Newspaper Page Text
|ott«!li & PtSStllgtl'-l
X KNOWLES and S. ROSE,
EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS.
From th»* Chronicle & Sentinel.
tLxrniplioai a ml Substitutes.
Congress appears to boas far as over from
enacting any new exemption law, and there
seems to be a probability that an adjourn
ment will ensue before any law on tbe sub
ject is passed, leaving the former law unre
pealing that, and conmiitiDg the power of ex
emption to the hands of the President.
Another subject should engage their at
tration iri this connection. So many contra
dictory rule? and orders have been made in
relation to substitutes, that it is impossible
to decide what the law is. Even the Courts
seem to be befoggod —a Court iu one State
decides a question as to substitutes in one
way, and in another State the same question
is decided iu diametrically the opposite wav.
One decides the f Government tan repudiate
the contract made with the conscript and
executed when his substitute was received :
another that the Government must honestly
stand to its bargain. If the Judges, whose
duty it is to study and interpret the laws,
make such conflicting decisions, how can it
be expected that the people can comprehend
and obey the laws passed by Congress?—
"When that ho ly passes a law, it should en
act two or three explanatory statutes that,
w« may know what the first means, and a
bovs all, the interpretation of the laws should
cot be left t> subordinate executive officers.
Our military system by conscription is
imperfect; bungling, and oppressive, because
when we adopt the conscript system of
European monarchies w« adopted onlv a
pari of it We tried and are still trying to
run the machine with only one wheel, and
of course we could expect nothing else than
that it should drag heavily. When we cop
ied the conscript system of France, we should
also have adopted her rules for exemption ]
and substitutes. Years of experience have
proved them salutary and indispensiblc ad
juncts to conscription. No modifications
were necessary, for if from the circumstances
of the country the services of any conscript,
were of more value elsewhere thau in the
array, he might have been specially exempt
ed *“ detailed by the military authorities.
Above ail ro ncau plan for substitu
tion should have been ton. j ftnd wc ghould
not have had the disgraceful which
have made the buusness of substitute
almost infamous, nor the shameful spectacle
of the Government repudiating the contracts
made with its own citizens. There arc al
ways some conscripts who must employ sub
stitutes, and instead of leaving the buisuess
of supplying them to irresponsible agents, 1
tbe Government should have taken it in its
own hands aud adopted the Freuch rule, by
which any conscript can be provided with a
substitute by paying a fixtaud moderate sum
into the Treasury of the Government, which
takes upon itself the buisuess of tilling the
conscript's place it the ranks.
We hope there is wisdom enough in Con
gress to perfeetjour military system,
must be the policy of the Govorm^ u tor
years to come.—Laws are PP re «»*
ive in propotion to their ■mb'};,*
certuiuty, anil we knew “/uprclier-ioo as
biguous and difficult of accessory ia ws.—
our conscription aniVully obey-when they
The people will M; is requir'd °f them, but |
cau understarjudges in the land put such !
when the K-straetioas upon a law, the i
conflict 3 Dgfit to require of t heir law-!
p ef that they should do their work in a \
ve workmanlike manner.
Through the politeness of a gentle
man from Missouri, says the Richmond
Whig, we have various Northwestern papers,
ol dates as late as the 12th ot •January.
They give us a better insight of the impor
tant movements in progress in that region
tnau we have beeu able to obtain from°the
meagre accounts in the Northern papers.
It would seem that there is no doubt of a
scheme among the leading opposition politi
cians, who have control of the Legislature
ot Illinois and Indiana, to bring the whole
power of those States in direct antagonism
to the Government. They are determined
to resist arbitrary arrests and suspension of
the habeas corpus, and to organize military
boards, to supersede the action of the Gov
ernors and tau - charge of the whole milita
ry power of the States. In Indiana, (where
a majority ci do . Vs nate is Republican by
members holding over,) a proposition has
beeu made to the Democrats that, if they
will forego the intention of establishing the
Military Board and agree to a vigorous
prosecution ot the war, they, the Republi
cans, will agree to elect a Senator and pro
ceed to general legislation.
1 he Democrats refused to make any terms
having the game in their hands—being able
to starve the Governor out by withholding
supplies. We learn, verbally, that they
have siuee elected Hendricks to the Senate
—Bright preferring to remain at home
wup re he can do mure good, Prom this we
infer that the Democrats have baffled their
a Uoisaries, aud Lave the play in their own
hands. The Cincinnati Commercial conles
- as much when it concedes that the fate of
the Northwest—and iu fact of the whole
North—is in the bauds of the Democrats,
and when it legs the more moderate of them
not to abaudon the country to the treasona
ble designs of their copper-head associates.
from Illinois it is reported that proposi
tions lor mi armistice, aud tor withdrawing
tue State troops from th,e Pedcral army,
have already been introduced iuto the Leir
islature.
