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Jljc Wcckln (Constitutionalist
BY JAMES GARDNER.
THE ATTACK OH CHARLESTON-THE DE
FENCES OF THE CITY—WHY THE MOVE
MENT IS DELAYED—HOW MANY MONI
TORS IT WILL REQUIRE TO TAKE
CHARLESTON, AC.
Tr.e Yankees are all agog over the movement
against Charleston, and are growing us impatient
us they were last summer in their ‘ On to Rich*
mond.” The special correspondent of the New
York Herald, who accompanies the expedition
writes from Hilton Head, S. 0., wheie thenumer
ous fleet are rendezvousing ;
An immense pressure has been brought to bear
on those in autnoruy by Congressmen and others,
nacked up by the prevailing public sentiment, to I
bring about an immediate attack of that Sebass
topol ot America. It seems to be the general
impression among those who know nothing of
the character of the defences of Charleston and
the immense force at hand to garrison them, that
it is an easy tusk to capture the place. There
could be no mote dangerous error to fall into. The
defences of Charleston are in every way superior
and more formidable than those surrounding
Richmond, against which our forces have been
led in vain. All that science and skill could sugs
gest, and labor and money lavishly expended
could accomplish, have been applied to the
s> engthemng of the fortifications about Charles
ton New and immensely strong works have been
erected, old ones re modeled and increased in
strength, and scientific skill has been exhausted
in making them complete against every assault. I
Now, in view.oi all these facts, it would be sheer '
insanity to attempt the reduction of the rebel i
w>?-ks without aa adequate force to successfully |
accomplish our designs. Our land forces may be i
weat, out we must rely upon the navy to gam the, 1
victory, and that must have force strong enough j
to carry th* day after the loss of vessels, a loss I
which will certainly occur, before cur gunscan j
bear upon the city. Under the concentric tire of I
several hundred guns of the heaviest calibre, pro- |
teciecl by every available method that art can ;
afford, how long will it be before onr wooden ,
squadron is melted away before the storm of shell ? j
and how many may reasonably expect to run I
the gauntlet of this terrific tire? It is safe to I
assume that one-half or two-thirds will be crips
pled before the wails of Sumter are passed ; and
then what other batteries await them? Wooden
vessels cannot go up to the city, and we must rely
npc-n iron clads to open the way to our victorious
flag.
And this brings me to the question I desire
briefly te consider, Aow many iron clade are ne
cessary to reduce the city of Charleston? Many,
ai d I doubt not a vast majority of tbe public,
who have not investigated tbe subject in all its
besrmgs, seem to think that three or fonr Morri* |
wrs will be sufficient for the successful accotru i
pliskment of the work. If none were injuitd, >
t-r run aground, or become disabled in any way, I
perhaps three would be sufficient; but, unfoitu" ;
nately, e *ery thing made by human handsis im- I
teriecs in one way or other, and liable to become j
deranged, and its success impaired, if pot entires j
,v destroyed, by some unforseen conting§ncs over [
whicn we have no control. It would be absurd j
te siy th. t tbe Monitors are not to be reckoned I
in the same category, and it is the wisest, the I
safest cour-ie to accept all these contingencies |
03 highly probable and likely to occur, and there* j
by detertnme the success or failure of cur under? ■
taking.
1.2 nrst place these Monitors must go into
Charles, n harbor alone and through the chan
ce., rvhiC- is not now perfectly known—a chan
nel whicn - covered by a thousand heavy guns, j
No pilot, wu -se experience was gained before the I
war, would u dertake to safely convey a vessel I
up tithe city u .less be could feel his way in ■
with foe lead, .-o buoys mark the channel, and I
its frequent shite gs have rendered useless all |
the marks by which the pilot formerly kept the I
proper channel. To s.npose, under these circum I
stances, that all the Monitors would escape tbe !
shoalsand middle grounds that abound in Char*
.estun harbor would be absurd. Oae might get
ashore and serve as a buoy for the others and so
on, until t wo or three, or indeed ail would be hard
and fust, from ihe entrance to the channel to the
cite, heipless and worse than lost to us.
