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BRAGG’S MOVEMENTS IN KENTUCKY- |
Oar people have been greatly deceived in refer*
ence to Bragg's movements in Kentucky. There
was a singular unanimity in Northern accounts
and Southern reports of the battle of Perryville,
and the natural inference predicated upon these
reports was, that Bragg had defeated Buell in three
pitched Battles; was pursuing him towards Louis
ville; an d that, in a brief space of time, Kentucky
would be entirely relieved of the presence of the
invading Hessians. When we took this view of
affairs in Kentucky, we admitted that we might
be mistaken, and subsequent information from the
army there has proven that we, unfortunately, were
mistaken. It appears, now, that there was but
one battle fought, and that that was on the Bth
inst., at Perryville ; that our forces were greatly
inferior to those of the enemy; but that our men
fought with a determined and untiring gallantry,
driving the enemy some two miles, leaving about
4,000 of his men hors de combat, and capturing 15
pieceaof artillery, with a few prisoners. At this
battle, onr troops were commanded by Gen. Polk.
At Frankfort, on the Sth or 9th instant, there
may have been a slight engagement, in which
Smith’s and Withers’ Divisions were engaged,
and a few hundred of the enemy taken prisoners.
Gen. Bragg, then, finding his depots of supplies
threatened, and the enemy endeavoring to flank
him, fell back in the neighborhood of Cumbers
land Gap, bringing off several thousand wagon
loads of supplies, and the addition of two or three
thousand recruits gathered in Kentucky.
Thiei is the substance of the latest reports from
Kentucky; and the general impression upon the
minds of the public will be that Gen. Bragg has
been out-general led and defeated by Buell, and
that the campaign in Kentucky has been a total
failure. This impression should not be encour
aged. Until fuller statements of the movement
into Kentucky are made public, it would be un
wise and ungenerous to condemn the commander
of that expedition. Our people are too apt to
imagine plans, and, in the event of their non-ful”
fill meat, blame the Generals who were charged
with them; when, most probably, Such plans were
never., for a moment, entertained by any person
in the army. This is an unwise policy; and no
General or other officer should be censured, until
there is unmistakeable cause for it.
’The campaign in Kentucky may or may not be
a failure; but it is not a total failure. For the
acquisition of large army supplies, and even of but
a few thousand recruits, is of the utmost import
ance at the present time; and it is not yet, even,
too late for a decisive battle to take place in that
State. The Knoxville (Tenn.) Register, of Oct.
19th, says that the glorious tidings of victory may
be heard within three days. And if an attack is
made by the enemy, the result cannot be doubt
ful. Buell, drawn off a great distance from his
base of operations and reinforcements, worn down
by long and forced marches, and beyond the
reach of his depots of supplies, even with superior
numbers, will be overmatched by Bragg’s concen
trated army, reinforced and united, and within a
short distance of their supplies and reinforces
mentis.
There is no cause, then, for despondency, or even
for dissatisfaction. A decisive victory on the con
fines of Tennessee would be as advantageous to
our cause as though it were fought before the
gates of Louisville; for, Buell’s grand army
routed, the way is open then for another advance
to the banks of the Ohio, if necessary. And in
that event, Nashville will not be left m the hands
of the enemy, but seized and defended as the
best basis of communication between Kentucky
and Tennessee for our army.
We are not advised that this programme is
to be carried out. But we think it not unreason®
able that important army movements are in pro*
gress which will result in ridding Kentucky and
Tennessee of the Federals before the winter cam
paign closes. If not, then we have an army suffi
cient to hold Tennessee, and provisions enough to
supply that army. This ought, at least, to be
satisfactory, and sufficient to prevent any feeling
of gloom or despondency in the minds of our
people. The Confederacy can, no doubt, sustain its
present army during the winter months, and when
spring opens, it will open upon renewed successes
and greater victories for our arms, victories, per
haps, sufficient to enforce terms of peace at the
hands of our enemies.
The Steamship Minho.—The report of heavy
cannon was heard in the city about three o’clock,
Tuesday morning, which, about daylight, was dis
covered to have proceeded from the Yankee block
aders, who, observing that a steamer had passed
by them, and was coming into port, opened fire,
but did not do her any damage. This steamer
was the Minho, with a valuable cargo from Ber
muda, which, after escaping the blockaders, had
the misfortune to get ashore on the stone break
water at Sullivan’s Island, and has had several
holes punched in her bottom by the rocks, which
let a large quantity of water into the ship, and
which has perhaps damaged a portion of the
cargo. At low water, yesterday, the leaks were
stopped in a measure, and as the tide rose in the
afternoon, several steamers worked at her, trying
to tow her off, but had not succeeded up to a late
hour. As the ship is divided into several water
tight compartments, it is hoped that the vessel
and cargo may be saved. A sloop, with a part of
the Cargo, came up to the city yesterday after
noon.— Chas. Courier, Oct. 21.
