they climbed up the lightning rod on the
east side of the spire, to the top. Here
one of the men fastened the pole securely to
the cross, although quite a gale was blow-
ing at the time. The flag thus secm*ed,
the daring yomig man mounted the cross,
and, taking off his hat, calmly and grace-
fully bowed to the immense crowd which
were w^atching his movements from Broad-
way. As the flag floated freely in the air.
they burst into loud and repeated cheers.
It was a sight to thrill the nerves of any
patriot
♦
Olerloal Pxleonen of State.
An event occurred one day during Gen-
eral Butler's career in New Orleans, which
brought that officer into such direct col-
lision with the Episcopal clergy, that New
Orleans was not considered by the Gen-
eral large enough to contain both parties
in the controversy.
On a Sunday morning, early in October,
Mfyor Strong entered the ofiUce of the
Greneral in plain clothes, and said :
'*I have'nt been able to go to church
since we came to New Orleans. This
morning I am going."
He crossed the street and took a front
seat in the Episcopal church of Dr. Good-
rich, opposite the mansion of General
Twiggs. He joined in the exerdses with
the earnestness which was natural to his
devout mind, until the clergyman reached
that part of the service where the prayer
for the President of the United States
occurs. That prayer was omitted, and
the minister invited the congregation to
spend a few moments in silent prayer.
The young officer had not previously beard
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of this mode of evading, at once, the re-
qairement.s of the church and the orders
of the commanding Greneral. He rose in
his place and said :
** Stop, sir. It is my duty to bring these
exerdses to a dose. I came here for the
purpose, and the sole purpose, of worship-
ping God ; but inasmuch as your minister
has seen fit to omit invoking a blessing, as
our church service requires, upon the
President of the United States, I propose
to dose the services. This house will be
shut within ten minutes.**
The clergyman, astounded, began to
remonstrate.
^This is no time for discussion, shr,**
said the Major.
The minister was speechless and indig-
nant The ladies flashed wrath upon the
officer, who stood motionless with folded
arms. The men scowled at him. The
minister soon pronounced the benediction,
the congregation dispersed, and Major
Strong retired to report the circumstances
at head-quarters.
This brought the matter to a crisis.
General Butler sent for the Episcopal
dergymen, Dr. Leacock, Dr. Goodrich,
Dr. Fulton, and others, who were all ac-
customed to omit the prayer for the Presi-
dent, and pray in silence for the triumph
of tre&^n. The General patiently and
courteously argued the point with them at
great length, quoting Bible, rubricks and
history, with his wonted fluency. They
replied that, in omitting the prayer, they
were only obeying the orders of the Right
Reverend Major-Greneral Polk, their eccle-
siastical superior The Greneral denied
the authority of that military prelate to
change the liturgy, and contended that the
omission of the prayer, in the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the time and place, was an
overt act of treason.
** But, General," said Dr. Leacock, « your
iTMnating upon the taking of the oath of
all^iance is causing half of my church
members to perjure themselves.'*
^WelL** replied the General, ^i£ that
is the result of your nine years' preaching;
if your people will conmiit perjury so
freely, the sooner you leave your pulpit
the better.**
Af\er further conversation, Dr. Leacock
asked:
" Well, General, are you going to shut
up the churches ? **
" No, sir, I am more likely to shut up
the ministers.'*
The clergymen showing no disposition
to yield, General Butler ended the inter-
view by stating his ultimatum: ^Read
the prayer for the President, omit the
silent act of devotion, or leave New Or-
leans- prisoners of state for Fort La&y-
ette."
They chose the latter — Dr. Leacock,
Dr. Goodrich and Mr. Fulton — ^and were
duly shipped on board one of the trans-
ports.
♦
Onxioaity of &ebel Soldien to hear Presidant
Lincoln's Message.
A few days after the publication of the
President's message and Amnesty Procla-
mation, the fact of its promulgation having
been made known to the rebel pickets
of the Army of the Potomac, they man-
ifested great cuno. ity to hear it, and one
of the Union soldiers consenting to read it
to them, quite a considerable party collected
on the opposite bank to listen. While it
was being read the utmost silence and at-
tention were observed by the listening
rebels; and after it was finished one of
them called out, " We*ll go back to camp
and teU the boys about it** Papers had
been frequently exchanged by the pickets,
but about this time the rebels told our men
that thdr officers did not like .them to get
our papers, as " there was nothing encour-
aging in them."
