Notes of the War.
the fight at Cumberland Gap — our Naval Fleets — a Federal General on the evacuation of Columbus, &c., &c.
The Knoxville
Register,of March 28th,has obstructed from
Capt. Gailford,
Quartermaster of the post at
Cumberland Gap.
the following pardealars of the engagement there on Saturday week, which resulted in the repulse of the enemy:
The enemy drop in our pickets Friday evening about half past 5 o'clock, an hour after
Gen. Saith left the
Gap.
They then fell back.
The attack was commenced about day-light Saturday morning with musketry — About ten o'clock they succeeded in getting two rifled cannon pieces in position to the right of the
Kentucky road, about a mile and a half from our fortifications.
Wherever the enemy presented himself in any force our batteries shelled him, by which means he learned the position of our guns, to which he directed his whole attention, but old no damage except knocking a poles out of a caisson belonging to the 3d Maryland artillery, and sending a rifle ball through the roof of the magazine of one of our batteries.
A musket ball from the enemy fell in the valley this side of the mountain, striking one of
Colonel Braselton's males, breaking its back.
Colonel Rains is reported to have acted in the most gallant manner, riding along the line of fortifications during the while engagement.
It is proper to state that
Colonel Rains did not deem it necessary to fire except when the enemy were in force, and then his shot generally scattered them like a flock of frightened sheep.
The damage cone to the enemy we had no means of ascertaining.
The casualties from our side were--
Fifth Georgia Regiment,
Colonel Manghan commanding--Privates Smith and
Crowley, each wounded in the thigh with extra large Minnie balls.
Col. Morgan's Tennessee Regiment.--
Private Grisholm dangerously wounded with a musket ball; shot through the bowels.
Third Georgia Battalion,
Major Ruder commanding.--
Private Spears wounded in his hand by a fragment of shell.
Many of our gunners distinguished themselves by their admirable marksmanship whenever the enemy presented themselves in groups sufficiently large to waste powder on; but it would be invalid cut to mention names where all were burning with noble order to show themselves worthy of the sacred cause in which they are engaged.
Lieut. Miller, of the 29th North Carolina regiment, was shot through the thing, this side of
Powell's river, by a "bushwhacker." As soon as the fight commenced on the other side of the mountain, "bushwhackers" commenced their deviltry on this side.
Our Naval Heroes.
The following official letter will be pursued with interest:
Naval Hospital, March 25th, 1862.
Sir:
--I have the honor to receive your communication of the 19th instant, enclosing a copy of a resolution of Congress tendering the thanks of that body to the officers and men under my command, for our successful recent attack upon the Naval forces of the enemy in
Hampton.
Roads.
On Sunday morning last, the officers and men in uniform were assembled in the sail loft in the
Navy-Yard, and ford led into a hollow square with the officers in the centre, when, uncovered, the enclosed "General order" was read, then your letter, followed by the
Resolution of Congress.
The whole scene was quite impressive, and officers and men property appreciated the iron or conferred upon them by their country.
General order.
Immediately upon the receipt of this order, or as soon thereafter as promotionable
Commander John R. Tucker, the senior officer present under my command, will cause to be read in one of the public buildings of this Navy-Yard, in the presence of that officers and crew of the "James River squadron." the enclosed communication from the
Hon S. M. Mallory,
Secretary of the Navy, forwarding a resolution of thanks from the Congress of the Confederate States of
America, for our victories over our enemies on the 8th and 9th inst.
The
Flag Officer takes this opportunity to renew to the officers and crews under his command his thanks for the gallantry, perseverance and determination with which they sustained, on those days, the honor of the
Flag and the Country.
They may very soon be called upon to give some further evidence that they will sustain the highs character and reputation acquired by the squadron in that conflict.
Federal Hendagent exposed.
It will be remembered that in his report of the evacuation of
Columbus, the
Federal General,
Halleck, made use of this language:
"Our cavalry from a Paddock marched into
Columbia at 6 P. M., driving before them the enemy's rear guard.
The flag of the
Union is now floating over the boasted
Gibraltar of the west.
Finding himself completely turned on both sides of the
Mississippi, the enemy was obliged to evacuate or surrender.
"Large quantities of artillery and stores were captured."
