davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
How Soon will the War End?1

This question IS asked in public and
private, a hundred times a day, and but
few Of the answers are ever based upon
any sound reasoning OF reliable faets.1Itis
in small, almost insignificant occurrences
and expressions that the true condition Of
the rebellion, and that Of the pcopleOf the
South IS most truly Indicated A Rich
mOnd paper Of recent date announces with
extreme gratiicatiOn the arrival Of one
hundred live fat hogs in the. neighboring
city of Petersburg, and styles It very
pleasant kind Of invasion. much more
agreeable than to be invaded by q hundred
lean, slab-sided Yankee prisoners coming
to produce it. Another article recom~
mends plan by which every portion Of
the.cattla and hogs slaughtered for the use
of individuals and the army may be mado
available, and significantly adds that IN
many portions Of the State the supply of
these animals is exhausted Thus, dav
after day, these little irrefutble indications
of the condition of the rebellion manifest
themselves IN a plain, unpFejudiced man
ner, and are worthy, therefore, Of general
[ CLEuCuCts LEU LuyGG NJ ALU 6Luug tAAs pAU-
gress Of the. war carefully note these GER
tain developments, and they can obtain an
idea Of how soon the war viii end, and
which will be more reliable than if based
on almost any other reasoning or hypOthe-
sis. The people of the South are 50 des-
politically ruled that their demands for peace
will be stiaed 50 long as there are bayonets
at command Of the rulers, But as the
progress of our armies narrow still more
closely the country on whieb they depend
for food, actual starvation, now threatened,
will become an eyitable fact, unless sub
mission to the rightfuI government IS ac-
corded. So long as the lines. Of the arm
les Of the rebellion covered the States Of
Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Tex
as, the weapon. of starvation was one on
which VIC could place no dependence. But
the condition Of affairs now justities the pub
lie in placing some dependence on the IN
dubitable evidences. Of a speedy dissOlu-
ton, which appear from time to time IN tho
rebel journal, and which they can not re-
prcssif they would.-Nslo T0rk TINES.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
Jenny Wade, the Heroine Of Get.
tySbuFg.

The country has already heard of
John Burns, the hero of Gettysburg
of how the old man sailed forth, a
host within himself, ''to fight on his
own hook" and how he fell wounded
after having delivered many shots
from his trusty rife into the faces and
the hearts of his country's foes. John
Burn sname is already recordedamong
the immortal, to live there while
American valor and patriotism have
an admirer and emulator. But there
was a heroine as wen as hero of
Gettysburg. The old hero Burns still
hyes-the heroine, sweet Jenny
Wade, perished in the din of that
awful fray, and she now sleeps where
the flowers once bloomed, and the
perfumed-laden air waited lovingly
over Cemetery Hill.
Before the battle, and while the
National hosts were awaiting the as
saults of the traitor foe, Jenny Wade
was busily engaged in baking bread
for the National troops. She occupied
house in range of the guns of both
armies, and the rebels had sternly
ordered her to leave the premises, but
this she as sternly refused to do.
While busily engaged in her patriotic
work a mimic ball pierced her pure
heart, and she fell a sacrifice in her
country's cause. Almost at the same
time a rebel officer of high rank fell
near where Jenny Wade had perished.
The rebels at once proceeded to pre-
pare a coffin for their fallen leader,
but about the time that was finished
the surging of the conflict changed
the position of the armies, and Jenny
Wade's body was placed in the coffin
designed for her country's enemy;
thus the heroine of Gettysburg was
buried. The incidents of the heroine
and hero of Gettysburg are beautifully
touching, noble and sublime.
Old John Burns was the only man
of Gettysburg who participated in the
struggle to save the North from
invasion, while innocent Jenny Wade
was the only sacrifice which the peo-
pie of that locality had to offer on the
shrine of their country! Let a monu-
ment be erected On the ground which
covers her, before which the pilgrims
to the holy tombs of the heroes of
Gettysburg can bow and bless the
memory Of Jenny Wade. If the peo-
pie of Gettysburg are not able alone
to raise the funds to pay for a suitable
monument for Jenny Wade, let them
send a committee to Harrisburg, and
our little boys and girls will assist in
soliciting subscriptions for the holy
purpose. Before the summer sunshine
again kisses the grave of Jenny Wade;
before the summer birds once more
carol where she sleeps in glory; before
the flowers again deck the plain made
famous by gallant deeds, let a monu-
ment raise to greet the skies in token
of virtue, daring and nObleness.-
Harrisburg Telegraph.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
The last hours of Washington.

