WESTERN DEMOCKAT, CHAELOTTE, N.' C;
For the Western Democrats
SKETCH O-F A TBIP IN PUBSUIT
OP
HOESE THIEVES.
Editor of Charlotte Democrat .-Since I have
recovered my stolen horse, I deem it not improper
to give you a detail of the affair. On Thursday,
19th January, a eoldier, calling -himself Hickell,
came to my house to stay all night.- fle said he
was driven from the Kanawha Valley about two
years since and joined the 16th Virginia cavalry; j
that as he bad gotten a lurlougn ana couia not gei
home, he came South to see a couple of horses that
hd been carried back to recruit, and were then
u: Toik District, only seven miles from me. Said
:-. had a good gray mare h,e wifebed to sell. Next
-: r;nug be started to the horses, and by night re-:.,i-d
to my house with the gray mare, bringing
young man, calling himself James Leasy, with
i The two remained at my house until Sab
morning. Hickell then said as he could not
: ei; cm the mare, he would go up into Davie coun
- t N. C, to Farmington, where he intended to
have, a pair of fine boots made. Leasy returned
to where the horses were feeding. On- the next
Sabbath morning, being the 28tb, my two horses
were missing. When I went to the barn I dis
covered they had been taken out at a small gate,
convincing me it was by some one who .had been
there. As those two men had full access to my
stables, I at once suspected Ilickell, as he seemed
fond of trading, and had, when at my house, two
watches. The ground being very hard frozen, it
was difficult to track them, but I found that about
a quarter above my house two shod horses had come
down the road and met mine. I knew they had
come expressly for my horses. I then tracked
them to Charlotte, and passing through town found
the track on the Statesville road. About eight
miles beyond town I saw some negroes who told
me they had been to a candy stew the night before
and that they met two soldiers each leading a
horse, one a gray, aiding very fast. At Davidson
College. Mrs. Holt informed me that ten soldiers
Lad put up at her house on Friday night. .One of
the men complained that he was badly clad and
wished the good ladies of Davidson to do some
sewing for him; he having the cloth for coat and
pantaloons. The ladies found the remainder and
made him coat, pants, vest, ahirt and drawers, with
out charge. Eight of the soldiers went on and the
other two pretended tbey had lost a pistol in Char
lotte, and they would go down and get it while the
ladies would do the sewing. They returned next
morning and got their breakfast and new clothes.
The description given by Mrs. Holt identified
Leasy and corroborated with what he had told me;
that he was raised in Mobile, and at the commence
ment of the war his father removed to Mississippi.
1 learned from a young man at Davidson that he
knew the young man's father, and that his name
was James Gardner. I then knew he was the
man who was at my house and who had the horses,
although they managed so as to let no one at the
College see the horses, having, by their own con
fession, tied them in a pine thicket a mile or two
from tho College before day light. The Other
young man was from Maryland.
, jhe Coll I procured the services of Capt.
Lawson Potts, 37th N. (J. Regiment. ' About five
miles above the College we saw a young man who
gave us a full description of men and horses. It
now being in the night, and difficult to trace them,
I took the Statesville road and the balance of my
company the Salisbury road. 1 felt that my only'
chance was to ride in the night, so I rode to
Statesville that night, fifty miles, on a young nag
without shoes, the night cold and dark and the
ground hard frozen. But before I got to States
ville I saw two wagoners who said a young man
came to their camp a little before day light, ap
pearing to be very cold, and a few hours thereafter
passed them riding a gray mare and leading a bay
horse. He knew .him to be the same man who
was at his camp in company with another, and that
they went on the Salisbury road.
At Statesville I procured the services of Hugh
I'.cyuolds, who had lived many years in Davie
o unt.y and knew all the roads in Davie and ad
Liu counties the right man in the right place.
M'e then went to Oliu College in Iredell county.
