Newspaper Page Text
CORINTH.
Pay after day the correspondents i» the
Western Army telegraph that the groat battle
near Corinth is imminent; the two grand
armies—the one of Freedom—the other of a
Yankee despot—stand within a few miles of
each other, ready, at any moment, to engage
each other in the shock of battle; and fond and
loving hearts are beating in anxious suspense
for the fate of dear ones who are disputing the
passage of the foe at that portal of Freedom.
The great event cannot much longer be delayed.
Soon the crash of the contending armies will
resound through the once quiet valley of the
Mississippi, and the fate of the West be deter
mined by the result of the grand contest.
Halleck is, no doubt, aware of the magnitude
of the work before him, and has marshalled
his hosts from far and wide. What he lacks in
bravery and position, he intends to make up in
numbers—in heavy seige guns and in mortar
batteries. But of what avail will all these be
before men who are fighting for life, liberty,
and, above all, for the honor of mothers, wives
and daughters ? Oh, what-courage these wil 1
give to the Confederates at Corinth—what
weight they will add to the blows that those
Confederates will deal—and what strength they
will secure to those who wield the blow’s !
Halleck’s numbers, his seige gnus, his mortar
batteries, will avail him nothing before the
Southern legious who fight at Corinth, not only
for the defence of their country and their rights,
but to avenge the insults offered to the women
of New Orleans and of the South.-
Let us, then, hope for good results from
Corinth; and that, with the rout.of the Yan
kee invaders there, the redemption of Tennes
see and Kentucky may soon follow.
OPENING THE PORTS.
Abraham the First has issued his proclama
tion, which we publish in another column,
opening the ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and
New Orleans, under certain conditions and re
strictions, to the commerce of the world. This
proclamation is so much waste paper, and the
commerce of the world w ill not, certainly,receive
any benefits from its issuance. The world
wants cotton—the looms of England, France,
and Continental Europe must soon be brought
to a stand still without cotton—thousands of
unemployed operatives are already starving and
clamorous for bread. Will their Governments
heed the cry? Eventually, they must. What
then ? Lincoln assures them that he has open
ed several of the cotton ports of the South to
them, and is, therefore, free from all responsi
bility for the dearth of cotton. But the Euro
pean Governments will not be deceived by
this false assertion. If they should be, when
their ships arrive at the opened ports, and find
the smoke of the burning cotton, fired by rebel
hands, still ascending from the smouldering
staple, they will then discover, too late, perhaps
that they have been once more tricked by the
chicanery of the Yankee President. Better for
those Governments, better for their starving
people, better for their trade and commerce,
would it have been for them to ignore the inef
fectual blockade of Southern ports, recognize
the Southern Confederacy, and open at once a
direec trade with it. Then the opening of cot
ton ports would have meant something; now,
coming as it does, from the Yankee President,
it is “full of sound and fury, signifying noth
ing, ” as Europe will soon learn, to its severe
cost.
PICAYUNE - BUTLER’S AGRARIAN AND DES
POTIC PROCLAMATIONS.
üblisb on our first page this morning
stes Furioso Butler’s proclamation or
notice to the people of New Orleans, by which,
as the telegraph recently informed us, he en
deavored to incite the animosity of the poor against
the rich. In addition to this, it will be seen that
the tyrant has issued another proclamation in
which he places the women of New Orleans upon
a par with harlots, because of their undying de
votion to Southern rights and hatred of their
Yankee enemies !
In these proclamations, th* people of the South
can see what is tn store for them in the event of
their subjugation. How they aught to arouse
every Southern freeman! how they should
“nerve every hand, and every heart inspire,” to
strike for liberty and Southern independence !
How they should call forth every effort to drive
back from our borders the Vandal hordes!
Well has Beauregard done to read to his
troops the infamous proclamation of the North
ern braggart. It will do much to ‘‘fire tse
Southern heart,” and will add tenfold force to
the blows which the army of the West will soon
strike fortheir bleeding country. Toe thoughts
that their mothers, wives, and daughters are at
the mercy of brutal Federate soldiers, and to be
ooked upon as common harlots, because they dare
to signify their displeasure at the presence of the
cruel foe, will inspire them with a courage, a fer
ocity that knows no bounds. They will avenge
the insult, and teach the hireling invader to res
spect Southern women and Southern men.