He died as he lived, and what a beaUti-
fuI economy there was in his death Not
a faculty was impaired, not an error had
marred the moral Of his life. At sixty
six, not quite threescore and ten, he was
taken away, while his example was per-
feet He took cold, slighted thssymptoms,
saying, Let it go as it came" In the
morning of the 14th of December, 1899, he
felt severe illness called in his overseer,
Mr.. Rawlings, to bleed him. lie was ag-
itated, and Washington said to him,
"don't be afraid" When about to tie up
his arm, he said with difficulty, "more. "
After ali efforts had failed, he designated
the paper he meant for his will, then turn
ed to Tobias Lear and said, 8" find [ am
going; my breath can not continue long.
[ believed from the first it would be fatal.
Doyou arrange and record allmy military
letters and papers arrange my accounts
and settle my books, as you know more
about them than any one else, and let Mr..
Rawlings finish recording my other letters
which he has begun. u
Between five and six o'clock he said to
his physician, DR.. Graik, I feel myself
going. You had better not take any more
trouble about me, but let me 60 off quite
1y; Team not last long" Shortly after,
again he said " doctor, I die hard, but I
am not afraid to go; 1 believed from my
first attack l should not survive it my
breath can not last long" About ten
o'clock he made several attempts to speak
to Mr.. Lear, and at last said, II am just
going. Have me decently buried, and do
not let my body be put into the vault in
less than two days after l am dead" Lear
says, bowed assent. He looked at me
again and said, Do you understand me P
l replied yes, sir Tis well, said he..''
And these were his last words. just be-
fore he expired he felt his own pulse his
hand fell from his wrist, and George
Washington was no more.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
General Slgel.

A private letter has been received from
General Sigel, saying he had no official notice
of having been assigned to the command of the
Department of West Virginia, On the other
hand, the President says he issued such an
order week ago West Virginians fear it got
strangled in the knots of Halleck's red tape
Il Exchange.
We doubt whether West Virginians would
give way to their fears very much if they
knew Sigel would never be heard from more
There is a delusiOn about Sigel that ought to
be dissipated. 1t is that he is the representa-
tive military man of the Germans that if he
is not petted the Germans will be offended
There is not one German in a hundred who
cares. q glass Of lager whether Sigel lives or
dies. Gross injustice is done the patriotic
Germans by the gratuitous assumption of out
siders that their souls are occupied and pos
sessed by SigeL. Besides if all the prominent
officers who have served with Sigel with the
exception of enc or two of his political friends,
are not slanderers, he is a most unsOldierly
person, full of vanity, bristling with quarrel
someness and very disagreeable person
anyhow We doubt whether the country
would be called upon to mourn an irreparable
loss if Sigel were strangled with Halleck's red
tape. Schurz, Which and Turehin are his
superiors in every respect.-Cin. Commercial
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
Young Blood.

General Fitzpatrick and General Custar,
whose exploits are to-day the leading theme
of newspaper comment and of social remark,
are both of them men in the hey-day of youth
Fitzpatrick is twenty-eight years old, and has
been a widower fer about year. -Custar, the
youngest general in our service, is but twenty
four, years of age, and was married only
three or four weeks ago. Both OF these brave
young men are West Pointers, and were grad
uated in the same class-that of 1861.
General Averill, who made the brilliant
raid into Western Virginia, is q little the
senior of these two He is now lying in
Washington with both feet suffering severely
from frost-bite. During the dash into South
western Virginia he was at one time forty
eight hours in the saddle exposed to the fury
of bitter cold storm, and he has been dis
abled ever since. The public, which appre-
ciates such gallant service as Averill has rem
dered, will be pleased to learn that he is re-
covering, and will be- before long, once more
in the saddle
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
Changes wrought by Che War.

