North Branch democrat. (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, December 17, 1862, Image 2
E" VRVEY SICKL&R, Hditor. UNKHANNCCK, PA. tcsday, Dec. 17.1862. ;c Wholesale Slaughter, and the Reasons Assigned for it. ■>un's of the late terrible engagement ickshurg, which we publish in to er, leave no room for doubt as to the Disguise and conceal it as they may, ict that our brave troops were driv vth a loss in killed and wounded of . tenth of their nflmber, stares lis in The abolition "On to Richmond" labor to dttke the affair appear as s necessary and inevitable steps to i " crushing out of the rebellion." ibnne says it was necessary in or d out the position and strength of army ; and congratulates the army ountry that this information has obtained. The Philadelphia In j£'"cr, which has, under the influence lately wrought fo'oPar upon it, (the appointment of .*• editor to the collectorship of the internal cvenucs of the first congressional district,) ecome one of the most truculent nr.d syco phantic of all this class of lickspittle journals. In its issue of Tuesday last, four days after phe battle, gives the following " six good and 'sufficient reasons for this movement," That our readers may judge themselves of the suf eiency of these reasons, we copy them, with the introductory remarks, entire : "There are some men who Cannot under stand why Burnside crossed the Rappahan nock. Let us try to enlighten them : I. lo determine the positions, force and purposes of the Rebels by actual contact ; the only sure way in which it can be done. And he has done it effectually. He now knows as exactly what he has to do, and how to do it. 11. To keep them from running away se cretly, and leaving him in the lurch, while they were erecting new Gibralters, and laby rinthine traps in the mazy Country about the head waters of the Patnunkcy, It is only by attacking that he can tell whether they are there or not. 111. To aid any diversions which were be ing made in his favor, and to hurry them up ; making haste and energy necessary to useful co-operation. As lie delayed subordinate movements would drag. llis movement is the torch to fire the whole train. IV. To take advantage of this God-send of good weather, in which men can fight without freezing, and keep warm without Es quimaux shelters. A few days, and the win ter-wind god, frowning through murky shies may bind, and nature hand and foot, and put an end to attack or defence. Every day's fine weather should be used vigorously, for its continuance cannot be counted on. V. To employ eager troops, who would be disgusted at delay ; disheartened by w.-.nt of system and energy ; demoralized by inaction. Had they gone into winter quarters, with all their work- still before them to be done, he fore the sptfng that aimy might he more dan gerous to itefclf, and, indirectly, to its cause, than to the enemy. The way to make sol diers good, is to put them under fire ; the way to keep them so, is to keep them con stantly fighting. VI. To take Richmond or at least to do all that can be done to that end. Yes, that was the reason why lie crossed the Rappahannock, and which he never could have done had he remained on this bank. As simple as it may Mem, there are some men who do not under stand it yet. These arc, in our judgment, sirt good and ■ufficivrit reasons for Burnside's movement. To find them caused us little thought and no trouble. If any of our readers are not satis fled with them, we have six more still more cegent in reserve. But if, as we hope, Burn aide moves forward successfully and trium phantly, no reasons will be needed. His movement will transcend them all, and new subjects for discussion." We confess this attempt to 44 enlighten" us hat failed. As the phrase goes, u wo don't aee it." First. 44 to determine the positions, s>rce and purposes of the rebels." Was there no gofer if not surer way than to sacrifice ten t&ousand of our brave fathers, brothers and sons? We think, with the editor of the In quirer, that the information has been obtain ed, "effectually," though we regard it as rather expensive information, •' lie now knows exactly what to do, and how to do u." Yes, he knows that the best thing for him to do is to retreat, and he has done it. Second, 41 To keep them from running awny •ecrctly and leaving him in the lurch, &c." it had been better, by far, if the enemy had 44 riin away" secretly, before they forced our arrttiy to adopt that disagreeable and humili ating alternative. The thousands of the now efiflplbd, maimed and dying would leap for joy, arid thousands of widowed mothers end otyhaned children would bless the day. Third, 44 