‘C. T- ALEXANDER,
JOE W. FUREY,
BELLEFONTE, May 15th, 1862.
W. W. Brown vs. Centre County.
Last week we gave our readers a some-
what detailed account of the result of the
trial of this cause, at our last term of court.
We did so, because we believed it to be our
duty as public journalists to acquaint the
people of this county with facts in which
they were all interested. The tax payers
were really the defendents, being represent.
ed by the Commissioners, who, as their
elected agents, had the matter in charge. —
We, therefore, deemed it proper that they
should know the result of this trial —how
it had and how it would effect the tax
paying people of the county, &s.. &e.
Upon a recent comparison of our state-
ment with the Judge's notes and the notes
of the counsel, we have found our
Statement to be entirely correct. Sym: gen
tiemen who were upon the jury, say that if
there be any varianse from the facts ‘as de-
veloped upon the trial, it is in W. W
Brown's favor, Now, we intended that it
should be entirely correct and impartial as
between Brown and the people, never dreams
ing for a moment that any coloring that we
were able to give 1t, could injare, in the |
least, the royal reputation of the very dis |
tinguished gentleman win, for the last twe
rears, hs pretended to ast ay Treasurer of
the county.
If our statement was
as mony say, we are glad to know it,
cause the case is bad enoach for Brown as
per our sta*emncat, ani as for the o her party
interested, viz, the psople, they wosld le
well satisfied were the cde us worse for
them. But Col. Brown, as we us:d to call
him, affects to be terribly aggrieved by our
statement, and has resorted to the law (0
obtain redress fer theinjary hs fancies we
did his character by publishing the truth,
which we had thought could not be injured
! Editors.
in Brown's favor,
be-
r—
I ere
the w hole catalogue. At the last election,
all his opponents were traitors, secession~
ists and sympathisers with those in rebellion
crippling as he was as at the same time, the
resources of the County, was the emhodi-
roent of all the patriotism in the land.
Thus we might go on and enumerate for
column after column, the gross libels that
this injured man Brown has published
against better men by far than himself ;—
but it gives us no pleasure to recount his
fis. “Suffi ‘ient for the day is the evil
thereof,” and we leave him to the tender
mercies of an outraged prople.
PROGRESY OF THF CAR OF VIU-
TORY.
It requires the best effurts of the + light
ening line,” in these diys to keep up with
the victorious progress of the Union armies.
This morning we have a flood of glorious
nets, McClellan, wich his forces reunited.
wag at the latest accounts, within one day's
march of Richmond, haviug out .generaled
Joe Johnston by depriving lim of his last
chance of attacking the Union forces in de-
tail. , By this time, the last bettle for the
possession of Virginia has probably been
fought, and we look hourly for intell gence
of the capture of Jeft. Davis’ bogus capital.
Norfolk, one of th: most important of the
places *¢ seized from the Union,” has been
“retaken, reoccupied, and repossessed.” —
The honor of this capture, with its valuable
consequences be'ong to the veteran General
Wool. 8 far as we ean learn the Navy
Yard and other public property is uninjured:
The Merrimac is destroyed. While there
are those who —earping at every advantage
which 18 not purchased by the blood of our
brave soldiers and sailors—would rather she
had been captured by the fleet, all thought
ful nen will wisely see init only the great
resulting good. The plans adopted for her
destraction involved the certain loss of at
least one cos:ly ship ; the probable loss of
i one or two others equally valuable, and an
j appalling sacrifice of human life.
Perhap$
there would have been more glory in her
capture or destruction by our fleet, but lonk-
ing at the other side, “tis better as it 15.”
She was a perpetval danger to McClellan's
communications en the Peninsula. A rad
as successful as her first might Lave destroy-
cd a Geet of supply ships at a most critical
period. Now that she is out of the way, al
though by generalship and not by battle,
that danger is past. The James river is
free for McClellan's transports of supplies —
The gun boats can take part in the remain.
mg operations against Richmond wi bout
&n enemy in their rear. The Galena, the
by anything we might say, by it true or
false, as his long connexion with the Cenlre |
Democrat ad so well alvertised the man |
that his bai qualities mus’ have been known
to the people of this county long before his |
bad conduct, as a public offi ser, wad: it our |
duty to detract from his faucied high!
reputation, by publishing a true statement |
of the resu't of the trial barween him and
the county, Some men court a publication
of the trath and arc willing that their repu-
tations in the community shall stand or fal
thereby. Hut this wan Brown, kaving been
given to detraction, f+]liechood cad slander
from the diy hy first issaed the Centre
Democrat until the last, he has, through
habit, acquired an aversion to the trath that
fully agrees with b's pampered appetite for
wisreprescatatign. nleven now, know
ing. as he does, that our statement was true,
he denounces us, the editorot the Press, and
one of our mostrespe stable citizens, ~ whose
misfortune it was to be called as a witness,
and whose testimony did not suit the Ex-
Militia-Colonel,--as ** scoundrels, libellers
and falsifiers.” [How proper and justly
werited by himself are the epithets he heaps
upon us, the people way judge from the
facts as developed upon this tril.
