The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-18

all very reluctant and went with the press gang
only because they could not help II. Many ran away
when they learned the objects OF the visit OF the soldiers
and secreted themselves In tho swami and out OF the
way places. AT least Two hundred missing IN Gene
raj Stevens district alone probably lying perdu until the
cloud passes Tho beautiful consistency ri declaring
the contrsoands forever free on ore day, and on
day or two subsequently forcing them into the ranks
.vohnteers'-a position which not one In = hundred
would cs his free will assume-nust be apparent 10
the duiiest mind. If the contra5ands but dimy perceive
II, attribute the Fact suppose, to their dull
comprehension. IL certainly requires very keen ap
precation for OF to tho consistency OF the
General Commanding In his recent acts.
His conception has caused as have before observed
the most intense dissatisfaction and disgust among the
officers and men in the department. The prvatcs feel
injured because the negr placed upon IN equality
with them both as regards position and pay; and they
do not feel at all anxious TO ght side by side with gno
rant and brualncgroes in in which the latter have
little interest The officers regard the recent move
ment radical departure from The true obectso the war
which put down the rebellion and restore the
Union in all its original vigor and parts II II Is to DO an
abolition war; they desire to be counted out and am
satisfied that three ourths at least Of the officers in tho
department will resign rather than aid iD the movement
In Of the reements this determination is unan
nous, while in others Is nearly so. All have con-
cudcd TO wait the development OF affairs, and II the
movement Is counenanccd and approved at Washington
they will take the step Indicated above.
Hereafter you need not expect any subject to be al
luded to in my letters from this department. except that
bearing directly indirectly, upon the negro question
II Is the question Of the day and must harp ON the only
sunk into the political and Humanitarian and phan
thropc movements will crowd all extrinsic and for
csgn matters from the command.
IN account of the conscrpon oil negroes and the at
tendant scenes will he given by another OF your cores
ndents, who has watched it from its inception to Its
eliminating point.
by an imperative order from district headquarters
Colonel Mobiles Of the department with the
brefest possible notice. the Cshawba which sailed
SukAy last The Of this sudden and singular pro-
ccs may Dc found m the fact that CoopcfNobles
pubney chastiscd Mr.. f. L. Pierce, tho agent Of tho
Treasury Department here fer injuries and insults show
cred upon him t tho autocrat OF the abands which
he had endured long Mr. Pierce had appropriated Col
Nobes' private property, and would oner no apofo-
gy tor the wrong or restitution of tho pro-
Ierty. He added insult to injury, until hpman
flesh could no longer endure u, and ne was soundly
approved the act But Gen. Benham couldnet and
he sent COL Mobiles hone greatly to the dctrncn Of the
public Col. Nobl,s has the sympalhies OF hun
drcds of friends who regret his departure from thecom
nisnd The Colonel has earned world wide reputation
an explorer tho American continent, and tho
discoverer Of Nobles' Pass tho Sierra Nevada Noun
ains, through which the greater part o. Che overland
travel to California now proceeds He eamehere IN conf
mand Of the New York Seventy ninth regiment with the
expedition. He placed first In command Of Bay
ront and while there discovered two valuable lenses
belonging to The Lighthouse Department. which had been
from the government by the robo!s and secretci
Ladies Island. He restored thom TO Commodore
Ind Acknowledgements of the government for his
services. At early day he was appointed by
General Sherman Superintendent OF the Coscon Of Cot
ton in the command and placed in charge OF the work
In order give all his energies and time TO the work. he
resigned his position the Seventy ninth regiment, and
devoted himself his duties For several months
he hal solo charge the work. performed his duties
with energy fidelity worthy Of all praise Giving
his personal attention to the matter he gathered an i'm
quantity cotton the different plantations
the islands about here got gins in operation to clean h
and reduced the work perfect order and system For
this he received the praise Of General Sherman, Commo
dors pont and the government and when Colonel Rey
noids the present agent, came here continued
him IN his Position and gave him the immediate charge
OF the w,ik. When Mr.. Pierce the Gidconitcs ar
rived Mr. Pierce attempted to usurp the entire control
OF the business but was soon informed by co'ones Key.
nolds Mobiles that not in his province There.
