Savannah daily herald. (Savannah, Ga.) 1865-1866, April 19, 1865, Image 1
SAVANNAH DAILY TIED A LI). VOL. I—NO. 80. The Savannah Daily Herald (MORNING AND EVENING) . 18 PUBLISHED BY 8. W. MASON «sfc CO., Ax 111 Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia. terms: Per Copy .• Five Cents. Per Hundred $3 50. Per Year $lO advertising: Two Dollars per Square of Ten Lines for first in sertion : One Dollar for each subsequent one. Ad vertisements inserted in the morning, will, if desired, appear in the evening without extra charge. JOB PRINTING every style, neatly and promptly done/ A VISIT TO PETERSBURG. • An army follower writes as follows : Entering at the upper end of the' main street of tiie town, I forced my way along a most beautiful avenue, lined at first with ele gant dwellings, and lower down with blocks of stores that would not look mean in Broad way, to the Richmond railroad depot on the river, at the end of the street. Turn ing to the right on Water street, and going one block, Centered a street leading to the river, across which at this point were & wagon and passenger bridge and the princi pal railroad bridge. The latter had been thoroughly destroyed. Its abutment had been mown down with powder, and the superstructure burned. TOBACCO BURNED. From many citizens of the town I learned that the dense volumes of smoke that have hung over the city since yesterday morning were caused by the destruction of tobacco stored here. It is estimated that five thou sand hogsheads of the weedhava been con sumed. There are still, however, large quantities remaining uninjured. COMMISSARY STORES. I was told that there were immense stores of all kinds of provisions for the army in the city. These were stored in buildings in the heart of the city, the destruction of which would have entailed the proable total des truction of the town, so that, on the protest of the citizens, they were left unconsuraed. THE WORK OF OUR SHELLS. I had much curiosity to see the effect of the numerous shellings to which the town had been subjected, and rode through that por tion of the city most exposed. It was cer tainly wonderful that so little damage had been done. Nearly every other building in some localities had been struck; but with the exception of now and then a cbimnny knocked down, or a hole through the build ing that a few dollars would repair, the in juries were scarcely perceptible. I found the people in the exposed localities, and was told that they had been there throughout all the siege. But few people either had been killed by the canonadiug in the town. Some sad cases were cited, bnt they numbered in all less than a scoflfc. V - -SHERMAN. Tfie following graphic sketch Is from Har per’s Monthly for April: He is never quiet. His fingers nervously twitch his red whiskers—his coat buttons— play a tattoo on his table or chair, or run through his hair. One moment his legs are crossed, and the next both are on the floor. He sits a moment, and then rises and paces the floor. He never sat out a serenade of the ordinary length in his life, and as to remain ing silent for that, length of time it would be impossible for him to do it. He must talk, quick, sharp, and yet not harshly, all the time making his odd gestures, which, no less than the intonation of his voice, serve to em phasize his language. He can not bear a clog upon his thoughts, nor an interruption to his language. He admits of no opposition. He overrides everything. He never hesitates at interrupting auy one, but cannot bear to be interrupted himself. He is very well aware, and candidly admits, that his temper is un commonly bad, but he makes no attempt to control and correct-it. In once speaking of a general in his army he remarked that he was ‘‘as good an officer as I am—is younger, and-has a better temper. And here we have a picture of Sherman smoking: Sherman is an inveterate smoker. He smokes as he does everything else, with an energy which it would be supposed would deprive him of all the pleasure of smoking. He is fully as great a smoker as Grant, but very unlike him in his style of smoking.— Grant smokes as if he enjoyed his cigar. Sherman smokes as if it were a duty to be finished in the shortest imaginable time. Grant wi.. smoke lying back in his chair, his body and mind evidently in repose, his coun tenance calm and settled. He blows tqe smoke slow,.y from his mouth, aud builds bis plaus and thoughts in the clouds which are formed by it about bis head. He smokes his tobacco as the Chinese do their opium, and with that certain sort of oblivious, disre gard for everything else which it is said characterizes the opium smoker. He enjoys his mild Havana in quiet dignity, half smo king half chewing it. Sherman pufls furi ously, and as if his cigar was of the worst character of “penny grabs’’ and would not “draw.” He snatches it frequently, and one might say, furiously, from his mouth, brushing the ashes off with his finger. He continually paces the floor while smoking, generally