smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

Williamsburg is a city of Virginia, ana at
time the capital Of the State is tho capital OF
the county OF James City. is situated at about ton
miles from Yorktown sixty miles from Richmond in a
southeast direction and about sixty eight miles northwest
Of Norfolk level plain between the James and York
rivers and equal distance Of six miles from each It
is the oldest Incorporated town in the state and and
still is interesting in its historic associations 1t the
scat Of the royal previous the Revolution
and afterwards the capital Of the State until 1909.
william and Mary College, founded at this place in 1892
is tho Oldest literary institution in North America
cep,ing Harvard University, and was previous the
rebellion very ourishing condition. The library
tanned about 900 Volumes and tho students attend
ancs generally numbered from hundred TO hundred
and nfy Williamsburg is also the seat Of the Eastern
Lunatic Asylum which at one time stood deservsdly
high for its nsatnsss order and comfortable
dations. II had iu 1860, about two hundred patients


and handsome sdihce, with all the modern improve


ents in arrangement. The that time contained


three -Episcopalian Baptist and Methodist The
descriptions Of williamsburg published hundred
years ago resemble it in many respects at tho present
time. Many Of the old buildings standing; but now
those OF tho past bid fair TO be oil swept
away BY the storm OF war. To write the history Of
Williamsburg is to write the history Of early Virginia.
This place was the Of several Of the
cOntoet0 Two minor aCtlouS W0I0 IouGnt u0Tc, Out
these will be forgotten in view Of the present events Of
which il Is the theatre was nrst settled in 1882, and
the estimated population before the rebellion was about


fifteen hcndrsd. The county Of James City contains
ono hundred and sightyfour square miles, and Is
bounded on the northeast by the York river, the
south BY the James river, and on The west by the
Chickahomny river The surface Of the country il
dulatng This county s Of the eight original shss
into which Virginia divided In 1894 Tho popula-


on OF the county about four thousand Of whom
" one.half Adjoining this county is that
Of warwick which contains about nfty square miles, and
is situated on peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and
the mouth OF the James river the latter Of which washes
its western border Tho surface Of the country slight


" diversified and tho soil is aluvial Oysters and fire.


wood (oak and pne) important articles Of export


The capital is Warwick and the population at last re-
turns was fifteen hundred and fortysix, OF which nine
hundred and five slaves. For the last few months
the negroes have been busy employed in fortiying VIII


amsburg as ralyng point for the rebels the event
Of the fall Of Yorktown. 1t was expected they would
have made greater stand there than they have, and it
would now appear that they becoming demoralized.
Year: 1862




Hosts OF desertcrs in to day Gen McClollans
headquarters, which have not been moved yet. They
are mostly strsggers from the rebel rear guard who
avasd themselves of the opportunity Of coming
our side. Like desertcrs they all unsparing
In their anahsmas OF the rebel leaders, and repeat the
allegations that most OF the rebel army would
come over TO the Union side II they could. Among
the desor,srs were tho busbands-Mr Farnhot and Mr.
Davis-oi two women living here. II is in iron; OF
the formers house that our heavy siege guns we're
plante and played such havoc with the rebels Both
say they were impressed into the service. Both
own fine farms and thsrc is but little doubt OF the cor
recncss Of their story. Farnhot made his escape
several days ago He with the rebel forces on the
James rivor side, and made his way homo under dicu
ties somewhat similar 10 those experienced by our
prisoners escaping after the Bull battle He several
times narrowly escaped arrest and being shot.


TO THE ADVANCES.


Our division was called out this morning and put in
readiness to move Tho responded with aacrty to
tho long roll although the rain came down deluging
torrents continues to do still at nearly midnight as
am closing this letter The order to move was counter
mandsd and We now move At daylight. The boys are
jubilant, because they expect some lively work. and
speedy march the rebel capital This division is ready
TO do its share In tho coming work.
Year: 1862

II is evident that the enemy intend to draw army
down the valley towards Gordonsvie, far from our
base Of supplies possible, while they draw 10
their own exposing troops to the rigcr OF cam
pagn terrible than any yet experienced by the
Army of the Potomac. We should be compelled
to pursue the enemy through country thrice
exhausted by the ravages OF armed Iegons
rendering II necessary to transport our supplies
entire. 1t deemed next to impossible TO reach Rich


ond by that route aone and therefore ccers consider
it folly to concentrate all efforts in that direction


One indication OF the great confidence felt in the
rity Of Washington the exalted price Of estate tho
enormous rents and the extreme difficulty Of obtain
houses.


rumor ia current in the hotels here tonight that
General Burnsdes forces have fallen back miles
Il is q secesh story and entirely false.
Year: 1862

The First Fifteen.inch Gun USED On


Board or Any Vessel.


