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SUNDAY
AUGUST 14
, 1864
THE DAILY CONSTITUTIONALIST (GA)

Scenes under a Flag of Truce.

The correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch writes from Petersburg as follows:

On Sunday evening, at about two o’clock, Burnside sent a flag of truce, asking for a cessation of hostilities to bury the dead between the lines. General Beauregard responded that whenever a proposition came from the General commanding the army of the Potomac it would be entertained. Immediately after the return of the first paper, General Meade sent a flag covering a similar request. About two o’clock, Monday morning, General Beauregard replied, granting the request and fixing the hours between nine a.m. and five a.m. for the purposes indicated. At the hour named, or just about sunrise, three gaily-dressed, flashy-looking officers raised an elegant white flag, mounted on a handsome staff, and advanced from their line of works. Simultaneously two shabbily-dressed but brave Confederates, mounting a dirty pocket handkerchief on a ram-rod, proceeded to meet them. A brief parley ensued, civilities were exchanged, and then the details came to do the work of truce–the burial of the dead. For five hours the work went vigorously forward. The Yankees brought details of Negroes, and we carried their Negroes out under guard to help them in their work. Over seven hundred Yankees, whites and Negroes, were buried. A. P. Hill was there, with long gauntlets, slouch hat, and round jacket. Mahone, dressed in little boy-fashion cut of clothes, made from old Yankee tent cloth, was beside him.

The gallant Harris, of the Mississippi brigade, and the gallant, intrepid Sanders, who but forty-eight hours before had so successfully retaken those works–the best looking and the best dressed Confederate officer present–was sauntering leisurely about, having a general superintendence over the whole affair. On the Yankee side there was any number of nice young men, dressed jauntily, carelessly smoking cigars, and proffering whiskey, wine, and brandy of the best labels, and of sufficient age to warrant its flavor. More than one Confederate took a smile. Some took two, and one told me that, finding the liquor of the “peace” order, he went it seven times. Several bottles were sent as presents to our leading generals. The Yankees talked freely, said their loss would be five thousand, that the whites blamed the Negroes, and the Negroes in turn charged the disasters of the day upon the whites. They all agreed that Burnside was just an hour and a half behind time, and that he was the greatest of modern butchers, as Marye’s Hill and Griffith’s farm would abundantly attest. Whilst the truce lasted, the Yankees and “Johnny Rebs,” in countless numbers, flocked to the neutral grounds and spent the time in chatting and sight-seeing. The stench, however, was quite strong, and it required a good nose and a better stomach to carry one through the ordeal. About nine o’clock, the burial being completed, the officers sent the men back to the trenches on each side. The officers bade each other adieu and returned to their respective lines.

•••••

Secretary Welles, says a Yankee paper, whose honesty and patriotism are as unbounded as his capacity is otherwise, is vastly tickled with the victory of the Kearsarge over the Alabama. He always knew “we” could do it.

Surrender of Fort Gaines.

The Mobile Register of the 9th contains some particulars of the disgraceful surrender of this work:

We are pained and humiliated to have to record the disgraceful capitulation of this strong work, provisioned for six months and with an effective garrison of 600 men.  We give the following account, based not upon rumors, but upon official data.

On the 7th, Col.  Charles Anderson, of the 21st Alabama, being in command of the garrison, composed of a part of his own regiment, the battalion of Pelham Cadets, a portion of Culpepper's Artillery, and some other troops, numbering 600 men, communicated with the enemy's fleet by flag of truce, without the sanction of his Commanding General, Gen. Page, at Fort Morgan.

Gen. Page inquired of him, by signal, what his purpose was.  No reply or acknowledgement was returned, although his attention was called by signal guns.  He was telegraphed repeatedly by Gen. Page, "hold on to your fort." On the same night Gen. Page passed over to Fort Gaines and a boat and was astonished to learn that Col. Anderson was absent to the Yankee fleet for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation.  He left peremptory orders for him on his return, if not accompanied by the enemy, that all terms of surrender were annulled, and himself relieved of his command.  On the morning of the 8th he called his attention again from Fort Morgan by signal guns and telegraphed to the same effect.  Still no reply.

At half past nine o'clock the enemy's flag was run up on the fort.  His superiors pronounce the conduct of Col. Andersen as "inexplicable and disgraceful." And so the country will pronounce.  Colonel Andersen had previously telegraphed to Lieut.  Colonel Williams of his regiment, at fort Powell, "if your fort is untenable save your garrison." The latter part of the order was attended to to first, and so two forts have been surrendered to the enemy.  It is not thus that the Confederate cause is to be upheld.  We must have officers who do not know how to surrender outposts of such importance entrusted to their courage and discretion.  The army and the people of Mobile, (and the whole male population is now an army,) will have to repair by their courage and loyalty these fatal blunders, to call them by the mildest terms.  We have the means to do it; and the evidences are all around us in the sullen determination of the people that the nerve is also here.  If the enemy expect to find the defence of those two Confederate forts the measures of the resistance he will encounter at the city, he will be gravely disappointed.  We have now not only to fight for our homes, but to redeem Confederate honor from the disgrace of these unpardonable defections.

