Newspaper Page Text
§iqmimt.
BY CO ALE & BARE
Friday, Nov. SI, 186 S.
County Committees.
We learn that the County Court at its last
erm, requested that the Committee of eigh
teen heretofore appointed for the purpose cf
receiving and dispensing contributions for the
relief of the families of soldiers would report
at tho next term ; and also, that persons hav
ing clothing, shoes, .&c, for their friends in
the army, should deliver them here at the
same time, or at least during the week.
Monday next is Court, and it is very desir
able that both the requests should be com pli
ed with. Winter is upon us, and if we would
avert starvation and suffering, no time is to
he lost, and no abatement of exertion permit
ted. If the families of our absent defenders
are not provided for, God only knows the suf
fering they must endure ; and if the soldiers
.themselves are not supplied by friends at
home, tbey will be compelled to lay down
their arms at the time of greatest peril to our
cause, and what the result would then be, we
need not predict.
Surely there is patriotism enough left—
enough of philanthropy—enough of benevo
lence—to relieve the pressing necessities of
our soldiers and to render their families com
paratively comfortable. But to do so, is nei
ther patriotism, philanthropy nor benevolence
it is a stern and imperious duty—a duty
that may not be neglected without ingratitude,
and a violation of the better feeling & prompt
ings of the human heart—a duty that we owe
them, and that we cannot forego without cri
minality in the sight of God and humanity.
AYe are earnest about this thing, because
there is an aparent apathy. Let the people,
then—not those engaged in unlawful specula
tion and extortion, for the milk of human
kindness in them has dried up—but lot the
people forget their own ease and comfort for
a time, and relieve the necessities of those
who are doing so much for us, and those who
have been deprived of their natural protectors
for the defence of our rights and property
Tbe Fate of McClellan.
There is certainly no room to doubt, as ma
ny did when the news first came across the
Potomac, that Gen. McClellan has been re
lieved of his command, and Burnside placed
at the head of the "Grand Army of the Poto
mac." This must be humiliating to the mili
tary pride of the "Young Napoleon," but it is
more than probable that it will furnish bim a j
passport to political honors, aDd, as John A T an
Buren predicted, make him Lincoln's succes
sor to the Presidential chair.
AYe have no respect for any Federal officer;
no confidence in or charity for any of them
but it is our opinion now, as it has been fiou
the beginning, that George B. McClellan h
the best officer and the best man among them
Infinitely too good, unprincipled as he is, foi
the miserable tyrants for whom he has so of
ten retreated and "changed his base." He ha;
has been removed, it is said, for refusing 01
failing to advance upon Richmond. They tri
ed this thing once before, put Pope at the beac
of the "Grand Army," and he made a most
contemptible and disgraceful fizzle. Burnsid(
will be alike successful. McClellan, instead oi
meriting their censure for not advancing, if
entitled to the gratitude of the Abolition au
thorities, for saving them and their army by
his caution and prudence. Ho knew that he
could not get to Richmond with a Yankee ar
my, and he was not willing to sacrifice it and
himself in the attempt. He had tried the
game once before, and is not an exception to
the rule that "a burnt child dreads the fire."
He tried it under more favorable circumstan
ces than now. He tried it with an army that
had not then been whipped like dogs upon a
dozen fields, admirably disciplined and drill
ed, and protected by what was deemed im
pregnable defences. He tried it thus circum
stanced, and abandoned the enterprise at
"double-quick" with 30,000 less in number
than he "advanced" with. He knew that the
- "ragged, hatless, bare-footed rebels," as Yan
kee taste had dubbed them, wouldn't and
couldn't be whipped, and hence he was in no
great hurry to play the fool a second time.
But McClellan has not been removed be
cause of his tardiness in advancing 02 Rich
mond. There is "a wheel within a wheel."
The Northern Elections prompted Lincoln to
"put a spider in his dumpling." Amid the
rejoicings of the people at the severe rebuke
administered to Lincoln, and the demolition
of his party, scarcely a speech was -made that
did not have for its prologue "three cheers for
McClellan!" Old Abe couldn't stand this,
and off goes the head of the "Young Napole
on!"
