Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I wiuJiam ^EAST.}I>roprietore- I111 |M>tJ!cni)enf Jfaniilji fletospajjrr: j-'or tjje promotion of t|e ^political, Social, Agricultural an!) Commercial interests of tjje ?oufj). |?2peetbab, in advawob. VOLUME 7. YORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 18,1861. , NUMBER 16. rj|tt ?ttastitig THE TRAPPER'S WIFE. A TRADITION Ferdinand's heart smote him as he beDt over the helpless girl, and tried to bring her back to life. Bitterly he reproached himself. Was it a man's part to win this defenceless little creature's heart and soul, and then cast her off to strange hands as carelessly as if the loving woman had been a stray bitten ? Was she not his wife in God's sight, and by the laws of his native State? She had more character than nine-tenths of the women he had ever known. His friends must make the best of it, and love her for his sake and for her own. Would she only open her eyes and speak to him ? Poor, pre;ty little innocent darling! Had he killed ber ? The thought went through his heart like a knife. That rough, swearing, drinking fellow, talk of marrying his sweet little forest flower ! And he was shocked at himself as he thought how he had spoken her nf hpnr.mino' the wife of one of her fown race?the drudge subject to brutal abuse, compared to which Buckstooe's worst moods would be kiodoess and delicacy.? He felt utterly humiliated, and doubted which was the best man, his fellow-trapper, or himself, with his college education, his suDerfine English, and his poetical feelings. The Puritan blood in his veins rose and rebelled against sentimental indecency and profanity a fa Shelley, and, with all the manhood of his nature, he vowed that if she were restored to him he would cleave to her as long as he lived. Leelinau opened her eyes at last?at first with a smile?suddenly it all came back to her. "Oh, what for not let Leelinau die?" she moaned, turning her head away from her husband's shoulder. "My darling," said he, tenderly, "my I own?do you really love me ?" "Oh, how could say that," she went on. in bitter grief. "You know I never speak to another man but you since I come with you. Oh, hurt her just like a knife."? And she presses her little hands to her heart as if to heal the exceeding pain the cruel words had left there. "No send her away," she besought piteously. "Take rifle and shoot her. No hurt like such words. You love me like you do dog, only not so well." "I do love you, Leelinau?I do?I was a brute to speak so to you?forg've me, darling. You shall go where I go?I will never leave you? never." But poor Leelinau's faith was shaken to its foundation. "No?never believe you any more. How many times you say you love me?call me pretty name. Me think it all true?and no care for me one bit. Oh, don't want to live any more. Little red book say Great Father in Heaven love LeeTToau. She go to Him and lie no tell her lies." Ferdinand had never seen his gentle little wife in such a mood?and never had he loved her so well. He began to feel that life was not worth having without her. "Leelinau," said he, earnestly, taking her passive form in his arms, "I would not have said that for the world, if I had thought it would have hurt your feelings so. I can neverpart from you?I will never leave you, come what may." "Better kill her," she said, after a min (ute's pause, her voice shaken with sobs.? "She, poor little wild thiDg. You be 'shamed of her?wish her dead?when you see some one else you want to marry." "Never, my child." "ATo child a bit," she said, half impatient, half sorrowful. "I know that now. I aid not when I spoke. Leelinau, do you see that little gold And he slipped it from his watch chain. Sophy May had sent it back to him when she broke off their engagement, and he had kept it. "Now, if I put that on your finger, it will be a sign that you are my wife, and that nothing can part us. I know I am not so good as you, my darling?not worthy of your love?but forgive me?and love me again?will you not?" "Wait," she said, with some dignity.? "You no take me just cause sorry for me? like you was for little stray lamb. No will have you that-a-way." "Leelinau, you love me, don't you ?" f"You know I do,"" she said, tremulously. He slipped the ring on the half-reluctant finger, and repeated the solemn words of the marriage sen ice. "I don't deserve you should trust me again," he said?"but won't you ?" She dropped her head on his shoulder with a long sigh. "But no must say that again," she whispered?"cause hurt her so." "I never will?never." "You let her stay," she whispered, after a long silence. "Let her stay till little baby come. May be she die then. If he get tired of her after that, Leelinau take it and go way off. Never trouble him any more." Ferdinand was completely melted. He clasped her in his arms, and, with penitent tears, of which no man need be ashamed, vowed that she was the best, the dearest little woman on earth, and that he would love her and be true to her to the end of his days." f<?Well I" said Buckstone, questioningly, when the two men met the next day. "I shall take her home with me," said Ferdinand, with decision. "I was a villain to think of anything else." "Wah !" ejaculated the trapper, "what'll your folks say ?" "No one can help loving her. At all event's she is my wife?as I call you to witness. She is a dear little soul as ever lived?and I should be a scoundrel to desert her," said Ferdinand, impulsively. Buckstone smoked in silence, rather disappointed ; but with more respect for Ferdinand than he ever felt before. "Guess you're about right, old hos," he said at last, bestowing that title of honor on Ferdinand for the first time. "She's got a heap more sense than most women, especially squaws. Got white blood in her veins, I reckon ; but Winnebago women is most generally kind of decent." Ferdinand's decision was made. He would return home in the spring. It was now the last of December. He would de> vote his wiDter chiefly to his wife's educa-j tion, take her to S . Louis io the spring, i and from thence to his home. He had I some stock of furs on hand, store of dried) meat and of ammunition, and a