Newspaper Page Text
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if533 ~ *f-i gyri 'wares r 1 wt ■
The negro wench had been well drilled,
:,r >d it was with the most serious face
and admirable delicacy that she drew
ln;r hoopless skirt to one side, and put
a great red bandanna to her nose. One
general scratched his pate with a puz-
/. ed air, another swore in approved
German style while a third appeared to
enjoy the joke ol the ladies and the an
ger and chagrin of his friends.
The Yankee Army at Corinth.
A correspondent of the St. Louis
“Republican,” writing to that paper
under date of the 27th ult., gives the
following particulars in regard to the
Yankee army which Has just been cut
t > pieces by the gallant Confederates
at Corinth :
Few rivers (Tennessee) have ever
had as imposing a sight on their banks,
ivxiy thousand men and miles of
horses, wagons, cannon, and so forth,
are there, although everything is bustle
and preparation, there is no confusion,
i he law ol order was never belter il
lustrated. It is a vast military ma
chinery, where tnen are the springs
and wheels, all moving regularly, sure
ly on in the great work of preparation.
Wagons are loaded before they seem
hardly to have reached the goods, and
tents me moved in a fraction of the
U'tial time. There is no lounging or
anxiety to shirk, hut universal cheerful
ness and confidence. The tone of the
Western army is completely changed,
h is no longer “if we capture such a
place,” but “when we capture it.”—
I he soldiers there think of nothing but
victory. They have confidence in
themselves, and the haunting terror of
apprehension has fled. They believe
now that as lhey march it is to conquer.
This peculiarity, so different from the
gloom produced by reverses and inac
tivity, at once strikes the stranger.
A happier, healthier, more efficient
at my than that now at Savannah and
Pittsburg, never, probably, went to
u ar. Each regiment is burning to win
laurels to wear with their companions
who got lame and seats at Fort Donel-
Still Another Exploit of Captaio John
II. Morgan.
Editors Appeal :—The heroic young
Kentuckian is as full of stratagem as
he is of daring. He disguised himself
as a countryman and took a wagon
load of meal to Nashville the other day.
Driving straight to the St. Cloud'Ho
tel, he left his wagon at the door in
charge of a trusty follower, and went
into the dining room of the hotel about
dinner, where he sat down opposite to
Gen. McCook.
“Gineral McCook, I suppose,” said
the disguised partisan, bowing across
the table.
“You are right; sirsaid McCook,
“ that is my name.”
“ Well, gineral, if there’s nosecesh
ers about, I’ve got something to tell
you right here.”
Looking around, the general reques
ted his new acquaintance to proceed
with what he had to say.
“Well, gineral, I live up here close
by Burke’s mills, right in the midst of
a host of red hot seceshers, and they
swear your soldiers shan’t have a peck
of meal if they have to starve for it.—
But, gineral, I’m all right on the goose,
though I don’t have much to say about
it about home, and so 1 got a wagon
load of meal ground, and I've brung it
down here to-day, and its now outthar
in the street, and you can have it if
you want it.’*
Gen. McCook was highly delighted—
expressed his gratitude to the plain-
looking countryman for his kindness,
praised his loyalty to “the old flag,”
etc., and at once ordered the meal to
be taken to the commissary of his bri
gade and paid for in gold and silver.
This transaction accomplished, the
counterfeit wagoner again repaired to
Gen. McCook’s headquarters, where,
j after requesting a strictly private inter—
j vieitr, he told ihe “gineral” that if he
would send out one hundred and fifty
Geo. Johnston’s Address to the Sol
diers.
The following is the heroic address
of the lamented Albert Sydney John
ston to his troops just before calling
them to the field at Shiloh :
Headquarters Ar.mv of the Mississippi, \
Corinth, Miss., April 3, lSb‘J. J
Soldiers of ihe Army of the Missis
sippi:—I have put you in motion to
offer battle to the invaders of your
country. With resolution and discip
lined valor, becoming men fighting as
you are for all that is worth living or
dying for, you can but march to deci
sive victory over the agrarian mercena
ries who have been sent to despoil you
of your liberties, your property and
your honor.
Remember the precious stake that
is involved in this contest; remember
the dependence of your mothers, your
wives, your sisters, and your children,
is upon the result.
of self while his very life-blood was
fast ebbing away. His last breath
cheered his comrades to victory. The
last sound be heard was their shout of
triumph. His last thought was his
country’s and long and deeply will his
country mourn his loss.
Jefferson Davis.
