Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-14
FROM THE SOUTH.
The Enquirer on Mr.. h BeniamIn-Interest.
ing War News.

l EAoHA L H II ~ ~
| The Enquirer on Mr.. BeniamIn-Interest.
ing War News.
From South Carolina.
From the Richmond Dispatch, Feb III
The Edsto river rises In the south western
| portion of South Carolina, and flowing south.
| westwardly, empties into the Atlanta forty
miles southwest of Charleston. Branchville
| is on the Augusta branch of the South Carroll
ma railroad, mile east of the point at which
| the railroad crosses the Edisto. This river is
| now the line held by General Hardee in the
| neighborhood Of BranchYille. Nearer the
| coast we hold the line of the Combahee river,
i in the vicinity OF the Charleston and Savannah
| railroad.
From the most recent authentic intelligence,
| 1t appears that while part Of Sherman's
my is making active demonstrations against
| the Combahee ferry, near the Charleston and
| Say annah railroad, as if with the design Of
marching on Charleston, the rest OF his forces
have appeared at four points on the Edisto,
| viz: at New Bridge, five miles below Branch
vile; at Bumacker's and Holman's bridges,
above and at the railroad bridge opposite that
place. Our troops that held the bridge over
the Salkehatchie, west Of Branchville, were
driven In on last Wednesday. If he succeed
in forcing passage OF the Edisto, above and
below Branchville, he will tap the railroad to
Charleston. and compel our troops to fall back
from Branchville. But they will most prob
ably evacuate it, if at any time it shall appear
that Sherman cannot be prevented from cross.
ing the river.
The above is written in the hope of giving
Carolina. 1t was said, some days ago, that
Sherman was also sending a column against
Augusta, on the Georgia side OF the Savannah
river. We have no information on this head.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Feb 81
Certainly the Navy Department has not
given satisfaction. Whether it could have
done better We do not mean to intimate, in
deed. We are OF this opinion, that Mr.. NAL
lory has done about as well as could have
been expected. He has no navy, because he
has no navy yard no ships, no men, and be-
foreign Governments nnf
NIT him to buy. He has lost nearly all his
gunboats, because they could not be built with
the diminished resources Of this country of
strength suff1clent to encounter the vessels OF
hhISatsgaE, .a5SRtoeQQt,Withsta tanding all these
the part OF the people for change IN tho Na1y
Department.
The State Department has not secured us re.
cognition; but that was more Its misfortune
than its fault. Mr.. Benjamin has not left un.
tried any eXpedient that would have inf uenced
foreign governments TO give us justice and
right. But he cOuld not make them act; hence
he has failed, and anyf other statesman would
probably have succeeded no better. One great
cause OF Mr.. BenJamin's unpopularity has
been the fact that in no proclamation signed
by him as Secretary of State has ever the eX-
istence of Triune God been admitted. He
has cosfined his State papers to Deistical
belief, and stamped upon the religious faith of
the county practical denial of q Trinitarian
Jehovah. This was his faith, but not the faith
of that wide spread religious sentiment that
prevails throughout this country. The people
do not like to be made to choose between
Jesus Christ and Judah p. Benjamin, and to
take the latter in preference. Twice the Con-
gress has endeayored to change this, and
adopted resolutions designed to preclude the
exclusion OF our Saviour from the prayers OF
a people asking the interposition Of God in
our BEHALF but each time the express resolution
has been disregarded. This matIerfof reIig-
Gus faith is no Insignificant affair. 1t is the
deepest sentiment in the souls of this peo-
character OF this revolutions; it has its
influence in the camp and at the hearthstone
in temple and legislative hall, and has its re-
cognition in confessions OF thousands and thou
sands of our army. When disregarded it has
shocked the whole fabric OF religious faith
Appalling to God, and not recognizing the
Divinity of His sons, is mocking Jehovah with
the vain repetition Of words which have no
meaning. The country asks no hypocrisy
from MIR: BENJAMIN; his religious belief is re.
speeted but they desire some other statesman
whose faith more aecords with the religious
con victions OF the people.
Union Troops Operating in Florida.
From the Richmond Sentinel, Feb 10.l
a special despatch to the Columbus En-
qutrer, dated Mariana, Florida, Jan. 80, says:
The enemy, one hundred strong, came on the
25th TO Ricos Bluff, on the Apalachicola river,
capturing a leutenantand forty negroes. They
left January %.
Charleston A gain r eported Eyacuated
From the Richmond Dispatch, Feb. IOl
Thus railroad connection with Augusta is
severed. No official dispatches from this quar-.
tar were given TO the press yesterday Whether
any were received we do not know. Il is an
error, however, to suppose that because any
point on the South Carolina railroad is in the
hands OF the enemy that we can no longer
draw supplies Il ON Georgia 1t would be un.
wise toeXplain the matter at this time.
There was report yesterday that Charles.
ton had been evacuated. We find in oil cial
circles no confirmation OF the report
The Rebel Secretary OF War on Arminc
Negroes.
At the war meeting held in Richmond on the
9Th instant, Judah p. Benjamin, the rebel Sec
to- nf a a coll
for free Offering of cotton, tobacco and proyi.
sions to the Confederate Government said: 81
want another thing. War is game that can
not he played without men. Where are the
menl l am going to open my whole heart to
you. Look to The trenches below Richmond
Is 1t not a shame that men who have sacrificed
all in our defense should not be reinforced by
all the means in our power! Is it any time
now fer antiquated patriotism to argue refusal
10 send them aid, be 1t white or black! IA
yoice-"Put in niggers.''l l will now call
your attention to some figures, which i wish
you to5 >riously ponder In 1863 the South had
1868 900 arms bearing men. How many men
haze the Yankees sent against us! In 1851
to4GOO: in 1852, 100000; ia 1s63 100000: in Is6t
they called out 100000. Here you have fig
ures that they brought out OOO,0OO men against
I,664 GOO Confederates, " no lived at the begin.
ming OF the war to draw sword in their coun.
try's service. Our resources OF white pepuia-
tion have greatly diminished, but you had
Divine prophesy have told Us Of the fierceness
of the enemy's death grapple at our throats,
could we have known what we now know,
that Lincoln has confessed, that without 10000
negroes which ne stole from US, he would be
compelled to give up the contest, should we
have entertained any doubts upon the subiectl
"A yoice-ssWe will make him give 1t up.6I
fecl that the time lie rapidly coming OH
when the people will wonder that thew ever
doubted. Let us say to every negro who wishes
to go into the ranks on condition of being made
free. "Go and fght-you are free" II we i'm.
press them they will 60 against u.s. We know
That every one who could fight for his freedom
has no chance. The only side that has had ad-
vantage Of this element is the Yankee people,
that can beat us to the end OF the year I'm