Colt Armory Fire

 

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Civil War Harper's Weekly, February 20, 1864

This site features an online collection of Harper's Weekly, the most popular illustrated newspaper of the Civil War years. These papers were read by millions of Americans during the war. Today they serve as an incredible resource for students and researchers.

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

 

Grant Crossing Cumberland Mountains

Grant Crossing Cumberland Mountains

Democratic Opposition

Democratic Opposition to the War

Slavery Debate

Slavery Debate

Military Ball

Military Ball

Negro Soldier

Negro Soldier

Flag Poem

Flag Poem

Libey Prison

Libey Prison

Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

Colt Armory

Colt Armory

Valentines Day

Valentines Day

Colt Fire

Colt Armory Fire

Quack Treatment

Quack Cancer Cure

 

 

 

 

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[FEBRUARY 20, 1864.

126

THE SINGERS.

O MERRY sings the nurse by night, Brooding over the fire;

And merry sing the sailor-boys

When noisy winds blow higher; And red and merry in the blaze

Sing the men round the foundry fire.

O merry sing the reapers, sunk

Chin-deep in the yellow corn;

And merry sing the shepherds

When the shivering sheep are shorn;

And merry sing the millers

Watching the flowing corn.

 

Ay! merry sings the woodmen's gang

Where nods the stately tree;

And merry sings the pilot

By night on the summer sea;

And merry sing the fishermen

When winter gales blow free.

 

And merry sing the soldiers

In vaulted barrack-room;

And merry sing the weavers

Over the clattering loom;

And merry sing the light-house men

Amid the murk and gloom.

 

But merriest far is my Lucy's song

To the infant at her breast,

Watching, with those Madonna eyes,

Our dear one hushed to rest,

What time the red light fades along

The bright line of the west.

 

ARMY AND NAVY ITEMS.

THE blockade of the Narrows has been resumed. The Naugatuck is stationed off Throgg's Neck for the examination of Sound vessels; and the Miami and Tiger cruise along the North River, as far as the Narrows and Sandy Hook.

One hundred deserters have arrived at the Park Barracks, from Alexandria, Virginia.

The "Mosquito Fleet" will soon be ready to depart from this port for New Orleans. It consists of a number of little steamers, some of them iron-clad, and of light draft, to cruise in the lagoons and rivers of the Mississippi inaccessible to large ships.

Major-General McCLERNAND left Springfield, Illinois, for New Orleans on the 2d instant.

Army mules are going to GRANT'S department in large numbers. They are to be used as pack mules for supply trains, for East Tennessee, as the roads are impassable for wagon trains,

A young lady from Pennsylvania enlisted at Oswego, in this State, a few days since. Her sex was discovered by a fellow-soldier, who gave information to the authorities, and she was arrested and placed in confinement. She is "only sixteen years of age, pretty, intelligent, and modest."

Owing to the failure of a previous contractor, the Navy Department has taken precautions to have the work of raising the sunken vessels at Norfolk and vicinity faithfully performed. The wrecks are the Cumberland, Congress, Merrimac, Raritan, the Columbia, the small steamer Whitehall, and the line-of-battle ships Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Columbus.

The chief of the military detective force of Washington reports that, during the month of January, sixty-two commissioned officers were arrested for various offenses, and six hundred and twenty enlisted men.

The steamer D. G. Taylor, which contained forty thousand dollars' worth of commissary stores for our troops at Nashville, was totally destroyed by fire at Louisville, Kentucky, a few days ago.

The Provost Marshal of Iowa has telegraphed to the President that the State will fill its quota by volunteers, rendering a draft there unnecessary.

At a special meeting of the Senate Military Committee to consider the House bill conferring the rank of Lieutenant-General on General GRANT it was decided to report the bill without amendment. It is understood that some opposition will be made to it when it comes before the Senate.

The reports that General THOMAS is to succeed General MEADE in command of the Army of the Potomac are probably without any foundation.

Mr. FENTON'S bill, to facilitate and hurry the payment of bounties and arrears of pay to the heirs of deceased soldiers, now only awaits the action of the Senate to become a law.

Admiral DU PONT has been summoned before the Committee on the Conduct of the War for the purpose of obtaining his opinion as to the best ordnance for the naval service.

The following Generals were in Louisville last week: Major-Generals GRANT, ROSECRANS, HUNTER, CADWALLADER, STONEMAN, SCHOFIELD, CRITTENDEN, and McCOOK; Brigadier-Generals WADSWORTH, ALLEN, CATTLAIN, THOMAS, and BURBRIDGE; and Rear-Admiral PORTER.

