Httaona iriktiie.
ALTOONA, PA,
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1862.
“Honest John”(P)
Bmntf kmcH la&X—Skaktptare.
; An ftrerr* man U the nobleman of nature. — Bui
wr.
Bemutu ia the beet policy (if it pays). — Brother-
Site.
Header, would you look at a man who
never looks in the glass, without seeing the
image .of an honest mao? Behold the
Editor of the Blair County Whig. He s is
composed entirely ,of the pure gold of hon
esty. He baa the clear ring. He is a
living, walking sermon on honesty. His
life is a book, and everyday of it is a leaf,
on which is written a lesson on honesty.—
other people talk about honesty, and
urge reasons in favor of. honesty, and show
the meanness of dishonesty—this is all
well , enough in its way. But he is the
quintessence of honesty itself—the focus,
as it were, of all the rays of honesty. So
dazsling is the light which is emitted from
him, that at his mere presence, all crooked,
squirming and dishonest tricks flee away,
and each thing of evil fades and dwindles
into its native darkness. So that when
he would urge an argument in favor of
honesty, he simply says, “ look at the edi
tor of the Blair County Whig P’ Do you
ask how we know this man is honest. —
The answer is easy. He says so himself.
And he wont lie. See with what genuine
modesty, in the last Blair County Whit/,
he, in effect, asks the public to behold in
him die true type of all excellence—a
lump of unalloyed honesty.
“The man who on all occasions spurns
a bribe” —-such a man for instance as the
editor of the TF%—“ who has a strict re
gard for the truth,” as the editor of the
WJug has —“who has never deceived the
people” as the editor of the Whig has not,
(some say this is because the people know
kiln too well, but we know better) —“in
whose honesty and integrity, the people can
repose the fullest confidence,” as they can
in the editor of the Whig —“who will not
be toe representave of a sotdless corpora
tion,”' as the editor of the Whig will not,
for he hates soulless corporations with his
yohpte sopl, and he is, a whole.-souled man.
They do say that whilst he was a member
Of neither House, and bad no legitimate
business at Harrisburg, he honored the
State Capital for weeks with his presence
last winter, boring, gouging and working
with all his might for the commutation
bill, or what he now styles “the infamous
legislation of the winter of 1861.” But
what of that ? We know that his motives
woe "Patriotic —that he “spurns a bribe,”
and is not that enough f They do say that
be obtruded himself into the business rela
ting to the “ soulless corporation” of 1861,
that he rushed eagerly forward, and offered
“body, soul and breeches” to the
“ soulless corporation” to promote the pass-
age of that “infamous legislation,” which
it is ( now his sole hobby to denounce. But,
if what of that? Can’t a person
turn a back-handed somerset if he alights
on his feet mid no money has slipped out
of his in the operation 1 “Infa
mous legislation,” indeed! Hear him
again. Give us the man, “who will be
tbs representative of the hard working far
mer, the industrious mechanic and laborer ,”
Such as the editor of the Whig would be —
“who will consult the interests of the hon
est tax-payers,” as the editor of the Whig
would do. Ah, yes! Here is the man
who would take care of the interests of
the “ honest tax-pagers.” See what a deep
and-tender solicitude he has for the u /tard
jworking fanner and the industrious mechan
ic P y He is equally their friend and bene
factor, when he goes for a measure one
whiter and against it the next, for it, until
it tjeboines a law, against it, after. Aye,
he.is ever their guardian angel, whether
he is hovering about the lobbies at Harris
or in the murky atmosphere of
Washington over the carcasses of defunct
hqrees. Trust him then “ honest tax-pay-
He iayoar man. Take his advice.
' jwJictous. In addressing you
■he ia iwtuated'by the purest and most pa
triotic motives, without the least tincture
of Ton. cannot go wrong, if
; ffty* y»«- He is a man
vi # 8 > 88 M 8
many.profound and original schemes of
' political science, his-brilliant career at the
-%ar, eminent public services, especially
&"se.“Bu<i Shot War,”, clearly testify;
0 will have the candor here to admit
that some of the people have always be
lieved, and do yet believe, that he is a
mere political adventurer, that his moral
horizon is yei*y circumscribed, that he is
solely and supremely selfish, that he will
“ turn a penny,” honestly, if he can, but
turn it—that he is always in the market,
and even that he has done some very little
and dirty tricks in his time. It is unneces
sary to say that this is a.popuiar delusion.
