Newspaper Page Text
DAILY TIMES.
J. W. WIIUIEY, - - - Editor.
COLUMBUS:
Saturday Morning, February 18,186§.
“ The Ltmost Liberality.”
II ever mortal men wore subjected to the
tortures of hell-fire in this world, Mr. Stephens,
Mr. Hunter and Mr. Campbell, onght to sym
pathize with them. Hamlet in Elsinore and
poor old King Lear in the storm, with mad
Tom “a-cold” were, doubtless, in an amiable
mood compared with that of these gifted, high
spirited, patriotic Southern gentVraen, when
assured that Mi. Lincoln would b a “literal"
to them and their associate rebel companions
in guilt, provide . only that their country
should tamely submit to his infernal “ma
chine— bloodier than the guillotine of the
French revolution abandon its property, its
government, its heroes, i's women, its history,
its honor, it< ltffl. and, in lowly repentance,
Crave h>* pa don and lick his feet, and forswear
its destiny, its ancestry, its liberty, its Cod,
and sell its soul to the Devil!
And Lbeu Lincoln said “Cod bless you - ’!
The three Hebrew children went through die
fire of the furnace seven times heated. Up to
this time they have had no competitors in their
line of martyrdom. “ History reprodu ••s
itself,” they say. This looks like it. Hence
forth lei us call our commissioners “Shadrach.
Me ahack and Abednego.
Lincoln would be “liberal to Gen. Lee
and President Davis and, like Uriah Ileep,
would palroui/.iugly put his cold, bloody,
clammy hand in that of the South! Cursing
would do no good in such a case as this—
none at all even if blasphemy were a holy
ordinance. It will not help matters to remem
ber that elsewhere, as in Denmark, “ one may
t
smile and smile and be a villain. \\ e may
vainly
“ fall a cursing like a very drab.”
There is but one reply te his otter of “ liberal
ity,” and that must thunder from the cannon'3
mouth. It is the hour and the occasion for
aolion — silent, earnest, noble, Cod-like actiou!
The long, lank, cold, heartless, snaky villain
lies “in his throat!” accusing us of “treason,”
“ and deep as to the lungs,” but it is labor
lost to tell him so. The quick, remorseless
dagger is the only defense against his devilish
hate, his studied insult, his deliberate outrage.
It is now the private quarrel of every man and
woman and child whose veins contain a drop
of Southern blood". We must fight as men
never before fought. „
Mr. Lincoln’s “ liberality,” forsooth! —and
Mr. Seward’s “pardon”!
“ Fic, fie, fie! pah, pah !
Give me au ounce of civit, good Apothecary,
to sweeten my imagination; there’s money for
thee!”
Those Fourteen Thousand.
We publish with pleasure the subjoined note
from Major Allen, correcting ar. error into
which, it seems, we had fallen. We made the
statement, referred to in the note, on the au
thority of Gen. Toombs, who, not more than
three weeks ago, told us that he had been in
formed by Major Allen that 14,000 men, in
this District alone, whose names were “ on
the roll” but. who were not in active service,
drew rations from the Government. On the
day before the article referred to was publish
ed, we called at the office of Major Allen to as
certain, not indeed whether the information
was correct, but whether any change of cir
cumstances, since it was imparted, had pro
duced’any change of facts. He was absent, and
we then made the statement as quoted. We
are, of course, obliged to presume that Gen.
Toombs misunderstood Major Allen.
Acknowledging, therefore, our error, we
should like, nevertheless, to know whether we
have erred much or little. We are indeed told
that as many as 14,000 rations are not issued
in this district to homefolks who are “on the
rolls, " but we are hot informed how many
are issued. Major Allen tells us that three
fourths ot the rations go to the prison camp
and the hospitals, but gives no data from
which the number composing the remaining
one-fourth can be arrived at. Will he favor
us with an approximate statement of the whale
number.of daily rations issued in his district?
We should like to know and publish the fact :
Editor op the Times :— ln your issue of
yesterday, in an article captioned “Employ
ment of negroes as soldiers” you make this
statement: “Major Alien, Confederate Com
missary for this Military district, issues 14,000
daily rations to soldiers. These men are ou
the army rolls and. of course, are subject to
the call ot the Secretary of War ; a small pro
portion are hospital patients, and a like num
ber are skilled artisans and detailed mechan
ics, but a majority of them are doing one
thing and another that might as well be left
undone until the question of independence is
decided on the battlefield. 4 '
Permit me, Mr. Editor, to say that I am as
much astonished at this information as any of
your numerous readers. The rations which
are issued in my district are the prison camp
at Andersonviile and to the hospitals at this !
place, Macon, Forsyth, Americus, £uthbert |
and Albany, and the detailed men at these i
different posts. Three fourths of the rations :
iiSdiletl 111 my district are to the prison camp
and hospitals, and the balance to detailed ;
men and negroes employed in the commissary, |
quartermaster, ordnance and navy depart- !
mem, excepting soldiers in transitu to new
fields of service.
Your statement, Mr. Editor, is an error,
and does the War Department great injustice
and leaves your argument, so far as this basis
is concerned as to the employment of negro
troops, a baseless fabric.
