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Awtifte Petersburg [Va.}
THE EVACUATION OJ NORFOLK-
Just as we expected, the traitor Byer, who-stole
*be Confederate steaming, A. J. White, and wen
ever to the enemy on Thursday, eommunica e<
such information to General Woe!, as to J ,re ? ! F’
late the occupancy of Norfolk by the an u.
and hasten its abandonment by our ’ft ro.mn
Friday, the enemy landed a heavy hot > I
variously estimated at from five to .sever
wind, ou Ocean View, some eight or ten
rear of Norfolk, and commenced a oian b ( on
the c tv. The forces consisted of intau.rv arm
lery and cavalrv, and the latter came near cutting
Sa large portion of Col. Chambliss’ regiment,
’.which had been stationed near Sewell 8
«Our forces, among them the Confederate t.adets
of this city, thribble-quicked towards the old
borough, and made a very narrow escape. It is
wad that when we burnt Indian Foil Crees Bridge
Lcrors Tamer’s Creek, the Yankee cavalry were
Mt one end of it, and would have seriously inter
fered with our operations, but for the Beauregard
Artillery, of Lynchburg, who by a few weltedi*
rected shots, sent the Yankee horsemen Lying
beyond the reach of our gun°.
It is believed that all our troops, arms, ammu«
iistien, quartermaster’s and commissary’s stores
were safely removed. But we regret to hear that
the Ooafedwate loss at the Gosport Navy Yard
has bain immense. An employee in the yard
over since the war commenced, estimates the loss
there at six millions or more. A large quantity
of very valuable machinery, and some $200,000 ■
worth of copper have been left to the enemy. All
the buildings that could be destroyed, were fired
and consumed. Some es them being tire proof,
touli not be so destroyed. .
It is a matter of universal regret that two gun
boats, which had just been completed, and fL- (
eeived their armament and stores,, were burnt. ,
These could easily have been carried to Rich- ,
mend, passing to the mouth of James River, ;
under the protection of the Merrimac. Four
ether gunboats, on the stocks, and unfinished, ,
were also consigned to the flames. The splendid <
transport Win. Selden and a number of smaller 1
steamers, tugs, etc., were all burnt, These two, ,
it is stated, could have been carried to Richmond ,
without risk, But we presume thd Confederate
Gmrowot ore Uan it - wel j
wnat to do with, and desires to give employment ,
leave NoTS. They crossed the river to Fortes
Sh and from there marched a distance of
The troops on Craney Island are supposed <
safe, but we have been unable to hear frair
There were two companies in that garr - - •
this place—Capt. Lewellen 8 and Cap’ g?®
and their friends ytßterday
expressed much anxiety xheir J te> lt is
stated t«at tbe wftx-e . - the Island aud tbe
mainland in the rear, .*.« Jal}le at low tide. If
so, have escaped, r tfae lo(Jg flf the - r
P>ge,etc.,
It is general believed by the few civilians
■ who did get o f Sat EC t more than one hundred «
males ou’.si army, have left Norfolk,.
Many females have left since it became kno’zn
that city was to be abandoned to the tender
jna’. cies of the Lincol-nites, and a large nurxiber
■•t'fio desired to leave, still remain because of their
inability to get away. Soldiers inform ’as that
when they passed through Norfolk, Saturday
morning, they were everywhere met Ly groups
of ladies, who, with tears in their eyes, implored
their protection.
Strange to say, our authorities decided peo
suddenly to evacuate the place, but gave the very
pie no information of the fact, and stranger still,
they first sent the greater portion of the troops
away, and then commenced to move the valua
bles. Cemmon sense would have suggested that
ocr troops be retained to hold and defend the
place until every article of value had been re
moved. '’West Point” thought differently, hows
ever, and hence the brilliant, but very precipitate
departure.
It is the opinion of nine out of every ten men
of ordinary mind, that Norfolk could have
been held for twelve months longer with as
much ease as it has been since the war com
menced. With the Merrimac guarding the
entrance to the James and Elizabeth riv
ers, and the new iron-clad City of Richmond
in ’ Albemarle Sound harrassing and de
stroying Burnside’s fleet and a few more
Col. Wright’s at the head of five or six hundred
brave men, defeating and cutting to pieces
such Yankee Generals as Reno with three thous
and or 4.000, while our gallant beys at Sewell’s
Point and Ocean View, kept “ watch and
vigil” in that direction, all the Wools and
Burnsides, and McClellans in Yankee -and,
ceuld not have taken the place. This is the
opinion of comtuou sense men—men who have
heard of “ brilliant strategic moves,” but have
witnessed none of the glorious results of these
movements,'save the abandonment of the fairest
portions of Virginia and North Carolina to the
depredations and outrages of a foe more unscru
pulous and relentloss than were the “ Goths and
Vandals.’' Military "science” has thought oth
erwise, and as “ military science” is supreme,
common sense must hide its idiminished, head, i
and submit without the exuressibn of an opinion.