Major-General HANCOCK is in New York, bearing a commission to recruit his corps to the number of fifty thousand men.

There is great activity at the Charlestown (Massachusetts) Navy-yard in fitting out vessels for Fort Monroe.

Illinois having, under every call, exceeded her quota, was not, on the 1st of January or at any other time, subject to a draft.

In the case of the Chesapeake, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, has decided to restore the vessel and cargo to her owners.

Major-General BLUNT left Washington for General CURTIS'S Department last week. He is to have command of the district of the Indian Territory, with his head-quarters at Fort Smith.

Admiral LEE, commanding the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, advises the Secretary of the Navy of the destruction of the notorious blockade-runner Wild Dayrell at New Topsail Inlet, where she was ashore and discharging her cargo.

Since the advent of General STEELE Arkansas has furnished more volunteers for the Union army than any equal number elsewhere. Counties where JEFF DAVIS'S conscript officers could not find a score of men, have since sent full companies to the Union army.

General HOBSON has been temporarily put in command of the forces in Kentucky, General AMMON having been placed on the Court-Martial at Cincinnati.

A Washington correspondent states that Gen. HALLECK has announced his intention of resigning, if the House Bill, making GRANT Lieutenant-General passes the Senate.

The ship Contest, owned by A. A. LOW BROS., of New York, was burned by the Alabama, on the 11th of November.

Captain IVES, of the Tenth Massachusetts, and Captain READ, of the Third Ohio Volunteers, are to be ironed and sent to Salisbury, and put to hard labor, in retaliation for the similar treatment of two captains captured by Burnside, and now at Johnson's Island.

The Thirtieth Maine regiment, 1000 strong, have embarked from Portland for New Orleans.

STEELE'S cavalry advance occupy Benton, 60 miles south of Little Rock, Arkansas.

FORT FISHER, N. C.

AN English artist in the South writes as follows concerning the accompanying illustration: "Herewith I send you a sketch of Fort Fisher, commanding the approach to Cape Fear River, the entrance to Wilmington, North Carolina. I was down there one night, and, as it is twenty-five miles from the town, it was impossible to get back that night, so I had to rough it in a casemate till morning. As luck would have it, we discovered a blockade-running steamer, the Hansa, under our guns at dawn, and at the same time the Yankee blockaders also became aware of her presence and opened fire, thinking, as she had already got inside the bar (the line of white breakers just seaward of her), they would destroy her before she made the inlet. To get within range they had to expose themselves to the metal of the fort, which soon drove them off; leaving the Hansa at liberty to make her way safely into the river. The distant point of land is Cape Fear. Fort Fisher is one of the strongest coast defenses I have seen, not excepting any of those at Charleston, that have hitherto held an entire iron-clad fleet at bay."

THE FIRE IN COLT'S ARMORY.

WE publish on page 125 an illustration, from a sketch by Mr. J. B. Russell, Jun., of the late extensive fire at Colt's Armory, Hartford. The buildings destroyed were the front main building, 500 feet long by 60 feet wide, and three stories in height; the wing of the same width and height, and 60 feet long; and the office, two and a half stories high. The main building contained the most expensive gun and pistol machinery, and employed eight hundred workmen. Nearly every thing movable was saved, including several thousand dollars' worth of stock, and pistols packed for shipment.

The fire originated in the attic, from what cause is unknown, but was first discovered in the centre wing connecting the old with the new Armory. The firemen were successful in preventing the fire from reaching the new Armory, thus saving the Government rifles, which are made in that building.

The Armory burned was built by Mr. Colt in 1859 of Portland stone, slate roof, and was said to be fire-proof. The new Armory, which is built of brick, was added two years ago to meet the extensive demand for rifles after the breaking out of the war. The entire loss from the fire is estimated at about $1,000,000. Colonel Colt never had the buildings insured, but upon his death Mr. E. K. Root, then elected President of the Company, obtained insurance on the entire Armory to the amount of $660,000. This fire is a serious loss to Hartford, and especially as it throws out of work between one and two thousand mechanics and workmen. It will take the Company two years to rebuild and put their establishment on its former footing.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

MORTON'S GOLD PENS are now sold at the same prices as before the commencement of the war; this is entirely owing to the Manufacturer's improvements in machinery, his present large Retail Business and Cash-in-Advance System; for, until he commenced advertising, his business was done on Credit and strictly with the Trade.

