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About Weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 183?-1864 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1863)
. UY N. S.’MORSE &CO. Cjjrfliitde & Sentinel ' r rKRMS. “ TUB WEEKLY ( MHlrtlllV: <fc SE.VmKL is roßLisinsw every vyEinvEsnAY J.T tom DOLLARS FOB SIX MOCTfM ALWAYS IS AItVAKCE. n HEKLY A l>\ KKTIHIVCI RATE*. -Oi'.nrKAni A DYKRTrMSMZNTa pnb!]Ae<l ( In U*A VY cekly wi.i Le ri*'irfad twer.*) I. * rvrit* a I.*e ea-Ji n/Mitton. Sf so'H. Hottvw Wtll fee dmnrsij tklitr «Wi« nek Insertion. m ■ Mitaiaors, r*riTFa(jcd I'i'emie ofo-rinss ana dollar saeti, Oam/vtr Kr.ii «*l**aM» j>.-» liu far ope luamilimi iu r , I>,'iyr ir \\ -a.'.. Y.'ltfre Obituary Notice ri* | üblish- Fit In Lath lu!'.) and «(■ -s'.ity cent* per lira. I'llK l*K\.\i*A I.VAM A 4AUPAIUV (il'ucrnl I.fr'a OliH-ial Kryoit The following ivan authentic copy ot'.fien. Hubert I I.ee'ji official report-of the “Penn sylvania Ohmfmign . Alt Aug's Aisvr Northern Va., I •July 31st, 1803. j Uni. 8. Cooper, A. £■ /. Urn., Richmond, 1 •'</.: (*r\krai. I have tlie honor to submit the 1 • >ll,>vvin ■' outline of the recent operations ol Hi ir. array fo* lbe information of tin* depart ure nl : Tlie position occupied hy the enemy oppo site Fredericksburg being one in which ho could not lie attacked to advantage, it was (Te torinined to draw hi in from it. 'the execution of this purpose embraced the relief of- the Shenandoah Valley'limn the troops that liad occupied the lower part during the winter and spring, unit, it practicable, the transfer of the Keene of hostilities North of the Potomac. It was thong 1,1 that the cones ponding move ment.; on the pait of the enemy, to which those contemplated by us would probably give rise, might oiler a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the army t ereiu, commanded hy (ten. Hook er, and, that in any event, that nrruy Would be compelled to leave Virginia, and possibly to draw to it; support troops designed to operate i g dust other parts of the* country. In this way it was supposed that the enemy’s plan ol cam paign lor tire summer would he broken up. and part of the reason of active operations be con sumed in the formation of new combinations, mid tic preparations that they would require. in addition to t tese advantages, it was hoped that othui valuable results might be attained by military success. Aetn.itn i by these and other important ron sidc rati ms that may hereafter be presented, the mow mefit began on the 3d June. Mchaws’ division of lsmg.street’.s corps left .Fredericks burg for Culpepper (V IF. and Hood s division, which was encamped mi the Kupidan, marched to the name place. They were followed on Ihe 4th and nth by Ewell’s corps, leaving that of A, 1“. Hill to oc cupy our lines at Fredericksburg. The march of these troops having been dis covered hy llio enemy on the afternoon of the sth, nnl the following day he crossed a force, amounting to about one army corps, t,, the south side ol Rappahannock on a pontoon bridgoffuid down near the mouth of Deep Run. Gen. iliil di-posts) of Ids command to resist their advance ; but as they seemed intended for the purpose of observation rather than at tack, the movements in progress were not ar rested. The force? of Longatreet ind Ewell reached Culpepper Court linust-by t\e bth. at which point the cavalry. under (Jen. txtuart, was also poll central ed. •* ()n Hie 9Mi n l.ii'ee foie * of Federal cavalry, strongly Btippi uted hr infantry, crossed the R ippahqnnock at Beverly's and Kelly's Fords, and attacked l>en. ?tu;ut. A severe enguge ment ensued, continuing from early in the morning until late in the afternoon, when the cncmv was forced lo recross the river with heavy loss, leaving four hundred prison (is, three pieces ol uilijery and several colors iu i llr hand* (fen. Jenkinh, with his cavalry brigade, had been ordered to advance towards Winchester to co operate with the infantry in the proposed expedition into the lower valley, and at the same time (Ji n. Inihodcn was directed, with Ids command, to make a demonstration in the di rection ol Romney, in order to cover tiie move ment against Winchester, and prevent the ene my at that place lioni being reinforced by the t mops on the line id the lidtiinore and Ohio Jiailfoad. lioth of these office's weio in posi tion when (Jen. Ewell left Culpepper Court House on the Itlth. Crossing the Shenandoah near Front Royal, he detached Kodes’ division to llcrrvville, with instriu t ons niter dislodgimr the forco stationed tliere, to eat off theoommn niention between Winch, ster and the Potomac. With the divisions ot l*.uly and Johnson, Oen. Ewell advanced directly upon Winchester, driving the enemy into his works around ihe town on the' 13th. On the as me (lay, the troops at lVrvvi le fell hack before (}cn. K.hlcs, rotrealine to Winchester. On the 14th, (fen. Early stormed the works at the latter place, and the whole army of (Jen. Mllroy was enp luixkl or dispeised. Most of I hose who attempt ed to escape were intercepted and made prison ers bv l«en. Johnson. Their leader tied to Harper's Ferry with a small party of fugi tives. General Bodes marched (rom ISerryville t > Martins burg. entering the latter place on the L4tli. wliere In- took seven hundred prisoners, jive pieces of at tilleiy and a considerable quan tit'- of store There operations cleared the valla* ot the enemy, those at Harper's Ferry withdrawing to Mary land Heights. More than four thousand piisoners. twenty.-nina pieces of aitillery. tao hiimlred and seventy wagons ami ambulances, with lour Imndred horses, were onptmed. besides a large amount of military store . Our loss \*w small. On the night that jovcli appeared at Winchester, the Federal troops in IV. lit of A T. Hill, at Fredericksburg reerossed the Rappaharfnock, and the nest day disappeared be lind the hills of Stafford. The whole tinny of General Hooker with drew tiom the line of the Rappahannock. pnr suine the ro ids near the Fotomae, and no fa vorable opportunity was offered for attack.