Newspapers / Wilmington Journal [1844-1895] (Wilmington, … / May 15, 1862, edition 1 / Page 2
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in r Til E WILMINGTON JOURNAL ca:in:F.KATi5 states ov akkuica. 7!TA1IXGTS K. C, TI1UF.SDAY,"KAY 15, 1SC2 Y,rn i.t-ak-v Hist JS'crfo.k mil Portsmouth were evac- t- J by cur troops on Saturday hst, crd no doubt cc- tuo incon? on tie Eamo cut. with Li. V-t-1 '4. Uj 1. J. tcp'cd i'i Sufurdey's Jour ? f:t n the Noifdk D.nj Lad; teres cut to be strict tc: ( C JI'S Ci al.:i .0.0 U.i;.-u ci :..us he ! , bo.:: rtion to ate J If; he enemy gave tkcra in- rs and led to lb ue- le -i roncrtv wh 1 ... c' cd w:. rocnt. CI . ui ?." c zwue aha t cf cur Uocm id k - 'i A D T- e.i-vrry j: bul bCC! ;W, We re-publish to-day, and f.ba!l keep ""standing for some time, the rules issued .by the War Department, under and ia pursuant of tic previsions of the Con scription Act. AYc have been so frequently akd for thtss tilings, cr for copies of our own or soma otbi-r pi per containing them, that it baa grown to bo a serious tax upoa our lime and patience. All- tbat we know about the matter c:-.n now be fbund in any number of the Journal. We beard thi morning of a supposed desertion from Fort Fisher. Vo forbear stating tbe name until we cen hcor more (VCnite'y and certainly. eeU tO cf - ': C en Wo..-. . ,1. -t re:; tbe-; t The KEPor.T that Gen. Anderson, cf South Carolina, bad been kilK d in tbe fight with tl e etemy hst week near Williamsburg, Va., is errcreens. General Andersen is alive. It was bis brother, Major Anderson, who was acting as bis aid v. bo was killed cr severely wounded, we aicxot certain which, be believe be was killed. ?alt. We loam there is a salt march covcrirg about 30 acres is Llarkr Ccucty from which it is thought t-alt water eta be oht..h-c-d which will produce considerable salt. Inr i rr 'ho dry Miat;o ihe Fait is seen on the- march grass. We L j;c- preper tx iraira'iyn of it will be' made at once. The pce'-ik: i:.ui have sj.it. llalcich standard. We uiuerstand the place above referred to has been 1 cased by rerpoasible ).-crso::s who will Ics? no time in practicubiiity of making Halt there. 'a i.i- rjrriia:;c la G'one I the announcement with such ftelings instance that has vet occurred has giv- Ar.d r.ia. uj r.o other circu c i rise to. Xot that the Mcmmac ever cid much. Hbo niado a grand flourish one Saturday and Sunday, revcr alter yoi to locking Lpir.g that so v, cu'.d be rr:auj u;efal. The people Eoxnetimes. in their ehtbac-iasai, even forgot that M r. Llaliory was at the Iit.-j cf the Nc.vy Department, an;! were, therefore, lead .eld her pence. v, e . Still, tbe country bad u-X'n the Merrimac with pride, and ncihiusr inisht be done wber she 3: c in cu i:rn:s o; (iiiCienov. r in cur bands indulge in The destruction of the Merri cconie ine'vitable, new that Nor- so it may bs looked u hat event, or at lefcst, one of its imme- Wc when history pomes .o-acl -o no i : 7 a part c : cona.ffU'. cord the facis connected with that affair, there will i. e i:.ucb cc-cnt-ctt-d with it calculated to reflect cred-:-f.on the ccoinc?s cr good rnanfgement of those by :a the evaj-uation was cendueted. We ought to v-.:ry wcabhy pcrpl, vith a great Euperabundance iterbd of c-wry kind, to aQbrd to sacrifice cannons, ', and ad oiler thing?, as though tlcy were only so a ci. t. V.'i! ! cr the effect abroad of tbe blowing uc n.oro tiiau cnytnsncr c se. And bcic dust be discouraging. Tbe Peters- v calls the destruction of tbe Met ri mac a folly. The vcr?el was provisioned t c T to bo 1 . eoru wn i s p. :i 10 I, ii! armed nr. J cq iippid, :nd all vi -X nc UP.C to write s v, HO the r.cctsiuiy ccolncfs, cr view 'I; nee rccpiitite to couiicg to a proper From Korthern Papers. We have before na tbe New York Herald of tbe 2nd lost., from which we glean some items, one of which is the formal announcement by it3 Washington corres pondent that " The Hon. Elward Staa'y is now oa his way from California, and will be here in Washington h a few days. It is known that be comes at the request of tbe President for tbe purpose of taking the office of Military Governor cf North Carolina, his native State!'; Oa the first instant, President Lincoln sent in to tbe Federal Senate the name cf Charles C. Latbrop, as Collector of the Port of New Orleans. It is said that the Lincoln Cabinet baa two persons in view, from which to make the appointment of Military Governor of Louisiana, the " Union " men of that State having seriously objected to General Bntier being ap pointed to that position, soying that they could stand anvbady else." There are seme speculations in regard ,to the objects of M. Mercier's visit to Richmond, to which the Her ald's Fortress Monrce correspondent pecms to attach little importance. Fremont left Wheeling about th3 28th nit., but bis destination is not stat(d. The Herald calls fjr bis pre sence in East Tennessee. We Snd little c'se that has not already been antici pated through other channels, if we except an address from Fierpont, who is a candidate for re-election to his bogus governorship of Western -Virginia. The abolition ot slavery ia the District of Columbia, has caused a stampede of negroes .from Maryland to that point, and the U. S. Marshal in attempting to return them, is resisted by the Yankee Regiments, with which they take refuge. This creates a strong fetlingia Mary land. Bat Maryland ia crushed and cannot help her self. ' Some space u devoted to Cambreler-g, the South with nzch men as Andy Johnson, of Tennes see, or Jce Holt, of Kentucky.. -We hare ft much higher opinion of both than the Observer would seem to entertain. Neither have we ever entertained any feeling of Lostility to Mr. Stanly as aa individual. We stated what appeared to us to be a pretty well-founded rumor, and we stated it with regret as one of the