The Standard. (Clarksville, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 19, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 25, 1861 Page: 1 of 4
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VOL 18,
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CLlBKSVILLB. JlED R1VEE
;S|A^
Ma j DeMorsk :—The "Bed River Hone
ruard" was presented by the ladies of Clarlts-
Tille Saturday last, with a most beautiful flag.
Copies of the address delivered by Miss Bell
Gordon and response of M. U Sim«, Esq., on
that occasion have been obtained far publica-
tion and are herewith transmitted to you with
the request of the cpmpany, that they may ap-
pear in the Standard.
1 Wm. CRITTENDEN, Capt.
Com manding Home Guard.
jj. C. Golld, Ord'y Sgt.
ADDRESS OF
HISS BELLE GORDON>
To the Red River Home Guard.
lirntlem'ii, of the Red River Home Guard :
With the most intense feelings of diffidence
and pride, I appear this day before you, on be-
half of the ladies, who have prepared this flag
fur jour acceptance. With feelings of diffi-
dence, lest, through my inability to convey in
adequate terms, the strong heartfelt emotions
which fill our bosoms for your prompt response
to the call f<>r your organizations; and with
fee lings ot pride, that I have been selected as
the humble medium trough which you are to
he put in possession of a banner, made by fair
hand" and accompanied with patriotic prayers.
The circumstances which call forth yonr or-
ganization, were urgent The natural protec-
tors of many families in the country, in obedi-
ence to a demand for their services out of the state
had left many wives, and families in an unpro-
tected condition. Kre the last echo of our no-
ble hearted volunteers, had ceased sounding in
our ear?, you were already organizing a Home
Guard, competent to help the defenceless,*and
impart coutidcnce and a feeling of confidence
to all.
1 would be out of place, to recount the wrongs-
"to which the south has so long submitted.'—
Almost from the time of the adoption of the
old Constitution ot the United States, a series
of unjust, and bnprovoked aggression, has been
waged against the people of the South, by
those who have been aggrandized by our energy
and industry; and the election of the Black
Republican Lincoln to the Presidency, pledged
as he was to his party to carry out the fiendish
designs of Northern fanatics, tilted to overflow-
ing the cup of our grievances.
Secession, Irom a compact, wantonly and
. openly*violated, (revolution if you please to
cair it,) became absolutely necessary, unless we
prepaerd to yield our dearest rights, and die
in a state ot serfdom. Already have eleven
States withdrawn from the association and join-
edthe Southern Confederacy. Weareaunited
people, having a common interest; and with
6W and riykt on our side, we bid defiance to
all the powers of diabolical fanaticism.
A deadly war threatens us. A war for the
annihilation of our rights impends over our
heads. Already have the bloodhounds of war
been let loose upon us from the North ; and
eai h day brincp the tidings ot accumulated
preparations for a most deadly contest. Al-
ready have our Southern ports been blockaded,
to eut us off from that commercial intercourse
with the world ^rhich God, and the position of
our c ounrry intended we should CDjoy.
Gentlemen '• this war, the nios« unholy, the
mi st unsurpassed in the annals of history for its
unnaturaluess—in which the father will take
up deadly weapons against the son, the son
against the lather; brother will meet with the
brother in mortal combat, and the holiest ties
of kindred will be set at defiance; this war I
say gentlemen, this war has neither been insti-
gated nor courted by us; but it has been forced
upon us, and as free men and the free born
citizens of a free State, we are compelled to
take up arms in self-defence; and wo to the
laggard craven heart, which will not promptly
respond to the call of its country.
(ientlemen, we fell assured from the prompt-
n v- and zeal which you have exhibited in
your organization, that there is not a craven
lieirt among you ; and with this faith engraven
on our hearts, permit me in the name of the
ladies who have prepared this flag, to present
it t'ir your in-ri-iitanre..
It is now without a stain on its escutcheon—
ni;iy it ever continue so. May no cowardly or
traitorous heart, ever take shelter under its
io'ds. May it descend unsullied, to your chil-
dren's children in all time to come. The exi-
gencies of your country may call many of you
Jar from hence, to fight in defence ofyour most
saercd rights; but there will be others to take
your place, and protect your homes, and all
that is near and dear to you—and placing your
trust in the God ofbattles, no enemy will be
allowed to harm you.
fearing, no doubting, thy soldiers shall know,
\\ hen here stands bis country, anil yonder her foe;
One loi.k at the bright sun, one prayer to the sky,
Uue glance where her banner floats gloriously on
high;
Then on, aB the young lion bounds on his prey;
Let veur sword tlash on high, Hiug your scabbard
:iw:ty!
Roll on, like :he thunderbolt over the plf\in!
We come back in glory, or come not again."
RESPONSE OF M. L. SIMS, ESQ.
Lapjf.s :—The presentation of this elegant
and hiately wrought banner, through your ac-
complished representative, is a tangible evi-
dence of your endorsement and hasty approval
of the purposes, policy and objeots. of our com-
pany ; and had we no other convictions of the
rectitude of our cause, and no additional assur-
ances of the necessity of the movement which
we have inaugurated. Yet, in'this manifesta-
tion ofyour good will, is a sufficient stimu-
lus to induce us to prosecute' to the end of
some apparent necessity our organisation pow
in its incipiency.
