of the exorbitant prices, and rumors of a popular movement had been in circulation for several days. Females had begged in the streets and at the stores until begging did no good, and many had been driven to robbery to sustain life. On the morning of the second instant, a large meeting, composed principally of the wives and daughters of the working classes, was held in the African church, and a committee appointed to wait upon the Governor to request that articles of food should be sold at government rates. After the passage of sundry resolutions the meeting adjourned, and the committee proceeded to wait upon Governor Letcher. That functionary declined to take any steps in the matter, and upon urging the case the ladies were peremptorily ordered to withdraw. The result of the interview was soon made public, when a body of females, numbering about three hundred, collected together and commenced helping themselves to bread, flour, meat, articles of clothing, etc. The entire city was at once thrown into consternation. Stores were closed, the windows barred, doors bolted, and every precaution taken against forcible entries; but hatchets and axes in the hands of women rendered desperate by hunger made quick work, and building after building was rapidly broken open. The destruction commenced on Carey street, above Fifteenth street, and was becoming general in that section of the city, when the City Guard, with fixed bayonets, arrived at the scene of operations. A few individuals attempted to resist the women, but without success. One man who struck a female was wounded in the shoulder by a shot from a revolver, and the threatening attitude of those armed with hatchets, etc., intimidated others from attempting force. The Mayor soon appeared, and, mounting a stool on the sidewalk, proceeded to read the riot act. During the reading of that document a portion of the crowd suspended operations, but no sooner had the Mayor concluded than the seizure of provisions commenced again more vigorously than before. At this juncture an attempt was made to arrest the more violent; but the party immediately scattered, and, entering Main street, resumed operations. daily increasing. Another uprising is feared, and Troops are being hurried up from Richmond to Fredericksburgh. There is still a large force in the vicinity of Richmond; but these, it is believed, are about to leave for the Rappahannock. Fortifications are being thrown up on the Rapidan River, and the force in that section is being augmented. No work is going on upon the defences about Richmond. Two gunboats (iron-clads) are afloat in James River. The Virginia has been trying to get below the obstructions, and now lies near Drury's Bluff. The third is unfinished, but is rapidly approaching completion. The iron works are worked to their utmost in the manufacture of munitions of war; but the iron is of miserable quality, and many of their projectiles contain pieces of stone. The railroads have almost entirely given out, and no material is to be had for their repair. Great despondency prevails, and the events of the next three months are awaited with most absorbing anxiety. REBEL NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT. gone to the country will be counteracted. Happily these daylight burglaries are undergoing judicial investigation. A great part of the stolen goods has been reclaimed. The ringleaders are being arrested; they will be tried and punished. A full account of the affair, from its obscure origin to its disgraceful culmination, will be Governor Letcher then appeared, and, mount-made public, and the exaggerations that have ing a vehicle in the centre of the street, addressed the throng, characterizing the demonstration as a disgrace and a stigma upon the city, and announcing that but five minutes would be given them in which to disperse. If in that time the order was not complied with, the troops would be called upon to act. Again the crowd broke up, and in a few moments burst into the stores on Franklin street. But little damage was done here, however, and the riot finally subsided, but not until after the arrest of about forty of the women, and the promise of the Governor to relieve the wants of the destitute. A large amount of bread and bacon was carried off, and all engaged in the riot succeeded in getting a good supply of provisions. Steps have been taken to provide for the immediate wants of some of the families; but great suffering still prevails and is That there was any just ground for the shameful disturbance of Thursday no one believes. The more it is looked into, the more causeless it appears. Doubtless there is much suffering in the city. But the fund voted the poor was by no means exhausted; the churches were willing and abundantly able to relieve distress; private benevolence had not once been appealed to. No petition, no remonstrance had been made; yet, on a sudden, a hundred or a hundred and fifty well-dressed, plump-cheeked women, led by a virago who is known to have made a fortune by market-gardening, and cheered by a rabble of gamblers and ruffians, who are protected here by the special toleration of the confederate, State and municipal governments that misrule this unhappy city-all of a sudden this throng of courte -Richmond Whig, April 6. Doc. 164. GOVERNOR VANCE'S APPEAL TO THE PLANTERS OF NORTH-CAROLINA. sans and thieves assembles in the Capitol square, confederate government is scared out of its wits organizes, and proceeds to break open stores-because a parcel of women broke open a store to get what, forsooth? Not meat and bread, and stole a pair of