Mount City Destroyed.— A late despatch from
Memphis to the North states that Mound City, live
miles above the former city, was destroyed by fire
on the night oi the 10th ult., iu punishment, it is j
said, “for the burning of two steamboats there re- j
centlv by guerrillas.” The buildings consisted of
a fine hotel with its appurtenances, two stoic-1
houses, and several dwellings. The loss will be a '
heavy one to Mr. Cheek, the proprietor, who made ;
his hotel attractive, and it had been for «ome time 1
the favorite resort of Memphians, who wished to j
Indulge in a short pleasure trip.
It is an idle waste of time to attempt to shame j
the Yankees about their cant and hypocrisy. The <
only cant that worries them now is the “can’t take
•HLliaioud. nor Visksburg.”
From TeHiieswCi
Humor was current in Chattanooga, Feb.
10, that Fort Donelson had been taken by
our cavalry, and that Kosencranz was falling
back from Murfreesboro*.
An officer of General Polk’s staff who
who reached Chattanooga Sunday night from
the front, reports that Morgan, Y\ heeler aud
Forrest conjointly attacked Fort Donelson
on the Cumberland river and took the place,
destroying a million dollars worth of stores,
and captured sixteen transports.
Capt. Wm. 13. Walton who came through
tbe Federal lines a few days since and who
reached Chattanooga Sunday night brings
the intelligence that Morgan was at Stew
art’s Forty, about eight miles frrm Nash
ville, when he left.
The Federal account of the fight at. Fort
Donelson, claims tint Forrest was repulsed
with a loss of 130 men killed and wounded
aud the loss of one of our batteries. The
same account states that Gen. Forrest him
-1 self was wounded.
it was also currently rumored and gener
ally believed in Chattanooga, Feb. 10th,
that the Yankees were evacuating Murfrees
boro’, anti destroying la;'ge quantities of
stores. Our fellow citizen, Mr. Lieper, late
of the firm of Leipertfc Menifee, of Murfrees
boro’, has received information that the large
warehouse belonging to that firm, has been
destroyed by the Yankees in Murfreesboro’.
Some five regiments pass through Tulla
homa daily, who are said to be throwing up
important works some miles in advauce.
Brig. Gen. Hardin Helm, of Kentucky,
is to f ake command of the lamented Hau
son’s brigade The voltigeur system is to
is to be adopted in the mounting of the bri
gade. “ All known of what service the vol
tigeurs were in Maxico, under Maryatfc. It
is customary for the uieu iu this branch of
service to ride double, atul gaiu on tbe ene
my by rapid movements on horseback, and
when they are ready to dash upon tbe toe,
one-half of tbe troops are dismounted, tna
l kiug an effective force, halt infantry and
half cavalry ; in other words, “ half borne
aud half alligator.” The advantage of an
organization as voltigeurs would enable the
riders, in the event the force should be out
numbered, to assist their comrades to keep
up behind them, aud thus escape from rein
forcements of the enemy.
On Friday evening the enemy made an
unsuccessful attempt, to advance with anoth
er foraging party in force. Our infantry
were ordered eight miles to the front to sup
out t the cavalry, aud it is thought that we
nau . them with considerable lesson
their patt. r.i prisoners, taken a few
days since, stated they .. nearly starved
The first, thing they ask for was something
to eat.
Eighty of Wool ford’s men deserted and
joined us a tew days since. They gave sufli
eieut proof that we were expected in Ken
tucky, and would be wuimiy welcomed there.
[From thkoiiattawcib'a Rebel, Utb.J
Latent t,, ° F» on«-
B ATT! VAT I vtlT HONELSON—RUMORED
Evacuatio’ of Murfreesboro’.— The
‘ Pw . current on the streets yesterday
mo that, hurt Donelson had been taken
k, cavalry, and that Kosencranz falling
>ack from Murfreesboro’.
An officer of General Polk’s staff who
reached here Sunday night from the front, re
ports that Morgan, M heeler and Forrest
conjointly attacked Fort Donelson on the
Cumberland river and took the place, des
troying a million dollars worth of stores and
capturing sixteen transports. While*we are
scarcely prepared to give credence to this
rumor we have no doubt that an engagement
has been had at that point. Capt. Wm. B.
Walton, of Sumner, who came through the
Federal lines a few days since and who reach
ed this place Sunday night brings the intel
ligence that Morgan was a Stewart’s Ferry,
about 8 miles from Nashville, when he left.