— ; ]t seemed to lit* the purpose of Gen. Hooker to take a poi lon which would enable hint to co ver the approach to Washington City—with a view to draw him further from his base, and at ttir same time, to cover the mareh'of A. P Hill, who in accordance with instructions,left Frede ric .sburg for the Valley as tbeenemy withdrew from his front. —Eongstreet moved from Cul peper Court House on the I.lth, and advancing along the east-side of the Blue Ridge, occupied Ashby's and backer's Gaps. Ilia force had been augmented while at Culpeper by General l'ickett with three brigades of lii« division. The cavalry under General Stuart, was thrown out in trout of Longstreet to watch the enemy now reported to be moving into Lou doun. Outlie l'tli, hi- cavalry encountered two brigades >,.1 ours under General Stuart, near Ahlie. and was driven back with loss. The next day the engagement was renewed. iheFed cral cax.yrv being arongly supi>orted by infan try and Gen. Stuart was in turn compelled to re tire. 1 lie enemy advanced as fir as Upperville and then tell back. In these engagements Gen- I oral took -bout four hum (red prisoners, ! and a considerable number or horsea aud i arms. In the meantime a part of General Ewell s ■ corps had entered Maryland, and the rest was 1 about to follow. General Jenkins with his cav alry, who accompanied General Ewell.penetra ted Pennsylvania as far as Chambereburg. As tb se demonstrations did not hav j the effect of causing the Federal aitny lo leave Virginia,and as it did not Weom disposed to advance upon the pnsitii *n held by Fongstreel. the latter was with drawn to the west side of she Shenandoah, Gen eral llill having already reached the A alley. General Stuart was left to guard the passes of tbo mountains, and observe Hid movement* of the enemy, whom he was instructed to har ass and impede as lunch as possible should lie attempt to cross die Fotcinac.’ Iu that event, General. Stuart was directed tirroove into Ma ryland crossing the l’otomac east or west of the blue Ridge, as in his judgment sbcflrld be best and take position on the right ol ourcolirtnn as it mlvnnced, By the 21th, the progress of Five 11 rendered it necessary that the rest b"f the army should be in supporting distance, and Longstrcet and Hillmarelrcd to the Potomac. ’fhe former crossed at Williamsport,. and the latter at Shep herds town. 'File columns reunited at Hagers town, and advaheed thence into Pennsylvania, encamping near Chambersburg on the 27th. No report laid l>een received that the Federal army had crossed Hie Potomac, ami the absence of the cavalry rendered it impossible to obtain accurate information. In .order, however, to retain it on the east side of the mountains lif ter it should enter Maiyland and thus leave open our communication with ihe Potomac tiirough Hagerstown and WiUiamspoyt, Gen eral Ewell load been instiilctcd to send a divis ion eastwards from CliamLersburg to, cross tire South Mountains. Eariy*s division war de tached for this purpose and proceeds as far east as York, while the remainder of the corps pro ceeded to Carlisle. Gen. Imbodon, in pursuance ol tions previously inferred to iiad freen actively engaged on Ibe left of- Gen. Ewell during the progress of the latter into Alnryjand., lie hid driven oil the forces guarding tip* Ualimore and Oltio railro and, destroying all the important bridges on that r aite from Cumberland to Mar tiushurg, and seriously damaged-the Chesapeake anil Ohio Canal. He huoscipiontly took position at Hancock ; and after the arrival of Longstrcet an t Hill at Chambers' urg was direeted to march byway of McCtumel.sbui'g to that place. Preparations were now made total vancc upon Harrisburg; but on the night of the 29th in.’or mation was received lion', a scout that the Fed eral army; having crossed the Potomac, was ad vancing northwards, and that the head of the column bad reached South Mountain. As our communications with the Potomac were tints menaced, it was resolved to prevent his further progre s in that direction by concentrating our army on the east side of the mountaius. ac cordiugly. Longstreet and Hill were directed to proceed from Clmmliershurg to Gettysburg, to whiclt point Gen. Ewell was also instructed to march from Carlisle. Gen. rftuart continued to follow the move ments of the Federal army south of the Poto mac after our own had entered Maryland, and in his efforts to impede its progress, ad v. need as far eastward as Fairfax Court House. Find ing liiuis it unable to delay the enemy materi ally, be crossed the river at Seneca, and march ed through Westminster to Carlisle, where ho uni zed alter Gen. Ewell Inul left t>r Gettys burg. By the route he pursued the Federal ar-' my was interposed between Ins command iuH our main body, preventing any communication with him until Ids arrival at Carlisle. The march towards Gettysburg was conduct ed more slowly than it would have been bad the movements of the Federal army been known. The leading division of Hill met tin? eneir.v in advance of Gettynbii-g, on the inor ring ol the Ist of July. Driving buck these troops,to within a short distance ot Ihe town,’he there cn.oun eftd a larger force, with which two of his divisions became eng ged. Ewell, comma 1 up with two of Ids divisions by the Heidi* vs hurg road, joined in the engagement. The en emy were driven. through Gettysburg with heavy loss, including about five thousand pris oners aud several pieces ol m Ullery. He retired t» a high range of hills south and east of the town. '1 he attack was not. pressed that aftein ion, the enemy's force being un known, and it being considered advisable to await the arrival of the rest ot our troops. Orders were seilt to hasten their march : and in the meantime, every effort was made to as certain the numbers and position of the enemy, and find Ihe mo t favorable point of attack. It had not been iutended to light a general buttle at s u:h a distance from our base, unless attacked by th > enemy ; but finding ourselves unexpectedly confronted by the Federal a'my it became a matter ot difficulty to withdraw through the mountains with our large trains. At tin* same time, the country was uufavornhlu for collecting s pplo s while iu the presence of the enemy’s main body, as lie was enabled to restrain.our foraging parties by occupying the oasses of the mountains with regular and local troops. A battle thus became, in a measure, unavoidable. Encouraged by the successful issue of tic engagement of the first day, and in view of the valuable results tint would ensue from the defeat of the army ot Gou. Meade, it was thought advisable to renew the attack. Tlie rema nder of Ewc’l's aval Hill’s cures having arrived, and two divisions of Long street's, our preparations were made according ly. During the afternoon, intelligence was received of th" arrival of Gen. Stuart at Car lial!, and he was ordered to march to Gettys burg, and take position on the left. A full ac count ot these engagements cannot lie given until the reports oi the several commanding officers shall have l**en received, and l shall only offer a gerteral description. The preparations for uttiik were not com pleted until tlie afternoon of the 2d. The enemy field a liigti mid commanding ridge along which lie had n.asso.l a large amount of artillery. GVnernl Ewell occupied the left of our line, General Hill 1 lie centre and General Longsired the right, in front of Gen eral Longstrcet the enemy held a position, from which, if lie could be driven, it was thought tliat our army could be used to odr . ntage in assailing tlie more elevated ground beyond, aud thus enable us to reach the crest of the ridge. 