smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

munication, was the correction of an impress
sion made by some wide awake metropolitan
reporter, as to the verdancy of the 10Th Maine.
refer to the 'bomb-shell" and "frying pan"
story, confuted on its very face. The facts are
these: When our forces came into possession
of this locality, there were quite a number of
loaded shells lying scattered about, hardly any
two in place. Our Colonel cautioned the
men about handling them, remarking, that as
they were capped they might explode. No
order had been given by the proper authority
for the disposal of them, and in. the arranging
OF the camp three or four of them were piled
together. Some reckless fellow kicked them
about little, and one exploding the rest fol-
lowed suit, very providentially injuring no one.
Col. Sewall was on the ground within two
minutes after the occurrance, and have the
facts from him, confirmed by any number of
others.


1t seems pity to spoil so good story, but
the fact is, our men are not all green, nor are
our off .ers any of them regardless of the well
fare of those under their charge, what story
soever may be spoiled by the making of it
known. When write again it may be from a
different locality. P.
Year: 1862

A new Internal machine, claimed to be ade-
quate for the destruction of iron clad vessels,
IS undergoing government tests in the royal
dockyard Of Copenhagen. The apparatus.
which is extremely simple, and costs but little.
consists of glass reservoir filed with pow
der, floating at certain depth, where by
very simple chemical means it produces an
explosion. In the first experiment, when
loaded with very small charge, the effect was
amazing. The frame of the gunboat was
shattered, and some of the planks used thrown
to height of eighty or one hundred feet On
second trial the explosion threw upa column
OF water one hundred feet high, and the shock
was felt at considerable distance.
Year: 1862

Among the subjects noticed i'll the presentments
Of the Grand Jury of Baldwin county, Ca, is an
earnest recommendation to the planters of the
South not to grow cotton in 1862. On the jury


were of the largest planters in the State who
will set the example.
Year: 1862

HEADQUARTERS, CoRcoRANs IRISH IsGIoN,l


CAMP Scorr, S. L., Oct Is, 1852. !
TO THE ELECTORS THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DIuMcrs
New YORK ClTY -


Az my name has been mentioned in connection with,
the position of Representative in Congress from the Fifth
district and several committees have waited upon mo
for the purpose Of obtaining my consent to allow my
be used in the coming election, due to
you state that fully appreciate the compliment pai
me- must, however, decline to be candidate for this
any other civil position while engaged in the military
service Of the United States Having been among tho
first to respond to the call of the national government,
am firmly resolved be OF the last TO cease my
efforts while vestge of the accursed rebellion threatens
TO destroy Union. tits Of the vital importance
that democrat be selected to represent your dis
trct, and trust that other shall receive your support
The present is the crisis of c0untrys fate and
but representatives pledged vigorous prosecution Of
the war should be sent to the national Legislature. With
the fullest confidence in your patriotic devotion TO tho
best interests of the country, have the honor 20 be,
your faithful servant MICHAEL CORC0RAN.
Year: 1862

A CURIOUS TRIcK.-We were once wit
nesses of a fact quite as marvellous as
any of the ;able-turnings. In friendly
gathering, a gentleman, well known TO us,
produced little skeleton cut out of card
board, which he undertook should dance on
the ground as long as he whistled. He seat
ed himself in the centre of the room. balanc-
ed the skeleton moment on its feet, and
then began to whistle. To our great as
tonishment and amusement we saw the
skeleton, completely unsupported standing
upright and dancing with ludicrous energy


Inasmuch as no one imagined this TO be
produced by spirit, every one was eager
to ex plain how the skeleton moved. Moth
ing could be more evident than that the
skeleton was not touched by the whistler.
Perhaps it was sustained by magnet No.
Perhaps an invisible horse-hair was attach
ed 10 the skeleton, and held between the
teeth of the whistler? To ascertain this,
several Of US passed our hands between the
skeleton and the gentleman but there was
nothing there. In short, all our ingenuity
failed TO discover how the trick was per-
formed; and if we had been placed in
witness-box, we might have sworn that we
saw cardboard skeleton, totally unsupport-
ed, stand on the carpet and dance while a
gentleman whistled to it. But we should
not have sworn that no physical agencies
could have effected this; that would have
been rather more than our evidence war
ranted the utmost that we could have
sworn 10 was, that We neither detected the
agency nor conceived how the skeleton was
-Bzackscood's 4Mrqoziae.
Year: 1862

