Newspaper Page Text
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V
#- ♦- •
m
Joseimi Clisby
/ \\ inter Campaign.—The lapse of every
<sy ami nothing done by the enemy corrcs
^Jtiilent with his immense force of over 800,•
<Wfnt in the field and his formidable fleets and
nrinnnienls, adds another day of triumph to
the South— ind another day of most costly
and heart sickening hope deferred to our ene
mies. While not much in fear of evil tidings
from any quarter, wt- are still not sorry as
each day winds up wi;h thu record “uo newt "
MACON, FRIDAY, 3 O’CLOCK, P. M., DECEMBER 19, 1862.
Foilisu thk Sri ccLAToas.—Speaking of the
late auction sale in Charleston of the goods
by the steamer Arif*, the correspondent of the
Mobile Advertiser says:
“During the auction yesterday a govern
ment agent bid $1150 per gallon for Lin-
sec I od. Other bidders were ready to go
higher, but toe Confederate agent announced
that the Government needed the oil, and
would, in an> event, seise it at the rate he
had nid This produced a “scare.” The own
ers of the goods grow mdignant and the auc
tioneer delicti tin agent to make thu threaten
od seizure. So matters stood for aw hile, when
an Aid of Gen. Beauregard entered the room
and announced in the name ol the General
that if the Government faded to obtain any
article o< the cargo which it needed, not a bale
of c tlon would be allowed to leave llie port ol
Ob:r it >t . >mL ' _\M ••* This threat had the
when
ano
, aetlle
r ;Mfcd for
mc!T»e^C nln * U0,y 23
completene* - J
our £o<xl old city ^caui
centratcd .ill Ins energies o( F r ‘ P
nation for the task whiclj ■'fort^hjin—to
hold the cii v at every haz\r_J__;l to lne la
has con-
inmiagtiuent ami unflagging zeal are alrea y
apparent The people and the troop* arc a.i-
iniiled with new confidence, and Richmond
do.-s not rest UUC tranquil behind the bayo
nets of the matchless army of Lee, than di.es
Charleston within her belt of massive outworks
and bristling cannon. 1 may say, without di
vulging any military secret, that the state ol
our defences at the present time is such as to
.preclude all possibility of the city being re-
| loo d b; any means now at the disposal of the
jk.-i Nation The cannoneers ol Forts Sum
Moultrie would desire no better spurt
kh it the enemy's tan, as at pnwst co »-
ld, -hould be buried again*: them As
cvr iron clads, we have reliable infor-
ki the c-mnot be ready before the
of January, at the earliest; their fitness
••job” for which they were built, will
i then be doubtful; and lliuir seaworthiness
*e than doubtful. Longbefotc they can be
bug'it here, some very material improve-
Lnts in our defences, intended especially
their reception, will have boon finished; and
y do not find our own home made iron-
a pair of ugly customers, then the judg-
eul o! our best and bravest naval officers is
cry much at fault Kverything considered,
■ of Charleston, consider our wont danger
; past, and d voully hope that Mobile is equal-
fortunate.
SALT DECLINING IN PRICE.
Kiciinond, Dee. 10.—The price of st^l is
uning down rapidly. Two week* ago the ar-
icle sold in Richmond at one dollar and fifty
euts per pound. It was sold yesterday in
iVtcrsburg at fifty cents per pound.
Salt will go into a regular decline ns soos as
Die demand for packing begins to abate There
large quantities of salt in the country.
Blttkii.—Wo were indebted yesterday to
jlir lrientl T. W Fax khan, for a large lump
1,1 i xcellcnt Butter, elaborated moat beauti
Lilly in leaves and flowers—the work ol
] isleful young lady in Houston. We are grat
ified to soo evidences of taste;, and improve
ment in the products of wur dairies: and, be
In Ii*, it is •» most excel,c-nt an I appreciable
i,tig to have the jour cy of life in these wea-
tunes lubricated by such an uncommon
[nit acceptable contribution.
AFFAIRS AT FREDERICKSBURG.
We can make nothing at the present writin;
idfiiirs at Frodi ricksburg. There was evi
illy a severe fight there on Saturday result-
in considerable though not heavy lass on
[r side, including three Brigadier Generals—
\xev Gregg, of South Carolina, flood, of
l:is and T. R. 11. Cobb of Georgia. Wheth
Jhc town is or Is not in possession of the
„y_iwhether he succeeded in crossing at
r,,,, . than oiw point—where the fight was and
rlmt was the precise result, aro facts to bode
velopcl to us by the Richmond associate
prc-'.-, if that institution will condescend to
send us atff.tuvs before going to pi ess
i-^tTtbi
Tm Nioko in tut North.—A correspondent
tie Chicago Times, in a letter from the army
West, says:
lhave ecu quite a* fortunate as Horace
Idcy in discovering ‘ intelligent contra
and must acknowledge that I have
I't.i'ic .i an sensible iniilaltoc.-, and they
: that ii they get uo better treatment at
■rib than whet they now receive from
•tlii tn soldiers, they had a thousand time
r yeumib with if masters. And it is
:*"ic.rally conceurf^iy every candid man,
very negro sent P e 'ih will be much w
tmm In-re. All 1 hOe to .ay is, God help
poor heipies.- negroes. 1 detest slavery
l 1 am ir to conltsa tlmt 1 do not believe
I n groes generally a?e capable of getting
iviog ' ilmu .i master, aad if they aro allowed
Hortl. they tnust just a- much tie under
master as here
M 'S civ.i l»ec. IS.—Gov. Jackson, of Mis.
souri, lie d i.l i. it.c Hock, Aiksnaoe on the 8tli
ilist-
(»en. Hindman hiui had an engagement near
Kayettville, Ai k., ilefeaiiug the Abolitionists and
<aptaring lour hundred prisoners. The low is
heavy on laid' sides.
