SUNDAY
JULY 12, 1863
THE DAILY PICAYUNE (LA)

The Postage Stamp Mania.

Manias for collecting certain supposed or actual curiosities are epidemical. There is a kind of chronic insanity which afflicts a large class of persons–such as the collection of pamphlets, autographs, coins, bugs, butterflies and other specimens of natural and unnatural history, which is too common to need more than an allusion. Indeed, the history of autograph hunters and their collections alone would fill volumes. There is still another set of curiosity-collectors who may be called interleavers. They buy a favorite book–some history, for instance– and then give their days and nights for years to the assiduous collection of portraits, engravings of incidents and localities, pictures of scenery, lithographs, woodcuts, locks of hair, perhaps, everything in fact which illustrates a page or sometimes a single sentence of their favorite book. This mania is more infrequent than any other, and a single attack generally results in the complete restoration of the collector to his ordinary senses, including common sense especially. A dollar volume in the hands of one of the interleavers has frequently cost hundreds and in some instances thousands of dollars; and in most cases when the collecting process is complete, the now satiated collector finds his “situation” as follows: he has expended a large sum of money, much valuable time, as endured embarrassing hunts for certain “specimens” he must have to make his work perfect, to say nothing of the agony of knowing that his rival Jones has been able to obtain a few things which are utterly and hopelessly beyond his own reach. In return he has his book, a bulky volume necessarily filled with much trash, almost valueless to anyone but himself, and unsaleable at one hundredth part of its cost. His satiety is followed by disgust, he incontinently “damns” his valuable volume, and goes about his ordinary business a much wiser, but somewhat unhappier man.

Among recent and wide spread manias, the passion for collecting photographs–first of one’s friends, and then copies of well known engravings which are issued in carte d’visite style and size, are sold at tolerably reasonable rates, and are some of them very beautiful–superior even in softness and tone to the originals from which they are copied. As an accompaniment, of course, is the album mania. Next in chronological order came the furor for fancy envelopes. A multitude of these sprang into existence with the civil war. There were “Union,” “Secession,” “Military, “Naval,” and all sorts–and in the course of a very short time as many as one thousand different specimens were extant. It was soon discovered, however, that the supply was quite equal, if not in advance of the demand, and that manufacturers were busily engaged in supplying these “curiosities” to order. Supplementary to this mania was an intense eagerness for shinplasters, and these were furnished by engravers and printers with such rapidity as to disgust the collectors–their commonness prevented them from being curiosities.

The last and now current mania of this class is for defaced postage stamps. No allusion is intended respecting the very extensive collections made for the purpose of “washing” and re-issue; but we allude to the desire for specimens of the postage stamps of all governments and nations, to be preserved as curiosities. The children began it, and it finally seized children of larger growth; so that there are not only shops and stands in London and Paris for the sale of these bits of colored paper, but there are thousands of persons who are giving almost their entire attention to this business. Many of them will never rest in peace till they own a specimen of every postage stamp ever issued in any part of the world. . .

•••••

Tricks in Fashionable Life.–The Boston Commercial Bulletin gives a communication from a retail dry goods dealer in that city, in which he animadverts on the practice, too much in vogue there, he thinks, of fashionable ladies sending or going to New York to purchase goods, instead of buying them at home. He gives a curious anecdote of his own experience, by way of illustration. “A lady,” says he, “in purchasing an elegant article of me for a wedding gift, wished to procure a label from the Adams Express Company, and paste it upon the box, that her friend might suppose it came from New York. Another party recently apologized for buying her goods in Boston, saying that her health would not admit of visiting New York.”

Effect of Privateering on American Commerce.–A Liverpool correspondent of the New York Post says the unchecked depredations of the Confederate cruisers are having their inevitable effect upon commerce and the American relations of Liverpool. He adds:

Last week the Waterloo docks, usually crowded by American shipping, presented a sight unprecedented since the war of 1812–for, with one solitary exception, there was not an American vessel in the docks.

The stagnation of the American carrying trade has thrown many ships upon the market, and some of the finest vessels lately employed in American commerce are now seeking purchasers. Among those offered for sale are the ships Ella, built at Topham, Maine; ship Southerner, built at Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1851; bark Joseph Taylor, built at Mystic, Connecticut; ship Arab, built at Newburyport, Massachusetts; ship Admiral, built at New York; ship Cheshire, built at New York; ship Nora, built at Newburyport; bark Surat, built at Newburyport; ship Meteor, built at Calais, Maine; ship Edward, built at Newburyport; ship Cygnet, built at Medford, Massachusetts; brigantine Fanny Lewis, built at Portland, Maine. These are all first class vessels, and yet they are necessarily withdrawn from the American trade, thanks to the few daring buccaneers who fly the Confederate flag; they are in fact pirate-bound, and for purposes of profitable employment are as closely blockaded as the Alabama or Florida ought to be by this time by the Federal navy.

•••••

All Sorts.

Capts. Speke and Grant, the Nile men, left Alexandria June 4th, by the Pera, for Southampton, and were due in England June 17th.

