davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
Gumption.


If there is any one quality which is abb
solutily necessary tosuccess and happiness,
that quality is gumption and,of all un-
fortunate and to be pitied, are those who
lack this inestimable blessing. Not that
there is anything very. bad about such
people Indeed, they are generally we'll
meaning, but they haven't any gump-
ton" That is all one can say about it,
No other expression, no elaborate descrip-
tion even, can convey to the mind the pre-
else condition of the class referred to.
1t would be hard matter, in facts to de-
fine gumption, yet every one knows just
what is lacking in those who do not pos
sess it, yet every one is aware Of the de-
ficency except the individuals them
selves. 49,
If we might venture into the domain
of mental science, we would say that
gumption is a faculty of the mind some
what akin to original suggestion, sort of
instinct; sixth sense, it may be, inclin-
ing now to tact, now to common sense ac-
coiding as it is more or less symetrically
developed
The unfortunate individuals who lack
gumption seem to fall chiefly in due ap-
probation Of the eternal fitness Of things.
They have no proper sense of where
things belong, no idea of the awkward
and the ridiculous. They do the right
things often enough, but always at the
wrong time. They seem have genius
for getting things by the wrong handle
They will bring you the sheep-shears to
cut piece of florence silk, or pair of
embroidery scissors to cut hemp rope.
Invite them to call, and they will be sure
to come in the morning--most likely on
washing day. If they have an engage
ment, they will be prompt enough, unless
the business is pressing, in which case it
is as morally certain that they WILDE late
as that the sun will rise tomorrow morn
ing.
But we may as well be patient, and call
it an infrmity of poor human nature. 1t
seems to be the province of some people
to get things bottom side up, wrong side
to, and inside out They are like lathe
out of order When the power is APP
piled, no one short of a genuine prophet
can tell whether it will turn out butter
bowl or a broom handle OF one thing,
however, you may restassured. IL there
is chance to get out of place, they
will find it; if it is possible to make an
awkward blonder, they will demonstrateit,
and if thing can be misunderstood, or
misinterpreted, they are just the ones to
do it. ,+ II, ,.t.ll
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03

NUMBER 33l

men in the field, and of those we have in
front of Lee and Johnston at least twice
the forces opposed to them, at least S0O,-
600, the residue holding the Mississippi,
the coast of Carolina, and the communi
cations and depots in therear of our main
armies.
IF our Government will but keep these
armies up to their present strength, and
keep down, as they can (below 200), the
price of gold, the result is certain. For
the last two months we have disposed of
our foes at the rate of nearly fifty thou
sand per month. Should we continue to
move with the same degree of dispatch,
the present campaign of 1864, at its. close,
would have few foes in arms or able to re-
new the contest. MASSACHUSETTS.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03

Power OF A WoRD.-Wendell Phil
ips, in his lecture last winter before the
Parent Washington Society, told the fol
lowing story:
A mother, on the green hills of Vermont
stood at her garden-gate, holding by her
right hand a son Of sixteen years old, mad
with love of sea. Edward" said she
." they tell me that the greattemptation of
seaman's life is drink" Promise me, be-
fore you quit your mothers hand, that
you will never drink" Said she, for he
told me the story, Il gave her the prom
Use. l went the broad globe over, Cal
cutta, the MEDITERRANEAN, San Francisco,
the Cape of Good Hope--and during for
ty years, whenever l saw glass filled
with the sparkling liquor my mothers
form by the garden-gate, ON the hillside
of Vermont, rose up before me; and to-
day at sixty, my lips. are innocent Of the
taste of liquor" 3St
Was not that sweet evidenee Of the
power of single word And yetit- was
but half; 'for," said he, yesterday there
came into my counting-room a young man
forty, and asked me, Do you know me I"
No. said I. 'I was broughtonce," said
he to my informant, ',drunk, into your
presence, on ship-board; you were pass
enger; the captain kicked me aside; you
took me into your berth, kept me there
until had slept off the intoxieation, and
then you asked me if l had mother ]
said, never that | knew of l never had
heard mothers voice. You told me Of
yours at the garden-gate; and to-day,
twenty years later | am master OF one Of
the finest packets in New York, and /
came to ask you to come and see me"
How far back that little candle throws
its beam-the mothers word on the green
hillside of Vermont! God be thanked
for the almighty power Of a single word.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03