We find appendant to the foregoing, in the Memphis
Appeal, a communication from one of our officers, which we copy:
Headq'rs First Grand Division, Army of the Mississippi, Hun, Boldy, Denn Tenn, March 17, 1862.
Above you have the report of
Gen Hadleck to
Gen McClellan, of what he calls the capturing of
Columbus.
I do not wish to suggest that
Gen. Halleck has meant to say what was not strictly use, for my knowledge of that officer for inasmuch an intimation; but for the truth of history — which is being made very rapidly just now — I feel called on to say, nevertheless, that the last paragraph of his report is a more fable, entirely destitute of truth.
Every gun from the fort was shipped before the evening of the 1st.
During Saturday night the last gun from the water batteries was put on board the steamer
Victoria, and on Sunday morning, the of 21 March, the last gun from the river front was shipped on the same boat.
Having been directed by
Gen. Polk on Saturday evening, to superintend the shipment of the few remaining pieces of heavy artillery, I speak knowingly when I affirm that every gun at
Columbus, have two smoothbore 37's in a remote on work, and five and indifferent carronade, was saved.
These were all spiked and rendered volunteers.
Over one hundred pieces of ordnance were taken from the post.
The entire value of every article belonging to the
Government, bound by the enemy at
Columbus, was very Inconsiderable.
It consisted chiefly of a few shot and carriages for heavy guns.
The officer making the report to
Gen. Halleck, on which his dispatch to his chief to based, has simply said what was false, for which
Gen. Halleck may not be held responsible
The preliminary steps towards the evacuation of
Columbus were taken by
General Polk, under an order from the War Department, on Tuesday, February 26th by sending off the sick, but the work was not fairly commenced and the 6th.
The removal of accumulations in the shape of supplies of every kind for a large army for eight months, amounting to Millions of dollars, was completed on the 21, at 3 P. M. of which day, the army moving marched, the
General, with his staff and a guard of cavalry, left the town.
In his information as to the driving the rear guard of the enemy, (our army,)
General Halleck has been equally unfortunate, since it appears from his own dispatch that his cavalry made their appearance and effected the capture (1) of the "based
Gibraltar" at 6 P. M. of the 3d, more than twenty-four hours after these who had built it, and awaited his coming in vain for six months, had abandoned it.
Affairs about Newbern.
The editor of the
Suffolk Sun, having recently visited that part off
North Carolina contiguous to
Newbern, gives an interesting sketch of his observations, from which we copy the following:
A few days after
Newbern was captured, our rachets advanced to within three miles of
Newbern and captured three Yankees who had been out on a standing expedition, and had a plane in a wagon carrying into town.
The mules became frightened and carried the wagon and driver with the piano into town, but the three men on foot were taken and carried to
Kinston.
Francis Dibbie was taken by our pickets ten miles from
Newbern, on his way to
Huston, and confined in
Juliet Goldsboro', and will be tried as a spy. Letters found in his trunk induced the authorities to arrest his brother,
Hurlow Dibble, at
Kinston, and their agent at
Goldsboro',
Mr. A. Day--What the charges against the two latter are, we did not learn.
We have heard much of the fleeing citizens of
Alexandria,
Hampton, and other places, but have never witnessed anything like it until now. Our intimate acquaintance in
Newbern and the surrounding country has given us an opportunity of knowing much of the troubles of those who have left their homes to escape the tyranny of the
Yankees.
Later--Since the above was written, we have seen and conversed with several gentlemen of undoubted veracity who have recently escaped from the enemy at
Newbern.
On Saturday last
Gen. Burnside was landing a large number of army wagons and artillery.
This point to a forward movement.
Reinforcements are also landing.
Gen. Burnside occupies as his headquarters the house of
Mr. J. M. F. Harrison.
known as the "Old Stanly House," the that
Gen. Washington stopped at when he visited
Newbern;
Gen. Fouer occupies the residence of
Charles Slover; Another General occupies
Judge Donnell's house.
The office of the
Provost Marshal is the Bank of Commerces.
The Merchants' Bank, both Methodist churches, and the Academy, are used as hospitals.
The
Yankees have service for the soldiers in the
Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches, and service in the Christian church for the negroes.
There are about 2,5 a negroes in
Newbern, and the number regularly increasing.
All signs point to a battle in the vicinity of
Newbern soon.
Andy Johnson and the Nashville newspapers.
