The War.
The following summary will be found interesting:
The English papers, of March 17 and 18, team with laudatory comments on
President Davis's message to Congress, of which the subjoined, from the
London Herold, is a fair sample:
The brevity of
Mr. Davis's first message to the Confederate Congress is of promising omen for those who take interest in American politics.
Under the
Federal Government such messages had become lengthy beyond all reason or excuse, and feeble in proportion to their length; it was a duty to print, but an intolerable nuisance to read them.--A better example is set by the first
President of the Southern Confederacy.
The language and temper of his message do honor to his country and to himself.
It is terse and sensible — calm and manly.
The chief of a nation struggling for existence against a strong and savage enemy — passionately hated for his strength, and bitterly despised for his savagery--
Mr. Davis indulges expressions of passion, in no importance, in no menaces or useless railing.
Face to face with danger and defeat, he is neither disheartened nor excited.
He does not evince dismay, nor strive to hide a sense of disgrace or alarm under a tone of boastful extravagance.
He speaks the language, not of blind passion or exalted pride, but of calm confidence and statesmanlike self-reliance.
"
President Davis distinctly recognizes the conflict between political necessities and military plans, and the inevitable subjection of the latter to the former, as one of the chief causes of the recent Confederate reverses.
He has been forced to attempt too much — to defend the whole frontier at the expense of dividing his strength in the face of a superior enemy.
His defeats have now relieved him from this obligation.
He may, without fear of censure, concentrate his forces where they can make a stand with reasonable prospect of success; he may withdraw them into strong positions, where they can hold their ground against superior numbers, and where the power of the enemy's artillery may be in some degree neutralized by nature or by fortifications; and if the vainglory of their recent successes should tempt the Federalists to an a tack, the rout of
Ball Run may be repeated, with far more disastrous effect, where two or three hundred miles of hostile territory will interpose between the fugitives and their place of refuge.
The raid of
Sickles's drunken brigade into
Stafford county, Va., has been noticed.
The Fredericksburg
News thus describes the doings of the Hessians:
From the Messrs.
Conway,
Morgan, and
Schooler, they took all clothing of all sorts, money, plate; tore up
R. Conway's bonds before his face, poured ink and wine on the carpet, and broke the furniture.
One negro, armed and in uniform, searched his house, even up stairs, saying he was looking for concealed officers.
Drunken Zouaves danced about old
Mr. Conway's house, but were ordered off by their
Captain, who sang Dixie to the negroes in the presence of the ladies.
They stole two horses, and threatened to cut old "
Col."
Morgan "to mince meat, and make breastworks of his damned old rebel heart." In a word, these vile and filthy invaders literally sacked and destroyed the village, except the houses.
They said they were exasperated by the Texas Rangers killing eight of them on their march.
Church sells not expected.
The subjoined correspondence will explain itself:
--I am directed by the First Baptist Church of this city to tender to you, for the
Confederate States the bell of our church with the prayer that God may give you wisdom to direct our army, that you may be able to drive the invader from our soil, and that peace and prosperity may speedily be restored to our entire Confederacy.
Will you direct me what to do with the bell?
Accept our best wishes for your health and prosperity.
Headq'rs army of the Mississippi,
Corinth, March 30, 1862.
My Dear Sir.
--Your letter of the 22d inst., offering me, for the use of the
Confederate States, the bell of the First Baptist Church, has been received.
I have the assurance from a number of persons that the planters will all furnish me their bells; and, reliving upon this promise, I have declined the offer of many churches, to furnish me theirs also.
With my kindest thanks for your wishes for our common cause, and my health and prosperity,
The Memphis
Appeal, of the 5th inst., says:
‘
We have a few additional particulars of the visit of the
Federal troops at
Paris, on Tuesday last.
Two prominent citizens were arrested and carried away--
Mr. John H. Van Dyke, formerly
Captain of the
Paris Minute Men, and
Col. R. T. Caldwell, a wealthy citizen who has been an active States-rights advocate since the commencement of the present troubles.
A large quantity of tobacco, estimated at 300,000 pounds, belonging to the latter gentleman, was seized by the invaders.
’
They made a diligent search for
Hon. H. F. Commins, Representative from
Henry county, who was at home.
His dwelling was strictly examined, even to thrusting of swords into suspicious nooks and corners.
Mr. Celuded them, however, and is now in the city.
Developments of "loyalty."
The following is from the Baltimore
News Sheet, of the 3d inst.:
‘
The
Mayor, the Board of Aldermen, and the City Council of
Nashville, have refused to take the oath of allegiance to the
Constitution and Government of the
United States.
