Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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wilZiam wHIl2sT.}Prcprie;or3- Jnbrpfiibent jfainiljj flctospapcr: jfor % '^promotion iif % political, Social, Agricultural anb Commercial Interests of t|e Straff . "' {42 PEE TBAB' i*advahcb. VOLUME 7. ' YORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, JUIE 27, 1861. ... . NUMBER 26. inpal fflattet A. SERMON," PREACHED OS THE NATIOXAL FAST-DAY, a t CHESTER, S. C., JUNE 13, 1861., BY REV. A. G. 8TACY. PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. Text.?"The Lord our Cod be with us as he was with our fathers ; let him not leave us or forsake us." I Kisos, vih : 57. The apectaole whioh our newly organized nation presents to day is truly sublime.? Everywhere, from the Potomac to Flori da reefs, and from the Atlantic to the Kiol Grande, business has been, to a great extent, suspended; the sound of the churchgoing bell is heard, and devout multitudes are thronging the saDctnary that they may confess their sins, and offer up fervent prayers to the Father of mercies. Angels as they go on errands of love must view a scene like this with delight, and God himself must look upon it with approbation. The houored Chief Magistrate of the Confederate States, at the instance of the Congress, having called us to the throne ?>f grace, we would come penitently and bclicvingly, that we may obtain help in time of need. Is the Lord on our side ? This is the great question which presents itself for our consideration. Cursed is that nation whi?h engages io war without the Divine blessing If G?d is against us, the sooner we abandon the present struggle the better; but, "if God be for us, who can be against us; ' It is a matter of prime importance, therefore, that we determine the conditions upon which the favor of Heaven may be secured 1. It is requisite that the cause be good The immutability of God is shown in his inflexible adherence io right principles With him partiality to persons is impossible. H? will forevc favor those plans and actions which accord with his own attributes, and be will forever frown upon that which j is in opposition to his revealed will. To suppose that the God of goodness will countenance an evil cause, is the climax of folly. In view of these considerations,. we find uosperVuble comfort in the thought that the causa of the South is the cause of jus tice. We have asked no favors at the hands of the North ; have done them no harm ; we have for a long course of years simply entreated them to give us our rights ?to abide by the Constitution. Wo have never sought to enrich ourselves at their expense; or to aggrandize ourselves by aspersing them. In all our dealings with them we have striven to observe the golden rule. May we not, then, confidently appeal to the God of rectitude?to the Almighty Friend of the oppr.ssed ? Ours is also the cause of Truth. We have not concealed our wrongs and profess ed to be satisfied, that we might suddenly visit our opposers with sharp retributioo. We have not tried to right ourselves by treacherously entrapping those who have injured us. We have plainly told them of their errors, both in theory and practice. For many long years we have warned them of the danger of their aggressions upon us. We have repeatedly pointed them to the tottering fabric of the Republic, and as sured them that another breath of injury aud insult would overthrow the majestic structure reared at the expense of so much toil, privation and blood, by our illustrious fathers. But reason failed, entreaty was impotent, aud beiug compelled to choose between servitude or secession, we accepted the latter. Truly then may we say that ours is the cause of self defence. We caooot believe that Ood loves the cuveu wretch wiio p ? sively allows himself to bo trodden under I foot?his honor to be dismantled, and his wife and children to be insulted or slaiu. i He who has said?"Thou shalt uot kill"?! and whose fearful frown rests upon those who wantonly bring armies into deadly * lisioj, ill, nevertheless approbate the attraction of those who would murder the in-1 Doccnt. V vage no war of invasion or j of conquest. We simply ask to be lettm oe i To say that we had no right to withdraw from the old Union, is to say that in this boasted land of freedom there is no redress for flagi ...t national wrongs; do check to the tyr..:.ny of ruler ; nothing b. submis sion and grinding inequality for those whose interests are opposed to the lawless rule of a seotivaal, irresponsible, aud hostile a ajority. To say that the States have not the right to determine when they ought to dissolve their connection with the Federal Government, and that they can only leave it when that Government or its tribunals give them perrni. von, is simply to -ay that they cannot leavi it r.li ; for when will a tyraat or a tyrannical majority give judgment against themselves, or voluntarily release their victims from their iron grasp? If separation is not secession, but revolution simply, then the Federal Government is a consolidated nationality. If independent States cannot sever their connection with the old estab mem when they themselves adjudge that there is sufficient cause for dissolution, then Christianity, and humanity, and civilization, must grovel on interminably in the dust of ignominious bondage. Insurrection is sin ; the uprising of sovereign States against the gigantic usurpations of those whose interests they have long been advancing, is an act of unquestionable probity. We have in the Scriptures an illustrative instance. RehoDoam, king of Israel oppressed the people. They entrc.ted him to lighten their burdens; but the haughty monarch took the counsel of the young men in preference to that of the old uieD, and iusulted his suppliant subjects by saying, "what portion have we in David ?? to your tents 0, Israel 1" Aud instantly ten tribes revolted under Jeroboam. Echoboam said, we cauno. permit this?we must coerce them?whip thera back. The government of Is. "1 must be sustained. Aud he mustered an hundred and fourscore thou sand chosen warriors, to fight against thr