Newspaper Page Text
The rote wrh taken on the passage of the bill,
when it was losi.
SENATE IAN. 27.
Ilcuse joint resolution of thanks to Brig
Gen. John S. Williams and the tffijers and
men under his command, tor their victory over
the enemy at Saltviiio, Va., October 2 i, lfen l,
was considered and parsbd. _
House bill to increase the efficiency of the
cavalry service of the Confederate States, was
considered, amended and parsed. .
The Comflttee oil Naval Allairs introduced
the subjoined bill, which was passed .
A Bill to increase the number of Midshipmen
in the Navy, and to prescribe the mode of
aonoinlmerit. . , .
The Congress of the Confederate States of j
America do «tract, That the number cf acting
midshipmen in the navy shall be increased to
one hundred and forty-two, who shall be ap
pointed by tbe Secretary of the Navy under
regulations to be prescribed by himself as fol
lows : One from each Congressional District,-
tho fact of the residence in lire district to be
certified by the Representative from the dis
trict-two at large lrom each State, the fact of
residence in the State to’ be certified by tbe
Senators thereof respectively, rvud ten at large
by the President,
" j he annexed resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the Commit too on the Judi
ciary he instructed to inquire into the expedi
ency of reporting a,, bill repealing all laws
authorizing impressment of property for the
use of the army, except by military officers in
case of absolute necessity,, and providing for
the immediate ascertainment of the precise
amount of all property wnich can be used for
tbe support of our aimies, either directly or
indirectly, and for* the appropriation of such
portion of. the same as may be necessary for
public use, after paying market price.
The following were referred : Joint resolu
tion of Virginia Legislature relative to the ex
emption lrom taxation of property by the
Confederate Government; memorials from clii
cersof#the army relative to the bill granting
transportation to officers of the army on leaves
of Indulgence.
The following were passed : A bill to pro
vide for certain claims duo the State of North
Carolina ; to provide for certain claims due
the State of Louisiana. .
HOUSE—JAN. 27.
The Speaker laid before the House a message
from the! President, enclosing copies of the
communications of the Secretary of War for
warded to General E Kirby Smith, concerning
tho general administration of the Trans-Mis -
sissippl Department. . Laid on the table and
ordered to be printed.
The following were appropriately referred :
Joint resolutions adopted by the General As
sembly of Virginia, relative to exempting from
Confederate taxation, property rendered un
productive by reason ol military operations;
communication from the (secretary of War
relative to the question whether the appropri
ation to pay lor slaves impressed cm be used
to pay for those hired ami lost while in the
service ; Ifill requiring non-commissioned offi
cers and privates, held as prisoners of war, to
be paid upon their individual certificates,’ sup
ported by oath.
Tho bill to provide for the employment of
free negroes and slaves on fortifications, &c.,
was taken up and discussed. A motion was
made and carried, by a vo'o of lit to 2D, that
the subject bo considered in secret session.
Al ter secret session, a resolution was offered
that in no contingency should arms be placed
in the hands of the negroes referred to in*the
above bill, which was voted down by a large
majority.
UKOIIGIA LKMIKLATUUK, .
HOUSE — FEII, 20.
The annexed bills were introduced into the
House Feb. 20, but were omitted in our formal
report:
A bill for the relief of Bathsheba Mclntosh,
of Brooks County, and other persons similarly
situated ; to appropriate $275,000 to the coun
ty of Chattahoochee, to reimburse tho Inferior
Court of said county for the amount expended
by them in disposing of cases of the small pox;
to change the line between the counties of
Chattahoochee ami Stewart,; to require the re
cording of deeds ami other instruments that
have been horetofoie recorded but which have
been destroyed ; to amend section 122 t) of tho
Linde ; to repeal that porti<*r» tßWfttffti 2521 01
the Code, which requires that the Ordiuaiy
must, be satisfied that distributees shall have
actual -notiqe ; to allow Ordinaries to make
out annual returns and charge for the same;
to amend section 1752 of the Code ; to exempt
from taxation slaves and free prisons of color
employed by the Confederate Government for
field service ; to change the oath of tax payers;
to repeal tbe act to prohibit tho retail ot spirit
uous liquors in the town of Fayetteville ; to
amend an act. audio, izing the I'reasuror to
issue certificates of deposit for certain Treas
ury notes ; to add the County of Worth to the
•Southwestern Judicial Circuit and to change
tne times lor tho holding of the courts ol said
county ; so legalize the recording of deeds and
mortgages in counties which liave been over
run by the enemy ; to repeal tho 3d clause ot
the 1206th section of the code ; to amend the
military laws ei tho State ; for the relief of
tax payers.
A resolution relafivo to detailing mechanics
from militia service for the {impose of putting
the mills in order that were destroyed by the
onemy ; to increase the forces of the State
line; relative to exportations aud importations
authorized hy the Legislatin'e : releasing u
portion of the per diem pay of members, and
prescribing how the remainder shall be paid :
requesting the Governor to detail troni militia
service, a number of blacksmiths : relative to
property destroyed by the enemy ; relative
to running trains of tbe Western and Atlantic
Railroad and on certain other Railroads for the
purpose ot shipping corn and other supplies
tor the benefit of the people of this State ; in
retereuee to a mail line between Tu.iuiila and
.Dublin.
SENATE — VEH. 23.
A seat on the floor was tendered to lion. W.
H. Stiles, during liis stay in the city.
The following bills were introduced : a bill
to authorize judges of the Superior Courts of
this State to hold sessions at other places than
the county site ; to authorize judges of the
{Superior Courts to convene special sessions for
jail delivery and the trial of criminal offenses.
The Senate took up the bill to exempt school
teachers from militia service in certain cases,
which was laid on the table for the present.
A resolution was introduced requiring the
Commtssary General of the state to furnish to
•the county of Walton the quantity ol salt it is
m utltied by law.
. AFTKBNOON SESSION’.
A resolution introduced pledging Geor
gia. to prosecute the war uutil independence is
achieved, was taken up as thjf special order.
A substitute resolution was moved providing
for the call of a Convention of the State, to
meet in this city, 15th of April next. ’1 he sub
stitute was made the special order for Friday.
house— feu. 22.
A motion to reconsider tile bill for the relief
of tax payers of 18G4, was lost.
The resolution of the Senate in reference to
the appointment of a joint committee to exam
ine into the condition of tbe Penitentiary, and
report on the same, was adopted This com
mittee is authorized to report whether it is poli
cy to rebuild or abolish the same.
The special order of the day being the Sen
ate resolution in opposition to calling » Slat 1
Convention, was takcu up. Mr. Stephens,• of
Hancock, offered a substitute, which we puo-
Jish elsewhere. Mr. Warren, of Lee, addressed j
the House in favor of the Senate resolution,
and in opposition to the holding ot a Conven
tion. Mr. Stephens Then addressed* the House
till it took recess for dinner.
AETEKNOOH SESSION.
Mr. Stephens concluded his speech, when Mr.
