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Civil War Harper's Weekly, July 27, 1861

This Harper's Weekly newspaper features eye-witness pictures and stories describing a number of important events at the early stages of the Civil War. It has a nice picture of the Battle of Winchester, and the Battle of Hoke's Run. It also features a nice full page picture of Washington DC, showing the unfinished US capitol dome.

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

 

Boonville

Boonville, Missouri

Prentiss Williams

General Prentiss and Williams

Rich Mountain

Battle of Rich Mountain

Louisiana Zouaves

Louisiana Zouaves

Hoke's Run

The Battle of Hoke's Run

Troop Review

Review of New York Troops

French Lady

French Lady Cartoon

 

The Battle of Rich Mountain

Wilson's Zouaves

Wilson's Zouaves

Fourth of July Celebration

Fourth of July Celebration

Camp Life

Civil War Camp Life

Washington D. C.

Washington D.C. Pictures

Horses

Civil War Army Horses

 

 

 

 

 

 

JULY 27, 1861.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

471

REFERENCES.—No. 1. Large oil-casks, serving as buoys.—2. Iron boiler or bomb, 4 feet 6 inches long, 18 inches in diameter.—3. Rope 3 inches, with large pieces of cork at a distance of every 2 feet.—4. Box on top of cask, with fusee.—5. Gutta-percha tube fitting in to copper pipe—6. Brass tap on bomb.—7. Copper tube running through cask.—8. Wooden platform in centre of casks, in which fusee was coiled and secured.—9. Fusee.

INFERNAL MACHINE PICKED UP ON THE POTOMAC BY THE U. S. STEAMER "PAWNEE."

AN INFERNAL MACHINE.

WE publish on this page an engraving of the INFERNAL MACHINE lately discovered by the Pawnee. The correspondent who kindly sent us the sketch writes us as follows about it :

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 10, 1861.

The Pawnee, by the activity with which she has carried on the blockade of Virginia, and by the precision with which she has, on more than one occasion, thrown her nine-inch shell among the rebels, has given the secessionists a strong desire to cause her destruction. Feeling unable to subdue her by the rules of regular warfare, they resort to the Chinese expedient of torpedoes and infernal machines. The accompanying drawing is a correct representation of one of these instruments of destruction picked up in the Potomac, a few hundred yards from the Pawnee, on the evening of Sunday, 7th inst.

In the casks used for floating the iron cylinders were placed platforms on which were coiled the slow-matches for communicating fire to the fusees. The fusees connect with the cylinders, which are filled with powder. Had this machine drifted, as was intended, athwart the bows of the Pawnee, and there exploded, its destructive effects would indeed have been great.   JEROME.

THE BATTLE AT HOKE'S RUN.

OUR artist with General Williams's brigade has sent us a sketch, from which we publish, on page 475, an engraving of the WISCONSIN REGIMENT DEPLOYING AS SKIRMISHERS AT THE BATTLE OF HOKE'S RUN, on the march of Patterson's Division from Williamsport to Martinsburg. A correspondent of the Herald thus describes the affair:

As soon as the advance reached the brow of the hill, opposite Williamsport, the Wisconsin regiment deployed as skirmishers two or three companies, the Philadelphia Independent Rangers still leading. These were supported by the Eleventh Pennsylvania. In this order of march the advance continued slowly along the direct road to Martinsburg. They passed Falling Waters without more than occasionally seeing a rebel trooper at a most respectable distance. They had almost begun to despair of finding a foe. About two miles from Falling Waters they almost stumbled upon him concealed in a farm-house or barn, behind a stone fence, in a grain field. With this advantage of concealment and position the latter opened. Our troops, raw and green, never having been under fire before, did not hesitate a moment. They at once returned the fire and the skirmish grew brisk.

The first skirmish must have lasted a full half hour between the infantry and riflemen of both sides. Neither party showed any disposition to give way. In the mean time McMullin's Rangers, the whole Wisconsin, and the left wing of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, became involved. The right wing of the Eleventh was moved forward rapidly to outflank the rebels.

While these movements were rapidly progressing, a section of Captain Perkins's flying battery was pushed forward and opened upon the enemy, who by this time had brought into action two full regiments and the right wing of a third. The round shot told beautifully upon them, but when the shell began to burst among them, their Virginia "chivaly" departed. They seemed to have forgotten that "the illustrious blood of the cavaliers flowed in their veins." They didn't stand shot as well as their forefathers stood it—Marston Moor and Naseby—and they ran with higher speed.

