smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

We are in receipt Of u private letter from
Rev. V. NJ. Simons, our chaplain OF the oth
Regiment, in which he says: Two hundred
of our men are sick. We have buried sixteen,
and perhaps there are as many moro that must
die soon. Thus, you see, sickness and death are
making fearful rayages upon us. Side by side
rest the bodies of the deceased, and their dust,
mingling with that Of Viryina's sacred soil,
will make it more sacred still.


You ask about extra copies of the Messenger,
&c. They would be very thankfully received
and would do much good in the Regiment Ii,
therefore, you have any numbers to distribute
gratuitously, and will be kind enough to for
ward them, they shall be used to the best posi-
bic advantage.


There is very great difference in the iaclll-
ties offered us here for religious instruction and
labor. and those to which we have been accus-
toned at home, and yet everything has been
done thus lar for me, on the part OF the officers
that could be done to facilitate my work, and
feel under great obligation to them tor then
kindness and gentlemanly bearing.


w hat we shall do when the winter season
comes and the Sabbaths are cold and rainy re
mains To be seen A committee has been ap
pointed to communicates with the general gov
ernment upon the sub jet, and application ha


been made for supply Ct large tents Tor re4';s
ious uses, or such other provision for the sam
purpose, as they may think best to make l


is expected that they will give the matter tina


favorable consideration its Importance demands


The more see Of matters here the more al


convinced that the war will be IL long an


bloody one. We might as well make up GU


minds to this and prepare ourselves accordingly


The issue Of the conflict is of course mel


question Of time. 1t will come sooner or later
as VIC appreEend aud acknowledge the real cau'
of this rebellion and arise in the might OF OF
= strength to anuihiiate it once and forever. =
Although Brother ;5imons' Letter was not d
: signed for publication, we deemed the aoo
extracts might be of interest to our readers al
have therefore taken the liberty to p"bish the;
Year: 1861

1t was during the height of the excite
ment which the war Of 1872 had awaken
ed all over the country, that L was one
evening called from brief moment Of
repose upon the sofa, after fatigung day.
When | entered my Office, L found tall
slender youth pacing the floor with quick,
irregular steps, apparently greatly excl
ted. | suppose that the calm, almost
cold manner, which | instantly assumed,
might have had sedative etiectupon him,
for he ceased his hurried tramp and came
forward, although he was still percepti-
bly, trembling; but, as evidently, not from
any lack Of courage-rather with excess
of that quality, if one might judge by
the light within the dark eye. have
observed that the bravest sometimes
tremble under any strong emotion.


lie briefly stated his errand. lie had
enlisted in the army; but unfortunately,
as he seemed to think, his nearest friends
thought him too feeble in organization
and too irai in health to undertake it.,
and had procured substitute, expressing
their earnest desire, amounting to COM
mand, that he should stay at home.


lie had thereupon resolved to come
from home to be thoroughly examined by
city physician, and so to submit to his
decision as the expediency OF such a
course as that of becoming soldier.


/ looked at the young man before me
with an earnest desire to relieve the anx-
iety under hich ne seemed to suffer-
He was very handsome, with dark, wavy
hair finely-cut features, and eyes black
and piercing. | did not like the quick
shifting color that came and went on his
cheek; but, excepting that, after long
and strict examination | saw nothing
which could physically prevent him from
following his inclination in joining his
regiment, which he stated was to go imme'
diately. @


With what rapture he received my de-
cision | have no words to relate, lie
wrung my hand dozen times, almost
shouted his thanks and his joy. and ther
in momentary re action, the poor fellow
actually sat down, covered his face will
his hands and sobbed, ! saw glitterine
tears roll out between his fingers, ant
knew at once that he was one of those be
ings "made up of fire and dew" who's
rich. rare natures yield thoroughly to the
pressures of strong emotions. They melt
it is true, but it is as iron melts, from tn
powerful and irresistible heat within.


