Litchfield enquirer., 1864-06-16

| TIE Loss OF THE BERKSIlIRE.-ihc steamer Berkshire, which was burned on the Hudson "Wednesday night near Hyde Park, had large quantity of hay on board, which burned lii;e finder, soon enveloping the whole boat in flames. The engireer ran the boat ashore and many passengers saved themselves by jumping iron. the bow into shallow water and wading ashore. Many passengers in the cabins and state rooms were obliged to jump from the stern into deep water. Up to Thursday night twelve bodies were rescued others are suppos- ed to have foated down stream.
 There were about 200 passengers on board, mostly from Hudson. Only 80 are known to have been saved, but it is not thought that the loss is more than 4O.- The account of the dis aster in the New York papers says the very heavy freight was slowed in the most cu pablo l manner.
 So desirous were the officers of carrying large amount of hay, that one gangway was entirely closed, and only marrow passage where one person could just squeeze through in the other. The passengers are justly loud in their complaints at being shut in in this way, and the officers and owners of this boat are deserving of the severest ccnsure for allowing such state of things for the sake of getting few dollars more for freight. The Berkshire was an entirely new boat having been placed on the river this spring. She was valued at $200,O00 and insured for S75,000. GRACE GREENWOOD, in her late lecture in Chicago, drew the following picture in the fu- ture:
 Back on these troub1ous times will our chill dren look in reverence and awe. The sons of our brave soldiers will date their patents of nobility on grander battle-felds than Agin- court or Bannockburn. Such patents of no = bility as no royal herald's office has symbols sufficiently glorious for. Many coat of arms in those days will have one sleeve hanging empty.
 We may picture to ourselves a group of mo- be young lads, some ten years hence, thus proudly accounting for their orphanage-an orphanage which the country should see to it shall not be desolate.
 Says one, "My father fell in beating back the invaders at Gettysburg" Says another "My father fell on Lookout Mountain, fighting a. bove the clouds" Says third, "My father suffered n'arty,'dons in Libby Prison" Says another, "My father went down in the Cumber land j" yet another, "My father was rocked in to the long sleep below the wave. in the iron cradle of the Monitor" And there will be hapless lads who will listen ln mournful envy saying, in their secret hearts, "Alas, we have no part nor lot in such gloryings-ou' fasnesS nth were rebels p' And here and there you'n' more unfortunate, who will steal away # rom rom his comrades and murmur. in bitterness G, '. sou' "AA, God help mel My father was ooDps'- head !" |
 A company of Ohio troops stationed in !, the thev would like to see fighting. They were accordingly seeo detached from their regiment and halted at the White House, and paid their respects to the President.
 4.s yF set.-#
 General Grant has changed his base of sup. plies from White House. No food or forage for future use is now landed there. The rail- road from White House to the army he has just destroyed, removing the track to barges His movements will be developed in a few days. .s ea e,ssz s,