Newspaper Page Text
WW iwi t!m ® jsiyjiiL
BY JAMILS GAKDNEK.
FOREIGN NEWS. |,
retails by tbe Pacific.
THS I.OSS AT IBS BATTLE OF INKERMANN. I
A 4el-s.ra;-'. d-'s-pateh trom B-rlii>. published j
in the London paper*. says that the Russian in- I
valide announces officially the Ri.-.sian loss <»> i
Wae Sth of N >. ember to b* 42 offices and 2 969 i
men killed, and 206 oflker.-, amt 5,791 men j
wounded, giving the totai of 9,008 killed an I I
wounded. The number of prisoners take., by I
the allies is not given-
The following is the official report of the total j
•isua ties in the Eriti- armyon the stf.
43 officers, 3J sergeants, 1 drummers,3B6 rack i
and file killed 102 offi-vr*. 121 sergeants. 17 i
drummers, 1,694 rank and file wounded; 1 of-|
Heer, 6 sergeants. 191 rank and life missing.— i
Total, 43 officers. 32 sergeants, 4 drummers, 383 j
rank and file k lied; 103 officers, 122 sergeants, j
17 drummers, 1,710 rank and file wounded; 11
officer, e sergeants. 191 rank and file missing, j
Killec 46a i
Wounded 1 952 ;
Missing 191 1—
Total 2,605
The less of the Fi*uch in killed and weuuced 1
was 1,736. Total loss ot the allies, 4 341.
it appears that the Russian forces “-rgaged ir
ibe battle was 60,000 or 70.000 who were op
posed for three hours bv a little ovei »,000 En
glish. The latter, however, were aufiseq-jently '
wined by 6,000 Franca. and thus sav-d the al- ;
ties from a defeat, The battle lasted from be.
tween 6 and 7 o’clock in the morning until be
tweer- 3 and 4 in the atternoon.
BBUTALITV CF THE RUSSIANS
Ti, personal er d ict of the Russiai st r< ■ - ■
oat the battle < • inkermann was such as to cre
ate terror and disappointment, and to uiuteceive '
all won had ho:>ed trot their barbarism bad been ;
in gome degree m igated oy ti.e perse." which
hat claused ein-e the career of Suwarroff. I hey
p;er<
and even tore off the !■•>:. lages ot those -vuo, af
ter temporary aid had I een left fir the moment
on the field; and tLrae fiendlike
merely to have been the result ot drink upon
the common men, but to have beer i..:?c'. y <-t:-
tourage i by the officers.
One oi these personages w.s capturedin the
Mt of setting the example to his men, and was
forthwith sent to be tued for murder, and mot -.
probably hanged. Whether any meats will,
suffice >o prevent these Monies for the fiitui- .
may, however, be doubted, although Lor R- -
lari has seat to Prince Meiiscbikoff to demau'l
au explanation oi the n. Should no satisfactory
•or.fesswn or reparation be made, tbe war Wi,l
henceforth assume a character which, with ali
his indifference to the lives ot his subjects, may
be too much even for the Czar.
THS OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLE.
Lord Raglan, in his official report or tbe bat
tle of the sth, describes the events up to tbe rail
of Sir George Cathcart, and then adds:
“Subsequently to this, the battle continued
with unabated vigor and with no positive result,
toe enemy bringing upon our line not only tire
file of all "their field battaries, but those in fr- nt
of the works oi the place, and tbe ship guns, till
the afternoon, when the symptoms of giving
way first became apparent: and snortly alter, al
though the fire did not cease, the retreat became
general, and heavy masse: were observed retir
ing over tbe bridge ot the inkermann, and as
cending the opposite heights, abandoning on the
field of oattie five or six thousand dead and woun
ded, multitudes of the latter naving already been
carried off by them. 1 never before witnessed
•ueh a spectacle as the field presented ; but upon
this j will not dwell.”
He lui-.c-r aWt'-j ti.:»» i’rer * ‘ and
* t»i wTTu c.-to o” r iu display ng ibeir gallan
try and maniiesfir.g their zeafcus devotion to
duty, notwithstanding that they nad to contenu
against an infinitely superior force,and were ex
posed lor many hours to a most galling fire.”—
And be concludes tbu-.
“It is difficult to aiiive a'. iny positive con
elusion a l . to the actual numbeis brought into the
field by the enemy. The configuration of the
ground did not a imrtof any develop nent of their
force—the attack consisting of a system ot re
peated assaults in heavy ma-ses of columns; but.
Judging from tbe numbers that were seen m trie
plainsafter they had withdrawn in retreat, I am
led to suppose that there could not have Leeu
leM than 60,000 men. Their loss was excessive
and it is calculated that they left on the field near
5,003 dead, and that their casualties amount in
the whole, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, to
not less than 13.000.
“ Your grace will be surprised to learn that the
camOer oi British troops actually engaged little
exceeded 8,000 men, wnile those of Gen. Bos
quet’s division only amounted to 6,000, the re
maining available French troops on the spot hav
ing been kept iu reserve. 1 ought to mention
that, while the enemy was attacking our right,
they assailed the left of the French and
actually got into two oi their brtteries; but they
were quickly driven out in the most gallant man
ner with considerable loss, and ho ly pursued to
lire very wails ot Sebastopol.”
Geo. Canrobert of tbe French army, states
tua» tbe Russian army, by re-infotceme its, had
been awe.led to at least lOOrXIU men, including
ike garrison of Sebastopol. This they learned
at the beginning o! the buttle, from a number oi.
