The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-01 00:00:00

The Operations at Mobile.

Admiral Farragut's full official report of the ope-
rations in Mobile Bay is now published, and will be
found to contain some most interesting particu.

lays :--

"United States' flagship Hartford,
Mobile Bay, Aug. 12.
Sir,—l had the honour to forward the department
on the evening of the sth inst. a report of my entree
into Mobile Bay on the morning of that day, and
which, though brief, contained all the principal
facts of the attack. Notwithstanding the loss of
life, particularly on this ship, and the terrible disas•
ter to the Tecumseh, the result of the fight was a
glorious victory ; and I have reason to feel proud
of the officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron
under my command, for it has never fallen to the
lot of an officer to be thus situated and thus sus.
tained. Regular discipline will bring men to any
amount of endurance, but there is a natural fear of
hidden dangers, particularly when so awfully de•
atructive of human life as the torpedo, which re-
quires more than discipline to overcome. Prelimi-
nary to a report of the action of the sth I desire to

call the attention of the department to the previous
steps taken in consultation with Generals Canby
and Granger on the Bth of July. I had an inter-
view with these officers on board the Hartford, on
the subject of an attack upon Forts Morgan and
Gaines, at which it was agreed that General Canby
should send all the troops he could spare to co-ope-
rate with the fleet. Circumstances soon obliged
General Canby to inform me that he could not de-
spatch a sufficient number to invest both forts, and
in reply I suggested that Gaines should be the first
invested, engaging to have a force in the Sound
ready to protect the landing of the army on Dau-
phin Island, in the rear of that fort, and I assigned
Lieutenant-Commander De Krafft, of the Cone-
maugh, to that duty, On the Ist inst. General
Granger visited me again on the Hartford. In the
meantime the Tecumseh had arrived at Pensacola,
and Capt. Craven informed me that he would be
ready in four days for any service. We therefore
fixed upon August 4 as the day for the landing of
the troops and my entrance into the bay, but owing
to delays mentioned in Capt. Jenkins' communica-
tion to me, the Tecumseh was not ready. General
Granger, however, to my mortification, was up to
the time, and the troops actually landed on Dauphin
Island. As subsequent events proved, the delay
turned to our advantage, ae the rebels were busily
engaged during the 4th in throwing troops and
supplies into Fort Gaines, all of which were cap-
tured a few days afterwards. The Tecumseh arrived
on the evening of the 4th, and, everything being
propitious, I proceeded to the attack on the follow-
ing morning. As mentioned in my previous de-
spatch, the vessels outside the bar which were de-
signed to participate in the engagement were all
under way at 5.40 in the morning in the following
order, two abreast and lashed together :—The
Brooklyn, Capt. Alden, with the Octarora, Lieut.-
Commander Green, on the port side; the Hartford,
Capt. Drayton, with the Metacomet, Lieut.-Com•
mender jouett ; the Richmond, Capt. Jenkins, with
the Port Royal, Lieut.-Commander Gherardi ; the
Lackawanna, Capt. Marchand, with the Seminole,
Commander Donaldson ; the Monongahela, Com-
mander Strong, with the Kennebec, Lieut.-Coma
mender M'Cann ; the Ossipee, Commander. Leroy,
with the Itasca, Lieut.-Commander Brown ; the
Oneida, Commander Mallany, with Galena, Lieut...
Commander Wells. The ironclads Tecumseh, Com-
mander Craven ; the Manhattan, Commander
Nicholson ; the Winnebago, Commander Stevens;
and the Chicksaw, Lieut.-Commander Perkins, were
already ahead inside the bar, and had been ordered
to keep up their positions on the starboard side of
the wooden ships, or between them and Fort Mor-
gan, for the double purpose of keeping down the
fire from the water battery and the parapet guns of
the fort, as well as to attack the ram Tennessee as
soon as the fort was passed. It was only at the
urgent request of the captains and commanding
officers that I yielded to the Brooklyn being the
leading ship of the line, as she hid four chase guns
and an ingenious arrangement for picking up tor-
pedos, and because, in their judgment, the flagship
ought not to be too much exposed. This I believe
to be an error; for, apart from the fact that exposure
one of the penalties of rank is the nary, it will