The Nashville
Patriot, of March 18, speaks out somewhat independently in regard to the proceedings of the
military Governor of
Tennessee:
‘
On the 11th inst, one of the editors and one of the proprietors of the
Patriot, in the absence of their associates, resumed the publication of the paper.
We know, from the experience of independent newspapers in other cities under the flag of the
Union that we had little hope of being permitted to enjoy unmounted the liberty of speech which was once presumed to be the constitutional right of every.
American freeman, and were not, therefore, surprised when, on Saturday last,
Gov. Gen. Johnson, in an interview which he requested with the newspaper proprietors of
Nashville, imposed upon them conditions more suitable to the Ample of
France, whose imperial despot has banished a free piece, than to
Tennessee.
We need no state what these conditions were.
Unwilling to be trammelled by them, we andicate the tripod with acorn of servilely which no power on earth can repress, and without an emotion of regret.
’
In conclusion, it is proper for us to state that our newspaper printing establishment has been leased to the employees in the office, and they will, so long as it be profitable, publish the
patriot upon their own responsibility.
Neither of the former editors or proprietors will have any further connection with its publication.
We wish this point distinctly and emphatically impressed upon the minds of those who have read the
Patriot in days gone by, and regarded is as an exponent of sound principles.
Church Dells for cannon.
The New Orleans
Delta says:
‘
The proper feeling undoubtedly commences to move our community now. When the churches begin spontaneously to offer their bride to be melted down and made into arbitrary, it can easily be believed that an unconquerable spirit of independence and resistance is rife.
We hear from the best authority that the
Catholic Archbishop and Clergy of this Diocese have decided to give all their bells for the casting of cannon, when they shall be called on for them by the parties proper to judge of the necessities of the case.
’
The great bell of St. Patrick's Church, so well known for his grand yet mellow tones, has already been placed at the disposal of
Gen. Beauregard by the patriotic goal of
Rev. Father Mullon.
This magnificent bell weighs four thousand pounds and will itself make a piece of ordinance of pretty heavy calibre.
Bells used in Catholic churches have usually been consecrated with great solemnity to the service of God.
They can never be used again for secular purposes unless, from motives of the greatest public urgency, the
Bishop consents thereto, when he himself must break them.
From this it will be seen how great a sacrifice is made and how loyal a spirit exists among such an influential body of men.
The Protestant Episcopal and Methodist churches at
Jackson, Tenn, have presented their bells to
Gen. Beauregard.
The War in the West.
The army correspondent of the Savannah
Republican, in a recent letter from
Tennessee.
writes as follows:
‘
The safety of
Memphis and New Orleans depends upon the result of the hat to that must be fought at no distant day between
Beauregard and
Buell.
If the battle in successful, he will seize upon the railway lines which intersect at
Corinth and
Grand Junction, and march upon
Memphis; in which event
Fort Pillow will necessarily fall.
If he fall, then we shall be able to hold the river.
It should be remembered, however, that
Gen. Seigel is marching down the west bank of the
Mississippi with a heavy column.
Still, it is believed the river can be held in the event that
Beauregard is successful.--Seigel would hesitate to continue his progress, should his so-adjustor be defeated, unless he can clear the river.
’
On the arrival of Parson
Brownlow in
Nashville he delivered the following speech, filled with characteristic blackguardism, in front of the
St. Cloud Hotel:
Gentlemen — I am in a sad plight to say much of interest; too thoroughly incapacitated to do justice to you or myself.
My throat has been disordered for the past three years and I have been compelled to almost abandon public speaking Last December I was thrust into an uncomfortable and disagreeable jail.--for what?
Treason! Treason to the begun Confederacy; and the proofs of that treason were articles which appeared in the Knoxville
Whig in May last, when the
State of Tennessee was a member of the imperishable Union.
At the expiration of four weeks I became a victim of the typhoid fever, and was removed to a room in a decent dwelling, and a guard of seven men kept me company.
I subsequently become so weak that.
I could not turn over in bed, and the guard was increased to twelve men, for fear I should suddenly recover and run away to
Kentucky.
Becoming convalescent, in a measure.
I was removed to my former place of confinement.
One day I was visited by some Confederate officers, who remarked, "
Brownlow, you should not be here.
Take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government, which will not only insure you to a speedy release, but insure your protection" "Sir!" said I, "before I would take the oath to support such a bell forsaken institution.
