Important Captures

NEW YORK, May 2 – The gunboat Santiago de Cuba from Port Royal 30th ult. has arrived bringing the prize steamer Isabella formerly Ella Warley captured from Nassau to Chestertown with arms, ammunition, winces, cigars and medicines.

The Santiago chased the Nashville but the latter was too swift for her.

The Santiago also captured a schooner from Chestertown loaded with cotton, also two other schooners with cargoes from Southern ports.

Nothing new at Port Royal.

PHILADELPHIA, May [3] – The steamer Florida captured at St. Andrews Bay. Florida arrived here in charge of prize crew to-day. She has 200 bales of cotton.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 4

Later Foreign News

PORTLAND, Feb. 10.

The steamship Jura, which left Liverpool on Thursday the 30th and Londonderry 31st, arrived at 11:45 to-night.

Mason and Slidell had arrived at Southampton. No demonstration was made. The former went to London, the latter went to Paris.

Sales of cotton for the day 28,000 bales, including 12,000 to speculators and exporters. Market firmer, with an advance of one quarter. Advices from Manchester favorable.

It was rumored that the Government had ordered the Nashville to quit Southampton but extended the time for her departure, owing to danger from the Tuscarora. It was also rumored that the government will prohibit armed ships of either party remaining over 24 hours in any British port.

The following is the Etna’s report. Earl Russell, in a dispatch dated January 23d, to Lord Lyons, says the English government differ entirely from Mr. Seward’s conclusions on the question whether the persons taken from the Trent and their supposed dispatches were contraband.

It was rumored that the vessel which the Sumter engaged off Algiers was the Iroquois. There was no news of either.

It was reported that the Tuscarora was about to quit Southampton. The destination was kept secret.

The Times, in a characteristic article, calls for something decisive in America. It says: “Unpleasant complications must arise of the present state of affairs continue much longer.”

Napoleon opened the French Chamber on the 27th. He said, “the civil war which desolates America has greatly compromised our commercial interest. So long, however, as the rights of neutrals are respected, we must confine ourselves to expressing wishes for an early termination of those dissensions.

France recommended Rome to reconciliate the Court of Turin. Antonellia absolutely refused all terms.

There were contradictory rumors of an enlarged French expedition to Mexico.

The London Times remarks on Mason and Slidell that both will probably keep quiet and wait events that are at hand.

PARIS, Jan. 30. – The Moniteur says the dismission of Mr. Cameron gives England great satisfaction.

LONDON, Jan. 30. – Mason and Slidell have left for Paris.

MADIRD., Jan. 30. – Mr. O’Donnell declares that France has made no separate engagement with Spain. The Spanish Government has no reason to suppose that France intends settling the affairs of Mexico without considering the wishes of other powers.

Very latest via Londonderry. – A telegram from Lisbon announces further satisfactory news from Buenos Ayres. Strico’s Fleet was taken by the Buenos Ayreans.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 12, 1862, p. 1

Train On The Federal Army

The Society of Congers ins one of the most ancient of the London Discussion Halls – having been established in the reign of the third George. It originally consisted of citizens of London, who met to watch the course of their representatives in London – Freedom of the Press – Freedom of Discussion – Obedience to the Laws – Loyalty to the Crown, and the Practice of Public and Social Virtue are some of its tenets. Among its early members were the Aldermen John Wilks (1756,) Sir Richard Glynn (1793,) Sir James Shaw (1813,) Sir W. Paking (1819,) and many of England’s leaders. Here Brougham and Campbell measured intellect – and both Houses have among them men who have debated her in other days.

Mr. Train, on entering the Debating Hall on the 22d ult. for the first time, was it once recognized and loudly called for – the events of the week being the theme for discussion. The audience was so pleased with his rattling digest of the late American victories, and his former able efforts, that they rose by acclamation, and there and then elected him an honorary member of the Ancient Society of Cogers.