'That officer was directed to endeavor to carry this position, while Geueral Ewell attacked directly t ho high ground on tlie ennui’s right, which-had already 1 ecu par tially so tiffed. Gen. liill was instructed to threaten tlie centred'the Federal line, in order to prevent reinforcements bein* sent to either wing, and to avail himself of any opportunity that might present it.se fto attack. After a ■'ever*) struggle, Loug-met succeeded iu pet ting p issessfim of and holding tlio desired 1 ground. Ewell also carried some of tlie strong | positions which he assailed, and the result was such as to lead to the belief that he would ul timately be able to dislodge the enemy. The bat'le ceased at dark. | These partial successes determined me to continue the a sault next day. Pickett, with three of his brigades joined Longstrcet the fol lowing morning, and our batteries were moved forward to the position gained by him the day I before. | The general plan of attack was unchanged except that one divis'on and two brigades of Hill's corps were ordered to -upp»rt Long stieet. The enemy in the meantime had strength ened-his lines with earthwoiks. The morning was occupied in necessary preparations, and the battle recommenced in the afternoon ot the 3d, and raged with great violence until sunset. Our troops succeeded in entering the advanced woiks of the enemy, and getting posse. ?ion 4 ot some of his batteries ; but our artillery having nearly expended its ammunition, the attacking columns became exposed to the heavy tire of Ihe numerous batteries near the summit of the ridge, and, after a m?st determined and gal lant struggle, were compelled to relinquish I their advantage, and fall back to their original positions with severe loss. I The conduct of the troops was all that I could desire or expect, and they deserved suc- AUGUSTA, GA, -WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 14, ISG3. cCss so far as it cah be deserved by heroic val or and’ fortitude. More may have been re quired of them than they were able to perform, but my admiration of their noble qualities, and confidence in their ability to cope successful I v with the enemy, lias suffered no abatement ffom the issue of-this protracted and sanguin ary conflict. * . * Uwitig to the-strength of the enemy’s posi tion and the reduction of our ammunition, a renewal of the engagement could not be haz arded, and the difficulty of procuring supplies rendered it impossible to continue longer where we were. Fuch of the wounded as were iu condition to be removed, and part of the arms collected on the field, were ordered to Williams port. 'The army remained ul Gettysburg' during use 4th. mod at night began to retire hy the road to Fairfield, carrying with it about four thousand-prisoners. Nearly two thousand laid previously been paroled, but the enemy’s numerous wqjinded that bad fallen into our hands after the first and second days' engage ments, were left behind. , Little progress was made that night, owing to a-severe storm, which, greatly embarrassed our movements.' The rear of li e column did hot leave its position near Gettysburg until 1 after daylight on thefitli. The march-was continued'during that day wi hout-interioption by the enemy, except an unimportant*demonstration -upon our rear in the afternoon, when near Fairfield, which was easily checked, l'art of our train moved hy the road through Fairfield and the rest by the way of Cashtown. guarded hy Gen ual irnbo den. in passing through the mountains, in advance of the column, the great length of the trains exposed them to attack by the enemy's, cavalry, which captured an tmber of wagons aud ambulances; wit they succeeded in reach ing WilFaiuspoi.l without serious lure. They were attacked at that place on the Cth hy the enemy's cavalry, which was gallantly repulsed by General Imitoden. Tip) attacking force was subsequently encountered and driv en on hy General Stuart, and pu>sue,i for sev eral miles in the direction of Bootishoro’. The' ariny after an arduous march, rendered mure difficult by the rains, reached ifigeitown off the afternoon ot tlie Cth and morning of the 7ih July. : Tae Potomac was found to be so much swol en hy the rains, that had fallen almost inces santly since our entrance into Maryland, as to he uufordabte. Uur communications with the Souths!Je were thus interrupted, and it was difficult to pioeure cither ammunition or sub sist, nee, the latter difficulty being enhanced l>y the high Waters inpedilig the working of the neighboring mills. The trains' with the Woun ded ami prisoners were compelled to wait at Williamsport the subsiding of the river a ul tne construction of bouts, as the pontoon bridge left at Falling Waters’ had beeu partially de stroyed. The enemy told not yet made his ap pearance, hut as he was in condition to objain Large reinforcements, and our situation, lor the reason above mentioned was Becoming daily more eniburr using, it*was deemed advisable to recross the riv. r. Fart ot the pout on bridge was recovered, aud new boats built so that by the 13th a good bridge was thrown over" the river at Falling Waters. The enemy in foree-reache 1 our front on the 12th., A position had been previously selected to cover the Fotomac from Williamsport to Falling Waters, and an attack was awaited during that aud the succeeding day. 