always b 3 the aim of the enemy to destroy the flag=
ship, and, as will appear in the sequel, such attempt
was very persistently made, but Providence did not
p,,rmit it to be successful. The attacking fleet
steamed steadily up the main ship channel, the
Tecumseh firing the first shot at 6 47. At 7 6 the
fort opened upon us, and was replied to by a gun
from the Brooklyn, and immediately after the action
became general. It was soon apparent that there
was some difficulty ahead. The Brooklyn, for some
cause which I did not then clearly understand, but
which has since been explained by Capt. Alden in
his report, arrested the advance of the whole fleet,
while at the same time the guns of the fort were
playing with great effect upon that vessel and the
Hartford. A moment after I saw the Tecumseh,
struck by a torpedo, disappear instantaneously
beneath the waves, carrying with her her com-
mander and nearly all her crew. I determined at
once, as I had originally intended, to take the lead,
and, after ordering the Metacomet to send a boat
to save, if possible, any of the perishing crew, I
dashed ahead with the Hartford, and the ships fol-
lowed on, their officers believing that they were going
to a noble death with their commander-in-chief. I
steamed through between the buoys where the tor-
pedoes were supposed to have been sunk. These
buoys had been previously examined by my Flag-
Lieut. J. Crittenden Watson, in several nightly re•
connaissances. Though he had not been able to
discover the sunken torpedoes, yet we had been as-
sured by refugees, deserters, and others of their ex-
istence ; but; believing that from their having been
some time in the water they were probably innocu-
ous, I determined to take the chance of their explo-
sion, From the moment I turned to the north-west-
ward to clear the middle ground we were enabled to
keep such a broadside fire upon the batteries of Fort
Morgan that their guns did us comparatively little
injury. Just after we passed the fort, which was
about 10 minutes before 8 o'clock, the ram Tennessee
dashed out at this ship, as had been expected, and
in anticipation of which 1 had ordered the monitors
on the starboard side. I took no further notice of

her than to return her fire. The rebel gunboats

Morgan, Gaines, and Selma were ahead, and the
latter particularly annoyed us with a raking fire,
which our guns could not return. At two minutes
after 8 o'clock I ordered the Metacomet to cast off
and go in pursuit of the Selma. Captain Jouett
was after her in a moment, and in an hour's time he
had her as a prize. She was commanded by P. N.
Murphy, formerly of the United States Navy. He
was wounded in the wrist ; his executive officer,
Lieut. Comstock, and eight of the crew killed, and
seven or eight wounded. Lieut.-Cornmander Sondes
conduct during the whole affair commands my warm-
est commendations. The Morgan and Gaines suc-
ceeded in escaping under the protection of the guns
of Fort Morgan, which would have been prevented
had the other gunboats been as prompt in their
movements as the Metacomet. The want of pilots,
however, I believe, was the principal difficulty. The
Gaines was so injured by our fire that she had to
be run ashore, where she was subsequently destroyed
bat the Morgan escaped to Mobile during the night,
though she was chased and fired in to by our cruisers.
Having passed the forts and dispersed the enemy's
gunboats I had ordered most of the vessels to anchor,
when I perceived the ram Tennessee standing up
• for this ship ; this was at 8 45 o'clock. I was not
long in comprehending her interests to be the de-
struction of the fl %ship. The monitors and such
o fthe wooden vessels as I thought best adapted for
theDurpose were immediately ordered to attack the
ram. not only with their guns, but bows on at full
speed, And then beffhaeni\oine of the fiercest naval
combat& on record. onongahela, Commander
Strong, was the first vesselhi‘so that struck her, and in
doing en carried away n iron prow, together
with the cutwater, without apparently doing his ad-
versary much injury. The
Mar-
chand, was the next vessel to starwhilce aerrinhir',Cs:PhtiClhisahr;
did at fall speed, but, though
was cut
and crushed to the plank ends for tsheerdnistthance of
3ft above the water's edge to sft below, only
pererptible effcct on the ram was to give her a heavy