ile has even gone further than thir aod
has actually made oath before a Justice of
the Peace in this town, that we libelled his
character | Great God! Is it possible that
a reputation like his can be injured more
than it has already been by his own bad
deeds T° We think not-~and while we des
ny any intention upon our part to defame
fim. we also deny that if we had ever so
much intended it, from the very nature of
the case we did not and coald not injure him
iw the least,
If any of Brown's political friends douby
our statement, we refer them to the Central
Press which, we believe, contains the same
figures ; and if they duubt that, we refer
them to the notes of evidence taken by the
counsel, and if they doubt those we refer
them to Judge Linn’s notes, which may be
found in the Prothonotary’s office in this
town.—-They wiil there see that he is a de-
faulter to the State ; aud if they will hunt
up the indictment, found and endorsed ** A
Tree BiLn,” by the fast Grand Jury, they
will see that + he fas embezzled, misused,
squandered, loaned ard converted to his own
use, the public morics,” in violation of the
621 and 65th sections of the eriminal Code,
and for which he cau, at any term of court,
within two years, at the inswnce of any-
body who may choose to prosecute, be tried,
and, if found guilty, punished.
How Mr. Brown expects to sustain the
charge he bas preferred against us before a
court and jury, we are ata loss to know.
for according to the laws of this State, a
publication of the truth in a matter in which
the people are all interested, and which it
is proper for them to know, is nota hbel.--
Probably Mr, Brown's profound knowledge
of the la % may elucidate the subject and ex-
tricate hin from the difficulty in which, to
.all common legal mindshe has placed him-
self.
dt seems to us so strange that a man who
bas libeled more people, probably than auy
wher living wan, should now feel himself so
terribly aggrieved by a simple statemen: of
the truth. Where is the man who has been |
u candidate for.office in this County, the |
eurrent of whose politics ran counter to his,
that has not been libeled by the now defunct
Centre Democrat. Governor Packer was a
+public robber,” and he had him pictured
off in his paper with a huge bag upon his
back, labelled $90,000. Governor Bigler
was o thief, &c., and zo it ran thronghout
Nuuga'uck and the Monitor are released and
may go South, where they are much wanted
| just now. The fleet is released for other
important duties Let us accept these great
advantages of the compelled destruction of
the Merrimac by the rebels without eritici
sing the manner in which it was brought
about. From the Far West wa have also
glad tidings. Foote’s flotilla has defeated
the Rebel Beet off Fort Pillow or Wright, —
There is reason to believe that stronghold of
the cnemy bas been evacuated. Beauregard
acknowledging our posession of the Missis
sippi has called in the garrison of Fort
Wright to aid him near Corinth. What
glorious progress does all this denote.
The President and Ex-Mayor Bervet.
It wii) be remembered that some cight or
ten wonths ago, James G. Berret, Mayor of
of Washington City, was arrested, by order
of the then Secretary of War, and sent to
one of our forts, where he was confined for
several months and thea released. No
charges were preferred against bim when he
war arrested, and he was discharged from
imprisonment without a word of cxplrna-
tion. He had been elected Mayor of Wash
ington the year previous by a decisive ma-
jority over his Republican opponent, and
when he was arrested and deprived of his
office, this defeated opponent was appointed
Mayor f Washington ! It is fair to infer,
therefore, that the only object the Govern.
ment had in view in arresting Berret and de-
priving him of Ins office, was to give that
office to the hungry Republican who had
been defeated by the people. This is made
evident by a recent act of the President him:
self.
The act of Congress abclishing slavery in
the District of Columbia, :nadé it incumbent
upon the President to appoint three loyal
and intelhgent citizens as Commissioners,
whose duty it is to investigate and deter~
mine the validity and value of the claims
(for the freed slaves) preseited. In looking
about for ‘three loyal citizens,’” the Presi
ident finally selected Ex-Mayor Berret as
ane of the Commissioners, and, by naming
him first, made him chairman of the com
mission ! Of course Mr. Berret declined the
appointment, butin doing so thanked the
President for having manifested so much
confidence in him (Berret) as * a loyal and
intelligent citizen.”” Ue proceeds in his
letter to declare it as his opinion that the
act of Congress manumitting the slaves of
Washington is unconstitutional, and that
such being his belief, he cannot as a loyal
man, hold any office created by the act. —
This was a severe but merited rebuke to the
‘powers that-be,” and a just taunt to the of-
ficial tyra~ts who had arrested Berret and
confined him in a fort that they might take
bis office from him and give it to his defeat
cd opponent. Berret has been declared *‘a
loyal and intelligent citizen’ by the Presi-
dent, who appointed hin to a responsihle
and lucrative position, and thus the stain
that the Administration attempted to at.
tach to Mr, Berret’s name has been wiped
out ; but yet Mr. Berret was robbed of the
office to which the people bad elected him.