'this did not take place, though the two armies were in close proximity, the enemy being occupied in for tying hss.own lines. Our preppar.it ions be ing completed, and the liver though still deep, being tiirtiuiuneed'fordable, lee army cotnmetv wal to withdr uy to the South *ide on the night of the tath. Ewell's corps folded the river af Williams port, those of Lilngotreet ail t llill n'osseil upon the bridge. Owing to the Condi I ion of the roads the troops did not reach the bridge until utter daylight on the 14th. and the crossing was not completed until 1 F. M, when the bridge was removed. ’I he enemy offered no serious interruption, aad the.movement was attended with no loss ot material except a few and salded wagons, and two pieces of artillery, which the Morses were unable to move through ihe deep mud. Before fresh hoises could te sent hick lor them the rear ol the column had passed. During the slow aud tedious much to the bridge,in the midst of a violent storm of r.dn some of the men lay down by the way .to rest. Officers sent back tor them, failed to find many in the obscurity of the night, and these, with soino stragglers, fell into tlie hand's of the enemy, Brigul’er General Fettigrew was- mortally wounded in an attack made by a small Indy of cavalry, which was unfortunately mistaken lor our own and permitted to enter our fines, lie was brought to Banker Hill, where fie ex pired a few days afterwards. He was a brave ami accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss w ill be deeply lelt by* the country and the army The l'Honing day the army marched to Bunker Hill in the vicinity of.which it cue imp ed for several days. Tne day after its arrival, a large force of tlie enemy 's cavalry, which had erttesed tlie Fotomab at Harper s Ferry, ad vanced towards Marti'islmrg. D was attacked by Genera! Fitz Lee, near Keamsville, and de feated with heavy loss, leaving its dead anil many of its wounded On the field. Owing to the swollen condition of the She nandoah liver, tie plan of operations which had been contemplated when we recrossed tne Fotomac could not be put. into •» sedition, and before tlie waters had subsided the movements of the enemy induced me to cross thu Blue Ridge and t.tse position south of the Rappa hannock, wh (h was accordingly done. As soon as tne reports of the commanding officers shall be received a more detailed ac count of thc-e operations will bo given, and occasion will be taken to speak more purticu iarty of the conspicuous gallantry and good, conduct of both officers and men. It is not yet in my power to give a correct statement of our casuahies, whieh were severe, including many bravo men, and an unusual proportion of disringuished and valuable officers. —Among them, I regret to mention the following general officers : M ijor-Generals Hood, Fender and Trimble severely, aud Major General Hetb slightly wounde 1. Gen Fender has since died. This lamented officer h *s borne a distinguished part in every engagement of this army, and was wounded on several 0.. isions while leading his command with conspicuous gallantry ami ability. The confidence aud admiration inspired by b ! s cour age and capacity as an officer were only equalled by the esteem and respect entertaine 1 l*y all with whom he was associated, for the noble qualities of his modest and unassuming character.. Brigadier Generals Barksdale and Garnett were killed, and Brigad er General Setnmes mortally wounded while leading their tr * ps with the courage that always distiu gVii-fieJ. them. These brave officers and patri otic gentlemen fell in the faithful discharge of duty, leaving the army to n-onrn their loss and emulate their noble examples. i rigadier Generals temper, A niistend, Scales, G f Anderson, Hampton, J M Jones, and J.-ii ins. were also wounded. Brigadier Gen eral Ar. her was taken prisoner. General Fettigrew though wournhd at Gettysburg, con tinued in command until lie was mortally wcunded near Falling Waters. The loss of the enemy is unknown, but from observation on the field, and his subsequent movements, it is srpposed tliat he suffered severely. Respestfully submitted. ( igned) R. E. Lee, Gen’l. Letters from Missiseppi state that reinforce ments from that section are going to Rosecrans. Gen. Johnston has ordered that no more le spect be paid to cotton owned 1 y foreigners thau that owned by the Confederates. All mast b i burned when in danger of falling into Fed eral hands. OUK BlSA?*>;|al gITFATIOS. LETTBE OF WILLIAM OIUSEC. , G-ramteviub, 8. C.,Rept, 11, 18C3. U ' M ? , ' min 9<‘r, Secretary of Treasury: ~ \ lf -' R lB ' T our favor ol'the 2d instant is helore me, requesti rg my views a$ to a rem edy for the financial <mhanassnient of our Government, ido not think our case a hope les.-, one ; but it will require bold men arid hold mo:isures to remedy evils that might have been avoided by prompt action of Con toss last fall, which, in all probability, would have, saved our country a year of destructive war, aud the addition ot houdi pf millions to our nation al debt. We have never, until recently, been without strong prospects of uu early peace, ’ifie whole country has acted on short-war views. Our greatest politicians, wisest commercial men and capitalists of ail classes, jtnlecd 1 may say eve ry household concern, have' acted upon those views. Who is there that is not now em'bar , ragged by the want of hundreds of small arti cle i which might have been procured at chenp laics, if (he parties had been able lo look a few mouths only into the future. Many who now clamor and take the lead in denouncing what they deem the short sighted policy of the Administration, were foremost in predicting that there would he no war, and even up to the battle of Manassas thought the Yankees would not f ght us, and were reluctant after that conflict to oelieve that it would be more than a temporary struggle. 1 am fully persuaded that seventy-five mill ions ol dollars would bo ample for a circulat ing medium tor the L'otrfei’erate Slates, and tl at G ivermuent ought lo_ reduce Ihe present inflat ed cuirency to within one l uudied millions, as speedily as possible, it wouitl have been better to sell 7or 8 per cent, bonds as long as tii-y could be disposed of at reasonable rates, than to adopt and pursue tlie present policy of constantly adding io an inllalion that lias be come truly alarming. When that jppqsijre should'fall, the next ami only reliable means was a forced loan. 'This is now our only means' of absorbing the currency and preventing ijs fitrllrer increase ip proii liug for tlcp future wants (i the G iveintpeqt. The finimejal scheme tliat t would recom mend is this : First a • continued money tax should be levied Jo pay the inlyesl of our debt; and second, the levy ol a l-ix-'cr forced loan of 2o per cent, or as much more as may be needed, upon the property of the country, the tax payers to receive either 7 or 8 per cent, bonds forauiph forced loan. I would i uggest that the bonds bear not a less rate of interest than 7 per cent, this being less than the a vint age rale of interest in the different States,— This tax should be distributed equally upon tlie wealth ot 'ev. ry individual in the Confederacy, to be codec led in sums sufficient first to altsorh the present ctorrericy. and next to provide for the ffiture wants of Government Up to fifteen hundred millions. I believe there are few men of property who could not taise the money to pry this tax, hav ing bonds to hvpbtheeate. But it would not bo necessary to require cash from individuals A tax note would be taken. This tax note, having a prior lieu over all other debts, and in addition having the bond collaterals attached, would command money anywhere, and be at a premium until our cunvney became equal to geld and silver. They would be negotiable •here and in every other country. Such an as sumption 01. our national debt I v the wealth ol our country wpuld silence the now under current Uinta at final repiplialiqn and raise our bonds to the highest s'atidard iu a’l Euro [ can markets. If this taxor force 1 loan l>p levie 1 equally on all the wealih of oqr p uiutry, its necessity .