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Civil War Harper's Weekly, January 14, 1865

This Civil War Harper's Weekly newspaper is from the last days of the war. It features content on Sherman's march through Georgia, and other news of the war. This issue is part of our extensive collection of original Harper's newspapers. We are creating a digital archive of our collection, and making it available to you on the internet. WE hope you enjoy browsing this historical resource.

(Scroll Down to See Entire Page, or Newspaper Thumbnails below will take you to the page of interest)

 

Sherman Entering Savannah

Sherman Entering Savannah Georgia

Wilmington

Wilmington

Wilmington

Wilmington Expedition

Saltville

Saltville, Virginia

Making Salt

Making Salt

Map Wilmington

Map of Wilmington

Sherman Captures Savannah

Battle for Savannah

General Burbridge

General Burbridge

Fort McAllister

Battle of Fort McAllister

Waynesborough

Battle of Waynesborough Georgia

Battle of Nashville

Battle of Nashville

Prisoners

Prisoners of War

Drunkard

 

 

JANUARY 14, 1865.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

19

perils and sufferings and wants of the army and navy. His sympathy and admiration are not of the month, but of the heart; and his call for a ready and cheerful response to the summons for more men is that of a man who feels what he says, and who is as sure of the patriotism of others as he is of his own.

PUBLIC GIFTS.

MANY years since some worthy citizens of Philadelphia gave Commodore DECATUR a massive silver wine cooler in testimony of their admiration and respect. A few days ago some worthy citizens of New York presented Vice-Admiral FARRAGUT with fifty thousand dollars in Government bonds.

The massive silver wine cooler, after some years, was exposed for sale in Philadelphia, and was finally bought by a distinguished citizen of Albany.

The difference in the character of the gifts does not show a difference of generosity, but of the times. Let us rejoice that the days of honorable silver tea kettles and of grateful punch bowls to public benefactors have passed away, and those of solid, substantial rewards have dawned. It is impossible, indeed, to contemplate the DECATUR wine cooler without remembering that it was intended merely as a symbol of honor and recognition which could not be estimated in money, and would even be injured by the attempt to represent it in that way. But such a sentiment, although honorable, was mistaken. For the Government stock is also merely a symbol. Nobody supposes that it represents the value of the Vice-Admiral's services, which are entirely incalculable. It is equally an honor with the vases and the kettles and the wine coolers of an earlier day, but it is not, like them, an empty honor.

It has long been the practice in England to reward eminent public service in the army and navy by the most valuable honors. The palace of Blenheim is monument of British gratitude; and of the other famous men who were honored and enriched by public gratitude NELSON and WELLINGTON are among the most conspicuous. But rewards are not confined to military or naval success in England. In the great universities there are fellowships which are prizes for superior scholarship. The fellowship entitles the holder to a home in the college and a certain stipend contingent upon his taking orders in the Church and remaining single. The literary fund, from which certain authors receive an annual pittance from the Government, is a poor recognition of the same principle, which is simply this, that those who truly benefit the nation are entitled to some degree of national support.

It will hardly be contended that it is a demoralizing system, for the service must be conspicuous and unquestionable. The sense of power and the desire of fame are too intimately allied to be disturbed by any lower influence. MARLBOROUGH was not a respectable character, yet he was a great General, not because he hoped for Blenheim, but because he had genius and obeyed its law. Blenheim rewarded success. It could never have inspired it.

The New Year's gift to Vice-Admiral FARRAGUT, and the intended testimony to Captain WINSLOW and to General SHERDMAN are good and generous signs of a public gratitude that will not forget its other noble servants, nor satisfy its gratitude with the presentation of silver pitchers and pretty swords.  

LITERARY.

" The American Boy's Book of Sports and Games" (DICK & FITZGERALD) is the book of books for a boy's holiday gift. It is all that the " Boy's Own Book" was twenty years ago, with the natural improvements and enlargements of the subsequent time. Its six or seven hundred engravings—its accurate and copious descriptions of all kinds of outdoor and indoor games for every season—its instructions in parlor magic and in all manly exercises, with its convenient form, make it at once a cyclopedia and a manual. It is a unique and invaluable boy's companion.

