Newspaper Page Text
lima*.
J. W. WARREN, - - - Editor.
TUnrsdaf Morning, May 26, 1864.
Our readers will find in the extracts from
our Atlanta exchanges, all the news we ha*-
been able to collect from Georgia front.—
It is now "®U a g«* ed that Gen * John ‘
cion will next occupy the line of the Chatta
hoochee. The enemy’s flanking operations
will there cease, and be must come face to face
with his antagonist. Unless everybody be a liar,
this necessity will be hailed with delight by
Johnston’s army. Ever since the crossing of
the Oostanaula, they have been challenging
the enemy to battle and they long impatiently
for the time when he must accept the chal
lenge or retire from the field. We do not
know the strength of Gen. Johnston s force,
but vve should be unlike everybody who has
been to Atlanta if we - did not think it suffi
cient for the work before it. Os one thing
we are certain, if Gen. Johnston needs more j
:, l himself call upon Georgu* he |
toeii, ft"ft J *
can get ten thousand in ten days.
Personal.— We had the pleasure of a call
yesterday from Capt. Dwinell, editor and pro
prietor of the Rome Courier. We regret that
this sterling paper has been suspended by or
4er of Gen. Sherman ; but, for the sake of our
true and gallant friend, and the public cause,
we trust that the suspension will be for a
short time only. Uapt. Dwinell informs us
that he was able to save a considerable por
tion of the material of Ui3 office.
[Correspondence of the Macon Telegraph.]
Beauregard’s Great Battle near
Drewry’s Bluff, Va.
Eight Milks from Petersburg, \
May 17th, 1864. /
Mr. Clisby : Gen. Beauregard came through
from Petersburg to Richmond on the 13th ult.,
with Gen, Colquitt’s Brigade as an escort. He
came a rouud about way, and yet the enemy
had a small force on road, where, after a
slight skirmish, he was driven off. The march
of 30 miles was made over a terrible road in a
hard rain from 2* o’clock in the afternoon
until 2J o’clock next morning. On the 14th
Gen. Beauregard was in immediate command
of the forces at Drewry’s Bluff. There was
heavy shirmishing along the whole line dur
ing the day and most of night. Everything
was very quiet during the day on the 16th.
That night everything was in a state of pre
paration. Staff officers riding in every direc-*
tion—troops in motion—everything indicated
that the next day was to be an active one.
Gen. Beauregard had planned an attack on
the enemy in front of our works by which he
expected to kill and capture the whole force.
Major Gen. Bob. Ransom on our left was to
move forward and press the enemy’s right
back, get between them and James River, cut
ting them off from their communication with
their gunboats. Gen. Ransom was then to
swing round and take the army in flank, while
Maj. Gen. Hoke was to move forward and at
tack the enemy in front.
After this movement was well under way,
Major General Whiting was to advance from
Petersburg, and close in on the enemy’s rear.
Maj. Gen. Whiting was to start from Peters
burg early enough in the day to be on the bat
tlefield by Bor 9 o’clock. The plan was well
considered, how well it was executed, your
readers must judge from the account of the
“battle of Drewry’s Bluff.” Tlie movement
was to have commenced at daylight, but ow
ing to the heavy fog, it was nearly an hour
later. Major General Hoke commanded our
right, Major General Bob Ransom our left, and
Brigadier General Colquitt, a division of re
serve. Gen. Ransom moved forward on our
right. The enemy’s skirmishers were easily
driven in and in a few minutes the line was
hotly engaged. We had expected the enemy
to open on our position (the wall of works ex
tending around Drewry’s Bluff,) with artillery
as soou as our line advanced, but were very
agreeably disappointed* The firing on our left
was rapid and continuous, but an occasional
yell from our men let us know that everything
was progressing well. The firing got farther j
and farther off, and in a short time a courier j
arrived from Gen. Ransom, stating that he is
ready to swing round and the enemy in
flank. Gen. Hoke advances on the right to
attack the enemy in front. During General
Ransom’s advance our artillery on the right
fired rapidly, among the batteries engaged I
noticed the Macon Artillery.
Gen. Hoke was soon - hotly engaged, Gen.
Ransoimsends for reinforcements before mov
ing down on flank Gen. Colquitt sends him
the three regiments of his own brigade that
were with him—Gen. Ransom coming in on
the flank while Gen. lloke has engaged them
in front, the enemy were completely routed.
Colquitt’s brigade, under command Colonel
Loiton, was in this charge and added another
testimonial to its'character as a “lighting
brigade.” The enemy were now 1 driven from
their works (our old line) in confusion. It
was desirable that (Jen. Whiting be beard
from before any further movement was made.
For hours we wait and no news from Whiting, j
The fog was very dense until after 9 o’clock.
We had clouds, sunshine and rain during the
day. President Davis came on the field about
3 o’clock in the afternoon. We had a driving
rain about 4 o'clock. It was about this hour
that one of the enemy's batteries opened on us,
the shells passed over the troops, and one of
them came very near (just over the heads of)
our President and Gen. Beauregard. It would
have been much better lor us to have advanc
ed without waiting for Gen. Whiting, About
5 o'clock as we could hear nothing from him, j
Gen. Beauregard ordered an advance, but
night came on before we were ready to move.
