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Our Special Correspondence Letter '
from the Eehols Guards.
Winchester, Va., June 19,1861.
Dear Weekly : Last Saturday
morning the entire brigade quartered
at Harper’s Ferry, under command
of Gen. Johnson, was ordered to
march to where, and for what, no one
knew, save Johnson himself ; a mode
of proceedure that I cannot by any
means applaud. It may be policy to
keep the soldiers in ignorance, but I
must confess my inability to discover
its utility. A march without an ob
ject, of something to accomplish, or.of
duty to perform, is beyond a doubt
laborious and fatiguing. I am sure
if we had have known the design of
the three days forced march that was
imposed upon us, we could have njade
it with lighter hearts and a more en
livened step. The object of the evac
uation, as I to-day learned, was to in
tercept the enemy on their march to
Winchester who intended to take pos
session of the railroad, and cut off our
supply at the Ferry, and perish us out.
Harper’s Ferry, after the bridge was
blown up—the public buildings burnt,
was considered to be a position of no
importance, and if held in possession
by the confederates would never be
attacked by the enemy. We were
therefore ordered to march in actual
search of the enemy.
Last Monday morning, while in
camp at Bunkersville, Col. Bartow
ordered the baggage of every descrip
tion to be sent by the wagons to Win
chester, so as to relieve us of every in
cumbrance. That our enemy was
within a few miles of us, and on their
way to meet us. That we were to
form in a line of battle in three miles
of the place, and during the day Geor
gians would have a chance to make a
page upon history’s scrol of honor
won.
The Echols Guards were ready in
double quick time; even our sick men
who had taken up their quarters in
the wagons to relieve their worn out
limbs and sore feet, immediately sprang
from the wagons, grasped their guns,
and were soon in ranks ready to take
their part in the conflict.
Lieut. Mobley, though advised by
ilje Surgeon that his ttSifchwould not
admit of
urged by o*r
.in: trie waggiT wf
/ Winchester, pe remptom|p^eTuffl^jp
jum said if it was p<H&row tor him to
get to the field of battle, he intended
to go. That the Echols Guards should
never be engaged in a conflict without
his taking a part. It may be egotis
tical, but every man is proud of his
captain, officers, and company; and
if Guards do not make their
mark, I am greatly mistaken in which
way the wind blows. At least, on
that occasion every man was eager to
hear the command of forward-march.
Before we reached the point of ex
pected attack, Gen. Johnson learned
that our enemy had taken another
road toward Winchester. We were
then put through in quick time, to cut
off their ingress to the ciiy. We
heard this morning that our foe had
retreated, and crossed the river back
into Maryland, and were throwing up
fortifications on the opposite side of
the mountain, We were here joined
by our recruits, who were armed and
equipped and ready for a fight; for
which we are indebted to Gen. W. P.
Howard, the very* man for an emer
gency. He heard that we were soon
to get into a fight; so he, at the head
of the recruits, repaired to the Ord
nance Department to draw guns. He
tfas there halted by the sentinel, who
refused to give him admittance. The
Gen. thereupnn drew his knife, told
the sentitiel his business, and if he in
terfered any more .he would cut his
throat, whereupon the sentinel fell
back and the entrance was made? The
officer in charge refused to give him
the guns, as he was not prepared to
do so without some legal formalities.
Gen. Howard thereupon laid hands
upon itfe guns, told the officer that he
and his comrades had come to help his
friends; that they were about to be
engaged in battle, and he intended to
help them, and he could not do it
without the guns, and he was willing
to pay for them ; to give his diamond
pin and watch as security for. them ;
and if he could beg, buy, or borrow,
he intended to have thetn anyhow.
Contrary to rule or order, the officer
gave them their guns, thinking such
energy and zeal should not pass by
unrewarded. So they are all here,
and ready for the scrimmage. All
£Beh recruits are highly acceptable
with the Echols Guards. If you can
find any more of the game gort, send
them along ; we never refuse men of
«ch material.
