davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1862-05-08
Our Chicago Legion {51st Ill., on tue
Road to COr14th.

4 letter from the 51st Illinois regiment,
dated in camp on the road to Corinth, six
miles beyond Hamburg, April Goth, says;
Regarding our present position, can only
speak for Gen Pope's grand division Since
Te made the advance from Hnmburg to OUT
present position our division hare made two
reconnoissances one yesterday, resulting IL
tie killing Of four and taking Of nineteen reb-
els, and Q more important one to-day in larger
force We went out some siz OF seTen mlles
to q small town called Monterey, where We
learned there was camp Of some 6,WU. we
found only q small force, who took to their
heels, and while our cavalry we're pursuing
them they were opened uRon by a masked
battery, and several Of our men were
wounded a few vera killed, and
wounded on their side, aud ne captured some
sixteen or eighteen prisoners. 1t not belng
the object Of the Reconnaissance to bring On
general engagement, our forces retired with
out engaging the rebel battery. The weather
has been very unfavorable, Jet every thing is
moving nicely, and when the decisive moment
comes We shall give death blow to rebellion
SO far as the Mississippi valley is concerned.
We await with anxiety that happy moment
and trust it may speedily come Zen; PoPe.s
army has been thoroughly reorganized aud is
now composed Of three grand divisions, re-
speetively commanded By Generals Paine,
Stanley, and Hamilton. Tie 1st division, Gen
Paine, is composed as follows: 1st brigade IN
der command of Gen. Palmer, consists OF the
ed, 29th, 42d and 51st regiments, with Hough.
telling's battery; the I'd bEgade, under com
mand of Col. Morgan, is composed Of the 10th
and 10th Illinois, and the 10th and 14th Michl'
gan, Yates Shareholders and Hickox's bate.
n. 7 do not 1ecoIlect the formation Of the
other grand division. We occupy the extreme
left of the line and there will be no surprise.
with US. Yours, &c.
, 1862-05-08
The Army. Signal Corps.
rCpr. philade1phia Inquirer, 9Th.

You uay see them by day or night upon the
most commanding positions-often the ex-
treme Of the advnnce-sTi TiQging In semi cir
Gle a large white flag, with q red centre; Or if
revolution and returning with apparently no
variation, except the occasional dropping OF
the signal or haItiDg in the middle Of its
course, as if to mark the divisions between
The letters and words. No branch of the ser
vice has been more constantly or usetuly em-
r1oyed than this. Always in active service,
ard never idle in tue camp; informing by g
most rapid ard accurate system Of commn-
pication whateYtr intelligence Of Importance
comes to their knowledge; transmitting Or
ders tr dispatches to different portions Of the
division with the utmost rapialty, and that,
too, By the most simple instrumepts-a Tag
aud glass, which can be shifted from point
to point 18th tie greatest rapidity and ease
This new attachment to the army is proving
to be a most important addition to the ma
chinery Of war. Dispatches can be sent in this
way for twenty miles, and even more than
this undcr favorable circumstances. This sys-
t,m, which vas invented by Major MSers, is
charged that the signal officers on neither
side can interpret the meaning Of the other 4
tiguals.
The method Of operating, as is generally
known, is by means Of figures which can be
easily designated by the number Of move
1uNAtS VI LIN ~ 1AAtS41 kAS 1E54A1 ILL v "
for Illustration, represented BY three semi
circular motions Of the tas standing for the
lettcr 4. But 1t would Of course be a long
AID difficult process if It were necessary te
swing the flag twenty four times for the twen
ty-fourth letter Of the alphabet This Difficult
= is prevented by using only few Of the nu
1ne1a!s for the most frequently occurring let
te1s and then using them in combination fol
tic rest.
ANY one skilled in organizations and com
hinations'' can easily perceive that five nu
1nerals won1d be sufficient, combined two aut
1--WE, for all the letters Of the alphabet
tl''e: l, 2, 8, i, 5, IL, 5, IA, IS, . 8, 2
ETC., might represent the letters ., b. c, d
e, 6, b, i, j, K, etc, and the most iufrc
quent letters could require not more raas
movements, while the most commonly reeur
ring letters wou1d pre- badly be expressed b.
the smaller figures and tic fewer movement
Of the flag,
It is by some such system as this that TIL
te1egraphic signal corps arc able to be of ST
much service, which as one can easily sec
is capable Of so many variations, the dit
| ftreut combinations Of figures which be
ing capable OF standing for one lette
US we'll as another, could, if the sys
| TEN should be diyulged, be easily changed, q
| in the case Of the rebels at the commencement
t Of this war, and the signaling be entirely nu
| intelligible to any but those who we're init
| atcd. An acquaintance with the details Of th
present system is, Of course, guarded by IL
most carelul restrictions, where the rcsponsi
bi)ity which is laid upon the signal corps is s.
, 1862-05-08
Politics In St. LouIs--B. GratZ Brown
T8, Frank Efairs