Haselau deserters.
He then goes on to describe the battle; and
•ays the French army three times crossed bay
•nets with tt*e enemy, who only yielded ground
after the thud charge, upon which he left it
strewed with his dead and wounded The Rus
sian heavy artillery and their field-pieces, he
alleges, were very superior in number,and had a
•ommandiug position.
The Russian lans in killed and wounded, he
Jtuuks, was <M>t loos than from e to 10,000 men
da conclusion be fcey*:
"Tfie battle of drikermann, and the contest
maintained by .the besieging corps, ba* shed great
glory on our fon'-e,and has augmented the moral
strength which tJbe allied armies have always
posaested. At the urarne time we have suffered
lose which must be regretted. The English a.-rny >
baa lost 2,600 men Allied or wounded, among j
which are to be reckeued seven generals, three i
of whem are killed. The French army Uassit
fersd to tbe extent ot 2,736 killed or wounded.
We have bitterly to regret the lost oi Gen. de
Lourmel, unce chad irwr Its whounds, whose
brilliant qualities promise t a grand career in lire
future, ft is my pain..; duty also to acquaint
you with the death of Col. de Camas, of tin- C'n
regiment of the .e. .-.i.-:d at the 1.. .i lc‘ t u
troops, at the very slant in v iic.. I ".i rie
in contact with tui: eruuny.
“sue vigor of the aiifeu troops, iTt-jer . i‘. y
were to the two-told stri);',;*, eoi « * y- >
cedentel difficulty and ul bittlu wh-h rs cal
it** greateststf'-gglesoi military history,
cot be too highly praisr d.”
Having thus gla <’d at trie official rejiorl.. r
the allies, let us see what tiue Russians have to
say for themselves, f’mice Henscbikoff, in Xis
official despatch to the Emperor, says;
‘Our first attack on the heights was very for
tunate; the English fartilications were carried,
sod cloven of tin ir guru 1 , keif. Uolortonately,
tn tfaia first movement, the cznlvoaiid'-re tbe
troops, who were tttacl ; gthe s.-itii-nchmrr.ts
MMI redoubt*, were wr.un'i Wbiletheseovr'Ets
•ve/e passing, the Fi>' • l'.r f arrived m- 4
the E.ighsh ' The siege attilkiy of tm-•
w*» n ... ion . . It '■ field of battU*. '< d
itw.,l-, for our I.rid j:cr • !o
COuUl J ■. .'j r.dvt.';T/.'.
AUGUST V, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, DEG EMBER 20, 1854.
' The numerical superiority of the enemy’-, in- ,
I‘antry, armed with rifles, occasioned great los-es 1
in horses, artillerymen and infantry officers
This circumstance made it impossible lor us to '
complete, except bv a great sacrifice of tra-ips.
the redoubts whicn, durir g the fighting, we had.
b-gun to throw up cn points which tbe enemy’s ;
position commanded, even as far as the town of
Sebastopol itself. The retreat was effected in ■
good order on Sebastopol and over the bridge o.
Inkermann, and the dismounted guns were car
ried eff the field of battle back into the place.
“ The Grand Dukes Nicholas Nicholasitch !
.Michael Micholavitch were in tbe midst of this ,
terrible fire, setting an example of calm cour..,-e
:in the fight. Simultaneously with this sortie the
' infantry regiment of Minsk, with alight battery ,
| of artillery, under the command of the major- >
' general of artillery Timofeieff, executed another ;
! sortie against the French batteries, and spiked 15 .
jof their guns. Our loss in dead is not yet exactly |
I known, but the number of the wounded amounts
’ to 3,500 men and 109 officers.”
He adds that Lieut. General Solmonoff was ,
' killed, and several other higher officers wounded. ;
| and thinks the lors ot the allies cannot have bee.i
' less than the Russians.
| The Battle of Inkkrmann—The accounts '■
we have hitherto published of tbe battle of In- •
' kermann, on the sth, we now find, failed to con- |
vey any impression ot its horrible realities. The
; correspondent of the Loudon Times, writing i
> trorn tbe fi.dd of battle on the sth, says:
i And now commenced the bloodiest strugg’e ,
j ever witnessed since war cursed the earth. It has !
I been doubted by military historians if any enemy
j could stand onr charge with the bayonet; but
here the bayonet was often tbe only weapon etn
j ployed in conflicts of the most obstinate and
| deadly character. We have been prone to be
i lieve that no foe could ever withstand tbe British
j soldier wielding bis favorite weapon, and that at
I Maida alone did the enemy ever cross bayonets
‘ with him; but, at the battle ot Inkermann, net
' uniy dut we charge in vain—not only were des
; perate encounters between masses of men main
; tamed with tbe bayonet alone—but we were
: obliged to resist bayonet to bayonet the Russian
; in .‘."try again and again, as they charged us with
! ii.credible fury and de’ermina’ion.
j The battle of Inkermann admits of nodescrip-
I fion. It was a series ot dreadful deeds of daring,
of sanguinary hand to hand fights, of desperate
j assaults—in glens and valleys, in brushword
I glades and remote dells, hidden from all human
; eye--, and from which the cooqueorrs, Russian or
British, issued only to engage iresb loes, till our
..•id supremacy, so rudely, assailed, was triurn
piiantly asserted,and the battalions of the Czai
: g ive way before our steady courage and the
I chivalrous fire of France. No one, however
I placed could have witnessed even a small por-
• tion ot the doings of this eventful day; for tbe
, vapours, fog, and drizzling mist, obscured the
I ground where the struggle took place to such an
I extent as to render it impossible to see what
j was going on at the distance of a few yards.
