Daily Richmond Whig. [volume], December 27, 1861, Image 2

About Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
---p—r—
Tli LATS Fiuar AT DRANRiYlLUt-AOOODNT
BY AN omon WHO pirtktpattu ln it.
Cimspoi. tnc< of %hv Ljrochharj Virginian.
H»AiKit ART«»s 11th Va. Vols. f
Camt nxaa Cbsthtills.
December 21, 1861. )
Daie_; — Keel >»oi you bans a I'ttle sketch of
the b i :le of Drat:riv lle,fonghl yesterday by our forces,
uuuib'ting earns 2,000 meu, under Hen J. K B. Btuait,
a:»il * Urea num *of of F<4tfik (80OO) oonmiandtO, m
U -u jpoAel, by (lei. MoCsB, stroog y posted at that
pUc- Our movement was to protect a large train ot
»a«>-u sent out to torage—tba lotco coueistiug of tbe
1 l k ntuckv. Col. Taylor, 6th Sauth Carolina,
CA Seercst. 10* Alabama, C«L Forney, and 11th V.r
V 1. Ool. Girhnd, with lour pieces of Cut's’ Mooil*
I a t ry and l&O cavalry, all under command of General
S.e»r; . , ,
it a sms the tn-my got wind of our noremen's
through spies, and adv meed a Urge farce to Draneavilte
to m-et U', (liking the b at and most advantageous p>
sitioa to command ut To commence with details: we
1»{ our cinip at this place at i o'cKfik, A. M., Friday,
htviug orders to repot t to Gen. dtuariat sis, to bo goue,
a. we Srjt anJoipafid, three days, our obj tet b. ing to
cover and protec’ an extended front, white tbe wagons
were git hen tig torage, (.Heading to make DrenoeviUe
he tdq iirt»r« (or the time bring, scarcely anticipating a
tight, but prepared to moot soy emergency iu cise we
were attacked. O ir route lay on the Oi Koad, crossing
tbe Laud tun and Hitfpi’ ire Hi lroad and enteris g at
U,* .cat 1 e prowr where the battle took p act. We t.ad
marchtd s »n»e 14 miles, when an "rder ctme from Gen
Si iar’, who had disooverel the Y.1!k.’.’s about a half
• mile Ir.m D a esrille, to come rapidly up, the 11th Vir
giuia ben g iu front and first on the ground, getting in’O
.• the fig >t without ever scarcely halting. The two rifle
companies were immedia'el/ deployed as skirmishers —
Coiupai y A (R do Grays) on the tightof the road and
company D. (kiocaatt* Rid*) on tbe lefi, but tbe
former, owi.g to a misapprehension of orders
* *0-. to far to the right In the woods and were
lost to us daring the day. The main topographic fea
tures of th~ country consists cbitflr of heavy force's,
intot*petted in many places with the thicken of (lines,
a a .ept a ioutia ".ml opening both on the Middle turn
pik > aod Ox road. A ravine extended along the pike
.■lojing up, from which the liill commenced, the enemy
lx.1 ig uosted > u it wi.h a commanding position, while
wj oecaptid a so rising ground oa the Ox road. The
fight commenc 'd 10 minute* b-fore 12 between ad
vanced skirmishers oi the euetov a id these of company
D, the firm? berg quite heavy a id ending in the rapd
fa'li. g back of the enemy, our men chasing them some
sai y trds wi-h coouou.d yelling, which was j ibed in
)>v our regime t nrd ’he Sou'h Oaroliniaue, boto double
quickiug up the road. At riving at the little opening
within had ng distance of ibe enemy, and while the
firing was still going on between the vkirmisbeta, the
K'-’vcuth Virginia fil’d to the right of the Ox road
and form 'd iu'O U of batile just along a ihick“t
of pines, while the Six h South ( arolira did the sum
ou the left. The enemy, who seemed to be thrown
ia’.o i. infuiio i at firat, .'allied a td lormcd into line of
UVi.e Oft IDO wpww UUI ju»« •* «
opened fire with their long range Minnie muskets, do
ing sane elect ion. A party of tbeir pick' d sharp
shoot a ^ arutovt d us considerable firing front the windows
of a Urge houe ■ on toe pi Its Juu a* the Sooth Ciro
Oiuitns go: into position company I) of our regiment was
w it:dr two and reformed on our let t, reporting that they
tad pu'seJ over eeveiai di a l Yankees killed by them*
eel res, andjust herd I wou d say th it the company fought
iu l-ea Jtiful s vie, doin'; thtwarlvi a great credit a* shirt
niiihere. As ike two advanced regiments were put rapid
1* Into p sides, the battery wai ordered up and opmtd
a d str .c. v.- tire oj the enemy wi h ih:eo piece* oi l',
a* the ruad was too narrow to get all iuto position. A
* little later and the enemy brought theirs into pluoe, eta
tio: ary, a* is supposed, six pieces, on the bill opposite i 6
a d two a a church furth-r down the pike enfilading the
ro»d, bm not firing during the battl*. Their approach
w»a gr <>ted with creat cheering The K tntuckians came
up and were form d oa the ler’, and later the Alatamiai s
■ came up at a double quick at d took position on our 1. It,
o* the right of the rot d Two Yankee regiments ad
vanced oo (he left within sixty yards of the
ft ;«( K-mucky, and after a very short
coaveisoioa born parties opened a tremendou* fi-e of
musketry, the K-niuck-ias doing great exscu*ioti,as wis
vcId ua by Colonel Tcjlar his mc-u taking almrs: delibe
rate aim at the enemy ami (Hug aimul aneously at the
fiord of commsnd. The II u Va, was moved forward
some fi ty yards further to the crest of a little hill, se
cured somewhat by a short undergrowth where they lay
watching the advance of the cm my. The firing now
of cannon aid musketry was terrific, and surpassed any
that I have v- t h- ard on the two occasions ou which 1
, have been pirtiii participant. There was no intermis
sion and shell, gtape, an 1 shot were (oared into us at a
rapid rate, doing tremendous mention to our battery,
-nd aim net c*mplctely silencing it after a short time —
Iu fact they could move neither to the right or the left
on account of the thick woods, thus subjecting them to
raking fire down the rral, killing men and hors-a at
every turn. Tie enemy used 24 pound shot and
shell, wiut grape and spherical case, so ycu cm very
well ju^o what must have been th-* «ffjet of this fire —
The box of one of the caiaeo s exploded, adding
greater cot.fu-iou to the scene. Iu less than fifteen min
ute* Severn! horses aid four men had been killed at
the ba te-j m-unglud in the mcs. horrible manner—while
many of the iut.ii try lay scattered around. I had been
ordered, before the action commenced to find Oo. A,
and post them along the road, but returned after two
uq'u csesful s -arches, just a* our m*n were running the
Yack-es before them. Later iu tbs actiou I tried the
m’rd time, but still oil'd hear nothing of them, and it
w as while in the woo is that I got in the direc* line of fire
* om tbeir arti leiy, the shills bursting and the balls
crashing on every side of me. Iu fact with the cut limbs
of tr.-ra and bths failing so near and minnics fifing, I
never expected to weather the storm, the fi -e being per
fectly at ul, still I escape 1 without a scratch. In some
places toe pines were so think that it was next to ttrpos
n bfe to get a horse through, and ocoe I was nearly pull
ed iff by a grape vine which threw my cap in one direc
aiou and sword au»th .r. If there be grsuleur in the
arhistle of a cannon ball, as oth-rs report there is, I sty
that a alauic ball hits oertaialy a meat iosiuuatary noise,
pissing you with a prolonged i quack, being something
suit.Ur to the notee made bv a pi-.ce of hot metal dropped
ji wattr.
