Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 14, 1886, Page 10

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14, 1886.~TWELVE PAGES. ADVENTURES OF MAJORNORTH White Ohief of The Pawnee fconts—His Frontier Experience, PATROLLING THE UNIONPACIFIC. 9he Defeat of Old Turkey Leg Important Treaty and Ex< change of Prisoners. An COPYH (Written for the Sunday Be HIED, W Alfred Sorenson.) Mjor & vt e 1end wnd 1 Voy I g DIt ated - Capty Tatit rronty at North Bt Whtte Capiives At Hunt—A Fiahe With the uht Place-Nurrow Kscap ud Party, gyvorere oy CmApTER ViI VI Turkey Leg's Operations. In the spring of 1867 General Augur, then commanding the department of the Platte, authorized Captain North to en- list a cavaley batallion of 200 Pawnecs for duty along the line of the Union Pacific railroad, which was then in pro- cess of construction. *The hostile Indians were making frequent raids on the con- struction gangs, killing the laborers and running off the horses. The batallion was thoronghly organized by the 15th of March. 1t was divided into four com- panies of fifty men each, and each com pany had one captain and one lieutenant, with the regular number of non-commis- sioned officers, while North, who was in command, was given & major's connnis- sion, Major North and his command pro- ceeded from the Pawnee reservation to old Fort Kearney, where they were furnished with horses and other equip- ments, They then marched to the endof the track, which was ata point where Alkali station was afterwards loeated. Five companics were immediately senton 10 Julesburg, sixty miles distant. to ex- change the old and inferior weapons, which had been supplicd them, for Spen- cer earbines. THE HOSTILE INDIANS had been greatly annoying the graders and track-layers, and two or three days before the arrival of Major North a rumber of horses _had been stolen from the contractors. Major North, with his two remaining companies, accordingly moved along with the workmen w were building the road at the rate of two miles aday. Onthe sccond daay after Major North's arrival, his pickets c: in and reported that a party of Indi were coming down from the north, accordingly took a detachment of forty men—twenty from each of s two com- panics—and by making a cireuit he got etween the North Platte river and the approaching [ndians, who proved to be a Sioux war party from Red Cloud’s bind. A RUNNING FIGUT ensued for several miles, the Pawnees de feating them and killing one of number and eapturing seve This was the only movement hostiles that had been in any way cessful up to th o during the year, and the only engagement in which any of the hostiles had been Kitled, The Sioux were not aware that the Pawnees had taken the ficld against them, and were s.:rmuly surprised to see their old enemies n that part of the country, From this time they became nmiore eautious, and their raids on the road became less fre- quent, Upon the return of the two companies grom Julesburg with theiv new arm. Major North proceeded with the other 1wo compunies to Julesburg and also made an exchange of wea,ons. The Pawnee batallion continued all summer to do duty along the Union Pacitic road for a distance of 300 mi from Plum Creck to the Laramie plain They had numerous skirmishes with th hostiles, and frequently went out on long chases after stolen stock, which they gen- erally succeeded in recovering. About the 1st of August the old Cheyenne chicf, TURKEY LEG, made & raid i the night time on the road at a point about four miles west of Plum Creek station, where his party took out a culvert and ditched a west bound freight train. They killed most of the train men,scalpingone of them alive,and breaking open the cars they sceured a Jarge quantity of plunder of every de- seription, after which they burned the train with the exception of seven flat cars Joaded with ties. Major North was im- mediately telegraphed at the end of the track to bring down a company of his Pawnees, The nearest compuny that he could spare was at a point twelve nnles from the end of the track and ahout 220 nles from Plum Creek. He at once or: dored ears by telegraph to be in readi- ness at the end of the track to transport the company to Plum Creek, and then Jumping on his horse he rode the twelve miles in fifty minutes, and in two hou and forty mmutes from the time he started out he was back with the com- pany ot fifty m who boarded special train, which reached Plum Creck station at daylight next morning, the track having veen bult around the wreck soon after Turkey Lea's departure. ~ Major North, with ten wen, at onee set out on the trail of the train-wreckoers, fol- lowing it to the South Platte rive hich stream it erossed, and thence led into the blulls, Maj North, believing that the rodskins were southern Indians, veturned to camp, and for several duys’ kept his scouts out looking for them About the tenth day after the ditehing of the train. the seouts e in and reported Indians moving up from the south. Major North immediately sent out Cap tain Murey with forty men to meet them The captain, who wis anxious for a fight, soon met the hostiles, who proved to be | Turkey Leg’s party of 150 warriors, com- ing buack to mu another raid on t road. A running light took place, the AWNIES DRIVING THE CHEVENNES for nbout twenty-five miles, nlost to the Republican viver, killing fiftcen warriors, aud takmg two prisoners-one bein, warrior and the other o squaw—u1 turing thivty-live horses and mules, From these prisoners, who had been in the first raid, it was learned that Turkey Log bad intended 1o diteh w passenger train, and the second raid, by ( f ulvert on Bufiaio Creck, ing secured all the wanted on the lirst raic 0 for sealps on the second. The suceess ul rally of Captamn Murcy, no doubt, nverted a dr anity and saved mauny lives. I'his company remained at Plum Creek about two months, when a message was yeceived from ‘I'urkey Leg, by a vunner who eame into North™ Clatte, and deiv eved it to the military authorities there It was to the efiect that he know ot the two captives being detained in the Paw nee camp; that the iunng man was his nephew, und a chief, and he aesired to sceure his liberty, as well as that of the squaw, by exchanging