Confederate Resources,
We printed in our last an ingenuously
impudent leader from The Richmond
Whig, designed to prove the Rebel
strength iu men so litte exhausted that
there are still 692,795 effective fighting
men, between the ages of 17 and :>O,
within the jurisdiction of the confedera
cy, of whom 461,861 may be brought in
to the field ! And it is further calculated
that the number of white males annually
attaining the age of 17 is 02,467, which
will very nearly equal that of the killed
or disabled ; so that the fighting force of
the Rebellion is scarcely suffering dimina
tion.
The shortest method with this juggle
may prove the most conclusive. The
Whig makes the fighting force of Georg
ia, for example, nearly 250,000 men.
That State, up to the commencement of
Sherman's advance on Atlanta, hadscarce
ly been penetrated by a Union force; it
had little or nothing of the ravages of
war; and it had no known Union party
or section. Sherman's force was very
ROOD counted, if it had not already been,
and was well known to coii-i-st of 125,000
men. In its front was a veteran army,
under Johnston, of not far from 60,00*).
Gov. Brown called out the entre militia
of the State to assist iu repelling and an
nihilating " the invaders." This ought,
on The Wkig't assumption, to have very
soon given Johnston an array superior—
in numbers; at least—to Sherman's, and
enabled him to hold such strong positions
as Resaca against al! gainsayers. Yet he
was flanked out of several such, and com
pelled to fallback, not because he was in
competent or wanted pluck, but because
he lacked men. Tl>ere was no moment
of the campaign when his muster-rolls
showed a force of 100,000, Ml told. Wby
not, if there is anything like 700,000 ef
fectives under the rule of the Confedera
cy ?
But again.
Sherman cut loose from Atlanta on the
10th of November. It was well "known*
that he took with him about'so,ooo men.
The Rebel Array under Hood was far off
in the north-west; but the^Georgia mili
tia had all been sent homo weceks before.
Now, they were all called out again, and
those of South Carolina along with them.
Kershaw's division of veterans was dis
patched from Petersburg as a nucleus of
resistance; Beauregard and Dick Taj lor
hurried down from the Tennessee : liar
dee and Howell Cobbwcre dispatched to
the front; Gov. Brown vomited proclama
tions as though lie had the cholera ; and
the Rebel journals from day today assur
ed their readers that Sherman could nev
er reach the coast except as a prisoner.
Yet he did reach it indue season, march
ing 800 miles in thirty days, living boun
teously on the country, occupying the
capital of the Strife without resistance,
and reaching tbe seaboard without hav
ing been once halted by any opposing
force. llow could it be, if the Rcbelshad
Two Hundreh Thousand effectives any
where '? Lee's and Hon.l's armies com
bined would hardly have number lit <I,OOO
a month ago, and much loss now ; and
there maybe 100,000 more in arms un
der Breckenridgc, Kirby' Smith, &c.,
with 50.00(f garrisoning Wilmington,
Charleston, Mobile, &c., &c., making 250,
000 in ail; and that is all. Had it been
possible to raise even 50,000 more to op
pos. Sherman's advance. Milledgeville
would not have been deserted nor Savan
nah surrendered without a struggle.
We oppose, then, to computation, facts
—facts which are of the broadest noto
riety. We say that the rebels have lost
more men in the war than The Whig ad
mits ; that more have escaped from.the
prison-house ofthe Confederacy; and that
there are ni r r mi nin. within its limits
who cannot be brought into the field.
The Southrons, though prone to gascon
ade, are not, generally cowards, and tfould
have stopped Sherman if they could. That
they did not even attempt it is proof that
their effective strength is already embod
ied in their armies, and that these are not
susceptible of increase, but must hence
forth be in process of .diminution. Such
disaster as Hood has incurred are neces
sarily irrepairable.—A"< ir York Tribute.
Savuunali Caplnrrd.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Deo. 25, 7 p.m
To Major General Dix: —A dispatch has
been received dy the President this even
ing, from General Sherman. It is dated
Savannah, Thursday, the 22d inst., and
announced his occupation of the city of
Savannah, and the capture of one hun
dred and fifty guns.plenty of ammunition,
and about 25,000 bales of cotton. No
other particulars are given.
An official dispatch from General Fos
ter to General Grant, dated on tbe 22d
iust..at seven oclock. p m.. states that the
city of Savannah was occupied by Gen.
