The national Republican., 1861-11-05

| Go to church, and the chance is you'll see an
| officer In the pulpit. Go to concert, and you
| may hear an of1cer perform solo on the cla-
rionet. Go to the hotels, and the main saloon
OF the Exchange, or the Spotswood, looks as
gay as tulip bed or Q poultry show. Zouave
| captains, crowned with their blazing red caps
and waddliDg about In their loose trowsers
cavalry colonels, gold laced in three lines from
wrists to elbows; infantry majors, in smart
uniforms fresh from the tailors,' and probably
as yet unpaid for, all noving in and out of the
miscellaneous crowd In bewildering confusion.
The ignorant visitor wonders how the army
gets along In their absence, and what such a
multitude of fighting men in commission can
he doing in Richmond. make no effort to ex.
plain 1t. As correspondent, I only seek TO rive
you rapid sketches Of what is seen and talked
about here, and officers just now are more seen
good deal than anything else. .|IT
| Bad news from the forces under General Lee
at Big Sewell Mountain! gentleman Of this
city, occupying high position in the Govern
ment, has just reached Richmond from General
Lees headquarters. The enemy under Rose.
Grams was in full retreat towards the Ohio, but
pursuit was impossible. The roads were in the
most awful condition. Dead borses and mules
that had persisted in their tracks, broken wag.
ons and abandoned stores, lined the road 10
Lewisburg There was no such thing as get.
ting team or wagon through uninjured. The
road beyond Big Sewell was IL anything. worse
than on this side Of 1t. To be sure, the diff
culties were quite as great-perhaps even
greater-for the Yankees, in their flight, as for
our troops In pursuing them. But General
Lee was entirely out of provisions, and had not
the wherewith to cook the next meal for him.
self or to serve the next ration to bis soldiers
The general was not in the best health, and, It
may well be imagined, not in the best spirits.
The splendid horse that was presented to him
just before he left this city, had been lamed in
two legs, and was unfit for service. 1t will be
absolutely necessary for General Lee to aban.-
don bis position in very short time as unn.
habitable for his army, and 60 into winter
quarters Where this will be-whether In the
Kanawha Valley or on the line of the Central
railroads. uncertain, but much depends on
the choice as to the footing the Yankees will
have in Western Virginia next spring.
Gen. Huger is expecting q combined move
ment upon Norfolk, and Gen. Magruder appre-
hends the landing of a large force in Mobjack
bay. The better opinion here is that these
| will be but feints to divert attention from
, really formidable assault to be made imme-
! diately on the Evansport battery. This assault
Is intended by Mcclellan beyond doubt, and
1t may be true explanation of the withdrawal
of Johnson's army within the lines of Manas
sac, where they can co-operate readily, and at
four hours notice, with the command of Gen.
Homes at the battery. From the information
have received, am so confident that the
> attempt will be made by u heavy force from
= Washington to reopen the navigation of the
Potomac at an early day, that predict you
will hear of severe engagement there before
this letter gets to Memphis. u.
The Hons. John G. Breckinridgs, Humphrey
Marshall and VIM. Preston, of Kentucky, ar-
rived here by the Danville train this afternoon,
, aud took lodgings at the Spotswood Hotel. 1t
having been known beforehand that they were
on the train, large crowd assembled at the
depot to welcome them to this city, and In re-
. spouse to an enthusiastic call, Mr.. Brcckin-
ridge made stirring speech from the platform
of the car. His noble address to the people
Of Kentucky has been published in our city
8 papers, and has excited feeling of renewed
admiration for this eminent statesman.
( SOUTHERN POLITICS.
The Memphis Appeal has the following at
the head OF its columns:
PRESIDENTIAL TICKET.
: For President, Jefferson Davis, of Misis-
= sippi for Vice President. Alexander H. Ste
phens Of Georgia.
!. MISCELLANEOUS.
A petition to the Legislature is being circu-
= lated in Panola county, Tennessee, praying
> that body to pass law for the purchase Of the
. cotton crop of the State and that payment in
: . whole or in part be made by treasury notes
/ that the cotton be pledged for the redemption
y Of the notes. The petitioners further ask that
, II this cannot be done for the State at large,
Il that it be done for the county of Pamela.
= The Tennessee Legislature, on the goth of
:. October passed laws to repeal penalti against
a soldiers for carrying bowie knives; to autho
= Iize tax collectors 10 receive treasury notes of
i the Confederate States for taxes TO make it a
capital offence for slaves to burn barn OF
Il other outhouses. A bill to make slaves real
, property for taxable purposes was lost
:, In the Confederate States court, in session
: . at Charleston, Judge Magrath delivered his
s opinion In favor OF the constitution aity of the
/, sequestration act.
y An intelligent gentleman just from Wash
" ington, says that Lincon's forces in Maryland
j" Virginia, and the District of Columbia, mum
ber fully 100000. They are we'll equipped
y y with the exception of the cavalry, which are
> much interior to the Confederate cavalry.
~ Another Georgia regiment, under command
~ of Col. David J. Bailey, was mustered into
~ service on the 2lst ult.
~ The Houston (Texas) Telegraph Of the l6tt
- - ult., says: I'VE understand the first two reg
II ments Of Sibley's brigade are now full. The
~ third is forming. All companies that offer ur
a a to 6, 1000 men, will probably be accepted"
% When Gen. Lowell arrived in New Orleaus
y, by his own request, he was not saluted. HI
:. said Gentlemen, keep your powder dry, ant
=, spend 1t on the enemy"
a Gen. A. S. Johnston has been placed in com
" mand of all the Contt derate forces in Missouri
. and has Issued proclamation forbidding any
property leaving the State.
A secession newspaper has been started il
al Columbus, KY, under the auspices of PILLOW
* and his troops. Its title is the Daily C0nfede
O. rate Ne,rs.
Gen. Van Dorm has been made the recipien
e. of a superb war steed, magni6cently capari
OF soned, as an evidence of the admiration ant
re gratitude of the people Cf Texas.
10 Lieutenant Hale, of the troops at FORTRESS
a Monroe, was captured while drifting in a boa
3. off Pig Point Battery, on the morning Of th'
le 2lst ult.
y The Union prisoners captured at the SAINT
re Rosa fight are in confinement at Montgomery
ID Alabama.
10 NJ PROGRESS OF SLAVERY