lift. The Hartford was the third vessel which struck
her, but, as the Tennessee quickly shifted her helm,
the blow was a glancing one, and as she rasped along
our side we poured our whole broadside of 9-inch
solid shot within 10ft of her casement. The monitors
worked slowly, bat delivered their fire as opportu.
nity offered. ,The. Chickasaw succeeded in getting
under her stern, and a 15-in. shot from the Man-
hattan broke through her iron plating and heavy
wooden backing, though the missile itself did not
enter the vessel. Immediately after the collision
with the flagship I directed Capt. Drayton to bear
down for the ram again. He was doing so at full
speed, when, unfortunately the Lackawanna ran
into the Hartford just forward of the mizenmast,
cutting her down to within two feet of the water's
edge. We soon got clear again, however, and were
fast approaching our adversary when she struck
her colours and ran up the white flag. She was
at this time sore beset; the Chickasaw was pounding
away at her stern, the Ossipee was approaching
her at full speed, and the Monongahela, Lackawanna,
and this ship were bearing down upon her, deter-
mined upon her destruction. Her smoke-stack had
been shot away, her steering chains were gone, com.
pelling a resort to her relieving tackles, and several
of the port shutters were jammed. Indeed, from the
time the Hartford struck her until her surrender she
never fired a gun. As the Ossipee, Commander Le
Roy, was about to strike her, she hoisted the white
flag, and that vessel immediately stopped her engine,
though not in time to avoid a glancing blow. Daring
the contest with the rebel gunboats and the ram Ten-
nessee, and which terminated by her surrender at 10
o'clock, we lost many more men than from the fire of
the batteries of Fort Morgan. Admiral Buchanan was
wounded in the leg, two or three of his men were
killed, and five or six wounded. Commander John-
ston, formerly of the United States Navy, was in
command of the Tennessee, and came on board the
flagship to surrender his sword and that of Admiral
Buchanan. The surgeon, Dr Conrad, came with him,
stated the condition of the Admiral, and wished to
know what was to be done with him. Fleet Surgeon
Palmer, who was on board the Hartford during the
action, commiserating the suffering of the wounded,
suggested that those of both sides be sent to Pensa-
cola, where they could be properly cared for. I
therefore addressed a note to Brigadier-General It.
L. Page, commanding Fort Morgan, informing him
that Admiral Buchanan and others of the Tennessee
had been wounded, and desiring to know whether
he would permit one of our vessels, under a flag of
truce, to convey them with or without cur men
wounded to Pensacola, on the understanding that
the vessel should take out none but the wounded,
and bring nothing back that she did not take out.
This was acceded to by General Page, and the
Metacomet proceeded on this mission of humanity.
As I had an elevated position on the main rig-
ging near the top, I was able to overlook not only
the deck of the Hartford, but the other vessels of
the fleet. I witnessed the terrible effect of the
enemy's shot and the good conduct of the men at
their guns ; and although, no doubt, their hearts
sickened, as mine did, when their shipmates were
struck down beside them, yet there was not a mo-
ment's hesitation to lay their comrades aside and
spring again to their deadly work. Our little con-
sort, the Metacomet, was also under my immediate
eye during the whole action up to the moment I
ordered her to cast off in pursuit of•the Selma. The
coolness and promptness of Lieutenant-Commander
Jouett throughout merit high praise; his whole
conduct was worthy of his reputation, In this con-
nection I must not omit to call the attention of the
department to the conduct of Acting Ensign Henry
C. Nields, of the Metacomet, who had charge of the
boat sent from that vessel when the Tecumseh sunk.
He took her in under one of the most galling fires
I ever saw, and succeeded in rescuing from death
ten of her crew within 600 yards of the fort. I
would respectfully recommend his advancement.
The commanding officers of all the vessels who took
part in the action deserve my warmest commends..
tions, nut only for the untiring zeal with which
they had prepared their ships for the contest, but
for their skill and daring in carrying out my orders
during the engagement. \VLth the exception of the
momentary arrest of the fleet when the'llartford
passed ahead, and to which I have already adverted,
the order of battle was preserved, and the ships
followed each other in close order past the batteries
of Fort Morgan, and in comparative sefety, too,
with the exception of the Oneida. Her boilers
were penetrated by a shot from the fort, which com-
pletely disabled her, but her consort, the Galena,
firmly fastened to her side, brought her safely
through, showing clearly the wisdom of the precau-
tion of carrying the vessels in two abreast. Con.
mender Mullany, who had solicited to take part in
the action, was severely wounded, losing his left
arm. In the encounter with the ram the command-
ing officers obeyed with alacrity the order to run
her down, and without hesitation exposed their
ships to destruction to destroy the enemy. Our iron.
clads, from their slow speed and bad sailing, had
some difficulty in getting into and maintaining
their position in line as we passed the fort, and in
the subsequent encounter with the Tennessee, from
the same causes, were not so effective as could have
been desired; bat I cannot give too much praise
to Lieut-Commander Perkins, who, though he had
orders from the department to return North, vo-
lunteered to take the command of the Chickasaw,
and did his duty nobly. The Winnebago was
commanded by Commander T. H. Stevens, who
volunteered for that position. His vessel steers
very badly, and neither of his turrets will work,
which compelled him to turn his vessel every time
to get a shot, so that he could not fire very often,
but ho did the beet under the circumstances: The
Manhattan appeared to work well, though she
appeared to move slowly. Commander Nichol-
son delivered his fire deliberately, and, as before
stated, with one of his 15-inch shot broke through
the armour of the Tennessee, with its wooden back-
ing, though the shot itself did not enter the vessel.
No other shot broke through her armour, though
many of her plates were started and several of her
port-shutters jammed by the fire from the different
ships. The Hartford, my flag-ship, was commanded
by Capt. Percival Drayton, wbo exhibited throgha
out that coolness and ability for which he has been
long known to his brother officers. But I must
speak of that officer in a double capacity. He
is the fleet captain of my squadron, and one of
more determined energy, untiring devotion
to duty and zeal for the service, tem-
pered by great C 3 lmness, I do not think adorns any
navy. I desire to call your attention to this officer,
though well aware that in thus speaking of his
high qualities I am only communicating officially
to the department that which it knew full well bee
fore. To him, and to my staff in their respective
positions, I am indebted for the detail of my fleet
Lieut. J, C. Watson, my flagalieutenant, has been
brought to your notice in former despatches. Dur-
ing the action he was in the poop attending to the
signals, and performed his duties as might be ex-
pected—thoroughly. He is a scion worthy the
noble stock he sprang from, and I commend him to
your attention. My Secretary, Mr M'Kinley, and
Acting Ensign E. H. Brownell, were also on the
poop, the latter taking notes of the action, a duty
which he performed with coolness and accuracy.
Two other acting ensigns of my staff (Mr Bogart
and Mr Heginbotham) were on duty in the powder
division, and, as the reports will show, exhibited
zeal and ability. The latter, I regret to say, was
severely wounded by a raking shot from the Tens
nessee when we collided with that vessel, and died
a few hours after. Mr Heginbotham was a young
married man, and has left a widow and one child,
whom I commend to the kindness of the department.
Lieut. A. R. Yates, of the Augusta, acted as an
additional aid to me on board the Hartford, and was
very efficient in the transmission of orders. The
and to whom I would call the notice
olafstthoef department, is not the least in importance.
I mean Pilot Martin Freeman. He has been my
great reliance in all difficultiesinhain
his line
ne ofduty.
During the action he was piloting
in the in
the ships into the bay. He was cool and brave
throughout, never losing his self-possession. This
man was captcred early in the war in a fine fishing
smack which he owned,:and though he protested 1 hat
he had no interest in the war, and only asked for the
privilege of fishing for the fleet, yet his services were
too valuable to the captors as a t ilot not :to be