A PERILous VoYAGE.--The Maid Of
the Mist was built upon the Niagara river,
b, tween the falls and The rapids, and was
used for taking adventurous tourists up
amid the spray, as near to the cataract as
was possible. The Maid Of the Mist piled
in this way for year or two, and was, /
believe, much patrnnized, during the sea-
son. But in the early part of last summer
an evil time had come. Either the Maid
got into debt or her owner had embarked
in other and less profitable speculations.
At any rate he became subject to the law,
and tidings reached him that the sheriff
would seize the Maid. On most occasions
the sheriff is bound to keep such intentions
secret seeing that property is moveable,
and that an insolvent debtor will not al
ways await the officers of justice. But
with the poor Maid there was no need of
such secrecy. There was but a mile or SO
of water on which she could ply, aud she
was forbidden by the nature Of her prop
critics to make any way upon land. The
sheriff's prey therefore was easy and the
poor Maid was doomed. In any country
in the world but America such would have
been the case, but an American would
steam down Phlegethon to save his prop
erty from the sheriff; he would steam
down Phlegethon or get some one else to
do it for him. Whether or no in this case
the captain of the boat was the proprietor,
or whether as | was told, he was paid for
the Job, do not know; but he determined
to run the rapids, and he procured Two
others to accompany him in the risk. He
got up his steam and took the Maid up
amidst the spray according to his custom.
Then suddenly turning on his course, he
with one of his companions fixed himsslf
at the wheel, while the other remained ut
his engine. ] wish | could look into the
mind of that man and understand what his
thoughts were at that moment; what were
his thoughts and what his beliefs. As to one
of the men was told that he was carried
down, not knowing what he was about to
do, but / am inclined to believe that all the
three we're joined together in the attempt.
was told by a man who saw the boat pass
under the bridge, that she made one long
leap down a. she came thither. that her
funnel was at once knocked fiat on the deck
by the force of the blow, that the waters
covered her from stem to stern, and that
then she rose again and skinned into the
whirlpool mile below. When there she
rode with comparative ease upon the wa
ters, and took the sharp turn round into the
river below without struggle. The feat
was done, and the Maid was rescued from
the sheriff. II is said that she was sold be-
low at the mouth of the river, and carried
from thence over Lake Ontario and down
the St. Lawrence to Quebec.


AutAony 7roilope.
Year: 1862




A correspondent of the Tribune in the
Mississippi fotilla, under date July 10,
says -


John Gosher, engineer of the Lancaster,
was slightly scalded by the explosion of the
mud receiver on Tuesday, and in the con-
fusion Of the moment stepped overheard,
aud swan for the Louisiana shore. Before
he could reach land, however, he found him
self exhausted and being near the Ar
kansas, moving slowly down the river, he
struck out for her and caught hold of her
stern. He had not chung there but few
seconds----an object of pity ana sympathy
that Patagonian would have respected
when rebel thrust his rifle out Of loop
hole, and shot the poor fellow through the
head, scattering his brains over the surface
of the water.


heard this story at The time, but as
did not witness it myself, thought it too
revollingly cruel even for seeessionist.-
| Since then have been assured of the truth
of the report by soldier who was swim
ing near the engineer when he was SO foully
murdered. The soldier also says that the
crew Of the Arkansas fired upon him and
every man they observed endeavoring to
/ save himself in the river. Is there aught
/ too barbarous for the boasted chivalry of
1 Il I, ,,,aft l. limit
to their inhumaniy? Are they exceptions
to the laws of justice and the promptings of
mercy supposed to govern, under certain
pity provoking circumstances, even the fierc-
est of sayages?


