Events of the War.
Accounts from Mississippi.
We have two accounts from Mississippi, one from the New Orleans (Yankee) Era, dated the 6th, and the other from a Confederate letter dated Brandon, Miss, the 8th inst. The Era has conversed with an informant just from Jackson, and says: ‘ For twelve days he has been travelling in a carriage through the country between Jackson, Miss., and Port Hudson, and during the whole of that time he has not seen or heard of a single rebel soldier. Not even a guerilla can be discovered in that neighborhood. Having an extensive acquaintance among the planters in that vicinity he was enabled to form, from conversations held with them, a pretty correct idea of the amount of cotton still remaining there, and the lowest estimate he makes is 100,000 bales. Three-fourths of this, at least, is owned by the rebel Government, having been bought up by their cotton agents. ’ The planters are very much concerned about the cotton-burning order from Secretary Memminger, which we published in Friday evening's edition, and they are exceedingly anxious that a force of United States troops should occupy the country.--Our informant thinks five hundred mounted men could keep the whole region free from straggling guerillas, and thereby save the cotton from destruction. The planters will take the oath with the greatest eagerness to save what little property still remains in their possession, and the majority inwardly pray for the appearance of a regiment of blue coats before it becomes too late. All the guerilla bands and small squads of cavalry, after the fall of Port Hudson, were collected and organized into one body, under command of Col. Logan, a cavalry officer of considerable reputation among the Confederates. He concentrated his force a short distance from Clinton, and was here attacked and routed by our cavalry. The letter from Brandon says: ‘ We have amazing reports from New Orleans. A lady who came in contact with a Yankee General, below here, was told by him that they had very unsatisfactory news. The General would give her no particulars, but he seemed depressed, and the lady was sure some serious thing had happened. ’ A gentleman who witnessed the performances of the negro regiments at Port Hudson, says it is all a mistake. The blacks never delivered their fire. They were brought to a certain point twice, and moved off by the flank into the woods. The line was in evident confusion, and many of them were killed. He imagines the negroes were drunk. The great fight which the blacks made at Milliken's Bend was a forced fight. They were penned in and shot down, the Yankee gunboats killing as many, to keep them forward, as we did to keep them back. Many of them were drowned by being shoved into the water from the boats on which they sought refuge from the double fire. Capt. Lloyd Tilghman, son of Gen. Tilghman, who was killed at the battle of Baker's Creek, was thrown from his horse and killed Young Tilghman had been with his father as an aide-de-camp since the war began. He had just returned from a clandestine visit to his mother in Kentucky, his object being to sustain and comfort her in her deep affliction. We have lost a most gallant and promising young soldier. It is true, that which I wrote you a few days ago. The Yankees are to seize the private and public resources of the country and open colossal soup houses, where the people can feed. In the language of the Yankee privates, and some Generals, too, "We are going to bring these ladies to the wash-tub." The aristocracy (white people) are to be brought down, elevating the black, under every encouragement, having been found impossible. Restoration of the Union is no more talked of in camps. The answer to the whine, "I am a Union man," is, "You be damned."--The Union is still spoken of to the people, and the mouths of the politicians are full of it, but in their hearts is the loved scheme of debasing millions of white people till they have the instincts of negroes. There is no hope of reconstruction. It is too late for submission. Pictures, ornaments, and musical instruments are destroyed, that you may lose their elevating influences. Table furniture is destroyed, that you may lose the civilization of the family board. Personal attire and ornaments are taken, that you may lose the ennobling elegance of costume which has characterized your mothers for hundreds of years.The Vicksburg army.
The report current that the troops composing this army had scattered and deserted calls for a statement of the true facts, in order that the public may be undeceived, and that justice may be done to the soldiers. This story about desertions, in its true signification, is either entirely false or else greatly exaggerated. The Atlanta (Ga.) Appeal gives the following explanation: ‘ There were many Mississippians in that army whose homes were not far from Vicksburg, and who took the opportunity of going home as soon as they got outside the Federal lines. Many of them being sick and footsore from recent exposure, requiring rest and recreation, and passing near by their homes, refused to go to the camp at Enterprise until they had first visited their friends. There is no doubt that by this time most of these have recuperated sufficiently to return to the camp, and nearly all of them will do so without any further inducements than their sense of duty. With the Louisiana regiments the case was similar. Many of these were so anxious to get home that they resorted to almost every means to accomplish their object, some of them secured the assistance of the Federal to take them over the river in yawls and skiffs — all with the intention of making a visit home and then returning to the army as soon as their exchange was effected. There being but one route by which General Pemberton could take his troops out of the Federal lines, he desired to keep them together as much as possible. ’ When the army reached Pearl river, at Byram's station, on the Jackson and New Orleans Railroad, about 20 miles below Jackson and completely out of the enemy's lines, it was thought unnecessary for the troops to march directly away from their homes, and Gen. Pemberton issued an order for all those living in the Trans-Mississippi department.--comprising Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana--to fall back to Pearl river to receive their furloughs, that they might go to their homes. This order was first made at Raymond; but that being still within the lines, and only one route of exit being open, it was necessary to go to Pearl river before it could be carried out. This explains why some of the Louisiana regiments have such small number of men in camp at Enterprise. It was the same with those from Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri, as well as Mississippi and other States east of the river. It would have been cruel to march these men over a hundred miles from their homes, while they were in a condition that would not admit of the fatigue incident thereto. This is the true explanation of the matter, the many reports to the contrary notwithstanding, and the stories about desertions are no doubt greatly exaggerated, originating from some source that had not a proper knowledge of the state of the case.The burning at Brandon, Miss.--Thieving
of the Yankees — dead Bodies left in the field, &c.