A French work, recently published, argues that every 1,500 years the waters of the sea pass from one pole to the other, submerging and overwhelming the earth. According to the author of this theory, M. Paul de Jouvencel, the last of these deluges occurred 4,500 years ago; the next is due 6,000 years hence. Manufacturers of umbrellas will take notice.

A bill was recently defeated in the Legislature of Georgia which had been introduced “to get rid of superfluous dogs.” It was based on an estimate that the State contained 100,000 superfluous dogs, consuming meat enough to feed five thousand men, and killing so many sheep that the wool thus lost would suffice to clothe five thousand people for a year.

During the battle of Fredericksburg, the Confederate General Lee observed one of his aides-de-camp, a very young man, shrink every now and then, and, by the motion of his body, seek to evade, if possible, the shot. “Sir,” said Lee, “what do you mean?” Do you think you can dodge the balls? Do you not know that Napoleon lost about a hundred aides-de-camp in one campaign?” “So I’ve read,” replied the young officer, “but I did not think you could spare so many.”

MONDAY
JULY 13, 1863
THE MACON DAILY TELEGRAPH (GA)

From the Atlanta Intelligencer, of Saturday.
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.

Thus far in the history of this war, save Savannah and the seaboard of the State, Georgia has not seen the face of an enemy in arms, has escaped that invasion of her territory which has desolated Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi. True, her noble sons have gone forth to fight by thousands and tens of thousands, but it has been to save Richmond, to relieve Tennessee, to drive the enemy from Old North Carolina, to defend Vicksburg–Georgia all the time standing impregnable, as it were, defiant and confident. That was the situation. Defiant and confident she still stands, but what now is her situation? Most earnestly do we appeal to her citizens, old and young–all who are capable of bearing arms, and all who are not, but have the will to defend her, and the wisdom to give good counsel–to hear us, and to heed the appeal we now make. We shall write words of truth and soberness, and not words to excite, influenced by fears of coming disasters. What we shall say in this article is dictated by information received from the highest responsible sources, and which our people of the whole State, but especially of Middle and Upper Georgia, and along the line of railroad from Atlanta to Chattanooga, would do well to heed, and govern themselves accordingly.

The military view taken of the future situation of Georgia is that she will be invaded, most probably at an early day–first, by large parties of Yankee raiders, via Huntsville, on to Rome, on her northwestern side, and from some point on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, on her northeastern side, both with the purpose and design of destroying the State Road, the iron works at Etowah, and capturing Atlanta. We have it from the best authority that this is now in contemplation by Rosecrans, and being [put] in motion. We are assured, too, by the same high authority, that all of Streight’s command have already reached Rosecrans’s headquarters, and are preparing for another dash into Georgia with large additional forces. Active military preparations are now being made to defend the State Road. A large force is ready to guard the bridges, and this force will be at once supplied with sufficient artillery to protect them from any, except overwhelming forces, that may make a raid on them. An efficient and vigilant officer of the State will make his headquarters at Kingston, without delay, whose vigilance and skill, co-operating, too, with General Bragg at Chattanooga, may save the road from the incursions of the enemy, come when he will in parties of raiders, and may save Atlanta also. But we are advised–and we beg to advise our readers with the truth, that what we write are the views of able if not the ablest military officers in the country–that the situation of Atlanta and the State Road, consequently of Georgia, has become more perilous, on other accounts, and we have been urged to appeal to her people from the seaboard to the mountains to rally to her defence, and to be prepared to meet any emergency that may present itself.

The fall of Vicksburg, it is believed, will enable Grant to co-operate with Rosecrans in the latter’s designs to invade Georgia–not with parties of raiders, but with a powerful force. Any intelligent, observing civilian must anticipate such a co-operation as well as a military chief. To defend his present position and Georgia, Gen. Bragg will do all that man dare do; and if Georgia will only wake up to her own defence, giving that aid to Gen. Bragg which circumstances imperatively demand, she will be successfully defended. We are told that even now, not less than 5,000 good troops should be near to, in the vicinity of, Atlanta. The proper authorities, we trust, will soon have them there; for it Atlanta falls, the back bone of Georgia, aye, we may now write, of the Confederacy, will be, for a time at least, broken. Augusta and Macon will follow in a day, as it were, and Georgia will be overrun and devastated by the abolition vandals. The picture drawn is a gloomy but truthful one, and upon the men of Georgia now devolves the responsibility of saving the State.

The Fall of Vicksburg.

The Jackson correspondent of the Memphis Appeal says:

Of course we are surrounded by the usual amount of rumors in connection with the surrender, many of which are of the most extravagant character. One of these is that pea flour and mule flesh constituted the sole diet for the past two weeks, and that the supply of those articles had been exhausted for three days. I have no idea this was all, as it is well known that there was a splendid supply of sugar in the town. There is no doubt, however, as I learn from an officer who came out, that for some two or three weeks our garrison was upon exceedingly short allowances so far as the substantials were concerned, and that at length the public supplies were entirely exhausted, as were, also, almost all those of the citizens. The men were starving, and from fatigue and privation were impossible of further resistance–indeed, scarcely competent to undergo the fatigues incident to a formal stacking of arms.