" Poems David Gray, with a Memoir of his Life" (ROBERTS & BROTHERS, Boston). Three years ago this winter a young Scotchman named DAVID GRAY, twenty-three years old, died at the house of his father, a hand loom weaver, eight miles from Glasgow. He was early conscious of poetic power, and morbidly anxious for fame as a poet. From the depths of poverty he burst away to London; appealed to the sympathy of MILNES and SIDNEY DOBELL, who truly befriended him; and he was very soon back again dying of consumption in his father's cottage. He gave himself to death and forgetfulness with a tender resignation, and lived only lung enough to see the proof sheets of some of his verses. He died, and they were published in England, and are reprinted in this pretty volume. They are not to be set aside as the feeble wailings of consumptive poverty ; for although DAVID GRAY strikes no master chord, there is a touching poetical emotion in his verse which will keep his name with those of KIRKE WHITE and CHATTERTON.

" History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States" (CARLTON & PORTER, New York). This able and careful work, the two first volumes of which are now offered to the public, is

from the pen of Dr. ABEL STEVENS, already known as the author of a popular history of Methodism. The two volumes now published bring the history of the Church down to nearly the close of the eighteenth century. Notwithstanding the many difficulties attending the work, the chief of which is the paucity and inaccuracy of documentary matter, Dr. STEVENS has succeeded in presenting a very comprehensive and interesting history of the period included within the scope of these two volumes.

IN THE SHADOW.

COME the shadows deepening slowly, Come the night winds singing lowly, Come the memories overcast

Of the unforgotten past.

Comes there to my listless seeming, In between my doubt and dreaming, Flinging back the folds of night, One sweet vision crown'd with light.

For a little gracious minute

Heaven is open'd, and within it Sings a white and saintly maiden, Lost to me, but found to Aidenn.

Ah ! when she kept her tryst with me The blossoms budded on the tree; As whisperingly she told her love The sunlight kiss'd her from above;

The sun set crimson on the sea, The silver mists came o'er the lea, And still we told the sweet tale o'er, And dream'd upon the silent shore.

But the glorious summer light Is blotted grimly by the night; And the sweetest flowers that blow Lie buried underneath the snow.

I remember, in my sorrow,

One to-day without a morrow,

When the angels call'd her sister, Took her in their arms and kiss'd her.

In the silence memories taunt me,

In the gloom these dead dreams haunt me; But amidst the shades of night Sings a maiden, robed in light.

HUMORS OF THE DAY.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

INFANS.—We do not know whether more Williams are born in December than in any other month, but we think it not improbable from the number of little Bills one meets with.

JUVENIS.—It is not usual to kiss a young lady when you are introduced to her for the first time. If you take your hat into a room when you call, you are not expected to sit on it.

SENEX.—We can not recommend any certain cure for a bald head, except cutting it oil. The operation is painful, but effectual.

STRANGE PHENOMENA IN PRIVATE LIFE.

The aged lady who recently sewed her old umbrella was rewarded last week with a crop of parasols.

A tall, thin, square-built gentleman was seen walking down Broadway one afternoon, a few days ago, when all of a sudden he was observed to turn round.

Foote fell asleep while Opie was taking his portrait. On leaving, the painter pressed the wit to give him another sitting. "On one condition," said Foote, " that you do not give me another opiate."

A "POSER" FOR MILITARY HEROS.—How can fields be won—one?

ADDRESSED TO JENKINS.—When the butler marries the housekeeper may he be said to lead her to the high menial altar?

STRANGE CURATE. "Where does this path go to, my man ?

HALF-WITTED RUSTIC. "Don't know where 'e goes to, but'e's generally 'ereabouts this time o' day."

Tun WRONG END OF IT.—A very terrific story of Oriental jealousy and cruelty was lately going the rounds of the papers. It turns out to be without foundation; in fact, instead of there having been a head cut off, It was only a tale.

EPITAPH ON AN ANGLER--" Hooked it."

A LEGAL QUERY, AND ITS ANSWER.--Where are Petitions filed? At Sheffield

What tree does a person resemble who is tired of the Irish melodies?—The sick-o'-Moore, of comae.

A SOLDIER ON THE DRAFT.

The clouds of war were bright'ning fast As through the land a message passed: It came from good old Uncle Sam--Dated Washington—signed Abraham.

Its purport was, as you must know,

That the boys at home should a soldiering go, And it made them shiver as they read it o'er, And stared at the three hundred thousand more.

"I'm sick," says one; "I'm sick, you see; Soldiering never will do for me.

So I'll rack my brains and hatch a plan To get my name from the enrolling man."

" And I," says another—"I'd like to go, But I've got a corn on my little toe; I've got a loose tooth, and so, you see, Soldiering never 'll do for me."

