Decatur Eagle, Volume 6, Number 23, Decatur, Adams County, 10 July 1862 — Page 1

iTHE DECATUR EAGLE.

VOL. 6.

decatuTTagle. I* ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING, HY A J . HILL, EDITOR, PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR. r OFFICE—On Second Street, lu Patterson‘s building, over the Drug Store. Terms of Subscription: One copy, one year, in advance, $1 00 if paid within the year, 1 50 f not paid until the year has expired, 2 Oil (tj'No paper will be discontinued until all ■arrerage* are paid except at the option of the Publisher. Terms of Advertising: One square, (ten lines) three insertions, $1 00 Each subsequent insertion. ‘25 ETNo advertisement will be considered less than one square; over one square will he counted and charged as two; over two, as three, etc. IT A liberal discount, fiomtlie above rates. | made on nlladvertiitetncnts inserted for a period longer three uroliths. iTThe above rates will be strictly adhered to under all circumstances. * J JOB PRINTING: W<* are prepared to do all kinds of job-work, iua neat and workmanlike manner, on ttierjcsfcj reasonable terms Our material for the completion of Job-Work, beiiis* now and of the latest styles, we feel confident that satisfaction canbe given . From the Logan (CMno) Oazeite. I>E UNITED STATES HOTEL. BY ONE OB BE BOARDAHS. I’d took rooms for de season—Fs cuttin ’ qui t.e a swell—--I*B stopping at a tavern —de United States j Holed.: Old Uncle Sam's de landlord —we eat and drink our fill— Amide wisdom ob de measure is, dar’s nuffin for de bill? Oh, Darkey, De white trash can’t afford To take rooms at de taveni Whar de cullud entry bo.;rd. De "possum it wus lubly—but vre’ve better dat; J>e hoe cake’it was ’rirficent, de raccoon sweet I find fat--Unt "possum "coon and hoe-cake!—l bid you j all farewell! You wouldn’t suit de "siety at Uncle Sam’s Hotel, Oh, Hi O Dinkum Darkey, Oh, don’t yon hear de bell? It’s ringin’ for d«* l»o irdah*? At Uncle Sam«/s> Hotel. Aud don’t you know de boardahs?—de accom plished Dinah Crow — De scrusbinatin Pompvy, and the gallant I Mist ah Snow— And all ob de "born equals,” no matter where , dey dwell. Arc goin* to be boardahs at Uncle Sam’s Hotel j Oh, Hi O Dinkum Darkey, Oh berry sure 1 am De best of all de taverns Is kept, by Uncle Sam. De seruahinatin Pornpcy when he sitff down to diue, Just hear him call dc waitali, to fotch along the wiuel Aud see the little white boys a helpin Mistah! Snow And bringing chickens to de lubly Dinah Grow Oh, Hi O Dinkum Darkey! t I*B Cuttin quite a swell, I’stook rooms at a tavern—iiDe United Suites Hotel. H’»<niighty big old tavern, dat United States Jjotel! It has sixty thousand hoardahs, and it 'commo- | dates "eru wellIt has room for all Dixei. an’ I 'sped they’ll i _ all be.here, Wid dar wives aud pickininnies, ’fore de end in’ ob de year. Oh, hi O Diakum Darkev, We have no bills to pay, Dey charge ’em to de white trash, 1 Bear the lanlord say. ,0» take de mattock, white man!—de ehubbel !h rod de spade— Wc boardads hah no work to do, we all hab i quit de .trade! BuVfore ypu,pay de hoahd bills, you’ll hab to tag snß sweat. And'wish you wasn't white trash a thousand l imes I 'll, bet! Oh, HiD.pUikum Darkey, Ob. <k>u't you bear de bell! Its ringing for de boardahs At Uncle Sam's Hotel! it would bu difficult to get hold of any- j thing more decidedly Hibernian than the t reusfa-k of an Irish editor in speaking ofj of tbe troubles of Ire'“ad, who says; “Her cu[jl of misery has been for ages overflowing, and is not yet ful ; .” What is the difference between a drummer boy and a pound of meat? One weighs a pound, apd the other pounds aw&y.

