VOLUME 1.
confix H:\TIOXS.
F<>r the Clttorn.
A short account of my visit to the ar
jU the Cumberland has been promis
ed ; and ou account of sicfcitys, has been
delayed.
We will now try to redeem our prom
fee*:
| First, The distance from Titt-burg to
Atlanta, via Creatine, Indianapolis, LOll
- Nashville, and Chattanooga, i«879
miles. Our place of labour was assigned
us At Kingston, Ga., 79 miles below Chat-
Uinuog' l ; and -9 from Ivenesaw Moun
tains, which Was tho front.
OUR WORK,
Was to led the sick and wounded sol
diers passing along from the front, towards
Chattanooga and Nashville. Tn doing
this, the Sanitary and Christian Commis
sions joined hands, and just labored to
gether. In supplying their wants, we
used milk punch, ale, coffee, ham, shirts,
quilts, bandages, <ic. And when time
permitted, 1 would goto the hospital
about a mile distant, preach, pray, read
Scripture, write letters, distribute paper,
envelopes, tract books, newspapers, &c.
SUI'FKIUNIiS OF SOMHKRS.
.An idea may be had of this, when we
statu that many hundreds, and indeed
thousands </! them, whose wounds were
dressed mi the battlefield, and at the near
est. possible point wore just put upon the
cars (freight ears.) laid on the bare floors
and jerked and jolted IV.'in the front to
Chattanooga, a distance of from one hun
dred to otic hundred and thirty miles,
often occupying two and three days and
nights; aud during this passage very lit
tle rfcliof can be aft'orde 1 or provisions ob
tained -f.fr except what, eoines thro'
Sanitary and..flier agents stationed along
the way. Yet all this was unavoidable.
Stern necessity demanded their removal;
and very little grumbling and eomplaiu
ing was hoard from this lrisss of suffering
humanity.
TUB SANITARY COMMISSION
21 as done a great work in relieving suf
fering and saving the precious lives of
many of our brave and noble soldiers.
This Commission has three trains oj ears
running from Louisville to the front.
Those cars arc supplied with beds, spring
mattrasses, swinging beds, &c., &e., for
the accommodation and comfort of these
unfortunate sufferers. Each of these
trains will take about four hundred sick
at once, and always a surgeon in attend
ance; and I wMI add to this statement the
fact, that so thronged wore these trains,
and so busily was the road employed, that
during our stay we never saw but one
train of those cars, and that only once a
week. Yet it looked like civilization
when it did come, and fortunate was the
sufferer who gained a berth thereon.
We are aware that some suppose that
their money aud goods arc squandered
going throu-rh the hands of the agents.
Huf"eous, &c'; and 'tis trne that some
times (lie agents are unfortunate in the
selection of their men; but from our ob
servation wo conclude that not more than
one dollar of every ton is spent in pay
ing, feeding aud trausportation, with what
may be improperly squandered or wasted,
and wo think this is not extravagant. The
sanitary confines its labors to the tempo
ral wants of the sufferers, and we are fully
satisged that the general superintendents
strive to make tho Commission reach the
object designed in its formation.
THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.
Tts "benefits, adHiutagas and comforts
to the soldier, sick and wounded or well,
cannot be overestimated, 4,t leaches all
his sanitary wants, oxeept providing
trains for transportirtimi, and comprehends
especially bis spiritual wants; sends him
the living, warm hearted minister of
Christ to comfort anti-cheer him and point
him to the "Lamb of God ; " to write
letters, supply with paper, envelopes, &c.,
when needed; to distribute books, tracts,
papers, &c„ aud, in short, provide our
brave ''boys" with a wholesome religious
literature, the beuofits of which may be
• seen in society when they return from the
service, but will never be wholly devel
oped until eternity sheds a new light up
on the labors of time.
The delegate of tlie Christian Commis
sion finds his way into the nospital of sick
or wounded, into the prisons or dungeons
.of our own prisoners or rebels, aud uuder
the most forbidding circumstances sows
the Gospel seed.
The following is a copy of a letter writ
ton by a deserter iu prison at Chattanooga,
to his mother:
" CHATTANOOGA, June 12th.
"Dkar Mother: It is with pleasure
T seat myself this morning to inform you
1 am well, and I hope these few lines may
find you all enjoying the same blessing.
