The latest from the North.
We have received New York papers of Monday, the 20th, and Baltimore papers of the evening of that day. We give below a summary of the news contained in them:The Situation — the battles in Kentucky--dash of Morgan, &c.
The New York Herald, of the 20th, gives the following in its ‘"situation"’ article: ‘ There is nothing of importance to report from the headquarters of our army on the Upper Potomac. The position of the rebels has been accurately ascertained by the recent reconnaissances of our troops. The party of General Stahel, under Colonel Wyndham, had passed on Friday last through Thoroughfare Gap to White Plains and Salem, where they captured sixteen rebel cavalry, and paroled a number of infantry found there sick. On Friday night they returned to the Gap, which the rebels attempted to occupy during the night with cavalry and artillery. The cavalry, numbering about six hundred, had been engaged in making a reconnaissance as far as the old Bull Run battle-field, and had captured at Haymarket seven wagons, loaded with forage, which were on the way to Colonel Wyndham. At dawn on Saturday, finding the rebels about to occupy the Cap, Colonel Wyndham charged them, and put them to flight before they had placed their artillery in position. Colonel Wyndham pursued them into the town of Warrenton, where he found about a thousand infantry and a full battery of artillery.--He attempted to draw them out of the town, but was unsuccessful, and, as he had exhausted his forage, returned to Centreville on Saturday night, having captured ninety prisoners and one caisson filled with ammunition. Colonel Wyndham was informed that a whole division of the rebels had come down from Winchester, and was in the vicinity of Thoroughfare Gap. We give to day the story in detail — as contained in the official documents — of the demand for the surrender of Nashville by the rebels, and the gallant response of General Negley. The official account of the battle at Lavergne, furnished by Gen. Negley--in which the rebels were completely repulsed, with a loss of eighty men killed and one hundred and seventy five taken prisoners--is also published in another column. With regard to the progress of affairs in Kentucky, we learn from Cincinnati, under date of yesterday, that the rebel guerilla, General Morgan, after capturing our pickets, dashed into Lexington on Saturday morning, at the head of fifteen hundred men. Our troops were compelled to surrender but they fought him gallantly, killing and wounding several. Our loss is six killed and one hundred and twenty-five prisoners, who were immediately paroled. Two hundred and fifty of our cavalry succeeded in escaping Morgan soon afterwards left Lexington, taking the Versailles turnpike.--Yesterday, when between Versailles and Frankfort, he was met by 2,500 of General Dumont's cavalry, who, after a short fight, routed him, scattering his forces. One report says he was driven across the Kentucky river in the direction of Lawrenceburg, and another, that he is endeavoring to unite with Humphrey Marshall, who is near burg. Marshall's forces are said to be completely demoralized. One of his regiments deserted the other day and came to Paris. It was principally composed of Tennessee men. Bragg's army is reported to be in a miserable condition; in fact, entirely used up and flying to the mountains, a complete mob. The history of the late battle near Perryville is very fully given in our Louisville correspondence to-day, and the result of the action of Generals Rousseau and McCook, in not fulfilling the orders entrusted to them, which caused their arrest by Gen. Buell, is set forth at some length. [A dispatch, and the latest published in the Herald's telegrams, from Louisville, says that there had been no fight between Dumont and Morgan, and that Morgan had escaped without damage.] ’The occupation of Charlestown.
