WffiSTKEN DSMOCEAT, CHAELOTTE, ISf. O.
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.Additional Particulars.
Correspondence of the Petersburg Express.
Plymouth, N. 0., April 21, 1864r
I embrace this opportunity to send you a brief
; account of the attack and capture of this place.
Plymouth, as your readers well know, is situated
on the south bank of the Roanoke river, 8 miles
from its month, in Washington county. It has
been in the .quiet possession of the Yankees for
some time,-and is one of the most strongly fortified
placeB in North Carolina. Hut the God of battles
has given the victory to the right, and we are now
in the quiet possession of it with the Confederate
banner flying from the ramparts of the fort.
Twenty-three hundred prisoners, with the '.Brig
General commanding, (Wessel,) large quantities
of quartermaster, commissary and sutler's stores,
and about twenty-five or thirty pieces of artillery,
fell into our possession.
Our loss is small when we consider the terrific
assault our forces had to make on the works of the
cue my ' We have to mouru the loss of some brave
. men and officers.
The town is surrounded by immense fortifica
tions with a large square fort immediately in -front,
commanding all the roads, and .containing five
-large guns. To the lelt of the town, approaching
it, is situated another fort, with two guns com
manding the country for a mile around. All the
; trees have been cut down, and thera remains an
open plain to the rang of their guns. Through
- this, our boys had to charge, capturing fort after
, fort in detail, and being exposed to the rakiog fire
of their guns The attack was well planned and
as well executed, ami reflects great credit upon
Gen Hoke, who has already won for himself a rep
utation in the army of Northezn Virginia, and the
capture of Plymouth adds another feather to his.
war-plumcv'' The attack commenced Sunday even
ing, tbel7th inst., and ended Wednesday morn
ing the 20th, at 12 o'clock. Thus you see we had
something to do. Gen Wessel, who commanded
the Yankees, stubbornly resisted, fighting from
fort to fort, and after the town was captured, re
treated into Fort Williams, and only surrendered
amid the booming of our guns.
The attack on the town was made by the brig
ade of Gen Ransom, on the 20th, at day-light, and
all joined in the praise of its gallantry and success,
r.s they had to charge work after work, and fight
hand to hand in the streets as th'ey drove he ene
my before them iuto their large stronghold, Fort j
llliame.
The Branch Field Artillery from Petersburg,
(now Pegrams' Battery) conducted itself nobly,
and suffered from the terrific fire of the forts in
the open field eight hundred yards distant. Eight
of the houses woie killod and seven wounded.
The destruction of property in the town is awful
to behold. Caissons are blown up, dead horses
and men fill up the streets aud the place is com
pletely riddled by cannon shot.
But before I close this desultory letter, I must
do justice to the Navy, which so ably performed
the part assigned to it. Capt Cook, with his iron
.clad Albemarle, out-fought himself. He cleaned
Out the river, sinking the gunboat Southfield,
.mounting six guns, and disabling two others, which
finally escaped, besides capturing several tug boats
and lighters.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Our forces arrived in front of Plymouth on
Sunday afternoon, 17th April, about 4 o'clock, and
succeeded in capturing most of t tie enemy's pick
.Cts, which were stationol a few miles from town,
and felt their works, and finding them much
stronger than was anticipated, the men being ex
hausted by a long day's inarch, the attack was
postponed until next day. During the whole day
Monday the artillery and sharpshooters were en
gaged with their gunboats and forrs, which result
ed in one of the former being sunk. At about
dusk on the same evening Fort Sanderson, a very
Btrong earthwork, . was assaulted and carried by
3torm, after a spirited resistance. l)urins: this as
sault a number of our men were killed by hand
grenades in the ditch. After carrying the above
jaamed fort our forces advanced close up to the
.main works of the enemy, on the west side of the
town. On Tuesday morning at two o'clock the
Albemarle, one of our iron-clad gunboats, com
manded by Capt Cook, came down the river and
engaged the enemy's batteries and gunboats which
were, lying in front of the town. The enemy's
:frjats attempted to board her, which attack was
handsomely repulsed. They also attempted to
trap her, having stietched a chain under water
across the space that intervened between their
boats; but instead of running between them Capt.
Cook made direct for the largest, striking her
atnids.hip, and sunk her in a few minutes, together
with most of the officers and crew, only a few of
whom were picked up. He immediately engaged
l.he other, and pursued, her some distance down
:the river, but not deeming it prudent to venture
too far down the river, he returned to his former
position in front of Plymouth.
After daylight on the same morning Gen Hoke
demanded a surrender of the place and its defences,
which demand the enemy declined to accede to.
inuring the day their works were reconnoitered
and felt at different points. Tuesday night the
position of our troops was moved around through
a very difficult route to the east or opposite side of
the town. At daylight Wednesday morning they
charged and carried Jhe entire line of fortificatious
on the east side, driving the enemy at the point of
:the bayonet completely through the town to the
opposite side, where some of our troops were left,
who succeeded in capturing a large number of
prisoners.
