The Abingdon Virginian. [volume], January 16, 1863, Image 2

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

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BY COALE & BAJR^fc
Friday, Jan. 16, 1863.
rrr~
Wrapping Paper.
It will be seen that we are again reduced
to the necessity of printing the Virginian up
on paper of a beautiful ginger-cake tinge, and
We find it very difficult to get even that. The
burning of the bridges has played the -;
mischief with our calculations. Wonder if
the Yankees did it for the purpose of putting
out our light! If so, they will be mistaken,
as we expect to get a lot of paper from the
region of Ramsour's mill-pond. j
* m * 1
The Kews. '
With unimportant exceptions, the news
from our armies is still encouraging. The
great fight at Vicksburg, resulting in the re
pulse and terrible slaughter of the Yankees,
shows that Gen. Joe Johnston has been about.
We have-no longer a doubt as-to the success
of the Army of the Mississippi. With Gen.
Johnston as its leader, it is unconquerable.—
We give, in other columns, all the news of
importance that has reached us up to the hour
of going to press. The reader will find it in
teresting, j
Virginia Legislature.
Our Legislature is in full blast. Hugh
Sheffey, Esq., was unanimously re-elected
Speaker of the House, and on taking the Chair,
delivered a short, but eloquent and patriotic
address. We are glad to see that the mem
bers have gone to work m earnest, and are
directing their energies in the right channel.
Mr. Burks, in the House, offered a resolu
tion, which was adopted, that the special com
mittee to whom was referred the resolution as
to making the notes of the Confederate States
a legal tender, be instructed also to inquire
into the expediency of providing punishment
for all who may refuse to receive such notes
in the discharge of any debt or obligation for
the payment ofmoney. Our opinion is, that
the punishment should be the forfeiture of the
claim.
On motion of Mr. Hopkins, of Petersburg,
a bill was taken up for the suppression of ex
tortion, and recommitted to the Select Com
mittee from which it emanated. We hope to
see something done upon this subject, for it is
just as easy and as practicable to fix the prices
of articles of prime necessity, as it is to fix the
salaries of officers.
Speaking of the salaries of officers reminds
us, of renewed attempts at Richmond, to in
crease the pay|f Clerks in the Government
offices. Our opinion is, that their pay is al
ready out of proportion'to the work they per
form. If they would do more work, they
would have *less time to grumble. If they
can't live on their present salaries,. let Con
gress pass a law allowing them to draw ra
tions as the soldiers do. If these rations are
good enough for soldiers, they are good enough
for Clerks.
«@r- In the State Senate, on the 12th, Mr.
Newman offered a resolution, inquiring into
the expediency of suspending interest on all
bonds or claims which are due, upon the pro
duction of satisfactory proof that the party
owing such bond or claim has mnde a tender
of Confederate notes in payment for the same,
accompanied with satisfactory evidence that
the same has been refused by the holder of
any such bond or claim.
« m »
From Kentucky.
Gov. Robinson, in his message to the Ken
tucky Legislature now in session, recommends
that Kentucky reject and protest against Lin
coln's Emancipation Proclamation. He says
it reflects upon Kentucky a fatal though indi
rect blow. So the scales are falling from his
eyes at last. Why don't the people of that
heretofore gallant State, break the chain that
binds them to the chariot-wheels of the tyrant
Lincoln? "
The Senatorship.
The election for Senator did not come off in
the Legislature on Tuesday, as had been de
termined. It was postponed until the next
day. Judge Allen, Wm. C. Rives and C. W.
Russell, were nominated in the House of De
legates.
Gen. Marshall's Command.
This command has been ordered to Lee
county—a portion already gone—and the Go- 1
neral's headquarters, we presumo, will be at
Jonesville. This is a good move, and will,
we hope, prevent future raids through the
passes of Cumberland. Mountain.. Jonesville
is about equi-distant from Cumberland and
Pound Gaps, and is the very place that Gen.
Marshall's forces should be. !
To be Bun?.
Fnday next, is the day appointed for the
execution of Jerry and Jim, the two negroes
condemned for the murder of Mr. Wm. Mc-
Darnel, jr., in the lower end of this county, in
October last. They will be hung in this vici
nity, perhaps on the Academy grounds
lit. John ]V. Humes.