A Snake in ths Chinounb.—A remarkable es
cape from almost certain death occurred a few
days since to a femaie at the "Waterloo estate,
near Sidney. A woman and her busband had
been taking a walk ia the vicinity of a lagoon,
tied had sat for some time near the edge of the
water. Go rising to return home, the woman
fancied she felt something at the back of her
dress, but as nothing could be seen there was no
farther notice taken of the matter for some time.
On passing a friend’s house, however, at a short
distance, she stopped to speak to one of the in
mates, and while doing so, again felt a move
meet as if something alive had got between her
gown and petticoat. Becoming again alarmed,
and placing her hand on her dress to ascertain ■
the cause, she was horrified to perceive a snake
drop to the groond from beneath ber garment,
(t proved to be a death adder, the most venomous
of all Australian reptiles. The deadly intruder
was soon dispatched by the husband by a blow
on the head. Her escape under the circum
stances is truly wonderful.
Sidney Empire, December 24.
i
| .W« Destrot thr Mjsrrimac.—lt was with
miagted emetines of pride and regret that we
learned the destruction of this renowned vessel
by our own people.
She died right—unable to defend our shores,
best to the slow process of siege and capture, she
disdained to g'ace the triumph of the infamous
invader. She “died no felon’s death I A wars
Tior’e weap n treed a warriors sou. I
She had glory enough. She has revolutionised
the navies ot the world, and made a new map of
Europe inevitab'e. Lett by cold-hearted despots
t® strive unaided against irresistible numbers,
»he first struck terror to their souls by teaching
the inadequacy of their own defences, and then
vindicated her own freedom by self-destruction.
Rather Cato at Attica than Sampson “eyeless it
Oiaa at the mill With slaves.” Henceforth, we
have done with the ocean. The Merrimac will
find her avengers on the land _
Richmond ( Ka.) Whig, May 13.
fjg'We clip the following paragraphs from the
Athena (Ga ) Watchman May 14th.
Thk Whsat Crop—Although not so much inx
jured as some persons supposed a week or two
iinoe yet, we tue satisfied # that the falling off
will be considerable. We noticed every field be
tween thia place and Augusta last week, and saw
bat barely two which were not more or Jess in
rared Some fields will make next to nothing—
they never can make much wav sort of year oe
cause the land is worthless. So much land has
been sown in wheat, however, that if no further
disaster shall happen, we still think there will
be a verv eonHiderable supply produced.
Fiokxbr Paper Mill.—We are pleased to an
nounce that this estaolishment has been re*bililt:
avid is again in operation. We trust we shall
not be again disappointed in getting a supply of
paper.
We learn verbally from a gentlefcan recently
trocn the anny in Virginia, that the “bloody
Third” of Georg' a will be sent to Stonewall
JivifeWD tn a few days
DEATH OF LIEUT- JAMES T. ARMSTRONG
I>be Peninsula correspondent of the Savannah
' Republican, under date of May 3d, says.
Night before last (May Ist) the enemy kept up a
noise in their camps all night—rumbling of heavy
wugonc, braying of mnles, and occasional shouts
—which made us believe they were evacuating
I their works. Their breastworks extend like
entirely across the Peninsula, and frequently with
in four or five hundred yards of us. The pickets
keep up an incessant firing at each other, and
very frequently, serious damage and loss of life,
are the result. The First Georgia Regulars have
been particularly unfortunate. On Wednesday,
Ist May, 2d Lieutenant James T. Armstrong, of
Augusta, I believe, was posted with hie company
in the “Wafer Battery, ” at Dam No. 1, the closest i
point on our line to the enemy. Raising to
stretch himself, a Minnie ball entered fem left
side, and pierced his body, coming out on the
left. He lived fifteen minutes. llewasanoWel
young officer—a man of sterling worth; was pros |
moted from a Sergeantcy, and many who knew
his worth will mourn bis early fall. ’ A Lieuten
ant of the Regulars informed me that, they had
lost four privates by the enemy's sharp shoot
ers.
It is due to the gallant Seventh and Eighth
Georgia to give the particulars of the fight of i
April 16th. The Fifth North Carolina Regiment
was in the trenches at Dam No. 1, and were driven
from them by the Yankees. The Seventh Geor
gia being in close proximity, was ordered to the .
support of the North Carolinans, and met them
retiring before the enemy, in somewhat of r 1
irregular manner. The enemy had possesse ’
trenches, and the gallant Seventh charged ,J
and ran them out in less time than I r . them,
it. The Eighth came up and occup’ .*B*»ri'*.ng
and the two regiments united in a r .<4 tiia Tight,
determined attack, and repulse ? ' and more
considerable loss. The Eigb the enenuy with
a man wounded. «\d not even have
I thought it but just t'
renowned upon the p 1 .* tb/p.wc- gallant Georgians,
this statement, as s '"’as Manassas, to make
the North Carol' e r /&rres.Fondents had given
others. For ' as praise that belonged to
readers to , ,>t of -what J say, 1 refer your
J ..-And/ er gon's report.