‘jus tice and propriety wit* commend it to every body, for all wo il l see that it is belter to give up even half of our estates than to become a conquered people and lose alt. The rap tal thus far invested in bonds iu the Confederate States lias been drawn principally Irom banks, trom tneiclianis w.io have been driven out of business, and from trust estates aud charitable institutions. Such sou reek have been xha tried, and it will be impossible to make fur.her progress in bonding fiy appeals* to the patriotism of the people. We arc a peculiar people, unlike any of the civilized nations that have engaged in exten sive wars in modern times. Wo have no great money capitalists. Uur capflal consists in du ly in lands and negroes, and the habits of our wealthy people for generations have kept them in one channel ; tbqt of producing cotton, to bacco ami rice, the surplus produ ts to bo in vested in land and negroes. Much ot our s rare mercantile capital, which has not been trans ferred to i ther countries, has gone into the same channel. This thirst utter land and negro in vestments has absorbed cur millions of income, and kept us generally iu debt as much as a year’s income." We have no millionaire bank er*, merchants, manufacturers and other mon eyed capitalists thatlive iu splendor on incomes derived from money at interest. Our planters possess the wealth and intelli gence ol the country and rule its destiny. In debted as they were at the coalmen ement of t e war, they were not in a situation to invest in bonds It is not reasonable to expect jhem to vol tnicer to invest in bonds at tuo expense of incurring i.ew debts or the necessity ot sell ing property. Many, very Inany planters who subscribed to the Cotton Foan, sold tlie bonds immediately anil invested the proceeds in the payment of debts or in lands* and negroes, and are unwilling now to sell —evea to aid the .Gov ernment—any of their agricultural products for less than ihe highest market value for cnrr >ncy. Many are not willing to sell for curremy utany price.’ This is all very natural, but it is ruinous to the Government, and starvatii n to towns ami villages ahil all that class of people who live on fixed incomes. Fruta 1842 to 1817 J.he price of cotton ranged hete at 4 anil .7 cents per pound, corn at 35 to 4()cenls a bushel, fiour at $5 a barvef! b con at 4to 4.f ceuts a pound. There being no freight demand lor cotton, it would rule lower now, if the euriency was in a sound condition.— There be'ng such a vast breadth of land plant ed in grain, it would be correspondingly cheap. if wo can get back to what is equal to aspe cie currency, we c.n endure a ten year’s war, and still be able to pay our national debt. — Hence it becomes the duty of every man who has a p v tide of patriotism to come to: ward anil snpport any remedial measures that our Gov ernment mav adopt, however burdensome it may bo, and ihus lave our country and our glo rious cause. The present heavy Tax Bill will nut 1 feir re duce the amount of floating currency. Every article of consumption is so enormously high, and there is so much uncertainty in financial and commercial affair*, that there is no such thing as anticipating the coming wants of the Government. The tax in kind, although it relieves the Treasury fro.n outlays, will, notwithstanding, require a large issue of paper currency to pay the salaries of assessors and collectors to build new de|>ots in whii.li to store the various pros ducts, to furnish grain sacks, and to defray the heavy expens's of trunapoiUtii.n: to say no thing o! the waste and damage of grain incident to transportation" and storage. The Government Los undertaken a most complicated job in ibis matter. The tux in kind relieves the a grit altruist from the tieeessi ty of going into the markets with his products to procure money with which to pay bis taxes. You thus make him independent of treasury notes, which some are refusing to take for debts, and for which they reluctantly sell anything they have. This mode of taxation relieves the agriculturist from the necessity of hauling his grain and other products to market. It is a very happy relief from trudging through the mud some thirty, fifty or a hundred miles to a railroad depot, at his own risk. This would all lie very well, were it not for its effects on the currency by circumscribing its held of circulation, and by dispensing, as it doys, with the necessity that otherwise would exist, tor planters to become the readyYecipients ot treasury notes—an article that many people distrust and are unwilling to hold longer than they can find anything to invest it in. 1 think that seven per cent, should lie thees tablished interest of our Government to iuduce investments, and that all treasury notes ought to be placed oil the same footing. Otherwise there will be confusion and distrust. Anything that is calculated, to depreciate one class of bills will inevitably tend to cast a shade of distrust over all. • • - ’ * it is all important tliat the Government main tain an untainted credit, and nothing should be done that would indicate the slightest dis position to repudiate. We are now in the situ ation of a wealthy merchant who has been overtaken by adverse ciicuuißtances with abun dant means to pay, but without ability to meet ills engagements except hy new' loans. Inter est is a matter of consideration with him : he does not attempt to dictate terms, but meets his creditors in a liberal spirit, cost what it may.* . 