to aid diven-ions, to hurry up su bordinate movements, &c." Is it necessary to decimate an army, in order to infuse ener gy into it ? Fourth, "To take advantage of the God send of good weather, &c." Is it taking any "advantage" of the weather, or any thing else MMfc—ißtogibfrni) to ;4! ~ ing them constantly fighting, &c." This fifth | good and sufficient reason, in addition to the inhumanity and brutality in it. contains a base libel upon our citizen soldiery. Sixth, "To take Richmond, or at least to do all that can be done to that end." This latter clause is the only intimation, even by implication, that we have seen from these journals that Richmond may not he taken. We have been told by them from d3 r to day that that doomed city was just ready to fall info our grasp, an easy conquest. The silliest higi T cr-head that reads the Tribune has been able, since McClell in's removal, to predict its fall with almost absolute certainty as to time. It sccihs that tne Inquirer , with all its "good and sufficient reasons" for the late movement, with nil the "advantages" derived from it, has still a lurking doubt on this subject. The sixth's reason however for this bloodiest <.f battle', this loss of ten thousand men, this secret and precipitate retreat of the army to the north side of the Rappahannockj was " to take Richmond." "To find these reasons cost the editor but little thought and t ouble." We should not think it would ! We await wiih some anxiety the si* still more cogent reasons, in reserve. The profound statement That "he never could have crossed the river had he remained on this bank" sounds very Lincolnish ; and induces us to believe that "old Abe,,' assists in the editorials of that sheet. If the battle of Fredericksburg was only art " experiment." a " trial trip," a "splendid re connoissance in force," we hope for the sake of our troops, who fought as bravely as men ever fought, that one such will suffice for all time ; and for humanity's sake that we tnav never be called upon to publish a repetition of its heart-sickening details. Washington's Will* Mr. George H. Moore, Librarian of the New York Historical Societ}', has made the start ling statement that the original will of Gen. Washington is now in the british museum, the authorities of which bought it from parties who ate said to have stolen it from Fairfax C<<urt Ilouse V irginia, after the Rebels were driven from there, last year. If this is true,inqui r}- should and doubtless will be made by our Government, as to the circumstances of the purchase. The museum can tell who sold it, and with this to start from the thief may he discovered and punished, We presume that the British Government, on learning the facts of the case, would restore the relic, our Gov ernment paying all expenses they have incur red. It is not likely that a great nation would consent to be a receiver of stolen goods. 4.fc Shinplastefs. Of all tlie Shinplaster eras with which our c untry has hitherto been cursed—and good n -ss knows they have been frequent and se vere enough-the present caps the climax. Tie general Government taking the lead, they are now issued by the basketttf! by corporations and individuals, until such a thing as a silver coin—not even a half dime—is no longer met with in a day's travel. And all this is a plain and direct violation of State and Congression al statutes, providing for the infliction of heavy penalties for that. It is only the poor—and not the rich—who are to suffer. Our Government is growing strong—and the people weak—and this is the sort of " better tinirs" so confidently promised by those now at the head of our Statu and National Gov ernments.—Clearfield Republican. Death of a Political Prisonor. Mr. A. L. Fessenden, of Wisconsin, was ordered to he released from tho military pris on rn St. Louis, unconditionally, on the 10th instant, " the charges against htm not hav ing been sustained." The order for his re !eae arrived at the prison hospital on the same day of, but a few hours subsequent to, his death. Another victim to the arbitrary system of the Administratian. On whose head does the blood of this martyr itest ? It cries to Heaven for vengeance. The Public Debt. The Secretary of the Treasury, in his re port to Congress estimates the public debt on the Ist of July, 18G3, at $1,122,297,403,- 21, and on the supposition that the war may last until the Ist of July, 18G1. $1,744 685,- 580,80. The amount yet to be provided for by Congress, for the fiscal years 1863 and 1864, beyond resources available under ex isting laws, he states at $899,300,701,22. The delay fn the issue of our pa per this week is ow*ng entirely to