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[590] said he knew it “like a bog;” he was a guest at the Hotel de Libby in July, 1863, and knew the officers of the prison. Then recognizing Mr. Ross, the clerk, Hogan broke out, “How do you do, Lieutenant Ross? Glad to see you.” Hogan boasted of his narrow escape, having had four bullets put through his clothing and hair. In reply to a question as to what he was fighting for, he replied he was fighting for fun. When such fun ends in a hempen rope, as we trust it will, Hogan will cease to estimate his business a joke.

Hogan disposed of for the present, we would inquire who is this “John C. Babcock” who sent Hogan on his own horse to Dahlgren? If found, he should certainly be sent headlong after Dahlgren, or brought to Richmond to participate in whatever fate awaits the outlaws of his command held here,--Richmond Examiner, March 8.


Gen. Elzey's congratulations.

headquarters Department of Richmond, March 8, 1864.
General orders, no. 10.

The Major-General commanding congratulates the troops upon their completely successful defence of the city of Richmond, and its rescue from the ravages of the invader.

The enemy was gallantly repulsed on the north side by Colonel Stevens's command, and on the west by Brigadier-General G. W. C. Lee's troops. Their conduct is entitled to the highest praise and credit.

To Colonel Bradley T. Johnston, and the officers and soldiers under his command, the thanks of the Major-General are especially due, for the prompt and vigorous manner in which they pursued the enemy from Beaver Dam to Richmond, and thence to the Pamunkey and down the peninsula, making repeated charges, capturing many prisoners and horses, and thwarting any attempt of the enemy to charge them.

The Major-General commanding begs leave to tender to Major-General Hampton and his command his sincere thanks for their cooperation in following up the enemy, and their gallant assault upon his camp at Atlee's Station, on Tuesday night, in which the enemy's entire force was stampeded and completely routed, leaving in the hands of General Hampton many prisoners and horses.

Lastly, the conduct of the home guard of King and Queen County, and of Captain Magruder's squadron of the Forty-second battalion, Virginia cavalry, which, in conjunction with small detachments of furloughed men, under Captain Fox and Lieutenant Pollard, of the cavalry of the A. N. V., attacked the retreating column of Colonel Dahlgren--killing the leader and capturing nearly one hundred prisoners, with negroes and horses — deserves public acknowledgment.

By command of

Major-General Elzey. T. O. Chestney, Assistant Adjutant-General.


Spirit of the rebel press.

Richmond, March 5.
If the confederate capital has been in the closest danger of massacre and conflagration — if the President and Cabinet have run a serious risk of being hanged at their own door, do we not owe it chiefly to the milk-and-water spirit in which this war has hitherto been conducted?

It is time to ask, in what light are the people of the confederate States regarded by their own government? As belligerents resisting by war an invasion from a foreign people — or as a gang of malefactors evading and postponing the penalty of their crimes? It may appear a strange question; yet the answer is not so distinct as could be desired. The enemy's government, we know, takes the second view of our position. To the Washington authorities we are simply criminals awaiting punishment, who may be hanged, or may be pardoned. In their eyes, our country is not ours, but theirs. The hostilities which they carry on are not properly war, but military execution and coercion. There is, in their opinion, no equality of rights between us; no more than between the police and a gang of garroters whom the police is hunting down. Even the one symptom of apparent recognition, upon their part, of our status as a war-making people — namely, the exchange of prisoners (a measure to which policy compelled them for a little while,) is at an end. We would not treat, forsooth, with Major-General Butler! The outlaws, indeed, pretend to tastes and preferences as to which of the efficient police constables shall be sent to deal with them. The fastidious creatures demand to be brought back to their duty by gentlemanlike officers, and to be handled with kid gloves, do they!

But the present matter in hand is not the position which the Yankees assign us. Does the confederate government take any different view of the case? Does it at least recognize us as belligerents? What a question — after three years of fierce and deadly war! Now, in submitting to take an inferior position, in suffering our enemies to do things which we may not or dare not do, in shrinking from retaliation for outrage, pillage and murder, this government does virtually acknowledge and accept the theory, the whole theory of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward. General Morgan makes a raid into Ohio; he is taken, is thrust into a State penitentiary as a felon, to await his trial as a robber. Streight and his mounted brigands lay waste and burn and plunder several counties in North-Alabama--they are taken and treated as prisoners of war. Stoneman, Spears, Kilpatrick, ride when they please up to the fortifications of Richmond, robbing the houses and hen-coops, stealing the very spoons and clothing, carrying off, at their pleasure, horses, mules, slaves. Some of the thieves are apprehended, but what care they? Their officers are conducted to the Libby and used with distinguished consideration.

The private thieves are sure of the, treatment of honorable enemies and prisoners taken in


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