Here no blame is laid upon either General Pemberton or General Johnson. It is conceded the former did all that man could do, and the latter was so situated he could render no effective aid.

•••••

Our Navy.–Our little navy has been heard from again.  It still remains intact, and seemingly, has everything its own way. A letter from Rio Janeiro, of the 23d of May, has reached New York. The Florida left Pernambuco May 12, and with her the late Federal brig Clarence, which she had taken; the latter has been armed with four guns and fifty men. This will be a valuable acquisition to our navy, as she can always keep within the protection of the Florida. The Florida has destroyed nine vessels, some laden with flour, from New York for the Brazils, previous to entering Pernambuco. Advices from Bahia, to the 29th of May, report that the Alabama sailed hence May 21, and the Georgia, Com. Maury, which arrived at Bahia from the Clyde on the 13th of May, left on the 22d. The Yankee man-of-war Mohican put into Bahia on the 25th of May, and sailed on the 27th, in search of the Confederate cruisers. She will never overtake them, and for the best of reasons, because she does not desire to do so.–Charleston Courier.

•••••

The Macon Guards.–We publish to day a sad list of casualties from this gallant corps–Captain Ballard, 1st Lieutenant Hodgkins, 1st Sergeant Gamble, and private Alexander killed; Lieut. Fields and two privates severely wounded, and Lieut. Brantley and one private slightly wounded–nine in all out of a very small company, and every commissioned officer killed or wounded. This is terrible. Most deeply do we sympathize with the friends of the gallant slain.

•••••

More Volunteers Required.–We are informed that an additional call for 6,000 volunteers has been made by the Governor, and the quota for Bibb is fixed at 300–making 700 in all. If this number is not made up by the 1st of August, a draft will take place. We direct the attention of our readers to the impressive appeal copied from the Atlanta Intelligencer.

TUESDAY
JULY 14, 1863
THE NEW HAVEN DAILY PALLADIUM (CT)

SERIOUS RIOT IN NEW YORK.
Outrages by a Mob of James Brooks’ Constituents.
The Draft Interrupted.
Buildings Fired.
Officers and Soldiers Murdered.
Telegraph Lines Destroyed.
Dreadful Scenes in the Upper Part of the City.

Accounts received yesterday afternoon and evening, by passengers on the trains from New York, and by telegraph from points this side of the city, show that the riots there have been of a very serious character. The copious extracts from evening papers which we give below, although necessarily confused and perhaps not altogether reliable, afford the best view of the events of yesterday which has come to hand at the time of this writing. Aside from these narratives, we gather from the passengers and railway officials that yesterday afternoon all the telegraph lines were down, and several of the railroads were torn up or so obstructed as to prevent communication. The American telegraph was broken down this side of Harlem, and worked from there by operators sent out and stationed along the line at convenient points between there and Williams’ Bridge. The New Haven railroad track was probably torn up somewhere below New Rochelle, as no trains from the city had reached that station for several hours. The four o’clock train from New York came through on its regular time, but the one at half-past five had not reached New Rochelle at nine o’clock. From the conductor of the four o’clock train we learned that the Bull’s Head Hotel had been burned by the mob–also two houses in Lexington avenue near Fortieth street, and another near Thirty-fourth street. It was rumored that the mob intended to destroy Stevenson’s carriage factory where gun-carriages are built. The twelve-fifteen train up was entered near Forty-second street by a party of ruffians in search of some man whom they accused of having made an offensive remark; but they failed to find him and left the cars without committing any violence. Our informant says the mob was a mixed crowd of me, women and boys, mostly unarmed with anything but clubs, although some had firearms. They did not appear to have either organization of leaders.

[From the New York Express, of Monday Evening.]

At half past ten o’clock the drafting was commenced. At first everything went off smoothly, but toward eleven o’clock noise from the outside forebode trouble; and before a quarter past eleven o’clock the crowd became turbulent, and attempted to storm the cars.

Captain Webster, with a few men, tried to check the disturbers, but inside everything went off smoothly until a paving stone from the outside, aimed at the head of the Provost Marshal, who was reading off the names, gave the signal for the row to commence.

Onward rushed the crowd until they upset everything before them, and the police were overpowered. In a moment the room was deserted by the officers. The rioters then destroyed the wheel and scattered all the papers to the wind.¹

Armed with railroad iron the crowd burst open the doors of the hallway and rushing into the rear of the office, jumped in, shouting like fiends, and completely ransacking the place, scattered everything before them.

A man in a few minutes afterwards appeared with a can of turpentine, which he poured on the floor of the office, and setting fire to it, the room was soon in a blaze. All this time the mob kept breaking up the pavement and pelting the police and men attached to the office with stones.