In regard to the former proclamation, in which
he attempts to array the poor against the rich bv
falsehoods and misrepresentation, the New
Orleans Bulletin furnishes the best answer, and
a complete refutation of Butler’s infamous slan*
ders. That iournal points to the free market of
the city by which thousands of poor people have
been gratuitously provided for up to the time
when the invaders arrived in front of the levee.
In truth, there is not a more charitable community
on the American continent than the city of New
Orleans ; and the charity which is there bestowed
is not of that parsimonious, drivelling kind
which characterizes the Aminadab Sleeks of
Yankeedoodledom, but is enlarged, liberal,
and even munificent. Yet the hireling
Butler dares to tell these people,
in their very presence, that the rich leaders of
the rebellion have provided for themselves and
left the poor to starve—that they-hare stolen,
plundered, and destroyed the means of those who
had property —and that they have made their
sons and nephews officers in the army while the
poor have been forced into service. These are
some of the false statements with which the
great Bombastes is endeavoring to excite the
poor against the rich and win them to his cause.
We much mistake the people of New Orleans if
they will allow themselves to be thus deceived
and insulted by the insolent autocrat who pro
claims that his only object in coming to that city
is to preserve order and restore the Constitution
of the hated Union. They will arise, Sampson
like, and tear the lion’s jaws asunder.
From the Montgomery [Ala.] Mail. May “20th.
INTERESTING FROM NEW ORLEANS-
From the New Orleans Delta of the lAh just.,
we copy the following;
Troops.— Six large square rigged vessels ar
rived yesterday from sea, loaded with U-> .
troops.
Flag Down.—The flag of the consulate of the
Netherlands is not flying to-day.
The Strong Hand.— VVe learn that the rest*
dence of Gen. Twiggs and Col. Adams, in 1 iy~
tauia street, have both been taken for occupancy
by the Federal forces. „ r j
Arrested. —We learn that W. B. Mumford,
who is charged with being conspicuous as the
leader of the party that, beforce the arrival of
Gen. Bntfer, tore down the Federal nag which
was hoisted on the Mint by the forces under
Capt. Farrcgut, was yesterday arrested by the
United States authorities.
Arrests.— We understand that the authorities
of the United States on Sunday arrested Mr.
Esnard, who was formerly a clerk of Mr. A. J.
Guitot, an officer of the Mint, together with the
books of Mr. G., and on yesterday they arrested
Mr. Bernard Avegno, one of Mr. Guirot’s securis
ties on his bond to the United States.
The Banks and Gen. Butler.—The Presidents
of the Banks were requested to meet Gen. Butler
yesterday, and we learn he invited them to re
turn the specie which they had sent out of the
city to their vaults, assuring them he would .not
seize nor interfere with it. VVe did not ascer.-
tain the determination of the Prsidents, but sup
pose the specie to be Beyond their reach.
Acting Brig. Gen.-Ceorge T. Shepley, Colonel
of the 12th Regiment of Maine Volunteers, has
been appointed by Gen. Butler, Military Com
mander of New Orleans. We are indebted to
• the Picayime for the information that Gen. But.
ler will make his headquarters ou the sea coast
Col. Shepley is a son of Judge Shepley former,-
ly Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine, and
once a Senator from that State. The Colonel
has been a prominent national Democratic politi
cian in times past, and was the special friend,
adviser and host of Jefferson Davis, when he
made a visit to New England some few years
ago.
Our City and People.—We perceive in some
of our Southern contemporaries a good many
flings at New Orleans for its rtJcent disasters and
humiliation. These are unjust and untrue. We
shall show at the proper time that no popu.ation
ever exhibited a career of more generous and
self-sacrificing spirit than that of this city. It
has not been their fault, or their lack of devotion
and patriotism;that they have been conquered.
The record contains ample evidence that they
were not wanting in any duty incumbent on
them in their situation. Their demands and pe
titions were not regarded, their proffers and ten
ders of means, of their waole resources, were re*
jected, and their suggestions never heeded by
those who had control of the defence of the city.