consequent dissolution of the great
Union which democracy did SO much to-
wards the formation Of, and for the de-
struction of our nationality. Now let
these faint hearted patriots who are afraid
of the conscription, who are alarmed at
the high price of butter, and who would
as lief see Satan himself as the tax collec-
tor,-stop to ponder upon what peace,
such peace as copperheadism talks about,
means. They cannot but admit that it
means dissolution of the Union, rec
ognition Of the Southern confederacy,and
an acknowledgment that the people are
either not willing or not able to maintain
the laws and to sustain their own chosen
executive in his efforts to fulfil his con-
stitutional oath Of Office. But peace on
snch terms means more than this. 1t
means something even worse than di-
vided country, with an arbitrary dividing
line, and eternal border wars, with strug
gle after struggle for the supremacy Of
the whole until we initiate South Ameri-
q or the Kilkenny cats, or both, and
there will be nothing left to fight about.
The South want no such divided country;
their plan is not for division, but for
consolidation of the whole, with them
selves as ''the master race that was born
to govern with a subjugated people of
Northern mudsills, greasy mechanics,
small listed farmers, and moon-struck theo-
rists, as the inferior race that was "born
to serve" But a Copperhead peace means
something still more, and still. worse ; so
far as the interests of mankind generally
are concerned 1t means the destruction
of republicanism, and the establishment
upon its ruins Of slave ohgarchy which
will knowno law but its own will, which
will disfranchise every toiling white man
and establish strong government to
serve its own purposes and accomplish its
own ends. The spirit which prompted
this Southern revolt against the result of
an election fairly held, will not run any
risks of the results of any future elec-
tions, if their treason should become f.
nal success, and the great experiment of
free government which our fathers com
menced will fail in the hands of their sors,
and all though the high price of beef and
butter, the fear of the conscription and
the dread of raids and taxes. We can
never be persuaded that the coppcrhead
faction faithfully represents the genuine
democracy; but if it does so, Heaven save
the republic! Coppcrheadism is simply
an enemy in the rear who is endeavoring
to distract and ruin us while the more
open foe is doing his work at the front
The election to be held next November
will prove to the world that the represen-
tative copperheads have but very con-
temptible constituency.
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
Pottsvi1le Dem. Standard.
Position of the War.

To the Editor Of the Boston Journal:
SIR: The census of 1860, with emf
grafton and the annual increase of births,
gives usa population Of 81 100000 in the
summer of 1864.
OF this population 100000 of whites
and 100000 of slaves exist in the Reb-
el districts; and 30000,000 of free men
are to be found in the Loyal Districts
The contest is now between forces stand
ing in the ratio of to 80, with 3 ready
to aid the successful party.
In comparing more closely the relative
strength of the two districts, we find that
one half of the whites are males, one half
of the males are under 16, and one half
of the residue, from old age, youth, phys
ical infrmity or sickness, unfit for service
in the field. In this State we have new
er been able to bring more than 10 per
cent of the people into the militia, and if
we allow IL per cent for the capacity OF
the Rebel districts, it is liberal allow
ance. In the Southern districts which
are still loyal Or have been subdued, such
as Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mary
land and portions of other States, there is
white popuiation of 100000, and it is
fair presumption that four per cent of
the population, or one-third of the fight
ing men of these regions, have joined the
Rebel armies. We cannot allow more, as
the Rebel conscription has operated but
little if any on those districts.
The war has been in progress for three
years, and an allowance of 10000 year
for the excess of young men growing up
over men becoming superannuated or dy-
ing by ordinary disease, is very liberal
allowance. Further, by the best infor-
nation in our possession, the Rebels have
lost in the last three years, down to the
9th of May last, by deaths in the field,
camps and hospitals, by wounds and cap
tures-and most of this is conceded-120,- j.
900 year, or 100000 men.
During the present campaign, since May
1, Lee is understood to have lost 10000
men, and johnson, Magruder, Forrest, and
others, at least &c, 900 more.
The following table gives the result:
Rebel force at the outset IL per cent of 100000
,oO
Four per cent of 4OOOO0O whites in Southern Dis
tricts
Young men growing up in three years in excess of
9O,OO'
Whole number Of able to fight from the start OOO
Rebel losses in three years to May l. lost in field
and by sickness at 10000 oo'
Rebel losses, East and West, in the present cam
Owners of plantations artiicers drivers, refugees,
and men who will cannot fight, at least 1900
Balance in field hospitals. oo
10000
We thus have remaining the whole Rebel force,
either in the field or fit for service, and to be re-
lied upon. 90
From these wo may deduct at least five per cent,
10000 for the sick in hospitals. 1000
And have hghtiug 90
OF these there west Of the Miss at least coo
With 1900
With Forest and others 10000
At Mobile and in the Carolinas ............ 10000
| With Lee and cd raids into Maryland...... So coo
1
| 1s5000
To crush these we have at least SOC, ,0Ot
men and if we deduct for furloughs ant
i hnsnitals ten nar cent. We have 450 .0Ol
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
Cone HARBoR, VA.
june s, 1864.

