■■• l
*tej die island ofwhich it lias the perse
c-itiuu, th 9 crippling fetter, the- reldrring fato
i ifv, the pervading blight, the’spois cancer, and
thc.rank source oE the pov< ryans- slanders, in
spite of which her children inakojaher footing
good, and assert themselves ajiroadtl [ Load and
long-oontinued oheering.] .Which being so, let
ns, who hail from Ireland —[loud cheers]—we,
who have taken an.oath of noth' New-
York—[hear, hear]—not to Alabama —[henr,-
hear] —not', tp,, hear, hear,
hear, bear,]—not tu Florida— hear]—not
tip Kansas—[hear, hear,]—not fo lny one isola
ted State, bat to all the States— {Mmcnse cheer
ing]—that built np the powerful land resplen
dent Union which the sword ftp|: counsels of
Washington evoked, which thi philosophy of
Jefferson approved, which the i pfidstrong hon
esty and heroiem of Andrew Jae (hn preserved,
which the great arguments of rendered
still more solid, and which the lovtjig patriotism
of Henry Clay, whose precepts examples
still animate the.sons of old Ketguoky —[load
and enthnsiastio. dbeerihg. fot Kentucky,]—
commended to the heart of‘ every, true Araeri
.can—let us, at all events, who haiijjfrom Ireland,
stand to the last by the Stars and —[tre
mendous cheering,[—the illustrifilis insignia of
the nation, that, of all the world,mas been the
fcieodilest sanctuary of the Irish face —[enthu-
siastic cries of “Hear, hearj;”]v4knd in going
forth to battle for the American ,Rnion against
domestic treason rnd the despotfijjn of Europe,
let the Jrish soldier take with hijn the assur
ance, which the scene here before us justifies,
that, should be fall, neither nor little
ones will be forgotten. [Tremendous and enthu
siastic cheering, over and over akam repeated,
daring which Capb Meagher reared.]
’ * -> IA
[From tho.Welleboro Democrat 4 Must 14tli.]
The War Against the ' &utlu
Editor Democrat— i® asserted, as
well as printed that slavery is tj great source
of all our troubles-; which is tri fin the same
sense, ami no other, that cause of
all our thefts.and robberies. T-|e “-robber ex
claims, “ Had it not'been money in
your pocket I should not have flatbed you, and
been condemned to years of inrjwtisonment.—
So, if there had been no involuntary servitude,
we should not have been with those
agitators who have been instrumental in bring
ing about the war, and arraying Brother against
brother, in this unnatural conflict. These agi
tators have for years denounced; the constitu
tion as a vile instrument, and i|y|sb doing have
played into the hands of the Isgoessionists of
the South. Calumny and mMepresentation
have accomplished its work, andijivil war, with
all its horrors, is upon us.' the war, a
few words will give you toy i’nSid; Suppose
one of our chivalrous beaUx take-a raw
hide under his arm, and wend'hfej way to the
residence of hig “ladle love,” OM say, “Ara
bella, I have-waited some time flfr- a favorable
answer from you, and I want tojMOW; whether'
you will have me or not?” She answers, “No ;
I will not.” “But why?” like yon,
nor the company you keep,” ‘?»ut you must
have me,” “I shall not 1” “.Slut- you shall
or I will lick you with this until you
say Yes -” and ho attempts jto'sjeot his threat
into execution—how-would be !|sjre? In my
opinion be would come out of use contest with
one or both eyes scratched out Sand not hair
enough left on his cranium for bji icalp lock.—
But,- suppose he should by soma; lucky or un
lucky blow, so completely the tongue
of his “ dulceno,” that she cpujdi not say No,
what kind of a life-partner herald get, I leave
to your readers’ imagination Wdpieturo.
r?l't Dora Dee.
Lawrencevdlle, August 12, if
, [From the Welltboro tiignst. Zl»t.]
Republicans Cause tds yWar. •
This abolition editor (Hugl/jjqung, the edi
tor of the Agitator)'pretends liar' to bo' a Un
ion-Savers, and so did hiis co-lifjsrers for years.
Jlis paper is rightly named the S' (Agitator.”—
It was established, and like mijrjy others of a
like stripe in the North, its soUkbjecl has been
to agitate the slavery Question — h‘ r prejudice the
Northern people against the Southern ; to create
a bitterness and.a hate between them. That ob
ject HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?. WE HAVE
THIS WICKED REBELLIONfCPON US. -
- FEOM SULLIVAN AND, I£AXN SB UHG-.
The Union Safi— Tremendouijfiush of People
—Terrible Excitement — (?«£& iDemonstration
—Tiie Great' Peace Mac at an
End—The South to hare ask fir — All
• they want is to be let alone—Republicans not
to be Delegates—Their Unien Explained ■ —
Union of the ' Northern DetMcracy with the
Soatlasrn Confederacy—All Go ahead!
