Newspaper Page Text
Fully approving and adopting the views
*o. ably expressed by the editor of the Regis
ter on this important circular, we give them
prominence in the hope that they may be
im: reused on the minds, especially, of our
commercial readers
Taken in all its bearings, remarks the edi
tor, this is perhaps the most important State
paper which Las yet emanated from the De
partment for Foreign Affairs, and has, we
i 'iderstand, been duly communicated to the
diplomatic corps hi Washington, and ere*
this is fully known in Europe. W T e propose
tu outline the more important features of
this decision of our Cabinet, as they involve
the political, commercial and financial in
ter- sts of the Confederate Government and
the Southern people.
The position of Mr Benjamin is in exact
accordance with the spirit of the Paris trea
ty of 185 G, so far as the commercial right*
of neutrals are concerned. Mr. Cobden, in
his late communication to the Cht.mber of
Commerce of Manchester, England, has,
ovr leaders are aware, fully elaborated this
subject. Mr. Benjamin's letter commits the
Confederate Government to the great princi
ple of commercial freedom and civilization
laid down at Paris, and thus takes the South-
ern question out of the narrow and limited
position which it has heretofore occupied in !
Europe. By doing so, our Secretary ol
State has vei*y wisely given the great pow
its a basis of intervention, which enables l
them to act, not upon an American issue,
bat in the interest of all nations. That the
action will be speedy and decisive, we do
n jt for a moment doubt.
The question of recognition and armed
intervention is no longer an American ques j
tom. As the foremost champion of thei
commercial rights of neutrals during the |
war, we make allies of England, France, i
' pain, Prussia, Belgium and Holland, and
the other manufacturing commercial States,
as against the blind hate and inordinate greed
of the mobocratic North. Butler has most i
opportunely raised the issue for us in a man- <
rn-r very offensive to foreign nations, and i
th • protest of the British, French and Greek j
Consuls at New Orleans will servo to accele- j
raic the action of the great Powers. The
cotton question has reached its crisis abroad
Reward's illy boast that lie would furnish
a oU u nupply by conquest, has been dissi
] ed by the action -of our people in
the valley. The South now
atands before th<* world with her capacity
for political independence agaiu gloriously
virdicated on the bloody held before Rieh
uiond, and antagonizes the commercial bar
barism of the North with open ports, free
trad •, and the commercial right*of neutrals.
Commercially, Mr. Benjamin’s letter is of
the lirst consequence to our people. The
position of our Government is practically
an insurance of the crop against war risk,
an 1 secures thereby the immediate conver
tibility ol the staple. Indeed, large quan
tities of cotton have already changed hands
on this basis, and prices are rapidly advan
cing- With the sale of the crop for future '
delivery, the life-blood of prosperity is again
poured along the various channels of domes
tic vado aud industry. The sale of the cot
ton crop enables all parties to meet, their ob
ligations, strengthens public aud private
credit and stimulates enterprise. Nor are
the financial consequences the least impor
tant part of the conversion of the crop. —
The cotton must be paid for, aud no man ai
all acquainted with the necessities of Eu
g and and France, but must realize the sig
n deant fact that Loudon and Paris cannot
p -iaibly pay for our cotton crop in specie.—
It must be paid for, therefore, to an enor
mous amount in goods. The necessity in
volves open ports as a consequence ; because,
without unrestricted import and export, the
heavy debit of Europe cannot be cancelled.
The exchange transactions involved in this
transfer of the cotton crop for neutral ao
com t, will as a matter of course, be made
independently of New Yotk. In fact, anew
financial channel, deep and broad, is cut as
it were at one blow. The basis oi* the finan
cial and commercial independence of the
Confederate States is securely laid if our
merchants will do their duty. Direct im
portation aud exportation should follow the
flow and channel of direct exchanges.
We would say a few words, therefore, to
the merchants of the Fouth. lu this great
revolution, there is a place for every man,
aud every man should be iu his place. In
stead of shaping their transactions with the
view of speculative gains out of the neces
sities of the people, oar merchants should
beud their energies to the establishment oi
diroot trade with Europe, now, before pv.ace
is proclaimed. Ihe commercial indepen
dence of the South can only be achieved bv
the 'ombined efforts and timely preparation
of r mercantile class. \\ bile our brave
ti "s are enduring the hardships of camp
liti and pouring out their Mood for the
ack „\wOient, of our political independence,
let not be said that our merchants, wiih a
er . ; ty inherited from the Yankees, re
n • i at home doing nothing for the ae
eom -ament of that grand work which is
part ularly their mission, employing their
ei*- . and skill only in the ..f spec
-- > M or ion. Ihe opening of our
ports ud t u uni.. ttering of our commerce
is now in 11 nuuiau probability, close at
han A«e cur merchants ready to utilize
in- i-um.uts of prosperity and commercial
power brought into life by the foreign policy
of our government ? Are the merchants and
cat u. Fsta of Mobile prepared to give to this
cii. h trade natural to us? It may be said '
thai ui the presence of danger we should not!