What will honest men think of this base and
dishonorable transaction !— Carlisle Volun-
Leer.
et et fl Al Meee ea
Sunpay Barrnes. ~The battle of Pittsburg
Landing was brought on Sunday morning
by the rebels, and they, the attacking party
were beaten. lt is said that every battle
fought on Sunday in this war has been lost
on the side whose attack brought on the en-
gagement on that day.
against the government, while he alone;
The Bplendid Viotory Before Williatns
- bug.
As we get the mora detailed iatelligence
of the rapid. valiant and irresistible advance
of McClellan from Yorktown, the more glo-
rious does it appear, Those who were dis~
satisfied with the bloodless evacuation, if
any such remain, may now enjoy a brilliant
and desperate battle. The movements of
Monday and Tuesday were very difficult and
trying for our troops, but they resulted in
the entire diecomtiture and rout of the rebs
els. Let us endeavor to present our readers
with an outline of these splendid eflorts, in
a connected view, from the time of the
evacuation, to the result of the brilliant at
fair before Williamsburg.
On Friday night, a weck ago yesterday,
under cover of the darkness, the Rebels be
gan their retreat from Lee's Mill and the
other advanced works. This discovery was
made ou Sunday morning, at six o’clock.
and by noon of that day the entire fourth
corps of the army was ordered forward in
pursuit, under command of Gen. Keres. —
Heintz:lman’s corps on the right was also
pushed forward. and so rapid were thew
movements that Hooker's Division of that
corps crossed the front of the fourth corps
from right to left, and thus was in advance
of our left and moving upon Williamsburg.
Smith's Division of the fourth corps, finding
this to be the case, then advanced and took
position on Hooker's right ; by this time
Sunday night had arrived. A fearful night
it was too ; rain, cold, no blankets, no shel
ter, little or no yleeo, and the dubious for-
tune of the next day to speculate upon.
But with the daylight came brighter cheer
and then battle. The lines were almost in
contact ; the enemy’s army, fifty thousand
strong. had its advanced forces posted to
tight desperately and cover the iain re
treat : upon their staanchness and valor
the safety of their entire army depended —
Our troops numbered less than thirty thous.
and.
Seeing their advantage of numbers the en
emy determined to crush Hooker if possible,
and at eight o'clock in the morning they
sent out strong columns of infantry, which
did for a while serious damage, and finally
succeeded in capturing the guns of Bram
hall's New York battery. Hooker's Divia
ion suffered greatly and bore the blunt of
the battle.
It is probable that Hooker himself would
have been overpowered, had not a force fro:n
the fourth corps, about six thousand strong,
come up immediately on Hooker’s right, and
by their unflinching boldness and deadly fire
Tesinted every attempt of the enemy to move
forward. This position they held almost the
whole day, being relieved only towards cve-
ning. The battle tactics of the enemy had
been at first to crush our left centre, a plan
which was checked by these reinforcements
under the command of Gereral J. J. Peck. —
Thus the battle raged upon our left.
We now return to Smith’s Division, which
formed the right of our advance. It was
pushed forward by a circuitous by-road to
the right, and it was designed to surprise
the enemy's left flank. Hancock led the ad
vance. With incredible labor he pushed his
way through a road of moist yellow clay,
and driving the enemy before him from some
entrenchments not mounted with guns, he
sent word back to Smith that if he could be
reinforced, he conld carry Fort Magruder,
which blocked the road.
And here there was an unaccountable de.
fay. Smith, Hancock's division command
er, had been ordered to remain where he
was, and thus he in turn had to send back
for permission to remforce Hancock. This
permission was first refused, then given,
then suddenly withdrawn, and the auspis
cious moment passed. We donot presume
fo lay the lay the blame ; we are ignorant
of the General to whom it belongs. The
Rebels, taking courage froin our delay and
apparent indecision, at length moved for
ward to attack Hancock. Then came the
lucky moment for him, and the action
which bas rendered bim superd all over the
country,
Issuing from a dense wood in strong and
overwhelming numbers, the enemy advance
steadily and successfully, driving back our
skirmishers of the Forty third New York,
the Fifth Wisconsin, and the Sixth Maine,
and forcing Wheeler’s battery to retire,
which it dil slowly, unlimbering and pour-
ing in a deadly fire from time to time as it
retreated.
Onward like an irresistible tide, they
poured, It was the critical moment ; in an
other our troops would be overpowered,
when Hancock, forming the Fifth Wiscon-
sin and Forty third New York in line of bat-
tle, and in close order, on the right of
Wheeler's battery first directed a deadly
volley from the whole line upon the advanc-
ing Rebels, and then ordered, **Charge bay.
onets— Double Quick !”