The presentation ot a flag; let it come from
whatever hand it may, always has an inspiring
and soul-stirring effect upon the minds and
hearts of men; because it is the representative
ot sovereignty and nationality, and with us of
liberty, equality and fraternity—under it oar
fathers, brothers and Bons have marched to
victory or to a glorious death, on all the well
tried fields upon which the call of their coun-
try suramins them. It is the broad expansive
a'gis beneath whose ample folds a nation takep
sheitet designates itself from the pthpr nations
of the earth and vindicates its supremacy. •
But that which makes the presentation of
this flag peculiarly impressive, that which to
the banner itself lends a charm not otherwise
possessed, that which makes it unfurl its folds
to the evening breeze with no borrowed lustre ;
and sends an electrical thrill through the heart
of every member ot this company is the pleas-
ing and signfieant fact that it is from the fair
'hand of woman. The patriotio generosity
which induced the fair donors to contribute it,
<he tender hands~thpt wrought it and the soft,
musical and earnest voice that eommits it to
our .keeping, makes it the' eloquent declarer of
not found in jits history or finite on
And may I not be permitted mf wttfew*
*bjeetiag myself to the aoeatatinp otflattepy
that we ask ho better assurance* of the
wusnesg of the cause in whwf as a
engaged, aad sctccess wii| <
. o®r nraia, than that the j
throughout the land .
**bit)t without* murmur, to |j
*®d deathincideai tea
heaven may not- visit her too rudely, yet when
the shoek of battle eomes, and the red! right
armed of the Ood of war is at retched out across
the land, and the loweriag olouds gather thick
..and fint over our heads the angry thunders
howl, and the fulgent lightning's bttie in lurid
flames athwart die heavens; and the ted hot
cinders from conflagrated cities, towns and.vil-
lages freight the whirlwind ; and guant pover-
ty, woe-begono famine and grim visaged death
all stalk up and down the land—then Will wo-
man undismayed amid the ruin stand and pre-
sent such a picture of patriotism, fortitude and
courage, as poet never dreamed or the world
ever saw.
Respected superiors and fellow members of
the "Home Guard" this magnificent flag from
the ladies of our county is presented to us
with the declaration "that it is now without a
stain on its escutcheon," and with the patriotic
injunction, "that we preserve it untarnished
and transmit it to our children's children ''as
we have received it. Before [ respond may I
not ask. Why is this ? Why is it that we see
so muoh enthusiasm among those least dispos
ed to enoourage the strife of death ? Do we not
learn through the press that the ladies are pre-
senting flags to organizations similar to our own,
and to others entering active service, in e /ery
town, village and Hamlet throughout the Con-
federacy? This must be the effects of some
powerful, deep seated and soul moving cause.
Is it because woman delights in the prompt
and circumstance of war ? Is it because the
roar of artillery, the rattle of small arms and
the clash of bayonets have no terror for her ?
Is it becauscf the groans.of the dying %and the
ghastly visage of the dead touches not a chord
in her heart ? The very converse is the truth.
War to her is the Pandora's box out of which
pours in one uninterrupted stream, a long cata-
logue of woes comprising the major part of ills
to which humanity is heir; and when it comes
and brings in its train the suffering, misery
and death incident tp it, she bewails the cause
and weeps over the misfortunes of her unhap-
py country, and from her the soldier receives
most efficacious in init-
is because her intelli-
and her interests have
fully awakened her to the magnitude of the is-
sues involved in this oontest! It iB because
she feels as only woman can feel, that all she
has ever held saered is now in peril and hence
it is that she has nerved herself for the con-
flict, and is ready to sacrifice fortune, friends"
and kindred that the rights may prevail. <
For twenty: long years the Goddess of Amer-
ican liberty h'as been perched on the dome of
our National Capitol with piuions half spread,
as if doubtful whether to stay and weep over
the misfortunes and perverseuess of her chil-
dren or take her returnless flight to climes
more congenial. At length on the Gth of No-
vember she cast a last long lingering look—
bid a final and a feeling farewell—and sorrow-
fully soared array towards the Olympian heights
and we lost in the dizzy mazes of the distance.
Soon in reviewing the scene behind, her argus
eyes perceives, that the love of liberty, concord
and virtue, which characterized our fathers of
'76 still existed in its native simplicity among
the gallant sons and fair daughters of the
South; and with joyful exultation she descen-
ded and now presides with magisterial dignity
over the hopes, fortunes and ambitions of the
Confederate States of America, and I cherish
the unfeigned hope that the occasion will
never necessitate the recurrence of that sorrow-
ful event—but when the last note is pealed to
sound the march of time; when the last red
sun shall have set behind the Western horizon
that the people of the South united in hand,
in purpose and in dominion shall go down to a
common grave with the stars and bars floating
triumphantly over their heads, with liberty,
equality and negro inferiority inscribed in let-
ters of blazing lights upon its ample folds.
Out of the election ot the Black Republican
Lincoln, to the Presidency of the United
States, pledged as he was to his party, to carry
out the fiendish designs of Northern fanatics,
came secession, and out of secession came war !
And for what is this war waged ? What are
the principles at issue, and what the interests
at stake ? By us the guantlct of the proud
Templar has been taken up, that we might se-
cure to ourselves and our children the bless-
ings of liberty, and to prevent our degenera-
tion into serfs, staves, and boot-blacks to a
vandal horde of Northern fanatical infidels-—
to prevent these ladies from being reduced
from their present proud and enviable position
to a level with the abolition women cf the
North and negro women of th|e South.
The principles at issue are those which un-
derlie all free governments, all political, reli-
gious, and social liberty—that glorious old
constitutional liberty for which our fathers
endured a seven years' war, and to perpetuate
which we, unless we are unworthy of them,
are willing to do battle from now till the end
of time, or until the last son of the South shall
be sleeping on the plain.
The interests at stake are those of personal
security, liberty and property. To these may
be added Virtue—that which nerves the strong
arm of man, and sheds a halo of glory around
the pure heart of woman. Honor, with which
man stands in close proximity with the angels,
and without which he is a demon full-fledged
from the realms of hell, and one oannot deter-
mine whether he most dishonors or disgraces
the devil. Self-respect, that inestimable trait
in our character as a nation, that contradis-
tinguishes us from our enemies of the'North.