We think a great delusion;—a great mis
take. We cannot shut our eyes either to
the fact, that somehow or other, the peo
ple have got it into their heads that he is
not: fit for any office, and for this reason
they have been so blind to their own inter
ests as entirely to repel (though they could
not quench) the honorable aspirations
which, for years, he has indulged in this
direction. Another strange popular no
tion seems to be this, that his ideas only
come at long intervals, that he is incapa
ble of apprehending or entertaining more
than one at a time, and when he gets one
he thinks he has made a great discovery,
and so makes a hobby of it and rides it
down. To this mental peculiarity these
silly people attribute what they call his
dreary and blatant repetitions of that,
(to him,) newly discovered phrase, “ soul
less corporations.” We need only say
that this also is a popular hallucination.
Another queer fancy prevails, that he
would not care how much money wotdd be
taken out of the pockets of “ the honest
tax-payers,” if by any kind of dexterity it
could be jerked into his own. Strange,
that people will so err when the man’s
whole soul is completely wrapped up in
the “honest tax-payers.” We mention it
also as a singular fact, that all the best men
of the community, those most estimable in
private life, and eminent for public worth,
have generally been and are now arrayed
in opposition to him, and: he to them. —
We have only to say in reference to these
unaccountable caprices, that it seems to be
the peculiar fate of some great men not to
be understood. We-again say to all “ hard
working farmers, industrious mechanics
and laborers,” and “honest tax-payers,”
confide in the editor of the Whig, in his
wisdom, his integrity, and his truth, do
as he says, and all will be well. By
adopting our advice they will increase
their pile of “hard cash,” insure to them
selves long life, health and; happiness; be
sure to have good crops and plenty of pay
ing work, for the “hard cash,” too, and
Snail probability assist much in keeping
the earth on its axis—a very necessary
thing just now.
gy We hear and read a great deal of
nonsense about the alleged impregnability
of certain rebel points. This springs from
a general ignorance of military affairs. —
There is no position in the United States
which makes even an approach to impreg
nability, nor, indeed, is it easy to conceive
how any place could be made impregnable
against modern science. Men like Archi
medes, and Vauban, and Todleben are not
as numerous as mushroons. Those who
understand the science of fortification and
defensive operations may render a place
strong, but there is no such thing as im
pregnability. Sebastapool proved that. —
Military engineering affords the means of
fairing whatever cpi be .presented for at
tack. and with the inexhaustible resources
of our government in men, money, arms,
munitions of war, engineers, and all the
applicances of war, it is folly to talk of a
mere collection of earthworks being im
pregnable.
The Confederate States Humiija
ted. —The Richmond Examiner says that
the Confederate States have been humili
ated, not by the recent disasters to their
anna at Eoanoke Island and Fort Donel
soh, but “by sitting, through our repre
sentatives, upon the steps of English roy
alty and soliciting the English Govern
ment to recognize us. Herein we forgot
our own dignity as a powerful and wealthy
nation; for had we been true to ourselves
—had we fallen back originally upon the
weapons we could have effectually wielded,
and should wield now- —we could have
compelled that haughty nation to accede to
every reasonable wish.*’ Poor fellows!
Foreign interference has become “sour
grapes” to them.
Fkom Tennessee. —Humphrey Marshall
is still at Gladesville, eight miles from the
Kentucky line, near Pounding Gap, with
the few unscattered demoralized forces
belonging to. Colonel Williams’ regiment.
Marshall at first attempted to Conciliate
the people in tliat region, but since his de
feat has been irritable and overbearing.—
Tennessee advices say that the citizens of
Shelbyville, Bedford County, burned, on
Sunday night, a large quantity of Confed
erate stores to prevent their falling into
the hands of the rebel troops, under A.
Sidney Johnson, who was in full retreat; Snappers’ -Unde Sam's Missis
from Murfreesboro. Happi «turtles.’ -
The Patriotism of "76 vs. ’62,
Them is' & striking difference between .
the patriotism which pervaded the hearts HlLT Febnmry’2B, lB62.)
