BEDFORD, PA.. FRIDAY, JAN. 6, 18G5. 1864—1865. The New York Independent has a pertinent ed itorial in its last issue, which we give below, as Well adapted to our own readers.—Says the Inde pendent : •"The Old Year goes, the New Year oomes now as ever since tho birth of Time. What hopes are justified by the promise of the opening year? But first let us reverently thank God for all His mercies, and specially for those which History will identify with 1864. Prominent among these, let American patriots be grateful— I. For the fortitude and patient courage evinced by our people in view of the reverses and losses with which this year was ushered in, particularly in the South-West, where it had been reasonably and confidently expected that the Rebellion would bd thoroughly and finally crushed by the combined operations of Gens. Banks, Steele, and others. Ample means, it was believed, were provided; they should have been so wielded as to restore to loyalty all of our country that lies Westward of the Mississippi. The campaign failed; Gen. Banks was, defeated and driven back with heavy loss; yet the the Loyal Millions, though sorely disapointed, were not disheartened. So also of their expecta tion that Lee would he routed and Richmond ta ken by Gen. Grant's resolute and sanguinary of fensive operations in Eastern Virginia. The heart of the Nation beat time to his advancing footsteps, but did not faint nor sink when he was stopped by the enemy's deadly fire from behind impregnable retrenchments. 11. For the ability vouchsafed to our people to maintain the pecuniary solvency of thoir Govern ment under every phase of discouragement and depression. The bankruptcy of the Treasury must have been swiftly followed by an ignomini ous end of the War through the proclaimed la bility of our Government to persist in it. Yet m the darkest hours of the Contest —and some o them have been very dark—our National promises to pay have retained their value and currency, and the ability of our Government to borrow, though weakened, has never been suspended. 111. For the wisdom as weH as humanity where with we have been enabled to resist every tempta tion to inaugurate—or, rather, to accept—a gener al massacre of prisoners as a necessary incident of our struggle against slaveholding treason. It has been the manifest intent of the more hialignant Rebels to force on us this direrlterna tive. Their massacres of disarmed, pleading, and even wounded men at Fort Pillow and elsewhere can have had no other motive. Yet, though in humanly butchered by the traitors, our soldiers have not retaliated, and our Government has nev er been driven to disregard the more merciful dic tates of the laws of War. We have long held a large excess of Rebel prisoners ; many of them are natives and citizens of States ineontestably loyal; nearly all their field officers Have sworn allegiance to our Government and been educated at its cost; yet none of these have suffered death at our hands, save by wouDds received in fair conflict. May it so continue to the end ! IV. For the Christian temper and spirit in which the struggle has on our side been prosecuted. Though the Rebels hate us, we do not hate them. They seek to do us evil; we wish to do them good. They would gladly give our cities to the flames and our fields to desolation; we would cast out the devil that rends them, and see them sitting clothed and in their right mind. They seek co humble and abase us; we lavish our blood and our substance to make the South the garden for which Nature evidently designed it, bitt which Slavery has hitherto forbidden it to become. The lunatics whom we are constrained to bind will yet thank us for their earthly salvation. V. For the strong delusion which led the Op position, by their representatives convened at Chicago, to proclaim so unmistakably their sym pathy with the Rebels and their wish for a Peace which should give those Rebels a complete tri umph. Their speeches might have been brushed aside as mere ebullitions of individual feeling, but their Platform was an authentic exposition of their real designs. And that Platform was so clearly unpatriotic that they are constrained to ignore and evade it from the moment wherein Victory first unmistakably i-radiated the flag of the ll nion. VI. For the tide of successes which, commen cing with the easy capture of Atlanta, rolled ma jestically down through the brilliant exploits of Farragut in Mobile Bay, the three vicoriesofSher idan in the Shenandoah Valley, to the grand march of Sherman through Georgia, and the utter dis comfitures of Hood in Tennessee, leaving the Unionists masters of every field, with the pros pect of further triumphs as decisive, at no distant day. VII. For the glorious accord of People and Ar my, citizens and soldiers, evinced in our Presiden tial Elections; the former giving a majority of Three Hundred Thousand, the latter over One Hundred Thousand, for Mr. Lincoln's re-electiou; the men who are in the field, braving every hard ship and courting death for their country's sake, spurning the lures of easy fighting and early peace made contingent on McClellan's success, and vo ting three or four to one, for Lincoln and the War. —Such are some of the auspices which 1864 has given to 1865, and which justify our fervent hopes that the year now opening will see our country honorably rescued from the perils which environ her, or leave her still nobly confronting them with dauntless courage and unshrinking purpose. We ardently hope for an early Peace based on the in tegrity of our country and the Freedom of all her People; but, if that be still distant, then we hope for a vigorous and resolute prosecution of the War. Why More Men are Needed. The New York Pout says: "The question at is sue now is nothing less than this—Shall the war be closed in another campaign, or," shall we per mit it to drag on for another year, or, perhaps, two