Newspaper Page Text
DALLY TIMES.
f. W. W4HRE\, --- Editor.
COLUMBUS:
Thursday Morning, March 10, IS6§.
The Alabama Situation.
From our Montgomery exchanges we glean,
first from the Appeal, of Tuesday evening,
that the enemy had probably commenced his
operations for the reduction of Mobile.
Spanish Fort is a strong work, well garri
soned, and our authorities are confident of
their own ability to hold it. But. doubtless,
it will be sorely printed, ns the enemy is aware
of its importance to him. It Is 3 aid that long
range guns mounted in the works, similar to
those used in the bombardment of Atlanta,
would range to the great r-r portion of Mobile.
Nothing further had oeen received from the j
obmniaSd of Gen Clanton, and the belief that :
he had met. with disaster was general. The
number of his forces w is not higher than 1200
The Mail, of Tuesday evening, says that
Colonel Reid telegraphed from below that the
raiders had been driven back below Murder
creek, 'le estimates the force reported at
Pollard to be only 6,000. He thinks the des
tination of this force is Claiborne, on the A!i
bama river, as they were already moving in
that direction.
The Adverti-or, of yesterday morning, says
the indications are that the fight is progress
ing at Spanish Fort. It says that long-range
guns could not reaoh Mobile from this fort,
the distance being some 12 miles across the
bay. The fort is on the main land, covers
some 25 acres, and ra wailed in by fortifica
tions which require 6,000 troops to complete
ly man. The’ object of the fort is to protect
the entrauce into the Alabama river through
Blakely and Tensas rivers, the possession of
which might enable the enemy’s gunboats to
overcome our interior line of works and play
upon the city. The fort ie said to be amply
supplied with men and provision* to rekist
successfully the combined land and naval for
ces of the enemy.
The latest estimate of the force at Pollard
reduces it to 8,000, which is probably an ex
aggeration. It is not believed that ha has
more than 4,000 or 6,000 engaged at Pollard,
and about the same number at Spanish Fort.
The raiders above Pollard, at first estimated
at 2,000, have dwindled down to 800 or 1,000.
QAII the enemy’s foroe3 now operating from
Pensacola are not estimated at exceeding 12
or 16,000 men, and even if another force en
deavor to co-operate with them from North
Alabama, it is thought they can bo badly de
feated by the forces at command.
A few days will determine whether these
calculations are correct. Meantime it behooves
all bands to do their duty.
The raiders struck the rail road on Friday,
at Gravella, 37 miles above Pollard, and on
that and the day following, two engines were
damaged—the wooden work burned off, but
machinery not injured. Fourteen cars were
burned at Gravella, one at Evergreen, and the
depot buildings at Sparta. The Court House
af. the latter place was also burned. When
last heard from the party was traveling in the
direction of Brooklyn, east of Sparta, and on
the road to Andalusia.
From Gen Johnston’s Armv. —We learn, says
the Macon Telegraph, oi tha 20th, that dispatches
have been received from persons connected with
tho army under Gen. Johnston, dated at Smith
field, N. 0., the 27th (Monday). This place, it
will be remembered, is about 27 miles from Ral
eigh, and on the.railroad, about midway between
that city and Goldsboro.
We should judge that this is a position wnerß
Gen. Bragg can form a junction with General
Johnston, if that is desirable, or has not already
taken place, while it is one from which Sherman
must force him, if he can, before he attempts a
forward movement on Raleigh, as Sherman will
hardly dare advance in that direction with such
a force under such an antagonist, able, ready and
willing to strike him on his fiank or rear. Each
day now adds to the interest of the situation, both
in North Carolina and Virginia.
From Charleston. —The editor of( the Chron
icle tfc Sentinel has met a gentleman who left
Charleston on Sunday last. He reports that when
the Yankees first occupied the city, the negro
treops were very insolent, but the officers subse
quently adopted stringent regulations to prevent
such abuses, and the time he left good order pre
vailed. Private property was not molested, and
supplies of provisions and goods are plenty, and
those who have Yank e currency and are willing,
to sul mit to the prevailing order of things are able
to subsist comfortably.
The Courier is published regularly, and the
printers are paid S2O a week iu greenbacks.
The railroad is in operation to Summerville, and
many of The old hands are retained.
The Yankee Debt.—The following state
ment of Yankee finances was furnished by the
Treasury Department to the House committee
of Ways and Means :
Aggregate of debt bearing
interest in coin, $1,087,556,433 SO
Interest on sixty and a half
ot debt bearing
interest in currency, 608.7-70 05
Interest on about thirty
millions of debt on which
the interest has ceased
about 350,000 00
Legal tenders, bearing no
interest, 433,360 00
Fraction of currency. 247,000,000 00
# Total $2,153,735,444 26
Interest, 94.131,601 80
Amount ot unpaid requisi
tions, ‘ 136.000,000 00
Amount in Treasury, 10.230.000 00
The amount of suspended requisition in
cludes all unpaid requisitions for every branch
ot the public service.