We can afford to lose several Monitors, if they ■
are sunk in action and safely oat of the rebel !
power; but we ' cannot afford to leave a single
one on the beach, where the rebels may capture
her, patch up her shot holes and send her out
against us, Two of them would be very apt to
terminate our possession of the son of South Ca
rciina. Tbe rebels with one or two Monitors
v ou. d’be nearly as well off as we are; and who
could tell when the affair would end ? No ! if
we are not entirely demented, no attack will be
tc-de on Charleston with less than six, and with
as many more as can be sent here. When we
are sure of victory let us go ahead; but let not
affairs be. hastened that we may come out of a
disastrous attack shorn of our peculiar strength.
We can off.rd to wait a i.ttle for success.
Three Monitors can, it s thought, when safely
[jit Sumter and Moultrie, capture thcc.ty. To get
terse through we must expect to lose an equal
number on the way up. Tnat is not too great an
estimate, lam convinced. Besides, we shall find
work for them in aiding each otber when ashore
and in preventing the unfortunate ones from tall*
in- into the enemy’s hands. 1 have but hinted
at'some of the difficulties to be overcome; but a
moment’s consideration of these will satisfy any
ne that it would be tolly to attempt the gre«»t
work of capturing the strongest place in Ameri
ca with a few Monitors. We must have six or
eight, 1 repeat, when we make tbe attack, or our
success will not be so complete as we could wish.
I have written the above for the sole purpose
of curbing, if possible, the impatience of tbe pub*
lie North. Ido not pretend to know the plans of
the Admiral here, and know nothing of tbe force
io be used m any movement, nor do I know that
he has any design of attacking Charleston ; but I
presume he is as anxious to make an effort ip
that direction as we are to witnesi it. When
ne does attack, it will be a successful one, I am
confident, and we can well afford to await the op»
purtune hour without impatience or giving our
selves unnecessary trouble.
Ai-.bival ctf the Bar—The British steam
sloop of war Desperate, from Bermuda, touched
off the Bar and communicated with Fort Sumter
Frida v morning. A boat’s crew of officers and
men came up to the city, bringing dispatches for
H. F. Walker, Esq., Acting British Consul, and
the news of the sate arrival of Robert Bunch, Esq.,
ui Bermuda; after a long but pleasant passage.
The officers who came up to the city paid a
friendly visit to the gunboat Chicora, and dined
on board.
We learn from a most reliable source that the
officers on board the United States man-of-war New
ironsides, in a conversation with the officers of
the Desperate, admitted that three of their vessels
were missing since the late attack of our iron
clads, and that one, a large propeller, had certain
ly been sunk. This news accords with our already
expressed belief that the first accounts of the fight
given by the blockaders were not to be relied
upon. It is also somewhat remarkable that al
though we have news from the North up to the
24th ingt., so far no mention has yet been made
in Northern journals of the arrival at any port of
lue steamer Mercedita. The fight took place it
w.ll be remembered, on the 31st of January, near
ly a month ago. We remain, there ore, firm in our
belief that the first statements <»f Ihe b-ockaders,
in reference to the result of the auacK by the
Palmetto State and the Chicora, were wilfully
false, and got up for foreign effect.— Charleston
Courier.
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
SENATE.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 1868.
The Senate was not in session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at the usual hour, and was open*
ed by prayer by Bishop Early.
LIEUT. GEN. LONGSTREET.
The following resolution, offered by Mr. Curry>
of*Alabama, was adopted unanimously :
Resolved, That to mark the distinguished ser
vices which Lieutenant General James Longstreet
has rendered the Confederate States of Atneric,
the Speaker do invite him to take a seat upon the
floor of this House.
SLAVES ESCAPING TO THE ENEMY.
On motion of Mr. Garnett, of Virginia, the
President was requested to inform the House
whether Government bolds or has any time held
itself liable for the value of slaves impressed by'
its authority and escaped to the enemy while so
impressed, "and whether the owners of such slaves
have been paid ; also, to communicate the corres
pondence, it any, between tbe Sscrefaty of War,
the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General,
the Engineer Bureau and the Attorney General.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY, &C
The following resolutions of inquiry were offered
and appropriately referred :
By Mr. Garnett, of Virginia,—Of allowing the
clerks in the Government Arsenal a like increase
of pay with ibe clerks benelitted by tLe act of !