tb*uk of for» ga trade. We need only re
pl}. that if the bombardment of our seacoast
tr fl, e .enemy hue no other effect than to
gw.* ow up all our commercial enterprise in
a c onion panic, one half, at least, it not all
the objects of the Yankees will have been
utr '-tied. The North is fightiug for our
mutkets. It is in fact one of the leading
is-:.lea and objects of the war, and we must
see to it, that the substantial fruits of our
strug 3 I* or nationality, won by the dearest
blc .and f the South, shall never agaiu be eu-1
joyt. iy those who are now striving by tire
an ord to reduce us to a state of com
mercial vassalage
Congress. —The Confederate Congress will re
assemble in Richmond pursuant to adjournment,
VU the* Third Monday iu August—tb 18tb proi.
Gen. Butler’* Order iu the British
Parliament.
Iu the House of Lords, on the 13th of
June, Earl Caernarvon called attention to
General Butler’s proclamation relative to
the ladies of New Orleans He condemned
it in severe terms as without precedent in
the annals of war, and asked if the govern
ment had inlortnation as to its authenticity,
and if u had protested again at it. He also
asked if there was any truth in the rumor
: of the mediation of France aud England.—
The success of such mediation would depend j
! greatly upon the manner in which, and the
time at which, it was offered ; but he trusted
the government was in a position to give the
subject favorable consideration
Earl Russell -aid that, from Lord Lyons
despatches, the government believed the
proclamation authentic; but with respect to
any action of the United States government
:u the way of approval or disapproval they
had no information. Lord Lyons had made
no representations to the American govern
ment on the subject and did not appear to
I have any official information concerning the
! proclamation upon which he could do so
For his owu part, he (Karl Russellj Loped
, the American government would, for its
iwn sake, refuse its sanction to it, aud disa
vow it. The proclamation was iiuportaut to
the whole world. The usages of war should
not be aggravated by proclamations of this
character. He thought that such a procla
mation, addressed tu u force that had just
captured a hostile city, was likely to lead to
(front. brutality. Ho thought there vruh 110
' defence for this proclamation, and he sin
j corely hoped the American government
■ would disavow it.
J In the House of Commons, Sir J. Walnh
! made enquiry as to the authenticity of Lien.
! Butler’s proclamation, which he denounced
as repugnant to the feelings of the nine
teenth century, and moved for any corres
pondence on the subject.
The London Fost, of June 11, denounces,
j in the strongest terms, the proclamation ot
i Gen. Butler relative to the ladies of New
i Orleans. It regards it as the greatest insult
j that could be offered to the Federal army,
; and thiuk.s the government is bound to re
' < all Gen. Butler aud have him court mar
lialed. Such an act as that of Butler’s,
nys the Post, if not promptly disavowed,
ould noon turn the scale, finally aud decis
ively, in favor of the Confederate cause.
Lord Palmerston thought that in* man
could read the proclamation without feelings
of the deepest indignation. [Cheers.] It
was a proclamation to which he did not scru
ple to attach the epithet of injamous. —
[Cheers.] An Englishman must blush to
think that such an act had been committed
by a man belonging to the Anglo-Saxon
race. If it had sprung from some barbar
ous people not within the pale of civiliza
tion, one might have regretted it, but would
not have been surprised. But that such an
order should have been issued by a soldier
—by a man who had raised himself to the
rank of a General —was a subject not less of
astonishment than pain. lie could not
bring himself to believe that the govern
ment of the United Htates would not. as
soon as they had notice of the order, have
s tarn pod it with their censure nr condemna
tion. Her Majesty’s government received
a despatch yesterday from Lord Lyons, en
closing a copy of the proclamation of Gen.
Beauregard, in which allusion was made to
the order of Gen. Butler. There was no
objection to lay the despatch on the table.
\\ ith regard to the course that the govern
ment might think fit to take, that was a
matter for their discussion; but lie was
persuaded that there was uo man iu Eng
land who would not show the feeling so well
expressed by Sir James Walsh and Mr.
Gregory.
From the Jackson Missiasippian, of July fith.
PicuyuiH* Dullerat Baton Uoii^e.
Last Saturday morning Picayune Butler
visited the city of Baton Rouge, on board
the McClellan. He left again Sunday.
He immediately went to work, upon his
arrival, arresting the citizens of that place.
Hon. B. F. Bryan, the Mayor of the city,
was called before him, and required to take
the oath of allegiance or be consigned to
Fort Jackson. Mr. Bryan very properly
viewed the oath as not worth more than the
paper it was written on, took it, and is now
in our city on his way to Chattanooga to
join Scott's cavalry regiment.
