davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1861-12-06
THE FIGHT AT PENSACOLA.
Accounts Published in Southern Pa
peFBs

Our dates from Nashville are to the 23th uIt.,
from Mobile to the ss2d, and from Charleston
to the a6th.
NC find in tho Mobile Register Of the 22d the
telegEaPhic accounts Of the fight at Pensacola,
which commenced on Friday, the I'd ult., at
ten O'Clock The dispatch says:
This morning, at precisely 10 o'clock by
my time piece, without warning or intimatlon,
the guns Of Fort Pickens opened On the gun
boat Ne1ms. transport steamer Time, and the
little steamer Cushman-the two litter lying
at the foot Of Central II harf, the Nelms in the
basin Of the drF-dock.
The Federals fired number Of guns before
our batteries replied, when they opened, under
tho joint explosions, the carth and water
seemed agitated at their terrible voices. The
houses Of Pensacola shook at the earthquake
voices of innumerab1e batteries, and soon the
buildings by the water side, the sandy beach
and the long wharves, projecting far into the
bay, were throngcd with soldiers, citizens,
strangers and ladies', under such excitement
as only wars dangers and alarms could pro-
duce.
The gun-boat Nelns, in command OF Lieut.
Munston, Of the Louisiana infantry, quit the
basin under Il shower Of shot aud shell, and
proceeded in the direction Of the Floridians,
who arc stationed at or near Point Town, on
the mainland, and opposite the city. From a
front position on the bay, We witnessed her
departure from the yard thc enemy for many
minutes devoted their whole energies to her
destruction, bomb-s shells and rife balls filling
like autumn leaves over and around her. Once
we thought a bomb had fallen on her deck.
She was almost hid from view by smoke; for
tunate1y it oyer-rcachcd her, causing only a
slight designation Of her railing. She fred
from her little piece two shots at Billy Will
Eon's batteries, and proceeded to the Florida
camp.
Etaen o'e'ock, 4. A-Thc Neluas has ar
rived at her wharf, and Capt. KeyB reports the
fact, as above stated, except that be Ia not Ger
tain whether it was the sand batteries or Fort
Pickens opened the ball. Whether Billy OF
Brown, they were In dead earnest. The steam
er Time still occupies her position apparently
unhnrt. Had the effort been made, it i
thought BY those en- the Nelu1s, she might
have got ont and como to the city, Of this
we will probably learn more when Capt. Win
| gate comes up.
The feet, Consisting Of tho frigates Coloradc
and Niagara, it u thought, and n gunboat
! have moved down from Wilson'S camp to tht
mouth Of tho bar, md are, as we'll as we car
discern, delivering broadsides at Fort Maxine
| Up to this hour, we hare no messenger from
the yard, save little newsboy, Who, &C
coraing 70 hia oWn story, s.cnt STICK st th
first gun .~.: .~ :.
1navs 'eEock Fort Pickens and the Islan'
/ batteries arc ansWering ouH gnns Tish fezDcl
ty. Our forts and batteries replied with equa
| slacrity-We trust to God With killing etfeel
, 1861-12-06
The ZouaVe Gazette,