South Carolina to be Auctioneered Of?.—The
Cincinnati Gazette very gravely publishes the fol
lowing special dispatch from Washington;
Washington, October 9.—Dr. Wm. Henry Bns*
bane, formerly of Cincinnati, and three others, of
Wisconsin, have been appointed tax commission
ers for South Carolina, and are here awaiting final
instructions before sailing for Port Royal. It is
understood in some quarters that they are to pros
ceed to open offices and assess taxes on the whole
taxable property of the State. If the planters
through the part of the State under rebel control
come forward and pay their taxes, all will be well.
If not, the commissioners will proceed to sell
their estates for the taxes; and, in the event of
there being no bidder at rates sufficient to pay the
taxes, will forfeit them to the government. If this
plan is really to be adopted, it is, of course, but
another name for confiscation.
We find the subjoined paragraphs in the
Knoxville (Tenn.) Register, of Oct. 21 :
Battle op Perryville —Incidents, Losses and
Casualties —Maney's Brigade lost 679 in killed,
wounded and missing. The Ist Tennessee regis
? ie *? 8 » l° Bt seen, 43 of whom were
killed. Colonel McDaniel, of the 41st Georgia,
Cant 7° u , nded >, b ! 8 thi ß h having been broken.
SL r a 1 ? above the elbow. Capt.
thUh ’tL Jw a Tenne 1 BSee ’ wounded ln ’ he
wnnnd o 7 h ‘. Geor « la lost 159 in killed and
u h ? abo y? ts furnished by Adjutant
Thomas H. Malone, Gen. Maney’s Adjutant. J
haul! no officer nor soldier, from the
i’n tht flLki° f * Perrjville ' who estimates our forces
*« ht at more than tift «en thousand. Thia
of brSadTs In the fi V t gant ® Btimate - The number
X m l ght - and their known strength
ed request ot „G< n.Polk, we are not advised In
that event, we would have “
fifty thousand prisoners P ° red SOffie fort 7 or
THE ELECTIONS IN THE NORTH.
The recent elections in some of the Northern
States are, we believe, of some importance at the
present time. They serve, at least, to show that
Lincoln is, in some of those States, supported by a
comparatively small minority. His emancipation
proclamation, and his coercion measures, have
meYwith a prompt condemnation at the ballo;
box. W e should have preferred to have seen them
condemned by the cartridge box; but as that
could not be, it is some satisfaction to know that
it was done at the ballot box.
What the result of these elections will be, in
regard to the present war, we can only conjecture.
In our opinion, it will be of some advantage to
us, inasmuch as it will give strength and courage
to the anti-war party at the North. It will con.-
vince them that Lincoln is not all-powerful,
and that thousands are ready to back them in
the exercise of their right of free speech; and,
therefore, cause them to speak and write their
sentiments more openly and boldly. Free speech
will be apt to open the eyes of thousands who
have been blinded and deceived by free lies, and
convince them ot the utter impossibility of sub
jugating the South, and make them as clamorous
for peace as they have been, and are ’now, for war.
It will, also, have a demoralizing effect upon the
army. The soldiers will take sides, and political
discussions will engender strife and ill feeling in
the army. And, if Lincoln, finding himself de
serted by the people, should attempt a coup d'etat,
counting upon the support of his army, he will,
we are satisfied, find himself egregiously mis
taken. He cannot trust his soldiers any more
than he can his civilians, and neither want a dic
tator at this time. These are, we believe, some of
the results which will follow the triumph of the
Northern Democrats in the recent elections, if the
majorities are as large as the telegraph represents
them. But these are mere speculations, after alb
and time alone can verify or refute them ; and, in
the meantime, if we should be in error in our
speculations, there is one consolation —if the re
sult of these elections do us no good, they cannot
make affairs any worse than they are at present.