BUdall's Cton»o l > t i4ML
In one of the great imperial soirees at
Biarritz, one of the courtiers of the £m«
pire, seeing the emissary Slidell alone
crossing one of the reception parlors, ex-
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THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OF THE REBELLION.
claimed : "Ah, Mr. Slidell ! you may show
yourself as much as you please ; you will
never be recognized," ** I beg your par-
don," said the Southern diplomat, ^ I have
been recognized long since for a patriot ; a
few more Southern victories and I will be
called the representative of a great nation.
As to you. Sir, 1 acknowledge, you are too
well known to need recognition ; and this
is what contoUs me for not being recog-
nizedl" Bah!
Handao&ia Belmke from an Alabamian.
A highly instructive as well as amusing
incident took place in a business house on
one of the principal streets of Nashville,
Tennessee, while a colored regiment was
marching along to the music of the national
drs. Several gentlemen were looking on
the parade, among them a wealthy planter
of Alabama, the owner of a large number
of slaves. One of the group stepped out
to the door, looking on for a few minutes,
and then indignantly turning on his heel,
addressed himself to the grave Alabamian,
to the following purport:
" Well, m be d— if that is not a bum-
ing disgrace, which no decent white man
can tolerate. Isn't that nigger regiment
too great an insult?"
The Alabamian jumped to his feet, and
replied, while his eyes flashed fire :
" Sir, there is not a negro in that regi-
ment who is not a better man than a rebel
to this Government, and for whom I have
not a thousand times more respect than I
have for a traitor to his country. 1 think
that the best possible use the Grovemment
can make of negroes is to take them and
make them fight against the rebels. No
traitor is too good to be killed by a negro,
no weapon too severe to use against the
wretches who are endeavoring to overthrow
the Government Now, Sir, swallow that,
whether you like it or not."
The rebel stepped off in utter amaze-
ment, without uttering a syllable in reply,
leaving the sturdy Alabamian, who cher-
ished the jewel of patriotism as something
rather more precious than flocks of slaves,
" alone in his glory."
John Kinor Botta between Two Ffres.
While the Third Indiana cavalry were
engaged in one of the bloody skirmishes
which fell to their lot in Virginia, M^r
McClure, seeing a hale-looking, oldish gen-
tleman in a doorway by the roadside, hailed
him, and inquired : " Which way did the
rebel cavalry, that a moment since passed
here, go?" ** Sir," was the reply, *♦ I an
under parole to the Confederate Govern-
ment to tell nothing I see. But, Sir, my
name is John Minor Botts — as devoted a
Union man as the world can find. I put
no *i&' nor ^buts* in the case."
Politloal Dialosne In Oaxnp.
Ixk the rear of General Grant's head-
quarters at City Point was the camp of
Head-qunrters Cavalry Escort While
passing through said camp on a certain oc-
casion, a visitor overheard the following
dialogue-politico, coming from a group ot
soldiers lounging under a shelter of pine
boughs :
Says A. — " I tell you that a majority
dofCt elect the President."
Says B. — ^" I know better ; it does elect,
and' there ain*t nothing else can elect"
A. — "-^ Well, it ain't so in our State, any
how."
B.— « Well, if the majority don't elect I
should like to know who does?"
A. — ^'^ Well, m tell you who does elect:
it's the Pleurisy^
B.— "The what-i-sy? What the
is that?"
A.—" Well, I don't know exactly, but I
know it ain't the mc^ority,^
A. was right He only got the pleurisy
for plural^; that's alL
Moner Couldn't BnyUa Vote.
Up in Morris County, New Jersey, lives
old Uncle Pete, who always votes the
ticket that bids the highest A few even-
ings before the presidential election of 1864,
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some Republicans went to his house to out-
bid some Democrats who had been there.
But Uncle Pete informed them he had
sold his vote three days before to the Dem-
ocrats for ten dollara He was told that if
he would carry his ticket and the ten dollars
back to the one who gave them, and vote
the Republican ticket, they would give him
twenty dollars, which offer Unde Pete im-
mediately accepted. Just as the party had
left the house they heard a couple of men
coming up whom they knew to be Dem-
ocrats. Being convinced they were on
their way to Unde Pete's, they hid them-
selves till the second party had passed into
the house, and went back to listen. The
D^Docrats had hardly become seated when
Uode Pete said :
^Gentlemen, you called upon me the
other day, and offered ten dollars if I
would vote the McLellan ticket I am
poor and took your money and the ticket*
Here are both ; take them back — ^I never
sell my vote!**
They tried to induce him to stick to his
first promise to them, but it was no go ; for
Unde Pete said .
