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HO U 3ST OONFRBBB AO Y.
jaotUm (SanfeAems
iBO. w. ADAIR, J> HENLY SMITH,
■DITOM AMD PBOPBIITOB8.
V o. SMITH. M P. • M60WAT, ZD* TOE.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
SATURDAY, APRIL Tl, 1863.
Our Railroads.
« Ua well ascertained fact, that at this day there ia
ao t >fa»A«nca of all kinds of provisions for erery liv
ing creature within the military possession of the Con-
federate States, but it cannot be equally distributed
without railroad transportation. Hence the necessity
for this mode of transportation, not only for the ar-'
my, bat for citizens in destitute regions. Owing to
the blockade, railroad machinery, and articles neces
sary for yaxioos repairs, have been shat off from the
eoaatryv until the supply on hand has been almost
osednp. , _ _
The question arises, "what is the remedy*” We
think the. Presidents and Directors of the various
roads! n the South, should have met long ago, and sent
a trusty agent to Europe and purchased all necessary
articles and a steamer for their shipment, andbronght
them into Charleston. What if they had lost 9 Vessel
or two* Th*y could have succeeded in getting
enough in to enable them to pay for all losses, and
supply their roads with the necessary stock.
We call on Messrs. King, Tyler, Scott, Pollard, and
Rowland to wake np. Throw off your old fogy no
tions, and come op to the requirements of the times.
Infose a little life and spirit L.to your officers—quit
counting your baskets foil of Confederate notes, and
the interest on your bonds, and bring in’ a cargo or two
of railroad supplies, so that yonr roads may not run
down, like the farm of a widow who has no one to
look after needful repairs.
.We merely desire at present to call attention to
this suhfeet, as we shall notice It again
AST* The New York Herald gives an ao
oonntof a “viotory” at Somerset, Kentucky.
It publishes ah official dispatch from Qeneral
Gilmore, who was in command of the Federal
foroes, say : ng that “the action lasted five
hoursthat “the rebels, commanded by
Pegram, and numbering over 2,600 men, were
driven in confusion to and over the Cumber
land river, with a loss that will not fall far
short of 600 men; between 300 and 40J cat
tle were taken, and Scott’s famous rebel regi
ment was cut off from the rest and scattered.’’
Onr Special Mlllcdgevllle Correspondence
Mu.ledoevu.le, Tuesday, Apiil 7.
SENATE.
The Governor’s message, in referenoe to
increasing the salaries of soldiers was read
He recommends that Congress be requested to
raise the pay of privates to $20 a month, and
non-commissioned officers in projgtrtioa.
Gen. Huuscll, from Judiciary committee, re
ported a bill, a« a substitute to a bill to repeal
the stay law, a bill to repeal the said law as
far as relates to rents. ,
BILLS OS THE IP. PASSAGE.
A bill to incorporate the Warehouse Insur
ance and Banking Company of LaGrange, and
of Americas. Lost.
A bill to authorize the Superior Courts to
appoint persons to assign dower. Passed.
A bill to regulate the admission of tesli-
timony. Passed.
ENDORSEMENT OF OOMFBDBBATJB BONDS
The epecial order—the bill to provide for
the endorsement of Confederate Bonds, was
taken up at 11 o’olook, when Jadge Gibson
proceeded to address tbe Senate in an elabor
ate argument in defence of the policy of en
dorsement. He argned that the opposition to
endorsement came chiefly from those who
have opposed the policy of the Administra
tion. He argned that Providence bad over
ruled in working out the good of our Govern
ment, from the policy of tho enemy—and that
the schemo of saving oar qyedit by selling
oar cotton, and building a navy as advocated
by the opponents of endorsement would im
poverish us. The blockade waB what had
Bared ns. He urged the high duty of the
States to endorse—in so doing they were bat
endorsing their own paper, and preserving
their own honor. He paid a very handsome
tribute to Prebident Davis.
He was followed by Col. Mitchell, who pre
sented a written argument, which at his re
quest, was ordered printed, and was not
read.
The special order-was then postponed until
to morrow at 11 o’clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The bill to repeal the Stay Law eo far as
relates to rents, was taken up, ^ substitute
was offered to repeal it except as it applies to
soldiers, or to those to wbom soldier’s were in
debted.
A motion to postpone indefinitely was lost
Mr. Swearingen moved to recommit the bill,
which was adopted.
The impressment resolutions were referred
to a spooial committee. A committee was ap
pointed, to be a joint oommittee to prepare an
address to ootton planters.
A bill to oharter the Chattahooobee Insur
ance Company. Passed: -
a telegram received at headquarters, General
Chalmers’ foroes drove tbs enemy’s pickets
within five miles of Memphis, killing and
wounding several, and captaring two, with
their horses and equipments complete. They
came out afterwards, having been reinforced,
but finding our forces ready for them, they
did not attempt an advance. We are glad to
know that our friends in North Mississippi
are likely to be hereafter less annoyed than
heretofore. They have already suffered al
most beyond endurance, as will be seen by
reference to the letter from onr DeSoto coun
ty correspondent.
