ANECDOTES.

A LIEUTENANT was promenading in full uniform one day, and approached a volunteer on sentry, who challenged him with "Halt! Who comes there?" The Lieutenant, with contempt in every lineament of his face, expressed his ire with an indignant "Ass!" The sentry's reply, apt and quick, came, "Advance, ass, and give the countersign."

During the march of McClellan's army up the Peninsula from Yorktown, a tall Vermont soldier got separated from his regiment, and was trudging along through the mud endeavoring to overtake it. Finally, coming to a crossing, he was puzzled as to which road he should take; but, on seeing one of the "natives," his countenance lighted up at the prospect of obtaining the desired information, and he inquired, "Where does this road lead to?" "To h-l," was the surly answer

of the "native." "Well," drawled the Vermonter, "judging by the lay of the land, and the appearance of the inhabitants, "I kalkerlate I'm most thar."

The day before Grant attacked Fort Donelson, the troops had had a march of twenty miles, part of it during a bitter cold night. Grant called a council of war, to consider whether they should attack the fort at once, or should give the troops a day or two's rest. The officers were in favor of resting. Grant said nothing until they had all given their opinion; then he said, "There is a deserter come in this morning. Let us see him, and hear what he has to say." When he came in, Grant looked into his knapsack. "Where are you from?" "Fort Donelson." "Six days' rations in your knapsack, have you not, my man?" "Yes, sir." "When were they served out?" "Yesterday morning." "Were the same rations served out to all the troops?" "Yes, sir." "Gentlemen," said Grant, "troops do not have six days' rations served out to them in a fort if they mean to stay there. These men mean to retreat, not to fight. We will attack at once."

HEROISM AT FREDERICKSBURG.

Captain James H. Platt, Jr., of Company B, Fourth Vermont Regiment, having been ordered with his company to the right of the skirmish line, after having once expended nearly all his ammunition and been resupplied, led his men out in front of a battery, within three hundred yards, where they did noble execution till a charge of cannister struck down half the company, killing four and wounding fourteen, when he ordered them back to re-form, which they did, and retired in good order with the regiment just relieved. Yet not all: for, calling some to his side, the humane captain, a skillful physician, bound up the most dangerous wounds, thus prolonging at least several lives, and, with the assistance he had summoned, bore away to the hospital, a mile distant, all who were unable to help themselves. This was done amid bullets flying like hail; yet, through a kind Providence, no one was harmed. As the gallant captain said, "God would not let us suffer while in discharge of such a duty.”

THE DRUMMER BOY.

Willie Johnson, thirteen years old, of St. Johnsbury, a drummer boy in Company D, Third Vermont Regiment, received a medal for his heroic conduct in the

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VERMONT IN THE GREAT REBELLION.

seven days' fight before Richmond. On the retreat, when strong men threw away their guns, knapsacks, and blankets, that they might have less weight to carry, this little fellow kept his drum, and brought it safely to Harrison's Landing, where he had the honor of drumming for division parade, being the only drummer who brought his drum from the field. When these facts were reported to the War Department by the division commander, Willie was presented with a star medal of honor by Secretary Stanton in person.

DON'T SEE IT.

The following instance is given of Vermont pluck: In Kilpatrick's last "On to Richmond" was a soldierboy by the name of Edwin A. Porter, whose mother lives in Wells, Vt. In one of the skirmishes, he rode up fearlessly to a squad of rebels. The officer demanded of him to surrender. He replied, coolly, "Don't see it;" and, suiting his action to his words, he instantly drew his saber, with which he cleft the head of the officer, at the same instant wheeling his horse to join his company, the rebels firing a volley at him, of which shower the lad carried off in his person four bullets, joining his company, G. He kept his saddle for more than an hour, and finally recovered from his wounds, and was discharged February 17, 1865.