THE CAMP, THE BATTLE-FIELD AND HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 2 April 1867, Page 6

THE CAMP, THE BATTLE-FIELD AND HOSPITAL.

Another book on the war. Dr. L. P. Brocket t, wlio previously contributed Our Great Captains, 'Philanthropic liesidt.i of the 1 Far, History of the Civil )Var in the United Stales, and, wo believe, one or two other works of acknowledged merit, appears before the public in a stately octavo of 512 pages, entitled The Camp, the Hattlejield and the Hospital; or, lights and Shadows "f the Great Rebellion. It includes adventures of spies and scouts, thrilling incidents, daring exploits, heroic deeds, wonderful escapes, sanitary and hospital scenes, prison scenes, etc. They arc gathered from various sources, and the authenticity of some of them is doubtless a little questionable. They are generally well told, and relate to some of the most stirring scenes of the great conflict. It is, after all, rather the minor incidents—especially those which enlist our private sympathies—than the grander events, that lend the chief charm to the annals of history. The record of the war would be dull indeed to the general mass were it divested of its personal and more anecdotal character. The author has done little more than collect and arrange the materials furnished by the actors and spectators in the great drama, but that little he has done well. He has given us a most readable volume, and one that cannot fail to hold a respectable place in the literature of the rebellion. The work is creditably gotten up. The letter press is superior, and the illustrations—over 100 in number—up to the average of woodcuts. We give some extracts below : THf IIUSII SENTINEL. A son of the Green Isle, a new member of Col. Gillem's Middle Tennessee regiment, while

stationed at Nashville recently, was detailed on guard duty on a prominent street of that city. It was his first experience at guard-mounting, and he strutted along his beat apparently with full appreciation of the dignity and importance of his position. As a citizen approached, he shouted—

" Halt! Who comes there ?" " A citizen." was the response. " Advance, citizen, and give the countersign." " haven't the countersign ; and, if I had, the demand for it at this time and place is something very strange and unusual," rejoined the citizen. "An", by the howly Moses, ye don't pass this way at all till ye say Bunker Hill," was Pat's reply. The citizen, appreciating the " situation, advanced and cautiously whispered iu his ear the necessary words, " Bight ! Pass on." And the wide-awake sentinel resumed his beat. THE YOUNGEST SOLDI EE I-NT THE AEJIY 01? THE CUMBERLAND. At the Caledonian supper in Cincinnati, Ohio, during December, 1863, Gen. Sosecrans exhibited the photoglyph of a boy who he said was the youngest soldier in the Army of the Cumberland. His name is Johnny Clem, twelve years of age, a member of Company C, 22nd Michigan Infantry. His home was at Newark, Ohio. He first attracted the attention of Gen. Sosecrans during a review at Nashville, where he was acting as marker for his regiment. His extreme youth (he is quite small for his age) and intelligent appearance interested the General, and calling him to him he questioned him as to his name, age, regiment, etc. Gen. Eosccrans spoke encouragingly to the young soldier, and told him to come and see him whenever he came where he was. He saw no more of the boy until vhc end of ISG3, when he went to his place of residence —the Burnet House —and found Johnny Clem sitting on his sofa, waiting to see him. Johnny had experienced some of the vicissitudes of war since last they met. He had been captured by Wheeler's cavalry, near .Bridgeport. His captors took him to Wheeler, who saluted him with—

" "What are you doing here, you d —d little Yankee scoundrel ?" fcaid Johnny Clem, stoutly. " Gen. "Wheeler, I am no more a d—d scoundrel than you are, sir." Johnny said the rebels stole about all that ho had, including his pocket-book, which contained only 24 cents. " But I wouldn't have cared for the rest," he added, "if they hadn't stolen my hat, which had three bullet holes it received at Cbickamauga." He was finally paroled and sent North. On Saturday he was on his way from Camp Chase to his regiment, having been exchanged. Gen. Bosecrans observed that the young soldier had chevrons on his arm, and asked the meaning of it. He said ho was promoted to a corporal for shooting a rebel Colonel at Chickamauga. The Colonel was mounted, and stopped Jolmny, at some point on the field, crying, " Stop you little Yankee devil." Jolmny halted, bringing his Australian rifle to an order," thus throwing the Colonel off his guard, cocked his piece (which he could easily do, being so short), and suddenly bringing his piece to his shoulder, fired, the Colonel tailing dead with a bullet'througli his breast. The little fellow told his story simpl}' and modestly, and the General determined to honor liis bravery. lie gave him the badge of the "Roll of Honor," which Mrs. Saunders, wife of the host of the Ihirnet liaise, sewed upon Johnny's coat. 3-1 is eye glistened with pride as he looked upon the badge, and little Johnny seemed suddenly to liave grown .in inch or two taller, he stood so erect. Helef;his photograph with Gon. I'osecrans,-who exhibits it with pride. "We may hear again of Johnny Clem, the youngest soldier in the Arm\ of Cumberland. A nOMANTIC IXCIMEXT OF THE WAB. Gov. Curtin, of Pensylvania, was called upon at the Continental Hotel at Philadelphia, by a young lady. "When she was introduced into tho parlor she expressed her great joy at seeing the Governor, and at the same time imprinting a kiss upon his forehead. " Madam," said he, " to what am I indebted for this unexpected salutation r" " Take a choir," said the Governor, at tho same time extending one of the har.dsoinest in parlor. " Shortly after the battle of Antietam you were upon that bloody field," said she to the Governor. " I was," replied the Governor. "You administered to the wants of the wounded and the dying." " It was my duty as a feeling man." " You did your .duty well. Heaven alone will reward 3-011, sir; for in this life there is no reward adequate!}' expressive of the merit due you. You, s : r, imparted consolation and revived the hopes of a dying soldier of the 2Sth Ohio. He was badly wounded in the arm ; you lifted him into an ambulance, and, the blood dripping from him, stained your hands and your clothing. That soldier was as dear to me as life itself." " A husband r" said the Governor. " No, sir." " A father ?" "No, sir." " A lover ?" " No, sir." " If not a husband, father, brother, son, or lover, who then, could it be ?" said the Governor, at length breaking the silence, " this is an enigma to me. Please explain more about the gallant soldier of Ohio." " Well, sir, that, soldier gave you a ring—C. hi. D. were the letters engraved upon tho interior. That is the ring now upon your little finger. He told you to wear it, and carefully have you done so."

The Governor pulled the ring off, and sure enough the letters were there.

" The fingers that used fo wear that ring will never wear it any more. The hand is dead, but the soldier still lives." "Well madam," said he, "tell me about it. Is this ring yours ? AYas it given you by a soldier whom you loved ?"

" I loved him as I love my life ; but lie never returned that love. He liad more love for his

country tlian for me ; I honor him for it. The soldier who placed that little ring upon your finger stands before you. So saying the strange lady rose from her chair, ard stood before the Governor.

.The scene that now ensued we leave to the imagination of the reader. A happy houvpassed. The girl who had thus introduced herself was Catherine I£. Davidson, of Sheffield, Ohio. She was engaged to be married, but her future husband responded to the call of the President, and she followed by joining another reigment.

He was killed in the same battle where she fell wounded. She is alone in the world, her father and mother having departed this life years ago. She was the soldier of the 2Sth Ohio who had placed the ring upon the finger of Governor Curtin, for the kind attention given her upon the bloodv field of Antietam.