not, my man?** "Yes, Sir." "When
were Aey served out?** "Yesterday
morning.** "Were the same rations
served out to all the troops?** "Yes,
Sir.**
" Gentlemen,** said Grant, " troops do
not have six days* rations served out to
them in a fort if they mean to stay there.
These men mean to retreat, not to fight:
we will attack at (mee."
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THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OF THE REBELLIOK.
His action was as good as his word, and
the eagles of victory soon perched upon
his glorious banners.
Bacplalniiifir the Initialfl "O. V. X."
An incident worth narrating occurred
soon after the first occupation by the
Union forces of the country around Falls
Church and Vienna, the brigade of Gener-
al Tyler being on picket in that vicinity.
The Ohio boys under General Schenck had
been fired upon from a masked battery at
the last named place, and some of the
brave fellows were murdered. The re-
mainder were anxious for a sight of the
" gray backs ; " and when Lieutenant Up-
ton, a brave officer on General Tyler's
staff, called for a party for a scout, they
were ready. Lieutenant U. went some
distance into the country, and obtained
much valuable information. At one place
he visited the house of a well-known fc-
cessionist, and succeeded in making the
inmates believe the party were all "se-
cesh." He found out the whereabouts
and strength of the enemy, and feasted on
the best the gardens and cellars afforded.
All went well till a cap-pouch, that had
been very careftilly placed over the letters
O. V. M. (Ohio Volunteer Militia) on the
waist-belt plates of the men, became mis-
placed, and one of the young ladies, who
had been very forward in giving the de-
sired information, became alarmed, and
asked the meaning of the letters. The
Lieutenant was as ready with a reply as
he would have been if it had been an
order to surrender.
*• They mean,** said he, ** Old Virginia
Militia."
The explanation was perfectly satisfac-
tory, and the Lieutenant took his depart-
ure. But the household soon occupied
apartments in Washington at the expense
of the Gk>vemment.
Xoron's B ra v er y and Saorlfliw.
The battle of Wilson's Creek raged
with unabated fury for more than an hour,
and the scales seemed all the time nearly
equally balanced. It was almost incon-
ceivably fierce, and the Union cause lost
one of its bravest and most beloved de-
fenders — General Lyon, who was carried
from the field a corpse. While he was
standing where bullets flew thickest, just
after his favorite horse was shot from un-
der him, some of his officers interposed
and begged that he would retire from the
spot and seek one less exposed. Scarcely
raising his eyes from the enemy, he said :
^ It is well enough that I stand here.
I am satisfied."
Lyon had been wounded in the early
part of the engagement He bad been struck
by three shots ; one in the heel, a second
in the fleshy part of his thigh, and a third
in the back of his head, which had cut it
open to the skull. His surgeon begged
him to retire to the rear and have his
wounds dressed. "No — these are noth-
ing," was the General's reply, and, thou^
wounded and streaming with blood, he
moimted his horse and led the Kansas and
Iowa regiments to the &tal charge, say-
ing:
" I fear that the day is lost ; if Colonel
Sigel had beeli successful, he would have
joined us before this. I think I will lead
this charge ; Forward, men I I wiU lead
yoM/"
His horse had hardly sprung forward,
when a minie ball struck Lyon in the
breast, and passing out at the back severed
in its course the aorta, the principal blood-
vessel of the heart He fell into the
arms of his body-servant, saying, " Leh-
man, I am killed ; take cajre of my body," —
and instantly expired*
One of the bravest of the brave waa
Nat Lyon I
Bael on HoarselMMsk in one of the Peninsular
Battles.
Colonel Estoan, a Confederate offioer,
and author of << Notes fix)m the South,"
gives the following very graphic account
of an episode in one of the fights that
took place during McClellan's operations
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on the peninsular : — Meantime an episode
in the fight occured, in the shape of a duel
between one of the enemy's dragoons and
one of our Texans on a small field close
by. The dragoon evidently scorned to
join in the fight of his comrades, and dis-
played such skill in the management of
his horse and the use of his sword that it
was quite a pleasure to watch him.
In vain did the Texan make lunge after
lunge, and try all sorts of expedients to
overcome his antagonist. The dragoon
sat as firm as a rock in his saddle, wield-
ing his sword like a brand of lightning.