Adams off ered are- olution a- a substitute, sub
mitting the question of calling a Convention |
to the people.
Mr. llill, of Dougherty, then addressed tbe !
House in favor of the Senate resolutions,
opposing the call of a State Conven
tion.
Aim* Bodxkp Gallants. —Tbe South Carolin
ians says the Charlotte Bulletin, must be a
very gallant people. The ladies (Altah be
praised for creating the dear creatures.) in
iheir late retreat from Columbia, were ac- i
tompanied by any number of good looking I
young men. 'Well, we suppose the'baud-boxes
must be cared for. Ai ats would surely not be
s<> impolite as to interfere with a iadj s escort, j
laiik* must be attended to.
[From Richmond Examiner.]
OFFICIAL REPORT OF
n. Joseph E. J iliDsfou,
relating to
OPERATIOSS OFT3E ARMY OF TENNESSEE.
We give below General Johnston's report of
ihe operations of the army of Tennessee, tho
realo 47 secrecy which has been so long kept
upon M having been broken by tho Confeder
ate States Senate.
The report is accompanied by certain corres
pondence on the part cf President Davis and
Secretary Seddon. Tbe latter under date of
the 3i, janucy-y, says that he had delayed for
warding the copy because “at first he doubted
whether from its tendency to induce contro
versy, it could be ciflnmunicated without pre
udice to the public service.” President Davis,
in Lis rfiicial letter to‘the Senate of the 4th of
January, directs attention to this Bugmastioffiof
iris then Secretary, and adds that it is “not ad;
visable to publish tlft report unless accompanied
with certain correspiondeuee” to “explain the
events.” It is understood that tbe Senate,
having waited in vain for the Exeoutive eclair
cinnement promised in this correpoudence, and
having applied for it without effect since the
Ith of January, determined that the report
should no longer be suppressed lrom the pub
lic.
ViNEVTLLB, Ga., Oct. 20, 18G4.
General S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector Gen
eral :
Sir : I have the honor to make the follow
ing report of the operations of the army of
Tennessee while it was under my command. —
Want of tbe reports of the Lieutenant Gener
al-1, for which 1 have waited until now, pre
vents ine from being circumstantial.
In obedience to the ordeis of the President,
received by telegraph at Clinton, Mississippi,
December 18th, 1805, I assumed command of
he army of 'I unties ee at Dalton on the 27th
of that month.
Letters from the President and Secretary of
War, dated, respectively. 23d and 20th of De
cember, impressed upon me the importance of<
.-o<*n commencing active operttious agaiust the
'enemy. Tire relative forces, including the
moral effect of the affair at Missionary Ridge,
condition of tire artr fiery horses, and ruotit of
those of tire cavalry, and want of field trans
portation, made »* impracticable to effect the
wishes ol the Executive.
On the 31st of December the effective total
of the infantry and artillery of tho army, in
cluding two brigades belonging to the depart
ment Os Mississippi, was 30,820; the effective
total of the cavalry, including Roddy’s com
mand at. TuHcurnnia, 5013. The Federal force
in cur front exclusive of cavalry and the
Ninth and Twenty-third corps at Knoxville,
was estimated at 80,000.
The' vin ter was mainly employed in im
proving tho discipline and equipment of the
army, and bringing back absentees to tire rank.
At tho end of April, more than live thousand
had rejoined their regiments.
T Ire horses of the cavalry and artillery had
been much reduced in condition by the pro
vious campaign. As full supplies of forage
could not be lvrni3bed them at Drlton. it was
necessary to send about half of each of these
arms of service far to the rear, where the
country could furnish food. On that ac
count, Brigadier General Roddy was ordered,
with about three-fourthe of bis troops from
’Jugcumbia and Dalton, and arrived at the end
of T'obrit • ry. On the 2d of April, however,
lie was L-eut back to his former position by the
Secretary of War.
On the 15th and ICth of January Baldwin’s
and Quarles’ brigades returned to the depart
ment of Mississippi and East Louisiana, to
winch they belonged. His Excellency Joseph
E. Brown, added io the army two regiments
of State troops, which were used to guard tho
railroad bridges between Dalton and Atlanta.
On the 17th of February the President or
dered me, by telegraph, to detach Lieutenant
General Hardee, with the Infantry of his corps,
‘p.. xwe I'M as on ’6*V iaion,” to aiffiLieuten
ant Geim.il Polk against Sherman in Missis
sippi. This order was obeyed as promptly as
oui means of transportation permitted. •
The force detached was probably exaggera
ted to Major General l'bomos: for on the 23d
the Federal army advanced to Ringgold, on the
24th drove in our outposts, and ou the 25th
skirmished Mill Creek Gap and in Crow
Valley, cast of ;.Kock Face Mountain. Wo
were successful.at both places. At the latter,
Clayton’s brigade after a sharp action of half
an hour, defeated double its munoer. At night
it was reported that a Uuited States brigade
was occupying Dug Gap. from which it had
driven our troops. G ran bury’s Texan brigade,
returning from Mississippi, bad just arrived.—
It was- ordered to march to the foot of tho
mountain immediately and to retake tho Gap
at sunrise next morning, which was done, l a
the night of the 2(>th the enemy retired.
On the 27th of February, I suggested to tho
Executive, by letter through General Bragg,
that all preparations for a forward movement
should oe made without further delay. In a
letter dated -idiot March, General Bragg de
sired rao to have all tilings ready at. the earliest
pi actio vble.momeut lor tho movomont indica
ted. In replying, bn tho 12tli, I reminded him
bat “the regulations of tho War Department
do not leave suchjpreparations to commanders
of troop:?, but io officers who receive their or
ders from Richmond.’’
On the 18th a letter was received from Get.
Bragg, sketching a plan of offensive opera
tions, uml enumerating the troops to be used
under me. 1 was invited to express my views
on tbe subject. In doing so, both by telegraph
and mail, ! suggested moditications, and urged
that the additional troops named should be sent
immediately to enable us, should the enemy
advance, to beat him and then move iorwurd ;
should he not advance, to do so ourselves
General B-agg replied by telegraph on the 21st,
“ Your dispatch of llHh does not indicate ae
:eptance of plau proposed. Troops can only
be drawn from other points for advance. Up -
on your decision of th&t point further action
must depend." 1 replied \>y telegraph on
the 22J. : 'Tn my idspatch of 19th I cx
prcssly accept taking the offensive; only differ
with you as to details. I assume that the on-*
tiny will be prepared ‘ for advance before we
will, aud wili make it to our advantage; there
lore, 1 propose both for effusive and defen
sive. to assemble our troops here immediately.’’
This was ik t noticed. Therefore, on the 25th,
1 again urged the necessity ,of reinforcing the
army ot Tennessee, because tbe enemy wis
collecting a larger force than that of the last
campaign; while ours was less than it had been ’
then.
On the third of April, Lieutenant Colonel
A. 11. Cole arrived at Dalton to direct the pro
curing of artillery horres and field transporta
tion, to on.ible ihe army to advance.