During all day Tuesday and, Wednesday morn
ing tne Albemarle, with the gallant Cook in com- j
mand, engaged the euemy's batteries, taking them j
in reverse. The town now beini? entirelv in our i
possession, together With all the euemv's works, i
with the exception of the main fort, a demand was
made for its surrender, which was refused, but as
soon as our sharpshooters commenced to advauce,
the enemy began to desert by twos, threes and
twenties, coming into our lines and throwing down
their arms. The flag of the fort was then soon
hauled down, which resulted in the surrender hy
Brig. Gen. Wessels of four regiments of infantry,
.one squadron of cavalrv. a battalion of artillprv. I
and two or three companies of N. C. "Buffaloes," j
together with the large amount of stores, provis- j
ions, siege guns, etc , previously repprted in this !
paper. j
Our loss in killed and wouuded in the land fiVht
was mucn larger man that ot the enemy, owing to :
the fact that our troops were exposed to a raking
fire, without protection of any kind, while the ene-1
my were covered by their works. Our total loss '
was three hundred killed and wounded, while the
loss of the enemy in this respect only amounted 1
"v uuuuitu. jluc uuuivci w uiwuuoijmw ;
tured was as follows : 2 500 whites and o00 ne-1
groes, a portion of the latter being women and
Children A large numbered negroes and "baffa- j
,uC3 uuciaies; escapeu ny means oi Dears ana ;
.canoes, while quite a number plunged inta the
river, a portion of whom never reached the oppo
site shore. The behavior of our troops throughout
th whole affair was everything that could be de- j
THE CAP-TURE OP PLYMOUTH, N
sired, and where all did so well it would next
to injustice to -discriminate. " Tbe gallant Colonel
Mercer was killed while l6adig ft,charge,'a thus
sealed with his life-blood his demotion 4o his cotra
try. He was a native of Georgia, and fbe only
field officer lost by us during the siege ofPlymouth.
The Richmond Examiner gives the following
facts concerning the fight and the victory, obtain
ed from a participant :
"We have had a conversation with George
King, Sergeant in the 11th Virginia regiment,
who narticiDatcd in the battle, and who was sent
.on in charge of some of the wounded men. He
.gives us a etitring version ot the battle and some
interesting details. - He states that our troops
started from Tarboro' on Friday and reached tbe
cross-roads, three miles from Plymouth, on Sun
day evening. Kemper's brigade, consisting of the
First, "Eleventh and Twenty-fourth Virginia regi
mentswas ordered to the front, and drove in the
enemy's pickets at War Neck. The other forces,
Hoke's and Hansom's brigades of North Carolina
troops, and one regiment of Georgians, were sub
sequently engaged. Dearing's battalion of artille
ry, in which are the Fayette from Richmond,
Latham's from Lynchburg, Brarich's'from Peters
burg,and others, commenced cannonading the
enemy Monday morning, and continued their fire
at intervals during the day and night.
On Tuesday desultory firing took place between
our forces and the enemy, who were protected by
eight forts and five gunboat3. During the day the
troops on our right carried by storm one of the
enemy's works which mounted four guns.
The principal fort was Fort Williams, eight
guns. This was regarded as the key of the posi
tion. Tuesday evening a flag of truce was sent
to Fort Williams demanding the surrender of the
enemy. The flag was taken by Colonel Dearing
and another officer; and General Wessel, the
Yankee commander, refused to treat with them,
but requested a conference with the general com
manding. At the interview which ensued -the
Yankee commander said to General Hoke that if
he surrendered he would be sacrificed by his gov
ernment, and, he feared, would be retired from the
service.
"Then," replied General Hoke, "I understand
that you are fighting for your commission and for
no other cause. If such, is your reply, I have on
ly to compel your surrender, which I will do if I
.have to fight to the last man."
The general assault followed Wednesday morn
incr. It was made bv all our forces. As our
J troops came within range of the artillery, they suf
j fered very severely, as the ground in front had
been surveyed and was staked oil with target posts
for artillery practice. Latham's battery bad been
placed just by one of the targets, and was shelled
with such skill by the enemy that all his horses
were killed. As our troops steadily advanced upon
the enemy's works, the Yankees, not waiting for
their charge, threw away their arms and rushed
forward with cries and tokens of surrender.
There were white hankerchiefs suddenly unfurl
ed at all parts of the enemy's lines. General
Wessel and his staff were left alone in Fort Wil
liams, the garrison having gone over to us under
the white hankerchief display, and they thus fell
into our hands as prisoners of war.
From the Richmond Sentinel..
THE GUNBOAT ALBERMARLE.
The glorious victory over our enemy at Ply
mouth has excited a great deal of rejoicing in our
land, but it does not seem to be generally under
stood that the country is mainly indebted for the
victory to the efforts of the iron-clad gunboat Al
bermarlc, and justice to Commander Cook and the
brave officers and men under bis command, re
quires that a fair statement of the facts should be
made.
The Albermarle left her anchorage, three miles
above Plymouth at 2 P. 31., on Tuesday last, pass
ed safely over the enemy's torpedoes and obstruc
tions, passed by the fort at Warren Neck, mount
ing three heavy guns, one ol which was a two
hundred-pounder Parrot, and succeeded, also, in
passing a fort in the town where another two hundred-pounder
Parrot was mounted. Commander
Cook then attacked two large gunboats, the Mi
ama, ten guns, and the Southfields, six guns, sink
ing the latter at once and so disabling the former
that she sunk after reaching Edenton, a point
twelve miles distant.