MONDAY
AUGUST 15, 1864
DAILY EASTERN ARGUS (ME)

The Pirate Tallahassee!
She Continues Her Career Unmolested.

Sandy Hook, Aug. 14.

The boatmen of the Associated Press furnishes the following report:

“I have boarded the barque Suliote, of Belfast from Cow Bay for New York. She was captured on the 12th, off Montauk Point, 30 miles distant, by the pirate Tallahassee. The pirates bonded the barque for $5000, and put on board of her three hundred passengers from the ship Adriatic, the latter having been burned by the pirate. No water or provisions were given them.

The Suliote has also on board Mr. Callahan and crew of the pilot boat Wm. Bell, No. 24, which vessel was burnt on the 12th off Montauk Point by the pirate. Several other persons from destroyed vessels were also on board the Suliote.

The Suliote reports seeing a vessel burning on the night of the 12th.

The pirate stated to some of the captured persons that he was coming into New York harbor. When last seen the Tallahassee was steering SE. The pilot boat James Funk is her tender.

The Suliote passed the frigate Susquehanna on Saturday morning lying still south of Sandy Hook.

Louis Sanson, pilot, reports 11th inst., 25 miles off Montauk Point, saw a hermaphrodite brig, turned bottom up. No doubt the Carrie Estelle.

Capt. Bardora, of the Hamburg barque, saw 12th inst., off Montauk, three burning vessels. At the same time the pirate Tallahassee came close aboard, with the Union flag flying. After passing, the pirate hoisted the Confederate flag. Saw a man jump overboard from the Tallahassee, but he was picked up by one of her boats and taken on board again. Same day saw schooner Sirene, and a pilot boat burned, the name and number of the latter unknown.

Capt. Swarts, of the Holland barque Cheribon, reports 12th inst., lat 40 25, lon 72 34, saw a large ship on fire.

The pilot boat Ezra Nye, arrived here, reports that on the 12th inst., off Montauk, saw the pilot boat James Funk leave a ship on fire. Afterwards saw a suspicious steamer take the boat in tow. The Ezra Nye stood off, but afterwards went to the burning ship, and found her to be the Adriatic, Captain Moore, from London for New York. Two foreign barques were close by, to whom the Tallahassee was supposed to have transferred the passengers. She was afterwards seen near a large ship.

Later.

New York, Aug. 14.

The barque Suliote, with the captain, crew and passengers of the ship Adriatic, and crew of the pilot boat Wm. Bell, arrived up this evening. The passengers lost all their luggage. The large number of persons placed on board the Suliote sunk her so that her deck was level with the water. Had a storm arose probably all on board would have been lost. The Adriatic had 163 passengers, and a full cargo of merchandise, the latter mostly on British account.

In rounding to after capture, the Adriatic collided with the pirate, carrying away the Tallahassee’s mainmast; and had there been a good wind at the time would undoubtedly have sunk her.

All of the passengers express their gratitude to Capt. Panno, of the Suliote, for his kindness to them.

How Much Massachusetts Pays for a Negro.—A republican leader in the Connecticut Legislature said, “a Negro is just as good as anybody to stop a rebel bullet.” Massachusetts is engaged in the patriotic business of buying Negroes for that purpose. Supervisor Kirby, by permission of the Brooklyn N. Y. Board of Supervisors, read the following communication from Hinsdale, Mass., to show the possibility of recruiting Negroes in the Southern States:

Hinsdale, Mass., 1864.

Francis Kirby, Esq.: Dear Sir–Being on a visit to this place, I find the people here are filling up their coming quota for the next call of men by going to Fortress Monroe and buying Negroes. The town of Pittsfield, on Monday, bought 150, at the small sum of $240 apiece, which is less than our County is now paying for substitutes. I think you would like to know of such a fact, and perhaps you do not know it, is the reason I drop you this line in haste. Yours, &c.,

James Mathews.

•••••

From the South.

Washington, Aug. 14.

The Richmond Examiner of Friday contains the following dispatch:

Mobile, Aug. 9.

Hon. S. E. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy:

The enemy steamed in through the main entrance with four monitors and about sixteen heavy vessels of war. The Tecumseh, commander T. M. Craven, was sunk with nearly all her crew, and also another gunboat, the Philippe, which I subsequently burned. The Richmond, Hartford and Brooklyn in line of battle followed by the rest of the fleet, pushed by Fort Morgan, and was under full headway when they were encountered by the Tennessee, Morgan, Gaines and Selma. The Tennessee and other vessels steamed in close range of the advancing fleet and poured a heavy fire into the leading ships. 