The correspondence of the New York Times, of the 20th, gives the following description of the occupation of Charlestown, for the fifth time during this war, by the Federal: ‘ The column moved briskly over the broad, undulating turnpike, through ample fields, rich with shocks of corn; past solid, stately farm houses, with deep shade trees and orchards; by gray barns, with plethoric hay and grain stacks. Through our lines, over the debatable ground, past the enemy's picket stations of last night, within two miles of Charlestown, and yet no interruption. We began to think the rebels a myth. But suddenly there was a gun in front of us. In a moment, another, and a rifled shot came singing by, cutting through the tree branches, with sharp, incisive music. The smoke showed it came from the spot, where, last night, Capt. Pettit pointed out to me, through his glass, two rebel field pieces, four or five miles from his battery. Clark's guns, commanded by Lieut. Dickinson, began to reply vigorously, and Tompkin's battery, also soon in position, joined in the chorus. The rebels were using only two or three pieces, but they fired very rapidly. Nearly all their shells struck a few rods to the left of our column. Few exploded, owing to defective fuses. We learned afterward that the same was true of our own shells. The cavalry was placed in a safe position — an infallible sign of danger — the infantry brought up and deployed. From the rear of our batteries the rebel cavalry was plainly discernible. On their front, far in advance of all others, a man on a milk white horse, in a dark, plowed field, which threw him out in strong relief, was a conspicuous temptation to our sharpshooters. Many shots were aimed at him, but he sat viewing the artillery duel complacently and persistently, as if enjoying a pantomime. Some of our men declared that they had seen that identical steed and rider on the rebel front in every fight from Yorktown to Antietam. There was but little infantry firing, and that was confined to the skirmishers. Our principal loss arose from a shell which exploded near one of Dickinson's guns, killing four horses, wounding one of his men fatally, and four others slightly. One of the latter, who was struck in the head by a fragment of shell, had lost a finger and received a bullet in the leg in previous battles, but seems to be fire proof, and will soon be ready for duty again.--The enemy's loss, as afterward reported to us, was about the same as ours--one man killed, and six or seven wounded. In two hours the rebel guns were silenced and withdrawn. At 11 o'clock we moved forward cautiously, as the country is well adapted to ambuscades. We passed their deserted camp, but found only its debris--a ten, two or three huts, a cooking stove and a frying pan. Just out of the village we reached the residence of Mr. Hunter, a member of the Virginia Senate, which General Banks occupied as headquarters last year. It is a large, elegant house, with ample grounds. Of course the owner was not there to welcome us. But the rebel guns were planted just in front, and our shells out down palings and plowed up the ground about it. Many of them fell in the village, cutting roofs and knocking down chimneys, but injuring none of the citizens. At noon we entered the village, and for the fifth time during the war Charlestown is occupied by National troops. But how different our reception from that given us in Frederick, Sharpsburg, and other Maryland towns. Not a flag flying, except the yellow index of the hospitals. Doors, blinds and windows closed, curtains drawn, and the few residents visible staring silently and sullenly at us. They looked even less kindly than the rebel wounded, of whom we found a hundred in the hospitals. I encountered but one citizen professing to be loyal, and he begged that his name might not be made public until he learned whether we had come to remain. There was no other smile or friendly greeting, except from the negroes, who welcomed us when they dared with their tongues, but always with their eyes. ’The result of the reconnaissance by M'Clellan's army.
The joint reconnaissance made from the army of the Potomac by the divisions of General Hancock and General Humphreys was successfully accomplished, and the troops have returned to the positions they previously occupied at Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg. The rebels did not interfere with General Hancock's division on its return, but followed General Humphreys's all the way to Shepherdstown. Our troops, however, recrossed the Potomac, bringing with them a number of prisoners, having themselves one man killed and six wounded. The rebel wounded found at Charlestown were brought within our lines, where they will be paroled. Our information leads us to anticipate important movements on the Upper Potomac during present week.Habeas corpus case in Vermont.