Another says, "I'd like to fight,

But I have a difficulty with my sight ; I'm hard of hearing too, you see; So soldiering never 'll do for me."

Another coolly talks of the draft,

For he's got a substitute, and got him fast; So he talks very bravely, for he doesn't fear Uncle Abe or drafts for at least a year.

Now, boys, we'll give you a little advice: Before you're ailing consider twice;

Uncle Sam wants men, and some must go To fill the ranks and fight the foe.

Then, boys, just think this question o'er; Don't be scared at the thousands more; But remember that each of you to a man Is part and parcel of Uncle Sam.

A Goon MAN FOR A LONG VOYAGE.—A Cork Cutter.

A Goon THRASHING-MACHINE FOR FAMILY USE.—The broomstick.

A saw-filer in the country puts out a sign in the form of a hand-saw, with the words, " Saw Dentist" painted on it.

QUESTION FOR ASTRONOMERS Is the dog star a sky terrier, or merely a carrier in the sky?

Who was the biggest Don that, ever lived?—The Mastodon.

PROVERBS FOR THE HIPPOPHAGISTS.—The proper place for the horse is in the carte.

Put the most ignorant man in the world in irons, and he will soon comprehend the meaning of " Lock on the Human I Understanding."

THE WIND-PIPE.—Pipes, ay anti-tobacconists, are all more or less injurious. Some pipes, such as wooden pipes, have, it is pretended, an asthmatical tendency, affecting the breath more than others. Among these must be reckoned the sailors favorite pipe, the hornpipe, when indulged in too violently.

NEW FASHION.—It is proposed to make the Opera-crush-hats of a more durable and cheaper stuff, called '" Rep." If this idea is ever fully developed, the fashionable gentry of our highly civilized nineteenth century will be walking about the streets, like Snake-charmers, with Rep-tiles on their heads.

A FACT IN NATURAL HISTORY.–Camels are not common in Ireland, but if you take a certain musical instrument into a certain Irish county, it immediately becomes a drum o' Derry. The author of this valuable piece of information has since blown his brains out with an ear trumpet.

CANNIBALISM' $500 reward. Missing, an elderly gentleman with green spectacles. The last time he was seen, we are informed, he was Seating himself leisurely in the Park !

Poets sing about the "peaceful stars of night," and yet every one of them is a magnificent revolver.

The cognizance of Russia is a bear, but considering the designs of that empire upon the Ottomans, it ought to be a Turkey gobbler.

QUITE A MIS-NOMER--Calling a drinking-cup a gobble it.

1 Tea is so scarce in the South that they haven't even drawings of it, and there are no grounds for supposing that they have any coffee.

EPITAPH ON A CRICKETER. – " Oyer !"

A gallant was lately sitting beside his beloved, and being unable to think of any thing to say, asked her why she was like a tailor? "I don't know," said she, with a pouting lip, "unless it is because I'm sitting beside a goose."

SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.-In our opinion—and we say it in all earnestness, And not in levity—the only "spirit hand" capable of being seen by mortals is" the hand of Providence," so plainly visible in every work of creation.

The best kind of agricultural fairs—Farmers' daughters.

WHY is a lady witness summoned to court like a vessel fastened to her dock!—Because she is bound to a pier.

EXPLANATION WANTED.--Explain the theory of boxing the compass. Can it be done without gloves? Would it be advisable to touch it in the wind?

A HUMBLE COMPARISON.--A medical practitioner, paying a professional visit the other day to the wife of a farm laborer who had been afflicted for many years with rheumatism of an acute character, interrogated his patient as to whether there was any improvement in her health since his last visit. His interrogation was promptly answered by the poor woman with, "Ohl doctor, I feel so queery like: I feel just like a boiled onion." "How so?" feelingly remarked her medical adviser. " Why," answered she, casting a furtive glance at her questioner, " because I have lost nearly all my strength." The poor woman's analogy was readily understood by the doctor, who prescribed accordingly.

Why is a pine-tree like the distance between Petersburg and Richmond ?—Because it is not fir.

ONE WAY OF RISING IN THE NAVY—Being mast-headed.

A Jersey physician, while playing cards, fell off his chair in a fit. After half an hours steady application of remedies he recovered, and immediately inquired, " What are trumps?"

"This is booty indeed," remarked one of the late raiders, after appropriating a portion of the stock of a Southern shoe store.

WIFE. "When, my dear, is the longest day?" HUSBAND. "When, my ' poppets; you're away !"

MOTTO—" Do others, or you'll be done."

