The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 125, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 6, 1864 Page: 1 of 2
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THE TRIWEEKLY TfiLfi.GKAl'H
VOL. XXIX—NO. 125
HOUSTON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6. 1864
BY PONY EXPRESS.
4
\
Special l« the Telegraph.
FROM ALEXANDRIA.
Alexandria, Dee. 31
The New Orleaee Picayune of the 83J la ai v>
hand. The following appear* under the head of t0 ahij
tkrrlble disaster.
(Correspondence of the New York Herald.; "
u. 8. Transport Fclton, {
Off Charleston, Dec. S.|
AI 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, while a lu-
rloua wind prevailed from the north-went, the
ironclad Weehawken, lying at the entrance of
Charleston harbor, went euddenlv, swiftly and
unaccountably to the bottom, and carried with
her, to a horrible death ben eath the waves, four
of her englneera and 26 of her crew. * •
The abova was the position of the fleet when
the ttrat signal of distress was made from the Wee-
hawken—at a few minutes before 2 o'clock. The
signal was seen and answered at ouce by the flag*
ship, flrom which four boats were dispatched to
her asslsUDoe. and by the South Carolina, which
sent two of her boats to the Weehawken'* aid
The tags Dandelion and Iris were also at once
called up, and with them Commander Duncan, of
the Weehawken, who chanced to be ou the flag-
ship, and in conversation with tho Admiral when
the signal was made, proceeded immediately, with
the hope of running his vessel on the beach. He
had scarcely left tho Admiral when the officer ot
the deck made out from the Weehawken a new
signal, and immediately reported her to be link-
ing. A moment after she settled swiftly down by
the heao, careenedsover to starboard and disap-
peared.
It is impossible to convey an idea of he appall-
ing nature ot (he disaster. It came with the sud-
denness of a thunderbolt. When the first signal
of dis'rets was made, no one divined how serious
was the danger, and when, at length, the vessel
wentduwu, U was difficult for those who saw her
disappear, to credit even the evidence of their
own senses. The confusion on the flagship, arisi-
iug mainly from the difficulty of lauuching her
boats, and the desire of both officers and men to
be flrst in them, was most in.ense and painful.
The wind was now blowing with groat fury, aud
the boats which hastened from all sides t.i the
scene encountered great peril in picking up frum
the water the few who had succeeded in f,'<-Uiug
away from the Weehuwktn before sht sa;.k. A,-
mottaiihe moment she went down, some 20 or
more sprang to the boats andsucceeded in getting
away. As many others were rescued frum the
surging waves ty the launches of the flagship, tlu
.South Carolina and the tug boats Dandelion and
Iris. Thirty perished. She had labored hard all
day,her decks being constantly submerged, but
no one dreamed of much danger. When, how-
ever, it was known for a certainty that the vessel
was to be lost, a panic of fright and fear benumbed
all, and the terror-strieken crew had but little
power to help themselves. There were men in
irons between-deck*. ana the Sergeant at Arms
rushed frantically away to relieve them Poor
fellows, they all went down! There wore in-
valids in the sick bay, and to their relief the Sur-
geon sent his steward, who never returned There
were firemen at the lurnace, to whom vaiu shriek*
for a helping hand at the pumps were made. A
few of the confident were rushiug to their quart-
ers to save their effects. jostling the timid ou ineir
way to the deck to aave themselves.
It was lu the niidstol bic-ne.-. like this thai the
Weehawken went ucwu. Ail clothing, fui.iis aim
papers went down with dir. I'Le licou.au wa>
brought ailve in hoard trie fltg-lilp, hut died ii.
spasms a lew minutes alter. Vaiions paities were
picked up and taken to Ihe u<arest vessels. l'bo.-c
who weio saved were scattered iu small tquad.-
throujjhout the duet.
The Weehawken is Ijinn !n live fathoms of wa'e.
and will soon he raised. Untllshe Is brogul.t u,> m i
oue can tell ta a cartaluty why she sauk.
MORE ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE.
The flrst Intelligence ve regarding the sfearurr!
Chesapeake, says the Picayune, was that Government
vessels were in puiault. The following telegrams
tell irom and by whom she was captured. We copy
irom the New lork paper*:
The follow i"g telegraphic risratcli was rocii'ed
yesterday nioriilrg:
. „ „ i'ortlsnd. Dec.9.
H. B. Cron> well A Co.:
£teauier Che-a| eake was captured twenty miles N.
N. JS., of Cape Cod, at l.-JO A. SI. on Monday morning,
bj lebels wholelt New York as passengers, Sc und
englmor killer ami thiowu ovoiboard, chiei engii.cet
aim mate wounded.
Captain V* lliett und cri w landeil at St. Johns this
morning.
PROM U. S. CONfCL, ST. JOHNS—SECOND DlfFATfil.
St Johns, S. B., Deo. 9.—The steamer Chea
apeake, Capt. Willett, from New York for Port
land, Muine, waa taken possession of on Sunday
mornirg laat, between one ana two o'clock, by IC
Confederate pasaengers. The 3d engineer of the
steamer was shot dead, and his body thrown over
board. The 1st engineer was shot in the chin, hut
was retailed on board. The first mate was badly-
wounded In the groin. Eleven or twelve shots
were fired at the Captain.
