smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

THE DEFENsBs AT HAMPERS FERRY.
"A letter from Harper's Ferry says:


If it be any consolation to the public to
know that this important position is now
impregnable against any possible atteck,
let them take assurance to that effect
I he three nights are now securely fortified
against all peradventure. The AK Brig
ade" has for weeks been busy in clearing
away the woods on the SUBMITS, fire been
called in to do its work k-in-burning up the
brush, and batteries now frown from every
emiuence. The work of fortifcation still
continues, and this morning, as l was eau
tiously picking my way down the rocky
emiaence, | encountered a team Of twelve
mules tugging and straining every muscle
in dragging a huge thirty-two FOUNDER
Parrott gun up the crest. l shall not,
however, emulate the peculiar patriotism of
one Of your contemporaries, which keeps
the enemy fully posted as to the exact de-
fenses Of these nights I content myself
with giving you the comfort that Harpers
Ferry will never again pass out of the
hands of the nation.
Year: 1862

We publish, elsea here, a synopsis of the
important provisions Of the conscHptou law
recently passed by Congress. Referring to it
the New Orleans Deita saws:


The great merit Of the measure in question,
considered as a military measure, is that it will
enable the Confederate government 10 wieid a
large and effective army, whose increase or
diminution viii notdepeHd upon the alterations
of extreme alarm and over confidence ia the
public mind. The government VIII not be com
PEELED TO obtain TeinloTcemeuts by painfully
agtating the fears of the people, or to suffer its
military power to langush after victory from a
relaxation of popular energy


The new law does not disturb the present vol
unteer organization as regards men for the war
and for three years. That remains as a nucleus
upon which to graft the cousrriot forces. Let
us suppose it % number 100000 The male
citizens of the Confrderscy between the ages of
eighteen and thirty-fye, subject to military duty
can not. At the lowest estimate exclusive of those
already in the arm for The war OF three years,
be less than 100000. This would give an army
Of 7OO,O 600 But when we take into account
those not embraced In the prescribed age who
would belong to the army, there is reason 90 be-
ieve that It's aggregate would not be far short OF
100000, With such an army, efficiently officer
cd, and boldly yet sagaciousiy handled, we
might indeed expect decisive results, a speedy
conclusion 60 the war, and satisfactory restora-
ton OF peace
Year: 1862

Of the patriotic object for which the united
South is fighting. Such an enumerahon OF our
efforts, however, though intended to relieve cur
cit, from a mistaken and uudeseryed imputation,
might be mistaken for a vain parade Of what we
have dona-uot for the purpose of making a
display and winning praise, but for our counTy's
csuse. We, therefore, rest the case on the
explanations given, and fear not that the candid
ami conscientious reader when asked Has
Memphis done It's dutyl viii unhesitatingly
rerrv I'm the Affirmative
Year: 1862




A gentleman who spent about three weeks in
81 Louis. and who left that city few days
since. reports to us the existence Of a strong
southern feeling, greatly predomiuating over
the abolition party. The latter, he states, is
composed almost exclusively OF the German and
emigraut Yankee population To these may be
added few who are directly interested insrmy
contracts for the Federal government


When be left, the Federal force in the city
was composed Of HECRER's regiment and two
German battalions of home guards All the
remainder had been drawn off to form part Of
the expsditonary force up the Tennessee
river.


Northern Missouri he reports to be almost
unanimous in favor Of the South, but the i'm
pulses Of the people are kept down by the pres
ence of Federal troops stationed throughout the
country. All the private arms and ammunition
have been taken possession OF by the enemy
and inuumerabie outTages upon persons md
property have been committed. IRe whole
country IS represented to be in a state Of conf
pIete terror. The southern part of the State is
more divided il sentiment.


Our informant, who is is a gentleman well
informed as to the position Of affairs throughout
the State, does not for moment entertain a
doubt Of the ability of the friends of the Con
laderacy to redeem Missouri from abolition rule,
with but little assistance. Give them arms, etc,
and they viii work out their own political saliva
ton. At present they are patiently, though
suffariugiY, bi3ing their time.
Year: 1862

ruin Won have made and are likely to make in
our vicinity, will disengage our citizens from
any necessary attention to home and its con
Germs. They will therefore be enabled to devote
their whole time ard best energies to the service
of their country.