' Besides this, the irregular nature of the ground,
the rapid tall of the hill towards Inkermann,
• where the deadliest fight took place, would have
1 prevented one, under the most favorable circum
stances, seeing more than a very insignificant
and detailed piece of the terrible work below. It
! was six o’clock when all tbe head-quarters camp
was roused by roll after roll of musketry on the
right, and by sharp report of field guns. Lord
t Raglan was informed that the enemy was ad
-1 vancing in force, and scon after ’even o’clock he
I lode toward the scene ot action, followed by his
i staff, and accompanied by Sir John Burgoyue,
; brigadier general Strangw ays, R. A , and several
i aid be camps.
j As they approached the volume of sound, the
j steady, unceasing thunder of gun, and rille, and
Imu ket told th ’ r he on..- ': —* • we . ' ..
1- ■i -. .ue -u-.-n oi the Rus’.aus, thrown with
great precision, burst so tWickly among the troops
that the noise resembles* the continuous dis*
i charge of cannon, and tbe massive fragments in
! dieted death on every side. One of the first
things the Russians did, when a break in the tog
; enabled them to see the camp of the second di
■ vision, was to open fire on the tents with round
I shot and large shell, and tent alter tent was
' blown down, torn to pieces,or sent into the air,
I while the men engaged in camp duties and the
I unhappy hor’es tethered up in the lines Were
i killed or mutilated.
1 Gambier was at once ordered to jget up two
i heavy guns (18 pounders) on the rising ground,
i and to reply to a fire which our light guns were
utterly inadequate to meet. As he was engaged
in this duty, and was exerting himself with Cap
; tain Dagmlar to urge them forward, Colonel
' Gambier was severely, but not dangerously
wounded, and was obliged to retire. His place
I was taken by Lieut. Colonel Dickson, and the
I conduct of that officer in directing the fire ct
those two pieces, which had the most marked
effect in deciding the fate ot the day, was suebas
to elicit the admiration ot the army, and to de
serve the thanks of every man engaged in that
bloody tray. But long ere these guns Lad been
brought up there bad been a great slaughter of
I tbe enemy, and a heavy loss of our own men.
I Our generals could not see where to go. They
could not tell where the enemy were—from
I what side they were coming, and where going
I to.
In darkness, gloom and rain they had to lead
oer lines through thick scrubby bushes and thorny
brakes, which broke our ranks and irritated the
. men, while every pace was marked by a coipse
or rr.ari wounded from an enemy whose position
wan only indicated by the rattleof musketry and
the rush of ball and shell.
Sic. George Cathcart, seeing hie men disorder
led by the tire ot a large coiu ' - • Russian infan
try which was outflanking them, while portions
oi tbe various regiments comprising his division
were maintaining an unequal struggle with an
overwhelming force, rode down into the ravine
in which they were engaged, to rally them. He
j perceived at the same time that the Russians
i had actually gained possession of a portion of the
hill in rear of one flank of his division, but still
his stout heart never failed him for a moment
He rode at their head encouraging them, and
when a cry arose that the ammunition was fail
ing, be said coolly, “Have you not got your bay-
I onets?”
i As he led on his men it was observed that
i another body of men had gained the top ot tbe
bill behind them on the right, but it was impos
sible to tell whether they were friends or foes.
A deadly volley was poured in our scattered re
giments. Sir. George cheered them and led them
back up tire bill, but a flight of bullets passed
where be rode, and he fell from his horse close to
the Russ .n columns. Tbe men had to fight
their way through a host of enemies, end lost
:• aituily. They were surrounded and bayonet
t< ■ ou both sides, and won their desperate way
up the hill, with diminished ranks, and tbe loss
of near 590 ne.'.. Sir George Catheart’a body
was afterwards recovered with a bullet wound
ir. the head, and three bayonet wound* in the
body.
In thia struggle, where the Russians fought I
with tbe greatest ferocity, and bayonetted the
wounded Mthey fell, Colonel Swyny, ot the 63d,
a most gallant officer, Lieutenant Dowling, 20th.’
Maj. Wynne, 68th, and other oflicera, whose
names will be fouad in the Gazette, met their
death, and Brigadier Goldie, of tbe 37th regi
ment, received the wounds of which he has since
died. Tbe conflict on She right was equally uo
certain, ar d equally bloody. In tho light divi
sion, the 831 b got *o fay into the front that tbtjy
were surrounded and put into utter euufusi' >,
when lour compnuhs >f tha.- 77th, under M: j :
3’iatou-<hi;rged Ik- Ruv ian.’ J broka them :ud
iiwved tbrirccerwads-s
The fight had not long commenced, ere it was '
evident that the Ru-si ius had received orders to
fire at all mounted ofiiceis. Sir G. Brown was
struck by a shot which went through his arm and
struck his side. I saw with regret his pale lifid
sternly composed ace, as his body was borne by
me on a litter early in the day, his white hair
flickering in the breeze, for I knew that we had
lost t e service ot a good soldier that day. Fur
ther to the right a contest, tie like of which,
perhaps, rever took place before, was going on
between the Guards and dense columns of Rus
sian infantry of five times their number. The
Guardshad charged them und driven them back,
when thuy perceived that the Russians had out
flanked them.