October, 1362.
By Mr. Staples, of Virginia,—Or authorizing the
publication of a digest of such laws of the United
States as are in force in the Confederate States,
and also of the acts of the Provisional and Con.
federate Congress.
By Mr. Baldwin, of Virginia—Of so amending
Act No. 313 of the Provisional Congress as to ex
tend its provisions to all staff officers, including
Adjutants.
By the same—Whether the increase of com*
pensation provided by the act ot October 13th,
1862, does not extend to persons employed as
temporary clerks in the Executive Departments.
Tue following resolutions were also agreed to;
By [Mr. Garnett—Requesting the President to
send to Congress an estimate ot the appropriation
for half of the next fiscal year.
By Mr. Boteler—Requesting the President to!
inform tbe House what smount of funds have I
been paid into the Treasury under the Sequestra- I
tion Act, and to communicate other information '
as to property m the hands of Receivers.
By Mr. Baldwin- Requesting the Secretary of j
War to inform the House by what authority a 1
number ot Yankee prisoners have been allowed '
to take the oath of allegiance and to locate in I
Rockbridge county, Va. ;
By Mr. Russell—Requesting the President to ;
communicate to the House General Loring’s res ;
port of his expedition to the Kanawha Valley, '
with the accompanying reports of General Jen- j
kins and others,
By Mr. Foster, of Aia.—Requesting the Secre- I
tary of War to inform the House if official notice I
I-.as been furnished the proper officers of the prix ;
visions of an act to protect the rights of owners
of slaves taken by or employed in The army; also, i
whether the provisions ot the 2d and 8d sections :
of said act have been carried out. i
MEMORIALS.
Sundry memorials were introduced 'and referred '
to the Committee on Claims; among them, one
by Mr. Staples, from Alexander Matiood, asking I
compensation tor a house destroyed.
BILLS INTRODUCED,
The following bills were introduced and re- j
ferred;
By Mr. Garnett—To aufhoiize the importation !
from Europe of machinery and skilled workmen I
for the manufacture of options and of iron for the
use of the Army and Navy of the Confederate >
States.
By the same—To regulate the compensation for ■
the use and occupation of real estate by the Army :
and Navy of the Conlederate States.
By Mr. Staples—To provide compensation for
horses, belonging to officers or soldiers, lost or
captured without default of their owners, and
while suob owners were in the discharge of their
duties.
By Mr. Lyons, of Va.—ln relation to Commis»
sioners of Courts, in relation to slaves tried and
convicted in Confederate Courts; in relation to
the fees of jailors. •
By Mr. Dargau—To amend the Ist section of
an act relating to the compensation of Attorneys
of the Confederate States, approved March lo.h,
1861.
■ By Mr. Foster—To conscribe certain persons
therein named. [Proposes to conscribe all white
male citizens resident iti the Confederate States,
who shall reiuse to receive, in payment for articles
offered for sale, the currency of the Confederate
States. I
NEGROES IN THE YANKEE ARMY.
syMr. Collier, of Virginia, submitted the follows
ing preamble and resolution, which were agreed
to:
Whereas, The Congress of the United States
have, bv law, author zed the raising of negro
troops, tjjbe used in the present war, in the at
tempted subjugation of the Confederate States,
therefore —
Resolved, That the Committee on the Ju«
dicairy be instructed to inquire into the expedi
ency of providing by law, that all negroes cap
tured whilst so in the service of the United
States, ipso facto, unless they be fugitive slaves,
shall become the properly of the captors, and
shall thereafter, be held and considered in all
lespects as slaves.
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
Mr. Foote offered a resolution, which was
. agreed to, that the letter of Brigadier General
. Pillow in regard to the increase of tbe strength
I of the army, be referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs, in order that they may consider
the propriety of adopting such measures as are
therein recommended.
the pages.
Ou motion of Mr. Lyons, the pay of the pages
of the House was increased to $3 per diem from
the commencement of the present session.
BILLS PASSED.