' Their constant clamor of the weakness
of their defenses were met by
i sneers and by assurances of their entire ade
quacy. Consequential, pleasure-loving and seifish
officials overrode the honest people, and in pur
suit of their own interests or the interests of
relatives and friends, lost sight of the great
interests committed to their charge, in the de
fense of the honor and safety of The city. There
is a fearful reckoning to be made hereafter. It
is not time now to enter upon these matters. But
the brave and true people ®f this city, who have
not evacuated it—who have not fled trom it in
precipitate and disgraceful flight—who remain
here to encounter a thousand annoyances and
troubles—are the true representatives of the honor
and fidelity of our population, and ought not to
be taunted for the faults, weakness or infidelities
of those who were not of us—who were sent to
do that which would have been very differently
done if the people had known the true state of
affairs or their own ideas had been carried out.
Important Naval News.—From late Northern
papers, which we have received, we get the im
portant and gratifying news that the Captain and
crew of the tine British ship Emily St. Pierre,
which was captured off this coast some time ago
by the blockading squadron, rose upon and overs
came the Yankee prize crew, during the passage
to New York, and conveyed the vessel to Liver
pool. Adams, the Yankee Minister, had at last
accounts, demanded from the British government
the restoration of the Emily St. Pierre, for adjudis
cation in a Northern Prize Court. We have also
information that the pilot boat John C. Calhoun,
lately known as the schr. Mary Theresa; has been
captured near this bar by the Yankee blocka
ders.
The blockading c quadron off Charleston bar
yesterday consisted of ten vessels. It is generals
ly stated that some boats from the Lincoln fleet
were sounding out Stone bar on Friday last.
Charleston. Mercury, May
• ■*>
LATER FROM NEW ORLEANS-
Our readers will remember a telegraphic dis
patch which we recently published detailing
some of Picayune Butler’s anrtcsm New Orleans,
among other things his attempting to incite the
poor against the rich. The following is the proc
clamation to which that statement had reference,
and which we find in the Jackson M ssissippian,
of May 14th:
NOTICE.
Headquarters Depart*’r or the Gulf, I
New- Orleans, May 9, 1862. J
General Orders No. 25.
The deplorable state of destitution and hunger
of the mechanics and working classes in this city
has been brought to the knowledge of the Com
manding General.
He has yielded to every suggestion made by the
city government,and ordered every method of fur
nishing food to the people of New Oileans that
that government desired. No relief by those offi
cials has yet been afforded This hunger does
not pinch the wealthy and influential, the lead
ers of the rebellion, who have gotten up this war,
and are now endeavoring to prosecute it, with
out regard to the starving poor, the working man,
h s wife and child. Unmindful of their suffering,
fotow-citizens at home, they have caused or suts
ferei provisions to be carried out of the city for
Confederate service since the occupation by the
United States forces. ‘
lAfayttte Square, their home of affluence, was
made the depot of stores and munitions ot war
for the rebel armies, and not of provisions for
their poor neighbors. Striking hands with the
vile, the gambler, the idler and the ruffian, they
have destroyed the sugar and cotton which might
have been excha»ged for. food for the industrious
and good, and regulated the price of that which
is left, by discrediting the very currency they had
furnished while they Moped wits the specie; as
well that stolen from the United Shates as the
Banks, the property of the good people of New
Orleans, thus leaving them to ruin' starva
tion.
Fugitives from justice, many of them, and
others, their associates, staying because too
puerile and insignificant to be objects of punish
ment by the element Government of the United
States.
They have betrayed their country.
They have been false to every trust.
They have shown themselves incapable of de„
fending the State they had seized upon, although
they, have forced every poor man’s child into
their service *s soldiers for that purpose, while
they made their sons and nephews officers.
They cannot protect those whom they have ru«
ined, but have left them to the mercies audassas-.
sinations of a chronie mob.
They will not feed those whom they are starv
ing.
Mostly without property themselves, they have
plundered, stolen and destroyed t&e means of
those who bad property, leaving children penni
less and old age hopeless.
Men of Louisiana, workingmen, property hold
ers, merchants and citizens of the United States,
of whatever nation you may have had birth, how
long will sou uphold these flagrant wrongs, and
by inaction suffer yourselves to be made the serfs
of these leaders?
®The United States have seat land and naval
• forces here to fight and subdue rebellious armies
in array against her authority. W* find, sub
stantially, only fugitive masses, runaway pre-
perty owners, a whisky drinking mob, and star
ving citizens with their wives and children. It
is our duty to call back the first to punish the
second, root out the third, feed and protect the
test.
Ready only for war, we had not prepared our
selves to feed the hnngry and relieve the dis
tressed with provisions. But to the extent pos
sible within the power of the Commanding
General it shall be done.
