Diary of Malvina S. Waring, March 10, 1865

The drawing room was again crowded last night, and we got up an important dance on the spur of the moment. General Kershaw, General Gary, and General Ruggles were present; also our friends, the congressman, the captain, the major, and the M. P. Oh! yes. We know Mr. Connelly, an Irish M. P. and Southern sympathizer. He seems to have plenty of money, and lives here in great style for war times; owns a steam yacht, and we are to have an outing on it before long. There are so many interesting things I could and ought to write about, but just can't, because I am so hungry! And having nothing to eat, I am going to bed to fill up on sleep.

SOURCE: South Carolina State Committee United Daughters of the Confederacy, South Carolina Women in the Confederacy, Vol. 1, “A Confederate Girl's Diary,” p. 280-1

Judge Jacob McGavock Dickinson

JUDGE J. M. DICKINSON, General Solicitor and Counselor Illinois Central Railroad.

Jacob McGavock Dickinson was born in Columbus, Miss., January 30, 1851. His parents were Henry Dickinson, a descendant of Henry Dickinson who came from England to Virginia in 1654, and Anna McGavock, oldest daughter of Jacob McGavock and Louisa McGavock, daughter of Felix Grundy, residents of Nashville, Tenn. Henry Dickinson was an eminent lawyer of the Mississippi bar, a chancellor for many years, presidential elector, and one of the commissioners sent by his State to Delaware on the question of secessionn.

J. M. Dickinson was married April 20, 1876, at Nashville, Tenn., to Martha Maxwell Overton, daughter of John and Harriet Maxwell Overton. They have three children, John Overton, Henry, and J. M. Dickinson, Jr. Judge Dickinson passed his early youth in Columbus, Miss., where near the end of the great war, at the age of fourteen, he volunteered and served under Gen. Ruggles in the operations about Columbus. He is a member of the Isham Harris Bivouac, C. S. A. at Columbus. At the close of the war he moved to Nashville, and remained there until November, 1899, when he went to Chicago. He attended the public schools of Nashville, the Montgomery Bell Academy there, and graduated at the University of Nashville under the chancellorship of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, taking the A.B. degree in 1871 and the degree of A.M. in 1872. In 1871-72 he was assistant professor of Latin in the University of Nashville. During that period he took a night course of physiology and demonstration of anatomy in the medical department. In the fall of 1872 he entered the Columbia Law School, New York, under the teaching of Theodore Dwight, and took both the junior and senior courses. In the summer of 1873 he traveled in Europe, and that October he matriculated in the University of Leipzig for the purpose of studying German and taking a course in Roman law and political economy. In 1874 he took a course of lectures on literature in the Sorbonne and in the Civil Law in L'ecole du Droit at Paris. In the fall of 1874 he was admitted to the bar at Nashville. He was in the years 1890-93 specially appointed by Governors Buchanan, Taylor, and Turney to serve upon the Supreme Bench, and when Chief Justice Horace H. Lurton resigned to accept a position on the Federal Bench, Governor Turney, on March 23, 1893, tendered to Judge Dickinson an appointment to a position on the Supreme Bench. Judge Dickinson, while never a candidate for office, always took an active part in politics. He was specially prominent during the bitter contest in Tennessee growing out of the State debt, and was in 1882 chairman of the State Credit wing of the Democratic party. Twice he was chairman of the Committee of Fifty of the Reform Association of Nashville, which in two bitter and prolonged contests completely overthrew the ring politicians and political bosses. Judge Dickinson, on December 14, 1889, before the Bankers' Association of Chicago, delivered an address upon the “Financial and General Condition of the South” which attracted wide attention from the press generally and was accepted by the press and leading men of the South as an acceptable exposition of the Southern situation. In 1896 he was selected to deliver at the Centennial Exposition at Nashville the address commemorative of the Hundredth Anniversary of the Admission of Tennessee into the Union. On February 6, 1895, he was commissioned Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, and served to the end of Mr. Cleveland's term, when he resigned. He was then made District Attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company for Tennessee and Northern Alabama, and also engaged in general practice. He also became a professor in the Law School of Vanderbilt University, where he taught until his removal to Chicago. November 1, 1899, he succeeded Judge James Fentress as General Solicitor of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. On November 1, 1801, he succeeded Mr. B. F. Ayer as General Counsel of that company, the duties of both offices then being combined.

