Latest from the North.
We have received, through the courtesy of Hon. Robt. Ould, Commissioner of Exchange, files of Northern papers of Saturday last, the 11th inst., Lincoln made a brief speech in Washington Tuesday night upon the news of the fall of Vicksburg. He congratulated the crowd who serenaded on the fact that "on the 4th of July the cohorts of those who opposed the declaration that all men were created equal 'turned tail' and run. " He concluded by saying: "Having said this much, I will now take the music. " The New York Herald says ‘"the indications are that the Government will demand under the conscription law about 400,000 men."’ This draft is apportioned among the loyal States east of the Rocky Mountains, and we find West Virginia set down in the apportionment for 6,660 men, Kentucky 19,980, Maryland 11,000, and Missouri 19,980. All the New York and Brooklyn militia regiments that went to Harrisburg are now in the Army of the Potomac.The fall of Vicksburg--account of the surrender demonstrations at the North.
The surrender of Vicksburg was received with the most extravagant demonstrations at the North. Secretary Welles visited Lincoln in person to communicate Porter's dispatch, and 200 guns were fired in Washington. At Burlington, N. J., 100 guns were fired and the church bells rung. In New York city the town was bedizened with flags. In Albany, Syracuse, Utica, and Robuster, N. Y., the bell-ringing, cannon-firing, and fireworks, was freely indulged. The militia turned out to celebrate the victory of the regulars. Thirty locomotives were started to whistling at Hornersville, and at Bridgeport, Conn., P. T. Barnum made a speech. In Massachusetts, Maine, and Ohio, hilarious demonstrations took place. In Philadelphia the newspaper offices were illuminated. The Inquirer says: ‘ The news of the capture of Vicksburg was sent forth to the inhabitants of Philadelphia by the loud peals of the State House bell, about two o'clock yesterday afternoon. Thousands of anxious persons rushed towards the State House as the bell continued ringing. The firemen, with their apparatus, were also drawn together, and for about a half hour the greatest enthusiasm pervaded the surrounding streets. On learning the cause of the bell being rung the anxious faces of the multitude changed to that of cheerfulness, and loud cheers were given. Persons on meeting congratulated each other by the shaking of hands and giving utterances of gratitude for the bright hope that the speedy termination of the rebellion was near at hand. ’ During the afternoon a band of music was stationed in the steeple of the State House, where they played "Old Hundred," "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "John Brown's Body Lies Mouldering in the Grave." A large meeting was held in front of the State House. The Rev. Dr. Brainerd opened the proceedings with prayer, giving thanks to the Almighty for the good news and the bright prospect of a speedy termination of the rebellion. Addresses were also made by several gentlemen, appropriate to the interesting occasion. During the afternoon the steam engine belonging to the Good Will-Fire Company passed through the streets, decorated with miniature American flags, and having in front a large broom, intending to convey the idea of sweeping out the foul rebellion from the sacred inclosure of the Union. As the engine passed along the steam was constantly whistling, which formed the music for the occasion. The Fairmont Steam Fire Engine Company had the bell in the cupola of their house rung in honor of the good news from Grant's army, and a small cannon was placed in front of their house, from which a number of salutes were fired. Bands of music passed through the streets followed by large crowds of delighted citizens. In the evening fireworks were displayed in different parts of the city, and the scene partook more of the appearance of a Fourth of July evening than of any other occasion. The occasion will long be remembered by the citizens of Philadelphia. A dispatch to the New York Tribune, dated near Vicksburg, July 3d says: ‘ At 8 this morning flags of truce appeared before A. J. Smith's front, when Major-Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery were led blindfolded into our lines. They bore a communication from Gen. Pemberton of the following purport: ’ "Although I feel confident of my ability to resist your arms indefinitely, in order to stop the further effusion of blood, I propose that you appoint three Commissioners, to meet three whom I shall select, to arrange such terms as may best accomplish the result." Grant soon replied substantially in these words: ‘ "The appointment of Commissioners is unnecessary. While I should be glad to stop any unnecessary effusion of blood, the only terms which I can entertain are those of unconditional surrender. At the same time, myself and men and officers of this army are ready to testify to the distinguished gallantry with which the defence of Vicksburg has been conducted." ’ At 11 o'clock the messengers returned. This afternoon Gen. Grant met Gen. Pemberton between the lines, and after an hour's consultation settled the surrender. Gen. Pemberton urged that the soldiers might be paroled here and furnished rations to carry them to their lines; in view of the bravery they have displayed and the advantages of the plan, Gen. Grant will consent. The number of prisoners, wounded, &c., it is said, will be 18,000, of which 12,000 are in fighting condition now. The immediate cause of surrender is exhaustion of supplies and ammunition, and the failure of Johnston to come to their aid. At daylight our whole army will enter triumphantly and celebrate the doubly glorious anniversary. Not a shot has been fired since 8 o'clock from our lines, except from the river mortars. A general interchange of civilities extends all along the lines. Another correspondent adds: Officers accompanying the flag of truce have indicated by their conversation that all that has been written and published in the North concerning the suffering of the rebels in Vicksburg has been but half the truth. There are about 22,000 people in Vicksburg, 10,000 of whom are efficient soldiers. Our army will take possession to-morrow morning. The surrender is just in time to save both armies from the loss and destruction of life which would have attended an attempt to carry the works of the enemy by storm, as such an attempt had been determined on for the to-morrow morning. Not having been allowed an inside view before the departure of the dispatch-boat, I cannot give such interesting details as may be desired. Col. Markland, of the Special Post Office Department, will on the 5th establish a Post Office in Vicksburg.The Coming battle in Maryland--Preliminary fighting — the ground for the Grand conflict.