The crew of the Southfields consisted of one
hundred and seventeen men, only eight of whom
are thought to have escaped diowning. The Al
bemarle then took position one mile below the
town, and shelled the enemy's batteries until the
following morning, when the army participated in
the attack, and, with the invaluable aid of the Al
bemarle, succeeded in capturing the town.
A gentleman who was on board the Confederate
ram Albemarle, informs us that she struck the.
Southfields amidships, cutting into her about ten
feet, the Yankee vessel sinking rapidly, and being
fastened so tightly to the Albemarle as to bear her
bow under till the water ran into the port-holes.
In endeavoring to clear her of the wreck, the crew
had a hand to hand fight with the Yankees, using
pistols and cutlasses, in which we lost but one man,
although the Miama was pouring shot after shot
into them. When the Southfields sunk, the boats
of the Albemarle picked up eight men, one of
whom has since died, which are all that were saved
out of a crew of one hundred and seventeen. The
Albemarle did not succeed in striking the Miama
with her ram, but damaged her so much with her
guns that she afterwards sunk. It is said that one
shot from the Albemarle killed and wounded twen
ty of the crew of the Miama.
Col. James M. Whitson killed by Buffaloet.--By
letter we are informed of the death of this
brave and meritorious officer. He was at home, in
Currituck county, on furlough; his house was sur-
11 u". V UUUJluea uignt, anu ne anemptea
; to u,ake MS escaPe wncn ne was snot and struck
b? ,1,rce balls, auJ. killed. This was about the
litb or l5th ol APnl- Raleiyh Confederate.
, T ,
The Wheat and Oat Crops. We learn
1 from the farmers ot thia section that the wheat
'croP nas improved wonderfully within the last few
! wceks and tnat the a crop is promising for an
abundant harvest.' Let us look for better' times
and warmer weather. Greensboro Patriot.
In this section, the wheat crop is looking as
good as usual at this season.
mm
A New Value of Sorghum. The inestima-
ble value of this production, says tbe Lynchburg
Virginian," is only beginning to be appreciated
by our people. It may not be generally known
that the grain or seed constitute an excellent and
prolific breadstuff. A correspondent writing to us
on the subject, from Pattonsburg, says: "I had
n U IIKI1AU nr Itlfl WPI W!llrh I rniaoif Incf roar
and a short time ago I took six bushels to the mill !
and got it ground into flour, and have been using
it in my family for bread for several day. It I
makes really good loaf bread and light rolls, but ;
biui ueuer ureaa; in mat way it can i De Deat, ir ;
baked in tbe oromary way of baking buckwheat
cakes. Besides it makes fine chop for horses.
Mine is tbe red seeds."
FOBT rpiIXOW.
As migfo 1baW leeo -expected, the capture of
Fort Pillo by the Confederates, with its attendant
train of retributive deeds, has sent a howl of toly
horror through the North. From President Lin-
nnln nmn tt ril VpflPSt lllinlOft.
- . . . .. .i i
mere is a Durst
of virtuous wratb over one of those events-of war ! male rushed out of a house, throw'ed herplumptein
which has prematurely swept into the hell that dies around my neck, which part I didn't mind
was awaiting them a horde of uncompromised and
uncompromising miscegenators. We are glad fhat
the act has occurred, and only sorry that, for the
first time in three years of ruthless carnage, our
enemies have been made to feel tlje terrible earn
estness with which our people have been carrying
on the struggle. One would suppose from this
development of Yankee passion that We alone
are to blame for all the outrages which have blot
ted the page of American history during this cycle
of bloodshed. But the impartial observer will
discover, that when the Federal authorities sac
calmly down before the city of Charleston, and,
with Greek fire, attempted to destroy its people ;
when Yankee raids on Richmond bad for tLeir ob
ject the sacking of that city and the murder of
our President; when civilians and soldiers through
out the length and breadth of the land are seized
and hung to the nearest . tree ; when negroes are.
incited to every act of brutality conceivable by
heart steeped in crime; and when rapine and
slaughter are stalking hand in hand we repeat,
that when the impartial observer recalls these
atrocities, he will discover that the Federals them
selves are responsible for all the retribution visited
upon their heads, and for this our final adoption
of a plan of warfare, which means speedy death
to all invaders. -
Geu. Forrest, however, has not overstepped the
boundaries of military rule. Twice he summoned
the officer commanding Fort Pillow to surrender;
twice the summons were refused; then making the
assault over the bodies of his own brave men, he
seized that which was not voluntarily yielded be
fore, and visited righteous punishment on the mis
creants who, while behind their breastworks, were
but too ready to kill, and when conquered were but
too glad to surrender. But the acts need no apol
ogy. It stands applauded by the whole country.