Now, mother, you may thiuk straugo that
I have one cheerful thought, placed nnder
, circumstances that I am. But I feel
move encouragement this day than I ever
did in my life before—for my past life
has been one of sin and open rebellion
against my Creator. And when I loot
back and consider liow lenient God has
been to me in' sickness and in battle, how
ho has spared my life to this time, I can
not be tco thankful for the tender mer
cies shown me. Aftei I was forwarded
to this place, the delegates and ministers
of the Christian Commission visited our
place of confinement, and thank God,
through their faithful ministry and circu
lation of the blessed volume and tracts, I
was brought to see my sinful condition,
and I implored God's forgiveness and
mcrey. .
! " I thank my God for such an .institu
tion. May it ever prosper, and may God
bless tho faithful laborers concerned in
it; and may more be brought to see tho
An and folly of their ways in tho, same
manner. 1 was converted. At first, I
rejected the test, and was determined to
resist anything good ; but one day I pick
ed up a small tract entitled " Too Lite."
ft suited my ease. I soon procured a
Testament, with many papers and tracts.
I soon turned my thoughts to heavenly
and divine things, and earnestly sought
(rod's forgiveness. 1 can truly say 1, love
Jesus and all things pertaining to good.
Things T once hated 1 now love. When
first the faithful ministers came around, I
used to say, as many others did, • They
come to preach, * 1 escape the service.'
Hut I thank GBd I am led to see and feel
different towards them now. 1 love to
sec the ui come, for it cheers my sad
hours, ail that is not all: they always
bring some good reading matter, which 1
am sure to share; and instead of getting
down in the corner to play cards as soon
as tho minister's back is turned, I now
peruso tho sacred volume distributed
anions; us.
"Oh! mother, encourage the Christian
Commission with all your might, anfl tell
my brother and sistors they cannot do too
much for tho Commission. When lam
placed so that I can, I will aid it all 1
can, for 1 know tho good of it. Mother,
1 trust your prayers have been heard and
answered for your unworthy son. I still
invoke an interest in your prayers. By
the help of God, I wiil lead a different
life, devoted to the cause of my blessed
Savior, whom I have so disdainfully
treated. Gh, that all would do as 1 have
now done, or be le led to see as I have
seen.
" My lore and best regards to all in
quiring friends.
" From your absent son,
'•THUS. R. CARSKADDEN."
This man was induced to desert by a
Copperhead, during tho riot at New
ork, who paid his fare after getting him
drunk, ko.
The delegates of the Christian Com
mission arc men who go out from princi
ples of piety and patriotism. No object
of money to draw out tho worthless class
of ministers, therefore the Commission is
a decided success and stands very high in
the estimation of' both officers and men.
Besides, there is not more than half the
ratio required to pay transportation, ex
penses, &c., that is required in the Sani
tary Commission. Will wo not sustain
this Commission more heartily than we
have done, by our contributions, our pas
tors (allowing them togo and labor.) aud
our earnest prayers ?
IJOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Is a grand sight. Starting from the rail
road at its base', and in close proximity to
the Tennessee river, it makes a circuit of
some ten to fifteen miles, when it ends in
what is called Missionary Ridge, again
touching the Icimesseeriver, aud making
a complete horse-shoe, aud inside of this
horse-shoo is Chattanooga; and we were
utterly astonished that an army could oc
cupy this place while the enemy occupied
the range, of mountains, and escape cap
ture. An overruling Providence is our
only explanation.
mzz.uui's ROOST
Is a most impregnable position. Wecan
not conceive of anything more defensible
than this famous place, from which tho
rebels were driven by Sherman and his
army. We remarked npon seeing it
from the railroad, that Johnston's anny
was no match for Sherman's. And ou
being asked how wo knew that fact, re
marked that no army thus situated would
suffer themselves to be flaukod if their
force was adequate to meet the 100. Later
developments have established the truth
fulness of our belief, beyond the shadow
of a doubt.
KiNORANCK OF THE NATIVES.
This is visible in every department of
society. But wo need not write of this;
it has been faithfully aud properly por
trayed by correspondents of the Now York
Tribune , to all of which that we have
read, after seeing for ourselves, wo can
heartily say amen. The simple cause of
'' kflNlia tv V
"Let us have Faith that Right makes Might: and fh that Faith let us, to the end,dare to do our dfit|as we understand it"— A Lincoln
BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, ; OCTOBER 5, 1864.
this deplorable ignorance is in tho fact that
common or free schools arc unknown; and
the reason they arc not known is because
the rich slaveholder frowns upon thetu; and
the reason hq frowns upon them is because
they dangerous to the instltationofslavery.