Mr. l> has kindly furnished us a state
ment of the conversation which he had with
the Picayune, whose whole spite seemed to
•o be directed against the guerillas of Lou
isianna. He boasted that he would put
down the guerilla system of warfare—that
be could do it in fifteen minutes, and this
is the manner in which he proposes to crush
the guerillas:
“\V hat do you say, sir,” says he, u to my
issuing a proclamation offering freedom and
i thousand dollars to any negro who will
briug me in the head of a guerilla. It is
tri e mistakes will happen, but what of
tha ? Mistakes of that sort will occur. As,
toi instance, my men have wrongfully des
troyed the property of one mau, (George
K oiler's) but 1 mean to pay for that. As
lor Captain Build’s property, he was an offi
cer in the Confederate army, and left his
property where the guerillas could get hold
f it, and for that reason his men were Der
i cfcly justifiable in destroying it.”
He stated that the only ohance for the
Confederate cause was for foreign interven
tion. ‘‘.But supposing France and England,
should interfere, we have already whipped '
England, and as for little Johnytreapeau,
he eau't whip the little Mexicans. But be- i
tore these States should belong to anv other 1
Government than the United States, we can
and will make them a second Sau Domiugo.
lie took an old Methodist preacher,
named Cravens, with him to be consigned to
Fort Jackson, because he prayed too often
and too loud in secret.
Prof. Magruder was also arrested for hav
ing remarked to a gentleman in Baton
Korge who had been very eonspicious in
hunting up cotton for the Yankees, that he
ougnt to be hum?.
Soldiers Postage. —The change effect- i
ed in the rates of postage which went into !
effect on the first Instant, does not -apply to ;
our troops. The privilege given them re
mains the same as when the postal on sin
gle letters was five cents- ' „
A Peep Behind the Scene*.
The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot, without
fear before its eyes, gives tlie following peep
behind the scenes . into the management of
the Yankee army We can scarcely think
from this that the war is as popular in the
North as the organs of Mr Lincoln would
make it appear The patriot says :
Afany of our Pennsylvania volunteer* have
been dir-abied by wounds and debilitating
fevers Not being any longer efficient in
the ranks, they receive an honorable di*
charge and transportation to the capital of
i Pennsylvania. They arrive in our midst
, Without a cent in their pocket*. l imy ask
j for their pay—they iearo there is no officer
! here authorized to pay them. They ask tbi
rations to protect them from from starvation
—they are answered that there is uo authori
ty to issue rations to them ! They a»k for
transportation to their home** —they are in
formed the United Sua-s f. i master
cannot give them tran-purialiwii ! They beg
their bread of our citizens; they beg tiheir
j transportation of rail road companies. The
j patriots of Pennsylvania who volunteered to
fight the battlps of the Constitution and the
■ Union against rebellion, who have.been mu
tilated, or who have lost their health in the
service of the government, return to their
i homes as paupers, depending upon public
charity to save them from pinching want,
while the prompt payment of their dearly
earned wages would help them onward to
cherished homes and the cousoliug care of
j sympathising friend*
: Whois to blame for this heartless doser
; ricn of our brave invalid volunteers ? Has
our Republican Congress done its duty iu
this important matter ? While it authorized
the discharge of sick and wouuded soldiers
by army Surgeons, did it make provision
for their immediate pay, for* transportation
to their homes, for pensions, in reward of
their patriotic services ? Alas, no ! they uh
! fortunately are white men ! Now mark the
contrast. All the runaway negroes that
find their way into the District of Columbia
arc fed at the expense of the white tax-pay
ors of the North, all the runaway negroes
that hang about our armies in the field are
furnished rations and live at the cost of the
tax-payers of the North. At least one hun
| dred thousand dollars per day of the people’s
; money is thus expended to feed thousands
of the idle negroes, while the sick and
wounded white volunteers of Pennsylvania
are left to beg their way back to their deso
late home !
We have in uo wise exagerated here the
forlorn condition of our returning discharged
volunteers, whose sufferings are daily wit
nessed and alleviated by our citizens, and
whose numerous and frequent applications
for relief to the Governor of Pennsylvania
and to the Mayor of the city are ns notori
ous as they are disgraceful to the authorities
who neglect to fulfill the most, imperative
obligations of the country to her brave de
fenders.
lTlc€lcllanN Defeat and the Pub
lic Credit.
McClellan’s repulse had caused stocks
and government securities to tumbledown
in the North. The shock was very great to
the capitalists, who had loaned their money
in a confident hope of the capture of Rich -
mond. The Herald* ays:
The financial credit of the country has
received a shock from the disasters to Mc-
Clellan’s army from which it will uot easily
recover. Previous to his being driven back
from his position before Richmond govern
ment stocks were at an unexampled pre
mium, and the credit of the country never
stood so high.