Editor or the Agitator —Jß |a meeting of
the Pro-Slavery Democrats t|J the Boro of
Mainsburg, beW on the7th d(« bf Sipt.lBol,
they achieved a glorious vie.pry, by, electing
two Democrats as delegates Jreprosent said
Boro in the Pro-Slavery to bo held
at Wellsboro, August I2:h, 18
A large number of voters hi gig present, thc
meeting was organised by feleo |bgj..B. Strong,
President, Snd L. R.Austin, jlpcrctary. Tiie
meeting, being organised,; tin present
proceeded to tiie election Of jSegates, where
upon, I-. S. Ramsey and Jobir A. Ellis w ire
declared (iuly elected; by ah overwhelming ma :
jority of six totes, there not being a dissenting
yoie-; - 111 ' ■ ■
This speaks well for the UniiSi of the North
ern Democracy with the Soiitheln! Confederacy.
But the question may be os?j|)| why was not
some Republican elected as in each
gTuwn and Boro with a hs this is
a Union Caucus. The reason b simply this.
The Democrats stated at the elect ion tJiat there
was not a Union man in the Republican party.
This we admit without any argument,,as'we
do not go in for this kind of' njl iiion:—a Un
ion of the Northern Democracy-with the South
ern Confederacy. ■ 1 ' J | -
We believe in a Union of.(t|ej people of the
Northern States, the whole p jo|lc, in' order to
put down Southern'Rebellious i 1 j
This is the kind of Union the Republicans
go in for; and what every honest man should
go in for, .under aU circumstaqcek
But some of the Democrats vrbo voted in the
Union Caucus ip -Sullivan ToWfilship, have ad
vocated Southern principles - for the Inst six
months, have said that the South had cause fqr
seceding, and bad a perfect righjtto secede, that
the Republican party was (he cause, and only
cause of the war; - f
One of the Delegates in the (I oro of' Mains
burg, has always advocated; S.uthern prinoi-,
pies, and said the South could |iot have prop
erty protected in the Union had a right.to
secede with their property; ((hips the slaves.)
That the Republican party hare, run over the
South! long enough, and have Jilmost ruined
this Qbvernpent, when'in fact they have only
been In power since the fourth of March
! - * ' 1 ; A Usios Man.
! - . ■ l
f
I’ll AGITATOBy
IHJGII
> - { WELLSBCEOCG]
WEDNESDAY MORNING,
Jconnty Nominal-
I FOR PRESIDES* JVDSt.
ROBERT Q. WHITE, o/ mUsboro,
(Subject to tbe decision of Conferee*.)
; ‘ FOB ASSOCIATE JI/’I
ROYAL WHEELER, of I
■ .11 FOR RKPRESESTATI
S. B.| ELLIOTT, of,
B. Bl STRANG, of
J to tbo decision of (
, . f FOR SHERIFF.
lr. STOWELL, Jr., oj
:~1 { , :
] > FOR TREASURE!
lIENfRy B. CARD, 1
I ' FOR COMMISSION!
JOB EEXFORD, of j
ij ; FOR AUDITORS
IVI. BOLLARD, of fl
cha4 GOLDSMITH, o/
;] ( • EESOLUTIONS.
Cirll War with all Hf'horrors and at
■ tiendn itfevils now exists jn our country-war waged
fjgaini&jtfae existing governmysht rfnd against free
mstUi ttoos by armed legions of rebels and traitors
-S and by those, whq, in the free
excuse them, thus giving them aid and
cjomfoFc; Aud Whereat all former party issues, vi
tal nsllliey are in themselves,-hive sunk into insig
aificates by the side of the grca|t question of Union
- or Uiiiin ion. Therefore be it J
JT .-it ♦ ,
Htsohett, That until peace sha:
by|a vigojkms and successful wm
two parties—one maintaining ini
tio i and t£e Union, and the govc
byj It; the other dircctiy in nr
entering at the efforts of the.&dmil
the laws,| and palliating, excusij
syi jpntlliaing with rebellion, consj
the Couitjtution and thereby desti
Stt.tes. |
dicuvlceg, That while we have the almost confidence
ini President Lincoln—in his abiljty, wisdom, imd.in-
in the*principles on which he was elected
to Ibe fifst office in the world; pevertheless, we be
lieye it tbe dnty of all menjto met go the parti-"
zab in jtllo patriot, and therefori we arc willing to
meet all men upon a common platform ; Tbe Union,
for tbe jjofco 'of the blessings of I freedom and good
gdyerntfaejbt; the Constitution hnd the war for its
maintenance until the rebels lay I down their arms ;
aijll the texFoncHMENT of the Laws, even to tbe
banging of traitor leaders. Tbisjis our only platform
anfl we iimte all men to unite with ns, no matter wlmt
party they may have belonged t(| heretofore in sup
port of jti|cse principle.'?. | ,
jtaolcM, That if the Union .Democrats of this
County unite with ns in forming one party, Upon
tHe platfiirm stated in the above resolution, as they
ba'ye manfully united withes in (contributing volun
teers far the War, we shall in the future, as evidence
of|our gcljod faith, require only ihyalty, honesty, and
