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THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-
This calm, perspicuous and statesmanlike doc
ument, characterized by the usual vigor and dis
reutness which mark the President’s productions,
will well repay perusal. The message is not
long, nor burdened with matters of minor Inter*
est, but brings to view all the matters of prime
importance which require the attention of Con*
gress, and should enlist the thoughts of the peo
ple. It is not vaunting and boastful, but through
out hopeful, and indicative of determination,
self-reliance, and unwavering confidence in the
final success of justice, truth and right, against
all odds. The President says “our armies are
larger, better disciplined and more thoroughly
equiped than at any previous period of the waj,’’
and this being true, with how much reason may
we join him m the hope that “if we but murk
the history of the present year by resolute perse*
verance in the paths we nave hitherto pursued ;
by vigorous effort in the development of all our
resources of defence; and by the continued ex
hibition of the same unfaltering courage in out
soldiers and able conduct in their leaders, us
have distinguished the past, we have every r eason
to expect that this will be the dosing year ot the
war.’’ Yes, in view of the present condition and
past achievements of our Army, and of the fact
that the enemy has been driven horn his first
purpose of forcing us back into the Uuioii, and
from his second, of subduing and holding us as
conquered provinces, to his last iell one of
wreaking vengeance,-spilling innocent blood,
and destroying private property, we may, iuo
deed, entertain a well grounded hope that, by en
tire harmony and unity between the Confedeia'e
and State Governments, and by continued uiiau
imity, confidence and determination among the
people, the year 1863 shall witness the close of
the great struggle, and the acknowledgment of
our independence. But we have no right to ex*
pect these, unless wp persevere, with all, or even
with redoubled energy in the prosecution of the
war. Having now the advantage, we must not
rest satisfied with simplymamtaining that, but
push on to still more glorious and more perfect
victories.
The larger part of the Message is devoted to a
review of our relations with Europein nations,
and to the evil effects and injustice of their quasi
neutrality. The tone of tiie President is manly
and candid—there is neither whining nor bully
ing in it, neither subserviency nor threatening.
It is a simple, frank statement of the just causes
of complaint we have against those nations, not
for the exercise of their undoubted right to res
main neutral; but that, in some instances, they
have not exercised their neutral rights when such
exercise would have aided us and injured the
enemy, and in others have exercised those rights
when such exercise could manifestly be injurious
to ourselves only; that, in fact, they have alter*
nately waived and asserted such rights in a man
ner, that, whether so intended or not,, has prac
tically henefitted the enemy and proved hurtful
to us. The European powers, in the Congress of
Pans, of 1856, asserted certain fundamental prin*
ciples of international law, for the government of
belligerents and neutrals, all of which, with the
exception of that regarding privateering, were as*
seated to by the United States, and subsequently
by the Confederate States. These powers have
Sternly maintained their decree as to privateer
ing, and-prohibited both parties from bringing
prizes into their ports, when the effect could be
practically injurious only to us, an imam nation,
without a navy to compete with the enemy, and
shut out of the ports of our own country bv a
sham, but recognized blockade. And this, too,
when wa alone could have inflicted injury on the
enemy, and when we were bound by solemn
agreement to respect the neutral rights of Euros
peans, not to sezs th.-ir goods in enemy’s ships,
unless contraband of wrr, and not to destroy their
ships carrying enemy’s goods, except contraband.
These nations, to our injury, have refused to ex
ercise their right as neutrals, to trade with ports
not blockaded in such manner as “really to pre
vent accessand Great Britain has even gone
so far as to interpolate into the agreement of
Paris the additional and entirely different rule,
that a blockade is binding where access and
egaess are simply rendered difficult and danger
ous. The President protests agaihst such acts,
and.hopes a review of the case may change this
determination of Her Britannic Majesty. These
nations, too, have abstained from exercising their
right to recognize the new Confederation of Inde
pendent States, some of which were recognized
by name, as States by Britain, eighty years ago
they being then in alliance, as Sovereign Powers,
with France. All these the President has clearly
set forth, desiring to make these matters of pub*
jic record; and restrained from doing so heretos
fore, mainly because such conduct might have
been construed by Europe, unacquainted with our
strength and resources, into an appeal for aid.