I most respectfully recy.e; t that you insert
this communication in your next issue.
Your obedient servant,
A. M. ALLEY, Major, etc.
We learn from the members of the Legis
lature, says the Macon Confederacy, that the
spirit of war and resistance to Lincoln, is ris
ing in a flood tide from one end of the State
to the other. People from the mountains to
the seaboard are resolved, with the voice of
one man, never to submit to the demands of
Lincoln, Seward, and the abolition crew, who
require us to bend our necks to the yok-c they
hate made for U3.
Thomas H. Watts Esq,,
(governor of Alabama.
Auburn. Ala., Feb. Btn, 1865.
My Dear Sir:
Events of the greatest magnitude progress
with such rapidity that I find it difficult to
pursue any plan, in the descussiou of public
affairs. Our Peace commissioners Have re
turned, and nothing remains but for us to
fight on, and pray on and suffer on, and wait
for the salvation of God. My plan of nego
tiation is, for us to agree among ourselves
upon such terms of peace as will be satisfac
tory to just aud reasonable men ; to lay them,
I car# not in what form or by whose hands,
authoritatively before the Northern people , with
or without the consent of Mr. Lincoln; to
argue the plan thoroughly, aud appeal to the
Northern ma.ss's to rally and to ratify them.
We ought, in my judgment, simultaneously
to make equivalent propositions to England
and Franc*-, and to take “the nigh cut” io in
dependence. While we thus continue to ne
gotiate. we must stimulate every nerve and
quicken th r energies of the whole Country,
for the impending struggle. The U tuy of war”
,« com-. The present year will "settle the
bloody controversy. We enter the ring now
for 'he last time. We must gather up ail our
remaining strength, measure our blows and
put them in 'he right place.
You and 1 cannot be blind to the tempest
which is gathering over our .State. In a few
weeks u ore the avalanche may descend from
ihe mountains ; the tornado sweep up from
the gulf; the valley of the beautiful Alabama
mav be a desolation ; “the First Capital of the
Confederacy” a ruin, —our noble State pro
strate beneath the hoof of the invader. It
becomes us to be ready for “a worse thing”
than ha? yet befallen any people. The enemy
is frantic with rage. We have defied him in
the moment of his exultation. He comes now
to destroy'. What shall we do? I venture to
counsel that one thing we ought not to do.—
We ought not to wait for the Confederate armies
to come to our .relief . We must help ourselves
now or be overrun. Another thing will be
fatal. We must not delay organization We
must test the power of the State to meet a
small army and defeat it. Opposed as lam
to the policy of putting negroes into the Con°
federate army, I venture to suggest that they
might be efficiently organized into home com
panies, in connection with their masters and
overseers, and employed successfully for State
defense. We have no time to wait for the
forms of law. Let companies be formed of
tons, twenties, fifties and hundreds, always
maintaining the preponderance of the master
race. Let every neighborhood have its ten,
with a commander. Organize th<- tens, arm
them, aud when the moment arrive, let the
State swarm with these companies, and hang
on the flanks of the enemy, cut off his sup
plies, impede his march, pick up his stragglers
—fight him! Fight him from behind every
tree, at every corner of the streets, along the
highways, at every bridge, in every swamp,
upon every hill—fight him everywhere and
every how, and to the bitter end. Let these
companies be volunteer. Head the movement
yourself, and rallg all of every color , age and
profession to the rescue !
I do not pretend to be wise in things of this
sort, but it seems to me that the time has
come, in this fight, which Virgil describes —
Anna ministrat furor. Seize what weapons
we may, and not allow another Sherman, to go
unscathed through Alabama. There are one
hundred thousand available men and boys in
Alabama, white and black, for this work.—
They can protect the State. Summon the Legis
lature again, and do what can be done in form
of law. What cannot be so done, do without
form of law. “Bea law unto yourself ” !
Excuse this digression. I began to write
about continued negotiation and the terms of
peace which we may offer to the Northern peo
ple or to the nations of Europe.
Ist. We may well yield the free navigation
of the great continental rivers which indicate
a necessary commercial relation between the
sections for all time.
2d. We may well agree to a customs union,
or to absolute free trade between the two na
tions.
3d. We may not scruple to form a treaty of :
mutual protection against foreign powers.
These are the elementary ideas of any treaty \
we can make with the United States. They
can be varied to suit relations with England
and France.
But what shall we do with “slavery?” Shall j
we “compromise” that institution and consent j
to either its immediate or gradual abolition ia
order to buy foreign recognition or appease i
our fanatical foe? lam strongly impressed
with the idea that we may make a fataLjnis- '
take on this subject of slavery. Men every- 1
where begin to say, “give up slavery for in
dependence.” It occurs to me that if we “give
up slavery” we shall lose independence. That
“independence” that we could get for such a
price would turn out to be the most abject
dependence. A people cannot become “inde
pendent” by a forced relinquishment of one
half of all their property, and that the very
property they have taken up arms to defend.