seceding tribes. But the Lord said unto him . :ui hi' ri es, "Ye shall not go up outfight against your brotiireo toe childreu of Israe , teturu ever- man to Lis house, ;-.r this thing is of t .e." What thiog ? Not the wickedness of Rehoboam, but the separation of the ten tribes. God permitted, yea approbated this dismemberment of Israel. The cause of the revolt was sufficient to justify the act. This was the way of escape from oppression, poiuted out to the ten tribes by the finger of Providence. Pondering this narrative, we ask, were God to speak to our Northern enemies, what would be the import of his words? The conclusion is irresistable, that he would ^ay to them?"Ye shall not fight against your brethren of the South. This thing is of me. In their present movement, they are pursuing the path that I have marked out for them, that they may be free and independent." We cannot but conclude that the North in wagiogwar upon us are verily guilty. They are ignoring the Scriptures; fighting against God. It is said: "Let as many servants as are under the yoke, couut their own masters worthy of all honor. * * * These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otheiwise * * * he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and striies of words, whereof e-ometh envy, strife, railings. and evil surmisings, * * * from suoh j *1 1 c ? wiuiuraw iiiyaeu. Tnc principle here 'aid down, app'ies to S'ates &s well as individuals. We are noto remain in league with those who persist iu a course or' conduct which is at war with [the word 01 God. If they inveigh a^nst the Divi.r.'ly established relation of master and slave, and thereby bring about ''eovy, strife. : :iling8, and evil 8urmi3ings."iu that esse we are not to make the controversy perpetual ; we are under no obligation to suffer oi; without redress; we are explicitly directed to withdraw. The North, a9 well as the S uxth, has at tributed the triumph of American arms in the Revolutionary stru ?g!e, to the Divine blessing npon the valorous and persevering efforts of our patriot fathers. The hand of God was manifest in the raisingnp of Washington; first in peace, first in war, to lead the infant nation through the stonus of a seven years' campaign, to the blessings of a peaceful independence. It was the Lord of hosts who shielded the immortal Christian soldier in the old war, especially at Fort du Qnesne, when the Indian marksman ongled hini out, and for fifteen different times, took deliberate aim and fired the trusty rifle at his person. God was in the war-tempest that raged at Lexington, at Princeton, at Saratoga, at Monmouth, at Moultrie, at Hanging Ilook, at King's Mountain, and at Yorktown,andthe victory was ours. Even the defeats which we suffered were often overruled for our good, and in answer to prayer, the foe was subdueJ, and the flag of freedom waved triumphantly over the forests, and fields, und cities of the new world. This history is instructive. Thea there was but one great question in controversy. It was this: Shall the United Colonies govern themselves, or shall Grea* "Britain govern them ? Now, there is between toe North and the South but one great point in dispute. It is this: Shall the North rule the South, or shall the South rule the South ? In the days of '76 it was the strong against the weak?the oppressor against 'he oppressed?despotism against Republicaism. Now, the South answers precisely to America, and the North to Great Britain. As wo have seen, God has never yet aban doned a principle. The principle contend ed for by our fathers, is as dear to him now as it was then. It is this principle that we advocate at the Council board, in the camp, and on the field. For this principle we will fight, for it we will die, if need be. It is inscribed upon our banners, written upon the palms of our bands, engraved upon out beer's. The eye of faith is steadfastly fixed upon it, as wo cry, "The Lord our God be witn us a*. He wr.s with our fathers; let hi.u not lor v us, Dor forsake us." 2. Pro .or mean* should be used. The sa.ner is not saved unless he complies with certain conditions. Oar fislddo no ' ing forth unless we plant, and cultivate thorn, Li warfare, whether carnal or f-f'.ruuul, only the victor i- crowned, and the price of victory is powerful, persistent effort. It is well, therefore, that our niovmeot* have been marked by great prompt and* and vigor?we'lthat more' ' ! hundred thousand soldiers areiu the fluid?well that they are commanded by brave and skillful offi oat?well that artillery, and infantry, ami c:valry are all properly disposed?well that while we pray we keep our powder dry.? I Woe be to that people who would expect | the end without the means. It is then clearly our duty to go forth in defence of our rights. Deprecating -v t. praying for our ene:ui",s, invoking blessing: upon ourseiveb. acquies.-ing in the necessity which calls us to the conflict?we are to go forth. Nor are those of us who stay at home exempt. We must strengthen the soldier's heart by kind offices ; we must take care of the families that have been left in a condition to need our attentions; we must j be liberal in our contributions, if private (aid is needed, and we must entreat the fa| vor of the Lord upon our loved land. Execrated be the name of that man who jto the injury of others, or to the detrimeut of his country, would seek 10 enrich him i self at a time use tnis. ftemstiness musi be put away while we strike a death-dealing blow to the enemies of the-oil in wh:mh our fathers sleep. j 3. There must be an actual trust in God ,if we would enjoy his favor, j We must not only believe that God is; j we must come to him. We must not be j content with a cold, distant intellectual ad! miration of the attributes and works of ] Deity ; we must apprehend him as our Goa ; ' we must humbly confess our sins; wemusi j boliev? with the heart. At this point we have much cause foi I regret, for humiliation, and foramendrnent. I ? , ' This it would seem was felt by our Con 1 stress and our President. Hence, we have i tieen summoned to our places in th>? ehur -li that we might bewail our trancressions, thai