You must, remember that it was very cloudy,
and that it takes time to arrange for a move
ment of a large body of men. So there was
no move that day. We know that it would
have been oetter to have made the advance
immediately after the men were supplied with
ammunition. After the first advance early
this morning out skirmishers were thrown
forward. Ttiey could find no enemy. Scouts
sent out reported that as far as they had been
no enemy could be found. Our army advanced
to-day. Gen. \\ biting came through Peters
burg with his force, lie acknowledges his i
error in not coming on yesterday, and turns j
over his command to Maj. Gen. D H. Hill.
Os the losses, there is no means of ascertain
ing. Nobody know s what the enemy’s is, and
the reports have not come in from oar army.
We have very few killed, but a good many
wounded —most of them slightly. I heard
General Beauregard’s Surgeon estimate our
loss at 1200 in killed and serious;,- ■<. ouuded.
I won't say that the tv.- r- larger,
for I don't believe it mile 1.
We have about 1,000 pA: ’ m de
finitely informed of—AuiOi.g them tic a. Hick
man. The result ot the fight is immense. The
enemy was touted, aud in his retreat aban
doned the turnpike between Richmond and
Petersburg, luu*leaving us in entire posses
sion of the Railroad. We captured nine pieces
of artillery Parrotts ana'Napoleons.) Gen.
Whiting frankly acknowledges his error in not
advancing, ft certainly i vary gravy er
ror, for it he had performed uts pari of
programme >vt would ha vty.apiuifc<i the u rger
portion o! Butler s command, f find on nn
sulting off- •••. t o hig; a rank ru.it v- 1 huvv
over Id*, i, , .... • . i 0 r . -.a u-.t- v
estiruuUd .■ h , \y -vr V;,; ~
300 of th<. e . k . , , . ; 1
on the tnr.apiue between Richmond and Pe
tersburg. No late news from Gca. Lea.
Hr Trul >> 8188
Yn><u the Richmond Dispatch of the IBtu.
Account ofl the Battle el Thu* s*
day near Spotsylvania €. Is.
Army of Northern Virginia, )
Spotsylvania, C. H. May 18, 1864. J
On yesterday was fought in* front of
this modest little village—henceforth to
be famous through all coming time-one
of the fiercest and most obstinate battle
of modern times. It oc.«*uienced at day
light and roared with tremens
duous fury until two o’clock in the after
noon, when the enemy retired from the
bloody conflict. Grant made the attack
again, as he did at the Wilderness, and
gained a considerable advantage by the
suddenness and vigor of the assault early
in the day; but with this exception, he
was repulsed with a loss that will carry
mourning to thousands of Northern and
European hearthstones, and dismay and
confusion to the tyrants and demagogues
whose hosts he leads. The Confederates ;
failed at one point only—partly from ac»
cident, partly from mistake, and partly, I
fear, from lack of spirit ; but on all other
parts of the field they were victorious,
and as firm and resolute as ever. The
enemy was but not routed or driv
en from the field.
It is not my purpose to go much into
the details of the battle—first, because
the letter, if captured between this place
and Richmond, might give the foe desir
able information in regard to the strength
and position of our forces; and second,
because it is almost impossible to prepare
any account of a battle that will give
satisfaction to subordinate officers, and if
one makes the attempt and fails, as he
certainly will, he is almost sure to have
his motives impugned and become involv
ed in a controversy in the newspapers.
The battle was fought on the north
side of Spotsylvania Court House, on
undulating ground, diversified by fields,
thickets, and patches of woods. Our
line is crescent shaped, or perhaps it would
be more correct to say that it is nearly in
the form of a horse shoe, and extends
around the Court House or village on the
North and Northwestern side, so as to
cover all the approaches from those quar
ters. Slight entrenchments had been
thrown up along our entire front, extend
ing from near the Shady Grove (or Ca
tharpen road continued) on the West,
around to and beyond the Fredericksburg
road on the Northeast side of the village.
At one point on the right is an eminence
a few hundred yards in advance of the
general direction of our line, and in order
to prevent the enemy from getting pos
session of it for his artillery, a sharp an
gle was projected so as to include the hill
within our intrenchments. The result
shows that this was an unfortunate piece
of engineering. Past the foot of the
hill on the North side sweeps a ravine
which presents a convex line to the hill,
the two approaching each other like cir
cles that touch but cut each other.
The enemy availed himself of this ravine
in his assault upon the angle, which was
the weakest point in our lines, being con
siderably in advance of the general line
and beyond the reach of support from the
forces operating on the right and left.
Information was received night before
last that Grant was retiring in the direc
tion of Fredericksburg and Germanna
Ford; a report to this effect was noised
abroad through Jhe army, though subse
quent events *how that it was without the
least foundation. Through a mistake
which I cannot trace to its but
which grew out of this mischievious report
the artilery which had been posted on the
hill in the angle alluded to above, was
withdrawn during the night. This left
Major Gen. Johnson, of Ewell’s corps,
whose division, heretofore considered one
of the best in the army, occupied this
part of the line without any artillery sup
port. He communicated this fact to his
corps commander at midnight, with the
additional intelligence that the enemy
was massing a heavy force in his immedi
ate front for the purpose, as he believed
of assaulting him next (yesterday) morn
ing. These guns or others, were sent
back, and were just moving into the an
gle at 4 o’clock yesterday morning, when
the force which Johnson reported to be
massing in bis front, made a vigorous as
sault upon his position and carried it.