plentiful j supply of rice and coffee, which he had procured at a trading post some forty miles down the river. When he told his plans to Buckstone, that person treated them with contempt. "First, you know," said he, "the Sioux '11 come over the river?or some of theui Burnt Woods 'II come some night and rub you out." ?'Oh. we are verv 20od friends," said Ferdinand ; "we have smoked together and made a league." "Wah ! do you suppose there is aDy truth in them critters, and you ain't so far off but what the Sheatans, (Kites) may come down on you, and there ain't a worse set of devils on earth, unless it's the Blackfeet. "I've no fear of them," said Ferdinand, who did not like Buckstone's tone of superiority. "Well, it wou't make no odds whether you're afraid or not when you loose your hair and hers, too. Take her to the mission or to the fort?it's not far down the river. But Ferdinand had not outlived certain ideas acquired from romances, about the "noble savage." He did uot choose to recognize the fact that there is as decided a difference between Indian as between white nations, and the roving bands of the prairies are hardly to be classed with the semicivilized Iroquois?who, by the by, regard the rest of their race much as an Englishman does a Frenchman or a German. He thanked Buokstone for his advice, somewhat majestically, trusted to be able to protect himself in case of danger, and expressed his intention of remaining where he was for the winter. His companion inwardly called him a Drettv hard name, and ( * endeavored to impress this on his mind; but Ferdinand was firm, or rather obstinate, and they parted on rather cool terms?the fact being that Ferdinand could not forgive Buckstone for having entertained a fancy for Leclinau. Leelinau, too, was uneasy at the near neighborhood of the Indians. ? | She knew that the many comforts they had collected about them were more than enough to tempt their friends and brothers to take their lives and scalps ; but she never disputed Ferdinand's decision. Every day made her more a companion and helpmate, and less a plaything. Her manner lost something of its childishness, and acquired a gentle dignity very pretty to see. Most particularly did she delight in being called Mrs. McKenzie. lie treated her with a respect and consideration which he had never showD her before the evening when be had given her the mar-1 riage ring. Her mind opened and expanded_tp his teaching like a flower to the snn. Her desire for knowledge was insatiable. Often he was puzzled to answer her questions and satisfy her acuteness. He felt that he had more reason to be proud of his wife than to be ashamed of her, and looked forward with pleasure to taking her home to his father's house. Before long the lessons were interrupted by the arrival of a little baby girl, a tiny, black-eyed creature, with the queerest likeness to Ferdinand in its little brown face. "You no send us away?" suid Leelinau, half doubtfully, as she put the child into his arms. His answer was to kiss mother and child a dozen times over, and call her the dear-^ est, sweetest little wife in the world. "Leelinau no like to stay here," she said, softly. "Leelinau 'fraid." "What of?" "Ingin, they say brother a good deal; I k.i* lia o rrr\f\A rtaol Tnt??n Jll.l UUb ilb C* ^UUU UVUij IW ?wvv? ?- I ways lie good deal." "Why, what a character to give your own people." "No my people," she said, with a little laugh. "Leelioau white woman now?but! 'fraid they come some time when you gone and kill little baby. They say 'brother* good deal too much when here last time? no ask for anything?but look at everything j so?think they mean war." "Well, my dear," said Ferdinaud, who was beginning to feel rather anxious himself, and to wish that he had taken Buckstoue's advioe, "we will go to the fort in a few days, as soon as you are strong enough, and it is not too cold to take baby out." And Ferdinand, who had in his days of dandyism, professed a horror of children, kissed his child, and thought her the pretVt a kn/1 nnat* conn lit'Ot uau cibi owwu. "Oh, wrap her all up warm, aud horse can carry us," said Mrs. Keozie, whose English was still defective, owing to the circumstance that her husband talked to her in that peculiar dialect known as "baby talk." "Very well. Take care of yourself, little woman. I shall be gone but a short time, and we'll talk about it when I comej back." And he left her with a kiss, and weDt toj visit his traps a few miles up the White i River. On bis way home he met Buckstone, whom he had not seen since they ( had parted in November. "Well, old hoss!" was that individual's salutation. "Hain't you lost your hair yet?" "No, thank you; but I mean to go to L.'s before long." "Showed your sense if you'd gone before. How's your wife ?" Flushed with the conscious dignity of | being "a family man," Ferdinand told him. I T " t A _ .1 T> l.^A / .if T I "l tell you wnai, saia j>ucHsioue, "n 11 was you I'd turn round and go back this minute. I came down the White, and I saw signs enough. Them Burnt Woods ain't to be trusted. Couie, I'll go aloug. I'd like to see that young one." Ferdinand took the other's advice. His heart misgave him, and the two men walked rapidly back toward the island. When 1 they were yet some distance from the place, Buckstone stopped and threw back his head for a moment, like a deer that scents danger in the air. ' Smoke !" said he, shortly, and hurried .