davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
The Fight At Edwards Ferry

! WASHINGTON, Oct. 23--The success of
Generals Stone and Banks across the Poto-
mac is now established, rs the enemy did not
venture to make any further resistance to it
yesterday. AlaccouHts agree that our men
conducted themselves nobly in the affair of
Monday. Even the portion of the column
which received temporary check by the
death Of Coz Baker, behaved gsilan,ly alth' o
opposed to force treble their number. The
ground thus gained was retained in the un-
disturbed possession of our troops all day
yesterday. Scouts and accommodating par
ties obtained much valuable information in
regard to the enemy. The above facts are
derived from reliable sources.
Asbnry Dickens, late Secretary of the
Senate for many years, died here his a. M,
at the age Of 90. g....a ....-..
1t is understood the blankets ordered in
Europe, in August, by the @. NJ. Depart
ment, are arriving $4,000 already reached
New Yolk. They cost the U. S. 4Oc. per
pound, and weigh pounds.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

A PRETTY SToRY.-The following state,
ment appears in the 4tlas, a London weekly
journal:
"We understand that one of the most ef-
ticient modes by which the American Gov
ernment attracts our young soldiers across
the Canada frontier, is to send over depu-
tation Of the fair sex, armed, in addition 10
their personal charms, with pockets full Of
dollars, twenty of which they are author
lied to offer to each soldier as a premium
for desertion."
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
The Pontoon Bri.i.. Fni,,,ed,

JEFFERSON CRY, Oct 22.-Parties direct
from Warsaw say no news of importance
had reached that point up to O'clock yes.
terday The Pontoon bridge was finished,
and the river very high.
R. W. Ralton, the Sheriff of this county,
resigned yesterday, not being willing to take
the oath prescribed by the State Convention.
F. A. Parsons, Clerk Of the County and
Circuit Conrt, and father ofGeneral Parsons
now in the rebel army, has signfied to Gen.
Price, connandant of this post, to take that
oath, or any other that Gen. Price may de-
sire. He wishes to return home and resume
the duties of his office.
DR.. Brakeman, member the Legislature,
and Mr.. Bell of Miller county, both have
sent in their submission. General Price has
ordered them to report at his headquarters
next week
Governor Gamble left for Washington
this morning. -..
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
No More Fighting NJ Edwards :
H. .- ,r.s a Ferry. z

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-The Secretary Of
the Navy tonight received letter from
Com. Goldsborough, dated aboard the Min.
nesota, Hampton Roads, Oct. 81, giving an
account Of ths burning Of the ship Thon as
Watson on the 18th inst, while lying aground
off Charleston Haibor. She attempted to
run the blockade, was pursued by six of our
cruisers and ran on the. reef. She had no
arms on board. aa
Advices from Bermuda state that the En-
glish feet there comprised 26 vessels, man.
ned by $500 men and upwards of 500 guns.
The French squadron consists of6 steamers
2lo guns, and will shortly be largely it,
creased.
So far as can be eqIned there has been no
further figE ting at Adwards' Ferry. Infor-
nation received thus far is not entirely en-,
titled to credence. Gen. Banks is now on
the Virginia side commanding in person.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

The 7izafs was fosciEy Tyhake<,, for the
tone Of its remarks on tie Bull Run disaster.
The Dn6'fn UnirfnHy Noyosine has since
given judgment on the sipe n /, sntjse. iaSs,lese
tcylns =
I'VE cannot conclude without rebukine
the nnscnerous sneer which the panic Of
Bu'i Run has drawn from TIE Times and
Punch at american courage. Writer'S must
know very little Of military matters to, sup
p osc that ccwardice is the carse Of panics,
All that we have read on the subject, direct.
iy proves the contrary. II is the want of
di scipIl1e in the mass, not want Of bravery
in the individual soldier w,ich, causes =
panic. II the Americans had been an army
Of lions they wanla have certainly fed, if
they were led on by asses, as it appears most
of their commanders were or If they had
been lions, mistrnstfnl os.cach other. as they
probably were, from want ofFyactice toecth-
er on drill and parade. they would have
equally fed. It is only when M army moves
as one man When after marching together
and facing in company for months together
fatigue and danger, that they get confidence
in each other and IN their commander. The
Americans were braggarts, we adinit, but
no cOyagds."
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
The Battle al Fredericktow wiz.

