Affairs at the South.
Our readers will find below a general summary of news, gathered from the latest Southern exchanges received at this office:
Successful Departure of the Bermuda.
The Lynchburg
republican has been permitted to publish the following extracts from a private letter, written by an office in the Confederate Navy, giving an account of the manner in which the
Bermuda ran Old Abe's blockade:
C. S. Steamer Huntress, Savannah, Gan., Nov. 3, 1861.
dear
--Dear--: I have only time to write you a very hurried letter.
We came back from a successful expedition a while ago. We went down last night to carry the
Bermuda out, loaded with about 2,000 bales of cotton.
We confidently expected a fight, as the plan was for us to attack the blockading vessels, while she was to pass out. We went down to
Fort Pulaski about dark, the five vessels of our mosquito fleet, the B following.
A heavy gun was fired from the battery at
Warsaw, which was the signal, but on going out we found none of the vessels, as the night was dark, rainy, and stormy, just the thing for us, and their attention, I suppose, was drawn off by the signal gun. So we fooled them and gave them the slip completely, all of us returning in high spirits and ‘"nobody hurt,"’ as we certainly anticipated engaging them last night.
The old
Flag-Officer is in high spirits, and we are off again to-day to
Brunswick or
Beaufort, S. C., where the old gentleman contemplates an attack.
Our vessels are flimsy concerns, and one shot would play the very mischief with any of us, so this is extremely hazardous work.
This vessel has to be laid up for a few days for repairs, so we are to be distributed to the other vessels for the present expedition.
This is the third now in as many days, and this place is in considerable excitement, I can assure you.
Two days ago one of
Lincoln's steamers attached one of our batteries at
Warsaw, just below here, but was driven off. No one hurt on our side, but we could not tell whether any were with them.
We saw the vessel as we were coming up, but could not go down near her, as our pilot said he did not know the channel.
He is an old darkey, and I suspect, more afraid than ignorant.
He was scared like the mischief last night, and I don't blame the old fellow much, for his station is a very dangerous one.
The Raleigh
State Journal, of Thursday says:
‘
As we go to press we learn the glad tidings that
Hatteras has been recaptured.
For the truth of the rumor we cannot vouch; but we know there has been a sharp eye on the
Yankees in that quarter for the last few days.
We believe it has been visited and occupied by some of the loyal hearts of our own old State.
We shall await further news with great solicitude.
’
The Waterloo of the West.
The
Banner of Peace, published in
Memphis, Tenn., has received a letter from a chaplain in
McCulloch's army, from which the following extract is made.
It is the latest and most reliable information we have of the movements of the army in the
West.
The letter is dated Oct. 22d.
‘
"The time has come when every man ought to bear his part in the defence of our common right.
Our latest news from
Missouri is of the most startling character.
A dispatch from
General McCulloch, from
Neosho, says that he has information from an undoubted source, that the
Federal army is South of
Springfield, and is marching rapidly towards
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
General Price has fallen back to
Neosho, and he and
McCulloch had united their forces, which are estimated at 37,000 men. They are falling back into this State, and intend to make a stand at a point called the
Cross Hollows, 17 miles North of
Fayetteville.
The Federals are commanded by
Fremont, and are variously estimated at from 40,000 to 60,000 and they hope, no doubt, to get south of our army and cut off reinforcements and supplies, and after wards be able to destroy it.
Fremont is in trouble at home, and he is driven to execute this dangerous enterprise to re-establish himself or go down forever.
No doubt he is desperate, and will hazard all upon the result of this adventure.
We have no fears, however, as to the result.
Our army is composed of the best material in the
South.
They will die on the field to a man before they will yield their homes and their cause to Northern despotism.
The
Missourians will fight to redeem their State, and to avenge their wrongs, while the sons of
Arkansas,
Louisiana, and
Texas will leave their bones to whiten on the field rather than suffer their country to fall under the yoke.
"We are expecting a battle in a few days.--Doubtless, ere this missive reaches you, the Waterloo of the
West will have been fought and won. The Federalists, if defeated, will all be taken or destroyed, for they have advanced too far to retrace their steps in safety."