Correspondence New York Tribune
Local politics arc assuming an interesting
shape. The chief contest will be upon mem
bers Of the Legislature and members OF Con
grete, and the fseue will be emancipation With
repatriation, and emancipation without expa-
friaffon. The Sccessioni5ts remain quiet, and
rhe old sham Democracy viii egg on the differ
ent factions Of the mancipatfonists 10 hopes
of slipping semi-9ecessionist into the seat
now held By Frank Blair. The late demon
strstion by Bfsir in favor Of coloniz at1on, 81
condition precedent to emancipation, has lost
him the entire German vote, while his course
against Fremont has done him great injucy
With smother class. The grand contest #llt
be to commit the Republicans OF St. Louis to
the Bla1r doctrine or its opposite. fhe ad-
yeTse part is gradually combining IN favor of
B. Gratz Brown, the old-line free-sol1 Benton
Democzat,IEho wrote Blair into political tame
while editor Of the DemocTat 8 Few years ago.
ME. Brown hss written strong emancipation
letter, IN which he scouts the idea OF colouiza-
tion with force and ability. This letter has
made him the representative nlau against
Blair and against the Blair doctrine: The
Germans support Brown, and their influence
in tie Republican party may give him the
nomination for Congress. It is currently III.
mored that new paper Will be started herr
next month TO advocate Mr.. Blair cause, In
asmuch as bis old organ, the Democrat. Is no i
| arTayed against him,
, 1862-05-08
Gen. RuckHer at Fort WaFFen-H0w
he Behaves Himself.

LIZ DUSluu 1OSt slSo ol LIE 1uuoEEA EA-
change Of Buckncr for Gen. Prentiss that
It is believed that such an exchange will not
he made. Both Buckner and Tilghman should,
it is suggested, be retained for the present.
Matters that have transpircd during their con-
tinement at the fort justify their retention.
Both Of these Generals, 1t is well known, were
put for time, into close confinement. This
restriction has not been applied Of late, On
staff to the fort on Tuesday last, as the story
goes, Buckner and Tilghman were taking
their morning walk upon the ramparts. Buck
ner was so much absorbed, as is supposed, in
contemplation of fpsstwickedness aud the prob
ability of future punishment, that he
did not notice the preparation made
close BY him to fire the accustomed
| salute. As the Governor stepped upon
| the wharf cannon upon the ramparts
| oelched q loud welcome, regardless OF the
| rebel, who Was passing in front Of it. Buck
ner became conscious as the gun was about to
be fred, snd giving sudden leap, escaped
| wind from tho gun was such as to precipitate
| him heels over head down the ambanklnent,
greatly to his discontinue, and damaging 8
| both his dignity ard garments. Buckner IS
fond Of whisky, and consumes liberal quanti-
tics Of purchased, of course, from his Own
funds, of which he appears to be we'll supplied.
lie loves his pipe equally we'll. Though 1,at-
urally Of a jolly temperament, bis spirits have
not been SO cheerful Of late as when he first
arrived at the fort. The rapidly sinking con
dtion Of the rebel cause may hare something
10 do with this. The treachery Of his associ-
ates, Pillow and Floyd at Fort Donclson, By
also hare something to do with his depressed
| S!a nf fneiinpa
, 1862-05-08


No portion Of our foreign INN Migrant popu-
1ation arc moro respected, so far 81 they are
selt-respectiDg, than the Germans. Their
marked devotion to the country Of their adop-
tion in this time Of trial, is suited to concili-
ate the kindest feeling. It will be their own
fault alone if they do not share to the full the
blessings Of institutions which cost us some
Thing to found and defend. 1t is little that is
askcd in return; nothing that We do not ex-
act Of our own citizens. OF that little, the
editors Of our German papers seem to with
hold sgpart, They have tahcn the habit OF
enecrjng at law and public authorities With a
rudeness that we do not care to resent, but
which is quite unbecomipg, either as matter
once, found it necessary to a1l0de to this and
like de.inqRencies OF the Ha1ts Zeitung; the
Democrat, {Rep.) is even more offensive. In
its article Of Saturday on concert saloons, il
tH]ks Of Superintendent Kennedy directing
his fnyTUsidons to enforce the law" OF the
"care1ess aud illogical composition Of the
Law, later the .Jdrorae superficial american
naanners," so that "an incarnate Natiyist, a
P1ous Puritan, or . superzua1ou5 Police Sa-
perintendent can find hook to connect it
With Persecution against the harmless Ger
an concert.ga11ens," ETC., and much more
OF ibis teort Of slang.
We would commend the writer's for the Ger,
man press, the courteous appeal OF one o.
public men, On 4 recent occasion:
III opposition should arise from part Of the
population born snd bred under smother political
SKY. who Fou1d plant In our soil their c1otie deas
ot national morality and popular rights. let oQl
ieG1Siasaon te ne an appest 10 tbei7 Noaess3
10 enjoy our privileges without 1nEao1ng on'
hearted welcome to our poiitiral honseaold nJ
disturbing the order and peace Of the family"
, 1862-05-08
A Solid Argument for the BOSTON
P1nn OF HeVenue.
FIRM fhe Neq1 Yntf Tifaea

