CHAPTER XLV. 



THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. 



I iiAVii never yet been able to ascertain, authentically, 

 all tlie exact particulars of the final catastrophe ; but, basing 

 an opinion upon the numerous " dispatches " I received 

 from November, 1854, to February, 1855, the number of 

 dead and wounded must have been considerable, if not more. 

 I received scores of letters, during this last period men- 

 tioned, of which the annexed is a fair sample : 



" G. P. BuKNHAM, Esq. 



" Deak Sib: I'm afraid the jig is up! There's 

 a big hole in the bottom somewhere, or I am mistaken. I 

 think the dance is concluded ; and if it is n't time to 

 ' blow out the lights ' and shut down the gate, just let 

 us know, — will you? Where's Bennett, and Harry 

 Williams, and Dr. Eben, and Childs, and Ad. White, 

 and Braokett, and Johnny Giles, and Uncle Alden, and 

 Buckminster, and Chickering, and CoflSn, and Fussell, 

 and Chenery, and Gilman, and Hatch, and Jaques, and 

 Barnum, and Southwick, and Packard, and Balch, and 