They were out of ammunition, too. They
were uncertain whether there were friends or
. loes in the rear. They had no support, no re
serve, and they were fighting with the bayonet
| against an enemy who stoutly contested every
■ inch of ground, w hen the corps of another Rus
sian column appeared on their right far in their
’ rear. Then a fearful rniYrai/Ze was poured into
i them.and volleys of rifle and musketry. The
Guards were broken ; they had lost twelve offi
i cers, who fell in the field ; they had left one-'halt
; of their number on the ground, and they retired
along the lower road of the valley. They were
soon reinforced, however, and speedily avenged
their loss. The French advanced about ten
{o’clock, and turned the flank of the enemy.
The second division, in the centre of the line,
! were baldly pressed. Thedlst regiment, in par-
I ticular. were exposed to a terrible fire ; and the
I 95th were in the middle ol such disorganizing
volley’ chat they only mustered 64 men when
’ paraded at two o’clock. In fact, the whole ot
! the division numbered only 300 men when as- |
|s- milled by Major Eman in rear ot their camp •
l iter tbe fight was over. Die regiments did not I
lake their e;Jors into the battle, but the offi -ers |
nevertheless wen? picked off wherever they 1
Went, and it did not require the color staff to in
. dicate their presence. Our ambulances were
i soon filled, and .ere nine o’clock they were busi
> ly engaged in carrying loads of men, all covered
with blood, and groaning, to the rear of the line.
About hall-past nine o’clock Lord Raglan and
‘ his staff were assarabletl on a knoll, in the vain
j hope of getting a glimpse of the battle which was
! raging below them. Here Genera! Strangways
was mortally wounded, and I am told that he
! met his death in the following way:—A shell
I earns right in among tbe staff—it exploded in
1 Captain Somerset's hoise, ripping him open ; a
portion of the shell tore off the leather overells ot
I Capt. Somerset’s trousers; it then struck down
: Captain Gordon’s horse and killed him at once,
. and then blew away General Strang way’s leg, so
1 that it hung by a shred of flesh and a bit of cloth
I from the skin. Tbe poor old gentleman never
I moved a muscle of his face. He said, merely,
I in a gentle voice, “Will any one be kind enough
Ito lift me off my horse ?” He was taken down
:ii' laid on the ground, while his life blood ebbed
l fast, and at last he was carried to the rear. But
I the gallant old man had not sufficient strength to
i undergo an operation, and in two hours he sunk
;to rest, leaving behind him a memory which
, will ever be held dear by every officer and rnan
' of the army.
The fight about the battery, to which I have
alluded in a former part of my letter, was most
sanguinary. It was found that there was no
banquette to stand upon, and that the men inside
could not fire upon the enemy. The Russians
advanced mass after mass of infantry. As fast
1 as one column was broken and repulsed another
i took its place. For three long hours about 8,500
I British infantry contended against at least four
{times their number. No wonder that, at all
i times, they were compelled to relire. But they
! r-yn" to the charrtn again.
- > sr l< re t« Russian* cded in getting
up close to tbe guns of Capt Wodehouse’s and of
Capt. Turner’s batteries, in ' •» gloom of the
morning. Uncertain whether *nsy were friends
or foes, our artillerymen hesitated to fire. The
Russians charged them sudd ul;, bore all resist
i ance down before them, drove away or bayonet
ed the gunners, and succeeded in spiking som: of
tbe guns.
Their columns gained the hill, and lor a few
moments the fa’e ot the day trembled in the bal
ance, but Adam’s brigade, I’ennefather’s brigade,
i and the light division, made another desperate
; charge, while Dickson’s guns swept their col
. urnns, and the guards, with undiminished valor
I and steadiness, though with a sadly decreased
' front, pushed on again to meet then bitter ene
j mies. The roaring of musketry, the clash of
■ steel, and the pounding of the guns were deafen
i ing, and the Russians as they charged up tbe
! heights yelled Jike demons.
They advanced, halted, advanced again, re
ceived and returned a close and deadly fire, but
the Minie is the king of weapons—lnkermann
proved it. The regiments of the fourth division
and the marines, armed with the old and much
belauded Brown Bess, could do nothing with
their thin line of fire against the massive multi
tudes of the Muscovite infantry, but the volleys
of the Minnie rifle cleft them like the hand ot
tbe destroying angel, and they fell like leaves in
autumn before them.
i About ten o’clock, a body of French infantry
i appeared on our right, a joyful sight to our
I struggling regiments. The Zouaves came on at
the pa*decAarge. The French artillery had al
ready began to plav with deadly effect on the
right wing of the Russians. Three battalions of
; the Chasseurs d’Oileans (I believe they had No.
' 6 on their buttons.) rushed by, the light of battle
iin their faces. They were accompanied by a
j battalion of Chasseurs Indigenes—the Arab Se
poys of Algiers.
Their trumpets sounded above the din of bat
tle, and when we watched their eager advance
right on the flank of the enemy, we knew the
day was won. Assailed in (ront by our men,
broken in several places by the impetuosity of
our charge, renewed again and again; attacked
by the French infantry on the right, and by ar
tillery all along the line, the Russians began to
retire, and at 12 o’clock they were driven pell
mell down the hill towards the valley, where
pursuit would have been madness, as the roads
were all covered by their artillery.
They left mounds of dead behind them. Long
ere they fled the Chasseurs d’Afrique charged
them most brilliantly over the ground, difficult
and broken as it was, and inflicted great loss on
them, while the • fleet of this rapid attack, aided
by the advance of our troops, secured our gnus,
which were only spiked with wood, and were
soon rendered fit for service.
