GENERAL BEAUREGARD TO THE TROOPS.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH-CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, CHARLESTON, S. C., April 10. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 55.

The Commanding General is gratified to have to announce to the troops the following joint resolutions unanimously adopted by the Legislature of the State of South-Carolina :

"Resolved, That the General Assembly reposes unbounded confidence in the ability and skill of the Commanding General of this department, and the courage and patriotism of his brave soldiers, with the blessing of God, to defend our beloved city and to beat back our vindictive foes.

"Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be instructed to communicate this resolution to General Beauregard."

looking seaward, and the second across the harbor; and Fort Moultrie, Battery Bee, and Battery Beauregard, on Sullivan's Island. Looking out to sea from Charleston, Morris Island is on the extreme right, and Sullivan's Island on the extreme left.

After various changes of position, the whole iron-clad fleet advanced to the attack at two o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the seventh, in the following order: The first line consisted of four monitors, the Passaic supposed to be in the lead, with the so-called “ Devil" (a nondescript machine for removing torpedoes) attached to her prow. The second line also consisted of four monitors, the double-turret Keokuk lying on the right. The Ironsides, with Admiral Ďu Pont on board, held position about equidistant between

the two lines and near the centre. The wooden Soldiers! the eyes of your countrymen are now vessels outside moved closer in, and during the turned upon you on the eve of the second anni-action remained silent spectators of the conflict. versary of the thirteenth of April, 1861, when the sovereignty of the State of South-Carolina was triumphantly vindicated within the harbor which we are now to defend. The happy issue of the action on the seventh instant-the stranded, riddled wreck of the iron-mailed Keokuk, her baffled coadjutors forced to retire behind the range of our guns, have inspired confidence in the country that our ultimate success will be complete. An inestimably precious charge has been confided to your keeping, with every reliance on your manhood and enduring patriotism.

By command of
THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff.

General BEAUREGARD.

Official JOHN M. OTEY, A.A.G.

MOBILE "REGISTER" ACCOUNT.

CHARLESTON, April 8.

A visit to Fort Sumter to-day enables me to present to your readers a more correct account of the late engagement in front of Charleston than the one already sent to you, and which was prepared the night succeeding the attack, when but few of the facts had been definitely ascertained. In order to give a full understanding of the affair, it may be necessary to begin the narrative with the first appearance of the Federal armada in this vicinity.

At half-past ten o'clock, Sunday morning, the fifth instant, it was reported at Fort Sumter that twenty-seven vessels were visible just outside the bar, one of which was the Ironsides, and four were monitors or turreted iron-clads. On the morning of the sixteenth, (Monday,) as the fog lifted, it was discovered that the Ironsides, eight monitors, and a large number of other vessels were in sight, the Ironsides having already crossed the bar and come to anchor off Morris Island. An infantry force, variously estimated at from three thousand to six thousand, was landed on Coles's Island, off the mouth of Stono River, during Sunday night.

But before proceeding further, it may be well to restate the names of the forts and batteries that participated in the fight. They are Fort Sumter in the harbor, Fort Wagner and Cumming's Point Battery on Morris Island, the first

At half-past two o'clock the long-roll was beat in Sumter. The garrison answered promptly with a shout, and rushed immediately to battery. The garrison, palmetto, and regimental flags were now hoisted, and saluted by order of Col. Rhett with thirteen guns-thus announcing to the enemy, that though the Fort might be battered down, the confederate colors would be kept flying as long as a gun was left standing and there was a man to fire it. Admiral Du Pont had said that he would reduce the Fort in three hours, and this defiance was hurled in his teeth in answer to his unseemly boasts.

About three o'clock the fight was opened by Fort Moultrie firing a shot. Three minutes later the barbette guns on the east face of Sumter, commanded by Captain D. G. Fleming, were fired by battery, with a report that brought all Charleston to the promenade-battery and to the housetops to witness the imposing spectacle. Two minutes later the Passaic returned the compliment with two guns fired almost simultaneously. The fight thus opened soon became general. The Passaic swept around in an elliptic course in front of the east face of the Fort, delivering her fire as she passed the closest range into which she came being estimated at seven hundred yards. Her turret and hull were struck several times, and with damaging effect. After receiving the concentrated fire of the Fort for thirty minutes, she rounded off and fired but few shot afterward, and soon moved out of range.

