Newspaper Page Text
®ljc Wcchln Constitutionalist
BY JAMES GARDNER.
OUR ABMY, ITS GREAT DEEDS. ITS TRIALS.
ITS SUFFERINGS, AND. ITS PERILS IN THE
FUTURE.
»om the Army Correspondence of the Savannah Ktpub~
lican.
Winchbstbr, Va , Sept. 26, 1862.
My cotd.tmn is suob as to render it impossible
for me io rejoin the army for the presen’. 1 was
net prepared for the hardships, exposures, and
Hasting ihe army has encountered since it left the
Rappahannock, and bke many a seasoned cam
paigner, tare bad to “fall out by the way.” In
deed. ] can recall no parallel ins'ance iu history,
except Napo'eon’s retreat from Moscow, where an
army has ever done more tnarch’ng and fighting,
under such great disadvantages, than Gen. Lee's
has done t'nee it left the banks >f the Junies
river.
It proceeded directly to the line of the Rappa
hannock, and moving cut from that river, it
fought its way to the Potemuc, crossed that stream
and moved oh to Fredericktown and Hsgeretowu,
had a heavy engagement at Boonsboro’ Gap, and
another at Crampton Gap below, fought the great
est pitched battle of the war at Sharpsburg, and
then re-cressed the Po'omsc back into Virginia.
During all this time, covering the full space of a
month, the troops rested but four days I And let
it always be remembered to their honor, that <>f
the men who performed this wonderful feat, one
fifth of theta were hsretooted, one-half of them in
rags, and the whole of them half famished.
The country from the Rappahannock to the Po
tomac bad been visited bv the enemy with tire
and sword, and our transportation was insufficient
to keep the army supplied from so distant a base
as Gvrdousvtlk; apd when the provision trains
would overtake the army, so pressing were the
exigencies of their position, the men seldom had
time to cock. Tbeir difficulties were increased by
the feet that their cooking untensils, m many
cases, bad been left behind, as well as everything
else that would impede tbeir movements. It was
not unusual to see a company of starving men
have a barrel of flour distributed to them, which
it wasutterlv impossible for them to convert into
breed with the means and the time allowed to
them. They could not procure even a piece of
plank or a corn or flour sack, upon which to work
np tbeir dousb.
Do you wonder, then, that there should have
been stragglers fre m the ara.y ? That brave and
4rae men sbomd have fallen out of line from
-sheer exhaustion, or in tbeir efforts to obtain a
mouthful to eat along the roadside? Or that
many seasoned veterans, the conquerors in the
Valley, at Richmond and Manassas, should have
succumbed to disease and been forced back to
the hospital ? I look to hear a great outcry
raised against tbe stragglers. Already lazy cav
alry men, and dainty staff efficers and quarter
masters. who are mounted and can forage the
cccntry for something to eat, are condemning
the weary private, who, notwithstanding his body
may be covered with dust and prespiratiou, and
his feet with stone bruises, is expected to trudge
along under his knapsack and cartridge box, on
an empty stomach, and never to turn aside for a
morsel of food to sustain his sinking limbs. Out
upon such monstrous injustice 1 That there has
been unnecessary straggling, is already admitted;
but in a large majority of cases, the men have
only to point to their bleeding feet, tattered gar
ments, and gaunt frames for an answer to the un
just chaige.
No army on this continent has ever accoms
plisbed so much cr suffered as much, as the army
of Nor:he r n Virginia within the Lst three
months. At no period during the first Revolu
Uonary war—not even at Valley Forge—did cur
forefathers in arms encounter greater hardships,
or endure them more uncomplainingly.
t But great as have bet n the trials to wnich the army
Las been they are hardly worthy to be
named in comparison with the sufferings in store
for it this winter, unless the people of the Con
federate States, everywhere and in whatever cir
cumstances, come to its immediate relief.