It Is rnmored that the Senate will decline to
substitute anY other measure for the tax bill
passed in the House, pleading the want Of
time for the discussion Of the scheme adyoca-
ted 5y TIE Boston Board Of Trade and the New
frivolous. The bill passed by the House Is a
monstrosity, deformed by these, among va
Eety Of other defects:
l. It creates 8 machinery Of collection, cost
ing twenty per cent Of the revenue collected.
Q. It esta6lishes system Of domiclliary vis-
1tation and Inquisition, to which no free pee-
PIE can submit.
s. 1t taxes In the most offensive way hun
dred articles, where the taxation Of ten would
be equally productive
4. It makes no attempt to apportion the
taxation according to the dictates Of the Con
stitution, and may, therefore, be successfully
S. The burden Of taxation viii fall heavily
upoa some portions Of the Union;while Others
vii be practically exempt.
6. The revenue, in the opinion of those
more conversant With such topics than any
member of the Senate OF House, will fail
greatly below the estimate.
Z. The taxes are levied unequallT and fn-
t4uitably, so that no portion Of the public Is
satisfied with the bill
8. It has been framed in entire disregard OF
the experience Of other nations, who have
brought the knowledge Of Z thousand years to
bear on the matter.
/ The time required to mike 4 measure thus
| radically Ticio1s at al commensurate TO the
| public wants and well. l.bcing, might well appal
the Senate, and lead It to adopt some less OBJ
| jectionab]e scheme. The plan Of the Boston
Board Of Trade, OF, more correctly, Of Mr..
Haight, the Intelligent Representative of the
Westchester District Of this State, is such q
scheme. It PROPOSES by a tax of one per cent.
on all sales, to be collected By the sale Of
| samp5 at the Government Post-Offces and
| other public Offices, to raise a revenue exceed,
ing that promised by the House Committee o
t Ways and Means. This plan has these palpa
ble advantages:
!. It requires no new and expensive ma
! chlncTy Of collection.
2 It ayoidt all interference with the sancti
ties ofhome and the liberty Of the person.
5. It is confined to 4 single subject, and fall:
| with 1mperceptible weight upon the commu
4. It consequently challenges no coustutlon
al discussion as to its legality.
s. It is step il advance OF the revenue leg
fslation Of all other nations Of the world.
6. It's advantages are so evident that tn
same discussion required to tinker one sec
lion Of the House tax bill will place the entir
merits Of the measure in the broadest light
| T. And once enacted as 11w, it could tax
effect as soon rs stamps could be engraved an
printed; whereas, to establish the compllcate
machinery OF Of the House bill, year Woul
be required.
Let US hear no more about the want Of time
# the present bill be insisted upon, it will
because the army Of Office holders 1t creates
wanted for political purposes, and it Will b
had, whatever damage the interests OF the put
lie may suffer.
, 1862-05-08

u If law-abiding citizen stops q
drunken ruf6an in the act Of abusing lis
family and smashing his nejghbor's
windows, would it be right to make the
good man pay the cost Of prosecution, and
repair the damaged windows? Such. in
principle, is the question now before the
people Of this country. Doughfaces and
traitors say we should make loyal men pay
the expenses Of the war, rather than con-
fiscate the property of rebels.
, 1862-05-08
SURVERTIKG THE FEDERAL CON-
STITUTTUN.

