Newspaper Page Text
&l)c iUcchln (Constitutionalist.
BY JAMES GARDNER.
SicAmond Sxamner, July 33d.
BATTLE VP THE SEVEN FINES—GENERAL
JOHNSTON S OFFICIAL REPORT-
Richmond, June 24th, 1862.
Genera! S. Cooper, Adjutant and InNpector Gen-
Sib l ; Before the 80th May I had ascerta ioed
from trusty acorns that Keyes’ corps wan en«
camped o» this side of the Chickabominy, near
the Williamsburg road. On that day Major Gen.
era! D. H. Hill reported a strong body immedi
ately in his front. On receding this report 1 de
termined to attack them neat roornrtg—hoping
to be able to defeat Keyes’ corps completely in
,ts mere advanced position before it could be re
inforced. Written orders were dispatched to
Major Generals Hill, Huger and G. W. Smith.
Geoerai Longatreet, being near my headquarters,
teceived rerbal instructions. The receipt of the
orders was acknowledged. Gen. Hill, supported
by the division of Gen. Longatreet (who had toe
direction of operations on therightjwas toadrance
by the Williamsburg road to attack the enemy
in front; General Huger, with his division, was
to move down the Cnarfes City road, in order to
attack in hank the troops who might be engaged
with Hill and Longatreet, unless he found in his
front force enough to occupy his division. Gen.
Smi.b was to march to the junction of the New
Brdge road aod the Nine Mile road, to be in
readiness either to fall on Keyes’ right Sank, or
to cover Lpngstreet’a left. They were to more
a- daybreak. Heavy and protracted rains durs
log tbe afternoon and night, oy swelling the
stream of the Cfciekahominj, increased the
probability of oar having to deal with no other
troops than those of Keyes’. The same cause
prevented the prompt and punctual movement
if tho troops. Those of Smith, Hill and Long-
Etreet were in position early enough, however,
to commence operations by eight o’clock A. M.
Major General Longstreet, unwilling to make
a partial attack instead of the combined move
ment which had been p anned, waited from hour
to hour for General Hager’s division. At lengtb
2 o’clock p, m., he determined to attack
without those troops. He accordytgly com
meoced his advance at that hour, opening tbe
'engagement with artillery and skirmishers. By
S o'clock it became close and heavy.
In the meantime I had placed myself on the
left of the force employed in tbe attack, with
the division of General" Smith, that 1 might be
- on a part of the field where I conld observe and
be ready to meet any counter movements which
the enemy’s General might make against oar
, centre or left. Owing to some peeuliar condition
of the atmosphere, the sound of the musketry
-did not reach us. I consequently deferred giv
ing the signal for General Smith's advance till
about four u’clock, at which time Major Jasper
Whiting, of General Smith’s staff, whom I had
sent to learn rthe state of affairs with General
Longatreet's column, returned, reporting that it ■
was pressing on with vigor. Smith’s troops
■were at once mc-ved forward.
Toe principal attack was miis by Major Gens
era! Loogstreet, with his own and
1), a. Hill’s division— the latter mostly in ad
rauoe. Hill’s brave troops, admirably com
manded and most gallantly led, forced tbeir way
through the abatti» wbicb formed the enemy’e
external defences and stormed their entrench
ments by 4 determined and irresistible rush.—
Such w*s tho manner in which the enemy’s first
Ilf,e was carried. The operation was repeated
wilhibasam- gallantry aod success :ig our
troops pursued their victorious career through
the enemy’s successive camps and entrench
ments. At rich new position they encountered
_fre»h tmnj l - belonging u 1 1, and no o'u-aem-.nl
proagut on true? -ue rea.K Thus ttye'y had to
rep ■! repeated efforts,to retake works which they
had carried. But their advance wa3 never suc
ressfully resisted.
Their ooward oovement was only stayed by
the coming of night. By nightfall they had
torced their way to the “rdeven Pines," having
driven the enemy back more than two miles,
. through their own camps, and from a series of
t entrenchments, and repelled every attempt to
|r recapture them with gieat slaughter. The skill,
vigor and decision with which these operations
w-re conducted by Genera! Longatreet are worthy
of tbe highest praise He was worthily seconded
by Major General Hill, of whose conduct and
courage he spoke in tbe highest terms.
