Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

DAILY TIMES. f. W. W4RREW, - - - Editor. COLUMBUS: Saturday Morning, December 31, 1864. "The Rebellion Nearly Crushed.” Such is the oft repeated expression of the Yankee Premier, and such too would seem to "be the conviction of many people we meet now-a-days, if one may fairly interpret the countenances of the long-faced brigade on our gtreets. We volunteer this treatment for the despondent: let him sit down and ask, and endeavor honestly to answer, the question, what material advantage have the Yankees gained within the last three years ? In the winter of 1861-2 the lamented Sidney John ston evacuated Kentucky and Tennessee and concentrated his forces at Corinth. Since that time the enemy ba3 made numerous cap tures with hi3 fleet on our coast and rivers, out with the exception of about one-half of Tennessee, he does not hold now one acre more of interior country than he held then. If Ilood were now to fall back to Corinth, the lines of each army would enclose the identi cal territory they did in the beginning of the year 1862, with the above-named exceptions. This is “crushing the rebellion” with a ven geance, recovering to the Union one-naif of one Sta'e in three years. We doubt if the croaker ever took this view of the matter, and we defy him to disprove its truthfulness. The Situation. Some weeks since, while Sherman was eon ct imping his forces at Millen, and there rest ing his wearied ranks and preparing food for his men and forage for his animals, we urged upon the military authorities the great neces sity of defending the city of Savannah in Ef fingham and Scriven counties, and pointed out the folly, as we then deemed it, of attempting to hold the city, with a Federal army once be fore any fortifications in the immediate vicinity of the place. Fort McAllister easily fell and Savannah, as we now know, is numbered among the captured cities of the South and uo men lost, no time expended, in its capture. To-day the Federal General and his army take their Christmas dinner, in our beautiful city of the sea, and other poor Confederates, brave mm and noble women, must bow beneath the terrible rule and ruin of Yankee masters. That Sherman will long remain quiet in Sa vannah we do not for a moment believe—his plan, his intention and the intentions of the Government at Washington are only boldly developed, not executed by his present suc cess. We lay no claim to any especial milita ry sagacity and know that all the foreshadow ing of campaigns and the pointing out of pro per military movements are met by the sneers of the unthinking and the scorn of the regu lar officer ; but we do claim a fair proportion of common sense, and that teaches us that Sherman’s designs (if he had or has any) is, Savannah being in his hands and supplies re ceived, to cut our communication with Rich mond, not by a raid but in a manner to make it a great success. He can do this in many ways, but we believe he will do it by march ing on Augusta, occupying the city and then cutting the road at or near Branchville, make his line along the north side of the Savannah an entrenched camp with his principal depots at Savannah and Augusta. We make no com ments on such a position, but leave our read ers by examining the map to see the condition in which such a move, if successful, would place us. What then in brief, for we have no heart to argue the question, is the duty of the hour? Not to wait until next month or next week to organize measures to fortify and make the approaches to the points indicated secure against the advance of the Federal army, but to commence to do so at once ; and make them at every available point from the present posi tion of our forces on both sides of the river. Our communications are most seriously en- j dangered and every energy must be displayed • to protect them during this winter at all haz- ; ards. Men must prepare themselves for sacri- j fices, patriotism must be in the ascendant, and j military rule bear sway. From present indi cations the war is surging this way ; we must make up our minds to meet it and if disasters come to bear them like men. None but the poor in spirit and the faint in heart can fail in the glorious cause in the darkest and most | terrible hour. From great tribulations will ! spring great joy. Our star is as bright as j ever, but obscured by the cloud. We may probably yet have to sutler as our fathers did in the dark days of the Revolution, when the blood dripped from the feet of their freezing soldiers and their immortal leader knelt alone on the snow at Valley Forge, and implored the God of mercy to pity the stricken and suffer ing people. If in the province of God, we must meet it, we can and we will. The inde pendence of the Confederacy was never surer than now. A people spread over such a coun try as this, having such a population as ours, who maintained themselves four years in all the dignity of a perfect government, with splendid armies, can never be conquered. Be conquered! The man who utters the thought should be lashed with whips of iron from the land. Ay ! should have his vile tongue torn from his mouth and cast to the dogs. We hear those of wealth say that the coun try can never stand up under the destruction of property which always marks the steps of the invader. It is false. Patriotism never lived other than a sickly existence in the pal aces of wealth power and the marts of trade aud the busy whirl of commercial and speculating life, it is hid beneath the bales or is locked up in the groaning vaults. The poor, the poor of every land, are the picket