The Abingdon Virginian. [volume], January 16, 1863, Image 1

About The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883

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VOLUME 23.
Wttw.
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General liOragistreet.
T:he sketches of Generals Lee and Johnston
by "P. W. A.," the army correspondent of
the Savannah Republican, are followed up by
the subjoined notice of Lieut: Gea. Long
street :
Gen. Longstreet is, I believe, a native of
South Carolina, and h*4w to be about forty
years of age. He is at least six feet high,
•weighs about two hundred and twenty pounds,
wears a heavy brown beard, and is withal
one of the finest looking men in the army.--
He U a man of simple habits and modest de
portment: seems anxious to do his duty with
out stopping loconsider what the public will
think of him : and never does or says any
thing to catch the popular applause or cut. a .
figure in the- newspapers. Thus far he has
never been entrusted with a com
mand, as Jackson, was in the Valley of the
-Shenandoah, last spring, and, consequently,
he has never bad an opportunby to display
his abiltiy as a commander. It is only as a
fighter that he is known, and even-in this re
spect less*is known of him by the peopfe than
any other officer who has rendered the same'
important services. Whether this ignorance
is justry ascribable to the singular reticence
of the Pres* towards so meritorious an officer,
Or to-his own modest behavior, lam unable
to decide. Thjs much, however, may be as
serted with absolute certainty : He is satis-'
"fied, like Gen. Lee, to duty, and
leave the public to .judge of his performances
as they please, believing their final jugdment
will be just and truthful.
As a fighter, Gen. Longstreet stands second
to n<» man in the army. Indeed, I have heard
that Gen. Lee considers him •'the best fighter
in the world." The latter reposes the roost
unlimited confidence in his coolness, skill and
courage, and leans upmj his broad shoulders
and clear, strong judgment, with a sense of
the utmost security. This feeling is shared
by his entire corps, and by the whole army.
It is.butjusttoadd. that Longstreet combines,
in ua. eminent degree, the qualities of a great
soldier, viz i the spirjt and dash to storm a
formidable position; the stubborn courage
and cool judgment to maintain his ground
against .superior numbers, and make the best,
disposition of his own forces; and the skill
and ability to control and direct an army:
Gen. Longstreet has been attached to tlfe
Army of the Potomac, or of.Northern Vir
ginia, as it is sometimes called, ever since the
War commenced. He first commanded a bri
gade under Beauregard, was subsequently
made a Major General under Johnston* and
now holds the position of Litmtenant Genera!
under Lee—all of them masters of the art of
war, though in different degrees. This -ad
mirble schooling has been of great advantage
to him, and of equal importance to the coun
try, since it has prepared and fitted hhn to
take command of the array, should anything
occur to 'deprive it of its present unrivalled
leader.
It is said that Longstreet was willing to
cross the Potomac and march upon Baltimore
with an army of 70,000 men. Gen. Lee
found it necessary, owing to the rapidity of
his march, the intensity of the heat, and the
unfavorable condition .of the trotTps, to cross
with a smaller number and to fight the battle
of Sharpsburg with less than 4U,000 man. .If ■
he had had th« 70.00U required by h«* able
Lieutenant, he might have driven McClellan
back upon Washington, and maintained his
ground in Maryland.
♦ Intervention News.
The "Herald" of the sth, has an editorial
on the rumored intervention in American af
fairs, by the Emperor Napoleon.- We annex
the entire article:
Another Proposition for Mediation to be made
» by Napoleon,
The Asia arrived-yesterday, with three days
later news from Europe. We learn that the
Emperor of the French, will aHlress another
circular to the courts of England and Russia
upon the necessity of immediate mediation or
intervention in the affairs of this country. —
We are not inclined to believe that either of
these Powers will return a more favorable an
swer to Napoleon than was made to his first
demand of a similar "nature; but we deem the
fact of his making this second proposal most
significant of an evil intent towards our
union.