General Albert Sydney Johnston—An
Interesting Letter to the President*
During tb^pendency of the resolu
tions concerning the Battle of Shiloh
and the death of Gen. Johnston, in the
House of Representatives at Richmond,
Mr. Barksdale, of Mississippi, arose and
said :
I hold in my hands an unofficial letter
probably the last written by the la
mentod deceased—to tho Chief Execu
live of tho Confederacy, to whom he
had been long united by the ties of
friendship, and with whom he had enlist
ed at an early day under the flag of a
eminent which together they abandon*
Remember the fair, broad, abound- ] ed wJien ; t became the symbol of a
ing land, the happy homes and the ties mon <, lroU8 despotism. This letter has
that would be dissolved and desolated j been given me to bo used as I may
by your defeat. think proper for the vindication of re-
'i'he eyes ard hopes of eight millions • cent acts of General Jonnston not fully
of people rest upon you. You are ex-j understoed by tho public. I will, there
pected to show yourselves worthy of ’ tore, by the indulgence of the House,
your race and your lineage ; worthy of j rea d this letter, that they may seo the
Ibe women of ihe So u lb7 whose noble f«'» «' * >'? * h ,' 8 ' onre ?
devotion in (his wnr lure never been »»»«ha P ed fg™"* *»d rataoqn.nl
. I , 1 to the fall of Donelson. I heso tacts
exceeded, at any time. uiumphauHy vindicate his fame as a
V ith such incentives to brave deeds, j lruo , a t r ;r>t and aide and skillful milita
and in the trust that God 11 with us, j r y | e;u j^ r . This letter, written under
jour Generals will lead you confident*» mo^t trying circumstances, shows that
ly to the combat, fully assured ol ulii-1 no trace ot passion was visible in the
courage, and among the best officers of
my command. They were popular
with the volunteers, and all had scon
ranch service. No reinforcements were
asked. I awaited the event opposite
Nashville. The result of the conflict
each day was favorable. At midnight
on tho 15th I received news of a gl >*
rions victory—at dawn of a defeat.
My column during the day and night
was thrown over the river—(a battery
bad been established below tho city
to secure the passage.) Nashville was'
incapable of defence from its position,
and from the forces advancing from
Bowling Breen and up tbo Cumberland
A rear gnard was left under General
Floyd to secure tbe stoies and provi
sions, but did not completely effect tbe
object.—The people were terrified, and
some of the troops were disheartened.
The discouragement was spreading,
and I ordered tbe command to Mur-
fressboro, where I managed, by comb
ing Crittendeu's Division and the fugi
tivesfiom Donelson, to collect an ar
my able to offer battle. The weather
was inclement, tho floods excessive, and
the bridges were washed away, but
mate and glorious success.
[Signed,]
A. S. JOHNSTON, Gen. CuindV
[Official.]
John M. OtEy, Ji , A. A. Gen’I.
Message of President Davis.
The following touching and appro
priate addiess was sent to Doth houses j ^rate'fuVpcople
Mr. Speaker, I will close by
i awfnl serenity of the pure, bravo, un«
■ daunted spirit in which il originated.—
j lie lias left a noble example of ningna-
I niniily in the midst of unjust complaint,
i and of courage and of fortitude amid
| disaster. Ilis fame rises blighter from
j the. severe ordeal through which he has
! passed, and his name will live green
and fresh forever in the hearts of a !
stores and
most
were
deposits
plished, though with serious loss, in
conformity with my original design, 1
marched southward and crossed the
Tennessee at this point, so as to co
operate or unite with Gen. Beauregard,
for the defence of the Valley of the
Mississippi. The passage is almost
completed, and the bead of my column
is already with Gen. Bragg at Corinth.
The movement was deemed tco hazar
dous l.y the most experienced mem
bers of my Btafl’, but the object warran
ted the risk. Tho difficulty of effecting
a junction is not wholly overcome, but
it approaches completion. Day after
to-morrow, unless the enemy intercepts
me. my forces will be with Bragg, and
my army nearly thousand strong
Bombardment of Fort Pnlaski.
The enemy, being all ready, opened
fire on Fort Pulaski, soon after sunrise
yesterday morning. The deep notes
of the heavy artillery were distinctly
heard in the city, as they came boom
ing in rapid succession up the Savan
nah. The fire seemed to proceed en
tirely from the batteries on Tybee Isl
and. They arc nearly all masked be
hind the trees or sand hills, hut lines
the west side of the Island from King s
Landing on the South to the Martello
Tower on the North, a distance of a
mile and a half. As well as could be
ascertained, they are nine in number,
and well supplied with guns and tnor
tars of heavy calibre. They command
the entire eastern, and a good portion
of the southern side of the Fort, and
are distant from a little over a mile or
two miles. There are eight or ten
vessels of large size lying off Tybee,
seaward, but they are too remote to
take part in the action.
