GALVESTON
WEEKLY NEWS
1863
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
We learn that a public meeting of the citizens of Fort Bend county, was
held on the 22d inst., at which delegates were appointed to the currency
convention to be held in this city in January next.
At the same meeting, we learn it was resolved to make up four companies
for local defence, of members over 50 and under 18 years of age.
A resolution was also passed fixing the number of negroes to be sent by
the planters from that county, in response to Gen. Magruder's late proclamation,
at one fourth of the able bodied men on each plantation, which it was supposed,
would give the number required from that county.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Gunpowder.—We have been shown a sample of gunpowder manufactured by our
friend A. Szabo at his mills in the vicinity of this city, that will compare
favorably with the best rifle powder. Mr.
Szabo is a Hungarian by birth, being one of the patriots who fought under
Kossuth in Hungary's struggle for liberty, and became an exile in consequence. For a year or two after his arrival in the United States he
was employed in a powder mill in the North where he became acquainted with the modus
operandi of manufacturing powder. Mr.
Szabo came to Texas in 1853 with the writer of this notice.
Upon the establishment of the blockade of our ports wishing to turn his
knowledge of powder making to some account to his adopted State as well as his
own pecuniary interest, he made an effort to enlist capitalists of this city in
the enterprise of establishing a powder mill in the vicinity of Houston, and he
was compelled to embark alone to the extent of his limited means or abandon the
enterprise altogether, and his enterprise prompted the former alternative, and
after over a years perseverance his efforts have been crowned with success, and
he is now prepared to turn out 100 or more pounds of superior
powder daily. We trust the citizens
of Texas, and Houston especially will appreciate and liberally reward such
enterprise in the bestowal of their patronage.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 5-6.
List
of Federal Prisoners of the 42d Mass. Regiment.
Isaac S Burrell, Colonel; Lt Stowell, Co E; Rev A G Sanger, Chaplin.
Co. "D"—Capt George Sherive, 1st Lieut Wm H Cowdin,
2d Lieut Darius F. Eddy, Sergts S A Waterman, Chas D Haye [?], Chas R. Todd, Wm
E Humphrey, John W Davis, Corporals Chas
C Richards, B Noyes, H W McIntosh, Chas J Oldham, Wm H Tilleston, B F Bean, L M
Calhoun, Drummer Lewis Eddy, Privates A I Allen, W H Brown, W H Brown, W H
Bullard, Wm H Batson, Chas Brown, C W Bailey, John Barnes, E Boardman, Wm Burke,
Major Bacon, M Buckmaster, John Burns, C H Cushman, G T Clinton, D Dailey, J
Drury, P Durham, T Ensle, G M Fiske, H Riske, J Fay, F Gour[illegible], C J
Grinnell, A B Hoard, Thomas H Houghton, D. Howe, W A Josselyn, E F Joselyn, J
Kopp, F La[illegible], F McConlon, R P Mosely, J T McElroy, F L Merrill, Jas
Moore, A Nicholson, James O'Shaughnessy, B
Pratt, G. Powers, L Preami, Gust Raymond, C Ryan, J
S Russell, J
Quinn, J H Stowell, H C Selein, S L Stoddard, D J Sullivan, Josiah
Thomson, L Thayter, J Thomaston, D H Vining, C G Weymouth, G S Walls, G H Wight,
J G Wight, A P Wright, Nat White, T Lannergan, F Howe, Wm B Lawnbee, W Rigby.
Total, 79 and a runaway negro of Parry's machine shop.
Co. "G."—Capt A N Proctor, 2d Lieut T H Newcomb, Sergeants L
W Govdrech, P P Hackett, Corporals J W
Buttrick, Seth E Cox, J E Birnup, Geo W Greggs, M Lincoln Jr, R G Thompson, G G
Morrison, Drummers H W Chandles, D A Ireson, Privates S C Judkins,
C F Allen, J Brownlow, C A Railey, J Brown, W H Rickus, C L Rarrot,
C Rarrott, Chas Roardman, J M Bernard jr, T. O'Bryant, William M Bird, G
Blairdell, J H Carz, J Carvey, J Cook, L S Copeland, F Carson, F Clark, F Coill,
Wm Carter, G Crocker, G H Davis, J E Davis, J L Davis, G R Darz, wounded, E R
Danble, wounded, D Dinngar, J G Emmerson, J Eaton, R Ellis, T Field, Benjamin
Gould, J W Gordon, G S Hyde, A A
Haydell, John Harmond, H T Horne, A A Holt, L Higgins, Chas Hilzer, A D Ireson,
E P Johnson, F Knight, G W Hibby, A Kelly, C B Lynd, A W Lynd, Wm Logan, S
Marshall, J Mullen, J H McAllister, C Paine, J W D Parker, D D Penney, J
F Parrott, R R Pierce, D Roseline, M
W Roberts, C W H Sanborn, A J Smart, T T
Switzer, H G Studley, Wm Stilles, C H Upham, E A Venton, L Vincent, J W
Vinal, J Vance, A F White, H J
Withers, Wm B York, J R York. Total,
83.
Co. "I"—Capt Cyrus Savage, 1st Lieut S F White, 2d
Lieut B F Bartlett, Sergeants W H Hunt, J F Hewins, C B Sawyer, E Merrill, jr, C
G Kenny, Corporals F M Adams, N H Bird,
S H Bridgham, D Sloan, D H Walker, Privates M. Averill, E F Bryant, E J Baker, J
Baker, E K Baker, J H Clements, Samuel
Crowell, J W Chencey, P Cuddy, D Chapin, T Cantillon, J C
Colson, T Dolan, T Delianty, C H Dodge, W C Elder, H W Eaten, J Elliot, G
S Farnum, W S Farrington, J Floyd, G T Fernald, E S Gray, T
Gidason, Chas Gleason, Geo Glover, jr, W [ililegible] Gardner, E. Helnets,
L. Helnets, C Hennis, J A Hodgkins, F Huggins, A Hobbs, T F Igo, A A Knight, D
Lannergan, C Littlefield, W B Lambert, F B Laury, J Mulgan, C Littlefield, W B
Lambert, F. B Laury, J Mulry, T Morris, W Morgan, D Mahoney, Jas McGee, J W
McLaughlin, T Noyes, N McCreary, L Mannix, S Nordinger, P Plummer, A Plummer, G
L Pitman, G Proctor, J R Pratt, Chas Poole, Papit, E Ransom, A Robbins, G
Richardson, E Smith, J Scaff, C Sumner, A Schrieder, G
W Sloan, J Stanley, W Spargo, J Taylor, Jos Teeling, W H H Weeman, G W
Wescott, O Willis, S Wood. Total,
88.
List
of Men Belonging to U.S. Steamer Harriet Lane.
Wm Ray, A Conner, G W Dorse, J Dewit, A Steel, T Hammond, C Gibson, J
Horrocks, E O'Brien, C Williams, J Clemmons, H F Paul, J Doudd, R Short, R Hahn,
W Marlin, R Buckshan, F P Burk, J Hart, G Simmons, W Mesy, F Munson, A Walton, A
O Cohn, W S Jacobus, Wm Smith, H Gordon, Robert Clifford, R N
Conway, P Tarson, J Marshall, J Booshby, J Budd, W F Kinsill, H Schaffer, Wm Abbott, T McCaully, J Steel, J
Kern, E Derryman, J Tolland, A Sternes, P McDonough, R Lewis, J Hutton, F Blanry,
J Holton, W M Patterson, J Carlin, J Johnson, J Delargy, H Burnes, J Tailon, Wm
Glonese, N Wheeler, colored, Thos Donovan, P Donovan, C Leonard, J Allison, J
Salone, H Burrell, colored, G Brown, colored, T Penn, colored, R Jackson, Frank
Jones, colored, M Connor, J Onry, T
Gerry, Mich Dorgan, E Vanvelser, J Foley, Horace Lucas.
Total, 71 and 6 negroes.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
The
Call for 2000 Negroes.
We notice that Gen. Magruder has issued an order requesting planters to
furnish 2000 negroes, with spades, shovels, &c., to assist in constructing
defences for Galveston, so that it may not again fall into the hands of the
enemy. $30 per month, with rations medicines, &c., will be
given, together with transportation free both ways.
The call is made upon Washington, Austin, Montgomery, Burleson, Travis,
Fayette, Bastrop, Colorado, Polk, Liberty, Chambers, Orange, Fort Bend, Milam,
Brazoria, Wharton, Matagorda and Robinson counties. Handbills are sent to all these counties.
The committee organized for aiding in the coast defence endorse this
call. A compliance with it without
delay is absolutely necessary for the defence of the country, which cannot be
defended so effectually in any other way as preventing the enemy from occupying
our seaports. It is true this is
the season when our planters should be preparing for their corps, but we presume
the large force called for, if sent, will be able to expedite the work in a few
days and return home. But our planters should bear in mind that the defence of
Galveston is their own most effectual defence, and that it is better for them to
spare their hands a short time than to be driven from their homes by an invading
enemy, as has been the lot of so many of the planters of Louisiana, who are now
seeking homes in Texas.—Had their own seaport been properly defended, their
plantations would have been saved from devastation and they would now have been
quietly in possession of their own homes. Let
us profit by the sad experience of others.
Gen. Magruder gives our planters the privilege of sending an overseer to
every gang of twenty-five or more negroes, who is also allowed rations and $60
per month. In this way they can
have an additional guarantee that their negroes will be well treated and cared
for.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
A
Card.
To the Editor of the News:--We, a committee appointed by the sick of the
C. S. General Hospital at Columbus, desire to return thanks to the ladies of
this place for their patriotic endeavors in our behalf; also for the sumptuous
dinner provided for us by their liberality on New Year's day.
The ladies of Columbus are second to none in the State, in supplying the
wants of the sick or the soldier in general.
Their example is worthy of themselves and the great and glorious struggle
in which we are engaged.
Fred. Inman,
}
John W. Moore,
} Committee.
J. L. McKinney,
}
Columbus, Texas, Jan. 2, 1863.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Major
A. M. Lea and his Son.
One of the most affecting incidents of the brilliant and successful
recapture of Galveston by the forces under Major Gen. Magruder was the meeting
(already briefly alluded to) between our esteemed friend Maj. Lea, of our army,
with his eldest and fondly loved son, who was 1st Lieutenant of the
Harriet Lane. We are informed that
nearly two years ago, the father then residing in Texas, had written repeatedly
to the son, then on the coast of China, suggesting the principles that should
determine his course in the then approaching struggle between the North and the
South of the United States, and saying that he could not dictate to one so long
obligated to act on his own judgment; and that decide as he might, such was his
confidence in his high conscienciousness, he would continue to regard him with
the respect of a gentleman and the affection of a father; but that, if he should
elect the side of the enemy, they would probably never meet on earth, unless
perchance they should meet in battle. The
father has served nearly eighteen months eastward of the Mississippi, and
through unsolicited orders, arrived at Houston, en route for San Antonio,
late at night of the 30th ult., when hearing of the intended attack
on the Harriet Lane, aboard of which he had heard was his son, also placed there
simply in the order of Providence, he solicited permission to join the
expedition in expectation of nursing or burying his son, whose human courage was
obliged to expose him fatally to the equal daring of our Texan boys.
During the fight, Major Lea was ordered by the General to keep a look out
from a house top for all movements in the bay.
As soon as daylight enabled him to see that the Lane had been captured,
by permission of the General, who knew nothing of the expected meeting, he
hastened aboard, when he was not surprised to find his son mortally wounded.
Wading through blood amidst the dying and the dead, he reached the youth,
pale and exhausted. "Edward,
'tis your father." "I
know you father, but cannot move," he said faintly.
"Are you fatally wounded?"
"Badly, but hope not fatally." "Do you suffer pain."
"Cannot speak," he whispered.
A stimulant was given him. "How
came you here father?" When
answered, a gleam of surprise and gratification passed over his fine face.
He then expended nearly his last words in making arrangements for his
wounded comrades. His father knelt
and blessed him, and hastened ashore for a litter, and returned just after life
had fled.—When told by the surgeon that he had but a few minutes to live, and
asked to express his wishes, he answered confidingly, "My father is
here," and spoke not again. He
was borne in procession to the grave from the Headquarters of Gen. Magruder, in
company with his Captain, and they were buried together, with appropriate
military honors, in the presence of many officers of both armies and many
generous citizens, all of whom expressed their deep sympathy with the bereaved
father, who said the solemn service for the Episcopal Church for the burial of
the dead, and then added this brief address:
"My friends, the wise man has said that there is a time to rejoice
and a time to mourn. Surely this is
a time when we may weep with those that weep.
Allow one so sorely tried, in this his willing sacrifice, to beseech you
to believe, whilst we defend our rights with strong arms and honest hearts, that
those we meet in battle may also have hearts brave and honest as our own.
We have here buried two brave and honest gentlemen.
Peace to their ashes! tread
lightly o'er their graves. Amen.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 14, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
The train from Galveston on Wednesday, brought up 27 Federal prisoners,
22 of whom were wounded, and the other 5 were those captured with
"Nicaragua" Smith when they came in for a pilot.
The officers of the 42d Mass. regiment, who came up as prisoners in
charge of Gen. T. B. Howard, informed him that the balance of the regiment left
New York at the same time with themselves, under Col. Burrell, and that the
whole regi't consisted of 982 men as shown by their muster rolls.
Only three companies came on the transport with the Colonel, the balance
of the regiment being on other transports.—Col. Burrell landed at Key West,
then Ship Island, then Carrolton, where he stayed several days, and thence on to
Galveston. The balance of the
regiment have not yet been heard from, and it is the impression of the officers
that they foundered at sea.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 14, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Benefit for Terry's Rangers.—A musical and dramatic entertainment of
the highest character is in course of preparation by the amateurs of Houston and
Galveston, under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Buttler [sic?], for the benefit
of our gallant rangers. It will
take place at Perkins Hall on Tuesday the 13th inst., when we hope to
see the greatest house of the season.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Necessity, for which they say there is no law, is about this time the law
paramount to us, and compels us to reduce the size of our Weekly for one or two
issues.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 21, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
A letter from Galveston says:
"People here are busy packing up, some moving down on the Island,
and some elsewhere, to get out of the way of bombshells, in case the enemy shall
attempt another bombardment without notice.
Some have constructed bomb-proof casements under ground for their
security, as soon as any trouble commences.
The stores were all closed yesterday at 3 P.M.
"Two houses, one of which was occupied by Ben. Crone, in the East
part of the city, were burned this morning.
One belonged to Dan Sears. They
were on Mechanic street, two doors east of Mr. Westerlage's residence.
Furniture and everything destroyed.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
What our people are to do for bread, we cannot tell.
We learn that five dollars per bushel was paid yesterday for corn meal,
and to-day we have sent to every mill in the city and cannot buy a peck of meal
at any price. Yet the fact is
undoubted that there is an abundance of corn in the country.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c, 1
We have received from Messrs. Wolff & Lemmel a few bottles of vinegar
which they are now manufacturing in this city.
This vinegar is now fresh, and will improve as it becomes older, but even
now we consider it an excellent article, having a pleasant taste, though not as
strong as it would be with a little more age.
They are now making several hundred gallons per day, a large portion of
which is taken by the government for the troops.
Such an enterprise deserves success, and we doubt not the proprietors
will be well rewarded.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
How
to Make Good Soap.
Take good strong lye from oak ashes and chop fine a good parcel of corn
shucks, put them in the lye, boil until the lye eats up the shucks, add more
shucks, taking the strings out, then you will have good soap.
We copy the above from the Charleston Courier, and hope some of our
readers will give it a trial, and let us know the result.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Honor
to Gen. Magruder
Our last issue having been issued while the ceremonies for the reception
of Gen. Magruder were in progress, we could only give a brief notice of them. We now copy from the Telegraph the several addresses
delivered, and regret, at the same time that Gen. Magruder's speech is not
within our reach.
The introductory address was that by Dr. Wm. McCravan welcoming the
General to our State. He said: . .
.
The people responded with three tremendous shouts for Magruder, and three
more for his noble army.
The General replied in a few brief but telling sentences. . .
Miss Sydnor was led forward by Mr. Sorley, holding a beautiful sword in
her hand crowned with a laurel wreath. In
the name of the ladies of Texas, Mr. Sorley addressed the General as follows:
General.—I have the honor to address you on behalf [of] the ladies of
Texas, represented on this occasion by the committee of ladies now assembled to
grace by their presence, and cheer by their smiles, this spontaneous offering of
a grateful and gallant people, to a gallant and honored chief.
It has ever been the instinct of woman to honor and revere true courage
in man, as it has been the sentiment of the truly brave of our sex to
appreciate, with tenderness and deference, the modes and self sacrificing
virtues of women. The history of
our race, to the remotest periods, shows this reciprocal relation to have
existed, and to have been promotive of the most exalted gallantry and courage on
the one hand, and the most tender and confiding trust on the other; but in vain
may we look for any more thrilling and striking manifestation of the exalted
virtue, courage and constancy of woman than have been exhibited in this, our
day, in our own midst, and in behalf of our glorious Confederacy in our present
holy struggle for independence.
When the encroachments of our late Northern associates began to assume
their present unrighteous and selfish character, and the dictates of honor and
love of freedom called sternly for resistance, many there were, throughout the
length and breadth of the South, who counselled forbearance, and an appeal to
that sense of justice, of which they vainly thought our enemies possessed, when
the statesmen of our country, who appreciated in their true light the treachery,
vindictiveness and cruelty of our enemies, as they have since been most signally
developed sounded from the outer walls the note of alarm and called upon our
people to prepare for a long and bloody war, they were denounced by many as
false alarmists; but the women of the South, with their keener perceptions of
impending danger, were unanimous in their spirit of resistance to the rule of
the fanatic, and their appeals to the sterner sex to go forth to battle in
defense of their homes and their altars—from that time till now they have
exhibited a faith, a heroism, a devotion to country unparalelled in the history
of the world. Forgetting not for a
moment her proper sphere, from the beginning of the war to the present moment,
woman has found her place, wherever duty has called, to feed the hungry, to
clothe the naked, to bind up the wounds of the afflicted.
Here has been the holy mission to comfort the mourning and bereaved, to
visit the wounded and sick of our army, regardless of the absence of any claim
of kindred; in the hovel, in the hospital, in the crowded city, by the way side,
has woman been ever present to cheer, to encourage, to relieve; and, when the
note of victory has sounded through the land, and thousands of manly voices have
taken up the acclaim, woman with her fuller sense of gratitude and joy, has
shown by her glowing, but tearful smile, the depth of her emotion; and, with
heart uplift to the Great God of battles, has poured forth her fervent
acknowledgments in praise and thanksgiving.
With eagerness she has sought out the names of the bravest of our brave
defenders, and while shedding the tear of unaffected sorrow to the memory of the
gallant dead, has treasured in her heart of hearts the names, the honor and the
glory of the successful and daring leaders of our brave and victorious hearts,
and gladly does she welcome the occasion when in woman's way she can give
expression to her pride and her admiration.
The names of Davis, Lee, Johnston, Beauregard, Bragg, Price, Morgan,
Stewart, Forrest, with many others, and last—but not least, Magruder, have
become household words among the women of our Confederacy, and will live in the
affections of our people long after they shall have left these present scenes,
and gone to their final reward. Thus,
imperfectly and briefly, sir, have I glanced at the estimation in which woman
holds the manly, true, and brave of our sex; and it is well.
Their influence on all of us is all prevailing, and always beneficial and
exalting.—In every sphere of life, from the brightest to the most lowly, the
goal of man's hopes and fears is woman, for her approving smile; to minister to
her joy; to meet her sympathy and love, man will nerve himself to deeds of toil,
of danger, of courage; she is to him the embodiment of all he holds dear on
earth. Without her, what were all
the honors, fame and ambition of life. Without
her as a beacon star to guide his ways, man were a blank, without country,
without home, without a noble motive or impulse.—These thoughts, I feel
assured, meet a cordial response in your breast.
The ladies of Texas, emulating their sisters in the other States of our
loved Confederacy, have watched with eagerness and pride the march of our
victorious hosts; and when, in the progress of the war, an unhappy reverse to
our army has been announced, they have but nerved themselves the more heroically
to make any and every sacrifice to retrieve the lost ground.
They heard long since, sir, of your chivalry and valor in the "Old
Dominion;" and when cast down by the uncontested surrender of their
beautiful Island City, they heard that Magruder, the dashing hero of the
Peninsula was coming to take command in Texas, their hopes revived, their
courage was reinspired. Nobly, sir,
have you fulfilled alike your duty to your country and their high hopes; and in
the retaking of Galveston and the destruction of the Federal fleet, with means
so apparently inadequate, save the indomitable courage of your gallant Texas
troops, you have secured to yourself that reward so dear to the brave—the
unbounded confidence and admiration of all Texas, in testimony of which, and as
a souvenir, which they hope you will ever prize, alike for its sake as for the
occasion which has induced it, they now present you, by the hands of one of the
fairest and most accomplished of the daughters of Texas, this sword, the emblem
of your office and your profession, relying with confidence that never will it
be drawn save in the cause of freedom and humanity.—They feel assured, sir, in
the language of another, that in your hands it will be endowed with three most
excellent qualities—its hilt with Faith, its blade with Hope, and its point
with Charity, teaching this important lesson, that having Faith in God and the
justice of your cause, you may reasonably Hope for victory, and be always ready
to extend the point of Charity to a conquered and fallen foe."
The General received the sword from the beautiful representative of the
women of Texas, with a graceful bow, and acknowledged, with emotions of pride
the compliment of the gift, declaring that the sword never should be drawn
without cause, or sheathed without honor.
He then turned to the audience and gave them a glowing, thrilling speech.
. .
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 29th, 1862.
Eds. News.—I forwarded you to-day an account of the battle of Vicksburg
yesterday, but they have done, according to accounts, some of the tallest
fighting to-day that has taken place since the battle of Fredericksburg. . .
Amongst the trophies brought in are four beautiful regimental flags, one the 58th
Ohio, another the 29th Missouri Volunteers.
This was presented at St. Louis, and the motto on it is:
"From St. Louis Friends."
This flag is pierced by some 10 bullet holes, and covered with the
heart's blood of its bearer. I
heard one of our boys say he was shot plumb through the heart. Then there is the 31st Missouri, a beautiful flag.
It is pretty badly shot; and the 13th Illinois is literally
torn to pieces with bullets. Some
of our boys recognized it as an old acquaintance they had met at Fort Donelson.
. . S.M.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
For the Galveston News.
W. R. Robinson, Surgeon in charge C. S. General Hospital Columbus:
You will find enclosed $753, net proceeds of the concert given by the
ladies of this place and vicinity on the 8th inst., for the benefit
of the sick in your hospital.
Very respectfully,
R. H. Jones,
}
T. W. Harris,
} Committee.
Columbus, Texas, Jan. 10th, 1863.
Received Columbus, Texas, January 10th, 1863, of Messrs. R. H.
Jones and Thomas W. Harris—seven hundred and fifty-three dollars, net proceeds
of the concert given by the ladies of this place for the benefit of the sick
soldiers under my charge.
Wm. R. Robinson, M. D.
Charge C. S. Gen. Hospital.
------
Editor
Galveston News.
Sir—Permit me through your columns to acknowledge the kindness and
patriotism displayed by the ladies of this vicinity towards the sick soldiers
under my charge.
To the Rev. Mr. J. M. Gorshorn, of Columbus, we are under great
obligations.
The following donations have been received from Mr. John Duffy, of
Alleyton, $20, "a lady," $5.
Respectfully, &c.
W. M. Robinson, M. D.
In charge Gen. Hospital, Columbus, Texas.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We are sorry we have to issue our present Weekly on such paper as this,
but the supply we have been expecting has not yet arrived.
We trust, however, we shall soon be able to send out a better looking
sheet.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Profits of Cultivating & Manufacturing Tobacco in Texas.—We learn
from a reliable source that three thousand dollars was realized by a citizen of
one of the N. W. counties of Texas, from the products of his tobacco crop for
1862, and that the party to whom he sold the leaf tobacco anticipated fully as
large a sum from its manufacture into chewing tobacco.
Who could wish a stronger inducement to engage in the culture of the
weed?
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Why is it, that at the Government Shoe Factory here, in charge of Capt.
Wharton, good, strong, well made brogans are turned out at an average price of
not over $6 per pair, while individual shoemakers about town, charge such
exorbitant rates for a similar article, not a whit better.
The material is the same. Texas
leather, and Texas material and work altogether, and the prices paid for the
labor and material are about the same.
The exemption of shoemakers from the conscript law is, in view of their
exorbitant charges, an injustice to the rest of the community.
Special legislation is, however, almost invariably deficient; its sins of
commission and omission require so much tinkering, that we presume the
shoemakers, like the farmers, will escape judgment.
A pair of brogans, no better than those being made for the government
here, cannot be had at private sale, or be made to order, for less than sixteen
to twenty dollars.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, January 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
We cannot undertake to answer the "Seven Planters" of Grimes
county, farther than to say that the "civilities" and
"attentions" shown the Yankee prisoners here consisted in friendly and
social converse with them in their barracks and in the streets, and in some
instances, in their being invited to their private residences.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
[Summary: Letter from S. A. Duval
thanking individuals for contributions to DeBray's Hospital at Harrisburg—left
side illegible in binding]
[Summary: Letter from H. S. T. in
Rutersville describing tableau and concert presented by young ladies of the
Female Seminary—left side illegible in binding]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
To
the Ladies and Citizens of Fort Bend County.
Headquarters 24th Regiment Texas
}
Cavalry, Post Arkansas,
}
January 5th, 1863.
}
Ladies and Fellow Citizens:--Permit us through the medium of the public
press, on behalf of the members of company F, 24th regiment cavalry,
to return you our sincere thanks for your timely donation of money, clothing and
shoes. I assure you that they were
gratefully received, and came at a very propitious time, for the weather here is
becoming cold and disagreeable, and especially so to the troops from the far off
sunny prairies of Western Texas, who have heretofore been unused to the cold and
chilling blasts which constantly sweep across this harsher latitude, and to
which the soldier is constantly exposed. Know
then that your donation is appreciated, and especially the overcoats and many
will be the thanks and kind wishes for the donors of Fort Bend county, by the
members of this company, while walking as sentinels their lonely posts keeping
the vigils of the night—but now especially are we thankful that while far away
from all we hold dear on earth—while subjected to strict military discipline
and exposing our lives in the tented field in defence of our bleeding country
that we are still remembered kindly at home,--To the ladies God bless them.
We need say nothing.
The sacrificing spirit which you have ever manifested since the beginning
of this unholy war, and which has ever actuated and moved you to deeds of
benevolence and humanity needs no comment from our pen, for they are written on
every page of the history of this terrible conflict between oppression and
liberty, and will be handed down to posterity as deeds worthy to be
emulated—men may acquire the name of being brave, and heroes may win unfading
laurels of glory, but your deeds are written deep on the tablets of the
heart—your many virtues and noble acts of sympathy manifested throughout this
bleeding struggle for independence will be handed down as a casket of jewels to
be recorded by the historians, and praised and sung by bards in future ages.
T. R. Beaird.
A. Ludwig,
Robt P. Briscoe
H. E. Hitt,
Alex Wade,
H. C. Robertson,
M. G. Mayes,
A. Wessendoff,
L. H. Linn,
D. H. Ruzby,
Wm. M. Perry,
W. H. Stevens,
Oliver Withington,
J. E. Dugnal,
? Williams,
J. C. Smith,
Geo E. Mayes,
J. W. Thornton,
A. R. Hudspeth,
H. A. Hagan,
C. Litterner,
H. Y. Compton,
John S. Mayes,
R. G. Foster,
With others, making about 60 signers.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Galveston, Jan. 30th, 1863.
The chief topic of the day has been the bombardment of yesterday.
Friends meet each other with an extra squeeze of the hand, inquiring with
smiling face and becoming gravity what houses were struck in their neighborhood?
how many goats were killed or wounded?
and whether the Brooklyn would be a fair match for one of our powerful
rams? A greater number of shot and
shell entered the town than was at first supposed; four fell within a half a
block of Capt. Lufkin's, two into a house at the east end of the town, another
into Schmidt's garden, one into a mule yard the other side of the Cotton Press,
one into the bayou in front of De Young's on Tremont street, one into the yard
of the German Catholic Church, another in front of the Convent, and probably
many others which have not come under my observation.
The first shell fired from the Brooklyn fell like a thunderbolt among a
number of negroes, who were busy leveling the cross ties on the railroad,
peppering them profusely with sand and water, in an instant an impromptu race
commenced which was kept up with great perseverance and agility for a
considerable distance. A gentleman who met them inquired what they were running for.
"By golla, massa," answered a large a full grown ebon, who was
begrimed and bespattered with dirt, "one of dem dar big shells fell close
to us and made a hole big enough to bury a hoss in." . . .
February 2d, 1863.
