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THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHING-TON, D. C, MAT 27, 1882.
stream -were hundreds of horses and men
struggling to escape. Many hoifaes and men
were drowned. Some gained the shore and
stood wet and shivering. The sun was down
as the last man of the two hundred returned
and reported no enemy to be seen. The sick
in the hospitals in Shelbyvillo took up the
stampede and assisted to choke the bridge
and add to the misery of the troops.
General "Wheeler's cavalry never stood our
cold steel. This day they stampeded and
were totally routed. General "Wheeler had
his horse shot from under him during the
charge. He escaped by mounting another
horse and swimming the river. The confed
erate captain of artillery said that he would
have given us a dose of grape as we came in
town, but he dared not He was a German,
and took his misfortune philosophically.
Sergeant-Major Brant took a sword from a
confederate officer marked "17G2, Toledo.'
Lieut "Waters, of the Ninth Pennsylvania,
was killed coming down the hill leading to
Shelbyvillo by his horse falling. He was a
private in the Lewisburg company in the
three months' service one of the companies J
that entered "Washington April 18, 1861. j
The regimental color-bearer was an English
man. He had his discharge from the Light
Brigade that made the famous charge at Ba
laklava during the Crimean wai He ro
marked, after the charge into Shelbyvillo,
that the charge was not surpassed at Balak
lava. This sergeant John A. Ennis was
killed at Selnia, Alabama, in taking the col
ors upon the ramparts of the hist fort that
was captured in the late war.
HOW GENERAL SANDERS DIED.
The publication of the sketch of General
"William P. Sanders's military career in Tin:
National Tkihuxe of May 6 and the re
publication in the Louisville Coimncrcial of
the same date has called out several letters
from friends who knew and loved him. One
from Dr. J. E. Ilatchitt, of Frankfort, one
of the surgeons who attended General San
ders after he had received his death wound,
alludes in a feeltng manner to the occur
rence: lItwas the saddest death I ever witnessed
in the army. In his delirium before dying
he continually thanked God that he was not
shot in the back. Such was the confidence
the army had in him that General Burnside
requested that his death should not be made
known, and the surgeons were accordingly
urged to keep up the impression that Sanders
was living some time after he was dead."
Major R. E. Lawder, of Missouri, himself
a brave and efficient soldier, then a lieu
tenant in the Second Ohio cavalry, was aid-de-camp
to General Sanders, and contributes
the following details of the wounding and
subsequent death of the General. He says:
"We were, as you have stated, dismounted
and formed in line of battle with instruc
tions to hold our position in front of the un
finished works at Knoxvillc until withdrawn.
About 3 p. m. there was a furious assault
made by Longstreet's infantry upon our left
flank, commanded by that brave an intrepid
soldier, Colonel C. D. Pennebaker, of the
Twenty-Fcventh Kentucky mounted in
fantry. General Sanders had up to this
time occupied his proper position in rear of
his line, where a slight depression in the
ground afforded cover jyorn,.l;the, enemy's
.-harpshootcrs, some of whom, were in the
t't.use now occupied by Mr. Anderson, not
in'ut than 400 yards in front of our line.
Ou bearing the rapid firing going on in Col.
IVmjlwker's front General Sanders irarae
(I au-ly walked up to the top of the little
ri in the ground where Pennebaker -was
posu-d, and saw the assault upon that fine
brigade and the gallant repulse. The balls
from the rifles of the sharpshooters were
whizzing through the air close to our heads,
and I was well pleased when he turned de
liberately (after having satisfied himself that
his presence in the front was no longer re
quired) to walk down to his headquarters.
Just as he was turning I heard the thud that
tells in unmistakable language that some
one has been struck. Then I saw Geneial
Sanders stagger; I caught him in my arms
v and eased him to the ground. He told me
to leave him there, that he was no further
use, and go on; but that was an order I could
not obey. Two other officers, one Adjutant
General Smith, of a Michigan regiment, and
another whose name I have forgotten, came
to my assistance, ard together we carred him
to a place of temporary security, and I im
mediately started in search of an ambulance.
On the way towards the city I met Gen
eral Burnside and told him of the wound
received by his friend, for General Sanders
had always been more the confidential iriend
of General Burnside than the ordinary stiff
officer. The General was greatly shocked,
and sent an orderly at once for an ambulance,
when I returned to the side of the wounded
and dying man. In another hour we had
him comfortably provided for at the Lamar
House, while the surgeons, among whom
was Dr. Hatchitt, za. old personal friend of
his from Kentucky, were doing all that
surgical skill could suggest to save the life
bo dear to us all. It was soon known that
the wound was mortal. The ball had en
tered his side, tearing through the spleen, I
believe, and the surgeons shook their heads
when we asked if there was any hope.