We can but pity him a little, for he has a
better heart than head—more feeling than
brains. At the beginning of this war, his
heart was right, but his head was wrong. His
conscience and his better feelings told him
that the South was right and he ought to help
her. But his head, Yankee-like, began to
calculate! The Government had sent him all
the way to Russia to learn the science of war
more perfectly, and what more probable than
that he would become
the Northern armies, and eventually the Pre
sident of the Northern people, if he espoused
their cause ! In the South, no such promises
beckoned him on. The South had forty bri
gades of men his superiors, for both military
and civil station. He could become neither
Commander-in-chief nor President here.—
Hence he elected to go to the North, and he
has received the reward of his folly. Like
Pope, and McDowell, and Euell,- and Banks,
the sun of his martial glory has gone clown,
to rise no more forever.
"Tiie CJirfstian Advocate."
At its lata session, the Holston Conference
determined to have an organ, and accord
ingly stipulated with Rev. 0. AY. Charlton, of
Knoxrillc, to set the enterprize in motion,
aud appointed tho Revs. J. S. Kennedy, D.
Sullins and Mr. J. B. Little the Publishing
Committee. The first No. appeared on the
13th, and is now before us. The Prospectus
may be found in these columns.
AYe are glad this enterprise has been start
ed, and we have no doubt that thousands of
our Methodist friends and others will rejoice
to see a new friend under an old name.
The Advocate is the size our paper was be
fore tbe war, and the size it will be again
when the war is over—that if, just twice the
si-ac of the sheet upon which these lines are
printed. It is handsome in appearance, and
its selections, as well as editorials, are in good
taste. Indeed, the latter exhibit tact and
ability, as well as piety and benevolence.
AYe have often wondered that a body as
large and intelligent as Holston Conference
should have permitted the light of a local or
gan to g*b out, and allowed themselves "to be
indebted to the organ of a more enterprising
neighbor for the dissemination of matter pe
culiarly interesting and important to thorn as
a people. AYe say we have wondered at this,
and the reason that we have never spoken of
it before was, it was none of our business.
If it was for the want of support, it was the
fault of their own people, and the downfall of
the 'noble paper establisSied by Rev. S. Pat
ton, and for so many years a welcome visitor
to every Methodist hearthstone in all these
mountains and valleys, should he a lessen to
them to bo more liberal and independent, and
give the present organ the encouragement
and support its merits demand. t They owe it
to themselves and their Church, and to the
world at large, if they desire to accomplish
good.
Tiie Salt Question.
See in this paper the Proclamation of Gov.
Letcher on the Salt question, which we make
room for to tho exclusion of matter already in
type. It will be seen that the quota of tais
county is 2,259 bushels—an average of about
two bushels to the family. All will read the
Proclamation of course.
Whilst upon the subject we may state that
J. N. Humes, Esq., on the part of those hold
ing certificates for supplies in accordance with
the order of the County Court, and in accor
dance with an existing contraot between the
Sak Works Co. and the County Court, ad*
dressed a note to the proprietors a few days
ago, inquiring if they intended to honor the
county orders, or certificates given to iudiv'
duals by the Commissioners appointed by the
Court for that purpose. They replied—"AYe
will not, because we cannot," and then go on
to give the reasons, for which we will try to
find room in our next.
In view of this, and.the meagre amount al
lotted to the county, we have been requested
to ask every man in the county who conveni
ently can do so, to come to town on Monday,
in order to lend his aid in devising means for
immediate relief. Consultation is necessary,
united action is necessary, cool and calm
consideration are necessary. As individuals
we can do nothing—as Washington county
we may do much, as there is wisdom in a mul
titude of counselors.
B .signation of Secretary Randolph.