The and (Vt.) Herald reports that, in the United States Court, for the district of Vermont, last week, Judge Smalley gave a decision in the case of United States Marshal Baldwin, charged with contempt of Court in refusing to surrender three parties, against whom treason was alleged, under a writ of habeas corpus, in violation of the Constitution of the United States. The decision of the Court was in substance as follows: ‘ That the orders of the War Department under which the men against whom treason was alleged were arrested were in violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, and were, therefore, illegal and void. That if, under the provisions of the Constitution, the President of the United States had the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, he could not delegate that power to his subordinate officers. That the Constitution made the President commander-in-chief of the military forces of the United States, and that this, with the provisions of the laws of 1795, which had been declared to be constitutional; conferred upon the President power to declare martial law, and martial law having been declared by the President's Proclamation of the 24th of September, se facts the writ of habeas corpus, was now suspended. Therefore, if the said Field was now produced before the Court, he could not be discharged, but would have to be remanded to the custody of the Marshal. On the first of September, however, when these proceedings were instituted against the Marshal, the writ of habeas corpus, was not lawfully suspended, and it was no justification to him that he acted under the orders of the War Department, those orders having been issued without the authority of law. Marshal Baldwin was accordingly declared guilty of contempt of court and fined $100, which fine he paid, declaring that the only incentive of his action had been the desire to do his duty to the Government faithfully. ’Naval Expedition against Confederate Ports.
The Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia North American bears that the naval expeditions that have been in progress at several points for a number of weeks past are now ready and will sail for their destinations as soon as the troops for land service are ready to accompany them — When this will be, however, is not at present know, though possibly a month hence will find everything in perfect readiness for a repetition of the splendid achievements at New Orleans and Port Royal. Admiral Dupont, who is now in New York, will leave for Port Royal in a few days.Affairs in Western Virginia.
A dispatch from Callipolis, Ohio, dated the 18th, says: ‘ Rev. Mr. Woodhull, chaplain of the 4th Virginia Volunteers, recently a prisoner, released by the rebels a few days since, reached Point Pleasant today, having walked all the way from Charleston, on the Kanawha. He reports that all the rebel infantry and artillery have left Western Virginia, after having procured large quantities of salt from the wells in the valley. It is conjectured that they have gone to East Tennessee to reinforce General Bragg. There are no rebels now in the valley except Col. Jenkins's guerrillas. ’The reasons Buell did not "Bag" Bragg.
A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing from Louisville on the 18th, gives the following reasons why Buell failed to capture Bragg's command: ‘ When it became apparent that McCook would be the first to fall in with the enemy, General Buell arranged his plan of battle and issued the necessary instructions. These instructions were of a comprehensive nature, and provided for the sure entrapment of the rebel army. Nothing less than this was contemplated. McCook, if attacked, was to fall back a specified distance, and lure the enemy on after him. This distance was two or three miles, sufficiently far to leave Crittenden on the left flank of the enemy. In the meantime Gilbert war to press on and get into the enemy's rear. Thus he would be completely surrounded, and, as he was known to have but forty five or fifty thousand men at the most, his capture by the superior number of Buell's entire army would have been certain. But behold the result. Probably Gen. Buell did not explain to all his subordinate officers the full details of his plan. I believe it is not usual for a commander-in chief to explain to his subordinates more of his plans than are necessary to a full understanding of the part each is to play. McCook's instructions were clear. If attacked, fall, back.--McCook possibly did not comprehend the necessity of a retrograde movement. He is a brave and dashing officer, and knew that the men under his command would fight to the last. He felt confident of his ability to whip the enemy in the position that he found them, and, as he supposed that an ordinary victory was all that was desired, he opened the battle then and there. Rousseau's division, having the advance, deployed to the right and opened the engagement. The history of the battle is well known; it has all been told repeatedly. It is needless to say that Buell's plans miscarried.--Of course they would miscarry, when the prime movement, upon which all the others depended was not effected. The rebels survived the battle which might have destroyed them; and in twenty-four hours afterward were joined by Kirby Smith's army. ’The Intentions of Gen. Lee--strength of the Confederate army.
