davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
A Humming Birds Nest.



Through the kindness of Mr.. II. j. Long,
formerly citizen of our county, now OF
Clay county, we are in possession of a
humming birds nest with two eggs.
Although the ruby-throated humming
bird rears its young in this latitude. its
home during the fall and winter is in the
tropics. where it has tor its associates
about three hundred other species of its
congenors, besides the gorgeous sun birds,
birds of paradise and many others Of
glorious plumage. When the flowers be-
gin to bloom in spring 1t migrates to our
mild climate and rears Its young. The
pest is a curious, artistic and beautiful
structure, just such tiny little coy place
as the tender little young require. 1t is
usually built ON the upper side of a limb,
TO which il is securely cemented and
hound by strong halr-like tilaments. 1t is
about two inches in diameter each way,
covered upon the outside with gray Ii
chens to simulate the color of the Dough
the inner lining Is the soft brown woody
hairs from the fronds of ferns, and so
beautifully felted together that it is as uni
form as if done by machinery. This soft
fluffy material will retain a great deal of
warmth and is at the same time water
proof. The eggs are pure white, elliptical
in shape, about half an inch long by a
quarter of an inch through the transverse
diameter. The nest is so much like a
knot or eXcrescence upon limb that any
one would not think of its being a birds
nest unless he should chance to see the
builder in the vicinity.
The cumming bird is very pugnaciOus,
and attacks everything that comes about
its nest, from wasp to hawk. We have
seen it furiOusly attack a butterfly that
seemed to be intruding upon its chosen
flower. Sometimes the butterfly would
return the attack and drive the humming
bird away. Like other things, they vary
in size, the ruby-throated being one of the
largest species, while in the tropics some
species are scarcely larger than our
honey bee, and only weigh about twenty
grains. There is day flying moth here,
SeSiG thysbe, which pOises above flowers
like the humming bird, to extract the
nectar with its long proboscis, and from
its size and habits is called the humming
bird moth,
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
GEoRGIA,s GREATEsT SEAPORT.
The Forest City-Artiilery Punch and
How it Int0xi cates.


Special COrTesDondence Of the Baltimore
A01ericdR.
SAVANNAH, May 9.-Everyone has read
or heard OF the loneliness of Savannah. l
was, therefore, prepared for a modern
Eden, river, apple tree, snake and all
save only the original proprietors in dec0l-
lete fg-leaf costume. There is as much
sand in the middle of the streets, but the
sidewalks are paved, and fiqed cause
ways at the end of each block extend
across from curb to curb. There ought
to be big money in mortar factory here.
All that would be needed is lime. Nature
has kindly and conveniently provided I'M
limited quantities of sand and water.
Every street is fringed with rows of closely
planted trees. Some of the wide streets,
like Broadway and Eutaw Place, have
four rows. The public squares, too. of
which Savannah has ten TO Baltimore Is
one. are well shaded. Altogether It looks
somewhat like a town in the woods, and
hence, the appropriate name, "Forest
City.D
The old brick residences erected in the
early part of the present century are
quaint buildings. They have no cellars
or cellar Kitchens, and the whole OF the
first floor (Which is on a level with the
street is frequently taken up by the cult
nary and domestic departments. A flight
of high stone steps leads up TO the second
floor, on which are the parlOrs and dining
room. Accordingly we find here the coal
lin, cook stove and pantry, where you
have your upright, Persian rugs, Meis-
sOnier ard open CRATE. Every one who
comes to savannah will remember IL for
one thing, at least-ils two systems Of
time. They have STANDARD" or railroad
time and city time. Tho hotels and rail-
roads are run on the former, but everything
else regulates rs movements by city time,
Yhich is 80 minutes faster than the
other. This wide difference gives rise TO
many amusing mistakes by strangers.
When ''standardv tune was adopted In
the United States, Savannah gave it n
trial. All the watches and clocks were
set back half an hour, but the people soon
got tired OF IL, and the City Council To-
dOrsotl the old system. The hands OF the
City Hall clock were pushed ahead thirty
six minutes. and the citizens all did the
same with their private time.pieceB. Sa-
vannah may, therefore, be said 10 be a
fast city.
There is probably more enthusiasm
here 20 the square inch over military or
ganizstions than anywhere else In Amerl-
ca. IL IS difficult % find a citizen who IL
not q member Of some company Of inian-
try. artillery or cavalry. This week pub.
lie interest Is conferred in the Savannah
Cadets. who are contestants In the Inter-
State prize drill at Mobile. Last week the
cavalry and artillery had their turn. The
cavalry, a company Of fine troopers, had
an Interstate tournament, and the Chat
ham Artillery held lie ninoty.niuth an.
nual picnic. The reputation Of the Chat
hams has q double basis They possess
two brass lo-poundors. O present from
George Washington. Several attempts
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13

