engaged, and where he and some of his brother officers were captured by the enemy, while on their way to the hospital, where the Captain was obliged to deliver up his sword. They remained, however, but a short time, being rescued by a corps of Confederate cavalry, who in turn captured a number of Federals, and killed some. It was a daring act on the part of the enemy, who stated that they had been guided by a Lieutenant of the Confederate army.

This piece of news gave great anxiety to Mrs. W—, and to make the matter still worse, she had not long before received a letter from England, containing the painful news of her sister's death. It is not easy to know which was the greatest grief to her; however, a few days passed when a letter came from the Captain, giving an account of his capture, and safe escape from the enemy.

I must not forget to tell my readers, that in the month of May, it was quite necessary to move the negroes left under the care of the overseer, to their place of safety, which had been secured in the interior of the State, for the enemy had a few days previous to their being sent away, made their way up the Waccamaw river, and opened fire on a mill, taking all the rice, as well as some of the negroes, of a neighbouring plantation: (the rice which was taken was intended for the Confederate Government, and accounts, in some measure, for the conduct of the enemy).

The 13th day of June was unusually warm, and having some tedious needlework on hand, I took my seat by the door to get as much air as I could, when Jemmy came running up the steps, out of breath, "Miss Collins, O Miss Collins, Messus broder come from Englan, Messus broder." "What did you say,

Jemmy ?" "One gentman at de gate tell me say he Messus broder, is Messus dare in ?" and before I could give him an answer, Mr M- walked up the steps as if very much fatigued from the hot sun.

What a blessing from Heaven just at the moment when Mrs. W— needed help! but her trials did not end here, for Mr. M- was the messenger to tell of another great loss, which was the death of her mother. Mr. Mhad great difficulty in getting through the United States, or he would have been at Conwayboro' at an earlier day, his passage from England to New York not being more than ten days. I was rather disappointed in not getting a letter from my own friends, but Mr. M-'s departure from England was rather unexpected, which prevented him from making known his intentions. Not many days passed, when he received a request from the Presbyterian minister (Mr. Gregg) to preach at his church. Mr. M- could not well refuse, although it was not his own Church, (he being a minister of the Church of England). The congregation seemed very much pleased with the English minister's sermon. The text taken from St. John xi. 25, 26. “I am the resurrection, and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die."

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During the hot months of July, August, and September, Mr. M-visited Pawley's Island, Richmond, and Flat Rock. At Pawley's Island he had an interview with the enemy, who had found out that some parties were making salt on the sea shore, and they were come with the intention to destroy the works, as they said the salt was intended for the use of the Confederate Government; they also damaged a cottage,

and took a quantity of clothes, as well as some money, the property of Mr. La Bruce.

Mr. M-thought he should like to go on board the enemy's vessel to see if he could prevent any further damage, which he did. The commander of the vessel assured him that they did not intend to molest private property, whereupon Mr. Masked if he thought he had not already done so, and begged that they would return the clothes, &c., but the Yankee commander refused, saying they had plenty of negroes on North Island, it would do for them.

Mr. M-spent part of his time at Mr. Rosa's, then Capt. W--'s catechist, but since acting as overseer of the plantation. The enemy very much pressed Mr. Rosa to take the oath of allegiance, but he being a man of a very strong mind, took the matter very quietly, so that after firing a few more shots, and killing a poor old mule, the enemy retreated at the sight of a few soldiers who were guarding the coast, and had arrived on the spot hearing of the disturbance.

WAR REVERIES.

We were sitting round the table,
Just a night or two ago,

In the little cozy parlour,

With the lamp-light burning low,

And the window blinds half opening

For the summer air to come,

And the painted curtain moving
Like a busy pendulum !

Oh the cushions on the sofa,
And the pictures on the wall,
And the gathering of comforts
In the old familiar hall.

And the wagging of the pointer
Lounging idly by the door,

And the flitting of the shadows
From the ceiling to the floor.

O! they wakened in my spirit,
Like the beautiful in art,
Such a busy, busy thinking,
Such a dreaminess of heart;
That I sat among the shadows
With my spirit all astray,
Thinking only, thinking only,
Of the soldiers far away.

Of the tent beneath the moonlight
Of the stirring tattoo's sound,
Of the soldier in his blanket,
In his blanket on the ground.
Of the icy winter coming,

Of the bleak, bleak winds that blow,
And the soldier in his blanket,

In his blanket on the snow.

Of the blight upon the heather
And the frost upon the hill,
And the whistling, whistling ever,
And the never, never still.
Of the little leaflets falling,

With the sweetest, saddest sound,
And the soldier, oh the soldier,
In his blanket on the ground.

Thus I lingered in my dreaming,
In my dreaming far away,
Till the spirit's picture-painting
Seemed as vivid as the day.
And the moonlight faded softly
From the window opened wide,
And the faithful, faithful pointer,
Nestled closer by my side.

And I know beneath the star-light
Tho' the chilly frost may fall,
That the soldier will be dreaming,
Dreaming often of us all.

So I give my spirit's painting,
Just the breathing of a sound,
For the dreaming, dreaming soldier,
In his slumber on the ground.

CHAPTER V.

FROM the year 1861 to the summer of 1862 no less than 13 States had seceded, South Carolina being the first, next came Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky. Maryland called a convention with the intention of joining the Confederacy, but some of her members were unfortunate enough to be captured by Mr Lincoln, and put into prison; thus showing the "liberty of the subject” in this land of liberty!

During the year 1861, the following victories were gained by the Confederates: Feb. 16th-San Antonio. March 12th-Fort Brown, April 13th-Fort Sumpter, 15th-Fort Bliss, 20th-Fort Indianola, May 19thSewell's Point, 31st-Fairfax, C. H., June 1st-Aegura Creek, 5th-Pigs Point, 10th-Great Bethel, 16thVinena, 17th-Ranas City, 19th-New Creek, 26thRomney, 27-Mathias Point, July 2nd-Haynsville, 5th -Catbarge, 17th-Seavey Creek, 18th-Bulls Run, 21st -Manasas, 25th-Mesilla, 28th-Fort Strawntun, Aug. 10th-Springfield, 15th-Mathias Point, 20th-Hawks Nest, 25th-Baileys Cross Roads, Sept. 3rd-Big Creek, 10th-Ganley, 11th-Lewinsville, 13th-Toneys Creek, 12th-Barboursville, 20th-Lexington, 25th-Almasa,