These formidable engines of war
opened upon tbe Fort in rapid succes
-a signal man,
returned with
ted by another witness-
who went down and
Corporal Law.
In addition to the above, we h» arn
that the enemy brought two of their
lartre vessels into tire liver yesterdav
anchoring one abreast of tin* Fort, anil
the other opposite their battery at
Oukely Point.
Peace Prognostication .
Correspondents tell us that the re
cent success of the Confederate anus
in Tennessee, coupled with the renewed
mutterings in Parliament and the Eng.
lisit press against the war, are havings
bad effect in reviving the disposition n,
plant cotton, under the delusive hope
of an earl) peace. It is asserted h v
sagacious men that from a quarter to
a half crop of cotton will be planted
after all, and the food destitution n.-x:
year will be greater than this.
Every heait yearns for peace an,I
what we long to see, we will belief
is coming. The mind catches ento-rh
t
provisions > s j on and during the entire day the fire
i/l hi . .. J
of the
saved and conveyed to new i . . -t, , -
This having been accom- I was kc \" “P *! ,h hardl >’ a m,nu,e s in ‘
' termirsion. 1 he enemy have gone to
work with a determination to reduce
the wotk if energy can accomplish the
task. It is estimated by parties who
were near-enough to heat every report,
that from (he commencement until
dark their shots* must have averaged
from four to five per minute. They
were fired, too, with much accuracy,
at every glimpse of light and hope, awi
shuts its eyes resolutely against all
reason ami evidence to the contrary.
YVe dely any sensible man to put
his finger upon the fust indication of a
speedy peace. France and EogUrd
have formally proclaimed their dcln.
urination to maintain a strict neutraiuv
and let ns fight out the wnr until
are satisfied. So much for the tians-
Atlantic aspect. On this - side ol tin-
ocean never has there been a tint.-
since the war began, in which both
for the shells generally exploded direct- j parties were more inflexibly
! ly over or in the immediate neighbor
hood of the Fort. The flagstaff was
shot olF early in the day.
The F ort replied leisurely and with
great regularity, throughout the day.
YVe spent an hour of the afternoon at
Causton’s Bluff—the nearest accessible
rteimmed
men, to such a place, in such a neigh- ;of Congress on Tuesday, after (he re-
borhood, in Davidson county, he would j ception of the news of the victory ol
guide them.right into (hat “nest ofse- j Sum , an(J |he fal) of ClCnc . ral Jolm _
, eessers and traitors, where (hey might |
Opposed to tins noble army is a <* hag ” a ] arge quantity of tneal and Sl0n ;
lorce ol forty-five thousand, lying 1 other “contraband of war,” besides a I I ’° l, »e Senate and House oi Represen-
read
the letter to which I have referred.
in wait behind their works,eighteen miles
distant. Corinth is a position naturally
strong, and formidable defences have
been r i voted there. Rifle pits, redoubts,
abaltis, and other means flf strength,
from behind which to hurl destruction
upon an assailing force, have been
constructed. The very best rebel mil
itary talent, embracing Beauregard,
Bragg and others, are concentrated
there, and at Corinth will he fought
the great decisive battle of the Wes
tern campaign. Forty heavy guns and
a great number of field pieces are pos-
v cried by the enemy, and immense
stores of provisions are gathered in.—
The flower of the South are congrega
ted (here to offer battle, and they can-
t retreat except by sacrificing every
thing.
The road between the Union camps
.o,il t'ormth is a long ar.d excellent
liimpike, and the distance can be easi
ly haw rsed in day. Gen. Grant has
i.is headquarters at Savannah, while
tiie hulk of the army lays at Pittsburg.
Parade grounds and spots tor comfort
able quarters are being cleared, and ev
erything gives token of a week’s lon
ger stay there. During that time Gen.
Buell i.i expected to reach a point from
which lie can carry out successfully the
pait assigned him.
While at Savannah, word reached
there that Gen. Lew. Wallace, with
fifteen thousand men, having taken a
circuitous course, had penetrated to
Florence and destroyed rebel railroad
communication in that direction with
the South.
number of the worst rebels that ever
assisted in “bustin up*’ this “glorious
Union.” Gen. McCook fell into the
snare “as easy as falling off a log,” and
all the preliminary arrangements were
made and time and place agreed upon
for the one hundred and fifty Federal
soldiers to meet their trusty guide.
McCook’s detachment of 150 men
kept the appointment faithfully, and of
course Capt. Morgan, no longer dis
guised, was there to meet them ; but
unfortunately for them he was not alone
—he had a sufficient number of we 1
armed horsemen to caplure the whole
Yankee force without firing a gun.—
So he took them quietly and sent them
swiftly “to the rear,” to be exchanged
“in due course”—all but on--, an offi
cer, whom lie released on parole, and
bade him return to Gen. McCook with
the compliments of his meal-selling
acquaintance, who had the pleasure of
meeting hint at the St. Cloud a few
days before.
