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by John Beauchamp Jones

SEPTEMBER 27TH.—The papers this morning contain accounts of the landing of Yankees at White House, York River; and of reinforcements at Williamsburg and Suffolk. They might attempt to take Richmond, while Lee’s army is away; for they know we have no large body of troops here.

A battery passed through the city this morning early, at double-quick, going eastward.

Yesterday Congress passed an act, supplemental and amendatory to the Conscription Act of last April, authorizing the President to call into the military service all residents between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five. The first act included only those between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five.

By the 1st of January there will be $300,000,000 Treasury notes in circulation. It is proposed in Congress to make a forced loan of one-fifth of the incomes of the people.

It is said Lincoln has issued a proclamation declaring the slaves of Rebels free, on and after the 1st of January, 1863. This will only intensify the war, and add largely to our numbers in the field.

A letter was received from General Lee to-day, dated at Martinsburg, giving a sad account of the army. It seems that without some additional power given the President by Congress to enforce discipline, he fears the army will melt away. He suggests that incompetent officers be reduced to the ranks, and that more stringent regulations be adopted. He is in no condition to advance now, since so many thousands of his men are permitted to wander away. We shall be afflicted with fresh invasions—and that, if nothing else, may cause the stragglers to return.

The substance of Lee’s letter has been communicated to Congress, and that body, I understand, has postponed the day of adjournment until the 6th October.

In future times, I wonder if it will be said that we had great men in this Congress? Whatever may be said, the truth is, there are not a dozen with any pretensions to statesmanship.

September 27, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

While so much of the energy of the State, and of the military authorities of the Confederate States, is directed towards the defence of Charleston, we think it would be wise and prudent to bestow some attention to other points that are equally assailable, and in some material respects equally important. We take it for granted there is no citizen of South Carolina who does not entertain a just pride in our time-honored and cherished metropolis, and who does not feel that he would be false to duty if he failed to do his utmost in preserving her from the insolent and licentious foe, who are doubtless only awaiting a favorable opportunity to punish her for her contumacy, and to wreak their vengeance upon her for initiating the glorious revolution in which we are engaged. But it surely does not comport with a prudent foresight, while engaged in this most necessary work, to overlook other portions of our seacoast which lie open to attack.

The country between Charleston and Savannah is a region of Sea Island cotton and of rice — one of the richest countries in the world. It has been much devastated, and, to some extent, has been provided for. However much of the country has been abandoned to the enemy, a considerable region has been defended.

Georgetown is, of itself, a point of comparatively little value; but if the enemy are permitted to get a foothold in that vicinity, we respectfully submit to those charged with the care of the subject, that the forces now employed there would be utterly powerless to prevent the catastrophe to which we have alluded; and all our efforts to guard the State against the incursions of the Northern hordes assembling, even now, in multitudinous array, will have been expended in vain. The fortifications in that harbor have been abandoned as useless and untenable, the guns have been dismounted and removed, and that whole district, second to but one in the State in the value of its property and the amount of its productions, stands in a condition of exposure. We allude to the matter with the hope that the attention of those in authority may be Read more

September 27, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

The subject of this notice fell mortally wounded on the afternoon of the 30th ult., in the second great battle of Manassas, and has added another to the long list of martyrs, and of the many of the family, who have sealed their devotion to the great cause of the South with their life’s blood. Capt. PAUL HAMILTON SEABROOK was the youngest son of the late Governor SEABROOK, and therefore a hatred Northern oppression, a warm attachment to the rights of the South, and a keen sensibility to whatever affected the interest and honor of South Carolina, were his natural inheritance, and these he early developed and constantly displayed. He bore the name of his uncle, who was distinguished for gallantry, and who met his death in the naval service of his country at the close of the war of 1812.