secured. He was appointed a first-class pilot, arid has
served us with zeal and fidelity, and has lost his
vessel, which went to pieces on Ship Island. I
commend him to the department. It gives me
pleasure to refer to several officers who volunteered
to take any situation where they might be useful,
some of whom were on their way North, either by
orders of the department or condemned by medical
survey. The reports of the different commanders
will show how they conducted themselves. I have
already mentioned Lieutenants Commander Perkins,
of the Chickasaw, and Lieutenant Yates, of the
Augusta. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William
Hamilton, late commanding officer of the Augusta
Dinsmore, had been invalided by the medical sur-
vey, but he eagerly offered his services on board the
ironclad Chickasaw, having had much experience
in our Monitors. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant P.
Giraud, another experienced officer in ironclads,
asked to go in one of these vessels, but as they were
all well supplied with officers I permitted him to go
on the Ossipee, under Commander Le Roy. After
the action he was given temporary charge of the
Tennessee. Before closing this report there is one
other officer of my squadron of whom I feel bound
to speak—Capt. T. A. Jenkins, of the Richmond,
who was formerly my chief of staff—not because of
his having held that position, but because he never
forgets to do his duty to the Government, and
takes now the same interest in the fleet as when he
stood in that relation to me. He is the command%
ing officer of the second division of my squadron,
and as such has shown ability and the most untiring
zeal, He carries out the spirit of one of Lord Col-
lingwood's best sayings—' not to be afraid of doing
too much ; those who are, seldom do as much as
they ought.' When in Pensacola he spent days on
the bar placing the buoys in the best positions; was
always looking after the interest of the service, and
keeping the vessels from beieg detained one moment
longer in port than was necessary. The gallant
Craven told me only the night before the action in
which he lost his life, I regret, Admiral, that I
have detained you, but had it not been for Captain
Jenkins, God knows when I should have been here.
When your order came I had not received an ounce
of coal !' I feel that I should not be doing my duty
did I not call the attention of the department to
an officer who has performed all his various duties
with so:much zaal and fidelity.
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear-Admiral, Com-
manding West Gulf Squadron."