Hurrah for the gallant and heroic
Morgan—the dauntless and sagacious
partizan whose fame is rapidly round-
tan ves o‘ the Confederate
A rnerica:
States ol
LETTER OF GENERAL A. S. JOHNSTON
TO P R ESI 0 K NT-D A VIS.
Decati'it, Ala , March 13, 1SG2.
A ly LUuir Ge-nemt i
1 leeoived the dispatches bom Rich*
{iii-nid, with your private letter, by
'1 he great importance of the news: Captain YY’icklifl'e three days since;
just received from Tennessee induces j bat the pressure of affairs, and tho no
me to depart from established usage, cessity .of getting my command across
ami to make to you this communion- Bie Tennessee, prevented me from
sending yon an earlier reply.
1 anticipated all that you have told
mo as to i lie censure which the fall of
Fort Donelson drew upon me, and the
- -; attacks to wide' ‘
pleased Almighty Go.l to j , eJ> but ; t w>
Confederate arms with a
glorious and decisive victory over our
enemies.
This must be destroyed before the enemy \ point on the mainland, to the scene of
cun attain his object. j action, and from an elevited position
1 have given this sketch, so that you j viewed the action, at the distance of
may appreciate the embarrassment j , 0!fte seven miles. The Fort and the
which surrounded me in my attempts | ^
th advert or remedy the disasters at
Fort Donelson, before alluding to the i , .... - ...
Generals. till the air, judging Horn the immense
lFhen the force was detached l wrtsl ldouds of smoke that continued to
in hopes that such-disposition would fl° a l above 1-he scene. Our fire seein-
have been made as would have enabled ■ en to proceed chiefly from the mortars
the forces to defend the fort, or with outside the Fott and the parapet guns,
firing of every gun were distinctly visi
ble. A storm of iron hail seemed to
cominumca- j
lion in advance of official reports.
t rom telegraphic dispatches reeeiv- j
from official sources, 1 am able to an-
noume to )ou, withj entire conftidem-.-, j aUac j. B , 0 vvhich yon might be subjcc-
,a as Almighty God to - te j, bu t it was impossible for me to
crown tiie * .. ...:.i. .. i -
On the morning of the 6th instant
the converging columns of our army
were combined by its Commander-in-
chief, Gen. A. S. Johnston, ir. assault
on the Federal arm), then encamped
near Pittsburg, on the Tennessee river.
After a hard fought battle of ten hours,
the enemy was driven in disorder from
his position and pursued to the Ten
nessee river, where, under cover of his
gunboats, he was, at last accounts, en-
gulher the facts for a detailed report
or to spare time which was required to
extricate the lemaiuder of rny troops,
and save the large, accurnulntiou of
stores and provisions after that dis
aster.
I transmitted the reports of Gener
als Floyd and Billow without fxain.
bring or analyzing the facts, and scarce
ly with time to rend them.
YY'licm about to assume command of
this Department, the government char»
geti me with the duty of deciding the
i|uestion of occupying Bowling Green
Kentucky, which involved not only
ing into proportions which promise to | yet too few and incomplete to enable
deavoring to effect his retreat by aid } military but political consideration —
of his transports.
The details of this great battle
overshadow
war.
all the “Marions” of the
Eiriug a Morlar.
i florrospowtence ot tire Chicago Tribune.]
The firing of a mortar is the very
poetry of a battle'. A bag of powder
weighing from eighteen to tweuty
pounds, is dropped into the the boro of
the huge monster. Tho derrick drops
the shell in, the angle is calculated a
long cord is attached to the primer, the
gunner steps out upon the platform,
:<nd the balance oi the crew upon the
shore.
The captain gives the word, the
gunner gives his cork a sudden jerk, a
crash like a thousand thunders follows,
a tongue of flame leaps from tiro mouth
of the morlar, and a column of smoke
rolls up in beautiful fleecy snirals, de
veloping into rings ol exquisite propor
tions. One can see tho shell ns it
leaves the mortar flying through the
air, apparently no huger than a marble.
The next you see of the shell, a beau
tiful cloud of smoke bursts into sight,
caused by tho explosion. Imagine ten
of these monsters thundering *t once,
the nir filled with smoke clouds, the,
gunboats belching out destruction and
completely hidden from sight in whirls
of smoke, tho shell screaming through
tho air with an unearthly sound, and
tho distant guns of the enemy sending
their solid shot and shell above and
around us, dashing the water up in
glit-tcuing columns and jots of spray,
and you have tho suhlimo poetry of
war.