Upon the threatened invasion of the State, he exerted himself to raise a company to assist in her defence, and although its ranks were not full at the time of the attack upon Port Royal, he hastened with it there, and was honorably mentioned for his conduct in the report of the General Commanding. He subsequently united himself with a portion of his men, with the rank of First Lieutenant, to the company of Capt. WHILDEN, late Major of the 23d South Carolina Volunteers, and served with that regiment on the coast of South Carolina, and in Virginia to the time of his death. His health had been delicate for some time previous to his departure for Virginia, and he was on sick furlough when the regiment received marching orders. Against the advice of his physician and friends to remain until his health was fully recruited, he immediately joined his company on its way to Virginia.

As an illustration of his character, upon the promotion of his Captain to the Majority of the regiment, with rare modesty and noble unselfishness, he refused to […..]to the post of Captain, but demanded an expression of the wishes of his men, and was elected with a rare unanimity. He graduated at the South Carolina College with one of the honors of his class. He died in the 36th year of his age. Read more

September 27, 1862, The New York Herald

Aside from some skirmishing of our troops across the river into Virginia there appears to be no movements of General McClellan’s army going on near Sharpesburg. The rebels are evidently in force opposite Sheppardstown and along the line of the Upper Potomac, as our pickets and scouts constantly come within reach of them. On Thursday evening the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, with a section of the First New York artillery and Griffin’s brigade, crossed at a ford near Sheppardstown and took four hundred rifles, marked ‘London 1862′ — some of the contraband weapons, no doubt — and one twelve pounder rifled brass gun. The rebel pickets did not dare to resist this formidable force, but fell back on their approach.

We give some additional reports of the battle of Antietam today, which will be found highly interesting. The commanders, on both sides were as follows:

UNION ARMY REBEL ARMY.
Commander in Chief Commander in Chief
Maj. Gen. G.B. McClellan. Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Commander of Right Wing. Commander of Left Wing
Brig. Gen. Jas. Hooker. Maj. Gen. Thos. T. Jackson.
Commander of Centre Commander of Centre
Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter. Gen. Jas. Longstreet.
Commander of Left Wing Commander of Right Wing
Maj. Gen. A.B. Burnside. Gen. A.P. Hill.

The Governors of the Northern States, who recently adjourned their meeting from Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Washington. had an interview with the President yesterday, and presented an address, the substance of which we give in our despatches. Read more

September 27, 1862, Mobile Register and Advertiser (Alabama)

We learn that owing to the transportation of large numbers of troops over the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, passengers will not be received for several days. But to compensate for this delay, we will inform refugees from Middle Tennessee, that Gen. Price is moving in heavy force from the southern counties of Tennessee towards Nashville, and when the troops from this place shall form a junction with him, then citizens of Nashville will have an opportunity to return to that beautiful city in safety.—Chattanooga Rebel, 21st.

September 27, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

MORRIS ISLAND, NEAR CHARLESTON,

September, 13.

To the Editor of the Mercury: For several months past I have been a close observer of the progress of things on this island, and, to tell the truth, I was fast becoming disheartened, if not disgusted, when the arrival of the darkies, a few days ago, inspired me with new hope. But even now, sir, matters are not as they ought to be. Of the required force, which heretofore has been so much needed, there is not an ample supply. There is, however, I regret to say, a lamentable lack of experienced energy and of expert system in the control and application of this labor. While slave labor is by far the best in the world with the authority and proper direction of the conversant white man, without, it is utterly worthless. Now, what I wish to bring to your attention is simply this — that the large number of negros here seem to be without any competent white man, whose especial business it is to oversee and make them work. The consequence is that not half as much is done as might be done, and ought to be done; and negros are to be seen at all times and in every direction just loitering about and idling. Officers, of course, cannot attend to this. I believe there is one, perhaps two white men here, who exercise a sort of general superintendence and care over the negros; but that is not what is wanted. I respectfully submit, therefore, that it would be a wise economy on the part of the State (who is paying $11 per head for these negros, besides other and by no means light expenses) — I submit that it would be the strictest economy on her part to employ two or three competent and experienced men, at large salaries, whose duty it shall be to attend, constantly and closely, the negros while they are at work, and see to it that they do work. That is what they were sent here for, and it is but simple justice to the owners, that the work should be done as speedily as Read more

September 27, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

(From the Mobile Advertiser and Register.)