The Northern papers are all looking forward to the pitched battle momentarily expected in Maryland, and have ceased to boast over the Gettysburg fight as a rout for Lee, or of the immense amount of fire arms they took. All this has vanished into thin air. On Wednesday last, the Herald says, Kilpatrick and Buford met Stuart near Boonsboro', but were driven back to the town. This is all the severe fighting which is mentioned as having taken place since Lee left Gettysburg. The old battle ground of Antietam and the crossing at Shepherdstown are included within the Confederate pickets. General Lee, they say, is strongly fortified at Hagerstown, and holds both bridges over Antietam creek. What was supposed to be his wagon trains crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, turns out to have been the long trains filled with the "plunder" taken from Pennsylvania. A fight commenced at Funktown, Md., five miles from Hagerstown, Friday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, in which Buford's and Kilpatrick's cavalry and the 11th corps of infantry was engaged.--The Yankees claim the result as a partial success to them. The latest dispatch we find in the Philadelphia Inquirer of the 11th. It is dated at Harrisburg, midnight of the night before, and is such a mass of lying braggadocio that not much can be gotten out of it: ‘ No passes to any points beyond Greencastle were granted to citizens under any pretence whatever, and it was utterly impossible to reach our outposts. Cannonading was heard all along the line during the day, but no general engagement had taken place. ’ Gen. Lee was at Hagerstown last evening. Gens. Early and Ewell were holding the place with a large force, and are fortifying the eminences around the town. The rebel line extends from a point east of Hagerstown to beyond St. Paul, on the National turnpike. The bridges over Antietam creek have all been destroyed, and the rebels are in position on the other side, fortifying. Our cavalry are scouring the country and capturing rebel wagon trains. Over three hundred wagons, well loaded, were captured yesterday by Capt. Boyd. Some have escaped over the Potomac, which is still very high. It is believed that all the bridges on the Shenandoah route to Richmond have been destroyed by our cavalry forces in Virginia. Our militia, under Gen. Smith, had a regular fight with a portion of the enemy at Waynesboro' last night. The action lasted for half an hour. Our Pennsylvania troops fought bravely. The rebels finally retired to their main body. Late in the night a considerable body of rebels attempted to cross the Potomac, but with frightful loss of life, they succeeded in getting about fifty horses safe over the river. Nothing is definitely known of the number of rebels this side of the Potomac, or of the amount of ammunition in their possession.--But it is generally believed, from the preparations making, that they will fight with the utmost desperation before surrender. A general engagement is momentarily expected. From a Union citizen who escaped from Hagerstown your messenger learned that the greatest confusion, pillage, and destruction prevails there. Citizens are ruthlessly shot down in the streets for paltry sums of money in their possession. The Union women are very bitter, and do not hesitate to enter their earnest protests against the outrages committed, and to express their contempt for the robbers. Gen. Early threatened to shoot several ladies for the warmth with which they ventured to express their opinions. The women of Secession proclivities are as bitter on the other side. Men, and residents of Hagerstown, are not wanting to show the way of the rebels to hidden treasures. The rebel soldiery are very rough in their behavior. Property of all kinds is taken without scruple. Port-holes are cut through houses, horses are stolen in great numbers, while the farmers with their stock are migrating in all directions. The Baltimore correspondent of the New York Herald writes that from all the facts he can gather, the following is the truth about Gen. Lee's departure from Gettysburg: ‘ The movement of Gen. Lee's columns from Gettysburg, across the South Mountain towards Hagerstown and Boonsboro', was executed during the whole of Saturday in the manner indicated in my letter of yesterday (with one exception — namely, that none of the troops except Stuart's cavalry passed through Emmettsburg, or so far South as that place, but moved by the roads North of Emmettsburg)--that is to say, the march, though