New Orleans Republican

The Miner's War.

CINCINNATI, June 12.—A Columbus State Journal special from Nelsonville says at daylight the union miners' pickets were not visible, but soon after a party numbering about 100 collected near the colored forces. Care was taken to keep the main body of negroes out of hearing. The strikers held a conversation with the negroes, urging them to join the union. The guards were doubled, but three negroes walked up to the guards, presented their revolvers and walked over to the Unionists. Whenever the guard endeavored to press back the colored miners strikers urged them more vehemently to desert. Secretary Putnam and Sheriff Warren advised putting the main body at work, leaving the smaller number for guards, and efforts were made to put sixty men into the mine. At this time 800 strikers with a brass band approached and were met by Putnam and Warren and restrained from proceeding further. Putnam expressed confidence to the operators in his ability to control the strikers and his disbelief in fears of violence. In the meantime the miner's committee approached the line and one of their number commenced a speech. The excitement among the negroes was very great. They crowded down to the lines and a general stampede was imminent. Efforts were made to restrain them, but some thirty or forty, in small squads, deserted. Several efforts were made to check the desertions, the most successful of which was the singing by loyal negroes of various pieces familiar to the negroes, thus drowning the voices of the speakers on the other side. The plan of the strikers seems to be to weaken the force of the negroes by desertion, and they say they will not use force. The operators say they are not discouraged; that they have more negroes coming, and, if necessary, will bring 1000 men. Some negroes returned to duty during the afternoon, and while a number have been at work with the miners, others are throwing up earthworks. Orders have been sent for 200 more negroes, a portion of whom are expected to reach Nelsonville to-morrow. The military at Cincinnati and Chillicothe have been ordered off duty, but with instructions to be ready to start for Nelsonville, if needed, on a moment's notice. The military at Athens, numbering 100, have also been ordered to move, if needed.

All Quiet,

Advices from Nelsonville, up to midnight, say all is quiet. It is ascertained that about one hundred negroes have deserted to the strikers.