de velopments cf tbe war. We now regret to have to add tbat it is evidently fnre than a rumor. Ia regard to tbe last ptragrapb, we can only say to the Observer, name him !' Tbat much 13 doe to the public, av.d we shall be tbe last to endeavour either to screen or to palliate tbe c Hence of any such person. As for the Respass matter, we have nothing to take back, except tbat we made an assertion which, however true, is not, in tbe nature of things, susceptible cf proof. If we had said that there was " no more jast grounds for doubt in the minds of ery human being," Sc., we would have been more nearly correct. As the old cock crows, the ycung one leans, and Federal Lieutenant Colonel Respass, the son, is a bad evidence of the fideli ty to the South of Mayor Isaiah Respass, the father. That General Lcvdl was bhmelecs or nearly so at New Orleans, we do not btliee and therefore receive the picas lectures of the Obieiver and of divers and sun dry other purtizm organs with tbe utmost composure. Tbe known fact that the batteries at tbe battle-field below New Orleans wet without cartridges to fit their guns, and tbat five thousand troops down there were without ammunition, does not do muh to re-as?ure the public mind or dispel the suspicions which have not yet been removed. m ccnc.u:--io u ct It!". 1.3 (.U (1 been f u Yankee hue 3 at Swi ,ns- to have b eu. :t;.d i, am' I -iUr than had been rar-nnscu. The report Ubv.b.d in the hnaicg cf a small party -v 1 ea?e, who however did not riraain long, rc-turcud to the vessel fri.ru which they cv oS Noi.'oik became simply a matter M.-lhs were cut oil bv tie cc- U 1 ed a C x ,i ii.ihic:.: v.;..-. c cu: r!'k he oi Koau- ;c fiilen, has CJst'the a :id untold numbers cf : (i -C j i.e. j i- CO; (i :.-d ty the ?nc-iCc3 of .1. ',: i-hort oi a tcir.bla and deciaive :'c:v.i r.rm of the Potomac could 1: ci' the coil which was rraduil!v '. Thus it is that mismanagement J.uiui long alter their immediate vay. In the lc-fs of the Merrimac, rooit? at Ncrlolk and r.plng the hulls cf Mr. Secretary regard to Itoanoke. n.ihi l.e of r v- ;r: ':; ci; : . . . . j i . i.,-, : : : c i . ; ; Lo i:'n nv.c- that the persons cn board the block ; rr'. f-"y that they get the Journal so. Unfortunately there will be eir, end even ia this section there r.ofgh to hold secret correspondence he enerrv, it cenes rho, is not above who, it s'.ems, was a native of Washington in this State. Ihe Herald anticipates quite a revival cf trad? at New Orleans., It will be dis3ppo!nted, we think. It also anticipates the eaiiy fall of Fort Pdlow. We ttnst i', will bo disappointed in that too. From the Baltimore News Sheet cf the 30th ult., we flean the following items, which may possess some interest : " Prcfisor Bache, of the Coast Survey, re ports that next 1o Port Royal, St. Helena Sound, S. C, is the Ik st harbor on the Southern coast. Two channels, of seventeen feet each, at mean lew water, en ter it, -ii d from tho Sound the whole cduttry may be penetrated nearly to the Railroad. The width of the 30ucd renders all its shores healthy, as all are reached fredy by the sea-breizj ; s nd Otter 'Island, especially, finely situated for settlement and a commercial town If ever other interests than planting ones rule in this region, he locks to see its commercial advantage made use cf, at d the bomber ft era the heads of tbe Ashepoo and Comlahee rivers find a mniket nearer .these great rivers than either Charleston cr Savannah." Speaking of the visit of M. Mercier, the Fundi Min ister, to Richmond, the Washington correspondent . of the New York Post eavs : " Various rumors are afloat respecting the visit of Count Mercier to Richmond, and doubtless most cf them are mre speculations. I have it, however, upon excellent authority, that the Count has admitted to a disth;guhh"d member of this Govern ment, Federal. that noth rri but absolute tubjugaticn will restore the Union." Will that, even if possible ? We take it that this ccrn'ssion is a very dangerous one to the Federal Adminis'rs tioa which has been holding out to foreign nations the idea that a strong Uniou feel in': exiss in the Confederacy. We leark that at the battle on last Monday weik, near Williamsburg, Va., the 5th N. C Regiment, un der command of Col. D. Iv. McRae, was among those mott hotly f-ng aged, and era. ducted itself splendidly. Strangely enough, none of tbe Richmond papers except the Whig, i ppears to have referred to this fact. It was stated that the 13th, under Col. Alfred Scales, had been very badly cut up. We understand that three cf our Physicians, to wit : Drs. Dickson, Audtnscii, and Thomas, are to go on to Richmond at the request of Dr. Johnston, Surgeon Gen eral cf this State. A terrible battle is, of course, appre hended almost immediately. '1 be severe loss of the 5th also appears to be confirmed. e J. p. I is cci nceHjCu, tacy y r. to : '.; e at uj C ) .: 2 i- - UOii ) to c: y tl leg ihry can get cut c"f it, and if tl el: leails cr hearts, ?) much the better. cm from il the fact that we still live," ho oilte gratifying; and that, God willing, ..'!. 