AYe were surprised on AYednesday morning,
j to find it announced in our exchanges, that
I the Hon. Mr. Randolph, Secretary of AVar,
j had resigned. There are many rumors afloat
jas to the cause, but the Richmond Examiner
I says, "it is attributed by his many friends to
J the fact of a disagreement with the President
lon the subject of the powers and dignity of
' the office held by Mr. Randolph; the Presi
| dent desiring Mr. Randolph to act only under
I his direction, and having recently rejected
j some of his appointments of a minor and un
! important character."
AYe have been requested to state that re
gular public service will be resumed in the Me
thodist Protestant Church in this place next
Sabbath at 12 o'clock. •At half-past 3 o'clock a
general prayer meeting will be held at the same
Church for the benefit of tho soldiers, and for
our country.
Death of the Hon. W. B. Preston.
It is a painful duty to announce the death
of this great and good man. He died at his
residence near Blacksburg, Montgomery coun
ty, on Sunday last. He had been in feeble
health for some months, and his demise was
doubtless hastened by his labors in the late
session of the Confederate States Senate. He
was one of Virginia's most distinguished sons,
and will be greatly missed in this critical cri
sis, in which the counsels of such men are so
important. .
For the Virginian.
Meadow Bluff, Va., Oct. 25, 1862.
Messrs. Coale &Baer— Gentlemen:-—I, be
ing a resident of AYashington county, A 7 a.,
and a member of Baldwin's Squadron of
Mounted Rangers, desire a short space in the
columns of your paper.
Our command was formed from the coun
ties cf liussell, Scott and AYashington. It
was organized and mustered into service on
i the fourth day of last August, at Nickelsviile,
Scott co., A'a. Soon thereafter, we were or
dered to North-western Virginia, in which
section of country we have been operating ;
ever since. Our marches have been long,
hard, and almost continual, and scouting a
daily business, with fighting whenever an op
portunity presented itself. Our command is
in fine health and in good spirits, and only
long for the time to come when we can aid in
driving every Yankee howling back to their
homes in Lincolndom, never more to desecrate
our soil with their unhallowed feet.
Below, I submit to tho public a copy of the
official report, by our commander, of a fight
we had in Braxton county, at a place called
Tho Churches, eight miles east of Sutton.—•
The reason why I desire this from the official
is, that some one had put in the public
prints an account of this fight, and not doing
our command justice. W. A. H.
Summerville, Va., Oct. 8,1862.
upon the road, the evening of the 4th, to re
deem Capt. Lackey's men and stock from the
bogus "Yankees, who had surprised him the
morning of the same day, iq his camp on
Birch River. I reached Capt. Lackey and
the remainder of his confused force (sixteen
in all left him,) about 4 o'clock, P. M., find
ing myself about seven hours in the rear of
the retiring enemy. Learning, by citizen
friends, that he intended to reach Sutton that
night, I determined, in council with Capt L.,
to pursue, and, if possible, surprise the ene
my there.
Upon nearing Sutton, we learned from a
lady friend that about 130 of the enemy were
in town, and, probably, in their fortifications.
I at onco determined not to charge the posi
tion till we had first reconnoitered, by which
means we learned that he had taken alarm at
a late hour and fled in the direction of Bull
town. Believing he would not be able to
push his worn-out troops through to Bulltown
by daylight, we determined to pursue him,
and, at all reasonable hazards, redeem our
captive brethren.
After taking up a few stragglers by the
way, and sending them back in charge of 8 or
10 of our men who were about to fail, we con
tinued our march, and came upon his whole
force, "napping," at a place called The Church
es, about 8 miles east of Sutton. Here we en
gaged him, yelling for General Jenkins, de
manding his surrender, and opening a hot fire
upon him, all at the same time. In his con
sternation, some fled to the brush, which was
near, some surrendered, and some gave us
fight. My men, flushed with the prospect of
a brilliant success, charged the fire of the ene
my, making a brisk little contest of about fif
teen minute?. Capt. Lackey's men chiefly
engaged in gathering up horses, &c, under
cover of the darkness of the night, (it being
now about 3 o'clock, A. M.,) most of his
for*" made 'their escape, leaving from 10 to 15
9<?: n the ground. Some went off yelling
fi .rounds. AYe re-captured all of Capt.