rapidly made, was executed in perfect order and without precipitation or the least confusion. There was no such thing as "the mountains filled with stragglers from Lee's disorganized army and the roads strewn with abandoned caissons, arms and baggage." There were very few stragglers and no disorganisation, owing to the perfect discipline which Gen. Lee has always maintained. ’ At two o'clock on Sunday morning, July 5, Gen. Stuart's cavalry reached Emmettsburg, and began to enter the place. They passed directly through, without stopping, on a fast walk, and took the road towards Hagerstown. The stream of cavalry continued to flow, in a steady column, four abreast, until eleven or twelve o'clock at noon, by which time they had all left. A number of persons counted them, and they all agreed in the general total, which was about 15,000 men. General Stuart himself, with a number of his officers, stopped to breakfast at 8 o'clock and remained till 11. It was during this time that my informants conversed with them. My informants all inferred from what Stuart's officers said, that it was General Lee's design to move his columns along the crest of the South Mountain as far down as Boonsboro', leaving both Hagerstown and Williamsport on his right, and to take up a position at or near the one he held at the old battle of Antietam. They were quite satisfied with the results of the battles near Gettysburg, and spoke of General Lee's present movement as a great strategic achievement, which, in the course of two or three days, would result in the utter defeat of the Union army.Gen. Morgan in Indiana — great excitement There--Fifty thousand troops called out-- saw declared in Louisville.
That famous cavalry chief, General Morgan has gone through Kentucky and gotten into Indiana, much to the terror of its inhabitants. He crossed into Indiana on the 7th, with cavalry, infantry, and artillery, to the number of 8,000 men, and captured Corydon, a town about 25 miles from Louisville, Ky., It was formerly the capital of Indiana. Gov. Morton, of Indiana, immediately issued a proclamation, calling for 50,000 men, and declared martial law in the border counties. At Indianapolis, 125 miles from Corydon a Michigan regiment had arrived with a battery of artillery' and on the night of the 9th, eleven regiments, aggregating 4,700 men, with ten pieces of artillery, passed through Louisville, en route to relieve Gov. Morton. A dispatch from Louisville, dated the 8th, says: ‘ There was a meeting of the citizens to night to take measures to provide for the defence of the city. It was addressed by Gen. Boyle, who stated that, although there was no immediate apprehension of danger, it was necessary that measures should be taken to organize the citizens for its defence. ’ The matter was submitted to the Council, which met this morning, when the following resolution was passed by the meeting: "That all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 be enrolled in companies for service if required and that all such who refuse shall be sent North." Gen. Boyle is determined to carry out this resolution vigorously, and the enrollment will immediately commence. We have the usual reports of the iniquitousness of Morgan's forces; but the reports are considered the fancies of an excited people. No considerable number of armed rebels are known to be near our city. Gen. Buckner's forces were crossing the Tennessee river, near Chattanooga, yesterday. Small squads of rebel cavalry are along the line of the Frankfort railroad. Another dispatch, dated Louisville, the 10th says that martial law was proclaimed in flat city on that day. Morgan was advancing on New Albany fifteen miles from Corydon, and the Federal under Gen. Hebeon were pursuing him. New Albany, threatened by this raid of Morgan's, is the largest city in Indiana, having a population of some eighteen thousand. It is famous for steamboat building, and its iron foundries and machine shops. A heavy wholesale business is transacted at this point, in dry goods and merchandize of all kinds, and New Albany has always been considered the most prosperous city on the Ohio River below Cincinnati, with the exception of Louisville. Morgan will find rich spoil in the place, provided he moves with such rapidity as to arrive there before its valuables can be removed to a more secure spot. Judge Otto, the Assistant United States Secretary of the Interior, has his residence in New Albany.Vice President Stephens's mission to Fortress Monroe--what the Yankees thought of it.