Tbe men must have clothing and shoes this
winter. They must have something to cover
themselves when sleeping, and to protect them
selves from tbe driving sleet and snow storms
when on duty. This must be done, though our
friends at home should have to wear cotton and
sit by the fire. The army in Virginia stands guard
this day, as it will stand guard this winter, over
every teartbs’one tbroughot the South. The raga
ged sentinel who may pace his weary rounds this
winter on the bleak spurs of the Blue Ridge, or
along tbe frozen valleys of the Shenandoah and
Rappahannock, will also be your sentinels, my
friend, at home. It will be for yon and your
household he encounters the wrath of the lemipest
and dangers of the night. He suffers and toils
and fights for you, too, brave, true hearted women
of tbe South. Will you not clothe his nakedness,
then? Will you not put shoes and stockings on
his leet? Is it not enough that he has written
down his patriotism in crimson characters along
the battle road from tbe Rappahannock to the
Potomac? And must his bleeding feet also im
press tbeir mark of tideli• y upon the snows of the
com ng winter? I know what vour answer will
be. God has spoken through tbe women of the
SvUtb, and they are His holy oracles in this day
of trial and tribulation.
It is not necessary to counsel violent measures;
bnt it >s not expected that any person will be per
mitted to accumulate leather and cloth for pur
poses of speculation. The necessities of the army
rise up like a mountain, and cannot, and will not,
be overlooked. It was hoped, at one time, that
we might obtain winter supplies in Maryland—
This hope was born after the army left Richmond,
and has now miserably perished. The Govern
ment is unable to furnish supplies, for they are
not to be had in the country. If it had exercised
a little foresight last spring and summer, when
vessels were running the blockade, with cargoes
of calico, linen and other articles of like impor
tance, a partial supply at least of bats, blankets,
shoes and woolen goods might have been obtained
from England. But foresight is a quality of the
mind that is seldom put in practice in these
■Aays.
But whatever may be done by the people, should
be done immediately. Not one moment can be
lost that will not be marked, as by tbe second
band of a watch, with the pangs of a sufferer.
Already the hills and valleys in this high latitude
have been visited by frost, and the nights are un
comfortably cool to the man who sleeps upon the
ground. Come up, then, men and women of the
South, to this sacred duty. Let nothing stand
between you and the performance of it. Neither
pride, nor pleasure, nor personal ease and com
fort, should withhold your hands from the holy
work. The supply of leather and woo), we all
know, is limited; but do what you can, and ail
yon .can, and as soon as you can. If you cannot
send woolen socks, send half woolen or cotton
socks; and so with under clothing, coats aud
pants. And if blankets are not to oe had, then
substitute comforts made of dyed osnaburgs stuffed
'With cotton. Anything that will keep off the
cold will be acceptable. Even the speculator and
extortioner might forego their gains for a season,
and unite in this religious duty. If they neither
clothe tbe naked, nor feed the hungry, who are
fighting for their freedom, and for their homes
and property, what right have they to expect any
thing but eternal damnation, both from God and
man ?
if tbe Army ofJYirgima could march through .
the South just as it is—ragged and almost bare
footed and hatless, many o< tbe men limping along
And notquite weiloftbev wounds or sickness, yet
cheerful aud not willing to abandon tbeir places
in tbe ranks—tbeir clothes .riddled with balls and
their banners covered with th.e smoke and dust of
battle, and shot into tatters, many of them in
scribed with Williamsburg,” “ Seven Pines,’’
Gaines’ Mill,” “Garnett’s Farm,” “Front Royal,’’
McDowell.” “Cedar Run,” and other victorious
fields—if this army of veterans, thus clad and
shod, with tattered uniforms and banners, could
match from Richmond to the Mississippi, it would
produce a sensation that has no parallel in bis
tory since Peter the Hermit led bis swelling
hosts across Europe to the rescue ot the Holy
Sepulchre.
I do not write to create alarm, cr to produce a
sensation, but to arouse the people to a sense of
the true condition of the army. I have yet to
learn that anything is to be gained by suppress
ing tbe truth, and leavit g tbe army to suffer. If
I must withhold the truth when the necessities of
tbe service require it to be spoken, lam quite
ready to return home.
There is nothing new from the front. It is re
ported that Jackson crossed tbe river at Wil
liamsport a lew days ago to repair a road, which
be might Lave occasion to use, and then returned.
I see nothing, however, to change tbe opinion
heretofore expressed, v;z: that the heavy work
of the campaign is over, unless McClellan should
seek us on the south side of the river. This,
some believe, public opinion at the North will
compel him to do. It nay be so; though I
doubt it.
I had made arrangements to procure full official
lists of the casualties in the Georgia, Alabama
and Florida regiments, as well as some account
of the perfoimances of tbe troops from those
States, and regret that siekness’should have pre
vented me fiom carrying them out, P. W. A.
• OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE—LETTER
FROM WRIGHT’S BRIGADE-
Nbar Martinsburg, Va., Sept. 25, I 86 9 -.
Mr. Editor: I wrote*you last from Frederick
City, I believe. We. then, marched back through
Middletown, in a northwesterly direction, towards
Harper’s Ferry. At tbe Maryland Heights and
Boliver Heights, there was a large number of
guns in position to command the narrow pass in
the mountains in approaching Harper’s Ferry,
where about 15,000 Yankees, with about 50,000
stand of arms, a great many cannon, and other
public stores, were placed by Gen. Wool, feeling
perfectly secure from tbe apparent impregnable
position of Harper’s Ferry, and the force there
located. Yet, our fatigued and wearied forces
marched steadily forward, and the first day cap
tured Maryland Heights and drove the eremy
from them. The next day, Stonewall’s forces
were moved around, and our men engaged in
placing cannon in position on tbe Maryland
Heights to aid in the capture of tbe Ferry. By
daylight the next morning, our batteries opened
a brisk fire on the Ferry in front and rear, and,
before breakfast, fully “earned it,” as we had
captured fifteen thousand Yankees, fifty pieces
of artillery, horses, small arms, ammunition, Ac.,
a full acconnt ot which, I presume, you have had.
The next day, we marched from Harper’s Ferry
about 6 o’clock P. M., and reached the Potomac
opposite Shepherdstown about daylight, and
acout seven o’clock A. M., without breakfasting
or rest, were marched into the battle of Sharps-,
burg, which had been commenced tbe day before.
I would be pleased to give a full account of ibis
battle, yet in this letter I can only give yon an
account of Wright’s brigade. We, certainly, got
the best of the tight, yet both parties held the
battle field under their guns tbe day after
the fight, the Yankees having made tbe at*
tack. Tbe number .of killed and wounded can
only be conjectured. Yet, from all I could
see and tear, this was the great battle of the
war, aud more killed and wounded on both sides
than in the fights even before Richmond, all taken
together. I could, with my own eyes, behold on the
battle field, and near it, thousands of dead and
wounded in piles, rows, and heaps, almost, and 1
irbst to God I may never oe compelled to behold
the like again.
II seems tbe whole Yankee army had been col
lected here, while only about thirty thousand of
our troops, which were increased on the last day
of the fight by Anderson’s and McLaw’s divi*
sions to about ten thousand more, were engaged.
The troops engaged on our left did great execu*
tion, being principally Texans, Louisianians, and
Mississippians. The centre, that day, was prin
cipally left to Anderson’s division. On the right,
A. P. Hill (in the evening,) drove the enemy over
a mile Burnside’s being in command in bis front,
and fought with great desperation, as ail who
know him know well he would do.
Gen. Wright led the brigade in the attack on
the centre, over a mile, amidst a perfect shower
of grape and shot, of various and different cali
bre, yet, nothing daunted, the brave hero of
South Mills led hi* command forward to within
one hundred yards of the enemy’s lines, where,
in addition to shell, we received a shower of mus
ketry almost stunning, when the command, “fire!”
brought to tbe ground many ot tbe enemy in our
front. In leading forward this gallant charge,
Gen. Wright received a wound through Lis leg,
entirely disabling him. Col. Jones was soon af
ter wounded, and so-was Col. De; by, of the 44th
Alabama. The times truly seemed alarming to
us, yet a still further charge caused the Yankees
to break and ruu in great confusion. In this last
charge on our advanced lines, Capt. Nisbet, who
was in command of tbe 3d Ga. Regiment, fell,
aud I fear fatally wounded, as I could not see him
move after he fell. A more noble, brave and
generous spirit, has not fallen in this war.
The brigade being deprived of all its field offi*
cers, and the 48th Georgia and 44th A’abamaßeg
iments, not even having a Captain, 'eft, and the
22d Georgia and 3d Georgia only one each, and
some companies without even a Lieutenant, and
the enemy in great force in our front and on our
right, and being entirely unsupported, what was
left ot the brigade was withdrawn to the rear to
supply ammunition, aud save being captured by
superior forces. This movement was done in or*
der; and upon the enemy making three different
efforts to charge our lines they were repulsed and
driven back, once with the bayonet.