Lieut. Vanderpool, in the attempt to rescue the people in the house, was attacked by the mob, and though he stated his object in going in to the building, was beaten most severely about the head. He subsequently escaped with great difficulty across lots and fences. ->

The crowd, who in the meantime kept up this work of demolition, turned their attention to the telegraph, which in less than a minute was completely destroyed, while the people in the house, who had taken to flight, were beseeching the mob to desist. But they cried in vain. The upper stories had taken fire and in a very little time the flames burst out of every window. The crowds filled the streets adjoining and finished their work.

Around the bell tower in Fifty-first street, the mob had sent their friends to stop the bells from ringing–but when engine No. 38 and Hose 53 were coming down Third avenue, they were cheered by the mob but not allowed to work.

The crowd got hold of a barrel of lager-beer, but, intending to stay sober, stove the head in, and destroyed also the saloon adjoining.

The fire in the meantime had taken a start, and soon the whole building was a mass of flames.

•••••

LEE’S ARMY FALLING BACK.
Our troops in Close Pursuit.
No Serious Fighting Yet.

Hagerstown, July 12.

Early this morning it was discovered that the rebels had fallen back from Funkstown. The reconnoissance from our right wing was thrown out, and discovered the rebels had withdrawn their left wing towards the river and had formed a line of battle in a semi-circle covering Williamsport. Kilpatrick’s cavalry pushed forward and occupied Hagerstown. Our whole right wing was immediately put in motion and swept around the line of the rebel retreat. We entered Funkstown one hour after the rebels left. They had fortified the bridge over the Antietam at Funkstown, but abandoned it without a contest. Strong rifle pits enfiladed the bridge, and embrasures for cannon had been knocked out of a stone-wall above on a hill. The rebel line of battle covers the Williamsport pike. Longstreet holds the center, Ewell the right and Hill the left. When falling back the rebels reported that they were falling back behind entrenchments. There is a growing belief that the mass of the rebel army have crossed the river, and that we are pressing back their rear guard.

•••••

Gen. Meade Preparing for the Approaching Battle.

Washington, Monday, July 13.

A letter from Antietam received late yesterday says that Vice President Hamlin was in camp.

The number of prisoners who have been forwarded by the General Provost Marshal to Baltimore is between eight and nine thousand. This is independent of those sent north by Gen. Couch, and hundreds of deserters in Pennsylvania. It is estimated that nearly three thousand deserters have left General Lee’s army, a large portion of which have recrossed the Potomac at various points above Williamsport on the way thence to their homes in the South.

From the best sources yet, it is believed that General Lee has got not less than 50,000 men. Taking the naturally strong position of the rebels, and the additional advantage of the enemy in being entrenched, Meade has no trivial task before him. He is preparing for the conflict with great discretion. His engineers are industriously employed in surveying the ground and selecting the best positions, while our cavalry are engaged in feeling the enemy’s lines. There was considerable skirmishing along the lines on Saturday night and yesterday morning. The enemy’s infantry and artillery were in plain view of the Hagerstown road.

WEDNESDAY
JULY 15, 1863
NEW HAMPSHIRE PATRIOT & STATE GAZETTE

The War.

Army of the Potomac.—The battle of Gettysburg, Pa., although resulting in a decided success to the Union army, was not so disastrous to the rebel army as was first represented. The loss was heavy on both sides, but we have no reliable evidence that it was much greater on their side than on ours. It is supposed our loss was not far from 20,000. Accounts vary in regard to the rebel loss, some putting it about 20,000, and others as high as 30,000. The original reports about the rout of Lee’s army, the capture of a large number of guns, the “hot pursuit” by Gen. Meade, and the like, were all gas and humbug. Gen. Tyler, who commanded our artillery, says the rebels retreated in good order, with no loss of cannon or equipments. They retreated towards the Potomac, to Hagerstown and Williamsport, some fifty miles, which is on the river some twenty miles above Harper’s Ferry. It is stated that they number from 50,000 to 60,000, and are entrenched. Our forces have very leisurely followed them, and frequent skirmishes have taken place, but no very heavy fighting. The two armies are now near together, and it is probable that another terrible battle will soon occur.²

Gen. Dix has withdrawn from his threatening movement towards Richmond, the object having been accomplished. He sent out an expedition which destroyed the Central Railroad bridges over the South Anna river and tore up six miles of track of the Fredericksburg Railroad, thus cutting the communication between Richmond and Lee’s army. He then, in obedience to orders, abandoned his position at White House, removed all stores, and returned to Fortress Monroe.

The Southwest.—Vicksburg surrendered and was occupied by our forces on the 4th. With it we received about 28,000 prisoners, including Gen. Pemberton, four Major Generals, fifteen or twenty Brigadiers, and a proportionate number of inferior officers, and a very large number of splendid guns.

Port Hudson still holds out, and all we hear is that the siege progresses favorably. It is expected that Gen. Grant will send large reinforcements to aid in capturing this last remaining rebel stronghold on the Mississippi.

