davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07
NUMBER a.
Closing Scenes.

The following description of the death of Col.
Baker and the closing scenes of that disastrous
day are derived bya correspondent of the New
York Worid, from Capt. Young, a partcipator
in the fight, and Il Quartermaster in Col Bakers
Brigade:
"Just then rebel officer riding white horse
came out of the woods and beckoned to us to come
forward. Col Baker thought it was Gen. John
ston. and that the enemy would meet us in open
fight Part of our column charged, Baker cheer
ing us on, when a tremendous onset was made by
the rebels. One man rode forward. presented his
revolver at Baker and fired all its charges ut him.
Our gallant leader fell. and at the same moment
all our lines were driven back by the overwhelm-
ing forces opposed to them. But Capt Beiral
with his company. fought his way back to Colonel
Bakers body, rescued it, brought it along to me,
and then Il general retreat commenced.
"lt was Saure ga penH | got the ColOnels
body to the Island before the worst of the rOut
and then, looking to the Virginia shore, l saw
such spectacle as no tongue can describe. Our
entire forces were retreating, tumbling, rolling,
leapng down the steep nights; the enemy follow
ing. numbering and taking prisoners. Col Dcvan
left his command and swan the river on horse
back. Colonel Coggswe. after much unavailing
bravery had ordered the retreat himself, but be-
ing wounded, was taken The boat in the
Virginia channel was speedily filled and sunk.
thousand men thronged the further shore
Muskes, coats and everything were thrown aside.
and all were desperately trying to escape. Hun
dreds plunged into the rapid current. and the
shricks of the drowning added to the horror of
sounds and sights. The enemy kept up their
fire from the cliff above All was terror con-
| fusion and dismMy. Captain Of the Fifteenth
Massachusetts at one moment charged gallantly
up the HILL leading two companies. who stifl had
their arms, against the pursuing foe. A moment
later and the sane officer seeing the hopelcssness
of the situation waved white handk erchicf and
surrendered the main body of his regiment
Other portions of the column surrendered: but
the rebels kept up their fire upon those who tried
to cross. and many not drowned in the river were
shot in the act OF swimming Night came on.
At o'clock. p. NJ. all of our band whose fortune
! it was to return had landed on Harrison Island
and the fire from the Virginia nights had ceased.
The rebels took all guns but one When |
left yesterday they shouted to us, telling us to
come over and take away our dead sons of b-s
under flag of truce; had also mounted our own
guns on the nights. and warned us to leave the
island in four hours. The cause OF this sad havoc
was that we had no proper means Of transit and
retreat"
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07
Footsteps on the Other Side.

Sitting in my humble doorway,
Gazing out into the night,
Listening to the stormy tumult
With kind of sad delight
Wait for the loved who comes not,
One whose step long to hear;
One who, though he fingers from me,
Still is dearest of the dear,
Soft. he comes-now heart be quiet!-
Leaping in triumphant pride.
Oh! it is a stranger footstep,
Going by on the other side.
All the night seems filled with weeping,
Winds are weeping mournlully,
And the ran-tears close together
Journey to the restless sea.
can fancy, sea, you murmur,
AS they with your waters flow,
LilG the griefs Of single being,
Making up nations woe!
Branches. bid your gusts be silent;
Hush a moment, fretful rain;
Breeze stop signing let me listen,
God grant not again in vain!
In my cheek the blood is rosy,
Like the bushes of a bride,
JOY. alas. stranger footstep
Goes by on the other side.
All. how many wait forever,
For the steps that do not come!
Wait until the plying angels
Bear them 10 peaceful home!
Many in the still Of midnigh.
In the streets have lain and died,
While the sound of human footsteps
Went bv on the other side.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

'JoE, why were you out so late last
ncht?" at wasn't so very late--only a quar-
ter to r." "IIow dare you sit there and
.ell me that lie? | was awake when you
came in. and it was 3 o'clock" Well isn't
three quarter to twelre!"
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

"Friend, the Bibla tells the to swear not
at ALL" "Ob, we'll don't swear at all; |
only swear at those | am mad at
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

