The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1862, Page 2

bracing goverament war veesels, gunboats, Boating bat- ‘tories, steamtugs and transports, teft Fortress Monroe, ait Le aiesars (SRE aS ound south. The expedition took about fifteen thousand a ascertained. . ‘troops in three brigades, the whole being commanded by 11th.—Tho large va News, Va., Colonei Wood's drove the enemy out of Dent, Gon: Anshan Berssties She veut wove ener eo wil ie range tae log ed artigo mes Texas and Howell counties, Missouri, and Yok sixty rebel instant wounding four or five others. Command of Commodore Louis M. Gokisborough, of the |” piisabeth City, N.C., was taken possession of by Union | @6th.—The following order was isqued by the Preat- United States Navy, foroes, the piace had Dean fired by the revel previous dent of the United States: — to evi ., the dre was under a great ‘@—On and Ms 13th —Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, resigned bis a bet of bal been ee : after the twenty-sixth day, of Febrnary position in President Lincoln’s cabiuet. Bdwin M, Stanton, of Pennsylvania, was appointed Secretary of War in place of Simon Cameron, resigned. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, wasppointed Minister to Russia ip place of Cassius M. Clay, resigned. 15th.—A snow storm in Somerset county, Pa., was ac- companied with vivid flashes of lightning and the roar of thunder. buildings 12th. —Fort Doneison ,situated on the Cumberland river, in Tennessee, was invested by about forty thousand Union troops, under General Ulysses 8.Grant, The fort had a garrison of eighteen thousand eight hundred and twenty- nine officers und men. Two or three skirmishes took place between the ad- vance of General Curtis’ army and some of Price's men, near Springfield, Missouri, and in cach the rebels were driven back, with the loss’ in all of thizty or forty killed rebel lightship off the harbor of Wilmington APE iri rebel guarfliea nt Mnoceseld, Va.. ‘ans breken me N.C., nes + Van, = ‘up by General Dumming. A number of the rebols were was burned by two boats’ crews from the United State | YP 2 steamer Mount Vernon. ‘The Union forces took possession of the city of Edenton , 16th.—tThe Obio Legislature passed a law authorizing | N. C., and were received by a majority of the inhabitants a # s with apparent satisfaction. the banks of that State tosuspend specie payments. 13th.—Tho attack on Fort Donelson commenced at half. ‘The city of Sacramento was inundated for the third | past seven o’clock in the morning. The rebels replied from time within the space of Uares months, The last flood was: nd their intrenchments the battle lasted all day. At very destructive to property, and 1% was estimated that night the Unionists were reinforced by about eight thou- four thousand five hundred cattle and sheep were sand men and four gunboats. drowned. ‘The Union forces, under General Curtis, took possession 4 of Springfield, Missouri, General Price aud his revel fol- 17th.—One hundred and fifty released Union prisohers from Richmond arrived at Fortress Monroe lowers having evacuated the place during the night, leav- Cedar Keys, Florida, was captured by the Unionists. ing over six hundred sick in the hospitals: ‘Treasury Note bit, with the legal tender clause, » the United States Senate, having previously passed. 191h.—A rebel army, ten thousand strong, under com- mand of Generals Geo. B. Crittenden and Felix K. Zolli- coffer, attacked the Union forces under Gen. Thomas, at Mill Spring, Kentucky. ‘The federal forces actively en- gaged were the Tenth Indiana, Fourth Kentucky, Second ‘the Hk expedition. 24th.—The battle of Fort Donelson was renewod, and continued all day, The euemy made a number of attempts 0 drive our forces from the works aud succeeded in taking Minaesota and Ninth Obioregtments. They suffered re- | one of the Union field batteries; but they were driven back eventually and the battery red. Four gun- spectively as numed. They were reinforced after the recaptured. first and severest engagement by fhe Tenth and ‘Tweirn | POakey under lpr eR ae ecard a. bee Kentucky, Fist and Scoomt Tenhossee, Fourteenth Thir. | after fighting about an hour and a bal were forced to F- ty-luret, Thirty-fifth and Thirey sixth Ohio r ts, and | tire, twoof being entirely disablea and the other two ‘Standart’s, Whitshore’s auf. Kiuney’s) battcries. The re- much inj ‘ hed it afterwards: prsenate a bels, after a tight lasting four or fiye hours, were com- pletely routed and driven back to their intrenchments on | bled a great many men. The following was the loss on the ‘the Cumberland river, which they crossed under cover of | gunboats:— night, and retreated in cofusion, leaving everything be Killed. Wounded. hind them. Gea. Zollicoffer was killed dring the tight. | St. Louis. oak 9 ‘The Unionists captured ten cannon, one hundred wagons, | Carondelet 4 2 one thousand two hundred horses, one thousand muskets, | Pittsburg . @ 2 several boxes of arms, and large quantities of ammunition | Louisville . .4 6 and subsistence stores, together with uumber of boats. — = ‘The logs ow both sides was as follows — Total... o 45 4 Goneral Mitchel, with the Union forces under bis com- 192 | mand, entered and took poasession of the town of Bowling 68 | Green, Kentucky, the rebels having previously evacuated e 89 | their strong works at tiat place. The following table shows the strength of their position:— Umon. Killed... - 246 349 No. of ritory adopted! a State flat: c in Uta constitution to be submitted to Congress, with the request | Lunetfe fort on Baker’s Hill. 6 to be admitted into the Union. Lunette fort on Mount Airy.. 6 The shock of an earthquake was felt in Essex county, | Fmbankments on Price's Hill 2 ‘Massachusetts. At Marblebead it shook the, buildings. Embankments on Webb’s Hill. ae - 3 24th.—Twelve rebel officers and sixty-eight privates | Bastion fort on Judge Underwood’s Hill. 13 were captured at Bloomfield, Missouri. Lungtte fort on Hobson’s Hill... fh RGth.—Most of the vessels composing the Burnside | Lunette breastwork on Calvert's Hill. - 2 expedition passed through Hatteras Inlet into Pamlico | Lunette breastwork on Grider’s Hill. - 3 ‘Sound on the coast of North Carolma. The expedition | Bastion fort on College Hill....... -10 bad eacountered severe weather and gales since the 13th, tt and six of the vessels were wrecked and others disabled. ‘Total.. ones 49 ‘Three men were drowned, including Colone! J. W. Allen, | _ ‘The number of of the. New Jersey Ninth regiment. Thirteen regiments infantry 7,500 RT th.—Bishop Edward Ames, of the Methodist Mpisco- | One regiment cavalry, reduced 300 pal Church, and ex-Governor Hamilton Fist cf the State ee of New York, were appointed Commissiouers on the part} Tatal............60 800 of the United States to visit the Southern States, with "The President proclaimed a r to relieve the necessities and provide for the com- | prisone: rt of the Union prisoners Of war. ‘@9th.—A small detachment from Col. Hayman’s Thirty. veventh New York regiment, in Gen. Heintzelman’s divi- sion, surrounded a house near the Occoquan river, Vir- ginia, where nine Texan rangers were stationed, and in She skirmish which ensued every one of the rebels is be- lieved to have been killed. $ 30:n.—The answer of Lord Russell to the despatch of Secretary Seward, surrendering the insurgents Mason and Slidell, arrived in this country, and seemed to give general satisfaction. Sist.—All the saltpetre in the seceded States was or- dered to be seized by the rebel government, aud forty Coats @ pound allowed for it. The rebel camp at Blooming Gap, Virginia, was sur- prised by the Union troops under General Lander, broken up and the secessionists dispersed. A short engagement took place. Thirteen of the enemy were killed and seven- Otay taken prisoncrs. The Union loss was only two illed. 