smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

We copy the following paragraphs from
a correspondents letter to the Columbia
Guardian


FLINT HILL, Sept. %, 1861.


We are once more back at our old home
as we call it, near Fairfax. And really il
appears to me like home, after our trip tc
the vicinity of old Abe's dominions, brist
ling with cannon from every frowning ram
part and hill.


We designed when we left our camps tc
be gone only four days, but eight had trans
pired before our cosy tents were in view a.
gain. Why we were so long delayed I'm
not informed. The duty assigned US was
to support the pickets and scouts until re.
lieved in turn by Col. Jenkins regiment
This is the best equipped regiment from
South Carolina in the Army of the Poto.
mac. They are armed with Enfield rifles
and Minnie muskets, and know we'll how to
use them with effect upon the enemy.


1t would seem, too, from joke cracked
at their expense by some of the civilians
around Falls Church, that the gastronomic
energies of the regiment are in direct ratio
with its fighting qualities. They assert
that if the Confederate generals wish to
take Arlington Heights, they have only to
inform Jenkins regiment that there is a
field of roastiug-ears on their summit, or
just beyond, and somebody will be hurt up
there in little while.


For two days, in sight of the same point,
after our regular ratious had given out, we
subsisted on roasting ears and potatoes.
Our men seemed ravenous; cob of corn
was at their mouths the last thing at night,
and the first thing in the morning. The
devastation that an army can make in such
crop is perfectly awful, but no man Of
proper feeling in the regiment foraged on
any but the plantations Of those who had
deserted to the enemy.
Year: 1861

TIE FIFTH D1sTRICT.-Thc fifth Fire Dis
trict comprises that part of this city north Of
The river and between Clark street and the
North Branch, came in for far more than It's
usual share Of attention from Our Fire Depart
Incnt on Saturday and Sunday, siuce within
that time there were no less thau four alarms
sounded for that district, two Of them false
Year: 1861

FouR Regiments, in addition to those now
organizing, are needed They must be had
speedily. I hope, for the good nau.e Of the
State. they will be furnished without q resort
to any other mode than that her elofore 60 sue.
cessfully adopted.


The foregoing extract from Governor Kirk
Year: 1861

elapsed he repaired thither in person. and
entered the tent just as the officer had fin
ished writing his wife's name on the back
of letter he had written to her. He tOld
the Emperor that he had unconsciously y vi
olated the law for one moment, and it was
done in the enthusiasm of affection, with
which he had been overcome by thoughts
of home. 'Unseal that letter. said the
Emperor and write as dictate The Of
fcer Obeyed and wrote az follows: 'P. S.
i die tomorrow morning at s o'clock
for violating the laws of the camp, by not
extinguishing the light in my tent at the
precise time | was commanded to do it


That decision may have seemed savage
and barbarous, but when your intellect
shall have matured to the comprehension
of how much depends upon subOrdinatiOn
and rigid adherence to the laws of tho
camp, you will see that Napoleon could
only be just to the thousands of lives un-
der his care by assuming the appearance of
cruelty to this one delinquent


Obedience is not servility-it is duty.
1t is, therefore, not cowardly, but honor
able. The camp is no place for the soft
of the drawing room, and soldiers
aEe prOverbially blunt; therefore do not
imagine if an officer speaks sharply to you
that he wants to insult you or broWbeat
you"
Year: 1861

Let US profit by the advice of an enemy.


The Mobile Tribune publishes letter
written by gentleman of Alabama to his
son young volunteer, which contains
some advice. We quote:


I'm the first place, then, my son. when
a soldier shoulders his rifle under the flag
of his country, he must surrender to that
country his wills, his whims tastes, fam
cies and prejudicies; and the first, highest
and most solemn duty he owes to that
country is the most implicit and prompt
obedience to the orders of his superior OH
GERS. Disobedience, even in matters OF
minor gravity, frequently forfeits life If
an order issued that must be the end OF
inquiry. The success of a battle or cam
paign may depend upon the concealment
Of the purposes of the command; and it
may become necessary to punish with death
an omission to observe that which may
seem to be very unimpottant order to the
soldier who does not understand it


Napoleon once issued an order that the
lights of the camp must be extinguished at
8 o'clock, and on seeing light burning in
the tent of an officer after that hour had
Year: 1861

August Il, lOO1.