On the 4th a rebel force stated at from 9000 to 15,000, under Gens. Price, Holmes and others, attacked Gen. Prentiss at Helena. Arkansas, and, after a protracted fight, were repulsed with heavy loss. Gen. Prentiss reports that he took 1200 prisoners, and that the enemy had from 500 to 600 killed and wounded. The loss on our side was about 250.³

The rebels seem to have regained possession of most of Western Louisiana. Gen. Banks could leave but few troops for the defence of a country that had cost his army so much labor and blood to conquer; and the active and enterprising rebels were quick to take advantage of that circumstance. The chief loss to us was at Brashear City, where the enemy took some 1200 prisoners . . .

The rebels made an attack upon the great depot of Gen. Banks’ supplies, Springfield Landing, four miles from Port Hudson, on the 2d, and destroyed a large amount of clothing and other stores; but the opportune arrival of a regiment from port Hudson put a stop to their work and sent them off in haste, with a loss of ten killed and eight prisoners.

North Carolina.—An expedition left Newbern, North Carolina, on the 3d, on a “raid into the interior,” and returned on the 7th, without the loss of a man. It consisted of sixteen companies of cavalry, with a force of infantry and artillery. The latter engaged a force of the enemy at Kinston and kept them employed, while the cavalry proceeded to Viennaville, 90 miles from Newbern, where they struck the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, which they destroyed for a great distance, tearing up the rails, burning bridges, &c. An extensive sabre manufactory at Kennomsville, with 20,000 sabres, was burned, and also an extensive knapsack factory, with some 20,000 knapsacks. Nearly every town through which the cavalry passed contained rebel commissary depots full of Confederate stores, which were also burnt, with great quantities of cotton, pitch, tar, resin and turpentine. Horses, mules, Negroes and prisoners were captured in great numbers. About $500,000 in Confederate money was also captured from tax collectors on the route.

•••••

Terrible Riot in New York.—On Monday the city of New York was the scene of the greatest riot that ever occurred in the country–occasioned by the draft. The telegraph lines were all cut, and we have but meagre particulars. It is said that the Provost Marshal’s office in the 5th district was destroyed, together with the drafting papers, books, &c. Also the Provost Marshal’s office in the 19th ward, 8th district, with the papers. The Tribune office was “gutted” and other newspapers threatened, various buildings burnt, Negroes, police and others cruelly beaten, Mr. Kennedy, Superintendent of Police, killed, and all manner of outrage perpetrated. It is stated that fully fifty lives have been taken; and at the latest accounts (late Monday night,) the riot continued with increasing violence. It seems to pervade various sections of the city. As many as 5000 workmen, variously armed, are stated to have paraded in a body, declaring their determination to resist the draft; and women and boys are said to be forward and fierce in the work of violence and outrage. All efforts of the small Provost guard to resist the rioters had proved futile, and the last accounts state that artillery from the Forts was to be brought up to disperse the mob.

•••••

The “Patriot office boys” suffered severely in the battle of Gettysburg. Capt. Henry N. Metcalf, one of the original officers of the 2d, and who had been in all its battles and marches, was killed. George H. Bucknam of the 5th was killed. These were formerly employed in this office. Early in the war, we lost Thomas B. Lever, of the 2d, also employed in this office when he enlisted. All these young men proved themselves good soldiers, and their memory will be cherished by their former associates.

THURSDAY
JULY 16, 1863
THE VERMONT PHŒNIX

Capture of the Atlanta.
Official Recognition of Heroic Services.

The following official letter has been addressed by the Secretary of the Navy to Capt. Rodgers of the Union iron-clad Weehawken:

Navy Department, June 25, 1863.

Sir: Your dispatch of the 17th inst., announcing the capture of the Rebel iron-clad steamer Fingal, alias Atlanta, has been received. Although gallantly sustained by Commander John Downes of the Nahant, the victory, owing to the brevity of the combat, was yours, and it gives me unaffected pleasure to congratulate upon the result. Every contest in which the iron-clads have been engaged against iron-clads has been instructive, and affords food for reflection. The lessons to be drawn are momentous.

On the 8th of March, there were lying at anchor in Hampton Roads the first class steam frigates Roanoke and Minnesota, the sailing frigates Congress and St. Lawrence, the razee Cumberland, and several gunboats. In the presence of this formidable force, representing the highest offensive power of the wooden navy, boldly appeared the Rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac, and, notwithstanding the broadsides poured into her by the heroic defense of the Congress and the Cumberland, these two wooden vessels were easily destroyed, and the fate of the others was only reserved for the morrow. During the night, however, the Monitor, the first vessel of her class, arrived, and on the 9th of March, when the morning mists lifted and showed the Merrimac and her wooden consorts approaching to complete the work of destruction, our defense consisted, not in the great ships that were still afloat, and their numerous heavy guns, but in a single small iron-clad vessel armed with two guns.