for them six white prisoners whom he had in his possession ajor North laid the case before the Paw nees, who unhesitatihgly consented to the change, and a message to that effeet was sent back by the runner to Turkey Leg, A day wus appoiuted for A COUNCIL} to be held at North Platte, and when it $ook place the commissioner of Iudiun wiluirs, Mr. Wilson, and Generals Sher- mun, Harney wud Augur, and otl goods that they propo:d | ralled,” T prominent officials were present. Tt was one of the largest Indian councils ever held, many noted Indians being in at tendance, The object of the council was to consider not only the exchange of prisoners, but otier matters of great im portance. It w t this council that the treaty wns made giving all the land north of the North Platte river toSpotted Tay chiefs, with whom peace was then made, and ever afterwards observed by them The two Cheyenne vrisoners’ we brought to North Platte by Major North on the appointed day, and the exchange was made in the railroad eating house. THE WHITE PRISONERS 5 who wore thus rescucd from cantivity were three young ladies, two ot whom were nineteen years old and one sevens tecn years old, two boys wlo were twins andal horn 1n captivity, 1ts mother being one of the young ladies, she hay- ing Dbeen compelled to submit to the force of an Indian. Two of the mrls were sisters of tle twin boys. They had been capture 1 earlyin the ing at thir home on the ranch. coath of the South Platte river, opposite Grand Island. Their father and mother and a brother and a younger si had_ been killed. One of ‘the sisters upen being eaptured had refused to go with the Indians, say- ing that she wotld rather dic. She stru gled desperately to cseape, an | thus in- vited the Indians to end her existenco. but this they were not disposed to do, She was seized and TIED BY HER BEAUTIFUL LONG HAIR to the tal of a horse, and for a consid- crable d'siance she was thus forced along, part of the time being dragged upon the ground and partof the time managing to gain her feet and keep up with the horse. She fina'ly consented to be put upon the horse’s back and ride. The party who captured these girls num- I-m'm\ fitteen, and they most sham lossly and crucily abused them. Turkey Leg appropriated one of the sisters to his own use, and gave the other to a chief In 1870, white Major North was out on a buffalo hunt, he ealled at a ranch bouse not far frcm Grand Islind, and the woman of the house reconized him as the man who had made the exchange of prisoners at North Platte, She was one of the sisters, and was greatly re- fo'ced to meet the majcr whom she thanked again and again for being the means of her rescue from eaptiv She had marricd and was living upon this cancl During the remainder of the summer of 1867 Ma’or North spent mcs: of the time in inspecting the Pawnee camps at different yoints; and finally upon the 1s of January, 1838, the batallion was dis- banded. A wonth later Major North, acting under instructions, reorganized tivo com lr:uiius of the Pawnee scouts for guara and _ PATROL DUTY along the Wood River to Willow Island, a distance of two hundred miles. 1n the month of July Major North took a de- tachment of ~ [ifty scouts—twenty-five trom each company, and went south to the Republican river'on a scout. On the trip they were joined by the Pawnee tribe, who were out on their annual buf- fato hunt on their old and familiar grounds a'ong the Republican river. "here were with the Pawnees al Omubas, Winnebagoes and Ponc whole number of Indians be: 5,000. Major North had taken with him a half dozen quite prominent men from differ- ent parts of the (ast who had come out to Nebruska for A BUFFALO 1IUNT, an{ asked t| or's permiss’on to ne- company him to the buffalo country. They were given plenty of opportunily for hunting, and they hunted with com- parative satety from hostile Indians under the protection of the Pawnce scouts. After having killed all the buf- faloes they desired, some of them ex- pressed o wish of secing some hostile oux and witnessing o fight with them. Thew wish was soon granted. Major North, who had rot done any hunting himself, but had furnished an escort tor the guests, concluded before returning to the railroad to go out with twenty-Tive of his scouts and have a good buffalo killing, as he desired to bring back some esh meat for those of his men who had remained on duty along the Union I’ ic. Accordingly one morning he and Capian Morris started with, twenty-five scouts and mad A FINE BUFFALO SURROUND on Mud (Tock, four miles from camp. After killing quite a number of buflalos the scouts became seattered, as is usua in making a surronnd. A NARROW ESCALE Major North who had killed one cow and had ridden off alone some little dis- tance in pursit of another which he had badly wounded, was interrupted in the chase by one of the Pawnces who gal- lopped up to him and said, *The Sioux are after us,” The major looked in the direction in which he pointed, and seemng a Indians, he said, **They are Pawnces. “No! hey are Sioux, eplied the scout rather impatiently. “[ guess yow're right,” as ho looked again and saw them ye! considerable distance, but galloping towards them at a lively gait, “‘and we had better get out of their track, The major and the scout thereupon dashed across a ravine and up the side of hill, where they overtook two Pawnees and told them to get ready for a fight, Just about this time Captain Morris and four scounts, who had also got the alarm, caime running out of u ravine near by, ana joined Maujor North, The united party now numbered nine men—North, Morris aud seven scouls. T'he union of torees was not 1 1o 2 moment too soon, for by this time the Sioux had got enonzh to commence firmg. There were bout one hundred in the party, and, as was afterwards lesinad, they were from Spotted Tail's_eawmp near North Platwe city. Captain North and bis little 1c retreated to a well-protected ravine managed to holl the cnemy at bay. There was no possible show ' to eseape, as the Sionx had them eompletely cor- only hope they had was to attempt Lo escape at night under cover of the dariness, unless assistance eame to them from the main camp of the Pawnees, For five long hours the