upon Mr. Pierce seemed TO rsliqush his impcrtinent
aims but ever afterwards endeavorcd in every way
throw Obstacles Ia the path OF Colonel Reynolds and
Colonel MOBILES, and cripple their movements. Absurd
and exaggerated reports were sent W Secretary Chase
Mr. Pierce. affecting the honor ssd mpairiny tho ci.
cheney Of tbs above gentlemen was most strenuous
in his exertops to remove Cnloxe Mobiles from his
sition. Bat his Efforts facd and he then allowed him
self TO stoop petty annoy and insult tho Clio.
nal. All these insults were endured calmly and with
patience by the Colonel, until patience ceased 10 be
virtue, and in moment whea fresh insult had been
given Colonel Mobiles knocked down Pierce and ogged
| him.
Benham Pierce demanded Colonel Mobiles arrest.
But both being civilians, and holding equal rank
agents Of tho Treasury General Benham declined TO
i rest and allow the other to 20 scot free.
The principle should have applied in settling tho
demand that Colonel Mobiles be sent from the depart
m~nt; but IL did not, and Colonel Mobiles obliged
Ioayo in most hurried manner, without settling his
Affairs, which, OF necessity were Of great Importance
and interest TO the govern and himself No excuse
action In the premises and the only for him cea
justice to send Mr. Pierce from the depart
i
OF innumsrabo troubles. Pierce fitted for his
poion and he has been constant OF expense
/ tho government, and an eyesore to the people. The
quicker nc is transported hencs better for all hands
Lot the government direct its attention the
osaiairs hero, and confer universal favor by instantly
recalling Pierce and thereby relieve General Benham OF
| an unpleasant duty.
ne all hope thai the authorities in Washington will
send Colonel Mobiles back his post duty In which he
ha proved himself an Invaluable servant and set tho
seal Of condemnation upon tho taaatcal and insane
Of Pierce and his worthy coadjutors In this de
| partlput. let Justice be done
Tho Tag OF truce to alluded to the other day
An exchange Of prisoners will not be
| effected.
Thswcaiher Is hot and oppressive The health or tho
comnand is generally very good:
| Charleston paper OF tho 18th brought by the Plant
err cac1s two Confederate vicores-ens of Bcauregard
Pole and the other Of jackson Banks. We
evacak and destruction the OF Navy Yard Ncrrimac
The P.'nbns, Commander John p Bsnkhoad, came up
from S-Johns river on Monday whore she has bcen for
some tine engaged In keeping open the river aud pro-
tectng the village Of Jacksonville from tie incursons Of
the regulators, body Of rebels unsitachcd any
comn,ans not recognized by state Confederate
jus before Commander Isankhcad left Jacksonville he
had interview with tho Second Assistant Engineer Of
the ton.ciad frgate Mcrrnsc who recently resigned,
with Commsdcre Tatnal and all the officers Of the ship.
This fully eorms the report ~ their resignation and
he states the to have been the psnemptory order
OF the sbel government 10 Commodore Tstns 10 take
tho Morrn around Fortress Monroe, up the Chesa-
psake lay 10 The York river, 10 destroy our nota
there, and sheh out camps before Yorktown. Com
modorc Tatna did not consider the execution Of the
project possible and In that conclusion all his
officers incurred Tho order given a second time
aud Commodore Tanal, rather than attempt TO carry
the wild scheme, resigned, and with him all his OH
lie knew noahng OF other officers being appointed
r. the vacancies.
He described the conclusion OF tho Merrimac's own
guns as being terrific. He was knocked ssnss,sss
fvo tnree times by tho concussion, and his
officers aud suffered in the same man.
ner. The Merrimac was SO badly injured In her
contest with the Monitor 70 be compelled to draw
OF aud retire from the light The officers and men de-
cneo TO into another engagement with the little
Eoisr they regarded her tho superior to the Morr
aud feared that the second contest would result In
tie destruction OF their immense frigate.
As ps Atlantic sails Immediately, fcannot give further
dotascf the engineers report, but will send them
by the ext mail.
Mrs French and . number Of missionaries 60 homo in
tho Afipn,ic to-day The band Grows less, and more
beautifully less every week. and IL will have disap
peared entirely by June.
Picrce's agricultural scheme s knocked by General
Hunters. Al his contrabands taken from him,
airoppng Tho hoe for tho musket The and cotton
MI have to get up without assstancs, far as
a melancholy stroke. he earn and cottou