departments have turiied out, and are ei
ther stationed in the forts or about the
defenses. The citizens are coming for-,
-ward and enrolling themselves, aud are
iuoving towards the front. The rebel por
tion of the community do not seem to
relish a sack of Washington, as they
might perhaps feel the effects of such a
•disaster. The air in the city is full of the
.most wild sensational rumors, consequent
ly the more timid and credulous are filled
with intense escitemeut and alarm; at
one time they are, that all the telegraph
liues are destroyed, that fort Lincoln or
Stevens is captured, or the communica
tion between this and Baltimore cut, that
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
i we have been driving the enemy or that
tbey have overpowered a force of ours;
also that the President has been killed
while at the front. It is impossible to
arrive at any conclusion or truth.
I spoken to two wounded cav
alry menTnio have conic from the front,
(about two miles distant) and they say
that our forces are driving the enemy. —
At the present writing the canonading is
very distinct, and the smoke raising from
the forts at each discharge, plainly visi
ble. Towards the north the musketry
appeared tobespiritedanj heavy .although
with what results is not yet known.
Fires and dense volumes of smoke arc
seen rising in all directions, north and
westward. The track of the invaders
thus far has been one of devastation, ar
son and plunder, laying the country waste,
the burning of property, and driving
away of all live Stock—often times com
mitting the most brutal murders on inno
cent and undefended citizens, and a host
of untold crimes, too cruel and heurous to
pohiie the columns of a journal. There
can be no pretext hereafter for the lovers
of lenience,to advocate towards the enemy,
as they have shown nothing but the most
abandoned inhumanity, in this their last
invasion.
The visit of the President, accompanied
by Secretary Stanton on Monday last, to
the front, inspired enthusiasm, and en
couraged our troops —they were hourtily
cheered, they rode along the whole line
and were pleased with the position of the
forces.
The movement of troops hereabouts,
is conducted in a quiet orderly manner;
no hurrying or excitement. Artillery .in
fantry, cavalry and marines are seen go
ing to different p/iints, with aslo* monoto
nous tread, and if it were not for the occa
! sional booming of cannon and the.rattle
i if distant musketry, an! the far off
nifiies lighting the horizon with lurid
| rlame one would fain believe there was
0 it,l rebel this side of the Potomac.—
TIN- wh i- scene is so peaceful looking aud
. viewing it from this hospital, nligj^
■ apparently tranquil, even .those
I aie here talk little, and that in a seeming
sulidued tone. The intensity of the heat,
i the drenuivjiielaneholv haze of the sink-
I ing sun. ami the low, soft sweet music of
' some national hymn of one of the Navy
bands as it is wafted murmuringly on the
soft summer air, create emotions that con
flict with the realization that within less
than half a dozen miles is a scene of con
flagration, carnage and bloodshed.
July 11. The rebel army has suddenly
disappeared from before our capital, it is
generally believed that ftie demonstra- j
tion made by them for the last three days,
was merely to devcrt attention from their
true object, which was that of stealing
horses, cattle, &c., aud enable their caval
ry to make good their retreat with (lie
plunder. Owing to the absence of any
considerable force of cavalry 0.1 our part,
it was impossible to watch their swift
movements and dashes ; consequently the
audacious tl»ieviiig marauders may make
good their escape, with an immense
amount of plunder. No doubt they have
been driven to this last invasion by want,
desperation and hunger, pent up iu Rich
mond, with all communication aud sup
plies cut off. they make this bold effort
from necessity.
If we have lost' property and men iu
this raid, it has been productive of great
good to the government, it will do more
towards increasing the arm} - than all the
efforts of the administaatiou and military
authorit ies,as the people will now see the
great ueed the government has for a lar
ger force, to preserve its nationality, ami
the speedy overthrow of the military
power of this great rebellion, and the se
curity of a lasting peace.
Yesterday, accompanied by I>. C. and
Wm. Ayers, we drove out Seventh street,
intending togo to the 102 d Regt. but
were halted by the guard, and were not
permitted to proceed, although we had
passes, such is the strictness observed here
in getting to the front.
Clinton Ayres is here, and in ward 4.
he was severely woulftled on the sth of
May, through both legs, one has been
amputated,the ot-hyr wa3 shot through the
knee aud fractured. He has borne up
through his sufferings with a wonderful
fortitude, having had, shortly after his
arrival here, a attack of fever and
ague.
This hospital is in charge of Dr. J. C.