The assaulting force had been assem
bled in the ravine at the foot of the hill
was very strong, and advanced* one re
port says, in column of regiments. It
had rained the evening before, and con
siderable fog prevailed, under cover of
which the attack was made.
One or two guns were got into position
and fired, but the horses attched to the
other pieces were shot down before they
could be uolimbered aud most of the can
noneers captured. Jones’ Virginia brig
ade, whose commander was killed at The
Wilderness while trying to rally his men,
.was the first to break; the old Stonewall
and other brigades belonging to the divis
ion, becoming involved, soon followed its
example, and the last seen of Gen. John*
son, the hero of Alleghany, he was stand- ,
ing almost alone, with a musket in his (
hand contesting the ground single handed |
with the multitudinous foe. The brig* ,
ades composing the division are the j
Stonewall brigade, Gen. James M. j
Walker, and Jones’ brigade both of this j
State, Stuart’s brigade of Virginians and
North Carolinians, and Stafford’s brigade
of Louisianans. Jones and Stafford fell
at the Wilderness, Walker was wounded
yesterday; Stuart, and Johnson, the com
mander of the division, were taken prison
ers, and the Colonel, commanding J ones’
brigade, is reported killed, with many
other officers. The guns left on the field,
but which neither party has been able to
move on account of the fire of the other
—some eigbteeu or twenty—are said to
belong to Cutshuw’s and Page’s battalions.
A thousand or twelve hundred prisoners
! were lost at the same time.
This occurred at a very early hour la the
morning. If Jones’ brigade had not given
way, it is possible, though not probable, that
.Johnston would have been able to maintain
his ground He is one of the best offiesrs
in tho arm} ; and the sublime spectacle be
presented while battling alone with the enemy,
though deserted by his command, should ex
cite our admiration, rather than provoke crit
ivi&m. But .t should not he imagined that
the enemy gained the hill without opposition,
sudden aud vigorous as hia assault was. He
vos received with volley - 'ter v fll. y and the
around was covered wit:. Iks but he
),*•» nmasetl sitefc a lie. vy ioree upon ;» riogle
exposed point, some -os•••<:>nve :>» -ndvaiivt-. of
;Le geue r.l lice. r. - ? r . .sjvjh’b iu-
Istantaneousiy pup.'ori- ■” H V l "‘ fund
impossible »o ri i>... ■’ >s *>n» just to
edd, too, that the .cl fg a whs as spir
[ iud a- it w*a successful, acd reflects no little
credit upon bis troops. He was aware of the
I weakness of the point from its comparative
isolation, having effected a temporary lodg
ement in the angle two days before, as detail
ed in my letter of yesterday, end would
hare been a wonder if he had not been suc
cessful with the preparation he had ro»<Jc.
The Confederates ***&°r ea severely as j
retreat®* the intervening space to our
second line, or rather to the line which sub
tends the angle, and which mar be considered
the base of the triangle covering the hill.— j
Even this line is somewhat in advance of the
direction of the generalise. But the broken
not stop here; they continued their
retreat far to the rear. Fortunately the gal
lant Gordon, commanding Early’s division
was in reserve and swept to the rescue in a
manner that excited the admiration of every
beholder, including Gen. Lee. The enemy
swarmed over the hill and rushed against the
lines to the right and left, but Rodes, and
Gordon, and Wilcox, were there to meet
them!
The battle was soon fully joined, and for
nine hours, it roared and hissed and dashed
over the bloody and along the bristling en
trenchments like an angry sea beating and
chafing against a rock bound coast. The ar
tillery fire was the most sustained and con
tinuous I have every heard for so long a time,
averaging thirty shot to the minute, or 1,800
to the hour, for six hours. The rattle of mus
ketry was not less furious and incessant. At
10 o’clock, when the din and uproar were at
the highest, an angry storm-cloud swept over
the field, and thus to the thunder of battle was
added “the dread artillery of the skies.” It
was now manifest that Grant’s real assault,
as General Lee had believed, would be launch
ed against our right wing, and to that point
the opposing forces gravitated from all parts
of the field, just as when a cloud sircharged
with electricity, forms in the heavens, all the
lesser clouds and racks drift to it, are swal
lowed up in the swelling, angry mass.
Grant strove hard to hold us to other parts
of the field, and prevent this concentration of
force, and for that purpose, he engaged An
derson on our left, and Early, who had been
sent to the extreme right. He made three
separate assaults against the former, but was
repulsed each time with frightful loss by
Field’s division, formerly Hood’s. Early, at
the head of Hill’s corps, hurled him back, as
a mad bull would an incautious mastiff caught
upon bis horns, as he advanced upon him.
But;it was against Ewell, who held the right
of the original line, that Grant expended his
greatest efforts and made his most desperate
assaults. Having gained a foothold in the
angle of the centre of Ewell’s position, he
brought up line after and line and hurled it
with tremendous violence, at one time against
both. Wilcox was brought up and placed on
Gordon’s left, and Wofford and Humphreys, of
Kershaw’s division, and Jenkin’s brigade of
Fields’, Anderson’s corps, were sent to the
assistance of Rodes. Additional batteries
were sent in the same direction. Heth went
to the right, and all of Anderson’s old divis
ion, but Wright, followed him. And thus the
whirling, remorseless maelstrom drew every
thing iu its angry vortex. The enemy exhib
ited a courage and resolution worthj' of a bet
ter cause ; Grant seemed to'have breathed in
to his troops somewhat of his own spirit and
indominable energy. But if the Federals
fought well, the Confederates fought better.