The South and Peace.

(From the index.)

The split in the Democratic party is not a subject for sur-
prise or regret. The Chicago Convention was a hollow truce.
Forbearance and compromise are indeed essential to the
existence and usefulness of a party, but to compromise on
the most important issue before the country is simply
absurd. Now, this was done at Chicago. The Peace
Democrats and the War Democrats, after long negotiation,
entered into a compact to join forces against the Republi-
cans. It is fair to say, however, that the peace men never
consented to any sacrifice of principle. The arguments
by which they were won over were very plausible, and the
terms offered were perfectly fair, and such that, as patriots,
they were bound to accept them. The War Democrats de-
clared that they were determined to have peace; that they
would strive to restore the union by diplomacy ; but if that
failed, then they were prepared to recognise the indepen-
dence of the South. These terms, we say, were proffered
by the War Democrats to the Peace Democrats, and they
were fully endorsed and pertinaciously urged by those who
are known to enjoy the confidence of General M•Clellan.
So at Chicago the War Democrats voted for a pacific plat-
form, and the Peace Democrats voted for the favourite can-
didate of the War Democrats. The election being so near
it was expected that the alliance would last until the now
President was chosen; but General M'Clellan has been
driven by the moves of the Lincoln ites to forthwith discover
his game, and consequently, the friends of peace will not
have to endure the mortification of securing the return of a
war President. Much to General lll‘Clellan's disgust, he
found that Mr Lincoln was bidding heavily for the peace
and non abolition votes, Mr Seward made a pro-slavery
speech, and Mr Lincoln buzzed about that he was solici-
tous to put an end to hostilities. Alarmed at these com-
mon place manoeuvres, and fancying that the fall of
Atlanta would evoke somo martial ardour, General
M'Clellan promptly and rashly adopted the strategy of
his opponent. Mr Lincoln was going in for peace, there-
fore General M'Clellan came out boldly for war. Grie-
viously has the general blundered. lie will not get any
Republican votes, lie has certainly lost the support of an
influential section of the Democrats.