and minds of the men who framed and MeBsbs- Editors Since I last wrote yon,
passed the Declaration of American Inde- j tlling of importance has occurred here. Every
penpence in the State House at Philadel- | thing is moving on quietly, though it is very e\ t
phia. on ’ the fourth of July 1776, and dent that a great amount of work is being done
P . i-t , tl,p fonirressmen and Since ourllegimcnt arrived here, a long wharf has
that winch actuates the Congnasmcn aua b} . tUe Enginccr Co rps, and is now nearly
Senators of the Southern Confederacy. com pleted. It is built by driving piles into the
: The first unhesitatingly passed the Decla- 1 and on them a framework is laid upon which
ration and at the same time pledged their floor rests. It is n ,-ety substantial, though I
1 “lives their fortunes and their sacred fear not very durable work. The worms will in
i honors” in maintenance of their action; the course a couple of years render the piles entirely
honors in nuumc. uu uselesK . Every day this wharf is constantly
) while the latter quibble, amend, ictract, receiving freight
propose and almost fail to agree upon any
sacrifice, however small, to accomplish
their end. That patriotism which will
not sacrifice everything for country, is not
true patriotism, consequently we are in
clined to believe that there is very little of
the genuine article in the so called South
ern Confederacy. A few days since the
question of destroying all the cotton and
tobacco, and other useful property, likely
to fall into the hands of the Union troops,
was brought up in Congress, and there
was a warm debate upon it. Quite a
number of members were unwilling to go
into this destruction of property unless the
Government would remunerate them for
the loss, thereby showing plainly that they
were fully as much concerned about their
pockets as their independence. We think
this action the more reprehensible and un
patriotic on the part of Southern Con
gressmen when it is taken into considera
tion that should this cotton and tobacco fall
into the hands of the Federal authorities,
they would not only not get anything for
it, but it would supply the Federal Gov
ernment with money to carry on the war
aginst the rebellion. Evidently there are'
men in the Confederate Congress who
have no heart in the rebellion, or are the
veriest knaves that ever disgraced such an
assemblage. We have little respect for
any of them, and none at all for those who
will not .go their whole length to carry
out their designs, if they honestly believe
them to be right. When our forefathers
passed upon the Declaration of Indepen
dence, they did not stop to inquire how
much they would be likely to lose by at
taching their names to that document.
They staked their all. Not so with south
ern patriots. They would like to set up
a government of their own without costing
them anything. If they are to destroy
their cotton and tobacco they want the
government to agree to pay for it, as also
if it should happen to fall into the hands
of the Union troops. They do, or cer
tainly should, know that the Southern
Confederacy is not able to pay them for
these articles now, and even should it gain
its indepedence' would not be able to pay
for them for years to come. . If they were
patriots they would not hesitate to make
the sacrifice in order that their children
might the more fully enjoy the benefits of
the government they propose to establish,
by leaving them as small a public debt as
possible. " ,
The bill to bum all the cotton and tobacco
finally passed, but not with unanimity, and
it is not likely that all of it will be des
troyed. It matters little whether it be or
not. They gain nothing by destroying it,
although the Federal Government would
gain something by seizing it. Whether it
be burned or seized, the result will be the
same to the Southern Confederacy.
Hard Fight in Arkansas.
The telegraph has already electrified the
country with the information that Gener
als Curtis and Siegel had met the rebels
under Van Dorn, McCulloch, Price and
Mclntosh, at a place called Pea Ridge, in
Arkansas, and after three days hard fight-
ing, commencing on the 6th mst., had
completely routed them, scattering their
forces in all directions. It appears, from
Gen. Curtis’ official report of the battle,
that the rebels had surrounded him and
intended to cut him off entirely, but they
had mistaken their men. Gen. Siegel
commanded the left wing ot the army,
and upon this Gen. .McCulloch made a
furious charge, but he was stricken down
in the engagement and his forces com
pletely dispersed. The latest accounts we
have from the battle are tire following,
under date of Springfield, Mo., March 10:
. A messenger who arrived here at three o’clock
this morning reports that the battle at Pea Ridge
lasted from Thursday morning to Saturday even
ing, and that our loss was about four hundred and
fifty killed and wounded.
The rebel loss was about one thousand killed
and wounded, and 1,000 taken prisoners. Among
the latter was Col. Mcßea, of an Arkansas regi
ment. >
The attack on our forces was made from the
north and west —our army lieing completely sur
rounded.
Generals Van I)om, Price, McCulloch, and
Mclntosh were present with 23,000 men.
McCulloch «nd Mclntosh are reported to have
been mortally wounded.
The attack from the rear was made by McCul
loch and met by General Sigd, who wounded him
and completely scattered his force in wild confu
sion. We have also captured a large amount of
stores, teams, cannon; small anus, and ammuni
tion.
Our Army Correspondence.
