Late Southern News.
the expedition to Santa Resa Island — another gun-beat fight — the resignation of
Gen. Twiggs, &c., &c.
We copy the following from our latest southern exchanges:
The
Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser, of friday, says:
Amid the confusion and uncertainty of con-cting reports brought by passengers and etters by this morning's train from Pensa-da, we had almost despaired of obtaining anything approaching reliability.
We formally.
however, found
Dr. Manly, who happened to be at the scene of action on a peaceful mission, from whom we received a onnected account.
Dr. M.'s well-known accuracy of judgment will, we trust, be a sufficient apology for the unwarranted use of his ame. Everything was still in confusion then
Dr. M. left at 9 o'clock last night, and the statement he gave us was, of course, made from the sifting of the personal narratives persons, more or less reliable, whom he heard relate them yesterday.
His account is stantially as follows:
On Tuesday night, about 12 o'clock, some twelve or fifteen hundred of our men, under command of
Brigadier General Anderson, crossed the bay in two small steamers and ows attached to them.
The men were ticked--generally from fourteen to seventeen number — from the companies of the regiments from
Alabama,
Florida,
Georgia, Lou-dana and
Mississippi, no full company being taken, except, perhaps, the
Church Rifles, om
Georgia.
The party disembarked from point opposite
Pensacola, near
Santa Rosa island, about five miles from
Fort Pickens.--he men had to wade, and some of them to wim, to reach the beach.
Some of their rtridges, &c., got wet.
Landed on the stand, they were divided to two squads, our proceeding directly across the southern beach, beyond
Billy Wilson's mp, and the other marched down the southern beach, opposite each other.
They lled the sentries as they went, some six in number, spiked the guns, set fire to the cabins which the Zonaves were camped, and shot em as they ran out. All agree that the uaves ran incontinently for
Fort Pickens.
They rarely looked back or stopped to dre at boys, but shot as they ran. They had brown up some sand-banks, but none of their guns were mounted.
Our men took over goodly quantity of rat-tail files, with which eysecurely spiked every gun except two--They burnt all the houses and stores, except hospital.
The only formidable resistance was from me U. S. regulars, sent out from Fort Pickers to redeem the ground which the cowardly
Zonaves had abandoned.
The regulars, how-er, finding our force larger than they had expected, seemed to have become panic strick and retreated until our men were in the of returning from the island, in obedience the signal from the
Navy-Yard.
They men advanced and fired deliberately at our men, huddied up in the boats and did them more damage than they had received during the fight on the island.
It was at this time
Gen. Anderson was wounded in the arm. Two or three guns were also fired at them when crossing, from
Fort Pickens, without affect.
Our men supplied themselves well with small arms that they took from the enemy.--They also killed one negro and captured another.
Seventeen prisoners were seen that They brought back; how many, if any more, hot known.
One account said the notorious
colonel Billy Wilson, had made a straight in from his
marquee to the
Fort.
Another account from one of the captured prisoners tated that he had not slept at camp that ght as usual, having remained at Fort tickens.
All statements from our men who anticipated agree that they killed between two and three hundred of the
Yankees.
Our ss in killed and missing is forty, and thirty-five wounded, five of whom died yesterday.--ost of our losses in the skirmish are attribu- to cross firing, when our men were shooting at the Zouaves from opposite sides, and to their not being able to distinguish the badge their comrades in the darkness of the night, and shooting one another.
Lieut. Sayre, when seen last, was on the each, in a wounded condition.
His friends who had him in charge had carried him two three miles, and were finally compelled to have him to save themselves.
He had requested them to do so previously, but they clung to him to the last moment, and then put a coat under his head for a pillow.
He was shot in the thigh, and was much exhausted from leeding He fought gallantly as long as he should.
It is supposed he was taken prisoner this helpless condition by the
Yankees.--
Capt. Nelouis, of one of the
Georgia companies was killed, whose death was greatly regretted.
notwithstanding the unfortunate accidents referred to, occasioning the death of so many four brave soldiers, the object of the expedition was completely accomplished, and the result was highly satisfactory and inspiriting the officers and men of our army.
