Latest from the South.
operations of the Federals at Hatteras--Interesing trial in New Orleans — the late fight near Harper's Ferry, &c., &c.Our Southern exchanges bring us but little of interest. The following summary is presented to the readers of the Dispatch as comprising everything of interest which could be gathered:
Operations at Hatteras.
The Norfolk Day Book, of yesterday, the 21st. contains the following: ‘ We learn from a gentleman, who arrived in this city on Saturday from Roanoke Island, and who was on board one of the vessels of the Confederate fleet, that visited in the neighborhood of Hatteras during the week, that the Yankees are building something like a wharf out from Hatteras, and are throwing the stone overboard that they have been carrying there in vessels, supposed to be for the purpose of blocking up the Inlet. Our informant was told by one of the bankers who had been to Hatteras, that they had cut a canal twenty feet wide across the beach, and that recent high tides had made an island of Fort Hatteras, the canal forming almost another Inlet. It was also the impression of the banker that the Federals intended to block up the Inlet with stone, in order to prevent its being used for privateering purposes, in the event of their having to evacuate it. ’The capture of New Orleans — an Amusing description of How it was done.
The New Orleans Delta, of the 17th, contains the following spicy article in relation to the reported capture of that city by the Yankees, first published in the Louisville（Ky.) Journal: ‘ The sad and disastrous capture of this great commercial mart, the principal cotton depot of the Confederate States, has at last reached the North, and is doubtless now flying, with all the rapidity and accuracy of telegraphic communication, all through the dominions of King Abraham the First. Starting at Louisville, as we are duly informed by the Telegraphic Reporter, published in this city last evening, and emanating from so authentic and reliable a source as the Louisville Journal, we can well imagine the electric joy and exultation which this news will communicate to the long despondent subjects of the Gorilla. Salvos of artillery will be fired in all the principal towns — torch-light processions will stream through the streets — innumerable extras of the Herald, Tribune and Times will flood the country, with such captivating capitals as ‘"The Greatest Victory of the War."’ ‘"King Cotton Prostrate."’ ‘"The Crescent City Restored to the Union."’ ‘"Ten Millions of Cotton Bales and 100,000 Contrabands Captured."’ ‘"Nobody Hurt on Our Side."’ Great and undeniable will be the joy and jubilation! And well, indeed, may the Lincolnites rejoice over such a conquest. We will not enlarge upon the value thereof. Everybody knows what that is. Sufficient for us as faithful historians to record the fact and to narrate the manner in which this capture was made. It is well known to our readers that a great military and naval expedition was recently fitted out in New York to operate against some point in the South. The occupation of an important cotton port was the declared object of this enterprise. It was vain that we, in common with the other vigilant sentinels of the people, proclaimed that this city was the cotton port aimed at. The people would not believe it; they treated us even as the Trojans treated the dolorous but truthful Cassandra; they rested in perfect security believing that the Ivy, the Tuscarora, and the Manassas were ample to meet and repel the whole navy of the United States, and that the Confederate Guards, the Crescent Blues, and Orleans Guards, and a few other volunteer corps could whip all the troops that General Picayune Butler could bring into the field. It is true they threw up a few frail fortifications, and put a few old cannon captured from the British in 1814, in them. Then they imagined that Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Livingston, Pike, Wood, and Macomb, were all in good fighting order and well manned. But alas! as we predicted, and as we warned the corrupt, imbecile and utterly unreliable authorities, State, Confederate and municipal, their arrangements were altogether inadequate, and the city has fallen before the superior vigor, valor and force of the enemy. It is painful even to enter into a recital of all the steps which have resulted so disastrously. We can only glance at the main incidents. On the 8th the whole armada of Lincoln appeared off the bar of the Mississippi, including several hundred ships of war, most