DECATUR, ADAMS COUNTY, INDIANA JULY 10, 186&

‘‘The Constitution as it is, and the Union as it was.*’ MASS CONVENTION. OF THE UNION DEMOCRACY AND CONSERVATIVE CITIZENS OFINDIANA. ITO CONSIDER THE CRISIS OF THE COUNTRY. I In compliance with the generally ex pressed wish o( the Democracy of Indi ana, the true friends of Constitutional Liberty, the Democratic State Central i Committee invite the people of the State, without regard to past parly affiliations, who desire to “preserves the Constitution as it is and the Union as it was,” to meet in Mass Convention at ‘lndianapolis, on Wednesday, the 50th of July. Tha object is assembling the peopl j at this lime is to take into con si Oration the new issues which have recently been forced upon the country by the party in power—measures which have no warrant iin the Constitution, and which are opposed to the spirit and purposes of our 1 institutions: white, in the language of President Polk, “war exists,” to insist that iis pros-cution shall be confined to the policy solemnly set forth by Congress in July, 1861, that it is ‘ not waged in tlie spirit of conquest or subjugation, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or institutions of the Slates; but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution,’and to preserve the Union with all the digrti ly,equality aud rights of the several Slates unimpaired,” and to assure the Administration that a generous support will be given it, as the representative of tbe Government, in all necessary, prompt and vigorous measures to overthrow armed rebellion against the Union, to sustain its legitimate authority and crush out i Abolitionism, which is equally hostile to the Constitution and Secessionist!!. The Committee are impressed with the necessity of the people assembling en masse at the time proposed, for the fol- ; ; lowing reasons; 1. The Administration, Congress "nd a recently so called “Union” Convention held in this State, have failed to announce what are the legitimate and appropriate means to put down the rebellion, and one and all have refused to even censure, much less condemn, the disunion schemes of the Abolitionists. 2. The so-called Republican Union Conv ntion failed to repudiate the gross j 'lauds and corruptions proven upon the ! party in power by Congressional Invasti- ! gating Committees of its own appointm nt. 3 Congress ha* adopted measures, such ■ as the abolition of slavery in the District lof Columbia, which, if constitutional, are ill timed and unnecessary, and caleula'ed to create distrust in the minds of the loyal Ici izens of the border slave States, and the country generally, as to tbe designs of the Administration. 4. It has proposed to tax tbe people of the whole Union to pRy for the slaves that States may see proper to emancipate, ! thus throwing additional burdens upon | this productive industry of tbe non-slave-! holding States, at a time, too, when ev-, | erv interest is called upon to contribute! all in its power the means necessary for ; the prosecution of the war. 6. It has encouraged wild schemes of negro philanthropy; esteblishing free, schools for the education of the blacks, supporting runaway negroes in idleness, and in agricultural experiments with negro labor, all at the expense of the peo--1 pie. 6. And in proposing and adoptiug general schemes of emancipation and confiscation, in clear violation and derogation of the Constitution, inconsistent with the declared policy of the Government sol- 1 . emnly set forth by Congress in July, 18- i 61, aeainst the dictates of humanity and sound political economy, thereby ‘impairing the dignity, equality and rights of the I several States.’ In order that the people, the source of power in ail constitutional government, i who sincerely desire to perpetuate the U-l nion, as founded and administered by I our patriotic fathers, may have tha opportunity to condemn these unconstitu- ! lional measures; to expresi their aympa-t thy and their determination to support the Administration in every legitimate ■ effort to crush out treason ‘wherever it i may rear its head,’ to ‘defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution,’ ' and to uphold the rights and institutions of all the States unimpaired; to say to : those in authority, the servants of the ' people, what are the legitimate and appropriate means to put down this rebel!- | ion; to condemn fraud and corruption, | j and all unconstitutional, illigitimate and ! unnecessary measures, calculated to weaken instead of strengthening a lova and respect for the Union; to restore a wise, !jtnt, pure, equal and beneficent administration of the Government, such as tbe

“Our Country’s Good shall e/er beour Aim—Willing to Praise and not afraid to Blame.”

