Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4k LEW1f^,^^T'| ~ ^it fStjS jarnfe gttospaptr: /or % gromotioit jf l|t folitial, ^cciat, ^gritnftnral aw& Cornmerri^ Jatasts of % gmtfe. ~ . "VOL. 15. YOBKYILLE, S. P., THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1869. NO. 19. ftorn ?dler. HOW A LAZY MAN WAS REFORMED. Mr. Easy was one of the most good-natured, idle, happy, don't care sort of men that the sun ever shone upon. It didn't trouble him an iota, whether there was a war in the kitchen or Crimea, if he had but a newspaper, a cigar and a lounge as tall as himself, whereupon he could recline at full length, and see the blue smoke curl up and waft away?he didn't aire where?if Mrs. Easy wasn't in the mood of talking. The whole family of little Easies might dance around, spin tops, play ball, overturn the ooal-hods, and take his best hat for an ottoman, without his ever turning his eyes in that direction. But a very different kind of person was Mrs. Easy; she cherished the idea that nature intended her to be somebody, and that the only obstacle to her rapid rising in the estimation of mankind generally was the supineness of her slothful and easy husband. When the thermometer indicated less than seventy degrees, the house was comparatively quiet; and if Jimmy did pull Bennie's hair and set him to cryiDg, and then in his effort to mn away, fell over his father's boots and upset his mother's work-basket, why, Mrs. Easy never pursued him further thyi the door, and then on her return would give her lord and master a look that would make him place the newspaper a little closer to his face to conceal his merriment. One Wednesdav afternoon, just after the dinner table had been cleared and everything arranged orderly, Mr. Easy was occupying his favorite place on the lounge, and his wife was engaged sewing the last button on a garment for Jimmy, when Mrs. Easy suddenly exclaimed : "I wish I could go to the sewing-eirde this afternoon ; Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Holbrook and almost everybody I know are going; and they are to choose officers, too, and I heard they talked of nominating me for President." "Well, do go," 6aid her husband, laying down his paper; to her utter astonishment, having noticed her remark without her repeating it. "1 don't feel very well, and I will stay at .home and see to the children and have everything firstrate when you get back." "First-rate!" repeated the wife a little excited; "you have kept house before; and when 1 got home, it looked as though there had been a fire here; and I said then I would never leave you again with the children." "Well, my dear, you know experience is a good teacher; so just try me this once, and see if you don't find things in good shape when you get back." The wife hesitated a few moments, and then the desire to spend the afternoon with her friends, and the idea, too, that when she returned she might be an officer in the society, prevailed over her fears of household order. So, after giving various instructions how to proceed for the next six hours, (of which he heard not a single word, though a nod now and then caused his more ambitious half to believe that he treasured up the whole of them) she went to her chamber to dress for the occasion. Half an hour afterward, Mrs. Easy entered the ' *--- 1?-L? 1 .1 1,* t,? sitting-room, ana ner uusuauu muuuui uc ucn saw her look more attractive than she did in her closely fitting bodice and brocade skirt, and he firmly resolved to do his best to merit her approbation when she returned. "I want a piece of bread and butter," said Jimmy, about an hour after his mother bad left. His father was still on the lounge with the newspaper before him; and not being accustomed to attend to the wants of the children, he already forgot the responsible trust he had assumed ; so Jimmy, finding his request unheeded, proceeded to help himself, and going to the closet, he climbed to the top shelf in search of the articles desired; but, making a mis-step, down came Jimmy, bread, butter, Mrs. Easy's favorite soup-tureen, and several other dishes. "Come down, Jimmy !" said his father, the crash having brought hiui to his senses. "I am down," replied the boy, trying to extricate himself from among the fragments. 4*I should think you were down, and all your mother's china with you !" said Mr. Easy, with sorrow depicted on his countenance; "but there, there, Jimmy, don't cry; I'll buy some more before your mother gets back?so you be a good boy and run out to play; here's a cent foryou." And the father took his pocket-handkerchief and rubbed the butter either in or off the boy's face, and left it shining like an apothecary's bottle by gaslight; then gathering up the broken ware and putting it all into the swill pail, he swept the remains of the butter into the dust-pan, and again seated himself on his favorite spot. But his troubles were not yet ended; for Jimmy's mishap and outer}' had awakened Ella, the youngest, who bad been sleeping in the cradle. She vociferously demanded where was ma. "0 Lord i" said her father, half musingly, "she ia nmno rtawn to Mrs. Norwood's to the sewiner cir cle. If it was a man who invented them, I hope he will have to keep house every Wednesday afternoon, so long as he lives." "Gone down to Mrs. Norwood's," repeated Benny, to whom Jimmy had told the story of his misfortunes, and who was now viewing the ruins. "I'll go right straight down and tell her that Jimmy's broke a whole lot of dishes, and the baby's crying, and pa won't give us nothing to eat." "Come back!" shouted the father, while the perspiration stood in drops on his face. But the boy knew that his father never used the rod, so the call had no other effect than to make him increase his speed in the direction of Mrs. Norwood's house. The parent did not wait to give a second call, but started in pursuit of the fugitive. He was just descending the steps that led from the outer door to the pavement, when, owing to the butter on the soles of his boots, he slipped and fell reaching the street without any muscular effort on his part. Mr. Easy groaned aloud, but he had no time to ascertain if any of his bones were broken, so away he hobbled, much to the amusement of a group of shavings-hoi's, who were on the comer opposite. In spite of all his exertions, the distance widened between him and hisundutiful son; so he hired one of the boys to overtake Benny and bring him back. Away went the boy on his errand while the housekeeper, forgetting he had left the baby at home alone, stepped in the nearest shop to rest Presently