By the manner in which he handled his
horse and weapon I judged at a glance
that he was a German trooper, and I could
not help watching the exciting contest with
great interest. The Texan still continued
to wheel round his opponent on his fieet
barb, eagerly seeking to deal a home
thrust, whilst the dragoon, with a cool
steady eye, followed all the movements of
his impetuous antagonist At last they
dose in earnest A blow — ^a parry — a
thrust — follow close on each other !
The Texan had slashed the dragoon's
shoulder, so that the blood began to fiow,
which aroused a cheer firom the Texans
looking on, but at the same moment the
former received a back stroke, which cut
through the sleeve and flesh of his left
arm. The Texan now backed his horse
like lightning, and his fellow troopers
rushed forward to look at his wound ; but
without paying any heed to his hurt, he
again dashed at his opponent, and made a
lunge at his breast The dragoon parried
it with great dexterity, and at the same
time let fly a " quarte," which caused a
slashing wound in the Texan's back. The
latter spurred on his horse to a little dis-
tance, and before I could take means to
prevent the cowardly act, he deliberately
took out a pistol and shot the brave dra-
goon, who feu dead finom his saddle. The
ballet had entered just below the region
of the heart
Much grieved at his fote, I ordered a
grave to be dug to receive the remains of
the brave German trooper. We buried
him in his regimentals, with his trusty
sword on his breast and his pistol by his
side. This sad act having been performed,
I sent for the Texan, and after reprimand-
ing him severely for his cowardly conduct,
I ordered him to seek service in some
other corps, telling him that I could not
think of allowing a fellow of his stamp to
remain in my regiment. The Texan
scowled at me with his wild cat-like eyes,
and muttering a curse, mounted his horse
and rode away.
Stray Leaf in the Vioksbiirer Campaiflrn.
On the first of April, 1863, Generals
Grant, Sherman, Oglesby, Secretary of
State Hatch and Auditor Jesse R. Dubois,
of Illinois, with some others, were on
board the flag-ship of Commodore Porter's
squadron, the party having been up the
Yazoo River to Haines's Blufi^, on a re-
connoissance of the fortifications. While
the other gentlemen were in the cabin,
discussing public questions, General Grant
and Mr. Dubois withdrew, and being in
company on the deck, the following con-
versation ensued between the two :
General Grant, — Uncle Jesse, to tell
you the truth, I have come to my wit's
end as regards the capture of Vicksburg.
I really do not know what next move to
make. I have tried everything 1 could
think of, and here we are yet. I have
been advised that we go back to Memphis,
and commence an overland march from
that point
Mr. Dubois.: — General Grant, you can-
not do that. If you take this army back
to Memphis, with all this array of gun-
boats and transports and all your material
of war, the effect will be disastrous on the
country. This infernal constitution in our
State was only defeated by superhuman
exertions. Another election is almost
upon us, and the whole Northwest is on
the verge of revolution. If you go back,
you strengthen the hands of the traitors
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THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OF THE REBELLION.
and K. G. C's at home. They will call
your movement a retreat, and more loudly
than ever assert that the South cannot he
conquered. If you can do no better, you
must storm Yicksburg. J£ it costs the
lives of forty thousand men it must be
taken. It is a terrible thing to think of,
but it must be done.
General Grant replied that he would
reflect upon the matter during the night,
and let Mr. Dubois know of his determin-
ation in the morning. When the morning
came. General Grant met Mr. Dubois with
a cheerful countenance, and the following
conversation took place : —
General Grant, — Uncle Jesse, you are
going home to-day ; tell Governor Yates
and the people of Illinois for me, that I
will take Vicksburg in sixty days.
Mr, Dubois. — General Grant, I am glad
to hear you say this ; but all I ask you to
allow me to tell them is, that you will take
Vicksburg, — I don't care whether in sixty
days or in six months.
General Grant. — I am bound to take it
I have decided on my plans. I will not
tell you what they are. Even with the
best intentions, you might disclose them
to the detriment of the movement.
They then parted, and General Grant
detailed his plan to General Sherman,
who protested in writing, but placed him-
self under the General's orders.
Auditor Dubois went home and told
Governor Yates that Grant would take
Vicksburg ; that he had no doubt of it ;
that General Grant told him to tell him
80, and that he must tell it to the people
as coming from General Grant. It will
be remembered that the promise of Gren-
eral Grant was published in the papers at
the time, and that Governor Yates repeat-
ed it from the stump.