Sherman on the 21st, and that on the
preceding afternoon and night, Hardee
escaped with main body of his infantry
and light artllary, blowing up the iron
clads and the navy yard. He enumerates
as captured 800 prisoners, 150, guns, 130
locomotives, in good order, 190 cars, a
large lot of ammunition and materials of
war.
No mention is made of the present po
sition of Hardee's force, which had been
estimated at 15,000.
The dispatchesofGen. Sherman to Gen.
Foster are as follows :
Savannah Dec. 22.—His Excellency,
President Lincoln : —I present you as a
"Christmas gift, the city of Savannah,
with one hundred and fifty heavy guns,
and plenty af ammunition, and also about
25,000 bales of cotton.
[Signed] W.T.Sherman,
Major-General.
STEAMER GOLDEN GATE, \
SAVANNAH, Dec. 22, 7 oclock p. m. }
Lieut. Gen. Grant and Maj. Gen. llal
leck :
I have just returned from Gen. Slier
man'slieadquarters iu Savannah. I and
Major Greary, of my staff arc bearer «112
dispatches from Gen. Sherman to you.
.and also a message to the President. The
oity of Savannah was occupied on the
morning of the 21st. • Geu. Hardee es
caped with the main body of his infantry
and light artillery on the morning of the
20th, by crossing the river to Union; op
posite the city. The rebel iron clads
were blown up and the navy yard was
burned. All the rest of the city is in
•ur twftds. and eoQtaius 20,000 citix#as.
well baiteved. The captures include 800
prisoner#, 150 guns, 130 locomotives in j
good order, 190 cars, a large supply of
ammunition and materials of war, three
steamers and 33,000 bales of cotton, safe
ly stored in warehouses.
All these valuables the fruits of an al
most bloody victory, have been, like At
lanta, fairly won, and I opened communi
cations with the city with my steamers to
day, taking up what torpedoes we could
and passing safely over others. Arrange
ments are made to clear the channel of all
obstructions.
Yours. &c., J. G. Foster.
The Richmond papersof yestereay state
tlrat. on the 23d twenty-six vessels of the
Wilmington cxpeditionbad re-appeared.
The dispatch of Gen Bragg is publish
ed in the Richmond papers as follows:
" Wilmington, /)< -. 23.—Twenty-six
vcseW of the Federal fleet re-appeared
this morning. There has been no change
since my last dispatch."
The above is the latest intelligence
received concerning the Wilmington ex
pedition.
(Signed) R. M. Stanton.
Scaretary of War.
T»ent of lion. IV. I-. na.fton.
By telegraph, we have the an
nouncement of the dea'h of William
L. Dayton, United States Minister to
France. Beyond the fact that his
death was the result of apoplexy, we
have no detai's.
Mr. Dayton was born at Basking
| ridge, N. J., on the 17th of Februa
ry, 1807, and was the son of Joel
Dayton, a thrifty and intelligent far
mer. lie graduated at the l.'ollogc
of New Jersey in September, 1825,
subsequently studied law, and was ad
mited to the.bar of his native State
in May 1830. Seven years after,
he was elected to a seat in the State
j Council, or Senate, and was made
I Chairman of the ' Judiciary Commit
| tee. lie was chosen one of the As
! soeiatc Justices of tne State Supreme
I Court on the 28th of Febrnary 1808,
| which position he resigned in Novem-
I ber 1863. At the death of lion.
| Samuel L. Southard, I S. Senator,
j in 1842, he was appointed by the Gov.
| to fill the vacancy, and in March 18-
15 his appointment wag confirmed:
.he was at the same time elected for
; for a term of six years. lie was
j United States Senator from July 6th",
!to Marcti 4th, 1851. During his
Senatorial career, he maintained the
! right of Congress to 'egislate with re
| spect to slavery in the territories of
| the United States. Ifis views on
| this question were given fully in a
speech on the treaty with Mexico in
! 1*47. lie warmly supported the ad
j ministrative policy of President Tay-
I lor. He advocated the admission of
i California to the Union as a free
j State, the abolition of the Slftve
Trade in the District of Columbia,
| and voted against the Fugitive Slave
j bill. The Democracy being in the
| ascendency in New Jersey at the ex
! pirat'on of his term. Commodore
I Stockston was elected as his succes
j sor. At this time Mr. Dayton rc
j ?umed the practice of his profession
I in Trenton, and was not much heard
j of in public life until 1856, when the
licpublicon party nominated him as
; candidate for the Yiee Presidency,
j on the ticket with Colonel (General)
I John C. Frement. Shortly aft'er
President Lincoln assumed his duties
J he appointed Mr. Dayton as United
! States Minister Plenipotentiary at
J the Court of the French Empire, in
| which exalted position lie continued
[ with acceptance till released by death,
i Ilis deceaso will lie regretted by a
Llarge circle of warmly attached friends
I in this country, particularly in his na
i tivc State of New Jersey.—N. J'.