He has captured a quantity of beef and sugar
intended for the rebels in the field. A thousand
barrels of those stores will be distributed among
the deserving poor of this city, from whom the
rebels hkd plundered it; even although some of
the food will goto supply the craving wants of
the wives and children of those now herding at
Camp Moore and elsewhere, in arms against the
United States.
Capt. John Clark, Acting Chief Commissary of
Subsistence, will be charged with the execution
of this order, and will give public notice of the
place and manner of distribution, which will be
arranged as far as possible, so that the unworthy
and disolute will not share its benefits.
By command of Major-Gen. Butler.
Geo. C. Strong, A. A. G. Chief of Stuff.
Ornes of Commissary of Subsistence, i_
Customhouse, New Orleans, May 10, 1062. j
In compliance with the above order of the
Commanding General, the Commissary announc
es that his office in the Customhouse will be open
on Monday, and from day to day thereafter,
from 8 o’clock a. in., to 4 p. m., for the purpose
of examining the claims of those who present
themselves tor assistance. Applicants for aid
should bring such credentials from gentlemen in
their respective districts as shall guard against
deception. The indorsement of a clergyman, a
physician, or any gentleman known or knowing,
will be sufficient.
On Monday two hundred tierces of beef will be
distributed. John Clark,
Capt. A Coni, of Sub. U- S.
THE EVENTS ON LAKE PONCHARTRAIN.
The Mobile Evening Jfews of Tuesday, April
29th, says :
Among the several prominent acts of folly, in
efficiency and mismanagement which have at
different times and places disgraced the conduct
of this war, the destruction of the Confederate
fleet of gunboats in Lake Ponchartrain stands
stupendously pre-eminent—unapproached and
unapproachable by whatever has been done, or
whatever may or can be done. Preferring for the
present to charge this act to the account of folly
and rather than of treachery—and at pres
ent popular charge to be left to the proper tribu
nal to levestigate— we account it the most mortify
ing, intensely humiliating, and lamentable occur*
rence in connection with the loss of New Orleans.
Were treason palpably in the case, it would only
excite hoi and inspirating indignation, and we
trust that it may be proved that our cause has
been so stabbed by a knave or knaves rather’than
by a fool or fools. The verdict of a drum-nead
court-martial should award the rope to the former
for the bullet to the . latter. Folly may be a
man’s misfortune, but it should not be allowed to
be his country's misfortune. Th* laws do not
recognise folly and stupidity as legal exemptions
from responsibilities for offences; it is necessary
for the good of society that tolly as well as ras
cality should be responsible for their conse
quences. So it is necessary that for the geod of
our country the manifestations of folly should be
accounted high military crimes.
Fools oft pulled down empires that Solons and
Caesars have reared ; wisdom can do great things,
yet foolishness can undo them more rapidly. But
tools, and especially coward foils, can be enn
trolled and through but one agency—that of fear.
Let the summary punishment of the guilty in
this case be an acute warning to other fools and
cowards who may be in the military employ of
the Confederacy.
In Lake Ponchartrain there was a fleet of half a
dozen, more or less, effective gunboats, and not
an enemy’s vessel on that- inland sea. Its en
trances were guarded by strong fort.fications,
and on its waters floated a vast value of ship r
ping. Across the lake the city of New Orleans
can now be approahed by ihe enemy’s transport
fleet, and an army canAje landed at the city, or
above the city at Pass Manchac, in the vicinity
where the fugacious Lovell ha» ‘‘made a stand.”
Os what avail is it that the brave Duncan and bis
heroic command held the shattered Forts on the
Missippi and die amid the ruins to keep Lincoln’s
expeditionary land force at bay ? Fort Pike and
the batteries which guard the entrances, and the
gunboats, are suicidally destroyed, and merchant
vessels can sail into the Lake up to the city
freighted with ten of thousands of invaders. We
presume that this is already being done by the
active enemy, and we may resign the last faint
hopes that have been suggested on the basis of
the continued defence of the Mississippi Forts
keeping the troop transports at bay until some
effort could be made to regain New Orleans.
We question very much after their exhausting
struggle with the Mississippi.forts, which so much
reduced their munitions, and which they suffered
so milch loss, and with so much still to do in that
river, the naval forces oi the enemy could have
sent a flotilla to reduce the Ponchartrain works
and fleet for weexs. Meantime, something
might have been done to “pluck the fiower safety
out of the this -nettle danger,” could the Mis
sissippi fbrts have held out.