If these things are not sufficient to buoy the
patriot's heart,- to. nerve the patriot's arm—if
they will not stimulate a nation to deeds of
valor—then is the sun of liberty gone down
forever, ftftd the hopes of the South sunk in
the bottomless vortex of everlasting infamy !
But as sprung Minerva from the brain of Jove,
so Will spring full panoplied legions ot as brave
men as ever fought in the cause of right, or
died in the cause of liberty, who will startle
the world with prodigies of valor, and bear
the laurels of victory from the field of fame.
Our enemies are as numerous as the waves
of the • foifeat, and as various as the hues of
autumn! On the one hand, we have the
treacherous and unprincipled Mcxican; on the
other, the cunning, barbarous and blood-thirsty
Indian; and still another—up in the land of
dark deeds and foul designs, the not less
trpapherous, faith-breaking and blood-thirsty ^
abolitionists: £9.which may be added the pos-
sibility of treason and insurrection at home.—
It is against these, our foes, so devoid of hon-
or, so destitute of every feeling of humanity,
so insensible to every generous: impulse and
poble instinct, that stirs the heart of civilised
man, that these ladies invoke our aid, and in
the presentation of ffcfe flag, conjure us to pro-
teat them and our oountvy.
This is a. noble mission we have volunteered
to execute-, and it is a duty commensurate witfcr
all we hold fcaerdd in time or in eternity. Will
ire shrink from duty,and prove reereantto
£lie lush trust committed to our charge ? will
nMMMrd the patriotic injunction of* jthtte
to
onslyin the da*? W&J *nv member'of-this
company live to realist th hswlifting roflea
i86i.
i-.. . . . . „ -1 wwr suffused
T i t on®*Hl blush ofpatriotie efttbumim,
Shall be pale in death—then, only then, will
it fall to rise no more. Like the flaming sword
placed around Eden, shall hit aver stand, so
that none can approach bat death awaits them.
Like the tell plume of Henry of Navarro
shall it ever wave over, oar heads, an appalling
terror to our enemies, and a soul-stirring
" Charge! Chester, charge !! On, Stanly, on •"
to us, and the serried hosts of citisen-snldien?
who maroh with us, until victory crowns out
arms.
Ladies! permit me to assure you that your
patriotism, liberality and zeal are duly appre-
ciated by us: and your accomplished represen
tative herself, will allow the Company through
me, to congratulate her upon the felicity with
which she has fulfiled this duty.
It is a fearful storm indeed that accomplish-
es no good, and the more fearful and danger-
ous it is, the more genial will be the returning
sky; and when the drum, the fife, the bugle
and the banner, with all the insignia of war,
shall be hung up in the arsenals and magazines
of the nation, and the piano, the lute, the
guitar, and the full orchestra of domestic mu-
sic, shall chant the requiem ot war, and ushers
in the halcyou days of peace—and when as-
sembled around the social fireside we shall re-
count " the scenes of the days of other year3,"
this occasion will be treasured up as an oasis
in the wild waste of war, and be cherished in
grateful recollection as one of the most pleas-
ing reminiscences of the past.
THE WAR EXCITEMENT AT CAIRO.
From the Memphis Bulletin we extract the
following:
We regret to learn that the steamer C. E.
Ilillman, with $175,000 worth of arms, pur-
chased in St. Louis, and destined for Nashville,
was captured at Cairo this morning about four
o'clock.
It appears that the commander of the mili-
tary forces at Cairo, having been made acquain-
ted with the large amount of ammunition on
board the Hillman, started the steamer Swallow,
a steamer which had been fitted up like the
B. B. Cheney, as a sort of man-of-war, was
provided with soldiers and cannon, and started
up the river to meet the Hillman. About four
o'clock this morning the Swallow met the Hill-
man, about eight miles above Cairo, and Capt.
Corbctt, of the Hillman, being hailed from the
Swallow,aud supposing that they merely wished
to make some communication, permitted her to
land alongside, when an officer, backed by sol-
diery. presented himself and demanded posses-
sion of the boat Captain Corbett, having no
means to defend himself, was now compelled to
obey.
He, however, refused to land at Cairo, but
did at Byrd's point, on the Missouri side, and
the officer threatened to open the battery upon
him, but he persisted in refusal, saying that if
they wished to destroy the boat they might do
so, but he would never land at Cairo ! After-
wards, the soldiers had the Hillman towed over
to the Cairo side of the river, and he was told
if he would wait till the arms and ammunition
were taken out, he might have his boat. He
refused to take her unless they would let him
have its contents. This was refused him, and
he and all his crew left his boat, and took the
first train for; Nashville. This information come
from Col. H. Harrison, the agent of] Gov.
Harris, who was on the Hillman at the time,
and who has telegraphed the substance of the
above to Nashville.
Every Tennesseean is justly indignant at
this outrage. Some urge the propriety of go-
ing at once to Cairo and cleaning out the abo-
lition horde, while others think a more moder-
erate course desirable. There are three steam-
boats owned in Cincinnati aud running between
Memphis and New Orlecns. These are the
Mars, now being unloaded at Helana, aud the
Ohio Belle. Ought they not to be seized by
our authorities, and held until the 8175,000
Tennessee property is surrendered at Cairo ?—
If this suggestion is deemed wise, our authori-
ties ought to act at once, for one of these bo Us,
now below, is expected up in the course of this
afternoon or night. T\e matter is before the
authorities, and we are content to leave it to
them. We believe, however,that a force could
be obtained in Memphis in a few hours, abun-
dantly able to capture the lost property and to
clear out the vile horde now preying upon our
commercc at Cairo.