the negligence, or tneanne'Sfr, or both, of cer tain men connected with the express com panies. We tnav ventilate the conduct of these " high officials," hereatter. We forbear for poeuiinf reasons, to say more on this sub ject at present. Certain it is, there is a big screw loose," in the machine, and some one should take the trouble to tighten it. JZ?ST The loss in the late battle at Fredncksburg, it is said by the Inst even ings paper, will probably exceed 15 500 in killed and wounded. The Tribune savs. 41 There is no reason for discootngement 'n this result, notwithstanding the attempts of the semi secession journals to magnify it into a defeat." r-ar the order denying the use of the mails to ceitain newspapers, who dar ed to expose the corruption and folly of cur rulers at Washington 1 , has been rccind ed. Tiie tyrant are growing strangely lenient since the fate elections. The rebel cavalry made a raid in- Orpheus C. Kerr on the I'resHeUt's Compeu sate 1 Emancipation I'roject. Orpheus C. Kerr, in a late letter from Washington, takes off the President's silly reasoning on the subject of compensated emancipation in good style. Though the writer deals entirely in the absurd and ri diculous, he could not conjure up, from his fertile imagination, anything more so, than some of old Abe's talk. He therefore quotes largely from the genuine message, as will be seen by comparison. We hardly know vjrliich is entitled to the greater credit for this burlesque on common sense—Abe or Orpheus. But as Abe is the author of tins style of reasoning, as well as of most of the reasoning itself, we are disposed to give him the greater praise ; and also, for another rea son ; he was in earnest ; while Orpheus, was only, in Jun. Here is the extract: " Passing over the organization of Senate and House, which suggested thoughts of an cient Rome, about the time she was saved by geese, I shall proceed to notice the mes sage which our Honest Abe fired into Con gress from bis intellectual, breastworks dur ing the week. You have undoubtedly read this Abe L. paper, my be}', in the reliable morning jour nals, making due allowance for the typograph ical outrages committed by printers of oppo site politics j hiit. there was one portion of it gotten up for the Hum-si Abe by the Chap lain of the Mackeral Brigade, and this por tion is so mutilated in the publishing that 1 cannot refrain from giving you the true vet sion. Speaking of the Coat to the country of emancipation with compensation, the Chap lain wrote "Certainly it is not so easy to pay some thing as it is to pay nothing 5 hut it is easier to pay a small sum than it is to pay a large sum ; and it is easier to pay any hill when We have the money, than it is to pay a small er hill when we have no money. Compensat ed Emancipation requires 110 more money than would he necessary to the progress of Remunerated Enfranchisement, which would not close before the end of five hundred years. At that time, we shall undoubtedly have five hundred times as many people as we have now, provided that no one dies in the meant'me ; and supposing the premium 011 gold to increase in the same ratio as it has increased since our last census was taken, the premium on the specie belonging to five hundred tunes ofir present population will be amply sufficient to pay fur all persons of Af rican descent. "T do not state this inconsiderately. At the same ratio of increase as we n.w realize, American gold will soon be worth more than all Europe. We have ten millions nine hun dred and sixty-three thousand miles, while Europe has three millions eight hundred thousand, and yet the average premium on specie, in some of the States, is already above that of Europe. Taking the brokers, in the aggregate, I find that if ore gold dollar is worth §1,30 in one year, It will be worth §2,00 in 2 year's, U 11 U It 3QQ a 3 t. it 11 u 5,20 "-1 " " " " 6,50 " 5 " This shows a great increase. If a gold dol lar is worth §0 50 in five years, it will, of course, be worth $3,250, or five hundred times as much, in five hundred years. Thus, when our population is five hundred times as great as at present, supposing each man to have a single gold dollar, the premium of $53 250, or five hundred times is much, in five hundred years. Thus, when cur popula tion is five hundred times as great as at pres ent, supposirg each man to have a singie gold dollar, the premium of $3,250 on his gold dollar will enable such man to purchase thirty-two and a half persons of African de scent from the loyal slaveholders of our Bor der States at SIOO a piece, though he would he virtually expending hut one dollar himself. "This scheme of