Editors Cl,Onicle:-You will see, by
turning to your map, that We have been
gradually working southwark, although we
have made very poor time. We have only
marched from s to II miles per day, since
we left Bulltown, and have remained at
every camp but two, for several days. We
are now in the finest valley that l have
seen since we came into the State. The
country around has more the appearance
of rolling prairie, such as have seen in
Northern Illinois, than Of valley between
two very high ridges Indeed, it is sufi-
GENTLY rolling. to hide the distant noun
tains which separate the waters of the eau
ley from the Elk. At our camp on the
Big Birch, we were surrounded by very
high, precipitous mountains. with large
rocks projecting from their SUBMITS. Af-
ter passing over one of these mountains,
(Powell's Mountain We came into the
valley of the Gauley, our present position,
and after a short distance, entirely lost
sight of the mountains, over whose rocky
summit we had, only few days before,
pursued our slow and weary way. The
contrast between this camp, and the one at
Big Birch, is striking Here we are at

once reminded of Ohio, our dear native
State, the one which has more attractions
for us than any other, while at the latter
camp we were constantly reminded of some
lonely country, described only by the nov
elist, and inhabited alone by robbers and
outlaws. And yet upon this mountain re-
gion, nature was lavish with her charms.
The scenery is grand beyond description
Peak after peak rises one above another,
until the tired eye grows dim in endeaVOr-
ing to trace the outlines of the distant
mountains, and seeks the beautiful valley,
where it can restore its lost vision. From
the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty
of the scenery is lost sight of in Its mag
ni6eence. This mountain is the highest in
Western Virginia, and commands the fin
est view The first time assembled this
mountain, was on horseback. When near
the top, we struck into bride path, and
urging our horses into gallop, we were
soon at the brink of the projecting rocks.
At once lovely panorama was opened to
eur view. The sides of the mountain, as
well as the distant valley, seemed covered
with a carpet of green, for both were dense
ly wooded, and in the distance the boughs
seemed hugging the ground We could
look far up into the smaller valleys, and
from them trace the ravines, in which the
small rivulets made their rocky descent
from the side of the mountain When we
were tired Of gazing at this beautiful spot
in natures varied scenery, pwe again urge
Year: 1861

The Journal of Commerce, Daily News.
Day Book, Freeman's Journal, and Brook
lyn Eagle have been formally presented by
the Grand Jury of the U. S. Circuit Court
of the Southern District of New York. for
treason. They are charged with the fre-
quent practice Of encouraging the rebels
now in arms against the Federal Govern
ment by ex pressing sympathy with them,
the duty of acceding to their demands. and
dissatisfaction with the employment Of
ftrce to overcome them. The Grand Ju-
rors unanimously say:


"The conduct of these dislOyal presses
is of course condemned and abhorred by
all loyal men: but the Grand Jury will bO
glad to learn from the court that it is al
so subject to indictmeGt and eondign fNR-
ishment" --
Year: 1861

y


AmericG.


FhereaS, A joint committee of both
Houses of Congress has waited upon the
President of the United States, and re-
quested him to recommend a day of public
humiliation, prayer, and fasting to be OBJ
served by the people of the United States
with religious solemnities, and the offering
of fervent supplicatiOns to Almighty God
for the safety and welfare Of these States;
His blessings on their arms, and a speedy
restoration of peace;


An2 Whereas 1t is fit and becoming in
all people at all times to acknowledge and
revere the supreme government of God, to
bow in humble submission to His chas-
tisements, to confess and dePlOre their sins
and transsressions in the full conviction
that the fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom, and to pray with all fervency
and contritiOn for the pardon of their past
offenses, and for blessing upon their
present and prospective action.