In April, 1903, he was selected by the President, in connection with Mr. David T. Watson, of Pittsburg, as Counsel, and Mr. Hannis Taylor, of Mobile, Ala., and Mr. Chandler P. Anderson, of New York City, as Associate Counsel, to represent the Government of the United States before the Alaska Boundary Commission in London in September, 1903.

SOURCE: Confederate Veteran, Volume 11, No. 8, August 1903, p. 372

Jacob McGavock Dickinson

DICKINSON, Jacob McGavock, lawyer and secretary of war, was born at Columbus, Lowndes co., Miss., Jan. 30, 1851, son of Henry and Anna (McGavock) Dickinson, and a descendant of Henry Dickinson, who came from England to Virginia in 1654. His father was an eminent lawyer of the Mississippi bar, a chancellor for many years, presidential elector, and one of the commissioners sent by his state to Delaware on the question of secession. He married a daughter of Jacob McGavock, whose mother was a daughter of Felix Grundy of Tennessee. The son passed his early youth in Columbus, Miss., and at the early age of fourteen volunteered and served under Gen. Ruggles in the operations about Columbus. After the war he removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he attended the public schools, the Montgomery Bell Academy and the University of Nashville, being graduated at the last in 1871. While taking a post-graduate course, he served as assistant professor of Latin at the university, and received the degree of A.M. in 1872. He then studied law at the Columbia law school. In the following year he entered the University of Leipzig, Germany, for the purpose of studying German, and took a course in Roman law and political economy. He also attended lectures at the Sorbonne, and at the Ecole du Droit in Paris. Returning to the United States, he was admitted to the bar in Nashville in 1874, and entered upon the practice of his profession. By special appointment in 1890 he served for several different periods on the Tennessee bench. many years took an active part in politics, being especially prominent during the bitter contest in Tennessee growing out of the state debt, and in 1882 was chairman o the state credit wing of the Democratic party. He was twice chairman of the committee of fifty of the Reform Association of Nashville, which in two bitterly fought contests completely overthrew the political bosses. In February, 1895, he was commission assistant attorney-general of the United States and served to the end of Pres. Cleveland's term. He was then made district attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. for Tennessee and northern Alabama, and also became a professor in the law school of Vanderbilt University. Having transferred his law practice to Chicago, Ill., although retaining his residence in Nashville, in 1899 Judge Dickinson became general solicitor of the Illinois Central Railroad Co., and two years later was made its general counsel. He defended the Illinois Central road in the litigation growing out of the employers' liability act, the trial of which was held before Judge William H. Taft in the sixth circuit, upon whom he made a strong impression by his legal attainments and methods of managing the case. Probably his most notable professiona service was as counsel for the United States in the Alaska bounda case before the arbitration tribunal in London in 1903, his associates being David T. Watson, Hannis Taylor and Charles P. Anderson. Judge Dickinson closed the argument, occupying five days, October 2–8. The masterful manner in which he used the maps, exhibits, and testimony submitted by Great, Britain to upset the British (or more accurately the Canadian) contentions was admired by all, and was frankly acknowledged by Great Britain. It was generally admitted that his argument was one of the effective instrumentalities which brought over Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, who presided at the tribunal, and won the case for the United States. In 1909 he was invited to enter Pres. Taft's cabinet as secretary, of war, an appointment that aroused considerable discussion in view of the fact that he was a life-long Democrat. Upon accepting the appointment Judge Dickinson announced that he had not changed his politics, but was still, as he always had been, a Democrat. “Having known me for a long time and intimately,” he said in a speech at the Iroquois Club, “and invi. conferred with southern men whose opinions he valued, he (Pres. Taft) came to the conclusion that my qualifications and my relations to the southern people were such as to justify putting me in his cabinet. Having accepted the position, I shall bring to the discharge of the duties of the office my best efforts, and shall, of course, carry out his policies. I cannot conceive that . . . can arise in connection with that office that will be incompatible with any views I have hitherto entertained. Certainly if such an occasion should arise, I would not embarrass, the president by retaining a position the duties of which I could not heartily discharge.” He was president of the American Bar Association in 1907–08, and is vice-president of the Society for the Promotion of International Arbitration organized in Chicago in 1904, a member of the Chicago, Onwentsia, Iroquois, Wayfarers, Cliff Dwellers and the Saddle and Cycle clubs, of Chicago. His summer home is the famous Helle Meade stock farm, formerly owned by Gen. William Hicks Jackson. Judge Dickinson was married, April 20, 1876, to Martha, daughter of John Maxwell Overton of Nashville, Tenn., and has three sons: John Overton, Henry, and Jacob McGavock Dickinson, Jr.

