"Without what, my child?" She turned and saw standing near her a venerable old man, leaning upon a gold-mounted cane. He was regarding her attentively, and asked, "What is it, child; can I do aught for you?" "I wish one of those beautiful magnolias for a poor sick girl. This place was once her home, and she pines for her old home and her favorite love flower." "What is her name, dear child?" "Her name? little Ellie Mills; is'nt it a sweet one?" asked the child, looking sweetly into the venerable face above her. "Ellie Mills," repeated the old gentleman; “Oh, she is the child of Edward Mills, the former owner of this beautiful place. My son bought it of his creditors. A sad thing, a sad thing, for a man to fail in business and then die leaving everything to be seized by creditors; but never mind, child, I'll get you the flower;" and drawing down the nearest limb with his cane, the old gentleman broke off the snowy flower and placed it in the child's hand, then turned and walked thoughtfully away. grow strong again. The sun is about setting, and still she does'nt come!" continued the suffering child. In a short time footsteps were heard on the porch; somewhat weary they seemed. Ellie raised herself on her pillow and gazed earnestly towards the door. "She's coming! she's coming!" panted the coral lips, and presently Jessie appeared at the door, holding out that priceless queen flower. Ellie looked perfectly radiant as she eagerly extended her little hands, "My flower, my flower! Ah! my good angel, I shall love you always;" and catching the flower in one hand, she entwined the other arm about the neck of her "good angel." "I shall love you always, myself," murmured Willie, as he stood in the opposite door, an unobserved observer of all that passed. And as he gazed upon the beautiful picture; the glory of the setting sun lighting the little room, playing upon the neatly swept floor; resting upon the heads of the two children, crowning them as with a halo of glory; the pale golden brown curls of the sick girl, who was half sitting on her Jessie held it beneath the spray of the fountain until the bright drops glistening upon its velvety leaves shone like diamonds little cot, one arm still clasped about the in the sun; then taking her little thread-neck of her companion, murmuring, "Oh! cambric handkerchief, dipped it in the little stream running at the fountain's base, wrapped it carefully around the flower's stem, and picked her way out through the labyrinth of flowers. Once more in the high road, she quickened her pace, for the sun had already crossed the meridian on his day's journey; and she had a long walk before her. She walked merrily on, humming a low melody. Ellie turned restlessly on her little bed. Her cheeks were crimsoned with fever and her lips vied with the tiny coral necklace which rested between her little hot fingers. She loved that little necklace, for attached to it was a small locket, set with pearls, containing the miniatures of her parents. you angel, I shall love you always;" but her eyes, bright and sparkling, were fixed upon her beautiful treasure in the other hand. Her little white wrapper was open at the throat, and the airy curls were gently stirred by the soft May breeze as it fanned freshly through the window. The golden arrows rested upon the long dark locks flowing over Jessie's shoulders, and her sweet face was lighted with a bright, holy light. She had accomplished her object; had given pleasure to a fellow-creature; and the full crimson lips rested upon the orphan's brow, long and caressingly, as she gently untwined the clinging arm and placed the little head back upon its pillow. The boy murmured, "How beautiful they "I wonder when she'll come? 'Tis grow-look! how I wish that I could put that picing so late. Buddie said she was so kind to ture upon canvass. She is every bit an bring me those berries; but will she never come? What shall I do? Must I die without looking upon my loved flower? It would bring back life; I know I should angel, so she is!" he continued with boyish enthusiasm, as he stole softly away on tiptoe, lest he should disturb those two. Ellie sighed softly as her little, weak head touched the pillow; and folding her little believe that through you God spared my hands, still clasping the flower over her breast, she sunk into a quiet sleep. Jessie heard the latch lifted gently, and presently her mother's kind face looked in at the door. Jessie smiled and motioned silently to a chair near the low bed. Her mother seated herself, looking earnestly at the sleeper. "How beautiful!" she whispered. Jessie smilingly nodded assent. Together with Willie and maum Kate, they watched by her during the night; and when at dawn, the family physician of the Rodgers' called, he too smiled as he felt the pulse quieting its rapid beat, and said, "She will recover!" Twelve years have passed on rapid wing, and moonlight is resting upon the stately mansion, its