. ARd Whereas, When our beloved cOun-
try, once, by the blessing of God, united,
prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with
faction and civil war, it is peculiarly tit
for us to recognize the hand of God in this
visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance
of our own faults and crimes as nation
and as individuals, TO humble ourselves be-
fore Him, and to pray for His mercy
to pray that we may be spared further
punishment, though justly deserved; that
cur arms may be blessed and made etfectu-
al for the re establishment of law, order
and peace throughout our country, and
that the inestimable boon of civil and re-
ligious liberty earned under His guidance
and blessing, by the labors and suferings
of our fathers, may be restored in all its
original excellence Therefore, 1. ABRA-
HAM LINCOLN, President of the United
States, do appoint the last Thursday in
September next, as a day of Humiliation,
Prayer and Fasting for all the people of
the Nation and L do earnestly recommend
to all the people, and especially to all min
listers and teachers of religion of all de-
nominations and to all heads of families
to observe and keep that day according to
their several creeds and modes of worship
in all humility, and with all religious So
lemnity, to the end that the united prayer
of the Nation may ascend to the Throne of
Grace, and bring down plentiful blessings
upon our own country.
In testimony whereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the great seal of
the United States to be affixed this 18th
day of August A. d. 1861, and of the in
dependence of the United States of Ameri-
ca the eighty-sixth.


By the President,


ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD,


Secretary of State.
Year: 1861

"The world is rife with noble thought
That trembles on the tongue;
The world is full of melody


Unwntten and unsung.
The music of march is sweet,


But action is sublime,
And you may live a nobler verse,


Than can be told in rhymei
Let Tyres and lutes, with tinkling breath,
To love sick girls belong;
The rhythm of well spent life


Is sweeter far than song.
I'm weary of the waste of words
Our world were not so dead
If half our bards would cease to write,
And live their verse instead %
Year: 1861

Or erazed with care, or crossed in hopeless


love, @
would not have been missed one morn con
the accustomed hill, " if he had understood
the true philosophy of recreation. Meth
er would his digestive organs have been in
good working order:
and melancholy marked him for her own"


G.icGqo Tribune.
Year: 1861

In a letter to the Memphis appeal, from this
Senator, we find reiterated the same groundess
slander, of which he delivered himself lhe other
day in the Senate, viz; that Republicans in
Congress resist certain pretended measures of
compromise, because they desire a dissolution
of the Union. Having fastened that charge
upon himself by notorious completely with se-
cessionists and by assuring their safety by re.
sisting the enforcement of the laws, he wishes
to drag others down to his own level. Before
this thing is through with, Judge Douglas and
his Southern allies will find out whether the
Republicans are in favor of the Union or not.
Year: 1861

The presence Of United States troops in this
capital, is vehemently objected to in certain
quarters.


The country has been supporting an army
at an average annual cost, since its increase in
1855, of seventeen millions Of dollars. This is
large sum, and is so much money thrown away,
If it is not allowable to the army for the de.
fence of the country. And what part of the
country is it more vitality necessary to defend,
than the capital ofit2


The men who dislike to see troops here, are
those who perceive that those troops may de.
feat their designs of seizing upon the city of
Washington. Here is where the shoe pinches,
and there can be no better ear.mark of trail
tor, than clamoring against the measures which
can possibly produce no evil, but which insure
the safety of the Government. If the troops
are not needed, they may, at least, as well be
here as anywhere else.


But it is said by some weak minded people,
that the presence of these troops produces ex.
ctement. 1t produces no excitement except
among those already dsaffected, and can of.
fend nobody else. Undoubtedly, it enrages the
seditious, but sediton is never repressed with.
out causing rage.


We have had about enough of this nonsense
of yielding everything to rebellion, for fear Of
the anger Of rebels. The forts at Charleston
were left without reinforcements, when they
might have been reinforced without difficulty,
under the miserable plea that to reinforce them
would excite South Carolina. And it is only
the other day that ex Senator Mallory had the
impudence to telegraph the President, that the
dispatch of the Brooklyn to the succor of Fort
Pickens, would necessitate an attack upon that
position.