Our brigade lay upon the lines that night, and
the next day held the battle field under range of
our Enfields, which prevented either party from
getting their wounded or dead from the field.
The next night we left and crossed the Potomac,
tne Yankees, mistaking our withdraw! for sup
plies on this side the river for a run. attempted to
pursue us; and io the Potomac and on its banks
over two thousand of their lives paid the forfeit
of tbeir folly. We are now fully recruited and
our forces much larger than before tbe battle; and
if McCiellan should pursue us and cross the Po
tomac. we will settle affairs, so far as his army is
concerned. Our men, many us them, are Dare
footed, and have suffered greatly from fatigue
and hunger, yet they fight like heroes and bear
all wiihout murmuring. I presume when Mc«
Clellan declines further batlie on the Potomac,
cur forces will be ordered forward in away they
know not. Great confidence and cheerfulness
still pervades our army, and I hardly see a man
that does not think be caa whip five or six Yan
kees. Tbe list of our casualties has been furs
nisbed for publication, and I presume ere this
you have received it. Respectfully, Ac.,
' W. G.
EF" The production of tobacco is rapidly in*
creasing tn Algiers. This year’s crop is estimated
At twelve million pounds. Jn 1844, there were
only three and a half acres. Tbe quality of to
bacco now grown is highly praised in the French
icurnais.
AUGUSTA, GA.. WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCT 8,
the emancipation proclamation.
FINCOLN ON HIS PROCLAMATION—T JIB ABSURDITY OF
ISSUING ONE-THE POPII’S BV £L AGAINST THE
COMIT —LINCOLN FEARS TO T fIUST NIB SLAVES.
A public meeting pf Cbrv Alans of all denomi
nations was held at Chien g 0 on the 7th inst., and
a memorial in favor of “national emancipation”
adopted, and a cnmmitf sent to Wasbi igton to
lay it before the On the 13th Lincoln
received them and li staged with “fixed attention”
to the reading of v jnetnorial, aud also to the
reading of a similar document signed by the Ger
man citizens ot Chicago. The committee thus
officially report the result of their efforts and the
President’s answer:
THU PS.BBIDBNT’s ANSWER— DIVINB REVELATIONS.
The subject presented in the memorial is one
upon which 1 have, thought much for weeks
past, and I may even say for months. I am ap
proached with the most opposite opinions and
advice, and that by religious men, who are equal
ly certain that they represent the Divine will.—
I am sure that either the one or the other class
is mistaken in that belief, and perhaps, in some
respects, both. I hope it will not be irreverent
for me to say that, if it is probable that God
would reveal His will to others on a point so con
nected with my duty, it might be supposed He
would reveal it directly to me , for, unless I am
more deceived in myself than I often am, it is
my earnest desire to know the will of Providence
in this matter. And if I can learn what it is I
will do i». These are not, however, the days of
miracles, and I suppose it will be granted that I
am not to expect a direct revelation. I must study
the plain, physical facts of the case, ascertain
what is Dossible, and learn what appears to be
wise and right.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THE SUBJECT.
The subject is difficult, and good men do not
agree. For instance, the other day four gentlemen
of standing and intelligence from New York
called, as a delegation, on business connected
with the war; but before leaving two of them
earnestly beset me to proclaim general emancipa
tion, upon which the other two immediately at
tacked them. You know, also, that the last ses
sion of Congress had a divided majority of anti
slavery men, yet they could not unite on this poll.,
cy. And the same is true of the lehgious people.
Why, the rebel soldiers are praying with a great
deal more earnestness, I fear, than our own
troops, and expecting God to favor tbeir side; for
one of our soldiers, who had been taken prisoner;
told Senator Wilson a few days since, that he met
with nothing so discouraging as the evident sin
cerity of those be was among in their prayers.
But we will ’alk over the merits of the case.
WHY AN EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION SHOULD NOT
BE ISSUED.
What good would a proclamation of emancipas
tion from me do, especially as we are now situated?
I do not want to issue a document that the whole
world will see must necessarily be inoperative,
like the Pope’s bull against the comet. Would
my word free the slaves when 1 cannot even ens
force the Constitution in the rebel States? Is
there a single court, or magistrate, or individual
that would be influenced by it there? And what
reason is there to think it.would have any greater
effect upon the slaves than the late law of Con
gress, which I approved, and which offers protec
tion and freedom to the glaves of rebel masters
who come within our lines? Yet I cannot learn
that that law has caused a single slave to come
over to us. And suppose they could be induced,
by a proclamation ot freed'm from me, to throw
themselves upon ns, wh ..should we do with them?