After a desperate struggle between the fleets, the Gaines retired to Fort Morgan in a sinking condition, the Selma was cut off and surrendered, and the Morgan escaped to Fort Morgan. The Tennessee, so far uninjured, steamed toward the whole fleet and, after an obstinate fight, surrendered. Her rudder was disabled, her smoke stack carried away, and, as supposed, her crew in an exhausted and smothering condition. On the Tennessee, the Admiral, Buchanan, was severely wounded by a splinter in his leg. Twenty-one were killed and several wounded. Among the crew on the Gaines, two were killed and two wounded; on the Morgan, one was wounded; on the Selma eight were killed, including her Executive officer, and seven wounded. The enemy suffered severely and requested permission to bury his dead. Respectfully,

G. W. Harrison,
Confederate States Navy.

The Examiner also gives a list of 1 Federal vessels engaged having 212 guns, with 4 Confederates having 32 guns, and says, “It was a most unequal contest in which our gallant little navy engaged, and we lost the battle, but our ensign went down in a blaze of glory.”

TUESDAY
AUGUST 16, 1864
THE SPRINGFIELD DAILY UNION (MA)

The Mobile achievement.
[from the New Orleans Era, Aug. 7th.]

The Union fleet passed the forts in the following order: First came the four monitors, two of them the same which recently lay in front of New Orleans; next came the Brooklyn, with a steamer lashed to her side--the side farthest removed from the enemy; following her came the flag-ship Hartford, with the Metacomet lashed to her.  In what order the others followed, we have not ascertained.

The noble old ship of war Hartford had, of course, to perform some deed of more than common daring--something different from the gallant exploits of her consorts.

When it came her turn to run the fiery to gantlet, Admiral Farragut directed her to be steered in as close to Fort Morgan as the depth of water would permit; and as the shore at this point is very abrupt, very short range was thus obtained.

The battle-tried vessel moved steadily down toward the rebels, and received the first fire without injury, when her heavy broadsides opened upon the fort.  Grape and canister were literally rained upon the enemy, and once stopping all work at his guns, and causing the artillerymen to seek safety in ignominious flight.  So fierce and well-sustained were the Hartford's broadsides, that the rebel fire was nullified, and all the damage that vessel received was in the subsequent fight in the Bay, of which more hereafter.

The position chosen by the Admiral, and which he maintained through the contest, was a novel but most commanding one.  Desiring at once to overlook the enemy and watch the movements of his own fleet, he ascended to the main-top of the Hartford, and was there lashed fast.

A speaking trumpet was run down to the deck, and an officer was stationed at the lower end to receive the Admiral's orders and pass them to the person whose duty it was to see them executed.  This proved to be a most admirable arrangement, and we may expect, ere long, for the commanders of fleets to have comfortable quarters built for themselves on the tops of the masts of their flag ships.

Elevated as was the station of the Admiral, the Fleet Pilot rivaled him, for he too was far up in the rigging, and from his high position communicated his orders to his subordinates.

After the fleet had passed the forts, all the vessels made direct for the Tennessee and completely surrounded her.  Then followed the fierce part of the combat.  Ship after ship was driven against the iron sides of their formidable adversary, and broadside after broadside poured in upon her, until she was overpowered, and the bastard stars and bars gave place to the glorious flag of the free.

With a full head of steam, on the Hartford rushed down upon the great iron-clad, and the concussion shook the rebel vessel to the center, but without damaging the stout sides of the flagship.  Swinging around, after butting her opponent, it was the intention to deliver a broadside into her.  Just at this critical moment, a vessel was discovered rushing upon the Hartford from the other side.

It proved to be the Metacomet, which had the exact range of the ram, but the Hartford had swung across her path, and the smoke which enveloped the combatants was so dense that, until the moment before they collided, the unfortunate position of the Hartford was not discovered.  As soon as the latter was discerned, the engines of the Metacomet were stopped and reversed; but still the momentum was sufficient to crush in the side timbers of the Hartford.

Our highest naval authorities are greatly surprised at the small loss inflicted upon the Union fleet.  Admiral Farragut, it is said, fully expected to lose half a dozen of his vessels, but as it is, the ram Tecumseh is the only one that can be called lost.  We surely have prizes vessels sufficient to offset this. ->

We are sorry to record the loss of the dispatch steamer Philippe, Captain Seevers.  She burned in sight of the fleet, but the affair is as yet enveloped in mystery.  The Philippe was a beautifully finished, sharp-prowed, light-draught steamer, built expressly for speed, and for some time past has been employed as Admiral Farragut's dispatch boat.