Prom the Tribune.
Every person now within the territory of the
rebellion, with 'the exception of two or three
tbouiaud of the more conspicuous and determin-
ed chiefs, may secure a full pardon to-morrow,
and be restored to 1.11 his former prlvllige* as a
loyal cioaen of the United Stale*, with hi* prop-
erly intact (sive that which may have already
been cosflso*ted and sold,) on the easy oonditloo
of his swearing allegiance to the United Stales,
and to abide by and acquiesce in the acts of
Congress and Executive proclamations effecting
the States of slaves, "so long as not repealed,
modified or declared void by Congress, or by a
decision of the Supreme Court. Here la required
uo assumption of th* universal efficiency and ir-
revocable validity of those aota and proclama-
tions. but simple agreement to respect and abide
by them, and each of them, uutll the same (bail be
invalidated either by Congress or ihe Supreme
Court of the United States.
low can any one who means to be legal at all
object to these conditions} Ninety of every hun-
dred rebel*, may be restored «to every right to-
morrow wiiuout sacrificing or relii quishing any
particle of their property ; while nine-tenths of
the residue are required to relinquish nothing
but their right to oppress and sell their fellow
men.
Henceforth it can be neither truthfully nor
plausibly said that those who have once been
reoela have no Inducement to return to loyalty,
no hope but in the triumph of disunion. They
may come back to morrow and enjoy every po
litical and social privilege and advantage enjoyed
or claimed ly any of us. We proffer t'lem equality
with ourselves. Should not that suffice and con-
tent tiiem 1
The country must now realize that nought tut
slavery obstructs the way to peace and reunion.
In no meiaphorio or poetic sense, the Union and
liberty are henceforth inseparable. They will ei-
ther rcjoice in a common deliverance and triumph
or fill the same bloody grave.
From ihe Missouri Democrat (Radical )
The Radical Journals of th* country, so far as
we jet hoar from them, find only matter for con-
gratulation In the PresiJenl's message and aocom-
pauylng proclamation. Mr. Lincoln's national
policy is Radical. The Conservative press re
sponds to the documents tardily, cautiously,
with faint praise* aud ill-disguised captiousness'
reminding one of the ludicrous grimaces of a man
atlemplii g to smile in pain. The President is in
harmony with the people, who will sustain his
great measures in Congress, on the battlefield,
aud at home, with all the earnestness of patriotism.
int1crkst1no correspondence.
After being overpowered, the captain was put
in irons, ana Ihe passengers were notified that
they were prisoners of war to the Confederate
States of America, ^jje steamer eame off to Part
ridge Island at about one o'clock this morning.
Theciewand passengers, except the Istengin
-♦"•r were puton board a boat and sent to this city.
The steamer then sailed in sns.ir.erly direction,
and was subsequently seen along side another ves-
sel. It is supposed that she took on board a sup-
ply of coal from her. The attack took place about
21 miles west of Cape Cod. The steamer and
cargo were valued attl80,00u.
THE MEW YORK PRESS ON LINCOLN'S MK4SUOB 1«D
proclamation.
From the Herald.
In the Scriptural accounts of Sodom and Go-
morrah, It Is stated that the Lord promised to
Abraham to spare those wicked cities ir even
ten Just men could be found therein ; but they
could not be fcund,andwe know the result. We
aaro ssy that our Father Abraham's "one tenth"
proposition was suggested by the proposition of
the original Father Abraham cf ten righteous
men in Sodom, and we fear that the recult will
te the same—that the righteous men required to
Save the rebellious 8tatea from a destructive
■torm of fire and brimstone will not be found.
we conclude that Mr. Lincoln's plan will be a
failure, and it is quite possible that it has been
Mfcmllted more with a view to open the question
of an amnesty and a restoration, or more to con-
ciliate the radicals, than from any hope of any
acceptance of these overtures by the States con
Mrnsd, or any one of them not under the abso-
lute control of our armies.
From the World.
aa a party manifesto, looking to the approach
Ing Presidential election, It is a creditable speci-
men of political dexterity. It trims with marvol-
oas adroitness between the two factions of the ke
publican party. It Is so skillfully devised and so
•Wiously phrased that it equally admits of an In-
terpretation which ought to please the radicals,
and of an Interpretation which can baaecepted b>
saeh Republicans as are not extremists.
Prom ibe Time*.
• * Ho gave no countenance to the project
which has been so vehemently advocated, of re-
dueing the redeemed States to a territorial condl
Uon.thatth\ may coi..inae to be directly govern
able by Fed..r,.i Authority. Yet he recogniies the
necessity ot securing State governments that shall
tw loyal to the Union. * * * *
The proeess of reconstruction, as the President,
pita it, i* simple and yet ptrieclly effective. The
motive to reaasume loyal obligations is secured by
making it the only means of escaping conflsca
lion of properly and ail the other penalties of
Irtason. The act is aecored with the highest
sanotlon possible, by making It rest on a most em
phatie and solemn oatn. The eff.ct is secured by
enabling those who thus comply to revive and
carry ou the State Government, Jutt as soon as
they comprise a certain proportion of the whole
nnmber of the voting population before the re
bnllion. • • • • •
We believe that the cloaar it is examined the
mar* It will be discovered te be adapted to the
meat ead desired. The public mind, after dae re-
jection, we have not a doubt, will accept 11 as an-
other signal lllaatrttlop of the practical wisdom
the President.