In your last issue I saw an article
headed War Straws. I can give you
another straw, if you have it not al
ready. I saw, in the Baltimore Sun,
a Lincoln paper,- an account of the
battle of Great Bethel. It gives the
aggregate amount of killed and woun
ded at ovet one thousand, an estimate
made by Gen. Butler himself. The
Confederates lost only two men.—
Though I hear it said by many of our
own men, “ too good to be true;” yet,
Coming as it did, I am compelled to
believe it, good as it is. It reminds me
very much of the old Israelitish battles,
that were fought when they were ta
ing possession of the land of Canaan.
God surely has taken it into his own
hands, and causing them to be so de
ceived as to fight against one and the
other; hence the great odds at Old
| Bethel.
Since writing the above, I have
learned from Dr. 11. V. M. Miller,
that while we were encamped at Bun
kersville, that our picket was camped
only three hundred yards from the
picket of Gen. Patterson, which were
both three miles in advance of the two
brigades. We were then only six
miles from the foe. At the dawn of
day Patterson commenced the retreat
and led Gen. Johnson to believe that
lie was going to Winchester. The de
ception was discovered too late, and
thought to be inexpedient to march a
set of weary troops in the middle of
the day in pursuit, as it would endan
ger the lives of hundreds of our men.
We have thus vanquished our enemy,
not by a battle, but by a manoeuvre
that is regarded by all military men
superior to anything that characterizes
the history of military affairs. It is
considered that, so far as this part of
Virginia is concerned, that the cam
paign is ended, and we will soon be
ordered to Manassas Junction to assist
Beauregard in his march upon Alex
andria. To sack tlie city and pillage
the country —beauty and booty—was
the principle object of Patterson’s
march towards Winchester, as he
thought he could readily make good
his escape in case* of an attack by
Johnson. Themilitiahasbeenpressed
i*to service all through the ■ country
herfe and I rather think tj/ey will be
any attack,.
Mobley, of th<^,
/f Echols Guards. 1
* Winchester, Va., June 18,1861.
Dear Weekly :—I conformity' to
our promise, and being unable tofwrite
to all our friends individually, Levi
P. Blount and myself have retired to
the shade of a tree to give you, and
through you our friends, all the infor
mation of interest concerning the Ech
ols Guards. We are now located three
miles from Winchester, in a plat of
w-oods, densely shaded, destitute of
undergrowth, and partially covered
with green grass. How long we will
remain here I am unable to state' for
I am of the opinion that our regiment
has been transformed into a travelling
circus, to be exhibited in every part of
Virginia. Wc left Richmond on the
sth of June, arrived at Manassas
Junction at 12 o’clock, P. M., and re
mained there on the cars, two on a
seat, until next morning, at which time
we left for Strawsburg. This place is
situated at Manassas Gap, the gap
where the Blue Mountain is crossed,
and the great Valley of Virginia is
entered. This valley lies between the
Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains,
r from thirty to sixty miles in width
and extends clear across the State.
Here are the finest stock of every des
cription and kind, the richest milk and
the finest fields of clover, wheat, oats'
and grass I have yet seen. Every
thing that meets the eye, all conspire
to make this an enticing and lovely
country, and cause him that views it
to long for a home in the beautiful
Valley of Virginia. We arrived at
Winchester on the 7th, and left on
the following Sunday morning for
Harper’s Ferry, at which place we ar
rived about tw o o’clock, P. M., ofi that
day.
On arriving at Harper’s Ferry from
the South, you reach the Shenando
ah river a few miles from the Ferry ;
thence wind your way along down the
western bank of that river; it running
between two lofty mountains, and
leaving precious little vacant space on
either side. You wend your way along
between these two mountains until
you reach the far-famed old Potomac,
whose waters flow along on the north
side of the Ferry, and only a few
yards below mingle with the waters
of the Shenandoah. Harper’s Ferry
is right in the fork of these two rivers.
