The Greensborough patriot [May 22, 1862]

              rauslwwttjjjj atrat
VOL. XXIV. GREENSBOROUGH, N. C, THURSDAY, MAY 22. 1862. NO. 1,199.
pel : ISHED WEEKLT. BY
ffl. S. SHERWOOD,
EDITOR *SB MOrMETO*.
TKBUS, $2.00 A YKAR IN ADVANCE.
Rate* of AUTcrUaing.
for tlie first week, and
e'"T"e*iy'wee'k, toh-err.e-aMftwerr.
itteras follows.
2 MoaTKS. 6 NOSTHS. 1 TJMJ.
i -,,, 16.60 $8.00
Twelve
Deductions m*d« in
10.00 H.00
10.00 16.00 '• ""
Tli«: Ilatlle ot SHIIoU.
,,,,., MGAtD'B OFFlCIAl REPORT.
I ' • ' >« Minsissippi, I
Uorinth, Miss., April H, IM*. j
KNERAI :—On tbe 2d ultimo, having M-
, conclusively, from tlio movements
Ti nneases nvor, and
,m reiv ircea ol information, that
ild bo to cut offmy commvn ica-rennesseo,
with the Eastern
States, by operating from the
iver, between Crumps Landing
rt, as a base, I determined to
designs by concentrating al my
i around Conntl.
itt»ing called on the Gover-i
fennessee, Mississippi,
i . i Louisiana to furnish addi-
« ,., i - tbem, chiefly regi-
■ Louisiana, soon reached this
. .1,(1, with two divisions of Gener-nimand
from Columbus, and a
|,- if troops from Mobile and l'ensa-
,der ttajor-General Bragg, constitu-
Armyofthe Misasssippi. At tho
leneral Johnston being at Mur-o',
on the inarch to form a junction
forces with mine, was called on to
• ii brigade by railroad, so that
I III iall on and crash tbe enemy siouid
he attempt an advance from under his gun-call
on General Johnston was
♦ promptly complied witb. Ilia entire force
', - also hastened in this direction; and,
! iHtol April, our united forces wore
Led along the Mobile and Ohio
from Bethel to Corinth, and on
di inphia and Charleston .Railroad from
ill in I uka.
[t was then determined to assume the of-ind
strike a sudden blow tho at ene-i,,
v then in position underCJen. Grant, on
I bank 01 the Tennessee, at I'm* burg
md in the direction of Savannah, be), .'o he
forced by the army undjr General
hen known to be advancing for that
by rapid marches fiom Nashville
About the same time, Gen-in
vas advised that Bach an
opera rmedtoihe expectations of
the President.
? dandvigorous atiack on Gen-j
oral Grant, ii woe expected -:ie would be
his transports and tho
the enemy, and tho other two brigades wcro
directed to advance by the load to Ham-burg,
to support Bragg's right; and at the
same lime, Mancy's Regiment of Polk's
Corp?, was advanced by the same road to
reinforce tho regiment of cavalry and batte-ry
of four pieces, already thrown forward
to watch and guard Grie'sts, Tanner's and
Borland's Fords, of Lick Creek.
Thirty minutes after 5 o"clock, a. m., our
linesand columns were in motion, all ani-mated
evidently by a promising spirit. The
front line was engaged at once, but, advan-ced
steadily, followed in • due order with
equal resolution and steadiness, by the oth-er
lines, which were brought successively
into action with rare skill, judgment and
gallantry, by the several corps commanders,
as the enemy made a stand; with his mass-es,
rallied lor the struggle for his encamp-ments.
Like an Alpine avalanche, our
troops moved forward, despite the deter-mined
resistance of tbi< enemy, until after
6 o'clock, p. m., when we were in possession
ot all his encampments, between Owl and
Lick Creeks, but one. Nearly all of his
field artillery, about thirty (30) flags, c dors
and standards, over 3,000 prisoners, ioclu-dinga
Division commander, (Gen. Pren-tiss,)
and several Brigade e-ommanderp,
thousands of small arms, an immense sup-ply
of subsistence, forage and munition of
war, and a largo amount of means of trans-portation—
all the substantial fruits of a
uomplete vict try such indeed, as rarely have
followed tho most successful battles, for
never was an army so well provided as that
of our enemy.
The remnant of his army had been driv-en
in niter disorder to the immediate vicin-the
best dispositions for a deliberate, order-1 soverely wounded in the first combat, bat
ly withdrawal from the field, and to collect it is hoped will soon be able to
and post a reserve to meet tbe enemy.
should he attempt to push after us. In this
connexion 1 will mention par'icularly my
Adjutant General, Colonel, Jordan, who
was of much assistance to me on this occa-sion,
us he had already been on tho field of
battle on that and the preceding day.
About two o'clock, p. m., tho lines in ad-vance,
which had repulsed the enemy in
their last fierce assault on oar left and cen-tre,
received the orders to retire; this was
done with uncommon steadiness, and the
enemy made no attempt to follow.