he heard an outcry in the street, and on going to the door, he beheld his son (who had some of his mother's blood in his veins) in mortal combat with a boy who was trying to force him home against his will. Benny had already received a black eye, the blood flowed freely from his nostrils, and hisclothes were considerably ?1? flin flftomAnn'fl r ATUOU mnnf lllC wyisc 1U1 mv uiwiuuuu u nvai. ^?U; n vm | Mr. Easy to the rescue, and triumphantly captured his son, whose garments fluttered in the wind. The group of shavings-boys voluntarily escorted them to their threshold and made the air resound with vocal music?thus giving more publicity to the affair and increasing Mr. Easy's troubles, which seemed to have no end. Ella, who had seen between two and three years of life, was of a very inquiring mind; and when she saw herself the sole occupant of the room, and found that if she did cry there was no one to hear her?she climbed up the side of the cradle, tipped it over, and started on a voyage of discovery on Iter own account. Her first attempt was to obtain a drink of water, in doing which she upset a brimming pail, and then stooped to quench her thirst from the brook she had made. Next she proceeded to investigate an escritoire upon a small table in the corner of the sitting room. The large black marks the ink made upon the paper pleased her very much ; but, continuing this occupation, the ink-bottle was soon upside down on the carpet, the liquid spreading rapidly. Though Ella's education was limited, she had learned to discriminate somewhat between right and wrong; her last act she concluded must be of the latter class, and to make amends, she endeavored to scrape up the ink with her hands. At this moment a fly lit on her nose, and with the same hand she routed him. After this, it would have been difficult to determine to whicb of the five races she belonged. The next scene of action was the kitchen-closet, when a pitcher of milk was partly drank and the remainder poured into a pan of flour; Ella began to knead its contents; but she preferred more room, bo she dragged the pan into the centre of the parlor, the door of that apartment being ajar. A few moments after, Mr. Easy entered with his sons, determined to shut them up for the rest of the afternoon. But what was his horror to find his kitchen afloat, the sitting-room carpet stained beyond all probability of restoration, and the parlor strewn with flour and literally covered with paste. His first idea was of a voyage to Australia, and of leaving each one to his fate; but then came the thought of his poor wife. "If I have such a hard time in taking care of the children for a few hours," said he, "what must be poor Susan's trials, staying here all the time, and not only taking care of them, but attending to all her other duties ? I always thought women had a very easy time, but I give up that idea now, and only wonder that so few are in the insane-asylums. From this time forth I am EASY no longer, but I will be industrious and frugal; and if at home the domestic whirlwind blow Olympus-high, I shall not attribute it to her, but, remembering this day seek for the true cause." After musing and resolving what to do, he set himself about restoring order once more; but it seemed to him to look worse when he had done, than when he began ; for as he had not thought to wash the children's hands and remove their soiled clothes, they had been going about leaving their marks. Neither did his brain suggest to him that if he let the paste dry on the parlor carpet, it could be removed without injury; but he undertook to wash ud the floor in the same manner as he had done the water and ink from the other rooms, and with the same cloth too. As he thought hot water would be best, he went to some trouble to obtain it; and after carrying into execution his threat of shutting up the boys, he went on with his work. We leave the reader to judge how much the beauty of the carpet had increased an hour afterward, when with tired muscles and aching heart he arose from his humble position. But we will not follow 'Mr. Easy too minutely through all his troubles on that eventful afternoon. While Jimmy and Benny were prisoners in the bedroom, they amused themselves by playing ball around the room, and circus on the white counterpane. In a short time the wash bowl and pitcher were in fragments, the looking-glass cracked, and the counterpane dangling on the floor. Mr. Easy in his anxiety to keep the youngest one quiet, gave her whatever she desired. As he found she was Mrs. Easy in miniature when thwarted, he gave her bread and butter to spread for herself, silver spoons to drum with, scissors to cut a newspaper?and when his back was turned, she cut her curls and strewed thein about the floor. Then she called for the sugar-bowl, which he considered perfectly harmless, but the room was soon thronged with flies. By this time, Jimmy and Benny, after promising good behavior, had gained their liberty, and wished for a drink of molasses and water. Their request was granted, and they were permitted to mix it for themselves; their father having taken a seat in despair, and made up his mind to await patiently the result of all this chaos, when his better-managing half should return. But a scream from the kitchen brought him to his feet again, to behold Ella dripping with molasses, a large vessel of which Benny had upset. Ella, with blinded eyes, grasped the first object that came in her way, which happened to be her father, with his Sunday pants on. Alas! poor Mr. Easy, on finishing his cleaning operation, he found his pants so bedaubed with flour, paste and ink, it would have been hard to tell if he were a baker or a printer; so as his best ones were the nearest at hand, he doffed his floured garb, and now what a misfortune. Mr. Easy was mad, stark mad, and at that moment he caught a glimpse of the rod of correction which lay on the shelf, and which he had often thought it was all nonsense to use; but he was now of a different mind, and he plied it dexterously until it became too short; and then ended the tragic farce by putting them all to bed supperless. As he had not much appetite himself, it did not occur to bim that they might not be similarly inclined. After the children had cried themselves to sleep and the house was once more quiet, Mr. Easy pondered in his mind whether it would be best for him bf\ onn Viy<3 nrifio Kic Tinfia fn CAP fhp hnilQA firfif. ! IU 0%/V UIO nilV) VI 1IIU IIIAV hv vww ?..w v?wV M.w. r and he came to the conclusion that the former would be tlie better mode of