From Greenwood.*--By offioial information,
received at headquarters -this morning, dated
Fort Pemberton, nth inst., we learn that the
enemy commenced embarking from his posi
tion on the Tallebatohie, on Friday evening,
10 o’clook, and before daylight was in rapid
'retreat np the river, after having been rein
forced to' the extent of ton thousand. Our
works having been st-engtbened, Gen. Loring
bad been engaged in shelling their transports
and camps for two days, and at intervals du
ring the intervening night. This gave rise to
the numerous rumors tn»t pervaded our city
on Saturday and yesterday, that a fight was
progressing.
On Saturday a strong reconnoisance was
made from our left flank, some distance up
the river, which appeared to alarm the enemy
very much. An additional to roe, previously
above, fired into one of their transports, evi
dently doing considerable damage, and the
boat was stated to have been disabled. This
movement of the enemy is probably an end of
the Yazoo Pass expedition from which they
expected so mnob, and whioh was at one time
feared might prove a success. Tho energy
displayed to repel the move was as unexpect
ed by the foe as it has proven successful.
Gen. Sam Houston.—-This distinguished
gentleman addressed the people of Houston,
Texas, on the evening of the 19th nit. Re
ferring to his speech, the Newe, of the 20th
ultimo, sayB: “He did not allude to his past
political course, nor to the approaching gu
bernatorial election. Ha was especially so
vere upon extortioners and tho depreoiators
of onr Confederate currency. His sentiments
were patriotio, and his speech entirely free
from personal abase. He did not think we
should place any confidence in intervention
either by England or France, but that our
only dependence is in our own strong right
arms. But be said there was not a doubt of
the final result, for that with such officers
and soldiers as the Confederacy has Bent into
the field, we never could be conquered. He
spoko in tbe highest terms of the gallantry
of the Texas soldiers, whose achievements
were such as every Texian was proud of. He
paid a high compliment to Gen. Magruder,
who was just the man tp suit the Texians.
He was applauded when hs spoko of the
Texas soldiers and General Magruder. Hie
speech was short, and was listened to with
attention and interest.”
t&" We take' the following items from the
Jaokson Appeal of the 6th :
Memphians Banished.—By way of retal
iation for the late suooess of the Confederate
oavalry at Moscow, Tennessee, the magn&mi-
mous Federal commander at Memphis has
commenced a system of retaliation upon non-
oombatants and their families in that oity.—
The defeat of his armed soldiery at Moscow
must be avenged, and afraid of his prowess of
his cowardly- minions when pitched against
brave mon in the field, he uses their bayo
nets to drive the defenseless from their homes.
Such is Abolition slavery!
By a late order ten families have been ex
pelled from the oity and ordered south of the
Federal lines. Among these we have heard
mentioned the names of T. A. Nelson and
family, Eugene Magevney and family, Ward-
low Howard and family, D. B. Molloy and
family, and W. Townsend and family. All
theso were old and prominent citizens. Mr.
Nelson was President of the Bank of West
Tennesse, Messrs. Howard and Townsend
merchants of long standing, and Mr. Magev
ney a citizen of ‘wealth and prominence. Of
course, resistance to tho edict of the tyrant
was useless.
Robbed of their property and driven from
their homes for faithfulness to the cause they
have espoused, the prescribed citizens ot the
Bluff Cm will receive the sympathy of
old neighbors who are scattered throughout
the South in exile, and we bespeak for them
a corresponding feeling from al) those among
whom they may be thrown. As for their
persecutor, history will record his act to hi3
eternal shame f
North Mississippi.—Tho Abolition ma-
b ««» 3'ouriog the country
wekh ef Memphis so long Wtifi comparative
tafety, have probably learned by this time
o l0 r g . e 7 c , 0Bl ‘ ina ® do so with
impunity. On Friday last, as wo learn from
From the Ohorlfitoa Courier April 9tb -
Tbe Attaok of tbe monitors.
SINKING OF THE KEOKUK.
An offioial dispatch from Col. Graham com
manding on Morris’ Island, reoeived in the
city Wednesday morning, at Gen. Ripley’s
Headquarters, stated that an iron clad Moni
tor, supposed to be the Keokuk; had sunk at
nine o’clook, on the beaoh inside the Bar, off
Morris Island. The gratifying intelligence
was shortly- after confirmed by a di patch
from Fort Sumpter, and the arrival < f several
officers and others who saw tbe Keokuk gnkg
down until She disappeared, with nothing but
her ohimneys appearing above water. The
Keokuk was one of the most powerful of her
class, and her lose will be a staggering blow
to tho enem’y. She was built last spring god
summer, in accordance with plans furnished
by Mr. Whitney, .an iron merchant of New
York, and was said’to be impervious to the
largest shot or shell capable of being thrown
from the most formidable fortification. Her
armaments consisted of two fifteen inoh Dahl-
grens—one in each turret. Thus ends one 01 the
boasted invalerable fleet, which, it has long
been trumpeted forth, could not be sank, but
would demolish and wipe out everything that
opposed their progr*ss-
Ine result so far has elated our people and
given the highest satisfaction to our military
commanders. Whether it will prove as equal
ly satisfactory to the enemy remains to be
seen.
