csenti-Meeitly 61ohe. WM. LEWIS, Editor and Proprietor A. TYIIURST, Associate Editor. T THE atkas" in pobliehrul twice tt week et $1.50 a year-75 cents for as mouthq-50 reran fur duce muntlm—gn advance. HUNTINGDON, PA. Tuesday afternoon, April 29, 1862 Our Flag Forever 0 V? 0 0 0 NOTICE; We have not the time nor the incli nation, to dun personally, a large num ber of 'persons who have unsettled ac counts upon our books of several yelirs standing. Me shall, therefore, from day to day, without respect to persons, place into the hands of a Justice Tor collection, all accounts of over two years Win aiLiihese who wish to save expense, will do well to give us a call immediately. I,§l THE` NEINS. We have no very important news by Ibis morning's mail. The fall of New Orleans .has oauseth a glorious feeling throughout the loyal States. The most intense 'excitement exists around Norfolk', and the people were in great-fear of . ; an attack- by,general Burnside. Many eitizens• were leav ing Norfolk for u. , place of refuge. Further - intelligence from General 'Wilke'. column, states that another skiiiiitsV had talcon , place with liShb?s Cavalry on Staidhy, find that the ene my were, repulsed: - - Qur loss was one man hilletraiidtt&iweunded. It is stated by the contrabands who arrived at Fortress Monroe with the news of the fall of New Orleans, that the new• prow of the Merrimac is twelve feet long, and made of wrought iron, steel pointed. - Coin. Foote has repeated his request for a temporary leave of absence from the sphere of active duty. He gives as a reason, we regret to add, that his wound still disables him from active duty. WE IIAVE no news of the fall of New Orleans, "except the meagre reports given in Virginia newspapers„ But it appears that after all the boasted prep arations-fgr:the defence of the city, not a baud was raised to resist the Federal forces after Forts Jackson and St. Philip were passed. .A despatch to a Richmond paper of the 25th of April, says that On the previous day a Fed eral gun-boat had succeeded in passing the forts. - Another despatch, dated Mobile, saysthat. - at 4 o'clock on last Thursday, April 24th, the fleet passed the forts. As soon as the news reach ed New Orleans, there was great con sternation. __Cotton was set on fire, and so were all the'steamboats except Such as were needed to carry off am munition„the ,specie fromthe_banks and other'piOperty: At o'clock on the afternoon , of the same day, the fleet appeared in front of the city, and the telegraph -operator just took time to send the news -to Mobile, and then shut up his shop. Doubtless New Or leans was occupied by our forces on the same _day." Before Yorktown. The - people of Pentisyli-ania must not forget that we have fifty thousand sqldiers,before.Yorktown. , Fjff,y thoa- Pand,men, and all from Pennsylvania, aving theirsrelations and their affec tions in every circle. There is some thing grand :and glorious in- this fact and something too that should awaken the energy of every man in the State, that we may be prepared for the issue of that fight. We must prepare our homes for the reception of the wound ed—and we must prepare our devotion for any bereavement .that is likely to follow the issue of theikmpending fight at - Yorktown.' PennsylVani a has more than a national existence and reputa tion at stake in this contest. She has immdaalityi be won at, Yorktown, TUE REBEL CONGRESS.—The Rebel Congress adjourned on Monday last to the second Monday in August. The bill organizing a battalion of sharp shooters was passed on the last day.— The flag and seal report was indefinite ly postponed. R. ..11.f. T. Hunter was elected President of the Senate pro tern. Resolutions of respect to the memory of John Tyler were adopted unanimously, on Saturday. The rebel Senate passed the'llouse bill appropri ating $1,500,000 for' the construction of a railroad between Galveston and New Orleans. , TILE LATE rains swelled the Juniata considerably; and we hear of several breaks in the canal above and below this place, which caused a temporary suspension of the boating business for a few days. All the breaks, or nearly all, have been repaired by this time. Iv is SAID of a certain animal that the more you stir it up the more it stinks. Just so in the case we are now considering. Gen. Speer had a speech published for two weeks in the Shirleysburg Herald, and a correspon dent writing to us over the signature of "Peter Pindar," charged the Gene ral, and Timothy