The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-30

Chlckamauga one OF the most Dritlfant ana oe-
cisive victories of the war This signal defeat
of General Rosecrans was followed bp his re-
treat into Chattapooga, whrre shis, imperilled
position had the immediate effect Of relieving
the pressure Of the invasion ut other points fore
ing the concentra tion, for his relief of large
bodies of troops Withdrawal from the armies in
the Mississippi Valley andin Northern Virgins
The comcined forces thus accumulated against
us in Tennessee SO greatly outnumbersdl our
army as to encourage the enemy tor attack -.
After long and severe battle, in which great
carnage was inflicted on him, someiofo our troops
inexplicably Abandoned positions Of great
strength, and by disorderly retreat compelled
the commander to withdraw the forces else
where successfub and finally 10 yetife With his
whole army to position some twenty or thIr-
.ty miles to the rear. 1t is believed that if the
troops who yielded to the assault had fought
with the valor which they had displayed on pre-
vious OCCASIONS, and which was manifested IN
this battle on other parts of the lines, the enc
my would have been repulsedswith very great
slaughter, and our country would have escap-
ed the misfortune and the army the mortifca-
ton of the first defeat chat has resulted from
misconduct by the troops En- the meantime
the army of General Burnside was driven from
allits field positions in Eastern Tennessee, and
forced to retreat into its intrenehments at
Knoxville, where for some weeks it was threat
ened with, capture by the forces under General
.Longstreet. No information has reached me
of the final result of the operations of our com
mander, though intelligence has arrived of bis
withdrawal from that place.
While, therefore, our success in driving the
enemy from our soilsias not equalled the ex-
pectstions confidently entertained at the com
mencement of the campaign, his further pro
gress has beepucheeked. IF we are forced to
regret losses ia Tennessee and .Arkansas, we
are not without ground for congratulation on
successes in Louisiana and Texas On the sea
coast he is exhausted by vain Efforts to capture
our ports, while on the northern frontier he
has insturn felt the pressure and breads the
renewal of invasion. The ipdomitable courage
and perseverance, of the people in the defence
of their homes have been nobly attested by the
unahimity with which the Legislatures of V;r-
ginia, North Carolina, and Georgia have re-
Gently given expression to the popular senti-
ment and like manifestations may be antici-
pated from all the States Whatever obstina-
cy may be displayed by the enemyin his des-
perate sacrifices Of mon ey life and liberty, in
the hope of euslaving us, the experience of
mankind has too conclusively shown the supe-
rior endurance of those who fight for home,
lsberty aud independence, TO permit any doubt
OF the result. q
THE FISANCE5. s
A general reyiew is given Of the Finances,
their condition eslored, and funding and tax
arfon fecommended as a remedy, as follows
The holders OF the currency now outstaD-
ding can only be protected in the recovery OF
their Just claims BY substituting for heir notes
some other security. IF the currency is not
greatly and pro pity reduced, the present
scale ofinfated prices will not only continue
to exist, but by the very fact of the large
amounts thus made REQUESTS in the conduct Of
the war, those prices will reach rates still
more extrayagant, and the whole system will
fall under its own weight, thus rendering the
of the debt impossible, and de-
stroying its whole value In the hands ofkthe
holder. If, onsthe contrary, q funded debt,
with interest secured by adequate taxation.
can be substituted for tho outstanding cur
roncy, its entire amount VIII lie made ayaila-
BILE to the holder, and the government win be
in condition enabling it, beyond thesreach
of any probable contingency, Ito prosecute the
war to q successful issue. It is, therefore, de-
as well BY the interest of the credi-
tor as of the country atslargc, that the evidsn-
ces Of the public debt now 9outstandipg in the
shape of Treasury notes be converted into
bonds, bearing adequate interest, with pro-
vision for taxation sufficient to ensure punct-
ual payment and final redemption of the whole
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury!
presents the outlines of a system which, in
conjunction with existing legislation, is inten-
ded to secure the several objects of a. reduc-
tiop of the circulation within fixed reasonable
limits of providing for the future wants of
the government; Of furnishing security for
the punctual payment of interest ak d final
extinction ofgthe principal of the public debt.
and of placing the whole business Of the cbun-
try on basis as near q specie standard as is
possible during the continuance of the war
earnestly commend it to your considera-
ton, and that ne delay be permitted to inter
Vene before your action on this vital subject.
trust that it will be suffered to eDgross your
attention. 4h I'll 9aa=nhait hazzzfftx txpnzen-nfit
portant results which your country anticipates
from your legislation. +. -.
= 5s5Siso1.s vsHSTHF ARMYssa55 . - sfske 81
\ To the report Of the Secretary Of War you
are referred for details relative to the condi-
tion of the army and the measures of Iegisla-
tion required for maintaining its efficiency,
its mum beis, and furnishing the sup
plies necessary for ts support, -rsw OK
Though We haye lest many of the best Of
our soldiers and, most patriotic of our citizens
-the sad but unavoidable results of the bat
ties andsfoils ofsuch campaign as that (which
viii render the year 1858 ever memorable in
our annals--the army is believed to be, in all
respects in better condition than at any pre-,
vious period of the war. Our gallant defen-
ders. now veterans, familiar with danger, har-
dened by exposure, and confident in them
selves and their officers, endure priyations
with cheerful fortitude an weIcome battle
with alacrity. The officers bycxperieBcein,
feld serri6e and the action Aof examining
boards in relieving the incompetent, are now
greatly more eficient. than ct the commence
ment of the war. The assertions is believed
to be fully justified, that regarded hs q, whole,
for character, valor, efficiency and patriotic de-
votion, our army has not been. equalled by
any Ike number Of troops m the history Of
Ii view Of the large lconscriptiic5 iptiic5 recently