proceeding. He knew she intended to stay in the evening; so as it began to grow dark, he crept softly down stairs,' went to a clothing store near by, and purchased a new pair of pants, and a few other articles to match them; then, going to his room, he made an entire change of apparel, "I will lounge in a threadbare coat no longer," he mentally exclaimed, as he surveyed himself in the glass and saw the change in his appearance; "but I will throw off these idle habits I have indulged in, and be a man among men; nor will I burden my wife with so many cares, until from necessity she is compelled to neglect the culture and habits of our children." With thoughts like these he again went into the street and stopping at the next door, rang a bell, which summons was answered by a young girl. "Nancy," he said, "my wife has gone out andl am going too. Will you sit with the children a little while? They are asleep and will be no trouble to you." Nancy was a great favorite with the Easy family, and they were with her, so mutual favors were often done by each to the other. In a moment more Nancy was ascending the stairs that ted to the Easy family, while the husband was on his way to the sewing circle. "T.nHiW .illnw me to introduce to vou Mr. Ea sy," said Mr. Norwood. Mrs. Easy, who was really a pretty smart woman, and who now held the highest office in the gift of the ladies present, looked up to see who this namesake of hers was. But who can picture her astonishment when she beheld her own masculine property, in a new suit, standing before her. It was the first time since their marriage that he had voluntarily entered company to spend a social evening with her. She longed to ask him a thousand questions: How he had got along?who was taking care of the children?why he came?and what made him buy those clothes. But Mrs. Easy had too much good sense to manifest the commotion within, and when he took a seat by her side, she treated him with that respect which is ever due from a wife to her husband. But when all eyes were turned in another direction, she whispered in his ear: ' "Did the children behave good ?" "Can't you come home pretty soon, Susan ?' was the reply. "I have something to say to you.' At first Mrs. Easy felt alarmed, and then she thought it could not be any thing serious, or he would not be there. But Mr. Easy seemed so dif ferent from what he generally was, she was puz zled as well as pleased. He was so polite and gem tlemanly, and he had so many new ideas to ad vance, she thought he hadn't read so many newspapers for nothing, and she really felt proud ol him, and wondered if the fault hadn't always beer hers; and she resolved not to scold so much in fitture, nor try to convince him of her superiority, but on the other hand make him believe he waj somebody and she was his wife. As soon as etiquette would allow, Mr. and Mrs. Easy took their way home. "Come to your chamber, Susan," said the husband, as he saw her place her hand on the knob ol the parlor door and he remembered the scenes ol the afternoon. "I wish to tell you something," and he led the way to their room, while the wife marveled more than ever what it could all mean. "Susan," he began, "I want to talk with you, if you will listen." She bowed asseDt, and then placed the lamp she had lighted on the table. Mr. Easy had the next furotitiT minntps' pnnrprs#tinn withnnfc interruDtion from her; at the end of that time Susan did not know whether to shed tears of joy or sorrow, whether to speak no word of reproach, or to so far unsex herself as to curse him for the loss of her carpets, and for the ruin and chaos that met her vision "when she looked on her suite of rooms. A few moments of silence, and she obeyed the better voice within, and only put her arras around her husband's neck, laid her head upon his shoulder, and said weeping: "I believe you, and trust this evening's experience will prove no loss. If you will but become industrious and energetic it is all I ask. I shall then be able to have leisure time to teach the children in such a manner they will remember the lessons when I am not here to enforce them." Mr. Easy was up with the sun the next morning, and away to his business; and when some neighbors entered after dinner, they were surprised not to find him on the lounge as usual, but a frown from his wife put a stop to all inquiries, and so the matter dropped. In a few years Mr. Easy became a landlord instead of a tenant; but to this day the neighbors have not discovered the secret of his reform, and she wouldn't tell even me; but I overheard them talking about it the other evening, and discussing the expediency of getting their now meaningless surname changed. How ridiculous in her not to tell all she knows! and now I have fouud it out, I'll put it in the paper out of spite ; which, I suppose, is the most effectual way of informing all mv friends of the cause of the rise and progress of the Easy Family. IpsteUawoMS ftottdiitj. ~6EN. LEE AT GETTYSBURG." The forthcoming number of the Historical Magazine will contain a document of marked interest to all who concern themselves with the history of the late war. This document is Gen. Lee's full official report of the "Invasion of Pennsylvania and the Battle of Gettysburg." It has never been published, and is communicated from the original manuscript in the possession of Mr. Wm. Swinton. It was the habit of Lee to publish brief preliminary accounts of his military operations as speedily as possible after the occurrence; and subsequently, at his leisure, to prepare full official reports. Such a brief preliminary account of the great Pennsylvania campaign of 1863 was made public on the return of the Confederate army to Virginia, after that campaign. Lee, however, never found opportunity to write his complete and final report till the Winter of 1864-5, when he lay within the lines of Petersburg, besieged by Grant. During the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond, in April, 1865, all the papers belonging to the Confederate commander were burnt in one of the headquarters' wagons, which was fired by the person in charge, under the anticipation that it would fall into the hands of the Union force. It happened, however, that the manuscript report of the invasion of Pennsylvania and the battle of Gettysburg was on the person of one of Lee's staff officers. Thus preserved, it now sees the light for the first time. The report is very elaborate and much too lengthy for any other than a brief digest here. It begins with an account of the manoeuvres put in practice by Lee with the view