It is, we fear, the last move before the re
cognition by France alone of the Davis Govern
ment. Napoloon will aay: "I appealed to
ABINGDON
ABINGDON, FRIDAY, JANUARYI6, 1863.
you .twice to act with me. refused. My
necessities will brook of no more delay. I re
cognize the Southern Confederacy. My peo
ple are starving. I must have button. Our
iblockades will be broken after a short pause,
allowing time to England to follow the exam
ple France wiil ha\e set her. It is for this
purpose—the breaking of the blockade—that
France has several of her tremendously pow
erful plated frigates in our waters. She had
no need of them for the iniand expedition t«
Mexico. She well knew that, as the Mexicans
have no navy, her armored vessels were of no
use in the Gulf, save as regards Utay emergen
cies which might arise in case of a recognition
by France of the Davis Government.
We must not expect that fear of the conse
quences wiil deter France from an alliance
with the SoutiTern Confederacy. We have,
up to the present moment, proved incapable
of putting down the rebellion, and. as a na
tural consequenc, Napoleon will feel assured
that, strengthened by his aid, Davis would
prote too strong for us. The disastrous de- j
feat at Fredericksburg will add to the proba
bililites of this conclusion, and only make Na
poleon deem himself the.'more secure in his
movement against us. He will reason from
facts, as he has an undoubted right to, and.
wili judge that we are incapable of subduing
his forces, combined with those of Davis. We
must not expect him to judge us as we judge
ourselves, nor that he should be aware of our
entire resources: and thus we must admit that'
were he to interfere, events would seem tigive
him reason. We are divided uj.vm questions
of vast import to the life of our Union, and
make to the world a sorry spectacle.
Another inducement to Napoleon to inter
fere will be the decree of emancipation. He
will understand that ail* chances for cotton
props are at at: end until that question is set
tled ; he* wiil pretend that fetrful crimes and
horrors Avill follow the workings of that de
cree throughout the South : that servile insur
: rection,upon a scale to terrifyall mankind,will
soon arise, and he will make humanity a rea
son for interference ; ar.d we much fear that
here he will be met. in a like.spirit by Eng
land, both seeing that their supplies of cot
ton will be cut short if the -negroes are to be
freed. From Russia we may continue" to ex
pect friendly relations. She has no immense
interests at stake, pushing her on to interfere
in our struggle ; toe emancipation decree
Avill not prove to her the bugbear if will to
France and England. She has just set the'
example of an extended and vast emancipa
tion, and will more than likely sympathize
with Mr. Lincoln's decree. Be-that as it may,
we are assured that France and England will
deem it a fearful blow at their commerce, and
that from motives of self-interest, they may
feel all the more inclined to aid Davis.
The French Ministers at Washington, it is
said, openly states that during this month his
government will mediate in favor of the South.
This assertion of M. Mereier's if true, puts
all doubt upon that question at an end. We
must - and are doubtless preparing to meet
with" energy and determination the coming
eventualities which menace all we hold dear.
The people will call to a severe account
those having-the management of our.afiairs,,
if, at this hour of peril, they negle* their
manifest duties. We must prepare to battle
for our constitution and laws—for our great
and glorious Union. There is not a moment
to be lost. Let our immense resources be
fully developed, and above all, Jet party
squabbles and the intrigues of politicians
cease in this, the moment of'great danger to
our beloved country. There must now be a
united movement. We must, prepare to sus
tain,' at all perils, the integrity of our repub
lic..
Tlae Intervention ftews.
The following respecting this subject h
'taken from the Philadelphia Enquirer, which
Washington letter tit the New York
Tribune, to the effect, "that the hue foreign
news confirms the belief that the French Em
peror' designs to persist in his mediation
scheme, even if he has to proceed alone,."