Maj ir.General Smith’s division moved forward
• at four o’clock—Whiting’s three brigades lead
log. Their progress was impeded by the enemy’s
skirmishers, which, with their SBfginrts, were
driven bank to the railroad. At this point,
Whiting’s own and Pettigrew’s brigade engaged
a superior force of the enemy. Hood’s, by my
order, moved on to cooperate with Longatreet,
General Smith was desired to hasten np with all
the troops withio reach. He brought up Hamp
ton’s and Hatton’s brigades in a few minutes.
The strength of the enemy’s position, however,
enabled him to hold it until dark.
About sunset, be og struck from my horse,
severely wounded by a frsirment of a shell, I
was carried (rota the held, and Major-General
0. W Smith succeeded to the command.
He was prevented from resuming his attack
on the enemy’s position next morning by tbe
discovery of strong enirenchmeDts not setn
on the previous evening. His division bivou
jj- acked, on the night of the thirty-first, within
j musket shot of the entrenchments which they
were attacking when darkness stayed the coo*
1 | fiic:. The skill, energy and resolution with
* i jjrhich Major-General Smith directed the attack
A iwuuld have secured s-ccess If it could have
jp |seen made an hour earlier.
V Tbe troops of Longatreet and Hill passed the
- night ot tbefoirty-hrst on toe ground which
they had woo. The enemy were strongly re! □-
forced from ihe north side of the Chickabominy
, -on the evening and night of the thirty-first. Tbe
b| troops engaged by General Smith were undoubi*
rj? ediy from the other side of the river.
~ Oa the aiarmng ot the first of June the enemy
attacked tbe brigade of General Pickett, which
| was supported by that of General Frysr. The
M*a/Jk was vigorously repelled bv these two
brigades, the brunt of (he action falling ou Gen.
Pickett. This was the last demonstration made
by thj eoemy.
Out troops employed the residue of the day in
-aecuriag and bearing off tbe captured artillery,
•email arms, aad other property; and in tbe
evenly quietly reamed to their own camps.
ten Pieces of artilterv, si* thousand
min.! - To-"?' 00 ' « arri,oc flag,and four regi-
Tnd c amp * Urge ’ Ulnti, J of
'ir.u- report 3 the i ToS
Major General G. *. Wkreporta' B ’° Co
* I”** 288-
fit That of the enemy is stated in their own nt’wa!
|Lv pnpers to have exceeded ten tbdWnd—an e.t,
iuate wbich is, no doubt, short of \i, e troth **
Wt Had Major Geoerai Huger’s divfri*, beec ja
K. P * nd ceady for action when those of
Cjf, Doogstreet, aod Hill moved, I an, !.
®ed that K eves’ corps wo-ild have been
IfA instead ot being merely defeated.* Had if &
jato aetioo even at four o’clock, the victory wouvi
Kj .® ee ® more complete.
L Major Genera la Smith and Lrtngstreet speak
L AudaUffXi™. the °°^ oct of eir *** iTiet
■ the bttfiAtioo of the govern
■ , ™ ot repecially to the manner in which "Brigs*
I aU s , r^T‘ ls , KH. Anderson,
m °® c !* Jnnkins and Kemper and tUnap-
V tor. exercising commands above their grade*,
and Brigadier General Rhodes, are mentioned.
This, and the captured colors, will be delivered
by Major A- H. Hole, of my staff.
I have been prevented by feebleness from
making this report sooner, and am still too weak
to make any but a very imperfect one.
Several hundred prisoners were taken,-but 1
have received no report of tbe number.
Your obed’t servant,
(Signed : J. E. Jobssok,
General.
*See Loogstreet’s report.
Prom the London Times, July 4.
THE FOURTH OF JOLT—AN ENGLISH ORA
TION COMfOSED BY THE LONDON TIMES
"The Fourth of July’’ baa aaound.quile d.ffer
ent.to Englishmen and Americans. To us it is
like auy other day; to them it is a festival sol
emnly set aside for gratifying to something more
than satiety a national vanity the most inordi
nate and the moot exacting that the world has
ever Seen. On that day, lu every town and town
sb4 ol the On lied States, chosen orators address
applauding audiences on two tobjeats—the one
the praise of their own country, the other the de
preciation of ours. "Fourth of July” in American
parlance, like "Uarattan" in Atbenieu, ,nas be
come an adjective, used to denote whatever is
overwrought, extravagant and bombastic. These
annuaf rhetorical Saturnalia have had a must
material and pernicious influence on American
character. They have even gone some way to
waros vitiating and barbarizing the language iu
which they are expressed. Tncr tendency has
uniiormly been to elevate the opinion which the
peopia entertain of their own merits, to leach
them to depreciate every one else, and to famili
arize them with tbe language aud intoxicate
them with tbe glory of successful wsr, aud suc
cessful they are told war must be when waged
by a nation of prowess so invincible. Metaphors
abound. Astronomy contributes her stars to
spangle the national banner. BLd her solar sys
tern to typify tbe smooth and admirable working
ot the gfeat Confederacy. History gives back the
mightv memories of Sparta and Athens, ot Rome
ana ol Carthage. Eternity describes tbe duration
and infinity tbe extent of the future dominion of
America. Tbe points of the compass, tbe torrid
and the frigid zenes, tbe ecliptic and the equator
a-e celled in to convey tbe idea of magnitude.