He had walked several miles to SCI
me, and after hearing his whole story,
forbade him to leave my house that night
Soon we were seated together around
small table which Mary had set by tn
parlor freside, by my request, and he
fresh green tea acted as complete sooth
er to his nerves.
Year: 1861

The Democracy Of Sacramento, on tho
l4th among other sentiments expressed,
adopted the following unanimously:


Resolved, That notwithstanding John
Qniucy Adams, on behalf of the people of
Massachusetts,, in 1885, presented to the
Congress Of the United States a petition
praying for dissolution of the Union,
and Joshua r. Giddings, of Ohio, in 1850
presented similar petition from the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania: and not withstan-
ding Mr.. Banks, late Republican Speaker
Of the House of Representatives Of the
United states, expressed his willingness in
certain circumstances to let .he Union
slide, and notwithstanding the Helper
book, whice was indorsed by upwards of
sixty leading members of the Republican
party, contains the recc ommendation of
non intercourse with Shareholders, and
that it is a well known principle of the
party now in power at the national Capt.
tai, that the Union and slavery can not
and ought not to exist together, still We
are Of the opinion that the Constitution
and the Union, rs our fathers designed
them constitute the best security for our
liberties and prosperity, and we pledge
ourselves to cling to them through veal or
woe, through evil or good report, as the
shipwreck mariner clings to the last
plank when night and the tempest close
around him,


That is what we call talking right out
in meeting" although some people may
regard the language as tolerably plain
just at this time. 1t sticks pretty closely
IS the record, however all must admit.
Year: 1861

The story Of the airs put on By spry
Young lady, because her father, worthy
blacksmith in the western part Pennsyl-
vauia, had "struck ile," suggests an edi-
torial in the Hartford Courant on the
way people "show off, when they get
rich. We clip a paragraph; "When
man has struck lie himself, by his owl
perseverance and industry, we like to SCI
him use it well, ana if necessary, evel
for his own enjoyment,--But we wan
to see him bring up his children as h
was brought up him self, to work, Lei
them be taught to use their own perse
verance and industry, and strike lie TO
themselves. 1t will be of more use t.
their characters and future destiny thar
il dad had struck it for them Every
one who treads Gods earth, and breathe'
Gods air. should feel it te be a duty t'
work, to make the world better for LIVING
in it, to be of some use in his day ant
generation. Let one labor with III
mind if he does not with his hands l
is a sin and a shame for stalwart mel
and and women to fold up their hand
and sit Idle. merely because Dad hs
struck ile."
Year: 1861

A man named William d. Kingin,
who had committed a most atrocious
murder in Michigan a short time since and
been convicted of the crime, was senten-
ced to the State prison for life. Last
week he entered his dreary abode--a sol
itary dark cell, with but small dim
light from above, there to remain as long
as his life shall ast-never to be permit
ted to hold Il word of conversat'n n with any
being-never to write word to, or hear
from, his family or any other individual
never to know any thing that occurs in
the world outside having nothing to
divert his mind henceforth, as long as
his life shall last, from reflection upon
the awful crime he committed and its ter
ribie retribution. He entered his dismal
cell with realization of his condition,
and with scarcely sufficient strength to
maintain an erect position. Could death
come in any shape, to mind capable
fully approaching its approach, more
horrible than such one as that.
Year: 1861

&S- Sam, the negro servant of New
York officer at the seige of Vera Cruz,
WAS not only trump and a genius; he
was a great coward as well. Some days
after this our regimentwas ordered to the
heights overlooking the city. The fire
from the for rts and castle was at times
very severe, and the large shells could be
distinctly heard booming through the air
and dropping in the loose sand, would
generally imbed themselves without ex-
| ploding. Sam had followed the fortunes
of his master to the field, but it was no.
ticed after the firing became pretty severe
and several attempts had been made to
dislodge Ms by light troops, Sam was no
where to be found. After holding the
position all day. we were relieved in the
evening by another regiment. On our
way back to camp. the colonel saw the
outlines OF a human figure covered over
with sand, and thinking some poor fel
low who had received bis quietus was ten
porarily placed there. until his comrades
could find time to give him Christian bp
rial, was in the act of turning over the
body when who should pop up his wol!y
head but Sam.


"Why you black rascal. what are you
doing here? are you hurt?