shoes? but boots, shoes, silk dresses, tobacco, jewelry, brooms and the like. These the Mayor in his investigation last Friday, suggests pertinently, are not articles of food. But there is a proof more convincing than any yet given of the absurdity and falsehood of the plea, that this row was occasioned by suffering for food or clothing, and that is the fact, substantiated by every housekeeper in the city, that notwithstanding high prices and scarcity of provisions, there have been fewer applications for charity than in any previous winter for many years. The entire absence of beggars at a time like this, and in a city so crowded by idlers as Richmond, is very notable. The writer of this article can testify, that during the whole winter he has encountered but two beggars, one of whom, an obvious impostor, wanted to fight because her veracity was doubted, while the other set upon him with the stunning petition for "a quarter to buy a catechism!" The truth is, this petticoated foray was political in its origin; as the simultaneous disturbances in other cities indicate, and as the evidences before the Mayor will yet prove. THE peculiar calamities which often befall a nation struggling for its existence are about to come upon us in the shape of a scarcity of provisions and a threatened famine. While it is still believed there is enough in the country, if fairly distributed, it is certain there is none to spare, and there is danger that insufficient preparations will be made for the ensuing season, and that a considerable proportion of the labor of the country will be devoted to the production of crops other than breadstuffs. The Legislature having adjourned without taking action to prevent this much dreaded state of things, and it not being deemed expedient to call it together again so early after its adjournment, I have deemed it my duty to address you in this extraordinary manner, praying you of your own will to avert it. And I am confident that the large-hearted patriotism-the wonderful generosity which last year filled to overflowing the storehouses of our quartermasters, in response to my call in behalf of our naked soldiers, has not yet deserted the farmers of North-Carolina. If there be a soul of good in things evil, this ridiculous affair may be turned to account. It ought to put a stop to hoarding, to suppress speculation, to induce producers to bring in supplies, to make the government facilitate transportation, and to clean out the gamblers, loafers, and ruffians, stock, lock, and barrel. Let Con- By universal consent there is allowed to be but gress at once pass a law requiring every man to one danger to our speedy and triumphant success, show that he is engaged in some honest, useful and that is the failure of our provisions. Our calling or else go into the army forthwith. In victorious soldiers now constitute the best army this way the five and twenty gambling-houses in the world. Arms and munitions are abunthat feed every day nearly as many thousand dant. Time and experience have given us adidlers, and thereby run up the price of provisions, mirable leaders, and every thing is prosperous will be swept away. And let our high officials and hopeful except in the fields and work-shops. display a little courage and a little reason. The Every thing depends now upon the industry and people are not afraid of unpleasant truths; why patriotism of the farmer. Now that so many should they be? Let them not attempt impossi- brawny arms which were wont to hold the plough bilities. But the reports in the papers will go have gone into the ranks, unless those still at to the country and encourage other riots. Better home strain every nerve to produce bread, our a correct account in print than a thousand exag- cause may be ruined. gerations from as many tongues and private letters. If the riots occur, put them down; it is easily enough done. But the Yankees will get hold of it. Certainly. What if they do? Let them make the most of it; they are going to do their worst, any way. Better a thousand fold that the Yankees should ply their lying arts with all the aid the disaffected here can give them, than that the people should see that the government of Jefferson Davis is timorous about any thing on earth. The people are manly; so should their government be, and put a bold, calm face on every thing. If any thing could be "kept back," the fate of Ananias should warn us of the folly of attempting it. Have we gotten so deep in the mire of a sneaking, evasive, alternately truckling and bullying policy, as not to be able to turn round and face Yankees and females combined? Or shall it go to the country that the Without bread the soldier has neither strength nor courage. Without bread, the cries of his little ones at home will reach his ears in the distant camps and cast a sickening chill to his heart. No bravery, no skill, nor device, nor human wis dom can cope with that dreaded enemy-Famine. While our brave defenders are facing death upon the field, we at home must sustain and feed them, or in vain will their blood be spilled. Our duties, though less glorious and pretending, are equally as important and well defined. Though not battling with the living and embodied enemies of our country, we are yet in her service, and struggling with a far more dangerous and insidious destroyer. And as the soldier who shirks the conflict and deserts his comrades in the hour of battle, is a coward or a traitor, so equally is he who withholds his hands from the plough, or guides it to the production of those crops which produce money and not bread, though he may not so intend