smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

A day or two since, a ragged and dirty
looking boy, fourteen years ofage, pleaded
guilty in the Superior Criminal Court to
having fired building. For two years
past, since the death of his mother, he
had wandered around the streets va
graft, without home or human being
to care for him, and he had become in
every respect "bad boy" A gentlemen
and a lady interested themselves in his
behalf, and the latter took him one side
to question him. She talked with him
kindly, but without making the slightest
impression upon his feeling, and to all she
said he manifested the greatest Indifference,
until she asked him if no one ever kissed
him. This simple inquiry proved too much
for him, and, bursting into tears, he re-
plied-"No one since my mother kissed
me-" Tbarone thought of his poor dead


mother, the only being perhaps, who
had ever spoken to him kindly before,
touched him TO his heart, q hardened
criminal though he was. The little in
cident caused other tears to flow than his.
Year: 1862

So near, and SO far, that fame of gold,


Where Day is lingering in the glowing West
The shining doors seem slowly to unfold,


Opening an entrance to home of rest;
Celestial ones fair, floating clouds upbear,
Too blest to tarry in this world of care; [gray,
Thus dream we till the Night comes stern and
And sweeps the sparkling pinnacles away,


So near, and yet so far!
So near, and yet SO far, the friend whose heart
Seems ever speaking in his earnest eyes,
Yet souls from souls unfathomed depths do part
Betwixt our minds voiceless mystery lies
So children in some clear stream gliding by,
Watch the reflection of the distant sky,
But cannot grasp the clouds of pearl and rose
Which on its bosom placidly rcpose,


So near, and yet SO far!
So near, and yet so far, that Spirit-land


Whose gales celestial soothe the weary brow
So near, as if the melton of hand


Might thrust aside the mist that hides it now
And yet SO far that when earth's dear ones fly
Like birds unfettered to their native SKY,
No answer comes back from the Shining shore,
And The torn heart wriihes, moaning evermore


So near, and yet SO farl


Stonington, CT. LENTHAL.
Year: 1862

The Great Battle of Pea Ridge.


From a very full and sententious
account in the Cincinnati Times, of the
great Arkansas battle, we take the follow
ing description of the desperate three days
fiuht.
Year: 1862

Corinth will not he postponed more than another
,,oot end that its results cannot fail to be
decisive as 10 tho struggle in that quarter.
t,;,hc,to-psrtly through the relative inefIi.
cheney Of the cavalry on either side, but more,
perhaps, from the broken character of the ground
On which our greater battles have beer fought
neither side has evinced great energy Or skill
in making the most of a victory. We think the
rex, battle in the West will show n different
result. In Virginia, the strength and multiplicity
of the Rebel defenses may render pursuit difficult
in case Of their defeat, but we look for deci.
sive operations in that quarter also within
few days. Meantime, q painful interest will
weigh upon every breast, aud the hghtest
whisper Of news from the seat Of war will be
received with avidity.
Year: 1862

ACCIDENT AT McCLEILAS's HEADQUARTERs
1 correspondent Of the New York Tribune re
lates in letter dated April 18th, the following
incident:


We learn from General Wool that there was
an accident Of a most thrilling nature at Nc
Clellans headquarters Yesterday. Gen. Filz
John Porter assembled in the balloon for the
purpose Of making a reconnaissance When
high up the rope broke and of foated the
balloon. directly over the enemys intrenchments.
The officer was considered to be inevitably lost.
The hearts that were wrung with the hardness
and strangeness Of his fate, were suddenly
cheered as well as amazed with the spectacle Of
the return of the balloon over our Own camps.
1t had ascended TO a counter current Of air,
and vas waited, with lis precious freight. back
to safety Once again over bis own troops.
the soldier aeronaut pulled the valve and dis
charged the gas from the balloon and came
down TO earth by the ran, entirely unharmed
What he saw is for military use, and not for
publication
Year: 1862

SUB-NARINE.-A gentleman in New Bed
ford has invented new plan for gunboat,
one popularity Of which is that the guns are
fired under water. 1t is described by those
who have seen it as highly ingenious
Year: 1862