or three years ? If the country comes to the help of the armies in the field, Lee's army can be destroyed within sixty days; and in that case the rebels will not have a single formidable army east of the Mississippi. But if Lee can maintain him self for six months longer "auother army can be raised by the rebels in the South, togive us troub le, and to face us even if Lee were destroyed. It is of the most vital importance, therefore, that our armies shall be so strengthened, at Once, as to gain this required success over Lee before any other rebel force can be organized and be put into the field." A couple of whales appeared one day a week or two ago, ia Nantucket harbor. They have probably heard of the discovery of the petroleum wells, and /eel an interest in the price of oil. A whale's sense of self importance must be graduated like that of the negro slave, who crowed over his fellow darkies be cause he ww " waf" several hundred dollars the mo et. The XVlth Congressional District. The Attorney Goueral of the State, Hon. Win. M. Meredith, having given an elaborate opinion to the effect that neither Gen. Koontz nor Gen. I Coffroth was entitled to the certificate of election in consequence of the confused, conflicting, defec tive, illegal and unsatisfactory nature of ttco returns respectively made to the Secretary of State by the majority and minority of the return judges of the district, the Governor, in his proclamation an nouncing the result of the Congressional election throughout the State, which has jnst been issued, refuses in the following "words to give a certificate to either of the contestants: •'And I do further declare that no such returns of the election in the Sixteenth Congressional dis sr.o + have been sent to the Secretary of the Com monwealth, as would, under the act of Assembly of 2d July, 1839, authorize me to proclaim the name of any person as ha ving been duly elected a Member of tne House of Representatives of the Umtnd States, for that District." Messrs. Koontz and Coffroth will now have to appeal to the House of Representatives to which they claim to have been elected. That body will refer their case to the Committee on Elections, which will inquire into the facts and report there on, when a decision will be reached. In the mean time, neither gentlemen will be permitted to take his seat as a member of the House. Maryland. At the election in Dorchester county, in Novem ber, a secessionist was elected Senator, thus giving the rebel sympathisers a majority of the two in the Senate. Asthemanthuselectedwouldnottake the oath of allegiance, even to enable him to vote, and was unwilling to take the oath prescribed by the new Constitution, on takiug his seat, he resigned, and Dr. Carroll, the Union candidate, has just been chosen to fill the vacancy, by 225 majority.— This makes the Senate a tie, and the Lieutenant Governor, being presiding officer in that body, will have the casting vote. He is a sound Union man; so that on all political questions, the Mary land Senate will be all right. IMPORTANT PEACE RUMORS. Several of our exchanges, have what they style 1 'highly important rumors'' in regard to an alleged mission to Richmond. We give them as we find them. ari d for what they are worth. To begin, we quote fi lolll the National Intelligencer : It is sta/ €( l the personal friends of Francis P. Blair. Sr. i that he has gone to the front. Ru mor has it tha r he is charged with duties requiring p.-immiinieatinn with the Confederate government! or possibly a visit (Pon invitation) to Jefferson Davis himself The New York paP cr -S as usual, enlarge upon these rumors, and the Washington correspondent of the World writes : There are many rumors in connection with the departure of Mr. Blair, all of of an impor tant political character. Among titose which seem to obtain the most credid are two, j . 1. That Jeff. Davis sent a special invitation to Mr. Blair, by flag of truce, to visit him at luc h mond, though for what object can only be guess. d at. The quidnuncs claim tliat the result of ti *e interview—should it be held—will have import tin t bearings upon the relations between the Northeri i and Southern States. 2. The other rumor is that Mr. Blrir is charged with an important commission, which can only be executed by direct communication with the Cop federate authorities. The peculiar relations exis ting between the Mr. Blair and the Presiderit tend to obtain more general credence for this re port. The correspondent of the Times, however de clares that if Mr. Blair, Sr., has gone to Rich mond, he has done so "without the knowledge of high officials'' at Washington. The Washington correspondent of the Herald, writing on Sunday night, says: The fact that F. P. Blair, Sr., and Montgomery Blair have gone to City Point, is making quite a sensation to-night. Various rumors are in circu lation in regard to the object of their mission, that which gains most credence being that they have gone for the purpose of meeting representatives of the rebel government. Some parties argue that this is the inauguration of peace negotia tions ; but nothing reliable can be ascertained in regard to the matter. The New York Tribune says : Our last dispatch from Washington states that Messrs. Francis P. Blair, senior, and his son Montgomery have gone to Richmond, and that it is understood that tßeir errand is one of peace— or, perhaps we should more accurately say, to see whether any termination of our national struggle is now attainable. We presume their mission is not in terms official; but it were absurd to pre tend—considering who they are, and what are their personal relations to the President —that it is unauthorized. The New York Herald says: A most important rumor reaches us from Wash; ington, to the effect that Francis P. Itlair and Montgomery Blair, his son are on their way to personal conference with Jeff. Da vis, with a view to bring about a peace between the North and South. The intimate personal re lations of the Blairs with Mr. Lincoln, and their intimacy with the heads of the Confederate Gov ernment, will give this informal Peace Commis sion a large share of publi consideration. It is meet and proper that the opening of a new year should be signalized by an attempt, at least to end this murderous and wasteful war. May Heaven smile upon this effort to bring peace to our dis tracted country! The Call for Volnnteers—lmportant Circular. The following is a copy of an address issued to the people of Pennsylvania, by Major Dodge, A. A. Provost Marshal General. Our readers should give it a careful perusal, and act accordingly.