The form of the oath was sent to them by order of the new
Provisional Governor Johnson, and they were required to take and subscribe to it on or before the
Friday following.
The result of their deliberations was that the proposition was unprecedented and unconstitutional, and that an address should be drawn up declaratory of their purpose not to take the oath — which was done.
’
The women of
Nashville still continue to behave very naughtily.
They have devised all manner of ingenious insults, greatly to the annoyance of the
Federal officers, who cannot walk the streets without being subjected to the mortification of seeing these fair but cruel dames and damsels turn their backs upon them and draw their skirts aside from contact with them.
In retaliation of these most uncomplimentary proceedings,
General Negley has ordered a guard to be stationed at the door of the residence of two ladies who were discourteous to
General Crittenden, and who are not to be permitted to leave the house until they promise — not to do so again.
The correspondent of the New York
Tribune gives a very Ingubrions account of
Winchester and its inhabitants.
When the
Federal soldiers first entered that city, we are told that "they were given the articles they wanted without money." More recently, however, they have had to pay for whatever they require, are scowled at or sneered at by some of the boldest spirits, and, as a general thing, the natives shun the invaders — those who do not do it on principle making it their policy. " If this statement be true,
Winchester, like
Nashville, must be a very unpleasant place of sojourn for Federal troops and Federal officers and employees.
The Indians in Texas.
The
Houston (Texas) Telegraph, of the 28th ult., gives us a specimen of the feeling among the Indians in the
Southwest, as follows:
‘
A public meeting was held at
Sumter, Trinny county, on the 17th inst., at which
Col. Z. Norton presided.
The object of the meeting, as explained by
Capt Rowe and
Mr. Tesgarden, was to consider a request of the
Polk county Indians for aid to get into the military service of the country.
These Indians were represented by Antonio,
Chief of the Alabamans; Bill
Blunt and Will, Chiefs of the Nuscogas; and Mata Kiha,
Chief of the Cashatras.
’
Antonio made a speech, which was interpreted by Bill
Blunt.
He said that they knew nothing about the
Yankees, but that they live in this country, and want to fight for it. They are willing to-night anywhere in the
State, but unwilling to go out of it. They wanted aid in procuring authority from the
Governor to raise an Indian company, with Indian officers, and a white man for commissary, to attend to these interests, &c.
They then chose as their chief warrior or captain,
John Scott Waka, an Alabama Indian; and for their next in command,
Thompson, also an Alabamian; and
Robt. J. Rowe, a white man, for their commissary.
We extract from a late number of the Boston
Post the following in regard to the manner in which
Generals Buckner and
Tilghman pass their time in
Fort Warren:
Generals Buckner and
Tilghman are the two greatest lions among us. Their residence is at Hotel do
Warren, in
Boston harbor.
They room with
Marshal Kane, and, thus far are quite satisfied with their accommodations.
They talk and smoke, eat and drink, and read the
Boston newspapers with great satisfaction.
The other day
General Tilghman remarked to
Marshal Keyes that he should like to see
Bunker Hill, and said that if he was to be executed he should like to be hanged from that spot.
Your request cannot be allowed, said the under
Marshal, "the ground upon which that monument was elected has been consecrated to freedom.
General Warren fell there — it is no place for you." The Southern General did not pursue the conversation any further.
Gen. Tilghman has been in
Boston before, at which time he became acquainted with a lady upon whom he must have made as impression, for she repelled to the fort the other day for the purpose of paying her addresses to him. As
Col. Dimmick allows no woman kind to enter his hotel, the lady aforesaid was compelled to postpone her devoirs for the present.
He was also acquainted with
Col. Dimmick at the fort, and
Marshal Kane, of
Baltimore, who, be remarked, was an old "townie" of his.
Both
Buckner and
Tilghman censure
Pillow for the loss of the army at
Fort Donelson.
They contend that
Floyd is a brave man. After the rebels had nearly succeeded in cutting a road through our forces out of the fort, as they say,
Pillow recalled them, and they were followed in with great slaughter.
Buckner is evidently a "buck," and both together are jolly fellows.
They are also philosophers.
Buckner weighs two hundred, and is solidly built;
Tilghman light, and of a nervous temperament.
One of the most experienced of our policemen, who is well acquainted with the physiognomy of rogues, says that on the street he should take
Buckner for a fighting man or a burglar; and that with his round, hard face, high cheek bones, small, gray eyes, and heavy over brows, his face is the exact counterpart of that of "Dablin Tricks," the well known fighting man.