The three other vessels of the first line came up successively, and after remaining under fire about the same length of time, rounded off also at nearly the same point as the Passaic, and took but little part in the action afterward. The Passaic being armed with the nondescript machine for the removal of torpedoes supposed to have been sunk by the confederates, she was put forward and required to make the fiery passage first, whilst the other vessels followed as nearly in her track as possible. After passing round, they took up their positions at a distance of from one thousand one hundred to one thousand five hundred yards, where they kept up their fire until the whole fleet withdrew.

The monitors in the first line having delivered in great volumes. She immediately retired, and their fire, the Ironsides now moved up and be- in her haste left behind the Yankee "Devil" atcame the object of attention. She is a huge mon-tached to her prow, which now lies stranded on ster, carrying twelve heavy guns, and protected Morris Island beach, to be seen by all men. As by an iron mail, but having no turrets. She first Monsieur Du Pont could not send our brave boys delivered a broadside of six guns, and afterward to the devil in three hours, as he threatened to fired single guns only. Three square bolts fired do, he compromised the matter, I suppose, by from Sumter were seen to enter her side, (above sending the devil to them. the short ribs,) while one from Fort Wagner penetrated her stern, when she immediately steamed off to a distance of one thousand eight hundred yards, from which point she kept up an irregular fire until half-past four, at which hour she moved off out of range, considerably injured.

As soon as the Ironsides had turned off, the second line advanced, and, passing under the stern of the Ironsides, came into action. The Keokuk steamed up gallantly in the track of the first line, and coming bow on, engaged our batteries at about nine hundred yards. She is provided with two stationary turrets, each turret having three port-holes. It was manifest from the manner of her advance, that her officer felt confident of her power, and expected to accomplish great things. Seeing this, Colonel Rhett requested Lieut.-Colonel Yates, an accomplished artillerist, to take charge of one of the Brooke guns, and pay his respects to the saucy iron-clad. This gun-the invention of a gallant officer in our navy, from whom it takes its name is ribbed, and carries a square-headed bolt weighing one hundred and nineteen pounds. Colonel Yates's first shot entered a port of the turret, and doubtless knocked over the gun. The second shot struck just above the port-hole, and passed through the turret. The third shot smashed in the pilot-house, which is just above the turret; and the fourth hit her hull, abaft of midships, tearing up the iron-plated deck, and making an ugly hole. The Keokuk was struck repeatedly afterward by other guns, one of which carried away her bow, while her smoke-stack and hull were completely riddled. She fired but one shot after Colonel Yates opened upon her. She managed to get away after being under our concentrated fire for nearly forty minutes, and now lies a perfect wreck off Morris Island, where her smoke-stack and one of her turrets are still visible. Portions of her furniture, including a bureau, spy-glass and other articles, have washed ashore on the beach and been secured. The firing of Colonel Yates, who is as modest as he is brave, was superb.

The other monitors of the same line had, meanwhile, come into action. They delivered their fire and rounded off at the same point as those of the first line, and finally the whole fleet ceased firing and retired badly beaten, at halfpast five o'clock.

Our fire was concentrated upon the leading vessel (the Passaic) about thirty minutes. Her smoke-stack received seven shots, and several severe impressions were made upon the turret. A bolt from a Brooke gun struck her forward deek vinning up the armor and making an openwhich the steam was seen to issue l

The second vessel had a pennon flying-probably the Commodore's. She did not remain under fire as long as the first; yet her pennon was shot away, her smoke-stack riddled, and her turret and hull badly marked. Several roundshot were seen to strike and lodge in the iron plating of the hull.

She drew off at forty-five minutes after three o'clock. The other monitors did not appear to be so badly injured, except the Keokuk, though all of them received more or less damage. None of them remained longer under fire than from fifteen to twenty minutes; it was too hot for them. The smoke-stacks of all of them are vulnerable.