1 have no fears of our ultimate payment of our national debt, if it be any where below two thousand millions. We will fie able to make the world pay it by an export duty on Cotton alone. American Cotton is the world's -necessity. Five cents per pound export duty will not close the markets of other nations against it. or detract from its value here. If the United States purchase our Cotton, Great Uritaiu also will bt? compelled lo purchase it, oi give that which is the Inundation of her gi gantic, w. ad th and power—the commerce of tue world iu Cotton goods. If England is ft purchaser, France, Spain, Russia and ad other nations engaged in manufacturing Cotton for tlie markets of the world will be forced to -fol low her example. England may use Bombay Cotton ior a substitute while other nations Can do no better ; but if other countries Could pro cut v American Cotton with live cents per pound added to a paying price here, she would atlonce become a competitor for fl«r great staple. In tins way our national debt, if it Fan be be kept vvifbia the limits 1 have indicated, would be Cftiily extinguished. 1 am, With great respect, Tour obedient servant, \VM. GREGG. 'lhe StEAMKa Flobjda at Brest.—A Brest correspondent of tlie Fondon Times under date of Aug 31st gives an interesting account of an interview with Cap. M.HFiT,-of tlie Confederate States steamer Florida, which recently put into tlie French port of Brest for repairs We sub join a-port on of tlie letter ; Os the Captain himself. I may say that he is ’ a sliglF, middle sized, well knit man, with a ready determined air, full of life and business There are one hundred able seamen on board the Florida,.and about thirteen officers. Four fine fellows are from (lie neighborhood of Brest CapFMatfit says that lie has hardly taken, a prize lint what some of the crew of the prize have come forward to say,“Should like to serve witli you, sir.” Generally speaking, he has to refuse ; hut if ho sees a very likely fellow he takes him on. Capt MaffU was a lieutenant of tlie United States Navy before the outbreak, and in that capacity distinguished himself greatly. In 1858,he commanded the brig Dol phin, when he captured the slaver Echo, with 400 oJaves on boaTil aad took hoi,lnto Charles ton. For this feat lias health wn rtriiinj at a public .dinner at Liverpool; audit is .a curious fact, lor lliose who maintain Ucit tin* civil war in America is founded upon n.e slave question th it'tlie commander, of this important Confed erate cruiser should be the very man who ins distinguished himself actively agaiust the slave tr.de. In 1850 Captain Martit commanded Ihe United States steamer Crusader, and cap* tured lour slavers. The only broadside which 'he Florida has fired in anger was against the F.iicjison, an armed merchantman which she encountered some forty miles from New York. The Erics son, a very large vessel did not reply but made ihe best of her way off,and succeeded iu escap ing. When they ventured within forty miles of New York they did not know that the arrival ol'the Tiieonv (one of their “outfits”) hml put the New Yorkers on their guard, and they soon found that there were about seventy armed Ves sels out seat idling for them, and so were glad to retreat. "We never seek a light,’’ said Cap tain Mafllt, “ and we don’t avoid one. You see we have only two vessels against fifteen hundred; so we would stand a poor -chance.— Our object is merely to destroy their commerce s>as to bring about a peace. We’ve taken al together sevent-two prizes, and estimate tlie value at about' $15,000,000. The Jacob Bell alone was worth $2,100,000. Tiro Captain ex- % hibitcii a book in which all the prizes were regulaily entered, and all particulars relating thereto. He explained that their mode of pro cedure was to burn and destroy the property of the Northern B'ates wherever they lound it. I asked if they took gold and precious articles, and the reply was, “Pretty quick, when we can get them.” The papers of the burnt prizes are all kept, and a valuation is made before the destruction if the vessels, in the expectation that when peace is,restored the Confederate Government will make appropriation of money equivalent to the claims of the capture. In cou sequenceof this arrangement there is very little actual treasure on board the Florida, and the office!s anil crew aie working mainly on the faith of the future independence and solvency of tlie Confederacy. “Any way,” said Captain Maffit, *‘we have oosttbe Government very lit tle, for we’ve lived on the enemy. Oh-yea we've served them out beautifully.” In reply to some questions us to the method ol capture the captain said, “We only make war with the United States Government, anil we respect pri vate property. We treat prisoners of war with great lespec’t. Most of those whom we have captured have spoken well of us. To be sure we have met with some ungrateful rascals; but you meet with those all the world over.” When tin F.orida came into Brest she had been at sea for eight months, without spending more than four entire days in port. Befor e en tering the port of Brest she had not been more thau twenty-four hoHrs in any one port, al though she had visited Nassau. Bermuda, Fer nomliuco, ahd Sierra (Brazil).Yes, indeed, sir I said the C iptain, “Iwo hundred and forty-live dajs upon solid junk, without repairs or pro visions.” l uring all this timer they have only let fifteen men, including tlioso who were kilt ed and wounded at Mobile, the paymaster— who died of consumption— and one officer who woa accidentally drowned. They have come into Brest to repair the engines, which are some what out of order, the shaft being quite out of line. The Emperor has given orders that the Florida is to he admitted into the port for all necessary repairs, and is to be supplied with everything she may require except munitions of war. Captain Maffit showed ns over hi* ship, which was in pretty good order, considering the eight month?,aimjSl uninterrupted cruise, and he pre ented us both with a photographic picture of her, which was taken at Bermuda. The Flori da mounts enlv e'ght guns—six forty eight bounders re tin- Blakely pattern, ra.de at Low Moor, amt stern and bow chasers. Uu taking our leave 1 asked Captain Maffit whether he expected 1o be intercepted on lea, - ing B os', pointing at the same time to the Goulet, the narrow passage which affords Ihe only ingress and egress to and from the Bade. “Well, ’ replied he, ”1 expect there will be seven or eight of them out there before lohg but I’m not afraid. I've run eight blockades al ready, and it’ll go hard but I’ll run the ninth.” FROM VIRGINIA. Subsistenc e for both man and horse is getting to lie very scarce in Richmond. The Richmond correspondent of the Charles ton Mercury gays Lee will soon make a move ment. * OL. JLXXVII—NEW SERIES VOl . NXVII. NO. 41. IMPORTANCE OB *THKAUTHEM.