Southern war News.
Gen. Jeff. Thompson has a brush with the enemy — a Governor in — trouble--General Lyon killed by an Arkansas, Darkey — a fine crop of Bables — Compliment to Virginia, &c., &c.From our Southern exchanges we gather the following items of interest to the render:
Engagement near, Columbus.
The Columbus correspondent of the Memphis Appeal, in his letter of the 10th instant, says: ‘ We have had another engagement with the gun-boats to-day, which resulted, as usual, in their retreat. The fight to-day, however was a little more serious than the engagement at Hickman, and lasted much longer. Gen. Jeff. Thompson, of the Missouri Brigade, had thrown his whole force over the river on the Missouri side, and had planted a battery of four guns some six miles above here. The enemy discovered his position somehow, and made an attack upon it, evidently with the design of diverting his attention while they were busily engaged in landing four thousand of their troops at a point five or six miles above him, to cut off reinforcements from us. Their scheme is a failure, however, so far, as the gallant 4th, commanded by Col. Neely, and the 13th Regiment, commanded by Col. Douglas, together with the field battery and a large force of cavalry have been ordered to cross the river immediately and give General Thompson all the assistance he may require. Our force, in conjunction with Gen. Thompson's, will prove more than a match for all the Hessians they may have, be that number small or great. If they remain until we reach them, you may expect a good report from us. As I am connected with the 4th Regiment, I can give you no further account until our Regiment returns, when I expect to give you full particulars of the expedition. Our, army is already large and is rapidly increasing every day. Not a train comes in that is not freighted with soldiers, and the cry is, "Still they come," Where they all come from is the question; yet the supply seems far from being exhausted. Let them come if they are all of the same material as those already here, and the hour of the Kangaroo despot is at hand; Teket will be his fate and Upharsin his destiny. ’A Governor in trouble,
The Little Rock Gazette contains a letter from Governor H. M. Rector, to the people of Arkansas, n which he informs them that ‘"the continued absence of a large number of State officials, most of whom are connected with the Confederate army--members of the General Assembly, sheriffs, judges, and agents, attorneys, etc., etc.--renders it almost impossible that the machinery of government can be kept in motion and the laws executed."’ These gentlemen, he says, though prompted by patriotic impulses, seem to be unmindful of the embarrassments and confusion induced by their absence. In consequence of this state of things, the Governor says one-half of the officers in the State are practically vacant and that there is ‘"no authority in law to supply the deficiency."’ This, he tells the people, is causing the public interests to suffer materially, and their rights and liberties to be postponed and illy protected, and the reins of government to hang loosely. He says it may be necessary to call the Legislature together; but if so, it will be very ‘"uncertain whether, a quorum could be obtained"’ He says, ‘"in many counties there are neither sheriffs, judges, coroners nor justices of the peace, to administer the laws or enforce justice."’ He knows of no other mode of removing the difficulties by which he is environed, than by appealing to the ‘"good sense and patriotism of absent officials,"’ and conjuring them to ‘"resign or return to their posts of duty."’General M'Clellan tried to get in the Confederate service.
The North (Ga.) Times contains the following interesting item in connection with the Yankee General, McClellan, which we have never before seen published: ‘ We learn from a reliable source that two weeks before McClellan was tendered the commission of Major-General by Lincoln, he was trying to secure a position in the Confederate Army--that his feelings and sympathies were all for the South, but the temptation of superseding Gen. Scott was too much for his principles. ’The affair at Hatteras Inlet.
The Memphis Appeal says that it learns that a British war steamer was off Hatteras and witnessed the entire bombardment, and reports, as a fact coming under her own knowledge, that the Federals, in their attempt to land troops, not only lost the guns and fuel of the Harriet Lane, but also lost two surf boats and sixty men drowned. It turns out therefore, that their actual loss in killed outnumbers ours at least three to one.Probable capture of nine Confederates.
The Pensacola correspondent of the Mobile News says a Confederate launch with nine men, left the Navy-Yard Sunday night, on Its usual round of police duty, and has not been heard of since. It is thought at the yard she has probably fallen into the hands of the Federals, as they not unfrequently show themselves in the bay.Escaped.
The Memphis Appeal learns that Mr. E. J. Marshall, late telegraph operator at Paducah, Ky., who escaped with his instruments the day the Lincolnites took possession of that place, has arrived at Trenton, Tenn., safe and sound. A detachment of Hessian cavalry was sent in pursuit of him, but he managed to elude them.Aid for M'Culloch.
The Fort Smith Times, of the 7th, learns that five regiments of troops from Texas, will join Gen. McCulloch in a few days.--Also, one regiment from Mississippi, and one from South, Carolina.Movements of General A. S. Johnston.