La< .__, s men, eight in number, and most of
his horses and arms, all of which were prompt
ly restored to him.
We took from the enemy 17 good guns and
a few pistols, a number of blankets and over
coats. I lost four horses in the skirmish, (2
shot under my men,) and took six of the ene
my's best, besides those kept by Capt. Lack
ey's men, of captured stock, amounting to 8
or 9, making, probably, about 10 or 17 hoi -es
in all taken from the enemy, all of which I
think I ought to have retained in my compa
ny; but, confiding in Capt. Lackey to do me
justice, he decided that his men captured them,
and ought to keep them, to which I have sub
mitted.
I must not omit to say we los| in the trip 5
or G of our gans. and two men weundod, (one,
we fear, mortally,) and so damaged our hor
ses, that but few of them will be fit for use
for weeks to come.
Respectfully,
WM. M. BALDWIN,
[Signed.] Capt. com'd'g Rangers.
Of the two wounded men in the foregoing
report, James Singleton, of AA 7 ashington co.,
was the man who was mortally wounded, and
who died the next day after the fight.
AYe find in the'AYinchester, Term., Bulletin
the following curious advertisement, which
jwe are assured is genuine. It ought to be.—
Indeed, its proposal should have been execut
ed by some heroic Charlotte Corday long ago:
"I understand $50,000 is offered as a re
ward to whoever will kill the Beast Butler,
of New Orleans. I .accept the offer, and re
quire $25,000 forfeit, to be placed in some
good hand. AYhen I accomplish the noble
deed I am to be paid the reward.
My name can be found out when desired by
the proper persons."
This is dated "AYinchester, Tennessee, Nov.
2d." Shall it go begging? For one, in tho ,
name of humanity, we say no!
The Richmond Examiner has a communi-!
cation from a person just returned from a
visit to Yankeedom, who gives tho following
account of the effect in AYashington of the
late elections, together with other items of
interest.
He says: *
I was at Willard's the evening news
came in. Tlio hotel was crowded with bril
liant uniforms, but there was a dead silence.
No man dared say yea or nay. The Evening
Star was forbidden to publish any returns. —
The countenances of those I watched nar-
rowly seemed to say, "AYe are drifting to
wards the whirlpool; let the catastrophe
come." The Government officers were thrown
into convulsions: the venal clerks in the De
partment cursed the Democratic party, and
cursed New York, declaring them both to be
more secesh than Jeff Davis and Richmond.
It is said Old Abe had a frightful chill; Mrs
Lincoln chuckled and Seward lied. I be
lieve the President got drunk, as there is
always a dreadful waste of whiskey after a
battle or an unfavorable election.
In Philadelphia there was a perfect panic.
People gathered into knots and talked ex
citedly : some saying New York will secede,
others the Government has gone under, others
the Soutii can never be subjugated. Business
for a time was almost suspended. Democrat
ic orators pretend to favor a vigorous prosecu
tion of the war.
In my judgment little or nothing can be
, looked for from the Democratic party. It
would be willing to suspend hostilities to ne
gotiate a reconstruction of the Union, but
consent to an eternal separation it will not
now. The South need expect help from no
source, except from God, and the success of
her valiants. There is no doubt in the world
that the Abolition Government is making the
most gigantic efforts to accomplish what she
has hitherto failed to do. I saw nothing but
the most untiring energy and activity in eve
ry department. If we can defeat them in one
more great battle, wo may begin to look for
signs of peace. Then I believe the Democrat
ic party will be transmuted into a peace par
ty, and the platform of Ben Wood, whoso
speech of the 22d of May the New York Her
ald published on the day of tbe election, will
be accepted by Democratic leaders—this is
peace on any terms.
FROM NASHVILLE.
BueU to be Tried by Court Martial.
Illness of Corwin, Minister to Mexico — Arrival
of French Troops at Oruzaba — Twenty
Thousand Dollars Voted to Andy Johnson —
Movements of Cox's Army, &c, &c.