We are fighting highwaymen, burglars, criminals,
who, having broken into our fair home, would
brain every man, woman and child to accomplish
what remains of their desperate task. In other
words, tbey have invaded our land, blockaded our
ports, starved our people, occupied our cities, in
loathsome dungeons imprisoned our sons and
daughters, pillaged, burnt and ravished, violated
every rule of legitimate warfare, and carried their
deviltries as far as devils dare. Nature, precedent
and example suggest what we should do in retal
iation; but, unfortunately, the laws of modern war
have been too tenderly regardeo. by our authorities,
while ignored by our foes; and not until Gen. For
rest dared to take swift-handed justice on his trus
ty blade have the enemy been made to feel the
deadly animus 'which underlies every loyal heart
in this Confederacy. We hope the lesson may be
repeated, and that this closing year of the revolu
tion may witness a succession of just such victo
ries and just such shouts of horror as are ringing
through the North at the present moment. Cvl
vmbia Carolinian.
mm
NORTHERN . ITEMS.
The flag of truce boat arrived at City Point
Thursday night,
th 28th with
50 Confederate
officers and 350 men.
j
Northern papers to the afternoon of the 27th
received. The accounts of the battle of Plymouth
represent the Federal loss 150 killed and 2,500
captured, and the rebel loss 1,500 killed an enor
mous lie all negroes found in uniform taken out
and shot.
A dispatch from New Orleans states that the
rebels destroyed not less than 75,000 bales of cot
ton on Red River. A St. Louis telegram of the
25th, with New Orleans advices to the 18th, says
it is generally conceded that the battles in Louisi
ana were adverse to Banks, as the enemy remained
.on the field after Saturday's fight, while Banks re
treated forty miles. The report of another fight
on the 10th was a mistake. The Yankee army
was at Grand Ecore fortifying both sides of the
river.
An independent spirit is evinced in the Western
States. Crawford county, Ohio, has been placed
under martial law. Labor strikes continue through
tbe North and West.
Butler denies writing, the protest recently at
tributed to him.
The Yankee House of Representatives have
adopted a joint resolution increasing the tariff,
temporarily, fifty per cent.
Lincoln has accepted 80,000 troops tendered
for six months, from the Governors of Pennsylva
nia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
They will be used for garrison duty, relieving vet
eran troops.
Gold in New . York, on the 2Gth, was 185 ; in
Baltimore, on the 27th, 181.
Movements of the Enemy. Passengers
who arrived in Petersburg Monday afternoon, re
port that the enemy have burnt their campu, evac
uated Suffolk, and retired behind their entrench
ment immediately around Portsmouth. Their
negro tioops committed a most brutal outrage up
on the person of a very estimable young lady re
siding a short distance from Suffolk, a few days
since. We withhold her name from motives which
will be appreciated. It is supposed that the ene
my's recent reverses in Eastern CaroUna have in
duced the withdrawal of their troops from Suffolk
and other points in that section.
Something afoot at Washington, N. O.
A reliable, well informed correspondent, writing
from Kinston, 28th inst., states that heavy cannon
ading was going on in the direction of Washing,
ton, from sunrise until 3 o'clock, p. m. on yester
day (27th). He says it was the heaviest and most
terrific cannonading heard along our coast since
the begiouing of the war.
It was the opinion in Kinston that Gen Hoke
had attacked .Washington and perhaps taken the
place. e anxiously await further developments,
Goldzboro Journal, 29th ult.
Destructive Fire at Wilmington. A fire
occurred near Wilmington, on Thursday night
last, on the west side of the river, which consumed
the office of the Wilmington & Manchester railroad
company, about 5,400 bales cotton, 25 freight cars,
rosin oil factory, ferries, and ship yard sheds.
1 he loss is estimated at So,000,l00.- 1 he Con-
federate Government loses about 1.000,000, the
balance falls on individuals. Insurance only about ; ny has received large supplies from the govern
310,000. i ment and doubled his force by letting out a por-
exemption of justices i ne secretary ot : Wiikes who have the labor, &c, ready to r
. ar, 3 aa.u n uui cxempi uy usuue oi me ecute the,r undertaking vigorously. Every e
IVae under 45 vpars nf acre ptwnt nnon tfip pot. ' -n , .i. - , . i -i.
r . u m . 1 r
ernor Smith, of Virginia, has determined, as a
rnle, Dot to grant a certificate, except it might
happen that all the magistrates in a district were
under 45, in which case he would grant a certfi-
eate to one of tbe number.
In Mobile corn has fallen from J?8 to $3,
arjd bacon from $6 to $3.
j ' r t ' win up niai.p m i misn rnp man rn no lm inn
ABTEMUS WARD'S ADVENTTJBE.
I .must relate a little incident which happeued
to your humble servant on -his return home from
the wars. I was walking the street, looking so
gallant and gay in my brass cote and bloo buttons,
and other military harness, when an excited fe-
much, as they were round ones, and exclaimed:
"Doo I behold thee once again?"
"You do an I think you are holding me too
fastly," sea I, trying to release the excentric fe
male's arms.
0, hev you tsome back bev you come back?"
she wildly cried, hangin tighter to my neck.
"I don't know you," sez I.