It is known that several others of the fleet,
said to have been ten in number, that made
the attack, were severely injured.
We learn from good authority that the
distance of the Monitors from Fort Sumter
daring .the engagement was not over eight
hundred yards. Tbe s'«smr Passaic was the
leader and not the Keokuk -.s'ai first reported
The latter is said to ba*e been the last to
oome into line and the last to oome out.
Seven of the Monitors and the Ironsidet
were reported at headquart- rs and a ill inside
the bar We nes'Jay morning. A later report
in the afternoon stated that these vessels had
gone outside and eight turretted Monitors
were seen steaming Sjuth, apparently bound
to Port Royal. It was thought they remained
inside during the night and following morn
ing to render assistance to the Keokuk, bat
finding all their efforts to save her, useless
they abandoned her and left as abov3 state!.
In the evening, however, the seven turreted
monsters re appeared, and it is believed they
had merely g-me round to Stono to avoid the
heavy blow that prevailed at the bar during
tho afternoon.
The nondescript, or “Yankee Devil,” for
clearing the channel, was washed ashore on
Mo ris’Island yesterday, and is nowin our
possession. ItlB described as an old scow like
vessel, painted red, with a long protruding
beak and jutting iron prongs or olaws, intend
ed for the removal and bursting of torpedoes.
It was attached to the Passaic the leading
vessel, and managed by her daring the engage-
It is also reported that two of the small
boats belonging to the Keokuk have been se
cured by. our men on Morris’ Island.
It .is hardly probable that the enemy, after
his injuries and experience reoeived in the
attack of Tuesday, will be ready for another
trial very soon, if at all, especially in the
same direction.
It is a carious coiacidence, of war that the
commanders Generals Beauregard, Ripley,
Colonel Rhett, Lieut. Colonel Yates, and near
ly all the garrison of Fort Sumter, were the
same men who were the chief actors ia the
blMdlesa deduction of Fort Sumter in April,
1S61, and who have now so gloriously 'and
successfully repelled a formidable attack
upon this famous fortress, while in their keep-
No additional news was received from
Stone. ’ The nnmber of vessels reported inside
was about thirty. ~
The heavy firing heard early in the morning
and later in the afternoon is believed to have
he n practicing at tne batteries.
pg* An irishman look off his coat^ to
show a terrible wound he had received. a
few years before. Not being able, however,
to find the wound, he suddenly remember
ed that it was his ‘Brother Bill’s orm.’ /
Special C rreapoDdenca of the Chicago Times.
Trie Vuto Pass.. .
INTERESTIN' 5 ACCOUNT OF THE FEDERAL EXPE
DITION.
Helena, Ark., March 31.—I believe that
within the last half year, I have started for
Vicksburg, in company with some grand and
promising expedition, on an average of about
onoe a month, and have not got there yet. I
confess to a good deal of curiosity to see that
famous Hill City. I have tried, with the aid
of great military power and naval strength,
to get into it from at least three different di
reotions, and its portals still remain closed
against me. It seems to have been foreor
dained that McClellan should never get into
Riohmond, thougn he struggled long, patient
ly, energetically, skillfully, and properly to
accomplish the purpose. I can sympathize
with him. Hope, long deferred, maketh the
heart sick. I have hoped so long and so san-
guinely to get into Vicksburg, and my hopes
have been so often blasted, that my heart is
becoming most fearfully sick.
THE me 5 BOOK TO VICKSBURG LEFT OPEN.
The last attempt I made to reach the desired
hat en was via the Yazoo Pass and Tallahat
chie river. This is what our Southern friends
would call a mighty promising route. It
looked very much as if the astute Vioksburg-
ers, while securely locking their front doors
against the entranoe of Yankee hordes, had
unwittingly left the back entranoe wide open.
And so, in fact, they had. True, they thought
this book door was oiosed. They imagined
that nature had effectually oiosed and barred
it. But in this they deceived themselves.
They forget to consider the acknowledged
cuteness and penetrating powers of tbe great
universal Yankee nation. Who ever heard of
a place nnder the sun where a Yankee was
not to be found? The great wall of China
could never keep them out of the Celestial
Kingdom; and, long before Commodore Per
ry visited JapSn, there was a very slight
sprinkling of Yankees among the exolnsive
people. How absnrd, therefore, to suppose
that nature could obstruct a water oourse so
that a Yankee oould not engineer a steamboat
through it.
HOW WE DBFEATBOjOUR O WN PLANS.