From early dawn until far in the" afternoon,
witu steady hands and unblancbed cheeks,
they faced the leaden hail that was rained up
on them without intermission. At some
points, the two armies fought on opposite sides
of the entrenchments, the distance between 1
them not being more than the length of their
muskets.
Again and again would Grant marshal his men
for the onset, and right valiantly did they respond;
but as often as they returned to the assault so often
were they repulsed, as if they had rushed against
a wail of iron. At no point of the line, and at no
time during the long and terrible and exhausting
conflict, did the heroic children of the South falter
or waver for one moment. Each man knew that
he was fighting the battle for the possession of
Richmond—the battle, indeed, for the indepen
dence of the Confederate States—and the thought
ol' yielding to the foe never once entered his mind.
During one of the assaults Gordon inflicted very
heavy loss upon the enemy by moving around and
striking the assaulting column in the flank. The
enemy was thrown into great confusion, and re
tired rapidly to the rear, leaving many dead and
wounded on the ground.
The most important movouient against the ene
my’s flank, however, was executed by Mahone’s
aud Lane’s brigades on the extreme right, under
the direction of Gen. Early. The expedition was
intended to operate, not against the flank of the
assaulting column, but against the flank of the
Federal army, and thus afford relief to our centre
and left wing, both of which wore hard pressed.—
The two brigades were placed under the command
of Mahone, who passed around to the Fredericks
burg road, and was about to engage the enemy,
when he met the latter coming out probably to
take us in flauk. An engagement ensued imme
diately, and resulted in tho defeat of the enemy,
who retired back to the main army, where consid
erable emotion was produced by the fresh danger
with which it was threatened. A division opera
ting against our left, supposed to belong to Burn
side’s corps, was withdrawn and double quicked
across the field to check Mahone. Just before it
reached the scene of action, it came within full
view of Pogue’s aud Pogram’s guns, and not more
than twelve hundred yards distant. Twelve pieces
were brought to bear upon it in less time than it
requires to describe this brilliant episode in the
battle. The enemy stood their ground for u mo
ment, then staggered back, and finally broke in
tho wildest disorder. What with Mahone’s fire in
front and the artillery ploughing great gaps in
their flank, their loss was terrible. A shell ex
ploded just as it struck the ground right in their
midst, and hurled one man into the air several
feet above the heads of his flying comrades. This
movement afforded instantaneous relief to our left,
and from this time the assaults of the enemy grew
more and more feeble, along the whole line, and
finally they ceased altogether at 2 P. M.
Our men were anxious to follow up the enemy
when he was repulsed, but Gon. Lee’s plan was to
act on the defensive, and not to strike until the
right time came. The Federal army far exceeded I
his in numbers, they had entrenched themselves as
his had done, and common sense, as well as military
science, would teach the propriety of patiently
awaiting rather than rashly making the attack.—
The result has shown the wisdom of the policy
adopted. Grant has already well nigh exhausted
himself, whilst Lee’s army remains almost intact,
ready to assume the offensive or to continue to act
on tho defensive, as occasion may require.
Our loss in the rank and file is remarkably !
small, the men being well protected by the en- j
trenchmeuts. The casualties, however, has been j
unusually heavy among field officers, who were un
protected, and had to move frequently from one
point to another, under the terrible infantry and
artillery fire of the enemy, which swept every part
of the field in rear of our entrenchments. The
ground is torn and ploughed up by the direct and
cross fire of the Federal guus as if it had beenpre
pared by the farmer for the reception of spring
seed. Three assistant surgeons were killed in the
discharge of their duty on the field, and Chaplain
Owen, of Texas, who carried the news to Gen. Lee
at Chancellorsville that Sedgwick was moving on
his rear from Fredericksburg, was severely woun
ded early in the morning whilst on his way to
the Richmond Howitzers to hold prayers. Inclu
ding the battle of The Wilderness, we have lost
the following general officers :
Killed: Brig. Gens. Salford ot Louisiana,
Jones of Virginia, Jenkins and Perrin of
South Carolina, and Daniel of North Caro
lina.
Wour.ded: Lieut. Gen. Longatreet of Ala
bama, and Brig. Gens. Hays of Louisiana,
Benning, of Ga., McGowan of S. C.. Ramseur
and Johnson of N. C., and James M. Walker,
(Stonewall Brigade,) H. H. Walker, and Pe
gram of Va.
Captured: Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson Ga.,
and Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Stewart of Md.
Gen. Lee made more than one narrow es
cape, his clothing being covered with mud
thrown upon him by bursting shells. He will
persist in staying near the point of greatest
danger. -The whole country with one voice,
should protest against such rash exposure of
a life in which we are ail so deeply interested,
ar.d upon the preservation of which so much
depends. Col. Taylor, his Adjutant General,
had his horse shot. General Ramseur’s
wom.d is slight. Many valuable field officers
were kßled and wounded, but their names will
appear in the lists of casualties in their sev
eral oommands. I omitted to mention above
that Major Hamilton, Commissary of Gregg’s
Texan brigade, and Cant, Barksdale, Quarter
f roaster of the 18th Mississippi regiment, were
| killed at the Wilderness. They believed the
; hour of supremo trial had come, and that the
| final battle for our independence w-*s about to
| be fought, and feeling' that every man who
! could wield » musket should be in the field,
tbej procured arms, though against positive
orders, went into the fight, and fell with their
feet to the foe, battling manfully for the right.