The lady prisoners at Washington.
A Washington correspondent communicates the following to the New York
Times:
‘
The Committee on Political Prisoners have ordered that
Mrs. Greenhow,
Mrs. Rosanna Augusta Heath, and
Mrs. Morris, be sent beyond our lines.
Mrs. Greenhow has made a full confession, admitting that she was engaged in forwarding letters, papers and information to the
Confederates.
She refuses to tell what source of communication she kept up, and gave no names of her spies in this city.
But other information gives the names of several--two
ex- Senators and several members of Congress, one of whom still retains his seat.
Mrs. Morris also made a confession, admitting her treason in aiding the enemy by forwarding information.
They all refused to take the oath of allegiance, or even give a parole of honor not to aid the enemy.
’
Abridgment of editorial privileges.
Subjoined is a Washington telegram of the 24th to the New York press:
Washington, March 24.--The
Secretary of War in about to assemble in this city a special court martial for the trial of several newspaper publishers, who, it is alleged, have given aid and comfort to the enemy by publishing information as to the strength, position, and movements of the
Federal troops.
Geo. Lunt & Co., of the Boston
Courier; Prune,
Stone,
Hall, and
Halleck, of the New York
Journal of Commerce; and
Samuel Bowles & Co., of the
Springfield (Mass)
Republican, are among the publishers who have been reported to the War Department.
A violation of the articles of war, with which they are charged, is punishable with death.
Several editors will probably be hung here within the next two weeks.
Slavery in the District.
The Baltimore
News Sheet, of the 4th, says that in the Senate of the United States the bill emancipating the slaves in the District of Columbia.
with compensation to loyal owners, was finally passed by a vote of 29 to 14th Among the amendments adopted was one allowing the evidence of negroes to be taken before civil tribunals against white persons.
The Memphis
Avalanche, of a recent date, says:
‘
All communication has censed, within the last few days, with
Nashville.
Yet, when last heard from, no change had taken place in the sentiments of her citizens.
They regarded the
Federal power with sustained abhorrence, and turned from all overtures with ill suppressed disgust.
’
The loamy of the people of
Nashville affords a noble lesson by example and should teach the
Federal that they cannot subject the minds of a people determined to be free; although they may make their bodies feel the restraints of despotic power, arbitrarily enforced.
The Charleston
Mercury gives the following brief sketch of the career of this gallant officer:
‘
Brigadiers
General Adley H. Gladden, who lost an arm in the great
battle at Corinth, yesterday, is a South Carolinian?
It will be remembered that he was the
Major of
Butler's regiment, S. C. V., during the
Mexican war. Upon the fall of his
Colonel and
Lieut-Colonel, he assumed the command of the regiment.
He distinguished himself by his gallantry at
Churubusco, and was severely wounded at the do
Belen gate.
For some weeks he has had the immediate command of the troops in and around
Corinth.
’
The battle of Shiloh.
Our Southern and Western exchanges; received last night, contain but few additional particulars of the great
battle at Shiloh.--The correspondent of the Savannah
Republican telegraphs on the day of the fight that "the battle field is a wooded, broken country, presenting opportunities for a great variety of manœuvres and independent operations by comparatively small bodies of men."
Among the prisoners taken by the Texan Rangers in
Major Crockett, of
Ohio.
Another dispatch says that
Col. Bate, of
Tennessee, was killed.
The
Atlanta Confederacy apprehends that
Governor Harris was in the fight, and received a mortal wound; but hopes the rumor is unfounded.
The church bells of
Knoxville, Tenn., were rung on Monday last in honor of the glorious victory at
Shiloh.
Captured.
Commander Haunter, of the Confederate gunboat
Guines, captured on the 2d instant, off
Mobile, the Yankee schooner
Isabel, from
Key West, for
Ship Island, commanded by
Master's Mare Post, U. S. N.
Mr. Fost missed his recoining, and entered
Mobile Bay instead of the
Sound near
Ship Island.
The
Isabel was formerly the tender
W. R. King.
A correspondent of the Petersburg
Express writes from
Suffolk, April 9th, as follows:
‘
A messenger arrived here last night, bringing the news that a party of Federal landed at some point near
Elizabeth City yesterday, and succeeded in capturing two or three hundred militia stationed between
Elizabeth City and
South Mills.
The feat was accomplished by getting in their rear and cutting them off from escape.
I could not learn the number of Yankees that landed.
’