It was not the obstructions that nature bad
placed in and over the Yazoo pass that defeated
tbe expedition, that more than a month ago start
ed out under such aparantly favorable auspices
to enter Vicksburg through this neglected back
door. Nor yet was it any obstacles the enemy
had placed there. All these were overcome
with ih^ utmost ease. The trouble was that
when we discovered the open door, our risibili
ties got the better of our discretion. We were
seized with a great fit of merriment, and instead
of quietly and and quickly slipping in, we bad
to sit down on the threshold and have our laugh
out. Ha! ha! ha! he! he! he! What a set
of ninnies these rebels are ! How much trouble
they took to fasten their front entrance, and af
ter all went to bed leaving the back'doqf wide
open ! Ha ! ha! ha ! haw ! haw ! haw ! ' Ob,
how my side aches ! Thus we kicked up a most
unseemly hullabaloo and managed to Wake up
the old man of the house. He very soon saw
and comprhended the occasion of the row, but
it was too late then for him to close and secure
the door. In fact he had no occasion to do that
He just ran through the hall and locked all the
doors opening into it, and then stuck his head
out of the window and cried out to us: “There
you d—d Yankees, you have got into the hall;
make the mist of it. When you get any further
into my house let me know.”
A BSD’OULOUS SITUATION
• Was ever ssitua ion more absurdly ridiculous
tbau our# I It ie notorious that,-when we struck
■he first.spade into the great Mississippi tievee
■a-rutiB iho upper pnd of the Yazoo pass there'
was nothing whatever save a,tew trees and-logs
to prevent our passing straight through to Vicks-
burg oral iea*t ae tar ou the way aa Yazoo
city. Bui instead of doing that, we managed td,
puiter iway six weeks in getting two hundred
<u.d titty miles on our way,' and then we ran
again#t r ?nag that the enemy had placed there
auriuu .he tint we had been accomplishing our
w md-rlut y tapid journey, and against the snag
" .' - ill etiek. There ts even a more contempt-
u tui phase •*» the matter than this. Tbe other
day an intelligent deserter came into oar camp
beloro F*>rt Greenwood. He may be reliable
and iruthiul or.he may not be. He was a rebel
officer, but says he is a Maine man, and entered
the rebel service because he could not get out of
the South, and this was his only conrse to avoid
presecution. His statements have been substan
tiated in all respects in which it.has been possi
ble to substantiate such statements.
A b SB TEE’S STATEMENTS.
His story is so plausible that our commanders
are'acting upon some of his reports. He says
that when we arrived in front of the rebel forti
fications, they had not a single heavy gun in
position. And yet we suffered the slight casualty
that dccurred on that day on the Cbillicothe
(slight, of course, only in comparison with the
sacr.fices this gigantic war demands); we al
lowed the loss of four men killed and ten wound
ed to stagger us and cause ub to fall back. Two
of our must formidable iron-clad gunboats wem.
actus lly repulsed by a battery mounting notH-
ing heavier than a 32-pounder. Justice requires
that I should Bay that this was not the fault of
the gunboat commanders. Further than this, I
have no apologies to make.
THE ENEMY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUB DELAYS.
That very night, after we had withdrawn, the
rebels commenced work in earnest, and in the
morning had a rifled 64-pounder ready to talk to
us. 'And it has talked to us earnestly and tell
ingly. And since that night they have mounted
new guns, of greater caliber, nightly.
DONELSON DEFINES HIS POSITION.
I dislike very much to criticise severely the
conduct of officers who take their lives in their
hands and go out and fight the battles of their
country. 1 do not believe the officer exists who
ie a traitor and yet stands up and fights, facing
the same dangers himself that he calls upon his
command to face. I believe that it takes a true
man to stand up bravely and fight, and there
fore I am averse to criticising their conduct too
closely. I think my record will bear mi out
that I seldom indulge io criticisms,, but rather,
in my communications, confine myself to rela
tions of lacts. The case is an extreme one in
which I suffer to violate this rule. And in-such
cases I prefer to omit names. If an officer is
incompetent to the position he fills, he yet may
be a brave and true man, and brave and true
men are hot so plentiful in this day and genera
tion that they can be cavalierly condemned or
denounced as imbeciles. These considerations
actuate me in refraining from mentioning names
sometimes is what I may say of this Yazoo pass
expedition. The relevancy of these remarks
will appear in the sequel.
SO FAB THE EXPEDITION IS A FAILURE.
It might have been a most signal and glo
rious success, the precursor of greater victo
ries than ire have yet achieved in this war.—
To have been all that I claim it might have
bean, it should have had no battle to fight at
Greenwood. 'The mere failure to reduce that
position is not what I consider the failure of
the expedition. Fort Greenwood is nothing.
To he sure it has resisted us so far; but the
force that we now have there could take.two
such places at the tr.me lime and not make
a desperate effort at that. I do not des
pair of Greenwood. Sooner or later it must
be ours.
IS WHAT THE FAILURE CONSISTS.
The failure lies in the fact that we had any
fortification at Greenwood to take. It was
our own fault, that that work was in existence
when we got there, and that we had to re
duce it. This is freely admitted by all par
ties concerned. Unfortuhately the opinion
as to where the responsibility for this failure
rests, is not so unanimous. Tho public know
the facts as well as I do, and the public may
judge who is to blame.
THE ACTION OF THE I3TH INST.
