Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-04-15
Message from the President.

message from the PRESIDENT.
The Speaker laid before the House the follow"
ing message from the President:
To the Senate and House Of Rspresentatipes of
the Confederate States Of America -
The great Importance Of the news just receiv-
el from Tennessee induces me to depart from
established usage and to make to you this COM
munication in advance of official reports.
From telegraphic dispatches, received from
official sources, am enabled to announce 10 you
with entire confidence, that it has pleased AL
nightly God to crown the Ca1tederate srms with,
glorious and decisive victor Vbver our invaders
On the rorning OF the 9th inst, the CONVEX
ging columns Of our arlny were combined by its
Commander n-Chiei, Gen. A. S. Johnston, in an
assault or the Federal army, then encarnpcd rear
Pittsbrrg, on the Tennessee river.
After hard fought battle OF ten hours the en-
emy was driven in disorder from his position
and pursued to the Tennessee river where, un
der cover of his gunboat,, he was, at the last
accounts, endeavoring to effect his retreat BY aid
| of his transports.
The details OF this great battle are vet too few
and incomplete to enable me to distinguish with
merited praise all OF those who may have con
spicuously earned the right to such distinction
and prefer to: delay my own qualification in
recommending them to your special notice
rather than incur the risk of wounding the feel
iugs of any by failing to include them ia the list
When such victory has been won over troop
rs numerous as well disciplined, armed and ap-
pointed 80 those which have just been SO signal
ly routed, we may well Conclude that cne com
mon spirit Of untinchlng bravery and deyolio,
to our country's cause, must have animated ev
cry breast from that of the Commanding Gener
al to that Of the humblsst patriot who served il
the ranks.
/ There Is enough in the continued presence O
Invaders on our soil, to chas.en our exultatiOr
over this brilliant success, and to remind I'd G
the grave duty of continued eAertion until VI
| we shall extort frum proud and vain glorious
enemy, the reluctant acknowledgment Of oui
right to self-government.
! But an Advise Creator has been pleased, while
vouchsafng to US his countenance in battle IL
af1ict US with severe dispensaton to which We
t must bow in humble submission. The last lin
, geriDg hope has disappeared, and it is but tot
true that General Albert Sidney Johnston is nj
more. The tale of his death is simply narrated
in a dispatch, from Col. VIM. Preston in the iol
, towing words:
'Gen. Johnston fell yesterday at half past two
"o'cloch, while leading successful charge, turn
sing the enemy's right and gaining a brllian
) "victory. A minnie ball cut the artery of hi
"leg, but he rode on till from loss of blood ht
''fell exhausted, and died without pain in few
t minutes. His body has been entrusted to lnt
5 "by Gen. Beauregard to be taken to New Or
sseaLs and remain until directions are received
, ssfron his family"
Ny long and close friendship with the depart
ed chieftain and patriot, forbids me to trust my
self III giving vent to the feelings which this sat
> intelligence has evoked. Without doing Djus-
tice to the living, it may safely be asserted tina
our loss is isreparable; and that among the shi
ming hosts Of the great and the good who now
cluster around the banner OF cur country, there
exists nc purer spirit, no more heroic soul thai
that of the illustrious man whose death | joiI
you in lanenting.'
In his death he has illustrated the charactel
for which through life he was conspicuous, tina
OF singleness ct purpose and devotion to duty
With his whole energies bent on attaining th'
victory which be deemed essential to his ceun-
ftry's Cause, he rode on TO the accomplishment o
his object, forgetful OF self, while his very lif,
blood was fast ebbing away. His last breatl
cheercd his comrades to victory. The last 8 uut
he heard was their shout of triumph. His las
!, thought was his country, and long and deepl,
W II his country mourn his loss.
I'll N