And as the common and poor whites can
not have schools without the approbation
of the aristocracy, therefore the masses of
tho people grow up in the most abject ig
norance, not knowing one letter or figure
from another, but well trained in all the
social vices attendant upon such a state of
society. These things our i i/ex have. seen
ami our ears have heard, and from the
households of these ignorant creatures the
rebel armies have been gathered. Now is
it not quite evident that the slavery of
the South stops not with tho colored race,
but actually spreads its withering pall
ovea a largo majority of the Southern
whites, and brings many of them down
far below the level of blie negro, and in
fact are used only to elect their lords to
office, and to raise insurrection against
the Government, as in the present in
siance. Just as the horse obeys his mas
ter, so do these poor whites obey their
masters, and lords of the land. But it
may be asked, arc there 110 intelligent
men or women in Georgia. Verily, yes —
a favored few. The rich planter sends
his son or daughter North among the de
tested Yankees, or to some high school,
where they receive a liberal education.
But the poor man cannot do this; there
fore ho must submit to the interests of
slavery, soul and body, and just believe
what the slaveholder tells him, for that is
his only source ~of information. And as
tho very fountain of light, the Word of
eteriud truth , is prostituted and perverted
by them to sustain the institution of
slavery, what chance has the white or
black for the salvation of his soul or the
enlightenment of his mind? No wonder
that gross darkness covers the people.
No wonder that God is wiping out the
base institution of slavery and doing it at
our expense, for it is '• the sum of all vil
lainies" and the cloak of all crimes.
**An«l cmtv Ood Npwd the d»y
When It will be wjwlhhl away."
K. WoODBUFF.
The Army for Lincoln.
Our neighbor of tho llerahl, would
fain have us believe, that Little Mae was
going to run a large vote in tho army, and
after searching for some time, hit 011 two
names that ho ventured to announce, for
McClellap. We have since learned from
what we believe good authority, that in
this, as in almost everything he advances,
he is disappointed.
Had wo room, we could tire our read
ers with letters from the army, urging the
electionof Lincoln. Theydon'tsayumeh
against McClellan, but hate his Copper
head associates; and on that account, if
no other, will not support him. For tho
purpose of showing the sentiment of the
soldiers, we will give extracts of a few of
the many letters in our possession, all
bearing on the same subject. The fol
lowing was written at Chattanooga, bgr a
former citizen of Donegal township, and
is written to his father, lie says :
" 'filings look pretty prosperous at the
front, and we have all appearances of a
speedy termination of the war, if tho in-
ferual Copperheads of the North are kept
down. But now, when Southern rebels
arc beaten and discouraged; and every
thing looking bright on our side, we hear
the voice of distention in the North, and
of course, if it is not stopped, the rebels
will pick up new courage. I say d—n
tho cowardly sneaking Copperheads and
Peace men of the North. The rebels say
they cannot unite with the pcaco men of
the North, but will kindly receive their
assistance iu breaking up Mr. Lincoln's
war policy, and establishing the confeder
acy ! But a single chance remains for
them, (the Rebels) and that is the result
of the next Presidential election. If a
1 )cmocrat is elected tlioy feel sure of ne
gotiations, and the recognition of their
confederacy. In the re-election of Mr.
Lincoln, they see only subjugation and
annihilation, for the war must then con
tinue ; and continuance is their failure.
They cannot continue the war, and will
not attempt it. As soon as Lincoln is re
elected, Southern hope dies! and the Un
ion will again bo restored, mere firmly
than ever —sementcd by the blood of her
gallant heroes, it can never be brpken.—
Now, what I have to say to you is, be true
to the old flag; stand firm. Let no peace
doctrine turn you.
I saw the returns of tlie election on the
Amendment to the Constitution, extend
ing the right of suffrage to soldiers. I
uotieed how Douogal, Clearfield and Sum-,
rnit went.
Donegal for soldiers voting, 19 vot«~.
against " " 109!
Now I know how many men I lidvegot
,i}i Douegtil! The"man that says I shall
not vote, is a cowardly uieau Uop^othuad.