All is quiet in me valley ol the Mississippi.—
Sim. Hop-
1 avion Thwart to.—Gibbon and V oita ire, and
Chesterti'dil,inJitit-|s^ viioix-U earueslly to ovcrlhro
the cause of Ulirisi How has God in His 1’rovi
deuoe thwarted uii Uicir plains': 1 Gibbon’s house
Luke Lem is, it is said, is no* a hotel, ill whie
there is a room lor tlie sale, of Bibles; Voltaire's
printing press, from which he scattered widely his
,nfidel tracts has been appropriated to printing the
Word of God, which he has sought to destroy:
and Chesterfield’s parlor, where an infidel club
used to mec., to rail at religion, is now a vestry
a here tbo groans and prayers »f the peuiteut go
up to God* .Thus, ~ "
THE MESSRS. TIFT AND THK RAM MIS
S1SSIPPI.
That terrible blow up m the Confederate
cause, the loss of New I Means, was a painful
surprise and disnppointment to our people.—
For mouths we had all rested securely upon
t e information that Ihe plate was "impreyna
bit"—“a Gibraller!" Such was the assu
rance given by the newspapers and confirmed
by “passengers." Nor is that disgraceful ca
tastrophe yet explained. It seems absolutely
incredible that so important a punt should
have been left so substantially defenceless—
that the State or the national authorities should
have rested quietly a night while there was a
thing remaining to bo done to secure so vast a
commercial centre, and the outlet of such a
stupendous system of internal navigation to
the permanent occupancy of the Conlcdcrate
Government. It is t'X) late now to lament over
so wretched an oversight, but history will
hold to a severe responsibility the parties by
whose default this lamentable disgrace to our
arms and fearful set-back tu the cause of our
independence was brought about.
It was supposed, and so staled before the fall
of New Orle ins, that the entire river banks,
from the forts up to the city, were “lined with
a succession ol Irowning and formidable bat
teries,” and the passage of the Forts, if etfect-
ouid only be the beginning of the strug
udge, then, of the surprise of every
en not a batte y worth a straw was
titervene in all the space of seventy
d that throe wooden gunboats, alter
slipjied by these Forts, found their
to the city sulislanfiitll) undisputed,
ihoruics seemed to (avc relied almost
to meet such a com rigency, upon the
d frail gunboats, extemporised for that
ie from commercial craft, and which
[Were easily sunk or disabled by the enemy
near the forts.
There was, however, jus) launched and
ithiu two weeks of completion, one of the
most formidable crafts which the world has
ver seen, and which singly handed would
have destroyed the entire auddiing naval force
and, mi fact, w.ould have beei
most any number ol wooden
have been mere sport to her ti have sunk or
destroyed the whole of themo-but she lacked
just ten days’ labor of being Ii a condition lor
nice. To have come so mtu, and yet miss
ed entirely, was a terrible misfortune to her
builders. It made them the (capo-goats of a
great crime and a terrible callmity. To work
seven months on so a mighty * fabric and lose
all and the city besid^ lor thdlack o^fen more
day» / was one ol those grand culminations in
the chaplet of accidents an! fortuities for
which to have even done yuiir best' keruled
small excuse or defense.
Hence the loss of New Orleans has been
porseveringly charged to a ciiuiinal failure to
complete the r un Mississippi, while we verily
believe that in the whole city, the Messrs.'Titt
were the only men who were (ievoting them
selves soul and body, night ind day, to the
ork oi getting ready lor tlie enemy. Vol
unteering their services gratuitously to super
intend the construction of this vessel, we are
satisfied by the most ample testimony, tli»t
they lost not an hour in their work, wmch it
was possible to save, from the uiouicul they
pul hand to it; and the Charleston Mercury,
ciunmenting upon the communication we else
where publish, expresses the same opinion.—
Ttie whole origin of these charges is to be
traced to the simple fact that they came so
near and yet missed. If their work had been
pressed with less dispatch, robody would have
thought of censuring them.
As it stands, they have repeatedly felt call
ed upon to vindicate themselves, ami lo-day
publish a communication in response to a acini
official effort of thu aulnoritius of Louisiana to
put upon them the responsibility of the loss of
New Orleans. We commenl their communi
cation to the reader and to history. The loss
of Now Orleans was due to the inexcusable
neglect of river defenses *i>-t • 'He u; ,. o.ie
good floating battery wouiu have stiv-d Ihe
town.
eria
l ves
match lor al
essels. H would
THE FEELING.