Tribune.
S<a,Tlie New York correspondent of
the Boston Journal writes that " A com
pany of gentlemen in this city have fit-
I ted up a fast clipper ship inelegant style,
! placed on board every conceivable luxu
ry, manned her completely with a fine'
] crew, put her in charge of one of ablest
captains, and tendered her to General
George B. McClellan for one year, to sail
where he will with his family and fr ends
—the entira expense to be borne by the
gentlemen."
A UNION LEAGUE IN SAVANNAH.—
An Illinois soldier, who escaped from
Millen, Ga.. on the 15th of November,
aftcrwaid visiting Savannah, and fina ly
reaching the Union fleet between that
city and Charleston, has arrived home,
and says that there are loyal men in
Savannah. He found there a Union
League iu actual operation, and received
assistance from its inemlfers, without
which he would not have been able to
effect his escape
. . A ROMAN ANSWER.—The rebel en.
age who was taken at Fort Morgan, Mo
bile ay, applied late.y to a former friend
an classmate, who is now a distinguished
officer in our navy. ancUin command of
the most formidable iron clad iu the
world, for assistance in getting released
by exchange. lie received the following
iron-clad reply to his letter:
"I can do nothing foryou. You neith
er defended our fort like a man, nor
surrendered it like an officer!"
BOSTON, December, 25.—The wife son
and late rebel Gen. Pres
ton, of Lentiaß, came as passenger in
the Africa. Orders from the War De
partment refused them permission to
land, and also declined their request to
leave by rasl for canada. They there
fore remain on the steamer to be carried
back whence they came.
t&pQe eral > rant's family occupy a
neat little cottage, covered with moss,
and trailing vines, at Burlington,
New Jersey. It is near the banks
of the Delaware. The place is by no
means pretentious or aristocratic.
American tfitucu.
THOMAS ROBINSON, | V rlitnr n
CYRUS E. ANDERSON, J-" 1110 ™- .
JI. W. NPF.iH, Publisher.
BUTLER PA.
WEDNESDAY iAS. 4, 1865.
Liberty inH Union. Now and Forever, One
I and 'nseparablo."—D. Webster.
tfß* After two weeks absence, the Citi
i :en pays its accustomed visit to its rea
ders. \\ e hope that all have enjoyed a
j happy time of it during the Holidays—
j so far as we have been able (o learn, there
i has no accidents occurred, but all have en
joyed themselves pleasantly, without any
of that access which too often attend such
occasions—followed by mishaps of vari
ous kinds. Let us all hope that the pres
ent year may be one of pleasure and im
provement to all.
The following are the appointments
; made by the Commissioners for the prea
! cnt year:
Counsel —Charles M'Candless. Esq.
Clerk—Harvey Colbert.
Appraiser —Robert MeElwain.
Janitor—John M'Cnllough.
waiiTEWN.
There has been a continuation of good
news since our last issue. Savannah has
fallen as will be seen by dispatches from I
, Sherman and Foster. Hood i* still in
j trouble. Accounts differ as to whether
{ he has got across the at any
J rate his army is pretty badly used tip. j
| and entirely unable to givebattleto Thom- i
1 as. A successful expedition has swept
across Mississippi towards Mobile. Gen. ;
■ Brackenridge has been badly used up and |
thus defeated in his demonstrations against
. ■ .
East Tennessee. The only mishap has i
I been the movement against Wilming- i
ton, which so far has not succeeded. Up- |
J on the whole everything looks encoura
| g» n g-
Iter Commissioner Copelcy and Sur
geon Pcrchmant are now in our town at
tending to the correction of the enroll
| mcnt of the severaldistricts of this Coun
ty. We believe many of the citizens are
| meeting with them and assisting in the
! correctiou of the several enrollments.
, fear, however, that some of the districts
j will not be represontcd and will therefore
be compelled togo to the city or remain
••.ncorrected. It is very considerate in the
board to have thus given an opportunity
to all to have the rolls made perfect with
out the trouble and expjence of going to
the city.
Ttie lO.'til I'n. Iji'n'f.
The following is a list of Co. E, 103 d.
with date of death :
Thos Mapcs, Jan. 9, '64, Andersonville.