be- sviged part rovGur ron and kept the Sioux from advancing on them and an lating them., Meantime the y of the Sioux numbering fully attacked the main cmp of the Paw trile, who withstood their assauit and drove them Lack o short distance Then a pitched battle followed, in wlich ene sido would terreat and then the other. It was u g and tuke fight, back and forth. The Pawnees, however, key DRIVING THE S10UX, little by httle, and fivally they forced them past the ravine where Major Novth's party was corraled by the hundred Sioux, who were now also compelled to retreat with the main body. This guve the major and bis men an opportunity to escape, and thev were not slow to take advan tage of it. Toere was not one of them that had thought that they would ever get out of the rayme, been shot through the body, another had one of his little fingers shot off, and of the nine horses six had been killed. It wasa very hot day, and they had all snftored terribly for - water, particularly the wounded me None of the party, ubon emerging from the ravine, could spe ubove u whisper, s¢ parched were their throat ‘I'he Pawnees at the village supposed that they had all been killed, and their APDEArANCE ONCO MOre among then wa the oceasion of GREAT REJOICING . The guests ot Major North, who had been 50 WU yious to see 8 fight with the Sion said the major, DEAR LIFE, Red Cloud, Turkey Leg and other |} One of the scouts had | were now more ansious to see the railroad n, It had been a torribly exciting day. The tight between the Pawnees and the main body of Sioux had been hotly con tested, ineh by inch, and several warriors had been killed and wounded on both sides. The Pawnees returned to camp pretty well exhausted, after finally com- belling the Sioux to withdraw from the tield The next morni his fifty scouts and his white guests, started on the return to the railroad, which was reached in safety at Willow Island. The Pawnee scouts continued to duty until January 1st, 1869, when the batallion was disbanded. Major North was retained in serviee by General Augur through the winter, and was put in charge of the horses with directions to ev them in good condition, and them ready for the field when s opened up again. |TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY.] 2 Major North, with do A NIGHT ANVENTURE, It was drawing to the close of a dull December day when my grandfather, hav- ing satisfactorily completed the business which had taken him to Sahsbury, and having settled his bill at the Old Bell Inn, where he always staid, mounted his gig, and, first secing that his pistols were well primed-—a necessary precaution in those days—set off on his long, cold journey. His destination was C——, about twenty miles from Salisbury, and to reach which he had to cross part of the plain, I am speaking, be it remembered, of some eighty years ago, when a_night journey, even ifonly of o' few miles, in a lonely and unfrequented part of the country w: i matter of no small dangor. The depredations of the “Knights of the Road” were frequent, and murder was often the scquel of robbery. My grandfather was 4\_}0\"1;', and strong man, well armed, and felt but little [fear, his business besides obliging to be often on the rond. Nevertheless, as the evening closed in and the cold grew more intense, accompanied by a slighs but steaaily in- creasing fall of snow, he could not help wishing that the end of his journey was nearer his mare, Jenny, was as good and fast an anin as er went betvveen the shafts, and to-night, as if aware of and sh her master's anxicty to reach home, she scemed even more fit than usual. He had not advaneed far on the plain when he saw a little in advance of him the figure of a pedestriangoing in the me direction as himself. As he drew nearer he saw, to his surprise, that it was a female, a tall woman, wearing a large fur cloak and hood. My grandfather, naturally surprised at meeting a woman—apparently a woman 1 so unlikely a spot, drew his reins, and bending down was the point of ac- costing her, when suddenly throwing back her hood, she said: *‘Pardon me,sir, but would you kindly give me a liff, if you are going towards C——? [ must be there to-night, and by some mischance have unfortunately missed my brother, who was to have met me at Salisbury; we mz\f yet perhaps overtuke him.” My grandfather, of course, immedi- ately assented, not ill-pleased to have met with o companion, and helped the lady i, She sprang lightly up and they proceeded on thew way. On a closer inspection he discovered that sl.e was & handsome young woman of twenty-two or twenty-three years of re—a brunet, with good features, large ark eyes, and curling bl ha She waus Yimuy, agreeable, and unembar- d, She inforined my grandfather that she was staying with triends near C—, that was an orphan daughter of a captain in the army, and had come to see her brother before he joined the regment, which was under marching orde She secmed to be—for a lady—no mean judge of a horse, and complimented my grand- father on **Jenny’s” good points. He was delighted at having so unexpectedly met with o charming companion; the conversation did not tiag, and presently aswas natural, turned upon the dangers of the road, and the recent feats of the I ghwaymen who infested it. It was 1n the midst of an interesting count which she was giving of an adyen- ture which had befallen her brother in connection with these gentry that, m illustrating some movement of his, her cloak fell back and disclosed u pair of pistols, doubtless well primed. My grandfather’s suspicions were im- mediately aroused, the more so as it was sty generally known that on these journeys he usually carried a large sum of money. Ho wasa man of prompt ac- tion; and, rapidly forming the conclu- sion that be had been duped, and that his property, and most likely also his lite, was at stake, formed a project of escap- ing, if possible, the imminent danger. He quictly and unobserved by his come- pavion drew off his glove, and then, foigning to discover it loss, exelaimed! “How annoying; I have dropped my glove, and with it my ring. Itis of value, and [ would not lose it for world, Wil you kindly descend and find it for me; it wust be close by, 1 dare not trust the