North Carolina Newspapers

I ; It - . . v. '4 5 if I Hi 5'M Wan? ZLSTewS. Charleston. Feb. 13. A Yankee picket who was captured on Wednesday evening by oar scouts oa Hilton Head Island, confirms the intelligence of an impending attack on Charleston. He tbioks it will be maae in auout a lunuui. JB-C1. Wm. II. Thomas, with 200 Cherokee j Indians from his Legion, is in the mountains of ; Madison county. If the tories of that region can j escape Col. Thomas and his red skins they will be j very smart. AsheciUi News. j From Tjsknessee Major Austen, of Mor- j gan a cngaao, on me ia instant, uajnuicu iw .loctf-ntrw) n wnarnn train mi the Pike between Laveriue and Nashville. He also captured a j number of prisouers, iocludiug a Captain and a ; Quartermaster. i Fkoj MlDDLT TKNNE8SEE.The Winchester ' ' (Tenn.) Bulletin, of Sunday, furnishes some items j ox interest trom uen. xJonntion s comnianu : j On Friday evening the enemy made an unsuc- j ecasful attempt to odvanee with another foraging ! party in force. Our infantry were ordered eight i miles to the front to support the cavalry, and 'tis thought that we had repulsed them with conside rable loss on their part. Twelve prisoners taken a few days since, stated they were nearly starved. 'The first thing they asked for was something to cat. ' Eighty of Woolford's men deserted from the Yankee army and joined us a few days tincc. Port Hudson, Feb. 10. Information has just reached us through our pickets that a portion of Gen. Sibley's command encountered the enemy at Indian Village, totally routing him after a se vere fight. The enemy admits a loss of one thou sand in killed, wounded and missing. Outrages in the Valley. A letter receiv--ed by a member of the General Assembly says that in the county of Frederick, the Abolitionists, under Milroy, have established a reign of terror. In one instance they met a citizen and robbed him of 875; from others horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, grain, hay, &c, have been taken; some private citizeus arreated and carried to camp Chase, and ethers to Washington city. Dwelling houses are threatened with conflagration, and the utmost alarm and uneasiness is felt throughout that sec tion of tho State. Our forces in the valley are considered ample, for its protection if they will -only stir themselves. Richmond Enquirer. Skirmish on the Rattan an nock. On Friday of last week, there was a pretty severe skirmish at the Rappahannock Bridge, between a body of the enemy who had heen sent to destroy the bridge and a detachment of Hampton's Cavalry. The enemy had partly succeeded in accomplishing their purpose when our men came upon themt and a brisk fi;ht drove them off, with the loss of four killed, eighteen or twenty wounded, and thirteen prisoners. Our loss, one killed, Bevcn wounded and two missing. The bridge wn net a very substantial one, and can .easily bo repaired in a few days. From Newbebn, N. C. Movement of the Enemy &c. A deserter from the Yankee Army cays that Gen. Foster has left Beaufort harbor with the iron-clads and transport Fleet with 25,000 or 45,000 men, and fiom what he the (deserter) could learn before leaving the enemy's lines, Fo&lcr with his command had passed Wilmington and part of the fleet had gone into Port Royal, 8. C. He thinks Charleston, Savan nah, or Mobile is to be attacked, but also advises that a watch be kept on Wilmington. The deserter says that there are 8,000 or 10,000 troops in and aruund Newbern, and that either Spinola or Hunt are in command. Gen. Wesscl's brigade is there, nnd be asserts that the wholy brigade laid down their arms a week ago. lie nays that Captain Whitford caused a great excitement in Newbern on Friday last by attacking tho 92ud New York regimen Mt Barrington's Ferry, opposite Newbern. lie ran their pickets in and killed three and woui'ded five, without any loss to his own men. The ninety-second took ro their heels and to their gun-boats. The fright was so great that another regiment was sent over to reinforce the 92nd at Bairington'a Ferry, on the North side of the Niuse. Capt. Whitford and his band are tut aud we shall hear from them again soon. .Cfirreepondent of the Raleijh Progrett. NOETIIEKN ITEMS". In tha Yankee Senate, on the 7th inst., Mr Turner, cf Indiana, and Richardson of Illinois, made strong North-western anti abolition speeches. The former characterized Lincoln as a tyrant and said he would have no subjects West of the Allechanies. The Yankee papers accu.-c iJen. Hooker of drunkenness. At a meeting in New York on the 8th, at which Gen. Scott presided, General Burnside tnado a peech, plainly intimating demoralization of the Yankee army. Ho predicted several important battles soon, and counselled support of Lincoln. Vallandigham has consented to be a candidate forGovcrnor of Ohio. Wo suppose he will be elected. He will certainly test the opinions ol the people of the State in relation to the war. Indianapolis dispatches say Federal deserters are making forcible resistance lo arrest?. The greatest excitement prevails in eonsequence. Tue Latest Abolition Idea. Chaplain John Ferry, of tho Rhode. Island artillery rcgi jnent. addressed a meeting of negroes a few nights since, in which he told them that if they would enlist as volunteers and conquer the South, they should settle it and send representatives to Con gress. Neto York World. The Kentucky Legislature has ordered out 20, 000 troops under the Military Board to resist the .enforcement of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclama lion. (Doubtful and not believed ) IiATTS FROM EUROPE. The Steamship