’
A Righteous man.
The mania for speculating upon the necessities of the poor is prevailing to an alarming extent throughout our Confederacy.
All over the country there is a set of peculators and speculators, that ought to be branded with the mark of public reprobation.
We want to see this thing put down, and if the example furnished below is followed in our own and every other Southern State, it will not be long before the evil is in a measure eradicated:
The Governor of
Louisiana issued an order the other day to seize all the pork held in New Orleans by speculators.
The object of the
Governor is to pay a fair price for it, and furnish it to those who need it, at living prices.
The graceless rascals had monopolized the article, and were forcing the people to pay them fifty dollars a barrel for it. The Governor did right.
We say it emphatically; and would like to see all such rascals treated in the same manner.
A few soulless men are determined to amass wealth out of the misfortunes of the country, and they ought to be marked so that they may be known through all coming time, as Shylocks of the basest stamp.
The Foreign Mail service.
We have already announced the fact of the establishment of direct communication between New Orleans and
Tampico, where passengers will then take the British steamers touching at that point.
The New Orleans
Bee says:
‘
We are happy to announce the permanent establishment of this enterprise, and that the second mail will leave this city on the 9th inst. The mode of transmission is by a monthly overland communication with
Tampico, and connecting with the regular British steamers touching at that point.
The agents are intelligent, faithful, and capable gentlemen.
The New Orleans Postmaster makes known that letters intended for this mail may be inclosed, and the outer envelope addressed "
Costa's Foreign Mail, care of Postmaster, New Orleans." The Confederate postage to the
New Orleans office must be pre-paid.
’
The
Pensacola correspondent of the Mobile
Advertiser, in his letter of October 28, says:
‘
A little after 2 o'clock this morning the explosion of a mighty gun from the enemy's side announced the approach of a new sail — day light revealed a huge steamer at anchor near
Fort Pickens.
I give it as a report from below that several vessels were in the vicinity of
Pickens last night, and, under the darkness of the hour, landed troops on the island it was thought.
I give this simply as I hear.
Certain it is, that there are seldom any vessels seen now in the daytime near the fort.
By these movements, no doubt, they intend for the future to keep a secret.
Corporal Walter Tuggle, of the State Artillery, (Mobile Continentals,) died at ten o'clock this morning, at the
Ladies' Hospital, from the effects of a wound received at the battle of
Santa Rosa, on the morning of the 12th inst. During his illness, he received all the attention that friendship and kindness could minister.
’
Interesting Services.
Rev. John A. McManner, giving an account of a visit to the camp of the Sixth North Carolina Regiment of State troops on the
Potomac, in the
Hillsborough (N. C.) Recorder, thus speaks of the religious services in the camp and the baptism of
Colonel W. D. Penden, commandant of the regiment, by
Rev. A. T. Porter,
Rector of the
Church of the
Holy Communion at
Charleston, and
Chaplain in the Confederate Army:
‘
"The
Colonel presented himself before the minister, with
Major Benjamin Aliston, of
South Carolina, commanding the Fourth Alabama Regiment, and
Captain Stephen D. Lee, Washington Artillery,
Hampton's Legion, by his right side as witnesses.
Having responded in a clear voice to all the questions asked, he knelt down at the feet of the minister, with his hands folded on his breast his eyes swimming with tears, and by Holy Baptism, (in presence of his Regiment,) made an open profession of the Religion of Jesus, and was dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
"I must leave it for your readers to judge of that impressive scene.
Truly, did the minister say, 'There is joy in the presence of the holy angels over one sinner that repenteth.' We felt its force and its power, when we looked round and saw a whole regiment in tears, and its noble leader putting on the whole armor of
Christ, that thus doubly clad he might lead them to victory over their earthly foes, and a glorious triumph over the last enemy. "
’
Very handsome.
Gen. J. R. Anderson, in command at
Wilmington, (says the
South Carolinian,) in anticipation of our receiving a visit from
Lincoln's fleet, has gallantly offered
South Carolina five thousand men to assist in repelling the invader.