And the matter may be viewed in another and
quite as disgraceful aspect. The gunboat fleet
might have been saved and made available else
where. There was a route to Mobile, and with it
invitingly open the vessels were burned! Mer
chant vessels and steamers showed the way and
came through safely; why did not these war ves»
seteoftbe Confederacy also come? Bah I the
thing is too disgusting lor discussion! Let it
never be brought up after it is necessarily so in
order to the execution of him or those respon
sible for it. With that fleet added to our light
draft squadron in Mobile bay, we could make
effective defence against the best effort of the
enemy. But—will— oheu,jam satisl
From the Memphis (Tenn.) Appeai;
AFFAIRS AT NASHVILLE.
Beersheba Springs, Tenn, )
April 28, 1862. f
Editors Memphis Appeal'.
I have just returned from Nashville. A per
fect reign of terror exists there. Andy Johnson
says the people of Tennessee need expect no
thing from him. By the-by, you had as well let
the people know that his body guard of two hun
dred men are all from Cincinnati. I saw them,
and a more common set of Dutch I never beheld.
Old “Andy” boards at the St. Clond.
If you remember, Johnson, in his speech a.
Nashville, thanked the ladies for their attention.
There were just four women present on that oc
casion. Two of them were Dutch singing
teachers, one an old blind Irish woman, and one
a Yankee "g’hal”—l supposed so from her dress.
The ladies of Nashville are treating, as true
Southern matrons and maidens should treat, the
vile invaders of their beautiful city—with con
tempt. They look the simple words, ‘ i bate
you,” at each Federal scamp that passes.
The Federate are quite uneasy in regard to the
health of the city. They have seven thousand
sick, and I am happy to say that an average o.
thirty-one are buried daily.
Gen. Harding and Mr. Barrow are the a
present. The ladies, old and young, ca!l .
them in the prison, and vie with each other n
kind attentions. . ,
The officers have their families with toem ine
women are common, red-haired, grey-eyed spec -
mens of Yankeedom—diminutive bonnets, -arge
hoops and Balmoral skirts. Leather gloves ace
all the rage. . . _
Almost every lady in Nashv.lle is a
ist. There are a very few, however of the ower
class, who are against us. They have noth.ng
to lose, and are probably related in some way to
those miserable wretches. I could write you a
nu mber of amusing incidents, bnt shall not Ure
your patience. w ‘
A Hint.—An editorial article in the New Y ork
Times of the 3d iust., on the subject of the fall of
Fort Macon, concludes as follows:
“Now let Gen. Hunter look out for his laurels.
It is quite time that the insolent rebels and
snobs of South Carolina were blown out Oi fiort '
Sumter.” i
THE WAR IN ARKANSAS.
The following intelligence trom the Memphis
Appeal is the latest from the seat of war in . Ar
kansas, a section of growing interest in such
connection. We are glad to see that the Arkan
siaas are disposing of tneir cotton in the righr
way :
Dzs Arc, May 10—The enemy are reported to
have been at Augusta, Jackson county. They
took possesmori of all the cotton in the neigh-.
borhood. They are reported to be in consider
able force at Jacksonport and Batesville. Tbeir
destination is not known. Some of the Federate
in disguise entered this place to day, and after
reconnoitering, returned. They were pursued by
the citizens.
Seventeen hundred bales of cotton were offered
upon the shrine of liberty, to day, by the citizens
of this place.
The enemy are supposed to be under th* com
mand of Curtis. His forces are reported to be
between eight and ten thousand.
Movements of ths Fedeeals in Arkansas.—The
report is brought trom Little Rock that General
Curtis’s division of the Federal army, lately oc
cupying Springfield, have commenced to
march southeast, in the direction of the State
capital.
Steele’s division is certainly moving to the same
point from Pocahontas.
The probability is, that both will be starved out
should they proceed much further. This move
ment on Little Kock is doubtless made with the
belief that the navigation of the Mississippi and
Arkansas rivers Will be open to Federal trans.-
ports before these troops reaqli their expected
point of destination. It is only in this way that
they can possibly be furnished with pr per sup
plies.
Ffoni'tke Richmond Dispatch, May 14.