mite is so rapid that it impacts
the earth surrounding it so as to force a
cavity sufficiently large to hold the pow
der which is TO do the work of blasting.
Then three kegs of powder We're poured
into the cavity thus formed, and fired.
when enough earth was thrown down 10
Keep the working squad busy for three
days in removing it. The cut will be 200
yards long and % feet deep through hard
red clay, making it too slow work tor the
picks. When it blew up the earth shook
for fifty yards around, and shower of
dirt fell among the crowd, hut the report
could scarcely have been heard to town.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
GEORGIA AND FLORIDA.
THE NEWS OF THE TWO STATES
TOLD IN PARAGRAPHS.

Three Hundred Lashes for Laurens
County NegrO-Death After 102 Well
spent Years in Bibb COunty-NarrOw
Escape from Drowning in a Tub of
oil.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
Pretty Finger Nails.

Trim them; polish them; scrape them;
and fix them all you please; yet they
never will be truly beautiful unless the
circulation of the blood is healthy, and
the blood itself In perfect order. Look at
the finger nails of the debilitated person
who suffers from lack of nervous energy
They look waxy and lIfeless. Secure rich
blood and perfect circulation by using
Browns Iron Bitters. Mr.. VIM. Welsh,
Lexington, Mich, says; 81 was reduced
almost to a skeleton. l used Browns
Iron Bitters and now weigh 10 pounds"
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13

hard the days work, :he darkey would
stop at the lot gate, pat his feet and hands
and rattle off:
Niger on a woOdple
Couldn't count seven,
Frew I'm IN fedder bed,
Il fought e gone to heaven"
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
BROOKHAvEN, MISS, THURSDAY APRIL 30. 1855.

from the south side Of the James River. On
the IAN Of June 1864. thirty-seven days
after il had entered the Wilderness, the army
Of the Potomac began crossing to the south
side of the James. Grant telegraphed to
President Lincoln: 'Our forces will com
mence crossing the James to-day. The
enemy show no signs of yet having brought
troops to the south side of Richmond.
will have Petersburg secured, If possible, be
fore they get there in much force" To
which Lincoln answered back Immediately;
II tegln to see it. You will succeed. God
U.s. you ALL"
Then the General began the same strategy
that had been successful at Vicksburg. A
scare ran through the paper warriors
Of Washington and the country. Ii
Grant went south of the James, what
could hinder that Lee should run in and
capture Washngtonl As usual, that scare
did not matter to the imperturbahe man at
the head of the army. He meant to keep Lod
busy where he was 1t was not Richmond,
either, at which he was aiming. 1t was Lees
army. He meant to make the investment oil
Richmond the siege Of an army rather THAI
of town.
One curious fact, however, that comes out
in the retrospect is that the north side OF
Richmond was never really invested by the
Federal forces. From that side the bold Con
lederate cavalry continually made dashes,
and swept the valley and beat back the
Union troops" Thence Early threatened
Washington Grant, on the other hand, was
obliged to keep his whole line of communica
-ioE open behind him while he was slowly
and painfully extending his lines to tie south.
ward This was the task before him.
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
ElNE FORKS