The Morton Gold Pens are the only ones sold at old prices, as the makers of all other gold pens charge the Premium on the Gold, Government Tax, &c.; but Morton has in no case changed his prices, Wholesale or Retail.

Of the great numbers sent by mail to all parts of the world during the past few years, not one in a thousand has failed to reach its destination in safety; showing that the Morton Gold Pen can be obtained by any one, in every part of the world, at the same price, postage only excepted.

Reader, you can have an enduring, always ready, and reliable Gold Pen, exactly adapted to your hand and style of writing, which will do your writing vastly cheaper than Steel Pens; and at the present almost universal High-Pressure Price of everything, you can have a Morton Gold Pen cheaper, in proportion to the labor spent upon it and material used, than any other Gold Pen in the World. If you want one, see "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword," in next column.

THE "RIDGEWOOD" PATENT

SMOKING CASE.

Major-General Burnside writes, Jan. 29th, 1864, after thanks for what he is pleased to call our "useful and beautiful present" of a "Ridgewood Pipe and Tobacco Case." "It is the most complete thing for a Smoking Apparatus that I have ever seen, and so entirely within the reach of the Soldier in price, that it will certainly work itself into general use." Compact and portable as a Cigar Case, it is offered in various styles at $1.50, $2.00, $2.25, $2.50, $3.00, $3.75, and $5.00, the two latter richly plated and engraved. Single Cases sent by mail free to the Army, and everywhere, on receipt of price and 25 cents. A liberal Discount to Dealers and Sutlers. Also the RIDGEWOOD SMOKING TOBACCO, of superior quality and flavor, put up in Packages to fill the Case, and in various sizes for the General Tracts. All Orders promptly filled.

OFFICE RIDGEWOOD MANUFACTURING CO.,

429 Broadway, cor. Howard Street, New York.

500 Wonders of the World.

Whiskers and Moustaches, Gold and Silver-Love Courtship, &c., the Hunter's Secret, Angler's Secret, and a host of other Secrets for making money worth a fortune to any one, all sent free for 25 cts. Also Agents wanted.

Address   J. W. STEPHENS, Morristown, N. J.

New Catalogue of Jewelry

Sent free.         Address

      THOS. CAFFERTY & CO.,

         Providence, R. I.

"THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE
SWORD."

THE GOLD PEN—THE BEST OF ALL PENS,
MORTON'S GOLD PENS,

THE BEST PENS IN THE WORLD.

On receipt of any of the following sums in Cash, the Subscriber will send by return mail, or otherwise, as directed, a Gold Pen or Pens—selecting the same according to description, viz.:

GOLD PENS WITHOUT CASES.

For 25 cents, the Magic Pen; for 38 cents, the Lucky Pen; for 50 cents, the Always-Ready Pen; for 75 cents, the Elegant Pen; and for $1, the Excelsior Pen.—These Pens are not numbered, but correspond in sizes to numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively.

THE SAME PENS IN SILVER-PLATED EXTENSION  CASES, WITH PENCILS.

For 50 cents, the Magic Pen; for 75 cents, the Lucky Pen; for $1, the Always-Ready Pen; for $1.25, the Elegant Pen; and for $1.50, the Excelsior Pen.

These are Well-Finished, Good-Writing Gold Pens, with Iridosmin Points, the average wear of every one of which will far outlast a gross of the best Steel Pens; although they are unwarranted, and, therefore, not exchangeable.

MORTON'S WARRANTED PENS.

The name "A. Morton," "Number," and "Quality," are stamped on the following Pens, and the points are warranted for six months, except against accident.

The Numbers indicate size only: No. 1 being the smallest, No. 6 the largest, adapted for the pocket; No. 4 the smallest, and No. 10 the largest Mammoth Gold Pen, for the desk.

Long and Medium Nibs of all sizes and qualities. Short Nibs of Numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7, and made only of first quality.

The Long and Short Nibs are fine pointed; the Medium Nibs are Broad, Coarse Business points. The engravings are fac-similes of the sizes and styles.

GOLD PENS, WITHOUT CASES.

For $0.75 a No. 1 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 3 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.00 a No. 2 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 3 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 4 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.25, a No. 3 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 4 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 5 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.50, a No. 4 Pen, lot quality; or a No. 5 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 6 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.75, a No. 5 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 6 Pen, 2d quality.

For $2.25, a No 6 Pen; $2.75 a No. 7 Pen; $3.25 a No. 8 Pen; $4 a No. 9 Pen; $5 No. 10 Pen—all 1st quality.