. bfem • '
’‘ZAVEy l^e Rewn, MayM.
' CAF.a URED-GALLANT EXPLOITS
" THE PICKET GT THE GEORGIA 13TH.
Quite a serration was produced in our city yes
terday after coon, by the arrival at the Barracks
;of a party of fifteen Yankee prisoners, five of
ticers and ten sailors, under escort of a detach
ment of the* 13th Georgia Regiment, by whom
they W'jre captured yesterday morning. We
were ur Able to learn the particulars of the affair
further than the general statement that a picket
ot fiv /> men, of the 18th Georgia Regiment, on
Whi zmarsh Island, discovered a barge, contain*
ing a party of fifteen Yankees, at a point not
far from the Spindles . As the barge was aps
prouebing, the Sergeant in command of the piSk'
ft ordered his men to lie down m the grass uns
< til it reached within pistol, shot of the shore,
; when he rose and ordered the party in tbo boat
! to come ashore and surrenderor he would fire on
j them. The Yankees, who, it seems, were on a
reconnoitering excursion, and had lost their way,
j deeming discretion the better part of valor, pulls
ied ashore, and surrendered to their gallant caps
i tors r who marched them to the quarters of Col.
J Douglass, by whom they were'brought to the
city and lodgad in the Barracks.
The party comprises five officers as follows:
Frank W. Turner, master's mute ; Charles G, Mer
vens, engineer ; R. F. Russ, master’s mate; Levi
Crowell, acting’master W Evans engineer, and
ten seamen. Os the latter we understand one
was formerly a sailor on board the Revenue Cut
ter Dobbin, of this port. We understand that
they represent themselves as belonging to Port
Royal, and that having lost their reckoning, the
Dobbin man, who professed to be familiar with
our waters undertook to pilot them back to their j
flat, instead of which he brought them into the |
clutches of our pickets. i
This exploit, the capture of a boats crew of fif
teen of the enemy, by a picket of five men is an
achievement of which the gallant 13th have a
right to be proud.
The Republican, c-fthe 12th, gives the names of
prisoners, as follows
The following is the list cf the prisoners, all of
whom belonged to the U. S. steamer Sumter .
Officers. — Levi B. Crowell, Acting Master.
! Charles G. Stevens Engineer.
Warren Ewell, Engineer,
j R. F. Rusk, Master's Mate.
; Frank W. Turner, Master’s Mate.
A. W. Minor, Surgeon's Steward.
■ Seamen. — John Miller, seamen ; Henry Slotter,
seamen; Oliver F. Stone ordinary seamen; Davin
t Wooster, landsman; John E. Ward, seamen;
i Wm. T. Sprague, cockswain ; Wm. J. C. Mcln
tyre, ordinary seamen; Thomas Fay, landsman ;
; Jas. Durham, seamen.
i The Yankee Fi.aoof Tkcobi.—There cun be
’ very little doubt that the Yankee flag of truce,
1 yesterday, was a ruse on the part oi the enemy
Ito get a nearer view of our river fortifications,
j and it is much to be regretted that by the indis
cretion of Captain King, they were brought so
far within our lines before they were discovered
and turned back by the military authorities. We
understand that Capt K. has been ordered under '
arrest for taking the Sag officers en his boat witht*
out authority.
We are very confident that the Captain’s error
was one purely of indiscretion.
If the Yankees only desired to effect an ex
change of the sick and wounded Fort Pulaski
prisoners, the proposition would no doubt have
been made several days ago. If'they made any
discoveries, we apprehend they were not of a
very encouraging character. A further investi
gation will be likely to please them no better.
Savannah RepublicaM, May
Irom. the Richmeni
SEIRMI3H £\T ELK BJVEE..
Corinth, May sth.—Everything remained quiet
yesterday. It rained all day, and continued to
rain this morning. The enemy have fallen back
from Farmington, according to appearances, for
a day or two.
A courier from Col. Scott’s Louisiana Cavalry
arrived here last night. He reports that the
enemy, in evacuating Decatur, battered down the
pillars and burnt the bridges. Cel. Scott crossed
the river on the 3d, and attacked several hundred
Federate next day at Athens, in Tennessee. The
Alabama Road was captured, with all the enemy’s
tents and camp eqtaippage, and a number of
wagons and arms, with a loss en our side of only
one. Capt. Fendon, with a cannftn, proceeded to
the next station on Indian Creek. The train for
Nashville, with Gen, Mitchell, passed up the road
half an hour previous. Hearing the down train
coming, laden with Federal supplies, logs were
put on the track, which produced a smash up,
killing numbers of Federal troops. The locomo
tive was also destroyed. While returning our
troops were pursued by the enemy’s cavalry.