. . . Mr. Ostermeyer, a farmer on the Island, is reported to have picked up a
portion of a mast with a Confederate flag attached to it, said to have been
washed on shore, whether true or otherwise I have not yet been able to
ascertain.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Camp near Fredericksburg,
December 20, 1862.
. . . The enemy committed many outrages in Fredericksburg, after they had
crossed the river. They pillaged
every house in the town, ransacking the whole from garret to cellar. Everything in the way of edibles was quickly consumed,
windows smashed, doors torn down, furniture broken up, pianos robbed of their
keys, mirrors shivered, china and glassware smashed into atoms, feather beds
ripped open and their contents scattered in the streets, necessaries made of
parlors, and in fact every species of outrage which could be though or dreamed
of by the demons of Pandemonium was committed by the cowardly and licentious
soldiery. They stole all the
blankets, quilts and counterpanes to be found; broke into the cellars and drank
all the liquors left by the escaping citizens, so that the army became a drunken
and infuriated mob, doing all manner of mischief.
. . . Our troops are in excellent spirits, and as a general thing very well
clothed. The Texas Brigade is about
as well clothed as any troops. I
have noticed, though, they are deficient in blankets for the cold weather. . .
Amicus.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Sacking
of Fredericksburg Va.
Camp Near Fredericksburg, Va.
}
Jan. 1st, 1863.
}
Editor of the Galveston News—
Sir—We have read of sacked towns, and have witnessed such scenes in
Europe, but none have seen such destruction, vandalism, ruin and vindictiveness
as that which was displayed in the sacking of Fredericksburg, Va.
This old venerated town, bearing a world wide reputation for good order,
good morals, and the high tone of its citizens was doomed to suffer the horrors
of a devastation which I will endeavor to describe though satisfied that I shall
be only capable of giving but an outline of all that happened at that eventful
period.
The enemy shelled the town all day Thursday, December 11th,
and at night crossed his forces on pontoon bridges, and from that moment until
Monday night 110,000 men had control of that defenceless town, without restraint
or hindrance.
Having a great curiosity to see what could be the damage done to
Fredericksburg, I obtained permission to visit the town.
Leaving our camp to the right we reached the railroad and followed it to
within one mile of Fredericksburg, turning to the left, we came upon the battle
field on the left of our line where Jackson (or Stonewall) met the enemy with
terrible slaughter, a description which you have ere this received.
Continuing down the main road we pass by houses whose chimneys had been
knocked down by shells, walls by balls and ruins of burned houses which had set
on fire by combustible fluids.
We now come to the more thickly populated portion of the city, elegant
mansions and those less pretending were entered by the ruffianly troops under
Burnside—furniture is broken or thrown out of the windows—feather beds cut
open and the feathers blown throughout the house, books, papers and records
defaced, medicine chests, libraries and private writing desks rifled or broken,
ladies clothing cut to pieces, mirrors smashed and in most instances the house
entirely emptied of its former contents.
We reach the business streets we find the store doors open and nothing on
the shelves, the street's gutters being filled with the debris of a cities
contents. The fine building of the Bank of Va., was burnt to the
ground, $30,000 stolen, and all its papers and correspondence laying scattered
in the streets. In conversation
with one of the citizens I learned that at one time the Yankees were so huddled
together after the first repulse that they could not find room to lie down.
That there were not less than one hundred hospitals in the city,
including the churches—which to the disgrace of the 19th century
had been riddled the day previous with shells, even to destroying the steeples.
I enclose an extract from the New York Tribune upon the subject, which
places the wicked scenes upon history, so that Europe may read from the
abolition oracle itself how totally bereft of principle and honor is that army
which has so often shouted the strain "On to Richmond."
Gen. Lee's army fully commiserating the sufferings of the people has
raised a subscription list for their benefit, and I have the pleasure to
announce that the Texas Brigade comprising the 1st, 4th, 5th,
and 3d Arkansas have contributed the munificent amount of $5,930. I see by the papers that amounts are being contributed
throughout the Confederacy for this devoted city.
May we not hope that the Lone Star State which so far has been but little
disturbed by the calamities of war, will of her plenty, give much to her
impoverished sisters, the ladies of Fredericksburg.
Yours respectfully,
Arthur H. Edey,
Co. A, 5th Texas Volunteers.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Being still disappointed in getting our Weekly paper, we have to make
another issue on paper unsuitable in size and quality.
We are sparing neither efforts or money to do better for our patrons, and
hope they will extend us their indulgence.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We have had the pleasure of a call from Col. Borland and Col. J. J.
Diamond, both of Gainsville [sic], the latter late of the 11th Texas
cavalry. They are just from the extreme Northern frontier, and we are
glad to learn from them that the late abolition raid no longer excites any
apprehension in that region.—The prompt and decisive measures taken and
summary punishment inflicted had a very salutary effect. We learn from them that an account of those exciting events
is now being prepared for publication in pamphlet form. It will embrace proofs of the most unquestionable character,
showing that these men were acting under commission from these in authority
under the Lincoln Government. We
learn that many of the men were enlisted ostensibly for the Confederate service,
and that after they were organized into companies, they started to join the
enemy, taking with them all the negroes they could persuade to go.
We are glad to learn that some 20 or 30 of them have been recently
captured, together with one of the principle leaders in the plot.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Market.
Corn meal has gone up to one dollar and fifty cents a bushel, 'taters
to four dollars a barrel, and rot-gut smashes to four bits a swallow.
So says a Louisiana paper. Here
corn meal is selling at $5 to $6 per bushel, 'taters $5 per bushel, and rot-gut
smashes at about one dollar per swallow.
Bacon is worth 65 to 75 cts. per lb.
Butter can't be had at any price, though we hear of some procured from
the country at $1.50 per lb. Poor
beef is selling at 25 cts. for what are called choice pieces.
Fat beef, none here. Flour
$90 per bbl. or 200 lbs. Dry goods
about all gone. Shoes $25 to $35
per pair, and boots $60 to $75 per pair.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Washington's Birthday.—The entertainment to be given by the ladies of
Houston for the benefit of Hood's Brigade, on the anniversary of the birthday of
the "Father of his Country," will take place at Perkins' Hall on
Monday evening, the 23d inst. Our
amateurs are exerting themselves with the greatest enthusiasm to make this the
most agreeable and exciting affair of the season.
If they accomplish half the good they propose, it will satisfy the most
exacting seeker for novelty and amusement.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Col. James Reily.--We are gratified to learn that this officer, now
commanding Sibley's Brigade, has had presented to his regiment a battle flag,
made by the ladies of this city, and yesterday was complemented by some of his
old fellow citizens with a splendid war horse.
Both presents are peculiarly suitable at this time, for Col. Reily is the
first Confederate officer that ever planted our flag beyond the Rocky Mountains,
and the first that ever obtained an official recognition of our Confederacy in
Sonora and Chihuahua. He
deserves a flag himself. The
horse is most appropriate, being now under orders for a new field of service, he
should be mounted as becomes an officer of his rank.
This we understand some of his old friends have done in a most fitting
style. May success attend Col.
Reily and his gallant men. Sibley's
Brigade has alway[s] carried victory with it.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Munson's Shoales, Brazos Co., Feb. 4th, 1863.
Dear Sir:--I see a communication in your last from "Gid." on
raising Tobacco plants.
I beg leave to somewhat differ from the writer on one point.
Being a Virginia Tobacco raiser for twenty years, I think I must know
something about raising plants. From
now until the first of March, will be a very good time to sow.
Select a medium sandy soil (rich and damp) in a creek bottom or hammock;
burn sufficient to kill all wild seed; hoe the ground not more than two inches
deep; chop fine and rake; then sow the seed broad cast at the rate of a spoonful
to 50 square yards; tread down with the feet; cover your beds lightly with
leafless brush, clean of all other shade, as plants raised in the shade will not
stand transplanting. When the plant
is large enough to transplant (the leaves get nearly as large as the palm of the
hand) prepare the land where you intend to plant by plowing deep—checker off 3½
by [?] feet—pull up the corners of the checker with a hoe to make a
hill—chop it fine and deep—when you have a season plant your plants in the
hill if you have no season, make one by planting late in the evening and pour on
½ pint of water and pull on some loose dirt—cover the plant in the day with a
handfull of moss, or something else to protect it from the sun—uncover at
knight [sic] to take the dews for 3 or 4 days, and you will have a stand.
C.C.S.
P.S. I see you make complaint about the farmers not furnishing the
people of Houston with corn meat meal &c. plentiful and cheap.
Is it possible for the farmer to send his produce to Houston and sell
corn for one dollar, bacon at 15 cts. meal at $1.50 cts. when if he wants a pair
of Boots he has to pay $75, $18 and $25 for a pair of Shoes, $3 per yard for
Calico, and every thing in proportion.
Do give the farmer some chance to live, as he is flesh and blood as well
as the merchant.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, February 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Letter
from Wharton.
Editor News:--
Dear Sir:--Our quiet village for the last week has been full of life and
animation. Our streets crowded with people from all parts of the
country, attending the Administrators sale of John C. Clark's estate.
Mr. Clark has been a resident of this county for many years, and by dent
of perseverance and industry accumulated a very large fortune.
As he preferred a single life, to that of "connubial bliss" he
left no heirs to inherit his large estate; and dying without a will, the estate
fell into the hands of his Administrators to be wound up.
Many conjectures as to where he came from, and if any where are his
relations. If he has any relatives
living, they have never made their appearance yet. Whatever
may have been his errors in life, Mr. Clark was certainly an unassuming and
quiet citizen attending strictly to his own business.
"Peace to his ashes." Persons
flocked from every direction to attend the sale, and with a determination to
purchase property at all hazards, and at any price.
Prices were not considered. Property
of all kind brought all but incredible prices, and especially the negro
property. The people were almost
frantic upon the negro question. Let
me give you a list of some of the sales. Common
field hand (negro men) brought from three thousand to thirty-five hundred
dollars. Negro girls from 2 to 3
thousand dollars. Negro boys from
12 to 16 years old from 15 hundred to 3 thousand dollars, &c prices somewhat
raising according to age and condition. One
family of negroes, a woman of 45 years old with seven children, the oldest a boy
of 22 years the youngest a child of 3 years old brought the handsome sum of 18
thousand dollars. The whole lot,
consisting of 138 negroes of all ages, sex, sizes, and condition run up to the
round sum of 208 thousand dollars and upward.
Mules and oxen also seemed to be in great demand, mules sold from 400 to
800 dollars per pair. Oxen from 200
to 280 dollars per pair. Eight pair
of hames and traces brought 146 dollars, and everything else went in proportion.
The two plantations known as Clarks upper and lower plantations, and
comprising the best quality of old Caney soil, were certainly among the best
bargains of the sale. The upper
place brought 35 dollars per acre. The
lower place brought 34 dollars per acre.
Well Mr. Editor, I am forced to the conclusion, if fanatic Abe and his
confiding Cabinet could have attended this sale, they would have forced to the
opinion that their emancipation proclamation had but little influence or effect
upon the people of Texas.
I would however advise uncle Abe, that if he has got a surplus of negroes
on hand and wishes to dispose of them at good prices, he will please bring them
or forward them to Wharton Texas. Col.
John Franks is quite an accommodating gentleman, and will sell them for him in
the best manner possible, bringing the highest prices.
I am Respectfully,
Rowan.
Wharton, Texas, Feb. 8th, 1863.
We would remark that according to the advertisement of the above sale,
the sales were on one years credit notes to be secured and bearing 8 per cent
interest, payable in legal tender. If
such were indeed the terms of sale, the prices of the negroes are in fact such
as were never before heard of in this country.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
The Victoria Advocate says a Supply Association has been formed in that
place, and hopes it may have the effect to knock the monopolists and
extortioners into a "cocked hat."
Like associations are said to have afforded great relief in other places,
as in San Antonio and Austin. We
understand the Association to be on the principle of a joint stock company,
whose object it is to import the necessaries of life from Mexico or elsewhere,
so as to afford them to the stockholders at the lowest cost and charges, without
having to pay two or three hundred per cent. profit to the speculator, while at
the same time, the Association makes it a part of its business to afford relief
to the extent of its power to those who are not able to take stock, by letting
those have the articles also at cost and charges.
Why can we not have such an association in Houston? Surely there is no place that needs more protection against
exorbitant profits nor is there any place in Texas where there are so many poor
needing relief. We think this would
be a far better mode of relief than by giving so many thousand dollars as a
direct donation, nearly all of which money passes into the hands of speculators,
paying generally three or four profits on the necessaries of life before they
can be had by the poor consumer. The
San Antonio Herald of the 14th instant says:
The San Antonio Supply Association is furnishing its members and the poor
of this city with flour, corn meal, salt, sugar, &c., much cheaper than such
articles can be purchased in any other portion of the State.
It is selling flour at $16 per hundred pounds, about half the price it
now brings at Dallas, where the Association purchased it.
Is not this conclusion evidence of the great value of such associations?
We trust some of our patriotic citizens, who have given so munificently
and labored so long for the relief of the poor, will enquire into this matter,
and see if the same money cannot be made to do twice as much good as it now
does.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
The San Antonio Herald says the negroes of that city lately got up a
party for the benefit of our soldiers. The
net proceeds were $110, which have been forwarded to Bryan's Hospital.
We hear of small pox in various parts of the State.
Several fatal cases are reported in Bosque and other counties.
Every body should feel it a duty to resort at once to vaccination.
We learn that Dr. Oaks has lately received fresh vaccine matter.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Salt
for Sale.
The undersigned, Proprietors of the Garza Salt Lake, have and intend to
keep constantly on hand, a large supply of
Good
Salt for Sale.
Said Lake is situated about 30 miles south of Sanquette, 20 miles from
Staples' Rancho, on the Agua Dulce, 20 miles south from King's Rancho, and 14
miles east of north from Bovido Rancho, where Teamsters returning from
Brownsville on the lower road can get directions.
The road from Salt Lake to Banquette, where it intersects the Brownsville
road again, is high, firm, and free from sand, and grass good.
Unloaded wagons can cross the round flat without difficulty, which will
make the distance about the same as by King's Rancho.
W. N. Staples,
W. Burditt,
D. Hardeman.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Our
Army in Arkansas.
Pine Bluff, Ark., Feb. 14th, 1863.
Editor News.—My last was written you from Washington this State, giving
you information of the fall of the Post. Since
my arrival here I find the morale of the army much better than I was led
to believe it was before getting here. There
have been and still are fruitful causes of dissatisfaction in the army. One of the causes and as I imagine a good one is the ruinous
and swindling prices asked at home for the necessaries of life.
They say with truth that the farmer who demands these undue prices for
his produce is more to be blamed than the merchant for what the latter sells may
in the day of war be looked upon more as luxuries than necessaries, but no one
can do without grain and meat. It
is well known that the greater portion of our army is composed of poor men whose
daily labor is the only dependence for the sustenance of their families and what
can their pittance of eleven dollars per month do towards a support at such
times as these. Another source of
dissatisfaction is that while the large slave owner remains at home (protected
by the sheltering wing of a patrician Congress) when their slaves are necessary
for the defense of the country, they are paid thirty dollars a month while the white
man is required to peril his life, leave his family unprovided for or else
dependent upon a force charity for the miserable pittance of eleven dollars.
If the contest shall be against us, much of the result will be
attributable to these distinctions that are daily being made. . . .
All the troops here are well clad, fed and armed.
They are anxious for a fight, and you may feel confident they will never
tarnish their names that have grown so bright during this contest—all are
hopeful and determined. The health
of the army is daily improving—with an active commander what might they not
accomplish—cannot their hearts be cheered with the knowledge that those who
should be friends at home are not wringing their little substance from their
wives and children.
E.W.C.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
The following receipt we are assured from an entirely reliable source,
makes a most useful and excellent Ointment for sores, ulcers &c.
It has been furnished by a patriotic lady of Galveston, Mrs. Arnold, who
is anxious that it may be found useful to our soldiers. We recommend its trial.
1 Ounce Venice Turpentine; 1 ounce Precipatate [sic]; 1 ounce Castor Oil;
1½ ounce Mutton Tallow; 1 ounce lard; 1 spoonful Spirits of Turpentine to be
sell stirred in a warm earthen dish.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Typhoid Fever in the Army.—Every day we hear sad tidings of death among
the gallant boys in the army from that scourge, typhoid fever.
A gentleman of the medical profession new in this city, a citizen of
Texas, expresses his surprise that the potent remedy of spirits of turpentine
has made so little progress in the country for the cure of this ailment. My friend, Dr. R., a man of splendid professional ability,
says that if any remedy can ever be called a specific, spirits of turpentine may
be so considered in case of typhoid fever.
He begins with small doses of about ten drops every two hours, and
continues the remedy in large doses, giving as high as a teaspoonful at a dose,
till the right action is seen on the skin.
Spirits of nitre may be needed to relieve strangury apt to follow the
administration of turpentine, but nothing further is ever needed.—Atlanta
Confederacy.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Our contemporary of the Marshall Republican reminds his readers of the
importance of raising a good supply of mustard.
It is very easily raised in this climate, and is valuable, not only as a
condiment, but for various medical purposes.
Let us remember that we must now raise or make nearly everything we want,
or else do without.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We were favored with a call, a few days since, from Mrs. Lancaster, the
accomplished lady of the editor of the Texas Ranger.
Mrs. L., in the absence of her husband in the service of his country,
occupies the chair editorial, and we rather like the change.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Like most of our contemporaries, we are compelled to advance our terms of
subscription, not for the purpose of increasing profits, but to save ourselves
from loss. Having now to pay for white paper just about fifteen times
the price when our terms of subscription were established, our readers will
readily see the utter impossibility of continuing the same rates.
We had hoped, ere this, to have received paper long since sent for by a
special agent, and that the cost would not have been so high as to make this
advance necessary. But we now see no immediate prospect of getting the paper we
have been looking for, and the increasing scarcity and cost of paper even east
of the Mississippi, and the enormous charges for transportation, with all the
attendant difficulties and delays, will probably bring that paper, when it
arrives, (even if it ever does,) nearly to the price we are now paying.
Subscriptions from this date to the Tri-Weekly News will be charged $12
per year, or at the same rate quarterly, and for the Weekly News $5, always in
advance, and present subscribers will be charged the same when the time for
which they have paid has expired. We
should state for the information of subscribers in arrear that they will be
charged at the above rates from this date, and if they wish the paper
discontinued, they have only to notify us and pay up all arrears.
We have not made arrangements by which we believe the News will always
give its patrons all the important and reliable intelligence from the seat of
war and elsewhere, at the earliest possible moment.
We have been subject to many embarrassments, as our readers are generally
aware, from heavy losses by the war, by fire and otherwise, but by the continual
support of our patrons and our own unceasing labors, we hope not only to be able
to continue our paper through the war, but to improve it from time to time.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
Houston, March 21, 1863.
The following is a list of articles donated by our citizens to the 2d
Texas Regiment, and will be disposed of by Lottery, on Tuesday evening March 24th,
at Perkins Hall, other articles are continually coming in which will augment the
amount.
2 large family Sewing Machines valued at $375 each
$750 00
1 Fine [five?] octave Melodeon
200 00
1 Magnificent Guitar
50 00
1 Stiascope [sic?] and 50 plates
225 00
1 Elegant white crape shawl
300 00
2 Acres land immediately adjoining this city
1,000 00
1 Splendid gold watch and chain
400 00
1 Fine worked table cover
150 00
The model ship Harriet Lane
100 00
1 Fine Oil Painting
20 00
We the undersigned committee appointed for the purpose of superintending
the drawing of the various Lotteries to be drawed [sic] on next Tuesday evening,
for the benefit of the 2d Texas Regiment, being desirous that said Lotteries
shall be fair and equitable so as to do justice to all parties concerned, have
determined upon the following method of drawing.
The numbers corresponding to those on the list of chances for each prize,
shall be written on small round cards and shaken in a hat, a little girl
(blindfolded) shall then under the direction of the committee proceed to draw
one card from the hat, and that number drawn shall take the prize.
This plan the committee think is the fairest and at the same time the
most expeditious which can be adopted. In
case all the chances of the various Lotteries are not taken at the time of the
drawing this committee will then take the remaining chances and if such chances
drew the prize, then the same shall be sold at Auction by Col. Sydnor for the
benefit of the 2d Texas Regiment.
T. W. House,
}
C. S. Longcope
} Committee.
Alex. Sessums,
}
Fred. Stanley,
}
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
To
the Patriotic Ladies of Texas.
The undersigned having been creditably informed that our Texas soldiers
in Arkansas have suffered, and are yet suffering from sickness and disease,
incident to an unhealthy country, and that hundreds (we may say thousands) have
died, mostly for the want of necessary and proper attention, respectfully
recommend to the ladies of this State the great necessity of giving
entertainments and taking up subscriptions for our suffering troops in Arkansas.
For the purpose of assisting in this object of mercy, a grand
entertainment will be given at this place on Friday and Saturday evenings the 24th
and 25th of April; also subscriptions will be received by either of
the undersigned.
It is hoped that our patriotic citizens who have been so liberal in
donating to the hospitals of our Texas soldiers in Virginia and Tennessee, will
be equally as liberal towards those in Arkansas, who have suffered more from
sickness than any other troops in the Confederacy.
At Arkansas Post, one of the most sickly places West of the Mississippi,
the deaths averaged from four to six per day, and the condition of the hospital
was such that many of our brave volunteers preferred to linger and die in their
tents than to be taken there. We
have more Texas soldiers in Arkansas than in any other State, and we regret to
say less has been done for them, notwithstanding death has thinned their ranks
by disease and sickness more than among any of our troops in other states. Such being the facts, shall we turn a deaf ear to the cries
of our suffering fathers, husbands, sons and brothers? For ourselves, and in the name of our young, noble and
chivalric State we say—No, never!
Mrs. Eva Lancaster,
}
Mrs. Mary Lockett,
}
Mrs. James Heard,
}
Mrs. B. F. Rucker,
} Committee.
Mrs. Cartmell,
}
Mrs. Burkhead,
}
Miss Myra Johnson,
}
Miss Bessie Spann,
}
Washington, Texas, March 18, 1862.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, March 25, 1863, p. 5
From Middle Tennessee—An army correspondent of the Chattanooga Rebel
writes as follows:
Our army is again in a good fighting trim, and the ranks rapidly filling
up by the influx of absentees. I
suppose it is better clothed, equipped and fed than ever before.
The country is bountifully supplied with game, but the boys are forbidden
to shoot, for fear of hitting some general's aid.
I have conversed with several intelligent and creditable gentlemen from
Williamson county in the last few days, and they bring melancholy tidings of the
fate of their gallant people. The
country is being desolated. The
Abolitionists are burning and destroying houses, razing fences, stealing horses,
shooting cattle and hauling off all the provisions in the county not even
leaving many families meat or bread enough for a single meal.
They have broken up the wagons, hoes, and plows, destroyed the harness,
and everything that can be employed in cultivating the earth.
The officers boldly proclaim that the people shall not raise another
crop. Citizens are robbed of their
money, and their houses pillaged of every article of wearing apparel, and bed
clothing, and their furniture and table ware broken and ruined by heartless
scoundrels. I was informed of three
instances of my acquaintance in which fair, modest, virtuous young women were
ruthlessly violated by the hellish ruffians.
These are not pictures woven by fancy, nor the creation of vague rumors,
but facts attested by authorities that cannot be questioned.
If retributive justice is no myth of fancy, it surely is time now for an
exhibition of its power. When the
men of the country are torn from their homes to fight for the government, that
government should take some retaliatory steps to protect their helpless families
from the hands of the incendiary and the ravisher.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
We notice that many Galvestonians in this city are anxiously awaiting the
removal of the military restrictions which still prevent their return to their
homes. It is said these
restrictions will soon be removed. They
are now subjected to heavy expenses and great inconveniences, and most of them
are here deprived of all income whatever, while their property in Galveston is
daily suffering for the want of their attention.
The establishment of a General Hospital in Galveston is believed to be an
indication that the restrictions will be removed before long, for if Galveston
is a suitable place for the sick, no reason is seen why it should not be at
least equally so for the well.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
Ed. News:--I hand you herewith a list of donations collected for the 2d
Texas, by Mrs. M. Sessums which amount I have received from her.
[list]
The thanks of the Regiment and the committees are due to cioux [sic] and
Capt. S. Scudder, for great floral favors and to Lieut. McDonald for $300,
donated out of proceeds of a set of jewelry which was raffled last week.
The full amount of the fair Tuesday night I cannot precisely give as
several amounts are yet to come in, but enough has been received to make it
certain that it will be very handsome, a full statement will appear in a few
days.
T. W. House.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 1, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
From
Galveston.
Galveston, March 28, 1863.
Eds. News.—Yesterday Evening the train did not arrive from Houston
until 8 o'clock. The freight was so great that the engine was incapable of
taking it beyond Virginia Point, where eleven cars out of thirty were switched
off. After taking the balance on
the bridge the locomotive started to Galveston for a fresh supply of fuel.
Many of the passengers, impatient of further delay, resolved to
accomplish the remainder of the journey, about 6 miles, on foot and arrived home
hungry, dissatisfied and fatigued with the day's adventure.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 8, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Letter
from Galveston.
Galveston, March 30, 1863.
The Relief Committee have distributed nearly $2500 worth of brown
domestics, prints &c., among the families of soldiers and widows.
For these goods no charge was made, but if any of the recipients felt
disposed to make a voluntary payment they were at liberty to do so according to
their means, in this manner about $400 have been realized which will be expended
in the purchase of further supplies.
Upwards of two hundred families have been relieved but there are still a
great many applicants who really require assistance.
Lately there have been some few cases of drunkenness on the streets,
contrary to orders from the Provost Marshal; parties have found means to smuggle
liquor into the city, which is calculated to produce a pernicious effect. Capt. Trueheart and his officers are on the alert to catch
the offenders. The former has
issued a notice, which threatens to banish from the Island any person who shall
be detected "in the introduction, sale or distribution of vinous or
spirituous liquors without a proper permit."
From ten to twelve hundred dollars worth of liquor neatly packed up in
small boxes, has been seized by order of the Provost Marshal, and as the
consignee refuses to receive it Capt. Trueheart will have to dispose of it to
the best advantage.
The enrolling office for conscripts has been regularly besieged
throughout the day, by those who claim exemption on the ground of physical
disability.
The enforcement of the conscription act has converted one half of the
able bodied men of the place into invalids—Gout, Rheumatism and other diseases
of a most complicated character, sufficient to baffle the combined skill of all
the medical faculties that ever existed, have lately made their appearance and
quite annihilated the patriotism, energy and zeal, which their victims possessed
and displayed prior to the extension of the act to the age of forty-five.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 8, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
The Brownsville correspondent of the San Antonio Herald says Judge Davis
was accompanied by a Major who was formerly a preacher in Austin, and by a
Lieut. who was also a renegade from the same city, and by three subaltern
officers, two of whom were from this State.
One of these three is said to be Braubock, once the Sheriff of Gillespie
county, and who escaped from the guard house in Austin last Summer.
Some 10 or 12 men of the 3d Regiment had deserted by their influence, one
of whom is Lieut. Holtse from New Braunfels.
Pearce, the United States consul at Matamoras, keeps a recruiting office
and clothes and feeds all the recruits among whom are the deserters and some
traitors from San Antonio and other parts of Texas, some of whom are said to
have very soon found out their mistake. The
Herald says Montgomery, late of Lockhart, "went up a tree," as soon as
captured, and that Davis ought to have gone up at the same time, but that he was
surrendered to the Mexican Authorities.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 8, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Surrender
of Judge Davis.
The Brownsville Flag of the 20th gives the following account
of the capture and surrender of Judge Davis:
On the night of Saturday, the 14th, or rather on the morning
of Sunday the 15th, a party of men consisting of some citizens and
some soldiers, so we have been told, (for the names and details of the
transaction have been kept pretty close by the actors in the affair,) passed
from the Texas side of the Rio Grande into Mexico, and captured and took
prisoner a man, I. T. [sic] Montgomery, a very desperate character, who had made
himself notorious and objectionable to the Confederate citizens on this
frontier. At the time Montgomery
was captured, there happened to be present a Texas renegade named E. J. Davis,
who pretends to hold a colonel's commission in the Yankee army.
Davis was with his family at the time, and it is possible that this
circumstance is the only excuses for his being alive at this time to perplex
matters between people who ought to have more important matters to quarrel
about.
The Texans crossed the Rio Grande early in the morning and soon
surrounded the house in which Montgomery and Davis were lodged.
Quite a number of renegades were in the house, and they soon showed a
disposition to fight. This was just
the card that suited the Texians and our boys pitched in.
The renegades soon found that fighting was not their game, and they
commenced a lively skeedadle over the sand hills. They were fired at by our boys, and we are informed through
their own party that they lost three men killed and some wounded.