THE SAME GOLD PENS, IN SILVER EXTENSION

CASES, WITH PENCILS.

For $1.50 a No. 1 Pen, 1st quality; or a No 3 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.75, a No. 2 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 3 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 4 Pen, 3d quality.

For $2.00, a No. 3 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 4 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 5 Pen, 3d quality.

For $2.50 a No. 4 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 5 Pen, 2d quality; or a No. 6 Pen, 3d quality.

For $3.00, a No. 5 Pen, 1st quality; or a No. 6 Pen, 2d quality.

For $3.50, a No. 6 Pen, 1st quality.

GOLD PENS, ALL FIRST QUALITY, IN SILVER- MOUNTED DESK HOLDERS.

For $2.00 a No. 4 Pen; for $2.25 a No. 5 Pen; for $2.75 a No. 6 Pen; for $3.50 a No. 7 Pen.

For $4.09 a No. 8 Pen; for $5 a No. 9 Pen; and for $6 a No. 10 Pen.

The "1st Quality" are pointed with the very best Iridosmin Points, carefully selected, and none of this quality are sold with the slightest imperfection which skill and the closest scrutiny can detect.

The "2d Quality" are superior to any Pens made by him previous to the year 1860.

The "3d Quality" he intends shall equal in respect to Durability, Elasticity and Good Writing Qualities (the only true considerations) any Gold Pens made elsewhere.

In regard to the Cheap Gold Pens, he begs leave to say that, previous to operating his New and Patented Machines, he could not have made as Good Writing and Durable Pens, for the price, had the Gold been furnished gratuitously.

Parties ordering must in all instances specify the "Name" or the "Number" and "Quality" of the Pens wanted, and be particular to describe the kind they prefer—whether stiff or limber, coarse or fine.

All remittances sent by mail in registered letters are at my risk: and to all who send twenty cents (the charge for registering), in addition to the price of goods ordered, I will guaranty their safe delivery.

Parties sending Gold or Silver will be allowed the full premium on the day received.

TO CLUBS.—A discount of 10 per cent. will be allowed on sums of $12, of 15 per cent. on $24, and of 20 per cent. on $40, if sent to one address at one time.

Address,      A. MORTON,

No. 25 Maiden Lane, New York.

HEAD-QUARTERS

For Veteran, Cavalry, Army Corps,
Company, and Division Pins
of every Description.

On the receipt of $1, I will send you a Solid Silver Shield, or either Army Corps, Division, or Co. Pin with your Name, Regt., and Co. handsomely engraved upon it, or a fine Gold Pen with Extension Case and Pencil, or a new style Vest Chain or Neck Chain, or a California Diamond Ring or Pin, or a Seal Stone Ring; and for $1.50, I will send you a Solid Silver new style CAVALRY Pin, engraved as above. Agents sending for 10 or more Pins at one time will be allowed 15 cents each.

B. T. HAYWARD,

Manufacturing Jeweler, 208 Broadway, N. Y.

Drums and Fifes for the Army.

ELEGANT PRIZE DRUMS in Wood, Brass, and German Silver, from $50 down to $12.50 each. Cheap Drams, $5 to $10 each. Pure Silver Fifes, from $75 to $40 each. Elegant German Silver Fifes, from $6 to $10 each. Emmett's Drum and Fife Book, $1 per copy. WM. A. POND & CO., Manufacturers of Musical Instruments and Publishers of Music, 547 Broadway, New York.

ALL ARTICLES FOR SOLDIERS

At Baltimore, Washington, and all places occupied by Union troops, should be sent by HARNDEN'S EXPRESS, No. 74 Broadway. Sutlers charged low rates.

Union Playing Cards.

Colonel for King, Goddess of Liberty for Queen, and Major for Jack. 52 enameled cards to the pack. Eagles, Shields, Stars, and Flags am the suits, and you can play all the usual games. Two packs, in cases, mailed free on receipt of $1. The usual discount to the trade. Send for a Circular. Address      AMERICAN CARD COMPANY,

455 Broadway, N. Y., or 165 William Street, N. Y.

Military and Naval

COLLECTION and BANKING OFFICF.—SOMES, BROWN & Co., No. 2 Park Place, New York, adjust and collect every variety of just claims against the Government or States. Hand-Books containing laws, &c., sent by mail, free.

Ivory Photographic

SLEEVE BUTTONS (Patent applied for), with perfect likenesses of the President, Generals Grant, Rosecrans, Burnside, McClellan, Banks, and others, $1.00 per pair. Fine Ivory Brooches, $1.50. Ball Ear Rings to match, $1.50. White and imitation of Coral, for sale at WELLING'S, 207 Centre St., N. Y., sign of the Golden Elephant.