Pass Them Arouud.
As an illustration of the spirit by
which the Southern people are actuated,
we will relate the following incident
given us by a gentleman who obtained
it from a party cognizant of the facts.
Two half-grown l<uls were out hunt
ing in the neighborhood of Newbern,
and were discovered and accosted by
a Yankee Lieutenant.
One of the boys wore the letters “N.
C.” on his cap, which attracted the
Yankee’s attention, and he enquired of
the boy what they inent. The boy re
plied; “North Carolina-,’whereupon the
Lieutenant ordered him to remote
them. This the boy declined doing,
when he was again ordered to take
them off, and again refused to do so.
'lire Lieutenant then remarked that he
would take them off himself; and he
was in the act of dismounting from
Iris horse to do so when the boy wink
ed to his comrade, who took his mean
ing, and in a moment the guns of both
the hoys were levelled at the head ol
the Yankee officer, and he was com
manded to surrender.
Seeing the utter hopelessness of his
case,and perfectly astounded at the spi
rit displayed by tbe boys, the Yankee
gave up liis pistol, and on being order
ed to dismout, did so. The boys then
secured him and again placing him on
his horse, conducted him to Kinston,
where he was safely lodged in jail.
Surely the days of the revolution
are again upon us '.-Norfolk Day-Book.
The enemy now confess that the
prisoners they took at Fort Donelson
number less than six thousand—a won-
• 1 orf.il falling oft’ from their first boast
ot twenty thousand and fifteen thou
sand. And even for the number they
got paid very dearly ! YY’e trust that
it will not be long before these heroes
ot Donelson will be released from their
captivity by ••exchange*’ for prisoners
tn lie /akon by our forces. Soldiers
of the Confcd*.rate army, think of
your absent brethren when next you
go to battle, and after you have made
vour tight, add a blow for them !
■Gocm,—Tire Abingdon Virgiuian tells
"he following good pun of two persons
claiming exemption m Siftytho county :
••Oneman, in enrolling himself, wrote
opposite to bis name, “One leg too
short.” The next man tbat came m
noticing the excuse, and deeming
pretty good thought ho would make h a
own better, and wrote opposite h a
name, “Both Tegs too short.”
A Singular Prophecy.—The fol
lowing circumstance, says the Mobile
Advertisej, recently occurred at Pensa
cola, and its truth is vouched for by
a reliable officer of the army.
A soldier in the Confederate service
fell into a long and profound sleep,
from which his comrades vainly essay
ed to arouse him. At last he woke up
himself. He then stated that he should
die the next afternoon ut 4 o’clock, for it
was so revealed to him in his dream.
He said in the last week in the month
of. April would be fought the greatest
and bloodiest battle of modern times,
and that early in May peace would
break upon the land more suddenly
and unexpectedly than the war had
done in the beginning. The first part
of the prophetic dream has been rea
lized, lor the soldier died the next day
at 4 o’clock, p. M. Will the rest be in
April and May? Let believcis in dreams
wait and see. . .
fF The Macon Telegraph has increased
its subscription price to $8 per annum for
the deity and $3 far the weekly.
The Atlanta Confederacy iias.iLcreabfd
the price of its daily to pei annum.
me to distinguish with merited praise
all of those who may have conspicu
ously earned the right to such distinc
tion ; and I prefer to delay my own
gratification in recommending them to
your special notice, ratt er than incur
ihe risk of wounding the feelings of any
by failing to include them in the list.
Where such a victory has been won,
over troops as numerous, as well dis
ciplined, arm nl and appointed,
those which have just been so signally
routed, \vc may well conclude that one
common spirit of unflinching braver)
and devotion to our country’s cause
must have animated every breast, from
that of the Commanding General to
that of the humblest patriot who served
1 in the ranks.
Thete is enough in the continued
presence of invaders on onr soil to
chasten our exultation over this bril
liant success, and to remind us of the
grave duly of continued exertion un
til we shall extort from a proud and
and vain-glorious enemy (lie reluctant
acknowledgment of our right to self-
government. But an all-wise Creator
has been pleased, while ‘vouchsafing to
us Ilis countenance in battle, to afflict
us with a severe dispensation, to which
we must bow in humble submission.—
The last fingering hope has disappear
ed and it is but too true that General
Albert Sidney Johnston is no more.—
The tale of his death is simply narrated
in a dispatcli just received from Col.
YVm. Preston, in the following words:
“General Johnston fell yesterday, at
half-past two o’clock, wh le lea ling a
successful chntge, turning the enemy’s
right and gaining a brilliant victory.—
A Minnie ball cut the artery of his leg
hut he rode on till from loss of blood
lie fell exhausted, and died without
pain in a few moments. Ilis body has
been intrusted to me by Gen. Beaure
gard, to be taken to New Orleans and
remain until directions are received
from his family.”