As we said before, owing to the secrecy observed about the affair on the
Texas side of the Rio Grande, we can ascertain none of the particulars of the
transaction from those of our men who were engaged in it, and therefore we have
to rely mainly on the statements of parties who have heard the talk of the
runaway renegades.
Montgomery and Davis were brought to the Texas side of the Rio Grande.
Montgomery is said to have been hung immediately after he was landed, and
Davis was concealed in the bushes near Brownsville to prevent his being taken
possession of by Gen. Bee.
As a matter of course this invasion of Mexico and capture of Yankees in
that country, created great excitement and much anxious regret both in Matamoros
and Brownsville. The renegades took
it in high dudgeon and got up a torchlight procession in Matamoros which
consisted of runaways, white and black, a few barefooted Mexicans, and any
number of children. The same crowd
could have been hired to turn out for any disreputable purpose, either to attend
the funeral of a thief, or the orgies of a prostitute.
The Mexican authorities acted very promptly and very calmly on the
subject. Gov. Lopez simply made a
demand for the surrender of the captured individuals, and as soon as Gen. Bee
could obtain control of Davis, he returned him to the Mexican authorities.
This act of justice was done on Wednesday, Major Gray acting as the agent
of the military in surrendering the renegade.
The Mexican population of Matamoros, that is the respectable portion of
it, acted with a great deal of calmness on the occasion, and used their best
endeavors to bring the matter to a peaceful and satisfactory termination.
They perceived that the act was one purely personal, and that the two
people should not embroil themselves for one of those events which no authority
can at all times control.
When the renegades were captured they were at the mouth of the Rio Grande
for the purpose of going away on a Yankee transport.
When she learned of the capture she put to sea with the threat to return
soon with forces to thrash the Texians at the mouth of the river.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 8, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Letter
from Brownsville.
Brownsville, Texas, March 22, 1863.
Editor Galveston News:
It is reported that Col. (late Judge) Davis, after his surrender to Gov.
Lopez Wednesday last, behaved himself prudently, not joining in the noisy
demonstrations gotten up by the Consul and adherents among the rabble, and that
he has left Matamoras for the mouth of the river with the design of embarking as
speedily as possible. "Let the
devil have his due." He has
real sins enough to atone for, without imputation of others not his own.
It is said that his wife had expressed a wish that he might be kept a
prisoner during the war, to prevent him from serving the enemy.
She is a firm Southerner, and although, as a true wife should, she goes
with her husband where he wishes her to go, she does not hesitate to condemn the
part he has taken against his country. He
has other very near relatives in Texas, it is said, whose loyalty is true, and
who are much pained by his defection.
The steam transport, Honduras, in which colonel Davis came over, has had
a run up the coast since his capture, and has returned to the mouth, ready, it
is supposed, to take on these refugees, whose departure will be quite a relief
from continual apprehension of unpleasant collisions.
It is said that the barque "Arthur," U. S. ship of war, so long
lying off Aransas bar, is also now off this port, where a British steamer is
also watching events. . . .
Sabre.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 15, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Houston, April 7th, 1863.
Editor News.—Herewith I hand you statement of the various amounts
received by me for the benefit of the 2d Texas Regiment.
Nett proceeds of Concert, $1,279 30; nett proceeds of Fair, 6,348 10;
amount from Jewelry raffled, Lieut. McDonald, 300; one melodeon, sold at
auction, 200p; one Sewing Machine, sold at auction, 190; two cakes sold at
auction, 21; donations made to Mrs. Sessums [list]; donations made to Misses
Rossell and Noble [list]; donations made to Mrs. Branard [list].
The thanks of the regiment are due to the Ladies of Houston and Galveston
for their untiring efforts and liberality in aid of this fund, to the Young
Ladies of Ursuline Convent, in Galveston, "Sioux" and Captain Scudder,
for their contributions of flowers, and to Col. DeBray for the band kindly sent
up for the occasion.
The list of the amounts taken at each table, and other papers are in my
possession, and can be seen by any one interested in the same.
T. W. House.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 15, 1863, p. 2, c. 7
A
Card.
Having spent twenty-five years of my life as a practical machinist and
manufacturer in Alabama, and desiring to see something done in Texas to render
us more independent than we are, or ever can be, without a manufacturing
interest, I will offer my services to any party with capitol sufficient to put
in operation one thousand spindles and thirty looms, to make cotton and woolen
goods. I have put in operation the
two largest and most successful cotton factories in Alabama, and have full
confidence that no honest employment will pay better in Texas than
manufacturing, such goods as our people consume.
P.O.—Corpus Christi.
J. P. Perham.
References—Col. S. R. Blake, and Dr. N. Allen.
Bellville, Texas
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The amateur Concert on Monday (last) night for the benefit of Gov.
Baylors Arizonia [sic] Brigade was a decidedly creditable affair to all engaged.
The music was selected with taste and performed admirably, much to the
gratification of the large number of our discriminating citizens assembled.
Gov. Baylor being present was called upon for a speech, and in response
made a few appropriate remarks, thanking the amateurs and audience for the
interest displayed in his Brigade, which at present he was deemed unworthy to
command, and assuring them that whenever their homes were to be defended he
would take his place in the ranks if necessary.
He was loudly applauded during his brief address.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Provide for Soldiers' Families.—The Almanac Extra contains a letter
from Gen. H. E. McCulloch, dated Camp Wright, Arkansas, March 6th,
stating that as Congress commuted soldiers' rations in Hospital at one dollar a
day, the means from this source will be more than sufficient to support the
hospitals of that State, and he presumes the same is the case in other States.
He therefore says their friends in Texas may now turn their attention to
the wants of the soldiers' families, many of whom have been left dependent.
He says:
Let these, and the widows and orphans of those who have already fallen in
your defence, have ALL that you can POSSIBLY spare them; and, in performing this
noble service, remember that you not only dry up the tears and soothe the
distress of the suffering at home, but you encourage and warm up the heart of
the patriot soldier, battling for our cause in camp.
When he knows that his loved ones behind him are not permitted to suffer
by his absence, he is better prepared to give his mind and heart, and, if needs
be, his life to the defence of his country.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Notice
Extraordinary!
The undersigned begs leave to inform the public that he has succeeded in
introducing into this State two suits of double Wool Carding Machines and
Picker, and has located the same at Prairie Lea, in Caldwell county, at the
Mills of Mr. Thos. Mooney, on the San Marcos river.
The machinery will be in operation by the first of May next, and wool
will be carded into rolls for hand spinning, for cash or wool, at reasonable
rates, and rolls constantly on hand for sale.
Mr. Thos. Mooney, an old Texian, is favorably known to many, having
resided many years at Prairie Lea, is interested in the carding business, and
will fix price and terms for carding wool and the sale of rolls.
I have secured the services of a competent and experienced man in the
person of Mr. S. S. Bryant, my father-in-law, to superintend the operative parts
of the business, and can vouch for him in every particular, and I hope we may be
able to give entire satisfaction to all who may favor us with their patronage,
which we respectfully solicit.
Persons sending wool to the Factory to be carded will please observe the
following suggestions: Wash the
wool clean before sending it to the factory, or request in writing to have it
cleansed at the factory. You need
not pick the wool to pieces, only so much as is necessary to get the burs all
out, but the burs must be all taken out before sending the wool to be carded.
Send one pound of clean fresh lard to every ten pounds of wool, and
strong sheets or blankets to pin up the rolls in.
The above named machinery will turn off work enough to keep one thousand
hand spinning sheets supplied with rolls and furnish filling for two thousand
yards of plantation goods per day.
Harris Hoyt.
Houston, April 21, 1863.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
A
Card.
I take this opportunity to say to those planters with whom I have
conferred on the subject of establishing a cotton and woolen factory, some of
whom subscribed conditionally to the stock of the proposed Texas Manufacturing
Company before I obtained a charter incorporating the same, which was granted at
the last regular session of the Texas Legislature, that I have made arrangements
for all the machinery for a cotton and woolen mill of any size or capacity
desired, and if those planters who were in favor of establishing said
manufactory, or any other responsible individual, or set of men in the State
wish to establish a large or small cotton and woolen factory in Texas, and will
furnish me the cotton at once to pay for the machinery, I will furnish it at
such place and on such terms as may be agreed on, and I will turn over to them
the said charter at what it is worth, and I will take stock if parties desire me
to do so, and do all in my power to aid in establishing such an institution as
the planters in this State need.
I beg leave to say, however, that I am not in favor of the South becoming
a manufacturing people to a great extent, especially of the finer fabrics, but I
am in favour of Texas and all the Confederate States becoming more self-reliant,
and manufacturing plantation goods and producing in our glorious Confederacy
every necessary of life we require.
With the sword in one hand and the plow and spindle in the other, and God
on our side, we will gain our independence, and by economy, industry and
temperance, and the productions of our soil, the Confederate States of America
may become one of the wealthiest, the most independent and powerful nations on
the globe—for if God be for us, who can be against us.
Any communications addressed to me at Brenham between this and the first
day of May will receive attention.
Harris Hoyt.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 29, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We have been presented by Mr. C. Fridericks with a bottle of excellent
Mustang wine, manufactured by B. F. Ruckner, Esq., of Washington.
It is a very superior article, and both in body and flavor, far
preferable to any claret wine in common use.
But in these times, when imported wines can scarcely be had at any price,
such wine as this is a luxury indeed and the price it would now readily command
should be an inducement to the people of Texas, to take unusual pains to the
manufacture of all the domestic wine possible, from the grapes that grow so
spontaneously in nearly all parts of our State.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, April 29, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Patriotic Contribution.—We learn by a gentleman from Hempstead, that
the ladies of that county gave a fair on last Tuesday night in Hempstead, for
the benefit of Waller's Battalion the proceeds of which amounted to upwards of
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. This is the
largest contribution we have yet heard of at any one fair, and speaks stronger
than any language for the patriotism of Austin county.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Yet Another Concert.—The musical amateurs and Professors of Galveston
and Houston, have for several nights been engaged rehearsing for a concert which
for variety and novelty will be par excelence the musical festival of the
season.
The programme will contain selections from Oratorios, Opera, Glees,
Overtures, Concert Waltz's etc.
The singing will be in English, and several of the great and popular
songs of the Giants in music each with Instrumental and Piano accompaniment are
in rehearsal. The whole is under
the immediate control of A. A. Adly, who is well known to this place as an
accomplished musical Professor, and who has spared no pains or labor to give our
citizens a new and rich musical treat. The
proceeds of this entertainment are to be donated to the General Hospital at
Galveston.
This Hospital has just been started and its present wants are great,
every thing is needed to render it effective, and temporary assistance must be
had to put it in the way of saving the lives of many valuable soldiers and that
immediately.
It is hoped our citizens will respond liberally and cheerfully to this
one more call for material aid. Let
us show our brothers in the field we appreciate their services.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Letter
from Tennessee.
Camp near Franklin, Murey [sic] Co., Tenn.
}
March 3, 1863
}
Dear News:--Some time have now elapsed since I have written to you; the
inclination was good, but such has been the hurry and bustle attending our march
from Oakland, Miss., to this place, that I have scarcely had time to eat a
breakfast, when blessed with such a luxury.
Not long after writing my last, wee were ordered to Columbia, Tennessee,
a distance of near three hundred miles. The
weather being very disagreeable (rain snow or sleet falling nearly every day)
and being entirely without tents, we suffered not a little for several days, I
assure you. Very often the ground
was frozen so hard, where it was previously cut up from constant rains, that our
horses could hardly travel at all. But
we were ordered and must go. After
getting to Okolona, we rested a little while, waiting for the remainder of the
cavalry to get ready, during which time we refreshed ourselves with a "good
scrubbing," and enjoyed the luxury of a "clean shirt."
Ah! you may laugh at this,
but it is indeed quite a treat to us even to get leave to scrub up and change
clothes, such is often the rapidity of our movements.
The portion of Mississippi and north Alabama over which we passed after
leaving Okolona, is very broken and poor, and seems adapted to nothing, save the
seemingly spontaneous growth of white headed children and manufacture of a
species of ardent spirits called "sing lings."
In the neighborhood of Florence and Titus counties, the face of the
country changes materially, and forcibly reminded me of some of our fine Texas
lands. That portion of Alabama has
been overrun and almost ruined by the foul depredations of the accursed Yankees.
Nearly all of the negroes were stolen before the corps were gathered, the
horses, cattle and hogs stolen, and houses pillaged. The base villains would even strip the ladies' wardrobes of
their contents, and search their persons for hidden coin or jewelry.
Oh! now Southern blood boils
at the indignities heaped upon the fair daughters of our land, by the foul hands
of the base demons who invade our soil. But
the day of retribution is coming, yea, even now on the bloody field, the
husband, father and brother, remember the loved ones in peril at home, and nerve
their arms for revenge.
The many hard fought battles where the enemy outnumbered us four to one
attest the strength of those arms when nerved by such thoughts.
Many farmers near where we crossed the Tennessee river, have lost over
one hundred negroes each; some have been stripped of every dollar they
possessed—one day wealthy the next beggars.
When I think of the origin of this war, and my thoughts wander back to
its first inception, when our wives, mothers and daughters trembled at the
thoughts of it, I am more fully convinced of woman's fortitude and holy devotion
to kindred and country, and to-day, I boldly assert that the fair daughters of
the South, though called weak and frail, possess fortitude in times of danger,
far superior to that of man, and indeed she has done scarcely less for our
glorious cause. Man boasts of his
superiority before danger comes, and tender loving woman shrinks from it, but
let it come upon us, encompass us all around, and then it is that the noblest
qualities of the female develop themselves.
She is no longer weak and frail—proudly upright, she holds her head;
her calmly beaming eye seems to shine with the light of divinity itself.
She can with wisdom direct the actions of those who call themselves her
superiors. The noble patriotic
women of the South have won the highest laurels in this war.
Go ask the sick care-worn soldier, who nursed him when among strangers?
Seek him who fell wounded and mangled on the battle field, and ask how he
came to survive—all, all will say with grateful tears and smiles, than an
Angel in female form did it.
How often has the very existence of portions of our army been saved by
female daring, in notifying them of coming danger?
How often, too, have our spies and scouts been piloted through the
enemy's line by heroic women, and thus been enabled to gain information that led
to some brilliant achievement by our army?
The annals of this war will answer all this more fully in a coming day.
Everywhere we go we are greeted by the warm hearted ladies whose
patriotic devotion has caused the war worn soldier's pathway to be strewn with
flowers. Then, too, who but the
soldier can tell the emotions of his bosom, the deep welling of his heart, when
he reads these tender affectionate letters from home breathing such a pure holy
devotion for the absent soldiers and patriotism for country.
That nation never existed that can furnish a parallel to the patriotic
devotion of Southern women to their country.
Our hated enemy even accord this to us, and say if it was not for the
secesh women the war would have ended long ago.
God bless the ladies, the part they have acted in this war will never be
forgotten, and that part is no little. Their
fair hands have clothed our army, have woven the fabric that warmed the soldiers
frozen form, as he laid down to sleep at night in the cold winters blast, and
have administered to the wants of the sick and wounded; they have breathed words
of consolation to the sick and afflicted; and by their spirited address, have
nerved men on to deeds of daring. But
I am digressing.—On getting into Tennessee, although it was the poorest
portion of Giles county, we found a difference in the people, and more to eat.
Middle Tennesseans are both patriotic and generous, and not so
indifferent to the suffering of soldiers some I know in other States.
We passed near Tuscumbia and Florence, Alabama, and in sight of Lagrange.
I was surprised at the size of Pulaski, Tennessee, on getting o it.
It is a beautiful town on the Tennessee and Alabama railroad, has a large
factory where I saw great levies of girls whose tender hands were weaving cloth
for the soldiers. It seems to be a central business point.
Twenty six miles from here we rode into Columbia, Murray county, which is
a most beautiful place, and much larger than Pulaski.
Gen. Van Dorn's head quarters are here.
He is in command of all the cavalry here, including Morgan's, Forrest's
and Wheeler's. He brought a pretty
good force with him; it would be indiscreet to say how much.
One brigade, commanded by Col. John W. Whitfield, of Lavaca, Texas, is on
Gen. Bragg's left wing. Bragg's
army is at Tulahoma and Shelbyville. Our
brigade is about forty miles from Shelbyville, and about thirty miles from
Nashville, thirty miles from Brentwood, and ten miles from Franklin, there being
a large force of the enemy at both those places, well fortified.
We had a little frolic after their pickets yesterday, and run them from
their post about five miles, over into Franklin, but could not draw them out to
fight. It would not be proper to
speak of the disposition of our armies here.
Our brigade is not alone. Of
one thing you may rest assured. Tennessee
is ours, and Kentucky is in striking distance.
Rosencranz will meet with a warm reception if he should advance—As for
shipping us it cannot be done although he has been reinforced from Nashville. It is reported that they are coming from Murfreesboro to
Franklin. It will be a long time
before we fight here, if at all. Our
brigade is in good fighting trim. Col.
Whitfield having recovered from his wound received at Iuka, is with us again.
He is one of the best cavalry officers in the service, and has a great
influence here. His men all love
him, and would follow him with a shout anywhere, such is the universal
confidence in his bravery and skill as an officer.
He loves his boys, and woe be unto him who trespasses on their rights,
for he is as bold as a lion, and demands, and will have all that is due his men.
He has a kind word for any of the boys he meets, and I have seen tears in
his eyes as he spoke of the suffering of his men in sleet and rain without
shelter or fire. Should this war
last long, his name will be known and honored throughout the South. Texas truly has cause to be proud of her gallant sons.
I have seen several Northern papers of late date, all of which are for
peace. Northern Congressmen are
advocating in Washington a peace on most any terms.
Members from Indiana, Ohio and Illinois said they wanted the Union, but
if it split they were going with the party who owned the Mississippi river.
I will write again soon. The
boys here gave three rousing cheers for Magruder and the gallant Texans under
him.
Respectfully,
A. B. J.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
How Gen. Lee's Forces Keep Warm.—A Rappahanock correspondent of a late
Southern paper writes from camp:
There are but few tents, but the army is beginning to regard tents as a
nuisance. Much soldiering has made them very sharp, and given them a
full knowledge of the law of self-preservation, and they seem to have the same
instincts as the beaver, for their operations seem to resemble the habits of
that animal. Brigades move about
near thick woods to get supplies of fuel, and for benefit to health.
When the troops stop to camp, you see them scatter about and become very
busy, and in course of an hour or two the whole brigade has disappeared.
You can hear voices and noises, and see moving things, and you almost
think it a vision of a haunted place; but after some painful suspense you are
enabled to understand this sudden and strange "transmogrification."
The drum beat summons the men to duty or inspection, and all at once,
from holes, caves and cellars, over which is a roof of close brush, covered with
a thick coating of dirt, to turn rain and weather, while the tenant below is
warmed by a snug and well filled fireplace cut in the solid earth on the side;
and such are the winter quarters of Lee's army.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
It is becoming a matter of grave consideration says the Augusta
Chronicle, how our railroads shall be kept up.
The building of locomotives does not appear to be as difficult as the
making of rails—nor does the procurement of other rolling stock.
To an inexperienced mind either the building of a locomotive or the
founding of a cannon appears a much more difficult task.
Yet we believe that the first iron rail has yet to be made in the South.
Cannot some of our ingenious mechanics, assisted by our millionaire
capitalists relieve us from the dangerous dilemma, without compelling a resort
to the temporary make shift of taking up the iron from some roads to repair
others?
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
We are happy to say that the Military Board has received a large number
of superior cotton cards, which they intend to distribute to the several
counties upon the basis of scholastic census.
A letter has been addressed to the Chief Justice of every county in the
State to the effect that they will receive their pro rata by sending for
them and paying the price fixed, viz: $10
per pair in currency. The Board
requests the County Courts to make the distribution in such a way as will result
in most good to the public, enjoining upon them that the needy families of those
in the service be first supplied, and that, in no case shall a greater price be
charged for the cards than the cost to the county, including transportation.
Should any county decline the offer of the Board, they are requested to
notify them at once. The Board are supplying these cards at the third of the
ruling market price, and in distributing the present invoice will save the
people from $150,000 to $200,000.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Printing Paper.—The Southern Recorder says:
"Our last bill for printing paper, such as we now use for the
Recorder, was at the rate of $14 per ream.
Of the propriety of raising the price of subscription our readers can
judge, when we state that paper of the same size formerly cost $3, which,
compared to present rates, shows an advance of nearly five hundred per
cent.—Southern Rebel.
And our last bill for paper at the same former cost was fifty dollars per
ream, or more than fifteen hundred per cent advance—[Ed. News.]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
The
New Texas Primer.
By the 20th of May instant, I design having five thousand
copies of the NEW TEXAS PRIMER. It
is an entirely original Primer got up specially for the youth of Texas.
It will be printed on good paper with large plain type. The matter has been selected with reference to utility in
Weekday Schools, Sunday Schools and in the family circle.
Price:--$250 per thousand, $30 per hundred, $4 per dozen, 40 cts per
single copy. Orders solicited.
James Burke.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 6, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Save
Your Seeds!
I will purchase the following Seeds:
Beets, Pepper, Onions, Marrowfat Peas, Radish, Parsnip, Blue Imperial
Peas, Cucumber, Ruta Baga Turnip, Early Washington Peas, Poppy, Squash, Melon,
Indigo, Button Onions.
I give this timely notice that farmers may save seed to sell.
Seeds may be delivered by 1st July next.
James Burke.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 13, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
We have samples of ten different patterns of home-made cloth, made by
Mrs. Wm. S. Taylor, of Montgomery county, assisted by her daughters.
Mrs. Taylor is an old Texian, and like nearly all the ladies who passed
through the ordeal of our former revolution, knows how to use the hand loom and
spinning wheel.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 13, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Cotton Cards at $10 a Pair.—We have received the following circular,
which we lay before our readers as a matter of great public interest, although
we have before noticed the same matter:
Office of the Military Board,
}
Austin, April 28, 1863.
}
To the Chief Justice of ________ County:
The undersigned, constituting the State Military Board, beg leave to
inform you that they have succeeded in procuring several thousand pair of cotton
cards of the very best manufacture, and that they have apportioned them to the
counties on the basis of the scholastic census.
Your county will receive by sending for them ___ pairs.
The price is $10 per pair, in currency, payable at Austin on delivery.
We advise that several counties should combine in sending for their
cards, thereby saving much expense.
The Board requests that these cards be distributed in such way as the
County Courts may deem best for the public good.
Respectfully enjoining that the needy families of those in the army
shall, in all cases, be first supplied, and in no case shall the cards be sold
for a greater price than the cost to the County Courts, including
transportation.
Should your County decline the offer, please notify us at once.
Very respectfully,
F. R. Lubbock, Governor.
C. R. Johns, Comptroller.
C. H. Randolph, Treasurer.
We have notified each county of their pro rata.
In distributing this lot of cards, the people will be saved over
$200,000, independent of the effect it will have to put the price of cards down
in speculator's hands.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 13, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
"A
Fearful Portrait."
Under this impressive head the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury publishes the
following extract from a letter of a staff officer in one of the brigades of
Sherman's Division of the army of the Southwest.
It is written in camp on the Tallahatchie river, and the writer, says the
Mercury, was "decidedly opposed to, and used all his influence against what
he considered the absurd and suicidal policy of protecting rebel
property.["] The letter says:
I believe the time has come when I am ashamed to acknowledge that I
belong to the Union party. Of all
the disgraceful proceedings that I ever witnessed, I think what I have seen on
this march caps the climax. Two-thirds
of Sherman's army is composed of new troops from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin,
and they have come down here with the intention of burning and destroying, and
well are they carrying out their intentions.
The whole line of our march is one continued scene of destruction.
Private dwellings burned, women and children driven out of their houses,
and even the clothes stripped from their backs, to say nothing of acts committed
by the soldiery which would almost make the blackest-hearted libertine blush for
shame. This very day I have
witnessed scenes from which I turn with loathing and disgust.
True, stringent orders have been issued against these excesses, but I
fear they will do no good. The only
sure remedy is for General Sherman to shoot about a dozen of these infernal
rascals in the presence of his whole division, but whether he will resort to any
such stringent measure remains to be seen.
I have always blamed Union Generals for guarding rebel property, but I
now see the necessity of it. Not so
much to save the property, but our own safety demands it.
Three weeks of such unbridled license would ruin our army.
I tell you the truth when I say we are about as mean a mob as ever walked
the face of the earth. It is
perfectly frightful. If I lived in
this country, I never would lay down my arms while a "Yankee" remained
on the soil. I do not blame
Southerners for being secessionists now. I
could relate many things that would be laughable if they were not so horribly
disgraceful. For instance, imagine
two privates in an elegant carriage, belonging to some wealthy Southern nabob,
with a splendid span of horses riding in state along the road we are marching
over, with a negro coachman holding the reins in all the style of an English
nobleman, and then two small drummer boys going it at a two-forty pace, in an
elegant buggy, with a fast horse, and the buggy loaded with a strange medly of
household furniture and kitchen utensils, from an elegant parlor mirror to a
pair of fire dogs, all of which they have "cramped" from some fine
house, which from sheer wantonness they have rifled and destroyed. Hundred of such scenes are constantly occurring along the
line of our march, as ridiculous and absurd, as they are a burning shame to the
army of the Union.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 13, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
Letter
from Mexico.
Cadereyta, April 21, 1863.
Editor News:--. . . The excitement at Matamoros on account of the arrest
of the renegade, E. J. Davis, formerly Judge of the District of the Rio Grande,
which took place on the 14th u lt., at the mouth of the river, has
completely died away. I understand
that the authorities at Brownsville are not to blame for the violation of the
neutrality of Mexico. It was
nothing more than an offset to the Zapata raid on Texas, and it is to be
regretted that Davis was not summarily dealt with.
He prepared and abetted Zapata's organization.
It is known that Gov. Lopez of Tamaulipas intended [in case the
authorities at Brownsville had refused to release that miscreant!] to interrupt
the trade with Texas, and arrest the Confederate officers visiting Matamoros, to
be held as hostages of war, for the liberty and safety of Davis. Senior Fuerte the Minister of State and Foreign Relations,
approved the latter proposition from Gov. Lopez, but informed him not to
interrupt the trade with Texas, and in the future to consult the General
Government and wait for a reply before carrying out any such orders.
I am informed by a reliable gentleman connected with the State Government
of Tamaulipas, that Gov. Lopez is to issue a proclamation, solemnly stating that
Mexico condemns as criminal, any expedition filled out in its territory against
Texas, and that all Mexicans or foreigners joining the same, will be declared
outlaws. . . .
In New Leon and Coahulia there are eight cotton factories.
They have 14,400 spindles, and 451 looms.
They use one million five hundred thousand pounds of Texas cotton
annually, from which are turned out one hundred and thirty one thousand pieces
of brown sheetings, valued [last year] at $4½ per piece.
The average price of cotton was 18c. per pound.
It sells now at 32c. per pound.
Picwick.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 13, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
The Item gives the following as the correct form for an application to
obtain Penitentiary goods:
The State of Texas, county of ________
Before me the undersigned authority, this day personally came Mrs.
________ of the same county, who made oath that the goods sought to be bought of
the Texas Penitentiary, are for immediate use in her own family, consisting of
_____ whites and ________ blacks, excluding male members in the army; and are
not for barter, sale, exchange or speculation; and that she is the wife of a
soldier in the Confederate States' army, and that this is her [first or second]
application.
I ________ Chief Justice of ________ county, certify that the above
application was subscribed and sworn to before me, and that the facts set forth
in the same are true [being verified by the oath of one credible witness.]
In testimony of which witness [L. S.] my hand and seal of the County
Court, the ____ day of ________ 1863.
____________________ Chief Justice.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 20, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The San Antonio Herald says the Government has undertaken to establish a
Tannery, and cotton and wool Factory in that city on a tract of 75 acres
purchased of the city and some two miles above the city.
These public works are under the Superintendence of Maj. T. A. Washington
Quartermaster. The building for the
Tannery is already in a state of forwardness, and is 90 feet by 275, and the
vats are sufficient to contain 5000 hides at a time.
The cost of leather to the Government made in this Tannery is estimated
at 50 cents per pound which is a saving of 500 per cent on present prices.
The cotton and woolen Factory is being built of stone and to be worked
with water power.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 27, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
How to Cure Chills.—Strong hoarhound tea, well boiled and drank freely,
will cure the most obstinate case of chills on record.
It is easily obtained, and the remedy should be known to every poor
soldier throughout the Confederacy.
The number of paper mills now in the Confederacy is one in Alabama, three
in Georgia, five in South Carolina, eight in North Carolina, two in Virginia,
and one in Tennessee, making twenty in all.—These, it is said, would be able
to supply all the paper wanted in the Confederacy, but for the great scarcity of
the material.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 27, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Passengers by the Central train yesterday report that the leading
thoroughfares of travel in the country are filled with refugees from Louisiana,
on their way to some place where they can find corn plenty and Yankees scarce.