capability in tbe distribution ofj offices, without re
gard to'party names. I
' Metolrtid, That “the practice Which seems to have
groWto up in this county for tbe list ton years, of per
sons selecting themselves for offilce, advertising their
nqmes toftbe public’* through county papers, as
chfodidatfo, is, of Uselt right arid proper; but that
“the practice of traveling over the county in all di
rections beggirg and pleading lh» people to elect del
egates instructed for them, bnsj become a nuisance,
and to bo” abolished; tba£ ** the effect of such
a iprarliciD-i» demoralising, tending to promote bar
gains between the candidates; -t|o provoke strife and
discord. JkDil in the place candidates before the
public wno are sometimes unworlby of public trust
ll at tlre[-people tbernsclves, ana not political wire
p illera Wbo take advantage of i bad system to pro
note tbtisr own selfish ends, should bo allowed to sny
who thW candidates for office, s|iall be. That to re
move thise, and other abuses, tbft Convention hereby
aboiisheS, so far as tho County Republican organiza
tion is cincerncd, the present Convention system, and
sJaat wo hereby adopt the following in its stead:
{ The people of each tOwnship.apd borough will meet
the Jifual place of holding elections, and at a cer
• tain tiii| agreed upon by tbe County Executive Com
mittee jo£ heretofore, and shall cnjst each man for him
self, onejvotd'for the person he desires to be nominated
to any; given office. It shall be he duty of the Vigi
lance Committees appointed by the County Executive
Committee as heretofore, to constitute themselves as
&in election board, to count tho rotes given for each
caodlda|:o at tbe close of tho diction, and to meet at
ifie Conk House in at four o'clock P.
M. of <tpe Friday, following such primary election.
After popper organization, these committees shall pro
ceed to feoant tho votes cast for each candidate in the
several pwn:-hipa and boroughu in tho county, and
the pcfsjibn having the highest number of votes cast
f|»r biibisball be declared tho nominee of tho Repub
lican jiofe-ty ‘for that office, and si ail receive the hearty
Eupportfof all the Republicans nt the election which
followi.j #
1 1 ItvMed, That, as thef above system, if properly
finmeu hat, will represent more faithfully the wishes
Of a majority of the people tb in any other, and, as
iJt at <Jrfce does away with delegates, and political
traffic W any shape, v£e coll upt n all Republicans to
Hidusjlji carrying out this mud needed reform.
(We publish this w<iek the speech of
T. F. Meagher, on tlie occasion, of the
astival near New Yo - k, for ; the benefit
widows and orphans of the 69th Regi
of which he is a member. Capt. Meagher
fcfebly the most brilliant Irish orator now
and this speech well sustains his reputa-
w
h& ]
of th
faent
|s pro
olive,
tion.
Tho. Democrat pronounces the Eesolu
tionsiif the Tioga Cjjnvonticn a moss of “incom.
prebehsible nonsense,” but it characteristically
to publish these resolutions. Itdare
not do po, because the people who are honestly
for the Union and the Government, would see
j|t on<e {hat there is not necessity f° r ari y
other party. The Democrat can always find
Jtopm fir the treasonable effisions of Gld Dora
Ddfi and other masked-bath ry^traitors, but can
fin'd ro room for'such incomprehensible non
sense sis. the-Tioga Resolutions. We publish
jjhese resolutions elsewhere, together with Old
Dora 1 [feels famous letter 01 the War. Bead
jjhat, tl smocrats, who bolievi in the Union, the
Const! ution. ar.d the enfort ement; of the laws,
ind j d dge for yourselves.
I ' *
I, S@J The Democratic Phess of Montgomery
c iunty are boasting that tl le regiment which
left thft vicinity to serve for three months, did
not contain more than-forty Republicans. The
Norristown Register is particularly jubilant over
this fast, and becomes very sarcastic towards
{he W ide-Awakes who did :iot join that regi
ment.! The regiment to wh ch these old Breck
inridge organs refer, is the redoubtable Fourth,
find perhaps the following paragraph from Gen.
McDoirel’s official report, explains why there
Were only forty Republicans, and the balance
if the liegimentcomposeden lirely of Democrats,
it is jthe best explanation we- can possibly
jpiote
j “ Orj the eve of the battle the Fonrjh Penn
sylvania regiment of volunteers and the bat
tery of volunteer artillery of the Jfew York
■ 1
[YOUNG, EDITOR 4 |PROPBIETOR.
♦
!EPT. 11,1861.
[6ns<
OES.
itßTtnceeiUe,
Inoxville.
rsa.
Mansfield.
Olymcr.
(onferees.)
Delmar.
of Sullivan.
(Tlymer.
T eUsboro.