Was the beginning Ct the end. 1t YVES
fought April /, 1865, and was one of the
most brilliant and bloody engagements of
the war In this fght Sheridan displayed
his characteristic qualities He was as mad
With battle-rage rs the ged Of war himself.
In the midst of the fight one OF his divisions
wavered and broke momentarily Tneir
coior-bearer was shot and killed, and their
flag fal fallen. Sheridan snatched it up in
his own hands, and plunged into the fight
at the head Of the faltering men. After that
dc few about like inearnste thunder and
lightning. He ragedand shook his fist and his
sword by turns at them; he drove men who
had been wounded back into the front rank.
He capped the climax Of his rage by then
aud there relieving Gen Warren Of his cum-
mand upon the field Of hattie. But he re-
stored order, and gained the day.
bsck AZ Dabney's - w-mill, Grant, wrapped
in his blue ovspeOat. waited for news Of the
fight Day wore On into darkness, and the
hours advanced towards midnight. Sudden
ly the general heard the siseeTs II the camp
through the darkness. 70 and the two or
three staff oflieE - with S.s-l know what the
cheers meant. 81. sszz;z~' camp rode up ami
legan 70 tell of ISs 10y. Another fol-
lowed him, Colonel HorSss Porter, riding
lard, with foamins hoFSe. IL was wild with
excitement. Carried ESay oompie. sly, he
even clapped the c0nmandeT-in-chief upon
the hack n he told the good news.
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
THE SILENT SOLDER.

He was as calm as Washington. Without
his doing much during that winter, without
his saying more than was necessary, the peo-
pie began at last to feel confidence in him.
In November, 1851 the General visited New
York city for the first time since he had
Travelled thither by stage coach, i'll the days
when he was a student at West Point he
went now to see his children who were at
school in New jersey. Through all his career
Grant has been passionately attached - his
children. 1t could not help being roiSed
about that the General of tha armies nf the
United States was present wherever he trav'
eled. To those who as>ed him Of tho war he
said simply that the end was not far of. The
valley OF the Shenandoah was Darren waste.
lu ths nature Of things, Lees army must
soon be starved out THE COnfcderacy was
hollow shell which Sherman was about t.
penetrate Old men aud boys were pressed
into the Confederate ranks. The cradle and
the grave had been robbed to repair the
losses i'll the Wilderness AMI in the western
| campaigns"
The tide Of popularity had SO turned in his
tayor thai bis journey to New Jersey ami
back was one triumph, as if victory had
already been won. Enormous crowds gath
cred and cheered him wherever he appeared.
4
ton in independence Hall, he was taken by q
private exit to a carriage Eut the friendly
mob pressed around him and broke tie car
riare windows open to have the privilege of
,ecing Grant From one mouth to another
the country over rang the words;
AT last we have found the man able to
end the war"
Like President Liacoln months before,
they too at length "bPpau to see it,
On his way back to camp Grant stopped at
Washington He was preparing to throw off
all side weights for the final struggle To
this end be called at the war oftce and recon-
mended the mastering out of service of So or
namental generals Thny were mostly brig
adieis, but some major generals were among
the lot. To let them down easy, he recon-
trended that numbers of them be permitted
| to resign: The president reminded him that
some OF these were his own personal friends.
Grant knew that, but he only replied:
IL ain satisfied the good of the service will
be advanced by their withdrawal"
The winter wore away. Sherman marched
to the sea, annihilating, as he went, like the
spirit of destruction. Crops, roads, arsenals
and factories disappeared in his track as if
visited by tornado The Confederacy was
able to draw no more supplies from that
1uarter Fort Fisher had been captured a.
well, and Thomas ha destroyed Hood ;
army The fabric Jefferson Davis had built
IN paper was trembling upon its foundations
Meantime Grant had been silently creeping
like a mole with his earthworks, towards ill.,,
Southside railroad. At last the commander
saw that his time was ripe. At the end OF
March, 1865, be dispatched to Sheridan 81
wish 10
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
"sTANp FAST. STAND SURE"