emancipation W"uld cer tainly make the war shorter than it now has a prospect of being. In a word, it shows that a dollar will be mflfch harder to pay for the war than wdl be a' dollar for emancipa tion on the proposed plan." You will obserVS, my boy, that this same great mathematical idea is advanced in the message as it is printed; but our Honest Abe has chosen td vary the tprrns somewhat. If you have a gold dollar, my bov, salt it down for five hundred years, and some future gen eration of offspring will call you blessed for leaving them $3,250 in postage stamps. Counterfeit Postage Currency It appears that there are counterfeit fifty cent notes of the new postage cu r rency in cir culation. They are said to be well executed, and should be guarded against. The follow ing easily-noted marks will enable holders to detect thetn : 1. The paper is thinner than the genuine. 2. The five faces of Washinton vary consider ably from each other in the counterfeit—so much so that two or three of them' if standing ahrne, would hardly be taken to be portraits of Washington—while on the genuine they all closely resemble each other. 3. The linked letters "U. S," under the mid lie face of Washington In the enr/btifeif, do not show the lower end of the" S," inside of the leg of the " U," while in the ceiu'me they do. This mark iR easily seen. 4. The border round the lettering and ' 50" on the hack of t.ie c muterfeit is dark, and the lines are crowded while in the genuine the border is open, with a line of light dots running through the mid die all the wav round. In the counterfeit, this middle line is almost invisible, while in the genuine it is so distinct as to catch the eye at once. REGIMENT\R. COLORS of Greeley's 900.0C0 men-invisible green. These are the only col ors they have yet shown. MOM Til ARMY OF TIS POTOMAC. BO31BARI) 31 ENT OF FREDERICKSBURG. THE CITY TAKEN ! ! A TERRIFIC BATTLE! t IMMENSE SLAUGHTER *- ! CUR FORCES RETREAT I ! OUR LOSS ESTIMATED AT 13,000 KILLED AM) WOUNDED. [From the New York World.) FREDRICtfSBURU, Dec. 11 Amid the trampling of armed men, the rumbling of artillery, and the most intense excitement, T hasten to sendyou a word about the advance of the grand Army of the Poto mac. The telegraph has told vou that Fred ricksburg is ours. Way we neyer have to re linquish it again. But to ir,y story, The work of building the pontoon bridges aero s the river was begun at early dawn this morning about five o'clock. The fiftieth and the Seventeenth New York Engineers attempt ed to throw a bridge-A the pajint of the old railroad bridge, and two more opposite the city. Owing to the obscurity of objects at that early hour the bridges were pari tally constructed before the rebels coukl fire with eflect. As soon as it was light their shots began to be effective, and our men suff- ered from the deadly discharges of rebel mus ketry. The engineers were driven away from their work, and the planks riddled with bul lets. From every house and species of shelter a storm of leaden hail proceeded. The bom bardment then opened. The Ninth corps of artillery, with the batteries to the right and left into the city, threw their shell fast and thick into the city. Throughout the forenoon one continued roar of at least one hundred ar.d fifty pieces of cannon shook tlm ground, and reveibelated far and wide. The streets of Fredrickshurg were cleared of rebels by showers of grape schrapnel. But. feeble re sponses were made by their artillery, and they appeared to be deserting the town. Another attempt to construct the bridge was made be tween ten and eleven o'clock. A party of less iban one hundred men of the Eighth Connec ticut, under Capt. Marshy volunteered to per form the work. Gen. Woodbury was near by and assumed the direction of affairs Planks were laid on the pontoons, hut again the deadly fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters drove our men from their hold attempt. At eleven o'clock the fire broke out in tlie western Dart of the city, and enveloped it in sinoke. The repeated fne of our artillery and the flames drove the rebels out of that part which li near trie railroad depot. A little before three in the afternoon the engineers again- set to work. Tins time proved successful, and Gen. Howard's division began to cross the river at at once. Fredrickshurg was occupied by our troops, and the enemy fell back to their line of fori ifications. In charging through the city a number of our men fell. During the entire bombard ment of tne place our casualties have been comparatively few. FREDRICKSBURO, VR. Dec. 14th—3p. M A great battle has been fought, and both armies are testing i n