Below, we give Mr. Train’s remarks on the American Army on this occasion:

The gentleman made me a happy hit, by calling this audience – a republic of free men – where free thought and free debate, and free opinion ruled supreme. I accept the Republican simile – and should hope that among its citizens there are none who would commit so base an act under the garb of loyalty to the Queen, as to breed treason against the Government, and seek with bloodshed its overthrow, as some other bad citizens have done in that great Republic over the way. [Hear, and applause.] Mr. O’Brien does not believe in the honesty of our president on the slave question; I am not surprised – for that there is a large party in the land who wo’d not believe any good of America or Americans, even though the Angel Gabriel whispered it in their ears. [Laughter.] The more we try to please you, the less we appear to succeed. But what can we expect when the Saturday Review lands Burnside’s naval expedition in the mountains of Western Virginia – [laughter] – and the Times makes the Confederate army march from Richmond to Bunker’s Hill in one night! – [Laughter.] Older than ourselves we have taken your advice – Dr. Russell gave you the text to ridicule and laugh at our raw recruits – as Sotheron says in Lord Dundreary – he seems to have been as mad on the American question as a Welsh wabbit. [Laughter.] You took it up and told us, that to make soldiers out of farmers, and tradesmen, and mechanics, and fishermen, there must be hard drilling. We accepted your counsel, Europe poured in upon us hundreds of her best artillery, cavalry and infantry officers, who bursting with the love of liberty, were anxious to give Union battle; look at McClellan’s staff, composed of brave generals, bold princes and future kings, who already have cried A BOURBON! A HAVELOCK! And let slip a hundred regiments, to sweep the madman from his throne. [Applause.] By this time there is not even one Richmond in the field. Drill, you said; we have drilled.

Why do you wait so long then? You asked. – We are drilling we replied. And now point you to a million of drilled men that cover a battle line of two hundred thousand miles. – Your mob, again you said, your mob never will give up Mason and Slidell. The mob did give up the traitors, and furthermore received the British officers at Boston, who were sent to wage war against us, with almost a royal welcome! [Applause.] You said you had no money and we will not lend you a shilling. Gentlemen, we never asked you for a shilling. [Hear, hear.] And as I observed on a previous occasion, the only real cause we have yet given you for breaking the blockade was the taking up of the entire Federal loan in our own land, without even consulting Mr. Sampson of the Times, Baron Rothschild, the London Stock Exchange.

You said it was impossible to blockade our ports. Gentlemen there never was a blockade so effectual, because there never was war so extensive, or people so determined, or administration so strong! There is no cathartic sufficiently powerful to remove the stones from the ruined harbor of Charleston, until the Federal Power chooses to exercise its clemency again. The Times Russell now admits the power of our navy, which you have ridiculed, and thinks, where 2,000,000 of bales of cotton are locked up, which, if let loose, would command three prices, and where all the simple necessaries of life are 150 per cent above the market, the blockade must be effectual. Foster’s scorching rebuke to Gregory in the Commons, has made more ridiculous than ever the Irish Champion of Treason. You said that the North and South would never come together! Wait a little longer! You said Republican Institutions had failed! Already the passport system is abolished, the political prisoners have been released, martial law superseded by the Civil Government, and the placid Ocean of Peace is gradually replacing the turbulent Waves of War, so that when the sunlight of Union Shines upon it, there will be reflected back from the glassy mirror myriads of faces from a happy, contented people. [Applause]

You never will know the herculean energies we have displayed. Let me paint the picture my own way. We have nine armies under nine Generals, composing a force equal to nine Waterloos, a dozen Austerlitzes, two Moscows, and larger than all the forces of all the nations that battle at Crimea. [Oh.] To give you the idea of its magnitude, I will change the battle ground.

Old England shall represent New England; and all Europe shall be the field of action. – Time of preparation, six months; resources, all our own. With the sympathies of England and the world against us; we have placed 20,000 men under General Butler, at Cronstad; 20,000 under General Sherman, at Hamburg; 30,000 under General Burnside, at Amsterdam, 20,000 under General Halleck, at Odessa; 20,000 under General Hunter, blockading Vienna on the Danube; 40,000 under General Buell, at Trieste; 80,000 under General Grant at Marseilles; 60,000 under General Banks, on the Belgian cost; leaving some 300,000 under General McClellan, on the French shore, after crossing the Potomac of the Channel. [Here, here.] The distances in my picture are not so unequal, although populations, fortresses and languages are different. Remember that England is the point from which I take my sketch. Australia is the California, with another Union army on the Pacific shore. All those points protracted, we have England still to represent the great Union party in our Northern country with five millions more of armed men, ready to plunge into battle in defense of the nations life. [Loud cheers.]

In America, as in England, there is an uncoiled spring of magnetic intelligence, that when set in motion could only be surpassed in grandeur by the artillery batteries of Heaven! [Applause.] The next mail will bring you startling intelligence. Let me foreshadow the plan of action – the battles are already fought – if reverses were possible in one point, victory triumphs in another. The Georgians lost their mail arrangements some time ago, and now they have had their water-works cut off. [Loud laughter.] Gentlemen, it is no laughing matter, were you citizens of Savannah, to be shut off from all communication from your fellow men, [renewed laughter] who have already so vividly pictured by Arrowsmith, the reliable correspondent of the London times of “Railways and Revolvers in Georgia.” [Laughter and applause.]