The President next alludes to the infamous
conduct of the Abolition Generals McNeil, But
ler, and Milroy, and the only method of just re
tribution left for him to pursue in regard to
tnem, for the purpose of repressing simUar out
rages as those brutes have been guilty of. The
only other matter connected with the outside
world, alluded to in the Message, is Lincoln’s
Proclamation. On this, the President takes the
proper course, and declares he will deliver Lin
coln’s officers, when caught attempting to carry
out that proclama’ion, to the States, for punish
ment by their laws. He also cites this proclama
tion as convincing evidence of <he propriety and
necessity of these Spates having withdrawn from
a Government, whose design in the beginning is
now made plain to the commonest understand
ing.
Our domestic affairs are considered briefly in
the remainder of the Message, attention being
given separately to the finances, the operations
of tbe War Department—in the main successful
and satisfactory—the matter of exemptions, In
dian affairs, the Naval Department, and Postal
affairs. The finances require the ‘earliest and
most earnest attention of Congress, and all the
wisdom and prudence that body can bring to the
consideration of the matter. The President res
commends an extension, from April to July, of
the lime within which Treasury notes, issued pre*
vious to December, may be funded in eight per
cent, bonds, the enactment of a tax bill com*
mensurate with tne most pressing wants of the
Government, and compatible with tbe ability
and resources of the country, and the negotia*
hon of bonds guaranteed by the States proper
tionately. Ibe la ter we consider bud polfcy;
but less objectionable ls made (o bear f
terest, and negotiated in the future and for future
debts only.
IST Gov. Morton, upon
the United States Government t 0 supply the
Western army„with fifty thousand horses so that
their infantrv can be moved “with the same ra
pidity that characterizes the Confederate troops
in that quarter.” H
THE BORDER STATES.
The condition of the States on the Border is
such as to excite the heartfelt sympathy and
commisseration of all our people. By a system
of cajolery first, and afterwards ol repression
and intimidation, Lincoln and his ministry have
succeeded in preventing a fair expression of tbe
popular will of Kentucky, Missouri and Mary.
land and have bound them, we trust not hope
lessly, to the rotten catcass of a Union, which
once the people of those States respected, as
much as they now, we doubt not, abhor. It is
impossible, wc imagine, that the masses.of those
States can mw have any than a feeling of detesta
tion for the Government of the United States,
after witnessing and siff'ering what they have,
culminating at last in the undisguised, though
indirect effort to destroy the value of five hun
dred millions of their property. These States
have been, and still are, accounted by Lincoln as
loyal to his Government. And yet, he has pro
mulgated a policy, intended, no doubt, from the
beginning of his accession to power, the positive
result of which, were it possible to succeed,
would be the compulsory emancipation of tbe
slaves in those States. He has talked to those
people of cumpensaltd emancipation ; but they
see, at last, what he would do for them if he only
had the power. They are finally awakened to
the great fact, that they have no security lor their
I property but in the success of the Confederate
States ; for if it were possible to destroy the in
stitution io these States, it would perish ot itself,
without tbe striking of a blow, in the so called
loyal Slates of the Border.
We are g.ad to see indications of a dispositio a
to rebel against Lincoln’s Abolition policy, m th
glorious State of Kentucky. That State, it is
ttue, like Missouri, is represented iu the Con
ieuei ate Congress, but the de facto Government
in both is in the hands and under the manage*
ment of those heretofore adherents of the United
States. We hope they will adhere to that Gov
ernment no longer; but what a sad, and almost
irreparable mistake, they made in rcposiilg con
fidence so long m an utterly faithless and execra
ble Administration. Alas, indeed, tha t their first
love so blinded them, as to compel them till thi ß
late day to strike honor, truth and manhood
against treachery, fraud and imbecility, in the
great game where their every interest was in
volved. Wretched people, that they should so
long have allowed themselves to be the tools ot a
set of knaves, who had np respect for their loyal
ty to the Constitution of their fathers, except for
the strength it gave them.