- - 4 - ♦ - ♦ -
The Draft in tuk West- — The Chicago Times,
of March let. shows some spirit of resistance to
Lincoln’s draft. It says: We call upon Gov. Ogles
by to redeem his pledge, and shield the Mate from
outrage, and our people from beiug drugged
from their homes at tho bidding of irresponsi
ble power. For the honor of tho Stu'e, we call up
on him to vinidicate his ofiice. Discarding alt par
tisan ship, and wishing only that law ilia -be main
tained, our citiiens protected in their j ,st rights,
and insolent usurpation rebuked, wo do most sol
emnly invokofrom tho Executive of the State pro
tection from tbe outrages whi-i* the authorities at
Washiegtomhavo declared th*ir intention to per
petrate.
And again, elsewhere, the'same paper says:
it is liifiundt to predict what effect the remit of
this omission will have upon recruiting: whether
the people ail! -till endeavor to (ill t:;o quot , ,or
whether,eon p.mtely discouraged by tho Stupendous
fraud, *1- y wi’ cut so all effnts and allow the draft
to take p.. ice. The matter does indeed look almost
liopeles-', and probably no effo-tc-m entirely uvort
the draft. It wul eomc. And v»..eu it does eonie
let the people remember who wa-'c the false enroll
ment, and .ct the ‘v,ng‘.;.Hiec ho prompt and com
pete.
, Let e sun Trod h--u?ebold ip this vast city, and
they will be numbered by thov,-;a ds. he charged to
them. Lei every strong muu's am .fish, at being
torn from wife inn children, be beai -■ i u-you their
shoulders. Letta powers i>. the hundreds of wit
ows andtbv tears yt the hundreds of orphans made
by their unrirlr 45,<s deed b- curses up'-u thc-u
heads. 1: the people inusi sutler, at least let thorn
not suffer in sih nee If hoy must endure the blow,
let them not at least kiss the hand which . mites
Let the miser-antg be remembered in this hour of
tho al.unity tsff-y have brought Chicago.
Waterloo or Austerlitz—Gen. Lee’s Plans.
The New Vork Mercury, of February 26th,
haa an editorial article which possesses parti
cular interest at this time. We copy it entire:
Wilmington is ours. Charleston is ours.
Columbia is oars. Savannah is ours. With
out a struggle, without an answering blow.
One after the other of these, but lately the
chief strongholds of the rebels, hare yielded
to what the Government organs would have
us believe was an inexorable necessity. For
nearly four years, bold and impregnable, they
have defied attack, laughed siege to scorn and
withstood bombardment, want of supplies and
suffered the miseries ever endured by a weaker
power contending with a stronger.
And now why is it, that in this, their last
extremity, they have so tamely yielded to the
foe they have defied and held at bay so long?
Why this sudden’ departure from the cities
which, in the earlier days of the war they so
stoutly swore should never be desecrated by
the presence of the “accursed Yankee,!’ unless
he chose tj walk through the heaps of ashes,
smouldering ruins and desolate streets ? Why
are the v ada:s es the North” so easily vic
torious ? Vnv allowed with flaunting banners
and the clash of regimental bands, to march
without opposition into these places ? Is the
cause weakened? Is it a premonition that re
sistance would be annihilation 1 That the
conquering legions of the North cannot be
held in check, and the vast. and as yet but
partiaiiy developed combination or our lieu
tenant general are irresistible ?
We lo not consider it treason, we do not
speak it as disloyal, when we say that Robert
E. Lee. the commander of the rebel torces. is
in all that constitutes a strategist, in ail that
goes to make a general able to dare and fight
down even fate itself—the first and foremost
in the country While we admit the talents,
the genets and the greatness of Lieut. General
Grant, it is not only unfair, but unjust, that
we snouid refuse to acknowledge the grandeur,
the sub’ime heroism, of that gray-haired gen
ius, the descendant of a line of patriots, which
battling against the combined opposition of
almost an entire world, still stands firm, un
yielding, arid holds at bay the most formidable
armies in existence, and has, in defiance of
defeat, still held hitherto his ground, nor wa
vered even when hope itself seemed lost for
ever. Let us yield the meed of praise even to
our enemies. They were once our brothers,
once hand in hand with us. Whatever their
errors their crimes, they are none the leas
men.
Charleston, Wilmington and Columbia, be
ing ours, cut bono ? Beyond the mere fact of
obtaining full control of the seaboard, and
thereby relieving our blockading fleet from a
tedious, tiresome service, and gaining possess
ion of cities deserted, there doe3 not seem to
be any material advance toward the termina
tion of the war.
Those who have studied the career of Lee,
and observed his plan of campaign, know that
hi3 system i3 that of concentration. To mass
his troops, and attack the enemy’s divisions in
detail, one after the other, is his strategy.—
Wary, circumspect yet persevering and using
at times the dash and reckless audacity in at
tack of the first Napoleon, he never loses a
chance, and 30 far has left no record of a mis
take.
Since the appointment to and assumption
of the supreme command of the rebel army,
the whole method of < perations has been
changed. Concentration ia now the order.—
He is carrying out his favorite plan of*prose
cuting the campaign. He well knows the
strength of his antagonist, and that antagon
ist’s tenacity of purpose and immense resour
ces. And knowing them, he is at this mo
ment gathering the scattered forces of the re
bel domain into one compact whole,, with the
intention of deciding the fortunes of his cause
at or near Richmond. There, upon the alrea
dy blood-soaked soil of the Old Dominion,
will be fought the Waterloo of the rebellion.