In "Cudjo's Cave, war novel by J.
T. TroWbridge, well-known as a contributor
to the Atlantic Monthly, We find the fol-
lowing beautiful paragraph
How many a beloved 'goOd-for-noth-
ing has gone from our streets aad firesides
to re-appear far off in vision Of glory !
The schoolfelloWs know not their com.
rade the mother knows not her own son.
The stripping whose outgoing and in
coming were 50 familiar to us-impulsive,
fun-loying, a little vain, little selfish, apt
to be cross when the supper Is not ready,
apt to come late and make you cross when
supper was ready and waiting--Who ever
guessed what nobleuess was in him His
country called and he rose up patriot.
The fatigue Of marches, the hardshiFs Of
camp and biVouac; the hard fare, the in
Justice that must be submitted to, all the
terrible trials cf the body's strength and
the souls patient tendurance--these he bore
with the superb buoyancy cf spirit which
denotes the hero. Who was it that caught
up the eolors and rushed forward with
them into the thick Of the battle, afterthe
fifth man who attempted it had been shot
/ down? Not the village loafer, who used to
90 about the streets dressed so shabbily ?
Yes, the same. He fell, covered with
wounds and glory. The rusty and seem
ingly useless instrument we saw hang so
long idle on the walls Of society, rome
dreamed to be g trumpet of sonorOus note
until the soul came and blew a blast And
what has become Of. that -glovcd,
pcrfumed, handsome cousin of yours, de-
voted to his pleasures, weary even Of those
to whom life, with al its Injuries, had
become a bore ? He fell in the trenches
Of Wagner, He had Distinguished him
self by bis daring, bis hardihood, his fiery
love of liberty. When the nations alarm
beat, his manhood stood erect; heshook him
self; all his past frivoIitios were no more
than dust to the name Of this yOUng lion.
The war has proved useful, if only in this
that it has developed the latent heroism in
our young men, aud taught US what was in
humanity, in our fellows, iu ourselves. Be
cause it has called into action all this gen
erosity and courage, if for no other cause,
let US forgive its cruelty, though the chair
of the beloved one be vacant, the bed IN
slept in, and the hand cold that penned
the letters IN that sacred draWyer, which
can not even now be opened without grief.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
The Returned Veterans.
BY PARK BENJAMIN.

I saw the soldiers come today &c
= Prom battle+feId afar; ,-ioo-
No cOnquerOr rode before their way,
On his triumphal car.
But captains, like themselves, on foot,
And banners sadly torn,
All grandly eloquent though mute,
10 En-Vride.aHd glory borne % -
Those banners, soiled with dirt and smoke,
And rent by shot and she'll,
That thr6lgR the serted Pbalanx broke
What terrors they could tell
What tales Of sudden pain and death
.. In-every eannon's boom -,-r -s.-.
When even the bravest held his breath
And waited for his DOOM
By hands of steel these fagS. we're waved
Above the carnage dire,
Almost destroyed, yet always saved,
p Md battle clouds and fire.
Though down at times, still up they rose
And kissed the breeze again,
Dread tdksnsts thg rebel foes
And true and loyal men.
And here the true and loyal still
-. Those famous banners bear:
The bpgies wind, the ffes. blow sHrin,
And clash the cymbals, where
With deeimated ranks they come,
And through the crowded streets
March to the beating Of the drum.
With firm though weary feet.
God bless the soldiers cry the folk.
81 Whose cheers Of welcome swell;
God bless the banners, black with smoke,
And torn by shot and she'll
They should be hung on sacred shrines,
Baptized with grateful tears,
And dive smbalmed in pOetry's lines,
Through all succeeding years.
No grander trophies could be brought
From patriot sire to son,
OF glorious battles nobly fought,
Brave deeds sublimelY done.
To-day, tears chased down with pride
E5 And solemn joy to see
Those remnants from the bloody tide
OF victory.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
Tie Regeneration of the South.