Headquarters, lSih Army Corps, Department;
ol Virgln'aand North Carolina, >
Fortress Monroe, Va., Deoember 9, '03 j
Hon. Rooert Ould, Agent of Exchange;
Sir—1 have been Informed that tho small pox
has unfortunately broken out among the prisoners
of war in the hands of the Confederate authorities
both at Belle Island and at Lynchburg. Auxious
from obvious humane considerations to prevent
the spread of this terrible disease, i have taken
leavo to forward for their use, by m j. Mulford,
Assistant Agent for Exchange, lu behalf of the u.
Slates, a package of Vaccine matter, sufficient, as
my medical director informs me, to vacci^ateO,-
000 prisoners. May i atk that it shall be applied
under the direction of the proper medical officers,
to the use intended.
Being uncertain how far i can interfere, as a
matter of official duty, 1 beg you to consider this
nole either official or unofficial, as may bes serve
thn purpose of allevaiiig the distresses of those
unfortunate m<n.
Since learning the fact, i have had no oppor-
tunity to apply lo the Department, at Washing-
ion, for .LStruution. No formal reoeipt is needed,
a iioie acknowledging this beinfall thai can be
desired. If more vacoine matter is necessary, it
will he furnished. 1 have the honor tobe,ver>
respectfully, your obedient Servant,
B. f. BUTLER, Major
General Commanding.
sr.rLT or c. mmisbioner ou.i>.
("0* FEDERATE STATZS Of AMERICA, I
\V AR DfTABIMKST, KiouMoND, Va. r
Dicoiuher 9, 1803 J
Major Oen. B. V. Butler :
bir-^The package of vaccina matter has been re-
ceived and will be falthtully devoted to the purposes
'udicated In your letter. Permit me In response to
the friendly tone of your letter, to assure you that it
Is n y most anxious desire, and will by mv constant
efloit, t r-do everything iu uiy power to alleviate the
miser es that spring out of this horrible war.
I have the honor lo he,
Very respectfull", your obedient servant,
R.OULD, Aueut of Exchange.
The ani iuut of the public ilebt of the U lt M States
up to tut 30th ol September « as $1.222,113.659,66.
At that, date the t. easnry notes anil oostal ounency
(■' green backs") in circulation were f420lA23,28&.
II. P.
THE PUZZLE DXRAVELEZl
.V lew dnvs s'nee, I sent you the follewins piu/le :
MIiTRtSS TO bERVANT.
it the But r>'it.:
If the b. putting:
SERVANT TO MlSiKEPS.
How can I put: when
Is such a-der.
I now send you the nointlon.
MISTRESS TO SERVANT.
If the grate be (gru^t 13) erupty (ni t) put coal on
(cudon)
If the grate be (sreat B) full, stop (a period nr ful'
stop) putting coal on (c lon.)
SERVANT To MISTRESS.
H >w c«in I i ut coal on (colon) wlic:i there
Is such a tilth fender? (hyphen) der. There
The Yankee Con«resi Is now composed of eighty-
nine 'adlcal* (Administration Republican* ) eighty-
nine l on-ei vatlvps. Democrats and hord -r St.'te men
and c'i|ht pe*ce Democrats. II. P.
A lixandria, die. 29.—Having nothing of more
importance on hand, i send you the following:
yankic kiwi.
[Date not given ; probably about thellth or
12th.—Ed. Tel.]
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
was sent into Congress yesterday. His estimates
for the.next fiscal year are as follows: Receipts
from ordinary source*, $2l'6.0l'0,f>00 ; expendi-
tures. itci.oco 000—leaving *555,000,1100 to bo
provided for by loan. The public debt on the
20th of June, 1805. is estimated at $2,235,000,000.
Increase of taxes i* recommended on banknote
circulation, distilled spirits, tobacco, cotton, a
Mr. Chase considers it lHexpedient to,increase the
amount of circulating notes.
Meade's forces are encamped on the South
bank of the Kappahannock, and Lee's oo the
north 'bank of the Rapldan. Both armies have
virtually gone into winter quarters. There are
rumors that Meade will be superseded by either
Hooker or Thomas; but the opinion is expressed
lhat no such change is likely at pre*'nt. Secre-
tary Stanton, however, is in favor of s complete
reorganization of the army of the Potomac.
The steamer Chesapeake, recently captured by
rebels, is to be taken, if possible, into Wilming-
ton. She coaled at St. John*, where ibe took on
a commander, and, at last advices, wa* off Cape
.sable. , , _
.lohu Morgan,It *• reported, crowed the Cum-
berland Klver on Wednesday, near BurkeUUe.
Notloe has been given in Congress of a resolu-
tion to secure an amendment of the constitution,
prohibiting slavery foieyer throughout th- United
States And a bill 1* to be introduced ki'viliog
that the free Slates may recruit to fill then ..tis
in the rebel State*.
Ills intimated lhat an order will m>"i, jec"
prohibiting ihe distillation of whiskey in lliiuois
and Ohio. The corn crop for the present year, it
appears, exhibit* a decrease of about 150,000,000
uushels, and will fall 133.000,000 bushels short of
the amount required for home consumption alone.
a Pari* journal states that all th* eontlnental
powers Lave acceded to the proposition of a
Kuropean Congress, wlib the exception cf Aus-
tria.