Our own cavalry, the remnant of the light
brigade, wi re moved into a position where it
was hoped they might be ol service, but they
were too few to attempt anything, and while
they were d. iwu up they lost several horsesand
some men. One officer, Cornet Cleveland, was
struck by a piece of shell in the side, and hasex
pired. There are now only two officers left
with the fragment of the 17th Lancers—Captain
Godfrey Morgan and Cornet George Wombwell
At twelve o’clock the battle ot Inkermann
seemesl to have been won, but the day which
bad cleared up for an hour previously *o ae to
enable us to lee the enemy and me „t him again
became obscured. Rain and fog set in, and as
we could not pursue the Russians, who were re
tiring unde! the shelter ol their artillery, we had
formed in front ot out lines and were holding the
battlefield so stoutly conte .ted, when the enemy
tah .ng advantage of our q .i.-tod, ag ul „ aJvanc-’
ad while their guns pushed forward and opentd
a tremendous hie upon >«■.
Gem Canroue.t, who , ew. quitted Lord Rag ■
fan for mneb ot th. early part of the day atonce
direc’elthe Frenr'i to advauc .-nd outflank t*,,.
euemy. Li bis efforts be.vgum. Üb7 .ecu, vJ '
ed bv Gen. Bosquet, whose devotion was noble.
Nearly all his mounted escort were down beside
and behind him.
Gen. Canrobert was slightly wounded. His
immediate attendants suffered severely. The
renewed assault was so admirably repulsed that
the Russians sullenly retired, still protected by
their crushing artillery.
The Russians, about ten, made a sortie, on the
French lines, and traversed two parallels before
they could be resisted. They were driven back
at last with great loss, and as they retired they
blew up some mines inside the Flagstaff Fort,
evidently airaid that the French would enter
pell-mell after them. At one o’clock the Rus
sians were again retiring. At forty minutes
past one Dickson’s two guns smashed their ar
tillery, and they limbered up, leaving five tum
brels and one gun carriage on the field.
The Siege or Sevastopol Confessed to be a
Failure —Hopes and Fears.—Twenty days
have elapsed since we last received authentic ac
counts from our army in the Crimea. Our latest
news is derived from Russian sources, and we
are carrying on war against an enemy who has
ten days the start of us in intelligence. There
does not appear, so far as we can see, any hopes
of bringing the struggle in the Crimea to an im
mediate termination.
It is certainly not without a sigh that we feel
ourselves compelled to relinquish those blight,
I and, a* we thought them, reasonable hopes of
completing in a few weeks tbe conquest of the
Russian stronghold. Yet even this disappoint- |
ment is not without its consolation.
He have failed in our immediate enterprise, but |
without the slighest loss—nay with a considera
ble gain—of character and honor. II our army
j Has been to weak too encounter the difficulties
■ opposed to it, it has only been because those dii
[ liculf ies were such as transcended human power
I and human endurance.
I It Sevastopol does not fall at last, it will be
I with a heavier ruin and more crushing effect
than could have possible attended the most suc
cessful enterprise. We have not snatched it
from the Czar before his reinforcements arrived,
but we have every hope of taking it from him
after defeating aad des'roying all the force which
his vast empire can bring torrs relief. We must
fight this battle somewhere, and where could
we desire to fight it better than on the ground
of our own choosing, in the finest province ot
tha Raraian empire, and under the walls oi the
mighty fortress, the possession ot whicn will be
the prize of the conqueror I
Great Britain.— Prince Albert has sent a
present o' a seal skin coat to every officer of his
regiment in the Crimea.
Jcn.n Gibson Lockhart, son-in-law of Sir
Walter Scott, died of paralysis ou tbe 24th.
Wm. Smith O’Brien denies a report that he
had sanctioned an effort of his friends to induce
Louis Napoleon to solicit the British Govern
ment to allow him to return to Ireland. If per
mitted to return, he says it must be without for
eign interferrence.
France.—Tbe cannon of the Invalides were
fired in celebration oi the victory of Inker
mann.
Seventeen first class English steamers were
at Toulon, embaiking troops and stores for the
war.
.M.-Avanhofl, Ex-Secretary of the Russian
Emba y, whose presence has hitherto been tol
erated in Paais, has received oiders to quit
France. All other Russian, even domestic ser
vants are likewise ordered to leave.
Gentil, Langlois-and Montbec, political pris
oners, have been liberated by the Emperor’s or
ders. M.Sobrier, who figured in the revolution of
1848, died a few days since in the lunatic hos
pital.
A* .-■* ■ e V”ring up 80,90Qsheep-akii for
meoi , . Frencl. army in ttlb East.
Financial.—The advices from Europe are
not especially damaging to our markets, but the
state ol affairs there are such that no help is to
be expected thence to us in our financial affairs
Consols are not lower, but are heavy, on account
o( tbe probability of the government loan being
wanted. The Louden Times ol the 29th ot
November states as follows :
“ In consequence ct the anticipation express
ed that proposals for a loan may probably be
submitted to Parliament at an early date, the
English lands opened this morning at a decline
ot 1 per cent.; but the tall caused several pur
chasers, and, as in some quarters likely to be
well informed, it was contended that the idea of
a creation ot stock is at present premature,
there was subsequently a partial recovery.
“ Consols for money, w hich left off yesterday
at 91* to 92, were first quoted 91 to J, whence,
after some influctuations, they advanced to 915
to i, at which they remained up to the termina
tion of business. For the January account the
last price was 91J to L Bank stock closed at
209 to 211 r; reduced 89| to 7J ; new three per
cents, 892 to 90; long annuities 4J; and Exche
quer bills, 3s. to 6s premium.