The effect was cleciric ; the enewy first
faltered, then turned in confusion, and then
broke and ran in utter panic. One hundred
and fifty-three prisoners were taken, and
five hundred of the enemy killed and wound-
ed. This was at half past four. :
At five o'clock General McClellan arrived
upon the field, and with ready judzment re-
placed the worn out veterans, who had
fought the battle along the entire line, with
fresh troops, and then another night of biv-
ouac suspended active movements. When
the morning dawned the enemy had gone,
leaving their killed and wounded behind
them, while our troops marched through
Williamsburg in hot haste, to leave them no
rest or peace, as they were flying to Rich.
mond. On Wednesday he was beyond the
Chickahominy. Since then he has united
with Sedgwick and Franklin, after their gal-
lant action at West Point, and we may low
expect every hour to hear of his occupation
of Richmond. — Philadelphia Inquirer, May
12.
Biss
177Be not above your profession, and
always consider it as the first any man can
follow. Never shrirk from doing anything
which your business calls you to do. The
man who is above his business may one day
flud his business above him.
Wendell Phillips in New York
When Wendell Phillips walked into the
Senate Chamber sotiz weeks ago leaning
upon the arth of Senator Sumner, Mr. Vice
President Hamlin descended from tae chair
to welcome and embrace him. He was fet~
ed and petted and received with every re.
wark of respect by United States S:nators
and members of Congress. The doors of the
Smithsonian Institute were opened to him,
and Government officials flocked to hear his
lecture and to app'aud his sentiments. The
Abolition press of the country were ini ecsta-
cies that the leader of their clan, the nian
who had denounced the Constitution as a
league with death and a covenant with hell
and had spent nineteen years of his life in
attempting to dissolve the Union, should be
thus treated in the very capital of the na-
tion. What a revolation in public senti-
ment § they exclaimed. Yes. it wag revola-
tion, and such a revolauti>n a3 marked the
departure from constitutional principles and
the decay of patriotistn prevalent among a
certain class at Washington,
The identical Wendell Phillips, who was
feted and applauded at Washington by Re-
publican members of Congress, and who
was invited to use the Senate chamber of
Pennsylvania by a Republican Senate, re
cently delivered a characteristic address at
the meeting of the American aili-slavery
society in New York, which we find report.
ed at length in the Tribune, Inspeaking of
that prince of plunderers, John O. Fremont,
the great Abolition orator said :
« Abraham Lincoln only rules ; John C.
Fremont governs. [Applause.] I find by
the pulse and opinion of the people, the
real President of the American. mind does
not live in the White House ; he leads the
Mountain Department of Virginia [cheering]
and history will record the realities and not
the appearances of the present day ; and
the reality 1s, that although the votes of "56
omitted Fremont, although the caucuses of
*60 omitted him, the people buried him in |
their hearts, and reproduced him, when the
emergency required 1t, on the prairies of
Missouri, and elected him President of the
crigis
¢ President of the crisis” —a very happy
designation! The man Beard, who was
pad $191.000 by Gen, Fremont for con
structing certain useless forts at St. Louis,
which, according to the testimony of expe~
rienced army offizers. did not cost more than
270,000, would doubtless endorse this sen
timent, 1f he could le found.
After expressing so much admiration for
the great patron of swindles, Mr. Phillips |
very naturally procecded to denounce the
patriotic framers of the Constitation. He
said :
*¢« There is an old adage, ‘The devil is an
ass.” He always is. and when he framed
the Constitution he put the fugitive slave
clause in it, and that fugitive clause, in my
apprehension, has been the mightiest, the
strongest weapon which the Abolitionists
has had to produce this uprising of the peo-
ple.”
Mr. Phillips regards the negro as not only
as good as the white man but a great deal
better :
«« Justice ! justice to the negro would be
but to lay the wealth of the nation at his |
feet, put on sackcloth and ashes, and sit |
down at his feet, and beg pardon for the sing |
of six generations ; we should give np every
printed page, every evidence of civilization
for which we are indebted to the toil of the
negro. We do not mean to give him justice
when we give hin his own right hand.”
The ravings of this fanatic would not be
worth repeating but for the fact that he is
in high favor with many leading men of the
Republican party.
merits
The Truth in a Few Words.
Just now the Republicans and Abolition.
ists are denouncing all Demuycrats, and espe-
cially the leaders of our party in Congress,
as traitors and secession sympathisers. Mr.
Vallandigham of Ohio, i8 especially singled
out as a target for their abuse. Their vitu-
peration is admirably accounted for in the
Valley Spirit, and their slanderous charges
and misrepresentions completely refuted. —
It says : Mr. Vallandigham is no wise
mealy-mouthed in denouncing the nigger
policy and corruptions of this administra-
tion, and hence their hatred against him.—
Failing to drive him into disloyalty by their
cry of *‘traitor,” which they freely apply to
every Democrat, they have taken another
tack and now charge him with the heinous
crime of being the ** Leader of the Breckin
ridge Democracy I" 'Fhis is very strange !