And yet, even with Port Greenwood in ex-.,
istenoe, we ought not to have met with so
complete a failure as has thus far befallen us.
This I have partially demonstrated in the ac
tion of Friday, the 13th inst., when, in an
engagement of but little over an hour’s dura
tion, we silenced every gun in the rebel # bat-
tery. What did we do then f Why, quietly
withdrew our boats and gave the rebels two
days to mount more guns, procure fresh am
munition,'and get ready to fight ns again. The
deserter to whom I havtf alluded Bays that,
on that occasion, one of his magazines blown
up' with heavy loss, his guns all rendered
useless, and his foroes all in Teadiness to
jump aboad the transports that were in wait
ing to receive them, and evaouate the place
the.moment they should discover ua advanc
ing" upon it. That wo did not advance upon
it was not the fault of the oommandera who
had done the fighting. J,hey were only too
anxious to move us oloser, but wore restrain
ed by higher power.
A HARD HOAD TO TRAVEL.
Thus one miserable blunder has auooeeded
another, and failure has followed upon fail
ure, consuming- valuable time, until now the
valley of the Yazoo will be more difficult to
pass through than the valley of any stream
through which we have -had oooasion to move
an army. Fort Greenwood oan yet, and will
be, taken. That is not the trouble. It is the
loss of time that constitutes the failure.—
Yazoo City is being strengthened all the
while, and, il we finally succeed in passing
that place, we shall find formidable batteries
at Drnmgood’s bluff, bearing upon the river.
Yazoo City would have been no impediment to
ue a few weeks ago, aud guns on Drumgood’a
bluff had no range np Yazoo river.
WHO ABE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
But I am weary commenting on these in
glorious results. I suppose somebody is to
blame. I oan assert most honestly and firm
ly that braver men and truer patriots never
existed than those who we. e placed at the
head of this movement. Their record is such
that their reputations need not suffer because
of this failure, in the responsibilities of which,
at most, they were but participants.
ANOTHER FIGHT AND ANOTHER FAILURE.
Since’ my last communication we have made
bat a single effort at the enemy, and that,
like its predecessors, resulted in nothing. On
Monday last, at noon, the bombardment was
resumed. - The gunboats Chillioothe and De-
Kalb, with one mortar boat, were brought in
to notion, assisted by battery Wilson, which,
at that time, had been enlarged and extended
so as to carry three guns—two thirty pounder
Parr< t guns, and an eight inch Dahlgren.—
The first casualty at this battery, aud, indeed,
the first that has ooourred on land, was met
with in this notion. A email projectile, from
some of the enemy’s guns, passed through
one ootton bale and between two others, and
finally tore off the right arm of private Wright
Neil, of oompany D, 40th Indiana infantry,
who Was at work on one of the gnns in the
battery.
THE CHILLIC0TH E.
As on former oooasiona the Chillioothe was
the main target of the enemy. They never
have paid much attention to any other boat,
^betookher old position, about eight hun
dred yards from tho rebel works, at the point
where the fort first comes into view. Her com
mander begged hard to be permitted to go
doyrn tbe river, but was refused. His notion
lasted about twenty minutes, during whioh
time only fourteen shots were fired at the
Chillioothe, eight of which, however, hit her
dill in the faoe. The effect of this severe
pounding was the oause of the speedy termi
nation of the engagement. Both her bow
port-holes were oiosed up. These port-holes
are covered with ponderous iron shutters that
are drawn together when the gun is drawn
in for loading. The enemy’s heavy missils,
falling upon these when closed, had so inden
ted and jammed the shutters that they could
not, be slid open. The vessel ,was, therefore,
temporarily disabled, and had to be withdrawn
Two men were wounded on the Chillioothe in
thii notion.
V THE REBELS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE
At this singe in the operations we began to
receive • tangible evidence that the enemy
could reinforce more rapidly than wo. Hm
battery had been increased by tho addition
of dune ’ of greater calibre, reaching to 10-
inchi columbiads; his magazines had been
bountifully replenished, and his garrison was
receiving accessions daily. We, bn the con
trary, were very distantly removed from our
base bf operations, whioh was accessible on
ly wilh difficulty; our ammunition was rap
idly tfinning out; no reinforoements appear
ed in right; our rear was stroffgly threaten-
* ’ our general position a very desperate
tost hopeless one. To engage those
s again promised not even so good
as we had previously met with,
we should be again repulsed, our
would bo such that we oonld not
baok and act on the defensive.—
_ therefore, determined to make no
furtherl direct effort at present to dislodge
the ene^ay.
. GRAVE QUESTION.
On tie adoption of this decision grave
questions arose as to the oourse wc should
pursue.’'! Should we sit down where we were
and writ events, or ought wo to withdraw
entirely'from tho river ? The latter alterna
tive seemed the more wise and prudent, and
was adopted after mature deliberation. Im
mediately preparations for the withdrawal
were Bet; on foot. Battery Wilson was dis
mantled; and its guns returned to the boats
to which they belonged. Orders were issued
for the direction of the fleet on its return
vovaee. Everything was in readiness for tho
withdrawal, wnich was to have been con
summated on Thursday morning, when, late
on Wednesday night the programme was
suddenly changed. Why withdraw? Wo
must take Fort Greenwood sooner or later.