At Elk river, last Friday, a skirmish ensued, in
which the enemy lost twelve. Their Colonel was
mortally wounded. Our loss was two.
An Unfounded Statement. —The Sun copies
from the Norfolk Ray Book a statement, made* by
its Richmond correspondent, that the delegations
Ir.im South Carolina and Georgia watted on the
President, before Congress adjourned, and urged
him to withdraw the troops from those States and
at ail hazards defend R’chmond and Norfolk.
We are authorized by our immediate Repre
sentative in Congress to say, that so -far as he is
concerned, this statement is entirely incorrect ;
and so far as it relaies to the balance of the
Georgia delegation, he believes it to be equally
unfounded. — Columbus (k?«.)
Nashville Unsound. —The Nashville corres«
pondent of the Louisville RmMcrat says so sure
as Grant and Buell are defeated and have to pass
through Nashville in retreat “just so sure will
every bouse have a concealed weapon—every
woman will glut her revenge in murder. The
same writer stkys it ia impossible to convince the
people that the South will be defeated at Corinth.
The citizens remain siren and true to the cause ff j
the Confederacy, |
Thb Vihginu Lom. TATTNALL.-The Rich
mond Whig of fe.’Jdav says: We understand
that Com. Hollins, o< Turtle fame, has.been
assigned to the com.'« . 01 t . he
iron-clad steamer ¥>?g'“ ia . T ’ c ®
Tatnall, resigned. We *i‘»P e that Commodore
Hollins will put the Virgin « a ‘o work, and stir up
the Yankee shipping about u’Jd 1 oin .
We doubt, the truth of this statement as the
friends of Commodore Tatnall, ND of
hear from him frequently, have nd i!?>
his resignation.— Sav. Rep. May
find the following paragraphs in the
Savannah Republican, of May 13th.
The Cadets.—Gov. Brown has written to Maj.
Richardson, acting Superintendent Georgia Mil
itary Institute, informing him that the Cadets of
the Institute* will not be subject u the Conscript
Act. The Cade's ought to be exempt, but. it does
not appear whetheT the exemption comes
the War Department or from the Governor b
kejf, after the manner pf militia officers.
Somebody Ilt’BTr-in old Mgro teat* fn' om st.
Catharine’s Island reports that two Ye'„v pe o we re
killed by the Liberty unt y in the
recent skirmi at Half Moon F’„ ff ' Q n ’ e of the
beforelbe" 4S inßta ° tly klP -edthe other died
Island A transport i*' ached 3t . Catharines S
“• Both were b’ dried on the Island.
*■ IMPORTANT N' toM THK M i BB i SS ippi River.—We
jRd the i n the Vicksburg Whig, of the
'6th;
'’'"he Federal Fleet Coming.—At six o clock on
Sunday evening there were fifteen iederal gun
boats in sight of Baton Rouge, and at hall past
three o’clock yesterday afternoon one large tri
gate and three schooners passed Bayou Sara with
! out landing. We suppose they will reach neie
Thursday or Friday. Let everything be done to
1 receive them in a becoming manner. Possibly,
if they get posted before they reach our city they
• ■ will attempt to run up along the Louisiana shore
l in the night'but we suppose the proper authori
1 ties will see to this.
1 The Vicksburg Citizen of the same date has
this paragraph .
The Gunboats Coming.—The latest news we
have of the Federal fleet below is that they are
gradually approaching nearer the city. They
’ have.undoubtedly reached Natche?. before this
time, and the probabilities are, that before we
issue another number of this paper, they will be
in the immediate vicinity of our city. We will
be prepared to receive them in our own hospita
ble way, and no doubt the Federal visitors will
have cause tong to remember the warm reception
they got at Vicksburg.
from the.ltlanta (Ga.) Common-Mealth,j>fap 12.
DISASTROUS FIRE.
Between four and five o’clock on yesterday the
quiet of a Sabbath afternoon was broken by the
alarm es fire. The fire originated in aa old ware
house on Mitchell street between Whitehall and
Forsyth, known as the Wallace warehouse, and
which was for many years the property of J. R.
&C. H. Wal’ace. The warehouse contained
about 890 bales of cotton, 500,000 pounds govern
ment bacon, a quantity of other government
stores, 200 barrels lard, 7-5 barrels syrup, several
thousand pounds of hides, and a lot of grain, oil,
and car grease. The fire spread rapidly tnrough
the warehouse, and to the back portion of two
large stores on the first floor of Mr. Larkin Davis
on Whitehall street, occupied one by R. H. Me
Croskey & Co., and the government office, and
the other by Messrs. Willis & Young. Here the
devouring element was arrested by the untiring,
heroic exertions of our gallant firemen.