Now, that the mask has fallen entirely from
their enemies, and their own dimness of vision
has been cured, as we hope effectually, it remain s
to be seen whether they will work out their own
salvation, and release themselves forever from a
bondage which must be as galling and despic
able as it is designed to be destructive, Ii will
be hard, indeed, if these, our sisters, having com*
mon interests with us, united by blood and sym
pathy and a similarity of heritage, should be still
held in the thrall of the oppressor, and prevented
from linking their fate with the Confederate
States. Our Government will continue to do all
in its power to aid these States in throwing off'
the Abolition yoke; b.ut they must help them*
selves. We know their position is most difficult,
as well as humiliating; but it arises from their
slowless and cautiousness in the beginning, and
their false policy. Wnile it is a misfortune for
the Confederate Government that it has not been
able to lend more aid to Missouri, Kentucky, and
Maryland, it has not been our Government’s
fault. The fault h»s been wholly with those
States—but we will not be harsh with them for
it—and the misfortune and evil have fallen upon
both us and them.
Maryland really has never had'an opportunity
to strike an effective blow tor herself, since she
allowed the golden moment to pass, alter the first
clash of arms, m April, 186 i. Then it was within
her power to have freed herself, and to have
proved her sons worthy descendants of their
chivalric ancestry. Bui unable to pierce the
curtain which shut out tbe future, she neglected
the precious opportunity, and the heel of the
tyrant has been upon her neck ever since. She
had another chance, it is true, when Gen. Lee’s
army crossed the Potomac, lust September, but
the suddenness of his going, his inability to pen*
etrate the portion of the State most attached to
us, and his short stay, combined to render it a very
slim chance—such as very few of her people ciose
to grasp at. Kentucky, by assuming to be a neu
tral—a moral impossibility—occupied in fact a
position, if not of hostility to us, at least of friend
ship to the enemy, and she has been made to suf
fer the penalty, and to drink to the dregs the bits
ter cup of the insidious foe. And Missouri, when
the gallant Price and his troops were overpowered
and driven off, and the State filled with Abolition
soldiers, was left by necessity in a most pitious
condition.
But, notwithstanding all the past, these States
may yet, by the unanimity and valor of their
sons, redeem themselves, and take their rightful
place along with their Southern sisters. The Abo
lition policy of the United States is plainly de
clared—the real feeling and intent of the Govern*
ment made known. We sincerely trust that it
cannot fail to unite all the people of those States,
whom it is desirable that we should haveafliiiated
with us, to strike now, come weal, come woe, for
their own security and best interest, attainable
only by union with the Confederacy.
Ths Wondbk or the World.—On Monday
last, there was an exhibition in our town of a
two headed colored girl. She forms one.of the
greatest wonders of tbe age, and has excited the
wonder of the medical world, both in Europe and
America. The Siamese Twinsliave been regard
ed as a most wonderful production of nature, but
in no respect are they comparable to this dual,
and yet single existence of this black girl. She
has two distinct heads and a marked individual*
ity above the waist an|i in the lower extremities.
Instead of a lateral connection, as in case of the
Siamese Twins, there is a positive spinal junc
tion, in part, by which one body is formed, the
other parts being free and unrestrained. She
seems to be a very intelligent girl, and has
rather tine musical talent. While talking cr sing
ing, you have before you two distinct persons,
and’yet there stands in inexplicable reality but
one corporeal existence. At-this mysterious un
ion science recoils. She, however, is worthy of
a personal observation, and we anticipate if she
is carried through the South, that the student ot
nature and tbe cunons must make her the sub
ject of a close scrutiny, and return amazed at
the works of nature. In Europe, in some of the
States of the old Union, and in some of our gio*
ious Confederacy, they have been exhibited.
We hope that they will be carried through the
Southern States, so that all may have an oppor*
tuuity of inspecting this wonderful of all won
dtWe learn that this girl will be again exhibited
in the Court House on Friday next. Carolina
Spartan.
KgTJobn C. Heenan, it iff said, is to marry Miss
Stevens, a New York actress, now playing at
Bourcicault’s, in London.
THE SECRET OF REDUCING PRICES.