\U UlriV. BRtEU. If any reliance is to lie placed open the state ments of scouts, deserters and of newspapers in the enemy's lines, it would seem that Rose cranz has been receiving reinforcements more or less considerable since the recent buttle. Our own observations have discovered twice the usual rows of white tents which mark the presence of soldiery. It is possible tliat our crafty foe, anxious to create the impression tliat lie has been strengthened, resorts to this strata gem to impose upon our observation. But this is not probable, she appearance of tlie tents, taken in connection with previous re ports, leaves but little doubt that the enemy is transfering troops from other points to relieve his suffering forces iu Chattanooga. IVe are ealing with a people who give back victory once acquired, only under the sternest compul sion. Tennessee will not constitute an excep tion. If he vacates his present quarters it will not be until our army executes some move ment which compels him to retire. We can hardly suppose that Gen. Bragg would have failed to subject him to this neces sity had it been in his power to do so. Had lie been provided witli forcestrong enough to keep theeneioy’s front in chock whilst lie was cutting off'his communications in the rear, this was so obviously his policy.l hat there can be no doubt it would have been done. Had it been possible to break up the conriextionof llosecrans with his supplies, his whole army must have surrendered. That this has not been done cun he explained only on the supposition that tlie General in command fins not found his force,-, adequate to the work. Believing as we do that the most valuable service which can he render ed to the country at this time is the expulsion of the enemy from tlie confines of our State we* should rejoice to see every soldier not impera tively needed at other points immediately ad ded to the army of Tennessee and the com mat and further strengthened by the addition of every arms bearing man in the country. If til * army of Uosecrana can he captured or demolished we shall strike a blow which writ relievo us from any oilier serious fighting during the war. In such an event Tennessee, east and west would be disenthralled, and. the enemy compelled to take the defensive in Kentucky or Ohio. It would not he possible to concentrate another forep in season to resist our progress. Peace meq,and Coppetheads would be marvel-* lously multiplied ut Ihe North. Tlie triumph would furnish to our. enemies such a demon stration of the hopelessness of the woik in which they are engaged as must compel multi tudes even of the most sanguine to desist from the ente prise. On the other hand if the power of RoseCrans isgncreaaed without an equivalAit reinforce ment on our part, we have the most painful ap prehensions of the consequences. Our own State would ho in veiled, and that far more for midable than during the past month. Some of the fairest portions of our commonwealth must become a prey for a time at least, to the spolia tions of the enemy. If at the same t me Charles ton should he occupied (an event for wliieh it is wise for us to provide, though we devoutly hope that it may never occur) our only remain ing communication with Virginia would be threatened if notinterrupted at, BranoliVnie.’— Without the means of transporting our troops we must bo greatly* embarrassed. The enemy* would have it in his power, should we lose the only remaining connection betwixt the Gulf States and the Capitol, to hurl Ids masses on our divided armies whilst they could offer no support to each other. To provide agaiiiM such a calamity let Bragg be made strong enough to eject the enemy from his present lodgment.— We cannot afford to be defeated at Ohatt mooga. G ex. Lee’s Report. —Gen, Lee’s outline of the operations of tin army during the months of June anil July, embracing the expedition into Funnsylvania, will be lead with much inter est. The narrative, remarks the Richmond Whig, is lucid, dignified and modest*- No one, friend or foe, will doubt its truthfulness, and it wilt constitute in his’o'y the touchstone by which the accuracy of Yankee accounts of the same affairs will be tested. The statement of plans and occurrences involves the ndnissiou that tlie expedition into the enemy’s territoiy did not accomplish uil that was hoped of it, but it at the game time effectually disposes of all the Yankee .swagger about victory, and makes It evident that there was no time when the Confederate army was not master of its own movements. Tne Yankee army at Gettysburg after being beaten back two days, i scaped a rout only by advantage of position. This is all they can claim, or tliat the impartial historian will allow them. Our matchless old army of the Potomac has never yet been beaten. Axotueb Liberal Donation. —Wo take pleas ure in recording another liberal donation of the Eagle Manufacturing Company of Columbus, to our brave soldiers. J. Rhodes Browne, Esq., the Agent of the company, has Bent to tlie sick and wounded soldiers in Charleston anil vicini ty one hundred pairs of drawers and one hun dred shirts'. In his note accompanying the gift Mr. B. patriotically remarks : We had a large number prepared and algo provisions, &o , but such pressing need exists among the soldiers of the. Army of Tennessee, that we feel it heat to divert all we have ready to that point, except the articles gent you as above. We shall, however, he ready at ail times to assist the needy, the sick and the wounded, according as the case demands, and at any point from Virginia to Texas. An Appeal to Planters. —The Macon Mes senger makes a patriotic appeal to the planters to give of their abundance in the following man ner : 'ihe sick and wonnded of our army are num erous, and the upper towns and citizens arebur tbened with them, where the army had nearly exhausted their supplies of prevision - -Now the time for Middle anil especially Soinhwee - eia Georgia to show its patriotism ana s a e the burdens of the war. There pro are plenty and none of the comtorts o been disturbed. 'Then let yonr humanity and ululoUsm be shown by taking among yon a Ihare oHhem, and feed t*em out of rour abun dance, and restore them to health and tbe ur m’Fellow citizens, you have the food—will you not furnish it-if not without money or price, at such prices as those who are disposed to he charitable can buy ty. Alvin Lloyd, author of the Southern Rail Road Guide, was 3hot and it is ieared fatally wounded, in a street renq ,ntre at Mobile on the Ist instant. The Monster Gi xat Charleston.