Sherman’s victorious and almost entirely unop
posed raid from Chattanooga to Atlanta, thence
to Savannah, Charleston and Columbia, with
whatever davastati n he may have created, haa
not in the le»3t disconcerted Lee. It may rather
be considered part and parcel of his plan. And
wheu the true history of affairs ac tho front is made
known, it wilt be found that Charleston, Columbia
aud Wilmington were evacuated only that the rebel
commander-in chief might withdraw all tho
able fores stationed at those garrisons, to be incor
porated with the army around Richmond.
It is useless to ask es ’Grant’s combinations and
tremendous schemes, of which we are daily re
minded by army correspondents and the telegram.
These grand combinations and that wonderful
strategy, of which we so much, have
been capturing Richmond every day for the last
months. Yet the beleaguered city is as far from
our grasp as when our armies under McClellan
were driven from the Peninsula. “On to Rich
mond !” but never into it. With the record es the
last attempt, beginning in the spring, and as yet
unended—from the Rapidaa, through the awful
carnage of the Wilderness, and to the present base,
a hecatomb of dear live have been lost, the blood
of our kindred has flown in torrents, happy homes
have been made desolate, and grief brought to
thousands of hearts, in brdernhat the glo: y of one
man might have the' holocaust.
To gratify the dogged pertinacity of a General
wh>, whatever his genius, and whatever past suc
cessors he may have blundered into, cares as little
for the lives of his soldiers, as he does for those
of the enemy, and who would throw away half an
army to accomplish a purposeless object—the ad
ministration has given him almost absolute
power.
Week after week, month after month, Rich
mond was being evacuated—it was about to be
captured.
Petersburg, after being bombarded, its outer
defences mined and stormed, still is held by Lee.
The great Butler elephant, the Dutch Gap canal,
was to acccomplish wonders, but it didn’t. It
caved in magnificently, and buried Butlsr beyond
hope of resurrection. Demonstrations of an im
posing character were made and are being made
daily, with the same result—a of life and no
good accomplished.
But matters are approaching a crisis. Before
many weeks the last grand and decisive battle will
have begun. Tho preliminaries are being rapidly
arranged.
Such a contest as this will be, the world has
never witnessed, for upon it depends the fate of
the country. In that battle, should we suffer a
defeat, it will be overwhelming, and all the advan
tages we have gained la the past six months, will
be as worthless as the bubble reputations they
hare made. If Lee is defeated—he still has the
interior in which to once more raliy his scat
tered legions, and concentrate for offense, if not
•for attack.
From ail outer garrisons and troops depots the
rebel army at the capital is being augmented.—
Silently, but surely, the strorm is gathering. Let
us not be too sanguine of success. It may be that
the rebel General will make it a Waterloo for us,
while upon him, through the smoke of that day’s
battle, will shine the sun of a second day’s Auster
litz. Lee wiil not throw away a single chance.
He is not the man of Lost Opportunities. Had
Lee had command ot our armies at the outset of
the war we verily believe the rebellion would have
been crushed iu less than eight months. But we
had only surh second-rate undertakers as Bum
side and Hooker, Butler and Pope.
Let .us trust that our Lieutenant General may
thoroughly prepare for the conflict; .that when
the conflict comes, eur immense plurality of men
may not oe driven to their deaths in vain attempts
to accomplish an impossible purpose, and that lor
once our leaders may bo equal to their Herculean
task.
The Exemption Bill.
The following message was received from
the President on tbe subject of the exemption
bill :
To the Seriate and House of Representatives of
the Confederate Stmes oj America .-
I have no.v under c a -Ideration the act en
tit 1 -d “an act to dims . sit the aumner of ex
empt'' '‘a n r d details, s ;ich has passed both
How *.»«, ..;.v--sen>d • ne on Saturday, the
lid* instant."
T-h a." .-on uns two provisions which
would, in pwctiw, so impair the efficiency ot
ti e scr- ice as to cmftiterbalanoe, it not out
wt".;b, ate advoutages timt would resuit from
the other clauses coikm . u in it.
The third .• action *ii skilled arti
sans and rut panics .n ;e tu.i loymeat ot the
Govern men* front at' miht .ry service \ retv
i'ijnortt ntd t li-'t-o su-Ds;* ns.i;i e portion of
our loc.d trr.bps cwt-.-ts o‘ these mechanics
and artisans. They amount to many thous
and? in th*» Confederacy : and whi.e they are
and she . and remain ex-rrs* ' fr- *n general scr
vice, no good cause is perceived why they
should not, like uii other citizens capable of
bearing arms, be organized for local defense,
and be ready to defend the localities in which
they are respectively employed against sudden
raids and incursions. If exempt from this
local service, it will be necessary to detach, in
tnar.y cases, troops from the armies in the
field to guard the towns and workshops where
they are employed. It is believed that if this
provision become a law, the gain of strength
resulting from the repeal of other exemptions
enacted by the first section of the law would
be more than counterbalanced by the loss of
this local force.
The second provision to which I refer is
that which revokes all details and exemptions
heretofore granted by the President and Sec
retary of War, and prohibits the grant of such
exemptions and details hereafter. There is
little hazard in saying that such a provision
could not be executed without so disorganiz
ing the public service as to produce very inju
rious results. In every department of the
Government, in every branch of the service
throughout the country, there are duties to be
performed which cannot be discharged except
by men instructed and trained in their perfor
mance. Long experience makes them experts.