Everybody complains of high prices, and
everybody is most unreasonable for indulging
such complaint. For, in the first place, it is evi
dent that complaining will not help the matter at
all, and, in tbe second place, we ought all to
know that high prices are a necessity, arising
from.the circumstances in which we find our
selves. We are in the midst of a war of such
magnitude that it absorbs almost the entire ef
fective material of the wnite population for sol
diers; and were it not for the slave labor, tbe
corner stone of our Government, we should be iu
a truly deplorable condition. That labor alone,
skillfully and energetically directed, furnishes
abundance of food, but, alone, it cannot provide
clothing in abundance for the whole population,
,lor it produces only the material, which skill and
machinery must convert. Fully one*tenth of all
tbe white inhabitants of these States are engaged
directly in prosecuting the war; and we are cut
off almost entirely from foreign supplies. Ex
actly such has never been the condition ot any
people before. And when we reflect upon that
condition, we should rather be astonished that
we get along so well. Shut off' from tbe outside
world, with so large a proportion of our popuias
non engaged m war, the demand for everything
usually consumed by the people far in excess of
the supply, aud the circulating medium at fea>l
three times as much as the business requires,
thus cheapening used, high prices must neeess
sursly prevail. Aud although prices are high,
and must continue so, we experience no real suf*
lenug, no pinching want, among auy class of our
population. With no debts to pay, except tor
present needful supplies, which cannot be had
without money, tbe people are about as prosper
ous as they ever were.
While the war lasts—and no one can calcu
late when it is to end—prices, as we have said,
will remain high, compared to peace prices, but
still there is away to reduce then,. But it is not
by grumbling and complaining, nor even by rail
ing against speculators'and extortioners. Why,
the Lord bless you tor innocents, nearly every
body is a speculator—very lew, we hope, are
really extortioner-, and they verily have their re*
ward. Great wars always develop the worst, as
well as the best, traits of human character, and
we can not hope to be the exception to the rule.
Now, the true secret, and the cnly seciet, about
reducing prices, is industry and economy. We
must devote all possible energy and labor to in
crease the supply of everything needed in the
country, and we must learn also—most of us
have learned it— to be satisfied with less than we
have been accustomed to. In a word, we must
make iqore of everything that we can make, and
useless. We must set to work, and not simply
talk about it. The farmers and planters have
done their part well, and they are well paid for
it, too; but they can, and no doubt will, make
still more corn and wheat, and pork and lard, and
beef and butter. They will be well paid for all
they can make, and will continue to prosper, al*
though salt and iron; and shoes and clothing,
make, and will continue to make, heavy drains
on their purses. They must kill more cattle and
make more leather—for tanning is one of the
simplest and easiest of manu acturing processes—
and thus make themselves and the country more
independent of the tanners. After a time, cotton
cards will be cheaper, and then, with plenty of
cards and country looms, the women can produce
nearly half a supply of cotton and woolen goods,
independent of the factories. Tfiis is the only
means to reduce tha price of such articles, lor
factories require time to be built, and tbe ma
chinery can not well be had. But a large pros
duction of domestic goods will cause manufac
turers to reduce their prices. Forty large cotton
mills, running four hundred loooms each, will
produce as much cotton goods, of the kinds made
in the country, 4s the people consume; so that,
bv increasing the supply of homespun goods to
the extent ot one hundred millions oi yards, us
the women can do, when supplied with cards aud
looms, the price' must be greatly reduced.
Food, thanks to the great producing class, is
tolerably abundant, and prices not so very out
rageous, except for a few articles, some of which
may be dispensed with, while others will shortly
be in greater supply. The largest demaud, now
and for the future, and the smallest supply, are
such articles of indispensable necessity as cotton
and woolen goods, salt, leather, shoes and iron.
The only hope ot increasing the supply oi the
first, as we have stated, is by supplying cardsand
looms to the women. Salt is still high, though
lower than it has been. It was and is high, be
cadse the supply was and is small. The demand
was not as great as usaal, for people have learned
to economise in that as in other things. Farmers
and planters have complained bitterly of the
price of salt, but they could better afford to give
a dollar a pound for it, selling pork at twenty*
five cents per pound, than a dollar a sack, when
they sold pork at ten cents. It is true that a great
many make no pork for sale; but then they can
buy plenty of salt, at fifty cents per pound, to
supply a family of fifty persons, with the aix
months proceed* of butter from half a dozen well
attended cows, for which they formerly had al*
most no market. And in six months more, from
the same source, they can pay their State and
county taxes. Let the people go to work and
make salt, as some have done, or else next fall
they will have to indulge useless complaints
against the speculators, who, buying at the pre-
comparatively low prices, will force from
their folly a profit of one or two hundred per
cent. Kill more cattle and establish more tan*
nerits, and thus reduce the price of leather aud
shoes—it is the only way. The wool of four sheep
will clothe a soldier—of two millions sheep, the
whole army—and twelve hundred looms will
weave the cloth. After the army is supplied, the
remainder of the population may get their wool
ens cheaper, only by increasing the supply of
cards and looms.