The Federal account of the fight at. Fort
Donelson, among our telegraphic despatches
this morning, claims that Forrest was repul
sed with a loss of 130 men killed and wound
ed, and the loss of one of our bateries The
same account states that Gen. Forrest him
self was wounded.
It was also currently rumored and gener
ally believed on the streets yesterday fore
noon that the Yankees were evacuating Mur
-1 freesboro’, aud destroying large quantities
jof stores. Our fellow citizen, Mr. Leber,
late of the lirm of Leiper & Menifee,* of
: Murfreesboro’, has received information that
| the large warehouse belonging to that firm
| has been destroyed by the Yankees in Mur
fressb m>\ This was the principal store
house in the place.
001. W . P. C. B reckon ridge, commanding
a brigade ol cavalry iu Gen. Morgan’s com
mand, who occupied Liberty, was attacked
by a force ot the enemy on Thursday, com
posed of five regiments of infantry, and com
pelled to fall back to the hills in the vicini
j ty- Tbe enemy then started towards Alcx
-1 andriu, when Gol. Breckinridge made a cir
cuit around to Heir rear, and captured be
tween thirty aud forty of Stokes’cavalry,
aud afterwaids reoccupied Liberty, and held
: it at last accounts.
Prince Albert and till Com ldlracy. The
Columbia South Carolinian gives tbe following,
which it procured from “an authentic source”:
Vi ben the lrent affair occurred and our com
uussiouers were taken from a Bvessel Loru
I alnierston wrote a demand for their restoration
j iu such terrni, that the wai with the United States
would ceitaiuly hate beeu the result. The dis
; l was submitted to the Queen for her sigrm
! ture, and Prince Albert insisted she should
s?gu it. He declared he would never recognize a
| Uovcrmuent where the peculiar institution existed
j a . u,J 1,0 ‘“‘Pressed it so strongly on the Queen that
sne considers it a religious dutv to carry out bi«
urgent request to her. This prevents the renewal
of any Cab-net proposal to her on the subject, as
it is well known all subjects are avoided that arc
likely to give her auy meutal disturbance.
We must not depend on auj hopes of reco*ui
tion by England, until our Government i« firmly
established and recognized by the other great
powers of Europe.
The Negro Question in Kentucky. A des
patch from Genera! John H. Morgan to Hon. W.
J. Simms, Senator from Kentucky, was received
iu this city on the Btb iuat. It states that Gen.
Boyle, the Military Governor of Kentucky, during
the past week ordered the Provost Marshal at
Louisville to be taken from an Ohio brigade the
negroes they had stolen while iu the State; that
iu taking the negroes a fight occurred, in which
the citizens oi Louisville generally took part and
u number were wounded an both side*.— Jtiich
Kc:id Wife iif/i.
The Radicah Cireeley on flic W ar.
Tbe radicals are growling tired of the w ar
.—even Greeley sues for peace ; the war to
go on until May and then, if not successful
to accent the “best attainable peace.’ Tbe
Herald gets off the following on Greeley and
the war.
Poor Greeley wants to fight, until May,
and then accept a disunion peace, But, if
the war is to .end in an ingloriofis peace,
why fight untii May? Or it the war is to
be pushed to a glorious issue, why accept
peace at the end of the three months? — The
trouble with poor Greeley is that most peo
ple believe he deserves tbe gallows and
would gladly give him fcis deserts, and be
is aware of this ineiresting fact and dances
Jiui Crow accordingly.
Greeley wants the war to* go on until
May, and then, if we are not successful, he
insists that we must accept “the best attain
able peace.” Now that peace would be dic
tated by the European Powers, and would
consist iu the recognition of the Confederacy
provided the gradual emancipation of sla
very was promised by the South. If the
rebels refuse to accept this proviso, then the
mediators would force the South back into
tbe Union and the emancipation proclama
tion would do its work. Thus either by
union or disunion, Greeley thicks that the
abolition of slavery is certain. The idea is
not original with Greeley but belongs to
Wendell Phillips.
Poor Greeley explains that he only
wants peace in May if by that time the
j eople “should be satisfied that the strugle
is hopeless”. But the people wili not be
satisfied with no such, no matte* what may
happen before May. The people have not
had a fair chance to “strugle” yet. An
imbecile adminis tratiou has hampered and
crippled them.
The following arsenals, armories, depots,
&c are immediately under charge of th«
War Department, and its orders will be given
directly through tbe Ordinance Bureau, viz
Hicbmoud Arsenal, Richmond, Va.
Richmond Aamory, Richmond, Ya.
Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory, Fay
etteville, N. C.
Charleston Arsenal, Charleston, S. C.