4 sprightly and sterling little weekly is the
Zoudze Gazette, published at tic camp Of our
Chicago boys, the 18th Illinois, at Elizabeth
town, Ky. The features Of military instruc-
ton it contains deserve to commend its exam
pic to other camps. In the last issne VIC find
some excellent hints as to wintering troops,
contributed by Colonel Turchin himself:
The active campaign, offensive OF defensive, may
make it necessary to keep troops in CAMPS or bi-
youacs; when the campaign is prosecuted vigorous
speak, the cnenJ's back. and not to give him a
chance to breathe freely to recruit and to prepare
to fight successfully against Us in the spring But
when the military operations are not decisive, and
particularly when the troops are located at con.
siderable distance from the enemy. and separated
from him BY some natural line Of de1nareation, as
large river for instance it is rather injudicious
frosty weather, 1t is impossible to have outside
drills the soldier is shivering all the time; being
out on guard OF on picket his clothes sometimes
tent not having any chance to dry his clothes and
exhausted, he throws hinseH down Oh the we,
straw. and tomorrow he is stiff with rheumatism
and cough goes to the hospital royes unable fol
get inflammation Of the lungs. Being lowspiritoC
and idle. he cannot find any mental occupation. be
cause eyen il he had some book or newspaper, be
ing cold. his head tefnses tDwork. The man mus
be, according to circumstances comfortably locat
! ed III order to become fghtin. man. The tough
| ncse Of the muscles has u limit tranEgress tha
troops in environments generally arc disposed &C
! cording TO the order Of battle. The eantonnent
consist Of all disposablc buildings, includin:
| ters. They are preferable to barracks, becaus
| they are less expensive for the Government an
| nlorc comfortable to the troops. In Elizabeth
eight miles, may be cantoncd easily the whol
| BRIGADE with its artillery.
, 1861-12-06

THE LAPSE INTO HARBARIsM.
The advancing Humanity Of the age viii
thank degenerated Virginia for the unye1-
ing Of schemes which, but for being put
forward with such ez cathedrn authority,
would gain little ceedence or weight. 1t
is always something in fight that ones
adversary stands squarely up to he hit
Truth is always the gamer when error
shows bold front The monster iniouity
Of Human Chattelism, by the act Of its
own defenders, NOW stands accredited with
a greater enormity than any Of the friends
Of liberty could have charged upon it, with
any hope Of producing conviction, even il
they gained for such charges patient and
safe hearing. Charles Summers formal in
dictment against Eoman-whipping and
man-steaing speech On ss7he Bay3arIsm
ef 6taoeTy, contained no count
stronger and more danning, than ths
grave and actual propositions and abstrac
tions Of the relics Of Virginia statesman
ship and manhood which are given in an
other column. These are deliberately pu
forth in formal report Of q committe
before the rebel State Convention, now i
session at Richmond, aud give US the cor
plcted mission and end Of the system
which tbs capitalist must o1on tic azprer.
It is not 8 CREST nor alarming lapse il
deed for Virginia, with whose people nj
, 1861-12-06
From the Eleventh Michigan.
Especial Correspondence Of tho Chicago Tribune. ]
CANT At WHITE pIaEos. 11ru REGIMENT
A11.1x1C 4 [

MICHIGAN VOLUNTEERS. Dec, 4, 1S6l.
see it stated in your issue Of To-day that
We have il, this regiment '..fo"r hundred on the
SICK |ia." Allow me to correct this by saying
that the total number of sick will not exceed
fifty, including those in the hospital, conyal-
escent, and unfit for duty This, with twelve
hundred men in camp, will show state Of
health equal to any otlcr in the State.
There has been some sickness Of on cpl
demic form, such as sore throat, yarTicella, OF
chicken pox, which yields readily to mild
remedies, and is fast subsiding. There is no
decentralization Of the regiment from sickness
or anv other cause; but on the contrary,
there is d good state of discipline, and
q manifest cheerful obedience to Ill orders
AS to discomfort. what little there has been
ifanY, has grown out OF the fact thai the ncE
haYc received no pay for three months, which
to-day is fast being dispellcd by the presence
Of PayHaaster Howard, who pays up to tts
first OF November.
The regiment may have cost s1o0 600, hut il
is no fault of theirs for they have been ready II
more for the last four weeks, so far as INCL
and organization were concerned; but an una
yoidablc necessity has compelled them to wal
| for clothing. In the meantime the soldier
have made rapid advancement in the manua
| of arms, company and battalion drill so tia
| when they do take the field and strike hand
with the sons Of Illinois and others Of tn
| Northwest, our enemies will quail and the re
| bcllion hc s4uclchcd.
| four information was derived from a para
graph in one Of the Detroit papcrs.-EDa
t TRIB1
, 1861-12-06
GENERAL cHaRLEs r, SMITH.