we miitht be forgiven through the atone | metit. and that, while we praise God tor al in* pa<.L blf .u^s, we may trust him lor al that is to cue. Let there be "grea< ' searching of heartlet oar devotions bi earnest and spiritual. We are constrained to confess befori f God that even in our sunny land there ha: i been muoh Presumption during our pros ent struggle. How often have wo forgot i ten God ? How many of our statesmen officers, and soldiers are still unregenera!e : and, while impenitent, incapable of exer . eising a proper trust in God? How nat uraily hav? they been led to deify soienoe to rely upon an arm of flesh ? Do we no all stand convicted to-day of looking to< much to the shot and the shell, the-swore and the bayonet, and too little to the Je hovah of hosts ? Here, 0, Lord, is oui sin. We confess it before thee We im plore mercy at the hands of the Merciful Teach us that without thee we can do noth ing^ We must oonless too tbat tu our aruiie: there is much actual sin. The moral character of our soldiers and their leaders is doub'less vastly superior tc chat of those who oppose us, but we musi not forget our own iniquities while we thani God that we are better than other men. In our camps there is frequently intoxi catiou when opportunity offers. There ii j unblushing profanity There is a deplor | able amount of Sabbath-breaking. Noi oan we make this enumeration of sins com ! plete. While we have in the service thou j sands of Christian soldiers, we have thou sands who daily grieve the Holy Spirit, ig nored the Savior, insult the Father. We loot out upon those sinning soldiers, and we as! ?will God bless them ??will he favor i cause which is advocated by those who figh against him ? Again we get down in th< dust. We acknowledge our transgression: as a people. We cry to God througl Christ to be merciful to our unrighteous oess. We confess the sins of all the wick ed in our Southern laud, and ask for tha clemency which we by no means deserve 'j We must also weep over the inactiviti | of the Church. Does not Zion languish : j In the midst of the war excitement has no ;the love of mauy waxed cold ? How manj '; aioners have been converted in our mids i during the present year? How many be llievers have heeu built up and established! | What aggressive movements are we roakinf ! upon Satan's empire ? O, my brethren ; while we fight the eueinies of our country we tuust not forget to fight the enemy o jsou.s. The pious Jews who had been ir j captivity in Babylon returned and wep 'over the desolations of Jerusalem. Thej bedewed the ashes of the temple with theii tears, aud they said?how often did wt meet hero to worship ? What happy day: (when we beheld the beauty of the Lord it hit sanctuary? And they oommeooec ro-buildiug the city of their solemnities.? But, being assailed by their enemies, whih they built up the walls with one hand they bad to def od themselves with toother. Aud so we must remember Zion We must, love the Church as well as ou u<>uatry At home, vigorous operations must be carried ou ; aud abroad, the con quests of the cross must extend. We mus fight on until the standard of our gloriou: Emmanuel is triumphantly planted upoi all the hills and valliee of the habitabli globe. In the days of the prophet Habakkuk the ruin of bis country wa3 imminent. I was soon to be overran by the relentless ton The prophet, in view of the gatheriuj storm, prays, "0, Lord revive thy work.' He felt that the impeodiug calamities wen I "A??nrt/s.i?noA r\f PT O frtlt that, fiffefl j It; VJUIIOC*! UVllUL VI OI-J. JLXKJ <viv VUMV j was the palladiaui of liberty?that religion ! principles was the parent of freedom?tha the revival of God's work iu the hearts o . the people was the only means by whicl deserved wrath could be averted. Let u imitate his example?let U9 offer up hi prayer. How a gracious outpouring of thi j spirit would cheer our hearts in these trou blous times! Who can tell how much i would contribute towards propitiating thi favor of Heaven, and bringing us victori ousiy through the present strife. 0, that we were suitably impressed witl the fact that there must be a lively trust ii God if we would have his blessing! The use of the means is not of itself suf ficiont. Some say it was Napoleon, an< some say it was Frederick, who impiousb , . sorted that God always takes sides wit! the heaviest artillery. To say so, is to sa; that Gud is governed by means?that when there is the rnos* powerful array of instru mentalities there he will bestow his bles sing. It is surely our duty to make thi means as efficient as possible, but it mus be remembered that God governs mean instead of bciug governed by them. Hi often uses "weak things" to accomplisl great results. He can so give his blessin; that in any engagement that takes place i one shali chase a thousand, and two shal . put ten thousand to flight. Fear not.? , Gr i (.-'"ten takes his stand with the feebl ana tne despised, and gives them the as , cendency over the great and the strong. It is not enough that we have a gooi i cause. This Polaud had, but her leader by their dissentions, gave the enemy th i advantage, and riveted upon the people th oppressor's chains. The cause of Hungary was good, bu there was a fatal lack of religious principl , ?v': d faith in (jrod, and hcuce she soil weeps. We uiay, however, safely chal . lenge the world t point to a single iustano ; of the failure of an injured nation to as . ? re. her rights ana maintain her liberties i wo?rc to a just cause, and the use of tff means, was added a firm reliance upon God | To-day we enter this sacred place will penitent but hopeful hearts. God will for give us and bless us. The ferveut, effect . ual prayers of one righteous man avai . much. What, then, must be the effect o . the lifting up of a million of pious heart ; during the present hour? There is rnucl ; oenuiue piety in our land. Hundred thousands of faitnful prayers are ascendin; continually in behalf of the cause of South em Independence. God has been with us thus far. We wil !j mingle our < ateful rejoicings with ou ' I humble confessions. Marked, i .ueed, ar ! the 1 adit t ns of the divine favor duria the b'ief period of our separate existenc lia^a people. 