Iron is another article of great demand through
out the Confederacy, and, unfortunately, we are
not prepared to make it largely, though the ore is
abundant aud widespread. Capital and labor,
however, wisely directed, may produce any quan
tity, aud in a comparatively short time, though
extensive establishments will require time to get
well under way. But it may be made profitably,
we understand, on a small scale and with trifling
outlay. Let its production be stimulated and
encouraged by all proper means; and let not
capitalists be deterred from embarking in this or
any other branch of common manufacture, by
the hope of an early peace, or the fear of outside
competition when the war ends. Peace is not
coming very soon, and when it does come, rely
upon it that our people will buy at home, if the
home manufacturers will act well their own part.
Government, it is true, cannot foster your enter
prises, but it will be compelled to levy a pretty
heavy tax on foreign merchandise, for revenue,
and if it will have the nerve to do its duty, tbe
people will sustain it, in entire non*intercourse
with the Yankee nation. Relieved from compe
tition with their cheap trash, the tax on European
goods, coupled with our unfamiliarity with Euros
pean business, leaves little fear that any branch
of common manufacture established among us
should not pay well, even after tbe war closes.
If not rs prosperous as we could wish, or as we i
hope to be, we are still doing very well. The >
man who has land and labor reaps a good reward (
—so does the man who has money to speculate
with, or to invest in railroad and other stocks.
The very poor receive aid from their neighbors,
from their counties, cities, and States. The class
worst off—and they do not suffer—are the unem
ployed lawyers, the clerks, and others, who live
on small salaries «r incomes. And we have &
stvereign receipt for them. Men. are happy or
unhappy only by comparison—their real wants
are few, their artificial, many. Whenever you
led like murmuring and complaining at your
lot, just reflect that there are, not ten, or a bun*
died, but half a million of men, as good as you,
or better, who, day and night, through heat and
cold, rain and- storm, often ill-fed and ill-clad,
confront your and their enemy, and bear the haz
ards of the battle-field, aud get only eleven dol
lars a month.
Then, Jet all be up and striving—let each one
cLi something to increase the supply, and abstain
from something to lessen the demand. Keep a
good conscience, aud a stout, cheerful heart, for
the c.iy of deliverance draweth on apace.
LAWTON'S BRIGADE.
The Richmond Whig, in alluding to the fall
of Captain E. P. Lawton, of Lawton’s Brigade,
pays the following high and deserved compli
ment to this heroic baud of Georgians, and their
gallant commander—General A. R. Lawton, of
Savannah :
Our hues on the right Lad been pushed back
some distance, when General Early was ordered
to move forward with reinforcements, including
Lawton’s Brigade. In a very short time the Bns
gade succeeded not only in checking the advance
of the enemy, but tn dislodging him from a skirt
ot timber, and driving him rar back into tbe open
plain. Indeed, so rapid was its movements, that
it left its own supports behind and bent tbe line
of the enemy into a crescent shape, thus exposing
itself to a direct fire tn front, and a flank fire on
either side.
Having fully accomplished the object of the
change, it was decided to withdraw the brigade
from its perilous position, which was successfully
done, it was at this point the brave Captain
Lawton, one ot the bravest and most promising
officers in the service, was wounded and left on
the field. He was carried to Alexandria by the
enemy, from whom he received every possible
attention and respect, and was subsequently join*
ed by his wile, who bad hastened to bis bedside,
but who arrived too late to rescue him from the
hands of death. His body was sent, under a
military escort, with arms reversed, to Fredericks-
Oiirg, a'nd all along tbe route every honor and
r. spect was bestowed upon his memory by the
Federal authorities - Such a tribute even the
beaten foe coula not withhold from the fallen
brave.
