Note of the War
affairs at
Columbus — movements in
Tennessee see — spirit of the
Southern press, &c., &c.
The Memphis
Appeal, of Feb. 22d, published a letter from its
Columbus correspondent, dated the 20th, which furnished the latest reliable intelligence from that quarter.
It is encouraging to know that the moral condition of the army is perfect, and that every necessary preparation is made to receive the foe:
The news of the surrender of
Fort Donelson, instead of dispiriting our troops, has only served to arouse their spirit of patriotism to a higher pitch in defence of the cause in which they are engaged.
We know that our brave boys repulsed the enemy three days in succession, and at times at the point of the bayonet, with immense slaughter, although they outnumbered us three to one, and were each morning bringing into the field fresh troops to contend against ours, who had passed the three previous nights in the rifle pits and fortifications without shelter, and were benumbed and exhausted and almost ready to fall to the ground for want of sleep.
The reinforcement of the enemy by fourteen transports laden with fresh troops on Saturday night, ready to renew the attack on the following morning left our General only one of two alternatives — to be entirely surrounded and out to pieces in their entrenchments, or to save the lives of their men by a timely surrender.
It was a dear-bought victory, and only gained by brute force and overpowering numbers.
Our friends at home may rest assured that we anxiously anticipate an opportunity to avenge the loss sustained on the
Cumberland.
Gen. Polk has gone to
Jackson, Tennessee; to consult with
Gen. Beauregard and
Governor Harris.
He is expected back to-night.
Every preparation is being made here to strengthen our position against an attack by the enemy.
We do not expect one for some time; as it will occupy their time for at least a week or two in burying their dead, removing their wounded, and repairing their gunboats which were so badly crippled at
Forts Henry and
Donelson.
Tilghman and
Pillow discovered the vulnerable parts of these gunboats, and whenever they come within range of our big guns, we will most assuredly reach that vitals.
The Memphis
Avalanche, of the 22d, has late intelligence from the neighborhood of the recent battles:
There is a large cavalry force between
Paris and the
Tennessee river, who would give a good account of themselves if they had an opportunity.
Capt. Stocks, of this city, is a gallant officer, and his ‘"Rebel Rangers"’ will ever be heard from in the thickest of the fight.
The
Tennessee river bridge was seriously injured by the
Federals when they first took it, in order to prevent guarding it. They cut the trestle-work at the abutment, so that a train passing would go through.
Finally, however, they came back and cut it down.--Two spans officer have since been picked up at
Columbus.
The Federals are committing all sorts of depredations on the inhabitants in the vicinity of
Fort Henry.
Mr. McCutchen, an old citizen, was found with a Lincoln soldier coat on, which they made him a prisoner, and afterwards treated his old wife with great indignity in her own house.
The Knoxville
Register, alluding to Gov
Harris's eloquent proclamation calling out the whole militia force of
Tennessee to take the field against the
Yankee invaders — the
Governor proposing to command in person-- says:
‘
We think that
Knox county can turn out at least 2,000 men capable of bearing arms.
The 15,000
Enfield rifles, received a few days since at New Orleans, have been ordered to
Tennessee.
The militia ordered out can bring, we believe, as many more rifles and shot guns with them.
Tennessee is not subjugated, and cannot be, if her citizens will respond to the
Governor's call.
’
Spirit of the press.
The New Orleans press is full of fight and defiance under the late adverse news.
The
Delis has a leader headed ‘"The Only Issue,"’ which talks very plainly to men who feel shaky about their property.
They must defend it with the sword, and drive back the foe who is now waging war for gain, or they will be reduced to a condition tenfold worse than slavery.
The
Crescent concludes an article on the state of affairs with these words:
We are glad to note that the disasters, instead of dispiriting our people, have aroused them to the highest pitch of warlike excitement.
Our whole population are eager for the fray, and all they want is a leader and arms.
They are resolved to defend their gloriously beautiful land the last, and they will do so. The same spirit, we are sure, animates the entire people of the
Confederate States, and when they turn out
en masse, as they shortly will, the enemy will find an unconquerable foe to encounter.
The possession of leading points will not give them the country.
The occupation of the principal cities of the
South will eventuate in no lasting advantage to them.
Our people will retire into the interior, and in their mountains and swamps they will maintain a warfare which must ultimately prove successful.
The great
Napoleon hold, through his magnificent armies, every leading city in
Spain, for a number of years; yet the country was by no means conquered.
The guerilla war the Spaniards waged against him was nothing in comparison to the war we can wage.
Therefore, let none be downcast.
We must expect reverses.
War is no child's play.
We cannot reasonably look for success all the time.
But, if we all turn out as one man, animated by one spirit, as we ought, we shall win the victory and establish our independence on foundations that cannot be shaken.
The enemy on the Gulf Coast.
The New Orleans
True Delta, of the 18th ult, states that
Capt. Guyer, of the sloop
Jeff Davis, a reliable and trustworthy man, arrived in that city from
Biloxi, having left there on the 17th.
He says that before leaving, he could distinctly, with the aid of his glass, count sixty-five of the enemy's vessels in the neighborhood of
Ship Island — He also stated that the enemy had been industriously at work, for several days past, landing large bodies of troops on Bratton Island and the Chandeleurs.
Hon. J. H. Brown, of
Texas, in his army newspaper, the
War Bulletin, published in the
camp of McCulloch's division, gives the following samples of Federal outrages in
Missouri:
Will the God of '76--of
Washington,
Sumter,
Marion, and
Moultrie — vouchsafe His blessing to the infidel ruffians who are now ravaging
Missouri with fire and sword, stealing like Murrellites, murdering unarmed men, brutally insulting helpless women, and performing deeds of blood and violence known only to savage life?