The Baltimore correspondent of the New York Herald writes the following Yankee view of ‘"Gen. Lee's Programme,"’ and the strength of the Confederate army: ‘ The following is understood to be Gen. Lee's programme: To keep his army well in hand in its present position, and to make such manoeuvres at and near Winchester as will induce the Union army to cross into Virginia as soon as Gen. McClellan feels himself to be strong enough to do so; then to retreat, drawing the Union army after him, probably to Front Royal, or to some other point in the Shenandoah Valley, where he can have the choice of position, and then fall upon the Union army, with the hope of defeating Gen. McClellan. Gen. Johnston, in the meantime, to advance from Culpeper and Warrenton, to Aldic, so as to be between Gen. McClellan and Washington, in order to cut off his retreat to the capital, and to act as a reserve to Gen, Lee in case of need, it will be seen at once that there are both sense and strategy in this plan. --In case it should succeed, Washington would be in greater danger than it has been yet. ’ The following are the number and present disposition of all the rebel troops:| Rebel ‘"Army of the Potomac,"’ commanded by General Lee in person, headquarters at Winchester, army corps of Gen. Jackson, Gen. Longstreet, and Gen. Hill, each about 40,000 strong, and including the divisions of Gen. Ewell, Gen. Huger, Gen. Stuart, Gen. Ross, and Gen. Craig | 120,000 |
| Gen. Johnston's army corps, (headquarters at Culpeper,) consisting of the divisions of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, Gen. Jones, and Gen. Horton, each division about 15,000 strong | 45,000 |
| Two army corps at Gordonsville, each 40,000 strong | 80,000 |
| At Richmond, Petersburg, and on James river | 20,000 |
| At Lynchburg, (conscripts in camp of instruction for the last three months,) | 40,000 |
| Vicinity of Romney, mostly guerrillas | 8,000 |
| At Gauley, and in Western Virginia, under Gen. Floyd | 15,000 |
| Total in Virginia | 328,000 |
| At Knoxville, and in Eastern Tennessee | 20,000 |
| Near Louisville, under General Kirby Smith | 25,000 |
| Near Glasgow, under Gen. Bragg | 20,000 |
| In Eastern Kentucky, under Gen. Williams | 5,000 |
| 70,000 | |
| Department of Missouri, west of the Mississippi river, under General Holmes and General Magruder | 50,000 |
| Department of the Lower Mississippi, in Arkansas, and at Vicksburg, under Gen. Hindman | 40,000 |
| Near Corinth, under Gen. Price | 50,000 |
| Mobile | 30,000 |
| Charleston (half of these are conscripts) | 40,000 |
| Savannah (half of these are conscripts) | 40,000 |
| Total rebel force in arms | 648,000 |
The Confederates in Chambersburg.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has long accounts of the recent raid to Chambersburg, furnished by its correspondents, from which we extracts the following items of interest: ‘ The damage by the conflagration will exceed two hundred thousand dollars, of which amount the Cumberland Valley Railroad company suffer to the extent of $80,000. Mr O. N. Lull, the superintendent of the road, had all of his furniture destroyed. The car, engine, wood and water-houses of the company were totally destroyed, and for a space of three hundred square yards there is now nothing left but the blackened and smouldering remains. The track was uninjured. The warehouses of Messrs. Wunderlich & Neid contained a large amount of ammunition and stores; among the former seven hundred thousand cartridges, seven hundred muskets, and a quantity of shells, loose powder, &c.--One car was loaded with revolvers, which the rebels carried off with them. Two long trains of cars, loaded with goods consigned to private individuals, were not disturbed. There were about eight hundred horses taken from the stables and the farmers in the vicinity, and a number of skinny, attenuated equines left in their place. General Hampton appeared to be in command, and appeared anxious that the citizens should not suffer. Soon after he entered the place he rode up to a house on the main street and told the occupants of the house to shoot down any private that attempted to enter the houses, unless a companied by an officer, and he would protect them in the course. One of the officers exhibited a long list of the names of the prominent Unionists of this place, and said he was fully posted in regard to the feeling of the people of this section. ’A Drafting scene in Ohio.