flLoT hNOB, Uct. "a b
From reliable parties who witnessed the
fight at Fredericktown yesterday, gather
the following particulars Col. Carlin, with
parts Of the 21st, 33d and 3sth III. Regis,
9Th Wisconsin,, Col. Bakers Indiana Caval-
ry and, Major Schofeld's battery. reached
Frederick town in the morning at o'clock,
and at l p. m. was joined by the 1lth, 18th
and Goth Ill., and 400 Cavalry from Cape Gil
rardeau. They then advanced in pursuit OF
the rebels under JEFF. Thompson and Col.
Lowe, who had left the place "a hours be-
fore and were reported to be rapidly retreat.
ing South; but about mile from town they
discovered the entire force Of tho enemy
drawn up in inc Of battle, partly posted in
an open field and partly iq, the adjacent tim.
Der, with four iron 1s-poundcrs well planted
in front.
Maj. Schofield Immediately opened fire
and at the fourth round silenced one Of the
rebel guns. The engagement then became
general and lasted about two hours, but af.
ter the first half hour the rebels left the
field in disorder and took to the woods, fol-
loved by both our infantry and cavalry
Before leaving the field the Rebel Colonel,
Lowe, was shot in the head and instantly
killed.
Major Gavitt received five buRets while
leading charge thirty yards in advance of
his command. Captain Hishman was kill
ell in the same charge #aaS.H y sa
Our loss is reported killed, 5 mortally
and 20 slightly wounded. Enemy's loss not
but supposed to be considera-
BILE. $500
At last accounts the rebels were in full
retreat with their baggage train, and our
troops in pursuit
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

Bonaparte once said " The presence of
the General is indispensable. He is the
head-he is the whole Of the army"
1t was not the Roman army that subdued
Gaul, but Caesar !; it was not the Carthage
nian army that made the Republic tre,nble
at the gates of Rome, but Hannibal; it was
not the French army that carried the war to
Weser, but Turenne: it was not the Mace
donian army that vas on the Indus, but..Al-
exander; it was not the Prussian army that
for seven years defended Prussia against the
greatest powers of Europe, but Frecc.ick
the Great
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

the little expenses we spoke Of, we might
have b ad in the aeighborhood Of two hum
dred dollars - s.a a5s 81,
John Stctson did see it, and he determined
that the lesson should be a serviceable ons.
The halfacre lot was bought, and now at the
end Of five years, twas worth double what
he paid for it. He has also laid aside two
hundred dollars year during this period,
and all by small snpings.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
Fremont Suppressed ed.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2s.--The report made
by Adj't Gen'l Thomas of his recent exam
ination into the administration of the De-
partment Of the West by Major Gcnl Ere.
mont, was this morning considered in full
Cabinet meeting. With the reluctance
which hesitates to injure distinguished
man and wound and disappoint the friends
whom popular leader gather in his career,
all the members of the Cabinet slowly pro-
no, need their judgments that the interests Of
Missouri and Of the Union required that
Gen'l Fremont should be superseded in his
command by Maj Gen'l Hunter The order
to this effect will be issued tomorrow.
The President WAS greatly affected by the
death Of Col. Baker. il
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

Mhc Nashua Manufacturing Company
have contracted with the Government to fur
nish 3oo, 900 cotton flannel drawers. This
will furnish good employment for large nun.
oers. They are all to be scwed by hand.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
Our Loss ., E.lwarSs, Gerry.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 22.-Information re-
ceived here by private letters estimate our
loss in killed and wounded at 175.
The main portion of Sickles' Brigade is
now opposite the confederate batteries and
it is said are preparing to act on the offensive
against the batteries
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
For the Courier.
: AN APDR ESS ITO MYLSISTER.