M'Kee, formerly of Butler, he is spoken
of highly by all, as a surgeon of skill aud
talent, and as a gentleman affable aud
courteous. This is the largest hospital
around the city, its capacity being nearly
six thousands 'feeds • Each ward is in
charge of a sister of*charity, who are con
staut in their watchfulness and .care of
the wounded sufferers. There is connec
ted with the hospital a library and chapel.
I Tho wards arc well ventilated, and kept
•
"Let us have Faith that« Right makes Might; and in that Faith let us, to the end,dare to do our duty as we understand it"-- A. LINCOLN.
BUTLER BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1864.
| perfectly clean; every want of the pa
| tient is seen to by a corps of experienced
' nurses. There is also a fine printing of
fice here, with a well selected assortment
of type and material, which employs four
hands, who are pressed with work. The
laundry is worked by a steam engine, both
washing and ironing being done b_>* ma
chinery. The hospital is situated one
mile cast of the capital. The grounds
unoccupied within the jnclosure are laid
out with taste, four gravel walks, with
flower beds between, intersect each other
at right angles.
The efforts of the Christian -and Sani
tary Commissions are blessed by the thanks
of the many brave sufferers in our hospi
tal#.
1 know of. nothing more of interest at
present. I will write toon again.
I remain yours See.
JOHN P. OUR.
TIIKCAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF GEN.
FRANKLIN.—BALTIMORE, July 14.
When Gen. Franklin was captured
he was seated in a car beside a wound
ed lieutenant colonel. When the reb
el came up and asked the Col.
if Franklin, that officer repli
ed that he was not. The rebel then
asked Franklin, who declared himself
fully convinced that he had been point
ed out by one of the passengers. In
a few minutes Gilmore. rebels
"came in and told Franklin* that lie
must consider himself a prisoner.
The General was putin a carriage
and taken to.Reistertgwn, where
they stopped liim for the night. The
Gen. feigned sickness and sleep, and
waited until the guards were all asleep,
lie then made his way as near as he
could in the direction # of this city for
three quarters of an ho\y\ Being"
broken down by fatigue, he crept'in
to thick wooks, where ho remained
the balance of the night .and all next
day, frequently seeing rebels scout
ing for him About sunset, l*ing near
ly famished, he ventureir out, and
shortly met some men who proved to
be friends, one of took him to
his house and finaljy provided means
>for the Gen. to reach this city.
NEW YORK July 14. -The Commercial
Advertiser says : A prominent bank
ing-house in Wall street, has receiv
ed'a dispatch from the Washington
branch tlii» morning, which states
forces have occupied Pe
te rfWrg. We have received nothing
confirmatory* of this statement.
The same paper ills# savs'a private
dispatch from Washington to a Wall
street banker, states that Sheridan,
with his entire cavalry force, has been
dispatched to intercept the rebel raid
ers and he lias seached Hanover Court
house.
A Washington dispatch tothePhila
delphia Inquirer, dated July 14, 8 a.
m., says the enemy began their re
treat across the Potomac about 12
o'clock last night. They had held
ltockville, about five mijes from the
Potomac, at base. This morning
our forces started in pursuit, and we
may yet be able to intercept their re
treat south. They are conveying
, their plunder as well as impressed pit
■ izens, with them. Our losses will
j not exceed five hundred. We made
considerable captures.
I MILITARY ANECDOTE. —During the
march from Stafford Court House, Ya.,
to Gettysburg, after the rebels, (the time
that they marched into Pennsylvania and
run out again, with the bullets whistling
around their ears) the 12th Corps halted
at Lecsburg for a few days; amtng the
amusements; while there was togo down
town to talk with the girls. One -day a
certain Corporal by the name of Harris,
wont down town, aud seeing a couple of
girls .in the door of a house, he got en
gaged talking with them; in course of
conversation one of them said " that she
had three brothers under Jackson, and if
she had any more that they should go
too," wheiT Harris said, " Are you sure
they are under Jackson?" # She answer
ed, " I am." " Then," said Harris," they
must be ten feet uuder ground, for Jack
son is six !"
Bang went the door in his face, aud
that was tWe last he ever saw of them.
Jfcjy You know the story of the boy
who would not cry, though the wolf was
guawiug him beneath his frock. Most of
us have some wolf to gnaw ussomewhere;
but Wc are generally gnawed beneath our
clothes, so that the world see, and
it behooves us so to bear it that the world
shall not suspect. The man whtf goes
about proclaiming himself to be miserable
will be not only miserable but contempti.
ble as well.— Anthony Trollapc.
tk&~ Women arc fond of deferring;
men of goiug ahead. With the former
we gaiu by exhibiting patience ; with the
latter, as with public functionaries, by im
-1 datience
JULY.