of them of the first-class. There was a short delay on account of the bar, but the large ships, including the Niagara, Minnesota, and Wabash, by taking a start of ten miles, succeeded in leaping the bar. So great was the impetus communicated to them by this leap, that it was impossible to check their vessels until they arrived in front of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. This sudden appearance took the garrison of these forts completely by surprise; the gunners had not time to reach the guns before the men from the Niagara, the Wabash, and Minnesota were in the port-holes, quietly driving rat-tail files in the big guns. This being done, there was nothing left to Col. Duncan but to surrender, which he did with a grass that may be imagined by those who know him. The old Stars and Stripes were then floated from the flag-staff of the forts, and after a hearty breakfast — in which Commodore Stringham and Col. Duncan drank one another's healths — the fleet having been joined by the other smaller vessels, proceeded up the river, quietly picking up by the way the Ivy, the McRae, the Tuscarora, and the other vessels of the Confederate navy, and stowing them away in the holds of the big steamers. Commodore Hollins being found aboard one of these ships, was captured and ordered to the mast-head, to enjoin the people of New Orleans of the necessity of their immediate surrender. Simultaneous with the advance of the Lincoln squadron, a powerful army, composed of regiments from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Nova Scotia, and New Zealand, were landed on the shores of Lake Borgne, and formed into three divisions. Division No. 1 was commanded by Major-Gen. Picayune Butler; Division No. 2 was commanded by Gen. Billy Wilson, promoted for his recent gallant conduct at Santa Rosa; and the third by the Prince Salm Salm. Each man of these divisions, on landing, was presented with one of the new patent stilts, the ingenious invention of Col. Ichabod Wystand, of Lynn, Mass. These stilts average eighty feet in height, and were designed to enable the Lincoln soldiers to stride through the swamps lying between the city and Lake without impediment from the trees and bushes, the men being thus elevated above their tops. Having been drilled in the use of their stilts, the Lincoln soldiers found no difficulty in using them; and as soon as the word was given to advance, the men of the three divisions strode upon the mounted stilts and struck forward high over the tops of our highest cypress, and altogether regardless of the deep mire, water, and briars. On they went with the strides of the celebrated giant who so frightened poor little Jack, in the authentic history of that youthful warrior. Our troops, which, on hearing of the approach of the enemy, had gone gallantly forth to meet him, were all looking to the front twenty paces for the advancing foe, when suddenly they were involved in pitch darkness, as if a heavy cloud was passing over them. They could see nothing before, behind, or above them. This cloud was the enemy marching over and past them. Before our troops could recover their wits and use their eyes, they found themselves far in the rear of the foe, and in the distance a burly figure, supposed to be that of Maj. Gen. Billy Wilson, could be distinctly seen waving the stars and stripes from the cupola of the St. Charles Hotel. Meantime, the squadron having drawn up on the river in front of the city, double-shotted the guns and opened the portholes. Com. Hollins, from the masthead of the Niagara, called out to the people that it was best to surrender, whereupon it was moved by Col. Ricardo, who happened to be standing on the roof of the Water Works, engaged in the discharge of his duties as Major-General of the 15,000 patronesses of the Free Market, that ‘"we do now surrender!"’ which motion was unanimously voted in the affirmative, by the said Free Market brigade, and thereupon Cols. Thomas Murray and Henry Bier were directed to present to Com. Stringham and Major-General Butler the two biggest pumpkins to be found in the stalls of the Free Market. Thus was the capture of New Orleans effected, and a new chaplet added to the already oppressive weight of laurels that crown the illustrious heads of Butler, Stringham, and Wilson. It is a sad feature in this more than sad affair, and we feel called upon to announce it, that the division of Picayune Butler was guided, piloted, and led into the city by Asa Hartz and his friend, Klubs. ’Interesting trial in New Orleans.