The Enquirer then remarks:
So well informed does this latter corres
pondent profess to be, that, he gives the pro
positions to be presented in the letter of. the
French Minister with considerable particu
larity. ' The proffer of mediation by Napo
leon, he says, ''will be accompanied by abet
ter from Drouyn de L'Huys, stating in sub
stance that the Emperor believes the .proposi
tion-of an armistice an act in no "wav inju
rious to the intersts and honor of the United
States, but, on the contrary, eminently useful:
that it is not bis intention trp. press it upon the
'Federal Government, which alone can deter
mine the time when the friendly office, of
Frarjee may.be accepted;'but that the Presi
dent must be aware that any protracted re
fusal t>i her offers would necessitate the Em
peror to listen to the Southern representa
tives,.whose propositions for recognition have
hitherto been rejected, because he has always
entertained the hope of seeing our difficulties
amicably settled and'the Union restored.—
'The official communication will conclude oy
stating that the French government expects
that Mr. Lincoln will maturely consider the
peculiar situation in which it is placed, and
also take into consideration the usage* and
customs established in the cases referred to in
his proposition by writers on international
law." " .
The "Inquirer" says that the concluding
sentence of the foregoing paragraph has quite
a diplomatic twang. It is- very courteous yet
very significant. Mr. Lincoln is expected-to
take into consideration 'the uses and customs' J
established in the cases referred to by writers ]
on International law.' That is a conclusion '
VIRGINIAN
very like the termination of a hostile note ac
cording to the coete of honor, wlm-e a polite
request for.explanation wind? up with a re
ference to the 'usages and customs recognized
Hfmong gentle.nci. !' Ir is- as m.ich as to say
if Mr. Lincoln does not ac-ept Napoleon's me
diation he must look out Tor consequences."
T2ie of ILiucoln.
Whereas, on the twenty-second day of Sep
tember, in the-year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aod nxryy w;\ a - proclamation
was issued by the Pre&XlenJ of the United
States, contain!!-;,;; am-*- other things, the
following, to wit:— •
"That on the first day of January, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand,eight hundred
and sixty-thr; 1 .", all pere&ns &ehl as slaves
within any State ordefiJßpiated partdfaState,- l
-the people whereof s:;;';i! i;>an lie in rebellion
against the United Starts, shall be then,
tlienqeforth and forever.free, and the execu
tive government of the I>f»ited States; includ
ing the military and nava! authority thereof,
will recognize and tnaiV: am the freedom of
such persons, .and will do no act or acts to re
press such persons, or any of them in any ef
fort they may make for ffieiractual freedow."
..•* "hit the Fx citive will, o;- the first day
of January aforesaid, by pro lan.ation, desig
nate the States and of State?, if any.
in which the people tbereip respectfully shall
then be in rebellion against the United States:
and the fact that any Sia*e or the people there
of shall on-that day be iv g»»od faith repre
sented in the Congress if the United States
hy members chosen there*;' at elections where
in a majority of the qlittTiricd voters of such
State shall have shall, in the ab
s"nce of'strong countervailing testimony.be
deemed conclusive evidence that suoh State
ani the people thereof art- not 'hen in rebel
lion against th* 1 United {jf&ites."
. Now, therefore. 1 Abraham Lincoln, Presi
dent of the United Statiik by virtue of the
power in me vested as Onusman'der-in-Chief Of
the army and navy of thft United States, in
time of actual aVmed. reffrllion against .the
authority and t of the United
States, and a* a fit and war measure
for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first
nay of January, in the yep.r of our Lord one
thousand eight sixty-three, and
ih accordance with mf so to do pubr
Micly proclaimed for ti;# full period of one
hundred days from the djw of the first above
mentioned order, and fleswjnate as the States
and parts of States wherph the people there
of respectively are this-*' day in rebellion
against the\ United State* the' following to
wit: " v
Arkansas, '
Texas,
Louisiana—except the parishes of St. Ber
nard, Jefferson,
Sc. Charley* St. James', Ascefi
sion, Assumption, Terre Bonne,
Lefourche, Saint Mary, St..Mar
tin and Orleans, including the
city of NetfrOrleana.