T'Mlay, the meek-eyed cattle on the hill*
Lie grouped together in somegrateful shade;
Or slowly wander down the grassy glade,
To stand content, kpejj deep, in glassy rills.
Tho wandering bee, in far-aecluded bowors,
Hums »ts low*cheerful antheui. fre»' from care;
Ureat brilliant bnUerilies, fragile as fair,
Float gracefully above tho gorgeous flowers.
The sun pours down a flood of golden heat *
Upon the busy world, ho hot and bright,
Tlutt the tired traveler, longing for the night,
Seeks some cool shelter.from the dusty street.
The cricket chirrups forth it* shrill refrain;
Tho grass and all green things are soar and dry;
Th* parched earth thirsts for water, and men sigh
For cooling showers. All nature waits for rain.
WIT AHD WISDOM. '
WHEN is a fishing boat in - danger of
sinking ? When it has got a Jissure iu it.
RECMJSENESS has its uses. Men, like
trees, must stand far apart to grow large.
WHAT is the difference between a kind
of butterfly and a matron ? One is a
moth and tho other a moth-cr. ,
• TIIF. ss makers arc tho best suppor- |
tors of newspaper —they paftern-ha every
one that falls into their hands.
I'I.L commit you; you're a nuisance,"'
said a - justice to a noisy fellow in court.
'■ N'obody has a right to commit *a nui
sance," was a cool reply. . .
WEALTH, rank and beauty may
form a brilliant setting to the diamond,'
but they only expose more nakedly the
false glare of paste. -
, I* a country church is this epitaph:—
"Here lies the body of James Robinson
and Ruth, his wife;'' aud underneath
this text: ■' Their warfare is accomplish
ed!" *
Miss TULIP, in speaking of old bach
elors, says that they arc frozen out old
gardners in the flowerbed of love. As
they are useless as weeds, they should be
. served in the same manner—choked !,
" All, John, since you have been to
the city the-black ox died without any
notice whatever."
'■ Gt'acious moreyl" exclaimed John,
" how fast we are passing away."'
AN old widower says, when you pop
the question to a lady do it with a kind
of laugh, as if you were joking. If she
accpts you, very well; if she uoos not,
you can say you were only iu fun.
WF. should see to it that we are con
tinually in this life. There is
no going down. It is elimbingor falling.
. very upward step makes another need
ful ; and so we must goon until we roach
the summit of the aspirations of time.
" SAVED." —We were amused with the
remark of an old lady who was admiring
the beautiful picture called "Saved."
" It's no wander, said she, " that the
poor child fainted, after pulling that great
jlog out of. tho water."
A YOUNO man, directing a letter to his
lady love, Wrote her name thus :
" You Ness Brown."
The post-master was somewhat at a loss
to know what to do wjgji the letter, but he
%ially sent it to You Rope by the pack it.
A CURL who was making a dress put
the sleeves in wrong. She was unable to
change them, -as she could not determine
whether she had got tho right sleeve in
the wrong place, or the wrong sleeve iu
the right place.
AN Irishman dropped a letter into the
post-office the other day, with the follow
ing memorandum on the corner, for the
benefit of all indolent post-masters iuto
whose bauds it might fall.
" Please hasten tho delay of this."
"IN faith (.Captain," saidason of Erin,
as the good ship was coming ou the coast
in inclement winter weather, "have ye a
almeuick on board ?"
" No, I haven't."
" Thin, be jabdrs," replied I'at, '-we
shall have to take the weather as it comes."
* The Osvego Times wants to know if a
man has torticollis, aeehplosis of the ra
dius, paralization of the iter atertia ad
quartern, ve'ntriculum, obliteration of the
laver labli superiosrs alqufnasi, and be
-1 sidc3 dou't feel very well himself, wheth
-1 er he would be cxeOpt from the draft'!
A YOUNO lady once married a man.by
the name of Dust, agaiifst the wishes of"
her parents. After a short time they
lived uuliappily together, and she return-.
1 ed to her father's house; but he refused
to see her, saying, " Dust tbou art, aud
unto Dust thou shalt return."
| "SAMMY, Sammy, my dear son, don't
. stand there scratching your head—stir
your stumps, or you will make no pro
gress iu life."