Milton Myres, "
Solomon Moser, Aug. 28, "
James Murtin, Aug. —, "
R.C. Wick, Aug. 28,'
Moore Davis. "
John Yorley, Sept. Charleston.
John Meyers, Sept. "
Sam'l B. M'Candless, Sept. 28, "
John Wilson, Oct. 9, Florence
Samnel Davis,
Chas. 11. McClung, Oct. 15, "
Wilkis Davis, Oct. 2S ( "
Edward Barakman. Oct. 30, "
Thos. S. Brers. Oct. 28, "
Joseph Goldmer, Oct. 16, "
James Byers, Nov. 6, "
Win. S. Dickson, Nov. 21, "
Martin W. Benker, Nov. 25, "
Perry Marrow, Dec. 1," "
F. A. Dec. 5, "
R. J THOMPSON,
Company E.
Ezekil Ekas left at Suraptcr, Anderson
ville, as nurse.
John Burns left with bad scurvy.
Win. Beiglcy left sick.
Charles Leply left sick—very low.
KiT Our readers will recollect a short
notice that we gave a " portable" Physi
cian who came along calling himself Dr. J.
Q Sutton—professing to remove warts,
carbuncles, dtc., —as we then said a "pro
fessor of wartology." We advised our
readors to have nothing to do with him
as he was " ill-looking," &c. lie imme
diately called on us for an explanation and
retraction, fcc. We informed him that
we had written just what we believed, and
that we had seen nothing since in his ap
pearance to change our mind. Finding
that we would not back out, he backed out
aimself—pa d off his bill at tbe Hotel,
and in half an hour was out of town.—
Since then we heard no more of him till
a few days ago, when a friend who had
been north, informed us that he made his
way to a village call Rcedsburg, in Clari
on Co., we believe,where after commenc
ing the practice of his profession. In a
short time he made the acquaintahce of a
young lady going to sch..ol, and iu a few
weeks married her. Having been twice
married before, he was soon followed by
one of his deserted wives—was indibted
for bigamy and finally sent to {.he Peniten
tiary. Thus our first impressions of him
have been confirmed by iub«equent events
CWMMIXK iTIOXS.
Is List or Battle, 1
eotTu or Petkrshceo, i
October 3d, 1864. ]
Mr. BLACK —Deaf Sir: —l have sail ,
news to communicate to you. Your son i
Abram is dead. He was killed by a reb
el ball on the 30th day of September.—
We charged on the rebel works and Abra
ham fell, pierced through the Stomach
with a minnie ball, within about two hun
dred yards of the works. I was on the
left of the compauy, and he on the other
end. I did not sec him fall, but some of
the boys iu the company did, and stayed
with him till he died, whicl) was about
of an hour. He was sensible to the last.
The boys that were with him told me that
he prayed devoutly to God. lie died like
a soldier, and I trust gone to Glory
and to God. May God have mercy on his
soul. By his death you lose an afection
ato son. and we lose a good comrade, and
as gpod a soldier as ever faced the ean
uon's mouth.
I with the assistance of a a couple more
interred his body as decently as if he had
died at home. His body lies in 'the front
near a large white house, about four miles
south of Petersburg. I put a board to
the head of the grave with his name, Co.
and Regiment. Yours,
SAMUEL T5. GAMBLE.
For tho AmnricAnCitizen.
Soldier"!* Orphan*.
The Superintending committee of this
county, had * meeting on the 20th inst.,
for the purpose of having an organization
of the committee.
On motion, Mr Will am Campbell was
chosen chairman of the committee, and
Mrs. John N. Purviance, Secretary.
The committee being now organized,
j are prepared to perform the duty reques-
I ted of them relative to the application for
j any destitute Orphan's of deceased sol
diers from this county. They can fur-
I nish blank forms for making the applica
tion.
The mode of proceeding is this: The
applicant, being the mother, if living, if
not. friends or other persons, will first
make the application to the Srhool Di
rectors of the town or township in which
112 the Orphan is; the School Directors will
j examine the case fully, and if they think
I it a proper one, will certify and send it to
I this committee ; the duty of this comtnit
! tee is then to transmit it to the State Su-
I perintendant with such remarks as they
i deem proper, and"the State Superinten
| iant will then, if he approves the same,
i issu# an order for the admission of the
! chihl to such school as may be determi
ned upon. This order will he sent to the
' person or persons making the application.
WM. CAMPBELL. Chairman.
