Staunton Vindicator

War News.

The constant rain which has fallen for several successive days during the past week has almost effectually put a stop (for the time being) to military operations both in front of Richmond and Petersburg.

On the 17th Gen. Picket captured a portion of the enemy's picket line in his front. The following is Gen. Lee's report of the affair:

>"H'd Qrs. Etc., Nov. 18

"Hon. James A. Seddon:

"General Pickett reports that last night, a portion of the enemy's picket line in his front was taken possession of and held.

"One colonel, two captains, two lieutenants and one hundred and twelve privates were captured, besides the dead and wounded left on the ground.

"Our loss, one killed and nine wounded.

R.E. Lee

On Friday and Saturday the enemy made an effort to recaptured the position, and re-establish their picket lines, but each time were repulsed with loss.

The "Express" gives the following statement of an affair that took place on the Petersburg lines.

"A most amusing, and at the same time satisfactory incident, occurred in front of Wright's brigade, just to the left of the Weldon railroad, on Saturday morning an hour or two before day. A report was brought in that the enemy was advancing at that point, and the men were called to arms at once. The pickets were on the alert; and soon heard a noise in front, as of advancing forces. A sharp volley of musketry was discharged at the supposed foe, when a sudden rush was heard, and forward through the lines charged in wild disorder forty-two fine beeves--until that moment Yankee property. They had evidently strayed or deserted from the Yankee herd, or perhaps came in search of those recently captured by General Hampton on the banks of the James. They got lost on the way, and were wandering between the two armies, coming in the direction of Petersburg, when they were discovered by our pickets. The sudden discharge of musketry in their front, and the probable wounding of one or two, frightened the creatures and caused them to dash forward. This is the first instance on record of a charge by cattle on lines defended by armed men and in the face of a rapid musketry fire. We understand they came in good line of battle; and were not gathered up until they had passed to the rear. They are remarkably fine beeves, and the incident caused great amusement in camp. Perhaps the Yankees might learn a lesson from the charge made by the dumb beasts they had transported for slaughter."

Gen. Breckinridge's victory in East Tennessee gets better as it gets older. The prisoners captured are now reported at eight hundred and fifty. The Yankees stopped on Friday to make a stand at Strawberry Plains, but finding General Vaughan again making for their rear; broke again, and did not stop until safe within the fortifications at Knoxville.

As troops have been withdrawn from Knoxville to reinforce General Thomas at Pulaski, we shall not be surprised to hear that General Breckinridge has carried the city by storm, and dislodged Brownlow and his filthy associates.

The latest accounts from Georgia, state that Sherman was in close proximity to Macon and a battle was deemed imminent. He has cut the Railroad between Augusta and Macon at a point about 25 miles from Macon. The invading force consists of four corps of infantry, viz: Fourteenth commanded by General Jeff. C. Davis; Tenth, commanded by Gen. Osterhaus; Seventeenth corps, commanded by Gen. Blair, and the Twentieth corps, commanded by Gen. Slocum. The Confederate force will be stated hereafter, but is much larger than is generally supposed.

Since writing the foregoing we learn that Gov. Brown's residence, in Canton, Cherokee county, embracing his commodious dwelling house, kitchen, out-houses, &c., together with his office building, were all burnt to the ground by the vandal foe, a few days ago. The officer in command of the vandals who were sent to execute the work they so ruthlessly and successfully performed, allowed the family who were living on the premises at the time, only fifteen minutes to remove the furniture from the house, and all that was not removed within that time was devoured by the flames.

The same party burned the court house, jail, academy, both the hotels, and about two-thirds of the best dwelling and business houses in Canton.

From the lower Valley we learn that the enemy advanced with two divisions of Cavalry, two miles this side of Mt. Jackson (Rood's Hill) on Wednesday last and was met by a portion of our Cavalry and Infantry who immediately charged them and drove them back twelve miles. They left their dead and wounded in our hands. Our loss very small.

"While We Dislike . . ."