Hausa reached New York on the 8th, with English dates to the 22nd January. The news is not important. A p.ublio meeting in Liverpool endorsed Lincoln's emancipation policy and proposed to take the sense of the British nation on the war in America. in a juespaten to liOra itusseii irom tne jsntisn j jjkagq and 111s Generals. We learn from ' Consul in Chailcston, he says the cotton in the 1 an unquestionable source, that on the arrival of Spulh amounts to 4,250,000 bales. The Consul ' Gen. Bragg at Tullahoma, he addressed a circular at Savannah says 3,500,000. j letter to bis Generals, in which he desired to know ; The Letter of Droayn do 1Uuys to Count! if there was any foundation for the rumor prevail Mercier, French Minister at Washington, dated j ing, that there was dissatisfaction and a want of jMovemoer lotto, expressed regret at the refusal , confidence in bim, existing in the army. All the of Great Britain and Russia to unite with Frauce j Geuerals with the exception of Withers and injDvertures for mediation in American Affairs, i Cheatham replied in the affirmative, statinl thar lie sayB ne wiu -rsiuro use mem to a passive t sucn was tne case, ana mat it would be to the attitude, from which we would never have departed j interest of the service if Gen. Bragg would ask to had we remained indifferent to the present evils be relieved. and fatal consequences of an endless continuation It is further stated that none but Generals Polk, of a devastating war." , He closes by saving "we Withers aud Cheatham concurred in the proposi 4esire the Cabinet of Washington to discern, in tion to retreat from Murfreesboro', all the other ;all that has just passed, proof that it will find us1 Generals not only being oppossed to it, but the Always disposed to lend it, if it could desire it, at majority of them were not even consulted on this come future time the assistance we should have point. General Withers in his statement iu this heen happy to have seen accepted at the present regard was therefore entirely mistaken. Charles time for the interest of peace and conciliation'': j ton Courier. 7 ' . ' . N. C. LEGISLATURE. ; ; v In the Senate, on Monday, Feb. 9th, a bill au thorizing the Governor to call rout the Militia when necessary so to do, passed fita several read ings Also, a bill to incorporates the Shelby , and ; Broad River Railroad company passed its several ) readings. I a oromrit nil men over fortv-five vears ofa,re fruul U1ilitia duty, discussed by Mr Jones jn favor of its passage and Messrs. 3J urrill and Oarraway iu opposition, passed, reijorr of the committee of Conference on salaries and fees was read, (gives the Governor $5000, and principal clerk of Treasurer S1500.) Adfirited. The bill increasing tne salaries oi me cier.s in the Adjutant General's office to 31000 per annum. Paascd its sevcial readings. In the House Mr Logan introduced a bill to coniDei frce Dersous of color, between the ages of jg aB(j 45 years, to serve in the army as cooks j tiIIi wallets. 'fue amending the ordinance of 1862 t,asseti its several readings, fit enacts that offi- cerg 0f tne annv 8huil testify, on honor, to the citizenship of soldiers on their pay-roll The bill to exempt fifty acres of laud from exe cution was rejected. The bill excluding the time in which the stay law is in force from computation under the statutes of limitations, passed its several readings. The bill to incorporate the North Carolina Iron Manufacturing Company was taken up on motion of Mr Shepherd. It proposed to appropriate 500,000 in State bonds to assist in mining aud manufacturing railroad iron. The money to be advanced on personal security approved by the Governor, aud to be repaid to the Treasury Mr Cowles opposed, and Messrs. Shepherd and Wad dell supported it. The bill was rejected yeas 27, noes 89. On motion of Mr Brown, the vote by which the bill to establish Iron Works for the manufacture of Railroad and other Iron, was rejected, was reconsidered. Mr Shepherd proposed an amend ment to the bill to the effect that an approved bond for one million dollars be filed in the Treasurer's office before any bonds shall be issued. The amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed j its second and third readings. j A bill concerning extortion was amended and passed its second and third readings. A bill to increase the pay of soldiers in the State service was rejected. In the Senate, on Tuesday February 10th, a resolution in favor of A. B. Downes; a resolution in favor of W. W. Grier; a bill to amend an act entitled an act to prohibit the distillation of liquors so ad to give the informer hall of the fine imposed, passed their final readings. A fill to punish aiders and ahetiors of deserters was taken up. Mr Graham thought that these matters belonged legitimately to the Confederate Government, and should not have cognizance in State courts, thereby subjecting the person accused to two indictments for the same offence. Mr Sharp favored the bill, and said that the State courts, in his opinion, were the proper tribunals before whom these cases should be investigated. Mr Warren opposed the bill, and &aid that he wished to vote for no measure that was an endorse ment of the Constitutionality of the Conscription act. The militia could not be put under the articles of war Constitutionally, unless in the actual service of the Confederate States. Mr Euro hoped the bill would pass; thought it a necessary one, and saw no endorsation of the Constitutionality j of the Consciipt act in it. Mr Carraway favored ; the bill. Mr hurc, in the course of his remarks, stated