I will remember all such, and while I live,
trent, them as 111 y open enemies, and it
not me alone who feels thus—it is the
universal sentiment of the army. Many
of these cowards will soon be called to
judgment for this cewteniptable ae+. But
to those who stood by us, we return our
thanks, and if over they should stand in
need of friends, they can count us in.—
Thank God, there were enough of Loyal,
true-hearted men in Pennsylvania to give
us a vote ! and we will now elect honest
old Abraham to the Presidential chair—
whip tho fighting rebels of the South—
go home and cowhide the cowardly sneaks
of Copperheads.
" Oh, that will be joyful,"
JESSE S. TIIOUNUURO.
The following will explain itself:
" M ESSBS. EDITORS :—You will confer a
favor by publishing tho following letter
from my father, in your valuable paper.
I am sorry that I should get such a letter
from my Father; but I think it right to
let the people know tho kind of encour
agement we get from our Copperhead
friends at home. 1 also send you a copy
of my answer to let you know what we
think of such sentiments." The letter is
dated Aug. 29, ISM—was written a short
distance from here—wo can only give ex
tracts.
" I want you to let me know how you
like the war ? aud what you are fighting
for ? if you are fighting to free the nig
ger, God help the men that are in tlie
army. When this war commenced, 1
thought it was to restore this.once glori
our Union. But alas! it turned out to
be to free the nigger! and kill off all the
white men ! for the Abolitionists say that
Hie nigger is as good as a white man. —
If you can make tho nigger your equal,
then fight to get them free ! But I can
not see that the nigger is as good as the
white man, for God has put that mark on
them to show that they are not the white
man's equal. Look at all of Old Abe's
work since he has been President. It has
been a continual slaughter of white men
to free the nigger! Nojv vote for Old
Abe this fall, and you will have war
enough! but I hope you have got the
wool off your eyes. Now come out and
vote the Democratic ticket, and save the
country from the curse that hangs over
us. We had good times when the Demo
crats had the reigns of Government, and
would have the same good times again.—
Now vote for the Democratic candidate for
President this fall, and let the world see
that you arc not in favor of the nigger."
To this bis son replies, Sept. 17th, 'O4,
as follows :
" DEAR FATHER : It is with pleasure I
embrace the present opportunity of an
swering your letter of the 29th Aug. I
was glad to hear that you were all well,
but 1 was both sorry and astonished to see
tho .position that you have taken in tho
political affairs of this great nation, !in its
time of peril. In thefirstplaeeyouwant
cd to know how I liked the service '! and
what I was fighting for? I thank God
that lam able to be bore; where I hope
to remain t ill tho last rebel has boon com
pelled to lay down his arms and acknowl
edged his allegiance to this Government.
I believe lam fighting for the restoration
of the Union 1 and for the overthrow of
a hell-born rebellion that has never had
an equal on earth for lioinousncss. It is
no time now to stop to enquire whether
tlio negro is our equal or not; or who
oauscd the war. If tho negro is made
freo by the operations of war, the South,
who caused the war, has done it.
I heartily endorse tho emancipation
proclamation, and am deeidedly in favor
of confiscating all rebel property—wheth
er iu slaves or anything else.
Just so far as God has made the negro
our equal, he will bo so, and no farther !
But this is not the question now to be de
cided ! it is whether we are going to main
tain this Government or let it go under.
I am willing to see peace as any one eke;
but am unwilling to concede one iota to
tho enemies Of this Government. I would
rather leave my bones to bleach ou south
ern soil, than to cowardly knuckle down
to .feffcison Davis and his motley crew of
traitors.
You ask me to come out like a man,
and support the so-called Democratic tick
et ! When I got to be a Southern sym
pathizer, and want to aid the rkbel oause,
I will do sa! but
honorable means taken to quell this Hell
ish and most uncalled for rebellion.
I do believe that the Copperheads of the
North are doing as much harm to our
cause as if they wero in arms with their
"southern brethren" against us! I be
lieve their position would then be more
manly and honorable! I would ask you
to look at the bloody plains of mauassesl
the saturated fields of Antietam aud G#t
tvsburg! the liry of Fredericks
burg and Chancollotsville! the gory hills
and swamps from the Wilderness to Pe
tersburg ! The blood washed mountains
and valleys of the west, where the bones
of many of our noblest braves avc now
bleuching beneath a southern sky. and say
whether you can think of a compromise
with such traitorf ? Xo. everydeath this
rebellion has cost us, should make its doom
the more certain. I for one am willing
to add my life to the many that have been
sacrificed, before we give up.