The only object contemplated was the breaking up of
Billy Wilson's camp, and not the taking of
fort Pickens.
This was done completely.
No artillery was taken over — only small arms, pick-axes, re-halls, and files.
A reserve force, composed of the remainder of the 5th Georgia Regiment, had started over to reinforce our den, when the signals were fired by
General Bragg for the body on the
Island to return at was about 9 o'clock in the morning; they had been entirely successful, and, being in lauger of being surrounded by the fleet and the force at
Fort Pickens, it was thought prudent for the troops to recross the
Bay.
Major yodges, one of the ‘"distinguished"’ Yankee prisoners taken, told our officers that
Colonel Brown, the commander at
Fort Pickens, would open his batteries on them yesterday last night; but, up to 9 o'clock, when the rain left, no demonstration had been made far wounded were being well cared for by the ladies of
Pensacola.
Another gun-boat fight.
[correspondence of the Memphis Argus.]
Camp Johnston, near Columbus, Monday, Oct. 7, 1861.
Dear
Argus:
I have just time to give you ome facts of an attack by the
Lincoln gunboats on
Columbus this morning.
At about, 10 o'clock heavy firing was heard round the bend, immediately back of Camp Jackson, and in about twenty minutes
Commodore Marsh Miller's gun-boat (the
Grampus) came flying round the point, closely pursued by our of the
Lincoln gun-boats, throwing shell very rapidly.
As soon as they arrived within ange, the upper batteries, composed of three or four thirty-twos end our rifled cannon, opened fire, but with what effect I have not ascertained.
The gun-boats were in full view from the
Kentucky shore We were to far from the upper batteries that we could not tell whether the shell from the gun-boats fell inside the breastworks; but it was thought that one or two fell among our boys.
As soon is the gun-boats were fairly in range, the fewer batteries opened on them with a deadly fire.
It was positively a continual roar of cannonading for a quarter of an hour.
At this point the gun-boats seemed to be taken thack, and immediately wheeled and retreated.
Whilst I have been writing this, I learn that one of the shells from the gun-boats fell behind the entrenchments of the upper batteries, but without exploding or damage to any one.
As soon as the firing commenced
Col. Tappan, who is in command at Camp Johnston, and who displayed the greatest coolness and judgment, was on the opposite shore, and crossed the river in full view of the scene.
When he arrived at his command his regiment was called out in line of battle and ammunition distributed to them.
The troops were headed by the regimental band, directed by the chivalrous
John O'Neill, playing the national airs, including ‘"Dixie,"’ ‘"
Marseilles,"’ ‘"Arkansaw Traveler,"’ ‘"Nigger in de Tent,"’ etc., etc. I have the honor of being one of the regimental band, and I can say that I never was in a better condition to play ‘"shakes"’ and ‘"trilis"’ than just at this time.
Our boys tried to attract some notice from the gun-boats, and made the woods and opposite shore resound with ‘"Here's your mules!"’ ‘"Come to see me!"’ etc., but it was no go.
I learn that one of the gun-boats had her smoke-stack shot away, but could not ascertain if any other damage, was done.
I judge, however, from the shouts of the gallant boys who manned the guns on our side, that the in shots must have proved somewhat effective.
They came to a very sudden conclusion to retire as soon as the lower battery opened on them.
Col. Tappan picked up a piece of one of the shells thrown from the gun-boats, which fell on our side of the river.
I examined it. It seemed to have been filled with rosin or pitch, in addition to the powder, doubtless to set fire to the town.
The engagement lasted about one hour.
We on our side of the river may have some little trouble from behind the camp yet. Our eyes and ears are open, and particularly mine.
The
Grampus has set out again after them, and until she returns I can give no information about the gun-boats.
The Louisiana Brigade--an important Reconnaissance.
The correspondent of the N. O.
Picayune, writing from
Manassas, says:
The Louisiana Brigade returned yesterday from the
Potomac, having fully and success fully accomplished the object of their expedition.
This was of a strategic nature, which prudence in the face of an enemy forbids me to describe more precisely.
