Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-21
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Rg,ps.xtzrp FOX THE WAR.--We learn
tina ON the 18th instant, the 28th Regiment,
N. C. T.. now stationed at Kihston, re-or-
gained for the war, by rejecting Col, Lane
and Lieutenant Col. Love, and Captain 5.
D.. Lowe Major
The largey portion of cur twelve months
regiments. or at least the Companies compo-
sing their. have re- entered for the war, but
we think the 18th is the first to perfect its re-
organization as a regiment. 1t viii 5000 have
many companions.
LIEUT. COLONEL CRgroN.-This gentleman
after the battle of Newbern. was charged
with cowardice by Col. Sinclair, his senior
oilicvr. 4 court of investigation has been
held which has t~riumphantly acquitted Lieu
tenant Colonel Grafton.
SALT.-We cannot too strongly nor too d
ten urge upon the people Of the State the
necessity of providing against a scarcity OF
salt. This necessity for procuring a supply
of this article needs no argument to establish
it. Without it neither man nor beast can
long survive. How long the war may last,
none can tell. The blockade may last as long
as the war, and therefore, ne should ,.iy
exclusively on our own resources for a supply
Of salt. Read the communication on this
! subject, from Prof. Emmons to Gov. Clark,
which we publish below
RALEIGH, April II, 1862.
To His Excellency.
HENRY L. CLARK.
Governor Of North Carolina.
! sra: The inquiry which you made respecting the
value of the brine which has been employed for pre-
serving meat. is important at this time. Old brine
may Be recovered by boiling. Let the brine be poured
into an iron kettle. and stir in. while cold, the whites
of several eggs. Boil the brine and skim of the dirt
from the TOP as long as it rises. Now etrain the IL
quid, while hot. i'll order to free it from 4 stringy sed-
iment- Boil again and skim, if necessary, reducing
the quantity of brine.by evaporation until a pelicle of
fine salt forms upon the surface. 1t may now be set
by to cool; while crystals of nearly pure salt will be
formed. The brine should never be boiled till a dry
mass is formed, as in that case. it will be impure and
dark colored. By repeating the evaporation. the salt
may be obtained as pure and white as table salt.
u'' : Z. EMMoNs,
P.s.-Ifthe brine is stirred while cooling fine salt
viii be formed: if ii is allowed 10 cool at rest. a
coarse salt win be deposited.
~ 4 Correspondent Of the Petersburg
Ex~:ress, writing som the Peninsula, April
10th, lays:
l learn this morning that the Fourteenth
North Carolina regiment, Colonel Daniels, at
tsched to our brigade, had a heavy skir,nisb
on Tuesday last with the Yankees. in which
we lost eight men, for whose lives they paid
dear, as their loss is reported to be very hea-
vy-the round numbers | az unable to give
you.
|, The Nineteenth Mississippi, stationed q
few yards from our position, with a detach-
/ ,-ork &c Da,a-.fr N.,4I G.-.Ts-. II
battalion, repulsed an attack on Monday last,
Staying some fifty of the Hessians with no
loss on our side.
? Another correspondent of the same paper
, writing from Kinston, April IL, says
Nothing can be learned of tAe enemy, ex-
cept that Burnside is in strong force at New
! bern, fortifying the place, and threatens Fort
Macon. The slaves OF. the fer lie country
: around Newbern are in his power. 1t is
: said that he has formed a black regi-
nent and drills them daily. From two
young gentlemen who left Newbern on Wed.
{ nesday, we learn that our prisoners had been
n carried North-sailed on Thursday. Col.
Avery had been quite unwell, and chafed
!, much under confinement. He had been al
: lowed to go on shore from s to 5 o'clock each
a day. TIL others were denied this privilege.
1t. Wheeler, of Latham's artillery, also un-
well, suffering mucn from a wound received
after being taken prisoner.
~ Count Henri Mercer, the French Min
lister to the U. S. at Washington, arrived al
Richmond on the 10Th. His visit create:
81 considerable specula ion as to its object
g He certainly did not come from mere curiosi
: ty.
IS GEN. FRENcu This officer has just ISSUED
an order calling upon the slave owners O
= Onslow, New Hanover, Brunswick, B alden
1T Robson, Columbus, Cumberland and Samp
OF son, to send him one-ffth Of their negro mel
force, and each to bring an axe or a spade. t
work on fortlfcaiions. They are to report a
y Wilmington or Old Brunswick.
We regret to learn that on Friday or Sat
Ve urday last the yankees succeeded in captur
SIS my Mr. Drew. a meEssr Of Captain Hill
NJ Company Of Scotland Neck Mounted Rife
men. The Yankee scouts have been seen /
- Ons'ow county, but how far over the line "
a have not heard.
We ISLAND No. 1O.-We are left still in 5onl
a. as to the fate of this Island and our forces O
it. The Yankee accounts assert that II b
- been captured, with a Confederate force.
ar 1900 men, munitions of war, heavy ore.
to nance, provisions, steamers, &c.
Southern adyices express a doubt about !,
captnre, but admit It's probable evacuatic
One account says that we were l~iterally wa
ed off the Island by iAe high waters of
river, and not driven away by the eneln
10 Another report Is that the Fed raj gun-boa
Dr. passed down and got in oar rear, which res,
all eed IN the surrender OF the position by o,