From the New York Tost, Monday, 2^,
Trade and Prices-
The fall in the premium on gold is hav
ing its legitimate effect on the prices of
all descriptions' of foreign dry goods; and
the disposition to sell is the feature of the
general market.
The auctioneers are just now doing a
business greater than has been recently
known, if their announcements are to be
considered as evidence; but the truth is
that while tho holders of the goods are
anxious to sell, and are endeavoring to
realize by taking the highest bids iu the
open market, their offerings are not dis
posed of in great quantities ; a majority
of the trade, it appears, believing that by
waiting they will be able to makestillbet
ter bargains.
During the latter part of last week
comparatively few goods changed hands
in this city; on Saturday there was scnrOe
ly any trade, 011 Monday tho market was
little better; and to-day tho auctioneers
are monopolizing about all the business.
At two or three of tho several auctions
in the various departments of tlje dry
goods trade to-day,the attendance of buy
ers and speculators is large; at others
there are only a few persons; but it is ob
served that the bidding is nowhere spir
ited ; though some goods arc freely taken
at reduced rates—in a few cases thirty
three to 40 per cent, less than the regu
lar prices of tbrcee weeks ago..
It is also a noticeable faet that the auc
tioneers almost without exception, are ex
tensively " passing" goods in their cata
logues—in some eases amounting to a
large portion of the entire offerings. This
indicates not only that the prices obtain
ed are not equal to what had been expec
ted, but that the owners of the goods are
not yet ready to concede a reduction rang
ing all the way from twenty to fifty per
cent.
The largest mercantile firms in the city
are " marking down" their goods—a pro
cess which has been going forward for
the past week or ten days. Some of the
men of best judgment in this trade fore
saw what was to take place, and made
their arrangements for tho permanent
change of rates they believe the present
to be.
The reductions vary materially. On
some goods they do not exceed ten to fif
teen per cent; on others thirty or more,
while the average is between twenty and
twenty-five per cent. Sheetings hav® fal
len about fifteen cents a yard, and prints
which werMJorth nearly half a dollar a
yard, tgjj cents.
Wooden cloths arc cheaper—as much
as three dollars a yard on the best impor
ted beaver overcoat—which now costs ten
to twelve dollars a yard. Other imported
cloths have been reduced in the same ra
tio—on new goods in exact proportion to
tho fall iu the prices of gold.
The reduction in tho rates for domes
tic goods is not so largo. These goods did
not rise as much as fabrics of foreign man
ufacture, and through their nominal value
has been enhanced in some cases a hun
dred per cent. The quality of the goods
has improved, owing to the protection our
manufacturers have received from the
high rates of exchange and the customs
duties.
The stock of goods in market is not so
large as would naturally be supposed from
tho figures given from week to week of
tho value of importations. Largequatiti
ties of tho goods remain in bend; others
arc rcshipped at a loss to the importer,
aud tho quantity on sale is about equal to
the average at this season before tho war.
While values may fall still lower, well in
formed merchants believe that such a
state of things would be attended with
an early reaction. The reduction in tho
prices of foreign goods will, it is quite
probable, continue.
It is evident that tho "panic" in tho
trade is lessening; merchants are prepar
ing for the decrease in rates which has
already taken place, aud way yet
come.
It appears likely that the chief suffer
ers will not be the regular dealers, but
men who have invested means for the
purpose of speculation.
The goods now offered forsale by many
of our standard houses were bought at
rates not equal to the have
ruled; and the losses in the trade will
therefore be less than the extent of tho
reduction in the price of gold.
The asking rates of many dealers liave
not been materially changed ; but they
must very soon eome to the new rates, or
cease to do business.
From the Post of Tuesday afternoon :
The wholesale market is without mate
rial change Irom yesterday's prices. Quo
tations are irregular, and there are few
purchasers at the greatly reduced rates.
Buyers aro waiting for a further decline,
and the sales which aro made for immedi
ate use.
A\ e give a few quotations, showing the
decline within three weeks :
Sort. SIU St'lit. 27th.