It was at this time that numbers of wounded men pass
ed ongoing to the rear, many ot them seeking assist
ane • which couM rot bo given. Uejo:ning my regiment
it soou alter fell bock, by order, to the post* to watch
ahe movements of the etiemr, who were report'd ad
vancing to turn our right flick. The tight wing of the
'Tenth Alai amt b-came considerably confused und scat
ter -d, their Oolo-ie! haring hi* a m shattered, ami Lieu
tenant Colonel instantly killed—out were rallied partially
ov Captain Jamesm, of our regiment, al-hough shot
th-vuih the 1 •;*, the battalion beisg pu; in charge of t*-e
s*n;or Captain, and formed oo our left under the or
ders ofOokitnl Garland. Colonel Tsylor was report
ed wc-a d *•!, w file W-jor Woodwatil, Six'll South Caro
Kna, Lad bis 1- g broken by a bah—showing tba* our
ba d office's suffered *evere!y. The battery, owing to
>hs n unte- of horses killed, was drawn eff pretty much
h. kind tv aw I ' Mil Ik aaf I I rlc Vlewnie
its >n safe It to the rear with the lose of one cai-cou.
Tbi firing, which had Ls! d neatly an hour and a
hall ikiw ucased pretty much, though the enemy nd
eai eid to the Icot oi the bill, but c tuld be gotten do
further. Tuc charge w t« sounded three snecraeive lime-1,
and the commands of lid ttficera could be distinctly
beard urgmg the men to chargo In'o the bushes, but
that far and no farther could they get them, thrir oa'iut
bong reputedly hra d refrs'ng to advance. The 11th
W and a pot-ion of tUe Alat ambus* waited patiently
and cooly for them to 0 >ou-, kactl ng in the pines with
j.eveiv tngg r rrady to give them .a murderous fire, and
• s ich t: would bare b en, bit we were spared the pleadhra.
••Toe firing cea-'ed ac ually on both riles, and about thirty
tnian •- aftrrwirds wc received orders to fall hick lo
the rail road, wh re we intended lo make a stand, a
snout reporting ti at some .'too cavalry, .supported by
about 1,200 infantry wrie trying to g|t around rs.
Wc were the U->t to leive the fle d, retiring very slow
ly. and gathering up as we weal blankets and coats that
ha l been thrown aside by the meu during the heat of
the ac*4on. Th; 1 l'h Virginia was the first to get into
tbe fig!t behaved in the most creditable, manner, ma
nor u* red i i beautiful style, aud left tbe firid in fine or
der, protecting the wounded that could be carried on the
shoulders of the men to Herndon S:alien—a distance of
tome two cr three miles. .
Bu'h officers and men showed great coolness and hra
verv, and evidence d in tbeic feeling* tbe great cause in
■Utah they wire • tgigad. No furthrr demonstration
w»s made on ua during the d*y. Our loss was heavy,
b at we have reason to b» litre that tbe enemy’s was more
Maura than our own.
Lieu' Don P. H isley who came near b>ing taken pris
oa«r, rrp trfs that In'orraailon *u given him there, that
every bou*> In Dr-nsviUe was filled with the Yankee
wounded aid dead, v d to dot some Alabamians who go
loot in the wot ill aid visited Drastsvil e told me that tbe
people reported tbe Yankees to have scat iff 12 wagon
loads ot dead and between 20 aud St) atahularoes of
wounded, which bassinco been enfirmed by Gen. Stn
art. They l:f. several of their dead on tbe fl-ld. Ow
ing to the want of transportation, our dead was left on
tbe field cf battle fill to day, with soma few wounded
who had strayed awav in tbe woods, but they bare all
since been brought hsre, there bi fog 27 of tbe former.
Tbs A labs miu » said they also beard from their con
cealed position in the woods tLe movements of tbe
f roopg, art ill ry and wagons, taking at least an hour and a
bad to past a given point.
Thera were 8,000 and three more Ifg'aMM were to
have joined th-m the morning of the battle, but they
never report*d. Not alive one wee left in Dranesyille,
the whole for.o having been carried iff during the night.
Late in the ev<.nirg we moved to Frying Fan where most
of our wounded bail been carried and the 11th latt*
maiutd there a* a rear guard, the other three regiment*
having moved to Centre villa. It was 11 o’clock before
the wounded were taken away, after which we started
back and gnt here early this morning, havipg been a lit
tle less than t»tn'y/vHr hour*, marched thirty Jivt Biltes
ai d fought a h ird fijht. Wbat think you ol that for
volunteers? The battle wtui severe and miy be said to
have been a drawn one, as neither party could claim a
victory, both having retired. The position of the ground
wa-» mut uafaTOiable for us, whereas the eueoiy had a
decided advantage, yet we fought them against great
odds and good ground. , , ...
Our loss will be about 1" m'mdng, 50 killed and 1«
wounded. Q rite heavy for a small buttle.
One field officer war killed, and three wounded.
Tue 1st Kentucky lost aoout 45 killed and wounded.
The 8th South Carolina, 68 killed, wounded and mist
ing.
The iOth Alabina, 63 killed, wounded and missing.
The 11th Virginia, 28, and Outta’ Battery, ten kilted
and wouuded.
The names of our owu Regiment are as follows :
Oomoany A R.fle Grets, from Lynchburg, Private
John L Henrv, killed accidently.
Company fij Lieut T R Horton, wounded in the
tbigb; Private Walker Thurmoud, wounded iu thigh and
missing.
Company C—Privates William H. Hobson, mortally
wounded ui abdomen ; 8. T. Franklin, wounded lu thigb;
J. 8. Rico, wounded iu arm, slight; John B. Wood,
both arm*, slight.
Company D—Privates Melvin Gibbi, killed ; W. Car
per and J tmrs McDowell, wounded slightly in feet.
Company E—None.
Company F-Private Robb Burt, slightly hurt.
Compauy G—None.
Company H—H’nry Goldin, k'lled ; Joseph Flowers,
severe wound iu knee; George W. Roger*, missing.
Company I~Oapain Jus. H. Jamenoo, shot through
thigh ; Private Judmn Emtvcy, shot through thigh.
Companv K—Privates W. Campbell and JaA N. Pain
ter, killed'; Captain A. A. YaUman, slight wound in
face from shell; Privates Jsmes L Black, wouoded in
leg; James D. Juhnaon, severe wound through thigh;
Peter Carlyle, slight wound in the heed from shell.
R 'capitulation—1 missing, 6 killed and 15 wounded.
All of our dead have been recovered, and the regi
meui will turn out to-urorrow to bury them.
A great many of the men midj narioweroipes, hav
ing balls to pise through their dothieg, Li. Among
the number I nerd mention Corporal H V. Harris, of
ibe Home Guard, whose pistol was struck direotly by a
bail, and Private C. H Spencer, who bad the heel of bis
shoe shot off while lying down.
Yours truly,
J. LAWRENCE MEEK,
Adj’l 11th Reg. Va. VoL
ARMY APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED BY CONGRESS.