" I was a young man, then, and lull of mar
tial ardor. The most attractive object in all
the world to me was a brave, handsome,
well-dressed officer, mounted on a good
horse, going into battle. 1 have seen many
such men since then, but never one who
equalled General Sanders. He was in the
ririme of life, tall, and perfectly proportioned,
exceedingly graceful, and courteous to all.
He rode his superb steed as if ho was part of
himself, guiding and controlling him as if
by his will. He was brave as Julius Ciesar
in battle, but modest in reference to his own
part in a fight, giving credit to every one
else, reserving ,none for himself. He was
ray prince, and I would have followed
wherever he chose to lead. This was the
fceliug throughout his division, although he
had only recently assumed command of it.
All knew him as the attentive and experi-s-ci-d
chief of cavalry, aud every soldier
,itw that his practiced eye detected, and
.i care supplied, their wants.
" 'J he hour came very soon when the eyes
.r cla?t'd and the manly form was to be
ial in the earth. Any one who was present
,.i that holemn funeral never forgot it It
v.j8 mid night when a small procession of
uiet-n boro the body of their friend to its
final resting place. A mufiled drum was our
only music, and a time was chosen when the
soldiers were at their quarters. Silently the
procession wended its, way through the
street to an old churchyard, where, in a
corner, a grave had been dug. "We lowered
the .cofiin, filled up the grave, aud, that a
military salute should not be -wanting, we
fired our pistols over his grave.
"Thus closed a military career that lacked
only time and opportunity to develop into
grand and brilliant proportions, for it is my
deliberate judgment in which I know Gen
eral Burnsido coincided, that Gener.il "Wm.
P. Sanders would have inscribed his name
high upon the rell of famous generals of tho
war.
?j
EXCURSIONS TO THE CAPITAL.
Usually about tho middle of May, says a
correspondent of tho Philadelphia Sfar,
"Washington is to be seen at its best, aud
when you see it at its best you sec the pret
tiest city in the United States, and, as far as
I have seen, tho prettiest in tho world. But
we are about two weeks behind time. It
has been raining since Tuesday night and
everything is damp and chilly. Tho rain,
however, is making the grass look as if it
were greener than ever before, and is bring
ing out tho leaves on the trees so rapidly
that you fancy you can sec them grow. This
is a city of parks, trees, honeysuckle vines,
ilowersof all descriptions, clean and smoothly
paved streets, beautiful public buildings,
and cheap car fares. Any man who wants
to give his wife and children a few days'
holiday, and at the same time havo a visit of
instruction, let him take a run down here in
about two weeks, or say tho first week in
.Tune. Not only will ho bo able to see a
beautiful city and havo a visit to all the
public departments, but he will havo a
chance to see Congress in session and other
attractions that arc visible only when Con
gress is in session. There is a firm in Boston
which makes a business of bringing excur
sion parties from the surrounding country
to "Washington during the fall, winter, and
spring ono about every thrco weeks. Tho
excursionists generally allow themselves a
week from home, which gives them about
five days here. Judging from the largo
numbers that the firm brings, the excursions
must be a succrs. It is n wonder somo one
does not start a similar movement for Phila
delphia and neighborhood.
Mr. Menainin, of tho Frinicrs, Circular, is
here arranging for the visit of the Pennsyl
vania Editorial Association in tho latter
part of June. They will number about 350
persons. Ho has eecured quarters for them
at the National and Metropolitan Hotels.
They will stay with us for a wcclj. The
President has promised to receive them, and
give them the run of the Executive Mansion
for an hour or two. One day is to be spent
in a trip of sixteen miles down the Potomac
to tho grave of "Washington, at Mount Ver
non. This is a trip full of historic associa
tions. You pass the United States Arsenal
and see tho spot where were hanged the
conspirators in tho assassination of the late
President Lincoln ; the old town of Alexan
andria, where Ellsworth was killed; tho
Virginia hills, where, at ono time, were en
cainned a hundred thousand soldiers; old
Fort "Washington, the navy yard, tho jail
where Guitcau is confined, the bridge Booth
crossed in making his escape after killing
Lincoln, and other places of equal interest
Then tho editorial people are to have a drive
to the Soldiers' Home and park, (a lovely
place, at one point of which yon get a bird's
eye view of the city,) and visits of inspection
to the Capitol building, the State, "Var, Navy,
Treasury and Post-Office Departments, tho
Patent Office, the Agricultural Bureau, the
Smithsonian Institute and park, tho National
Museum, which is a store-house for all things
given to the Government by tho various
exhibitors at the Centennial Exhibition, the
Botanical Gardens, the Washington Monu
ment, now nearly 300 feet high, and to be
500 feet when completed; the carp ponds,
the Corcoran Art Gallery one of the best
art galleries in the country the Medical
Museum, containing all the medical records
and relics of the war, and which was the
house in which Lincoln was a."sassinated ;
the depot building where Garfield was mur
dered, and many other places I cannot now
think of, but which Mr. Menamin has
marked down on his programme.
