Louis  papers ! "


1862.]      PITTSBUSO  LAMDIMC^  FORT  PILLOW,  ABD  1IE1IPHI&  109

How  wonderfully  had  the  upper  HiBsissippi  been  repossessed !
One  by  one  the  Bebel  obstructions  had  been  remoTed.  How
often  bad  we  been  told  that  they  were  impregnablo !  How
often  that  the  gunboats  would  be  destroyed !  How  often  that
never  would  the  river  be  opened  till  the  Confederacy  was  a
recognized  independent  power !  One  short  year  and  their
labors,  —  the  ditch-di^;ing,  tlie  cannon-casting,  boat-building,
their  brt^^ocio,  had  come  to  naught.
The  part  taken  by  Commodore  Ellet  was  glorioos.  He  wan
a  brave,  gallant,  dashing  officer,  the  son  of  a  noble  mother,
who  lived  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Stuart,  President  of  the  Chris
lian  CommisraOQ,  relates  that  later  in  the  war  he  called  to  see
her,  at  her  request,  to  receive  a  large  donation.  He  found  a
lady  eighty-four  years  of  age.  A  grandson  hod  been  killed  in
battle,  the  body  had  been  brought  home,  and  was  lying  in,the
house.  Said  Mrs.  Ellet :  "  I  have  pven  my  two  sons,  Com-
modore Ellet  and  General  EUet,  and  four  grandchildren  to  my
country.  I  don't  regret  this  gilt.  If  I  had  twen^  sons  I  would
give  them  all,  for  the  country  miist  be  preserved.  And  if  I
was  twenty  years  younger,  I  would  go  and  fight  myself  to  the
last!"


no  THE   BOYS   OP   '61  [AugUfltf


CHAPTER   VIII.
INVASION    OF    MARYLANli.