Agusta Arsenal and Powder Works Augus
ta Ga.
Macon Arsenal, Macon, Ga.
M aeon Armory, Macon, Ga.
Macou Laboratory, Macon, Ga.
Columbus Arseual, Columbus, Ga.
t ■* Atlanta Arsenal, Atlanta, Ga.
ML Vernon Arseual, Mt. Vernon, Ala.
Mongomery Arsenal Mougoinery, Ala.
.Selma Arseual Selina, Ala.
Jaeksou Arsenal, Jackson, Miss.
Grceusboro, Depot, Greensboro, N. C.
Danville Depot, Danville, Va.
Lynchburg Depot Lynchburg, Va.
Little Rock Arsenal, Little lloek, Ark.
Texas Arsenal, San Antonio, Texas.
’1 he stores fabricated and deposited at
these posts are to be drawn oui on requi-
Regulations^**^ 1 5 > Ordinance
Kentucky Position. —The recent action
of the Kentucky Legislature, which has at
tracted so much attention, is in the form of
resolution declaring the attachment of that
State alike to the xNortli aud South, and
proposing, first, that, the Federal and Con
federate authorities appoint commissioners
to consult and prepare such amendments to
the Constitution as will be satisfactory to
both sections; and, secondly, that the Leg
islature of Kentucky appoint commissioners
who shall wait upon President Lincoln, at
Washington, and President Davis at Rich
mond, and urge an armistice and the ap
pointment of such commissioners, and an 1
visit the Legislatures of Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania’ New Jersey and New
Fork, and seek their co-operation in procur
ing a suspention of hostilities during nego
tiations for peace and reunion.
Kentucky, as do the Abolition States, at
taches reunion as a condition of peace.
Her legislators labor under the same mis
take as do those of Massachusetts, in sup
posing the condition will be complied with.
But out of a suspension of hostilities, to be
followed by negotiations in which we shall
be the equal of the other contracting party ,
promises something. —Memphis Appeal. ?
Stolen and Deported SLAVEs-The New
York Herald, in a late article on Lincoln’s
Emancipation Proclamation, which it declares
can have no Gleet except where there are
armies iu a position to carry it out, has the
following paragraph.
1 he Constitution defines treason and pre
scribes the mode of punishing it. Whole
communities cannot be legally made traitors
by proclamations, nor their property seized
and confiscated; and if Congress passed fifty
laws on the subject, they would have no le
gal efficacy. Consequently, if slave prop
erty sbuuld be taken away from the citizens
of the United States hy Generals of the ar
my. in virtue ol the proclamation of the
President, the property must be restored or
paid iui by the Lin ted States Government
unless the persons from whom it had been
taken should he convicted of treason iu a
court of law, aud after a full and fair trial.
A. T. Stewart Buying all the Cot
ton Goods. —The New York correspondent
of the Boston Journal writes to that paper
as follows ;
Mi. Alexander i. Stewart, the dry goods
millionaire ol this city, has refused to sell
cotton goods at any price. lie has recently
been buying up all the goods he could pur
chase. Empty stores have been taken,
warehouses rented and tilled to the rafters
with goods. This done, he closes sales and
waits for coming events. It is well kuown
that Mr. Stewart’s connection with the gov
ernment is such that he has early informa
tion of changes to take place, of movements
to be made, and the signs of the times are
within his vision. He has had the mono
poly of one kind of goods for which the sale
has been great, aud the past year has been
to him the most successful year he has
ever known. Over fifteen millions dollars’
worth ot goods he has sold within the year
18f)2, and when he holds up and refuses to
sell class of goods, men begin to open
their eyes. If we have a battlifend do not
TfiHj cotton gcodj will fun up like gold.
Extract from Ute Report oS the
Secretary of the Treasury.
-
TkFASURY DKrARTMKNT, C. S. A., )
Richmond, dan. 10, 186. )
Hon. T. 8. Bocoek t Speaker Hmi?e of Representa
tires, C. S. A.:
- I have the honor to submit the lolloping
report of the condition of this Department
The gtatetnents for the last year were made up
to the 18th February, 1862, the termination of the
Provisional Government. From the commence;
ment of the Permanent Government to the 3i
December, 18C2. the receipts and expenditures
were follows .
KECriFT?
Patent fund ....... $ 13,920 00
Customs. 668,566 00
Miscellaneous, 9,‘291,812 00
Repayment of Officer? 3,839 268 00
Interest on loans 26 683 00
Call loan certificate? 69,242,796 00
One hundred million loan.. 41,590,20 00
Treasury notes 216,564,886 00
Interest bearing notes 113,740,000 oO
War tax 16,464,613 00
Loan 28th February, 1861 2,875,27600
Coin rec’d from Band of Louisiana 2,<>39,709 00
$467*855,704 00
EXPENDITURES.