The force is at hand now that is able to take
it The only trouble is, this land force can
not move, owing to the overflow of the land
between them and the rebel works. Now, it
is very plain that, if we can’t get at the ene
my neither can the enemy get at us. They
may make the attempt by boats—the only
practical way—but we have every advantage
of them there, having full confidence that
our fine fleet of gunboats is more than a
match for any temporary war vessels they
may fit up. We are safe from attack at
Shell mound place—the locality of our camp
—and it is better t o remain there.
ANOTHER SOHEMB TO DISLODGE THE ENEMY
An additional objection to withdrawal was
urged in the feasibility of anotner attempt to
dislodge the enemy, that had been suggested
by Lieut. CoL Wilson, engineer-in-chief, and
which had been adopted. It was apparent
that the enemy was posted on very loft ground.
Some portions of his works were already sub
merged by the overflow. If the river could
be raised three feet, ha would be completely
drowned out. When the Yazoo pass was first
opened, the great Mississippi levee was out
only sufficient to admit of tho passage of a
steamboat. The fall of water through tho
pass is from eight to ten feet. The rush of
water through the little gap in the levee is im
mense. A hundred fold greater volume of
water could be turned through that channel
if it could be admitted. Lieut. Col. Wilson’s
proposition was to tear this levee away for a
great dislanoe—a mile if necessary—and give
the water free passage through into the valley
of tho Tallahatche and Yazoo, expecting
thereby to oause such a flood in those valleys
that the bottom lands would be entirely over
flowed. Gen. Ross transmitted the suggestion,
with his approval, immediately to Gen. Pren
tiss, at this place. Gen. Prentiss at once or
dered the work to be done, and a large force
of soldierB are now at work destroying the le
vee. The projeot abounds with promise of
favorable results. But, of necessity, the re
sults, if attainable, will be of slow develop
ment. It is somewhat more than two hun
dred and fifty miles from the head of the pass
to Fort Greenwood. The water that will be
let into the pass must spread out and cover
the wide bottoms of all tbe valley down to
Greenwood before its effect will be noticeable
at that plaoe. And even then it is questions,
ble if a raise of eight, or even ten feet in the
pass will oause a raise of three feet as far down
as Greenwood But the objects to be gained
will justify the trial.
A POINT THAT OAN BE GAINED.
Even should the iort not be inundated through
this attempt, other advantages will be gained
that will more than compensate us for the slight
labor the cutting of the ievee will cost us. The
valley above the rebel fort, which is now only
partially overflowed, will be so completely inun
dated that guerillas will find no dry land near
the channel back from which to fire upon our
passing vessels, as they have been doing with
out mercy ever since we passed down the river.
They will, at least, be suppressed.
ANOTHER POINT THAT OAN BE GAINED.
Other plans of the enemy, designed to acorn-
plish our capture, or at least to give us very se
rious annoyance, will be thwarted by this means.
General Ross has positive iulormation that the
rebels contemplate planting a heavy battery at
the confluence of the Little Tallahatchie river
with the Coldwater, one hundred and sixty miles
above Green wood. General Tilgham is reported
to be airaeady in motion, with a force ot three
thousand men to seize, occupy and fortify this
point. When the water is freely admitted into
the pass, this point, which is now comparatively
high and dry, will be inundated and rendered
untenable.
Here are two very important objects to be
gained by flooding the Tallahatchie valley, even
if the rebel fort should not be inundated; and,
if we fail in the main purpose, we have at least
gained enough to more than- repay us thecost.
GUERILLAS ASTER THE BRIGADIERS.
On Tuesday last Generals Ross and Fisk
made a reconnoisance about forty miles up the
river, on the little steamer Wenona, Capt. Geer.
They were guarded by a sin le company of in
fantry. About thirty miles above our camp,
they fired into by a gang of guerillaB concealed
in a thicket on the west side of the river. The
guard returned the fire promptly, at which the
guerillas ran away. No one was hurt on the
steamer, though Capt. Geer, who was at the
wheel at the moment, had a very narrow escape
Gen. Ross ordered a boat to land, and immedi
ately distroyed all the buildings on the planta
tion from which the fire came. On returning to
camp he stopped at all the plantations he passed
and notified the people of what he had done,
warning them at any plantation from which
vessel should be fired into would be similarly
J ealt with. This is the only practicable method
f stopping'this barbarous system of warfare.
ILLNXS3 AND W1THDAWAL OF COMMANDER
SMITH.
1 he gunboat Rattler is now in the pass, com
ing up, and will probable reach here tomorrow.