The Bulletin of Sunday has the following
intelligence:
The steamer John D. Perry reachcd this
city last night. From Capt. Alex. Zeigler we
learn that the steamer Swallow-hailed his boat
about four miles from Cairo, aud asked him to
land at that point. He told them that he had
intended to do so in any event. On reaching
Cairo, the commanding officer came aboard,ex-
amined his cargo, and took 20 kegs lead and,&
kegs buckshot, consigned to R. R. Hawlcy &
Co; and 8 kegs and 20 bundles Of bar lead,
and one sample case, consigned to Burton, Ti-
tus k Co., of this city. The Pfcrry had aboard
two cases guns and 25 packages gunpowder,
which were delivered in Misseuri; and yet so
pertectly informed are the Cairo authorities, as
to the arms and ammunition on board every
boat leaving St. Louis, that they inquire where
this powder and guns had gone to. The com-
mander at Cairo, says he has no instruotions to
tonch anything ou board any boat that passes,,
except articles relating to war.
There are said to be about 2500 men at Cai-
ro, and the number is increased by every train.
The officers said, when the Perry left, that they
already had about 25 guns mounted. The
Swallow, when she went up to meet the Perry,
had two guns mounted, with a large lot of solr
diers on board.
x<ater.
Since the above wad written we have con-
versed with a gentleman who spent two days at
Cairo. He Bays Col. Prentiss the commander
at Cairo, is kept perfectly posted as to the car-
go of everv boat leaving St, Louis, for the
South, and hence it is impossible to get any
arms through there. But what is singular is,
that no steamboat destined for the Ohio river,
has yet been stopped at Cairo. Even boats tor
Louisville are permitted to pass without moles-
tation. But all boats coming this* way are
closely watched, and whatever guns they may
have on board, it is almost certain will be cap-
tured' There are about 2500 men already at
Cairo, and the Chicago Zouayes are said to be
watching bridges not far off.
• CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS AT CAIRO.
The Memphis Evening Argus, of the 2^d
nit., furnishes the following more particular
statement of the arrival of Federal troops and
oannon at Cairo:
Several passengers on the Illinois Central
taijroad through Cairo to Memphis have in-
formed us that they werfe accompanied by eight
hundred men, who are now stationod at Cairo
With two car load of ammunition and fou brass
1-2 pounders. Four thousand two hundred
let at Mil j
ML
t9 bepointodat
. , Uy «*rard that
ot his duty in the
1
jMJP;
men more and still larger
of war wore to arrive at the
light tins morning.
' The first actions of the
guard the
about 80 miles above Cairo, on |
;«TOfooad. -:. j. 7 i :
Lincoln sot known a li*r, ;the
t of munitions
e spot ere day-
ding officers
rn-.-rn to seise
wtrahjs
Illinois
a view of simply prdtecfjing, not
t|ng, the free nwifptun «f- the Mississippi j
and
[cot the
the money
comparison
but when we tell our readers that t le very pas
sengers who.informed us of the a rival of the
troops, also state* that on all the ^ ines coming
through Illinois and Indium to t) Ohio river,
provisions, consigned to Southern boys, who
nave actually paid for them, are
taken from the train ; when we
action of Cincinnati, aad the ren arks ot the
Republican press, there can be n< doubt that
these troops are stationed at Caiit to prevent
the passing southward of either am ls, ammuni-
tion or provisions.
The stealing of property paid for, and re-
turning it to the seller, who keeps
and takes back his goods, is beyond
the meanest mode of warfare that lever a peo-
ple cou descended to adopt Separated as we
now arc in feeling and in interest from the
Northern States, we blush with shame to think
that once we were united in bonds |of political
unity with men whose idea of honorable war-
fares the stealing of chickens. This is no
exaggeration, for two hundred coops of chick-
ens were actually taken from a train and con-
fiscated. They had been paid tor. j
In the concentration of troops alt Cairo no
danger is threatened to Memphis; for it is not
five thousand, nor twice that nujmber, who
would venture to disturb us here. Our women
and our children are safer here than they could
possibly be in Louisville or in Cincinnati; and
in two days our city will be impregnable. The
idea ot starving us by obstructing the naviga-
tion oi the Mississippi is silly; and ihe attempt
to do It will simply result in a practical demon-
straticpi of its impossibility.
affairs at cairo.
%
Tho Memphis Argus says :
Goqrge Flack, Esq., conductor on the Mem-
phis and Ohio railroad, tells us thai 1800 fed-
eral trbops arrived at Cairo last night, and that
a still larger number are expected there to-day.
A number of engineers went frdm Cairo to
Columbus in order to survey it, with a view to
the erection of fortifications there.
The ferry boat P. B. Cheeney is retained at
Cairo by the troops,and communication between
Cairo and Columbus is thus cut off. Passen-
gers who yesterday went up by the train had
to reach Louisville by way of Clarksville, Ken-
tucky.
The steamboat Baltic was stopped at Caiio,
and forced to round to.
A gentleman arrived here from Culumbus
to-day for the purpose of proouring cannon for
that place.
The object of the fortification of Cairo and
Columbus, and the planting of troops there,
seems simply to be the obtaining of ^command
over the navigation of the Mississippi, for the
purpose of preventing the passage of provisions
or of arms southward. The number of troops
expected at Cairo, taken at the largest estimate
is too small for offensive operations in Tennes-
see—wholly so.
Montgomery, Ala., March 30, 1861.
Hon. L. P. Walker Secretary oiWar.