" I tie the eight men who left Davidson College
r-iy, tall night and said that two of theii com
miiy wore behind. There I procured the services
a very excellent man, C. W. Howell. Night
v..vo on, jet we rode a great ways and put tip at I
Mr John Dalton's, whom I found to be a gentle- P
man Next morning we separated, Reynolds and
Potts going up into Yadkin county; Howell and I
going iuto Davie, where I expected Hickell to
meet them. After riding about nine miles we
stra;k the trail, where they had fed the day be
fore, at Harman Critr in Davie county. There I
procured the services of two excellent men, Harman
Ctitz and Patrick Cain. Reynolds and Potts
struck the trail about -the same time in Yadkin
county. By my friends knowing the by-ways we
cut off some distance, and all came together at
Yadkinville- Then we had a running race to
Yadkin river. Crossing the river into Surry
county, Capt. Loyell, 28th N. C. Regiment, and
C. C. Cundiff fell in with us. Here they were
inquiring for Mr Taylor, Tithing Agent, whose
post was about fourteen miles distant; and now
night came on. We rode on, and when in about
a quarter of th house dismounted. I and another
man going round to the stables, I found' my gray
maro tied behind the barn and the bay horse to a
trough; the person with me then went back to the
crowd. Jostat this time some one snapped a
pistol several times and at last fired, whether at
the crowd we do not know. Capt. Lovell with
the crowd, except myself, (having remained with
my horses atthe barn,) surrounded the house aud
went in and inquired of the men if there were any
horses in their possession which did not belong to
them. There was but two answered they had
none. I then went in and identified Gardner
among the crowd lying around the fire, and told
him to get up. He denied his name was Gardner,
and ope of his comrades asserted his name was
James Leasy. He then got up. The other man
l.did not know, but Harman Crit, with whomjie
had fed, knew him and told him to get up, threaten
ing the others if . they attempted to resist. This
other young man was named Councilman from
Maryland. They both - confessed to the crime;
that the tale of losing the pistol in Charlotte was
pl gammon that they left the College and made
.directly to aay house for the horses, and that they
took them out about nine o'clock. I asked them
: if Hickell was not concerned in the theft, tfhich
they denied, but confessed he had advised them
to do tk act. But this was Talse as will hereafter
. appear.
I then tied them, and at three o'clock had come
eight miles back, our horses having eaten nothing
since morniflg and we only a small check; riding
that day about fifty miles, Potts and Reynolds
about bixtv. Next morning pa'd the Landlord
three -hundred dollars for lodging, making two
pair of band cuffs and a few horse shoes. Here
the young men proposed to my friends to prevail
on me to whip them or strap them and let them
go. I told them they had. done me great injustice
and injury, but I did not wish to punish them
Lj.'Teeable to their crime, but I intended to cuff
jl.uiu and take them to Mecklenburg jail, confine
t h am n mnnth rif est anrl 1a tliom in 4rtAi Anna.
mands. That evening (now in Davie county) I
discovered that the Marylander had, by constant
working, succeeded in slipping the cuff. We. then
guarded" him until we stopped for the night. The
prisoners and I were put up stairs to sleep. Being
very tired and sleepy, and my negro boy having
had a good night's rest, I chained the Marylander,
who had slipped his cuff, to the other and retired.
In the night the boy called to me and told me he
was trying to get loose, and getting up I examined
the lock and found that he bad succeeded in tear
ing off the entire side of it. Having procured
another lock I fastened him again and watched
them until morning.' ' .
We prepared again to start, and when we went
out to saddle our horses I left some of the crowd
(who unfortunately were unarmed) with the pris
oners and went into the house to pay off the bill,
when I heard the alarm that one of the men was
gone. Gardner had slipped on his horse, (the
identical mare Ilickell wanted to sell me,) and
lashing her with his spurs had gotten two huudred
and fifty yards before I started. He seting that I
was gaining on him, and the road having a sud
den bend, when he got out of my sight jumped
off, and when I got to the bend met the mare
coming with all power back. I run about one
hundred yards and there lay the saddle, but I-
could not tell which side of the road be had gone,
l'or the chinqnepin bushes were about eight feet
high, and I could not see nor hear him. I then
told Councilman that as I did not consider him a3
guilty as Gardner I would release him, hoping thia
would prove beneficial to him, and that he yet
might be a respectable man.
Councilman said that when he went to the sta
ble to take out the gray mare a guilty conscience
made him weep and his feelings were past expres
sion. That his parents who lived within four
miles of Washington City had doue their duty by
him, for he had every benefit of schooling, money,
&c. lie was about seventeen years of age, dark
skinned and dark hair. Gardner was red headed
and fair skin, six feet high and about twenty years
old.
Now for Ilickell. They both told me Hickell said
he would rather have the bay mare I was then
ridinj-than any na? he had seen in N. C: that
they went to the stable to get her but that a mule
was in her stable instead of her, and as-ked where
she was as they had examined all the stables on
that side of the barn. She was in her own stable
but will let no stranger . come up to her without
snorting, especially at night. There is no doubt
of the guilt of Hickell, and that this bay mare was
for him if they had gotten her. For when I came
back into Iredell County we met a cavalryman,
known by Capt. Totts, who told us that he had
met one of my crowd on Monday morning stating
that I was after the thiefs and that the gray mare
was lame and likely to break down and. that he
was to pick her up for me. My first impression
was that it was my son, but on inquiry, I found it
to be Hickell. He was riding a 'small chestnut
sorrel mare had on an English blanket, would
weigh "about one. hundred and forty pounds, dark
hair, heavy heard and eyebrows and extremely long
lashes with a down look, and in conversation uses
the expression "I guess as how." He was waiting
for them to bring the horses, but they slipped
through his fingers and bad gotten ahead of him.