The old warehouse is a complete ruin, as well
as the back portion of the two stores in Davis’
building on Whitehall street, while the front
stores are very badly damaged. The warehouse
was not worth much, chief value of the property
I being in the tend ; but. the loss of Mr. Davis on
I his building is probably about $3,500.
The only loss sustained by the Government was
the scorching of five thousand pounds of bacon,
which, we are told, can be used. Nearly all the
cotton and much the largest portion of the bacon
and other articles belonging to other parties was
destroyed. The principal sufferers are Messrs.
McCroskey & Co., $15,000; insurance $3,000.
saved, probably, $5,000; L. H. Davis $3,500, no
insurance; John Ryan, cotton, $16,000, insurance
$0,000; P. Hayden, cotton, $4,000, no insurance;
stored cotton, $16,000, no insurance, saved, prob
ably, $3,000; Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad,
sl2 000, no insurance; Cohen, SB,OOO, insurance
s—.
During the fire Mr.—Thompson fell from the
top of a two story building, corner of Whitehall
and Mitchell streets, to the ground breaking his
arm in three places, and injuring him otherwise,
especially internally, to such an extent that he
will probably not survive through the day. Mr.
Isaiah Davis, son of L. H. Davis, Esq. also fell,
and is seriously hurt. Several other persons
were more or less injured.
The city is under obligations to John H. Flynn
Esq., Master Machinist at the State Shop, for a
supply of water from the Reservoir there, by
which that inlhe city cisterns was economised.—
Too much cannot be said m paaise of our firemen,
who were early on the spot and who worked
hard and unceasingly for five or six hours—until
they completely subdued the devouring element
On no former occasion have they shown a more
self-sacrificing, courageous, or determined spirit;
and to their heroic efforts, are we indebted that
the fire did not extend to and destroy, not only
valuable buildings attached, but others on the
North and West were threatened—the latter in
cluding A. K. Seago’s spacious building which is
filled to the full with goods—by which not less
than half a million dollars worth of property
would have been destroyed.
It is to be regretted that so mßny go to fires
and stand and look on and permit the firemen to
work themselves down without proffering their
aid. The firemen are under no obligation to do
what they do—they are entirely disinterested,
support their organizations at their own expense,
and then risk their lives m behalf of the property
of their fellow-citizens. At this time many of
them have nobly gone to the defence of our coun
try, by which their numbers are reduced: now,
therefore, more than ever, do they need all the
assistance that it is in the power of others to
render.
At first the fire was thought to be the work of an
incendiary; but it is now pretty well ascertained
that it was caught by some boys who wereplaytng
in the warehouse just before, who are believed to
have been smoking, or to have had matehes—or
else from spontaneous combustion. We would
suggest that, it would be well for the Mayor to
have the boys sought out, arrested and carried
before him,’ and dealt with m such away as to
teach them a good lesson.
STARTLING INTELLIGENCE.
A special messenger from Capt. Tucker, of the
Confederate steamer Patrick Henry, arrived in
this city, yesterday afternoon, with the important
intelligence that one of the enemy’s iron-clad
gunboats had silenced our batteries at Day’s
Point, on James river, and was then coming up
the river. To save time, Captain Tucker had this
messenger placed on the steamer Yorktown, that
being the quicker vessel, with orders to proceed
at once to City Point, and thence to this city, to
notify our Provost Marshal of the fact and tele
graph the circumstances to Richmond. From
City Point the messenger came to this city in a
buggy, and at once performed his duties. The
news soon spread abroad on the streets, and cre
ated a great deal of excitement. What steps
have been or wiil be taken to prevent the ascent
of the James to any vital point, we do not know,
and would not tell if we knew. The matter wears
a serious aspect, but no one here will falter in
any duty that may be assigned bim.
Rumors were rife, after the arrival of the Nor*
folk train, of the bombardment by the enemy of
the Craney Island and Sewell s Point batteries,
and our fortifications elsewhere below, but they
are doubtlesc all unfounded.
We shall probably bear more of this affair toe
day. In tfig meantime, we advise all to keep
cool and calm, and pursue their ordinary avoca
tions as xssvt&l.—Petersburg Express, May S.
RECEIPTS FOR THE GUNBOAT.
i Mrs Mary A. Francis, Davisboro, Ga., $5
Total amount received to date, $7 ,*163 55,
From the Milledgeville Qa., Southern Recorder.
GOV. BRO VN AND THE CONSCRIPTION ACT.