Suffice it that it was port of the grand plan which has governed the movements of the army ever since we presented front to the
Potomac, and which will soon lead to a genial engagement either on this or the other sicof the river.
The expedition was a bold one, and in several respect hazardous, as it involved the necessity of passing within two miles of 10,000 of the enemy, encamped near
Langley of present front in wholes division at three several points the river, and effecting a safe return through the midst of such numbers as might venture to flank or pursue them.
And all this was to be done after the enemy were put on the alert by the driving in of their pickets, but before they could recover their surprise and find out the true state of things.
A more important expedition, or one requiring more boldness and enterprise on the part of both officers and men, has no been undertaken since the engagement of the 21st July, and as such it was entrusted to
Gen. Walker, of the Louisiana Brigade.
The infantry chosen for the expedition were the 6th Louisiana,
Colonel Seymour; 7th
Colonel Hays; and 8th,
Colonel Kelly, or such of them as were in condition for a long and hasty march, with possibly some hard fighting.
This reservation, however, is quite unnecessary here, as when the hour for starting had arrived nearly every man turned out.
The artillery chosen for the expedition comprised six pieces, four from
Captain Riley's and two from
Captain Latham's battery, all from
Lynchburg, Virginia.
Thus organized, under the personal command of
General Walker, assisted by his aids
Captains Anderson,
Surget, and
Hartstene the expedition left camp, near
Germantown.
Sunday morning, the 29th.
It will be remembered that the brigade had but a day or two before marched down from
Centreville, and had scarcely gotten their tents put up again when they were ordered to leave them.
Cooked provisions also were scarce, as
General Beauregard's order was received only a few hours before the time of starting.
Nevertheless, there was no complaining, and when the long roll beat every man was in his place.
Some of them had the wise precaution to put a sweet potato, or such other delicacy as they could command, into their haversacks; but most of them only had, in addition to their small stock of cooked provisions sufficient uncooked to last them five days of their possible absence.
The country, however, through which they were to march abounded in everything; so that in case of need, or did the necessities of their rapimarch permit it, they could have been supplied with everything on the road.
The party started about five o'clock in the morning, and reached
Dranesville, twelve miles distant, on the
Leesburg and Alexandria turnpike, late in the afternoon.
They pushed on, however, without halting, the same evening, to a place about three miles further ahead, on the
Great Falls road, where they bivouacked for the night beneath the broad blue sky, with their blankets wrapped around them.
The next morning they were up with the light, and before the fog had cleared away were on the banks of the
Potomac, overlooking the falls and works above the aqueduct.--The morning was very cold, as had been the night, and the fog was thick and heavy.
It therefore promised excellent cover for their approach and the planting of batteries, but it was so long clearing away that it delayed operations much longer than designated.
But when it did clear up it discovered the enemy encamped in great numbers about three-quarters of a mile distant, on the opposite shore, near a large building, or series of buildings, formerly used, as the aqueduct depot, but more recently for depositing military ammunition and stores.
This it was resolved to destroy, and, accordingly, some fifty shots were thrown into it, with what effect remains to be seen.
The effect upon the encampment, however, was clearly visible at the moment, for the echo of the first gun had scarcely returned from the opposite shore before they were seen scampering over the hills in all directions.
Nor did they return till full fifty shots had been fired and the brigade were far away up the river.
The next demonstration was made at Chon's Ford or Ferry, where the enemy were also in force, and, from the number of boats building, apparently preparing to cross the river.--While here heavy firing was heard below, near the
Great Falls, in reply, no doubt, to our shots in the morning.
It was of course only a waste of powder and shells upon empty space.
From Chon's Ford the party moved on some eight miles further up to
Seneca Falls or
Ford, opposite the headquarters of
Gen. Banks.
Here, after reconnoitering the country and making the demonstration contemplated in the
general order, they held their usual evening parade, on the bank of the river, in full sight of the enemy on the opposite shore, after which they med a parting salute and returned to
Dranesville, having marched that day, including all the countermarches on the river bank, about thirty miles, most of the distance in face of the enemy.