She accompanied the Hartford until within range of the rebel works, but when the firing began she was ordered away.  After getting some distance out, flames were observed to burst suddenly from her, and it is supposed she was totally destroyed.  The fate of Capt. Seevers and the other officers and men of the Philippe is unknown, but it is thought that they took to the boats and pulled to some of the blockading squadron in Mississippi Sound, a distance of nearly thirty miles..  The destruction of this vessel is a severe loss, as she was extremely useful to our naval commanders.

A friend at our elbow suggests the following pertinent queries: will the rebels consider the present blockade of Mobile "efficient?" What are the quotations of stock in Mobile blockade runners?  Is not Mobile a port of entry for United States vessels?

Will some of our "Confederate" friends respond?

 •••••

The Rebel Prisoners at Elmira.—The Rochester Union says: “There are about eight thousand rebel prisoners at Elmira, and more are coming up daily. They are mostly able-bodied men, evidently of good families at the South. They are orderly and respectful in their deportment, but most decided in their adherence to Southern principles. The discipline of the camp is very rigid, and there is no intercourse between the prisoners and the public. Few civilians can even get a peep over the high fence at the mass, much less get within speaking distance. An enterprising Elmira Yankee, who has ground near the camp, is building an observatory from which people can look into the enclosure by paying a fee. He intends to keep in this tower a powerful glass, by the aid of which visitors can see the vermin which are said to be so plentiful upon the bodies of the prisoners.”

 •••••

The police in Washington are slaughtering dogs by scores. The Republican of that city says the bark of a dog is not a good tonic and tends to derange the nervous system. A few days ago it said the boys should remember that there is a pound for dogs remaining at large without muzzles, and they will receive a quarter dollar each for taking dogs there, but they should avoid catching mad dogs for the purpose of impounding them.

One of them replies thus:

Mist Reddytur: I seed in yure paper that the boyze kin git a quorter fer kerrying dorgs to pound. Now sur wee kin git halve a dolr fer dorgs at the sassidge boocher’s and a nuther we don’t kno where the dorg pound is–& a nuther thing its wirth moren a quarter to Kerry dogs thare–and a nuther its wirth moren a quarter to see a pleeceman crak at a dorg! So you dorg pound–we don’t see it!Boot Polisher.

WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 17, 1864
NEW HAMPSHIRE PATRIOT & STATE GAZETTE

The Soldier-Voting Bill.

It will be seen that the Republicans in the house have forced through a bill nominally to allow soldiers who are legal voters to vote in the field for Presidential Electors and members of Congress.  A bill to allow soldiers to thus vote for all officers, was declared unconstitutional by the Judges of the Supreme Court a year ago; but since then the Vermont judges have invented a nice distinction between voting for State officers in voting for President and Members of Congress.  They hold that the Legislature may of allow votes for the latter to be cast anywhere, while for State officers the votes must be cast in the town where the voters reside.  It is expected that our Judges will adopt this Vermont dodge, and therefore the bill provides that it shall be operative only upon their approval in this regard.  A more shameless attempt to ignore and override the Constitution was never made, and it remains to be seen whether our Judges will lend themselves to its success.  Their opinion given last year, is in direct conflict with his new idea–not in words, for it had not then been invented, but in its spirit and scope; and if they now sanction this bill it will show that they are the mere tools of party–the willing the instruments for the open violation of the Constitution which they are sworn to support and of which they are the especial guardians and defenders.

The Democrats oppose this bill, not because they are unwilling to allow the legal voters in the army to cast their votes for any and all officers, but because the bill is in open violation of the Constitution, and because it is so framed as to permit and encourage the most stupendous frauds upon the elective franchise.  They are willing that any soldier should vote, and devote just as his conscience and judgment dictate.  They proposed and unanimously voted for a bill allowing all soldiers to come home for that purpose–which the Republicans unitedly opposed.  But that they will never assent to a measure like that which has passed the House--which should be entitled "a bill to permit petty officers in the army to control the election in this State." It gives them the power to any petty officer who may be in command of a company, to cast a hundred votes!  And of the returns are not to be made to the Selectmen of the town where the soldiers are alleged to the voters, but to the Governor!  The whole design of the measure is fraud and its whole machinery is designed to aid and cover up fraud.  If an honest officer is found in command of a company, he will be sent off on "detached service" when the election takes place, and an unscrupulous tool of abolition of politicians will be put in command of the company to make the return of the alleged vote. -> 

The return is required to give the names of the men voting, and if the Selectmen, who would know whether such men were voters in their towns, it would be a check to considerable extent upon the rascality contemplated; and therefore it is to be made to the Governor.  As the bill now stands, the meanest "sub" in the company may be invested with the power of casting a hundred votes!  He may be in command, and may return a hundred names and votes, although there may not be ten legal voters in the company; and there will be no means of detecting and defeating the fraud!  And it is for this kind of voting that the bill is designed–not to allow the voters in the army to exercise the important right of free suffrage.  It is in fact the scheme to allow a few officers and political agents to cast or count a few thousand fraudulent votes for Abe Lincoln; and our Judges are expected to give vitality to this fraudulent scheme.