It is apparent to al! who read the Southern
newspapers—mingle in crowds—talk with the
army officers and soldiers as they arrive from
various quarters—or converse with intelligent
officials and civilians, that at no period in the
history of thin war was the general feeling in
the Confederate States more buoyant, hopeful
and confident—not only of success in the great
struggle, but of tpeeily success, ami this, too,
at a poriod which all contemplated, in the dis-
'ance, with very great apprehension. "We
were to conlronl t million nun in a ni’gbty
tide of invasion which should emtio iy me high
est development of the material power of the
North to destroy us. All that the North had
dene was to be child’s play in comparison with
what was coining in this Fall and Winter cam
paign ; and it therefore seemed clear enough
that, make the best preparation wo might, the
odds against, ns would be too gnat to justify a
reasonable h ope of escaping considerable losses
and disastei k
A third of these critical months, howev
er, is now passing innocuously, and the Yan
kee documi nls are beginning to show that the
actual supe rioritj - (numerical) of the enemy in
thejlrlil is not very great. Lincoln’sA djutant
General repoi is the actual force at “about bOU,-
000,” from which we must deduct the sick and
the garrison force, which is laige, and wo aro
thou brought to the conclusion that the active
force employed against us is not now relatively
much greater than it always lias been ; while
it is Iieliev fcil ita materiel is not relatively as
good. Fn im the best inlbruiaiion attainable
from all p< lints, it is believed that the general
confidence in the substantial repulsion of the
enemy is i oasonable and well grounded.
The “Jletl” is yet to open on us on our riv
ers and on our coasts. What the iron clads
may do is yet in the womb of the future, hut,
al the woiast they can hut scarify the surface
—they cannot penetrate tbo vitals.
I f repo rts be true, w e aro soon to see a
new uiovi imcnt upon Georgia through Bruns
wick by t Be redoubtahlu Banks, who, proba
bly, ere l tis time, may be in Brunswick har
bor, if lb it be his destination, 't he object of
such an ,:xpedltion we cannot piecend to fa
thom ; bu t asa lu.li’ar* movement likely to lie
attended with any important results, one
way or t’ae other, it seems to us preposterous
—under! uken without any knowledge of the
country. We think rumor has misapprehend
c-d the rial purpose of Banks’ expedi'i in.
SOUTH BRN «-URRENOY AT THE NORTH.
The Richmond Enquirer says : A gentleman
Just trom the United Stales informs us ihul the
notes of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and
South Carolina banks are at a discount of only
Ji«e per ceuL, and that Virginia bank notes are
from til teen to twenty per cent, discount This
is a gre at improvement on fifty and sixty per
cent, demount, and indicates that a feeling of
earh peace is entertained by the brokers of the
Uniied Slates, the best barometers of national
storms.
Our informant says that he was told that
Coafediirate notes would be at about the same
discount, of five per cent, if they could be dealt
in. The cause ol the difference between Vir
gimaand other Southern States is said to be
because Virginia was “deeper in,” and her ter
ritory was more wasted and destroyed, than
any of the other States. Our readers can
draw their own conclusions, from the state of
Southern money in the mackots.
Nothing marvelous in this. The Southern
bills are wanted for cotton operptions in Ten
nessee, where they aro better than Green
backs.
WHAT, THEN, BECOMES OF THE INVA
SION ?
We call attention to the following from an
editorial in the New York Herald ol the 8th,
which is clipped from the Richmond Enquirer
of the lSiii. The whole article is a Jeremiad
over the displacement of Mclfiellan and Burn
side’s advance upon Richmond by the way of
Fredericksburg—a movement confessed to be
altogether Impracticable, because experience
has demonstrated the impossibility of subsist
ing a Feuer&l army at a distance of more than
two or three day’s march (say thirty miles)
from a water base 1 The Herald claims this
tact as not only the infallible deduction from
experience, but very easily determined by anv
with theaiu ol a few arithmetical calculations.
Ibis admission is of vast importance to the
people of the Confederacy, and makes the in
vasion itseli simply ridiculous. If the enemy
cannot penetrate more than thirty miles from
navigable waters, even with the aid of our rail
ways, what absurd.ty to undertake the over
running and subjugation ol a vast territory like
ours, is it not a wonder that this confession
alone should not open the eyes of the North to
the bopehss character of their present under
taking V
JFrom ihe Mi w tic.aid, Dec. bih ]
MILITARY CAMPAIGNING BY KAIL ROADS.
lu another column will be fouud an interesting
letter lroiu Washington foreshadowing important
exposures of the intrigues of the radicals against
General McClellan during the time that he was in
command of the forces at Washington and on the
peninsula, which finally resulted in his removal.—
It also furnishes some important tacts and practi
cal suggestions in reference to the experience of
our armies in relying upon railroads as a medium
to obtain their supplies while marching into an en
emy’s country, to which we call the attention ol
our readers.
The taels there stated in regard to the result of
relying upon railroad communication to furnish
supplies tor the army on the peninsula over tac
short di.-lance from the White House, on the Pu-
muukey totUe Chickabomiuy.also the experience of
Pope, with a much less loree, in attempting to ob
tain his supplies over the Orange and Alexandria
railroad throw a flood of light upon the events of
the past year. They also furnish our readers some
idea ol ttie immense sacrifice of life and treasure,
whieti the intrigues of the radicals at Washington
against General McClellan have brought upon the
country in tneir vain and fruitless cilorts to ruin
McClellan and provo themselves great Generals.
We hare here also the facts showing that tho rail
road from the White House to the Chicknhomiuy, a
distance of only twenty miles, was, when well
stocked with engines and cars, inadequate tor the
transportation of supplies for the army, forcing tin
artillery and cavalry horses to subsist a great dea
ol the time on hali allowance of forage. On the
other baud, it is also shown that Pope, with a much
less force, was unable to obtain at Warreuton, one-
third thu distance to Richmond, sullicieut supplies
for his tioops before he was joined by the Army
of the Potomac. These tacts are also borne out
by the statement ol Prince dc Joinville lu his re
view of the Peninsula campaign, where he states
that an invading army in this country can not safe
ly march over two or tnree 'lays from their base
of supplies without water communication.
THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
Tho meagre and unsatisfacto.y news we get
s, that the enemy, on the morning of the 11th,
made two unsuccessful attempts to cross the
rivor and were preparing for a third. In both
they are reported to have suffered heavy loss.
Will they succeed eventually t The answer,
we think, depends entirely upon what may be
the plans of Gen Lee. If he has determined
to m-ike a stand there and prevent their cross
ing, wc have little idea they will effect the p%s
sage. But most people are under tho impres
sion that Gen. Lee is simply harrassing them,
and inteniis ultimately to allow them to cross,
so as to placo tbo river in their rear. Whether
well founded or not, the universal feeling is
that Gen Lee is master ol thu situation, and
only hiding his own time and selecting bis own
opportunity to demolish Burnside’s army.
It is reported from Richmond, however, that
the Yankee army is believed to bo utterly sick
of the new base, and more nauseated still with
a winter's campaign. That if they can effect
a crossing, take possession of Fredericksbu'g,
and tortify, this will be the last of the on-te-
Ricbuioud movtiuent until Spring. They will
eovur their disgrace and drfuat under a shout
of glorification over the “capture oi Fredericks
burg, aud then rest behind their fortifications
till May.
If this be the idea, then we think they will
hardly cross the river at all. Not even that
quasi succeal will be allowed them.
On thu other hand, having committed them
selves to the movement with so much labored
and ostentatious preparation, it is not to be
supposed the enemy will abandon the attempt
to cros9 the Rappahannock until they have
exhausted every expedient A failure under
such circumstances, will have all the moral
effect ol a defeat, even it attended by no very
weighty physical disasters. Thus it is quite
possible that a mighty struggle may be pend
ing upon a movement of very little military
consequence in itself considered.
Cohn.—A correspondent at Albany writes
us as follows:
“If the government would allow the Rail
Road to transport corn, without impressing it,
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
Lincoln in his annual message boasts that
the credit of the Federal Government has been
hilly maintained. His special and personal
organ, the New York Herald, however, in an
appeal to Congress on tho 8tb, says :
Now that tho Secretary of the Treasury has
made h.is official statement, it is the duty of
Congriets to take up Ibe question of our finan
ces without delay. They are in a very de
ranged and disorganized condition, and some
thing must bo done immediately it the national
credit is to be saved from utter ruin. The cur
rency >« depreciated to the great injury of the
indusi rial classes of the community, who have
to pay intlated prices in the ratio ol lhe depre
ciation. The credit of the government is im
paired at home aud abroad, and the troops in
tm: field are unpaid aud disoonttutod.
v‘r'im tt.u Richmond Knquln r, o'Ihe lvtti.
FREDERICKSBURG.
The city was kept in a state of anxiety and mir-
peuse, on yesterday, in relereuee to the operations
at Frfdcrioksburg. From various sources we gath
er the following particulars:
Tho eueniy, uuder cover of artillery firing, cross
ed the river and occupied the city. Tho pontoou-
iers began at II o’clock in the night of Wednes
day, and at daylight, Friday morning, the artille
ry opened. The firing matched as high as tin per
minute, and at this rate continued all day. Under
its cover the bridges were thrown across. The first
adventurous Yankees that touched the Southern
shore were quickly captured.
As the bridges approached this side, our sharp
shooters would ri-*e from the ground and fire into
their bridge builders. Many of tho enemy were
killed aud wounded in throwing the bridges across
The opposition to the passage could not have been
very determined, since only lfurksdale’s Brigade
opposed the enemy, and no artillery on our part,
was used.
The fire of the enemy’s artillery destroyed many
houses.
The flight of the few citizens that had remained,
is described as verv distressing. Old women, laden
with heavy bundles—all that was left them—strug
gling under the weight ol the little left them, aiid
flying as best as they could from the remorseless
enemy.
The very few that did not come out were sent
to the Rtafford shore by the enemy, and refused
permission to come into oar lines.
The fighting yesterday was in Bernard’a woods
about two aud a half miles this side of toww, aud
as very heavy, but no general engagement was
expected when our informant left. A general en
gagement was expected to-day, aud our troops and
officers very confident of succesa.
The occupation of Fredericksburg, obtained,
with merely nominal opposition on our part, gives
a questionable advantage only to the enemy. We
behove the Rappahannock will yet be more to our
advantage behind the enoiny than when it was in
their front
Up to the time of the departure of the train from
Hamilton's Crossing, the two armies has been eu
gaged in skirmishing, which had commenced early
aud continued briskly. But few heavy reports
were heard. Tim interesting prelude will have
probably continued during tho entire day, as i, was
not likely that the Abolition army was prepared for
a sustained assault, although it was reported that
some fifty thoueaud had crossed the river, under
the shelter of the bluffs. The disposition of the
Confederate forces is believed to be such as to de
fy any meterial progress on the part of the Aboli
tion forces except at an enoemous expense of
blood.
A few additional particulars will be found in the
letter of our special correspondent
From the Kictiinct.il lixamiuer, of the 13th.
lie announcement that Fredericksburg
fell into the hands ol the enemy on Thursday
night, appaii mly by a surprise, cannot lail to
cause equal regret and mortification The pos
sibility of such an event was not unforeseen.
