fIMRIITT A WARREN, Proprietors.
Volume X.VJI,
**
fHllirt. TIiMUIAI'. J.AUUI, 11, 11.
. .1: .p,.*.
.rtidw northern 00MQRK81
Ik I'tilisuliog of all Suthtra Property,.. Tie Coe
ei|onrfi of the Subjugation..,Wlui we lave lo
tipeet.
tnlhe iN.irih.ru Cungroos tb.epuAooilion bill
has lately boon ventilated. Mr.
Trumbui., *tur of Illinois, bas made a spetch
which Ui b? re*,."” tas tbo true ex predion of
the Jolibo mtuiiuon* of tho more moderate, or
majority .e Northern ratal* and people with
regard lo n future treatment of Southern peo
ple and pi party in ** tbo Confederacy ahuu'd
be beaten in this war and tbe country sabjuga
ted by the United 3ta‘e*. It U| be perceived
that Mr. Trumbull does not go * 0 far even a
W.IU-v, the Virgin! tn, the Pride of the
Man>re. Will's g*••* is i&vrr- *,rtlfdo hang.
Tbe in ij .rity of tbe Vaukves, however, are 10
favour ol the nitddlo course* of Trumbull, and
will, in xeof saflcess, ih nothing worse lo u*
I mi he has indicated iu tbe following speech :
W VSHIONT. N, Fb. 2i.h, 1862.
TMIt OONFIBCATI..N BII.L,
Mr. Trumbull, (Hep.) of Illinois, moved so
tike upthe hut for the confiscation of tbe prop
erjy us rebels. He said there was pressing ne
lordty. Within a few weeks the property of a
*bel general in this city had beorr sold, and the
proceeds transmitted to hiui, v hile we were sit
ting here and imposing paper ouriency on suffer
ing soldiers.
Tbe bill was taken up.
Soma verbal amendments were made to the
bill, when tho in rning hour expired, and the
Cbatr called up the special order, the “Starke’
rise.
•Mr. Trumbull, (Kcp ) ul Illinois, moved to
postp >ne the special order and continuo the con
sideration of this bill.
Agreed to —yeas 21, nayß 10.
Mr. Trumbull said the bill was calculated to
aflect the property of those rebels who are not
under ibw jwaiedtettt-n ofihe ITnl.oJ States at this
tune, and to avoid tho charge of uuconstilu
tionality that could forfeit the estate of traitors
except during tile. Mr. Trumbull reierred to,
and tead at some length Irons, the decision of
Judge Sprague, of Massachusetts, made last
month as fellows: But what sceuis to embarrass
some minds is the difficulty of treating these
men both as citizens and traitors. These rebels
ui the Southern States occupy just exactly that
position. When an insurrection assumes such
formidable proportions as this has, and wbeu
armies are arraytd against the government and
agaiust each other, uli tho writers on interna
tional taw agree that (be rebels are eutilied to be
t euled as bulligerouts uud enemies ; and we have
Ooeu treating the rebels at tbo South as btlliger
cuts during the present war. We have bent dags
of truce to them and taken them as prisoners,
aod wheiieVbr a rebellion becomes ofiuch mag
nitude as to be entitled to be called a civil war
the parties ate to he governed by the ordi
nary rulej of war, while it lasts, and in
the prosecution of such a--
hound to onWrvO'Vdesfime rules as it would ob
rerve in a war with ail iudcj endenl uation.—
Hot that does uot preveut the g ivurutueut, alter
the war is is over, from trying as a traitor any
peibon that may be iu its baud.-, and that is the
way, I take it, which this r< belih.n is finally to be
put down.
Nobody expects to try all (he 3UO.OUM men
now iu arms against the government aud hang
them, though they arc undoubtedly traitors
But we wdi give them tho rights of belligereuts,
aud take incur as prisoners of war, aud when
Lhey return to their loyalty again, those who
have been seduced from it, we will release them j
hut the ringleaders of this rebellion, the instiga
tors of it, tbe conspirators who have set it on
tot, will, 1 trust, be brought to the halter, and
never be discharged unless they are discharged
by a petit jury, who shall say they are not guifty I
of treatou. These are our rights as against
these people ; but our right as against an eueuiy
is u right of eon fisc a ion. We have now the
right to take the persoual property of the enemy
and destroy it who ly, it necessary. 1 know
that, according to the modern usage of civilised
nations, total destruction docs not follow. 1
know that, in our modern times, prisoners who
are captured are not put to death or reduced to j
slavety, uud property has not generally been
confiscated ; but iLe right to confiscate property,
real or personal, for there is no distinction, is un
doubt and. Look at the condition of things at
Fort Royal, where alt the inhabitants have tied
and left tbe c untry desolate. Is it to remain
unoccupied, and a wilderness, or shall j[we treat
it as the European nations did the p aces tu
this continent wbeu the ravages Ii and and left the
teriitury unoccupied? llow does the conduct of
the people at Fort Royal differ from that of the
aborigines? Thoy leave everything to waste,
abandon the country, and we may take posses
sion of that coun'ry and apportion it out among
the loyal citizens of the Union ; and this act of
confiscation by which we do this is not a bill of
attainder. Some have objected to tho sonslitu
| tioual {oarer to pant this bill, because, they say,
ti'is a bill of attainder. It is not a bill of attaiu
tier at all. It does not corrupt the blood of a
I person ;it operates upon his property. The Su
[ | feme Court has expressly decided, in tho rase of
[ Brown vs. the I oiled States, that Cougreso haa
i authority to pass a confiscation bill. And if
Congress had the power to confiscate the proper
ty of an en< my, then an act of confiscation mud
; he something different from a bill of attainder
| for tbe Constitution expressly declares that no
i hill of attainder shall bepas-ed. Again, sir, if
Congress declares the property of a rebel for
feited, I want to know who is to controvert that
question. If it is contended that, according to
international law, Congress has no right to con
fiscate the real estate of a rebel, I ask who is to
interpret international law? Therein no common
tribunal to which all nations submit their ques
tions. International law is nothing more than a
uniform u-rege of civilized cation*, and each one
at last interprets it for hlinself, running the haz
ard, It is true, of bringing upon biiuselfthe con
demnation of other nations. I suppose if a na
tion should violate a wdl settled principle of in
ternational law, su -h as violating tbe rights of
an ambassador or of a passport, it would bring
upon itself the condemnation of other nations.
But to confiscate tbe property of your enemy is
not a violation ofihe principles of international
law. Suppore Russia, in those interminable
wars going on between that country and (.'irons
sia, should take tbe land of the Circassians and
[ apportion it out among the nobles of Hns-iia,
’ would America think of interfering and going to
, war with Russia? And if other uatious would
r Dot interfere, who would interfere ? Can our
I courts give a different construction to interna-
I tioual Uw from what a sovereign power gives it?
Certainly not. The courts are hound bjr interna
’ lional law as the nation esttablishes it. They
cannot overrule an act of Congress, because iu
‘ their opinion, it does harmonize with internation
al law. They have no such power.