The two armies, led by the most renowned
chieftains on the Western Continent, if not in
the world, have now been wrestling with each
; other for the mastery for eight long days.
Thank God ! the smaller combattant thus far
has been marvellously successful, and has suf
fered comparatively little loss except in offi
cers ; whilst the larger, being the wrong doer,
has been punished beyond all precedent in
this war. His dead and many of his wounded
still remain on the ground, being too near our
intrenchments to be moved, and they tell their
own melancholy tale. If half that prisoners
report of their losses in battle, and irom de
sertion, straggling, and demoralization be
true, then the enemy’s casualties are indeed
frightful. The loss in prisoners here has been
about equal, say 1.500 on each side. This
gives us the advantage by 3,000, including
those taken at the battle of the Wilderness.
Os the prisoners captured here, two or three
hundred were taken by Mahoue, and four col
ors and one t guidon, when he moved on the
flank of the enemy.
Last night we rectified our lines near the angle
which has given so much trouble, retiring it some
what and locating it where it should have been
run originally. The enemy still retains posses
sion of the anglo, but baa not been able to remove
the guns left by Cutshaw and Page, nor have we
the sharpshooters on either side preventing it.
We brought away from the Wilderness, 12,000
captared rifles and muskets.
Both armies have rested from the strife to-day.
The dead have to be buried, the wounded have to
be cared for, shattered regiments and brigades
have to be reorganized, and fresh plans to be de
vised. This requires time, and the men require
rest. There can be no doubt that Grant's troops
were well supplied with liquor before they entered
the battle. Many of the prisoners including,more
than one Colonel, were in a state of intoxication
when taken. It rained last night and again to-day.
May 14th.
There has been a good deal of shelling and
picket-firing to-day, and at one time a renewal of
the strife seemed to be imminent. The New York
Herald urges the recall of Grant and his army to
the north side of the Rappahannock. Will he go ?
We hear that the movement upon Richmond from
City Point and the Peninsula has failed to accom
plish its purpose; that being true, what can
Grant hope to gain by pressing further in this
direction ? It is said he started with 92,000 mus
kets ; if he can muster 50,000 of these now, he is
more fortunate than prisoners, both officers and
men, represent him to be.
It has been raining at intervals all day.
Sallust.
Tbe Front.
[From our own Correspondent.]
Atlanta, May 24.
That the enemy is moving by the right
flank in the direction of Dallas there is little
doubt. This will necessitate a change of
front on our part, so a3 to meet the enemy,
whose object is doubtless to flank, thus gain
ing this-side of the Etowah, after which he
will, in all probability, throw his entire force
against Johnston’s right wing, endeavoring to
re-establish his front line on the Railroad and
continue his march in this direction.
Scouts from Dallas report that a reconnoi
tering party of the enemy crossed the river
and came within a few miles of that place,
but were driven back by Col. Lee’s pickets,
who are stationed near the ford at which they
crossed. It is currently reported, and gener
ally believed, that Forrest is moving fn the
direction of Bridgeport and Chattanooga—but
whether that report is true or false is yet to
be decided. There is one thing certain, that
important movements are contemplated, and
will no ooubt be favorable to us. Polk and
Hardee are moving on the Dallas road, while
Hood is slowly receding on the Western and
Atlantic Railroad.
There is no necessity for the excitement
that prevails among the citizens, whose homes
are threatened by the probable retrograde of
our army, even if the enemy should cross the
Chattahoochee. Johnston planned the cam
paign that saved Richmond, and will fight the
great fight to save Atlanta. Let us all bo
hopeful. PAXTON.
[Atlanta Confederacy.
Thh Front. —The position of affairs has
somewhat changed since our edition of yes
terday evening. We now understand that a
large force of the enemy has crossed the river
some twenty miles below Etowah, to meet
which, General Johnston has himself moved
at the head of a correspondingly large force.
We furthermore learn that another force
has crossed the river above Etowah, and are
moving a3 if they designed to destroy the ex
tensive cotton factories in the neighborhood
of Marietta. A force of our troops have also
been sent to attend to this column of the en
emy.
In consequence of these movements all the
public stores have been removed from Mariet
ta to this place, and we learn that something
of a panic prevailed among the people of our
sister city,] during yesterday, most of whom
are leaving in haste.
Let not pur citizens, however, be alarmed
on account of these moves pin the military
chess board. Atlanta will never be taken by
our ruthless invaders if the people, and espec
ially our male population, will do their whole
duty in the present emergency. Let them
rather obey promptly the proclamation of the
mayor, enroll themselves for duty, and be
ready to man the trenches at a moment’s
warning. Let every man, young and old, who
can load a musket or pull a trigger, prepare
for action, and all will yet be well. General
Johnston has assured the authorities here that
Atlanta will be defended to the last extremity,
and it behooves every patriot to come io his
aid in his critical emergency. —Memphis Ap
peal, 24.