"Not know me your own Charletta Rosetta
Belletta she who has not sot her eyes onto you
for more'n two years? Yea," she continued, plac
in her hatid onto my shoulder, an looking up into
my face like a dying hoss fly "Yes, I see my own
Alfred's eyes his nose, uis ears, his "
"Madame," sez I, "excuse me, but allow me to
correct youk f I air not mistaken, these earses,
an noses, au eyeses belong to myself individeraily,
and your Alfred never owned em scarcely."
"Away with this farce," sez she, "You cannot
deceive your Charletta, cum into the house and
set your little son, Lincoln Burnside McClellan
Beazor."
It was evident that the female was mistaken
that it was not me, but another man she wanted.
'How old is he?" soz I.
" Which?" jsez she.
"Them little sons. Lincoln Burnside McClellan,
and so 4th."
"He's just six iuonthi tbe little darling!"
"Well, madam,"' i-:z'i, "ef little Lincoln Mc
Clellan Burnside una so forth, is only six months
old, an you haven't set eyes onto your Alferd for
more'n two years, I think there's a mistake some
whar, and that I am not your Alfred but another
man altogether."
The woman shot into the house like forty, an
that was the last of her, but I pity her poor Al
fred. Why Should there be Starvation ? We
append a table of receipts by tbe Collector in the
3d District, and also the Assessor's estimates. He
who will take the trouble to calculate from the
Lfignres given, on the basis of a population in the
District of 75,000 to 80,000, will discover that
there has been raised of produce, besides the
tenth part paid to Government :
Corn, 966,090 bushels, Wheat,, 17,730 bushels,
Rye, 19,170 bush., Rice, 232,823 'Wushels, Sweet
Potatoes, 228,024 bushels.
So that there is twelve bushels of corn, about a
peck of wheat, the same of rye, three pounds of
rice and three bushels of potatoes to every mouth.
Besides this, there is the reservation of fifty bush
els of sweet and fifty of Irish potatoes, one hundred
bushels of corn or fifty of' wheat, and twenty of
peas by each farmer; and then there is a further
addition of all those small farmers who do not
raise enough to be assessed at all : and the fact is
demonstrated to a mathematical certainty, that
there is no lack of provisions in that District, but
au abundance to spaie. Raleigh Confederate.
mm
Interesting Private Advices from Wash
ington. There is as yet no positive evidence in
military movements that the North is to pitch its
main campaign against Richmbnd, and subordi
nate operations in the West to those in Virginia.
But there are certain private advices from the
North, which appear to leave no doubt of this in
tention of the Washington authorities, which they
say baa been taken not because the campaign in
the West mig!)t not produce important results, if
the euemy could break Johnston's lines, and take
Savannah and Mobile in the rear, but simply be
cause they fear that with Richmond intact their
finances could not last another campaign, whatever
its iucideuts of success. The argument which ap
pears to prevail at Washington is that even if the
three Yankee aimics in the West were to win dis
tinct and simultaneous victories, these could not
sustain the vitality of the war in the North, with
out the indispensable condition of the capture of
Richmond. A member of the Lincoln Govern
ment is reported to have stated that if the North
takes Richmond, it could very well afford for
Johnston to penetrate to the Ohio, and trust to
the popular sentiment to prosecute the war. One
point appears to be decided that the capture of
Richmond is-the one and inexorable condition of
the continuation of the war by the North beyond
the ensuing campaigu. Jiichinond Examiner.
Underground Railroads. The New York
Evening Post earnestly favors the tunneling of
Broadway for a line of railroad from the Bowling
Green to the Central Park, a bill to effect this
having been introduced in the New York Legis
lature. There is at present in London a tunnel railroad
five miles long, connecting Farrington street with
Padington Station; a double track is laid, and the
company has already carried about five millions of
passengers. The tunnel is thoroughly ventilated,
dry, well lighted, and in every way comfortable ;
to ride through it is very much like walking
through one of the great store celjars of a Broad
way dry goods house. The rate of speed attained
is twenty miles per hour. Entrance and exit sta
tions are provided at short intervals, a staircase
leading to the street above.
The success of the -Underground- Railway in
London has been so decided that Parliament has
chartered companies who intend to surround the
city with tunnel roads, and connect all the railway
stations It is said that twenty millions sterling
have already been subscribed towards this vast en
terprise. The cost of tunneling and laying the
track ready for operation, is about a million dol
lars per mile.
-- 1
The Slave Claim Board. The board of offi
cers, designated to adjudicate claims for the losses
of slaves in the service has been organized, and
i has already begun its regular sessions in Rich-
j mond. They are required to examine into and re
port on the justice and the amount of claims for
loss of slaves which have been impressed by Con
federate authorities, or under State laws, for the
use of the Confederate Government, and while en
gaged in laboring on the public defences, have es
caped to the enemy, or died, or contracted diseases
which have, after their discharge, resulted fatally.
The C hatham Railroad Company. We
are glad to learn that the President of this Compa-
ot
Edmund
ros-
ffort
eo
Deen river by the coming winter. Raleinh Con-
scrvattve.
PaoLliic Goat. Mr G. M. Glass of this coun
ty owns a gcat which lias recently given birth to
four kids two males and two females all doing
fine. This is said by stock fanciers to be an un- J
usual and remarkable event with the genus Capra. s
Greensboro Patriot. . ' j
' tinn or the road to 31es$rs. . nhn at.