that he did not know but that some of the acts of the Legislature has tended to invite the accumulation of a heavy Federal force on our coast. After a debate in which 3Iessrs Eure, M urrill and Graham participated, the bill was rejected, ayes 12, noes 10. In the House, Resolutions guaranteeing North Carolina's portion of Confederate debt was taken up. Mr Person proposed a substitute. Mr Gris soin said that the Senate had under consideration similar resolutions that had been reported by the Joint Committee to whom they had been referred. He thereore moved to lay them on the table. Carried. Yeas -12, noes 2G. Mr I'lctnoiiug moved to take up a bill to stimu late the production of provisions during the war, and called for the veasand nays. Vote taken and the motion was lost. Yeas 20, naj"s 42. Mr MrCormick introduced by leave, a resolu tion requesting the Governor to correspond with the proper authorities in Richmond requesting that the authority to appoint the boards of Medi cal Examiners for N. C, be vested in the Surgeon j Ucoeral of this State. Concurred in. A bill to change the time of the meeting of the Legislature was rejected. A bill to authorize No tary Public's to administer oaths, passed its seve ral readings. A bill to provide for service of pro cess on the Southern Express Company, parsed its second and third readings. In the Senate, on Wednesday February 11th. Mr Jarvis presented a bill to change the county seat of Macon. Passed its several readings. Tl. a Mil r 4.,- tUr. I.IM., i. jl uu tA., iV 1 iwiijc mi uic void una u iulmi t ui ( iron works for the manufacture of Railroad iro?!,j was indefinitely postponed. In the House, on Wednesday February 11th, ! the Committee on Military Affairs reported a t rcsolulion directing the Adjutant General of this State to correspond with the Adjutant General of Virginia, relative to a number of arms furnished ! irginia by this State. The resolution was agreed tJ. On Thursday the '.2th, nothing of importance was done in the Senate. In the House, Mr Foj aceused Mr McAden, chairman of the committee on the sale of Sute Bonds, of eupprcjsinjr important testimony favor able to Mr Courts' conduct. Mr McAden had made a report censuring the lale Treasurer, Mr Courts, for the manner in which he had sold certain State Bonds, but omitted the evidence of Mr Dewer of Charlotte. Mr j hichardson, clerk of the Treasury, and other peron, i who sustained iir tourir course. line ' conserva- ... wcu iiin 10 get up someming 10 iHSiiiy j their proscription of Mr Courts. ; After parsing resolutions of thanks to the Speakers. 1 rue ' iiira kak tk..;. 1. . j both Houses adjourned. ( WESTERN .DEMOCEAT, CHARLOTTE, , 'A. GALTjAHT peat. . V ; A correspondent of the Fayetteville Observer, writing' from Fredericksburg, Va., says: .;i7l v Among tha many allusions to individual gallant ry, I see but little mention of North Carolinians, who deserve such" compliments to the full extent enjoyed by tbo troops jof any other State, &s the following incident will show. I have not yet heard oTany feat of individual bravery and cool ness more worthv of admiration or indicative of true gallantry and chivalry. During the battle -l or Jbredertcksburjr, Serg t Covington, of the "Pee Dee Guards," 23d N. C. T., and son of Dr. C. C. Covington of Rockingham, became separated from the Regiment and the rest of our army, when, be ing unarmed, he met with two armed yankees, cue of whom immediately leveled his gun at Cov ington, who ordered them to surrender and called out, "Come on boys, here's two more prisoners." At the same instant he seized one yankee'sgun, who surrendered without firing, and then poiuting the gun at the other yankec, he laid down his arms and surrendered also. Covington quickly marched them off to the regiment, first loading them with valuables and provisions, the yankees in the meantime being very inquisitive as to where were the "other boys." Thdy had gone some dis tance before they understood the matter, when they manifested very bitter remorse and self-reproach at their own stupidity and cowardice. Ser't Covington was highly complimented for his gallantry. The same correspondent also communicates the following : Maj. Wharton of Salem, formerly Capt. in 21st Ret. N. C. T., but now commanding the 1st N. C. Battalion in Gen. Hoke's Brigade, was unfor tunately captured by the yankees a few days ago. I have the facts from Gen. R. F. Hoke, who speaks in the highest terms of Maj." Wharton. It seems that Muj. Wharton,' and Serg't Adams of Lincoln county, were in a canoe in a small creek near where it runs into the river, probably in search of ducks. The river was very high which caused more water than usual about the mouth of the creek, and as they had to go some further down to get out, a very stong wind blew them into the channel of the river and with the current finally threw them on the ofiier side, when the yankee pickets immediately took them prisouers and they are still retained. LAW AGAINST EXTORTION. The Legislature of South Carolina, at its late session, passed a law to punjsh extortion, which is thus explained by a correspondent of the Charles ton Courier: The bill punishes the sale of various articles and necessaries of life, by dealers, speculators and manufactures, at exorbitant rates or prices; and their refusal to sell any of said articles at reason able rates or prices, by fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, and-.imprisonmeiit, not exceeding twelve months; and punishes all other persons, in like manner, for selling at exorbitant or unreason able rates or prices, except importers