The new South. (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, September 19, 1863, Image 4
For the New South.
ACROSTIC.
How pleasant to gaze on the beautiful stars,
On the Flag of our Country as it floats up on high;
What fate too severe for the traitor who mars
An emblem so sacred; sweet type of the sky.
. Remember your fathers suffered trials severe,
'Ere that beautiful flag was from tyranny won;
You must emulate them and their noble career,
One in purpose and heart, now the contest's begun.
Ungrateful children of such worthy sires
May look unmov'd at their poor country's woes,
Remorse will come with consuming fires,
Death would be better in the front of their foes,
Regardless of censure, they with laughter and jest,
Are enjoying the comforts their brothers have won;
Fame has no charms, their Motto is rest,
The draft I'm thinking, will soon spoil their fun.
J. ?., Co. A, 9d R. I. A.
? An officer in New Orleans recently received
a letter from his little daughter at home, asking
him to send her money with which to buy a new
bonnet, to which he replies as follows:
I would send you a kiss, dear daughter,
As pure from a fond lather's lips,
And as chaste as the drop of water
That freBh from an icicle drips;
But kisseB thus sent in a letter
Would lose all their sweetness for thee,
And I know it would please thee far better
To receive a few "Greenbacks" from me;
But as I am "hard up," and you not in need,
jtou win nave 10 put. up wim me wui xur me ueca;
I therefore send you this nice little sonnet,
Instead of the greenbacks to buy a new bonnet
Greek Fire.?Gen. Beauregard seems to have
been suddenly and seriously affected by the appearance
in Charleston of the fiery messengers
l'rom Gen. Gillmore, and so affected that it entirely
escaped his memory that two years ago he threw
similar messengers into Sumter when Anderson
and his brave band were holding that fortress.
Similar, we say, for it makes very little difference
whether the fire which is sent into a besieged place
be in the shape of red hot iron or burning mixtures.
"We cannot see the difference between
throwing red hot shot into Sumter and setting fire
to its wooden buildings, making that place a miniature
hell for the brave men who were in it, and
throwing cold shot with fiery mixtures inside
of them to kindle flames in Beauregard's quarters
in the city of Charleston. War has its horrors,
and there are barbarities which are not permitted
in civilized warfare. But all nations, so far as
we know, have been in the habit of using weapons
/.f 1 nl.ioo /lfturn f a fVto r\??a onnf S ni a TKn l>?if
Ul llilO VlttOO uvnu IV IUC 111UV* x uv JL)I1U
ish threw "stink-balls'' in the last war and in the
Crimean campaign?"villainous compounds" not
unlike what Beauregard complains of. Arrows
and missiles charged with flame and fire have always
been used in sieges.
The Greek fire of history was probably a compound
of bitjimen sulphnr and pitch. The generic
name of Gri ek fire has been given to all kinds
of incendiary compounds inclosed into shells and
thrown into cities for the purpose of firing them.
There are several patents out for these compounds,
and the exact methods of mixing and using them
are known only to the inventors. But the basis of
them all is said to be phosphorus dissolved in bisulphide
of carbon. The latter is a very curious
liquid, having all the apparent purity of distilled
water, and a very high retractive power, but evolving,
on cvaparation, or combustion the foulest
stench known to chemical science?a science which
positively revels in nauseous oaors. *t lias tnc
extraordinary properly of dissolving phosphorus
freely, and preserving it in a fluid state tor any
length of time when kept from the air. The compound
kindles at a heat as low as that of phosphorus
alone. When a shell, charged with this "villainous"
mixture, explodes by percussion or otherwise,
the dissolved phosphorus is set on fire and
scattered far and wide. Wherever it strikes it
burns for a long time with an almost inoxtinguishablo
flame, and ignites all combustible materials
that it touches. At the same time the bisulphide
-of carbon throws out its abominable odor, and
assists in keeping meddlers at a respectful distance.?[N.
Y. Jour. Com.
l'eter T. Beauregard knows how it smells.
, ?Beauregard denounces the Greek fire with
winch Gill more's shells sent into Charleston are
charged, "as a most villainous compound, unworthy
of civilized nations." We have no doubt the
people 01 ^oaom mougnt tne rain 01 omnstonc ana
lire out of heaven which consumed ihem in the
iniquity of the city wiys a villainous compound,
but the hand of retribution was not stayed on that
account.?Lou sv.lie Journal.
? ? My dear sir, you have rsed my part of our
case of champagne.'' "Oh, yes; you are ray
friend, and I always take your part.
#
OF" The following whino is from the Charleston
Mercury, of Aug. 28, 1863. We think the ques inn
has alrftjidr been answered bv Gen. Gillraore
pretty conclusively. " Lay on, McDufF."
"Can a City be Shelled, when a Fortress not
Contiguous to it will not Surrender ?