There are some who beheve that the effect upon
Lincoln will be to cause him to relax his rigorous
war policy, and adopt milder measures, thus to
curry favor with his opponents, and strengthen
the war party. Perhaps it may have that effect;
but we cannot think so. It may be better, how
ever, for our people to adopt that view, and to acr
in accordance with it. We have simply given out
opinion, with no desire to enforce it upon the
minds of our readers, as the whole subject is a
mere matter of speculation; and, to encourage
hopes of peace parties and peace results at this
time, with no better foundation than speculation
and opinion, would be unjust to the people and
injurious to the cause. Therefore, while hoping
that our view may be the correct one, we must
urge upon our readers the policy of acting as if
the reverse were true, and to relax none of their
efforts and energies in the [prosecution of the
war.
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE-
LETTER FROM KENTUCKY.
Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 30, 1862.
This army is destitute of information from home,
except through Federal sources. The Louisville
Journal tells us that Lee bas been driven from
Maryland with terrible loss, and that McClellan
has vindicated his claim to the title of the Young
Napoleon. According to the same authority, Price
has been defeated by Rosencranz. A dispatch
from Tupelo to our side, dated 15th, reverses the
last account.
We met with contretemps yesterday at New
Haven, fifteen miles behind us on the road to Mun
fordsville. At daylight,a party of Federal cavalry
dashed into the camp of Col. M. J. Crawford, of
the 3d Georgia Cavalry, and captured him and 290
of his command, without firing a gun. Per contra,
we heard yesterday that John Morgan was in the
rear of Gen. Morgan, retreating from the Gap, and
had picked up 600 of the enemy and a part of his
train. Smith, Marshall, and Stevenson were on all
sides of Morgan’s army, and Gen. Bragg believes
that none can escape. They are 8,000 strong.
The accession of Kentuckians to our ranks de*
pends upon their belief in the ability of Gen. Bragg
to maintain himself. They say that if left once
more in Federal hands their past oppressions will
be light in the comparison with what they will
have to endure. I believe the intelligence and the
excellence of the State is heartily with us, but
Yankee tyrannny has Immensely augmented their
bumps of caution. A very few see their policy and
duty in the true light. These propose to send their
families and slaves to the South, and rush en
masse to the Confederate standard.
Buell is at Louisville and taken lodgings at the
Galt House. Rumor says that there are large num
bers of new troops there besides his Sequatchie
Valley army. We shall hear from there before
long. This army hopes that they will hear from
us first, either at “Cincinnati or Louisville. This
movement of Gen. Bragg is a bold one. In a com
missary point of view it ought to be sustained by
our Government. A good supporting column
would make it a success. I send you several pro
clamations issued by Gen. Bragg. Press.
LETTERS FROM VIRGINIA-
Camp 20th Ga. Reg’t, Toombs’ Brigade, [
near Winchester, V a., Oct. 9,’62. J I
Mr. Editor : In Brigadier General Wright’s >eto
ter, of September 3d, published in your paper of
September 13th, I notice the following paragraph,
viz:
“Three brigades had been repulsed and driven
out of the woods just at this point, when I was
ordered in, namely, Anderson’s, (formerly D. R.
Jones’) Toombs’ and Eveans’ (of 8. C.,) brigades.
My brigade not only held the position, but ac
tually drove the enemy for some distance through
the woods and across a field in the rear of the
woods.”
Great injustice is done the Twentieth Georgia
Regiment, of Toombs’ Brigade, which I com
manded in the battle of 30th August at Manassas,
in this statement of Gen. Wright. His troops
occupied no ground on that field from which the
Twentieth Georgia were “repulsed,” or “driven
out,” at any time that day. We first engaged two
regiments of the enemy (the one, the” Twenty
ninth New York, and the other, I believe, the
Seventy-third Pennsylvania,) in a dense pine
thicket, some two hundred yards in rear of what
is known as the Chinn house, and drove them out,
capturing a battery of two guns. We were, then,
ordered by Col. Benning, commanding the bri
gade, to charge a battery of six guns some four
hundred yards to the left of the ground which
had been occupied by the regiments we had just
driven back. The order was obeyed, and the
cannoniers were driven from their guns, although
supported by seven regiments of infantry. The
Twentieth Georgia held the position against this
fearful odds until the enemy bad put in position
a battery on the right which thoroughly enfiladed
our ranks. The order was, then, given by Col.
Benning, who bad condacted the charge in per
son, to fall back. The regiment fell back to a
ravine about three hundred yards distant from the
battery in front, where a stand was made and fife
opened upon the enemy and continued until he
left the field.