The more we hear of the part taken by Law ton’s
brigade at Fredericksburg, the more important
does it appeal iu the controlling effect it had upon
the fortunes ot tbe day. Indeed, it has borne a
conspicuous part in every battle where it was
present. Its commander, General A. R. Lawton, a
graduate of West Point, but engaged in civil
pursuits at Savannah when the war broke out,
hud brought it to a high state of drill and discip*
line when he was ordered to join General Jack
sou at Staunton lust summer. This brigade,
near 6,000 strong, moved with the rest of Jask
sou’s forces to Richmond, and has borne a bloody
and honorable part in every battle where it was
physically possible to be present, from Gaines’
I Mill to Fredericksburg.
On the Chickahominy, the Rapidan, at Manas
sas, Chantiiiy, Sharpsburg—wherever the hottest
place was, mere Lawton and his brigade weie
sure to be placed. Succeeding Gen. Ewell in
command oi ais division, Lawton led the advance
ot Jackson’s corps three-fourths of the time from
the Rapidan to Sharpsburg, where he received a
severe wound in the leg, which still detains him
! from the field.
The brigade is justly considered one of the
crack brigades from Georgia, and its commander
one of the most promising officeis m the service.
Its losses have been very heavy, including lhe
brave Marcellus Douglass, the senior Colonel at
Sharpsburg, two Aids de«Camp, the Adjutant
General, and a number of field and company ots
fleers.
“DISGRACEFUL SURPRISES.’’
The New York Herald of the 13th instant has
an editorial on what it terms the ‘ Defeat and
Surprise at Galveston,” in which we find the fol
lowing: f
But while, upon the whole, 'our naval forces
have suffered from comparatively few surprises,
the surprises of the army, from the beginning of
the war, have been too numerous to mention.—
Those which stand out in the boldest relief are
the surprise at Ball’s Bluff, on the Potomac, re*
suiting "in that terrible slaughter of the detach
ment of Union troops sent over the river at that
point; the surprise of General Banks in the Shen
andoah Valley, and resulting in his masterly re
treat ; the surprise created at Washington by the
appearance on the right wing of Gen. McClellan’s
army before Richmond of the whole army of
Stonewall Jackson from the Shenandoah Valley,
while 60,000 Union troops were scattered about
from Fredericksburg to various places in said val
ley to watch him; the surprise of the Union army
at Shiloh; the disastrous surprise at Harper’s
Ferry, which can hardly be called a surprise; the
disgraceful surprise and surrender at Muntords
ville, Kentucky; the surprise of the rebel Stuart’s
cavalry raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania;
the surprises ot the rebel Morgan's foray and of
Bragg’s invasion of Kentucky; the extensive sur*
prise at Holly Springs, Mississippi, with its losses
of cotton and army supplies; and the surprises of
the right wing of the army of Gen. Rosencranz
at Murfreesboro’, which, under any other than a
skillful, courageous, self-possessed and able Gen
eral, would have resulted in a terrible defeat.
The rebels, too, have - occasionally surprised us
with their mysterious evacuations of places which
were getting too hot to hold them, such as the
evacuations of Manassas, Corinth, Norfolk, and
orktown. They, too, however, have suffered
irom surprises, particularly from Gen. McClellan,
among tbe mountains of Western Virginia; from
General Mitchell in Northern Alabama and Missis
sippi, and from General Curtis and others in Mis*
souri and Arkansas. But the rebels have never
been taken by surprise in any great engagement,
a.nd in every way we have suffered more and lost
immensely more from surprises than the enemy.
These advantages on the side ot the rebellion
a - e chargeable partly to bad management in the
dispositions of our forces, partly to the incompe
tency or negligence of our commanders at exposed
positions, partly to tbe temptations held out of
Valuable stores of army supplies under the care
of a handful of men, but mainly to a disparaging
and too low an estimate of the vigi.ance, bold
ness, strategy, resources and strength of the reb
els. In all these matters we would urge upon
President Lincoln, as tbe bead of the army and
the navy, the duty of enforcing a sweeping res
form, and of promptly punishing hereafter the
parties responsible for any such surprises as that
of Holly Springs, or that by which our army in
Tennessee and all our acquisitions from the rebel
lion iu the West were placed in jeopardy. We
should like to have one surprise, however, that
would be of value to the nation to—hear of some
brains in Washington.