'il to die rs lo'eg as wo can eee anybody urouiid u--. They n-cy ako learn that the i iiqr.cr Is pretty clcee, ccd that even their ivuid ho hard run to find a drink. As lor .oy c: -i't get that, ?cuuo why, it isn't here. i ct piceciit, is rather dull than otherwise. A y familh s have gone cfl' lor the season, and there amuocmc-nts ; the minstrils that were GexeuaTj JosF.pn R. Axdeusox, formerly in com mand at this point, is novr in charge near Fredericks burg, Va. It would appear that there' has been desperate efforts made recently to step up he channel of the James River below Richmond. We take it that the obstruc tions are not far be-low the city, so that the advance of gunboats to above City Point doe-5 not affect their effi ciency. Tho Richmond correspondent of the Charles ton Mercury, writing; under date of Saturday last, the 1 0th instant, soys that The gunboat lever ran high all day yesterday, (Friday ) . Marry citizens aid negroes with several companies cf soldiers, went down the river to assist in completing the blockade. Vessels laden with plaster and bricks were seized and sunk in a word, the expedients of desperation were resorted to. If gunboats ever venture up here, and succeed in passing the obstructions, the engineer in charge, a son of llou Wm. C. Rives will be held to stern account. Rat the chances are now decidedly not in favour cf the gun boats." We trrst that the chanct s may so continue, but we will scon know more about it. It is certain that the eval uation of Richmond was net on the uroerramme as late aa Monday night, nor will it be without the most desperate struggle. The people in Richmond listen for the sound cf the cannon every moment. ..era -. ! c; o uty t come. Perhaps yellow jack may get cr August, if cot soone1, but we are not hi W ti. V ! .,. : i t the core r : i re s iaueei e c.t:v d.ctcrs have trouo Into tbe service at the gel ere! 1 : ai'di cf the people at home is unusual gee. 1. hi:: :..ee..eee cf quinine ond liquor is a great reh,r'. ho rpoi! tic whole tho tewn is not trpc dally lively or irective in a civil or commciclal point cf view, and vfT-re vc do not hd at liberty to invite our " North a brethren " to pry in a vieit, although perhaps Gen. rc eh night get up a warm reception for them, and at them to a succession cf balls. We ha For the JoarEal. Wii.MiycTON, N . C, M ay 1 2 tb, 1 362. Mesess. EriTons : Wilmington has not yet been attacked by tho ciamy but is there not offered a strong temptation fbr him to attack us ? Have we not piled up oh our w harves at least 100,000 barrels ot rosia ? t This rosin, in the Ivew loru market, would bring near one half million of dollars. Is it right that th-r prop erty, now useless to us, but so very valuable to the Yan kees, dia l remain in its present situation? Rumor says that General Frcneh has issued a positive order to have it reuK-Ytd, but the owner s have refused to do it on ac count o! the expense. If this is so, I would ask if it is not the duty of the Ccmmissionets of the Town, or the Committee of Public Safety, to have the General's or der executed. As the difference in the r dative weight of bam Is of r sin and stone is but one-third less, the expediency ot using the rosin to till up the channel of the river oelow town, so as to impede the approach ot invading vessels, is respectfully suggested bv - A CITIZEN." 1rllute of ilt&pcit. Mr meeting of Captain Enrett'a Co.. E, 3d Regiment N. C Troops, held at Camp i-'clntos-h, for ihe purpose of draft ing resolution relative totae death cf privates S. Pavia slv.& U. A man, who died on the 15th March", T. P. Amaa. on tho 27th April, P. Man-hb-nrn. on the 1st a: By, and W. T. Ever ett, on 7th May, (ail of pneumonia.) ert. J. P. Oates was called to ihe cnair , and Corpc-ral S. SI ills was requested to act as Secretary. On motion of Corporal J. M. Finer, a committee of four were appointed, viz : Hiil Williams, W. n. Everett, O. II. Horn enc 11. Marshburn, who, after a short deliberation, r resented tii3 following resolutions, wh'ch were adopted : "kVHEKEAS, It hath pleased God to remove from our midt our beloved brothers ia arms, we" can bur, humbly baw in submi--si to the 'decrees of Him who giveth and taketh away to bvit hU own wise pnrpeses. liesolCvd, That 'in losing our brother soldiers we lose men wha iu character lew excelled : they gained the gocd es teem of alt the Company, and acted the soldiers' part with ci--erfu!n s and bravery. iicsolc- , Thi-.t ia mentioning their names to their beloved f.itiiiiied and frieeds. would cuse a cloud of griet to over shadow them ; e deeply sympathize with them, and are w iliing to bear a purticu of their sorrow ourselves. Kesolctd, Thai we send a copy of those resolutions to their bereaved relatives, alt-o one to the Wilmington Journal with a request to publish the fame. Ou motion the meetircr v-as adjourned. J. P. OATI23, Chairman. .am'l Lines, Secretary. 0 c V, ve -t on perfectly gocd authority that the Lic it e govcrr: inert i-3 ergaged in trying to get up a "t Xorih Carolina Regiment for tho Federal service, ti nt a roan named P-ottcr holdethe commission cl unci, cd another named llespass, the position cf aUnant Ccleneh Who Potter is wo do not know, pees ie sou cf Isaiah Respaeer, former, or we suppose ear, Mayor of Washington, N. C. It is said they e sueoeeded in getting together a few traitors from inert Gcd-:. baudenrd portion cf tho population of c:i: i.e..'. l:'t or ; h c'i n.c a v T in til I. a w. Oever 1. r U the hu Ci . 1 il e, t (pact ..I icu it the vuy ce-c o; :a....; l.he tLi-j ;hl ceaanr it. . K.iC'. il he 1 lid: .'' y, :u c e ;e.. wri.-or c f " J ueti . r 1 .3 C '. ).: "Wo care litilo for long cards published in newspapers. These facts speck for themselves, and leave no doubt on cur mind of the truth of all we have said about the ex istence of treason ia some cares in that section. Young ;ts.3 is L'eutenant Colonel ; what is the senior Res v. 00. to nav; (. te any thing, he ought not. to have sau dui-icc " df't-3 not praena U lecoo creswcic- rhat 1 m u.e IT, Ihd ia .1.0 C.I i:: T 7 umii'igtoix Jour.'-ci, ror no e'ou.jt. It corrcsoonoer.is to what they can really bur m e. uo. Jwid, th.ete will be little .t LOt the V.TiUr of " JreOio.'