Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-18

commandant, looked death in the face
more than once, and therefore felt no
shame though the tears stood in the eyes
of all there.
The commandant then retired, leaving
the lieutenant colonel and the conducting
officer alone, but neither felt any desire
tor conversation, and each, buried in his
own thoughts, maintained a profound ST.
lence, until, after the lapse of slow half
hour, they were summoned 70 the table.
On entering the large dining hall, they
found all the officers of the garrison as
sembled in gay costume; but no one
among them tailed To bend low before the
spectral figaro in faded uniform, whom the
commandment placed at his right hand.
The company seemed animated by the
best possible spirit; and although the
feelings of the prisoner were at first EVtle
in unison with the gaiety around him, i'll
the consciousness that his wife and chill
dren were we'll cared for, and, sooth to
say, the pleasures of richly spread board,
from which he had so long been banished,
soon began imperceptibly to have their
effect; SO that the poor man willingly
yielded at last to something approaching
to actual enjoyment.
The commandant took care to replenish
his glass, and, leading the conversation to
past times, related with zest, many pas
sage of arms, of which his 'dear OLD friend
present. had been participator: until at
length the poor fellow began TO feel rein
stated In his former self, and giving futur-
ity and its cares to the winds, told his tale
and cracked his joke as in days of yore, in
that circle of brave men, each more scdn-
lous than the other, TO evince respectful
cordially, and to aid an unfortunate TO
forget bis misfortunes.
After suitable time had been thus
passed, the conmandant rose and having
rogue ted his officers to form circle round
them he took the astonished lieutenant
colonel by The hand, and placing him in the
midst drew from his pocket the king
written order, and spoke as follows: "Gen
tlenlen, have claim to your respectful
aetension to our sovereign's commands,
VIII oh l am about to read; and he accord
ingly ead,-"Sir Commandment, l hereby
nominate and appoint the at present half
pay Lieutenant Colonel Kraft, who was
this day delivered to you as prisoner, to
the command of my fortress of Spandau,
(whither his wife and children shall forth
with follow him. and look to receiving
from this officer, in his new service, proofs
of the same fidelity, bravery, attention to
duty, and strict obedience, which he so
often exhibited during the late war. The
late commandant of Spandau now goes, in
reward OF his faithful services, as COM
mandant of Magdeburg, with the rank Of
Colonel. ''FREDERICK.
Astoni> hment and emotion deprived all of
utterance. The commandment alone, with
ready presence of mind, took the lieuten-
ant-colonel's sword, and himself buckling
it on, wished him joy in a few many, cor
dial words.
How looked the recent prisoner? As
one in whom the tide of life has suddenly
stagnated; slight CONFUSION shook his
frame; his hands seemed involuntarily to
be folded together, and large unbidden
tears rolled down his furrowed cheeks,
from which the generous wine he had
drunk had in some degree bani>hed the
ashy hue, until at length as ii those silent
tears had loosened the iron band which
pressed upon his heart, he looked up to
heaven, crJ ing out, "Oh, Lord God thou
art gracious far above my desert; oh,
bless the king who can so magnanimously
pardon an evil doer! Bless him, and me
also, on my Godr -
Few were the eyes in that martial
group, in which a contagious moisture
might not have been detected.
But when the commandant, returning
to his seat at the head Of the table, called
out in cheerful tone, "Resume your seats,
gentleman, and fill your glasses for well
come toast-Long live he king, hurrah -
the glasses clang cheerily, and the reiter-
ated hurrah was poured forth from heart
and tongue, by all present.
The Exploit of the s. Queen of the West,
The Value OF the achievement.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times
AT THE MOUTH OF YAzoo RIVER,
On BOARD THE q. 5. HOSPITAL SHIP ed ROVER,
February 8, via Cairo, Feb. s.
At last, after complete dearth of news
of importance since the Arkansas aud
White river expeditions we have interes
ting items to chronicle, which gives token
OF activity.
This morning at 5 o'clock, the ram
Queen Of the Vest cormsrded by Captain
with Co.. El.et Commodore
of the raCl fleet, on board, LETT this river,
and having passed down By the peninsula
in full sight of Vicksburg, rounded the
point and wss under full Roadway down
towards the city before she was discov-
cred. The rebels than opened fire Upon
her with a number of their heaviest guns,
and kept up brisk cannonade, while she
ran in towards the landing and fred shell
into and twice severely butted the rebel
steamer VicEs5urg, moored to the bank,
directly under the river batteries.
Besides the time occupied in running
down towards the city, she was fully ten
minutes detained in making her assaults
upon the steamer Notwithstanding all
this opportunity, and the close proximity
To the rebel batteries and fire from them
of 100 shot and shell. she was only hit
twelve times, and it is said not a person
was injured. She continued down the
river, and landed st the lower end of the
canal, when Capt. Sutherland landed and
crossed the peninsula back to the river
Col. Elicit continued down the river, his
destination being watched.
This movement will be followed up to-
night by an attempt by the ram Monarch,
to make the same trip. These rams will
be able to keep open the river for some
distance, with the assistance of one or two
iron clads, whose commanders are solicit
ing the same privilege, and may soon
be granted per .ission to run the block
ade.
a large body OF troops might thus be
iar = "a from II ttinats upOn the S0uih side