Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, May 21, 1861, Image 2
A Proclamation by the PostmasterGeneral
of the Confederates State of
America.
Whereas, by the provisions of an Act,
approved March 15,1861, and amended by
the first section of an Act, approved May
9,1861, the Postmaster General of the Confederate
States "is authorized, on and after
a day to be named by him for that purpose,
to take the entire oharge and direction of
the postal service in the Confederate States,"
and all conveyance of mails within their
limits, from and after such date, except by
authority of the Postmaster-General thereof,
is thereby prohibited:
Now, therefore, I, John H. Ileagan,
Postmaster-General of the Confederate
States of America, do issue this my procla- j
mation, notifying all postmasters, contract-;
ors, and special route agents in the service j
of the Post Office Department, and engaged
in the transmission and delivery of the
mails, or otherwise in any manner connected
with the service, within the limits of the |
Confederate States of America, that on an i
after the 1st day of June next, I shall assume
the entire control and direction of the
postal service therein. And I hereby direct
all postmasters, route agents and special
agents within these States, and now acting
under the authority and direction of the
Postmaster-General of the United States,
to continue in the discharge of their respective
duties uuder the authority vested in
me by the Congress of the Confederate
States, in strict conformity with such existing
laws and regulations as are not inconsistent
with the laws and Constitution of j
the Confederate States of America, and such
further instructions as may hereafter be issued
by my direction. And the said postmasters,
route agents and special agents are
also required to forward to this Department,
without delay, their names, with the names
raki/tlt T\AofmOOf^r<I
Ui IUC UlUvvd U1 IV U1V/U llivj ^V^HUJUCVV.wj
(giving the State and County,) to be directed
to tbe "Chief of tbe Appointment Bureau,
Post Office Department, Montgomery,
Alabama," in order that new commissions
may be issued under tbe authority of this
Government. And all postmasters arc hereby
required to render to the Post Office
Department at Washington, D. C., their j
linal accounts and their vouchers for postal j
receipts and expenditures, up to the olst
day of this month, taking care to forward j
with said accounts all postage stamps and i
stamped envelopes, romainiug on hand, be-1
longing to the Post Office Department of j
the United States, in order that they may
receive the proper credits therefor in the ;
adjustment of their accounts; and they are
further required to retain in their possession,
to meet the orders of the PostmasterGeneral
of the United States, for the payment
of mail service within the Confederate
States, all revenue which have accrued from
the postal service prior to the said 1st day
of June next.
All contractors, mail messengers, and
special contractors for conveying the mails
within the Confederate States, under existing
contracts with the Government of the
United States, are hereby authorized to
continue to perform such service under my
direction, from and after the day last above
named, subject to such modifications and
changes as may be found necessary, under
the powers vested in the Postmaster General
by the terms of said contracts and provisions
of the secoud section of an Act approved
May 9, 18G1, conformable thereto, j
And the said contractors and mail messen- j
gers, are required to forward, without de- j
lay, the number of their route or routes, j
the nature of the service thereou, the schcd-1
ules of arrivals aud departures, the names
of the offices supplied, and the amount of
uunual compensation for prescut service,
together with their address, directed to the
"Chief of the Contract Bureau, Post Office
Department, Montgomery, Alabama."
Uutil a postal treaty shall be made with
the Government of the United States for
the exchange of mails between that Government
and the Government of this Confederacy,
postmasters will not be authorized to j
collect United States postage on mail mat
ter sent or received from those States; and j
until supplies of postage stamps and stamped
envelopes are procured for the pre-paymeut
of postage within the Confederate States,
all postages must be paid in money, under
the provisions of the lirst scctiou of au Act
approved March 1st, 18U1.
Given under my hand aud the seal of the
Post Office Department of the Confeder-!
erate States of America, at Montgomery, j
Alabama, the 10th day of May, in the i
year 1801.
JOHN If. 11HAGAN,
? ? - 4i>??
Powder Mills in South Carolina. |
?In answer to a question iu the Charleston
Courier, "whether there is a powder mill
in South Carolina?" Mr. C. H. A. Woodfiin
anncunees the fact that there are two
good ones in operation iu Pickens District,
one at the eastern entrance of Stump House
Tunnel, on the Blue Ridge Railroad, and
the other three miles east of Pickens Court
House. Mr. W. states that he has used
the powder from both these mills, and knows
it to be of good quality.
hut i mi mi ii" ' *
Look out for the Yankee Emissaries. |
The article below we find in the Bedford >
(Ya.) Sentinel of the 10th instant. To it1
we invite the special attention of our read- j
ers. It will apply to this and all other sec- i
tions South:
"That 'caution is the parent of safety' is j
a maxim which is far more honored in its
observance than in the breach, none, we
presume, will deny. More especially, in a
crisis like that through which wc are now
passing, is it the imperative duty of every
rtitv/on frr? n lvnr.ovprl vipilnnnp.?