deep in thought of important mat ters, doubtless, but a looker-on would im agine that he was endeavoring to solve, the question of how to draw smoke through his cigar. He seldom or never finishes it, leaving one half of it a stump. When he used to visit the Associated Press rooms at Louisville, in 1864, he would often accumulate and leave upon the agent's table as many as eight or ten of these stumps, which the porter of the rooms used to called “Sherman’s old sol diers’" A country editor, praising a successful politician, called him “one of the cleverest fellows that ever lifted a hat to a lady or a hoot to a blackguard. ” SAVANNAH, GA., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1865. KNOXVILLE is now the centre of military attraction for the Army of the West. General Thomas hav ing destroyed the veteran army which one year ago was confronting Sherman at Atlan ta, is now making up a large part of his army to clear and hold the country between here and Lyncliburg, Virginia, a distance of 334 miles. A force of great magnitude under Gen. Stonemanhas moved in that direction within the past few days. There will soon be an army between * the two places suffi cient to overcome all opposition, and hold this beautiful and rich valley against any force the rebels can raise. The valley is rich in agricultural products and mineral resour ces, abounding in lead, sulphur, salt and iron—all essential to the support of an army. This mountainous region is peculiarly adapted for successful defence ; no part of the late Confederacy more so ; and more points in the Confederacy can be reached from it than any other within the limits of rebel don. The rebel leaders understand the import ance of holding the valley and are making great efforts in this direction. The govern ment are aware of its importance as well as the rebels, and the reception Gen. Lee and his army will meet if they come this way will rejoice the heart of every loyal man. * The commander of this Department will not leave down the bars. Knoxville and Chattanooga— both of which are points of vital impor tance —will not be left needlessly exposed. I recently rode over the hills stirrounding this beautiful place, and was surprised at what nature and engineering skill had done to make this the strongest fortified town in the whole Southern country. General Lee.— lt is not a little singular that now, when everyone is indulging in conjectures as to the particular mode in which the great contest is to be closed up, the character, opinions and conduct of Gen. Lee occupy a much larger share of public attention than those of Jeff. Davis and his Cabinet. The hollow shell which has gone by the name of the “Southern Confederacy” is demolished, and the military force which has been the source of its sole vitality and its only protection, is entirely under the control of General Lee. Davis has lost his power. When Richmond fell he was annihilated. His ability, no one doubts; but, unfor tunately for him, his selfishness and big oted persistence in his plans of personal aggrandizement are equally plain. He has raised a crowd of opponents and antagonists whose distrust and hatred has scarcely been repressed, even by the stem and unrelenting despotism of which he has been the head. He cares nothing for the happiness or pros perity of the Southern people, and has nev er paid the slightest attention to their opin ions. He has considered the rebellion as a contest of the aristocracy of the South against the democracy of the North, and within his confined sphere he has conducted all his op erations upon the basis of his own personal profit and the advancement of his friends. He has supposed that, like Napoleon or Cromwell, he could control the people as a drover controls a herd of beasts. General Lee is a man of entirely different character. . Be espoused the cause of the re bellion reluctantly, and, in accepting his r commission, stipulated that he should never fight except in defence of his native State. He i& said by those who know him to be hon orable, generous, and humane. Hl9 troops love and admire him, and confide in his words. They will abide by him in whatev er course he may see fit to adopt. Every other prominent leader of the rebellion has lost the confidence of the Southern people. General Lee alone stands as high in their re gard as he ever did, and this is due not only to his great military ability, but to his high character for honesty and integrity.