" Why, father," replied the hopeful,
" I've often, heard you say the only way
to get ou. in this world was to scratch a
j head."
! AN inventive gonius has produced au
| apparatus which Ike says is a cure for snor
i ing. He fastens upou the nose a gutta
j purcha tube leading to the? tympanum of
• j the ear. -When the snorer snores he
i ' himself receives the first impression,finds
■ j how disagreeable it is, and, of course, re
| tormp.
From the American Standard —Extra.
Mr. Stewart's Remarks.
We call attention of the press and peo
ple to the following remarks of Hon. An
drew Stewart on the " A\ ar and its Con
sequences." They present the subject in
anew and interesting light, and we hear
tily #ish .they eould be read by every
solder and citizen in the land, to arouse
their patriotism aud stimulate their ef
forts, exhibiting as they do the immense
value of the issues iuvolved iu the con
test.
.WB* >«.
From the Remarks of lion. A. Steuarl,
on the 4th of July, at Fayette Springs.
The " irrepressible conflict" between
Freedom, and Slavery commenced by the
Rebel slaveholders of tho South to de
stroy the L'nion, and establish on its ru
ins an order of Mobility and_ monarchy
founded on Slavery, will end only in the
utter overthrow of Slavery itself, and the
establishment of genuine Republican gov
ernments in (he entire South, after the
confiscation and distribution of the
mous landed estates of the rebel leaders,
among their conquerors, the brave sold
iers, and honest freemen of the North
ern, Middle and Western States.
This war has been permitted by 1 Divine
Providence for great, wise, and beneficent
purposes.
No great revolution was ever achieved,
or great blessing conferred by the Al
mighty 011 man, but through much blood
and suffering, and the blessings eonferrc d
bear a just proportion to the sufferings en
dured; and so it will be now.
Like % most things, this war has two
sides, a 'lark and a liriijht one—during
the. conflict we are permitted to see the
dark side only, its battles and its burdens,
its taxes and its tears : but after the storm
comes the sunshine, and " after this cruel
War is over" will conic the benefits and
blessings to compensate, and more than
compensate, for all the blood aud treas
ure expended in the conflict.
' Now let us draw aside the vail, and
turn our delighted vision for a moment
to the bright side of tho picture. For
this purpose permit me to indicate briefly
some of the benefits this war will bring—
benefits which 110 brief war. but only
such a protracted war as this can "possibly
secure.
BENEFITS OF Till; WAR. ,-
Ist. Then, this war will destroy lorev
er the curse of Slavery, the cause of this
horrid warfare with all its calamities, ma
king us truly a free people, and our gov
ernment in fact, as well as iu theory, the
model government of the world.
2d.. This war will destroy a Southern
embryo and establish freer
institutions and a bettor population in the.
South.
Sd. This war will .give us a uniform
Xutional Ourre icy founded 011 the wealth
and faith of tho whole Union, instead of
an insecure local State currency,. issued
in open and flagrant violatipn of the Con
stitution of the United States, which ex
pressly declares that "no State, shall is
sue bills of credit," which Mr. Madison-,
the father of the Constitution, says was
inserted to prevent the States from crea
ting, or authorizing otliors to create, "y>a
p/r money," ami thus, also, restoring the
control of the currency to tho National
Government, to which it Constitutionally
belongs. *
4th. Our National Debt, not equal to
one-half of tho British debt, will, like
theirs, constitute a most powerful cement
to hold the Union together should all else
fail. Our National Debt consisting of
1 government bonds and notes in the liauds
of the people, will, when the Union is
assailed, rally all hands to the rescue, to
save their money which must go down
with the government, and even the mi
ser who would not before give a oent to
save the Union, will then wade knee deep
in blood, to save his greenbacks and cou
pons.
sth. A high Protective Tariff to pay
tho iuterest of the war debt will be in
dispensable, checking the importation of
foreign goods and the exportation of spe
cie, increasing our wealth, national aud
individual, aud developing our rich aud
exhaustless resources, mineral, manufac
turing and agricultural.
tith. Tho high waget of labor, occa
sioned by the war, will add greatly to ouj
national, wealth and streugth, by%attract
iug to our shores tho labor, capital aud
skill of foreign lands, to make our rail
roads, improve our prairies, fill our facto
ries aud workshops, and our armies with
brave men.