The east face of Fort Sumter was struck about forty times by fifteen-inch shell and eleven-inch solid shot, at a distance of from nine hundred to one thousand eight hundred yards, and yet it is in quite as good condition as before the attack. One gun was dismounted and one bursted, and five men were wounded, all of whom are doing well. Lieut.-Colonel Yates having reported for duty the morning of the battle, was assigned to the special command of the parapet batteries. Major O. Blunding was assigned to the special command of the casemate batteries. All officers and men in Sumter as well as in the other forts and batteries behaved with great gallantry. It was a proud day for Charleston and the Carolinians. It was a remarkable coïncidence that General Beauregard and General Ripley, and other officers and men, who conducted the assault which resulted in the destruction of Fort Sumter nearly two years ago, should now be present aiding and assisting in its successful defence.

I have been unable to obtain the details of the part taken by the other forts and batteries which participated in the action. Let it suffice for the present to say, that they all did well, and aided materially in the repulse of the enemy's attack, which was directed chiefly against Sumter.

There are now only six iron-clads and the Ironsides in sight at sunset this evening. A renewal of the attack is looked for at an early day, perhaps to-morrow.

A confederate vessel passed right through the blockading fleet last night, and went to sea. The Federals were too much occupied with their bruises, and dilapidated condition generally, to notice a mere blockade-runner.

Doc. 159.

ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, RICHMOND, April 10, 1868. In compliance with the request of Congress,

contained in the resolutions passed on the fourth Mississippi still bid defiance to the foe, and day of the present month, I invoke your atten- months of costly preparation for their reduction tion to the present condition and future prospects have been spent in vain. Disaster has been the of our country, and to the duties which patriot-result of their every effort to turn or storm ism imposes on us all during this great struggle | Vicksburgh and Port Hudson, as well as every for our homes and our liberties. These resolu- attack on our batteries on the Red River, the tions are in the following language:

[Here follow the resolutions passed by the confederate Congress, requesting Mr. Davis to issue an address.]

Fully concurring in the views thus expressed by Congress, I confidently appeal to your love of country for aid in carrying into effect the recommendations of your Senators and Representatives.

Tallahatchie, and other navigable streams. Within a few weeks the falling waters and the increasing heats of summer will complete their discomfiture, and compel their baffled and defeated forces to the abandonment of expeditions on which was based their chief hope of success in effecting our subjugation.

We must not forget, however, that the war is not yet ended, and that we are still confronted We have reached the close of the second year by powerful armies and threatened by numerous of the war, and may point with just pride to the fleets, and that the Government that controls history of our young Confederacy. Alone, un-those fleets and armies is driven to the most desaided, we have met and overthrown the most for- perate efforts to effect the unholy purposes in midable combinations of naval and military arma- which it has thus far been defeated. It will use ments that the lust of conquest ever gathered its utmost energy to avert this impending doom, together for the conquest of a free people. We so fully merited by the atrocities it has commitbegan this struggle without a single gun afloat, ted, the savage barbarities which it has encourwhile the resources of our enemy enabled them aged, and the crowning attempt to excite a servile to gather fleets which, according to their official population to the massacre of our wives, our list, published in August last, consisted of four daughters and our helpless children. hundred and thirty-seven vessels, measuring eight With such a contest before us, there is but one hundred and forty thousand and eighty-six tons, danger which the government of your choice reand carrying three thousand and twenty-six guns; gards with apprehension; and to avert this danyet we have captured, sunk, or destroyed a num-ger it appeals to the never-failing patriotism and ber of these vessels, including two large frigates spirit which you have exhibited since the beginand one steam sloop-of-war, while four of their ning of the war. captured steam-gunboats are now in our possession, adding to the strength of our little navy, which is rapidly gaining in numbers and efficiency.