War Department $341,011,764 00
Navy Department 20,569,283 00
Civil, miscellaneous, foreign inter
course and customs. 13,673,376 00
FUELIC DEBT
Interest o n
public debt
(loan)
Payment of
Treasury
notes, act
9th March,
18C1
Principal. $645,9 0
Interest.. 20,860
1 —■■ ■ iiCC.iGI
Redemption of 6 per
ct. certificates.,. .11,616,400
Redempt’n of treasury
notes called in for
cancellation and re
imbursern't of prin
cipal,under act May
16, 1801,. ‘.23,751,172 41,727,322 00
$416,971,7 <36 00
Add balance against the Treasury
on 18t.h February, 18G2 26,439,672 00
$443,411,307 00
Amount of receipts $457,865,704 00
Deduct amount of expenditures.. 443,411,307 00
Balance $14,444,397 00
This balance consists,in part of the coin on
1 hand, received from Bank of Louisiana, and the
remainder in interest-bearing treasury notes.
The appropriations made by Congress, and not
yet drawn from the treasury, are as follows :
Civil and miscellaneous., $10,925,049 00
War Department 57,865,879 00
Customs 396,612 00
Navy Department 12,692,373 00
Amount $81,879,913 00
The estimates for the support of the govern
ment to first July, the end of the fiscal year, are
ns follows :
Legislative $ 231,600 00
Executive (salary of President,&c.) 13,471 00
Treasury Department 29,959,697 00
War Department 242,977,017 00
£avy Department 16,948,870 00
Xtate Department 150,063 00
Department of Justice 172,632 00
Bust Office Department 60,123 00
Miscev^ neotlS p . 10,000 00
In , . $290,493,712 00
. r m '? er t 0 d3cm ain the amount to be raised
1. the estimate.--... 4>2>v<,
2. Endrawn appropri
ations 81,879,913
Arid deduct the bal’ee
in the treasury of . 14,444,397 00
Leaving arno’nt to be
raised $357,923,229 00
The debt of the government at the same date
was as follows;
jBOND? AND STOCKS.
Under act of
Feb’ry 28,
18C1 .... $4,987,000
Under act of
May 16,’61 6,414.800
Under act of
August, 19,
7 ,5 35.100
Deposit’d cer
tificates un
der act of
Dec’r. 24,
Issued $69,600,870
Redeemed , . 13,610,400
TREASURY NOTES.
3 65 Dotes $ 892,000
2 years notes 10,919,025
General currency . . 272,622,467
7 30 notes % . 120,080,000
$1 and 2 notes 6,206,200
410,629,092 00
$556,105,062 00
In the above statement is contained a large
amount, of bonds and interest bearing notes, which
are on hand in the various depositories not vet
issued. It is important, to bear this in mind’ in
estimating the effect of the act, of the last session
upon funding treasury notes. The loans in which
such notes are fuuded, are those mentioned in the
schedule as loans of May 16th and August 19th.
The amount of these loaus as reported at the last
meeting of Congress was ou Ist August $41,677 •
250. ’ ’
By the statement now reported,the
total auipunt of these bonds ia. .$> 73,999,400 00
From which should be deducted
amount, on hand not yet diapoa
cd ot 'i Ba 7 8,000,000 00
. . . ' 166,999,400 00
And in order to ascertain the arn’t
ol treasury notes funded, there
must be deducted for, the bonds
issued for produce, say 7,000,000 00
n , $58,999,400 00
Deduct amout reported Ist Aug.. 41,677,250 00
ljalance * $27,421,160 00
7 bis balance shows the amount of treasury notes
funded in live months, the average being about 34
millions per month.
During the same period the inter
est bearing treasury notes have
increased from * 22,799,900 00
lo 120,480,000 00
Increase $97,680,100 00
r tom which deduct notes on hand. 11,004,600 00
Real increase
rhis large increase of interest-bearing notes
anords satisfactory evidence that the issue of them
was a judicious measure; and for any ordinary
war tne bonds and interest notes, amounting to
gether to a monthly sale of twenty and* half mil
lions, would have sustained the Government with
out &Dy resort to paper currency. But the esii
:m^L 4 6 u Cal *. i0r more thau twice the s.counts furn
*B ea lLesfe rewarces; „ad we are compelled to
resort to the Treasury Notes to supply the defi j
ciency. It becomes, then, a most important en- j
quiry whether the i.-sue of such notes can be con- 1
tinned, and, if it can, then to what extent?