The line of troops established to cover
this movement, had been disposed on a fa
vorablo ridge commanding the ground of
Shiloh Church; from his position oar artil-lery
played upon tho woods beyond for a
while, but upon no visible enemy and with-out
reply. Soon satisfied that no serious
pursuit would be attempted, this last line
was withdrawn, and never did troops leave
battlefield in better order; even the strag-glers
fell into the ranks and marched off
with those who bad stood more steadily by
their Colon. A second strong position was
taken up about a mile in rear, wlrre the
approach of the enemy awaited lor nearly
an hour, but no effort to lollow was made,
and only a small detachment of horsemen
could he seen at a distance from this
last position, warily observing our move-ment.
Arranging, through my staff officers, for
the completion of the movements thus be-gun,
Brigadier General Breckinridge was
left with command as a rear guard to hold
the ground wo had occupied the night pre-lty
of Pittsburg, under the shelter of tho ! ceding the first battle, just in frort of the
heaavvyy gguunnss ootf hhiiss iirroonn Ccllaadd ggunboats, and intersection ot the Tittsburg and II
wc remained undisputed masters of his well
selected, admirable provided cantouments,
after over twelve hours of obstinate con-flict
with his forces, who had been beaten
amburg
roads, about four miles from the former
place, while the rest of tho army passed to
tho rear in excellent order.
On the following day, General Breckin-from
them and the conligous covert, but | ridge fell back about three miles to Mick-only
by a sustaiued onset ol al! the men we
could bring into action.
Our loss was heavy, as will appear from
tho accompanying return marked "B.''—
Oar Coinmander-in-Chief, Gen. A. S. John-ston,
fell mortally wounded u.';d died on
ey's, which position we continued to hold
with our cavalry thrown consiJoraby for-ward
in immediate proximity to tho battle-field.
Unfortunately towards night of tho 7th
insl., it began to rain heavily; this conl'n-apturcd
in time to enable us to and Brigadier General Brcckinridgo
ry and remove to the rear manding the reserve.
It was alter •> o'c'oe
tbe field at 2.30 p. m , after having shown , ued throughout the night; the roads be-the
highest qualities of the commander, and : came almost impassible, in many places,
a personal intrepidity that inspired all ! ana much hardship and sufferiug now en-aroand
him, at d gave resistless impulsion to sued before all the regiments reached their
his columns at critical moments. ; encampments. But despito the heavy
The chief command then devolved upon ' casualitios of the two eventful days of the
mo, though at the time I was greatly pros-i 6lh and 7th of April this army is more
trated and suffering from the prolonged confident of ultimate success than before its
sickness with which 1 bad been afflicted , encounter with the enemy,
since early in February. The responsi bills j To Major Generals folk, Bragg and
ty was one, which in my physical condition,! Hardee, commanding corps, and to Briga-
I would have gladly avoided, t! ough cast dier General Breckinridge, commanding the
uoon me when our forces were successfully ! reserve, the country is greatly indebted
pushing tbe enemy buck upon the Tonnes- for the zeal, intelligence and energy with
see River, and though supported on the im-; which all orders were executed—tor tho
mediate field by such corps commanders as foresight and military ability the}- dispiay-
Major Generals Polk, Bragg and Hardee ed in the absence of instructions in the many
. muuii one that u-oul J fall
mds in such an event, before tbe
! .-aid 'uncial Bnell's army on tbe
L was ui ver contemplated, how-aiu
the position thus gained, t»nd
i, the strategic point -if the
i ■ gn.
\ ral officers, needful for the
. Mii.n of divisions and
army brought thus suddenly
r, and other difficulties in the way
. organization, delayed the
com- exigencies of tho battle, on afield so dense-ly
wooded and broken, and for their fearless
]>. HI., as before deportment as they repeatedly led their
said, when tho enemy's last position was commands personally to tbe onset upon
carried, and his forces finally broke and their powerful adversary. It was under
sought refuge behind a commanding emi- these circumsiances tha: Gen. Bragg had
nonce, covering tbe Pittsburg landing, nut two horses shot under him, that Major
more than half a roilo distant, and under General Hardee was slightly wounded, his
the guns of the gunboats which heaped on coat rent by ball and his horse disabled,
oureagercoiumn.su fierce and annoying and that Major General Breckinridge was
fire with shot and shell of tho heaviest do twice struck by spent balls,
scription. Darkness was close at hand.— For the services of their gallant subordi-
Officers and men were exhausted by acorn- nate commanders, and ot other officers
bat of over twelve hours without food, as well as for the details of the battle field, I
must refer to the reports of Corps, Division
and Brigade commanders, which shall bo
forwarded as soon as received.
return to
duty with their brigades.
To mention the many field officers who
died or weie wounded, while gallantly
leading their commands into action and the
many brilliant instances of individual
courage displayed by officers and men in
the twenty hours of battle is impossible at
this time; but their names will be duly
made known to their countrymen.