Mecs,s. Editors of the. Southern Federal Union’
In your last paner you announced to the public
Go7 ’ f ß ™ wn ' whea “notified by the Secretary’
m I’* f .i he P ass "& e of t the Conscription Ac?
yielded to the necessity, 4m, rather than have an
open conflict in the face of the enemy • but ’ «
however promptly notified the Preside-’ ...J u
«FL d SiX vLr’" f cowuLJ:
irtgf,i«of'.'Ks 1 5^ 4 *" <l,, '« l ' e b ""'
'on«l* and in violat lon of the rights ol
reservpd *•*’ States are denied the
rites the nTO r ° a Pl l o |P - l ' n K general officers, and
hnu’/n 11 •“ claUB? -of the Constitution, which
has no ar ( ,n ca t lo)J) a8 j win show The terQ)
militia JS uged j n contradistinction to army 01
nav .y, as is shown by tbe separate paragraph. The
militia is the body of the people; it is neither the
army or navy, the Conscription Act violates no
rightsof the States, or of the Governor to appoint
officers for the militia. . The Congress of the Con
federate States bad neither called forth, organ
ized, armed or disciplined the militia; but under I
the lltb, 12'h and L3th paragraphs of the Sth I
Section, first Article of the Constitution, Conx
gress derives express power—to declare war—to
raise and support armies—to provide and main-,
tain a navy, and to make rules for the govern
ment of the land and naval forces. These
clauses are separate and distinct from the militia
clause—and it is under the clause, to raise and
support armies, that the power to pass tbe Con-*
scription Act is given.
What right or authority, then, have the States,
under the militia clause to appoint officers to an
army raised and supported by Congress. Ihe
States reserved to themselves the appointment
of officers to the militia alone ; but no militia
have been oalled forth from Georgia. I have
shown that the militia is neither the army or
navy. I have shown that Congress has power to
raise and support armies; and to the raising
and supporting an army is the incident power to
appoint its officers—for without officers, you have
neither organization cr an army.
But it is singularly strange that Gov. Brown,
while holding the Conscription Act to be uncon
stitutional, permits the private soldiers who are
conscripts, to be enrolled and marched to their
camps or regiments, while he assumes the aus
thority of exempting the officers of the militia
from its operation 1 But officers, his Excellency
holds, are necessary to instruct the militia; but
it is not necessary that they should be between
the ages of 18 and 35 I An officer at 36,40 or 50,
is full young for home defense, and I presume
there Is patriotism enough in this class of our
citizens to fill all vacancies.
Asa Representative from Georgia, I gave a
cordtai support to the Conscript Bill, and I fee;
that a brief statement of facts will successfully
defend it. In the language of its preamble it was
passed “in view of the exigencies of the
country, and the absolute necessity of keep
ing in theservice our gallant army, and of
placing in the field a large additional force
to meet the advancing columns cf the enemy
now invading our soil.” In order that the
merits and necessity ot this bill may be properly
appreciated, keep in view the facts, that two
thirds of our troops were twelve months volun
teers whose term of service expired this Spring ;
that the enemy, with a knowledge of this fact,
was deferring his operations until our twelve
months men should "be mustered out of service,
that at these points'he was concentrating large
additional forces Ac These facte give you a brief
view of tbe “ exigencies of the country.” The
Conscription Act was passed to provide for the
impending exigencies, by keeping the twelve
months men in the field to fill up yuur skeleton
regiments which have been greatly reduced by
th casualties ol waraud the camp, and to place
the conscripts immediately in disciplined Sregi
ments under experienced officers; in short, to
dispanse with tbe further raising of new, raw
end ’.nexperienaed regiments, and renderg ef
ficient, by numbers and drill, the regiments al
ready in the field.
We have about five hundred regiments in sets
vice, By conscripts you keep them full, end the
conscripts, by being drilled with experienied
troops, are soon efficient soldiers. All must ads
mit that the five hundred regiments which we
have m the field, when full to their capacity, are
ampiy up to our ability. Wby, then, as Govern ,
nor Brown holds, place new and additional regis
ments in the field, instead of filling up the re
duced regiments? By this course your army will
be more efficient and less axpensive. Can Gov.
Brown devise apian or scheme by which he could
have held the twelve months troops in the field,
or have filled np the thin and reduced regiments,
other than by conscription? If the Governor ans
swers that Georgra could have furnished her
quota in volunteers, I ask if he would have furs"
nisbed them in new regiments, and left the old
to remain as skeleton regiments? To be consist,
ent, he will of course answer that he would have
furnished the troops by new regiments, thus
leaving the old and moat efficient regiments Jo
dwindle down to two or thiee hundred privates,
with full lists of officers!
Estimate, if you can, the disasters that would
have resulted to our cause, from the twelve
months troops (which composed two thirds ot
our army) being mustered out of service, and
going home upon a twenty or thirty days fur
lough, in the face of heavy and rapidly concen
trating columns of the enemyl And what think
you was the course of the twelve months volun
teers when they are told that absolute necessity
required the Conscript Act ? Gallant Georgia .s,
Virginians, Mississippians, Alabamians, Texans,
and all, gave up the tend anticipation of the fur
lough visit, and with the patriotic heart of tbe
soldier, are standing by their guns I Dotheir
brothers and neighbors at home wnohave render
ed no servive, complain of the Conscription Act?