We need hardly observe that, as far as the South is con-
cerned, it matters not whether a War Christian or a War
.:emocrat is the next President of the United States. And
we may add that it matters not to the North. If Rome is
to be burnt, it is as well that the conflagration should be
directed by a fi Idling Nero as by a graver tyrant. If Ame-
rica is doomed to another four years of bloodshed and de-
vastation, it matters not whether the master of the White
House is a second-rate jester or a second-rate soldier. Gen.
ll'Clellan says that he will abide by the constitution, Mr
Lincoln made the like promise before the war began. The
truth is, to carry on the war against the South necessitates
the violation of the constitution. It is in vain to try to
compass the evil end by righteous means. 'Whilst the
North is seeking to trample on the liberty and rights of the
South, she must needs forego her own rights and liberty.
This Gen. M'Clellan knows by experience. During the
whole of Mr Lincoln's Administration there has not been a
more flagrantly illegal act than the arrest and imprison-
ment of the Maryland Legislation. Who suggested and
effected this iniquitous business ? Why, it was Gen. M'Clel-
lan who planned and carried out the most arbitrary pro-
ceeding of the present Federal Government. But General
11I'Clellan is not without an excuse. He pleads military
necessity and incorrect information. But this is Mr Lin-
coln's—it is the universal—plea and excuse for tyranny.
Whether a 'War Christian or a War Democrat, whether
Lincoln or M'Clellan is President of the United States, so
long as war is waged against the South, so long will acts of
despotism:be necessary. We are therefore neither glad nor
sorry to hear that Gen M'Clellan has much less chance of
winning than he had a month ago. We are, however, con-
cerned to hear how far the prospects of peace have been
affected by the Democratic split.
There are now three parties in the United States. We
do not count the Fremont party, for that is virtually ex-
tinct. In many respects there are striking analogies between
Fremont and M'Clellan, Both want power. Both favour
the prosecution of the war. Both assert that they can carry
on the war without violating the constitution, although each
of them in his military capacity has grossly violated the
constitution. 'We are now informed that Fremont is about
to retire from the contest, and we dare say that he will not
go unrewarded for the sacrifice.
The Republican party has—or rather let us say the Lin-
colnite party—has thrown off all disguise as to the object it
has in view. Does any one suppose that the Lincolnites
wage the ferocious war out of love for the Union ? Let such
a one mark what has lately occurred. From the pulpits,
platforms, and presses of Now England it has been declared
repeatedly and passionately alit if a Republican was not
elected President, then the struggle for the Union was over.
At one moment, after Mr Lincoln's letter " to whom it may
concern," it was suggested that a candidate more popular
should be put forward. Now let us ask why the restora-
tion of the Union would be in greater jeopardy if a 'War
Democrat should be chosen for President. M'Clellan is as
much for the Union as Lincoln is. 'Yet the Republican
leaders were sincere and candid in declaring that they should
treat the election of a Democrat as the signal for giving up
the contest. If a Democrat had to bestow the patronage of
the Government, the war, instead of being a profit, would
become a burden to Republican citizens. Hence, if some
unforeseen accident should give M'Clellan a majority, and
the master of legions should respect the decision of the bal-
lot-box, the Republicans would at once advocate peace. Or
is it suggested that the Lincolnites are fighting for emanci-
pation ? Why, Mr Lincoln has been most careful to avow
that with him emancipation is merely a war measure, and
this month his chief minister, Mr Seward, has stated that
his party do not intend to interfere with the institution of
slavery after the conclusion of peace. It is not for the re-
storation of the Union—it is not for emancipation—that the
Lincolnites are working. Their object is the retention of
power. The Republican party is for emancipation or for
the perpetuation of slavery, it is for Union or disunion, it
is for any principle or for any policy that will secure a re-
newed lease of power.