Thk Militia Officers of the State. —We
are gratified, (says the Atlanta Intelligencer)
in being able to state that the militia of
ficers of the State, ordered by the Governor
to repert at this point to GeD. Wayne, are re
porting promptly in person for duty, in large
numbers, and also that a number of the civil
officers of the State have likewise reported.—
Every train that arrives in our city brings a
number of both these classes of our citizens,
and ere many days shall elapse, we doubt not
that we shall have in this place a most effec
tive military oranization, composed of
material for service, as there is in the State,
in arms to defend her, acting as an auxiliary
force to Gen. Johnston, under the command
of that skillful and gallant officer, Gen Wayne.
It is not now our purpose to estimate the num
ber of this force. We shall leave the enemy
to find that out, should he attempt a raid up
on Atlanta
- • - ijfc
Economy in Gotham. —The New York corres
pondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, says:
The ladies’ movement for the curtailment of for
eign luxuries, in order to stop the efflux of gold, is
rapidly extending itself. At a fashionable party
at the mansion of one of the wealthiest merchants,
in Th irty fourth street, near Lexington avenue, a
neatly printed “pledge” was handed around among
the ladies to sign, thus committing them against
buying, for the present, any more silks, satins, vel
vets, laces, or other foreign luxuries. Os course
everybody signed it, and wheu the assemblage was
dispersing, the hostess announced that at her next
entertainment her guests would all be expected to
come, the ladies m calico, and tho gentlemeain
satinet and oorduroy.
And Still they Come. —About
eight hundred more Federal prisoners
arrived in Macon yesterdaj-—nine-hun
dred will acme today, and the conductors
report about fifteen thousand more on
the road between Richmond and Augus
ta.—Mctcon Telegraph, 24th.
JE SL2&RAPHIO.
Reports of the Press Association.
Entered according to act of Congress in the year
1863. by J. 8, Thrasher, in the Clerk s office cf
the District Court of the Confederate States for
the Northern District of Georgia.
From Northern Virginia*
Everything Quiet at Last Accounts*
Richmond, May 25.—The following was re
ceived .this morning from Taylorsville, May 24th,
9.30 p. m. :
To the Secretary of War: —The enemy has
been making feeble attacks on our lines to-day;
probably with the view of ascertaining our posi
tion. They were easily repulsed.
General Mahone drove three regiments across
the river.capturing a stand of colors,and some pris
oners—amoDg them one Aide to Gen. Laidiey.
(Signed) P- E? LEE.
Taylorsville, May 25.—N0 engagement to
day, and very little skirmishing.
Grant has strong fortifications on our front,
and is supposed to be moving his main force
around still more to our right.
There have been heavy fires to-day, extending
back several miles on their main line.
[Taylorsville is at Hanover Junction, and the
river alluded to in the above dispatch Is probably
the North Anna. —Ed.]
Bishop Elliott’s Sermon. —Board*
man, advertises the groat sermon of Bishs
op Elliot, lately delivered in Macon, for
sale in quantity. Bishop Elliot is not
merely a learned and eloquent divine —
he is a statesman. His broad, compre
hensive mind grasps the present struggle
in all its grand political aspects and han
dles it with wonderful clearness, brevity
and force. In no paper of equal length
upon the war, have we seen so many
weighty considerations presented with
such overwhelming force. It ought to
be circulated among the people, to rouse
them up to a correct appreciation of the
stupendous responsibilities devolved upon
this generation, and the importance of
acting well our part —of meeting every
emergency with the calm earnestness,
dauntless resolution and vigorous action
of men who see that the fate of the Ameri
can continent—of civil liberty itself and
the future of generations unborn hang
upon their connsels and their conduct—
Macon Telegraph , 24 th.
From Petersburg-
Heavy living—A Gallant Charge—The Enemy
Driven from hie Breastworks—Capture of Small
Arms and Cannon—Butler again Discomfited.
Heavy cannonading and infantry firing were
heard at intervals through all the night of Thurs
day. About eleven o'clock Thursday night, the
Infantry firing was very rapid, and continued for
an hour or more. We learned yesterday, that it
was brought about by an effort of the Confede
rates to throw up au advance line of fortifications,
which the Yankees regarded as coming too close
for comfort.
Yesterday morning early slight firing com
menced, and continued with increasing severity,
until ten o'clock, when a charge was made by our
forces upon the enemy’s breastworks, and the en
gagement became general along the line. Martin's
and Clingtnan’s North Carolina, and Wise’s Va.
Brigades participated, and although subjected to
a galling fire, succeeded in driving the enemy
from his breastworks, and taking possession. We
lost heavily. It could not have been otherwise, as
the enemy's works were of the mo3t formidable
kind, and our men charged across an open field of
some thirteen hundred yards in extent. The ene
my were well posted, and besides occupying an
advantageous position behind their breastworks,
had one or more regiments posted in a thicket of
pines, which poured a very severe enfilading fire
into our charging column. The charge was highly
successful, despite the advantages of the enemy,
and again illustrated the valor of the Confederate
arms.
OUR COLUMN.
Our column was under the immediate command
of Gen. D. H. Hill, but General Beauregard was
on the field, and his superior military abilities, of
course, contributed largely towards the success of
the movements, while his presence inspired an en
thusiasm which rendeied our men irresistible.—
The scene ofthe fighting was about 1 miles from
Petersburg, between Port Walthall Junction and
Chester, in the county of Chesterfield, and some
two miles east of the railroad. At the breastworks,
the fighting is said to have been furious, our men
bayonneting and beating such of the enemy as
had the temerity to remain, with the butts of their
muskets. An attempt was made to rally the flee
ing foe after we had driven him out, which was
successful. The enemy massed all his forces and
made two desperate efforts to re-take the works,
but were each time most bloodily repulsed, and
sent iff howling to their next lino of entrench
ments. We captured many small arms, and se
cured three pieces of cannon.
