April 23, 1861
Our Montgomery Correspondence.
MONTGOMERY, April 17, 1861.
Notwithstanding many hard things have been said, I am inclined to believe, from conversation with prominent men, that Major ANDERSON is not generally censured for his course in regard to Fort Sumter. The fact of his being denounced as a traitor at the North, should cause us to examine closely into the motive for his acts. Here he is regarded as a good soldier, a brave officer, a man of honor, and his name is coupled with praise except by those who blame him for not resigning his commission upon the election of LINCOLN. So long as his native State remained in the Union, and adhered to the Government of the United States, no real dishonor could be attached to the man for clinging to its fortunes. Undoubtedly all his feelings and sympathies are strongly with the South, but his high sense of duty would not allow him to betray the trust given him by his Government until properly relieved. Standing as Major ANDERSON now does—an enemy to this Government—we do not have that interest in his welfare that we otherwise would; still, no injustice should be done a brave and gallant soldier, no matter to what Government he owes allegiance.
General PILLOW, who came here a few days since to offer the service of ten thousand Tennessee volunteers, returned yesterday. The Secretary of War has accepted the offer, and General PILLOW will at once put them into the field, subject to the order of the Confederate States. In connection with the fact that LINCOLN’S Government made an unsuccessful attempt to call out soldiers from the Border States, I may mention that bona fide offers of volunteers from each of these States are now on file in the War Department, which offers will be accepted if occasion requires.
The question is often asked by Captains of volunteer corps when the Secretary of War will put them into service, and to what point they will be sent. Letters upon this subject are received daily from all parts of the country. This comes of a misunderstanding of the objects and construction of the Provisional Army. For all such information the Governor of each State should be applied to, for the Confederate States receives only such troops as are tendered by each State, armed and equipped, according to the provisions of the Bill authorizing a call for volunteers.
A few additional appointments have been made in the Navy; the following is a list of them:
Paymaster—John W. Nixon, Louisiana.
Surgeon—Francis L. Galt, Georgia.
First Lieutenant Navy—Wm. L. Bradford, Alabama.
First Lieutenant Marine Corps—R. H. Henderson, D.C.
Midshipmen—John Grimball, South Carolina; W. B. Hall, Louisiana; Charles W. Read, Mississippi; S. G. Stone, Jr., Alabama; J. H. Ingraham, South Carolina; Wm. V. Comstock, Louisiana; A. G. Hudgins, Virginia; John F. Holden, Tennessee.
I understand that negotiations are now pending, which, when concluded, will give us some vessels which can soon be made into men of war. Before many weeks longer the Confederate States will have a nucleus of a navy which will grow, of course, as the wants of the times demand. The applications for letters of marque are very numerous, and are granted every day. Privateering will soon become a profitable business to those who wish to engage in it. The last letters were given to a Boston man, who, finding the times hard in the way of peaceful trade, is about to fit out his schooner and try his fortune as a corsair.
GEO. W. LANE, the North Alabama lawyer who was appointed District Judge by LINCOLN, has thrown up his commission and joined a volunteer company as a private. JOHN L. HOPKINS, who was appointed United States District Attorney of the eastern division of Tennessee, has refused to accept the position. LINCOLN has not met with any alarming success in his appointments in the Southern States thus far.
L. H. MATHEWS, the correspondent of the Pensacola Observer, over the signature of ‘Nemo,’ who was arrested for furnishing information to the enemy, has been honorably acquitted. The offence charged against him was of having communicated intelligence of the anticipated attack upon Fort Pickens through his correspondence with the Observer. Mr. MATHEWSis an Irishman by birth, and an ardent friend of the South and her interests. No one can suspect him of evil intent.
The news from Pensacola state that the troops there are very anxious for the attack to begin, and work heartily in preparation. New batteries are being built and the old ones strengthened. Gen. BRAGG has laid an embargo upon the mail steamship Galveston, together with some twenty other vessels in port at this time. The Georgia troops have all arrived at Warrington, and are now encamped in or around that village.
A curious bet was made here today, that, should Virginia secede, ABRAHAM LINCOLN would leave the White House in disguise within ten days. The odds were two to one in favor of flight.
Yesterday the Cabinet had LINCOLN’S proclamation under discussion, and it was then determined to raise an additional force of 32,000 men. Each State furnishes 5000, except Florida, which will be required to send 2000. The arrival of Vice President STEPHENS at this time has given rise to rumors which have been published semi-officially, to the effect that the President will take command of the army, and establish his headquarters at Richmond, Virginia, Mr. STEPHENS remaining here in charge of the Government. No decision has thus far been made as to the course of the army; nor will there be, probably, before the course of Virginia is decided on.
The weather for the past few days has been very cold, rendering overcoats and fire a matter of necessity. There has been no frost worthy of notice, nor has the weather been severe enough to hurt the crops.
TROUP.
The Vigilant Rifles.
This fine company numbering one hundred men, and commanded by their gallant Captain, SAM’L Y. TUPPER, returned to the city from their post, the Five Gun Battery on Sullivan’s Island, last evening. Among the first in the field, this prompt and energetic corps have remained on duty as long as there was a likelihood of their being called into action. They have not been privileged to participate in the late glorious victory, as their battery was too far from Fort Sumter; but had they had an opportunity, they would have rendered a good account of themselves. Their time may come yet. The honorary members of the corps had prepared to give their gallant comrades a genuine good reception, but these active youths stole a march upon these old gentlemen, who are greatly disappointed in not being aware of their arrival so as to meet them in person. We tender them a hearty welcome and our good wishes.