The closing accounts from the Paris Bourse
this evening present another decline of a half per
cent., in sympathy, probably, with the movemet
on this side. From Vienna tbe telegraphic quo
tations seem to indicate that some political new\s
considered very favorable among the financial
classes, must have transpired, the rate ot Et
change on London having suddenly receded near
ly 4 per cent.
The commercial circulars are written in gloo
my spirit. Cotton was dull at Liverpool at a
decline of Id since the previous advices. Fleur
has also fallen 2s. to 3s per quarter. Corn 2s per
quarter.
Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., November 29,
write respecting American stocks :
“ There has been to-day a demand for U. S.
bonds, 1868, to a limited extent at 110. Some
five per cent., New Yoik State stock has been
sold at 95, ex-January div.; and some 6 per
cent, stock of the same State at 89, dividend on
from Ist October.
“ A considerable sum ot bonds of the consoli
dated Association ol Planters has been disposed
ot at 70, dividened ou from Ist August. Vir
ginia 6’«,dollar bonds offered at 84, and Sterling
s’s at 89. Some Pennsylvania Central Railroad
bonds have been sold at 89 ; but there is very
little doing in raialroad bonds, and generally
there.is more;deposition to sell than to buy Amer
ican stocks. Pennsylvania s’s stock 76; do
bonds 80 a 82. Massachusetts sterling s’s 101
a 102. Maryland sterling 93 a 93J. South
Carolinia s’s 92. Alabama sterling s’s 83.
Canada 6’a sterling 109 a 109 j.”
The bank ol England continues to lose specie,
though in a mercantile way. The return for
the week ending 18th November shows as fol
lows :
The amount of notes iu circulation £19,828 -
270, being a decrease of £460,815, and tbe’stock
ot bullion in both departmentsis £13,464,781,
showing a decrease ol £85,011 when compared
with the proceeding return.
Proof that Monet is Scarce.—An Albany
correspondent of the Portsmouth Journal makes
the following statement as evidence that money
is scacre at the West as well as in the Eastern
States:
“ A friend in the drygoods trade in Boston
passed through this city on the return from a
collecting expedition. He had 818,000 due in
Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, and after visiting
every place, returned with Jive hundred dollars
as the utmost he could raise. He was accom
panied by another merchant, who had accounts
part due to the amount ol 850,000. He urged
! os creditors to the n*m.. bu' could n<.’. * ,<!:< < t
m .ney enough to fayh r. expenses home I )<-
perty rh«/ had, but no money gu I noi v to be
talked.”
VOL. 33 -NEV; SERIES- VOL.-‘J-NO II
GENERAL NEWS.
Inaugural Address of Gov. James H. Adams, j
Gentlemen of the Senate and
House of Representatives
1 appear before you to take the oath and as
sume the responsibilities ol the office to which .
you have elected me. To be deemed by the j
Representatives of South Carolina worthy to oc- •
cupv the elevated position of Chief Magistral
of the State, and to have had conferred on me so
marked a manifestation of your confidence and
esteem not only enhances the honor and respon
sibility attached to the position, but excites with
in me mingled emotions of gratitude and pride
which I should in vain attemp to express. Hold- j
ing no service to be so honorable as that of rny ■
native State, and seeing within her confines am
ple scope lor the exercise of all my patriotism, 1
obey with cheerfulness, but unfeigned distrust,
your summons to the post ot honor and of duty.
I know that 1 do not possess the ability to illus
trate the station, but I am sure that 1 bring to
the service of tbe State a heart that nas never
felt a pulsation inconsistent with her best in
terest and her highest honor.
That interest and that honoi yon are now ;
about to commission me for a brief period to I
watch over and defend. It is a high and sacred
trust. I feel to the fullest extent all its respon
sibility. I can only promise you, that with the
aid of Providence, 1 shall laber most earnestly to
1 discharge my duty without “fear, favor, or anec
| tion.” None of us are exempt from the frailties
I of humanity, and no one reels more sensibly th *
truth than myself. The errors 3 shall commit, 1
am sure your generosity will incline you to as- I
cribe to their true origin* I shall rely with con- ;
fidence on your intelligence and patriotism to
sustain me in all proper efforts tc uphold tbe
honor and advance the prosperity of the Com
monwealth, whose destiny, lor tbe time being,
has been committed to our joint care and keep
ing. With these remarks, were Ito consult my
own inclination. I would here close, but the
usage of the occasion would seem to require
something more from me.
The powers with which the Constitution in
vests the Executive aie lew in number, simple
in their character, and apparently not difficult ot
execution, in ordinary times, toe most impor
tant of these, that with which the well beinn ot
the Common-wealth is more deeply concert d,
than with any other, is the power ot reprieve
and pardon. The impossibility of framing laws
to meet the endless variety of circumstances
under which crime may be committed, suggest
ed tbe necessity of lodging this power some
where. Its legitimate application was only in
tended to reach those peculiar cases,wherein -be
law, by reason of its universality, might operate
harshly or cruelly. Under this construction ol
the Constitution, it woult be unwise to lay do a n
any precise rule by which I shall be governed. 1
c.-.u only indicate in genera! terms the course I
shall pursue.
