American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-01
Special Dispatch to Pittsburgh Commercial.
From Late Rebel Papers.
WAsEINGToN, Feb. q

/ WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.
The Richmond E.runtine, says: The
loss of life by the explosion of the flag of
truce boat, on the James river was two
negro fireman, and two soldiers killed, and
several wounded
The Sentjneiin an editorial says: "Con-
gress is behdd the People. Such we as
sure our honorable Legislators is the bur
den of the letters which we receive
One of these that now CHANGED to lie be-,
fore us from prominent gentlemen, says
that our people are long way ahead
of cur Legislators, and are prepared and
anxious to help the Government, if Con
gress would only pass the requisit laws
There seems to be some strange and
unhappy decentralization connected with
au elective position, men otherwise bold
become weak; they listen to the winds.
They are nervous about offending some
one and losing his vote, especially if elec-
ton day is coming on, hence at time
when the people desire bold lead and a
prompt energy, we have hesitation and in
decision and misgivings and fears. We
run no risk in saying that the statesmen
who are boldest are now dearest to the
people We doubt not they will say so
at the polls. We doubt lot and fervent
ly pray that many timid Legislator will
meet the political death he fears. We
ask the people and the army to take a note
of all such and not forget orpardon them.
But it would be much better even Tor
themselves if all such would forget them.
selves and strike for their country in this
hour of exigency. They should lead the
people. not wait for them. At least, they
should not lag behind them.
THE people want General Lee gener-
ously supplied They want him to have
the organizing of his forces, they want
the exemption list diminished. They
want full liberty given to the Government
to use the-slaves in any way the military
authorities may desire they want the
treasury sustained by adequate taxation (;
they want bad men deprived OF the shell
ter of the hdbcuS corpus. IT our legisla-
tors would adopt these measures prompt
ly, in plain, SIMPLE broad terms, and
would grant to the executive authorities
powers broad enough forall possible emer-
gencies, they would receive the thanks
and honors of the people, and, what is
better, would deserve them. We want
Oryor! Sjgor' V,gor everywhere"
The Eramiae. says: " President De-
Wis received yesterday an official dispatch
from G en- Beauregard Its contents were
not given to the public, but the report was
in general circulation yesterday, and we
may add that it was not contradicted or
doubted in official circles, that Columbia
had been evacuated by our forces and the
stores there removed to Charlotte, N. G.
At the telegraph Office in this city there
were no messages taken yesterday for Col
umbia, it being stated that there were nc
orders of government to that effect. The
movements of our forces since the evocu.
alton of Columbia are not certainly known
They are all under the command of Gen
Beauregard, it being mistake that there
is any conflicting command in the Charles
ton district. Gen, Bcauregard commands
all between Cape Fear river and the Mis-
sissippi."
Tee Sentinel, in Ia long editorial on mil
itary situation, winds up as follows:
g If our affairs should come to the worst
if we should not be able to maintain large
regular armies in the field, we would, b,
guerrilla warfare, make the south too no
to hold Yankee intruding landlords =
They would be watehed, ambushed, an,
shot down by highland by day like beast
of prey. Few who would find themselve
their wives aud their little ones driver
from their homes, would hesitate, if nee
essary, to waylay the intruding Yanke
robber. No armies from the north coul'
put down such "a warfare as this, if W
fight but half as well as most other ma
tions similarly situated have fought
Already this mode of warfare ha
been inaugurated in Kentucky, Missouri
Tennessee and both sides of the Missis
: pi. Indeed we have guerrillas ever
: where doing most effective service. Lik
) Roderiek," these men couoealing then
selves to-day in fastnessses and secret pla