There has been no little uneasiness and
some mystery about the fate of Lt. Humes?
of Co. B, 37th Regt. Va. Vols., who was se
verely wounded and captured at the battle of
Sharpsburg, Md., in September last. A let
ter has just been received by hia father in
this place, stating that he was severely wound
ed in the hand and arm, and that amputation
was found necessary. He is now probably in
Baltimore, and if exchanged, will return to
his home as soon as he is able to travel.
fl@* It has now been ascertained, that Ro
sencranz had an army of not less than 60,000
at the battle of Mnrfreesboro', and Gen. Bragg
not exceeding 30,000. The enemy's loss, ac
cording to the estimates of prisoners taken,
was from 20 to 30,000, and ours from 5 to
7,000. Rosencranz claims a victory, but such
another, it may be inferred, would leave him
without an army.
Governor's Message*
Gov. Letcher has issued a Message almost
as long as the five Books of Moses, but it is
earnest, able and patriotic. It is too long for
, our columns, but we may find room for a sy
nopsis hereafter.
i ♦ > ; ;
J®* A motion was made in the Legislature
last week, to remove the body to soiri% other
point, and was only lost hy a tie vote. Are
the members afraid the Yankees .will get to
Richmond, or have they* ate and drank the
Metropolis empty and dry ?
: ■ ♦ ■» i>
Conscripts.
We hear universal, complaint in this and
adjoining counties, of thefoilure of the proper
officers to enrol conscripts. The duty of tjie
officers is a plain one. and their failure can be
attributed to nothing but negligence. -
■ I—> m •
&aP" We are in receipt of a long communi
cation, in reply, to the strictures of the Com
mandant of the Post at Goodson, in' reference
to. the late raid into East Tennessee. It will
appear in our next.
♦ ■» i . .
Yankee Prisoners.
For several days past, the trains going east
ward have been loaded down with prisoners,
from Murfreesboro', en route for Richmond.
«♦. 1 — .
Rags., .
We call upon everybody who has rags, rich
and poor, old and young, learned and unlearn
ed, to send them to us and get four cents per
pound, or more if demanded. We are obliged
to have them or stop printing. f So send them.
I along for humanity's sake, and help us to
keep the machine in motion. ,
i » n
For the Virginian.
Major Davies.
The Bristol Advocate of the Bth inst., forti
fies some strictures which the editor thinks
proper to make upon the dispositions against
Gen. Carter's Yankee raid upon the railroad
near Bristol, by producing extracts from a
report made by Maj. Davies, the commandant
of the Post at Bristol to Lt. Gen. Smith, which
he says he has "been kindly permitted" to
make. " j
This sanction by Major Davies, of the in
troduction of his report into the columns of a
newspaper, amounts to an awkward but vo
luntary presentation of himself as a witness
before the tribunals of the press and the pub
lic, to arraign and denounce brother officers
who are engaged in the -service of the Con
federacy, and will excuse the notice I propose
briefly to take of him and his report.