General Grant's next move was to send
for General John A. McQemand, and
ordered him to march his corps from Mil-
liken's Bend to the Grand Gulf. General
McClemand proposed some changes in the
details of the plan ; but General Grant
cut him short by saying that he had di«
gested and arranged the entire details for
the movement, and only required him —
General McC, — to execute his orders.
McClemand said he would do that to the
best of his ability, and departed on his
expedition.
There are those who know that, at this
very time, strenuous efforts were being
made at Washington for the removal of
General Grant. Not only West P<Mnt
was arranged against him, but Republican
members of Congress, some of them from
Illinois, went to Mr. Lincoln and urged
his removal, taking back their former in-
dorsements of him. Leading Republican
papers also loudly denounced him, and
clamored for his supersedure. At this
time, a prominent Republican and retired
officeholder from Illinois, who had been
down the river buying cotton, wrote a
letter to Mr. Lincoln, denouncing General
Grant, predicting his failure, and urging
the appointment of General Pope to his
command. He brought the letter to Hon.
C. M. Hatch, then Illinois Secretary of
State, and one of Mr. Lincoln's most inti-
mate friends, and asked him to direct it,
but did not show him its contents. He
represented to Mr. Hatch that Mr. Nico-
lay, who had been Mr. Hatch's depaty-
derk, seeing the handwriting, would hand
it to Mr. Lincoln. Hearing of the occur-
rence, and suspecting a trick, Mr. Dubois
made Mr. Hatch write a letter to the
President, which both signed, and which
urged him to do nothing against Grant;
that they had been down the river, and,
so far as they had anything to say in the
matter, they were perfecUy satisfied with
him.
Not the least interesting incidents con-
nected with this " inside view" of matters,
are, the written protest by General Sher-
man against Greneral Grant's circuitous
march around Vicksburg, and by which he
cut himself off fitMn his base of su]^lies ;
General Sherman's direction that the pro-
test be forwarded to Washingt<Hi, and
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General Grant's never so forwarding it ;
and alierward, when Vicksburg was about
to surrender, the tearing-up of said pro-
test, by General Grant, in Greneral Sher-
nuurs presence, much to the satis&ction
of the latter.
Baftthly Xnooonter between Hunt and
Lonfirliboroii^h.
Among the prisoners released from
Ridimond, in January, 1862, was Captain
Ralph Hunt, of the First Kentucky regi-
ment, — Captain H. belonging himself in
Clark county, Ohio. In September, 1861,
his regiment formed a part of the force
under General Cox, encamped near Gau-
ley*s Bridge, in Western Virginia. The
enemy were desirous of dislodging the
General, and about the dd of September
attempted a reconnoissance in some force.
Oar pickets were driven in, and Captain
Hunt was ordered out with his company
to make observations of the force and
movements of the enemy and report there-
on. The whole country thereabouts is
thickly covered with scrubby pine and
cedar, so that a man may escape notice at
a few yards distance. Pushing his way
through the bushes and scrubby trees
mitil he obtained a position conmianding
' the road by which the rebels must advance,
the Captain halted his men where they
were concealed from observation, and
ordered them to lie quiet and await orderd ;
a few men )iad been sent in advance as
scouts, but it seems that these were bewil-
dered amidst the dwarf pines and bushes,
and, in making their way back, unfortu-
nately got into the Captain's rear.
The Captain, after posting his men, had
gone forward a few yards, accompanied by
two of his men, and, hearing an advance
npoQ the road, stepped forward a few
paces, in expectatkm of seeing his return-
ing scoots, but the party advancing along
the road turned out to be the leading files
of the advanced guard of the rebel forces.
With these was a fine-looking officer named
Loog^borooghy who had been sent out to
drill the Confederate troops in that region.
This officer was marching some distance
in advance of his men, and, catching sight
of Captain Hunt, poured forth a torrent
of imprecations,— exclaiming —
"Come out, you Yankee son
of a , and be shot I**
Saying thw, the rebel fiend raised to his
shoulder instantly his Mississippi rifie.
Captain Hunt had a musket with him —
the ordinary smooth bore, which he im-
mediately leveled at his adversary. The
combatants were about fifty yards apart —
each fired at the same instant ; the Adju-
tant's ball whistled close by the Captain's
ear, but the Adjutant himself, with a curse
upon his lips, fell dead with a bullet
through his brain. So instantaneous was
his death, that not a limb quivered after
the body touched the earth.