The “effete despotisms’’ of the Old World, their
creeds, their iaxes, thetr aristocracies, their
eburcuei, their kings, tbeir feudal laws and Gld
World observances are overwhelmed under a
storm ot ridicule and contempt. But England is
peculiarly tbe mark lor invec'ive and vitupera
tion. The battles of tbe war of Independence are
all fought over again. The thrice told tales ol
that stern period are repeated once more. George
the tyrant, tbe cruel executioners Howe and Clin
ton, Arnold ihe traitor and Andre tbe spy, ibe
surrender of Saratoga, tbe capitulation of Ycrk
towu, are called once more into life. The cruelty
and tyranny of the British government, its Ger
man mercenaries, tbeir ravages, their devasia
tion, ite employment of savages against the rebel
iious colonists, its proscriptions, its confiscations,
its threatened executions lor treason, are display
ed in the most vivid colors. The whole thing is
a tradition wbioh has come down uninterrupted
from Ihe days of the Revolutionary war, and
which, while to American* it seems the most
natural thing m the world, jars very strangely
on tbe ears of those whose reseotmeßts have had
ample time to cool in the course of eighty year*,
w ell, oow let us suppose that on this present
some spirit of fairuess and candor could be in
dueed, in defiance of the prtjudibe that would
naturally attach itself'to such a character, to
undertake a Fourth of July otation; and lfet as
consider how he would express himself. We
will drop eagles, thunderbolts, waterspouts and
hurricanes, tne North and the >Soulh,tbe East and
the West, time, space, eternity and infinity, and
the other condiments us a regular Fourth ot
July oration, aud proceed at ouce to the sub
stance of what such a person might be supposed
to have to say "Fellow citizens,” he might
naturally observe, “tfaiß is no lime sos extrava
gant aad exaggerated panegyric.” Let us keep
uur eloquence lor better times, and endeavor if
we can, to learc. something from our present
position. We have had our own way in this
matter of the war, aad are not, as far'as I can see,
very much the better for it. The Euglish told us
all along that we had better aaTe our blood and
our money, and make a friendly parking with ihe
South, since it was clear there, was no chance of
our dwelling together under the same government
anymore. Os course, we felt the greatest con
tempt and hatred for whatever England 3aid, aod
knew that it must be done with a wish to ruin
us. But for all I can see, England was not very
tar wrong. We have been going to conquer the
South invhirty days. We nave not done it yet,
and for my part, I don’t see that wo are much
nearer doing it than we were when we first be
■gan. Here we have been for eight? years Irt-
I umphmg over poor old England because, she, at
j the distance ot 8,000 miles, was not able to con
' quer her coL'nies with France to help them; and
* here we are after a year and a half ot war, Dot yet
able to'take Richmond, ISO miles South ot Wash
| lugion, and very much afraid the other day for
! the aatety of Washtngion itself. Then we have
been always at Euglaud for hiring Hessiane and
other Germans to conquer as. But wDat does
the South say, and say truly ? It says that ail
the Germans that fought lor King George were
mere iambs and chickens compared to the gentry
wbo fignt under the blessed leadership of Den
ser, and Nigel and Hetntzleman. They do fight,
that is certain, but then there is notbiug that
they will not steal.
