The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-03


Of the Rebel army He was graduate
of West Point, and has probably saved
our Government the trouble of stretching
his neck. According to our recollection
1t has not been an uncommon thing for
West Pointers to commit suicide, IA cir
cumstance which is, perhaps, not much to
be wondered at considering the education
they get. It is obvious to remark, also,
that West Pointers seem to be much more
successful in killing themselves with shot
or whiskey, than 10 killing the rebels.
EF 1t is reported that Gen. Halleck
will be assigned the command Ct the army
of the Potomac under Gen. Mcclellan
This will probably be good move, as
Halleck has thus far shown himself to be
man who is not afraid to take the re-
sponsibility, which is more than can be
said of Gen Mcclellan. There is not per-
haps a man 10 America who could so speedi-
~ and admirably have educed order and
system out of the chaotic materials which
were in and about Washington after the
battle Of Bull Run, as Gen Mcclellan.
He has extraordinary organizing and sys-
tematizing abilities, and he has brought
the Grand Army to high state of eff
cheney. But is he the man to order a
forward movement? Dare he take the
responsibility Those who know him
well say that he dare not,-that precisely
at this point his ability. or his resolution
fails. The movements on the Potomac
seem to justify this view, and il is well
that change should be made
Now if the Government would put Lane
in Halleck's place, and Banks in dyspeptic
Sherman's place, Mt Port Royal, the coun-
try might hear Of something being done.
THE PANIC AMONG THE REBELS.
A letter from Nashville, Tennessee,
speaking of the recent call of Governor
Harris for $4,000 militia, to take the field
in six days, says:
"Over four hundred able bodied men
have left this city since the publication
of the above proclamation on the day be-
fore yesterday, to avoid drafting for militia
service. So much for Tennessee patriot
Ism. The miscellaneous hordes which the
drivers of his majesty are likely to hul-
die together at the point of the bayone.,
will scatter like the chat before the wind
at the first round of grape shot that the
Union. artillery will throw ut them. /
have not been able to open Southern pa
per from any part of the States adjacent
to the Mississippi, during the last few
days, without finding palpable and unmis-
taxable evidence Of an intense, general
panic, with all the usual symptoms Of fear
and folly incident to that moral phenom-
enon. From Memphis South to New Or
leans, West to Fort Smith, and East to
Nashville, frantic. universal cry Of dan.
ger is heard through the public prints, a,
the threatened aggressive movements q
the Union hosts from Cairo, and Paducah
and Central. Kentucky upon this State
The Memphis papers are especially en-
phasic and pleading in their appeals 70
help TO Mississippi, Alabama and Louisi
ana. They frankly avow that their cit
Is not by any means adequately protected
and that its fall would render the subjuga
ton of the Mississippi valley certain
That doughty chicftain, Gen Gideon Phi
low, joins in the shout of distress, ant
implores his eompatriots. through til,
Memphis Avalanche. to raise troops 70
the protection of his flank aud rear
In this city-which is in reality more ex
posed than Memphis or any other South
crn city, the CONSERVATION is no les
great. | know positively that a larg,
number of families have been packing III
all their moveabes and are DOW ready fo
rush Southwark The FIRST news Of
Confederate defeat on the border viii
cause an immense stampede. We Union
lists can not help experiencing high graft
6cation at this thorough terror OF the Sc
cessionists, and only pray devoutly that i
may not le Without eause--that is, tina
the Union invasion may occur There il
rumor afoat that Nashville is about /,
be fortified Any attempt in that dircc
tion would fifty cap the senseless frenz,
oi fear now prevailing here. It woult
take the labor II twenty years TO max
Ibis rotn. tershle BY defensive works.."
- Mr.. Russell, in his letter TO til
london Times on the question Of lh
Trent says:
"As | write, there il rumor tina