SOUCE: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Supplement 1 p. 410-1

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 26, 1863

Jackson, Tenn., June 26, 1863.

Such splendid weather — nice, fresh breezes ruffling the leaves on the trees all the day long—and plenty of rain to keep the dust in order. I was up early this morning and the mocking birds were playing a reveille, from whose sweetness bees might make honey. There are hundreds of these birds living in a grove near our headquarters, and I can't find time and ease enough to enjoy their concerts as I want to.

A flag of truce came to our lines yesterday on the Holly Springs road. The general sent me out to receive it. A lieutenant and eight men, all rough, dirty fellows, made the party. They were not very communicative. They brought a small mail and a trifling communication about prisoners. They belonged to Colonel Morton's 2d Tennessee (Rebel) Cavalry, and were sent by General Ruggles. The general has promised to let me take a flag to Okolona. Don't know when I shall go. I do think that General Oglesby is the very ideal of a chivalric, honorable, gallant, modest, high-spirited, dignified, practical, common-sense, gentleman. Nobody can help loving him. He hates a particle of meanness as much as he does a bushel. If we were only doing something more active I should be perfectly happy. As it is, I think seriously of asking to be sent back to my regiment. The general will not be able for any more field work, and I hardly think it right manly in me to stay back here with a railroad guard, when there is so much to be done in front, and I am so strong and able to bear the field duty. You should hear the general talk. There is such a big rolling river of fun and humor in his conversation. Such a hearty honest laugh; I know his heart is big enough to hold a regiment. I believe he thinks as much of the old 8th as of his family. When he has been speaking of the gallant conduct of the 8th at Donaldson and Shiloh, I have seen his face flush up and it seemed as though his heart jumped up to his throat. I was over to the negro camps yesterday and have seen a good deal of them since I last wrote you. An honest confession is good for the soul. I never thought I would, but I am getting strongly in favor of arming them, and am becoming so blind that I can't see why they will not make soldiers. How queer. A year ago last January I didn't like to hear anything of emancipation. Last fall accepted confiscation of Rebel's negroes quietly. In January took to emancipation readily, and now believe in arming the negroes. The only objection I have to it is a matter of pride. I almost begin to think of applying for a position in a regiment myself. What would you think of it? We had quite an alarm two or three nights since. Nobody hurt, but some Tennesseans badly scared. I guess I will go to Memphis to-morrow to look for a spy who has been along our line, and whom we think is now in Memphis. Well, I must go and see the provost marshal about disposing of some prisoners. First, I'll tell you what three soldiers did the night we had the alarm here. Colonel Mizner, with 1,000 of our cavalry, had been on a scout nine days, and that night we heard that he was within 15 miles of here on his return. We heard of the enemy about 1 a. m. and immediately sent these three men (volunteers for the purpose) to notify Colonel Mizner and have him march all night. They reached the little town, Mt. Pleasant, without incident on the way. There was a lot of guerrillas camped in town that night, and their guard hailed the boys and fired. Our men, only three, charged with a yell and scared the whole party out of town. They couldn't find the colonel and started to return. When two miles on the way back, at a turn in the road, they met Mitchell's Rebel company (60 men). Our boys yelled, “here they are, come on boys,” and charged, firing their revolvers. They brought one man down, and made the next fall back some 200 yards where they commenced forming line. Our fellows then took to the woods, got around them and back to camp at 6:30 a. m.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 183-4

Diary of Sarah Morgan: Sunday, July 20, 1862

Last night the town was in a dreadful state of excitement. Before sunset a regiment, that had been camped out of town, came in, and pitched their tents around the new theatre, in front of our church. All was commotion and bustle; and as the pickets had been drawn in, and the soldiers talked freely of expecting an attack, everybody believed it, and was consequently in rather an unpleasant state of anticipation. Their cannon were on the commons back of the church, the artillery horses tied to the wheels; while some dozen tents were placed around, filled with men who were ready to harness them at the first alarm. With all these preparations in full view, we went to bed as usual. I did not even take the trouble of gathering my things which I had removed from my “peddler sack”; and slept, satisfied that, if forced to fly, I would lose almost everything in spite of my precaution in making a bag.

