The Hillsborough recorder., 1863-01-14

victory over the far famed Monitor, on the
day alter. Tho intelligence of these ex-
plolts electrified the whole country. The
Virginia at once became the pride and hope
OF the South. Many believed she was des-
tined to clear our waters of the enemy, and
put new face upon The war 10 Virginia.
What she might have done under different
management remaips unfortunately In open
question. She was blown up BY her CON-
nander, month afterwards, without hay-
Ing attempted any other service than the
capture offw0 unarmed Yankee schooners.
The grief of our people when this catastro-
phe was made known, was unbounded, and
10 this day they refuse to be comforted.
While the Virginia and Monitor we're
battermg each Others iron sides in Hamp-
ton Roads, tho army of Northern Virginia
was performing the most mastery move
mems Of the war in falling back frsm Win
chester, Centresllle and Manassas, and en-
failing upon Mcclellan all the results of a
defeat. Mcclellan advanced upon our de-
serted works 70 find that for months he had
been kept at bay BY Quaker siege guns and
an aimya third the size of his own.
Gen. Johnston fell back to Gordonsyille,
and Mcclellan, after pretended pursuit,
returned and transported his army, of oyer
100 900 men, by water, to the Ynrk PENN
sula, where he was checked and held by
Gen. Magruder with less than II 900 ef-
fectise men.
As soon as this movement of The enemy
was ascertained, Gen. Johnston transferred
his ;roopsto the support Of Magruder. The
passage Of his hungry and ragged veterans
through the streets Of Richmond will not
soon be forgotten by our citizens.
thisjancfure The attention Of the world
was distracted from Virginia 10 the south
wes, where, on the 9th Of April, Gen.
Brsufrgard beat Grant on the bloody field
OF Shloh, killing, wonnding and taking
prisoners $4,000 Of his troops, but lost his
advantages BY the indiscipline Of his troops
next day al Pittsburg Landing. Gen. A.
5. Johnston, the COMMANDMENTS chief of the
Western army, was killed at Shiloh. Af-
ter the battle Of Shiloh there ensued another
almost unbroken run nf bad luck for the
Confederate cause. it losing during the
month of April, Island No. 10, Fort Pu-
laski, Forts Jackson and Phillip, and the
city Of New Orleans.
New Orleans was surrendered on the
10th Of April. and Immediately occupied
by the Massachusetts tyrant, Butler, who
for mure than seven months exercised his
power after fashion so brutal and atrn-
cious as TO call down upon his head the
execrations Of the whole civilized world.
Far better had il been for the people oil
New Orleans 10 have had their houses
lrselled with the ground and their women
and children driven forth into the forests
for shelter, as we're the inhabitants Of vicks-
burg and Fredericksburg. than 10 have
submitted 10 the rule nf Yankee Haynan.
After the fall Of New Orleans victory
deserted the Yankee banners and perched
permanently on those of the Conlederacy.
With the bright month Of May new era
RI fortune broke upon our arms. The
cnnscript act had been passed BY Congress
during the preceding month, and proved
tie salvation u the republic. Without it
nur armie, would hsye been disbanded just
1t The period when The enemy was prepar-
INC 70 make his great. aud a was thought
b, the worid At large, overwhelming adj.
vance upon Richmond.
The conscr,pt law held our armies to.
gether and reinforced them with thousands
uf fresh trnnps, who were in a short time,
by conduct sni example, rendered as eff.
Gent a. volunteers. II was now thought
advisable still further to contract our lines
Of defence in Virginia, and draw the enc
my inland to point beyond the co-opera.
ilou ot his gunboats. With this view Gen.
Johnston withdrew from Yorktown and fell
back towards Richmond. Mcclellan be-
coming, through an accident, aware Of the
movement. Immediately pursued our col
umns, which Tccoilet on him at Williams
burg on the Sd Of May aud drove back his
army. killing and wounding between 3 and
1000 and taking 400 prisoners. Johnston