a AN APDR ESs ITO MYLSISTER.
William, your brother, now doth stand
Contending for his iative land,
And while the Rebels no Id their ground
Point for an attack no W aers ieund.
five attack them ,,they will run,
For they are afraid Of northern sons:
With Captain Kit tredge at our head
Wen feed these rebels northern lead.
Z And our brave officers, you see,
Will lead US on to victory;
Though many rorthern SON may fall
BY musket shots or cannon ball
While Lexington and Bull Runs fresh
Upon our memory preys,
The loss Of these, and Springfield too,
Won't ruin US, guess
In the battle Of Springfield Lyons died
With the Iowa First by his side;
Says he to them "come 70 low me,
I'll lead you on to victory"
He, with 5000 tried in vain
Against is, 900 the field to gain;
With his hat high waving DER his head,
Alas, he fell Alas, he bled
They gained the field, that Is true,
But for to brag twill never do
or victory they cannot boast--
or killed and wounded theirs is the most.
Norfolk, NO., Oct. !, 1851. w. H. WORKMAN,
Co. F, Esh Regt. Iowa Volunteers
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

The Nashua Manufacturing Company have
contracted with the government to furnish
800, 900 cotton flannel drawers. This viii
furnish good employment for large numbers.
They are all to lie sewed bv hand
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

The Root Mills, Lowell, started up about
one third OF their machinery on the eth inst
after having been idle nearly three months.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
WAsalNGToS, Oct. %.

d /. ". e.
The latest news tonight is that the whole
of Stones column has crossed the Potomac,
and is in full pursuit Of the enemy. and that
Gen. Banks column had reached the banks
Of the river and would speedily follow and
support Stone. Information received late
tonight from Gen. Stones command, an
nounces that the fight was desperate one,
and that large Eumbers were killed on both
siles. Although the enemy was very much
stronger than Gen. Stone, he was falling
back before the advance of our troops. and
would have undoubtedly been routed but
for the fallo Col. Baker, which produced a
sudden confusion among our troops. Gen.
Gustavus W. Smith commanded the rebels
and private dispatch asserts he was shot
from his horse and carried off the field
Gen. Banks, with his command, is now sup
porting Gen. Stone, and being Major Gen
eral is in full command.
Gen Mcclellan left for Gen. Banks head
quarters in the field this morning.
II is subject Of regret that Gen. Baker
should have engaged the enemy, when, &C.
cording to report, he was ordered to make a
reconnaissance only, with strict instructions
If attacked to fall back and not fight.
Gen. Baker made his will on Saturday
last, and deposited it with Col. Webb
When he left for the field he said to the lat
ter: 81 shall participate in battle in for.
ty-eisht hours. III fall request that you
take charge Of my body"
An effort is making to supercede General
Mcclellan with Gen. Hallick, who is on hi,
way here from California. This chang,
would create 2 revolution in military ant
civil circles, where the greatest confidence i.
entertained for Gen. Mcclellan.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

t.E rtFEt sa sss5E w ASIlINGTON, Oct. ZZ.
The Washington Stars description of the
fight at Edward Ferry says both wings
were attacked as early as o a.. m, but the
enemy was repulsed whenever he appeared.
At about p. m. the right wing found itself
confronted by near 1000 of the enemy un-
der Gen. Evans, whose artillery Gen. Baker
CALAMITY essayed to charge After the
charge, in which he was killed, the officer
left in command Immediately ordered the
men to fall back near the river, where they
could be supported by Gen. Stone and the
portions of the army that had at that time
effected a crossing. The men obeyed in good
order, carrying off au the dead and wound
ell. On reaching the position selected, the
right wing turned, though under the fire of
the enemy, which gradually slackened up
until midnight, when it ceased throughout
the night. The balance of Gen. Stones
force crossed the river and threw up tempo
rary works that render his position secure,
and enabled him to protect the crossing of
the division Of Gen. Banks to the Virginia
side this morning.
The object of Gen. Stones movements
was to enable his command, with General
Banks division, to he safely transferred to
Virginia. Evans attacked Col. Baker in
front and on both flanks. Col Coggswell
was probably taken prisoner Onr ipfarn,o
ton so far this a. m is that Gen. Banks ar
my arrived at the Maryland landing of Ed
wards Ferry last night, and have been
crossing the river securely since daylight.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

A Mr.. Allen, Of Plaintield, New Jersey,
lost three children, recently, from mistake
in cooking toad stools. snpposing them to be
mushrooms. Others Of the family were
poisoned, but the children only died.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

Queen Victoria now reisns over l74,0OO,-
900 ofpeople. Ofthis number British India
has 100000.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