My long and close friendship with
this departed chieftain and patriot, for
bid me to trust inyself in giving vent
to the feelings which this sad intelli
gence has evoked. Without doing in
justice to the living, it may safely be
asserted that our loss is irreparable, and
that among the shining hosts of the
great and the good who now cluster
around the banner of our country, there
exists no purer spirit, no more heroie
soul, than that of the illustrious man
whose death I join you in lamenting.
In his death he has illustrated the
character for which through life he was
conspicuous—that ol singleness of pur
pose and devotion to ditty. With his
whole energies bent on attaining the
victory which he deemed essential to'
At tho time ot my arrival at Nashville,
the action of the Legislature of Ken
tucky had put an end to the latter by
sanctioning the formation of companies
menacing Tennessee, by assuming the
cause of the government at Washing
ton, and by abandoning the neutrality
it professed, and in consequence of
their action the occupation of Bowling
Green became necessary as an act of
self-defence, at least in tho first step —
About the middle of September Gen.
Buckner advanced with a small force
of about 4,000 men, which was increas
ed by tbe 15th October to 12,000, and
though accessions of forco were re-
ceivmk 5* continued at about tho same
strength until the end of November,
measles and other diseases keeping
down the effective force. The enemy’s
force then was reported to the War
Department at 50,000, and an advance,
was impossible.
Believing it to be of the greatest
moment to protract the campaign as the
dearth of cotton might bring strength
from abroad ntid discourage the North,
and to gain time to strengthen myself
by uew troops from Tennessee and oth
er States. I magnified my forces to the
enemy, hut made known rny true
strength to the department and the
Governors of the States. Tho aid giv
en was small. At length, when Gen.
Beauregard came out in February, he
expressed his surprise at the smallness
of my force, and was impressed with the
danger of my position. I admitted
wfiatjBwas ao manifest, and laid before
him my views for the FuTurc, In tvTiicli
he entiiely concurred, and sent me a
memorandum of our conference, a copy
of which I send to you I determined
to light tor Nashville at Donelson. and
gave'the best part of my army to do it,
retaining only fourteen thousand man
to cover my front, slid giving sixteen
thousand'to defend Donelson.
Tbe force at Donelson is stated in
General Pillow’s report at much less,
and J do not doubt tbe correctness of
Iris statement, for tbe force at Bowling
Green, which I supposed to be fourteen
thousand effective men, (the medical
report showing only a little over five
hundred sick in tho hospital,) was di
minished more than five thousand by
those who were unable to stand the
fatigue of a march, and made tny force
on reaching Nashville less than ten
thousand men. 1 enclose tire Medical
Director’s report.
■SfadY wholly uncovered my front to
defend Donelson, Buell woald have
known it, and marched directly on
Nashville. There were o ily ten small
steamers in the C’umberh.nd in imper
feet condition—only threh of which
were available at Nashville, irtrilo the
draw without sacrificing the army.—
On the 14th I ordered General Floyd,
by telegraph, “if he lost the fort to
get his troops to Nashville.’’ It is
possible this might have been done, but
justice requires to look at events as they
appeared at the time, ami not alone by
the light of subsequent information —
All the facts in relation to the surren
der will be transmitted to the Score
tary of War, as soon as they can he
collected, in obedience to his order.—
It appears, from the information re
ceived, that Gen. Buckner, being the
junior officer, took the lead in advising
the surrender, and that Gen. Floyd
acquiesced, and they all concurred in
the belief that their force could not
maintain its position—ail concurred
that it would require a great sacrifice of
life to extricate the command.
Subsequent events show that ihe in
vestment was not so complete as their
infoitnation from their scouts led them
to believe. The conference resulted
in the surrender. The command was
irregularly transferred, aud devolved
on the junior general, but not appar-
rently to avoid any just responsibility,
or from any want of personal or moral
intrepidity. The blow was most disas
trous, and almost without a remedy- I
therefore, in my first report, remained
silent. This silence you were kind
enough to attribute to my generosity.—
I will not lay claim to the motive to
excuse my conrse. I observed silence,
as it seemed to be the best way to
serve the cause and the country. The
facts were not fully known—disconten*
prevailed? and criticism or condemna
tion were more likely to augment than
to cute tho evil. I refrained, well
knowing that heavy censures would fall
upon me; but convinced that it was
better to endure them for tho j resent,
and defer to a more proper time an
invest igation of the conduct of the Gen
eral8 ; for, in tho meantime, their ser
vices were required and their influences
useful. For these reasons Generals
Floyd and Pillow were assigned to du
ty ; for I still felt confidence in their
gallantry, their energy, and their de*
votion to the Confederacy.