I have no doubt he is a regular horse thief, for
Gardner confessed that tho gray mare did not be
long to Ilickell, but that be wanted to sell .ier to
me, and then the owner would come and claim
her. I asked him why they bore'down so hard on
me; his answer was, that I had good stock, that
they knew how to get it, and that I was able to
afford it. Poor consolation. My gray mare wag
lame when stolen and in foal, and from the condi
tion in which I found her she must have lost the
-colt the second night. She is badlv iniured.
This detail is of protracted length but could not
be otherwise in order to bring to light the whole
circumstance. I trust it will not worry your good
readers. Yours, JOHN M. POTTS.
Steel Creek, Mecklenburg Co., N. C.
Salisbury Watchman is requested to copy.
SAVE YOUR CONFEDERATE MONEY.
We think that the period of superabundance of
Treasury notes is near its close. The amount in
circulation is to be limited to one hundred and
fifty millions, instead of five hundred millions, as
was not long ago; and that hundred and fifty
millions is to serve not only the purposes of trade
but the requirements of the people to pay the
enormous taxes which Congress is about to levy.
It is said those taxes-will hereafter amount to seven
hundred millions of dollars a year that is, the
full amounts annually required to support the gov
ernment in the prosecution of the war, until the
yankees shall be willing to make peace. It would
be unwise, of course, and even unjust, to throw all
the burden of this upon the Present, if any part
of it could be postponed to the Future; but that
cannot be, for the people do not buy the govern
ment bonds to any considerable extent, and it
would not only be useless but absolutely injurious
to isue more Treasury notes. The government
has but three modes by which to provide means:
the issue of Treasury notes, the sale of bonds, and
the collection of taxes. The two first having been
exhausted, the third only remains. The taxes will
be high, very high. But, as heretofore, the peo
ple rill pay them cheerfully. They are the price
of Liberty; end it is better to pay that price than
to allow the yankecs to take all'and to take our
liberty along with that all.
What we de sire particularly to impress upon our
readers now, is the fact, that it will take the whole
amount in circulation, four times each year, to pay
seven hundred millions'of dollars of taxes. Proba
bly a large portion will be made payable in kind,
and not in money; but still there will be so much
remaining to be paid in money as to create a use
for all the Treasury notes that most people cat
command. What will be the consequences? An
inevitable scarcity of currency, its certain appre
ciation, and an equally certaiu depreciation of the
val ues of all other thiogs. Those who have been
scattering their treasury notes as if they were little
better than so much waste paper, and thereby
damaging the cause of their country, will have
abundant opportunity and leisure to repent of their
folly and want of patriotism. Fayeltecille Ob
server. Forrest at his OLii Tiucks. Forrest's cav
alry, on the 27th ult., says a private letter in the
Mobile Register, pitched into the Yankee cavalry
north of the Tennessee, whipping them badly,
capturing some artillery, several stands of colors'
and some prisoners, between 1200 and 1700, and
driving them back to within 17 niiles-of Nashville.
Death of a Very Old Negro. A very old
negro woman, Charlotte, recently died in Davidson
county, N. C She had reached the venerable ape
of one hundred and twenty-five years. A longevi
ty that very few attain in these degenerate times.
She was the property of M. O. Pendleton, and was
long a faithful servant in that family. Salisbury
Watchman.
The Mobile Herald says the meat crop of Ala
bama, and that part of Mississippi not over-run by
the enemy, is very largo.
REPORT. OF THE PEACE COMMIS-
SIONERS
The following message and correspondence was
laid before Congress on Monday morning the 6th
instant: - , ,
Executive Office, Richmond, Feb. 6.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
ihe Confederate States -
Having recently received written notification
which satisfied me that the President of the United
States was disposed to confer informally with un
official agents that might be sent by me, with a
view to the restoration of peace, I requested the
Hon. A. H. Stephens, Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, and
Hon. John A. Campbell to proceed through our
lines and to hold a conference with Mr Lincoln or
such persons as he might depute to represent him.
I herewith submit for' the information of Con
gress the report of the eminent citizens above
named, showing that the enemy refused to enter
i into negotiations with the Confederate States, or
any one of them separately, or give to our people
any other terms or guarantee than those which the
conqueror may grant, or permit us to have peace oc
any other basis than our unconditional -submission
to their rule, coupled with the acceptance of their
1 recent legislation, including an amend:uent to the
constitution for the, emancipation of all negro
slaves, and with the right on the part of the Fed
eral Congress to legislate on the subject of the re
lations between the white and black population
of each State Such is, as I understand, the effect
of the amendment to the Constitution which has
been adopted by the Congress of the United States.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Ricumond, Feb. 5, 1805.
To the President of the Confederate States : -
Sir : Under your letter of appointment of
the 28th ultiuo,we proceeded to seek an "infor
mal conference" with Abraham Lincoln, Pre
sident of the United States, upon the subject
mentioned in the letter. The conference was
granted and took place on the 80th ult., on board a
steamer anchored in Hampton Rbads, where we
met President Lincoln and Hon. Mr. Seward, Sec
retary ot State of the United States. It continued
for several hours and was both full and explicit.