A REGULAR MAKE-SHIFT–The Sewing Machine.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

The record of news for the week contains no very important events. Congress has been adjourned for the holidays, and the only very interesting item of military news is the attempted siege of Fort Fisher. We have elsewhere given the details of Burbridge's raid into South-western Virginia, and of Sherman's occupation of Savannah.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

At noon, January 2, Governor Fenton assumed his new official position as Chief Magistrate of the State of New York. Governor Seymour made a courteous address on the occasion, to which Governor Fenton briefly replied.

The State Legislature met on the 3d. The Senate was organized with Lieutenant-Governor Thomas G. Alvord in the chair. In the Assembly the Hon. G. G. Haskins was elected Speaker.

The Governor's Message gives proof of his earnest zeal in behalf of the Union, at the same time that it reveals an intense interest in all the affairs of the State of New York.

From this Message we learn that the deficit in the revenue of the general fund has been reduced within the fiscal year ending September 30, 1864, by the sum of over $300,000, leaving the remaining deficit $863,814. The State debt is now $6,278,954, a reduction during the year of nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. The Governor urges some important measures, among which are an appropriation to the Agricultural College; a law submitting the resolutions for an amendment to the Constitution, creating a court of " Commissioners of Appeals" to the people, and an amendment in the law for the registration of voters.

THE WILMINGTON EXPEDITION.

We have engraved on page 23 a map of the scene of General Butler's and Admiral Porter's operations at the mouth of Cape Fear River. We have Admiral Porter's report, giving an account of the operations of the fleet. Great hopes seem to have been built up on the success of a new contrivance for moving upon the enemy's works. The Louisiana had been converted into a monstrous torpedo, charged with an amount of powder " supposed to be sufficient to explode the powder magazines of the fort,"

and placed under the command of Commander A. C. Rhind. It was intended, previous to the attack, to explode this torpedo in close proximity to Fort Fisher, and thereby paralyze the garrison and materially injure the defensive works.

Porter sailed from Beaufort December 18 for the rendezvous, which was twenty miles east of New Inlet. He there food Butler on hand with the transports. A gale from the southwest set in so heavily on the 20th that Porter determined to ride it out. The transports had to put back to Beaufort, so that when a favorable gale afforded, Porter was on hand, and Butler out of sight. It was a little after midnight, on the morning of the 24th, that the torpedo was exploded. This preliminary affair was an utter die. appointment. Indeed, the garrison in Fort Fisher supposed the explosion to be nothing more than the blowing up of one of our gun-boats. " The shock," says Porter, " was nothing like so severe as was expected. It shook the vessels some, and broke one or two glasses, but nothing more."

At daylight, the same day, the attack was opened from the fleet. The principal vessels engaged were the Iron-sides, Canonicus, Mahopac, Monadnoc, Minnesota, Colorado, Mohican, Tuscarora, Wabash, Susquehanna, Brooklyn, Powhatan, Juniata, Seneca, Shenandoah, Patuxent, Ticonderoga, Mackinaw, Maumee, Yantic, Kansas, Iosco, Quaker City, Monticello, Rhode Island, Sassacus, Chippewa, Oceola, Tacony, Pontoosuc, Santiago de Cuba, Fort Jackson, and Vanderbilt, having a reserve of small vessels, consisting of the Aries, Howqua, Wilderness, Cherokee, A. D. Vance, Anemone. Eclus, Gettysburg, Alabama, Keystone State, Banshee, Emma Lillian, Tristram Shandy, Britannia, Governor Buckingham, and Nasemond.

Fort Fisher, the capture of which was the main object of the expedition, is situated on Federal Point, a narrow strip of land north of New Inlet. It is a strong earth work, commanding the entrance to Cape Fear River. It has attached to it a system of isolated batteries and rifle pits running from the main work down to the extremity of the Point. The three sides of the fort toward the water are very strong, and defended by heavy batteries. The eastward front is seaward, and is the strongest. The main wall is about eight feet high, with a ditch in front, and is mounted with several of Brooks's rifled guns, protected by traverses, beneath which are the bomb proof quarters for the gunners.

At the very extremity of the Point is a mound battery. It consists of a mound thirty feet in height, and plated with railroad iron. In the river at the rear of the fort spiles have been driven to obstruct the passage of our fleet. The coast is lined with batteries from Federal Point to Masonborough Inlet, a distance of thirteen miles. The most important of these is Half Moon Battery, a short distance above the point where Butler landed. On Oak Island Fort Caswell is situated, commanding the channel between Oak and smith's islands.