Just below the Ferry—perhaps a mile
—the Potomac, swelled by the waters
THE GEORGIA WEEKLY.
of the jShenandoah, makes a sudden |
curve, over which bend rises another J
lofty mountain, commanding the whole 1
Ferry. Harper’s Ferry is situated in
a little flat, and runs a few hundred
yards up the West side of the Shenan
doah, and a few hundred yards up the)
south bank of the Potomac, and was
connected with the Stato of Maryland
by two splendid bridges across the
Potomac. We look across the PoD
mac into Maryland, As you leare
Harper’s Ferry toward the west, com
ing up the south side of the Potoaac,
you soon begW* jr '~ Ajlimb another
mountain, and ccN.. ' ourse
up its gradual acclmty ror two miles
you reach its sup'*' ’’’•tare was lo
cated Col. .-cS’nt. Tlence
towards the west*-fcii'h rapid levity
this mountain deseeds into a gradu
ally broken country, forming the out
skirts of the Virginia Valley, from
its summit to-its foot is a little over a
half mile. Here at the foot of this
mountain the Potomac, flowing direct
ly from the North, makes a sudden
bend towards the East, the direction
in which it passes Harper’s I&ry.
At the foot of this mountain, right op
posite the bend of the river, and about
one hundred yards from the river
were stationed the Echols Guards.
Near the foot of the mountain is a
small cedar grove, with the ground
all covered with green blue
limestone rocks, ami; sloping rapidly
towards the bottom. Under almost
each one of those cedars,lying, sitting
or standing, you woulviJiave found,
during last week, some my the
Echols Guards. We
there alone as a picket From
some intelligence received by Gem*
Johnson, it was deemed expedient to
establish there a picket guard. About
three hundred yards in advance of
of that place three different roads
concentrate, and thence diverge into
two, the one going down the river,
and the other going around the moun
tain. and form the only way of ingress
to the Ferry from the West. Conse
quently, this being an important post,
we were selected from owft regiment,
and assigned the post oflßbnor, with
instructions to hold it agfrinst any
number that might cap*? against us
until self-sacrifice W'fnevitalde.
From this riverwhere
feta
mountain on the side, ana
stretches towards the below
the Ferry. Here Gen. Jenson liad
stationed the Kentucky amLMarvland
regiments. This is lijiwptuation of
Harper’s Ferr»» With eveW entrance,
even itself overlooked and commanded,
east, west, north and south by lofty
mountains. On last Friday all the
ammunition, fire-arms and machinery
not already removed, Avert? started
for Richmond. Soon troops began to
leave for Winchester and elsewhere.
By Saturday morning all had left ex
cept the two Georgia Regiments, who
were ordered to hold themselves in
readiness to move at a moment’s wann
ing. Soon thundering were
heard at the Ferry, and,
ed our eyes thither, w ej Geld those
two bridges, built at imi/ vnsecost, one
solid sheet of fire, tumbling into the
waters of the Potomac, and next, all
the public buildings rest the Yan
kees were fast being buriebSt.S'uins.
All the fortifications were also des
troyed, except two on the east side of
the Shenandoah, which still command
the Ferry, and are as impregnable as
the rocks of Gibraltar. Harper’s Ferry
is now as worthless as any cluster of
mountains that could be st&thled
North or South.
While there we traced the footsteps
of old John Brown. He crossed the
Potomac on 'the Ohio and Ohio Rail
Road bridge, and took, refuge in a lit*
tie wooden building near the bridge,
in which he cut .a pml-bole. Being
driven from there, ne crossed the
street, and
brick building,CT port
hole, through StfeJ at F.
Beckham, who was flow* '•-Brown
from the corner <iftn build
ing, where he firstTW* rifuge. There
still remain these two port-holes, apd
the print of each ball from the gun
of old Brown, even the one that
pierced through the corner of the
wooden building and pierced the heart
of poor Beckham. One other thing I
will mention before bidding adieu to'
the description of Harper’s Ferry.