people desire; and to renew the pledge made by the last Democratic State Convention in behalf of the Democracy of Indiana, ‘That we will sustain, with all our energies, a war for the maintenance of the Constitution, and of the integrity of the Union under tbe Constitution: but we are opposed to a war lor the emancipation of the negroes, or the subjugation • f the Southern States,’ the Democratic State Central Committee, now ask them to assemble in mass convention. All who desire to see the Stars and the Stripes float over every inch of American soil in liberty, fraternity and equaii'.y; all who insist that the Government shall have a fixed po'icy in the ■ prosecution of the war, known to the whole country; all wno sympathise with the 60,000 sons of Indiana who have volunteered and are in the fi< Id to defend and maintain the Constitution and the Union, land who wish to see them relieved from their arduous duties and exposure of health and life in defense thereof, by a prompt suppression of the rebellion and the restoration of the Union not only in name but in essence; all who wish to pre- . serve constitutional liberty and the integ- ■ rit" of the Government under the Constit tlion, are invited to attend the proposed , Convention and co-operate iu the attainment of these objects. While the gallant and patriotic Union , men of Kentucky, and other border slave i States, have devoted their efforts to pre- ■ serve the Government as our fathers made ic. will not the citizens of lodiana aid, by their counsels aDd their votes, these patriotic citizens in repelling and rolling back the tide of Southern and Northern treason to the Constitution and ihe Un- ; ion? For such a purpose we should assemble, and for such a purpose we alto’d, as we do, invite the co operation of all good citizens. Eminent speakers, true and tried patriots, from adjoining States, have been invited and may be expected to address the Convention upon the momentous issues of the day. ] By order of the Central Committee. GEORGE McOUAT, Chairman. !■ — , From the American Agriculturist. Breadth. Condition, and Prospects of the Growing Crops in 24 States and Territories. Gathered from 1,557 Reports. Winter Wheut promised, on June 10th, well in all the great wheet region of the | West, and below an average only in NewEngland and Kentucky. We have reports of injuries to the crops by rust, and insects, or bv both, fr m a few counties in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and lowa, but iu few cases only ate they vary serious. 1 Spring Wheat lias been affected quite unfavorapiy by the oold rains, frosts and drouths. Indian corn. — Our great staple, upon which also depend the beef and pork product, is, we regret to say, a little “under the weather yet still June settles the fact .i of the crop, and that was only one-third passed when our reports were made out, and the season besides was nearly 10 days backward. Rye. following in the wake of careless wleit farming, is chiefly reported upon in the older States, and hardly comes up j to average promise. Oats almost everywhere have been seriously affected by the unfavorable weather of all kinds—planted late, they have s flared equally from to 1 aid drouth j where they prevailed. Hay —Tiie grass crop seems to have sustained itself well—no where below average in promise except in Michigan, New England, and N. Y. Potatoes promise decidedly better titan common, except perhaps in thejfar West. Fruit .—The apple crop has suffered considerably, but not enough to reduce the crop to avarßge, or near it; and the peach crop still promises exceedingly well. The General Average is about 3 per i cent lower than last month—tha footing i being 12,2. The arerago prospects of farm crops (exclusive of fiuit) is a little j above average, viz: 10,3 which is very) i gratifying. 1 Burnside and the Fisherman. —Gen.' Burnside was recently sailing outside Fort Macon in a yacht, when he encoun- ! - tered an old fisherman. “What news?" inquired tho General. I “Well,” answered the fisherman, ’ “They do say old Burnside is down here,' ! sword in hand giving ’em—.” “Do you kn ;w Buruside?” he asked, j “No.” was the response; “but I should li* ito see him. I should know him if I w. re to sea him, for I have seen his picture.” The General removed his hat, displaying his bald head. “Hallowl” exrlamed the fisherman, I you are the old fell* w himself, ain.t yor? You look iust like the picture Sam. i ’Thompson brought down from Hatters. How are you General? I’m glad to Bee* ** you.