There has been no measure of legislation
proposed during the whole course Ofthe strug-
gle to crush the Shareholders rebellion, COM
bining more good sense with practical inhu-
ence which viii strike home at treason, than
that lately introduced in the Senate by Sena-
tor Wilson, Of Massachusetts. 1t prePoses-t to
setaside the conquered and confseated lands
of the revolted States, for the uses of the SOL
diers whose valor redeemed them from rebel
lion. The object is to erect these lands into
FARMS such as are held in the North, averag-
ing from one to three hundred acres, and then
accord them as hOmesteads to such of the
soldiers as have made title to the soil by
valOr and who will at once settle on the same
with their families. Such an organization of
Southern society, would indeed be the opening
Of path Of glory and renOwn to the Southern
States, such as the chivalry never dreamed of
heretofore. 1t would create interests in the
South which the slayeholding aristocracy
could never Withstand, and give to that pOr
tion of the Union a population of vigorous,
intelligent laborers, who would make its
already abundant and rich harvests increase
tenfold, Then only would we know how rich
the Southern States really are, and then, too,
only would we have that security from that
section, which alone can conduee to q perfect
Union
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
Circulate Loyal Newspapers.

The New York Tribune, speaking of the
Importance Of increasing the circulation of
newspapers preparatory to vigorous cam
paign for the next Presidency, says, "the
work Of preparation for the eventful canvass
Of 1864 properly commences now. Through
cut the ensuing three months the Industrial
classes have more leisure than at other sea-
sons. Now is the time to persuade every
farmer, mechanic, teamster, or day laborer,
to take at least one good newspaper, and make
himself better acquainted with the daily pro-
gress Of public affairs. Now is the time to
sow broadcast the seeds which shall ripen the
harvest for next November. Let q concerted
effort be made to place at least one good news
paper, for the ensuing year, in every house
hold IN the . nited States where it will be well
coined and read. Perhaps half of those who
do without, through mere heedlessness- only
need to have their attention called to the sub
ject. Many more will pay the trife that a
cheap weekly costs if solicited to do so by a
friend in whom he had confidence. And, if
there be any more who can't pay for such a
paper, they ought to be supplied by their more
fortunate neighbOrs and toWnsmen without
charge"
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15

Crossing the Line.

A oolored woman with two children,
one dangling from under her arm, and
the other grasped by the shoulder, clam
bered up the bank OF a Southern. river
and neared a picket who had long been
watching the little skiff which brought
them across the water. It contained two
men, a woman and her two boys.
d" I'm here at last, on freedoms shore,
bent I ?" asked the woman
eyes" said the soldier; "but I'm
afraid you'll find it a hard road to travel.
"Shan't have to 60 back, shall 1 p She
asked with a startled and affrishtcd look.
" No, replied the soldier, you Il nev-
er 60 buck to slavery"
Then no massa owns me but the Lord,
and he's good Massa, said the woman
feelingly. Ny ehillen Is his and mine.
They'll not be bought aud selled out Of
my sight, and they'll grow up to be men ;
that's what their fadcr warnt. Hc telled
timed comc-freedom's day; but the
Lord ha' mercy, 1 had no faith. The
Lord IS slow in concerning his promise.
He's sure, though. My ole man said it
would come
f" Where is your old man % asked the
picket.
Don't ak me, she said in a husky
voice, while the tears sireamed down her
checks.
The picket directed her to the captains
quarters on q neighboriug rise, andelutch.
ing anew the two wooIy heads with Their
shining, eager faces, she marched on, a
freed womsn. A few moments before she
was slave, aud her two sous were slaves,
liable to be driven about by thowill of an
other, denied Of most Of the hopes which
inspire you, children, to an humble, uset"l
and happy life.
A line was crossed she hardly knew
when or where; but to reach it the mother
had ri-ked her an. To put her children
within its pale, she had stretched every
nerve. They were there; aud the yoke of
bondage dropped from theirnecLs and they
were freed.
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
General Grant.