Their services become, in their peculiar
sphere of duty, worth to the country greatly
more than ary they could possibly render in
the field Some of them it would be impos
sible immediately to replace. The Treasury
expert who detects a forged note at a glance;
the accounting officer, whose long experience
makes him a living repository of the rules
and precedents which guard the Treasury
from frauds ; the superintendent of the manu
facturing establishments of the Government,
which supply suoes, harness, wagons, ambu
lances, &c., for the army; the employees who
have been especially trained in the distribu
tion and subdivision of mail matter among
the various routes by which it is to reach its
destination, are among the instances that are
afforded by the daily experience of executive
officers. To withdraw from the public ser
vice at once, and without any means of re
placing them, the very limited number of ex
perts, believed to be less than one hundred,
who are affected by the bill, is to throw the
whole machinery of Government ißto confu*
sion and disorder at a period when none who
are not engaged in executive duties can have
an adequate idea of the difficulties by which
they are already embarrassed.
The desire ox the Executive and Secretary
of War to obtain for the army the services of
every man available for the public defence
can hardly be doubted, and Congress may be
assured that nothing but imperative necessity
could induce the exercise of any discretion
vested in them to retain men out of the army.
But no government can be administered with
out vesting some discretion in the executive
officers in the application of genernl rules to
classes of the population individual excep
tions exist to all such rules in the very nature
of things, and these exceptions cannot be
provided for by legislation in advance. I
earnestly hope that Congress will pass an
amendment to the act now under considera
tion, in accordance with the foregoing recom
mendation, so that I may be able, by signing
both the act and amendment, to secure unim
paired benefit to the proposed legislation.
Jbffkrson Davis.
Executive Office, Richmond, March 13, 1865.
From Sa.v a.nnah.— I Through the kindness of
an officer below, the Chronicle & Sentinel of
the 26th has a .Savannah Republican of March
I7th.
Some ot the Northern firms are taking steps
to make Pheir Southern creditors pay up what
they owe.
The ship Lawrence, loaded with nearly
twenty-four hundred bales of cotton, which
went ashore at the mouth of the Savannah
river while on her way to New York, about
ten days since, has been brought to Savannah
and is now lying at the wharf adjoining the
Central Cotton Press. The cotton is now be
ing taken out of her and transferred to other
vessels.
Two Provost Courts have been established.
One has jurisdiction in cases of one hundred
dollars and over; also ia all cases of claim
ing, guardianship, and those cases rendered
important by incidental circumstances. The
other court has jurisdiction in misdemeanors,
and all cases involving rights of one hundred
dollars and under. Lieut. Eben Parsons, jr.,
is Judge of the highest court ; and Captain J.
W. Walton of the lower court.
The Provost Marshal has issued an order
giving all citizens who have not registered to
do so before Saturday, March 18. Persons
who do not obey the order will be held respon
sible.
The city has been divided -into Districts,
for the purpose of the effectual removal of
garbage, and all matter injurious to health.
All such stuff must be placed in certain places
for removal before eight o’clock in the morn
ing.
The annexed order in regard to cotton trad
ing has just been issued :
Hkaoq’rs Dist. of Savannah, Ga., 1
Savannah. March 17,1865. J
Generai Orders,)
No. 7. /
The annexed dicision has been made at the
Headquarters ot the Military Division of the
Mississippi, and is published for the informa
tion of all concerned, viz :
“ A question having arisen as to the proper
construction of Special Field Order No. 13.
Headquarters Military Division of the Missis
sippi, in the Field, dated Savannah, Gar. Jan.
15, 1865, (Par. VI.) it is hereby directed that
until further orders, said Par. will be taken to
prohibit any purchase, direct or indirect, by
any other person than an United States Trea
sury agent, of any cotton or any claims
thereto.
This construction will be enforced by the
military authorities having jurisdiction. ”
By command of
Brev't Maj. Gen. Grover.
Edward G. Dike. A. A. G.
ibe President.
I ** The following in reference to the President is from
I a speech delivered a few days ago at Columbus,
Miss., by the Rev. Dr. Marshall:
Fair and liberal criticism of the President is al
! iowable. At all times we have the right to speak
| truthfully, and may thu3 censure our Chief Magis
| trate. But remember, my countrymen, that we all,
with one mind and heart, commend with limitless
laudation General Lee. We are accustomed to
sneak of him as a reproduction of Washington.—
: This is well. The illustrious Virginian deserves all
that we say of him : but remember that Lee is re
sponsible for many acts for which the President
alone is censured. The appointments that have
been made, the removals from command, against
which we have so bitterly inveighed, have often
been effected through the advice es General Lee. —
Yet the President shields not himself behind the un
tarnished, spotless name of Robt. E. Lee. He stands
unmoved, like a rock in mid-ocean, against which
the billows of popular passion and prejudice da*h
! and break themselves in vain. ,
There are reasons for his conduct, in many in
stances, which it doe3 not become him to make
known. Reasons of state policy forbid it. History
may present apologies for Eisfconduct, and we, as
Miss'ssippians, shall yet boast, and our children af
ter us, that this proud CommonwealUi gave to Con
federation its first President, the firm, unbending,
self-poised statesman and hero, Davis. I
have heard him. said Dr. Marshall, in private eon
versation admit that great mistakes had been made.
