North Carolina Newspapers

VOL. 1.—M 32. TOWeTON, X C WEDNESDAY lOKIIM-P K 5, 1865. . PRICE TEM CM. THE HERALD DE YUE TOWN. G M > W T. IHEWIM.ACWCT OF THE UTE BATTLE. - Full Particulars of the Assault art Repulse at fort Steadman. A correspondent of the A". Y. HeraU gives the folknving interesting account of the recent I battle near Petersburg:— Near Petersburg, March 25,1865. A rebel column, about three thou and strong, under £bnnmnd of Major General Gordon, made an attack on the front of the Ninth corps short ly alter four o’clock this morning. The rebel onset was sudden, overwhelming, and partially successful. Tae pickets had received, orders not to fire unless there was some necessity for doing so, and the night had been a remarkafiy quiet one.all along the lines. The point .of attack was Fort Steadman, near Meade’s station, - That part of the line is held by the Third brigade of the First division, Gen Wilcox ‘commanding. FortSteadman is a square work, covering nearly one a re of ground. 11 was garrisoned chiefly by the Fourteenth New York heavy artillery, under command of Major Randall. The pieces in it were brass Napo leons, three inch rifles and siege mortars. Im mediately to the left of the fort is a’work known as battery No. 11. The rebels entered both on the right and left of Fort Steadman, tearing ^own the abattis in several places. It is supposed that the rebels had a twofold object in making this attack. First to destroy some portion of General Grant’s military rail- road, which is here only three-quarters of a mile from their main Une; and, secondly, to capture the headquarters of General Wilcox. How they failed in both I will now proceed to explain. Under cover of the darkness Gordon massed his men, and they passed rapidly over the short space of ground between their works and ours.. The ground is remarkably well adapted fdr such a movement,, being full of ravines. The rebels made good use of every advantage, and entered our works along with such of our pickets as had not been wounded or captured. Their nekt movement was to close in on the rear and enter Fort Steadman. The movement was a successful one, and the work fell into their hands. Major Randall was seized by some of the rebels and tossed over the parapet into the ditch. His head struck the soft ntuddy bottom without injuring him in the least, and he escaped immediately alterwaids. The bombproofs and nlagazinrs were then entered by a great number of the rebels, while others turned the guns of the fort on Fort Haskell, another of our large works, about half a mile to tile left. A fierce artillery duel ensued, and amidst its noise and smoke the work of plun dering the officers’ quarters went briskly on. While the above scenes were being enacted, General McLaughlin, commanding the Third brigade of General Wilcox’s division, proceeded to make a proper disposition of has troops to re pel the attack. He. rode out into the breast works and into battery No. 11, just to the left of Fort Steadman, to ascertain the position of the rebels. They were, however, already inside ^he battery, and captured him before he liad time to turn his horse round. Lieut. Th mas Sturgis, aid de-camp on his stafi‘, was captured at the same time. It is believed they were sent off to the rear immediately. The command of the brigade then devolved on Colonel Robinson, of the Third Maryland battalion, who bad-only returned from a fur lough the evening before. The rebels were by this time pressing forward, not only towaris the railroad, but also in the direction of the Third brigade headquarters. The Twenty-ninth, Ffiv-seventh and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts, Third Maryland battalion, Onellundredth Penn sylvania and a part of the Fourteenth New York heavy artillery, ‘were formed in line, and hold ing.the rebels in check, although their skirmish line was within fifty yards of the brigade head- quarters, and some of their men had succeeded in cutting the telegraph wire. The rebels cheered wildly, and for a short time fought with energy and determination. Some Pennsyl vania regiments, of General J. F. Hartranft's division ^the Third,) came up and turned the title of battle. The rebel line was charged with great vigor, when they immediately broke and ran. The rout was complete, and the demorali zation of the rebel column never excelled.— They endeavored to get back to their own line, but not more than about five hundred succeed ed in doing so.. Regimental and company offi cers and pr vates surrendered at discretion.