Vallandigham never was a “Breckinndge
man” ~-never belonged to that wing of the
party, and condemns the course of Breckine
ridge in forsaking the Union as strongly as
any man can. He was a personal friend and
champion of Douglas and the leader of the
“Douglas party” in Ohio. In the third
Congressional District, for which he is the
Representative, he received 11,052 votes. —
The same year when Breckinridge was the
candidate he received in the whole of Vals
landigham’s District, less than two hundred
and fifty votes. It is cruel to make Val.
landigham the leader of the ‘Breckinridge
party” when he never was a Brickmridge
man, avd still more 0 when he has such
scanty material out of which tu form a
+ Breckinridge party in his own District !—
The secret of whole matter is this—there is
no Breckinridge or Douglas party now, and
that is the trouble. In the undivided Der
mocracy they read their doom, and that ac
counts for the sour milk in the cocoanut. —
John W Forney, from day to day, is warn.
ing his party that the united Democracy wil}
crush it out, and they had better believe
him. —Gettysburg Compiler.
sav
[= Commodore Foote, in personal ap
pearance, is short, thick set, compact, mus
cular, and formed for endurance; having a
constitution of iron strength, Like Gen,
Sigel, he 1s a close student, and devoted to
his profession. His hair is tinged with sil
ver ard ns brow bears the marks of severe
thought; but his form is erect, and hus step
elastic. He is endowed with rare conversa-
tional powers and imparts information as
though it afforded him pleasure. He can
preach a sermon or fight a battle with equal
composure. He is much beloved by his men
whose confidence Lie enjoys in the highest!
degree.
Glorious News -Th> @sneral Breaking
Up.
Every loyal and hitherto anxious heart,
east of the flocky Mouatains, is now exalt”
ant with the glorious news. It comes with
startling, overpowering succession and iH-
crease.
Norfolk haa falter without 4 struggle, a
we long since predicted, before a single
march of General Wool. Richmond and
Petersburg are probably ours, and the great
and bristling froht of the Rebellion has ag
length nieited into the shadow of a shade. —
Speculation is an tiptoe tor the next :ntel li-
gence. Where agp they going, and how ?
And what a change! Buta few mcnths
since, they beleagured Washington and
threatened the Cumberland valley, The
banks of the Potomac were bristling with
Rebel guns ; the blockade was efficient and
humiliating. With a glass, at Washington.
their manceuvres on Manson's Hill could be
clearly discerned. Their spirits were high,
and we could only labor, and hope and
wait. Then McClellan’s consummate plans
were conceived aud projected, including the
very movements now so brilliantly made.
Amid abuse and taunt, and more injurious
scapticism, he has carried out his original
designs ; and at length the rebels, whose
first and last stand was on the * sacred
soll,” whose so-called Capital was the seat
of usurped power avd the prison of loyal
soldiers, have been oblidged to retire in pan-
ic and confusion, and to seek for new strong-
holds and new combinations, if their utterly
demoral ized and destitute troops will per-
mit.
We believe this to be the beginning of the
end ; the general break-up has now com-
menced, and there will be small delay in its
consummation. Follow them with alacrity,
leave them no time or means to rally, ens
close them on all sides, nthe mountains
and the end itself is very near. Their mili-
tary power being destroyed, the political fa.
bric will crumble to dust ; for the former js
the foundation on which the latter is built
Iron battering raws and mailclud monsters
could not save them. The Manassas lies a
mass of timber and iron at the bottom of the
Mississippi, and the far famed Merrimac hus
gone into pieces to keep company with her
1 oble victim, the glorious Cumberland.
If Mr. Lovejoy does not astonish his par-
ty by voting new thanks to M Clellan the
country will thank him with fo poeans for
victory in every city, town and hawlit in
the loyal States and history will record
umversal gratitude as honor to whom henor
the
1s pre-~eminently due.—Philadelplia In-
quarer,
eves
The Flight of the Rebel Congress.
THE RICHMOND PRESS ON THE « SKE.
DADDLE” OF THE MEMBERS.
[From the Richmoud Examiner, April 23 }
* If there be any moderna so outrageousiy
brave that he cainot admit of flight under
any circumstances whatever, [ say, (but 1
whisper that sof ly without intention to give
offence (0 any brave man in the nation) 1
say, or rather, } whisper, that he is an ig:
norant fellow, and hath never read Homer,
nor Virgil. nor knows he anything of Hector
and Turnus ; nay that he is unacquainted
with the history of some great men living,
who, t ough brave as lions, aye, as tigers,
have run away the Lord knows how far, and
the Lord knows why, to the surprise of their
friends and the entertainment of their ene-
mies.”
By such reasoning does the immortal
Fielding justify the ‘falling tack” of a
favorite hero, and in searching a good p lea
for the dispersion of our Confederate —but
not Roman — Senate, we can find none bet-
ter. They, too. have been brave as lions,
aye, as tigers ; and, alas! they, too, have
run a way, * the Lord knows why, to the
surprise ot their friends and the entertain.
ment of their enemivs.”