- On the 4.1i, under orders 32 of ISG4 I ap
plied to the chief of the Conscript service for
one thousand negro teamsters.' None were re
ceivea.
On the Mh of April Colonel B. S. Ewell, As
s-amt A qntant General, was sett to Richmond
to rcp e.-i ut to the President my wish to take
the onensivo with proper means, and to learn
bis vs y. s. A!• w c ,ys after Brigadier Geffi-r
--al 1 epuictoa nruved from Richmond to ex
p.am to me the President's wishes on the sub
ii ci. 1 explained to him the modification of
the pt«u. communicated by General Brace
which seemed to me e-sviuial; which required
that the intended iviniore,meets should be
sent to Da lon. I urged that this should be
done v ah- at delay, because oar present force
w.n not sutneicut ev, u for defence, and to en
— •*' os to lake the offensive if the enemy did
Out. J
On the lit of May I reported the emmiv
about to advance. On ’he 2nd, BVigadi >r
Gmierai M ,:e. rs coi Kuand arrived.wlth about
t- urtei’u muiuri it en enve infantry. On the
1 ‘--'bre :k! my eif s Uisfied that the enemy
vkk at; ut to• a-k with his united forces
;. iCK-.ugd tint apart of Lieutenant
s should be put at my
T° s al. 1 was iufotu. u by General Brace that
O'dcrs to effect were‘given.
L Ur G:h-ial Martin, whose division of
cavalry count g nooi K-v-t Tennessee, had been
halic-.i cu the l.'ipwali to lecruitiis horses was
ordered-wish it to observe the Oostanaula from
lU.aca to Iconic : and Brigadier General Kelly
wiurordered with Jh.s command Rom the neigh
borbood of Resaca to report to Major General
Wheeler.
The effective artillery and infantry of the
army ot Tennessee, after the arri val of Mer
cer’s brigade, amounted to forty thousand and
nine hundred ; the effective cavalry to about;
four thousand. Major G-encial Sherman’s j
arrry was composed of t’aat of ML-sionary
Ridge, (then eighty thous md) increased by
several thousand recruits, five ihou-aud then
under Hovey, the Twenty Corps (Sco- <
field's) from Knoxville, and two Divisions from
the Sixteenth, from North . Alabama.,
Major General Wheeler e atimated the cavalry
of that army at fifteen iho. isaurt
On the sth of May this a xmy wis in line be
tween Ringgold an! Tunnel Hill, and alter
skirmishing cn that and t he following day, on*
the 7th pressed buck our advanced troops to
Mill Creek Gap. On the same day Brigadier
Geneml Cantv reached R'saca with "his brigade
and was halted theie.
On the Bvh, at 4 p. m . a Division of Hook
er’s Corps assauifed Dug Gap, which was
bravely held by two regiments of Reynolds'
Arkansas brigade and Gfigby’s brigade of
Kentucky cavalry, fighting un loot, until the
arrival of Lieutenant Gcaemi Hardee with
Granby’s brigade, when tire enemy was put to
flight.
On the 9Lh five assaults were inpde on Lieu
tenant General Hood’s troops on liocW Face
mountain. All were repulsed. In the after
noon a report was received that Logan's and
Dodge’s divisions were m Snake Greek Gap.—
Three divisions under Lieutenant General
Hpod, were, Ihetefore, sent to Rosaca. Oa the
10i.ii Lieutenant General Hood reported the
enemy retiring. Skirmishing to our advantage
continued all dry ueur Dalton. Major Gener
al Bate repulsed a vigorous attack at uigut.
On the 11til Brigadier General Canty report
ed that Die enemy were again approaching
Resaca. Lieutenant General Folk arrived
there in the evening with Loriog’s division,
and was instructed to defend tho place with
tbos.e troops and Canty’s. Tire usual skirmish
iugcontinued near Dalton.
Rocky Face mountain and Snake Creek Gap,
at its south end, completely covered, tor lie
enemy, the operation of turning Dalton. Ou
the 12th the Federal army, covered by the
mountain, moved by Snake Creek Gap towards
Resaca. Major General Wheeler, with twenty
-two hundred ot ours, attacked and defeated
more than double that number of Federal cav
alry near VarneM’t. station. At night our ar
tillery and infantry matched for Resaca. Too
cavalry followed ou tho 13. On that day, the
enemy approaching ou the Snake Creek Gap
road, was checked by Loring’s troops, which
gave time for the lbi matron of Hardee’s and
Hood’s corps, just arriving. As the *nemy
was formed tu- left of Folk’s corps was on the
Oostanaula and the right of Hood’s cm Ihe
Copnasauga. There was brisk skirmishing
during the afternoon ou Folk’s front and Har
dee’s left.
On the 14tli the enemy ma le several attacks,
the r most vigorous ou Hindman's division
(Hood’s) left. All were handsomely repulsed.
At <i, P. Ms, Hood advanced with Stevenson’s
and ti'-ewart's divisions, supported by two of
Walker’s brigades, driving the enemy from Iris
ground be f bre night. He was instructed to be
ready to continue the offensive inxt- morning.
At !), F. M. 1 learned that Lieutenant General
Folk’s troops had lost a position commanding
our bridges ; and received from Major General
Martin a report that the Federal infantry was
crossing the Oostanaula, near Calhoun,- on a
pontoon bridge. The instructions to Liou
i«naut General Hood were revoked, and Walk
er’s division sent to the point named by Major
Geicral Martin.
On ihe 15th there was severe skirmishing
on the whole front. Major General Walker
reported no movement near Calboui. Lieu
tenant General Hood was directed to prepare to
move forward, his righfrte iding, supported by
two brigades from Polk’s ahd Hardee’s corps
When he was about to move information came
from JUajar General Walker that tho Federal
right, was crossing the river To meet this
movement Lieutenant General Hood’s attack
was countermanded. btewart’s division not
receiving the order from corps, headquavt.es in
rime, attacked unsuccessfully The Jurny was
j ordered to cross the Oostanaula that night,
destroying the bridges behind it
On the 10th thq enemy cro-ssd the Oos.tan
aula. Lieutenant General Hardee skirmished
with them successfully near Calhoun.
'The fact that a part of Folk’s troops were
still in the rear, and the great numerical supe -
riority of the Federal army made it expedient
to risk battle only when position or some
blunder of the enemy might give us counter
‘ bahiuceiug advantages i therefore dctermla
j ed to tail back slowly until -cirCumsrauces
i should put the chances of battle in our favor,
' keeping go near the United States army as toy
| prevent its sending retuforceinouts to Grant;
and hoping, by taking advantage of positions
and opponupi ties, to reduce the odds- .against
us, by partial engagements. 1 also expected if.
Jo* be materially reduced before the end of
June by the expiration of th s terms of i ervicc
of the regiments which had not rcoolisted. In.
this way we fell back Cassvilki ia two marches.