■ FROM THE VALLEY AND NORTHWEST.
| There are numerous and conflict ing reports
; as to the status of affairs in the Valley and North
west, none of which, however, present our cause
in an unfavorable light; and all of which tend
to confirm the wellsfounded impression that the
time is not remotely enveloped tn the future
when that 'air portion of ou r heritage will be re l *
stored to Virginia and the Confederacy
The enemy, though in large force, have evis
dently felt the blow inflicted at McDowell and
are uneasy and alarmed. Gradually the heavy
columns of Banks are falling back before the cau\
tious advance of Jackson and Ewell, and the
Yankees manifestly feel that they have but a
slight ’enure upon the fine farms which the fans
aticism of Greely had promised them in that rich
section. Many of them would readily relinquish
i.ll tbeir right and title to extensive domain for
a positive assurance that they would not be
caiieti upon to become permanent occupants of
a lot of ground not more than six feet by two.
VVe have heard of vackson’s position,and some
thing of hts movements, but we have strong
doubts as to the propriety of giving them pub
licity, and consulting our own judgment, nru
dently withhold them. Suffice it to say" for
public gratification, that he is actively alert,’ and
fully alive to the maoceuve-s of his adroit and
unscrupulous foe, Ewell is where be ought to be,
ready to strike a blow at the point where his
services are most needed.
Our latest information states that Banks, with
his force, is in the neighborhood o f Woodstock,
evincing his insecurity by throwing up entrench
ments, thus offering a show of resistance to the
march of our army down the valley. Some
movement is plainly in contemplation by this
division of the Federal army. The forces which
have heretofore occupied and overrun the counties
of Page and Warren have been withdrawn, and
it is inferred that tae column of Banks is either
endeavoring to strengthen itself by concentra
tion, or preparing for an entire withdrawal from
that quarter, with a view to a connection with the
forces of McDowell, now menacing the line of
the Rappahahnnock. This latteer movement will,
in a.l probability, be foiled. Gen. Jackson is too
shrewed and energetic as a commander to per
mit his foe thus easily to escape.
A report, tolerably well authenticated, states
that the enemy appeared at Jackson’s river, the
terminus of the Virginia Central Railroad, on
Saturday last at one o’clock, at which time teles
graphic communication between that point and
Staunton ceased. They are believed to be in
small force. Jackson’s river is 30 mile* from
the Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, 6 miles
frena the Rockbridge Alum, and 65 miles above
Staunton. What particular portion of the ene
my s forces that have occupied this point, or
where they cams from, is not stated.
Confirmatory of this latter report we find the
following iu the last niimbdr of ibe Lynchburg
Republican:
Yankees at the White Sulpher.—We are in
formed that a force of between twelve and fifteen
hundred of the enemy now occupies the county
oi Greenbrier. This was quite unexpected to the
people of that county, who looked only for ma
rauding parties, and for such ample preparations
had been made. This unexpected force succeed
ed in driving the only means of defence from the
county as far as the Sweet Springs, in Monroe,
and we are sorry to learn that in a skirmish with
the ennmy, several citizens are missing, whom
it is supposed are killed.
We clip the following paragraphs from
the Richmond Examiner, of May ] 9 th .
Northwestern Virginia.—The city was en.-,
livened on Saturday by a number of exciting
reports from the Northwest, conspicuous among
which was the rumor that General Jackson had
captured the whole of Mi Urey’s command. There
is no foundation for any such story. The War
Department has not bad anything from General
Jackson fbr the past tew days.
Another report of the enemy having possession
of Jackson river has this much of truth in it—
that three hundred Federal cavalry had appeared
at Jackson river depot, probably on a marauding
expedition.
That Mysterious Visit of the French Minis
ter.— We.have some curious and interesting in
telligence with respect to the late mysterious
visit to Richmond of Count Mercier, the French
Minister at Washington.
It appears that, on leaving Richmond, Count
Mercier had no sooner reached Norfolk than he
committed dispat-,hes addressed to his governs
ment to an express steamer lying off Norfolk, by
which they were hastily conveyed to a war
steamer at New York, which was already under
steam, and, having been boarded by the express
boat, immediately started for France.
The singular expedition of this transaction,
. nd the air of importance given it by a number
of circumstances, had created immense sensation
in the foreign diplomatic circles in that city.’
We are positively assured that, on the return
of Count Mercier to Washington, the British
Minister bad deputed his Secretary to proceed
instantly to Annapolis and take a steamer there for
Norfolk, en route to Richmond; and that the
Danish Consul had also suddenly left on an exs
pedition to this city.
