cartridges to one of the gunners. While the Bienville was in the thickest of the engagement, the balls whistled fiercely over the deck and splashed about in the water, but he never wavered. A large rifled shot struck the water some distance from the steamer, bounded upward, and crashing through the beam, tore through the bodies of two men standing near him at his gun, and wounded two others. He handed his cartridge to the gunner, and stepping over the bodies, brought a fresh supply of ammunition, with which he continued his labors. After the fight, Captain Steedman, in thanking his men for their noble conduct, especially commended the bravery of young Steele. During a part of the time the Bienville was the mark for almost the entire fire of both rebel batteries, and her crew displayed the greatest heroism. The first shot fired at her struck, and was one of the most serious. Her guns were in such constant use that they became hot, and almost leaped from the deck at each discharge. It is really wonderful that her damage is so very immaterial. Beyond a hole between decks, another through the beam, just at the lower part of the gunwale, a cut shroud and a battered stove-pipe (not smoke-stack), she is unharmed. The Wabash also came in for a large share of the fight. A cannon-shot passed along her deck, and struck Thomas Jackson, the coxswain. The ball nearly carried away one of his legs, leaving it so that it hung only by shreds of flesh and skin. Leaning against a gun, he drew out his sheath-knife, and tried to cut it off entirely. The knife was too dull, and his shipmates hastened to him, and carried him below. He kept continually asking how the fight progressed, saying, "I hope we'll win; I hope we'll beat them." He died in two hours, his last words expressing happiness that he had done something for his country. CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT. An incident of adventure characteristic of the Anderson Zouaves, and of rigorous barbarism characteristic of the blood-earnest warfare of these rebels. One day, Henry Oehl, of company G, Anderson Zouaves, with a comrade went forward to a distant farm house, to get information and enlarge his topographical knowledge of Virginia. The farmer came into the yard, and a conversation sprang up between the three. "Suddenly," said Oehl, " twenty rebel soldiers rose like ghosts from the edge of the woods just beyond the house, and rushed towards us, calling to us to surrender. Not being much in that line of business, we raised our pieces and let fly at them." They returned the fire. A ball struck Oehl's right hand, knocked his musket out of it, and entered the abdomen at the centre, and went out at the left side. To run had now become a duty. Oehl doubled the corner of the house, and made for the nearest recesses of the White Oak Swamp, via a corn-field, and the bushy covers of a line of old rail-fence. The chase was a keen one. Oehl's coolness, cunning, and courage saved him. Embosomed in the swamp, he watched his own hurt, and plugged the wound through his abdomen with his fingers. Soon he saw his pursuers return to the house, talk a moment with the farmer, and gesticulate forcibly to the doomed man. Some seized him, and some entered his house. The hidden Zouave was near enough to the building to catch the sounds within of the shrieking of children. Immediately these rushed out of the door, followed by a smoke, and soon by a flame. The ruffians burued the Virginian's house over his head, for the crime of talking with Northern soldiers who entered his yard. SALLIE RICHMOND AND DEVIL BILL The falls of the New River are very fragrant; the water thunders down towards the Gauley from one precipice to another, almost continually; pausing but a moment at the feet of its wild leaps, in boiling caldrons, as if bewildered, and awaiting strength for new and wilder leaps. Throughout its entire course in Virginia, there are but a few rods of calm water. At these points are fords or ferries, usually the latter. For one hundred miles from the mouth of New River there are but three good ferries, and of course are known far and near, throughout the country. The first is Richmond Ferry, and seventy-five miles from the falls of the Gauley. The other two are known as Pack's Upper and Lower Ferry. These ferries, then, are the only means of intercourse between the valleys north and south of the river, and necessary points of occupation to an army operating on both sides of the river. Yet the rough mountain roads will not admit of sufficient transportation to subsist any considerable number of troops, and the Federal forces sought to maintain control of the ferries, by frequently sending scouting parties to them and their neighborhoods, while the rebel "bushwackers," and guerrilla parties, for the same purpose, hovered continually around them. While affairs stood thus, my regiment was ordered to Raleigh C. H. We found the House of the Court perforated with loop-holes, and every brick dwelling in the village converted into an embrasured fortification, with look out and all appurtenances of a besieged city. Our troops had been threatened by the rebels from Richmond Ferry, during the winter, and these precautions had been taken in anticipation. Shortly after our arrival at Raleigh C. H., Capt. Warner, of Union County, was detailed with one hundred picked men-among whom were many of the Jerome and Belle Point boys-to visit Richmond Ferry, and cut off the retreat of a body of guerrillas, who had made a raid on the north side of the river, to destroy rebel property, and take as prisoners, or kill all suspi cious characters in the neighborhood. Towards the close of the first day the command neared the river. Advance and flanking parties were thrown out from the main body, and the troops moved down from the mountain toward the ferry. A large opening suddenly burst into view and the large bottom farm of the proprietor of the ferry lay stretched out before them. Presently Richmond himself came out to meet them. He was a tall athletic man, and past the meridian of life; he carried a long and heavy rifle on his shoulder and a large hunter's knife dangled from the strap of his deer-skin bullet pouch. "Hellow, thar," said he on nearing us, "who are you?" "Federal troops, sir," answered the captain. "Well, I reckon'd so the moment I sot my eyes on them thar blue coats of your'n. Whar you goin'?" "Down to the ferry, sir." "Come along, then; old Richmond's the very man you are huntin' for, eh?" "Yes; are you Richmond?". "I reck'n I am." They tell me you are a true Union man, Mr. Richmond?" Well, I reck'n thar ain't ary better one in these mountains than old Sam Richmond, unless it be my boy Bill, 'Devil Bill;' you've hear'n of him up thar at Raleigh C. H., I reck'n ?" "Oh yes," said the captain. "Lead on, Mr. Richmond." The old man took the trail down the mountain, fol. lowed by the captain and his men. They shortly came to the cleared field through which the path led down to the "Richmond House." As they approached the old man's dwelling, a young lady, of apparently "two score seasons," came out to meet them; the old man, in his off hand, rude way, said, "Well, Sallie, here's Capt. Warner |