1 We will return hearty thanks for havin t been enabled *'i adopt the best form of gov 8 emment the world has ever seen,?for the election of a President and Vice-President, s distinguished for shining abilities and unsuls lied integrity?for the splendid but blood leas victory in Charleston harbor?for our . early triumphs in Virginia, and for the fa, vor with which our cause is viewed in for, eign lands. .The evidences of the Divine benefi. eencc are all around us. Every grain of . wheat preaohes to us of our Heavenly t Father's goodness, and every stalk of corn ) and cotton, so prophetic of plenty, stands 1 as a monument of unmerited meroy.? - While the enemy essays to blockade our r porta, the heavena'are propitious, and plen. ty abounds. Praise ye the Lord. ''Let him not leave us, nor forsake us." Guided and sustained by him, we will hid defiance to the foe. Although all the ar? uies and navies in the world were arrayed against us, we would still go forth, confiI dently inscribing upon our banner the in? spiring motto?God is our refuge and t strength. i Here is the Rock upon whioh we buried ?the hope to which we cling. Can false hood and fanaticism obliterate the words of i Eternal truth ? Can ounning and treaoh. ery overthrow the Divine justice? Can r our enemies measure arms with Jehovah ? . Then, and only then, may the South be overcome and subjugated. Doing our duty, failure is impossible.? Marching to the battle with? : "Freedom's floltbeneath otir feet, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us," | and trusting at every step in the God ol t our fathers, we may confidently anticipate a complete and glorious victory. "Let Him not leave us"?and then, while the ' oaks crown our forests, while the pines wave their tall heads in the breeze?while the magnolia blooms?while the Mississip pi rolls on, and the Atlantto tides ebb aud flow?so long will we and succeeding gene rations wiil be blessed with Christianity ' and Liberty, Independence and Prosperity. t For the Yorkvllle Enquirer. ' AGRICULTURAL MEETING. The Indian Land Agricultural Society " met this first of June?John Massey, Presi' dent,'in the chair. Minutes of last meet' ing read and approved. Essays beiog call? ed for, it was found that Daniel Williams J was not present, and R. A. Springs nnpre ^ pared. On motion of Mr. Jones, the read1 ing of the Essays was made the order fo^ 1 the next meeting. r The following are the names of the comr petitors for the premiums for the greatest i product on one acre. 3 Wheat.?Cad. Jones, E. T. Avery, Rich1 ard Sadler, Allen Robertson. ' Corn.?Cad. Jones, A. Whyte, Richard " Sadler, N. A. Steele, E. T. Avery, Wm, 3 Kimbrell, AlJen Robertson, Dan. Williams. > Cotton?Samuel Johnson, John Massey, Rtohajd Sadler. The members beinc called upon for their r experience in the culture of Peas, Thomas i S. Neely, said, that he planted both the Stock, and the Whip-poor Will; plants nol t ia the hill of corn, but between th" hills, s at the first ploughing. When laying bj 1 his crop, he sows broad cast, at the rate ol 2 one bushel to three acres. Does not think that peas detract from the product or the ? amount of corn. 1 .7. F. Workman prefers sowing whet laying-by the crop. Thinks that one bushel - f > three aores is scarcely suffioient. Ha* often seen the very early plauting make 2 abu-'dance of vine, but defective in the P crop of peas. s Richard Sadler prefers the Whip-pooi 1 Will. Can gather in July and have a sec ^ ond crop for his stock. He has gathered 1 as high as ninety to one hundred bushels s and could have gathered maoy more; and B by gathering the first that matured auc 2 leaving for stock the second growth, he * regards the product of the Whip-poor Will 1 as very fair and satisfactory, and agrees ir 2 general with Mr. Neely. Samuel Johnson plants early, pursuing the system as practiced by Mr. Neety, but 1 does not object to Mr. Sadler's system 1 Has not sowed-broad cast very extensively, N ..1. Steele, agrees in opinion with Mr * Neely. ^ Allen Robertson has ceased to plant pea? I with corn, deeming it most, profitable tc 1 plant peas by themselves, and tor toe pur? pose of improving land. Consequently lit e plants on certain kinds of land, such as glade.5 and low places, where probably he would " would not, or ought not, to cultivate corn, e He plauts not exactly in drills, but in chops 1 or bunches about three and one half feet iD H distance; and this he does on wet days, or B when he can best spare the time?say about 1 the middle of May ; and then leaves them * till the crop is laid by. H objects to the ' Whip-poor Will pea as not well adapted tc 1 stand the wet, nor does he regard it as a prolific pe". though it has this advantage, e it may be gathered in July, which is often " a slack time with planters. Daniel Williams plants the red-stock j pea, second ploughing when iQ hills, but il s in diills, the first running-round. Prefers e early planting, and in ground intended for e wheat. Sows broadcast and plows before frost. He dees not tbiak a hill of peas, tc t each hill of corn, too much. The red-stock e stand the wet and wioter better than anj 1 other, and agrees with Mr. Neely, that peas - do not diminish the product of corn. u The President announced the following - . immittecs. to gamine farms, farm stock > and vegetable gardens : e 1. The committee to examine the North East division, viz : that portion lying North 1 of the Landsford aod East of the Railroad, '* will consist of R. H. Jordan, D. Williams, '* J F. Workman, Allen Robertson, W. E ' Waters and Samuel Anderson. The menr f bers constituting this division are, J. A. 8 Steele, A. Whyte, R. A. Serines. William " Sturgis, P. F. Schooly, Thomas Whitesides, ^ F. li. Barber, J. J. Watson. p' 2. The committee to examine the North ! I Vest section, viz: that portion North of the Liii isford and West -?f the Riilrnad. will 1 consist of J. J. Watsoo. R. A. Springs, r Win Sturgis, F. II. Barber, J. A. Steele o and D. C. Roddy. The members comprised ^ within this division are A. B. Springs, W e [. Clawson, S. Anderson MeElwee, Johc Uirron, William Steele, S. M. Johnsou, J it W. Rawlinson, R J. Adams, John Mas ' sey, E. T. Avery, J. S. Barnett, Th.i;.??i S. Neely, J. >1. Neely, William J. Kimbrell, Wm. Simril, Wiley Beeves, A. E. Hutchison, H. L. Killian, Cadwalader Jones.