of drawing the Union army under Hooker from his defensive position linno r\f fl,o 'Ttunnntinnnriplr nnrl iVIUU? VIIC lliawo v* v"v ? proceeds to sketch the subsequent operations ol the Confederate army up to the time of crossing the Potomac. The general object of the campaign is thus stated: "Upon the retreat of the Federal army, commanded by Major General Hooker, from Chancellorsville, it occupied the ground north of the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, where it could not be attacked except at a disadvantage. "I was determined to draw it from this position, and, if practicable, transfer the scene of hostilities beyond the Potomac. The execution of this purpose also embraced the expulsion of the force under General Milroy, which had infested the lowei Shenandoah Valley during the preceding Wintei and Spring. If unable to attain the valuable result which might be expected to follow a decided advantage gained over the enemy in Maiyland 01 Pennsylvania, it was hoped that we should at least so far disturb his plans for the Summer campaign as to prevent its execution during the season oi active operations." It appears that the initial movements of the campaign were begun as early as the first week in June, 1863, at which time the commands of Longstreet and Kwcll were secretly transferred to Culpepper Court House. After a while Hooker be came suspicious that something had taken place, and accordingly he threw a reconnoitering force across the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg; "but," says Lee, "Hill's corps was left to watch these troops, with instructions to follow the move ments of the (Confederate) army as soon as the} should retire. Under this mask, Kwcll shotrapid ly across the Shenandoah Valley, and marching quickly northward, overwhelmed Milroy at Win Chester, and opened the gateway to the passage o: the Potomac. The result of these prcliminar} operations in the Valley is thus summed up b} Lee: "These operations resulted in the expulsion o the enemy front the Valley, the capture of foui thousand prisoners, with a corresponding numbei of small arms, twenty-eight pieces of superior artil lorv. including those taken bv General Rodes am General Hays, about three hundred wagons and a; many horses, together with a considerable quantity of ordnance, commissary and quartermaster'! stores. Our entire loss was forty-seven killed, tw< hundred and nineteen wounded and sis missing.' At the time that Ewell was operating in thi Valley, another role was assigned Longstreet. "Ii order to mislead Hooker as to our intentions," say Lee, "Longstreet left Culpepper Court House 01 the 15th of June, and advancing along the easten side of the Blue Ridge occupied Ashley's an< Snicker's Gaps." The effect of this manocuvr was to attract Hooker's attention toward the Blui ' Ridge and leave him in grave doubt as to whether his enemy designed crossing the Potomac into ! Maryland, oi;falling upon the rear of the Union s army in case it should cross. While Hooker was thus kept in suspense, the van of Lee's army, under Ewell, passed the Potomac, and, traversing Maryland, reached Chambersburg. The situation of the Union army is thus depicted by Lee: "The Federal anny was apparently guarding the f approaches to Washington, and manifested no disi position to assume the offensive. In the meantime, the progress of Ewell, who was already in Mary, land, with Jenkins' cavalry, advanced in Pennsyli vania as far as Chambersburg, rendered it necessary that the rest of the array should be within supporting distance; and Hill having reached the Valley, Longstreet was withdrawn to the west side of the Shenandoah, and the two corps encamped f near Berryville. ' "Gen. Stuart was directed to hold the mountain passes with part of his command, as long as the ! enemy remained south of the Potomac; and with the remainder to cross into Maryland and place himself on the right of Gen. Ewell. Upon the suggestion of the former officer that he oould dami age the enemy and delay his passage of the river by getting in his rear, he was authorized to do so; and it was left to his discretion whether to enter Maryland east or west of the Blue Ridge; but he was instructed to lose no time in placing his cora5 - A. _r 1 ?D k/, ' mana on me ngm ui uur ouiuiuu, t? own u? should perceive the enemy moving northward. "On the 22d, Gen. Ewell marched into Pennsylvania with Rodes' and Johnson's divisions, pre' ceded by Jenkins' cavalry, taking the road from ' Hageretown, through Uhambersburg, to Carlisle, where he arrived on the 27th. Early's division, which had occupied Boonsborough, moved by a parallel road to Greenwood; and, in pursuance of instructions previously given, Gen. Ewell marched I toward York. On the 24th, Longstreet and Hill were put in motion to follow Ewell, and on the 27th he encamped near Chambersburg." From the above extract from the report of Lee, it will be seen that Longstreet and Hill were at | Chambersburg on the 27th of June. Meanwhile, however, Ewell had moved northward toward the i Susquehanna, where Early was operating at York ( and Carlisle. The purpose of that move will be fully disclosed in the following passage, which throws an entirely new light on the purposes of the 1 Confederate commander in the invasion, and also explains a great deal of manoeuvring that is otheri wise quite incomprehensible: "It was expected that as soon as the Federal 1 army should cross the Potomac, Gen. Stuart would 1 give notice of its movements; and nothing having been heard from him since our entrance into Maryland, it was inferred that the enemy had not yet ; left Virginia. Orders were therefore issued to move upon Harrisburg. The expedition of Gen. Early to York was designed, in part to prepare for this undertaking, by breaking the railroad between Baltimore and Harrisburg, and seizing the bridges over the Susquehanna at Wrightsville. General Early succeeded in the first object, destroying a number of bridges above and below York ; but on the approach of the troops sent by him to Wrightsville, a body of militia stationed at that place fled ; across the river and burnt the bridge in their re treat. Gen. Early then marched to rejoitf his corps. The advance against Harrisburg was arrested by intelligence received from a scout, on the night of the 27th, to the effect that the army of General Hooker had crossed the Potomac, and was approaching the South Mountains. In the absence of the cavalry, it was impossible to ascertain his " ' *' ' ? il. nJirAnmnff (nrflinr intCnilOIlS, UUl UJ uvit'r mill IIUUI au vanning IU1 kiiv.1 west and intercepting our communications from Virginia it was determined to concentrate the army east of the mountains." From this passage the following remarkable facts ' appear: 1. That Lee, owing to the absence of the cavalry of Stuart, who, making a bad botch of his work, : had allowed the Union army to interpose itself between him and Lee's army during the whole march 1 northward from the Potomac, and bad therefore not been able to follow out his instructions of "placing himself on Ewell's right," was, on the 1 night of the 27th of June, at which time he was at I Chambersburg, not axcare that the Union army had crossed to the north side of the Potomac. In point of fact, this move had not only been made, ; but on that day, 27th of June, a concentration of the entire Union army had been effected at Fred erick. 