The new Monitor battery Passaic made trial trip yes
erday morning TO the lower bay to- test the steamng
qualities Of the vessel and tho result OF the use Oh htecn
inch guns in this class Of vessel Hafpast ten osfock
announced the hour for starting but was not
until quarter TO eleven that tho lines cast OF and
vessel turned her head down the East river under
the charge OF the sklfu pIloage Of Mr. John McGinn
As she left the dock Of Continental Iron Works, At
Grsenpont, over fifteen hundred sturdy workmen rent
the air with their heartfelt cheers


The party board consisted OF Rear Admiral Gregory
superintendent Of roncads Captain Perciva Drayton
OF the Passaic Captain John L. worden OF the honauk
Chief Engineers Robe Farron and stimers the officers OF
the Passac and Montauk, with several other naval Of
ncers Mr. R,wland the CONSTRUCTOR and Mr.. W. E. HILL
the engineer Of the works.


All the way down the East river the passing steamers
and erryboats made the cold air resound with their shr
Whistles and the pier no Ids were soon Aled with spec
taor, who watched with interest the movements OF the
strange looking vessel The passengers the erryboas
crowded to either side excamng There goes the Moni
tor" Many boats eager to much a they could
Of the vessel came up close and followed some lit
tie distance. Our navigation among many sailing craft
fraught with much danger, but by skful manage
ment pilot cleared everything but lighter deb-
erately attempte to bows, and finding that
collision inevitable the crew became terribly excited
letting go the hayards and making great dsa Of trouble
for themselves. No damage was done to her, and we
gave her steam and went on our way.


or Ellis Island the steamer " Seymour left our COM
pany, IN charge of Lieutenant Commander Miller, and
the naval magazine where she procured I'VE
barrels Of POWDER and rejoning us, was placed on
board and In the magazine.


At this time we were well down the bay, and upon
timing revolutions of the screw IL was found that
making Gy -four turns the highest number reached
the trip, giving speed OF about five knots.


Everything being and untried. the boilers foamed
and the journals heated that the engines did not come
up their proper seaming powers and OF course the
screw was not able to OF her eighty revolutions.


Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the vessel worked
admirably steering without any trouble and mnding her
helm like pilot boat.


Reaching the lower bay the engines were stopped and
the guns were loaded ready for service.


Her armament consists OF one eleven-inch Dahgren
gun and eennch gum cast At the Fort Pitt foundry
The following the dimensions Of this monster gun
the first one Of its size and class mounted on board Of
vessel -


inches
Year: 1862

The Rochester Den0cTdt Of yesterday says
The New York Central Railroad Company has again
reduced the price Of feights from this city to New
York The freight on tour has been reduced from
seventy to sixty-fve cents per barrel, and on
fourth class freight to thirtytwo and half cents
per hundred These new rates went into effect
Yesterday
Year: 1862

Bszy- The Wilmington Journal says it don't
think there will be much difficulty expert
enced from inadequate supply of Salt Our
people are making it all along the coast, and ap-
pareatly of excellent quality.
Year: 1862

THE NORTH WESTERN STATEs.--The is
bearing heavily upon the farmers and manulac-
turcrs Of the Northwestern States. The people
of that section beginning to find that by adher
ing to the Lincoln Government they have injured
themselves about as much as the people Of the
South. Heretofore, large portion of the pro
ducts Of that section found ready market liz the
South; but the war has stopped intercourse in
that way, and the result is, the only Quiet their
grain an d other stuff has is through the port Of
New York, and sales arc made at much lower pri-
The Northwest is furnishing Lincoln with
d iarge number Of troops as to close the
speedily and reopen the chansels of trade 1t is
predicted that the people Of that section
convinced of the impossibiiity Of conqucring
the South, they will be clamorous for peace
they have hitherto been for
Year: 1862

b Thieving-We learn that the night Prov
lers were operating out on the Wolf Creek
Pike Saturday night They stole quantity
Of valuable articles and among other things
they took the cover from the wagon of mo-
yer, who was staying all night at house on
the pike. !. asss
Year: 1862

be right They will not sacrifice true hon
or to gain lofty moral fortitude, that true
courage that can submit even to the impu-
tation of cowardice, rather than by failing
in duty to play the actual coward. With
what truth and pathos did Scott exclaim
Gin effect) Il am coward, because I have
permitted popular clamor to swerve me from
the line of my duty"
Year: 1862

MIR. Stewart writes The Alta saying:


The letters are of mixed up sailor like
composite, as if carved by some adVentur-
Ous old tar. The stone, as well as the in'
scription, bears unmistakable evidence Of
the action of time since The letters were
cut, and there can be but little doubt that
the inscription was made at the time spec
flied, 1918.