The movements, however, were so rapid and skillful, and their demonstrations so successful, that the whole party were safely back here the next morning, before the enemy could find out what it all meant.
The information obtained by this expedition, in addition to the special object which it was designed to accomplish, is of the most important character.
We now know the intentions and whole strength of the enemy on the upper Potomac, as well as at
Arlington Heights.
Trial of a suspicious character.
The
Montgomery Affair, in its Confederate Court report, says:
‘
It will be remembered that the above named gentleman was committed some while since on a charge of high treason.
On yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, at the
Capitol, before
Judge Humphreys, he appeared with his counsel,
W. G. Brien,
Esq., for examination, and, upon a hearing of the cause, he was discharged upon taking the oath of allegiance to the
Confederate States, and giving bond for his good behavior, which he cheerfully did, and immediately voluntarily entered the
Southern army.
We have no doubt that this example will produce a happy effect.
It shows that our Government is resolved to maintain its integrity, while yet evincing no disposition to oppress any man. It presents a striking and flattering contract to the Bastille incarcerations new so frequent in the
North, where even the sacred right of
habeas corpus is suspended, and no trial before a civil tribunal is allowed.
It is just that we should state that it was in proof before the
Court that
Dr. Clark was an original Southern-rights man.
’
The Louisville courier.
In a few days
Mr. Haldeman will issue the
Courier at
Bowling Green.
He has perfected his arrangements, and will probably make the first issue on Monday next.
Col. McKee will edit it as formerly.
It is
Gen. Backner's desire that
Mr. Haldeman should resume the publication of the
Courier, as it will advance our cause wonderfully, and counteract the lies put forth by the
Journal, misleading the people as to the intentions of
Gen. Buckner.
Mr. Haldeman will print about four thousand copies daily, and
Gen. Buckner will send them out by his pickets to prepare the minds of those Union men who have never read but one side of the question, as put forth by that lying paper, the
Journal. No subscribers will be taken.
It will be sold entirely by newsboys and distributed by the soldiers.
The Galveston News gives a glowing account of a concert given in that city the other evening by the ladies and gentlemen of
Galveston, in aid of furnishing the
Lone Star Rifles, in
Virginia, with winter clothing, blankets.
shoes, &c. The performances are spoken of as being of a high order of merit.--Among the performers we note the name of a highly accomplished lady, formerly of this city,
Mrs. E. C. Wharton, who sang and played several pieces very finely.
Mrs. Maltby and
Miss S. Richardson, the youthful daughter of our contemporary of the
News, were also among those who lent to this good cause their valuable aid.
An Aged Patriot.
There was a very interesting event in the C. S. District Court at
Nashville, on the 3d inst.
Judge Morton, of
Kentucky, a man of seventy years, and for one-third of that time a respected
Judge in
Kentucky, and a refugee from it, went into open court and took the oath of allegiance to the
Government of the
Confederate States.
Before taking this oath, he addressed the court as follows:
If the
Court please, it is agreed, we know, by all jurists and men of common sense, that the obligations of protection by the
Government and allegiance of the citizens or subjects, are reciprocal and dependent, and that therefore, whenever the
Government has ceased to afford the protection, the obligation of obedience and support by the citizens no longer exists, and the body of the people have the inalienable right to revolt, and having accomplished the revolution, may adopt the new Government, which they believe will best insure the protection of their rights and promote their welfare; or any proper portion of the people may separate themselves and the territory they occupy — secede — and form such new Government within their own dominion as they think proper; or any number of such oppressed people may emigrate and adopt themselves citizens of any other Government.
The Government of the
United States ceased to afford protection to its citizens in
Kentucky.
Every right of life, liberty, and property has been there ruthlessly violated by both lawless men and the
Government itself, and a despotism avowedly established worse than any heretofore known in the history of the world.
In the worst of the
Oriental and Northern despotisms even the autocrat is bound, at his peril, to observe certain established customs; but in
Kentucky all usage is ignored and the rights of men violated in the most aggravated and insulting modes.
In this state of affairs, I elected to expatriate myself and emigrate, and I resigned the office I held under the
Government, and departed its territory.