Con .rest has cot firmed the following nominations made
by the P evident, to take rank in the order u> which they
are named;
MAJOR UK.NKKi.LK. N
B-ax’on Bragg, September 12, 1861, Louisiana.
Eirl Van Darn, September 19, Mississippi.
Gustaves W. Smith, September 19, K-ntucky.
T. D. Holmes, October 7, North Carolina.
W. J Hardee, October, 7, G orgia.
Ben. Huger, Oc'ober 7, South Oarolii a.
Jas. Longstreet, October 7, Alabama.
J. B. Magridir, October 7, Virginia.
T J. Jackson, Oc'ober 7, Virginia.
Mai'afi--ll Lovell, October 7, Maryland.
E. K. Smith, October 11, Florida.
• BRKUniSa GENERALS.
Jo*. R. Anderson, September 8, 1861, Virginia.
Simon B Buckner, September 14, Kentucky.
L P. Walker, September 17. Altbama,
A. G Blurehvd, September 21, Louisiana.
Gabriel J. Rtins, September 2J. Kentucky.
J. E. B. Stuart, September 24, Vugiuia.
Lib.yetU) McLtws, September 26, Georgia.
T. F. Drayton, September 26, South Carolina.
T. C. Hindman, September 28, Arkansas.
A. B. Gladdin, September SO, Louisiapa.
John B. Mc’Jowr, October 12, Tennes*>e.
Lloyd Tilgbmm, October 18, Kentucky.
N. G. Evans, October 21, South Carolina.
Cadmus 0. Wilcox, October 21, Teuuesssc.
Philip St. George Cocko, October 21, Virginia.
R £ Rode*, October 21, Alabama
Richard Taylor, October 21, Louisiana.
L T. Wigfa'l, October 21, T. xaa.
Jas. M Trapier, October 21, South Carolina.
Sun. G French, October 24, Mississippi.
W. H. Carrel!, October, 20. Tennesreee.
II. W. Mercer, October, 29, Georgia.
Hnmphree Marshall, October 80, Kentucky.
John 0. Breckinridge, November 2. Kentucky.
Richard'G-.Bi h, November 2, Mis-issaippi.
Alex. R Steuart, November 8, Tennessee.
Wm. M Gardner, November 14, Georgia.
R'chard B. Girn-tt, November 11, Virginia.
Wm. Maboue, November 16, Virginia.
1, O B Branch, November 10, North Oarollaa.
1 >E%V.—6'Obut. BUck Eyed Peas, In atore, and (or ante
1 deR6_WM. H. PHABANTP,
OIL -SOQaJI' Castor Oil
9 JO Ibt p.lsah
Concentrated Lye, jnat received by
deJ»_j»s, p nuvai.,
SADLGK* TOOLN.—Harnras Needier, Btralnlng Ironi;
Sadl-re a»l«; E Igr Toole; Ungle Oreaeeri; Straining Forka;
Picking Wheel. Rim Hovodera, P icklng Teeih, fnr tale by
deii CLAUaSON a CO . No 104 Mala .treet,
( OUT PUBLISHED.
el or WEST A JOUXSTOX,
THI MOaT BEAUTIFUL OF
SOUTHERN BOOKS,
Bbl.
CAUSE AND CONTRAST.
AS E8SAT ON
.. THE AMBRIOAN ORIBIS,
IT
T. W. HACMAR0N.
Oflhltrary, r'onaent. And brau'lfally written work, wr hive
nue readv an edition nf Tan Tsotnusp, a work which we do not
r rattate v> pron, uace charming a. a po o, and p .ivaalog the
lotereat of Action, wnll* IU logic and faota ara Irrefalatle.
it ta Uie Aral original bo>k of mlteeiUneoai character pohliahad
In the ( onfed. rate sta r. Core the <. gantattle* of oar loJepend
eat Government, »od It la no 'eie giact fuily than appropriately
d letted to tur Ant President
Por *’ch a publication. In exposition of the rrlila and of Bo a t h■
cru political ph loaophy, It wnu d he aopererogation to bn peak
piblcfat r, eoperlally •• IU conteota will warrant general pat
r nage au I npp obntloo.
The f .lowing are commendation* by gentlemen who rend por
tlona of the mannae. Ip t:
From tKi Richmond Wh.j
“It diacneaee with rare aklll'v aod learning the Inatltn'one of
« aerry In all Ita aapee'e, aa well aa the aocial and political die
t octio a between the people of the Confederate rtatee and thote
the Colt, d .tv ee The.tvlvl* oruate, glowing, and e'oqnenL
We predict that It will produce a aeneatlon, take Iti place among
a mndard literature, and have the tff*ct of banl.hlng from our
ra d.t the hurtful cfftprlng f the moibld and prollAc preai of the
North.'' _
From IK* IHopatcK,
“We have read port one of tne mebusoript, ana we pron once
Itbetutlful. rxct'lrot. anil couc'ua re. We hope that It will oh
tan the circulation that it me Ite. not only la Aaarict, but la
lurnpe.”
SVcwi fie FramiH4i\ a
"It la Impomlble'or ua to rourey to the reader any eo-ract
lieu of thta apleodid eaaay. Tufo-m a eor eel Idea of eo g -nlal
a'.d com lete a production. It muel be perumd, and Ita p ruael '
wt I repay Lie t tader aa much aa »u of Macaulay'a papera for the
Edlnbatg we e wool to tht*m the Enalteh public- Ita lie e la
lofty; Ha loflc irrefutable; lu 11 -etrallone putt and elegant,
ar.d Ita treatment uf the theme complete from Alpha to
Omeaa It wtU be one cf the n-et-lf not retily the it aV—
publication of ml oellane< oa c araetrr taaoed from our new 1
Confederacy. The puhliahere will bring It out In excellent ,
etyle, and we teepee* for It a warm receplloc, inch aa
> ouli encourage every taUtrprlae caleulated to add to the Inatre I
uf the Broth "
We m'gh’. oontlnne almllar extract! from the Gharteeton Mercu
ry and outer j uroaU U epaoe permitted. 1 he work li now ready
fir oellvery; one octavo volume, plea type, thick paper corer,
p lee |l.
(Id dtp.
Tlio Neutliern Apr,—Lvt'ere on the Policy and Inaofu
raUonofiheUnc.lt War written anonymonaly In Washington i
and elaewhere, by Edward A. Pollard, of Virginia, author of
"Black Dtaieool"
cotrvitrt*;
1. Le*ter to Prettied* I Inco'n written a*. Waihlnxton
g. Lett r It Preeident Unco n, w>l ten el W eMxgtcn. ,
• « U tor to Preal led Uncoil, written at Waah nron.
4. Letter to Pro. dost L neMn, writ ea n >ar the 0 tVernmcnL
h. let er to ti e Vdl or of-, written In Maryland.
1 Let'e* Ij Secretary Seward, written In Maryland.
I. Le t ir to Prvttdan* Un:oln. wrtt'en n Maryland,
tt. Letter to Tee or Tvng. written In Baltfmcre.
V Letter to Oenrril N-uU, wrltt nln Maryland.
It), Letter to Mr. Rverett written In Maryland.
Price SO cent*.
PRESCIENCE.
n-meeh de'lrer.d by Bon Bavaa t looava, of Virginia, In <he
Houtha-n Oo- venlton. bald at fiaahr Ue, Tenn , April iSth, ISM.—
I rice gS c:Lla.