15th —The attack offFort Donelson was resumed, and the most severe fighting—in sume instances the antago- nists being breast to breast—marked the entire day. ‘The enemy resisted with detorfmination: but one by one their outer works were stormed and carried, and when night came the Union flag floated over.their main redoubt, which completely commanded the inner fort. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, returned thanks to Brigadier General Burnside and Flag Officer Goldsborphgh, to General Grant and Flag Oft- cer Foote, and the id. and naval forces under their re- spective commands, for their it achievements in the capture of Roanoke Island and Fort Henry. ~ 16th.—Farly this morning white flags were displayed on Fort Donelson, as a token of a desire on the part of the rebels t» surrender. The garrison, which consisted of about eighteen thousand men, had been under (he'com- mand of General “John B, Floyd and General Gideon J. Pillow; but during the preceding night the latter, in con- nection with Floyd and five thousand men, had ingloriously run off, leaving General Simon Bolivar Buckner, who was next in command, with thirteen thousand men, to con- tinne the fight or surrender at discretion. ‘The result was the unconditional surrender of the fort and garrison. Besides the prisoners, numbering thirteen thousand three hundred, there were taken three thousand horses, forty- eight fleld pieces, seventeen heavy guns, twenty thousand ‘stand of arms,and an immense amount of commissary stores. The loss on each side, according to tbe offictal report, wis as follows:— Sunday, February %. Asevere shock of an earthquake was felt in some parts of Connecticut. 34.—The government having decided that the captured crews of the Southeru privateers should be treated as prisoners of war, they were all taken from their confine ‘ment im the jails and sent to the military prisons. 4th.—A small skirmish took place near Uccoquan, Va Four rebels were wounded and one Union soldier slightly hort. Addresses were published by the rebel commanders ‘eppealing to the men whose terms of enlisment were about to expire to rejoin the rebel army. Sth.—Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, was expelled from tho Senate of the United States for supposed complicity ‘with tne rebel government by the following vote:— Yxas—Messra, Anthony, Browning, Chandler, Ciark, Coli Riss mer, Davis, Dixon, Doslittie. Fesvenden, Poot, Fi Killod,. 237 Gries, Hale, . Henderson, Howard, Howe, Wounded King, Lane of Ind., McDovigail, Mirrill, Poineroy, Simmons, Sumner, Tromoull, Wade, Wilkinsoi ‘Wilson of Mass, and Wilson of Mo.—32. ile, Cowan, Harris, Kenuedy, Powell, Rice, Saulsbury, Tex 4 skirmish occurred near Beaufort, 8. C. ny ‘The Union forces under General Curtis, who had been for some time in parsuit of the rebel General Sterling Price, overtook his rear guard in Benton county, Arkansas, were killed and nine taken prisoners. and a smart skirmish ensued. After twenty minutes fight- th.—The bill authorizing*the issue of Treasury notes, | ing the rebels fled, having lost fourteen killed and forty- three wounded. ‘The Union loss was nine killed and ten bearing 00 interest, to the amount of one hundred and fifty iwownilet . millions of dollars, and making them a legal tender, and | “"?ne Secretary of State suspended the passport system. ‘the issuing of five hundred millicus of dollars of six por | _18th.—The first regular session of the Congress of the Four rebels coat passed the House of Representatives by a vote | so-called Confederate States of America assemb'ed in ‘of pinety-three yeas to fity-nine nay: Richmond. It was composed of representatives from all The rebels evacuated Romney, Va.,and the Union | the slavcholding States, except Maryland and Delaware. troops entered aud vccupied the town, ‘The gunboats Essex, Commander Porter; the Curonde- 19th.—The rebel government ordered all the Union pri- soners of war, numbering aBout two thousand, to be re- fet, Commander Walke; the Cincinnati, Commander Stem- | leased. bel, the St. Louis, Lieutenant Commanding Paulding; the | — The v! on, N.C., was attacked by the Union Conestoga, Lieutenant Commanding Phelps: the Taylor, | gunboats. ‘ tants fled, and the town was burned. Lieutenant Commanding Gwinn: and the Lexington, Liew tenant Commanding =birk. all under the command of Flag’ Officer A. H. Foote, attacked the rebel Fort Henry, ou the ‘Tennessee river, in the State of Tennessee, and w/ter a se- vere and rapid fire of one hour and a quarter captured the fortification. General Lloyd Tilghman and his sta‘, with sixty weu, were takeu prisouers. Th® main body of the rebel force that garrisoned ‘the fort ted. The gunboat Fssex bad a shot in her botlees, a{ter aghting inost effectu- ally for two-thirds of the action, and was obliged to drop down the river. Severaiof her men were scalded to The revel Congress at Richmond inted the electoral votes for President and Vice President, with the follow- ing result:— Total number of States voting Total number of electoral votes cast 109 Of which number Jeflerson Davis, of Mississippi, re- ceived'for the office of President...... 109 Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, received for the offige of Vice President —The number of electoral vot ‘was as tollows:— North Carolina death, including the two pilots. The fort mounted seven- | Alabama, + SE teen guts. Nineteen rebels were killed and eight wound- | Arkansas ~ 6 South Carolina ed. The Union tons was seventeen killed and thirty-one | Floriaa 4 Tennessee... ‘wounded, including those that were scalded. ‘The following | Georgia 12 8 is a table of the shots fired and received by the gunboats, | Louisiana 8 18 only foar of which were in the action — Mississippi ~ @ — Shots Fired. Shots Received. wat eeceee ees 100 St. Louis. 116 4 occupied by Union ‘Cincinnati. 31 | forces. The town was taken possession of by Commodore Carondelet 6 | Foot, without any resistance being offered. The rebel Kiseex. « 15 | troops fled on the approach of the Union gunboats, after — | setting on fire the railroad bridge across the Cumberland a river, ic Bentonville, in Arkansas, was occupied by Union troops noissauce near Fairfax Court House, Va., and had under General Curtis. ish with ihe rebels, during which one of the One thousand more rebel prisoners were captured at killed and fe or six wounded aud sixteen taken pri- |, Fort Donelson, they haying come down the river to rein- force the fort, not having heard of its surrender. ZIst.—Nathaniel Gordon, convicted on the charge of taking negroes from the coast of Africa and selling them into slavery, was bung in New York. This was the first 7h. w soners. ‘Two of the Union cavalry were wounded Our batteries on the heights opposite Harper's Ferry sholied the buildings iv the village. Subsequently the men crossed and set fire to twelve houses, including the Wager and another hotel, railroad building, &e. The | execution for this offence in the United States. whole lower part of the town was reduced to ashes. A A detachment of Union troops met a body of rebels novessity existed for burning the buildings, as they had | near Independence, Mo., and a skirmish ensued, during deen idl places for the rebel riflemen. which three of the enemy were killed, a number wounded The oats belonging to the Burnside expedition, | and five taken prisovers. The Union Joss was one killed ander commaud of ( lore Goldsborough, attacked | and three wont . i the rebels on Roanoke Island, at the head of Pamlico Asevere engagement took place near Fort Craig, in Sound, North Carolina. The island was defended by six | New Mexico, which lasted all day, and resulted in what ries, mount ther forty-two guns, gmumber of | may be termed a drawn battle. The Union loss was sixty Soom beleg eunbanared-pecuiers,: ond op ‘of three | two killed und one hundred and forty wounded, white ‘thousand officers and men, the whole bei agsisted by | that of the enemy was supposed to be much great: gunboats, carrying two guns each. Ene fight lasted | rebels captured six pieces of artillery. The Unionists all day, di eich vee ofthe 6 ins in the rebel bat. | were commanded by Colonel Canby, and the rebels by terion were General Sibley. and most of their gunboats disabled. At Generai Burnside commenced the disembarka- tion of his miligary forces, and succeeded in landing nearly eleven thousand troops. ‘8th.