2. That Lee's purpose in his march into Penn1 sylvania was to cross the Susquehanna and move - upon Harrisburg. and probably Philadelphia. This is a stretch of audacity far beyond what has been entertained by the Confederate commander. Yet i it is rendered manifest by his own avowal: "Ori deis were issued to move upon Harrisburg." The f expedition of Early to York had been designed to ' prepare for this undertaking. The vistas of possii bility opened up by this bold design heighten our conception of the magnitude and importance of that decisive action of Gettysburg, which checked Lee in his invasive ardor, and compelled him to seek safety in a retreat into Virginia. ; 3. That he was prevented from carrying this plan into execution by a curious error. He heard through a scout, on the night of the 27th of June, * that the Union army, having crossed the Potomac, "was approaching the South Mountains." This was a movement that would menace the line of " communication of the Confederate army; and, in ' consequence, l^ee "determined to concentrate the ; army east of the mountains." This requires a word of explanation. When Hooker had concen' trated his array at Frederick, on the 27th, he from : that point threw out a force to advance westward i through the passes of the South Mountain to i" Harper's Ferry, at which point he expected to have this force joined by the local garrison of ten ! thousand men, when he designed moving this spci nlol rnlnmn nn fhimhnrland Vallev to menace Lee's rear. But Halleck would not consent that the Harper's Ferry garrison should join this force, so it was drawn back to Frederick by Hooker. , Next day Hooker was relieved by Meade, who - moved his entire army northward, on the east side I of the mountains, toward the Susquehannah. It i thus appears that at the time when, on the night of the 27th of June, Lec received the information ' of this movement, which threatened his communi cations, the movement had been entirely aban,r doned! The manoeuvres just pointed out make plain the f train of accidental circumstances which brought ' about the decisive conflict of the campaign place ' at Gettysburg?a place which certainly was the objective point of neither army, and of which, indeed, f neither the Union nor Confederate commanders r had ever heard. Meade was moving northward r without knowing scarcely anything of the where" abouts of his enemy, and without any definite aim 1 save that he would move northward till he should 9 cause Lee to unloose his hold of the Susquehannah. 7 His left flank on this march naturally skirted Get9 tysburg. Lee wrongly fancying that the Union 9 army was moving on his line of communication towards Harper's Ferry, resolved, as a counter move, 3 to march eastward from Chambcrsburg to the east i side of the mountains. This line of march inevits ably bronght him to Gettysburg. Thus it was that i the respective line of march of the hostile armies 3 intersected each other, and it was a matter of fate i that the opposing forces should meet. The point e of deadly encounter was Gettysburg, e Lee's description of the three days' action at Gettysburg is very detailed, but fragmentary extracts would be of little value. It is well known that the action was precipitated unknown to each commander?it was, in fact, the accidental meeting of two heads of columns. The enemy was successful on the 6rst day's attack, and it seems to have been only after Lee came on the field, after this flush of victory, that he seriously entertained the idea of giving battle, for he had promised his corps commanders that he would not assume a tactical offensive, but would so manoeuvre as to compel the Union army to attack him. He says: "It had not been intended to deliver a general battle so far from our base unless attacked; but, coming unexpectedly upon the whole Federal array, to withdraw through the mountains, with our extensive trains, would have been difficult and dangerous. At the same time, we were unable to await an attack, as the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies in the presence of the enemy, who could restrain our foraging parties by holding the mountain passes with local and other troops. A battle had, therefore, become in a measure unavoidable; and the success already gained gave hope of a favorable Issue." Lee's plan-of battle for the 2d of July stands thus, in bis own words: "It was determined to make the principal attack upon the enemy's left, and endeavor to gain a position from which it was thought our artillery oould be brought to bear with effect. Longstreet was directed to place the divisions of McLaws and Hood on the right of Hill, partially enveloping the enemy's left, which he was to drive in. Gen. Hill was ordered to threaten the enemy's centre, to prevent reinforcement being drawn to either wing, and co-operate with his right division on Longstreet's attack. Gen. Ewell was instructed to make a simultaneous demonstration upon the enemy's right, to be converted into a real attack, should opportunity offer." The manner in which this plan was carried into execution is well known; but this report reveals a multitude of facts which throw new light on the events of the day. Thus the failure of Early to carry the position on the Union right (Gulp's Hill) is accounted for by the failure of expected support on his right. "Gen. Ewell," says he, "had directed Gen. Rodes to attack in concert with Gen. Early, covering his right, and had requested Gen. Lane, thpn oommnndinp' Pander's division, to CO-onerate on the right of Rodes. When the time to attack arrived, Gen. Rodes, not having his troops in position, was unprepared to co-operate with General Early, and before he could get in readiness, the latter had been obliged to retire from want of expected