"There is no use to talk, gentlemen. I
am a Lincoln man, and have been for over
ten years ! " And getting a little warmed
up at Uie thought of the twenty dollars, he
continued, " No, gentlemen, there is.no use
trying to change my mind, as I always
vote unflinchingly on principhj and money*
can't buy my vote. I am a Lincoln man,
and have been a Lincoln man all my
life!''
The Democrats left in disappointment,
the Lincoln men of course feeling sure
of Unde Pete's vote \ — unless a higher
bid came before election I
HorChem Preaent to Jeflbnon Davis.
The editor of one of the newspapers
published in Norwich, Connecticut, sent
JeffenoD Davis, the ^President"of the then
*• Six Nadons," a pen-holder made from a
rafter of the house in which his forerun-
ner, Benedict Arnold, was bom. In closing
his letter of presentation accompanying the
gift, the editor said : — ^^ I have taken occa-
sion to present you this pen-holder, as a
relic whose associations are linked most
closely to the movement of which you are
the head. Let it lie upon your desk for uf*^
in your official duties. In the 'eternal fit-
ness of things,' let that be its appropriate
place. It Imks 1780 with 1861. Through
it, West Pomt speaks to Montgomery.
And if we may believe that spirits do
ever return and haunt this mundane
sphere, we may reckon with what delight
Benedict Arnold's immortal part will follow
this fttigment of his paternal roof-tree to
the hands in which is being consmnmated
the work which he began."
Soene at Fort Warren: Bzit of Kaaon and
SlideU.
On the receipt, at Fort Warren, Boston,
of the news that Messrs. Mason and SlideU
were to be surrendered to the British Gov-
ernment, there was general dissatisfaction
among both officers and men, and expres-
sions very much against their personal
safety were freely indulged in ; but upon •
reading the very cool and logical deduction
of the Secretary of State, especially the
latter part of lus reply, where the insig-
nificance of the worth of the custody of
the Commissioners in this country is as-
serted, and the fact that were it essential
to the welfare or the safety of the Govern-
ment they would be retained at all haz-
ards, a general acquiescence was as freely
manifested.
On the morning of their departure, the
battalion was called out as usual, at 8:45,
for dress parade, and were kept upon the
parade-ground, manoeuvring slightly, till
after the rebels left. The guards were
strengthened to prevent any fit)m going
upon the parapets, either soldiers or pris-
oners, and thus they left as quietly as a
dog ^uld — ^periiaps with not so much no-
tice as a noble specimen of the Newfound-
land ordinarily attracts. As they passed
down to tiie wharf^ thev were accompanied
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TUB BOOK OP ANECDOTES OP THE REBELLION.
by Colonel Dimmick, who kindly waved all
ceremony at the guard-house, save to sun-
ply tuni out the guard — as our men were
unwilling and doubtless would have re-
fused to Aalute the Colonel, for in thus do-
ing, they would have had to salute the
rebels ; but when the Colonel came back,
the thiLg was done to a nicety.
When taking leave of Colonel Dimmick,
JMr. Ma^n was somewhat affected, and
said, " God bless you, Colonel ; God bless'
you ! " and cordially shook hands with him.
JMr. Slidell shook hands with the Colonel,
and said : " Under whatever circumstances
and in whatever relations in the future we
may meet, I shall always esteem you as a
dear friend."
During the morning many rebels
thronged the rooms of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell to get their autographs, and Mr.
Mason's hand was so unsteady as to be
noticed through the window out doors.
Some of the political prisoners said to
Mason : " We hope when you get to Eng-
land you will represent our case, impris-
oned on this island for no offence save
differ ng from others in political opinions."
He replied that if ever he arrived in
Europe he would faithfully represent their
ease.
Bettride our down-flOI^n Urthdom. Buh new morn
New widows howl, new otpluuu cry; new sorrovB
strike heaTen on the fiioe. that It resoondi
Ai if it felt with Scotland and yeUed oat
Like syllable of doloor.
Mr. Lincoln leaned back in his chair in
the shade af^er this pai>sage was pronounced,
and for a long time woro a sad, sober face,
as if suddenly his thoughts had wandered
from the playroom far away to where his
great armies were contesting with the
rebellion a vast empire.
Intexoedlnff for her Father: Blisabeth Self
and Jeft Davie.
Poor Hessing Self was one of the many
loyalists in Tennessee who were imprison-
ed and barbarously treated by the rebels
because of their fidelity to the Stars and
Stripes. He was told that a halter was
in preparation for him, only a few hours
previous to the tune appointed. His
daughter, who had come down to admin-
ister to his comfort and consolation — a
most estimable girl, about twenty-one years
of age — Elizabeth Self, a tall, spare-madt
Preeident Tiincoln at the Flay of ICacbcth.