"No, Massa Colonel, dis chile tain
hurt, bu, he comes mighty near it. ltell
YOU what, Massa Colonel, dis chile can
stand de grape-shot an de s!x-pounders
an de escopets' but when day begin to
fire the Pennsylvania dutch ovens ne a.
ways hide hisself'


"The Dutch ovens were the immense
shells of course.
Year: 1861

Several of our exchanges have pro-
posed that all party lines shall be drop
ped this year in Ohio, and that ticket
composed of Union men, partly Demo
Gratis and partly Republicans, shall be
nominated and elected by acclamation.
Some of these papers have even gone so
far as to indicate what names shall COM
pose the ticket of this new party. For
ourselves we have no objections to unite
with all good men who are now, hare ot-
,yavs been UNION MEN-National conser-
vatlve men;-but we will never consent
to a union with those Abolitionists or
modern Republicans, who now make
loud mouthed, but empty professions OF
attachment for the Union, after having
worked for years to bring abont the very
state of affairs that now exists. we
want no Union with men who carried
flags with but sixteen stars. We desire
no union with men who have declared
that the Union is league with hell
and covenant with the devil" We see
no union with men who declared that un-
less Slavery was wiped out, they would
"let the Union Slide" No Democrat
will ever enter into a political partner
ship with such wicked and uuprincipIed
politicians as these. But there are hosts
of honest, true and patriotic men in the
Republican ranks, who are sincerly at
tached to the principles of the Constitu'
tiou, and who have never been fanatics
witbwhom we could gladly unite at any
them provided they planted themselves
fairly and squarely on the National Unioi
Platform of the good old Democratic
party whose motto has always been
"THe Union. he Constitution, and the en-
forcemsnt Of The la,Os. No Vernon Ban
ner
Year: 1861

Professor LOWE would fain get HIGH
At government expense
With big balloon he'd scale the moon,
To spy Virginia fence
To spot the camps of rebel scamps
With telegraph and glass
You ask me friend, how will this end
And | rcply--in GAS
Year: 1861

The ADVANTAGE or NEwsPAPERs.-A child
beginning to read becomes delighted with news
papers because he reads of names and things
which are very familiar, and will make progress
accordingly. A newspaper in one year is worth
a quarters schooling TO child, and every
father must consider that substantial information
is connected with bis advancement. The mother
Of family having more Immediate charge of a
family, should herself be instructed. A mind
occupied becomes fortified against the ills of
life, and is braced for the emergency. Children
amused by reading or study, are of course con-
siderate and more easily governed. How many
thoughtless young men have spent their earnings
ia grog shop who ought to have been reading.
How many parents who have never spent $50
for books or papers for their families would
gladly have given thousands to reclaim a or
daughter who had ignorantly and tboughtessly
fallen into temptation.
Year: 1861

THE PRFss.-WHAT Is T?-'fhe realm Of the
Press is enchanted ground. Sometimes the editor
has the happiness Of knowing that he has defended
The right, exposed the wrong protected the weak;
tbat he has given utterance to The sentiment
that has cherished somebody's solitary hour
made somebody happier, kindled a smile upon
sad face, or hope in a heavy heart. He may
meet with that sentiment months, years after it
may have lost all traces Of its paternity ; but he
feels an affection for it. He welcomes il as a
long absent child. He reads it as for the first
time, and wonders if indeed he wrote it, for he
las changed since then. Perhaps he could not
give utterance to the sentiment now, perhaps he
would not if be could. 1t seems like the voice
al bis former self calling to the present and
there is something mournfnl in its tone. he
begins to think, to remember-remember when
he wrote it, and why who were his readers
then, and whittier they have gone what he was
then, and how much he has changed. So he
muses., till he finds himself wondering if that
thought Of his will continue to float on after lie
is dead, and whether he is really looking upon
something that will survive him. And then
comes the sweet Consciousness that there is
nothing in the sentiment he could wish had been
unwritten; that it is the part of him--a shred
from the garment of immortality he shall leave
hchind, when be joins the " numerable caravan"
and takes his place in the silent halls of death.
Year: 1861

"Stay at home, count your money, and you'll
all be gone to the devil in six months. lap
plausel If q fund can be raised, the fret Vir-
ginia regiment will be full in three days. II
that is not done, the city does not deserve to
be defended. And, as to the secessionists, he
did not care what became Of them. His own
opinion was, they ought not to be allowed 10
stay here. He did not say this in a mob spirit ;
but they have tried to break up this Govern
ment and destroy us, and now, in our hour Of
peril, how in the name Of God do they expect
us to protect themS Talk about your habeas
corpus and constitutional law. am in favor
of constitutional law as long as the rebellion
can be put down by Its observance, but when
ever II becomes necessary to walk over copsti-
tutions to suppress this thing, am going to
walk over them"


Senator Carlile also made an eloquent ad-
dress.
Year: 1861

We have received authentic assurance,
that the speech of this distinguished gentle.
man at Nashville. the other night. was e.
reported in the Nashville papers of the fol.
lowing day as to do him injustice in seyeral
particulars, and especially in the total i'm
preston begotten. Mr. Bell, we understand
will, at an early day, prepare for publication
a synopsis of what he did say.