MOBILE, August 30.

Messrs. Editors: As there seems to be an impression throughout the country that Gen. BRAGG is in the habit of shooting men merely for the pleasure it gives him, I feel it my duty as one conversant with the circumstances under which every man shot during the time he was in command of the army of the Mississippi, from the time of his arrival at Bethel and Corinth until within a few weeks previous to his departure from Tupelo. The following facts will, I am sure, be substantiated by those holding the highest commands in the army. The first man executed in General Bragg’s corps was a member of the Texas Rangers, a foreigner by birth, who had enlisted in Texas, came to Corinth or that neighborhood with his regiment, deserted from it, joined the Federals, and was taken prisoner with several Yankees, and clothed in their uniform, &c. He was tried by a court called for that purpose, condemned to be shot, which sentence was approved by General Bragg. Before being executed he admitted his guilt, and said if he was released would not desert again. The sentence of the court in this case was executed.

The second was a Tennesseean, named Rowland. He had enlisted in one of our Tennessee regiments, deserted, went to Pittsburg Landing, where he joined the Abolition army, adopted their uniform, and fought against us at the battle of Shiloh, was then taken prisoner, and recognized by our own troops; was tried by a court martial, condemned to be shot, and the sentence approved by the general commanding the army. Before the execution he acknowledged his guilt and the justice of the sentence, and requested that his body might be sent to his family in Tennessee; this, of course, was not done. Read more

September 27, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

RICHMOND, September 26. — Northern dates of the 23d inst. have been received.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN has issued a proclamation declaring the slaves of rebel masters free, from and after the 1st of January next.

Tremendous excitement prevails at Louisville. A despatch from Jeffersonville, Ind., dated September 22d, says that the rebel Generals BRAGG and KIRBY SMITH have divided their forces. SMITH is to hold BUELL (who is marching towards Louisville) in check, while BRAGG advances on the city. BRAGG had summoned General BULL NELSON, who commands the army for the defence of Louisville, to surrender. NELSON refused, and ordered all the women and children to leave the city at one hour’s notice. Thousands of citizens were crossing the river into Indiana. BRAGG was some distance from the city, but was rapidly advancing. The New York Herald acknowledges a heavy loss in the fight at Sheperdstown, Va., on Saturday. It says that the rebels were dressed like Union soldiers, and displayed a flag of truce to induce the Federal forces to cross the river. Gen. SUMNER’S corps d’ alone lost 5,203 in killed, wounded and missing at the battle of Sharpsburg. A Yankee correspondent, writing from the battlefield on the 22d, says that the Federal troops were still bringing in their dead at the rate of about one thousand per diem, but that they expected to get through the day. General HOOKER was shot through the foot by a rifle ball, and will not for a long time be fit for duty. Gen. CRAWFORD’S wound is more serious than was expected. Lieut. Colonel DWIGHT, of the 2d Massachusetts, was killed; Lieut. Colonel HINKS, of the 19th Massachusetts, was badly wounded; Gen. RICHARDSON was wounded in the shoulder and heart, and will die; Gen. DANA, in the knee. In the 38th Massachusetts, Col. WILD lost an arm at the shoulder joint; the Lieutenant Colonel, the Adjutant and eight Captains are wounded. The correspondent of the New York Times says that the slaughter was awful, particularly among the officers.

In New York on the 23d Exchange was firm at 129 1/2; gold, 117 3/8. Cotton, 54 cts.

September 27, 1862, Savannah Republican(Georgia)

An enterprizing firm in Wilmington, N. C., has a factory in operation in that city that turns out daily 1000 pairs of thick strong and soft socks, suitable for soldiers’ wear, which are supplied to North Carolina troops. The same firm, we see, are endeavoring to establish a branch of their business at Montgomery, Ala., for furnishing the troops of that State in like manner. It would be a great blessing to the army could a similar factory be located on a large Scale in every Confederate State.

