an
.ALTOONA, PA.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2.1862.
The Mason and Slidell Affair.
Wc N> we «*« not to have a rupture with England
atpresent. The Trent has been amicably
and .Messrs. Mason and Slidell, and their
detks, are to be jgiven np to England! We have
ndl time to carefolly read all the correspondence,
but we can say that it was conducted in a dim
and friendly manner. Commander Wilkes did a
great thing in arresting Mason and Slidell, and
thijs for a time preventing them from doing any
injmy to the cause of the Union, or anything for
the Southern Confederacy; but, from the time we
read; the opinions of the London Times upon the
seizure, we had an idea of the ground upon which
the British Government would base its demand
.fcr their delivery, and we had a doubt-as to whether
Capt. Wilkes did his whole duty in not seizing the
Trent and bringing passengers, cargo and vessel
into port, and settling the matter in the usual wav.
Itf adjusting the difficulty, our Government
claimed that the seizure was not directed by it,
and that no insnlt was intended. Eark Bussell,
through Bond Lyons, recited the facts of the seiz
ure, as reported to the British Government, assert
ing that it was considered an aggression. and an
Outrage upon the British flag, and hoped that our
Government would, of its own motion, make re
dress, by liberating the persons seized and making
a suitable apology. Mr. Seward’s answer corrects
Earl Bussell’s statement in regard to important
facts, and discusses the question in a calm, tem
perate, forcible and statesmanlike manner. The
French Secretary of State, through the French
Minister at Washington, earnestly urged that our
Government should yield to the rational demands
of England. Secretary Seward’s state paper is
drawn up in admirable temper, in complete ac
cordance with diplomatic usage, is tersely, forciblv
and elegantly expressed, and, however much the
conclusions arrived at trill disappoint numbers,
must universally be received, per sc, as one of the
ablest and most dignified state paper which has
ever emanated from his department. He thor
oughly discusses the whole international question
raised by the late seizure,- as a lawyer and on its.
legal merits, and the conclusion, which must have
been arrived at with great reluctance, is expressed'
with dignity and without apparent chagrin. If
his argument is sound, and the surrender of the
four rebels in our possession is in accordance with
the law of nations, and more especially with those
liberal pripciples regarding neutrals for which this
country has for many years earnestly and consis
tently contended, the nation will doubtless submit
to the decision with as good a grace, os possible
under the circumstances.
•We may be allowed to say that we rejoice that
we have honorably escaped, at this time, from a
war with so great a naval power ns England.
While we have men—in millions, we may say—
who are ready and willing to take up arms against
;■ this old we must admit that the arms and
: ammunition with which to fit them ont is., not at
this moment at our command, although-it would
take but a short time to-get all things in readiness.
1 England has taken advantage of our present
distracted condition, and plainly shown that she
is not onr friend. For the present it is our best
polity to keep free from all foreign complications.
Let ns, once and forever, crush the spirit of rebel
lion in pnr own land, and then we shall be able to
attend to and resist the arrogant demands of a
jealous and twice-whipped enemy. Let England
boast now, if she will; onr cause will not sutler
.by delay; and the day may not be far distant when
she will be paid with interest. It is sufficient for
us to know that in surrendering the arch-traitors
Mason and Slidell—our honor as a nation has not
been compromised; aud that such action on onr
port was urged by other great and respectable
powers. Let the traitors go; t?ieir pinions have
been clipped, and we have now no fears that they
can do ns injmy abroad. Their plans are known
and can be overthrown. May they never again
set foot on American soil, is our ardent prayer.
Suspension op Specie Patmesi.— All the
baidts in the Eastern cities suspended specie pay
ment on or about the first of January, and, as a
consequence, nearly all country banks will be,Com-_
pelled to do the same. If we are rightly informed {
this suspension is not the result of any weakness
on the part of the banks, bnt to better enable them
to fitnash the government with specie to meet its
liabilities. As a general thing the hanks of the
country never were in better condition, and although
this action may subject business men to a little in
convenience for a time, they should submit to it
qnietiy in order that the credit of the government
may be folly sustained.
Student and Schoolmate, published by
Galen dames & Go., 16 Cornhill, Boston, is one-of
the best publications which parents can place in
the hands of their children, and: would be a most
htting dfew- Tear’s present. It contains much
trill interest, amuse and instruct the young,
i? at stncfa a low price, $l,OO per
annum, that It comes within the reach of all. To
dnbs lO copies are furnished for $6,00, or 60 cop
iesfor $25,00; If a number of our boys and
giris were to canvass a little they might easily
nix a «Slob of fifty in this place.
■ TbCLT a CowpumeHT.—The Philadelphia Even
ing days once, in referring to die
afproihing session of die Legislature ofthislStaw
and die Organization of the Senate, paid the fol*
taring wril ,merited compliment to the Senator,
non fids district: , i.
The ejection*, of Hon. Lotus W, Hall, of Blair
Bofa>nlj, dt speoher appears to be conce- .
unswerving in-
by men of all parties.