A writer m this newspaper, who knew the
ground well, while commenting on the position
of affairs i. at Fredericksburg,some time since,
stated that tho eventual plan of the enemy
would be to throw across a sufficient body ol
troops in the night to attempt the capture of
the town ; but after the events of the preceding
day, by which attention had been drawn to the
movement of the enemy, and as an attempt to
cross met with arms and bloodshed, it certainly
could not have been anticipated that our army
would go to sleep at night aud let him come
over without firing another shot. It is suggest-
e dthat the crossing was permitted by the Con
federate commander, with a view to ulterior
operations. If so, we hope his plan will be
proven good by events ; but wo think it quite
improbable that there was any plan in the
matter.
Getting into Fredericksburg was always easy
lor the enemy —faeili* d. set-nett*—but to get
out of it and on the road to Richmond is quite
another affair. On this side of the town is the
old channel of thu river; and next are high
lands and long open slopes, trom which artil
lery can play on advancing columns with terri
ble effect. If the enemy should attempt to
march on Richmond from Fredericksburg, he
will have to fight a terrible battle at the first
step under great disadvantages of posi ion. It
is thought, however, that there is little proba
bility of such an udvance. If permitted, Burn
side will winter in Fredericksburg, and forage
the fertile Northern Neck, yet untouched by
the calamity of war, till it is as bare of food
and of slaves as thu northern part of Pied
monL Wc cannot refrain from expressing the
hope that this sequel to the capture of bTedu
ricksburg will he prevented at all hazards.—
Large portions ol the town were burnt on
Thursday night; every house in the place is
said to have been struck by shells in tho late
bombardment; and we see no reason of hu
inanity now to prevent General Lee from open
ing upon it with his batteries on the hills and
shelling the enemy out of the town, or forcing
him to come up to an attaik on the heights.
But it is impossible to comment further on
ovents imperfectly known and not yet com
pleted. Tlie last intelligence received indica
tes that an action was even then in progress.—
Let us trust that its result will be such as to
dampen the exultation of the Yankee over his
prodigious exploit. The capture of Fredricks
buig, we may be sure has been telegraphed to
the ends of tho csrth, and received throughout
the North with )uilsol triumph. It will be
welcomed for the moment ns an event only se
cond m importance to the sack of Richmond;
and Burnside will, for twenty-four hours, be
the hero, the “coming man,” for whom Yan
kees have waited in vain. But the plunder ol
a poor old villiage will be soon lound to have
little effect on the fortunes ol war or the fate of
the Confederacy.
Fbrnch Baskiks is Richmond.—The three
French gent.!emeu whose arrival has : een tele
graphed, are extensive bankers who visit Kiel'
inoud upon professional business with the Couled
erate Government.
In this connection the Richmond Enquirer makes
the following gratifying statement:
It ia gratifying to know that our government
has had plotters of loans from the capitalists of a
number of the countries of Europe. This fact,
which we obtain from a source commanding our
fullest confidence, tends to show better than al
most any other manifestation the true light in
which wo are there viewed, and the purposes of
the European capitals have long been proverbial
for their far-aeeing sagacity, aud for their success
in obtaining in advance of others accurate infor
mation of tlie purposes of their rulers. Hence tlie
exchange quotations are an accurate political as
well at; financial barometer.
At ihe same time that the above is true, we learn
with Jqual eeitainty that Europe has been scoured
for J loan by the United Stales authorities, but
id in vain.
ia preference of our credit over that of our
fo£i ia shown by men whose businq^it is to make
From the Richmond Kxamioerof the 13th,
THE BATTLE OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK
C0NMBNCRD NEAR rKEDCKICXSlLHC.
At an early hour yesterday morning the im-
portan: rumor was buzzed in the streets that
the lot g expected action at Fredericksburg bad
at Iasi commenced and that we are engaged
with ttie enemy in force. Tho authorities were,
as usual both costive and dilatory in giving
out anything to gratify public curioei y ; and
it was intimated at the War Department, with
obvious propriety, that it would be advisable
for the newspapers to await the official dis«
patches and not plaster their bul'etin boards
wilh hasty and sensational reports.
The following is an epitome of all the intel
ligence received at the War Department in the
shape of official dispatches up to a late hour
lost night
The dispatches of General Lee relate that
the tight began at Fredericksburg at five o’clock
in the morning. At that hour the enemy at*
tempted the passage of the Rappahannock. At
three different points by means of pontoon
bridges. At two points they were repulsed s'
the third it is presumed that they effected
passage, as the dispatches stated that they
had got under cover of their guns and could
not be interrupted in their construction of a
bridge. At last accounts, dated about noon,
the tight was progieasing on the Southern side
of the ltappahannock.
(UKTUEIt PARTICULARS, INCIDENTS, ETC.
It is understood that the point at which the
enemy off- cted a passago of the ltappahannock
was at Deen Run, about two miles below Fred
ericksburg. The Yankees are said to have
secured a landing thero on a low cape, and our
guns were in a position to sweep their ranks
on their reaching the table land extending
towards Fredericksburg.
The passenger train which reached hero last
oveniiyjjelt its station three miles t:■ is side of
Fred;,j on ^;burg, about half past one o’clock in
the aY^ toon, and brought a numlier of per
son* who profess to have close and minute oh
servalions of the morning’s part of tho action.
The descriptions of the carnago which we
have from these sources are frightful. At oae
point we are said to have cut the line of th$
enemy's pontoon bridges, and pouriug in dead
ly showers of grape, to have filled the air with
the legs, arms and disjointed members of the
Yankees.