And this is doubtly true in our case, when,
upon this property rests our peculiar, social,
life and institutions. Ido not think that our
Heavenly Father has sent this war to abolish
slavery. The reverses we experience might
as wellbe construed into His providential pur
pose to maintain the old union, or to burn
our dwellings and waste our fields, as to de
stroy slavery. He may. and doubtless does,
intend to rebuke our Avarice, to punish us for
our lusts and selfish pride, to teach us a prop
er regard for humanity and moral relations,
in the exercise of the power committed to us }
as the Guardian of His poor and dependent
children of Africa. He reminds us that we
have “a master in Heaven.” But in my opin
ion, the capture and removal of our slaves by
Yankee soldiers does no more teach us that
slavery is to be abolished, than the arrest and
ravishment of our wives teaches us 10 abolish
j marriage. Let us adhere to our institutions
■ —do that which is “just and equal”—rule
| ovei our households in the fear of God and
! the loveof our fellowmen : and Go 1 who. I
think, established slavery for beneficent ends,
will have no controversy with us on this sub
ject.
I u-ould yield nothing to the North, nothing
to Englandjand France, in a matter respecting
which they have no right to demand anything.
If slavery shall be overthrown we shall be over
thrown.■ The day we consent to emancipation
we are Yankeeized! We adopt Yankee ideas.
Yankee pursuits, Yankee institutions, Yankee
habits. Yankee socie’v, Yankee literature
, Yankee laws aad Yankee destiny. We shall
aav<» ought in vain' la vain, upon five hun
dred battle fields has the precious blood of our
j k-fotc sons and brothers been poured our
! Uke w ater—an unavailing sacrifice to liberty.
If I thought that it could be wise and proper
o agtee to emancipation, I womd here, now
and defianth. lift the standard of u/i condition
ai submission. would openiv surrender to
-he power wh,cn hai subdue i me. I wouil
go meekly under the yoke. If we are to be
\ anxee States and peop.<-, I prefer to belong
to the Yankee Union.
But it is a mere delusion that we can get
independence any sooner, or upon anv better
terms, from England or France, or Mr. Lincoln,
by yielding slavery, than ir we hold on un
compromisingly to it. Slavery has 7iow noth
ing to do with the question of recognition, ex
cept as a m-re thesis ‘or the display of diplo
matic ingenuity. Practically oiiV independence
is already won. tnd will be acknowledged and
acted on by Europe and the North as fast
and as far forte as events may make it their
interest to acknowledge and act on it. The
anti-slavery sentiment will not weigh so much
as a feather n he scale which ballances the
er-rtt national interest and future destinies of
Europe and America, when the nations come
to 'heir real account. England cares nQthing
about slavery. France cares nothing. The
Pope car-s n .umg. Whenever it
convenient an-, contribute to their dynastic
schemes, any c all of “ the Powers ” will dis
cover that slav ry is a divinely appointed in
stitution—full A the charities of the Gospel
—a tree of lit?. to be fanned by breezes of
Eden, and its roots fed. if need be, by the blood
of sacrificial millions. Until that day, when
these Powers realize their interest in accepting
us to their companionship, we must fight on
and all the same whether we abandon slavery
and ourselves, or not.
We shall conquer our independence sootier
by adhering to our institution and weilding
its power iu the cotton field, than by any.sac
rifice of its integrity, or any wild adventure
with it into army operations. Two hundred
thousand young and active negro fellows
could make one million of bales of cotton—
worth, in specie, two hundred and fifty mil
lion.? of dollars, or in Confederate money, seven
thousand five hundred millions of dollars. In
words, this two hundred thousand ne
groes, which “ it is said ” Gen. Lee desires to
put into the army, might in one year pay our
whole war debt and impart specie value to our
currency. This would be independence !
Finally, ray dear Sir, I am constrained to
the opiffion that subjugation would be better
than submission or compromise. We may be
plundered, outraged, overrun, trampled upon,
murdered, executed as traitors. Mr. Lincoln
and his Hessians and butchers “ cannot kill
the soul ” ! We have the power to resist to
the end! —to keep our bands from the bond of
infamy !—to die —to die defiantly—die free
men !
“Yes, Peace is beautiful, I do yearn
For her to clasp tha world's poor tortured heart.
% s*’ vi sje ry
But peace with these Leviathans of blood!
* * » s- *■
Give them, tha hand of brotherhood—whose fangs
Are in our hearts with the grim'blood-hounds
grip?
*• * * * *
Peace with oppression which doth tear our friends
And brothers from our side to-day, and comes
To eat our hearts and drink our blood to morrow ?
Out on’t!
I answer War ! war with the cause of war.
* *- -s * *•
Brothers ! I bid ye forth t.o glorious war!
Paten fig leaves on the naked truth no more.
The stream of Time runs red with our best blood!
* * * * * x
-0! we have fought and bied on land and sea,
Heaped Glory’s oar with myriads of the brave,
Spilt blood by oceans—treasures by the million.
V ft ft- ft ft
0! to give ourselves theis valiant heart,
Whose dumb,dead dust is worth our living 30uls —
Dear God’t ft ere sweet to kis3 the scaffold-block !”
It is a terrible responsibity to counsel ivar.