Our Army Correspondence,
Ok Board U. S. Steamer Illinois, 1
Off Hilton Head, S. C., Dec, I.oth, 1861.;
Messes. Editors: — l suppose roof readers are,
all aware jof the fact that the destination of die
76th Begiment P. V., was Port Royal, S. C. At
all eyents, such wasvthc case; and, on Thursday
last, the regiment, which had for two weeks past
been encamped at Camp Hamilton, near Fortress
Monroe, went on hoard the steam transport Illi
nois, to proceed to'Port Royal. The embarkation
was conducted slowly, but in good order. All the
baggage had to be taken on board a sinall steamer
and conveyed to the Illinois, which lay out in the
centre of the stream. After the baggage was all
shipped, the troops began to embark, and by 8 P.
I M. the whole regiment, together with three com
panies of Coi. Welch’s 45th Regt. P.Vi, were safely
quartered on board. The men were all supplied
with bunks—each company being quartered by
itself. The Illinois is a splendid steamer; she was
built for the California trade, but is now in the
employ of the Government She is 268 feet long
by 42 in width, and, when loaded, draws 18 feet
of water. She has ample accommodations for
1500 men, and has arrangements for; cooking for
the same number. All things being in readiness
on Friday morning, the anchor was weighed, and
by 9 A. M. we were slowly steaming out of Hamp
ton Roads. By 2P.M. we bad cleared the Capes
and were fairly out on the broad at Atlantic. By
sunset we were entirely out of sight of land, and
for'the first time viewed li sunset at sed. All that
has ever been written about the Jjeauties of such a
scene fills far short of reality. The same beauti
ful spectacle was witnessed the next, morning at
sunrise, and was viewed by all on board, with
mingled wonder and admiration. On Friday
night we were hailed by the U. S. gunboat Monti
cello,hound for Hampton poads. Kothing worthy
'of note occurred until we arrived off Hilton Head.
The Occam remained comparatively smooth during
our voyage, and very few cases of; sca-sickness
occurred, which is much-to be wondered at, ns
many Of those on board had never been on salt
water before. On Sunday evening we arrived off
Hilton Head and endeavored to pass up the Chan
nel. After going about a mile, we ran aground
in 18 feet of water; and then commdpced a series
of yeiy unpleasant thnmping and bninping which
rendered the vessel anything ‘ but comfortable.—
This really dangerous state of affairs lasted until
10 P. M. when the vessel was finally gotten off
and anchored in 24 feet of water. :On Monday
morning the anchors were raised andvwe stood np
the channel. By noon we anchored safely oppo
site Fort Walker, where we are at the present time.
We have not received orders to go ashore, but
expect them to-day. The members of Captain
Wayne’s Company are all well and in fine spirits.
It is now time for the mail to close, and I will end
this hastily written letter by suggesting to all who
have friends in the TGth to enclose a few postage
stamps in each letter they may wTite, as it is al
most impossible to get them here. Excuse the
haste with which this letter is written, as it is no
easy task to write a corrected letter • on board; a
vessel containing 1100 persons
Hilton Head, S. C., )
December 18th, 1801./
Messes. Editors :—I again seat myself to give
you a few notes of our doings on this Sandy island.
In my last I described to you our trip from Fortress
Monroe until the time when we cast anchor in the
harbor of Port Boval.
After remaining on board the Illinois until Wed
nesday morning, we went on shore, effecting o’ur
landing in surf-boats, which carried ns smoothly
and pleasantly to the beach. On reaching the
shore we were rather unfavorably impressed with
the appearance of things generally. Before us
was a gently sloping beach, on which the surf was
constantly dashing, and beyond it a steep bank qf
sand about ten feet high. On that part of the
beach which was nnswept by the surf, numbers of
men were rapidly passing backward and'forward*,
teams rushing along, drivers shouting, boatmen
swearing, and occasinally an officer riding on a
diminutive looking animal which called *.a
“secesh horse,” but which we coaid scarcely re
frain from looking npon as an over-jrotm rat! All
sorts of work seemed to be going on. Here was a
party filling old barrels withg sand, and sinking
them on the prolongation of as rude looking wharf
which was being rapidly extended into the stream.
By the way, there are at present two of the “ old
whalers,” of which so much has been said in the
papers, lying in the harbor, which are intended to
be sunk in the water, and on them the end of the
wharf is to rest. When onr regiment was all
landed we shouldered onr knapsacks and marched
off to our camping-ground, which was nearly a
mile from the place of landing.
It is not. necessary that I should repeat to you
all that occurred in the next two days;, suffice it
to say that we finally succeeded in getting com
fortably quartered -hi the sand. Hilton Head
Island, on which wo are located, is n low, sandy
tract, being one of the many sea-coast islands on
.which the famous “sea-island cotton” is grown.
It is about 17 miles long and 8 miles wide. On
the Northern end of it is Fort Walker, .which was
captured by-onr fleet. The Fort has now been
put in good condition ; several new guns have been
mounted, and everything put in admirable work
ing order. It is now garrisoned by a Rhode Island
regiment, which is being constantly drilled in the
use and handling of the heavy gnus. In the
meantime, large working parties have been de
tailed from the different regiments to erect other
fortifications which are now in progress of con
struction. They consist of a continuous line of
earthworks, which extend from a point about a
mile from Fort Walker to the Southward, in a
semi-circular direction across the island, to a point
o» Broad river about the sanie distance North-
Westward from the Fort. They are very heavy—
for the most part consisting of an embankment
about twelve feet high, protected on the outside by
a ditch eight feet deep and twelve feet wide. On
the outside of the ditch is another embankment
much lower than the first, and sloping gradually
backward so that it can be raked at all points by
the fire of the heavy guns which are being place/
on the parapet of the main embankment. - When
these works ore completed and the new guns which
ore now here are mounted, is will not he an easy
point to capture. The main depots for provisions
and ammunition for the ttopps acting on the
Southern coast, are all being erected inside of this
entrenchment, and it seems to be the 'purpose of
the Government to make this a permanent, forti-
fied post. * This becomes more evident, from the
faqt that many of the vessels of the “ stone fleet”
ate being sunk in the channels leading to Charles-
ton and Savannah, by which those harbors will be
forever rendered useless for commercial purposes.