On motion of Mr. Hodge, of Kentucky., the
House took up the bill for tbe establishment and
equalisation of the grads of officers of the Navy
ot the Conlederate States, and for other purposes.
, I'he substitute last reported from the Committee
i on Naval Affairs was adopted in lieu of the origi
nal bill, and passed yeas 50, nays 21.
On motion o: Mr. Kenner, tne House resolved
itself into secret session and resumed the consid
eration of tbe currency bill.
SENATE.
Monday, Feb. 23, 1863,
The Senate met at 12 o’clock, M. Prayer by
Rev. Mr. Moore of tbe Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Clay, ot Alabama, introduced a bill for the
relief Mrs. Laura Harper, wife of Col. W. B. Har
per, Ist regiment Arkansas cavalry.
Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, introduced a bib to
vest in the Government, as part of its postage
system, ail rights of tne American Telegraph
Company, in the telegraph line in the Confederate
States, and to prcvide for working the same. Res
ferred to tbe Committee on Postal Affairs. ?
Mr. Sparrow, from ihe Committee on Military
Affairs, reported back the House bill to allow mi
nors to h old commission* in the army, with the
recommendation that it do not pass, further legi
AUGUSTA, GA., TUESDAY MORNING,, MARCH 3, (863.
lation on the subject being unnecessary in tle
opinion of tbe Committee. The bill was placid >u
the calendar.
Mr. Hill, from the same committee, reported
back House bill to authorize and regulate tbe im
pressments of public property ; which, ou his mo
urn, was ordered to be printed, and placed ou the
calendar.
Mr. Hill also reported a bill to amend the act es
tablishing military courts, which was ordered to
ba printed.
Mr. Davis, of N. C., submitted the following
resolution :
Reeolvtd, That ibe Committee on Military Af
fairs inquire into the propriety ot amending the
existing laws, that privates from any State enlist
ed in regiments from other States may be trans*
ferred to regiments irom their own State, without
the consent of their company and regiment coms
man lers.
Tbe resolution was adopted.
The Senate resumed the consideration ol the ac
defining who shall be exempt from military duty.
On motion ot Mr. Caperton, of Va., the 4th sec
tion was amended by adding—
“Tbe president ot any canal company, secreta
ry, chiet clerks, chief toll gatherer, and such men
ciiunics in the permanent service of said c&mpany
as the president under eath shall declare to be
necessary.”
Mr. Simms, of Kentucky, submitted an amend
ment prescribing as a condition of exemption, in
various cases, the payment of a specified sum by
the person to be exempt.
On motion of Mr. Clay, of Alabama, the amend
ment was laid upon the table—yeas 14, nays 9.
Mr. Yancey moved to amend the fifth clause,
exempting printers, etc., by adding ‘‘legislative
and legal reporters.” After much debate, the
amendment was rejected—ayes 10, noes 14. [The
vote was not recorded.]
Mr. Henry, of Tennessee, moved to amend the
section relative to tbe exemption of overseers on
plantations, by striking out the proviso requiring
that the overseer to be exempted shall have been
employed and actiug as such previous to tbe 16th
of April last.
The amendment was discussed by Mr. Hill, of
Ga., Mr. Burnett, of Ky., and others, and was
finally rejected—yeas 7, nays 17.
Mr. Maxwell, of Fia., moved to amend the same
suction by adding: “And provided further, that
tbe clause shall not extend to any farm or plantai
tion on which the negroes have been placed by
division from any other farm or plantation since
tbe 11th day of October, 1862.”
This amendment was agreed to —yeas 21, nays
I—(Mr. Johnson, ot Ark.)
The ci > was then ordered to be engrossed and
read a third time.
On motion of Mr. Sparrow it was ordered that
the bill be printed.
The Senate then went into Executive session,
and soon after adjourned,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 12 o’clock M., and was called
to order by the Speaker.
The unfinished business —the bill to provide for
the arrest of soldiers absent from their commands
without leave, and providing compensation to
their captors—was called up and considered.
The question recurred upon amotion to post
pone the whole subject indefinitely, and on this
motion the ayes and noes were called and res
suited—ayes 25, nues4o.
A spirited debate sprung «p upon the bill,
which was participated in by Messrs. Perkins,
Foote, Miles, and Gartrell. Without final action
on the bill.
