March 12, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
(CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.)
RICHMOND, Friday, March 7.
It was a relief to us to hear that the Indianola had not been blown up. One of our papers recommends that the parties connected with the disgraceful affair (if such it was) be branded with the letters T. M., and formed into a detached company, to be known by the name of Turreted Monsters.
A recent order from the War Department directs all officers dropped from the rolls, cashiered by courts martial, or whose resignations are accepted, be at once enrolled. Said officer may select in his former command any company from his own State in which to be enrolled.
Fulton, of the Baltimore American, has been writing letters from Port Royal, in one of which he says the humbling of Charleston, the taking of Sumter and Moultrie, and the raising of the old flag, are undertakings of magnificent importance and doubtful results. Very! In this connection I may mention an on dit to the effect that General G. W. Smith has written to General Beauregard, offering his services in any capacity during the coming siege.
Twelve surgeons, who remained in charge of our wounded after the battle of Murfreesboro’, have addressed a letter to the Secretary of War detailing the gross indignities heaped upon them while at the North, in direct contravention of the rules of the cartel. They were imprisoned with convicts and deserters, marched through the streets like prisoners of war, hooted and jeered at by the mob, and robbed of their money, clothes and surgical instruments. They ask for redress and future protection of surgeons left in the enemy’s lines.
Our papers still harp upon the Northwest – the Whig for it and the Enquirer against. Mitchel is very severe this morning against the meeting in Albemarle.
Mr. Mallory informs a committee of ladies who waited on him the other day, that their gunboat was nearly complete, and they are now exerting themselves to get iron and money. An English naval officer pronounces the model of the boat one of the finest he had ever seen.
West & Johnston have published Mr. Spence’s book on the Union, and announce John Esten Cooke’s ‘Greenway Court’ in press.
Weather April-like-showery.
HERMES.