They brought forward a cannon and attempted to reply to Perkins's two guns, but the order was given to our troops and about to be executed, to charge bayonets in double-quick time to carry the piece, when the piece was withdrawn. I do not think it fired but a few shots in reply. The skirmish was continued over a space of two miles, when the enemy retreated with singular facility.

CAMP-LIFE WITH GENERAL
WILLIAMS'S BRIGADE.

OUR special artist with General Williams's brigade has sent us the sketches which we reproduce on page 474, and which will enable our readers to understand the published descriptions of the movements of that gallant corps. The pictures need no letter-press description. We may observe, however,

that the members of the COUNCIL OF WAR which is illustrated were Generals Williams, Cadwallader, Reim, Nagle, Wynkoop, and Colonels Thomas and Longnecker. It was at this council that the plan of the movement was determined. McMULLIN'S RANGERS crossed the river at 2.30 A.M., and attacked the enemy's picket, which gave way at once. The head-quarters of General Cadwallader were a RATHER PICTURESQUE LOG-HOUSE.

WILSON'S ZOUAVES AT FORT
PICKENS.

WE publish on page 469, from a sketch by an officer of the garrison, a picture of the DITCH AND RAMPART AT FORT PICKENS, with some of Wilson's Zouaves strolling about. A letter from the Fort, of recent date, thus describes the state of affairs there :

There are now in Fort Pickens some 1500 regular United States troops, which, together with our regiment, will make about 2400. These will be increased by the arrival from New York of additional volunteers, swelling our army to between 5000 and 6000 men. Our regiment will not take quarters in the fort but will camp outside, and engage themselves in the erection of batteries, which, when completed, will pay especial attention to the Pensacola Navy-yard. When the troops I have just alluded to have arrived, and sufficient execution been done by the batteries to the Navy-yard, the fleet will open on it in one direction while the troops will attack it in another by escalade, and attempt to carry it at the point of the bayonet. General Bragg is now in Pensacola at the head of 7000 or 8000 men. Fortunately the walls of the Navy-yard are of no great height or thickness, and those who understand these matters give it as their opinion that there will be but two or three volleys, a general rush, a close hand to hand combat, in which the bayonet, sabre, and but-end of the musket will be the most conspicuous weapons, and in a short time the affair will be settled. Should it come to this it will be both desperate and bloody. We have been selected to lead the van. The remainder of the volunteers will follow next, and then the regulars. The boys seem to enjoy it mightily. That this regiment possesses the raw material for fighting there can exist no question, but they will be more effective after they shall have had more discipline.

THE LOUISIANA ZOUAVE PRISONERS.

WE publish on this page a group of the LOUISIANA ZOUAVE PRISONERS, now in the hands of our troops at Fortress Monroe. Two of them, who claimed to be deserters, gave the following account of themselves to the correspondent of the Herald:

The elder of the two, Franz Minute, is thirty years of age, and was born in Bavaria. He arrived in this country about a year since, landing at New Orleans, where he has since lived, working his way as a shoemaker. He was taken off by force on the evening of the 16th of last April, while returning home, having visited some friends. His brother, on hearing of his impressment, offered $200 for his release, but to no purpose, and he left the city of New Orleans on the 18th, forced into the army of the rebels. The other, John Atzrodt, is twenty-four years of age, and was born in the province of Saxony; has lived in this country but two years, and speaks a little English. He landed in New Orleans, and thence went to Quincy, Illinois, where he gained his livelihood as a journeyman printer in the office of the Illinois Courier. A short time before the Presidential election he went to St. Louis, and was employed on the St. Louis Democrat. In December he started for New Orleans, and until his impressment, on the 18th of April, he worked on the Louisiana Deutches Zeitung. They are both intelligent men.

The First Louisiana Zouaves (of which they were members) number four hundred men. They have a coarse Zouave uniform, and carry the old style of musket. In lieu of food, which they had not tasted for twenty-four hours, they were supplied with twenty rounds of ball cartridges.