Not a raurmer is heard from the private, when he
understands the.terms of the act; for he sees that
by the act he is placed under experienced officers
and with drilled troops, and he soon learns that
the discipline of experience is his protection.
I have briefly given you my defense; and in
conclusion, permit me tr> ask, Messrs. Editors, if
you think the objects of the Conscription Act were
unconstitutional and violative of State Rights?
And will you suggest to your readers any other
plan for filling up our declißing regiments? 1
will not at this time trouble yc-j farther with an
argument upon the constitutionality of the Con
scription Act.
We are now, in this dark hour of our struggle
for liberty, fighting to whip the common enemy,
and to achieve the right of t-e Confederate States
to separate from the North, That difficulty over,
j we will soon adjust the questions arising under
’ “State Rights.” Let us nut yet stand separate as
j the waves, but one as the ocean. When we have
■ whipped tbe fight and won the right to be
States, we can tbeu insist upon the questions
among the States and their Confederate Govern
ment. Any other ccurse will render nugatory
and powerless the efficiency of your Congress
and President whom you have charged with con
ducting this war, and substitute the separate,
conflicting and inharmonious State Right views
of the thirteen Governors of the Confederate
States !
Let us remember that *he issue upon which wa
are fighting is between North and south ;—liber
ty and deliverance, or subjugation, will be the re
sult of the conflict. “State Rights” will be
easily adjusted when we establish the right to
have States! Let the Governors of the Confed
erate States remember that the Constitution does
not charge them with tbe duty or power of rais
ing armies or conducting this war; and let them
remember that inharmonious action, or refusing
to co operate in the measures ot the Confeder -
ate Government, certainly does not add to the
popular zeal, or give proper encouragement to
cur gallant soldiers in tbe field.
Very respectfully,
A. H. Kenan.
Milledgeville, May 10, 1862.
The Federal official report of the Shiloh battle
has v '-“en published, and admits a loss on tbe
Yankee side in killed and wounded and missing,
of more than thirteen thousand.
The Federal fleet was at Fort Adams, fifty miles
below Natchez, a‘ nine o’clock Tuesday morning.
fuckstm M'Seixsipotan, May Wi.
TREASON At WORK
The following incident, disclosed by the Peters- ■
burg Express, of the 10th inst., is another solemn
admonition to the generouscredtilifv of Southern
ffien, to bq more cautions whom they trust-
May swift vengeance overtake this miscreant who
deserted to the enemy in the base manner here
narrated. Our Government ought to offer heavy
rewards for the bodies, alive or dead, of any such
traitors:
The Yankee Gunboats in Jamf.s River. —We
understand from a source entitled to the fullest
credit that a piece of perfidy came to light at
Norfolk, Thursday, which not only overs
whelmed every one in that section with amaze
ment, but also fully explains tbe seeming boldness
of the Yankee gunboats in ascending James
river, with so formidable a foe in their rear as
the Merrimac. On Thursday morning early, Gee.
Huger, despatched one Captain Byer, on board a
small Confederate steamtug, called tbe White,
with an important message for the comraandatv
at Sewell’s Point. Byer steamed off promptly
tor tbe Point, delivered his message, and then
steamed out again, but instead of returning to
Norfolk, darted out in Hampton Roads and hoist*
ing a white flag, beaded with all possible speed
tor Fortress Monroe.
After such base treachery, no one can for a
moment hesitate to believe that Gen. Wool wf-i
promptly informed of tbe exact condition of aS
fairs about Norfolk. Among other things, there
is no longer a doubt that this black-hearted
traitor communicated the fact that the Merrimac
was then at the dock in Norfolk, without steam,
and taking on coal; that the tide was ebb, axl
that when the Merrimac got on her coal and her
steam up, she would have to wait some time fct
the flood tide before she could come out. "Wri
this knowledge of affairs, Gen. Wool ret* rut
the least hesitancy in ordering v'ne Galena and
two or three other gunboats ty proceed up James
River, and shell ont Ottr batteries at Day's Point
and Hardin’s Bluff. This they did with impunity,
and returned to the guns of Fortress Monro-?,
before the Merrimac went down in that direc
tion. •
The traitor Byer, who stole the tug and carried
this information to the Federal Conunandor at
Fortress Monroe, is a native of New Jersey. He
was brought dow** to Virginia several years ago
by the Chesapeake ana Albemarle Canal Com<
jany, to run a steamer on that canal. When the
present troubles commenced, Byer professed such
devotion to ibe South that he was still retained
in his old position as commander of the tug, and
entrusted with important duties by the Governs
ment. How basely he has betrayed the trust re
posed in bim, our readers will have learned from
a perusal of these lines. Such things are extreme
ly annoying, but as no human ken can penetrate
the hearts of traitors, we must expect to suffer by
their perfidy-
PROCLAMATION OF GEN. BRAGG
Head Quarters, 2d Corps, »
Army of the Mississippi, >■
Corinth, Miss.. May 3d, 1862. )
Soldiers ; You are again about to encounter the
mercenary invader who pollutes the sacred
soil of our beloved country. Severely punished
by you, and driven from bis chosen positions,
with a loss of his artillery and his honor s’ Bhm
loh, when double your numbers, he now ap
proaches cautiously—unwilling to advance, una
ble to retreat. Could his rank and file enjoy &
freeman’s right, not one would remain within our
limits; but they are goaded on under a tyrant’s
lash by desperate leaders, whose only safety lies
in success.