It ought to be a pleasant excursion, for
there is everything here to make it pleasant
for a visitor.
A JILTED MAIDEN RECOVERS DAM
AGES. In the Supreme Court of Philadelphia tho
appeal of Charles Markley, a bachelor of
fifty-two years, from tho judgment of the
Lancaster county conrt, where Eliza Kes
sering, a maiden of thirty-seven, succeeded
in obtaining a verdict of ?097.75 against
him for breach of promise, was argued.
Markley lived in Maytown, across the way
from a hotel belonging to a Mrs. Heistand.
Miss Kessering was a seamstress, aud
frequently visited Mrs. Heistand, and was
a customer of hers, often staying for weeks
at a time. It was here that Markley be
came acquainted with Eliza. He was at
first timid, but his visits became more
frequent, and finally he went up to Harris
burg, where Miss Kessering was staying.
Markley denies it, bnt Miss Kessering
says that Markley had not visited her more
than a dozen times, when, on Sunday, tho
10th day of August, 187.0, ho asked her to
marry him, and she consenting, tho day was
named for the second Thursday of Febrnary
following. After this, it is aald, Markley
frequently called on Eliza at Mrs. Hiestand'a
hotel, and, at different times, gave her
presents, and money with which to purchase
her trousseau. The courtship of the couple
seems to havo been a great deal talked
about by tho friends of the pair.
Eliza claims to havo made great prepara
tions for the wedding, and besides the
money received from her affianced, she
states that she was the recipient of a
number of presents, including a silver
castor and a dozen silver spoons which
General Simon Cameron gave to her when
ho heard of her engagement. The General,
she says, made her acquaintance at Mrs.
Hiestand's hotel, where he frequently
stopped. Everything seemed to bo smiling
until the 2Gth of January, shortly before
the day fixed for the wedding, when Eliza
says that Claries called on her and said that
he guessed he was too old and too laino to
get married. She replied that he ought to
have thought of it sooner.
It seems she never spoke to him again,
but some time afterward brought her suit
to recover damages for tho breach of promise.
At the trial she testified to Markley's
ardency for the time being, and a sudden'
coolness at the breaking of tho engagement.
Mr. Markley, however, denied that he had
ever promised Miss Kessering to marry her,
and he claimed that he stopped visiting her
because his father, a very old man, was
lying at tho point of death, and died abont
a month after tho coolness. He thought it
would not be right for him to take the
"funeral baked meats" from his father's
house to furnish his marriage feast. The
jury at Maytown sided with the woman
and brought in their verdict as above.
A NOTABLE WEDDING.
Miss Emma Jane Bonner, only daughter
of Mr. Robert Bonner, of the New York
Ledger, was married in that city a few days
ago to Mr. Francis Forbes. The bridesmaids
wore dresses of surah, trimmed with Valen
ciennes lace, caught up on the left side with
bouquets of white lilacs and lilies of the
valley. They carried bouquets of Jacque
minot and Mareschel Nicl roses. The bride's
dress was of rich cream-white satin, very
long train, round cut, trimmed at the edge
with pipings of satin, the front trimmed
with alternate flounces of point lace and
satin; square corsage, trimmed with point
lace; coisage bouquet of orange blossoms
on left shoulder. Tho sides of the dress
were looped with sprays of orango blossoms,
elbow sleeves with full flow of lace on top
of sleeves, pearls with pearl fringe. She
wore a point-laco veil, caught back with
sprays of orange blossoms ; diamond orna
ments. Her hand bouquet was of lilies of
tho valley and ncphetos roses. After the
ceremony a reception was held at the resi
dence of the bride's father, to which over
five hundred invitations had been issued.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME IN OHIO.
A correspondent writing from Dayton, O.,
says :
Tho season is fairly open tho Homo is
crowded with visitors daily. Tho first excur
sion of the season arrived on Monday and on
Wednesday two large excursions from Indian
apolis, Indiana, camo. Thcro wcro fully 4,000
persons on the grounds. Thoro aro great im
provements goinj? on; over 300 mon aro
engaged cutting and laying sods around the
largest of the three lakes, covering thrco acres.