Titcomb with cloth ing their thoughts in the same lan guage, verbatim et literatim, Titcomb having the advantage of the General in one particular, namely—of having his published in book form before the General had thought of anything of the kind. In reply to Peter's article, the General says that he (Peter) has "lately become the back-door editor of the Globe." Why, General, you have made a discovery. We were never aware of the fact before. We always considered that we were able to edit our own paper. Perhaps it was only a delusion we have labored un der, and you have brought us to real ize the truth. But for the General's attack on us, through pity, we would have bad nothing to say about his speech, but in his very lame defence of the plagiarism, he wanders from the truth, and we think he ought to be corrected, hence, this article. We in form the General that we have read his speech in Titcomb's chapter on Educa tion. We advise him, the next time he entertains the school teacher's of Shirley township, to not have his re mai•ks published, and the people will never know but what his production is original. Another thing, "discre tion is the better part of valor," and if you had not written that article in last week's Herald, the subject would have been dropped with Peter Pindar's article. The more you stir the animal, the more it will stink; therefore, go and sin no more. • THE SIEGE of Yorktown is still pro gressing, with now and then a slight skirmish to vary the occasion. The rebels are ascertained to have three lines of batteries, with great numbers of cannon. Their troops are probably as numerous as our own. We do not believe that'a fight will take place for weeks. If it does, an immense loss of life must ensue. Gen. McClellan is too humane a man not to avoid this, if possible, and he will probably drive the rebelsfroin their position by strate gy, the same as at Manassas, or force them to a still more gratifying surren der. WE CALL the attention of our read ors to the letter, in another column, from Rev. John D. Brown. It is a highly entertaining document, and will be read with interest by his numerous friends in this vicinity. lie promises to write frequently and give us a his tory of the customs, manners, &c., of the inhabitants of India where he has taken up his abode as a Missionary.— We hope he may be successful in his good work, and after his mission has ended, return home safely to his friends Oust YOUNG friends, Sergeant Robert Stewart and Harry Miller, both mem bers of Captain Huyett's company, of the 110th, arrived home on Saturday evening, from Winchester. Harry Miller has been down with the typhoid fever• for some time, and looks consid erably worse for the wear. Sergeant Stewart is hale and hearty, and weighs something less than a ton. Both gen tlemen participated in the Winchester fight. Bob tells some rich jokes on the secesh ladies. PERSONAL.—CoIoneI 31'Crum, of the Altoona Tribune, paid us a pop visit on last Thursday, and we are sorry that we could not entertain him het ter, but we presume he will pardon any breach of courtesy we may have omitted, for we were tugging away at the " devil's tail." The Colonel is a first-rate fellow—as all editors arc—and prints (no flattery) a "leetle" the neatest paper on our exchange list.— Vice la MeCrtun. DEATII OF GEN. SMITIL-TllO Union has lost one of its ablest defenders, and Pennsylvania a noble, upright citizen, ever zealous for the public good. Gen. Charles Ferguson Smith died at Sa vannah, Tennessee, on Friday last, from an illness contracted at the time of his occupation of that town. The deceased officer was a son of Dr. Semi. B. Smith, of Philadelphia. NORMAL SCHOOL.-Mr. Luther P. Whipple, who has taught the Ist male school of this borough for the last two years, has opened a Normal School in the basement story of the Baptist Church. Mr. Whipple is an excellent scholar, and proposes to qualify young ladies and gentlemen for the responsi ble duties of school teachers. MuslcAL.—The gentlemen who so kindly favored us with a serenade one evening last week, will please consider our beaver elevated in the most ap proved a la mode, with a wish that they may call soon again and gladden our hearts with their " concord of sweet sounds." EnvenTrox.