On motion of Mr. Kenner, of La., the House
went into secret session on the Currency bill.
t'rom the Jackson Mississippian.
QUEEN OF TEE WEST—FURTHER PARTICU
LARS.
From a gentleman direct from Natchez we have
some further particulars of the capture of the
Queen of the West.
On Wednesday of last week the Queen ran past
Natchez and anchored two miles below, The De-
Soto followed her, stopping just above the landing
where she destroyed several fiat boats and skiffs.
From one of the flats she took three
ers who were raised in Natchez. The Queen of
the West remained at anchor in protecting dis
tance while these depredations were carried out
by the DeSoto. They both then steamed away
together, the boys having been piaced on the
Queen of the West.
The two vessels proceeded down the river, en«
tered Red River, and at or near the mouth of tbe
Atchafalaya Bayou, the Era No. 5, with a load of
corn for Port Hudson, was captured. They were
tired upon at the mouth of the Atchafalaya, by a
light battery, when tne Captain of the Queen was
killed. In revenge they steamed down the bayou
and utterly destroyed six plantations by shelling
them.
They pressed the pilot of the Era No. 5, who
deceived them as to location and strength of our
batteries. Due of the boys captured at Natchez
heard Col. Ellett repeatedly assert that before he
would surrender he would blow the boat up, but
when be was fired upon by our batteries, his
feather immediately wilted and his only anxiety
was the safety of his precious person. He was
afterwards seen floating down the river on a bale
of cotton. Tbe Courier has the following report
of the affair;
The engagement lasted about one hour when 25
of the crew were taken prisoners, 10 or 12 drown
ed, and Colonel Ellett, who was in command of
the Queen, cowardly forsook his boat and floated
down the stream on a cotton bale. His own crew
shot at him for his cowardice.
The Queen had on board 6 heavy guns. The
DeSota was scuttled and sunk by her crew, as
well as tbe coal-boat in tow.
The Era No. 5, being in possession of the Federal
guard below the scene of action, she soon put out
to the Mississippi river; bringing with her our
informant, Thomas O’Brian, who was afloat in the
river on a cotton bale, and who brings us this
intelligence. Abeut 10 miles below Natchez, the
Era No. 5 met the Federal gunboat Indianola, car*
rying four 11 inch guns, and about 200 men. Here
both boats came to anchor, and our informant
made his escape..
Young O’Brien, and two others, were kept on
board the Queen of the West as prisoners, during
the attack of our butteries. He says that every
shell irom tbe Confederate batteries carried des
truction to the bout and crew. The first shell com
pletely cleared tbe gun deck of her men, and the
second or third came crashing through her en
gines, cutting her steam pipe in twain, and com
;>letely disabling tbe gunboat. She would soon
be got off for repair s.
On the Era, when taken, were two Confederate
officers and 25 privates. The privates were pas
roled.
The victory on Red River was complete. The
amount of stores taken is large.
The prisoners taken from the Queen, threaten
to shoot Col. Ellett, for his desertion of them and
cowardice, whenever they overtake him.
The Indianola gunboat and prize, (the Eta No.
5.) were ut the foot of Natchez Island, when our
informant left lust evening. The officers of the
Indianola were discussing the propriety of visiting
Red River.
There is a man in Tomes who walks so slow
that they say that he wears a pair of spurs to
keep his shadow from treading on his heels.
While an officer was bowing, a cannon ball
passed over his head and decapi 1 ' sod a so'dier
who stood behind him. “Yo ' I'd o
officer to those near him, “ th
loses anything by politeness.
HELENA AND MEMPHIS-
Tbe Memphis correspondent of theCincmnat
Commercial gives u very sad account of the physi
cal and moral health of Helena and Memphis. We
extract the following :
HBLBNA.
Helena, I understand, is threatened with an
overflow, as the river was nearly orer its banks
yesterday mornieg. Before the end of the week
the town will probably be inundated, and the
military camps be transferred to the bluffs in the
rear of the town.