We learned from them that the message of Presi
dent Lincoln to Congress in December last, ex
plains clearly his sentiments as to terms, conditions,
and method of proceeding by which peace can be
secured to the people, and we were not informed
that they would be modified or altered to obtain
that end. We understood from him that no terms
or proposals of " any treaty, or agreement, looking
to an ultimate settlement would be entertained or
made by him with the authorities of the Confed
erate States, because that would be a recognition
of their existence as a separate po'ver, which under
ho circumstances would be done; and, for like
reasons, that no such terms would be entertained
by him from States separately; that no extended
truce or armistice, as at present advised, would be
granted or allowed, without satisfactory assurances1" UVU1-" Pul1 i
fn advance of the complete restoration of the au- fideracJ 1 the idst of t
thoritv of the constitution and laws of the United ?f one of . P01Dts LlD
States, over all places within the States of the Con
federacy; that whatever consequences may follow
frm the rc-establishment, that authority must be
accepted; but that individuals subject to pains and
penalties under the laws of the United States
might rely upon a very liberal use of the power
confided to him to remit those pains and penalties,
if peace be restored
During the conference the proposed amendments
to the Constitution of the United States, adopted
by Congress, 31st ult., were brought to our notice.
These amendments provide that neither slavery or
involuntary servitude, except for crime, should
exist within the United States, or any place within
their jurisdiction, and that Congress should have
the power to enforce the amendment by appropriate
legislation.
Of all correspondence that preceded the con
ference herein mentioned and leading to the same,
you have heretofore been informed.
Very respectfully, your obd't serv'ts,
A. H. STEPHENS,
R. M. T. HUNTER,
JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
From Richmond. -Richmond,
Feb. 6. Our
Com mission era wtre not allowed to
at Fortress Monroe. At 9 o'clock,
leave the boat
Friday morn-
ing, Lincoln and Seward met them on board.
The interview lasted nearly three hours, resulting,
as stated in yesterday's telegrams.
In the course of conversation,' Lincoln stated
that Blair's Vi.sit to Richmond, so far as it con
templated any arrangement of peace, was without
his approval. Lincoln and Seward both inciden
tally admitted the probability of a complication of
foreign affairs, but professed to be able to suppress
the rebellion in time to meet them. .
They were very courteous to the Commissioners.
Lincoln related several anecdotes.
Of the return of the commissioners to Rich
mond the Examiner says:
Messrs. A. H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter and
J. A. Campbell, so called "CoinmissjOners," re
turned yesterday to this, city, having proceeded no
farther than Fortress Monroe, where theyhad a
conference of five hours with Abraham Lincoln
and his Secretary of State, William II. Seward.
They bring back intelligence tuch as we have ad
vised our readers for some days past to expect.
When the Commissioners, passed into Gen.
Grant's lines they were entertained at his head
quarters with great distinction, and appear to have
been favorably impressed by the attentions shown
them by General and Mrs. Grant the wife of the
Yankee commander beiug present on the occasion.
The next day Gen. Grant-telegraphed to Presideut
Lincoln that the gentlemen named were at his
headquarters on thfei? way to Washington "Mr
Seward replied by telegraph that he (Seward)
would meet them at Fortress Monroe. Mr Ste
phens then telegraphed that the Commissioners,
while quite willing to meet there with Seward, de
sired aUo to see the President. It appears that,
in pursuance of this request, Mr Lincoln came
down in a special boat the day after Mr Seward
had taken . his departure for Fortress Monroe.
The Commissioneis were, not allowed to leave
their boat when it arrived at Fortress Monroe, and
at nine o'clock, Friday morning, Lincoln and Se
ward met them on board the boat, which they
were not permitted at any time to quit. The in
terview lasted until half-past two o'clock.
Its mo?t important substance is briefly stated.
Mr Lincoln personally stated to the commissioners
that he was anxious to have peace; but that, as a
necessary preface to any arrangement to that end,
the Southern States jnust lay down their arms,
come baek into the Union .and agree to submit to
the Constitution and the laws as thev are. Mr
Lincoln, in a subsequent conversation, suggested
for himself (a suggestion iq which it Was noticed
Mr Seward did not express a concurrence) that he
might be in favor of modifying seme of tiiese mea
sures supplementary to the Constitution to which
the South was required to submit; but that such
modification .was within the control of Congress,
and subject to its discretion.
The Commissioners replied eubstantiallly, that
the proposition was not debatable, and that they
could not enter upon .its discussion.
Some reference having been - made to the "mis
sion" of Blair, Mr Lincoln very distinctly stated
that the visit of this individual to Richmond, so
far as it con temp late"d any arrangement of a peace,
wa? entirely unendorsed by him, and was without
his approval.