LOSSES IN THIS WAR.
.We take from the Philadelphia North Ameri
can the following list, made up to the 1st Sept.,
18G3, including the battle of Chickaniauga. We
cannot say that it is accurate, but suppose it ap
proximates it. The Federal loss is no doubt under
estimated.
confederates.
Killed. Wounded. Prisoners. Total.
1861
1862
1863
1,270 3,955
14,556 47,204
12,321 48,300
2,772
7,987
77,646
131,832
15,876
71,211
Total 28,147
99,459
89,859 217,165
Confederates died of disease and sickness from
commencement of war to present time 130,000. .
FEDERALS.
Killed. Wounded.
1861 4.724 t),791
18132 20,879 09,973
1863 15,3G3 53,981
Total 40,966. 133,745
Prisoners.
9,144
46,534
33,281
Total.
23,709
136,386
102,625
88.959 262,720
Federals died of disease
and sickness' during
same time, 290,000,
recapitulation.
Federal losses in battles, &c.,
" " by sickness, &c,
Federal total loss in 3 years, '.
Confederate loss in battles, &o. 217,465
" " by sickness, &c 130,000
202,720
290,000
552,720
Confederate total loss in 3 years, 347,465 347,465
Excess of Federal loss, 205,255
The total loss, North and South; according to
this has been 900, 185 which when the full -three
years of war are ended, will doutlcss rise to a
million 1
Executive Department or IT. Curolina,
Adjutant Generals Uffic
Raleigh, April 14, 1864
General Orders, No. 0
I. The following Extracts from General Orders from
the Adjntant and Iospector General's OlHee, C.S. Armjr,
Richmond, Va., concerning impressments, are published
for the information of all concerned :
Adjutant and Inspectob General's Offics,
Richmond, April 6, 18C3.
General Orders, ISO. 37.
1. The following Acts of Congress concerning
Tm.
pressnients" and the instructions of the War Depart
meat respecting it, are published for tbe information
and direction of all concerned:
Section 1. Whenever the exigencies of any army in
the field are such as to make iiffjircssmcnts of forage,
articles of subsistence or other property absolutely
necessary, then such ' impressments may be made by
the officer or officers whose duty it Is to'turnisb- such
forage, articles of subsistence or other property for
such army. In cases where the owTier of ucu property
and the impressing offivr cannot agree upon the value
thereof, it shall be the duty of such impressing officer,
upon an affidavit in writing of the owier of such pro
perty, or his agent, that such property was grown,
raised or produced by said owner, or is held or has
been purchased by him, not for sale or speculation,
but for his own use or consumption, to cause the same
to be ascertained and determined by the judgment of
two loyal and disinterested citizens of the city, county
or parish in which such impressments may be made
one to be selected by the owner, one by the impressing
officer; and in the event of their disagreement, these
two shall choose an umpire of like qualifications, whose
decisions shall be final. The persons thus selected,
after taking an oath to appraise the property impressed
fairly and impartially (whose oath, as well as ihe affi
davit provided for in this section, the impressing offi
cer is hereby authorized to administer and certify,)
shall proceed to assess just compensation for the pro
perty so impressed, whether the absolute ownership or
the temporary use thereof only is required.
Sec 2.. That the officer or persons impressing proper
ty as aforesaid, shall, at the time of said taking, pay to
the owner, his agent or attorney the compensation
fixed by said appraiser;; and shall also give to the own
er, or person controlling said property, a certificate
over his official signature, specifying the battalion,
regiment, brigade, division or corps to which he be
longs, that said property is essential for the use ot tbe
army, could not be othei wise, procured, and was taken
through absolute necessity; setting forth tbe time and
place, vvhen and where taken, the amouut of compen
sation fixed by said appraisers, and the sum, if any,
paid for same. Said certificate shall be evidence for
the owners, as well of taking of said property for the
public use as the right of the owner to the amount of
compensation fixed as aforesaid. .And in ease said
officeror persou taking said property shall have failed
to pay the owner or his agent said compensation as
hereinbefore required, then said owner shall be enti
tled to the speedy payment of the same by the proper
disbursing officer; which, when so .paid shall be in full
satisfaction of all claim against the government of the
Coufederale States.
Sec 3. Whenever the impressment provided for in
the first section of this act shall, for any reason be im
practicable at the time of said impressment, then and
in that case the value of the property impressed shall
be assessed as soon as possible by two loyal and disin
terested citizens of the city, county or parish wherein
the property was taken, chosen as follows : One by the
owner, and one by the Commissary, Quartermaster
General, or his Agent, who, in case of disagreement)
shall choose a third citizen of like qualifications, as an
umpire to decide the matters in dispute, who shall be
sworn as aforesaid, who shall hear the proofs adduced
by the parties as to the value of said property and as
sess a just compensation ther' for, according to the
testimony.