•••••

Terrible Explosion.–At City Point, on the James River, Gen. Grant’s base of supplies, on the 9th inst., while a large number of Negroes and others were unloading an ammunition barge,  a terrible explosion occurred, causing a great loss of life and destruction of property. Gen. Grant reports that 12 soldiers, three citizens and 38 Negro laborers were killed, and three officers, 37 soldiers and citizens, [and] 86 Negro laborers were wounded. The loss of property is estimated at two millions of dollars. This terrible catastrophe resulted from the careless handling of ammunition by the Negroes.1

•••••

Exemptions.– The law allows, practically, no exemptions from the draft; but the "Government" orders that as many of the men in its workshops as it deems necessary, shall be exempted.  The result is that thousands of men in its employment are exempted, and we shall find that all of its employees, including clerks in the Departments and Post Offices, Custom House man, and others, will be exempted. These are all “supporters of the Government,” and are to be kept at home to vote for Lincoln.

THURSDAY
AUGUST 18,
1864
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENTINEL

The Explosion of an Ammunition Boat at City Point.

Washington, Aug. 11.--a letter from the City Point, dated the 10th, says:

"About 11 o'clock yesterday morning, a noise, resembling the explosion of a magazine, was heard at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.  During the afternoon word came that a boat loaded with ammunition had exploded at City Point, causing a frightful loss of life and great destruction of property."

When the correspondent of the Associated Press had reached the scene of the disaster a spectacle presented itself utterly indescribable.  Buildings had been at demolished, tents thrown it down, and horses killed, in every direction.  The depot building, which had just been completed, was a mass of ruins, while the ground before hundreds of yards was covered with property of every description.  The dead and wounded had been extricated from the ruins and carried some distance back, the former for burial and the latter to be sent to the hospitals.

The boat loaded with various kinds of ammunition, was being unloaded by Negroes of the Quartermasters Department, nearly one hundred in number, and the only theory advanced as to the cause of the calamity is that a shell must have been dropped by one of them, thus communicating fire to the entire mass.  The noise lasted about 30 seconds, and the shock was felt for a long distance.

On the side of the road in front of the landing were located a number of offices and stores, among them the post-office and Adams' Express office, which were almost entirely from it down.  The large number of persons occupying them miraculously escaped with slight bruises.

In the rear of these buildings is a steep bank covered with tents on the summit, occupied chiefly by colored laborers and their families.  Had the ground been level the loss of life would have been greater.  Shells, ball and shot of every kind struck this bank in a perfect shower, while the ground in the vicinity is actually covered with all kinds of stores.

A boat loaded with stores, lying alongside, was torn to pieces, the larger portion being raised completely out of the water and thrown through the storehouse on the dock.

Capt.  Benedict and Capt. Ames of the Commissary Department, were in the building, and buried beneath the ruins; but after considerable difficulty, were extricated, neither being fatally injured, although a good deal bruised.

Capt. Daniel D. Wiley, who was in his tent quite a distance from the spot, was struck in the head by a piece of shell and injured, though not dangerously, Mr. McKee, his clerk, was severely injured and cannot recover. A. M. Baxter, a citizen from Cold Spring, N. Y., was killed. Lt. Lane, of the Navy, was slightly injured, as also a citizen named Wright. James Thorp, a clerk in the Ordnance Office, was killed. Mr. Fay. of the Sanitary Commission, was slightly injured.  Richard Stone, a citizen, was killed.  Mr. Spencer, Relief Agent, was slightly injured.

Five shells passed through the Sanitary Commission's boat, but fortunately no one was injured.

Capt. Schuyler, the Provost Marshal, who was sitting on the top of the river's bank, was lifted up and blown a distance of ten or twelve feet, receiving a shower of shells around him, but, strange to say, escaped without a scratch.

Our loss is put down by him at about 30 killed and 70 or 80 wounded, 12 of the killed being soldiers.

The boat Lewis caught fire, when a wrecking tug ran her to shore, and extending her hose, put five streams on the fire, and extinguished it, thus saving a large amount of ammunition.

The loss to the government is estimated at $2,000,000.

The Rebel Ideas of Peace.