Mm. J. ,Y- I'urviance, Stc'y.
A friend of ours has handed us
the following order, issued by Capt. Hall;
of the 2d, Colorado Cav., which shows
the services which it has rendered. Our
readers may wonder what special interest
we have in this Company. Far away as
as is Colorado, our readers will be some
what surprised to know that Butler coun
ty has been represented in it, in the per
son of John G. Thompson, of Clinton
towuship. Indeed it is had to find a branch
of the service that is not, at least in part,
made up of Butler county heroes.
HMT*QU*rter3 CO. B, 2D OIL R \ IVI Cavairy.
Fort LeAvenwci th, Kansas, Nov. 15th, ISG4.
GENERAL ORDERS,)
No. 40: )
The Captain commanding announces to
the members of his company that he this
day leaves you as your company comman
der, and in leaving you, he leaves a com
pany which is a pride to its adopted Ter
ritory and his pride to command, and
whose gallantry and good deportment now
forms a part of their country's History.
Yrtu were the first soldiers to leave Col
orado in defence of your Country, you
were the only representatives of Colorado
at the battle of Yal Verde, N. M , Feb
21st, 1802, and your participation in that
conflict has been a theme of praise.
You nobly sustained your reputation in
the different skirmishes, long and toilsome
marches through snow, wind and sand
storms, in driving the Texan army from
the soil of New Mexico.
Your fiot-prints in the sands and the
sweat of.your brows while on the march
from Fort Union, N. M., to Fort Blunt,
Cherokee Nation, a distance of over 1,-
200 miles, and your conduct at the battle
of Cabin Creek, Cherokee Nation, July
Ist & 2d. 1803, yoijr forced march and
the unflinching bravery mauifested in the
haul fought battle of Honey Springs, C.
N., July 17th 1803, the untiring energy
with which you performud the duties of
Provost Guard and guarded for so long a
time a number of prisoners oT war at Ft.
Blunt, will long he remembered.
Your march ijrom Fort Blunt, C. N., to
St. Louis, Mo., from thence across the .
?>tatc to Kansas City, Mo., in the. dead of
winter, your many toilsome and dangerons
scouts after! Hush whackers in the District
of Central Missouri, your efficiency as
Provost Guard at Kansas City, Mo., in
euriug the love, as soldiers and a company,
of all soldiers and citizens who knew you,
and finally your bravery and devotion to
your Country's cause in volunteering after
the term of service of the larger portion ■
of you had expired arid joining your Keg
imeut in the hard fought fatties of Littl> 1
Blue, Mo., Oct. Ist, 1804. Big Blue and
Westport, Mo., Oct. 22d and 23d, 1804,
and your oonduct in the many skirmishes i
and night marches in driving Price's ar- I
my with marked rapidity to the State of '
Texas, and the cheerfulness with which i
you have marched over 5,000 miles as In
fantry and performed every required duty 1
as Infantry and Cavalry soldiers, forms a t
part of a most worthy history. 1
Your Territory honors you, and it is c
with pride that your friends speak of you <
aa aoldier* of Company " B." 2d Colora- 112
do Cavalry. The price of your good name
is shown in the records of your comrades
who have been wounded, and who have
laid down their lives as a sacrifice to their
country's honor and integrity, to the per
petuity of her institutions and of the
Union.
The sad dreams of the past bring mourn
fully to our minds the names of privates
West, Hicks, Brown, Woodward, MeKee,
George. Kasterland. and Piekason as hav
ing a place among the heroic dead of our
commonwealth, beside many others who
have their names upon the list of those
wounded and maimed for life.
I would say to you, asa partingrequest,
remember and appreciate the compliments
and kindness awarded you by your Col.
James H. Ford, your commanding Gen
erals, Caubv. Carleton, Blunt, Curtis and
Brown. To those ef the Company who
are soon to indulge in* a citizen life, 1
would say. encourage end uphold the in
stitutions of our Government, and encour
age a vigorous prosecution of the War.
To those of the Company who are to
continue in the service, 1 would say, stand
by the principles you first enlisted upon,
stand by your country and the Constitu
tion of your Country, and when the con
test comes between you and the enemy of
the Union, strike and battle with will and
determination until the last foe has fled
who would sever and destroy this Glori
ous Union, and the true and wise will sus
tain you and the patriotic will honor you.
J C. W. IIALL.
. Capt. C 0.8,".8," 2d liegt. Colorado Cav.
Milmlncton.