vine-clad colonnades, its gleaming pillows, its shell bordered walks and fragrant garden. A silvery tinkle is audible in the stillness; and directed by the moon's rays, we come suddenly upon the spraying fountain, sending forth sparkling diamonds under the bright light; the dreamy aromatic perfume of the creamy buds drooping over it; and a trio-two fair clad forms and a tall manly one. The taller of the fair forms looks almost queenly, clad in her snowy muslin with its crimson girdle; the dark hair, parted smoothly over the broad white brow, is caught in a crimson and gold netting at the back, leaving here and there stray clusters of curls, which the gentleman is busily engaged filling with moss buds. life in the long ago. What does brother Willie say?" turning to look upon the tall form, with its magnificently shaped head, crowned with its light clustering curls; the broad white brow, deep blue eyes and handsome mouth. All these were taken in at a glance by the loving girl, as she again repeated, "Say, Buddie, dear?” Turning from the tender, pleading eyes, he looked upon the fair form at his side, and a most tender, beautiful smile broke over his face, as he stooped to press a kiss upon the fair brow beneath the dark hair; and those speaking hazel eyes answered the caress. "Yes, Ellie, I think our good angel restored you to me; and I then vowed a solemn vow, that I, too, would love her always, and I've been faithful to my vow-but come, darling, I'll get your flower, and then I have something to show you both." Breaking the drooping flower, and then extending an arm to each, they wended their way slowly towards the moonlit colonnade. "What is it, Willie?" queried Jessie, as he led them through the wide hall towards the library. "Wait, dear, and you shall see." "Oh! I know what it is!" exclaimed Ellie, clapping her hands as best she could for her brother held partial possession of one-"'tis Buddie's great picture, painted while in Florence, the one he wouldn't let us see, just arrived! Isn't it?" lifting her bright and laughing eyes to her brother's face. "Wait and see, little Birdie." At last the silence is broken by the smaller of the trio-the one so angelic in appearance Willie opened the library door; the room as to cause us to pause in wonder, gazing was lighted with wax candles in large, heavy upon her deep blue eyes and golden tresses silver candlesticks-an heirloom in the which are sparkling with drops from the family-and also several shaded lamps fountain-she exclaims, "Come, Willie, do which threw a mellow softness over the let Jessie's hair alone; I tell you too many whole. Leaving the girls in the centre of flowers spoil the effect. Reach me that the room, he crossed to the opposite side; beautiful bud--my beautiful snow-white bud. How I worship my favorite flower, and my sister Jessic too;" and a thrilling awe clothes the silvery voice, and one little arm steals round Jessie's slender waist. drew to one side a dark curtain, and beckoned to them. They were soon by his side, and looked upon the "evening scene" of the long ago. A poorly furnished, though nently kept "Oh, Jessie, darling, I do most earnestly room; an open window with snowy curtain and vase of wild-briar and honeysuckle upon dressed in light blue trowsers and roundthe sill. A low cot near by, and half sitting, about; a worn black velvet cap, pushed back half lying upon it, a fragile little creature; upou his sunny curls, leaving the fair open her sunny curls lying about the fever-flushed brow exposed. A beautiful love light shone cheeks. Clasped in one hand was a beauti- in his fine blue eyes, as he looked on this ful halfblown magnolia, her "dream flower;" beautiful picture, upon which the golden the other arm was entwined about the neck rays of sunset rested so lovingly-dancing of a beautiful, dark-haired girl, who looked over the golden ringlets of the invalid; with loving eyes upon the sufferer. Her lighting up the noble brow of the bright light muslin fell softly over the rounded being bending over her; and tipping the form, and a sweet smile parted the scarlet sunny curls of the enthusiastic boy whose lips. In the opposite door, an unobserved lips seemed framing the words, "I, too, spectator of the whole, was a boy of fifteen, shall love her always, for she is an angel!" DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTION-NO. 2. CHANCELLORSVILLE. BY W. S. B. THE spring of 1863 found the army of the dences, were soon to be disfigured and Potomac and the army of Northern Virginia destroyed by the red foot-prints of war. confronting each other on the waters of the The Federal army, commanded by Gen. upper Rappahannock. The snow had melted Hooker, numbered 100,000 men of all arms. from the peaks of the Blue Ridge, the buds Gen. Hooker-called by the army, "Fighting were bursting forth into life and beauty, and Joe Hooker"-had just been appointed to the wild flowers dotted the meadows and the supreme command of