Well! night passed, and here is morning, and nothing is heard yet. The attack is delayed until this evening, or to-morrow, they say. Woman though I am, I am by no means as frightened as some of these men are. I can't get excited about it. Perhaps it is because they know the danger, and I do not. But I hate to see men uneasy! I have been so accustomed to brave, fearless ones, who would beard the Devil himself, that it gives me a great disgust to see any one less daring than father and the boys.

I have been so busy preparing to go to the city that I think if the frolic should intervene and prevent my departure, I would be disappointed, though I do not want to go. It would be unpleasant, for instance, to pack all I own in my trunk, and just as I place the key in my pocket to hear the shriek of “Van Dorn!” raised again. This time it is to be Ruggles, though. I would not mind if he came before I was packed. Besides, even if I miss the fun here, they say the boats are fired into from Plaquemine; and then I have the pleasure of being in a fight anyhow. Mother is alarmed about that part of my voyage, but Miriam and I persuaded her it is nothing.

If I was a man — oh, wouldn't I be in Richmond with the boys!  . . . What is the use of all these worthless women, in war times? If they attack, I shall don the breeches, and join the assailants, and fight, though I think they would be hopeless fools to attempt to capture a town they could not hold for ten minutes under the gunboats. How do breeches and coats feel, I wonder? I am actually afraid of them. I kept a suit of Jimmy's hanging in the armoir for six weeks waiting for the Yankees to come, thinking fright would give me courage to try it (what a seeming paradox!), but I never succeeded. Lilly one day insisted on my trying it, and I advanced so far as to lay it on the bed, and then carried my bird out — I was ashamed to let even my canary see me; — but when I took a second look, my courage deserted me, and there ended my first and last attempt at disguise. I have heard so many girls boast of having worn men's clothes; I wonder where they get the courage.

To think half the men in town sat up all night in expectation of a stampede, while we poor women slept serenely! Everybody is digging pits to hide in when the ball opens. The Days have dug a tremendous one; the Wolffs, Sheppers, and some fifty others have taken the same precaution. They may as well dig their graves at once; what if a tremendous shell should burst over them, and bury in the dirt those who were not killed? Oh, no! let me see all the danger, and the way it is coming, at once. To-morrow, — or day after, — in case no unexpected little incident occurs in the interval, I purpose going to New Orleans, taking father's papers and part of Miriam's and mother's valuables for safe-keeping. I hate to go, but they all think I should, as it will be one less to look after if we are shelled — which I doubt. I don't know that I require much protection, but I might as well be agreeable and go. Ouf! how I will grow homesick, before I am out of sight!

SOURCE: Sarah Morgan Dawson, A Confederate Girl's Diary, p. 118-21

Diary of Sarah Morgan: [July] 12, 1862

Brother writes that rumors of the capture of Baton Rouge by our troops have made him very uneasy about us; and he wishes us to go down to New Orleans if possible. I wish we could. The impression here, is that an attack is inevitable, and the city papers found it necessary to contradict the rumor of Ruggles having occupied it already. I wish mother would go. I can see no difference there or here, except that there, we will be safe, for a while at least. . . .

I grow desperate when I read these Northern papers reviling and abusing us, reproaching us for being broken and dispersed, taunting us with their victories, sparing no humiliating name in speaking of us, and laughing as to what “we'll see” when we vile rebels are “driven out of Virginia, and the glorious Union firmly established.” I can't bear these taunts! I grow sick to read these vile, insulting papers that seem written expressly to goad us into madness!  . . . There must be many humane, reasonable men in the North; can they not teach their editors decency in this their hour of triumph?

SOURCE: Sarah Morgan Dawson, A Confederate Girl's Diary, p. 114

Ruggles' Batteries Wayside Exhibit: Shiloh National Military Park

Ruggles’ Batteries

After six hours of blood fighting here it became evident that Confederate infantry alone would not break the strong Union Defenses along the Sunken Road and the thickets beyond.  Toward late afternoon, Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles brought forward eleven batteries of artillery and placed them in a line that began here and extended to your right along the wooded edge of Duncan Field and beyond.

According to Ruggles’ official report, there were 62 cannon here – the greatest concentration of field guns seen on a North American battlefield up to that time.

For more than an hour the Confederate artillery roared, unleashing a great storm of shot, shell, and canister that kept the Union soldiers in the “Hornets’ Nest” pinned down.  Confederate infantry then encircled the Hornets’ Nest and forced its defenders to surrender.

