>California Joe

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[AUGUST 2, 1862.

492

CALIFORNIA JOE, OF THE BERDAN SHARPSHOOTERS.—[FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.]

CALIFORNIA JOE.

ON this page we give a characteristic portrait of CALIFORNIA JOE, the famous sharp-shooter, one of the best shots and most efficient men in that most efficient and admirable corps, Berdan's Sharp-shooters.

California Joe was first heard of by the public

when the army was before Yorktown. The Herald correspondent then said of him:

There is one personage who is making himself a history in the preliminary siege of the rebel strong-hold in front of us— "California Joe," of the Berdan Sharp-shooters. I spent an hour yesterday in his tent. He is a character. I was surprised at his age. He is past fifty, but looks a score of years younger. He stands as straight as an arrow, has an eye as keen as a hawk, nerves as steady as can

be, and an endowment of hair and whiskers Reuben would have liked for a patriarchal portrait. He has spent years of his life shooting grizzly bears in the forests and fastnesses of California, and carries a telescopic rifle that in his hand will carry a longways and with terrific accuracy. For several days past he has occupied as a shooting-place a hole dug in the ground just big enough for himself. His unerring rifle has made many a rebel bite the dust. He says he likes the sport, and he means to keep it up. A ball knocked off a portion of the upper band of his rifle.

In a subsequent letter from before Richmond the same correspondent said:

A rebel sharp-shooter had been amusing himself and annoying the General and other officers by firing several times in that direction, and sending the bullets whistling in unwelcome proximity to their heads.

"My man, can't you get your piece on that fellow who is firing on us, and stop his impertinence?" asked the General. (Next Page)

"McCLELLAN IS OUR MAN"—FAVORITE SONG OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.—[SEE PAGE 486.]