(forward. Ferdinand followed, his heart | beating with apprehension. The smell of 1 ^ smoke in the air grew stronger as they went i i on. When the shore of the river was reach led they saw it curling up into the air from among the trees, too heavy and dan to be the smoke from the fire on the hearth.? On the light suow were numerous moccasin tracks. Auother minute, and the two men had crossed the stream, and hurried to where the little home had stood. It was burned to the ground. The brands yet flickered and blazed. Where was Leelinau ? There was blood on the ground ; there were traces where some heavy body, had been dragged across the snow. He! called her name in agony, and as he paused to listen was answered by a faint moan from a thicket near. Buckstone, who had searched while he was calling her name, beckoned to him, and the next moment he knelt j beside his wife. Her baby lay dead by her side, killed by the stroke of a hatchet.? Her long black tresses had been torn away ?the scalp with them?and she was fast bleeding to death from a cruel wound in I her side. She smiled faintly, and put up her lips to kiss him as he knelt beside her, i too utterly miserable to speak, and trying in vain to staunch the blood. "Who was it, Leelinauf" asked duckstone, in a voice tremulous with rage and pity. "Geton, Burnt Wood?come dowujust after he go?shoot one?but, oh, kill my little baby?and Leelinaudie, too." "My darling?my own wife?you won't ?it can't be," said Ferdinand, with a sob "Leelioau no want die," she said, piteously. "No can leave him?love him so." "Is there nothing we can do?" he asked, in anguish. Buckstone shook his head. "It's pretty Digh over," he said. "Poor little critter! she'll surely go to heaven if any one does." "All dark," she said, bewildered. "You miss her little sometimes ?" "My own?to the end of my life." "You come by and by; she and little baby wait for him." With her remaining strength, she lifted her head for the last kiss. The soft dark eyes closed, the innocent soul was gone where the wicked cease from troubling. Mother and child were burried in one grave. Ferdinand's mind was uot a little disordered by the shock which he had un1 tt: : j aergODe. nts une ?uea was reveujju uii mv brutal murderers. Waiting only to secure the grave from the wolves, the twu men set off on the trail, and before morning, came up with the Getons, a dozen in number, as they were encamped on the shore of the White River. Long did the Geton warriors remember that night's slaugh er. No match were their numbers for the two desperate men, burning for revenge, and fully armed with pistols and rifle. The deed done, Buckstone induced Ferdinand to return to St. Louis, and meet his father, accompanying him on the long journey, and bearing patiently, with deep-rooted sorrow, his alternate fits of moody silence r* d extreme irritability. Mr. MoKenzie received his son with the utmost kindness, and took him to his home. For awhile his mind seemed to recover its tone, but it sank again, and it soon became evide t to his friends that the only way to save him from a lunatic asy lum was to allow him to return to the west, and mournfully they consented, to his desire. He went, and for some years nothing more was heard of him. The Geton men told fearful stories of a supernatural creature who bore a charmed life, and had killed their bravest warriors. Seldom seen, his wrath never seemed to sleep. More than a ,score of their bravest chiefs had yielded their lives to his unerring rifle, their scalps to his knife, till at last even that chosen bafli sworn never to turn back for mortal, thought it no shame to fly when they found his trail. He fled from all intercourse with human kind, but sometimes, at long intervals, he was seen by trappers, who described him as a man of middle age, but wild and unsettled in his manner, and professing the deadliest hatred toward all of the Sioux race. Once, on the upper waters of the White River, he attacked a wandering Winnebago hunter, who had been educated for a preacher, but had preferred to devote his energies to trapping and stealing horses from the Pawnees. They fought, and the Indian fell, but as the scalpingknife was raised, the wild hunter asked his foe's name and race. The answer given, he stood up, ana anowea nis prisoner 10 rise, and putting into his hand the knife that had so nearly been his death, sent him on his way; he himself, plunging into the river, swam to the opposite shore and disappeared in the thicket. Buckstone, to whom the story was told, examined the knife closely, but kept his own counsel. Buckstone had risen in the world, married a pretty Spanish woman, and turned trader. Once on his way down the river, as his boat passed the island, he took it into his head to go on 6bore, and telling his Juanita what had come to pass there, took her with him. "I gues3 it was just about here we buried the poor little thing," he said, parting the thick bushes that had grown up over the ruins of the lodge, and above Leelinau's grave. On the little mouud lay a man. He was dressed in skins, and the beard and hair long and white as snow mingled with his shaggy garb. Ho did not move, and the trader put his hand on his shoulder and turned his face to the light. He was quite dead, and in death the old look had come back to the worn features. Tt was Ferdinand McKeuzie. ' Poor fellow! So he came here to die," said Buckstoqe, drawing nis nana across his eyes. "Well, I hope lie's happy now." A second grave was made by the side of the grass-grown mound that cover Leclinau and her child. Rough hunds laid the bodygently tOjprest, and the Spauish woman kueeling on the sod said a sincere prayer for the repose of the souls of Fcrdinaud McKcnzie, his wife and infant. ? ? ???? ? ? Drafting.?We learn that the first in stance of drafting occurred in the "Buckhead Guards," a fine company under the command of Captain Edward Meaus. As it was necessary that some should stay at home, and no volunteers offering, it became necessary to draft thirteen men for that I purpose, which was accordingly done, jand the drafted men, much agaiust thoir wishes, remained at home, while the balance of the company went with their regiment to Charleston.? Carolinian. Ipgffttswiiis Jir&te. A Eamble around Pensacola. A correspondent of the Mobile Advertisei gives the following pleasant sketch of Pensacola and its environs: The general appearance of things differed but little from what we had noticed on c former visit some ten months ago, the first thing that struck the eye being the absence of the United States marine uniform from the officers and sentinels on duty. The steamer Fulton, lying on the stocks where she had been placed after being wrecked ? year ago last fall, has been stripped of bei planking to the bends, and the timbers ol her upper works have been set up and par tially planked; roost of the guns have beer removed, arid two have been planted