It is unpleasantly plain that the great
Wilmington expedition has ended in_ a
wrangle. Gen. Butler and Admiral Por
ter did not find themselves able to agree
on the conduct of the enterprise which
depended for its success on their cordial
co-operation. The dispatch of Admiral
Porter, which is confused on many other
points, is clear in this : that the land and
naval forces could not be effectually com
bined. Thus far we have only his side
of the story. The letter from Gen. ut
ler referred to in the dispatch has not yet
come to hand. If received in season to
appear in our news columns this morn
ing it will probably illuminate what is
now obscure to us, and the leader will be
able to make his own comments. At
present wc express no opinion, except
upon such facts as'seem to be established
by the statements and admissions of Ad
miral Porter.
It is remarkable that Admiral Porter
began his attac kon Fort Fisher without
waiting for the arrival of the troops.
The fort has been repeatedly declared on
the highest authority impregnable by a
naval fnrr« alone, ft would seem that
Admiral Porter did not share the opin
ion of bis official superior. There ap
peared to him to bean opportunity not to
te lost; as he himself expressed it, the
weather was too fine to be wasted. Ac
corlingly the attack began at 2 o'clock
on Saturday morning by the explosion of
the torpedo-boat Louisiana, within five
hundred yards of Fort Fisher. Wc had
understood that this torpedo was intended
especially to destroy tho morale of the
garrison, and that immediately upon their
confusion and assault should follow by
the troops. We do not know how other
wise it was expected to take advantage of
the explosion. But Admiral Porter chose
to try the experiment when no troops
had been landed or were even near the
coast. Unless, therefore, he hoped that
the walls of the fort should be actually
blown down and the men within it de
stroyed by the torpedo, it is difficult- to
understand why the attempt waii made
at all; and even if these consequences
had followed, it is equally difficult to see
how they could have been taken advan
tage of If no land force on our side
was at hand to occupy and hold the de
molished fort, the enemy of course could
renew possession of the ruins at his leas
uro, and could cover them by the adja
cent batteries.
Hut the explosion of the torpedo pro
duced no visible effect. Admiral Porter
says tho shock was slight, and it appears
from his report that Fort Fisher, which
remained unmolested from two till hall
j ait eleven, was subsequently able to con
tinue an engagement of five hours' dura
tion with his powerful fleet. At the end
of that time—about five o'clock on Sat
urday afternoon—the guns of the fort
were silenced, and the %ct withdrew.
On the following day—Sunday, the
2.)th—Gen. Butler's troops arrived. Len
der c»vcr of tho fire of the fleet, they,
or a portion of them, were landed be
tween 12 and 3 o'clock on Sunday after
noon. Admiral Porter puts the number
on shore 3,000. The account which fol
lows is unintelligible. From one sen
tence it appears that their re-cmbarkation
began immediately, and without a de
monstration against the fort. From an
other, it appears that Major General
Weitzel and a party of skirmishers re
con noitered the fort that a few of tho
soldiers actually entered the work; that
one officer brought away the flag which
had been shot from its staff; that a sold
ier fired a shot into the bomb-prodf where
the garrison were concealed, wounding
eight or ten Rebels; that a Kebcl orderly
arriving at the fort with dispatches was
killed aud his dispatches captured; and
that while all this was going on the fleet
was still shelling the fort, and succeeded
in wounding a number of our own men.
But it is nowhere indicated that anything
like an assault took place. On the con
trary, Gen. Weitzel reported an assault
impracticable—an opinion'in which Ad
miral Porter, though properly professing
to under-value his judgmens in compari
son with that of an able and experienced
officer who had examined the ground in
pcrsou, docs not concur. But notwith
standing Gen. Weitzel's rep rt. Admiral
Porter proceeds to remark : "Wc drew
off at sunset, leaving tho iron-clads to fire
through the night, expecting the troops
would attack in the morning." The rea
son why they did not so attack are set
forth in the letter of General Butler,
which at this writing wo have not yet
received.
Our readers, if they have been able to
follow us thus far, will probably agree that
the whole business on which we have
hesitatingly commented is in great need
of elucidation. For our part we have
only to suggest again that there are two
eide« to the gtory, and that but one has
yet been heard. We deplore the failure
which has occurred, and still more keenly
do we regret that any feelings of hostility
should exist either between the two
branches of the military ser ice of the
I'nited States, or between the leaders of
the forces which were meant to co-oper- '
ate against Wilmington. We care not
to take sides in such a controversy. We
care only that the whole truth should be
known, and that blame should lie where
on the merits of the ca*e it properly be
longs. Meanwhile, Wilmington remains
and is likely to remain in possession of
the Rebels.