Some days ago a Mr. Charles Ellis, of New Orleans, was caught outside of that city, in its suburbs, by a party who had suspected him of hostility to the South, and it was with great difficulty he escaped from being lynched.--Subsequently, the affair was brought to the notice of the authorities, when an investigation was instituted. Below we give a synopsis of the testimony in the case, which we clip from the New Orleans Picayune, of the 17th instant: ‘ The examination of this case was commenced yesterday morning. The first witness heard was, of course, the gentleman who made the charge, Benjamin S. Harrisson. He stated repeatedly he had no ill feeling against Mr. Ellis, and had made the charge from information received, merely to show that if the defendant was lynched a few days ago, there were some grounds, after all, for such high- handed proceedings. The information from which Mr. Harrisson made his affidavit was imparted to him some time ago, by Messrs. Liner, Burnett, and Wilbur, the very persons whom Mr. Ellis charged, last week, with being implicated in the lynching affair. It was reported to him defendant had refused to haul down the old United States flag on his establishment, remarking he had not seceded yet, and the stars and stripes were the banner for him. On another occasion Mr. Harrisson was informed Mr. Ellis had given a race, the proceeds of which were to be applied for the benefit of the volunteers; but only $15 were handed to the proper committee though more than that sum was realized from the race, as a net profit. Mr. Philip Liner alluded in his testimony to a long conversation he had once with defendant, who had then likened the actual political movement to the revolutionary attempt in Rhode Island, and President Davis to Governor Dorr. All of the Southern leaders, said Mr. Ellis, are demagogues. They ought to be hanged, said he, according to Mr. Wilbur's testimony, in order to restore peace. With this latter witness, it appears defendant had a very grave discussion on the subject of trotting rules. The proprietor of the People's Race Course was in favor of the Northern or Long Island rules, for they were adopted by the Spirit of the Times, which are authorities on that matter; but Mr. Wilbur, out of patriotism, pleaded zealously in favor of the Southern trotting rules. Mr. H. H. Heron, another witness, was Ellis's bar-keeper at the time of the President's proclamation against aliens, and heard his boss say scornfully: ‘"Here's a pretty deuced fool, who would drive the natural born citizens of the United States out of the United States territory. The name of the coffee-house kept by Mr. Ellis was"’ ‘"The Union,"’ and when the owner was requested to change that name he refused, remarking that the Union Bank had not altered its name. Mr. Burnett was first unwilling to testify, out of delicacy, on account of the charge made by Ellis against him; but as the Mayor insisted, he confessed he was once called a liar by Ellis, and he had knocked him down. He also heard defendant say the negroes would rise one day and take the town. At the time of the Hatteras affair, Mr. Loomis heard Ellis say: ‘"We have them now; we have Hatteras, and it is not improbable they will be here thirty days before next spring sets in."’ This same witness refused to answer any questions about the tar and feather transaction, or at least about his doings and goings on that eventful night, in order not to criminate himself. Mr. James Garvin, late bar-keeper to Mr. Ellis, said that on the day of Col. Dreux's funeral, defendant objected to hoist the Confederate flag on his establishment. The case was continued until next Tuesday morning. ’Extortion.
The Selma (Ala.) Republic, publishes the following just and timely remarks upon the extortions which are being practiced by persons infesting every community in the country: ‘ It is undeniable that there are men who have taken advantage of these war times to enrich themselves at the expense of the people. The darling object with these sort of men is to get rich. This is the acme of their ambition and the sum total of all their endeavors.--They have no regard for man or devil, only so far as they may be made tributary to these ends. They are the horse-leeches of the body politic — the vampires of society — in whose presence widows weep, and the wail of wretched orphanage is heard in vain. Their iron boxes are gorged with gold and silver, and this is the Ark of their Covenant with Hell, and the depository of a coinage from tears and blood. The laughing fiend keeps guard over these boxes and bags of gold, and grins horribly at the presence of hollow-eyed penury. The beggar is dismissed empty, with a grimace of which hell is made ashamed, while the lean arms of the fiend caresses the gold-like coiled snakes in the darkness of his infamous den. Such an one is ripe for the flames of the pit, and should have the badge of his damnable doom nailed upon his forehead by the hissing populace. It is with shuddering feeling we think of such men; our souls revolt — and we spurn them back as the refuse and offscourings of creation. ’The late fight near Harper's Ferry.
A correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican, writing under date of ‘"Front Royal, Oct. 18th,"’ says: ‘ Col. Ashby attacked the Federal troops about a mile and a half south of Harper's Ferry yesterday, and drove them back to Bolivar, where the fight continued for three hours and a half. Ashby had a portion of four companies of the McDonald cavalry, and about three hundred and fifty militia — making a force of five hundred and fifty men. The Yankees were forced to retire beyond the river. Col. Ashby lost one man (militia) killed, and eight or nine slightly wounded. A 24-pound cannon, after it had been spiked and the carriage broken, fell into the hands of the enemy. The Federal force was estimated at fifteen hundred men, aided by a portion of Doubleday's battery. They lost two hundred in killed and wounded and twelve taken prisoners. The victory was complete, notwithstanding the Federals forced women and children to come in front of our lines to protect themselves from our fire. The result of yesterday's battle has doubtless saved Jefferson county from being pillaged by the Yankees. ’The wounding of Lt. Sayre.
A correspondent of one of our Southern exchanges details the following conversation which he had between Capt. Hull, of Georgia, and a relative of Lieut. Sayre, in relation to the wounding of Lt. S. at Santa Ross: ‘ Lieut. Sayre is in the Marine corps, but volunteered (without a command) for the expedition. In the third or fourth charge of the Confederate troops, while in the front ranks, Lieut. Sayre fell within five feet of Captain Hull, the latter thinking that the former had fallen for the purpose of reloading his fire-arms. In a moment Lieut. Sayre called to Capt. Hull, ‘"For God's sake don't leave me here to be murdered."’ Captain Hull, with two of his men, immediately fell back to Lieut.Sayre, made a litter by tying two coats together, for the purpose of placing him upon it. At this moment some person representing himself to be a surgeon, arrived, and tendered his services.--Lieut. Sayre took off his sword and handed it to Captain Hull. The surgeon took the sash and bound up Sayre's wound, who was then carried upon the litter near the beach.--His comrades then left him, (as they could not at that time do him further good,) and rejoined the charging Confederates.--Lieut. Sayre was soon after taken prisoner, as would have been his comrades if they had remained longer with him. Captain Hull felt certain that his friend was wounded only near the right knee. When asked if it was known that Lt. S. had killed any one of the enemy, the reply was the expression of the belief that he had killed at least three of the enemy. ’Won't sell their cotton.
The planters of Washington county, Texas, held a meeting on the 23d ult., and resolved not to sell a single bale of cotton to the agents for the Mexican market. They took this course in consequence of their having understood that these agents were covertly buying for Yankee cotton mills.Back once more.
Among the prisoners that passed through Mobile, on Saturday last, were some four or five who had previously lived in that city.--Two of them had been clerks in dry goods stores, one drove a hack for some time, and two others had been waiters in one of the hotels.From Pensacola.