History has recorded the courage and skill of Commander John S. Worden, who, disappearing in the smoke of the advancing fleet, dispersed and put to flight their wooden steamers, turned at bay the Merrimac, grappled with that formidable monster and drove her back into Norfolk, and kept her there until the evacuation of that place led the Rebels to destroy their famous iron-clad rather than encounter and risk her capture by her puny antagonist. The lessons of that contest taught us the inadequacy of wooden vessels and our existing ordnance to meet armored ships. For inland operations, the Monitor turret was immediately adopted, and the 15-inch Rodman gun, being the only gun of greater weight than the 11-inch yet tested, was ordered to be placed in the turrets of the vessels that were constructing. The result of this policy is developed in the action through which you have just passed. In fifteen minutes, and with four shots, you overpowered and captured a formidable steamer but slightly inferior to the Merrimac–a vessel that, the preceding year, had battled with not very serious injury to herself against four frigates, a razee, and for a time with one Monitor armed with 11-inch guns, thus demonstrating the offensive power of the new and improved Monitors armed with guns of 15-inch caliber.

Your early connection with the Mississippi Flotilla, and your participation in the protection and construction of the first iron-clads on the Western waters; your heroic conduct in the attack on Drury’s Bluff; the high moral courage that led you to put to sea in Weehawken upon the approach of a violent storm in order to test the sea qualities of these new craft at the time when a safe anchorage was close under your lee; the brave and daring manner in which you, with your associates, pressed the iron-clads under the concentrated fire of the batteries in Charleston harbor, and there tested and proved the endurance and resisting power of these vessels; and your crowning successful achievement in the capture of the Fingal, alias Atlanta, are all proofs of a skill and courage and devotion to the country and the cause of the Union, regardless of self, that cannot be permitted to pass unrewarded.->

To your heroic daring and persistent moral courage, beyond that of any other individual, is the country indebted for the development, under trying and varied circumstances, on the ocean, under enormous batteries on land, and in successful encounter with a formidable floating antagonist, of the capabilities and qualities of attack and resistance of the monitor class of vessels and their heavy armament. For these heroic and serviceable acts I have presented your name to the President, requesting him to recommend that Congress give you a vote of thanks in order that you may be advanced to the grade of Commodore in the American Navy.

Very respectfully, &c.,

Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy.

Capt. John Rodgers, U. S. Navy,
commanding U. S. steamer Weehawken,
South Atlantic Squadron, Port Royal, S. C.

•••••

Beauties of Slavery.–A letter from Gen. Ullman’s brigade, 11th June, encamped near Port Hudson, La., says:

“The three regiments of this command encamped here have succeeded in recruiting in three weeks an average of about three hundred and fifty men each. The last regiment commenced to recruit on Sunday, and by the following Monday had obtained about four hundred men! They are all healthy young men, and very patriotic also, being quite anxious to get a chance to meet their former masters, many of whom are in the rebel army. It was a sorrowful sight to examine the backs of these men, some resembling a checker board. Others had large lumps all over their bodies, caused by the lash of the overseers, others are deformed from hard usage. I wish that some of the northern copperheads could be drafted and sent down here, so that they could see for themselves the beauties of the peculiar institution.”

•••••

There has been a great riot in New York, much property and many lives lost, and at last accounts it was not quelled. Gen. Lee has got across the Potomac with the remains of his army, and is again on the soil of Virginia. One brigade of his troops with arms, &c., was captured just before crossing and he will stand a chance to lose many more before he arrives at Richmond. It is reported that Port Hudson surrendered to Gen. Banks on the fifth, and that the rebel Johnston has been beaten by Grant’s army. Rosecrans is meeting with continued success in Tennessee, Chattanooga being abandoned by the rebels.

•••••

Manufacture of Arms.—Sharpe’s rifle manufactory, at Hartford, Connecticut, is to be enlarged again, after repeated enlargements, by the building of a wing two hundred and fifteen feet long, forty feet wide and three stories high, exclusive of attic and basement. About four hundred and fifty men are now employed at Sharpe’s  rifle factory, besides ten men and fifty girls at their cartridge works. The company is exclusively engaged in the manufacture of carbines, and the works are run day and night, turning out about six hundred weapons per week. During the year past the company have shipped about five hundred per week.–M. Journal.

•••••

Jeff Davis’s Adjutant General has issued an order for the seizure of all the iron within the limits of the confederacy. It is wanted in their arsenals and for repairs on their railroads.

FRIDAY
JULY 17, 1863
THE CALEDONIAN (VT)

Terrible Riots in New York and Boston.

The telegraph brings us meager accounts of riots in New York and Boston, arising out of the draft. On Monday a mob of from 3,000 to 4,000 armed with revolvers, clubs and pitch forks attacked the Provost Marshal offices in New York, where the drawing was being made, and after destroying and scattering the enrollment lists and draft tickets, set fire to the buildings. By 4 o’clock the mob had burned 7 buildings and killed 6 policemen. It is reported that superintendent Kennedy of the Metropolitan police, has died from wounds received by the hands of the mob. About 8 o’clock Monday evening the mob attacked the office of the Tribune, and the publication office was entirely gutted and smashed. They also threatened to burn the office of the Evening Post, the post office and custom house. The Negroes have suffered terribly from the violence of the mob. Some of them have been pounded and trampled to death. The telegraph lines leading from New York City having been cut by the mob, we can only give proceedings to Monday night.