ir battery behind a rampart of sand just out side the main wharf, but the pyramid o! balls, the quantity of which we amused our selves with calculating, aud found t( amouDt to about 60,000, do not seem t( have been meddled with. There are mor< than 1000 tons of these missiles here, be sides what there may be at the differen forts and batteries. I Just outside t he gate are the Marine Bar .racks, a very neat and conveniently arran i ged group of buildings, consisting of a Corp de Garde in the centre, with a house foi i officers' quarters, &c., on each side, and th( j quarters for men in the rear. The whole i( | surrounded by :i wall, and eucloses a suffi Iciently spacious parade ground for a battal jion of men. The barracks were occupiet Jin part By a company whose name we omit _ ted to learn, and the restbas been assignee ! AlMMnfoM fllfl r/rtllQUiia | aa ijuaj itio iu? *.4v/u(? v vu. | Warrington is a town composed of housei j some neat and others shabby, built by per ! mission of the government on governmen I land. Its scenery is more peculiar thai 'romantic, the principal street being macad jauiised with tan bark, and running alout the backbone of a drift of that white sam which Pensacola bay produces in such un rivalled purity. Other drifts intervene be tween the street and the beach, as well ai ,a few houses with their rear gables directet ; towards Fort Pickens, but most of thi i bouses are facing the water, and the whoh | current of travel follows a plank walk ii :frout of these, and hardly keeps its surface ?which is as clean and polished as th< ! kitchen floor of an old-fashioned New Eng land farm house?clear from the encroach ments of the sand. We don't know hov housewives like Warrington, but it is i place where they have no excuse for slove I liuess of house or dress, or for dirty face< j children. A company of soldiers is quar jtered in the western part of Warrington iand has in charge a two gun battery nea ' ? ntAiAii'a miilt a l\Amk vm?aaP manrO i Luc wuici a cu^cj nibu a uuuiu piuvx UJU^M Iziue attached, the whole being ooostructet j with sandbags in a foundation of pork bar I rels, that being the style of military archi i tecture most alfected by the Todtelbens o ; the Confederacy, and they have ample sup ! plies of both kinds of material at WarriDg | too. In the neighborhood of this batter; | a clear and copious stream runs into thi sea, giving token that so important a rnili tary element as fresh water is not deficien in this cur Southern Crimea. Crossing this stream we soon come to th< i Marine Hospi :al, now the headquarters o I Gen. Bragg, and some distance beyond i are the general barracks, a large three stor; building, onlya portion of the plan of whicl is completed, but even now having roon for five or six hundred men. Here ari quartered about half of-Col. Clayton's regi ment. his own ouarters beins in a comfort / 4 a i able frame building, more to the front cm Ithe cast. In the rear of these is the paradi I ground, with room for the manoeuvres of i | full regiment, and with convenient house: i around for the quarters of officers, the whoh | encompassed with a growth of livcoak ant 'other growth. From the barracks a railroac : track furnishes meaus of conveyance foi jstord&Ho and from the redout, about a thous and yards in the rear of Fort Barrancas ! which itself is some distance further up th< i coast, and the light house still further, anc ione or two sandbag batteries havel beet ! constructed on the bluff aDove the beach it :the intervening space, but these, we think have not yet received their armament. The redoubt, at which we next arrived is barely visible in certain directions frou !the sea, its purpose being to serve as a de I pot of provisions and ammunition for th< i..1 t.? Ti : i J?J ?? i uuiur wuiiis. ib is uut mieuucu us a nuic of offence, and is commanded by the gum of Fort Barrancas, For its own defence, i lis abuudantly provided with loopholes fo: ' musketry, and is designed to mount som< eighteen guns of moderate calibre. In th< ' rear, the lied Eagles have knocked up som< comfortable shanties, which they call th< Eagle's Nest, and as we learned that Capt Posey was with his company, who had no I yet iOturneci from inspection, we availec I ourse1 ves of the proffered services of the ser I geanc of ihe guard to examine the works. The redoubt, which may some other dai ! prove the Malakoffof this system of works ! and so it has been christened by some o i its visitors, though unfinished, has reoeivec I more attention in its construction than anj | other portion of them on this side of th< bay, at least. It oonsists of two long anc two short faces, the gorge being closed bj a curtain which is flanked by shoulders each iutendod for one casemate and on< barbette guD. Four barbette guns are in tended to be mounted in each of the latera ! angles of the work, but the foundations evet of the platforms of these have not been laid and the whole terrepleine is at present i sand heap, cr rather sand pit, eucumberec j with rubbish. The work is uurroundec I -!iL ~ J 3 ~ Willi a utrejj uuuu auu a ui ^uici^iai p ! pierced with loop holes, and provided wit! six or eight casemate for cannon to com inand the di.ch. The covered way is cross ed by traverses to enable the garrison to re sist the attack of a storming party, who after gaining the covered way, would bi next exposed to the fire from the ramparts I The defenders, d^jven from these, would b< j able to resort to the galleries beneath, it leach vault of which arc two loop-hole I (132) in all) and an air-hole above for th< ! purpose of ventillation. In the rear, 01 (either side, is a staircase leading down t< I a place of total darkness, and at the foot ai i unwary step might plunge you into a well tie water of which boils up from unfailing |t springs, and runs off by circuitous draiosl? : icto the ditch, and is thus conducted away f fiom the work. Feeling your way around | / ' tiese pitfalls, and meeting in your progress f tie iron doors of a magazine or two (and 1 tiere are others in* the galleries before vis- c 1 ited), you see at last a glimmer of light, ( i and following its direction, find yourself in \ ; tie