Since we find ourselves obliged to employ such
means to coerce the South, we need not be sur
prised that poor old Kmg Ge rge, who lived in
days before people understood anything about
the rights of man, should have takeD the same
course. Then, aa for military violence, why,
wfcatwereali the armies the English brought
into the field compared with these that are under
the orders of our generals’' 1 don’t believe
Howe or Canton bad ever at any time fifty thou
sand men under hiß orders. Lord Cornwallis,
when be gunenderefi at Yorktown, had only a
poor seven thousand men, while McClellan and
Davis, Halieck and Beauregard, are carrying on
the work of destruction with half a miliiotf of
men on each side. We have been in the habit of
asking what right bad the English to call us
rebels, and to shed one drop of blood id seeking
to retain us against our will? They ought to
know that all men are free and equal, ana have
a right to consult their own wishes in the choice
of a government and in search of happiness.—
That’s very true, but are not tbe Booth free and
equal too t Have oof they aa much right as we
to consult their own feelings in the choice of a
government and the search after happiness?.
The wisest people in England, during tbe
war of independence, considered that success
was even more to be dreaded than failure; for
while failure would diminish the empire, suc
cess would de-troy the liberties of the nation.
Does not the same danger bang over us? If we
lose the South, we lose a large population aad a
?aet territory: but popelation increases fast in
°*w couatnes sad as for tsrntory, we sfaalt stil
bav» m0 re than we know what to do with. If,
bowe>« r , we eonquer the South, we must govern
them by t be mr rd; and how shall we ooutrive
to set up a military power add a strong execu
tive, able to keep tbe Boothia slavery, sad yet
unable to enerosck upon tbe liberties of the
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUYL 30, 1862.
North? "’be man has got on the horse to kill
thestug but when he has killed him,art we quite
sure that he will get off again? It was very
wrong of the English to make war on a nation
speaking their own language and of their did
kindred aud lineage, but the relationship was
iemote; and though England and America
both belonged to the same crown, they conlo
not be said to be the same country. But
we are doing our best to exterminate out
fellow countrymen, with the same language,
the same traditions, the same laws, the same
history. How many of us have sons fighting on
both sides,or daughters married, one t.. a South*
eruer and the other to a Northerner. Every vol
ley of artillery sweeps away tbe very .life and
tool of the country. We are sbeddiDg ourowo
blood aud mangling our own fitsh. We have
beec in the habit of despising Sbgland for her
heavy debt and the vast taxation people have
to bear; but ’hat debt was msiul* incurred in a
cause for which she has no reason to blush —in
fighting lor her own liberties apd those of Eu
rope against two great conquered, Louis XIV,
and the Emperor Napoleon. That debt took a
hundred and forty years to accumulate, while
we have incurred tt leant a quarter pf it innyear
and a half. But iu wbat cause ? Not 10-Kuin
tain liberty, m t to prestrve’ the-balance of
power, but to put dtwh these veiy principles of
freedom to which we owe our existence as a
separate State, sod to cause our children to
pass through the tire to the Mola t of overgrown
pride and distempered ambition. Look bow
England has treated us. She 1* starving her
operatives, crippling her trade, reducing her rev
enue, rather than bieak a blockade which would
melt away before her breath, and vanish at her
touch, while wa have been never weary of load
ing her with insults. We took' from .her the
right of search which she only anted for the
protection of the negroes, for the *»ke of whom
many of us profess that we are carrying on the
presen* civil war. We kept* back the maps
whrch showed that she was in the right in the
dispute about tbe Caoadian frontier; we bullied
her out of her rights on the Columbia river ; we
dismissed her Ambassador for enlisting our peo
ple, though we are willing to takeheia whenever
we can find them.”
But here we must suppose tbe patienoe of the
audience to be entirely exhausted, and the orator
compelled to make a precipitate reireat, even if
he be fortumite enough to escape equestrian ex
ercise on a rail in what Sydney Smith calls “the
plumacian robe,” in whfch the sovereign people
of America are wont to drees those whom they do
not delight to honor. This prematerei impati
ence of the audience is the mure to. fle regretted,
as our orator has by no means exhausted bis
subject. He has yet to speak of thq policy of de
fraying the whole expenses of tbe war by debt;
of the enormous issues of paper money, levying
a heavy tax on all creditors for the sake of a
small immediate advantage to tbeßtatp ; of the
proposal to arm the blacks and let' loose oo a
kindred and Christian population afl the hor
rors of a servile aud savage insurrection, of Geo.
Butler’s proclamation at New Orleans, and his
treatment of a sex which 'America’ overwhelms
with the most exaggerated homagA But we are
glad that our orator did not pioctea eo far, for
th» treatment of each topics m Ihebmanoer we
have indicated would Burely have bfeught down
upon him the very heaviest peuaity-.n the Code
of Judge Lynch, the last and moot*severed of
Athencan functionaries.