Savannah is down, Charleston is taken Mobile occupied by Unionists, New Orleans besieged and Memphis occupied! Two weeks after the fall of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, the occupation of Clarksville and Nashville, the evacuation of Columbus that Mantua of the West [cheers] and Norfolk under the stars and stripes! Beauregard, the hero of fortifications, has become the hero of evacuations; Pillow keeps up his reputation by cutting his way through the forest, at the first smell of blood [laughter] while the battle of Floyd’s Run [laughter] shall be commemorated as the Leipsic of the Confederate history. The Confederates are howling at England, calling the Minister all kinds of names, plying the Rogue’s march, singing A Perfide Albion in the dim twilight of their conspiracy, gnashing their teeth with hate and rage, in vain endeavors to cover up their ignominy and their shame.

A voice: “Where is the Sumter?” Cries of “Order! Put him out!”

The Sumter, sir, which comprises one half the Confederate navy [laughter] is corked up at Gibraltar with deserted crew watched by Tuscarora, and out of the reach of again being ordered away by your foreign office. – The Sumter can no more burn innocent merchantmen, and rob peaceful traitors two of her officers are already on their way to the American coast in a Federal war ship to receive the just punishment of an outraged power – another part of the pirate navy has just arrived at Wilmington, by express order of the Confederate Cabinet, who have their trunks all packed, and have stolen all the money they could lay their hands on preparatory to taking their chances of escaping in the Nashville from the doom that awaits them. [Cheers.]

The order to burn the cotton and tobacco, is under the mistaken idea that it would involve England in the common ruin with themselves. Bear in mind, gentlemen that this cotton and tobacco is solemnly pledged for the redemption of the Confederate paper and the Confederate loan, and now the Confederate Cabinet have got all the money they can sponge out of their deceived subjects, they solemnly order them to destroy the securities on which the loan was paid. [Hear, hear.] And all this to deceive England, or rather frighten England by a threat, the very last thing of all others – so history states – that would bring this remarkable people to book.

You should know that the crops destroyed and the cities burned are not by their owners, but by their miserable riff raff, who have nothing to lose – a riff raff as one speaker beautifully remarked who represent the dead [level] of humanity, standing on the zero of civilization, or wallowing in the mire of their own beastly sensuality, instead of floating on the wings of a virtuous imagination, or posed on the pinions of patriotic intelligence. [Cheers.]

General Banks movement on Winchester is only a feint to allow McClellan to push on to Fredericksburg, and the nature of a contest that a mail or two will announce may be estimated by the Commander-in-Chief having ordered fifteen thousand ambulances to bear away the wounded! [Sensation!] Verily, it is a terrible necessity; but the spring has arrived – the month and the hour that calls loudly for victory, two thousand years hence the Ides of March will be associated with the history of the Potomac. The beautiful lines of Bayard Taylor are in my memory:

“Then down the long Potomac’s line,
Shout like a storm one bills of pine.
Till ramrods ring and bayonets shine!
Advance! The chieftain’s call is mine.
MARCH! [Loud cheers and applause.]

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday , May 3, 1862, p. 2

The Escape of the Nashville

Sufficient explanation has been made by the Navy Department to convince all fair-minded men that the escape of the Nashville was due alone to the fact that the Department had no vessels within its reach to prevent it. The various naval expeditions, and the coast blockade, have occupied every vessel as fast as it could be fitted out. As soon as it was known that the Nashville had arrived, which was on the 4th of March, the Secretary of the Navy telegraphed to various stations, but was unable to reach any vessels suitable for the propose, except those undergoing repairs. He was answered from Boston that two gunboats would be ready in two or three days; but owning to a defect discovered in the engine of one, and delay of the other from some similar cause, they did not leave till the 14th, and when they arrived at Fortress Monroe the Nashville had escaped.

The gunboat Georgia, which had been of Beaufort, was obliged to come into port for coal at the same time the Nashville escaped. – The abuse which has been heaped upon Secretary Welles for this matter was totally ignorant and senseless, and it is notable that this unscrupulous attempt to make the head of the Naval Department odious, seems to come almost entirely from the papers which insist that the waste of our resources on land shall not be criticized, because it may impair public confidence in that direction; and thereby injure the public service. – Cin. Gaz.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 14, 1862, p. 2

New York Items

NEW YORK, April 24.