Tho immediate Staff ot* the lamented
Coinmander-in-Chief, who accompanied
him to tbe field, rendered efficient service,
and either by his side, or in carrying his
orders, shared his exposure to the casuali-ties
of a well contested battle-field. I beg
to commend their names to the notice of
tho War Department! namely, of Captain
H. P. firewater and X. Wiekliffe, of the
Adjutant and Inspector General's Depart-ment.
Captain Thomas OTIaru, Acting Inspec-tor
General.
Lieutenants George Baylor and Thomas
M. Jack, Aids do Camp.
Volunteer Aids de Camp, Colonel Wil-liam
Preston Major D. M. Hayden,
E. W. Munfi-rd, and Calhoun Benham.
Major Albert J. Smith and Captain Wick-ham.
(Quartermaster's Department.
To these gentlemen was assigned the
last sad duty of accompanying tho remains
ol their lam *nted cb.ef from the field,
except Captains Brewstcr and Wiekliffe,
who remained, and rendered valuable
services as staff-officers, on the 7th of
April.
Governor Isham G. Harris, of Tennessee,
went upon tbe field with General Johnston,
was by his side when ho was snot, aided
him from his horse and received him in his
arms when he died ; subsequently the Gov-ernor
joined my staff and remained with
mo throughout the next day, except when
carrying orders or encaged in encouraging
he troops of his own Slate, to whom he
gave a conspicuous example of coolness,
zeal and intrepidity.
I am also under many obligations to my
own general, personal and volunteer staff,
many of whom had been so long associated
with me. I append a list ot those present
on tho field on both days, and whose du-ties
carried them constantly under fire,
namely: Col. Thomas Jordan, Capt. Clif-ton
EL Smith and Lieut. John M. Okoy,
Akjutant General's Department.
Major George W. Brent, Acting Inspec-tor
General, Colonel 11. B. Lee, Chiot of
Subsistence; whose horse was wounded,
Lieut. Col. S. W. Ferguson and Lieut. A.
R. Chisolm, Aids de-Camp.
Volunter Aids de Camp, Col. Jacob
Thompson. Maj. Augustine.
Maj. 11. K Peyton
Capt. Albert Ferry.
Capt. B. B Waddell.
Capt. W. W. Porter of Maj. Gen. Crit-tenden's
staff, also reported lor duty, and
shared the duties ot my volunteer staff on
Monday.
Brigadier General Tradeau, of Louisiana
Volunteers, also, for a part of tho first
day's conflict was with me as a volunteer
aid.
Capt. E. II. Cummings, Signal Officer,
also was actively employed as a staff officer
on both days.
Noi must I fail to mention that private
W.J3. Goolsby, 11th Begimeut Virginia
Volunteers, Orderly to my headquarters
since last June, repeatedly employed to
carry my verbal orders to tho field dis-charged
tbe duty with great seal and in-telligence.
roh of laggards and cowards to be published I SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS
in orders. or
It remains to state that our lots in the ROBERT P. DICK, ESQ.,
two days in killod outright was 1,728, OrGutLroan.
wounded 8,912 missing 951)—making an \-Vade on a molijn ,0 adJ<>urn the Convention tint die.
aggregate of vasualitios of 10,699. MR. PRESIDENT :—I rise with reluctsnce
This sad list tells in simple language of to speak on this much vexed question of
the stout fight made by our countrymen in adjournment, 'fhis motion bas been made
front of the rude log chapel ofSbiloh eape- °» divers times and in divers ways, and lbs
cially when it is known that on Monday, pertinacity with which it has been pressed
from exhaustion and ether causes, not by a large"party in this body, has made it a
twenty thousand men on our aide could bo question of great importance to the countrv
~ t
ns ioi such a grave
II id ntore. Lccordingly,
iv a. m., the prelimi-ihe
commanders ol corps
. i thi i iovement.
wing morning the de.ailed
ht, a copy of which is
marked "A," were issued, and the j hoping from news received by a special dis- that field on tho next day only af'.er eight
Lei souie delay, commenced, i patch thai delays bad been encountered by i hours incessant battle, with a superior army
Other members of my staff wero neces-
Togivo more in detail, the operations of j sarily absent from the immediate field of
battle, enturusted with responsible duties
at these headquarters, namely: Captain
F. H. Jordan, Assistant General, in charge
of General Headquarters.
Major Eugene E. McLean, Chief quar-termaster,
Capt. E. Desionde, (^uartcrmas-and
acnt until tho night of the 2d instant, , jaded by the march of the preceeding day
when it -.Mis hoard from a reliable quarter, I through mud and water, it was therefore
inction of the enemy's armies was J impossible to collect the rich and opportune
was then, at a late lonr, j spoils of w»r scattered broadcast on tho
..attack should be at j field left in onr possession, and iinpractica- i the two battles resulting from tho movement
, incomplete and imperfect bletomake any effective dispositions for i on Pittsburg, than now attempted, must
thoir removal to the rear. ; have delayed this report for weeks and in-
I accordingly established my headquar- terferlod materially with the important
tors at tho Church of Shiloh.in the enemy's : duties of my position; but I may bo per-encirapiri<
M)t, with Major General Bragg, milted to say, that not only d'd the obsti-and
directed onr troops to sleep on their nate conflict tor 12 hours, on Sunday, leave | tor's Department.