This harbor has many advantages over those men
tioned, having a greater depth of water at low tide;
; iB easier of access, affords a sajer refuge from storm,
! and is more in the centre of the great cotton pro
, ducing portion of the South. Arrangements have
j already been made to have the cotton which has
j been left by the planters, in their haste to get away
j from the “Yankees,” properly secured and pre
j pared for shipment. Thousands, I may safely say
j millions, of dollars worth of cotton can be col
j lected within forty miles of this port, and the most
of it is already in the hands of the Government.
Even on this island there are acres upon acres of
cotton 'yet remaining unpicked. The entrench
ments, upon-wjiich five hundred #icn of our regi
ment work daily, runs directly through an exten
sive cotton-field, and Gen. Vie]os’ whole brigade
is encamped in'a field from which the cotton had
not been picked; and the crop of which is now
almost entirely destroyed.
The health of our regiment is very good, and
the men all seam delighted with their position.—
The weather is very warm, and we can hardly
realize that while our friends at home are enjoy
ing their sleigh-rides, or sitting around their com
fortable firesides, with the wiud whistling fiercely
around them; we hardly ever require a coat or feel
a blast of cold air. 1/i fart, the days arc what we
■would call hot,, for, in the middle of the day, it
requires but little exercise to mokes us perspire
freely. ’
I wish you could be here and see a specimen of
the full-blooded'African, such as we see here every
day. They egrae into camp with their heads and
feet bare—indeed, I think some of them would
not know what a pair of shoes or a hat is for!
It is amusing to hear them describe the bombard
ment of Foil Walker. One of them, when asked
about it, said: “Dij hard balls didn’t matter, but
when de checkered boat (the Wabash) came up an’
trow’d dem rotten balls, (shells,) massa couldn’t
stan it an’ hack to run I” These negroes bring in
great hoe-cakes, and a kind of cake made of sweet
potatoes and corn, which is very palatable but
awful black. They also bring us tine sweet pota
toes and splendid oysters; so you may imagine we
live well. Sweet potatoes are as plenty here as
Irish potatoes are at home. ~
I believe we can claim to be the only regiment
which Elis passed South of the Potomac without
being armed. In fact, when wc first landed, wc
were called “the harmless Seventy-Sixth!” But
the tune is changed now. Since wo came here
we have received our anus. They arc splendid
Enfield rifles, with the thrust bayonet, and with
sights arranged for from one to nine hundred yards.
Palmetto trees abound, and great quantities of.
sw cet-brier, out of which pipes arc made, can be
gathered anywhere on the island. Almost even
man in the regiment has his sweet-brier pipe, made
from the natural root. 1
e have upt received a mail since we have been
on the island, and many of us are anxious to hear
from home. Let this remark stimulate our friends
to write often; and, if they do, they will have the
pleasure of knowing that they thereby remove one
of the greatest anxieties with which the mind 0 f a
soldier far from home is burdened. 1 More anon.
t KEYSTONE.
KEtSTONE,
Messes. McCecu & Pern Uaitkmcn— The
holidays are fast approaching, and how little do
many of ns—soldiers esjiocialiy—heed the fact that
ere another Christmas 'holiday or New, Year's fes
tivity rolls around, bringing with it happiness and
comfort to some, and privation and misety to many
others, many of ns, now in the prime and full
vigor oi health, may be called forth; to try the stern
realities of a future state! Yes, gentlemen, this
is a fact truthfully apparent to the minds of all,
and yet how few there are who pause, for even a
mqiment, amid the busy cares of life, to contem
plate the fearful realities of after death! But these
are thoughts not in consonance with the life of a
soldier; and, as I inherit and hope I merit that
title, I skill cease writing in such a strain.
We arc still enveloped in the somewhat usual
monotony of camp life—occasionally relieved, !iow
cyer, from this monotonous stupor -by stirring re
ports and rumors from of which con
tribute their share, and make up the life of the
soldier. Since; we harp received our Zouave dress,
our time has generally been employed in fixing up
and arranging our camp. Prom the small square
tent we have changed to the largo round one, of
French manuafacttire. Yon must remember, gen
tlemen, that we are now a French regiment, do
ing everything according to the French style.—
These tents are arranged so ns to contain sixteen
men—allowing sis tents for each company, besides
two for the officers.; A pole stands in the centre,
around which arc suspended the guns and belts.
"At the top then} is a ventilator, and at each side a
door. They are sufficiently large to contain six
teen men, yet they woftdly lack the comfort and
convenience of; the smaller ones. Before the
change we enjoyed the 1 comfort of a warm fire to
each tent, but now we must endure the cold as
best we may. It is, indeed, a sony change to
your humble servant. We have vety tastefully
arranged our camp by erecting arches covered with
evergreen, and planjing pine frees in and about
the entire camp. The encampment is so arranged
that a street abqut 18 feet wide is formed between
two companies; i and at the end of each street an
arch is erected,; with the letter of the company
tastefully qrrangqd in the centre. Companies L
and M are situated in the front of the camp, on a
line parallel with it, and, about 150 feet from the
rest of the camp. This interval is handsomely
decorated with pines, and here the regiment is
formed in line previous to our departure for drill,
and on dress parade. Taken altogether, I think
we have the roost tastefully arranged camp on this
side of the Potomac.