The single attempt made to advance upon u s
was repulsed almost instanly. We were in the 1
front, and remained in the front on our part of
tlje field throughout the fight; and the only Con
federate troops between us and the enemy were
our own dead and wounded—one hundred and
forty, out of three hundred and fifty-nine carried
into the fight.
From Gen. Wright’s high reputation, 1 am sure
he will be as happy in having his mind dis
abused of the erroneous impression (to the extent
indicated, at least,) as those cognizant of the part
performed by the 20th Georgia iu that great bat
tle were surprised at seeing it published oyer his
signature. Very respectfully, Ac.,
J. D. Waddell,
Maj. Cotn’dg 20th Ga. Regiment.
Jas. Gardner, Esq-, Editor, Ac.
Bivouac 20th Ga. Reg., 1
Near Winchester, Va., Oct, 9, 1862. j’
Mr. Editor : My attention has just been called
to au article in voiir issue of the Ist inst., enti
tled the battle of Sharpsburg, from the army cor
respondent of the Charleston Courier, “Personne,”
in which, I doubt not through a mistake of the
printer, our regiment, the 20th Georgia, com
manded by Col. J. B. Cumming, of Macon, Ga.,
does not get the credit to which it is entitled. It
was the 2d and 20th in place of the 2d and 10th,
as published in your paper of that date, which
successfully met and defeated seven regiments of
the enemy who were endeavoring to cross a
bridge for the purpose of securing an advantage
ous position on this side of the river. These two
regiments, the 2d and 20th, both belonging to
Toombs’ Brigade, not only held their position
against this vastly superior force for five hours,
but until they had entirely exhausted all their
own ammunition, as well as using up every
round they could get from the killed and wound
ed of our own men.
As I was not with the regiment at that time,
being on my way from home to join it, I make
this statement in justice to the officers and men
of the 20th Georgia regiment, to which I have
the honor to be attached.
Recpectfullv yours,
William Craig,
Captain Co. K., 20th Regiment Ga. Vol.
THE SPEECH OF JOHN' VAN BUREN AT THE
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN NEW YORK—A
SPEECH TO THE POINT.
From the Richmond Dispatch.
We published in our Northern news yesterday
some extracts of the speech ot John Van Buren at
the Democratic mass meeting in New York, on
Monday. If there is any real significance in any
of these addresses lately launched against the
Lincoln Administration, by the Democratic orators
in the North, that of Mr. Van Buren is far more
important than any yet published. He is the only
speaker yet who has dared to meet the question of
peace squarely, without making suojugatiou a
sine qua non. We make some highly interesting
extracts from the speech as reported in the New
York Herald:
VIEWS OF A REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN AND GENERAL
THE SOUTH TO BE WHIPPED AND THEN LET GO.
I have no acquaintance with General McClellan,
even, by sight, and no communication with him,
direct or indirect, but I tell these Republican
gentlemen that if they keep on they will make him
President of the United States. '(Loud cheers.)
Now, I say that Wadsworth is his open, malig
nant, bitter persecutor. I never make a statement
. without authority. Mv authority for that state
ment is that of a Republican State officer, high in
office, coming directly from Washington as be did,
who assured me that such was then the fact with
regard to Jas. 8. Wadsworth—and the name of
that gentleman is Benjamin Welch, Commissary
General of the State of New York. (Cheers.) I
will produce that witness and rest—(laughter)—
and when Mr. Wadsworth denies it I will furnish
him with a thousand more I say, then, when the
country is at war the bitter enemy of the Com
mander-in-chief should not be placed at the head
of the Government of this State. (Cheers.) As a
friend of the war, determined to see it carried on
until an honorable peace is accomplished, I say
it is the most unsuitable thing for’me to do to
support James 8. Wadsworth for Governor of the
State of New York.
I had a conversation with him myself—not a
private one, for these Republicans never make
confidants of me; if they have any secrets to keep
they choose some other depository; and I said to
him, mthe presence of several people, who will
appear if he contradicts what I say—“how do
you propose to terminate the war?” I wanted to
see a Republican who sees where we are coming
out; I never met one yet. I agree to go on with
the war; I agree, most of all, not to stop when
we are whipped; but when we get through I
want to know what then. “Will you hold the
States of the South by armies, and call upon us to
pay the taxes necessary to subsist the troops,
amounting to some millions of men?” [A voice—
“No!”] That is what Wadsworth said. ]Laugh
ter.] “Will you change the form of this Govern
ment, so that instead of being the government of
our liberty and of the Constitution, it shall be a
military government?” “No.” “What then?”
“Why, we will whip them and let them go!”