While we dislike to dwell upon the unpleasant theme of the inhuman treatment of the people of our Valley by the destruction of their houses, barns, subsistence and in many instances their all, by the forces of Sheridan under the omnipotent order of Grant, yet so many have been the statements of the loss of property in portions of this County made to us and many the cases of individual hardship consequent thereupon, that we are again constrained to notice this subject.

The people of the United States claim to be in the fore front of the world's civilization and to possess all the attributes that make up a great and glorious nation, and would fain posses the world's applause for all their deeds, while they hold up to the scorn of that same world the nets of those they are pleased to designate as Rebels to the "best Government the world ever saw." We have no means now of disabusing the minds of outside nations of the false ideas thus sought to be inculcated upon them, even if we desired to do so, but we can build up a mountain of attested facts which will stand as an everlasting monument of the malicious inhumanity and wanton barbarity of that make-believe enlightened nation--a perpetual badge of its disgrace. We propose then that our County Court shall, as the Rockingham County Court has already done, appoint a committee whose special duty it shall be to estimate the damage to the people of our county by the incendiarism, theft and pillage of the public enemy, and report to the Court as fully succinctly and promptly as possible, and the said report be carefully preserved among the proceedings of the Court to be used when the future demands of History shall require all the minutiae of the cruel and heartless prosecution of this war on the part of our enemies. The loss of property, by our people and the sufferings of innocent children, helpless women and decrepit age, caused by the uncalled for destruction of their means of subsistence demand that a record of the outrages spoken of above shall be made and preserved, and we know of no means equal to the one suggested of handing down to coming generations a statement of facts so perfectly incontrovertable. We ask then that our County Court will at its next convening act in this matter.

Education of Children of Deceased Soldiers.

On last Thursday evening, a meeting in behalf of the Education of the Children of deceased and disabled Soldiers was held at the Baptist Church of this place. After prayer by Rev. W.S. Baird, Wesleyan Female Institute, Rev. A.E. Dickinson of Richmond, addressed the congregation. He states that there were in Va. 5000 children, whose fathers had perished in this war, which number was of course increasing every day--that last June at the Va. Baptist General Association a movement was inaugurated to secure the education of these little ones, and that the plan was to expand all monies secured in sending such children to the best and most convenient schools, without regard to denomination. He eloquently dwelt on the claims of the soldiers, whose chief anxiety was for his loved ones at home, and by whose sacrifice and suffering our safety was secured, and our victory must be won. He dwelt on the feelings of the widowed mother, and urged that we owed it to her to aid in providing for her children whose Protector had died for us. He then spoke of the importance to our nation of giving this large and increasing class of youth at least a good English education--such as would enable the truly talented among them to rise higher, and would prepare all for the ordinary business of life. He was followed in a few statements by Rev. Geo. B. Taylor, and then a subscription amounting to nearly $11,000 was secured. It is hoped that the committee, consisting of H.H. Peck, C.R. Mason, and W.H. Peyton, appointed to increase this sum will run it up to over $20,000. Mr. Taylor also announced that the following gentlemen, vi: C.R. Mason, W.H. Peyton, W.J. Shumate, W.J.D. Bell and M.G. Harman and himself had been appointed to act for the Central Committee in Richmond in finding out and putting to school all the children in the Valley of the class referred to. This Committee will doubtless make some communication to the public, but it may be stated here and now, that children of deceased soldiers, reported to them will be provided with tuition and books at such schools as their friends may select. Teachers in every neighborhood would do well to look up such children and report them Ministers and Magistrates and indeed all who care for the children of the dead soldier are earnestly invite to co-operate. The writer has found in this town five such children, and placed them at the Schools of their choice.

G.B.T.

Staunton, Nov. 22nd, 1864.

$100 Reward.

Ran away from the subscriber at Midway, a bright mulatto boy, about 21 years of age, 5 feet, 9 inches high, named Isham, no marks recollected I will give the above reward if delivered to me or placed in any jail so that I can get him.

W.J. Hopkins.

Nov. 25,--3t.