On New Year’s evening, in East Green
wich, Rhode Island, Csesar Clark, aged about 100,
w aa married to Betsy Fry, aged about 70.
CAVALRY OPERATIONS IN THE REAR OF
ROSEKCRANZ’S ARMY.
A correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser
gives the lollowing account of the operations ot
our cavalry forces in tbe rear of Rosencranz’s
a> my. Tbe letter is dated ‘‘Rear Guard, Wheeler’s
brigade, near Murfreesboro’, Jan. 6
Upon Christmas day the First Alabama Cavalry,
occupying the advanced posts near Lavergne, was
driven in by an advance brigade of the enemy.
So soon as tbe intentions of the enemy became
known, Gen. Wheeler slowiy withdrew his cavalry
towards Murfreesboro’, turning upon him at every
convenient point, and delaying his approach by
successive gallant skirmishes. During the sever
est of these contests our Adjutant, E. T. Ledyard,
was seriously wounded while charging among tbe
Rremost.
After a resistance of three days our cavalry re
tired behind tbe infantry lines, and took its posi
tion upon lhe right wing. At 11 p. m., the night
ot the 2'Jth, Gen. Wheeler, with a command com
posed of his old brigade under Col. W. W.
Allen, a regiment of Gen. Pegram’s brigade un
der Col. Carter, and a section oi Roberts’ battery,
started upon an expedition from tbe right wing,
the purpose of which was not known or even
guessed. Passing around tbe left of the army
he pushed forward by a circuitous by-road, and
early on the morning of the 30th intersected the
Jefferson Pike in the rear of the Federal army.
Far away*to the southeast we heard distant can
nonading, which told us that the enemy was feel
ing the strength of our lines.
Before us we saw. moving along the pike, a
long train of Federal wagons hurrying to the
battle field. Detaching Colonel Carter to inter*
cept their advance. General Wheeler fell upon
their rear with a charge and a whoop, which
spread consternation among the guards and
teamsters. Quick as thought tbe traces were cut,
hnch pins removed, tbe tore wheels cut down,
and fire set to at least fifty wagons laden with
the baggage of officers, with company stores;
ammumon and clothing. Every soldier who
wished provided himself with comfortable
clothing, boots, hats, overcoats, overalls, pistols,
revolving rifles, saddles, horses, mules, or what
else might suit his fancy or comfort.
•• To saddle and away” before the roar of Cars
ter’s pieces in the rear should bring up superior
forces of the enemy. Over stock and rock, bills,
fences, and ravines, burning wagons behind us.
roaring artillery far to the right of us, hams
strung to the saddle bow, mules with tattered
traces scouring the country around us, we ca»
vorted with the sport of a Christmas holiday to*
wards tbe village of Lavergne. The Yankee
pickets had promised to give the First Alabama
a Christmas ball. Bragg was giving them the
music, while we were dancing to Wheeler’s quick*
step. Right upon Lavergne we rushed through
tbe wood on all sides—scores of Yankees were
seen flying about the streets, while teamsters for
sook their wagons and endeavored to escape, but
escape was impossible.
Five hundred prisoners surrendered; one hun
dred and fifty laden wagons were consigned to
the flames ; one thousand mules and horses were
carried’off or stampeded. Gen. McCook’s large
tent, containing the warbrobe, Ac. of his military
family, was sacrificed to the flames. The wagon
of the chief paymaster was burned, containing
the accounts and vouchers for tbe army of the
West, aud one million dollars Federal green
backs. The booty was rich, and the men felt as
though they bad entered the den of the forty
thieves. Everybody had a prize—a horse, watch,
negro, rifle, sword or flair.
Your correspondent had the honor of dining
upon Gen. McCook’s Christmas turkey, without
so much as saying “By your leave, sir.” We
were now upon tbe main Nashville pike, and
every moment might bring the enemy upon us.
So again to saddle and «way. At a gallop we
scoured the hills and field?, until approaching
night brought us upon the village of Nolansville.