It has pleased Congress to decree the ap-
pointment Of Lieutenant General; and the
President, with the entire assent of both
Houses, has selected Ulysses S. Grant for the
most responsible position,
We had nothing to say, pro or con, while
this matter was in progress; Yeneither urged
the creation CT Lieutenant Generalship, nor
recommended General Grant for the position.
But, now that the work is done, we most re-
speotfully suggest that the conduct of the
War, under the President, be committed alb
solutely to the Lieutenant General, and that
we all-Congress, Cabinet, and the Press
Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives
and Radicals-take hold and strengthen his
hands for the immense responsibility devolved
upon him. Let him not be impeded nor en-
barrassed in his work either by speeches or
articles, advice or criticism, until we shall
have given him fair trial If he proves a
do-nOthing, o hang back, mistake, let us in
due time unite to get rid of him but first let
him have a fair chance to prove that he is the
man for his work. Let him not be condemned
for one miscarriage, if there shall be one,
but generously trusted and sustained until he
shall have decisively shown that he can or
can not put down the rebellion. Then let us
act as the good of the Nation shall dictate
bat, until then, let US remember in his behalf
Stonewan Jackson's message to his superior
" Send me more men and fewer orders. ~.
7 Tribune
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
A Flint for Farmers.

The following hint published farther
West is iust as applicable here Ia
There are three things easily raised
and harvested for which the farmers may
depend upon it, there viii be an eRorpiags
demand and high prices paid during the
war. Nereter 70 potatoes, beans and on
ions. The farmers could not DO better
thing fer themselves and thoir country
than to plant these vegetables very extern
y,ly. lit appears, as the Pringadyance
that the whcat crop is likely to be short,
and thatfruitwill he scarce, cnious. rota-
toes and beans must lie had to fl tEe
vacuum,
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
President LineOIn's Jokes.

We find in Frank Leslie's paper, of a re-
cent date, a number Of Mr. Lincoln's jokes.
We extract few for the entertainment of the
readers Ofthe SeRfiHel: q TrF
Nh HrscOnN,, in his happier moments, is
not always reminded of " little story" bur
often indulges-in a Eeritable joke. One Of
the latest reported is his remark when he
found himself attacked by the yarioloid. He
had been recently very much worried by peO-
pic asking favors. i.I io4.a4 lLluII4
Well, said he, when the contagious dis
ease was coming upon him, I've got some
thing nOVE that I can give to everybody"
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15

ABOUT the time when there was consider
able grunbling as to the delay in forwarding
to the troops the money due them, a Western
Paymaster in full majors attire, was one day
introduced at public reception.
Being here, Mr.. Lincoln" said he,
thought I'd call and pay my respects"
From the complaints of the soldiers, +" re-
sponded the President, guess that's about
all any Of you do pay"
The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-03-15
a-ara -ra m
PAINTS, PAINTS.

aus, Varnishes, Dyes, Putty, etc., Of lhs best
~ quality and At the lowest prices always, at
PATTQN's.
The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-04-14
miscellaneous.
A Disappointed Woman.

A few months since a gentlemsn had
the mis- fortune TO lose his wife, literary
lady of some reputation. Alter gfieving
a numbcr OF weeks bright idea entered
the head of the widowcr. He thought
that he could do something 10 lessen his
sorrow, and for that purpose he called
upon lady ofhis utqtaihianee aud re-
quested TO speak with her in pfyste.
Thinking that she wns about to rccieve a
proposal, tho lady prepared TO listen
with becoming resignation. -
Myrrah," said he with downesst eyes
ms he took her hand, "you know my
wife 2" ~ -
Certainly" pod
" II is not good for man 70 Be alone"
Perhaps not" f
"Did you ever reflect opon the part
Of the marriage service which fequifas
couples TO cleove unto cash other till
death part them.
Z" have" ,
have often reflected upofi il myself
Now death has parted me from my wife
and ! feel very lonely"
~ should think il likely"
ri think ! mnst do som ching 20 re-
store to me her kind consultations, and
the memory Of her virtue"
"He pressed the lady's hand and
sighed.
"She returned the pre-, SIRE, and also
suffered a sigh 20 escape her.
only DEAR" he said, after n long pause
."Pll come to the point at once. l have
proposal to make"
"a proposal t' She b'ushed and COW
cred her face with her hunds.
"Yess I.have concluded 20 writ, my
wiie's biography. Now have but little
skill in literary exercises, and IL you win
correct my manuscript, and write the
headirgs of the chapter, I will give you
five dollars" 0.sTli
She sprang from his side and her eyes
flashed with anger.
"I'l see you hanged first and then !
won't, yoh--you--"
She left the room, not being able 20 ea-
press he rage. The widower sighed,
took his hat and went home. He has
no yet published.