There was great excitement on Tuesday in Boston over the draft. In the evening a mob attacked the Cooper Arsenal, where it was known a company of heavy artillery was stationed. The rioters assaulted the doors with bricks and paving stones, and soon smashed in a panel, at which the crowd cheered loudly. Another panel was knocked out, when the doors swung open, a loud report immediately followed and a charge of 6 pounds of canister was hurled into the crowd, cutting them up fearfully. Another and another shot followed, when the mob finding it no “boys’ play,” scattered. They afterward however attacked and pillaged the store of Thos. P. Barnes, Jr., 28 Dock Square. Another portion of the crowd headed for the store of Wm. Reed and Sons, corner of Exchange Avenue and Dock Square, but were met by a strong police force and after a sharp conflict were driven away. Two policemen were injured and one of the mob shot. We shall probably have further particulars before going to press.

The peace meeting copperheads represented by Woods and Brooks in New York; by ex-President Pierce of New Hampshire; and by the editor of the Argus in Vermont, having failed in their first move to checkmate the administration and compel the President to accept peace upon any terms the rebels at the south may dictate, are now making their second move. By their speeches, and through their organs, of which the New York World is a representative, they have excited men to resist the draft. The Boston Journal says upon this matter:

“They have exhausted the vocabulary of misrepresentation and abuse on the subject of the enrollment law, and have left no appeal to the mischievous elements of the community untouched. Some of these agitators have artfully deprecated violence while actually suggesting it, while others seem to have been content to arouse all the worst passions of the multitude, leaving them to do their own work when the time would come.

“On the very morning that heralded this terrible and bloody outbreak, the New York World speaks of the conscription act as ‘a measure which could not have been ventured upon in England even in those dark days when the press-gang filled English ships-of-war with slaves.’ It declares that ‘such were the circumstances which attended its final passage that one might almost have supposed the national legislature to be an oligarchic conspiracy plotting a vast scheme of military servitude.’ With a superfluity of such insinuations, it maliciously inculcates the impression that ->

New York City, through vengeful feeling on the part of the War Department, is to be mulcted for more than its fair share of drafted men. Now it is impossible not to see the inflammatory effect of such words when scattered among the ignorant, excited and corrupted sections of the populace of such a city as New York. It might prove all that was necessary to fire the train that had long been laid by artful demagogues in the caucus, on the street corner and in the haunts of vice.”

The telegrams of Thursday morning represent the riot in New York as still progressing, though the crowd is mostly made up of thieves and robbers who make indiscriminate plunder their chief object. They sack clothing and other stores, carrying off their contents by the cartload. The very latest dispatch said the military were firing on the mob, and that the secretary of war had dispatched the New York regiments to the rescue of the city from these cut-throats and robbers. The papers say that superintendent Kennedy was not killed, as reported.

•••••

The Latest News.

A dispatch was received Wednesday evening that Gen. Lee had succeeded in crossing the Potomac with his army, leaving only his wounded and some prisoners in our hands. The feeling of regret that our great opportunity had thus slipped through our fingers was partially relieved by the telegram of Thursday morning that Lee’s retreat across the river was a complete rout. I the rebel army has successfully skedaddled back to Virginia after two weeks of preparation to head him off by or government, with high water, Providence and the heavy battalions all on our side, somebody is greatly to blame, that’s all.

News comes that Port Hudson has surrendered–true or otherwise.

Our gunboats have attacked Charleston again. Morris Island is taken and our troops are mounting large guns upon it. The rebels acknowledge the loss of 300 in the assault upon the Island, and say our loss was heavy. This news comes from Richmond papers, signed by Beauregard.

The riot in Boston was quickly quelled by the military, after several of the mob were shot.

•••••

Vicksburg After the Siege.

Vicksburg, July 5.–Yesterday and t0-day all has been remarkably quiet, and good feeling prevails. The weather is fearfully hot. Nineteen general officers have been paroled. Two or three days must elapse before the prisoners are sent out to their destination, which is reported to be Talladega, Ala.

Many of them are anxious not to be paroled, but wish to take the oath of allegiance and quit the rebel service and be sent North.

The latest advices from the interior state that Gen. Johnston is rapidly retreating, and that gen. Sherman is in hot pursuit. Reinforcements are moving up to General Sherman.

SATURDAY
JULY 18, 1863
THE HALLOWELL GAZETTE (ME)

Don’t Be a Bachelor.

Young man, don’t live live a crusty bachelor; it is not good for you. It will not improve your morals, health or beauty. Marry as soon as you can make it convenient, and can shape your affairs to support a wife. But when you marry don’t fall in love with a face instead of a woman. Remember that common sense is a rare virtue, much better than silver, gold, and fashion. Don’t court and marry crinoline or money bags, simply because it is crinoline or gold in plenty, but first look to sound practical sense in a woman; that is the touch stone to try her other qualities by.