guards of liberty and the sentinels of freedom. We have them with us always, thank God, and the armies of the Confederate States, with their noble, devoted and Christian leaders, have no thought but liberty, no aspirations but sepa rate independence. Let the faint-hearted make up their minds to suffer; the sooner they do so, the sooner they become strong. Bend every energy to assist the army and pro tect and defend the points of attack. We must conquer in this fight; but we may have to suffer to be strong. You, aud thous ands of others, who have looked forward with a longing hope to peaceful, pleasant days, when the sword should be turned into the pruning hook and oannon into plough shares, may yet go down to death in this terrible Storm of war, and yet, unless independence comes with peace the, battle will still be joined, and the fight, and groan and “sabre stroke” will still be seta and heard in the land. [Augusta Cont., 25th. Homicide at Andalysia.— We are informed that a difficulty occurred at Andalusia Covington county, Ala., on Thursday last, between Conyer, the enroll ing officer at that place, and a man named Love lace, which resulted in the death es the former. — From the meager particulars which have reached us it appears that Lovelace went in Conyer’s office and asked him some civil question, when Ounyer opened out with a tirade of abuse. Lovelace turned to leave the office and Conyer followed him. still abus ing him. Lovelace warned Conyer not to follow him, but Conyer persisted, when they got outside the office Lovelace turned and fired upon him the contents of a shot gun he carried on his shoulder, kitting him instantly. , ... Lovelace surrendered himself to the civil author ities and was acquitted after an investigation of the case. — Greenville Observer, 21st. The Exchange Ended—Ten thousand nine hundred and ten Yankeo prisoners have been ex changed at Savannah and Charleston—lo,6Bs pri vates and 225 officers. The truce expired on the 1 1 th, when the usual firing between the batteries and shelling of the city was expected to be resumed. Bloody Affray.—On Sunday a most bloody affray—we might say a pitched battle—occurred in the vicinity <>t general hospital No. 1. between some raon ot a colored regiment, stationed near Fort Dytle, and some artillerymen, in which threeorfour colored soldiers were killed, and one of the artille rymen wounded. Revolvers were the weapons used. [Chattanooga Gazette. The Plot to Release the Confederate Pris oners at Johnson’s Island. The Chicago Tribune gives what it insists is a full and correct account of the plot so recently frustrated, which had for its object the release of the Johnson’s Island prisoners and the “ capture” of the city of Chicago. It says : A force of about four hundred men—K. G. C.’s, bushwhackers and guerrillas, were to be assembled at Chicago, and with them an at* tack was to be made on Camp Douglas on Monday evening for the purpose of liberating the Confederates confined there. Walsh, with one hundred and fifty men, was to assail the east side of the camp, and another man, whose name we may not now furnish, with two hun dred, was to take the west side; the operation to be superintended by Marmaduke, who was to have the remaining fifty men as a reserve corps, ready to act where wanted. The pro gramme was to break down the fence and stampede the 1200 prisoners, who were all ready for the work, having been informed of it in some way best known to themselves. The prisoners were to be armed as rapidly as possible, the garrison overpowered, their areas and artillery secured, and the garrison made prisoners. This, it was believed, could easily be done if the attack was made as concerted ; and indeed there is little room to hope that it would have been otherwise than successful had it not been nipped in the bud by a pre mature exposure of the whole scheme. With Marmaduke at their head, the rebels were to march into the city and take possess ion of the court house and square r*s the base of offensive operations. They were then to take possession of the polls, voting in the pre cinct, and preventing the depositing in the ballot box of any other than the McClellan ticket. This being accomplished, and a ma jority in the State thus secured, they were to proceed at once to the work of destruction. All the banks were to be robbed, the stores gutted, and then set fire to the principal buildings; for the purpose of controlling this latter phase of the business, the water plugs had all been marked and a force detailed to set the water running, so as to empty the main cistern and exhaust the water supply. The telegraph wires were to be cut on the first on set, and then fire set to the rail road depots, the elevator, the shipping, etc. The persons of ihe leading Union men in the city were to be seized, and they, with the plunder, march southward. It was believed that with this force of near ly thirteen thousand men, the city could be so quickly overwhelmed as that effective op position would be impossible, and that they could then, under their leader, Marmaduke, march in any direction with perfect impunity. The scheme was well concocted. It lacked only one essential—a successful issue. Thank Providence that it was denied them. They had assembled here as per programme, and had the arrests been delayed a single day, it would have been too late—the oft repeated threat would have been executed, and rivers of blood would have run in the streets of Chi cago. No one can doubt that had they once commenced aotive operations, they would have been joined by a sufficiently large num ber of Chicago