Sec. 4. That whenever the Secretary of War shall be
of the opinion that it is necessary to take private pro
perty for public use, by reasou of the impracticability
of procuring the same by purchase, so as to accumu
late necessary supplies for the army, or the good of the
service, in any locality, he may, by:a general order,
through the proper subordinate officers, authorize such
property to be taken for the public use: the c ompensa
tion due the owner for the same to be determined and
the value fixed as provided for iu the first and second
sections of this act.
Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of the President, as
early a3 practicable after the passage of thi? act, to ap
point a commissioner in each State where property
shall be taken for the public use, and request the
Governor of such of the States in which the President
shall kppoint said commissioners, to appoint another
commissioner, to act in conjunction with the commis
sioner appointed by the President, who shall receive
the compensation of eight dollars per d-iy, and ten
cents per mile as mileage, to be paid by the Confeder
ate government. Said commissioners shall constitute
a board, whose duty it . shall be to fix upon the prices
to be paid by the government for aH property impress
ed, or takeu for the public use as 'aforesaid, so as to
afford such compensation to tbe owners thereof. Said
commissioners shall agree upon and publish a schedule
of prices every two months, or oftener if they shall
deem it proper; and in the event ihey shall not be able
to agree in any matter confided to them in this act,
tbey shall have power to appoint an umpire to decide
the matter in dispute, whose decision shall be the de
cision of tbe board; and said umpire ahull receive the
same rate of compensation for the time he shall serve",
allowed to said commissioners respectively : Provide!,
That said commissioners shall be residents of the State
for which they shall be appointed; and if the Governor
of any State shall refuse or neglect to appoint said
commissioners within ten Aajb after a request to do so
by the President, then the President shall appoint both .
commissioners, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate.
Spc. 6. That all property imDressed or taken for the
! public use as aforesaid, in the hand3 of any person oth-
er than tne persons wno have raisea, growu or pro-
i duced tbe same, or pcrsous holding the same for their
davit as herein before required, shall be paid for ac
cording to the schedule of prices fixed by the commis
sioners as aforesaid. But if the officer impressing or
takincr for the public use such property, and tbe own
er shall differ as to tbe quality of the article or proper
ty, impressed or taken as aforesaid, thereby making it
fall within a higher or lower price named within the
schedule, thea tbe owner or agent and the officer im
pressing or taking es aforesaid, may select each t 10T1
and disinterested citixen of tbe qualifications as afor
said, to determine tbe quality of said article or prop!
ty, who ihall, in case of disagreement, appoint so urn
pire of like qualifications, and bis decisionif Lpr0T tJ
by the officer impressing, shall be final; but if not t
proved the iropressingtofficer shall send the award io
to the commissioners of the State where the properi
Is impressed, with bis reasons for diiapprovioL t),'
same, and said commissioners may hear such proofs i!
tbe parties may respectively adduce, and their dcj..
ions shall be final : Provided, That the owner msy rc
ceive the price offered by the impressing olBccr, win,"
out prejudice to his claim to receive the higher com!
pensalion.
Sec 7. That the property necessary for the snpport
of the owner and his family, and to carry on his ordit.
ury agricultural and mechanical business, to be aictr.
tained by the appraisers, to tie appointed as proridnj
in tie first etrclion of this act, under oatb, vba.Il not bi
taken or impressed for the public use; and when the
impressing officer and tbe owner cauaot agree tit
the quantity of property necessary as aforesaid. tjta
the decision of the said appraisers shall be binding x
the officer and all other persons.
Sec. 8. Where property has been impressed for tttn.
porary use and is lost or destroyed, without the default
of the owner, the government of tbe Confederate Staii
shall pay a just compensation therefor; to be alcrri
tained by appraisers appointed ead qualified as pro.
vided in the first section of this act. if such propertv
when returned has, in the opinion of tbe owntr, been
injured whilst in the public use, the amount of d'uaage
thereby sustained shall be determined in the manufr
described in the third section of this act, tbe officer
returning the property, being authorised to act in be
half of the government; and upon such inquiry iht cer
tificate of the value of the property, when originally
impressed, shall be received as prima facit evidenci of
tbe value thereof.
Sec. 9.
Sec. 10. .
Sec. 11. That any commissioned or non-commii.
sioned officer or private who shall violate the provis.
ions of this act, shall be tried before the military coorl'
of the corps to which he is attached, on complaint
made by the owner or the person; and on conviction,
if an officer, be shall be cashtered and put into th
auks as a private; and if a non-commissioned offictr
or private, he shall suffer such punishment, not iocon.
sistent with military law, as the court may direct.
II. 1. By the authority of the act of Congress afor.
said, the Secretary of War hereby recognizes imprest.
ments as a legal and operative mode of securing necei.
sary supplies of subsistence, medical and qnartermai.
ter's stores for the armies of the Confederate States in
the field, and to accumulate them in magazines, posts
and depots, owing to the impracticability of procuring
them by contract.
8. Impressments may be made under orders from
Generals commanding armies, department!, corps, di
visions, brigades, and by commanders of detached par
ties and posts, when a necessity arises; which orders
may be executed by quartermasters, commissaries or
medical purveyors and their subordinates, for their
respective departments.
The Quartermaster General, Commissary Genert
and Surgeon General may designate the officers and
persons who may be competent to make impresmenti
to accumulate supplies at posts and depots.