- These arcthe well ascertained points of all that
was important in this conference touching the
question of peace; and we understand that Lincoln
and Seward, who were so far from being personal
ly offensive to the Commissioners, that they treat
ed them to several bottles of champagne, were yet
very firm and immovable in the announcement
of. the terms on which they would receive the
submission, of the South, as preliminay to the set
tlement of inferior and collateral issues in a treaty
of peace.
In some general conversation which ensued,
Lincoln and Seward were both understood to ad
mit that they looked to some future complications
in their foreign" relations and more so with -England
than with France; but that they were well
satisfied that they could dispose of "the rebellion"
in time 'to take care of their interests in Europe.
Both Lincoln and Seward are described" hav
ing been, personally, very pleasant in their conver
sation with the Commissioners. Mr Lineoln told
several anecdotes very much, as the Commission
ers though't to Seward's annoyance, who sought to
interrupt him whenever he broke out of the limits
of serious conversation, with "this reminds me of
a little story." In parting, Seward shook hands
with Hunter "with effusion." : He said "God
bless you Hunter," and asked to be remembered
to all of his "old friends in the South."
It is said that as soon as this visit to Fortress
Monroe is properly announced, Mr Stephens will
-return to Georgia and canvass the State for a most
vigorous prosecution of the war. He stated yes
terday to a frirnd thatthe only hope now left for
the people of the South wag "in long arms and
stout hearts."
. --- . ,
NORTHERN ITEMS.'
New Yoik papers of the Gth contain voluminous
telegrams from Washington relative to the result
of the conference at Fortress Monroe. A special
to the Times says Lincoln informed the Commis
sioners at every point that recognition was utterly
out of the question; that the United States, could
stop the war ouly on conditions precedent that the
authority of the national government should be
recognized and obeyed over the whole territory of
the United States. This point conceded, he as
sured them that upon every other matter of dif
ference, they would be treated with the utmost
liberality. Another telegram says Stephens was
the most liberal of the rebel deputation. His
theory was, if we would but treat with them as an
independent nation, that such an agreement could
be had as would practically unite the North and
South. A special to the Tribune says Stephens
surpassed all his old exhibitions of shrewdness,
foroe and talent in putting the demand of the Con-
bcm. At the conclusion
coin swung forward and
interrupted him, saying, '-that remjods me of the
story of a man in Illinois." The Gommissioners
immediately jumped up in a roar of merriment,
after the" story was through, when Stephens re
sumed and pursued to the end his statement of
terms on which he thought the rebels would be
williug to stop the war. He proposed and urged
his crafty scheme of temporary recognition; but on
recognition, absolutely temporary) the three com
missioners stood like rocks.
The Yankee papers announce, with considerable
ecstacy, that J. S.' Rock, a negro lawyer'of Massa
chusetts, has been admitted to practice in the Su
preme Court of the United States, on the motion
of Hon. Charles Sumner.
Northern papers of the 8th admit considerable
loss in the battle of Hatcher's Run, but claim that
the Confederate loss was heavier. The object of
the movement is not developed.
Foote arrived in New York on Tuesday, still in
custody. His destination is reported to be a mili
tary prison. JLle refuses to take the oath, and ex
presses a desire to emigrate to Sonora.
Harry Gilmore was captured recently near
Moorefields.
The Emperor of Brazil has issued a decree ex
cluding the Shenandoah from ports in the Empire.
Seward's answer in the case of the Florida had not
been received.
" Busby, the Lake Erie raider, has been surren
dered to the United States, by Canada.
New York and Pennsylvania both have commis
sioners at Washington to protest against their heavy
share of the draft.
It is averred that the late fires at Savannah were
the work of emissaries of the rebel Government.
The latest Federal .despatches from Fort Fisher
say : .
"By the blowing up of Fort Caswell the rebels
completely destroyed the river face of that strong
work. All the guns in it were' spiked and their
carriages destroyed. At SmithviUe, a small place
on the West side of Cape Fear River, and ten
miles below Fort Fisher, the Union forces, on oc
cupying it, secured large supplies of commissary
stores, tobacco and other valuable property. The
rebels had planted torpedoes in and around nearly
all the forts. Geueral Granhas recently been on a
visit to Fort Fisher."
.
Fire in AsheviIiLE. On Saturday morning,
28th ult , about 9 o'clock, the Court House in
this town was discovered to be" en fire, near the
top; and vry soon the cupola and entire roof"vere
enveloped in flames. From the nature of the
case it was impossible to do anything to arrest the
rrozress of the fire and sr.ve the building. The
wind was blowing a perfect hurricane, and to all
human appearance, it was impossible to .save the
town from a general conflagration; coals being car
ried by the wind and kindled into a flame at a dis
tance of five or hundred yards. Buf desperate
as was the case, citizens, soldiers and negroes nerv
ed themselves for the conflict with the devouring
element, and by almost superhuman efforts, blessed
by Providence, not a' building was burnt except
the Court House.