One evening at the Washington theatre,
while Macbeth was being rendered upon
the stage by Mr. Wallack and Mr. Daven-
port, President Lincoln was observed to be
present with his little "Tad" (Thaddeus
Lincoln) with him. It being Mr. Lincoln's
faxonie play, one could not repress a cer-
tain curiosity to know — though he was
familiar with them as with stump-speaking,
doubtless — how certain passives would
strike him. When the following passage
between Malcolm and Macduff was pro-
nounced the audience was suddenly silent
as the grave :
Mai. Let ve aeek oat lome deeolate shade and tbnt
Weep our sad boaomi empty
Maed Letnaiathtf
Hold tut the mortd nrwd and Uke good mta
Interceding for her Father.
girl, modest, handsomely attired, beggco
leave to enter the jail to see her fiithcr.
They permitted her, contrary to their usual
custom and savage barbarity, to go in.
They had him m a small iron cage, a ter-
rible affeir ; they opened a little door, and
the jailor admitted her. As she entered
the cage were her father was, she dasped
him around the neck, and he embraced her
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also, throwing his arms across her should-
ers. They wbbed and cried ; shed their
tears and made their moans. When they
had parted, wringing each other by the
hand, as she came out of the cage, stam-
mering and trying to utter something in-
telligible, she lisped the name of Mr.
Brownlow, who was confined within the
same walls. She knew his foce, and he
could understand as much as that she de-
sired him to write a dispatch to Jefierson
Davis, and sign her name, begging him to
pardon her &ther. M*. B. worded about
this: **HoN. Jeffebson Davis. — My
£ither, Hessing Sel^ is sentenced to be
hanged at four o'clock to-day. I am living
at home, and my mother is dead. My father
is my earthly all ; upon him my hopes are
centered ; and, friend, I pray you to par^
don him. Respectfully, Elizabeth
Self.'* Jefferson Davi^, who then had a
better heart than some of his coadjutors,
immediately responded by commudng hb
rM-ntence to imprisonment.
Olarks of the President.
Some clever patriot, anxious that things
political should square a little more nicely
with his ideas of the necessities of the
public welfare, went to Washington, and
there sought the occupant of the White
House. He said to Mr. Lincoln, **Sir,
you must get rid of Mr. Seward — throw
him overboard." ** Mr. Seward," said the
President, *'is Secretary of State. He
conducts the diplomacy of the country.
Have you read his diplomatic correspon-
dence?'* *'Yes, Sir." **Have you any
foulttofindwithit?" **No,Sir." '^Well,
Sir, he is my derk ; I got him for that
purpose." ** Well, but you should throw
Bkir overboard.'* '* Sir, Mr. Blair is
Postmaster General. Do you get your
pi^rs and letters regularly?" "Yes,
Sir." Well, Sir, he is my clerk for that
purpose ; and /am President of the United
States." That was pretty much the idea
entertained by President Jackson of his
cabinet
9
«]Er. Linoolii Forffot Itt "
The capture of Mason and Slidell creat-
ed intense excitement throughout Europe,
and in no country perhaps was this excite-
ment more mercurial than in Paris. Pub-
lic opinion was in painful suspense in re-
gard to the forthcoming Pi*esidential Mes-
sage, which it was supposed would contain
a broad and national enunciation relative
to the event which held almost the whole
w^rld by the ears. The anxiously awai ted
document duly arrived, but no word did
it contain about the affiiir of "the Trent.
The surprise of the volatile Parisians
knew no bounds. A speculator at the
Bourse, more sptrittieUe than his col-
leagues, foimd an explanation of the enig-
ma : " Mr. Lincoln forgot it ! " The woixi
was taken up at once, and had an immense
success. Here was England about to fall
on the American coast with an armada
such as the world had never seen, all Eu-
rope was in consternation at the disasters
that were to follow such a struggle, com.
merce was ah'eady paralyzed, the funds
were fluctuating like the needle of a ba-
rometer before a storm, and — Mr. Lincoln
had forgotten even to ^peak of the circum-
stance 1 The joke was too chilling ; and
people swore while they laughed. Was
there ever such a people on the face of
the earth? 11$ ne se dotUerU de rienf
They fiddle whUe Rome is burning I
»
Bzamininir one of the Saltimore XTnoomi"
Querablee.