New roads aro to ho built, sowers mado, and all
tho buildings aro to ho painted, shrubbery
planted and valuable additions aro to ho mado
go the collection of animals and birds. Tho
number of men employed at present, in all
branches, is 1,0.") 1. The number of inmates on
furlough is 1,070. During the month of April
twenty-nine deaths occurred. On Tuesday
Morning last an old veteran was found dead
in bed with his throat cut; tho Monday pre
vious he got a furlough to go homo and was in
good glee. In the evening of the samo dajr ho
received a letter from his daughter, informing
him that he was not wanted at homo, that ho
had better stay where ho was; this so preyed
on his mind that ho took his own life.
Three months ago ho sent one thousand dol
lars home to his children, which ho received
from tho Government for arrears of pension ;
as soon as they had got all ho was not wanted.
There have been cases of a similar kind before
whore old worn out veterans havo received as
high as ten thousand dollars arrears of pension
and goinj home on furloughs; tho children
have thon robbed them of their money and
sent them back to the home. Mrs. A. T. Stew
art of New York city presented to triis homo
1,000 spring mattresses. Tho widow of Gen
eral Canby, avIio was killed by tho Indians, is
now stopping here. She is the sister of Gen
eral M. It. Patrick, Governor of tho Home.
Among the inmates is an old Mexican war
veteran, named Carpenter; ho was at ono time
Senator from Pennsylvania. Oscar Wilde spent
three hours here and was delighted and sur-
1'"" l" " ." " V,t.H...A.W r..,V.V-,
H P
ANOTHER 12-YEAR-OLD SOLDIER.
To tho Editor National Tribune: '
Referring to your valuable paper of'April 22,
under the head of " Who Can Beat It," I desiro
to state that Almou K. Ives, of Bloomington,
111., was mustered into the scrvicoof tho Union
army, in 1SG2, at tho age of twelve years, as
drummer boy in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Vol
unteers, and was appointed drum-mnjor by his
colonel. I think he was tho youngest olliccr
in the army. 1 To is now a practising physician
in Montana Territory, having graduated at
Pope's Medical College, St Louis, Mo. ;
Mrs. M. P. Ives,
Anna, Union county, 111.
SURVIVORS OF REBEL PRISONS.
A socioty has been formed in Washington
composed of survivors of confedorato prisons,
and the following oflicors elected: Major L. P.
Williams, president; Captain T. J. Spencer,
vice-president ; Captiiu A. 15. White, secretary ;
Captain J. W. Bradford, treasurer; Row Mr.
McCahe, chaplain, and Captains 11. II. Hughes,
M. T. Anderson, and John Ryan, cxecutivo
committee. A committee on by-laws was ap
pointed as follows: Lieutenant O. II. Ncaley,
Captain C. A. Maxwell, and Captain W. II. Nor
ton. Captain John R. Thomas, General J. War
ren Koifer, ex-Governor A. G. Curtin, Penn
syvania's war Governor, and Genoral W. S.
Rosccrans wero chosen as honorary members.
SONS OF VETERANS.
Camp No. 1, Sons of Veterans, has been in
stituted in Baltimore at Dushano Post Hall by
Colonel Lindcr and Adjutant-in-Chief Morri
son, of tho Grand Division of the United States.
Tho new camp numbers oyer fifty members on
its roll. Tho Order is modeled upon that of
tho Grand Army of tho Republic, and is com
posed of tho sons of veterans of tho lato war.
Tho following temporary officers wero elected:
Charles E. Cole, captain ; Walter Kraft, quartcr-iuastcr-sorgeaut
; Robert L. Drydcn, orderly
sergeant.
THE G. A. R. IN DELAWARE.
About the 14th day of Jauuary, 1SS0, tho
Order of tho Grand Army was instituted in
Deleware, says tho Wilmington Republican, by
the organization of Smyth Post, No. 1, in this
city, with 0 1 members. Tho Post has met with
reverses, but now through wiso and judicious
management it numbers about 1G0 members
and is in a flourishing condition.
DuPonfc Post, No. 2, was organized tho samo
year, and shortly after Robert Fraim, Esq., was
appointed Provisional Commander. General
William W. S. McNair was the first Depart
ment Commander, and under his efficient ad
ministration tho Order continued to incrcaso
until at the end of his term ho turned over to
his successor, General Wainwright, the present
Department Commander, nine Posts with a
membership of HOO. lis doors aro open to all
honorably discharged soldiers and sailors with
out respect to creed or politics, and it is con
fidently expected that ero long it will cmbraco
in its ranks all of that class in tho State of
Deluwaro.