The extracts furnished by the editor prove
th/it Maj. Davies, in order to grasp at the credit
of having had sagacity' and energy, to have a
voided the disaster to which the road was
made subject by Gen. Carter's forces, falsely
imputes criminal negligence toothers then on
duty, and exhibits a willingness to detract
from his official superiors by unjust and false
imputations and jil-directed criticisms. He
has properly no business before the public,
and has impertinently thrust himself and
dragged the subject before a tribunal having
no jurisdiction over it. Maj. Davies charac
terizes my conduct as shamefully inactive and
criminally negligent because he says that, after
L<>). Slemp had posted his infantry regiment in
the woods, one mile and a half from Bristol, to
meet a fbe who was then represented as being
three miles from the village, I lost -J of an
hour in, consultation with Col. 'Slemp, and
finally, that we determined to await orders at
Bristol, refusing to march towards Union as •
suggested by him. < j
I strictures are easily answered. Bris
tol being the place we were ordered to cover
ami defend, it would have been shameful and
criminal to have left it unprotected, to march
away ten miles to save a bridge, when the
enemy was announced tip being within three
miles of Bristol, advancing on it. It would
have been madness to pursue 2,000 cavalry
armed with five-shooting rifles, with a force
of less-than 300 mounted men armed with
muskets and rifles; it would have been exces
sively stupid to have divided a force of less
than 1,000 men to pursue 2,000 cavalry over
an area often miles. But, Maj. Davies knows
it was after one P. M. of the 30th€>ec., this ■
consultation was held, and he had the report
of his couriers, and furnistfed it in his report
to prove that the Holston bridge was taken
possession of by the enemy in the' morning of
that day, so that when he penned bis report
to Gen. Smith, he should have recognized the
fact from his own documents, that had his ad
vice been taken, (which was never given, at
least, to me,) the enemy could not have been
foiled and the bridges could not have been
saved. An officer whose report furnishes the
data for its own refutation, would prove a i
bad guide in the presence of danger; one who
fails to tell the truth, makes a bad historian
of any events; and when such an one "kindly
permits" his sflly egotism to be made a bul
wark from which to attack other officers who
honestly tried to act for the best interests of
all concerned he proves himself superlatively
contemptible. And summing up the whole, we
may safely say that Maj. Davies is no doubt
a fine commandant of posts, but not of men.
Very respectfully,
E. F. CLAY, Lt. Col.
Ist Batt. Ry. M. Rifles.
» ♦ ♦ ■*
Lincoln's Message in Europe.
The comments of the English press on the
annual message of President Lincoln are
chiefly confined to the portion of that docu
ment in which is proposed the system of com
pensated emancipation.
The Loudon "Post (Government organ)* says
that the message is as unsatisfactory as might
have been anticipated, and that it is particu
larly valueless as an index of the political
course to be pursued by the Government., In
referring to the emancipation scheme, this
journal remarks that it "clearly proves that
the President has lost faith—if, indeed, he
ever possessed-any—in the preposterous pro
clamation which some months since he issued
for the'emancipation of all the slaves in the
Southern Confederacy on the Ist of January,"
and that "the President is evidently appre
hensive that the incoming year may demon
strate but too clearly to the world how slen
der is the Authority which be exercises in
those States which he professes to rule; and
he is anxious, while there is yet time, to avoid
being placed in an undignified prtsition."
The Times says "that towards the South
Mr. Lincoln's Message to Congress is less a
threat than a. bid for peace;- that the scheme
of emancipation announced is auch as we
might fancy Mr. Davis and his Cabinet, re
commending to the Confederate' States, if they
were hard pressed by the enemy, and desired
to gain the active good will of the European
Powers; but that the Union should be restor
ed by such a simple process as this; and
should emerge out of this great strife steadied
by a debt of some three thousaud millions of
dollars, and purged from its curs.c of slavery,
is, we are afraid, the dream of a very weak
man." It concludes its article by saying that
the whole scheme is a labored
the edict of September last
The London News, the organ of the Exetei
Hall or Abolition party, says that, "in mak
ing his present proposition to Congress, Mr.
Lincoln, far from revoking any of his formei
policy, and nullifying the proclamation qi
September last, simpiy fulfils'a pledge which
he gave them that, at the next session of Con
gress, he would recommend a measure offer
ing compensation to the loyal owners dl
slaves," and adds that "the freemen of the
.North have it injfe&r power, if they were
worthy of their cause, 'to destroy, root and
branch, the monstrous growth which has
cursed their country."
The Manchester Guardian in its comments
upon the message, remarks thai there are
some points of interest in it, though they do
not bear on either the duration or issue of the
war. It adds that President Lincoln nor his
Congress have any power to legislate for
slavery in the Southern Confederacy, and it
has long been evident that nothing they can
say or do on that subject will effect the deter
mination of the South to establish its com
plete independence, and thinks "we should
have heard nothing of the project if it had
not been for the success of the Democrats in
the late elections." *
The Liverpool Mercury regards thf eman
cipation scheme proposed as a prospect for a
pacific settlement of all difficulties between
the North and the South on the basis of an
amended Federal Constitution, but abstains
from any criticism of the proposition upon
the ground that there is not the slightest pro
bability that it will ever become a subject of
practical discussion. It says, that "on the'
whole, there seems a more subdued and mo
derate tone throughout the present message
than we have pbserved in any former utter
ance of the Washington Government since
the commencement of the war."