These and clothing establishments, and tan yards, and shoe shops, are eminently worthy of the attention of capitalists of liberal, patriotic spirit, as contra-distinguished from those public scourges—those sons of Balial, those worse than Pagans—those infinitely degraded creatures who, human in form, wage war against humanity itself, and put the religion of the Gospel, which many of them profess, and the church of Christ, of which many of them are members, to open shame, by their insatiate race for lucre, and their heartless exactions. We mean, of course, the Extortioners.

September 27, 1862, Daily Times (Leavenworth, Kansas)

It is painful to hear, as we do officially, that General Price’s army is without shoes or stockings, being at once bare-footed and bare-faced. Price has commanded his aid-de-camp to issue a proclamation to the people of Mississippi, begging them to pity in that respect his gallant foots. He calls upon the women to go to knitting, and upon the men to betake themselves to cordwainery, as they value the soles of their gallant defenders; and he promises to pay for their services—which is a Yarn of one kind which will hardly furnish any Yarn of the other to begin with. Now, if the gallant army—the Men of Great Price—would only agree, upon the receipt of the shoes and stockings, to put them to the best possible use, by running away in them, and by never coming back for any more, we believe that every cobbler and every old lady in Mississippi would go to work with a will; but while Grim visaged War continues to knit his Awful front, the dames of Mississippi, at least, will continue to ply the twinkling needles in behalf of the Family Legs.—Vanity Fair.

September 27, 1862, Weekly Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock)

Major Gen. Holmes has made known to our people generally, and to the ladies particularly, the fact that, if a supply is not gotten up at home, many of our soldiers will lack blankets to make them comfortable and preserve their health, during the approaching winter. The ladies here responded promptly and patriotically, many of them giving the last carpet they have to be made into substitutes for blankets for the purpose.

We feel confident that the call will be cheerfully and fully responded to by the ladies west of the Mississippi, to whom it is addressed.

All contributions of blankets, or substitutes for blankets, or clothes, will be forwarded to Maj. Jno. B. Burton, Chief of the Clothing Bureau, Trans-Mississippi Department.

September 27, 1862, Daily Times (Leavenworth, Kansas)

No one knowing the ladies of Leavenworth will dispute their ability to get up a fine affair in the way of good things, when they attempt it. We attended the Festival Thursday evening, given in aid of our “wanting soldiers,” and we heard every one speak in the highest terms of the delicacies of the evening. To us, it was refreshing to step aside from the hurried walks of life and quaff pleasure as it was served up on Thursday evening. A large assemblage was there to refresh themselves from the tables which fairly groaned under their loads of good cheer, through the energy and industry of the ladies. Young men and ladies were there, and the latter in all their beauty and loveliness, gracing the occasion, and apparently delighted with the opportunity to chase the golden hours with smiles of joy. The affair was a brilliant occasion, and will be reverted to by the participants in it as an oasis in the comparatively dull routine of city life.

September 27, 1862, Daily Times (Leavenworth, Kansas)

From the Second Brigade.

Carthage, Mo., Sept. 18^th, 1862.

Ed. Times:—As your readers doubtless feel an interest in that portion of the army of Kansas now making its way through Southwest Missouri toward Arkansas, I propose, with your consent, to drop you an occasional “note by the way,” as to our whereabouts and whatever of interest may befall us.

It is within the knowledge of every one, that a force was concentrated at Fort Scott, in the month of June, and marched under the command of Col. Weer, toward the Indian country south of Kansas, with the view of reconquering that territory, which had been overrun by the rebel forces.

This expedition penetrated as far south as Fort Gibson, encountered the enemy in several successful skirmishes, and bade fair to accomplish speedily and completely, the object for which it was organized, when through the agency of unfortunate circumstances, which I do not now propose to discuss, the expedition came to a sudden termination, and […..] to Fort […..]

The present movement of our troops, it is understood, has for its object the accomplishment of that wherein the former expedition failed, to give countenance and support to the loyal Indians, who have, in the interval, gallantly maintained their ground within the disputed territory.

