Washington telegraph., 1865-04-19
WASHINGTON ARKANSAS "Wednesday April 10 1s65

GEN. f.. h SMITH.-The San Antonio
Herald in defending Gen. Kirby Smith
against some charges of cotton specula-
tions made by the News Of that city, re-
marks as follows:
"Ihe Cotton Bureau is now winding
: up Its business under the mana cement Of
Ii. Col. W. A. Broadwell. BY an act Of
Congress, the Treasury Department has
taken entire control of all cotton shipped
on Government account, and Gen. Smith
} has no more to do with it than has the
editor of the News"
off our cotemparary, or anv other per-
sons, know of Gen. Smith engaging s.in
sotton speculations on his own account y
then let him or them come forward and
make the direct charge in one single in
stance, and we assure them, none will be
more prompt than Gen. Smith to chal-
lsnge the proof. 1t is wrong; it is highly
improper and very unfortunats, that in
times like these, such innusndoes should
be cast against our leaders. This sort
OF patriotism can do no good. 1t is sure
to do much harm. 1t distracis, divides,
and disheartens our people and paralyzes
our energies 1t is erumb Of comfort
to the enemy, who seeks to divide and
destroy"
''E Gen. Smith has allowed cotton t 0
pass through the lines in order to pro-
cure necessary supplies for his army, he
has done so with the full knowledge and
sanction Of the heads Of the Government
at Richmond"
''Of his abilities as an able, efficient
officer. We point to the ever memorable
21st of July, '6l, where he came thun-
dering TO the front, at Manassas, crush
ing the snsmy and giving us victory
To his glorious career in Kentucky,
where he utterly defeated and destroyed
Bull NELSON, al Richmond, carrying
the Confederate nag in triumph u the
Ohio river. In this Department he has
ever bafiisd the enemy. and suatched vic
tory from a confident and powerful foe,
hurting him back with such signal dis.
comhture that hs has not yet been able
to come again, We do not wish to be
severe We are not of those who believe
"the King can do no wrong" Bat this
is not a time for criticism; for caviling,
for exciting unjust suspicious. and there
by weaken the powers that be- If we
have grievances let us hear them with
bet oming gravity. We arc for uphold
ing the hands of our generals; for exer-
cising patience, 10. bearance, good nature.
strong faith. and a reasonable mutual
help, which renders our disso ution i'm
prac icabls AID eur suljugatiOH impossi-
! ble.'
We believe he Herald ia in the main
correct in its vindicstion of Gen. Smith
We may fake this occasion 70 call atten-
tion to the fact that some of the Rich
rnond papers are also severe upon Gen
Smith. and we should be glad to be sutii-
ciently posted to repel every injurious
charge or insinuatioa against the COM
mander of this Department. for We agree
with the Herald that this s not a time
tn excite unjust suspicious and thereby
impair the usefulness of men holding i'm
pUrtant somuands.-Galvesto News.
GREAT DISASTER AT SAN ANTONIO
Mr.. George, of the firm of gorge g. Da-
wilson. arrived on Saturday night, direct
from San Antonio. lie gives Us the fol
lowing brief account Of great inunda-
ton of that city on Sunday night. the
goth ult Up to the Goth it had been
raining moderately and the ground had
BECOME thoroughly saturated. but at thai
hour. or near dark, the rain began 60
pour down in torrents, and at 9 clock
the river had risen till a large part Of tile
sty was overfiown, and the houses sit
uated near the river and in the lower
parts of the city We're near y royero1.-
Some twenty FIVE dwellings and stores
were swept away or destroyed; and when
Mr. George left, it was ascefiained that
some ten or twelve lives had been Loot.
Mr.. George is not able to give " the
names of those who perished in the food
He says the scene presented was the
most distressing The darkness was on
ly relieved by the glare of torchlights
that were used by theinhabitants, to save
themselves and families from the food
that was rapidly filling their dwellings
Ropes were thrown to many who were
unable to save themselves without as
sistance. AS Mr. George left the day
after this dreadful disaster, the losses Of
life and property had not then bsen fully
ascertained.
Col. Giddings was one Of the princi-
pal sufferers. His dwelling house was
nearly destroyed together with the fur
nitrre and large amount Of goods s-
Most of the buildings were made Of
adobes, and the effect Of the water was
to dissolve the clay till the walls fell in
A large amount of government property
was lost, particularly in the eommissary
storehouse.
Nearly all the cellars in the city were
filled with water. The water was three
feet higher than in. the great overflow
last spring.
Such an overflow as this has never
been known before or heard of BY the
Oldest inhabitonts.
Tue mail was lsft at Columbus. " len
it reaches here we may obtain further
particulars.-G GaEcestox Neus, 3d.