Arom |Ae London Tines, JkMV'* v
•WBB-JWWiaAA-s. THAW -Tl’-K
The war in America having, aeefcrding to Lord
Brougham, continued longer than any civil war
on record, the noble lord feels at length called
upon, as a fellow Christian and a fellow kinsman,
to express an opinion upon it. At the eleventh
hour this whilome champion of freedom comes
forward to deplore in a genera) way this whole
contest and invoke public opinion to put a stop
to it. Under present circumstances, perhaps a
more fulile or irrelevant appeal could hardly be
raade, nor is there anything whatever m the po
sition or antecedent* of tbe speaker in this mat
ter to redeem bis obtruded opinions and advice
from the charge of impertinent trifiixg. Having
carefully held his peace until matters are at
the worst, and speech all but uselesl, the noble
lord now, in loose and excited terms, like an
hysterical matron on bearing a row at the end
of the Btreet, calls on somebody to interfere and
put a stop to it. His lordship attempts to jus
xify this untimely appeal on the greund of bis
strong Christian duty and warming iffectioc to
wards the Americans. It is a pity tiat his lord
ship's zeal should have been roused so late, and
that his strong friendship should hare expressed
itself in so peculiar and questionable a form
The conflict has long since passes the stage
when the mfluenee of foreign opinion could be
of any avail whatever. Yet this is he moment
Lord Brougham selects for interposing with
imbecileadviceand irrelevant perecmlallnsioDS.
From his place in Parliament he tells the Ameri
cans they must put a stop to this terible con
flict, because they are fast losing hisgood opin
ion and be was their friend sixty years ago.—
He was once called the partisan of Jifferson and
the "Attorney General of Madison,” and he, in
common with others wbo had also known
something of American affairs at dstant dates,
“was cruelty shocked and disappointed by the
present cuuise.” He adds that be would much
prefer perpqtual slavery to a civil ucnflict ex
tending over twelve moths. Un this ground,
therefore, again, the war mu a t bp brought to a
speedy conclusion. Whether this bt no or not,
must depend on other causes than ary Lord
Brougham contemplates. Meanwhile he has
sufficiently prored that whatever he knew
about tbe America] s fifty years ago, ke knows
nothing about them now; and lha! however
much he may hare been their frienq, he has
effectually survived the feeling.
Ds.niss the Allegation.— X-. Jamss Rbodeq,
Father of T. C. Rhodes, who was confined in
Bibb jail lor counterfeiting shinplasurs on the
Slate Road, addresses us a note from Themas
ton, denying that he assisted his son to escape,
or attempted to steal the watch, lie States that
he visited his son on Friday morniog *nd even
ing, and again on Saturday morning, but left at
ajtj a. m., for Tnomaston, where he arrived that
day. This, he asserts, he can prove ay the en
gineer, conductor, and others. He hat remained
there ever since, he says, and could aot possi
bly have been in two places at once. He refers
to numerous neighbors and friends <t>t his un
blemished reputation. As to tbe watch, he sim
ply asked for it, believing it to be his tight, Ac.
In justice to Mr. Rhodes, we give his dutclam-r,
stating at tbe same tisae, that our article was
based upon the testimony of pnsonefe in the
cells above, who saw him on tbe fenoq as they
snpposrd. In relstion to tbe watch, tie Jailor
asserts that tbe watch claimed by Mr. J. Rhodes
as the property of his son, was the piriperty of
another prisoner, and that hs evidently tried to
get it under false pretences, or otherwile steal it
genteely. This is all wo know about tie “horse
swap.’’— Macon (Go.) Ttl6Qro.fi. July 21.
Captcks or tb« BnAvnnoAU Bntoee Bkngnaa.—
Gent ml Stuart’s Cavalry are again at wark, hav
ing just succeeded in overtaking a portion of tbe
Yankee force engaged in burning tbe bridge at
Baverdam. One, Uentenact and six privates
were captured, and one killed. The prisoners
admit having been engaged in the recent raid.
From the Knoxville (Term.) Hf.giater. July 23. j
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF HTOFRELS- ,
BORO’— CAPT. HANEY
As Col. Forrest’s command were marching j
through Cannon county on their way to Mur
freesboro’, the citizens' crowded the thorough
fares cheering our gallent men with every dem
onstration oi joy. The ladies everywhere were
particularly enthusiastic. Someof the citizens
of Cannon had been arrested and were contined
m prison at Murfreesboro’. The ladies besought
our men with tears in lhe*r eyes to rescue their
husbands and fathers front the hands of the ty
rant.
