Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-11-18

has been held ID W ashingtoD, which was al
dressed By Mr.. Hahn, Of Louisiana, and
Mr.. Day, who has figured in w ashington,
lately.
THE FAMOUS SPoTsYLVANA Tree. The
stump Of the famous tree cut down by bullets
at Spotsylvauia Court House last May has
: beenapprop lately mounted and placed upon the
porch at the IA az Department as.lnd1sputabla
evidence Of the truth of stal en1entWhlceh mas
been generally diseredlled IL reference 60 ne
incessant storm Of lead upon the Second corps
front during the End of May. The stump
measures nearly two feet In diameter, and IS
anrpserted to the War Department by General
Miles who commanded a division OF the
Second Cops during the eventful Spot ylvania
days - Washington telegram to the y. OK
Herald.
Wesyisited the spot from whence this stump
was cut a few weeks after the battle. LIS
about mllesand a-quarter Irunl Tie y -, anG
Just inside Of the. outer line Of the Couledsrate
earthWorks The rain Of Minnie balls along
3 that part of the line STANDS unequaed, we
believe, ii times history. I!le Confederate
lime was, unWisely, it IS said, run cut. at that
point. TO take. advantage OF a small ridge,
whilst better line lay a few hundred yards
farther back andSWitbin Itwas OWING to this
peculiar line. which Gen. ed johnson s force
occupied. that the q. S. troops were enabled
to cut them off and eapture 50 many. ne u
s.. soldiers were then driven back, after q fierce
" contested fight, outside OF the. Confederate
lines. aud twas In their effort to reakei the
line that TIE storm Ct lead was poured outln
such fury
TIE Coniederates lay behind their. earth
works and were thus saved from what would
sotherwise have proved ann}hliaFlon, and OILY
showed themselves, We jagged from appear,
ances when charges were made by the Federal
soldiers, which must have Teen repuIsed with
terrible saughtet.
The tree itseit-a Part Of which Is On exit
bition In W ashington-Was just inside OF the
Confederate lines It was in full foliage, With
large branches The earth works were some
four feel high The effect Of the Minnie balls
was TO be seen from two feet above to two feet
below the point which ultimately gave way
when held bY not over two inches OF solid
wood ! When it fell, two Of be Copfederates
were badly wounded one OF whom We believe
died.
There we're dozen trees In The same locali
ty.that had been cut of solely by leaden bul
lets, but the one referred to was the largest.
We saw it m easured : a little over % inches in
diameter, and 67inchos IN circumfel ence.
This was cut down by ieaden bullets. The
work of shells was OF a different order, and
there can be no mistake Of the fact. Indeed 1t
was at point where cannon could not scarcely
have been used owine to the dense growth Of
small pines Immediately in front, and which
were still Standing when we made our visit
few weeks after the battle
Mr. Sanford, of the G. H., cut the stumr
down, and removed tito his house. The other,
or upper part of the tree, which was just as
much Of curiosity, was then still lying inside
Of the lines, with huge branches attached, tel
ling in mute language, by its Scared and per
torated limbs Of the awful storm through which
it passed on that eyentful day. Fred. Herald.
MEMORY "A lady in Boston, now nearly
seventy years of age, can repeat all the Psalms
of David, and Solomon's Proverbs, by heart
No matter at what verse one may begin, she
willtake up the cue and proceed 70 the end Of
the chapter. We. were reminded Of this siu-
GUAR fact by anotice In contemporary OF the
widow Of Nicholas Chase, an old lady of 81,
who lives at Cuttyhunk, who can repeat page
after rage Of the books which interested her II
youth, and is never better pleased than when
she can get some young person to- Listen 10
her. Boston Journal.
The Albany Argus bitterly says The body
of Preston King has not been recovered In
deed. no effort was made IN time, the zeal of
his friends heipp first directed to getting the.
Office of the dead man They rushed to the.
telegraph and the. post. office and commenced.
fishing, 70, for the. body, but for the spolls,
I