The safety of our homes, our wives and
children demand it. Secret emissaries of
the Black ltepublican Government will
swarm over the South, (inauy are already
in our midst,) to give 'aid and comfort' to
the enemy, by every hellish means which
a domoniac rage, and the hope of plunder,
can make available. We adviso our citizens,
then, to keep a close and unceasing
watch over all suspicious characters that
may be strolling about amongst us, and
most especially over those who may be found
loitoring in the vicinity of our railroads.?
There will doubtless by many incendiaries
sent from the North southwardly, to lire our
dwellings, and to damage our railroads, so
as to impede the passage of Southern troops
to their various destinations. Had we an
honorable enemy to contend against, such
onstant surveillance ou our part would be
less necessary, but it will require all the
vigilance that we can exercise to successfully
circumvent the infernal machinations
of the incarnate fiends who are now thirsting
for the blood of our citizens. AVhat
we say unto one, wo say unto all, icatch,
and let all suspicious characters be instantly
_ J ! A. ,.4. - A. !-.4* ?
arrusieu, suujeuieu 10 a sinci usuuuuiuiuu,
and, unless they give ^satisfactory account
of themselves and of their business, disposed
of as may be deemed best. We
counsel no violence against such, in the absence
of sufficient proof of their guilt; on
the contrary, we would strenuously ^oppose
such a proceeding. But "self-preservation"
admonishes us to be on the alert, to ferret
out and bring to punishment those who are
guilty."
Localities and Distances.
The intense interest with which the
movement of our troops is followed, renders
the following topographical notes of value
in getting a clear idea of the current new3:
Havre de Grace.?At the mouth of the
Susquehanna River, near the head of Chesapeake
Bay, is sixty-two miles from Philadelphia.
At this point continnous railroad
communication is interrupted by a ferry.
Annapolis.?On the West side of Chesapeake
Bay, about fifty miles from Havre de
Grace, thirty-nine miles by railroad from
Washington.
Annapolis Junction.?The junction of
the Annapolis branch road with the Washington
branch, nineteen miles from Annapolis
and twenty miles from Washington
City.
"Ah. ???? * to A f f Vi rt innnhnn aP Toiyiao
M \J! UWIlf I UJCJUULUUU ui uuiugc
River (Northern side) with Chesapeake
Bay, about forty-eight hours steaming from
Boston, and twenty-four from New York.
Norfolk.?About twelve miles South of
Fort Monroe, which commands the entrance
to it.
Cockcysvt'llc.?Fourteen miles from Baltimore,
on the railroad to llarrishurg, (being
probably the nearest point accessible
on the rail to Baltimore, from that direc^
tion.)
Baltimore.?Ninety-eight miles from
Philadelphia, thirty-eight from "Washington,
eighty-five from Ilarrisburg, eighty-one
from Harper's Ferry, and seventeen from
Annapolis junction.
Fort McIIenry is situated at the extremity
of a point of land extending from the city
to the South-west; and is about two miles
and a half by the scale on the coast survey
map from the centre of Baltimore. Opposite
the fort, across the channel, which is
here less than a mile in width, is the Lazaretto
light-house.
mi., i- a A i _ - n*i- *_
jl uc uistauce iroui \\ asaingion i^uy to
Charleston is tive hundred and eighty-seven
miles; Washington to Wilmington,
North Carolina, three hundred and seventyeight;
Washington to Wcldon, North Carolina,
two hundred and sixteen ; llichmoGd
to Washington one hundred and thirty;
Wheeling to Baltimore three hundred and
seventy-nine.
?? ?