A large proportion of the negroes they bring are females, the males
having either escaped to the enemy of their own accord, or been stolen by them
and prevented from returning.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 17, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
A friend states that in conversation with one of the Yankee prisoners the
other day, he expressed himself very bitterly against the South, stating that
the Union was bound to be reconstructed, or that the South would be subjugated. Learning from our friend that he was connected with one of
the newspaper offices in the city, he asked him how long before Gen. Houston's
protest would be out.—Our friend asked him what protest he meant, as he had
heard of none. He said, "His
protest against the Federal officers taken prisoners being put in close
confinement in our Penitentiary." When
our friend stated in reply that though Gen. Houston expressed himself to that
effect, it was not in the form of any formal protest so far as he had heard, nor
had he heard there was to be any publication of Gen. Houston's opinions on that
subject. The Yankee remarked that
they ought to be published, and then bestowed some high compliments upon Gen.
Houston, and here the conversation ended.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 17, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
The San Antonio Herald says coffee is selling there at from $7 to $9 per
pound—and that, says the Herald, is the way speculators do things there. . . A
complimentary ball was given to Maj. Minter on the occasion of his leaving to
fill a higher appointment.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 17, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Good Idea.—The Chattanooga Rebel expressed the wish that every gallant
rifle man of the South who bares his breast to the storm of battle, could be
impressed with the importance of making every shot tell, in an engagement.
If five out of every ten of the bullets fired at the Yankees for the last
two years had taken effect, there wouldn't be a blue jacket left to tell the
story. Better be sure of one Yankee
than to fire twenty rounds at random—Keep cool, if you would keep your enemy
hot.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, May 27, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Lone Star Soap and Candle Factory,
}
Houston, May 21st, 1863.
}
From and after this date, Mr. John Collins is my Agent for the sale of my Soap,
Oil and Candles.
Fkank Fabj [sic?]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 3, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The Telegraph publishes a long letter from Gen. H. E. McCulloch, dated
Camden, Ark, April 30, in which he dwells upon the reported sufferings of
soldiers' families, and denounces the heartless speculators and extortioners in
severe terms. Judging from the best
information we have been able to get, we come to the conclusion that Gen.
McCulloch has been misinformed as regards the sufferings of soldiers' families
in Texas. We have been informed
that they have been everywhere amply provided for.
This is a duty that has devolved upon the counties, and our exchanges
inform us that it has not been neglected, and that there is really no ground for
such charges of neglect of soldiers' families.
We, in common with other journals, have taken pains to state these facts,
so that our soldiers might feel relieved from all anxiety on the subject.
Although our State, as well as other States, is cursed with many
heartless speculators, who seem willing to extort the last dollar from the
people for the necessaries of life, yet these speculators, we are happy to
state, do not entirely control the State. We
believe it is a gross libel on the people of Texas to say they will permit the
families of soldiers to suffer for any of the necessaries of life, especially
after the liberal measures adopted by our late Legislature.
The Shreveport South Western says, that large droves of slaves daily pass
through that place on their way to Texas. The
editor suggests that they should be taken to the wheat region of Texas, as he is
requested to state that ten thousand of them can find employment there in the
wheat harvest. He says they will
obtain two bushels of wheat per day for their labor.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 3, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Taking the Oath Under Protest.—A few weeks ago a saucy, dashing young
girl, of the Southern persuasion, was brought into the presence of Gen.
Rosencranz, in order that her Southern ardor might be checked by the
administration of the oath of loyalty. The
bold, bright-eyed Juno objected to taking the oath, saying that her mother had
taught her that it was wrong to swear; that her social education had instructed
her that it was un lady-like to swear; her sense of morality forbid her to
swear, and swear she could and would not. The
officer insisted that the lady must take the oath before she left his presence.
"Well, General," said bright eyes, "if I must swear, I
will; but all the sin of the oath must rest on your shoulders, for I swear on
your complusion--G-d d—n every Yankee to hell!"
And the defiant beauty tossed her dark curls, and swept out of the
presence unmolested.—Louisville Democrat.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 3, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Letter
from Mexico.
Monterey, May 3d, 1863.
Ed. News.-- . . . There are nearly five hundred Southern families in
Mazatlan who have fled from California to escape their being constantly insulted
and persecuted by the cowardly Yankee caravan which have overrun that State.
Many of these families intended to settle on certain lands in lower
California, but as no water can be obtained in that dry region, where it
sometimes does not rain for three and even four years, and there are no houses
built to protect them from the burning sun, they have decided to make their
present abode in Sinoloa. The Mexicans in that State are kind hearted and hospitable.
The climate is healthy. The
wealth of the country consists in agriculture, grazing, and minerals.
I am assured that cotton is an indiginous plant of Sinoloa of which there
are three classes, viz, a fine long staple (small seed) a nankeen colored and
the common cotton. The plant
requires to be sown only every four years.
Tobacco and indigo are raised in all parts, and sugar-cane yields a fair
return. Corn, coffee, beans, rice,
plantains, oranges, pine-apples &c., are quite abundant. The mineral wealth is really great. Silver mines are almost all in a vergin state.
In Culiacan (the capital) there is a mint which from 1846 to 1855 coined
in silver and gold the sum of ten millions.
Mazatlan is the only port, and although it is not very good, its location
commands the trade of an extensive back country.
Notwithstanding all the advantages that the State of Sinaloa affords I am
confident that there are many Southern men now residing there, anxious to return
to the Confederacy and aid her in gaining her independence.
Those who have large families, entirely dependent upon their own
exertions, feel that they cannot follow the dictates of their hearts, but the
arrivals of many young men here, coming from that State, who have abandoned
their mothers and relatives to join the Southern army, show how much interest
they feel for the success of our cause.
Some deserters from our army have lately made their appearance in
Monterey.
These deluded creatures not knowing the language, being unable to find
employment and having no means to support themselves are now entirely destitute
and thrown upon the charity of a cold, cold world. . .
Pickwick.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 3, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Women of Texas!—Our sister State of Louisiana is overrun by the enemy!
Thousands of her daughters are in their hands, and subjected to insult
and abuse from a brutal Yankee, foreign and negro soldiery!
Think of their condition, and remember that the same fate awaits you,
unless the men of our State stand between you and the foe.
I, for one, cannot remain at home a quiet spectator, in times like these,
and avail myself of the only way left me of serving my country; and that is, as
partizan, and independent of the Government.
Will you aid me?
I know that your generosity and patriotism have been heavily taxed; but I
know too, that it is in the darkest hours of trial and sorrow that woman can be
most surely relied on. I beg you,
then to aid me in the purchase of such articles as may be necessary for the sick
and wounded soldiers, in such way as you may think proper.
Send your contributions to Capt. C. S. Longcope, Houston, by the 10th
of June. Should I fail to get the
men I want, the funds can remain at your disposal in Capt. Longcope's hands.
Should I succeed in raising men, I will account to you for every dollar,
and will endeavor to spend it well. I
feel assured, from my knowledge of partizan warfare, that I can be of service to
our Generals in Louisiana, and can inflict on the enemy serious loss.
Believing that the time has come when every man is needed who can serve
the country, no matter in what position, I, for one, will not remain idle, and
pledge myself that those who contribute to the support of my company, shall have
no cause to regret it. My highest
ambition will be to serve my country, and prove myself worthy of the assistance
I may receive from the noble women of my State.
John R. Baylor.
San Antonio, May 22, 1863.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 10, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
We have had the pleasure of meeting with W. A. Daly, Esq., who was
captured on the Era No. 5, on the 16th of February last, in company
with Mr. Elsasser, also of this city, and Lt. Doyle of the 4th Texas,
and the officers of the Era, by the U. S. gunboat Queen of the West, about 20
miles before Fort De Russey. We
submit a brief account of Mr. Daly's adventures and experiences from the time of
his capture, until he arrived safely on this side of the Mississippi, taken from
a diary kept by himself. . . .
Mr. Daly met at Fort Delaware, Mr. H. R. Marks, of this city, who, it
will be recollected, was captured on a blockade runner some 12 months since.
Mr. M. has suffered in solitary confinement six months at Key West and
three months at Fort Lafayette. He
has been exchanged and is now in Virginia. Col. Zarvona—the French lady—who captured the St. Nicholas
in the Chesapeake some two years ago, was on the flag of truce boat, having been
exchanged. Col. Z. is said to be a
very feminine looking gentleman, without beard and very modest and retiring in
his habits. He states that his
plan, had it been successfully carried out, would have placed Fortress Monroe in
our possession. The plan was to
capture the St. Nicholas, an armed force of Confederates were to be taken on
board of her at a certain point, when she was to proceed up the river to one of
the Yankee war vessels, lay along side of her and board and capture her, and
after in this manner acquiring sufficient strength to warrant an assault, attack
the Fortress, which was at that time weakly garrisoned, and capture it.
The plan was frustrated, however, after the capture of the St. Nicholas
by the officer in charge refusing to co-operate with Col. Z, declaring that it
was his duty to take care of the St. Nicholas, and not to aid in capturing other
vessels, or Fortress Monroe.
Col. T. S. Anderson and Capt. Proudfoot, reported dead, were left in good
health at Petersburg. All the
Arkansas Post prisoners except those who took the Lincoln oath—over two
hundred—have been regularly exchanged and ordered to report for duty at
Headquarters, army of Virginia, and it is presumed they will be attached to the
Texas Brigade.
Mr. Daly states that we have little to hope from internal dissentions
among the people of the North, and that but a small party exists who are opposed
to carrying on the war. While in
Philadelphia he was handed the emblem of the Copperhead party, which is the head
of the goddess of Liberty, cut from a copper cent.
He says that his treatment was uniformly kind and considerate.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 10, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
Our Battle-Flag.—The new flag of the Confederate States is a favorite
design with one of the greatest leaders of our army, as will be seen from the
following dispatch to the Hon. Mr. Villere, of Louisiana:
Charleston, S. C., April 24, 1863.
To the Hon. C. J. Villere:--Why change our battle-flag, consecrated by
the best blood of our country on so many battlefields?
A good design for the national flag would be the present battle-flag as
Union-Jack, and the rest all white or all blue.
G. T. Beauregard.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 10, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Domestic
Manufacture.
Willow Springs, Milam Co.
Eds. News.—I enclose you samples of home-made cloth, sixteen pieces of
which were made by Mrs. Capt. Smith, of this county, and though she has exceeded
the most of us in quantity, yet in each house "the noise of the wheel
is heard in the land."
Yours respectfully,
M. C. Allen.
The above samples, 28 in all, have come to hand, and many of them are
most excellent and serviceable material. We
are glad to learn that the whole country is now pretty well supplied with this
domestic manufacture, which, although not quite as handsome in the finish as the
Yankee fabric, is really far more serviceable, and, as we learn, does not cost
half as much at this time. It
should be adopted as a principle not to buy a yard of Yankee made goods when so
good a substitute of home made cloth can be had.
It should be remembered that any and all importations from Yankeedom at
this time are paid for in our cotton, and that this trade is giving aid and
comfort to the enemy in the most effectual way, and encouraging them to
prosecute this war for our own subjugation.
Under such circumstances, can a true patriot patronize a trade in Yankee
goods? By the way, we would take
this occasion to notice the fact that we find among the pretty large
importations into this market of late, that no small portion of them consist of
such Yankee notions as whisky and other liquors, also various articles of
ladies' dress and other goods that could be dispensed with without any
abridgement of comfort or enjoyment. And
yet there seems to be an inordinate demand for these Yankee luxuries, and such
is the reckless extravagance of many, that they do not hesitate to pay ten or
even twenty prices rather than do without a fashionable dress or bonnet.
Such are the kind of goods that constitute a large portion of the returns
we get for our cotton! So much for the great blessings of a free trade with the
Yankees!
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 10, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Richmond, June 6, 1863.
Ed. News.—It is proposed that the ladies and gentlemen of Fort Bend
county all unite their efforts, and on the 4th day of July, see what
they can do towards aiding in raising funds for Gen. Baylor's proposed partizan
command. As a preliminary step we invite as many as can do so to meet
us in Richmond, on Saturday, the 13th inst., for the propose of
making such arrangements as will insure the greatest harmony and success.
S. M. Frost, J. S. Sullivan, Mat A. Moore, E. Varney, J. R. Miller, John
McNeil, Dan Ferguson, James W. Wade, Preston Ferry, John Dillard, Wm Staple, C.
H. Denison, S. W. Allen, J.
Blakely, A. E. Ford, M. Seibzbachen.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 10, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
LaGrange, Texas, June 2d, 1863.
Ed. News.—On the last of May, while in Lockhart, Caldwell county, I had
the pleasure of attending the examination of the "Rebel" Institute. The scholars, though small, sustained a thorough examination
and acquitted themselves with much credit and praise. Mr. McTeters has proved himself an excellent teacher, and
deserves a liberal patronage. Ye
"rebel" parents that wish the "young idea taught how to
shoot," will d well to give him a trial at Lockhart.
Lockhart is quite a beautiful place, pleasantly located, "amid shade
and bower," with about a dozen bold streams or springs gushing out from the
brink of the hill, south. The
springs are cool and pure, affording a great deal of water.
Just below and south Mr. _____ has a large tannery in operation, making a
good deal of excellent leather. Our
country would be better if we had such a tannery in every town.
It is hoped that more of our citizens will turn their attention in that
way, and satisfy the increasing demand for leather.
May Col. Wm. Cowan's "shadow never grow less."
The country from Lockhart to LaGrange is thinly settled, and of the
poorest quality of soil. La Grange
is a most delightful village, with many lovely attractions.
While in Cameron, Milam county, the enrolling officer paid over to Dr. R.
S. Wily, of Cameron, $292, to be turned over for the benefit of the suffering
and wounded soldiers of Galveston. Will
you, Mr. Editor, inform Dr. Wily, at Cameron, the names of the proper
authorities to receive this money. Let
me inform you that the loyal citizens all over the country are much exasperated,
and down on the Government contracts and trade to Mexico.
Every man that has a wagon or can get one, has a contract to haul cotton
to Mexico, and the power, seemingly, to detail men to drive the wagons, &c.
In Fayette county, I am informed, out of 108 conscripts for service, only
18 or 20 were sent to camps, the remainder detailed to drive ox teams to Mexico. Such is the case near all over the country.
But enough, farewell for the present.
Respectfully,
Rowan.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The
New Confederate Flag.
An Act to establish the Flag of the Confederate States.
"The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact,
that the flag of the Confederate States shall be as follows:
The field to be white, the length double the width of the flag, with the
union (now used as a battle flag) to be a square of two-thirds of the width of
the flag, having the ground red, with a broad saltier of blue, bordered with
white, (a blue cross white edged—Ed. Tel.) and emblazoned white mullets or
five pointed stars corresponding in number to that of the Confederate
States."
Approved May 1st, 1863.
The above act describes the new flag so that with a little attention our
readers can form a just idea of it. We
remark merely that a "saltier" in Heraldic language imports the same
as the cross of St. Andrew or a diagonal cross—and that "mullets"
are five pointed stars.
We are gratified that the flag of the Provisional Congress has been
changed, and that the permanent banner of the Confederacy is so entirely
different from the old flag. The
stars and stripes and stars and bars too nearly resembled each other to
symbolize the characteristics of the two Governments; and besides were easily
mistaken for each other on the field. This
fact induced Gens. Johnston and Beauregard, immediately after the first battle
of Manassas to order the use of a battle flag.
They selected the design which had been proposed for the Confederate flag
by Mr. Miles of South Carolina, when the stars and bars were adopted. Under this battle flag our brave soldiers have been ever
since fighting; it had become endeared to them and to the people by the historic
associations connected with it on many fields of blood.
This flag then must be in some way preserved and amid the variety of
opinions concerning the adoption of a new flag, these considerations had
controlling force. The committee on
flag and seal determined to make the battle flag a "Union" for the
Confederate banner, and a majority recommended a white field with a blue bar
extending through it lengthwise. This
report was adopted by the Senate, but in the House it was amended on motion of
Mr. Gray, who was a member of the Committee, by insertion of a description of
the battle flag and striking out the blue bar, thus leaving a pure white field,
and this is the flag now adopted for the Confederacy.
At Richmond and everywhere east of the Mississippi it has been received
with general satisfaction. Our
exchanges all speak of it in complimentary terms.
The Richmond Dispatch says:
"The new flag, which was displayed from the capitol on Thursday, it
is gratifying to say, gives universal satisfaction.
Almost any sort of a flag, to take the place of the detested parody upon
the "stars and stripes," for so long the lawful ensign of the
Confederacy, would have been hailed with pleasure.
But the one we now have is not only acceptable on this ground, but on
account of its own appropriateness; and more than this, again, because in it is
preserved that immortal banner—the battle flag—which has been consecrated on
so many battle fields and has been followed by our soldiers to so many glorious
victories. We had not anticipated
from the action of Congress upon the subject a result so sensible, so generally
satisfactory. The councils of many
on such a topic rarely produce anything but an abortion, such as the "Stars
and Bars!" for instance. Let
us have no more of that, but hereafter know only that appropriate and beautiful
banner hallowed by our victories and now established by law."
The President, we learn, approved it with satisfaction—most of the army
officers, especially Beauregard, express pleasure at its adoption, and our most
prominent naval officers say that it is admirable for its distinctness.
They say the white can be seen further at sea than any other, unless the
red be an exception. The flag was
adopted on the 1st May, the day on which began the late battles at
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Wilderness Church, and the first use made
of it—its baptism so to speak—was to shroud the remains of the immortal
"Stonewall" Jackson.
The symbolism of the flag may be said to be thus:
The Confederate States represented by the stars are united in strength on
the blue cross, emblematic of faith, and so united are contending on the red
ground of blood for truth, peace and freedom, which we tender on the field of
white. Thus while we offer peace to
all nations, yet united by common faith we are strong, and are ready to battle
for truth and freedom.
It is a noble and glorious ensign—scattering all thoughts of
reconstruction—and leading to victory and independence.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
Arrest of a Lady in Baltimore.—Miss Fanny C. James, daughter of Mr.
John James, whose wife was recently sent South upon the charge of disloyalty,
was arrested at her father's residence in Baltimore, last week, upon the charge
of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Her
case was investigated by Gen. Schenck, who committed her to the Baltimore jail,
in order that she may be tried by the civil authorities under the treason act of
Maryland. It seems that she has
been corresponding with the South, and the following is the copy of the letter:
Richmond, Va., March 15, }
Tuesday noon. }
My Dear Fannie—Your letters have just been received, and the pleasure
it gave us you cannot imagine. Harry
was perfectly delighted with your uniform.
The goods you spoke of in your last have been received, and were a
perfect God-send. The quinine and liquors were very much needed.
Those I presented to our Government, as you desired, and the other things
were sold at cost. Will you please forward goods to the amount of the enclosed
order immediately? We have great
demands for several items in the list, as they are needed by our Government, and
knowing your promptness in filling all such orders, we rely on your dispatching
the goods at the earliest possible moment.
I received the carte de visite of __________, whom you suspect as
a spy, and have given it to our authorities.
There will be a strict eye on him.
They request me to tell you, Fanny, to keep quiet, and don't let them
have anything on you as you can do much more for us where you are; and if they
should find you out, why—take the Yankee oath three times a day if they wish
it, just before every meal. You
have taken many a bitter dose of medicine, and it won't taste a bit worse than
the rest.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
The Lowest Depth of Obscenity.—In the coarse of one's life, much that
is obscene and offensive is heard and read, but the lowest depth of obscenity by
which the English language has probably ever been defiled, h as been brought to
light in Yankee letters taken from the battle field.
These letters, too, it must be stated, are for the most part written by
females claiming to be the wives and sweethearts of the men to whom they were
written. A gentleman in this city
has recently been placed in possession of several letters penned by Northern
females whose language and sentiments are so loathsome, so utterly degraded,
that it is strange the hands that wrote them were not stricken powerless to the
act. If publication were given
them, no person in the South would be found to read them without blushing to
think he had ever been associated with a race of beings so low in the scale of
humanity as the Yankees, and all delicacy would be shocked beyond even
conjecture. Surely the race we are
fighting will be henceforth celebrated as the lowest in the scale of created
beings.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
The Geneva, New York Gazette says the following is a copy of an
advertisement posted in a conspicuous place on a manufacturing establishment in
that village.
"Wanted—Four industrious young men wish to marry four respectable
young ladies who enjoy a fortune of $300 each to evade the draft.
Inquire within."
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
A Sad Violation of Military Regulations.—Our exchanges frequently
record romantic incidents connected with the war, but we have seen none better
than the following, which we clip from the Nashville Dispatch:
Headquarters Dep't of Cumberland, }
April 17th, 1863.
}
General:--The General commanding directs me to call your attention to a
flagrant outrage committed in your command, a person having been admitted inside
your lines without a pass and in violation of orders.
The case is one which calls for your personal attention and the General
commanding directs that you deal with the offending party, or parties, according
to law.
The medical director reports that an orderly sergeant in Brigadier
General __________'s division was to day delivered of a baby, which is in
violation of all military law and of the army regulations.
No such case has been known since the days of Jupiter.
You will apply the proper punishment in this case, and a remedy to
prevent the repetition of the act.
The above, says the Dispatch, is a copy of a genuine letter, emanating
from the headquarters of that rigid disciplinarian Gen. Rosencranz.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Hickory Rope.—We have just been shown, by an esteemed citizen of
Dallas, living at Pleasant Hill, a piece of rope, made of hickory, which for
strength and durability is not exceeded by that made of the Russian hemp.
The way to proceed in its manufacture is exceedingly simple. The body of a hickory tree, about the size of a man's thigh,
is to be cut six feet from its roots, and then, with a common pen knife, ribbons
of the wood are peeled off successively until the grain runs straight to the
roots. These ribbons can be
obtained as fast as three hands can twist them, and will do just as well for
baling cotton as the best hempen rope on earth.—Selma Reporter.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 17, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Notice.
I have about 1650 head of fine Sheep, which I will exchange for Negroes.
For particulars address the undersigned, at Bastrop, near the old San
Antonio road.
John Hearn.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The juvenile concert last evening at Perkin's Hall to raise a fund in aid
of the "Ladies' Rangers," was very largely attended, as it deserved to
be, both for its object and its own intrinsic merit.
The selections were in admirable taste, and the singing generally
excellent, and in many instances superior, showing a degree of cultivation
hardly to be expected in young Misses. "There
is life in the old land yet"—"Missouri!"—"All is quiet
along the line to-night," and "God save the South," were each
very beautifully rendered, but where all was excellent it would be invidious to
discriminate. The crowning beauty
of the evening was, "I have a little sweetheart," by every little
Miss, whom an artist might have limmed [?] as a personification of innocence and
naive artlessness. The arrangement
of the choruses, consisting of some fifty or sixty little misses and boys were
so many beautiful tableaux, and the blending of so many little voices in harmony
had a peculiarly pleasing effect. The
charades were well conceived, but the young gentlemen actors must hereafter
consider that he who "speaks in public on the stage" should be perfect
in his rule, if he wishes his audience to be interested.
Gov. Baylor, who was among the audience, was loudly called for at the
close of the performance.—He appeared on the stage and made a short speech,
perfectly in character with the man—bold, frank and dashing, evincing more of
the soldier and patriot than the politician.
This characteristic of Baylor more than any fault of his, has been the
chief cause of his being now out of a service for which he was so well
qualified, or to use his own words, being "thrown overboard."
The audience appeared highly delighted, and so all the juveniles who had
contributed so much to our amusement.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Manufactures.
Previous to our separation from the Northern States, it was a constant
and favorite theme with us that the South could and ought to manufacture her own
cotton, at least so much of it as was necessary for our own consumption, instead
of being tributary to Northern manufacturers.
We were the producers of the raw material, and it was frequently
demonstrated that we could manufacture it, at least into yarns, as cheap as
could the people of the Northern States; and we distinctly remember that a Mr.
Henry, we believe of Mobile, proposed to erect machinery on plantations at a
comparatively small cost, which would convert all the cotton raised on the
plantations into yarns with the same force necessary for the culture of the raw
material, and that by the youngest and most inefficient for other purposes, of
the force. We have never heard how the plan finally succeeded, but we
learned that an experimental machine had been put up on Mr. Herger's plantation
which was highly successful.
At the outset of our struggle with the North, the question of free trade
was, unhappily, the principal one which occupied the attention of candidates for
Congress in some of the Congressional districts, and this premature discussion
was conducted with considerable asperity.
At that time our people had but little thought of the extent and
devastation of the war then about to be forced upon us, and consequently made no
preparation to provide themselves with the necessary machinery to avert the want
of manufactured goods, which is now upon us.
We too confidently believed that the necessities of England, and perhaps
France, would compel them to interfere in our quarrel in order that their looms
and spindles might be furnished with our staple; and splendid visions loomed up
before us of a magnificent free trade with England and the continent, by which
we would be the growers of the great staple for them, and they would furnish us
with the manufactured article at a small advance upon the cost of the raw
material. Our people have ever condemned the idea of being
manufacturers; the theory of free trade, so popular in the South, has so
indoctrinated the entire country, that the people have verily believed
manufacturing was a degradation, and the prevalent idea that we ought to
establish the policy of buying our manufactured articles in Europe, and sell to
those who would give strong predominance among us, that no thought was
entertained for our future position. The
inconveniences that we have labored under for the past two years, may, however,
change this popular fallacy, and as a necessity, we may be compelled to enquire
into the importance of establishing manufactories, at least sufficient to supply
the demand for home consumption. It
is not, however, generally thought that the States, embracing the larger portion
of the Confederacy, will ever find it advisable to become what is termed a
manufacturing country. We are
mostly an agricultural people, and have had, heretofore, under Yankee rule,
neither commerce nor manufactures; but our future, it is reasonable to suppose,
will place us in a different attitude. It
cannot be expected that, as a nation, we will continue to be simply an
agricultural or a pastoral people, and although the nature of our country and
the habits of our people seem to preclude the idea of manufacturing to compete
with Europe, still there is a positive necessity that we should inaugurate such
a system of manufactures as will place us in a position independent of other
countries in any future emergency like the present.
We are not disposed now to discuss the value of free trade to this
nation, or the importance of tariffs for revenue.
Tariffs for protection are forbidden by our constitution, and if it were
no so, the system of misrule and odious exactions practiced by the old
government under the theory of protecting home industry, has been so perverted
to individual advantage and local aggrandizement, that it is extremely doubtful
whether any state of things could exist which would commend such a system to our
people. But as we before intimated,
any discussion of these subjects now, would be premature and unprofitable, and
of comparatively little interest to our readers.
This war cannot last always. However
severe it may be and however protracted, it must come to an end; and however
crushing its effects may be to us as a people—however our country may be
desolated, and however our energies may for a while be paralyzed by the severity
of the collision, yet there must be an end, and when the end comes, our
recuperative powers are such that the war, with all its horrible effects, will
soon be numbered with things that are past and its remembrance will be blunted
amid the strife of commerce and the busy hum of the various branches of industry
which will occupy the attentions of our people.
A new nation will have come into existence which has astonished the world
by the prowess of its arms, and we confidently believe, will equally astonish it
by the rapidity with which it will take its place beside the foremost nations of
the earth in rank and power.
It is not premature, then, to consider the importance of manufactures as
one of the means to make us a great people.
It may not be that we could, for a long series of years, rival the looms
of Europe in many of their important finer fabrics, nor is it desirable,
probably, that we should ever, but it is important that we should become and
that speedily, almost the sole manufacturers of yarns from our own great staple. This, we believe, will be a political as well as a commercial
necessity. Probably two thousand
millions of dollars have heretofore been invested in the States of the
Confederacy in the production of the new material; a comparatively small per
cent of that sum will furnish us with the necessary machinery which the value of
the raw material will be annually doubled in foreign markets by its conversion
into yarns, while the labor necessary will not be much beyond that already
employed in its culture. Thus,
manufacturers must of necessity enter largely into our system of political
economy, and we know of no State in the Confederacy better adapted to
manufacturing purposes than our own State of Texas.
The war has, as a natural consequence, produced its enormous evils, but
no country has ever freed itself from oppression without a corresponding amount
of suffering. It must have happened
at some period. The want of
congeniality of opinion, the conflicting interests, and the dissimilarity of
thoughts and habits of the people composing the Federal union, must at some time
have brought about the conflict. This
has been inevitable to the astute statesman since the difficulties of 1819 and
20, and far better would it have been for us had the contest not be opposed at
that time by infatuated compromisers, but, as the disaster must have eventually
fallen upon us, better that it should have come now than be delayed until the
North, by her increased power should be able to fasten upon us more tightly her
insufferable dominion. This
generation will suffer almost incalculable evils, but we think we were better
prepared for it than any future generation, upon whom it would have fallen with
more terrible force. But we
believe, that as every evil has its corresponding good, for which opinion we
have high authority, good will be the natural consequence of the evils we now
endure. To Texas particularly will
benefits arise from this war more lasting than the injury inflicted. Her resources will be developed, and her self-sustaining
capacity be understood by her own people. They
will hereafter be more self-reliant; wisdom will be gathered from the past, and
although the lesson may be severe it will be salutary.