Sir :—Feeling it incumbent on us, as a duty
to our constituents, we ,take the liberty of
calling your attention to the frontier of Tex-
as, and of making some suggestions! which we
deem worthy of consideration in providing for
its defence.
Our frontier may be diviued i into three
sections, each presenting its peculiar as-
pect.
1st. That portion bounded by the Rio
Grande, from the mouth of that river to New
Mcxico ; 2d, the frontier settlements in the
State from Preston, on Red river, to the Rio
Grande ; and 3d, the northern boundary of
the State on Red river, from the south-west
corner ot Ark. up to Preston.
The first section is between one thousand
and fifteen hunded miles in length, and is
the boundary between Texas and ! Mexico.—
Upon this line there should be, as we con-
ceive, permanent military posts, occupied by
troops of the regular army, of sufficient force
to preserve good order on the line, and pre-
vent lawless incursions across it. The upper
settlements of this line arc exposed: to Indian
depredations, froth the wild tribes of the plains
and Mexico. To jjuard against that danger
a cavalry force should be added to the ser-
vice.
The second section, or line of frontier set-
tlements from Bed river to the Rio Grande,
is one of great difficulty. This line is from
six hunded to one thousand miles long. For
the last ten years the settlements have ex-
tcuded westward about fifteen miles annually.
From one end of this line to the other, the
settlements are exposed to the depredations of
the wild tribes of the plains. Th^se Indians
make their incursions in small parities, steal-
thily, and generally in the night, stealing large
droves of horses, and killing other stock.—
Families exposed and unprotected and murdere-
red; individuals are chased and 1 freqdently
overtaken and murdered. These Indians are
perfect horsemen, always move with; great ra-
pidity, and are never overtaken unless the
pursuit is instantaneous. If preparation is ne-
cessary before starting, after their itrail 1b dis-
covered, the pursuit had as well be Abandoned.
They always avoid a conflict with a force of
anything like equal numberp, and! upon find-
ing themselves pursued, scatter in all directions,
and conceal themselves. J
You will readily perceive that a particular
character of troops is necessary to guard our
frontier against the inclusions of such an en-
emy. Theymust be brave, good'horsemen,
acquainted with the country, and able to per-
form the most fatiguing service. They must
be acquainted with the character and habits of
the Indians, and always ready to mount the
saddle, and start in the pursuit the moment
the trail of the enemy is discovered.; The vol-
unteer rangers of Texas possess all these re-
quisites, are better qualified tor this service than'
any others whatever.
Permanent-military posts on this line are
wholly useless. The troops should bf kept
constantly moving, and on the look lout for the
enemy. They should range the whole oHhia
line of frontier in small detachments^ are rang-
ed in such manner that rapid concentration
could be effected when nece?sbryl Detach-
ments ot ^fficient strength should be frequent-
ly stent hijftop the country, to huht out the
Indians. We beleive that this is the 'only
mode in which this section of our frontier
the 8tate Qovernment to
take oh~arg«t ei the matter, and expend an (enor-
mous sum «f. maoey in that protection whieh
it was thed«ty of the Federal Government to
afford. At^kbia ^nMtbe attention ot the State
authority is eqwmally directed to the subject.
In coD8equeuoe of the withdrawal of the Uni-
ted States troops the Ihdians have presented
themselves, in considerable -bodies', at various
points. To gwiid against them, the Legisla-
ture of the State, now in session^ has provided
for the raising of a regiment of mounted rifle-
men of one thousand men to be enrolled for
oneyear unless sooner discharged, to be put in-
to the service at once. The officers and men
are to furnish their own clothing, horrcs, &e.
The State is to arm and equip the officers and
men, who are to receive the same pay as allow-
ed in the Confederate States. Should the Con-
federate States receive the regiment as a part
of their military force it is to be subject to
their orders and laws.
As the defence of the frontier belongs pro-
perly to the General Government, we respect-
fully suggest the propriety of receiving the
regiment above referred to, into the service as
a part of the volunteers force allowed to be rais-
ed, We believe the regiment necessary, in
addition to the regiment ordered to be raised in
Texas. The representatives of the people of
Texas, in the Convention and Legislature,
have declared it necessary by their action in
ordering it to be raised. The acceptance of the
regiment by the Confederate States will give
peace and quiet to the frontier, and inspire
the confidence of the people in the Govern-
ment.
We can assure you that nothing contributed
more to destroy the bonds of affection which
bound the people of Texas to the United States,
than the fatal disregard of the dangers to
which they were exposed to the Indians, .and
the reckless denial of adequate protection.—
The people had a right to expect ample protec-
tion—it was a part of the bond of annexation,
as well as a duty, without any express
stipulation Our people are not mercenary—
their calls for protection were misunderstood.—
The were forced by the Federal Government
to protect themselves, while annually sending
off twenty millions exports, upon which imports
were returned to Northern ports, and upon
which revenues were collected and distributed
amongst hungry jobbers and speculators,
rather than expended for the protection of the
people.
We have taken the liberty of making the
foregoing suggestions for your consideration,
in providing such a system of defense as the
condition of the frontier requires.
We are respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
, John Hemphill,
W. S. Oldham.
FROM OUR ARMY.
Special Correspondence of the Delta.
Headquarters Louisiana Regiment, I
Washington, April 24, 1861. j
In my last I described the position of the
several troops of Gen. Braggs Army. I have
since visited the Navy Yard to Fort McRae,
and have been astonished at their strength.
Considering that the work upon them has been
done chiefly by volunteers, they express strong
evidence of the energy and capacity for labor
as well as of the intelligence and sagacity of
our volunteers. These batteries are masked so
that they are not visible from the sea or bay,
and have strong parapets of sand bags of great
thickness, with covered redoubts or mines, in£o
which the gunners can retreat. Thesd mines
are bomb proof. There is a continuous line of
the batterries between the Navy Yard and the
Barancas, and between Barancas and Fort Mc-
Rae. They are all manned by select artillery
companies, taken from the several regiments
The men are drilled constantly at these bat-
terries, and handle the guns like old artillerists.