On Saturday; last, the 18th inst. )Ni our regiment
went out fo'Hall’s Hill, and participated in a grand
review of Gen. Porter’s Division, on which occa
sion the C2d and 83d Pennsylvania regiments were
each presented with a beautiful banner. The pre
sentation, I am told, was made by Hon S. Cameron,
and briefly yet eloquently responded to by Colonel
Black. The different regiments turned out largely
and presented a fine appearance.; The bold 62d,
under Col. Black, were highly complimented while
passing in review before the As we
passed by him he looked calmly and apparently
interestedly upotf the regiment, thed turning to
U. S. AIUIV, near {'alls Village, Ta.,l
December 22J, 1601. J
one of his aids, remarked—“ There goes a solid
regiment!” And I have been told by Several who
were standing among the crowd of ..spectators,
that Col. Black's regiment was the subject of uni
versal admiration.. I think we were well tried
that day, too, for we were engaged on that field
during the entire day—only returning; to camp
after dark in the evening. I have heretofore en
deavored to refrain from self-praise, but really I
feel that justice demands of me to say that Com
pany M (notwithstanding the adverse circumstan
ces under which they labored on this occasion,)
acquitted themselves admirably. Our first offi
cers have been unwell for some time past, but at
the review they appeared to excellent advantage,
inspiring us all with renewed vigor and a deter
mination to succeed; and we did succeed, to the
evident satisfaction of every man in thq ranks—
receiving the compliments of the assembled multi
tude of spectators, and, above all, the approbation
of the Commander-in-CUief!
j Well, gentlemen, we still remain in a state of
| “masterly inactivity,” so far as relates to Connec
! tion with the enemy. Our only hope of a colli-
I sion with them is the prospect afforded .us while
engaged on picket. Onr turn for this duty came
around a few days ago; but in consequence of the
flag presentation it was deferred, and now I sup
pose we will spend our Christmas on the frontiers,
engaged in the important duty of watching some
ol Jeft Davis’ minions. It seems that tihe rebels
dare not present a full front, and we can only de
pend ujwn circumstances to effect an encounter '
with them. More anon.
Yours respectfully,
Ox Picket, 5 miles from Camp,)
December 23th, 18G1. j
G knti.kmkx ;— V> ell, here wc are, this bright
Christmas morning, enjoying ourselves as only a
picket-guard can. It is not so bad either, when wc
take into consideration the fact that many a man,
as good and patriotic as any of us, often had no
better. Here we have nice wheat bread—that is,
some of us—and others have large square trackers.
The most of us have some mc*t —cold boiled beef
and coffee. Said coffee is cither hot or cold—
altogether suited to our fastidious tastes; neither
is it sufficiently strong to effect our nervous system.
Should it unfortunately exceed in strength to suit
a more temperate member of our company, he is
aware of his privilege to introduce a sufficient
quantity ot the acquius fluid which courses along
the bottom of the hill. Then, by way of a Christ
mas dinner, we have an ample sufficiency of bread
and trackers, with a little coffee, or plenty of water.
This, gentlemen, constitutes our Christmas, enter
tainment, besides dodging and stopping rebel bul-
*his, you may rest assured, is extremely
rare.
Who of us, one year ago, would for a moment
have entertained the thought tliat on the 25th day
of December, Idol, wc should be enjoying such
chilling entertainment in the wilds of Virginia?
But such is life, truthfully portraying the billowing
from Ehakspeare's Hamlet:
“Xuw lot the stricken deer go weep,
The heart ungallcd play,
far some most langh while others weep;
So runs the world away.” ,■
Perhaps tue quotation is not strictly correct, but I
am sure the sentiment is. Taken altogether, our
situation here is somewhat interesting—being a
slight improvement oh the usual monotony of the
camp. Our company is stationed, by way of re
serve, at an old dilapidated house, which was for
merly occupied by a Craven Ashford, who, 1 on the
breaking out of the war, entered the rebel sendee,
leaving an old negro and uegress, with five picka
n.nnies. W e keep close watch over them , (deploy
ing the rest out along the usual picket line,
relieving them every two hours. Your humble
sen-ant is engaged in the laudable occupation of
keeping close watch over the movements of a
family consisting of one man and three ladies.—
HiC- corporal who has just relieved me, says one
(the youngest) is pretty; but you know, genilemen,
tastes differ widely sometimes, and so it is in this
instance. Yours, &c., ELAIN.
Release op Mason & Seidell.—A dispatch
from Boston, dated January Ist, 1§62, says : The
steam-tug Starlight loft- Fort Warren at eleven
o’clock this morning, with Mason and Slidell and
their secretaries, for Provincetown, where thev will
be transferred to the British war-steamer, Rinaldo,
now lying there. The commander of this vessel
says he has been ordered to remain there; and he
is, accordingly, preparing to make himself at home.