If this be true, the query naturally ari-
ses. who did it? Had white men knOwl
edge of gold in California at that time? In
fact. the field for speculation is wide and
almost interminable. My own theory is
that some OF the numerous hide drOghers
or traders who frequented this coast about
that period, had seen gold in possession Of
the Indians who cane do yn TO the coast to
traffic; that the said traders bad been gui-
ded TO the place in the interior where the
yellow metal abounf ed, and that from some
unexplained reason never returned TO tell
the world OF their marvellous discovery. II
may rave been some old trapper from the
Hudson Bay Company, but the word ship
on the stone is a strong argument in favor
OF the inscriber having been sailor. II
matters but little, whether seaman, or trap.
per, or adventurer; he has left us unmis
taxable proof that gold was discovered in
immense quantities in California as early
as 1918, and that too, by either an English
man or an American.
Year: 1862

New YORK.-The great Empire State has
furnished loo 900 meh 10 the Union army;
yet despite the withdrawal Of so many from
active industrial pursuits, the State TAX for
1862 is less by nearly one-fourlh than il
was in 1861. and the public debt is steadily
decreasing. The tax for State purposes is
only three mills on the dollar; added TO
which the tax for national purpOses-to
meet the Federal War tax--is two mills.
Year: 1862

ton, the merchants Of New York Boston would have
found many who would willingly have undertaken 70
keep her there though they had not, had tho
Navy Department several armed steamers lying idle in
Hampton Roads


They would have chartered coal schoonsrs to d.
rect from Philadelphia to the anchorage Of the bockadng
squadron TO supply them with fuel, instead Of having
them withdrawn from their station TO 80 TO Hampton
Roads for that and thus tempt the Nashville 70
establish reputation she was never entitled to.


cannot conclude this statement without expressing
my high esteem for able commander Commander
VIM. A. Parker. United States Navy), Who, by his un
firing vigilance in performing the responsible duties do
volving him, well by his courteous and gentle
manly disposition, has the esteem Of all board
Let all our officers be vgilant In the performance Of
their several duties, and Nashves will escape,
toprsy upon commerce and faunt the flag Of traitors
In the face Of the world.
Year: 1862




Cobbitt tells us how an English yeoman low
ed and courted, and how he was loved in return;
and a prettier episode does not exist in the Eng
lish language. Talk of private memories of
courts the gossip of this cottage is worth it all
Cobbitt, who was sergeant jor in a regiment
of foot, fell in love with the daughter of SER
geant of artillery, then in the same province of
New Brunswick He had not passed more
than an hour in her company, when, noticing
her modesty, her quietude, and her sobriety, he
said, that is the girl for me-" The next morn
ing he was up early, and almost before it was
light passed the sergeants house. There she
was on the snow, scrubbing out a washing tub.
That's the girl for me, again cried Cobbett,
although she was not more than fourteen, and
he nearly twenty zone. "From the day first
spoke to her, he writes II had no more thought
of her being the wife of any other man than
had thought of her becoming chest of draw
ers. he paid every attention to her, and
young as she was, treated her with all conf
dence. He spoke to her as friend his
second self But in six months the artillery
were ordered to England, and her father with
them. Here was indeed blow. Cobbett knew
what Woolwich was, and what temptations a
young and pretty girl would be sure to undergo.
He therefore took to her his whole fortune, one
hundred and fifty guineas, the savings of his
pay and overwork and wrote to tell her that if
she did not find her place comfortable, to take
louB'DkSt anu put herself 10 scnOOl, and not 10
work too hard, for he would be home in two
years. But as he says "as the malignity of
the devil would have it, we were kept abroad
two years longer than our time, Mr.. Pitt having
knocked up dust with Spain. about Nootka
Sound Oh, how j cursed Nooika Sound, aud
poor bawlng Pitt tooP' But at the end of four
years. Cobbett got his discharge, He found his
girl servant OF all work, at Eve pounds year,
in a house of Captain Brisac; and without say
ing word about the matter she put into his
hands the whole of the hundred and ffty gum
cas- unbroken


What pretty tender picture is thati-the
young sergeant, aud the little girl of eighteen,
who had kept for four years the treasure un
touched, waiting with patience her lovers re.
turnl What kindly, pure trust on both sidesl
The historical painters of our Royal Academy
give us scenes from English history of intrigue
and bloodshed. Why can they not give US a
scene Of true English eourtship like thai2 Cob
bett, who knew how TO write sterling English
better than many men Of his own days, and
most men of ours, does not forget to enlarge
upon the scene, and dearly he loved his wife
for her share Of it; but he does not forget 70 add
that with this love there was mixed "self-gratu.
lations ON this indubitable proof Of the sound
ness Of his own Judgement"


II is more than probable that eight girls ont
Of ten would be as prudent and as good if their
lovers would be as highminded.
Year: 1862