Deerfield,
I be again restored
, there can be but
lulate the Constitu
rnment established
ms, or indirectly by
lUtmtion to enforce
ig, apologizing, or
)iring to overthrow
oythe Unitin'of the
THE TIOGA COUITY AGITATOR.
Eighth militia, whoso term of service expired,
insisted on their discharge. I;wrote,to the
regiments, expressing » request for them to re
main a short time, and the Hon. Secretary of
War, who was oh the ground,' tried to induce
dher battery to remain at least five days. But
in vain. They insisted on their discharge that
night. It was granted, hod the nest ■ morning,
when the army moved forward into battle, these
troops moved to the rear to the sound of the
enemy’s cannon.” —Jlarrishurg Telegraph.
S@“ Taking all the evidence we have, and
weighing it carefully, we have arrived at the
conclusion that Jeff.; Davis is positively deS|d,
or, as Ben Seely would say, " dead indeed.”—
A dispatch dated Washington, Sept. 4, says that
still further confirmation has been received
here of the death of Jefferson .Davis, on Mon
day, instead of Saturday, at 7 o’clock, A. M.—
A person arrived here to day from Manassas
Junction, reiterates the statement already re
ceived and.adds that all the officers wear crape
on their arms.
Another gentleman, from Richmond, reports
the death of Davis as a certainty. That sqoh
is really the case is borne out by many circum
stances —among others, the display of the rebel
Tlag at half-mast on the intrenohments at Bai
ley’s Cross-Roads, an honor that would hardly
be paid to an officer of less rank than a com
manding general.
Another reason for concealment by the rebels
of their chiefs death is obvious, when it is con
sidered what efforts are now being made by
the secessionists of Rentncky to take that
State out of the Union. The Legislature, of
K-eotucky met on Monday last and the rebels
are resorting to every device of bribes and
threats to compel that State to join her fate with
that of the Confederacy. The death of Davis,
however, would dampen the ardor of the rebels
there and materially interfere with their cause.
Hence the motive for concealment. It is signi
ficant, also, that we receive no reports of the af
fair through Louisville, which is the general
source of news coming from the South.
ggy While the Democrat and its correspond
ents are trying to prove that this war was
brought on by the “ Black Republicans” and
agitators at the North, we presume the follow
ing speech by General Wool, in response to a
serenade in New York, will be read with in
terest by that class of agitators. Gen. Wool
is a-Bemocrat, and was a friend of Buchanan
and Breckinridge. We put his view of the
c£use of the war in italics, so that it may not
escape the attention of “ Bora Bee” and her
friends:
‘ “ Fellow-Citizens : I thank you for this
unexpected honor. Nothing is more gratifying
to a soldier’s feelings than the good opinion of
his fellow-citizens. Ido not, however, regard,
it merely as a compliment personal to myself,
hut on behalf of my country, my bleeding
country, which is now, contending for the most
precious of rights. But yesterday we were a
great people, commanding the admiration of
the world, with an empire extending from the
frozen regions of the North to the tropical re
gions of the South, and with a population of
more than’thirty-one millions, enjoying a pros
perity unparalleled in the history of nations.
Every city and hamlet was growing rich, and
none so much as those at the South.
“ But this is not so to-day. And for what
reason? For nothing under God's hearers but
because the South i cants to extend the area of
Slavery. Nothing else but that. The only
question with you is whether you will support
free speech, free government, free suffrage, or
extend the area of Slavery. This was the hap
piest country on the face of the gluhß a few
months since, with a Government mare kind
than any other in existence, where manpould
walkUbfoad in bis own majesty, and none to
make him afraid. Never sacrifice that Govern
ment, but maintain it to the last. I thank you,
gentlemen, for the honor you have done me.—
[Great and long continued cheering.”]
In a speech' in Cincinnati, Mr. Crittenden
said, “ The South has most needlessly thrust
this war upon os.” The same remark was
made in substance by Stephen A. Douglas in
his las; speech at Chicago. But of course nei
ther of these democrats knew as much as the
old traitor “ Doro Dee” at Lawrenocville. Is
“ Dora" in favor of a Union with the black
Republicans; and if so, wouldn’t “ Dora” like
to he Associate Judge 7
LATEST WAE 2JEWS.
•From Monday’s Tribune we lear that the
picket-firing.about Washington, of which we
have daily heard, seems to have been .confined
to Munson’s Hill and its vicinity; there, how
ever, i; rose almost to the dignity of a skirmish
in the result of which much interest was mani
fested by the Rebels who crowded their earth
works, and among whom many ladies were visi
ble. The number of men on either side-woun
ded by this firing was small, but the affair suf
ficed to enliven the day.
The Rebels are surely suffering severely from
the want of clothing, shoes, and medical stores,
among which quinine is the article most
needed
Lee, in "Western Virginia, and McCulloch,
in Missouri, seem to he falling back from their
positions, and it is thought that this is done
with the intention of joining the Potomaearmy.