The vessel carries sixteen guns, and arrived at
Provincetown on Tuesday night last. '
The Battle op Drainesville.—Gen. McCall
Gen. Ord,-Lieut. Col. lumo, and Capt, Easton,
have all handed in ofiicial reports of the late bat
tle. McCall regrets that tire list of wounded is
greater than first reported, and puts down our loss
at seven killed, sixty-one wounded, including one
Lieutenant and four captains, and three missing.
The enemy's loss he puts down, at the lowiest es
timate, as ninety left dead on the field.
The War in Missouri.— Ottervilk, Mo. i, Dec.
31.-r-One of our men, captured by the rebels near
Clinton, and carried to Springfield, has jqst re
turned, having left that place on Christmas' He
says Gen. Price, with 8,000 men, had takin oil
the houses in Springfield for the use of his troops,
turning women and children into the streets! He
had unloaded his wagons, and was preparing for a
long stay.
The people of Arkansas had refused to 1 allow
Price to enter that State with any other troops
than those regularly enlisted in the Confederate
service. His force included only 1500 men so
enrolled. The country about Springfield whs full
of men. returning from Price’s army, who Said if
thev were permitted to return home and take the
oath of allegiance, Price would be left with only
his regular Confederate troops. !
Since General Pope’s rapid operations of last
week, there is quiet in all the region between the
Missouri and Osage rivers. Not a rumor of rebel
camps or squads has been heard. ,
Heavy Ordnance Ordered.—On Tuesday an
order went from toe Ordnance Department to toe
three largest cannon founderies in' the comttry—
the Port Pitt in Pittsburg, and Alger’s in Borton
—to manufacture, to their utmost capacity, ]Q inch
columbiads for the next twelve months. Their
present make would in that time yeild-eighteen
hundred guns. Contracts for Immense quantities
of small ordnance, arras, and shot, and sheila have
also recently been made. !
- Tfe British Soldiers in Poetlakd.—Pcr
nussiOn has been given in a veiy courteous jinan
iffir, to pass toe British troops through Maine into
Canada. As toe navigation of the St. Lawrence
« closed, and toe transport of troops inland! from
Hali&x to Canada, in midwinter, would be ex
pensive, tedious, and hazardous, England wM ap
preciate this courtesy as one of extraordinary im
portance. r
; The Victory at Drainosnfille.
Gallant Confine! of the Mein of
Pennsylvania.
General McCall, learning that a rebel sqnad of
about one hundred cavalry, were foraging around
nehr Difficult creek, and coming within four miles
of bis line, he determined to captnns them or drive
them off, and at the same time secure a quantity
of forage belonging to some noted rebels at Draines
ville.
On Friday night he ordered but General Ord’s
Brigade, with one day’s rations to start at daylight.
He also took Easton’s batlety and four squadrons
of cavalry and forty-five wagons in change of Capt.
Hall. He started them on with instructions to se
cure the forage, arid after they left he heard that
there were some rebels near Herndon’s station, on
the railroad, who . might give them trouble, and
knotting General Ord’s disposition for: fighting so
well, he ordered oat General Reynolds' Brigade,
aS a reserve, on the turnpike, and with his staff
galloped on towards Drainesville.
In the meantime, General Ord had marched to
Drainesville, and with his troops in the following
order:—Advance guard, Kane Rifles, Easton’s
battery, four squadrons of the First Pennsylvania
Cavalry', with the Tenth, Sixth and Twelfth Reg
iments. The regiments wore about one hundred
rods apart, and as the skirmishers of the Ninth
were scouring the woods this side of Drainesville,
as their regiment .was entering the village they
found the rebels secreted in the woods. Loose
firing' at once commenced. It was now about
half-past one, P. M.
Gen. Ord, ttho was in advance, at once rode to
the spot tt'here the firing commenced, and drew up
Ida troops in line of battle. Easton's battery took
up their position in front of Thorn’s house, and
Companies A and.N of the Kane Rides were de
ployed down the road running to CcntreviUe.—
When about five hundred yards down seven squad
rons of Stuart’s Cavalry galloped from one field to
another in front, as though they were 'retreating,
fearing we were coming down on them In force. ,
The Rilles halted for fear of being entrapped, ’
when bang went a cannon in front, not a hundred
yards off, and a shot from a rifled cannon whizzed
over their heads and took the top off" a house
where Easton's battery' was located. The Rifles
dropjied down on their faces, anti the Kentucky
riflemen opened a volley upon them. j They fell
back and were reinforced by other of their eomiia
nies and then opened a,firing whenever;they could
see a chance.
BLAIN,
Easton now opened on them with three guns—
twenty-four and one twelve—sending; his other
round to the hill to keep them froth out-flanking
them. Their six guns were then pouring out in
cessant fire, and the Sixth Kegiment on Ids right
were firing rapidly at the.edge of the woods, where
the rebels were concealed in thick vines. The
rebel cannon shot nearly all went over their heads.
When the position of the rebel battery was
found out pretty certain, Easton let drive, and his
third shell exploded in the caisson of the rebels,
which went off with a terrible noise. Just then
Gen. McCall and his staff' rode up, and he took
command. He complimented Gen. Ord on the
disposition of the forces, and then proceeded to
give orders, f
One of the regiments was disposed to tall back
out of the field in winch they had been placed to
get tinder cover, ala rebels. General McCall rode
up flourishing his sword, and cried out to them to
“Forward, boys! standyoirr ground.” Thu rebels
now saw their chance, and down from the extreme
left came a regiment in light blue overcoats, with
the Stars and Stripes waving over theta.