The impression was that Count Mercier had
taken an advantage in his mysterious trip lo
Richmond, of which event the Washington Gov
ernment was wholly unadvised, and had laid the
foundation of a treaty between France and the
Southern Confederacy.
On the return of Count Mercier to Washington
he was called upon for an explanation by the
Federal Government, through the polite medium
of an invitation from Mr. Seward tp give bun an
interview. The interview lasted some eight
hours. The Count had landed at the navy yard
from' a French steamer which had her port holes
open.
These facts and circumstances are obtained
from what is supposed to be undoubtedly reliable
source of information, and we leave our readers
to make their own conjectures, withont risking
any of our own, further than the negative opin«
ion that the visit of Count Mercier to Richmond
was something more than a diplomatic recon.,
noissance.
The Dalton North Georgia of the Uth
says the wheat crop in Whitfield county has
greatly improved in the last ten days. There is
now a prospect of a very fair yield.
THE FEDERAL ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTUR3
OF NEW ORLEANS.
The report of the bombardment of Forts Jack*
son and St. Phillip, and the capture of New Or
leans, occupies 12 closely printed columns of the
New York Herald. Among other things it con
tains official reports from Commodores Porter
and Farragut, and Captain Bailey, Commodore
Porter says one of his mortar boats Was sunk
end that the flotilla lost but one man killed and
s;x wounded. He also acknowledges the loss' of
the steamer Varuno, and one hundred men
killed or wounded. Captain Daily reports
a total Federal loss of 36 killed and 123 wounded,
and says the Confederate loss was from 1,000 to
1,500, besides 700 prisoners.
From the New \ ork Herald’s correspondence
i we take the following extracts :
THE HEIGHT OF THE BATTLE.
Shot, shell, grape and canister filled the air
with deadly missiles. It was like the breaking
up of a thousand worlds—crash—tear—whiz !
Such another scene was never witnessed oy mortal
man. Steadily we steamed on, giving them shell,
the forts firing rifle shot and shell, ten inch cos
lumbiads, forty-two, thirty»two and twenUafour
i pounder balls ; and, to adu co this state of affairs,
; thirteen steamers and the floating battery Louisi
; ana, of the enemy, were pouring into and around
! us a bail storm of iron perfectly indiseribable.
j Not satisfied with their firing, tire raft after fire
| raft was lit and set adrift to do their Work of
I burning. The Rim was busy at work trying to
shove them under the bows of our vessel."
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE FLAG OFFICER.
While m the port mizz j n rigging the Flag Of
ficer narrowiy esetped being hit’ with a rifle
shell. A shell burst on deck, and the concussion
stunned Lieut.-George Heieler, of our Marine
corps, so that for a time his life was despaired
of. I started to go forward to see how things
were working there, and the wind of a huge rifle
shell knocked the cap off my head. It was a time
Os terror; our guns were firing as rapidly as pos
sible, and the howitzers in the tops were doing
excellent execution.
THE FLAGSHIP AGR lUNB AND ON FIRE.
In the midst of this awful scene down came a tre
mendous fire raft, and the rams hoved her under*
port our quarter. The flames caught our rigging
' and side, and for a moment it seemed we must
fall a prey to the ravages of fire. A flre was also
burning on the berth deck. The fire hose was on
hand, and we soon subdued the flames, and gave
the ram a dose of rifle shell, ■‘■ffie, however,came
up for us aga'n, but some other vessel tackled her
and she hauled off. During this stage of affairs
we grounded, and our fate seemed sealed; but
our men worked like beavers, and the engineers
soon got the ship astern and afloat. It defies the
powers of my brain to describe the soene at this
time. The river and its banks were one sheet of
flame, and the messengers of death were moving
with lightning swiftness in all directions.—
Steadily we plied shell and grape, interspersed
with shrapnel. Rebeldotn began to quake; her
boats were fast being riddled by well directed
brbadsides, and they who were ab’e made for
the shore to run them on, so that they could save
their lives. Some were on fire and others were
sinking. Our boys were cheerfng with a hearty
good will, and well they might, for we had almost
won the day,and we were nearly past the forts.—
Our ship had been on fire three times, and she was
riddled from stem to stern. The cabin was com
pletely gutted, the starboard steerage all torn up
and the armory knocked into “pi.” My clothing
was strewn abaft decks, and I was obliged to pick
it up piece by piece. The manuscript ot the
bombardment came near to destruction by a
rifle shell, which tore up my room and killed one
man.