and transferring it to the nnmeAms storehouses on'
shore. This is beginning to resemble a good
sized town, the numerous storehouses giving it
quite a business look. The army and navy have
been very qoiet for some time, but last evening an
expedition started for Femandina, Florida, con
sisting of the flag ship Wabash, three gun-boats,
and a transport, carrying a regiment of infantry, I
believe the 50th Pennsylvania, Col. Christ, com
manding. The fleet presented a beautiful appear
ance as it slowly moved out of the harbor. Just
as twilight was beginning to deepen into total
gloom, the vessels could be seen at the very edge
of the horrizon, and their spectral appearance re
minded one forcibly of the old story Of Ore Flying
Dutchman and his phanton ship. By the time
you receive this the blow will have been struck, and
another name will be added to the ..list of victories
gained in the month of February. Truly this has
been a glorious month for the Union cause. The
fall of Fort Henry has been known here, and close
after it came the rumor of the fall of Fort Donel
j son, of which, however, we are not yet positive. —
In addition to these, the glorious victory at Roan
oke Island, places the prospects of the Union cause
in much better position than they were one month
ago. I do not think England will be quite so
rabid as site was a short time ago, when she hears
of these repeated successes. Fort Pulaski is now
entirely cut off from all supplies, and in a short
time will, I think, felll into our hands. Nochanges
of any importance have been made among the
troops here; however, their local position has been
somewhat changed. All the regiment® who have
heretofore been encamped ontsifle of the entrench
ments have been moved inside, and a Regiment of
Cavalry which has heretofore occupied the most
advanced jiosition, has also been ordered inside.
1 I cannot understand the object of this move.
The 7Gth still remains “in statu quo.” Com
panies A and F are doing duty as provost guard,
and the balance being connected with the garrison
of the fort, and doing general guard duty arouud
the post. The health of the Regiment is very good.
No prevailing diseases have as yet made their ap
pearance. Several men have been discharged from
the different companies and have taken passage on
the U. S. Steam Transport Ericissou Tor New
York.
The Regiment was paid off on the 18th and 19th
of this month. The men received pay from the
date of enlistment and the officers from the day
of muster. By this the officers lose the pay for
all that time in which they, were engaged recruiting
and organizing their companies; and that too, the
very time when they were laboring under the heavi
est expenses. I certatnly think that the State
should see to it, that the officers do not lose all
this time, but that they receive full compensation
for the time elapsing between the date of their ap
pointments and the date of their muster. Out of
their first pay the Regt. sends homo between $lB,-
000 and $20,000. Co. F sends home over $1,600
in drafts, besides a considerable amount in Treas
ury notes. The drafts have been sent to Wm. M.
Lloyd & Co., where those to whom it is to be paid
can receive it. To-day we muster for pay, and ex
pect to receive two months more pay in a few days; ]
which all goes to verify the old adadge that it never
rains but pours. We have had very pleasant weath
er for the past month. Occasionally we have a
blow from the east, but it never lasts longer than
one or two days. It is quite warm during the
day, and when riding out over the island the ap
pearance of nature seems to indicate autumn
rather than winter. Roses, Japonicas, wall flow
ers, &c., are to be found blooming everywhere, and
boquets of roses are quite common. If
the winter, what will the summer be. But I must
close this hastily written letter, with an apology
for my long silence, and a promise to be more
punctual hereafter. KEYSTONE.
Rebels still at Winchester.—A tel
egraphic despatch dated Bunker Hill Va.,
March 11th, says :—The latest intelligence
from Winchestes is to the effect that the
town was occupied by at least one brigade
of rebel infantry, and other troops. There
is also a strong suspicion that a portion
of the forces which evacuated Centreville
have been ordered to reinforce Winchester.
Our pickets were .undisturbed last night.
Active scouting expeditions are continually
kept up.
Latest. —Federal forces occupy Win-
chester.
The Union Men in Richmond.—The Rich
mond Examiner has the following significant in
telligence ; Distressing as were the rumors from
Tennessee, which prevailed in this city on Tuesday,
we could almost find it in our hearts to wish it had
not been so soon corrected. The Yankees in our
midst were on the eve of proclaiming themseies , and
in one day more we might have had the satisfac
tion of seeing and knowing, by their own acknowl
edgment, our internal enemies. Putting the Ro
anoke disaster with our rumored Tennessee dis
comfiture, they thought the cause of the South des
perate ; so great was their jog that it could scarcely
be concealed. We leant that a man went through
this city on Tuesday morning, trying to sell SGO,-
000 worth of dry goods, stW in Philadelphia, to be
delivered in Richmond in ten days. Another is
said to have gone up to a gentleman in the Second
Market, on Tuesday morning, and slapping him on
the back said : “ Alt, ah! what do you think now ?
1 thought you said we could not subjugate you.”
We have no doubt many similar instances occurred
which have not reached our ears.
£7*Nashville would rather at this moment give
half a million of dollars than have the Federal
army leave her limits and tire rebel army return
for .even thirty days. So says the Louisville
Journal.
• t3*The use.of a soldier's “drill”—To make a
hole in the enemv.