it. The humblest mother in all the land, who, amid the harrowing cries of a helpless family, can find time to plant a few potatoes near her cabin door; the poorest little boy whose infant and unskilled hands may plant a few hills of corn or gather the sheaves of harvest, will each do a more acceptable service in the sight of God and his countrymen, and is worthy of more honor than he who raises one thousand bales of cotton or one hundred hogsheads of tobacco, and ostentatiously devotes a small portion to some "Aid Society." seizures have to be made to arrest starvation, let it be done by county or State agents. Should Providence favor our growing crops, a plenteous harvest will, I trust and believe, greet our gallant soldiers again victorious through another campaign, and bring us to the blessed day of peace and independence. In order that the most effectual means in our power may be speedily and systematically adopted both for the husbanding and distribution of our present supplies, and for securing a large provision crop for the next year, I earnestly recommend that meetings of the farmers and planters of each county and neighborhood of the State be held The bright sunshine again warms and dries the immediately to express their condemnation of earth. We must use it to our salvation, or neg-cotton and tobacco planting, and to devise means lect it to our destruction. Plant, sow, dig and of mutual aid and assistance in the trials of the plough; corn, oats, potatoes-any thing and every coming season. Much good can be done in this thing which will support life. Let every body way, and a wholesome public opinion set forth, take to the fields, where the plough, not the mad-more powerful, perhaps, to steer us past our imdening wheels of artillery, furrow the generous pending dangers than the fines and penalties of a soil. These will prove the real fields of victory statute. and independence. Hundreds of able-bodied young men in our towns and villages-non-producers who, having procured substitutes or exemptions, now idle their time about empty stores or other unprofitable places, should be growing something, and adding to instead of diminishing the general fund. Let none be idle. And above all, my countrymen, let none plant cotton or tobacco. Though the prices are high, and the temptation great, your profits would be made from the blood of brave men and the suffering of helpless women and children. Your children and your childrens' children would reap an abundant and enduring harvest of scorn, and the remembrance of the manner in which your wealth was gained would burn into your conscience to the hour of death. While I thus appeal to you in behalf of the preparations for another year, it is also my duty to speak of the present. Ninety days will bring us to harvest, and I am confident we can reach it without actual suffering, if all parties will do as duty and Christianity prompt. Let all who have to spare divide liberally with those who have not. Sell to the county and State agents when your neighbors are supplied, and do not wait for it to be impressed. Impressed it certainly will be before our armies shall be disorganized by the suffering of their families for the want of that which you can spare, and for which a fair price will be offered you. Allowance your work-hands and your negroes. They are no better than soldiers, who live on half their daily portion. Put your stock in the woods and upon grass the moment they can live upon it, and conscientiously devote the saving to your neighbor's children whose father or brother is fighting your battles. Let the magistrates see that distillation is arrested, by issuing promptly process against every man who dares to waste the precious grains of life in defiance of law. Avoid, above all things, mob violence. Broken laws will give you no bread, but much sorrow; and when forcible Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RALEIGH, April 2, 1863. Doc. 165. FIGHT NEAR PASCAGOULA, MISS. COLONEL DANIELS'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS, SHIP ISLAND, MISS., April 11, 1863. Brigadier-General Sherman, Commanding Defences of New-Orleans: SIR In compliance with instructions from your headquarters to keep you promptly informed of any movements that the enemy might be known to be making up the Mississippi Sound, upon learning that repeated demonstrations had been made in the direction of Pascagoula, by confederate troops ashore, and in armed boats along the coast; and, furthermore, having reliable information that the greater part of the forces at Mobile were being sent to reenforce Charleston, I determined to make a reconnoissance within the enemy's lines, at or near Pascagoula, for the purpose of not only breaking up their demonstrations, but of creating a diversion of the Mobile forces from Charleston, and precipitating them along the Sound; and, accordingly, embarked with a detachment of one hundred and eighty men of my command on United States transport General Banks, on the morning of ninth April, 1863, and made for Pascagoula, Miss., where we arrived about nine o'clock A.M.