Activity at Harper's Ferry.?The
greatest activity prevails in and around the
latter point. The commanding eminences
around it were being fortified with cannon,
&c., and the approaches to them cleared of
trees. It was for this purpose the mountain
was fired. A double force of workmen are |
busily employed at the several workshops, in
the manufacture of arms, cartridges, &c. About
fifty rifles are daily turned out. Troops
are encamped in all directions about the
Ferry. A large force of Keutuckians and
Virginians have been stationed on the Maryland
shore, and have formed a camp in the
vicinity of the Old School House, in which
John Brown stored his arms the night prior
| to his raid. A company of forty men, the
advance guard of a large force, has arrived
at the Ferry from Tennessee. It was rumored
among the troops there that a regiment
of 600 men from Louisiana would arrive
in a few days.?Richmond Dispatch.
Those "Belligerents."
In answer to several inquiries concerning
the late information from England as to
that power recognizing the Southern Confederacy
as "belligerents," we submit the
following taken from the Charleston Evening
Rcics :
'The Foreign News?The Blockade.?
The telegraph announced to us yesterday
that the English Government was of the
opinion that the Southern Confederacy
must be recognized as "belligerents." This
appears to be an admission that the Southern
States, in their respective characters as
political communities, having organized
governments, which Great Britain herself
bad formerly acknowledged to be independent,.
and jilsn. in their nrpsent ennfederate
, , r
relation under a de facto common government,
have the right to fight?to fight not
as rebels, but as a nationality. The terms
"belligerents" implies certain rights under
the laws of nations; such, for instance, as
pertains to prisoners of war, to naval captures,
on the high seas.
There seems, too, to be no ground taken
by Lord John Russell, antagonistic to the
right to issue letters of marque and reprisal,
nor does he intimate that the captures
by privateers, if taken into foreign ports,
would be denied the benefit of their Courts
of admiralty. If these surmises be correct,
then the late foreign news is of the most
significant and favorable omen for the Southern
Confederacy.
The telegram, also, says: "Relative to
blockade; it could only be recognized when
effective." The blockade here is not effective,
as some vessels from foreign ports
came into harbor this forenoon, and no ship
of war is seen off the bar.
lb
YORKVILLE, S. C.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 21, 1861.
{!(7-.Mr. John It. Allen, Post Master at Chester, nur
authorized agent; and fully cmpon ..:"d to receive money
for thiiioffice, and give receipts for the sa. ie.
(Xf- In cases where, subscribers do not :akc tlie Esqt'iiiER
from I lie post-office, Post-Masters are requested to notify us
immediately.
LARGE STRAWBEERIES^
.We are under obligation to Miss Katie
Briggs, for a dish of the largest strawberries
we have ever seen?one of which
measures nearly four inches in circumference.
The fair donor will please accept
our thanks.
.. ... ? ?* ??- ?
LIEUT. E. M. LAW.
This gentleman, for a considerable time
connected with the Military School in this
place, has been elected, without opposition,
Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Kegiment of
Alabama Volunteers. The Kegiment, at the
latest date was at Lynchburg, Virginia.?
Col. Law is a native of South Carolina, and
a graduate of her Military institutions.
REGIMENTAL ELAG.
l>y reference to a communication in another
column, it will be seen that the ladies
of Spartanburg, with the co-operation of
those of Union and York, propose to present
a suitable flag to the Fifth Regiment.
To produce concert of action, we suggest
that the ladies of our district, especially in
the sections to which our companies belong,
hold meetings, and appoint committees for
the purpose of soliciting subscriptions. It j
will be observed, that in order that all may
have an opportunity of contributing for this
purpose, the subscriptions are limited to
one dollar. Remittances may be made to
J. M. Elford, Esq., at Spartanburg, C. II.;
or if preferred, we will be pleased to forward
any amount that may be contributed.
All amounts forwarded through this office
will be duly acknowledged. An early response
is desirable, as it is proposed to present
the flag as soon as possible.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Sullivan's Island, I
Tuesday Evening, May 14. J
J)ear Enquirer: The British Consul at
the city weDt yesterday aboard the Niagara,
now blockading the port of Charleston. lie
received every mark of international courtesy;
but was assured that the blockade will
be vigorously and thoroughly carried out.
Commodore Stringham with a fleet of S or
10 vessels is expected soon; and then they
will string every vessel that tries to enter
port.
The Consul says that the Niagara has
a fine corps of 600 men aboard, quite a number
of large and valuable guns, and a superabundance
of provisions and ammunition.
When joined by the coming fleet, the whole
will likely number from three to five thousand
willing servants of a cunning and despotic
power, whose venomous and malicious
hate could not be better gratified than by
laying waste our coast and preparing the
way to overrun the soil of our State. This
fleet will keep Argus-eyes wide open on our
sea-border, and do its best to molest our
commerce, annoy Charleston, the Islands of
the harbor, Georgetown, Beaufort and Savannah.