CANNIBALIsM At BnNNY.-By the arrival Of
the Armenian mail steamer at Liverpool
on the 18th March. we learn that when the
vessel was in the Ronnv river, on the 29th of
January last, Il report was circulated 10 the
elect that a cannlbal feast was about TO be
made IN the town, but no one gave the rumOr
credence. However. party went on shore on
the lst OF February. and were Mortified to see.
when walking through the place, no less than
live human heads, placed in the most system
atIc order on the grass, with fire close by.
and large pot ready for cooking. At another
spot close by lay arms legs. etc, IN the course
Of being prepared for the pot while an old
black woman was engaged in slicnr q human
liver for the stew Itanpears HAT previous
to the return Of King People 70 Bonay after
his long residence 10 England the population
was divided into two powerful parties, one Of
which was opposed to the Kings return: but
iatterly both parties signed a treaty that no
persons life should be sacrificed without his
being brought before his Majesty for trial.


LoyDoy TINES ON THE MONITOR. Putting
the most favorable construction on the reports
of the performances Of both ships, we DO not
perceive how the form Of either wo1ld be suia-
bic rs model for the ships OF a naval power
which pretends to maintain naval supremacy.
Neither the Confederate or the Federal ship
has that essential requisite, high velocity
Neither could keep the sea effectively during a
gale like that encountered by the Warrior
On the other hand, both are superior to our
ship in steering. Each obeyed the belm with
fecihty; but our ships of mail seem to be dis
obedicnt Then the rudder Of the American
ships Is protected apparently. whereas the helm
of the Warrior is as vulnerable as that Of
wooden liner We want a model ship as inyul-
nerable and easily handled as the Monitor, as
fast as the Warrior, with power OF sailing or
steaming at pleasure, and capable of keeping
the sea with impauity. At present the War
rior comes nearest to the model required. but
we shall be greatly surprised if British iniegr-
~ cannot improve upon that model, especially
after the experiments in action.
Year: 1862

UNION MEETING AT NEw 0RLEANs-A
great Union meeting was held at New
Orleans, On the l7th of September, at
which Colonel A. j. Hamilton, of Texas,
made stirring and patriotic speech,
Speaking of the wretched condition of
Texas since the rebellion, he said


"The first act of the confederate mObO-
cracy of Texas was to rob the Uniou-its
mother, who had picked it up out of the
wilderness II poor foundling-of all the
arms and munitions of war in the State,
helped by the treachery of man who is
now no more This was done even before
they had joined the Confederacy. With
the help of the money they had stolen at
the same time, from the same source, they
purchased all the powder in the State, and
then when the people woke up they found
they had no arms, no powder, nothing to
resist with, and so they were at the mercy
of this unprneipled horde


THE consequences of all this are too ap
parent to day. In all the broad limits Of
that State there was no man who could
say he was actually poor. He might have
but humble home, IL little log cabin, but
he had plenty This was before the era
of Secession. Go to that poor mans home
now You will find his wife clothed in
rags, and weeping for her husband, who,
she will tell you, three days ago was drag
ged oil as conscript to pour forth his
blood like water in iurtherance Of u cause
which he detests'
Year: 1862

There can be but one Party needed,
uutil this War is cuded, in the Loyal
States. That party is the People
supporting an Administration charged
with carving On the Government.
ANY opposition to the Administration
must weaken and harasS the Loyal,
and cheer and encourage Traitors.


1t was with this in view that the
late State aud County Union Con
ycntious were called, (whosc nomlna-
,ions. embracing loyal men from both
former parties, are printed above y
and in this spirit many thousands OF
Democrats united with Republicans
en- a platform upon which all true
men can agree. They participated
in the primary elections. In these
times, we should stand together al
the polls, as our brethren do on the
fields of war. II was indeed hoped
Ey very many, that no attempt would
be made to excite domestic dISSen
sions this wear. as our candidates arC
admitted by all TO be capable and
worthy men. But We arc informed
that the fault finding Breckenridge
leaders, in Union county, taking the
name Of Democrat as blind for
their movements, have called SEC.
oyD Convention, to make such effort;
for dividing the people as they deem
proper and likely TO accomplish tha
end. We happen to know that many
who love that name will not DC mis-
led 10y it this year. They know nC
party but the Government, until tn,
Rebellion is put down. We com
mend to them all the following article
from the DEMOCRAT, Laportc, Pa:


"Ur!ess the people of the lcya States desire
he Rebellion To go Cn until they are imPov'
erished, bankrupt, and exhausted, they mus
cease TO mix up their personal ieuts and IhcIi
party tactics with the question OF vIsorou:
prosecution Of the war. We can never move
with one hearty purpose while angry terlIn;
as aroused through the disturbing influence .
personal squabbieS or parry politics. w
can never Concentrate our great suenSti
upon the one great paramount question o
crushing out the Rebellion until we cast aS'd'
all discussion upon the Irrelevant aud dis
tracing topics OF the past. We can neve
strike the Rebellion with our power until W
are united IN heart and In purpose as ont
.nan"
Year: 1862

An arrangement for complete exchange
OF prisoners has been effected between
Gen. Dix and Gen. Hill. The result OF
this it is supposed can but be beneficial to
the Union cause. Many good soldiers
will be returned to our regiments made
more desperate and determined by the
cruelty of their rebel cap.ors, while the
Rebel prisoners will return convinced that
it is madness to contend longer with the
Federal Government.
Year: 1862

BRUTAL Ft0HE-The fight between Elliott
and Winkle, which was lately broken up by
the New York police, came of afterwards at
Weehawken in the midst of snow storm.
The men fought ninety-fve rounds In two
hours aud ten minutes. On the last round
both of them seemed pretty we'll used up.
Winkle was nearly gone, and Elliott had
rather the appearance Of being weakened
by the tedious efforts he had made through
out the 6ght ia following up his man. Both
fought at random, aud hnally clinched and
fell, going over upon one another on the
ropes. Here they we're surrounded by their
seconds, when Elliott received kick in the
stomach from some outsider, Both men
were. however, soon separated and carried
to their respective corners, aud II was
agreed to withdraw them, as it was impossi-
BILE for either TO stand the fight much long
er. Both men are what is known among
the pugilistic fraternity as middle weights.
Year: 1862




A Singapore paper, of the Gath of Au-
gust last gives the following account of a
terrific encounter with shark in that
harbor:


On Sunday last three seamen belonging
to the American ship I. W. Sears, were ba-
thing alongside, when one of them was
seized by shark. The monster first seized
him by the shoulder, but the force with
which he rushed on his victim caused him
to lose his hold, driving the unfortunate
man several feet out OF the water. The
shark again seized bin by the back and
finally by the neck. aud disappeared with
his prey. All this happened within plain
view of bis shipmates, who Immediately
lowered boat, and after taking on board
the two other men, proceeded to drag for
the body. They had been occupied in this
way for some time, when the shark was OBJ
eerved to rise at some distance from them,
still with the body of the hapless man 10 bis
mouth, shaking II, as is described, as dog
would rat. The mate Of the vessel armed
himself with boarding pike, and r0wed
toward the spot, aud the shark was SO much
occupied with bis victim that he allowed
himself to be stgbbed several times before
again disappearing. thinking the animal
had received bis death wound, the boat re-
turned TO the ship, bat scarcely had she ar
rived alongside, when the shark reappeared
as before. i harpoOn was now taken into
thd boat, and the shark again allowed him
self TO be approached sufficiently near to be
struck, when he again disappeared. Line
was now paid cut, and the boat was towed
some distance, till assistance arriving the
monster was killed by repeated stabs Of the
lance. Most Of the contents of HE nav
were disgOrgeA while being hauled IN, on
being opened some fragments which were
unrecognizable, and an eight pound tin of
preserved meat, were all that was found.


The shark was of the species known as
the ground shark, and about ten feet in
length. The grth of the body was immense
and is stated to have been eight or nine
feet.
Year: 1862

Alone IN the dark and silent night,


With the heavy thought Of a vanished year,
When evil deeds come back to sight,


And good deeds rise with welcome cheer;
Alone with the spectres Of the past,


That come with the old years. dying chime,
There glooms one shadow dark and vast,
The shadow of Wasted Time.
The chances Of happiness cast away,
The opportunities never sought,
The good resolves that every day


Have died in the impotence Of thought;
The slow advance and the backward step
In the rugged path we have strlven to climb;
How they furrow the brow and pale the lip,
When we talk with Wasted Time.
What are we nowS what had we been