Another Western correspondent of the
1it6uae, speaking of Mitehel's campaign,
says =


i Gen. NItchel's negro spies brought him
information that the enemy was advancing
in large force upon the village Of Athens.
Having but a few men there, an immediate
retreat was ordered. All succeeded in es-
Gaping by rail except a few in the last train
of cars. The rebels managed TO get in front
of this train and saw the timbers OF bridge
over which it would have to pass. When
the train came upon the bridge the timbers
gave way, and all together, train and bridge,
went down with crash. The engineer, in
attempting to jump off, was caught by one
leg between the engine and tender, with his
head downward, with the hot Goals from the
engine falling upon him. His shrieks
brought the negroes to his assistance. but
those demons in The garb of rebel soldiers
beat them back and would not allow them
to render any assistance.
Year: 1862

REBEL IEFIDELITY.-The man who


shall ever write the history of the rebel
lion will be called upon TO record the most


offensive acts of treachery 10 be found in
the annals Of crime. The rebellion was


born in lreachery and has been fed upon it,.
The most recent exhibition of this radical
vice of rebeldom is in the refusal to ex-


change officers among the prisoners, ac-


cording to the cartel agreed upon between


commissioners Of the federal and rebel gov


ernments. Last week. 5000 well fed reb-


els were put off at certain landing en-


james river. They were prisoners re-


leased by our government in consideration


of the release of an equal number of our


men, held by the rebels. The Union pris-
oners came in after thirteen miles march,


without food, and after the experience of
the most heariless treatment from their


guard. And now we come to the perfidy.


1t is known that five rebel generals aid


and three naval officers of the highest rank


we're handed over to their friends, that
among these was that unmitigated SCOUT
drel Gen. Buekner, and that after our YES
sells had waited for several hours for the
arrival Of an equal number Of officers of
the same rank, including Col. Corcoran, the
news was brought that ",hese officers
would not return at present, as the confed
crate government had concluded to detain
them"


1t does not appear why Col. Corcoran
should he held on to with such tepaciiy.
but it is notorious that arrangements have
been repeatedly made for his exchange. and
as repeatedly frustrated by rebel subter
fuges. 1t is now said that Col. Corcoran
will be exchanged for Col. Roger Hanson,
but we can believe no such thing. Some
new excuse for his detention v i'll be found.
If the agents Of our government are sharp, T
they will make sure of their merchandise /
before they pay for it in future. JEFF Da-
Wis seems determined to make himself in
famous by acts of treachery that are with
out excuse. IL would seem as if nothing 4
were to be gained by this last act but the
qualification Of malignant and periidious
disposition. We trust that the admirers of /
the rebel president abroad viii study their
idol in this phase Of his character, and tell /
US what they may think of it.
Year: 1862

1t is with nations as with individuals
those who know the least Of others thing
the highest of themselves; for the whole
family of pride and Ignorance are incestu-
Gus, and mutually beget each other.
Year: 1862

LELVAA4 AllG ~ T. E0ak-I


Bedloe's Island from its secluded position,
scarcely gets its fair share Of the profuse
kindness and liberality which the people
Of New York and its vicinity are shower
ing on our sick and wounded soldiers. The
4th, however, was a glorious day for the
men in the hospital there. A party Of
ladies and gentlemen (too numerous TO
mention and too well known in every col
lection Of our suffering soldiers to make
mention necessary came over at eleven in
the morning, and spent the day in visiting
from tent to tent and room to room, dis
pensing kind and Christian words and
beautiful flowers, and discoursing music
to the suffering soldiers. Psalms and
hymns and patriotic songs, from some Of
the finest singers in the church choirs Of
New York, delighted and refreshed them.
"0h 70 said one poor fellow, its too much
for me to hear those hymns; it puts me in
mind Of" and he hid his face in the
blanket and wept like child.


An abundant and elegant entertainment
was spread by the ladies at noon in one Of
the spacious hospital tents just erected
Those who were not able to come TO the
feast had their share Of it from the fair
hands Of the ladies in their own tents
Ice creams, fruits and floral decorations
were added in profusiOn to the substantial
part Of the repast. Tea was served with
equal prodigality at 5 o'clock. Not a
soul on the island was overlooked.
Year: 1862

Will some one Of the conservative party,
whose nerves have been unstrung by the
black horror undertake TO inform US
how many or how few Of our brave fellows
have been worn down in the performance
OF menial labor2 How many more shall
be sacrificed upon the altars of the Ebon
Idol before we will accept the services Of
the loyal population Of the South, who de-
sire to fight for the preservation Of the
Union
Year: 1862