[Cheers.] “But,” said I, “would it not be easier
to let them go without whipping them? Would
they not be a little better neighbors? You do not
propose to remove the continent away; the people
will be there; and would they not be a little bet
ter neighbors if you let them go without whip
ping?” [Cheers.] “No,” said he, “we will
whip them and let them go.” And he, being a
military man, and I a civilian, he started South to
whip them, while I staid here after he not through,
to let them go. I Laughter and applause. |
What is the Republican plank? They make no
secret of it. It is to emancipate the slaves of the
South ; it is to make colonies of the South, and to
plant upon them, after driving out the people
that went through the Revolution with us. and
formed a more perfect Union and Constitution,
and fought side by side with our people in the
late war on the plains of Mexico, in every great
contest till this fearful calamity came upon us—
to drive them from the country and plant settlers
in their place. To that I am unconditionally op
posed, [loud cheers,] and to that I believe the
people of this State to a man are opposed. They
will have an opportunity on the 4th of next No
vember to express their opinion in regard to this
measure, and it will be heard and heeded at
Washington, in my humble judgment. [Ap
plause.]
RICHMOND TO BE CAPTURED—A CONVENTION TO BE
CALLED, AND IF THE SOUTH THEN WON’T AGREE TO
STAY, LET HER GO.
We propose to have a vigorous prosecution of
the war now—[applause]—and in’my judgment
McClellan ought to be authorized to march to
Richmond and take the capita!. [Cheers.] Tak
ing the enemy’s capital is the natural resting
place in every war. When Vienna was taken,
the Austrian Government was subdued; when
Paris was taken upon two different occasions,
France was subdued. It was never heard of that
you carry out the war in detail, so as to conquer
every province of the country that you are’at
tempting to subdue. When Mexico was taken,
although there were seven millions of hostile Mex
icans in every part of that Republic, Mexico was
conquered, and peace was declared. I say it is,
if not the end of the war, the natural resting place
in the war, and after that will be time, in my
humble judgment, to treat of peace, and to deter
mine what ought to be done. And I am just as
well prepared now to say what ought to be done
as I should be then.
I believe a convention should be called, [“That’s
right,” and applause.] I believe our Southern
brethren ought to be invited to such a convention.
[“That's the doctrine.” [ I believe that when
Richmond is taken they will be satisfied of their
inability to contend with the gigantic resources of
the free and loyal States of this Union. They
have suffered prodigiously and must suffer more,
I will not believe that they have utterly forgotten
the glorious and precious histories of our past
career. [Applause.] I will not believe that they
are willing to relinquish their share in our com
mon heritage of fame. I will not believe that they
will consent to see this great model republic, star*’-
ing in its career and challenging the admiration
of the world, and being the hope and light of
freedom throughout the world, strangled in its ins
fancy. I believe that under those circumstances
they would come into a convention, that we would
agree to live together under the Constitution as it
is or with more distinctly defining what the Con
stitution now is, [Applause.]
And if they wont consent then I know that I
am in favor of so amending the Constitution as
to let them go, saying to them, io the language
of the gallant Scott, “wavward sisters deoart in
peace.” I say they have no right to go. It is a
wanton and wicked attempt on their part, in de
fiance of tlje Constitution and the law, peaceably
to secede from the Union ; but if they, after due
reflection, think it desirable to form a Confeder
acy of their own, I should feel in regard to it
very much as I should if I had a wife who told
me that she was going to Lave. I would say to
her : you cannot go according to law. You'can
make me mighty uncomfortable if you stay; you
had better think this thing all over before you
out, and, if upon mature reflection, (though
there is no law under Heaven authorizing you to
go), I eter or Thomas, whoever it was, will pack
your trunk, stop at some lawyer’s as you godown
street, and find out how we can get apart at the
least possible expense, and go. [Laughter and
cheers.] I had rather pack your trunk mvself
than to have you stay, if you want to go.
V Honor, self-respect, the commonest feelings of
humanity, would dictate to any one of us, if thev
did not want to live with us, let them go accord
ingto law ; but they won’t go, you will find.—
And now, gentlemen, let us see what is our condi
tion just at this time. We have already, as I have
stated to you, carried on this war at this frightful
loss of human li'e and th is great destruction of
property; we have come to a state of things when
the widowed mother calls upon you to stop at the
first honorable point; when the wife whose hus
band goes out to battle for the Union and the
Constitution , when the sister who finds a brother
coming home; when the betrothed, who parts
from her future Lord and master, dedicates him
to the service of the country: when the bride who
seperates from her groom at the church door to go
forth to battle—ail appeal to you not to stop the
war dishonorably. With firm lips they tell you
to go forward as long as honor and justice
require it; but when you come to a point where
peace can properly be made, then to make it.