With McRae, Baraucas and these various Band
batterries, Bragg can open a semi-circle of fire
upon Fort Pickens of over a hundred guns,
most of them 32s, but several of them 8 and
10 inch columbiads. These batterries will
have the great advantage over the Fort of a
concentrated fire, while Pickens will be under
the necessity of scattering and diffusing its fire
along a line of several miles. The indications,
however, are that the Navy Yard will be the
chief object of attack by the Fort. All their
work see ins to be on the side of the Fort fac-
ing the Yard, where they are throwing up
sand batteries and mounting their heavy guns.
The effects of such a fire on the Navy Yard
would, of course be very destructive. It
would be, too, a vandalic and barbarous des-
truction of valuable property which the Con-
federate States hold in trust, to be settled for
in any future peaceable settlement with
the United States. If, therefore, the several
millions of valuable property there collected
should be thus wantonly destroyed, it would
deduct so much from the amount for which
the Government of the Confederate States
would be liable' when a settlement and parti-
tion of the property of the Union shall be made.
If Lincoln and the Federalists succeed in sub-
duing us, they will, by bombarding these de-
fenceless houses, docks and machine shops, de-
prive themselves of a station of*great value, if
not of positive necessity,for the maintenance of
their naval power in the Gulf. Such a bom-
bardment would, therefore, be a blunder, as
well as a crime. It could effect no objeot in
the scheme of ooercingorsubjugatingthft South.
They might batter down the houses and the
docks^md level every structure with the ground,
but even then th§y dare not venture on our
soil, or come within rifle shot of our yeoman-
ry.
The strength of the position of Fort Pickens
has not been exaggerated. By the courtesy of
Capt. Ginurd, who has charge of the coast guard
of the bay, I made a trip around the island
yesterday; approaching within a few hundred
yards of Fort pickenp, and venturing a short
distance beyond Fort McRae. Your readers
have all seen the rough plan ot the bay and or
ihe Forts, and doubtless have a general ides of
their relative positions. Bear In mind that
MoRae is on a split of the main land, a few
hundred yards further out to sea than Pickens,
which stands on the extreme point of the long,
narrow island Santa Boss. Pickens is equi-
distant from the Navy Yard, Barancas and
■"5-
can be successfully defended against depreda-: McRae, the distance being 14-10 miles.
t;nn. ! . As we nassed bv the island, we oou
tions.
On the third section no defenoes are neces-
sary, as our neighbors on that line Are highly
civilized apd agricultural tribes of Choctaws and
Chiokasaws, who are in friendship with Texas
and Ae Confederate States.
The people on this second section! have for
years been terribly exposed to the 4c|predations
of the Indians* Numerous families and indi-
viduals have been murdered, and thausands of
dollars worth of jgoperty has been stolen and
destroyed. 'Qp*government of the United
States has ndfaffbrded anything likejfdequate
protection- It is true that gallant ~
men have been stationed on the
they weire entirely unable to guatdt
or follow up the Indiana and chart)
For such setviee, regular infkntry
useless, {p some instances the «al
tioaed on the frontier have m«t
• The destruction of life
been so g*M$ as almost to
As we passed by the island, we oould per-
ceive very distinctly all that was going on, in
and about the Forte. The sentinels were walk-
ing the ramparts, and a number of men
were engaged in pulling sand bags between the
barbette guns, of which we counted apparently
thirty-tiro—all but two being placed on the
side of the fort—facing the Navy Yard and our
batterries. On the bland, outside of the Fort,
were a number of working parties carrying
bags of sand into the fort- Another party was
carting pfnfimqns from the beaeh on* the
treme point ot the island. There were sevsnl
iaeM -nd' offioew mounted, Who appeared_ to be s«|
tier, but tending these working parties. On
green daeis, by whieh tbe fort is
from the isittd, wo olpBrvod severe}
erasing. The provisions were hauled from
Jjtebteofc tothe&rt inamaHcarts
It is qnite evident that the garrison of the
Ifbrt hn becsioonmdenblyn^oNedL I think,
fcdwever, the force in the fort has been oon-
siderably exaggerated. Having ascertained the
transport* that have appeared off the landing,
and noted the tloops which were shipped on
the North, I estimate the garrison at Jfour, or
at the higaest five hundred, consisting of four
companies of the 4th Artillery, commanded by
Captions Brooks, Allen, Hunt and Barry; the
Artillery companies of Yogdes, Slemmer and
Haskias, an a company of Infantry, command-
ed by Capt Clitz. Some of these companies
have their field guns on the island, as quite a
number of horses—as many as seventy or eigh-
ty—have been landed. This whole force is
in the command of Col. Harvy Brown, the same
officer to whom was assigned the duty of de-
fending Washington City during the inaugura-
tion of Lincoln, and who has been selected for
this-poBt on account of bis well known Aboli-
tionism and his fanatical hate of the South.
He is a martinet of the old school, a big head-
ed, narrow-minded nature, whose capture and
humiliation would be equally gratifying to our
gallant soldiers.
On the arrival of Buown, Vogdes and Slem-
mer, who had proceeded, Wilson in the com-
mand, came over under a flag of truce, and
waited on Gen. Bragg to inform him that Col.