of foreign merchandize, who are exempted from the penalties of the Act for tho sales of such merchandize. The juries are constituted judges of what are ex orbitant rates or prices, and tho Court of Appeals is authorized to review the facts of the case, and to set aside verdicts and order new trials for want of conformity thereto. No postponements of trial are to be allowed at the first trial, except on the affidavit of the absence of a material and necessary wituess, and formal objections to the pleadings are to be disregarded, and the cases to be tried and adjudged according to their merits without regard to form. One half of the fine is to go to the in former, who is made a competent witness; and the other half is to be for the benefit of the Soldiers' Board of Relief, in the District where the convic tion shall take place. Persons wilfully and malici ously giving false information, as the basis of prose cutions under the Act, are made subject to the penalties of the Act. Corporations and corpora tors of incorporated companies, practising; extor tion, are subjected to the penalties of the Act, and when corporations are convicted, in addition to the fine, their charters are subjected to forfeiture, at the discretion of the Court. Mercantile extortion is now an indictable and punishable misdemeanor. The moral effect of this legislation will be great; religous, moral and patri otic men will obey the law for conscience and for country's sake; bad men will be scourged into obe dience by the lash of the law. We may well, then, indulge the hope that the reign of extortion will be soon over, and its high priests will be no lon ger permitted to grind the poor, and impoverish the Government. - Investing in Confkderate Bonds. There seems to be now a great rage for iuvesting in Con federate bonds. Everybody is buying bonds that is, everybody who has the treasury notes wherewith to buy and we hear of a single trans action made a day or two since, by the house of Ilinton & Dunn, which amounted to S0,000. How great the contrast! Here our people are seeking Confederate Government paper. In Lin colndom, everybody is avoiding government paper, and paying enormous prices for every article which will enable them to cet rid of Yankec "promises to pay." This is one of the best signs of the times. Pttcrtbury Express. Raise Wheat and Corn. It is to be hoped that every farmer and planter of the South who has a spark of patriotism will abstain from the cultivation of cotton and tobacco, and give every acre of the soil to the production of Corn, Wheat, Peas, Potatoes, and every description of food for man and beast. Even in a mercenary point of view and it is humiliating that this has become in these times too common a principle of action these productions will pay better than any others. The man who raises cotton and tobacco now, is not only aiming a blow at the independence of his country, but at what, perhaps, he values more, his owa interests. The only enemy we have to fear is the sacrifice of the common good to individunl greed. One more year of self denial, and, in all probability, the South c:vn return to the cultivation of its peculiar staples with safety aud profit. Richmond Dispatch. fiST A correspondent sends ua the following, (says the RichmorAl Enquirer) which he character izes as a "cure for desertion : Laiely a youug soldier, named R f from Ashe county, N. C, slipped off from his Regiment and succeeded in safely making his way home. On reaching the parental roof, his father told him he could not stay there; he must return imme diately to the army of his country, and stand by his noble companions in arms ! upon the youn man asking for only a few days rest, the father replied ua! You must start back in the niornin" and 1 will go with you myself to see that you are again at your post now the only post of honor ! The next morning found them both making their way through tho ragged mountains of Western North Carolina, bound for Richmond. Oh! that we had more such parents. More such citiicns. . . yg , A STRANGE SIGHT. ; " A friend in the Confederate service writes to us as follows: Whether the ' phenomena which he saw were real or the result of some optical illusion, we cannot say. Our readers can judge for them selves. We know the writer and do not believe that he would willingly deceive any one : Kinston, N. C, Feb. 5th, 18G3, "Messes. Fulton & Price. Gentlemen : It has been my privilege along with others, to view one of the most striking phenomena since the days of Constantine. The moon rose cloudless. At a little before 7 o'clock, two bright spots, some twelve degrees in extent were visible, one North and the other South, and immediately thereafter a cross was seen in the heavens, the moon joining the four arms of the cross. About half-past eight o'clock the Northern light went out, but the cross and the spot to the South remained until past ten, when I retired. Can any one tell when the cross has appeared before since the days of Constantine, when the letters I. II. S. accompanied the sign. Yours respectfully, A. B. W. Our friend has forgotten to mention the night when the phenomenon to whieh he refers present ed itself, but we suppose it must have been some time in the first of last week. Can anybody give us any further information on the subject ? Was it actually a cross, clearly defined, or was it one of those fantastic arrangements of the aurora borealis, or of luminous clouds, which suggest almost any form to a livelv imagination? Wit m' ton Journal. Another correspondent says the phenomenon spoken of above was seen on the evening of the 4lh inst. . Next to a vigorous enforcement of the conscrip tion and of the regulations and restrictions con cerning furloughs and absence, it is important that the military and civil authorities should agree in arresting and checking the movements and ope rations of the impostors and vagabonds who-go prowling about the country in borrowed or stolen uniforms. The interest and honor of the country and the service require that all who wear uniforms should account for their absence from the army. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK HOLDERS IN THE A., TENN. & O. RAILROAD COMPANY. In accordance with previous notice the Stockholders in the A., Tenn. & O. Railroad Company in North Ca rolina, conrened in Charlotte on Thursday last, Feb. 12th, when llev. V. V. Phiirr of i3tftte.- illc was called to the Chair, and M. L. Wriston and J. Daniels request ed to act as Secretaries. The Secretaries were ap pointed a committee te verify proxies, and reported a majority of the stock represented. The President nnd Tresuier then submitted their Reports, which were received and adopted, and order ed lo be published in the Western Democrat and Ire dell Express. A committee was appointed to nominate a Board of Directors for the ensuiug 3'ear, who reported and the following w ere duly elected : Wm Johnston, Jno A Young, B W' Alexander, Geo F Davidson, Uobt I Mc Dowell, C A Carlton, and J VV Stockton. Al L Wriston, K Nye Hutchison, and C L Summers were appointed a committee of Finance. At a subsequent meeting of the Directors, William Johnston was unanimously re-elected President. The former Treasurer, M L Wriston, having resigned, Mr J Daniels wa3 appointed to fill the Yacancy. The Board of Directors were authorized to provide themselves w ith a code of By-Laws for their govern ment. The meeting then adjourned. PRESIDENT'S REPORT To the. Stockholders of the Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio Roil road Company in North Carolina. Your President and Board of Directors respectfully submit the following Annual Report of the progress of the Road ai;d its operations to the 1st of January 1863. On the 3lst day of December last, terminated the third fiscal year since the organization of your Com pany. At that time track lading had extended beyond Kerr's Branch, when its progress was stayed, on ac count of the unfinished grading. In the spring it was resumed, and with slight interruptions extended to Third Creek. The bridge across this creek has caused much greater delay then wa anticipated. The diffi culty in geting materials and the failure of parties to comply with their contracts for the iron and castings produced in a great degree the delay in the comple tion of the work. In order to cross this stteani a bridge 540 feet in length and 93 feet above the surface water of the creek had to be erected, with a trestle work commencing at the northern abutment at an elevation of 62 feet and extending over 600 feet to near the summit of the hill. This is one of the most important structures of the kind in the State, whether considered as to its elevation or length. The bridge rests upon two abutments of substantial masonry erected by Messrs. Henderson k Martin with a span of ISO feet between each. The frame work has been con structed by David Renno, 'Esq., and will compare favorably with any similar work in the Confederacy. The structure is so far completed as to enable the trains to pass safely over it; and the track of the road is extended to wfrhin one mile of the depot at States ville, where the passengers are now received and de livered. Within a short period the balance of the track will be completed thus enabling the trains to run through from Charlotte to Statesville. Depots have been erected at "all important stations on the line, and the one at Statesville will be finished this spring, as soon ai the weather will permit. This will be a brick building of the same style and dimen sions as the warehouse of the W. N. C. R. R., situated at one end of it, and extending at right angles to it, 112 feet, presenting an end to one tracks and a side to the other, thus making it convenient to receire from or deliver freights or passengers to either Road, or ex change freights with the connecting depot. This ar rangement will b"4 more readily comprehended when it is recollected that the two tracks at this point cross each other nearly at right angle, and that both depots are connected at the angle of intersection. From the account current of your Tieaurer it will appear that he has received during the jear from all Bources including $1 7,300 64, balance on hand the fir?t of January last the sum of $300,206 27, and that he has disbursed during the same period the sum of $278,736 34, le&viEg a balance on band of $21,469 93. By ft reference to h$ account you will 6ee the various sources whence this sum has been derived. Not the least gratifying to the stockholders will be the earn ings derived from the operations of the Road. The receipts, from the transportation of passengers have been $15,431 90, from freights $11,541 72, from mails $939 01, making the total income 27,962 63. This result exceeds the most sanguiue expectation of your Directors for the past year, with the road completed 30 to 40 miles and a single train running only three or four trips per week. As the same train has been used in the construction and repairs of the track that transported the passengers and freights, it is impossi ble to state definitely what has been the operating ex penses as distinguished from those of construction. It may however