They recover'd themselves; the storm
raged on, beating, dashing, and with loud noises at times. But the
House went ahead with its business then, I think, as calmly and with
as much deliberation as at any time in its career. Perhaps the shock
did it good. (One is not without impression, after all, amid these
members of Congress, of both the Houses, that if the flat routine of
their duties should ever be broken in upon by some great emergency
involving real danger, and calling for first-class personal qualities,
those qualities would be found generally forthcoming, and from men not
now credited with them.)
A YANKEE ANTIQUE
_March 27, 1865_.--Sergeant Calvin F. Harlowe, company C, 29th
Massachusetts, 3d brigade, 1st division, Ninth corps--a mark'd sample
of heroism and death, (some may say bravado, but I say heroism, of
grandest, oldest order)--in the late attack by the rebel troops, and
temporary capture by them, of fort Steadman, at night. The fort was
surprised at dead of night. Suddenly awaken'd from their sleep, and
rushing from their tents, Harlowe, with others, found himself in the
hands of the secesh--they demanded his surrender--he answer'd, _Never
while I live_. (Of course it was useless. The others surrender'd; the
odds were too great.) Again he was ask'd to yield, this time by a
rebel captain. Though surrounded, and quite calm, he again refused,
call'd sternly to his comrades to fight on, and himself attempted to
do so. The rebel captain then shot him--but at the same instant he
shot the captain.
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