The Constitutional, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has information direct from Mesilla, which states that on 5th inst. Gen. Johnston was at Picach, about five miles north of Mesilla, in command of the Confederate forces, which command, tendered by Lieut, Col. Baylor, the General had accepted. The Confederate forces numbered about 500 men and had four pieces of artillery. They were awaiting and preparing to give a warm reception to four companies of Federal troops, (two companies of dragoons and two companies of infantry.) under command of Lieut. Moore, which were advancing from Tucson, and were the only Federal troops remaining in Arizona. Our informants state that Gen. Johnston has undoubtedly captured these troops. They further state that Gen. Johnston is in good health, not withstanding the hardships encountered on the trip from California, and that he would be in San Antonio on or about the 15th of September.Gen. Lyon killed by a Darkey,
The Fort Smith (Ark,) Times contains the following in relation to the death of General Lyon at the battle of Oak Hill, in Missouri: ‘ A negro man, body servant to Capt. John Griffith, of the gallant Third, was in the hottest of the fight, at Oak Hill, and fought in the last charge like a tiger. He claims to have killed Gen. Lyon. He says, he shot a man in the breast, that was on a large grey horse, and was waving his hat, and he saw him fall. Thus it is very probably that the Abolition Lyon fell by the hands of a darkey. This same black man, finding his youngest master. Benj. Griffith, wounded in the calf of the leg, picked him up, and carried him off of the field; notwithstanding, Ben resisted it with all his might, as he wanted to fire a few more rounds at the Dutch.. ’When Gen. Lyon was killed.
The Fort Smith (Ark,) Times, of the 7th, says: ‘ Colonel Mitchell, of Kansas, who was in the battle of Oak Hills, and commanded a Kansas regiment, said that General Lyon was wounded in the thigh and slightly in the body, and had his grey horse killed in the first part of the action. Lyon fell about fifteen minutes after General Pearce led the Arkansas boys into the fight by a shot in the breast with a small ball. Lyon fell on my shoulder, (Mitchell's,) and I assisted him to the ground. He was riding a bay horse at the time he was killed. Colonel Mitchell is wounded in the thigh, and is now in the Springfield hospital. ’A Bad crop of cotton, but a good crop of Babies.
The Sage of Monticello, published at Monticello, Arkansas, says that cotton in that vicinity, in consequence of the recent heavy rains, has taken a second growth, and will be considerably damage. The same paper chronicles the following fact, which shows that there is one kind of crop, at least, in our sister State, which cannot be effected by the heavy rains. A gentleman just returned from Columbia county informs us that in one neighborhood in that county, thirty-two twin children have been born since January of this year --thirty one of whom were boys. These were all born under the care of one midwife, and were doing well when our informant left. Instead of the Ganary of Cape Verde Islands, usually recommended to an husbands, we would suggest this locality, as being altogether more convenient and accessible.Compliment to Virginia.
At a recent meeting of the citizens of Wilkinson county, Miss., the following resolution, among others, was passed: ‘ Resolved, That it would do violence to our feelings to omit, on this occasion, our tribute to the "Mother of States and of Statesmen;" that the quiet with which Virginia took her place in the van, and grandly bared her bosom to the storm of war, and the promptitude with which her sons, in themselves a formidable host, rushed to the standard of freedom, challenges our highest admiration; while the atrocities perpetrated by the brutal invaders of her excites our deepest indignation, and elicit for her sufferers our profoundest sympathies; and that words fall us when we would express our emotions for the exuberant kindness displayed by her citizens to our sick and wounded sons; we can only utter the universal prayer of the South--"May the richest blessings of Almighty God be lavished upon the sons and daughters of the Old Dominion." ’Bast Tennessee — Brownlow.
The Nashville (Tenn.) papers, contain a card from W. G. Brownlow, of the Knoxville Whig, from which we extract the following: ‘ "So far as I am individually concerned, I will not be a party to any mad scheme of rebellion, gotten up at this late day, or to any insane attempt to invade this end of the State with Federal troops. And any portion of the Union men of East Tennessee, who may be crazy enough to embark in either enterprise and suffer utter ruin, as they are bound to do, shall not, when the times of the calamities be ever past, reflect on me for having advised such a course." ’ The opposition to the Confederate Government in East Tennessee, is substantially at an end.Arrest of a New Orleans vivandieres.
The Memphis Avalanche of the 11th inst. contains the following in relation to the arrest of a vivandieres in that city: ‘ It seems that some of the Louisiana Regiments have vivandieres attached to them, and their services in Virginia have been spoken of in the highest terms. One of these devoted women, named Helen Voskius, of about twenty years, who accompanied her regiment to Virginia, arrived here yesterday. Her hair was plaited, and her jaunty cap, bloomer pants and close fitting coat, rendered her the observed of all observes. Everybody could see that she was a woman, and some of our police, not being acquainted with such a uniform for the gentler sex, arrested her. She was taken to the station house, the matter explained and Capt. Klink at once set her at liberty. We are sorry that the lovely vivandieres should have been incommoded, and on the part of our citizens generally beg leave to offer our best apology. ’Copiah rice.
The Copiah (Miss.) News says: ‘ We have in our office a specimen of rice grown on the farm of Mr. A. W. Griffing, near the town of Hazlehurst, which is creditable to the pine woods. This rice was sown broadcast, and the stalks are six feet in height, with fine heads of grain. When it is known that the rice stalk is equal as food for stock to the Timothy hay, we are a little surprised that our planters do not raise it if for this purpose alone. ’Census of Charleston.
The Charleston (S. C.) Mercury of the 3d has the subjoined carefully compiled statement of the population of that city, just completed.| Whites, | 26,859 |
| Slaves, | 17,535 |
| Free persons | 3,766 |
| Total, | 48,160 |