BRANDRETH'S

VEGETABLE PILLS

Are infallible for costiveness, spasms, loss of appetite, sick headache, giddiness, sense of bloating after meals, dizziness, drowsiness, and cramping pains, and all disorders of the stomach and bowels.

Original Letter at 294 Canal Street, New York.

J. J. C. COOK, publisher of the State Banner, Bennington, Vt., says: he was attacked with DYSPEPSIA, and suffered so severely from it, that not a particle of food could be swallowed without occasioning the most uncomfortable sensation in his stomach. For five years he suffered from this dreadful complaint, when he used BRANDRETH'S PILLS. The first box did not seem to benefit him much, but the second produced a change, and by the time he had taken six boxes a COMPLETE CURE was effected. He says: "My dyspepsia was gone, and my expectation of an early death vanished."

BRANDRETH'S PILLS are sold at the PRINCIPAL OFFICE, 294 CANAL ST., and 4 UNION SQUARE, N. Y.

In all cases get new style, with my private stamp upon each box by permission of the Honorable Commissioner of Stamps. Observe B. BRANDRETH in white, which insures the genuine Pills.

Caution

FROM

The American Watch

Company.

It having come to our knowledge that imitations of the American Watch have been put upon the market in great numbers, calculated, by their utter worthlessness, to injure the reputation of our genuine products—to protect our own interests and the public from imposition, we again publish the trade marks by which our Watches may invariably be known.

We manufacture four styles of Watches:

The FIRST has the name

"AMERICAN WATCH CO., Waltham, Mass.," engraved on the inside plate.

The SECOND has the name

"APPLETON, TRACY & CO., Waltham, Mass.," engraved on the inside plate.

The THIRD has the name

"P. S. BARTLETT, Waltham, Mass.," engraved on the inside plate.

All the above styles have the name "American Watch Co." painted on the dial, and are warranted in every respect.

The FOURTH has the name

"WM. ELLERY, Boston, Mass." engraved on the inside plate, and is not named on the dial.

All the above described Watches are made of various sizes, and are sold in gold or silver cases, as may be required.

It is hardly possible for us to accurately describe the numerous imitations to which we have alluded. They are usually inscribed with names so nearly approaching our own as to escape the observation of the unaccustomed buyer. Some are represented as made by the "UNION WATCH Co., of Boston, Mass."—no such company existing. Some are named the "Soldier's Watch," to be sold as our FOURTH or WM. ELLERY grade, usually known as THE "SOLDIER'S WATCH;" others are named the "APPLETON WATCH Co.;" others the "P. S. BARTLEY," instead of our P. S. BARTLETT, besides many varieties named in such a manner as to convey the idea that they are the veritable productions of the American Watch Company.

A little attention on the part of buyers will protect them from gross imposition.

ROBBINS & APPLETON,
Agents for the American Watch Company,
182 BROADWAY, N. Y.

The only enameled "Turn-over" Collar made in metals. Send $1 for a "Turn-over" or 75 cents for a "Choker," to Box 5173, and receive it by return mail. American enameled Metallic Collar Co., 94 Pine St., N. Y.

This arm is now admitted by all competitors to be superior to any other ever offered to the public. Its simple construction and perfect workmanship are a sure guarantee against getting out of order. The great advantage of loading with either fixed or loose ammunition alone makes it superior to all others. These arms are made for both sporting and military purposes, and have been adopted both by the General Government and a number of States. We have the highest testimonials of their efficiency and durability.

We also offer to the Public our new Cartridge and loose ammunition loading revolver. This arm has no equal as a belt or pocket weapon. No one wishing a first-class arm should be without one.

For further particulars send for descriptive circular.

P. S. Do not forget that both Rifles and Pistols may be used with either copper cartridge or loose ammunition.

MERWIN & BRAY, Sole Agents,

262 Broadway, N. Y.

Two Dollars made from twenty cents, or ten samples sent free by mail for 20c. that retail for $2, by R. L. WOLCOTT, 170 Chatham Square, N. Y.

HARPER & BROTHERS

Have Just Published

LIFE ON A GEORGIAN PLANTATION. Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839. By FRANCES ANNE KEMBLE. 12mo, Cloth, $1.25.

ELEANOR'S VICTORY. A Novel. By Miss BRADDON, Author of "Aurora Floyd," &c, 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

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