In a former report it was shown that the circu- j
lation of the Confederate States before the war ,
might be estimated at one hundred millions of
dollars. In the existing mate of things, it is pro- .
bable that a larger amount of currency is required. ,
In time ot peace, money pisses rapidly from hand j
to hand, and the «;ame monev, in a single day, will
discharge many obligations. A large portion, too,
of the operations of business are performed by
bills of exchange and bank checks In the pres
ent stagnation of commerce and intercourse larger
amounts of ready money are kept on hand bv each
individual, and the Confederate Treasury notes
and all certificates are used as a substitute for bills
ar.d drafts to> certain extent. If this view be
just, we may venture to add as much as fifty per
cent, to the usual amount, of currency, and this
would raise the sum toral at which it might stand,
to one hundred and fifty millions. The difference
between this sum and the actual circulation will
show the redundancy. The actual circulation em
braces not only treasury notea but bank notes and
State emissions of treasury notes. In ordinary
times coin would also form a part; but, at present,
not only the coin, but a large portion of the bank
notes have been withdrawn from circulation.
The issue of treasury notes od the last day of
December amounted to $290,149,692, exclusive of
interest bearing notes. By adding to this aurn a
> sufficient amount to cover the State treasury notes
1 and the bank notes in circulation, we can arrive
at the sura total of the currency. Twenty millions
added to the treasury note* would probably repre
sent the whole.
The Army of the Potomac Disloyal and
Danseroiu
The Washington correspondent of the Chicago
times, writing on the 24th ult., says :
It is now stated, and I make the statement on
the authority of the New York Times, that Gen.
Halleck thinks the army of the Potomac disaffected,
dangerous and disloyal. He even affects to ignore
the existence of that army any longer. “Army
of the Pqtomae ?” he repeated, a few days go, to
a gentleman who had used that phrase. “The ar
my of the Potomac has ceased to exist!” And he
meant by that to express what he literally believed
j to be the truth ; his programme now is, or was a
few days ago, for the remnant of that army to be
broken up and scattered. Seigel was to guard
| Washiugton ; Franklin'was to guard the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad ; Hooker was to join Foster in
I North Carolina; and Summer was to join Hunter
|at Charleston. Such was the programme which
| the President had agreed a few days ago. But
! the vacillating character of that weak man has
. passed into a proverb. Burnside, aided by the
radicals in Congress, has persuaded the President
that there is a chance now that Fredericksburg can
be taken ; and orders were issued to that effect
|on the 18th inst On the 20th Burnside issued
his address to the troops, telling them that he was
about to lead them against the enemy, and the
columns were then put in motion at once.
At the moment, however, the windows of heav
! en were opened, the rains descended in torrents,
! the floods came, the wind blew with a terrific vio
lence, and the Rappahannock rose to an unusual
height. The storm which ensued will long be re
membered for its terrible effects. So fearful, in
deed, was its violence, and so wide spread its in
fluence, that for a whole day, the 21st, no through
trains could be rim between here and New York. |
The storm subsided on the 224, fiat it left the Rap
| pahannock fearfully swolen, and the roads literal
ly impassible. It. would seem that the elements
forbdde a repetition of the Fredericksburg mas
sacre.
A Ffdkri Command Sold. —A letter from Dan
ville, Ky., to the Cincinnati Commercial, inform?
us as to the manner in which a whole division of
the Federal army was led upon a “wild goose
chase” by that “will-o’stbe wisp” Jack Morgan.—
It says:
Day before yesterday we ware ordered to march
at five o,clock, a. in., to Lebanon, and obedience,
to orders we did march, It rained all day in per
fect torrents, but our men having heard that Mor
gan was near, with his guerilla band, kept up their
spirits in spite of the rain and mud, hoping that
they might have the pleasure of meeting that dar
ing rebel chieftain.
The day wor* 1 awav, and so did the strength of
we encaiivjs<j Hietfr*Tm-"’’ , at u *f?ht
vilie battle. We pitched our tents, end "wlfri
clothes perfectly saturated with water, our boys
lay down to soak themselves to sleep. At throe
o’clock in the morning we were ordered to retrace
our steps of the previous day, greatly to the di
gust of the troops. The order however, proved
to come from Morgan himself, who bad possession
of the talegrapb lines. We rt*ched Danville, and
here learned that we had been sold; that Morgan
was making another raid into the State with his
cavalry, and we were perfectly powerless to pre
vent hitn.
