Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-01
Presidents Mesa ge.

The following message from President Davis was laid before Congress on Tuesday:
 To the Senate and House of Representatives of
 the Confederate States of America:
 The great importance of the news just received from Tennessee induces me to depart from estab- islied usage, and to make to you this communica- tion in advance of official reports.
 From teegraphic dispatches received from off cial sources am ahte to announce to you with entire confidence, that it has pleased Almighty God to crown the Confederate arms with glorious and decisive victory over our invaders. On the morning of the 9th inst, the convergng columns of our army were commanded by the com ln md CT in. chief Gen. A s. Johnston ill an assault on the federal army, then encampcd near Pttsburg on the Tennessee river. After hard fought bat tie of ten hours, the enemy driven in disorder from his position and pursued to the river, where, under cover of his gunboat5, he was, at the last accounts, endeayorng to effect his retreat by aid ! of his transports.
 The details of this great battle are yet too few and incomplete to enable me to distinguish with merited praise all of those who may have conspicu ously earned the rights to such distinction; and prefer to delay my own qualification in recon. 1 mending them to your special notice, rather than incur the risk of wounding the feelings of any by failing to include them in the list. Where such a victory has been won. over troops as numerous, as we'll disciplined, armed and appointed, as those 1 which have just been SO signay routed, Ne may ! conclude that one common spirit of unhnching bravery and devotion to our country's cause must : have animated every breast, from that of the com manding general to that ot the humblest patriot | who served in the ranks.
 l There is enough in the continued presence of in l vaders on our soil to chasten our exultaton over this brilliant success, and to remind Us of the grave 1 duty of continued exerton until We shall extort from proud and vain glorious enemy the reluctant 1 acknowledgment of our right to self-government. i But an all-wise Creator has been pleased, while vouchsafing to us his countenance ill battIe to af- 1 hict us with a severe dispensation, to which we 1 must bow in humble submission. The last finger | ing hope has disappeared, and 1t Is but too true | that Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston is no more.- 1 The tale of his death is smpl narrated in dis patch just received from Col. William Preston, in | the following words:
 1 "Genefal Johnston fell yesterday, at half-past 1 two o'clock, while leading successful charge, turning the enemy's right, and gaining brilliant l victory. A miunie ball cut the artery of his leg, but he rode on till, from the loss of blood, he fell 1 exhausted and died without pain in few moments I His body has been intrusted to me ny General 1 Beauregard to be taken to New Orleans, and re- 1 main until directions are received from his tami- | ly."
 | Nv long and close friendship with this departed chieitain and patriot, iorbds me trust myself in l giving vent to the feelings which this sad inteli- gence has evoked. Without doing injustice to the
 living, it may safely be asserted that our loss is ir reparabe, and that among the shining hosts of the great and the good who now cluster around the banner of country, there exists purcr spirit no more heroic soul, than that of the ilustrous
 man whose death join you in lamenting. In his death he has illustrated the character fol
 which, through life, he was conspicuous-that o
 singleness of purpose and devotion to duty. Witt
 his whole energies bent on attaining the victory
 which he deemed essential to his country's cause
 he rode on to the accomplishment of his object
 forgetful of self while his very blood was fast eb
 bing away. His last breath cheered his cumrade
 to victory. The last sound he heard was the
 shouts of triumphs. His las. thought was his coun
 try's. and long and deeply will his country mourn
 bis loss.
 JEFFERSON DAVIS.