THANKS TO SENATORS AND TO THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.
Bloomikgdale, Mich., May 21. At a regu
lar meeting of Edwin Colwoll Post, No. 23,
Department of Michigan, G. A. R., Daniel Fow,
Post Commander, Jas. McDowell acting adju
tant, the following resolutions wore unani
mously adopted :
Jicsolval, That wo as a Post tender our sincoro
thanks to tho Hon. Senators D. W. Voorhecs,
J. J. Ingalls, Geo. G. VesL and others, and to
the Editor of The National Tribune, who
havo stood up so nobly in behalf of tho old
soldiers rights.
Iicsolval, That a copy of this bo sout to The
National Tribune.
SAVED BY A BULLET.
On the morning of the 10th,l was notified
to bo ready to embark at noon with my
command, on the steamer Matanzas.
"You will havo some duty on board,
enough to keep you from laziness," old
Colonel Loomis said to mc. " I have had
forty-seven men from the Department of
the Gulf here under guard for some weeks,
waiting for just such a chance. They are
desperate fellows, most of them deserters
from Banks's army. Tho enemy treated
them as prisoners of war, and exchanged
them down at the fortress; but, it seems,
their real character was reported ahead of
them, and we aro sending them back to be
dealt with. You'll need to keep a sharp
eye on them."
If I was surprised to hear that so many
men could desert from one of our armies to
the enemy, I understood the matter per
fectly when I took charge of them aboard
tho tug that carried us over to tho Matanzas.
They were the lowest offscourings of military
life, penitentiary birds, bounty-jumpers,
blacklegs the sittings, in short, of a whole
department Most of them claimed member
ship with a notorious cavalry regiment raised
in Now Orleans, into which swarmed the fel
ons of the city who Averc allowed to enlist;
others came indifferently from a dozen regi
ments, which were, for the time being, happily
rid of them. I spotted a few bold, villainous
looking customers, Avhom I mentally pro
nounced fit for any outrage; aud on them I
resolved to keep a careful eye. I think the
Union cause would have been 'substantially
benefitted by keeping the crew at Governor's
Island till tho close of the war; but as my
own business was simply to obey orders, I
took charge of them, and the Matanzas
went ont of the harbor. Wo had a large
number of passengers aboard a distin
guished major-general, late of tho Potomac
Army, going to Louisiana with his staff, to
report to Banks; several school-ma'ams,
bound for New Orleans and a wide sphere
of dnty among the freedmen ; three cotton
speculators; several sutlers, and some dozens
of officer's returning from' sick leaves.
The weather held pleasant, and the days
passed away delightfully in such little
occupations as people beguile themselves
with at sea. No serious thought of trouble
with the deserters had entered my brain;
knowing their character, I watched them
closely, and up to the last day of the voyage
discovered nothing amiss. Their comfort
was as well attended to as possible; their
rations were regularly dealt out, and I had
given orders that they should have the liberty
of the forehold during the day. I had heard
nothing from them, thus far, but an occa
sional oath or sullen muttering, which
seemed to mean nothing more than an
escape-valve for their general malignity.
A sergeant of tho guard, in whom I put
some confidence, pointed out to me two of
them who he said were in the habit of spend
ing hours out by the foot of the bowsprit,
talking earnestly together, and that more
than onco he had seen one of them pointing
at me, and making motions, as he talked,
toward different parts of the steamer; but
it hardly seemed to me that the fellow
could intend any mischief. Certainly I
dui not .look for it to come in the way-dtj
did." '
Our voyage drew near its close. "We had
passed tho bar outside Southwest Pass,
where wo learned from the pilot that Port
Hudson had succumbed ten days before;
and when tho cabin passengers came on
deck after dinner, wo were steaming tip
between tho reedy marshes which line tho
lower Mississippi. Tho prisoners wero
gathered in knots about tho wheel-house
and taffrail forward; the guard lounging
negligently among them. I walked forward
to take a nearer inspection ; and the thought
occurred to mo that it could not be safe to
allow the prisoners any further liberty of
the deck. There wero very likely expert
swimmers among them who could easily
gain the shore after nightfall, without
observation; and as we neared the city, wo
should have small boats swarming about us.
So I gave tho order to tho sergeant to fall in
both guard and prisoners, and that the
latter go below at tho roll-call.