—The attack on Roanoke Island by the combined Union military and naval forces was renewed after land- tng about six thousand additional men. The rebels re- ‘sisted with determination, and vome of their strongest works were carried at the pointof the bayonet. The Dattle iasted until late in the afternoon, when the whoie rebel force surrendered unconditionally, feaving eur com. manders to announce to the country the aghievement of %2d.—Never in the history of our country was the birthday of Washington celebrated with more universal avd earpest interest, The occasion derived increased im- pressiveness from the fact that we combined with our reverence for the memory of the man a sincere and hearty feeling of joy and thankfulness that the glorious heritage which he left to us was about to be restored. In com- pliance with the request of the President, Washington's Farewoll Address was read in the hails of Congress and in most of the churches in the Northern States. Jeflerson Davis and Alexander H. Stephens were inaugn- rated in Richmond as ’resident and Vice President tor six ears of the so-called Confederate States of America. Bay delivered bie ipa pages of history. The loss on each side was as Union. ‘one Of the mort brilliant victories yot recorded roliew the eb, ural address. 80 13 | 93d.—Gen, William Nelson, with bis Union forces, en- 222 20 | tered and took possession of Nashville, the capital of Ten - 2,627 rebela having evacuated the city. fore lear Prisoners. " —The Union joss in killed and wounded was heavy com pared with that of the rebels, owing to the fact that our troops fought om an open plain , while the enemy were pro- tected by their imtrenchments. The Unionists took three ional five hundred stand of arms and over seventy-" five tons of ammunition, besides other war material Geveral Hunter declared martial law throughout the ‘State of Kansas. detachment of the Thirty-second Ilinois regiment do- oueyel a po ‘of the bridge of the Louisvile, Clark- pb nessee, the ing they plundered many dwellings and business houses, and exched greatalarm among Several rebels were shot by the citizens whom they robbing. The Union sentiment was very strong, and our troops were received with the greatest cordiality. Great incignation ‘was expressed inst Governor Harris, who was fairly driven away by the Union men, they having become bold at the proximity of the Union troops. fore leaving Governor Harris made a speech recommending the citi- zens to burn their private property, and calling on Ten- heegeeans to rally and meet him at Memphis; but no one ville and 8 road,on the Tennessee river. The rebel same been jousi, - id any attention to him. The rebels also destroyed tl _ bath ean gaa bridge at Nashville, against the urgent entreaties Otb.—Commodore Goldsborough thirteen | of the citizens. @4th.—General Curtis took possession of Fayettevilie, Arkansas, capturing a number of prisoners, stores, bag- ge; &e. The enemy burned part of the town before ving total ‘Secone Iiinots tered [ew pet wd gy on fg Forty-two officers and men of the Fifth Missouri cavalry ‘a company of rebel cavairy near Fort Henry, Tenn., and ‘char; . were poisoned at Mud Town, Arkansas, by cating poisoned mg them, killing four and taking tweuty-Ave | Moi vhich the rebels left behind them. The gallant Pririgadier Gonoral Charles. B, Stone was arrester by a | Captain Dolfert died, and Liewtenant Colqpel Von Deutch guard under the command of Brigadier General Sykes, of | aud Captain Schenon softered much. the Provost Marshal's force, and sent to Fort Lafayette. ‘The Union army, under Major General Banks, moved ae ‘against bim related principally to the Ball's | neous and crossed the Potomac river at Bi Ml ditabter e 0 . | @5th.—The bill authorizing tho iseue of Treasury rietes, ee ener, f neocon ghey a Wee | of“denominatious not lees than five dollars, to the amount tenes, Alabama, and all along the route were greeted with | of one hundred and fit Page 7 dollars, bearing no in ebeors by the Luton loving citizens-of the South. The terest and La hey ane ee bas yond officers visited @ number of villages in Tennessee and | by the fog jen fh aes aiden of Uninet (oo ‘Alabama, and were received with joy The gunboats | L ngla ey bor fv dred Rt captured ected — steamers, and six others were burned | si phe emery foo a Mason's Neck, io the neighbor. by, the sevens rinbuste in charge of Commander Rowan | hood of Oco'quan, Virginia, between & body of Toxan engaged * re 1 battery and five of six gunboats off Hi. | rangers and some of our troops. ‘The rangers fired from a gunboats, under Commander Rowan, up Pasqaotank river, towards Klizabeth City, N. C., whither the enemy’s gun Doats had fled after the envagement at Roanoke Isl 5 i, the President virtue of th of takes nillllary possessisu 0 all the telegraph lines ta the United Staves. sai mes }; telegray commun! ions in to mili- operations nav exDreasly wthorised by ‘ie War Depart. field, in the several fepartincnts, are ‘sbeolutely wspapers publishing the military news, how- ever obtained, and by eae medium received. aot authorized by the authority mentioned in the preced- ing paragraph, will be excluded thereat fall oresne ‘ver {rom receiving n by telegraph or from transmitiing their papers y railroad. Fourth—-Edwards 8. Sandford is made Military Supervisor of telegraphic messages throughout tho United Biates. An- tager inmade Mii a all tel ic Himes and officos in ‘oe United Beale ean " agg Possession and contrel of the telegraph lines NOt intended to interfere in any respect with the ordinary atfairs of the companies or with private business. 28th.—A,Union force, under Colonei Morgan, attacked and routed*one hundred rebeis, under command -of Jed. Thompson, near Bird's Point, Mo. The Union loss was one killed and five or six wouudod. Rebel loss in killed and wounded not known. Our forces wok forty prisoners and captured six picces of artillery. INTERESTING FROM THE SOUTH. The Richmond Press on the Late Disaster. A CHAPTER ON “ YANKEE” GENERALS, INSTABILITY OF THE NORTH. Burnside’s System of Attack Ridiculed: THE DAMAGE DONE TO FREDERICKSBURG. REBEL RETALIATION, The War and the Yankee General offen the Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 20.) It is almost impossible to form any opinion as to the probability of Yankee action under the mortification of defeat. But, if the past is to form any criterion for the future, Burnside will not only be decapitated, like his predecessors , McDowell, Scott, McClellan, Pope and Buell, but *‘drawn and quartered,” if political butchery can in- vent the means. ‘The present was,so far as the Yankees are concerned, has witnessed more sudden changes of commanding officers than avy other war ot tho world. A government like that of the United States, based upon the universal suffrage of a vacillatiug aud inconstant peo- ple, is ever under the strain to avert popular feeling and disappointment from itself to some one elso; as long as success attends its effort all goes ‘‘as merry ag a mar- riage bell; but whenever disaster and defeat has over- taken its ‘army, the inconstant rabble, thoughtiess and incapable of rellection, immediately grow! complainta, and the government seeks to shift the responsibility trom i: to the head of the Sirians omabene Such weakness on the part of the rulers, and such inconstancy on the part of the people, and such unfatroess and dishonesty on the part of both, argues a national instability, that foreign’ governments cannot fail to observe, and upon which tn due time they will have to act. ‘The defeat of the United Siates army at Bull run.was not chgrgeable to Scott and. McDowell; they had sfown military capacity in no ordinary degree, and the future history of that campaign will do justice to Age ability aud geveraiship of these commanders; and yet a weak and trightened adininistration sacrificed those officers to Appease a restless and unreasoning country. McClellan, who had risen into notice by reason of the battle of Rich Mountain, was made to supersede McDowell and Scott. ‘The batules of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Savage Station, Malvern Hill and Sharpsburg, all fought under his cammand, and all claimed as victories, nevertheless resulted in his de- capitation, and Pope was invested with supreme com mand. Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock, Thoroughfare, Manassas and Chantilly—all victories—resulted in super- ea of the hero whoze headquarters were in the sad- le.” Buell, whose advance from the Ohio was attended with the victories of Forts Henr#, Donelson, Columbus, Island No. 10, Shilo and Sperryville, has also fallen, and, like McDowell, is now before a court martial. With such a retrospect, what standard shall measure the humiliation in store for Burnside? Will he be sent to New Jersey, the Botany Bay for federal commanders; or to Minnesota, the Siberia of the United States, or will he be brought before a court martial, like McDowell, Porter and Buell We make these inquiries not Crom any particular m- terest in the fate of Burnside, but calling attention to the instability and vacillation ot the United States, and con- gratulating the people of the Confederate States upon their escape from associatien with a people whom adversity throws into such paroxysms of excitement as to compel their government to act with insensate animosity against officers who have done as well with the troops furnished u ag areal Napoleon or Wellington could bave done. “A pation of sovereigns’ cannot be expected to stand killing at the command of one of their temporary com- manders. They vote themselves out whenever the fire of the enemy becomes “more than human nature can stand,” and their soldiers are both the judges to determine upon and the sovereigns to execute the backwara movement. Universal suffrage exercised an the battle-field. under the fire of an enemy, wiil always, lixe a council cf war, end in + falling back.’? No efforts of company, fleld or brigade officers can stay the movement or countermand the orders vt the + sovereigns; they have voted themselves out, and out they go, McClellan or Burnside to the contrary notwithstanding. To cover up and conceal a defect of national character, from aniversal suffrage exercised by aliens aud # just from Europe, fighting for pay, and feeling no iuterest iu the war nor pride in the country, the ad- ministration at Washington have unhesitatingly disgraced every commander who has evinced any ability until the cominaad of their army devolved upon Burnside. To judge of his ability as a commander, it is only mecessary to state, that from the balcony of the Phillips House, in Stafford county, he sent his troops to the Jight in columns of atlack “doubled on the centre,” thus furnishing ready food for every musket ball, cannon’ Lali. slug, schrapnel, canister and fragment of shell, discharged by the Conjederate army. Universal suffrage has nearly brought about the universal destruction of the Yankee army. Fredericksburg As It Is. {Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirer.) Frepenicksncna, Va., Dec. 17, 1862 ‘The day is done, and darkness hus settled into hight. 1 wrote you'last night of what I hadheard in regard to matters hereabouts. To-night I can appew! to facts which mine own eyes have witnessed, and to observations com mon to all who chose to make them, ‘in vindication,” as the Brute Butler once said, ‘‘of*the truth of history.’? Bat where shall I begin, or in what sequence shall I recount the sights which I have this day witnessed’ Fredericksburg has been sacked snd in part burved. Would to Heaven that not one stone had been loft .updn avother, rather than it should have been tho scene of such fiendish work #9 is everywhere discernable. Had Satan, in the councils of bell, called together the worst spirits of the damned,and charged them to pour ont upon chis people the conéentrated vials of their wrath, L honestly believe less mischief would have been done by them than the “Union restoring’? Yankees. The scene sickens the sight, aod human language js inadequate to express the amount avd manner of injuries inflicted. Not a single dwelling, office or out house, in the town escaped their searc! and abuse. Where families re- mained, it was only to be insulted by the rufflanly mob, whose incentive W action, if not battle cry, was ‘Booty and destruction.’” A most respectable centleman of the town,: whose howe had been plundered on Thursday night, was awakened by efforts made on Friday night to force it open. Hastening at gnee to admit them, rather than have his portals destroyed, be was bidden’ to pre- pare supper for the party. On replying that his pro- visions had all been destroyed on the previous night, tho leader of the impudent gang of thieves, with pistol in band, said,‘! must see foremyeeif that what you say isjo.’" “Very well? said the geutleman, ‘come on.” He did so, and, looking at but one room, that sight was enough for a thieving Yankee. He said “1 am gatisfled,’’ and left. The same geptleman me General Patriek ireeton the same day, and baving known him when here as Military Governor, extended nis hand to bim and asked for @guard to protect his property. ‘Preston replied, with much feeling, “I cannot take your band; the time is past for that; nor will I protect your property. If you can persuade the men not to i@jure your effects you can do so; if not, vou must take the conge- quences.”’ This leads to the observation that the pill. ing and wanton destruction of property was not only per- mitted by those in command, but was authorized. in other words, the Yankee troops sacked the town as their reward for croseing the river, In proof of this, on Monday, the'day of their departur wagons were busy runaing all day, carrying off hedding, furniture and whatever else they could bear away. The 9 to the town can be estimated at $750,000, think a low figure, It.one should quest be has but jt the town and see the arno: perty actually destroyed, and thenawontempis ton abnse which everywhere meets the every door in town has been’ broken, winiiws are torn from their places, shutters wrenched forvibly from the walls, fencing pulled down, segttered ang borned, beds ripped open and the feathers or siraw, ae’ the ence may be, strewn over floors, #trfete nul Somieror teames, acattered here and there, robbed of their glaeeer: erockery. and glassware broken ito a thodsand fragments, printers? offices pitched into pi, four wasted on every corher of the Bireots: the houses are riddied with shot and shell through sides and roofs; bocks taken from the libraries, hacks torn off nud leaves tiy ing in every direc tion; even children’s clothing and piaythi: Tipped to pleoes and goattered to the winds. Provi- sionme of sli forts stolen, and what could not be used, are Dead Yankees ara lying in every part of the tows, and tn thick profusion in the Fair grounds, etd iron safe in tha city waa fordibly- broken open and their contents al yas far as wan valuable, and ihe reat counigned to the flames, Mer. chants’ books of accounts in ovory instance mutilated, all the vengeance novonly of man, but of Jehovah. On Friday they were. rioting wi av nt and un- bridled license. "Ou Saturday the iy and fatal battle field told the work of awful retribution o recently evok- ‘ed and so signally manifested. The tale of blood and car. ose was truly frighttul, Our men, shiclded: by natural Providential barriers in the hands of the Aimighty , administered @ most torrtblo chastisoment:to those who and dofied God. The work they have since died, and where their bodies still satisfy the belief that to them the shock of battle was appalling in the highest degree. Fifteen thousand will not cover their loss—my word for it. Thave conversed with citizens of intelligence, and from all the information I can obtain , there wore at least 60,000 Yankees in the town prepared to.engage in the fight, on Saturday. It y have gone up to 75,000. Every street runniog parallel with the river was literally packed with tae Yairkeos, whilst on the sidewalks of tho streets run- ning at right angles with the river as many were placed as 1 was deemed safo to put in such. position. Not only was this the case, but numerous private lots were tult of troops likewise. ‘This, be it remembered, was only on their right, On their left they had a force equally as large, if not larger. T think there canbe no doubt that tho officers would have renewed the fight.on Monday could they have gotten the mon to the work, or hive relied. upon them; for they 60 announced ‘and go telegraphed to their journals; but it was no ®o. They themselves admitted that 500.000 men could not have cartied our position. They left on Monday, ovidently alarmed: lest Jackson, aided by Providence and high water, shotild cut them off, ‘Their ofheers who cimo,ovor under flug of truce to-day. wonder why General Leo'aid not fire upon the town. To us it is no wonder, That pure and able general desired neitbor Yankee blood for life, and- with’ far less reason did ho wish to involve a slaughter of Yankeos with pro- bable destruction to the lives of our poopl® abd to the tain ddstruction of their property. His ferbearance is creditable to his sagacity and humanity, though the Bhelling would have enbanced the victory and resulted in tbe death of thousands of our unprincipied and malignant 06 Tho town, of cata. looks desolate; not over two hua- drod citizens remained. ft is to be regretted that since the Yankees have left little or no effort has been made to protect what little property the thieving Yankees spared. The town is left ina most shamefully filthy condition. Some steps ought to bo taken by our generals to put it in better order. ‘There are not citizens cnough left to do it. During theshort occupation one or two of the sclf-exiled Unionists returned. Among them Dr. J. B. Garland. About cloven A. M. to-day, by permission of General Lea, a flag of truce with a handred men, with picks and shovols, came in to bury their dead, and later in the day a second trail of sixty men came. But the work is not yet Muished, and mast occupy a good part of the day to- morrow. There was also an exchange of prisoners. Some 453 prisoners were returned, and as many of theirs were probably sent over. Our exchanged prisoners say the Yankces are going off as fast as possible tn the direction, they think of Aquia creck. Our pickets extend to the river; but none of their pickets are visible on the opposite bauk. It is a fact beyond dispute, and one which can be at- tested by citizens of this place, that some of our men were shot after having surrendered. Shall this conduct nnoti go unnoticed? General Burnside’s Position from a Rebel Point of View. ‘The Richmond Engutrer of the 20th inst. has an edito- rial criticising the movements of General Burnside, and representing the.impossibility of tho Union Army of the Pens reaching Richmond by way of Fredericksburg. it says: — Should it cross and compel General Lee to retreat, it will have the passage of our rivers—the Mattapony, South Anna, North Anna and Ciickatiornings —to effect be- fore it reaches Richmond, and a iine of e:ghty miles to defend and keep open in its rear. At any scason of the year suck a feat would be impracticable. To attempt it how, with Leo's veterans disputing every inch of ground, would be an act of madness. To.cross lower down the Rappahannock would be mére difficult, for no railroad would thea fornish supplies to the federal army, and there are noone in the;exhausted country through which they would ha to » At Port Royal the river is three times as wide as at Fredericks burg, the hills on the south site equally as high, and a creek immediately above and one just below the town. 1t is a cu! de sac which, if the federal army enters, it may never escape from. ‘Thronghont the whole length of the Rappatannock etther there are hills extending to the river, and forming bluft which render its passage by an army impracticable, or hilis of great heightb a short dis- tance from the river, which, occupied by our army, will prevent, as at Fredericksburg, the advance of an invad- ing enemy. Burnsidecannot advance, nor can he winter his army where it now is; for the Potomac and Rappahannock, three winters out of four, freeze up so as to. prevent any other navigation than that’ by steamboats. The army would starve long be- fdre a sufficient number of such boats could be collect- od and brought into service, go as to furnish its; supplies. It often happens that even these iceboats cannot force a passage up or down these rivers. Burnside cannot ad- vance, nor can he stand still, Can he retreat? The Poto- mac is tempestuous, and its Virginia shore everywhere shallow. . It would require three weeks’ time to convey his army, its wagons, horses and stores, by transports to Washington: for they are scarce of such vessels on the Potomac, and have found it dificult even to transport supplies to the army. Besides, the river will probably freeze up, and prevent this mode of recrent. If the ree treat is conducted by land to Alexandria, Lee will harass his rear, and perhars greatly damage or destroy bis army dofore it reaches Washington. Yet we believe this re- treat by land is bis most fersible mode of escape, and that he will be compelled to attempt it. The irer als» publishes the (ollowing list of casnal- ties of the Eighth division of General A. P. Hill, which formed part of Jackson’s corps, with ch Goveral Burnside was engaged on our left at Fredericksburg:— ed. Wownld. Missing. Lane’s brigade. . 58 354 Bz Gregg’s brigade - 3 329 1 Arener’s brigad : 40 un 691 Pender’s brigade - 16 152 18 Field’s brigade 67 _ ‘Thomas’ brigad 33 OC es Colonel Wa'ker ‘ 93 = Totat.. 211 1,494 417 ing were taken prisoners, and ly all feturned. ‘Those nurmbered as mi: have been paroled and ne: The Enquirer says:— The above is more than half of the entire loss in the battie of Fredericksburg on our side. The encmy's loss is beli ‘rom the best information thus far obtained, to have been at least twenty thousand. They already eonfess to from fifteen to eizhteen thousand. ‘Tye following statement is made in regard to foderal prixoners:— 4 ; ‘The whole number of abolition prisoners takén by our troops at Fredericksburg in the roceft .battles was one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, of whom two hun- dred and seventy-six were paroled on the field, and the rest—thirteen hundred and fifty—sont to Richmond Four handred of these are now ready to be sent away on parole, and will depart as soon as the abolition steamer reaches City Puint to convey them off, SLOWNESS OF THE REBELS IN HEARING BAD NEWS. ‘The people at Richmond seem to have just received tn- formation of the ful movement of General Negley im the vicinity of Gloucester Court House, an account of which was published in the Hrraxp afew days.after it occurred. They treat it as the attempt to co-operate with the movement of General Burnside. The Advance on Washington. (From the Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 20.