Coffoo Hi,. 4S>e>loU i7 „ 11
Cotton, Winning* $1 fcK " jl-ji
Flour, (mi. briUKls....*U 0nn.13 M *lO 10
Hour, Sr. Louis ex £ll oo,, ( uj oo fin mniu on
l*rk.liowi»«M ttt VMU 00 *3s WV'iiMt (111
Mhfrkujr, wi stM-h $1 SO ?1 Ti
The fall in cotton, it will be observed,
is OS cents a pound since the Stli inst.
TUB DECLINE.
Coal carts driven through the streets of
Brooklyn yesterday bore signs chalked
upon their sides, apprising the public that
the price of coal had been reduced ?1 a
ton.
Tho retail dry goods houses yesterday
" marked dowu" their goods from twenty
tri thirty pf>r cent. The wholesale houses
telegraphed to their traveling agents to
sell at lower rates.
Flour fell fifty cents and one dollar a
barrel.
Pork tumbled two dollars a barrel.
These items show which way the wind
blows.
Tho Late Cattle Raid.
IN FHDNT OF PJEIBBSHUUG, VA ,
Tuesday Mortting ; Sept. 20 1864.
All is comparatively (juiet hero since
tlio great Rebel cattle raid. This affair
will give rise to another Court of Inquiry.
It has been hinted that there was deliber
ate bargain and sale in thin extraordinary
matter, but I do not believe that anything
more tliau gross culpable carolcSsuess, on
the part of those having principal charge
of the cattle, and of the cavalry picket
regiments, will be developed. The num
ber of cattle lost is officially stated at 2,-
I*o. Probably at least 2,000 head were
gotten away safely by the enemy. Our
pursuing force, as I have said, was met
by a largely superior reserve force of the
raiders strongly posted with six pieces of
artillery ou thp baujes of the Notta
way, after the cattle had becu forded across,
and were driven back.
On the morning ofthe raid, Capt. Gregg
(brother of the General) of the 13th
Pennsylvania Cavalry, was taken prisoner
while endeavoring to rally hia men to the
rescue of the cattle. At the same time,
Corporal John C. Beck of the 13th was
killed, and Albert 13. Ivinyon and Win.
Griffith of the same regiment, wounded,
the former probably mortally, in the neck,
Sergeant Houseman was also slightly
wounded. Among the prisoners taken
from the regiment were John Wountz,
Win. Shorts and Win. and John Sago.
The body of the votran. Col. J. 15.
Howell, of the 86th Pennsylvania Ifegi
ment, who was killed at the headquarters
of the 10th Corps the latter part of last
week, by being thrown from his horse and
his horse falling oil him, was yesterday
sent north. He had been severely woun
ded in several battles during the war,
and at the time of his death had juatbeen
promoted to Brigadier General, lie was
one of the bravest officers in the service,
and has left a vacancy that it will be hard
to fill. It may be some little comfort to
his friends to know that he was kindly
cared for during his last moment# at Gen.
Birncy's headquarters, and was buried
with military and Masonio honors, not a
few tears of fellow-heroes beingslied over
his temporary grave.
Wednesday Morning, Sept. 21,1861.
A grand salute was fired . along the lines
at daylight this morning, in honor of
Sheridan's great victory over Early. The
Rebels took a part in it. No casualties
on our side.
Extensive army movements arc on foot
here this morning, which it would per
haps bo premature to speak of in detail,
but which yon will hear fromsodn.
ILJ.IN'OIE.V.
fifaT In referanee to the coming Presi
dential .contest in this country, the Lon
don Times remarks: " There will be hut
one wish among European nations—that
a President will be elected unpledged to
a war policy." Is it not a little insig
nificant that the Chicago Convention and
the monarchists of Europe should be in
suoh perfect harmony on the subject of
the'kind of President they mutually want
for us?
PITTSBURG, Sunday. Sept. 25,1864.
A salute of one hundred guns will be
fired by the Ist New York Battery, in
Allegheny, at sundown to-morrow, in hon
or of Sheridan's last victory.
|SSf* Prentiee says there is no braver
oul on earth than the soul of our Foote.'
t ! X tut**
NUMBER 42
Rsbel News.
From the Richmond Ku<iuirt*r, Sept. 22.