Tho order was obeyed slowly, reluctantly,
and with scowls. More than one muttered
curse reached me, coupled with my name,
and more than one glauco of devilish pas
sion was shot from that line to where I was
standing, by tho forward ladder. But there
was no open disobedience. Tho sergeant
called the role, and as each man answered
he went down into the hold. I watched the
proceedings in silence, resolved not to in
terfere except jm case of absolute necessity.
When about three-fourths of tho names
had been answered, that of Henry Eolan
was called. Tho man who came forward
was tho same whom the sergeant had
suspected. He came up promptly, gave mo
an impudent stare, and placed his foot on
the first round of the ladder.
"Damn hint!" wero his words, as he
turned his head towards tho men. " Damn
him, I say ; he's no more feeling for us than
a brute. Damn the upstart strapper."
Tho words wero spoken, as they wero
intended to be, in tho henring of all the
prisoners, and tho chncklc that came up from
below told mo that tho arrow had hit the
mark. I had one impulse, which I could no
more resist than I could have suspended my
breath for the next hour the impulse to
detain aud punish him. Nobody knew
bettor than mysolf tho consequences of
overlooking such a flagrant and deliberate
breach of discipline; the next hour might
have witnessed an open and successful
mutiny. Therefore I reached out my
hand, and grasping him by the collar, jerked
him back of where I stood.
"Stand there," I said, "until I can attend
to you. You shall have accommodations on
deck. Guard, take care of him."
The man glared at me with rage, and for
an instant I feared he meditated an attack.
I To stood motionless for a moment, and I
ordered the sergeant to proceed with tho
roll-call.
"My name first!" tho man shouted, and
with a savage oath he pushed mo aside and
sprang down tho ladder, while a half-cheer
greeted his re-appearance.
I bit my lips bard, for I was becoming
roused to the danger that threatened. As
speedily as possible I concluded the roll-call,
got all the prisoners below, and leaving
strict orders to tho guard to shoot tho first
man who insisted on coming up, I hastened
down into the after-cabin. Through this
unexpected bcguc I had worn my sword and
belt, but had no pistol ; and my first thought
was to securo a revolver immediately. A
lieutenant of the guard met mo oh tho cabin
stairs, and I bade him get his pistols and
join me on deck instantly.
" Keep close to me, Hall," I said, " and ob
serve carefully what I do. Be ready to act
promptly, if the moment comes."
We went forward together. Selecting two
men from the best of the guard, I ordered
them to accompany me into the hold, fol
lowing me closely. I descended the ladder
first, the lieutenant next, and then the sol
diers. Tho prisoners were mostly gathered
together near the foot of the ladder, and
scowls fell thick upon me as I passed through
them. I searched closely for my man before
I found him. He was not on the floor of the
hold, in the pnssages, nor anions the bunks,
so far as I could at first discover; but after
some minutes I spied him, crouched away in
the darkest corner of an upper tier of bunks.
" Come down, and go on deck ! " I said,
abruptly. He gave neither motion nor word,
but sat staring at me, unabashed and uncom
pliant. "Come down, sir," I repeated; and with
the words I laid my hand on my pistol. The
fellow comprehended my meaning very
quickby.
"Shoot me, will you?" he screamed, in a
voice that sounded more like the growl of a
wild beast than the articulate speech of a
human being. " Shoot mo, hey ! O, by ,
I'd like to see you try it ! I'll kill you I'll
shoot you first ! "
I shall attempt no description of the fear
ful brutality of tho man's appearance; nor
could I repeat one half tho shocking oaths
he hurled at me. But I was not intimidated
at all. I was determined to take him on
deck and punish him at all hazards. Watch
ing him sharply, I ordered one of the men
to climb up the first tier of bunks and prick
him with his bayonet hard enough to bring
him down. This had the desired effect
Waiting until he was certain that the soldier
meant to obey me, Eolan clambered down
and dropped on the floor, filling the hold
with curses and imprecations.
"Now start forward ! " I said. "You will
go above either dead or alive. Go to that
ladder."
He moved along slowly at first, until I
again ordered the guard to help him with
his bayonet, and then he went on, spit
ting out his profanity, and abusing mo by
name with the worst of epithets. At tho
foot of the ladder he made a stand, and reso
lutely declared he would not stir a foot fur
ther. " Go on," I said, " or take the bayonet."
" Boys, are you going to let him treat mo
in this way?" he cried, with an oath, abrupt
ly turning to them and holding out his
hands. The prisoners had surged up solidly
around us as we stood there, and wore re
garding us with knotted brows aud clenched
fists. "Knock him down, boys, can't you?