The combined guns of Ruggles’ batteries could fire more than 180 rounds every minute – three pounds per second!  The noise was deafening.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, a West Point Graduate, was convinced that Confederate infantry needed artillery support to conquer the Hornets’ Nest.

Ruggles’ Batteries – April 6, 1862 – P.M.

The Cannon you see today mark the locations of Ruggles’ batteries.  Although not the same cannon used in the battle they comprise one of the best collections of Civil War field artillery in existence.

Trading With The Yankees

The citizens of St. Tammany Parish, La., having petitioned Gen. Ruggles, commanding as Provost Marshal General in that State, to be allowed to trade with the city of New Orleans, in provision, &c.  Gen. R. has returned the following able and patriotic answers, refusing the request:

FIRST DISTRICT PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL’S OFFICE,

TANGIPAHOA, July 11, 1862

To Messrs. H. B. Hand, Thomas Gillespie and other citizens of the Parish of St. Tammany:

GENTLEMEN – Your petition asking permission to open trade with the enemies of your country, who occupy New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the commercial and political capitals of your State, has been received by Gen. Ruggles, and I am directed by him to reply.

In doing so I beg leave to call your attention to General Order No. 2, from these headquarters, and to paragraph 1^st of General Order No. 9, from the Department Headquarters, prohibiting all intercourse and traffic with the enemy, or persons within in its lines, and announcing the penalty of death against those who engage in it.  Copies of these are herewith enclosed for your information.

These orders have been called for by the stern necessities of the times, and it is believed, have met with the most universal approval of the citizens of the country.  For is there anything novel in the regulation they prescribe, or the penalties they announce.  They but declare and clothe with penal sanctions doctrines long established and universally recognized.

Even in your communication, while asking to be exempt from their provisions, you recognize their justice, for you say: “We are aware that in time of war there should be no trade between beligerants.”  But you urge that yours is an exceptional case, and that to enforce this rule would subject you to great hardships.

For now more than twelve months your country has been engaged in a gigantic struggle for existence.  Her noble people have poured out their treasures as water, and like the ancient patriarchs, have not even withheld their children from the sacrifice, but have cheerfully sent them forth to encounter the toils of the march, the diseases of the camp and perils of the battlefield.  Hundreds of them have fallen by the wayside – thousands have lingered and died in the hospitals, many of them for want of medicines which could not be obtained; and thousands more have perished on the field of battle.  But their thin and wasted ranks have been filled by others eagerly pressing forward to take the place of the fallen, and to-day your flag is proudly born in the face of and behind the foe by men half-clothed, half-fed, and who for months have not known even the rude comforts of a soldier’s tent.  Nor has the army been alone in this respect; every class of society, as to a greater or less extent, been subjected to hardships and privations, which to their lasting honor be it said, have been firmly and even cheerfully borne.  And if, [gentlemen[, the time has come, when you are called upon to take your portion of the wide-spread suffering, the General commanding hopes and believes that you will not be found wanting in courage and fortitude to bear it like men and patriots.

You say that if not permitted to dispose of your bricks, lumber, etc., they will be “mere rubbish on your hands.”  You cannot be ignorant, gentlemen, that in this you but share the common fate of your fellow-citizens.  More than two hundred millions of dollars’ worth of produce is now held by the patriotic planters of the Confederate States, and so far from seeking to sell or barter this, they stand ready to destroy, and have in many instances voluntarily applied the torch, and with self-sacrificing devotion worthy of men who aspire to be free, calmly see it reduced to ashes, rather [than] sell even at the most exorbitant rates to the enemies of their country.  And if you will but turn your eyes to a neighboring parish, you may there see the very materials which you fear will become “rubbish” on your hands – though but recently formed into comfortable dwellings, and sheltering helpless women and children – reduced to heaps of “rubbish” and ashes, while their inmates have been driven to the woods, and deprived of all means of subsistence.  And this has been done by the very men with whom you would now open commercial intercourse, to whose avarice you would minister and whose wants you would supply.

The General commanding directs me in conclusion to say that regarding these prohibitions of traffic with the enemy, as essential to the successful defense of the country, he is determined rigidly to enforce them; and that any one who may be detected in attempting to evade or violate them will be promptly brought to condign punishment.