Ido not love it. I am tired of it. I would
avert it if I could. My sons and brothers, and
neighbors and friends, are in the fire. My
blood and substance are of the sacrifice. I
would shrink away if I could—l see no alter
native. I eau devise no escape. I gird on the
armor. I go as I think duty commands. I
shall prosecute with ail zeal, any practicable
plan of honorable, just peace—but now we
have out cnk work —one word — ons thought
—onk Dss tint—one duty —and that is WAR !
—and the God of David go with us against the
mighty !
Your friend. Wit. F. Samforo.
“The Dutt of the Hour is Action!” —The
Montgomery Mail does not overstate, in the sols
lowing paragraph, the imperative necessity far
prompt and vigorous ACTION!” Speaking of
the general situation it says :
The concentration of forces may leave many
points exposed to the ravages of hostile raiders.
To this the commanders of militia, the militia
themselves and their State Governments must
give their promptest attention. The reserve
forces should be put in a condition of thorough
organization, ready at the tap of a bell or the
“long roll,” to move to any point threatened, re
gardless of State or count? lines. Stragglers (we
will not call them deserters) must be returned to
their jjommands. Post garrisons and village
guards must be put to more serviceable occupation
at the front. Detectives, secret service men, pur*
chasing agents, details, of the able-bodied
“rear guards*” must go where glory waits them.”
The duty of the hour is action. The country must
be placed in a strongly defensive attitude, while
diplomacy continues aggressive. The Hon. Mr.
Gholson takes the correct view of the situation in
the present emergency; that while we shall mani
fest a willingness to treat for peace, we should not
omit vigorously to prepare for war ; to place at
once in the army, every man liable under our laws,
to render military service ; by causing the com
missary, and quartermaster, and other departments
to be administered with renewed energy; and
since General Lee has been made General-in*
chief, to assign him our best and most accept
able Generals to the command over separate ar
mies.
The Peace Conference. —We understand,
says the Richmond Sentinel, 6th, that Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter and Cambell, were met at
Fortress Monroe, on shipboard, by President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward. The confer
ence was brief. The proposition made by MV.
Lincoln was substantially as follows :
If the Confederates will lay down their arms,
take off their uniforms, disband, and disperse
to their homes, Mr. Lincoln will proceed to
appoint for the Confederate States, marshals,
district attorney?, and judges for the United
States Courts : that in executing the confisca
tion law be would endeavor to be as lenient
as possible ; tha* he would also, as far as pos
sible, be leuienttothe lenders of the rebellion :
that he would treat neither with the Confede
ate States nor with any State separately ; that
t • will accept nothing and listen to nothing
3uoi t »nconditional submission to the Con
st/'"': . » oi the United States and the laws
passed under its forms ; that the slavery ques
tion had been disposed of by Congress in the
adoption ot the late constitutional amendment,
and was not to be now discussed.
Our deputies thereupon returned, and reach
ed Richmond Saturday evening.
Hlegroes to Hire.
ffO HIRE, ten young Negro MEN, also a good
1 CV>ok and Wastior. Amity to
Wm. 1. W»LFQLK,
jau 17 ts Agent.
[From the Telegraph A Confederate.]
Ann; SaiijTs Talk io the Boys.
I have bean thinking a good deal lately about
mis war “and its consequences.” Tha whys tha
wherefores, the pros and cons of tha case, Mr.
Editor. lam an old lady. Both my grandfathers
?lught under Gen. Marion in the revolution, and
I like I have a right to give the boys a talk;
and a pretty plain one. it shall’be too. To those
who are in tha field, and have been there all the
while, all praise, all honor, all thanks, from every
woman’s heart be your3. Dear, noble, precious
boys, your mothers’ hearts overflow with thankful
ness to God for such heroic, self sacrificing souls.
Your mothers ceaseless prayers ascend to Heaven
for vour safety here, and your salvation hereafter.
God forever bless you, boys, and grant us peace
on-e more. When I set down and think *f all
your sufferings, and see these be starred, be-but
toned, be laced, Jerry Me-DHdles flying round
your sisters and sweethearts at home. Good L<> rd,
I get so hot I hardly know what to do.
Here are young men, rich, intelligent and heal
thy, who have never given a soldier one thing, or
done anything for their country, condeming Beau
regard, Hood and Hardee, while Sherman passed
right by their doors, went through the entire State
of Georgia and took Savannah. Oh, shame,
where is thy blush? “Why jest at scars, who
never felt a wound?” Ail they are fit for is to
drink, smoke cigars, and flirt with the pretty girls;
and, by the by, its but a common girl that will
allow one of the donkeys to flirt with her. If I
was Governor Brown, please the Lord, I’d put
every mother’s son of them in petticoats ! If they
love the woman so wall that they can’t go to the
front to defend them, make women of them at
once and have done with it.
