it has seemed fitting to messrs. dick & fitzgerald to reproduce the world letters, as a keepsake for the many who received them kindly. the sketches appended were conscientiously written, and whatever embellishments they may seem to have grew out of the stirring events,—not out of my fancy.

subsequent investigation has confirmed the veracity even of their speculations. i have arranged them, but have not altered them; if they represent nothing else, they do carry with them the fever and spirit of the time. but they do not assume to be literal history: we live too close to the events related to decide positively upon them. as a brochure of the day,—nothing more,—i give these sketches of a correspondent to the public.

g. a. t.