One little girl ran np to that old patriot and
soldier, Capl. Haney of tbe Ist Georgia Cavalry,
and wringing her handsimplored him to bring
her father back to her agrin. The old man
turned to her with hia whole soul beaming in
his face, aod exclaimed, while the manly tear
started to hta eye, "1 will, my daughter! I
will 1” The result proved ihe truth of his
words.” The Captain was the first to enter tbe
Court House where the priseners were confined
—aud that chtla s heart has been made glad by
the safe return of the lather to the household
root.
As our little army went dashing tnto Murfrees
boro’, awaking the echoes by the rattling of
Their horses hoofs “o’er the stony streets," the
whole population were aroused from their slum
bers, and lushed to their windows, balconies
and verandahs with every demonstration of de
light. Ladies could be seen kneeling in pos*
lures of thankfulness to Heaven tor the day of
their deliverance. As tbe morning advanced,
and as the fight thickened, the same fair
ones were in tne streets in spite of the whistling
of balls and rain of lead, administering to
tbe wants ol our soldiers, filling their canteen*
with water, and tbeir haversacks with an abun
dance of provisions. Unheeding tbe shots from
the enemy’s gun-, they thought only ol the com
fort of tbeir gallant champions. One lady re
ceived a ball through her dress, whilst another
bad her parasol shot from her.band, the ball.pass
ing within two inches of her jeweled fingers.—
Such heroism bas never been known in tbe an
nals of war, and will illuminate to tbe remotest
generation of tbe history ot our glorious land.
«**» « . «
A company of Fsderals were in possession of
the Court House, and were shooting our soldiers
in al! directions from tbe windows above. Col.
Morrtion, (Ist Georgia) dismounted three of his
companies and ordered them to charge the build
ing,.which they did in most gallant style, rusting
through the public square to tbe very doors ol
the edifice, under a most galling fire of musketry.
Ci nqcious that the lose ot life to our men would
be terrible by attempting topass up (be stairway,
the building was immediately set on fire, when
the Yankees above bawled out lustily for quar
ters. The tire was extinguished, the whole com
pany surrendered, and our imprisoned fellow
citizens were happily released. Old Capl. Haney
was the first man to" enter the Court House and
to receive in his arms the liberated captives.
Late in the day Col- Morrison was surprised
to see the old hero rushiDg towards him lrantic
with joy, and exclaiming, "Colonel, I'll bed—d
if I haven’t taken Gen. Crittenden and all his
staff!” “You don’t say so, Captain,”answered
the. Colonel. “If I havn’t there’s nob —ill’’ex-
claimed the old man, and passed on to new needs
of heroism and of glory.
Cspt. Haney iB near sixty years of age, ariff
commands a company Ftom Pit yd and Folk
oounties in Georgia His men love him as a
, ,ia»v Jkv.nr.ie WHS Art ViTfr-r -
regiment, and wherever he goes with biß gen
ial and benignant face, and his paternal fond
ness for the “boys” be is greeted with enthusi
asm,and blessed with (be heart offerings ofthose
to whom he is so dear.
And he is but a type of a nation of such war
riors.
M’CLELLAN S ARMY—DOCTORS WILL DIF
FER.
Tbe New York Fost’s Washington correspon
dent writes as follows -
It is thought hare (Wuthingtonj that there is
nothing to prevent a speedy advance of the aimy
of tbe Potomac; upon Richmond if ns leader is so
disposed. The fact that the Confederates have
fallen back u r on Richmond is thought to indicate
a new plan of operations.
The array correspondent of tbe same paper
thinks differently, and says;
I see that tbe papers are trying to make a good
case out o? our reire&t, aud call :i “strategy.”—
We know better hear. The only tedeetniog
feature about it is the Invincible valor with which
our troope fought against great odds, whipping
the enemy in everp engagement. Cover it up as
you may, it was a disastrous necessity, which
wasvery near resulting in the annihilation oi
our army. Who is responsible ?
The same writer continues:
I tellyou this array is exhausted and cannot i
recover front the physical effects of that retreat j
in one month I It is disheartened and lacks con
fidence in somebody ; altboug., it does not know *
whom. An advance now, wi hout beavv reins
forcemeats, would be inevitable defeat.
THE TOTAL LOSS IN THE BATTLES DBFOBS RICHMOND.