The Supreme Court said, in the case of
Johnson against Mclntosh (sth Curtis, 513,>
•that couquest gives a title the courts cannot
‘deny. That is settled by judicial U.*tou. It
“ r ” *hpower ol <'ugr., to ~„|e
■"'“““‘“"‘■I Uw - 11 "y ln*ol*. .
ol |.oh,.y eiul expediency, iM „
o will, regard lo lh , t|l lUI I „Uj
no! ..op ,o dt.cue. tt. Tbe .econd ..c.ioo o,
’ ‘ ‘" rlel “ lbo ok'in ol any peraon t 0 ,„ y
per.on held lo .erv,c or |( ,be
’ U “ cU "" n *! ■ -or manner
iu 111,, rel.ell.on, and mate, ,he pero own.
.ueh .ereice lorever .llerward. Irre. I ut ‘
■l l,l ore can be no doubt of the power of Con.
gfoa.topa.a tbi. law. Cosn B re.. l.a.tbe po.
to rai.e arru.e., and it m .y dr.lt .oldiera _
‘ “ ,,y ukc ’ ,ron ‘ my friend from Kenlucky
tr. tlavi.j hi. h.red man, whom b. ha. b.r.d
* ‘ * ll P l,l “ | o'* prio. to Work upon bi. farm for
Ibe ilex I year. itihl Ih. middle dflbe 00.
“* ll,e “" J *> of li bar.e.l, ih.Worern
tracL? -Onjou keep ii* Can the courts de
cide that you are entitled to the servires ol
this man, and cau the court gifru them f No
Hcte comes the paramount authority of the
(Jailed States aud takes this man, if it is aee
essury to use him for the defence of ihc coun
try. it is a question of power, and the power
to do this cannot be questioned. Does the
muster hold hts slave by any stronger teuure (
lou cau not draw a contract so strong by
which one person shall give hts time and scr
vices lo another, that paramount authority of
the government cuuuot abrogate that contract,
and lake trom your control that person, and
briug him into the service ofihe country. This
cau be done also in relerence to your own
child. By the laws of nearly every State in
this Uuioii a parent has control of bis child till
the age of twenty-one years, but notwithsiaud
itig that, it the public necessity lequires it,
Uu^jjmir ament may take your son at eighteen
**£*>> or even younger, from uudei
your control, aud bring him into the army ol
the l ulled States, aud into the battle field, in
de>ence of the honour and integrity of the
nation Aud docs the master hold his slave
>y any stronger teuure liiun this. Why, the
person and property and everything con
nected with your enemy may be condemned
aud destroyed, it it be necessary, for ilia pics
ervaiioii ut the couuiry j aud uot ouly yoer
enemy but you may take the properly of your
iriend. We are taxing the loyal uieU ol tfiis
country now to the larikeM limit iu support ol
the wr, aud wo may call upou them person i
ally to serve iu the army. While we can do 1
all this, can it be pi clouded that we cannot
control the negroes and the tneu who tight
against the government Ii know that, while
loyal men have beeu suffering iu person aud
properly, the properly of disloyalists has beeu
untouched 1 know ihul, while my people are
to be taxed lo support this war, we re not to
touch the property of rebels in arms ugumst
ihe gov eminent. Built is said that you cau
uot euiorce the laws in these Southern States
now. True, we cannot till the armies ad van. e
and,'when they do advance, let us take that
property, make it contribute toward the ex
tttVWftifcfc, 1 i i. c . JP%C i W* v.v.Jiic.. wu'trAAV n w*
led the war pay the expense. 1 know there
are various policies pursued byditferenl com
manders. One commander, <~en. Ilalleck, for
bids all fugitive slaves from coming within liis
lines. I want it upon the statute book that he
shall not determine anything about fugitive
’ slaves; aud if he knew them to be so he
should not surrender them, but shut! treat
them us persons, as they are, and make no
distinction between them and other peraon*
whom he may meet ; but that we may have a
uniform policy in the country, and not have
one portion endeavouring to ascertain wheth
er a mau is free or slave and then i-ugage
I ui surrendering him up to his supposed own
er.
j The third section makes provision for the
| negroes who may be liberated by the act. Tbeie
jis a very great aver?ion in tb We tto having
anything to do with tbe negro at all. ‘1 hey
dou't want tbe free negro to come in and settle
Illinois. This bill proposes to colonize them.
Such are the uaaiu features of the biF; and I now
submit to it to tbe Senate.
Mr. Pomeroy, (Rep) of Kioid. objected to
j the third section, which provides for coloniza
| tiou. He thought we could not afford to send
I out of tl.o country ‘he labouring men and pro
duce!*; and, if iuMsted upon, he should move
I to amend by providing colonization for s'aves
J holders, who are dangerous to the country, and
j whose Ink.-* would not be felt
Mr. Willey, (Union) of Virginia, wanted to
know where there was any constitutionl power
for the President’s eolouizating negroes. He
was willing to co-operule in the most stringent
measures for the confiscation of property, but
had the Senator from Illinois counted the Ibj
tuanse cost of the scheme of colonizatiun? It
would oust SoOU a fie Ml to folonite and keep
igßnraut slaves.
Mr. Pomeroy said fits amendment would
obviate that, a* there would be ouly a few slave
holders to oolonixe.
Mr. Willey I propose to hang all such
traitors, axid thus save uli the expense of trans
portation.
Applause to the gallenoe, which was immedia
tel v suppress! and by (he Chair.
Mr. Ten fcyok, ( Rep )of New Jersey, thought
the third section very important. He said there
wus great aversion at the North to having large
masses of free negroes turned loose among them
to injure other laborers, nor coaid they be al
lowed to roam at Iqrg* in the South.
Mr. Sumner, (Rep ) of Massachusetts, said
he entirely agreed with the .Senator from Kan
sas (Mr. l'omeroy) to objecting to auy recog
nition of the fugitive slave law, which he
thought never had authority in the Cousinu
lion. He moved to make a verbal amendment
to obviate all suspicion of auythiug of that
kind. The amendment wa* adopted.
Tribal* to fipt. Ctflqaitt by the City Light biurdt
Ala Company meeting of the City Light
Guard#, iho following war unanimously adopted
OBORGIA BARRACKS, |
Norfolk, V*, February 2sJtb, 1862 J
Whereas, Capt. P. 11. CoLql/lff, who bar, for
orr iviD yearn, been the commander of the
C'ity Light Guard*, ia about leaving u* to as*
aaiue a higher position In hi* country'* nervier
let. Resolved, That bis long and intimate a*
•ociadon with the Company and participation
with them in ten month* of active aervice, baa
verved fully to davelope the noble qualities of a
faithful aoldier.
2d. Resolved, That in severing the ilea which
have bound ua to him, aa our commander we
feci utterly unable to express our regret#, and
we oiler bitn our naort earnest wiabea f*>r auceeaa
and happiness loathe new dutiea which, await
him,
;ti. Resolved, That tbeae resolution# befurn
mbed Captain Colquitt, aud a copy of tbo aatne
be sent to the Norfolk l>ay book aud the Cos
I uaibua papers for publication.