She e destined lor Cairo, and goes up to carry
her commander, the late acting commodore of
the fleet in the Tallehatchie, Lient. Commander
Smith, who is quite severely ill. His health
has been poor ever since he entered the pass,but
he fought desyerately against the disease until
it assumed a crouic torm, wh n it became a
question of life and death to him whether he
should reman or go North. He leaves the com
mand of r ie maval force in the Tallehatchie
with Lieut. Commandef Foster, of the Chilli
cotho. - -
i _ - . DEATH OF AN OFFICER
One of the officers of the Rattle, Master’s
Mate Daniel Welch, ot Chicago, died on the
passage, from the same disorder that effects the
commander of the vessel. Mr.'Welch’s remains
will be taken to Cairo on the Rattler.
GUERILAS ATTACK THE BATTLER.
The Battler, in ooming up, experienced
unusual {and serious annoyance from the
guerillas. She was twice fired into. The
first time the bushwhackers assailed her at
midnight. They hailed her as she was
moored iu the stream, and endeavored to get
her to send a boat out to them, on the pre-
tenoe that they had a dispatch for a Captain
Bryant. The ruse failed, however, when the
rascals fired, but fortunately hit no one.
The Rattler responded with grape and canis
ter, and doubtless did them more damage
than she received.
On the next day they gave her a second
volley soon after noon, as she was steaming
along up the riTer. On this occasion there
were more people on deok, and the effects of
the fire were more serious. A seaman named
Jeremiah Harrington was instantly killed,
and Ensign George S. West was badly, tho’
not dangerously wounded.
OEN. QUIMBY MOVING.
The Wenona passed Gen. Quimby’s division,
bound down on transports, and half way
down the Coldwater river. They had got
through the difficult part of the route, and
wou d be with General Boss, if not delayed
by accidents, in a conple of days.
THE PETREL WATCHING FOR TILGHMAN.
The gunboat Petrel,- Aoting Volunteer
Lieut. Lord commanding, has been stationed
at the mouth of the Coldwater to guard
against Tilghm&n’s designs in that quarter.
The Rattler, in coming up, discovered rebel
cavalry in that locality and dispersed them.
They were supposed to be Tilghman's ad
vance
REBEL COMMANDERS.
In a former letter I think I stated that
Tilghman was in command at Fort Green
wood. This was a mistake. Gen. Loring
still has the command there, with Lieutenant
Brown, of the ram Arkansas fame, in com
mand of their heavy batteries and whatever
naval force they have
DOKKLilfON.
Cotton in the North.—Advices from Europe
say that the very high price of cotton in the
North, ranging from seventy-five cents to a dol
lar a pound, has again induced holders in Eng
land to export and reship it to the North, and 1
that three screw steamers,almost entirely cotton
laden, had been dispatched from Liverpool in a
single week. These wero the Kadar, the Plan-
tagenet and the Damus, which among them car
ried out considerably upward of 4,000 bales- A
number of other steamers, some five or six,
with a large portion of their cargo in cotton,had
sailed from Europe for New York, making M
was es imated in all, the export of one week
from Liverpool to New York not short off, but
might exceed, 6,000 bales
Encouraging Letter fromVles President
Stephens.
The Editor of the Raymond Gazette hs->
seen a private letter from Vice President
Stephens, under date of March 14th, address -
ed to a lady at Raymond. It contains mat
tera of interest, as expressing the views of
one of the first minds of the nation, in the
present juncture ol affairs, a:,d tho 'Gazette
quotcB freely.
Iu speaking of the ability of the South to
maintain the stand taken, Mr. Stephens
speaks confidently, and says: “We oan
without doubt, subsist our armies just as
long as the Federal Government shall con
tinue to wage this crusade against us, if wo
properly, judiciously and wisely avail our
selves of our resources. They are abundani
if prudently developed, hue >anded and ap’-
plied. No equal number of people on the
earth over had more of the essential element*
of war at their c >mmand than we havo. In
ternal resources for subsistence is one of the
ohiefesi of Those. But the development of
these needs looking to by those who conduct
war quite as much, if not more, than the
raising of armies. I gave olose attention to
this subject in the beginning of our struggle,
and was well satisfied that we could maintain
tho war in our defense as long as the enemy
could prosecuto it for our subjugation
Frederick, of Prussia, defended his kingdom
in a seven years’ struggle against all the
combined powers. The odds against Mm in
fighting men were three to one—yet his de
fense waB successful; and not only this, but
at the end of the war he did not owe a dollar.