EGy" The number Of wounded men in
the Hospitals at Washington IS ncirly
four times as great as after the battle Of
Manassas 70 estimate tho comparative
mortality in the Yankee army, it must
be considered that Washing was then tho
principal Hospital depot, but nQw that it
is only subsidiary, and that "A very large
majority of tho wounded arc carried to
other Northern cities, and but u small
proportion 10 Washington.
Year: 1862

We have been almost equally amused and
disguised with the shifts to which the towards
have resorted, who, while willing to enjoy the
protection Of our laws and institutions, are
appalled, at the idea OF making any sacrifice to
support their country. We have selected the
following examples from q score or two Of
Others:
Year: 1862

The subjugation of the Confcderates


IS quite out of the question, Is not


this at length the desired occasion for


recognizing the claims of the Southern


States for independence !? The pre-


sent moment or never? Earl Russell I


The tide is rolling by. You are play


lug with the straws on the surface.


while the vast raft on which the saliva


ton of both hemispheres of the globe


mainly depend, is drifting fast to an


all engulfing, irreparable ocean. For


II anybody will interpose, this detes-


table strife is still likely to continue.
The summons for 100000 more men
does not look like ending the war.
The Confederates are still the victors
and they never can be subdued. 1t
would take a new levy of millions of
troops to conquer them, and success
sive millions to keep them down when
conquered, if even if that were proba.
bic, But the whole thing is an impos-
slbility. The Unionists of North Amer
ica may still be mad enough to go to
perditlon for an impossibility. But
the sober business parliament of En-
gland must manage the nations affairs
with common sense, with prudence
and humanity, and without impossible
ty. This assembly cannot permit
self-wllled minister to close the years
sitting without an attempt to put an
end to that cotton dearth which is
starving our willing work people; their
firm resolve may do much in urging
sluggish ministry to find its opportu-
nifty for mediations now while Ameri-
cans themselves are beginning to cry
aloud for peace, and while recent
events have still more fully proved the
conquest of the South to be an object
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Her
aid.
Year: 1862

remaleS nurses 4U cents per DAY ana one ia
ton.


Paymaster's Clerks 500 per annum, and 75
cents per day when actually on duty.


Chaplain in volunteers Sl46 so.


In addition to the pay as above stated, one ra-
ton per day and an abunaant supply of good
clothing is allowed to every soldier. Quarters.
fuel and medical attendance are always provided
by the Government without deduction from the
soldiers pay. Ifa soldier should become disabled
in the line of his duties, the law provides for him
pension, or he may, if he prefer it, obtain ad-
mission into the Military Asylum, which will
afford him a comfortable home so long as he may
wish to receive its benefits.


To the above pay for private soldiers must be
added the additional 50 month to be paid du-
ring service, the 800 bounty at the end of the
war, which has already been provided for, and
the quarter section of land that Congress will
provide for at its coming session. The bounty
and land apply to officers and privates alike.
Year: 1862

The following statement. taken from official
sources. will show the army pay roll In the first
column will be found the nett salary per month
and in the second the total salary per month
which includes rations, servant hire, forage, &c


GENERAL OFFICERS.
Year: 1862

The King end the Cobbler.


There is story Of Charles V, which


new to9uss may not be new to some OF
our readers. Though prudentand grave,
Charles was not sul.en or solitary. One
ssss s1e was walking incognito through
.afaet at Brussels He .eentsn


plated with the eye Of an amateur ca


pom which seemed worthy Of the impe-
rial kitchen, when a woman of the peo-
pie drew near to the poultry merchant,


bought the capon and carried it off.
Charles followed her as far as the house
of shoemaker, which she entered.
The evening having arrived, Charles re-
turned and knocked at the door of the
house. The door was opened, but not
before some little parleyinS, and the
Emperor found two of the jovial broth
erhood of Saint Crispin ready to sit
down to table. To their great surprise
the unknown said that he came in the
name Of his Majesty, and invited him
self, having decided in his wisdom to
taste capon. His hosts, vanquished by
his air of assurance, made place for him.
Presently hamper of old wine, brought
by lackey, showed them that their
componion intended to pay his scot.
The supper went on and finished gaily,
and Charles wished good night to his
friends, whom he left surprised at his
appetite and good humor. On the NOR
row he sent for the shoemaker to the
palace, made himself known to him,
and begged his host to solicit some fa-
vor.