the army of the fields. The view from the left of the Con- Potomac in the place of General Burnside, federate lines was wild, yet not without the latter having been relieved immediately beauty; to the left, as far as the eye could after the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg. reach, was one matted, tangled wilderness. The merits of the new-made Federal comTo the right was the pretty little town of mander were freely discussed by the NorthFredericksburg, the heights in the rear ern journals. He was characterized as a seamed and scarred with fortifications, and general of consummate ability. His fightbristling with artillery. In front, the far-ing qualities were said to be of the highest stretching low grounds gave full sweep to order, while his ability as a military stratethe eye, and in the dim distance the quiet gist was declared to be second to none. A Rappahannock calmly flowed toward the short time previous, a military commission sea. Quaint old mansions were sprinkled had convened in Washington for the purover this attractive scene, where dwelt sev- pose of inquiring into the Fredericksburg eral of those illustrious old families of Vir-disaster, and before this commission General ginia, whose princely hospitality was lavished Hooker testified. He entered into a lengthy with an open handed liberality. This quiet and picturesque scene, those smiling fields and shadowy woodlands, this beautiful land and those hospitable old resi criticism of the Peninsula campaign, and the causes of its failure-also of the causes of the defeat at Fredericksburg-and, in a spirit of confidence, expressed his ability to defeat the army of Lee and take the Confed- the line extending north-west in the form of erate capital. The Federal government and a semi-circle, the right of the line reaching the army had great confidence in the new above the confluence of the North Fork and commander, and it was almost universally believed that the campaign of 1863 would result in the entire destruction of the Confederate army of Northern Virginia. Rapidan. The Rappahannock flowed be- The The Federal army was in fine spirits and in splendid condition. The cave arm of the service had been greatly strengthened, sight, and during the months of February and great attention had been paid to its and March, kept up a continuous fusilade of armament and equipment. The finest horses, inall arms. and the best patterns of breech-loading carbines and pistols were furnished in profusion. The command of the entire cavalry force of the army of the Potomac was entrusted to that accomplished cavalry officer, General Pleasanton. The artillery arm of the service was equally efficient. One hundred and fifty pieces, of all calibres and of the most approved manufacture, were placed at the disposal of the Federal general. As the snows melted and the spring advanced, the Federals, knowing their superiority in numbers, and having a new spirit infused into them by their new commander, were anxious to be led against the Confederates. Early in April, General Longstreet, with a portion of his corps, was ordered, by Gen. Lee, to march on Suffolk and threaten that position. Suffolk was nearly one hundred miles from Fredericksburg, in South-eastern Virginia, and a place of but little importance to the Confederates. The inference from this movement led to the belief that it was the object of Gen. Lee to force the Federal general to divide his forces. The Federal general, however, paid but little attention to Suffolk, leaving that little village to take care of itself as best it could. Very soon after this, the Northern papers stated that "General Longstreet, with his entire corps, The Confederate army, commanded by had gone to Suffolk; that General Lee was General Lee, numbered 60,000 men. Two sick, and the only army left to oppose Gen. victorious campaigns and severe discipline, Hooker was one of forty thousand men, with perfect confidence in their general, under Stonewall Jackson." "Now is the made of this body of men an army of vet- time," said the generals of the Northern The cavalry arm of the service was press, "for Hooker to advance." Whether in splendid condition, and commanded by these statements had any effect in inducing that gallant cavalier, General Stuart. All General Hooker to undertake an advance is the appointments were complete; the army not known, but certain it is that, soon after, was confident, and the Confederate com- his movements plainly indicated that he was mander awaited with his usual complacency belligerently inclined. the attack of his brave, but over-sanguine adversary. erans. The right of the Confederate line rested on the range of hills in the rear of Fredericksburg, and this position, commanding the town, with a fine view of the Rappahannock river, was very strongly fortified. The line from this point extended up the river, but well back from it, through the wilderness, and nearly to the confluence