gallery of the counterscarp, which sur- i ? rounds the entire front of the place. Be- 1 i neath this are vaults for stores and ammuni- 1 > tion, which we did not visit. This would I s be the final stand of the garrison u driven i i from the body of the place, and when fur- I ther resistance proved unavailing they would i f net be compelled to surrender or be smoth- I . end like rats in their holes, but leaving . i slow matches to the trains communicating i with their magazines, could retreat through . subterranean passages to Fort Barrancas. ( f A portion of what we have described . . was the result of a subsequent visit under i > the guidance of the Captain, for before this > first inspection was complete the lied Ea) gles had returned from their inspection, . and joining Captain Posey and the officers t of the Zouaves, we proceeded to his quarters. The Red Eagles furnished us with an agreeable surprise, for we confess we have never entertained a high opinion of j the soldiers which the population of cities p furnishes to the recruiting service. Indeed , Captain Posey found at first that he had j some very indifferent material; but it docs not take long for soldiers to become dissatisfied with the service when they find that j both their commander aod their comrades are ashamed of them; and so when the op j portunity was offered of transferring themselves from the service of the State to that of the Confederacy, these mauvaises rejets 31 declined the offer and were comfortably cot rid of. Their places have since been part 1 ly filled by better men, and the Captain is 3 now justly proud of his company. As usual in American companies, there are men of j every occupation among them, and one of them is a baker, who is stationed at the Navy Yard, where his military duties have been commuted for that of supplying the j command with bread. Another of the specials is Jemmy Campbell, who has put in " order an old neglected garden in the rear 2 of the redoubt, and is glorying in the vis1 ions of the salads, cabbages, peas and po2 tatos with which his horticultural skill will ' supply the post. We canoot do justice to the Captain's cook, not having learned his name, but an excellent dinner of bis provi' ding received full justice at the hands of 1 some seven or eight guests, including the Zouave officers) and the feast was concluded with the usual accompaniments of an ecdote and song, ending with the Marseil' laisc, and that was performed with a rattling r accompaniment by the pet of the Red Ea" gles, a long enfant dc lapatrie, with seven rattles and a button, from which to his - e l - _i 1 c e l i .. iaugg ue lueatjuiea uuuut live ieet auu a j * half. The seven rattles are understood to be emblematic of the Confederate States, but there is some dispute whether the button stands for Arkansas or Virginia. ^ After dinner the whole party took Fort " Barrancas on their return. This is garrisoned by the Eufaula Rifles, whose tents 1 are pitched in the ditch. In its general outline, it does not differ greatly from the 2 redoubt, though on a larger scale, having f no flanking fire except from the epaulments 1 of the counterscarp in the rear, the faces J fronting to the water being open and pier3 ced for musketry, while the guns, twenty. 1 five or thirty in all, are mounted on the 3 ramparts. The entrance is through the glacis, and over a drawbridge in the rear. * In front is a communication under ground 1 with the old Spanish fort, which performs 3 the part of an outwork in front. This is 1 merely a semi circular battery of ten or 3 twelve guns. Barrancas?or, more fully, 3 Fort San Carlos de Barrancas?occupies! * the most commanding position of all the! 1 works, and is directly in the line of approach I r of vessels entering the bay, but its defensive capabilities are not great. As we walked the parade ground, the Alabama regiment, oonsisting of ten stung companies, was out for evening parade.? After seeing them dismissed, we returned to Warrington, and there, in company of the Zouaves, forgot the time until after the gates were closed. This, however, gave us no concern, as our friends had the countersign, but when, at length, one of them accompanied us to the gate to pass us in, it appeared he had only a countersign, being one ef three, and nevertheless, the Zouaves were to relieve guard in the Navy Yard in the course of the night. It was plain that, in the language of Tennyson, "some one had blundered," but it was hardly the Zou?r?i* fKnra nrnrn nnrnln nntl nnnnfor - a V CO J XVI nviw t*uv? uuuuuu. 3 sign under the sign manual of the General's 3 aid-de-camp. After trotting back and for ward for about half an hour, the Sergeant 1 of the Guard let us in, and we were soon ' in the arms of Morpheus and the Kate Dale. How we visited the lighthouse batter}' next morning, how it is manned by the I Clayton Guards, how it is built of oat sacks > filled with sand, how the oats are growing | f out all over it, how it is mounted with four] 1 8 inoh Columbiads, how they would knock 1 the splinters out of Fort Pickens, how we 3 hadn't time to visit Fort Moliee, how we 1 left at 10 o'clock, how we saw that the I Brooklyn had joined the squadron during > the night, how we took the small channel, 3 how we rounded Mobile Point at G o'clock, ' and got to the city at 9?the printers say it ' would be preposterous for us to attempt ! telling. i Groans from on Board the Sabine. 1 A letter in the New York Times from a I person on board the frigate Sabine, station, ed at Pensacola, says : i "If they (the secessionists) attack Fort i i i i - J . i.1 L - - ricaens, ana we Dave 10 waue turuugu ? bout 3,000 bayonets to reinforce the Fort, * with masked batteries playing on us from , all quarters, in conjuction with McRae and 2 Barancas. Is it not a pleasant picture to . look upon? You must know there is an 2 armistice in existence between Bragg and i Adams. Bragg will not attack Pickens b unless we attempt to reinforce it. We see s troops going in nearly every day from New i Orleans, Mobile and other places, and can a see them at work erecting sand-bag battei ries &c., and here we are cooped up like a Int Af nlilnlrana nta Ul ri cr fnr fch A Aflministra. ) iuu vt vuiuavuD| ?