Already, in a very large portion of the State, her citizens are clothed
from their own wheels and looms, and an impetus is given to domestic
manufactures which will lead to important results.
Except in cities where folly and fashion are found hand in hand, the
people of Texas will, if the war lasts a year longer, learn to ignore calicoes
and muslins and inaugurate the much more serviceable fashion of spinning and
weaving the clothing necessary for their own households, while fancy foreign
dressing will be left exclusively to city dames.
Besides this, her vast mineral resources will be brought prominently into
notice, and we may expect to see, in a very short time, the tall chimneys of the
forge amid her iron hills, and smelting furnaces and rolling mills will take
their places in locations now considered as desert wastes.
Our iron is inexhaustible, and we have all the means of working it, and
we confidently predict that the time is not far distant when se shall rival
Tennessee in that branch of home industry.
We hope our whole people will give this matter sincere reflection, and
pursue a proper course of industry and economy, and a determination for the
future to be self reliant, and as far as possible independent of the fabrics of
other nations, without one thought of their interests or prejudices.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
The
Indians.
Columbus, Texas, June 14, 1863.
Ed News.—Dear sir: I am
requested to send to you for publication, the following extract from a letter
received by a soldier in the hospital at this place, from his wife.
The soldier is a resident of Johnson county—belongs to Col. Baylor's
Regiment, and having left his home and family to fight for his country, it is
natural to suppose he would expect that country to extend to his family all the
protection it was able to render.
The following is the substance of what she writes:
"The Indians are very bad here—worse than they have ever been
before. I think ere long they will
take and kill the last horse in the settlement.
They have been here constantly for the last six weeks, leaving yesterday,
and taking off ten head of our horses and a number of the neighbors. They have killed and taken from us every horse we have,
except one. The neighbors who have
horses left are taking them across the Brazos river for safety.
"Nathan Holt was barbarously murdered and scalped by the Indians,
while driving a cow and calf home in day time.
Tom Hill, your brother soldier, was shot and scalped by the barbarians.
I am afraid to live in this county any longer.
I will go to father's if possible. Many
are leaving.
Your wife,
"Lucy Dennis."
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
A letter from Bonham, Fannin county, Texas dated May 30th, in
the Shreveport News, states that flour had fallen in that vicinity from $20 per
hundred to $8 per hundred pounds, and that the wheat crops are better than they
have been for years.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Brazos Bottom, Burleson, Texas,
}
June 13th, 1863.
Eds. News.—On the 4th of June, 1863, the ladies in the
neighborhood of the Post Oak Church, in Burleson county, assisted by a few
ladies from Brazos and Robertson counties, gave a concert, tableau and supper
for the benefit of the Second Texas and Speight's Regiments.
Subscribed as follows: [list].
Sale of 226 tickets, $98,
cash taken in at the door, $25; expenses $28; net proceeds, $1,951.00.
Ed. C. Carrington.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Letter
from Galveston.
Galveston, June 18, 1863.
Yesterday morning the wagon of Mr. Butler, market gardener, was
surrounded by a number of soldiers at the market place, and about thirty
watermelons taken from it. This is
a hard case, as Mr. Butler has been moderate in prices compared with others, who
are too exacting.
Water is beginning to get scarce. We
have lately had but little rain. There
are but few cisterns, most of which are out of repair, and families are already
experiencing much inconvenience from so limited a supply.
A large amount of jewelry was taken from Mr. Shaw's store, on Tremont
street, during Friday night. The
burglars at first were baffled in their attempts to effect an entrance, but
finally succeeded by means of a false key.
The articles which have been received were found by some children at
play, concealed beneath a house in Mr. Lidstone's lumber yard.
Some soldiers have committed depredations on the property of farmers upon
the Island, stealing their watermelons, &c.—The latter threaten to destroy
their crops, rather than be robbed, if this practice is allowed to continue.
B.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Letter
from Parker County.
More Indian News – Maj. Buck
Barry gone in pursuit of Indians,
the Treaty, &c.
Mr. Editor.—Since I last wrote you, rumors and numerous predictions
have been afloat here, and I find a vast portion of the community are ready to
succumb to the hordes of the fanatical abolitionists of the North; but it makes
me proud to know that the majority are loyal citizens to the South, and the soft
shells are watched, and ere long they will be pounced upon, and such stretching
of necks—Oh Lordy! General Order,
No. 4, gives to the recruiting officer of Hood's brigade, and the Arizona
brigade, all persons between the age of 18 and 40 years, and your humble servant
being a recruiting officer for the latter brigade, deems it advisable to solicit
the surplus of several counties in North-Western Texas.
On the 9th of June is the day appointed for them to report to
me. Time will show how many will
report. The Enrolling Officer of
Comanche county was shot full of holes for doing h is duty, and other Enrolling
Officers have been threatened. If I
had my company here I would bring them in or die in the attempt.
These young men who refuse are principally renegades from Eastern Texas,
Arkansas and Missouri. They have
rushed on the frontier to keep from going to the war. They won't fight—they are constitutionally cowards, thus
causing the Indians to be so bold, for sir, as soon as they get a slight glimpse
of a red-skin, the first impulse of these cowardly rascals is to distance
"Gilpin" in speed, and away they dash in search of some hiding place,
with Mr. Indian in close pursuit, the result of which leaves a white man minus a
top knot. If they would stand their
ground like the hardy pioneers of yore, the Indians would not dare to penetrate
so far into the country. A few days
ago four Indians rode up to one of these old pioneers' better half, as she was
going for a bucket of water with a gun on her shoulder.
The Indians cursed her, and told her to leave. The brave old lady cursed them in return, and told them if
they did not leave instantly she would put a ball through them, at the same time
fumbling about her gun preparatory to a shot.
The red devils took the old lady at her word, and scampered off at
"double quick." Forty
head of horses were stolen out of Parker county on the 30th ult.,
making one hundred and forty from that county in less than three weeks.
No person killed the last drive.
Maj. Buck Barry of the frontier regiment started in pursuit of the Ft.
Cobb Indians. On his arrival
at Ft. Cobb, he found the Caddoes, Wacos, Anadarkies, and Delawares in martial
array, in complete drill. They
approached Maj. Buck with a white flag. Old
Gutts, one of the Chiefs, was spokesman, and informed the Major that they were
drilling to help Texas in her struggles, and that they are determined to be
friendly to a people who lives on the land that gave them birth, and that the
Comanches and Kiowas had stolen their horses and fled with them into the cryptic
recesses of the Canadian Mountains. Major
Buck and Chief Gutts finally had an understanding, and agreed not to disagree.
Gutts was to take three Indians and go into the gorges of these
mountains, stampede the horses, draw the warriors of the enemy into a snair
[sic] that Maj. Barry laid for them, and thus stone blow annihilate the best and
ablest warriors.
Gray Rover.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, June 24, 1864, p. 2, c. 5
We copy the following lines from the N. Y. World of the 18th
April. We presume this severe
sarcasm on Lincoln and his Cabinet, had something to do with the recent
suppression of that able journal:
Cabinet
Pictures.
[After Punch.]
There was an
attorney named Lincoln,
The last for a statesman you'd think on;
All danger was smoke,
If he had but his joke,
And could browse and tell stories, and wink on.
There was an old
pilot named Seward;
Who never believed that it blew hard;
So he woke up too late,
When the ship of the State
Was drifting on sand banks to leeward.
There was a
purse-bearer named Chase,
Who made paper and gold run a race,
And invented the green-back
That was ne'er to be seen, back
At the customs—a very hard case.
There was an old
fogy named Welles,
Quite worthy of cap and of bells,
For he thought that a pirate,
Who steamed at a great rate,
Would wait to be riddled with shells.
There was an
attorney named Bates,
Chief adviser at law for the States;
But as never a word
Of his pleading is heard,
Who can possibly tell how he rates.
There was an old
post-man named Blair,
Disposed to something quite fair,
But fanatical fury
Made Blair, of Missouri,
In the pranks of the cabinet share.
There was an old
war ass named Stanton,
Almost an American Danton,
Though he thinks he's designed
To astonish mankind
Round the world from Chicago to Canton.
There was an old
poet named Bryant,
On Parnassus by no means a giant,
Yet he scowls like a ghost
And he doles from a Post
His humanities grim and defiant.
There was a queer
parson named Beecher,
Not of Christ but of bloodshed a teacher;
It was always a trifle
Whether—Bible or rifle,
Wrought the aim of this blasphemous preacher.
There was an old
Governor Andrew,
Never worse monomaniac man drew;
He holds that the nigger
Is very much bigger
Than events that may make the whole land rue.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
It is said there is but small difference in this city now between wholesale and
retail prices, and yet while we see corn meal quoted at $3 to $4 per bushel, we
cannot buy a bushel for less than $4.50. The
actual cost of the corn at the mills is probably now about $2, or $2.50, so that
the toll for grinding is about 100 per cent.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Houston, June 25th, 1863.
Eds. News:--Permit me through the columns of the "News" to
acknowledge the receipt of six hundred and five dollars from C. Raas [sic?],
Esq., collected by him for the poor families of Galveston and Harris county, at
a dinner party given at his house, 13th inst.
I have paid over to S. Southwick, Esq., of the committee for Galveston
$302.50; and placed with the funds for this county $302.50--$605.00.
In behalf of the intended beneficiaries I return thanks to the generous
donors.
Very respectfully,
B. A. Shepherd,
one of the Commissioners for Harris county.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 1, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
News
from Brownsville.
A Brisk Trade with the Yankees, &c.
The Brownsville Flag of the 12th inst. says there are now no
war vessels at the mouth of the Rio Grande—that the report of the Yellow Fever
in that city is without foundation, but that the dangue [sic] fever is
circulating through the city. Judge Redgate is now in Brownsville, having returned from his
visit to England. He was captured
on the Peterhoff, which vessel he appears to have been the means of bringing out
as Agent of the Lloyds, and will now exercise that agency in a Texas business.
The Flag says that city is crowded with people from the North East, South
and West, Yankees, Confederates, Germans, Mexicans, &c., and that it is a
difficult matter to cross their principal streets for the wagons and teams that
crowd them. The Flag says:
"Strange to say, Boston and New York are familiar names to our
sight, for we have groceries and dry goods from those hostile markets just as
regular as they do in New Orleans. We
send hides and wool and—shall we say it?—Cotton to the Yankees, and they
send us wherewith to feed upon and wherewith to clothe ourselves.
They send us powder and shot, sulphur, phosphorus, nitre, caps and all
manner of explosives and destructive things, and they would send us more such
things if it was as accessible to smuggle a rifled cannon across the river as it
is to quietly slip over with rifle powder.
It is an understood matter that this point is neutral territory, for
Yankees come and go out of Brownsville just as some Confederates go in and out
of New York. All this is business.
Cotton, goods, specie and paper money are the blood, bones, flesh, nerves
and sinews of business. To buy and
sell, trade, exchange, barter and chaffer are the occupations of the hour and
the day, and the huge multitude of merchants, farmers, lawyers, preachers,
teamsters, doctors and feminine divinities keep straight in the faith from
morning until night. Many ladies
have made their appearance in the city, and our dry goods dealers have
pleasanter times now than they did when none but sturdy teamsters bargained for
crinoline and calico. Pretty
females are here from Texas, having made their pilgrimage to this mercantile
Mecca, across the desert and over the lonely road from here to Goliad, driven to
the journey by the necessity of the times."
Brownsville Market—Cotton is now selling for 20 cents cash or 25 for
good paper. The Flag says people from the interior are dissatisfied with
these low figures, but that the figures must come down still lower, and that the
present high freights must also come down.
There has been a slight advance in some goods. Coffee is quoted at 25@30c; sugar 12 to 18; bacon 14 to 25;
corn $1 per bushel; brogan shoes $16 to $18 per doz.; calicoes, Am. 18c,
English, 22c.
A good iron axled wagon, with five yoke of oxen attached, sold at auction
on Tuesday last for $1025 in Confederate money—Flag.
The same wagon and oxen would probably have sold in this place for twice
the money. Is it because Confederate money is more depreciated here than
there?
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 15, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
A New Idea.—Cotton Cards.—We are informed that there is a farmer in
Washington county who spins his cotton filling without the aid of cards.
The process is simple. He
goes to the ginhouse or lint room, put the light flakes of cotton ginned into a
basket, not packed, carries it to the spinning wheel, and the thread is made
with rapidity. With a little
practice, more thread can be made in a day than with the aid of cotton cards.
If kerseys are desired to be made, put cow hair into the gin with seed
cotton, and it will be thrown into the lint room nicely mixed.
The same process as above, will give him the filling he desires.
Will our farmers practice upon the important idea thrown
out?—Milledgeville Recorder.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 15, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
To
the Ladies of Texas!
In all national exigencies the ladies have ever conspicuously figured.
Although incapacitated for the fatigue of a protracted campaign, they
have yet not unfrequently, in their proper sphere, exerted an influence which
has bid defiance to the might armament of a foe.
Indeed, when there is no distance left untraversed, no depth left
unsearched, no height left unexplored, no means left unemployed from which the
least beneficial result is expected, it is not all surprising that the women as
well as the men are zealous advocates of their cause.
History has transmitted to us many examples where the bravery, fortitude,
noble daring and irresistible persuasion of females achieved wonders.
If citizens can be called planets in a political horizon, we have no
hesitancy to term the ladies satellites, equally important as the former and
only second to them in size. It is
also discernable that when the contended cause was fairest, the ladies were
proportionally deepest interested, and more particularly so where we discover
superior intelligence and refinement.
From this we can really perceive why the ladies of the South, and
especially those of Texas, sacrifice so abundantly upon the altar of liberty all
which the God of Battles demands.
Every century had its war; every age witnessed the struggles between
night and day, right and wrong, liberty and despotism.
But do we find in the chronicles of "Adam's naughty race" a
record of contention such as that which now exists between the North and the
South? May be that similar causes
were involved as the one that actuated the two belligerent parties n the present
contest, but never before were parties so universally and completely engaged to
further their respective cause.
In all other wars (perhaps the "revolutionary war" excepted)
the armies were chiefly composed of mercenaries or such young men as could be
conveniently spared, and who followed soldiering as a profession, but our
army—the difference is evident—we can only designate our army by "our
people;" our party is our nation.
None but those who have faced the brunt of the battle can fully estimate
and appreciate the amount of moral force with which our soldiers are furnished
by your energetic exertion in behalf of their well being and success.
Every encouraging letter you send them makes them stronger; every prayer
you offer up in their behalf makes them more sure of success.
Little may you think how much good your "Soldiers' Aid and Relief
Societies" accomplish. Even
admitting that in some instances the proceeds of your laudable exertions were
misused, the mere knowledge of these exertions accomplished unimaginable good.
It makes heroes out of mere lads, and heroes it renders incredibly bold.
Being intimately acquainted with the many necessities of our soldiers,
and being apprised of your zealousness to relieve them, we have devised a plan,
which, if carried out, will undoubtedly bring about very beneficial results.
We are organizing a "Confederate States Soldiers' Tract Society,"
which shall publish Tracts and purchase Testaments, and distribute the same
among our boys. This undertaking is
most heartily recommended by Lieut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, and we would solicit
your lively co-operation in the praiseworthy work. The Bibles and Testaments which your friends took with them
when they left home, are nearly lost or torn.
Shall we now, simply, because the times are hard, suffer their souls to
starve? God forbid.
The Confederate States Soldiers' Tract Society is composed of all those
who pecuniarily enhance its interests. The
funds which may be contributed by you will be received and receipted for in the
papers by the editors of the News and the Telegraph.
The publishing Committee is composed of "men of God," who will
conscientiously appropriate such contributions for the described purpose.
Already have the ladies of several communities promised to give a fair or
concert for the benefit of this our Soldiers' Society.
Let us hear from you, for we need your assistance.
Respectfully,
J. A. B. Ahrens,
Chaplain, C. S. Army.
Houston, July 14th, 1863.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 15, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
From Affleck's Almanac.
Texas Gardening for July.—Every Preparation should be made for a brisk
onset next month to insure a good fall and winter garden.
The ground must be cleared, manured, and well ploughed and harrowed or
dug. Cabbage, brocoli [sic], and
celery seeds sown if there is not a full supply of plants, produce a supply of
fresh seeds from a source that may be relied on.
During the showery weather plant a few Kidney beans; they will require
partial shading and watering. Sow
Rutabaga turnips early in the month, and the other sorts during the last week.
New land yields the sweetest and best flavored turnips.
Rutabaga should be sown on well manured drills and tended.
We have found Skinnings Improved Swede the best variety, and one of the
best crops that can be grown for man and beast.
Sow Endive, Lettuce and Raddishes [sic], and transplant last week, if the
season prove favorable. Cabbages,
cauliflowers, brocoli [sic], celery, tomatoes, leeks, shallots, &c.
A few Irish potatoes may be planted.
Melons for pickles, and cucumbers also for pickles.
Sugar corn for late roasting ears. Tomatoes
will furnish a supply when the spring grown crop has ceased to bear, and will
continue to bear until frost, and when frost is expected if a few strong plants,
full of fruit, be taken up by the roots and hung up in a cool, dry cellar, the
fruit will gradually ripen for some time.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 22, 1863, p. 1, c, 3
Tallow Candles.—It may be of some interest to our numerous readers to
know that, with not a cent of additional expense, tallow candles can be made
fully equal in point of merit to the common star candle:
To two pounds of tallow add one tea-cup full of good ley from good ashes,
and simmer over a slow fire, when a greasy scum will float on top; skim this off
for soap, (it is almost soap already) as long as it continues to rise.
Then mould your candles as usual, making the wicks a little smaller, and
you have a pure hard tallow candle, worth knowing how to make, and one that
burns as long and gives light equal to sperm.
The chemistry demonstrates itself. An
ounce or two of beeswax will make the candle some harder, and steeping the wicks
in spirits of turpentine will make it burn some brighter.
I write with one before me.—Mobile News.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 22, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
The extract of the Mississippian of the 7th inst., will, we
suppose, dispel every remaining hope that the fall of Vicksburg may prove to be
a false report. But we have yet to learn the many important particulars of
that calamity. At present no one
can safely venture to form or express any opinions on the subject.
Our business now is to prepare for the subsequent invasion that may ere
long be expected.—The Telegraph publishes the following from the Natchez
Courier of the 11th inst.:
"The Courier establishment, which is the property of a lady, will be
closed until such time as the paper can be revived under better auspices.
It is a fixture of Natchez, and will here remain.
The present manager tenders his sincere thanks to all who have been his
friends, (he feels they are many,) for their sympathy and kindness during the
twenty-six years of his sojourn with them, and whatever may be his fate, theirs
may be full of hope, promise and reward to the end of life."
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 22, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
FORT JACKSON.--By General Orders No. 47, from Gen. Ewell, the main fort
of the enemy, situated on Shultz's Hill, near Winchester, and captured by Gen.
Early's division on the 15th, is named "Fort Jackson," in memory of
the late Lt. General T. J. Jackson. From
two U.S. flags which recently waved over the fort, the young ladies of
Winchester made a Confederate flag, which was raised by Gens. Ewell and Early.
The young ladies then gave three cheers for Gen. Ewell.
He replied, "Thank you, ladies, now call on Gen. Early for a
speech." "Speech from
Gen. Early," was the cry from the party.
He stopped, raised his hat, and said--"Ladies, I never could muster
courage to address one lady, much less such a crowd as this," and
passed on amid much laughter from the fair workers.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
The Texas Renegades.—A friend who is on duty at Brashear City, writes
us as follows:
"I was inside the Federal lines a few days since under flag of
truce, and to my surprise, found the so-called 1st Texas Cavalry
picketing against our genuine Texas boys. I
learned the name of some of the officers: Col.
J. E. [sic] Davis, Lieut. Col. Jesse Stancil, formerly of Austin; Capt. Speed,
of Austin, Sheriff in 1860-61, and Lieut. P. G. Temple, of some western county,
Gillespie I believe. I presume
these are two or three companies of deserters and renegades from Texas.
They are in constant communication with Texas—the west in particular.
Capt. Speed expressed a desire to visit Texas in an official
capacity—thinks he can increase his force very much.
He is very vindictive. The
men I saw are evidently afraid to meet Texans.
One asked me if any mercy would be shown them if taken. Our boys are very anxious to get a chance at them.
They are camped on the Mississippi river, near Bouie Station, N. O. O.
& G. W. R.—Telegraph.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 29, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
More of the Indians.—A communication in the Telegraph of this morning
gives a sad and painful account of the present condition of our frontier.
It confirms the accounts given by our own correspondent of the fearful
atrocities, murders and pillages perpetrated by the savages.
A whole tier of frontier counties is now depopulated and the Indians make
their inroads with impunity for 100 miles below the frontier line.
The best farms have been laid waste and all the horses driven off.
The writer says: "While
I pen this I see my neighbors in a long and mournful procession passing my farm,
looking back with tearful eyes to catch a last glimpse of their comfortable
houses in our beautiful valley. The
highways and byways are strewn with the wreck and debris of a ruined and
retreating country." The
writer says all the frontiersmen, the natural defenders of the country, are in
our various armies, and that the frontier regiment cannot defend themselves.
If that regiment is so totally inefficient, we should think the Governor
of the State ought to look to it. He
certainly has some duties to perform in such a crisis.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 29, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Brownsville, Texas, July 9th, 1863.
Galveston News:--. . . We have had some good rains lately, giving hope of
some grass, and refreshing the scorching winds.
Instead of broiling, we are now occasionally boiling; but disease is
disappearing, and trade is lively. This
is a curious place just now. Such
an assemblage of oxen, mules, asses, Jews, speculators, speculators, swindlers,
rowdies, et ide omne genus, never was seen before.
All labor has become excessively high, commanding currently four bits an
hour for common hands, and at the mouth men make as much as twelve dollars per
day in hauling merchandize. This is
specie. Nothing else is
called money here. Yet there
is no place in the Confederacy where you can get so much value for C. S.
Treasury notes as in this much abused town.
True, coin is very scarce, and fifteen cents on the dollar, and dull at
that. But one may get goods of all
kinds at fixed specie prices payable in currency at five to six for one.
So in regard to cotton. A
good lot was offered to day for seventeen cents, and it has been running for
some days from 22 cents down. Yet,
in goods at specie prices, it sells readily at twenty five cents.
This difference of prices id owing to a want of specie, produced by the
demand for the freights and purchase of cotton, the proceeds being carried back
chiefly in coin, as was foreseen by the much maligned authors of the
abused "cotton orders," by which it was sought to force the
importation of merchandise instead of specie, which is so soon bidden.
Many abuse the Jews and traders for this hoarding of the specie; but if
the truth were not so unpalatable, it might be whispered that the planters are
not totally free from this sin (if sin it be) of hoarding their gold.
The quantity of cotton is enormous, and the charges are all paid in gold;
hence its scarcity. But with all
this arrival of cotton for private individuals, contractors (who never perform,)
and traders generally, the Q. M. Dept. with command of all the public trains and
the conscripts, has succeeded in delivering but seventy five bales. Well, we were assured that the Q. M., had in April 2500 bales
"on wheels," but these said wheels seem to have rolled it over to some
other owners. Presto! chango!!
Observer.
GALVESTON WEEKLY NEWS, July 29, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
Flake's Bulletin of Tuesday says five negroes attempted to escape from
Galveston to the Federal blockaders on that morning, in a skiff, but were
overhauled by the steamer Diana's boat and twelve men, who were fired upon by
the enemy, but without effect.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, July 29, 1863, p. 2. c. 3
General Hospital, Columbus, Texas, }
July 24th, 1863.
}
Editor News.—You will allow me through the medium of your paper to
acknowledge the receipt of the following donations, collected and sent to this
hospital by the kind and patriotic exertions of Mrs. Maria J.
Tarver, of Burleson county, for the benefit of the sick and wounded
soldiers:
[list] Total amount received
$117.50.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 5, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
A
Protracted Meeting.
Weatherford, Texas, July 23, 1863.
Ed. News.—It may be interesting to some of your numerous readers to
hear of a protracted meeting that is going on here.
It has now been in progress for 27 days and nights, and when it will stop
time can only tell. Up to yesterday
morning there had been fifty professions: fifty-four
joined the Methodist Church, eleven the Missionary Baptist, four the Cumberland
Presbyterians, and two the Campbellites, and forty penitent mourners still at
the anxious seat. The meeting was
commenced on Friday evening, the 24th of June, for a Methodist
quarterly meeting, and protracted. July
the 4th and 5th was the time for the Missionary Baptist
monthly meeting. They took Saturday
and Sunday, and held a union meeting with the Methodists, there being but one
meeting house for all, and it the Courthouse.
They harmonized for two or three days.
The Baptists considered they were insulted and imposed on, and began to
slack off. On the 13th,
the last Baptist minister left them. They
continued on till the 18th and 19th, which were the
Campbellites' days, and a Cumberland Presbyterian minister came, the
Campbellites giving way to him. On
Saturday and Saturday night, the Campbellites took the pulpit, also on Sunday at
11 A. M., and 3 P. M., and at candle lighting. The Methodists and Campbellites withdrew themselves and held
a union meeting at the same hours in a large school house, about 300 yards
distant. On Monday morning the
Campbellites adjourned sine die. The
Methodists and Campbellites then took the Courthouse together, many of the
Baptist brethren still in attendance. When
they will close, time can only tell.
David Mitchell.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 5, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
[From Affleck's Almanac.
Texas
Gardening for August.
This is perhaps the most important month in the year for the kitchen
garden. The crop is not only more valuable, both in an economic and
pecuniary view, but the vegetables are of a better quality and endure longer in
perfection. If the soil has not
been already prepared let no time be lost in preparing it. When rainy or dark weather occurs set out plants of cabbage,
broccoli, cauliflowers, kale, Savoy, Brussels sprouts, celery, endive, etc.
Sow seeds of all these. Sow
turnips at two or three times during the month, also mustard both on richly
manured land either by cowpenning or otherwise, or in new land.
A few Irish potatoes may be planted, they will commonly do well. Plant sugar corn for roasting ears, lettuce and curled cress
in succession.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 5, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
Round Mountain, Blanco, July 22, 1863.
Ed. News.—Twenty-eight Indians made a raid last night into the north
western part of the county, 15 miles hence, and stole and killed all the horses
they could lay their eyes upon. Also,
into Llano (the town,) and took off all they could, and killed twenty odd
horses. This I heard from my
neighbor, Mr. M. Mofs [sic?], who is just from Llano with his family.
If the Frontier Regiment keeps on hauling cotton, making dancing parties,
visiting their friends and relatives, &c., &c., it may as well be
disbanded at once.
I was informed yesterday, by Mr. Evans, of Uvalde, that the citizens of
that county have represented the company stationed in that vicinity as a nuisance,
and requested its removal by the Governor.
Certain it is that these frontier counties never have been
protected by any troops stationed on our frontier.
Yours, &c.
J. T. C.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 5, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We notice that the Henderson Times, (Rusk co.,) and we believe some of
our other exchanges in Texas, are calling public meetings of the citizens in
their respective counties for the purpose of organizing themselves into military
companies, in anticipation of the Yankee raid that may now be expected in Texas,
since the fall of Vicksburg. Some
of the papers fix upon Monday next as day of meeting, inasmuch as that being the
day of election, the people can attend with less loss of time and trouble to
themselves. We hope meetings will
be generally held in all the counties of the State, on Monday, or on some other
day not far distant.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 5, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Wanted to Purchase—Red Pepper and black Mustard Seed.
Howard Smith,
Medical Purveyor, C. S. A., Dept. Trans. Miss.
Office over Cramer & Wolf's
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 12, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Indians.—Mr. A. T. Nicks, of Burnet county, Boyce's settlement, about
35 miles from Austin, arrived in town yesterday morning, bringing two arrows
taken from the body of Mr. Cook, who was shot in the cowpen of James Boyce, on
Monday night last. Mr. Nicks states
that there were about fifteen Indians in the settlement at the time.
Noah Taylor, of the town of Burnet, was shot, on the morning of the same
day, through the shoulder, but not killed, and his horse was shot from under him
and died.
The Indians are now in considerable force in both Burnet and Williamson
counties, and have been seen within fifteen miles of this city, at Bagdad,
having killed several horses near Mr. Huddleston's.
Measures should be taken at once to prevent their further advance, or the
capitol of the State may be invaded by the savages in a few days.
The Governor is in possession of the arrows brought in by Mr.