FRIEND GEORGE Isuppose you think
strange | have not written to you sooner
since the opening of the campaign. las
sure you | was most anxious to do so, but
circumstances over which | had no control,
as the newspapers say, prevented me; and
now that am writing, l don't know when
l can send the letter, as the mails are ve-
ry irregular and uncertain. The army
of the Potomac has so far gone through
the most severe, as well as the most sue
cessful campaign in which it has ever
been since it was an army. We are now
only some eight miles from Richmond,
and I think you will not have this letter
many days until you hear of our being
still closer 1t would be surperfous in
me giving you history of the campaign
as you will have read full accounts in the
papers, so | will confne myself by tell
ing you little of my own adventures.
Our regiment left camp on the 4th of
May and crossed the Rapidan river. The
next day we met the "Johnnies" in the
Wilderness, and about / O'Clock, a. m,
became engaged. This wilderness is a
most abominable place to fight a battle.
You cannot see dozen of yards ahead
for the brush, which is so dense-you
have great difficulty in forcing your way
through it. Here the Rebels were post
ed behind breast works, and opened on us
as we came up. Notwithstanding all this,
we drove them a couple of miles the first
day-uutil we came to swamp, the 9TH
er side of which, the rebs were strongly
posted. Here we fought two nights and
a day without making any progress what
ever We could not use our artillery,
while the rebels played on us incessantly
with theirs. They threw regular show
ers of canister and shrapnell into our
ranks; you may imagine how heavy it
was, when | tell you that ON the morning
OF the 9th from half past A to 5, we lost
in killed and wounded, more than one
hundred men. Well, We could not stand
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03

GOD BLESS YOU, SOLDIER.

God bless you, soldier when our sky
Was heavy with impending woes,
When traitors raised the battle cry,
When fear met fear in every eye,
You rushed to meet our foes.
God bless you, soldier rl-searred and worn,
wearied with marchings, watchings, pain,
Ali battle-stained aud battle torn,
Brayely have all their tasks bcen borne;
You have not fought in vain.
God bless you, soldier when the air
Grows heavy with the battles roar,
Sheltered beneath Ills love and care,
May victory, with her garlands rare,
Adorn you evermore.
God bless you, soldier when the dove
Ofpeacs the Eagles nest will share,
With home and hearts made warm with love,
With joys below-with joys above,
God bless you here and therel
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
Army correspondence.