FROM GEN. BRAGG'S ARMY.
• Particulars of the Capture of the Har
riet Lane
t Mobile, Jan. Bth, 1863.
> _ The Advertiser and Register has the follow
j ing private dispatch from Decherd, Tennessee,
, dated 7th, to Hon. j. Forsythe :
[ Being outnumbered more than two to one
• by the enemy our troops, utterly exhausted by
. the cold and rain and fimr days, incessant
1 fighting with loss in killed and wounded, Gen.
• Bragg determined to fall back to Duck River.
The enemy showed that he was receiving large '
reinforcements'from' Kentucky. °
By a'skillful night march, covered, by the
admirable cavalry of Wheeler and Wharton,
the whole army, with all its supplies and cap- !
tared arms, is now concentrating in -its new j
lines, ready for the enemy whenever he shall
advance.
Since this army crossed the Tennessee Riv
er, in November, we have captured 9,500 pri
soners, over 40 pieces of artillery, B'QOO small
arms and lots of wagons.
[Signed] \ . W. A.
A special dispatch to the Advertiser and
Register, dated Jackson Bth, says : The New
Orleans Delta of the 6th, received at Ponche
tedula^contains the following —
Four Rebel gunboats came down Buffalo
Bayou into.Galveston bay alongside the steam
er Harriet Lane, ene on each side. Texan
sharpshooters then commenced an assault on.
her and soon succeeded in killing all the gun
ners, and Capt. Wagnowyth, her commander..
The assailants then boarded, and, after a des
perate struggle, captured her. The Rebel
gunboats were lined and fortified with* cotton
after the manner of the boats in New Orleans, i
known as the Montgomery Fleet. The West- j
field, under command of Renshaw, determined
Dot to be taken, and. after consulting officers I
and men, all agreeing, they blew her up with.
all on board, including himself. Only eight i
escaped. % \
The balance of the Yankee fleej and one 1
transport escaped. • • (
■
. ■ ! —"SBBBS ■ - ■ B
I Two coal boats at the wharf, together with
two companies of the 42nd Massachusetts Re
giment, were captured
A-Federal vessel was placed around the har
bor 'to watch the Harriet Lane and prevent
the Confederates from sending her to sea.
-- — > ♦ ♦—. —
Great Battle.
We begin to get a microscopic peep at the
Middle Tennessee campaign.
As the smoke of the late battle clears away,
and the confusUm incident to ail battle fields
subsides, we are enabled to arrive at some es
timate of the results, of the last two months
and a half of activity in front of Murfreesboro'.
The actual statistics of the combats of Wed
nesday and Friday last, may be summed up"
as folicws, in ru d numbers:
Prisoners taken 5,000
Pieces of Artillery 61
Small arms 7,500
Wagons destroyed 950
Enemy's loss in killed and wounded 9,000
Our loss—killed .' 1,000
W0unded........1 3,500
RECAPITULATION.
Federals killed.'. 3,000
-Woundedy. 6,000
Captured.........; 5,000*
14,000
Our loss 4,000 ,
• Balance „. 9,50*0
But for the successful assault of Friday af
ternoon, the disposition of figures in our favor
would have been much greater. Besides these
statistics, an enormous table might be spread
out showing the quantities of provisions and
supplies, which have been procured in Middle
Tennessee, amounting to millions of rations,
and months of subsistance The branch of
the campaign which made Murfreesboro' its
depot has closed, leaving us everything to
hope for and to be grateful for and nothing to
deplore but the temporary sacrifice of a por
tion of our territory.
Gen. Bragg made a speech to his army on
Monday. He was received with approbation,
and spoke briefly of the late conflict. In con
cluding, he assured the troops that he would
fight Rosecrans again, and not far from the
scene of the just-closed action. This senti
ment inspired great hope among all classes,
arid especially among the soldiers.—Chatta
nooga Rebel of Wednesday..
—: -» ■♦ *
•A Tribute to a Brave Soldier.