. onp a bet.a- tide to that signature, by practieiag a little cf too virtue v. inch ii is in'o .dcd to utdguatc. It is true, we doVt cute liiuch, one w.iy cr the other. And the iloctioucciiiig far Governor oni other cfil ccu', hi the Rukjgh pap re, eep:dehy tho Standard, is vmcc a--1 og, JW political purpose, no doubt. Well, we ere tired of this sort of thing, and tired even of notic ing it. The Very Latest. We have received no telegram from RIchmord this forenoon. We have every reason to believe tbat the enemy's guubcat3 have reached the obstructions eight miles bJow Richmond, and have so far been un able to proceed farther up. . If 0, we shall look lor further and important news this afternoon. Daily Journal, yesterday. Guep.f.illas. See call of Dr. A. Mclntire, who has been regularly commissioned by the War Department to raise a guerrilla company. The Department is par ticular in grantkg these commissions, but Dr. McTntire came so strongly attested, as to his qualifications lor this particular service, that his daim3 were at once re cognized. To those of active, energetic and fearless character and habits, this is the very service of all oth ers. There ia plenty of euch material, we feel certain. Tun i-atm cf Riciimosd row trembles in the balance, and a few days, cr, perhaps, hour.?, may show whether those to wbese charge is defence has been committed have been wor thy of the confluence reposed in them. The enemy's gunboats were above City Point bcur3 ago. AVho can say that by thh- time the may not be up at Richmond ?- But for the experience of New Or leans we might-have some confi Pence that something ef fectual bad been dene ; but with that experience we can have no contiJenca in anything. We bad beard so much about tbe Mississippi being lined with, .batteries, that we thought the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip by the enemy's fleet was but tbe beginning. We were, in fact, told so by a gentleman ia pretty high position who had seen Gen. Lovell some weeks before ; but what was cur surprise to learn from leading and weil-informed gentlemen who left New Orleans on the 1st instant on cffieial business, that there was not a battery on the river between Fort St. Philip and the City, with tbe exception cf some light guns almost without ammuni tion, which were mounted neaf the river on the old battle ground at Cba'mette. If Gen. Lovell Is not re sponsible for the false expectations entertained by the people, then somebody higher than Gen. Loveil is. Hon. Edward Stanly. Tho Wilmington Journal does not agree with the Standard and Observer in dis crediting the story started by Burnside as to Mr. Stan ly. Mr. Stanly was a V nig and a Union man, and any story that can be used to Ids discredit 13 at once credit ed by his cl 1 opponents though coming from those whom ihey daily denounce as liars and thieves. The Journal cannot even find room to state that the Stand ard and Observer gave reasons tor the faith that is in them, much less fur the reasons themselves. There is a leading North Carolina politician, who had never become a citizen of a Northern State, who is now in welbknown affiliation wirh the North. Nothic2: has been said about him or his course. He belonged to the Journal's party. Fayettcville Observer. Tbe Observer is nearly correct in saying that the Journal docs not discredit the story said to have been started by Burnside about Mr. Stanly. As will be seen by to-cay's Journal, it is directly affirmed by the Wa-h-ton correspondent cf tbe Ncie York Herald. That we credit any story to Mr. Stanly's discredit, simply be cause he was a Whig and a Union man, is an assertion that we need not trouble ourselves to contradict, since the charge falls to the ground by tbe weight of ita own absurdity, and tbe fact that it is made at all, only proves the inveterate prejudice of the party making it. We can confidently appeal to our coarse to prove that the charge is both unjust and ungenerous. TVe do not like the Observer, identify the Wbigs and Union men of North Carolina with the position of the candidate of the Black Republican party for Governor of Cali- fornia,any more than we do that of the Democrats of This The Yankee Flag cf Tfxce. Considerable stir was Ciuscd iu our city jesterday forenoon, by tbe an nouncement that a fhr cf truce was coming up tbe river from Fort Pulaski. It appears that an unarmed Fed eral sioamcr, bearing a 11 ig of truce, came up to within a short distance of Mackay's I'oint, between twelve and one o'clock, having actually passed cur pickets without any ethort on their part to arrest her progress. They should be able to make some explanation of such an extraordinary omission. What is still worse, tho steamer St Johns, a mere transport, Capt. King, seeing the Federal vessel approaching, wholly without author ity, stemmed down the river to meet her, and actually took of two ot her officers, and was bringing them up the river and in fail view of our lower batteries, when she was arrested a short distance- below them b officer sent out by the commandant of the posr, officer received from ihe Federal efficer on board a communication from General Hunter to General Law ton, with reference to au exchange of prisoners. The particulars of the despatch have not transpired, nor are we aware of the character of the response of General Lawton. For. the very singular and unauthorized conduct of Capt. King, ho was fo; thwith ordered under arrest. Nobody doubts his loyalty, but so grievous a mistake, to call it by no harder name, proves that he is not the man to be trusted with public duties on the outposts. Everybody is astonished by his imprudence and want of even ordinary forethought. And, on the other hand, we ere not so sure but that it would have been right to retain the Federal officers as prisoners. They knew very welt that an officer alone was authorized to receive them, and when they took ad vantage of the indiscretion of Capt. King they forfeit ed the courte sies of war. Savanah Republican, 1 Otk inst. A Yankee Tdief Killed. It is stated tbat a Yan kee soldier went to the bouse of a gentleman, just pre vious to the fight at South Mills, and robbed him of all the money he