Chattanooga, Nov. 15.—The Nashville Dis
patch has been received, which says that one
hundred wagons had arrived there on the
10th, and there is a prospect of their being
well supplied.
A large force was at work on the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, and would soon per
fect communication between Louisville and
Nashville.
The Dispatch says that Gen. Buell is to be
tried by Court Martial for*permitting the in
vasion of Kentucky by Gen'l Bragg, and
thinks it singular, on the other hand, that
Gen. Bragg is summoned to Richmond to an
swer for not whipping Gen. Buell. The Court
is to be held at Cincinnati..
Mr. Corwin, the Minister to Mexico, who is
quite sick at the Mexican capital, cannot
survive.
Seventeen thousand French troops have ar
rived at Oruzaba, and the expedition against
the city of Mexico starts from that point in
December.
Gen. Viegley occupied the late residence of
Gen. ZoJlicofler in Nashville.
The Nashville Union of a late date says
that the City Council voted Andy Johnson
twenty thousand dollars for his patriotic de
fence of Nashville.
The Louisville Journal of the 6th says:—
Cox's army have pushed up the Kanawha to
Charleston. They met no serious opposition.
Milroy was to join him at Gauley on the 7th.
Morgan is near Charleston, and Shear's Bri
gade is at Gallipolis.
The Journal says that the campaign in
Western Virginia is pretty much ended for
the Fall, as it is impossible to push men over
the mountains to East Tennessee at this sea
son. The Journal says that East Tennessee
will have to look elsewhere for relief.
Gen. Halleck Visits Warrentoii.
The Draft Resisted in Wisconsin — A Compli
mentary Dinner to be Tendered McClellan in
New York — The Loan ashed for by Chase
Filled up by New York Bavks, &c, &c, &c.
Richmond, Nov. 17.—Northern papers of
the 14th and loth furnish additional items of
interest.
Gen. Halleck visited Warrenton on the
12th, and was heartily received by the offi
cers of the army.
Gov. Morgan and Collector Barney visited
Washington to urge adequate and immediate
protection for New York harbor. The re
quisite ordjßss were issued.
The draft in AYisconsin was resisted in
Azenkee county by a mob, who destroyed the
draft box and rolls, and attacked the private
residences of several prominent citizens.
Gen. McClellan is proposed for the vacant
Senatorship in New Jersey. A complimen
tary dinner will be tendered him m New
York.
A* temporary five per cent, loan of twelve
millions, asked" for by Chase ha 3 been filled
up by New York Banks, and nearly the whole
paid in. It is reported that Chase hastened
this negotiation, because of serious demands
upon the Government by European powers
which might lead to grave complications.
A dispatch to the AYashington Star, of the
15th, intimates that the Yankee army may
be moving again in twenty-four hours.
The Confederates were reported to have
abandoned the line of the Potomac, near Har
per's Ferry.
W. A. H.
Augtsta, Nov. 13.
The General Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church assembled here yesterday.
The Philadelphia Ledger says: ft
That the removal of McClellan was the sub ■
ject of conversation everywhere. The gene
ral feeling was one of regret that the act was
done when the army was in the face of the
enemy, and upon the eve of a battle. The ex
citement in regard to the subject was very
great, and the partisans of the General were
very noisy in their demsnstrations of approval
of McClellan, and cheers were frequently
proposed and given.
A dispatch from AYashington states that
the assignment of General Burnside to the
command is without limitation, and conse
quently the report that another officer wonld
take the position is not true.
Tho report of the Harper's I erry commit
sion is published. Col. Miles and Generals
AYool and McClellan, are freely
Col. Miles, for neglecting to fortify Maryland
Heights; General AYool, lor putting Col. Miles
in command; and Gen. McClellan, for not
sending Col. Miles reinforcements, or making
any effort to send him any. The Commission
also says that McClellan only marched six
miles a day when pursuing the invading ene
my, and they further say that Gen. McClel
lan could and should have relieved and pro
tected Harper's Perry. General Halleck,
commander-in-chief, testified to this effect be
fore the Commission.