General Lee has written the following letter
to Gov. Pickens, of South Carolina:
Camp near Fredericks btro, )
To His "Excellency P. W. Pickens, Governor of
South Carolina:
Sir—While South Carolina is mourning the
loss of her gallant and distinguished son, Gen.
Maxcy ftregg, permit me to join in your sorrow
for his death.
From my first acquaintance, when you sent
him with his gallent regiment to the defence of
our frontier iv Virginia, I have admired his dis
interested patriotism and his unselfish devotion.
He has always been at the post of duty and of
danger, and his services in this army have been
of inestimable value, and his loss is. deeply la
mented. In its greatest triumphs and its blood
iest battles he has borne a distinguished part.
On the Chickihominy, on the plains of Manas
sas, at Hurper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Shep
herdstown, he led his brigade wiih distinguished
skill and dauntless valor.
On the woodefl heights of Fredericksburg he
fell in frpnt of his brigade in close conflict with
the advancing foe. The death of such a man
is a costly sacrifice, for it is to men of his high
integrity and commanding intellect that- the
country mustlook to give character to her coun
cils, that she may be respected and honored by
all nations. Among those of his State who will
proudly read the history of his deeds, may many
be found to imitate his noble example. *
I have the honor to be, with great respect,
your obedient serv't,
R. E. LEE, General.
' • A a ! '
Latest Intelligence from Europe.
Humors of Another Note from France.
Fredericksburg, January 6.
The steamqr Asia has arrived at New York,
with Liverpool dates to the 20th of December.
Vague rumors are afloat that France has sent
another note to England and Russia, showing the
neccessity of peaceful intervention in America.
The London Times believes, from the liberality
shown towards Lancashire, that a clearer per
i ception of the part displayed by England during
i the war, prevails.
Mr. Schoolfield, M. P., in a speech, asserted
' the rights of the South to secede, and advocated
s . recognition. . •
Mr. Bright eulogized the cause of the North,
j and predicted the future of the rebellion.
Nearly all the London journals condemn
I Bright's speech. *
The. Times disparages Halleck's official re
import.
A Joan is spoken of in France to relieve fche
prevailing distress.
— >'» *
. «•• Latest from Europe.
Fredericksburg, Jan. 12.
The African brings Liverpool dates to the
:28th. .
News of the battle of Fredericksburg creat
ed great interest in England. •
The impression in Liverpool was unfavora
ble to the hopes of an early peace.
The working men of Manchester had adopt
ed a congratulatory address to Lincoln on
his proclamation.
English revenue acoounfs show an increase
during the year of two millions three hun
dred and ninety-two thousand pounds.
The Times thinks this shows that Cotton is
not King, and that it is far better for England
to keep all cotton operatives on public pen
sions, until they are absorbed in other trades,
than vary in one point of national policy.
-♦ ♦ »—
From Charleston.
Charleston, Jan. 11th.
Late advices-from San Antonio, Texas, state
that an express from Brownville has brought
information that four thousand French troops
had landed at Matamoras and taken possession
of the city. .
Capture of the Harriet Lane Confirm**
Official from Gen. Magruder. '
An official dispatch from General Magruder
confims the capture of the Harriet Lane off
Galveston. The rest of the fleet escaped ig
nominiously under cover of a flag of truce. .
General Magruder says:
"I have about six hundred prisoners and a
large quantity of valuable stores, arms, Ac.—>
The Harriet Lane is very little injured. She
was carried by boarding from two high pres
sure cotton steamers manned by Texas Caval
ry and Artillery."
Capture of tfee Harriet Lane.
The following official dispatch was received
in this city Saturday: .
i Br Telegraph*roii Head'qks* . )
Galveston, via Natches* j ■
To Majqr Hyllster:
This morning, the Ist of January, at 3 o'
clock* I attacked the eneiriy's fleet and garri
son at this place, and captured -the latter and
the steamer fiarriet Lane, and two barges
and a schooner of the former. The rest, some
four or five, escaped ignominiously undercov
er of a flag <>f truce.
I have about 600 prisoners and a larger
quantity of valuable stores, arms, &c.