After these two men left New Orleans on the 18th of April last, they went by boat to Hall's Landing (eleven miles from Mobile), and thence started for Pensacola on foot, a distance of sixty miles, which they accomplished in three days. Their regiment is composed of more than one-half Germans and poor Frenchmen. From thence they went to Montgomery, where they staid but two days, when they proceeded to a place called West Point, then to Atlanta, and finally reached Augusta, in Georgia. While in Augusta a poor soldier was villainously sacrificed by a wretch named M'Neil, who held the position of second lieutenant. The company had halted, when he started a few rods to buy some tobacco, and, without any warning, was shot dead on the spot. No excuse was given for this wanton cruelty. They then proceeded on their way to Richmond. Soon after leaving Augusta they lost one man, who was accidentally shot in the right foot. He

died from the want of proper surgical attendance. They arrived in Richmond about the 2d of June, and remained there, at Camp Benjamin, near Howard's Grove, until the 10th inst., when they left in a steamboat, and were landed about eleven miles from Yorktown, which they reached by a forced march the same evening.

They were at first mistaken by Colonel Hawkins's Zouaves, they thinking they belonged to their own corps. The uniform is that of the French Zouaves—very full pants, tied about the ankle, and made of very coarse and heavy material.

THE FOURTH AT FORTRESS
MONROE.

WE devote page 470 to illustrations of the GLORIOUS FOURTH AT FORTRESS MONROE, from sketches by our special artist with General Butler's command. A correspondent of the Times describes the celebration as follows :

Virginia never before saw such a celebration of the nation's natal day as that which the " Red-legged Devils" had yesterday. On the Fourth, the Fifth Regiment was doing duty as a picket-guard, watching the approaches to the camp, while their comrades within were making merry. Their own celebration was, therefore, deferred to the fifth. In the afternoon the New York Brigade, which is again under the command of Acting Brigadier-General Duryee, General Pierce having been assigned to the command of the Massachusetts troops, was reviewed by General Butler and staff. It was nightfall when the regiment returned to its quarters, and immediately after the men were dismissed the illumination of the company streets began. In each of these there are rows of transplanted trees, brought from an adjacent thicket. Among the branches candles were placed, and in various parts of the camp huge fires were kindled, around which the "Red Devils" danced and sung like so many imps in Hades. Meantime, in front of the color-line all manner of fire-works were blazing and whirling, and ascending and bursting, and in the red, white, and blue light the Zouaves, in picturesque costumes and postures, were studies for a painter. It was a scene to remember, and tell one's grandchildren of when we take them on our knees, next century, and fight the battles of the present o'er again. Tattoo was postponed for one hour that the men might more fully enjoy it.

A correspondent of the Herald writes :

A grand concert had been projected by the Twentieth Regiment for the evening; but unexpected orders to parade in the fortress before General Butler, in the morning, disconcerted the general plan, and it was thought by the Colonel that no entertainment would be offered in the evening. But Captain Myers, of Company A, was not satisfied with this, and they determined to take hold of it alone. They gathered a large quantity of evergreens, and planted them on Broadway, the main street in camp, so thickly that it resembled in the dusk of evening a small forest. In the absence of candles or other lights they placed oyster and clam shells in all parts of the trees, and with oil and wick they speedily improvised brilliant lights, that shed a flood of light upon the grounds. At eight o'clock the bugle gave the signal for the commencement of the concert, and speedily the benches about the musicians' stand were occupied by the officers and wives and invited guests, while the soldiers standing ranged themselves in front. The scene was most beautiful and picturesque. Hundreds of tiny lights gleamed among the dark branches of the evergreens, and partially lit up the forms of the soldiers in their gray uniforms as they were gracefully grouped about. The best of decorum was preserved at all times. The Germania Band, Herr Steigler leader, favored the assemblage with fine selections from operas and the German composers, most creditably and excellently executed. At intervals a glee club, made up of members from the singing bands of New York, sang some choice glees, under the leadership of Lieutenant Bennecker, of Company F, and Sergeant Prieth played several pieces in excellent style upon an accordeon. A large quantity of lager bier was rationally discussed by the company, and at ten o'clock the concert was closed by the sound of the drummer's tattoo. The affair was a grand success, and every one expressed his delight with the music. An equally pleasant concert was given the previous night by Captain Brackling, of Company B, the only company from Newark, and the affair passed off most agreeably. The Germans certainly know how to enjoy themselves under all circumstances, and their mode of enjoyment gives pleasure and a relief from the monotony of camp life to others who do not know how to discover the bright side of the picture. The health of Colonel Weber's regiment is most excellent.

LOUISIANA ZOUAVE PRISONERS IN THE GUARD-HOUSE AT FORTRESS MONROE.—[SKETCHED BY OUR SPECIAL ARTIST.]

Infernal Machine
Louisiana Zouaves

 

 

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