It would be amusing, if 1t were not sad,
to read and hear their protests that the opin
ion they ran from * apprehension ’ was al-
together an ‘* outside idea,’’ and that their
adjournment was due to the simple fact that
Congress adjourned beciuse Congress hud
‘+ no wore business to do,” while their ree
ord shows that the tariff hung in medias,
while one hundred and forty-nine military
commissions lay unopened on the table, and
while listening to a message of the President
declaring that he returned unsigned a nuwm-
ber of bills, the titles of which he had not
the leisure to relate, nor Congress the time
to inquire.
Want of occupation certainly was not the
reason of the scampering adjournment, and
if ¢* apprehension ’’ had nothing on earth to
do with it, as we are bound in politeness to
believe, then the Lord knows why Congress
is gone and the Lord knows when Jongress
will come back to ns.
We hope that all other persons in Rich
mond who intend to prefer flight to fight,
should the city ever be in danger, will do
what they do in that way —like Congress—
without ** apprehension’ or panic. If Rich
mond falls it will not be a sudden tumble. —
There is not the least danger that their
precious carcases will be caught under a
mash-trap. Abundant time for an adjourn
ment will alwavs be afforded by the opera«
tions of such officers as both parties have in
the field. No large city, defended by exten-
sive lines and several great armies, ever was
or can be surprised. Richmond will always
be open on one side, and those who want to
get out of it can do so at any time. Tt is
hoped that here, at least, the Confederate
armies will not bounce of after burning a
steamboat or two, and a bridge the moment
they learn the enemy are in the neighbors
hood. without knowing how many there are
nor whether they are not worse frightened
than themselves.
Again we repeat, the falling of Richmond,
if it takes place at all, will be a slow pro-
cess, and we shall know all about it long be-
fore it comes to pass. Let no one therefore,
get out of breath before the race. If the
Confederate government i8 worth a rush it
will defend Richmond to the last, for the
leaving of it, though it will give up to ruin
many thousands of its citizens, will not be
less fatal to the government itself. Noth
ing will remain for the heads of that gvern:
ment but speedy resignation to escape a load
of execration and infamy such as would
crush the greatest conqueror and despot
that has ever raled the world, They had
better seek death on the field that will de-
cide the fate of the capital, than attempt to
prolong a nomadic resistance at Montgome-
ry. Though the people of the city and the
country would lose terribly by the occupa-
tion of Richmond, the members of the gov.
ernment would suffer more than any other
individuals, and if they have a grain of com-
mon sense they know it. Hence it may be
sufely predicted that they will defend this
place with all the force at their command. —
We have no doubt but the arrangements of
Mr. Randolph are efficient and our armies
are competent to meet the demands of the
crisis. Soldiers and officers know the stake
and will play for it accordingly. Many a
nation has owed it3 redemption to a decisive
victory before the walls of its capital.
[From the Richmond Examiner, April 32 |
The disperaion of Congress to day cannot
be regarded otherwise than as a most onto-
ward cvent. [tis an odious example to
all classes. It ia done by the votes of the
Senators of those very States which have
been the loudest in their professions of put
riotism and valor. Many of them now
think Richmond insecure talk about the
probability of evacuating Virginia (*‘tempor-
arily ”’) in case of defeat, and wish to be
safe on their cotton plantations when that
event takes place. They exhibit in this way
of thinking a very narrow vision, a most im-
perfect idea of what is passing here, and are
completely in error as to the future that lies
close before them,
The loss of Virginia is a thought which
should not be admitted into the head of any
person of authority in the Confederate States.
If the Confederacy loses Virginia, it lo-es
the blockade and right arm of the war. If
they indulge the speculation that the Yan-
kees will be vontent to make peace with the
origmal Siuthern confederacy when they
have been appeased with a sacrifice of Vir-
ginia, they trust to a delusion, and are
caught in a snare by which goslings would
not, be entrapped.
Posession of the Border States isonly a
means to the end of the Northern horde. If
we were the only South they would never
put forth the gigantic effort they are making.
They would be well content to let us go. —
Itis the cotton of the Gulf they want and
must have. If they ean conquer Virginia
the destruction of that strong bulwark will
ouly fill them with hope and confidence ;
and the decisive battles will be fought a few
weeks later on the plantations of the fugi
tives, with what difference of chances lot re.
flection say.
The wisest plan of the South is {to place
all its force on the Penmsula, stand the
hazard of that great throw of the dice withs
out flinching, and think about flight only
when they are sure to have lost it. To
leave Richmond at the very moment of the
hazard is not the way to encourage the army
or help a cause mn peril.
Far wiser, and indeed more prudent too,
would be the noble and more courageous
course of remaining in the capital till it
is certain it can be no lenger defended. It
will ba time enough to go when it is uo
longer possible to stay ; and at least the
disgrace will be avoided of premeditated
flight,
{from the Richmond Whig, Axil 22]
Fur fear of accidents on the railroad the
stampeded Congress left yesterday in a
number of the strongest and newest canal
boats. These boats ar: drawn by mules of
approved sweetness of temper. To protect
the stampeders from the snakes and ball
frozs that abound along the line of the ean-
al Gen. Winder has detailed a regiment of
ladies to march in advance of the mu'es and
clear the towpath of the pirates. The regi-
ment 18 armed with pop gans of the longest
range. The ladies will accompany the
stawpeders to a secluded cave in the Moun.
tains of Hepsidam, and leave them there in
charge of the children of the vicinage until
McClellan thinks proper to let them come
forth. The ladies return to the defence of
their country.