of the North Fork and Rapidan rivers, which form the Rappahannock. The left wing of the Federal army rested on the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg, Toward the middle of April, everything indicated an early advance on the part of the Federal forces. Persistent attempts were made by the Federal cavalry to penetrate into the counties of Culpeper and Orange, for the purpose of unmasking the position of the Confederates, and also destroying communication with Richmond. These attempts were only partially successful. The Confederate cavalry, under General Stuart, confronted the Federals at every point, and foiled them in every endeavor. In these cavalry encounters, much heavy skirmishing took place, with rapid advances and hasty retreats, but nothing material was material opposition. His position was a accomplished. At last all things were declared to be ready. The organization of the Federal forces seemed to be complete. General Hooker's plan of battle was as follows: One third of the army was to cross the river below Fredericksburg, engage the Confederates at that point, but not to press them to a general issue of battle. The other portion of the army was to go well above, effect a crossing and, sweeping down upon the flank and rear of the Confederate general, crush him as a strong man would crush an egg shell in his hand. On Monday, the 26th of April, was commenced the execution of this plan. Three corps-the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth-were ordered to march up the river to Kelly's ford, and cross the Rappahannock at this point. General Slocum was placed in command of the force entrusted with the important part of executing this flank move. ment. Three other corps-the First, Third and Sixth-were ordered to cross at Frank lin's, three miles below Fredericksburg. General Sedgewick commanded this force. General Hooker personally superintended the passage of the troops at Kelly's ford. This affair was so well managed that both divisions of the army had established themselves on the west bank of the river without any serious opposition from the Confederate general. very strong one. He had formed a double line of battle, resembling the two sides of a square, his right ranging along the old Plank road, nearly east and west, his left extending toward the river opposite United States ford. The apex, where the two lines of battle jind each other, took in the old Chancellor house. In front of these lines the timber had been felled so as to form a strong lace work of abattis. In the rear of this were elaborate ranges of earthworks for infantry, and upon the apex, and flanks, and the knolls all along the line, the artillery was placed, completely masked by the felled timber. On the night of the 29th of April, General Lee held a consultation with his leading officers, and it was determined to withdraw all his force from in front of the Federals at Fredericksburg, with the exception of a single division, and hurl himself upon Gen. Hooker's lines, forcing him back into the river. The position of affairs was such as to demand the utmost promptness of action and consummate generalship. At the suggestion of General Stonewall Jackson, Gen. Lee determined to move well to the left, and assail the right and rear of the Federal column. A sudden attack of this nature promised better results than an assault in front, which, from the strength of the Federal position, would have resulted in a frightful loss of life. This movement was executed under cover of darkness, and was a complete success. On the morning of the 30th (Saturday), General Lee had reached a position where he had the Federal commander in flank and reverse, and at a fatal disadvantage. By this movement, the almost imBut this pregnable position of the Federals would be rendered useless, and the whole plan of battle reversed. As soon as the Federals had gained their position above and below the Confederate forces, the design of the Federal commander was at once developed to General Lee. The strategy of Hooker was good, and it would have succeeded against a less able commander than the Confederate general. cool, sagacious and far-seeing man completely penetrated the plans of the Federal general, and he saw at a glance the advantages and disadvantages of his position. Orders were instantly given to prepare for action. The order was promptly obeyed On Thursday the Second corps, under and the lines formed. The line of battle General Couch, crossed above and joined was extended well to the left, and ran Slocum. General Hooker took command straight forward into the flank and rear of personally of the four corps thus concen- the Federals. "Move rapidly and steadily trated above and somewhat in rear of Fred- forward!" was the order of Gen. Lee. The ericksburg. Thus far he had succeeded in movement was so bold and unexpected, and gaining his chosen positions without loss or had been accomplished with so much celerity |