With due consideration,


MARY c. NORTON
Year: 1862

His memory will be cherished in millions of
grateful hearts when selEconstituted autocrats
whose steps are now counted by army contract
ors and timed by sycophantic huzzas, shall have
long since mouldered and oeen forgotten.


Deiame mia and malgn aim as you viii, yet
when you, sir, and the master who sent you
shall have passed away to grave where no one
will ever pause to shed d tear or speak Of
virtue; when this modern Gamerlane shall have
gone from his palace of skulls with fear and
trembling to answer for the hundred thousand
human souls which his unhOIy ambition has
hurried up to the Internal throne and when all
mon shall behold IN the fearful Teuibutlons Of
ms doom another fUlfllment Of that immutable
decree, Sc They who do not rule IN righteousness
small perish from the earth, ," then, sir tie PTOGd
dominion OF Sterling Price wiz be the fond aztec
ton Of great nstion Of freeInen. " His name
will 1--we a glory and BENSON forever


Permit me to state, in conclusion, t1at the
Year: 1862

All possibility of competition from ne
gro labor in the North, is avoided by
giving colored men protection ard employ
mont npon the soil which they have thus
far cultivated, and the right to which has
been vacated by the original proprietors,
deeply involved in the crimes of treason
and rebellion.


No great territory has been permanent
ly reduced without dcpriving the leaders
Of its people of thci: lands and property
1t is this that gives power and influence
to few men who have the commanding
genius and talent to exercise dangerous
influence over their fellow men without
the adyentitious aid Of money and proper
ty. By strihiug dopn this system Of
compulsory tabor which aids the leaders
of the people, the rebellion aeould die Of
HseE


Under no circumstances has any dispo-
sition to servile insurrectlon been exhlb-
tied by the colored people in any OF the
Southern States where strong loyalty
to the Federal Go, crnment has been dis
played on every occasion, against every
discouragemcnt.


BY the means suggested the rebellion
may be disarmed and subdued swiftly and
effectively and the lives Of our own people
saved from slaughter on the battle fields.
/ BY the occupation Of all their ports IN
the Mississippi seacoast, market will be
opened in every rebel State for the IN
dustry of our people to supply the wants
of the army, aud also Of a loyal popula-
ton, in exchange for the valuable pro-
ducts of their abar. Another point OF
attack is by armed settlements upon the
vacant government lands in Florida and
Texas. Thousands in the northern and
Western States are impatiently waiting
the military movement to plant their
houses in the best territory of this contl-
nent, and bring it back to the Union as
loyal States.


So far from the Southern States being
inyincible, no enemy was ever so vuner-
able If tie means at hand are employed
against them. If your proposition for
compensated emancipation and u younta-
ry return to loyalty be blipdIy rejected,
still the proper application of the means
at command Of the government cannot
f,il to accomplish the suppression of the
rebellion and restoration of those peace
ia! relations which were designed to be
established forever on this continent By
the union Of the States.
Year: 1862

~ The Biddcford Union states that Captain
Cowan of the Maine Crvalry, who has been


obliged to resign on account of ill health, ar
rived at his home IN that city on Tuesday last,
and is now confined to his house by illness.
Captain Cowan was an able and Jealous Off
cier and we regret (as we know he does him
selD the necessity for his leaving the service.
Year: 1862

ing, do it by towing it along in the water
until opposite of the encampment, when
party is detailed to back it in. The
old adage, that, necessity is the mother
of invention" is verified here every day.
Scarcely day passes but some addition
is made to the multiplicity of our inven-
tions for the carrying on of our domestic
affairs. Very likely this branch of pro-
ceedings will be of iacalculable advan-
tage to oar country after peace is restored.