’acuation of Manassas. The Haval at
Evi
The people throughout the orth were Fokthkss Mosbok, March <i
considerably astounded, a few days since, The lung-expected rebel steamer Mcvrima, 4.
on receint of the news that the rebel* had af last made her appeariinee, ami yesterday after!
on receipt vim - _ noon, with the assistant* of two gunboats. w hi cll
entirely evacuated their stronghold Manas- catne ont w ith her from Norfolk, and thej, unftl ,
and would not at first credit the ro- town ami Yorktown, which came down tmm ,i le
sas, ana wouia James ri«r, made an attack mam New,,«**
port, but it is now proven true. V ; an d ihe naval vessels stationed at that plat*.
their intention is in thus deserting these The Merrimac was first seen from tlm
tneir intention is m u ° p ortress Monroe, on her way to Newport News.
fortifications remains to be seen, out we al)OUt a (1 „. irtcr iiefore one o’clock.
rather expect it was because they were ; The rebel gunboats followed her. They
tamer expect it : carried the Confederate flag at the stern.
afraid to risk a battle. i Hie gunboats had a French flag at the
Cestkeviile, March 11.—Upon a closer ex- Ir .. u ), !>m l the Merrimac had a flag at her bows.
animation, it was discovered that the rebels, bej ; which was described by some as a commodore',
fore evacuating their rauch-hoasted stronghold, had Wnc flag, and by othcre as a black flag she ap.
set fire to such of their commissary stores as they j to lx; very low m the water, and her sides,
could not conveniently carrv off. The place pre- txm - a nd stem were covered with sloping irgd
Rented a scene of the 'utmost desolation—a mass ot j p i ates extending two teet below the water line, a *i
blackened ruins. : , : meeting above, like the roof of a house. At her
The rebels also blew up the bridges along the ■ i K)W s, on the water hue, were two-sharp iron
line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad for ; poima, resemldiug ploughs, about six or seven fee,
some miles below Manassas. Such of the locomo- j alMrt . Her nnmber of pins is stated at twelve,
lives which were out of rquir were also destroyed,. (,ut she might not have had so many nt her bows,
it is shnposad by blowing up, and the vicinity of ; T wo guns were seen projecting from her
the depot is covered with fragments of machinery ; j K)rt -holes. The design of the enemy did not W
bcloncing to the destroyed locomotives. . 1 come apparent until between one and t\k« oelwk.
It is said tliat the reixrls left Centreville oil Sun- I an j i, v that time the Minnesota had got unfit,-
dav morning : '■ i wav for the scene of action.
Large numbers of contrabands have, reached our I The Roanoke flag-ship having been disabled by
lines (which now extend beyond Manassas. June- j t ), O breaking of her shaft some time since was u_
tion,) and are still coming in by droves, ] ken iu tow by the tiig-lx«ps Dragon and Youiij
On our wav from Centreville, yesterday mom- , America. At alrout the same tunc the alarm g lu ,
ing, we passed at least one hundred who were j ot - t jf e fortress was tired and the whole garrUia
making their wav to Washington. ■ j turned ont under arras.
Some of the-refugees claim to have come a dis- The 10th New York regiment was briefly ufi.
tance of twenty miles west of Manassas.; They dressed bv Col. Bender, and all testified the great,
all agree in saving that the rebels left the latter est delight at the prospect of an action,
place in great precipitation, and tliat the destine- After being under orders for some time 4-
tion of their conimissjirv stores was commenced at garrison was dismissed until they should be
da early hour; on Sunday. :,, The rebel boats steadily imreuml their way
The" contrabands state that a portion ot the sjewiiort News and the Merrimac soon turned 4
force which toft Manassas ]«assed northwardly.— IK>ilU aI „J wa s lost to view from the fortress.