Persons farther South can form no adequate idea of thousands upon thousands of outrages committed in
Missouri.
We could not believe it until we came up here and traveled in that State.--We have had minute facts in hundreds of cases detailed to us by ladies of the highest respectability — many of them exiles from home with their families, and are now in this town and vicinity.
One of them, with whom we now board, was publicly cursed by a procession of over two hundred Southern-born tories in the streets of
Springfield, last spring, for wearing a secession apron.
One was oursed and otherwise insulted for seeking from a tory
Captain the recovery of a favorite animal stolen from her by his tory company.
Her aged father (a native, too, of
Ohio, but a patriot,) was seized and carried with jeers and scoffs by her door without permission to see her, though she was very sick and they resided in different counties.
His life was only spared by her almost supernatural warnings of vengeance to the base and cowardly wretch,
Capt. Wright.
An
Illinois Colonel shook his fist in the face of a refined young lady in
Springfield, saying:
‘ "G — d d — n you!
We have stolen your niggers and you can't help yourselves. " ’
The Petersburg
Express contains the following account of the adventures of
Col. Corcoran and his companions, while spending a day in that city:
The indignation of the community was deeply aroused on Friday last, by the appearance of several Yankee prisoners, who had arrived in town that day, roaming freely about our streets.
This indignation was heightened by the knowledge that these men had been received into the houses of one or more of our citizens, and that
cicerones were in attendance upon them, guiding them from one drinking saloon to another, and what else the public does not know.
While we do not wish to palliate at all the indiscretion of which some persons were guilty in their do portent towards the
Yankees, we are inclined to think, from our knowledge of the circumstances, that the affair was magnified in the estimation of the public by exaggerated reports.
Early in the day information was carried to the
Mayor that Col
Corcoran had been seen to enter the store of
Messrs. Scott &
Harrison, on Sycamore street, in company with
Mr. Delaney, the head cutter for
Scott &
Shafer, and that subsequent observation had discovered the
Yankee Colonel seated inside in close conversation with several gentlemen.
Officer Peterson was detailed to inquire into the
matter, who took
Delaney in charge and conducted him before the
Mayor,
Mr. A. L. was requested to attend the examination of
Delaney.
In the meantime, the excitement or the crowd became very high near the store, and
Col. Corcoran was led out through the back entrance of the building and conducted by
officer Ledbetter to the
Richmond depot, where the balance to the prisoners were under guard.
Mr. Delaney stated to the
Mayor that he had known
Corcoran intimately in
Ireland and in New York; that
Corcoran was well acquainted with his family, and since he had no communication with them for months past, he had merely invited him (
Corcoran) into the store to receive and bear to them a friendly letter which he had written for the purpose.
He further stated that he had said nothing that would result in injury to the
Southern States, and that nothing was further from his intention.
Mr. Scott confirmed this statement, and said that he believed
Delaney to be true to the
South.
The letter being in the possession of
Colonel Corcoran, a messenger was sent to request his presence before the
Mayor.
In due time he appeared and exhibited the letter, in which nothing objectionable was found.
He also corroborated the statements of
Messrs. Delaney and
Scott.
The examination resulted in the discharge of
Delaney.
Exchange of prisoners.
We find the subjoined article in a late number of the
National Intelligencer (
Washington.) It is understood that the
Federal Government has, in open disregard of its pledge, since receded from its agreement relative to a general exchange of prisoners:
The Hon. Hamilton Fish and
the Rev. Bishop Amen have returned to
Washington, and, it is stated, have made their report to the
Government respecting their mission to relieve Union prisoners in the
South.
They repaired to
Fortress Monroe and made known their commission to the
Confederate authorities at
Norfolk, by whom the matter was referred to
Richmond.
A reply same refusing to the
Commissioners admission to the
Confederate territory, but expressing readiness to negotiate for the exchange of prisoners.
Our Commissioners opened negotiation, which resulted in perfect success.
An equal exchange was agreed on, but the
Confederates had three hundred more prisoners than our Government; but with commendable magnanimity, they proposed to release those also on parole, it our Government would agree to release three hundred of their men that might hereafter fall into our hands.
This noble commission of
Secretary Stanton, therefore, has its ample reward.
A general ‘"jail delivery"’ of our soldiers will occur throughout the
South, and they will soon be rejoicing in liberty regained.
Since the close of this negotiation with their offer to give liberty to those surplus three hundred Union soldiers, the
Confederates have had a reverse, and lost thousands of prisoners at
Roanoke Island and
Fort Donelson.
The question is, shall we be like magnanimous, and give up, on parole, the large surplus we now have.
Hon. Weldon N. Edwards,
President of the North Carolina Convention, in response to a vote of thanks previous to the adjournment of that body, made a stirring address, of which the following is a sample:
Gentlemen, this is no time for talking; the time for action is upon us. There are three great essentials to success.
We want
action, action, constant action. There is no heart, I am sure, in this hall, that does not cheerfully respond to this demand.
Let us not occupy ourselves about the past!
Let us not repine at what is done.
Where there is no remedy, there should be no complaint.
There cannot be war without its calamities; they are but more
incidents, and it becomes us to meet them like men — yielding nothing to despondency.
Hopeful anticipation should be our staff — it will cheer us on, it will nerve us for the trials ahead.
Let us go forward, then, boldly; let us march fearlessly up to our duties, here and at home, and, my word for it, we will wash out, with the blood of the enemy, his foul footsteps upon our soil.
Will this, and all will yet be well; and
North Carolina, our good old mother, will stand redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled, by the irresistible power and indomitable daring of her own noble and gallant sons.