When the fire was opened on our lines, sev
eral hundred women and children were remain
mg within the limits of Fredericksburg, and
their constoi nation is said to have been most
pitiful. We hate, from different sources, tho
report that two women were certainly killed by
the enemy’s (he. We could not obtain the
names of the unhappy victims.
From the best information we can obtain it
appears that I ongstreet’s division was the por
tion of our force actively engaged yesterday.
Tho rumor was circulated in the streets last
nigh: the tow n had been iired by tho incendiary
shot of the enemy. The rumor up to a late
hour ha 1 obtained do confirmation in anything
received at the War Department.
Tiie general conclusions from what we leum
up to the hour of writing are, that the enemy
had effected a passage ol the Rappahannock,
probably in considerable force ; that the action
of yesterday was without anj important fruits
or prefatory to a more important action now
impending; aud that to day will witness a large
and important, but perhaps indecisive battle
on the disputed lines of Fredericksburg. As
confirmatory of this prospect, an order was re
ceived last night at tho Medical Purveyor’s of
lice for all the ambulances and stietchers that
could possibly be sent from this city. These
are the gloomy indications of the work of to
day. —
LATER ACCOUNTS.
Through passengers who arrived here last
night from Fredericksburg we learn that si*
muitaneous wilh his attempt to throw his pon
toon bridges across the Rappahninock the enj
emy bombarded tho town. Tho inhabitants
still remaining there began to leave immedi
ately and make their way towards Hamilton
Station on the Railroad. A number of the
bouses in the town were struck, and two of
them, Mr. John 0. King’s, near the depot, and
a Mr. Scott’s wore burned. One of the church
steeples was also struck, and some say knock
ed down. The number of casualties to citizens
are variously stated. Some accounts say that
only one man, Jacob Grotz, was killed, and an
other wounded. But persons who were among
the last to leave the town report that there
were six citizens killed, among whom were
Mr. J. Grotz, and his brother George, and a
woman and her infant.
Heavy cannonading and the occasional fire
of skirmishers was heard at the depot l oo five
o’c ock A. M., until eleven, when a oerfect
silence ensued all along the lines, and c mtinu-
ed unbroken until one o’clock, P. M., the hour
of the departure of the train for Richmond.—
Persons who came down ^on this train ki.ow
nothing of the movements going on except
such as they obtained from the Hying Inhabi
tants of Fredericksburg, who knv.w nothing
more than that their town was being shelled
over their heads and that their safety depend
ed upon a hasty evacuation. The account
however, brought by them t oes not differ in
the main from that obtained Irom more reliable
sources. They say that at ive o’clock, A. M.,
the enemy attempted to throw across pontoon
bridges at three points, the old railroad bridge
about the centre of the town, and above and
b'-low Deep Run, a stream three miles lower
down the Rappahannock; that at the first of
these two points the bridge huilders were dri
ven trom tbeir work by our sharp shooters but
that at ihe pemt below the creek mentioned,
the ground being low and open for a conside
rable space on this aide.his artillery posted on
the opposite heights, haddi-persed our sharp
shooters ami enabled his men to perfect the
bridge. At list accounts our artillery had
hiiu brought into a position covering and com
pletely commanding the open space upon
which the enemy’s troops would deploy on
crossing.
THE YANKEE rRESlDEh’T IN PUBLIC.
It seems that Lincoln has vet use for the disguise
of the “Scotch cap aud military cloak." in which
he-crept into Washington before his inauguration.
The phantom of assassination still haunts him.—
When he goes out in public he Is attended by a
retinue of armed men, with bristling bayonets, to
guard his person, and other ceremonies as exist
ouly with the despotio powers of the old Worl .
Tne editor of the Chicago Post, who has been on
a visit io Washington, thus pictures the PreeiJ* nt
of the United .States in leaving the Executive man
sion :
The presence of an armed guard at the gates of
the Executive inuu.-ion every morning and tho
care taken to keep strangers outside of the ap
proaches to the building, was to us something new
The President’s arrival and departure from the
Executive mansion are, notwithstanding the mel
ancholy suggestions they render, peculiarly re
markable. We saw him leave on Sunday after
noon, and the manner was as follows: About half
past five in the afternoon a mounted guard, num
bering some thirty or more troopers, ail armed with
drawn sabres, extensive spears, dangling and rat
tling scabbards, fierce beards, and revolvers stuck
in their holsters, dashed furiously through the
streets, and entered the ground North of the Pres
idents House. At the steps in front of the door
aud onder the archway, was a carriage. The oflb
eer, or one of the officers of the mounted guard,
alightened and entered the house. In about ten
uinntes he appeared at the door, and, giving the
signal, the carriage door, was opened, the guards
put themselves in martial attitudes, commands
were given, end then the President appeared with
a portfolio under hie arms, and, with one or mere
soldiers at each side, walked rapidly to the car-
‘ and - - J - “ —
£sectric i eiegrapn
FROM RICHMOND.
Richmond, Dec. ! I —Tue enemy at Frede
ricksburg have attempied to day to cross the
Rappahar^iock by pontoon bridges. They have
been repulsed at two, but are still engaged in
constructing the tl ; r d. under *e..ver of their
guns. Heavy firing still continues.
Knoxville, Dec. 11.—Preside": Davis made
a speech here this morning. He thinks the
Toryism of East Tennessee exaggerated. He
will stay a day here on his return from tho
West. The President is in fine health and
spirits.