Gold wa* firmer In New York yesterday, and
cloud ai 151.
The Supreme Coart of Illinois baa deelded, in
the an4a*i«* cases, that the proclamation of
Oov. Yaiesterminated Ute aeaslon of the Legis-
lature oo th* lOihday of June.
Gen. Meade baa not yst been supsrsaded, bat it
is thought that he will aoon be relieved by either
Hooker or Thomas. The army of th* Pcxomae la
to be reorganised Immediately, and nearly all of
the corpt oomnanders are to be removed. M*ade
has forwarded to the War Department a report of
hi* reoenl movement, but it ha* not as yet recelv
ed publicity.
The rebel authorities deotlne to reoelre any
more supplies for Federal prisoners.
Ills rumored ih.t Alexander h. t>;ephens, with
a cumber of other Southern gentlemen, camo
down to Fortress Monroe, a few days ago, with
proposals of peace, and asked to be reoelved in
an official capacity, whiah request waa refused.
The Federal losees during the sie*e of Knox-
vlllewire about 1,000. Those of the rebels are
estimated at 5,000
q«o. Haileck, in his report, dates that Burn-
side's movement ag lnat Frederic laburg was a*
senled to, but n«t approved by htm. Tue Geoer
al suggests that tht< Federal armies live upon the
couutry through whioh they pass, and advooates
the enure abolition of the antler system.
The conservative members of the Confederate
Congress from Aorth Carolina intend,ll is stated,
lo present the sutject of reconstruction ; and itl
anticipated lhat ibe present session of lhat body
will.iu consequence, be of a very stormy char
acter.
The Monitor Weehawken sank atanohor, Instde
of Charles'.ua Bar, ou the Oth iust. Thirty of Ihe
crew wore drowned. It is exp.'Cted iho vessel
will be raised.
Tho sieamer Chesapeake, recently seized by
rebels, touched at Shelbourue, Nova Scotia, on
Friday night, coaled, and ahlpped a number of
men*
Alexandria, Deoember 31.—The new York
Lleraiu of the 13ib says :
The pursuit of ihe Cheispeake ha* not met
with much success up to this lime. It appears
that she left Shelbourue at midnight on Friday. il
is said lhat ihd city of Halifax is Ailed with
Southern refugees.
The blockade runner Minnie, with a valuable
cargo, was captured near Cnarleaton on the !Hh
instant, aud lowed into Hampton Roads.
The previsions and eloihing sent to our impri
soned soldiers have been faithfully distributed lo
them, acoordiug te the statements of some of the
prisoner* themselves, which we publish to-day.
The groat ship canal through Nicaragua is pro-
gressing radidly.
The n. y. Herald of the 11th says :
Advices from si. Johns', n. b., represent that
the capture of the Chesapeake was planned in
lhat city by Confederate areata, who hired several
of tho worst characters 10 carry out their de-
signs. They were promised $300 each, wheu the
•learner was safely taken iulo Wilmington, n.
c. The cargo is believed'to have beoa shipped
by the rebel ageuls, and was valuable to the
South. The sleamer cabled off ihe harbor of si.
Johns, and took on boa'd Capt. Parker of the pri-
vateer Retribution, who took command.
The following is the latest regarding the pur-
suit:
Portland, ma., Dsiu 12.—The Chesapeake left
Shelbourue at 12 o'clon last nig at, after shipping
some uien a^d coaling.
foreign news.
a very large number of the steamers plying on
the Clyde, were under ongagemeuts for voyages
to Nassau, n. p., with cargoes destined to run
the block tde. It is stated that so many of these
vessels bad been sold or hired for th* purpose
that tho steam service wcutd be almostsuxpeuded.
The alleged Confederate war steamer Pumpero,
was under strict seisure by the English Govern-
ment, pending tbe result of au investigation ef the
circutnateTices of her flltiag out.
The tettlag ta London was still in favor of Heen.
an in his n<nt with Klnf.
The Southern correspondent of tbe Lor.dOD
Times writing f.om Chickamauga, Oct. tkh,
speaks of that battle as being the most fruitless
victory of modern times, and the blame of whioh
Is directly imputed lo Gen. Bragg.
Alxxandria, Dec. 31 —It 1* freezing and snow-
ing here today. Bed River ii rising slowly, buj
tbe ris is local. h- p.
Alexandria, December 29.
I give you a correot statement of the condition
of affairs east of the river.
The battle of Cbickamauga wa* won by no gen-
eralship, but hy hard fighllug and the rivalry ex-
isting between Lingslreei's troops and Bragg's.
The plan of the oattle aud its results were identl
cal with Muri'reesboro'.
From a pine tree, on top of Missionary Ridge,
General Forrest, during the rout, sent courier
after courier to Bragg that the enemy were cho
king up the streets of CbaUanooci and passiDg to
the river,and every moment's delay was worth a
thousand men. No pursuit was made, but Roae-
crans was allowed quietly and securely to estab-
lish himself In, aud in front of Chattanooga.
