systems than our own; in which case, though these reasons disappear, a yet stronger one arises in the fact that, as suns, they would shine by inherent rather than borrowed light—which idea will be found inapplicable. But rather should we think of it as a planet, a world in itself, shining steadily, having an evident career, bright and marked, unchangeable, complete, of Almighty design, an essential chord in the universal harmony, of which a single false note, the slightest irregularity, would destroy that harmony, and upturn the universe. Now for the points of the analogy: 1. Our government hath foundations well laid and sure. The star is created, placed in its relative position, and held there, coursing on through space by an Almighty hand- we ask no more. Though all the firmament were studded thick as the silver dust that sprinkled the gorgeous milkyway, and every star were as thickly inhabited, the universe combined could not affect one tittle in its integrity, nor move one jot from its course, the single star so created, so placed, and so held. The Almighty hand we do not defy; human hands we do. The star, then, well symbolizes the fact that our government is durably founded. 2. The confederate government, as the prominent idea of its constitution, possesses no powers of its own, but only exerts such as may have been conferred upon it by the States-the star has no light of its own, but simply reflects such as it receives, and so symbolizes the nature of our government. 3. Inasmuch as the star borrows its light from a source possessing inherent light-the sun; as the emblem of the confederate government, it would indicate that the source from which that government derives its powers, possesses itself inherent powers; in other words, that the States are independent sovereigns; and as this fact is a fundamental principle of our government, the star is eminently appropriate as indicative thereof. 4. This State sovereignty is no new principle, but equally original and eternal; and as the very right of secession was based upon the fact that this principle was original to the old contract, this fact should be indicated by retaining, as our emblem, that which originally symbolized this relation, to wit, the single star. 5. As we are not an unrecorded people, newsprung from the womb of time, but have a history peculiarly our own, gloriously illustrated by the noble deeds which our great Southern sires have done, it is fit that, as Southerners, we retain some suitable connection with the past; and the single star, as the symbol of that grand principle, (lost by the abomination of despotism, and our peculiar property,) which was the source of all that is to be remembered in the system of that past, furnishes that suitable connection. 6. We stand preeminent, bordered, on either side, by nations steeped in political darkness. The stars, in their courses, lifted on high, shine amid surrounding darkness, and so illustrate our position and functions. Accordingly, as the star was selected to guide the wise men to the source of human blessedness, so the star of our Confed eracy shall be a beacon to the nations, to guide them to that utmost of political blessings, pure republican liberty. So much for the single star of itself; now to view it comparatively. The sun and moon are both set by the Almighty, but, 1. The star is a better emblem than the sun, because the sun shines by a light inherent in itself, not borrowed and reflected, like the light of the star, or the powers of our government. Moreover, the sun puts out of view all other lights within the compass of its power; no State rights man will agree that such an idea shall be expressed, even remotely, by the emblem of the confederate government. 2. The star is better than the queen of night, because she, to human sight, is ever changing, waxing or waning, and one no less than the other; the only course of change for us must be onward. 3. The single star is better than a number of stars, proportioned to the number of States, for if such a number of stars be the emblem of the nation, any change in the number of the States would necessitate a change in the emblem, and this involves the idea that the character, or rather the completeness of the nationality, depends upon the number of States composing it-the very idea which proved so pernicious under the late Union, and which, entirely opposed as it is to our whole system, we should most carefully avoid. This number of stars, each for a State, is further ob jectionable, because the States possess inheren powers, are suns, while a star simply reflects. To the "Southern Cross," besides what has just been said, an objection is found in the fact that, however "far-sighted" our statesmen, none of them can make that constellation from even the southernmost point of the Confederacy. It is not ours; we are not quite far enough from the North, however painful the fact; and for us, a people fighting for our own rights, to assume it, would be exceedingly unbecoming, as a clear violation of the rights of the dwellers in Terra del Fuego, a people weaker than ourselves. The objection to the cross itself, as the prominent feature of our flag, may be found on inspecting a chart of the flags of other nations, where it will be found, in every variety of shape and color, endlessly repeated. It is right, and certainly desired by every thoughtful man in the nation, that some thankful acknowledgment of the Deity be a feature of our banner; but the prominent feature of the na tional banner should