Within a week all this has been changed,
and now government stocks exhibit more
unsteadiness than any other class of public
securities. Who is responsible for this state
of things? Not McClellan, who, in his
misfortunes as in his successes, has displayed
all the qualities of an able geueral, but the
radicals, who weakened his command by
taking Banks’ and McDowell’s divisions
from him, and then prevented his being re
inforced, although they knew he was in a
position of the most pressing danger.—
Tl \ese are the traitors who would destroy
the integrity of the republic, ruin the fair
edifice of our financial credit, and plunge
the country into hopeless embarrassments,
to place the negro in a position iu which lie I
would be of no earthly use to himself or
others. Thus far they have been successful
in their intrigues. Let them look out, how
ever, for the retribution that is to follow
them. The country is losing patience, and
it will not be long before they feel the full i
effects of the wrath which they have so in
dustriously provoked.
BOLD TALK FCR A CONNECTICUT PAPER.
Ihe Hartford Times, in alluding to the removal
of Gen. Fremont, gives him this parting salute:—
* It is indeed fortunate if the administration has
got rid of this office seeking abolitionist.. It is
fortunate for the country, for his ignorance of mi
litary operations would certainly have brought fur
ther and greater disasters upon the army in that
department. Let him be commander-in-chief of
the abolitionists, with “ no subordinate,” since he
has resigned his military commission, for being
placed in a subordinate position. He is fit only
for Garrison’s army of detectives, who desire to
live under an “ unwritten Constitution,” so that
they may, to use the beautiful and impressive lan
guage of our esteemed neighbor of the ‘Courant,’
‘loose the bonds of every slave upon this contin
ent, and make the whole Southern region a live
hell for one generation at least.’ All true friends
of the country will rejoice at the recent act of the
President in getting rid of this political abolition
aspirant for the Presidency.”
The ankee journals are complaining lustily
about the influx of “contrabands” in that section.
The Hartford [Conn.l “Times” says that they are
costing the Government SIOO,OOO per nay—that is,
released slaves; and thinks that perhaps a hundred
thousand or so will go to Connecticut, while Penn
sylvania’s quota will be, at least, five times as
many ! In Payton, Ohio, they are filling the pla
ces of white men ; while in Pennsylvania they are
hired at the rate of five cents per day 1 and in
some parts of Ohio at twelve and a half c nts per
day. Thus are the poor negroes enticed away by
the Abolitionists and made to work vengeance
upon the people who countenance the theft of
Southern property.
Gen. Roaencrauz is to he placed permanently in
command of Gen. Pope's army in the West.
A special dispatch to the New York Tribune,
dated at Washington, June *23th, says that there
is reason to believe that Secretary Seward has re
ceived a note from Earl Russell relative to Pica
yune Butler’a women order, and that it will prob
ably be treated in the same way as was the note
from the same quarter protesting against the stone
blockade,
[From Uie Richmond Enquirer of the Ttb.)
Views of the Deserted ft*nttlc*i'!eid.
The roost interesting localities of the late battles
before Richmond are probably rhe twice-fought
field of the Seven Pines, and the ground near Me
chanicsTille, upon which the Federal army receiv
ed the coup da grace from the closing combinations
of Jackson, the Hills and Longrtreet Tne defen
ce- of the latter were rendered almost impregna
ble by the advantages of natural position, con
sisting of Lill, ravine and swamp, commanded by
ponderous batteries and breastworks, trom which
nn incessant tire was poured on our advancing and
VictorioHi forces _ci the Seven Pines* after the
battle to which the name is given, the Federal
*rmy, having regained the held without a nght,
threw up a senes of fortifications within the space
u! ten days, so ticriie.nl and tiiensive, ifis., tl
it tacked in front, half a million of men would
have been insufficient for tLe task of reducing
them. It was only by the 140vemeu: made by
General Jackson in the resr, in concert with ila
gruffer iu trout, that rendered theta valueless to
, the enemy.
The position of the enemy 00 this field w?,s
a hoiiy artificial. Their batteries extended lrera
the Vora Kiver Ran road, tux ana a hall miles be
low the city m a south east direction, across the
plain, for a distance of some two miles. Upon
visaing the locality, one will te struck with the
admirable character of the Jo:lificationa. Their
enure from, ia pioleoiod by moats twelve feet la
width, and live lhet deep, along the outer edges
01 which are placed continuous abattis of felled
trees, neatly trimmed, and every bough and twig
sharpened at the end, defying the pa-sago of any
mortal loroe that might be sent against them, be
i fore the fire from their batteries and rifle pits. It
was evident that these fortifications were intended
as a permanent base line, tro:u which the enemy
! uevcj expected to be driven, but moving slowly
i lot ward, to throw up similar works before them,
| and, thus systematically and literally, to ditch the
! Confederate army out of Richmond. The skill dis
-1 played in their arrangement and style surpasses
; tkose of any fortifications that the enemy have
j yet thrown up during the successive campaigns in
■ Virginia.