Again , we see nice looking youn g men, bridge
menders, shoe-makers, cross tie cutters. Ac., just
to ko-p out of he army. It smacks strongly to
me of cowardice. I understand from an officer,
a man of integrity, that at the battle of Griswold
ville “there were lots es noble boys in the tr-uiches
on their crutches,” Think of this, ye carpet
knights, ye bridge menders, ye cross tie cutters,
ye cowards. Yes, aud I know soma persons, too,
who have no circuit, station or church to attend to.
who were mighty military before the war, drilling
the boys, and even the girls; who are as easy as
old shoes. S-rae have been called by such a
church that exempts them : others have to preach
to brother Dodgeaway’s negroes; another is sick—
has a pain in his misery, I suppose. Brother
Dodgeaway’s negroes flight have ail gone to pur
gatory, for all I cared, if there had been no war.
“Let them rock ; they ain’t worth their salt.” —
“Soldiers in peace, citizens in war.” I see colo
nels, majors, captains, and all titled, all gold laced
to death, all at home. Where in the mischief is
their command ? I’ll bet a ginger cake to a silver
sixpence, that half a dozen of us old ladies, could
whip a regiment of such catti® with our big scis
sors.
I have fifteen or twenty nieces and several daugh
ters, and I know nearly all the girls in the W F.
College, besides a great many other splendid young
ladies, and I’ll go my death against their marrying
one of these cox-combs. Don’t you do it, girls; they
ain’t worth the powder and shot it would take to
blow their brains out. They will do you like the
man in the west did his wife; a bear came to the
cabin, one day, and the old man ran up in the loft,
dragging the ladder after him, and the old lady
killed the bear with an axe. Some neighbors com
ing in directly, the old man slipped down, clapping
his hands and said : “see what we we've done.” I
would as soon marry a rib-nosed babboon, as one of
these stay at-home officers.
A word to those who have the conscript-limp, the
drill-rheumatism, affection of the spine, lungs,
heart, &c- I have seen'one of these limp out of sight
of the Provost Marshal, kick up his heels, sing
“Devil take the girl that wouldn’t marry me.” If
I was the girl, I think I’d hesitate whether to take
the devil or him. I’ve known these rheumatic hos
pital patients dance "all night, and limp the next
day to shin-bone alley to get a drink. I see hale,
hearty, young men, detailed to pick up strag
glers, and men in the army old enough for their
grand-fathers. Oh Iye deceitful hypocrits!
How dare you, in the face of womankind, pretend
to manhood; call yourselves men, and who are
made in the image of God, so desecrate your sex ?
I call upon you in the name of all you lore if you
have one spark, if you Jptve one vestige of honor, if
you have the semblanee of shame, if you love your
mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts, if you lore your
country, if you love God, go to the front and stay
there and help drive the vile invader from your
land. Oh, “tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the
streets of Askelon” that a feeble woman had to raise
her voice to beg men to defend their own homes.
What shall I say of the infamous seventeen, with
Hartridge, the Judas Iscariot of the South, among
them ? Methinks I hear someone say “let them be
Anathema Maranatba.” Let their days be few and
others take their offices. Let their wives be widows
and their children fatherless, as tfie lamented Bar
tow’s are. I hear that Sherman has offered a black
silk dress and a ten dollar gold piece to the first la
dy he sees with long hair, I propose that he keep
his money andlbuy uniforms for the degraded seven -
teen, and that the uniform be a coat of black paint
all over the body, with white ring.? round the eyes
and mouth. A suit of black serge with red cuffs and
collar, and finish it off with a good long pair of ears
and tail; then they would be fit subjects for his
satanic majesty’s drawing room. And now, boys,
since I’ve spoken my mied, I feel relieved. I won’t
write again, unless I get provoked, and if I do, I’ll
give it to you without gloves next time.
—,
Remember this, says the Wilmington Journal
hereafter theshriokers for negotiation, peace, Ac.,
are simply counsellors of peace on Lincoln’s terms,
and these are now proclaimed to be submission,
abolition,confiscation,subjugation and degradation.
They now know what negotiation with Lincoln
means, and cannot 3ay that it has not been triad
—fairly tried—and under auspices supposed to be
favorable.
There is but one thing for it now, firmness and
constancy. Nothing else will win—but these will.
The peace they offer is that we surrender at dis
cretion !
Our soldiers 3ay no ! to this proposition—our
honor forbids it—ail eur hopes for the future
plead against it. It cannot and will not be done.
There is even now a re-action from the deep des
pondency of the ia3t few months. Thera is a re
action of the public courage—there is an uprising
of the public spirit. Our very misfortunes will
prove the cause of our salvation—>ur very disap
pointments will result Ju the firmer establishment
of our independence and prosperity.
mm • m
The Confederate Armies,
We cannot resist the temptation, says the Rich
mond Whig—in order to give a specimen of the
New York Herald’s “accurate information” con
cerning the armed strength of t’ne Confederacy—
to publish the following relative to our brave Army
of Northern Virginia, which will ever prove a
veteran band of irresistible peace commissioners.
The Herald says the principal of these as the Army
of Northern Virginia, now commanded by Gen.
