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Civil War Harper's Weekly, March 28, 1863

Welcome to our online collection of Harper's Weekly newspapers. These papers were published during the Civil War, and this archive is now available for your perusal and study. These old papers give new insight about this important conflict.

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

 

Montauk

Montauk

Mother's Letter

A Mother's Letter

Copperheads

Copperhead Meetings

Union Jim

Union Jim

Indianola

The Indianola Affair

Charleston Map

Map of Charleston

Yazoo

Yazoo Pass

George Griswold

George Griswold

Tuileries

Wyndham's Cavalry

Wyndham's Cavalry

Destruction of the Nashville

Destruction of the "Nashville"

Bowery Boys

Bowery Boys

 

 

 

 

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[MARCH 28, 1863.

196

UNION JIM.—[FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.]

JIM WILLIAMS.

JIM WILLIAMS, whose portrait we publish on this page, is of small, compact stature, twenty-six years of age, was born in the District of Columbia, from whence he was sold about six years ago to Benjamin Barber, of Carroll Parish, Louisiana. Williams, learning the arrival of General McArthur's division at Lake Providence, left his master about the 1st of February last, and joined the army in the capacity of cook in the Ninety -fifth Illinois Regiment. On Tuesday, the 10th of February, learning that a scouting party had just gone out to make a reconnoissance in the neighborhood of his home, Williams determined to join them; and, borrowing a mule and musket, followed and overtook the party about five miles distant, and just before they fell into a rebel ambuscade of guerrillas, numbering about two hundred and fifty, who had left

their horses in the rear, and, under cover of canebreaks and bushes, were reserving their attack until our advanced-guard of about forty infantry should be fairly within range. At this a volley was discharged by the rebels which prostrated one quarter of our men; the remainder charged bayonets and drove the rebels from their shelter. Now commenced a running fight. Jim Williams dashed to the front and swept on about one hundred and fifty yards in advance. When under cover of a tree he commenced firing; this started up three guerrillas a short distance from him. The wily scout, observing them rise, leveled his musket and demanded their surrender, upon which two threw down their arms; the third, at the same instant, fired at Williams, the ball cutting off his belted knife. Williams returned the fire, sending a ball through the head of the rebel and killing him instantly. He then brought in his two prisoners with their guns, one of which he was allowed to keep as a proof that negroes can fight. The little party of forty succeeded in dispersing the rebels and taking thirty-one prisoners before the remainder of the troops arrived.

On returning to camp a guerrilla scout was observed by the quick eye of Williams a quarter of a mile off. He darted after him like a hound for his prey. The rebel waited the onset, when Williams, coming within about fifty yards, delivered an off-hand shot which sent the foe reeling on his horse's neck, crying "O God! I'm shot."

Williams is very anxious to raise a company of negroes for scouting service, and said to the writer of this, on leaving him a few days since, "I am willing to work, but would rather fight." General McArthur, who appreciates true bravery without regard to color, holds him in the highest estimation, and freely gives him the post of honor in scouting the swamps of Louisiana.

It is the opinion of the gentleman who furnishes the above account, derived from personal observation in that region, that a force of ten thousand able-bodied negroes could be raised within thirty days if any effort were made for that purpose.

A STRAGGLER.

WE illustrate herewith a very familiar personage to our armies. Mr. Waud, the author of the

sketch, writes:

"This sketch, taken in a little country store, is a fair representation of a class which increases with great rapidity

when the army is on the move. With worn-out clothes, mournful looks, and dirty persons, they beg or steal as occasion offers, carefully avoiding their regiments, where they can get all needful supplies, for fear they should be given something to do. They generally travel in little squads, some of whom have thrown away or sold their arms and knapsacks—sleeping in barns or camping out in by-places, for which the modern shelter-tent affords great facilities, being so easily transported and pitched. Sometimes they want for food, but more often live on the fat of the land, begging or buying bread, and stealing poultry, meat, vegetables, and so forth.

Where it is safe they do a good deal of bullying; in the vicinity of guards they assume a dejected air, usually counterfeiting lameness to get the charity of the country folk.

"A more efficient provost guard would remedy this crying evil in the army, it being a noticeable fact that not till after a new country has been subjected for days to pillage at the hands of straggling scoundrels is any effort made to do away with the evil, although a private citizen is liable to arrest or detention in the most absurd places."

THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF
DENMARK.

WE publish on next page a portrait of the PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF DENMARK, now the wife of the Prince of Wales, from a bust lately executed in London. She wears an ancient Egyptian brooch, presented by the Prince by the Pasha of Egypt, and valued at some enormous sum. The lady, it will be seen, is beautiful enough to justify Lord Palmerston's encomium; it will be her own fault if she be not happy. No girl in our day has commenced life under more promising auspices.

BACHE'S QUAKER.

WE illustrate herewith the exploit of "BACHE'S QUAKER" on the Mississippi, at which the whole West is shaking its sides with laughter. After the loss of the Indianola, it seems, Admiral Porter and his officers were at their wit's-end for some device to repair the loss. The Herald correspondent says:

On the 27th of February Admiral Porter dispatched what was called a paddy boat, or dummy Monitor, to run the Vicksburg batteries, in order to ascertain their exact location. This contrivance was an old flat-boat, with flour-barrels for smoke-stacks, and a couple of large hogs-heads to represent Monitor turrets. It ran the fortifications in gallant style, and drew the fire of the rebel guns, but, as far as could be ascertained, received no damage. The paddy boat, it seems, frightened the rebels, who were at work trying to raise the Indianola, below Vicksburg, and caused them to skedaddle on the double-quick. When they got safe away from what they supposed to be a turreted monster, or "a cheese box on a raft," they reported the fact to their friends, and blew up the Indianola, to prevent her from again falling into the hands of the Yankees. (Next Page)

A STRAGGLER.—[SKETCHED By MR. A. R. WAUD.]

Union Jim
Fort McAllister
Straggler

 

 

 

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