The New York Times says that the following
statement, which comes from au official source,
may be relied upoD as a perfectly correct enu
meration of the Yarkee losses during tbe six
days’battles before Richmond :
Corps. Killed Wound. Missg. Tolal.
Frauklin .245 1,313 2,17 9 2,737
Sumner .170 l,C6s 84S 2/JSB
Keyes .' 62 507 201 777
Hemlzeltuac. .189 1,051 883 2,073
Porter 873 3,70 u 2,779 7,3?2
Cavalry 19 60 97 lit
Engineers.. .. 2 2i 28
Total, 1,565 7. 01 5,938 15,224
How Long, Oh Catelinb.—The steamer British
Q.teen, Captain Harrison, arrived at 5 o’clock on
Thursday morning, 26tii, with the British and
American snails, the former to tbe 7tb instant,
the latter to tbe 21st. She left for Havana at a 1
quarter to 3 the same afternoon.
The merchandise brought from England to New i
York by the steamer China for Nassau, was de» I
taioed by the authorities of New York, in conße- i
quence of a most outrageous aud unheard of de I
mand being made of Mr. Cuuard to sign a heavy 1
bond that none of the goods should be sold to ■
the Confederate States! Our merchants are f
highly indignant at this hindrance ta commerce, e
wbich V’.ll result in heavy pecuniary loaaes to *
them, as most of the packages, we are informed, ?
contains summer clothing, in great demand at 1
present.
About 600 packages were on freight from Eng
land to tin* place, and the amount of the bond
required by the American authorities from Mr. 8
Canard was about $75,009.
We hear, too,that almost all the passengers 1
who went from this city to New York in the 5
British Queen last trip, (except T. Darling, Ksq ,) 1
were ordered to diveei themselves of their ap- 1
parel, that they might undergo a most Kumilta- ’
ting search. 1
How lone is this state of affairs-to continue ? 1
Xattau (Guardian, Jane 28.
m <
The Yankee gunboats, we learn, were abelliqg
Hogg's Neck about noon on Thursday last. \
Ckarletton Mercury , July 26. t
VOL. 14,—N0 31
i REPORTED REBELLION ON ROANOKE 16-
' LAND-HEAVY CANNoNADING-MILIIABY
EXECUTION IN NfflELlH CAROLINA.
By the train from Weldon yesterday afternoon,
we understand that it is currently reported in
Eastern Nortti Carolina, tbat a rebellion occurred
recently among ihe contrabands on Roanolte Is
land. It is slated th* tbe negroes, becoming
dissatisfied with.the harsh treatment of their
newly tound masters, took advantage of an ops
pnrtuntly presented while the Federate were at
dinner, with slacked arms, to seize the muskets,
witb which they opened tire upon the Yankees,
j and killed several. Great consternation was
' produced among the so'dierson the Island by
; ; this unexpected attack, bnt they soon rallied,
■ j and recovering their guns, commenced an indis-
I criminate slaughter, w bich was only ended with
' , the almost total extermination ot the negroe-.
' We give th'-s rumor as it reaches us, without
1 j vouching for its authenticity.
1 Gentlemen trom Goldsboro, who reached here
[ last evening, report that heavy and continuoias
| j cannonading was heard in the vicinity of New
born Monday afternoon. The bring commenced
1 t at 3, and was continued until 7 p. m.
A gentleman direct from Kinston, N. C., in
' forms us tbat two negro men were executed at
' that place on Friday “last, by order of Col. So l ,
Williams, the military commandant of the post.
' One of them was named Fred, belonging to the
* estate of the Rev. W. P. Biddle, of Craven co.;
tbe other, named Jack, was owned by Mi. Elisha
‘ Coward, of Green county, N. C. These negroes
' were cha%ed with- absconding from their own-,
1 ers. and commonicating with the enemy at
Newbern-; also, witb enticing other slaves from
' their owners. These negroes had been in jail
at K'nston lor four montbe. and no doubt exist
’ Ing as to their guilt. Col. Williams determined
to make an example of them. They were accors
dingly taken trom the jail on Friday last, and
executed in the presence of an immense crowd.
Oar pickets have been greatly annoyed by the
repeated attempts of slaves to escape to the ene
my, and we hope that the execution of Fred and
Jack will have the effect to repress the desire on
the part of others who may have contemplated a
departure.