I have thus recurred to (ha motive
by which I have been governed, from
a deep personal sense of the friendship
and confidence you bnve always shown
me, and from the convictiou that they
have not been withdrawn from me in
adversity.
All the ropoJts requsite for a full
official investigation have been ordered.
Generals Floyd and Pillow have been
suspendad from command.
* [Here follow samc aUmuoii not neces
sary to an Understanding of the main
objects of tbe letler,| and a statement
of the disposition of tbe forces in com*
macd, which it is not deemed necessarv
to publish | The letter closes as follows
I have troubled yon with these (de
tails as I cannot properly communicate,
them by telegraph.
The test of merit in my profession
with the people, is sncecss- It is a hard
rule, but I think it is right. If I join
this corps to the forces of General Beau
regard, (I confess a hazardous expert
inent,) then those who are now declaim
ing against me will be with out an argu
ment. Your friend.
A. S. JOHNSTON.
showing that our troops were not afraid
to expose themselves at the posts of
danger. YY’e are glad to know that
Major Olmstead is economizing his
ammunition aud the energies of Iris
men; whilst the amount of powder and
balls expended by the eneinv must
have been immense.
As we have no communication with
the Fort, it is impossible to say any
thing of the results. It was hoped the
commander ot the garrison would suc
ceed in getting a messenger to town
during the night. At the hour we write,
G’. P. M., the firing is still kept up,
without any apparent abatement. It is
a source of much annoyance that we
are so situated as to be wholly without
particulars, though every confidence is
felt in the ability of the Fort to stand
the seigo. at least so long as they have
in their magazine a shot, and the pow
der to drive it.
It is confidently stated by the pick
ets On Skidaway, who were in full view
of the Fort, though some eight miles
distant, that a Yankee vessel was set
on fire and burnt by a shot from our
guns, about mid-day. \Ve heard no
thing of the circumstances during our
visit to Causton’s Bluff.
Heavy cannonading was also kept
up throughout the day yesterday in the
direction ot Red Bluff or Bluffton, in
South Carolina. YVe have no particu
lars.
P. S.—The firing kept up with una
bated fury until after riark, but at the
hour we go to press (8J P. M.) it has
ceased altogether.—Savannah Jirpub-
lican t 11 th.
Surrender of Fort Pulaski.
Savannah, April 12th.—The follow
ing is from the Republican of this
morning, and is fully credited in offi.
cial circles:
It is with sincere regret that we
learn, that Fort Pulaski, after a most
gallant .defence against guns vastly
superior to its own, surrendered to the
enemy at two o’clock P. M., yesterday.
transportation of the enemy was great.
Tho evacuation of Buwliog Greet
was imperatively uecessary, and was
ordered before, and executed while the
battle was being fought at Donelson.—
I had made every disposition for the
defence of the fort my means allowed ;
and the troops were among- the
beBt
- „ , , , | my force. The Generals—Floyd,
his country’s cause, he rode on to the Pillow and Buckucr—were high in the
accomplishment ot his object, forgetful • opinion of officers and men-for skill aud
To Be Shot. It is annonunce in the
Louisville Democrat tbat Col. Ebexr-
zbr Magoffin, bt other of Gov. Magof.
fin, of Kentucky,, has been sentenced
at St. Lonia to be Bhot for the violation
of his parole. He is confined at Alton.
He was tried on another count—the
murder of a U. 8. soldier, brit was ac
quitted of that charge. The weak
kneed Governor of Kentucky will fee)
a consolation in knowing that his Fed*
era!allies are excedeingly gracious to-
reen wari j 8ome 0 f his family, although they
have little respect for hup.
Mr. Adorns superintendent' of 1
the Central Raffroad, announces that
in ciusequence of the roads beyi«l
Augusta being engaged in Goverment
Transportation, no Goods for points be
yond Augusta can bo received until fur-
thei. notice. ..
Corporal Law. ofthe Phoenix Rifle
men, stationed at Thunderbolt, brings
the information direct. He reached
the fort at 5 o’clock A. M., yesterday,
and started on his return trip imme
diately after the flag was struck. The
surrender was unconditional. Seven
large breaches were made in the South
wall oflfieforr-by the battery of 8
Parrot guns at King’s landing. All
the barbette guns on the fort were dis
mounted, and three casemate guns,
leaving but one gun bearing on that
point. Three balls had entered the
magazine, and a clear breach had been
made in it. 1 he balls were conical
and steel pointed, and propelled with
such force as to pass entiiely through
the wall at nearly every fire. No lives
were lost during the bombardment.—
Four men were wounded—three have
lost a leg, and one an arm. All were
privates. No names are given. The
Oglethorpes, ol Savannah, occupied
the most exposed position of the fort.
