Confederate Congress.
first session.
Senate. Tuesday, April 8, 1862.
The
House met at 12 M., in the
Chamber of the Virginia Senate.
The battle of Seilon.
Mr. Haynes asked that the resolutions sent from the
House yesterday, in relation to the battle in
Tennessee, and the death of
Gen. A. S. Johnson, be taken up, in order to offer in lien thereof the following:
‘
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That Congress have learned with gratitude to the
Divine Ruler of nations, the intelligence of the recent complete and brilliant victory which has been gained by the army of the
Confederate States, under the command of
Gen. A. S. Johnston, over the
Federal forces in
Tennessee, on the battle field of
Shiloh.
Resolved, [That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and are hereby cordially tendered, to
Gen. Gustave T. Beauregard, and the officers and troops under his command, for the decisive and important victory achieved by them over the forces of the
United States, on the 6th of April, in the
State of Tennessee;] and all who contributed to that signal triumph, in the judgment of Congress, are entitled to the gratitude of their country.
Resolved, That the intelligence of the death of
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston,
Commander-in-Chief, when loading the Confederate forces to victory on the 6th of April, in
Tennessee, while it effects Congress with profound sorrow, at the same time obscures our joy with a shade of sadness at the loss of an officer so able, skillful, and gallant.
Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be made known, by appropriate general orders by the
Generals in command, to the officers and troops to whom they are addressed, and that they also be communicated to the family of
Gen. Johnston.
’
Mr. Haynes said he had no objection to the resolution of the
House, as to what they did say, but he did object to what they did not convey.
Mr. Orr, of
South Carolina, although he concurred in the resolutions and would not vote against them, still thought them premature, since we yet know little of the extent of the victory.
The fight is yet going on, and we do not know what will be the result or the next news.
Mr. Yanger offered the following substitute, to ed within the ets of the resolution; which was accepted by
Mr. Haynes:
"That the thanks of Congress are hereby tendered to
Gen. Gustave T. Beauregard and the other surviving officers and privates of that army for the signal exhibition of skill and gallantry displayed by them on that memorable occasion.
Mr. Clark said no one could feel joy for the victory more keenly or sadness more deeply than himself for the death of
Gen. Johnston; but he must think, in the absence of further information, the resolutions were premature.
Mr. Henry, of
Tennessee, (interrupting), stated that he had just learned from a gentleman of the
House that
Mr. Bruce, of
Kentucky, had received a dispatch dated the 7th, which emphatically denied the death of
Gen. Johnston, but stated that he was badly wounded.
Mr. Clark, resuming, urged the fact as an additional reason for delay.
He moved that the resolution be laid over for the present.--Agreed to.
Mr. Yanoby, moved a reconsideration of the vote.
A message was announced from the
President (See another column)
On motion of
Mr. Yancry, the message was ordered to be printed, the resolutions above were reconsidered and adopted unanimously, and the Senate went into secret session.