-landed and took possession of wharf and hotel-hoisted the Stars and Stripes upon the building-threw out pickets, and sent small detachments in various directions to take possession of the place, and hold the roads leading from the same. Immediately thereafter, a force of over three hundred confederate cavalry came down the Mobile road, drove in the pickets, and attacked the squad on the left, from whom they received a warm reception. They then fell back in some confusion, reformed, and made a dash upon the detachment us. stationed at the hotel, at which point they were again repulsed; confederate infantry, meanwhile, attacking my forces on the extreme left, and forcing a small detachment to occupy a wharf, from which they poured volley after volley into the enemy's ranks, killing and wounding many, with a loss of one man only. The fight had now extended along the road from the river to the wharf, the enemy being under cover of the houses and forest, whilst my troops were, from the nature of the ground, unavoidably exposed. The confederates had placed their women and children in front of their houses, for a cover, and even armed their citizens, and forced them to fight against After an hour's continuous skirmishing, the enemy retreated to the woods, and my forces fell back to the hotel and wharf. Then the enemy sallied forth again, with apparently increased numbers, attempting to surround the hotel, and obtain possession of the wharf; but they were again repulsed, and driven back to their coverthe forest. It was here that Lieut. Jones, with a detachment of only seven men, having been placed on the extreme right, cut his way through a large force of the enemy's cavalry, and arrived at the hotel without losing a man, but killing and wounding a considerable number of the enemy. After continuous fighting from ten o'clock A.M., to two o'clock P.M., and on learning that heavy reënforcements of infantry and artillery had arrived from the camps up the Pascagoula River, I withdrew my forces from the hotel, and returned to Ship Island. The enemy's loss was over twenty killed, and a large number wounded. From my own knowledge, and from information derived from prisoners taken in the fight, and from refugees since arrived, the enemy had over four hundred cavalry and infantry at Pascagoula, and heavy reënforcements within six miles of the place. Refugees, who have arrived since the engagement, report the enemy's loss as greater than mentioned in my first report. department to Major F. E. Dumas, Capt. Villeverd, and Lieuts. Jones and Martin, who were constantly in the thickest of the fight, and by their unflinching bravery, and admirable handling of their commands, contributed to the success of the attack, and reflected great honor upon the flag under and for which they so nobly struggled. Repeated instances of individual bravery among the troops might be mentioned, but it would be invidious where all fought so manfully and so well. I would also mention the names of, and thank, in behalf of the regiment, Dr. Celso Pierrucci, Surgeon of the United States store-ship ReliefDr. Skinner, Surgeon of the United States sloop of war Vincennes-who so kindly volunteered their services in behalf of the wounded, and so assiduously attended to their every want; and also Quartermaster Sauvinet, who, by his valuable services, aided materially the embarkation and disembarkation of the forces. This expedition has completely changed the plans of the rebel leaders at Mobile, by creating a diversion from Charleston; heavy reenforcements having already been sent to Pascagoula and other points along the Mississippi Sound. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, N. U. DANIELS, Colonel Second Regiment Louisiana N. O. Volunteers, Commanding Post. Doc. 166. FIGHT AT BLOUNT'S MILLS, N. C. NEWBERN, N. C., April 11, 1863. OUR expedition left Fort Anderson, on the Neuse River, opposite Newbern, at three P.M. on Wednesday, eighth instant, for the purpose of relieving Washington, by an overland route. We marched that afternoon as far as New-Hope where a part of the command, through a mistake of orders, encamped for the night, while the advance pushed on to Little Swift Creek, four miles beyond. From this point our cavalry went to within a mile of Great Swift Creek, where they ascertained that the rebels had destroyed the bridge and barricaded the roads so it would be impossible to proceed. They also learned that the enemy were encamped there, about fifteen thousand strong, with batteries arranged to com The expedition was a perfect success, accom-school-house, on the road toward Swift Creek, plishing all that was intended; resulting in the repulse of the enemy in every engagement with great loss, whilst our casualty was only two killed and eight wounded. Great credit is due to the troops engaged, for their unflinching bravery and steadiness under this their first fire-exchanging volley after volley with the coolness of veterans; and for their determined tenacity in maintaining their position, and taking advantage of every success that their courage and valor gave them; and also to their officers, who were cool and demand the roads approaching in every direction. termined throughout the action-fighting their commands against five times their numbers, and confident throughout of success-all demonstrating, to its fullest extent, that the oppression which they have heretofore undergone, from the hands of their foes, and the obloquy that had been showered upon them by those who should have been friends, had not extinguished their manhood, or suppressed their bravery, and that they had still a hand to wield the sword, and a heart to vitalize its blow. I would particularly call the attention of the Finding it impossible to proceed by this route, we next attempted to gain the other side of the swamp by the route of Blount's Mill. But here again we were doomed to disappointment. We left New-Hope Corners about nine o'clock on Thursday morning, and came upon the rebels at Blount's Bridge, where we had a brisk fight for over an hour, losing about a dozen men wounded. The rebels had