Progress of the War.
interesting facts and Incidents.
From various copies of late Northern and Southern journals we cull the following interesting paragraphs:
A Strange story — a Spy high in Authority in
the Yankee Camp — who is he?
The editor of the Chautauqua (New York) Democrat, now a clerk in the office of the Secretary of State, at Washington, contributes the following queer story to his paper: ‘
A member of Congress from Ohio related to me to-day a singular rumor that was told him by one who professed to know, and I give it under the head of ‘"rumors."’ My readers will all recollect it was said some months ago that but for some traitors in the army, Gen. McClellan would have cut off and captured some ten thousand rebels at Munson's Hill.
It was said that signal lights were sent up giving the enemy notice in season to retreat before McClellan could effect his manŒnvre.
This is said to be true, and that the next day McClellan invited, the President to meet him in a private room.--When the President came he found three persons in the room, viz: Gen. Scott, Gen. McClellan, and a third person, whose name is not given.
Gen. McClellan arose and said to Mr. Lincoln, that last night he had been betrayed, and the traitor was traced to three persons, as no other living persons knew of the plan or signal lights; "and those three," said the General, "are before you!" He then continued: "It is utterly impossible that Gen. Scott should betray his country; as for myself, I claim to be a true man; and he," pointing to the third person, "can answer for himself." The accused was mute, and did not pretend to deny the charge.
He was high in command, and, as the story goes, it was thought best to silently and quietly withdraw him from any further participation in the war for the present rather than to confess to treason in high places.
Now, the question is, what prominent military man has, within the past two months, disappeared from the galaxy of heroes in and around this city?
Wonder it isn't old Thomas?
Other rumors, more startling than this, are vaguely whispered from lip to lip — some that would not do to see the light, and yet, for certain reasons, not impossible.
It shows how feverish is the public mind, and how susceptible it is to listen to and even half believe these wild, improbable tales.
But one thing I believe: the unwritten history of these times, the deeds of darkness and midnight, if it ever is written, will prove that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. ’
Escape of Capt. Edwards from Lincoln's
clutches — interesting Narrative.
The Quincey (Fla.) Dispatch, of the 8th instant, contains the following interesting account of the escape of Capt. John E. Edward's from the clutches of Lincoln's minions: ‘
Capt. John E. Edwards, of the George B. Sloat, who, it will be recollected, was captured by the Federal war steamer Mohawk, reached our town the day before yesterday, on his way to his home in the city of Apalachicola.
His family are now aware of his escape from Yankee clutches, but he will not be the less warmly welcomed that his coming is unexpected.
Our readers will also remember the gallant conduct of Mrs. D. P. Holland, at the time of the capture of the Sloat, who furled her body in the Confederate flag, and defied the minions of Lincoln.
Capt. Edwards states that after the release and departure of his lady, the officers and crew of the Mohawk spoke of her in the most insulting and disgusting manner, using language to make a decent man's blood boil, though he being powerless, it would have been vain to have given vent to his indignation.
The Captain further says, after his capture, he was nearly four months kept a close prisoner on board the Mohawk, treated all the time with every sort of indignity, robbed of his money by the crew and of the very few comforts he possessed in the way of clothing, and that, to his frequent protestations against such treatment, the Captain replied by threatening to send him in double irons to Washington, where he would be placed on trial for his life.
He was finally sent to New York, where he was imprisoned a month more in the House of Detention.
At length he was brought to trial, but on the hearing no offence could be proved against him but that he had run the blockade.
It seems the officer who accompanied him from the Mohawk had left the city without making any special charges.
His case was thus directed by the judges to lie over for a few days, he in the meantime being suffered to depart; but all his movements were closely watched by a guard set over him. It was on a Saturday evening when he was remitted, and being required to appear again before the court on Monday, he determined to use the interval in endeavoring to effect his escape.
As good fortune would have it, on Sunday he came bluff up to an old acquaintance whom, he had once befriended in Apalachicola, who informed him there was a ship in port just on the eve of sailing for Nassan, New Providence, on the British Bahama Islands.
At the instigation and by the aid of this friend he obtained from an English Captain a discharge from his vessel as a British sailor, and thus protected, succeeded the same day in smuggling his clothes aboard the ship bound for Nassan.
In addition to his protection as a British sailor, Capt. E. was enabled to evade the surveillance of the police, who visit every vessel about to leave the port of New York, by being enrolled as one of the ship's crew.
On Monday they sailed from Sandy Hook, and on arriving at Nassan found the Ella Warley, (formerly the steamer Isabel, and owned by Jas. M. Mordecal; which, under the old regime, was the U. S. mail carried between Charleston and Havana,) in portrayal to sail for Charleston.
He took passage, and on Thursday morning last,
"Just ere the peep of dawn,"
came up in front of the bar off Charleston.
The whole horizon was shrouded in a dense fog, and they were compelled to "lie to" until the rising sun should clear up the mist end open the way to the harbor of their hopes.
But as the sun began to rise and the mist to vanish, the lifting of the murky veil revealed to their astonished gaze the threatening aspect of the two war steamers blockading the port, distant about a mile.
It was no time then to pause for wonder or speculation, but every hand, passengers, crew, and all, were beat to quarters and put to work.
Wood, tar, pitch, turpentine-everything combustible, was thrown into the furnaces till, reaching a white heat, away the steamer flew.
Quick chase was given, and peal after peal of shot and shell came thundering after them; but the noble ship sped on her way unharmed, crossed the bar, keeping up the full power of steam till safely passing beneath the protecting guns of Sumter, she was greeted by the garrison with loud and repeated shouts of triumphant welcome, and the heart of every man on board, relieved from the great excitement, said within itself, "All is well."