arms, in such positions in advance and rear the Confederate Army' masters of the battle i Lieut. Col. Ferguson, A. D. C, early on
as corps commanders should determine, held, and our adversary beaten, but we left Monday was assigned to command and
direct the movements of a brigade of tbe 2d
o
.in admirable spirits, it General Buell in hi-> march from Colombia, I of fresb troops, whom we had repulsed
we should be able to reach the and that his main force, therefore could ' every attack on oui lines—so repulsed and
n time to attack them on the | not reach the field ot battle in time to save crippled, indeed, as to leave it unable to
Tho men, however, for tbe most General Grant's shattored fugitive forces i take the field, for the campaign for which
w ere unused I inarching, tho roads j from capture or destruction on the follow-1 it was collected and equipped at such enor
a densely wooded ; jDg day. i mous expense, and with such profusion of
During the night the rain fell in torrents, j all tho appliances ot war. These success-adding
to the discomfort and harrassed con- ful results were not achieved, however, as
in
.i ioat impassable after a
rui on tbe night of tho 4th,
trenched the trocps in bivouac;
i did not reach the inter-
- from 1'ittsburg and
the immediate vicinity if the
Saturday attei nooi.
It wa .lid that the attack should
the next morning, at the carli-praci
able, in accordance with the
That is. ;n three lines
: c iiist and soi/ond extending
. ,. on the lelt to Lick Creel:
i I—a distance of about three
rted by the third and -.he re-
-i i ne. under Major-Gener-tsi
uted of his corps,
, gnt I \ UIadden's Bri-
General Bragg's corps, de-
. naltle, with their respec-g
II imediately by the
!' tsburg, and the cavalry in
bowings Tbe second line rum-r
troupe of Bragg'a corps,
- ance ol five hun-li
same order as the first.
lerGeneral Polk f«.l-
I line, at the distance of
varda in lines ol tiigades
ith their batteries in rear of each
• rig by the Pittsburg road,
- ipported by eava.ry, tbe
: ",: gadier i ieneral Breckin-
. ed
t
, - cona itnted tlio reserve,
- isq ort the front lines of bat-
;deployed when required, on
•ft oi the Pittsburg road, or
•t according to the exigencies ef
n the Gth instant, t. rccon-
Ithe enemy, having be-adth
our advanced pickets,
I tbe forces gave orders to
lent and att'.ek u deter-mined
upon, except that Trabus's Brigade
ol Breckinridge's Divisien was dotached
and advanced to support tho left of Bragg's
corps and line of battle, when motaced by
dilionoflhe men, the enemy, moreover,
had broken their ro»t by a discharge at
measured intervals, of heavy shells thrown
from the gunboats, therefore, on tbe follow-ing
morning tho troops under my com-mand
were not in conuuion to cope with
before said without severe loss, a loss not
to be measured by the number of the slain
or wounded, but by tho high social and
personal worth of so largo a number of
thoso who were killed or disabled, including
the commander of the forces, whoso high
! an equal force of Iresh troops, armed and ' qualities will be greatly missed in the mo-equipped
like our adversary, in the ininit- | menious campaign impending.
diate possessession of his depots and shel-1 I deeply regret, to record the death of the
tored by such an auxiliary as the enemy's | Hon. Gcoige M. Johnston, Provisional
gunboats. Governor ol Kentucky, who went into
About 6 o'clock on the morning of the 7th I action with the Kentccky troops, and
of April, however, a hot lire of musketry continually inspired tbem by his words
and artillery opened from tho enemy's and example. Having Ins horse shot un-qaarter
on our advanced li,.,. assured me of der him on Sunday he entered tho ranks of
the junction of his toices, and soon tho bat- j a Kentucky regiment on Monday, and loll
lie raged with a fury which satisfied me 11 mortally wounded towards the close of the
was attacked by a largely superior force.— j day. Not his Stale alone, but tho Confed-
But lrom the onset, our troops, nothwith-1 eracy has sustained a great loss in
sanding their fatigue and losses from the I the death of this brave, upright and able
tattle ot the day before, exhibited the most i men.
ly the third line, in the
light wing supported by
cheering, veteran-like steadiness. On tho
right and centre the enemy was repulsed in
every attempt ho made with his heavy col-umns
in that quarter of the field; on the left
however, and nearest to tho point of arrival
of his reinforcements we drove forward line
alter lino of his fresh troops, which were
met with a resolution antl courage of
which our country may be proudly hope-ful.
Again and again our troops were
brought to the charge, invaiiabh to win
the position at issue, invariably to drive
back their UK\ But hour by hour thus
opposed to an enemy constantly reinforced,
our ranks were preciptably thinned under
the unceasing, withering fire of the enemy,
and by 12 meridian, 18 hours of hard fight-ing
had sensibly exhausted a large num-ber;
my la»t reserves had necessarilv been
disposed of,and the enemy was evidently
receiving fresh reinforcement after each
repulse; accordingly, about 1 p. in., 1 de-termined
to withdraw from so unequal a
conflict, securing such of the results ot the
victory of the day betoro us was then prac-ticable.