Joe Johnston. He finds it, on assuming com
mand, in the very trenches in which he left it in
1862, when wounded in the seven days’ battles
before Richmond. Does he find it as strong as
then? Let us examine. The army consists of
four corps of infantry and two of cavalry. There
are eleven divisions, embracing 44 brigades, or
207 regiments of infantry,’ with 44 batteries at
tached. Accurate data at hand shows very con
clusively that ihe regimeats.in the Army of Vir
ginia [will not everage over 250 men to the regi
ment, and 150 to the battery, which would give
an aggregate of 54,375 a3 the infantry force of
Johnston’s army. The two eavaly corps of Wade
Hampton and Fitz Hugh Lee number 46 regi
ments. To this force should be added the com
mand of Gen. Breckinridge, which is really a
part of General Gordon’s corps, temporarially de
tached and mounted, and which is held at all
times in readiness to go to the aid of Richmond.
This will give 62 as the number of cavalry regi
ments in the army, and a total of 13,950 cavalry,
or a grand total of 67,326 infantry, cavalry and
artillery is the effective strength of the principal
army of the rebels.
The following is a reeapitu atson of the Herald’s
aggregate;
MEN.
Armv of Northern Virginia 74,910
Army of Tennessee 20.000
Army es Missouri 23,000
reserves.
Garrison of Richmond 1,000 J
Garrison of Lynchburg 1.000
Department of North Carolina 7,000
Department of South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida, opposing Sherman 3,000
Department on Eastern Georgia, oppposing
Sherman.... 11,500
Department of Alabama, Mississippi and
Eastern Louisiana. 14,000
District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona 5,000
District of West Louisiana 3,000
Garrison of sorta on coast 5,000
Grand Totm ...163,950
THE CITY
T J JACKSON f.»»CAL EDITOR
Negro Salk.— Ellis, Livingston Jk Cos. adver
tise a iarge number of valuable negroes for sale
at auction to day. Those wishing to invest their
money lathi- species of property will 4o well to
attend the saio as we have no doubt bargains will
be offered. Among those to be offered are good
cooks, Sell hands, carpenters, blacksmiths, house
servants, drc.
Auction Sales. —The following prices were ob
ained ye9ter-dav at Rosette. Lawhon A Co.’s auc
tion room : one negro woman and child. $3.45; one
music box.s3oo: oranges per box. $220; cane svrup
per gallon, sl6; gold and silver vratehes from $419
to $1120;one sofa bottom rocking chair, $400: one
small sofa bottom rocking chair, $210: five pieces
silver ware.ss7o; one sole leather trunk, $770.
The weather for the last day or two has been
most delightful, having assumed quite a springish
appearance We are ready to welcome it with
open arms.
—9 4tm
Fresh Fish. —We notice that some of our fish
ermen arc beginning to apply their vocation on the
river banks, and with some success. We saw a
trout ye-teriay weighing, we suppose about four
pounds. One of our money lords purchased it at
the trifling sum of thirty-five dollars. If these
fish should prove numerous, and the prices be
kept “so low” a3 $35 we shall ail doubtless eat
much fish this season. But without jesting, we
shoul ljike t> see a iarge crop of fish in the mar
ket this spring, as everything else is scarce.
Despite the evils of war our city occasionally
presents an active,business like appearance. Broad
street was yesterday crowded with vehicles of
every description, two auction houses were in full
blast, with large crowds at each, aud every body
who had anything to buv or sell seemed to be ac
tuated by the patriotic desire “suck sombody
in.”
Socks for Cheatham’s Men.— We have again
been requested to call upou the ladies of Columbus
and vicinity to assist in furnishing socks for the
gallant, barefooted men of the above corps.
These men are cut off from their homes and the
kind sympathy of mothers and sisters, and thus
the obligation upon the Georgia ladies is doubly
binding. The patriotism of Cheatham’s corps is
unquestioned. Their brilliant achievements have
been conspicuous on many a hard-fought battle
field in Georgia. Shall they now appeal in vain
to the ladies of a State which they have defended
with such heroic devotion and fortitude. Wo trust
not. For the credit of our noble women who are
incapable of turning a deaf ear to such appeals,
we hope not. We trust the ministers of our seve
ral churches will urge this matter upon their con
gregations, if the united voice of the city press is
not sufficient to awaken an interest in it. We have
no doubt that all contributions to this cause, left
with either of our ministers, will be promptly for
warded to Rev. Mr. Burke of Macoa, who is the
geaerai agent for tha collection of socks in
Georgia.
! Fires.—About twelve o’clock yesterday a house
| in Brownsville occupied by a Mrs. Young was
I consumed by fire while the occupant had gone to
| the factory to carry dinner to her children. We
j regret to learn that Mrs. Young lost all her
! household effects and is left entirely destitute.
Would it not be a beautiful and noble exemplifi
cation of the principles of Christianity for our cit
izens to repair the losses of this poor family by
voluntary free-will offerings ? It is hard for the
best of us to get along these times, but a poor
homeless, friendless wanderer should have a claim
upon the sympathy and active benevolence of every
: one who has a heart tp be touched by the miafor
! tuoes which are liable to happen alike to the rich
and tha poor.
About the same hour a fire broke out in the roof
| of the residence of John D. Atkinson, at present
| occupied by Mrs. Teasdale near the government
wagon manufactory. By the prompt action of the
employees of that establishment the fire was im
| mediately put out, with but trifling damage to the
i property.