One of the out, “Do not shoot, we
are Bucktoils.” Our men consequently reserved
their fire, until one of the officers cried out “it’s a
iie, give them h^—l, hoys.” Before the word died
away, however, the rebels fired and storied for
cover. Our troops gave them a vollev with fearful
effect, their balls nearly all passed over the heads
of our men. '
The artillery were now throwing their shells
into the woods. The rebels had ceased firing from
their battery, and were trying to get tlnjir men to
make a charge but without success. The hail of
lead which now- rained was terrible. “Charge
bayonets on ’em, boys!” cried General McCall, and
Iris aids gollcired around with orders to move on
ward.
The General, Ord, and iris aids, were at the
head of hvs column and charged in the following
order:
Tile 9tb Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, Col.
Jackson; Kane Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Kane;
and a part of the Sixth Regiment in reserve, with
the Tenth and Twelfth Regiments on both wings.
On they went, plunged into the woods, and the
relxds fled. They fired Tis fast as they could load,
and in forty-five minkes from the time the rebels
opened fire on us they were in foil retreat. Down
went guns, rifles, overcoats, and every tiling that
would encounter their running.
The woods presented a fearful spectacle, dead
and dying dying in heaps, and mangled . bodies of
horses .being side by side with their riders. Near
the ruins of the batteiy were seven horses and
thirteen men piled np together. The groans of
dying men and shrieks of the wounded were fear
ful and terrific. Blended with them Were the
shouts of our victorious soldiers. The men stopped
to select some trophies, including swords, officers’
.caps, belts, money, &c.
General McCall determined to keep up the re
treat and followed the-enemy for a mile with part
of the two regiments, including in, all about' seven
teen hundred men. In the triad and fields wore
wagon loads of clothes and muskets.
The rout of the enemy was total and complete,
and Was more disastrous and disgraceful to them
than any that we have known'in the whole war.
Two officers were selected to count the dead
bodies of the rebels lying in their tracks. The
principal portion of the killed were around the po
sition; of their batteiy and in the route of their re
treat,, they being shot in the back.
One Officer counted over a hundred dead bodies.
All their wounded who could walk of run get
away, as well as most of their wounded in the
early part oT the fight. 1
The distance between the two batteries was
about: six hundred yards.- The rebels lost nine
horses from their battery. Captain Easton fired,
in the: veijc short time during which the engage
ment | continued, nearly two hundred shell, and
had only thirty-six men to man his guns, not one
of whOnl was lost. His horses stood fire with as
much composure as though they had been old vet
erans.' ,
The Rebel forces consisted of seven companies
of Stuart’s Cavalry; Cutt’s Batteiy of four guns-
Tenth Alabama, Colonel J. H. Forney; First Ken
tucky, Colonel Taylor, (killed)—seven hundred—
the Sixth South Carolina and one North Carolina
Regiment. The South Carolina Regiment has
been at a station on the Leesburg Railroad for a
any Of two. It was them who first opened upon
us, and they wore the first to-run. *
Two caissons were left in the field, and we, not
having horses to bring them in, had to cut them
up with axes, .The boxes were, however, brought
away byCaptain Easton, who now has them in
camp, we learn from one of the rebel prisoners
that the battery was Captain Cults’ GcoTgiabat*
teiy, qndthey had one sixteen-poundor Parrott
and three twcntj sr fb«r pound howitzers. :
Tha Kentucky merj suy that there is much dis
satisfaction in their regiment, and declare thev
want to go home at the earliest moment. They
say that theirs is the only regiment from Kentucky
m the army of the Potomac. They left: Centre
vlUe about three A. M. on Friday morning with
the Alabama battery, cavalry, and one other regi
ment in the rear. ' :
An officer stated that Gen. Johnston ; had left
Centreville with ten thousand men, and come on
four miles, where he waited to. hear the result.
These men were but ten miles off during the en
gagement. .
Easton’s battery was raised about Chambersburg,
by Captain Charles Campbell, who was afterwards
chosen. Colonel, and theyi deserve great praise for
toe cool and unflinching manner in Which they
fired, and for too deadly atm with which piece
, , This; was merely a small expidition of General
out without toe knowledge of Gen.
McClellan. Whence heard of it,' he rode over to
H3I, art got *to gB fc we _ a ~^S.
qnten. Gen . Hancock's brigade was onTSS
Gen. Meade's hrigadeleft camp at
about two p. m. and marched within. -PV
the field* when orders came to return ° m ‘ lss 1
Their confidence now in their leadm; c ,
ded; and should General McCall ever ifr’ 35 -
will follow without faltering, even thoni-h *
walking into their graves. This is thf
we have won on the Potomac for the rani, ;I‘ a^
which it was, executed and the comaW ■ "
the victory, without any loss of life
that of the enemy; and too much praise «
accotdcdjto the officers for the
the men for executing the commands' ■
If the rebel loss is arf great in wounded, ■
in dead, it is over four hundred in kilUi 3
wounded. The proportion is at wavs
to one killed, and we know of about „\ or , ! ’ r| '
killed. “'“hnEi-s;
Later News from Europe,
Continued Warlike Prepar; (- 0u
New Yoke, Dec. 31.—The steamer
rived at 8 o’clock this morning, With dates >”■ -
egraph from London to the I’Jth.