Of the Court House itself not a vestige remains
but the bare and gloomy looking walls. But by
far the most severe loss to the county was the de
struction of the Records and 'public papers of every
description which have been accumulating since
the formation of the county. -
One of the rooms wa3 occupied as a Post Office,
where all was destroyed, mail matter, "mail bags,
office furniture, &e. Another room was occupied
as a Mayor's office, and all the contents consumed.
Asheville Newt.
Beg- We regret to learn that the dwelling of
David Barlow Esq., of this County, was consumed
by fire last night. We understand that Mr Bar
low saved very little of his furniture, losing nearly
everything in. the House wkh it. Cause of the
fire accidental. Tarboro Southerner.
Gen. Winder died suddenly Monday evening,!
nrn insr nr inn ott be h inronna f : r-i a nam i
- - i
been, in .charge of prisoners for some time past.
FIGHTING NEAR PETERSBURG-' .
' Petersburg, Feb. 7. There was heavy fight
ing on our right, yesterday and to-day, which re
sulted favorably to our arms. During a recon
noisance made by Gen. Pegram beyond Hatcher's
Rub, yesterday, the enemy attacked and forced
hb division back some distance. ' He was rein
forced by General Gordon's division, when in turn
the nemy was forced back. A second 'time the
enemy, being reinforced by a corps, attacked and
drove our men until being strengthened by Ma
hone's division, commanded by General Finncgan,
a grand charge was made by the three divisions,
and the enemy's line brokeu. A running fight
was kept up until after dark, when the Yankees
took shelter in their new works on Hatcher's Run,
from which they were not driven.
General John Pegram was killed. Many of the
enemy were killed and wounded. But few taken
prisoners. Our loss several hundred.
This morning the enemy advanced upon and
charged our lines south of Burgess' mill, but were
handsomely repulsed. In a charge upon ihe
enemy General Serrell, of Georgia, was painfully
wounded.
GEN. LEE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
Headquarters A. N. V., Feb. C.
- General Conjer : The enemy moved in strong
force yesterday to .Hatcher's Run,' part of his ii
fantry with Greggs cavalry crossed and proceeded'
on the Vaughn road the infantry to Cattail creek,
the Cavalry to Dinwiddie C. II. where its advanced
guard encountered a portion of our cavalry, and
retired in the afternoon. Parts of Hill's and Gor
don's troops demonstrated against the enemy on
the left of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong's mills,
finding him entrenched they withdrew after dark.-
During the night the force that had advanced, be
yond the creek returned to it and were reported to
be recrossing this
Pecram's division
moved down to the ri"ht bank of the creek to re
connoitre, when' it was vigorously attacked. The
battle was obstinately contested for several hours,
but General Pegram being killed, while bravely
encouraging bis men, and Col. Hopkins wounded,
some confusion occurred and the division was)
pressed back to its original position. Evans'
division, ordered by General Gordon to the sup
port of General Pegram's, charged the enemy and
forced him back, but in turn was compelled to re
tire. Mahone's division arriving, the enemy was
driven rapidly to his defences, on Hatcher's Run.
Our loss is reported small; that of the enemy is
not supposed to be great.
R. E Lee, General
Petersburg, Feb. 8. No fighting to-day. The
enemy still maintains his position on Hatcher's
Run. . His Hues have thereby been extended but
not advanced.
General 'TSerrel was ' wounded in the lungj, but
it not considered mortal. Cox and Houston, of
Virginia, were killed in the fight oFMonday. Our
loss will not reach five hundred. The enemy's
loss is estimated a third larger. The dead have all
been buried, and the wounded brought from the
field.
The Richmond Dispatch says : Brigadier Gen
eral Pegram, who fell so nobly at the head of his
meffon Monday, was from Richmond. He bad
been in the army since the opening of the war,
and had borne a distinguished part in many hard
fought fields. He was a man of the most unflinch
ing gallantry and a high order of intellect. Gen.
Pegram had been married not two weeks at the
time of his untimely death.
Among the casualties that we have, as yet heard
of, are : Captain Floyd, Finncgan's brigade, and
private George A. Spence, Twelfth Virginia regi
ment, killed; Colonel Scott, Finncgan's brigade,
and Capt. Young, of Gen. MeRae's staff, severely
wounded.
A number of private and army wagons and teams
were picked up by the enemy on the various roads,
which they occupied on Sunday, between the
Weldon railroad and Dinwiddie Courthouse.
Several fine teams, belonging to General Bushrod
Johnson's division, were captured while starting on
a foraging expedition towards Weldon.
Prisoners and deserters report Grant's object was
to get possession of some wood land on the Vaughan
road, fuel having become very scarce within his
lines. - "
From the Virginia Valley. General Lee
reports a recent affair in the Valley as reflecting
great credit upon the officers and men engaged.