Tne Confederate Court found true bills
against five persons fer counterfeiting Confed
erate notes in the mountains.
FROM CHARLESTON.
Charleston, December 11th.—The British
W ar Steamer Ariadue, 26 guns, touched off
the bar to-day a..d communicated with the
British Consul.
The british steamer Petrel sailed for For
tress Monroe, carrying aa passenger the Brit
ish Consul at Savannah.
There is 13 blockauers off Charleston.
FROM T»a« (APPAHANNOOK.
Riciimond, Dec. 11.—Passengers by this eve
ning s train from Fredericksburg report that
the enemy were repulsed with heavy loss at
two of the points at which they attempted to
cross.
During the rooming several shells wore
thrown into the town of Fredericksburg from
the heights opposite, which battered down two
or three houses. Jacob Gratz, an old citizen
was killed by a shell.
FROM TENNESSEE.
Mobile, Dec. 12.—A speoial despatch to the
Advertiser and Register,dated nt Murfreesboro’,
the 11th, says “Yesterday morning the enemy,
tivo thousand strong, re-occupied Hartsville.
They refused, under flag of truce, to exchange
paroled prisoners for our wounded in their
hands, or permit us to remove the dead.
Nashviilo dates of the »i.h say that the Abo
litionists acknowledge a loss of sixty killed at
HarUsville. Tho rebel forces in the attack were
estimated at four thousand.
The Abolition army is greatly demoralized.
No prospect ot an advance till the Cumberland
rises. It is supposed Risenoiomtz will be su
perseded by McCook.
St. Louis dates -f the 7th say it is reported
that Hindman and Marinaduke, with a force
25,000 strong, were driven back by Blount, at
Cave Bpring, Arkansas. Next day they drove
in Blount’s pickets, but were repulsed, Blount
holding the rebels in check four days. The
rebels were felling timber all night to cover
their retreat.
FROM THE NORTH AND EUROPE.
Ru n mono, Dec. 12.—The Paris correspon
dent of the New York Herald, Nov. 14th, says
that Lord Cowley was informed by Napoleon
that his conviction was so strong ot the abso-
lnte necessity of mediation, that if England
hesitated for any time in her refusal, he should
not hesitate to act without her, in conjunction
with whatever other European powers that
would associate with him.
The New York Times publishes several col
umns of dispatches from Seward to Minister
Adams, sont at different periods during the
year. In several of these dispatches, intended
for foreign effect, he argues to show that the
Administration is hostile to the institution of
slavery. In a dispalh dated July 28th, he says,
“\Yewill induce, or oblige onr slave-holding
citizens to supply Europo with cotton if wc
can, and the President has given respectful
consideration to the desire informally expressed
i'—"by the Government of Great Britain and
..oe for some further relaxation eft he block
ade in favor of the cotton trado. An answer
will bo reason .My given.” He closes by saying
that this Government relies upon the respect
of our soroieignty by foreign powers, and if
this reliance fads, this civil war will, without
our fault, been ■: a war of continents, a war of
the world, ami is iiaterer else mi)’ revive the
cotton trade, built upon slavo labor in this
country, will be irredeemably wrecked on the
abrupt cessation of human bondage within the
territories ef the United Suits.
NORTH CAROLINA NEWS.
PKTEKeaDKO, Dec. 12.—The Express has the
following particulars of the battle ol Ply-,
mouth, obtained from an official dispatch to
Gen. French. On Wednesday morning last,
just before day, tivo companies ol the 17th
RegT N. 0. troops, and a squadron of Evan’s
cavalry, under command of Lieut. Colonel
Evans, dashed into Plymouth, N. 0., and
drove the abolitionists pell raell from the
place. We killed and wounded many, took 25
prisoners, and 70 negroes Our troops being
fired at from bouses, Col. Lamb ordered
Moore’s battery to batter them down. About
two thirds of tho town was tmrnt. Moore's
section drovo the abolition gunboat down the
river, seriously disabling her. The negroes
and prisoners were all brought away. Our
loss six wounded—CapL Galisway severely.
FROM RICHMOND.
Richmond, 12th —It is reported that there
has been fighting during the day at Fredericks
burg, but their is no tficial or cei Uloly reiia
b|e intelligence
Richmond, 13th. i'h«- Citi imi .<;:| of Ricq
mom! held a special mg t<> u, *uh ref- |
erenee t-> ibc pre-ale..ec ••!' small :.«x m ipr j
city. Resolutions wvr. adopted requesting the {
Confederal* authorities to remove ah cases out j
of the limits of the city, and to take measures
to prevent tho disease from spreading. Volun
tary or compulsatniy vaccination was recom
mended.
FROM THE WEST.
Mobile, Dec. 13.—A special dispatch,cr«»-
Evening News, dated Okolona, 12th, ami 11 * 110 *
Col. Bertr:'
Bales of cotton this week, belonging to Y.
speculators, near Corinth. No motemenuie,
the enemy in this directing.
FROM RICHMOND. * A &
Richmond, Dec. 12.—Letters from the sunt
mit, live miles east of Fredericksburg, datoo
12 M. yesterday, stated that a large portion of
the town was destroyed Thursday by shell
and fire. The post office block was fired aro
burned. Tho Virginia Bank and Methods
Church, and Tackett’s Woolen Mills were a.
burned. The court house was uninjured The
flight of a few citizens who remained is de
scribed as a very distressing scene. t
It is reported that some fifty thousand Yvl
kees have crossed the river. All accounts speak
confidently of the success of our arms when
general engagement takes place. Our loss ir \
killed and woundod in skirmishing ycstcruay
was about one hundred and thirty.