disloyalists to have made a clean sweep of the city, and reduced it to a heap of ashes. Walsh is completely unmanned—broken down by his sudden arrest, the complete ex posure of the treasonable conspiracy into which he has been made the dupe of persons more designing than himself, who have manu factured out of him a genuine cat’s paw. He evidently feels that his only chances of safety is to make a clean "breast of the whole matter, and expose the villains who have over-pursued him into this net. He now sees the deep guilt of the whole transaction, and the depth of the gulf on whose brink he has been lying. Marmaduke has made a partial confession, or rather a series of admissions, which, as far as they go, fully substantiate Mr. Walsh’s statements and leave no doubt that the con spiracy was fully as diabolical in its character as is represented above. He has made these statements to a man who formerly served un der him, anti whom he still supposes to be in the Confederate service. [Fiona the Richmond Dispatch, 15th.] Warren’s Defeat at Bellfield. Since the failure of Warren’s expedition against Weldon, and his return, discomfited, to Grant’s lines, quiet has prevailed in the Army of the Potomac. The serious character of this failure, and the great disappointment it has caused Grant, can only be fully appre ciated when we consider the magnitude of the preparations he made for it. His plan, as we have before stated, was to break up the Pe tersburg and Weldon railroad and take and hold Weldon, thereby permanently severing j our communications with the South by this route, threatening Raleigh and the heart of North Carolina and menacing Wilmington in the rear. To succeed in so extensive a cam paign, it required a heavy column—in fact, a good sized army. And that his main array, ‘ confronting General Lee, might not, by de taching such a force, be too much weakened for its safety, it became necessary, as troops were to be had from no other quarter, to call down the Sixth and Eighth corps from the Valley. The Valley troops were marched to Washington, shipped to City Point, and thence disposed in the Army of the Potomac. These expensive movements having been accomplish ed, Warren was started on his important er rand with the numbers and all the perfect equipments considered necessary to secure success. We know the result. In the 4 very outset of his expedition, he was beaten at Bellfield by some cavalry and reserves, and fled back to Grant’s army with more speed than he came out, and without having accom plished anything more than tearing up and throwing about a few miles of railroad track. In their forced marches back to the protec tion of Grant’s army, his troops, who, accord ing to the Yankee papers, started out in “light marching trim,” must have suffered terribly from cold and hard marching through snow and mud. So ends for the present the Weldon cam paign. Grant will soon be hatching another expedition, or perhaps attempting a renewal of this one ; but it is profitless to speculate upon his future plans ; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. From the following dispatch, received yes terday, it will be seen that the Yankee forces in North Carolina, were prepared to co-oper ate with Warren’s column : Hbadquabters, Dec. 13, 1864. Hon James A. Seddon : While General Warren was before Bellfield, the enemy moved up the Roanoke against Fort Branch, and from Newbern against Kin ston. Both parties retired before the force sent against them. All i3 quiet in that dis trict. (Signed) R. E. LEE. We learn from Colonel W. A. Parham, com manding the Black Water department, and who was present at the recent fight at Bell field, that all the troops engaged were com manded by Lieut. Col. John J. Garnett, of N. C., commanding thePoat at Hicksford. When Major General Hampton reached that place and inspected the works and disposition of Lieut. Colonel Garnett, he was so well satis fied with their strength and adaptation, that he left the entire front of the enemy’s advan cing column of some 20,000, all arms, to be met by Colonel G., while he swung his caval ry around to the left flank, and General A. P. Hill moved upon hts right flank. And so ad mirably and efficiently were Colonel Garnett’s batteries and men employed, that his forces alone had met and defeated the enemy, and caused him to beat a hasty retreat, betore either Geus. Hampton or Hill bad time to reach aud attack his flanks. Colonel Parham informs us that great credit attaches to Col. Garnett for the skill, prompt -1 ness and vigor with which he handled his troops and defences—-losing only some four or five killed and only a like number wound i ed : while his raking fires laid at least a hun | dred Yankees low. and caused the balance to fly in terror back to their entrenchments for l protection. .Confederate States Congress. j The following is a synopsis of such of the , proceedings of Congress on the 13th inst., as , are of special interest: j Resolutions were submitted in the Senate by Mr. Maxwell, of Florida, authorizing the President to cause enquiry to be instituted to ascertain whether by liberal aid and encour agement from the Government, the manufac ture of railroad iron can be stimulated within the Confederate States to such an extent as will materially assist the Government in main taining lines of communication necessary to ths public defense ; and also whether any new line or lines of railroad are necessary to the public defense, and if so, whether it would be practicable to have the same built and equip ped by similar aid and encouragement from the Government. Mr. Watson, of