A correspondent of the Columbus (Ga.) Sun, writing from Pensacola, under date of Oct. 13, says: ‘ Another incident, to arouse our citizens yesterday, was the three masted schooner ‘"'76,"’ which has been running as a lighter between this place and Milton, was discovered at anchor, near the shore of the mainland, opposite the city. Her captain, a man named Butler, having been suspected heretofore of being opposed to us, information was given Gen. Bragg of the fact. The General last night dispatched the Neaffie across. The schooner was found anchored with two anchors and not a soul aboard; nor was there a small boat, or yawl to be found near her. She was seen to leave the wharf on Friday afternoon with a yawl in tow, and was destined for Milton.--Since her discovery, the trick has exploded. From what I can ascertain, the following persons were on board: Capt. Butler and wife, Mr. Packard and family, from Milton, L. W. Rowley, from Milton, (once a Representative in the Florida Legislature from this county,) and the agent of the Adams Express Company here, named Gillett, all Yankees. Several of our citizens are now requesting Gen. Bragg, who is in the city on a visit, to allow them to go over on the mainland and scout, to try and capture them or get information. This morning I noticed the flags of the fleet outside displayed at half-mast. As it has been stated by some of the prisoners captured in the sortle on Billy Wilson, that one of the vessels in the fleet, (the one which the little vessel towed at long taw the morning of the fight,) has the small-pox on board very badly. It is believed that some important officer is dead. Not much news from Warrington. A letter has been received here from Lieut. Sayre. He is doing well, and is well treated, so are all the prisoners. The Georgians, I am glad to hear, receive great praise for bravery in the fight. They did all the burning, and brought home Billy's marque flag. They just cleaned out the pet lambs. The McDuffle and Clinch Rifles, who were in the burning party, fought with nothing but bowie-knives. Billy Wilson left in treble-quick when attacked, attired in the robes which he went to sleep in, with a streamer flying. He returned to the fort next day. The officers of Fort Pickens(Regulars) say that they ran Billy Wilson's men out of the fort, and shut the gates on them when they made their appearance that night. I notice with the spy-glass that Billy has put up some of his tents since the fight. ’Diabolical act.
The Sumter Watchman, of the 18th, publishes the following: ‘ Some fiend incarnate, in human form, placed upon the railroad track, about a mile from this place, on Wednesday night last, a number of cross-ties. As though by the special Providence of God, the early train from the Northward did not arrive at its given hour. Had it so arrived, fearful destruction and loss of life would no doubt have been the result, as it would have run up to the hellish trap at full speed amid the darkness of the night. The engineer of the train from the Southward, (from Kingsville,) which arrives at the place in question about daylight, discovered the obstacles upon the road, and by the most vigorous reverse action of his engine, coupled with the utmost power of the brakes, so slackened the speed of his train as to cause the wheels of the engine to roll gently over one or two of the cross-ties and catch again upon the rail, effecting no injury. This diabolical scheme could have been prompted but by the most infernal personal hate to some one expected upon the train, or by a bloody-minded enmity to our people and cause generally. The evidence of this is sufficiently strong to induce some measures of vigilance and precaution. ’Message from the Governor of Tennessee--what that State has done.
The message of Governor Harris, of Tennessee, shows that within less than three months from the passage of the act providing for a military organization within the State thirty thousand volunteers were thrown into the field. There was so much alacrity among the brave people, that the services of a large number of companies had to be declined. In addition to these soldiers, several regiments were organized for the Confederate States--making a total of thirty-eight regiments of infantry, several battalions of cavalry, and sixteen artillery companies. This, so far, is the liberal contribution of Tennessee to the patriotic cause in which we are engaged. The same promptitude was used in making munitions of war. The State having been cut off from foreign markets, it had to stimulate the enterprise and talent of its own citizens to provide them. An armory was established at Nashville, which has been furnishing two hundred and fifty guns a week, while there and in other places of the State the best kind of small and heavy artillery is made. A percussion cap factory was also established, and has furnished to the Confederate States 12,000,000 of this essential element of war. The factory is now making more than a quarter of a million every day. All this has been accomplished under the supervision of a military and financial board. How much expense has been incurred in doing this will be seen in the following extract: For full particulars as to the action of the board, I refer you to their report, from which it will be seen that the expenses incurred in organizing ond supporting, arming and equipping the Provisional army, are as follows:| Quartermaster General's Department | $1,657,706.65 |
| Commissary General's Department | 627,064.87 |
| Paymaster General's Department | 1,104,800.00 |
| Medical Department | 24,761.21 |
| Ordnance Department | 990,291.20 |
| Recruiting service | 723.25 |
| Advance on guns, saltpetre, powder contracts, &c. | 156,826.68 |
| Advance to Gen. Pillow, Missouri service | 200,000.00 |
| Contingent expenses | 81,850.59 |
| Total | $4,637,198.77 |