Seme accounts, however, speak of McCulloch
as recruiting for operations in the West- A
battle between Gen. Rosccrshz and the Rebels
in Western Virginia is near at hand: the .for-,
mer has gone toward the latter in full force.'
From Missouri, we bare rumors that Qana.
Price and Rains have taken Fort Scott, defea
ted Col. Montgomery, captured all his stores,
arms and ammunition, and taken him, with
nearly all bis command, as prisoners. Reports
•have roadbed St, Clair County, Mo., to the ef
fect that a fight has taken place between Gen.
Lane’s Kansas regiment and a body of Itebels
under Gen. Rains, in which the latter were
completely routed, and Rains taken prisoner.
This report, which conflicts with that given
above, is said to be believed by Gen. Price.
The authorities in Baltimore are following
up the traitors who reside there with much vig
or," A number of important arrests have just
been made. ' Among these was a cartiage ;
maker f he had finished to order a vehicle sol
constructed as to facilitate the | transmission of
articles to the Rebel county, He was arrested
just as be was about to drive!, away from his
shop in the carriage ; a false floor was taken up,
and beneath it was found h large quantity of
contraband goods, including twenty large sized
Navy revolvers, much gold lac?, some red flan-'
nel and a great package of letters to parties in
the South from well known men in Baltimore.
When the wheelwright was arrested he tried
the effect of bravado, but ns soon as the police
opened his secret receptacle, he cried ont, “ My
“God! lam a mined.manjl”—an opplnion
in which those who heard it at once concurred.
: From North Carolina we hejar that the Reb
els will probably make a stand at fort Macon,
a strong work guarding the approach to Beau
fort. A prominent clergyman has declared
that should the Government invade the main 1
land near Beaufort, 2,000 of the citizens of the
State would flock to the Union,standard.
HOW THE CASE JSTAHDB.
On the 30th of August,! the Republican
County Convention met at Tioga, and - took the'
initiative, in extending the right hand of fellow
ship to all men of all political creeds who sus
tained the administration in- putting down the
slave-holder’s rebellion. This offer was a mag
nanimous one, considering the Republican
party numbers more than three-fourths of the
voting population of the County; and it was as
patriotic as it was magnanimous. It was the
first offer made by any party In this county to
form a union of all parties, qhtil peace should
again be restored. Furthermore, end as evi
dence of the good faitb of the Republican Con
tention, in thus sinking the, partisan in the pa
triot, that convention pledged itself that if
Union Democrats should unite with the Repub
licans in forming bat one party in the support
of the government, then, hereafter, the only test
in selecting men for office, would be loyalty,
honesty and capability. No fairer offer was
ever made by a dominant party to a hopelessly
unsuccessful one.
How does the Democratic organization re
ceive this offer ? The leaders at Wollsboro and
elsewhere, with a few disappointed Republican
office seekers who had taken he job of dividing
and destroying the Republics n party into their
hands, at once through their organ proclaim
that they care nothing for the Union in the fu
ture! Their only object is toi have a Union for
present exigencies. “Give ins some of the
spoils,” say these Union Democrats, “we have
been loyal, and you should pay us for doing our
duty. We have no faith in|your offers for the
future, unless yon give us some of the offices
now,” That is what these leaders mean ; they
will probably say so in' their resolutions to
morrow. But what docs the people say in re-.
spqnse to the invitation of the Republican Con
vention ? From all parts of the county, we
hear of good Union Democrats who say that
they do not need offices to purchase their-loyal
ty—that their consistency is of more impor
tance to them than spoils, and that the Tioga
Republican Platform is satisfactory enough to
them. As evidence of this state of things, we
point to the thinly attended Democratic can
cases all over the county.! The fact is, the
people have no heart for this senseless"'party
clamor which the uneasy Democratic leaders
are trying to force upon tliero, and the rent-,
cant of distinctive democracy left last fall, will
have grown beautifully less jtvben the votes are
counted after the ensuing election.
The Democracy are trying this same game
in Warren County. The Mifil, in speaking of
their object, hits the nail so Ineatly on the bead,
that we transfer its remarks to our columns
without any alteration, as they suit this latitude
exactly. j
“The purpose of tbe bogqs Union party of
this County, does not appeal on tba surface.—
Outsiders are told it is all patriotism —all for
tbe welfare of the Country dnd the suppression
of treason. But those in tile ring have a fur
ther purpose to subserve; with some of them,
if we are to judge by tbe past, it is tbe main
one. They are working for the future, "They
imagine the old Democratic j concern has about
gone to smash, and they must save what they
can of it. Consequently thfy form the Union
party. It may not smash things this time, but
1 jok out for the next year. This is tbe nest
egg of a bigger brood of Democrats by. and by.