When you have that, all else comes. Your wife, that is to be, if she’s full of common sense, will grow to your way of thinking, and make you grow to hers. A woman who has womanly love in her heart, will find a way to make your love towards her grow as the years go over you both. And another thing needs to be heeded, and that is, a common sense woman is not to be found where fashion consists in dragging young females into a whirl, where there is simply idle gossip and a little brain.

Young man, don’t stand looking after that young woman, who has that distinguished air, the reputation of a flirt and a  belle, whose father has heaps of cash, for it is not impossible while you are straining your eyes, you may be turning your back upon some unobtrusive little damsel whom nature has cut out as your other half, and who may be that pleasant-faced, placid-tempered, lovable little creature who will think enough of you to go to the end of the world, and stay by and comfort you when you get gray-headed and fidgety.

Marry, young gentlemen, and keep yourselves out of scrapes. Have something to live for. A man alone in the world isn’t more than half a man, and the world wants entire men. So mend yourselves and be happy. And you shall have reason to say it was a good thing you resolved to marry, and refused to be a solitary beer-drinking, pipe-smoking bachelor, if you succeed in your efforts as he who, once a young man like you, is now simply old, contented and comfortable.

•••••

Served Right.–The Philadelphia Ledger, commenting upon the “inactive classes” in that State, says:

“This rebel raid or intended invasion and subjugation will unquestionably cure many of these persons. The other day there was in the Cumberland valley a large distiller, who frequently boasted among his friends that he did not fear the secessionists of Lee’s army. When they came, he was going to place himself under their protection, and treat all around with a couple of barrels of whiskey. They came and took, without asking him, seven hundred barrels of whiskey–his entire stock. Round about York and in Adams county there have been too many who have trusted to the forbearance of the foe, and been stripped of everything.”

•••••

The Boston Steamers Armed.–The boats of the Portland Steam Navigation Company are now armed and manned by an extra crew. The Forest City has the 12-pounder of the pirate Tacony, which was found aboard the Archer, and the gunner of the Caleb Cushing is employed to serve it. She is also well supplied with ammunition and small arms. The Montreal and Lewiston are similarly equipped. So says the Portland Courier.

Richmond Views of Peace.–It is rather curious, says the Boston Journal, that while some of our papers are professing that out of “magnanimity” we ought now to tender peace to the defeated and humbled rebels, the Richmond papers are looking at the matter from the opposite point of view. The Richmond Enquirer, of the 7th, says: “Suppose, what is not improbable, that the armies of the federal Union should all be vanquished this year; that the whole scheme of invasion and subjugation should break down, and that we should be enabled to dictate terms of peace in Washington–what then?” “Peace must be upon our terms,” continues this writer, “because the victorious party never submits to the terms of a conquered enemy, but imposes his own.” It is to be presumed that this was written under the impression that Vicksburg had not fallen, and that Lee held those 40,000 prisoners which he was said to have captured last Sunday. At any rate the above sentiments and those which follow, from the same source, sufficiently show the animus of the Richmond clique of rebel managers:

“Gen. Lee, our High Commissioner and Plenipotentiary for conclusion of a peace, is proceeding well enough with his beneficent mission. His Olive Branch is blossoming, and will bear wholesome fruit. His negotiations, entered upon so auspiciously, to bring about that sweet and tender reconciliation which is now surely coming, have already advanced a long stride; and utter fright and dismay, the only frame of mind in which thoughts of peace can soften the Yankee nature, now smile graciously upon the deluge of blood, and prepare the way for the Dove to bring the green spray into our ark. Johnston and our other Peace Commissioners in the Southwest, are also diligent in their mission of love. Weary eyes, long dimmed by the red blaze of slaughter, begin, indeed, to see at last the dawn of a glorious day; and the nation will soon awake from that spectre-haunted night of blood. Peace was always impossible to us, save on the terms of conquering it; and conquering it in the enemy’s country.”

•••••

Gloom in Richmond.–Refugees who have arrived at Washington from Richmond say that there was great gloom there on Monday over the news received from Pennsylvania.

•••••

It is reported that General Meade was frequently under fire at Gettysburg, though he does not appear to have exposed himself unnecessarily. He rode along the lines, attended by his orderlies, guiding every movement, and halting and sending to the front demoralized officers and men. At one time his horse was killed under him, a canister shot passing through the flap of his saddle, grazing the leg of the general.

¹ The “wheel” referred to is the drum used to tumble names prior to their selection for the draft. Image of an actual wheel from the New York Historical Society.

² See footnote for 12 July 1863. These estimates of losses around 20,000 on each side are close to the mark.

³ The newspapers failed to report the presence and active participation of the gunboat Tyler, under Lt-Cdr J. M. Prichett, in the defence of Helena, of which Army officers said, “had it not been for the assistance rendered by this vessel the town would have been captured.”