— -About fifteen hundred prisoners were captured, of whom at least sixty were officers. Many stands of colors and immense aumbers of small 'arms also fellinto our hands. In the final charge Major Arthur McClellan, of General Wright’s siaif, and Captain A. M. Tyler, of Gen. Whea ton’s staff, took part, and a rebel colonel sur rendered to them. Colonel Morehead, of the Fifty-third North Carolina ; Col. II. A. Brown, First North Carolina, and Lieutenant Colonel W. P. Mosely, Twenty-first North Carolina, were among, the rebel officers captured. Colo nel Morehead, after his capture, said, the rebel column had, in his opinion, been completely annihilated. Captain Joseph F.’Carter was captured by WILMINGTON. • : '• APRIL 5. LQC^YMlFiM^ Theatre-—Th® D ieaTU at Sea was presented to a very good house last night with Mr. John Davis in the leading character. It was v?ell performed and well received. . In the afterpiece, Boots at the Swan, Mr. Baines,, ayoung gentleman who nromi- sos the achievement of considerable histrionic fame, made his debut oh these boards. To-night two private pieces »r.e announced— The Conscript and Black-eyed Susan. —~V"«lSi^>-0.;>—$£&&«>*—— Arrest of Depredators.—Last week two ne groes and a soldier forced their way into the house of Mrs. Clark, living about four miles from town, and robbed her of §250 in money and & quantity of jewelry. She was provided with a safeguard but they paid no attention to it and decamped with their booty. Complaint was made to-Colonel Randlett, our provost marshal, who aConce insti tuted measures for their arrest. They were de tected yesterday while making their way out of town and placed in the military prison. Their crime is intensified by the fact of their forcing a safeguard, the penally for doing which is death. It is intended to make an example of, them in order that our citizens may be secured from simi lar outrages. Evil doers should take into account that summary punishment awaits their misdeeds. To the Ladies of Wilmington.—Mrs. Gen’l . Hawley has organized a benevolent association of ladies which meets daily at the Bellamy House on market street for the purpose of preparing linen, bandages, pillows, pillow-cases, sheets and like articles for the comfort of the sick and wounded in the hospitals. Every lady in the city who is desirous of co-operating in this good work should join the. association. Secreting Deserters —Absentees and de serters it is reported have been secreted in some of the houses in town. People conniving at this* practice will be summarily dealt with by the mili tary authorities. Aiding or abetting or conceal ing a deserter is.punished as severely as the crime of desertion itself. „ * *—. First Train from Goldsboro*.—The first through train from the army at Goldsboro’ arrived in town last night about sunset. It consisted of a locomotive and three cars, and brought down a detachment of the construction corps and one of the assistant superintendents, Mr. Shumaker. Personal.—Colonel D. Heaton, treasury agent of this district, has returned from a visit to New bern and Beaufort. Favors.—We are indebted to Brig. Gen. Dodge for favors in the way of very late dates from the North ■ r th i in 11 l^L■" l -^- l *-|||r^^ , 1 | ■' , ■ l ^»F'*nr^'-l'n\T-nTOW?1WW ,|, mw.'umi wr-n Mr. Hunter’s Opinion. R. M. T. Hunter, who was nicknamed “Run Mad Tom Hunter” in the old days of Democ- aacy and Whiggery, his been moved by the^ spirit to make known his. sentiments upon the subject of 4 ‘ submission,” *being also, impelled thereto by a feeling that the reports current in Richmond as to his sentiment are not only in jurious to himself, ! ‘ but hurtful to the coun try,” meaning and intending the rebel country. He takes occasion to say that the reports about iii^ceif are ''entirely erroneous.” No person within the Confederacy cars exist to whose feel ings and interests such an event as a reconstruc tion of the old Union would be more repugnant than to him (Hunter.) lie has always held the opinion that the rebels ought to continue the struggle for independence as long as there is hope of success. Aye! but whatare Mr. Hun ter’s opinions as to the hopefulness of success ? Really upon this point he says nothing. He declares that .Jeff Davis and Robert E- Lee ought to know, and as long as they have hope# everybody else should hope and strengthen their resources and make their hands powerful. But after ali he meekly suggests a “sense of the justice*of their cause” should confirm the hearts of the people. But suppose they had no conscientious belief in its justice, what will-; Mr. Hunter do then? His course-is simple enough; the old cant about looking for aid to the Chief Ruler of the Universe is resorted to, and Mr. Hunter finally attempts to'saddle the whole res ponsibility for the failure of the rebellion upon Divine Providence.. The card will surprise no one. Anything like common sense from the eaders of the rebellion is impossible. They have overwhelmed their countrymen with sor row, distress and iuin, and although they can at any time lay down their arms and invite peace to bless them once more, they prefer to sacrifice cvsry life over ■which they have assu med the control and achieve their final destruc tion or holocaust of blood. the rebels early in the light,/Out afterwards ! man iged to escape and captures two r bel bat tle flags, one belonging to t^ Fif^y