reins 1o a lady's hand,the mare is so fresh to-nignt.” she willingly complied with his re- quest. Searcely had she fairly reached the ground when a touch of thé whip and s word which the mare well knew made her put forth her utmost speed, not, how- ever, before a bullet whizzed past his ear, followed by impreeations which the rapidly inereasing distance soon silenced An honr's sharp driving brought my eandfather to his own comfortable dom- icile. It was but o few months currence that th i 1 Lady of the Plain, alins Geor -, one of the m daring and desperate of highwaymen, was captured, triod, and exceuted ab the county juil. My grandfather had many another nocturnal journcy, but never again met with so stirring an us this; although he said -~ that neye saw a tall dark girl with handsome eycs without thinking of his narrow that Deceniber night on Salisbury plam - Lets Oth xercise and W Chicago Herald: Wallace P, I Atlanta Constitution, says that f you will sit down and stay down you will Tive for ever. He practices what he preaches, The Constitution says that for tweive hours every day he sits at his desk; four hours ho sits at hom It takes twelve minutesto walk 300 yards four times cach day. e sleaps seveén and a half hours. His health is perfect. His appetite is keen, s brain elear and his eapucity for work remarkable, He is never s day or an houror a minute. Heis genial, frosh, bright and does not age a shade His knowledge of men and things is un usual. The only eharacter in books that rplexes him is “the Wandering Jow,"” nnot understand,’ he says, “how he lived 5o long when he was continually moving about.” after this oc- - 5 Statistics, One of the most eurions statistical v cords recently compiled is that of Dr Salzmaun of Essling, in Wartewbe He found, on going over the ancient re- cords of Essling, that in the sixteenth century the average duraton of hfe among the physiciins was 36,5 years; in the sevehteenth, 45.8; in the eightoenth, 45.8, while at the present time the physi- cians of Wartemberys veach the favorable average of 56.7 years. It would appear that this very great inerease in longevity was due to the disappearance of the pest and the great diminution in the number of typhus “cpidemies. The black death, or bluck pest of the fouricenth century, decimated the practitioners of that gpoch’ Guy de Chauline suffe from it twice and recovercd Chialin de’ Vinarie sue cumbed Curio UNWRITTEN WAR HISTORY. Did Jeff Davis Instizato the Assassination of Abrabam Lincoln? SOME STARTLING DISCLOSURES. General Rrisbin Writes a Chapter on the Secret History of the War —Strange Documents Never Before Published. Fort Nionrara, Neb,, Nov. 11.—{Cor- respondence of the Bee.J—If it has come to that pass that the president of the United States and his wife ecannot go into the south without hav- ing that old arch-traitor, Jeff Davi or some of his family, thrust under their noses, then they had indeed better stay out of the south, Every month or two we are treated to something about old Jeff Davis. He is paraded at Montgom- ery, or somewhere else, and his slimy ut- terances taken down and telegraphed nurth by his southern admirers. Now, whatever we may think of the southern people and the confederate soldiersat the north, we can never have but one opinion Jefl Davis, and thatis,that he is the mean- est old traitor that ever was permitted to 2o unhung by a too humane government. Why the southern people should parade him or lionize him I cannot understand, for he was a bane to the confederacy and an injury to their cause, as well as a dis- grace to civilization. There are things about Jeff Davis that perhaps even the southern veople do not know, and I am sure the northern people do not. If Jelt Davis did not instigate the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, he rejoiced when he heard the deed had been done. Abralhiam Lincoln was shot on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, and JEFFERSON DAVIS KNEW OF THE PLOT to assassinate him as early as November, 20, 18064, ot only this, but Jeflerson Davis, on February 11, 1865, received a letter from W. S. Oldham, of the confederacy, offer- ing 1. To burn every vessel that leav forcign port for the United States. 2. To burn every transport that leaves the harbor of New York or other north- ern port with supplies for the armies of the enemy in the south, 8. To burn every transport or gun-boat on the Mississippi river, as well as deva: tate the country of the enemy and fill his people with TERKOR AND CONSTERNATION. letter 15 endorsed by Davis himslf ferred to his seeretary of state,with instructions to sce General Harris about it, and learn what plans he had ‘‘for overcoming the difliculty heretofore ex- perienced.” The difticulty heretoforce perienced had been the failure of Jake Thompson to burn Cincinnati, New York, and other northern cities, the boats on the Ohio and Mississippi. A man named Minor Major had_got to burn the boats on the Mississippi, a_ Mr. Churchill got the money 'with which to set fire to Cincinnati. 1do not Kknow cither of these men, and whether they are living or dead, but what I state re facts, and somebody still Lving mus know about them. The next letter was signed by Lieu- tenant W. Alston, a confederate officor was addressed to Jeflerson Davis in per: son, and offered *‘to rid the south of some of its deadliest enemies by striking at the very heart’s blood of those who seck to enchain her 1n slave This letter was briefed and referred, “by direction of the vresident, to the secretary of war,” by Burton W. Harrison, Jefi' Davis’ priv: ccretary. It was also endorsed by Judge Caumpbell, assistant seeretary of war. _The following is a verbatim copy of the first letter referred to above: RicnyoND, Feb, 11, 180 To His Excellency, Jelorson Duvis, I'res dent of tho Confederure’S of America. Stu: WhenSenaior Jolnson, of Missouri, and f waitodon you s/ fow diys since in'r i to the prospeet of annoyin, and harriss n the encmy by means of burning their shippius LownA, ete., thero were, severul remarks mude by you upon the subject that I was not fully s a prepared 1o answer, but which subsequent_con- iercnce with purtios proposing the enterprise I find cannot apply #s objoctions to tho schem 1. The combustible watcrial consists of sev- erdl preparations, and not one alone, and ean be used without exposing the purty usi tho least danzor of detection” whutey Proparations u 1 tho hunds of but are in the I Professor McCullough, and urc known but to hinyund one other party, as I understand. 7 2. Ihoro is no necessity for sending persons in the militury ervico hito the encmy’s coun- try., but the work may be done by ngenis, and in OBL CRSCS by e orantof the falts,and, thercfore, innocent ngents. I have secn enough of the effeets that con bo proiduced 1o satisty me that in most cuses, with- outany dunger 10 the parties enguged, and in othe v slght, wo cun: vesiel that leaves n forelgn port for the United States. 2. By evory transport that leaves tho hur- borof New Yoik or northern ports with sup- plics for tho armies of the encmy in the south. 5. Burn every (rmsport and gunbont on_ the Mississippi, us well us devastate tho covntry of the enpiny ‘and fill his people with terror and constornition T am notalone in this opinion, but many other ‘0 are as tully and’ thoroughly im- prossed with the conviction as I am, 1 beli Wo huve the means ut our command it prowptly aopropited and energotical moralizo the northern. peop tnio. For tho purpose of sut 8fy upon the subjeot, 1 respectiul request thut you will have General Hurls, W your mind but earnestly an’interview with formerly a momber of con- gress trom Missourl, who, T think, is_able, from conclusive proofs, 10 convineo yoh thut what [ o sugostod 1 port eotly teasiblo and practi cal The doep interest 1 feel for the sne oszof our cause in (his steueide and the convietion of importanee of nvailing ourseives of every elo ment of defense, st e my excuse for wiiti you und requesting you (o ivito Goneral Ha- vis 10 se0 you. I you should sco propor 1o do ense sienify the time when it will be con- yenient for you toseo him. 1 i, Respectiu ly, your obedient servant, W, 3, 0.0 AM ENDORSENINT. RICHNON D, Fob, 12, 1565, W. 8, Oldham: A0 1o plins and means for burning the , parations uro hipping, g lough, und in the hands of intervie vat Harris, formerly A wmemser of Congress rom Missouri, on tho subje SECOND ENDORSEMENT. Secretary of state, it his convenienee, pleaso geo Genoral Harvis and learn what plan he has for overcoming the diliculty heretofore exper- 10 by, 1805 3. 0. I ved Fob'y 1ith, 156 The last endorsement isin_ Jef Davis' own handwriting, and the initials, Oy are signed by himself. The next letter to Jefferson from a rebel officer, who oiler AN ASSASSINATIN TOU, and rid the south of some of her by strikin their heart's blood,” This means to kill Abraham Lincoin, Ldwin M Stanton and William H. Seward THE SECOND LETTER Mgy WIITE $ULCIUR SPIIN Yo Iis Bxcellency, (he Piesident of foderate SGlcs 0f Ambrica Deak Sie: | i e been thinking for sou o that [would contninieation t vou, but huve been det trom 50 doing on aocount of il health. 1 now offer yoa my ser. vices, &l if you will favor me g my designs, 1 Will procecd s soon # my health will perinit'to vid ty country of somo of her dewdlicst en cmios by striking wt the vory hearts blood of those who seels to enehuin ber in siavory, | consiger nothing dishonor.ble haying such a tendeticy. A 11 usk is for you to fuvor me by ErAnUNS e the necosssry prpers, &e., 10 travel on Wil witnin (ie Jurisdie lon of tho confed- ovate govermuent. 1 wni perfootly fumilin With thes norih wid feol contdant that T can ex- coute anything I uidortako I aw jus rerurned now from within the Wk 1w 8 theaten - aut in Generyl Duke's comuund, and 1 was o 5 the ra Kentuoky under teeneral Jolin H. Morkun. | ani ull i my. commuan ptig abont 1 or tour wnd iwo Columisssaon rs, wero aken prison- e, Lut Ludiay o good oppuriuudy whils belug Davis is 10 goon 1emies Mo 38, Va, e taken to prison, T made my escape from them. Dressing myselt in the garb of a citizen, | at: tompted to pass out through the mountains,but finding thut impossible, narrowly eseaping two or three times from belng rotaken, 1 shaped my course north_ and Canadas, froni whence by the nssistance of Colonel J. P. Haleombe, 1 succecded in making my wayroind and_through the blockado: but hiving taken tho yeliow fever ar Bermuda, 1 have been rendercd unfit tor sorvice since my arrival. 1 was reared up in the state of Alabama and educated at the university. Hoth the secrotary of war And his_nasistant, Judge Campbell, ara porsonally acquainted with my fathor, Willinm J. Alston, of the Fifth congrossional dlstrict of Alabima, haying served in the time of the ol conieross i the years 1840-5)-51 T¢ 1 ean do_anything for you T shall expect your full confidence in return. 11 you do this [ cnm rendor Yo and my country vory important service, Lot me hear from you soon. Tam anxions to be doing something, and having no command at presont. all or nearly all boing in gareison, | desiro that you fuvor mo in this n Short tinte. 1 would like to hnve u porgonal in- terview with you in order to perfeet the ac rangements before startiug, 1 am, very respectfully, your obediont sorvant LievT. W, ALST ENDORSEMENT. A. G. 30=Lioutenant W. Alston, Montgomery Sulphir Springs, Vi, (o datey 1s 1 leutenant in Genorai Duke's command, ad_accompaniod raid_into Kontucky and was captured, hut csenpod into Cansda from whonee ho foun 1 his way back. Been in bed health, Now offers his services to rid the country of Some of its dend- livat enomics. Asks. for papors to parmit lim to travel within the jurisdiction of this govorn- mont. Would 1ike to hnave an intorview and o platn. Respectfully roferred by direction of the president 1o the honornble socretiry of Wi, BURTON W, HARIis R, Private Secre . for attontio Received Nov, 20th, 1864, 0. Dec. 15,1864, A. G order, 3.AL CAMPIERD, AL S, W, What has become of this Alston | do not know, but his object undoubtedly was TO ASSASSINATE LINCOL Seward and Stanton, and he so intimated to Jefl Davis as ecarly as November 20, 1861, as plainly as he dared. Not only did Jefferson Davis know of the intended assassination of Abraham Lineoln, bat _in violation of the custom among all rulers of civilized nations he failed to inform Mv, Lincoln of his dan- ger, and rejoiced when he heard Lincoln had been assasslnated The following is the statement of Mr. F. Bates, given under oath to our government at the trial of the assassins of President Lincoln: “I reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I have resided for a little over four years. L am superintendent of _the Southern Express company tor the State of North Carolina. 