A DEMOCRATIC VOTE TO BE GIVEN IN NEW YORK CITT—
SOMEBODY TO BE KNOCKED DOWN QUICK.
This city can give a vote that will appall the
Abolitionists of the interior. [Cheers.] And it
will meet a support in the interior that you little
expect. Unless lam greatly deceived, we shall
carry this State triumphantly. But the first thing
to be done is to get into the’ box the votes of the
people of this city. [Applause.] Now, it requires
care and attention, and it does not require what
I am doing so foolishly—talking. Do not argue
with those people on election day. Their object
will be to get you into a dispute, which may pre
vent the polling of votes where we are in a
majority. To interrupt the polling you will be
called everything, and, of course, you will be
called “traitors.” If a man calls you a traitor—
A Voice—“ Knock him down.”
Another voice—“ Don’t stop to fight; put in
your ballot.” [Laughter.]
There is a difference of opinion. I know how
provoking it is to have a man say things you do
not like. I have had it done in Court; I have had
it done when I was Attorney General, and I have
been sent to jail for having it done to me. | Laugh
ter..’ All I say is, do not stop to talk. If you
must knock a man down, knock him quick.
[Cheers and applause. | But you had far better
not knock him down at all. j Cheers.] Get your
vote out; get it into the box, and my word for it,
you will be met throughout the State by corres
ponding exertions, which will carry joy’to every
friend of the old Union, as it was. throughout the
borders of this Confederacy. [Cheers.] The only
possible way to restore this Union is to make that
expression at this election now.
At any future election it would be no use on
earth. We are told they cannot live, and m my
judgment the Southern people ought not to live
under an Abolition sway. [Applause.] I would
not live with them if they would. [ Loud cheers.]
They call upon us now to show that we are not an
Abolition State. They say, throw aside your politi
cal organizations, throw aside your past political
contests, combine once and show us that, however
you may differ about other things, this pestilent
faction can be overthrown by you, and we may
once again live in peace,with our rights protected.
[Cheers.] Show them this. Show it to them on
the 4th of November, m time to save what is worth
saving in this country.
STILL LATER FROM THE NORTH.
From the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, Oct. 21.
We are indebted to the kindness of several
friends for a copy of the New Ycrk Times of
Saturday, the 18th instant, and also a copy of the
Baltimore American of the evening of that date.
We make room this morning for the following se
lections:
The following summary of the news is from the
New York Times:
Our advices from the army of the Potomac,
this morning, indicate unmistakably that Gen.
McClellan is again about to measure strength with
the Rebel hosts under Lee. There appears to be
no doubt that the latter intends to give battle at
or near their present location, which is now well
known to oui Generals through the reconnoissanca
recently made. Simultaneous with the movement
of Gem Hancock’s Division to Charlestown, on
Thursday.anoiher movement was made across the
Potomac, at Shepherdstown Ford, by Gen. Wood*
berry’s Division, which took the road leading to
Smithfield, a small village half-way between
Charlestown and Bunker’s Hili.
This division encamped, on Thursday night,
between Leetown and Ke .rneysville, having met
with but slight resistance during the advance.
Yesterday morning the cavalry attached to the
division advanced toward Smithfield, and formed
a junction with Hancock’s cavalry, having mean
time discovered the enemyHn very heavy force.
The object of the reconnoisance was thus attained
without loss. To-day may bring us the news of
another great battle.
Official dispatches, received in Louisville from
Nashville, sta|e that the rebels were In consider
able force near the latter city on the 11th inst.,
and that they sent a flag of’ truce demanding a
surrender. This modest demand Gen. Negley
declined to accede to, as he had a National force
ample for defence.
We have a rumor from Fortress Monroe that au
engagement took place at Backwater river, be
yond Suffolk, on Tuesday last, the result of which
is yet unknown. A Lieutenant and three men
belonging to the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry
are said to have been killed.
Within the last three or four days the rebels
have run two trains of cars from the other side
of the Rappahannock to Bristow. They selected
their opportunities immediately after Union re
connoitering parties had passed through and
about the intervening country. These trains,
doubtless, carried cattle or horses for the use of
Lee’s Army, which could be rapidly driven up
from Bristow, through Thoroughfare Gap and
Front Royal, to Lee's position.