The news we get from Europe, through ike
Northern papers, is highly interesting. The
London Times says there are two interpreta
tions given why the Cabinet meeting which
called lor the 23d October, was not held, one
that there is a division in the Cabinet—; Sir G.
C. Lewis representing one party and Hon.
Mr. Gladstone the other. But the Times
thinks the true solution is that Sir G. C. Lew
is expresses the opinion of the whole Cabinet,
and whilst England regrets the shedding of
blood, she does not mean to interfere. This
opinion is confirmed by the Naval and Ship
ping Gazette of Liverpool. A letter received •
in New York from Paris, dated October 25th,
says: There is no likelihood of anything be
ing done by Napoleon in favor of the Confede,
rates until after the November elections.
Schuyler Colfax, member of Congress from
Indiana, has been tendered the place of Secre*
tary of Interior, in anticipation of Mr Smith's
retiring to take the place of Circuit Judge of
Indiana.
From the West.
One Hundred and Twenty-Six Abolitionists
Captured! &c, &c. t 4bc,
Richmond, Nov. 15th.—The enemy has
numerous fleets in lower James river in the
neighborhood of Brandon Bar.
One hundred and twenty-six Abolitionists
were captured by eleven of our cavalry at the
Gap last Saturday and were brought to this
city last evening.
A letter written by Gen. Halleck to Secre
tary Stanton says, that Halleck, on the Ist of
October, advised a forward movement, and on
the Gth peremptorily ordered it. The move
ment not having been carried out, it is infer
red this led to the removal of McClellan.
The Washington Chronicle says :
That the removal of McClellan was the re
sult of a long and patient consultation on the
part of the highest military authorities, and
must be regarded purely as a military ques
tion. The necessity for active operations in
Virginia had become so imperative, that for
reasons which appeared conclusive the change
was made. . °
The New York Herald says 3
McClellan has fallen a victim to the mach
inations of the radical abolition fanatics, his
unpardonable crime has been his refusal to
make the cause of the Union, secondary to the
canse of the emancipation.
The British Cabinet meeting was not held
on account of the non-arrival of Queen Vic
toria, who was detained at Brussels by bois
terous weather.
The British Parliament which stood ad
journed to October 25th was formally prorogu
ed until the 13th of November.
Richmond, Nov. 17th.—A report reached
Fredericksburg last night that the Yankees
were again a-iv: ig on that place to reoc
cupy it, in con. nee of which a quantity
of manufactured tobacco belonging to mer
chants was destroyed.
This morning apprehensions and excitement
amongst the people increased, and large num
bers left town. The mail train which left a
bout noon and arrived here at five o'clock
brought down a number of refugees. At the
time of the departure of the train the enemy
had not appeared, but were believed to be 7
witmn fifteen miles. Various extravagant ru- I
moors in regard to this affair have been circu- "
lated here to-day.
Gen. Gustavus AY. Smith commanding this
department has been appointed Secretary of
War, ad interim. J
= « < » »-
The Raid in North Carolina.
Raleigh, Nov. 13.-The Yankee force which
lately threatened the line of the Wilmington
and AYeldon Railroad consisted of the follow
ingregmients: Of infantry, the sth, 23d
?i th ' 2 2t3 h aDd * 4th MiWhoaeti, tiie
*£ d i?^ C T nnec ) lout » th «9«> New Jersey,
the sth Rhode Island and Hawkin's Zouaves
with three others not known.
They had thirty-three pieces of artillery,
and four companies of cavalry, all under
Major General Foster.
They were from Newborn, Fort Macon,
KoanokeJlsland and Washington, and are be
lieved to have returned to their old posts, as
they fell back towards Plymouth. They des
troyed* all the bridges on tbe Roanoke
FROM THE WEST.
Skirmish with the Enemy.
Chattanooga, Nov. 13.
General Forrest had a skirmish with the
enemy on the Franklin Turnpike, on Tues
day, killing 20 and wounding 50 or 60.
The enemy being largely reinforced, For
rest drew off by tho same road to Lavergne