their arms, neither, ap parentlv, anxious to rmew the struggle, and neither claiming ade cided victory. We have lost no ground, nor have We gamed any, save about a mile or so' oEf the; left, where Gen. Franklin, with his gallant division, i stattoned ; but we have lost a great many brave men—perhaps 15,000, at a rough esti mate. I hope this number will prove t> be exagorafed. As [ write, they are bringing in the Wounded and a few of the dead ? I say a few of the dead, for most of them are over beyond our lines, almost at the very foot of the enemy's fortifications, where thev lie as silent witnesses to the bravery of northern soldiers. Let me in a few words evolve from the confu>ion of the day a connected account of what has occurred. I commence wit!) Gen. Sumner's division: ON THE RIGHT, which suffered sev re loss, although it did not engage 111 the fight as early in the day as it was intended. At about 10 o'clock in the forenoon it advanced and at once opened fire on the enemy, who were strongly posted in the woods and on the lulls behind the city of I red ricks burg. The odds against us were tremendous, but not enough to discourage the brave Sumner. After fighting for a couple of hours he con cluded that the only hope of routing the en emy was to storm their works. French's di vision was ordered to essay the task, with Howard s division to act as a support. Hard ly had the order to charge bayonets been given when the brave troops rushed forward | in solid phalanx, nor quailed a moment un der the fire through which they passed, until haring arrived to within a few yards of the ridge on which were the rebel \borks, a mur derous volley opened- on them, which thinned their"ranks most fearfully. Reinforcements were immediately sent to their aid, but all to no purpose. Had each man who fell been replaced by a score of others, it would have n'>t altered the result. This moving on the enemy's works when they sparkle with rifles and bristle with rifled cannon, is but a pleas ant delusion of a dreamer. It cannot be done successfully in these days of improved firebrms. The troops had to fall back fo their original position, leaving the dead and* many of tie wounded on the field, which, of course, was immediately occupied by the en emy. I have no time to collect a list of the' wouded, but mention Gen. Meagher and Col. Nugent. TIIE CENTRE. Gen. Hooker, who commands the center, commenced advancing about noon, the dehse fog which prevailed up to that hour prevent ing his moving sooner. There had been more morniiig, but it was though, it is thought our gunners were more successful. The plan was to take the ene emy's batteries at all hazards, if they had to he stormed. With that assurance which be- lungs only to those who feel that they have the riglrt on their side our brave fellows marched to within musket-shot of the rebel position, confident that they would not have to stop until they were in undisputed posses sion of the enemy's works. But the under taking was too great. The fire of infantfy, coupled with that of the artillery-men, was an itnpasssble barrier, and reluctantly the troops fell back, their numbers sadly reduced in the effort. Later in the aft rnoon the tri al was repeated, with a like result. We lost a great number of soldiers, did not gain an inch of ground, and, I fear, inspired the reb els with a confidence which they by no means deserved. Thus much for the fight in the center. ft.N THE LEFT, Some ways below the city, where Gen. Franklin's division were, we achieved some show of succes. Before sunrise he had put his troops into position—one wing resting on the Rappahannock, the center a mile and a half in advance, and the left almost touching the city itself. Soon after daylight skirmish ing commenced, and the Ninth New York were ordered to charge on a rebel battery, which had been doing active service. Here, too, the charge failed to accomplish what was expected of it—not, let me say again, through any lack of bravery on the part of the soldiers. As the troops fell back Tylers brigade came to tluir assistance, and another charge was made. Again the troops fell hack leaving the ground strewn with the bodies of their dead comrades. At this junc ture General Franklin brought his whole force into action, hoping to turn the enemy's position on the Massaponax Creek. The move was a bold one, an l had it only been successful, would doubtless, have won the day for us. The fighting on both sides was of the highest order. Neither party flinched though death hurried hither ar.d thither among the ranks selecting his victims with rapicious rapidity. Then it was that Gen. Bayard was wounded, lie the bravest of the brave. But our men were obstinate. They "would not fall back, One final effort was made that was successful. Gradually the enemy began to yield, though contesting every inch of ground, until by sundown they had re treated a full mile before our sturdy soldiers. At night the battle ceased, both sides evi dently being glad to cease (torn their almost superhuman exertions. Such, in brief, is Ihesbry 1 f the first bat tle of Fredrickshurg. We new know the streng'h of the enemy, and w hen the battle is renewed we Will, I trust, succeed in not only dislodging him from his position, bat in utterly routing his foice. 