Read our Paducah letter in another col
umn, and let it swell the testimony preyi-
ously given from the same source. Let
these and other teeming causes Of COM
plant constitute an appeal to the War De
partmcnt tllat should be irresistible, for an
entire and immediate change in the mill
tary command in Kentucky. There is too
much at stake, to allow men whose heads
arc either all wrong, or their hearts, which
is worse, longer to disgrace themselves and
the Union cause We refer to the letter
and to what we have already published
from other sources for the reasons why
Gen. C. r. Smith cannot be too speedily
returned to whatever walks Of usefulness
he may find in private life. Not only the
command, but the army list would be i'm
proved by his resignation. His administra-
ton has been characterized as yet by no
brilliant exploit, and by none indeed that
will bear the very strong light Of these
times. The greatest deed Of daring has
been in the direction Of protecting a seces
sion flag. His warmcst faYors have beer
extended to secessionists. In the way Q!
demonstrations he has demonstrated moth
ing but an unftness to command in pos
where it is necessary that love for th'
Union shonld take precedence Of 4 tende
regard for the property Of slave ownin!
| rebels.
, 1861-12-06


The uniforms Of the United States army
was reduced to the plaineat possible standard
by JEFF. Davis, when Secretary of War, and
there is but trifing difference between the
costumes Of dragoons artillcrymen. infantry,
or engineers, Ill Of whom wear clothing Of the
same color and cut, different trimmings alone
distinguishing each arm Of the service. This
is economical, but it fails to inspire the men
with soldicr-like pride by fostering COM
mendab1e rivalry between different corps.
Proof Of the beneficial effects Of distinctive
and somewhat snowy uniform is seen in the
volunteer service, where the men OF the
French, the Zouaye and other regiments, arc
always far neater than those who SLOUGH about
in Hitting blue blouses, OF who arc disfgur-
ed under the dirty snufEeolored great~coats.
It has been determined, therefore, that the
army, when it steps into new clothing, sliali
haTc i more varied and distinctive uniform,
and hoard las been appointed, Of which
Gen. George Sykes is president, to adopt the
details. Ten Thousand uniforms made at the
great military establishment Of Alexis Godil-
lot. in Paris, have been imported as a sample,
with tents and camp cquipages complete, even
to the tent stickB and frying pans They are
an experiment, aud are to be distributed among
the regiments as reward Of merit. The tele-
graph has announced that the 18th Massa-
chusctts and SD Pennsylvania, in Gen Por-
tcr's division. have won the distinction oi
wearing them first. The 18th Massachusetts
Is commanded by Col. James Barnes OF Spring.
I field, who was classmate at West Point ol
r. = l.. IT,,
, 1861-12-06

would have felt highly insulted if he had been
called IN abofHiosia, but that & very short time
on slave soil lad convinced him that no GOV
erumcnt could permanently endure part slave
and part free: and such, be said, was the gem
eral conviction in his regiment
IF the war docs this-and I don't doubt it
i will certainly be Of great service TO the M
Ohio to-day that the rebels had possession OF
Caseyvil1e. and small force WIS sent up to
attend to them, but returned without finding
thcm PADuuAH
, 1861-12-06
HON. L. N. Arnold,

A correspondent writing to us from WASH
ington, under date Of December 1st, says:
'Ar. Arnold is here and il very laborious in
the performance Of the duties Of lis position.
He is now preparing several bills Of much i'm
portance, among others, one for the establish
mcnt of Branch Post Offices, in Chicago and
other ci1ics. This is for the convenience OF
the different portions Of the city ?n
, 1861-12-06

As usual during the sessions Of Congress, q
rost-of6ce has been established within the
Capitol, for the convenience Of members in
mailing and receiving, and it is ordered by the
Postmaster General that all letters and papers
addressed to members Of either House be put
in separate mailbag, Mt the various distribu-
ting Offices, and the pouches be addressed
tConrTebs. WASHINGTON. D. CT
, 1861-12-06
A LIBERAL EDUCATION, with
HTilitory instruction and Drill.