Officers of my Staff were immediately dis-patched
with the necessary orders to make
Another gallant and able soldier and
captain was lost tj the service of the coun-try,
when Brigadier General Gladden, com-manding
1st Brigade, Withers' Division,
2d Army Corps, died from a severe wound
received on the Oth insl., after having been
coospicioua to his whole corps and the army '
for couiago and capacity.
.Major General Cbcath commanding
1st Division, 1st Corps was slightly
wounded and had three horses shot under
him.
Brigadier General Clark commanding 2d
Division tf the 1st Corps, received a se-vere
wound also, on the first day, which
will deprive the army of bia valuable servi-ces
for some time.
Brig. General Hind man, engaged in the
outset of tho battle, was consplcious for a
cool courage efficiently employed in lead-ing
his men over into the thickest of the
fray until his horse was shot under him,
aud he was unfortunately so severely in-jured
by the tall that the army was depri-ved
on tho lollowing day of his chivalrous
example.
Brig. Generals B. H.Johnston and Bow-en,
most meritorious officers were also
Corps.
Lieut. Col. Gilmer, Chief Engineer,
altor having performed the important and
various duties ot his place with distinction
to himself and material benefit to his coun-try,
was wounded late on Monday. I trust,
however, I shall not long bo deprived of
his essential service.
Captain Locket t, Engineer Corps, Chief
Assistant to Colonel Gilmer, after having
been employed in the duties of his corps on
Sunday, was placed by mo on Monday in
command of a battalion without field ofii-cers.
Captain Fremeaux, Provisional
Engineers, and Lieutn. Steel and Helm also
iendered material and ever djngerous ser-vice
in their line of duty.
Major General (now General) Braxton
Bragg, in addition to his duties of Chief ot
Staff bas been before staled, commanded
his corps—much tho largest in the field—
on botii days with signal capacity and sol-diership.
Surgeon Foard, .Modical Director, Sur-geons
It. L. Brodie and S. Chappin, Medical
Inspectors, and Surgeon D. W. Yandell,
Medical Director of tho Western Depart-ment,
with General Johnston were present
in tho discharge of their arduous and high
dunes which they performed with honor to
their positions.
Captain Tom Saunders, Messrs. Scales
and Metcalf, and Mr. Tully, of .New Orleans
were of material aid in both days, ready to
give news of tho enemy's positions and
movements, regardless of exposure.
While thus partially making mention of
some of tluso who rendered brilliant, gal-lant
or meritorious service in tbe field, 1
have uiincd merely to notico those whose
pobitions would most probably exclude the
record of their services from the reports of
corps or subordinate commanders.
From this agreeable duty I turn to one in
the highest degree unpleasant—one due,
however, to the bravo men under me, as a
contrast lotho behavior ot the most of tho
army who fjughtso heroically. I allude to
tho fact that some officers, non-commis-sioned
officers and men, abandoned their
colors early on Use first day to pillage the
captured encampments; and others retired
shamefully from the field on both days,
while tbe thunder of cannon and the roar
and rattle of .musketry told them that their
brothors were being slaugh'ered by the
fresh legions of the enemy. I have ordered
the names of lue most conspicuoua on this
brought into aclion.
Of the lossea of the enemy I have no ex-act
knowledge. Their newspapers report
it as very heavy. Unquestionably it was
greater, oven in proportion, than our own,
on both days, for it was apparent to all that
their dead left on the field outnumbered
ours two to one.
Their casualities, therefore, cannot have
fallen many ol.ort of 20,000 in killed, woun-ded,
prisoneisand missing.
Through information derived from many
sources, including tho newspapers of the
enemy, we engaged on Sunday tho Divis-ion
of Generals Prentiss, Sfterman, Hurlbut
MeClernand and Smith, of 9,000 men each,
or at least 15 thousand men. This force
was reinfoiced on Sunday night by the
Divisions of Generals Nelson, McCock and
Crittendcn and Thomas, of Major Generals
Buell'sarmy, some 25,U0O stiong, including
all arms. Alao Gen. L. Wallace's Division
of Gen. Grant's army, making at least 33,-
0UO fresh troops, which, added to the rem-nant
of Gen. Grant's forces, on Mondav
morning, amounting to over 20 000, ma
an aggregate force of some 53,000 men, at
least, arrayed against 119 on that day.
In connection with tbe results of the
battle, I should slate that the most of our
men who had interior arms exchanged them
for the improved arms of the enemy. Also
that most of tho property, public and per-sonal
in the camp from which the enemy
was driven on Sunday, was rendered use-less
or greatly damaged except some of the
tents.
With this are transmitted certain papers,
to wit:
Order of movements marked "A."
A list ot the killed and wounded mark-ed
"B."