1 am u native of Massachusetts. On the15th of April J ferson Davis stopped at my house. in Charlotte, when he made an” address to the people from the steps of my hous While speaking a telegram from John C Breckinridge was handed to him. (The following telegram was here read to the witne noRro, April19, 1805, His Excelle Davi PRESIDE: innted in the theatro in Washington on_tho night of 11th mst. Seward’s house was entered on the same night, and ho wus_repeatedly stabbed, and is probably mortally wounde signed.] JONN O, BRECKENTIDO® n concluding his speceh, dJeflerson s read the dispateh aloud, and made mark: re to be done, it were better it were well done.” 1 .luu quite sure these are the words he used. A day or two afterwards Jeflerson Davis and John C. Breckenridge were present at my house, when the assassina- tion of the president was the subject of conversation. In speaking of ic John C. Breckenridge remarked to Davis that he regretted it very much, and that it was very unfortunate for the people of the south at that time. DAVIS REPLIED: “Well, general, Idon’t know—if it were to be done it were better it were well done and if the same bad been done to Andy ohnson, the beast, and to Stanton, the job would then be complete.”” Nothing was suid at all as to the erim- inality of the act—and from the cxpress- sion used by John C. Breckinrvidge, I draw the conclusion that he simiply re- garded it as unfortunate for the people of the south at t time."" The reb recognizing the impor- tance of Mr. Bates testimony, attempted to discredis it, wh the government called the following witnesses: J. C. Courtney testified: I reside in Charlotte, North Carohna, and am en- gaged in the telegraphing business in conncesion with the Southern Express company. The telegram to which Mr. Bates refers is a true copy of a message that was transmitted to Jeflerson Dayis on the 19th of April last, and signed John C. Breekenvidge. I was standing by the operator when the message was received. Jeflerson Davis received the Mr. Bates' house in Charlotte, to which place he had come from Greenshoco or Concord, where he had_stopped before.” James B. Russell testified: " ““I reside 1 Springlicld, Massachusetts, I known Levi [, Bates for about twenty-five years, or the lust fiv 1 have not known anything of | whereabouts until [ learned from him t he had been living in Charlotte, North Carolin He v in business as baggage master at the Woest- ern Railvroad, Massachusetts, while I was conductor, I never heard anything against his reputation for truth.” William L. Crane testitled: *‘Cam the agent of the Adams Express compuny in New York, Eastern division 1 have known Levi . Bates since 1818 and have never heard anything against his reputa tion asa man of trath and integrity. Daniel H. Wilcox testified: “I have known Levi K. Bates for two or three years quite intimately; he occupied a po- sition of great trast and responsibility, He bore the best reputation possible. His character 1s without reproach so faras I Know,” Jules Sonle testitied: T reside in the city of New York at present. For the past tew years Ihave lived in Columbia, South Carolinn. 1 know Mr, L. I, Butes; he bore the reputation of a trathful and celinble man in every respeet, to the best of my knowledgze. We have been inti- wately connected in business for the Jast three or four years. The position I cupled was one ot high responsibility trust,” Ihere is mueh more evidenee sl the infamy of Davis which might be iven, but_this will suflice for the nresent. Tn heaven's name let the people of the south keep his mouth shut and keep him ont of sight and hearing. We want by- gones to be by-gones, but the ¢ some things even the people of the north ean- not stand to be rennnded of about that rebellion and Jefl’ Davis The Anderson ville and Libby prisons are among them, Jasiks S, Brissix o and wing The Craze Over the Colored Snire Brooklyn Citizen: There is an alto- gether undue amouet of excitement over the colored shir the men of New York just now, shirt bosoms and cufls in fanciful with horizonal or vertical stripes, has ap: parently come to stay. ‘Fhere s a sinu ous and colored fuseination about a col ored shirt that the avers man is pow erlessto resist With a collur of the same material a varegated st cor tainly imparts what might be called sporting air to the wearer. It occurred to some original thinker with fonduess for brigint colors, to achieye a combination by white collur and a colored shir nd the fashion took in England Like wildfire. 1t has often been said that the Prince of Wales is responsi ble for this innovation, though I do not remember that any one ever called him an original thinker before. But while one-half of mankind has seized upon this combination with a species of deathless adwiration, the other half has formed at self into & targid and bitter opponent, So the men who walk boldly about the streets of New York with shiy p ol iunt hue and Glada white collurs al toruately ridiculed and envied. They go on their way undaunted by the ficree opposition, for the man wio once fulls victim to the wites of the colored shirt is iusensible to ridicule and derision. fashion of weuring | went out through the | | Oxley, ag THEMARRIAGE BKNQLLT HAUL he Eve Before the Wedding and the Wed- ding Oard, CURIOUS ANCIENT MARRIAGES, The Cost of Courting Figured Up by Two Ex-Sweethearts—Matri nonial Misfits and Public Ties, ive Nefore the Wedding. Edgar Irving Brenner in the World, Why, Joe, dear old boy, is that you? _Sitdown and let's try to be jolly. I've been feeling confonndediy biue o you're on your way down to see Polly? Cigar? These are good. Here's a light. (I'm afraid it's a vice past repressing.) Draw up to the fire. A cool night; And a fire (with a friend) 's a rare blessing, How've vou been since the ball?