Newbern weekly progress., 1861-09-10
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 5. 1861.
Strange Phenomena.

our hands on thursday, august -, 1901, anu
soon thereafter wise men and women saw
strange light in the East, and marvellcd-not
SO much at the phcnomena itself, but they mar
vcl:ed aoestpcrG.
Strange, too just after the surrender of Hat
terls, our town. which during the past sum
mer and for many seasons had been as healthy
as any in tie State became suddenly very I'M
healthy A panic seized many OF our people
and dozens left to recuperate their health who
were never known to be sickly before. Strange,
isn't it?
Seriously, VIC have lost Hattcras. This is
undeniable, ana federal hounds now hold the
dreary waste at that point so recently occupied
by our troops who have been taken prisoners.
1t is too late to ceusure anybody about this
disaster We warned the State authorities
again and again that the place was not in
condition to withstand an attack but they
needed US not The place could have been
held and ought to have been held, and some
body is to blame for its not being held.
But what does the taking OF Hatteras
amount to, practically? Not much. True it
will create the necessity for an increased force
at certain points in the Eastern part of this
State and the enemy may succeed, by having
access to our sounds and rivers, in stealing away
few negroes and burning or robbing few
farm houses but as to risking battle on land
where we have anv kind Of showing, 1t Is
something they do not mean to do. With
only ordinary vigilance on our part all the
towns are safe, and as for Newber1 we have no
fears They dare not give us battle here. We
can and we will defend it.
These things being so, why have SO many of
our people left ?-why do they stay away? The
panic has passed now, and we tell them in all
candor they can return. We will not chde
the ladies for leaving but still think their
place is here They should take courage from
the noble example set them by the ladies of
Charleston, Norfolk, Hampton and Richrnord.
Brave men are here from beyond the Blu
Ridge to defend us and property, and as
they GO into camp here in the midst Of the
most sickly season VIC have. it is to be expect
cd there will DE much sickness and suffering
Many soldiers now sick and We must eN-
pcct tie number 10 increase, and we assure our
fair friends that the sick arc poorly attended
/ in camp under the very best circumstances
Woinan's presence, womau's voice and the
touch of woman's soothing hand not TO speak
of the tempting viands she brings, arc more
ctiicacoAs to the suffering soldier than all the
surgeon preparations. You have fled, many
of ycu, and left your property to be cared fo'
, and protected by these strangers; will you re
main away and let their sick languish ami die
from neglect, or will you return and exhibit
here some of that hcroism which characterized
your mothers of the first Revolution =?
/ While we may rot chilc or abuse the ladies
| who have left through fright, what shall we
! say of those cowardy wretchcs Of the sterne'
sex who have fled through fear? Many
, lave left, learn, to remove their families
! who mean to return, but we also learn that
others have left from mere cowardicc and do
not mean to return till all danger is removed.
| We have no power to act bat If we had the
! power the property of all such should be con-
fiscated and they should never be permitted
| to return-if they did the penalty should be
| hanging.
The example too that the rich and well to-do
are setting the poor is bad. for learn that some
! few persons have fed from here, who, when
they reached Gollsboro had neither money
! ncr friends, but had to be thrown in the streets
] to, the charity of these times.
! The panic was humbug-onc that has
! had its run and cXploded-and now hope
! that men and women will return and betake
themselves to the work which awaits them.
And tnen too who own largely Of that species
| of property which Gen. Butler calls contra
band" should send them to the works going
on Labor is needed, and it is better to lose
the labor ofthc :" contrabands than the ICON
| trabantls y themselves. We hope people who
have slaves loafnS about the streets will take
! hint.
Strange times, Federal ships at llattcraS
and earthquakes at High Point! Which way
can the panic stricken run, that's the ques
ton?
Remember ladies you who stay, the sicl
soldiers many languish in the hospitals at The
Fair Grounds and probably some elsewhere,