Just as you leave the Potomac, right
opposite the summit of the mountain
upon which we were located yawns the
mouth of a cave. We enter it at a
common sized door, and wend opr
way towards the center of the moun- 1
tain, sometimes rapidly descending,'
and then rapidly ascending, until fi
nally you reach, after travelling a lit
tle over half a mile, the summit of the
mountain. It has no other nttrac
tions than the simple fact of being a
cave. We saw whore old Brown was
hung. Wo saw, also, an old stone
'church, where George Wasuiuton
waß accustomed to attend.
On Saturday evening a little after
Rundown, we saw across the Potomac
three U. S. Officers, in full uniform,
and not knowing the strength of the
enemy, and apprehending that it was
one of the columns that was to advance
against Harper’s Ferry in the North,
ern plan of attack on that place, R.
A. Howard, acting in H. E. Malone’s
place, was immediately sent a little
over a mile up the river, with a squad
of ten men, to take possession of a
large canal boat on our side of the
river, with which it was apprehended
that they might undertake to cross
the river that night. About the same
time another cluster of men were seen
on our side of the river. So I was
sent with ten additional men to aid
Lieut. Howard. When I arrived he
had taken possession of the boat, and
had gone, with W.M. Hardnett (whom
we all regard as whole regiment by
himself, especially after arresting an
abolitionist or two, who swore they
could not be taken by the whole com
pany,) to look after those men on our
; side of the river. As soon as I ar
rived with the aid, I hastened back to
make my report to Col. Bartow. Af
ter which he called Capt. Lamar, of
the Macon Quards, from the summit,
and sent him back with me with or
ders to burn the boat. L. P. Blount,
and one of the Macon Guards moun
ted the boat when *vc arrived, and soon
had it wrapt in flames. V e saw no
in our travel that night. On
Sunday morning wc were put in mo
tion and began our march towards
Charlestown. On reaching that place
wc came up with the remainder of
the army, numbering about ten thous
and effective men. After passing
through town we turned towards Mar
tinsburg, expecting constantly to meet
the enemy, as we were assured that
fifteen thousand had crossed the rivet,
and were advancing to give us battle.
On Monday night, wc camped at Bun
kerstown. On Tuesday morning our
Colonel bid us prepare for battle,
stating that on that day would bo writ
tena new chapter in American histo-
BpP^~rVl#iWrirwji|iiJ < ii«S>' anr iwropiiii v- til's-'
'mounted from the wagons and shoul
dered their muskets, eager for the con
test. There were no pale faces among
the Echols Guards. Several reques
ted Capt. Howard to send their dead
bodies home if they should that day
fall.
Gen. Johnson was reported to be
■ forming his line of battle three miles
in advance. At that time the enemy
took a different road and began to
move towards Winchester. We were
all instantly put in motion and began
to move in the same direction, where
upon the enemy halted, soon began to
retrace their steps, and this morning
we-learn that they have recrossed the
■river. Thus we were disappointed in
a fight after marching near fifty miles
for that purpose. For three days I
marched with a burning fever, suffer
ing with the neuralgia, with five large
blisters on my feet, eating only two
biscuit during the time, and half fam
ished frequently for water to gratify
my anxiety to be in one battle. The
whole ftmpany shared the same fate
so far as feet and water were concern
ed, one fellow declaring that four of
his toes had worn off, and were loose
in hia boots. Robt. Gammon was ta
ken from the ranks, reeling and stag
gering, and laid by the roadside to
await the wagons, but when we thought
that we were riglit on the eve of battle,
like all the rest of our company, he
nobly refused to mount a wagon and
be conveyed away. Our company
bore all the hardships of the forced
march with more of alarcity than of
murmuring. We have now all recu-
perated, and are ready and anxious to
march again wherever the enemy will
show themselves. We have slept on
the ground, with a blue limestone
rock for a pillow, until hardships have
no terror for us. We have had all the
time an ample supply of provisions,
and the people of Virginia show us
every kindness that we could desire.
When located we fare sumptuously in
'every respect. But when on picket
guard, or on the march, we necessa
rily must endure hardships.