The guns of Fort Fisher made no reply to Porter's until after a bombardment of over an hour. Two magazines had been exploded, and the fort had been set on fire in several places. The bombardment was continued steadily during the day. At night Butler appeared with his transports. The result of the day's operations had been a partial success. According to General Bragg's statement the casualties among the garrison amounted to twenty-three. Porter says of the bombardment, "it was impossible for any thing human to stand it." On the Federal side not a man had been hurt by the enemy. But some distressing casualties had occurred front the explosion of six 100-pound Parrott guns. Nearly fifty were killed and wounded from this cause.

The next day Butler's command, consisting of nearly 7000 men, began to land under cover of seventeen gun-boats, the fleet in the mean while silencing the guns of Fort Fisher. The army landed five miles east of the position taken by the fleet. Only about 3000 were landed. No assault was made, neither Generals Weitzel nor Butler deeming it practicable. Butler says, " We found 17 guns, only two of which had been dismounted, protected by traverses and bearing upon the beach, which did not afford room for a thousand men in line of battle."

A daring reconnoissance was made. Hog-Pond Battery, opposite the place of landing, had been captured at the outset, and sixty-five men and two officers taken prisoners. Weitzel advanced his skirmish line to within fifty yards of the fort, the garrison of which were kept in their bomb proofs by the fire of the fleet. Three or four men even ventured upon the parapet, and through the sally-port, capturing a horse, killing an orderly, and bringing off the flag of the fort. These facts were given in a letter written by Butler to Porter. The latter appears to have differed with the military commanders as to the practicability of an assault. He says, in his reply to Butler, "I wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the horse out from the fort. I think they would have found it an easier conquest than is supposed."

On the 26th the troops were withdrawn. Admiral Porter still remained with his fleet.

NEWS ITEMS.

On the 31st of December, the Hon. George M. Dallas, formerly Vice-President of the United States, died suddenly in Philadelphia, in the 74th year of his age.

On the 22d of December the steamship North America, of Philadelphia, from New Orleans to New York, Captain C. P. Marshman, foundered at sea. She left New Orleans on the 16th, with 203 sick soldiers on board, 12 cabin passengers, and a crew of 24 men. One hundred and ninety seven lives were lost.

Jefferson Davis, December 24, issued a manifesto recognizing the Canadian raid on the steamer Michigan as a belligerent act, undertaken under the authority of the Confederate States.

FOREIGN NEWS.

ON the 8th of December a numerous deputation of friends of the United States waited upon Mr. Adams to congratulate him on President Lincoln's re-election. Sir Charles Lyell, who is well informed on American affairs, made a speech on the occasion, in which he expressed his conviction that our civil war is a struggle between a lower and higher civilization. To him as to many others the power of resistance which the South had displayed was surprising. He thought, however, that this very stubbornness of opposition had insured the overthrow of slavery.

The Spectator mentions a letter from North Carolina by a strong Southerner to a friend in Manchester, giving a very gloomy picture of the feeling of the people. He speaks of having written very differently in previous letters, and admits that the tone of this will "surprise" his correspondent. The fall of Atlanta had, however, he said, thrown a general gloom over the Confederacy. "Despair is settling upon the people, and I firmly believe that if they were left to themselves they would accept terms and re-enter the Union as the only alternative to national ruin." He adds that he has now no hope of any terms less stringent than the complete extinction of slavery. Since this letter was written Hood has been defeated, and Sherman has successfully taken the first step in his victorious campaign.

A trial of considerable political importance has recently been concluded in France. Thirteen gentlemen were arraigned for sedition because they met at the house of M. Gamier Pages, previous to the last general election, to confer on the best means of securing a return of certain Opposition candidates. This, it was claimed, was in opposition to the imperial edict of 1852, forbidding associations of this character. Strictly speaking the edict was not violated, as less than twenty persons were present at the meeting. They were found guilty by the Police Court. From this tribunal they appealed to the Cour Imperiale, where the judgment was confirmed. This, it would seem, settles forever the illegality of political association in France. For these men were not plotters; they did not meet in secret; indeed they were not composed of one party alone, but of several. The names of the accused were Gamier Pages, Carnet, Dreo, Herold, Clamageran, Floquet, Terry, Durier, Corbon, Joson, Herisson, Heldsheim, and Bory.

M. Mocquard, the French Emperor's private Secretary, died December 9. He was born in 1799, and has been an earnest supporter of the Bonaparte family throughout his career.


 

 

  

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