first A n- g-nia. and another to the Twenty-first North Carolina, Every officer be’ongingT the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers was captured, and all but two afterwards escaAd, Captain II L. Swords ordnance officer, on the staff'of General Wilcox, was captured, as was also Major Robertson,'of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts. « Captain Joseph L. Johnson, of the One Hun- ' dredth Pennsylvania, Capttred a battle flag of the Filth Virginia. Pifvatp J. B. Chambers, of Company F, same regiment, captured a flag be- Pnging to the First Virginia. Corporal 31. B. Dearie, of Company At, brought in a rebel flag staff, with Part of a color altached, and another battle flag was captured by Color Sergeant. Charles Oliver, of Company M, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Prisoners report that the rebel General Terry was killed this morning while endeavoring to rally his men. By fifteen minutes past eight o’clock the reb els had all been either killed; wounded, captured or driven back. The line was again reformed, and surgeons and chaplains were ministering to the wants of the woundet, both rebel and Union. Fort Steadman presented a vivid pic ture of the ravages of war. Dea.d and wounded men were lying in and around it, and the ground in many places was .‘oaked in blood. Small arms, ammunition, cooking utensils,Tegimer tal documents and fragments of shells, were scat tered about in every direction. Every officer and private had lost something, either horses, 'clothing or equipments, and'.di wore alike in dignant. The roofs of their houses had in many instances been perforated by shells, and almost eve^- chimney was shattered. But the rebels had not succeeded in caring off a single piece of artillery. A flag of truce was displayed from the rebel works shortly after the attack h. d been repulsed, and pi Emission was asked for them to be allows d to bury their dead who had been killed between the lines. This was granted, and burying par ties from both armies were soon engaged on that melancholy duty. While doing so they occasional y entered into conversation with each other, when the rebel Major General Walker rode out, and commanded his men to go on with their work, “ as he would not allow any such damned nonsense as that.” Reinforcements were on their way to this part of the line shortly after the attack commenced; but their services were fortunately notrequired. General Wheaton’s division of the Sixth corps and a brigade of cavalry remained within sup porting distance for some time, during which they were occasionally visited by a Whitworth bolt from the rebel batteries. FROM WASHIKGTO^ Washington,’March 27, 1865. TRADIN'!; WITH THE REBELS. It is asserted by a legion of speculators who are here to have the President overrule General Grant’s orders to prevent trading with the rebel armies, that they are sure to be retracted by Grant, at the- earnest solicitation of certain Messrs. Risley and others. MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER Was before the Committe to day, and completed his testimony up n the F.rt Fisher affair. END OF THE BAKER-GWYNNE CASE. In the case of Colonel Baker, charged with the false arrrest of Stuart Gwynne, charged with being engaged with S. M. Clarke and others in a conspiracy, &c., the suit was to-day aban doned by the prosecution. SILENCE OF THE REBEL PRESS. The Richmond papers of Saturday are barren of news. They have no account of that last fight of Hardee’s, and do not state in what di rection he retreated last. THE SITUATION. The best possible spirit animates our troops, and prominent military men seem to be well satisbed with the aspect of the situation. Yesterday a transport left City Point for Point Lookout, with sixteen hundred rebel prisoners, who were captured on Saturday, The Lizzie Badger brought up two hundred and eighteen rebel, deserters, all of whom came within our lines on the 23d and 21th instants, accompanying whom were one hundred and forty nine prisoners of war, who Were captured by t.ur troops in the engagement of Saturday. THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY AT THE FRONT. A gentleman who to-day arrived from the front says that, while on Saturday morning General Grant and the ^President and.,his party were on their wayTrom City Point to witness a review in the Army of the Potomae, and when about ten miles from that place, General Parke, just from the battle-field, approached and gave a circumstantial account of the fight at Fort Steadman. . Lieutenant-General Grant thanked him. foe his skill and gallantry, and the President also complimented him highly for the manner in which be and the officers and men under his command had conducted themselves, on that oc casion. The party then.resumed their journey and stopped at a fort within a mile and a half of a subsequent action, and.fiom the parapet-of which they had a good view of the contending forces. They afterwards