In the rear of this wonderful line of earth-works,
stands the shattered remains of the Federal en
campment. Hundreds of tents of every descrip
tion, with every width of canvas ripped, from two
Ito three feet ia leugth, stand dapping in the
breeze. Around upon the field and within the
works, thousands of blankets, overcoats, jackets,
and other clothing, (much of which being unin*
ijured, has been gathered up by pillagers from the
. city,) lie strewed. Boxes of meat, ground coffee,
beans, dried fruit, cases of lemons and orange?,
lemon syrup, Edinburgh ale, porter, champagne,
; pickles, chow chow, preserves, sardines, prunes,
and many other niceties, mav be seen lying about
loose in every direction, all, however, more or
less knocked into stuiiheiecna and reudered vn
! lueless.
Every wagon left on the field by the frightened
, fugitives was either upset or broken. Some new
and splendidly made ambulances were relhiquish
-1 ed, with a spoke or two knocked out and the
: shulta hacked half off. Sundry drum shells, in
perfectly good order, and of admirable stvle, are
to be seen perched up on stumps, or lying in the
trenches. Here and there may be observed bro
ken muskets, some driven into the earth up to the
lock, bayonets, broken swords, scabbards, epau
lettes, trappings and harness, variously mutilated.
Heaps of tninie cartridges, many of which are
made of a peculiar paper, requiring no “ biting,”
but which, upon being rammed down, burst, ami,
being itself combustible, obviates any danger from
choking the tube, and saves many u valuable mo
ment in battle—these and ar. v quantity of other
deserted military plunder, contribute to render the
field picturesque witii the relics of our invaders.
The burial grounds of the Yankees, which lie on
j the outskirts of the encampments, in miscellane
ous spots, tell a melancholy story of the mortality
in their army. The shells and bullets of our gal
lant troops, and the unwholesome air of the
swamps, did a fearful work among them. They
lie buried in heaps of six and eight, some honored
with shingle monuments and epitaphs in pencil.
On the roadsides, where numbers fell before our
troops, they jie half buried iu wagon ruts, and
Hwump liol.ia, wit it heaps of dirt piled upon thoir
bodies, from eithe-r end of which protrude their
decaying heads and feet. These graves are ail
Yankee made.
Some of the buildings in the vicinity are riddled
with ball, shell and bullet. Beautiful country seats,
; located amidst the advanced linos of the Federate,
are utterly ruined, the trees torn by artillery, the
j fences burned, fiowei gardens trampled under
; foot, the houses themselves sacked, and the walla
mutilated with vile scribbliuga and sketches. One
handsome edifice, located under the shadows of a
grove of magnificent oaks, was perforated six or
eight times by the Federal batteries, and in one
instance, a shell being thrown into it, and burst
ing in the passage, ripped off the ceiling in fifty
places, played havoc with the partitions, and scat
tered the laths and plastering of the adjoining par
lor about in a medley of trash and confusion.
Among the many useful articles now lying about
, the -held are hundreds of unused sand bags, while
the fortifications eontaiu thousands of them, which
with some labor, could be emptied of their con
tents and rendered equally serviceable. There are
quantifies of other valuable things which the pil
lagers have not, collected, that would be available
to our army. Many of the tents could be repaired,
the wagons overhauled, and the camp utensils,
such as are not badly injured, collected.
Innumerable letters may yet be gathered toge*-
t'ner from the scene. For the most part, tbo->e
that have been found, were written by illiterate
and indecent persons, giving a good idea of the
moral stamina of the Yankee army and those who
are sustaining them at home.
All things here indicate that the fleeing army,
impelled by commingled fright and chagrin, be
cause foiled while yet luxuriating in the conscious
ness of invincibility in front, were mad. Their
insanity at the moment was doubtless magnified
too, by copious supplies of whisky, the liquid cou
rage which has become so highly popular in the
Federal army. They destroyed every thing they
could, and mutilated every thing they could not
destroy.
auu uiuuuueu every uuug iney COUIQ not
lestroy.
From the Jackton Ml&utsgippian, July 2.
'rite siege of Vicksburg.
We arrived at the two mile bridge on Sunday
‘vc-ning last, at about three o'clock, amid the
looming of heavy mortars and the bursting of
hell from the 15 inch ordnance of the Yankee
leet, which is anchored close in under the shore
leiow the point on the Mississippi side, and almost
orapletely protected from our batteries below the
itv, and too far from the upper batteries for them
o reach their adversaries.
j The fire of the enemy on Sunday, at mid-day,
was drawn by a salute of thirteen guns which were
ordered by the Confederate Commander in honor
of the great victory over McClellan in Virginia.