Wilson had suceaded to the command of the
garrison, and that he should expect said Bragg
to leave the Navy Yard and other property in
the United States in twenty days. General
Bragg replied by sending his compliments to
Col Wilson, and his respectful declination of
his polite request,as he had no instructsons from
his Government to vacate the property now in
question, and no disposition to do so ofhis own
accord. The compliment of this saucy message
was returned the next day, when General
Bragg sent a messenger over to Col. Wilson,
to inform him and his officers and men
of the glorious news that Virginia had seceded.
The news did not appear to excite much jubila-
tion in the fort, but on our high side was cele-
brated by a general salute from our batteries,
which produced a terrible excitement among
the Federalists, who beat to quarters and gath-
ered in crowds along the ramparts of their
Fort.
But this is a diversion from my excursion
around the fort. On passing Pickens and
reaching the mouth or entrance of the bay, we
came in full view of the hostile fleet, which
lies anchored near the island, at a distance of
a half or three quarters of a mile fort. With
the aid of a strong lorgnette and of a sailor,
who had recently boarded the ships, 1 was en-
abled to identify the several vesse's. The
large ship with her several rows of guns, which
lay farthest off, we recognized as the frigate
Sabine, fifty gnns, the flag ship of the com-
mander of the squadron, Capt. Henry Adams.
Her battery consists of ten 8 inch guns, and
forty 32s. Near the Sabine was the sloop St.
Louis, twenty guns, 32s. When the St Louis
came out she was under the command of Com-
mander Pore, of Virginia, but he has been so
beset by letters from his family and friends in
the Old Dominion, that, it is reported, he has
throw? up his command' and left. An open
letter came indorsed to a gentleman in this
town from Capt, Pore's son, to his father, in
which, in the most earnest and affectionate
terms, he entreats him to abandon the service
of the the enemy of his State and his country.
A similar letter was received by Assistant
Surgeon Sandford, from his father, also a Vir-
ginian, in which the father expresses his pro-
found sorrow that he and his son should be ar-
rayed against each other iu hostile conflict.
Similar letters were received by other officers
in the fleet. Such letters illustrate • the vile
and wicked character ot war which Abolition
malignity has inaugurated in this once peace-
ful and happy la jd.
While we were observing the two ships lying
out in the channel, we perccived a movement
an board the Sabine. Her yards were man-
ned, her sails spread, and turning her bow to-
wards the island, she got under sail and moved
majestically towards the other ships, which
were anchored very near the fort and island
It was the first large ship of war I had ever
seen under full sail, and certainly it is a sight
worthy of the many poetical descriptions and
ideas which it has elicited. I learned from
my sailor informant, that during the day the
Sabine and St. Louis lie out in the channel, as
if blockading the entrance to the Bay,and in the
the afternoon anchors near the island, so as to
be ready to co-operate with the fort iu case of
a night attack. Besides the Sabine and St
Louis there were five other ships, including-
the large steam transports. .Atlantic and Qua-
ker City, which were disgorging their cargoes
of men, munitions, and provisions. The other
ships were the Powhatan, a strong steam frig-
ate, commanded by D. D. Porter,so well-known
to your citizens, as the popular an energetic
Captain of the Georgia, of old line of California
steamers, and son of the famous old Commo-
dore Porter. The Powhatati carries twelve
large guns, all, I believe 8 inch. She is the
beet ship in the "squadron, and was the flag ship
of Commodore Tatnall, in his late cruise in the
Chinese waters. Near the. Powhatan lies the
great, heavy, loggy Brooklyn, a clumsy awk-
ward looking hulk, but with a powerful bat-
tery of fourteen 8 inch guns. The Supply, a
small store vessel, and the Wyandotte, a steam-
er purchased for the Paragauyac expedition,
carrying five 8 inch guns, completes the squad-
ron. Lieut. Walker commands the Brooklyn,
and Malona the Wyandotte The squadron
carrying nearly one hundred guns, is under the
command of Capt. Henry A. Adams, a Penn-
sylvanian by birth, whose interests and connec-
tions are chiefly with the South. It must be
asouroe of great ,pain and chagrin to Capt,
Adams' numerous relations and friends in Lou-
isiana, to see him employed, as so prominent an
agent and instrument in the villainous attempt
9? the wretched fanatics at Washington to sub-
jugate a free people. But for the presenoe of
this fleet the capture of fort Pickens would be
comparatively easy, either by storming or by
proaches on the island., But; nth the sweep
the island, which the the squadron now com-
mands, the erection of batteries is an impossi-
bility, and a storming party would be exposed
to most destructive fire. Its reduction would
have been effected "by escalade eight or ten days
ago, but for the most reokless and criminal al-
lusion in the Pensacola papers to tho prepara-
tions on foot for some decisive movement, .on
the receipt of which the garrison was iimmiil,
squadron was signaled for reinforcements,
and all the troops on shipboard, with a strong
force uf sailors and marines, were landed on the
istand. The squadron is able to torn out
about about five hundred sailor and marines
After an ontside view of Fort MeRae, where
we observed great life and activity in mount-
ing guns and drilling gunners, we returned to
the Navy Yard, much pleased by our excursion
and impressed with the oonvietioa that thongh
the enemy is much stronger than wo * "
the batteries of General
the order toonenthmn.
tent te affect the redaction of the fan, aod tat
drive the squadron off to sea- The new troops
tre naturally impatient and restive under tho
ft« whiah the aeneaMfltprijiwcetiaas sub-
them. But theyneed not fear that Bragg
'% dai longer thaaocdinairyprndeaoe
pjtytosig-
nothwg in
wm,,
aineeuviste.
received the
of life,
duty.
m:
ioi
agjigi
the
railway
Tho Washington-Evening Star says : Thste
is and understanding in naval cmlsa thatafl
the available men-of-war on foreign aqnntBftPS
will be called home. It is said t&at taa m.
boats of the Mediterranean and Afrioaa Mete
are already bound to the United States. Those
would'make the blockade fleet veryfomida
ble. The Mohican, Mystic, Sumter, Triqnois
gunboatos ; the steamers Richmond, Snsaus-
hannal San Jacinto ; and the corvettes Con-
stellation, Portsmouth, and others, added to
those already nearly fit for commission at
navy-yards, would enable the government, with
the aid of other available craft, to step all
maratimc communication with the 'southern
ports.