He spoke of resulting sufferings to this people with
tearful eyes. With swelling bosom and flushed face
he spoke of the miscarriage of plans shaped with the
uc.nost care and forethought, on which the military
and civil genius of the country had exhausted it
self. Who might not, would not, now and then have
failed in bis place ?
It is easy to find fault after the event. No genius,
or skiil, or statesmanship, is required in tho execu
tion of this task. Who can'till his place? Who
would evince his calmness, lua import uroiiity, as
sailed fro:-. without and as mercilessly, by those
who are his countrymen, who, despite of themselves
to us shave his glory or bis shame. Would you ex
change >: im, jay countrymen, for any m *n that lives?
[No ! fie! and deafenirg opl.iase.J We may find
fault, but arc we best c i. uiate : t determine his
merits? The traveler who st-tjnis upon the moun
tain summit surveys the > lau b.-Tow ;.r.d at a glance,
comprehends all its marked features. -'So witu tbe
o; ter world,
A!: States, warriors and peoples, contemplate
events transpiring on thi- continent from a s;aud
poir.t more eligible than which we occupy. By th
>lr. Davis la regard*'.! the cate t statesman of !rs
or preceding centuries. L oi-' NapMeou, the
ter of Western continent 1 Europe, is not deemed
superior in any >1 tde element- of statesmanship
military excellence u> the «e.l poise; Chief Mag:s
trateoi the Cop fed - racy- *1 tuoughoutthe w»rl f no
ma*i stands hig’-t-. r, no oneis more honored, no ••vo
deemeu a truer, nobler representative of the cause
he lias espoused than Pre-ident Davis.
J '{-Governor, A/adisou S. Perry*,died at his resi
dence near Gainesville, on the 10th inst.
TELEGRAPHIC.
REPORTS OP THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.
Entered according to act of Congress in the year
1863, by J. S’. Tnrasher, in the Clerk's office of
the Distriot Court of the Confederate States for
the Northern District of Georgia.
*
Acgcsta, March 29.—Special advices ju3t
received Inform us that Gen. Johnston’s head
quarters were at Smithfield, N. C., on the 28th.
Our lines are advanced on the North 3ide of
Neuse river, and confront the in the
vicinity of Goldsboro’. The enemy ha? with
drawn and concentrated at that point. They
are engaged ia repairing the railroad from
Newberne te Kingston, and accumulating ma
terial of war at Goldsboro for farther opera
tions. The forces of JJthe enemy consist of
Sherman sand Schofield’s combined com
mands. Besults of our late operations are
very advantageous to our arms. Gains large
—losses slight. The enemy lost largely in ev
ery respect. Much enthusiasm prevails and
confidence in Gen. Johnston evinced by our
troops. Gen. Beauregard rsmam3 at Raleigh.
All confident and cheerful,
FROM MOBILE—ATTACK ON SPANISH
FORT REPULSED.
Mobile, March 27.—Heavy firing is beard
at Spanish fort, and evidently there is a sharp
battle progressing, but the atmosphere is too
hazy to make out anything by the use of
glasses or signals.
Our troops are in a line of intrench meats
reaching from Spanish fort to Blakely, and
and the works are strong. «
The enemy's fleet appears to be taking a
part.
A dispatch received’ this morning says Gen.
Gibson drove in the enemy’s skirmishers at
daylight, capturing their guns, knapsacks
and blankets. They ran back to their log
works, and appeared to be in a strong and ex
tended Hue of battle. On our side several
men were wounded.
All quiet on this side of the bay.
Mobile, March 27.—Hard fighting has been
going on all day at Spanish Fort, and on the
road to Blakely.
The enemy assaulted the fort several times,
but were repulsed with heavy loss.
The enemy’s fleet has not yet been engaged
in the attack
I do not hear of any movement on the west
ern shore.
[From the Charleston Courier, Feb. 20. ]
Horrors of tiie Evacuation of Charleston,
The terrible scenes through which this com
munity has passed since our last issue can only
' be conceived by those who witnessed the dread
ful reality. The saddest part of it is the loss
of life which occurred between 8 and 9 o’clock
on. Saturday morning, from an accidental ex
plosion of powder and the blowing up of the
Northeastern rail road depot. And 150 per
sons—including men, women and ohildren—
were either instantly killed or perished in the
flames, and about 200 wounded. Os the im
mense destruction of property no estimate can
be formed, but it will amount to several mill
ions.
Saturday morning, before the retirement of
Gen. Hardee’s troops, every building, ware
house or shed, stored with cotton, was fired
by a guard detailed for the purpose. The en
gines were brought out, but with the small
force at the disposal of the fire department,
very little else could be done than to keep the
surrounding buildings from igniting. On the
wharf of the Savannah rail road depot sever
al hundred bales of cotton were awaiting
shipment on the blockade runners: also sev
eral thousand bushel3 of rough rice. On Lu
cas street, leading to the depot, was a shed
containing 1200 bale3 of cotton, which, toge
ther with several other sheds and buildings
filled with ootton, belonging to private parties,
fell a prey to the flames. Lucas’s mill, con
taining some 30,000 bushels of rice, and Mr.
R. TANARUS, Walker’s warehouse, at the foot of Broad
street, filled with commissary stores, were also
destroyed.