As AdaiCßviile.daboufc midway, on the 17 th,
Folk’s cavalry, under Brigadier General J .ck-
Uou, lnet'thfc enemy, and ilardee, after severe
skirmishing, checked them At tins point, on
the 18-ii, Folk’s and Hood’s corps took the di
r.-ofc road to Gassvillo; M it dee’s that by Jiiugs
ston. About half the Federal army took each
road.
French’s division having joined P-ffk’s corps
on the iSih. on tbe morning of the 19th, when
half the Federal army was near Kingston, the
two corps at Cassville were ordefred to advance
against the troops that ha 1 followed thorn from
j Adairavilie. Hood loading on the night. When
tiii- corps had aavanned soma two miles, one
of his. Glnff officers reported to Lieutenant Gen
eral Hood that the enemy was approaching on
the Canton road, in rear of the right of our
original position. He drew l*tele i)i.s troops
and form and them across that road; When ic
was discovered that the officer was mistaken,‘ho
opportunity had passed, by the mar approach
of the Federal army Expectiug to be a.tack
ed, 1 drew up the troops in what seemed to
me an excellent position—a bold ridge imme
diately in rear ol Ctssviile, with an open val
ley before it The lire of the enemy's artillery
, commenced soon afte’’ the troops were formed
and continued until night, boon after dark
Lieutenant Genera** P.»!k and Hood, together
expPessed "to me decidedly the opinion fanned
upon the observation of ihe ai'Twimoii. that the.
Fed.vai artillery would render their positions
ui-teual‘le the next day, and urged me to aban
don th- ground immediately and-cross the Et
owah. Lieutenant General Hardee, whose po
sition I thought the .weakest, was confident,
that be could hoid.it 'lhe o’her two officers
however, were so earnest and unwilling to de
pend* on the ability of their corps to defend
ihe ground, that l yielded, aud the army cross
ed the Etowah on tffo night ol the 20 ft. \ step
which 1 have regretted ever since. Wheeler J s
cavalry was placed in observation above, and
.) icksen’s below the railroad.
On the 22d Major General Wheeler was sent
with all IPs troops not required forobservafion,
to the enemy’s teav; and otWte 24th beat a
brigade at Cassville, and burned two hundred
and fifty loaded wagons. In the men time tae
enemy wis reported by Jackson's troop- jnov
ii-.g d'mva the Etowah, as if to cw it n<-ur
S-tiiesboro.'-and crossing on ihe 23d. On tiie
24th Polk's aud Hardee’s corps reached the
road from Stilesboro’ to Atlanta, a'few miles
south of Dallas: and Hood’s feur miles from
New Hope church, on the road from Altoona.
On the 2Gth the enemy was found to be en
trenched near aud east J Dallas. Hood's
corps was placed with' its centre at New Hope
Church, and Polk’s' and Hardee’s ordered be
tween it aud tbe Atlanta road, which Hardee's
left was to cover. An hour before sunset
Stewart’s division, at New Hope Church, was
fiercely attacked by Hooket’s corps, which it re
pulsed after a hot engagement of two hours.
Skirmishing was kept up on the 2Gth and 27th.
At half-past five P. M . on the 27ih, Hooker's
corps assailed Cleburne's division, ami was
driven back about dark with great slaughter.
In these two actions our troops were not en
trenched. Our loss in each was about four
hundred and fifty in killed and wounded. On
ihe 27til the enemy's dead, except those borne
off. were counted six hundred. We, therefore,
estimated their loss at three thousand at
least. It was probably greater on the 25 th,
as we had a larger force.engaged then, both of
artillery and infantry.
The usual skirmishing was kept up on the
28th. Lieutenant General Hood was instruct
ed to put his corps in position duriDg the night
to attack the eaamr'e Ml flank at dawn the
next morning, the rest of th* arrr.y to join in
the action success velv from riaht to left.
Oa the Lnu iivutanaut Gcoerd Hood, find
ing the Federal left covered by a division
which had entrenched itself iu the night
thought it im-xpi and eut to attack., so reported
and ui-ke i ,or instructions. As the resulting
delay made the attack inexpedient, even if it
had not been so before, by pro - renting the sur
prise—upon which succeas, in a great degree,
depended—he was re called.
Skirmishing continued unt'.l the 4th of June,
the enemy gradually extending his intrench“d
line towards the railroad at. Acworth. On the
morning of the sth the arm;? was formed with
its left at Lost mountain, Iks ceQtre near Gil
etath church, and its right near the railroad.
Oa tho 7th the right, covered by Noonday
creek, was extended acrosii the Acworth and
Marietta road. The enemy approached under
cover of successive lines, of entrenchments.
Tbe-e was brisk and incessant skirmishing an
til the 18ih.
On the 14th the brave Lieutenant General
Polk, dwtinffuished in every battle in which
this army had fought, fell by a cannofi shot at
an advanced post. Major General Loring suc
ceeded to the command, which he held until the
7th of July with great efficiency.
On the 4th of June a letter from Governor
Brown informed me tlu-t he had organized a
division of infantry, and placed it under my
orders. These troops when ready for service
about the middle of the month, under Major
General G. W. Smith, were employed to
defend the crossings of the Chattahoochee, to
p r eveaf the surprise of Atlanta by the Federal
cavalry.
On the 19th anew Hine was taken by the
army. Hood’s corps,, with its right on the
Marietta and Canton road; Loring’s on the
* Keane-a w mountain, and Hardee’s, .with its
left extending across the Lost mountain and
Mniefcta road. The enemy approtohed, as
usual, untier cover of intrenchments. In this
position there was incessant fighting and
skirmishing until Julv 3i, the enemy gradu
ally extending his intrenched right towards
Atlanta. On ihe 20th of June Wheeler, with
eleven hundred men, routed Ganard’s division
of Federal cavalry on our right. On the 21st
Hood’s cotps was transfened from right to
left, Wheeler’s cavalry taking charge of the
position it had lelt. On the 22d Lieutenant
General Hood reported that Hindman’s and
Stevenson’s divisions of his corps, being at
tacked, drove back .the enemy, taking a line
of hi* breastwoiks, but were compelled Io with
draw by the fire of fortified artillery.
Ou the 24th Hardee’s skirmishers formed a
line of battle, as did Stevenson’s, of Hood’s
corps, on the 25th. On the 25th, after a furi
ous cannonade of several hours, the enemy
made a general advance, but was everywhere
repulsed with heavy loss. The assaults were
most vigorous on Cheatham’s and Cleburne’s
divisions, of Hardee’s corps, and French’s and
Featberston’s of Loring’s. Lieutenant Gen
eral Hardee reports that Cheatham's division
lost, ia killed, wounded and missing, one bun
dled and ninety-five. Tho enemy opposed to
it,, by the statement of a staff officer subse
quently captured, two thousand ; the loss of
-deb urue’s division, 11; that of tho enemy on
his front, one thousand; and Major G«n. Lur
ing reported two hundred and thirty six of his
corps,killed; wounded and missing; and the
loss of the enemy, by their own estimate, at
between two thousand live hundred and three
thousand, which he thinks very small.