Mississippi, introduced a bill to provide lor the more efficient extension of conscription, and for the arrest of deserters and absentees from the armies, which was re ferred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Henry’s joint resolutions, defining the position of the Confederate States, and de claring the determination of Congress and the people thereof to prosecute the war till their independence, were reported favorably from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with a verbal amendrnent, and were taken up and unanimously adopted. In the House, a bill was passed raising the pay and mileage of members. Mr. Boyce, of South Carolina, introduced a resolution suggesting that the Committee on Ways and Means enquire into the expediency of giving the President of the Confederate States an adequate increase of salary, which was adopted. During the consideration of the bill pro viding for sequestrating the property of per sons liable to military service who have de parted, or shall depart from the Confederate States without permission, Mr. Akin, of Geor gia, having the floor, before commencing his speech in favor of the bill, proposed an amend ment as an additional section to the bill, that the proceeds of all property sequestered un der the provisions of this act shall be applied to the education of the indigent children of the soldiers of the Confederate States who have been or may be killed by the enemy, or who have died or may die from wounds re ceived or disease contracted in the military service of the Confederate States during the present war. In the Senate, on the 14th, the following was passed: A Bill to define and punish conspiracy against the Confederate States. Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That if two or more persons within any State or Territory of the Confederate States shall with intent to injure the Confederate States, conspire to sub vert, overturn or destroy by force the Govern ment of the Confederate States, or to oppose, by force, the execution of any law of the Con federate States, or, by force, to hinder, delay or prevent the execution of any law of the Confederate States, or to seize, take, possess, or destroy any property of the Confederate States, against its consent, or to prevent, de lay or hinder, by force or fraud, the transpor tation of supplies of men to, or belonging to the army of the Confederate States, or to de stroy or injure any road, boat, engine or work employed in such transportation, or to hold any secret communication or intercourse with an enemy of the Confederate States, or to aid or abet the enemy in his war upon the Con federate States, or persons in rebellion against the same, or to promote disobedience of law ful military orders, mutiny or desertion, or unauthorized absence, in the army of the Con federate States, or among the soldiers in the military service, each and every person so of fending, shall be guilty of a high crime, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and shall be imprisoned, with or without labor, not exceeding five years : Provided, That any person charged with any offence mentioned in this act, if such person be in the military or naval service of the Confederate States, may be tried by a military court or court martial, and, if found guilty, shall be punished by fine and imprisonment, as hereinbefore provided, or such other punishment, not capital, as the court shall adjudge ; and if the person charged be not in the military or naval service as aforesaid, such person shall be tried in the District Court of the Confederate States for the proper district. Yankee Love lor Cuffy, The following precious epistle, says the Au gusta Constitutionalist, illustrates the im mense love entertained by the Yankee for the “poor, down-trodden slave,” etc., was taken from a Yankee prisoner near Waynesboro, Ga. A correspondent, in sending it for publication, says: “I think everybody, negrees and all, should read it, for it shows the cause of the great love the Yankee is manifesting for the contraband—the absorption in the. great cause is wonderful.” We place it before our readers verbatim et literatim : Indianapolis Ind Sep 21 1864 My Dear Frank lam not very well today. I had the aguß last knight and you no I dout feel right I got A letter from you fryday and I am glad to hear that you are well, you spoke about me comming to see you. Well frank I would like to come and if I can get money A nuff i will come, every thing is so high it takes A bo*t all I can get to live on. Frank I wont tolsfr you one thing, do you think I could get some counterbans, if I would come down their, therj giving substutes from A thousand to 15 teen hundred dollars A peace, well Frank, people goes and tells the counterbans that if they will go with them they will give them 2 hundred dolars. well you see they are eagnarent and we could make them believe enny thing we tell them, now Frank they was a man hear yesterday and he told me he give me 5 hundred for every one I got. and I told him that I had A notion to go to see you and while I was down there I would steel some negroes, and he sea I could make a fortion if I would be sharp, and if I had money to bare my expencee I would start to morrow. I would not let them have them for 5 hundrd if I could get some. I would take them to new york and I get 2 thousand A peace for them, now Frank I believe I could get 2 or 3 enny how if I would come down their dont you Frank I want you to see if you cant get 2 or 3 and send me word and I will come after them just tell them if they will volintear you will steal them of and tell