THE VARUNA AND THE REBEL VESSEL.
Captain Boggs, of the Varuna, finding that a
steamer (name unknown) was about to run into
him, put the vessel in such position that in being
damaged he could repay it with interest. On
came a large steamer ail clad with iron about the
bow, and hit the Varuna in the port-waist, but
ting and crushing in her side. She dropped
alongside and cleared out to butt again. She hit
the Varnn a second time, and while in a sinking
condition the Varuna poured the eighfoinch shel ls
into him so fast that the ijebel waJset on fire and
driven on shore.
Off tub Citt New Orleans, I
Flag Ship Hartford, Friday, April 25, 1862. j
SHIPS AND COTTON ON FIRE.
At a few minutes past midnight the cry of a
“fire raft” started us, and looking up the river
three large lights were seen, and to avoid any
danf*r we got under way and cruised about the
river for an hour or so, nil we found that the
lights became stationary. By the time we had
dropped asleep, the order came to up anchor, but
it was not until haltepast 5 o’clock that we were
all under way. As we steamed along we found
that our fire rafts were five large ships with full
cargos of cotton, and they wpre nearly consumed.
Toe river was dotted here and there with ship
carpenters’ stage, and we were of the opinion that
they had been, used iu the construction of the
great ram which was to carry twenty guns. She
was launched on Saturday last. 1 We received the
same greeting from the negroes as we did yester
day. One well dressed darKey, with a carpet bag
in his hand, shouted from the bank, “Hurrah, hur
rah for Abraham.” It caused great laughter, I
can assure you.
As we drew near the city we saw the smoke of
steamers going up the river.
FIRST VIEW OF THS CAPTURED CITT.
The view from our decks was one such as wil
never in ail human probability be. witnessed
again. A large city lay at our mercy. Its levee
was crowded by an excited mob. The smoke of
the ruins of millions worth of cotton and ship
ping at times half concealed the people. While
men were ,hastening up the levee, firing ships
and rivey craft as fast as possible, the people
were rushing to and fro. Some of them cheered
for the Union, when they were tired upon by the
crawd. Men, women and children were armed
with pistols, knives and all manner of weapons.
Some cheered for Jeff. Davis, Beauregard, 4c.,
and used the most vilehud ooscene language tos
wards us and the good old flag. Pandemonium
was here ali ving picture. Order was to them u
thing past and forgotton, and the air was rent
with yells of defiance.
THE DESTRUCTION OP THE OTHER REBEL RAM.
Just before Captain Bailey reached the levee the
ram Mississippi came floating down the river,
wrapped in flames. She was a terrible looking af
fair, built to carry eight guns on each side, and
two at each end—twenty in all. Ten days more
and she would have been completed, and I think
she would have driven us out of the river, sinking
every vessel we had. She resembled the Merri
mac somewhat, but I think she would have been
more formidable. The enemy attempted to tow
her up the river, but finding we were sending
vessels to capture her, they set her on fire.
THB NIGHT BEFORE THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY.
A boat from the ship was fclong the . levee to
seize all thegsteamers for transportationjpnrposes,
and in course of conversation people report, that
on Thursday night the panic broke out in the
city, and all the cotton was brought out and set
on fire, and that the mob could be scarcely re
strained from firing the public buildings, and then
the private buildings. It was a night not equalled
by anything, even in the French revolution.
A band of desperadoes had charge ot affairs,
and they were backed by Lovell, who, however’
denies it; but he is accountable for the des ruc
tion of property, as he set the example by firing
his own cotton first. Aram lay alongside of the
levee, partially sunk and her wood work was on'
fire. Another ram affair was sunk on the Algiers
side of the river. lam unable to obtain the de
tails of the loss by flre to shipping ind cotton
It will be weeks before it can be ascertained and
I have a right to suppose that we never will be
able to give the full particulars of the wanton
destruction of property which has occurred in and’
around this city during the last two days.
The Fleet in Warsaw.—The prisoners cap
tured in Augustine Creek Sunday last, say the
Federal fleet in Warsaw Sound consists of the
steamer Sumter, the sloops-of>war Warren and
Vandalia, and the gunboat Mobtcan.
Sav. Rep., May 15.