Tho War Democrat or M'Clellan party is actuated by
precisely the same motive. It deplores the war, and will
carry on the war. It talks of peace, and rejects the only
means by which peace can be obtained. It, talks about the
rights of sovereign States, and is prepared to fight against
the sovereign rights of the Southern States. It changes
and shifts with every gust of popular passion. Now the
people are weary of the war, and the War Democrats are
for peace. Anon Atlanta falls, Farragut gains a naval vic-
tory at Mobile, the shoddy contractors get up a little show
of martial ardour, and forthwith the War Democrat is for
war. The 111.‘Clellan party, like the Lincoln party, has but
one object, and that is at any cost to get power and patro-
nage.

The third party is the Peace party. Now, we do not say
that this party, like its antagonists, does not covet power.
All political parties aim, and rightly, to obtain office, for that
is the very purpose of party organisation. But the Peace party
has n distinct and definite policy. It stoutly maintains that
whilst it hates the war it loves the Union, but it is prepared
to recognise the separate government of the South if the South
declines to re-enter the Union. The pruent strength of the
Peace party is unknown. Prub tbly it is in a minority, and
the 4th of November is so near that it may be that there

is no chance for the election of a Peace candidate. But
nevertheless we are convinced that the Peace party by
breaking from the War Democrats, will gain enormously in
influence. In the United States, especially on the border
of the western States, there are multitudes of men who are
sick of the war, and who will gladly rally round a Peace party.
Henceforth every military disaster, every fresh list of killed
and wounded, every threat of a draft, every commercial
difficulty, every act of despotism, will swell the ranks of the
Peace party. If M'Clellan becomes president, New England
will league herself with the Peace party. If Mr Lincoln is
re-elected, the leaders of the War Democrats will find
themselves deserted, for their followers will join the Peace
party, We therefore believe that the prospects of peace are
brightened because the Chicago Convention is broken up,
and because there is a party in the North which inscribes
the word "Peace" upon its banners.
It may be that the war is not so near an end as we think,
and that our judgment is biassed by our earnest desire for
peace. We do not conceal that we wish for peace, for if
we did so we should grossly misrepresent what we know to
be the sentiment of the Southern people. The South fights
for peace, and for peace only. She asks nothing of her
antagonist but to be let alone. We are aware how this peace
sentiment of the South is used to keep up the war spirit in
the North. The Confederate Government, under a dread
sense of responsibility, whilst wielding the sword with one
hand, holds the olive branch in the other. Not one hour
of unnecessary war will the Confederacy permit to be laid
to her charge. But strange it is that this anxiety for peace
should be regarded as a sign of the south being about to
give in. Strange it is that it should be necessary to declare
that the only terms on which peace can be made are the
withdrawal of invading armies from Seuthern territory.
Between the two peoples there is a great gulf, which war
widens, but which a century of diplomacy cannot bridge,
If any Northern is under the impression that the South
will consent to reunion on any terms, we would remind him
that the South could at any time since the war broke out
have returned to the union Ln any terms she chose to pro-
pose. But she has endured the worst, for with her the
worst is past, and in her greatest suffering she has never
thought of reunion. The separation is final. The war may
last 10 years, but unless the Southern population is exter-
minated, when peace is made there will be an acknowledg-
ment of the separate Government of the South. Therefore
the North can gain nothing by not concluding immediate
peace. Let the past four years teach her what she will lose
by war. Well will it be for the Confede ate States, but,
above all, well for the United States, if the Northern Peace
party becomes dominant.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

OTTOMAN (SMYRNA TO AIDIN)

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yester-
day at the London Tavern—Sir Macdonald Stephenson in
the chair.