The Chickamauga, a smut! stream running
through the centre of the valley, divided the hos-
tile piokets. Without serious opposition the ene-
my were allowed to seize and fortify every point
up to the ereek. About three weeks before tho
attack ou Lookout, two of Grant's officers deserted
and reported thai the attack was to he made next
morniug. Th ir desertion delayed It. They said
; Grant would sacrifice 20,000 men to gain the po-
| sition, as his stay in ChaUanooga depended on
• il. Our batteries on the mountain commanded
j the railroad t nd river, and the Yankee supplies
' were hnuirlit over a terrible road of 3ti miles over
the mountains
a Council of War, iu * hlch the President par
ticipated,decided to send part of the left wing
(guarding Lookout) ou Knoxville, cuitiDg off
Burnside, aud iorming a junction/with a force
from Virginia, to be sent through Bristol to thai
end. Accordingly Lougftreet was ordered on,
and in a few asys after, Buckner's division, both
irom the mouuiaiu, aod no attempt made to sup-
ply the rit-fle'ency. i'ii-j .vdva: en irom Vlrgluia
was prevonteJ h> tho cap'.ure of two of l.ee's bri-
gades.
Buckner, who was absent, from sickness, had
already said that Bragg would inevitably be
whipped, it he sent away any portion of bis army.
These movements were all noted In CnattsnoOga.
Tbe attack was made at daybreak, on a fog-
gy morning, our pickets not having been re-
lieved lor forty hours. Walthall's brigade was
our only fore* at the loot of tbe tnouutain. That
was soon gobbled, aud ibe Yankees ran up with-
out opposition Our cannon could not be de-
pressed sufficiently to sweep tbe siJes. When
they reached tbe top they were too exhausted le
speak. Tho two or three brigade* ou ihe creat
were Uken by surprise, aud soon gave way. Tho
rout btcatue general on the left and centre —
Bragg and Breckinridge succeeded in forming
them on Mission Ridge, but the Yankees Were iu
position lo enfilade the Ridgs from Lookout, with
our own cannon, necessitating a further retreat
The whole line waa ordered back, and there-
treat became a rout—men throwing away blank-
ets, arms and all their implement*, liilhadnol
beeu for Cleburne who brought up tbereur and
checked the puriull at Ringgold, the Yankees
would have found no obstacle to Atlanta. Several
thousand Tennesseeans deserted that day. The
Georgians ran on their own soil. The Yankees
captured 12 cannon. Our army was scattered
from Dalton to Atlanta.
Satisfied with his aucsess, tbe Yankee General
drew off hts troops and settled down quietly In
ChaUanooga and on Lookout and ai lesion Ridge.
Gen. Bragg aud Gen. Breckinridge behaved
with heroism thai day, riding through the hottest
of the enemy's Are, imploring their men to rally
and stand their grouud.
Oar loss was not great In killed and wounded,
but most disastrous in artillery, small arms, de-
sertions and prestige. It wa* incredible at first,
ibat the army which had flung itself with such
desperate and ueadlong courage upon the Yankee
horues at Chickamauga, should. In a few weeks
after, turn in dismay from the very troop* it bad
routed so thoroughly.
Gen. Cheatham was at Dalton, almost frantie
with rage aud morltfiuaiion, declaring Ibe ma-
Doeuvenng to have bem child's play and the
lighting disgraceful.
The stand ag inat Thomas will In my opinion
be made at Kcsaca, and not at Dalton.
It is the plan of the Yank*** to push a heavy
oolomn to Atlanta, and thence advaneeon Mo-
bile, Bavannah, Charleston and Richmond. It
will be ih* effort of the winter to circumvent them
in this plan.
Gen. Bragg has been relief ed at his own re-
quest, and Is now,er was lately,at tiewnan, Ga..
with his family. Ll*ut. Oen. Hardee wae placed
In command,bat. expressing a diffidence as to his
ability for so Imporiaula position, he ha* been
assigned to it temporarily only, and the ■'South-
ern Confederacy," of Atlanta, state* "on author-
ity," that Johnston hss been ordered to the com-
mand, with Biagg as Chief of SUIT.
The Yankees consider Charleston impregnable
by water and from tbe front, and areouly tinker-
ing away to keep up the price of the money
market. Beauregard *ay* they cau only take one
battery at a time, and he calculate* tt will require
two and a half year* to take th*m all.
Forreat crossed the Tennessee with nine thou-
sand cavalry, and will soon have a foroe of iwen
ty thousand under his seperate and Independent
oommand. Tbe Yankee anthoritiea areenrolling
all the able hodiod men In Tenuessee they can
lay their hands on; and to avoid this the Tennes-
seeaus are fiocking lu crowds 10 join the Killant
Forrest.
Speed on railroads averages nine miles an hour
ard even then there is constant running off the
track.
Bragg quarreled with Longstreot, D. II. Hill,
Polk, Forrest, Cheatham, Buokner, Hood, aud
even hiaOhief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Mackall, who
left him. None of them were iu ihe defeat.
Gen. Lee eaid at a diuner party, not ioug ago,In
Virginia, lhat ihe war would end next year favor-
ably lo us. He has, hitherto, been of opinion it
would be a seven yeara war. Gen.N£well la of ibe
sims opinion.
Tbe newspspers on tho other tide, say Magru-
gruder's plau la the only one—to attuok the eue
my at once aul furiously, for it always demoral-
izes an army lo fall back on IU own soil.