If Helena—the accent on the first syllable is
eminently proper—is overflowed, I do hope it will
be cleansed of a few of its impurities ; for a more
corrupt, intolerable place than it now is, can Dot
well be imagined. The atmosphere is such that
men who were once honest became tainted in
principle and depraved in conduct.
Tbe soldiers and officers alike become demor
alized here. The latter drink and the former die.
It is a noisome graveyard. There is no health,
moral or physical, in it; no energy in its outgivu
ings; no benefit in its influences. Helena is ethi
cally, as well as physiologically, hell, with addi«
tions.
Four thousand soldiers have died here in the
.hospitals since last August, and more than that
number will expire in the next six months unless
some great reform be made.
The hospitals are fearful to behold, and horns
ble to imagine. They are grossly mismanaged,
and nine out of ten who entbr them are certain to
die. The surgeons who have charge of the insti
tutions say they cannot help the state of affairs,
which they acknowledge to be wretched and
shameful; that their hands are tied; that they have
sought to establish reforms, but that all their ef
forts have been vain.
Many of our soldiers brought from transports
have died here like dogs in ihe street, while our
officers have occupied the best houses in town as
their quarters.
Disease is in the atmosphere, and the presence
of death is attested by thousands of graves, filled
by crave men murdered by neglect, lest to the
republic through the stupidity and carelessness
of unworthy and hear Jess officials.
MEMPHIS.
It is to be hoped Memphis will be better gov
erned by Gen. Veach than it was by Hurlbut, who
for weeks before his departure from the city,
witnessed almost daily a spectacle of disgusting
drunkenness.
There is no change in tbe town since I was here
a few weeks since, It is as disagreeable, as mud"
dy, as desolate,* as Hebrew infested, as courtezan
cursed, as blackleg crowded as then.
It has the same abominable hotels, where dirt
can be had in abundance at $25 to S3O per week ;
the same swindling haekmen, the same crew of
pimps, sharpers, and pickpockets that then com
posed the principal portion of its male population.
An immense number of fugitive negroes, estia
mated at ten or twelve thousand, are in and about
the city. They have come in from various parts
of the South, and many are now in a fairway to
starve unless some provision is made for them.
A large portion are children and old men and
women, and these, of course, are helpless. Much
sickness has prevailed among them, and hundreds
have died.
Who Profits by the War?—The Winchester
(Tenn.) Bulletin has the following, clipped from a
late number of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It seems
that the North west is awakening to a realization
ot the truth that, on the part of the United States
the war is prolonged now only that officers and
contractors may make fortunes at the expense of
the country :
Dr. Samuel Johnson inust have written- under
prophetic inspirations, when be defended the
British Ministry, in 1771, for rot going to war with
Spain about the Falkland Islands, for he describes
in bis graphic satire the contractor cf ibis genera
tion as well as that. ‘‘lf he had shared tbe dms
ger, enjoyed the profits,” said the stern old growl
er, “and, after bleeding in the battle, grow rich
by the victory, he might show his gains without
envy. But at tbe conclusion of a ten years’ war,
how are we recompensed for the death of multitu
des and the expense of millions, but by contem
plating the sudden glories of paymasters and
agents, contractors and commissioners, whore
equipages shine like meteors, and whose palaces
rise like exhalations ? These are the inen who,
without virtue, labor or hazard, are growing rich
as their country is impoverished. They rejoice
when obstinacy or ambition adds another year to
slaughter or devastation, and laugh from their
desks at bravery and science, while they are add
ing figure to figure and cipher to cipher, hoping
for a new contract for a new armament, and com
puting the profits of a siege or a tempest.
Another atticle contains the following signifi*
cant passage :
The party opposed to the war it? the North at
the same time are opposed to it upon the same
grounds that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and
their revolutionary compatriots stood on in 1776.
Those who sustain it stand upon the platform of
the old British Tories or Loyalists.- They are not
in favor of Washington’s Union, which was purely
a voluntary one between the -States, but are in
fovor of a new one, resting upon force and bayo
nets.
FROM MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
from the Winchester .Bulletin, HUh.
The latest news we have from the front is that
all was quiet along our mam lines, but that a
pretty brisk fight nad occurred between a small
squad of Gen. Morgan’s cavalry and a large force
of tbe enemy, on Jmday last, upon our right, and
that our cavalry were compelled to fall back.