ONK O'OLOCK r. M. —Gen. Buffer's
letter is this moment received. It states
in substance tha the- strength of Fort
Fisher had not been materially impaired
by the fire from the fi.et, and that .its
guns still swept the narrow sirip of ktnd
by which alone it was possible for n as
saulting column to approach. A.portion
of Lee's forces had beeu sent from Rich
mond to strengthen the garrison, and (len.
Weitzel. who advanced his skirmi h line
within fifty yards of the fort, pronounced
an attempt itupr cticable, except by the
operati nof a regular siege, which was
not contemplated in the orders under
which Gen. Butler was acting. The
troops, therefore, were re-enibarked and
returned to Fortress Monroe.
Thrl'ntnre nf tlio Democratic
Party.
At [length the Democratic party
feels the might of right, and its cho
sen organs are preapring the public
mind for any positive change which
may reveal itself within the
weeks. Tire New York Wrold in the
harbinger of the new light. Fearing
the hopeless fallof the I>< mocraticpar
ty it counsels its readers that " before
another Presidential election the Ab
olition question will probably be in
such a state that past ideas will not
apply," it is of the utmost importance
that "the party" should not "bind
itself to a dead corpse," or "commit'
itself to the fortunes of a mori' urid in
sjitution." This advice is profferred
because the World has discovered
that " there is no conceivable po
sition on the Slavery question on
which the Democratic party can plant
itself and become a majority."
The World in considering the sub
ject of Finance as that upon which
future issues may be based, says ;
Our reason why the thoughts of
the party shou'd be turned into this
channel, is that it involves questions
which cannot grow obsolete with the
lapso of time, while some of the is
sues in the late election may. Be
fore another Presidential election the
Abolition question, for example, will
probably be in such a state that past
ideas will not apply As the prob
lem advances toward its predetermin
ed solution, we shall see public opin
ion more ami more disposed to acqui
esce in the manifest tendency of
events.
The way of salvation is pointed
out in the following significant lan
guage:
Unless tli« Democratic party is
blind enough to run the hazard of
disintegration, it must distinguish
between questions virtually settled
and question that still remain open.
It must so far keep pace with events
as to accept their logic. Public opin
ion has no efficiency without political
combination ; but for masses large
enough to form a majority to act in
concert, thought must be left free on
all questions save those which rank
as living, vital questions. The num
ber who oppose the Abolition of Sla
very (now a minority) is not likely to
grow larger, but to grw less, with
the progrc-s qf time. Every Demo
crat can, of course hold" whatever
opinion he chooses on that subject.
Such opinions are no longer of the
slightest political Consequence. In
dividual Democrats will* think what
they please ; but the subject must b
dismissed from the range of tonics on.
which the party is expected to have
distinctive vievs.
The.downfall of the Union party
is thus foreshadowed:
On questions connected with the fi
nancial policy of the Government the
Democratic party has a better chance to
gain the public car, and greater capacity
for rendering valuable service. A vast
debt and a great war are objects of deep
solitude with all thinkiug men. To pay
the interest on the one and to support
the other will put upon the resources of
the country an incrßising strain, which
must give a new turn to our "politics as
the pressure is more and more felt. Ih#
country already begins to stagger under
the burden. The Republican party is
mentally unfit to cope with this problem.
Hence the hope of the future existence
of the Democratic party rests jn the con
sideration of tariffs, internal taxes, pro
tection, currency, national bankiug sys
tems, &c. The practical solution of all
this is that the Democratic party is, con
fessedly, dead ; that there.is but one par
ty now in existence—that of the Union,
and that rs the desire of certain politi
cians to divide the people in their senti
ments of devotion to the interests of the
Country for the sake of founding a party
on issues opposed to the present Admin
istration, and the unity of the people.
Pitta Com.
B»y Western Penmyvania has hither
to held rank among the first and richest
regions of the United States, owing to its
vast capacity for providing coal and iron.
The comparatively recent discovery of
oil is likely to prove of equal importance.
Our friends in the East already • indulge
the idea that in ten years the population
of certain counties on this a side of the
mountains will be more than doubled in
population, while the development of the
oil interes must increase the agaicultural
and manufacturing prosperitfi of the whole
i State,
The New Call tor Troops.
ASTILNGTON, Tuesdav, Dec. 20.
By the President of the United States.