So far as I had opportunities to know, the scraps and correspondence from the former Indian Expedition, which appeared occasionally in the public prints, were unsatisfactory, and often unjust. To avoid, as far as I am able, a similar misfortune with Read more

September 27, 1862, Daily Times (Leavenworth, Kansas)

The Fort Scott Bulletin says four companies of the Kansas Second, under command of Major Fisk, arrived from Fort Larned on Thursday. They brought a train of siege guns, which will be placed in position to intimidate any rebel force which may have a desire to try their mettle. The “gallant Second” is now united. The men and horses are in fine condition, and all hands are anxious to meet the rebels.

September 27, 1862, The New York Herald

Dr. John P. Garrish, of No. 40 West Twenty-first street, returned to this city yesterday from the battle field of Antietam. He left this city on the 18th inst., in company with nineteen others of the medical fraternity, in response to a telegraphic despatch received from Surgeon General Hammond for their professional services at the battle field at Antietam. They proceeded from this city to their destinations — in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Frederick City. Dr. Garrish arrived at the latter place on the 19th inst. He there learned that the rebels, on their occupancy of the city, had entered nearly every house and helped themselves to everything in the shape of provisions, clothing and valuables they could lay their hands on. The rebels had destroyed the once beautiful railroad bridge at Monocacy. This they did by blowing it up with powder, as they could effect that measure in no other way. At Frederick Dr. Garrish and his companions found it difficult to get transportation to proceed to the battle field or elsewhere. It was impossible to hire a vehicle at any price. The hotels were crowded to their utmost capacity, and eatables could not be procured at them under any circumstances. On the road from Frederick to Sharpsburg Dr. Garrish and party passed a long train of army wagons, loaded with commissariat and hospital stores, going westward to General McClellan’s army. These wagons were not the ordinary style of army wagon, but the old English style of market wagon, with high fronts and backs, used by the farmers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Each wagon is drawn by from six to eight mules, driven by negroes. When Dr. Garrish reached Middletown he was somewhat fatigued and hungry; he endeavored, but in vain, to get a hearty meal; not an ounce of tea, coffee, sugar or butter was to be had. He then directed his steps to the hospitals. All the churches, public buildings, and many private dwellings, had been converted into hospitals. In them were many of our soldiers who were wounded at South Mountain, and others from Antietam. In all these places the wounded were lying on the straw, as beds had not been procured. The citizens of Frederick extended every kindness and attention to our wounded soldiers that patriotism and hospitality could dictate. Dr. Garrish says he observed this more at Read more

September 27, 1862, Mobile Register and Advertiser (Alabama)

Messrs. Editors: Will you please warn persons who might try to gather wild coffee without knowing it, not to mistake for the same the wild indigo, or Cassia Tora, which has the active properties of senna, and in large doses might prove poisonous.

The Cassia Occidentalis, or wild coffee, has a lance-shaped leaf, ending in a sharp point, its pods are wide and flat, and its seeds flat and small. This is the good kind.

The Cassia Tora, or wild indigo, has an egg-shaped leaf with a round end, its seeds peculiarly shaped, larger than the good kind and of a bronze color. Mr. Desportes, the person who first introduced its use here, could, I believe, supply some prepared coffee to the curious.

J. J. Delchamps.

As there is danger of the wild coffee plant being mistaken for the wild indigo, and we are credibly informed that such mistakes have been made with serious results, our advice is to let it alone. Better to go without coffee, or any substitute for it, than to run any risk of getting poisoned..—Eds.

by John Beauchamp Jones

SEPTEMBER 26TH.—The press here have no knowledge of the present locality of Gen. Lee and his army. But a letter was received from Gen. L. at the department yesterday, dated on this side of the Potomac, about eighteen miles above Harper’s Ferry.

It is stated that several hundred prisoners, taken at Sharpsburg, are paroled prisoners captured at Harper’s Ferry. If this be so (and it is said they will be here to-night), I think it probable an example will be made of them. This unpleasant duty may not be avoided by our government.