-v -? ion to do something. They have neglected is shamefully at Washington They do wt answer our communications. They do ii lot send us anything to cat, and yet expect a i ship fi/ce ours, which has been out over n \er time, with a brokeD-down and worn out fi :rew, and an old tub like the St. Louis, to v io all their fighting in Southern waters, t vhile vessels not yet three months in com- I nission are rolling in clover off New York o Battery. Everybody in our ship is dis- c leartened, and no wonder. You do not e mow one tenth part of what we have suf- 1 "ered lately. They say the darkest hour of s ;he night i9 just before the break of day j ? it is pitch dark with us just about this ? dme. c Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary 01 War of the Southern Confederacy. Prominent among the personages of in- J terest to military men of the times, is the ^ Secretary of War of the Confederate States. That gentleman will perform a conspicuous , part in the events of the immediate future. ^ He will be a character of marked prominence, whether those events take a peaceful or beligcrent course. Indeed, he was ' no obscure individual when called to the ' important post he now holds. His fame, it is true, was not, in the ordinary sense of the term, national, for he had not sought to ' make it so. The theatre of his ambition was his native State, and his great taleut and all his energies which could be spared from a large legal practice, have been directed to the defence of her honor and interests. Leroy Pope Walker is a native of Alabama. He is now in the prime and vigor of life, being a little over forty years of age. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, are distinguished in history and by tradition for their talents, patriotism and popularity. He takes his christian name from his maternal grandfather, Leroy Pope, an eminent citizen of Petersburg, Va., who afterwards moved to the territory of Alabama, and was one of the founders of Huntsville, now a flourishing and wealthy city. His father, John W. Walker, held many posts of honor and responsibility, amongst which was that of United States Senator from 1819 to 1823. Mr. Walker's educational advantagewere ample and well improved. He studied a thorough collegiate course, and was graduated with distinction He then studied law. entered upon the practice, and soon attained to eminence in the profession. For the last fifteen years he has stood confessedly at the head of the bar in Alabama. His practice has been extensive and lucrative. He has accumulated a handsome fortune.? His present residence is at Huntsville. He formerly resided at Florence. He has served several terms in the Legislature, and was one time Speaker of the House. It is propm iu lueuuuii, ui mia unuueeuuu, luul Mr. Walker did not seek legislative honors from the prompting of political ambition. Me was sent to the Legislature at periods wheu his great talents were needed to forward important measures of public interest. In 1348, Mr. Walker served as Presidential elector ou the Cass and Butler ticket. Iu 1851, he was elected Circuit Judge for the Florence District. This office he held for near two years, when he resigned. No ordinary man can attain eminence at the bar, upon the bench, and io the halls of legislation. All this, however, has been achieved by Judge Walker. As a parliamentary debater, he has few equals anywhere. As an expounder of the law upon the bench, he was distinguished for pro found legal learning and sound judgment As an advocate at the bar, he is a man of tremendous power. He combines, perhaps, as many of the qualities of a first class orator as any man in the country. He speaks with fluency, and, at the same time, with deliberation. He has a full command of : language, though never employs any supjr fluityoF words. His oratory is distinguish- ' ed for vigor of thought, purity of diction, and elogaocc of style. He is an accomplished, classical aod Belle.? Lettres scholar, though in speakiDg and writing be is free from all semblance of pedaotry and affectation. As a dcclaimer, he is earnest, ener getic, eloqueut and powerful. In this line of oratory he is perfectly resistless before a jury, or upon the stump, harrangueing the populace. From what has been said, it will readily be inferred that Judge Walker has had no special training in military affairs. It should, nevertheless, be mentioned that he has held the office of General of militia.? Throughout the State of Alabama his name is as familiar as a household word, either as "Judge WalKer," or"tjeneral waitcer." Fur General Walker, a solid and brilliant reputation as Secretary of War of the Con- ' federate States may be confidently predicted. Gifted with a superior intellect, he will readily comprehend all the general principles involved in the administration of his department, while bis practical business ca- 1 paeity will enable him to successfully apply 1 those principles in their details. ' In stature, General Walker is tall, aud j4 proportionally built. His features are reg- 1 ular, handsome, and at the same time strong- ' ly marked, indicating great firmness and 1 energy. Altogether, he is a remarkable ' man, oapable of adorning any position, and 1 particularly that which ho now occupies.? 