About eighty of the enemy surprised our cavalry
picket at Edinhug and captured a lieutenant and
fourteen nifrtie Oaptain Grandstafl and Lieutenant
Mohler, witfeHwenty men of the Twelfth Virginia
cavalry, pursued and overtook them at Woodstock,
attacked and routed the party, recapturing our men
and their officer, and taking sixteen of the enemy,
with twenty horses.
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Sherman's Movements.
On Friday afiernoon the 3d inst., the enemy
crossed the Salkehatchie between. Broxton's and
River's Bridges, also above the River Bridge,
completely outflanking our forces and compelling
theui to retire on Branchville.
A sharp flght, lusting several hours, took place
at River's Bridge. General Whee!erkept the
enemy in check and made considerable havoc
among them in. the fight. We have no details or
particulars as to the respective losses on either
side, but that of the enemy is known to have been
heavy: Our troops ftll baek to the second, line of
defences.
A number of prisoners were brought in Satur
day and Sunday. They report that Sherman
would make an attempt to cut the road at Midway.
Charleston Courier, Gth.
Charleston, Feb. 8. A dispatch from General
Wheeler, dated Holmes' Bridge, Feb. 7th, 8:30,
says the pickets near Blackville were this morning
charged by three brigades of cavalry, which drove
them beyond the village. Dibbrell's Tennessee
brigade being in the vicinity, tatX and charged the
enemy and drove them back into the village. A
dispatch from Branchville, this morning, 6ays the
enemy, have made their appearance, along the
South Carolina railroad, beyond the Edisto. They
burned a house within a mile and a half of the.
railroad bridge, about 7 o'clock yesterday evening.
Our troops were withdrawn to this side of the
railroad bridge, and the bridge burned.
A dispatch from General Wheeler, dated 3 p.
m , 8tb, says a large column of the enemy's infan
try struck the railroad at Grahamville, and one
was moving to strike between Grahamville and
Blackville. Kilpatrick is at Blackville with three
brigades..
" " NOTICE. '
I positively forbid all persona from hunting od my
land. I can n longer bear the depredations that have
been commilted on my premises,
a. a. Alexander.
January 9, 1865. lm-pd .
' ' . Wm. F. Davidson,
. TTnDTV AT T AW f!TT ATtT.OTTE. N. C.
Gil resume the practice ethnw in the. Courts of
-a Pfir pnnn rcr rn ii ri i v . biiu p jw s.a. -v
. '
of claims, Ac.
January 9, 1 866
4t
ANOTHER: HOME GUARD LAW.
- Tu following J, the last law pased by the Legisla
ture, atita late senlon, in reeard to the Hoae GnrJ
tWe cannot see that it improvee the matter any.
AnrAit'Z mmiJ Entitled "n Act to Incrta; tk,
Jicenty of the Ilotne Guard Organization.''
Sec. 1. Be it e.acted by the General A.semblv of ibe
State of horlh Carolina, and it is hereby enacted b the
authority of the tame, Thatthe Governor, whenever
be deems it expedient, inny re-organize the Goard for
florae Defence, by riMising two or more companies to
be consolidated into one, eo aj to make uat less' than
sixty-four men rank and file to each company Pro
vided, however, that if there arc not aijty Home Guard
to. nay
nuj wuo cuuuiy, iusi euca nuruocr as may be shall
incorporated into a company; the said companies-
ui iuwirwruiutu company; me saiu companies
when so consolidated, shall bare the privilege of elect
ing their company officer from tbe rank and file of
said companies, and saeh officers at shall not be elected
for service in said company shall be required to aer
form service as non-conimiasiooed otSeers or private
under the same rules, and relations as other non
commissioned officers and privates are required to serve
and whila so serving their commissions shall be sail
pended.
Sec. 2. Beit further enacted, That the Governor
may in like manner cause two or more battalions or
regiments of Home Guarda to be consolidated; said
battalions when so consolidated to be composed of not
let; s than three companies, and said regiments when so
consolidated, of not mere than ten companies; That
the rank and file shall elect their field officers, and all
field officers who shall not be elected, their commis
sions shall be suspended; and they be required lo per
form duty in the ranks us non-commissioned ofiicrrr.
and privates.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That in additioa to
ihe exemptions mentioned in the second section of an
act in relation to the Militia an 3 Guard for Home De
fence, ratified 7th July, 1863, there shall be exempted
one commissioner to each county, appited under an
act entUlet'iu act for the relier of wives and families
of soldiers in the army;" the Attorney General, Solici
tors for the several circuits and counties, County Trus
tees, County Surveyors, Pybsicians of -five years
practice, one Editor to a newspaper and necessary
Compositors and employees to be certified to on oath
by .the editor, Mail Carriers, Professors in Colleges and
Teachers who at tbe passage of thisct had, and shall
continue to have twenty scholars, the necessary skilled
Operatives in Factories and Foundry's, regular public"
Milltrs, and Black Smiths, and Wheel Wrights who
have, established shops, regular public Tanners, and
Shoe Makers, and one overseer of the poor of each
county ; Provided all tbe tradesmen thus exempted
shall be skilled in their respective trades, and were
employed in llio same prior to tbe first of January,
1864, and have continued to be so employed since that
time, except public Millers, who shall be exempt when
ever they are so engaged, unless it shall appear that
owners of Mills have turned off their Millers and gun
in themselves to evade the service, then such owners
not to be exempt; Provided that tbe exemptions in this
act shall not apply fo Home Guard officers commission
ed uude'r this act, but shall apply to officers of tbe
Hume Guard and Militia who are required under this
act to serve in the ranks and who would be entitled
to exemption if they did not hold commissions; and
Provided further that no provision of this act shall be
construed so as to exempt tin person herein mention
ed from Home Guatd d'.ty in the county in which he
resides.