After losing in killed and wounded, in the battle of Sharpsburg, ten generals, and perhaps twenty thousand men, we hear no more of the advance of the enemy; and Lee seems to be lying perdue, giving them an opportunity to ruminate on the difficulties and dangers of “subjugation.”

I pray we may soon conquer a peace with the North; but then I fear we shall have trouble among ourselves. Certainly there is danger, after the war, that Virginia, and, perhaps, a sufficient number of the States to form a new constitution, will meet in convention and form a new government.

Gen. Stark, of Mississippi, who fell at Sharpsburg, was an acquaintance of mine. His daughters were educated with mine at St. Mary’s Hall, Burlington, N. J.—and were, indeed, under my care. Orphans now!

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

Today, the brave and distinguished BEAUREGARD assumes the command of the Confederate forces within the Military Department of South Carolina and Georgia. He is no stranger amongst us. Long before this bloody tide of war had begun to surge to and fro along the border, we, of South Carolina, had learned to honor and confide in his unselfish patriotism and his sagacity as a commander, and his name had grown to be as a household word in our midst. And now, when the hour for trial for Charleston seems to be at hand, the war-worn hero of Manassas and of Shiloh, with the laurel of new victories fresh upon his brow, and with a world-wide fame, comes again to the scene of his former triumph, to face once more the foe, whom he has never met but to defeat. We are sure that his presence will stimulate the minds of our troops and people with his own unconquerable spirit, and that his knowledge, judgment and energy will speedily supply whatever may be lacking to render Charleston safe against the enemy’s attacks. The eventful campaigns of the last two years have afforded abundant evidence of the tact and success of General BEAUREGARD in the management of large armies of volunteers. He possesses, in an eminent degree, those qualities which exact at once the cheerful obedience and the enthusiastic admiration of his soldiers. With such a General, the defenders of Charleston, in the time of their extremity, will stand staunchly, shoulder to shoulder, to repel the foe, and, whatever be the odds brought against us, we may hope to witness a defence worthy the ancient fame of the ‘Nest of the Rebellion.’

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

We find, the correspondence of the Columbia Guardian, the following interesting ‘Camp Notes’ of the movements and gallant deeds of some of the Palmetto regiments, in the battles which immediately preceded the crossing of the Potomac:

Groveton seems to be the name agreed upon as that of the great battle near Bull Run — being a portion of it upon the field of the battle of Manassas Plains, which the Yankees, and after them, the English, will call Bull Run. It was fought upon the 28th, 29th, and 30th of August.

The 28th was Ewell’s fight. It was principally to hold the enemy in check, to ascertain his position, and to determine his strength. Ewell succeeded in all these.

The 29th was A.P. Hill’s fight. It was made to hold an elevated position on the Independent Route Railroad track (as indicated in a former paper), which commanded the surrounding country for miles, especially the Leesburg turnpike direction; secondly, to hold the enemy in check till Longstreet and Jackson got into the most desirable position upon his (Hill) right. He succeeded in all these. The ball opened about 8 a.m. and closed after 8 p.m. The principal work was in Hill’s front, just where Gregg’s brigade were posted. Upon this point the enemy hurled his freshest and most confident brigades; and in eight successive charges, with probably a fresh brigade in each, they dealt out that entire day in blood; and, finally, as darkness closed over the scene, they were driven back deep into the woods, several hundred yards from the lines of the dead. Hill’s orders to Gregg were to hold his position, and avoid precipitating a general engagement by advancing. From eight a.m. till four p.m., Gregg stood his ground as gallantly and successfully, against five separate charges, as ever General did, and stood alone. At 4 the fury of hell seemed infused into the spirit of assault; and Generals Branch and Fields were honored with a place for a portion of their brigades in the focus of danger and Read more

September 26, 1862, The New York Herald

LOUISVILLE, Sept. 21, 1862.