Tun Bi-ock a on. —A Urge vessel, drawing 16
teet of water, recently passed out of Charles ten
harbor, not haring tho fear of Lincoln or atone
tloet in new.
liferul lai hitct in Ui> Stfuul Him.
IU. Mmloul liii.lUgwiiMr ta iuil.bt.tl i. a.
-\.v.v ii.|t.rlii]uiit lur lb. | u |law> ( . cul
fcrijitjuu of iu. iiihiMi u,.obu. iliMovoati..
tho ktioMiifiiib tiv.r:
I xiT.D bTXTII Stix.u Fxfa, |
Tori R„ r .|, Kb. loth, 100,, j
Kir: l bav. lb. honor In r.|>nrl, tUrihl lb.
ut W ri*hlriv.r, uuj.r lb. 1ir,1,.„, u s
bi.ui.nun Oonitu.nJin, ll.ukh.. .
or “luf.ronl oi.chiu.” ~ Ji.cnr.r-1 lb ,
ohlr.ntio of lb. Snv.na.h rlr.r in th. nb.nn.l „
h.J nlMied. It conaitind nf MU j ou
oorviug .a “.ir obniuhor.” U J ••buoj.,” |. |,j
Olhor houiUra, .u,l uub .Muuin>n 8 .bout thir
ty I'ouuJ. „f powOor Tbo*. ,
U oovoroa .1 ui . . UoUu
br., f r.oib..nbl. for but lb. v
exposed at low water.
“**’ -‘••a. uiunciuui V-VjUI.
tnandiiig Bankhead, oil board the l usdilU, whuru
I Wus.
Preparat.ry to examining it* machinery the
powder chamber was laid bare, but I thought it
too Usugerous, with an uuknown “torpedo,” to
proceed further until the powder had been wash
cd out. To (his eud I had it set in a bank and
a rifle hall find through it, when it exploded.
‘lhe machinery, however, was recovered un
injured. Upon the inside of the powder cham
ber a “friction tube,” such as is used in the army
tor discharging cannon, was arranged so ai to
iguite the “blowtug up” upou the pulling of a
•mug. This string was tied to a wire coiled up
ou the head of the buoy. The coil of wire was
to be drawu out by the impact of a passing gun
boat.
Another machine exploded about mi night,
alter the SusquuhanuahVlaunohes, towiug aflat
with army artillery to Point Venus, had paeeed
to iSavanuah river, about two hundred yards
above them. From this I was induced to think
thut some of them might be connected by gal
vanic wires with Fort Pulaski. I gave orders
lo Lieutenant Commanding Bankhead to sink
the remaining machines with r.flj shuts, which
be did.
1 lorewith euclose LieutoiiMUt Cos tutu . tiding
Bankhead’* report.
I beg leave to Laud iu the exploding appara
tus of the machine we procured, with a drawing
of its m rungeuivnt.
1 have the honor to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN KODOKK3,
Coininauder l . 8. Navy.
Fla/Offloerß. F. Dupont, Commanding Bouth
Atlantic blockading Sjuadrx.u, Furl Royal,
tv mb Carolina.
Pron tbe Went.
Weinke the following items from the Mem
phi- Avalanche of tbs fitb ii.wt
FaNDINU Moan Tho. i-s A gentleman fr. ui
Nuthville reports tb>i t!.< I’ nierals have recent
ly fcut dowo the t'uuit.. ila...i r ~ur, on tho gun
boat* bhout ten thousand ii ••••{. It is sup
posed that they have gone to ,\s Madrid or
Columbus.
rrtfffi ‘ nrw WhfaTnl~TJ“t7ua>tjffi-hsna''-^Wp.--Ww4
the .-lash of arms for the possession of th* Mis
sissippi Yul U-y will be hoaid, and soon we hope
lo bear the glad notes of victory.
In Nashville tbe people are very sullen, tree
tog the Liuooluite* with marked coolness. The
Federal Soldiery feel vary insecure. Some of
them have been killed.
Items from the Memphis Appeal ofihe 7tfi
Reported Battle imhie West - -Col. Cole
man, of the telegraph office in this city, informs
iis that a report had been received at Fort Pil
low, of u battle between the Confederates uu
der Gens. Van Dorn and Price, and the Fede
ral, in which the latter were routed with a loss
of five tbouaaud killed, wounded and prison
era. ‘The report further stated that our forces
were in full pursuit of the retreating army.
We .'ini uot give evidence to this intelligence
although tt battle ha* been expected for
some duys -a our earliest adv ires should, we
think, have reached us by way ol Clarks
ville, Arkansas. Wu mention it as a rumor
ouly.
A Gallant EzrLoir. —We learn ibetCapt
Morgan, of the Confederate cavalry force,
near Nadiville, performed a daring feat a few’
days since, wbicb is certaiuly worthy, ol re
cord .
WiiiTlti* command, he attacked one of tbe
• uemy's pickets, aud after routing them he
captured two field pieces. The Federal* were
reinforced by some inlautry aud eight guns,—-
Capt. M. ambushed the artillery while they
were eu route to his supposed locality, and
killed or wounded the drivers, when, mount
ing his own men in their places, he succeeded
iu briiiguig off the entire battery. The affair
occurred on the Murfreesboro’ road, fietweeu
the advaimed pickets of the eueuiy aud their
encampment.
The CufOßifidiig (ieieril.
‘lhe Kichmoud Examiner says:
We loaru that there has been some hesitation
In Conges* to pass tbo bill creating tbe office of
Commanding General to direct tbe movements of
the war before #at_deidea ou tbe re
organization of bis Cabinst. Tbe bHI, in its
preseut shape, gives the appointment of tbe Com
mandiog General to the Executive ; aud in that
quarter it is said to be already a foregone con
clusion that General Lea is to have this import
ant post in the government.
With reference to the delay iu the reconstruc
tion of the Cabinet, we insy say that it is report*
ed iu well iuformed quarters that nominations
have already been sent into tbe Senate, and that
that of Mallory as Secretary of the Navy has,
by a large vote, beeen rejected.
Implant Hropuiitinmi.. lureie. Snctunr.
The question of tbe suspension of the tariff bas
not yet been touched iu the permanent Congress,
and is not likely tube touched, unless in a con
nection that may somewhat surprise tbe public.
We learu that there'll almost a unanimous
disposition iu .Congress to sxtend (propositions
to foreign governments for succour, these propo
sitions to he grants of peculiar commercial
privileges, and terms of years of free trade ; but
that this disposition bas been checked by motives
of delicacy, as the matter is considered to k ba one
of treaty stipulations, and to belong to tbe Exec
utive.
It appears to be generally (bought by mem
Lers that tbe suspension of the tariff, at present,
would lose us an important element of power In
our treaty stipulations, that might,"too, possibly
be used as a basis for propositions for foreign
ruccour in the existing war. We speak adviatdly
when we notify our readers that propositions for
the succour of foreign governments ere likely to
be soon considered In a seerst session of Con%
greet, so far as those propositions can be framed
to avoid anything like humiliation, and to in
voke no than commercial fa
vo. ri —Richmond Ksamiuer, 6th.