safely be assumed that the operating expenses will not exceed $10,000 leaTing a nett in come of S16.962 62, a f urn nearly eqnal to the cost of two miles of your road. This income has been ab g rl e I in general construction and Las saved the ne cessity of issuing that amonnt of Bonds thus dimin ishing the indebtedness of the Company to that ex tent. AH the liquidated claims against the Company except one of abont $35.0C0 have been paid or funded by the issuance of Bonds endorsed by the C & S. C. Railroad Company to the amount of $151,000. The assets on Land and available with the income of the road will be ample to meet all other accruing liabili ties until the Road is completed. The entire amount which has been raided by the Treasurer from all sources since the commencement of the woik amounts to 379,038 78. the whole amount expended during the same period is S357.628 85 leaving a balance in the Treasury of $2,4CD 93, not including $20,000 of Unnds of the town of Charlotte in the bands of your Treasurer. As yon will observe. the principal sources of eceipt3 to jour Treasury have ! been: From Stockholders $132,18U 79, from sale of , Bonds tt Sl,'.'OWess aiscouni on luesameoi t,.J9 &5f and from the earnings of train3 $2T,962 63. The Company now owes no note in Bank or other wise, yet there are outstanding .settlements and balances with various stockholders and contractors which will materially add to the cost of construction. 3ST. When the Road is finished and H claims of construe tica liquidated, the Treasurers account will probably how a cost of 5420,000, when the actual cott will probably noi have exceeded $410,000. The Tarloas Bonds and Stocks sold by the Company hare been at a discount of $9,768 t38; interest paid on cash borrowed, $1,250 12; and cost of operating the Road $10,000 amounting in all to the sum of $20,018 20, which has entered into the accoant of the cost of construction, making these legitimate deductions will be" that amount less the . apparent cost a the accounts are stated. In other words, the work could hare been -completed for that much less had all the assets of tb Company been cash or its equivalent and the running expenses been kept in a separate account. Deducting, however, only the operating expenses, and it is esti mated that your Road will be completed at a cost not exceeding $410,000. This includes the cost of the bridge, which will exceed $40,000. depots and water stations making it cost less than $9,000 per mile from ni.arlmtA to Statesville. a distance of 451 miles. If there is a cheaper Road of the same length in the Confederacy, your Directors do not know the fact. The Stockholders should also recollect that their road is not complete in its outfit until it owns its own shops, cars and engines. - These it will be impossible to pro cure in the present condition of the country. Upon the restoration of peace they should command the im mediate attention of the officers of the Company. Your former Superintendent having resigned, E. Hurlbert, Esq., of Georgia, was appointed to fill the vacancy. It affords pleasure to bear testimony to the energy and fidelity of Capt. John Rhodes and the men under his control. Much of the time of bis force was employed during last summer in repairing the terious damage to the track caused by an extraordinary freshet, besides the general repairs necessary to main tain it in proper couditiou. In the unsettled condition of the country, it would be difficult to make any accurate estimates as to the future of your Road. You have the highest guaran tees in its past success, and must know that it is a valuable property, dependent upon and identified with the labor, capital aud all the great material interests of the country. Respectfully submitted, WM. JOHNSTON. President. Notk. It is p:oper to remark that $1,972 26 of the income as stated, was received from transportation of passengers and freights last year, but was not received by your Treasurer uutil since January last, aud hence is embraced in tuij report. TREASURER'S REPORT. M. L. Wriston, Trtasurtr, in account with Iht A., Tinn. j- O. Railroad Company iu Sorth Carolina: RECEIPTS. . To cash, bal. as per Report 1st Jan., 1862, $17,300 64 " received from Stockholders, 83,157 20 " f 44 sale of Bouds, 151,000 00 14 14 4k bills receivable, bonds oi town of Statesville, 13,626 50 41 bills payable, 6,370 20 44 Passengers, 15,431 90 44 Freights, 11,541 72 44 Mail pay, 9SS 01 44 all other sources, 1,789 04 it it i. it i $300,206 27 DISBURSEMENTS. Graduation, $63,986 86 Freights, 9,891 72 Cross-ties, 9,531 08 Charlotte & S. C. Railroad Co., on act., 107,710 74 Bills payable, 49,370 20 Subsistence, 5,V54 55 Track-laying and Engineering expenses, 6,892 55 Bridge structure, 5,287 02 Salary, including expenses, 3,495 47 Damages, 3,015 30 Depots, 1,870 17 Discount and interest, 9,457 92 Sundry accounts, 738 2U Commissions, 116 36 Capital stock. 