— Every man is interested in the matter, and should assist in filling quotas in the manner mentioned : ATTENTION ! —The President ha 3 called for 300,- 000 troops, to be raised by volunteering or draft. The 15th of February, 1865, has been fixed upon as the day of draft. If your quotas are not filled by volunteers by that time the deficiency will most certainlv be made up by draft Ward and Township committees are earnestly invited to commence work at once. The longer you delay the more difficult will be your task. The attention of these committees is also invi ted to the necessity and propriety of delivering up to the District Provost Marshals all delinquent from former drafts. It is impossible for the United States authori ties to find these men, secreted as they are by their friends and by persons hostile to the Government. Committees, United States, State and County officers, and all good citizens are requested to ar rest these men, and deliver them to the Provost Marshals. Every man so arrested and put into service by the Board of Enrollment counts one toward filling your quota. . „ . _ Information by letter or otherwise, furnished to DLtrict Provost Marshals, of the whereabouts of these delinquents, will be thankfully received and promptly acted upon. Provost Marshals will cause lists of delinquents from all former drafts to be made and distributed, to the end that all so disposed may understanding ly assist in forcing these delinquents to perform their duty to their country and to their own peo ple- Bring in all your delinquents ; exert yourselves to put in volunteers, and the necessity of a draft wilt be avoided. Our armies and navies are everywhere victori ous. The dawn of peace is at hand. One powerful blow now given, will be fatal to the Rebellion.— Let us all, in our several capacities, and as far as in us lies, unite to make that blow effective and final. RICHARD I. DODGE, Major 12th Inf., A. A. P. M. G t Haniabnrg, Dec. 22, 1H64. THE WAR FOR THE UNION. FROM WILMINGTON. Report of Admiral Porter. Effectjof the Explosion of the Powder Vessel. The Combined Attack on Fort Fisher* SIX OF OUR PARROTT GUNS EXPLODED. Letter From General Butler. THE ASSAULT BY LAND ABANDONED. Kort Vis tier Utiirei tired. by tlx© Bom' . bartment. Special Western Associated Press Dispatch. NEW YORK, Dec. 29. —Admiral Porter's full report of the operations against Wilmington is re ceived by the Navy Department. It is dated tit* 10th. off New Inlet, from the flag ship Malvern The following is devested of the report: The attack was opened on the 24th with all tli iron clads and heavy vessels—the smaller vessel being held in reserve previons to making the a| tack. A torpedo on a large scale, supposed t contain powder enough to explode the magazine f the fort, was carefully prepared under eomman of Commodore A. C. Rhmd, and exploded under the fort. So much had been said about the terrible *- suits of the powder explosion recently, in Englr that great results were expected from the ex pig ment The boat selected wtvs the Louisiamail after being prepared at Noiffolk she was towd round to Beaufort and filled with powde /. Th Louisiana was disguised as a blockade rjnnark painting her white and adt ling another sinoi stack. Every preparation fiir her succet & wa s coi pleted at Beaufort. Gen. Butler had arrived at l -he rendezvous pj vious to the concentration of the flo.et, and evjy effort was made to have as briei 1 ' delay as possifc. On the 18th Admiral Porter sailed from Beii fort for the rendezvous, twenty miles east of Nw Inlet, and found most of th e fleet assemftd there. On the 20th a heavy gale spr: uig up, which se fleet managed to ride out with- rat accident, k oept the loss of a few anchors. The transpo#, being short of water, and not fitted for sevle weather, put into Beaufort and i emained until te storm was over. n i Ou the 23d Commodore Rhend. was b make ready to explode his ton >edo Under F(|. Fisher, and at 10:30 P. M. the L ouisiana startej in tow of the Wilderness. As so on as the enibn sures of the fort were in sight th e Wilderness cat off and proceeded under steam to within two huj dred yards of the beach and five hundred frot Fort Fisher, where she was aneh ored. A blocf ade runner went in directly ahead of her, therelj enabling Commodore Rhend to m ake all his prf arations without suspicion. After everything was ready the fuses were lil ted, and the" party escaped to 1 he Wildernd. which iinmcdiately steamed out to sea. The t plosion occurred at forty-five mvnutes past kc o'clock, on the morning ot the 24 th, and wasbt at all like what was expected. T1 le vessels inl.e fleet were shaken hut little. At daylight the i-t moved in, and at 11:30 A. M., the attack las commenced. It was opened in flue style, by he New Ironsides, followed by the Max ladnook, !;:- nOnicus and Mahopac. Seventeen guns rpe counted on the northeast face ; only five wertjs ed. and these were soon silenced. The Minnesota and other large vessels next tk their position and delivered their fir e rapidly \s soon as they opened, the fire was so severetts to drive the enemy to the bomb-proo t's. and <ty n plied from only one or two guns. Smaller fn }K at.s then took their position according to ords, am 1 joined in the fight. In an hour ' and fiftn mil. utes after the tight began the ei lemy's gi completely silenced. Two mat azotes wo K'owi >up and several buildings set on tire. <jr fine w. us then slackened, but still kept up in e host* of attracting the attention froru the trtif. ports w itk troopß - Butler came at sunset with new troooi and prep, irations were made for renewing the fij) in the nwv . , e , , , Dunne t he heaviest ot the attack one hun'tac and fifteen i hots per minute were, fired. The st mt's trims w 3re silenced so quickly that no on-n the fleet was. 