/UT Benton N. Harrison, Esq , of Oxford,
Miss., has been appointed private secretary to
Freaideot Davis.
15* SBVKHKIUNTY UUTHK STATUS.
COLUMBUS, (iKORtiIA, MONDAV, MARCH 17,1861
Ike Xauket 111 kwii; *f tb f1 |> m .
tWN.
vu. ui.lt. lb. following citrut froi. . |„ n<
***** ‘* ,h * Chio*x, Tribune un tb. rabjtol of
ree rert Donelson prisoners -
Tb. iiuittUr f lb. prlttouw, h. Iwn rurlou.l,
W. t bvo oonv.ra.d with lb.
** t *“l‘ *nd ibiuk lhl lb.r. ran uni
b..tb. uri ~b 0 „„ ud . Tb. rugiuieut,. .itb
t<u •b p i, uu>>m .11 of aoi.ll txuuilt.r, . „ um
Imt. *.r. killed, and ulben
lbr. bn. b-u m 0.. r Mliu,.,. All „ ut
IkwiMttd i. lb. ttttltt.l uuuibur of prl.ub.ri „ uW
*n camp
fkir r|>urt.i ttl M .i.ud F ,uttiiiob..,.,
Uttttno fi>r an b iur or tiro, od ... tn.l.d In
lOttbt, lb lUtt ittoairottrlttou. uittunor. Wb.lb.i
b.S W b,rtt.r. ~„u ,
t.ott.l, lo . .li.ug.r wbeu uourlaouil, >ddr.awd
w. lir tbujru.der lo and, id. fb.ru . r . . oum
Ur of ttiok mull with lh. priiou.r, wbo .buuld
l on™ U Milt lo lbo bu.piltti, or „m. olhor
uouifortttblo littbrlttii, tb.l Ih.j m.y bo pr. purl,
taken care of.
Notwithstanding the present baggaid mid
war woru appearance of the prisoners, were they
washed and shaven, aud otherwise recruited
after their late fatigues, they would be a uoble
looking set of meu They were uniformly cour
teous iu their intercourse with visitors much
more so, we regret to sey, than a few blackguards
who visited them. The Tennessee men whom
we met invariably said they had enough uffigbt
ing, and it they could be liberated would at
once settle down to a quiet life. The Mississip
piana, when interrogated, simply said that they
would wait till thev “got well out of this scrape”
before they said anything about it-their air and
boariug, though oourteouH, betokening thut they
were ready to contiuue tbe fight, and carry it
to the bitter end.
T!c SluOttr of tbe tukeei tt fart llvuelaua.. Tbe
SU Side f Ike Fictile.
The following private Iptter, wrFten by a for
mer attache of the New York Fostoffice, pro
seuta auutfier side of (he at Fort
Doucisou from that which is g .ujrally contem
plated :
Fuat Dumblson, Tuna., Feb. I*,
J/y Peat Father ■ Sad, lonely aud down
hearted, 1 attempt to write a few liuea to let you
■ uow i etu alive aud uuliurt. Wo have had a
most bloody fight : there must have beeu troiu
five to seven thousand uiuu killed and wouudej,
on both sides. But tbs enemy surruudeied ou
Saturday evening, we taking about thirteen
thousand prisoners. But dear father the hardest
part of the story is that out of eighty mou iu my
company only seven earns out—the must whole
sele slaughter ever heard of.
My company was th* color company, at which
the rebels look particular aim ; as fast as oue
uian who carried it would be shot another would
lake hia place, but the fiag was brought through.
Only oue bundtnd and sixteen remains in iht
Eleventh Regiment uninjured- * , ‘
hearted My bojs'iflT*.'>v*tf lie, au\j% *” |.
that, in looktug at the poor r- uinant of iuy com
pany the men that I have t.kuii so much pales
lo drill, the men that I thought so much of nuw
uearly all in their graves I lel melancholy.
But I do uot complain; God spared my life uud
for what the future must tell. 1 will write you
soon again. The Eleventh will, I think, (wbat
is remaining) be left to guard tbe prisoners at
Cairo or Alton, whilst they reoruit Whether 1
shall attempt to raise another company, 1 do uot
know at preseut. Good bye. Let the folks at
home know I am safe
Yours, affectionately,
L. D. WADDELL,
Captain Company E,
Eleventh Rigunent III’ Volunteers,
(Whatis left of it.>
Wu. Coventry 11, Waddell, Esq, New York
lira., ft .a Ike Smmli \en of the I Oik.
Fk m Below -The steamer Ida left our city
#n Saturday for aud when passing
into St. Augustine Creek, 15 shot aud shell were
tired at her froie ene of the Feleral guubwats>
in our xiver enfl e Federal guu battery.-
There are now two gunboats in the Savauuafi
river, one protecting Venn.o’ Point battery, the
other Oakley battery. All the shot thrown to
wards the Ida fell abort, but several shell ex
ploded near her. A Federal gunboat is near
Elba lalsud, aud if she should come half a mile
further she will preveut ail communication by
water from thia city through St. Augustin# Creek
to the South.
A Federal Owii-eh K illkd.— Oar iatesi in
telligence from Skidewuy is to Saturday uooe.
On Saturday moruiug a member of Col. Wlight’s
Legion was wn picket duty, at Wsnag’s Point,
and in ordor to have e Utter look out, ascended
to the top of a Laurel tree, while fie left aeotb.
er picket e short dLtauce behind biur.—
In e abort time afier ascending (o hts posi
tion in the tree, he beheld e Federal boal ap
proaching, aud just as the boal turned a bend
iu tbe river the occupant* of it discovered the
pickets. They immediately teal a retreat, but
as they turned their butt tbe Confederate pick
et ou the ground fired, when ell the Federal#
dropped iu tbe bottom of the boat. Soou after
Die firing hfltl taken p'ace tbe Federal# rose iu
Ike bolt lo resume iheir oar*, but while lhe
office* in commend was urging hia rum for
ward, the picket iu the tree fired with fit* rifle
and Federal officer, who was standing iu lh*
stera of tbe boat was seeu to fall aad did uot
rise sgaiu. la confirmation of tbia event tbe
Federal vessel* in Ibe nelgliboihood signali
zed each other, and oeme dose together ru
the course of half an hour.
Tb* Georgian fired at a distance of some six
hundred yards, and bis shot was fatal to au in
vader of our soiL Many more of them will find
hospitable graves beneath our tropical sun.
Seven vessels loaded with Cotton passed tbe
blockade at New.Orleans one day last .week.—
Six vessel# passed the blockade at Charleaton
tbu same week. We are inclined lo tbiuk that
Ltuooln’s vessels turn a blind ey# to cotton ves
sets going out, while they keep a sharp look out
fur vessel# loaded with arms or goods inward
bound. At any rate it is somewhat strange we
never bear of tbe eapture of any of tbe out
ward-kouud, eoltou freighted vessels. Are there
certain favored parties wbo have permits from
both belligerents to carry on this trade Chroni
cle £ Sentinel.
