The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-30

Sept,mbtr. 1862, the President issued a prOcla-
nation requiring the insurgents to lay down
Their arms and return 10 their allegiance, under
the penalty that in all the districts where the in
surrecfion should be still maintained with the
support o ne people, he would, on the first
OF January then next. proclaim, as a military
measure. e freedom of the slavas. The warn
iug ~as graeraliy rejected and defed, but the
proclamaf ou which it heralded was duly issued.
A. the National armies advanced into the insur-
rectiouar, territories slaves in considerable
numbers accepted their freedom aud came under
The protection of the National hag. Amidst
the great prejudice and many embarrassments
which attended measure 50 new and 90 d.
vefgcut from the political habits Of the country
freedmen with commendabie alacrity enlisted in
the Federal army. There was in some quarters
a painful inquiry about their moral capacity for
service That uncertainty was brought 20 a sud
den end in the siege OF Port Hudson The new
ly raised negro regiments exhibited all necessary
valor aud devotion in the military assaults which
were made, With desperate courage, and not
without fearful loss, by Gen. Barks This pro-
tracted operation engaged nearly all Of General
Banks available forces. While IL was going on
nsurgent troops which were called up from
Texas re occupied much of the southwestern
portion of Louisiana which he had before re-
claimed The surrender OF Port Hudson, how
ever, -et his army at liberty, and he has already
made considerable progress IN restoring the Ma
toual authority thus temporarily displaced.
The complete occupation OF the Mississippi
by the national forces, has eflectualy divided
the insurrectionary region into two parts, and
among the important features Of this division,
one ~hich Is of the highest practicable signif-
cancc l., that the field OF military operations OF
the iusurrection Is chiefly on the Eastern side OF
the river while it, supplies have been mainly
dra from the prafies of Arkansas and Texas,
which stretch awav from the Western shore.
Those parties can no longer supply the insur-
gents With cattle for sustenancc and use IN the
field and on the other hand, arms, ordnance and
ammunition can no longer be sent from the Eas-
Ter manufactures and deposits TO forces en-
plosed in garrison in the West. The value
OF the acquisition Of the Mississippi in this re
-pect was illustrated only few days since in the
capture, hy Gen. Grant near Natchez, OF 5000
beeves and 900 mules, which had crossed 10
the Eastern bank, aud at the same time many
hundred thousands OF cartridges and other stores
which had Just been landed at the Western end
Of the same ferry
A vigorous blockade has been maintained at
Charleston, and although fast steamers, OF light
dfaught and painted with obscure c0lOrs, Occa
sOnally succeed in slipping through the bOcka
ding squadron in the morning and evening twi-
light, many are destroyed and more are captured.
Al attack by the feet, made on the 7th day Of
Aprl last, upon the forts and batteries which de-
fend the harbOr, failed because the rope Obstruc-
tious in the channel fouled the screws of the
iron cads and compelled them to retire after
passing through the fire of the batteries Those
vessels bore the fire of the forts, although some
defects OF construction were revealed by the in
jures they received. The crews passed through
an unexampled cannOnade with singular impu
nifty. Not one life was lost on board of a
monitor The defects disclosed have been rem
edied and an attack Is now in progress, with
good prospect of ultimate success, having for its
object the reduction of the forts IN the harbOr
by combined sea and land forces. We occupy
more than half of Morris Island with land forces,
which, aided by batteries ahoat and batteries
ashore, and pushing siege works up to Fort
Wagner, strong earthwork which lns been
twice assaulted with great galantry, but without
success. On the l7th of Juue, the Atlanta,
which was regarded by the insurgents as their
most formidable iron clad vessel, left Savannah,
aud came down the Wilmington river. The Ia
tiOna iron-clads Weehawken, Captain John
Rodgers and Nahant, Commander John Downs,
were in readiness to meet her At O'Clock "a
minutes the Atlanta fired "A rifle shot across the
stern of the Weehawken, which struck near the
Nahant. At 5:l5 the Weehawken, at a range
of 800 yards, opened upon the Atlanta, which
had then grounded. The Weehawken fired FIVE
/ shots tour of which took effect on the Atlanta.
She surrendered at go.
Our lines have not changed in North Carolina.
All attempts of the insurgents to recapture the
towns from which they had been expelled have
been repulsed. Much damage has been inflicted
upon their communications, and valuable militia
] 4 AZ
to the interior. North Carolina shows some
symptoms of disaffection toward the insurgent
league. Similar indications are exhibited in Mis-
sissippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.
The situation on the York and James Rivers
has remained unchanged since the withdrawal OF
the army of Gen. Mcclellan from the Peninsula
year ago. Attempts by the insurgents to re
take Williamsburg and Suffolk have been defea-
ted, but the garrison at the latter place has been
Withdrawn for purely military reasons to a more
defensible line.
now return to the Army of the Potomac
which was left resting and refttng, after put
ting end to the first insurgent invasion O
Maryland Gen. Mcclellan recrossed the Poto
mac and entered Virginia in November, and
obliged the invading forces under Lee to fall
back TO Gordonsvile, south OF the Rappahan
mock. When the Army of the Potomac reached
W WdITchtOH III WAS pidctu uhutF CoUulhhu %
Gen. Burnside. He marched 10 Falmouth, no
ping to cross the RappahannOck at Fredericks
burg, and to move at once upon Richmond
Delays, resulting from various causes, without
fault Of the General permitted the insurgents tC
occupy the nights OF Fredericksburg, and when
al length, in December, Gen. Burnside crossed
the Rappahannock, his assault upon Lees well
fortified position failed He skillfully recrosseC
the river without loss. Gen. Hooker succeeded
to the command, and it was not until the begin
ming of NAV that the condition OF the river anC
roads permitted a renewal of offensive opera
tiOns. The General crossed the RappahanLOcA
aud accepted a battle. which proved equally san
culinary TO both parties, and unsuccessful to the
Army Of the Potomac. The nights Of Freder
ericksburg were captured by Gen. Sedgwick'
corps, but the whole army was compelled to re-
turn TO the north bank Of the river. After thi
battle Lee, in the latter part of MAY and June
withdrew bis army from Gen. HOoker's front
and ascending the south bank of the Rapidan, 10
wards the sources of the Rappahannoek, entered
the Shenandoah Valley, and once more Temples
the fortune Of war, By invading the lOva States
A severe cavalry engagement at Beverly For
unmasked this movement The Army of III
Potomac broke up its camps and marched 1
the encounter. The militia OF Maryland, Penn
sylvania and New York flew to arms, and oc
cupied Baltimore, Harrisburg, and the line o
the Susquehanua. The two armies met at Get
tysburg, in Pennsylvania, and after fierce con
test OF three days duration, aud terrible slaugh
ter on both sides, the insurgents recOiled iron
the position held by Gen Meade, who had bee
|; then only four iays in command Of the Army n