'wired by their fire. Six one luu 'rcl pounder parrot guns onjl e fleet exploded i'tilling and wounding in the a| > eate forty-four officers and men J>se elu sions were on the 1 Tiwmderoga, \ antic, Juria. Mackinaw, Quake * City, and Susquehanna,|,d were attributed tc the defective character ofiie guns. The Macina w was perforated MLherboL, and had ten persont hadly scalded The 041-ji was struck near her magazine, and made wier rapidly j but was saveo ? throngs the exertioniof her officers and crew. _ The action of the Que ker City, Keystone Site; Sassacus, Santiago da Ct 'h ;i hort Jaeksonlri mentioned, and also the t rooklyn, Colorado, H, quehanna, Mohican, Pa\ vhattan, Ticonderojis Shenandoah, Pawtuxet, . anderbilt, Minneso: and the Monitors. The ofh cers and men mm . out of the action with contain nt ior the rebel ai tillery, and were anxious to ren e , w th® fight. On the morning: of the 25th ti \ e transports hin arrived and a conference was hela Wlt " Genera: Butler and Weitzel to decide upot 1 the place c attack. It was decided that the flee should r< new the attack, while the army landeJ and mad an assault. _ Seventeen gunboats, under Captain Glessor were sent to cover the landing of the troops.- Other small vessels were afterwards sent, and b u sing their small boats the troops were rapid l , thrown on shore. The shelling was resumed at 7 A. M, on th 2.3 th, the firing being quite slow, with i :e desigi ot ? amusing the enemy while the troops assaulte the fort. The enemy fired but few shots. Th paint of landing was five miles east ol the fleet A.bout 3,900 troops were landed, and moved u to within 600 yards of Fort Fisher. One officer asceuded the parapet and brough away the flag. A soldier killed an orderly am brought off his dispatches. Another fired his gu into the bomb-proof among the rebels. Severa of our men were wounded by our shells. As the ammunition gave out, the smaller ves] sels were ordered to retire, and the iron clads ant heavy vessels were commanded to open with greal rapidity. At sunset all but the iron clads wen withdrawn, the latter keeping up a fire until day light, expecting to cover the assault in the morii ing. General Weitzel sent word that the assaul was impracticable. The army landed at tw o'clock, and commenecd re-embarking at fiv o'clock, one brigade staying on shore during th night, covered by the gunboats. Sixty-five rebel soldiers surrendered as ou| troops landed, and two hundred more gave them selves up to a small roconnoitering party. Th loss of our land forces is not stated. A detach ment of gunboats was send to find an entrance t the harbor, but the channel has been so change that it was not discovered. Where the origin;* channel existed there is now a shallow bar. The general officers are highly complimented among them Commodore lihind and Lieutenan, Preston, who managed and exploded the torpedo boat Louisiana. It is said they had deliberate!;, arranged to blow up the vessel in case the rebel should take it by boarding. The officers and crew, of the monitors are complimented for their pa tience in riding out the gale and for gallantry it action. Admiral Porter closes by saying : There ar about one thousand men left on shore by the ar| my, who have not yet got off on account of tluj surf on the beach. They will be taken off in th*| morning, and the soldiers will then be sent home, In the bombartment of the 25th firing was slot for several hours. The enemy had twenty-nln guns on his upper battery, anu managed to strike several vessels, through without doing much damj age. Accompanying the report is a letter from Gen! Butler, with Admiral Porter's reply. Gen Butle : says : Upon landing the troops and aoeompgnieij Gen. Weitze] in a thorough reconnoissanee of Fori Fisher, 4 thoy were Both of the opinion that the place could not bo carried by an assault, as it was left substantially uninjured by the fire from the navv. There were seventeen guns, protected by trav erses, only two of them being dismounted, the bal ance bearing directly on the beach and covering the only practicable route. Ihe prisoners captured as previously reported, state that Hoke s division from Lee's army arriv ed at W llmingtori the night before the attack. Gen. Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within fifty yards of the fort, while the enemy was kept m bomb-proofs. ! h® dispatch captured on an orderly was an or der from Gen. Whiting to bring a battery of light guns into the fort. A few of our men entered the fort while the. shells from the fleet were falling around them. As soon as the fire of the navy ceased, at dark the fort was manned as fully and opened with grane and canister upon our picket line.