Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
‘‘Give it to Somebody's George.’’ 
Tub batUe was over—the battle of life, 
A battle for freedom and right, 
For a soldier had fallen in the war's wild strife— 
Iiis spirit had taken its flight- 
The word that he murmured with his last fuint breath, 
Was “Mother/’ but she answered not; 
For Bhe never oneo dreamed of her brave boy’s death, 
As she mused in Iter lonely cot. 
But. her hands were busy with a mother’s care, 
And her heart was swelling with joy, 
As she crowded her- box fall of dainties rare, 
For her absent but lifeless boy. 
Her box in the camp, when she found he was dead, 
She gave to the oftleer’s charge, 
“ Oh give it to somebody’s dear one!” she said, 
“ Oh give it to somebody’s Gkorge!” 
Aye! well may the traitor with uplifted eyes, 
Kntreat the Almighty for aid, 
While mothors endowed with such patriot ties, 
Shall strengthen the patriot’s blade. 
Lima, June, 18(5*1. M. T. Wheeler. 
The First Massachusetts 
^ 1 UK A\ ashing ton National Hepubliculi says: 
The term of service of the 1st Massachusetts 
Regiment bas expired, and the remnant sur¬ 
viving, after their many bloody battles, are on 
their way home. This was the first three years, 
regiment that arrived in Washington, and it 
bas participated in the battles of the Army of 
the l’otomac from the first Bull Run to the last 
“ Wilderness” battle. Again has it been de¬ 
cimated, During tire three years of its hard 
service it has had iu all over two thousand men. 
It now musters, officers and all, less than four 
hundred and fifty, in marching order. 
bla' ing belonged to liooker’s original brigade 
and Hooker's old division in the old Third Army 
Corps, ami since the reorganization to Han¬ 
cock's corps, the regiment has of necessity been 
in the hardest battles of the difi'erent campaigns 
of the Army of the Potomac. Their hardest 
righting was reserved to the last. The descrip¬ 
tion given by the officers of the fighting ou the 
12th hist, exceeds anything we have read in 
history. They were near the right of Hancock’s 
corps, at a point where the contending parties 
were within eight yards ol'each other, defended 
by hastily constructed breastworks. The posi¬ 
tion was maintained with the most obstinate 
bravery for twenty-four hours, the firing being 
almost incessant, Pol. McLaughlin, of the 
1st Massachusetts, who was in command of a brig¬ 
ade, says that his guns were so fouled by the long 
continued firing that the muskets of fifty-eight 
ealibre would not receive cartridges of fifty-four 
calibre. In the night he managed to got relief 
for half an hour and washed out the guns in a 
neighboring creek and resumed tiring. 
When a soldier’s piece became too foul to 
be fired, he was kept at his post with his bayonet 
to repel the continuous assaults of the enemy. 
At one time a battery was attempted to be 
placed in position to assist this part of the line, 
but when it was driven up every rider was shot 
from his saddle before he could dismount, and 
every horse killed by the murderous fire. Men 
became exhausted to that degree that they 
would drop asleep under the fil ing. The officers 
were obliged to traverse the line to wake up 
the sleepers, as well as to encourage the wakeful, 
and iu doing this they often shook those who 
reposed in their last sleep. Col. McLaughlin 
informed us that iu this way, passing along the 
rows of the quick and the dead, he jostled fif¬ 
teen or twenty poor fellows who had “ fought 
their last battle,’’ and would never awaken to 
glory again. 
The effects of the filing at that part of our 
line was terrible. The statements made by 
the officers are almost incredible, but are well 
attested. Men who fell with feet exposed to 
the lire of the opposing line were found with 
their upturned boot soles pierced by fourteen 
or fifteen bullets. Young oak trees were chip¬ 
ped off and cut away by bullets until they top¬ 
pled over. Some of them measured twenty-two 
inches! 
A General's Last Letter to his Mother. 
The following is an extract from the last 
letter written by Gen. James C. Rice, just before 
the battles iu the Virginia Wilderness, in oue of 
which he lost his life, to his aged mother who 
lives in Worthington: 
We are about to commence the campaign, the 
greatest in magnitude, strength and importance 
since the beginning of the war. God grant that 
victory may crown our arms; and this wicked 
rebellion may be crushed, our Union preserved, 
ami pease and prosperity again be restored to 
our beloved country. My faith and hope aud 
confidence are in God alone, ami I know you 
feel the same, I trust that God may again gra¬ 
ciously spare my life, as he has in the past, and 
yet one cannot fall too*early, if, loving Christ, 
he dies for his country. My entire hope is in 
the cross ol' my Savior. In this hope I am 
always happy. We pray here in the army, 
mother, just the same as at home. The same 
God who watches over you, also guards me. I 
always remember you, mother, iu my prayers, 
and I know you never forget me in yours. 
All that I am nuder God, I owe to you, my deal' 
mother. Do you recollect this passage in the 
Bible:— M Thou sbalt keep therefore the statutes, 
that it may go well with thee, and thy children 
after thee." How true (his is iu respect to 
your children, mother. I hope you will read 
the Bible and trust the promises to the last. 