Noble Examples -Itis stated that Cel. Lo
max, of tha 8d Alabama regiment, baa volun
teered for tbe war as a private, to teke effect
wbeu the 12 months term of bis regiment expir
es. Several commissioned officers from Colum
bus, On., have don* tb* sanie.
These uoble examples, will surely bav* a
wholesome effect upon th* cause of re-enlist
ments. — Rich. Die.
Warned PArna. Tb# proprietor of on* of
mills of GreenvUl# Dlntriot (tb* one
formerly owned by B. Dunham, deceased) will,
iu a few days commence tbe mauafacture of
writing paper.
tWMHHIUL WKUNK.SbAK MAIUH 12. IWJ.
simiKs m m sotru.
To Mr Kkli.ow Puimi:
8e much has been said about reducing the
oulton, aud increasing the coru crop, that it
viffbi sxsui a work of supererogation to sey
more Ordinarily, I would not lake tbe chances
of spoiling the many good and seusible things
which have beeu said u this suhjoot. But I
am cue us you, ideutifijd fully, iu ail wbioh is
proposed, aud as the Editor of the “Soil of the
South,” was fer aimy years in coustant inter
oourse with tbowsauJ* of tb >se that 1 now pro
pose to address. Iu these are found an apology
for the liberty which I take, aud iu the aeeeasi
ty of the case, a plea, tor seeking to use all the
4euoe, in controlling your decision iu this g/*ut
qiHttiu*. 1 think I could demonstrate that iu
the proposed plan, there would be little, if any,
pecuniary ies That the largor amount of time
for farm improvements, making manure and eu
richiMg the laud, t e fair pricea tor gram aud
pruvutuus generally, aad tbe largely increased
price for the light stock of cotton ou hand,would
save the oouulry harmless. But ldo not come
to you with aey such plea. I come to assure
yeu that there is uulhr trick, oor speculation,
nor he wild fancy of an alarmist, when you are
told that be fate of the Southern Confederacy
is suspended upon what may he doue, aud what
will, unalterably, be doue, by you, iu a few
weeks You ntrer Auv been vaUvtt tu decidu *
jftav a question. Do not tke the chauoes of
leaving toothers, to make the change, while you
ooociude that you may adhere to the eld rule,
and that it wilt make bo difference. Just at this
point lies (he difficulty, and it will ouly be rem
adiud by a solemn, sacred settle muni of tbe que
tion,.ud a fixed resetve, on the part of each tu
dividual, that the reduction of cotton, and the
inoresse of tbe corn crop shall be made, and
wiudc to *uvs lhe country,
There is much honest dittoreuoo of opiuiou,
as to the extent of the change. Many think an
entile suspension of oo lon plautiug should be
inv ie for this year. This may bo uecessary, but
if the plau is carried out in good faith, 1 do net
tbiuk either tho wetita of tbe country, or tbe best
tun rusts ut the i laulcr, will tuuko a total aban
donment uecessaiy. Iu my opinion, we ought
to plant (as the maximum) cue fourth the usual
quautity of laud iu eoltou. This Would keep us
in tb* business, aud supply not more than what
Would be ceusuiued in the country, or be wasted
or smuggled, us tbo old urop, ami lovo an übuu..
daut breadth of land tor com, peas, potatoes
and every var.uty of provision, for the wants
el man and buust. hor, U will be hoiu iu mind
that with so little ooltou, more acres may he
cultivated, or, what Would, perhaps, he better,
>be cutn crop uould recurve inure attention.
1 propose that ibis thing he doue iu good
faith. lam doiug it myself, taking a fair aver
age quality ol land lor cotton, and giving to my
Coru tho buuefll of my inauuro. 1 urn uot,there
to re, asking others to do more thau I aiu wil
ling to do myself, if tho war lasts, we shall
iu u.t all, l,h -*-■*- - bav* “ *od outlii for
’ tiVV. tbe safe side.
Your fellow planter,
JAS M ( .'HAMBKRB,
Columbus, Ua. March 11, iDfl'l.
MMUIk COKktSpOMIMCK.
Tb* Steamer Virginia Her Appearance G c qs
Cobb aud Wool Interior Happy incident.
NonroLE, Va. March 0, 1862.
Dew Tunes: The irou-clud stuamer Virginia
foimeily called tbe Mcrrimac, is a complete suo
cuss. It was published that she wus a failure,
meiely lo throw the Yaukoes off their guard aud
hoop (bum from blowing her up when she weu,
out into Hampton Roads. 1 visited her a few
days aiuuo aud saw bar largo guns and the great
be-k, designed lo be used in a close attack.
Before this reuefiu* you, she will have uttacked
the Cumberland and other vessel* out in front of
Old Point and showed the world whut material
* u * wus mi de of. She carries eight guns, three
oti each side aud oue iu front and rear, and is
bomb-proof against caunou shot. She resuin
filte, iu appearance au immense terrapin.
Gen. Wool, iu oouimand at Fortress Monroe,
ha* several vessels in the Road , evidently de
signed to engage the Virginia, when she mukes
her appearance. The old General has reoeutly
hell an interview with Gen. iloweil Cobb in refer
ence to our exohauge of prisoners between tbe
tws Governments. Those two officials met on
board a cartel vessel iu the Roads and discussed
tbe question wbicb called them together. It is
not set developed (bat there will be a pci foot
agruemuu * to tbe basis of au exohauge. Noth
ing was more strikiugly characteristic of the two
Governments thau ths dress of the respective
Representatives. Gtu. Wool wore tha tinsel,tbe
show, tho iusigui* of royalty, a large chapeau#
adorned with black feathers, set neatly upon his
h*ad,4|iia epaulette bung like drapery on bis
stioulders, a flue yellow sash and most splendid
sword was worn by bis side, aud to reuder the
dress complete, the old Geueral actually _bad
on a pair of straw colored kid gloves. Un the
otbsr baud, was Geu. Howell Cobb. His whole
apjuaranc.e was that of a wagoner, wbo had driv
eu a team through the ruins of wittier, and
cuuped out many cold nights
ilia cadet gray coat was of a fox color, having
boon dyed by tbe dews of tbe Foninsular. His
patts had seen strvlo* and showed marks of hard
wear. His beard was long and slightly gray
lu fact, b* looked like* soldier, deadly in ear
nest, and resolved upon the independence of bis
country. Hat with all this, he boro himself with
the conaeious dignity of a man, who represented
a great people, and was bead aod shoulders above
his compear iu brains and sense. Never was
her* -uoh a contrast. Wool stupid, dull, a cox
coufl); Cobb, plain, sensible, noble. Gur Gov
ernment did not sufler from the interview.
Right her* let me relate au incident that oc
curred wertbyof our Representative. Gen. Wool
announced that some ladies on board his boal
de*red to go South “Certainly,” says, Geu.
Cobb, “my Government always takes oar# of the
ladies” Whan they appeared, Iu and behold,
Miss Gwin, daughter of Ex -Senator Gwin of
California, aud a real Southerner aud intimate
friend of Gen. Cobb while in Washington, was
introduced—of course, the greeting was oordial.