Carrying out the KixmnripaUou Procla-
Hon,
ith in that portion of Virginia now occupied,
by the Federal forces under the notorious Milrcy,
Lincoln’s emancipation is being faithfully carried
°“ t * following Jo a cop? of an order sent to
a Jady of < lark county, by Gen. R. H. Milror
inrough the hands of a runaway negro narnej
John Washington, whose wife and children were
servants of the lady :
Madam —You wili release to Mr. John Wash
ington his wife and children, and all other slaves
iu your possession, made free by the proclamation
os Abraham Lincoln.
(Signed.) R. H. Milroy,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
We understand that Mr. John Washington car
ried out his mission, not only in taking off the
slave? demanded by Milroy’s order, but also the
fine carriage and horses of the lady upon whom j
the demand was made.— Rich. Dispatch.
The Hattfras.— It appears, from our despatch,
to be now settled that the Yankee steamer Hat
teras was sunk by the British ship Spitfire, and
not by a Confederate vessel. This puts the whole
I question in anew new light, or rather raises a
! question, and a most important and interest
-11°? one. How John Bull came thus unceremoui*
! ously to “pitch into” a war craft of his beloved
! friend and cousin Jonathan, is a matter to be ex**
I plained. Noue of the circumstances that haTC
transpired are of a character to justify the attack
We have no thought that the event will give rise
to any serious disturbance between the two couu
! tries i f » r eftch government is too much debased
i to make a stand ou poiuts which would be mat
! ters of serious consideration with honorable na
i tions. We are, at all events, glad to kuow that
; the Hatteras and her infamous crew of pirates has
1 gone to the bottom, and we care but little who
was the author of the beneficent act.
How Negro Troops are Regarded in the West
—The Knoxville Register of the 11th inst., says I
Through the kindness of an unknown friend at
Cumberland Gap, we have received a Cincinnati
Commercial of January 30, from which we glean
the following interesting summary :
The Commercial advocates and urges a draft of
negroes. It gives the statistics of the negro popu
lation of the Northern States, and savs, “In order
;to raise a force of 16,000 blacks, and we shall
want that many iu addition to the contrabands
convertible into soldiers, it will be nececs A ry to
draft every third black man, or citizen with a via
ble admixture of African blood, having a habita
tion in the free and border slave States.”
We venture the prediction that the “fifteen
thousand blacks, in addition to the contrabands
convertible into soldiers." if they are raised, will
cause the desertion of twenty times that number
ol whites from the Abolition ranks.
Confederate Money in the North. —The IV
ersburg Express learns from intelligent paroled
prisoners who came up on the truce boat day be<
tore yesterday, that Confederate notes are received
with delight in New York. Merchants do not re
fuse to take rebel money in exchange for goods
they sell. It is held io be a valuable as the U. S.
greenbacks.
The Kinking of the iiutt< r*.
This affair is invested with renewed
now that the Northern papers say tlw ii * T , e ' 1
by the British ship Spitfire. We
the account of the chase and engagement
by L. H Partridge, Acting Maste or. >„, & r
Hatteras, who escaped by being in the bout of 1
vessel when the fight took placp:
At about 3 p. m. Tuesday, Jon’y ll;b whri
vessel hove in sight southeast, we were 3<a :
from the Brooklyn to give chise. As ** -
sight, she appeared to be endeavoring to e
Just after dark, was able to discover th„t ~
barque rigged, and set a top gall*nt »ii.. ..*<•
durfc we gained cu her fast, und when we ere
found her lying to under steam. We huj bet- , -
Quarter? about twenty minutes As we cam- r
Cap? Blake hailed and asked shat shin * - <y \*d
The answer was, her British Majesty’s »h.p r
fire. Captain Blake said, “1 w;H sjni a i
- Boat beirg called away, I was
to take charge and board.
Before we went one half ship’s length &~
from the side the stranger openp.i fire". It-.!,
returned by the Hatteras, and both s:ait«d at< -
under a full head of steam, exchanging bread- j„
as fast as they could load and fire for about 2 u.
with big guns, then with musketry from bot ; ?
sels. All the time l had been trying to board -
vetsel, but could not come up. After the niuske
rv ceased, I discovered that the Hatteras wa?st ,
J pod and blowing off steam, with the cneniv rt lyr,.
side for the purpose of boarding. Heard ti .
my cheeriug, and knew the Hatteras had fit -
captured, and thought it no use to give mv- r
as a prisoner, ams rffwed back to the fleet
cover of darkness in hopes of giving inforcu i
of the affair. The Brooklyn went out ihii ao
log and found the Hatteras sunk.