Mississippi,
Alahtraa, '■ . v , ;
Florida,
Georgia,
South Carolina,"
North Carolina and .
Virgiuia-— exvept -the forty eight counties,
designated as West Virginia,
and also the counties of Berke
ly, Acconiatf, Northampton, Eli
zabeth City, York, Princess An
' «.ne and Norfolk, including the
cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth,
and which excepted parts are,
for the preßwit. left precisely as
if this proclamation were not is
sued.
And, by virtue of thepower and for the
purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare
that all persons held as slave.-; within said de
signated States and parts,of States are and
henceforward shall be free: a.id that the exe
cutive government of the United States, in
cluding the military ami naval anthorities
thereof, will recognize and maintain the
freedom of said |>eis»>ns. . ■
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so de
clared to be free .to abstain from all violence,
unless in necessary -self-defence; and I recom
' mend t» them that in ail allowed,
they labor faithfully lor reasonable wages.
And I further declare jar. d make known
that such persons, of suitable condition, will
be received into the armed service of the Unit
el-States, to garrison forts, positions, stations
aud other places, and to man vessels of all
sorts in said service.
' And upon this, sincerely believed to be. an
act of justice, warranted by the constitution,
upon military necessity,.4 -nvoke the conside
rate-judcmeii.t,K)t mankiML' and the gracious
favor of Almighty' God. IjL
In witness whereof 1 h«M, hereunto-set my
hand and caused the.seal uflhe United States
to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this first day
of January, in the year of our Lord one
'thpusand eight hundred and sixty-three.
and of the independence of the United States
of America the eighty-seventh.
"AiiSAHAii Lincoln.
By the President,
William H. Sewaro, Secretary of State.
' - ■
Stonewalls Property.
We understand thaf some five or six negroes
belonging to Gen. Stonewall Jackson, passed
South through this city, on Saturday after
noon. In consideration of their having the
distinguished honor of belonging to the great
StOnewall, thay were furnished with
passes, ofl the railroad.— Bet. Express.
Proposal for a Xs&tioisai Conren-
SPEECH OF HOIS". JAMES BBOOKS.
r An immense meeting of the Democracy
was held in Broadway. New York, on, the
evening of the 30t8 ult. The meeting was
called to order by Luke F. Cozans, President
of the Democratic Association.
After a few congratulatory remarks by the
President, the lion. Jatnes«Lrooks was intro
duced, and addressed the meeting at some
length. In conclusiuß he said :
'•Gentlemen it is quite time to begin the
discussion of these, matters here and elsewhere
—South as well as North; now is the day
and. now is the hour to bring up the people—
our once common people, both North and
South, to the study of this subject—Our Con
stitution is necessary for our common liberty.
Our common.form of government w not only
necessary for our common liberty, but neces
sary to preserve us from Europeon interven
tion and 'Divide and conquer'
is the principle of monarchies against re
public!' everywhere. Divide and conquer
is the principle which now actuates the Bri
tish Kingdom, if not the Emperor of France.
Divide the North and South, and then if pos
sible conquer both when both "are exhausted.
Unity and universality of government is .there
fore a necessity for us both North and South,
and tbe'ijuieker and deeper and wider this-
fs comprehended .universally, the
quicker we shall all lay down our arms and
stop this horrible effusion of human blood.—
"(iVrplause) Gentlemen,.l love to speak, for
practical purposes, ayd" hence I have prepar
ed two or three resolutions to present jg»r your
consideraHon, for your discussion hereafter,
not for action at this time and this place, but
.for submission to this Democratic association.
