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®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