— Wash. Chronicle. Arrival of Sir F. Bruce, G. C. 8., the British Ambassador. —This is not the first time Sir Frederick Bruce has visited Ameri ca in a diplomatic capacity. He accompan ied Lord Asburton on his special mission to Washington in 1842. He lias also had con siderable experience among the South Ameri can States—in Bolivia and Uraguay, and af terwards was Lieutenant Governor of New founland. But it is as the representative of his government in China that his most im portant services were rendered. He was Colonial Secretary at Hong Kong from 1844 to 184 G. He accompanied Lord Elgin on his famous mission to that country in 1858, and conveyed to England the treaty of Tien-tsin. In 1858 he again returned to China as* Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. A democratic journal in this city, which late ly bemoaned the appoinment of a Baronet instead of a live Lord to the Washingtonem bassy, might have intensified its sorrow." Sir Frederick Bruce, though a brother of the late Lord Elgin, and closely connected with the most aristocratic families of Great Brit ain, is not even a Baronet. Until he was creat ed a Knight Commander of the Bath for bis services in China, he was plain Mr. Bruce. He was made a Grand Commander to the Bath prior to his leaving for this country. The Theatened Fioht at Ferbol. —An exciting scene which was presented ip the vicinity of Corunna and Ferrol, Spain, and on the adjacent waters, on the 21st ult., is described by our correspondent in the former place. These two towns are only nine miles distant, and in the harbor of the latter had been for some time lying the rebel ram Stone wall, while at Corunna, watching her, were the United States steamers Niagara and Sa mento. About noon of the day named the Stonewall was observed to be moving sea ward, followed by the Spanish frigate Con ception, and the Niagara and Sacremento immediately started to meet and attack her. As the officers of the Stonewall had express ed their determination and desire to fight the United States vessels, a desperate naval bat tle was anticipated, and the shores were soon crowded with an expectant multitude. But all were doomed to disappointed; for when the Niagara and Sacramento had near ly got within range of the Stonewall the lat ter snndenly turned round and put back to her anchorage. The officers of the rebel ram gay that they declined to fight because of the heavy sea prevailing. Another account gives as the reason a request from the French gov ernment for her'detention at Ferrol. RAISING OF THE REBEL S#-AMRR ST. MARYS. On Saturday morning, March 18th, Col. Marple, of the 34;h U. S. C. TANARUS., with a small force consisting ct 375 men of his own regi ment, 50 of the Ssth, 15 of* the 4th Mass. Cavalry and 40 men of the Engineer Corps, left Jacksonville to occupy the ground con tiguous to where the rebel steamer St. Marys was last sunk and to construct 9uch earth works as would make it easy to hold the position while the wreckers under the direc tion of Captain Bennett were making ar rangements to rase the boat. A lew hours sufficed to ctmstnuct formidable fortifications and get several guns in position served by detachments of the 3d U. S. C. T. A bridge was also constructed connecting the two banks of the cre«k which is here 130 yards wide. A road \l&a also made through the swampy ground on the west side of the creek which enabled Col. M. to readily concentrate his forces and artillery on either side. The necessary materials havisg arrived on Monday, the 20th, the men in the employ of Capt. Bennett were all busy by Tuesday put ting the boat in condition to be cleared of water. The arrangements were completed and the pumps at work at 6 o’clock, a. ra , March 30th, and in tour hours her hull began to show itself and before dark she was en tirely cleared of water and moved some lit tle distance below towards the mouth of the creek. The wird blowing hard it was not deemed prudent to get out rill the next eve rung. At the distance of a mile from where 9he was raised, a detention of three or four hours occurred by running into a log, and still further down some delay was experienc ed in getting her through the shallow water near *he mouth of the creek, but on Monday she came over, and is now at one of our docks and being rapidly put in condition for business. The slight injury to her wood work will soon be repaired, and her machine ry now iooks as bright as new. The St. Mary’s was built at Wilmington, Del., by Messrs. Harlan & Hollingsworth, in 1856 and 7, under the superintendence of her Captain, J. Freeborn, for the Savannah and Florida Steamship Company, and intended to run the inland passage from Savannah to Pilatka, on the St. John’s River. Her hull is iron, and has two horizontal engines. She made her first appearance on this river in 1857, and was placed on the above men tioned route, and continued to run, doing a veiy large and successful business until ’6l, when the route was broken up by blockaders and other Yankee inconvenience. The day, March 3d, ’62, that the U. 8. forces took passession of Fernandina, the St. Mary’s left that point with cannon and am munition for St. Johns river, and when the forces took possession of Jacksonville, she was taken up to Dunn’s Lake and sunk.