I see nothing else that is left to us except the
principles that are embraced in these resolu
tions. ' Revolution is the last thing to be
thought of under a form of government like
ours, where grievances can be redressed at the
ballot "box. We have to endure this Congress;
we haze to endure, this PresideM; it ismser to
endure thcin than to overthrow theih bg revolu
tion. It is possible—barely possible—that at
last they may be aw.ifeened, and may hear
and heed the voice of the people. Hence I
have.elected a. State as a niedium through
which my resolution .shall be presented to the j
people l both of the North and South. A State
of the Revolution—one of the old thirteen,
of high and holy- history, which has never
been alien either to the North or the South,
and which'has ever been faithful to the Con
stitution of our* common" country —that? is the
State, the glorious JStaie of New Jersey.—
[Cheers.] I propose,,therefore, the following
resolutions, to be Submitted to this Democrat
ic Association for discussion, for action, and
if you approve them, for presentation to the
Government of New Jersey; and let-mere-'
mark here that the Government of New Jer
sey is a homegeneous Government', the three
branches are all of one faith and dne opinion,
i and it is not so in any other Northern State
!of the Union."
We annex the resolutions:
Resolved, That the State of New Jersey
throughjier State Government, be respectful-,
ly requested to interpose in order to arrest the
existing civil war.
' 1. By inviting the non-slaveholding States
and the loyal slaveholding States—Delaware,"
Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri—to meet
in convention in Louisville, Ky., on the
day of February next.
2. By requesting the permission of the
President of the United States to send com
missioners to Virginia, North and South Caro
lina, Georgia. Alabama. Florida, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Testis and Tennessee, to
invite them also, to meet in like national con
vention. And m *
3. Be it further Resolved, That the Presi
dent be requested by the State Government
of New Jersey to declare an armistice with or
fot such State or States as may accept this
call for a national convention.
Resolved. That a committee be created on
the part of this Association to present these
resolutions to the Governor and Legislature of
New Jersey, and-to urge upon that State that,
in consideration of her revolutionary history
and patriotic associations, she is entitled thus
to lead in a national convention for the resto
ration of the Union of these States. '
The resolutions were greeted with a tor
rent of cheers, and it was asked that they be j
passed upon immediately. The President i
therefore put the question, and they were car- j
ried unanimously. J
_» ♦ ♦
The Nashville correspondent of the Cincin
nati Commercial says:
Morgan was in our power a fews days ago,
but his usual luck befriended him. He was
reconnoitering with a small-detachment, in
front of Sill's division, and was separated
from his command. • Coming upon Some .of
our pickets, he demanded why they had not
fired upon the rebel cavalry who had appear
ed near them—his own party. The guards
replied, that they supposed the party were
citizens."- Morgan, who was in citizen's, ap
parel, said he would see where they went. —
Our pickets were g<pen enough to let him go.
That's all.' Morgan told the story at Mur
freesboro, and I learn from good authority
that our pickets confirm it.
Lincoln About to Take the Field.'
The Washington correspondent of the
"Herald," under date of the '3d, say 3it is ru
mored that Lincoln is about to take the field j
in person in Virginia.
No. 41*
A Prayer for Jolin Morgan^
A wealthy old farmer in Sumner courityV
who had much land and many negroes, witH
a good deal of stock, and a great fear of lafl
! kee pillagers.after Geh. Morgan crossed to the
! South side of the Cumberland, a few days ago;
1 since the blue-bellies came in the neighbor
• hood, called his negroes together) telling them*
Ihe was "going to make his will." To John
j he gave "his horse," to Jupiter "that hoTSffr
|to Harry, "that mare," and so on, apportion*,
1 ing to each'of the grinning darkies a share ojf
) the quadrupeds. And lastly, to "old Simon/
! the overseer, he assigned the cart and steers/
I remarking: "Now, Simon, we five in peril' l
ous times—l want you to pray for as."—•
"Well, .Mas' John," replied Simon, "it's thd
fifst time" yon ever called upon me to pray,
and I reckon I must try anyhow.- Niggers}
all of you get down on your knees," and
I down knelt the sable crowd and "Mas' John
under the barn shed, and thus prayed Simon
with great unction. "Oh, Lord! I pray that
Mas' John Morgan will come along here and
right quick, too, and come along With all bis 1
men, so as to enable Mas' John to kedp all his
property together, and more especially hid
nigger property. Amen!"