The schooner Evelina, from Nassau, N.P., arrived to-night, bringing passengers from the steamship Karnack, lost in the Nassau harbor on the 14th inst., by grounding in full sight of the wharf. The mails and passengers were saved, and most of her cargo. The Evelina was chartered by the passengers, who could obtain no transportation through the secession agents of the Cunard line at Nassau.

The rebel steamer Nashville, now called the Thomas L. Wragg, had returned to Nassau, from an unsuccessful attempt to run the blockade at Charleston. One of her paddle boxes is badly injured, it is supposed by a cannon ball. She has a full cargo of guns and ammunition, brought by the Gladiator from England.

The steamer Ella Worley, with potash and salt petre, was soon to sail for some Southern port.

The steamer Cecil had arrived at Nassau from Charleston.

Several rebel vessels are reported at Nassau.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 2

New York Items

NEW YORK, April 18.

It is stated that the Nashville has not only changed her name, but hoisted English colors, and her assorted cargo consists of arms brought to Nassau from London by the English steamer Southwick, which were purchased by rebels in England. She sailed on the 6th.

The Steamer Economist arrived at Nassau on the 6th from Charleston, with eleven hundred bales of cotton. Nassau papers to the 5th state that the steamer Wragg, late the Nashville from Charleston, arrived there Sunday, March 20th. It is stated she had been purchased by a private company.

The rebel account of the Merrimac’s success in Hampton Roads were received there by the Nashville, concluding with stating that the Merrimac cannot be boarded, as she throws a large stream of boiling water. – Also that she is probably now at sea running down the southern coast.

The Nashville cleared on the 5th for St. John’s, N. B., under the name of Thomas L. Wragg, with an assorted cargo.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 19, 1862, p. 1

The Rebel Commissioners’ Appeal to England to Break the Blockade

From the English Blue-book.

MESSRS. YANCEY, ROST AND MANN TO EARL RUSSELL – (RECEIVED NOV. 30.)

London, Nov. 30, 1861

The undersigned have been instructed by the President of the Confederate States to communicate to Her Britannic Majesty’s Government copies of the list of vessels which have arrived and departed from the various ports of the confederate states since the proclamation of a blockade of those ports, up to the 20th of August last, by which it will be seen that up to that time more than 400 vessels had arrived and departed unmolested.

Since the date of these Reports, other and most important violations of the blockade are known to have occurred. The undersigned will instance a few of the most prominent and well-known:

The British steamer Bermuda went into the port of Savannah from Falmouth, England, on the 28th of September, and left that port for Havre on the 1st instant.

The Confederate States steamer Theodora left Charleston on or about the 1st of October, put to sea, and returned on the same day.

The same steamer Left Charleston on the 11th of October for Havana, proceeded to that port, took in cargo, and entered the port of Savannah about the 20th of the same month.

The Confederate ship Helen left the port of Charleston on the 2d of November, and arrived at Liverpool on the 25th inst.

Three ships, with cargoes, arrived from Havana in the Confederate port of Savannah, about the 24th of October.

On the 26th of October, the Confederate States steamer Nashville, left the port of Charleston, and arrived at Southampton on the 21st inst.

It was declared by the five Great European Powers, and the Conference of Paris, that “blockades, to be binding, must be effective – this is, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the enemy’s coast;” a principle long before sanctioned by the leading publicists, and now acknowledged by all civilized nations. When these resolutions were communicated to the Government of the United States, though that relating to privateers was rejected, (without a modification,) the principle there applied to blockades was unequivocally affirmed. On the 13th of August last, the Government of the Confederate States acknowledged the same principle, in its full extent by a Declaration of its Congress.

The undersigned confidently submit that the annexed list of vessels that have arrived at and cleared from the ports of the confederate States since the blockade was proclaimed by the Government of the United States, is conclusive evidence that this blockade has not been effective, and is therefore not binding.