"The late correspondence between General
Beauregard and General Gillmore raises a very
importaut poini as to the law of nations. General
Gillmore maintains that, in order that he might
compel a surrender of Fort "Wagner and Fort
Sumter, it is lawful for him to shell the city of
Charleston. General Beauregard, on the contrary,
contends with the unanswerable power of reason
which General Gillmore has not answered, and
cannot answer, that this is an act of barbarism,
and contrary to the laws of nations. The gnn3
which have been turned on Charleston are five
miles off. Fort Sumter is three miles and a third
of a mile from Charleston. Morris Island is four
miles. The waters of the bay lie between them
and Charleston. There is, therefore, no contiguity
or connection between Charleston and these positions.
No shell orshot aimed at them can reach
Charleston, nor does Charleston in any way contribute,
by her physical position, to their support.
No sally by the citizens of Charleston can be made
to aid the garrison against the enemy at cither of
these forts. Under such circumstances, by the
laws of nations, Charleston has no more conneo
ion with them than Savannah. It is true that if
these forts are reduced Charleston may fall, and
so may Savannah; but this does not authorize
either of these cities to be treated as parts of these
fortifications. Until these forts are reduced, General
Gillmore will not have taken the first outposts
which guard the approach to Charleston. If he
fails to take them, his whole operation will be a
failure. Should ho take them, he will not have
taken Charleston. There are other outerworks to
be reduced. He has not reached Charleston. Is
not immediately in front of Charleston in force.
He has not demanded the surrender of Charleston.
A demand for the surrender of Sumter and Wagner,
which he is attacking, is accompanied by the
throat to shell Charleston, of which these works
are distant outposts.
Vattel, in his Laws of Nations, it appears to us,
has very clearly settled the question. He lays
down the rule broadly:
" ^11 damage done to an enemy vnncrcttarily?every act
of hostility which does not tend to prncvre victory, and
bring the war to a conclnsion, is a licentiousness condemned
by tho laws of nature."
Martens, a high French authority, in bis work
on the laws of nations, particularizes;
' It is fully recognized that according to the rule of war,
bombshells ought not to be fired except against works of
fortifications. And it is only in the case of auch works that
the assailant has tho right to raze to the ground, or blow
ud the Dlace attacked."
Yattel confirms these views, and says;
" At present wo generally content ourselves with battering
the ramparts and defenses of a place. To destroy a
town with bombs and red-hct bails is an extremity to which
we do not proceed without cogent reason. But it is, nevertheless,
warranted by the laws of war, when we are nnoble,
by any other mode, to re luce an important post, on which
the success of the war may depend, or which enables the
enemy to annoy us in a dangerous manner."
Now it is impossible to conceive that General
Gillmore supposed that he could reduce Fort
Wagner and Fort Sumter by no " other mode''
than by shelling Charleston. On the contrary, he
demands the surrender of these forts, because they
are untenable and can be easily taken. Nor does
the city of Charleston, separated by the waters of
the bay from Fort Sumter and Fort Wagner, enable
' the enemy (the Confederates) to annoy us (the
Yankees) in a dangerous manner." Still further
to elucidate hi? meaning, Vattel says:
" if we find it necessary to destroy edifices of lhat nalnre
(a public nature) in order to cany on the operations of war,
or to advance thr writ t'n a ttV./e, we have an undoubted
right to take such a step. The governor of a besieged
town sets fire to the suburbs, that they, may not afford a
lodgment to the besiegers. Nobody presumes to blame a
general who lays waste gardens or orchards for tfce purpose
of encamping on the ground, and throwing up an
entrenchment."
Here it is plain, that the destruction of public
buildings in a city (much less private dwellings),
is only justifiable in order to carry on the operations
of war, or to advance the work in a " siege."
The city must be in contact with the fortifications
wrncn arc aesignea to aeiena it. 10 overcome
them, the city, or any portion of the city, may be
seized and burned. This is the extent of waste
authorized by the laws of war. Mill further to
elucidate his views, Vattel condemns, as contrary
to the laws of nations, the bombardment in 1094,
by the Knglish, of several towns on the coast of
France, on account of the great injury done to
their trade b> French privateers issuing from their
ports.
We think it important, at this time, to elaborate
the sound position of our General, because our
future condition may render it intensely consequential.
Suppose our enemies shall take Morris
JLshujd or Fort Sumter; but tbey shall fiud out
tl at these are but barren conquests, so far as the
reduction of Charleston is concerned. Their ironclads
may not be able to live in our bay. Transpots
cannot bring in troops. Can they then, in
conformity with the laws of nations, with no view
of reducing the city, but in mere revenge and spite,
| attempt to destroy or burn down Charleston from
Morris Island by their shot and shells ? They
cannot. 1 he houses in the city are private property;
even more sacfed than public property,
Vattel says:
me wan ion ae^irucwou ui puuuc iuuuujjiciiis, lunipies,
tombs, statues, paintings, &c., is absolutely condemned.
even by the voluntary law of nations, as never being
conducive to ths lawful object of war. The pillage or destruction
of towns, the devastation of the open country,
ravaging, setting fire to houses, are measures no less
odious tnddetestable."