—1'm at sea . To know what I'll do when you're matried. To-morrow's the day—and to me Tt seems all my hopes have miscarried. You know we had planned a snug den, Which we two togethier should dwell'ing Where, released from the boredom of men, We'd escape, too, eachi tronblesome Helén, homme propose”-—don't quote it. 1 know Tis love makes the world go” at college Wesang. I suppose it is s But, you know, 1 can't edge. “Get n wife for myself 2" [eavens! Joe, I should have to ook up my profession I am destined to hoe the old row Past any attemnt at progression. Hard luck this, old fellow. You smile, Forzive my nonsensical chatter, Isaid “Let's be jolly"—the while I've been grumbling, 1 truly don't flatter. Not going? Oh, Polly expects you, And you wow't disappoint her. tight, (My secret there's no one suspeets,) You Are happy. God bless you. Good night! (After Joe's departure.) God bless bim, dear fellow, but more od bless his sweet wifes May he prove her Tue husband, peak from knowl- You're . . And now shut the door nings, . . On vain dre . d! how I love her! A Letter to a Young Lady on the Eve of Marriage. One sometimes find & gem among the enstaways of forgotten years, The follow- ing congratulatory letter to a young dy on the eve of her marriage is vener- able, but good: “Lam holding some pastboard in my hand—three stately pluckings from the bush of ceremony.” [ am gazing upon s card and upon a name—n name with which your gentle life began, a name with which your throbbing heart was lost. There is nothing strange about the card. The maiden sign sull loo up from it calm and customary, as it looks on many a friendly visit as it lies in many a for- mal basket. “Tam gazing, too, upon a card where the nearer parent tell the world she will be ‘at home one day,” and that is nothing new. But there is another card whose mingling there puts a tongue of fire into that speechless pasteboard. It tells us that these cards are but the heralds of a coming crisis when a hand that has pressed friends’ hands and plucked flow- ers shall close down on one to whom she will be a friend and flower forever after. I send you a few flowers to adorn_the dying moments of your single life. They > the gentlest type of a delieate, dur- able fricndship. They spring up by one’s sile when others have deserted it, and will be found watching over our graves when those who should huve been there Liave forgotten us. It seems meet that a past so calm and pure as yours should expire with kindred sweetness about it; that, flowers and musie, kind friends and earnest words should conscerate the hour when a itiment is passing a sacrament, “The three great s s of our being are birth, the bridal, and burial. To the first we bring nothing but weakness; for the last we have nothing but dust. But here at the altar, where life joins hie, the pair come throbbimg up to the holy man, whispering the deep promises that arms each with the other heart to help on in the life struggle of care and duty. [he heautiful will be the borrow- ing new beauty from the scene’ -the guy and the frivolous will 1ook solemn for once, and youth will come to that its sacred thoughts pant for age will totter up to hear the old words repeated ov ain, that to their own lives have given the charm. Some will weep over it as if it were u toinb; some will laugh ns if it w joke, but two must stand by at, for it is fate, not fun, this everlusting locking of their hyes. “'And now, ean you, who have queened it over so many bended forms, come down at last to the frugal diet ot a single neart? Hitherto you have been a clock, iving your time to all the world. Now You are a watch buricd in one particular bosom, marking only hours and ticking only to the beat of his heart, where time and feeling shall be in unison until these lower ties are lost in that higher wedlock where all hearts ave united around the areat central heart of all Matrimony. Gerald Masse. Two human stars in passing are Attracted o thro’ heaven they Somctimes they form a double star, Sometimes they put each other out; And sometimes one and one malke three, ‘T'his world's most perfect trinity, Some Ourious Marringes, The newspapers of seventy years ago eave some remarkable details respecting the mar of “that eminent lawyer,” Lord £r One day in October, 1818, his Jordship arrived at Gretna Green, ae companice by hs finneee, Miss Sa Buck. He was dressed in woman's clothes, with a large leghorn bonnet and a long veil. On the arrival of the oflici ating priest of the Temple of dymen, nis Jordship threw off s dress and then ap- peared properly attived as a man, After the ceremony liad been gone through he again donned his female vestments, and wis on the point of leaving with his wife, when his son, the Hon., Thomas Erskine, dashed up with ehaise and four, but too Iate to mterfere with the marviage — The newly-married couple drove ol soon afterwards, ‘Lhe bridegroom was nearly threescore years and ten, and the bride was on the shady side of thirty-five. Another singulur story is that of Mr Butin itof Commimes, who died there at the age of 84, He had heen twice marvied. His second wife was born on the very duy that his first wife died, and on thilt duy he declared thathe wonld never have any other wife than this in fant, e waited for her twenty years and then he married her, having by that time artained tl 1za of I Their first child was born within twelve months of their murringe; thor coud arrived twenty years afterwards. At his death he lett several children, the eldest of whom wus 60 years and the youn tiwo wonths. He lived twenty yi with his first wife, remaned twenty years a wiild ower, and his second marriage lasted an other twenty years. In Lincolnshir published of uals of whoi st of tather L g thiree generations wer the same day Among clopcments few bav ¢ 1oen nore remarkable than that of a certain John cloped from | antain being madi mun the tollowin " been married thi se float: the bans were uples, thre i the re ndda tery one individ wonship #0 that wiho \Gilst endy aour, the and wife at Sheflield Each of them had titnes previously 1n anotber case of wi falling vietims 1o “love 1 elder » foud Jame for some years, and was conveyed to church in a wheelbarrow. But even these figures have been ex- ceeded by a Chester couple, of whom tho bridegroom