This arm of service seems to have met with
more than one reverse of late, and we fear that
they have been too confident of their ability to
attack a superior force, and do not use that caus
tion and judgment that characterizes the gallant
Morgan.
Our infantry are undergoing the hardships of
camp life this cold and disagreeable weather, but
are doing as well as could be expected under the
circumstances.
Those who have good tents have chimneys
erected, with good warm fireplaces, while two
messes in each regiment, who were without good
tent cloths, have been permitted to erect for them
selves a comfortable cabin. All the troops, there*
tore, having become Gardened to camp life, tare
very well, when they are not required to be on
the march, or on outpost duty, during the cold
and rainy weather. We have not been able to
learn tbe particulars of Friday’s fight, save that
we lost a number of men, but will furnish them as
soon as obtained.
We learn that the brigade of the Wataugs,
lately destroyed by Carter’s (Yankee) cavalry,
has been rebuilt. The work was finished, and
the train passed over it on Tuesday. The work
on the Holston bridge at Zollicoffer isp-ogressing
rapidly, >md it is expected that it will be finished
by the Ist of March.
On this subject, the Chattanooga Rebel says;
The “signs of the times” in the regions of the
front, are represented as exhibiting but one idio
syncrasy.
Rosencranz is said to be checked by several
circumstances, besides the weather; but the most
intelligent opinions contemplate his uavance by
the time the Spring fairly open£ His reinforce
ments are stated bv themost positive information,
as not exceeding 15,000- Great expectations are
based on tup next pass of arms-
VOL.. 16— No 9.
CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
SENATE.
Tubsday, Feb. 24, 1868.
The Senate met at 12 o’clock M., Mr. Hunter, of
Va., in the chair. Prayer by Rev. T. V. Moore,
of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Baker, of Fla., offered a resolution propose
mg an amendment in the sequestration act, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sparrow, of Louisiana, presented a petition
of W. W. Palmer, of Louisiana, in relation to the
prewpayment of postage on newspaper?.
Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, from the Military
Committee, reported back a House bill for the re«
tier of certain officers and soldiers from the State
of Missouri. Placed on the calendar.
Mr. Semmes. of La., from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported a bill relative to the bonds of
quartermasters. The bill was olaced on the cah
endar.
ihe bill repealing acts heretofore passed al
lowing substitutes, with the.amendment thereto,
proposed by the Committee on Military Affairs,
came up as unfinished business. The amendment
provides that on the desertion of the substitute tbe
principal shall be placed in tbe army. Messrs.
Sparrow and Burnett advocated and Mr. Orr ops
posed it. The amendment was rejected—ayes 9,
noes 14. The bill was then discussed, and op a
vote to engross and read it a third time the ayes
and noes were demanded. It was determined in
tne affirmative. The bill being put on its passage
was carried.
The bill provides “that hereafter no person shall
be received as a substitute for any person liable
to perform military duty under the laws of the
Confederate States, and all acts and parts of acts,
authorizing the acceptance of substitutes are
hereby repealed.
The Senate went into secret session, and on the
opening of the doors adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 12 o’clock, and was called to
order by the Speaker.
Joint Resolutions.—Mr. Swann, of Tenn., of
fered a joint resolution of thanks to Gan. Braxton
Bragg, and the officers and soldiers under his
command, for gallant conduct in the battles be
fore Murtreesboro’, Tenn. Referred to Commit
tee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Chilton, of Ala., offered a joint resolution
expressing tbe sense of Congress as to the neces*
sity for raising provisions, and the impolicy of
planting for large crops of cotton and tobacco
duting the year 1863. Referred to Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Garland, of Ark., offered a joint resolution
authorizing the Postmaster-General to use cer
tain revenues ®f the Post Office Department in
payment of its liabilities. Referred to Post
Office Committee.
Mr. Royston, of Ark., offered a joint preamble
and resolutions respecting the payment of the
usual currency of the Oonfederrte States to the
officers, agents, and employees thereof.