The Opposition press insist that the rebels are willing to treat for peace, and denounce the President for repelling their attempts to do so.  The rebel press are evidently doing what little they can to strengthen their Northern allies and urging this pretense.  The Daily News, which is the organ of the peace and democracy in this state quotes an article from the Richmond Sentinel, which it designates the "organ of Mr. Davis," and, therefore, a representative of the "sentiment and policy of the Confederate administration," to prove that the South is quite willing to negotiate, and that, too, on terms which the people and Government of the United States ought to consider satisfactory.  The News quotes the following paragraph is quite conclusive on that point:

" 'We of the South consider independence as the great and first object of the war, and that separation is essential to independence; yet we are willing to listen to what you have to say and propose on the other side. Now, (adds the News,) if they are willing to listen to all that may be said and proposed, it follows that they are willing to negotiate with out asserting their separate nationality as a forgone concession.' But the Sentinel adds: 'you may offer us something that will secure our equal rights within the Union.  We don't say it would satisfy us, but the subject is worthy of consideration.' "

And the News proceeds with the following touching the exhortation:

"People of the North!  If you are reasoning and reasonable beings; if you are not sticks and stones, or the abject slaves either of your own passions or of the prejudices of your tyrants, will you see the palpable falsehood branded on the brows of your misrulers, and permit them, nevertheless, to use that falsehood as a plea for their refusal to negotiate?  The South has said all that as brave men, as a free men, as men impressed with a consciousness of what is due to self-respect, they can say, to put away the sword and enter with them into a solemn appeal to reason."

This is very pathetic, doubtless.  But why does not the News also draw attention to the tempting nature of the terms which this rebel organ is willing to accept as the basis of peace; why does it not quoted this from the it's Sentinel:

"Let Peace Commissioners would be appointed by either section, and, invested with plenary powers of negotiation, meet on neutral territory and discuss the terms of peace.  You may offer us something that will secure our equal rights within the Union; you may propose to give the slaveholding and free states equality of votes in Congress and in the election of President; and to effect of this you may throw all New England into one of the state, or give her to England--or, if England won't have her, left her secede.  Now this would be a tempting bait.  We don't say it would satisfy us; but if the subject is worthy of consideration.  This war was brought about by New England and New Englanders, and who knows but that the balance of the states might live in peace and harmony if she were out of the way."

This will do for a beginning.  The News, apparently does not see that the Sentinel is merely dealing in a little bit of badinage--that is simply poking fun at the News and other Democratic journals silly enough to imagine for a moment that the rebels intend to treat for peace on any other terms than that of independence.  When their armies are destroyed, then they would treat for peace--and not before.

FRIDAY
AUGUST 19, 1864
THE BOSTON HERALD

President Lincoln Addresses a Regiment of Ohio Soldiers.

Washington, Aug. 19.–This afternoon the 165th Ohio reg’t, Col. Lee, whose term of service has expired, paid their respects to the President in front of the Executive mansion, who addressed them as follows:

“Soldiers–You are about to return to your homes and your friends, after having, as I learn, performed in camp a comparatively short term of duty in this great contest. I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country. I wish it might be more generally and universally understood what the country is now engaged in. We have, as all will agree, a free government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man.

“In this great struggle, this form of government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle, the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed. I say this, in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose.

“There may be some inequalities in the practical application of our system. It is fair that each man shall pay taxes in exact proportion to the value of his property; but if we should wait, before collecting a tax, to adjust the taxes upon each man in exact proportion with every other man, we should never collect any tax at all.

“There may be mistakes made sometimes; and things may be done wrong, while the officers of the Government do all they can to prevent mistakes. But I beg of you, as citizens of this great Republic, not to let your minds be carried off from the great work we have before us. This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter.

“When you return to your homes, rise up to the height of a generation of men worthy of a free government, and we will carry out the great work we have commenced. I return to you my sincere thanks, soldiers, for the honor you have done me this afternoon.”

Cheers were given for the President, and he was saluted by the regiment, after which the march was taken up for the railroad depot.

 •••••

A Confession.–The leading article of a London journal of large weekly circulation makes the following confession, while maintaining that England can fight as well as ever:

“This nation of shopkeepers is that of the Nile, of Balaklava, of Aliwal–that built the Alabama, that manned her, that carried her into action with the Kearsarge. The men that fought against such odds–the surgeon that sank with the ship rather than desert his post–the gunners that loaded and fired till the sinking ship drowned out the fires of her engines–these men were Englishmen–as true hearts of oak, as seasoned chips of the old block, as ever swept the seas with Blake or with Rodney, Howe or Duncan.”

•••••

The Gloucester Fleet of Mackerel Vessels.–Great fears are at present entertained for the safety of the nearly three hundred sail of fine and valuable fishing schooners belonging to Gloucester, and now on the north-east coast fishing grounds after mackerel, from being destroyed by the rebel steamer Tallahassee. Many of these vessels are now on their way home from the British Provinces, via Gut of Canso, and probably in the track of the Tallahassee, with large fares of fat mackerel. It would indeed be a sad calamity to the enterprising people of Gloucester to have their vessels and cargoes burnt by the Tallahassee, which are valued probably upwards of two millions of dollars. Some steps ought to be taken immediately, which will tend towards protection, if possible, to the Gloucester fleet of mackerel schooners.