It was thought that the enemy mistook this salute
lor an attack, as we learn some of our guns were
shotted, and opened iunouslv on the citv, contin
uing, with an intermission of about one hour, until
about 12 o’clock at night. After night the heavy
mortars were ranged to throw the shell in the vi
cinity of the Catholic Church, w here we were told
they had been directed during the afternoon.
The effect of these shell as they exploded, which
usually took place just as they reached the ground,
was terrific. We entered the city as fortune would
have it, on Crawford street, and as we passed the
residence of Dr. Ballour, Methodist, Baptist and
f atboli’ Churches, shells exploded in our immedi
ate vicinity, rendering our position so uncomfort
able that we suggested to a friend a precipitate
retreat in order to get out of the range of the
j mortars.
| This suggestion was promptly acceded to by
’ our friend, not, however, until we had soiled our
garments thoroughly by falling to the earth at the
explosion of each successive shell. Our retreat,
thougn rapid, like Banks’ before Stonewall, was
accomplished in good order, and instead of enjoy
ing a comfortable b.ed in the city with my friend,
gladly accepted a soldier’s blanket with friend
Holcomb oi Rankin, on the green sward in tbs
suburbs of the city.
The next morning we entered the* city—every
thing being quiet except the bustle of the citizens
who were eudettvoriog to get what little furniture
remained to a place of safety. During the morn
ing we rode through nearly every street, witness
ing the effect of the shell in the brick and wood
structures, and were impressed with the compara
tively slight damage done to either of build
ings, when the number of show (probably 16,000)
were taken into account. In some instances, as
in the case of the iafe Mrs. Gamble's bouse, a shell
would pass through & column of houses, leaving a
hoie scarcely iarger than itself, and pass on till it
reached a hill where it would enter and explode.
lhe iu inch shell when it strikes tbo bills of
Vicksburg, enters the earth at a depth of from
five to ten feet, but when it strikes in the streets
its explode? much nearer the surface.
No fires have yet originated from the explosion
ol shell, and it is evident that the enemy do not
desire to burn the city immediately, or tbev would
have thrown incet.diary shell instead of tbe misseia
already sent in.
On Monday, at 2 o’clock p ru , the cnemv re
opened their mortars and kept up a constant fire
with the exception of an hour or two (apparently
to take their meals) during the whole night, and
did not cease nil Tuesday evening at a o’clock.
All was quiet thi° t,Wednesday) morning at lo
o’clock, We have not heard of any injury being
sustained by our batteries up to this morning
The fleet which passed by the city on the me
mcratde morning ot Saturday wa- severely cut to
piece* by our baltcrie. o , and a gentleman who was
in the vieiciity of the upper batteries reports to
Geuerai Van Dorn that one ol the boats sunk atTer
it went around the tend
Nothing is now to be seen of this fleet above the
city except the constant cloud of black smoke,
whioh ascends above the torest around the bend.
COLLISION ON IHE STATE ROAD
A serious collision occurred on the State Road
last week, in which several lives were lost aud
much damage done to railroad property. Maj J.
S. Roland, the able Superintendent, has published
the following Card, by which it will appear that
the Railroad employees caunot bo charged with
the causes which led to the disaster, and frees
them from any blame in the matter. The military
having taken the control of their time from them,
must be amenable for it:
A CARD.—As soon as I heard of the collision
on the Western and Atlantic Ruilioad, near John
son, I went by the first train to the scene of dis
aster. After getting up all the testimony, I am
wol! satisfied the down train whs ou its proper
time at Johnson. The up train, with soldiers, had
got behind its time before getting to Dalton, on
account of its being ordered to stop by the mili
tary. When the train left Dalton it was fitly five
minutes behind the regular leaving time. The en
gineer and conductor were both anxious to get
awt.y, and blew the whistle, but wore ordered by
the military uot to blow till they ordered it. After
thi» the delay was five to ten minutes Ut’ore they
started.
Two of our most valuable engines were destroy
ed, and ten or fifteen cars stove into fragments
and other* more or less injured. The engineer
and gretnan, both valuable men, were inscantlv
killed, with seven soldiers, seven negroes, and
fourteen negroes. J. S. ROWLAND,
Superintendent.
M«j. Rowland produces testimony to this effect:
At Adairsville, sonic of the soldiers on the cars
were very unruly, and that the cars were detained
at Cartersville by them some fifteen niiuutes, aud
were at other points detained also. At Dalton the
Conductor of the train to Chattanooga was or
dered by the officer in command of the troops not
to move his train until his men got water, snd that
when he got ready he would sound his bugle for a
start. Here another detention took place. When
the train arriwd at Dalton, it was thirty minutes
behind time—he heard officers of the command
on board tell their men to get oil’ and get water,
that they had plenty of time—the Conductor had
one car loaded for Knoxville to switch off’ at Dal
ton, and when he moved the enginp to switch off
this ear, ihe officers assailed him tor moving the
car until their men were on board—and that thro’
such interferences, the traiu was detained, leaving
Dalton fifty-five minutes behind time. The certi
fier asked thw Conductor why he was kept behind
time:—the reply was—he could do do better , that
the officers would not let them move the engine
until they got ready.