-; . - " 3. The committee to examine the South West division, viz : that portion lying South of the Landaford, and West of the Railroad, will consist of A. B. Springs, Cad. Jones, R. J. Adams, W. J. Kimbrell, E. T. Ave' ry, S. M. Johnson, J. W. Rawlinson; and on motion, the President was added to the committee. The members embraced in this division, are W. P. Thomasson, D. D Moore,. Richard Sadler, William Erwin, R. E. Guthrie, Edward Moore, N. A. Steele, Wiley L. Little, James Gaulden, Jo&n Starr, W..Is. Wilson, 13. D. Kawlinson, J. A. May, John Biggers, J. M. Rawliuson, C. P. Sandifer, J. M. Lowry, R. G. MoCaw, Jno. L. Miller and J. G. Eoloe. 4. The committee to examine the South East section, viz : that portion lying South of the Landsfordand East of Railroad, will consist of N. A. Steele, W. L. Little, Jag. Gaulden, C. P. Sandifer, John Biggors, W. Erwin and R. E. Guthrie. The members embraced in this d vision, are J. F. Workman, Daniel Williams, R H. Jordan, W. H. Poag, A Robertson, W. E. Waters, J. N. MeElwee, Jr., Samuel Anderson, Greeu Ferguson, W. B. Daniel, Hugh Simpson, D C. Roddy, R. M. Kerr. Resolved, That if there be any members who do not wish the committee to examine their farms or gardens, that they be respect fully requested to apprize the committee . seasonably, to avoid unnecessary trouble. , On motion, a committee was appointed to ; nominate the Auniversary Ontor. The committee consisted of S. M. Johnson, T. S. Neely and A B Springs, who presented the name of W. B. Wilson, who was, thereupon unanimously elected. E T. Avery, James Bynnm and F. H. Barber, were elected members of theSociety. Resolved, That the thanks of the Society are due to the Proprietors of the Vorkville Enquirer tor past favors, and that they be requested to publish the proceed ings of this meeting. On motion of R. A. Springs, the Society . adjourned to meet on the first Thursday of August. A. WHYTE, i Secretary. .fpstrilrams JUtiftes. , Comments of the Northern Press on ; the Battle of Bethel. General Butler has already received a , foretaste of the work that is before him. His first exploit of capturing a pump was | happily conceived and heroically executed. His success in seizing and confiscating stray negroes as ''contraband of war" was equally as great. Animated to fresh exertions by these most astounding achievements, and desirous of wreathing his victorious brows i with laurels of a less questionable kind, he .' finally concluded to set out in search of new ; adventures. As, however, the risk in capturing slaves was far less than what might r be expected in an attempt to capture their f former masters, Brigadier-General Butler ; wisely determined to ensconce himself safe( ly behind the walls of fortress Monroe, and to leave General Pierce and his subordinate i officers all the perils attendant upon the | new conquest, of which he felt certain of ) being adroit enough to monopolize all the . glory. Alas, for Brigadier-Geueral Butler! , The five thousand troops which were to nnpn for him the wav to Yorktown. movioer "I V ' u/ r in separate detachments, fell afonl of each . other in the darkness, and commenced a | battle among themselves. The patriotism ( of the native American regiment had not | stamina enough to resist the onset of their | GermaD auxiliaries. The Albanians inglo. rious fled, leaving "the foreign element" | masters of the Sold. The loss from this , chance encounter is reported to ha-e been two killed and nine wounded. \Vnen the , "mistake" was discovered, and explanations 6 and condolence had been exchanged, the entire force pushed on towards YorktowQ, or rather towards Great Bethel, nn the Yorktown road, wh >re the Confederate forces, to the number of fifteen hurulrod raeu, i wore Slid to be encamped. One report has , u that General Butler had made a vow "to . sleep in Yorktown that night or resign."? , In the despatch of the Associated Press, , "revised and corrected by Gen Butler in | person," there is no mention whatever of this interesting fret; but wc do learn that the "mistake" which brought the Albanians and Germans into conflict occurred at the village of Little Bethel, which was promptly destroyed by fire, not because it had offered resistance, but because it bad been the scene of the disaster. It was not until this noble and humare act had been satisfactorily accomplished, that the troops, "reformed," marched against Great Bethel That they were repulsed with great slaughter, is reluctantly admitted by General Butler himself, who reports the killed at twenty-five and the wounded at one hundred?other accounts put the killed at one hundred and the nnmhpr Tho ?| blame is, of coarse, attributed to General : Pierce, who is charged by Butler with hav' ing "lost his presence of mind;" but great i credit is given to Lieut. Col. Butler for bringing off the killed and wounded ; and j we are gravely told that since the battle ; General Butler has been "ubiquitous," which proves conclusively that he can be i in many different places at one and the same t time, although we do not hear of his hav, ing yet been seen at Great Bethel.?Balti) more Exchaiuje, June 12. The Dutch seem better soldiers than their brother Abolitionists, as it is said they firod upon a regiment of their brethren in the i midnight raid of Gen. Butler and the A, mericans fled from them in terror. It is true, the Dutchmen were very poor shots? ' having fired nine rounds and only killed ! one man, according to Butler's statement. 