be the national emblem, and that emblem for us, a single star. Nothing can be gotten from either but plagiarisms, poor imitations, feeble fancies. Our coat-of-arms must be not only in accord with the higher law of heraldry, but, above all, original, our own, and not another's. Not one of the thousand writers on this topic has yet presented an original or appropriate idea. Yet there is a thought which starts to the mind's eye. PAWPAW, VA., Friday, February 14–8 P.M. Major-Gen. G. B. McClellan: The railroad was opened to Hancock this morning, also the telegraph. We We We had an important forced reconnoissance last night, which was completed to-day. broke up the rebel nest at Blooming Gap. ran down and captured seventeen commissioned officers, among them colonels, lieutenant-colonels, captains, etc. We engaged them with four hundred cavalry; our infantry was not near enough to support the cavalry, and the enemy's were retiring. The national emblem of the equestrian South is the horse. Its colors are black and white. Its shield is the sable horse of Manassas, on a silver field; its flag is the white flag with the black horse. Both colors are already united to make We have in all seventy-five prisoners, and killthe grey of the confederate uniform; and emblem ed thirteen of the enemy, and lost two men and and colors are alike suggestive of the country and six horses at their first fire. I led the charge in its history, and neither belong to any other na-person, and it was a complete surprise. tian of Christians.-ED. Ex.] -Richmond Examiner, February 11. Doc. 35. GALLANTRY OF LIEUT. PHELPS. THE Secretary of the Navy sent the following letter to Flag-Officer Foote: NAVY DEPARTMENT, February 18, 1862. Col. Carroll, commanding the Fifth or Eighth Ohio, made a very daring and successful reconnoissance immediately afterward to Unger's Store. Major Frothingham is entitled to great credit, for building, under my direction, in four hours, in the dead of night, a complete bridge across the Great Cacapon, at an unfrequented mountain road. Two columns of two thousand men each, marched thirty-two miles, and one column forty-three. miles since four P.M., yesterday, besides bridging the river. The papers taken, and my own reconnoissance to the south, prove the country clear, and that Jackson and Loring are in Winchester. We made a move and occupied the Blooming Gap and Point Mill, on the belief, by information obtained from deserters, that Gen. Carson's bri SIR: Your letter of the seventh instant, communicating the details of your great success in the capture of Fort Henry, is just received. I had previously informed you of the reception of your telegraphic despatch announcing the event, which gave the highest satisfaction to the country. We have to-day the report of Lieut. Commanding S. L. Phelps, with the gratifying results of his successful pursuit and capture and destruc-gade was there. tion of the rebel steamers, and the dispersion of the hostile camps, as far up the river as Florence. I most cordially and sincerely congratulate you and the officers and men under your command, on these heroic achievements, accomplished under extraordinary circumstances, and after surmounting great and almost insuperable difficulties. The labor you have performed, and the services you have rendered in creating the armed flotilla of gunboats in the Western waters, and in bringing together, for effective operation, the force which has already earned such renown, can never be over-estimated. The Department has observed, with no ordinary solicitude, the armament that has so suddenly been called into existence, and which, under your well-directed management, has been so gloriously effective. I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, To Flag-Officer A. H. FOOTE, U.S.N., Commanding Gunboat Flotilla, etc., Doc. 36. FIGHT AT BLOOMING GAP, VA. Gen. Dunning has just arrived at New-Creek, from Moorfield, forty miles south of Romney. He has captured two hundred and twenty-five beef-cattle, and he broke up the guerrilla haunt there. Two of his men were badly wounded, but several of the rebels were killed. The enemies have thus been driven out of this Department. I respectfully commend Col. S. S. Carroll to your notice. He is a most efficient and gallant officer. Lieuts. H. G. Armstrong, A.A.G., and Fitz-James O'Brien, Aid-de-Camp, joined me in the charge by which the rebel officers were captured, and confidence restored, after the cavalry had been checked. O'Brien was shot through the breast by a rebel whilst out scouting. F. W. LANDER, The following official recognition of the services of Gen. Lander, was made by President Lincoln. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, February 17. To Brig.