— Nothing but the operations of a regular seige would serve to reduce the fort. These were not in accood&wce with the instructions, and as the weather Otttne on unfavorable. Gen. Butler gave orders For re-embarking. Gen. Butler's engineers sustain his opinion that Fort Fisher was practical ly tit".injured by the bombartment. A dnnral Porter, in reply to General Butler's mtt er. said he had ordered large ships to go to Be Attfort, for ammunition, and be ready to renew tb e attack, in case it was decided to continue it— -1 ie stated that they had not commeaced to fire 1 /apidly, and could keep all the rebels out of sight until the troops were within twenty yards of the fort. He was of the opinion that an assault could be successfully made, but if made, he would not wish to place his judgement in opposition to that of Gen. Weitzel, who had made a survey of the enemy's works. In conclusion he said the beach would probably be smooth in a short time, when all the men on shore could be safely taken off. THE FALL OFBA VANNAH. Secretary Stanton, under the date of Sunday eveoeng, 25th ult., sends the following dispatch to Gen. Dix, announcing theeapture of Savannah, Ga. He says:—A dispatch has been received this evening by the President from Gen. Sherman. It is dated Savannah, Thursday, 22d instant, and announces his occupation of the city of Savannah and the capture of one hundred and fifty guns, plentv of ammunition and about twenty-five thou sand bales of cotton. No other particulars are given. An official dispatch from Gen Foster to Gen. Grant, dated on the 22d instant, at 7 p. M. states that the city of Savannah was occupied by Gen Sherman on the morning of the 21st, and that on the proceeding afternoon and night Har dee escaped with the main body of his infantry and light artillery, blowing up the iron clads and the Navy Yard. He enumerates, as captured, 800 prisoners, 150 guns. 130 locomotives in good order, 190 cars and a large lot of ammunition and materials of war. The dispatches of Gens. Sherman and Foster are as follows: GEN. SHERMAN TO THE PRESIDENT. SAVANNAH, Ga., December 23d.—IIis E:cc/I leiicy President Lincoln; —I present to you, as a Christmas Gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammu nition and also about 25,000 bales of cotton, [Signed] W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER'S DISPATCH, STEAMER GOLDEN GATE. SAVANNAH, Decem ber 2 3d, ip.M. Ghnend Grant and M"jor-Gcn eml Htdl-eck: —l have the honor to report that I have just returned front General Sherman's Head quarters at Savannah. I and Major Gray, of my staff, are bearers of dispaichesfrom Gen. Sherman to you, and have also a message to the President. Savannah was occupied on the 21 st. Gen. Har dee evaded the contemplated assaut with the main body of his infantry and artillery, on the morning of the 20th, by crossing the river to Union, oppo site the city. The rebel iron clads wore blown up and the Navy Yard burned All the rest of the city is in our hands, and contains 20,000 citizens, well behaved. Thecaptures include 800 prisoners, 150 guns, 130 locomotives, in good order, 190 cars, a large supply of ammunition and material of war, three steamers, and 33,000 pales of cotton, safely stored in warehouses. All these valuable fruits of an almost bloodless victroy have been like At lanta, fairly won. I opened Communication with the city with my steamers to-day, taking up what torpedoes we could and pa-sing safely over others. Arrangements are made to clear the the channel of alLobstructions. Yours, &c, J. G. FOSTER, Maj. Gen. Return of Ilutler's forms to Fortress Mon roe—Admiral l'orter still bombarding Fort Fisher. FORTRESS MONROE, Dec. 30. Nearly all the steamers comprising the portion of the expeditionary fleet under the commr.nd of Major-General Butler, which sailed hence several dayssiuce, have returned in safety, notwithstanding the severe storms along the coast", and while au- W ilmington. N. 0. The Santiago de Ouba and Fort Jackson have been the only vessels attached to the naval fleet which hare as yet arrived from off Wilmington, and the latest advices received from Admiral Por ter, repres< nt him as still subjecting Fort Fisher to a vigorous bombardment ' The Norfolk Regime of to-day contains the fol lowing correspondence, from off Fort Fisher, da ted the 27th of December : "The Shore 3 strewn with broken boats, most ly naval, which have been wrecked one way or the other. They lie strewn along the beach, from Fort Fisher to Masonboro Inlet" "The North (Carolina saltworks, at Masonborof destroyed by fire last Saturday. Many of he navy vessels have withdrawn from these wa i irs, and the hoi übardment may be said to have t rnie to an end. "In my last letter it was insisted that there was, ro m some cause, a want of co-operation between he army and the navy. I think that I established hat fact, but let cue say, to avoid all mistake, hat there were in dividual instances, and quite a mm* >er of them, where naval officers acted in con :ert t nth the army." Tw* > hundred and fifty of the North Carolina •eserv es, capture* 1 by Major General Butler in the rieinit: ■ of Fort Fisher, disembarked from the iteamer Baltic yesterday afternoon, en route for ?oint L ookout, A [arvland. "Brat g reports that with his present means Hid disposition of his forces no danger need be apprehended, 'rlad reinforcements arrived soon er, wc might have captured many prisoners. The inemy drew up in a semi-circle and poured a cen- Hc fir*? into fort Fisher, destroying every house jnd ploughing up the ground. There was anoth r heav. y gale last night-'' The c* widition of these prisoners is exceedingly rretche* 1, many of them being wihout blankets r overcoats, and in some case they were shoeless. Svo-thir* Is of the number apparently had not yet cached th e age of twentv-one, while the rernain tg third of them ranged between the age 3of twelve ;IM sixteen years. The Rebel Movements to "Astonish the yorld." J Rebel deserters recently reported that the au thorities at Richmond were discussing and matur ~BS a moverue at which would astonish the world. ITj .is effect wo uld doubtless be produced if the fallowing, from the Alexandria (Va.) Journal, is Worthy of credit in connection with that subject 'Viz iH \Ye learn from persons who seem to have been "■formed in regard to the secrets of the secession leaders that a plan was seriously discussed by the libel authorities for the sudden massing of all ''taeir available f< >rce in Virginia, in