1 send this in haste, reserving for another letter a more detailed account of the,bat tie. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THF. POTOMAC, ) FAI.MOUTH, Dec. 1u—1:45 v. >j. $ During last night the Army of the Poto mac evacuated their position's on the oppo site side of the river. The movement was a perilous one, hut it Was conducted in safety. The artillery was the first to cross' the rivi-r, The last of the infantry brought up the rear shortly after daylight. 'J he enemy never discovered the movement until it was too late to do us any harm. As Soon As the last man had. got safdy across the river the pontoon bridges were removed, thus cutting off all communication between the two shores. Our wounded are ail safe on this side of the There was a heavy wind all last night, ac companied with considerable rain, which as sisted us tn our movement, as' it prevented the rebels from learning our intentions. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. 'I he following dispatch from Gen. Burnside was received here last ccenir.g: HEADQUARTERS ARMY or POTOMAC, ) Dec. 16, G p. M. $ Major-General ITalleek, Commander-in-Chief: The Army of the Potomac was withdrawn to this side of the Rappahanock river, because I felt fully convinced that the position in front could not be carried, and it was a mili tary necesity cither to attack (lie enemy or retire. A repulse would have been disastrous to us under existing circumstances. The army way withdrawn at night without the knowledge of the enemy, without less, either of property or men. AMBROSE E. BURN'SIEE, Major-General Commanding, Over one thousand wounded arrived to-diy Nearly one-half were able to walk or ride in omnibuses to the hospitals. Ifesterday morning when daylight appear ed the enemy seemed to be, as they no doubt were, perfectly astonished that our army hat! succeeded in returning to this side of the Rappahannock river. We returned without losing a single man or a gun in the retrograde movement. A few soldiers who had straggled off made their appearance on the river bank after the pontoon bridges had been removed, but the}' were subsequently brought over safely iq sntall boats. A' few privates who were guarding a house inhabited by a private family were not during the night aware of our recrossing the river, but in the mtrning, becoming aware of the fact, they ftafdy swam the river. r l he pickets of the contending armies being separated by only a few yards, rendered it riecossaby that everything on our front should be conducted with the utmost caution. The pickets on our outposts were unaware of the movement we were making until just before daylight, when an officer went to each individual man and in a lovr tone of voice or dered him to fall back. FALMOUTH, Dec. 17 After they got sufficiently tar away to be out of danger they were ordered to quicken their pace and reach the bridges as quickly as possible. About nine o'clock yesterday morning the enemy advanced their skirmishers along their entire line, and by noon had established their pickets near the bank of the river. We had a large number of dead on what was regarded as "neutral ground," and as soon as it was known our forces had evacuat ed the city the soldiers of the enemy com menced fobbing the lifeless bodies. 'lhiswaS plainly seen through a field-glass, as well as Indistinctly with the naked eye. About ten or eleven o'clock ladies very neatly dressed were seen walking about tbo streets of Fredericksburg. They had doubt less been concealed in their houses during the time the city was occupied by our troops, and doubtless availed themselves of the first opportunity to make their reappearance after our retreat. On Monday the pickets of the contendingf armies fronting the left wing mutually agreed, upon an " armistice" among themselves, and freely intermingled with each other, exchan ging their dead friends aud comrades who lay on " neutral ground." Luring this time a general of our army rode by and put an end to these proceedings.' The