In the proposed Constitution of Illinois,
the idea Of State SoreTeignty is distinctly
proclaimed. This would reduce the Re
public to the level Of a league at will Of in
dependent soTereignties. Now the whole
history Of the formation Of the Federal Con
slitution, is proof Of the universally ad-
mittcd failure Of Confederacy of States,
and the rescue of the nation from anarchy,
dishonor, insecurity Of property, prostra-
ton Of commerce and all the industrial in
tc1csts. The nation was saved from the
danger both Of foreign Intervention and Of
conflict between the States, by the estab-
lishment Of a Supreme Government, recog-
nizing the sovereignty Of tile whole people.
This Southern rebellion grew out Of the
mischieYous doctrine loYe-tailcd into the
proposed fundamental law Of Illinois.
, 1862-05-08

First We treated the rebels as our
dear Southern friends they repellcd
us with insults and blows; next, as our er-
ring brethrcn-and they struck tie harder ;
then, as aliens-and they repcnted not; at
last, as criminals they are seized with
terror and despair. Their remaining hope
is infatuation their courage mere frenzy.
We hare finally learned our lesson. We
know who VIC are dealing with. Men
whose trade is oppression, never respect
the right but they do respect pot7cr
, 1862-05-08


Capital is shrewd, has an eye we'll to the |
TindHard; merits all that Joseph Bagstock |
used to say Of himself, "tough and -
sly" Capital looks cut well for itself, OF
aims to do SO, though nations fall and
crowns tremble Patriotic it is, to be sure,
after its own fashion, but if it has q weak
ness, that weakness is caution. The Boursc
feels blow that shakes the empire, and
forcshadows it atar off Stocks 70 up and
consols fcctuatc according rs tue Eng
Ish Government is at peace or
threatened with war. Capital every
where is an excellent barometer, and
Tie stock boards register the rise and fall
Of public confidence in the Government.
4 few months ago the 3-10ths Treasury
notes were ]anguid at 95 and 96, with
other Government securities equally de-
pressed. Men were Us patriotic IS they are
now but faith in the restoration Of the
Union was at q low ebb, and the financial
barometer registered it exactly: Since
.hen Douclson, Newbernc, P1ttsburg, New
Orleans, Macon, Pulaski,--and up have
gone the stocks. The ordeal is past, and
confidence restored, and in lieu Of Ian
gushing market for Federal securities, men
are eager to invest in them, and straight.
way the scale rises to 103 for 3-10th Trea
sury notes, and other stocks in proportion
Nor is this all The railroads feel it at the
brokers' boards, and rejoice accordingly
Just in proportion to the progress made BY
the Federal armies, in the treatment
and cure Of the disease Of infatuated
Dixie, all descriptions Of stocks anj
boIds are enhanced apacc. There i:
Then 4 National significance al
this tine in the marked improvement il
the money market, and all loyal citizen:
may thank God and take courage at thu
tokens. 1t means tha: sagacious, cool. cx
perienced men, who keep the run of mat
tc1s and thing, have gained new confidence
They SEC that the rebellion is bein,
crushed at home, that sympathy /
stayed abroad, that 8 few more gicte
r1cs, and the rest Of the work
s1bjugating traitors will become mel
local ptlice duty, TO be finished up (
leisure, while all throughout the rescue
South, Unionisu, will lake new roots, an
civilization turn fresh page. ALI til
may be read in the money market, con
pairing it no~ with what it was in the dar
days when the rebellion was yet new an
the nation taken nnawares by full grow
treason.
, 1862-05-08
cAsrnovN But NOT CURED,

1t would be hand to find anywhere more
deyout worshippers Of wealth and power
than those Americans who boast Of their
country and its grandeur in one breath,
and apologize for it's fruits to the 9illns-
trious" stranger Ia the next. From long
Indulgence, this vice tsd grown into 3
ruling passion. It was one Of the causes
, 1862-05-08
From Gen. Ba1ksss sCelumn--Appear-
ance Of Virginia ToWns-Wh1te + eu-
pie Rcticent--The Negroes Commit.
nfcatSTn.