How can we feel and care for such a multitude?
Gen. Butler wrote me, a few days since, that he
was issuing more rations to the slaves who have
rushed to him than all tbe white troops under his
command. They eat, and that is all, though it is
true Gen. Butler is feeding tbe whites also by the
thousands, for It nearly amounts to a famine
there.
WHAT IS TO PREVENT THE REBELS FROM ENSLAVING
THE NEGROES AGAIN?
If, now, the pressure of the war should call off
our fotces from New Orleans to defend some other
point, what is to prevent the masters from reduc
ing the blacks to slavery again ? For lam told
that whenever the rebels take any blacks prison
ers, free or slaves, they immediately auction them
off. They did so with those thev took from a boat
that was aground on the Tennessee river a few
days ago.
HOW MR. LINCOLN IS BLAMED.
And then lam very ungenerously attacked for
it. For instance, when, after the late battles a’
and near Bull Run, an exepdition went out from
Washington under a flag of truce to bury tbe dead
and bring in the wounded, and the rebels seized
the blacks who went along to help, and sent them
into slavery. Horace Greely said in bis paper
that tbe Government would probably do nothing
about it. What could Ido ?
WHAT GOOD WOULD AN EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
DO?
Now, then, tell me, if you please, what possible
result of good would follow this issuing of such
a proclamation as you desire? Understand, I
raise no objection against it on legal or constitu
tional grounds; for, as Commander-in-chief of
the army and naw, in time o" war, I suppose I
have a right to take any measure which may best
subdue the enemy. Nor do 1 urge objections of
a moral nature, in view of the possible conse
quence of insurrection and massacre at the South,
1 view the matter as a practical war measure, to
be decided upon according to tbe advantages or
disadvantages it may offer to the suppression of
the rebellion.
From the Army in Virginia.—We have
been kindly permitted to make tbe. following ex
tracts from a letter dated near Martinsburg, Va.,
Sept. 23d, 1862, and received in this city yester
day ;
“Before the brigade (Wright’s) was engaged,
we were under fire a long time, and marched in
that position for mere than a mile. We charged
the enemy several tunes, driving them back. In
the first charge, Gen. Wright was wounded, and
Col. Gibson took command es tbe brigade, and
acted with great gallantry.
“Our ammunition becoming exhausted, we fell
back in order to supply ourselves, and, having
done so, we were in again, and remained under a
heavy tire until ’he shades of evening.
“Krom excessive marching and fatigue, our
regiment (the Third Georgia) carried but 100
men into the fight, and out of these 70 odd were
killed and wounded.
•‘Our army held their position on that and the
next day, and then fell back on the following
night across the Potamac river at Shepherdstown
Two brigades of the enemy cressed the river in
pursuit of us, and were met and annihilated by
Gen. A. P. Hill’s Division.
“We are now encamped to recruit our exhausted
strength, and are fully prepared to meet the foe
again.”
The following is another extract from a letter
dated near Martinsburg, Virginia, September
27tb, 1862:
“ The only mode of sending letters from here
now is by private hands, as there are no mails in
this region of the country.
“ Our position remains unchanged. No one,
save our leaders, who are wise enough to remain
silent, can tell what tbe future movements of the
army will be. Since we have been here bivouac
ing and recruiting, the army, I may say, confi
dently, is stronger than it was on the eventful
day of the battle of Sbarpeeburg.
“ Our army is strong, tbe spirit of the troops is
high and all that the skill of our Generals or tbe
valor of our men an accomplish will be done.”
FROM THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA.
We take the following extracts from a letter of
P. W. A. to the Savannah Republican, dated at
Winchester, Va., Sept. 23d ;
Some additional particulars bate been received
of tbe affair at Shepherdstown Ford. It was A. P.
Hill and not Jackson who commanded on tbe oc
casion. It is said (and this is confirmed by the
surgeon alluded to above,) that about 2,000 Fed
eral infantry attempted to cross after us, and out
of that number only 90 lived to return. Such as
were not killed or drowned were captured. Those
wlo were taken, as well as the prisoners who fell
into our hands at Sharpsburg, have not been pa»
roled, but sent on towards Richmond. Among
tbe latter, it is said, were several who were cap
lured at Harper’s Ferry and paroled two days be
fore tbe battle. If such be the case, there is but
one course open to us, and that is to hang every
one of them.