Our criminal code was instituted for the securi
ty ol society, and I believe, if faithfully admin
istered, and firmly executed, that it will be found
to be fully adequate to that end. An inconsider
ate exercise of the pardoning power is, in my
judgment, not only a mockery of public justice,
but a crime against society itself, and would, I
fear, increase the number of those in onr State
who are ready for the establishment ot the Peni
tentiary system. I am free to confess that I have
more faith in the present sanctions of our crimi
nal code, and should deeply regret to see them
superseded by such a system. I see nothing in
the statistics of crime in the States where this
novel mode of punishment has been adopted, to
commend the example to our imitation. Nosys
■•»n. how-:.. ■ - were mis. ennltie*, and rig- .in
enforcement, hai yet been 'revised, equal to ine
legitimate end oi ail punishment—the suppres
sion of crime, in one section of the Union, men
stab and kill each other, in hot blood, to revenge
an insult or an injury. In the other they lie in
ambush on the highway, or steal under cover of
night into the peaceful domicil, and murder for
gain.
Neither capita! punishment, nor incarceration,
has been able to suppress crime. So long, tb.oh,
as the PenitentiaH< . of our neighbor* are crowd
ed, and, in some instances, demand enlargement,
and our own jails are comparatively tenantless,
let us adhere to our existing ceae, and faithiuliy
execute its provisions. .\<y own observation
authorizes the assertion, that juries rarely, if ever,
I convict the innocent, while the guilty are too
I often permitted to escape the punishment due to
j their offences. 1 trust, for the peace and good
order ol society, that during my administration,
the application for Executive clemency may be
few, for it will be only under such circumstances
■ as are demanded by the public good, that I shall
leel at liberty to exercise it.
The control and supervision of the military or
ganization of the State are especially confined to
the Executive. Our present system is the re
sult of a well founded conviction of it? impor
tance and necessity. I shall endeavor to foster
and keepalive that degree of military pride and
enthusiasm so essentia! to its preservation and
efficiency, it its practical operation shall be'
found to bear baldly upon that portion of ou: fel
low-citizens least able to sustain the burden, it
I will be your duty to remedy the defect. I fear,
however, that much of the clamor recently rais
ed against the system, emanates Irom that class
who owe most to the Commonwealth, and
should be the last to murmur at the sacrifice in
volved. It is a bad omen when the owners of
slaves grudge to the State the trouble and ex
pense inemred it: a few days devoted to training
and the use oi tbe musket. If any people on
earth are deeply interested in preserving a com
plete and thorough military organization, it is
the people of the Southern States.
Tbe Constitution imposes the further duty on
the Executive, to collect and lay before you such
information in relation to the condition ol the
State as he may deem important. Upon you it
devolves the higher duty, with a knowledge ol
the wants and necessities ot the people, to pro
vide the required legislation. The legislation of
the State heretofore has been imbued with tbe
conservative character of our people. Thus far
South Carolina has been exempt from the bale
ful influence of that wild spirit of progressive de
mocracy. which has run riot over the North, ig
noring all the lessons of experience, and setting
ta defiance the clearest dictates of reason, it is
tbe offspring of an impatient, restless principle
at the human breast, which, unrestrained and
unenlightened, is at war with man’s best inter
ests, both ir. his individual and social capacity,
it lies at tie bottom of those vagaries, which iu
these moiforn days seek to oproot tne founda
tions ot society, and to blur and destroy al! that
is symmetrical and useful in well organized go
vernment. Rebuked by the words of inspire
tion, in madness it mocks them to scorn ; and
II because there is a spot on the face of the sun,
would strike it down from the heavens.”
This desire for change, this restless spirit of in
novation, is spreading over the country. In the
Southern portion of the Confederacy it has main
ly developed itself in frequeut calls ot Coven
ttons to alter and remodel Constitutions, under
the delusive idea that a change in government
would remedy the “ills that flesh is heir to.”
Our State has not,-as yet been materially injur
ed by its influence. Let us shut it out as we
would the “pestilence that walketh in darkness,”
and the “destruction that wasteth at noon-ray.”
It. is the Moloch wh-.di, asking a morsel at the
cutset, will in the end demand the Constitution
ol the State, that it may deveur it also It >a a
mis'ake to suppose that to the extent yon arm
man with untrammelled power, you contribute
:o lls prosperity and buppiuesa. The possemiuu
I of unchecked power by the many, is as objec
i tionable and dangerous, as its absorption in th*
hands of the lew.
j Our ancestor? were no bunglers in the matter
[of organizing government. They drew-their
I lessons of liberty and constitutional law from a
' country oi checks and balances. Their devotion
jto popular rights v ill hardly be questioned, and
I it certainly was subjected to a severer practical
.tert than that of the llhnni’nati of the present
day. They thought the surest guarantee tor pop
ular rights was to be found iu such a distribution
and limitation of the powers of government as
would disarm the lew of the power- to oppress,
and at the same time curb th» licentiousness of
the many. The absr lute rule of the majority
I constituted no part of their political creed, and
; time has fully vindicated the faith that was in
them. They sought to seenre for themselves and
their posterity the blessing ol well regulated
liberty, and our present sysrem of internal polity
is a monument of their wisdom and sagacity.