In doing this, having the right to choose the country of my adoption, I chose the ‘"
Confederate States."’ I was born within their territory.
I approve their Constitution and institutions, admire their people and their statesmen, and I believe that the composition and character of their people and position and circumstances of their country are such that it may be confidently expected their public affairs will always be administered by high, honorable and able men.
I have unbound confidence in their abil try to maintain their independence, and that here will be performed all the duties of a good Government to its citizens.
I am, therefore, ready to take the oath to support the
Constitution of the
Confederacy, and of allegiance to it.
Old Forms and New.
The following from the New Orleans
Bulletia, has an application in more places than one:
It is a good time now for many firms in this city to effect a complete renovation in their component parts.
There are many whose principal partners have lived at the
North.
These partners own, perhaps, most of the capital.
The partners here or the agents do most if the labor and receive perhaps but a small portion of the profits.
In some cases the affairs of the concern may be conducted exclusively by salaried clerks, possessing judgment, industry, integrity, and a zealous devotion to the interests of their employers.
The property now owned in the
North will of course be sequestrated.
It is the duty of the managing agents of all such houses here, whether they are really partners or not, to make a clear exhibit of the facts to the public Receiver.
It surely cannot be the design of the
Government to harass and oppress its own citizens, and its agent in this city shows in his public notice to parties interested the cight spirit.
We have little doubt that the active partners and managers of all firms here whose stock is owned in part in the
North, will be greatly benefited, if they act properly by the law which the ferocious despotism of the
Lincoln Congress compelled the Confederate Congress to pass in reference to sequestration.
These partners and gents can now become principals, and receive the benefits of their own labors.
They can open upon their ‘"own hook,"’ to use a common expression.
They can strike out for themselves exclusively.
The Government, instead of oppressing them, will do all in its power to aid them.
They can now disenthral themselves, and cut loose from dependence upon those who perhaps feel little interest in their success.
It is the nick of time — and we say it without forgetting that we are in the midst of a ferocious war — for new mercantile men to come forward and open up new channels of business with
European houses, for men who perhaps have labored long and hard, and honestly, for very inadequate returns, chiefly for the benefit of others.
Let them now show their hands and act vigorously.
Let them exhibit their independence, their manhood, their sagacity, and indomitable perseverance.
We doubt not that the Receiver, with the entire approbation of the
Government, will grant them every facility to accomplish the objects alluded to. The readjustment of the affairs of such houses for the benefit of the people of the
Confederate States, though the
Government may be made to advance the interests of their resident citizen agents, and at the same time confer a substantial boon upon New Orleans, through the enterprise of active men, whose energies receive a new spur by the motive of interest resulting in the opening up of new avenues of business to the great Southern metropolis, to her more wide spread and commanding commercial relations, and more opulent, glowing, and splendid future.
"here's your mule"
The Memphis
Avalanche says, editorially:
Among outsiders considerable interest has been manifested as to the origin of the expression, now so prevalent in the army, of ‘"Here's your mule!"’ Our
Columbus correspondent, in a recent letter, gave his version of it; but he missed the thing entirely.
During the removal of troops to
Virginia, previous to the
battle of Manassas, when the rail roads were literally blocked up with soldiers, transported in stock cars, one day a train of Mississippians met at
Grand Junction a train of Louisianian.
The latter, or a majority of them, were probably disciples of
Oea Eclumpsus, and seeing the Mississippians, some of them at once commenced to bray at them.
The
Mississippians stood it for a while, until one of them, astonished at the unceasing braying, all at once sung out ‘"Here's your mule!"’ The thing took, and the
Mississippi train rung with the novel expression.
The
Louisianians tried to drown the uprear with their braying, but it was no use; and they finally became mad enough to light, and a low was only prevented by the departure of the trarus.
The ‘"mule"’ thus started soon run through the whole army, and is familiar to every body in the country.
Many amusing occurrences have taken place in consequence of the expression; but perhaps the richest one transpired here shortly after its origin.