The Shenandoah Valley.

The leading article in the Army and Navy Journal of this week commences with these words: “On good authority it is announced that the second grand invasion of the North of 1864 is over. We would add our endorsement to this assertion with great caution, for he is a bold journalist who will venture any prediction, or even pronounce anything to be a fact, in these times, with regard to the military status of the Shenandoah and Cumberland Valleys.” And it concludes as follows: “We have now recorded our belief that this last demonstration hardly reached the dignity of a raid. But in the light of experience, we would not insure Pennsylvania against a genuine invasion before this paper goes to press. There is a gleam of hope in the apparent reorganization of some of the curiously conflicting commands in that region. The first task in the campaign should be the repossession of the Shenandoah Valley.”

From private sources, also, intimations have reached us that the real invasion of Maryland for the current season is yet to be attempted. We do not attach the slightest importance to surmises of this character, for the experience of the campaign so far ought to convince any impartial observer that the rebels are now too weak to undertake any great aggressive  movement, and that their chief solicitude is to maintain their vital positions at Atlanta and Richmond, the downfall of either city being virtually equivalent to the downfall of the military power of the Confederacy. The possible gain from a reinvasion of the loyal States could not outweigh the risk of such a daring enterprise in the far-sighted judgment of Gen. Lee, and the good citizens of Cumberland Valley may repose in confidence that their lives and property are henceforth secure from rebel armies.

Our main purpose in referring to the subject is to reiterate the suggestion made above, that “the first task in the campaign should be the repossession of the Shenandoah Valley.” This accomplished, a way would be opened for the capture of Lynchburg, and military advantages of the utmost value would accrue. Maryland and Pennsylvania would thenceforth be secure against even the rumor f invasion; and the communication between Richmond and Atlanta, indispensable to a prolonged tenure of either position, would be broken up. To the accomplishment of this task, which it is needless to say embraces many embarrassing features, it is reliably asserted that the Government is bending every energy. If any good at all should result from a campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, the results would present themselves in a tangible shape, not only to Grant and Sherman, but to the farmers of Maryland and Pennsylvania; and it is to be hoped that such a campaign may be undertaken, if not too late in the season.

•••••

Tired of His Boarding House.–A prisoner of war advertises from Johnson’s Island for a substitute to take his place in the military prison there:

Wanted–A substitute to stay here in my place. He must be thirty years old; have a good moral character; A1 digestive powers, and not addicted to writing poetry. To such an one all the advantages of a strict retirement, army rations and unmitigated watchfulness to prevent them from getting lost are offered for an indefinite period. Address me at Block 1, Room 12, Johnson’s Island, Military Prison, at any time for the next three years, enclosing half a dozen postage stamps.–Aza Hartz.

SATURDAY
AUGUST 20, 1864

THE MYSTIC PIONEER (CT)

Progress of the War.

On Sunday Gen. Grant made a brilliant movement with Gen. Hancock’s corps, and the divisions of Turner, Terry and Foster, on the north bank of the James river, near Deep Bottom, to clear a path on the road leading direct to Richmond. The rebels were completely surprised by the impetuous movement, although they were partially prepared for the attack by seeing our troops crossing the river. Their rifle pits were cleared by Gen. Birney. A portion of their works and guns were taken, and a number of prisoners captured by Gen. Barlow. Gens. Grant, Meade, Butler and Hancock, with their staffs, were on the ground and witnessed the attack. One of the batteries captured, it is reported, commanded the Dutch Gap canal, where our men are working, and which position had been on Sunday and Monday almost unmolested.

Gen. Wheeler and his rebel troops have been driven back from their attack on Col. Llebold’s little garrison at Dalton, Ga., with a loss of one hundred and fifty men. It is said that the charge of the Fourteenth United States colored infantry drove the enemy into confusion. Gen. Stedman had reinforced Col. Llebold in time to save him from a surrender to a force of rebels which outnumbered him ten to one.

Gen. Sheridan’s dispatches to the government from Winchester, ay ten o’clock Thursday, state that Gen. Merritt’s cavalry was attacked in front of Front Royal on the night previous by a force of Longstreet’s corps and Wickham’s and Lomax’s brigades; but defeated the rebels with a loss of 267 prisoners, twenty-four officers and two stand of colors. Col. Devin, of the Sixth New York cavalry, was wounded in this affair. The conduct of Gens. Merritt and Custer under Col. Devin is highly lauded by General Sheridan.