Saturdays Richmond Enquirer says: The
Yankees have again taken possession Of VIII
lamsburg, have mantled every hill around with
batteries, and even barricaded the streets with
fencing, so as to obstruct the charge of cavalry.
Passage through this barricade is effected by
a gate, sufficient to permit thoroughiare to
only one man at time. The military Gov
ernor" Of the town is the Lieutenant Colonel OF
the Fifth Pennsylvania, a rude, ruffiantly fellow


who has within his brief administration Of d
few days, concentrated upon himself the hatred
OF the entire community. Reports from the
south side say that the Yankee force at Suffolk
is certainly being enlarged. A report was re
ceived on yesterday that large bodies of the
enemy were being landed at the White House.
Year: 1862

The Wheeling lntelligencer states that the
Government has decided TO suspend the opera
tons OF the tax law in Western Virginia for the
present Reason, i viii not pay to put the
machinery ia operation.
Year: 1862

i


The resolutions proposed in the Confederate
Congress in answer to the proclamation Of eman-
cipation by President Lincoln, indicate that the
Sontherners feel themselves touched upon
tender point. They threaten a war of exterfni-
nation upon all, both black and white, found in
arms within their territory. This is 6he mad
ness OF fear as well as anger. The Confederates
ought to know that in war Of determination
they would suffer infinitely more than the North
erners, since the contest is carried on IN the
midst of their population. The shrewd men
amongst them will not permit such course to
be adopted. The pretence of great indignation
and disgust at the idea ofan insurrection among
the slaves strikes very singular, coming
from men who have raised the greatest rebellion


of the century with not thousandth part of tho


provocatiOn endured by the slaves Their as


sertion Of the right of insurrecion is too recent


to permit their protest against it to have much


weight The talk of servile rebellion is ab-
s'ird. All rebellions and wars are disastrous TO
life and property. aud we see no reason to expect
that the freeing of the slaves in the South, and
even their employ yment with arms in their hands
to defend their own liberties, is likely to pro-
duce any greater evils than Mr.. jefferson Davis
and his co-adjutors have brought upon their
own country and people by their recent action.
The North have as much right to employ the
slaves in putting down the rebellion, as they
have to enlist the white residents Of the South
who are in favor of the Te-establishment of the
Union. The fact that the blacks are slaves is
only an additional reason for giving Them the
means to obtain their freedom. Wanton out
RACES ought certainly to be guarded against, and
we have no expectation that the colorcd people
will exhibit greater ferocity than the white sol
diery engaged in this war. The enemies of
both in Canada and the Northern
States have been exclaiming that Mr.. Lincon's
proclamation would be dead letter and would
never be carried into practical effect. The
aufNl. l..
to be of the same opinion, judging by the re-
certon which they have given to the doe nnnanf.
Year: 1862




A story Is told of General Butler which
is not calculated to prove his confidence in
the safety Of the secession element BY
which he is surrounded.


Some time ago General Butler, finding
that it was almost impossible for him to de-
vote to his wife the cares to which she is
entitled, resolved to part with her and send
her homeward. The day of departure ar
rived, and be went with his wife and his
children to the boat on which they were to
embark. Unfortunately the water was
high, and the boat of difficult access. The
plank thrown upon the water between
the deck and the shore formed an acute
angle, and Blondin himself would have
found it difficult to maintain his eqlIilib-
rum upon it. But General Butler, conf
dent that his center Of gravity was sufi-
ciently ponderous to secure him against
all accidents, ventured bravely upon the
sleepy road Hardly had he walked two
steps, however, than his feet glided along,
and down he went measuring the plank
with all his length, and producing at the
same time a noise somewhat similar to
that Of an old kettle His servants ran to
his assistance and he was soon on his feet
again.


When it had been aseertained that the
General was unhurt, inquiries were made
concerning the sound of metal heard at
the time of his fall. It was not long be-
fore the mystery was solved. The clothes
Of the General having been torn in his per-
ilOus descent, people saw, protruding IN
derneath his coat, one large breastplate
reaching from his neck down to his thighs.
This was the object which had produced
the noise It was ascertained afterwards
that the General wears this kind of armor
since his arrival in New Orleans, and that
he never goes out without it.
Year: 1862

Men Of ohiOl Once more you are call
ed to the scene Of danger. The soil Of
Ohio has already been polluted by the
tread of the rebels, and to-day word
comes that they are advancing in force
upon Cincinnati, Every man who can
command a musket or rife, is wanted
Rolls are open at the Atheneum. The
Cleveland and Cincinnati Railroad is tax
en- possession of by the Military Commit
tee, for the transportation of troops
Companies win be sent as rapidly as they
can be organized. This time there is no
false alarm. The enemy is really at our
door. Every man is wanted. Each man
must be armed, and provide himself with
a blanket and two days rations. No
time is to be lost. Every man to the
front.