Ordera to receive prompt attention ehonld be addre>aed to
«KvT * JOHNSTON, SobUeheri and Bookae lera,
dattl-gt145 Main Strap*, hlchmond, Va.
LhOIt H BN Ta—The Warahouev. In the rear of our itore, re
I ewatlr er,c ad by at, for a cb hint manufaolory. It le ad
mlrtblr adapted for a vail tty of manufacturing par peace
da*5—lm__KENT, PA1N» A 00
IjTOH BKNT.-Two large Ware Boneee, fronting oa Dock
and Gar y atreeta. Apply to
deW -SwOia «■ PALMEE,
F1NB WINKS AND B«» INDIES -50baeketa Held
ticc Champaign Wlnev; (0 bavketa Mamm'a Ve.-genay Gab
tnet do; S hair pipea Old Henneaatv Brandy; 50 cuaa Baker'a Bit
le a; 5) eae a * laret Wl. e, for aaleby WM. WALLACE SONS,
Corner Pearl and Cary atreeta. dels
t' tin IOEKTITUTIOH—8T A T K HI U BTW.
* IC HMOND W fl lO
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 27, 1801*
" TO CORKKNPONDBNT8.
mr UUtri on bueineet mu*i be addreeeed to the “Editor of
Iks Fdip."
Article written on both tide* of the paper will net b* publieh.
td. Thu it a rule 0/ Ung standing, ought to bt known to all
mi will in no OOM h* dijjartod from, Obituary notiatt tooted
key eight liner art charged for ae .uleertteemente.
Ctr Wt oannol uwlertake to return releoted commnntoaMome
CAin IN ADfANOI
Tbe stringency of the tlirei Imposing tbe nncemlty of paying
».h for everything needful for the po'allestlon of s newspaper
iTpelleJ os, eome time elnco, Vo an oonce that In no ease would
we enter a euht ,-rlber ’s name on r nr books anleet < he order for the
paper wu accompanied by the money to pay for the same. A Ut
ile experience of the tlmee has not only oonflrmed ns In this deter
mination, bat compells os to announce to nil the •abecrlbm to
the Whig already on onr books, that necessity forces os to adopt
lbs same rale In regard to them, at I'aat nnUI the tlmee wtU Justi
fy a d fleraot course. To this end we wlU forthwith commence the
work of sending oot oar bUls from the oSce, made oat In such
amonn 1 as will, when paid, place each subscriber In adv*nce on
toe runt of subscription; and thl s will be done so ns to place each
■abacrlber e bill before h'm wUbla tbe next three moothe. On the
let of March, loti, the oaraee of nil who hare not paid according
to theee terma will be erased from our bo ika, and rrgnlaily there
after Umely notice wlU be sent to our eubaerlben of the expiration
of their rabicrlptlon year and a like course adopted with all, unlees
psymen- Is mads. Self preservation compete this court* or else It
would not be adopted.
Constitutional Amin Jiisiul*.
We may fatigue tbe reader—ire may weary ourselves
—wo- mar outrage good distaste by tbe frequency of
repetition ; but tbe subject in loo important to atstud up
on triflis. We seek tbe rratoratiou of our old Republic
—tbe Republic of '76, which, resting upon tbs broad ba
g's of law aud the distribution of power, could not be sub
verted by any one man. While our iustltutiODS are de
pendent for their existence upon a single man, call them
nepuo-tc^i, or urmocrauo, or vnn you win, may are li
able at any moment to bn converted into a despotism,
aud cannot satisfy tbo man, who likes to feel that bis
freedom is based upon a rock. We are of those, who
embraced separation from the Yankees with joy, not
simply for the sake of separation, but for lbs higher and
holier end of securing our liberties. We have been con
vinced for many ye.na, that tbe Federal Governtmnt was
worse than a failure—that it was little else than a vast
machine, scattering corruption broadcast over the land,
and that its continuance was dependent on tbe accident
of an election, or the oaprice of an individual. It was the
q liutessence of democracy, (in tbe Aristotle sense—we
never use it in any other,)—!, e , s corrupt Republic, with
the semblance of freedom and the substance of servitude
—a Government of “ tbe greatest good to the greatest
number,” (ibe majority,) end contequtntly an intolerable
tyranny to tbe minority. I's downfall has come—soon
er then most persons ejpeotod—but not s moment soon
er than it desorvsd. Ws of the South, by our timely se
cession, saved our liberties from the general rulu. But
the great problem of their preservation is still unsolved.
We have started on oar experiment with almost identi
cally tbe same system, which has just met with so disas
trous a failure, and from which we escaped only by a
miracle. If we escape agaiu, it will only he by another
miracle.
Geologists tell us of s greet flood sweeping over this
continent, from Northwest to'Southrast, at some remote
d ty, drowning and desolating the laud. A similarly de
vastating flood, of a political nature, has, for the last 46
years, been drifting over our land from tbe Northeast —
It swept away all the landmarks of genuine Republican
ism, which our forefathers established.' They, the wisest
men the world has ever seen, based free Government—
both Fcderato a.d State, upon (qtytl laws, and upon
such a dis'ributioa and limitation of power in the bands
of ageuts, that no one, nor any possible number of them
combining, coulJ subvert tbe pablic liberty. This North
east flood retched its onlminauon about the year 1860—
when the last vestigo of Revolutionary Rrpublioanism
was superseded in this Commonwealth by Yankee De.
mocrscy. The great principle waa inaugurated, that oot
a dog-catohcr should be chosen without s formal appeal
to tbe whole body of the people in its sovereign capacity
to make the selection. Doily election* of everything,
—free suffrage, free speech,free press, free schools—nr.
thing was wanting but free labor to complete the cycle
if freeality. At that we paused, and are again fighting
the light of freedom.
There are many contradictions in nstnre, and results
the most probable are often bifltsd by mysterious and
unknown agencies. Two and two not unfrequently
make five—to the confusion of human computation.—
The elements which enter into the composition of pound
sake—flour, sufas, butter, eggs and Tnilk, are each
ivparately healthful aud nutritious— aid yet in the coo
srete, they constitute s compound, digestible by no ra
liooal beings save truant school boys. Silicious-sbelled
animalcule are composed entirely of^ eiiex, and buve
their being in the oceaD ; and yet the element in which
they exist and from which they appear to derive all
their substances, upon analysis, is found destitute of si
tes. Astronomers tell us, that it is highly probable
that tbe central body of the universe (160 times the
iiameter of our sun) is, on the princ'ple of gravitation
ind the theory of emanation, rendered invisible by the
immensity of its volume and the intensity of its light
Phis illustration is rather high-fliwn for a terrestrial sub.
eet. But it will piss. An ex loss of light produces
lirkncss, so too much liberty engenders despotism.
Since our separation from the Yankees, and espeo'slly
Vom the Yankee-ixod portion of the State—the North
vest—to conciliate which we have for the last forty
rears uonuccu sue uuta suiorcuui auu enuaugerca me
test iDslitations of the Commonwealth, we feel that the
ctters are fsliiug from our limbs ; a gentleman can orei
nors hoii up bis head in Old Virginia; and visions of
lettled liberty and law, of the good old times and good
tld Jamaica, once more pecple our slumbers. Bit. we
ire not yet on solid ground. While we retain that
tromlneot Yankee feature in*our system of a Chief
d agist rate elected by the people, and swollen with the
lea thet he is the embodiment c f the sovereign people,
u la as omnipotent aa any sovereign iu Europe, and we
told our freedom by the frail tenure of man’s caprice.