11 But if the Dutchmen were poor shots, what , can be r,aid of the courage of the Albany s J regiment, which fled from a supposed eneI; my, wheu only one m^n had been shot ?? ! This whole story is iucredible. Thafaregi imeut of a thousand men should, within .! fair striking distauce, fire upon a similar body 7iine rounds?nine thousand shots ? J und only kill uue man, is a story which Ab olitiooists may believe, as it comes from t their party, bat reasonable men can bar3ly ii swallow ao monstrous a storjr-~Baltimore 5 Republican, \2th, r We have learned a lesson in South-east- d em Virginia, and experience has charged a us an unusually dear price. Some three or 2 four thousand Federal troops left Fortress o Monroe on Sunday night, for the purpose ii of taking a rebel battery at a place called a Great Bethel, about nine miles from Hamp- b ton. The erection of the battery was evi- 1 dently part of a plan to environ the For- a tress and to strengthen the defensive works a of our enemies. It was fouod, on making u the attack, that the Federal troops were b unable to cope with the well fortified rebels, s Their artillery was inefficient, and they f; were compelled to retire before the rifled p cannon of the Virginia troops. Our own v loss was heavy Nothing is known about v the rebels, but as they were well entrenched li behind masked batteries, it is probable they I escaped without loss. _ n ; We have before us two statement of this 1 I melancholv affair. It is evident that there I J has been an uopardouable error somewhere. " By a misunderstanding of the orders, two of our own regiments engaged in a conflict, a each under the impression that the other ii was of the rebel force. Several shots were t interchanged, and many brave men were n wounded and slain before the mistake was e corrected. We are told that General Pierce n lost; his presence of miod on the field of v battle, and the inference is that to him the s disaster of the day is owing. This state- e tnent is made, however, on the unconfirmed t authority of' i> telegraphic reporter and y justice to Gen. Fierce requires ia to await j the facts before wo pass an opinion on his ( conduct. We cannot conceive how a force 1 so poorly equipped and apportioned, lacking s in artillery and the means of an available h aod offonsive warfaie, should have been t sent on an erraod like that undertaken by ri the command of Geueral Butler. t We hope we shall have no more blun- t ders in this campaign. The moral effect of p a repulse like that of Monday will be. won- c derful among the Southern people. The t lives of our volunteers are too precious to s be sacrificed in fruitless sallies, or by the t ignorance or misapprehension of those com- t manding them. We deplore this disaster, s and mourn the melancholy fate of the brave c men who have falleo j but it teaches discretion to those in authority, and shows our t soldiers that rashness is not valor, nor reck- f less darirg true military courage. The t lesson will not be without its uses, however I dearly we may have paid for it.?Philculd j phia Press, 12th. f The affair at Bethel appears to us to show ? a degree of blundering which must be at 1 tributed to nothing else than want of skill in the officers. Over three thousand men start out at night to unmask some batteries which the rebels, it was believed, had erected between Hampton and Yorktown, outside of Gen. Butler's line at Fortress Monroe. The danger of night attacks is that, unless great caution is observed, the col umns, if in detached commands, are like to encounter each other. This is the case in this affair, and two of the New York regiments attacked each other in the supposition that they were encountering the enemy. This mistake, which might have produced much mischief, was discovered in lime before aoy great injury was done. But the eveDt does not seem to have induced greater caution, for we find the commander, Gen. Pierce, attacking a masked battery of thirty rifled cannon without apparently knowing its power orstreugth, thourrh these, prob/dy, could have been tested before the assault was ordered. It is a difficult matter, at this distance from the scene of operations, to criticise ,the judgment of the officer in commaad; but as the soldiers who were engaged in the affair condemn their officer, it seems highly probable that their condemnation is based upon substantial reasons, for they very soon find out the qualifications of their leaders when they see them tested in the field. I ~ " The Bethel affair is an importautooe, for it is the firs'; rebuff to a series of well ( planned and skillfully o\ ooiitcd .neve ..ems ? by General ButL-r at. that impur.aat ead of < the liue of operations against the enemy.? t That this live General, and sensible and t c'enr-sighted Commander, will repair thi.-. temporary disaster, we have not the least r h' Kjfor with promptitude he combines the faculty of knowing Imw to act and when to act, having shown himself hitherto equ ii to any emergency or any duty required of f him. The repulse, we hope, will be a les- ^ sou full of wise instruction. It will induce regimects to get rid of incompetent officers, c and to place men of known qualifications e and skill in command.?Philadelphia Led f per, 12^. t * * * We do not believe General But- i ler ordered an attack by wearied troops, I having but two or three guos, on an en- a trenchment or breast-work bristling with c artillery. Nor do we believe General Butler ordered an attaok on such a position io e ignorance of its real strength. We pre ^ sume the officer in command of the expu ^ dition was fired by a stern resolve to efface 3 the recollection of bis initial disaster in the brilliancy of bis ultimate achievement, and ^ was thus impolled to exceed his orders.? g And the gallantry of our brave volunteers n would have wrested victory from fortune jj had it been possible to flauk the enemy's t position. As it was, heavier guns and more t of them were indispensable, and the at- ^ tack necessarily failed. Let us not lose the lesson. There are some who talk of a war of posts and skirmishes?of strategy and endurance. This failure is an answer to all such Behind a breast-work poor soldiers are nearly equal to good ones, since flight is oftPu more dangerous than persistence, while dis cipline goes for little; good marksmanship is the main poin*-. No, the Union is not to be saved by -my system of petty warfare. If we have no bcuer recourse we may as well give it up. "Ah !" says a shrewd one, 'you wantGeD. Scott to offer battle whether he is ready ur not.