We now have the invaders under the load of
Butler, in a very contracted neck of land, not
more than five or six miles either way, and are
gradually and surely closing on him. It is esti
mated that we drove him two miles yesterday,
and we may have the pleasure of announcing from
our bulletin board at an early hour this morning
that we drove him some mile or moro last night.
Gen. Beauregard, we hear, has said, that the con
tracted space between the Appomattox and James,
and east ofthe Railroad, is entirely too small for
two armies, and that one or tho other must va
cate. The movements of the two armies during
the post five days indicot© too c’early the vacating !
party, for us to be more explicit here. The Yan- !
kees are boui and to move, and the sooner the better i
for them.
Our casualties yesterday are estimated at be- I
tween five and six hundred, of which number, !
probably one hundred were killed. Many severe- j
ly, but the greater portion are slightly wounded, ;
and chiefly in the hand.— Petersburg Express, list.
Tlie Situation.
ARMY OF TENNESSEE.
The movements of this army are so carefully •
covered by the masterly management of those in
whose charge it is placed, that it is impossible to
do more than conjecture what manoeuvres are in
tended. But we are satisfied that our General is
doing all that military skill can do to oonsumatc
victory or security, and that the day is very near
when the great master, and his not less brave and j
valiant officers and men, will prove their invinci- I
ble intrepity, their unconquerable bravery, and j
the splendid achievements which will secure us !
success.
A large amount of territory has been exposed, j
not, however, altogether left defenceless, as the i
enemy will dicover when they attempt their march
on Marietta and the Chattahoochie defences. But
there is no cause for alarm in the fact that Ma
rietta and the lovely valleys around it have been j
abandoned. This is one of the stern nesessities of
war; and tho«gli it entails suffering and neces
sitates unhappy separations and all the horrors of
the presence of a heartless enemy, yet the necossi- 1
ties of war demand it, and we must patiently bear
the infliction.
Our General, in whom we have the most implicit
confidence, assures us that Atlanta is safe, and we
have every evidence, from the movements now pro
gressing, to be satisfied that it is perfectly safe, and
will remain so. The enemy may thunder at our
doors, but we feel that there are many stout hearts
here, who at the last extremity will battle as brave
ly for their homes as they have against the storms
of life, to gain their full money bags and parchment
titles to property. Is there a craven-hearied wretch '■
among us who would fail when the necessity comes? j
We think not—we hope not. We doubt, not. hit *
such an one, if he appeared, would fall a viotimj
between the upper and nether mill stones.
It is in no presumptive spirit of prescience or pre
tentious wisdom, but with a cheerful feeling of cer- ’
tainty ; we assert that the battle will be won by our
brave legions, and the enemy will be broken, rout- !
ed. ar.d driven back to bis bloody lair.
Who does not pray with us that it may be so for
ever, and that the pride of the insolent foe may be i
humbled and his prestige of power and success may >
be destroyed forever?—A dan ta Ini., 2b.
♦ ♦ »
Lies for Suroi-k.—The New York Herald, of j
the 9th inst,. unblushingly proclaims that it3 “odi- i
lion for Europe’’ will contain .
“The details ofthe Advance Army of the Poto
mac, and of the groat Battle of tho Wilderness, re
sulting it a Victory for the Union Forces; Par
ticulars of the Capture of City Point and Peters- ]
burg by the Forces of General Butler : Important
Movements in the S ithwest; Interesting from
North Carolina; The Li.est fro-a th# Rwl Rivvr
Expedition.”
.CITY MATT KM.
T. J. JACKSON, LOCAL KDITQIt.
To Resident Minister# or
111 111 foil*.
The resident Ministers of this city, mac respecr
fully invited to extend, when agreeable to them,
their time and labors among the sick and wounded
of our Hospitals. They will be assigned, if desira
ble, to individual positions. _
Contributions for the purchare of, or donations of
Books, Periodials and Papers, respectfully solicited,
and may be loft at the Office of the Commandant,*
GEO. W. STICK NEY.
Chaplain of the Post,
and Enquirer please notice once.
More Sick Soldiers. —About 100 more eick
and woundod Boldiers arrived from the Georgi*
front yesterday, and were quartered at the seve
ral hospitals in this city.
About 200 more arrived last evening.
Muscogee at the Front. —Adjt. J. N. CobJ>
informs us that Muscogee county has sent to At
lanta under the Governor’s late proclamation
about 60 men, including the civil and militia offi
cers. This will make a pretty good company,-men
all of them ihat will not bo easily stumbled over by
the Yankees. If other counties do as well, Geor
gia will give Gen. Jolmston a reserve that will and»
effective service, end may, perchance, turn tho
tide in our l’aror—if it is not already running iu
that direction.
■• ♦ ♦
W. C.:Gray wishes to hire five negro men to cut
wood on the Mobile <fc Girard Railroad. See ad
vertisement.
Run Off. —The freight tender ran off the track
at the switch on the Muscogee Railroad near th*
depot yesterday evening. ’ No damage, save slight
ly tearing up the sleepers and cross-ties.
Consignees Per M & G R R., May 26.—Uaptatk
Cothran, T C Johnson, Eagle Factory, J J
Robert T & Cos., Gammell, Weldon, J M Watt.