This is considered improbable; but if they did, it T lie first shot was fired from the fngate Cmu
was for the purpose of reinforcing Jackson at berlaud at a little past a o’clock. Ihe Sewell;
Winchester. ’ Feint battery then opened n|xm the Minnesou
Thcv also state that all the bridges along the w bi c h was pasting, ami the Sawyer gun at 4
route liv which they came had been blown up by Uaj M replied with a few shots at Sewell,
the rebels in their retreat, and that the; greater p o j u t. A thick smoke was soon seen to an*
portion of the track is also tom up. ■ alxivc Newport News Point, Indicating that 4
- The earthworks at Centreville had been greatly battery there, as well as the Cumberland aid
misrepresented. Thcv were not of the formidable, (y 011 g lcgS) was engaged,
i character supposed. "The enemy, before evacua- The detail of action could not ,be seen from 4
ting, had somewhat injured them by breaking the p ortj but a telegraphic dispatch was received an- B
i embrasures and easements. nonliving that the Cumberland and Mcrrimav w«,- fl
The same is probably the case at Manassas, the c j ose quarters. As Ihe latter approached 4 I
1 fortifications of which,'however, have not yet ixxra Cumberland she did not pay any attention to 4 I
j fully examined. Congress, but after firing two guns, struck her, I
Our troop*. on arriving at Fairfax Court House, t he Cumberland, with her sharp hows, making a I
found not more than a dozen families remaining jagged hole iu her side at the water line, semi |
there. The soldiers rushed into the court house fcet p„ extent. The Cumberland immediately S
and brought awav some of the iveords, tint, cm commenced to sink, when the Merrimac, lacking I
this Ixring discovered, the officers directed their a s |iort distance, rim into her a second time. I
return. making another terrible hole which admitted the I
When our troops learned that Manassas had water at a furious rate. She continued tiring mi- ■
been evacuated, their spirits suddenly became de- til the water l,egan to enter her pion holes, and B
pressed, as they hud anticipated a spirited conflict atter s p, e careened over slowly mid finally l|
with the enemy. sunk at about 3 o’clock. e|
Most of the contrabands above alluded to were The Newport News battery and the gnus of the M
cheerful and happy iu their liberty, and rcmarkiiblv (j um berhiud fired continuously upon the Mem- M
communicative to" the extent of their limited maC] but no apparent effect was produced. *|
knowedge. ■ - The Minnesota unfortunately got aground .11 il
About a mile and a half before reaching Centre- t p ie wav up, ttn d could offer but little assistance. 3
ville a nmnber of graves were discovered, princi- Shortly before three o’clock, the Jamestown and |1
pally of the Alabama troops; the graves were yorktown arrived from up James river. TheUi- ||
marked with head and foot boards, on which the ter w-as disabled early in the-afternoon hv the H
names of Ihe deceased were inscribed. A guard fj iun l>erland, and put in shore for repairs. Afta I
was placed near them, as if to shield them from B i n kiug the Cumlxirland, the Merrimac mmed h« I
mutilation, althoug it was not to be supposed such at t e ntion to the Congress, and in less than u E
an act could be committed. hour afterwards a white flag was hoisted on hoard B
LATER. —Washington, March IL—When, the latter. The Confederate gunboat immediate!- B
some time since, it was stated in this (the Asso- went alongside her, the officers and marines Ixiiug B
ciated Press) correspondence, that the rebels were taken prisoners, the seamen were allowed to ts- H
falling bock from Manassas, the assertion was in- to s i lore .; - B
duKtriously contradicted; but there is now satisfae- The United States frigate St. Lawrence b- b
torj- evidence that the main body of the rebels left r ; ve j | icre during the afternoon, and without drop E
their lines at that place nearly two weeks ayo. _j n g anc bor proceeded up the river. She follorol K
The roads in Virginia, in some places are tolcr- t j le e!iam pi e Q f the Minnesota and the Roanok ■
ably good and improving. in firing upon Sewell's Point, but like the allies, B
The whereabouts of the rebels, who retreated t j ie g jj Qt f e jj s b o rt. The gunboat Mystic was si* R
from Manassas, is a subject of earnest speculation. towc d dp" in the afternoon. " B
Eleven prisoners who were captured in the vidn- At sundown the Roanoke, St. Lawrence and M
ity of Burke’s Station, on the Orange and Alex- Mystic, all returned. 1
undria Railroad, yesterday, were brought here to- After four o’clock, the Merrimac continued to g
day. They are roughly clad. throw shell into the camp at Newport News, while i
the Jamestown' and other confederate gunbosu 1
commenced firing upon the Minnesota. Thelatto g
replied as vigorously as possible, and the conflict 1
was continned without any apparent effect and) 1
dark. Daring the evening the Congress wat set %
on fire, and made a brilliant spectacle at mid i
night. She was blown up with a tremendous tv |
plosion. . I
Daring the evening the Moniteur arrived very |
opportunely, and at once proceeded up then;or, I
although not prepared for action, to take her part. |
During the night only an occasional gun was H
fired. B
Reinforcements of men and ammunition wcrewn I
to Newpiort News early in the afternoon. Bat I
little serious damage was done there, and no one
was lulled. This morning the conflict was renemo
until the presence of the Moniteur was known to
the Merrimac. The latter was engaged with tk
Minnesota, and but for the fortunate arrival of ta
Moniteur, the Minnesota might have beentet
The two iron-clad vessels engaged each ot-tf
for two or three hours, at long and at short range-
No perceptible effect was produced upon either.— |
They went along side once or twice, and if®" I
almost to run each other down but they soonwp - k
pcared. The Erricson battery succeeded finds 0 b
forcing a large hole in the port side of the Sffl- g
mac, and with the whole Confederate fleets p
then retired to Norfolk. Il
At about one o’clock the U. S. gunboat B
was struck by the Merrimac in her boiler and «* E
blown up. i
This morning the gunboat Zouave was alsoje E
rionsly damaged and was obliged to return. *• m
principal loss of life was on hotted of the Crank-', B
land, where it is thonght as many as one hundwE
and fifty must have been killed or drowned.