the event of 'meir affairs bet joining desperate, and marching ' ilto the Northern States, with the determination 't| conquer a peace or die in the attempt. Ladies' and Children's Hats. • The latest style* at CHARLES OAKEORD A SONS Continental Hotel, Philadelphia. i-Jj Ladies* Furs. KUtf reiy upop getting the best Furs at JItARLES O4KFOKD A SONS, Continental Hotel, ['Xbiiiidelpbia. WASHINGTON. The Heralda Washington special says: The prisoner question is just now a subject of seri<>u consideration, au i apprehensions are entertained that it may he made a subject of congressional in vestigation, when it may possibly appear that our own government is not free from blame in contin uing the suffering of our Prisoners. The lebols officially allege that do the best they can, and have invited our government to send for our prisoners and bring them home. The Times special says: Notwithstanding there was an agreement made some two months ago be tween Gens. Grant and Lee that each of the par ties should send blanket# and medical stores to their prisoners, nothing has yet been done. The rebels, however, have been and are still engaged in ;nding supplies to their prisoners. The Commercial Advertiser Washington spe cial savs; Rumor are current of the evacuation of Richmond by the rebels. The aspect of military and naval news is very en- couraging. A Washington dispatch says: A rebel spy was recently captured near City Point, upon whose person elaborate drawing and descriptive sketches of our defences in this locality were found. It is stated that when taken he was on his way to City Point to complete his mission, by examining the inner line of works at that place. WasIIINfProN, Dec 31—Col. Seaton, after an active service of more than half a eentury, announ ces that after to-day the proprietorship and edito rial management of the National Intelligencer will pass into other hands. James C. Welling also re tires from that establishment. The trial of Col. North, New York Military- State Agent, and M. M. Jones and Levi Ochn, will be concluded Tuesday. It has been pending Before the military commission a month and a half. Pardon Worsley, the detective and spy, on whose information a number of merchants of Washington and Baltimore were arrested some weeks ago charged with selling goods to the rebels, has made an affidavit before the proper authori ties that, having played at a gambling-house he lost $3,000 or money belonging to the Government. Consequently his premises have been placed in charge of a military guard, pend ing an investigation into the affair. The commissary of subsistence has accepted a bid for furnishing the Government with corn-meal at $7,85 a barrel. About $400,000 has thus far been expended in payment to the paroled prisoners at Annapolis of the commutation of rations due them while in the hands of the rebels. Up to the Ist inst., 8,000 had received their'certificates. The Tribune' * Washington special says: The returns to the Provost Marshal General's Bureau show that the number of men raised by recruiting is larger now than at any period daring the pres ent year. Deserters report that the reltels are moving heavy machinery from the arsenals and other pub lic works"at Richmond, preparatory to the evacua tion of the city. Official returns show that the number of wound ed in the battle of Nashville to be less than three thousand. A gentleman from Savannah says thepeople are quiet and satisfied with the change. Tney insist that the tono of the rebel leaders and newspapers did not represent their own feelings. There is no doubt of their readiness to return to the Union as soon as the Government authority can be fairly established. CONGRESS. MONDAY, Dec. 10. SENATE. —A petition was referred to the Judiciary Committee, from citizens who had lost United States certificates asking for indemnity. A petition from three thousand citizens of New York, asking for the abolition of slavery, was referred to the com mittee on Slavery. The citizens of lowa petitioned for the repeal of the Reciprocity treaty. The Mil itary Committee reported the House bill to enable aliens who have served in the army and the navy to become citizens of the United States. Mr. Grimes introduced a bill to create the rank of Vice Admiral in the navy, which was referred to the Naval Com mittee. Mr. Doolittle introduced a resolution au thorizing the President to expend ten millions of dollars to build fortifications and floating batteries for the protection of the lakes and frontiers from attacks of piratical and hostile expeditions orga nized in British provinces by enemies of the United States. A long debate ensued, and the order of Gen. Dix. and the recent raids from Canada, were fully discussed. The resolution was finally referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Lane introduced a bill to enable the people of Colorado to form a State government. Also, a resolution au thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds to pay for feeding refugee Indians. Mr. Brown, of Missouri, offered a resolution calling for the facts concerning the arrest of Lieutenant GoL ernor Jacobs, of Kentucky, which was laid over- The House, resolution relative to the adjournment for the holidays was concurred in. A bill to pro tect Missouri from periodical invasions was in troduced. HOUSE.— Mr. Rice introduced a hill to create the grade of Vice Admiral in the Navy. Mr. Arnold a bill to establish a navy-yard and depot at Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Wilson a joint resolution declaring what States are no't entitled to representation in the Eleotoral College. Mr. Grinneli a bill to amend the revenue laws by changing the time for levying the tax on whisky. Mr. Brown a bill making appro priations for the repair and preservation of govern.