} ‘Tho infcrmation from Fredericksburg yesterday even- ing leads to the belief that the eyemy are falling back from the line of the Rappabannock, with indications that Washington city is the next object of his enterprise. If he cannot take our capital he will take his own before the roads become impassable. We learmthat, save a mere show of force opposite both Fredericksburg and Port Royal, the evemy are so far back from tbe river that their camp fires caunot anywhero be seen; whilea returned prisoner reports them in large force at Dumfries. Rebel Retaliation. (From the Atlanta (Geo. ) Confederacy, Dec. 14.) One hundred and sixty ofticers and men of the Fifty. fourth Pennsylvania Regiment are being held as host in Richmond, for the safe return of a number of Confede- rates held by the evemy, who they pretend to regard as outlaws, because they belonged to partisan ranger corps. We are giad to learn that the government has taken such a decided step to protect this arm of the service. Affairs at Vicksburg, Miss. (From the Vicksburg Whig, Deo. 9.) Five of the enemy’s gunboats anchored at Young's Point a couple of days since, and another was expected to jom the fleet from above last evening. Yesterday some of the boats moved up Yazoo river, and fring was heard during the afternoon in the direction of Snyder's Bluffs. We do not know the exact strength or condition of our batteries at that point, but are of the opinion that they are Fite strong to repelany assault. A great deal of work has been done there, ana some heavy guns went there some time since. The visit of Preside ep do to the Gouth- West. [From the Murfreesboro Rebel Banner, Nec. 15.) President Bays left Murfreesboro on the early train yesterday morning for Mobile and the Army of the Mis. Sissippl. On Saturday he reviewed the divisions of Geno. rals Breckinridge, Cheatham and Withers. ana expressed himself if terms of unqualijed admiration at the fine appearance and precision of drill of the troops. ‘The men were no less delighted with the manly forrp, the firm fea. tures and the unpretepaing <tyle of the President. * At night Mr. Davis wag serenaded, and in response to the complitneut made ® brief address. His words were cheering, thrilling amd earnest. He bore us good news from our comrades iM arma in Virginia, and we trust’ be will bear back the tnepiring words that « 4/1 is well”? with the army of jessee. Generals Breckinridge, Bragg and Potk also ingle short speeches. and were en- thusiastically cheered. ‘The yisit of tho President to the Department of the ‘West, while it po es no polit! or military wgnifl- cance, will haveshe most inspiriting effect upon the peg. pie and the . Thousands who had never seen the great loader of our Cause will recur with pleasure to the Lopes A they have had of looking upon our tried and trusted chief. foutherm Views from the Pulpit Peace. At my request wv, R. J. Graves, who very recent: iy returned trom the North. drew a basty sketen of his aperehond, much more correct, I need not gay it fe very : d Fis ; i ; & i i interests of, the Northeastern States are now flourishing than ever before. Everything made finds a ready market. , . ‘The Northwest finds it more profitable to convert its immense quantities of gram into beef and pork, and for- ‘ward these (o the Eastern ports for shipment to Kw than it was formerly to digpose of therm. in the Of the Southwest. Consequently the pert of Now ‘York alone bas exported during the frst eight months ef the present year $31,900,000 worth more than in any whole ear of tho preceding five. They point to their large and increasing imports ag an ovidence of their growing pros- i Gaate wiinghe staples of the distant eam cries iy iH them b: ame routes, fur nishing employment to overy (aa tr aud t thousands of men. And thus the West empties it- self castward, and in turn itis supplied from that quar- ter. ‘The two sections in this way aid cach other. ‘The pority of the United States this days is universal. none is another bond that keeps them unibed against us. Even if the West were suiforing in 4 commercial point of view, it now contains the throne of abo itionism, and. around this the entire people rally. Vermcnt, u- sets and Connecticut are not more hostile to one institn- ons than Ohio, Indiana and Titineis. The conflict of po- litical parties now waging in the State of New York, and which we dnduly magnify aod hope may be of benefit to us, really amounts to nothing 6o far as ending the war is concerned, ‘This strife is tike a quarrol of two domoatic dogs fora bone; if a ‘strange dog pieigols to bake it, Ubey forget their quarrel and unite to drive him off. Horatio Seymour, the democratic candidate, said, in a fate convention of his party at Albany, that though as’ democrats they differed trom the administration in many things, still they were for prosecuting this war until the constitution is established over the rebel States. Daniel 8. Dickinson, the bigh priest of democracy in that State, warmly advocates tho same cause. However much, therefore, political parties differ among themselves, they are alt united aguinst us. True, there is po hope now expressed of bringing us back to the Union, Not a word is said of restoring ‘the Union as it was,” All parties are now"bent on establishing one government over the whole territory of what was once the United States, whatever tbat government is to be. The Northern people do not desire a republican government for them selves, if we can fly off and set up an independent one by their side. Other States may do so in the future, and what, they say .18 to become of the count:y? We should be like the German or Mexican States, constantly on the market for the bighest bidder. Against this they are de- termined to guard, and for this result they aro now con- tending to have one government, of one kird, for the en- tire country. ‘They doclare themselves v illing to come out of this war under the vilest despotism ever known on earth, rigs te that prevail over the whole land. ‘nat we should establish « egyernmont at thee side, with slavery as its base’ is a thing they are resolved shall never take place, and that six millions of people, shut in from the world and with very limited resources, should be able to do it against twenty miflions, possessing immense wealth ‘strengtbeued by tho contributions of the world, they say, is simply absurd. If trey have the men and means, this is one thing that shall never be. They begin to look on a repub- lican government as not desirable. It is not strovg epough. They are madly bevt om their own ruin, if that be necessary to effect ours. ‘the debt now accumulating they look on as a great blessing; for, as it is due to them selves, it will attach the pavple to the government, what- ever form that it is to have, when the war is over. Should it be repudiated—which they do not much dread— this repudiation will involve them in no troubles with foreign Powers. It willbe only an individual and domes- tic loss. With gold enough to manage foreign in- debtedness, unbounded confidence is given to govera ment moncy and securities. In no instance are bonds below par; apy fluctuation that occurs is always above that figure, and the government curgency, the domanit note. o1 reenbuck’”? sells readily “at from seven to eight per cent premium in exchange for Stato banknotes. ‘No nation has yet failed to prosecute a. war for the want of money, and they will not be the first to set the ex- ample. Kogravers and printing prosees can manufacture the article, Congress attaches an.exchangeable value to it, and the people receiva it gladly. Another. point. They have now discovered that tho “rebellion’’ is a serious thing—one not to be trified with: but they have not yet cxerted thoir strength to suppress. it. ‘They confess that they have becn hitherto unpre pared to me@ it successfuily. But the tite is coming. Theirpeople are slow to move-—much slower than wo— but now they are rousing, and when they dy take hold, it will be with bull dog obstinacy. When the time comes toexecnte the ‘emancipation proctamation,” they will have fifteen new war vessela of the mos: formidabic character completed and on their present navy; they will havea million of disciplined, well armed troops in the fleld, ‘ana if the rebellion then holds out, they are to enact such @sceno in these “re- beliious States” as the world pever saw. No age or sex ts to be spared from death or dishonor, Meanwhile they are keeping us off their territory, defending their capital, and gridually cutting up the best army we can ever put into the field, while forcing vs, this condition, to ex. haust our resources, But their real sirength ts yet to be put forth, and the time for the exertion of it is drawing near. Their best fighting material is yet to take tho feild, and to itinen are flocking