STAND FAST, STAND SURE"
When Grant assumed command Of the
splendid army of the Potomac, Gen Ogiesby
askrd him:
Chow do you like the locks Of itF'
This is q very fine army answered
Grant, "and am told these men have fought
with great courage and bravery. | think,
however, that the army Of the Potomac has
never fought its battles through"
That was the secret of its success when its
last general took hold. Others had more
dash and originality, but none had the iron
hang-oE of Grant. With him there was no
halt and ~ looking backward He said once
that it had never for a single moment oc-
CURED 10 him that he would not capture
Richmond Wherever he set his foot down,
he set it to stay. As Lincoln expressed it, in
quaint words go like Grants own, he simply
''kept pegging away" There is something
we'll nigh terrible in the persistence with
which he followed up the final cam
paign before Richmond He rained blow
after blow for one year without giving the
enemy time TO take breath. The prospect was
gloomy heyond descriptions; the north was at
times disheartened Civilians and warriors
Oh paper clamored for a change of generals;
the silent lan stood unmoved as a granite
pillar through it all with bis face toward
Richmond Once EaPly's forces threatened
Washington. The hair of the inhabitants of
that city of boarding houses and office
holders stood on end with alright Grant,
down before Petersburg. was telegraphed for
in hot haste to come with troops and defend
the capital Lincoln himself added his per
sonal request to the message. Grant calmly
Telegram phcd back: 81 think it would have q
bad effect for nc to leave here, and did not
bulge peg. Grants personal motto, it may
be remarked, is that of the Scottish clan
Grant: Stand fast, stand firm, stand sure.
So he stood that last year OF the war, IN
the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, Mt Cold
Harbor, at Petersburg, and finally at Apo
mattox. The army of the Potomac at last
fought its battles through"
Grant never asked advice. He obtained
all the information possible from all sources,
and listened without opening his mouth eX-
cept to ask questions. Then he went silently
and made out his orders. He made up his
mind, never was flurried ard never lost bis
head.
After the battles of Chattanooga, once at
Nashville he sat in his tent in silence putting
his cigar. Gems. Meigs and w. F. Smith
were with him Smith was pacing the floor,
wrapped III thought,
What are you thinking about, BaldyF'
said Gen. Mcigs.
Smith was 50 absorbed that he did not hear
the question.
"Baldy is studying strategy" said Mcigs
to Grant, with laugh,
The chief took his cigar from his lips and
said, quite seriously:
Il don't believe in strategy In the popular
understanding of the term. Iuse it to get up
Just as close 10 the enemy as practicable with
as little loss as possible"
"And what thenF' asked Meigs.
"Thent Then up, guards, and at 'em" re-
piled Grant, with a toach of unusual spirit
for him.
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
MEETING OF GRANT AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN
IN PETERSBURG,

Grant COVE or Tters not TO follow Lee. out t1 inter
rept him, 10 head him OF. As might have been ex
pectCd the fiery, Eetdlong Sheridan was the one 10
accompli n this Les had ~ niles the start IL 1.
pn, sble he might vet have escaped except that his
rations gave out. and he forced TO halt. The
national forces approached him. and Grant sant hinl
the summons to surrender April l. There was some
Varleying about terms, and Grant sent again THIS
note, eloquent in its simplicity:
II have authority to treat on the suhject'of
peac.. The terms on which peace cal be had
are well understood. By the south laying down
their arms they will hasten that most desira "e
event. save thousands OF human lives ami hundreds
OF millions OF property not yet destroyed l."
He tn n set out for Sheridan front On the 9Th a
hag OF truce from Lee halted him to offer surran
der all his forces. 'n accordance with oer con
Iained in your letter OF yesterday"
sheridan. however, hal not yet heard OF " To
him fell the ho Of sentng the last shot fred by
the army of the Potomac. He hai ht ard rumcrs OF
the surrender. but feared II only strstagem Of
the enemy. He paced upa down In htte farm
yard like a tiger in uncomfortable excl eHient.
The only actual appearance OF the famous apple
tree in history in the fact that Lee NOT Or mt
lat under such tree when he received Grants note
in reply to his offer to surrender The note was
conveyed b. Col Babeock OF Grants staff and
merely rrquests Lee to appoint Place for the
meeting OF the tw1 generals. Lee Immediately rode
forwarl 10 the village OF Appomettox AMI selscted
the house of "a farmer nam d Mclean. II was In
this house.. and under the apple tree, that The
forIna. surrender took place.
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
GRANT AND SHERMAN,