Treatment of Confederate Prisoners.
The New York Daily New3 of the 3d inst., pub
lishes the following extracts from a letter written
bjr a lady in high social position, and of unques
tionable loyalty to the Union :
[From a Private Letter.]
Chicago, 111., Dec. 24, 1864.
* * * The condition and suf
fering of the rebel prisoners at Rock Island is a
source of agony to every heart not absolutely dead
to the feelings of common humanity, and the
scantiest Christian mercy. There are from six to
eight thousand confined here. Many have taken
the oath—any oath to save themselves from actual
starvation. The released prisoners, though libe
rated at different intervals of time, all tell the
same story. The allowance to each mau has been
one small loaf of bread—it takes three to make a
pound—and a piece of meat, two inches square
per day. This was the rations ! Lately it has
been reduced. Think of it reduced! Ail the re
leased one3 say that no man can live on the rations
given, and there are men that would do anything
to get enough to eat.
Such is che wretched, ravenous condition of
, these poor starving creatures, that several dogs
j which, have come to the barracks with teams have
fallen victims to their hunger, and they are trap
| ping rats and mice for food, actually to save life,
j Many of them are nearly naked, barefooted, bare
; headed, and without bedclothes; exposed to
i ceaseless torture from the chill and pitiless winds
of the upper Mississippi. Thus, naked and hun
gry, and in prison, enduring a wretchedness which
no tongue can describe, no language can tell, they
j suffer from day to day, each day their number
j growing less by death—death, their only comforts
| er, their only merciful visitor !
I God in Heaven ! Shall these things continue ?
i Can we hope for success in our cause ? Will a
just and merciful God bless and prosper it, if such
cruel inhumanity is practiced by our rulers ? May
we not provoke a terrible and just chastisement at
His hands? N® Christian heart, knowing the
facts, can feel otherwise.
j Many charitable persons, influenced by no other
motives than humanity and Christian duty, have
3ent supplies of clothing to these prisoners, but
they have never been permitted to reach them. I
have heard of the sale of such clothing having
been made across the river at Davenport, at very
low prices. Is it possible that the authorities at
Washington know of and approve these thi Q g ? ? i
A good many have taken the oath, stating .
afterwards to citizens that they did so t 0 j
save them from starvation. I learn that tt er ® are ;
are about five thousand confined here wIP “ ave
resolved to die rather than do so. Although
are wrong, is there not a suhlima harm#®
adherence of these men, amid such trials, to a
cause which they believe to be right.
HriDQUABTERS, GOV. WORKS, (OrD.) )
Columbus, Ga., Feb. 17, 1865. /
Special Orders, No. 12-
* # *****
11. Mr. J H. McLean, is hereby appointed
Special Agent for the collection of small arms and
accoutrements, belonging to the Government in this
District.
He will call at every house and make inquiries,
and the citizens are most earnestly and respectfully
called upon to give him ail the assistance in their
power, and to give up all public arms, Ac., they
may have in their possession.
They are needed in the field. It cannot be neces
sary to add more to get the aid of al! interested ir.
the success of our cause.
* ♦ *****
By command
M. H. WRIGHT.
feb 18 lw Col. Commanding
To Hire.
A LIKELY sixteen old house GIRL, that ha
been well raised, sews well, has a good iisposi
Of 'OFFICE.
AUCTION SALEIS.
By Elli*, Livingston & t o.
VERY DESIRABLEIIEGROES.
WVi! 1 SATURDAY, February 13th,
* v at 11 o clock, in front of our Auction Room
A likely NEGRO MAN 51 years oil,
good FI ostler, Farmer, Ac.
A likely NEGRO BO\, 13 years oii,
A “ “ Woman 32 year? old',
Field hand, and her child 2 years* old
1 likely NEGRO. BOY, 6 years old,
house servant, cook, Ac ,
A NEGRO BOY. 20 vears old
"fob 15 $43
—also—
-10 bbls Fine Corn Whiskey.
2 four, and 1 twoshorse wagon,
Lot Furniture. Ac., See.
feb 15 sl2
—ALSO —
A Likely Negro Man 28 years oil, Carpenter,
1 “ “ Woman 30 yrs. old. field hand,
1 “ “ Boy 14 “ “
1 “ “ Woman 23 •• “& 2 children
1 “ Man 26 “ “ Blacksmith,
1 “ “ Woman 36 “ “
1 i; » u 22 “ “
1 “ “ Boy 17 “ “
1 “ “ Woman ’>o “ “ good Cook,
etc.
feb 15 $24
ALSO,
A Very Fine 7 Octave Piano, Aeoleaa
attachment, iD good order.
A Good Close Carriage and Harness,
late style, in good order.
2 Road Wagons, etc., etc.
1 Circular and Upright Mill Sa”*,
10-inch Guttapercha Belt.
Lot Grass Bale Rope,
Brocade SiU, Window Curtins, etc.
feb 15 $24
ALSO,
3 bbls. Choice Syrup.