I would suffer myself to rot or die of old are."
Why, my friends, these demagogues actually boast that the
Lord is on their side, and declare that the
Lord is assisting them in the furtherance of their nefarious project.
In
Knoxville and surrounding localities, a short time since, daily prayer meetings were held wharf to the Almighty was beseeched to raise
Lincoln's blockade, and to hurried attraction against the
Burnside expedition.--Their prayers were partly answered — the blockade at
Roanoke 1st and was most effectively raised — a reciprocal of their sacrilege dividedly tendered.
Gentlemen, I am an Abolitionist; I applaud no solutions doctrines; I am a Southern man, and all my relatives and interests are thoroughly identified with the South, and Southern institutions.
I was born in the Old Dominion, my parents were born in
Virginia, and they and their antecedents were all slaveholders.
1st measure you about the
South has suffered no infringement upon her institutions; the slavery question was actually no pretext for this unholy, unrighteous war. Twelve senators from the
Cotton States who had sworn to preserve inviolate the
Constitution framed by forefathers, plotted treason at night — a fit time for such a crime — and telegraphed to their States dispatches advising them to pass Ordinances of Secession — Yes, gentlemen, twelve Bennors swore allegiance in the daytime, and unswears them at night.
A short time since I was called upon by a little Jew, who I believe, is the
Secretary of War of the bogus Confederacy.
He threatened to hang me, and I expected no more mercy from him than was shown be his illustrious predecessors toward
Jesus Christ.
I entered into a long correspondence with this specimen of expecting humanity not from mercy or forgetfulness on their part.
I was permitted to depart with all my documents in my little values, which I hope to punish at no distant days.
Gentlemen, when I started on my perilous journey, I was sore distressed in mind, and exceedingly so in body, but the moment my eyes encountered the pickets of the
Federal army my depression decreased and returning seemed suddenly to invigorate my physical constitution.
Gentlemen, Secession is played out; the dog is dead; the child is born, and his name to
Jeff. Davis, Jr.
My through distresses me to such an extend that I must decline further remark to this evening, but shall make myself heard upon the next convenient occasion, which will probably be ere the termination of the pressing week.
A correspondent of the
Missouri Demat Vet furnishes a graphic description of the bombardment of
Island Number10, in which the most spirited bravery is conceded to the
Southern troops:
Occasionally our solid shot struck the parapet plumply, and an immense column of shirt thrown into the air would show the execution done.
Now and then the shell exploded directly over the fort guns, and the pieces could be seen splashing the water in every direction.
Amidst it all I could see the rebels running to and fro on the parapet, loading their guns, carrying off killed or wounded and in all behaving with the most spirited bravery.
Two or three of their guns were dismounted, and some heavy breaches made in their works, but they struggled manfully to repair the damages, perfectly different as it seemed, of the fearful perits which surrounded them.
"Good for
Kilty!" aborts
Captain Walke, of the Carondolet, as one of the riffed shots of the
Mound City struck just in the fort and cast up an immense cloud of reddish-looking dirt.
"Crash," goes a 10 inch shell from the stern of the Carondolet just over which I am standing; the ship trembles in every timber at the recall, the spectator in volunteering judging the shock, the sulphurous smoke flying back in his face, and for the moment blinding his sight, and the huge missile roaring in the air like the sound of a distant railroad train coursing at lightning speed.
We watch its fight with intense interest.
It falls in the river in front of the parapet.
or perhaps pass a over into the woods behind, or merely plunges direct into the earth works.
The seamen on deck clap their hands and dance wildly around. "Good boy," to the gunner. "Good morning to you," to the Rebates. "Put that in your pocket and never mind the change"
"Look at tem running," shouts a follow with a glass at his eye "I see their flag yet," yells another. "Now they're loading" their big'un Watch on there she guess"
"Get out of the war, gentlemen," shouts the
Captain "Let us pay one respect to that fellow.
Lie close." We all crouched behind the pilot house; but the shot is intended for the
Benton, and whereon just over her deck, striking the water a hundred feet astern "Crash!" go two almost simultaneous discharges from the
Mound City. "Boom!" thunders a huge mortar just in our rear, while the prows of the
Benton,
St. Louis, and
Cincinnati, are one constant, shooting cloud of fice and smoke, accompanied by the most terrific reports.