There is not man in this District who is
well affected to the Government, who does not
rejoice at the presence of national military
force, who does not wish this force to be in.
creased, or who would not deprecate its with.
drawal as the signal of an ignominious capitu-
lation to the public enemy.
Year: 1861

DD We continue to have newspaper reports
from New York, fixing the time when Fort
Sumter is to be attacked. The papers in New
York live upon sensation paragraphs of that
kind. For ourselves, we have steadily believed
that the South Carolinians will attack the fort,
when they get ready and feel like it, and not
before. Precisely when that will be, remains
To be seen
Year: 1861

The sittings ofthe Conference yesterday we're
private. There is no truth in the report that
the Commissioners from any State demanded
the removal of the troops from this capital, as
the condition upon which they would confer.
No such demand was made, and no such spirit
yas manifested
Year: 1861

MARYLANp.-There was a large Union rally
at Annapolis last week.


At the meeting last week Of the precinct
delegates of St. Mary's county, delegates to a
State Convention were appointed, but they
we're instructed to withdraw, if any attempt
was made to pass an ordinance Of secession
without submitting it to the people. A leadiug
member took ground against any secession
ut all.
Year: 1861

EXPAND TIE CHEsT-Those in easy circum-
stances, or who pursue sedentary indoor en-
ployment, use their lungs hut little, breathe
but little fresh air into their chest, and thus,
independent of position, contract q wretched
small chest, and lay the foundation of loss and
health and beauty. ALI this can be perfectly
Obviated by little attention to the manner of
breathing. Recollect that the lungs are like
q bladder in their construction, and can be
stretched open to doubt their size with perfect
safety, giving noble chest and immunity from
consumption. The agent, and the only agent
we require is the air we breathe, suppoSing,
however, that no obstacle exists externally such
as tying it round with stays, or having the
shoulder lie upon it. On arising from your
bed in the morning, place yourself in an erect
position, the shoulders thrown entirely of the
chest now inhale all the air you can, so that
no more can be got in; now hold your breath,
and throw your arms off behind yeu, holding
your breath as long as possible. Repeat these
long breaths as often as you please. Done in
a cold room it is much better, because the air
is denser and will act much more powerfully
in expanding the chest. Exercising the chest
in this manner it will enlarge the cspabhity
and size of the lungs.
Year: 1861

THINGS THAT HAVE SEEM have seen q
farmer build a house so large and fine that the
sheriff turned him out of doors.


l have seen young men sell good farm.
turn merchant, break, and die in the insane
hospital


/ have seen farmer travel about so much
that there was nothing at home worth looking
after


have seen rich mans son begin where
his father left Off-wealthy and end where
his father began-penniless,


have seen a worthy farmers son idle away
years of the prime of his life in dissipation, and
end his career in the poor house.


| have seen the disobedience Of son bring
down the gray hairs Of his father in sorrow to
the grave.
Year: 1861

'Ha ha yes, settled him, and Ill settle
more before long


Hang 'em up, | say, or shoot 'em down-no
quarters to the dogs. I'd kill dying man if
| thought him traitor to the South


so would |, aud glory in it, too. Did you
hear what they did with Steele 7


'No-whst was it ?


Cut off his ears, and hung him up with his
knees bent double 10 sight of water Every
time he groaned with thirst they woald at him
to know if he would support the secessienists,
but he was pluck to the end. Too bad he
couldn't have been on our side we want such
men,


And there was Goodrich-born in the North
somewhere, Vermont, | believe, he had the
foolhardiness to declare himself a Union man
and the stubborness to stick to it. We hunted
him up one night last week, aud where do you
think we found him? Why snuggly tucked up
like child put to bed without his supper in
broad daylight The way we routed him, how
Year: 1861