Had we boarded time as the miser's gold,
Striving our need to win,


Through the summers heat and winters colu
Shrinking from nought that the world could do
Fearing nought but the touch Of crime
Laboring struggling all seasons through,


And knowing no Wasted TimeS
Who shall recall the vanished yearsi


Who shall hold back this ebbing time
That leaves us remOrse, and shame, and tears,
And wishes away all things besideS
Who shall give us the strength, een now,


To leave forever this holiday rhyme,
To shake of this sloth from heart and brow,


And battle with Wasted Timer
The years that pass come not again,


The things that die no life renew;
But e'en from the rust Of his cankering chain


Agolden truth Is glimmering through;
That TO him who learns from errors past,


And turns away with strength sublime,
And makes each year outd0 the last,


There is no Wasted Time.
Year: 1862

Old songs! they ring upon the brain,
Like whispers from the far off spheres,
And with their thrilling spell revive.


The garnsred love Of by. gone years. =:
What though beneath the sod they lie,


That pale array of honored dead; -.
In hpes immortal round the heart


Still, still hallowed beam they shed.
Old songs! never guessed how larxs


A space was in this heart of mine,
Till one dull eve, by chance, l found


A well worn book, whose every line
Came back to me as clear 40 though


But yesterday I'd laid it down,
But there found the wished for clue.


That spoke Of days forever aown.
Oh, when amid the world Of doubts,


OF light and shade in which We stray.
We seek some charm by which We drive
Some temporary grief away
Let they who love such pleasures court
The favorites who entrance the tlronr
For me, I'll find homlier scene,


And lull me with some dear old song.
Year: 1862

t1 Much has been written and said by the


press Of tbiaState in relation to the heath
fulnes. Of this climate. Those Of Us who
reside here require no proof OF this fact


The people ea nsas'e are living witnesses Of
i. And a, it beeomes known throughout


the Union, numerous iovalids have sought
this climate for remedy for their disease.


During the past winter We have been


thrown in contact with some Of those inva-
lids from different parts Of New York, New
England and other States. A nd in almost
every instance the climate has had ten
'denoy to relieve them from their sickness.


1t is especially 50 With those who were
troubled with consumptive or pulmonary
disorders. 1fit was only shown the relief
those fiud in our climate who are troubled


with such complaints, we are quite sure
that the doctors throughout the Uni


ted States would at once Recommend
their patients to visit our State. It would


be worth more to them than all the med
icine in Christendom.
Year: 1862

In spite Of constantly recurring deceptions
and that deferring of hope which maketh the
heart sick many still cling to the idea that the
restoration of the South is within the compass
of the means prepared for its accomplishment
by the patriotism and energy Of tho people
So 1t would be were those mcars handled with
anything like commensurate earnesiness and
integrity Of purpose by those to whom the
desinics Of tie nation arc entrusted.


When however we again witness the failure,
through the same causes that hampered McClel-
lan's movements after the battle Of ARtctam,
OF Burnside's sudden and skiliully projected
advance upon Richmond by the way Of Fredcr-
icksburg, and learn through the organs Of the
administration that il is now contemplated to
place the army in winter quarters; when we
find further in the annual reports Of the Navy
of resources and such proofs Of incapacity and
want of concert we confess that ne lose all
hope of proximate termination to our difficult
ties. The dominant party, like the Bourbons,
forget nothing and learn nothing. They cannot
dismiss from their minds the fact that the war
was brought about to enable them to enrich
themselves at the public expense, and their
past military failures they either will not or
cannot profit by. Under these circumstances
we see no prospect Of anything but long con-
tnued outpouring Of the blood and treasure of
the nation. We have, IL is true, plenty Of
good soldiers, good generals and military
resources of every kind; but of what actual
aid are they in the suppression Of the rebel
lion as long as they are thus neutralized by
factious influences or the prejudices aud imbe-
cility of the ruling powersY And the fanatical
spirit in which the Legislation Of the last session
Of Congress was carried on leaves no hope
that the measures Of the present one will do
anything towards bringing about a disposition
towards submission on the part OF the rebels
The manner in which the philanthropic and
patriotic recommendations Of Che Presidents
Message in regard toslavery have been received
by the radical organs 10, in fact sufficient
proof that there is TO be no relaxation Of the
uncompromising and vindctive temper in which
the ConHscation bill was passed.