There is no book like tho Bible, for comfort. It 
Is a guide to the steps of the young—a staff to 
the aged. 
Well, my dear mother, good bye. We are 
going again to do our duty, to bravely offer up 
our life for that of our country, and “through 
God we shall do valiantly.” 
With much love, and many prayers that 
whatever may betide us, we may meet in hea¬ 
ven at last. 
I am, your very affectionate son, James. 
Corn Bread and Water in a Mansion. 
In Huntsville I called upon a lady, and was 
ushered into tho parlor of a large brick mansion, 
where everything betokened wealth aud luxury. 
The walls were hung with paintings, the piauo 
was elaborately ornamented, and the floor was 
covered with the velvet down of a Brussels ear- 
pet. Such a home! Was not it a happy one? 
“ I’ll tell you, Mr.-said the lady, and 
I shall never forget her saddened tone, " before 
the war we used to live luxuriously as a family; 
but since then many a time have we sat down 
to a breakfast of only' corn bread and water! 
Meat we could not buy, and coffee was out of the 
country.” | 
Her experience is but an evidence of what 
this war has done for Southern aristocracy. 
Two of her sons are in the Southern army, and 
one of her son-in-laws is a member of the rebel 
emigres.-. What must they think of an •* Inde¬ 
pendence” which only affords their mother | 
corn bread and water'. 
The California Veteran. 
How patient the brave fellows are. Not a 
word of complaint, but thanks for the slightest 
favor. There has been a lack of crutches. 
This morning I saw a soldier of the California 
regiment, an old soldier who fought with the 
lamented Baker at Ball’s Blnft', aud who has 
been in more than twenty battles, and who, till 
Thursday last, has escaped unharmed, hob¬ 
bling about with the arms of a settee nailed 
to strips of board. His regiment went home to¬ 
day. its three years of service having expired. 
It was but a score or two of weather-beaten, 
battle-scarred veterans. The disabled comrade 
could hardly keep back the tears as he saw them 
pass down the street. “ Few of us left. The 
bones of the boys are on every battle-field 
where the Army of the Potomac has fought,” 
said he. 
An Enterprising Yankee. 
An enterprising Yankee of the Second 
Connecticut navy artillery was tempted by the 
sight of a rebel flag hanging over their breast¬ 
works to crawl forward and attempt to take it. 
Reaching up his hand he caught hold of the 
coveted bunting and begau to pull it toward 
him. The rebels on the other side, not daring 
to raise their heads, caught hold of the staff, 
and there was a trial of strength between them 
and our friend from the land of wooden nut¬ 
meg-. The latter succeeded in getting down 
the flag, but dared not return with it bv the 
same path on which he had gone out, and has 
not yet made his appearnee. It is probable, 
however, that he will make his way in the 
night, aud may he also succeed in bringing off 
his trophy. 
Coffee for Tobacco. 
Yesterday week Morgan’s brigade off 
Davis’ division, were on picket, when a squad of 
rebels, mounted, came up within 300 yards of out 
pickets and called out, “Will you exchang 
coffee for tobacco?” “Yes," was the repl; 
“Fort Pillow d-u you,” as the pickets leve¬ 
led their guns and discharged a volley ijo 
them, wounding one man. The rebels not bldg 1 
leaden coffee retreated, exclaiming as they uu 
“are you niggers or white men to treat v in ' 
that way ?” 
- * -- I 
Th e greatest number of our most tried ^ends 
are those who have been tried and foumigmlty. 
WK give, herewith, an illustration of a pleas¬ 
ant scene which occurred sometime since at the 
Parlor Music Rooms of our enterprising fellow 
citizen, Gito. H, Ei.l is. Esq. The illustration 
first appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated 
2feiospap*‘.r. Th© history of its appearance 
there is best given by the following copy of a 
letter addressed by Mr. P. T. Barnum to Mr. 
Ellis: 
P. T. BARNUM'.s LETTER. 
New York, April 93,180*1. 
G. n. Elias, Esq .,—Dear Sir,- Learning from Gen¬ 
eral Ton Thumb the many kind and polite attentions 
paid by yourself to him and bis charming little wiff, 
and especially of yonr manificeticc in presenting them 
with rich and valuable gifts, I beg to say that if you 
will have the kindness to send me photographs of the 
interior of your Music rooms, as well as a portrait of 
yourself, and such other parties as were at the pre- 
sest-ation as yon desire to send, I foel confident, from 
the disttngni-h -d character of the parties engaged in 
the ceremony, Mr. Frank Lksue will be glad to illus¬ 
trate the transaction in his celebrated newspaper. As 
soon as I receive the photographs f will lay the subject 
before Mr. Leslie, aud doubt, not Mr. Leslie will 
agree with me in the opinion that the liberal and gen¬ 
tlemanly transaction, so honorable to youself,is worthy 
Of illustration. Truly Yours, 
P. T. Barnum. 
The following article accompanied the illus¬ 
tration iu Frank Leslie's paper and is a 
worthy tribute to an enterprising business man: 
“ A very pleasing incident occurred at the 
handsome piano rooms of Air. George H. Ellis, 
State str eet, Rochester, on the tith of April last. 