WESTERN UNION COLLEGE has been located II
F11T3Ss = III, and will open Primary Academic and
colega1e conIss sn IS &ssnt .eh Isl The Ce,'ege has
md excellent appliances, both regular and scienddc
courEe The tnest school buildings IN the Vest {eosk
nasiu and many other advantages which should clam
the attention Of parents Instruction u German froc
also, In ARTILEEY, lSTAETET ASD RIYLE TACTICS:
sworn, BAroHEr AND GTMyAsr1c ExERc1aEs Cor.
NON. zoUAvE AND FANCY Drill under sn ofEcaf o(
1KRHe-Flf5 psr school rear. 70! board. furnished
inent. Excellent accomm modations for 10 boardert
under the aame roo[ with the constant care Of the
Teachers Address, for Circulars. D. 5 COVERT: REeA'
ent. Fulton Ill sc+goQlSn
, 1861-12-06
------
THE CAVALRY ARM.

The most awkward and helpless of mcr-
tails is the tiMid and inexperienced rider.
\ thorough acquaintance with the saddle
is not rapidly formed, and even when the
stage is passed when the equestrian ceases
to be an object Of misery to himself, and
pity to his friends, long period Of patient
practice must intervene between tolerable
riding and cayalry scat which will insure
safety TO the trooper, and harm to the
enemy in the use Of the sabre. Of raw
men and raw horses, only one thing
is to be said, that the General who
had tie most Of them in the field
would he in the same ratio the worst for
such possession. Take the case Of recent
instance Of raw scouting party Of Penn
sy1vania cavalry, attacked by the enemy in
ambuscade, just without our lines On the
Potomac. The first discharge Of firearms
saw the frightened horses and their riders
in complete confusion. A trooper who tc
keep lis seat must needs cling to his bridls
| with both hands, even if he do not spare
one to the horn Of his saddle, would need
| pair Of supplementary arms to use thost
other arms the Government has provided
him with. Raw cavalry is Of no accoun
save in the accounts which the people at
to settle by and by, when the war bills he
gin to come in
| The Government does wisely to cut dow
an arm already disproportionately large
and the cavalry regiments in service vi
need months Of patient drill, men an
horses, before they can assay anythin
above the duties Of oraerGes. After Ion
training, We shall hear from some Of theE
regiments; but all their gallantry an
daring is Of no value if this training b
| 1arEirr
, 1861-12-06

sB singular accident happened to well
whiskered smoker in Philadelphia, the other
day, by the lighted end Of bis cigar coming In
contact with cnud's toy balloon in the street.
a small explosion, some little singed haif,
With garuisb Of expletires> resulted.
, 1861-12-06

PROF. GIRAC, Professor at the
l. University Of st. Alary's Of the Lake, respsc@ @
fully Informs the public that be hn5 comneaeen ~
and evening lessons and claescs IN tho fIentn an&
Italian Languages and in Vocal aud lnsssuensA ~
College orat the residence Of the gupil5 1ems NOD
crate Applications at St AarEs En!EftsEs' eot1sr @
Holcott and Superior at1eeta A0rta sade'
, 1861-12-06