7 th. This war will preserve and per
petuate our free Republican farm of Gov
ernment by equalizing wealth and proper
ty among the people, taxing the rich for
the benefit of the poor —the millions paid
by the wealthy beiug distributed among
the soldiers aud their families iu the shape
of pay, bounties, pensions, laud auuuities
and grants, leveling upwards, and cheek-
ing. the vast accumulation of wealth and
the consequent dependence of the many
upon the few, tending, if not thus correct
ed, to aristocracy and monarchy in the
end, thus, too, preventing agr;inanisms,
by destroying its motive.
oth. The terrible punishment of the au
thors of this rebellion by this war, will
prevent its recurrence, by deterring nil
others, hereafter, from following their ex
ample and sharing their fate, afld'thus
put an end to secessionism forever.
9th. This_war by giving us a powerful
iiary will prevent in future foreign wars
by causing our power to bo feared and
rights to be respected on tho high seas.
Thus preserving peace by being prepared
fur tear.
10th. This war will prepare us for ta
king our high ami proper position in the
approaching great war of principle* , the
world-wide' : irreprossibleconflict"between !
Republicanism anil Despotism, the gorms
of which have been lately planted by
Napoleon in Mexico and by Frederick of
Prussia in Denmark. And this groat
ccnflict when it comes, having its origin
in the love of liberty shed abroad from
our. shores, by the recent facilities of
steamships and telegraphs throughout all
Europe, will not permit us to remain in
different or inactive spectators, consider
ing the proud position. We will occupy,
and the deep and vital interest we will
have in the great issues involved.
Such are some of the benefits, thus
briefly adverted to, which, I' believe,
Heaven has in store to reward onr toils
and sufferings in this conflict—benefits
which nothing but a long protracted war
like this could have possibly secured. * A
brief tear would have left us with the
.curse of Slavery still upon us; a vicious
unsound currency; increasing inequali
ties of wealth ; anti-republipan, aristo
cratic and monarchical tendencies; seces
sion proolivities and troubles, low wages,
free trade and a liability to be robbed and
insulted on the. high seas, without the
ability to punish or resent it.
If ever there was a cruel and a cause
less war on the one side, and a just and
holy one on tho other; this is tlwit war.—»
Yet wo find bad men in our midst en
deavoring to paralyze the arm of tho sold
ier, and the efforts of the people tfV'l the
Presßlent by representing this war as
wicked and unjust, prosecuted by wicked
men, by wicked means, and for wicked
purposes—how shameful! how vile 1 —
why not rather nerve the arm of the sold
ier in battle, and soothe his dying mo
ments with the consciousness that he was
fighting.and dying in a just cause ? Why
not leave liis parents, relatives and friends
the happiness this con
viction Judging of oth
ers by myself, I confess if these bad men
could convince mo that my four sons, now
fighting tho battles of their country, were
fighting in a bad cause, I could not sleep
upon my pillow, or offer up a prayer to
Heaven for their success in such a cause;
no! Let us spurn and spit upon such
vile and villainous suggestions, and un
der the inspirations'of a good cause rally
to tho standard of our beloved country,
and strengthen in every way in our power
the hands of our honest and excellent
President in his patriotic, untiring and
Gad-inspired efforts to save the I'nion
aw bring this war to a speedy and suc
cessful termination.
.God is in this war—and who dare im
preach Ilis wisdom and goodness by sup
posing that having selected this mighty
continent, to plant upon it his chosen and
favored people, and to build up here, as if
by magic, a grqjt and tree republic, a bea
con light of liberty to illuuiiue the world,
would now madly destroy it, and teardown
forever this glorious work of his own
hands, thus leaving the world to the do
minion of darkness, despotism and des
pair—or will he not rather vindicate and
display his justice as well as his goodness
and wisdom, in first punishing by this war,
our national sins, especially the sin of sla
very, correcting ou*errors, and restrain
ing flur tendencies to stray away from the
path He set before us; aud then to per
fect and carry out His great original pur
pose by restoring our Government, thus
purified and improved, on surer and safer
foundations and make it what lie at first
intended it to lie; the great model repub
lic, tho home of the free, the asylum oi
the oppressed, the star, tho light to guide
the footsteps of freedom and her follow
ers, throughout the world, henceforth and
forever.
jgr It is said that Gov Bradford's res
idence, near Baltimore, was burned by
the written orders of Gen. Bradley John
son, in retaliation for the burning of
Gov. Letcher's residence by General Hun
ter.
Wright, of Indiana, has,
they say, written a strong radical letter.