On ihe Ist of July Major General Smli'a’s
division was ordered to support the cavalry on
our left. Their effective total was about fifteen
hundred. On the 2d, the enemy’s right being
neater to Atluuffi by several miles than our
left, the at my fallback during the night to
Smyrna church. Ou the 4th Major Genera*
Smith reported that he should be compelled to
withdraw on the inoruing of the sth to theiine
of intrenchments covering the railroad bridge
and Turner’s ferry. The army wa3 therefore
ordered to retire at. the same time to that line,
to secure our bridges. The cavalry crossed
the Chattahoochee—Wheeler it for
some twenty miles above, and Jackson as far
below. The enemy advanced, as usual, cover
ed by intrenchments. Skirmishing contiued
until the boh. Our infantry and artillery were
brought to the southeast side pf the river that
fibdit, because two Federal corps bad crossed
it above Fower’s ferry on the Bth nud Intrench
ed. Lieutenant General Stuart took command
of the corps on the 7th.
Tho character of Peachtree creek and thenu
mottos fords in the Chattahoochee above its
moutn, prevented my attempting todeferd that
part of the river. The broad and muddy chan
nel of the creek would have separated the two
parts of the array. It and tbe river below Us
mouth, were, therefore, taken as our line. A
position on the high ground south of the creek
was selected for the army, from which to at tat k
the enemy while crossing. The engineer « fil
e-era, with a large force of negroes, were set to
work tostrengtben thefortifiicalionsof Atlanta,
and to mount on them seven heavy rifles bor
rowed from Major General Maury. The Chief
Eag Deer was instructed to deyoffi his attention
—first, to tne works between the Decatur and
Marietta roads, to put them in such condition
that they might be held by the State troops, so
that the a; oiv might attack the enemy in flank
when he approached the town—this in the
event that we should be unsuccessful in at
tacking tbe Federal afmy in its passage of
Poach*roe creek.
Alter the.:<vmies were separated by the Ohat
iahooehoe, skiirn 'ahiug became less severe. On
the pith a division ol Federal cavalry crossed
tbs river by Moore’s bridge, near Newman, but
was driven back by Armstrong s brigade, sent
by Brigadier General Jackson to meet it.
On tne loth Governor Brown informed me,
orally, that he hoped to reinforce the army be
fore the end of the month with men ten thous
and State tro ps.
On the 17th the main body of the Federal
army crossed the Chattahoochee between Ros
well arid Power’s ferry. At ten o'clock, P.
M■, while i was giving Lieutenant-Colonel
Prestman, Chief Engineer, instructions in re
gard to his work ot the next day on tha fortifi
cations of Atlanta, a telegram was received
from General Cooper, informing me, by direc
tion of the Secretary War, that as I had failed
to arrest the advance of the enemy to thewicin
ify of Atlanta, and expiessed no confidence
that. I could defeat or repel him, I was relieved
from the army and department of Tennessee,
which would be immeuiately turned over to
General Hood. This was done at once. On
the morning of 4Ho 18th the enemy was report
ed to be advancing, and, at General Hood’s re
quest, I continued to give orders uutil after
noon. placing the troops on the position select
ed near Peachtree crci k.
In transferring the command to General
Hood I explhinod my plans to him—first, to
attack the Federal army while crossing Peach
tr-e Cr«bk If we we>e successful, great results
might be hoped ior, as the enemy would have
boih ihe creek aud tae river to intercept his re
tre t. Second, if unsuccessful, to keep back
the enemy by intrenching ; to give time for
the assembling of the State troops promised
l-y Governor Brown ; to garrison Atlanta with
those troops, and when ihe Federal army ap
proached the town, attack it ou -the most ex
p. sed ijank with ail the Confederate troops.
iff so troops, wh o had been lor seventy
fur days iu the immediate presence of the
.a. my aufi fighting daily, enduring
to.l, exposure.and danger with equal cheerful
nv-s, more confident and high spirited than
when are Federal army presented itself near
Dalton, were thou inferior to none who ever
served in the Confederacy.
Under the excellent administration of Brig
adier General Mackall, Chief of Stalf, the
troops were well equipped aud abundantly
supplied. The draught animals of the artil
lery and quartermaster’s department were in
better condition on the 18ch of July than on
the s;h of May. W e lost no material in the re
treat, except the four field pieces mentioned
in the accompanying report of General Hood.
I commenced the campaign with Gen.
Bragg s army of Missionary Ridge, with one
brigade added Meicer’s; and two taken away
Baldwin sand Quarles, That opposed to
us was Grant s army of Missionary ridge, then
estimated at eighty thousand by oar principal
officers, increased, as I have stated, by two
corps, a divisson and several thousand recruits
iu all, ai least thirty thousand men. The
cavalry of that army was estimated by Major
General . Wheeled at fifteen thousand.
The reinforcements, which Joined our army
amounted to fifteen thousaud infantry and
'artiiiery, ana four thousand cavalry Our
scouts reported much greater numbers joining
the United fctates army; garrison and bridge
guards front Tennessee and Kentaoky reliered
by “one hundred days men,’’ and the Seven
teenth corps with two thousand cavalry.
The loßti of our infantry and artillery from
the sth of May had been about ten thousand
in killed and wounded, and four thousand rev
en hundred from ail others causes, maiulv
alight eicltness produced by heavy cold rains,
which prevailed ia the latter half of June.—
These and the slightly wounded were begin
ning to join their regiments. For want of
reports, I am unable to give the loss or the
services of the cavalry, which wa3 loss under
nty eye than the rest of the army. Tt»e effec
tive strength was increased by about two
thousand during the campaign.
The effective force trasferred to General
Hood was about forty one thousand infantry
and artillery, and ten thousand cavalry.
According to tho opinions of our mo3i ex
perienced officers, daily reports of prisoners
and statements of Northern papers, the enemy’s
loss in action could have not been less than
five times as great ours. In the cases in which
we had the means of estimating it, it ranged
from seven to one to ninety one to one com
pared with ours, and averaged thirteen to one.
The Federal prisoners concurred in saying that
their heaviest loss occuried in the daily attacks
made in line of battle upon our skim shers in
their rifle pitr. Whither they succeeded in
dislodging our skirmishers or not, their loss
was heavy and ours almost nothing.
At Daiton the great numerical superiority
of the enemv made the chances of battle much
against us, and, even if beaten, they had a
safe refuge behind the fortified pass of Ri ig
goid and in the foiLoss of Chattanooga. Our
refuge, in case of defeat, was in one
hundred miles’off, with three rivers mtei vening.
Therefore, victory for us could not have been
decisive, while defeat would Lave been utterly
disastrous. Between Dalton and the Chatta
hoochee we could have given battle only by
attacking the enemy entrenched, or so near the
entrenchment l ' that the only result of success
to us would have been his falling back into
them; while defeat would have been our ruin
in the course puisned, our troops always fight
ing under cover, had very trifling losses, com
pared with those they inflicted; so that the
enemy's numerical superiority was reduced
daily and rapidly, and we could reasonably
have expected to cope with the Federal army
on equal ground by the time the Chattahoochee
was passed.