them you will give them 2 hundred dolars beside, answer this write A way they men hear would go but they are watched you no I could git A pass from guvner Mortin to see my husband and while I was down their I could get some neager men and bring back most every man in indianapolis is drafted and you no before they will go, they will give A good deal. Frank now you see if vou can get 1 or 2 to promis to enlist if you steel them of and then send me word jost as soon as you can and I will come rite A way. well I have wrote A nuff A bout that dont tell enny one ennj thing I have wrete. Frank I would send you some | money if I hand some to day I always have j plenty to live on but you no it takes A grate 1 deal to live hear. Sibe is gone this week to ! stay tell after the fare and when she comes I ! think she will want to down their to see you and mayby her and me will come to gether I want to come and Frank every body says I | will make moneyif I go send me word what you think A bout it. and do all you can and if you can get 1 write and let me no and I will come rite away and I wont pay enny more rent well sallie is going to the office and T must close good by for this time. 1 Jennie. Frank excuse this letter for sallie is in a i hurry to go to the office England and it? Ministry. —The Lord Pal merston of ti'-day is not his former self. Doubtless even the most vigorous capacity must begin to decline when life has overstep ped its ordinary limit of four score years. But it is rather to the indirect than the direct effects of advancing age that we attribute the peculiar differences which the veteran premier now presents to the Palmerston of former days. A natural but dangerous ambition prompts him to keep in office to the last. Were he to fail, he could not look forward to another pre miership. His has been the greatest reputation of any English statesmen since Sir Robert Peel. Indeed, of late years, there has been an enthusiasm for Palmerston such as there was not for Peel. But that enthusiasm is waning. The cabinet has become wholly discredited. Blunder after blunder, failure after failure, has marked its career. In foreign affairs, its pow er is paralyzed by disunion. At the critical juncture a line of policy which had been fol lowed for mouths is suddenly abandoned, in consequence of a split in the cabinet. Eager to remain in power to the last, Lord Palmer ston gives way to threats of a secession which would endanger his ministry. Rather than resign, he becomes a roi faineant. But the interests of the country suffer very seriously from such a course. The moral influences of England is temporarily annihilated; our threats of hostility are disregarded and con temed, and our promises of material assistance are given only to be broken. At present, England has not a single ally, and her has become a laughing-stock among the great powers. She is a terror to no one, and a dan ger only to those who trust iu her.—Black wood. “ God’s Blessing Lost.” —Mr. Sala, the New York correspondent of the London Tele graph, gives the following characteristic pic ture of Yankee politics and politicians. The facta referred to occurred at the Cleveland Convention : “ Some of the Fremont leaders had settled on John Cochrane as their candidate for Vice President, with a view to aiding in their move ment at Chicago. But the question was, how they should get the Germans to vote for him, who composed a large majority of the Con vention, but were all in favor of B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri. A few, however, of tbe leaders, were worked for Cochrane, but they made but little headway among the large bo dy of the Germans. But a providential cir cumstance (sic) soon settled the point. The committee on resolutions brought up their re port of platform; and it was decided that the vote on each resolution should be taken sepa® rately. The first read as follows : ‘ Resolved, That, with God’s blessing, the Federal Union must and shall be preserved.’ This caused quite a sensation among the Germans, many of whom are infidels ; but Mr. Cochrane put the question promptly, ‘All those in favor of amending the resolution by the omission of God’s blessing, say Aye ; all those opposed, No.’ There was a storm of Ayes. ‘ God’s blessing is lost,’ said Mr. Cochrane. The sud denness with which it was put, and several circumstances connected, caused quite a sen sation. The moment order was restored , the Germans could be heard whispering to each other, ‘ Dat ish de man—dat ish de man.— Vat’s dat he shays’bout Gott’s bleshing?— Dat ish de man.’ From that moment it was impossible to get the Germans to think of any other person for Vice President than General Cochrane; and when his name was proposed they rushed it through with a will, all owing to one trifling circumstance, which shows bow a little thing determines a man’s fate in politi cal campaigning.” A Watch with one Wheel. — A watch-maker in San Francisco, named Otta Weiderew, has suc ceeded in producing a meat ingenious piece of mechanism. He has invented and manufactured a watoh that has one wheel. This wheel, a main spring, and a very little other machinery, is so ar ranged that the watch, when set going, winds it self up, and it will run two years. It would run forever if the material would hold out, but the ingenious inventor says it is necessary to taka it apart once in about two years for tho p urpose of cloning and repairing the worn parts . It is cer tainly a very ingenious, yet a very si rnple and successful piece es work. Mr. Weiderew is also the inventor of anew sort of clock, with engine movement, the pendulum of which is on top, and works like the walking beam of a steamboat. One of these ingenious and simple clocks, with silver dial, gold plated and gold hand3, has been man ufactured for exhibition at the Mechanic’s Fair in that city. Murder of Confederates. —By order of Gen. Burbridge, five gverrillas were shot to death at Henderson last Sunday afternoon, in retaliation for the murder of Union men in that 'region.