The whole force now at Cairo and Birds
Point is in all about ls, 900 men, the maiori.
ty being at the latter place.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

/ 80
President Stearns, Of Amherst College,
preached an eloquent first day sermon last
week upon the war, one passage of which
cannot be too widely read or deeply ponder
ede q
"As another condition Of success, we must
be in earnest, and much more thaa we are.
The loyal States are not yet half awake
We trust in our unbounded resources, but
fail to employ them. We have great war
on our hands, but we think that there will
be soldiers enough to fight it through, and
some time or other our side viii win. In
the meantime we talk hopefully of the re-
vival of business, and prepare ourselves to
renew the old competitions of covetousness.
What many thus look upon as encourage
ment to my mind is portentous While
the nation lies bleeding, we turn supinely
away, and seek again for the loaves and the
fishes Many Of us seem to regard the whole
conflict as something outside, which does
not touch us in person, much less reach into
the depths Of our souls. Meanwhile, time
is passing on, and you make progress, in
many respects, only backwards. Months
have gone and still the capital of your ma
ton is in danger. You have had your great
uprisings and rushings to the scene of con-
fiict, and still in a.most every emergency,
your army is outnumbered by the enemy.
While the North is foolishly confident and
inefficient the South is terribly in earnest.
With them it is life or death struggle
They leave all business, sacrifice or leopard.
ize all property, offer up their lives, and
stir the blood Of all their people-and when
they fight, they fight with the courage of
despair. They are also inscriptions, and
full Of stratagems, and ready for desperate
deeds. Sucha rebellion, covering as it does,
nearly half Of our territory, cannot be put
down by rountrY-musters-or the froth and
foam of gala day patriotism. You have a
great and terrible work to do, and you must
undertake it with terrible determination -
You must comprehend the crisis and meet
It-offering your treasure, Offering your
blood, and, what is more precious, the blood
OF your sons; you must take hold Of it with
an awful solemnity and perform it. There
must be no halfway measures. The heay-
lest blows are now the most merciful blows
If you would not protract this war for years,
sacrifice thousands of lives and desolate the
land, you of the North should put forth the
whole of your strength. Presume not on
the lrosts Of Winter, on the stringency of
your blockade, on the great doings which
are to GONE. So you have talked from the
beginning, but your condolences have failed
you. Scott may be capable of infaIlible
strategies-Banks may have comprehensive
ability, and Butler dashing bravcry-and
you may admire the Christian wisdom and
heroism of Mcclellan, but the great soul of
the free North must be stirred down to its
dpDthS 0r all fhaSa u.;ll fail
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

ew- Now is the time to tx stock sheds
for the winter. IS
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

MARRIED LIED not run much from
home. Ones own hearth is Of worth more
than gold. Many marriage begins like a
rosy morning, apd then falls away like a
snow wreath. And why? Because the
married pair neglect to be.a we'll pleasing to
each other as before. Endeavor always to
please one another; but at the same time
keep God in your thoughts, Lavish not all
your love to-day, for remember that mar
riage has its tomorrow likewise, and its day
after tomorrow, too. Consider, ye daugh-
ters, what. the word WIFE expresses. The
married woman is the husbands $. domestic
faith; in her hand he must be able to entrust
the key of his heart as well as the key of his
pantry. His honor and his home are under
her keeping his wellbeing in her hand.-
Think Of this And you, ye sons, be faith
full husbands, and good fathers of families.
Act so that your wives shall esteem and love
you.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
Russell getting his Eyes Opened.