Meanwhile, We may state, and, perhaps
ought. to state, that he himself regards the
speech as an effort against Secession and fol
the Union. We do not, after the assurance.
we have received, permit ourselves to har.
Dor doubt that such was the real end Of
his effort but certainly in all the course Of
National vicissitudes, more unfortunate
choice Of means was never made by patriot
and statesman. John Bell. beyond rational
dispute, committed, in this inexplicable ef
fort, blunder which must have the public
effect Of crime, but we are bound to be.
lieve, and we do believe that he committed
the blunder honestly. -


He is unquestionably guilty of terrible
mistake but not, as we were at first driven
by a sense Of imperative duty to say, of de-
lection: He yet sincerely deems himself tc
be loyal to the Union. And we do not doubt
that he will feel it due to his fame and TO
his country to promptly say this much for
the public under his own signature.
Year: 1861

We now apologize to our readers for pub
lishing anything to the world upon the au-
thority Of these lying wires and sensation
dispatches. Gen. Scott is at the head Of
the United States Army at Washington,
preparing to meet the Southern bordes
when they attack the Capital of the nation,
and has expressed his determination to fight
under the Stars and Stripes of his country.


But, JEFF. Davis is to head the Southern
Army. Let him head it, and before the
war is ended he will foot it. Those who
recollect the insolence and abuse which Gen.
Scott suffered at the hands of Davis all
through his administration of the War De-
partment under Pierce, will appreciate the
satisfaction with which the old veteran will
meet his ancient villifer and malignant foe.
each at the head of an army, one of which
must succumb. 1t is not in human nature
for Gen. Scott to decline this opportunity ;
and that he should take command under
Davis, his inferior, and malignant foe, is a
story which can only be believed by Seces-
slonists, under the excitement of very bad
whiskyl
Year: 1861

A New VERSE TO THE STAR-SpASa1ED
BANNER.-At the Howard Atheneun, Bos-
ton, on Saturday evening, the Star-Spangled
Banner was sung by Miss Cushman, with
the addition of the following verse by Oliver
Wendell Holmes:


When our land is illumined with liberty's smile,


II a foe from within strike a blow al her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that dares TO deiie


The flag of her stars and the page of her glory. f
BY the millions unclaimed who our hirhrigh have gnin


We will keep her bright blazon forever unsiained!
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land Of the free is the home of the brave
Year: 1861

JULES AND OvERcoATs. The New
York Sunday Atlas thus pictures the
peculiaTities of Southerners:


A general impression prevails tha,
the people of the South are far more
eXtravagant IN their dress than we Of
the North; and the Daily NelcS asserts
that sing lie Southern family consumes
more value IN many instances than a
whole New England village. This is
all nonsense. The South spends all il
earns, bat It is not for dress by anv
means. In Georgia it costs a man ten
times as much for brandy cocktails as j,
does for clothing, while his expenditure
for Bourbon WhisLey is greater IN one
year than his hat and boot bills amount
to IN twenty years. Owing 10 a warm
climate our friends in the South need
bat very lItlIe clothing. The most of
them keep warm by cursing and swear
ing. Ihlc1 clothes are a nuisance down
South, and IN all other climates where
men have nine months Of the year de-
voted 10 muSquitos and the other three
10 yellow fever. The slave owner would
buy lots of clothing If he needed il. But
he does not. The thermometer being
IN the vicinity of eighty the whole time,
The slave owner is ever more ready to
invest in juIeps than be is in overcoats
The South Is death on drinks, but IS
slow on clothing. With a light heart
and thin pair Of breeches, they care
for nothing that looks like warmth and
woolen. The light heart can be obtain
ed with ,oddy suck while the thin
PAIR Of breeches can be found in two
and a half yards Of nanI<een, at a cost
of sixty cents. The Nctcs should over
hauld It's Southern statistics. When 1t
does Ibis, it will discover that those who
consume The most rum are not those
who consume the most broadcoth.
Year: 1861