Lieutenant llussay was stunned but
was not seriously hurt.
Col. Olmstead sent no official dis
patch but st verbal message that the
garrison bad done all that men could
do. He.. attempted to signalize to
Caustons s Bluff yesterday morning,
but such was the fire that no human
being could stand on the ramparts for
even a minute.
Nearly a thousand shell- of the lar
gest size were thrown ipto the Fort from
the Federal battened
It will be gratifying to know that,
though much i xbausted, all the -garri
son are well, except the four wounded
men.
YY r e think this account may be relied
on as correct. We could obtain no
to fight to the bitter end, than now.—
YY’e have been looking for a pca.v '
party in the North, but never has the
voice of that section been so unanimous
for war as now. A Philadelphia corres
pondent of ihe Petersburg Krpress coin
plains that lie can find hardly a dozen
men of respectable position in that city
who are not cl.imoron; advocates fo:
war to the death. The men who have
made fortunes by the trade ot the South,
are tire most strenuous adherents of lie,;
war party.
And why should we look lor a dif
ferent state of feeling. The win].-
North is now pursuing but or.e busi
ness, from the Arislook to the Missouri
river. It is simply piling up all of m
resources ol ready money, labor, man.
rial and province, in United States se
curities, which are worthless, unless
they can compel us to bear the main
b lrden in redeeming them. F.vt-rv
Lincoln bond and Treasury note is as
much conditioned upon success, as it
it bore on its face, 11 Good if we Con
quer the South?'
\ Now we will not undertake to say
how many hundreds of millions of dol
lars of this - crip are afloat in the North,
but suppose there > s an average of
three hundred dollars to every voter.—
But whether more or less, they are un
der so many dollars bonds to prosecute
this war for the 'spoliation ofthe South,
until success becomes so utter!v hope
less in llmir own minds, that ;iie\ -iic
willing to lose what they have got
rather than go further. They have pur
sued this game of vvai till they are now
in the condition of the gambler who
has lost heavily. To stop is to aban
don what has been forfeited. To go
on, seems to present the only chance
of recovery. The gambler will prose
cute his game to the last stake, and so
will the holders of the Lincoln securi
ties.
How hard will it be, against the ar
gument of self-interest, to convince
■-hose people that the war is hopeless.
They will cling to hope to the last. In
the deepest discouragement some suc
cess wilt kindle the expiring flame,
and when it dies out at last, it will be
like a flickering lamp, flashing up
anew, it may be, at the very moment of
extinguishment. The only way to
hasten the process is to raise armies,
penetrate their soil and retaliate upon
them the dastardly injuries and insults
they are inflicting upon us. It maybe
that then the money argument will
core.e to an offset or tell both ways.
Now, il the consideration we hare
thrown out is sensible, why should we
delude oursel ves with the hope of ear
ly peace ? It may come but tic
chances are against it, and indeed are
contingent entiiely upon such unintei
rupted success of our arms as shair
bring the North at-once to the brink oi
despair.
YVho looks for that ?
And even when we begin vis t\vo
independent governments" to talk of
peace, see what perplexed and dan
gerous questions will come up to be
settled. We shall demand all the slue
soil but-Deleware, aud ...we shall .dr-
mam! Fortress Monroe and oil ihe
Gulf fortifications. These and a hun
dred other difficulties will arise as ob
stacles to peace even when the North
begins to feel Jike making it.
No doubt the difficulties in thejway
ot the North will now increase rapidly.
No doubt her expenses will vastly ant;-
meiit—her scrip depreciate—her pro
pie be less and less willing to vdhu>-
teer. No doubt in spite of eightc"
rafllion dollars worth of iron cla.l sb"? s ’
her means of prosecuting thi.- war ef
fectually will diminish relatively to < mr
own—but still, why any man, oa'iet
the circumstances, should look lor :l
speedy termination of the war, we • »'-'
not well understand.
Let us delude ourselves with n°
such vain expectation. The true «*)
for us is to proceed as if this strugg- 1 '
were to last ten years ; and the foun
dation Stone of all preparation is
production of abundance o( too;
Macon Telegraph.
the
“Mother” said little Nezzie one nr >r»'
ing, after hiving fallen from Bis bed.
further particulars, but it is corrobora-* end,-'
T— - ' 9- Tt 'V «.fHP'-—
“Mother, I think I kuow why l frl! r,lt
of bed last night. It was because I'd' I'j
too near the place where 1 got *»•’
Musing a little while, ns if in Joub 1
whether Bo Bad given tho right exp'*'
nation, he added:—-
“No; that was not the reason. B
.because I tilept too mar where
6
t 0