continued their-trip and vis ited many posts of interest, their extreme stop ping place being within six. miles of Richmond. On this excursion.General, Grant and several members of his staff, together with General ' Sheridan, accompanied the President’s party. On their return they witnessed the mossing; of •Sheridan’s cavalry from the North to the South side. The President has been indulging in riding on horseback and his health has been consid erably improved since his absence fram Wash ington. MEXICQ Maximilian's Difficulties Wilk the Church Party. His Imperial Decree Kegai-iiasg Keiariiii Laws and Chan-eta Prop, erty. frHE~CA®SE OF THE EIHEUTE. We lay before ourreaders this morning an important document, the decree-bf Maximilian which has been the occasion of the division be tween him ^id the church party, and which threatens farther dissolution of the Mexican Empire; It is well known that after the intervention of the allied Powers—England, France and Spain —in Mexico had commenced it was through the influence and direct efforts of the Catholic clergy and church party of' Mexico that the objects of the intervention were charged, and the purpose of establishing a monarchy, with the Archduke Maximilian as Emperor, was substituted fur the simple redress of. grievances proposed at the outsetof the allied expedition. The clergy of Mexico sought to recover the property of which they had been deprived by the reform laws of the Juarez government, and to rerain for the Church the privileges and powers it had enjoyed in ancient times. In this purpose all Catholic countries could not but sympathize, especially as by this means they hoped to see terminated those grave ques tions which for so long a period have been the source of civil strife and a barrier to all pro- gr?ss in Mexico. * . England, hmmvoy a Pro toe fa nt Pv-^cr, did not look with favor upon this restoration of tire privileges of the Church, and, through peculiar circumstances, her influence at that moment was so great with Spain that that Power also was induced to withdraw from the intervention when these objects were announced. France was differently situated. She could not withdraw. Her position as the chief Cath olic Power of the world forbade her abandoning the cause of the Church when the opportunity of securing, for it so great advantages, and at the same time of restoring peace to Mexico, was apparently so favorable. It was under these circumstance? that Napo leon listened to the solicitations of influential representatives of the Mexican Church and ac ceded to their request, that Archduke Maxi milian should be selected to fill the throne of Mexico. . It is needless to say how strong were the as-. : urancesof Maximilian’s devotion to the Church, and how confidently all interests relied upon his gooifaith and adherence to those who were aidii g ’wim tawai di thcatainment of so brilliant a destiny. Through the direct act of the Mexican clergy and the church party of Mexico the empire was proclaimed and Maximilian was elevated to the- throne. To the Church, therefore, he owes not alone the fact of his selection, but the fact of the creation of the empire, Napoleon had no in terest in Maximilian, nor had he any desire to sae the form of government in Mexico changed. His purpose was simply to restore peace to Mexico, and to protect, in so far as was.proper, the legitimate rights of the Church., Unfortunately for these: ends the person.se lected by the Mexican clergy, and the leaders of the party who favored the intervention, has proved unfaithful to the trust repos d- in him, and, once having i cached power, be has turned upon those who placed him there—has violated his most solemn faith to the Church, and prov ed himself a worse enemy than even the gov ernments of President Juarez or Comonfoif, from whom the laws of reform first emanated- It was hoped 1’or a time that even these diffi culties might b® over o ne, and that, through an arrangement between the Pope and Maximilian, harmony might be restored. For this purpose a Nuncio was sent to Mexico^and every effort has been made to avoid an open rupture. But it has all been in vain. Maximillian, blindly infatuated with a confidence in the. strength of his P'S tion,_has rashly chosen to- break with •those to whom he owes his power, and, even rejecting ths disinterested-counsels of Napolean, be has undertaken to settle by himself the grave and important, questions pending with the Church,.and has taken the final step which for ever separates her interests from that of his throne in Mexico, and forces her to seek his downfall. - DECREE CONFIRMING THE REFORM LAWS OF JUA- . REZ, AND RATIFYING THE SALES OF CHURCH; PROPERTY. We, Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, havirg consulted our Council ol Ministers, have decreed and do decree the following:— Article 1. The Council of State shall revise all the operations of the amortization and na? [I 'ontinucd on the ith ] ag^]