Nicks.—State Gazette.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 19, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The Shreveport News gives an extract from a letter from Matamoras, saying
that refugees are daily arriving there from Texas—that the number now amounts
to over 5000 who have arrived in the last fifteen months.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 19, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Indians.—Extract from a letter from Erath county dated the 4th
inst.: "The Indians came down on Barton's Creek and shot the
widow Rasin, then went two miles further down the creek and attacked seven men,
wounding three of them who are not expected to live. They then came to the Poloxi, chased four men and killed two
of them. There were 24 Indians.
They steal and murder as they go down.
Scouts started from Stephenville to head them.
Judge Marvel, Jno. O. Toliver, Jim House Cage, Ed Pue and young Wilson
had a fight, on Friday night, with 12 Indians above Steavenville [sic].
They took from them twenty-eight horses which they had stolen and two
white children, a boy and a girl. The
Indians stole the children on Squaw creek, Parker county. When our boys fired at them they ran and left the children
behind them.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 19, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
The
Exodus.
[Most of our readers will readily recognize the following graphic
description of the exodus from La. to Texas, as from the pen of our esteemed
fellow citizen, Col. C. J. Forshey, who is now engaged in important duties in
that section of the country.]
And still they come! Line
after line! Caravan after Caravan, crowd the roads and chokes the
ferries. Here a camp and there a
bivouac all along the roads that cross the Sabine. Nearly all rest there after crossing this Jordan into the
promised land. Some find grapes and
fruits to welcome them, but more find their hearts still sad and heavy, as they
breathe a sort of final farewell to the homes whence they have been driven.
Even the insane slave who has been off to the Yankees and found the
heaven of his promise but a houseless camp to starve and die in, still yearns to
his old Louisiana home, and wishes to turn back, and many escape the utmost
vigilance, and start barefooted and purseless, through the barren pine forests,
to find their olden haunts with whatever fortune they may suffer.
These spectacles to the observer, are really pitiable.
Some are but small remnants of large estates, masters fleeing with the
ragged handful of slaves, having left wife and children within the enemy's lines
and fled with the fragment to find a new home or resting place out of reach of
the ruthless invaders, to return and bring up the families left behind, when a
shelter shall have been secured. Others
have all they could save with them; white and black are sharing alike their
shelterless emigration. Such droves
of tatterdemalions would defy the pencil of Hogarth. Such wan visages—such dirty and patched habiliments, such
crippled mules and rawboned horses; such crazy carts and rickety wagons.
Little and big, old and young, look alike solemn and woe begone.
For a week it has rained every day, and the roads are muddy and slippery,
the sky sullen, and every prospect ordinarily cheerful looks dreary, and perhaps
my own fancy clothes some of the recent scenes in somber colors.
I was driving to Williamson's Ferry—I couldn't tell where while paper
is so scarce—and it was raining one of these slow dripping afternoons, after a
heavy gust. I began to see the
advance guard of a large encampment, long before I reached the ferry.
Groups of the genuine descendants of Ham, almost in the condition that
Ham ridiculed in his inebriated father, were standing sullen and motionless,
around little smoking camp fires; trying to dry, while the rain mocked their
efforts. Mothers wrapped their
children in rags, and held them close, as I passed from group to group.
Carts, wagons, drays, carryalls and every species of vehicle, some
covered, and others crammed full, but open, were taking in the rain.
Clothes that had been rinsed in the Sabine waters, (as if to shake off
the last dust of Louisiana,) were satyrically hanging out to dry; while
"the rain rained on." Herds
of cattle and sheep were mingling in the camp; and lean mules half wearied of
hunting for grass among the rank weeds of the "bottom," were humped
and stubbornly sleeping in the rain.
On I drove for half a mile through this serio comic encampment, when I
arrived opposite what seemed to be Head Quarters, a family of three were seated
beneath the shelter of a huge cart body, tilted up high by dropping the shafts.
The gentleman was making a writing table of his wife's lap; she was
knitting and his daughter had a book. Thus
they were defying the elements. I
half paused to study the picture, which of course I disturbed by semi-intrusion.
The literary labors were immediately suspended, and the host rose to his
full proportions and stepped out, the very embodiment, in spite of his
surroundments, of the Louisiana Planter. How
was I surprised to find my old neighbor, Lem. Bowden; beg his pardon! his name slipped out accidentally. After greeting he informed me he had saved all that was
moveable; and like the philosopher that he is—having recovered from some of
his democratic notions, he is wending his way to the grain growing regions of
Texas, with all his stock of every kind, sheep, cattle and horses.
May his shadow never grow less, for it now can throw several small men in
the shade. I offered the ladies a
hearty and cheerful welcome and a bunch of wild grapes, not quite so large as
those that my great namesake, Caleb the Hebrew, brought over the Jordan; but
perhaps quite as delicious. Take
care Miss Leonora of the captivating Shepherd boys over the hills of the new
Canaan. Tarry not too long at the well!
*
*
*
*
Next day I was at Sabinetown Ferry, 15 miles below; and the rain was
equally merciless. Another series
of Caravans, passed trudging up the hill; while the tatterdemalions lined three
miles of the road, as I came in. Floundering
in the mud, with the huge and clumsy cane carts, I saw them stalled and nearly
desperate. The Patriarchs in charge
of this detachment of the exodus, came into the shelter, and I greeted Dr. H. of
the lower Bayou Teche. His force
had all been with the Yankees, and were recaptured at Brashear City.
In the six weeks of Yankee humanity, in relieving the poor oppressed
slave, fifteen out of seventy had died from want and exposure, and several
others were too far gone, when rescued to recover. They all show it now in their haggard visages.
Dr. H. had left wife and children with some neighbors, and a fragment of
his slaves wandering still in the wilderness, though now feeling out of reach of
the pursuing Pharoah. He says that
the Manna of the Louisiana wilderness furnished them with no relief from hunger. They halt here to hunt for beeves, but these are very scarce
in this region of Texas.
The Dr. is an elegant gentleman; and, in former days, full of
cheerfulness and good humor. He
dined and tarried some hours with me, but his lips wore no smile, to chase the
shade from that brow of care.—The picture he gives of the desolation of that
fertile and highly cultivated country, and of the condition of many families of
wealth reduced to want and driven from their burning homes, without food or
raiment, is truly heart rending.
Most of the immigrants seem bound to the grain and stock growing, rather
than the cotton region of Texas. All
want employment for their negroes, and I doubt not will soon fill the call of
Gen. Magruder for teamsters.
There is no diminution of the tide of refugees.
It will not surprise me to find the next census showing that our slave
population has doubled during the war.
For the safety they seek in this land of promise and of refuge, let them
be placed at work upon the formidable line of fortifications we have just
surveyed and located along this western bank of Jordan.
A town in Sabine Parish 25 miles from the river.
Sabinetown, August 1863.
Exotic.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 26, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Prices in the Interior.—We learn by a gentleman from the interior that
in Parker county, where he resides, chickens can be had for 75 cents per dozen,
eggs 25 cents per dozen, butter 25 to 37c per pound, wheat $3 per bushel, flour
$10 per hundred pounds, beef five or six cents per pound, and in proportion for
other articles.
The editor of the San Antonio Herald says he has purchased paper lately
at $100 per ream, which is $3 per quire or 20 cents per sheet.
We have also purchased paper at the same price, smaller in size and
inferior in quality to the paper for which we used to pay $3 per ream.
The Marshall Republican says two hundred and ten negroes left that county
the other day to work on the fortifications on Red River.
The editor says the planters have responded promptly to the call made
upon them. Only two or three hung
fire, and these will be looked after.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, August 26, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
It may not be known as it should be, that peaches can be preserved in
good flavor by simply cutting in two, extracting the stone, and drying with the
skin or peel downwards. If very
large, it may be as well to cut the peach into three parts.
It is not necessary to peel and cut up into small pieces, as some
suppose; much of the juice and flavor are lost by this mode, and all retained by
the plan above stated.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 2, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
A correspondent of the Mobile News says he finds great disparity in the
charges of hotel keepers, some charging most enormous prices, and others being
content with barely a living profit, and not even charging soldiers anything. Those who are thus giving food and shelter to our soldiers
will establish for themselves a reputation worth more than all the wealth made
by extortion. The hotel charges
seem to be equally diversified in this State.
In this city the charge is $7 per day, while we are told that equally
good, or even better fare can be had in Galveston for $4 per day.
There is a shoe peg manufactory in Gainsville, Ala., where the pegs are
cut by steam with astonishing rapidity.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 2, 1863, p. 1, c. 5
Camp Verda [sic?], Texas, Aug. 11th, 1863.
Ed. News:--In your paper of August 3d I notice a communication from J. T.
C. of Round Mountain, Blanco county, in which he states that the Indians had
been depredating in the North West of his county, &c., which may be true in
the main. He also states that
"if the frontier regiment keeps on hauling cotton, making dancing parties,
visiting their friends and relatives, &c., it may as well be
disbanded." Now, as to the
regiment hauling cotton, I can say that there are but very few of its members
hauling cotton and they only by special detail of the Governor for special
purposes, to-wit: hauling cotton to
the Rio Grande for the purpose of buying clothing, ammunition, &c., for the
regiment and the State, in the absence of other teamsters, and certainly no
reasonable man will blame the Governor or any member of the regiment for such a
thing, when it is the only means of getting ammunition and other supplies for
the regiment. Had the gentleman to
whom I refer been stationed on the frontier for twenty months, with clothing
issued only one time during the time mentioned, and that very scantily, no
shoes, no blankets, no socks, no hats, and worse than no shoes, Mexican shoes
something near one pair to the man, and they so worthless that many of the men
would not draw them and pay, (for such it is called,) only up to the 24th
of last December, he would certainly view the matter in a different light.
As to dancing parties I have about as little taste for them as J. T. C.,
but certainly men who are tied down in camp, as well as entirely absent fro the
settlements, on scouts for weeks at a time, ought to be allowed a little
recreation of some kind when it can be had without any detriment to the service
or neglect of duty, and many prefer the amusement of dancing with the ladies to
some other amusement or recreation which they occasionally enjoy, though very
seldom, in the immediate neighborhood of their station.
And now as to their visiting their friends and relatives.
It is true that there is generally about two men on furlough from each
company at a time, and sometimes there is one or more on special leave, and some
on detached service to get in supplies for the companies.
This will explain the appearance of so many men being absent from camp,
at home, &c.
Mr. J. T. C. also states that Mr. Evans, of Uvalde county, represents
that the citizens of Uvalde county have represented Capt. Edgar's company,
Mounted Regiment, T. S. T., stationed in Uvalde county, as a nuisance, that they
(the citizens of Uvalde county) have requested their removal by the Governor as
such, and that certain it was that the frontier counties had never been
protected by any troops stationed on it.
Now as to the charge of said company being a nuisance.
I have to say that there is no doubt some reckless men in Capt. Edgar's
company, as there are in all other companies, who not only trespass upon the
rights of the citizens, but upon the rights of their fellow soldiers, but that a
whole company should be set down and punished as a nuisance because of the
wrongdoings of a few of its members, is really ridiculous and truly preposterous
in the extreme. And further I have
to say that I have positive information from a reliable and official source that
some of the very same citizens who requested the removal of said company, have
now actually petitioned the Governor to suffer the said company to remain where
it is and was at its reorganization, stating that the company was doing good
service, and that they were generally as orderly as most companies.
And in conclusion I have to say that no regiment can protect the Indian
frontier of Texas, let them be ever so well provided, on a line of some five or
six hundred miles, and considering too that the frontier regiment have been illy
provided for, particularly with regard to ammunition, forage, &c.
The principal part of the ammunition which we have had to use, especially
the powder and caps, are very bad, most of the powder used would not fire if it
lay in the gun one night, even in dry weather, and a majority of the caps would
not explode. Considering further
that there has been half the time since the first organization of the regiment
that the horses have been barefoot, and that forage has not been furnished more
than half the time. In the
Subsistence Department we have, by the energy of the company commissaries, been
tolerably well supplied with the actual necessaries of life.
Now, these facts considered, for they are facts, and facts are stubborn
things, it appears to me, I suppose the more so because of the experience I have
had from a residence on the immediate frontier for eight years, that any man who
would, upon the grounds assumed, either directly or indirectly, accuse the men
and officers of the frontier regiment (they too mostly residents of the
frontier, with their whole interests at stake,) of a dereliction of duty, is
either very much prejudiced, ensconsed as he is just inside the frontier, or is
insane on the subject, and has given it but little consideration or reflection.
Very respectfully,
D. A. R.
Private Co. A, Mounted Regiment, T. S. T.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 2, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
. . . It is the constant boast of our enemies that they do not "feel
the war." If this be an
advantage, it is all their own. The
South does "feel the war."—Her people cannot be driven from
their homes, nor see their cities sacked and burned, nor read the names of their
kindred in the lists of killed upon the battle fields, without much and deep
feeling.—They feel the war in deprivation and in infliction; at home and
abroad; upon the farm and in the city; by night and by day' everywhere and
always, the war is a heavy weight upon their hearts.
The acute suffering which it brings is more endurable than the constant
depression accompanying the constant though of carnage and destruction.
No one exhibits his wonted cheerfulness. The whole country mourns.
Everybody is ashamed that a question which should have been so settled as
to ennoble the age, has simply attained to the arbitrament of rapine and
slaughter. This comes of association with a people whose politics and decency
culminate in Lincoln, Butler and the New York Herald—a people who practice
hypocrisy and design in everything, from the putting on of a "dickey"
to the publication of a President's message.
The South feels the war as an evil in itself, as a disgrace in the
character of her foe, unworthy of honorable steel—and as a blot upon the
times.—But all her feelings concentrate in a determination to struggle out of
the war on the opposite side from the Yankees.
The hope of this consummation gives beauty to the ashes of our homes,
lends a lustre to homespun, sweetens the bread of bitterness, shortens years of
war into days, and lightens with its glory alike the prospect of death for those
who are yet to fall, and the graves of those who have already perished in the
strife. The feeling which makes the
thought of association with the North a suffocation—the determination to be
delivered—this rod of separation will finally swallow up all the magic of
finances, all the sorcery of politics, and all the shams of diplomacy and trade,
and when it has made an end of all these, it will be ready to smite the sea of
blood and give us exodus from our enemies forever.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 2, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
Brownsville, August 13, 1863.
Editor Galveston News:--There is an old adage viz:
"That a "bad penny" always returns."
You see it verified for here I am, not in person but in spirit.
And to begin at the beginning, I have a few words to say concerning the outside
behavior of a few of our Confederate soldiers, who, I am sorry to
say, are doing the "glorious cause" much harm, and by their acts
casting reflections upon the whole Confederate force now stationed at this
place, and said force, I can assure you, contains many honorable high minded
men. To give you the particulars I
will merely state one instance: Last evening about dark five soldiers entered the store of
Dimas Barreda, (who is himself a Confederate soldier,) and took, without
offering pay of any kind, a hat and a pair of shoes, and having their hands upon
their sixes, no restraint was offered them.
For such conduct the officers are in a great measure responsible, for if
they would but use a little authority and put the men under a little discipline,
such things would not occur. The
parties most interested will make no complaint for the simple reason that they
well know it will do no good and in all probability do them much harm.
I mean to reflect no discredit upon our noble army, God bless them all,
but they should remember, both officers and privates, that any dishonorable
conduct upon their part, attaches dishonor to the cause and leaves an indelible
stain upon our hitherto unspotted flag. "Hurrah
for the Bonny Blue Flag," long may it wave. . . .
Gahn, Jr.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The Shreveport News, a paper about the size of ours, is now sold at 50
cents per copy. We shall also be
compelled to advance our price, as we are now paying $100 per ream for paper
that only cost $50 when our present rates were adopted.
The Dallas Herald declines to receive any more subscriptions in
consequence of the scarcity of paper. We
trust that scarcity may not continue long, but for the present we can see no
prospect of any improvement.
The Tyler Reporter does not object to the large number of negroes now
being brought from La. to Texas for security, provided their owners take proper
care of them. But the editor
complains that they are sometimes permitted to do pretty much as they please,
and he states that one Dr. Blackman's negroes committed thefts on a large scale,
and when informed of it, made light of the matter.
The editor hopes that will be remembered as he passes on Southwestward.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
We have been showed a specimen of cochineal, gathered by the Misses Crow,
of this county, from the leaves of the Cactus Cochinilifer.
The specimen of this valuable insect is as good as those we find in the
shops, lacking uniformity of size, however, which is of minor consideration.
The rouge prepared from them is of a superior quality.
The young ladies say that they have gathered them in large
quantities.—Ibid. [Dallas Herald]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
More Indian Depredations in Parker County.—We learn from gentlemen from
Weatherford, that a party of Indians, nine in number, murdered a Mrs. Brown, and
two sons of Parson Hamilton, living on Patrick's Creek, about 10 miles south
west of Weatherford, Parker county, on Monday, the 10th inst. At the same time they took two of Mrs. Brown's
children—girls—prisoners, but after going a short distance they dismounted
and the girls escaped, both, however, being slightly wounded.
The Indians also took some horses belonging to Mrs. Hamilton, but they
afterwards came home again. There
are several scouts out after Indians, but we have not heard yet whether or not
they have been successful.
Gen. Terry, commanding the militia, has allowed the citizens of Parker to
remain at home for the present, in consequence of the frequent raids of the
enemy lately. The Indians are
becoming very troublesome on the frontier, and some decisive action should be
taken to put a stop to their marauding and murdering raids.—Dallas Herald,
Aug. 19.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 9, 1863, p. 2, c. 7
Soldiers
Tract Society.
The undersigned, in consenting to act in the capacity of a
"publishing committee" to supply religious tracts for our armies in
the "Trans-Mississippi Department," [illegible] that nothing need be
said to the christian public, upon the importance of the enterprise.
Cut off from the Eastern portion of our Confederacy, the Government has
inaugurated all the necessary plans to make the Department self-sustaining in
military affairs. It is now
imperatively demanded of the christian public, to employ all the means within
our reach, to sustain and promote the interests of religion within our armies on
this side of the great river.
For $75 a thousand copies of a four page tract can be supplied; and for
$150 one of eight pages, and larger tracts in proportion.
Every donor of $100 will be the [illegible] instrument of giving to our
troops [illegible] thousand copies containing four thousand pages of religious
instruction.
Donors desiring a special tract published at their own expense, are
requested to forward the funds with the tract.
And although the committee cannot pledge themselves to publish every
tract so ordered inasmuch as they deem themselves responsible to christians of
different Churches [illegible] confine their issues to those departments of
christian theology which are not controversial; but, in declining to publish any
[illegible] so ordered, they will return the money to the donor.
Parties wishing these tracts for publication will be supplied at cost of
$10 per hundred, by applying to the depository, [illegible] Burke, Houston.
Ministers of the gospel are respectfully requested to aid the committee
in producing and selecting tracts suitable for or purpose, and to render earnest
cooperation to this department of the enterprise.
[illegible]ble opportunities will be afforded to all to distribute these
tracts, not only among the troops, but distribute among the thousands of our
neglected population.
The Rev. Mr. Ahrens will devote himself to the work of raising funds and
forwarding tracts to the various camps, forts, &c. [illegible] him, as
general agent, enquires are respectfully referred.
We would add, that at least one tract in the German language will be
printed, at the earliest time convenient, for the benefit of our numerous German
soldiers.
J. R. Hutchison,
Thos. Castleton,
J. R. Carnes,
C. Brown.
Houston, Sept. 2, 1863.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 23, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
More Indian Murders.—The Indians are overrunning our frontier counties.
In Erath county, about ten days since, they murdered Mr. John Woods, a
soldier at home on sick furlough, and his brother-in-law, young Mills, son of
Gideon Mills, Assessor of that county, who were in the woods hog hunting.
Scouts started from Stephenville in pursuit of the Indians, and overtook
them the second day in Palo Pinto county. They
killed two of the Indians, took fifteen head of horses which they were running
off, some buffalo robes, blankets, three saddles, and two lariats stained with
blood.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 23, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
There has been discovered lately, on the Attascosa creek, immense
quantities of copperas in its native state.
Good judges of the article say that it is of a most excellent quality.
Preparations are being made to extract and chrystalize [sic] it for
market.—S. A. Herald.
There is no doubt but we have vast quantities of copperas in Texas.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, September 23, 1863, p. 2, c.
7
Mr. Editor: Sir—I know
from experience that one dollar per letter will not begin to pay the expenses of
Mr. Rose for carrying letters to our armies east of the Mississippi, and being
myself interested in sending letters to my friends, I suggest that three to five
dollars per letter will not be too much, and I would rather give twenty, as I
have done, rather than that Mr. Rose should not be remunerated for this
important service.
J. B. [?]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Galveston.—A private letter from Galveston, dated the 28th
inst., states that every man there is now a soldier, and that the exempts are
organizing as a military force. Property
in Galveston when not closely attended to, is going rapidly to destruction.
Fences and small outbuildings are being torn down for fuel, and as cold
weather approaches the destruction in this way must be still greater.
Wood is now $30 or $35 per cord, and poor families are not able to buy
it, and yet they must have fire for cooking, and soon it will be necessary for
protection against the cold, wintry weather.
Application has been made for the use of a boat to carry wood to the
city, but as yet it has not been granted. Corn
meal is now $6 and potatoes $10 per bushel, and the probability is that prices
will further advance, unless some steps are taken to prevent it.
It is to be hoped that the military authorities will allow one boat to
carry wood to the city in time to prevent the suffering that must otherwise soon
be experienced for the want of it. It
has been stated to us that there are a good many boats in the bay that are now
doing very little of anything, and that the government is probably at the same
expense in regard to them, as if they were employed in relieving the wants of
the families of soldiers and others in needy circumstances.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
From the Frontier.—A letter dated Montague, Texas, Sept. 15th,
'63, says:
"The Indians have not paid us a visit since I wrote you last.
At this time we are getting on very well, but I cannot tell how long it
will be so. Col. Fallains has a
company here belonging to the border battalion.
Orders came to him on the 11th inst. to send some of his men
to Collin county to take some deserters. It
appears that some persons in Collin say they will protect the deserters, and
that if they are molested they will burn McKinney, &c.
Col. Fitzhugh sent for these men and others to take the deserters.
If the traitors in Collin attempt to carry out their threats there is
likely to be some trouble. News has
just come in that there has been an organization of negroes and a few white men
in Wise county, and at Pilot Point, Denton county, and that some forty of the
negroes and six or eight of the white men have been taken up.
Two of the negroes fell out about a white girl and had a fight, and this
led to the disclosure of the conspiracy. Their
plan, as now discovered, was to kill all the old people and take the white girls
for their wives! It seems to me
necessary that the people should be informed in regard to such hellish designs,
in order that all may be put on their guard.
J.H.C."
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 6
We have sometimes been disposed to blame our country friends for their
high charges for corn, flour and other farming produce, as the prices charged do
not to us appear to bear any reasonable proportion to the actual cost.
We have often been told that these high charges have been made in self
defence, as the people of the country are obliged to have certain articles from
the Houston market, for which they are made to pay such enormous prices that it
would take all they could raise on their farms during a whole year at the old
prices to buy one month's supply of such store articles as are absolutely
necessary for their families. We
have often given it as our opinion that there was some reason in this argument,
but of late have been inclined to believe that our merchants were adopting a
more reasonable grade of prices, and such as afforded them only a reasonable
profit. This morning, however, we
had occasion to buy a small piece of common bleached domestic for our office,
and what to our country readers think we had to pay? Seven dollars and a half per yard!
Judging from our Brownsville quotations it is easy to estimate very
nearly the profit that is made at this price.
The same article is quoted there at 28 to 32 cents, (its former price
here before the war was twelve and a half cents,) and allowing our money to be
worth in that market only ten cents on the dollar, (and it was quoted firm at
that on the 16th, with an improving tendency,) and the profit will be
seen to be nearly two hundred per cent. When
we bear in mind that the freight and other charges on such light articles is
scarcely perceptible on a single yard, such an advance on the cost in our own
market is certainly out of all reason. We
would, however, remark that the stocks here are now very small, most of our old
merchants having ceased or nearly ceased doing business.
If our farmers were compelled to exchange their products for articles in
this market at such prices no one could certainly ask them to put their corn at
a dollar a bushel as formerly for it would then take seven and a half bushels to
buy a yard of very common domestic, when formerly one bushel would have bought
eight yards!
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We invite the attention of the people of Texas to the notice of Messrs.
Van Liew and Adams in this paper, in which they propose to take letters to our
soldiers anywhere east of the Mississippi.
We feel fully warranted in stating for the information of the public that
these gentlemen are well known and highly respectable citizens of Texas, and
entitled to entire confidence. They
are both well acquainted with the Mississippi and the country on both sides, and
what they undertake to do they will perform.—We sincerely hope they may
succeed in establishing the regular courier line as they now propose.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Meal now retails in our town at four dollars per bushel; cow peas at
fifty cents per pint, pumpkins at fifty cents a piece, molasses two dollars per
gallon and lard one dollar and fifty cents per pound!
Stand from under all you nervous folks, the elephant is going to
sneeze.—Alexandria, La., Democrat.
The squeeze is still worse in this city, corn meal is here $5 per bushel,
cow peas about the same; pumpkins of a decent size $1 50 a piece; molasses $5 50
per gallon; lard $3 per pound; butter $3 per pound; chickens $1 50 a piece;
turnips, small size, 12½ cents a piece; potatoes, one dollar for a mess of 10
or 12 small ones; turnip tops for greens, 50 cents a mess; ochre, 50 cents for
10 or 12 pods for soup, eggs, $3 per dozen.
Beef is the only article in our market that common people are able to
buy, and we are indebted to Messrs. Allen & Pool for keeping the price of
that within reasonable bounds. They
sell to the poor at 8 cents a pound, and to others at from 12 to 20 cents,
according to quality.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
Waco, Sept. 30, 1863.
Friend Richardson.—I desire to acknowledge, through the columns of the
News, the receipt by me of three hundred and thirty-one 50 100 ($331 50) dollars
by the hands of the Misses Bentley for the hospital of the 15th
(Speight's) Regiment Infantry, this amount having been donated by the patriotic
ladies of McLennan county.
Very truly,
J. W. Speight.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 7
Cotton
and Wool Cards for Socks.
Office of Clothing Bureau }
Mil. Dist. Texas, &c.
}
Houston, Sept. 24th, 1863.
}
Any person delivering twenty-five pairs of homemade Socks, strong and
well made, to Capt. W. J. Mills, A. Q. M., in charge of the Clothing Depot, at
Houston, will receive one pair of cotton or wool Cards, at their option.
E. C. Wharton,
Major & Q. M. Chief of Bureau.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 7, 1863, p. 2, c. 7
Notice
to those Desiring to Send
Letters Beyond the Mississippi.
The undersigned, having for some time contemplated establishing a regular
courier line to connect with the nearest Confederate mail lines on this and on
the other side of the Mississippi, have determined to make their first and
second trips entirely through from this city to Richmond and back, and will
leave Houston on the first trip on the 15th instant, and on the
second trip on the 1st of November.
They will take all letters entrusted to their care directed to soldiers
and others, at two dollars per letter, and will deliver all letters directed to
soldiers to the headquarters of the army to which they belong, but those
directed to Gen. Lee's army will be deposited in the P. O. of Richmond.
Letters to persons not in the army will be mailed in the nearest Post
office on the other side of the Miss., so as to secure their safe transmission.
They will also bring letters in return.
J. R. Van Liew.
W. Adams.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
It would seem from an article in this morning's Telegraph that the offer
made by Maj. Wharton of one pair of cards for 25 pair of soldier's socks was not
understood to be a fair remuneration for the socks, but was all Maj. W. was
authorized to offer, as the government price for the cards is $25, and for the
socks $1 a pair. It appears that
100,000 pair of socks are now wanted for our soldiers to prevent them from
suffering during the approaching winter, and Maj. W. is doing all the
regulations allow him to do to supply that want.
It cannot of course be expected that poor families will undertake to knit
socks for so inadequate a remuneration, but the deficiency ought to be supplied
by those who are able, while ladies who are able to do it may knit socks for the
offer made or without any remuneration, or may put their negro servants to
knitting for the soldiers so as to save them from suffering.
If all the women in Texas would apply themselves to supplying this
important want, our soldiers would be comfortably supplied in less time than we
are talking about it.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
. . . In fact, the scarcity of teams for transportation, if not the only
ground of just complaint in Texas, is really the cause of all the serious
inconvenience that is felt here or elsewhere.
There was never before so great an abundance of provisions in the State,
nor so much difficulty in placing them where they are most needed, and it is to
obviate this difficulty that our citizens are now called upon to bring into
requisition all their resources. The
military impressment of teams and of products has caused much of this
difficulty, and yet such impressment was perhaps a necessary evil.
We trust our military authorities will bear in mind that while they may
have just cause to impress to meet the wants of our soldiers, they should not
overlook the fact that transportation is also needed to supply the wants of
their families.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 14, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The Postmaster General advertises that all official communications,
letters, newspapers, &c., intended for the east side of the Mississippi,
should be addressed to their proper destination, via Shreveport, La., care of
the postmaster at that place.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Market of Brownsville—The Flag of the same date [2d inst.] says there
is a great scarcity in that market of many necessary articles.