A Great Naval Victory on the
Mississippi.
TWO REBEL GUN BOATS BLOWN UP
AND ONE SUNK.
ABovEe Fort PiLvow Mississippi River,
May 10th via Caro May {1th.
Hox. GipeoN WELLS Secretary of Navy :
—The naval engagement, for which the
Rebels have been preparing, took place this
morning.
The Rebel fleet consisting of eight iron
clad gunboats, tour of which were fitted up
with rams, came up handsomely.
The action lasted one hour.
I'wo of the Rebel gunboats were blown up
and one sunk, when the enemy retired pre-
cipitately under the guns of the fort.
Only six vessels of my squadron were en
gaged. The Cincinnati sustained some in.
jury from the rams, but will be in fighting
condition to morrow.
Captain Stemble distinguished himse'f.—
He is seriously wounded.
The Benton is uninjured.
Mortar boat No. 16. in charge of Second
Muster Gregory, behaved with great sp:
Tit.
The Rebel squadron is supposed to be
commanded by Commodore Hollins.
(Signed) 0. H. DAVIS,
Captain Commanding the Western Flo
tilla on the Mississippi River, pro tem.
Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Na-
vy Yard Repossessed !
WasHiNGToN, May 11.—~The following
was received at the War Department this
mormng =
Fortress Moxror, May 10—12 o'clock at
night,-—Norfolk is ours, aul also Portmouth
and the Navy Yard.
Gen. Wool having completed the landing
of his forces at Willoughby Point, about
nine o'clock this morning, commenced his
march on Norfolk with 5000 men.
Secretary Chase accompained the General.
About five miles from the landing place a
Rebel battery was found on the opposite
side of the bridge over Tanner's Creek.—
After a few discharges by companies of in-
fantry the Rebels burned the bridge, This
compelled our forces to march around tive
miles farther. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon
our forces were within a short distance of
Norfolk, and were met by a delegation of
citizers, and the city was formally surren-
dered. Our troops marched in and we now
have possession.
Gen. Vieleis in command as Military
Governor. The city and Navy Yard were
not burned. The fires which have been
seen for some hours proved to be the woods
on fire.
Gen. Wool, with Secretary Chase, return
ed about 11 o’clock to might.
Gen. Huger withdrew his forces without a
battle.
The Merrimac is still oft Sewall’s Point.
Commodore Rogers’ expedition was heard
from this afternoon ascending the James riv-
er.
The reports from Gen. M'Clellan are fa
vorable. Epwin M. SrANTON.
The following has just been received . —
Fortress Monrog, May 11.
To the Hon. P. H. Wilson, Assistant Secre-
tary of War :— 3
The Merrimac was blown up by the Re
bels at two minutes before five o'clock this
morning. She was set fire to about three
o’clock, The explosion took place at the
time stated. Tt is said to have been a grand
sight, by those whe saw it.
Tho Monitor, Stevens and the gun boats
bave gone up towards Norfolk*
KE. S. Sanrorp, Military Supervisor.
Frac Snip He |
THE REBEL A Na YORKTOWN
New York, May 11.—Special despatches
state that the iron clad steamer Galena has
sunk the Rebel steamer Yorktown and cap-
tured the Jamestown, in the James river.
Important From Gon. MoClellan's Army.
: Bavrimone, May 8.
Tho following is furnished by the speci
correspoudence of the American, dated York-
town yesterday at12 o'clock: To day as
I close my letter, the latest intelligence re-
cerved from the field of battle is that Gen.
eight wiles beyond Williamsburg, and after
a pretty severe skirmish with his” rear, he
again put him to flight across the Chick-
ahominy creek. A large additional zrumber
of prisoners have been taken, including me-
ny deserters, who report that they bave noth
ing to eat but a few hard biscuits for forty
eight hours, and when brought inn fell dows
in a state of exhaustion.
Heavy cannonading could be heard by the
boats coming down the river at sn early
hour this morning. Nothing as to the re-
salt is ascertained. There is uo doubt bat
that the whole armey of Lee, Johnson and
Magruder is in a state of utter disorganiza-
tion, and under the rapid pursuit of Gem.
M'Clellan is fleeing with great precipitation
and without the intention of making & stand
any where, and unless they reach Richmond
in boats nv way of James river, will core
tainly be intercepted and captured the
forces landed and janding at West Point.