Yet the fall of Atlanta was only part OF
the grand plan G ant himself had ma!e
Sherman ended the task GrGnt had laid cut
IN tue west. War is teITiblc enough at it.
best, yet in looking back over our great con
test the perfect ana abiding fri, ndship OF
! Grant and Sherman gilds one part of tile
retrospect With perfect light Both had
| enemies not few On their own side Of the
line: 10th had been abused and slandered
without end, i'll that ;,miable way American
| journalists have Of treating their great men
Able writers had even gone to the extent of
reporting that one of our greatest generals
| wCs an inebriate, the other a lunatic. At
this it is rrnored that Sherman laughed and
remarked:
Grant stood by me when was crazy, and
I'll stand by him when he's DUNK"
From the beginning Of the war to the end
| they worked into each others hands Be
tween the two large souls there was not q
thought of Jealousy or envy. When Grant
was appointed commander-n-chief Sherman
heard the news i'll sober silence at first, in
/ Grants presence Then he said to his fast
friend:
Il cannot congratulate you. The responsi
bIlity is too great"
In January, 1865, after the triumphant
march to the sea, ONCE more a strong feeling
III favor of Sherman arose. Again therJ
were those who said he ought to nave beer.
the lead Sherman heard IF it and wrote tu
| Grant:
.. have been told that congress meditates q
| bill to make lieutenant gencralcy for
me. have written to john Sherman to stop
it. 1t would he misch.evous for there are
enough raScals who would try to SOW differ
ences between us, whereas you and | are now
| in perfect understanding lwouId rather have
you in command than anybody else, for you
purpose that should animate all. should
emphatically decline any commission calcu-
! lated to bring us into rivalry.
doubt if men in congress fully realize that
| you and are honest in our professions Of
want of ambition
Probably il would be rather herd for ''men
in congress" to realize how public officer of
any kind could be wanting in;ambilion
Grant wrote back: Il have received your
very kind letter. = II you should be
placed III my position, and put subordinate,
| it would not change our relations IN the least
| would make the same exertions to support
| YOU that you have ever done to support me-
and would do all in my power TO make our
| cause WIN"
And once mois the faithful Sherman re-
plies: Il am fully aware Of your friendly
feeling towards me, and you may always de.
| pend upon me as your steadtaSt supporter
Your wish is law and gospel to me- and such
is the feeling that pervades my army"
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
PETERSBURG.

81 will have Petersburg secured II pos,
sihle," Grant had telegraphed Lincoln. He
indeed got his army south of the Potomac
before move was made to defend the town.
June 18th the Federal forces stormed Peters
burg The outer works we're taken. But
some of Grants subordinates hesitated, de-
layed, and the day was lost. Lee seized upon
the town, and as usual threw up the earth
intrenchments and filled them with his best
troops, and presented "a powerful fortress III
face Of the foe" The opportunity vas lost.
The assault was continued some time with
tremendous losses. But on the 18th Grant
said: ''All has been done that could be doul
Now we will rest the men and use the spad
for their protection TIL a new vein can lie
struck
So once more the army Of the Potomac
went to fighting with the spade" Grant
was obliged to extend his lines still farther tC
the south. Tie new vein" the General
struck as to get possession of the Weldon
railroad Lees supplies came 10y way of
this and Of the Southside roads. Those roads
taken. then the Confederate army would t'e
surely starved out.
For the possession Of these Grant struggled
noie than threesQuarters Of year. Had he
not said: II shall take no backward steps"
He got possession of the Weldon road first
What thenf Once more the eternal earth,
works to the south Cold weather came,
and the soldiers built log huts and went into
them, with Grants headquarters still at City
Point. Winter wore away i'll seemingly
stupid inactivity before Richmond. The
nation grew weary The only gleam OF hope
it had had for more than hat a year bad
been the fall of Atlanta, Sept. ,, 1864 Then
tine people clamored, "SheInan is The only
victorious general, the man to lead OuI
armies Give us Sherman"
The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-04-30
NEARING THE END.

On the north side threefold line OF fortifi
cations defended Richmond. That was the
side which Grant never bcaieg,d A curious
fact about these fortificat.ons is that they
were built by slave labor. In tine first part
of the war every owner in the vicinity bad
been forced 10 furnish a quota OF third TO o
sixth Of all his slaves for tine work.
In the autumn Grant had re-en.orcel his
army again draft of 50OODO men had
been ordered The middle of September he
wrote: .....
I'VE ought to have the'whola number OF
men called fer by the president in the 81 rtest
possible time. Prompt action in f.!;:.s up
our armies viii have more effect upoI the
enemy than a victory. . = Tae enforce
nlent of the draft and the prompl filling up
of our armies will save the snesialnhg Of blood
tc an immense extent"
He hesitated at nothing which would fur
ther the end in view-tne stamping out oi
the rebellion. Men must be had, draft or nc
draft