May not the government of the Confederate States, then, fairly suggest that the five great powers owe it to their own consistency, to the rule of conduct so formally laid down for their guidance, and to the commercial world (so deeply interested), to make good their declaration, so solemnly and publicly made? Prepositions of such gravity, and emanating from sources so high, may fairly be considered as affecting the general business relations of human society, and as controlling, in a great degree, the calculations and arrangements of nations, so far as they are concerned in the rules thus laid down. Men have a right to presume that a law thus proclaimed will be universally maintained by those who have the power to do so, and who have taken it upon themselves to watch over its execution; nor will any suppose that particular States or cases would be exempted from the operation under the influence of partiality or favor. If, therefore, we can prove the blockade to have been ineffectual, we perhaps have a right to expect that the nations assenting to this Declaration of the Conference at Paris will not consider it to be binding. We are fortified in this expectation, not only by their own declarations, but by the nature of the interests affected by the blockade. So far, at least, it has been proved that the only certain and sufficient source of cotton supply has been found in the Confederate States. It is probably that there are more people without than within the Confederate States who derive their means of living from the various uses which are made of this important staple. A war, therefore, which shuts up this great source of supply from the general uses of mankind is directed as much against those who transport and manufacture cotton as against those who produce the raw material. Innocent parties who are thus affected my well insist that a right whose exercise operates so unfavorably on them shall only be used within the strictest limits of public law. Would it not be a movement more in consonance with the spirit of the age to insist that, among the many efficient means of waging war, this one should be excepted in deference to the general interests of mankind, so many of whom depend for their means of living upon a ready and easy access to the greatest and cheapest cotton market of the world? If for the general benefit of commerce, some of its great routes have been neutralized, so as to be unaffected by the chances of war, might not another interest of a greater and more world wide importance, claim at least so much consideration as to demand the benefit of every presumption in favor of its protection against all the chances of war save those which arise under the strictest rules of public war?

The undersigned submit to Her Majesty’s Government that a real neutrality calls for a rigid observance of international and municipal law in their application to both belligerents, and that a relaxation of the principles of public law in favor of one of the parties violating them, can be nothing more nor less than an injury done to that extent to the other side. Any considerations of sympathy for the embarrassed condition of the United States, if allowed to relax the application of those laws, must be justly considered as so much aid and comfort given to tem at the expense of the Confederate States, and the undersigned can not for a moment believe that such a policy can influence Her Majesty’s Government.

The undersigned have forborne to press these great questions upon the attention of Her Majesty’s Government with that assiduity which, perhaps, the interests of the Confederate States would have justified, knowing the great interests of Her Majesty’s Government in the preservation of friendly relations with both the belligerent Powers. They cannot but think that the facts connected with this nominal blockade, and the great interests of the neutral commerce of the world, imperatively demand that Her Majesty’s Government should take decisive action in declaring the blockade ineffective.

These views are affirmed as much in the general interests of mankind is in that of the Confederate States, who do not ask for assistance to enable them to maintain their independence against any Power which has yet assailed them.

The undersigned have been further instructed by their Government to communicate to that of Her Britannic Majesty a copy of resolutions adopted by the Congress of the Confederate States, Aug. 13, 1861. It is annexed as Inclosure [sic] No. 2.

The Undersigned, &c.
(Signed)

W. L. YANCEY,
P. H. ROST,
A. DUDLEY MANN.


EARL RUSSELL’S REPLY – COLD COMFORT.

Foreign Office, Dec. 7.

Lord RUSSELL presents his compliments to Mr. YANCEY, Mr. ROST and Mr. MANN He has had the honor to receive their letters and inclosures [sic] of the 27th and 30th of November; but in the present state of affairs he must decline to enter ino any official communication with them.

RUSSELL.

– Published in The New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday February 27, 1862

News from Rebel Sources

BALTIMORE, April 12. – A dispatch from New Orleans to the Richmond Whig dated April 5, says the enemy shelled Pass Christian yesterday, and landed 2,400 men and 12 4-pound howitzers. Our force was 2,500 men and two howitzers. We made a narrow escape.

A letter from Pattonsburg, North Carolina, to the Richmond Whig, says the Nashville was taken to sea by Lieut. Wm. C. Whittle and that she was taken to Charleston to be delivered to her new owner. The Richmond Whig contains news from Yorktown that Gen. Magruder, with his staff, was at the Lee House near Lee’s Mills on Sunday, and came near being captured or killed by Gen. Keyes. The horse of one of his staff was killed under him in his flight by a shell.

On Monday Jeff Davis addressed some wounded soldiers and said he intended to share their fate on the next battle-field, and come weal or woe, he would be with them, and whatever might betide, whether victory or defeat ensued, of one thing he assured them, the course is safe – we’ll conquer in the end.

The Richmond Whig Contains a dispatch announcing that the rebel General Gladden lost his arm in the Pittsburg battle of Sunday.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862