for the restoration Of the Union. In his
letter of September 10, Mr.. Russell says.
"Of the ultimate power Of the Northern
and Western States to subiuga.e the seeded
States in the South, if they put forth all
their strength and means by sea and land, l
have no doubt whatever. The South must
die of atrophy after time, if every channel
OF line is shut to it. By tie end of this
month the United States will have a large
fleet on the coasts and on the rivers, and |
have reason to think that an expedition will
be organized also 10 attack the Texas seces-
sionists from the West-fa far as that is away.
A naval officer said to me the other day-it
seems as if the moment an American sees
an Englishman he thinks the latter is going
to say something about cotton-"Y You need
not be afraid of any want of cotton in Eng
land. BY October we will have few good
ports down South and plenty Of cotton for
all the world Fernandina may possibly 20
soon; there is an eye on Pensacola also, and
New Orleans is by no means safe. The con.
dition to which the blockade has reduced
many classes in the South is bad enough; j,
will become worse. Tea, coffee and cloth
ing are nearly exhausted, or have, as the
phrase has it, given out because there Is
none to give out at all. Lead, sulphur and
salt are very scarce. Shoes, flannel, beef,
butter, quinine, cloth, TIN and leather are in
the same category. If the blockade be en-.
forced the distress and want of all things
save natural produce will be intense. ~
"And what is the end to be- There is a
notion in some mems minds that there will
be a compromise-that a strong democratic
reaction and great peace party will arise
which will oust the present administration
and carry some measures on which the tive
sections win tind q base on which to rest !
proposition for mutual agreement. To my
limited vision the idea seems quite illusory
The South, il not beaten, win be conten
with no terms short ofl'independence' Q,
domination. The North is now iiritated
pride and passion arc aroused, and the peac,
party is losing. instead Of gaining ground
owing to the action of the Government ant
to the violence of the populations which
have resolved in something very like terror
| ism - Etgaa a @sest Ge& ,FffSWes3I $3.50 Bis
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
Mrs. Lincoln a Politician.

We have for the first time, in the history
of Presidents, Presidents wife who seems
to be ambitious Of having finger in the
Government pie. Her friends compare Mrs.
Lincoln to Queen Elizabeth in her states
manlike tastes and capabilities. She is by
no means simple, domestic woman, but
was evidently intended by nature to mix
somewhat in politics. That she does so is
undeniable She has has ere this made the po-
litical fortunes of men. She is said to be
much in conversation with cabinet members
and has before now held correspondence with
them on political topics. Some goso far as
to suggest that she President is indebted to
Ter for some Of his ideas and projects. She
is very active woman. Nothing escapes
her eye. She manages the affairs of the
White House q do not mean State affairs)
with ability. and will see to it that her, ''oltl
man. does not return to Springfield penni.
less. III foreign countries her turn to poll
tics would not subject her to adverse criti.
cism. but the American people are so unused
to such things, that it is not easy for them
to like it. MIS-. Douglas was a good deal Of
politician, though she never injured her
husbands position, but rather improved it,
by her social alliances. Miss Lane never
alluded to politics, and Mrs. Pierce knew
nothing about them. She was probably the
most simple-hearted woman that ever pre-.
sided at the Presidents table. The word
"simple" is not used in depreciative sense.
She was pure-minded, unselish, christian
woman. and knew pothing at all of the
world.-C0r. Sprinofeld (JEass. Pen
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

PHILosoPHY OF A SNEEzE. The nose re-
ceives three sets Of nerves-the nerves Of
smell, Of feeling, and Of motion. The form
er communicate to the brain the odorous
properties of substances with which they
may come in contact, in diftused or concen-
trated state; the second communicate the
impressions of touch; the third move the
muscles Of the nose; but the power of those
muscles is very limited. When q sneeze oc-
ours, all these faculties are excited to high
degree A grain Of snuff excites the olfac-
tory nerves which despatch to the brain the
intelligence that '"snuff has attacked the nos-
trils." The brain instantly sends mandate
through the motor nerves to the muscles,
saying least it out!' and the, result is un
mistakable. So offensive is the enemy be-
seiging the nostril held to be, that the nose
is not left to its, eyn defense. It were too
feeble to accomplish this, An allied army OF
muscle joins in the rescue; nearly one-hall
the body arouses against the intruder; from
the muscle Of the lips to those of the abdo.
men, oil unite in the effort THE expulsion
Of the grain Of snuff. n
Mr. CRIrrgNDEN -" Glory be to God,'
shouted an excitable gentleman to John J.
Crittenden this morning, "Gen. Mcclellan is
sending 10000 men from Washington to
Cincinnati for Kentucky We're safe now,
".Sats,' exclaimed the veteran Senator.
doesn't it blister your tongue to tell it .
Safe! by Ohio and Indiana troops, while
Kentuckians allow themselves to be protect.
ed by others. IT'S . shame to old Kentucky
sir. Frankfort Cor. Gia Gos.