grees the bali went out Of sight. It is claimed
that an expert can fire one Of these guns
twenty times minute. This battery Was or
dered By the Government about the 1st Of
October last, Some Of them are to be assigned
to Gen. Banks. These guns orc named after
the 1amented Col Ellsworth, because he WAS
the first to order the arm for his regiment.
Government is bound to be cheated in
its {mportations Of war material from England
The blankets received at New York are SO
flnsy that they can be pulled to pieces by
the hand, aud the Enfield rifles arc now get
ting to be as bad rs those from Belgium The
Boston Journal says the 24tll Massachusetts,,
Col. Stevenson, has received it's Enfield rifles,
which arc described us perfect sham The
mere jamming Of tic muzzle upon wooden
bench was sufficient to crook the barrel; the
bayonet would bend like lead by merely stick
ing it in the ground, ard the ranarod could be
bent o7cr the knee like piece Of rattan.
Mr.. Kennedy, Superintendent Of the
Census, is getting up, for Gen. Mcclellan, q
map Of the Suites that are the theatre Of war,
shaded By counties and marked with the num-
bcr Of slaves, free blacks, and persons capable
Of bcaring arms in each. Also, the railroads,
canals, and turnpikes, with distances from
place to place; and all other information that
can be conveniently presented on military
| map.
Gen. Nelson's Fruftless Expedition,
The battle Of Piketon, KY, where Gen
| Nelson was first reported to have used up tht
| rebels with great slaughter, dTsindlel down ts
nothing by the subsequent accounts, and nov
it appears that the expedition into that noun
tain region was huitless altogether. As jim
Lane describes in one Of his speeches, it va
like "a boat going through 4 flock of ducks
the ducks arc safe, and so is the boat" TIL
brigade Of Gen. Nelson has now moved dow
to Louisville, and we have the present aspec
of:affairs in that quarter related in tho CORES
pondcnee Of the Cincinnati Gazette:
The whole expedition jHd;ce-was failure
But few OF the rebels were killed, and not NOR
than half q dozen taken prisoners; the reuaiude
escaped into Virginia: not in the least incapaci
tated for haraEsing and niuriug the country again
4 few. indeed, deserted the rebel ranks and II
their business ness as qaiet md f pfeaceabis Citizens
Others that left the rebel army, have collected !
squads, and are now spending the venom Of thei
Homes @ Of tie volunteers Who have enlisted il IL
Federal army from this region.
The great majority Of the Pilseton rebels-th
cavalry that escaped into Virginia-are now BAG
property Of Union men before them. and ten time
more Violent. abusfye and desperate than the
were before. They are also much wiser BY th
visit Of onr troops. and will be able to make
| harder fight II thcy are ever attacked 4 sccon
time This whole region Of country is IN no:
lamenteb1e condition.
, 1861-12-06
The Third Order.


Our Cairo correspondent states thc case ola
refugee slave heing driven from the camp, in
pursuance OF "Order No s." There is not,
within the knowledge Of many intelligent OIL
GERS with whom We have conversed, a single
instance in which contrlbands have carried
intelligence from our camp to the enemy,
while, on the contrary, there are many in
which they have brought information Of great
value. In no instance hare our officers been
purpoec1F. deceived or Inisled by them Their
information proved more reliable than that
derived from many white persons. not few Of
whom Werc reckless Of tie truth, or Hilfully
deceptive.
Upon the ratio of probabilities, it is re55on-
able to conclude that in driving the refugee
mentioned from onr Lines, useful, serEiceab1e
friend Of the cause was rejected, and quite
possibly valuable information also refused.
:, Ibis Order can do no good in prupitiatingg 8
the support Of any class Of loyal men. The
rebels may well approve Of it, because it opc-
rates wholly for their advantage.
, 1861-12-06

THOSE BELGIAN GuSB.-Wc hare seen some
samples OF the Belgian guns with which Gen.
McClernand's ~, brigade, and msny other Of OUT
Illinois troops are armed, and can traly say
criminal foolishness, to arm our troops with
weapons SO useless. A majority Of the guns
orc absolutely Of no account whatever, except
1or bayonet use, being utterly incapable Of
being discharged. Col. Fouke Ia in Washingg-
ton attempting. to procure Enfield rifles, or
some respectable arm for the brigade, but
With poor hopes OF success. Gov. fatea has
nent Ar. E. Wolcott, Of Jacksonville, to Cairo,
as commissioner to examine tho gunB. ana
his official report nay haYc some effect In &c.
curing dii1e1ent arms. It is downright ruurdef
TO send troops into the field With euch weapons
-GpTfnQ1l4d you71aR, Sd,
, 1861-12-06