P. r.
Year: 1862

DEAR FRIEND yorktown and all its
strongholds are taken without firing q
gun. This is bloodless though not un-
important victory, and in my opinion,
will reflect much honor on our comman-
der as man of strategy, and a clear
headed engineer. The line of fortifca-
tions at Yorktown was by far the most
formidable of any ever saw, and our
feelings on the subject of its evacuation
may be summed up in the words Of our
Captain, as he walked through looking at
the works" l am glad they left


l was on guard Saturday night and
was constantly annoyed by continuous
firing to our right. Soon after daylight
Gen. Brooks rode into camp and started
our regiment across the creek. The 9Th,
| believe got to the other side before any
other regiment; then came the Sd and LIST
brigades, and formed about the deserted
works. Our brigade returned to camp,
packed up, got some dinner, each man in
our regiment took four hard crackers and
started in pursuit of the retreating foe.
They took everything Of much value
with them, leaving few large knives,
tents and worn out clothing, old wagons
and ambulances to fall into our hands.
Six companies of the I'd were sent to the
left to see if it would be practicable to
build bridge that the enemy destroyed.
We pressed pretty close to the rear guard
of the enemy, causing them to blow up
one load of ammunition and destroyed an.
other load of articles, too numerous to
mention. Perhaps we could have cap
tured something valuable if we had only
made dash.


Our business was to visit the destroyed
bridge, and our commander, it is likely,
did as he was ordered. We found that it
would be impracticable to repair the
bridge and we returned to the main road.
When we got there the rest of the brigade
was several hours ahead of us, and we
started in pursuit of it. We marched
till after dark, when some General told
our Colonel that he had better halt for
the night. You may be sure that was
welcome news for us. We fled into a
piece of woods and spread our blankets.
and were soon asleep. During the night
-it began to rain smartly, but most of us
kept cool till daylight, trusting to our
rubbers to keep us dry. In the morning
we built little tent to sit UNDER some
we're fortunate enough to have little cof-
fee with them, and I Joined in with four
others and we made cofee-pot full; ]
had two crackers and made out something
Of breakfast. We then took our posi-.
ton with the rest Of the brigade on the
front line. The sky grew dark, and the
rain fell thick and fast. We fled into q
ravine where we sat down and amused
ourselves by listening to the skirmishing
on our right and left, which at times would
become sharp and again it would almost
cease. About 8 o'clock P. NJ. we were
marched out Of the woods and formed in
Year: 1862

Mr.. EDITOR When / wrote you last
on Ship Wallace, believe promised to
write you again as soon as we got on land;
but you must not expect much news, as
that is entirely out Of our line. We
might nerly as we'll be in China as on
Ship Island, if the collection of war news
was our object.


We LANDED Monday the 7th, about noon,
glad once more to get ourselves on dry
land. Although the Island is nothing
but sand bed, yet it answers very we'll
as a substitute for land, for an encamp-
ment After marching about a mile from
the landing, we halted and pitched our
tents. Last Wednesday there was a gen.
cral review. l am informed that nearly
all the forces on the Island were out. 1t
was a grand show. -.


The right wing of the 9TH regiment ar
rived here the same day the Sth did, and
the left wing few days after, so you see
both regiments are here now. We have
now got fairly settled down, SO that We
can once more enjoy camp life.


A rebel steamer, p G. Wallis. was TAX
en- two days before we arrived here, and
there has been several others taken; the
news of which you will get from some
other source more correctly than | can
give it.


You can get correct opinion of the
appearance of Ship Island, by picturing
in your mind. a long, low, dirty snow
drift, in the spring of the year, with one
end occupied as an encampment, and the
other, studded with scruby hard pine. The
west end of the Island is merely white
sand bed, and on this end the troops are
encampod. The east end is wooded prin-
cipally by hard pines and very small
palm trees.


AS / was strolling along few days
since, on the beach, I.came across few
ripe blackberies, but they we're very scarce;
vegetation seems to be very scarce arti-
Gle.


Water can be obtained anywhere on
the Island, by diging down four feet.
The weather is not so warm here as we
expected to find it, although it is very
warm when there is no wind; but there
has been quite strong breeze most Of
the time since we have been here. There
was severe storm last Friday night; the
rain fell in torrents, and the thunder and
lightning was severe.