support on his right." This second day's action was, on the whole, favorable to the Cenfederates, or at least it stemed so, for they had 6ueceded in disrupting and driving from its position the entire right wing of the Union army. Anyhow, the result was such that Lee resolved to make another attack on the morrow. "The result of this day's operation induced the belief that, with proper concert of action and with the increased support that the positions gained on the right would enable the artillery to render the assaulting columns, we should ultimately succeed ; and it was accordingly determined to continue the attack. "The general plan was unchanged. Longstreet, reinforced by Pickett's three brigades, which arrived near the battle field during the afternoon of the 2d, was ordered to attack the next morning; and Gen. Ewell was ordered to assail the enemy's right at the same time. The latter, during the night, reinforced Gen. Johnson with two brigades and one from Early's division." The grand attack of the third day (July 3) is given with great minuteness of tactical detail; and this description, taken in consideration with the official reports of our own officers, renders the whole course of the battle unusually intelligible. We have room, however, for no more than the following concise account of Pickett's famous charge on Hancock's line: "The troops moved steadily on under a heavy fire of musketry aud artillery; the main attack being directed against the enemy's left centre. His batteries re-opened as soon as they appeared. Our own, having nearly exhausted their ammunition in the protracted cannonade that preceded tht A vance of the infantry, were unable to reply or render the necessary support to the attacking party. Owing to this fact, which was unknown to me when the assault took place, the enemy was enabled to throw a strong force of infantry against our left, already wavering under a concentrated fire of artillery from the ridge in front, and from Cemetery Hill on the left. It finally gave way; and the right, after penetrating the enemy's lines, entering his advanced works and capturing some of his artillery, was attacked, simultaneously in front and on both flanks, and driven back with heavy loss. The troops were rallied and reformed, but the enemy did not fSUIOUG* Lee does not seek to refine away the magnitude and thoroughness of the defeat that befell him at Gettysburg. He, however, refrains from giving his losses, simply stating that "the array sustained severe loss." The report is remarkably candid and impartial, and will form a very valuable contribution to the sum of evidence from which the historian of the war will finally make up his record. PRISONERS*AND TOBACCO. Mr. James Greenwood, author of "A Night in a Casual Ward," has followed up the success with which that production met, by continuing his search among the less familiar scenes of London life, and relatinghis discoveries for the amusement or instruction of the public. In an English periodical wc find an article entitled "Two Hours in Jail," in which this author describes the inmates and the discipline of Holloway prison. From this we extract a few passages illustrating the terrible hold which the appetite for tobacco obtains on its votaries, and the craving which compulsory abstinence from the bewitching weed creates: "Prisoners will run almost any risk for a chew or whiff of tobacco. It is known that at Portland the convicts, having obtained, through the agency of a 'free laborer' in the stone quarries, a piece of tobacco and a pipe, had a method of disposing of it as iugenious almost as it was disgusting. As must be mentioned, smoking was strictly prohibited, very serious penalties being in store for any one who assisted a prisoner to the coveted luxury. The only time when the perilous delight might be indulged in, was when in the course of a day's work a sudden shower came on, and the convicts, 'knocking off for the time, huddled in a shed out of the rain. Then the envied shareholders in a fourth of a quarter of an ounce of cavendish sat tVin r>f rclinni Viml a ninfi. and a straw in his mouth, the further end of which the second man sucked at, and so on till the number was complete. The pipe alight, the 'buck' took a draught of smoke through it at the corner of his mouth, enjoyed it for a moment, and then blew it through the straw at the other corner of the mouth into that of his next neighbor, and so it passed through, the last man having the envied privilege of swallowing the mouthful in consideration of his being at so great a loss in consequence of the deterioration in the flavor in the course of its transit. At the House of Detention, the friends of prisoners have conveyed them a pipe, a pipelight and tobacco in the interior of a loaf, on one occasion a segar and a lucifer match were found neatly wrapped together in the interior of a roast fowl, and the desperate smoker has been discovered atop of a platform consisting of his table, his Bible and bis pannikin, clinging tiptoe to the ban of a ventilator, by the ceiling, and blowing a diffi cult cloud through its narrow interstices. "It is not so easy, however, to convey tobacco tc a prisoner in as close a prison as that of Holloway. But it has been attempted. At stated times a prisoner's friend may pay him a visit The interview, however, is hampered to certain restrictions. On either side of a passage about five feet in width is a cage of open wire work, and conveniently disposed between the cages are screens, behind which a warder may be lurking, listening to the conversation that is going on, so as to check it at once should it take a vague or improper turn. One day in the course of innocent discourse between a prisoner and a male friend, the warder's watchful eye detected a feather floating over from one cage to the other, and arresting it midway, found at the stem of it a length of fine silk, and at the end ol the thread in the visitor's hand a nice little plug oi pigtail, for 'chawing.' Had the feather settled in the compartment where the prisoner was, nothing would be easier than for him to give a dexterous jerk at the silk and land the ping on his own side. The miscarriage of the neat little plot meant severe punishment for the would-be-receiver, and a month's hard labor for the obliging supplier; and the fact of its being about fifty to one against the trick successfully passing, shows how terrible must be the penalty of deprivation from tobacco to an old smoker." TULLAHOMA CHASING THE WOLF. Tullahoraa is a very lively little town "way down in Tennessee," about