The following extract is from letter
written by Lieut.. John Caldwell, of the
61st Pa. Regiment, to George W. Reed,
Jr., of this place
American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03

To crush these we have at least SOC, 900
men and if we deduct for furloughs and
hospitals ten per cent, we have 1000
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12

was violated BY DESSIsoN. in the case Of
JoHS BnowN. the most atiocious criminal
that the country had produced before his
time. and by Gov KIRKwoop, Of Iowa,
in the case Of one Of Bnows's accom-.
plices
soon after these events, the control Of
the National Government passed into
Black Republican hands, and from that
hour to this, the Federal Government hss
been guilty Of increasing usurpation ofthe
Rights OF the States. Practically. oil
State Sovereignty has been obliterated.
State Constitutions, and State Laws have
been abrogated And the Federal Gov
eminent has been unceasing in the com
mission Of lawless, despotie and oppres-
sive acts
II is easy to see. from this, what caused
onr troubles and what perpetrates them.
They were originated by the bad faith Of
the States, and they are perpeiuatod by the
usurpaiions Of the Federal Government
1t is quite as easy to discern that there
IS but one path Of escape from the direful
ills which beset us. viz A return to the
principles upon which the Government
was founded. The General Government
must respect the Rights OF the States, and
the States must respect the Rights Of
each other. Had this been done, there
could have been neither Disunion. or civil
war. Until tits done there can be neither
Union nor Peace
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12

Hna Life Insurance Company Of Hartford
Connecticut is doing much to provide for the
relief Of the families oflbose who lie, leaving
them without adequate provision. Life is
uncertain-deah is cure to come and every
prudent man will provide for those who are
dependeutupon him By insuring with the
Etna, every man by a small outlay AN out
lay within the reach Of the most hu mble--ean
provide an amount Of money for his family,
which viii be theirs, ia spite of mistortuns
and The many changes and chances of 2usi
ness and Of life, Those who are in prosper
GUS circumstances to-day, may meet with re.
versesand die poor
The Htnn have in the last few days paid
over to the wife Of John Bart decd the sum of
81 000 the amount for which he had insured
bis life with them This makes the sum Of
80 600 paid IN this manner so the families of
well known citizens Of Dayton in the last
eighteen months. No other company has
done 80 much fer the people of Dayton and
we think the company are entitled TO the
tbauks Of the people aud the patronage OF al
who are insurable,
The prosperity Of the Htna, we are glad
10 state, is nov greater Than ever before. It's
business This year viii be more thnn double
that of any preceding year--honestly aud
sincerely we say to every man and woman, in
sure your life, and the Rtnh deserves yonr
first consideration
Received Of II Rugr, special Agent of
Rtna Life Insurance Company, Hartford Con-
neehcut, Two lhousaDd collars, IN full payment
Of Policy No 929 on the life Of my late hus.
band, John r Bart, the amonnt being paid
before The said policy was due by the rAgua.
ton Of the Company EMELGNE BART
Dayton Ohio July i2l664 I'm
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12
The EEunnr.d Dar Frauh.

When John Brough and the Governors
from the West, gathered at Washington to
meddle in the war, and to bargai with the
President for 100000 men to serv e one hun
dred DAYS, so as TO take Richmond at once,
just as they would hold a convention 10 ped
die olhcss, they oommiued a great crime
against he people, and an outrage on com
mon seuse. That call Of men was mere
braRRart show, and "A wanton triAi1g with hui
man lie, II they were not needed aud if
they were needed it is a criminal neglect not
to have other men in readiness to take their
places at the end Of one hundred days, now
close at hand, when the original army is re-
duced by lhousands and by thousau ds, under
the terrible Mr.. Grant-terribe TO the enemy
more terrible 10 his men Ur6dnG Union.
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12
AbOlitlODists THREATENING 40 AS.
saSsInate klncuIu.