They will surrender • some of the offices- and
pass almost any kind of resolutions, so as to
make Republicans stick. Once inside, they
hope to mould a portion of them to their pur
pose. They ruled this Country too absolutely
and too long in the past, to surrender all hopes
of the future. If Republicans are cangfit nap
ping, they will accomplish their purpose; if
they are aw' - sentinels on
the watch-to’
• The Cleti on the Dorr
of Democrat: most influen
tial Doni'icral ,t is 7 the Cleve
land Plaindt. papi coped from,
quoted from and stolen from more bythe Dem
ocratic papers in the cam paigns of 1856 and
1860 than the Pliindcdte. \ Tf the advice of
that paper was authority for' Democrats then,
whtynot so now? We specialty commend the
following from that paper to> the attention of
democrats generally. '
“ We will not place ourselves in the wrong
by refusing support to tjhe constitutionally
chosen Government in a crisis like this, when
right, simply because they j are political oppo
nents ; nor will we sustain our own partisans
in power when radically wrong. As to cor
ruption, when we get a little further from the
Buchanan Administration in point of. time, an
administration which the Democracy gave the
country,'"W shall have the heart to erg corrup
tion. We will wait till the Galpins, Gardiners
and Swartwoots get over blushing for Buchan-'
an’a corrnptions before we discharge another
battery in that direction]”— Bloomsbwg Re-'
publican . 1 ,
' FROM THE TIOGA BoWf."
tjorespobdenc® of tbo Agitator.
, CASPNEAR'DiRN’s Town, Aug. 31,1861.
Friend Agitator. —We'aronow w’f'imtwen
ty miles of Washington, andabout tbirty-tvw or
three from Manassas. .Last Wednesday morn
ing a messenger rode Into our camp at the top
of bis speed. ,Jn order Dot to tie-delayed at the
gatei he waved a paper id Iris Mod, and shou
ted the name, “Biddle.” In a iew Pigments
we were informed that we would soon be on the
march again, but another dispatch came, and
our march was put over until T o’clock on Tues
day morning. Just as the drums beat for ns to
start, it began to rain, and did not itop Until
about five in the afternoon, Butnotwitbstatid
ing the ruin which fellfast, and the mnd which
was about ankle deep, and sometimes deeper,
we traveled thirteen miles, and pitched our
tents in a fine oak grove by the roadside, ex
pecting to continue our journey on the following
morning, but for Some wise purpose we are
still here.
For the past week, Col. Biddle has had in
his charge two hundred prisoners from the N.
Y. 19th. They were banded over to him as mu
tineers. They have all.returned to duty, except
one Company, sod they are still in our charge.
A member of Capt McDonald’s Company,
died last Tuesday, and was taken to Fredrick
City and buried with the honors of war. He
was a Roman Catholic, and was buried on holy
ground,
Tnesday afternoon, we were marched up be
fore Gen. Banks, for Brigade inspection. It
was a splendid sight. In front Vas the Artil
lery, next the Regulars, and then came in the
Buck-tails with the, other Regiments following
in. the rear. Our Regiment was pronouced the
best in the Brigade. Col. Biddle was the next
day promoted to the office of- Brigadier Gener
al, Lieut. L. Trumans of Co. Bl under Capt. A.
E. Niles of Tioga County, to Aid-de-camp.
jCol. Biddle is a very small man, weighing
orjly one hundred lbs., but he is a man well
schooled in the arts of war, and having had ac
tual service in-Mexico, the men feel confident
that under bis command, they will see the flag
of] our county wave in triumph_over many a
battle field, and those hands of half-starved
barbarians who are every day committing their
depredations upon the loyal citizens of the bor
der states, drove back to their dens on the banks
of| the Gulf.
|The soldiers are, as a general thing in good
health. We have all the clothes we want. Our
fopd is not as good as we would like to have,
cor it is not as good as it might be. ‘
IWe have had no hard fighting yet, hot there
are skirmishes nearly every day along the
hanks of the Potomac, in which our men have
in every case yet, succeeded in keeping the reb
els from crossing; It is reported here that John
son is about to cro#s the Potomac with a large
jirmy, and attack Washington in the rear, but
when he makes that attempt, he will find the
banks well guarded and surrounded with men
who value life ns naught, without it brings with
jt; the blessings of liberty.
> IWe shall only stop in this place a few days.
We expect to see smoke fly soon. Our next
move, will, without doubt,' be down to the Po
tomac.
' j A few days ago I had the pleasure of meet
ing three of the Knoxville boys, two, sons of
Dr. Wm. B. Rich, and one of Mr. Teel. They
are in the 4th and sth Conneticut Regiments.
They are in good health, and well pleased with
the life of a soldier.