Mr S. J. Cooke, the secretary, having read the notice
convening the meeting, the report was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN said that if patience and perseverance
brought, as they were assured they did, their reward, they
might confidently look forward to a happy termination to
their labours upon the Ottoman Railway, which undoubtedly
demanded the exercise of both those qualities, to an extent
they had little anticipated at the outset. Jt was too late to
regret the original error in selecting the first line, which
was to show the value of railways in Turkey, and which
should have been short, easily, and quickly completed, The
remunerative prospects of the Aidin line probably overrode
all other considerations, and they had now no alternative
but to work and wait its due completion and development.
The frequently recurring difficulties and discouragement
experienced would have sufficed to dishearten most men,
but the enlightened views and liberal policy of the Ottoman
Government had done much to neutralise the effects of
those obstacles and to encourage them to greater exertions.
The working expenses exceeded the revenue, but on this
point it must be borne in mind that the taking over the
maintenance of the way and works from the contractor,
involving a considerable amount for renewals, had brought
a new and heavy charge upon the revenue, which would be
reduced as the traffic increased. A considerable reduction
had been effected in the cost of the staff, upon the recom-
mendation of Gen. Tremenheere, who went out for the pur-
pose, but of which the benefit would only be felt hereafter.
Now that the whole charge of maintenance upon the 481
miles to Ephesus had to be borno by the revenue, the ex-
penditure would be unavoidably heavy, and disproportioned
to the receipts, until the line was carried across the hilly
range which separated it from the traffic districts of the in-
terior. It was a subject which had engaged the serious at-
tention of the Board, but during the progress of construction
the open line could not show satisfactory results until the
completion of the works to Aidin. This would secure the
whole of the now divided traffic, augment the revenue, and
proportionately reduce the working expenses. The results
of inquiries into the traffic of the country, now in progress
by the company's engineers at the board's request, showed
the proportion already transferred from the camels to the
rsilway. In the month of August they found that of a
local traffic of 718 tons, 675 tons went by railway, and 43
tons by the road. Of the Cayster Valley traffic, being a
total of 978 tons, 210 tons went by railway and 769 tons by
the road. Of a total of 630 tons by the Meander Valley,
423 tons went by the railway and 207 tons by the road,
August being the worst month in the year for traffic. The
traffic of August and September amounted to 8,585 tons,
of which 3,788 tons were conveyed by the railway, and
4,797 tons by the road.; The Cayster Valley, being out of
the line of railway, would require a branch, to which sub-
ject the board would, when the main line was completed,
request the attention of the shareholders. This was exclu-
sive of the Bouja and Sedikoi trade, which in September
amounted to 12,966 camels and horses and 23,362 passen-
gers. The traffic manager in a report that arrived too late
to be printed, stated that the yield this season of the Aidin
district would bo about 7,000 tons of cotton, 6,000 tons of
figs, and 7,000 tons of valonia—together 20,000 tons—that
the cultivation of the land continued to progress in districts
connected with their railway, and that the introduction of
cotton gins and machinery was rapidly extending. The
rivalry between the railway and the road would unavoid-
ably continue so long as the distances traversed were in-
considerable—but the trade was extending, and continually
increasing, and it was believed that the opening of the line
throughout would secure the bulk of the traffic, which was
now the great object in view, to place the property of the
company in its right position in public estimation. Ho con-
cluded by moving the adoption of the report and statement
of account.

Major-Gen. TnEmErruEERE seconded the motion.

Mr G. SMITH was glad to perceive that the attention of
the chairman and his colleagues continued to be directed to
the interests of the company and the well doing of the un-
dertaking. He had looked from time to time with great
anxiety on the difficulties which the directors had sur-
mounted, and he thought they were deserving of great credit
for having made such arrangements with the Ottoman Go-
vernment as to enable the company to receive the guaranteed
amount. The honourable manner in which the Turkish
Government had kept faith with them was very gratifying.
The report was unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, stated that their
traffic manager had considerable difficulty in seeming a
share of the existing traffic. In ono instance,
where 6,000
loads of figs had to be conveyed, he got 3,000 loads for the
railway at 20 piastres a load, out of which he had to pay 3
piastres for delivery at Smyrna ; while the eamel-drivers on
the road got 80 piastres a load, and at present retained the
greater part of the truffle; but that would not be the case
when the line was completed to Aidin.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.