The Harriet Lane is very little injured; she
was carried by boarding from two high pres
sure cotton steamers manned by Texos caval
ry and artiMcry. The line troops were gal
lantly commanded by Colonel Green, of Sib
ley's Brigade, and the ships and artillery by
Major Leon Smith, to whose indomitable en
ergy and heroic bearing the country tis in
debted for the successful execution of a plan
which I had considered for the destruction of
the enemy's fleet. Col. Bagby» of Sibley's Bri
gade, also commanded the volunteers from
his regiment for the naval expedition in
which every* officer and every man won for
himself imperishable'renown.
[Signed,] J. B. MAGRUDER,'"
Major General.
Chattanooga, Jan. 7th, 1863.
The enemy has advanced his lines six miles,
this side of Murfreesboro'. He has been guil
ty of the most outrageous enormities; stealing
private property, robbing peaceful citizens and
running off negroes.
■ -♦ ♦■ » 1 ' .
Chattanooga, Jan. 9th>, 1863.
The Rebel publishes the following dispatch
from an official source: I
Winchestkr, Tknn., Jan. 9.—Morgan's re
port of his expedition shows* two thousand parol
ed prisoners, several hundred of the enemy kill
ed and wounded, and an immense quantity of.
arms and property di^troycd.
Forrest's report shows fifteen hundred prison
ers, one thousand of the enemy killed and wound
ed, immense quantity of arms, ammunition and
stores distroyed, and his whole command splen
didly supplied. •
Our operations at Murfreesboro', including the
capture of four thousand prisoners, besides two
thousand captured at Hartsvi'lle and round Nash
ville, sums up ten teou?and for that month —
Also, we captured and sent to the rear thirty 8
cannon, six thousand small arms, and two thou
sand in the hands of our troops, and fifteen hun
dred wagons destfoyed and mules and harness,
secured. The enemy's loss in killed and wound-
Dd is estimated at 20,000, including seven Gen
erals. V
From Richmond.
Richmond, Jan. 11th. 1863.
About one hundred Yankee 'prisoners have
taken the oath of allegiance to the Confede
rate Government, and commenced work this
week dn the foundries.
A foreign correspondent of an Abolition
paper says Drouyn de'l-Huys has resigned,
and it is reporteoVthatf the French Cabinet
had abandoned all intention of mediation for
the present.
•* » » .
._ Petersburg, Jan. 12th.
•General Pryor encountered Dodge's Mount
ed Riflemen, five miles from Suffolk, with two-
Companies of Cavalry, routing them and in
flicting a considerable loss.
Pryor remained in line of battle until Sun
day morning.
fhe enemy would not leave their -strong
hold Learning that there were three thou
sand five hundred Yankees at Corrsville, Pry
or pushed across, to intercept them; they fled"
on our approach and* escaped through Gates
county. °
Prisoners say Cocoran commands Suffolk. «
The Confederate Congress.
Richmond, Jan. 12tb.
Congress assembled to-day. Nine Senators
and fifty-three Representatives present. No
quorum m either branch-adjourned until to
morrow.
■» ♦ » .
Tullahoma.
Tullahoma,. the position now occupied by
Gen. Bragg s army, , a , n Cofi> e county, Term
situated on Rock Creek, and offers admirable
ville, and 32 from Murfreesboro, and lies im
mediately on the Nashville and Chattanooga
Railroad, where it is intersected by the Mb-
Manchester Road. As a base
of operati«»ns and as a position of defence, w*
Understand that it offers-great advantages.
«■» ■ » _
Attack on the Bridge Burners,
We learn from the Knoxville Register that
Lt. 0 Conner, stationed at Cumberland TJap bufc
on a visit to Lee county; hearing that the bridirs
burners were -jssing out of the State unmolest
ed, gathered together about one hundred citi
zens, pursued them, and from behind trees suc
ceeded in killing about forty of them.
This occurred in Lee county, Va.
; — » < » » . .
A Chance for Capitalists.
. The Governor of Alabama advertises for bids
for- $1,000 000 of State bonds, authorized by an
act of the General Assembly of that State. The
bonds bear six per cent, interest and have
wenty years tp run from tho Ist of January,
1863, renewable at the pleasure of the State —
The interest coupons are payable on the Ist of
March next, and annually thereafter at the Stats