The news from Montgomery last
nigbt was for Savannah and Charleston to
keep a bright look-out. Port Royal is perhaps
the only port on the Atlantic coast
south of Norfolk where the Niagara can
enter; but it can drive back commercial
vessels here j while the other vessels cross
the bar, land troops and attack our harbor
defences.
In short, it is rumored that a simultaneous
attack is to be made on Harper's Ferry
and this place. Virginia and South Caroli
na subdued, the conquest of the South will' 1
then be easy and speedy 1! Charleston is
to go to ashes; then the State overrun !?
This is the programme. Nothing is too
mean for the enemy to do, if they think it
will promote their plans. Insurrection,
burning towns and villages, plunder, rapine,
or what not, they would do it all. Let them
come. Our troops are ready; and the people
of the State may rest assured that a
solid wall of flesh and Steele must crumble
"until not one stone be left upon another,"
before one hair of their heads will be in
danger.
A new regiment is forming in this Congressional
District for coast defence. Gov.
Piokens is wide awake to every exposed
point. "We hear that no more troops will
leave this State now. Let the spoiler come;
and South Carolina from mountain top to
sea-shore will speedily girdle up her loins
and rush to repel him. As her rattlesnake
strikes, she will strike?with the same
subtle speed, directness and fatality.
Let "the better part of valor" govern our
people at home. We may possibly yet have
to cut the wolfs throat in the very fold.?
This bare possibility should sound the note 1
of sleepless vigilance, and bring out every i
resource of latent strength and preparation. I
Every community, especially every town, I
might well and easily throw up a strong 1
"stockade fort," or place of retreat for the 1
women and children. It cannot do any t
harm. In possible conditions, it might be ]
the salvation of the State. Every ^oman 1
who has nerve, and every child who has 1
prudence, should become innured to arms i
at once. These two things of themselves, 1
might have such a moral influence as to
save the State from invasion. ;
The harvest is approaching. Every grain I
should be reaped and saved. Gather up i
every straw, so that nothing be lost. We j
will need it all. ]
Cultivate the growing crop thoroughly;
and be prepared as it ripens to "pick off" 1
the marauding Yankee as well as the ma- I
rauding squirrel. Tliey may come together.
In short, let not a feeling of seourity,
however remote the enemy may be now,
lull any of us to sleep. Neither let a sense
of strength and plenty make us wasteful. I
Husband every resource. Waste nothing. '
Trust in God; but be ready, and keep your i
powder dry. <
Some unreliable rumors, we fear, have
reached you in regard to our condition.?
Wo are really faring well. Our water is
our bitterest pill. That serves every purpose.
With ice in it, which we can often
procure, it drinks pleasantly. We pass it
through a cloth, which puts the wiggle-tails
in a quandary.
We have but little sickness. Not a soul
has yet been dangerously ill. Count twelve
hundred at home, and see if you can say as
much. Those who are sick have a good
hospital, and receive every attention. By
the way, you will be glad to learn that
your townsman, Dr. Bratton, is winning
golden opinions both for his efficiency ana
his unwearried kindness.
Col. Jenkins is the same affable, sociable
and earnest-spirited gentleman he is at
home. He labors incessantly for our welfare,
as well as that of the State. You j
may tell all our friends that the 5th Regi- ?
merit, so far, has been in clover. ]
Our Chaplain, Rev. II. II. Durant, told ;
us on Sunday that the Christian people of t
Spartanburg had organized a "Union Prayer t
Meeting" to pray for the country, and
especially for the 5th Regiment. We are e
all gratitude. In brief, I
OUR CORPORAL. i
t
Friday Evening, May 17,1861. r
Dear Enquirer :?Some movements, (
which we are not informed upon fully e- c
nough to speak of in detail and with sat- c
isfaction, are just now being made among f
the South Carolina Volunteers in the neigh- a
borhood of Charleston. We understand c
that a portion of Col. Rion's regiment, and
it may be others, have been ordered home, c
>
STesterdav evening and this morning, the
eport was rife in our camp that we would
>e disposed of in the same way. Indeed,
irders to this or a kindred effect, had, we
relieve, been communicated to Co!. Jenkins.