The excitement in Washington city was very great when it got noised abroad that the Vice President of the Confederate States was applying for permission to visit that city on official business. The rumor immediately obtained that he was the bearer of propositions of peace, and the Yankees were wild with delight. The fact that "Mr. Stephens was the bearer of a proposition for an armistice" was immediately telegraphed to the Northern papers. A Washington telegram, of the 8th, in the New York Herald says: ‘ Messrs. Stephens and Cald came down the James river on the Torpedo and not the Dragon, and were halted by our picket boat near White Shoal light house, about fourteen miles from Newport News Mr. Stephens stated that he had important dispatches for the President of the United States, and wished to go down the James river and communicate with the officer commanding the fleet. The officer in charge of the picket boat informed Mr. Stephens that any communication he might have would be delivered to Admiral Lee, but the Torpedo could not proceed further inside of our lines. Mr. Stephens hereupon handed the Captain of the picket boat two packages addressed to Admiral Lee and the commanding officer of the forces at Fortress Monroe. In the absence of General Dix from this post, Colonel Ludlow telegraphed the substance of the communication to Washington, as also did Admiral Lee. Mr. Stephens was accredited as "Military Commissioner" of Jefferson Davis, Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the Confederate States, to President A. Lincoln, Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and requested permission from the military authorities to proceed, directly to Washington for the purpose of presenting his letters to and conferring with Mr. Lincoln in person upon matters connected therewith. ’ The Answer.--After a delay of forty eight hours an answer was received by Colonel Ludlow that Mr. Stephens's request was inadmissible. It was as follows: The request of Alexander H. Stephens is in admissible. The customary agents and channels are adequate for all needful military communication and conference between the United States forces and the insurgents. Gideon Welles, Sec'y of the Navy.
Colonel Ludlow communicated the answer of the Government in person to Mr. Stephens on Monday, and spent some time on board of the rebel tug on business concerning exchanges with Mr. Ould.
It is surmised (and I have every confidence in its truth) that Mr. Stephens was the bearer of propositions for an armistice, and that this time was selected because of the panic caused by the invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee, and before any decisive battle had been fought to make said request.
There is no doubt but that Mr. Stephens was greatly disappointed with the result of his mission.
The answer of our Government was eminently proper.
To have received him would have been a virtual acknowledgment of what the Confederacy claimed to be and if he had been permitted to go to Washington it would have seriously embarrassed our Government, by making propositions that would have called for Cabinet discussions.
Your Washington dispatch says: ‘"Admiral Lee was instructed to ascertain, if possible, the object of their mission."’ This is a mistake.
On the contrary, Admiral Lee was admonished under no circumstances to hold any communication, with Messrs. Stephens and Ould.
All intercourse with the rebels was prohibited until advices from the President could be received, and when these came Col. Ludlow at once proceeded on the Henry Burden to the place where the Torpedo was at anchor and there conferred with them.
The rebel boat did not leave without "any parting salutation or explanation, " but while awaiting the answer from Washington merely cruised about the James river beyond our lines.
Col. Ludlow parted with Messrs. Stephens and Ould on amicable terms.
The Philadelphia Inquirer sees a deep laid scheme concealed under this trip of Mr. Stephens, it being nothing less than a plan to "declare" the Confederacy in Washington.
It says: ‘
Of course, if Stephens had succeeded in getting to Washington, he would have improved all the chances for opening negotiations on other subjects.
His contemplated visit was timed at a critical juncture.
Lee had just made a formidable advance into the loyal States, and was threatening at once Harrisburg, Baltimore and Washington, but Lee himself was also in some peril.
If he should be defeated Stephens would be in a situation to learn promptly the effect of such an event at the North, and advise Davis accordingly; but, on the other hand — and this was the confident expectation of the rebels — if Lee had taken Washington or Baltimore, Stephens would have been in a favorable position to declare the "Confederacy" in Washington, or to make a treaty, offensive and defensive, between Maryland and the rebel authorities, as he did on a similar occasion between the rebel Provisional Government and Virginia, in April, 1861. It will be remembered that he was conveniently at hand in Richmond at that time. ’
We are satisfied that some trivial affair about prisoners or retaliation would have been put forward as the pretext for his visit, but it was timed at such an important period, that we feel confident that it was underlaid by some deep scheme.
It was doubtless for some such reason that the Government packed him back.
He is much wiser by this time, both by way of Gettysburg and Vicksburg.
Lincoln Offers to release Vallandigham from Exile-the terms upon which he will do it.
The Committee of the Democratic Convention, which nominated Vallandigham for Governor of Ohio, addressed a letter to Lincoln, demanding the revocation of his order exiting their candidate from the United States. Lincoln has published a reply, of which the following is an extract: I send you duplicates of this letter, in order that you, or a majority of you, may, if you choose, endorse your names upon one of them, and return it thus endorsed to me, with the understanding that those signing are thereby committed to the following propositions, and to nothing else:- 1. That there is now a rebellion in the United State, the object and tendency of which is to destroy the National Union; and that, in your opinion, an army and navy are constitutional means for suppressing that rebellion.
- 2. That no one of you will do anything which, in his own judgment, will tend to hinder the increase, or favor the decrease, or lesson the efficiency of the army or navy while engaged in the effort to suppress the rebellion, and.
- 3. That each of you will, in his sphere, do all he can to have the officers, soldiers, and seamen, of the army and navy, while engaged in the effort to suppress the rebellion, paid, fed, clad, and otherwise well provided for and supported.