Fifty wagons more before us—again a charge, a
stampede, a line of flame along tbe pike, and one
hundred prisoners of war. Thus, three times had
we struck tae main arteries of the enemy—the
result of the expedition being, 250 wagons heavi
ly laden, 1,500 mules and horses, and 700 prison*
ers of war. The entire loss of the enemy falling
little short of $1,000,000 —of course, the burnt
Treasury notes was only the loss of so much pa*
per.
That night we bivouaced five miles from No
lansville. At early dawn of the 31st, we passed
I swiftly round the right wing of the enemy to the
I musfc of artillery, and <hrew ourselves on the
j enemy’s flank with an impetuous charge. The
enemy was not surprised. He received us with
a battery on front and enfilading fire on each
flank of tbe column. General Wheeler quickly
wheeled from the flank and threw his brigade
against tbe front of the enemy’s right, the First
Alabama leading the way. Cupt. Eimcre’s squad
ron gallantly cleared the woods of skirmishers,
driving them back upon t.ie line of cavalry Then
Allen charged with bis regiment, supported
nobly by John T. Morgan, Wade, Hogun, and
others.
The Federal cavalry was thrown into confusion
upon the line of infantry. We had accomplished
our purpose, had marched against a superior force
of the enemy’s cavalry, and beaten him in an open
field. But eager to win new aurels we rushed
upon the infantry, and were received by a vollev
which emptied ma«y a saddle. Col. Allen was
severely wounded and forced to leave the field.
His regiment, under Lieut. Col. Huudly, wearied
out by a two days’ march, nevertheless’ stands its
ground and pours an answering volley into the
enemy. For two hours the battle raged. Lieuts.
G. S. Allen and Dover, ot Capt. Hodgson’s squad
ron, are Killed. Many others of the regiment have
bitten tbe dust.
The gloom of evening was still brightened by
the flash of cannon, and the ceaseless blaze of
rifles seemed “luce a swarm of fire flies tangled
in a velvet screw.” In the midst of all, General
Wheeler, our “Little Corporal” as he was called
at West Point, daeheci about unconcerned for
personal safety. Just as night came on he waved
his hand and hade us give them a good night.
With the last bluze ot rifles, we closed out the
old year, and bivouacked on tbe field of battle,
with the dead and’ dying around us. The great
battle of the 31st was over ; the enemy driven for
miles from the field : five thousand prisoners ta
ken, and forty pieces of artillery captured, the
battle ground strewn with the dead and dying.
The new year opened with Wheeler hurrying
around the enemy’s right towards Lavergne.
Performing a circuit of twenty miles, he rushed
again upon the enemy’s rear, and, waving his
bat, dashed upon <he wagon trains which seemed
now to be moving towards Nashville. This time
the trains were defended by a strong body ofcav*
airy, but it fled before the charge, and left in our
bands seventy-five wagons, two hundred prison
ers, and a battery of artillery. The scenes of the
first raid were re-enacted. Moving back around
the enemy’s right, we rested next day within
sound of the furious and unsuccessful cannonade
agatnst the enemy’s lei t wing.
On the following day we attempted a third
raid upon the rear, but fell back in consequence
of the enemy’s having guarded bis trains with a
brigade of infantry and cavalry. We diovethe
cavalry before us, but were unable to displace
the infantry which resisted us behind the shelter
of their wagons. In this attack Maj. Prentice
was wounded, and we regret to say Lieut. J. A.
Whitfhg is among the missing.
Just at this point a courier reached General
Wheeler, ordering his return. We hastened back,
slept for two hours on the battle field, and then
wended our way in rear of the retreating armv of
Gen. Bragg.
23?" Georgia has sent into the field since the
opening of the war near eighty regiments of in
fantry, thirteen battalions of artillery and infan
try, a number of cavalry regiments, several inde
pendant companies, who have been attached to
regiments from other States, and a large number'
of volunteers who have connected themselves
with companies from almost every State in the
Confederacy. Besides these, she has for some
time been furnishing conscripts, and is still daily
doing so, in large numbers, from every section o't
the State, to the extent of her capacity. Georgia
has not only done this, but she hus armed and
equiped from her own resources, more than
thirty thousand of the men whom she sent into
service at tbe beginning, or first vear of the war