The subjoined extract of a letter from aa officer
on the staff of General Terrill, who was killed in,
the late battle of Perryville, will correct some
errors committed by newspaper accounts;
The papers are m error in regard to Bragg at«
tacking McCook; it was the combined forces of
Hardee and Polk, or two of the rebel army divi
sions against one of ours. The rebels are in re
treat toward Harrodsburg for the purpose of
forming «. junction with Kirby Smith, and cutting
off General Sill, who has the’flower of the West
ern army. Our army fought after being two days
without adequate supplies of water or provisions,
and all of them green troops, never before in ac
tion; nevertheless, they withstood the combined
attack, and were able to ioilow the retreating re
bels twenty hours afterward.”
The Washington correspondent of the Philadel
phia “North American” hears that the naval ex
peditions that have been in progress at several
points for a number of weeks past are now ready,
and will sail for their destinations as soon as the
troops for land service are ready to accompany
them. When this will be, however, is nut at
present known, though possibly a month hence
wilt find everything in perfect readiness for a res
petition of the splendid achievements at New Or
leans and Port Royal. Admiral Dupont, who is
now in New York, will leave for Port Riyal in a
few days.
Headquarters in St. Louis have received diss
patches to the following purport: “Papers and
dispatches dated as late as the Sth inst., have
been received by Gen. Combs from Little Rock,
Ark. Hindman was then at Duval’s Bluffs, Par
sons was represented as moving toward North
Missouri, and seeking to unite nis forces
with Stearn and Mcßridge at PocahonM- The
Rebel commander, Holmes, was at Little
Gen. Schofield had arrived at Cassville, in Barry
county, near the Arkansas line. South-western
Missouri is once more cleared of Rebel forces,
and the telegraph communication is complete to
Cassville. Two divisions of the army are left At
Helens, under Gen. Carr.”
WHAT GEN. PRENTISS SAID. .
Gen. Prentiss was serenaded in Washington on
the night of the 17th, when he made a speech. In
the course of his narrative he had occasion to
speak of the negroes, who, lie said, were the best
Union men of the South, when a voice id the
crowd exclaimed, “We are fighting for the negro.
‘‘Yes, sir.” replied the General, “I tight for the
freedom of every man on earth.” [lmmense apa
plause.J He spoke of the cruelty with which
Federal officers and soldiers were treated, and o.
the reign of terror existing throughout the South.
They were determined to fight it out, and ’hey
did light desperately, because they knew their
cause was desperate. No one dared to express
any love for the Union at the South, and there
was more real slavery there now over whites than
there ever was over blacks. Tnere are more men.
too, in the Southern army than the people of the
North think for.
Now is the time to strike, for their army is
somewhat demoralized. He saw thousands of
men going home on parole, and at the battle of
Antietam the rebels were pun'shed a great deal
more severely than was generally supposed here-
He saw train after train of their wounded ; and
Union prisoners, if they did not rejoice at the
misfortunes of their enemies, cheered lustily for
the success of the Union arms. He also remarked
that President Lincoln’s proclamation had done
more to end the rebellion than all the battles that
have been fought, or anything else that has been
done. He would take the field again the very
moment he was ordered to, by his commanding
General. He would obey orders; but let bim
once get twenty-four hours ahead of orders in
Georgia, and he would do everything in his power
to crush the hellish rebellion.
The New York Times says the speech of Preu*
tiss receives the sanction of the Administration.
THE GRAND RETREAT 0 F THE REBELS.
Louisville, Oct. 17.—The Journal discredits all
reports of a recent fight having taken place at
Big Hill.
a force of one hundred United States cavalry
entered and occupied Lex ngton to-dav, Genera!.
Bragg, with 40,000 men, was at Crab Orchard on
Tuesday. He intends to camp a few miles below
there. He is rapidly retreating toward Mount
Vernon.
Kirby Smith was going out of Kentucky on the
road to Manchester, Clay county, thence by the
road whereon Bragg is retreating, towards Cum..-
■ berland Gap.
It is reported that the mountaineers arc felling
trees and otherwise blocking up the roads over
which the rebels have to pass in order to leave
the State.
A
THE YANKEE LOSS AT PERRYVILLE.