The very unfavorable season, the protracted droughts of last year, reduced the harvests on which we depend far below an average yield, and the deficiency was, unfortunately, still more markTo oppose invading forces composed of levies ed in the northern part of our Confederacy, where which have already exceeded thirteen hundred supplies were specially needed for the army. If, thousand men, we had no resources but the un-through a confidence in an early peace, which conquerable valor of a people determined to be free; and we were so destitute of military supplies that tens of thousands of our citizens were reluctantly refused admission into the service from our inability to furnish them arms, while for many months the continuation of some of our strongholds owed their safety chiefly to a careful concealment of the fact that we were without a supply of powder for our cannon.

Your devotion and patriotism have triumphed over all these obstacles, and called into existence the munitions of war, the clothing and the subsistence, which have enabled our soldiers to illustrate their valor on numerous battle-fields, and to inflict crushing defeats on successive armies, each of which our arrogant foe fondly imagined to be invincible.

The contrast between our past and present condition is well calculated to inspire full confidence in the triumph of our arms. At no previous period of the war have our forces been so numerous, so well organized, and so thoroughly disciplined, armed, and equipped as at present. The season of high-water, on which our enemies relied to enable their fleets of gunboats to penetrate into our country and devastate our homes, is fast passing away; yet our strongholds on the

may prove delusive, our fields should now be de-
voted to the production of cotton and tobacco,
instead of grain and live stock, and other articles
necessary for the subsistence of the people and
army, the consequences may prove serious, if not
disastrous, especially should this present season
prove as unfavorable as the last.
Your country,
therefore, appeals to you to lay aside all thought
of gain, and to devote yourselves to securing your
liberties, without which these gains would be
valueless.

It is true that the wheat harvest in the more Southern States, which will be gathered next month, promises an abundant yield; but even if this promise be fulfilled, the difficulties of transportation, enhanced as it has been by an unusually rainy winter, will cause embarrassments in military operations, and sufferings among the people, should the crops in the middle and northern portions of the Confederacy prove deficient. But no uneasiness may be felt in regard to a mere supply of bread for men. It is for the large amount of corn and forage required in the raising of live stock, and the supplies of the animals used for military operations, too bulky for distant transportation; and in them the deficiency of the last harvest was mostly felt. Let your fields be

The Secretary of War has prepared a plan, which is appended to this address, by the aid of which, or some similar means to be adopted by benefit of our brave defenders now in the army, 5. As this appeal is made to the people for the yourselves, you can assist the officers of the the department relies with confidence on the pagovernment in the purchase of the corn, the bacon, the pork, and the beef known to exist in triotism of the people, that no more than just large quantities in different parts of the country. compensation would be fixed by the committees, Even if the surplus be less than believed, is it to aid their country, and not to make undue nor accepted by those whose chief motive will be not a bitter and humiliating reflection that those who remain at home, secure from hardship, and protected from danger, should be in the enjoyment of abundance, and that their slaves also should have a full supply of food, while their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers, are stinted in the rations on which their health and efficiency depend?

effect, literally strewing the ground with men and horses. I had halted Stanley four miles out on the Murfreesboro road. He at once crossed his forces over at Heights's Mills, vigorously attacking Forrest's divisions, moving down on the Lew-order was not obeyed. My messenger in a few isburgh pike, capturing six pieces of artillery and minutes informed me that Lieut. Fisher and the some two hundred prisoners; but, owing to the Provost-Marshal, Capt. Avery, of Gen. Granger's unfavorable nature of the country, was unable to staff, refused to send me the company. Comhold them, being attacked by greatly superior pany G, therefore, was not sent out of the town. numbers, outflanked and nearly surrounded. Our With this disposition of my force, and with only loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners is less than seven companies of infantry-less than three hunone hundred, while the enemy's cannot be less dred men-we maintained our lines, of more than than three times that number. They were re- one fourth of a mile in extent, for more than two pulsed on all sides, and driven until darkness hours against vastly superior numbers. Twice prevented the pursuit. Captain McIntyre, of the did they attempt to rout us with their cavalry, Fourth regulars, took the battery and prisoners, and as often were they repulsed with loss. bringing off thirty odd of the latter.