And all then arose, no doubt gTeatly 1&
freshed in spirit. Whether "Mas' John Mor
gan" will get along in time to answer
call is yet to be seen. He-evidently stands ad
high with Simon as with the white folks.— >
Gen. Morgan's saving grace isjoften very poW*
erful.— Murfreesboro' Rebel Banner.
. m .
Gen. Brags' Addresses T'itize.nsoJT
Decherd and Winchester.
His Reason? for Retreating,
LOSSES OF THE TWO ARMIES;
The Yankees Advancing t
[Special to the Charleston papers' }
Chattanooga, Jan. 7.—General Bragg ad
dressed the citraens of JJecherd and Winches-*'
ter Monday, assuring them he would not leave 1
them to the enemy, but would make a stand),
between Alabama and Tullahoma. lis had
fallen back to giye his brave men repose, after"
the battle in which they had exhausted their
energy. He stated our loss at seven 1 thousand
killed and wounded, and that of-the enemy at
fifteen or twenty thousand.*
The Yankees have advanced six mites froffl
Murfreesboro', committing worse than usual
depredations.
Tlie Iron-Clad Gunboat Monitor FaiinHcrcdftff
Cape Hatteras — Tlie Galena compelled to
throw her Armament overboard and Ka!r*
rowly Escape
Petersburg, January 5.—A reliable gentfe-*
man by the flag of truce boat, which arrived
at City Point to-day, reports that the celebratr
ed iron-clad gunboat Monitor foundered otf
Cape Hatteras, a few days' sin-e, and all on
board perished. Another account say 9 thai
but thirty lives were lost.
The Galena also'came near sharing a simi
lar fate, was compelled to thrt'W overrjoaro
her armament and everything.
Their destination was supposed to have;
been Wilmington, N. C. *
Federal prisoners who came up on the flag
of truce boat confirm the above report, .and
say that the information of the disasters were
received at Fortress Monroe yesterday.
Sad Result of a Runaway Marriage*
The New York the Phila
delphia Inquirer writes:
A few years ago the marriage of Miss Ekv
ker, a young, beautiful, and accomplished'
ladyi with her father's coachman. John Dean y
set all the scandal-mongers in Gotham on cmL
A sad addendum to the "strange eventful his*
tory" has now to be added. After the marri
age the couple, notwithstanding their different
"bringing up," lived happily enough together
in a small cottage over in Williamsburg.—»
The husband obtained an office in the castoitt '
house, and saved money enough to open a
public house at the foot of Grand street, Wil
liamsburg. But, alas I for John Dean, htt
could not keep a- hotel. It is said "he was
his own best customer," and, as a natural re l *
suit, he commenced .treating his wife
In a short time all their money was spent/
and with poverty coming in at the door, love,
as usual, flew, out of the window. John .beat
?nd abused his wife, but all this she pnt up
with until starvation stared her in the face*
when she was compelled to ask admissioh in
to the alms-house. The petition was granted,
and the fashionable, elegant, and accomplish
ed belle of the sth Avenue, (a few years ago,)
is now the associate of beggars and paupers.
Banks, issuing instructions under Lincoln's
p 1 reclamation, on the 24th", advises slaves to
remain on the plantations ontil their rights
are definitely establi-ihejl—that whatever be
nefits the govern nent intends shall be secur
ed. ;
McCJlellan is to be sent to Fortress Voznee
to organize, an army there.
Thirty-eight Sioux'lndians were hung on
the 26th nit., by Lincoln's order. " .
Lincoln's proclamation was honored with
salutes, and other demonstrations at Pittsburg,
Boston and other places.
1 ♦ » ' ;
Capt. McNeil with One company of Ran
gers, made a dash upon the Federal trains at
Moorfield, in the valley, in sight of twenty re
giments, and captured and secured fifffhor- ;
ses, fourteen wagons and a number of prion -
era. ■ •