A WONDERFUL FoRTIFIcATIoN.-Amo Among
the relics in which Kentucky abounds Of the
work of ages anterior to the presence of the
Anglo Saxon on the western hemisphere one
Of The most remarkable is said to exist in
Allen county, on ths Tennessee border, and
seventeen miles from Bowling green, where
a wall of solid lime stone two hundred yards
in length, forty feet high, thirty feet at the
base, and six feet wide at the top, crosses
creek formed by bend in brakes creek, and
ncIoses peninsula Of 200 acres, incIosed
by a wall and ditch, forming one of the
strongest forlresses in the world. 1t is not
improbable that the fortunes of wa may
cause this old tortfication to be occupied by
a hostile force, and made to play a promi
nent pant in this civil contest.
To,;e,;JIo Tour0oI
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

Poverty frequently imposes q spseiss Of
meanness upon man. more disgusting "a
themselves even than it Is to others,
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

WAsuINaroN's HoRsEs.-The "Recolecs.
tions Of Washington" tell us, 'the Presir
dents stables, in Philadelphia, were upder
the direction of German John; and the.
grooming Of the white chargers will rather
surprise the moderns. The night before the
horses were expected to be ridden, they
were entirely covered over with q PASTE of
which whiting was the principal component
part; then the animals were swathed in
body c.oths, and left to sleep upon clean
straw. In the morning the composition bad
become hard, was well rubbed in, and cur
red and brushed, which process gave the
coats beautiful, glossy, and sa,inke ap-
pearance. The hoofs were then blackened
and polished, the month washed, teeth pick
ed and cleaned and the leopard skin hous-
ings being properly adjusted, the white
chargers were led out for service Such
was the grooming of the ancient times"
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

BEAR HUNT AND A tIGHT.--One Mr..
Laird OF Santa Clara county, says the Mer'
curry, few days since went out on a bear
hunt few miles into the mountains east of
San Jose, when an old she bear and two full
grown cubs rushed upon him suddenly from
the bushes. Mr.. Laird ran down the hill
aud toward the camp, giving the alarm.
But the old bear was too swift for him. She
overlook him and jumped upon him. both
rolling down the hill together some distance,
when the hunters from the camp near bv,
came to the rescue. killing the bear after run.
ming her about three miles. and putting
thirty three balls into her cabesa and BODY.
Mr.. Laird escaped with few scratches, and
bruises and the loss Of some part Of bis up.
mentionablss.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

A CAREFUL CoMPosIroR.-ln Aberdeen,
Scotland, as elsewhere, the experiences of
the numerators brought to light some queer
notions in the matter of filing up the cen
sus sch dulles One old veteran, verying to-
ward hundred, who writes odd scraps of
his biography everywhe athwart his sched-
ue. alter stating when bis wife died, and
giving particulars about his housekeeper, an
nounces, with becoming independence, that
for more than twenty yeaas past lie has
been diving on interest previously saved
never had shilling from any man" 1t
will not diminish the interest of many read
ers of this statement to be told that when
we get to the point where he condescends to
be explicit in this particular, we find that
the d hero was "compositor.'
Not very many printers, we fear, in this
country reach the age Of ninety four, and
live for twenty four years on the fruits of
their own previous industry.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

CUMBERLAND GAP.-Refering to the Cum
belland Gap. the Louisville Jourhol says
Much has been said about this point, and
in future the interest in that quarter is likely
to increase 1t is situated about ten miles
from Cumberland Ford, and has been cele-
brated for century, as a great depression
in the mountain ridge, which traverses the
continent from Ne. Hampshire to Northern
Alabama. Through this gap very similar in
its appearance and characteristics to the
South Pass in the Rocky Mountains, formely
the e'ngrants from Virginia and North Car
oliua passed on their way to the virgin wiIds
of the West. For half n century, thousands
upon thousands poured through this natural
gateway into the Mississippi valley, from the
Atlantic slopes Boone, Kenton, and their
pioneer confreres first entered the land of
''cane and turkey" over this pre-. Adonite
turnpike. 1t really forms to this hour the
best and, in fact, only practicable road for
the transportation Of troops and heavy mu-
nitions Of war from East Tennessee to Ken
lucky.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07
Louisville Journal.