: The, Potomac at the present time, is uncom
mon high, and one of the great’ characteristics
'of .this stream, is, the banks are wild and rooky
and the bottom uncommon rough, which makes
jt almost impassible, except by ferries and
iflbats,
: l There is a General Court-Martial this after
ternoon. Capt. Holland is sitting as one of the
[board. v
It ip astonishing to see how the coons work
in the corn-fields ontbese old secession planta
tions. Our last day’s travel, was through one
of the most forlorn and forsaken countries I
ever saw. For miles, and miles, there was not
a school house or & church to be seen. In the
afternoon, I saw'one little log hot standing
aSmong the little scrub oaks with the windows
-boarded up, and .the grass tall and green around
the door, which showed that it had sot been
used for months. The face of the country is
good, but the soil has been worn oat and cursed
■ by the vile tread of slavery.
R. Smith, a member-of Company E., died
this,,afternoon with poison which he took over
pne week ago. He is the same man spoken of
in my last letter. He said while dying that he
was not aware that he had any friend to mourn,
bis loss. Such acts are the living relics of bar
barism, brought down from the dark ages, to
curse a civilized world. Col. Crocket.
P. S.—Gen. McClellan is in this place -to
night. If I can judge by the movement of
things, yon wiU soon hear thunder.,- We are to
move to the chain bridge in a few days. It is
impossible to tell bow many men there are in
this part of but this I do know,
there is' an immense army. I understand they
will all move at the same time. Col. C.
Extracts from a Private Letter.
Camp Gibson, D. C. Aug. 25, 1861,
* * * * —Our regiment with weight or ten
others of the Pa. Reserve Corpg, are now en
camped at a little- place called Tennallytown,
six miles above Washington, and font above
Georgetown. We are still in the District, near
its northern line, and twot miles from the Poto
mac, which is here spanned by what is known as
the “Chain Bridge," an old wooden concern,
but one which the F. F. T’s. can never force so
long as Col. Smith’s Batteries hold this end,
and that will be until Northern powder refuses
to burn. The sixth regiment-—or as some one
pleased to term It, “The bloody sixth”—are en
camped in an open field, sloping gently to the
west, with a dry, gravelly soil, well calculated
fork camping ground, both in respect to health
and convenience.
will bo safe.’'
_ When we first occupied this field ,(n fortnight
since,) it was covered with a luxuriant crop of
second-growth clover, just right to lounge in,
but now it is as destitute of grass as our coffee
is of cream.; there is scarcely a stub left to
whet the appetite of a cadaverous grasshopper.
We are locatedhere on, a commanding emi
nence, which overlooks the country to the Poto
mac, and for several miles in every direction.
It is admirably calculated for the protection of
the City from this direction, and strong defen
ses being thrown up for that purpose. At
, the Chain Bridge, formidable batteries are erec
ted, and so positioned as to sweep the bridge
and bring a, considerable portiohnf the “sacred
soil of Virginia" within easy range. About
half way between ns and the bridge, the New
Yorh 33d, are strongly fortified rone of their
batteries mounts a 32—pounder. They are very
securely entrenched.
Sis bondred men, working eight hours a day,
arc fast hastening the completion of oujr earth
erri fort, which, when finished,
ted with 12 heavy pieces ,pf ordnance, pWi
at the angles in such a mariner that thevwm
sweep all approaches for several miles distant
Between the angles, are breastworks for bfJ’
try, composed of the earth thrown from the
ditfch which sarrpnnds the entire fort ®
In the center is the excavation for the mam;
tine, to be covered so that it may be
proof. I have not Seen theforta on.ArlinLij,
Bights, but presume this is very similar in
sign to theft; M hen if Is eOrflpletcd, I wiinfe ß g
you a draft, and a more detailed description.
Besides :fee ten regiments of Infantry in4*hia
division/ we have, a fine troop of Cavalry anj
three batteries of tnofmtCd artillery. Osj 0 f
these isthbftftfiotfs "Ricketts’ Battery," which
performed’snch afi effective part in the Bar&ijV
nary engagement - of ; only 21st. Three tbej
they lost their pieces/and as often were they
retaken by the desperate charges Of the Zen
aves, and the gallant Michigan and Mioesota
boys. Finally, after the retreat Wad ordered
their Captain taken prisoner, and thC riiosf ei 1
their horses shot, they succeeded in draggle
one gun off from the field; but they spiked'whal
they were obliged to leave, and the miscreant
traitors .were denied the (to theta) pleasant priv
ilege of turning their own guns upon- them;
The battery is now composed, of six-poundere!-
The caliber of the pieces comprising the three 1
batteries, vary from six, to twenty-fonr-pdun'.'
dors.
The artillery corps show a very commendable
zeal in their drill, which they practice* regular
ly, twice a day. And this is not the only pot*
tion -of the division that think they have meted
out to them an .abundance of drill practice, if
wry faces at the sound of the drum-call for bat
tallion drill, is any index of men’s thoughts.
