These venerable and heroic men, who, in full vigor of manhood, marched to the cannon's mouth, are now rapidly falling from the ranks, and their burning words will be treasured in memory's bosom, by a grateful nation, which is justly proud of the bravery, heroism, and sacrifices so freely contributed to save the Union.

A war, so gigantic, continuing through four long, weary years, so costly in blood and treasure, reaching with its sore bereavement into the peaceful quietude of almost every home circle of our land, attaches to this volume an individual and personal interest without a parallel in the whole range of war literature.

Nowhere in the realm of books is portrayed more vividly the grandeur and heroism of the American soldier, his courage and love for home and country. But the sword has been sheathed, and the gentle breezes waft sweet perfumes over the graves of peaceful warriors as they sleep side by side. Monuments dot hillside and plain where once the battle raged.

Federal and Confederate chieftains sit side by side in the Senate chamber, and unite in the councils of our chosen ruler. Peace and joy have spread their silver wings over the desolations and bereavements of the past, and to-day we are one people, one country, united under one flag.

THE CHRISTIANA RIOT,

OR

How the First Gun of the Rebellion was Fired.

BY M. G.

O understand the famous "Christiana Riot" it will be necessary to go back and investigate the causes that led to it. In the lower part of Lancaster and Chester counties, Pa., lived a community of Quakers, and people reared under Quaker influences. These people had been accustomed to succor fugitive slaves. Many of them did not go so far as to assist them in leaving their masters, but they all felt it to be a Christian duty to assist them after they had escaped. "The Fugitive Slave Law" made such assistance a crime punishable with fine and imprisonment, and it aroused the deepest feeling in this community.

The "Gap-gang," a notorious band of outlaws, took advantage of the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, to kidnap and hurry off to slavery colored men who were known to be free.

On the 9th of September, 1851, Mr. Edward Gorsuch appeared before Edward D. Ingraham, and, under the act of Congress of September 18, 1850, asked for warrants for the arrest of four of his slaves whom he had heard were somewhere in Lancaster county. Warrants were issued to H. H. Kline, a deputy U. S. marshal, authorizing him to arrest George and Joshua Hammond, Nelson Ford, and Noah Buley, persons held to service or labor in the state of Maryland, and bring them before the commissioner. Mr. Gorsuch then made arrangements with two police officers of Philadelphia, named "Agin" and "Tully," to assist Kline in capturing the fugitives.

It was about daybreak of September 11 when they neared the house. The building was the property of Levi Pownall, a well-known Friend, and, at the time, was the abode of a colored

man named William Parker. The officers demanded the slaves, and threatened to shoot them or burn down the house if they did not surrender. The number of besiegers is said to have been fifteen.

While they were advancing on the house Mr. Gorsuch saw a colored man whom he thought he recognized as one of his slaves. The party came to the house and found the door open. They entered, and Kline ordered all to come down stairs, saying that he had warrants for the arrest of Nelson Ford and Joshua Hammond. The negroes replied that there were no such men in the house. Kline and Edward Gorsuch attempted to go up stairs. They were prevented by an ordinary fish gig, or pronged instrument. Mr. Gorsuch and others now went outside to parley with

the negroes at the window, but Kline fired his pistol up the stairs, the warrants were read, and a demand was made for the landlord. Kline then proposed to withdraw, but Gorsuch refused, saying, that he would not leave till he had arrested his slaves. The deputy-marshal next ordered some one to go to the sheriff and bring one hundred men.

This was intended to intimidate the negroes. While this was going on, a colored man, who lived in the neighborhood, chanced to pass Parker's house. He saw the yard full of men, one of whom presented a pistol and ordered him to leave the place. He hurried to the store of Elijah Lewis, near by, and told him that "Parker's house was surrounded by kidnapers, who were trying to get him away."

Mr. Lewis is still living in Christiana, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, and what happened after is best told as from his own lips: "I was the first white man that arrived there. On my way I called upon 'Castner Hanway' and told him what was going on. Parker's house is in Sadsbury township, Lancaster county, about two miles from Christiana. The

first person I met was Henry Kline, who had a warrant for the arrest of the fugitives. He commanded me to assist in arresting some slaves. I said, 'Thee has come to the wrong place for assistance.' He showed the warrant, and, while I was conversing with him, a company of colored men came with their guns and arrayed themselves in battle order across the road. They stood there, pointing their guns right at us, and calling: 'Get out of the way! get out of the way!' I said to Kline: 'Look up and down the valley; see, the men are coming as hard as they can run, with guns and other weapons.' I then told him. to call his men away, and stood by to aid them if needed. They started as if to go away, but the old man and his company went back to the house, leaving an enemy behind in those drawn up across the road, and also to meet several colored men in the house, who had just come there for an apple-butter boiling. I heard the men in the house shout: 'We are saved! we are saved!' Then they came down from the second story. Gorsuch met them, and fired his pistol at Parker. The colored men returned his fire and killed the unfortunate slaveholder. His son was shot also, but not mortally wounded. Then began the running-the colored people, the masters, and the constable's posse—each trying to save himself as best he could. An inquest was held over the body of the elder Gorsuch. In the mean time Lewis Cooper took the younger Gorsuch to Levi Pownall's house. Here he was nursed as carefully as if he had been a brother."

There was nothing done for thirty-six hours to try to arrest those who had had a hand in the riot. Then a warrant was issued for the arrest of those engaged in the affair, giving those actually guilty time to get half-way to Canada. Warrants were issued by a magistrate, Joseph D. Pownall, at Christiana. None of the men that had assailed Parker's house were ever arrested, but thirty-seven innocent negroes languished for weeks in Moyamensing. The total immediate result of the outbreak, which was believed by the anti-slavery people to be part of a gigantic slave-catching expedition into Pennsylvania, was the catching of a single fugitive, but who, by the exertions of Passmore Williamson, Thomas Earle, and others, escaped. Its more remote results are with us to-day.