The successful shelling of the Yankee transports
on James river, below’ Charles City Court-House,
on Monday last, under cover of their gunboats*
roust have a marked effect upon McClellan’s army.
W T e learn that in this scout, conducted bv General
Stuart, in rear of the enemy’s lines' Captain
Squires, of the Washington Artillery, and Captain
Rogers, of the Loudon Battery, succeeded in
shelling a fleet of transports containing reinforce
ments and supplies for the army at Westover.
Although fiercely assailed by the Yankee gun
boats, our artillerists sunk one of their transports
and disabled eight others, showing that we have
nothing to fear from a contest with those infernal
machines, which are such “bugaboos” in the eyes
ot our peopie. hen they are attacked by our
rifled guns, skillfully manueuvered, our light land
batteries, by taking proper positions within too
close range tor these gunboats, can always disable
any crew they may support; and we hope that
proper attention will be given at once to the im
portanee of the furtiier use of our artillery in this
new field of service.
Our enemies appreciate the dangers resulting to
them from this mode of warfarp, as shown by the
army correspondent to the New York Tribune,
who, in a late letter, says that the arrangement ol
batteries so as to intercept the navigation of the
river would be laying direct siege to McClellan’s
position, and would place his army in a critical
situation. —Richmond Examiner, 12/A.
LINCOLN’S VISIT TO WEST POINT.
The following are the surmises or speculat'oie
of the Savannah Republican on Lincoln’s visit
North. But it is a matter of little consequence to
U3 as to his object:
‘ l On the 24th June, Lincoln suddenly appeared
at West Point, New York. The visit has provoked
i the usual amount of wise surmises among the New
} ork Preps. The Herald announces tne object of
the visit ‘ was to consult General Scott relative to
the conduct of the war.* Another paper hints
that probably Genera! Scott may be called to euc
' ceed Secretary Stanton. Another imagines that
General Pope, who did not capture the ten thou
sand prisoners of Beauregard’s retreating army,
is to be assigned to some important command.
The fact is— that Lincoln’s visit was chiefly in
tended to restore friendly relations between the
discarded commanding General and the President
by buying bun with anew post and a salary.
McClellan was about to enter Richmond in tri
umph the Illustrated Press were already engrav
mg pictures to exhibit his triumphal entry into
Richmond—the grand cavalry charge down Main
street was just receiving the last touches of the
engraver’s tool—and Lincoln was looking for a
Military Governor of conquered Virginia, with his
headquarters at Richmond. Scott was the man !
The visit was to arrange the terras.”
The Loyalty of New Orleans. — A la
day in New Orleans, writing to a relative
in Mobile, thus alludes to the “Union’’ feel
ing in the former city. The letter is dated
June 26th
“There is less Union feeling here than
ever before. I have not even heard of one
person of respectability who has taken the
oath. You see a Union committee adver
tized. Fernandez, the auctioneer, is presi
dent; and the teacher, Dulan, secretary;
but they have not succeded yet in finding
tint ty -t wo members, which they were anxious
to do, to represent the States at the raising
of the Yankee flag on the City Hall last
week.
“There is no yellow fever yet. I can’t
say whether I am glad or sorry, because I
am afraid it is wicked —but the Yankees
die fast nought *
MACON, GEojSfi
_ ii-.1i.. ,l,r J,|, lfi K t
i Cotton.—Sales in tbi- mtrkct •
; cents. gc ‘ er *% r ;
Corn SI,OO per bushel— Fodde r $
iJT We owe an apology to ivir ,
; appearance of our paper lan w PNc . J.' r * 1
the isferior quality of the Ir.k *j e j
* tided 4 sopplj for several tootnh, s '- *
jto our readers, and the appearance c S |
w# can me no more of it. *"
The Savannah Republican nsTTTLo -
the right wing ot our army when
repeating down James river? R 1 144 N
■ stood that this wing of our army - § ‘* I
his retreat t*om his gar.bor.ts and t ; . ° C;> ? I
up ir. time to effect that purpose *v ; ,- ’
doubt have resuited in »be capture o'
army. The re«ult is a protraction ot •- ?
this section, with an untold loan cf l c . 'I
sure. The Republican hints at the ~ ,?/
non fulfilment of the programme 0 f if
and says the delinquent should bed j •
the service in disgrace.
Responsible people just from Richn;. .
1 the above sentiments, and say that G>-
was the commander of the r.ght wi. lf >
Lincoln calls for 3iK),o<»o more troop;
jup a third “Grand Army for F.ichr&o-j
; presumed that he wiil have to make . , , "
for the meu, and still a louder call tor ;b* c
enable them to travel that rough road
The road to Richmond, like that ov*- *
has proved a very hard road for Yankee* - 0 • ~
jand although more than a year has heen oc .