- ment harbors on lakes Superior and Michigan. Mr. Davis offered the resolutions declaring that Con gress has a constitutional right to an authorative voice in declaring the foreign policy of the United States, which had been reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and laid on the table. Under a calll of the previous question the resoltitions were adopted. The Committee on Ways aud Means re ported a bill providing for an additional duty of fiftv cents per gallon on all spirits of domestic production held for snle on the first of January, 18f>S, and al tering from February to January, in the ooth section of the internal revenue bill. A demand for the pre vious question on the bill was not seconded. After some discussion the additional tax on whisky was stricken out, and the bill passed. The House then went into Committee of tne Whole, and Mr. Spald ing, of Ohio, made a speech. Adjourned. TUESDAY, Dec. 20. SENATE. —A petition was received from the Mother Superintendent of the Sisters of Charity, stating that the Sisters wear a certain uniform, man ufactured only in France and asking for a reduction of the duties on the same. Also, petitions for an increase of pay of army officers. The House bill to extend the time allowed for the withdrawal of cer tain goods from public stores was passed. A bill to increase the number of cadets in the West Point Military Academy, and to raise the standard of ad mission to the same, was introduced by Mr. Wilson, and referred to the Military Committee. The Naval Committee reported a bill to create the rank of Vice Admiral in the Navy. Passed. The Com mittee on the District of Columbia was instructed to inquire into the expediency of requiring all residents ot the District to take an oath of allegiance to the government. The Committee on Foreign Affaffs reported a substitute for the House bill relative to the termination of the reciprocity treaty. Ordered to be printed. Mr. Wilkinson offered a resolution instructing the Secretary of War to extend to the rebel prisoners treatment similartothat received bv our prisoners in rebel hands. Mr. Johnson objected and the reso'ution lies over. The resolution rela i tive to the arrest of Lieutenant-Governor Jacobs, of Kentucky, after some discussion, was called tip, and after being slightly amended, was passed. The joint resolution to free the wives and children of colored soldiers was taken up, and was opposed by Mr. Davis. No final action was taken. A com mittee of conference was appointed on the bill to establish a Bureau ofFreedmen's Affairs. After an Executive session adjourned. THE LEGISLATURE, Tk® General Assembly convened on Tuesday last. , ™ enate was called to order by the Speaker W J. Turrell of Susq. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, being intro duced, presented to the Senate the returns of the election for Senators during last year. The returns were read by the Clerk, and the following newly elected members were declared elected, viv: Philadelphia—C. M. Donovan. Chester, Delaware and Montgomery—Horace liov or. Bucks —0. P. James. Lehigh and Northampton—George B. Shall. Berks—Hiester Clymer. M. Randall. Lycoming, Union and Snyder—J. WJU. Bkir, Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata and' Perry—L. W. Hall, Kirk Hainea. Allegheny—T. J. Bighorn. Crawford and Erie—Morrow B. Lowry. Pursuant to the requirements t>l the Constitution, the House assembled at 12 o'clock, and was called to order by the Clerk of the House. The Secretary of the Commonwealth was introdu ced, and presented the election certificates of the Members of the House of Representatives. The contested election case - of the candidates for membership from the district composed of the coun ties of Somerset, Bedford and Fulton elicited con siderable discussion ; bnt was finally decided by a majority of the members voting in favor of the clerk adding to the roll of the House the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes, Mr. Moses A. Ross, of Somerset county, and Mr. D. B. Arm strong, of' Bedford. Remarks were made on the subject by Messrs. Brown, Pershing, M'Clure, Sharpe and others. The House then proceeded to the election of Speaker. Mr. Brown nominated Mr. A. G. Olmstead, of Porter county. Mr. Spangler nominated Mr. Geo. A. Qnigley, of Philadelphia. The following is the result: Arthur G. Olmstead received 60 votes George A. Quigley " 3G " Mr. Olmstead having received the highest number of voteßcast, was declared duly elected Speaker. jkaj) Comspmkntt. CAMI* 2D N. J. CAVALRY, NEAR MEMPHIS, TESXESSEIS, December 20th, 1864. EDITOR INQUIRER: For several days past the weather has been dreary, wet, miserable: bnt as I write the clouds are breaking away in the East, the thermometer is fall ing rapidly, and the indications are that Jack Frost is determined to pay us another visit. One conso lation, he does not tarry long- About a week ago we had a severe hail storm, snow falling at tha same time at Cairo to the depth of seven inches. I should not be surprised if we would be visited with a " drive "of snow before long. The air to-day feels very much like it. Our regiment, together with the other regiments of the brigade, which had been under marching orders for some time, but were prevented from mooring on account of the severity of the weather, received orders night before 'ast to be ready to move the following morning, rain or shine, They were to carry nine days rations hard bread, coffee and sugar, and three of meat. Pack mules "toted"' the ammunition, camp kettles and other needful things. Onr regiment mounted some nine hundred men, more than all the rest of the brigade- At 7A. M., yesterday (horning they took up their line of march, the rain pouring down in torrents. Reach ing the bank of Wolf river, opposite Raleigh, they found it had risen so rapidly that it was impossible to force a passage and would be compelled, for the present, to abandon the expedition and return to camp. No force was discovered further than a few