“Why Mr. Cobb,” says Miss Gwin, “I scarcely
know you in your soldiers oostume, you are so
disguised, too, by your beard, do |I, rosily ad
dress you ?” “Why,” says General Cobb, with
remarkable fine humor and in a voice to be
heard by Gen. Wool and staff, “don’t you know
that tb* rebeh light their battles bobind Mass
id Battsrim I” Tbe hit was capital, but ibe
Federal General was too senaitivo to enjoy it aud
bowed bis exit from tbe boat aa soon as possi
ble.
But my letter grown long. More anon.
PRIVATE.
Tie imj> #1 Ike Einiuippi,
Wa publish this morning tbe order of Gsueral
Beauregard upon assuming command of tb*
Army of tb* Mississippi, issued from biabtad
aarters at Jackson, Tenn. Tb* Memphis Ap-
Ml •* tbttt liM,. Polk and Br. M , will l.
o.'tttt.t-tfj with him tu euiutuHitU of th arm, -
thttjonui. utttkiu ß bis hoadquurlors at Humboldt
and tho Ittttoi un.b.1.1, , t Memphis. Wa saa Iu
lha .am. papar . rJ „ IVom Bl . M ~r u.
olalmiiiK tu.rlial l.ur at Mamphis.
6ip bail Hr. Slitltll’i luirnnl ii p lr |,.
A Paris corrospoudeut of tbe Naw Yor. ||, r .
aid Rivos tbe following obapter of B oß.ip about
tba utoreiuout. of Mr. Uomuii.aiuu.r Hlid.il Iu
the French capital:
John Blidell arrived here from London last
evening at % ulue o'clock. There tas no;demon
stratiou whatever upou his teaching here, but
ho and Mr, Kami* look a carriage at the’ railway
station and drove to the hotel where **..
aud Mrs Kuslijt have beeu stoppiug some days.
He rose this morning about eleven and,
considering that his wardrobe ueeded replenish
ing, immediately sent for a taylor, who measured
bun, aud to whom he gave instructions to make
him some clothiug within twenty four hours,
and uutil finished Mr. Slidell would not leave
his hotel
Mrs. Slidell and hor two daughters arrived
here on Saturday evening last, and took rooms
at the Hotel du Khiu, on the Place, Vendoine.-
The rooms are a spleudid suit ou tho premiere,
opening from No. 3. Those who know the house
will recollect these are the finest apartments iu
It. Mrs. Kustis aud a sister of Mr. Kustis are
stopping at the s.iuio house.
Up to Wednesday moruiug Mrs. Slidell was in
a terrible slate of anxiety at tbe fear that her
husbaud had beeu lost, and tbe first intimation
of his safe arrival iu Southampton reached her
through the inoilitmi of a good Union mau wbo
does not know her , but, having heard of her
deplorable condition, immediately upon hearing
of the safe arrival of the rebel embassadors at
Southampton, as a matter of humanity, went at
onoo to the hotel, informed one of the servants,
whu conveyed to Mis. .Slidell the information
that hor husband was safe aud sound in South
ampton. Uutil this in (truing the family have
kept their rooms, never having been to the table
d'hote.
A son of Mr. Slidell, a young mau of uineteen,
who has been here sumo months at school, has
been staying with them since their arrival, and
they have been visited by some of the rebels in
Farts, as well as by a considerable uumber of
French families, acquaintances which they made
during their renideuce here.
It is their iulention to take a house immedi
ately for four years aud entertain elegantly ; and,
as both Mr. aud Mrs. Slidell speak French per
fectly aud as they possess the means of doing it,
they will doubtless .make an impression in Pari
sian society, and will eudeavor to secure a politi
cal positiou, through the medium of a social
recognition,
Letter Irum beiiera! Henuiutfseu
Willow Hill, James River |
Februury 2bth, 1802. )
‘Jo the hditot of the Richmond Dispatch:
to Hus coniiiiuuicuiiou of a correspondent,
sigutug himself ‘ Justice,” in a recent number
ofyour paper. As lur as I mu concerned, ho
might with more propriety have subscribud In
justice to his lubrication, lie says
“The forces uuder Geu. lieuuiugsen, with
fifteen pieces of artillery, were ordered lo
Koauoke Island, but that be onlorluualely
misunderstood bis orders und remained al
Llunhelli City. There can be no reasonable
doubt ll.t his force uud Ins fifteen pieces of
artillery were c#defend this idcutical causeway.
There cun be uo doubt that if those fiflecu
pieces of caution had been placed so ns to
command this causeway, t\ii it would b*ve
swept away auy eueuiy thut dure venture up
on it, und have changed whut become a sad
disaster into a glorious victory.”
In the above, “Justice” has repeated (i hope
not originated,) a falsehood. lam willing in
sileut disgust to see correspondents lie, report
aud puli officers luto cpheiuerul notoriety, but
I will uot permit them with impunity to report
or lie me into any kind of undeserved disre
pute. I will simply state, as matter* of fact,
that 1 did uot disobey or misunderstand auy
order; that obeying my orders, I could uot
possibly have been ou Roanoke Island with
my command; that I had not the amount of
artillery men iotied, and a u matter of opin
ion, (or rather conviction,) I will add, that if 1
had, I oould not have changed the issue of the
gallant light made by a portion of our forces
on the isluud, and in which the fi'Jlh Regiment
of Virginia volunteers, of the Wie J.egiun,
played so conspicuous a part.
Respectfully,
C. K. H KNNINUMEN,
Col. sVth Reg't Va. Yol's
Fro a th* Maoon Telegraph.
(iuubutt fujid,
Macon, March tRh, IHA2.
Mr. Cliely Sin We see by the Charleston
paper* that* young lady, Miss Sue L. Gel/oe,
of Summerville, has started a subscription tu
build n gunboat at Charleston, by ths ladies of
ths Falmetto State, wbioh is being responded to
by the iadies’of Carolina. We propose that her
nobio example sb #uld be followed by our own
native Georgia. And eu au earnest of our inten
lions, we herewith unclose you our subscrip
lions of five dollars each, to build a gunboat for
owu gallant, war-worn vetran, COMMODORE
TATTN A LI., who of t has bared bis breast tu
the “battle uud the breeze.” We know that
there Is patriotism euuugh among tbe ladles of
the Empire State of Ibe South to raise (he uecea
aary fund to build one that will do credit to
Georgia. We weuld, therefore, propose the fol
low ing names to out as agents to receive funds
from the ladies of Georgia :
For Macon.--Editor Georgia Telugranb, Edi
tor Georgia Messenger, Colonel L. N. Whittle,
James A. Niabot, E„q , Mrs. Washington Foe.
Bavannah Savauuah Republican, Savannah
Morning News.
Augusta. Constitutionalist, Chrouicl* A Sen
tiuel.
Columbus Times aod Euquirer.
Atlanta Intelligencer and Confederacy,
Milledgeville—Southern Federal Hulou and
,Southern Recorder.
Albany Richard li. Clark auJ Huts and
Rust.