The health Of the troops, Understand,
is very good, and ! think it is so; it is so
at least, with our regiment. | think
there arc no more deaths here than there
would be among the same number OF
inhabitants in Vermont but perhaps there
are more than we hear Of


Perhaps detail Of our domestic af-
fairs will be amusing to you, if not in
teresting. Our boys have brought brick
from the landing, sufficient to build an
arch, and as we have mason in the Co.,
we soon had it erected. There is no shell
ter over it yet, and if we should not re-
main here long, presume we shall not
have any. As I have told you, the wood
is on the cast end Of the Island, and we
obtain it by rafting it three or four miles.
The men that perform the labor Of raft
Year: 1862

or all the sweet, sad words Of life,
Whose very sound seems soft and blest,
The one most like n benson


Is that sweet lOve-wOrd-rest.
We grow SO weary on life's road,
Climbing its rocky heights and Steep
That it will seem SO blcst to seek


The Shadow-Land of Sleep.
Fen the Sweet Valley Of the World,
The Happy Land Of Love,
When we have walked awhile therein
Doth full Of sadness prove;
And weary s0ula pass from the Vale,
Signing with heAItS oppressed,
The saddest thing Of life is love-


The sweetest thing is rest.
The sweetest spots along life's road,


Are where low willows weep,
And the one place for smiles should be
Where our beloved sleep.
And if our friends would breathe prayer
That we he truly &ssS,
bet them but pray our God that We


May have Eternal Rest
Year: 1862

THEY have, it is said, rifle company
in Vermont whose captain takes them
out once week to practice; he draws
them up in single file. and sets a cider
barrel rolling down the hill; the men
commence shooting from right to left at
the bung.hOle as it comes up. After the
shooting is over, the captain examines the
barrel, and If he finds shot that did not
enter the -bang-bOle, the member who
missed is expelled. None have been ex-
PEELED for the last eight years.
Year: 1862

Is there more exquisite pleasure in this
world of ours than is found in giving COM
fort to the sad For this is world of sor-
row; vale Of tears. And he who can 20
to the wounded heart with words of conso-
lation has q power and mission that angels
might envy. hanars Hs- 'siHsaffs


There is no pleasure more exquisite in
this work of ours, than il found inthe as
surance that every sheet that goes from our
hands may carry words of peace to- the
troubled, joy to the mouruer, aud hope to
the despairing. sdi aife pa'h g tan ~


We Meet with a gem Of holy verse. or a
happy thought of some warm hearted au-
thor, or striking incidentin theexperience
OF another, or q simple ancodote that has q
blessing in it, we seize it and set it here,
and think oft ohitsrounds of mercy, light
ing up this cottage, warming this breast,
making a,smile OF gladness on this cheek,
and dryingup tears In these eyes and SC
going onward over the whole land upon itt
errand Of blessing .ti uv 19.N4


There is great power in words; in words
ftly spoken. Il is great gift to be able to
speak with such, tenderness, OF with such
power as TO be q minister Of good to,the poor
aud the weary, and the suffering. 1t is a
JOY TO the proud fnan to be able to lead, and
rule and overcome, but there is. no Joy in
this world greater than to know we are do
ing good to those who are in need OF good
10 be q heart comforter, In a world Of
wounded hearts, is q privilege to reconcile
man 70 a Thousand ills, and make him will
ing to'be anything for the sake Of him who
wept at the grave OF a friend and restored
him to loving sisters. IN. Y. Observer
Year: 1862

When temptation appears, and
we are almost persuaded to wrong,
how often a mothers word Of
warning will call to mind vows
that are rarely broken. Yes, the
memory Of q mother has saved
many a poor wretch from going
astray. Tall grass may be grow
ing over the hallowed spot where
all her earthly remains repose ;
the dying leaves of autumn7may
be. whlrled over it, or the white
mantle of winter may cover it from
sight; yet. the spirit Of her, when
he walks in the right path, apr
pears, and gently, softly, mourn
fully calls to- him, when wandering
off into the ways of error, ..ar9
Year: 1862