One morning a countryman rode a fine mule into this city, and stopping at the Charleston railroad depot, hitched his beast, called to a negro and told him to have his mule taken to
Corinth.
The stranger then started to
Arkansas, and was absent a week.
In the meantime, the negro not being at the head of the transportation department of the Charleston railroad, paid no attention to the orders given him, and went off, about his business.
Some of the employees of the railroad, seeing the mule there all day, at night sent it to
Patterson's stable, where it was taken care of. When its owner returned and inquired if his mule has been sent to
Corinth, upon describing it, he was told where it was. The same day it was placed in a boxcar, with stats nailed across the doors, and with the owner in another car, started to
Corinth.
Arrived there, the man went to look for his animal, and found that it had ‘"secede,"’ having kicked off the slats and ‘"jumped the world to come."’ The distress he exhibited was mournful to witness, and he started out into the town to search for his lost descendant of
Balaam's horse." At that time there was about ten thousand soldiers at
Corinth, and the countryman strolled into the camp, when, all of a sudden he heard a distant cry of ‘"Here's your mule!"’ With heart elated he started towards the man, and had nearly reached the place where he stood, when, away off in another direction, the cry was repeated.
He hastily retraced his steps, when he again heard the information from still another quarter.
Puzzled, he started on a run towards the sound, and when he fancied he must have neared the spot, he was refreshed by still another howl of ‘"Here's your mule!"’ It is not recorded how long he pursued his
ignus fataus, but eventually he fetched up in the guard-house.
We have never ascertained whether he found ‘"that mule."’
A correspondent of the
Baton Rouge Gazette, writing from
Plaquemine, Sept. 28th says:
‘
A few days more and
Bayou Plaquemine will be closed to the
Father of Waters.
The next question to be solved — How long will the levee, as at present, protect muddy
Plaquemine?
Look out for a crevasse when the water is high.
’
Brownlow in the field again.
Although
Brownlow, of the knoxville
Whig has of late lost caste, he has not parted yet with his admirable talent for vituperation.--He thus swears at the editor of the Knoxville
Register:
I have, on more occasions than one, stated to the public that the man in whose name this universally-acknowledged lying and disreputable sheet is edited and published —
J. A. Sperry — is a low down, ill-bred, lying, debauched, drunken scoundrel, alone worthy of the company of the villains and cowards who write the dirty, slanderous editorials for his paper, assailing men whom they hypocritically meet upon the streets, shake hands with, and pretend friendship for. These men know that their bad morals and pecuniary exploits are such that they dare not write over their proper signatures.
If they will venture to say, through their.
vehicle of slander, that they wrote these articles, giving their proper names, there are not bayonets and side-arms enough in and around knoxville to keep us from showing that these citizen writers, hidden calumniators, and cowardly office-seekers, have acquaintances in the Penitentiary, who are their superiors in all that ennobles our nature!
Brownlow Infers to his Writings.
Though we are not a prophet, nor yet are we the son of a prophet, we wrote and published an editorial, July was a year ago, in which we made a prediction that we now desire to have perused again.
Thousands who then perused it looked upon it as the sayings of a partizan, and have long since forgot it.--We then concluded a leading editorial of some length in these words:--
‘"This most foul and profligate organization, known as the 'Great Democratic Party,' re-opened the Slavery agitation and repealed the Missouri Compromise Line, with a view to provoke the
Northern men in Congress, to commit certain acts that would afford them a pretext for dissolving the
Union.
They can't stomach
Douglas, because they know he will stand, aye, die by the
Union.
They run another ticket with a desire to be beaten, and, if beaten, they hope to be beaten by the
Lincoln ticket, and then they will rush out of the
Union, and establish, in hot haste, another Government.
We expect to be living when this same vile Democratic party we have been fighting for a quarter of a century, is forcing upon the country, at the point of the bayonet, a tyrannical Government, in the name of Southern rights, and under the pretence of securing the independence of the
South.
We say that we expect to be living when all this, and more and worse comes to pass, and living in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one and two!
We desire then to be publishing a paper, that we may simply turn about and remind these Democratic demagogues of this prediction."’