Just get me away from him, and I'll show "
"Stand back!" I shouted, drawing my
pistol. There was a movement of those
next me, and a clear space wa3 quickly
made. " If any man attempts a rescue, I'll
shoot him without a word."
And nobody did. I placed the two guards
with their bayonets charged toward tho
crowd, ordering them to transfix the first
man who should offer any interference; and
then turning to Eolan, cocked my pistol,
and peremptorily commanded him to mount
nto lho?deckr. Thoro was something- in- iuy
voice, or in the muzzle of that pistol, that
coerced ''him into obedience; he went np,
still muttering, but not so loudly.
Again on deck, I stationed more guards at
the hatch, and ordered the corporal on duty
to go to the mate and borrow a pair of hand
cuffs. Eolan stood with his back to the rail,
glowering at me beneath his sullen brows,
lie heard the order, saw the corporal start,
and quickly asked:
"Do you mean them for me?"
I made no answer ; I would have no more
parleying. But my purpose had been from
the first to handcuff, gag him, and tie him in
tho rigging. As I continued silent, he broke
out with another torrent of oaths, defying
me, and daring me to lay a hand on him.
Lieutenant Hall said, in a low voice, which
reached my ear only :
" The fellow is desperate ; you must bo on
your guard. And Colonel, good heavens!
look into the hold!"
I motioned one of the guard to stand be
tween Eolan and myself, and threw a glance
over my shoulder toward the hatch. The
sight was enough to chill the blood of a
Christian. The prisoners had crowded
densely forward to the ladder, some with
their hands resting on it, as if under an im
pulse to ascend, and filling the space as far
back as the sides of the hatch permitted the
eye to look. They were standing as closely
together as it was possible for human beings
to stand, many on tiptoe, their hands
clenched, their eyes protruded ; some with
their mouths open, like wild beasts, and all
glaring up at me with such a malignant ex
pressions some of the old masters have con
trived to throw into the pictured counte
nance of the Fiend.
" Look to tho guard," I whispered to Hall.
" Hero aro tho shackles."
The corporal handed them to mo. Eolan
instantly dismissed his noisy, profane talk,
folded his arms, and looked mo straight in
tho eye.
" I warn you not to put those things on
me," he said. "Remember I warn you!
You'll repent it if you do."
I continued perfectly ealm ; but the cool
determination of the fellow's manner gave
me a more vivid realization of danger than I
had yet gained.
And I will tell you why I was cool : It was
because I had been prepared two years for
just such an emergency. In entering the
service, I had resolved that I would be tho
last to take life.in tho enforcement of discip
line, so long as the necessity could bo avoid
ed; but that when it became a necessity, I
should not hesitate an instant And I be
lieve I realized to tho full tho peril that
threatened mo ; I knew that Hall, tho ser
geant, and myself, might be disarmed and
trampled down by a desperate rush of tho
prisoners upon us, even though we might
kill half a dozen of them; and that when we
wero out of tho way, they would have little
difficulty in overcoming and disarming my
feeble guard. And what could they then do ?
Ask rather what could they not do! There
were spirits among those forty-soven ripe for
any desperate undertaking, and it was en
tirely within the bounds of possibility that
they should run the boat back to some con
venient spot on the coast, where thoy might
abandon it and mako good their escape.
There was everything to prompt these des
peradoes to such an undertaking; tho im
munity from military punishnient for their
offenses, the hope of plunder, aud a speedy
escape from tho service. Certainly, I real
ized it all aa I stood 'there on the mid-deck
of the Matanzas, facing the ruffian, and just
about to speak the words which might over
whelm us in successful mutiny.
Tho sergeant stood just at my right; the
corporal at my left ; Hall immediately be
yond him, and Eolan exactly in front of me,
not more than four feet way. We five made
an irregular circle of about a yard in
diameter. My thinking was done in les3
time than one of these pipe whiffs is drawn
in and expelled; and, just as Eolan spoke,
I reached ont my hand towards the sergeant,
with the handcuffs.
"Take them, sergeant, and fasten his
hands," I said.
But he did not touch them nay, his own
arm had barely begun to extend itself for
wardwhen Eolan, with a quick, cat-liko
motion, snatched tho shackles from my hand,
tossed them overboard, and tured upon me.
It all happened in an instant, in the snap of
a finger, and I was ready for him. My pistol
was drawn and the hammer up before tho
shackles struck the water ; and as he took
that step, in just such an attitude as I have
seen a prize-fighter assume on a quick
offensive, I shot him.
"Did you mean to kill him?" asked
Minimus.