In our opinion, those of our planting friends
who have not yet sold their cotton would act
wisely in disposing of it without delay, while
it commands the present remunerative prices.
Just now, every thing seems to be drifting
towards war and if war comes, and our
Southern ports are blockaded by the enemy,
it is obvious that cotton will find no pur-
chasers, except at fabulously low rates, on
speculation, until our ports are re-opened.
Cotton. in such a state of things, would no
longer command money, or continue to re-
present its present value; and, in nconsequence,
those who now hold back their crops will
suffer severely, if they are unable to await the
return of peace before they sell. We have
no idea that any blockade, or war, will he of
long continuance; but while either lasts,
there will be general scene Of financial con.
fusion and alarm, against which all prudent
men should seek to make timely provision.
Should we have no war, and should the price
of-cotton continue to improve, those who sell
now will have no serious canse for lamenta-
ton. We cannot read the future; and each
man, therefore, must act in view Of what be
believes will probably occur I
Year: 1861

TIE events of the last two weeks disclose
the fact that Mr.. buchanan has gone over to
the enemy. His recent course has driven
from his cabinet every true man of the South,
and he is now cohspiring with Northern
fanatics ard Southern traitors to destroy the
liberties of the Southern people. lie is ac-
tually waging war against us, and congress,
composed of our inveterate enemies, is sus-
tanning him in his hostile action. Under
these circumstances, let Virginia and Mary
land promptly do their duty as Southern
patriots. Let force proceed at once to
Washington and make prisoners of Mr.: Bu-
chanan and his Cabinet, not forgetting old
" Fuss and Feathers" together with the en-
tire rabble Of abolition Congressman, and
bring them to some secure position in the
interior of the South. This would at once
stop all the wheels of the hostile government,
and afford the South abundant breathing
time to prepare. for the coming struggle with
Lincoln and his myrmidons. We have no
doubt that two thousand men, with proper
precautions in regard to secrecy, could ex-
ecute such a project in two days, without
shedding single drop of blood. We would
thus have the principal leaders of Black Re-
pubIicanism in our own hands as hostages
for the good conduct of their followers, and





would etfectually put an end, for the present,
to all the mischief they are plotting against
Year: 1861

THIS seems to be fvorirc project with
the late Confederacy, commonly known as
"the United States" They evidently take
it for granted that they can enforce such a
blockade as long as they think proper, that
we can do nothing by way of retaliation, and
that the Inconvenience resulting from the
measure would speedily drive us into sub
mission. They are egregiously mistaken
upon every point. They may, to be sure,
shut up few of the larger ports, but they
have not half vessels enough so to guard the
extensive Southern coasts as to cut us off
from intercourse with the world without.
Moreover, we have comparatively little COM
merce, so that our citizens would suffer but
slightly by the stoppage of trade, while every
sea is white with the sails of Northern ships,
which, while the war-vessels of the North
were blockading our ports, would fall an
easy prey to the swarms of privateers that
we shall authorize to go forth and cruise
against the enemy. Adventures from every
nation will gladly avail themselves of the
authority of our letters of marquc and re-
prisal to enrich themselves by depredating
upon Northern commerce, and while the
North causes us to lose one dollar on the
land, we will make that dollar cost her twenty
on the high seas. We do not doubt that the
North can do us some harm, but it cannot
harm us with impunity. Neither can it con-
quer us by system of petty vexations.
Possibly, by force of arms, it may be able to
overrun considerable portion of our ter
ritOry, though We exceedingly doubt its ability
to do so; but, when it shall have done SO,
it viii be able neither to hold nor to govern
the territory thus overruu, until it shall first
have extenninated the inhabitants. :,
Year: 1861

PosT 0FIIcBs IN SOUrH CAROLINA TO BE DIS
CoNTINuED.-It is stated to be the determination
of the Postmaster General TO issue orders on the
first Of the present ninth to the postmasters
throughout the remaining States, to cease all
postal intercourse with South Carolina. and not
to make up any mail matter for the offices with
in her borders, on the ground that there are no
pOstmasters there in the service Of the United
States.


Mail matter win be sent to Georgia through
South Carolina, and if its transit is interfered
with, it will be a subject for the two States to
settle between themselves.