Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-05-12
Flying Governors and Captured Capitals.


Flying Governors and Captured Capitals.
Our Southern news informs us that Governor
Watt, of Alabama, has fled the State, and sought
refuge in Georgia, from Wilson aud "six thous-
and" Yankee cavalry. If Wilson's force is no
greater it is certainly an evidence of the weak
ness of Alabama that the capture of lis capital
was allowed by so small force We imagine,
however, that the number of Wilson's forces is
underrated by some thousands. If it was no
larger, so much more to the shame of Alabama,
to allow its Capital to be taken by SO small a
force.
If we go back four years we can reckon up
quite number of Governors who have had to
hy, and of State capitals which could not be
held by the Rebellion From Missouri, its Sc
cessiOn Governor +. jackson, was set running
at an early day, and Jefferson City, the capital,
was occupied by the Yankees. From Tennessee
Isham G.. Harris departed on short notice, and
Nashville fell with Fort Donelson. From Ken
lucky, Bariah MagoffiD, who attempted to car
nv the State into Rebellion was banished, and
Frankfort was held by loyal men. From Lou
isiana, Thomas o. Moore fled, and gave up Ba-
ton Rouge. From Arkansas, Harris Flanagan
was fugitive many months ago, and Little
Rock knew him no more. From Mississippi,
John j. Pettus was compelled TO rpn, and the
Union troops occupied Jackson.
In Georgia Joseph E. Brown was chased out
of Milledgeville by Sherman. In South Carolina
Andrew Magrath disappeared from Columbia
before the invincible army of that commander.
From Virginia extra Billy Smith was compelled
to move by Grant Meade and Sheridan, who
took up their quarters in Richmond. In North
Carolina A. D. Vance was driven out of Raleigh
by Sherman and from Montgomery, Alabama,
Thos H. Watts removed in haste before Wilson
and his "six thousand" cavalry. Such is the
record of the fate of the rebel governors and reb
el capitals in even states which were claimed
in April 1861 as certain for the rebellion.
There remains but two States in which treason
has been rife, the capitals of which have not
seen the old flag for four years, and the Cover
pors of which States yet claim these preroga-
tives. These are Florida and Texas. The first
was never thoroughly possessed by the Rebel
lion, thanks to the gallant Slemmer, who threw
his men into Fort Pickens on the 18th of Janu-
ary, 1861, and thanks to the loyal men who
held the Tortugas through all the storms of re-
beIlon But Florida has been occupied in its
principal seaport towns, its bays and rivers and
through the steady conduct of the
United States Navy, it has no seacoast- We
can take Tallahassee as soon as we get through
our other business, and we will send John Mil
ton on hunting expedition to find his fellow
fugitives ofthe flying troop of Governors. Tex
as has also been bound by blockade. but HOus-
ton is yet to be redeemed, and Pendleton Muir
rah sent to the right-abOut. The time will soon
come for the performance of all these exploits,
aud then these officers of evil may consult their
maps to find the "last ditch" the usefulness of
which will be impressed solemDly npon their
Inquirer. ~