The telegram from (Jen Lee brings tho
unwejeprae intelligence yf a reverse to
our arms in tho Valley. General Early
lms retired froilt Winchester to Fisher's
Hill, near Strnsburg. The varying for
tunes of the war 111 the Valley have so
repeatedly witnessed the falling back anil
subsequently the advance of our army
that this intelligence has not come unex
pectedly. At one time tho enemy were
almost in Lynchburg; in a few weeks the
shells from our guns were exploding with
in Washington City. It has not been
long since General Early advanced from
this very Fisher's Hill and drove the en
emy into Harper's Ferry. His present
position is reyurded as tmpreynable, und
from it hen ill, indue lime, again advance
upon the vote rtjfiirintj ettemj/.
The death of Mafor General Robert E.
ltodes will be severely felt by the army of
Northern \ irginia, which sustains, by his
death, tho loss ol' onoxif its best officers.
His promotion was rapid, for ho early
evinced those great qualities which won
the eonlidence of his men and the admi
ration of his country. General Rode#
was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and
graduated in the class of IHIB at tho
Virginia Military Institute, and, after a
few years of profossionship at that Insti
tution, he removed to Alabama, where ho
married Mis.* Woodruff, of Tuscaloosa.
General Rodes came out in 1801, as Cap
tain *of tile " Mobile Cadets," arid upon
the organization of the Fifth Alabama
regiment, lie was appointed its colonel.
His best eulogy is the faithful record of
his services. Promoted soon alter tho
first battle of Manassas to Btigndibr Gen
eral, ho followed the fortunes of the army
of Northern Virginia through the Winter
of I ><ol ; the siege of Vorktown; woun
ded in tho arm at the battle of Seven
I'ines: throughout the seven days' bat
tles around Richmond; upon the Mary
land campaign; wounded at Sharpsburg;
present at Fredericksburg; at Chaneol
lorsvillc, where he was made Major-Gen
eral jjtlirough the Pennsylvania campaign!
from Mine Run to Gaines' Mill; witlt
Early in the defense of Lynchburg : again
into Maryland and with the valley army
throughout its marches and battles, until
ho has fallen at Winchester, in tho service'
to which he devoted himself, in the faith
ful discharge of duly, and in the enjoy
incut of the grate fill admiration of his
countrymen Ho leaves a widow and
child, to whom no earthly honors can bring
any consolation, but to whom the tender
sympathies of all will be freely given.
Brig.-Gen. A. C. Godwin is also men
tioned by Gen. Leo as among the killed.
Gen. Godwin was formerly Provost Mar
shal of Richmond, and was susenuently
promoted Colonel of a North Carolina
regiment. It has been but a few days
since the papers mentioned his appoint
ment to tho Brigadier Generalship. Gen.
Godwin was from Portsmouth, Virginia,
and was a most gallant offioer.
No other casualties tire mentioned, but
our loss is reported very severe. The iall
of Atlanta had already cast a gloom over
the community, and this reverse will very
much increase it, we fear. It should not
do so. The fortunes of war aro always
uncertain, and reverses are, of course,
very saddening; but it is unbecoming our
people nut to shake off their long faces
and bring themselves to calmly and reso
lutely consider their situation. The ar
my is always in fine spirits, and, though
defeated to-day, to-morrow it will retrievo
the loss, and laugli at the sad and gloomy
people who. far from danger, are yet moro
apprehensive than those who bear its
brunt.
Desperate efforts on the part of the en
emy are to be looked for. The Presiden
tial election compels Lincoln to be stirring
and striking. He can only save his elec
tion by success this Fall; anil, as there is
no chance for peace between him and M'-
Clollan, we do not see that anything should
be risked by us in a battle which cannot
be decisive in its character Partialsuc
tesses like this in the valley may elcet
Lincoln —we hope that they will—but
they tend very little to any final result.
They serve the purposeof Lincoln—tode
feat McClellan; but they contribute noth
ing toward our subjugation.
Bui these reverses show that our peo
ple must conic forth and goto the front;
more arc there wanted, and more must
be had. The long list of Govcrnmcntde
tails must be shortened ; the Nitre and
Mining Bureau, the Commissary and
Quartermaster Departments, must dis
gorge. The contractors must be lessen
ed ;'the exempts reviewed, and the army
increased. But more than this, when
men are sent to the army they must not
be allowed to desert and straggle off. Dis
cipline must be improved, and as much
done by officers of the line as is expected
from the Bureau of Conscription. To
stop to mourn over reverses is great folly;
thoy should but nerve the people, as they
da the army, to meet disaster with the full
Confidence in the-overruling Providence,
who seiidli victory oi defeat as to Him"
seems best
Mi If XM M ■ ilihm . tWI