Of ladies and gentlemen's shoes there is no assortment, and the price of
ladies' gaiters $40 per dozen pair. Inferior
clothing is abundant. Cottonades,
though abundant, maintain their [illegible] price.
Plantation goods are offered at reduced rates, but the demand has been
checked by the domestic manufacture of the industrious Texas house wives.
The prices of cassimeres, satinets, &c., rule in favor of purchasers.
Heavy sales of prints are being made at previous rates. There are heaps on heaps of blankets, but holders are holding
on in expectation that the winter northers will enable them to command their own
prices, and though there are enough to cover the whole State, prices are
expected to rule high. There is no
goose or bird shot in the market, but sporting powder and caps are abundant.
Cotton is advancing, and as there is a large amount of gold, and the
prices in the foreign market rule high, cotton is expected to command a good
price in Brownsville.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Seguin, October 2d, 1863.
Ed. news: . . . Times are
very dull—everything high and money low—farmers who have an abundance will
not sell, but hold on to what they have rather than take Confederate money, and
to such an extent is this carried that people are suffering for the simplest
necessaries of life—soldiers families are dependent and are not likely to be
supplied. Fuel, beef and cornmeal
can not be obtained except for specie or Confederate money at ten for one, and
yet calicoes and other non-essential goods are brought in from Mexico and rule
the value of money, to the great detriment of the country and our cause.
All the patriotic resolutions passed are simply ridiculous stuff.
Many would still turn out and face the enemy if they could be assured
that what they leave behind them would not be swallowed up by land sharks and
traitors. People are now buying up
and driving cattle to Mexico, because they get specie for them, and these very
men have been exempted from conscription on account of their stock. This is a bad state of things, but is nevertheless the cure.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
The
Snake in the Glass—A Homily
by John G. Saxe.
Come listen awhile
to me, my lad;
Come listen to me for a spell,
Let that terrible drum
For a moment be dumb,
For your uncle is going to tell,
What befel
A youth who loved liquor too well.
A clever young man
was he, my lad;
And with beauty uncommonly blest,
Ere, with brandy and wine,
He began to decline,
And behaved like a person possessed;
I protest
The temperance plan is the best.
One evening he went
to a tavern, my lad;
He went to a tavern one night,
And drinking too much
Rum, brandy and such,
The chap got exceedingly "tight;"
And was quite
What your aunt would entitle a "fright."
The fellow fell
into a snooze, my lad;
'Tis a horrible slumber he takes;
He trembles with fear,
And acts very queer;
My eyes! how he shivers and shakes
When he wakes,
And raves about horrid great snakes!
'Tis a warning to
you and to me, my lad;
A particular caution to all—
Though no one can see
The vipers but he—
To hear the poor lunatic bawl:--
"How they crawl—
All over the floor and the wall!"
Next morning he
took to his bed, my lad;
Next morning he took to his bed;
And he never got up
To dine or to sup,
Though properly physicked and bled;
And I read,
Next day, the poor fellow was dead.
You've heard of the
snake in the grass, my lad;
Of the viper concealed n the grass;
But now, you must know,
Man's deadliest foe
Is a snake of a different class;
Alas!—
'Tis the viper that lurks in the glass!
A warning to you
and to me, my lad;
A very imperative call:--
Of liquor keep clear;
Don't drink even beer,
If you'd shun all occasion to fall,
If at all,
Pray take it uncommonly small.
And if you are
partial to snakes, my lad;
(A passion I think rather low,)
Don't enter, to see 'em,
The Devil's Museum!—
'Tis very much better to go,
(That's so!)
And visit a regular show.
[To be Continued in our Next.]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Soldiers'
Families.
Cheering reports come in from all parts of the State to the effect that
the plans adopted by social enterprise and by legislation, for the support and
comfort of the families of soldiers, are accomplishing their ends in a highly
gratifying manner. From the spirit
manifested on this important subject, we feel assured not only that the funds
and provisions collected will continue to be ample, but that they will be
applied with a precision and carefulness which have never marked the
administration of any other public service.
It is interesting, and even affecting, to observe that in many instances
the planters wish to donate supplies, while, on the other hand, the families to
be supplied are unwilling to receive without paying some fixed, and all things
considered, reasonable price. In
regard to this matter it is only necessary to say, that the feelings of the
parties are equally commendable, and that the differences between them are not
likely to lead to any serious consequences.
A time of war is not a time for compliment; and our war has been no
exception to the rule. Except our
soldiers and ladies (classes worthy of being named honorably together, now and
ever hereafter) nobody has been much praised.
And yet it is true that the whole population, with a few individual
exceptions, have made an honor and a name in this struggle which will never fade
from the page of their country's history.
The conduct which illustrates the spirit of the people may be divided
into two representative departments—the soldier's bearing in the field, and
the treatment of his family in his absence.
The former is secure; and we cannot forbear congratulating our readers
that the other matter has secured an attention which seems to be placing it
beyond all contingency. For a time,
owing to a want of organized effort, there was ground for the complaint that
some of the soldiers' families were neglected.
No complaint ever touched the heart, the purse and the attention of the
country so nearly. In social
conversation, in the newspapers, in public meetings, this was the primary and
privileged topic; the best sense, the purest liberality, and the noblest
patriotism of the people were stirred by it, and the results are manifest, so we
are informed, in every community. These
results will be maintained, judging from the tone of feeling among the planters
and other men of "means," upon whom so much in this department is
dependent. That there are some who have not done their duty, and have
thus sinned against humanity and patriotism, is true; but this fact does not
affect the general statement that the subject which corresponds to the conduct
of the army in the field—the support of the families whom the soldiers have
left behind—is being met in a manner which inspires a higher pride in our
cause as well as a deeper consciousness that it deserves and will command
success.
Of course, making as we do the comfort of the soldier's family the
representative duty of the home department, it will readily be understood that
congratulations on what has been accomplished are intended to promote
perseverance and not to favor relaxation. Indeed,
the duties of the home department will continue long after the army shall have
been disbanded. Many of those who
have given or are still to give their lives to the country, will leave
representatives, to whom the country and society must stand in the place of
their natural supports and protectors. The
home department may, therefore, go forward in making accommodations and
disbursements, feeling satisfied that its services will long be needed and
appreciated.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Head'qrs. 1st Texas Regiment,
Near Culpeper, Va., Aug. 3d, 1863.}
Friend Sallie—E'er this you know we have invaded the enemy's country,
and fought a desperate battle on his own soil.
When we first entered Penn. we found every one in the greatest state of
excitement. They were very much frightened about their private property,
and gave our men everything they asked for.
It seems they were informed by the authorities of the State that if we
ever came in their country we would destroy everything that we could lay our
hands on. But they were soon
happily disappointed, for Gen. Lee, so soon as he entered the enemy's country,
issued a very stringent order prohibiting the use or destruction of private
property, and enjoined upon both officers and men the necessity of its rigid
enforcement. The consequence was
our men conducted themselves with the same propriety as if they had been in
their own country, with the exception of stragglers and a few black sheep, who
took everything that was eatable within their reach, thereby faring sumptuously.
Such men, when detected, were dealt with and punished according to the
nature of the offence committed. I
did not hear of a house being wantonly burned by our troops while in
Pennsylvania or Maryland—there were some destroyed and burned in battle.
Chambersburg was the first city of any importance that we passed through
in Pennsylvania. I noticed the
citizens all wore an acid look—a gloom seemed to o'erspread the city, the
doors and blinds were all closed to us as we marched through the principal
streets.
Many of the females wore small Federal flags, others red, white and blue
ribbons upon their breast in defiance to us, and emblems of their true Yankee
fanatic idea of patriotism and devotion to their country, while the men stood on
the side walks gazing on in mute amazement, with heavy hearts and heads bent and
drooping in humble submission as we passed along.
The scene was an uninviting and unpleasant one to them.
Of course we did not anticipate a reception such as we were want [sic] to
receive in our Old Dominion State. There
were no bright smiling faces or delicate white handkerchiefs waving us on in
triumph, there. In place of these
were forced upon our ears words of contempt, hatred and a wish for our defeat.
But our boys were overflowing in spirit, victory and success seemed to be
imprinted on every brow. Their
flaunting words fell upon their undaunted spirits like oil upon the waters, only
reducing their laughter and merriment into complacency and thought.
Thus marched through the first city in the enemy's country "an army
that had never been beaten, and opposed to an army that had never been
victorious." On the morning of
the 2d inst. about 8 o'clock a.m., our division halted on an eminence
overlooking the city of Gettysburg, Penn. There
was heavy cannonading and skirmishing going on at 12 m. We were ordered to the front and right, moving by the right
flank along the edge and through the woods about four miles, until we crossed a
creek into an open field, where we suffered severely from shells, not so much in
our regiment as in other regiments belonging to the brigade.
The 2d Arkansas had twenty killed and wounded, (mostly wounded,) the
second shell I though passed about five feet from my head.
I was on horseback at the time, (the troops had halted and laid down.)
Being rather higher in the world than was healthy at the time, I
immediately dismounted. As soon as
the shelling subsided we continued to move by the right a short distance, when
we moved by the left flank into line of battle at 3 o'clock p.m.
We were ordered to charge forward over a rugged open country,--down a
slope and up the other side. On top
of this the Yankees had a battery, supported by infantry, who lay behind immense
rocks. We captured the battery, drove the enemy back and occupied
the position on the brow of the hill which the enemy had just left.
They fell back to the side of the mountain, where they were strongly
entrenched—their position was invincible.
Here we fought until night closed her dark mantle over us, which was a
befitting mourning over the appalling scene which lay before us.
The loss of the enemy was more severe than ours.
The usual duties after battle having been performed, (viz., collecting
arms, hauling the captured artillery to the rear, etc.) I laid down on a small
piece of an old tent, which I picked up on the field, to sleep among the living
and the dead, as they lay mingled together on the field.
After a hard day's fight one can lay down in line of battle and sleep as
soundly and sweetly upon the bare ground as he could at home on a nice clean
bed.
The painful duty devolved upon me of recording the death of our mutual
friend, J. W. Southwick. Poor Joe,
he was brave to a fault; he was upon the brow of the hill before mentioned, with
his head and shoulders exposed above the rock.
Some of his comrades told him to squat down and load.
Joe remarked, laughingly, that they could not hit him; just then he was
pierced through the head by a minnie ball, a little over or behind the left
temple—he fell dead. Thus has
been added to the register of brave ones who filled an honorable and useful
place in society. To the hearts
torn by this sad event, we can offer no earthly consolation.
Any enumeration of his virtues will but embitter the agony of his loss.
But when a Higher Power shall have assuaged their sorrow, it will be a
source of melancholy consolation that he fell fighting to give liberty and
freedom to his adopted land, and that his friends and countrymen will treasure
his memory and deplore his death.
Joe Love and Col. Powell were severely wounded and left in the hands of
the enemy.
Alas! our sleep was short. At
2 o'clock A.M. (it being 11 o'clock when we lay down) we were ordered to change
our position to the right. We
arrived at the place designated a little before dawn.
We immediately went to work piling up rocks for breastworks on our line.
At 11 o'clock A.M. on the 3d inst., we were moved still further to the
right, (and detached from the brigade) we now being on the right flank of the
army, to prevent the enemy's cavalry from flanking us in that direction.
We occupied an extended line along a road, having a stone fence in our
front, on our right in front an open field, on the left a skirt of timber. Our regiment was extended along the fence in a single rank,
and the men four or five feet apart covering a front of ¾ of a mile.
We connected on the left with an Alabama regiment; upon our right there
was a space of three hundred yards, which was protected by artillery.
At about 6 o'clock P.M. the enemy's cavalry charged through the lines of
the Alabama regiment on the left, at the same time charging our left, but our
boys repulsed them. After firing
our guns, not having time to load, our boys threw rocks at them and knocked some
off their horses, the balance going through the gap made in the Alabama
regiment.—After getting through they divided, some going to the right, others
to the left; the last named filed along a fence running perpendicular to our
rear on the left, when they made a dash on Rieley's battery, which was half a
mile in our rear. Finding it rather
hot and themselves in danger of being cut off (our battery pouring grape and
canister into them) by our infantry, which was moving towards them in rear of
our battery, and thinking we were merely a line of skirmishers, they about face
and came dashing across the field in our rear.
We about face to receive the charge, which brought our stone fence in our
rear, and having a rail fence which was on the opposite side of the road in
front. We had taken the necessary
precaution, before the enemy charged, to throw a rail fence across the road at
either end of our regiment, thus completely barricading the road, forming an
entire fence round our regiment, which served a very good purpose. (I forgot to say they previously charged down the road on our
left and finding it blockaded, went back through the gap into our rear.)
They could only charge to the fence which rendered their sabers useless
but our boys did not wait—many of them jumped over the fence into the field
and shot them from their saddles at 3 and 400 yards distance.
They were the bravest set of men I ever saw.
After their line was broken and all was disorder and confusion and many
of their men shot, they would advance singly, brandishing their swords.—We
called out for them to throw down their sabres and get off their horses, but
they still kept on until shot. I
will relate one case in particular; it was that of a Yankee captain.
Capt. Massey, Co. K, of my regiment, called to him to surrender; he paid
no attention, but continued coming forward.
Captain Massey ordered one of his men to shoot him; he did so, shooting
him through the mouth. He was taken
prisoner, there being no chance for a wounded man to escape, (scarcely any for a
well one.) Captain Massey asked him
why he did not surrender; his reply was that a brave soldier never
surrenders.—Many of his followers met with the same fate, some even worse.
There was only one outlet; that led through a gate which was about 300
yards to the right of our regiment. Our
boys ran up the wood to try and head them off, but were not swift enough for
their fleet horses. Only eight,
however, made their escape out of 75 or 100.
In the cavalry fight we only lost one killed, three wounded and eighteen
prisoners.—This being the first cavalry fight that our boys had ever been
engaged in, they acquitted themselves with credit.
For our loss in the battle of Gettysburg, I refer you to a list of
casualties published in the Galveston News.
In the late battles suffice it to say that the "Old First" bore
herself and flag through nobly, and has won fresh laurels and lasting honors for
herself, capturing five guns, of which three were taken safely off the field.
We drove the enemy back in our front, and held the ground until we were
ordered to the right of the army, where we whipped the cavalry, almost
annihilating them. The Yankees had
the advantage of position over us. We
had them badly whipped. They
commenced retreating before we did. Our
artillery ammunition was almost exhausted and we were forced to fall back
towards the Potomac. We offered
them battle for three days at Hagerstown, Md.
On the 10th we moved six miles to the right of Hagerstown,
where we threw up breast works and remained four days offering the enemy battle
and awaiting the construction of a bridge across to [sic] Potomac, the river
being too high, from recent rains, to ford.
We recrossed the Potomac on the morning of the 14th inst., and
marched from day to day until we reached this our old camp on the afternoon of
the 24th inst.
Here are we camped in the same identical spot that we were encamped upon
when we started upon our long and perilous journey into the enemy's country,
June 15, 1863.
Everything looks as natural and familiar as if I had been absent but a
day. This is the very spot where my
tent was; my horse is tied to the same tree as when we were here before, and
there is the charred sticks, the remnant of our camp fire that we left burning,
but like all other lights and fires, have been by time put out; to use a vulgar
phrase, all looks as natural as an old shoe, for there lies my old shoes that I
left when here before. Six weeks
have elapsed since we were here before. How
sad, to think of the many changes and losses in that short period.
How many were with us whom we left performing their daily duties,
answering roll calls, in good spirits and apparently as long lived as any of us
here to-day; but they are absent forever; never will they answer to the roll
call again. Yet all goes on the
same; the world, the great mass, does not seem to miss them; but their loss is
felt in the home and the private circle; around the camp fire each mess mate is
noted and loved for some particular quality, and when he is taken away he leaves
a void not easily filled or soon forgotten.
I have just heard that the Yankees are in the neighborhood of Culpeper
C.H., and the citizens are flying from that place.
If so, we will be on the move e'er long.
Culpeper is only ten miles from this camp.
The loss of Vicksburg, Port Hudson and the capture of Morgan and a
portion of his command, are sad reverses to us and our country.
With all this I cannot look upon our cause as hopeless yet, but on the
contrary, I think we will ultimately be successful, and our cause still
favorable and bright. The late
riots in New York and other Northern cities, Valandingham's late address to his
friends in Ohio, (which I send you) his unanimous nomination for Governor of
that State, late news from France, from which recognition is almost certain, all
these speak worlds in our favor. I
am satisfied that this army is in better spirits than the people at home.
It is well, if these reverses were to come, that they followed so soon
our own triumphs. The nation had
not time to relapse so deeply into apathy as to put it beyond recovery.
If it slept at all, it was on the battle field and will meet the enemy
and repulse him just when he fancies that he has again crushed the rebellion. Adversity will bring out only in bolder relief the virtues of
the people of the South—the virtues of courage and faith in a just cause and a
just Providence.
E're this reaches you we will have been engaged in another fearful and
desperate battle. I hope God may
smile upon our efforts and crown them with victory.
Present my kind regards to all your family, and believe me to remain,
Your Friend
Parker
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 21, 1863, p. 2, c. 7
Printed Music for Piano.—"Ever Lively Waltz;" "Sweetest
Polka Yet," "Irresistible Schottisch;" "Concordia
Mazurka;" "I Love but One, I Love but Thee" (song)—just
received from across the Mississippi, and will be mailed, postage free, on
receipt of One Dollar for each number.
F. R. Prohl.
Chappell Hill, Texas.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Mr. Camp, of Navasota, has presented us with a bottle of Castor Oil of
his own manufacture. We have not
yet tested its quality, but those who have say it is a good article.
We know of no article of domestic manufacture so much needed, and Mr.
Camp is certainly supplying a great desideratum both to the country and the
army. His enterprise will doubtless
be well rewarded.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Mutual Aid Association in Corpus Christi.—The Ranchero says:
A number of our citizens have formed an association for the purpose of
supplying at cost and charges all necessaries of life.
The benefits will be extended to all members and their families, to
widows, orphans, and indigent persons, and also to families of soldiers and
officers of the army.
The capital stock is fixed at $20,000, in shares of $20 to be increased
if necessary.
On the 29th ult. the officers were elected and steps are now
being taken by the Board of Directors to carry out the object of the
organization.
An agent has been dispatched to Matagorda and its vicinity to procure
corn and other provisions, and to purchase cotton, to be sent to Brownsville, to
be exchanged for other necessaries of life.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 1, c. 5-7
The
Yankee Note-Book Continued.
Oct. 9th.-- . . . [surrender of Galveston]
A flag of truce was then sent off, demanding the surrender of the city
and the raising of the stars and stripes within a certain time, accompanied with
a threat to burn the place, if not complied with; and at the same time a party
was sent ashore from the schooner to spike the battery which fired upon us. . .
But, as we have just intimated, we were recalled this morning for the
purpose of accompanying the squadron up to the docks of the city.
Soon after we came aboard we proceeded up, and this afternoon we were
landed, in company with about one hundred sailors and the Clifton's guard, for
the purpose of raising the United States flag on the custom-house.
We found the wharves of the town guarded by the firemen in full uniform,
by orders of the Mayor, and on landing they escorted us to the custom-house.
The Mayor here received us, and expressed his pleasure at seeing the city
once more about to pass into Union hands. He
delivered the keys to Captain Wainright, of the Harriet Lane, who immediately
took possession of the building and proceeded to the roof with a proper guard
and raised the flag. The battalion
presented arms as the colors were flung to the breeze, and the crowd of
spectators expressed their delight in various patriotic remarks.
Altogether it was quite a gala occasion for the marines and sailors, and
when we marched back to the boats nearly every one of our muskets was decorated
with flowers, which the women and children gave to us.
Of the people of Galveston we must say, that a more respectable and
well-behaved set we have never seen. Not
a single sentry had to be detailed to keep the crowd back from the line.
The modest distance kept by the ladies showed their good breeding, and
the conduct of the numerous youngsters was a good example for the youth of our
Northern cities. . .
On the afternoon of the 23d we started up the [Matagorda] Bay, but had
not proceeded far before we missed the channel and ran hard aground. . . In the
meantime some of our officers had visited the adjacent shore, for the purpose of
obtaining some fresh provisions, &c., and found the feelings of the
inhabitants so thoroughly Secesh that they refused to sell a morsel of anything
to a Union man. Immensely
patriotic, no doubt, these Lone Stars thought this action was:
very foolish, indeed, it would have proven, if we had used the force at
our hands and taken what we wanted gratis. . .
Oct. 28th.—To-day we are enjoying a fine day off the town of
Matagorda. . . On Sunday morning we raised our anchor and stood in for the town
of "Powderhorn," or "New Indianola," in sight of which we
had anchored to ride out the gale. A
guard of Marines, with an officer was sent ashore to bring off some of the
"city fathers" for consultation with our Commodore.
They were accordingly brought; a lengthy confab was held in the cabin,
and we escorted them back. Whether
the Union was safe in this vicinity or not, we cannot positively say; but the
fact of our visitors leaving in a very good humor, with sundry Heralds, &c.,
in their hands, and our weighing anchor soon after, leaves the inference that
all was right in that quarter. We
heard here of sundry schooners having set sail when we first came in sight, and
our hurry in leaving was also partly owing to the hope of capturing some or all
of them as prizes. We had not gone
far, however, when we discovered them (some 15 or 20) spread across the channel,
their keels upon the bottom and their hulls beneath the water. Patriotism was high in Texas;--most decidedly they do not
love the Yankees as well as they professed they did in '46.
Comment is useless—we leave the subject in disgust. . .
November 2d.--. . . We returned the same evening [29th], but instead
of going to our old anchorage we turned off for the town of Lavaca, situated on
a different arm of the bay. The
extreme shallowness and intricacy of the channel compelled us to lay to for the
purpose of setting buoys to aid our return; and it was not until Friday, 21st,
that we found ourselves able to demand the surrender of the town.
This being refused, we in the afternoon made an attack upon the defences
of the town, consisting of some four batteries, and mounting in all some eight
or ten guns. They returned the fire
quite vigorously with round and rifle shot, showing us both good guns and good
gunnery. We kept up the fight
until sundown, but owing to the nature of the channel could not come to close
quarters with them. At this moment our 100 pounder Parrot gun bursted, wounding
three men and depriving us of our most effective long range weapon.
We retired out of range of the batteries and anchored for the night. . .
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Notice.—The undersigned will donate 200 bushels of corn to the families
of soldiers in Galveston city living on Clear Creek and Bayou Dickinson who have
not made sufficient breadstuffs for the present season.
Allen Coward.
Clear Creek, Oct. 21st, 1862.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
We are indebted to Mr. Wm. S. Taylor, of Montgomery, for some samples of
his tobacco. We consider it an
excellent article unmanufactured.—The roll tobacco is nicely put up, free from
stems, and is sold at $5 per pound. The
hand tobacco is sold at $4 per pound. It
is excellent for smoking, and even better for chewing than a good deal now in
market.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
There is a great deal of sickness in our city at the present time.
The small pox has been prevailing for a considerable time, and has, so
far, baffled all the sanitary measures adopted by the city authorities.
Many fear it will become epidemic. It
is true it appears to be of a mild type, but still some deaths have occurred.
There is also prevailing a disease commonly known as the black measles,
and several deaths have occurred from it.—S. A. News, 15th inst.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, October 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
The lady who was hung by the Yankees near Natchez because she refused to
divulge the hiding place of her husband, was Mrs. Sanderson, a beautiful and
intelligent woman, the wife of a young and wealthy planter of Natchez.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The Galvestonians.—The people of Galveston seem to be doomed to suffer.
It will be seen by the recent order of Gen. Magruder that they are again
admonished to make the necessary preparations to leave their homes, and that
those who do not leave voluntarily, will be removed to the main land whenever
the enemy's movements may make it necessary.
This order is doubtless right and proper. The city is liable to be attacked at any time, being within
shelling distance from the Gulf. It
is the only town in Texas so exposed. It
is its peculiarly exposed situation that has caused its inhabitants to suffer so
much. At the commencement of the
war the citizens contributed many thousand dollars towards the defence of the
city, and those contributions continued to be made with the hope of being able
to defend the city, nearly up to the time of its abandonment to the enemy
without an effort to defend it. Nearly
all who were able then left for this city or different parts of the country, and
even those who were once considered well off, have expended nearly all they had
left of available means in paying enormous rents and in supporting their
families at nearly ten times the former prices for most of the necessaries of
life.—In order to bring their expenses within their means, many families
returned as soon after the city was retaken as they could get permission, as
they could thereby save rents and prevent their property from being further
destroyed. Indeed, the destruction
of property by the soldiers has been very great, where it was not taken care of
by the owners. The want of wood has
compelled many poor families, as well as the soldiers, to use fences and out
houses for fuel.—The damage by the bombardment of the enemy was comparatively
slight, though that amounted to some one or two hundred thousand dollars.
This loss fell however generally upon those best able to bear it.
Under the present order, the people, after having exhausted nearly all
their means in struggling with adversity for nearly three years, are again
required to abandon what little they have left and seek such shelter as they can
find for their families in different parts of the country.
We take it for granted that the Commander has not issued this order
without good cause. That the enemy
are about to attempt a formidable invasion of our State seems to be admitted on
all hands. The evidence to justify
this conclusion is such that no prudent commander can neglect to prepare for it.
We presume there is not a doubt but that a hostile expedition is now on
its way to some point or points on our coast, intended to co-operate with the
large land force now slowly and cautiously advancing towards our Sabine
frontier. The expedition may be
delayed by the late defeat of Rosecrantz, but we certainly cannot be justified
in calculating that Texas is much longer to escape a heroic invasion, both by
land and water. It is evidently the duty of our commanders to provide for
this event, and our own safety requires that all orders from them shall meet
with a prompt and cheerful response from the people, even though they may be
attended with great inconvenience, and subject our citizens to much suffering
and sacrifice, as certainly must be the case with the unfortunate people of
Galveston. We cannot doubt however
that people of other places more favorably situated, will cheerfully offer them
some shelter without attempting to speculate off of their misfortune.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Another Gin Burnt.—We regret to learn that Col. L. W. Groce had his new
gin house, together with some fifty bales of cotton, destroyed by fire on the
night of the 28th inst. This
is the second misfortune of the kind that has befallen him recently, he having
lost another gin and considerable cotton in the same way a little over a year
ago. The fire, in both cases, is
supposed to be the work of incendiaries, and yet Col. G. does not know that he
has an enemy in the world. His
house has always been open to the soldier, and he has extended relief with a
liberal hand to soldiers' families and all in need.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
Thus far we have heard of no response to the call of Major Durant for
some clothing for the California troops belonging to Phillips' regiment.
They have no relations in this country to whom they can look for
assistance.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
From
the Author of the Yankee Note Book.
Camp Groce, Oct. 13, 1863
W. Richardson, Esq.—Dear Sir:--The numbers of your News, for which I
asked, came duly to hand. The
courteous and gentlemanly manner in which you have treated me in respect to
them, demands that I should again thank you.
Since my sojourn in this State, I have universally found Texans to be a
polite and generous people. My
position as a prisoner of war neither demanded or deserved the display of these
virtues, and therefore my admiration of them may be candidly expressed.
The last act of yours in complying with my request of a favor from my
captors has heightened my respect for your State at least. . . .
Henry O. Gusley.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Cotton Cards.—The State Gazette says the State has now thirty thousand
pairs of cotton cards for distribution pro rata among the several counties of
the State, according to their scholastic population.—The needy families of
soldiers are to have the preference, the balance to be under the care of the
County Courts. The price is $10 per pair, to cover cost and carriage.
They were imported from Europe by Messrs. Ball, Hutchings & Co., of
this city, for the State Military Board. The
above price as compared with that usually charged, will enable our readers to
form some estimate of the usual profits.
The County Courts should lose no time in sending in their applications
with the money. They will supply a pressing want in the State, and, if
distributed promptly, may be in time to enable our people to provide clothing
before the severe cold weather sets in. If
the application is not made in sixty days, the counties will be considered as
declining the offer. Orders must be
addressed to P. DeCordova, Secretary at the Military Board.
