The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20

Olilcer paIIleCiCdily complaining, .Leute-
nant, shure, an I'm hit ?" s'What the
ID are you doing there then ?" responded
the Lieutenant, taking Pat by the collar
and ejecting him from the ranks. sGet
out Of that and give better man your
place.
The General Commanding displayed a
distressing faculty for keeping in hot
places. After several casualties in the
staff, and while missiles were flying about
promiscuously, one of his Aids modestly
asked him, ''Do you think it right to ex-
pose your life so, sir?" The General re-
piled by dashing into a hotter place to cor
rect an alignment and regulate battery,
which was firing rather recklessly. He
was suddenly checked by regiment drawn
across the field. The men were prone on
their bellies, and several batteries were
tiinging shot and shell all around them.
The General thought it a good opportunity
to make speech to them. Although a
fine talker. he is not finished orator.
But he jerks out sentences that are not
easily misunderstood The battlefield,
the orator, and the audience presented
singular spectacle When the General adj
dressed the men, each elevated his head
from the ground, turning his face toward
the commander. "Men," said he, "do
you want to know how to be safe? If You
do, shoot low! Fire at their shins. But
dOyou know how to be safest of all? III
tell you. Give them blizzard right at
their shnS at short range, and then let
them have the bayonet, Give them the
bayonet, say" The General thinks a
"blizzard" at short range It very good
thing
Lieut.. Willie Porter Of the Generals
Staff, a promising youth Of eighteen or
nineteen summers, amused US by his sang
.t3'0id. When he mounted in the morn
ing he filled the Generals haversack with
luncheon, and threw it over his own
shoulder. During the day shell explod-
ed in the midst OF the staff. a fragment
Of it struck between Porters side and the
haversack, bruisinS him severely and
tearing open the haversack The luncheon
tumbled to the ground. ''There," said
Porter, with droll grimace, unmindful
OF his own narrow escape, call the din
ner's gone"
The rebel cavalry having played havoc
with our trains from Nashville, subsistence
in some Of the brigades became scarce
We had captured some hundreds Of pris-
oners on Wednesday, Thursday morning
they were hungry. The captives were no
titled that they must eat corn, and it was
furnished accordingly. The rebels &C
cepted it good naturally, saying that they
were id sorry NOR that our fellers cut
up your (Union) trains Some Of our
men even were glad to get parched corn,
and some OF ROusseau'S command carved
steaks from horses slain in the battle, and
after broiling them on the Goals, etc them
approyingly.
The operations Of hospital attendants
between the hostile lines while fight was
progressing Oh either side of them, was
curious battle picture. Dozens of them
were visible conveying wounded men to
either side Of the field, and the ambulance
trains dashing up to the lines and wheeling
promptly to receive tie wounded, CON-
pleted the singular spectacle. A number
of our ambulance men were hailed by
Rebel pickets with demand "What the
ID do you want here?" "Wounded
men," "Well, pick 'em up quick and get
out of this" Our men replied, "Send
your hospital corps over here and get you,'
wounded call right; - and it was done.
Speaking of parched corn-at the con-
sultation of Generals on Wednesday night,
when corps and division commanders Wis
tied headquarters to receive instructions
for future operations, some of them advo
Gated retrograde movement, because
communications were interrupted and sup
plies short. Gentlemen, before we get
away from here, We may all be glad,'' said
the commanding General, "to get parched
corn" But further. Members of the staff
were discussing these points in the pres
ence of the General. He raised himself
sharply from a reclining position, his eyes
sparkling with animation, and remarked,
" | will say this of all my Officers-that
however advisable some Of them regarded
retreat, every one of them expressed the
greatest alacrity to carry out my purposes,
and they obeyed my orders cheerfully."
President Lincoln as a Military Man.
The following is an extract from speech
delivered Mr.. Lincoln in Congress, when
he was member from Illinois:
"By the way, Mr.. Speaker, did you
know that I am military hero? Yes,
sir, in the days of the Black Hawk war, |
fought, bled and came away. Speaking
of General Glass; career, reminds me of
my own. l was not at Stillman's defeat,
but was about as near as Cass was to
Hull's surrender; and like him, | saw the
place soon afterwards. 1t is quite certain
that did not break my sword, for l had
none to break, but bent musket pretty
badly ON one occasion If Cass broke his