by thousauds from city, town and country, Neither the goverument nor the people have been in the least disheartened by recent reverses. ‘They do not regard the battle of Sharpsburg as a defeat to their arms. They have kept our army out 6f thoir capital, made it necessary for us to fall back on our own territory, amd is all. they expect ty do for the present. A drawn battle in front of chmond, leaving it still in our ywossession, would be claimed as a victory by us. and vory justly so. This is precisely the Hzht in which the Northern mind views the battle of Antietam. The menaced Washington is theirs still. But, even if that last battle were admiitet by them to be a defeat, they buve received it, as they wouid just now more ones, with sioical composure. De feats they do expect, and many of them; bot meanwhile preparations arc going on that will render defeat, tn their opinion, impossible. For the present we may outnumber them, but Europe is swelling their ranks by the ship loads, the country is now pouring forth her thousands, and there are enly for- warded in sofiicient numbers to defend the capital, hold strong positions and menace us at ‘able points, and keep us pent up within our own limits. Meanwhile the shipyare astir, the camps of inetruction in every Northern State are crowding, the dread artillery of death preparing, and men training for its use. The brunt of this war is yet to come, aud tho spring will pro- y bring it to our doors. It will not come before, for orthern army will not be ready sooner. When Lin- proclamation goes into effect, or very soon after, when an army cam move by land, we may expect an op: portunity to be given for exerting greater strength than we have yet put forth. Shall we able to mako @ successful resistance? ‘Whit man, true to the South, doubts this? This granted, the war will not end in a few months, nor in a few years. A defeat to the Northarn army, even in the great pro- portions it is to assume, wiil not cause a people to desist from this war who are madly bent on their own over- Ubrow if it be necessary to effect our ruin. The resources which God has entrusted to us, and the, spirit which ani- mates our people, wi!! not allow thom tamely to submit and give up all for lost, even if we shoud be worsted in the terrible conflict to which the opening spring will call our army. ‘The above is an embodiment of facts from observation and information derived from leading men at the North. Thav porns stated how the people, as a whole, think and talk, and how they intend to act. T am confident it will be tor our interest, as a people determined to be (rec, to shape our conduct in view of what Ihave written above, tor therein is expressed, though disconnectedly, the sentiments which the whole Northern people cherish and their purposes against us. Permit me to add a few words of earnest warning to our people. De not listen to second hand reperts, narrating the words of some aspiring but disappointed federal officer and underling, who says that this war must soon terminate, because he tired of it, Do not think that the Northern government or people is becoming more, amiable towards as, because the “regu. oo who fight only for pay, are not abusive of the Soutl > ~ Give no heet to what a hungry, shivering picket calis Out across the Potomac, when he says, “McClellan's army will fight no more!’ The fellow has only lost his nerve, bo oad @ warm meal or a drink of liquor to change his opinion. Do not look for a finanéial break down at the North, wher; the government is manufacturing its own money, and it sells at a premium over the money of other corpo: rations— when government securities are greedily bought up by bankers and brokers at a figure much above par. Surely this is not withholding cenfideuce from the gov- ernment. io not faney that our independence is to be secured as aresult of the war of poljtical parties at the North. ‘There is no strife so hot, no difference so great between them, as to keep them [rom harmony in action to effect our subjugation Lot us frankly own that the worst is yee for us, and resolutely prepare to meet it. In the Jull of the storm that now oxivta,and may eon- tinue for months to come, it we permit it, let us not fancy that the Northern army is {die and listless, or that preparations for onr ruin have come to a perpetual end, They are surely going on in silence, and, though not much to bo dreadeston this aecpwnt, yet our duty 1s. to make the hest preparation wean to’ ward off tue destruction that ja preparing for ua. Hf McClellan does not march on Richmond with his pre sont army, ono is in training that. must surety be met Moving fb that direction from some quarter. Tam conti. dent the Northern people wonld rather see Washington, Ba)timore ana /'hiladelphia in our possession than that they should fait to capture our capital, If we be wise, in peace to prepare for war, surely it will be the part’ of wisdom in 1's to profit by this cessation of hostilities, in making efficient preparation for the day when they shall burst upon vs with augmented fury. Every man should now seek to know his duty, and with a brave heart per- form it, not waiting for his neighbor. Thus acting, and in humble dependence on Him who “breaketh , the and cutteth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariot in the fire,and maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth,’ though this wae wy long one, we, shall have cause to praise Him for its issue. inthe inter’ tion. [From the irleston Courter, Deo. 24 A tage / tated have held commercial intercourse foryso W would not long delay extending the right of . fatten wit F i the of the French Minister of Foreign cer force us to the conclusion that the gov they represent are determined to remain for the jw the position they took soon after tnis contest Both profess to regard the mode of interfer ‘by the French Emperor as unfavorable to has in view, and on this ground decline uniting in his wise and humane scheme. ’e were prepared for the reply that comes from the rt of St. James, by the explicit utterance of the Seore- ‘Tue declaration by the mouth would not * til ‘That it is “the timo Lord Russell, “the three Courts may offer their \dly coun- cil, with a better prospect than now exists of its being accepted by the two contending parties.’” Foasia spouianny, hor sanction to the cold, golfish, mean, policy: and has resolved ul pur: pon, suing; and that Power is careful not to promise her ald ja this scheme, even should England consent @@ become one of the mediating ies. ‘rhis action on the of Napoleon communicates tho pleasing in he longer bound by pledges t act in concert with England. He stands vow ubtram- In europe, and: he is" at liberty to pursue ny Pol in » and: he is at libert pursue any policy wards the combatants preceals in hig opinion, to the, of interest , justice or humanity. ‘huther she will stop here aud’ await'a more favorable Opportunity for the proffer of kindly services, or renew, his efforté by making « proposal in. some other form, Fe. im: to be seen. But the scheme submitted to tho two Por eatities (be French Kmperor to our warm grati- tude, and ‘raises Lim still higher in our estimation both agg man and as a ruler. Hite Englund stands beholding the uncqual contest with sensibilities untouched, only rejoicing over (be growing weakness of a Power that at onoe atirred her jealousy and aronsed her (ears, the great Potentate of @ ‘brave and highminded people, moved by the tender feel ings of humanity, stops forward and proposes to put an ud to astrife whose contiumance will only cause, the shedding of more blood and the inffiction of greater woes and miseries. The time he chose for making that humane proposition shows that the itnperial ruler of France is not overrated 46 a statesman, That ——— was made goon afier the battle of Sharpsburg, for though the result of that bloody contest was highly creditable to Southern general- ship and-vaior, our army did not win a decisive victorv, and the retreat of General Lee