had and some bonds. The next day be was found dead on tho field of battle, and a gentlemaa examined the body and recovered the stolen property. layetteville Obwver. - The Despot's Ituie. V7e understand tbat C.ca. Wool seat a fltg of trace iEto Norfolk Saturday rnorninr-, informing the citizens that they wculd be allowed 4S hours to take the oath ot allegiance to the Lincoln Government. In the event of refusal, they were coolly informer! that they would be treated as prisoners of war. We have not heard the reply of the Mayor of that gallant city, whose people have been turned over to the tender mercies of Abe Lincoln- It is thus the tyrant con ciliates an unprotected people. Petersburg Erpress. Weo auk Enemies? The men who are speculating in food grinding the poor from mercenary motives. The men who directly or indirectly shake public confi dence in the value of Confederate money. The croakers wh are filling the people with doubts of the final accomplishment of oar purpose. The men who express the opinion that it is better to be a subject of Lincoln than of any other country. There are some person so speaking. Ot coarse we will never be put to the necessity of making the selection, bet the man who entertains A. L. as a second choice is not in heart with the cause. Better the government of the Czar of Kussla than that of the miserable administration of our enemy. Hatred of him is the only legacy which he can leave us, p.nd that ought-to be nu'sed until the vast amount of it-will be be yond computation. Mobile Tribune. Slate Finances. From a statpment made by the 'Tub-lie Treasurer, P. W. Courts, Esq , to the Convention a few days ago, we learn that the amount of Treasury notes, large and small, author ized to be issued by the Convention end General Assembly since June, 1861, is $7,800,000. Of this $2,611,944 50 have been issued in fundable notes, certificates of stock and small notes, leaving to be issued $5,2a5,05. 50. He thinks it will be necessary to enlarge the power to issae more large notes in order to meet the heavy drafts for the army. The above amount includes the fundable notes to be issued for the Con federate tax. The Treatwer thinks that hia arrangemeats, by which ha was enabled to meet the payment of the Con federate tax in Richmond, will secuxa to the State in premi ums on its bonds, about $30,000. THE RiTTMS OF S1IIL.OH. GEX. EEAUBEGAEDUOFFICAL EEPOBT. Headquarters Army of tbs Mississippi, ) Corinth, Miss., April 11, 1862. General: Oa the 2d: ultimo, having ascertained conclusively, from tbe movement of the enemy on the Tennessee river, and from reliable eources of informa tion, that bis aim would be to cut off my communica tions in West Tennessee, with the Eastern and South ern Statep, by operating from the Tennessee river, be tween Crump's Landing and Eastport, as a base, I de termined to foil bis designs by concentrating all my available forces at and around Corinth. Meanwhile, having called on tbe Governors of the States of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisi ana to furnish additional trot p3, some of them, chiefly regiments trom Louisiana, soon ' reached this vicinity, and, with two divisions cf General Polk's command from Columbus, and a fine corps of ttoop3 from Mobile and Pensacola, under Mejor. General Bragg, constitu ted tbe Army of tbe Mississippi. At the same time, General Johnston being at Murfrcesboro', on the march to form a junction of his forces with min, was called oa to send at least a brigade by rail road, so that we j might fall on and crush the enemy should be attempt au advance from urd-r bis gunboats. The call on Gen. Johnston was promptly complied with. His entire force was also hastened m tms direction ; and, by tne 1st of April, cur unittd forces were concentrated along the Mobile raid Ohio Railroad from Bethel to Corinth, and on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from Corinth to Iuka. . 1 It was then determined to assume the effecehe and strike a sudden blow at the enemy in position undej Geneial Grant, on the west bank of the Tennessee, at Pittsburg and in the direction of Savau.oah, before he was leintbrc d by the army under Geneial Buell, then known to be advancing tor that purpose by rapid march es from Nashville via Columbia. About tbe same time, General Johnston was advised that such an operation conformed to the expectations of the President. By a rapid and vigorous attack on General Grunt, it was expected be would be b aten back into his trans ports and lb? river, or captured in time to enable U3 to profit by the victory and remove to the rear all the stores and munitions that would fall" into our bands in such an event, before the arrival of General Buell's army on the scene. It was never contemplated, however, to retain the p;siti'-u thus gained, and abandon Corinth, the strategic point of the campaign. Want ot t'n-ral (ffiecrs, need ul for the proper or ganization of divisions and brigades of au army brought thus suddenly together, and other difficulties in the way ofan eff. Ciive organization, delayed the movement until the night of the 2d instant, when it was heard from a reliable quarter, that the junction of the enemy's armies was near at band ; it was then, at a late hour, deter mined tbat the attack should be attempted at once, in complete and imperfect as wero cur preparations for such a grave and momentous adventure. Accordingly, that night, at one o'dock, A. M., the preliminary orders to the commanders of cuips were istued for the move ment. Oa tho foll-iwing morning the detailed orders of move ment, a copy of which is herewith marked A," were issued, and the movement, alter some delay, commenced, the troops being in admirabje spirits. It wa3 expected we 6hcu:d be able to reach the enemy's lines in time to attack them early on the 5th inst. The