Phat mode of election and the idea of popular embodi
u-jnt invests the individial with a sort of sanctity, tan
amount to divine right, aud clothes him with ten times
he power conferred by the constitution and the laws.—
. inis Napoleon is the eleet of universal suffrage. Abrc
1 ia» Lincoln is the boasted embodiment of Democratic
lovercigoty. Such a free government is a mockery; it
a unworthy of the name; it is unworthy of fresmen; it
< unworthy of men aspiring to be statesmen —it is ua
rortby of the compatriots of Washington and Mason.
'Jive us back the old Republic—the old Articles of Oon
edaration—modified, if you chooee, to suit our altered
nedilion; but deliver us from an E'ectivt King,
ind giie hi to knots that me hold our regkte nubject to no
nan's mill.
The Governor of South Carolina has called for a volun
ear force equal to tmo-tkirds of the militia force, opi
ate of bearing arms, and in the event of this number not
Ming forthcoming at oner, he has issued orders for a
Iraft from the militia of that nntnoer of men.
.The General Aeeembly of South Carolina cdjourned
line die at a late boor on last Saturday night. 1
The subjeot of tbs subjoined communication ad
dresses itself with irresistible foroe to the generous sod
patriotio. No eotdi< rs iu the servioe have been called on
to make greater sacrifices, than those from Northwestern
Virginia. None bare bad so hard a service, and none
are so poorly provided for. This appeal should not be
io rain—to the ladies we ere sure it will not be—and we
hope to bear of immedute measure* taken to relieve the
wants and sufferings of tbess gallant, loyal and unfortu
nate men:
THE SOLDIERS OF NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.
To the Editor of the Whig :
I ask a small space in your useful paper, to oall the at
tention of the public, In particular the ladiee, to the
wants of the Northwestern soldiers, In camp ou the Al
leghany mountain, in Pocahontas county. They left the
unlortuuate Northwest in the Utter part of May, aud, in
consequence of its being in possession of the enemy,,
bare been unable ever since to obtain from home either
money or clothing, and have been forced to lock to other
quarters for both. Many of them lost everything in the
retreat from Philippi, and also in the retreat from Rich
Mountain and Laurel Hill Abcut one hundred were
wounded at the recent battle of the Allegheny, and now
(1 fear) are badly supplied and attended to, at Staunton
aud Gamp Alleghany. Clothing, blankets and other
necessaries, I feel confident, would be very acceptable ;
for, even if they had the means of purchasing, the Alle
ghany region is destitute of the - articles they need. I
hope that it will be the pleasure of the patriotio and libe
ral to contribute, out of their abundant means, to pro
mote the comfort of tbs brave soldiers from tbs North
west, under the oommands of OoL Wm. L Jackson, of
the 81st Virginia Regiment, Major Albert G. Reger, of
Reger’s Battalion, and Major Gideon D. Camden, Jr., of
ilansbrough’s Battalion,! tbe brave Colonel being wound
ed, and at pretent out of camp.) What U done, should
be done quickly, for tbe winter is at hand, and the winds
on the mountains are “ piercing and cold."
A FRIEND.
Vankee staling expedition.
A correspondent of the C.ncinn.ti Commercial gives
the following account of a miranding expedition into
Virginia by tbe Yankees. No geutlemau iu the Confed
erate service is tbe subject of ss much hste and the
cause of ss much terror with the Yankee*, as the intrep
id and dashing Col Albert Q Jenkins—and few, we may
add, have renderct such effective service or incurred ss
heavy sacrifices:
Nine miles shove Guyandotte, we came opposite tbs
farm of OoL Albert Jeukins, wbose cavalry, by their
continued outrages, culminating in the massacre of Guy
audotut, have become the terror of the whole country,
Union men and rebels alike execrating them- Tbe boat
■ opped at the landing, put out a plank, and four compa
nies of the Forty-first, under command of Lieut. OoL
Wiseman, started for the bouse od a double-quick, bo
Dine to aurnrise and cantur* some of Jenkins’ troona—
T.ie expedition wm handsomely codnoted. Skirmishers
were thrown out, who immediately occupied the
hill* in the rear of the house, while the
dwelling, closely guard id, was entered aud searched.—
Nothing was found. The house is now occupied by
Judge Bolin, the father-in-law of Jdnkins, who claims to
be s Onion man, aud Is probably stationed there to pro
tect tbe properly of a ecouodrel under tbe shield of bit
respectability and principles. Mrs. Bolin was highly ex
cited. An Eastern Virginian, she rejoiced in being e se
cessionist. H jr houje had been repeatedly visited, she
ra'd, and she believed and hoped that one or two repe
tit|nns of theta military morning calls would nJake her
husband a rabid secessionist, which she added, would be
tbe happieet day of ber life. She resented the insinua
tion that ber son-in-law would engage in anything dis
honorable, and denied that he had anything to do with
tbe Gayandotie massacre, though she must have known
better. An educated woman, she discoursed learnedly
of a rare species of flowering exotic, the violet bloomicg
ivy, (of Mexico,) and graciously permitted those botau
ioally inclined to pluck the dowers, and even cut vines
to send hpme for propagation.
After a careful search, tbe men were called to and re
turned to tboir boat, taking with them ten horses, tbe
property of Jenkins. The Jackins’ estate, owned by
three brothers, Albert, "the Doctor,” and Jeffers on, (all
in tbe rebel army) stretches along tbe river shoro a dis
tance of three miles. Fields of wheat and corn stood
ungstbered and unhuiked. Thc-e was sn abundance of
everything about tbe house. Tbe house U a substantial
two story brick, very vpauious aid comfortable, sur
founded by flue old oaks and sycamores—a very desira
ble country residence.
When tbe reconeoitering party approached tbe bouse,
a man ws< seen to take to bis heels and disappear in the
direction of ths bills. A detachment set out in pursuit,
but it failed to capture him. It turned out, however,
that he was a tenant, aud not obnoxious by any partici
p tion with the rebels.
There wat something suspicious in the fact, that in
every house visited in the neighborhood not s man was
to be found, though the women and children wrrs at the
house to receive military calls. And alter our boat
s’eamed out, at two or three houses, a mile or two
above, several horses, saddled aud bridled, wtre seen
standing at tbe ban, and men furtively standing about.
Deal la of Prince Albeit.
The husband of tbe Qieen of Great Britain la deed
We have no partioulan of tbe sad event, but the death
of one holding such relations to their beloved sovereign
has, we may feci assured, produced s profound sensatiou
throughout the British realm. -Tae Prince wts hornet
Roaecau, August 26th, 1819, and was married February
10th, 18-10. He was much esteemed by tbe people of
Great Britain, and brld many dignities and a munificent
pecuniary allowance et their hands . He waaan active
promoter of all enterprises for tbe advancement of agri
culture, and industry, was a liberal patron of tbe arts,
aud generous in bis charities.