Shortly after 9 o’clock occurred the terrible
explosion at the Northeastern rail road. The
explosion was tremendous, and shocked the
whole city. It appears, from all acsounts,
that this dreadful*catastrophe was caused from
the careless handling of powder by some £oys,
taking handsful and throwing it into the cot*'
ton fire at the depot. In doing this they un
wittingly laid a train to the apartment where
it was stored. The spectacle which followed
was horrible. In an instant the whole build
ing was enveloped in smoke and flames. The
cries of the wounded, the inability of the spec
tators to render-assistance to those rolling
and perishiDg in the fire, all rendered it a
scene of indescribable terror.
The flames spread with great rapidity, com
municating to the adjoining buildings, inclu
ding the fine large residence of Dr. Seeman
Deas, on the northeast corner of Chapel and
Alexander streets, all of which wqfe destroyed.
The buildings on the opposite side of the street
were soon enveloped in flames, and the fire
now became unmanageable.
All the buildings embraced in the area of
four squares on Chapel, Alexander, Washing
ton and Charlotte streets to Calhoun street,
with a few exceptions, were destroyed. About
ten o’clock fire broke out in the large four
story brick building of Madam Dußee, at the
northeast corner of East Bay and Laurens
street. This, with the adjoining building on
the northeast corner of Minority street, were
burned. Another fire broke out about 11
o'clock in a range of buildings on the west
side of Meeting street, next to the court house.
Five buildings were burned, the walls only
were left standing. The alarm of fire on Sat
urday night, in Ward four, was caused by the
burning of the inside or a millinery establish
ment on King street.
In addition to the above fires, the new bridge
from the city to James Island was set on fire
and was still burning on Sunday night. .
DESTRUCTION OF THE GUNBOATS.
The burning and blowing up of the iron
clads Palmetto State, Cbicora and Charleston
was a magnificent spectacle. The Palmetto
State was first to explode, and was followed
by the Chicora about nine o’clock, amlj.the
Charleston about eleven A. M. The latter, it
is said, had twenty tons of gunpowder on
board. Pieces of the iron plates, red hot, fell
on the wharves amd set them on fire. By the
active exertions of Superintendent Thomas
Turner, the gas works were saved. The ex
plosions were terrific. Tremendous, clouds
of 9moke went up, forming beautiful wreaths.
A full Palmetto tree, with its leaves and stems,
was noticed by many observers. A? the last
wreath of smoke disappeared, the full form of
i rattle snake in 'he centre was remarked by
many as it gradually faded away.
Destitution in Atlanta. — The Intelligencer
says there is much distress and destitution in and
around Atlanta—that county having been entirely
stripped of everything to cut, ami their horses,
mutes and stock generally, having been taken
from them, they are left ic a most helpless and
dependent Cor dilion.
Many of those who are suffering, are the wives
and iiitdren f soldiers who Java stood and bat
tled for the rights *f their country , whilst those
dear to 'ham. and dependent upon them, were
overrun by the enemy an l robbed of the scanty
supplies which their lint ited resources, in the ab
sence of their protectors, had enabled them to ac
cumulate. This ought not to be, and we hope
something will bn-dooe to relieve them.
THE CITY.
T. J. JACKSON LOCAL EDITOR
Sales To dat.—Myer*. Watson k Cos. will sell
to-day. likely negroes, tobaeco, cigars," syrup,
sugar, ground peas, cow peas, 4c. See advertise
ment.
We give place this morning to a card from the
ladies on the subject of their late meeting. It
speaks for itself, and will hardly fail to be under
load by those for whom it is intended. In this
connection, we give it as our opinion that sufficient
has been said through oureolumnson this subject,
both pro and con. Crimination and recrimination
Lre rarely productive es good. Owing to the tax
on our columns and the patience of our readers
we shall decline further communications on this
subject. Wo are at least satisfied of the pure in
tentions and patriotic purposes of our ladies. If
they have been hasty in their actions or erroneous
in their conclusions, the error ha* been of the head
and not of the heart. Though we differ with the
ladies in some of their premises, we believe they
bnvß only taken such action as, under the circum
stances, they thought best for the salvation of our
country.
Auction Sales. —The following prices were
obtained at auction yesterday by Rosette, Lawhon
k Cos.:
Corn, sls; tobacco, middling, $o ; hams $4;
sides, $4; pickled pork, $3; Irish potatoes, $29;
bar soap, $2 to $2 50 : oranges, f-7Je.: wheat, $55;
rye, $37 50; salt, $2 50 to $2 75; negro boy, 20
years old, $2700; negro man, 26 years old, $3000;
one horse, S2OOO ; diamond ring, $4600.
Other sales unimportant.
A Card.
The ladies desire to express their gratification
at the fluttering which has been produced by the
resolutions adopted at their meeting last week. It
is to be hoped that those who are hit and wounded
will very soon place themseives out of the reach
of our shot, by getting into the ranks with those
who are fighting for our protection. We are en
couraged the more in this hope, as we see that the
valor of the men at home is not quite gone, from
the gallant fight, behind masks,'which they make
upon the women. Noble knights, please “change
your base” and charge your foes.
% &
For the Times.