General Bragg came into possession of Munfordsville on Wednesday morning, the 17th instant. The returned paroled prisoners state that Tuesday night was spent in quiet by themselves, but that the rebels were busy. One of them, describing the night, says they all remained awake listening to the rumbling of artillery in the distance, with as much anxiety as the bloody Richard listened to the preparations on the night before his last battle. He states that in the calmness of the night every stroke of the pick was plainly heard on the hills around the fort, as the rebels built defences for the guns which they were placing in battery. They knew that they were surrounded, and that under cover of the darkness the rebels were planting their guns to open upon them in the morning; but they were powerless to act, to fight or to retreat. No shell disturbed the rebels in their labor. When sunrise came a flag of truce came with it, and the officer who brought it, with all the coolness of Lucifer revealing the world as his, took Col. Dunham on the breastworks of his fort and pointed out the different batteries yawning upon him. Col. Dunham found that every trench of his fort would be raked by the enfilading fire of the enemy, and returned reply to the rebel that the fort was his.

After the surrender was completed the United States troops were marched four miles south towards Bowling Green, and a division of rebel troops formally occupied the fort. I was particular to question the informant as to his idea of a division. He described the force in question as being about three times as large as our own force. This latter was composed of a single brigade of 4,500 men. The man’s idea of a division was somewhat exaggerated, as the rebel divisions will hardly run over 12,000; but they are doubtless composed, as are our own, of three brigades. I then inquired of him what Bragg’s force amounted to. He replied, somewhat to my astonishment, that he had eight divisions. Read more

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

The accounts given by the Richmond papers of Wednesday of the movements and present position of our army on the Upper Potomac, are very vague and contradictory. They all agree, however, in vouching for the completeness and brilliancy of JACKSON’S victory at Shepherdstown, in which the slaughter of the enemy is said to have been far greater, in proportion to the numbers engaged, than in any previous battle of the war. It seems that one column of the enemy, ten thousand strong, having crossed to the Virginia side were attacked and almost literally cut to pieces by General JACKSON. Another strong force of the enemy, attempting to come to the rescue of the first, were, while fording the river, opened on by our artillery, and mowed down in multitudes. They withstood our fire but a few moments before breaking and fleeing in utter rout to the Maryland shore. Our forces made quick pursuit, and at last accounts were pressing the enemy closely, and pouring into his rear a murderous fire. The Examiner persists stoutly in its statement that our whole army is still operating in Maryland. It says:

‘We feel assured, from information gathered from trustworthy sources, that our entire force is somewhere beyond the Potomac and close upon the heels of McClellan’s shattered army, but upon what route and at what point, we have been unable to ascertain. The President, on yesterday, received a letter from Gen. Lee, in which the latter stated that in the battle of Sharpsburg the shock of battle was the most tremendous that had ever occurred upon this continent, and that the result was the severest and most damaging that the enemy had received in the whole campaign. The enemy confess to a loss of ten thousand killed and wounded, which, taking into account their notorious determination to suppress the truth, may surely be doubled. Our loss in killed, wounded and missing, will, it is now definitely known, not exceed five thousand.’

On the other hand, the Richmond Dispatch is satisfied that Gen. LEE has […..] his base to the south bank of the Potomac, and that no portion of our army is now in Maryland. Read more

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

FROM KNOXVILLE — GENERAL BRAGG’S MOVEMENTS IN KENTUCKY.

KNOXVILLE, September 25. — Maj. Gen. JONES received, today, a despatch from Dechard, confirming the capture of 5000 prisoners at Munfordsville, and of 1800 more at Cave City, Ky. General BRAGG is moving on Louisville. The enemy at Nashville is about 5000 strong. Great alarm prevails there. Our guerillas are doing good work.

Later. September 25. A courier has arrived tonight from Gen. SMITH at Lexington, via Gen. BRAGG’S headquarters, which are eight miles past Munfordsville. He brings dates to the 19th. Frankfort, Georgetown, Cynthia, Williamstown and Falmouth are all securely in our possession. Kentucky is thoroughly aroused. Twenty-three thousand State troops have already volunteered, and they are still rapidly coming in. The Home Guards are turning over their arms to us as fast as they can be received. The 1st Louisiana and 1st Tennessee Regiments had had an engagement with the enemy under Gen. WALLACE. In the capture of Munfordsville our loss was 50 killed and wounded. That of the enemy was much greater. Gen. BUELL’S force — 18,000 strong — is in the neighborhood of Bowling News by Telegraph.