Defeat ou this side of the river would have
been ti iestruct'on. We, if beaten, had a
place of refuge in Atlanta, too strong to be as
saulted, and too extensive to be invested. I
had hoped also that by the breaking of the
railroad iu its rear the Federal army might
be compelled to attack us in a position of our
own chdosiDg. or to a retreat, easily converted
into a rout. Alter we crossed tbe Etowah five
detachments of cavalry weresucccessively sent,
with instruction to destroy as much a3 they
could of the railroad between Daiton and tbe
Etowah, All tailed because too weak. We
could never spare a sufficient body of cavalry ■
for this service, as its assistance was absolutely
necessary in the defence of every position wo
occupied. Captain Harvey, an officer of great
co”rage and ug tcity, was detached on this ser
vice, with one hundred men. ou tho 11th of June,
and remained for several weeks neat the rail
road, frequently intenupting, although not
strong enough "to prevent its use. Early in the
campaign the statements of the strength of the
cavalry iu tho Department of the Mississippi
and East Louisiana, given me by Lieutenant
General Polk, just from the command of that
department, and my telegraphic correspon
dence with his successor Lieutenant General
S D Lee, gave me reason to hope that a com
petent f'orco could be sent from Mississippi and
Alabama to prevent the use of tho railroad by
the United States army. I therefore suggested
it to the President directly on the 13th June
and lilt 1 ' July, and through Geneial Bragg onthe
30th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 2f>ui of J ane; and ai
soto Lieutenant General Lee on the lOih of May,
and 3 1,11 th and 13th of June. I did so in the
belief that this cavalry would serve the Con
federacy better by causing the defeat of Major
Geneial Sherman's army than by repelling a
raid in Mississippi.
Besides the causes of my remova 1 , alleged in
the telegram announcing it, various other accu
sations have been made against me—some
published in newspapers in such a manner a.-
to appear to have official authority, and oth
ers circulated orally in Genig and Alabama,
and imputed to General Biugg.
The principle are, that 1 persistently disre
garded the instructions ql the President; that
1 would not tight the enemy; that 1 refused to
defend Atlanta; that I refused to communi
cate with Genei al Bragg in relation to the
operations of he uuuy} that I disregarded his
entreaties to change my c iiirso and attack the
enemy; and grots exaggerations of the losses
of tho army,
1 had not the advantage of receiving the
President. 1 a instriintions iij relation to the man
ner of conducting the campaign. But sa tbe
conduct of my predecessor, in retreating be
fore odds loss tlmn those confronting me, has
apparently been approved; and as Qeaeial
Lee, in keeping ou the defensive and retreat
ing towards Giant’s objective point, under
circumstances like mine, waS adding to his
great laoae, both ia the estimation o! the ad
ministration and people, 1 supposed that my
cot* sc would not be censured. 1 believed then,
as ido now, that it was the only one at my
command which poruised success.
I think that the foregoing narrative shows
that the army of Tennessee did light, and with
at least »s much effect as it lias ever done be
fore .
The proofs that I intended to hold Atlanta
ur«j ttie fact that under my orders the work of
strengthening its deieuco was going on v;gor
ons'y, the communication on the subject made
by mo to Gen. Hood, and the fact that my
family was in the town. That the public
workshops were removed, and no large tup
plies deposited in the town, as alleged by Gen.
Bragg,. were measures of common prudence,
and no more indicated the intention to aban
don the place, than the scudirg the wagons of
uu army to the rear on a day ot battle, proves
a foregone determination to abandon the litdd.
While Gen. Bragg was at Atlanta about the
middle ot July, we bad no o‘her conversation
concerning the army there than such as I in
troduced He asked me no questions regarding
its operations, past or future; made no com
ments noon them, nor suggestions, and Lad
not the slightest rei.sou to suppose that At
lanta would not be defended, lie told me
that the object of his journey was to confer with
Lieutenant General Gee, aud communicate
with Gen. IS K Smith, in relation to reinforce
merits for me. He talked much more of affairs
in Virginia th *n iu Giorgia, asserting, what I
believed, that Sherman’s urmy outnumbered
Grant's, and impressed me with the belief that
his visits to me wtre unofficial.
A copy of a brief report by Gen. ac
companies this.
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. E Joiixston, General.
(JOERBiPON DUNCE CHRONICLE & SENTINEL.
THE MADISON COU.V'Y MKHTIfU.
Messrs. Editors :—I notice a series of res
olutions published in several pipers, puryot
iug to be the aantimenis of the citiz -iis of
Madison couDty, Ga. The resolutions iu ques
tion commence by stating “in accordance with
previous notice a large portion of the citizens’
of Madison county, assembled &c.” Now if
there was a notice calling the citizens of this
county together for the purpose of procuring
their assent to those resolutions, nine-tenths of
the citizens never heard of it, and by what
mathematical rule a few men constitute them
selves a “large portion of the citizens of the
comity’’. I should like to know. They must
.undoubtedly have a very exalted opinion of
themselves. Nine-tenths of the citizens of this
county as well as adjacent counties are in' fa
vor of State action if by that an honorable
peace—can be procured, and were in ffivor of
calling a.conveutiou of the States For a few men
6 and pas ? and publish
them a* the sentiments of the majority, when
Sff it is incorrect, ia an Outrage
that should not go uareboked.
Citizen.
Captain E. p > Scott, (a nephew of Lieu
tenant trtn. bcott,) and conffned in the Old
Capitol for some time p st as a piisuer 01 war,
has been released upon parole of honor not to
give ala and comfort to the .enemy, and * with
the conditions that he wiil immediately report
to Gen. Scdtt in person at New York, and
subject himself to such restrictions and
tieoa as tk« General may deem proper.
TO TIIK PUBLIC.
It Is with profound regret that the members
of the delegation in Congress from the State
of Virginia, dud themselves obliged to make a
public statement respecting their proceedings
on a late occasion. But tne reflections upon
their conduct, conveyed in a correspondence
between HLis Excellency the President and the
Hon James A Seddon, late Secretary of War,
and the publication of that correspondence,
render the statement necessary
At the beginning of the present year, the
Confederacy was thought by mary to* be in ex
traordinary danger iu consequence ot a seri s
of misfortunes. The public spirit was depress
ed. Apprehensions fur the public safety were
increased by a belief that our misfortunes were
partly the result of mal-administratiou.
Prompt, energetic, and judicious measures ap
peared to be necessary for the restoration of
the public confidence. After mature consider
ation with others, the members of this delega
tion concluded that, among the most impor
tant of such measures, would be a general re
construction ot tho Cabinet.
A meeting ot the delegation was held about
the middle of January in which certain
public affairs peculiarly affecting the safety of
Virginia were considered. In the same meet
ing, arter a frank interchange of views, it was
resolved that the opinion of the delegation
respecting a change of the Cabinet should be
made known to tbe President as the advice of
friends.