The Yaukee papers, in November, were full of
the wedding of secretary Chase's daughter, and a
few days after, some of them said she w s tho same
lady who mad* herself conspicuous, lu New Or
leaus. by robbing the wealthy Dr. Campbell of his
plate and Jewelry, the former of wbieh the gov-
ernment forced her to disgorge to the tune ol
«10,000.
There ia excitement brewing In Mobile.
— - A- W>
Alexandria, Jan. 2, 1804.
Dalton, Deoember 14.—The enemy'a cavalry.
200 slreug made a raid yesterday on Lafayette,
and captured several oltisens, and after ransack
ing tbe houses returned towards Chattanooga.
Dalton, December 16.—The euemy Is moving a
large force towards Stevenson.
The enemy may yet oonlomplatea winter cam-
paign ; *o let our whole people arouse from their
apathy and be ready for the wortt.
Advices from Dalton state that the enemy are
com mining great ravages in north Alabama
Charleston, December 14.—No firing last
night. Nothing this morning.
Charleston, Deo. 15.—No firing today, and
nothing unusual.,except we have one Monitor less
to fight.
Richmond, Dac. 14.—It is reported that tho enemy
with a heavy lorceoi cavalry and mounted Infantry
% moving in the uliectiou of LewNburg. It is sup-
posed be will make a rai l on the Virginia anJ Ten-
uis-ice iallroad,lt not prevented by a counter move-
ment fr.mi the Peninsula.
We have Information of tbe t apture of 2 companies-
of cavalry 111 New Kent coi.nty uy th Yaukeos.
The leader of the parly which captured tbe Clies
peake aud llenry Browne, her second officer, was Lt.
Barr, one of Morgan's men.
Bristol, Dec, 14.—Tbe main b >dy of our army re-
mains at Rogersvl.le. Longstrvel's headquarters aie
at. lhat place.
Large droves of h"gs ai.d cattle are be lug gathered
up lu Kait Tennehree by our cavalry,
Ricumokd, Dec. 14.—Lincoln's proclamation
la universally laughed at, and scorned,and will
prove revolting eveu to the reconslrnctloaUt*.
Important correipondence between the Prosi
dent aud General Joseph K. Johnson, relative to
Bragg's removal, was read In the House to-day
by Mr. Swan of Tennessee, from which It ap-
pears that on the 24th of November, 1HU2, John-
son wa* ordered to take tbe eupreme oommand
of the whole Wesicrn Department, hi* headquar-
ters to be nt CuaitaMOoga, and on the22d of Jan-
uary, 1803, the President ordered him to repair
to Bragg'e headquarters, and decido upon the
best interests of ma service and give advices.
Johnson after inspecting tbe troops reports to
the President thut ihe troops are all in high spi-
rits and ready to flgbt with confidence unabated,
aud thinks Bragg's operations evince vigor and
skill, and It would be very unfortunate to remove
him, and lhat tho best interest of the seivlce re
quire that he should be retained. The operating
of the army out west Involving the generalship
of Pemberton, Bragg, and Johnson are much dis-
cussed among member*.
The House pasted a resolution of thauks to the
herola defenders of Sabine Pass.
A bill was presented to allow tbe fundiug ol
treasury notes not now fundable, referred.
The senate committee on military affairs re
p>rted a bill thatall white men resident of the
Confederate Slates, between 18 and 65. be declar-
ed in military sorvice. All between ltf, 18,45 and
6S to belong to the reserve corps, and between
18 and 45 to field serviot) and that any existing
organization of non-cousoripts be permitted to
Join the reierve corps.
It repeals all law granting exe nptlons, and
none will be hereaflsr exempt except those uhfit
for military servicc aud ministers *a the Gospel,
superintendents of asylums, one editor for each
newspaper, printers, pb>3icians and apothecaries.
["he bill was passed on tbe cale>.d r to betaken
up in its turn. Jobusou, of CKorgia, presented a
bill lo'repoal that portion in the impressment bill
which provides for State Commissioners to fix
prices—referred to the Judlcary CouimiUe*.
CiiARLXbioN, D c. 15.—ihe enemy flrod 14
shells at the city this morning. Several building
were struck, but nobody Injured. Our batteries
replie l. Noflringou Sumter, and uo new movo
men ton the pari of ihe euemy.
IlIUUMOND, D«c. lo.—Tno report off he Postmaster
(icne. al shows receipts for the sale of stamps aud
pojiiigo oil letters of over throo nihil his, and from
postage on newspapers of one hundred and eight v
et;nt thousand. Tue amonuts paid contractors lor
coiiV' via; tlie m ills was over $352,000, paid rallioad,
fiW.i.iou. Th'j whole number ol dead let'i rs co italo-
:u< valuabl e was Vii. containing money and checks,
uwe than i7J0,lW0, uftbei-e i e irlv SOW wers returned
to their writers, while lor some 700, containing over
8i5,OjO. no owners have been found.
Tbe numbwr of letters dropped into l'ostoffices
without paving postage and sent to ibe dead letter
office, was 31,000.