The message of. President Lincoln claims •
attention notwithstanding that the feelintr
deeply engrossed with the death of Prince V'" 1 *
The silence of the President’s message oa the Tv
affair was the subject of much conjecture
j-ment. It was generally regarded: as 4 i fK ~
| for escape, and gave some hopes of peace, ahQ-‘
( the general construction was warlike. '
The London Timex says that nothing c , 15 ,
more ungracious than the Pr&klentV trctorvr'l
foreign Powers for their forbearance. A
Times also devotes an article to the report r.;' ■'
Secretary of the Navy, which it treats with riilk
and denounces as an unparalleled crime the «*•*.;
of blocking up ports by sunken vessels. ‘
The Pus! treats the messagems hndeniaV.v -
like, and, although remarking-'Dn the siknresl’
live to the Trent affair, says it was scarcely - 1
the ordinary scope of a message. It alsq chv '
tho President with ingratitude In dealing «*;,' '
maritime Powers. , In the sAme article it cr U'
the despatch to Lord Lyons wai simple and iir r""
it is an ultimatnm in itself.' ' > “
The iMdtg Neicn considers the silence oa •
Trent affair an abdication of prudence am!
and favorable to peace. It is jfieasi|l to VS*
that tho President desired’to hold hiijiself be -
speak at an appropriate time.* It nevertheless- v
plaius of the President’s silence, and of the s-'
credit lie gives to foreign Governments. “ ,-i
The Star justifies the. silence rehni ve h.l
Trent, and praises tho clearness, force, a ,,.!
of the message. ‘' ‘ '
Tho Herald takes quite a contain-viev 1-
fears that peace is almost hopeless. Th« ‘ ‘
thanks by Congress it regards as an insult 'o'-v-'
land. ‘
The warlike preparations are. cuntinai-U ti
Persia took out nearly 1,200 troops. The
dier and Scots’ Fusilier Guards would c-mh.ua ipi'
mediately. All the disposable vessels iu th ■ q’,l
Ucrmnoan were assembling at Gibraltar ’tV'"
ready for immediate departure. Ahuirsl D.r- S
Inis been appointed second In comtuaal to a*v
ral Milne.
The war risks at Lloyd’s were active tin i ai-r
cing. ■
Parliament meet about the middle of Janirr-
The death of Prince Albert Imp caused a o’,',
profound sensation. There is great svnmrk L
the Queen, who bore the bereavement with m,-i
fortitude. The warmest eniogiutus are passed '
the Prince, ‘ ’
Strong tokens of syrapatbv are tendered from i--
Ircnch and other continental courts, nu 3v J
which went immediately into mourning
Lord Palmerston luis : been ill from -ou* 1-,
was better. 0 '
The Ai-iag news was generally regarded at Ife
as unfavorable for peace. The leading joanvij
continue to advocate French neutrality. 0
London, Dec. 19. — A minor was cui-cr 1
Pads yesterday tliat the French Oovernm :•! fd
sent a note to Russia, Prussia, and Aiiari i.mi;
gesting a common mediation of the great 1W«.
between England and America. The Il&M.
correspondent olwerves that the tender of >®-li ir
diation .would be a menace, and be n>W«ed ra
time very ground. J
The Efficiency of Eifled Cannon.
Col.'Brown, in his report of the attack by F.rt
Pickens upon the rebel batteries, says that I'r.
I tokens at the conclusion .of the fight is in even
respect, save the disabling of one gnu carriage .mi
the loss of service of six men, as efficient ns ii »i;
at the commencement of the combat. He siien; *1
Mcßea and one or two other batteries, and re
duced the' fire of Barrancas, besides destroying the
town of Warrington and injuring the rebel steam-
The conclusions he comes to from the bom
bardment are that brick or stone wadis, at a dis
tance of 2,000 to 3,000 yards, cannot he scriondv
injured by the most efficient guns, nukes’ rilied-
That .shell and shot cannot fire a slate roof build
ing, and arei not to be depended -upon at all U
firing wooden buildings, unless the shells are filled
with incendiary composition; that sandbags ate
great protection to life, -that small gim-boat',
drawing six. feet of. water and aimed with rifiei
guns are of more service than a forty-gun slut,
and that parrot’s rifled gun is much better thin
James’. This efficiency of rifled guns over smoosi
bore has been demonstrated repeatedly, and every
vessel iu the service ought to be provided ui;h
some of these weapons. T’he moment the rehe's
at Fort Mcßea got their rifled guns to lx..tg;:;w
the Richmond, site had to abandon the conteei tr
be cut to pieces. If she had been supplied win
the same kind of ordnance she would have dote
much- more mischief. All the new gun-boate,
believe, are supplied with rifled cannon, which will
make them more formidable in any future open
tions against die rebel fortifications.
Shipments of Arms from Europe.
ITie Hamburg steamer Timtonia, which anftsl
at Now York on Tuesday, brought over serene
five thousand stand of arms, principally rifles i‘ •
the government. The arms are of various kin h;
a few of them are old muskets, but nearly all
new and excellent. The largest proportion of '
shipment was procured in Austria. " The amis i"
consigned to many different houses.
_The steamship Hanaa, of the Bremen life, sh°
brings to this port a cargo quite as Large—a f-''
turn of them from France and England.