Resolutions Referred.—By Mr. Chilton, of
Ala.: A resolution that the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to take into considera
tion, and at its earliest convenience report to this
House, a bill providing for taking the census of
the Confederate States, as required by the 3d
clause of the 2d section of the Ist article of the
Constitution,
By Mr. Roysiua, of Ark.: A resolution that the
Committee on Quartermaster and Cemmissary
Departments be instructed to inquire what furth
er legislation is necessary in order to secure the
payment of claims existing against the Govern
ment for subsistence and supplies furnished for
the use of the army, and for which informal cer«
tificates or vouchers have been executed; and
that they report by bill or otherwise.
By Mr. Ralls, of Ala.—A resolution that the
regular hour for meeting, for the remainder of the
session, shall be at 11 o’clock, A. M. Laid on the
table.
Mr. Hilton, of Fia., submitted joint resolutions,
adopted by the Legislature of that State, relative
to persons holding office in the State of Florida
under the Confederate Government,subject to the
Conscript Act. Laid on the table.
By Mr. Hoage, of Ky.—A resolution that the
Adjutant General be requested to call upon Major
General Breckinridge for his official report of the
operations of his command at the battles of Shi
loh, Baton Rouge and Murfreesboro’, and that
when received copies thereof shall be sent to this
House, and shall be printed. Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
By Mr. Bruce, of Ky.—A resolution to rescind
the rule limiting speeches to thirty minutes. Laid
on the table.
Several other resolutions were offered, among
them one by Mr. Bruce, of Ky., in which was sub*
mitted an article from the Chicago Times, with
reference to the freezing to death of Confederate
prisoners at Camp Dougias. The resolution cons
templates inquiry into the matter, and proposing
retaliation. The resolution was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Kenner, of La., the House
went into secret session on the currency bill re
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means.
TRIBUTE GF RESPECT?
Washington Lodge, No. 7,1. O. G. F., i
Augusta, February 12, 1863. j
At a meeting of the Lodge, held this evening, on
motion, a committee was appointed to produce
suitable resolutions expressive of the feelings of
this fraternity relating‘to the decease of Brother
Ignatz Mayer, the following preamble and resolu
tions were offered and unanimously approved, viz:
Whereas, we have learned with deep regret the
sad intelligence of the death of our lamented Bro™
lher, Ignatz Mayer, who departed this life in Vir
ginia, from disease contracted by exposures inci
dent to-a camp life in his connection with the
Confederate army, thereby severing another of the
connecting links from the fraternal chain which
bound us together. With sorrow we chronicle
his loss; a vol’ll has taken place in our midst; his
station amongst us is vacated ; the athletic form,
the kind and considerate associate is no more; his
voice is silent in death, and the immortal soul has
winged its flight to the spirit land. In memory
we revert to the many pleasant hours of social
intercourse engaged together. Our Brother’s ex*.
emptary behaviour and his strict adherence to the
suered tenets of our Order, all conspire to render
the deprivation grievous to us. But, alas! the
portals of the tomb are closed upon the mortal re
mains of our Brother, thereby demonstrating to
us another evidence of the uncertainty of life, and
the' necessity of preparation for an approaching
dissolution. In sorrow we bow in resignation to
the decree of an all-wise Creator, who hath done
all things well, and desirous of evincing a proper
appreciation of his revered worth and irrepara
ble loss—Therefore, be it
Resolved, That in the death of Brother Mayer
this Lodge has lost a worthy member, the coms
munity an industrious and exemplary citizen, and
his family a kind and affectionate companion.
Resolved, That to the immediate relatives of the
deceased, the grief stricken and afflicted widowed
wife, and to the affectionate son, the solace of his
parent, whose devotion, care and attention so his
sick and feeble mother Is worthy of our commen
dation, we would tender them our condolence and
unite with them oar sorrows m the hour of their
distress.
R solved, That in our Lodge room we will dis
play the usual drapery of mourning for the space
of thirty days ; also, that a copy of these present
ments be inscribed upon the minutes of our meet
ings; also, that the same be published-in the city
papers, and that a copy be presented to the fami
ly of the deceased.
P. G. Wu. R. Rich, I
P. G. John McCann, ! „
P. G.J. H. Dknning, f Committee.
P. G. L. H. Wilkins, J