Washington
The Richmond Examiner is very urgent in pressing the policy of the Southern States seizing Washington.
1. In the first place, for what do the Confederate States want Washington? If the Confederate States of America are to be a slaveholding Confederacy, Washington will not answer for their Capital. It is too near the Free States. The Capital of every country is usually in the heart of a country. Being the centre place of Government and of all authority, where the archives of a country are kept, it should be farthest removed from the aggressive violence of an enemy. No country situated as ours is, ever had its Capital on its frontier.
2. In the second place, the mixed population of Washington—half slaveholding and half abolition—will render it totally unfit for the quiet abode of slaveholders. They could never carry their slaves to Washington, and be free of the molestation of abolition fanatics. Being within a few hours’ travel of Pennsylvania, a Free State, there could be no security that their domestics would not be run off beyond their control.
3. But, above all, no troops of the Confederate States, or of any other State, can with propriety assail Washington before Maryland has seceded from the Union, and shall request their aid and intervention. Washington and the District of Columbia are exclusively within the territory of Maryland. If Maryland secedes from the Union of the United States with Virginia, we are under the impression Washington will need no invasion for it to fall without resistance into the hands of the Confederate States. It will be abandoned as the seat of Government of the United States. Nothing but force could then keep LINCOLN, SEWARD, &c., in Washington.
4. It is possible that the Government of the United States might use the District of Columbia, not merely for the purpose for which it was ceded—to carry on the peaceable administration of the Government—but as a military center for the invasion of Virginia and the Confederate States. In that case, doubtless, the District of Columbia becomes hostile territory, justly amenable to assault and occupancy. No nation is bound to stand still and see a hostile force collected on its borders for its invasion, and not make efforts to defeat its meditated hostility. In such an event, Washington may be rightfully seized; but we do not want it. If it was offered to us for nothing, on the condition that the Confederate States should make it their Capital, the offer should be rejected. With a new Republic, we should have a new Capital, erected in the heart of the South. Let Washington remain, with its magnificent buildings crumbling into ruin—a striking monument to future ages of the folly and wickedness of the people of the North. It would teach a lesson, in its silence and desolation, all the nations of the earth could learn and understand.
Col. Bacon’s Regiment.
We understand that the Seventh Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, Col. BACON, stationed at Schutzenplatz, were inspected yesterday afternoon by Governor PICKENS, accompanied by a portion of his Staff. Governor PICKENS delivered an eloquent and effective speech, in the course of which he alluded to the gallant service of the HOWARDS, of Maryland, at the Cowpens. He felt certain South Carolina would not desert Maryland or Virginia in their hour of need. Col. GREGG’S regiment was already on the way, and if it was necessary, not only the chivalrous Seventh, but every soldier that could be spared from South Carolina, would hasten to the assistance of their brethren of the South. Governor PICKENS was followed by Gen. McGOWAN and Col. BACON, who also made telling speeches. The enthusiasm of the Seventh has reached a high pitch, and to a man they are not only ready to defend their homes and firesides, but to fight for the homes and firesides that are threatened in the Border States. With a soldiery so devoted to the cause and so ready to sacrifice the comforts of home for the privations of the camp, and with a just cause to maintain, we are invincible.
Secession of Virginia
MONTGOMERY, April 19, 1861.
The news of the secession of Virginia, although expected for some days, was received yesterday with great demonstrations of delight. Immediately upon its announcement on the street, the Confederate flag was thrown to the breeze in all parts of the city. To many of them another star was hastily added, and then they were raised amid cheers and general expressions of joy. The ‘Blues’ fired a salute, and for sometime thereafter the rejoicings were more expressed by silence than by noisy demonstrations. Late in the evening there was an enthusiastic meeting of Virginians, who fired one hundred guns, and organized a meeting in Court Square, where several speeches were made. Among the speakers were JOHN TYLER, JR., Judge A. B. CLITHERALL, and SAMUEL C. HARRIS, a promising young lawyer of this city. Many houses were illuminated, and bonfires, rockets and fireworks lighted the streets. Our people, especially those from Virginia, or who traced their ancestry to that State, became exceedingly jubilant before the night was over.
I am sorry to learn that Dr. H. L. CAPERS, Chief Clerk of the Treasury, has been sometime ill, although he is now convalescent, but not yet able to attend to duty. Two appointments have been made in the Treasury Department. They are D. L. DALTON, of Alabama, a clerk in Second Auditor office, and ED. F. LEDYORD, clerk in the Light House Bureau. Thus far the loan has met with great success. Up to last night $6,350,000 has been heard from in the principal cities, aside from the other points where books were opened. Charleston had taken $2,250,000; New Orleans $2,710,000; Savannah, $750,000; Mobile, $200,000; Columbus, $100,000; Augusta, $250,000. Besides these, Montgomery took about $250,000 worth, which with some other amounts, made the sum total near eight million dollars. At 9 o’clock tonight additional returns will come in to the Department.