Our company has the post of honor
in the regiment on the right of the
colqrs. Our regiment sta-nds high
with Gen. Johnson, and he is profuse
in /(is compliments upon it. We were
put to a little inconvenience at Rich
mond on account of some misunder
standing about the number requisite
for a company, which was soon recti
fied, and ever since everything has
jrioved like clockwork. Capt. How-
Xlti) knows his business.
Yours, E. C. Mobley.
ffijit (Sfotgia fUffldij. |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3.
THE REACTION.
The War fever nf'the Northern
people, so far as the mercantile por
tion is concerned, has begun, not
merely to abate, but to subside into a
peace fever. From our reliable ex
changes we learn that a powerful and
wide spread movement is afoot in
Wall street, and other moneyed streets
in New York. This movement has for
its objedt the purpose of "refusing to
advance a dollar towards the enor
mous loan soon to he asked by the
Federal Government.
It is well knowm that the Kangaroo
Congress, to meet on the 4th, that is
to-morrow, will authorize its chief to
demand a loan of $250,000,000 from
the Northern people, or someenormous
amount, and for several weeks a secret
circular has been passed about among
the “ bulls and bears ” of New York
and Philadelphia, by which each who
signs it binds himself not only to re
fuse to purchase United States Bonds,
but also to use his influence in restrain
ing the Banks from aiding the gov
ernment.
Os course the result of such a pro
ceedure, well carried out, will be to
stop the wheels of the war department
at once.
The merchants, bankers and bro
kers of the Northern cities at last-see
the utter folly of attempting to coerce
a reunition of the shattered Union.
The satne wisdom has not yet enlight
ened the rustic intellects of the rural
■ population of the North, but as soon
as those High Priests of Mammon,
the merchants of the Northern cities,
begin to tighten their pure-strings,
the entire Yankee pocket will collapse
with a species of cramp colic that will
be the death of “ the war of subjuga
tion.” Lincoln’s lava tappers w ill
not fight—if we call their petty skir
mishing, at a safe distance, fighting —
without pay.
Nine out of ten of the terrible —on
paper— lava-tappers enlisted because
they could get no bread at home, and
it is folly to imagine that they will
remain in the army without pay,
merely for the fun of bring FHh-mit
Lxscoo’s no
fun in that kind of “ ventur’. ”
Perhap3the true and only reason
why the mighty (?) Federal army has
not advanced in the would-be invasion
is, because the Black Republican lead
ers are growing suspicious of their
followers.
. The Northern people, as a mass,
i may be considered as divided into
■ three great parties: The Republicans,
, the Black Republicans, and the, par
excellence, Jet Black Republicans.
The first would like to see the South
. subjugated, but will not assist either
i in men or money; the second will give
- money to have it done, but are afraid
to “ try it on” themselves; the third
are those who are such asses as to do
i the fighting—such as it is, on their
part —including the leaders, who do
. all the trumpeting, at a very safe dis
tance.
But the cramp of the pocket is be
ginning to be epidemic at the North,
and tho only medicine that can cure
it is an immediate recognition of the
Southern Confederacy.
• LADIES VOLUNTEER AID SOCIETY.
The above organization has for its
object the making of garments for the
soldiers of Merriwether and Talbot
counties; or for those who enter the
service of the Confederate States. Its
meetings are held semi-monthly, at
the Chalybeate Springs. The Society
will meet this day, Wednesday, July
Bd. The following is the roll of its
officers:
Mrs. M. N. Leitner, President.
Mrs. W. W. Garrard, Vice do.
Miss Mary Ferrill, do do
Miss J. L. White, Sec’y andTreas.
The following are the Directresses :
Mrs. A. B.Howard, Mrs.Wm.Mitchell.
Miss S. Campbell, Mrs. M. C. Betts.
Mrs. C. Mullins, Mrs.M.A.Hudson.
Mrs. E. Denham, Mrs. E. Campbell.
Miss Mary Newnan.
We have received a copy of the By-
I Laws of the Society, through the kind
ness of Mr. B. W. Bcsh, of the Chaly
beate Springs Hotel, but have not
space for their insertion. All who de
sire to be more fully informed as re
gards the Society, can be gratified by
calling at the Georgia, Weekly office.