The Baltimore American says;
The Union losses in the battle of Perryville
(otherwise called the battle of Chaplin Hills) are,
we regret to perceive, much larger’than stated in
some of the reports. In Rosseau’s division alone
the total loss was upwards of 2,000, as follows ;
Killed. 465; wounded, 1,45-3; missing, 161; making
a total of 2,089. Included in these figures are 70
commissioned officers. This division, we believe,
bore the brunt of the fight. It is composed of the
9th Brigade, Gen. Harris; 17th Brigade, Gen.
Lytle, and 28th Brigade, Gen. Starkweather.
THE MARKETS.
The Time’s money article ct the 18th says that
the stock market left off steady yesterday. Gold
fell to 131% a 131%, as against 134% a 131% per
cent, on Thursday. Exchange closed 145%.
Breadstuff* opened buoyantly yesterday, but
with the fall in gold and Exchange, closed heavily.
Cotton was quiet and depressed. Provisions
were less freely purchased ; Pork declined.
RELEASE OF GEN. DAVIS.
Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, on Tuesday, received an
order from the War Department, releasing him
from the arrest under which he has hitherto been
confined since killing Nelson.
TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE*
BRITISH COMMENTS ON THE MARYLAND
BATTLES—THE RUMORS OF “RECOGNI
TION” ASSERTIONS [THAT FRANCE AND
ENGLAND WILL SOON AC! IN CONCERT
AND RECOGNIZE THE CONFEDERACY, &C ,
&C-
The steamship Asia with Liverpool dates of the
sth instant, two days later, has arrived. Thesum
mary of her news in the New York papers says
that “the English papers compliment the North
for its efforts iu Maryland, and agree in favor of
the most promising results therefrom.”
Messrs. Mason and Slidell had written to the
French journals to say they had no official know
ledge of their recall,
Mr. Spence, the Liverpool correspondent of the
London Times, has another letter in that journal,
complimenting the North on the valor of its ar
mies and the skill shown by its Generals in Mary
land. He says the North is now in a position
to make peace without dishonor; but that the
golden opportunity will ba lost. He regards no
peace possible on any other basis than the inde
pendence of the South, and adds : “As the North
cannot be the first to acknowledge that independa
ence, Europe should remove the stumbling block
by recognizing the Confederate States, and the
North may then follow its example.”
The New York correspondent of the London
Times, writing on September 19th, says : It is
evident that the decisive battle of the war is not
fought yet. All that has happened is but the pre
liminary to the final onslaught that is to make or
mar McClellan. But that onslaught, end how. it
will, is net likely to make or mar the fortunes of
the Confederates. He adds “that the resignation
or abdication of President Lincoln is debated as a
matter of course.”
The London Army and Navy Gazette says: The
South has tried the offensive and failed. The
Confederate army has shown great daring and
much tenacity, but has been beaten. Gen. Mc»
Clellan has shown that as a soldier he is equal to
Gen. Lee or Stonewall Jackson. The division of
the Confederate forces was a great mistake. But
great Generals would have known how to convert
that mistake into a disastrous defeat, while second
rate soldiers like McClellan, could only get out
with respectable success.
The exportation of arms and ammunition from
England to America is rapidly increasing. The
shipments of the first eight months of the year
are valued at £1,308,000 sterling.
The Paris Patrie hears from good sources that
nothing is more likely than the recognition of the
South on the basis of accomplished facts, very
soon to be on the tapis, England and France act
ing in concert.
PRANCE.
The Paris Bourse was much excited on the 3d
inst., and the rentes advanced nearly a quarter
per cent., closing at 72f. It is supposed that the
advance was caused by a rumor that the Papal
Government had shown a more pliant disposi
tion.
ITALY.
A royal decree accepts the resignation of Cohn
forti, Minister of Justice, and charges Ratazzi
with the portfolio ad interim.
La Discussion, of Turin, says that the King’s
daughter, before quitting Italy for Portugal, im
plored pardon and favor for the persons guilty of
participating in the late insurrection against the
Government, and that her prayer on the side of
forgiveness and mercy will be heard. La Discus
sion adds, bn Sunday, the 4th inst., a royal decree
will proclaim an amnesty to Garibaldi and his
followers, excepting only the deserters from the
royal army. >
Adding Insult to Injury.—The Richmond cor
respondent of the Charleston Courier says that
some Yankee prisoners are employed in the Com
missary Department cleaning bacen. The ne
groes employed in the Department treat them
pretty much as they please. On one occasion a
negro ran a truck over the toes of one of the
Yankees, who verv naturally “hollered.” “Take
keer of you’ toes,’’ said the darkey: “toes is toes
to dem what runs away mes’ly all de time.”