Mr. D. T. Bisble, bearer of important dispatches from Messrs., Yancey, Rost and Mann, was a passenger, and during the chase stood at one of the port holes, holding his hag of dispatches, with leaden sinkers attached, ready to let go should the steamer be captured.
Capt. Edwards says the cargo of the Ella Wharley, worth about $700,000, consisted of arms, ammunition, blankets, shoes, medicines, &c.
This achievement was, indeed, glory enough for one day; yet this is not all; Capt. Edwards left in the port of Nassan the British steamer Gladiafor, laden with two millions worth of arms, intended for the Confederate States.
She happened there, says Capt. E., in this way; She sailed from an English port, (after the Queen's, proclamation prohibiting the exportation of arms,) ostensibly for New Brunswick, to supply British subjects there, but lost her way--in a hora! Late information enables us to inform our readers that she is now safely moored in a Confederate port.
a Florida port — so our hearts may also say "all's well." ’
Escape of a Confederate criminal from Kentucky into Indiana--his statement.
The Evansville (Ind.) Journal, publishes the following statement obtained from a man named Andrew W. Johnson, a deserter from the Confederate army at Bowling. Green, Kentucky: ‘ Mr. Johnson joined the rebel army at Paducah, spent the summer at Camp Boon, and came into Bowling Green with the advanced guard of the rebel army in August last. He was unfortunate enough to kill a fellow-soldier in a melee and was threatened with punishment by the author fillies. He was placed in the military jail at Bowling Green and made to wait upon the Federal prisoners confined there. Johnson determined to escape if possible, and take with him a number of the Federals. For this purpose he secured and concealed a bed cord, and waited for a fitting opportunity to leave the prison. On the night of the 11th inst., he notified Captain Penn, of a Kentucky regiment, and William Weatherford, of Jackson's cavalry, who were confined in the jail, that he was going Northward, and invited them to accompany him. By means of the rope they let themselves down from the prison window, and, eluding the vigilance of the guards, reached the woods. They wandered about until daylight, when they came upon the house of a noted Secessionist. Pretending to be Confederate soldiers, the man willingly conducted them to the road they sought, and soon they were beyond pursuit. The Confederate troops at Bowling Green number 25,000 men, exclusive of General Hindman's Arkansas Legion, consisting of 9,000, at cave City. The latter force constitutes the advance of the rebel army, Johnson says there are only five batteries at Bowling Green, and the largest guns are 12-pounders, They have no siege guns and no cannon mounted on their earthworks. The infantry regiments are all uniformed, but the Tennessee troops, who constitute the main force at Bowling Green, are wholly undrilled and are not able to perform the simplest evolutions. In a field fight they would be little better than an armed mob. The rebels have two or three batteries across Baron river, and it was their intention to destroy the bridge over that stream if they were compelled to retreat. From Green river to Baron river the railroad track is torn up and the way obstructed by fallen trees. These will be very slight impediments to our advance, and as soon as the railroad bridge over Green river is completed we may look for the forward movement of our forces. The troops have plenty of flour, bacon, sugar and coffee, but no salt is to be had. It is worth $4.50 a bushel in Nashville. Coffee is selling in Bowling Green at $1 a pound, butter fifty cents, and other articles in proportion. Great impatience is manifested in the rebel camps at the postponement of the long expected fight. The men are anxious to go forward but Gen. Johnson will a wait the advance of our forces at Bowling Green. Our informant, who visited the Union camp between Bowling Green and Louisville, on his way back, says that we have men enough to drive the rebels from their position, and he is confident that this will be the result, if our advance is made within a few days. The rebels are being reinforced, however, and a protracted delay will make their position more formidable, as they will doubtless receive siege guns from the South. ’The New Bishop of Alabama--his letter of Acceptance.
The following excellent letter has been received from Rev. Dr. Wilmer, of Va., by the committee appointed to inform him of his election to the Episcopate of Alabama.--From all appearances, the Diocese has great reason to congratulate itself on the choice of a Bishop so well fitted to step into the place of the lamented Dr. Cobb: Richmond, Nov. 27, 1861.
Reverend and Dear Brethren:
--I have duly received your communication informing me of my election to the Episcopate of the Diocese of Alabama.
I do not know how to express the mingled emotions to which your unexpected communication has given rise.--But you will readily understand my difficulty.
You say that, ‘"We indulge the hope that you, on your part, will be impelled by a solemn sense of duty to assume the labors and cares of the high office thus cast upon you in the providence of God, and, as we are fully persuaded, by the guidance of his holy spirit."’
I can only say to you, dear brethren, that, thus appealed to, I do not feel at liberty to decline your invitation; and may God, of his infinite mercy, confirm our mutual hope that we have been guided by His holy spirit, and by His grace enable me to justify the choice which you have made.
You have called me to an office the duties of which, under ordinary circumstances, are most difficult and trying; but I feel that they are peculiarly so in the present instance, in that I am called to enter into the labors of one who, to a degree seldom witnessed, deserved and enjoyed the confidence and affection of his brethren and people.
Who can hope to be so merciful, loving, and gentle to all persons, for Christ's sake, as he was. But by the grace of God he was what he was. May I not, then, entreat your prayers to Almighty God in my behalf, that I may go among you in the ‘"spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,"’ and follow in the footsteps of your late, beloved Bishop, even as he followed Christ. Reverend and Dear Brethren:
Yours, truly and affectionately,
Richard H. Wilmer.
To the Rev. Messrs. Hanson, Massey, Ticknor, and Messrs. Phelan, Taylor, and Alison.
Richard H. Wilmer.
To the Rev. Messrs. Hanson, Massey, Ticknor, and Messrs. Phelan, Taylor, and Alison.