Tbe heavy work of the campaign is probably
at an end. Jackson may be left in this valley, but
tbe greater portion of tbe Confederate army will,
it is thought, take up its position behind the Rap
pahannock, preparatory to going into winter
quarters; while the main body of tbe Federal ar
my will return to Washington, leaving a division
at Fredericktown and another at Hagerstown.
From the Rappahannock to tbe Potomac, tbe
country has been laid waste. Corn, wheat, hay,
bacon, hogs, beef cattle and even milch cows
were either destroyed or appropriated by Pope’s
army, and there is not food and forage enough in
the country to meet the wants of the few inhabi
tants left behind.
Mill bouses, threshing machines, manufacturing
establishments, wagons, carriages and farming
implements were burnt or rendered useless,
bridges blown up, horses and stock killed or car
ried iff, and furniture and private libraries and
papers wantonly mutilated or committed to the
flames. With these facts before him, the reader
may form some adequate idea of tbe difficulties
the army encountered on its march through this
blasted wilderness, and at the same time see how
impossible it is for it to go into winter quarters
Noith of the Rappahannock. The condition of
the people tu the Valley of the Shenandoah,
where we now are, is somewhat better, though far
from good, whilst the climate is more severe, and
the transportation of supplies wholly dependent
upon wagons. Below the Rappahannock, we
would have two railways, that from Richmond
and that from Lynchburg, which meet at Gor
dons ville.
But! must stop. Though much better, I write
in no little pain. P. W. A.
From the Mittiseippian.
SALT.
As many of our citizens are much in need of
salt, and deeply interested in tbe subject, 1 avail
myself of the opportunity, through the columns
of your useful paper, to give an account of my
visit a few days before this ) te the salt works
in the State of Alabama.
About sixty miles above itobile, immediately
on the east bank ot the Tombigbee river, are the
State salt works. Here they are limited in their
price to SI 25 per bushel, and very rarely have
any to dispose of. A little higher up, in the
fork of tbe Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, about
six miles from each river and six miles below
Jackson are situated the Jeffries or Central salt
works, as they are termed, in a small valley con
tainining about one hundred acres, between two
h'jjh “re formed of soft white rock
's'uttablelor making fttrnsces, wfeich are uu&R for
the purpose. At this place there are thirty-six fur
naces in operation—belonging to persons who are
making salt for their own use, and composed of
partners from two to twenty interested in a furnace
and making from three to fifty bushels of salt to
the furnace each day, according to the extent of tbe
furnace—averaging about three pecks of salt to
tbe band each day, and it is sold as fast as it is
made —such as they can dispose of at ten dollars
per bushel. New works are going up every day;
and unless new discoveries are made, tbe space
will soon be filled up.
Those who work tbe furnaces at this place pay
one-fifth of the salt they make for tbe use of the
water, and obtain it from wells which they dig
about the distance of twelve feet from tbe surface,
and tbe water seems abundant, and the situation
is not subject to overflow. Still higher up twenty
miles, on both sides of the Tombigbee river, three
miles above St. Stephens, there are other salt
works, in which are engaged about five hundred
hands—each on the river swamp, aud subject to
overflow about fifteen feet deep at high water.
There the tenants pay one-tenth for the use of the
water, and sell their salt for fifteen dollars per
bushel—and at that tbe demand is much greater
than the supply, and many who go for salt are
disappointed, and go away without any. The
surest plan is to make it. Six hands can prepare
in two weeks to make from three to tour bushels
per day, and the whole additional expense will not
exceed two hundred dollars—which will be the
price of the pots—and common size dinner pots
will answer tbe purpose. Thirty-six pots will
suffice to make four bushels per day, and can be
worked by six or seven hands, and so in propers
tion. Common size pots make more in proportion
than very large boilers; and at tbe rate of fiiteen
dollars per bushel, each hand can clear his ten
dollars per day very easy.