A list of the captured flags marked
"C," and a map of tho field of battle mark-ed
"D."
All of which is respectfully submitted
mitted through my volunteer Aid De Camp
Colonol JacoJ Thompson, of Mississippi,
who has in charge the flags, standard and
colors captured from the enemy.
I have the honor to bo, General, Your
obedient servant,
G.T. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
To General S. Cooi'r.K,
Adjt. Si iusp. lien. C. S. Army, Richmond.
GEN. PREXTISS AGAIN.—Wo find the
following in the Memphis Avalanche of
the 9th :
Among tho prisoners brought down last
evening on the train from Corinth, was
Gen. Premiss, so long the commander at
Cario. Before leaving Corinth, we aro in-formed
that Gen Prentiss made a short and
feeling speech to thoso around him; deplo-ring
the causes and calamities of tho war
and expressing the opinion that if tho
Confederates are successful in tbe struggle
on tho Tennessee, it will be the last battle
of the war. Coming from this intolligent
source, such an expression is entitled to
weight. The prisoner, who bore himself
gallantly in the field, and surveyed the
earn 'go on both sides, produced by tbe
unnatural effort to crush our people, and
subjugate us to a despotic will, could
not suppress his emotions, and tears of
regret coursed down his cheeks. The im
piossion mado upon tho soldier's heart was
visible in his face, and tho recollections of
the many ardent efforts he made erewhile,
for tho South and her right to equality in
the Union, must have come over him with
intense p'-wer, when he saw the bloody
result of tho wicked schemes of those
with whom ho moro recently fraternized.
He found himself a prisoner among those
ftora whom he once might have claimed
the most cordial hospitalities, but against
whom he had come witb fire and sword
for their destruction. It could not be a
pleasing reflection to a high minded chival-rous
gentleman, and that ho wept is no
detraction from his manhood.
The F.i,uac ipation BUI.
A letter in tho Philadelphia Inquirer,
dated Baltimore, 17th inst., says:
The signingof the District Emancipa-tion
Bill, by President Lincoln, has created
considerable sensation and disappointment
with many good Union men. They would
have preferred legislation on slavery in
any shape to have been postponed until
after the war, and then not abolish it in the
District without the consortt of people
there. The deed, however, is done, and it
must be passed over in forgetfulness in,
view of paramount considerations looking
to the restoration of our Union and salva-tion
cf the whole country.
Tho following table shows tho yield of
the various salt reservoirs in tho Confed-eracy
:
Virginia Salt Wells—75 gallons of water
vieldone bushel of salt.
" Grand River Arkansas—SO gallons of
water yield one bushel of salt.
Illinois River Arkansas—80 gallons of
water yield one bushe! of salt.
Clark County (Alabama) Spring—150
"•allons of water yield one bushel of salt.
Fifty five miles North of Brownsville, in
Texas, there is a salt lake about forty acres
in extent. The salt is deposited in crystals
In the discussion, some of the delegates
professing to reflect public opinion, have
stated that this Convention has become
odious to the people. I speak only for my
own constituent*, when 1 say, that they
entertain no 6uch feelings. They jastlv
regard this Convention as the safe-guard of
thoir liberties, in providing tno necessarv
means for repelling tho invasion of the
enemy,and in protecting their rights from
wrong and usurpation at home.
There are now two elements of power in
North Carolina—tho civil and military.—
This Convention represents the civil au
thority of the Slate, and if it ig ad-journed
sine die. then every thing
becomes immediately suboidinato to milH
tary rule. Martial law will be virtually-established
all over North Carolina; and
if this strong power of force alone controls
public affairs, in my opinion, the liberties
of the people will be in imminent peril. The
military authority has already manifested
much impatience and rcsiivenesa under the
occasional control of the civil power, and
its representatives and journals have long
been busily endeavoring to influence pub-lic
sentimentagainst this body. Upon the
plea ot necessity tho military power is
constantly assuming tho highest functions
of government, and cannot willingly sub
mit even to a division of authory. For
one, I do not believe that the time has yet
come when a military ddspotism is our
only hope ol safety from Northern tyranny.
Our peoplo are fighting and sufferin"
in this great revolution, for something
higher and holier than a chango of mas-ters.
It is further said by the friends of this
measure, that this is no time for calm de-liberation.
When can there bo a time
which more requires calm couns.d and de-liberative
action''. As tbe storm grows
thicker and the danger darker, those who
have been entrusted with the helm of
State, should rise with corresponding calm-ness
and courago to meet the dread respon-sibilities
which surround them. If we
remain at our post, and fearlessly do our
duty while even the pillars of tho Repub-lic
are tottering around us, it will present
a sublime moral spectacle, which will give
confidence to our people, and encourage
them to sustain us; but if wc show our-selves
unequal to tho fearful crisis, then
wc can bill expect defeat and its consequent
disaster*. History will show that moro
States have been saved fr im ruin by tho
exal'ed patriotism and courage of their
legislators and counsellors, than by tho
dauntless bravery of the soldiers; and
those States which have been so fortunate
as to possess both, have never yet been
conquered. Our country needs brave
soldiers and she has them—she needs, niso,
wise, prudent and bravo counsellois, and
shall we prove unworthy of our sacrc I
trust?