Recent Federal Losses. —Tho New York Daily
News, of the 13th, Fas the following statement of
Federal losses:
Banks. 10,000 out of 60,000.
Sherman’s 20,000.
In North Carolina, 5,000.
The News forbears to give the Federal losses, in
the recent battles between Grant and Gen. Lee, a|>
the terrific slaughter, at last accounts, had reached'
50,000.
What they are After. —The following from th#
New York Tribune, betrays the whole Yankee an*
imus:
The slaveholders gone, the South remains, with
all its vast productive capacity. Heretofore it wm
only the individual Yankee that came in contaot
with the cotton process. Hereafter they will swan*
on every plantation. Who can doubt the result ?
Stragglers and skulkers.— The Washington
telegram, in the New York Times of the 13th, s&yai
Fully two-thirds of those brought to the hospital#
here as wounded, by careful estimate, art mer*
skulkers, with only a slight bruise, or in most in
stances without a scratch. They have availed them*
selves of the confusion of the battle and tho char
acter of the Wilderness to get out of line and make
their way here among the really disabled.
Government has instituted thorough overhauling
of hospitals, and all these skedaddlors will ba
promptly sent back to the army. The presence of
officers among this crowd adds much to the disgrace
of such conduct. Over one thousand, officers and men
have already been arrested by the provost guard
and placed in the Old Capitol. The officers will bg
returned to General Grant in irons.
Southern Mechanics’ Union.
The Southern Mechanics Union will meet at th#
om of the Vice President, J. A. Colvin, in the Ma
sonic Building, this, Thursday evening, at eight
o’clock.
By order of the President.
ISAA<’ G. DENSON,
may 26 —It Sec'y
WANTED!
T?IVE NEGRO FELLOWS, to chop wood on th#
X Mobile & Girard Road, for which liberal hire
will be paid by the month or day.
Apply to W. C, GRAY,
my 26 2w at Greenwood & Gray’s.
Notice j
YfTHILE absent from the city, no person is author
n ized to transact any business for our firm, or for
us individually. WARNOCK & CO.
my 26 4t
Hoticc.
OFFICE CHIEF Q. M. >
Columbus, Ga., May 24, v>4. >
I ani instructed by the Quartermaster Gonoral t«
assist in the purchase of Grain, and other supplies,
for the armies of Virginia and Tennessee. Both
armies are beseiged by the enemy and must be sus
tained. The Planters of the country, who have
been unmolested by the ravages of the enemy, coo
easily feed our armies, and I call on them, in th»
name of all that is sacred, to sell to my co-worker*-
and agents their produce without delay.
I also beseech manufacturers, mechanics, mer
chants, and all to sell what supplies may bo needed
for Government use.
I have no money to pay for the articles needed,
for the reason that all the officers, clerks and em
ployees of the different Bureaus, at Richmond, ar«
in the army assisting in driving tho foe from oar
soil. I telegraphed for money and received the fol*
lowing patriotic dispatch from the Quartermaster
General:
“We have had no mail from tho South for tiff*
weeks. Officers and Employees of the Department
nearly all in the field, and it is therefore impossible
to send money at present. No loyal citizen can re
fuse to sell you supplies for the soldiers at a moment
like this. Give certificate of indebtedness.”
F. W. DILLARD.
Major k Q. if.
4J®“Sun and Enquirer copy one week. my‘2s
Notice,
OFFICE CHIEF Q. M. 1
Coluiflbu3, Ga,, May 24, ’64. /
Major John E. Davis is relieved from the dutiq*
of the Post, and will be assigned to the Pay De
partment.
Major Dillard will act as Post Q. M., till further
notice.
F. W. DILLARD.
Major & Q. M,
-6#~Sun and Enquirer copy one week. my2s
HILE STOLEN.
! LROM the subscriber’s lot, on the sth inst., on«
-C large Bay Horse MULE, about teu years old. —
; No marks recollected. Any information concerning;
• him will be liberally rewarded. Address the sub
| scriber at LaGrange, Ga. W. J. DIX.
■ my2i> lw
To the Planters !
The demand on this Section from the Army foe
Corn Is pressing and heavy. Our stock on hand if
nearly exhausted.
I earnestly beg every planter to deliver at hi*
nearest depot, on Rail Road or River, fifty to fir*
hundred bushels of Shelled Corn, to be consigned ta
me within the next ton days; of which notify m#.
Sacks will be forwarded or delivered as ordered.
I know the great press upon Planters at thissea
s n in cultivating crops, but the urgent necessity ol
our army, at this time, makes the above request
necessary.
I u-st every planter will respond promptly, to bis
utmost ability.
A. M. ALLEN.
Maj. and C. B.
May 24, 1464. lOt
Office Mobil® Girabd R. R. I
Cblumbus, Ga., May sth, ’64. /
The Annual Meeting of tho Stockholders of th*
C ompany, will be held at the Office. Girard.. Ala.,
on Wednesday, 6th day of July next, at 11 o clook,
when the election for President and Directors wUf
take place. „ ,
By order J- F-.vAZ.ali. Soo y.
suy24 td
Races Postponed *.
The Raoes, adver'iaod to come off on the 24 th -
over the Chattahoochee Course, near Columbu-.. - ,
are postponed until furtbernotioc.
m y2S ts C. S. PKYirii