A'member—the Speaker of the House—was
deputed to communicate the advice in the
most friendly, respectful and conddeut al man
ner to the President, with suitable explana
tions ot the motives and views of the delega- 1
tion. He was authoiized to communicate al
so with any of tho Heads of Departments, but
otherwise the proceedings were to be regarded
as confidential. The communication was ac
cordingly made to the President, iu person and
by letter, aud ho received it, as we supposed,
iu the same spirit of patriotism candor and
friendship which had promoted th* action of
the delegation,
The advice thus tendered by the delegation
was that a general reconstruction of the Oabi
iiret wds necessary for the restoration of public
confidence. It was given as an opinion of a
delegation friendly to the administration. The
decision of this mattei was, of course, left to
the President with whom it constitutionally
rested. *-
When the President had previously invited
this delegation to consult with him, we recii v
ed with satisfaction his advice respecting leg
islative businers, and wo had no reason to sup
pose that, whenever we should deem it our
duty to offer him council respecting important
vttairs in the Executive Department, our ad
aice would be resented as officious.
If we tiad intended to embarrass the Presi
dent or the Heads of Departments by an ap
pearance of constraint, we might have invited
members of other delegations, known to concur
with us in opinion, respecting the Cabinet, to
unite with us in action. Wo preferred to avoid
such an appeal ance, even at the hazard of
rendering our advice less influential, and of
subjecting ourselves to misconstruction.
It can scarcely be necessary to state that the
members ot this delegation did not assume for
themselves, or for the House of Representatives
or lor Congress, a power to compel the resig
nation oi Heads of Departments by any expres
sion of opinion. They had reason to expect
that some movement would he made in Con
grtss which night bring on a collision between
the Legislative Executive Departments, or
constrain the Executive to make concessions.
We desired to prevent such a movement, when
we advised the President to conform the coin
position of the Cubing to ihe prevailing senti
ment iu Congress and the country. VVe con
fidently hoped that such a change would, by
its effects upon Congress as well as the Execu
tive Department, make the action x>f tho
ernment, at a critical period, more ifticient
for the public safety.
The delegation, in advising the President,
did not discriminate among thq Heads of De
partments, whatever were our individual judg
ments of particular officers. This course ap
peared to be the best suited to all circumstau
ces, and especially to tho state of publio sen
timent, if not r. qaired by sound political prin
ciple. \Ve cjjogo to regard the Cabinet as a
body of counsellors held responsible, as a wffi to
to public opinion for tbe couise of the entire
adminisaration, besides having each a separate
responsibility as head ot his own department
Whatever may be tho theory of#our govern
ment, it had not occurred to U3 before the pub
lication of the correspondence now under con
sideration that, practically, a body so eminent
iu our political system could, thiough depen- '
donee ou the pleasure of the President, be
come so insignificant that a change of tho ‘
Heads of Departments could not guer the ad
ministrative policy of the government in any
degree It could not be presumed that a body
ol statei men in our country, filling those high
places, would contribute no independent ad
vice, irfionuatloit or influence to the poli. y 0 f
the administration, or that they would loi.g
con iuue to hold office either ia complete sub
serviency to asiegie mind or in defiance of
the general sense of their countrymen.
Ot course, we were aware that tire President
has power tQ dismiss them—a power fit to be
exercised for the public welfare in a great crisis
—and that, to him belongs a controlling au
thority aiulthe chief honor as well as respon
sibility of the adgplustration. We did not de
sign eiffler to abate the constitutional authori
ty of the Presidential office, or to take from
our country the guiding iuffuence of a Presj
dent in whom we greatly confide and whom
wa have firmly supported.
It is obvious that the general advice suggest
ed by this delegation to the President based
oa a general reason, alleging no fault and ar
raigning no individual—merely advice to be
adopted, applied or n jecteu by the President
might have been subaiantiaily accepted with
out excluding every particular Head of a Do
pari men t from a now arrangement. We ex
pected and dished that at least one exception
would bo made.
It would not have been proper for this dele
gation to indicate to the President, when they
volunteered counsel, the details of such ar
rangement; and least of all, would it have been
proper ior us, as a delegation, to single out a
Secretary irom onr owu State for pattial ac
lion, highly as we esteemed the Virginian
ffieii iu office, aud as much as we desired our
State to be represented in the Cabinet. Mis
conceiving the spirit m our proceeding our
distinguished fellow oiPzsn, Mr. Seddon, with
out a general reconstruction of ihe Cabinet
resigm and the office of Secretary of War. If we
have unintentionally wounded hiasensibilities
we deeply regret that such a consequence re
sulted from our action or from his construc
tion of it.
In a letter accepting his resignation, the
President declines to approve the propriety of
tus decision to resign, because, he adds “I can
not admit the existence of a power or right in
the Legislative Department of the Govern
ment, or iu any part or branch of It, to ’ cor-
Uq, the continuance iu office of those princi -
pal officers m each of the Executive Depart
ments, whose choice the Constitution has
vesteu in the Chief Magistrate, &c. He ob
serves that the circumstances which gave rise
to Mr. Seddo .’s resignation are without pre
cedent. In conceding a just and legitimate
influence to enlightened public opinion, ha
denies that the declaration of a State dele
gation, or even of one or both Houses, is en
titled to be considered as the authentic expres
sion of suoh opinion or as requiring conces
sion from a co-ordinate department of the
Government.''
The public can now judge how far the dis
cussion of such topics was relevant to our
action, and how justly or wisely the publication
of such a correspondence, or the spirit which
pervades it, responds to the proceedings and
purposes of this delegation. That the friendly
advice of a delegation, or the more authentic
counsel of Congress, should be repelled in such
a manner, with such claims at such a time is
a circumstance which we deplore for the sake
of our country, and, let us add, for the sake of
the President. It will not provoke os to a
resentful controversy. It cannot abate our
devotion to the public cause. It does not alter
our principles of action. But since, by the
publication of tbis correspondence, members ot
the Cabinet have (probably with their consent)
been placed before the tribunal of public opin
ion at issue with the Virginia delegation upon
the question whether they should have re
mained or been retained in efflee, notwith
standing the condition of onr country *£d all
the indications of public, this dele
gation does net rwoii that issue. Let
| ls be decked by tbe country to which w® ar«
r*spnr,»ibi.*; and to which Ls*h ixs utive rffi,
\\n! their responsibility.
" a \ avtr ensues, may cur country ba
saved, J
By order of the delegation:
_ , Thomas S. Bocock,
February n, 1805. * Chairman.