"I certainly did ; and I say, in aU hnmility
what I think, that to my promptness alone
that ship, with the crew and passengers, were
indebted for their salvation. The ball struck
him in the left breast, just above the heart,
severing the great artery, as I afterwards
learned. He jerked his right hand up to
the place, and settled heavily to the deck,
at my feet, with the cry:
"O, boys, he's killed me, he's killed me!"
And from the hold came up the responsive
cry, "Yon murderer, you murderer!"
I bent down over him as his head feU. to
the deck. The heat of the action was yet
in me, but it was in all kindness that I asked,
him,
"What have you to say? "Who has been
right in this business?"
He turned his ej'es to me. The demon
had all left them, and he spoke in a voice
that was burdened with terror,
"You was right and I was wrong
wrong wrong! But, O, for God's sake,
pray for me ! pray for me ! "
The color left his face in an instant. They
were his last articulato words ; he died in
three minutes.
Up to this time I believe I had not been
excited ; but just as I rose to my feet, with
my eyes fixed on the dead man's face, the
cry of " murderer" was flng at me again from
the hold, and then, I confess, I could nob
restrain my temper. I sprang down the lad
der with the smoking revolver in my hand,
and faced the crowd. They fell back with
out a word, cowed, I think, by the silent determination-they
saw in me.
"Men, I hope you understand me now," I
said. " I will have no epithets, nor anything
that looks like insubordination. Yon have
compelled me to do what I have done by
your own folly, and now remember I wiH
deal as sternly with any man who attempts
a mutiny."
They believed me, and acted accordingly.
This was the last of a revolt which I have
now good reason to believe had waited its
opportunity since the day of our leaving
Governors Island; and I have the testimony
' of many officers high in rank that the effect
of the example which I set was most salu
tary. Within a week I had turned over my
precious crew to their respective command
ing officers ; and I am at liberty to hope that
their punishments were commensurate with,
their deserts.
"And how did yon get ont of the scrape ? "-
that little interrogation point Minimus
asked.
"We were at New Orleans that night. On
the following day I wentjip to the head
quarters of General Emory, then command
ing the defenses, to report to his adjutant
general the result ofnry mission and the
return of the party. Just as I had reached
the climax of my narrative, as I have re
lated to you, the General waBxed in, and
caught my last words.
"How's that?" he interrupted, sharply,
bending his shaggy brows, and lifting his
leonine front ominously upon me. " "What's
that, sir? Repeat it."
And I repeated it briefly, giving the exact;
truth of the affair. He listened attentively,
and when I had concluded, looked me very
sternly in the eye.
"And so yon shot a soldier?"
"Yes, sir."
"Kill him?"
"Yes, sir."
"Deserter, yon say ? "
"Yes, sir."
" Humph ! Deserter to the enemy's lines ? y
"Yes, sir."
"Humph, humph! How many more of
them did you bring me?"
" Forty-six live ones, sir."
"Well, sir, you have done well just what
you should have done. I believe you've got
the stuff in you for a soldier. "Why the
devil didn't you shoot them all eh? Col.
Smith, write an order exonerating Colonel
Crocker from aU blame in this affair. We
have no officers to spare for courts of in
quiry, and I'll take tho responsibility my
self. Good morning, Colonel. I hope to
meet you often."
The thing seemed to please the old man
hugely ; and I have pretty good proof that
ho remembered me. It was ten months
afterward, away up the Eed Eiver, in the
front of that savage battle at Pleasant Hill,
that I received the wound that cost me thi3
arm. The General was right on the line
when I was struck ; and I believe he saw the
wound as soon as I felt it, for I heard him
sing out :
""Colonel Crocker, you're hit, and hard,
too, I'm afraid. Take this orderly's horse
and get to the rear quick, sir! quick! Go
to the headquarter ambulance, half a mile
back."
I might have stayed long enough to get
another bullet, if the old man hadn't ordered
me away so peremptorily. So it is just pos
sible that the taking of that miserable life
aboard the Matanzas was tho saving of my
own at Pleasant Hill.
THE HOME OF AN EDITOR.
Hera is a Castle. It is the Homo of an
Editor. It has Stained Glass windows and
Mahogany stairways. In front of the Castlo
is a park. Is it no t sweet ? The lady in the
rark is the editor's wife. She wears a Costly
robe of Velvet trimmed with Gold Lace, aud
thoro are Pearls and Eubies in her Hair.
The editor sits on the front Stoop smoking
an Havana Cigar. His little Children aro
Playing with diamond Marbles on the Tesae
lated Floor. The editor can afford to live
in Style. He gets Seventy-Five Dollars a
mouth Wages.

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