Americus - John J. Fcarboro and T. M. Fur
low.
Cutbbert Edward McDonald aud Otbo F.
Beall.
Sandersville-James S. Hook, K*q.
Waynesboro’- Mrs. Shewmak*.
Covington -William F. Anderson.
Not being sufficiently acquainted to name
agents in tbe various counties of Georgia, wa
would recommend tbe ladies to appoint agents
in their various towns and eountiea and remit
their collect ions to a committee in ‘Savannah, to
be composed of Ills Honor Edward J. liardan,
R. R. Cuyler, President Central Railroad, G. B.
Lamar, President Bank of Commerce.
Kespeotfully yours,
MARY ANN A ELLA.
AU papers in Georgia please copy.
I'ULPMh.,. THI'KNDAY. MIKOB, IJ. ISU.
Defence of Gen. A. 8. Muslim
Th.re has boon and is a vory gonaral dispo
■Mon manifastsd by tho Southern pr.sa and pul.
lio lo consura tho oonducl of (lan. Sidney John
slon In bl.man B smsnt of our military affairs in
ontuoky and Tonuossoa. Wa oonfesa that wa
buvu Indulgad , raaliug of diaappoin.uiant la
scanning hia opernc. m . in that quarter, but uot
haring lha iufonu.tioi which wa dautuad raquis-
Hutoapropor lad..., ant, w „ barawithheld onr
opinion trom the reader.
The article which we publish to-day from the
Memphis Appeal coma** l9 .* v “dioution of (fen.
Johnston which will silence many ofihe com
plaints again him. It will appear therefrom
lh- or**! fault of OUT COOdltlOß iU the
Justly Bee at tile do r 01 ow r„it which
meat.
From (he Memphis Appeal.
a.\. a. s. joii.Nsm
Editors Appeal : Some ofihe southern pa’
purs have recently published articles strongly
condemnatory, denuuoialory and personally
abusive of Gen. A. 9. Johustou. Premising that
I am not attached to Uen. J,’s staff or even per*
sunnily acquainted with him ; that I am not, in
faot, on terms of iutimacy with auy of our
Generals, and, consequently do not speak “by
authority ”or “by lbo book,” I wish, neverthe
less, to have a little talk with you and yeur rea
ders about Gen. J. and his operations.
When Gen. Johnston assumed the command
of the army of the West, the enemy control
by means of hisguuboats, of tho Teunessee river
up to Fort Henry, and ol the Cumberland up to
Fort Donelson. These forts had beeu located by
the army of Tennessee under Gen. Pillow.—
Fort Henry (so far as putting /such a work on
such a site) was iu plain violation, or rather
disregard, of what may be termed an axiom in
military engiuoeriug. Fort Donelson was well
enough choseu to resist au attack from the river,
but seems to have been badly placed to resist a
land attaok,.according to Gen. Pillow’s recent
report. Gen. Johnston evidently saw that Fort
Henry would not do, for he ordered Fort Holman
to be constructed on tho Tennessee river. This is
said to be a proper site. Now it is not a very
easy thing to evaouate one fort and transfer its
armament to another, in the face of an enemy’s
gunboats. Beauregard, it is true, bus recently
done it, but be was differently situated. Colum
bus bad just beeU'UOOupiod when Gen. Johustou
assumed command, aud it wan absolutely neces
•ary that every gun should be sent to that point,
as the control of the Mississippi was of vital lrn.
portanoe to us. No guns could be spared for
Fort Heiwan, even if it had beeu prepareti to
receive thorn, aud those of Furt Henry, in Gen.
Johustuu’s opinion, (it is to be presumed.) and
he had the beat means us judging, oould nut be
safely transferred. Tbe same may be said as to
tbe plan of obstructing the navigation of those
rivers below tbe forts. The preseut friends of tbe
writer know that he was perhups the first to urge
that boats loaded with stones should be sunk in
ble to ascertain what number of old coal and
salt boats coi Id ba bad fur this purpose on the
Tennessee river ; but Gen. Johnston was the best
judge of its practicability, controlled as the river
was by the enemy’s gunboats. The writer thought
it could be done, and boFcved then As he be
lieves now, that with proper caution, and if nec
essary, a battery of two heavy guns and a bat
talion of infantry, (the work could have been
protected agaiust such gunboats as the enemy
then bad, but neither he nor any one else has a
right to determine the practicability of such an
operation without being iu person ou the pro
posed field of operations, aud in possession of
such information as General Johustou alone
could have.
Su far then as the part of his liue, which was
selected for bun, and which he was forced to
adopt, is uoDoerued, it is very clear‘ that it was
not strengthened dimply because he did not have
the guus to spare, ami could not get them. I
repeat that Ido not rpeuk by authority,(l atn
not indeed attached to tbe army,) but from a
general knowledge of the resources of our ord
nance department. The point selected by Qeu.
Johnston himself, or rather for which he is res
ponstble, was Bowling Green. It was intended
to oover N ash ville, or for an advance ; hi* first
step was to call upon th* Governors of several
States for additional troops, lie commenced
fortifying bis position, and it was generally un
derstood that it was impregnable and that be
had an army varying Irom 70,000 to 120,000
men. Th* writer believed all ibis, aud when he
saw, or rather heard, of two or three movements
of (he eueuiy which he, aB u sort of military
man, thought Geu Johnston ought, with such a
force, to bare interrupted, he began very seri
ously to doubt Gen. Johnston’s ability as a gene
ral, and it wo* uot until tho present hue and cry
was raised against him, that he discovered his
error, aud begun to understand and appreciate
the man. It revealed to him the faot that no
suob fore* had ever been at Rowling Green, and
that Gen. Johnston had exhibited the very fi
nest generalship in making him and all others
believe (his own army and th* eueuiy besides,)
every one, in fact, except the adjutaut general
and tbe beads of the army, that he was strong,
when in fact, he was weak, aud had thus with a
small force prevented the advance of the eueuiy.
It is useless to talk about it auy mau who, by
a simple disposition of his troops, cau produce
such au effect, is certaiuly a general of the very
first order. Now for (he reoeul movements : It
is clear to tbe writer that Guu. Johnstou knew
that he could uot save Nashville exoept ,by hia
own skill. He certainly did not have au army
large enough to do it, and he knew it. It was
not his place, however, to say ao to even Gover
nors or Legislatures ; by his skill alone, be bad
saved Nashville for over two mouths. He had
called for meiLaml they bad not beeu furnished.