The Gazette understands that the number of the cards is more than
sufficient for Texas, and that the Board can furnish a large supply to other
states.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
The Alexandria Democrat says that place is nearly destitute of
provisions. There is not a pound of
bacon or of flour to be had, and even the last fresh beef has been killed and
the last pound sold. We complain of being bad off here, but it is manifest that
there are thousands worse off.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 11, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Our readers in the country may take some interest in the present prices
in this market. Flour is $75 to $80
per 100 lbs.—bacon $1.50 to $2 per lb.; lard, $3 to $3.50; butter, $5 to $6
per lb; corn, $5 to $5.50 per bushel; potatoes, (sweet) $7 to $10 per bushel;
corn fodder, $30 per 100 bundles, or something over 100 pounds; wood, $35 per
cord, and not very good at that; coffee $7 per pound; chickens, small, $2 each;
eggs, $2 to $.25 per dozen; turkeys, $7 to $8 or $10 peach; turnips, $1 for half
a dozen, or a mess for a family. Board
at our hotels has not advanced to $10 per day, and at private houses to $7 per
day. The barber charges one dollar
for a shave. A cigar fit to smoke
cannot be had for less than $1, and a drink of bad liquor cannot be had for
less. In fact we can hardly name
anything that can be had for less than a dollar, except it be a newspaper which
is sold at but a moderate advance on former prices; but necessity must soon
compel publishers to advance beyond their present rates.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 11, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Gardening in Texas for November.—Referring to last month's directions,
sow peas, cabbage, radish, carrots, spinage, turnips, parsnips, lettuce, beets,
salsify, onions, leeks, etc. Transplant
cabbage, lettuce, broccoli endive celery, etc.
Although peas may be sown this month, there is considerable risk in it,
and it is best to defer anything like a general sowing until next month.
Bishop's dwarf, blue imperial, dwarf and marrowful are best to sow now,
as in case of severe weather they may be easily protected.—Asparagus beds
should now be dressed, applying manure plentifully.
Make up compost heaps and accumulate manure in every way.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
A Subscription is being made up in this city to obtain a regimental flag
for Col. Buchell's regiment, also a garrison flag for the Davis Guards, and a
silk sash to be presented to Lt. R. Dowling.
We cannot doubt that the amount will readily be made up, as the objects
are such as every patriotic citizen will be glad to encourage.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Hempstead, Oct. 27th, 1863.
Ed. News.—I herewith send you by express 10 pairs pants and six
overshirts, which you will please place in the hands of Major Durant, for the
benefit of that portion of Phillip's Regiment that was raised in California,
Arizona and New Mexico. Ask him to
give them to those who worst need them.
Mrs. M. S. Oliver presents the shirts, and her daughters, Mrs. McK.
Johnston and Mrs. J. A. Harvey, the pants.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.
McK. Johnston.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 11, 1863, p. 2, c. 6
We have received thirty pants of excellent woollen socks from Mrs. Scott,
of Waverly, which, as requested, we shall deliver to Major Durant, to be
distributed to the California troops in Phillip's regiment.
This is a valuable [sic], and will doubtless be a most acceptable
contribution.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
The Military Board.—This Board appears to have rendered valuable
service to the country, but has met with acts of bad faith on the part of some
of its agents. We trust the report will fully expose them to the public.
Since the adjournment of the last Legislature, the Board has distributed
12,000 pairs of cotton and wool cards, at a cost to the people of $10 per pair
for the former and $4 for the latter, while the ruling price in the market has
been for the former from $25 to $40, the saving to the people on this article
alone having been over one million of dollars. . . .
The Penitentiary.—The Governor gives the following statistics from the
report of the Financial Agent:
Cotton goods manufactured from December 1st, 1861, to August
31st, 1863, including 24,702.2 yards from late agent, 2,258,660.2
yards; woolens including 1841.3 yards, from late agent 293,298.1 yards.
The total amount of sales within the same period was 2,308,710.3 yards
cottons and 287,241 yards woolens leaving a balance unsold of 28,912.0 yards
cottons and 6,789.1 yards woolens. Of
these sales, the army received 1,276,920.3 yards cottons, and 257,751.3 yards
woolens, making largely over one half the cottons, and all the woolens less
33,70[illegible].3 yards.
The Lunatic Asylum received 2253.0 yards cottons and 602 yards woolens.
The balance, 1,021,543.0 yards cottons, and 28,860.2 yards woolens, were
absorbed by the penitentiary, Factory, clothing of convicts and employees,
general supplies for the Institution, and families of soldiers and citizens.
The gross earnings of the Institution for the same period, have been
$1,174,439.07
The amount expended has been
468,653.40
Special deposit with State Treasurer
653,000.00
With a cash balance on hand Sept. 1st, 1863, of
52,785.67
On Oct. 15th, 1863, there was deposited with the State
Treasurer the further sum of $147,000.00, making the whole sum paid into the
Treasury, $800,000.
The Governor very justly remarks that the above results prove the able
management of the Institution, and show clearly its vast importance to the
country.
He regrets to have to allude to a transaction by the Financial Agent, in
purchasing cotton with his own money, and subsequently turning the same over to
the State, and charging the State the advanced price between the time of its
purchase and its use by the Penitentiary. He
says he has no doubt that the Financial Agent believed he had a right to do so,
but the Governor is fully convinced that he had no such right, and he deeply
regrets he should have made so palpable a mistake.
The Governor, however, says the Agent agreed at once to accept from the
State the cost of the cotton, leaving it with the Legislature to determine
whether he should have any more.—The Governor regrets this the more because
the Agent has proved himself a most efficient and able officer.
The Governor says he acceded to the request of Gen. Magruder and allowed
some prisoners to be placed in the Penitentiary as a safe place of confinement,
in March last, but subsequently he became satisfied that the Institution would
be endangered by them, and caused them to be removed.
For the same reason he again declined to comply with a request from Gen.
Magruder to place the prisoners captured at Sabine Pass in the Penitentiary.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 3-4
Another
Mexican Revolt.
Cold Blooded Murders!—Two Soldiers and
Seven Citizens Killed!—Rally of the People
to Defend the City!—Gov. Ruis Acts Promptly
and Well—Good Effects of General Bee's
Policy!
The garrison of Fort Brown and the citizens of Brownsville were thrown
into an alarm on Tuesday night by the report that Capt. A. Vidal's company,
heretofore stationed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, had revolted and were
marching upon the city of Brownsville to capture the place.
The military force heretofore left to defend this post, had been
withdrawn during the day, and was then camped some distance from town, on the
road to the interior. Col. Duff and
his staff were still in town, however, but were to leave next morning.
The only resistance that Gen. Bee had to offer to the revolt consisted of
portion of Capt. Taylor's company, and the whole of Capt. Cumming's company.
In addition, Gen. Bee had recommended, and Mayor Dye had adopted the plan
of enrolling all the male residents in the city as a home guard, but the
organization had not taken form at the time of the alarm.
This absence of organization was due to the fact that though we were
almost shorn of military defences, the people generally did not consider that
there was any danger of an immediate demonstration on the part of the
discontented Mexicans. It was not
thought that they had had time to concert any movement.
On Tuesday, after Col. Duff's regiment had left, men from company A,
Jerry Littoral and D. H. Dashiel,
were sent on an express to Vidal, at the mouth of the river, with orders that he
at once report to Captain Taylor, commanding officer at
Fort Brown. The expressmen
met Vidal about twenty-two miles from town, already on the march, as he stated
that he had already been informed that he would be ordered to Brownsville. The expressmen delivered the order to Vidal, and at once
joined his command on the march. Arriving
within ten miles of town, Vidal requested Dashiel to drink with him, and while
the latter was drinking, Vidal and the Mexicans commenced shooting at the two
expressmen, Dashiel was instantly killed, but Littoral succeeded in mounting his
horse and making his escape, bringing with him a horrid wound through the jaws.
Littoral rode for life, and soon reached Brownsville, where he gave the
information that the Mexican company was coming.
The military at once made defensive preparations, by calling all citizens
inside of the garrison, by issuing arms to such as had none, and by placing the
heavy cannon, consisting of one 24-pounder and one 8 inch siege howitzer in such
position as to command the arsenal and the main approach to the garrison. The citizens turned out with alacrity, and manifested the
utmost willingness to do any and all duty necessary to the defense of the place.
Old and young, native and foreign alike responded to the emergency, and
not a murmur was heard at the imposition of any task upon any man.
Every man expressed his confidence in General Bee, and the universality
of the response arose in a great measure from the personal influence of the
commanding General. Gen. Slaughter
and his staff were prominent in the crowd, and at one time we noticed the
General in the ranks of the citizens with a gun in his hands.
Maj. Magruder took command of the 24 pounder, and soon drilled his men
into the use of the gun. Capt.
Greer commanded the howitzer and soon brought the squad in charge of that into
good exercise. Capt. Winston, of
Gen. Slaughter's staff, was at one time in command of the howitzer, but
ultimately Mr. Kawolski came into charge of the pieces and commanded them until
daylight. Sergt. Gallagher was very
efficient in placing and rendering useful the artillery, for the guns were of
such immense weight that only a skillful artillerist could move them with the
inexperienced squads improvised to work the pieces.
The editor of this paper was in one of the squads, and speaks knowingly
on the subject.
Gen. Bee, accompanied by his regular staff, Capt. Tarver and Lieut. Mann,
and by Col. Biscoe, a volunteer aid, were incessantly active.
They accepted the presence of the citizens with pleasure, and made every
allowance for the irregularities of a force so suddenly called together and so
uninformed in military regulations. Col.
Duff took command of the force in the garrison, and made prompt and efficient
arrangements to police the city and to stop all irregular passing to and fro out
of the place. There were probably
three hundred men, of all arms, ready for the emergency, and the spirit of the
force was ready and willing to meet the Mexicans if they attacked the place.
It may seem strange that all this array and alarm existed in presence of
a simple company of Mexicans, 60 or 80 strong, led by a wild and reckless boy,
as Vidal was considered; but this is easily explained when it is understood that
he was believed to be in communication with the Yankee blockader off the mouth
of the river, and that through the Yankees in Matamoras, he had been promised
the assistance of a large number of Mexicans and renegades from Texas. The outbreak was so sudden, and the movement so daring, that
every one admitted the possibility of a better leader and a larger force as at
the back of the attempt; and when parties circulated extravagant reports as to
the strength of the revolt, the wisest heads could not deny them, and the
firmest judgment only suggested the propriety of strengthening the garrison to
resist a well organized and powerful combination of renegade Texans, disaffected
Mexicans and runaway negroes.
The statements of Littoral, who was wounded and who escaped, it is
feared, only to die in our hospital after he had saved the town from attack,
(for it is admitted by all that if he had not brought the news and we had not
been warned, Vidal would have attacked the town while the people were asleep,)
are corroborated by a Mexican named Lytoon Longoria, who escaped from Vidal's
party on the morning of Wednesday. Longoria
states that Vidal had asked some of his men ten or twelve days before the
outbreak, if they were willing to fight against the government, and that some
answered that they were, and others answered that they were not.
The matter was not made serious, but Longoria had his suspicions, and he
advised Mrs. Clark, at the mouth of the river, to remove her valuables, as he
believed that Vidal intended to steal everything at the Boca. On Tuesday Vidal left his camp at the mouth about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, taking with him all of his command, forty men, taking the road
to Brownsville. He had previously
caused the arrest of Messrs. Selkirk, Clark and King, at the mouth, and had them
brought to his camp. He discharged
Clark and Selkirk, as he said, on account of their families, and because they
were not worth killing, but he ordered a detail of six men to take Capt. King
and shoot him, which was done. (Captain
King leaves a family of nine children to mourn his loss.)
Vidal took King's pistol, horse and saddle.
The outlaw then proceeded on his way to Brownsville, meeting and shooting
the two expressmen, as described, and made a short stop at the rancho of Mr.
Yturria, where he hopped to meet a Mexican named Solis, with whom he had a
difficulty, and who only saved his life by swimming the river into Mexico.
Vidal here told his men that a war of races had begun, and the watchword
now was "Death to all Americans."
Vidal continued his march to within four miles of town, at the Resaca,
where his men were discovered at 11 p.m., by a scout under Lieut. Vinton, who
had been sent out by Col. Duff to reconnoitre for the enemy, for even at this
time the outbreak was a matter of doubt amongst the military and the citizens.
It was apprehended that the wounded soldier who had saved the town at his
own sacrifice, might have met a crowd of Mexicans and been imposed upon in a
drinking house. It is due to him to
report that all his statements have been fully corroborated, and that to him we
now owe the existence of many men who would necessarily have fallen had a fight
taken place in town. The
outlaws circled around the town, and after several halts in the vicinity, (at
one time at the graveyard, where Vidal received information from the town,) they
moved up to Glarecke's ranche, where they camped about 5 o'clock in the morning,
and where they remained until 8 o'clock Wednesday morning.
Vidal, in his trip, robbed all the houses at the mouth of their
provisions, robbed E. Cobb of several horses, and when he struck the road,
levied contributions of sugar and coffee on all the teamsters he passed.
His subsequent conduct is unknown, although we have a report that his men
cursed him and drove him out of camp on Wednesday, saying that he had led them
into an enterprise without consideration, plan or profit.
The course of the outlaws was marked by blood, and dead men were the
guide posts that told how lately they had gone along.
First, Capt. King was shot; next, two men are said to have been shot soon
after leaving the death scene of King, and it is feared that one of these two
men was Mr. S. G. Fabic, of this city, who was at the mouth of the river on
business, and who has not since been heard of.
Next, the two soldiers were shot in the most brutal and cowardly manner,
without the shadow of a reason, unless it was a horrid appetite for blood.
The next we hear of is Antonio Cruz, a very popular Mexican, living at
Santa Rita, who has always been friendly to the whites.
Next was Jefferson Barthelow, living at Santa Rita, without cause or
provocation. These two latter were hung.
Reports reach us that others have been killed, but we prefer to leave
such rumors unreported, as the facts are fearful enough without horrifying the
public with more deaths than have occurred.
The city at present is quiet, for as soon as Littoral reached town an
express was sent out ordering Col. Duff's regiment back to town, and the troops
marched in about 3 o'clock, Wednesday morning.
The citizens perfected their organization on Wednesday, and
fortifications were built of cotton bales, so as to render an attack, except by
1000 men, utter madness. We now
have a regular and citizen force, capable of resisting any movement likely to be
made, and the public may feel safe from future outrages.—Vidal's insurrection
seemed to take a personal channel rather than a general character, as most of
the men who suffered at his hands, and those whom he threatened were men against
whom he had some antipathy.
Amongst the prominent citizens observable in the ranks during the rather
exciting campaign of the week, we noticed Maj. Chas. Russell, Chas. Stillman, J.
H. Phelps, Judge Powers, Mr. Cook, Mr. Blum, and a host of strangers who are
temporarily stopping in town. . . .
A report was current last night that Vidal, with a solitary follower, had
escaped in the direction of Monterey.
Postscript.—As we go to press music and laughter sound in the streets.
The trouble is over for the present.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 18, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The Texas Baptist State Convention met at Independence, on Saturday
before the fourth Sunday in October. A
delegation nearly twice as large as that of last year was present.
Over thirty thousand dollars in cash and pledges, redeemable on demand,
were contributed to support Missionaries to the army and the destitute parts of
the State. The Female College
of Baylor University was reported to have near one hundred and fifty pupils, and
to be in a flourishing condition. The
academic and Collegiate Department for males was reported to have about sixty
pupils. All the objects of the
Convention received proper attention. Rev.
H. L. Graves, of Fairfield, was re-elected President; Prof. B. S. Fitzgerald, of
Baylor University, was chosen Recording Secretary, and Gen. J. W. Barnes, of
Anderson, Treasurer. The next
meeting will be held at Huntsville, Walker county.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 18, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
We learn that two of our respectable city physicians have been called to
visit a case of sickness which they both pronounce to be genuine small pox.
The patient, whose name is Perry, is in a small house on the other side
of Buffalo Bayou near the machine shop about a mile from the city.
The house is now designated by a yellow flag placed there by the Mayor.
People should be warned not to approach the infected place.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, November 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
A Substitute for Quinine.—A New Orleans refugee, now residing in
Mobile, whilst on a visit to this section some two or three weeks ago, informed
us that Dr. McFarland—one of the oldest and most distinguished physicians of
New Orleans, who died in that city since the commencement of the war—had
discovered what he considered a most valuable substitute for quinine, and
expressed a short time before his death, his deep regret that he should not live
long enough to see it tested throughout the Confederacy.
The substitute is the leaves of the Balsam Apple, to be steeped for three
or four days in a bottle of whiskey. Dose—one
table spoonful three times a day.—Greensboro' Beacon.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 2, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Our exchanges from the country are giving respectable lists of
contributions that are being made for the relief of soldiers' families.
We have every assurance that they are every where being amply provided
for. In many instances more is
offered than is required. If there
is any suffering in this State, it can only be where the wants have not been
made known. As was to be expected,
there are, however, some who fail to give from their abundant means. We hope they will be made known.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 9, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
Old Cloths vs. Silks.—Our country women complain that the Jews are
making fortunes from the sales of costly dry goods.
If our fair friends will cease to patronize, instead of complain of the
Jews, wear their old clothes, and give the money now spent in silks to thinly
clad and badly shod soldiers, one source of speculation would soon dry up.
Try it, gentle lady, and you will sleep sweeter at night, feeling that
you deserve the protection of the brave men now periling their lives to save you
from future insult and degradation. Try
it; and dry goods will fall to rational prices within six months.—Punch.
Gardening in Texas in December—From Affleck's Almanac.—Continue to
transplant during favorable weather. Sow
peas, cabbage, onions, radish, lettuce, parsnips, carrots, turnips, beets,
spinage and sweet herbs. All of the
seed beds and many young plants will need protection during very cold weather.
Manure and prepare the ground for all spring crops.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 9, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
A letter from Sherman, Grayson county, informs us that many families from
S. W. Missouri, are now coming into that part of Texas, having been driven out
by the heartless Federals who are now making this a war of extermination as well
as destruction, to the extent of their ability.
They have no horses, these having all been [illegible] many of them are
said to be entirely destitute.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 16, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
More of the Enemy on our Coast.—The Telegraph has a letter dated on
Caney, Dec. 9th, which says:
We find the entire country in a great excitement.
The majority of the planters have removed their negroes, &c., towards
the interior, and many families have left them all behind, in fleeing from the
perils of invasion. We think much
of this fright is uncalled for. The
people are rallying to the standards of Gens. Magruder and Bee with enthusiasm.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 16, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Salt is now selling at 75 cents per pound in this market by the sack, and
so far as we can hear, there is but very little in the city.
Are we to be without this important, nay, indispensable article?
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 16, 1863, p. 1, c. 7
[From the Goliad Messenger.
. . . There was much alarm at Corpus Christi, and all who could get the means of
conveyance were preparing to leave. There
have been some frightened persons even here, who have packed up, to take their
flight at the distant approach of the invaders.
We think they are scared before they are hurt. It is not the intention of Gen. Bee to evacuate this section
of the country, unless in pursuance of a wise military policy.
Hundreds of volunteers have flocked to his assistance, and we are assured
that if our planters will load their wagons with corn and send it to feed the
horses of the soldiers, and let their negro men drive the government teams and
cook for the men who are ready to meet the infamous invaders, that their homes
and property will be protected.—There is little or no grass in the vicinity,
and corn must be procured for the horses, or the soldiers cannot remain west of
the Nueces. It is hoped our planters will consider this matter and act
promptly. How much better to supply
our own soldiers than to leave everything to fall into the hands of our enemies.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 23, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
Impressment of Negroes.—It should be born in mind that many of the
female slaves on every farm are now employed in spinning and weaving and in
making up clothing not only for the whites and slaves in each family, but also
for our soldiers in the army, in many instances.
If, therefore, the females are taken for this purpose (and we know no
other way to provide clothing) and the males taken to fortify our inland towns,
what are our people—nay, what are our armies—to do for food another year?
We believe every intelligent farmer in the State will agree that the next
two or three months are of more vital importance to the planting interests of
the State than any other period of the year.
Indeed, if this time is lost we know not what is to save the country from
a famine. The negroes are required
to take with them axes, shovels, spades, hoes, picks, grubbing hoes, &c.,
and we fear, therefore, even if there are a few old negroes and boys left, there
would scarcely be any agricultural implements for them to use, and considering
the number of horses, mules and wagons already taken from all the counties
within convenient distance, the failure of the next year's crop in these
counties seems almost inevitable unless this last call is modified and the
animals so necessary for farming purposes returned in a short time. . .
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 23, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Salt.—If we are not greatly mistaken the scarcity of salt is going to
be felt in this State as one of the serious calamities.
For the last 3 or 4 weeks the price has been advancing in this city at
the rate of about 20 or 25 per cent. per week, and cannot now be had for less
than 75 cents by the sack. In some
parts of the country, as in Burleson and other counties, we learn that the price
is $1.50 per pound, and many who have been corn-fattening their hogs for bacon
are now turning them out again, not being able to get salt enough to save the
meat. The consequence is likely to
be that, while we have a larger number of hogs in the State and more abundant
mast and corn to fatten them than ever before, the country will be more
destitute of bacon than for several years past.
We fear it is now too late to attempt a remedy for this evil, if indeed a
remedy be now within our reach. For
months during the past season cotton teams have been returning from Brownsville
almost without loads, when by a little deviation from the direct road, they
could have passed by Salt Lake and supplied our market with salt.
But, as in so many other instances, we have neglected to provide for the
future till too late. We now
believe our military authorities will be compelled to take measures to supply
this want, otherwise there is ground for serious apprehension that there will be
no bacon for our army for the next 12 months.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
The Mutual Aid Association are now selling flour to its members and the
needy at fifty dollars per hundred while the market price here is just double
that sum or $100 per 100 pounds. This
shows what the Association could have done had its funds been made sufficient by
liberal subscriptions. Those who
declined to subscribe may now see that they could have saved $50 on every sack
of flour had they done so, while with a general and liberal subscription by all,
the funds of the Association would have been sufficient not only to purchase
flour, but every other article of country produce now so much needed in this
city, and at even a greater saving in the cost; for in that case the Association
could have purchased its own teams, and would thereby have saved probably fully
one half of the present cost of transportation.
The present experiment, therefore, though on a limited scale, has
demonstrated that, by entering into it properly our citizens could have saved
one half of their present expenses of living.
Had the proposals, when first made, met with suitable encouragement,
teams might have easily been purchased and two or three trips made to
Brownsville, and the stockholders might have received supplies of dry goods,
blankets, shoes and clothing at a similar saving in price.
The Association in San Antonio has been operating successfully in these
ways on a capital of several hundred thousand dollars, for several years past. But in the present condition of the country, it is now too
late to correct our past oversights, and we must suffer the consequences.
Those who are able to pay the present enormous profits on all the
necessaries of life, are certainly welcome to do so, but the misfortune is,
there are very few who are able, and we can see no alternative but that they
must suffer. The Association, on
account of its limited means, is almost confined to the article of flour, and on
this it has to pay the usual profits to teamsters and other charges the same as
are paid on any other flour in our market, and yet $50 no only covers cost and
charges, but leaves a little for contingencies.
It should however, be borne in mind that the Directors charge nothing for
their services, and even at that, we are sorry to learn that some of the
subscribers seem disposed to find fault with them.
We understand some of the stockholders have never yet called for any
flour, but that they can get it by making application.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 1, c. 1
We understand that abundance of salt can be had at the salt works at the
Salines, in Smith county, at 10 cents a pound, about 175 miles from Navasota,
and that it can be hauled and delivered in this city at 50 cents a pound, with a
handsome profit. But our informant
states that no persons can now be induced to employ their teams in hauling salt
for any thing else for fear of impressment, and the owner of the salt would also
stand a chance of having his salt impressed by the time he gets to Navasota with
it, and taken by the government at some 7 or 8 cents after it had cost him fully
four times that amount. This fear
of impressment, our informant states, is also preventing transportation
generally, and inducing many teamsters to turn out their teams, so that there
are now very few to be found in the country.
We regret also to learn that some (though we hope not many) of our
farmers declare their purpose to limit their next crops to what may be
sufficient for their own families, on the ground that they are not willing to
make corn, wheat, &c., to be impressed at the present wholly inadequate
schedule prices of the Government. This
is an important subject, and involves the welfare of the whole country, but we
have no time to dwell longer upon it this time.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Mule Hair for Hats.—Mr. Barnes, of Barnes' Cross Roads, has shown to
the editor of the Clayton Banner, an elegant, substantial hat, manufactured from
the hair shorn from a young mule, with the addition of a small portion of wool.
While our patriotic people continue to economise and develop all our
abundant resources, as we are now doing, the combined powers of the earth cannot
subjugate us.—This hat is said to be far superior to those made of wool.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Private Express Notice.—We are authorized to state that Mr. Warren
Adams will leave this city again, to take the army mail East of the Mississippi,
on the 10th of January. Those
wishing to send letters to their friends in the army may rely upon their being
delivered if in Bragg's army at his headquarters, but if to soldiers elsewhere,
or to those not in the army, then they will be deposited in the post office at
Meridian, Miss., where they will be taken by the regular mail without delay. Correspondents wishing answers will inform their friends to
have their answers left at Meridian, to the care of Mr. W. Adams, at any time up
to the 8th of February, and they will be brought by him on his return
at one dollar each. Money letters
will be taken by special contract and receipted for, provided the parties are
within each, so as not to delay his return.
All letters to be taken by him should be directed, under cover, to the
care of the Telegraph or News offices of this city, with the usual fee of two
dollars enclosed, and they will be properly assorted and registered.
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Occupation
of Indianola by the Enemy.
[Extract from a
letter dated Lavaca, Dec. 19]
The enemy came up from Saluria (about 15 miles) on the 13th
inst., in a steamer, supposed to be the Matagorda, formerly of the Harris &
Morgan line and came direct to the wharf, and fired a shell at a little squad of
our pickets, who were burning a ferryboat with six bales of cotton.
The firing of this shell, they afterwards said, was to drive off our
pickets, for they "came to protect and not to destroy the property of
citizens." They landed two or
three companies and marched up through the town to the courthouse, to the tune
of Yankee Doodle, followed by squads of admiring young darkies and urchins
generally. They hoisted the old
"grid-iron" on the cupola of the courthouse and made it headquarters
for about two hours. Meantime
sundry officers and privates perambulated the streets in search of tobacco and
information, offering to pay for the tobacco in almost any kind of money; said
they would buy in greenbacks and then buy back the same with Confederate money
at five for one; but they only got a very small quantity, and that without
money. In answer to the question
from our folks, as to how many troops they had here they said they "had 777
in the hospital and 49 dead." The
information they got from our people is said to be about on a par with theirs.
They then quietly left, no doubt thinking they had done a wonderful feat
in capturing the county-seat of a county in Texas, which contained nothing in
the shape of plunder for them, and was defended by the wives and children of our
soldiers and a few old men. But we
shall, no doubt, hereafter be treated to a graphic description of the feat in
the New York Herald to help raise their category of lies, which is already
mountain high.
Here, in Lavaca, we did for several days look for the Yankees, and sundry
preparations were made for the occasion but, for various reasons, I have come to
the conclusion that they will not come at all; and now, the most we dread is the
inconsiderate action on our own part.
[We refrain from publishing the balance of this letter, relating to
certain orders issued by our District Commander.
We will merely remark that, according to our correspondent's account,
orders have been issued for the destruction of the property of citizens, that,
if executed, must subject some eight hundred families to much suffering this
winter; and these are mostly the families of soldiers.
We most earnestly hope it may yet be found consistent with the public
interest to withhold the execution of those orders.]
GALVESTON WEEKLY
NEWS, December 30, 1863, p. 2, c. 5
Rebel Women.—"B. F. T.," army correspondent of the Chicago
Journal, in one of his letters from Tennessee, says:
"I shall never be done admiring the patriotic faith and undying
devotion of the Loyal women of the land, but I must tell you that the Rebel
women of the South are worthy in everything but a sacred cause, of their
Northern sisters. There is nothing
they will not surrender with a smile—the gemmed ring, the diamond bracelet,
the rich wardrobe. They cut up
their rich carpets for soldiers' blankets without a sigh, they take the fine
linen from their persons for the bandages.
When four hundred of Longstreet's men came up to Nashville, prisoners of
war, about the roughest, dirtiest, wildest fellows the sun ever shone on, and a
flight of stairs in the building they occupied fell, killing and wounding a
large number of them, you should have seen the fair young traitoresses come
forth from the old aristocratic mansions, bearing restoratives and delicacies in
their hands, mingling in the dingy crowd, wiping away the blood with their white
handkerchiefs, and uttering words of cheer—should have seen them doing this
(with hundreds of Union soldiers all around), and smiling back upon the rough
blackguards of Rebels as they left. But
in all there was a defiant air, a pride in their humanity, strange to see.
Of a truth, they carried it off grandly.
And almost all those girls were in mourning for dead Rebels—brothers,
lovers, friends—whom these same girls had sneered into treason and driven into
rebellion, and billowed all the South with their graves, and the least they
could do was to wear black for them and flaunt black from the window blinds.
Clothed be their souls in sackcloth!
I said they were worthy of their sisters of the North, in all but a
righteous cause; but I said wrong. There
is a bitterness, there are glimpses of the Pythoness, that makes you shrink from
them. But they are fearfully in
earnest; they are almost grand in self-sacrifice.
Oh, that they were true and loving daughters of the old flag!"