Very respectfully,

JAMES O. FUQUA,

District Provost Marshal Gen’l.

(Official.)

L. D. SANDIDGE, C.S.A., A.A.A.A. and Inspector General

– Published in The Daily Rebel, Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 9, 1862, p. 3

New Orleans

Formidable Rebel Preparations for Resistance

A correspondent of the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch, writing from New Orleans, says:

The Mississippi is fortified so as to be impassible for any hostile fleet or flotilla. Forts Jackson and St. Philip are armed with 175 heavy guns (68 pounders, by Barkley Britain, and received from England). The navigation of the river is stopped by a dam of about a quarter of a mile from the above forts. No flotilla on earth can force that dam in less than two hours, during which it would be within short and cross range of 170 guns of the largest caliber, many of which would be served with red hot shot, numerous furnaces for which have been erected in every fort and every battery.

In a day or two we shall have ready two iron cased floating batteries. The plates are four and a half inches thick, of the best hammered iron, received from England and France. Each iron cased battery will mount twenty 68-pounders, placed so as to skim the water, and striking the enemy’s hull between wind and water. We have an abundant supply of incendiary shells, cupola furnaces for molten iron, Congreve rockets and fireships.

Between New Orleans and the forts there is a constant succession of earthworks. At the plain of Chalmette, near Janin’s property, there are redoubts, armed with rifled cannon, which have been found to be effective at five miles range. A ditch thirty feet wide and twenty deep extends from the Mississippi to La Cypsiere.

In Forts St. Philip and Jackson there are 3,000 men, of whom a goodly portion are experienced artillerymen and gunners who have served in the navy.

At New Orleans itself, we have 32,000 infantry, and as many more quartered in the immediate neighborhood. In discipline and drill they are far superior to the Yankees. We have two very able and active Generals, who possess our entire confidence. Gen. Mansfield Lovell and Brig. Gen. Ruggles. For Commodore we have old Hollins, a Nelson in his way.

We are ready to give the Yankees a hot reception when they come. Around me all are mad excitement and rage. Our only fear is that the Northern invaders may not appear. We have made such extensive preparations to receive them that it were vexatious if their invincible armada escapes the fate we have in store for it.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p. 2

Latest from Grant’s Army

Special Dispatch to Chicago Tribune

CAIRO, April 15 – M., 1862

Auditor Dubois and Gen. John Cook, of Springfield, left Pittsburg on Saturday, by mail packet Van Patten, and arrived here this morning. General Cook is unwell and going home to recruit his health. From them and from others we learn additional particulars.

Gen. Hurlburt [sic] lost, out of 7,000 men, in killed wounded and missing 1,983. He had a splendid army, choice troops, who fought like Turks. Lieut. Col. Tupper of Decatur was killed.

Colonel Bane, of the 50th Illinois, is dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Col. Phillips is also dangerously, and Colonel Morley slightly.

When the Illinois 11th were mustered on Monday morning they could bring but 45 men into the field. The 9th Illinois (Paine’s old regiment) mustered only 200 effective men, Col. Fry’s regiment were the only Illinois boys that acted badly. They had never been in action before.

The battle was stayed on Sunday by the gunboats and heavy siege guns of Matteson’s and Silversparre’s batteries, and the arrival of part of Buell’s forces.

A council of war was held by Beauregard and 11 principal Generals of the rebel army before the attack on Pittsburgh. If successful they would follow us and try to hold the Border States. If beaten, withdraw to the Gulf States with all their forces.

Van Dorn was not in the fight.

Our Cavalry was not very effectual in following up the retreating rebels. They were hindered by underbrush.

Rebel prisoners say Gen. Prentiss’ men (prisoners) were marched into Corinth in good order.

Gen. Grant was at Savannah, 8 miles below Pittsburg, when the battle opened, and did not arrive till 10 o’clock.

When our informants left Gen. Halleck was organizing the army as fast as possible, and preparing for every emergency.

SECOND DISPATCH

9 o’clock, p.m. – The following rebel officers participated in Beauregard’s council of war: Breckenridge, Bragg, Floyd, Hardee, Cheatham, the three Johnstons (Sidney, Bushrod and the Kentucky provisional Governor.)

The cause of the Sunday repulse is not definitely ascertained. The roads are now impassable from heavy rains.

