Minister Harvey.

James E Harvey, minister to Portugal, appears in the New York papers
with a card, answering the charges made against him in the newspapers, that
he corresponded with the rebels, and gave them notice of the intention of
Government to provision Fort Sumpter. He says the despatches were sent to
Charleston with a view to arrest the attack on the fort, and continues:
“The state of facts existing then at Washington, justified my efforts, such
as they were, and which were not only known to those high in authority, but
were commended as useful and worthy. I submitted to their inspection every
line received by telegraph, and never held any other correspondence but that
direct or indirect.”
*
Republican Advocate, Batavia NY
August 1-1861.

Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865.
Collected and Arranged by Frank Moore, published 1867

    Rev. Frederick A. Ross had just been examined on a charge of treason, and convicted upon his own showing. Under change of a guard he was about to leave the General’s tent. Putting on a particularly sanctimonious expression of countenance, be took up his hat, turned to the General, and said; ” Well, General, we must each do an we think best, and I hope we will both meet in heaven.” The General replied; ” Your getting to heaven, sir, will depend altogether upon your future conduct; before we can reasonably hope to meet m that region, you and I must become better men.” The effect of this brief rejoinder was irresistible.

To the Patriots of Batavia.

The Ladies’ Relief Association of Batavia, will give a Tableaux
Entertainment at Concert Hall, on Tuesday evening, Dec. 23d, for the benefit
of our sick and disabled soldiers.

*
~ Republican Advocate, Batavia NY
December 23-1862.

Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865.
Collected and Arranged by Frank Moore, published 1867

Mr. Winthrop, one of the Boston Union Committee, called on Senator Mason, in January, 1861, and, referring to his former visit to Massachusetts, remarked in the blandest tones; “I hope, Mr. Mason; we shall see you again at Bunker Hill.” To which the senator stiffly jerked out the response ; “Not unless I come as an ambassador, Sir.”

The News.

It appears that the New York 5th regiment, en route home, was stoned
while passing through the 5th ward, Baltimore, Wednesday night, by a crowd
who cheered for Jeff Davis. Firing was returned with bullets principally at
one house from whence many stones came. Citizens professing to be Unionists
begged them to stop, and the regiment passed on. Another report says
soldiers charged bayonets on the men lining the sidewalk. Several shots were
fired, but nobody hurt, except an officer who endeavored to arrest a rioter,
and was mistaken for assailant. He was slightly stabbed.
*
~ Republican Advocate, Batavia NY
August 3-1861.

Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865.
Collected and Arranged by Frank Moore, published 1867

      The following is one of Mr. Lincoln’s stories. These he told often in private conversation, rarely in his speeches.

      “I once knew a good, sound churchman, who we’ll call Brown, who was on a committee to erect a bridge over a very dangerous and rapid river. Architect after architect failed, and at last Brown said ha had a friend named Jones, who had built several bridges, and could build this. ‘Let’s have him in,’ said the committee. In came Jones. ‘Can you build this bridge, sir?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Jones; ‘I could build a bridge to the infernal regions if necessary.’ The sober committee were horrified; but when Jones retired, Brown thought it but fair to defend his friend. ‘I know Jones so well,’ said he, ‘and ha is so honest a man, and so good at architect, that, if he states soberly and positively that he can build a bridge to Hades—why, I believe it. But I have my doubts about the abutment on the infernal side.’ So,” Lincoln added, “when politicians said they could harmonize the Northern and Southern wings of the Democracy, why, I believed them. But I had my doubts about the abutment on the Southern side.”

4th Iowa.

In the battle before Vicksburg on the 19th ult, a skirmisher of the 4th
Iowa, an excellent shot, drove a cow before him, and using her as a screen,
not only escaping being hit, but succeeded in keeping a troublesome gun
quiet until one of our batteries was planted to command the position.
*
~ Republican Advocate – Batavia, Genesee Co., New York
June 16-1863.

Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865.
Collected and Arranged by Frank Moore, published 1867

MUCH IN VOGUE AT FORTRESS MONROE.

Wake up, snakes, pelicans, and Ses’ners!
            Don’t yer hear ‘um comin’?
                        Comin’ on de run?
Wake up, I tell yer!  Get up, Jefferson!
            Bobolishions comin’–

Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865.
Collected and Arranged by Frank Moore, published 1867

An Anecdote of John C. Calhoun

ONE morning, at the breakfast table, when I, an unobserved spectator, happened to be present, Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently at his right hand, and brush it with his left in a hurried and nervous manner. He did this so often that it excited attention. At length one of the persons comprising the breakfast party — his name, I think, is Toombs, and he is a member of Congress from Georgia — took upon himself to ask the occasion of Mr. Calhoun’s disquietude.

“Does your hand pain you?” he asked of Mr. Calhoun.

To this Mr. Calhoun replied, in rather a hurried manner, —

“Pshaw! it is nothing but a dream I had last night, and which makes me see perpetually a largo black, spot, like an ink blotch, upon the back of my right hand; an optical illusion, I suppose.”

Of course these words excited the curiosity of the company, but no one ventured to beg the details of this singular dream, until Toombs asked quietly,—

“What was your dream like ? I am not very superstitious about dreams; but sometimes they have a great deal of truth in them.”

“But. this was such a peculiarly absurd dream,” said Mr. Calhoun, again brushing the back of his right hand; “however, of it does not intrude too much on the time of our friends, I -will relate it to you.”

Of course the company ware profuse in their expressions of anxiety to know all about the dream, and Mr. Calhoun related it.

“At a late hour last night, as I was sitting in my room, engaged in writing, I was astonished by the entrance of a visitor, who, without a word, took a seat opposite me at my table. This surprised me, as I had given particular orders to the servant that I should on no account be disturbed. The manner in which the intruder entered, so perfectly self-possessed, taking his seat opposite me without a word, as though my room and all within it belonged to him, excited in me as much surprise as indignation. As I raised my head to look into his features, over the top of my shaded lamp, I discovered that he was wrapped in a thin cloak, which effectually concealed his face and features from my view; and as I raised my head, he spoke ; — More on The Spotted Hand.

WAR ITEMS.

~ It is stated that Gens. Grant and Pemberton were, some years ago, both
Lieutenants in the regular army, and belonged to the same regiment. They
were stationed at Detroit.
*
~ The dispatches from Gen. Pemberton to Gen. Johnston, captured on
Thursday, read:
“Our forage is all gone. The men are on quarter rations. The ammunition is
nearly exhausted. – We can hold out ten days.”
*
~ Republican Advocate – Batavia, Genesee Co., New York
June 16-1863.