PRofAntT7.-Washington should be our ox-.
ample IN. these wartka times Let ua tEY TO
heed his opinion Of a gentleman: Ha said It
vas no mark OF gentleman to: be Profaae. T
QUE officers swear and curse, they mnst not
blame their men Let Us all tl,ink before Wa
/ speak. Profanity connected With the COM
mands OF our officers confuse us.-zoxass
R1setks
, 1861-12-06

WEEhF Tg1BrFE g. Issues per annum). S $50
To Clpbs-Three copies {1ate ut 81 $50. 49, 4nO
- Five copies {ratc at 81 aN-.-...-. 500
:. Ten copies {fate at 81 t10O
Each additional name ne.-..... 1i0
Twenty copies Zone address1 .---- a0Do
, 1861-12-06

I both days involving the same principles and
| resting on the same reasons.
| The Union men here are sick at heart aud
| discouraged, while the sccessionists are in
high feather and seem as eomplacent as the
| full moon. Taking the troops and the loyal
| citizens together, not one in Thousand be-
lieve Gen. Smith to be loyal, and the Union
men freely express their fears that # be had a
| war Of 1879.
It is refreshing, however, In the midst Of all
this, to see the Confidence and affection even
| with which the loyal citizens and the troops
regard Gems. Paine and Wallace, and no two
men eTer more truly deserved the confidence
Eeposcd In them.
There will be trouble here whenever any at
tempt is made to carry out Gen. .Halleck's Order
| No. s. As the President set the example Of
modifying the action Of departmental COM
somewhat compromised his reputation rs an
t anti-s1ayery man, We think be ought now to
redeem himeclf, and annul that sensclcss and
infamous order. Gen. HarneV Tas removed
because he let the secessionists of St. Louis
"pull the wool over his eyes" as the boys say,
and think that Gen. Haleck las made him
self far more obnoxious, on the same principle
and for the same reason. The fact is becoming
more and more patent every day, that the OFF,
GERS Of the regular army are more devoted to
slavery than they are to the Union: and I fear
that nine-tenths Of them, and Of the navy, too,
| would rather see the Independence Of the rob
els acknowledged to-day, than to see slavery
| destroyed. Our chief dependence in this con
test seems to be upon men who received mil
itary education, and after requiring more OF
less experience, retired from the army, nni
have been in civil lie long enough to learr
common sessae, and to get over the ridiculous
} attachment to rcd tape which is 80 peculiar (
the regulars. There are exceptions, bat the rult
is good nevertheless, and it is matter tha
ought to be thoughfully and patiently pon
: dc7ed by the people, so that they may: deter
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-10-04
RECONNOISANCE At LEWINS-
|IfFE

Another Reconnaissance in force was made
from Chain Bridge on Wednesday the Goth
inst. The force consisted of 5000 infantry
and three batteries under command of Gen.
Smith, tho purpose beng to make further
surveys about laWlnsyillc, and to gather
forage.
The result Of the enterprise was altogether
successful. Some cattle and sheep, and large
quantities of hay, corn and oats, in the
wagons employed for the purpose, were
brought into camp. While our troops were
at townsville, a large body Of rebels, con
sisting OF about regiments Of infantry,
regiment of cavalry and pieces Of artil lery,
approached from the direction # Falls
Church.
They opened upon our men with their
artillery, and their firing was Immediately
responded to by Capt. Grilhn's and Motifs
guns. Thirty shots, both of shells and solid
were fired from our batteries, which silcnced
the rebel cannon, and the enemy immediate.
ly retired to Falls Church. One man Of
ours was slightly wounded by the explosion
of a she'll The object of the expedition
being accomplished, our troops fell back to
their original position at the Chain Bridge,
bearing with them man, representing HIM
self as aid de-camp of Col Stewart, Missouri
rebel cavalry, aud who was taken prisoner
at Lewinsgille. He was dressed as civilian,
with the exception of a hat which he pro-
cured at Bull Run, and which originally be-
lUnged 10 one of our men,