The town of Bucyrus, Ohio, was the scene of a most disgraceful disturbance on the 6th inst., of which we find this account in the New York Times. During the morning a large portion of the drafted men from the towns of Holmes and Chatfield marched into the square and gave three cheers for the ‘"Constitution as it is, and the Union as it was,"’ then ‘"three cheers that we won't fight to free the nigger,"’ and then three cheers for a huge bowie knife that was shown by one of the party. The men nearly all had knives or revolvers, and several of them rifles. All had guns with them until within a mile of the town, where they drew up in line of battle, and loaded their places with all the coolness of veterans. Throughout the day threats to ‘"shoot. "’ ‘"murder"’ and ‘"butcher"’ any who attempted to force them to leave their homes were frequently made. Cheers were also proposed for Jeff. Davis, and freshly given. ‘"A rope to bang Lissole, and a knife to butcher every Abolitioner"’ was frequently bushed. A man who had said he favored the President's recent proclamation was set on by the crowd, retreated up street, and was finally taken in charge by Deputy Provost Marshal David Foster, the crowd following. Toward evening the crowd gradually dispersed, and the most of the men subsequently reported themselves for duty.Disastrous gunboat Expedition.
On the 4th inst., some transports, convoyed by three gunboats, moved from New Orleans down the river to intercept some cattle supposed to be on the way from Texas to the Confederate army. A letter in the New York Herald says: ‘ On reaching a spot about three rails below Donalsonville a rebel battery, placed behind the levee opened fire on the gunboats and transports. Embrasures had been cut through the levee to admit the guns, which were six in number — namely, four brass six-pounders and two twenty- pounder rifles. The Sciota, which had the lead, was struck several times, and I regret to say that 1st Lieut. Swacey, a quiet and unassuming young man and excellent officer, was killed, as was a seaman named John Hare. Some of the transports were completely riddled by the enemy's shot. The Saint Maurice had three killed at once, and two hours after the firing ceased the carpenter and a deck hand were found dead below. At the same time two feet of water was discovered in the hold of the Saint Maurice. The pilot of the Cyrus Bell was shot dead at the wheel. The General Williams had ten men scalded to death by the cutting in two of a supply pipe. The Iberville had one of her engines disabled by the enemy's shots. The very first shot from the enemy — a twenty-pounder rifle — passed through and through the Sciota. Finding that the work was warm, Capt. Lowry turned the Sciota around, and in this way he met the Kinco and the itasca, with which he returned to where the battery was Owing to the height of the levee at that place the battery could not be engaged with advantage at short range. Consequently the gunboat had to drop down the stream to some distance, where, taking advantage of a curve of the river, they commenced a furious cannonade of the battery, taking it in flank; but no reply was elicited. The rebels, in pursuance of their usual taction in this region, after having done all the mischief of which they were capable, cleared out. The untimely death of Lieut. Swacey has cast a gloom over the naval officers on this station, by whom he was much regarded. His remains were buried in the city yesterday afternoon. ’General Prentiss on emancipation.