This shows what can and may be done, for
his kingdom was far inferior to our territory
in those internal resources essential to suc
cess in war. All that is wanting with us, '
under a kind Providence, is the same brains
to manage and mould our resources that ele
vated those of Prussia. * * * -very
energy of the country now in the agricultu
ral line should be vigorously applied to the
.production of food and clothing. For while
I am satisfied we pos-e-s the moans to fur
nish the necessary supplies, eto., I am equal
ly satisfied that if they are not properly and
efficiently used, the ,-upplies will fail, and
then failure will be attended with disaster,”
After speaking of several minor matters,
and dwelling somewhat upon the movements
iD the Northwest, Mr. Stephens says: “In
the meantime we muBt, with patriotism, pa
tience and fortitude, bear all the ill-*, priva
tions aud saorifices whioh are the price of our
independence. jThese ills, privations and sac
rifices must be heroically borne, not only by
the gallant men in the field, bat by all who
are at home. All have duties to perform.—
Every one who oan turn a furrow or a spin
dle, use a hoe or a needle, wield an axe or a
shuttle—in a word, every one who oan turn a
hand to anything in tne v^ay of supplying
food aud clothing for the man in the field, cau
render important and essential service to the
great oause, and contribute something toward'
ultimate success ”
In speaking of the present prospects of the
country, in the fighting way, Mr. Stephens '
says:-“We all here have been anxiously
watching the movements of the enemy iu your
State. Those who have suffered by the hand
of the despoiler, the plunderer and the rob
ber, have our deepest sympathies, while the
noble spirits who have defended Port Hudson
and Vicksburg, have our liveliest gratitude and
highest admiration. They have won a name
that will live through all history.”—Memphis
Appeal, dth inst. *
Chinese Sugar Cane.—In view, of .the fact
that syrup has gone up to eight dollars per gal
lon; together with the scarcity and high price of
meat, it seems to us that the cultivation of Chi
nese Sugar Cane would be a paying business —
To.convert it into molases.is a.cheap and simple
process, and there id not the least danger that
profit will not bo the result. If the enemy is
whipped at Vicksburg, he will still retain most
of the sugar plantations, on the Mississippi.—
And even should Ite leave the State, the desola-
tionhe will leave behind will put it out of the pow
er of Louisiana to furnish us with sugar. Now,
what are we to do for these prime articles of ne
cessity ? No practical man who has taken an
intelligent survey of our situation at the present
conjuncture can doubt that the salvation of the
South depends mainly, it not wholly, upon the
course pursued by our planters. Let them then
reflect upon the matter, a.nd patriotically resolve
to plant that which is needed most by our troops
at.d their families. II a person has a spot of
ground on which he can raise a sugar cane crop,
let him raise it. He wil! not only benefit him
self thereby, but prove himself to be a benefac#
tor.—Chronicle <f- Sentinel, 9tk.-
Plant Sorghum.—We again urge upon our
planting friends the policy and duty of plantiiia'
igj**- *
that from the
very
makes a splendid syrup—'cat froi
ribbon cane—anA .ipens in August, the .
time when tne pinchm provisions will be great
est. One peck of seed will easily plant five
acres, and front this can be made on ordinary
land 300 gallons of syrup, now worth $2000.—
Lay off tne rows four feet apart, bed up, as if
for cotton, open the bed with a short, narrow
scooter, drill the seed very thin aud cover with a
board. Now ia the time to plant.—Columbus
Titties, 7th
Yankee El.oqaene«,
A Kentucky advocate is defending hig client,
who is charged with stealing a hank of -yarn :
1 Gentleman of the jury, do you think my cli
ent, Thom&3 Flinn, of . Muddy Creek and
Mississippi, would be guilty o’ stearin’ a hank
e’cotting yarn ? Gentle men of the jury, I
rekon not—I s’pose not. By no means, gen
tlemen—not at all. He are not guiliy. Tom
Flinn ? Good Heayena I yon all know Tom
Flinn ; and on honor, Xtow, gentlemen, do you
think he’d doit? Ne., gentlemen, I s’pose
not—I reckon not. 'Thomas Flinn? "Why,
great snakes and alligators! Tom’s a whole
team on Muddy Creetk, and a hos= to let
And do you think )ie’d sneak off with a
miserable hank o’ «o tting yarit ? AY ell, gen-
tlemen, I reckon nr ,t—1 a’pose not. When
the wolves was a hov /ling, gentlemen, on the
mountains o’ Kentnr ;ky, and Nap.oleon were
fighting the battles o’ Europe, do you think,,
gentlemen, that my orient, Mr. Thomas Flinn,
gentlemen, could be hookin’, gentlemen—
that pitiful, low, to ean hank o’ cotting yarn!
Onpussible, gentle' men, I rekon not—I s’pose
not. Tom Fiiur i ? gentlemen; 1 rekon I
know my client, Mr. Thomas Flinn 1 He’s
got the lastest nag and purtiest sister, gen
tlemen, in adl Jjluddy Creek and Mississippi.
That, gentienr left, are a fact.—Yes, gentlemen,
that are & fae t. You kin bet on that, gentle
men, you cv i bet your bones on that! Now,
pon honor, gentlemen, do you think he are
guiltyt Gentlemen, I rekon not—I s’pose
not. • hy, gentlemen of this j ury, my client,
Thelmas Flinn, am no, more guilty o’ stearin’
tlhature hank o’ cotting yarn than a toad are
r/ot a tail! yes, a tail, gentlemen ! Than a
toad are got a tail!” Verdict for defendant.
Casa dismissed. Court adjourned.—Veto York
Paper.
A dispatch from Salt Lake City,
23d ult., Etates that on the previous even
ing the Huxnbolt Indians attacked Deer
Creek Station, burned the station and
killed two drivers and stole the stage stock