pickets, who beat a hasty retreat. They accord ingly retraced their steps, reaching camp about 4 P. M. The roads were in a horrid condition. The men have orders not to disturb their rations as they will be called on again as soon as the condition of the roads and streams will justify the attempt. A large number of infantry and cavalry have been shipped in here from other parts of late, and the expedition, when it moves, will comprise a very large number of the latter. Its destination, it is j thought, is Corinth. Last Wednesday a cavalry patrol of the 4th lowa was sent eastward on the Poplar street road. When a short distance beyond the lines they were sur prised by a large force of bushwhackers, and, after a sharp contest, compelled to retreat with a loss of several men killed and wounded and some prisoners. Reporting shortly afterwards at headquarters, a force was pent in pursuit The bushwhackers are supposed to belong to Ford's command, from the fact that he has been operating in the above locality for sometime past, and has on several occasions at tacked and " gobbled up " small scouting parties. The Captain commanding the patrol was among the prisoners taken. Yesterday General Canby published an order di recting the military authorities in his command to conform to the requirements of the President's Ex ecutive Order, and to the Order of the Secretary of War. respecting the purchase of cotton, on the basis of allowing one-third the price paid for it, in sup plies. That the cotton trade will be gone into energetically, by the officials designated bv Govern ment to carry it on, is evidence by the fact that the Government has placed to the credit of the pur chasing fund, jt 2-50,000, in the National Bank of Memphis, for the use of the purchasing Agent. Cotton is now arriving in the city. On Sunday one hundred bales were delivered here from New Or leans, and yesterday one hundred and B'Xty-four Imies arrived from Helena. Arkansas. It is said that large quantities are awaiting shipment from below. As yet no passes or p'ermits have been granted here. It is thought, however, that there will be an order from Gen. Daua, in a (lav or two, in compliance with the orders of Gen. Canby. It is confidently affirmed thai large amounts are awaiting beyond the lines, the issuance of the necessary orders, to be brought in. The glorious triumph over Hood, cannot fail to improve the prospects of the State of Tennessee, ai i to decrease, materially, the obstacles to business. To-day we have pews of another victory gained over Hood, capturing thirty pieces of artillery and many prisoners. The good cause moves steadily on. One last great battle for the right, One short, sharp struggle to be free! To do is to succeed —oar fight Is waged in Heavens'approving sight The sinilo of Uod is victory." 7 A. M., DECEMBER 21ST.— The brigade again took up its line of march this morning. Notwithstanding the roughness of the weather, the different regiments cheered as they tiled into the road. As I finish the rain has agaiu commenced to pour down, and the day bids fair to be a wet one. Yours truly, ALBERT SMITH. SIGNAL CORPS, 11. S. A., HEADQUARTERS ARMY 1 POTOMAC, December 2qth, 1804. MR. EDITOR : I am at leisure for a few hours and I thought per haps a few lines from a soldier Boy of old Bedford, wogld not coine amiss. There is no news of importance here at present, except of Sherman and Thomas. I presume you have heard of them. I have never heard such cheering in my life, as there was when the news came to camp. Ihe troops are in high glee over the greatest victories since the war, it disheartens the rebels so much that it seems an impossibility for them to rally again. One more blow like the one Gen'ls. Sherman and Thomas have given them, will hurt them so bad they will be glad to lay down their arms, and return to the good old Union. 1 see by the late papers, rhat the President has ordered another draft of " Three Hundred Thou sand more,'' how that pleases the old soldiers; they know it will not be so hard tor theui. Nothing pleases or cheers a soldier up so much as to see support coming up, and then it, makes it look more hopeless to the rebels. They have but one orga nized army at the present time, and that is the one on our immediate front. My opinion is by the 4th of July next, it will be so badly demoralized that it will not be able to make a stand. Gen. U. S. Grant, is the man to bring things straight, he says Petersburg and Richmond is ours before many months. There has been considerable heavy firing, North of the James river for several days past, and I think bv the sound it is the gun boats, some say the celebrated Dutch Gap canal is aompletedj but for the truth of the story I am unable !to say. If such is the case, you will soon hear of the fall of Fort Darling. The rebel deserters tell us it looks dark in Jeffs. dominions and I think the same, for they have not gained a victory for some time. We all think the day is not far distant when peace —a lasting and honorable peace, will come once more to our now distracted and bleeding country. We soldiers are all anxious for peace, I presume the People North are as much so as we are. To-day is Christmas, and a merry one it has been in this army. The boys all enjoyed themselves very well on "hard taek' : and ''salt pork.'' 1 was out to sec the 138 th Regt. Pa. Vols., (the regiment I formally was a member of) to-day and they had a splendid dinner presented to them by the loyal cit izens of Montgomery county, Pa They had roast turkey, chicken and beef, pies and cakes of every description and apples, in fact, they had every thing a man could wish tor. I hope the folks at" home enjoyed themselves as well as the times would permit. 1 have not time to write any more, I remain sir, your obedient ssrvatat, JAMES A. GILCHRIEST. Priv't. Signal Corps, U. S. A*
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