men, however, for the most part, were unused to marching, the roads narrow, and traversing a densely wooded country, be came almost impassable after a severe rain storm on the r.ia'ht etf the 4th, which drenched the troops in bivouac; hence cur troops did mjt reach the intersections of the roads Irom Pittsburg and Hamburg, in the immediate vicinity of the enemy, until late Saturday afternoon. It was then decided that the attaek should be -made cn the nert mornii g, at trie earliest hour practicable, m accordance with the oiders of movement. That is in three likes oi battle ; tne first and second extending from Owl Creek on the left to Lick Creek on the light a distance of about three mi'es, supported by the third and the reserve. The first lice, under Major General Hardte, was constituted of his corp3, augmented on bis right by Gladden 's Brigade, of Major General Brag's corps, deployed in line 'of ba'tle, with their respective artillery, following immediately by the main road to Pittsburg, and the cavalry in the rear of tho wings. The second line coirposc-d of the other troops of Brasrg's corps, followed the farst at a distance of five hundred yards, in the same order as the first. The army corps under Gen. ro ti f jlloweel the second line, at tbe dis tanee of about thibt hundred yards, in lines cf brigades, deployed with their batteries ia rear of each brigade, moving by the Pittsburg road, the left wing supported by cavalry ; the reserve, under Hrigadier-General Breck inridge, billowed closely the third liue, in the same or der, its right wirg supported by cavalry. These two corps constituted the reserve, and were to support the front lines of battle, by being deployed when required, on the right and left of the Pittsburg road, or otherwise act according to the exigencies of the battle. At 5, A. M., on the Ch instant, a reconnoitering party of the enemy, having become engaged with our advanced pickets, the commander of the forces gave or ders to begin the movement and attaek as determined upon, except that Trabue's Brigade of Breckinridge's Division was detached and advanced to support the left of Bragg's corps and line of battle, when menaced by the enemy, and the othc? two brigades were directed to advance by the road to Hamburg, to Eupport Bragg's right; and at the same tine, Ivlaucys Rjgimeut ot Polk's Corps, was advanced by the same road to rein force the regiaeeat of cavalry and battery of four pieces, already thrown forward to watch ad guard Gricry, Tanner's and Borland's Fords, of L'ck Creole Thirty minutes -after 5 o'clock, A. M., onr lir.es and columns were iu motion, all-animated evidently by a promising spirit. The troat line was engaged at once, but advanced steadily, followed in due order with equal resolution and steadiness, by the other lines, which were brought successively into action with rare skill, judg ment and gallantry, by rfce several corp3 commanders, as the enemy made a stand ; with his masses, rallied for the struggle for bis encampments. Like an Alpine ava lanche, our troops moved forward, despite the determin ed resistance of the enemy, until after G o'clock, P. M., when we were in possession of all his encampments, be tween Owl and Lick Creeks, but one. Nearly all of bis field artillery, about thirty (30) flags, colors and standards, over 3,000 prisoners, including a Division commander, Gen. Prentiss.) and several Brigade com manders, thousands of small arni3, an immense supply of subsistence, forage and munitions of war, and a large amount of means of transportation all the substantial fruits of a complete victory, such, indeed, as rarely have followed the most successful battles, for never was an army so well provided as that of our enemy. '1 he remnant of his army had been driven in utter disorder to the immediate vicinity cf Pittsburg, under the shelter of the heavy guns of his iron clad gunboats, and we remained .undisputed masters of his well select ed, admirably provided cantonments, after over twelve hours of obstinate conflict with his forces, who had been beaten "irom them. and tt.e contiguous covert, but only by a sustained onset of all the men we could bring into action. Oar loss was heavy, a3 will appear from the accom panying return marked " B." Our Commander-in-. Chief, Gen. A. S. Johnston, fell mortally wounded and died on the field at 2:30 P. M., alter having shown the highest qualities of the commander, and a personal in trepidity that inspired all arcund him, and gave resist less impulsion to hi3 columns at critical moments. Tbe chief command then devolved upon me, though at tho time I was greatly prostrated and suffering from the prolonged sickness with which I had been afflicted since early in Fcbruiry. The responsibility was one, which ia my physical condition, I would have gladly avoided, though cast upon mo when our forces were sac cessfully pushing the enemy back upoa the Tennessee River, and though supported on the immediate field by such corps commanders as Major Generate Polk, Bragg and Hardee and Brigadier General Breckinridge com manding the reserve. It was after 6 o'clock, P. M., as before said, when the enemy's last position was carried, and his forces fin ally broke and sought refuge behind a commanding eminenc?, covering the Pittsburg landing, not more than half a mile distant, and under the gans ot the gunboats which opened on our eager columns a fierce and annoy ing fire with shot and shell of the heaviest description. Darkness wa cLse at band. Officers and men were exhausted by a combat of over twelve hours without food, and jaded by the march of the preceding day through mud and water, it was therefore impossible to collecUthe rich and opportune spoils of war scattered broadcast on the field left in our possession and imprac ticable to make any effective dispositions for their re