— Gen. Wright had all preparations made to raise her when the orders to evacute the place was received from General Hunter. After the U. S. forces left, the vessel was brought and sold to various parties ; and fi nally, after some seven months of labor and law, she was raised, and ( altered, by paving her guards and cabin removed, and loaded with to run the blockade, but the vigilancelsf the U. S. Gunboats block -qiir- lie prevented her makiug a suc cess® attempt to run out. On the re-oc caupation of this place by the U. S. forces in February 7th ’64, she was run Up Cedar Cteek 18 miles distant, the cotton unloaded and she again sunk, where she remained un til recently raised by Capt. Bennett. The first airival of the St. Mary’s at this place was the source of as much excitement and wonder here, as was the first arrival of the Great Eastern in New York, to the Gotha mites, as she was by far the finest steamer ever in this river. She was visited by the entire population all of whom were pleased, many astonished, at her magnificent appear ance ; the palatial saloons and elegantly ap pointed state-rooms and cabin called forth general admiration. The upholsteiy and tasteful appointments of the saloons and rooms were furnished at the large establish ment of Thomas Cloward, Esq., of Wilming ton, Del., whose success and reputation m that line is acknowledged wherever steam boats are known. She has been but little damaged bf her long “immersion,” and will soon, under the direction of Capt. G. D. Hart, Chief Quar termaster of this District be ready for seijice In this Department.— Florida Union. The Atlantic Telegraph. —Captain James Anderson, of the Cunard mail steamer China, has been appointed to command the Great Eastern during the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph cable. The Great Eastern will sail from Valencia, Ireland, about the Ist of July, and may be expected at Heart’s Con tent, Trinity Bay, by the middle of that month. There were sixteen hundred and sixty-two nautical miles of cable completed on the 21st of March, and the whole twenty three hundred miles'will be made and on board of the Great Eastern in May. The English Admiralty have agreed to or der two powerful steamers of the Royal Navy to accompany the Grevt Eastern from Ireland to Newfoundland, and also to direct Vice Admiral Sir James Hope to afford such assistance on the approach of the expedition to Newfoundland as may be in his power. It is confidently expected that Europe and America will be in telegraphic communica tion before the 20th of July. Is Peace Attainable ?— A prominent re bel, now a fugitive within our lines, gives the rebel version of the Hampton Roads Peace Conference thus plainly, and, no doubt truly : “The substance of Mr. Lincoln’s language, as reported bj r Mr. Stephens, was that he coulcf not treat with Davis as the leader of a rebellion. That the so-called government of the Confederate States could not be ac knowledged. That he could not treat with the States while they confessed allegiance to and formed a part of that government. But that he was willing to treat with the States separately, or with any number of thein on the basis of the Union and the Constitution. That if peace were restored he would do all in his power to remit those pains and penal ties to which individuals had subjected them selves by rebellion against the Government." How He .Stole It.«— As the brig Sunbeam was lying in the port of Saint something, in the West Indies, her Captain was on shore one day, taking dinner with the consignees, and at table the conversation turned upon feats of dexterity and adroitness, stories of which were told of a vety marvellous charac ter, and increased in wonder as the wine they drank enlivened their niemoiy or height ened their imagination. From illustrations of a general character, they aarrowed down to a general prowess, and then to that of their servants. “I’ve a servant,” said one, “who is the greatest fellow r to steal that ever you saw. It makes no difference whether you are looking at him or not; he'll steal your very eye teeth out." “He will, will he?” replied the Captain in credulously. “I should like to let him have a pull at mine.” “You would, eh?" said the merchant. “Well, perhaps you may have a chance to test him before you sail.” The party separated, and a day or two afterwards met again on board the brig by iavitation of the Captain. After the viands had been discussed, aft the newspaper reports have it, and the conversation had taken a lively and general turn, the Captain said. “How is it about that servant ?” to the one who had bragged of his thieving capability at the former entertainment. “He ia on hand to steal from you to any extent you may wish,” was the reply. “Well,” continued the Captain, “I will try him.” There was a large silver pitcher on the table on which the Captain prided himself. It was valuable intrinsically, and from asso ciation, and was the last article in the world that he would like to have stolen from him. Hence the proposition he made was proof of how little he regarded the alleged ability of the thief. “If your servant will steal that pitcher,” said he, “I’ll give him the value of it and a supper to every one of