i ANOTHER FIGHT BEFORE RlGli- ’ MOND ON MONDAY. I OUR FORCES OUT NUMBERED AND ’ COMPELLED TO RETREAT. F t They Full Buck Seventeen .Miles —The Guubotits Save the Army—We Take J two Thousand prisoners, Including J Gen. Mngruder. Fobtress Monroe, July I.—A gunboat 1 has just arrived here Irom the scene of . action yesterday, ten miles above City . Poiut. J That division of our army has - been fighting four days and retro ted a- ■ brut seventeen miles. The flight of yes , lerday was most terrific, the enemy havi ing two or three to our one. The battle commenced with our land | forces, and after about four hours fight - ; ing, our gunboats got iu range and pouri ed into the rebels a heavy and incessant f i fire. This fire the rebels stood about two , hours, and then retreated | Our troops have captured, ootwiihstan- , ding their disadvantage, a large number . of artillery pieces and 2,0u0 prisoners, a- . mong whom is the rebel Gan Magruder. The place where tbe action took place i is near Turkey. Creek. . j The retreat of the enemy last evening 1 was with great disorder, and their loss , has been very heavy — much greater, it is , thought, than ours. Still, t have noth- . ing def nite in regard to losses. , In the retreat many of our siok ar.d , wounded were nectssarly lelt behind.— . There are, of course, innumerable reports , and rumors hers, but I send jou only i wi at appears to be authentic. New Yore, July 3.—The Tribune’s . correspondence, after stating we were outnumbered by the rebels, iudulges in | the following: “When loyal New York regiments, . lifted from their feet by the fire of rebel i brigades, cry out of their wounds and i death for help—when the choicest of New . England and Michigan and Pennsylvania troops, outnumbered in front and on both flanks by whole divisions of the enemy, beg for re-enforcements—l say that the blackest crime that power can commit, is to stalk upon the field of peril and say: ; 'Soldiers, I have no faith in your commander, let your martyrdom proceed.’ And so says this army of the Potomac, and it registers to-night vows of vengeance, as it marches in the da k from a ' position which, their diminished numbers : disabled them from bolding, but which is consecrated to them forever by their suf- ' ferings, their labors an 1 their wrongs. The politicians and statesmen who left us 1 here to be outnumbered, and cut off Irom • our supplies and the possibility of retreat aie doomed men.” New York, July 3.—The Times has detailed reports of the battles of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from which it 1 appears that the right wing of our array, ' about 20,000 men, was attacked, Friday, bv a rebel force not less than 50,000, and 1 after a gallant fight, our troops crossed I the Chickahominy in order. 1 On Saturday night, and Sunday our 1 whole left wing, under Hein'zelman, Keys and Sumner, fell back along the line ol ' the railroad and th Williamsburg road, 1 j and marched to the James r ver. >j The Rebels crossed the Chickahominy i in great force, on Sunday, reaching the 1 j railroad, but made no pursuit, remaining, ' however, in possession of ground previ--1 ously occupied by our troops, on both 1 sides ol the Chickahominy, including the bridges and earthworks that we had erected against their approach. All our stores, &c., were withdrawn in good order, without much loss. Os course there was tremendous fighting 1 1 during these movements, and heavy 'oss 1 on both sides. New York, J illy 3.—The Times eor- 1 respondent states that McClellan established his headquarters on Monday on ! Malvern Hills, one mile back of Turkey Island Bend. j At two o'clock on M6nday afternoon . Gr ing was h ard for two hours in the di- I rection of White Oak Swemp, where Avj res was holding the rebels in check, who I were attempting to cross. An immense force of rebel artillery and | cavalry, fresh from Richmond, then appeared on our left, when Porter’s and Keyes’ commands went to resist the ene. I my. A most terrific fight ensued, and it be■came evident that the overpowering force of the rebels was gaining, when the gun- ’ boats Galena and Aristook opened with ; their 54 pounders upon the traitors. The fight continued till dark, diminishing away into occasional musket' shots. About 10 o’clock in the evening. Prince de Joinville, Due de Chatres and Count de Paris left headquarters, embarking aboard the gunboat Jacob Bell, wi'h official dispatches from Gen McClellan to j the Government. Gen. McClellan aecompained them to tbe boats, and bade them a final adieu. ; When the Jacob Bel! left, all was quiet along the river.

