The Rebel Steamer “Nashville” Lying At the Railway Bridge, On the Ogeechee River.—From a Sketch by a Naval Officer.
From March 14, 1863 Harper’s Weekly.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
FEBRUARY 27TH.—No news from any quarter to-day.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is discontented with his command in the West. The armies are too far asunder for co-operative action; and, when separated, too weak for decisive operations. There is no field there for him, and he desires to be relieved, and assigned to some other command.
I was surprised to receive, to-day, the following very official letter from the Secretary of War:
“RICHMOND, VA., Feb. 27th, 1863.”
J. B. JONES, ESQ.
“SIR:—The President has referred your letter of the 19th inst. to this department.
“In reply, you are respectfully informed that it is not deemed judicious, unless in the last extremity, to resort to the means of supply suggested. The patriotic motives that dictated the suggestion are, however, appreciated and acknowledged.
“Your obedient servant,
“JAMES A. SEDDON,
“Secretary of War.”
February 27.—Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation to the people of the States in rebellion, appointing the twenty-seventh of March as a day of fasting and prayer.—General John Cochrane resigned his command in the United States army of the Potomac, and issued a farewell address to the soldiers of his late brigade.
—A skirmish took place at a point fifteen miles from Newbern, N. C, between a detachment of Mix’s New-York cavalry, under the command of Captain Jacobs, and a strong scouting-party of rebel infantry, in which the latter were routed after the first fire, with a loss of three of their number killed and forty-eight taken prisoners, including a commissioned officer. The National party had none killed, and only one man wounded.