the crowd.” “And I,” said the master, “will meet the proposition with one as good, should he not perform the feat.” “Done,” said the captain. As soon as the party was gone, he sum moned all hands and told them of the bet. “Now,” says he, “I want you to watch every place on the deck, so that no one can get on board without your knowing it, and the mate and me will take it watch and watch in the' cabin. Don’t allow these fellows to come the Scotch giab over us." The watch was accordingly set, and day and nigbt officers and men were at their posts. Not a sign of the the thief bad made its appearance, and the pitcher still main tained its position on the cabin table. The brig, we neglected to say, was lying in the stream, aud so much time bad elapsed since the bet, that she had but three days more to remain in port. Reminding the one he had bet with on the fact, the Captain tauntingly said: “When will you be ready to pay your lit tle bet, sir ? Your thief i9 a slow one, I should judge.” “I ahant’t have to pay it,” was the reply ; “you may rest assured about that. If that {iitcher isn’t stolen before you leave the port ’ll doublr the forfeit.’’. “Very well," said the Captain *‘we shall see.” As the watch sat talking on the heel of the bowsprit that evening, they grumbled much at the fruitless nature of then- employ ment, “ Confound it!” said one of the tars, “ this is as bad as Jaek Marlinspike’s wall that he built.” “ How was that ?” it wa9 asked. “Why, being cornered, you see, he went to an old chap who had advertised for some hands on a farm, and found him to be a Cap tain that he had sailed with. ‘ Hallo, Jack, what brings you here ?’ ‘ Stress 0’ weather, ’ said Jack. ‘ Well, Jack,’ said the old salt, ‘lf you’ll do what I want you to do, I’ll hire you.’ Jack said he would, and the skipper took him out into the field, where he pointed to a Eile of stones, and told him to go to work tying a wall. He went at it with a will, and by and by used up the whole pile of stones, He went to the old man to know what he should do next, when the old fellow told him to take the stones off the wall, and pile ’em up again where he had found ’em. Jack’s dander was up at this, and says he to him, ‘You ’" “ Hush!” said the other watch, laying his hand on the sleeve of the speaker, “I thought I heard & noise." They both listened attentively, and crept very stealthily to the bows, where they look ed out on the water. It was very dark, but by the rays of a ship’s lantern that lay near the vessel, which rays struck directly across the chain by which they swung at anchor, they saw a human figure endeavoring to climb on board by the rigging of the bow sprit. They lay perfectly still until they heard a short, quick breath directly by their side, as the figure they-had seen stepped lightly upon the deck. They darted up to grapple with him, but found that he was not to be so easily taken. He was naked, and had oiled his cuticle to a degree that render ed it about as possible to bola him as it would be to hold an eel. He squirmed through their grasp, while they called vigorously for help. All hands rushed for the scene of the struggle—Captain, Mate, and the rest—and at last the supple and oleaginous individual was secured by thongs. “ What do you want ?" was the first ques tion asked of the Intruder. “Come to steal a pitcher for massa," was the reply. “Hurra !” shouted the Captain, “I’ve won the prize. Boys, a doable allowance of grog for you in the morning. Tie the rascal, though, very close, and lock him up in the forecastle. We will keep him to show our friends in the morning." This was accordingly done to the Captain’s satisfactioH, who rubbed his hands delight edly as the sailors told him the story of now he stole on board, and how how he bad been nabbed, after which he turned towards the cabin, where, five minutes before, be bad left the silver pitcher; but the silver pitcher was sot there ! He rushed upon the deck PRICE. 5 CENTS like a madman, and yelled out at the top of his voice: “By thunder, he’s got it!” All*hands rushed pell-mell into the cabin, where the open window denoted the course the thief had taken. The stern boat was lowered and manned by a stern crew, who skirted the shore till dayiight, but the rascal was not taken. The next morning the Captain sent the captive darkey ashore with the following note: “The pitcher is gone, and the presumption is that you have won the bet. Come on board to-day at two, and bring the pascal with you, that I may manifest my apprecia-' tion of the thief and his patrons.” The “conditions” were complied with, and the Caplaiu was rather delighted when he bore the pitcher away over the sea, in safety from the proximity of such adroit fingers. A SONG FROM CAMP. Newport, R. L, Feb. 2C, 1865. To the Editor a of the Evening Post: 1 suppose that there was scarcely a day daring the months when I was on picket duty In South Caro lina, that some line from the “Song of Marlon’s Men" did not stray across my mind; ana