Not less than seven shots were instantly
fired at Captain Hunt, none of them, how-
ever, taking eifect. The enemy, enraged
at the loss of a favorite officer, were at
first inclined to be revengeful; but the
gallantry he had just displayed, and the
coolness with which he bore himself when
in their power, finally won their respect.
The men of Captain Himt's company sup-
posed their leader to be killed, and made
good their escape to camp. Hunt and the
two men with him were so surrounded that
escape was impossible. Refusing to give
his parole. Captain Hunt was ironed, and,
after visiting several of the towns in Vir-
gmia, was confined in the tobacco fttctory
at Richmond.
*'Tonn9 America" at Fort Doneleon.
In a little open field in the woods which
had been the scene of the hottest portion
of the Fort Donelson conflict, there was
afterward foimd one living mortal among
the multitudinous dead. On approaching
this person, he was found to be a mere
stripling with the garb of a Federal soldier,
and at least, in his own estimation, just
then, a pretty formidable one at that
"Do you see that old secesh?'' said he.
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THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OP THE REBELLION.
pointing to a stalwart body at least six
feet in length, stretched out a short distance
from him, — " well, I killed him ; " and with
evident pride he went on to say how the
dead enemy was the color-bearer of a
rebel regiment, and as he was lying there
beside that stump, had taunted him with
I
Tonng America.
being an Abolitionist, and told him to
' come out of there.' He did come out,
and to the sad detriment of his Goliah-
like antagonist. The boy had come a
mile or more from his camp to get a
glimpse of his fallen foe.
"Thpit onlt."
A good story is told of a lisping officer
in the army having been victimized by a
brother officer (noted for his cool deliber-
ation and strong nerves), and his getting
square with him in the following manner.
The cool joker, the Captain, was always
quizzing the lisping officer, a Lieutenant,
for his nervousness.
" Why," said he, one day, in the pres-
ence of his company, " nervousness is all
nonsense ; I tell you, Lieutenant, no brave
man will be nervous."
"Well," inquired his lisping friend,
" How would you do, thpose a shell with
an inch fiithe thould drop itthelf into a
walled angle, in which you had taken
thelter from a company of tharpthoot-
herth, and where it wath thertain, if you
put your nothe, you'd get peppered."
"How?" said the Captain, winking r1
the circle ; " why take it cool, and spit on
the fuse."
The party broke up, and all retired ex-
ce[)t the patrol. The next morning a
number of soldiers were assembled on the
parade and talking in clusters, when along
came the lisping Lieutenant. Lazily
oj;enmg his eyes he remarked :
"I want to try an experiment thith
morning, and thee how exceedingly cool
you can be."
I Saying this, he walked deliberately into
; the Captain's quarters, where a fire was
j burning on the hearth, and placing in the
hottest centre a powder canister, instaiitlv
' retreated. There was but one mode ol
j egress from the quarters, and that vas
upon the parade ground, the road beii)-^
built up for defence. The occupant took
one look at the canister, comprehended the
situation, and in a moment dashed at the
door, but it was fastened on the outside.
" Charley, let me out, for your love for
me !" shouted the Captain.
" Thpit on the canister !" shouted he in
return.
Not a moment was to be lost He had
first caught up a blanket to cover his
egress; but now, dropping it, he raised
the window and out he bounded, sans cam-
plimenSy sans everything but a very short
undergarment; and thus, with hair almost
on end, he dashed upon a full parade
ground. The shouts which hailed him
called out the whole barracks to see what
was the matter, and the dignified Captain
pulled a Sergeant in front of him to hide
himself.
" Why didn't you thpit on it ? " inquired
the Lieutenant
" Because there were no sharpshooters
in front to stop a retreat," answered the
redoubtable Captain.
« All I got to thay, then, ith," said the
Lieutenant, " that you might thafelj have
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done it, for I'll thware there wathn't a
thingle grain of powder in it"
The Captain has never spoken of nerv-
ousness since.
Two CoUe^e-Mates Colonels in Opposinff
Armies.