Mr. Stanton communicates, in a bulletin to Gen. Dix, the official report from General Canby of the surrender of Fort Gaines and the abandonment of Fort Powell in Mobile Bay. The general states that Fort Gaines contained fifty-six commissioned officers and eight hundred and eighteen enlisted men, and an armament of twenty-six guns intact, and provisions for twelve months. The garrison of Fort Powell was abandoned, and escaped to Cedar point. Its armament of eighteen guns is in condition for immediate service. Gen. Granger was to immediately invest Fort Morgan, leaving garrisons in Forts Gaines and Powell.

New from New Orleans states that our gunboats made an expedition up Grand Lake on the 26th ult., and destroyed a large number of flatboats just completed by the rebels and several in the course of construction. They also captured a considerable number of small arms and accoutrements left by rebel skedaddling cavalrymen. On the 28th the same gunboats destroyed two saw-mills, captured two boatloads of valuable lumber, and returned to Berwick Bay. On the 29th a party of Gen. Ullman’s scouts had a fight with some rebels near Morganza, resulting in the flight of the rebels, leaving a  rebel captain and several men dead and a number of wounded, besides several prisoners, in our hands.

The rebel guerrillas in the West continue to be very active and somewhat annoying in their interruption of travel by water and land. Dispatches from Indianapolis on Monday state that the rebels, under Colonel Johnson, fifteen hundred strong, captured three steamers near Shawneetown, Illinois, on Saturday night. The steamers were loaded with cattle belonging to the government. Forces have been stationed along Ohio river to prevent the rebels from crossing the Indiana border. ->

Johnson’s guerrillas, who have been harassing the people in Kentucky and on the banks of the Ohio river, were at Caseyville when last heard from, five hundred strong, carrying away the cattle and other plunder which they had taken from the captured steamers on the river. The people of Cairo are organizing for the defence of that place. A band of volunteers has been dispatched after Johnson.

By the arrival of the steamship Commander, from Port Royal Wednesday, we learn that a blockade runner, which got aground near Sullivan’s Island on Tuesday, 12th inst., and, being discovered the next morning, was battered to pieces by the guns from from Morris Island. She was a propeller and heavy laden, but a large portion of her cargo was saved by rebel wreckers.

The rebel pirate Tallahassee, Captain Wood, of the rebel navy, was plying about New York harbor on Friday of last week. She captured and destroyed six vessels–among them a pilot boat, the James Funk, whose crew, together with a portion of those of three brigs, a bark and a schooner, landed at Fire Island in a yawl, having been picked up by the yacht Lily. The rest were put on board the schooner Carroll. The Tallahassee is an iron steamer, and was built in London. She sailed recently from Wilmington, with a crew of one hundred and twenty men and three guns. The pirate Tallahassee has destroyed a considerable number of vessels off the New England and Nova Scotia coasts since last accounts–twenty-five off Martinicus Rock and six off Cape Sable, and two or three off Portland. She came within sixty miles of Sandy Hook on Thursday. The rebel pirate Tallahassee has arrived a Halifax, N. S., for coal. She destroyed besides those above mentioned, five schooners, one of which she ransomed for eight thousand dollars and the others she scuttled.

•••••

An anecdote worth laughing over is told of a man who had an infirmity as well as an appetite for fish. He was anxious to keep up his character for honesty, even while enjoying his favorite meal; and, while making a bill with his merchant, as the story goes, and when his back was turned, the honest buyer slipped a codfish up under his coat tail. But the garment was too short to cover up the theft, and the merchant perceived it.

“Now,” said the customer, anxious to improve all opportunities to call attention to his virtues, “Mr. merchant, I have traded with you a great deal, and have paid you promptly and honestly, haven’t I?”

“Oh, yes,” answered the merchant, “I make no complaint.”

“Well,” said the customer, I always insisted that honesty is the best policy, and the best rule to live and die by.”

“That’s so,” replied the merchant.

And the customer turned to depart.

“Hold on, friend,” cried the merchant, “Speaking of honesty, I have a bit of advice to give you. Whenever you come to trade again, you had better wear a longer coat of steal a shorter codfish.”

1 The laborers were not at fault in the least; the N.H. Patriot & Gazette routinely blamed blacks for anything bad that happens. Once thought to have been caused by a “coal torpedo”–several pounds of black powder formed in the shape of a lump of coal and painted black to resemble that rock, which, when thrown into a boiler fire, exploded–the explosion was actually caused by a “horological torpedo” or time bomb. (Source, p. 51, source, p. 762-3, and  source, p. 118.) Had the device actually been a coal torpedo, any laborer who shoveled it into the fire could be forgiven; in reality, the bomb was housed within a wooden box containing twelve pounds of powder and a clock. Two Confederate agents, J. Maxwell and R. K. Dillard, disguised as laborers, handed the box to a man on one of the Federal barges, saying that its captain had told him to put it aboard .

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