The steamer Damascus recently from Liverpool,
is now discharging a quantity of arms and lead -"
Of the former there ire only a few thousand stud
—less than five; but there are one hundred cask*
of ingot lead, each cask weighing fourteen to fif
teen hundred pounds.
It is estimated that nearly a quarter of a million
stand of arms have been brought to this country
during the last form months by the Hamburg li&-
of steamships. .Besides these, a large amount of
war material, including infantry and infantry
equipments, have. been imported from Europe.
The Bremen line, which has kept up a monthly
communication, has of course, though some of the
cargoes have been very large, brought a less num
ber. Bnt during the four or five months past, it
has undoubtedly brought a hundred and fifty thou
sand stand, besides equipments.
A New Cuius.— A singular addition to chiropo
dic science has been {node in the Guthrie Gray
regiment, in service m Western Virginia, where
they were for weeks at » time with wet feet.-"
Their feet bad been so thoroughly soaked that
every com and bunion in the regiment was killed-
We mention this curious feet for' the benefit ot
those troubled in this manner* and hope that ere*
ty man so afflicted will immediately enlist.
®“ It is estimated by the package received kj
Adams’Eaprese and through other sources, that* l
least five thousand roa»t«d atnbey* were sent to the
soldiers of the Potomac during the holidays.
|Mttootta i
SisOCoAXs T
ijiw Yiua's (hunom. —Gt
. we hope one art all of;
pfifew Year; We ffid not rtl
4adito p«8 you by last week, ai
require but a glance to asc
| How do yon like oor new
f Hnir each one to form his own
be permitted to say for ourselrw
yaat and pretty hard t
the State. In typograp
fed'rtre that we ore not- exc
! ciajpjs to superiority in oilier n
I nothing. Our renders are the
E with them we rest our case; Us
I editors are jealous as well as mo
one has his own opinion 'obont
compositions and selections and
aochkt to others all that we da
is now six years since the
L is issuing the first number <
Tho first two years id
maintained with pccuniaVy loss
I occasionctl partly by the failure
prise, a few months previous, w
[ confidence of the public, and p£
ty of patrons. Notwithslandin
kept the paper up, firmly bdievi
I convince the public that it was
[ tutlon of the place we should I
[ «p quch an establishment as
I town denumded, and that our pa]
I. ly ftdly remimerate us. In the
I have not been disappointed, altl
[ tion fist is not os large os it sh
I easily be more tlian doubled in
I trv, wore our friends to lend ns n
t now that we have done all we
I a neat and readable paper we
I retiljm, give us their assistance
I tending our circulation.
[ In the future we mean to gin
I the different departments of our
I make it more acceptable to our
I stances over which wc had no e»
[ fore prevented us from making
I we desired, and what'it should
I were not behind our cotemporai
lattj news, but we did Lack in tin
• tor, which, in our opinion, is tie.
paper. Our readers want home
to give them all we can get her
correspondents are equal to the 1
and wc hope to ban
from each of them, although, a*
ers know, it is difficult for thebi
lar; correspondence.
yf e have fitted up our job ol
invoice of new display type, an
1 serpen that we can pow get iq
I nine-tenths of the city offices.
E machine on which to execute t
we: are prepared to get up blani
tion, art blank books, in the ,v<
| Oiir specimens will speak fur
[ and examine.
Death on a Kailwav Tb.au
Chronicle, of Monday last, cant
notice of a death which occun
car attached to the Express T
through this place on Satunl
The deceased, ft appears, got o
sey City, on Friday afternoon, :
the sleeping car, and soon nth
the night. Nothing more v;
Saturday morning, when he v.
in his berth. Neither the
officers of the train knew anyt!
ceased, but the body, on its urri
tiffed as that of George Amok
trqfce, Westmoreland county,
employed os a traveling agci
firtn. He was on his way horn
death, and at the very moment
reached Latrobe, his wife wai
awaiting his arrival. It was uc
what the deceased bod died.
g3* Printers always live in hi
tuhotcly, they often die in d<
that their delinquent patrons wi
and they sometimes hope for a i
our State or National -tegisi
have even aspired to the Presid
Their aims are high, a
they moro frequently hit their r
er*. What we aspire to is of
present. What we hoped I° r w
Npw Year’s dinner. Whether t
ever be reached we do not knot
been realized, for, on Tuesday
were the recipients of two fine
dqnation of a friend who, for
remain incognito to. ns. Whoc
bqs a heart in the right place,
that whatever he shall put his i
per, and that be may live long
thp pleasures and honors of thi:
ifsw Dekxu, Pbepabatio
shown a couple of set of teeth j
ner.’bf this place, on what ii
base, a new discovery* said to I
thing yet discovered, and if tfa
appearances, it certainly is enp
Mafiy who have used the gold
discarding them and having dei
Oorelite base. The material, I
isjed, is soft, and pliable, enab
tgke a more perfect impression
basing vulcanized it is hard as
fiyct that there is no metalic n
from all galvanic ocrion
tyufics. AH those who conten
\ intend having artificial
caD sod examine Dr. B.h new
: Huamta Dose.— The b
The time for sboorii
■M poftridgea. expired yeste
attiy hope that no one wtb I
yme, w break the tor,this
t*» have notbeen very euecea
W of enow. We tore i
toothiapiace, thisscasoo— per
to last year. If
to*# -that proportion ki
toAtodant next year. The
Bob WhtteV feaAy
wltmed oat,,