-Gen. F. W. Lander: The President directs me to say that he has observed with pleasure, the activity and enterprise manifested by yourself and the officers and soldiers of your command. You have shown how much may be done in the worst weather and THE following news was received here to-day: worst roads, by a spirited officer, at the head of WASHINGTON, Saturday, February 15. a small force of brave men, unwilling to waste life in camp when the enemies of their country are within reach. Your brilliant success is a happy presage of what may be expected when the army of the Potomac shall be led to the field by their gallant general. [Signed] EDWIN M. STANTON, NEW-YORK "TRIBUNE" ACCOUNT. and, if possible, overtake and capture the baggage of the enemy. Gen. Lander meantime brought up Col. Carroll with the Eighth Ohio regiment, and the Seventh Virginia, Col. Evans, for a support. Col. Anastanzel encountered the enemy at the head of the pass, two miles from Blooming. He was met by a sharp fire, and halted his command, instead of pushing through it, to the front. On hearing the firing, Gen. Lander came up and or CUMBERLAND, MD., February 15, 1862. dered Anastanzel forward. The men faltered beA small portion of Gen. Lander's force being fore the musketry of the enemy, when Lander at Pawpaw Tunnels, a station on the Baltimore saying, "Follow me," halting at the head of the and Ohio Railroad, half-way between Hancock column only long enough to tell the men to re-. and Cumberland, he joined it from New-Creek with member their holy mission and follow their Gena portion of the force there, and ordered the con-eral to victory. His appeal was answered by struction of the Great Cacapon Railroad bridge. one private named John Cannon, a Virginia refuThis was completed on the evening of the four-gee. Gen. Lander charged, followed by Major teenth instant. At four o'clock P.M. on the thirteenth instant, Gen. Lander started south with a small cavalry force. At eight o'clock the same evening, word came back for a portion of the command to move. Armstrong, Assistant Adjutant - General; FitzJames O'Brien, the well-known poet of his staff, and Major Bannister, Paymaster U.S.A., who had volunteered for the expedition. A group of rebel officers were distant about three hundred yards, encouraging their men. General Lander being mounted on his celebrated horse, outran the rest of the party, and cut off the retreat of the rebel officers. "Surrender, gentlemen," he said, and coolly dismounting, extended his hand to receive the sword of Col. Baldwin, whom an instant before he had appeared, to outside observers, to be Five of the rebel officers surrendered to Gen. Lander, and four more, immediately afterward, to the officers of his staff, among them the Assistant Adjutant-General of Gen. Carson. This was the first intelligence we had of a march being intended, although the command had been turned out twice a day, with blankets slung, inspected, marched short distances, and ordered to keep two days' cooked rations on hand. It was soon covertly whispered among officers that it was the intention of Gen. Lander to move on Blooming Gap, a strong pass in the moun-riding directly over. tains, reported to be held by Gen. Carson's brigade, four thousand strong. For this purpose he had called in all his cavalry force, numbering nearly five hundred men, and led by Col. Anastanzel of the First Virginia regiment. They had By this time the rebel infantry, perceiving the been arriving for two days previous. It appeared small number of their adversaries, commenced a afterward that it had been intended to bridge the heavy fire from the woods, but the cavalry had Cacapon River the next day, but the enemy hav-recovered from its panic, and now poured up the ing discovered the small party of scouts led by Gen. Lander, he concluded to make the march that night. Twenty wagons were placed in the river, planks were hauled, and in four hours a bridge improvised at a point about seven miles south of the railroad. This bridge, one hundred and eighty feet in length, was built between nine and one o'clock at night, It was about seven miles to Blooming Gap from where the river was bridged. Gen. Lander's intention was to charge through the Gap in the night, as the position of the enemy could not be turned, and then halt his cavalry on the east side of the town, and check their retreat toward Winchester until the infantry provided for as support arrived. It was believed that, whatever the force of the rebels, in the darkness and confusion the quarters of the officers could be surrounded, and the officers taken before their men could form. It was one of those dashing exploits for which this officer has been so justly celebrated. But the enemy had retired beyond the town, and when, led by the General and his staff, the cavalry flew through the Gap and rallied beyond it, the birds had flown. Col. Anastanzel was at once ordered to push forward on the Winchester road with the cavalry, reconnoitre, hill. Gen. Lander once more ordered Anastanzel to charge up the road, and capture the baggage of the enemy. The cavalry dashed forward, the advance guard soon overtook and turned out of the road fifteen wagons and horses, but the main force of the cavalry seemed paralyzed, and would not face the fire. Two of the gallant privates in front were shot by the enemy, who had again rallied, and there was another check. Col. Evans now came up with his regiment of infantry, and captured many more of the rebels. Gen. Lander shot at one of his own cavalrymen who refused to go forward, saying: "The next time I'll hit you, and if you don't clear the road, this regiment shall deploy and fire upon you." Col. Carroll now came up. "Go on," said Gen. Lander to Carroll, "we need you now-clean them out, and take their baggage.' Col. Carroll cleared the road as he went, both infantry regiments behaving admirably, following and engaging the enemy to the last, until ordered back. The pursuit was continued eight miles. The result of this affair was the capture of eighteen commissioned officers, and forty-five noncommissioned officers and privates. Thirty of the rebels were killed, with a loss on our side of seven killed and wounded. Col. Carroll drove the enemy beyond the limits of Gen. Lander's department and returned. Gen. Lander has applied to