-' No, sir; we want him not to give j battle uutil he is perfectly ready. He uu , derstands all that ousiaess a great deal better than we do, or ever will. But we d.> | want him to be at the head of a force with I winch he can uot ooly offer battle wheu he hinks fit, bat compel the enemy to aooept t. That is the whole secret. Iffae thinks 0,000 men enough to walk right over the ebels, then 50,000 be it, in spite of out emurrers. If he wants 100,000 immeditely in hand, let that be the number. If 00,000, say the word and let theoi be forthoming at the earliest possible day. But a any case, let the requisite number be watered forthwith, and 'Forward March !' e the word until the rebels are chased into 'ezas, and the rebellion put down. If we re whipped ia a fair let us give it up* nd make oar peace accordingly. Bur let s get ready forthwith to do our besr. and, eiog ready, let as make the shortest pos- < ible work of this treason. -Guerilla warare is formidable against weak and pur- ; oseless commanders; Napoleon in person ras never troubled by it. Toe General rho knows bow to win a great battle knows tow to compel his adversary to fight one. Ind it is only by great battles?at least, by uovements that look to and offer such? hat this rebrfUion is to be extinguished. So much for the lesson of Great Bethel. ?New York Tribune, 12th. * * * An expedition thus litcrully nd figuratively in the dark could only cud a disaster. Setting aside, indeed, all dilates of military science, the pkiaest comson sense would pre suppose some knowldge of the adversary thus sought in darkless; of the ground over whictr the advance ras to be made, and the rnture of the obtacles likely to be encountered. Signals stablishing the friendly character of deaehments approaching each other might lave been suggested by the ordinary soundudgment, uniastruoted in the maxims of ^nr, Frederick and Jomini. But ourj sabers seem to-have had neither sense uor[ cieoce. Regardless of the lives they were lazarding, they flung the elite of the army beyoommaoded iota the hands of the eneay, which, if it had followed up its advau might have out the retreating forces o pieces. Had Gen. Butler had ordinary irodeoce, or his subordinate, Gen. Pierce, ourage and presence of mind, the oalamiy would have been spared. But neither eerns to have supplied the absence of miliary experience, with the simplest exbibiiou of prevision, practical judgment and oldierly conduct; and hence this mischievous reverse. Government, we cannot doabt, will make boroogh inquiry into the affair. If the acts be as they appear upon first presenta ion, the sooner this brace of Massachusetts wrristers are dismissed to their special headings, replication and demurers?the jetty warfare of the bar, at which they are sxpert?the better it will be for the country !t is possible such men might in time be ichooled into generalship, but the edacaion is too costly. The people will out conlent that their best and bravest?the patlots who first hastened to the protection of he Union, and the soldiers who, in the tery hour of peril, proved how much too valuable they are to be thus sacrificed? shall be squandered to convert political racks into heroes, and to balance and ad i ust the chance* of a future Presidential jampaign. We mast have leaders worthy / __ _:n :.u .k 1 u OUT men, or iae ariuy win penau i?u j lisgust and demoralization. Let the \dufnistration see to it.?New York Times. 1 * * The conflict at Bethel, a name mggestiveof other thoughts than of s'augher, initiates the campaign in Virginia.? Vho can tell the long list of engagements hat are to follow, unless an unlooked for tud Providential interposition shall arrest rhe terrible dram ma of fratricidal hate and nutual destruction ? Have our rulers no irbiter but the sword, and no terms bu'! mbmission to propose to those who an-,heir brethren ? Where is the conciliatory ind effecting spirit which pervades the last vords of counsel that Washington and Jackson" left as legacies to their countrynen ??New York Daily News. We have many other extracts from the Northern papers, but the f "egoing are suf icient to show how the news was received. The N. York Herald says the "rebels" had :onstructed an entrenched camp, compriting six batteries of rifled cannon and sixtysight twelve pound howitzers; and in anoth ;r place the same paper .lludes to the "cap ure of 12,000 rebels" and shouts joyously ?Butler is evidently the right man in the ight place !" # Colonel Gregg's Skirmish. We take the following account of the afair at Vienna from the Richmond Dispatch, of Wedoesday the 19th iost.: "Spencer Hancock, esq., of Chesterfield souuty, who returned to this city yesterday evening from Fairfax C. H., gives us the Mlowing narration of a skirmish which ook place about 6 o'clock on Monday evenng, a few miles from that locality. Mr. I. was himself a participant in the affair, ,nd his statement may therefore bo relied m : "On Sunday morning, Col. Gregg receivd orders to go out on a reconnoitering exedition. He tock with him 600 South Carolinians, a company of Kemper's artil ry, aud two companies ot cavalry, including :5 of Capt. Ball's Chester company and }apt. Terry's company, of Bedford. He tarted at 8, a. m. They remained Sunday light at a place called Dranesviile On donday morning, Col. Gregg, with a deachment of cavalry, went 45 miles down to he Potomac river to make observations.? They remained in the viciaity about au tour, and distinctly saw tents and men on he Maryland side. They judged there rere about 300 men encamped at this poiot. ' Col. Gregg afterwards returned to )ranesville, formed his command i ii.? jol-j imu. and marohed dowj the road to i i-'ioe! ailed Vienna. Here they remained only) ong enough to tear up the track of the, Alexandria, Loudoo and Hampshire Rail- j oad, aud destroy a water tauk?probably, ibout an hour?after whicb they started tu etura to Dranesvillo Tho tioops had j iroceeded about naif a mile when the whis le of the locom ?tive was heard in the dia atice, wliereu.. "i Col Gregg ordered a 1 alt, wheeled oi ; column, aud maroiied I