from Maryland gave the , “color of truth to the despatches of McClellan. The enemy ‘bad been beaton previous to chat battle in all the fights that had taken place, from the opening of the campaign in the swamps of the Chickahominy, and that was solitary field from which he did not come completely gloriously victorious. They bad, however, in a large Meagure redeemed their reputation for courage, and might have retired from the contest with honor. And we have no doubt the abolition government would gladly have accepted the proposed armistice had it becn made by the three Powers or by France and Rngiand. We trust that this ous proposition of Ni leon will not be forgotten by our government and France deserves our admiration and itude. But let us resolve afresh to look only to ourselves and the Almighty Disposer of events. We will have to figbt our way to independence, and having attained that, recog: nition will follow as a matter of course. Determination of Mobile. {From. the Mobilo Tri November 29.) Whenever Batlor and Farragué@met reatly to attempt the conquest of this city they will find it a job of such magnitude as was never conceived by the most fortile ankee brains. The time has gone by when @pprehensions of their iron- clads antl flame vomiting mortars interfered with the digestion of our citizens. A late Yankee letter writer, using bis pen on board of one of the blockading vessols off Fort Morgan, diverts his readors with the idea that ‘‘Mobile 1s & doomed city.” In the calendar of Fate itds a‘doomed. city’ to all Lin ia, for ite ene- mies will never hold posession of it until ils streets are dreached in blood and its edifices are red by flames. * :! ‘There is @ settled determivation to defend it to the last and direst extremity. The cominanding ral of this department has made open declaration of his resolution to suffer the destruction of the commercial metropolis of the State, rather than surrender it into the hands of the enemy; the Legislature urges that it be defended from strect to street, from house to house, and inch by inch; and the municipal authorities are determined that it shall be laid in ashes rather than Butler, Furragut and their attendant devils Hiute its. soil. ‘The scenes of: New Orleans and Galveston will never be ro-enncted here. ‘There will be no hasty evacuation, 00. ture show batteries surrendered and abandoned. There 18 not a square of ground within the. city limits but will the festering bodies of our enemies, should they ever succeed in passing the forts, the shore batteries and the miles of encircting fortifications. We are glad to learn that the work of defence goes _ bravely on. May after day the bay obstructions grow stronger, and the shoo batteries are made more capable of raining upon the Yankee ships a tempestuous storm of shot and shell. Let us trust that the united offorts of the general government, the State and municipal authorities, , and our citizen committee of safety, will put the finishing touch to the great work now in progress as Boon as pos- sible. Some time since, we expressed it as our convic- tion, that the enemy only awaited a rise in the rivers to ‘beam the assault. Undege:anding that this rise general takes place about Christmas, the attack may be precip! tated at any moment in the hope of securing the city first, and then steaming up the Alabama, Tombigby and War- rior when the flood comes. There are in every community’a few men who have n0 great preference of rulers so that their property is secure. Their patriotism lies simpty at the bottom of their capa- cions pockets. They feel no pride in the historic renown of their country; they have no reverence for any god save Mammon, the god of their daily idolatry. It is not un- likely that there are some here who hold lightly the threat ot devoting the city to destruction rather than it shall fall into the bands of the invader. Let such men ‘be assured that there ts an iron determination which will see the city in ruins and in asheg, bat never in the hands of the sworn enemies of our race, our institutions and oar national existence. They should make up their minds to this stubborn fact and contribute money and personal aid, that their property may indeed be saved. Our authori: ties want all the assistance possible to be given, for tho greater the amount of money and laborers the sooner we be impregnable. Let every one who can exhibit his patriotidm by affording all the help in his power, and we shall be enabled when the drum beats to arms to record the most brilliant victory for the Confederates and the most disastrous defeat of the abolitiouists known to the annals of the present war. The Denouement of the Salt Story. A few weeks since the entire South was jubilant over a story started by the Atlanta Confederacy, af the discovery of a huge deposit of rock salt, at Opelika, Ala., which ra- mor said wag sufficient to salt the wholo coufederacy for years. The Atlanta Confederacy of December 2, contains the following, copied from te Macon, Ga., Telegraph, which though not very salty, savors strongly of saline salvation:— Macon, Ga., Nov. 27 , 1862. Noticing a great excitement going the rounds with the newspapers about an ‘immense bed of rock salt discover- ed at Opelika, Ala.,’’ I take this opportunity of correct- ing the false inipression that, prevails throughout the country regarding this “immense bed.”” business calls me to Opelika every other day, and 1 have made careful inquiries upon this subject and found that it ortgi- nated froin the following story. The railroad agent at that Place bought, some time since. a lot of rock salt from @ captain direct from Saltville, Va. It seems that someone of the Opelikians had secured a picee of it and gave it to an old gentleman passing through the place, who was found to be very fond-of making discoveries. He was asked to decide upon its qualities, and at the same time was told that it abounded in the greatest quantity in aud near the place, The old gentleman was highly pleased with its saline quality, and decided ‘once that the con- federacy was saved, for here was @ great fount from which every one might be supplied with the groatest quantity. The venerable gentieman fr Atlanta under this belief, with a large piece of the Ine in his pocket for exhibition, and, as I understand, gave an exaggerated account of the discovery to the Atlanta Confederacy, from which paper the story started. The joke is highly enjoyed by the Opelikians, as it had succeeded in pringing seve- ral avaricions apeculators to the place. The ve, Mr. editor, is a true statement of the facts concerning, this “<immenke bed”? Hoping that it might bave been other- wise, | remain yours, &c., . B. SIMONS, Mail Route Agent between Macon and Opelika. Value of eg howe in Georgia. 1 Macon (Geo.) Tevegraph.} I witnessed a sale of negroes a few ‘since ‘Thomasville, Ga., the result of which Tf induced to give Chath porte it et ae a He in eee of your valuable paper hoping at tho same the issue which contains it may "By chance” fall Into, hands of the Yankees, in order to illustrate the which the planters of Sonthern Georgia, at least, bave in the institution of slavery, notwithstanding their (the federals) mercenary threats of total emancipation, &c:— 1—A man, black, 25 years old & A boy, do., 15 years oi “ 4—A boy, do., 11 Years old sees 1/000 5—A boy, do., 10 years old. * 1,250 6—A boy, yellow, 14 yoars old » 1700 T—A boy, do., 12 years old, “ » 100 8—A boy, do., 8 years old * 1300 9—A boy, do., 18 years old («: iter). 10—A woman, black, 22 years rs 11—A woman, tlo, 0, 134 woman, do,, 22 Yours old and one child. 14—A woman, do, , 20 years old, and one child. 15—A woman, yellow, 24 years old, and two chil- dre! ie ff }6—A woman, yellow, 37 years old ia woman, do, , seamstress and house servan' -: S33 535 Average per capita... deeeee Ale This negro property, bel to Mr. D. L..Miller, wag sold io ‘sceordauce ‘eit ie wien at public outer; = being in the service of his country. I have heard several sales far excoed| i iat