half way between Nashville and Chattanooga. The railroad runs through Tullahoma?"shrieking east and west" half a dozen times a day. Tullahoma was excited over a report that a wolf ?an actual live, shaggy wolf, with sharp teeth and hungry eyes?had been seen hanging around town, seeking what it might devour. There are plenty of children in Tullahoma, to say nothing of pigs and chickens, and the people did not like the idea of having a hungry wolf in the way of such temption, so they resolved to kill it. So one fine morning last summer, there sallied out from the town an army of thirty hunters, armed and not armed, and accompanied by a score of dogs. About a mile from town they met the wolf and gave hot chase. The unhappy beast, in its bewilderment, made a circuit directly, and took the road leading into the very heart of the town. Off he went tearing through the streets of Tullahoma, the people scattering like frightened geese before him, and the army of dogs and men rushing after. The dogs barked, the men shouted, the children screamed, and the hubbub was terrible. The whole town became wild with excitement and joined in the chase, while the miserable old wolf tore along, its tail sticking out straight behind, and its eyes nearly bursting from its head with fright. Lawyers jumped up from their green-covered tables, tipping over ink-bottles and knocking down chairs, and rushed into the street to join the chase. Hod-carriers spilled their loads of bricks or mortar recklessly, stuffed their black pipes in their pockets, and joined in chasing Mr. Wolf. Doctors rattled their bottles together, shut their cases with a snap, and started in pursuit Dry-goods clerks left their counters; washerwomen ran steaming from their tubs; carpenters threw down their jackplanes; boys dropped their marbles; liquor-sellers rushed out of their holes; men, women and children, all together, joined in the frantic chase of Mr. Wolf. Ah I what a day that was for Tullahoma 1 The battle of Chattanooga was quite overshadowed bj it. Through the town the wolf rushed, with the crowd after him. Turning around when he got outside, back he went through the main stieets again. Three times this was repeated, with the huge army of avengers on his path, and at last he reach* ed the railroad track. The engine from Nashville had jt'.3t come in, ringing its bell, and blowing its whistle, adding to the hubbub a new element. The poor wolf, out of breath, mad with fright, in very despair made a leap at the train, and dived headlong into the right-band window of the mail car. The mail agent instantly went out of the other window. The train Btarted off, and away went Mr. Wolf, safe in possession of the mail-car, while the frightened mail agent stood on the platform outside, wondering what to do. The crowd at the depot set up a howl of disappointment at the loss of their wolf When the train got into the country, the wolf, gaunt and haggard, jumped off and took the woods, no doubt happy in the thought that he had seen the last of Tullahoma; and chuckling over the fad that he had a ride in the cars without buying a ticket,?Youth's Companion. COMFORT. The great aim of the mass oPmankind is to get money enough ahead to make them "comfortable," and yet a moment's reflection will convince us that money will never purchase "comfort," only the means of it. A man may be "comfortable" without a dollar; but to be so, he must have the right disposition, that is, a heart and a head in the right place. There are some persons who are lively and cheerful, and good-natured, kind, and forbearing in a state of poverty which leans upon the toil of to-day for to-night's supper and the morning's breakfast Such a disposition would exhibit the same loving qualities in a palace or on a throne. Every day we meet with persons who in their families are cross, ill-natured, dissatisfied, finding fault with everybody and everything?whose first greeting in the breakfast-room is a complaint, whose conversation seldom fails to end in an enumeration of difficulties and hardships, whose last word at night is an angry growl. If you can get such persons to reason on the subject, they will acknowledge there is some "want" at the bottom of it?the "want" of a better house, a finer dress, a more handsome equipage, a more dutiful child, a more provident husband, a more cleanly, or systnnntii' nr domestio wife. At one time it is a "wretched cook" which stands between them and the sun; or a lazy honse servant, or an impertinent carriage driver. The "want" of more money than Providence has thought proper to bestow, will be found to embrace all these things. Such persons may feel assured that people who can not malce themselves really comfortable in any one set of ordinary circumstances, would not be so under any other. A man who has a canker eating out his heart, will carry it with him wherever he goes; and if it be a spiritual canker, whether of envy, habitual discontent, unbridled ill-nature, it would go with the gold, and rust out all its brightness. Whatever a man is to-day with a last dollar, he will be radically, essentially, to-morrow with a million, unless the heart is changed. Stop, readei^that is not the whole truth, for the whole truth has something terrible in it. Whatever of an undesirable disposition a man has to-day, without money, he will have to-morrow to an exaggerated extent, unless the heart be changed; the misei will become more miserly; the drunkard, mow drunken; the debauchee, more debauched; th? fretful, still more complaining. Hence the strikl ing wisdom of the Scripture injunction that all i oar ambition should begin with this, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;" that is to say, that if you are not comfortable, not hapt py now, under the circumstances which surround yoa, and wish to be more comfortable, more hapi py, your first step should be to seek a change ' of heart, of disposition, and then the other things will follow?vnthout the greater wealth! i And, having the moral comfort, bodily comfort, bodily health will follow apaoe, to the extent of i your using rational means. Bodily comfort, or health, and mental comfort have on one another i the most powerful reactions; neither can be perfect without the other, at least approximates to it; in short, cultivate health and a good heart; for i with these you may be "comfortable" without a > farthing; without them, never, although you may i possess millions! ?Halls Journc1 of Health. p MEDICAL HINTS. i 1. If a man faints, place him flat on his back > and let him alone. i 2. If any poison is swallowed, drink instantly half a glass of cool water, with a heaping teaspoonful each of common salt and ground mus, tard stirred into it; this vomits as soon as it reaches the stomach; bntfor fear some of the poison might i remain, swallow the whites of one or two raw eggs ; or drink a cup of strong coffee, these two being ani tidotes for a greater number of poisons than any dozen other articles known, with the advantage of their being always at hand; if not, a pint of sweet oil, or lamp oil, or "drippings," or melted batter or lard, arc good substitutes, especially if they vomit quickly. 