No officer or agent shall impress the uecesary sop
plies which any person may have for-the consumption
of himself, his family, employees, slarei or to carry on
bis ordinary mechanical, manufacturing or agricultural
employments.
4. Before any impressment of property shall take
place, the impressing officer or bis agent shall make
an pffer, addressed to the' owner, his bailee or other
agent, to purchase the property, describing the proper
ty he wishes to purchase, the price to be paid, tnd tbe
mode of payment, whether in money or certificate, and
stating that upon tbe refusal of the price offered, that
compensation for the property will be made according
to the act of Congress aforesaid for the regulation of
impressments which notice shall bind the said proper,
ty until the completion of the negotiation for tbe sale
or appropriation thereof, so that there can bene, re
moval or transfer of the same.
a.
6. That the property shall remain in the possession
of the owner, his bailee or agent, and at his risk, dur
ing tbe pendency of the proceedings, for the ascertain
ment of the compensation, unless it shall be otherwise
agreed to, or unless some urgent necessity shall re
quire the possession of the property to be changed. In
case of a change of possession, the Confederate States
shall be regarded as the owner, and the property shall
be held for their accouut and risk.
7. The impressing officer shall, at tbe dale of the ira
pre3mentn pay to the owner, bis agent or attorney in
fact, the compensation agreed upon, if it be practica
ble; but if he cannot do so he t;hall give a certificate
according to the second section of the act aforesaid;
which shall be paid npon preseutation to the disbursing
officers, w ho shall be designated for that purpose.
8.
Hy order. ' S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.
Adjutant akd Inspector Gen. Orrtcc, 1
Richmond, Dec. 10, 1803.
General Orders, Nq. 161.
All officers and agents who bar hern or shall be
empowered to make impressments shall conform to tbe
provisions of this order, in respect to impressments
hereafter to bo made, And also in rases where the pro
perty may have been heretofore taken, and the price
has not been fully adjusted.
1.' In the event of tbe refusal of the price offered by
the ow ner, his bailee, or other agent, the impressing
officer shall proceed to settle the compensation to b
fixed according to the first section of the act, March 2tf,
1863, if tbe property impressed belongs to an owner
who has grown, raised or produced tbe same, or who
holds or has purchased the same for his own ose or
consumption; but if tbe property impressed has not
been grown, raised or produced by tbe owner, nor been
purchased for his own use or consumption, it shall be
the duty of the impressing officer to offer the price
fixed by tbo commissioners who may be appointed no
der the 5th section of the act of Congress of tbe 20tli
MarcL, 18C3, to regulate iinpresstuontai and if the own
er shall object to receive the said price as not bjing a
just compensation, it shall bo tbe duty of the impress
ing officer to cause the value to be ascertained by tbe
appointment of a board similar to that designated io
the first section of the act aforesaid , that is, by tbe
judgmeut of two loyal and diiiuterested citiif ui of tbe
county or parish In which such impressments may be
made, one to be selected by tbe owner and one by the
impressing officer, and in the event of their disagree
ment, the.se two shall choose an umpire of like qualifi
cation. The persons thus selected shall proceed to
assess just compensation for the property so impressed,
whether the absolute ownership, or the temporary us
thereof only is required: Provided, however, if the iu
pressing officer in auy of the cases mentioned shall be
lieve that the appraisement is fair or Just, be shall en
dorse upon it his approval, and tbe property In tbe ob
ject impressed shall tLereupou be rested in. the Con
federate States ; but if be does not approte the ap
praisement as aforesaid, be shall endorse upon tbe ap
praisement his objection thereto, and deliver the same
with a receipt for the property imprrsed to tbe owner,
bis bailee, uveal or attorney, and as soon a praolica.
ble forward a copy of the receipt and apprnisement,
and iiis endorsement thereon to the Hoard of Apprais
ers, appointed by the President and Governor of Ihe
State, who shall revise the same and make a final val
uation, so as to give just compensation for the proper
ty taken, which valuation shall be paid by the proper
department for tbe ose of which tbe properly was taken
on the certificate of the appraisers, as provided in the
acts of Congress on tbe subject.
By order.
(Signed) B. COOPFR,
Adjutant and Inspector General.
II. The utter disregard on the part of the impressing
officers or their agents in many parts of the State to
the requirements of tbe foregoing orders compels tbe
adoption of steps for their enforcement as a protection
to tbe citizens. To Uis end it is made the duty of all
Militia and Home Guard officers to arrest any officer or
agent who in making impressments fails to comply with
them ic every particular; and tbey will also arrest any
person who attempts to make impressments witboot
proper authority. For this purpose they are hereby
ordered to call oat, when necessary, Ihe whole force
of their commands, atd should this force be insufficient
they will report the fact to this office immediately.
Persons arrested under this order will be taken to tbe
nearest camp or station of tbe Confederate troops and
turned over to the commanding officer, with an attested
statement of the misconduct charged, by tbe officer
making tbe arrest, who shall at the same time forward
a copy of said charges to this office.
By order of Got. Vance. R. C. GATLIN,
Adjutant Gen.
IT