moval to the rear. ' I accordingly established my headquarters at the Church ot ShiJob, ia the enemy's encampment, with Major General Bragg, and directed our troops to sleep on their arms; in such positions in advance and re.r as corps commanders ehould determine, hoping from news received by a special dispatch that delays bad been en countered by General Buoll in his march from Colum bia, and that his main force, therefore could not roach the field of battle ia time to save General Grant's shat tered fugitive forces from capture or destruction on tin following day. During the night the rain fell in torrents, addin t0 the discomfort and harrassed condition of the menfthe enemy, moreover, had broken their rest by a d'schafe at measured intervals, of heavy sheila thrown from ih: gunboats, therefore, on the following morning the troc-rs under my ( ommand were-not in condition to cope with an tqual force of fresh .troor s, armed and equipped like our adverf ary, in the immediate possession of hia depots and sheltered by such an auxiliary as the enemy's gaG. boats. - About 6 o'clock on tbe morning of the 7th of April, however, a hot fire of musketry and artillery cp-nej from the enemy's quarter, on our advance line, assured me of the junction oj his force3, and soon the battle raged with a fury which satisfied me I was attacked by a largely superior force. But from tbe onset, car troops, notwithstanding their fatigue ami losses from the battle of the day before, exhibited the most cheer ing, veteranlike steadiness. Oa the right and- centre tbe enemy was repulsed in every attempt be made with his heavy columns in that quarter of the field ; on the left, however, and nearest to tbe po:nt of arrival of hU reinforcements be drove forward line after line of hia fresh troops, which were met with a resolution and courage ot which cur country may be proudly hopeful. Again and again our troops were brought to the charge invariably to win the position at issue, invariably "to drive back their foe. But hour by hour thus opposed to an enemy constantly reinforced, cur ranks were per ceptibly thinned under tbe unceasing.withering Ore ct the enemy, and by 12 meridian, 18 hours of hard fighting, had sensibly exhausted a large number ; my hst re' perves bad necessarily been disposed of, and the enemy was evidently receiving lresh reinforcements after each repulse ; accordingly, about 1 P. M., I determined to withdraw from so unequal a conflict, securing such of the results of the victory of the day before as was then" practicable. Officers of my Staff were immediately dispatched with the necessary orders to make the best dispositions for a deliberate, orderly withdrawal from the field, and to col lect and pest a reserve to meet the enemy, should, he at tempt to push after us. In this connection I will men tion particularly my Adjutant General, Col. Jordan, who was of much assistance to me on this occasion, as be had already been oa the field of battle oa that and the preceding day. About two o'clock, p. rn., the lines in advance, which had repulsed the enemy in their last fierce assault ou our left and centre, received the orders to retire ; this we;s done with uncommon steadiness, and the enemy rue-do no attempt to follow. Tbe line of troops established to cover this movement, had been disposed on a favorable ridge commanding the ground ol Shiloh church ; lrom this position cur artille ry piayed upon the woods ceyond tor a while, but upon no visible enemy and without reply. Soon satisfied that no serious pursuit would be attempted, this last lice was withdrawn,, and never did troops leave a battle field ia better order ; even the stragglers fell into ranks and marched off with those who had stood more steadily by their colors. A second strong position wa3 tt ken up about a mile in rear, where tte approach of tliej enemy was awaited fcr nearly an hour, but no effart to folio ,v was mr.de, and only a small detachment of horsemen could be seen at a distance from this last position, weari ly observing our movements. Arranging, through my staff officers, for the comple tion of the movements thus begun, Brigadier General Brcckenridge was left with Jiis command as a rear gu trd to hold the ground we had occupied the night preceding the fiist battle, just in front of the int 'toecti u ot the Pittsburg and Hamburg roads, about lour mil s t'roai the former place, while the rest of the army passed to the rear ia excellent order. Oa the lollowing day, General Breckenrid re fell back about three miles to Mickey's, which position we con tinued to bell with our cavaly thrown considerably fur ward in immediate proximity to the battle-field. Unfortunately, towardi night of the 7th inst., it be gan to rain heavily ; this continued througluut the Dight; the roads became' almost impassable, iu many places, and much hardship and eufLriug now ensued be fore all the regiments reached their encampments. But despite the heavy casualties of the two eventful days of the Gth and 7th April, this army is more confidc.it of ultimate success than before its encounter with the enemy. To Major Generals Polk, Bragg and Hardee, comman.hn: corps, and to Brigadier General Breckinridge, ocraa anJii -jj the reserve, the ccuntry is generally indebted for iln . intelligence and f uergy witn which all orders were 1 x 11 tfd for the foresight and military ability they disph.i c 1 ia the absence of instructions in the ma iy esifrench ot the bat:le, on a field so densely wooded an J 'broken a-d hr their tearless deportment as they repea ed'y led th-ir c ia mauds personally to the onset upon theirpoweiful adv s-if-a-ry. It was under these circumstances that Gea L.r.t.g Im'-I two horses shot under him, that Vlejjr General ILirucu jv.is slightly wounded, his coat rent by balls and his horae di-t-ab'ed, and that Major General Breckinridge was twice btrutk by spent balls- For the services of their galmnt subordinate commanders, and of other ollicers as well as for the details of tfie batt'.fl field, I must refer to the reports of Corps, Division and Brigade commanders, which shall be forwarded as soon as received. To give more ia detail, the operations of the two t.