The only official intelligence received up to
this time is that there was no battle on yester
day, and that is all.
Charleston, Dea 14.—This morning th>
enemy’s gunboats in Stono River, a few mile*
below the city, opened fire upon our pick
on James’ Island below Secessicnville. An
firing titty shells without any effect, they !t '
•fisted. It is conjectured that this domonstll-
tion is intended as a feint to occupy the atteu
lion of the troops in this noghborhood.
The South Carolina L^islature has unani
mously parsed a bill pieaging the faith and the
funds of the State for the redemption of its
quota of the Confederate war debt, provided
that such bonds aJ may be sold within the
Confederate State: be sold to the highest bid
der, and provided that the citizens of the State
shall have a right to purchase the bonds it
guarantees in .'references to all other equal
bidders.
Mobile, Dea 1 •
Advertiser and •
lays the latr -t >
Abolitionists at V
pa River, r. here
—A special dispatch to the
ister, dated Grenada, 13th,
■ le intelligence places the
e Valley, on Yocknepata
.. burned five houses. They
impress all stoc and crops, and destroy the
surplus. Gni. s and McPherson’s headquar
ters are at Oxford.
The enemy officially report 75 killed and
wounded at Cotieeville, including live officers
■ f the 2nd Iowa Regiment out of seven on the
field.
due advance of the Abolition army is an ins
discriminate raid, carrying destruction to every
interest. Private property is not respected.
Pemberton reviewed the troops at this point
to-day.
Richmond, Dea 14.—Official to General
Cooper: At nine o’clock Saturday morning
the enemy attacked our right wing, and as
the fog lifted the battle ran along the line from
right to left, until six P. M., the enemy being
repulsed at every point. Thanks be to God.—
As usual we have to mourn the loss of many
brave men. 1 exi>ect the battle will be renew
ed to morrow.
[ si K n efi] Ii. E. L ..
Gen. Cooper—Gen. Hampton reports that
he entered Dumfries and captnrcd 20 wagons
with stores, and 50 prisoners, all of which he
brought to the Rappahannock. Gen. Seigel
is expected at Dumfries to-morrow.
[Signed] R. E. Lem.
Richmond, Dea 14.—Passengers report that
the enemy was driven back two miles yester
day, and our troops occupied the battle field
this morning. Our loss is variously estimated,
probably not more than five hundred killed
and twenty-live hundred wounded. The body
of Gen. Tom Cobb was brought down this
evening. The enemy’s loss is represented to
be immense. One thousand dead lay in one
field. Federal Gen. Hooker is reported killed.
A private dispatch from Gen. Stuart says wo
have had a great fight and repulsed the enemy
at all points. We have lost many good mca.
Passengers also report that we have fifteen
hundred prisoners. When the train left this
morning heavy firing was heard in the direc
tion of Fredericksburg.
FROM FREDEKICKSBORG.
Richmond, Oct 13.—Passengers state that
a considerable portion of Fredericksburg was
destroyed yesterday by the enemy’s shells.
There was a skirmish to-day below town,
but nothing decisive. No reason ta believe
there was anything more than skirmishing to
day. People here in good spirits.
FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
Richmond, Dea 18, t»a Goldsboro’, N. C.-
RtcnMOND, 14.—The following • tti ial d>
patch was received to-dayfTnm Km-ton, N.
Doc. 14th:
To Gon. S. Cooper: Gen. Fo-tcr aMack
ed Kinston yesterday with fifteen thons
and men aud nine gunboats. I fought him t.-n
hours, and have driven him back to bis gun
boats ; his army is still in my front.
Signed N. G. Evans.
FROM THE WEST.
Post Hudson, Dea 14, via Mobile, loth.—
On the afternoon of the 12th, the Yankee gun
boat Essex, and a wooden boat, name unknown,
anchored out of rango of the lower battery.—
Capt McL&ne’s company of cavalry crossed
the river in the night, and hired a negro to hail
the Essex. The hail was promptly answered,
and a small boat sent ashore, when the cavalry
fired upon them, killing one and wouuding
two.
Last night CapL Boone, with his company
of Light Artillery, crossed the river and took
pose-ion opposite ihe wooden boat At dawn .
he opened a brisk lire epc.n b r, ■> h e » . u
sacred by her no.I lie E—>x The n
Qiont lasted two him..-, Yi... : a o leu ;
rurired behind liwEss.-x lor prov-c .on t
then piece—•■d down tlie riv. r.
Tne •**••!«} bred in allooe .und/v ! od i.-i.
guile, i.'apv. Boon.- Ur«d twenty, ol w .b
too* effect—soiiie paosing through . .uaut s
boat. The enemy’s loss not known. We ha«.
one private slightly wounded in the hand, t’he
enemy were badly crippled and driven off—
CapL Boone’s company acted with great gal
lan try.
The enemy’s pickets extend os far up as Don-
aldsonville on the shore.
A speeial dispatch to the Advertiser and Re
gister, dated Okolona, the 14th, says:
We learn from an official source that the
Federal* attacked and routed Roddy’s Cavalry-
day before yesterday, at Tuscunbia. No par
ticulars.
Thirty Ya
J