Green. Only 7000 Yankee troops are in Nashville. Our forces are revelling in the good fare that Kentucky hospitality affords them.

September 26, 1862, The New York Herald

There is no information of any present movement of our troops in Maryland. The rebels are still in force on the Virginia side of the Upper Potomac, opposite Williamsport and Falling Waters, at which latter place General Lee has his headquarters. They are said to be destroying the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between Harper’s Ferry and Cumberland, and have already demolished some of the most important bridges west of Martinsburg, the bridge over the Black river included. General McClellan’s army, although not making any immediate demonstration, is still, it may be proper to say, not idle, nor unprepared for future important operations, the object of which it would not be proper to state.

Another meeting of the Governors of the Northern States will be held immediately at Washington. The Governors proceeded to that place yesterday for this purpose. Their address to the President will be presented today. It was signed by Governor Curtin, Governor Pierpoint and Governor Tod with great reluctance. In referring to reserves, it urges the organization of a reserve force of one hundred thousand men.

We give some highly interesting extracts today from the rebel journals relative to the late battles in Maryland. The Richmond Enquirer claims the battle of Antietam as a great rebel victory. It was directed by General Lee in person with 60,000 men in his command. The rebel account makes our force 150,000. General Jackson commanded the left of the rebel line, General Hill the right, and General Longstreet the centre. It is admitted that our artillery was used with fearful effect, and that upon the whole the battle was the most severe of the entire campaign. Two rebel Generals were killed — Stark, of Mississippi, and Branch, of North Carolina — and six others were wounded. The Petersburg Express makes the significant admission that all hopes of Maryland uniting her destinies with the South must now be banished. The experiment to rouse her people to follow the fortunes of the rebel army is proclaimed to have been a dead failure, and the devoted adherence of the State government, the press, and the majority of the Read more

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

(CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.)

RICHMOND, Tuesday, September 23.

The Mysteries of Udelpho are very fine, but they are not up to the Mysteries of Richmond. — In traversing the space of four squares, last evening, I heard the following:

1. General LEE had sent word to put Richmond in a complete state of defence, without a moment’s delay. 2. Our army had burnt Boonesboro’ and captured 13,000 prisoners, including Burnside and his whole staff. 3. Lee had telegraphed the President that he crossed the river not on account of the enemy or the want of supplies, but because he feared the river would rise after the equinoctial storms. 4. A surgeon in Lee’s staff, just arrived, had stated that our whole army was on this side of the river, in quest of provisions. 5. An intelligent young man, belonging to the War Department, had heard Lee’s despatch read, in which he said: ‘We have been victorious in every engagement.’ 6. An officer of the State Department had read Lee’s letter, which stated that Wednesday’s battle amounted to a drawn one, and our army was on this side of the Potomac. 7. A clerk in the Adjutant General’s office, who left Middletown, Maryland, on Friday at noon, said we had whipped the enemy that day, and were chasing him towards Fredericktown. 8. Col. X., high in office, said our whole army was in Virginia; but, nevertheless, at the President’s house everybody was in high glee. 9. Mr. Z., of the War Office, said there was good news, which he was not at liberty to tell, which would be made known today. Wasn’t this enough to make a man’s head swim?

Today the fog continues. The Examiner has one story, the Dispatch another, and the Government’s organ a third. Add to this a report that Col. Chilton, chief of Lee’s staff, has written a letter to his wife declaring there was a fight and a Confederate victory on Friday. There is a mystery, too, about Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, son of the commanding Read more

September 26, 1862, The Charleston Mercury

LEESBURG, VA., is still in our possession. A force of 1200 Yankee cavalry and artillery made a dash into the town on Wednesday week, when the Confederate infantry (a small force) fell back. The Yankees then shelled the town, injuring nineteen houses and wounding one lady. The Confederate cavalry appeared two hours afterwards, re-occupying the town and driving out the Yankees.

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