was eighty-six and the bride ninety. She was a “miss” when she went to the altar. so that whether or not “it is never too late’* either to learn or to mend, she certainly found out that it was never too late to marry. At her time of life, however, there was no probability of her sharing the experience of & man and & woman in Statlordshive, both of whom had been lawfully married no fewer than sixteen times. One of the shortest courtships we have heard of was the wooing of a certain Miss Kenwright by Mr. John Cheadle, a fa. mous spade and shovel manufacturer of his day. There was an interval of just four and twenty hours before the poppin; of the question and the performance of the cercmony. But the couple evidently d no longer opportunity for love- i, for th I-rull\- was 85 and the bridegroom 30, Why did he chose some one old enough to be his grandmother? Well, she had a fortune of $10,000. That may explain it. Asa contrast to this case of a short courtship may be mentioned the mar- vinge of William Markelem and Jane Powell after a wooiag of thirty years' du- ration. But twenty years had been passed by the bridegroom’in the service of his country. The Bills Made Out by Two Sweethearts, New York Mail and Express: A young couple on Madison avenue who were en- gaged to marry broke off recently. When he parted from his ex-love he remarked by way of parenthesis, that he regrettec only one thing, and that was the heavy expenses he had ineurred. The young Iady fired up and asked him to make out an itemized bill; that her papa wus ro- sponsible for her debts. The next day ne sent in his bill, as follow DEBIT To doing theatres one season...... ‘Lo rides in the paik one season... To caramels one season....... To chiocolate drops one season . Lo losing two pair of opera glasse ewelry, bric-a-brac and present four midday lunehe I “T'o special gift to your mamma. . o special gift to your pap o cost of valentine to you one Seaside novel. .. . To two Parisian diamonds To wearing out shoe lea 2207 It By one meal at your house.. Balance due........eveveirinnans 002 The young lady mado a counter-claim bill which brought her old sweetheart ontin debt to her. She said her clai was just and that she willing to nit it to any court of competent jurisdic- tion to decide. 1t differs in items from his: DEBRT. To burning gaseall evenings $ “To wearing out earpet in the hall,... To friction with parlor turniture. ... “To lunehing with us often (lumped) ‘Lo working hat mark “To comie valentine sen ‘Lo monopolizing my time. . ‘Lo one new cravat (black silk) “Folaughing at your old and only joke “T'o philopena present To expense of new dre T i o .. 82316 “T'o extra fires in parlor. .. e W To three postal cards. .. X G o4 2 53 42 9 01 10 13 ke 218 00 s for thea- CREDIT, By introducing me 1o dear € Balance due...... .. Please remit the diflerence in our bills to settle, as I want to make Clarence a genuine present. I'here is likely to be a lawsuit. Wed in Sighit of 10,000 People. IHarper's Weekly: The writer of this paragraph saw the bride of the Minne apolis Industrial Exposition a few min utes before her marriage in the exposition building. She had just succeeded in fore- ing her way through a large crowd at the entranc od, though leaning on the husbind-cleet,looked very flustered. Her white satin gown and tulle veil had been adjusted satisfactorily, but her countenance was disturbed, and the people who followed her to the verge of a private oflice before the eeremony had taken place were disposed to jest. She was successfully married, however, a few minutes later i the presence of 10,000 spectator: 4 Matrimonial Misfits. Lowell Citizen: Matrimony is sometimes simply a domestic way of engagin that popular game, “hitch and Kick,'” Washington Critic: There's a difference i men. Some think twice before marr ing and some marry twice before thi g, Burlington Free Press time when a man thought marrying. Now he thinks after marrying, Kentneky State There twice three was a betore times Journal: The differ- ence between a matrimonial tie and w necktie is that the lutter will wear outand the former won't. Yonkers Statesman: There was a time when a man thought twice before marry- ing. Now he often marries fiest and then Jets his wife do the thinking. New Haven News: “Told to Every- body' is the title of a new book. We ex peet it must have been aseeret that some married man imparted to his wife. Boston Transeript: An Ohlio woman went to bed one night and woke up next morning to find her jaw disloeated. Ttis presumed that she was of the Mrs, Cau dle variety of wife and that she overdid herself on this oceasion HOW A SERMON IS5 MADE. A Veteran of the § Modus Operandi, New York Trivune After discussing the changes in Brooklvi in gencral und in the Churen of the Pilgrims in the last forty years, the reporter asked Dr. Storrs if he was willing to tell the publie how he prepared a sermon SCortaindy,” e replied stigaests itself 1o me, through reading a verse of seripture. I am upt to n notes on the pas and tuy them aside, After a few diys I ke up my notes and vead them over to see how they sirike me then, I I feel that [ un attracted and ipressed by the subject T make a sketeh of the triins of thay choare sug- gested, covering perhups a page of note puper. Then D keep the subjéct in mine till 1 preach the sermon,” ‘When do you begin sermon Early it Explains ¢ working on the nsually.” than the referredy the week not write 1 ton pize Lo which you liave I have not for many yui uniess the sermon wis o be published, or unless there wis some subject in Controversy npartieular inporuice was at WOl i the lunginge, in SCIION #IG whieh the lirst 1 hones of L pre T the patmt,” Do you ady their ministry T would not lay this down as & gen | princivle.” How many of these huye you on hand " SProbably 100 that §have sion to touech yer.”' “How do you_handle intean per for exun i 1 ninei young men to g with €xtemporancous or keleton subjects not had oce sevial topies utly —rather than dived Hauve Thvology™ No, for Idon't think the meyvement will be very long hive ‘ 0 you donot 1 discussed the so-gulled ‘New r that it will aft the bride wils e ¢ Phe lutter liad been | ot the Congregational ehurek o ubroud s