here also a superior force of infantry and artillery, had cut away the bridge over the creek, and had erected breastworks on the opposite side which commanded every ap proach. We could only tell of the whereabouts of the enemy by the flashes of their guns and the smoke, (as they were masked,) while they had their artillery trained so as to sweep the roads completely. Sergeant G. S. Morse, Co. F, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly. Corporal S. W. Reed, Co. A, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly. William Heath, Co. F, Third New-York artillery, severely in arm. Patrick Donovan, Co. G, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly. A. W. Barrett, Co. B, Seventeenth Massachusetts, severely in shoulder. H. Rivers, Co. E, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly. Thomas Murray, Co. F, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly. At two o'clock news came back to the General that our cavalry had come upon the rebel pickets about a mile this side of Ruff's Mills. Immediately the line was put in motion, and we marched at a brisk pace to a point near an old church, where we halted while Captain Pond's company of cavalry and the Seventeenth Massachusetts volunteers were sent forward to reconnoitre. They had not been gone many minutes when we heard brisk firing in the direction of the mill, Joseph Fishter, Co. F, Third, New-York artilCaptain Pond having come upon a line of cav-lery, severely in back. alry, dressed in the common blue uniform of our soldiers, whom he at first mistook for our own to New-Hope, where we camped for the night, men. The rebels let our cavalry come up to and yesterday we came into Newbern. within a few yards of them, when they opened a murderous fire and fled. Captain Pond immediately deployed his company on foot as skirmishers, and for a few moments the fire on both sides was quite spirited, amounting to no loss to us, except one man slightly wounded and one horse killed. The rebels retreated across the bare string-pieces of the bridge, and sought safety behind their works. After the engagement, our forces moved back -Philadelphia Inquirer. Doc. 167. OPERATIONS ON BAYOU TECHE, LA. COLONEL GOODING'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, SIR: I have the honor to report that in accord twelfth instant my brigade, excepting the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers, marched with our army from Pattersonville toward the enemy's works on Bayou Teche, some four or five miles distant, the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Sharpe, following the line of the railroad. A short distance from Pattersonville, pursuant to orders from General Emory, I sent the Fiftythird Massachusetts volunteers, Colonel Kimball, to reenforce Colonel Ingraham's brigade. As soon as the rebels had crossed, they commenced using their artillery, and our boys re-ance with orders from General Emory, on the plied with a small cavalry howitzer. The two thirty-two pound howitzers were then sent forward, and they took position upon the brow of the hill, just above the bridge, and within three hundred yards of the rebel works. The column of infantry was also moved down into the woods, while Belger's battery was held in readiness to join in the action. It was soon found that the thirty-twos had not sufficient ammunition to last them through a long action, and two guns of Captain Belger's were ordered down to relieve them. Captain Belger had just arrived upon the ground with his pieces, when a spherical caseshot landed in the midst of his men, wounding the Captain and killing his horse instantly. The battery then took up the fight, and for an hour the cannonading on both sides was terrific. But we labored under great disadvantage, as the thick woods upon both sides prevented our gunners The Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers and from seeing the enemy's position, while they the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volcould fire at random at the woods on our side, unteers afterward rejoined the brigade. On arand be tolerably certain of doing us some dam-riving in front of the enemy's works an artillery age. Finding the contest so unequal, and the possibility of our crossing so very slim, General Spinola ordered his command to fall back to NewHope. The artillery, however, as a parting salute, sent a few shells into the mill and lumberpiles, and when we left, they were in a fine blaze. The following is a list of casualties on our side: Captain Belger, First Rhode Island artillery, wounded in thigh and horse killed. Lieutenant S. G. Roberts, Co. G, Seventeenth Massachusetts, severely in arm. A short time subsequent I sent the Thirtyfirst Massachusetts volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Hopkins, to the left bank of the Bayou Teche to reënforce the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers, Colonel Bryan, who was skirmishing with the enemy's pickets on that bank of the bayou. duel ensued. Seeing that my brigade was exposed to the shot and shells of the enemy, I marched it two or three hundred yards to the rear, and caused the men to lie down. In the mean time the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers, supported by the Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers, carried on a brisk skirmish with the enemy on the left bank of the bayou, gallantly driving him before them. On the morning of the thirteenth I was ordered to take my best regiment and proceed to the left bank of the Bayou Teche, assume command of all the forces, and hold at all hazards the pontoon |