— Three of them were brothers, named Horton, and the two others named Forrest and Fry. The Hor ton brothers and Forrest were arrested in Evans ville some time ago, charged with being guerrillas aud committing robberies above and below that city, on the Indiana side. They subsequently broke guard and escaped, but wore afterwards again captured in Kentucky, armed as guerrillas. The five unfortunate men were executed a mile above Henderson, by a detail from the colored regiment, now stationed in that city. They were all killed instantly by the first fire—all being shot through tho heart and head.— Louisville Journal. The Heavy Hail Storm. —Seme idea may be formed of the heaviness of the hail storm which visited this locality on Tuesday night, when we state that window panes were broken in different portions of the city, and a number of geese, &c.. were killed by the “ crystal drops,” which were generally as large as a partridge egg. One old negro that we have heard of was under the impression, when the hail commenced to fall on the tops of the houses so heavily, that it was “ Masßa Sher man shelling de city.” The hail was accom panied by considerable wind and rain.—Mont gomery Advertiser. Not Mine, but Thine. Thy way, not mine, 0 Lord, However dark it be, 0 lead me by thine own right hand. Choose out the path for me. Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best; Winding or straight, it matters not, It leads me to Thy rest. I dare not choose my lot, I would not if I might; But choose thou for me, 0 my God, So I shall walk aright. The Kingdom that I seek Is Thine; so let the way That leads to it, 0 Lord, be Thine, Else I must sorely stray .l Choose Thou for me my friends. My sickness or my health ; Choose Thou my joys and cares for me. My poverty or wealth. Not mine, not mine the choice, In things or great er small ; Be Thou my Guide, my Guard, my Strength, By Wisdom, and my All I Despondency.— The general tone of the public mind is still that most unabated confidence in the success of the Confederate cause, A few people however, in certain endangered localities, are dis posed to be gloomy'; with natural human weakness they think if their districts should be overrun, then all will be up with the country and the cause. This will probably continue to be their impression until one of two events occur —until the danger disap pears entirely, or until they find themselves strip ped of everything which they possess in the world. In either case the result will be pretty much the same; if they escape, they will be astonished to re member how a merely local cloud could throw such a shadow over the fortunes of the whole land; if they suffer, they will soon learn that the blow which prostrated them did not prostrate either the Gov ernment or the army, and in the resentment pro duced by their injuries, they will find that resolve out of which grows the most indomitable hope.— The most saguine people in the Confederacy are now p.obably to be found in Atlanta ; and we sup pose-them to be so, not because the content has so far receded from that place as to sound in the ear of its citizens “like thunder heard remote.” but because those citizens have just had the possible demonstra tion that their city and their property are but drops in the great red ocean of this war, and they are con sequently in a condition to perceive how much is yet to be accomplished by *he Federals before the cause can be said to be seriously hurt. The despon dence of our friends, who are here and their tremb ling for their goods and chatties, ought not, there fore, to trouble us a great deal; we may rest assured that it is but a temporary affliction, and that, in the course of a month or su, t ev. too, whether rejoic ing by their unpoduted firesides, or grinding their treth over the ruins of their homes, will be looking back with wonder and mortification at the delusion which led them to confound their individual inter ests with the destiny of a country as large as halt of Europe.— Columbia Carolinian. THE PITY. *. J. JACKSON LOCAL EDITOR Sales To-Dat. —Ellis, Livingston & Cos. ad vertise for tale to-day a number of valuable ne groes, furniture, and ether articles. See adver tisement. Col. Veil Zinkkn. —lt will be seen by general orders published elsewhere, that this accomplished officer and brave soldier has returned to this city and asssumed command of the post. He calls on all reserved seldiers in this section to be vigilant in the arrest of all deserters, especially from the command of General Wheeler. Asa portion of this command have proved quite lawless and ren dered themselves odious to the people of this State, it is to be hoped that ail true soldiers and good citizens will exert themselves in bringing such vagrants to justice by promptly arresting them wherever found. The Dinner Yesterbat. —Notwithstanding the brief notification, quite a handsome dinner was prepared yesterday for the boys es the Free School, at Jaques’ old carriage shop. Between fifty and oue hundred scholars were in attendance and paid their respects to the dinner with a gusto that showed their entire appreciation of the kind ness of the ladies who had the matter in charge. Mrs McAllister, ever