Ii has been said that this Convention has
done but little for tho public good. Many
undeniable lacts, repel such an assertion.
We have supplied the Treasury with mon-ey,
and by kindness, generosity and justice
wo have raised an army of moro than fifty
thousand volunteers; and experience will
show that they are to be relied on with
more confidence than an army of con
scripts. If the Convention has not done its
whole duty, who is responsible for the
failure ? Since the commencement of ils
session-, its action has been continually
ombrassed by this constant questiou of
adjournment. We havo done much, but
still much, remains to bo done. Tho State
and I he peoplo need relief from many threa-tened
dangers and misfortunes, Hud we
must if possible afford that relief. When
our rights are in tho greatest peril, then is
the time that they most need our guardian
care. They are now certainly in serious
danger. The enemy is upon our borders—
the boom of hi* hostile guns is heard upon
our waters—our people are fly ing from their
homes, aud many a smouldering pile tells
where the ruthless invader has been. Re
must be met and checked in his pathway
of ruin. I regret to say taut we I ave
reason to apprehend danger in another
quarter. The recent conscript act ha-violated
the rights of tho State-, arid bro-ken
faith with our soldiers. It is justified
on the ground of stem necessity. I sub-mit
to the law as a citizen, but I feel it to
bo my duty as a representative to enter my
solemn protest against what I regard as an ;
unnecessary and unwarranted usurpation j
of power. There is anothcract of despotism '
which is justly odious to every freeman.
I relor to the recent request to impress '.lie I
arms of the people. In my place hen-, I
tbankGov. Clark for the manliness, fidelity
and courage which he has shown in lesist- j
ing this threatened outrage upon the rigbtl
of his Slate and fellow citizens. 1 am Op-posed
to tyranny, no -natter in what form
it may come—whether it be clothed in the 1
panoply of war and invasion, or iu the spe-cious
and deceitful garb of "military 1.
sity." In my heart I believe that a large
majority of tho good and true people
North Carolina look upon this Convention
as tbe bulw.uk of their sacred rights, and
if it is broken down the public mind
will be filled with constornation sod
gloom.
Mr. President—it has been truly said,
that this is a dark day in our history.—
Many of our sister States have been 0V« -
run and separated from us. We havo
battle-field.-,! -v can crush out tbecrue
and insatieblo avarice of the speculator whe
would even coin the blood of hi. kin iolc
gold—.lour people will in ail things b.
true to themselves a„d their de.tioy-if0uiS
rulers an.l counsellors will -ho j08, *
famine-, and "lot all the end* they aim %l
be th.or country », their God'., und truthV:
—then may we confidently hope that »
k.nu providence will save our Wed and
beautiful land from ruin.
Speech or Mr. W. F. VtmM.,
Or R10HM0XD.
On Mr. Badgtr'i orjmance to tzimpt Quaktri /ro»;
jry duly.
Mn-PaisiDEirrr-Ihavs li.tened witl?
marked atuntion 10 tho argument* ths-:
have been brought forward for and tftJael
the memorial of tho Society of Friend'
asking 1.) bo r«i.e*ad lro.n military duty-and
my mind has been brought to the
lowing conclusion, and that lor the foil a)
ing reasons, which I ask to slate bri.fli
with the hope, tha' if 1 am so fortunate C,
make myaell understood, others may
tbe same views as 1 do, and cast their
in lavorof the momorial, as I
cast mine.
In tbe first placo, allow me to say, thai. •
tho g-ound upon which they rest their td
position to all wars and fighting, is no nvr
plea trumped up for this ocaasion ; but iij
coeval with the institution of the Friends
that it is one of their fundamental roligiou"
principles, under all circumstances to beajr
laithful ve»timony against the sin of goint '
to war; and that, as such, they csunc!' ■'
aid, either directly or indirectly in the ur. '
secution of any war. I
The
*
taJti
vut •
propose ti
over the bottom of this lake to an uncx- j 8Carce|y a loot hold in tho garden valley of
plored depth, "with brine over it, to the j tbe Mississippi; the "lather 01 waUTS" 1-
depth ol over iwo feet." Salt is cut out j now tne mighty ally of our foes; the rich'
for use, but soon crystalizea again to the and beautiful Crescent City DO longer I
same level.
FAMILIARITY WITH EVIL.—Sir Peter Le
ly, tho painter, made it a rule, never to look
at a bad picture, having found by experi
ence, that whenever be did so, bis pencil
took a tint from it. "Apply this," adds
Bishop Home, "to bad books and bad com-pany."