Several steamers and transports were passed going up the James river , ADDITIONAL I) ETA I MS. Graphic Particulars of the Events of , Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. ; On Board Gunboat Stepping-SCones,) | .1 AMR-. River, Monday, June 3). ( , The right wing of our army has at f length been attacked by the enemy—an event which was not wholly unanticipated f by ns. For several days previous to the attack, preparations were being made by the right wing to resist, if possible, to . some extent, any advance movement of the tebels frim the direction of Hanover I or Mectianicsville; but the extent of the . preparations were not sufficient to justify . I the belief that a vigorous stand was to , be made on the west side of the Chickaj hominy. At the time the enemy first made their . I appearance to onr pickets on the right, , which was on the 26th, our force at Me* chanicsville consisted of the Eight Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Farnsworth; six , companies of the Bucktail regiment, tinder command of Major Stone, and five , companies of Pennsylvania Reserves.— The force was distributed about the town. , also on the road leading to Richmond, ’he read leading to Ashland, and the road leading to Hanover. The videtles I were keeping special watch on the Hanover road. , 1 The Pennsylvania Reserves were guar- , ding the Richmond road, and having received timely information of the near ap , proach of the en;my, returned to oamp , | before the rebels could get between them and it. Ir was fortunate for Gen. MeI Call that h • had the assistance o f the five companies later in the day. They performed their part gallantly, and defended the rifle pits to the last moment. At 10 A. M. on Thursday, the 26th, videttes on the Hsnover road came into Mechanicsville with the intelligence that the enemy was approaching the town from the direction of Hanover. Three companies of the Buckiail Regiment im- . mediately moved out to a distance of 1£ miles on the road indicated, in order to support the pickets alteady there. The strength of the enemy was not then kno’n, neither could it be ascertained that he in- , tpnded auything beyond a reconnoissance. No sooner bad 'he re-enforcements ; reached their destination than it was discovered that the rebels were advancing in considerable force from the direction ; of Hanover, they evidently having crossed the ra Iroad at Meadow Bridge. The design of the rebels to turn our right could not now be doubled, and as it was i clear that our small force would be insufficient to meet the attack. Gen Reynolds 1 sent back to General McCall (or re-en- ' forcements. Meantime, and before the re-ettforce- | ments could arrive, the enemy had pushed iteadily onward, and was fast closing in upon Major Stone’s force. The small | command, however, was drawn up in i ; line, leady to receive the rebela, and was t j determined to do its utmost, even if it' ! lost the life of every man. The cavalry j took their position in the rear of the inI fantry, and remaiued at their posts until it was evident that the superior number) of the rebels would ultimately drive u«, when ‘bey retired further to the rear, but still within supporting distance of the infantry. Onward came the rebel columns) ‘ and firmly stood our small force to com- ! bat them. When the rebels had ap- 1 proaehed within rifle distance, Maj Stone i gave the command to fire, and a volley was poured into the enemy’s ranks which i told with terrible effect. At thiv fire a J rebel Major was seen to fall. The enemy returned the fire, and pushed his cavalry to our right, in order to surround our men. They at last succeeded in getting round to the rear, which circumstance placed our men in an ex ceedingly critical position. Major Stone, obierving the importance of immedi .ta action, rode up t > his men, and shouted. “Shall we fight or surrender?” "Fightl” was the hearty response of the Bucktails; and alter giv ng one more volley to the ; rebels in front, wheeled, charged through the cavalry in the rear, and gained a piece of wood*, where thev took temporary refuge. Here t‘ ey were again surrounded. and again they cut their wav through the rebel cavalry, and proceeded in a direction toward General McCall’s camp. Company K and a portion of company C, who were on picket duty on the Ashi land r'-’sd, were too far distant to join ! theif comrades in season to make a retreat with them. I’ is feared that this portion of the Bucktails were captured by the rebels, as nothing has been heard i Tom them since tbe commencement of | the fight. j There are two roads leading into Mechanicsville Irom tbe west side. The | one nearest Hanover we will designate) aa the upper road, and the other ss the i lower road. The object of our men was