How TO Srop BLEEDING.-The New York
Erominer says that medical friend, whose
European experience gives value to bis tes-
timony, and whose heart has been panied at
the number of deaths which has already Ia
ken place in our army from the loss of blood
from wounds, suggests that the perchlorate
of iron, an article to be obtained from all
our large druggists will check hemorraoe
even from large vessels promptly and effect
uaIy. Four or five drops ars sufficient to
check completely the flow OF blood from
anything except the arteries, and half teas
poonful will arrest bleeding even from these.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

The way they manage postofiice at
Rome, Italy, is queer rather. comedian
recently applied fora letter at a postoffice,
and was told there was forty cents to pay
for it. II cant pay that said he, "for |
know what's in it.' swell, how much will
you pay! asked the postmaster. "Four sous
is all it is worth to me-" said the comedian.
well, take 1t them" replied the postmaster,
for I've read it, and it's only loye-letter."
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

For CouGH.-An excellent remedy for
a cough caused by common cold, is as fol-
lows:
Take half pint Of sharp vinegar, place
in it an egg without being broken, allow it
to remain forty eight hours, when it will
be found that the shell has been completely
dissolved by the acid; then break up the
egg in the vinegar, add half pint of honey,
which being we'll mixed, will be ready for
use. Take spoonful for dose several
times day. 1t is said that it has never
failed to produce relief,
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

Too much affected to speak, | drew the
coin from my pocket and handed it to him.
The dying man clutched it convulsively,
and started at it feverishly.
This" says he, "is the first quarter I've
seen since the fall of Sumter; and had
wounded you, should have been totally
unable to give you any quarter. An. how
beautiful it is! how bright, bow exquisite,
and good for four drinks. But have not
time to say all feel"
The expiring soldier then laid down his
gun, hung his cap aud overcoat on q branch
of a tree, and blew his nose
He then died.
And there stood. my hoy, on that lonely
beat, looking down upon that fallen tyre Of
manhood, and thinking how singular it was
he had forgotten to give me back nv quarter.
The sight aud the lnought S" elected me,
that was obliged to turn my back to the
corpse and walk a little way from it. When
returned to the spot, the body was gone.
Had it gone to Heaven? Perhaps so, my
boy-perhays so; but | haven't seen my
quarter since. Your own picket,
OpnEUs G. KERR.
The Placer herald., 1861-12-07
Washington Cor. ". Y. Mercury.

ABUNDANCE OF MAEBLE.--William Wig
gins of San Juan, writes TO the Monterey
Union as follows;
Although had been for years walking
beds Of it, did not recognise the article a.
marble, until '4S; in 40 | polished nun
Der of specimens aud left them for exhibition
in San Jose, some of them being of rare
beauty There is ledge about four hun
dred yards above the Guadaloupe mines
about fifteen miles southwest from San Jose.
which is of yellow color, interspersed will
streaks of red and white, and with a YER,
small streak Of pearly lustre. A few hun
dred yards farther up the stream is another
quarry of black marb!e-large slabs Of i
lying on the top of the ground, and al
The "IIarienda" of the Almeda mine is {
large bluff of very common kind being
mixture of black and white, and apparent
" of coarse texture.
In fact there is not stream. or even &
ravine of any length, from San Juan to San
Francisco, that have ever examined, that
does not abound with it; much Of it surpass
ing in beauty and variety of color, if not in
fineness of texture, any of the imported
have ever seen in our Eastern cities. Neal
Girov, an the Sou,hwes ern side Of the val
lev, is a large hill of it, some five miles in
length, and Of beautifully variega'ed co|ors
Ga The other side of the valley is a marble
that deserves special notice on account o'its
sngn|arity: Il j. apparently of fine texture
aud is composed Of h ack aud white s;reaks,
about half inch in width ali inters9niing
each other regularly at right angles. In
fact almost every variety m1y be found ex
cepl the pure white.
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
BOOK NOTICE.

Laws Of the United for the Government Of the M
q the District Of Columbia and tho United States Rule,
and Articles Of War BY J. r. Callan, compiler Of the
Military Laws, &c. Baltimore J. Murphy Co, 1851
70 pages, octave.
This is an interesting publication at this
time, as it contains not only all the existing
militia laws, the modified rules and articles of
war, the army pay list but also numerous ex'
planstory notes and decisions of our courts on
military cases, shows who are are exempt, &c.
II appears to have been carefully arranged, and
il rot up in such a form as to be within the
means of every officer or soldier.
/. For sale at all the bookstores. Price, 81
cents.
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
N E w 8 ITEM 8.

7
casks of bacon were taken off the Cincinnati
and Louisville mail steamer Superior, on Sat.
urday, May 4th, by mob Of one hundred per.
sons. The bacon was destined for Nashville,
via Louisville. Five hundred barrels of -four
went down on the same boat for Louisville.
The Mail Company have issued a card that
they will, hereafter, take no provisions of any
kind, until permitted to do so by the committee
of public safety. We understand that the
" "small.ot shipments" will be stopped Gin.
cinnat Inquirer.
Two more companies of volunteers arrived
at Portsmouth,, from Georgia, last Saturday.
The Legislature of North Carolina has anan.
imously repealed the 9th section of the 10th
chapter of the Revised Code, which requires
all officers Of that State to take an oath to sup.
port the Constitution of the United States be.
tSre entering upon their duties.
Tho War Department has informed the Gov.
ernors of the States which have ordered out
their quotas of militia, under the first proc.
lamation of the President, that it is desirable
that those who have not been marched forward
shall be mustered in for three years, under the
subsequent proclamation. Full instructions
on this subject will soon be issued.
Col. Curtis, member of Congress from Iowa.
has received authority to muster in the two reg.
iments from that State, in case the United States
officer sent for that purpose shall not have
reached the rendezvous, and he has been order
ed to make preparations for their equipment.
Major Anderson will soon be ordered to hon.
orable duty The Government contemplates
promoting him to Colonelcy.
Among the recent designations are those of
fnl nf Ma -.
Mordecai, Of North Carolina, of the ordnance
department; Major r. b. Lee, commissary of
subsistence.
Corporal Ncedham, mortally wounded at Bal
tmore, was q member Of the Universalist
Church in Lawrence, and highly esteemed as
citizen. His funeral on Saturday, conducted
by the city government of Lawrence, was at
tended by the fire department, several military
companies, and many thousands of citizens Of
Lawrence and the adjoining towns. Three vol
leys Of musketry were fired over his tomb. A
monument will be erected to his memory.
The building trade is represented as unusual
ly brisk at Cincinnati. Numbers of Southern
capitalists are settling down there, to avoid the
reign of terror in their own States.
The Nashville papers complain that gunpow
der is seventyhye cents per pound in that city,
and very little to be had at that.
The Legislature of Illinois adjourned on the
Sd inst, after aPPropriating $3,OOO,OOO for war
purposes
During the bombardment of Sumter, 2,3Ol
shot and $50 shell were fired from the South
Carolina batteries.
The last number of the Morgantown IVA
Star, published in Monongalia county, comes
to us filled with the reports of meetings held
in Northwestern Virginia, for the purpose of
protesting against the policy Of secession, and,
in the event Of its occurrence, advocating a
separation of Western from Eastern Virginia.
1t is now apparent that this movement is taking
serious proportions.
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
From tho New York Evening Post.
PROTECTION OF THE TROOPS FROM
SITNSTROKE

SUNSTROKE.
We are indebted for the following important
practical suggestions to the Hon. s. B. Rug.
ples who has a son serving in the seventh reRi.
ment:
Experience has shown, that troops serving in
warm climates greatly need protection from sun.
stroke often quite as dangerous and fatal as the
fire Of the enemy.
The judicious care and foresight of the Brit.
ish officers in the recent campaigns in India
and in the Crimea, protected their soldiers from
the danger by thick white linen cap covers,
having a cape protecting the back Of the neck,
which reflected instead of absorbing the heat
Of the sun.
The regions in and about Washington, say
from latitude 80 to 400, in which our troops
may soon take the field, have an average tenn.
pcrature quite as high as that Of Sebastopol in
latitude 45o.
An exact pattern Of the cap.cover used in
the Crimea was furnished last week, by a Brit
ish officer, to an association Of patriotic ladies
in this city, who have already completed one
thousand for the use of one Of our regiments at
Washington.
Another association of ladies has since en-.
tered on similar labor of love, to supply the
same number to another regiment.
We trust that these examples may be fol-
lowed, without delay, until all our troops shall
be protected from needless exposure and hard.
ship on the scorching plains Of the South.
There is no difficulty or delay in forwarding
these cap.covers to the regiments. A travel.
ling trunk of ordinary size will hold at least
eight hundred, and can be sent by express in
twenty-four hours.-7 Times.
1t will not lessen the historic value Of these
csp.covers, that they are now commonly known
as Havelocks," having been worn by the sol.
diers under the command of that gallant off
Ger in their heroic defence Of Lucknow, the
citadel Of constituted authority, against the
assaults of the rebel Sepoys.
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
GENERAL HosPIrAL, c STREET,

ludy Z, lool.
To the Editor of the National Republican:
DESTROYS Of paying grateful tribute where
it is due to devoted patriotism, we would wish
to find place for the following in your col.
umns.
At meeting held by the sick soldiers in the
General Hospital, 800 c street, on the evening
of Tuesday, the 7th, it was
Resolped, That we take this means of testi
flying our gratitude for the sympathy and kind.
ness manifested by Mrs. Bannerman and
other ladies in the city, and our appreciation
Of the noble motives Of pure patriotism that
prompted them, and is always found greatest
in womsn's breast; which will ever be re.
membered, and be beacon to us through
every struggle and contest our country shall
send US through.
lSigned BY the patients of the General Hos.
pital, U. 8. A.
HIGH Prices AT CHARLEsroH.-The captain
of Portland (Maine) schooner, just arrived
from Charleston, South Carolina, says that he
brought from New Orleans to Charleston forty
barrels of -four, which he sold at $l0.60 per
barrel, and that prices for other provisions in
the city last week we're as follows Indian corn,
SO cents per bushel butter, so cents per pound |;
hams, 20 cents per pound fresh beef livery
scarce,) so cents per pound and salt pork,
$50 per barrel.-N. Y. Evening Post, Nay 6.
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
Important from Missouri.

81. Louis, May 6.-Four full regiments of
volunteers have been mustered into the United
States serVlcerand !" fifth isbeing formed. The
third and fourth reg giments, and part of the
second, are encamped in the arsenal grounds.
The first is quartered at jefferson Barracks,
twelve miles below the city, and part of the
second is stationed at the Marine Hospital.
about mile below the arsenal. Several build.
ings outside the arsenal are occupied by Uni.
ted States troops, and heavy turf breastworks,
The national Republican., 1861-05-09
OFFICIAL.
DEPARTMENT ov STATE,

WASHINGTON, Nay 0, 1851.
Information has been received at this Department from
Mr. Francis Grund the late Consul Of the United States
Havre, Of the death Of the following named individuals
citizens mariners Of tho United States
Names Of deceased mariners together h DE palue Of ne per-
,onal fteet, beongsng 20 em and taken o By
Francis j. Orund, United States Consul at Haws for ~
quarters ending September SOA and December AID 1850
dnd March SID, 1861, '
The national Republican., 1861-05-09

MOVEMENT OF TRooPs AT THE SouTK-We
cut the following from the Baltimore Sun Of
yesterday, for what it is worth;
"a letter dated Lynchburg, Virginia, Sun
day last, says:
"Lyncbburg at this time is very lively, and
business extremely brisk. The town is full Of
troops. A force Of 800 Georgians, 1000 Ala,
bamians, and 600 Kentucky riaemen, left for
Harper's Ferry yesterday, and on my way here
met at Charlottesville lSO Kentuckians bound
for the same point Lynchburg alone has fur.
nish' six companies for the war, and five more
have been organized and are being drilled.
Several Mississippi companies arrived yester.
day, and are encamped on the fair grounds.
They are the finest set of men ever saw. They
bring with them their own servants and are
abundanty supplied with money to pay their
way This morning the train brought in 800
additional troops, and 1000 men are expected
this evening.
"The men from the South have all come
prepared for one years service. Large mum.
bers are constantly coming in and moving of
North. The Kentuckians are splendid.looking
men-scarcely any of them less than six feet
high. They are under the command of Col.
Blanton Duncan. At Taylors hotel, Wnches.
ter, as l passed through, there were 3,7OO
The national Republican., 1861-05-09

DIssENsION IN THE ENEMY's CAMP. We
translate the following paragraph from the
Courier des Eats Unis:
Dispatches from Washington speak of a
serious dissension at Richmond, arising from a
difference of opinion as to the plan Of opera,
tions to bs adopted the Southerners wish to
march at once upon Washington, while the
Virginians desire to act only on the defensive.
To this must be added violent Jealousy among
the military, especially between the troops OF
Carolina and those Of Virginia. If these re-
ports be true, the cause Of the South will be
gravely compromised before the first blow is
struck against it."