U.^rdeforus her gales to the sea; lort
alter fort has fallen ; many a fortified cump
with long accumulated stores, bas been
abandoned; and our proud and baughiy
loe, with con-tantand sleepless energy is
marshalling his mighty armies around our
capital—uutthe ui.-conquered and uncon-querable
spirit ot tbe South atill remaino,
and yet their is hope, lt'our soldiers for-get
not tbe glory thoy have won, and tbe
lhey say, and we havo no right to quei-tion
ther sincerity still !«.. a right to it.rack
tho tabernacle of their bosom, and then :
set up an imago of ou own orthodoxy, tl,
their opposition rests its aupport upon their
construction of the tonets inculcated b -
tho New Testament, and being such, it 1
comes a question of conscience, and that'
sooner than violate its teaching, ihey sun i'
ready patiently to suffer for any penalties
you may impose for the non performance cf!'
what you mav conceive to be their Dresilt:'
duty. j '
'ibcir opposition then becomea a rcl! <
ioua one, und being such, involves t
liberty of conacience; for thero can be 1 '
religion, when there is noconaeience, no
jr can there be any conscience where 1I1
.3 no recognized rule as a standard ol Chri: r
ian duty. 1 do not mean to say, that tl 1
inclusion of a man's conscience is always ,
right, per se, but I do mean to aa■;,
-hat the honest dictates of a man's coi.
science availing himself ot all the lights h
;iis power, to arrive at correct conclusion*!!,
ire obligatory upon him, and that he can'
not disregard them without r>ontreciin$ ■
-in.
In this view of tho case, tho proposition j!
-simply reduced to this—would it bj
ighl in this Convention to exaot tbe pob : ,
laanceol any duty, from any of its 0*J-j|
/ens and punish tbem for its non )ierforn!-i
.nee, when they had tho degree of mor'lj
evidence, that the refusal to perform, on- I
j,ina;ed from no refractory spirit, from no
ooatemptOf authority, but solely arose1
Trcmadeep seated conviction, that tl;c
performance required was siniulT
Wo have heard much, Mr. Preside j
about conscience, and different dofinitii I
_;ivcn ot this much abused word. Whajt;
sir, I ask, is conscience? Conscience h*>'
been defined by some to be "that JUL
cent which the rational soul passes up< «
all her actions," and ia said to be a far til 1
of tho soul it-f|f, and consequently naiu
to a. Other*, there are, who stale thai ,1.
is a ray of divine light. Milton calls tit
•God's empire." and Doctor )Tonng calls j
"God in man." Dr. Aduin Clarke, on
tUe most learned, most able and pioas hi HI -.
< al critics, that this or any other age :-'
produced, says that conscience is nuili *
-•:se than a faculty capible of recoivihJj
light and conviction from tho spirit of G ^
and he says that it answers the end if
-pirilual matters lo the soul, that
ye does to the body, in the procesa
vision. . ti
The eye is not light in itself, nor ia it if
pablo of discerning any object, but by ll .»
instrumentality of solar or artificial lig
but it has organs properly adapted to be
reception oftbe rays of light, and of the
various images ot the object they sshl
When solar light is present to an eye w I
organs sre perfect, thero is discernment
when this life is absent there is no disc | ~
raent of tbe object, however enti
perfect the optic nerve. In this very
manner, the spirit of God enlighten
eye ot tho soul, which we call conscience'
and its teaching and conclusions are obi
tery. Yes, in tho language of holy w"
the spirit itself bears witness with our
spirit; that is, it shinos into thcconscii
and reflects through tho soul a conv-ct.ou
u )th of our duty, as well as tho obligation
r-sting upon u-- to perform that duty.
Conscience, then, according to this d i
nition, pro-supposes a knowledge on
art of the rule by which it ^ to bego> }
ed, which so far as Christians aro com '.)
'•I- is the written word ot God. Conscieiio
then has a law, a rule, a standard, wbiciKs
aithoritativoand rises superior to hot S
, gi.-lation and when honestly enterta f
liould be respected. Tho dictates of
enlightened conscience shoold never be
regarded, fiidcannotbo withoutconscqm i.t
remorse and pain felt for omission of duty —
. follows from tho premises, that although
ht per
i'i
who follows its suggestions
"TsS, what conscience Jict»tes to b» iaM f
ur wain* me not *•<» <•"• «
This teach me. more iltin Hell to anun
That more than Heaven pursue.
Conscience in the language of Aber
Lie, in his moral ethics, hold- ajplace HO
,e moral powers, analsgous to that w ,
„Mon holds among the:intellectual. W ,1
we act under its influence wo perform
1 ions simply becauao we feel them to • *
, i,.|,t, and we abstain lrom others oe<
v.v Ic I them to be wrong, without rega.d
,y ether impression, or to tbe ooase-qoence
of action upon ourselves or others.
Now, sir, the go-d book in which we all
Profess to behove, clearly reveal, this
truth—that cotHfience ia a power ot sojh
importance, tbat without any acquired
■i
tent
diem >{
Irs jk
ry si «•
ns <\f
II foll'iwn iroin IIIU jMciuiu. », ..■-. —
the thing suggested may not be ri^/•
„, yet it so appearing to be, justifies tin
•a
•f
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man LnHBkBBir.'