Considering the source from which the
following narration comes — the columns of
the Charleston Merciuy — it may perhaps be
regarded as ' drawn rather mild,' though the
veraciousness of the affair, even as thus
given, is more than doubtful. It however
gives the rebels a chance to set off the
^unconquerable ipirtt of the women of
Baltimore," and this is at least instructive
to the student of feminine benignity. But
to the " unconquerable'* : —
A Mrs. W., of Baltimore, about to pay
a visit of a few days to the country, to some
relatives, was driving through the city in
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THE BOOK OP ANECDOTES OP THE REBELLION.
her own carriage, with her trunks strapped
behind. Suddenly the vehicle was stop-
ped by a policeman, who assured the lady
she was under arrest, and would be obliged
to repair inunediately to the office of the
Provost-Marshal. Mrs. W., somewhat
indignant at the request, refused to go,
alleging as an excuse^ that such a public
place was unftt for a lady to frequent ; she
said that she would go to the Conmianding
Greneral, Dix, at Fort McHenry, but if
the policeman attempted to take her to the
Provost Marshal she would shoot him.
" As you please, madam ; I will get into
the carriage and go to the fort with you."
" You are mistaken," replied Mrs. W.,
** this carriag**, is mine, and if you attempt
to get into it I will immediately fire upon
you."
The policeman took a seat with her
coachman, in whom Mrs. W. confided as
her protector, and they drove to Fort Mc«
Henry. On reaching the Fort, she sent
for General Dix, and seeing her he said :
^^ Madam, I do not know how to address
you."
** It is time you did. Sir, since I am ar-
rested, I suppose, by your authority."
** Madam, you look wearied ; walk into
my office."
Ordering some regulars to bring in the
trunk and search it, the General remarked
to Mrs. W. :
** This is a military necessity, madam, I
would these things were not, but the Gov-
ernment must be supported. * United we
stand,' you know. Madam, have you any
sons in the Confederate army ? "
'* I have three. Sir."
"Did you aid and encourage them to
enlist in that service ? "
"General Dix, are you a married man ? "
" I am, madam."
** Then ask your wife what she would
have done under similar circumstances."
"Madam, you look faint and weary;
let me order you some refreshments."
" What ! eat hei*e ? I, a Southern wo-
man, break bread with the Yankees f
Never I while they are the miserable Xoes
they have proved themselves. Every day
I see more clearly the necessity of an eter-
nal separation. And where the dividing
luie is fixed I want a wall built so high
that a Yankee can never scale it ! "
The trunk breakers having satisfied
themselves that nothing objectionable to
the Administration could be found, report-
ed the same to General Dix, who, on con-
sultation, determined to have the person
of Mrs. W. searched. The gallant Gen-
eral remarked :
" Madam, it is necessary now that your
person be searched ; you will not object, I
hope?"
" Oh, no. Sir, if the person to perform
that ignoble office is a female."
" Oh, yes, madam, a lady, your equaL"
" Sir, you arc mistaken — ^not a lady,
nor my equal. Were she either, she
would not do the degrading work you as-
sign her."
Mrs. W. was taken to a private apart-
ment, and the search was begun. Find
ing the woman delinquent, Mrs. W. threat-
ened to report her, if she did not perform
her duty faithfully. " Pull off my shoes,"
she continued ; " look well into them ;
make a thorough search, and see if you
can find a combination of red and white,
or anything inimical to tlie Union-savers ;
look well, or I will report you."
The woman finding nothing treasonable
upon Mrs. W., returned with her to the
gallant Greneral, telling him she would not
search another lady for five hundred dolr
lars: that such a persevering character
she had never encountered.
General Dix. shocked, no doubt, at
Mrs. Ws agitated appearance, again pit>-
posed refreshments, saying,
" Madam, do have a glass of wine."
" Only on the condition. Sir, that you
will drink with me to the health and suc-
cess of General Beauregard ! "
The wine, it is believed, w^ not taken.
Mrs. W. then, turning to Genend Dix,
said:
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<'Sir, I hope you are satisfied that I have
nothing traitorooB to your righteous {\)
cause. You thought to find the Confeder-
ate flag in my trunk, or on my person ; in-
deed, yoa are not good at hide and seek.
Yonr Boldiers are too little interested in
your righteous cause to serve you &ithfiil-
iy They searched my house a fortni^t
since for the flag. Both you and they
have been foiled. I sent that flag to Vir-
ginia ten days since under a load of vvood ;
it now waves over the glorious C!onfeder-
ates at Manassas. Sir, it seems the Yan-
kees' peculiar pleasure is to try to frighten