Not nnfrequently two hours of “sharp practice"
before breakfast, causes' the destruction of
much to eat, in our company. It is not a little
singalar how a thorough course of the “manu
al of arms”—and logs—from 5 to 7 o’clock in
the morning, will serve to invigorate one’s stom
ach 1 ’Tis really astonishing bow a mile or tiro
of “double-quick” will increase one’s appefitish
ness! '
Little do the uninitiated know of the advan
tages of a “not particular” appetite in camp
life. Squamishness and repugnance to a little
dirt irt your food, is not allowable, unless yon
would go hungry. - Much delicacy in matters
of dirtis as little rcognizod in camp custom,'as
is the Quality of Chinese soup by the color of
thehai ‘you find in it. But all this is pretty much
as it should be I suppose, hard drill and hard
cracks's Speedily produce .physical hardness,
and moral hardness Is aptto follow soon enough,
without taking any unusual precaution.. As to
typical capacity, Gen. McCall says
Pennsylvania men look as if their bodies
uls were tied together yrith a waxed
nd recommends that in case “they get
iht them in the hospital, and if they die,
jem ; but as for'granting any more far
is[ I’m tired of it.” ;
our pi
"Thest
and. st
end,” ;
sick, p
bury t
lough:
Our
in fact
knowledge of tactics improves apace;
!, our proficiency in tfattallionmaneuver
i quite considerable. We can form a hoi-
I a are, in spite of the embarrasment of oar
i—Colonel not included—and this is no
Imeni to the -military intelligence of tbs
md file, let it be what it may to all oth-
I'find that military authority is not al
:.ccompanied by military capacity. Kef
ir Gen, Pierce, Gen. Patterson and quite
sly, McDowell ; also .others of less de
rhere civilians have been entrusted with
ant Commands. But war is a new thing
nation. Its arts are not lo be learned in
We ore too impatient, and expect great
i without a proper preparation. Our in
> nation thinks twenty - days, amply saf
to make a reliable soldier. We must
await. a
e the Prince, concludes that, “In s’s mqcb
two opposing armies are composed of part
te, the result of the next battle will de
ipon an accident;” as fop our regiment,
m;tious for them to have an opportunity
ide whether the old adage: “Invincible
,ce, invisible in war,” will apply to then
mg, is
Idw sq
officer:
oompl
rank
ways
eronce
positi'
gree, v
import
to our
a day,
result
pulsiv
ficiem
learn
I s(
as the
recrm
pend
I am
to dei
in pei
omol
But I think if the Prince is a spectator of
the nejct encounter between the. minions of a
base usurpation and the sturdy defenders of tbs
Constitution and the laws, he will find that a
temporary repulse was the occasion of arduaiag
ns to anew energy that -will' deal blows that
will l e felt on'the heads of the abettors
of so vile, so monstrous a treason as now threat
ens fie destruction of our nationality, invoking
the ruin of our most precious institutions and
the overthrow of the best government the world
everjtnew,
A victory of onr foa is dearly bought, if it bat
rousathe sleeping energies of the people to pat
forth their united and resistless strength; if.it
shorn us that all oar resources ought to be
brought forth to -ensure ft more speedy and
bloodless issue; if it convince us of the magni
tude of the rebellion we have' to put down, of
the desperate exertions to maintain it, and that
the war isjnot to be lazily prosecuted,in aheai
tatiijg, halting, half-way method—if it open'
the nation’s eyes to these important facts, then
our repulse may in one sense, prove to be a de
cisive advantage. And it has produced, and u
still producing this .effect. This result is al
ready indicated in,the onward tramp of willing:
thousands. There will be no miracle for ns
when eager regiments are kept back, or poorly
officered, j When the means are in onr bands,
and nothing is wanting but energy, and a-dis
position tp use them, who is to blame? Hebd
batteries will not fall down by blowing a rain’ 3
horn or rattling old pitchers. The rebels art
fully aware of the desperate - game they have
to ploy, and are abuffling.so as to draw a win
ning, band; and they liave, So ftir, been charac
terized as much for keeping-theirovrn counsel
as w e have been notorious for publishing ours-
But the-recent vigorous action taken by govern'
merit for the suppression of- certain journals,
insidiously working to-demoralize northern sen
timant, is a step- in the right .direction,- hut
would have been immensely more commends
hie |f taken tHree months ago.-
, Secrecy is the. great right arm-of strategy* l ®
warjTare. -fed since the rebels have mangum
ted-j-and" with success, too —this Fabian poh?7
whjj not meet tflem.on their own ground ? 7
not play game for game, and pay thorn off
theiirown coin? Wo have suffered enough 7
.the katal policy of disclosing our plans throng
the press. Journalistic advice has alrea 7
brought us one defeat as the result of its
lesomo interference; nod proves conclusive J
that! a daily column pf editorial criticism
gratuitous advice is hot quite, sufficient
cessfully conduct a military campo'S 3 ' 1
doek reach a circniation of half a million
cansle a paper.has a liberal share of pubho p
ronngo, does not prove that its
qualified to dictate to oor best commander 9 -
But')? trust that public criticisms
nwvontents is to Ire discontinued- G- "' *