Mr. Editor. : la your paper of to-day's issue I
notice the first artiole which has yet appeared in
support of the meeting lately held by the ladies es
Columbus. Ido not know who the author is, but
he chose a suitable signature, for in justice at
least to the ladies, it is due that their motives
should be turned and twisted as to make the action
of the meeting appear uncalled for, when these
men who are trying to put it down know how
necessary it really was.
I know not by whom any one of the little artiolos
against the meeting was written, but it would be
giving me terrible edds if any one were to venture
to dispute the assumption oa my part that three
fourths at least of the articles were written by
these who know not the smell of gunpowder or
tha appearance of a battlefield.
I do not agree with “Justice” when he states
that “the only object on the part of the ladies was
to stir up in tho minds of every able bodied man
a purpose to rally to tho standard of their country
at this critical period,” Ac.—it may not be the
only object.
Columbu3 now stands in critical danger. The
enemy will, before winter comes, have occupied it,
unless every effort is made to recruit eur armies
so as to give them a decided repulse in North
Carolina and Virginia. Oar hope for security rests
in the success of our armies in the present earn.'
paign. This is our only hope and no ail know it.
The mothers, sisters, wives and daughters of the
brave soldiers in the field feel that effort
should be made to touoh the consciences of those
who have remained at home, so thatby'reinforcing
our army the disaster may be prevented. Report
had reached them that when the enemy took pos- 1
session of a sister city, the soldiery for over twenty
four hours were turned lo'ose and no restraint placed
upon their actions. They broke open the stores,
found liquor and got drunk, and the women of
Columbia, defenceless, were at the mercy of a
drunken enomy. We all know Columbia was
destroyed by fire, but it is, and ever will be, a se
cret how many of the women of that city suffered
more than they would had they been consumed in
the flames.
My God! can men, knowing those things to
exist as facts, blame the women of this community
for using every womanly means to drag the laggard
cut?
To you for whom those resolutions are intended
I say, if there is any manhood left in you, ac
knowledge your cowardice? but do not cloak it by
endeavoring to misinterpret the motives of the
organizers of this meeting.
The meeting was held in a house of God, it was
composed of as select & company as Columbus can
boast of, and if any of these men who aro getting
up articles against it had been there they would
have seen but few who did not wear the badge ‘of
mourning for some dear one sacrificed on our
country’s altar.
Prove to the ladies that now is the time to give
up their jewels, and you will see how readily they
will make the sacrifice. Do this by personal ap
plication. Y r ou will find many of the ladies who
composed the meeting at the Wayside Home, near
tho Muscogee depot, at any time when a number
of sick or wounded are expected; there you will
find them as I have, and I assure you the pleasure
of their society wiil fully repay you for the visit.
You no deubt desire the record of one who offers
advice of the above kind. Three years and a half
active service in the field as a private, and a cer
tificate of permanent disability from a disease
contracted from exposure in camp life, makes my
record, which passes with those who made up the
meeting. W.
Columbus, Ga., March 27, 1865.
Loyal Georgians. —At a meeting in New York,
held on the Bth of February, by certain persons
styling themselves “Loyal Georgians,” it is said
the meeting was called to order by Mr. Dunning.
A W Stone wa3 chairman,, and H E Russell and
M K Barnum, secretaries. The oommittee on
resolutions were W Markham, J L Dunning, D
Young, A N Wilson, E McKenzie, W Faruesworth
and A H Burnham.
A W Stono was a lawyer from Vermont; W
Markham a clock peddler from Connecticut, but
who made an overgrown fortune, by rolling iron
in Atlanta for Confederate States money; J L
Dunning was a master machinist and founder,
from New York: A N Wilson wia a school teacher
from New Jersey; D Young was a druggist in
Atlanta, formerly of Columbus; W Fames worth
was the foremaq in Joseph Winship’s shop, wood
department.
It is sai l a Rev. Dr- Curry addressed tbe meet
ing. Ho is the same, we presume, who catne from
the North about 1340, and joced the Methods
conference; who preached and taught chool in
1842, in Lexington, Georgia, and was stationed
in Columbus in 1543 or in 1844. where, on account
of his abolition seUtin ents, be received a very
significant hint from his that his
personal tafety demanded a charge of base.—
He tbe.- : moved to New Y rk where be fca- since
resided.
These are the inon whoso proceedings are thus
sent forth to the world as those or ‘ Loyal Geor
gia cs.”
In every ei?V over which now floats the stars
and stripes, the people “keep step to tbe music of
the Union.” with a negro guard at their s de.
Mexican Affairs.—The N*w Y» r k Tribal ,f
March 6th. has the following :
Advices received in New York through nr .....
sources from Mexico state that the war ii thl
United States i, attracting the special attend n >f
the Imperial Government.