Jack is said to have been very active in his ef
forts to reurnit for Burnside’s army, and It is
stated by negroes with whom be bad communi
cated, that be held a commission of Lieutenant*;
Colonel in the Federal army. Fred was a bright
mulatto, and a mtn of more than ordinary in*
telligence. lie denied any guilt in the premises,
but Jack justified bis coarse upon tbe old John
Brown plea. Both seemed very penitent in view
ot the awful fate impending over them.
We can but commend the energy and determi
nation of Col. Williams, in this whole affair,
and hope that it may not be without its good ef
fects in future.
Pfttrsburg (Fa.) Srpreft, July 23.
FROM MEMPHIS
Some days ago, we published General JtS:
Thompson's admirable note to General Grant,
Federal commander of Memphis, relative to the
removal of Confederate iamities from that city.
Baiow is tbe Weak reply of Alvio P. Hovev,
Brigadier General Commanding, in tbe absence
o‘ Gen. Grant, we :
Memphis, July 16,1662.
Ran,. Gas Jew? T.. .. iavs.C. c. A , c-knat.ba
' I hare j.-jWSjefMl . • Jfjh '“*ta»fljt relation U 3
“Rffeetar TfrAer No v T4, hftetofbre issued by Major
Genetal Grant. I herewith send you special or
der No. 15, wnich considerably modifies the order
to which you allude. l r o will permit me to say
r tbat your sympathies are entirely out of place,
as truth and history mnst record the tact that
the Southern people, residing in localities where
both of our armies have been camped, prefer tbe
continuity of the Northern Invadets to the pro
, lection of the Soutl err. chivalry.
You are too well versdn in the science o'-
to be ignorant of Ihe rtc: mat tbes? Waers are
far more mild than could he l- ? bf-en expected af
te- the treatment that helpless Union families
i received at tot bands of rebels in thiscitv. Add
to this fact that a large part of all the informs
i tion received by you can be traced directly
through the families excluded by these orders,
and oour application for sympathy in their be
half Is somewhat amusing.
The great error tbat Fedpril officers have com
mitted during this war has been their own kind
ness to a vindictive and insulting foe. Your
threats and intimations of personal danger to
Gen. Grant are id bad taste, and should be care
fully revised before publication. Whether he
can “guard his own lines,” the historv of the
battles of Shiloh and Donelson will fully shew-
Should any families embraced within the orders
I above alluded to be obstinate, and refuse to
comply with order ]E, they shall be escorted to
tbe distance of ten miles from this city, at snch
points as they may request.
Y’ours, respectfully,
Alvin P. Hovev,
Brigadier General Commanding.
The Confiscation Bill a Law.— The following
message has been received in the Federal Cots
gres:
Fellow (jitizms of Ihe Senate and Honse of Rep
resentatives :
Considering the bill for “an act to suppress in
surrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to
seize and confiscate tbe property of rebels, and
for other purposes,” and the joint resolution ex
planatory of said act, as being substantially one,
f nave approved and signed both.
Before 1 was informed of the resolution I had
prepared the drajt of a message, slating objec
tions to the bill becoming a law, a copy of which
draft is herewith sumbiued.
Abeaha* Lincoln.
July 17, 1862.
This is the “explanatory” resolution alluded
to:
Jiesvlced, By the Seoate and House of Repres
sentatives, etc., Thattne provisions of the third
clause of tbe filth section of an act to suppress
insurrection, to punish treason, and rebellion, to
seize and confiscate tbe property of rebels, and
for other purposes, shall be construed as not to
apply to any act or acta done prior to the passage
thereto, nor to.include any member of a State
Legislature or Judge of any State Court who has
not, in accepting or entering npon his office, tak
en an oath to support the Constitution of the so
called Confederate States of America; nor shall
any punishment or proceedings under the said
act be so oonstrued as to work a forfeiture of the
real estate of tbs offender beyond bis natural life.
Fbomthe Nobtb.— We have reliable private
advices from the North. The Yankee Govern*
ment is massing alt its available troops at or
near Warrenton, and not at Winchester as
stated, byway of a blind, by the Northern papers.
Tbe ninety and one hundred dollar bounties,
with a pledge to support the families of absent
volunteers, offered in Washington and Balt -
more, have failed to stimulate enlistments. No
recruits are comiDg forward.
Tbe probability o( a resort to a draft has
caused intense indignatfon and excitement in
Baltimore, and it is thought tbat if General
Jackson were in striking distance he could .at
once obtain twenty thousand men from that city
alone.— Richmond : Fa.) gxjmintr, July 24.