It protected them and it projects us—protects us
in life, character and property. It has been
found equal to cur past, and if honestly admin-
i estered will prove adequate to our future wants
1 as a p-opie.
i Under its stable influence, we have made sure
! and steady progress. None of our neighbors, how
ever in advance of us in the march of progressive
democracy, have outstripped us in the race ol true
greatness and solid prosperity. In proportion to
our area, in works of Public Improvement, we
have accomplished as much for the development
of our internal resources as any one of our South
ern sisters, and this ha* been mainly dure by
the individual energy and enterprise of tbe peo-
I pie. Public justice is nowhere more honestly or
j more ably administered, and as an organized
i community, we exhibit the noble spectacle of a
I law-loving uiu' la .v.abiding people. Our efforts
in tbe casue o' popular education, if not com
mensurate with our wants, evince a deep seated
conviction of its vital importance, and it is to be
hoped, that in the fullness of time they may be
crowned with their legitimate fruits. Our liv
ing statesmen will not suffer by comparison with
those ot cur neighbors : and i! you unroll the
scroll of the past, no State his inscribed on it
sterner patriots, abler statesmen or more gifted
orator*.
Weak in numbers and small in fo-iitory, we
rave always exerted a commanding influence in
i tne notional councils. We owe it al! to our high
‘ ; intelligence and moral characteristir j, and these
1 | have been preserved and kept alive by the con-
• ' sorvative element at the foundation of our Jn
j stitutions I appeal to you, then, by the glori-
’ I ous recollections of the past and the encourag
i ing hopes ot the future, to stand by oui ancient
' l landmarks Begin not the work of pulling
! down and patching up. The first si p you take
1 I in that direction may he fatal. The watchword
1 I will be reform—the *heut will be change until
‘ I you have pulled down over your beads the best
1 j balanced system of government that the world
has yet looked upon.
Upon the subject of cur relations with the
■ genera) government, I have but little to say.
I I have no new opinions to announce, and no
■ specific remedy to propose meet the dangers
’ which are before us. The signs of the times
. are as open to your vision as they are to mine.
I We may interpret them differently, but to my
i mind they indicate a settled purpose on tbe part
-of the Northern States to assail and degi; e or
• ruin the Southern States. How or when the
South shall meet to redress the perils of her con-
i dition,! will not venture to anticipate, lime
i will demonstrate whether' our institutions tend
i to lift us up as a a people, promptly to protect our
> rights and perpetuate our liberties, or whether
■ they will sink us down to the level ol degraded
> en.' r- 'ned >vir..:t*».
i! And now with fervent pia) er that Providence
may guide your deliberations and bless vour es-
i forts for common good, 1 am ready to take the
- oath prescribed by the constitution.
South Carolina Legislature.
The Blue Ruipe Railroad Rill Passed by the
, House.
Columbia. Dec. 15.—Senate.—Various bills
passed their first reading.
Mr. Allen moved to indefinitely postponemo
, bill repealing ths laws against usury. The mo
tion, however, was lost by a vote of 16 to 18.
The bill to improve the free school system ol
the State was ordered for consideration to-mor
, i row.
, The bill to pay the Legionaries ol Ltixernborg
$27,635 passed by a vote of 23 to 12.
The bill to alter the Constitution so a- 'u have
but one day tor the elections was lost.
The bill to aid the Charleston and Savannah
Railroad passed without opposition.
The Hon. P. Butler was re-elected U. S.
Senator on joint ballot, having received 180
, votes.
Mi. McAliley submitted a resolution to tbe
effeetthat the President of the Bank of the State
be requested to inform the Senate whether any
| portion of the funded debt of the State has been
I purchased on account ol the sinking fund, in
.- obedience to the requisitions ot the Charter, and
how much ot the sinking fund has been invested
; in Bonds, notes, &e., and whether the accounts oi
the sinking fund are kept in such a manner as
. always to show what particular bonds, notes,
i &c.. belong to said fund. The resolution was
| adopted.
A resolution providing for the piuchase ol
■ Werner’s Iron Palmetto Tree, which is now in
front o’ the Capitol, for an amount not exceeding
. SSOOO, was ordered for consideration so rnor
i row.
Hous* of Representatives —Tt> senate
s bill to relieve Ministers ot the Gospel lion.’ patrol
duty was ordered lor consideration to-morrow.
i I’he Committee on the Judiciary made a la
i vorable report on the bill to alter tbe time of the
; sittings ot tbe Courts ol Equity on the Second
; Circuit.
The usual resolution was introduced to appoint
I a joint Committee, to examine the affairs ol the
1 Bank o! the State and its Branches.
The debate on tbe bill to grant aid to the Blue
Ridge Railroad was resumed, and continued until
the House took a Recess.
Evening Session,—Mi. Memmiager mad? a
powerful effort in favor of the Blue Ridge Rail
road.
After some further discussion pro and con the
bill was passed by a vote of sixty-five to filty
two. The bill subscribes $1,000,060 and guar
antees the same amount.
“The Oldest Post-master. —Joshua S.
Groover, Post-Master at Grooversvilie, iu this
county, is said to be the oldest Post-Master in
the United States, having held that office longer
than any other individual now in uncle Sam’s
service.”— Thomasville Watchman
Mr. Groover must have held the office in
anotbei State, if he is the oldest Post-Master in
the United States. For Haywood Brookin' 1 ,
Esq., at Sandersville, has held it continuoiiely,
longer in Georgia than any other individual now
occupying toe position in the State. He was
appointed at Sandersville, when a young man,
just old enough to be eligible—has since married
—raised a large family, the most of whom have
grown up and married, and become the heads oi
good-sized families—and he if still in the office.,
with no disposition to resign, and although a
whig, has no idea of being “removed,” only by
tbe hand of tbe “ grim monster.” He has been
Post-Master at the same office, tor more th-'n
I a
widower, we ■. glit t'-llhcw white bi? t,r ; '*. bad
grown e:i h” < tered Uncle Satn’s serv co