WILL carefully attend to the selection an loci a


w tinn of land in the several Land Districts in
Western Iowa and Nebraska Luy and sell Land
warrants or locate them on commission; for non
residents they Will loan money at Western rates of
interest, buy and sell real estate. and pay taxes
Collections made and money promptly forwarded.
Year: 1862

The election passed of yesterday very
og,e,Iy. In Rutland one would hardly have
known that anything unusual was taking
oJsce. Men came to the Town Hall and
voted and returned to their homes, the crowd
in the Hall at no time amounting 70 more
than TWO hundred. The entire number of
votes cast is little more than 400 only
a.out one third Of the usual number, No
special interest was felt from the fact that it
was well known there was to be no con
test in the election Of Town Representative
William Y, Nichols, Esq, the able and pop.
ular representative OF last year was elected
a, it will be seen without oppositi n, receiv-
ING all the votes, with the exception OF few
scattering,


The few returns received indicate that the
vote throughout the State is exceedingly
light,
Year: 1862

What record of everlasting infamy some
are leaving for posterity in this time that tries
mems souls and bodies. l must leave this
point--it is distasteful and sickening. But l
will glory in the men who are now coming
snto the field. They are saving our State
from disgrace. Posterity will call them
heroes. But / cannot help wishing some-
times, that there wonld be draft l would
pray day and night for the lot to fall on some
men, or rather human beings know of.


If / do not stop shall get excited and talk
baud and hit somebody, and that would be
naughty. Yours moderately,


SIGMA.
Year: 1862

In coming into harbor last week, near
Montauk Point, the Great Eastern struck
a rock which penetrated her bottom near
the stern, and let in the water so fast that
sire has been gradually sinking since, not
withstanding the action of her pumps
Nothing can be done to right her until
her cargo has been taken out.
Year: 1862

QUOTA FROM RUTLAND COUNTY


1t appears from the order ofthe Adj .Gener-


al that a considerable number of men are vet


wanted to fill up the full quota OF Rutland


County for the niue months men, and that
but few days remain in which they an be
raised without resort to draft. These men
are located in the several towns OF the
county, and, as we understand, will be used


TO fill up old companies in different parts of
bo State, unless they voluntarily enlist in
some company now being raised.


The new company now being raised by
eome of the citizens Of this town, wants some
stveny men of being full, and they have had
assurances from the Governor and Adjutant
a1rneral that the several towns will be cred
itel on their quota for all the men that enlist


u his company. This is now the only com
tany being formed in this county, and this is
iheretore the last opportunity the men OF
ibis county will have OF eniisting in home
company. After this company is tull--the
fpsidue of the quota from Rutland County
hill be used TO fill up any COMPANY or COM
rants that may be deficient in numbers,with-
ont regard to its location. We trust that t1ar
iSelectmen of the severri towns-and olher
patriotic citizens OF the county will see to 1t,
that the company is full by Thursday night.
Year: 1862

The New York Economist calculates
that the complete outfit Of a soldier rep
Iesents about twenty five pounds of raw
or manufactured wool, and that for
an army subjected to the wear and casu-
altes of war, the actual consumption of
woolen material is equivalent to about
sixty pounds of wool per annum per man.
Year: 1862

tOn.


Paymaster's Clerks 800 per annum, and rs
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
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 STAFF OF LIFE.-It is said that
bread is the staff of life. What il the
staff is so heavy that he who leans upon
it cannot lift it? Such may as well
have have no staff. Bread to sustain
life should be light and nutritious. and
such is made by those who rely solely
upon ID. b. DeLaud g. Co. - celebrated
Chemical Saleratus, which can always
be found in well appointed grocery
stores. No grocer who regards the
health and good will of his patrons will
be without it.
Year: 1862

clude the three.forths of the wife that
had no existence when the ceremony
was performed? And as to the matter
Of conscience and good morals, ought
not an English married pair to insist
upon the celebration of a silver wedding
at the end of twenty-five years, in order
to legalize and mutually appropriate
that corporeal growth, Of which both
parties have individually come into pos.
session since they were pronounced one
flesh?