The correspondent of c who has just returned from the scenes of which he writes, thus describes the destruction by the Federal in Brandon and Jackson, Miss.: ‘
At Brandon one entire square was burned by the enemy in consequence of — as they say — some of their men having been shot from the windows.
With this exception, there was no burning, as at Brandon, although most every house was entered and stripped of everything that suited the fancy of the vandals.
The stores were broken into and shared the same fair What good they wanted they carried off, and destroyed the remainder.
Mr. Martin tells me that they came rushing into his establishment, and walked behind the counter and examined every article.
Those they did not want they threw upon the floor and trampled upon.--One fellow found a splendid pair of ladies under sleeves, and holding them up admiringly, turned to a comrade and remarked, "Bill, I'd like d — d well for the old woman to have'em, but don't see how I'm to send 'em." "Send 'em by mail, Tom," remarked the other. "D — n it, 'twould cose a quarter." So saying he coolly proceeded to tear them up. ’
Poor old Jackson!
with all her short comings, one cannot look upon the ruins of what was once the capital of the proud old State of Mississippi without turning away sick at heart at the sight of what was a beautiful inland city.
On every side, where once stood splendid stores and warehouses, and magnificent residences, embowered in tropical shrubbery and flowers, naught remains but the charted and blackened ruins.
Even the shrubbery and flowers have withered and died, and only make the scene sadder to look upon.
Pen cannot do justice to the sad reality of the scene of devastation.
Even the few inhabitants who have remained seem to have shared the fate of their beloved city; and the little children peep around the corner as you approach with a nervous look and fear of something similar again occurring, and if spoken to run as if for their lives.
Of the outrages committed by the enemy upon the defenceless inhabitable it would require too much space to enter into details; but I will give you one or two instances which I know to be correct.
Henry Layton, of Fenner's Battery, who was killed in the action on the 11th ult., was buried in the garden of a relative, and the vandals, in their search for plunder, found the grave and immediately went to work to exhume the body.
His aunt, an elderly lady, implored them to desist, telling them what the grave contained; but no attention was paid to her entreaties and tears, and soon the coffin was dragged from the vault and torn open before her eyes, and with the remark, "Tis only a d — d rebel after all," was thrown into the grave and left uncovered.
Another instance of the same kind, Dr. Cabaniss, an old citizen, had left an old and trust worthy servant, with a little grandchild, to take care of the house and furniture in his absence.
During the investment of Jackson the child sickened and died.
The old servant, with the assistance of another, buried the child in the garden.
This grave was also for open and the body of the child left lying in the walk.
The neat little Episcopal Church was burned to the ground, and also the beautiful residence of Dr. Green, the venerable Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese, because he had two noble boys who were defending their homes against such vandals.
How long, oh Lord, how long, must this continued.
Even if the house of God and those of his ministers are to be given up to a brutal foe, must the grave give up the dead and every feeling of humanity give way to appease the wrath and avarice of a fiendish foe?
But truly the way of the transgressor is hard, and even now whilst the smoke from ruined altars and desolated homes is yet ascending to Heaven, the hand of God has smitten those who have committed those deeds.
I learn from Father Orlando, the pastor of the Church at Jackson, who has just returned from Vicksburg, that the enemy and negroes are dying by thousands from a disease called by the medical gentlemen cerebra specials meningitis, which is fatal in almost every instance; and in vain have their surgeons sought for antidote, but so far it has battled their skill.
In many instances the victims have been struck down in the streets and expired in a few minutes.
The disease makes its appearance by a painful enlargement of the larynx, which is followed by a paralysis of the tongue, and if the victim lives twelve hours he will recover.
He tells me that on last Tuesday three hundred and fourteen, soldiers died in the hospitals at Vicksburg, and one hundred and thirteen negroes.
The Yankees are deserting by wholesale, and numbers of them have come into our lines and delivered themselves up as prisoners, rather than trust themselves to the tender mercies of Yellow Jack, to the effects of which they attribute the great mortality among their troops.
Dr. Hewitt, Grant's Medical Director, has issued a circular, stating that the disease was not the yellow fever, but the soldiery do not believe it, and are fleeing for their homes to escape that dreadful scourge.
The reported Confederate victory at Donaldsonville.