thin key-note mav give a value to these verses, (at least for yon) which their literary execution can hardly claim. I am, very respectlhlly, , Your obedient servant, Thomas Wentworth Himinsod l. In boyhood’s age of chivalry I heard a minstrel sing, And through smiles and tears In middle years. I can still hear the cadence ring. He sang of flowers by his own door-stone. Os the blood-red deeds of war, Os th« wandering wild-fowl’s lonely path, And the death of Allatar. He drew the tears from our mother's eyes With his tender tale, and then He swep' the hearts of the world of boys With the song of Marlon's Men a. I read that song by the camp-flre dim. And well the measure flowed, With the dusky soldier’s evening hymn. On the soil where Marlon rode; Our fortress was the good green wood, Our tent the cypress tree. And we knew the forest round us Ae seamen know the sea; And the hands were black that held the gun. And white that held the sword, But the difference was none and the color was but on • When the red, red blood was poured m. Thank God 1 though the laurels of War be fair, Those of Peace are lovelier still, And man has no name and no knightly fame. But he holds at the Poet’s will. Though the lustre may fade upon youth's bright hair, And time has no second spring. Yet no locks grow gray on the Poet’s lay, And he is the only king, May oar monarch rale tul the cannon boom Over Shaw's wild grave no more, And the latest wandering star comes borne To the flag that Marion bore. An old disciple of the hook and line, writing is 1662, says: “Angling doth bodeys exercise, And maketb eoules holy and wise. By blessed thoughts and meditation, This, this Is angler's recitation: Health, profit, pleasure, mlxt together. All sports to this not worth a feather." The Emperor’s Life of Caesar. -Of course every lady Ls reading Julius Caesar, and in England its merits will be fairly judged, if not in France. One voice has been raised ag>dnst it in Paris, that of an eminent Jew who thought great injustice to bis race was shown in a passage where the illustrious au thor refers to the Jews crucifying their Mes siah. In the Gazette de France an article appears, headed “Caesar,” which invites rußal because supposed to be a review of the great historical work of the day. The read er, in glancing through the iirst few lines, is struck with the immense superiority of the argument and diction, as compared with anything yet said on the Emperor’s book. he turns the page to see what signature has the credit of this wonderfully good writing, and he finds the name of “Voltaire !’’ This is A little trick of M Janicot, the clever editor oi the Gazette de France, who, though very capable himself of writing a pungent criti cism on Csesar, wisely judged, that the pas sage which he happily recollected from Vol taire, and which the present generation has forgotton, was worth resuscitation. Voltaire says: ‘lt is not our present purpose to speak of Caesar as the husband of a great many wives —the robber of the public treasury, who used the Roman’s money to enslave the Ro mans—it is onlv in our character of descen dant of poor B r'oarians subjugated ty him that we review this unparalelled man. You cannot pass through a single town in France or Spain, or on the banks of the Rhine, or on the English coast opposite Calais, without meeting with lots of honest people who boast that Caesar was once in their neighborhood. Dover burgesses are persuaded that the country houses in which they live were built by Csesar, and many bourgeois of Paris look upon the Grand Chatelet as one of his finest works. More than one lord of the manor in France points to the tower, which serves as a dovecot, and proudly tells you that it was Julius Caesar who provided a lodging for his pigeons. Every province disputes with its neighbor the honor of hav ing been the first to smart under Caesar's cqt o’-nine-tails; it was by this road, not by that, insist the local antiquaries, that he came here to cut our throats, to toddle us with laws that we could only understand through in terpreters, and to take from us the very little money that we had. The Indians are wiser than we, they know in a vagufe way that a certain brigand, greater than other brigands, his predecessors, named Alexander, once overran their country, but they scarcely ever talk about him. An Italian antiquary, pass ing, some few years ago, through Sannes in Brittany, was ‘astonished to hear the tavans of the town boasting that Caesar had been there. ‘Doubtless you have some monuments of that great man ?’ said he. Dh, yes,’ was the reply, ‘we can show you the spot where this hero hanged the whole Senate of our # Erovince, numbering 600.’ Ignorant writers ave stated in the journals that a hundred stakes dug up in 1775 were the remains of a bridge built by Caesar, but I have conclusive ly proved in my essav of 1756 that these beams served for the hanging of our parlia ment. What other town can produce such relics ?T’-~Lo? , .don Letter.