Deacon Gray used to be a Democrat, but
fat salaries and Abolition offices quite upset
bis little mind, and he is now one OF the crazi-
est Abolitionists in the country He is now
Quartermaster in a negro regiment, and is ag-
ouzingly loyal The Deacon is afflicted with
the chronic "writin itch, and his brilliant
productions generally appear in Captain
hurlts Daily over his own signature In
Hurtt's State journal Of Tuesday there ia a
letter from the Deacon in which the following
enthusiastic paragraph occurs on the peace
q estion
like the spirit Of the Major 10 command of
the Goth ONO. When in his presence the
question was presumpluously asked, "Shall
we eventually have to compromiseY lie turn
e,i with a wuherlng look d said, Il entered
bis campaign with over 500 men to day
can mu ter 1872, and I tell you that if the
President hints ever at Compromise, there
are ! 81 assassins 10 my command ready to
march, solitary and alone, TO the White
House" We i0ish our friends al home had
this spirit--'tis the spirit Of the Federal ar.
my, who bear the burden
The idea Of one hundred and ninety 10 as
sassins marching SOLITARY aud alone TO The
White House is a Deacon Grayisr which may
be overlooked, in view Of the atroeious char
acter OF the purpose intmated ia the extract
Here is Major in the army who declares his
readiaess to dssassiRoie the President Of the
United States in certain contingencies !;
here is a Quartermaster who expresses
his approval Of the spirit of assassins
and here is loyal paper publishing the MUIR
derous proposition without mark Of disappro-
baton This is the basest ingratiiude in Cap
tain Hurtt, whom the President has mereifully
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12

The Atlantn correspondent OF the Mobile
Register relates the following
Not many months ago tn ere arrived at q
Confederate port, upon one or the most nota-
ole Of our blockade runners, a very unassum-
'ng woman-scaree such indie ed, for she was
hardly ont Of her teens--of an extremely
handsome person She had come TO Nassau
from Paris, and sailed thence for the South.
She brought with her an abundunl wardrobe,
and suficiency OF means to last her two or
three years at the present rate of living. Her
object in visiting this country was to discover
the fate Of an only brother, a Co lionel in our
service who had placed her at Geneys at
school when the war began. She bad not
heard from him during six months, became
i'nXions, and haaily set out on her long and
perilous journey Her anxiety proved too
we'll founded Her brother had been killed
at Gettysburg,~ and she found herself alone
ana stronger in her native'ia land She went
FIRST TO Augusta, then 10 Mobile here she
lost trunk containing all her gold At this
critical juncture Of affairs she met a very
handsome field oliieer--fell in love-engaged
first in Irritation, then in amour--and accom-
panied him as far as Atlanta on bis way 10
the front He fell at Chickamauga What
her lie became you oan guess. She died last
week, and was tumbled into the ground iu the
public cemetery
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12
Current News Items.

The explosion Of the ammunition barge at
City Point the other day was very destruc
tive affair The new depot building was ut.
terly destroyed tents we're blown to frag-
ments; houses demolished horses killed in
every direction, and many men, both white
and black The post Office and Adams ex.
press we're much damaged The explosion
was caused BY the dropping of she'll by q
negro who was assisting to unload the beat
Experience should have taught the authori
ties that the handling Of ammunition should
not be entrusted to negroes This is the sec.
opd or third explosion which has occurred
through their earelessness in handling shells
"a deserter" reports the capture OF Mobile
BY our forces White man very uncertain
In consequence of Indian depredations
along the route from Nebraska Territory o
Denver, Governor Sanders, of Nebraska, has
issued a proclamation With view of organi-
ring few companies of minute men The
Indians have been very troublesome of late
in that region, attacking trains, running of
stock, &c
Sherman teIegrophs that the whole Of Geor-
gia is in hisfrout And part Of Virginia, he
might have added
1t is rumored, in our morning dispatches,
tina. Gen. Beauregard has gone to Mobile
Scarcely.
The Commissioners Of Pensions have deci-
ded that the hundred day men are entitled to
the benefit Of the pension laws
The discussions now going on in Indiana
between the two candidates for Governor Of
that State--Morton and McDoneld-are too
much irausht with their own personal antece-
dents and State politics 10 be Of general iI-
terest
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-12
PlCiures OF war.

letter from Marietta says
Everything in and near Marietta gives ev-
idenee, not only OF the fearful earnestness
and stern determination Of our commander,
but also OF preparation for the capture Of At
lanta On my wuy from Chattanooga, July
"a, 70 THIS place, our train passed q hospital
train ot twelve cara, oil well filed with sick
and wounded. This morning, twenty-five
cars are standing on the track, filled to over
lowing with maneled bleeding humanity,
ready 10 be transported to the Mort hern hospi-
tails