A Doc AND TIGER FIGHr-A rath-
er sefG' fark fafkF2ffaaa Sanf f m
the shape of fght between a Brazil
ain tiger and two ball dogs. A large
crowd of roughs, sporting characters
and pickpocllels, aocked thither early
in the afternoon, filled all the bar-rooms
in the vicinity and anxiously awaited
the beginning Of the show The pre-
lnminaries" were duly arranged when a
heavy shower Of RAIN came on. New
erlheI9sS, the large portion Of the crowd
sailed out of the beer house 20 the cage
wherein the tiger was confined and Wit
messed the fight regardless of the ram.
The cage IN which the tiger was con-
fined was about Is feet long and ten
feet wide At about 3 clock, two dogs
one a ball slut OF rather large size and
the other rather below the ordinary size
were let into the cage. The dogs
were no sooner inside than the tiger
sprapg nearly the eu.lre length of The
cage, and gave every indication that he
would make short work of dIspoSIng OF
his canine assaIlants. In tins respect,
however, his hackers were disappointed.
He lay upon his back a d occasionally
gave the dogs sone severe scratches
with his paws, but after playing about
him for a short time the bull slut caught
hold of his neck, and in such a manner
that the tiger found II impossible to free
himself The dog retained her hold
until pulled off, when the tiger was
found to be too weak to stand. 1t was
thought he had been fatally injured.--
Al the conclusion of the exhibition The
crowd departed, seemingly disappoint-
ed at the result of the fght.-.St. L0p%1s
/ ReDnbllc0n.
Year: 1861

A y ACT to amend chapter "a of the revised


statutes of the State o. W lsconSin. enrl-


tied Of the sale of lands for the payment


of debts by executors, administrators and
guardians.


The people Of the STATE Of Wisconsin,. rcpresen-


ted ja e,eate and Assenabiy, 30 enact as fol-


!oacs


Section l. Every sale heretofore made or
hereat er TO be made, OF the estate of anv
deceased person, In pursuance of any order
or authority of any county court or
court of probate, by any executor or admin
Istrator, or any person actlDg as such, In pur-
suance of any such order, license or authori-
", shall be deemed and held to be as valid
aud etfectual as if made by the judgment or
order of court having general jurisdiction
and the title OF any purchaser at any such
sale made in good faith, shall not be impeach
ed or InvalIdated by reason Of any omission
error IN the appointm ut of such executor
or administrator or by reason Of any defect
or irregularlty III the proceedings before such
court, or any allegation OF the want Of jurs-
dlction on the part of such court, except in
the manner apd for the causes that the same
could be impeached or inyalldated in case
such sale had been made pursuant to the or
der or Judgment OF any court of general iu-
rIsdiCtIon.


Section 3 This act shall not be construed
authorizing any such court to make any or
der for the sale of the real estate of any
deceased person or to confirm any such sa
unless upon due examination the court shall
be satisfied that the provisions of this act
hereby amended have been as fully complied
with as if this act had not been passed


Section 3. This act shall take effect
Immediately upon It's passage ana publica-
tton.


Approved March 2S 1861
Year: 1861




THE TRAroR PIIspuRr. The East
port Sentinel publishes the following ex-
tract from a Halifax letter to gentle
man in Eastport. The letter is dated
Oct. 10th:


Pilsbury has been remov-
ed, and his place filed by Union man.
But the traitor PiIshury is. still in our
mid.t, and is furnished with cash from
the South to work for the rel els. A few
weeks since the Argyle" sailed from
this port with a cargo worth 100000, of
which Pilsbury was the chief engineer.
He bought up all the medicine he could
find for the South. To-day there is n
vessel loading with salt and fish, and in
the drums of dry fish there are packed
100 kegs of powder. Pilsbury lives on
the Dartmouth side of the Ferry, ono
mile LeIow the village, in quiet place.
where all manner of tire son can be hatch
ed unmolested For week past he has
been busy getting the cargo ready. The
fish and powder were taken from This side
unGer cover of the night, and arc now be-
ing loaded for the South The evident
design is not to r,n the blockade, but to
run the old craft ashore on the coast of
North Carolina, and land the powder at
low water. | have apprised the Consul
of what was going on, and he is on the
alert. write you these particulars to
let you know what an Eastport man can
do to break up the government which has
furnished him with support for the last
eight years. let his political friends
in Maine know what he is about