From Gen. HA1k8s8 Column ".Appear.
anee Of virginia ToWns-WhtteF ee-
pie Rcticent--The Negroes Comn,u.
ntcatiVe.
The correspondent Of the New York E.ening
1bst Of Monday, writing from Harrisonburg,
Another step forward has been taken. On
Friday, in . mixed storm Of rain and
snow, the third brigade left its camp
at Rewmazket, and came dn to Harzis
onhurg, the county seat Of Rockingham
Co. a part Of General Eanks's force had al
ready come Oh to support reconnaissance of
the cavalry towards Staunton, SO that the
streets, instead OF being still and deserted,
were noisy with soldiers, aud the Inhabitants
lad quite recovered from their first fear. It
is curious to notice The change IN the appear
apce ofa town after our troops hare been there
few days.
At our first entrance, few white faces can
be seen. Negroes, old men and children Seem
| to form the whole population. The town
t Is quiet, as Il wholly deserted In daay OF
tant6 venture cautiously out, find that the
stories cf nerthern ba7oar1ty are untrue, and
| coon tie town assumes 4 better aspect than it
| has seen before since the rebellion, Last week
noissance towards Staunton. They proceeded
| as far as the river without meeting with any
| resistance or scring any OF the enemy's troops
but when they came to where the bridge had
| been,they found only its charrcd remains, and
as the river was swollen from recent rains, it
| was decided to advance no further.
It Is very hard to find out from the inhabit"
| ants, even those who want to give informa-
tion. what Jachson's forces arr. or Whist his
| intentions are. The secessionists are sullcu
and Silent, the Cnionists afraid, and those
Tho want to conci1iate us. too ignorant to
tell much about anything. Not one in twenty
EIows anything, even about the roads tive
miles from his own house, the subject on
which they ought to be best informed
Contrabands are our great resource. They
can always be relied on as truthful, aud vii
llngly gire any information they hare, while
their shrcWduees and careful observation often
find out matters Of great Importance, From
thcm+ and some refugees lately come in, jack
sous force Is estimated at seven thousand
infantry, twenty-four to thirty pieces of can
nsn, and al OF Ashby's cavalry. ono Thousand
posted on the other side oi the south fork oi
the Shenandoah, eighteen miles from Harri
eoDbprg, and somewhere near there there is 3
prospect, though not a strong one, OF battle
jackson has received some reinforcements,
and more are said to be on the wsy, The 10th
Virginia regiment, raised in Rockingham
county, and numbering about dye huaaree
men, has certainly come, and the whole
Of General Ewetls brigade, Of whict
II this comes, Jackson will have ten thousane
men, with artillery and cavalry, with which
+ in GOOD position, he can make hard fight
But he certainly will not fight where he i
now. bis army lies in plain on the othe
side Of the south fork OF the Shenandoah, will
I no elevated positions for his artillery, and tn
whole posltion commanded By hills On thi
flows.
, I
, 1862-05-08

"H the President could unulakc about |
fifty OF the Generals whom congressman and !
elsona1 solicitation forced upon him, he |
would have room to do justice to such men
aE Col Which without sub]ccting the State
to the sarcasn Of the Iribuns." s."-Isdiangpoz
Journal.
One of the longest strings Of Brigadiers Of
late was nominated upon the selection Of
Indiana Congressman, and the Jou77aal
devoted 8 special article 10 their praise. The
honors were worthily enough bestowed, for
all that We know, aud Col. Which is quite
Us deserving Of the higher rank as any that
have attained it. Bat all cannot be served,
ard the quotation ne have made from the
.ourna{ shows that to whatever extent the
long link Of B,igadiers may be carried, there
will still be some, equally or more worthy,
who have been overlooked in the distribution.
B As Major Eastman, I'd Wisconsin cas-
airy, in company with other officers Of the
army, was turning the corner of one Of the
streets of st. Louis, few days since, his
horse stumbled aud fell on the pavement,
breaking the MAJORS left arm aud otherwise
injuring him.
LAUNDERING Prospects In Minnesota.
The st. Anthony Neaos says'the amount of
logs cut above the Falls the past winter will
probably reach thirty-iye millions of feet. of
| which twenty millions were cut On Rum river
| and the balance On the Upper Mississippi
| Eight millions, it is estimated, will be sent
| over the Falls, leaving twenty-se7en millions
10 be manufactured here The amount Of
| legs cut is about ono million less than
last ycsr, yet the amount that will be manu-.
factused here, Will bo larger BY several mil.
| lions than any previous season.
c------C o.,
$500 ,.~. ~ -
n1ss--.1,N 49, =.
~ , e4o, w. 4neo so., ~ =. ~ 01r ~ "
'14s ue ~ o'D -, ~ 0oA0 D ~
ol..oo w.. s4 "' w
til the Legislatures 9th two States shall hare
made suitable provisions for receiving and
dispesinr Of them. al applications for sur,
yeys afterwards must be addressed directly tc
the Commissioner Of the Gcueral Land Qffloe
at Washington. The Office is closed now sim
| ply because It's present and prospective
amount Of business docs not Justify its 1onse
| continuance. The only SURVEYS not vet com
pIeted for the district it emb1aces, arc thos
for the swamp region Of Southeast missouri.
c1--.--:---:---.-.. -
, business Of iu:t,uctinr s.contrabaads'' in III
military art. Arms and eou;Dments are VI
: doubtcd]y On the way to Port Royal for thi
purpose, The Government is doubtless COL
| yIuccd ,lat, while the enemy Ii employin
5 Thousands Of slaves to continue the rebellion
t | It were worse than folly to neglect to make Us
I -