resu!: was that both parties immediately commenced firms, when nine of our men were killed. After the general had left, the friend ly demonstrations o' our pickets were renew ed, and but temut and blue uniforms freely mingled. A bunt this time General Franklin dispatch, ed a Hag of truce, which the enemy immedi ately recognized, and the exchange of dead bodies was resumed and continued until com pleted. Yesterday Gen. Lee sent a flag of truce to Gen. Rurnside, asking him to detail men to' bury his dead in front ol Gen. Sumner's grand"" division. This was done. The wounded with the exception of tho?e whom the enemy obtained, have all bcctf brought to thts Side of the Rappahannock, and as rapidly as possible are being sent to' Washington. During the flag of truce Gen. Stuart, of the rebel cavalry, in answer to a question, stated that Gen. Rank's expedition had g<;e "'south' but did not know exactly where. Our entire army is now encamjied on the same ground which they previously occupied. The soldiers are as comfortable for the present as they can be in shelter tents. LETTER FUO.Vi tHE AKMV. SUFFOLK, Nor. 21. 1862. IH.AU PARENTS r ! find myself seated to" answer your kind letter that I received last night. It fuuiul me well. I have got so that ! can take my allowance once more, and hope I shall keep my health. It' I can have that 1 think I can go through like " a steer in the wheat. ' You said you had bought the thinsrs 1 wrote for. 1 was in hopes I should get my p.iy before this; but for Some cause unknown to me. we d > not gel it yet. There is owing* me, almost six* months pay. If they pay us ail at once, it will make Uncle Sam's packet* Some lighter. Vou tli night I ncle Sam must be hard up. to charge ten dollars a pair fol* boots. It is nut, him that does it. It is those speculators that (uliow .iiv, that charge those extravagant prices. They are a pack ot knaves. W'e draw government shoes, and they do not wear worth one cent. 1 tell' you they have every way to cheat a sold.er, I he stockings we draw, one pair that I brought from home, will out wear fiur uf them, and are as warm again. You wanted me to let you know how the biys likeel the change of Generals. lho most of tliem had the tuoie conli ience in McClellan. 1 think Burnside a good lighting General, but I think he Will need McUiellan's head to heip him through' successfully. I hope they will settle it with-* out freeing the negroes. 1 enlisted to tight lor the Union, and the starj and stripes that oui fatners fought ami bled for. lam will ing to fight for my country, and die like a' iiue hearted soldier. I left home and friends to sacrifice my life for my country, not for the freedom of the negro. lam glad that I enlisted to defend my country, and I can no it with a spirit to conquer or to die. 1 have seen enough of negroes since I came into Vir ginia. Our officers got a few of them to serve as waiters, and they had to drive them off,*' they got so saucy. If 1 ever come home and a man cries pcor negroes, to me. ten incn could not keep me oiFof him. For the game of poor negro is played out. You said you had not heard from brother George in some lime. Edward Abeam*, fprt a letter from hi' brother William the other day. lie said that he saw George the day before. You uiuit not worry about him, he inav be where j thcr time or opportunity to write, is atforde' I You must keep up good cheer. Youh*-j ought to be proud to think you have two I sons that are willing to fight for their coun J try. Wo may bith coine out safe yet, or*'! may come out like a great many otlicrS'"* Sie Meeks is well. Edward Abram iias fl the ague. Our cavalry had a light with rebels yesterday* We expect to go out 1 '" fight them soon, and drive them oft*, we shall conic back again to otir tents. l"'j not think we shall move this winter. S is all right. Co good bvc. S. S. CAPWKUI -♦*. -> JM i~£T Henry Clay said, twenty years ago, cl J Abolitionists : " With them the rights of f'B aro nothing : the deficiency of tho powers ■ government,' is nothinj; tho acknowleig o, incontestiblo powers of tho States, are n tho dissolution, of the Union, and tho overt l" 1 Government in which are eoneentratod the oivilizod world are nothing. A single idea possbssion 'of their minds, and on war I they overlooking alt barriers, reckless and re £ :l ,i all consequences." And Meury Clay t ' 1 ' 9 . Mr. Van Wyek has intodueo 1 # press to inereaso tie monthly pay of We would suggest that he introdueo a t'lj for'paying them what is due them at V" rate of wages per month. Their pay i* l * jHKj we learn, i'rom three to eight months, and He? at home arc suffering sadly in cOPSC'l ut IJB