the Governor of Maryland for the promotion of John Cannon to a lieutenancy. He has also the names of several deserving men of the cavalry force. He attributes the misconduct of the cavalry to the absence of several of their officers, now ill at Cumberland. Capt. Carman is reported to have behaved well. The same force, on independent scouting parties by companies and squads, has behaved well. It was the first time they were ever marched as squadrons before the enemy. They had been accustomed to dismount and fight as infantry, and had little practice with the sabre. The following order has been issued in reference to one of the men killed, and I think more orders have been issued in relation to others. An officer obliged me with a copy of this: SPECIAL ORDER No. 58. S. D. Bigger, a private of Capt. Carman's company, D, First Virginia cavalry, having been killed while gallantly endeavoring to capture the baggage of the enemy, will be escorted to his former residence, and the body delivered to his family, with the regrets of the Commanding General that so brave a man should be lost to them and the country. His last words were: "I am killed; don't mind it; but go on." Capt. Carman will detail two of his comrades, true soldiers, who were with him at the front, as an escort. The expenses and burial charges will be paid. Had the man lived, he would have received proBy command of Brig. Gen. LAnder. motion. H. G. ARMSTRONG, A.A.A.G. It is said that Gen. Lander still maintains that cavalry is one of the most effective arms to use in this country, and believes, if he had not ordered to bring up the infantry, the men, having got over the excitement occasioned by this first fire, would have done all that he could have expected of them. He has complimented the whole command, for the manner in which they bore the hardships of a bivouac in the snow, and a march of forty-three miles without rest, and with scant subsistence. When Gen. Lander was reenforced from Ohio, no wagons were furnished with the regiments; one of his best regiments has no tents, not a murmur has been heard, and the enemy driven from Moorfield on the south, to the eastern limits of his department, by a system of hurried marches and combinations, which compelled Jackson to retire, by threatening his subsistence-trains. As much has been said about General Lander's marching on Winchester, it may be remarked that he has never been ordered east of Romney, and all he has done since his reoccupation of that point, has been done at the risk of displeasing in high quarters. I was informed, by very good authority, that Lander would fight Jackson, in force, in his own department, but could not VOL. IV.-Doc. 9 proceed beyond it unless to support Gen. Banks, should he need his assistance. He captured four thousand bushels of corn and two hundred and twenty-five beef-cattle, from one of the rebel dépôts, forty miles south of Romney, a few days since. His men, on their marches, usually take rations in their haversacks, and beef-cattle are driven loose with the command. They have made some astonishing marches for raw troops, and in their numerous skirmishes, they have had no support from artillery. Doc. 37. GENERAL HALLECK'S ORDER. THE president, professors, curators, and other officers of the University of Missouri, are required to take and subscribe to the oath of allegiance prescribed by the sixth article of the State Ordinance of October sixteenth, 1861, to file the same in the office of the Provost-Marshal General in this city. Those who fail to comply with this order, within the period of thirty days, will be offices; and if any one who so fails shall thereaf considered as having resigned their respective ter attempt to obtain pay or perform the functions of such office, he will be tried and punishbeen endowed by the Government of the United ed for military offence. This institution having States, its funds should not be used to teach treason, or to instruct traitors. The authorities of the University should, therefore, expel from its walls all persons who, by word or deed, favor, assist, or abet the rebellion. The presidents and directors of all railroad companies in this State, will be required to take and subscribe to the oath of allegiance, in the form, within the time, and under the penalties prescribed in the preceding paragraph. They will also be required to file bonds for such sums as may be designated by the Provost-Marshal General that they will employ no conductors, engineers, station - masters, or other officers, agents or employees, who have not taken the oath of allegiance and who are not loyal to the Union. No contracts will hereafter be made by quartermasters or commissaries in this department with persons who do not take and subscribe to an oath of allegiance similar to that prescribed by the act of Congress, approved August sixth, 1861. Purchasing officers are prohibited from making purchases of persons of known disloyalty to the Government. Where articles, necessary for the public service, are held only by disloyal persons, and cannot be purchased of Union men, the fact will be reported to these headquarters, when the proper instructions will be given. All clerks, agents, and civil employees in the service of the United States, in the department, will be required to take and subscribe to the oath prescribed by the aforesaid act of Congress. The attention of all military officers is called to this order; and any one who shall hereafter keep in the Government employment persons who fail to take the