The police are directed to arrest ail who exorwa
tueir sympathy with the Union cauio, and one
man, named \ aiders, has been sentenced to !
year s imprisonment for speaki.g favorably about
the l nited States, and predicting the spec j v
of the rebellion. J
The Imperial Treasury is constantly t- ,
lower. * *
The hostility of the church partv to the K n
ror Maximilian is on the increase.*
The friends of the Juarist cause here refuse
give credence to the reported defeat of P o r- - «
Diaz at Oaxaca.
womfnfnSt. LouisaYiluve® of* H
W t° i3 - afflict « d witda dNeas°n
W P“P™ £ all . 8 . a dancing of the heart ! t
which tho physicians pronounce incurable He
dy with the dancing heart” firmly believe-' •'
she can be.cured by drinking a few drops of the V? i
of a man who has been executed. Her nam-
Llizaoeth Mund, and she is twenty-three year, V
age, and has been the mother of three childjU
none of whom survive. She has made nume
applications at the jail to inquire when there
be an execution, and as there has been no case
capital punishment at that institution for *evc- ;
months, her desire for human blood has not
gratified. She heard that John Abshire, sentenced
by court marshal to be hung by the neck, was to k«
executed in thejail yard on the 18th, as it wU st*
ted in the papers. The execution of the «enten *
however, was suspended, and on being inforn 1
the man was not to be hung, Mr?. Mund as‘
to be greatly disappointed and chargrinei. Cai 'i "
Bishop cheered her drooping spirits however
teilieg her that on the 15tb April a man would -
hung by the neck until he was “dead, dead, dea
and that she might then appear and obtain a j ‘a
of the blood of Valentine Ilanseen, the murderer
provided Governor Ilall did not pardou or -sp- I
the criminal, and the physician would allow her - j
extract the curative fluid. With this pleasing „
surance Mrs. Mund took her departure $:• *
consoled. This is a curious case of modem -
stition.
AUCTION SALES,
Hy Myers, Watson &Cos
+ mm
T'ITE will soil on THURSDAY, March 30th. t
V? 11 o’clock, in front of our Auction ltoom
1 Likely Negro Boy, 15 years old, No 1
Field Hand,
1 *
20 boxes Common Tobacco
25 Sacks Cow Peas,
20 u Ground Peas,
2 bbls. Choice Cane Syrup.
2 boxes Fine Soap.
2 “ Candles,
5000 Florida Cigars.
Lot of Clothing,
Shoes, Dry Gj^oda,’
Gold and Silver Watches,
-Jewelry, etc.
mar 29 $32
EXTENSIVE
AUCTION SALE,
BY
.TOII2NT QUIN.
TT/'ILL be sold in front of the Colums
W bus Relief Association Store, on
seu jml ml mm -
HARCH 31st, 1863,
The entire Stock of the Association, con*
sisting in part of the following
sold for the purpose of closing the buai*
ness of said Association :
30 PACKAGES SMOKING TOBACCO,
400 lbs. OF NAILS, 8, 10 and 12,
120 BOXES BLACKING,
3 bbls. SYRUP.
400 lbs. OF LARD,
500 lbs. PLANTATION IRON,
46 PLOW'POINTS,
2 SACKS SALT,
6 BUSHELS IRISH POTATOES,
100 EMPTY BASKETS,
•25 RICE CASKS,
25 EMPTY MOLASSES BARRELS,
90 PAIR HAMES,
70 lbs. PICKELED MULLET,
20 PAIR TRACE CHAINS,
50 STAW BROOMS,
1 PAIR COUNTER SCALES.
1 PAIR DRAW SCALES,
540 OSNABURG BAGS
HALF DOZEN AXES,
COFFEE MILLS, DEMIJOHNS,
MEASURES, FUNNELS, together with a va
riety of articles too numerous to mention,
mar 29 tds
ADMINISTRATORS SALE.
ROSETTE, EAWIION A CO.,
WILL SELL AT 11 O'CLOCK
Wednesday, April olli,
t LADIES’ ENAMELED DOUBLE
CASE GOLD WATCH, Set with
Diamonds,
2 DIAMOND RINGS,
1 SOLE LEATHER TRUNK
4 PAIR PANTS, 4 SHIRTS,
1 COAT, AND OTHER CLOTHING.
Sold as the property of HENDERSON
HEN T LY, Deceased. #
1 Set SPORTING TOOLS, very fine.
W. B. BROWN, Adm'r.
march 26 S9O 75
Rosette, Lawhon & Cos ,
OFFER AT PRIVATE SALE
A DESIRABLE RESIDENCE
Opposite the Lowel! Warehouse. Tho
House contains six rooms with a :: •
basement, good kitchen and other out
buildings,
mar 17 tf'
City Election.
An election will be held on Saturday, April Mb,
in the Ist Ward at tho store of P. H. Hartman, f
one Alderman to fill the vacancy ocoatioDed by the
resignation of J. -J. McKendree.
And in the sth Ward, at the Kalloca Grocery, for
one Alderman to fill the vacancy occasioned by tho*
of Jas. M- Everitt.
AT. M. MOORE,
mar £9 tde Clerk of Council-
For Ciiattalioocliee.
The Steamer MIST will leave for the above
and intermediate landings. Thur.-day morning-'
10 o’clock.
in hr 30 td
For Alderman, M Ward.
The friends of Louis lUiman wiH supi'Oft him is
a suitable candidate for Alderman <-! toe i.G Marti,
tP fill the vacancy cc. asioned ky toe t* on of
Judge McKerrdree.
ruar UP tde* . -
mu' bared* of Pure CATAWBA WINE. Vit
r iMire of Apply to
mar Inf JOHN MUND.
3SX3 5 X 5 * *
THE FIRM ofLIGON A BROUKB has been tms
l dny dissolved by mutual ooriscuc. the no' sand
accounts of aid Firui. aro is the hand • ■ ’* a *
demurred, who alone is autnon i!’ T ?2*
ii*ar3o6t ' F. M. -i*. ’b •