The American Civil War

February 22.—A proclamation was issued by Henry T. Clark, rebel Governor of North-Carolina, calling upon the people of his State to respond to the requisition made upon them by the President of the Confederate States, and fill up their quota in the army for the special defence of the State. He urges every argument of past renown and present need to induce them to enlist against their “invaders,” who are threatening to advance upon them, he says, “in a spirit of vengeful wickedness without a parallel.”—(Doc. 56.)

—In accordance with the recommendation of the President of the United States, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington was celebrated throughout the loyal United States with appropriate ceremonies.—The sloop-of-war Adirondack was launched at the Navy-yard at Brooklyn, New-York, to-day.

—At Fort Donelson Gen. Grant issued the following order:

“Tennessee, by her rebellion, having ignored all laws of the United States, no courts will be allowed to act under State authority, but all cases coming within the reach of the military arm, will be adjudicated by the authorities the Government has established within the State.

“Martial law is therefore declared to extend over West-Tennessee. Whenever a sufficient number of citizens return to their allegiance to maintain law and order over the territory, the military restriction here indicated will be removed.”

—The inauguration of Jefferson Davis, as President of the “permanent” government of the Confederate States, was celebrated to-day, with befitting solemnity, at Richmond, Va. The ceremonies began at noon, and were conducted in front of the capitol. An earnest and impressive inaugural was delivered by the President-elect, after which the oath of office was administered to him by J. D. Halyburton, Confederate Judge. The oath to the Vice-President-elect, Alexander H. Stephens, was then administered by the President of the Senate, after which the President and Vice-President were escorted to their respective homes by the committee of arrangements.—(Doc. 58.)

—The anniversary of the birthday of Washington was celebrated to-day at a public breakfast at Freemasons’ Tavern, in London, England. The Bishop of Ohio presided, and two hundred ladies and gentlemen were present.

Hon. C. F. Adams, United States Minister, in proposing a toast to the memory of Washington, referred to the crisis in America. “The United States,” he said, “are engaged in throwing off the burden of a malign power. The assault on the Federal Government carries with it an aggressive principle. It involved the acknowledgment of a prescriptive right of some men to rule over their fellows. We must then fully reestablish our fundamental doctrines at every hazard. It will doubtless cost us a severe effort in men, money, time, disorder, and perhaps confusion; but let us remember the trials which Washington endured; let us trust that we arc passing through this fire of purification, only to gather, as of yore, the moral fruits of self-devotion.”

The Bishop of Ohio proposed “the health of Queen Victoria,” which was drank with much enthusiasm.

Mr. Moss, United States Consul at London, proposed the next toast, which was, “the Union.”

Mr. Cyrus W. Field proposed, “England and America,” and invoked the sympathy of England, which would ultimately remove from the United States the great cause which had produced the present troubles.

The proceedings lasted for upward of five hours, and terminated in a vote of thanks to the Bishop of Ohio.—New-York Times, March 6.

{ 0 comments }

February 21.—The Richmond Whig, of this date, has the following: “We had not supposed it was seriously contemplated in any quarter to call out into active service the whole male population of the State. The proposition of Governor Letcher, to have all over sixteen and under sixty five, in cities, drilled for the defence of their respective localities, is a different affair. That may be practicable, and, under circumstances, might be desirable. But we have very great doubts whether such a mass would effect more good than mischief. But in respect to the rural districts, to call out the whole male population over sixteen and under sixty-five, or even between eighteen and forty-five, would be a mischievous and inexcusable folly. In the first place, we have not arms to put in their hands. That objection alone is sufficient. In the second place, it would ruin the industrial pursuits of the State, and leave us without the means of prosecuting the war beyond the present session.

“We hear that the rage for volunteering is greater than it has been since the beginning of the war. There will be no want of men, without any extraordinary legislation, if they can only get arms and leaders to conduct them against the enemy. If there should be any deficiency, it could be easily supplied by a draft on the superabundance of ‘able-bodied’ young men in the Commissary and Quartermaster’s Department.

“Far better this expedient than to draw the boys from their books, and the old men from their useful labors.”

—Rumors of the partial evacuation of Manassas, Va., by the rebels, were prevalent in Washington to-day, but they were not generally credited.

—A Battle took place, to-day, about seven miles from Fort Craig, near Valverde,[1] on the Rio Grande, New-Mexico, between the rebel forces under Col. Steele, and the National forces commanded by Col. Canby. The battle lasted from nine o’clock in the morning till sundown, and resulted in the defeat of the National troops, who were obliged to retreat to the Fort. McRae’s battery of six pieces was captured by the rebels, after a gallant defence in which Capt. McRae was killed.— (Doc. 55.)

—Capt. Nathaniel P. Gordon, commander of the slave-ship Erie, was executed at New-York, according to sentence. About three o’clock in the morning he attempted to commit suicide by swallowing strychnine, which he had concealed in his cell, but the exertions of three physicians managed to prolong his life sufficiently to allow the execution, which took place at a quarter past twelve o’clock.

—The first battalion of Connecticut cavalry, three hundred and twenty-five men, under the command of Major Judson M. Lyon, passed through New-York City en route for Wheeling, Va., to join Gen. Rosecrans.

— The Massachusetts Thirty-first regiment, and five companies of the Thirteenth Maine regiment, sailed to-day from Boston, Mass., in the steamer Mississippi for Ship Island.

[1] Valverde is a small village, situated on the left bank of the Rio del Norte, or Rio Grande, near the border of New-Mexico and Arizona. Fort Craig is ten miles north of this point, on the same river. Col. Kit Carson, who is said to have done good service with his regiment, deployed as skirmishers, has had his headquarters at Albuquerque for some time, and appears to have arrived at the scene of conflict at a most opportune time.

{ 0 comments }