first and foremost in good deeds, and several ladies from Beallweod deserve much praise iu this affair. Our Book Table. —We are placed under obli gations to Evans Cogswell, of Columbia, for a new volume of 496 pages, just issued from their pross, entitled, “The Adventures of Philip, on his Way through the World.” The book is a reprint of one of Thackeray’s productions, with a very handsome lithograph of the author, and a number of other very creditable illustrations. The typo graphical execution of the work is elegant and the material as good as the Confederacy produces. Those wishing a copy should address the pub lishers. Price, $7,50 —one-third off te the trade. Stray Thoughts. —ls mankind were as ready to remember aud commend the good deeds and virtuous aotioas of their fellows, as they are to traduce and damn the fallen, there would be a much wider range to kind words and exalted thoughts, and much less necessity for the final awards of eternity than most people are ready to believe. “The evil that men do live after them ; the good is often interred with their bones,” is a maxim no less trite than comprehensive and truthful. No matter what has been the antece dents of an erring brother, let him make but one crooked step, which in the eyes of the vir tuous should appear as only one dark spot en a cloudless sky, the myriad tongues of slander, with a venom as malignant and baleful as that of the adder, are ready to persecute him down to “the last syllable of recorded time,” as a monster of suoh hideous mein as to startle in holy horror the entire world and the “balance of mankind.”— If people were more inclined to analyze their own foibles, the smallest of which we are taught in Holy Writ, is sufficient to damn a world, they would find far less time and inclination to mag nify the faults of others. And what is more re markable, we find people most active in abusing others, for the very offences committed either by themselves at some period of their lives or by those of their own household. If God were as inclement as man nobody would ever be forgiven for one sin, however penitent he might become, and nobody, consequently would be saved. Few have the magnanimity or moral courage to defend their friends when overtaken in a fault. Eclipse. —There will be four eclidses next year—two lunar and two solar. Tbe first will be of the moon—evening of April 10th, and visible throughout the Confed oracy. The second, visible at 8:44 a. ix>., April only in South America and the Southern ocean, will be of the sun. The third will beef the moon, on theevoning of October 4th, and only partially visible in the eastern Confederate States. Tho fourth will be an extraordinary one that may not again be sees for a century. It will be j both annular and central in some places, will be gin a few minutes after seven in the morning of October 19th, and be seen throughout the Confed eracy. It will be annular at Columbus—that is, j the moon’s disc will not be sufficiently large to cover the whole of tho sun’s surface, and tho light will stream over the edges of the circular disc of the moon, forming a brilliant scene. It will last over three hours. Some of the planets will be seen—and altogether it will be a remarkable phe nomen. The eclipse will be central at Columbia, S. C. The Gunboat Fight on the Cumberland.— The Nashville Dispatch of the Bth, contains the following particulars of the fight between our bat teries, and the Yankee gunboats, on the Cumber land river : The Prima Donna and the Prairie State, which left here on Saturday afternoon, met with a rather warm reception when about nine miles down the river, at a place called Bell’s Mills, where was planted a rebel battery. The Prairie State was the first to meet the battery, and was captured so quietly that the Prima Donna, whe was only half an hour bebiud her, was not aware of the danger, until she, too, had put her foot in it, and ordered by the rebels to dash alongside the Prairie State. This having been done, the rebels stripped both boats of all their beds, bedding and clothing, both crews being held as prisoners on board the Prairie State. Soon after the Magnet came down, and ran past the first battery, and, discovering a second battery below, hove to, and ran ashore on the other side of the river. After a brief consultation, it was de eided to send overland for the gunboat Carondelet, which was some miles up the river. As soon as the messenger informed the commander of the gunboat of the situation, he started at once to the scene of action, and, comiDg to opposite the ravine, aboat midway between the two batteries, shelled the woods and succeeded in killing the chambermaids of the Prairie State and the Prima Donna, the crews and passengers of both boats having been taken into this ravine, when the Carondelet hove in sight, and both boats fired by the rebels. These boats would undoubtedly have been de stroyed had it not been for the fact that a negro belonging to the Prime Donna had concealed him self on board, in the engine room, and had not been discovered. When the boats were fired, and the last footsteps had died away, the negro came forth and extinguished the flames. Having dis lodged the rebel batteries, the gunboat took the two steamers in tow, and brought them up to Nashville, the Magnet following. The chamber maid of the Magnet was also killed, her head having been taken off by a cannon ball from the rebel batteries. To Hire. COOKS, WASHERS, IRONERS and PLOW BOYS. Applv to Rev. A. WRIGHT. dec 29 5t at Gunby's Store. LOUISIANA EB, BAR OIIWMIM, No. 62, Broad Street, Columbus, Ga. r HAVE just