1 The pending controversy may involve him ' in official conflicts with high functionaries ' He who encouuters him thus will find him i a giant.?Military Journal. < ????? ? i A Citeap Way to get Apprentices ( The famine in India is desolating the North- , western provinces for a thousand miles in extent. Bombay papers to the 12th of Feb ruary contain the following : ''Horrible accounts reaoh us from the Northwest provinces of human beings dying at the rate of 400 or 500 a day; while the desolation is not even limited to the vast expanseof country from Lucknow to Lahore; for tales are now told equally appalling, of the extremities to which the population of the native State of Travancore, in the South of India, are reduced by the drought, which | has caused all the fruits of the earth to wither. According to a Cochin newspaper, mothers in Travancore are selling their children as slaves for sixpence each, that they may have wherewith to purchase bread, if ] only for a single day." i Amusing Games. A few evening since we saw the follow- s eg games played at a party in which old | nd young joined. They created much ? aerriment, particularly the latter. In the j rat; called "Finding the Ring," a ring < ras slipped cn to a small cord long enough 1 o extend around the circle of players.? t 3ach person took hold of this cord, the ends { if which were tied together so that the ring < :ould not drop. The players stood near < nough together to pass the riog from the I lands of one another. One of the party I tood in the middle of the circle, and all to- i ;ether commenced moving their hands back ' ind forth, as though passing the ring- The < me in the middle endeavored, by watching < ilosely, to detect which hand contained the I ing. This was not always easy, as the < alayers all tried to conceal it by passing it ; ilyly from one to another, and also to attract ! ;he attention of the "finder," by pretending ;o pass it when it was not in their hands, rbe person in whose hands the ring was Pound, was obliged to take his place in the middle; if the "finder" selected the wrong 4 j puny as possessor, ue must iry agaiu ?uu perhaps submit to a penalty. The second game, called "The Voyage to India," was calculated to try a person's power of keeping a sober face, as every one detected laughing must be counted out until the next game. All took their sects in a circle. One commenced the play by saying to his right hand neighbor, "My brother has returned from India " His neighbor asked, "What did he bring you?" "A fan," was the reply; then the first speaker waved his hand as though using a fan, while his neighbor held the same conversation with the one on his right hand, and he commenced waving his hand. This was repeated all around the circle, until each one sat fanning himself with one hand. When it had passed around, the leader said to his neighbor, "My brother brought me two fans," and at the same time commenced fanning himself with both hands; and this was passed around the circle from one to the other until all were industriously using both hands. "My brother brought me a boot," said the first speaker, swinging his foot back and forth, which went the rounds, then two boots were swung; all the hands thus and feet of the party were in motion. By this time the scene was so ludicrous that most of the company had joined in a hearty laugh; and were obliged to leave the ring; but some five or six yet remaiued. "My brother brought me a hat," said the leader, shakiog his head, hands and feet, and all followed the example. "He brousbt me a cushion," then, bunds, feet, head and body, were all set in motion, and the gravest of the company could bold in no longer, and so the play ended in a shout. If this' had failed, the learner intended next to mention a whistle; if any could keep from laughing aft.r that, we think further trial would have been useless.?Am. Agriculturalist Vote on the Constitution of the Confederate States.?The following is the vote taken on the adoption by the Con-j vention of the Constitution of the Confederate States: Ayes?D. F. Jamison, President, and Messrs. Allison, Appleby, Atkinson, Ayer, Barnwell, Barron, Barton, Beaty, Bethea, Bellinger, Bobo, Brabham, A. H. Brown, Buchanan, Burnet, Cain, Calhoun, Campbell, Cam, Carlisle, Carroll, Caughman, Cautheo, Charles, Chesnut, Cheves, Clark, Connor, Crawford, Darby, Davant, Davis, DeSaussure, DeTreville, Duncan, DunkiD, R. G. M. Duncvant, DuPre, Easley, Ellis, English, Evans, Fair, Flud, Frampton, Foster, Furman,Gadberry, Garlington, Geiger, Gist, Glover, Goodwin, R. N. GourdiD, T. L Gourdin,Green, W.Gregg, Grisham, Hammond, Hanckel, Harllee, Harrison, Hayne, Henderson, Honour, Hunter, Hut son, Itiglis, Ingram, Jackson, Jeffries, J. E Jenkins, Johnson, Keitt, Kershaw, Kil gore, Kinard, Landram, Lewis, Lyles, Lo ?un, McCrady, McKee, McLeod, Magrath, Manniug, Mauldin, Maxwell, Mayes, Miles, Means, Moon, Moorman, Noble, O'Hear, Orr, Palmer, Parker, Perrin, Pope, Porcher, Pressloy. Quattlebautn, Rainey, Reed, F. D Richardson, J. P. Richardson, Rhett, R !> inson, Rhodes, Rowell, Scott, E. M. S abrook, Sessions, J. M. Shingier, W. P. Shingier, Simons, Simpson, Sinyly, J. J. P. Smith, Thomas Smith, Soowdeo, Spain, Springs, Stokes, Sims, R. A. Thompson, Thomson, Thomas, Timmous, Tompkins, Townseod, Wagner, VVannamaker, D. L. Wardlaw, F. fl. Wardlw, Watts, Wier, Williams, Whitoer, J. D. Wilson, J. H. Wilson, W. B. Wilson, Withers, Woods, Young. Nays?Messrs. Adams, C. P. Brown, Bonneau, Caldwell, Foster, Maxcy Gregg, John Jenkins, Kinslor, Mclver, Manigault, Mazyck, John Izard Middlctuc, Williams Middleton, NoweH, RtrtJtrdge^Opraic: ~ Hon Wm W. Boyce, of South Cardlina.?We had the pleasure of a visit on yesterday, from this gentleuiau, who is among the first of the very able men who jompose the Congress of the Confederate States, at Montgomery. Mr. Boyce had been a member of the House of Representatives of the United States since 1853, bat withdrew troin that hody upon tne sejession of his State. He was immediately sleeted from South Carolina to the Provisional Congress, and has been an efficient worker in moulding the admirable permanent Constitution which is to constitute the organic law of the Confederate States. In the Congress of the United States few men jf any age, much less his, achieved so enviable a reputation as a profound statesman. His celebrated report in favor of Free ' rrade, made to the House at the first ses' # | iion of the Thirty-fifth Congress has receiv. 