Such a foe ought never to conquer freemen,
battling upon their own soil.
You wiil conquer him in your chosen position,
strong by nature and improved by art —away from
his main support and reliance —gunboats and
heavy batteries, and, for the first time in this war.
with nearly equal numbers. The slight reverses
we have met on the sea-board, have worked us
goo.a-us well as evil; the brave troops, so long
retained there, have hastened to awell you- num
bers, whilst the gallant Van Dorn and invincible
Price, with the ever successful “army o> the
West,” are now in your midst with the numbers
almost equalling the army of Shiloh. We have
then but to strike and destroy, and as the ene*
mv’s whole resources are concentrated bare,
we shall not only redeem Tennessee, Kentucky,
and Missouri atone blow, but open tbe portals of
the whole Northswest.
Braxton Bracm,
(Official.) Gen. Comd’g, 2d Corps.
.. ■ ■
.trom the Savannah Republican., May 181A
THE FEDERAL FLAG OF TRUCE.
As there is much speculation, and some very
erroneous rumors, with regard to the commmite
cation received by the commandant of this dis«
trict, through a flag of truce, Friday last, it may
be well to give a general statement of the fact?
as they are:
It appears that the communication referred to
was from General Benham, the Federal com
mandant at Fort Pulaski. Its sole object was to
propose an exchange of the sick and wounded
Confederate prisoners now in the fort, amount*
ing, as he states, to “about twenty,” for a like
number of Federal prisoners now m our posses*-
sion, and fit for service ; the exchanged mon on
both sides first to take aa oath before their diss
charge from cu’tody.
This proposition was replied to by General
Lawton, through a flag of truce, on Saturday.
Though anxious to secure the release of the Pu
laski prisoners, be declined an exchange on the
terms proposed; first, because under the term?
of the capitulation of the Fort, as published
in northern papers, and presumed to be au*
thentic, the Federal commander expressly stipu
lated that the sick and wounded of the gar
rison should be “ sent under a flag of truce to
the Confederate lines,” there being no coodi-’
tion or consideration annexed, and hence,
under a bona fide fulfillment of the contract,,
they should have been sent without a demand
for an exchange, and immediately after tbe sura
render, when the kind offices of friends were
most needed. A proposition now, after a whole
month has elapsed, and when it suited the I' 11 ’"'
pose of the Federal commander to send a flag ofc
truce, to exchange them for well prisoners in qur
custody,and after the unusual ceremony of admin"*
istering an oath to the parties to be exchanged,
was inadmissible, and promptly declined.
No further communication has been received
from the enemy.
RELATIONSHIP DISOWNED.
The New Orleans Delta, of the 29th «H-, relate?
the following:
On Saturday last, a party landed above Ce-rroh
ton from the enemy’s ships, and proceeded io the
abandoned fortifications, inspected theni and tore
up a sma’d Confederate flag, which they fo-nd
firing over tbe works. Returning down tbe
Levee the officers met a family of ladies and chil
dren, accompanied by tbeir colored servant 3he
Federate, addressing themselves first to the Indies,,
expressed a hope that the presence of Uh: fleet
waß not a cause of fear to them. We will relate
verbatim the conversation that ensued:
Mrs. B.— That sensation, sir, is unknown to us
here. , . , ....
Officer.—Madam, may I asx you if toere is any
Union sentiment here ?
g —None, sir, that I am aware of—cer
tainly none among tbe ladies.
Officer.—Then we may take it for granted there
is none among either sex, as the ladies generally
go with the gentlemen on political, questions.
E ’ Mrs. B. -*1 am confident, sir your mference as
to the entire absence, ot any Union seuUment i&
correct. As to tbe ladies following the gentle
men on political questions I beg you to understand
that however it may be tn your section, the ladies
here advocate that only which is just and honor*
able.
Officer (turning his attention to one of the ser
vants).-Well, Sis, can you tell me if all the
troops have left yei ?
Nancy being for a moment quiet, the lady saai :
“Nancy, why don’t yon answer your brother ?”
Nancy (wi’h gre-it indignation).—Don't you call
me Sis again. I don’t want no Yankee for a
b rudder.
Whole Federal party passed on without another
word.