fitted up the above establisment and 1 am prepared to furnish HEALS AT ALL HOARS! The very best the market affords, of eatables and drinkables, kept constantly on hand, and no effort will be snared to plea=e and accommodate custo mers. D. B. CALDWELL, STERLIA'ft EXCHAA«wET i FEW Hundred Pounds of Sterling Exchange S'* U »AfIK OF COLUMBUS. Hardesvilt.f, S. C., Dec. 21st, Major General Howell Cobb, Macon, <Ja. ; Some of my men have deserted and will propably try to pass.through your’JDopartment. Please direct your forces to arrest and lodge them in jail wherever they may be found. (Signed! JOSEPH WHEELER. Major General. Headquarters, Posv, < Columbus. Ga., Dee. 30. IBM. < Orders, 1 No. 20. j 11. In ebedience to orders from Maj. Gen. How ell Cobb all officers and enlisted men are hereby or dered to arrest and bring to this Post, any and all mounted, or dismounted, men of Maj. Gen. Whee ler’s command found straggling through the coun try. Citizens are also requested to give assistance, and individually or collectively make arrests of above mentioned men, it being more to their inter est to make such arrests when they have the power, than to mako complaints. By order LEON VON ZINKEN Col. CommandingtPost. S. Isidore Guillht, Lieut, and Post Adj’t. dec 31 3t For Jugtlce Inferior Coart. We are authorized to anneunce Mai. WILLIAM L. SALISBI RY as a candidate for Justice of the Inferior Court of Muscogee county, at the election 4th January next, dec 31 tde For Justice of the Peace of tbe 668th District, G. M. The friends of R. W. MILFORD announce him as a suitable candidate for one of the Justices of the Peace of the 668th District, G. M., on the 4th day of January next. MANY CITIZENS, dec 31 tde* The People’s Ticket. For Justices Inferior Court, Muscogee County. J. J. McKENDREE, JOHN QUINN. J. R. IVEY. D. B. THOMPSON, T. K. WYNN. dec 36 tde For Justice Inferior Court. We are authorized to announce R. B. MUR DOCH as a candidate for Justice of tho Inferior Court of Muscogee eounty. dec 30 tde For Justices Inferior Court, Eluscogee County. J. J. McKENDREE; J. R. IVEY, D. B. THOMPSON. T. K. WYNN, A. M. KIMBROUGH. dec 30 tde For Justice Inferior Court. We are authorized to announce J. W. KING as a candidate for Justice of the inferior Court of M*j cogee (county. Election Wednesday. 4th Jantanr next. dec 28 tde For Justice Inferior Court. We are authorized to announce N. W. Garrard, as a candidate for Justice of the Inferior Coart es Afuscogee county, at the ensuing municipal elefti**. Mr. Garrard is not subject to military srrviee. dec 27 tde City papers copy For Justices Inferior Court. The following names are suggested for Justice es the Inferior Court of Muscogee county. They am* all over the Conscript age and have the qualitaa tions and experience necessary to a correct distharca of the duties pertaining. These gentlemen do not seek the office feat will serve if elected. JOHN J. McKENDREE, JOHN QINN, JAS. N. BETIIUNE, F. A. JEPSON, JAS. A. BRADFORD, dec 28 tde For Justice Inferior Court. We are authorized to announce JAMES A. WHITESIDE, as a candidate for Justice of the In ferior Court of Muscogee county. dec 24 tde* For Justice Inferior Court. The friends ofGFORGE W. DOUGL4SS an nounce him as a candidate tor the office of Justice of the Inferior Court of 3/uscogee county, on the first Monday in January next, ho being unable, by reason ofdisbility, for military duty. dec 24 tde* AUCTION SALES. By Ellis, Livingston & €o. WE will sell on Saturday, December, 31st, at 11 V V o’clock, in front of our Auction Room — One Garden or Fire Engine, 1 Lot Window Sash and Glass. dec 20 $6 By Ellis, Livingston & Cos. ♦ ♦ WE will sell on SATURDAY, 31st December, at 11 o’clock, in front of our store 1 Negro Man, 35 years old, No. 1 Field Hand, fair Shoemaker and Plantation Carpenter. dec 30 $6 By Ellis, Livingston & Cos HIRING OF NEGROES. ON Saturday, December 31st, at 11 o’clock, we will hire (for cash) for the coming year, 10 Likely Negroes (field hands) in cluding a good Carpenter. We will also Sell A Very Likely family of Negroes, Lot English Shoe Thread, Lot Furniture, with other desirable goods. dec 28 SHO By Ellis, Livingston <fc Cos. mrn • W’ILL be rented, for cash, to the highest bid der, on Tuesday next, the 3rd of January, a”: the auction store of Ellis, Livingston <fe Cos., Colum bus, Ga., for the year 1865, the following Houses ax i Lots, all on the Talbotton road, to 3J4 mtlej from the city. One Hou3e with eight rooms, and farming lands if wished; one with ten rooms, aid farming lands; one with two rooms, and farming lands. The property will be shown by S. C. Lind say. dec 28 td “lost, t Confederate States Certificate for 4 per eent. A Bonds, issued by W. H. Young, Depositair, at Columbus, dated March 14, 1864, and numbered 1238, for Six Tsousand Dollars. The public ii eax tioned from trading for said Certificate, as appliea tion has been made for a duplicate. dec2llm2w* H. BLACKMAN. AAR AS and OS A A BLRCrS TO EXCHANGE FOR ghounl peas, At the GRANT FACTOKY. dec 17 ts To Printers t ” II7E offer for sale a complete BOOK BINDBRi. VY (except Ru! ng Machine,) two hand 1 and about 1,000 Pounds of Type Mela!. nov2l-tf Everybody Look Here. nriLL be sold on the 10th January. 1885. ox tie W plantation of John Howard, Jr . on F!vn : liver, on th« Oulu ’has branch of the W. ft. R., all the corn, fodder, pe i~, tnul<~. fat tie, hog* and nlau'aipm implements. Terms ea h, At the same time will be renteu the plmtatio* o. eight hundred a res, and hired fortho year, a htce ly set of p! tufation negroes, for notes with vt* proved securities. 6. K. ID 1 " A Kit, dee^tds