six lives were lost on the Minnesota, according; I
the report of her officers. I
A rebel gunboat was cut in two yesterday a* g
noon by the Cumberland. The crew of the g
ncsota were brought on shore this afternoon. - |
with the assistance of the Spaulding she a* s |
got off, and is now on her way here. She rc> |
numerous shots, but no serious damage.. I
The Congress is supposed to have lost o«
hundred, including but one officer. e , e *7,l
crews of the Congress and Cumberland ha 1 |
rived here. S
The Moniteur has come up to the cx l IC j| s! .
tliat were entertained of her, and has, ~
self impregnable to the heaviest shot at
ters. She behaved remarkably well on
sage from New York, and although the - j
ered bar decks completely at times, her
not seem to be at all diminished. To her 1
here may be attributed the safety of the.
and other vessels in port, and the . , u . ,, f l i
ot the Merrimac, which had previous. J s
against everything. Captain
Moniteur, was wounded in the head wt ,
out of the wheel-house. No other a
any kind occurred-to the Battery or
We have not yet any list of the
wounded.
The Dress of the Federal and Rebel
Soldiers.
The following, which we copy from a
late number of the Richmond Dispatch,
will serve to show how the editors down
South attempt to explain away the differ-
ence between the dress of the Union sol
diers and those of the Southern Confed-
eracy- Did each Union soldier provide
his own'uniform there might be a show of
truth in the article, but when we consider
that the governments of each section pro
vide their soldiers with clothing the. cause
of the fine appearance of the one and the
ragged appearance of the other is too ; ap
parent. The Federal Government has
money, credit and clothes, while the Con
federacy has poverty, bankruptcy and rags.
With this discrepancy between them we
can well afford to take all such inuendpes
and laugh at them;
“ The ability of the Yankees to dress themselves
in handsome style is all due to the South, whose
staples they have used to make themselves rich,
and indulge in all manner of luxurious living.—
This matter of dress is a matter of taste, even
when people are not shut out from the sources of
supply. The North has always beeh in the habit
of putting all it was worth on its back and in ex
ternals, whilst the South has been content with a
plain style of living in evetything. The one is a
vulgarian who, the moment he emerges from pov
erty, goes all lengths in display, believing that it is
externals which constitute a gentleman ; the other,
being conscious of elevated sentiments and certain
of his position, is not, perhaps, as careful as he
miglft be of the outward insignia of superiority.—
No one, however, can, by any possibility, mistake
pretenders and parvenucs for gentlemen, in spite
of all their fine feathers. From their representa
tive man, the railsplitter, down to the lowest of the
jail birds whom they have let loose upon our soil,
they have exhibited none of the qualities which
constitute a gentleman— courtesy, magnanimity,
truth, hdhor. All the fine dressing in the ; world
can no more disguise a blackguard so that he shall
jsiss for a gentleman, than the trappings of a war
horse can hide the long ears of a mule, or convert
his dissonant bray into the “Hal ha I” with
Which the fiery charger described by Job bails,
the shouting of the captains and tire roar of the
battle,
“As to the miserable penny-a-liners of Yankee-,
doth, who make themselves merry over the plain
dress of the Southern soldier, we cannot possibly
elevate them to tire dignity of contempt. The sons
of pur Southern farmers, who have never known
what it was to draw a dependent breath, and who
have cheerfully impoverished themselves for the
vindication of great principles, are beyond the
reach of those galley slaves of,the mercenary Yan
kee press, who have never known what it was to
have a free and independent sentiment in the whole
course of their lives, and who, for a decent suit of
clothes and a daily allowance of codfish and pota
toes, would sell their country to despotism, their
soul*, to the devil, and congratulate themselves
with justice that they bad made a good liargain.”
An Oregon Editor promises to “ tear the
mantle of hypocrisy from the shoulders” of D. S.
Senator Starke. Would the Editor leave the Sen
ator Starke naked.
gaTThe Bichmoud Examiner , n j re *tl
that tliere has been some hesitation in ao jjjj|
pass the bill creating the office of co
general to direct the movements of tbtf
the President decides upon the rcorga
his Cabinet. The'bill, in its present f
the appointment of the commanding to t<v
Executive; and in that quarter it lS ’’“J,
ready a foregone conclnoion that Gene
have this important post in the Govern J- .5J
■ With reference to the delay in the , ref e
of the Cabinet, we may say that it »
well-informed quarters, that noimua ;
ready been sent into the Senate, 1 ;
Mr. Mallory as Secretary of the Ka . 1
large vote, been rejected.