said oath of allegiance, or who announce and advocate disloyalty to the Union, will be arrested and tried for disobedience of orders. ject, or until orders from higher authority, the country in occupation of the forces of this command will be divided off into districts of convenient size for proper superintendence. For each of these districts a suitable agent will be appointed to superintend the management of the plantations by the blacks, to enroll and organize the willing blacks into working parties, to see that they are well fed, clad, and paid a proper remuneration for their labor, to take charge of all property on the plantations, whether found there, provided by the Government, or raised from the soil, and to perform all other administrative duties connected with the plantations, that may be pros-required by the Government. A code of regulations on this subject, as well as a proper division of districts, will be furnished in due time. It is recommended that all clergymen, professors, and teachers, and all officers of public and private institutions for education or benevolence, and all engaged in business and trade, who are in favor of the perpetuation of the Union, voluntarily subscribe and file the oath of allegiance prescribed by the State ordinance, in order that their patriotism may be known and recognised, and that they may be distinguished from those who wish to encourage rebellion, and to prevent the Government from restoring peace and perity to this city and State. By order of Major-Gen. HALLECK. N. H. MCLEAN, Assistant Adjutant-General. Doc. 38. In the mean while, and until the blacks become capable of themselves of thinking and acting judiciously, the services of competent instructors will be received-one or more for each district-whose duties will consist in teaching them, both young ORGANIZATION OF THE CONTRABANDS. and old, the rudiments of civilisation and Christ GENERAL SHERMAN'S ORDER. HEADQUARTERS, E. C., HILTON HEAD, S. C., February 6, 1862. THE helpless condition of the blacks inhabiting the vast area in the occupation of the forces of this command, calls for immediate action on the part of a highly-favored and philanthropic people. The occupation of a large portion of this area of country, on the seventh of November last, led to an address to the people of South-Carolina, briefly setting forth the causes which led to it; its objects and purposes; and inviting all persons to the reoccupation, in a loyal spirit, of their lands and tenements, and to a continuance of their avocations, under the auspices of their legitimate Government, and the protection of the Constitution of the United States. ianity; their amenability to the laws of both God and man; their relations to each other as social beings, and all that is necessary to render them competent to sustain themselves in social and business pursuits. For an efficient and complete organization of this system, there will be appointed two general agents, one to have a general superintendence over the administrative or agricultural agents, and the other over the educational department. 2. The above system is not intended, in any respect, to interfere with the existing orders respecting the employment of contrabands by the staff department of the army, and by the cotton agents. 3. As the blacks are now in great need of suitable clothing, if not other necessaries of life, which The conciliatory and beneficent purposes of that necessity will probably continue, and even inproclamation, except in a few instances, have not crease, until the above system gets into working only been disregarded, but hordes of totally unorder, the benevolent and philanthropic of the educated, ignorant and improvident, blacks have land are most earnestly appealed to for assistance been abandoned by their constitutional guardians, in relieving their immediate wants. not only to all the future chances of anarchy and there a nobler or more fitting opportunity for the of starvation, but in such a state of abject igno-operation of that considerate and practical benevorance and mental stolidity, as to preclude all pos- been distinguished. By order of lence for which the Northern people have ever sibility of self-government and self-maintenance in their present condition. Adequate provision for the pressing necessities of this unfortunate and now interesting class of people being therefore imperatively demanded, even by the dictates of humanity alone, an additional duty, next only in importance to that of the preservation of a world-revered Constitution and Union, is now forced upon us by an unnatural and wicked rebellion. To relieve the Government of a burden that may hereafter become insupportable, and to enable the blacks to support and govern themselves in the absence and abandonment of their disloyal guardians, a suitable system of culture and instruction must be combined with one providing for their physical wants. Therefore, until proper legislation on the sub Never was Brig.-Gen. T. W. SHERMAN. Doc. 39 GEN. JOS. E. JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS. THE following is a copy of Gen. Johnston's address to the rebel army of the Potomac : HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, February 4, 1862. SOLDIERS: Your country again calls you to the defence of the noblest of human causes. To the indomitable courage already exhibited on the battle-field, you have added the rarer virtues of high endurance, cheerful obedience, and self-sacrifice. Accustomed to the comforts and luxuries of home, |