50 00 Ileal estate and road crossings, 168 b6 Equipment, 97 00 "Coupons on Bonds, 580 48 A. II. Martin, Agt, balance due Jan 1, '62, 541 77 $278,756 34 Balance in hands of Agents, $7,747 65 44 44 Treasurer, 13,702 28 21,449 93 $300,206 27 Respectfully submitted, M. L. WRISTON, Treasurer. Tiie Negro Army. It eeetrts to be the idea to raise the first negro army at the North. This is better than we expected. Our fear was, that it would be deferred until the army could bo gather ed in the South which might never happen But 150,000 negroes, in addition to those wc have, are just the things we want. With negroes at $3000 a head, our soldiers could not make a richer prize than the capture of such an army. m m J62FFrorrj the Whig, we learn that Gen. Price was sernaded in Richmond a few evenings since. In his speech he said, that the Government vras about to give him a fair chance in the field, and he hoped his friends would soon hear from hiin. A correspondent writing from the Rappahan nock on the 9th says that the soldiers composing Gen. Lee's army are well clothed, well shod, and well fed. We ate glad to hear this, and hope there is no exaggeration iu the statement. JBSTTho bida for 8200,000 worth of North Carolina six per cent, bonds were opened in this city, when it was found that the sinking fund bid for $77,000 at par; eome $3000 or $4000 were bid for at 120, and $40,000 were taken at prices rang ing at par and thereabouts. The whole amount bid for was $120,000, as we understand. RaU eigh State Journal. VOLl'TEERS. Having been detailed to enlist Recruits for Company K (Capt F R Alexander) 56th N C Regiment, now at tached to Ransom's Brigade nnd stationed at Kenans ville, N. C , an opportunity is offered to those who are liable to conscription to volunteer in said company. I will remain at home for a few days, and any oue wishing to join said company can address me at David son College. J. W. SIIKPIIKRL, Feb 3, 1863. Lieut, eo. K, 56th X C Regt. 100 Bounty for Volunteering'. By recent orders from Headquarters, all persons liable to the last Conscript Act have the privilege of volunteering in any Company they nay sec proper to select, without passing through the conscript camp. The undersigned being appointed Recruiting Officers for the 53d Regiment N. C. T.$JCol. W. A. Owens com manding, and the 43d Regiment N. C. T., Col. Thos. Kenan commanding, will be found in Charlotte for thirty days to enlist all persons who may w ish to avail themselves of the temporary advantage granted Ihem. State and Confederate bounties paid as heretofore to volunteers. Men of Mecklenburg, now is yoor chance for good companies and regiments, commanded by excellent officers. Lt. M. E. ALEXANDER, Lt. WM. E. STITT, Recruiting officers for 53d and 43d Regts. Feb 3, 1863 tf State of Xorlli Carol iua Cabnrnii Co, Court of PUat Quarter Settioni January Term, 1863. A F Ladwick vs. Gold Hill Mining Company; E A Eudy vs. fume; William Lenard vs. same; James Endy vs. sarre; Simeon Hatlcy rt. same; James Dunn vs. same; James Eddy vs. sa-ne; J li Harris vs. fame: W T Miller vs. same; n TLentt vs. same; W F Bile vs. same; Jesse Skeen vs. same. Attachments Levied on lands belonging to the Gold Hill Mining Company. It appearing to the satisfaction of the Conrt that the parties constitnting the said Company are not in habitants of this State. It is ordered by the Conrt that publication be made six weeks In the Western Democrat for Defendants to appear and show cause why the lands levied upon should not be ordered to be gold. , : 'v..' ' Witness, Joseph Young, Clerk of oar said Court at office in Concord, the third Monday in January A- D., 1863. .-'.' JUSEPU YOUNG, Clerk. ' February 3, SC3 ' ft - -. " Nrws i-noM thk Yankcz Flt. A report has reached this city which give some additional information in reference to the late naval action off this port, and which differ iomcwhai fr0al previous accounts. The steam gun-boat Mercodlta, which M thought to have been sunk, is said to he at Tort Royal, having been towed there from this lhr ia m very disabled condition. She was struck bv th Palmetto' State, and a shot from the latter parsed, through the boiler of the Mercedita, causing th, water in it to rush into the hold and iodacfni- a temporary impression 'in the minds of those on board that the vessel was sinking. She lost scvertl in killed and wounded. The Yankee gun-boats Quaker City and Au. gusta were also struck and pans of their crew kill! ed and wounded; but the latter tessel wa not much damaged, as she is now off here blockading. The impression in the Yankee fleet is that Sa! Tannahwillbe attacked before Charleston, and their language iu reference to their expected u sault on the latter city is not as boasting as here tofore. The Monitor iron-clad Montsuk, which bora, barded the battery near Savannah, it is said was considerably injured in that action, and her turret refused to'work during part of the fight. C'Aur. lest on Courier 0 th. NOTICE All persons indebted to FULL1SCS k SPRINGS by note or account, are hereby notified to call upoa Wra. W. Grier, tx-fhrrifT, and mke lir.mJUt settle mfnt. J. M. S1MUNUS. February 3. J6C3 tf NOTICK TO DEBTORS. All persons indebted to the Estate of Patrick J. Lowrie, deceased, art requested to call and nuke lu.' mediate payment to SAML. P. SMITH, Dec 30, lb-;2 Attorney for Executrig. Goldsboro, North Carolina.) January 23, lfcfG3. J Gzxihil Obobbs No. 5. I. Commanders of Brigades will give to the oSictri detailed for recruiting service, (one from each Csnipa. ny,) special instructions to arrest and forward lo tbtir Companies ali cnlultd men absent without competent authority. II. A full pardon, except as to forfeiture of pay fof the period of unauthorised absence, is hereby pro. claimed to all enlisted men, absent without h ave, b may voluntarily return to their respective cointnaadi on oi before the 10th day of February. III. All enlisted men who do not voluntarily return within the time specified, and all who shall, alter tlii date, absent themselves from their commands without proper authority, will be charged with desertion and tried by the uew Military Court now in session. If found guilty, they will ba sentenced to death, whether present or absent, and commanders will be ordered to execute the sentence wherever