American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-05
NUMBER ~
R.ahal News.

Hill, near Strasburg. The varying for
tunes of the war in the Valley have SO
repeatedly witnessed the falling back and
subsequently the advance of our army
that this intelligence has not come unex-
pectedly At one time the enemy were
almost in Lynchburg; in few weeks the
shells from our guns were exploding with
in Washington City. 1t has not been
long since General Early advanced from
this very Fishers Hill and drove the en-
emy into Harper's Ferry. His present
position IS regarded as snpregna6le, and
from At he' 'ea, u, clite time, again aduance
upon de so,1 rejoicing enemy. ot 3 y1
The death Of Major General Robert Il.
Rodes will be severely felt by the army of
Northern Virginia, which sGstains, by his
death, the loss of one,of its best officers.
His promotion was rapid, for he early
eyinced those great qualities which won
the confidence of his men and the admi-
ration of his country General Rodes
was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, ands
| graduated in the class Of 1913 at the
Virginia Military Institute, and, after d
few years of professionship at that Insti-
tuition, he removed to Alabama, where he
married Miss Woodruff, Of Tuscaloosa.
General Rodes came out in 1861, as Cap
tain of the +" Mobile Cadets" and upon
the organization Of the Fifth Alabama
regiment, he was appointed its colonel
His best eulogy is the faithful record of
his services. Promoted soon after the
first battle of Manassas to Brigadier Gen
eral, he followed the fortunes of the army
of Northern Virginia through the Winter
Of 1861 the siege of Yorktownj woun-
ded in the arm at the battle of Seven
Pines throughout the seven days bat
ties around Richmond; upon the Mary
land campaign; wounded at Sharpsburg
present at Fredericksburgj at ChanceE
lorsville, where he was made Major-Gen-
eral Through the Pennsylvania campaign.
from Mine Run to Gaines Mill; with
Early in the defense ofLynchburg again
into Maryland and with the valley army
throughout its marches and battles, until
he has fallen at Winchester, in the service
to which he devoted himself, in the faith
full discharge of duty, and in the enjoy
ment of the grateful admiration of his
countrymen He leaves a widow and
child, to whom no earthly honors can bring
any consolation, but to whom the tender
sympathies of all will be freely given.
Brighten A. G. Goodwin is also men,
toned by Gen Lee as among the killed.
Gen. Goodwin was formerly Provost Mar
shall of Richmond, and was subsequently,
promoted Colonel of a North Carolina
regiment. 1t has been but few days
since the papers mentioned his appoint
mcnt to the Brigadier Generalship. Gen.
Goodwin was from Portsmouth, Virginia,
and was a most gallant officer. g4
No other casualties are mentioned, but
our loss is reported very severe The rail-
of Atlanta had already cast a gloom over,
the community, and this reverse will very
much increase it, we fear. 1T should not
do so. The fortunes of war are always
uncertain, and reyerses are, of course,
very saddening; but it is unbccoming our
people not to shake off their long faces
and bring themselves to calmly and reso-
lutely consider their situation. The ar
my is always in fine spirits, and, though
defeated to-day, tomorrow it will retrieve
the loss, and laugh at the sad and gloomy
people who, far from danger, are yet moro
apprehensive than those who bear its
brunt.
Desperate efforts on the part of the en-
envy are to be looked for. The Presiden-
tial election compels Lincoln to be stirring
and striking. He can only save his elec-
tion by success this Fall; and, as there is
no chance for peace between him and NJ
Clellan, we do not see thatanythingshould
be risked by us in battle which cannot
be decisive in its character Partialsuc-
cesses like this in the valley may elect
Lincoln-we hope that they will--but
they tend very little to any final result.
They serve the purposeof Iineoln-tode-
feat Mcclellan; but they contribute Moth
ing toward our subjugation.
But these reverses show that our peo-
pie must come forth and go to the front /;
more are there wanted, and more must
be had. The long list Of Governmental
tails must be shortened; the Nitre and
Mining Bureau, the Commissary and
Quartermaster Departments, must dis
gorge. The contractors must be lessen
ed; the exempts reviewed, and the army
increased. But more than this, when
men are sent to the army they must not
be allowed to desert and straggfe off Dis
cipline must be improved, and as much
done by officers Of the line as is expected
from the Bureau of Conscription. To