Wasiungton, May 10.—Gen. McClelland,
of Ohio, has been appointed commander of the
department of Ohio, comprising Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois.
A large train of cars has arrived with troops,
who passed uninterruptedly through Bam-
more.
James C. Sloo has been appointed oolleotor
at Cairo.
Washington, May 11.—Winans' steam gun
has been seized by G en. Butler, and orders
given to arrest Winans. Every is or-
dered to treat all traitors rigorously. Trouble
is anticipated at Cairo. Government has or
dcred the concentration of a large body of wes*
tern troops. There are 1800 Ohioans on the way
here. Baker's California regiment has been
accepted.
The government refuses to accept numer
ous offers ot privateers against the seoeded
States.
Secretary Cameron has received proffers of
20,000 more meu than asked for.
Washington, May 11.—The cabinet have
decided to sustain the Union party in Virginia,
Missouri and Tennessee, with prompt
efficient assistance. A battalion of
troops left Richmond, on the 8th on secret ses-
sion.
Washington, May 11.—Reinforcements
for the Virginians at Harper's Ferry are con-
stantly arriving ; including troops from South
Carolina. It is reported that the Maryland
Legislature adjourns on the 13th, until June
4th.
Alexandria, May 11.—The town is occu-
pied by 1000 secessionists.
Baltimore, May 6.—In the senate, the act
providing for a committee of safety is consider-
ed lost.
The government has seized upon the steam-
ers of the Baltimore atid Havre Be Grace
line.
Travel on the Baltimore and Ohio
is uninterrupted.
Baltimore, May 10.—Eight hundred Ken-
tuckians have erected a battery at Jefferson
Rock, and have laid trains to blow up the
bridges at a moment's notice.
In the Maryland Legislature, the oommittee
on federal relations reported that the war wan
unconstitutional, and sympathised deeply with
the south. They implore Lincoln to accept
the olive branch held out bytheCont. gteuw,
and ask a favorable recognition of southern
independence. They say the present military
occupation is a flagrant violation of the consti-
tution, but advises citizens not to mole** the
federal troops. They declare it inexpedient to
call a convention.
Thirteen hundred federal troops from Perry-
ville have moved towards Washington. 3000
troops are recruiting at Baltimore. '
New England has offered fifty vessels to
the government, armed and equipped by the
owners.
A large Confederate force are marching to-
wards Harper's Ferry, it is supposed to force
its way into Pennsylvania, to cause a diversion
of the federal forces
Gon. Patterson, leading 15,000 troops, ha*
advanced to Rush river, ou the Philadelphia
and Baltimore railway, '
It is cxpectcd federal troops will occupy Ar*
liiigton Heights.
The treasury has from two to three milieu
•of dollars in its vaults, with loans to any extent
offering.
Generals Harney and Butler are co-opera-
at the Relay house.
Ttfe frigate Niagara is destined for the block-
ade at Charleston harbor.
Baltimore, May 7.—Gentlemen from Fred-
erick and Fredericksburg say Gov. Lotoher
will soon order the evacuation of Harper's Fer-
ry-
Baltimore, May 10.-r-The western fam'n
was stopped by the Virginia troops, ten wil<f
west of Frederick, and examined. The
will be done to all western trains.
Four hundred Virginians, strongly posted,
are in this vicinity.
A train of western cars, with a lot of horses
and one hundred beeves bound to Baltimore,
were captured at Harper's Ferry.
Cumberland, May 6.—Great enthusiasm
is manifested here at the defeat of the pablio
safety bill m the legislature.
Annapolis, May 10.—About twenty shots
were | exchanged between the Confederate
and the pioket guards at Camp Butler last
night.
It is supposed that several prises were ^*^"1
by the federal vessels.
Wheeeing, Va., 11.—It is proposed to pwt
5,000 troops, fully equipped, into the for
the Union. I.. "i
Secession in Indiana.—A gcntlemanfrom
the interior of Indiana, called the othdt day
upon the editor of the Covington Jouaal, (a
Boll paper)—He savs, the farmers in his looal-
ity, in discussing the Morrill Tariff^ my -they
don't see the propriety or jortioe of bsittginx-
ed for the benefit of Easti rn capitalists j and
in this connection they axe watomng with? con-
siderable anxiety the practical operation of the
revenue measures of the Confederate 9tat a.
"We, of Indiana," ho continued, "hap;*' so
cause of quarrel with the South. W*SiS In
no way responsible for the oonditioa oi the ne-
groes in the South. There fip no osnfict- hn-
tween their labor and our labor. Ontke con-
trary the Southern system makes a demasfd for -
products. Waind oar best marfcaHtttho
South." He addad that in tit^ovant ef tho"
firm establishment of the Government of ths
Confederate States upon the moderate fita*
pies njvw indiwted) P«ty will be formed in
Indiana in Avor of annexation to ths nefl
Unio4<rr-fy jfyatetma*. . ■&/
IMAJfT MANCfACTTnUNG .AjM^ -JWft
jocTB.—The Providence je
The: is*
the witter of
Wester
that the
1
I
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De Morse, Charles. The Standard. (Clarksville, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 19, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 25, 1861, newspaper, May 25, 1861; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth234290/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.