[The “ Spitfire,’! turned out to be none
than the Confederate ship Alabama, j
The Negro Soldier Bill in the Yankee ,v.
gress. —The Washington Chronicle, of tU V<
says :
i The bill for the enlistment of negro joidir •;
passed the House by a vote ot ayes 88. caTj
with a proviso that slaves of loyal pernors h
Border States shall not be received, nor re -
offices opened in said States, without permit 1
of their Governors. Mr. Stephens, of Fen; 'iX b
nia, in closing the debate on the bill, said,
other things, that the time of the two yanrs at;":
nine mouths men will soon expire ; three hue :r and
thousand men would thus be taken away, and it
was out of their power to supply their places. We
could not raise fifty thousand white men bv vn..
tary enlistments ; to enforce conscription ‘was
jof the question. He believed the Democrats in
the North were holding secret meeting* to r-i.
the President and usurp the Government. Jir
Kellogg, of Indiana, and two other Republican
voted against the bill. Four Uaionists and two
Democrats voted for it.
Senator Brown, of Mississippi, propo? » n
investigation into the snuggeries of < !e, -cap
in the departments, who live in Richmond ou saW
ries and ride fast horses—in fact, get higher |. t y
| in money than officers who undergo all the hard
, ships of the camp, the march, on the field of ! .t
tie. I know of one silly creature who gets §C
x month for doing nothing whatever, and keeps
drunk more than half his time at that. He is a
man ot large property, and ran away disgracefully
; from the battle-field.—Co?-. Charleston
In the Indiana Legislature, on the 15th, Mr
Humphries introduced a resolution instructing
senators and requesting representatives in (on
greas to take measures to suspend hostilities L
i tween the United States and Confederate otafe.
and for calling a national convention for the re
i union of the States under the icoattunm The
! resolution was referred.
A resolution has been introduced in»he Indiana
j Legislature to investigate the secret political 'so
cieties said to exist in that State Every I) * moots i
j voted against the resolution.
Opinions in France.—A Paris corres
pondent of New York Times represents t}
Emperor as actively engaged in preparing
public opinions for his mediation inter vent*
in American affairs. All the ministerial or
gans have received orders to harp constantly
on the fact that the separation between tl-
North and South is fixed and final; and si.
«and thctt. diligently obeying the order.-,
lire Alomieur led the way, and doe? l'
omit any occasion of insinuating the l-c i
-of European intervention.—The other)-
pers are equally zealous, La Nation, the
Emperor s private organ contains an art.:.-
supposed to be trom the Imperial pen, wl- -
strongly urges the poliev of intervention
The Times’ correspondent thinks tiieEtr.
peror is favouring thjg policy to prevent ifi
election of some thirty democrats to tU
French Legislature. By involving the coun
try in a war with the United States the
Government will be able to suppress fib
discontent at home. — Charleston * Mnrcury
The Exemption Eill Disposed r 'J ai the
House. —The House of Represent^ I .<ve yes
terday gave the quietus to th* Exempt s
Bill reported from the Committee on Mih
tary Affairs and all the amendments concfect*
ed therewith. After expending two weeks in
its discussion, and adopting a large nurnUr
of amendments, the House deliberately de
feated the measure by a vote nearley re
proaching unamitv. It will be recollected
that an act was passed some two weeks a { r ci
repealing the most objectionable clauses u
the existing exemption law. The actioE :
the House yesterday leaves the bill enacted
at the last session in force except so much of
it as has been recindf*d by the adoption of
the bill repealing the clauses which
color to discrimination and clas c legislation.
—Richmond Dispatch.
The Charleston Olotkado xVhm
the Cio veru me lit *ay* about it
Washington , Thursday, Ftbrvo \ 5 C
reports in regard to the encounter <,-ff Ch- : *
leston Harbor, being from rebel soucrciX’
doubtless greatly exaggerated. There '
been no intervention oj the blockade, and
such assumption will be admitted by
Government.
A telegram was received to-day from ' ;1 ‘
tress Muuroe, saying:
“Gen. Dix is receipt of rebel new 3 : ‘ ‘
Charleston to the 3d inst, at which tim l
port was thoroughly blockaded, the
iron clads lying inside the wooden
The.former were not with the fleet at k
time of the attack on the first instant ,
An attack on the city was momen t *
expected.
A dispatch boat, with an official :K f /
from Admirable Dupont is hourly exp*' 1
[Special Dispatch to the TxnoJ
Washington , Thursday , Fehrt V
There is reason to believe that the
th« Navy Department did not
the beginning of the attack of our ! ; 4
on Charleston and Savannah tor !i '‘ aQ
fortnight yet; but it is suruiisdin m
one well informed quarter, that :u ‘
daring operations of the rebels at • ;1
ton will be followed by a swifter ft ’*
thau they expected, and the
that the blockade of Charleston
will prove truer thaa they thought.