The weekly union record., 1864-04-23
News of the Week.

we NAV once more hear the cry Of "on to Rich
moud"-this time, let US hope, to be glo'iously
carried out. Information received at the head
quarters of the Army Of the Potomac says the
main body of Longstreet's veterans had sue
ceoded in forming junction with Lee. Out
of the army Of $4,000 men with which Long
street entered East Tennessee. be is said to have
brought back less than $4,000. Troops from
10. Johnston's army and from Charleston are
reported TO be arriving at Gordon.Ville. and
rebel conscripts were arriving at The rate OF
900 per day.
/ President Lincoln was present at the inau
guration exercises of the Maryland Fair, at
Baltimore, on the 18th, and, in response to
repeated calls, made brief address. He referred
to the great change which had taken place IN
Baltimore during the last three years. ln
abiding TO the massacre at Fort Pillow, be
said fsaDy supposed the Government did not
intend to do its duty in regard to the protection
of colored soldiers He desired to say that all
such were mistaken. When the question of
employing eolored men as soldiers was left to
the Government, it rested very much with him
self whether be should make soldiers of them or
not. He pondered the matter carefully, and,
when be became convinced that it was his duty
to SO employ them, be did not hesitate. He
stood before the American people responsible
for the act-responsble before the Christian
world. and he should stand responsible ia the
eye of the historian. He did not shrink from
it he hesitated not to declare that the Govern
ment would protect them the same as white
soldiers. Whenever clear, authenticated case
is made out, retaliation will follow. Hitherto
it had been difficult to ascertain with certainty
the facts which should govern the decision in o
matter so serious but in the Fort Pillow affair
he thought they were likely to find clear case.
When the Government does know the facts from
reports, retrbution will be surely given. The
Presidents remarks were warmly applauded,
especially his determination to retaliate for the
barbarous deeds of the rebels.
We have news of a serious reverse to the
cavalry force of Gen. Banks in Louisiana.
Letters received at Chicago from Grand Ecore,
La, dated April 10th and llth, say the cavalry
of the Third and Fourth Divisions Thirteenth
Army Corps, after bard fought action, were
overpowered aud put to rout by largely
superior rebel force. The Nineteenth Corps
came up and finally checked the enemy. Our
loss is reported to be two thousand but this is
probably somewhat exaggerated. The Chicago
Mercantile Battery lost all their guns, four
officers and twenty two men. Gen. Stone, of
Balls Bluff fame, chief of Gen. Banks staff,
directed the movements, and is charged with
the responsibility of the disaster, having per-
sisted in advancing unsupported by the main
forces, against the advice of other officers. A
dispatch dated previous to the above says q
pitched battle is not probable 10 Louisiana,
unless Kirby Smith can fall upon detachment
of Banks forces. The rebel army is reported
to be twenty thousand strong, with seyentytwo
pieces of artillery. The latest news from the
Red Rider expedition is more encouraging. A
letter says that in the morning Gen Smith
came up with his command, and, relieving Gen.
Franklin, whipped the rebels baGly, capturing
twenty five guns and eight hundred prisoners.
Admiral Porter, when last heard from, was
about forty miles above Grand Ecore.
A large mass meeting was held at Knoxville,
a. c,L
offered resolution, which was unanimously
adopted, favoring emancipation, recommending
a Convention, requesting Gov. johnson to call
the same at the earliest practicable period and
indorsiug the Administration and the war policy
of President lincoln. Gov. johnson made q
powerful and telling speech.
Refugees from Central Texas represent that
fearful outrages have been committed upon
persons suspected of Union sentiments. As
many as hundred persons bad been hung or
shot by vigilance committees under the sanction
OF the military authorities. There vas much
suffering 10 Texas from the influx of negroes
and families. Corn and beef are the sole pro
ductions os the country, and of these there is
not enough to sspply the resident population.
Prominent Frenchmen in New Orleans con.
ideutly predict that treaty of friendship will
be made with the Confederacy by Maximllian,
backed by the Emperor of France, and that
collision with the French forces at Matamoras
will lead to complications with our Government.
So says dispatch. Late foreign adyices state
that the difficulties about the acceptance of the
Mexican crown BY Msximilau have been solved
By conference between the Emperor of Aus
tria and the Archduke and that the latter will
shortly proceed TO Mexico. 1t is stated the
courts of London, Rome, Vienna, Berlin, St.
Petersburg, Spain and France agree TO recog
nize the Emperor of Mexico Immediately on
his accession. The London Times says the