In reply to these views, it might be said, "What
is the use of arguing law and humanity ? Another
Butler is sent to brutalize and destroy." Be it
so. Wc know what will be the fate of our city
and our people, under his power for evil. But
justice and truth can never he dethroned by the
cruelty or wickedness of men. There is a voice
which speaks through the events of time, arraigning
the guilty, strengthening the innocent, and
making up that mighty record which settles the
doom of nations, as of individuals." ?
At the Head or hisClas9.?General Gillmore's
father is still living in Loraine county, Ohio, where
the General was born. The old gentleman, recently,
was present and made a speech at a Sunday-school
picnic. lie said, among other things,"
I can say of my son Quincy that he never disobeyed
me; he was very studious, and when he*
wanted to go to West Point, as he had no money,.
I told him if he would go and try to eoiue out the'
head of his class I would furnish him money. He
went, and came out at the head of his class, and
is now before Charleston, where I Iiodo he will
come out at the head of his class again,"
?44 Let me exhort you never to suffer an invasion
of your political constitution; however minutethe
instance may appear to be, never pass it by
without a determined, persevering resistance.
One precedent creates another. They soon accumulate
and constitute law. What yesterday was.
a fact, to-day is docti inc. Examples are said to
justify the most dangerous measures, and where
they do not suit exactly the defect is supplied by
analogy. Be assured that the law which protectsus
in our civil rights grows out of thcconslitut.on?
and they fall or flourish with it."? Junius.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
IRA C. FEATHE R,?
Military and Naval Photographic Gallery,
19 1-2 Sutler's Row, Port Royal, a G.
Aug. 12, tf.
Dr. W. M. walch, Office No. 13, Sutler's Row. a lull
sudWIv of Druirs. Chemicals oud Patent Medicines.
August'23. i863.-tf
IJIHE GEN. M'CLELLAN HEADQUARTERS.?
No. 3, East Houston St, (one door East of Broadway) N. Y..
(Above' the St Nicholas Hotel.)
IfeadtjtutrUn in New York, of the Officers of IfilU/n Heed.
Ale, Wines, Brandies, Whisky and Segars, of the choicest,
character. The current army intelligence, Ac. Near ad
the places of public amusements, and the most popular place
in the city of military resort
COL. JAS. L. FKAZER, (late 47th Regt)
Aug. 22-tf Manager.
J B. BONNY, A CO., rear No. 6, Sutler's Row. Army
and Navy Clothing, Furnishing Goods, Trimmings,.
Sc. Clothing made to order and repaired in the best man?
i ner. [Aug. 15TUST
RECEIVED AT THE NEW STORE, UNION
U Square, next to the Post Office a large lot of Stationary,.
| Books, Ac., in part as follows :
| Fine letter paper of various qualities,
Fine note paper of various qualities.
Fine biHet paper of various qualities,
Envelopes, white, buff, cream, straw, fancy, oriental,.
Ink, black, red, carmine, kc.
Pens, steel and gold in great variety,
Blank books, in great variety,
Wafers, sealing wax, law seals, kc-,
Mucilage, court plaster, lemon acid, kc.,
Penknives, pocket books, purses,
Portfolios, bill books, etc.
Pencils, canyons, etc., of various colors
Pipes, briarwood, china, gutta percba,
Lava, boxwood niatchsafes, tobacco boxes, bags, kc..
Novels, song-books, hand books of various kiuds an 1
most ofthe late publications of the day.
Maps of Clia rleaton harbor and vicinity, and of Sivan-nali
r.wer
ALSO, a fine lot of Military books of late issues? lhe?
| boat selection ever brought here.
LATE PAPERS on arrival of mails. The New Sou t u.
| published by us every Saturday morning.
JOSEPH H. SEARS.
UNITED .STATES ARMY AND NAVY NIGHT COMPASS- es.
Patented May Cth, 1862. The advantages of these .
J Compasses over all others in use are, that they con be read i
I distinctly at night, without the aid of an artificial light
j For reconnoitcring the position of the enemy, nightI
movements, Ac., where a light dare not be used without.
| running the greatest danger, they arc invaluable.
Used by Major Generals MeCJellau, Hooker, Burnsido,.
Hunter, Pope ; Major Meyers, Chief of Signal Department,,
and others. Everv Officer and Soldier should have one.
Prj. c : $C, S4, fa, 52 50,12, and$l 23.
For sale by
JOSETH H. SEARS,