Richmond, Dec. 15.—There was a highly 1m
portanl debate in the House on the Impressment
Law. The Supreme Court'* decision, declared
that wh:n impressments were mada,the value
must i>e ascertained by diaiuterested appraisers
iu the locality. The Judiciary Committee this
morning, reoorted a bill repealing that part of
the law which provides for Stale Commissioners
lo affix the prices, and specifying that local ap-
praisers shall always fix the price, and repealing
Ihe act of April last. After a lengthy debate il
was finally referred oack to the Judioiary Com-
mittee.
Tbe Military Committee reported back the bill
to prevent the reception of substitutes hereafter,
slightly amended, which, alter a long debate,
was unanimously adopted and sent at ouce to the
Senate. During tbe discussion an important
amendment was offered, tbat both prlncpals and
substitutes be held liable to service. Rrjeolcd,
yea* 35, nay* 39. This, however, is no index ol
the sentiments of the members on the subject of
puttiug the principals in tbe army, lu whlcn th-lr
mind* are unsettled. The subject will come up
(or future action on it* merit*. The committee ou
postal affair* reported a bill for the appointment
of an a**i*lant Postmaster ueoertl beyond the
Mississippi, and creating the offloo f tulrd audi-
tor, In accordance with the Presi..^ui's recom-
mends loo.
Bristol, Dec. 13 —The situation remains un-
changed in front. Some two hundred of those
woundeJ at Knoxville, have arrived here.
Lit at. Gus Mays, of Morgan's staff, who escaped
with him, ha* arrived in Russell county, en route
to Richmond. Hs left Gen. Morgan In Cincinnati,
and la satisfied that he Is safe in our line*.
I be United State* Journal of tho 13iB, accord-
ing to Chase's figures and estimate, sajs that th*
national debt will amouut on the 1st of July,
lM4,to 1087 million*, oath* l*tof Jaly, 1045, to
W30 millions.
Th* latest advices represent th* Cbesspeakc
Mar Cape Bable.
Official reports (how t deficiency In tbe corn
crop of the united State* of one hundred and forty
aallitoal of basuel*.
WHOLE NO. 8780
Reports ef the draft eo f*r a* tseerUlaeJ. show
sixty thousand men. and twelve million dolUrs
The navy department has thirteen veaatiZ'i-
Dareult of the Che*apeake. *emelsln
Prom th* Mempbla Appeal of ihe 18th.
Richmond. Dec. i7.-Th# raid upon Salem Uaa
oaused considerable ien*at( >n. and furuer ni^
tloular. are •«*ioa*ly looked for. The
ment i* regarded a. th* bolde.t attempt by th*
eueuiy since the Grler.on raid through lilaal..
slppt. It is beliersd thai Dr. Rocker piloted u*
course to pursa*, and it Is jot Improbahl* that
Da'nvllU.'va* '° 10 Caroling
Pour oorp* of Meade'* infantry and all hi.
oavalry are busy preparing winter quartan in
Culpepper county and corduroying th* road*
One corps or infantry has gone beyond the Ran
winter110 40 " • ' e of rail road and
oiiaklis^n, d?o. 17.—Affilrs very qulat No
firing ou Fort Sumter. no further firing into the
city Ihe bill to appoint an Assistant Postmaster
SUd'Start^tr n-mi"'-ippl Department wa.
Gen. Longstreet'sheadquartersara now atRoc-
eisville, Hawk in* county, about forty mile* norm-
ea*t of Rooxviile. There he la oontldered *n-
lionary. Ihere were, ai lait accounts,n j indica-
tion* of an advance of tbe eu*my.
. u,n^?r,uni1 "j" qod' looff'treot, ia hi* re-
port* of hi* campaign agaluat Burns'de, say* hi
lost *even hundred men la the aUac . u kuoa-
ville, and that the place would have beeu ua.ru d
by aicaull bui for the misunderstanding of oruer*
by some of his subaltern otti j«r*
liaeems, *ays the Rxamimer, tbat oar m;n after
suffering heavily, had reached the enern?!
eulrenchmeuts, aud here for a lonir ti,n
kept waiting for orders that never arrived, «ud
he enemy having rallied and gathered retn-
torceuienss. forced ihem to retire.
Dalton, Dec. 18.—a dispatch fiom the Presi-
deui, announce* lhat General Johnson ha* bsen
appointed to the command of the army of ten"
uoMee. Sherman's corp* ;ha* returned from
fc.si lennessee to Chattanooga. There Is nothing
new here. It is bitter cold. "suing
Richmond, Dec. 18.—ata late meeting ofth*
Kxecuitve Committee of th* Stonawall j.ok.oa
Siatue Association, President Davis dr*sldsd
Gep. Lee, the Governor or Virginia, and other
prominent officer* were present. In hi*
report the treasurer stated that Vollak, the
aariist, had reached the continent of Europe, and
had entered upou his work. Fifteen bales of cot-
ton had been nipped to Liverpool to meat the ex-
peuie*. Five thousand dollars wa* agreed aeon
to be advanced to tbe artlat.
The stutae will cost twenty-five thoaiand dol-
lar* in foreign exchange.
In the Seuate to-day a bill pissed, authorising
the appointment of Third Auditor of the Treasury
to seule the Post Ofiloe acoounh.
The House Instructed the Judlcary OosamltW* to
enquire into th* expediency of the amending th*
impressment act, so as to exempt enough of food
for the supply of uon producers.
FROM tue FRONT.