Gen. Prentiss, who recently left Richmond as an exchanged prisoner, has been ventilating his opinions at the North. In a speech in New York, in answer to a voice in the crowd, ‘"How about the President's proclamation in Dixie?"’ he said: ‘ My friends, I will tell you what I think of that proclamation, and what the rebels think of it that I conversed with. Some of them said to me, ‘"General, that proclamation of your President's is a most foolish thing. It will destroy you. You never can enforce it."’ Well, said I, then if it is a foolish thing, and is going to work so much harm to us, why are you so excited about it? Why do you denounce it so vehemently? Why, in the name of Heaven, do you find fault with President Lincoln's proclamation, if it is going to bring us to destruction, as you say it will? [Immense cheering, and cries of ‘"Bully for you, "’ ‘"Good, good,"’ ‘"Bah, bah"’] Now, gentlemen, my idea of the proclamation is just this — that it will do more to crush out this rebellion than any battle that has yet been fought, or any other effort that has been made in any quarter for that purpose. [During his remarks a man cried out, ‘"This is a war for the nigger."’] The General turned towards him excitedly, and said — My friends, I call you my friends, for I believe you to be such--[Cries of ‘"We are, we are."’]--I say that each and every man who battles for our country in this hour of her danger is my friend, and I am ready to extend the cordial grasp of friendship towards him, no matter who he may be, where he was born, or what is the color of his skin; whilst every man who does not raise his voice and arm on all proper occasions to that end is my enemy from this day forward, and I am his. [Cries of ‘"Good for you,"’ and immense applause.] When I tell you that myself and fellow officers from the South are no longer afraid of being called ‘"negro sympathizers,"’ that we are not to be scared by anybody crying out ‘"abolitionist"’ at we pass, but will take by the hand whoever will fight to sustain our country in its danger, and that we despise every man who refuses to yield it all the aid and comfort in its power, you will readily understand how we feel on that point. [Cries of ‘"Good, good,"’ and wild applause.] Let me tell you, my friends — and I do so well knowing what I am saying and feel confident that my brother officers will confirm my remarks — that the colored population of the South are the best friends the Union have there, and that the white race in the South are more enslaved to day, and are suffering under a more degrading bondage, than ever was endured by the black race before this infernal rebellion was inaugurated. The General then made an earnest and eloquent appeal for unity and concert of action between the people and the Government, and between the Government and the army, assuring them of a speedy consummation of their desires to crush the rebellion if this course should be pursued, and promised for himself the most unsparing efforts that the most earnest devotion could inspire, in every and all ways, at any and all times, at any and every place, to effect that object. ’Correspondence between Cassius M. Clay and — Richard O'Gorman — Cassius won't fight.
Richard O'Gorman, after the speech of Major Gen. Cassius M. Clay in New York, published a very severe card, in which, Irish like, he intimates his willingness to fight Cassius for the smallest possible remuneration. Cassius having got to Washington, publishes the following reply: Washington, D. C., Oct. 15, 1862.
Sir
--My remarks at the Cooper Institute were altogether extemporaneous and unpremeditated.
It was not my purpose to make any allusion to yourself; but when your name was suggested by one of the audience, I could not but feel indignant that I, who had always contended for free immigration of Irishmen into my State, and who had always denounced Know Nothingism from the beginning, and who had made so many sacrifices for universal liberty, should, with my party, be unjustly, as I know it to be, denounced as attempting the enslavement of any portion of mankind.
Hence I used words which seemed to me but suited to the full vindication of truth.
What I have heard of your character since, and your response to my denunciation, made on the 13th day of October, at the same hall, convince me that you are right in your statement of what should be the limits of public debate.--Allow me, then, to say that I am no duellist, and I should not have accepted a challenge from you had one been given.
What I meant to say was, that I assumed all the responsibilities of my assertions, whether you appealed to the law of the land, or to violence.
I rejoice to find that you are not the defender of perpetual slavery — even for the African.
I have always accepted gradualists as my allies, though I am now, and have always been, for immediate emancipation.
When you have learned as much of slavery as I, you will find that you are placing an eternal barrier between yourself and your Southern allied by anything short of unconditional submission to the demand that ‘"slavery is right."’ And, if rights, their gradualism is as wrong as abolition.
The President has said, by the unquestioned war power, that on the 1st day of January, 1863, slavery shall cease to exist in all the States or parts of States then in rebellion against the United States.
Should any unforeseen events hinder that consummation, I shall count upon your efforts to initiate a system of gradual emancipation, in which I shall promise you all the feeble aid I may be able to give you. Then, if not before, I, shall expect you to teach your more humble and less enlightened countrymen that the liberty of the black does not endanger either the bread or the freedom of the white, for the most crushing of all labor is the unpaid wages of slaves, and God has decreed that in these United States there shall be liberty to all or to none.
Sir