Sec. 4.. Beit furtbox enacted, That-all laws and
clauses of laws con ing in conflict with this act, be and
the same are hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. Be it further enactedTbat this act shall be
in force from and after its ratification.'
Read three timc3 and ratified in General Assembly
this the 7th doy of Feb. A. D..18C5.
PROVISION AND COMMISSION HOUSE,
Orrosin mi Maksiok IIoisk, ' SraiKCs' Bciiimsu,
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Will attend -punctually to buying end selling
Tobacco, Cotton, Nails,
Iron, Cotton Yarn, Domestics.
Specie, Bank Bills, Bonds,
Stocks, Ac , Jcc.
Permit me to say to mjr immediate fellow-citizens
that I have been raised among you, my habits and way
of doing business are well known to you, and from a
long experience in busiuess I hope to share a liberal
patronage.
I am prepared to store Tobacco. Sugar, Salt, Cotton
Yarn?, ic.
Rooms opposite tbe Mansion House in Springs' brick
building.
Business hoars from 9 o'dock a. ra., to 3 o'clock p. m.
References. Col-L S Williams, Capt. John Wilkes,
John M Springs, II B Williams. Messrs Young, Wristoa
fc Orr, James II Carson, President Branch Bank, J J
Blackwood, President Bank of Charlotte, Rev. Geo M.
Everhart, Rev. R II Griffith, Charlotte; Hon. D M
Barringcr, Charles Dewey President State Bank N C,
Raleigh; Johu A Everett, Goldsboro; J J Lawsoa
President Bank of Yancey ville, N C ; Rev. Thomas
nurae, Petersburg, Va. ; L D Childs, Colombia, S C.
Jan 16, 1865 tf
"wanted,
AT BOYD'S PROVISION & COMMISSION
STORE, Charlotte, N. C ,
LBS. PORK ; 600 LBS. LARD;
300 lbs. Tallow ;
Corn, Meal, Flour, Sorghum Sirup,
20 Bales Cotton in good shipping condition,
2000 Lbs Green and Dry Hide,
$5000 in North Carolina Bank Bills.
January Itf, 1805. 3t W. BOTD.
"GAItttETT OA VIS."
This well-known Horse will serve tbe public daring
the ensuing season, commencing the first of March.
IIa will lnn.l At mT t!M in Charlntte. and DP TfOnS
bringing their Mares to town can be accommodated at
any time.
Terms One hundred dollars for the use of tbe Horse
during the season, and $10 to the groom in all coses
to be paid in advance. Provisions at market prices
will be received in paymeat.
R RACE.,
Jaw. 23, 18C5. tf
A FEW COPIES
Of the Sermon on the death of Rev. R. II. LatTerly
late pastor of the Church of Sugar Creek, delivered by
Rev. II. B. Cunningham, D. D., for sale at the
Jan 16, 1865 . BOOK STORK;
ACAOEIttV,
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, if. C.
The tindrrstgncd, a Graduate of the South Carolia
College, hereby respectfully informs tbe public that be
has opened an Academy, for the reception of pupils,
six miles below Charlotte, convenient to the C. A S. C.
Railroad, in a pleasant and healthy locality. Having
been regularly engaged in teaching for tbe last ten or
twelve years, ht hopes to be able to give satisfaction
to those who may favor him with their patronage. ,
Tuition, per Settion of Twenty Wttli :
Elementary Branches, $C0 00
Higher Eugli-n Uranehes, 100 00
Classics, . ' 150 00
For further information in refereaee to Board, e.,
address the undersigned at Charlotte, S. C.
J. T. CACTUE.V.
January 0, 1865. 3mpd '
CARRIAGE WORK,
Wagon-work and Wood-work of all
kinds', and Blacksmlthlng.
The subscriber Lai removed bis Workshops to the
stand formerly occupied by Charles Overman, near the
Presbyterian Church, where be is prepared to do all
kinds of work in bis line. Repairing will always re
ceive prompt attention.
tgf He will work at old prices and take provisions
in payment at the same rates, or be will charge a
aonivalent In Confederatt money.
q0' CHARLES WIL80N.
Cbaslotte, Jan. J; 18C5 tf