TBE VATS or Rt'OELET'S ME*.
Extract from a private letter, dated
"CAKr Wharton, Jan. 2, 1884.
Oapt. Rugeley embarked with some forty or
fifty men, lu three small boats, daring the night
Shortly after they started, a sjvsrs norther sprang
up, which was so severe as to swamp the frail
oarks; and the brave mso, who had thus risked
their live* to rescue their comrade*, were buf-
feted about tbe bay all that night. Next day
■ome twenty reached the ahore in aafety, bat en-
tirely naked, and almo*t frozen to death, as tbe
day wa* a bitter ooU one. Tbe oaptaln also
reached the ahore in safety, with several others -
but fourteen were still mltslag. The day paased'
and the night was freezing cold. The next morn-
ing—New Year'* day—the fourteen were found.
But—oh. God! how 7 On the hack, drawmd
<ind frozen. How horrible to think, that fourteen
young and brave meu ihould meet with suoh a
death!
This is the most horrible calamity that ha* oc-
curred on the Texas ooait during the war. In a
skirmish, the othor day, three of our men were
wounded; and th* loa* of the enemy has only
been nine men taki* pritomri I i nave heard
o-day that the cold wa* *o aevere yesterday, at
tho mouth of the Bernard, that some of ourmoe
became *peeohle**. The Yankee* are having a
torrible time of il on the Penlntala. It is re-
ported that they are abort of rations, clothes,
wood and water. If this Is the ease, they will
probably " change their base '' shortly.
oi'Lr Prairie, Brazoria Conntt,1
January 4th, 1804. j
We have but few Items to report concerning
the enemy- They remain in uearly the same po-
sition as formerly. The firing heard in Ihe direc-
tion of Can*y Rlvor, on the soih Deoember. wa*
caused by a working party of the enemy throwing
up breastwork* of driftwood and sand, on th*
peninsula, opposite the town of Matagorda. On*
of our gunboats, hearing the firing tbe night pre-
vious, steamed up to tbat portion of the pentose
la, but being too foggy to see tbe enemy, they
waited until daybreak, when she discovered the
party mentioned aud one of the enemy'a gunboata
abreast of her In the Gulf, three und a half miles
distant, while the purty were about two miles off.
She immediately opened on them, oausiug them
loskedadilie iu double-quicklime. The Yankee
steamer then opened, and both kept up loug taw
firing nearly ail day. Nobody is Injured on our
aideasfar as heard from.
Our picket* caught an Irish Yankkeo on th*
penln*ulaa C w davsago, and he re.urt* the foioe
at Salurla and oibdr point* at 12,000 man, but
they were expeotlogatieavy reinforcement from
New Orleaiiaand as soou as they had collected
double tne number of men wo were supposed to
bave lh«y would march tr.umpbantly over oar
State. They estimated our foroe to number 15,000
men. They were expecting cavalry and artillery;
also, tbe prisoners report* all the troops under the
chief command of Gen. Washburn, and saya they
ure ail western men, and no ''Yankees" are
among them. We find the western men are bit-
terly opposed to the New Eoglad troops.
We are glad to report from offioial luformati >u
of the safely of Capt. Rugelay who waa reported
In a lale letter to bave been drowned. Of the
twenty men reported drownud, we lesru from th*
same source that ouly fourteen dead bodiea have
been found, aud the balanoe aocounted for aa safe,
we cannot gel a correct list of tbe names of th*
dead aa yet, bnt will endeavor to do eo aa soon as
possible.
me regret to learn that the gallant fellows un-
der oommand of Capt. Henderson, offl^iiun,
were forced to leave meir valuable horses to the
iiands of the enemy, but we rejoice to learn ol ilit
safety of the men. They have done lin^naut
services while In the field as scouts, and We ha/e
beard them highly praised at headquarters by
officers whose good opinion! ara worth having.
It is well known lhat the mtj jrity of this* men
are sportsmen, and that they hive beeu defamed
far and near, but they have shown that our coun-
try has not a more patriotic olassof mau man ibe/
have proved le be.
we bave never seen them turn ths cold shoalder
to the voloe of oharlty, and never saw the widow
and orphan appeal in vain to them. We are bit-
terly opposed to their voc.itlou, bu; aiinire la*ir
gallantry and patriotism.
All quiet along the lines. sioux.
ftqart rbwaru—Stolen, out of the yard at
tjpouvs Kellum'e Springe, on the night of the
15th Deoember, 1863, a light bay horse, five year*
old best Spring; nearly fifteen huid* high; brand-
ed 48 on the l*ft aid* o f tbe neok, and n kk on the
laftshoalder: tip of the right ear gotcbed. i will
give (200 for the apprehension of the thief, aad
(100 for the delivery of tbe horee ai Helium's
Springs. o. h. p. hill, Executor
dec23- tw-lt&wli* N. K. K*llnm, deo'd.
SCHOOL BOOKS.—I have the largtat stock and
beat assortment of tcheol hook* In Uou*ton or
(*o ftir as I know) In the Stat*. They eoet high,
and I am reiactaatly compelled to sell at high pri
ees. dec.WwAiwli* JAMM BURKS.
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Cushing, E. H. The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 125, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 6, 1864, newspaper, January 6, 1864; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236624/m1/1/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.