Tun MascfacTDr.i or anus.—The Legislature of Ala
bama, at its late session, appropriated |:i50,000 for tbe
manufacture and purchase of arms. The act makes it
the duty of tbe Governor to purchase all tbs maebintry,
totlt and im|Hements necessary to the manufacture of
arms, which mscinhery shall be put up in the Penitentia
ry, and put into operation as soon as possible. The Gov
ernor is required to employ the Libor of convicts as far
as poss'ble, and to secure the servicee of an Armorer and
S iperiutendent, and as mxny master-workmen and arti
sans as may bo necessary, and at such salaries as hi may
thiok proper. Heisa’so authorix id to put machinery for
the purpoeo into operation at other points, if be thicks
proper to do se.
Tm CoNrtDiRATK War Tax.—The Legislature of
Alabama hare pnascd a law apsumiog tbe payment by
the Slate of the Confederate war tax. Tbe Uw makee it
the duty of “ the Governor to cause to be issued the
bonds of ibe State, payabl» in fiuch sunn, and at such
lime and plaoe, aud beatiog such rate of interest, not
exceeding eight per cent, per aDnom, as will enable him
to raise and obtain tbe means of paying roch taxes (less
tea per cent, thereon) upon the most advantageous terms
to the State ; and that whsn said means of paying said
taxes shall be raised, his Exoelleucy shall cause the said
tsxes (lass ten per centum thereon) to be paid to tbe
Confederate Slates, under tbe provisions of the said 24th
s ction of the act of On gress aforesaid.”
Thi Knsmt in Gbrinbiiss — On Tuesday last, bati
the Stauoton Bptetator, 300 of the enemy appeared in
the Meadows, in Greenbrier county, end left ou Fr diy,
taking eff 100 sheep, 70 cstile, 40 horses, and houte
hold property, belonging to Wm H. Macfarland, J. M. E,
Vick, S C. Ludington and Allen MoOluog. Tbe bonae
bold property was taken tom Mr. Macfarlaod’a bonae.—
About a^venty cavalry succeeded in overtaking and
killing three of them. Taey left too soon for tbe infan
try of Greenbrier to get a chance at them. They weie
within 18 miles of Lrwisburg.
Disappoirtmint.—Tbe New York Timu says "there
has been considerable diieppolntment felt that tbe land
ing of Yankee troops on the coast of North and South
Carolina has not prod acid that diveriion of tbe Confede
rate troops before Washington which was anticipated.
Tne expected iusb homeward of tbe Carolina Oonfedrratra
to defend their own States has not taken plaoe; and con
sequently, McClellan bai as slrorg an enemy in front
now to fight as be had before tbe Yankee* landed twen
ty thousand men at Balter** and Port Royal."
LATE FBO.H LIlfCOLlfDOH.
AFFAIRS AS BERN THROUGH YANKEE SPEOTA
CLES.
STATEMENTS, RUMORS. EX IGGKRATIONS AND IN
VENTIONS.
Tbe Norfolk Day Bock of Wednesday famishes the
following extracts from the New York Herald of the 2 lit
Washihutch, Deo. 20, 1861.
THI If ISO IISLIDELL imiL
Lord Lyons has had two oonfilentlai coofereooee to
day with Mr. Seward, bat up to eleven o’clock to-nlghi
uo written formal communication bad been bad, aod nc
demand whatever has yet been made upon oar govern
meat by the British Minister
Tbe conferences between Lord Lyons and Mr. Seward
wore of tbe moat co dial and friendly character.
Captain Seymour, tbe Queen’s messenger, did not re
turn in the Africa, as waa intended.
The America’s maila are anxiously looked for by oui
government as well aa by Lord Lyons, and it is not un
likely that hie Lordship will withhold bis demand upon
our government until they arrive.
It la not true, aa telegraphed yesterday to New York
papers, that the President celled e meeting of the Oabi
n t. None whatever has been held on tbe anbjsot —
There is good ground for believing that tbe text of my
d spa'th forwarded last night retlecte about the position
tbs’, tbe Bri'idi Go/ernment will take Tbe same idee
is nil cted in tbe admirable letter of Gin. Scott, which,
by the way, is very highly spoken of by English end
American statesmen here. It is believed to Lave bad
psce'lent effect upon the BH Ish mind, as an eminent
British lawyer, who stands near the law officers of tbe
C.own, so iodioaiee in e private letter reocived here. It
is believed that Lord Lyons will pane over the questions
of contraband de/pstehee, and tbe character ot tbe trai
tors Mason and Slidell, end rest bis demand upon tbe
narrow ground so clearly presented by Gen. Soott, that
we should have seized tbe Trent, liken ber into poit,
and bad her condemned by a prize oonrt, in order to
justify our aeizjre of ber passengers. Stated in other
words, our offence would have been less if it bed been
greater. It is assumiug the ground that tbe wrong done
to tbe British Hag would have beau mitigated If, instesd
of seizing tbs lour rebels, we bed seized the ship, detain
ed all her passengers for weeks, end confiscated ber
cargo.
Strange aa it may seem, I have excellent official au
thority (or asserting that, from present appearances, tbs
whole question will settle down opon that pretence. The
Pi eaidei.l said this morning, in response to a question
by a Senator, “ I don’t think we will have e war with
K igland in the next ten days."
ft is argued in high quarters that the United State*
would be beuefitted by a war with England,on tbe ground
tbit we abonld be immediately relieved of the present
enormous expense of kuepiug up the blockade, and could
turn our guua upon the spleudid oomueroe of Great Bri
tain; that our people are just now in a fighting mood;
that in a few months we auallbave one of tbe moat mtg
nihoentaud well drilled armies ths worll ever sew, with
uo'.bing else to do except to whip John Bull for ths
third time. This kind of reesoning is not very popular
among the officers of the goverument,but la really a sen
timent emanating front * source entitled to oousldere
1100.
SRlLLlANT VICTORY IN VIRGINIA.
Washington. Dec. 20, 1861.
We havo had a splendid little affair in frOLt of Wath
ingtoa this afternoon, which will furnish food for tbe
“ Unward to B:chtaond " party for a few days, until Sen.
McClellan is ready for a more formidable forward move
ment.
The following is the olbciel dispatch from Gen. McCall
to Geo. Marcy, recounting tbe facts: -
Dra!N8vii.i.k, Dec. 20—4 r. u.
Gen. Ord's brigade, with tbe Fust regiment of Penn
syl-auia ritl;a and Eaeton'a battery of artillery, bad a
bride tfftir witb tbe enemy, consisting of four regiments
acd a battery of artillery, near this place, at 12 M., to
diy.
I arrived during the aotion, and scut for Gin. Reyn
olds, who was at DM -uk Ran. Tbe enemy sras defeated
and fled before Qen. Reynolds arrived.
We have found forty killed of tbe enemy and ten
wounded on tbe field. Our loss is two killed and three
wounded. We have taken two caissons, with the har
nesses, tbe borg.'s having been killed.
The regiment of rid* behaved finely. Lieutenant
Colonel Kane was very slightly wounded, bat is still In
the field. I bsve collected tbe dead and wounded, and
am about to move back to camp.
GEORGE A. McDALL.
. Brigad.er General commanding.
D(TAILS or THI DATTLK.