-att'es resulting from the movement on Pittsburg, thin r..w at tempted, mast have delayed thi4 report for week,, and in terfered materially with the important duties of my posi tion ; butrl may be permitted to say, that not only rii-i the olistinito cotiCict for twelve hours, oa Suuday, leave ti e Confederate Army masters of the battle fidd, and our ad versary beaten, but we left that field on the next day on! .' alter cfqht hours incessant battle, with a snperior atmy i' fresh troops, whom we had repulsed iu every attack oa .uf lines so repulsed and crippled, indeed, aa to lea.e it una ble to take the livid, for the csmpa'g'i for which it was col lected and equipped at such enormous expense, and with such proius:oa of all the appliances of war. Tnese suo ces.sfu! results were not achieved, however, as before said without severe loss, a loss not to be measured by the num ber ot the slain or woanded, but by the hiRh social and per sonal worth of so large a Lumber of those who weie killed or disabled, including the comuander of the forces, sL i u high qualities will be greatly missed in the momentous cam paign impending. 1 deeply regret to record also the death of the lion. Ceo. M. Johnson, Provisional Governor of Kentucky, who wlU into action with the Kentucky troops, and continually in spired them by his words aod example. Having bis 1 orno stiot under him on Sunday, ho entered the ranks of a Ken tucky regiment on Monday, and felt mortally wounded to- wardsthe close cf the day. Not his Btate alone, but the whole Confederacy hae sustained a great loss in the death of this brave, upright and able man. Another gallant and able soldier and captain was lost to the sei vice of the country, when Brigadier Gener.il Glad den, commanding 1st Brigade Wither' Division, 2d Array Corps, died from a severe wound received on the 6lh inst., alter having been conspicuous to hia whole corps and the army for courage and capacity. Major General Chealham, commanding 1st Division, lt Corps, wcsBlightly wounded, and had three horses thjt un der him. Brigadier General Clark, commanding 2d Division of tho 1st Corps, received a savere wound also, on the first d.iy, which will deprive tbe army of hid valauble Eervices lor some time. Brig. General Hindman, engaged in the onset of .'he bat tle, was conspicuous for a cool courage efficiently employed in leading hiB men ever into the thickest of the fray, until hia horse was shot under him, and he was unfortunately so severely injured by the fall that the army was deprived on the following day of his chivalrous example. Brig. Generals B. R. Johnston and Bowen, most merito rious officers, were also severely wounded in the first com bat, but it is hoped will soon be able to return to duty with their brigades. To mention the many field officers who died or were wcunded, while gallantly leading their commands into ac tion, and the many brilliant instances of individual coura!;j displayed by officers and men in the twenty hours of battle, is impossible at this time; but their names will bo duly made known to their countrymen. The immediate Staff of tho lamented Commander-in-Chief, who accompanied hiui to the field, renderd efficient tervi :e, and either by his side or ia carrying hia orders, shared hii exposure to the casualties of a well-contested battle tie!.'. I beg to commend their names to the notice cf the War .De partment, namely, of Captain H. P. Brewster and N. V.'i liffe, of the Adjuant and Inspector General's Department. Captain Thomas O'Hare, Acting Inspector General. Lieutenants George Baylor and Ttomi M. Jaak, Aids d- Camp. Volunteer Aids de Camp, Colonel William Pre.stoa, Llajor D. M. Haden, K. W. Muntord, and Calhoun Benham. l8jor Albert J. Smith and Capt. Wickman, Q aarteraas- ter's Department. To these gentlemen was apsigned the last sad uaty cf Ac companying the remains of their lamented chief lK in tao field, except Captains Brewster and WickhO'j, who r raaia ed, and rendered valuable cervices as stafi" officers?, cn the 7th of April. Governor Ishara G. Harris, of Tennessee, wei.t mon the field with General Johnston, was by hia sida whea h wa shot, aided him from his horse and received him iu his ara 9 when he died; subsequently the Governor j ined my ta!l and remained with me 1 hroughout the Eext day, xcept wLeu carrying orders or engaged in erjcouragmg the troops of h' own State, to whom he gave a conspicuous example 0! coot ness, zaal and intrepidity. I am also under many obligations to my own g-jneral, per sonal end volunteer stoff, many ot whom had be. u no iorg asiocjated with me- 1 append a list of those present ou the field on both days, ani whose du.ies carried thca con stantly under fire, namely : Cot. Thomas JordaD, Opt- Chi ton H. Smi:h and Lieut. John M. Otey, Adjutant General s Department. Major George W. Brent, Acting Inspector General. Cot. E. B. Lee, Chief of Subsistence, whose horse was wound ed, Lieut. Col. S. W. Ferguson and Lieut. A. E. Chisolm, Aid8-de-Oamp. - v Volunteer Aida-de-Camp, Col. Jacob Thompson, Major Nuaia Augustine. Major H. K. Peyton. - Captain Albert Ferry. Captain B. B. Waddell. , Capt. W. W. Porter, of Maj. Gen. Crittenden's stall, also reported for dqty, and shared the duties of my volautecr staff on Monday. Brigadier General Tradeau, of Louisiana Volunteers, ai80t
Wilmington Journal [1844-1895] (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 15, 1862, edition 1
2
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