General Hurlburt [sic] has discovered one of Matteson’s six 64-pound howitzers abandoned, and called on a man near by to work it. He did so, and fired and sighted sixty-five times, mowing down the enemy terribly every fire. The man was Dr. Corning of St. Louis surgeon, and inexperienced in artillery practice. Gen. Hurlburt [sic] thought him an old artillery officer.

A Federal wounded and captured in our tents, Sunday, and afterwards left when the rebels retreated reports Beauregard making a strong speech Sunday night to his officers and men. He assured them that they would make an easy prey of us on Monday; exhorted them to be brave, cool and self possessed; bed them injure nothing they had taken as booty, for it would all be needed in the rapid marches they were about making in pursuit of the federals, who might escape. Rebels taken prisoners on Monday confirm this statement.

Brigadier Gen. Johnston [sic], rebel provisional Governor of Kentucky is killed, and his body is at Paducah.

Different accounts agree in making the rebel force at Corinth estimated from 75,000 to 130,000 of whom 65,000 to 70,000 were in action. Our forces was 45,000 in action.

The Hiawatha brought down 260 wounded to Mound City, to-day at noon. An adequate supply of transports lying at Pittsburgh have been loaded with the wounded ready to come. Some go to Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Sanitary Commission did nobly in relieving the wounded; so did those of St. Louis.

Orders were found on Gen. A. S. Johnston from Jeff. Davis to press on and attack Grant on Wednesday before Buell would join him by Thursday. Bogus Governor Johnston [sic] of Kentucky, said he did not want to live, as the Confederacy was ruined. He did not want to see it.

Gen. Ruggles was killed. Bushrod Johnston [sic] is also reported dead.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday April 19, 1862

Late Southern News

The Richmond Examiner’s Charleston correspondent, under date of the 30th ult., writes as follows:

Since the drawn battle between the Monitor and Virginia, we have made up our minds that the strength of the batteries of Fort Sumter will, within the next three months, be tested by half a score of iron-sheathed monsters. We are now doing something to get ready fro them. The gunboat fever, just now so universal among the unconquerable women of the South, seems to have awakened the Navy Department from its torpor. What is now being done at the eleventh hour, by the orders of the government, should have been done twelve months ago. Since the cumbersome floating battery, intended for the reduction of Fort Sumter, was launched, our ship carpenters, as far as war vessels are concerned, have been absolutely idle, though their services could at any have been secured by the Confederacy. But the past is past, and we must all put our shoulders to the wheel for the future.

The Norfolk Day book of the 4th inst. has the following interesting item, which may be taken for what is worth:

We have a pretty strong hint that pilots acquainted with the various harbors along the Northern seaboard will speedily be in great demand, and that their services will be handsomely remunerated. It is unnecessary for us of course to say more than this, as those, interested will easily find out where to apply for further information. As the weather is getting warm, possibly some of our Southern friends intend to get up a few pic-nic excursions to a little colder climate, and it may be that they need the services of the above pilots.

The Richmond Examiner says:

The Hon. William M. Gwin, of California, who was arrested in New York some months ago and carried to Washington by Lincoln’s minions, but afterwards released, also arrive in this city yesterday, and is stopping at the Spottswood Hotel. Dr. Gwin came from Maryland by the underground railroad. He states that the Yankees intend exhausting every means to crush out the so-called “rebellion” by the first of May. The number of mechanics in the workshops of the North has been doubled, and they are now working day and night turning out iron for gunboats, as the north believes them to be their only salvation.

The same paper says:

It is suggested that Congress will take measures to check the evils which are becoming quite perceptible from the large issue of Treasury notes, and will provide adequate means for absorbing the currency. We learn that the expenditures of the Government are at the rate of two or three millions a day, and that there is a weekly addition of that sum to the currency. We here it recommended that Congress should make all future issues of Treasury notes bear interest.

All the Generals of our army of the Mississippi are now at Corinth, including Beauregard, Sidney Johnson [sic], Bragg, Polk, Crittenden, Gladden, Ruggles, Carroll, and Kirby Smith. Gen. Jackson, of Georgia is in command at Corinth.

The Richmond Examiner of April 4 contains a leading article urging the execution of the full sentence of the law upon several persons convicted of counterfeiting rebel treasury notes. – That penalty, says the examiner, is hanging by the neck until they are dead.

The Richmond Dispatch, of the 31st, announces that it is the purpose of the Provost Marshal to interpose and regulate the prices of provisions, &c., in the markets of Richmond.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862 & the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862