—' Ws im-J del stand that tire second monster gun in Char leston has been tried lately under the direction of a board of officers witli entire success, throw ing its huge projectile over two miles at an ei*- vatioryif only two degrees, the gun being not y*et ready to fire at a higher angle. This is far beyqmt any* thin;: ever done by artillery before* These immense rifle guns ate constructed on anew principle which permits enormous charges ol powder to be used safely, and thus imparts the required mompnttim.to the ponder ous shells and solid boitsi The injury sustained by the first gun was an oversight., and it. is understood from good au thority can be effect unity repair, and. The pow der to be used with these guns is now being manufactured .at the Government Powder Works, anil is quite a curiosity, looking like anything eke than gunpowder ; tlie grains—if they can be so called-bqjng solid Mocks look ing like ebony, one inch square ; it would be supposed that they were projectiles them elves by their appearance, each grain weighing about one ounce. MiLT.EnoEVit.I, Railroad.—At a meeting the stockholders of the’Milledgcvillo Railroad Company*, held at the office of the company iu this city on Monday, tiie following board of directors were elected for the ensuing year : John F King, B II Warren, Ilonry If Cuni ming, Vi in II Goodrich, Stephen 1) Heard, It II May. John *D Smith, Henry Moon, M U Welborne, Titos M Turner, F. B DeGraffenreid and 0 G-Spnrks, Esquires.. At the subsequent meeting of. the Board of Directors, Hon. John B King was unanimous ly elected President, and WMiio Olio, Secretaiy and Treasurer. » - A Matter that Gronr to .he Rectimbd. —lf the people at. home,rihose who own the land and the Mayes, and the slock and other goods and chatties that constitutes, the wealth of the country, .want to support the government, keep soMiers front deserting ami conquer a peace, they must-revolutionize the'whole system of prices and put provisions ni reasonable rates. Sue i a course, if promptly adopted now, wit a ive us much trom le hereafter. There has got to he a reformation in these matters. And wo might as well commence it at once, ns to be con-** tlnualiy putting it off’. The longer it is delay ed, the greater will bo the evil to he remedied, and the more severe the remedy applied. Letter from President Davis. —The Meridl an Clarion publishes the annexed letter from Presi lent Davis to the Secretary of tlie Con federate Society at Enterprise, Miss. The let ter bears date Richmond, SeiiF 17, 1863 : Sir: I have received your letter of tiic 22d ult., enclosing a co; y oi an address to the peo ple of the Confederate States, calling upon them to unite in an effort to restore and main tain Ibc pat value >f the currency with gold by forming Societies of citizens who will en gage to sell and buy* only at reduced prices.-- The object of the address is most laudable, aud 1 sincerely hope for if great success in arousing Ihe people to concerted action upon a subject of the deepest importance. Tlie passion for speculation has become a gigantic evil. It has seemed lo take possession of the whole coun try, and has seduced citizens of all classes from a determined prosecution of the war to a sor-» did effort to unass money—it destroys enthusi asm and weakens public confidence—it injures the efficiency of every measure which demands the zealous co operation of tlie people in re pelling the public enemy, and threatens to bring upon us every calamity which can be fall freemen struggling for independence. The united exertions of Societies like -tfieso you propose should accomplish much toward abating this evil and infusing anew spirit into the community. I trust, therefore., that you will continue your labors until tlicir good ef fect becomes apparent everywhere. Please accept mv thanks for the comforting tone of your patriotic letter. II is-a relief to receive such a communication at this time, when earnest effort is demanded, and when I am burdened hy the complaining and despon dent letters of many who have stood all the day idle, and wiio now Maine anybody but themselves for reverses which have come and danger which threaten. Very respectfully, Your fellow-citizen, Jefferson Davis. Tub Campaign in Tennessee".—The Atlanta Intelligencer in speaking of the campaign in Tennessee, writes thus ; The first movement of Gen. Itosecrans was a s(stogie on©, which flanked Bragg and compell ed him to fall back to Chattanooga to proservo his army. Koeecrams, find ng he conbl not drive our army out of that place by lighting, at tempted another flank irtbveraent by way of Bridgeport! to cut off Bragg from Atlanta, and compel linn to retrest by way of East Ten - nersee into Southwestern Virginia, thus leaving the whole of Georgia, Alabama and the two Carolinrs open to him. The movement was well planned, and had it been would have been most disastrom in ils.effects. 'I *> foil this was the gfiand object of Gen. Bragg, so tliat as soon as it became apparent tliat Midi wns the intention of tlio enemy, Gen. Bragg rapidly fell hack trom Chattanooga and concentrated his army. This movement entirely disconcerted tlie plans of the enemy, and necessarily com pelled him to draw in his flanking colums and concentrate before Iris centre was attacked and overpowered. Tlie result was that Bragg, by liis brilliant strategy, not only necessitated the* enemy to abandon his flank -movement, but by* compelling him to concentrate forced a battle, which the policy of Rosecrans would have otherwise avoided. Tlie enemy having been well whipped, a second series of strategic move ments are in progress, which will enable us to give the finishing stroke to the campaign, and it all that we hear be ti ne, movements are in progress tending to its early close, wßh t-m pulsion ot Rosecrans from Tenne:-aee. Federal Hatred Tot, .eds Charles'o.l- Jhe intensity ofthehatred entertained towiod Charleston by the Abphtionists is shown to some extent by the following Washington di? P Tt is understood hew that Gen. Gilmoreiias nuiredof the Government jr-he would he justi fied in bombarding Charleston to its utter di stinction. Tie answer returned, it is said, was such as to give the country assurance of a heap of ashes where Charleston son ! 1 i‘ it does ret surrender A full supply of incendiary shell? to bo used against Charleston, were sent to Gen. Gilmor* by the Arago, orni by this time are probably being used against tLc doomed city. VVockded Georgians lx Baltimore.— We find in the Richmond Whig a list of wounded Con federates in tbe General Hospital at Baltimore, Fept. 24th, among which arc the following Georgians : Col Wm Gibson, 48»h; Lieut B - Elliott, 53d; Lieut J M Jackson, lltli; Lieut T F New it. 45tii; Lieut FM Kelly. 4Sth; Capt Gem H Jones. 22d; Lieut W L Kino 51« t; Lieut W K Killen 45 h: Capt J v Jo: own, 11th; 'John Ha vis, 22d; J Bataev, 2d; Capt G S Jon- 2d Georgia Battalion,