1 I ——— tlto fall back on the upper road, but the rebels having got possession of the road on the right, our men were compelled to take to the fields and woods. G ii. McCall,s Division was upon the ground and drew up in line of battle on i the west side of a small stream over which the lower road crosses. A part of j the lorce was placed on the right and a part on the left of the road. The stream ; referred to is about one mile from Mechanicsville. The firat and Second Brig- } ades of Gen. Morell’s Diviamh, the former under command of Gen. Martindafe, and the latter under command of General ' Griffin, also arrived upon the ground and j took positions at the right and left of the main road leading to the White House, r near the junction of the upper Mechanics- ! villa rrmd. o**n Mnrtindul»» ndvaemori t»> the right us the main rond, in a direction ’ toward a place called Old Church, Gen. Griffin occupied the woods at the left, and supported the right of MeCall’s Division. ’ The space between the Phickahomiwy and the lower road, the small stream and the upper road, and opeo field lor some ‘ distance on the right of the upper road, formed our line of defense. The left was ' held by McCall’s Divition, including the Bucktails that fell back from Mechanicsvi Me, the een er by Gen Griffin’s Brigade, snd the right by General Martindale’s Brigade. We had rifle pit on 1 each side of the lines, and e short distance from the stream. E ston’s Pennsylvania Bat ery occupied : positions at the rear of the rifle pits, so as to command the lower road. The other batteries of McCall’s Division were 1 placed at different points along the left of 1 the line. We also had two batteries, of six pieces eac:, to protect the right een--1 ter. It was nearly dark before our line was formed and the battle had commenced in ) earnest. ihe Battle was principally between artillerists, although late in t! e 1 evening the rebels attempted to turn our ‘ right, and were lepulsed with a severe lots. The pieces used on both sides were of 10 and 12 pound ca iber, the range being too a' on for gun - carrvmg heavier r metal. When the enga’ement had real--1 ly commenced, and all the guns were in 1 practice, it seemed as though both ar--1 rates were destined to immediate annihilation, so terrific and deafening was the sound. The very earth seemed to quiv--1 er, and at times the whole heavens would be lighted up with a red glare. This was the first night engagement of any consequence that had taken rlace sinre the army arrived on the Peninsula. The firing continued rapidly and earnestly until about 8 o'clock, without any apparent advantage being gained by either side. The rebels, for the most part, fired over, our men suffered hut little from their shells. The shells fired from our guns appeared to explode directly over the heads of the rebels, snd we have reason to believe tlmt they did not escape without a heavy loss from that cause alone. At about 7 o'c'oek, the enemy attempted to brtak ou center. To accomplish this, he mads most vigorous efforts, hut was boldly and successfully met bv Gen. Griffin, who arranged his men in excellent order and enc uraged them bv his ’ presence and daring. The Fourth Michigan, Col, Woodburv, and the Fourteenth New York, Col. M'Quade, especially distinguished themselves fir the msnv brilliant and prompt mov ments thev made. T' e Ninth Massachusetts and ■Sixty second Pennsylvania are also deserting of much credit for the successful . mat.nar in which thev repelled the enemy’s charge. | \\ o did not have the advantage of the rebels in pisition. Their right rested in a piece of woods, and noon an eminenre: which 'vas admirably adapted for artillery I practice, knowing which they brought tobear a large number of guns from that point. The remainder of the line extended for the most part along the edge of the woods. The enemv had batteries sts- ! tioned at different points of the line, the number of their guns equaling if not exceeding that of our own The First Brigade ('General Martindale) proceeded through a field at the extrems right of the line, in order to repel any demonstration of the rebels thet might be made in that quarter. They had not advanced far befo e the rebel skirmishers were discovered prowling in the woods directly in front, and soon after the enemv began to appear in considerable force all along th- right of the line. General Martindalc quickly dispoaed his force, snd prepared to give the rebels a most severe drubbing should thev attempt to turn the right. The artiller-c was then brought into action, and did good service iu shelling the woods No attempt was made bv the enemv at the 1 time to push forward, and General Martindale having become c mvinced of the much superior foice of the enemv, did ! not consider it prudent to do anything more than hold bis position. CONTINUED ON SECOND PAG*.

NO 23.