Since the official d spatch of the affair at Drainsville
lo-diy was forwarded, one of the Herald’s tpeclil cor
respondents has arrived from the field, and givea the fol
lowing particulars: —
General Ord started at six o'clock this morning. His
command consisted of lour full regiments ; tbe “ Buck
Mil RiU-s," Lieutenant Colonel Kane, a id E ston’e bat
tery, onnslsling of two twenty/our and two twelve pound
howitzers. They proceeded on a foraging expedition in
tbs direction of Drairsville. Gen. McCall, anticipating
they might be a"«ciced, ordered First and Seoond bri
gades to follow at eight A. M. The First brigade, Gau
lt ynolds, advanced on the Leesburg turnpike, and took
« po-i.ion on DOfliuli Cr-ek to await further orders —
Two hours later Gen. McOill with his staff and esoort of
cavalry, followed by the same route.
Meantime Gin. Ord advanced to Thornton’s bouse,
cetr Draineavdle, when bis command was cuddcnly fired
upon by a force lying in ambush in dense woods ar'j a
cent. This was the signal of battle, and a brick en
gagement promptly ensued.
Gen. McCall, who arrived a few minut* previously,
tovk command. In a moment’s time, Easton’s battery
was planted alongside tbe Thornton House, and fired
rapidly and with terrible r If jot in the enemy's ambush
Colonel Kane’s “Bncktail Riflemen’’ were piaoed in ad
vance, and fired upon the euemy wherever they made
tbeir appearance. Tbe rebels, who had a battery of six
pieces, returned tbo cannonading, and replied to tbe ri
fles with musketry. Tbe firiog was kept up some three
quarters of an hour, when the enemy retrea'ed rapidly,
the fire of tbe whole brigade, rifles and battery, being
too hot for them.
Our troops stood up bravely under tbe sharp volleys
of tbe rebels. Their steadiness was praffed by General
McCall and bis rfiicers.
Tbe rebels look the direction of Fairfax Court House,
leaving on tbe field a number of tbeir killed and wonnd
e 1. Oar troops pursued them e short distanoe and re
turned.
The scene in 'he woods presented all tbe horrors of a
sanguinary b title field, and tbe dead and the dying lying
strewn in ell directions. Forty dead bodies of the reb
els were picked up. and fifteen wounded prisoners were
tiken and piaoed in Hunter's and other houses in Draines
vilie.
General Ord captured eight wounded priaooers and
two caffsona with ammunition. In tbeir baste tbe ene
my behind arms of all discretions, clothing, Ac.
Their lose Is estimated at 160 killed acd wounded —
Among their killed waa 0)1. Tom Tsylor, of Frankfort,
Ky., and comm u der of tbe First Kentucky regiment of
rebels. The forces of tbe enemy ooeieted of three In
faatry regiments, First and Eleventh Kentucky and
Tenth ALbatna, with a cavalry regiment and a battery,
all uod <r command of Col. John H. Forney, of tbe Tenth
Alabama, Acting Brigadier General. Tbe dead rebels
warn I»ft An fh* HaM THa Imi nn nnr uMa via air kill.
ml iD'l eight wounded, moat of whom belonged to the
Bucktalla. Colonel Kane received a (light wound.
At nine o'clock our troop* had returned to camp,
briuging in fifty wagon loads of forage.
The regiments of Gen. Ord'e brigade were tbs Sixth,
Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth Penney'.vaoia reserves.
The prisoners belong to the diflf rent regiments eu
gigad in the action. Neither are dressed alike. The
clothee they had ou are ragged and filthy. Each waa
without an orerooat, and their general looks botray any
thing but nutritious fare. I had a eonvarrution with
three prieoners belongicg to the Tenth Alabama, s'ter
they were lirosght to Gen. McCall’s headquarters. They
state that tbeir regiment waa organised save* months
ago. Formerly they were uoder command of General
Johnston, but after the battle of Bull Run were trans
ferred to General Beauregard's division. Of the eoodi
tion of the rebel army they gave the mom deplorable ao
coun*, confirming the previous statements received as to
the went of proper clothing and food, and the general
ducootaot prevailing among the men. Tb« greater part
of the army, they sty, baa gone into winter quarters at
Manaeas. Sinoe tbeir connection with the army they
have only been paid twice, and the pro«poot of a third
yaymeot was so dimly obscured that nearly all had given
up hope* of any further enla-gement of their exchequer*
at the hand* ol their corns aiders.
Gen. Hsu cock’s divlsioo, under order* of Gen. McClel
lan, marched toward the battle ground to support Gan.
MoCall, but their services were not needrd.
When Get oral McClellan learned that Gen. McCall's
trflbp* we e engaging the enemy, he jamped into bis
saddle, gnd, accompanied by Ooi. Co burn, proceeded to
Minersville, when* he learned the result u given above,
and returned.
FROM FORT lOTAl.
WasnisoTon, Deo. 80, 1861 —The Navy Department
has received despatches from i tort loyal, inoloding one
from Commander Drayton, dated December 9. He give*
the particulars of kls reosat am— In the Pawn— with
the UnadlUa, Isaac Smith and Tk—, and the explora
tion of the Ashepto river.
Among other things, he staS— that on approaohiag
Nurtgrut* creek ha saw a picket of soldi*—, who took to
their horses on his approach, hastened la their fight by
s shot or two thrown at them \
On landing at Hu ehiaou’a Island, It waa aecertalStl^U
that two days beiore sll the negro houses, overeeciv^^
houses and outbuildings, together with all the picked ■
cotton, had been burned.
The attempt had at tbe same time been made to drire
off tbe negroes, but miny had etcaped, although some
of their number, they said, bad bten shot in attempting
to do so.
Tbe scene that presented Itself wsa one of complete
deeolation.
Tbe smoking ruin* and the cowering figure* of the ne
groes, who still instinctively clung to tbelr “birth stone,"
although there was no lungers (belter for their heads,
presented a most meianoholy sigh', the impreseiou ol
which was made even stronger bv the piteous wail* of the
poor creatures, a large portion of whom were old and
decrepit.
About one hundred and forty negroee, nt'.c of them
in a very destitute condition, had collected at O.ler
Island.
Commander Drayton had given direction* to supple
them with food until suinj disposition could be made of
(hem.
FRuM MISSOURI.
Tue advices from Missouri embodied in the brief <lr«
gitcu from Geo. Halleok to the Commander-in Chief gives
us the tew* of a brilliant vk-torv over tbe reb* I*, achiev
ed by the commander of tbe division or nob-department
embracing all the Uuioo force* between the Misuuri and
Oaags river.
THE flEAT EWOAOBMEMT. •
General Hal leek V Je*pa<cb re- d< a* follow* —
Head Cja's. Dep't. or the West, /
St Louis, Dec. 19, 1861. )
General G. B. McClellan, Commander-in-Ubiefot the Uni
ted States Army :
General Pope's expedition saecesefnlly cut off the eoe
my’* camp near Shawnee Mound, and Mattered them, A
twenty-two buodred strong, in every dim-ion. Totk S
oue hundred and fifty prisoners and alt of the enemy * '■ **'
wagon*, WnU, baggage, horses, All the insurgent*
between tbs Missouri and Utsge are cleared out. Price
la (till south of the 0**ge.
H. W. HALLECK. M*jor Geu. Com'dg.
The particular* of tbe engagement, a* far as we ran
learn, are that General Pope made a forced march upon
tbe eaemy, (apparently near Shawnee Mound, a* the
rebel* wer* encamped at Clinton, in Henry couuly, and
Ohilhowe, in Johnson county,) and surprised them ; for
a* soon a* they at tbe latter place beard of his approach
they beat a rapid retreat toward* Bone Hill, J ohoson
county, leaving all ihrlr baggage, arms, munitions, pa
per*, &o, In our po-seseion.