At length, fortunately .for the C'onfederaoy, th*
civilians at Washington interfered anti ordered
an advance. Had they waited until Butler and
others were prepared to move, we would have
been roused from our supineuses with ireo
geanoe. As it is, the people of the Sou'b are
now awakened to a full sens* of their danger and
have time to meet it. All we have to do is for
tbe press to keep silent about military movement*!
publish no speculations as to our owu or tbe
enemy's plans, exoept from the papers of the *n
i us, and rally around the gallaut aud aide
Beauregard with every available weapon (pike*
properly made being quile as good a weapon as
tbe flint lock musket )
Bui lo return to Johnetou. He penetrated
the designs of the enemy, and lie baffled tbevii
a* completely a* any general so situated could
possibly have done. What was the main ob
ject of the enemy ? The possession of Nash
vtlle J By no ttisass. It whs the annihilation
of Johnston's whole army! The combined
movement* of Buell and i>rant aud the gun
boats was to attack Fort Henry and open tbe
Tenuesaee—to attack Fort Donelaou aud opeu
the Cumberland —if successful, th* posaea
siou of Clarksville, the rolling mills, and the
railway* from Kcutucky to the Tennessee riv
er, followed, of course. Had Jwhuslon ling.
pU*. cross I
fibers I
I <*ur terms are cah IlfAdvalirffl.
| Money scut by mail at our risk, I
JIJKVSSiSSSS* j
Number 11
ered a single day at Bowling Green, Grant
would have reached Nashville before him,aud,
placed between the two armies of Grant and
Buell, cut off from reinforcements and sup>
plies, his whale army would have been lost.
Had he moved sooner and turned towards Fort
Donelson, in three days Buell would have
been at Nashville, aud he would have beeu
entrapped between two armies and two river*
both in possession of the enemy. His rapid
retreat from Bowling Green waanot to escape
from Buell, but to get to Nashville i
Muxtopped at Nashville, Grant would
have advanced immediately, convinced that
he was covering important military stores, and
hoping 4 force htuf into a battle on unequal
terms. As it was, the fail* vr a,*i
ltuell to udvaoe was simply a well ullC ®‘
rdkAtf. Of what may bf termed QJiHwW ,u *°
zZSZa* Jy^y
sum Lio returning to
undergo the mortification of seeming to
panic-struck when no eu*. y ~, pursuit
He was not to be caught.
A general of leas ability would have lost his
whole army uuder the circumstances—for it
must be always borne iu mind that Gen. Gran
could, at any time, have been at Nashville
with a much larger Ibrce lltan Johnston then
had under him, in a lew hours. He could, in
fact, have marched there as soon as Johnstou
did if he had been very alert. Some justifi
cation of the Governor and Legislature can be
found iu this faot. Gen. Johnalon, it is pre
sumed, would have risked a battle to save his
brave division at Fort Donelson, had they re
treated or cut their way through, but uot to
save Nashville, although it is of some military
value to the enemy, it is of but comparatively
little to us. The writer has some reason to
believe that Johustou, knowing hia weakness
designed a counterstroke when the enemy ad
vanced, which might have saved Naahville lbr
a mouth or two, but he was prevented by
some want of preparation iu another depart
ment. Iu bringing this article lo a close, let
me simply suy that Johnston is now iu a po
sition lo be retulbrced to any extent, and in a
condition to protect points of much greater
military importance than Nashville. He has
kepi well iu advunce of the enemy, and
by so doing has had time to make his ar
rangements. This he could not have done
after a battle with a superior army pressing
closely upou him. Now, if I have fairly judg
ed Gen. Johnston —if he knew his own weak
ness, ami, if knowing it, he did not suffer 100
great au accumulation of valuable military
stores at Nashville, and it does not appear
that he did, he has certainly proved himself to
be a General of decided ability, and is still en
titled, fully entitled, to the confidence of tho
President, the army, and the people. At least
this lathe opinion ol oue, who, although in no
way distinguished as a military man, has de
voted nearly twenty years to the study of the
science of war, aud who, unlike many other?
did never breathe quite freely until Nashviß**
was captured. . J. R- W.
1 ’ j
rrout the Mobile Advertiser*
Gen. Bragg an mat. <• MtM. lemm...A Model
Spate! by Ibe Way.
Jackson, Tenn., March ‘Jd, 1862.
M'-ssre. Editors :~As you are aware, Gen
Bragg left our city ou fiuiurduy, (yesterday,)
for this place. At every station on the Rail
road, as soon as it U f as known that he was on
the cars, he was loudly and repeatedly called
for by the people to show hlinself and say
something to theui. The desire to see him
was intense. At Meridian, alter repealed culls
by a large number of citizens aud soldiers, he
mude tbe reiimrks which I enclose herewith.--
I give them in his own words, as written dowu
by uiysell, and request that they may be pub
lished iu your paper. The past has but pro
ved to u* that hi* advice should be well con
sidered.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. J. F.
REMARKS Or OEM. UKAUU, AT MERIDIAN, MIS*.
Fellow Citizens: —iu deference to your re
peated calls, 1 appear only lo see and be seeu
and to leuder you my thunks lbr your kind
ness.
This is a time for act, not words. Experience
has taught me, too, that every man should stiok
to his trade. In many efforts, I believe I never
made but one successful speeoh—and that was
in a few words, when I courted my wife—tbe
result then being due less to auy merit either in
the speech or the speaker thau to an unfortunate
hsbit with young ladies of deciding more from
impulse than reason, by whion, as In my case,
they are too apt to be unfortunate. Foudsr
well, then, uiy fellow citixeus, this piece of ad
vioo # : Never oall ou an old soldier for speeches ;
and if you will pardon me the liberty, 1 will add,
never send politicians to command your armies.
From that time our cause will prosper.
From tke Rio brand*., . Wore Trouble*.
The New Orleans Pioayune has iuformation
from the Rio Grande, reoeived through a mer
chant from Brownsville, Irom which we learn
that the condition of affair* in that quarter indi
va(M a (bt aßulhoi tiuubla iu about to oomi upon
our enemies. The intelligence is that the Brit
ish end French consuls at Mstainoras had pre
sented to the cuptaiu of the United States frigate
Portsmouth, a formal protest agaiust the block
ade of the Rio Graude, and that on the 6th, the
British consul dispatched a schooner to Tampico
with orders for a British vessel to sail to the Rio
Grande and prevent, evot to the extent of hos
tili.ies, the blockade of the river by the Ports
mouth. Tho consul's order* wore that the Brit
ish vessel should engage the Portsmouth imme
diately upon her arrival. The French consul
had also seut a request to Tampico for the for
warding of a French warship.
The Picayune adds :
A largo number of vessels arrived from Europe
•re iu durance under the guns of the Ports
mouth. The captain of the latter will notallow
these vessels to discharge their cargoes, unless it
is guaranteed that the goods will be delivered *n
Mstainoras and not at Rrownville. Now this
condition, eveu if legal, is impossible, as the
steamboat* plying on the Rio Grande, are
owned iu Urowusville, and as such, beiug the
property of rebels, they dare not undertake to
lighten these European vessels at tha mouth of
the river, for iu so doing they would run the risk
of being seised by the United Mtates frigate.—
Thu# i< will be seeu that the damage for the de
tention of these neutral merchantmen must
amount to a very round sum agaiust the by no
means plethoric purse of old Abe. ,
The Portsmouth continues to tly the French
flag a# a decoy to all traders approaohlng her
station, bhe frequently takes a short oruiee un
der tho same colors, but when no merchantman
Is in sight she hoists the old “gridiron./*
A Company styled *the “lolllooffer Guards”
has been organised in Forsyth County, —H. P.
Bell, Captain.