; in the effort, they have hardly made a daC.
ney in a “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” and beeo .->« .
the “ Wilderness of Sin” all the time, Q ac c
landed in the “Slough of Despond"—low •
old Virginia.
LOSS IN THE LATE BATTLE?
According to the best estimates, the entire ~
of the Confederates was about 12,00 u, of *• -
0.000 were killed.
The lowe-u estimates of McClellan’s loot* - r
the New York Tribune, which is 26,000. G*t
Marcy, chief of McClellan’.-* Staff, estimate*
30,000— others 40 to 50,000. The number at y
soners lost, lu to 11,000—and about sixty ca;a. ;
and 36,0**0 muskets and rittes.
THE OLD MACON A WESTERN DEPOT
Is now about being converted Into a Confedeu.*
Armory, and has been leased by James H Burt*.
Esq. The erection of extensive new building lu
been commenced, and we understand that a p-
Uori of the necessary machinery is now in mi
ness to be put into operation whenever they »•*
completed. This will be quite an improvement r ;
the reoeut use to which these premises have Uri
appropriated.
COME OUT, EVERYBODY!
We learn that J M. Clarks, Esq., a hnrru)(
eminence, of Atlanta, will address the citiica o{
Macon, ou Monday night next, at the new Cv.)
Hall, upon a subject that is vital and ur porUnt to
every man and woman in the Confederate Stat ,
A full attendance is desired. The l adies are re
spectfully invited to be present. A Jmiasion fr*j
VICKSBURG
This most rebellious locality has stood seres
Federal b.-mbardraenfs and is but slightly Inure.l
at last accounts, and is determined to hold oat u
its entire demolition, should that possibly happen
It is said that it is to be attacked by a Urge a-my
in the rear, but it ij probably able to meet mj
force that can he sent against it The feden.
organ at Memphis says that Gen Butler has cot
Gseated 3,000 slaves, and put them at work 001
canal, opposite \ icksburg, by which that place cl.
he passed without coming within leach of id for
tifications.
The bombardment has been continued with #ox»
intervals since the 22d of Mav, during which tia#
it is supposed that 20,000 abot and sheiil Lav#
been thrown at the town. Six men etad 000 *0
man only have been killed.
COUNTERFEITS AGAIN
Last week we mentioned the arrest of two jou:£
men in this city, by the names of Rhode« ui
Bui gay, charged with counterfeiting Jiffy oar;
change biiiaon the Western aud AtlaonV JGJrGaJ,
together with their apparatus for such opetx’-iOM
Ihese were found on premises of bad rep'iUt.oo
Since that time, the materials for
the One Dollar bills of the City Council 01 A.i-•*
were found in that vicinity by a servant,
they appeared to have been concealed ; and lt>J
have been left, at this office. There seem* to be»
number of these counterfeits in circulation, ui
they are very easy of detection. They vary cot
siderabiy in the type from the genuine, and the
viguette, on the left hand end of the bill,
seats two female figures, instead of the face 0:
one. They bear strong evidence ot being fro
the same factory as the other counterfeit*.
WHAT IS OUR ARMY DOING IN VIRGINIA'
Is a question often asked, ami to which the »-•#
ones can only reply by surmises. For several d»f»
we have had no information of any particular
movements, either in advance or otherwise. The."#
has been no fighting on the cast ol James river,
for the reason, that McClellan has retreated to*
point of land where he could only be attacked
front, and that protected on both eide-e by hi
gun-boats. To attack him in this position wo-J
be madness and cost an immense sacrifice of ■*>
yet its result would be little leas doubtful
many which our troops have made J
within the last two weeks.
McClellan, it is said, has been largely reinforced
since he was driven to his present retreat, and
army is said to be about 100,000 men. Be th»-
as it may, it would be quite as dangerous sor v 2
to venture front the protection of his gunboa’- -*
it would be for us to attack him in hi3 den.
may hazard the opinion, that his men hav -1 tns-'
their best fight, which will tell ia any future re
counter—having been driven day after day ir 3 °
field to field, their strongest fortified post* c 4 ** *
by storm, and their batteries, munitions and stor«»
captured with an immense loss of killed, woun:=-
and prisoners.
On the other hand, our army is fluslfcd * •-*
their successes of the past, when they lough'* 4,3
ply with a determination not to be conquer*
which will be redoubled in anv future con- I*-- 1 *--
What operations our armv may have cu hard,
other than facing the enemy before them, i» 0L - 7
left to surmise, but it is quite probable that #>&•*
thiog will shortly turn up to change the monotony
in the news line of a few days past. Jackson a-
Stuart will be found too restless to reojaitt $$
00 g.