Gen. Beauregard, however, on yesterday
vrQte to Gov. Piokens pressing upon him ;
the exposed condition in which the coast
vould be left, with two or three war vessels
jf the enemy frequently in sight, and the
necessity of retaining a portion of the troops j
?say five or six hundred?to assist the \
regulars here and the volunteers of Charleskin,
iti preventing the possible invasion of
jur soil. The large majority of the Jaspers,
this morning, and a number from some of
:he other companies, volunteered their ser- M
rices to remain. Many causes, however, ^
jonspired to prevent anything like an unan- - "
mous vote of the regiment. Some think
there is no danger, and, therefore, no need ,
)f us here; others wish to go to Virginia;
)thers shrink from encountering the yellow
i . *i i
ever, or otrier diseases, during an iaie garrison
life?as they suppose?for the sumner
among the marshes aud swamps of the
ow-country; and others still, feeling that
;he State is secure, are desirous of returnng
to their work-shops, their farms or their
nerchandise.
As we proceed with this writing now,
ifter the Island boat for one o'clock this
evening has arrived, two or three unofficial
iccounts of our "status" and probable fu;ure,
reach us. All reports concur to make
is believe that the regiment will not be
lislanded?so the Virginia fever may as
well, for the present, die out in our camp?
ind of three reports, one says that $.e all
yo home, another that two or three hundred
10 to North Edisto, and a third that we all
remain somewhere on or near to the coast. J
Where's the philosopher that could find the m
"needle" of truth in this "hay-stack" of
jontradictions ?
These conflicting rumors are to be greatly
deprecated, beoause they operate differently
on different minds, and, therefore, produce
division in the regiment.
Wc should hav&HDaentioned in our last
ihat the "A. and A./' Capt. Hutchinson,
i merchant-vessel from Belfast, Ireland, *
ran the gauntlet of the Niagara safely on
last Sunday. It was an exciting race for
1 while ; but the "A. and A.," got across
:he bar and ran up among the breakers where
ihe Niagara could not reach her. She
tvas towed in on Monday morning; and
before noon, had engaged a load of cotton
it 2 to 2* pence per pound?or about ?15
per bale! The Niagara has been absent
[or a few days ; and several vessels, which
bave made their way in, get return freight
in cotton, at say ?20 per bale. "Cotton is
King."
These facts show that the blockade is not
vet effective. And may never be now ; as
the last arrivals from England bring the
aews that the British Lion is beginning to Jj
;rowl at the North about John Ball's supply
of cotton. "Cotton is King." ^
So abruptly, for "better or for worser,"
with two eyes that can't see farther than
the end of our nose into the future, we are
Cordially, OUR CORPORAL, /
MERE-MENTION.
The Kingstree Ntar has resumed ?tspublication
after a suspension of four months,
caused by the absence of editors and print- <
era in the service of the State. Hon.
John Gilmer, M. C., from North Carolina,
is serving as a private in a volunteer company
in that State. Arkansas was
admitted one of the Confederate States on
Saturday last. Mr. H. Braumuller,
cf Atlanta, Georgia, is manufacturing base
ind kettle drums, which he guarantees will
be found more durable and serviceable than
iny now in use in the South. D. H. ( .
Todd, of New Orleans, brother-in-law of
Mr. Jjincoln, has been appointed first lieu;enant
in the Army of the Confederate .
States. At Richmond, on Thursday 1
ast, E. P. Jones was elected Lieutenant- '"
Jolonel, and A. P. Goodwyn, Major, of
he Second Palmetto Regiment, S. 0. volmteers.
There is a gentleman living
n Chattooga county, Ga., who is an uncle j
>f Vice-President Stephens, and whose wife
s a cousin of President Davis. Ben.
VIcCulloch is said to be somewhere north ^
if the Relay House, and it is supposed that
ic is meditating very diabolical designs a;ainst
somebody. Gen. William 0.
3utler, one of the heroes of the Mexican
<rar, and candidate for Vice-President on
he Cass ticket in 1848, is commander of
he Secession Volunteers in Kentucky.
Baltimore is now occupied by Fed
iral troops. JKegiments aro organizing in
Maryland for the support of the Lincoln
Administration. An examination of
he figures shows that the civil war, at the
ate at which it is being prosecuted by the
xovernment at Washington, is going to 'i
iostaboutS800,000a day. The other J
lay, at Lodi, 111., a woman cut off the two I
orefingers of her husband while he was
sleep, to keep him from enlisting. This
lisables him by law.
The New York Journal of Commerce,
if Tuesday, has in its advertising columns