Hrifc
item* »re distressingly **
k and besides, we have been <*> bo
* l mi»sob work P* ,in S «" "*
—jrtßßg order, thatW« have not hee
• thi* department * he “ ,,,en,ion U
P rt It he *U ngbl next time if *
with another body's wife, or a h
ktM nobody, or something else.
Übw Mope of Compotiso Istekmt.
of computing interest at »ix per
" published, which appears simple.
vTaiven number of dollar* by the nunte
Jarereat required, separate the right ha>
I dirJ de by six, the result U true r
-rert for such Bum for *uch number of di
r cent. Tliis rule i* so simple and so
lire hanker, broker, merchant and rkri
post it up for reference and nse. There
Inch thing a* a fraction in it, there a ««
Usbilitv to cnor or mistake. By no at
prtcess can the desired information 1*
with so.few figures.
WKi.iDa«E.-We learn that the r
Captain Wayne’s company, now at Port
0 have rent home some $lBOO, «
month’s pay lately received. Jfome
this ammonnt was sent directly, to rl
& Go., to be paid ont by thereto pw
on the list rent therewith. TM» •«>■«
,he members of the company. Hoflre*
cv came very opportunely to many of tl
of the sokUire who have nothing to dep
the small ’pittance they may receive
source.
For tHU Chanok. —The election ta
Ward, on Saturday taut, on the qnw
remoral of the election poll*, resulted
the removal. No place has yet bee*
which to remove them. It will now I
of the citiieh* of the Ward to l«titior
,o appoint ) a place for holding election)
ting forth the name of the place in tl
We have heard the “ Altoona House"
Ward Sclrool House named as suilabl
the location of the polls.
gg- Wjtat ails the Whig t—Register
Why he wants a dose of ‘‘cash dowt
get it. . The doctor thinks he’s only play
believe,” and don't nectl such a powe
vet awhile- In the meantime his bre
quill have volunteered to prescribe ft
they don’t effect a cure in less than
doctor might he prevailed upon to
slight dode.
A Catfno*. —The public are canttc
a piece of villainy, by which the open
coupons off the $6O 7-30 treasury note
the note pa a demand note in* trade, th
\ $10,95, the amount of the coupon* for
which he may collect half-yearly upo
them at the Government offices. Tr
bear in mind that there are no $5O di
only sss, slos and s2oa.— Ptterwm’
Detector,
Hailboad Accuhww. —By the
Auditor General, we find that the m
sons killed and injured on the (*i
State during the last year wee: 1
killed, 13 injured; employee*, 54
jured; others, 58 killed, 84 injure
killed, 88 injured.
WLet everybody read “a few r
buyer*," to another column, and th<
young friend and see whether he tell
BSXOVAIh
IT. Fettinger of the Literary £»
Altoona House, would respectfully «
friends and patron* and the pnblic ii
he has removed to No* 1 Main St.
above his old stand.
I would just remark in thi* con
feel Justly proud in having been coi
tor moye extended and ample aceomi
old stand having become entirely tc
commodate my vast and eonstnni
business. I therefore bad a new p)
fitted up at considerable expense, to
dally adapted to the news, periods
turnery and variety business. 11
large flock of new goods, such as 1
publications, in great variety, Toy
Tops, Marbles, Balls, Jumping Bi
general variety of Toys, and Notioi
suited to the season.
I hereby return my sincere
merojis friend* and Customers of
dnity, for their very liberal patron
been to thi* place.. When I darts
soma five year* ago, Fwa* poor, v
to bdrrow money to begin with,
tered into a new experiment, 1 wi
succeed, and by persevering indns
application to badness, 1 may said
fear of being considered egotistii
succeeded beyond my most saugn
But 1 have already said more tl
tbispommunicatiou.
[|> J would say, inasmi
haslamsaato those progrpadve ti
eluded to christen my Pdf stpad,
kb+kv Emporium. My stpre \
known to the pndic by the abov
Finnally J invite all fay friends
l»4 the public to genearal, to vis
tabUtknieet and he convinced, th
aggentted, for the place must he
dated, Vour* Respectfully,
•V Beauregard went tq Bov
forthwith the rebel army at that
He went to Columbus, and strai
at rial place. Ttreated. He seem
of retreats.
Some of the confederates a
selves with the thought that the
them good, Ve», these reverse*
*-do good to the whole SOURtry
pajfriou.
‘ gg'Tbey tell us that Goa.
catedat West Point, hot he I
seated at all points. x