In the wells at these places, large bones of
huge dimensions are found from four to six feet
beneath the surface, supposed to be that of the
mastodon. When found, they are thrown out of
the well, and no further search made for the
residue. They would be a valuable acquisition
to any museum, and the whole skeleton can, no
doubt, be obtained with a little expense, and I do
hope that some scientific geologist will make the
effort, as they show conclusively that at some pe»
riod of the world a large race of animals inhabi
ted the earth which has become extinct. Also,
much broken Indian pottery has been discovered
and dug out of tbe earth —and ancient remains of
an old furnace at these works were plain to be
seen at the Fletcher works, near St. Stephens,
which shows that the Indians made salt at these
works in ancient times.
The process for making salt is very plain, and
any man of common sense can learn how in an
hour’s time. The water is first put into a large
pot, and so on until it reaches the sixth pot, which
is called the brine pot; it is then dipped out of
the brine pot and poured into a barrel—throw in
about one table-spoonful of lime to a barrel of
water to settle it; in about fifteen minutes draw
off tbe water from the barrel by means of a spile
near the bottom, and put it into another pot which
is called the grainer, in it the salt soon chrystal
izes by boiling, and sinks to tbe boftom, which is
dipped out by a ladel and put into a basket over a
barrel to drip, which is soon effected, and tbe salt
is then complete.
Salt may be made from tbe earth dug up out of
smoke houses in tbe same manner, by placing the
earth in a hopper and draining water through it
in the same manner we drain ashes to make lye
for soap. All the salt which has ever been wasted
in smoke houses is still there, and can be obtained
in this way with bnt little expense and trouble.
Wm. B. Trotter.
Quitman, Miss.
The newly elected Senator from Oregon,
Benjamin F. Harding, was formerly United States
district attorney for the Territory, and ihe first
Speaker of the House in the Oregon State Legis*
lature. He is about forty years of age, a lawyer
by profession, and was a Douglas Democrat io
1860.
VOL. 15.—N0. 41
FROM THE ARMY.
The only reliable information brought by tbe
Central cars last evening was the confirmation of
the report circulated in the City Monday, that
Warrenton had been occupied by the Yankees,
and our sick and wounded at that place taken
prisoners and paroled. A number of the paroled
men reached the city last evening by tbe Central
cars. They elate that tbe town was occupied by
the enemy’s cavalry on Sunday evening, aud that
811 sick and wounded were there at the ume us
the entrance of the enemy, undergoing mtdical
treatment, all of whom weie arrested auu immei
diateiy paroled.
General Lee was still at Winchester, and tbe
enemy reported advancing. In this case we may
bear of a desperate battle having been fought in
that vicinity at any moment. We feel warranted
in saying that the most ample arrangement has
teen made to give the invaders a good old Vir
ginia welcome.
A wild rumor was brought into the city by one
of the passengers last evening, and extensively
circulated, to the effect that Lincoln has sent, by
flag of truce to General Lee, at Winchester, says
ing that if the Confederate States would stop the
war at once, swear allegiance to the United States
Government, that the Northern States wauld pay
the whole expense of the war incurred by both- •
sections. Os course there is no truth in this re
port, as neither Lincoln or his Congress could
make such a proposition without tbe consent of
tbe several States, now composing the Union.—
A proposition of this kind would, at any late
amount to nothing, for no one knows better than
Lincoln himself, that it would not be entertained
by the South for even a moment
Richmond Enquirer, Oct. 2.
23F” We clip the following items from the Rich
mond (Va.) Dispatch, of Oct. 1:
From the Army in Northern Virginia.—Our
last at;vices trim our army in Northern Virginia,
and the reported movements of the enemy under
McClellan, is of an important character, and such
as to create the be lef that a great battle is impend*
ing, if it has not already occurred.
All reports concur in tbe statement that tbe ene
my, in heavy force, have crossed the Potomac at
Harper's Ferry and Shepherdstown, and that our
own forces, under General Lee, have taken up a
strong position, in which to await the approach of
the enemy. The enemy are represented to be ap*
preaching by the turnpike read leading from
Harper's Ferry to Smithfield, in Jefferson county,
and from Shepherdstown byway of tbe Smithfield
and Shepherdstown turnpike. Both of these are
fine roads, and leading through the heart of Jeffer
son county. From Shepherstiwn to Smith
field the distance is twelve miles, and from Har
per’s Ferry to tbe same point is about fifteen
miles.