Prentice hopes he will do better when he
. writes again. "Wright, write right.
NUMBER 32
England Without a, Navy.
What has long been a problem ifli rela
tion to the prowess of tho British navy
has at last found a solution in the details
of the recent contest between tho Kear
sarge and the Alabama. The determina
tion of tho British sympathisers with, the
Slaveholders' Rebellion, led them not on
ly to furnish the rebels with vessels well
calculated for speed, but also with what
their prejudices taught them wore the
best guns—another instance of thie sub
lime weakness of a strong prejudice.—
The dockyards have been filled with work
men making now ship* of war and alter
ing old ones, which have been armed
with the best guns that England could
afford. After all this enterprise somo
profound person discovered that an enrly
test of tlid qualify of these arms might
be n wis!? transaction ; hence the contest
betwncn the Kuarsargo and the Alabama.
Tho modc'gf bringiig that contest aboat
we care not to discuss, as that is a matter
of history. It was brought about, and
with it came unwetcnmc unravelling of
the awful truth that, for tho practical par
poses of war England is to-day destituto
of a navy. In the recent contest neither
of the ships were iron-clad. The Morn
ing Slur, a London journal whoso char
acter for vernacity is unquestioned, says ;
" The nuniberand weight of guns of both
vessels were as nearly as possible equal—-
tho Alabama, according to Mr. Mason,be
ing provided with one 100-pounder rifle,
one 08-pounder, and six 32-pounders,
while the IvearsargOf according to Capt.
Winslow, had two 11-fnch Dahlgrens, four
32-pounders, and one 28-poundor. Tho
weight of the Alabama's broadside is es
timated to bo 370 lb., and that of the
Kearsarge 432 It). Tho exact number of
men on bpard of each is of very little
moment, as it is evident they were both
fully manned, and there was no hand to
hand struggle to permit rnoro imagers to
come into play." The same antltority an
nounces that the victory was undoubtedly
owing to the superior gunnery of tho
Kearsrrge. Out of the correspondence be
tween the parties engaged in the battle,
and the reports of tho affair published in
the English papers and in our own, wo
gather that the Alabama fired muck more
rapidly than her antagonist, but with less
certainty and less effect, indicating less
*fkill than was exhibited by the gunners
on board the Kearsarge. The Star says
further:—" On tho t\ssnniption that our
uaval gunners are its well trained as those
of tho Kearsarge—for tho Alabama's
crew, although nearly all Englishmen,
must not be accepted as specimens of dis
ciplined BrUish sailors—wo presume it is
universally admitted that after all our
monstrous expenditure fat years tTie navy
has no gun which can comparo to the 11-
inch Dahlgre.n, and that even our Tiuge
three-deckers would be little able to com
pete with such vessels as the
In the light of this combat our navy evi
dently stands more than everin itschronio
position of requiring re-eonstructiou."—
And it adds :
"Very recently Mr. Cobden asserted
that a wooden three-decker, with a ercw
of seven hundred or oight hundred men,
would be little better thanalaugbter-houso
whfcn opposed to a heavily-armed gunijoat.
Hut here wohavean exampleof the dead
ly damage which can be wrought by a
heavily-armod wooden vessel of moderate
tonnage, and with a crew of more thau
100 men.
They of England may well come to the
conclusion that the fleet of the future
must consist of small, swift vessels, with
guns of heavy calibre, iron-clad if possi*
ble, but with guns of the maximum pow
er, whether iron-clad or not." Bead the
frank confession which the Star makes ;
At present we seem to be in the posi
tion that our iron clads cannot freely trav
erse the ocean, and that our first elasj
wooden ships would bo unable to defend
themselves against a comparatively insig
nificant foe.
Three things reveal themseTves as nec
essary before the British navy can be
deemed ready for any essential practical
service: First, properly disciplined men
and officers; Second, guns,-other and bet
ter than >iavo been sought after, Third,
which, although last, is indispensable. the
sinking of that drejudice against genius
on this side of tho Atlantic. Necessity,
which is '• the mother of invention," may
at length teach the British nation that
genius and the march of improvement de
spise those narrow motives which lead
men into reckloss and unnecessary sacri
fice. America, while at war with the
rebels against her Government, has ae-
I ccpted the opportunity and taken the time
and pains to teach Enjfland this lesson.—
Fittn. Com.
VST A man selling blacking in Hart
ford wflo began his present business in
1857 on a capital of 81 25, and maw
wouldn't sell it for *25.000.