"Sire," said the shoemaker, s'I shall
be full of gratitude if your Majesty will
me to take for sign a
Cro,cned Boot"


The Emperor readily granted tho
grace which cost him nothing, and
which vas fitted and fated to be of an
immense benefit to the shoe1 aker, as all
the courtiers would not fail to see their
chaussurc at the Cro'cncd Boot Charles
V. was never so delighted as when he
could make the fortune Of some one
without spending the smallest sum.
Year: 1862

Duties arc ours-events are Gods
This removes an infinite burden from
mans shoulders. On this account he can
safely lay down his head and close his eyes.


Sorrow comes soon enough without
despondency-it does man no good to
carry around lightning rod to attract
trouble.


People always express great deal of
sympathy for won.en who are unhappily
narried-but how about those who are un.
happily single! ".


He who lays aside his religion because
he is going into society, is like one who
pulls off his shoes to walk on thorns.


All men need truth as they need wa,
ter, If wise men arc as high ground where
the springs rise, ordinary men arc the low
er grounds which their water nourish.


Few seem to doubt for moment that
contentment is the cause of happiness. Yet
the inverse is true; We are contented be-
cause We are happy because VIC are con-
tented


The friends Of prosperity are birds
that come to be fed, and fly away as soon
as the crumbs give out.
Year: 1862




We had the privilege last Friday even.
ing, of attending the concert given by the
Musical Convention, at McGresor, under
the direction Of Geo. +. Root. We unhes-
itatingly pronounce it the best concert OF
vocal music that we ever attended. We
were surprised that so many singers coming
together, strangers to each other, could so
soon make such music. In almost every
pi.ce, the words could be understood about
as distinctly as though read. The first
Quartette, "Music in the air." was beau.
tiful piece of music, and executed with
taste. We might speak Of many other
pieces, but we can express it best and short
est by saying the whole performance was
singing what is singing"
We believe th.re were over one hundred
singers belonging TO the convention. A
very large and appreciativs audience was
present at the concert. The convention
will have happy influence upon all who
enjoyed its benefits. The influence of mu.
sic is cheerful and refining. The singers Of
Waukon came home feeling happier even,
if possible, than when they went away.


Much credit is due to the people Of Nc
Gregor, in assuming the care and response
bility of getting up the convention. We
| think it is the first that has ever been held
in Northern Iowa, but hope it will not be
the last.


We cannot close this short article with
cut speaking Of the very courteous and
pleasant treatment the singers of Waukon
received from the good people of McGregor
They feel it was one Of the pleasant weeks
of l;fe, and hope they may at some future
time be permitted to reciprocate the kind
nesses.- Waukon Journal
Year: 1862

COMING THE SPREAD EAGLE.-The Pio-
neer says that when the bill to provide for
the protection Of the Bald Eagle, common.
" called the American Eagle, came up in
the House of Representatives on its third
reading on Monday, Mr.. Severance, the au-
thor Of the bill, arose in its defence, and
addressed the House as follows: "Mr.
Speaker have only to say that any man
who will in any way injurc or take the life
of our national bird is mean enough to
carry rotten sardines in the same pocket
with musty fine cut tobacco, and pass the
same reund on the ace of spades at the
communion table or would empty the can
teen Of rebel prisoner and sit upon il and
whistle confederate air through the key
hole Of Washington's tomb" The bill of
course passed unanimously.
Year: 1862

HAsTY OriNIoNs.-Let US not pass an
opinion too hastily, on the actions Of
others. 1t is better to judge man too
leniently than too harshly. If We must
err it is better to err o: mercy's side-
Better that ten deadly injuries should go
unrevengcd than one innocent person
should be made to suffer.


We can never accurately judge Of a
mans heart by his outward conduct be-
cause we cannot place ourselves precisely
in his situation, to look upon life and its
affairs with his own particular estimate. -
We can never be surrounded with the same
influences that surround him, or be acted
upon by the identical impulses which act
upon him. We cannot see life from his
individual stand point, and therefore we
do not know but if we were placed in his
circumstances we should do even as he has
done.
Let US, therefore, be charitable one unto
another, for We know not how soon We,
ourselves, may require charity and forgive
ness at the hand Of our neighbor.