3. The best thing to stop the bleeding of a moderate cut instantly, is to cover it profusely with cobweb, flour and salt, half and half 4. If the blood comes from a wound by jets or spurts, be spry, or the man will die in a few minutes, because an artery is severed; tie a handkerchief loosely around, near the part between the wound and the heart; pnt a stick between the handkerchief and the skin, and twist it aronnd nnr til the blood ceases to flow; keep it there until the doctor oomes; if in a position where the handkerchief cannot be used, press the thumb on a spot near the wound, between the wound and the heart; increase the pressure uutil the bleeding ceases, but ' do not lessen the pressure for an instant before the physician arrives, so as to glue up the wound by | coagulation or cooling of the hardening blood. I 5. If vour clothing takes fire slide the hands down the dress, keeping them as close to the body as possible, at the same time sinking to the floor by bending tbe knees; tbishas a smothering effect upon the flames; if not extinguished or great head way gotten, lie down on tbe floor and roll over and over ; or better, envelop yourself in a carpet, rug, bedcloth, or any garment you can get hold of, always preferring woolen. 6. If the body is tired, rest; if the brain is tired sleep. 7. If the bowels arc loose, lie down in & warm bed, remain there, and eat nothing until you are welL 8. If the action of tbe bowels does not ocour at tbe usual hour, eat not an atom until they do act, at least for thirty-six hours; meanwhile drink largely of cold water or hot teas, and exercise in the open air to the extent of a gentle perspiration, and keep this up until things arc righted; this suggestion, if practiced, would save myriads of lives every year, both in the city and country. i 9. The three best medicines in the world are warmth, abstinence and repose.?Hallt Journal of Health. _ ' POSITION IN SLEEPING. It is better to go to sleep on the right side, for ' 1_ ii _ , men me siomacu is very uiucu iu iue pusiuuu ui a bottle turned upside down, and the contents of it s are aided in passing out by gravitation. If one goes to sleep on the left side, the operation of | emptying the stomach of its contents ie more Hke drawing water from a well. After going to sleep, , let the body take its own position. If you sleep on your back, especially soon after a hearty meal, the weight of tbe digestive organs and that of the food resting on the great vein of ( the body, near the backbone, compresses it, and arrests the flow of the blood more or less. If the arrest is partial, the sleep is disturbed, and there I are unpleasant dreams. If the meal has been reI cent and hearty, the arrest is decided; and the various sensations, such as falling over a precipice, . or the pursuit of a wild beast, or other impending dangers, and the desperate efforts to get rid of it, arouse us, and send on the stagnating blood; and | we wake in a fright, or trembling, or in a perspiration, or feeling exhausted, according to the degree of stagnation, and the length and strength of the , efforts made to escape tbe danger. But when we are unable to escape the danger? when we do fall over the precipice, when the trembling building crushes us?what then? That is , death 1 That is the death of those of whom it is . said, when found lifeless in the morning, that "they were as well as ever they were the day before and often it is added, "and ate heartier than common 1" This last, as a frequent cause of death to those who have gone to bed to wake no more, ; we give merely as a private opinion. The possibility of its truth is enough to deter any rational ; man from a late and hearty meal This we do know i with certainly, that waking up in the night with . painful diarrhea, or cholera, or bilious colic ending ; in death in a very short time, is probably traceable to a late large meal. The truly wise will take the safe side. For persons to eat three times a day, it is amply sufficient to make the last meal of cold ' bread and butter, and a cup of some warm drink, i No one can starve on it; while a perseverance in the habit soon begets a vigorous appetite for breakfast, so promising of a day of comfort Halfs Journal of Health. ? Signs of the Weather.?If the dew lies plentifully on the grass after a fair day, it is a sign of another. If not, and there is no wind, rain must follow. A red evening portends fine weather; hot ' if it spread too far upwards from the horizon in ' the evening, and especially morning, it tore tells wind or rain, or both. When the sky, in rainy weather, is tinged with sea green, the rain will increase ; if with deep bine it will be showery. Against mnchrain, the clonds grow bigger, and increase very fast, especially before thunder. When the clonds are formed like fleeces, but dense in the middle and bright towards the edges, with the sky bright, they are signs of a frost, with hail,?now or rain. If clouds form high in air, in thin, white trains, like locks of wool, they portend wind, and probably rain. When a general cloudiness covers | the sky, and small black fragments of clonds fly ; underneath, they are a sure sign of rain, and probably it will be lasting. Two currents of clouds al' ways portend rain; and, in summer thunder. The Duty op a Mother,'1?She should be firm, [ gentle, kind, always ready to attend to her child. She should never langh at him, at what he does i that is cunning; never allow him to think of his looks, except to be neat and clean in all his habits. She should teach him to obey a look; to respect i those older than himself; she should never make a command without seeing it is performed in the i right manner. Never speak of a child's faults or 1 foibles, or repeat his remarks before him. It is a sure way to spoil a child. Never reprove a child i when excited, cor let your tone of voice be raised i when correcting. Strive to inspire love, not dread; respect, not fear. Remember you are training and I educating a soul for eternity.