The Cavalry Bum.—The following bill
having passed both Houses of Congress, awaits
only the approval of the President to becoms
a law:
A b£ to increase the efficiency of the cavalry
Confederate States.
i' * e . Co -?S ve *sos tbe Confederal*
Males ot America dfl enact, The Secretary of
War. upon application from the general com
manding an army in the field, with which any
regiment, battalion or com- any of cavalry ia
serving, is hereby authorized to cause th®
quartermaster ot Iho immidiate command to
take up on his property return the horses fit
for service, ridden by the enlisted men of such,
command ; and the horses thus taken up shall
when the provisions of tho second section of
this act have been complied with, become th®
property of the Confederate States, and shall
be branded with the letter of the company,
number and initials of the regiment to whic£
they belong. Company commanders shall re
ceipt to a quartermaster ( for the horses thus
taken up, and each man shall be allowed to
retain, for use in the service, the horse that
was iu his possession when thus taken up ; and
at any time that the horses of these men be
come untit for service, thsir places shall b®
supplied by others to be furnished by the gov
ernment ; or such men may, by order ot th®
general commanding the army to which they
belong, be a -signed to companies from their
respective S ates in some other branch of th®
service.
See. 2. A board of appraisers shall be ap»
pointed by the commanding General of th®
army to which such regiment, battalion or
company is attached, which shall appraise th®
horses thus taken ; and shall also distinguish
them as belonging to classes one, two, thre®
and'lons, according to quality; and the owner
of the horse shall make his election to receiva
at mice, from the quartermaster of his com
mand, the apnraised value of his horse, or a
certificate tor a horse ot the class to which hi®
belongs, to be furnished him by the Govern
ment of the Confederate Stores six months af
ter tho ratification of a treaty of peace with
the United States; which certificate shall be ap.
proved by the commander ot tho brigade to
which the man belongs.
Sec. 3. \\ hen any enlisted man serving ia
cavab’y becomes dismounted, and is unable to
remount himself, upon the certificate of his
immediate commander, approved by his brig
ade ancWarmy commander, that he has been a
gallant aud faithful soldier, and takes proper
care of Lis horse, the Quartermaster of his im
mediate command shall furnish him a govern
ment horse suitable tor cavalry service, for
which his company comman ler shall receipt.
Sec. 4. The Secretary ol War shall cause th®
Quartet master General to make immediate ar
rangements fop procuring horses suitable for
cavalry, iu suffi -tent numbers,to supply from
time to time the r quirements of the servic®
under tbs law. Hu shall also‘adopt such reg
ulations tor the recruiting of cavalry horsey
tho property of the government, and of cay
s'By men who have not the facilities for re
euiifcing their own horses, as he may deem
proper.
Stc. 5. When any cavalryman fails to taka
proper care of bis horse, straggles or absents
himself trout his command without leave, or
commits nay wanton insult or injury upon th®
person or property .of any loyal citizen of th®
Confederate States, or otherwise shows him
self unfit for the cavalry service, his brigade or
other commander -shall report the fact to th®
Geaei’al commanding the army to which he be—
longs, who shall assign him to some company
bom his Mate, of some other arm of . the ser
vice ; and any brigade or other commander
having knowledge of such fact, and shall fail
to ieport lire lael to the General commanding
the army, shall, upon trial and conviction.,
thereof by a cour t martial or military court, b®
Cashier; and aad put in the infantiy ranks.
Sec. G. Any cavalry officer ot the Confeder
ate States service who shall tail to exact from
the. men under his command proper care of
their horses, or shall permit pillaging, maraud
ing or tort!hie exchange ot horses by men un
der his command, or shall fail in any other re
spect to preserve propel respect and discipline
and efficiency in his command, shall, upon-''
proof the. tnc! a. certified toby the brig'jffi®
and division continueffcis to which he belongs,
be, by order ot tin commanding general, bus-1
ponded Horn command, and upon conviction
before a court mrtfci.d, be dropped from the
rolls, and consent ad into the ranks.
i ec. i , iho Secretary ot War, tinder th®
direction of the President, shall, immediately
upon the passage of this cause steps to b®
taken to iftmre tho iinportatioiTof a fall and.
regular supply of cavalry arms of the most
approved pattern*, and of such amtnufiitiofr
therefor as cannot be m nufactured in th®
Confederate Btates, and also of such amount of
taViiliy equipments us he may deem necessa
ry.
bec._ 8 The -{?. crefary of War, under th®
dii.ee!ion of the Piesideiat, shall cause to b®
procured unci issued to cavalry officers, under
such leguiatioub a%he may prescribe, the most
approved wotk on cavalry tactics that can ba
obtained.
PAYMENT FOlt FitIiFEUTY TAIiEN FOR 12 B
use of xiiis army. —We find the following let
ter in the Atlanta Intelligencer, of the 10th in
stant:
Richmond, Va , Jan. 23, 18G$.
lion J J/. Calhoun, Atlanta, Ga.
. Hy Dear Friend —Your let er of the Bth
inst%t v/a; received by to day’s mail, and in
reply to the same, 1 hasten to say, that Inn
dei the act of Ihe 14th of June, 1844, entitled
“An act providing for the esffib.ishment and
payment of elaims fora certain description:
ot property taken or informally, impressed
tor tlio use of the army,” nothing could have
been done until! after Sherman ieft your devo
ted city. This act was approved after '-I left
this city, last spring. Wimn I came here at
the present session’ and alter Sherman Jefl
Atlanta, 1 began to c.-st about, with a view of
having an ut or commissioner appointed
ior our district, and found that Col John W.
H. Underwood, (w,.0 was iu this city when
the act was pass and; had been appointed long
ago.
I was surprised at this, not because Coii
Underwood is not a competent commissioner,
but because I dia net- suppose be wanted it in.
Ihe lirst place, and in ihe second place, be
cause he did not leside in tho district. I hav*
written to Col. Underwood, who is now so
journing at Ciarksviile, Georgia, suggesting to
him the necessity of prompt action if he in
tends to retain the appointment, and that If
ho dork not intend to ietain it, to signify that
i fact, so that someone else may be appoin
ted.
The act would Lave expired lfsr its own
terms, but lor an act •ms turning it in foice at
the present session. Thus you will see my
friend, that aii is done that can be done here
at lids time. Asa leiicw-eufferer, I deeply
sympathize with you and all others similarly
circumstanced,and assure you that * am ready,
to do all iu my power, as a Representative*
and as a citizen, to relieve Fjj people.
Wishing you every gc' o( j^
acr *. your friend,
Geo. N - . Letter.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
A Hi oat important discovery has just bees
ma le in South America. It is that the great
river Amazon has been found to be navigable
from one end to . j other; that, in fact, anew
route has been o between tho Atlantia
and Pacffic. TL« Moroua, a Peruvian steamer
whicn Wi*b uent to explore the Amazon,
arrived at Mayro, about three hundred mile*
from Lima. The Moioua navigated more two
thousand miles of the Amazon proper, and. air
hundred of the Yeayali and Pachitea rffera
which, until then, had seen onlv Indian caAoea!
The country is, ol course, inhabited «nlv by
savages, but it is of wenderfui tei tilitv * 9
Warilke preparations are being mad 6 bv
Canada. An intrenched camp and
are to be constructed near Montreal. Similar
works ot defence are to be put at other points,
lhirty thousand men are to be employed at
?“?■ wo f Ka v it * estimated w*f W* sev
eral million* sterling.