Gen. Tom Thumb —Air. Stratton —had been 
staying for some time in that delightful city, 
and the General being a member of the Order 
of Knight Templars, it was determined by his 
brother Sir Knights to take him by surprise, 
and to give him and his handsome lady a friendly 
ovation. Accordingly the details of the affair 
were placed in the hands of Sir Knight George 
IL Ellis, who invited the General, and by him 
was deputed to wait upon the famous Queen of 
Beauty, and to invito her to meet some friends 
at his beautiful piano and music rooms, in Ell- 
wanger A Barry’s building, State street. Airs. 
Gen. Tom Thumb received the ambassador with 
that distinguished courtesy for which she is re¬ 
markable, and graciously accepted the imita¬ 
tion ou behalf of the General, of her sister. 
Aiitinfe Warren, and of Commodore Nutt, to 
whom the invitation was also extended. The 
preliminaries being arranged, and the day ap¬ 
pointed, imitations were issued to the promi¬ 
nent musical, literary ami other ladies and gen¬ 
tlemen of the city, and quite an excitement was 
created in anticipation of the event. 
“ On the day appointed, the distinguished little 
party drove up to Mr. Fills’store in a splendid 
carriage, drawn by four spirited horses. On 
alighting, they were ushered into the music 
rooms, where they received the friendly greet¬ 
ings of the assembled guests. The saloon in 
which the meeting took place, is in every re¬ 
spect splendidly fitted up. Huge mirrors deco¬ 
rate its walls, and its whole area, over CO feet 
by 30, is covered by costly carpeting. Here 
and there are pieces of rare sculpture and 
bronzes, in fact, every elegance that refined 
taste could suggest, has been gathered together 
to render Ellis’ saloon fitted to receive the lair 
ladies of the city, who seem to make it their 
fashionable rendezvous. 
“The gathering was in every way a most social 
one. The little lions of the day talked freely 
with all around, but the Commodore was tho 
very life of the party. He was in exuberant 
spirits, and sang and joked in an Irresistibly 
amusing manner. Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb sang 
several songs most charmingly; among them, 
the “ Captain and his Whiskers” made a great 
sensation. The tine grand pianos which Air. 
Ellis constantly keeps on sale, were brought 
into requisition, and discoursed much charming 
music under the able manipulation of Miss 
Barton, Air, Wilkins and Professor Ellis, ’while 
the vocal part was most ably sustained by Miss 
Jennie Bull, Miss Addie Hatch and Alias Bar¬ 
ton. It was the opinion of all present that it 
was one of the most delightful impromptu mati¬ 
nees ever given iu the good city of Rochester. 
At the close of the musical exercises the spe¬ 
cial attention of the company was requested, 
and the ceremonies of the presentation com¬ 
menced. ALany of the principal officers of the 
Order of Knight Templars being present, the 
presentation was made under their sanction. 
Sir Knight General Lathrop, in an eloquent 
and appropriate speech, presented to Sir Knight 
Charles W. Stratton, (Gen. Tom Thumb,) on 
behalf ol’ Sir Knight George H. Ellis, an ex¬ 
quisitely carved cigar stand, and to his wife, a 
cup, beautifully aud elaborately cut from wood 
of the Charter Oak, by the blind poet. Air. 
Robert Fenn. The General, though taken by 
surprise, replied with fiuent ease, and accepted 
the gifts on behalf of himself and his wife with 
warm expressions <5f pleasure and gratitude. 
The General and his party then drove off, and 
the company separated, highly gratified by the 
incidents of the day. 
“ One word as to the gentleman who was the 
chief mover in this pleasant affair. Air. George 
H. Ellis is one of the representatives of the 
earnest, pushing business men of the country. 
He despises the old fogy style, which crawls 
after popular taste, instead of leading it. He 
knows that if you show the public what they 
ought to buy, they w ill most certainly do so. 
Hi- store is more elegantly fitted up t-h^u our 
New York -tores; his collection of tnusie com¬ 
prises all that is new and popular; he keeps not 
only square, but grand pianos, a circumstance 
uncommon in the country, besides every other 
kind of instrument, including even Browne's 
celebrated harps. By his business tact and 
energy, he has extended his business all through 
the West, and it is no uncommon thing for him 
to ship off four pianos a day—an amount of 
business in one department, which would be 
considered first-class, even in this city. It is 
such men as this who spread musical taste 
through wide and hitherto unreached circles, 
and their success is not only welL deserved, but 
it is a benefit to the community at large.” 
GEOEGE H. ELLIS’ MUSIC AND PIANO E00MS, E00HESTEE, N. Y., ON THE OCCASION OF A PEE3ENTATI0N TO GEN. TOM THUMB AND LADY. 