In the class of 185-, at Waterville Col-
lege, Maine, were two young men who
had been chums while fitting for college,
at the same school, and were chums
through the entire college course, and after
graduating pursued tlieir legal studies at
the same law school, and were chums dur-
ing that period also. Aft^er admission to
the bar, one went South to seek his for-
tune, the other West. After the breaking
out of the rebellion, the one who went
South enlisted hi the Confederate army,
the other in tlie Union army. They both
afterward rose to the I'ank of Colonel, and
both took part in the battle of Mission
Ridge, in command of their respective
regiments. It so happened, that the Con-
federate Colonel, at the head of a Tennes-
see regiment, was in support of a battery
which the regiment in conunaud of the
Union Colonel was ordered to take at the
point of the bayonet.
The battery was taken ; but so desper-
ate had been the conflict, that both Colo-
nels fell mortally wounded After the
fight was over, a Union Captain, himself a
classmate of the two Colonels, being de-
tiuled to bury the dead, found the two
college classmates and chums lying side
by side on tlie battle-field, with their right
hands clasped and both dead. They had
evidently recognized each other after being
wound'ed, and the old ties of friendship
had asserted their supremacy, and together
their spirits had passed into the eternal
world. Side by side, in the same grave,
they sleep theu: last sleep.
^sAitor Generals oonfeninff over fhe " Last
Bitch."
On the morning of February 16th,
1862, about one o'clock, it had been deter-
mined by the rebel ofiicers in command at
Fort Donelson to cut their way through
the rebel lines, destroy the army stores,
and retreat to Nashville. But scouts were
sent out and reported that it would be im-
possible to effect the communication plan-
ned, on account of Union troops at all
points and the impassable condition of the
slough to be crossed, — ^that " last ditch," it
is presimied !
A conference of the rebel Generals was
now held, and notwitlistanding the fact
of communication being thus cut off, Gen-
eral Pillow urged the attempt to cut their
way out or make a fight for one day more,
in which time he thought they could get
steamboats enough to cross the river, and
escape by Clarksville.
General Buckner then said that, from
the worn out and distressed condition of
his men, and the occupation of the rifle-
-pits on the extreme right by the enemy,
I he could not hold his position for half
j an hour if attacked by the enemy at day-
light, which he would certainly do.
*'Why can't you?" asked General Pil-
low ; â– " I think you can, sir," and added
that the occupation of their rifle-pits by
the Federals left an open gateway to the
river battery, and he thought they ought
to cut their way through, at all hazards.
" I know my position," retorted Buck-
ner ; " I can only bring to bear against the
enemy 4,000 men, while he can oppose
me with any given number."
" Well, gentlemen, what do you intend
to do ? I am in favor of fighting out,"
responded Pillow.
General Floyd then asked General
Buckner what he had to say. General
Buckner replied quickly, that to attempt
to cut their way out through the enemy's
lines would cost a sacrifice of three-fourths
of his command, and that no General had
a right to make such a sacrifice of human
life. General Floyd admitted the fact
and concurred with General Buckner on
this point. Gencnd Pillow then remju'ked
that there was but one alternative left,
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THE BOOK OP ANECDOTES OP THE REBELLION.
and that was capitulation ; and addressing
himself to General Floyd, said :
" Sir, I shall neither surrender the com-
mand nor myself; I will die first."
" Neither will I surrender myself," re-
plied General Floyd ; " you know my rela-
tion with the Federal Government, and it
would not do."
Buckner replied that he thought no per-
sonal feeling ought to control official action.
Floyd admitted this, and said, neverthe-
less, it was his determination.
"Then, gentlemen," said Buckner, "I
suppose the surrender will devolve on
me."
" General," said Floyd to Buckner, " if
you are put in command, will you allow
me to take out my brigade ? "
" Yes, sir, if you move your command
before I send my offer of capitulation to
the enemy."
" Then," said General Floyd, "I surren-
der the command."
" I will not accept it, as my purpose is
never to surrender," said Pillow, upon
whom the oonmiand next devolved.
" I will accept it," immediately replied
Buckner, " and wQl share the fate of my
command," — and at once called for pen,
ink and paper, and a bugler to sound a
parley, it being too dark to send a flag of
truce.
Pillow then asked if it would be proper
for him to make his escape. To which
Floyd replied, that was a question for
every man to decide for himself, but that
he would be glad for every man to make
his escape that could.
Colonel Forrest now addressed General
Buckner, saying, " General, I think there
is more fight in our men than you suppose ;
but if you will let me, I will also take out
my command," — to which Buckner and
Floyd both absented. Turning to General
Pillow, Forrest then said :
"General, I have fought under your