The special correspondent of the Atlanta Appeal furnishes the following interesting items, under date of Morton, August St. Capt. Clarke arrived here recently from Donaldsonville, La. He confirms the intelligence previously received that Gen. Dick Taylor had whipped Banks last month at that city. Taylor, it seems, won a decided victory, driving Banks, routed and demoralized, before him, capturing his entire commissary train, and six thousand prisoners. Banks's loss in killed and wounded was also heavy, while the casualties on our side were light. Several of the enemy's iron-clad fleet participated in this fight, and the New London, one of their first-class gunboats, mounting numerous heavy guns, and which had been in twenty-three engagements previously without having received any damage, was badly riddled, and, according to the enemy's own showing, suffered severely in killed and wounded. Captain Clark says Donaldsonville is still in our possession and well fortified; that we have heavy batteries below the town, by which nothing attempts to pass but the enemy's largest and strongest gunboats, and they only in the darkness of night and not without serious injury; and that our forces are in fine spirits and anxious to retrieve our recent reverses. This intelligence proves the soundness of the position taken by your correspondent in a former letter, that the mendacious reports published in Northern papers to the effect that trading steamboats had steamed down from St. Louis to New Orleans, in honor of which national salutes were fired by the national garrison, etc., were intended for home and foreign effect; were nothing but the trash which Northern penny-a-liners dole out to their silly and gullable people to prove the navigation of the Mississippi was once more open to the commerce of the Northwest.--The Mississippi is still sealed, and will continue to be until the Government of the Confederate States sees fit to order otherwise. Our intelligence from the trans-Mississippi Department, entirely of a reliable character, is calculated to inspire us with confidence and hope. Our friends over there, although separated temporarily from direct and unimpeded communication with the rest of the Confederacy, are up and doing, and Taylor and Magruder are quickly bringing order and strength out of the chaos and weakness that hounded there sometime ago. If Gen. Holmes were only relieved from duty there, and a man like Hardee, or Ewell, or Price, placed in command, the West would soon throw a cheering light over the whole country. But things are working well there, nevertheless, and it may be safely predicted that the ensuing fail campaign will witness some glorious Confederate victories on the western bank of the Father of Waters.The Yankees and the Contrabands in Arkansas
--the Yankee soldiers don't want them.
The St. Louis Journal has a letter from "Headquarters of Freedmen," at Helena, Ark., containing the result of an application by a Southern lady to have her slaves returned to her. It appears that Mrs. Louisa T. Campbell, who had two sons in the Confederate army, was on her way from Springfield, Mo., to Mississippi, and while crossing the river was captured, with her slaves, twenty in number, by a gunboat.
Mrs. Campbell afterwards made application to Brig-Gen. Ross, commanding in the absence of Maj-Gen. Prentiss, for her property.
The letter says:
This morning an order was sent to this office, of which the following is a copy:
Office of the Provost-Marshal,
District of Eastern Arkansas.
Helena, July 24.
Captain: You will please show to the young girl who accompanies the order to your headquarters the contrabands that were turned over to you by the officer of the gunboat last evening.
You will allow her to fetch nine (9) back to this office of the number that were turned over to you, and which will be recognized as her mother's negroes by her. By order of Brigadier-General Ross.
M. G. Townsend,
Capt. and Provost-Marshal.
--Monteith, Lieutenant.
Immediately on receiving the above the superintendent directed the writer who represents him to proceed to the office of the Provost Marshal and ask Mr. Townsend for a copy of General Ross's order.
His reply was that General Ross had been at his office and made the order verbal; it was no written order from the General.
The writer stated to Mr. Townsend that Mr. Sawyer wanted the order, as he would give free papers to the colored persons in question.
Mr. Townsend replied that he did not care whether or not Mr. Sawyer gave them free papers, and said to the writer, "Tell Mr. Sawyer to have them people forthcoming at his office, or that he (Townsend) would arrest the superintendent and fetch him there." The nine persons of color in question were brought to the office of the superintendent and acquainted with the truth by the superintendent himself; that they were forever free, and made so by the President's proclamation, and that their mistress wished to take them back into Missouri, where they would be slaves.
He informed them if they returned to Missouri they would do so of their own free will; that no force could or should be used to compel them to go with their pretended owner, Mrs. Louisa T. Campbell; that the colored persons replied that if they were free they would remain free, and did not evince any disposition whatever to go further than the office of the superintendent with their mistress.
Thereupon Mr. Sawyer addressed Brig. Gen. Ross in the following language:
The servants claimed by Mrs. Louisa T. Campbell are at this office, and they are unwilling to go with her. Freed by the President's proclamation, they are loth to risk slavery further.
Mrs. Campbell says she considers them still as slaves: that she does not wish or intend to free them; that she will hold them as slaves as long as she can. The servants say that Mrs. Campbell's two sons, John and Thomas, were in the insurgent army, and from the manner their mistress speaks they all avow their unwillingness to go with her unless under compulsion.
They say they will try to support themselves.--The whole case is referred to your headquarters. M. G. Townsend,
Capt. and Provost-Marshal.
--Monteith, Lieutenant.
Respectfully,
Samuel Sawyer.
Superintendent of Contrabands.
The above was considered and returned to the Superintendent with the following endorsement:
Samuel Sawyer.
Superintendent of Contrabands.
The above was considered and returned to the Superintendent with the following endorsement:
