The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-10

Orpheus g. Kerr, the veraciOus CORES
pOndent q the National Capitol, Of the
New York 70Gs's1sv aksycugy; gives iiHUne
Of bis latest letters, . pathetic account Of
an incident In camp life:
''I've just returned from witnessing the
most mOurnfal sight that ever made man
feel a. though he had been pesling onions
al the week and grating hoFss-Tadish on
Sunday. Il was the Hrst dying scene Ol
the "Pet Lammers," down ct Alexandra,
and ~ ono Of Fiveis chaps remarks, It was
enough 10 make the eye Of darning.nes-
die weep, and bring tears to the cheeks
Of the Greek Slave. Jim was the only
name Of the sufferer, and Il he ever had
any other. It had slipped his memory,
though hIs affectionate relatives some
times called him 'ShOVty," BY way Of en-
dearment He was out on picket guard
the night before, when the Southern Con.
federacy attempted to pass him. He chal-
lenged the intruder, and called to his com.
rades for help; but before the hitter could
arrive, the Southern COnfedeFacy drew Q
masked battery from his pocket, and fred
six heavy balls through the head Of the
unfortunate Zouave, nearly fFacturing his
skull, and breaking several panes Of glass.
The cowatdly miscreant then fed to en-
adjacent fence, closely followed by Sher.
mans Artillery.
Upon discovering that he was wounded
Mr.. Shorty examined the cap on his mus.
ket, and stood It carefully against o tree,
buttOncd his jacket to hisneck, and asked
. comrade for chew Of tobacco. Too
full Of emotion 70 speak. the comrade
handed . gentlemanly plug to the dying
man, who cut about half an ounce from
Il, placed It thOughtfully In his mouth,
and then stuffed his handkerchief carefully
in the hole in his forehead made by the
balls.
SIS any Of my brains hanging outf" be
asked OF another Of bis comrades.
No, Shorty, W. answered the other,
bursting into tears; "YOu never had any
to hang out"
AfteF this response, the dying paused
for . moment 70 spit In the eyes Of dog
that was smelling round his heels, and
proceeded with bis comrades in the di.
rection Of the hospital, OF The house used
for that purpose.
Az they were passing the quarters o.
the officer with whom l was spending thu
night, the expiring Zouaye stopped T.
twist the tail Of Of an old darkey's cat
which made such noise that the ofEicer'i
attention was attracted, and he called tn,
whole party into his room. at once no
ticed that the top Of Mr.. Shorty's heaC
was completely gone, and that one Of hi,
eyes was half way down the back Of hi,
neck. Upon entering the room, be tool
pipe from the mantel and commenced Il
smoke Il, giving us, ct the same time,
history Of Mines engine, and the frs
"muss" he was ever engaged In. Ate
finishing the pipe, and requesting me t
wrap him up In the American flag, he spi
on one Of my boots end then died. ap
pend q short biographical sketch:
THs LATE PRIvATR SHORTY.
Mr.. James Shorty, the gallant Zouave
who was shot last night by the Southerl
Confederacy, was born some years ago
in place am not aware OE, and gradua
ted with high honors, In the New YorI
Fire Department. He was universal,
beloved for his genial manner of takinl
the butt, and never hit . felIer bigge
than himself In the year 1851, he en-
tered the United States army as privat
ZOuave and was in Il when the late Of tn
war deprived the country Of his believes
presence. The remains will be taken t
the first fiFe that occurs.
Poor ShOrtyi knew him well, m,
boy, and shall never forget how ready b
always was to take cigar from
Yours, mournfully,
ORPHEUs G. KERR
P. S.-Sinee writing the above, hav
heard that no such occurrence took plac
at Alexandria. The alarm was occasion
ed by the fall Of . bag Of hay In one of tn
officers quarters. the noise being mista
ken for the firing Of . battery. MI
Shorty, 1t seems, docs not belong to tn
Zouavcs at all, and il still In New Yorl
o. G. X.
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