Latest Southern news.
affairs in Missouri--the fight at Woodville--Gen. Zollicoffer--exciting news from Kentucky, &c.The following summary of news is made up from the latest Southern exchanges which have come to hand. We commend it to the attention of our readers:
The War in Missouri--stirring Proclamations from Gov. Jackson and Gen. Jeff. Thompson--the Union cause dying out, &c.
Gov. Jackson, of Missouri, has recently issued a stirring proclamation to the officers and soldiers of the Missouri State Guard and the citizens generally of that State. It breathes the very spirit of patriotism and chivalry, as the concluding paragraphs, which we commend to our readers, will show: My brave soldiers now in the field — The six months for which you were called is now expiring, and many may desire to return to their homes. It is natural you should desire to do so, but let me beg you not now to turn back from the work you have so nobly begun; do not now fail, when the eyes of the whole country are upon you; do not lose your glorious reputation for want of a little more patience; do not let the princely heritage of Missouri be lost to you and your children, when a few more weeks or days of perseverance may win it for you. Let me therefore entreat you to embrace the opportunity which is now offered you to volunteer in the service of that great young Government, the Southern Confederacy, one of the brilliant stars of which is our own loved Missouri, and fight under that bright flag which has as yet known no defeat. That the bond of union between Missouri and her Southern sisters may be more perfect, and that encouragement be given our men, and that system and unity of purpose exist, which in sires success, it has been determined that the present members of the Missouri State Guard shall have the liberty to reorganize under the laws of the Southern Confederacy--that our Southern brothers may have the privilege of supplying our wants and paying our troops, while we fight our battles which are also theirs. Do not let the frosts of winter deter you from embracing the opportunity. Do not fall to remember those patriotic sires who wintered at Valley Forge — let their bright example encourage you — the cause is the same--'tis liberty and equality for which we fight. Not so with the enemy. We seek not his subjugation, his country, or his home. He can quit the field, retire to his home, and thereby give peace and happiness to a bleeding and suffering country. He can by these means, at once close the unrelenting crusade which he is now waging against us. You have no homes to which you can safely go — the Hessian and the Jayhawker go wherever the army is not, and you will put on the shackles of serfdom whenever you lay down your arms, even though it be but temporarily. I know your patriotism — you have proved it. I know your bravery — the world has seen it. I know your endurance — the cheerfulness with which you have borne your hardships have demonstrated it. Then I pray you, maintain your reputation but a little while longer, and Missouri will be regenerated and redeemed. To my fellow-citizens who have not yet joined the army, I have now a word to say.--Can you longer delay? Can there be yet one lingering ray of hope in your hearts, that the once glorious Union can ever be reconstructed or reunited? Can you expect to remain as quiet spectators, tilling your fields and attending to your private speculations while fifty thousand of your brave brothers are on the ‘"war path?"’ Do you not know that absence from the field but prolongs the war, and that you are at all times liable to depredations from either party? Come out, then, like men. Remember that ‘"he who is not for us is against us!"’ You know as well as I that the people of Missouri are Southern people — that their sympathies, their hopes and their interests are with the South. Then I call upon you, in the name of our noble State, now struggling for independence, to come out and help your brothers who are in the field. You cannot ask or expect them to do all the fighting, to endure all the hardships, and divide with you their glory and successes; you should not expect to enjoy the reward unless you participate in their struggles and privations for victory and independence. C. F. Jackson. New Madrid, Mo., Dec. 13, 1861. In connection with the above, we append the following characteristic production from Gen. Jeff. Thompson: Headquarters 1st Military Dis, M. S. G., New Madrid, Dec. 14, 1861. Fellow-soldiers and Citizens of the First Military District of Missouri: You have read our Governor's appeal. How do you respond? Will not the brave men who have done so much work, and gained so much credit during the past six months, rally around the flag he so beautifully describes, and maintain the reputation which our friends so kindly award to us? Come, all speak at once! and let your thundering voices strike terror to the hearts of those who think we can be conquered, and who think the hardships we have passed through have chilled our patriotism or changed our principles. I will be with you, through weal or woe, and the authorities will give me such position as you desire; whether it be among you with my musket on my shoulder, or at your head, leading you as I have done, will be as you may wish, so do not hold back on my account. Our commanding Generals have promised me that I may keep the field all winter, and not be penned up behind embankments. I will be allowed to roam through our district, wherever I may be needed, and I have permission that ‘"whenever I see a head I may hit it."’ I have told them that your brave hearts shall be my breastworks, and a -field and clear sky my fort. I have ample preparations to clothe and equip all who may enlist, and on the day mentioned in my general order No. 52, I will expect you. Citizens from other States, who desire to serve with us, will be welcomed. M. Jeff. Thompson, Brigadier-General Commanding. The St. Louis Democrat, of the 13th inst. furnishes us with the following intelligence from Missouri, in addition to what has already been published: ‘ The paper, notwithstanding its Abolition proclivities, cannot disguise the fact that affairs are progressing favorably for the Confederate cause in that State; indeed it gives an opinion, ‘"based upon information gained from the rebels themselves, that unless checked within ten days more in some sudden or overwhelming manner, these recruiting parties will begin a rare work of deviltry in bridge burning and persecuting Union citizens."’ It also states that Gen. Price had made a speech at Osceola, vowing vengeance on Kansas for the destruction of that place by the Jayhawker. From a citizen of one of the principal river towns, the Democrat obtained information from General Price's command as late as the 6th. He was then, it is stated, at Osceola, with a force of from ten to fifteen thousand men, intending in a few days to strike northward, and sending word to his relatives and friends that he should soon be on the Missouri river. General Slack's division had already crossed the Osage, and another division was crossing on the 6th. Price had fifty-three cannon — some of them rifled — and had lately received twenty-five hundred new tents. All his troops were well clad, shod, and armed; and all reports in reference to their destitute and suffering condition are not founded in fact. The large numbers reported as deserting him, have simply gone home for the purpose of inducing enlistments, at which work they are now very energetically engaged in some of the river towns with good success and in others with very limited results. A report is also mentioned of a skirmish on the 6th inst., on the border of Johnson co., between Missouri refugees, aided by some Kansas, and a body of Confederates.--Three of the latter are reported to have been killed. Parties from Lexington reported that at St. Joseph the Union men were giving up in despair, and daily going over to the Confederates, to save their lives and property. Provisions and clothing were constantly going to Price's army through that place, and passing within twenty miles of the Federal troops at Sedalla. ’ General Prentiss took the people of St. Joseph, Mo., by surprise, the other day, by announcing his determination to swear them to the Union, and put such as would not take the oath to labor on the fortifications. He was good as his word, and administered the obligation to 800 persons, in the following words: United States of America, State of Missouri. I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Missouri; that I will faithfully obey all the laws, both of the Federal and the State Governments; that I will not take up arms against the Government of the United States of America, or of the Provisional Government of the State of Missouri; that I will not aid or assist, abet, harbor, conceal, or give information to or in any manner whatever encourage the enemies either of the United States of America or of the Provisional Government of the State of Missouri; and that I will, in all respects, conduct myself as a loyal citizen both of the United States and of the Provisional Government of the State of Missouri; and I will do all in my power as an American citizen to discourage the present rebellion, and preserve the Federal Union. So help me God. Sworn and subscribed to before me, this — day of--, 186-. In doubtful cases, two witnesses were required to become security that the oath would be kept. Those refusing to take it are set to work on an adjacent hill upon fortifications. The Little Rock Journal says that a letter from Fayetteville conveys the intelligence Gen. Price had engaged the Yankees at Rolla, and routed them. No particulars are given.The fight at Woodsonville — fall of Col. Terry--interesting particulars.
The Nashville Banner has a full account of the fight in Kentucky, in the region of Green river, already reported by telegraph, from which we subjoin the following additional particulars: ‘ At dawn on Tuesday morning, a body of men, consisting in part of Sweet's Artillery and a fragment of Col. Terry's Rangers, was ordered forward from Cave City, near which they were encamped. They proceeded towards Woodsonville, and, after they had passed the deep cut on this side of the depot and Dirt Road Bridge, they found a party of the enemy. It was in the outskirts of Woodsonville. They had learned that the enemy had boasted that they intended cutting off ‘"Terry and his d — d wild cats."’ This Col. Terry endeavored to defeat by turning a gap in an adjacent fence and unflanking them.--But in this attempt was unsuccessful, as was also an effort to plant Sweet's battery.--Before other preparations could be made the fight became general along the fence. The enemy was on both sides of it, extending in a line all from a hundred and fifty to two hundred yards in length and numbering six hundred strong. Our forces did not exceed two hundred and seventy-five. Col. Terry dashed on in advance, having said to Capt. Walker, ‘"Come, John, let's charge them and risk the consequences."’ Capt. Walker, Dr. Cowan, Capt. Evans, Paulding Anderson, the Orderly of Capt. Walker's company, (whose name has escaped us,) followed after a group, firing their six-shooters with great effect, as they proceeded, killing numbers on either side of the fence, and scattering them to the right and left. They did not retreat, however. They stood up with intrepid firmness and courage. As Captain Walker rode round the fence, just after Col. Terry, he saw both ends of a musket behind a forked tree. The piece had just been discharged, and its owner was reloading. The Captain saw in a moment that if he passed he would inevitably be shot. There was but one recourse. Clubbing his pistol, he dashed directly on the soldier, firing where he supposed his head was. The enemy fired at the same moment. His bail cut off the belt of the Captain's bowie-knife, ran round through his clothes, and inflicted a wound on his right wrist. The Captain's shot leveled the Yankee for ever and ever. The fight lasted in this way along the fence for fifteen minutes, when our boys had reached the extreme end of it. Just here, Col. Terry--always in the front — discovered a nest of five of the enemy. He leaped in his saddle, waived his hat, and cried, ‘"come on boys, here's another bird's nest."’ He fired and killed two of them. The other three fired simultaneously. One shot killed his charger. Another shot killed him. He fell headlong from his horse, without a groan or a moan. He was killed instantly, the ball piercing his wind-pipe and penetrating the lower part of the brain. At the same time Pending Anderson and Dr. Cowan rode up and dispatched the remaining three of the enemy. The man who killed Col. Terry was a huge raw-boned German, well dressed, and armed with a fine Belgian musket. The fight ended here. When Col. Terry's fall was announced it at once prostrated his men with grief. The enemy had fled. Sixty-six of their dead lay upon the field. Of ours only five. Slowly those were collected and our troops fell back to a secure position. All in all, this is one of the most desperate fights of the war. It was hand-to-hand from first to last. No men could have fought more desperately than the enemy. The Rangers were equally reckless. The result mournful as it is in the loss of a brave and gallant soldier, a promising officer, the idol of his men, and a loved and honored citizen, adds another page to the glory of our invincible arms. It opens the ball in lower Kentucky. Stirring scenes may be expected hourly in that crowded quarter. ’From Gen. Zollicoffer's brigade.
The Knoxville Register has been permitted to make the following extract from a private letter from a member of Col. Cumming's Regiment, in regard to the recent operations of Gen. Zollicoffer's Brigade in Kentucky, from which it will be seen that the Yankees have not forgotten how to execute the Bull Run Wild Cat manœuvre: ‘ We had crossed Cumberland river, (our regiment,) and expected to have a fight certain, as we learned that there were three regiments of the enemy within four miles of the river, who intended to plant a battery on the bank and sink our boats. But the evening before we threw over a detachment of cavalry, nine in number, who fell afoul of their pickets, run them, and scared their three regiments (who were on their march to the river, and, in fact, were within one and a half miles of it,) so badly that they wheeled around and went the other way at double-quick. The next day we repeated the experiment, and captured a major, a captain, and a private. Yesterday (the 7th) a battalion of cavalry went on a scouting expedition towards Somerset, where their forces are entrenched behind breastworks. Their picket was composed of about fifteen cavalry and forty infantry; their cavalry run past their infantry. Our cavalry pursuing and firing at the infantry. Results, one man wounded and one horse killed on our side. The enemy lost about ten or twelve killed, twelve prisoners, and a good many guns, pistols, etc — The prisoners all belonged to the 35th Ohio, who had only arrived the evening before.--There was one captain among the prisoners. ’Exciting news from Kentucky--Gen. Schoepff Falling back — Citizens leaving Somerset.
The Louisville (Ky.) Democrat, (Rep.,) of the 8th inst., publishes the following letters from Somerset and Stanford counties, from reliable parties: Somerset, Ky., Dec. 6, 1861, Three o'clock, A. M.
Editors Democrat: Gentlemen:
The rebels have crossed the river in a large force, and our troops are in full retreat before them.
The whole town is in the greatest confusion, and men, women and children are preparing to leave the town. Editors Democrat: Gentlemen:
Yours, &c.
T. M.
T. M.
Stanford, Ky., Dec. 6, 1861.
Editors Democrat:--Gentlemen:
The stage has just arrived from Somerset, loaded with ladies and children fleeing for their lives.
All the Federal troops under Gen. Schoepff have been compelled to retreat on this side of Somerset, and all the rebels, twelve thousand in number, have crossed Cumberland river, and are marching to Somerset.
Everybody that can leave has come here in boggles, wagons, ox-carts, and anything to get off with their families.
The report is true, and can be relied on, as I have it from several ladies of undoubted veracity.
Our people here think that Gen. Schoepff should be reinforced. Editors Democrat:--Gentlemen:
Yours, &c.,
Y.
Y.