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, By the act of July, 1861,
entitled " An act further to regulate and
provide for the enrolling and calling out
the national forces, and for other purposes,"
it is provided that the President of the
United States mry, at his discretion, at
anytime hereafter, call for any uumberof
men as voluuteors forthe respective terms
of one, two and three years, for military
service, and that in ease the quota, or any
pert thereof, of any township, ward of a
city, precinct or election districtof a coun
ty not so sub-districted, shall not be filled
within the space of fifty days after such
call, the President shall immediately or
der a draft for one year to fill such quota
or any part thereof which may be unfill
ed ; and
WHEREAS. By the credits allowel in
accordance with ah ™t, of Congress, on
the call for five hundred thousand men,
made in July, 1804, the uumberof men
to be obtained under that call was reduc
ed to two hundred and forty thousand;
and
WIJEREAB, The operations of the ene
my in certain States have rendered it im
practicable to procure from them their full
quotas of troops under said call; a fid
Wnr.REAS, From the forogoing causes
but two hundred and forty thousand men "
have been putin the army, and marine
corps, under said call of July 18, 1804,
leaving a deficiency on that call of two
j hundred and sixty thousand men:
Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LIN
COLN, President of the United States of
America, in order to supply the deficien
cy. and to provide for casualties in tho
military and naval service ol the United
States, do issue this my call for 800,000
volunteers, to serve for one, tvjo or three
years. The quotas of States, districts and
sub-districts, under this call will be assign
ed by the War Department through the
bureau of the Provost Marshal General
of the United States, and in case the quo-
Sl la or any part thereof,or asiy town, town
ship, ward or city precinct, or the election
district of a county not so subdivided,
shall not be filled before the 15th day of
February, 1805, then a draft shall be
made to fill such quota, or any quota there
of, under this call, which may be unfilled
on the said 15th day of February, 1805.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and caused tho seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the"ity of Washington this
10th day of December, in the year of our
Lord 1804, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the eighty
ninth.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
By the President,
W. 11. SEWARD, Sec'y of State,
A SUGAR PLUM FOR JBFF DAVIS,
The VirginianL cgislatyre on Tues
day last adopted a series of resolu
tions upon the present crisis of of af
fairs in the Confederacy, of which
the three following are most signifi
cant :
"That it is the imperative and par
amount duty of the Confederate Gov
ernment to continue to devote its ut
most energies to the vigorouos prose
cution of the war, as it is only by tho
success of our arms that we can hope
to obtain honoroble peace, and pre
serve the sovereignty a'nd the liber
ties of our people from destruction.
So that end this Commonwealth will
endure every sacrifice, until the free
dom which is our heritage shall be
securely established in peace, under
the protection of a Confederacy of
independent and sovereign States.
That the Confederate Government,
which is the centre and organ of our
united exertions in war, has been also
intrusted with tho power of conclu
ding peace, by that constitution which
binds these states together, and this
commonwealth, believing that, the trust
him been tritely repotted, for the com
mon benefit, does not desire either to
withdraw the authority which has
been delegated by all the States for
their common safety, or to embarrass,
by irregular proceedings, the Confed
erate Government in its delicate and.
difficult duty of negotiating'jpcace, and
that any proposition from the enemy
to any of the States of this Confed
eracy, to treat for a separate peace,
is, in the language of this General
Assembly in 1782, insidious and in
admissable.
That unity both in prosecuting the
war and in concluding a peace is ab
solutely essential to our safety, and
can be obtained and preserved only
by a firm adherence to the constitu
tional authority established by all
the States, and that this General As
sembly will not listen to any proposi
tion nor suffer any negotiation incon
sistent with their confederate faith
and union."
NEWS FROM EUROPE. —The Austral
asian, from Liverpool l)cc. 17 and (Juccns
town Dec. 18, arrived here yesterday,
bringing two day's later news from Eu
rope.
A deputation from the Emancipation
Society waited upon Mr. Adams, the
I nited States Minister in Londou, on the
10th of December, to present him for
transmission to Washington an address
congratulating President Lincoln on his
re-election.
The London Times editorially applauds
Secretary Seward's correspondence with
Mr. Parker, when that gentleman sought
to submit an address to President Lin
coln, signed by 35,000 people of Great
Britain.
The Italian Government has promulga
ted the law for the transfer of the capital
to as alsu a royal decree
sanctioning the Convention of the 15th of
September.
fleet under Admiral porter,
which sailed from Hampton Roads
, recently, numbered 64 vessels carry
| ing 597 guns.