3d the approbation of the master minds of ;he country, as one of the ablest defences )f that system ever expressed. Mr. Cob- j ien, the celebrated Free Trade member of i ;he British House of Commons, informed - -- ? ij --4 l- : IS lUUL It CUUia UUt UB JUjpiuvou uyuuf auu ;hat ho accepted it as the best vindication )f his owd policy ever written. Mr. Boyce ( left yesterday to visit his brother, our friend John Boyce, of Panola county, Mississippi. ?Memphis Avalanche. B&* The citizens of Talapoosa, Ala., have pledged themselves to buy no good-' from merchants who purohase in the free States. The Manufacture of Ice.?This is a mbject which possesses less interest at the >re8eDt time than it will have, let as hope, lix months later. Nevertheless, a very ingenious discovery, by M. Carre, a method )f obtaining it by a simple process in the lottest summer, deserves a mention. He ekes two strong iron bottles, connected together with an iron pipe, and nearly fills >ne with a connected solution of ammouiajal gasiD water. After connecting the bot:les together, and making the joints secure, ;he one containing the ammonia is pat over i fire, whilst the other dips into water.? rhe action of heat apon the ammonia drives )ff the gas, which, not being able to escape, jondeuses under the enormous pressure in the other bottle as a liquid. When this is affected, the bottle is removed from the fire and cooled, whereupon the ammonia in the" second vessel rapidly assumes a gaseous form and abstracts so muoh heat from the water by which it is surrounded as to freete a considerable quantity. The operation mav be reoeated without disconnecting the retorts, until a sufficient amount of water is frozen. Ice made in this way is said not to cost more than ten cents a hundred weight. Great Panic in Wall Street.?The late editions of the New York evening pa- pers of Saturday record a great panic and excitement io Wall street. The Express says such an excitement is without parallel, and the Day Book (edition 3 J p. m.) says: "There is a panio in Wall street to-day. - * The capitalists feel that they have been sold' by Lincoln, who, as soon as he gets their money, goes to work to inaugurate * civil war. "Merohants are everywhere trembling. If war comes it will bankrupt thousands at one blow. It is said that all Southern debts will bo at once repudiated. r A "Thus we go. Perish commerce?perish.^ everything. But long live the eternal nig>3* ger." *,&" " The Appointment op Federal Offices.?The appointment of Northern men exclusively to military and naval commands over the forces destined for the Soath, may find possible excuse io the large number of resignations in both branches of the service from the South. But how does that plea avail in the appointments to the civil service, not one of which has been made in fy. the Border States from among their own citizens. Call this backing your Union friends, gentlemen of the Blaok Republican party? Call this a grateful sense of the support given to the United States Govern- *Jr ment by Virginians, Kentuckians and Ten- j nessecans? Temporary Suspension. ?The Charles- I ton Evening News, of the 9th instant, publishes the following: "We are compelled, from the state of af- | fairs, to temporarily suspend the Evening News, from sheer physical impossibility of issuing a daily sheet. The largest number of our compositors are now on duty, fcnr pressman and our clerks have been sum- 4a *aim f Imir rqor>onhn? onmu ofnfinn_ UiUUCU IU JUili liUVIi lwo|/vvvif^ vv>|fw wvuviVM- , ed at military poiots in the harbor, with the ? certainty of being deprived of the small I remnant of our force left. We shall resume g as soon as circumstances will permit." jg Holding Office Under Lincoln is 1 Treason.?An Act passed by the Florida ..fl Legislature, declares that in the event of * 8 any actual collision between the troops of jg the late Federal Union and those in the em- |f ploy of the State of Florida, it shall be the jl duty of the Governor of the State to make Jl public proclamation of the fact, and there- ?| after the aot of holding office, under the * ' /fl Federal Government shall be deolared trea- fl son, and the person oonvioted shall suffer * * -" fl death The act was approved of by the > . .afl Governor of the State on tho 14th ultimo. M Distinguished Volunteers.?In ad- Jl dition to the distinguished ex-Senator of Texas, Hon. Louis T. Wigfall, who is now 9 on duty at Castle Pinokney, ex-Governor ^ * S Means, Hon. James Chesnut, Jr., General > 9 Samuel McGowan, and the Hon. R. B. || Boylston, have also tendered their services > > m to Brigadier General Beauregard, and have || received appointments on his Staff. Gen. 9 ffl McGowan will aot as Quartermaster-Gener- M al, and General Boylston as Commissary- fl General. m The Banks in South Carolina.? m The Charleston Mercury, of Thursday, pub- fl lishes the ComDarative View of the Banks M of the State for the month of March. By ||j comparing this statement with that for the B previous month, we note the following || changes in the leading items. An increase |*| in circulation of $46,355.42; an increase B in specie of $60,868.48; an increase in || foreign exchange of $492,583, and a de- ||s crease in domestic exchange of $513,731; ^ a "decrease In dfscoaOBTUf" $22/,654.19, ^ and a decrease in deposits of $118,019. B Tiie Wealthiest Yet?The Milledge- || ville Southern Union, alluding to the Floyd jra Cavalry says: This is a wealthy Company; ||| but it does not begin to measure dollars with the Governor's Horse Gaards, a Cav- ||j airy Company in Baldwin county. At the |?| last return of taxes the Horse Guards, numbering thirty-6ve men, represented ?s| taxable property to the amount of two and |lj a half millions. One man in the Company |j| represented about a million. |? Deserted to the South.?It is stated I that twenty of the rank and tile of tbe army saw left Washington, on Thursday, for Mont- 111 gomery, for the parpose of enlisting in the H Southern army. These desertions make an ||| aggregate of two hundred and eighty army ||l recruits for the Southern Government from ||| the Federal Capitol since they have been ||| stationed there by Gen. Scott. ||h Rase Specimen of a Landlord.?Mr. ifi Sheffield, of New Haven, who is a landlord la to a number of tenants, sent a note to one ||| whose lease bad two years longer to run, ||| informing him that he should reduce his rent ezuu tor tne next two years, on account |H of the hard times. 11b tag* We learn that a pnree of $100,000 jiS has been raised by some wealthy gentlemen gig of Mississippi, which will be given to th6 ||$ first member of the "Mississippi Rifles" 119 who pots his feet on Fort Piokens in time Jma of war.?Mobile Tribune.