A large number of prisgners are amving
at West Point, aud others aré being con.
stantly brought in
On Monday the enemy took about 80 of
our men prisoners and captured one of the
Pennsylvania batteries, having first killed
all the horses, and they having but a smald
support of infantry, were overwhelmed by 8
superior force and were compelled to aban-
don their guns, but before the close of the
dy the battery with one of the enemy's was
re captured by Gen. M’Clellan, and the
prisoners they had taken were found in
Williamsburg next, attending on the woun-
ded left behind, Their retreat was acoom-
pmaed by too much confusion to be troub-
led with prisoners.
I just learn that the enemy has destroyed
all the bridges across the Chickahominy,
and that Gen. M’Clellan is resting his army
on this side. It will be remembered that
the Chickahominy river runs parallel with
the James river, iuto which it empties. It
is the general impression that Gen. M'Clel.
pias now got the enemy just where he wan's
Hm.
Particulars of the Battle of Williamsburg.
Bavrivorz May 8.
The following is from the American's ac-
count of the battle of Monday :
The battle betore Williamsburg on Mon-
day was a most warmly contested engage-
ment. Owing to the roughness of the coun-
try and bad condition of the roads but a
small portion of our troops could be brought
into action. Gen. Sickles’ Excelsior brigade
of tien. Hooker's division, bore the brunt of
the battle and fought most valorously,
thongh greatly overpowered by numbers and
the superior position and earihworks of the
enemy. The approaches to their works
were a series of ravines and swamps while
the rain fell in torrents through the day.—
Tue men had algo been lying on their arms
all the previous night in the woods, soaked
with rain and chilled with cold. The bat.
tle razed from early in the worning until 3
o'clock mn the afteruoon, when Gen. M'Clel-
lan arrived with fresh troops and relieved
| the division of Gen Hooker, who were near-
i ly prostrated with tatigue aod exposure.
whilst the 3d Excelsior regiment of the bris
gade had its ranks terribly thinned by the
balls of the enemy. They are represented
very that not less than 200 of them were
killed and wounded,
Afler the arrival of Gen. M’Clelian, the
envmy were fiercely charged upon by Han-
cock’s brigade, and were driven within
their works before nightfall with heavy loss.
Nearly 600 of their dead were left on the
field with many wounded, though most of
the latter were carried into Williamsburg.
Our loss was less than 300 killed and about
700 wounded. Night having come on, we
occupied the battle field the enemy having
been driven within the works. A large
number of wagons and munitions of warand
a considerable store of provisons were found
in town, whilst the road was strewn for
many miles with arms and accoutrements.
A number of deserters also made their es~
cape and came within our lines, They sta.
ted that the Rebels had received intelligence
that large numbers of the United States
troops were landing on York river above
Williamsburg to flank them.
eri a Sirs rnetr
From Gen. McClellan's Armay—A Battles at
West Point.
Fortress MoNRoE, May 8.
By the steamer from Yorktown, I learn
that Gen. McClellan hed advanced twelve
miles beyond Williamsburg, and has had
several skirmishes with the enemy, routing
them with heavy loss.
The embarkation of troops for West
Point is progressing with great rapidity. A
heavy battle took place on Wednesday. af-
ternoon between the troops of Ge... Franklin
and Gen. Sedgwick, and the rebels under
Gen. Lee, who were endeavoring to make
their way to Richmond. It is sai have
been the severest battle on the Peninsula.—
The rebels were totally routed and’ flanked,
being driven back towards the forces under
en. Johaston, on the Ohickahominy. The
whole number of Federals killed and wound
ed was 300, and the enemy were driven back
by our gunboats with great slaughter. They
had not less than 30,000 men, while our
force at the time was not over 20,000 ~only
that number having landed, Had it not
been for the gunboats our troops would have
been defeat ed,
(= The following incident says the Ia,
dianapolis Journal is related as having act.
ually occurred at Pittsburg. Capt. Moor-
man was on Gen, Johnston's staff, and while
riding along’ with the latter, a mortally
wounded Federal soldier called out, ¢ For
God’s sake give me some water!’
The Captain dismounted, gave the dyin
soldier some water, and at his request, pull:
ed from his knapsack the likeness of his
wife and children, that he might rest his
eyes upon them once more. The Captain
was compelled to return to duty, and just
as he was mounting his horse was struck by
a spent ball, which stunned and rendered
him insensible, and when consciousness re-
turned, he found himse!fa prisoner in the
Federal Camp. Capt Moorman is now con-
fined in Indianapolis, at a private house
believe, quite 111, and though still a pris
er, is the recipient of that kind treatn
which humanity to a suffering foe fally
titles him to.
egg i rieeimmiviee
A gentleman whose father had been hang
ed was accustomed to say of him; “ He
died suddenly upon a platform at s large
public meeting.”
ree me re
X77 Gen. Wm. Preston, of Kentucky, an
able Confederate officer, was killed at Pitta-
burg Lauvdiog.
17 Eaeh thing lives according to its kind
—the heart by love, the intellect by truth,
the higher nature of man by intimate com-
munion with God.
M'Clellan has come np with the enemy abour @
a3 having fought with such imprudent bra. -