The Society, which is most worthy
and patriotic in every respect, needs
the substantial aid of our citizens, and
any pecuniary donation will be gladly
received, and used for the purchase of
cloth, which will be made into gar
ment* for our brave soldiers. Nearly
150 garments have been made already,
and the busy needles of these patriotic
ladies will swell the number. The
Society numbers, we think, 85 mem
bers, and the high character of the
ladies who compose the association, is
a sufficient guarantee of the manner
in which all funds entrusted to their
use will bb dispensed.
In behalf the Ladies Volunteer
Aid Society, and for the sake of our
soldiers, we appeal to every citizen of
the county to send in a contribution,
little or great.
Northern Consistency.
We see by extracts from Northern
papers that the policy of the Kangaroo
Administration, as regards the Legis
lature of Maryland is as follows : The
Legislature may pass whatsoever res
olutions and acts as it pleases, but as
soon as such shall conflict with the
United States Constitution, the bayo
net shall scatter it.
- This is really the course that should
have been used to bring to their senses
those Abolition States which passed
the Personal Liberty Rills, and legis
lated directly against the Constitution.
In fact, at this movement, nearly ev
ery Northern State has laws which
render useless the Constitution they
pretend so much to revere.
The true home of hypocrisy may be
found in Yankecdom.
jg@“ The semi-annual exhibition of
the Greenville Masonic Female Col
lege will take place to-day, (Wed
nesday,) in the Methodist Church.
The morning will be devoted to
original writings, and to music. The
President of the College will also de
liver an oration upon Southern Ednea
titnfc and tales?. At night the perfor
mances of the day will be concluded
at the same place with exercises ia
music, declamation and dialogues.
The friends and patrons of the Col
lege are respectfully invited to attend-
Morning exercises begin at 9 A. Bf.
Evening 8 r. m.
The regular course of study of the
scholastic year, of the College, will he
resumed oa the Sr?J Monday in Au
gust next, the sth prox.
$55“ From the Memphis Avalanche
we learn that a messenger from our
Coiniaiafoners in Europe, lately ar
rived with important Air
our government. lie landed in Can
ada, passed through Chicago, eluded
the Black Republicans, and arrived
safe in Memphis. His dispatches af
firm that England and France will
soon recognize the Southern Confed
eracy, and that our government has
effected a large loan on the present
cotton crop already.
$55“ We are pleased in being able
to announce that Capt. John L. Stko
zier has been elected Colonel of the
68th Regiment pf G. M. As the Col
onel is young, energetic, and doubt
less well qualified for the responsible
office, wo hop>e be will arouse the dor
mant military spirit of the county mil
itia, and soon give us a regimental
muster.
There are several offices in this
regiment now vacant, which should be
filled. Trot out your candidates, gen
tlemen, and have all your printing
done at the Georgia Weekly office.
$55“ The friends of the Union
Springs Academy are invited to the
School Exhibition, to be given there
on the 4th inst., at 7 P. M. Messrs.
Rhodes and Brooks are excellent
teachers, and from the programme of
the exhibition, we expect all who will
attend will not be disappointed.
We call special attention to
the notice of lion. Henry R. Harris,
asking a county convention of the
planters of Merriwether to-morrow,
July 4th.
The Hon. Ben. H. Hill, and other
distinguished speakers have been in
vited, and will address our citizens
upon the all-absorbing and important
subject of giving aid to our Govern
ment.
Notice.
We must again desire all correspon- *
dents, who desire to have their articles
published, to sign their names to their
productions. It is a rule, /row which
we will not swerve, never to publish
anonymous communications.
sSg=* We call attention to the inter
esting letters, in this issue, of Lieut.
E. C. Mobley, and Mr. John' H.
Williams, both of the Echols Guards,
now in Virginia.
The exhibition of Capt. W. T.
Reylll’s Male Academy, will take
place to-morrow at the Methodist
Church, in the morning.