Another account represents that, in addition to
the forces of the enemy approaching from Hxrs
per’s Ferry and Shepherdstown, a heavy column
crossed at Williamsport, aud were advancing by
way of Martinsburg. This town is twelve miles
from Williamsport, and about tbe same distance
from Bunker Hill, a village noted in th it section
for its extensive flour mills. Bunker Hill it ten
miles north of Winchester, and five miles west of
Smithfield. The country between Bunker Hill
and Smithfield is broken and hilly, and for sev
eral miles the main road runs through heavy pine
and oak forests. Nearly midway between these
two points the road crosses Opequon Creek, a
stream which, in high stages of water, is scarcely
tordable. Bunker Hill is on Mill Creek, abou-e
--its Junction with the Opequon.
I here 18 stso & cutwy iuam irom
town (between Shepherdstown and Smithfield,) to
Bunker Hill, which crosses the Opequon about
three miles below tbe latter point. This road ins
tersects the turnpike from Martinsburg to Win*
Chester, about a mile north of Bunker Hill. Ji
more than probable that tbe column of the enemy
advancing from Shepherdstown will take "th s
route. Bunker Hill, or Mill Creek, as it appears
upon the map, is the Same point wfa“re General
Johnston offered battle to the enemy unde." JPati"
terson, in June, 1861, our forces remaining in li"-&
of battle nearly an entire day, expecting the ad*
vance of the enemy from Martinsburg. After our
army retired, Patterson occupied tbe position for
several days, passing his time away until the ar
my of the Valley had formed a junction with
Beauregard at Manassas, and participated in the
figut ot the 21st of July.
The Yankees at Warrenton.—lt was positives
!y asserted, by passengers who arrived on tbe
Central tram last evening, that the enemy’s
cavalry entered Warrenton on Monday, and cap
tured a number of our sick and wounded in hos
pitals at that place, all of whom they paroled
The reliability of this statement we had no means
of ascertaining, though we are disposed to be
lieve that it is correct.
A WHOLE CAMP SKEDADDLING.
The New York Post states that about 9 o’c'ock
°? \ he of l he I9th ’ lhe 26th and Part of
of the 27th New Jersey regiments, numbering
about 2,000 men, who were in camp, near Ross
ville, N. J , scattered in all directions. The Post
says;
The men were sworn in on Thursday, received
their clothing yesterday, and “skedaddled” to*
day, after vainly imploring the officers to give
them a day or two of grace tn town. The camp
is near Newark, and the men effected a “strate*
gic” movement down the bank of the canal to
that city, choosing tbe shortest route.
As they passed the guard the men seized the
arms, p'anted the bayonets in the ground and car
ried off tbe sentinels with them. The guard of
fered no resistance. Acting Mnjor Babcock met
some of the soldiers on their way oui of the camp
and tired bis pistol at one of the ringleaders the
ball passing through his arm.
Tbe Colonel in command at the camp, (Come*
hus Van Vorst,) on hearing of the “skedaddle ”
gave the small remainder of the men the furs
loughs which the others hafl fled for failing to get,
and ordered out his officers to pick up the stag*
glers. Such of the non-commissioned officers as
were caught m Newark to-day had their stripes
torn off and are reduced to tbe ranks. Few of
the commissioned officers left camp, which place
is peopled to-day by a corps consisting of officers,
with no men. It is represented that the men ap
pointed a committee te remonstrate with the offi«
cers concerning the refusal to issue furloughs but
that the subsequent consultation failed to satisfy
the discontented. Very few of the thousand men
who fir st left camp in a body have yet been dis
covered. They are supposed to have' scattered all
over Newark and the adjacent country, and the
regiments are for the time completely dtsor—
ganized.
Dismissed from the U. 8. Navy.—The following
order has been issued from the U. S. Navy De
partment:
Commander George Henry Preble, senior officer
in command of the blockading force off Mobile
having been guilty of a neglect of duty, in per
mitting the armed steamer Oreto to run the block
ade, thereby not only disregarding article 8, sec
tion 10, of the Articles of War, which requires an
officer to “do his utmost to overtake and capture
or destroy every vessel which it is his duty to en«
counter, but omitting the plainest ordinary duty
committed to an officer, is, by order of the Presi
dent, dismissed from the naval service from this
date.
The commander of each vessel of war on tbe
day after the receipt of this published General
Order, will cause it to be read on the quarter deck
at general muster, together witu the accompany.
I top reports, and enter both upon the vewei’’ z