the condemned can be arrested. IV. In Companies all the enlisted men ofwhiebare present for duty, except those absent under Irgil orders or upon regular sick leave, Division, District and Department Commanders are authorised to grant furloughs, at the rate of one for every twenty. Ste men present for duty in each company, aud tor periods which, deducting the time necessary for travel, will permit the parties to remain at home fourteen days. Whenever they are authorised by the farts to append a certificate, which will be required in every inttanre, that no enlisted man of the company is absent with, out competent authority, Company and Kegitnental Commanders will forward, through the regular cban nele, at the rate and upon the conditions above sj.eri ficd, recommendations of the meu most meritori iui and deiervingof furlough. V. All enlisted men who overstay their regular lick furloughs, or those granted as above, will be irnme diately arrested on their return, an examination us la iuto the circumstances of each case, and the Ucti re. ported to the Brigade Commander, who will ettber punish the delinquent, cause charges to be preferred, or return him to duty unpunished, as the circumstance of the case may in his judgment require. VI. Major A. F. Cone, Chief Quartortnaitrr, will cause these orders lo b advertised once a week for three weeks in erery newspaper published in Norlk Carolina, and in the newspapers published in Colum bia, Anderson, Greenville and Yorkrille, 3. Carolina. By command of Maj. Gen. O. W. Smith: SAM. W. MKLTOK. Major and A. A. Ota. A PROCI.A.TIATIO. liY ZEKULON 0J. VANCE, Governor of the State of AWA Carolina. Whereas, It has been made known to me that a large number of soldiers from our armies are abeot fri.ro their colors without proper leave in this the hofof our greatest need, and it being confidently believed that a large nmjority of such were impelled tot!. i course by a natural and almost irresistible desire la see their homes and friends once more after so Ions; as absence, and not because of a cowardly determiaatioa to leave their brave comrades to share all the danperi and hardships of the field alone; and whereas, Gen. G W. Smith, in command of the Department cf North Carolina, by consent of the Secretary of War, has published an order declaring that all who m voluntarily return to duty by the loth day of Februar next, shall be received into their several command with no other punishment than a forfeiture of tbtir pay for the time they have been so absent without leave; And declaring further that all who do not so re turn by the said loth day of February, shall, whea apprehended, be tried for desertion, and upoa coavie tion, be made to sutler death : Now, therefore, I, Zkbclox B. Vauci , Governor of the State of North Caroliua, do issue this toy prorls matien to all soldiers from this State, serving in tb armies of ibe Confederacy, who are now absent from their colors, commanding them to reiurs to duty with their comrades, and exhorting them t avail themselves of this opportunity of saving their friends from the disgrace and infinity which wiii cliof forever to the name of a deserter from bis country cause, and themselves from a felon's doom. Manr, after carrying their country's flag in triumph tbrigh various bloody conflicts and making themselves a name, of which their children's children tnigbl 6r' been justly proud, have forfeited it all by absenting themselves at a moment when their own State it in vaded and about to be desolated by a brutal, bsif savage foe. Now is the time to rein.Ute tlrmselvci by a prompt return to duty. I appeal to them to H" by their country yet a little longer, and not to lull tj descrtiuu the bright and glorious reputation of State, which they have helped to win on a hundred hard fonght fields; and I appeal to all gu.d and IJ' citizens throughout the State to give their influence to induce these men to return. Let no one, unmoved by this appeal to bis patriotism and honor, so; that he can remain at borne with impunitr; the fu-l power of the Stale authorities, aided tf need be by tb Confederacy, shall be put in force to arrtst him aB bring bin to punishment after tha I Otis day of Febro ary next, and there shall be no rest for the deserter In the borders of North Carolina. And 1't none ef cose their desertion by declaring tbat they go home in take care of their families; they wi!I add nothing the comforts of their families by being like guilty m" in the woods by day, and by plundering their neif b bors by night; tbey only bring shame and luSrrmf upon the beads of the innocent; and their little child ren, when gray Lea led old men, will have lbs Anger of scorn pointed at there and the bitter taunt will rinf in their ears, Your father skulked ia the woods t keep from fighting for his conn try.' Tbe State is now trying to provide food for jor families, and each county is making similar provision? and as yoor Chief Magistrate I promise you tbat tb wife and child of the soldier who Is in tbe army doief his duty, shall sbare tbe last bushel of meal and last pound of meat in the Stale. Let every patriot i tbe land assist with all his influence in tha exrcutM of this proclamation, and our victorious ranks w again be? filled, and oar country soon be rid of enemy. In witness whereof, Zcbciox B. Vises, oor fify erior, Captain General and CommandeMa-ChiJJ fc.tb signed tkscse presents and caused the great of he State to be affiled. Done at our City of Raleigh, on the '2Cih 47 January, in the year of or Lord, 18.l. By tbe Governor: , 1L D. .'. , U; U- Bittle, Jt., IMvats SsVr.