apidly back to Vi jtiua. Tuey had sc-iri;-:v time to pLce twu caunju lu poai > vheu a train of cars, consisting of six liiw lud a baggage car, came slowly around ,he curve, pusUed by a locomotive. Eaoti fiat was crowded with armed men, whose bayonets glistened in the evening son, and gave oar men an impression that a severe contest was at hand. This, however, was soon realized, as the result will show. ? "Just as the train was about to stop, ?he artillery fired a well-directed shot from one of their guns, which raked the Hessians fore and aft. Consternation and dismay were distinctly visible, and, after another fire, the enemy were seen hastily leaving the cars and taking to the woods. The engineer of the train was smart enough to uncouple the locomotive and take the baok track for Alerand i i, leaving the entire train to be captured by nur troops. Col. Gregg's infantry and the cavalry pursued the fugitives a short distance through the woods, bat were unable to overtake them. A few of the party exhibited some bravery, and en3 ~ ..J I I a. 11_ iL _ U utt&vuiuu, uj tjiiuuus, 10 rauy lueir ujiug comrades, but it was impossible. They then turned and discharged their pieces at oar men withont effect. Six of the enemy were left dead apon the ground "It is believed that this invading party consisted of regulars and Michigan volunteers. Col. Gregg had reoeived information that a detachment of federalists came to Vienna on Saoday evening, and br ought timber to repair tho bridge, and that they stated that they would come on Monday with men enough to whip and hang every d?d secessionist in the neighborhood.? They made a slight mistake in their calculations. ?'About twelve rounds were fifed by our artillery, but the enemy scattered after the second. Neither the infantry nor cavalry fired a shot. "Our troops burnt the cars and captured a coosideabie quantity of carpenters' tools, blankets, uud other baggage, together with about 20 muskets and a number of pistols. Mr. Hancock brings with him as trophies a U. S. soldier's cap, a havelock, thoroughly saturated with blood, and a bayonet "The fire of our artillerists was most effective. Oae man was found with his hand shot completely off, another with his arm shot off at the shoulder, and other gbntly objects proved the destructive effect of the shots. It is thought by some that one of the balls broke the coupling of the locomotive ; at all events, the engine was taken away from th'j scene of action with all possible speed. "After the 3ngagement Col. Gregg retired with his command to Fairfax C. H. Mr. Ranooek left there at 3 o'clock yesterday morn'ng. He requests us to state that all of Capt. Ball's command was in good health." % Evacuation of Harper's Perry. Thp Rii?hmnn^ Ditnnlrh. fl*w? "We heard yesterday a repetition of the statements of the evacuation of Harper's Ferry from such a source that we are indined to give it credit, accompanied by an explanation of the reasons for the movement, which, we are not at liuerty to give, but which, if known, would confirm and elevate the universal confidence thffet ii felt in the ?ua?oerly military skill and judgment w.iich ci'-iir.omish the Confederate generals " The Examiner says: "More retreat! More evacuation I These a^e words?the odious and ill omened words ?that grate on the ear at every tarn. The tale that Harper's Ferry is turned over to the mercies of the federal army^ that Gen. Johnson burnt his bridges and commenced a march on Winchester, the moment the vanguard of the hostile foe appeared in sight, that Romney had beeo occupied, the women iosnltcd, the population outraged, and the town robbed without resistance by the beggarly troops of McClelland?all this dismal story has been received with equal anger and incredulity. "Yet we believe it true. General Johnston had his option betweea a movement on Winchester, or beiog surrounded at Harper's Ferry, while the country below was overran b? the enemy. The telegraph states that he has certainly burnt the bridge at the Ferry, and about the third of his force, at the last advices, had gone to Winchester. Harper's Ferry was not then wholly evacuated, but no one doubted that its desertion was determined. ''That the event is distasteful cannot be denied, bat reason will not condemn this retreat. The force and general at Harper's Ferry were, perhaps, the most effective that Virginia had in the field, and in that position ?hey were useless. What end did they serve there? It is said they protected the Valley of Virginia. Bat Harper's Ferry was not the only key to the Valley, and the fact that the troops of McClelland were the other day at Romney is proof of the fact. The trath is, when the arms and machinery were removed from Harper's Ferry, and when Alexandria waa helplessly abandoned, the occupation of the former town ceased to be an object of importance. It might once have been considered part of the line of the Potomac; but when Alexandria and the Hampshire road were surrendered, we ceased to command the line !>f the Potomac with Harper's Ferry. Our host army was locked np there for no purpose, and muny well informed people rather wonder that it has not been withdrawn before, than that it is now removed to fields on which it may be profitably employed. The public had rather hear of battles than retreats ; bat war is an affair of necessary oonsequeaces ; and this retreat is an inevitable result of the loss of Alexandria under the D.iwb dynasty." Olu Yankee Pkiso.veks?A correspondent -1 / eats that the Yankee prisoners, a sro. 'l j' <oy of whom are shoemakers, -hould be se- to work making shoes for oar soldiers. We shall sooa have a good many if them on hand, and cannot be expeoted to feed them without some return. The Yankees compel our negroes to work upon their fortifications, and our prisoners ahonld it? i ?u? 1?. ? < ? 1 ue uuuipsncu tu ujoac wieuiseivea uaoiui. ta every caQe where it it well ascertained that a ne^ro has been sold to Cabs, one of these prisuaers should be placed at the -naster's disposal till the i jura of his property. Te irs are uature's lotion fortbo eyes, fiie eyes see oocter for beiug washed with them. i