Gan. Pope then tbraw forward ten companies of cat
airy and a section of artillery in pursuit, following with
tbe main body of bis army.
Tnoee at Clinton retreated southerly towards Osceola
and southwesterly towards Jobuatown ; for we find that
one Motion of rebel* at Johnstown, Bites county, were
so closelv pursued that they scattered In all direction*,
but mostly towards tbe South.
On the other baud, we find that General Pope forc'd
* strong cavalry recoonotsaancc to wiunn nrteen mile*
of Osceola, and intercepted and captured one het.drrd
and flftv of tbe flitting rebels and til their higgage,
store*, kx. Other rqtiada, from some tea to fifteen,
were taken, making tbe aggregate number about three
hundred.
All this ws* done without fighting, the surprise bring
so perfect as to cause a complete panic and rout cf do
rebels.
Gen Pope, in bis report to the commander of the Je
pirtment, sat*: .
The whole country between Rose Hill on the west and
Grand river on the south is clear of reb?U.
“Grani riier” is another name for that portion of tie
Ossge r.ver.
VMS CRCORD INGAGIIIIRT.
Further information received from tbe West is to the
effect that, in addition to the expedition of Gen Pope
against the enemv at and near Clinton, another part of
bis forces, under Col. Davis and Msjor Marshal, surprised
snothrr camp of the rebels on the aftrrncon of the Is b
inst, near Milford, a little north of Warrensburg. A
brisk skirmish ensued, when the rebels, finding them
selves surrounded, surrendered.
Col. Davis took 1 Sow prisoners, including three Co
lonels. seventeen Captains, a thousand stand of arms,
six'.y-flve wagons, a thousand horses, and a large quant
ity of tents, baggage and supplies.
Our loss is two killed sud eight wounded. The rebel
loss is not yet known.
Information from Glasgow states that our troopi cep
tured about two tons cf powder, buried on Cleib. Jaik
rou'a farm
Msjor Hubbard caputred sixty rebels a day or two
since in Johnson county. The troops in Kantai Lave
been stirring dering the past week, and good news is rx
pec ted from them dtily.
This news shows plainly that the plan of attack has ua
been well considered snd eff-ctivtly ettried ouu Tho
official dispatch from Gen. Hajleck oot.finus the news.—
It is as follow*:
Washington, Due. 20,1861.
The following dispatch wan received by Geo. McClell u VA«
this afternoon. It is glorious news, and created quite a
stir ill the Cabinet:
Has pgr art its, Ft Idiots. Mo , f
Dec 20, 1861. j
To M*j Gso. G. B. McClollan, Maj. Gen. commauutog
the Army :
A part of Gen. Pope's forces, tinder Col J. C. Davis
and Msjor Mat shall, surprised another camp of the ene
my, on the afternoon cf the I8:h, at Mtllord, a little
north of Warronsburg. A brisk skirmish ensued, when
the enemy, finding himself surrouodeJ surrendered We
took thirteen banared prisoners, iuclud ug three colonel* •
and seventeen captains and one thousand stand of arms,
one thousand horses, sixty-five wagons, and a Urge
quaulity of tents, baggage aud supplies. Cur Ions U two
killed and wounded. Tbo enemy's lots is rot yet known.
Information received last night from Glasgow suits
that our troop* at that place had Ukrn about two tons of
powder, in kegs, buried on Claib Jackson's fa:m. Th *
effectually cuts off their supplies of arnm tuition
H. W. HALLKCK, Mtj. Gen.
TUI ABUT.
The promotions snd appointments in tbe army of tbe
Tailed Rules, made by the President since the publica
tion of General Older* No 68, of August 27.h last, have
j oat been officially promulgated. From this pamphlet it ,•
appears there has been two hundred and fifteen promo
tions, six hundred and filly appointments of all kinds,
in addition to sixty Brigadier Generals of Volunteer-,
tbe whole number of these being shout one hundred and
ten. Among the declinations is James Shie Id*, of Cali
fornia, to be a Brigadier General. The appointed' nts as
aids de-camp to Geo. McClellan, number thirty-two —
Thirty-one officers have te.-n honorably retiflrd under
the law upon that subject. * .
Last Monday there were thirty-seven reeignatlors cl
volunteer officers in tbe srmy of th* Potomac, snd on
Wednesday tweu y-fonr, or about se’-enty-flre during
th* week. A few of these resigned for the purpose of
accepting higher appointments in regin snt* other tbsn ,
those to which they were originally atuched.
Tbe nominations of Brig. Gens. Kelm*and Palmer
ware confirmed by the Senate to-day.
rORTOON uatl'OK XXFXR1HKNTS, ITO.
The New York Fifteenth regiment, Colonel J. McLeod
tery at tbeir camp, on the Kaatern Branch, with be* kata
of earth and farcioee. To-morrow afternoon tbe Prrn
dent and others will witness some of tbeir experiments
with the pontoon bridge, rope bridge, exploding miner,
As. Tbe pontoon train of the regiment is getting in
readioaaa for a atari whenever ordered to move.
thi antes sihator wru.IT, or tiroiiiia. _—
Senator Willey,of '‘irginu,concluded today bisable
and patriotic speech In tba Senate on tba rioting rebel
Ion, and In aopport of tbe policy of tbe President, lie 9
was warmly congratulated by tbe Senators. It waa bit
Brat elaborate tffjrt In tbe Bena'e, Aid eetabUsbee for
him an bonooable position in that ‘ ody. Daring tbe
delivery of the tpeecb the Vice Pn- via it was obliged J
to edmoniehdhe crowded gall tries about repeated indi- -We
OAtionaof applauae.
• (i(S. LKHL1B C TOMBS. <
Among the dia ingniehed rfeiior* to the city ixjlcne
ral Leslie Coombs, ol Krn’.ncky, the “ Bjy Capt.in " of j
1812 u hale and rigorous aa a youth, and full ol pain- {
otic terror and energy.
unit non col. cobobab.
Charlist n Jail. 8. 0 , Not. IP, 1861.
Mr Etrr Drar Frirbu —Afar all the prlrations and
inaulta to which we hare bet n sutj cted ainoe prisoners
of wsr, and wbtn tbe wore*, passions ought to be eatis
fied, w# find that we hire yet another and the worat or
deal to paaa through. We are hi the cornin'*) jail_hav
ing btea tak u from Castle Pickney on he 31st cl-.—on
an rqaal opting with the mo>t depraved claiaes, ard
locked up s’, eight 1 ka felota. Bet 1 seem to have mo
mooter ly forgotten that I am condemned. I bare been
Brlacted, with three captains and ten lieutenants, to be
exeouted as aoon as it may b i amt ruin'd that ‘‘Smith,1
at PbiL.i'Iphia, has suffered, and an order baatbia day
beoa published to piece u« io separatec* I'a. Bat if tbry
imagine that tbrir cio lty or Inhumanity can make me
filter, or, aider the circuauunci», have any terrors for
Be, they are eadly mistaken
The opportunity to accompliah the otject for which I
held Ufa Boat sacred not baring arrived—that of aidieg <
to free ay native land from the galling yoke of opprrs
aiao under which tbe fcai been tuff, ring for centuries—
there could poaeibly be no other oeoee for whiota I could f
ba more ooateat to freely offer ap mj life than the en
. *