2 Sacks Family Flour.
feb 18 $4
By Ellis, Livingston & to
VBLUABLE NEQROES AT AUCTION
ON TUESDAY, 21st Feb. at 11 o’clock, we
will sell, on account of a party retiring
from the planting busines, the following val
uable negroes,
A Likely Negro Man, 24 years old, good
family Servant, farmer and very trusty.
A Likely Negro Woman, 19 years old, good
house servant, cook, &c., and her child, 3 years
old.
A Likely Negro Man, 27 } r rs old, field hand.
A Likely Negro Girl, 23 yrs old, field hand,
and her 4 children.
A Likely Negro Boy, 18 years old, liouso
servant and field hand.
A Likely Negro Man, 33 yrs old, field hand.
ALSO,
2 Shares Eagle Factory Stock.
15 “ Ga., Home Ins. Company Stock.
77 “ Great Southern Ins. Company Stock,
feb 16 $67 50
ALSO,
A Negro Man 26 years old,
A “ Woman 55 years old.
feb 18 $9
MYERS, WATSON & CO,,
AUCTIONEERS
AND
General Commission Merchants,
At Hull <Sc Duck's old stand.
Opposite Bank of Columbus, Broad Street.
fpgiP Personal and prompt attention given
to all consignments.
Columbus, Ga., Jan. 21, 1865. jan23 ts
Administrator’* Sale
WILL be sold the Ist Tuesday in March, tho
House and Lot in the city of Columbus.the resi
dence of Col. Tennille, sold as the property of Ala.
Teunille. At the same time will be 3old a lot of
Household and Kitchen Furniture.
D. MORRIS,
fcb!7-2w* Administrator.
Rosette, Lawhon & Go.,
OFFER AT PRIVATE SALE
One Copper Boiler, 8 feet long.
Five or six hundred pounds Led Pipe
8 or 10 Large Brass Bib & Stop Cocks.
jen 18 ts
Notice!
Office Medical Director of Hospitals, |
Columbus, Ga., Feb. 15, 1865. j
The following named soldiers detailed tor Hospi
tal service having been appointed to act as Fora
; gers by Surgeons in charge of Hospitals, and their
i appointment approved at this Office, are duly au
thorized to act in that capacity for the Hospitals an 1
j in the Counties set opposite their respective names.
All persons claiming to be such agents, and who
; cannot show written authority as above set forth
will be subject to arrest.
W. 11. 11. Phelps, Enrolled Conscript,’..Sumter Ho j
pital, Andersonville, Ga, Counties, 4/useogee, Ga.
G. H. Perdue, private Cos. C, 37th Ga. Reg., Fiew
ellen Hospital Opelika, Ala., Pike, Upson, Miaro?,
Butts and Crawford, Ga.
M. T. Lloyd, Enrolled Conseript, Walker Hospi
tal, Columbus, Ga„ Counties. Muscogee, Ga.
W. N. Reid, Enrolled Conseript, Cairns Hospital.
Columbus, Ga„ Counties, Coweta, Troap.and Mer -
wether, Ga.
J. N. Grehan, Enrolled Conscript, Lee Hospital,
f Columbus, Ga., Counties, Chattahoochee, Ga.
W. C. Jamison, Private Cos. I, 46th Ga. Regimen",
! Catoosa Hospital, Geneva, Ga., counties, Talbot,
j Chattahoochee and Jfarion, G*.
S. H. STOUT,
j febl7-7t Medical Direr »r.
.Stolen.
1 rnAKEN off the Montgomery train, 15th inst., near
X Camp Watts, a CARPET SACK, the property of
Surgeon B. F. DickinsoD, containing valuable
clothes and about fitty ounces of Quin ; n‘‘, intended
for the Army of Tennessee, Any information con
cerning which will be thankfully received and for
the delivery of the same a liberal reward will be
given. I. E. PREWITT,
Ass’t Surgeon 12th Tenn. Reg,
Vaughn’s Brig., Cheatham’s D.v.
feb 17—4 t»
GEORGIA, Muscogee County.
INFERIOR COURT sitting for County purposes—
-1 February 13th, 1865.
Ordered by the court, that al! persons having
failed to give in their State and County tax for tha
year 1864, and consequently thereby double taxed
are required to file their affidavit, agreeably to law,
with t m Clerk of said Court, by Jfonday the 20th
instant, to’show why they should be relieved
G. W. ROSETTE,
feb 6 3t Clerk Inferior Court.
GEORGIA, Muscogee County-
C’EALF.D proposals will be received by the q ”’ 1
Court of said county, uutil the Ad ; ;• fr
building a Lattice or Trestle Sail
JUS 1 ?
WS* i£» &5® s
accept or reject any ot a. o, w rqSETTE.
, , Clerk Inferi' r >urt.
feb 16 ot
Headquarters Enrolling Office, \
Muscogee County, Georgia, >
Columbus, Feb. 15, 1845.)
Government contractors >n this county are hereby
notified that tinny details for hands m tacir em
ploy have expired. The? must com* Uffwari J 1
race and get **ll details renewed, or si, i laud*.
will be sen u> Camp Cooper. COBS
feb 16 Iw Cog*t. & Bt* 5 liv'« ’.