What prVspect sas tAs most sanguine zee in
Year: 1862

willing to cooperate with Mcclellan, but was
restrained by the War Department Tho scope
OF this investigation, therefore, will afford Gen.
Mcclellan an opportunity to put the real facts
in regard to his campaign on tho peninsula be-
fore the public in an official form. We truss


and expect that he will avail himself of this op-
portunity. Gen. Halleck has already revealed
all that needed to be kept secret in the report
which we published yesterday, and there is now
no good reason why Mcclellan should longer
remain silent. His case is very much stronger
than the public have any idea of, and his ststs-
ments will carry conviction to the most preju-
diced minds. The War Department has already
been impeached by General Halleck for danger
ously dividing the army, and for depriving itself
of reinforcements by stopping en,istments.
General Mcclellan cannot be accused Of attack
ing the War Department, therefore, and we hope
that he will take occasion to fully complete that
history of military mismanagement Of which the
Prince de Joinville has written the first chapter.
and General Halleck the second.
Year: 1862

U. S. FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,


Orr New ORLEANS, 18th.


DEAR Sir I'm the excitement of the
last few days you must not be surprised if
l leave undone many things which ought
to do-one of which was to write to you
on thv occasion of my taking this city !;
but thank God it has been done, and in
what l conceive handsome style. | had
two Union men on board who had been
forced into the Confederate service at
Fort jackson as laborers. They inform
ed me that there were two forts near the
city, and, as we approached the locality,
tried to concentrate the vessels, but we
soon saw that we must take q raking fire
for two miles, so we did not mince the
matter but dashed directly ahead. They
permitted us to approach within 4 mile
and a quarter before they opened on us.


Capt. Bailey on the Cayuga, Lieut.. Com
manding Harrison, was in the advance,
and received the most of the first fire, but
although the shooting was good, they did
not damage his little vessel. The Cayuga
then fell back and the Hartford took her
place.


We had only two guns, which / had
placed on the topgallant forecastle, that
could bear on them till we got within half
a mile.


We then steered off and gave them such
a fire ''as they never dreamed of in their
The Pensacola ran up after
a while and took hestarboard battery oil
our hands, and in q few minutes the
Brooklyn ranged up and took chance at
my friends on the left bank, but they
were silenced, should say in twenty
minutes or half an hour, but l cannot
take note of time on such occasions. L
only know that half of the vessels did not
get a chance at them.


The river was too narrow for more than
two or three vessels to act to advantage,
but all were so anxious that my greatest
fear was that we should fire into each
other, and Capt. wainwright and myself
were hallooing ourselves hoarse at the
men not TO fire into our ships.


This last affair is what call one OF the
little elegancies of the profession-a dash
and victory but the passing OF the forts
Jackson and st. Phillip was one OF the
most awful sights ever saw. The smoke
was so dense that it was only now and
then you could see anything but the flash
of the guns and the fire-ships or RATS, one
of which was pushed down upon US lthe
Hartford) by the ram Manassas, and in
my effort to avoid it ran the ship on
shore, and then the fire raft was pushed
alongside me, and in n moment the ship
was one blaze all along the port side half
way up the main and mizen tops, but
thanks to the good organization Of the u
Year: 1862

There is bit of a sermon and snatch
of song wrapped up in the fact that not
out of the clear, but out of the cloud come
bows of promise and out Of the tempest
spring elements Of beauty, even as yurd,
white lilies from the bosom of the stormy
water. The hope that never kindies m
a laughing eye, is sure to be curved IN the
falling tear.
Year: 1862

It is the rush-Eght in the meagre fin
gers of Poverty, that reveals the nooks
and crannies in the human heart, and
what a lurking place for the bats OF
thought, it is, just as the pittance that
Poverty gives to Want is the truest gen
erosity in the world.
Year: 1862

The information from Fredericksburg yes
terday evening leads to the belief that the
enemy are falling back from the line Of the
Rappahanuock, with indications that Wash
ington city is tho next ohjact of bis enter,
prise. If he cannot take our capital be will
take hi:s own before tho roads become lmpas-
sable.


We learn that, save mere show of iorco
opposite both Fredericksburg and Port Roysi,
the enemy are So far back from the river that
their camp-ires cannot anywhere be seen
while returned prisoner reports them III
large force st DuInfries.