—Rev. S. H. Reid will deliver a discourse on Education, in the German Reformed Church, of this place,- nest Sunday afternoon, at Si o'clock. The well known ability of this gentleman to treat on any subject, will not fail to- attraot a crowded house on this occasion. THE public schools of this borough opened their summer session on Mon day morning. LIE REBELS have been obliged to re sort to conscription, and that odious process is now going on in every part of the bogus Confederacy. They claim that by the I st, of May they will have an army of seven hundred thousand men. How will troops obtained in this way stand before our daring, eager volunteers GEN. Snmr.ns has been appointed by the President, a Major General. He has so far recovered front his wound as to be able to command his forces in person. Cor.. Joint W. GEAtty, of the 28th Penna. Regiment, was confirmed a Brigadier General on Friday last. ANOTHER MATCM Massey' and Richardson had another shooting match on Friday, at the Warm Springs. They shot eleven boards, at five dol lars a board, and Richardson won six out of the eleven, thus coming of vic torious this time. A COMPANY of sharpshooters, from Minnesota, passed through this place on Saturday, en route for the seat of war. They were a fine looking set of men, and appeared eager to get a shot at the rebels. Foreign Correspondence. Letter from India. LuuKsow, February ], 1862 FLUEND LDINVIS :—lfere 1 am sitting in one of the most truly oriental cities in India. It would take days to write to you about everything worthy of no tiee,l have seen since my last commu nication* was mailed to you, so I shall merely tell you a little with pen and ink, hoping some day=many years hence—to interest my friends at home with - a few lecture's on India. During our stay in Calcutta we , visited Doctor Duff's College. In the institution we found about 800 students studying their own language and the English.— Among them are several converts to the Christian faith. They are just fin ishing a good education and expect to I enter the missionary work. know of no man better qualified for the po sition lie occupies, than the venerable founder and president. Many of your readers will remember that Doctor Duff visited America some years since, and not only shared the hospitality of our people, but raised the greater part of the money for the erection of his College in Calcutta.— The old gentlemana warm-hearted Scotch nan—took great pleasure in showing us through the different school rooms.. The students are, for the most part, generally children of the higher classes, and are quite intelligent look ing lads. In the library we saw a round table nine feet in diameter made of one. board. From the top of the. building—all buildings here have flat roofs—we looked down on THE BURNING on.vr in which the natives burn their dead. The smoke was curling up from the top of the building while the body of some poor—or rich—llindoo was be ing turned to ashes. Those. of the na tives who are too poor to purchase. five annas-15 cts.--worth of wood to burn their dead, merely char the mouth with a burning brand, then throw the body into the Ganges, where it be comes a prey to the hogs, crocodiles, &c. TATTOOING Nearly the half of the natives have their faces tattooed in the most ridicu lous manner. This is done with some kind of paint which being pricked in never comes off. Many also shave their heads, leaving a small tuft of hair sticking up on the crown. At almost all times in the day one may see these poor, deluded creatures fl'orshiping the Ganges. I think a filthier stream never flowed, yet it is nothing uncom mon to see the natives filling their mouths with the mud and also rubbing it over their bodies. Indeed, we saw them frequently walking about the city with streaks of this sacred mud on their forehead and cheeks; of this, more anon. A VISIT TO THE GODDESS KALEE Daring our peregrinations through the city we found time to visit the temple of the goddess The temple is a small affair, so constructed that the front is thrown open during the day, that passers by may see the dcityand pay her homage; or, at least, contribute a few pies to the old Brah min priest who takes care of the deity.— Kalee stands upon the body of a pros trate victim. On her head is a glitter ing crown, and over her shoulders is thrown a flashy robe. Her tongue protrudes and is red as if dripping with blood; around her neck, and extending almost to her feet, is a necklace of hu man beads. She has four arms and hands; in the first she holds a bloody sword ; in the second a gory human head ; in the third a symbol of peace, and in the fourth an offering. Around her are images of various kinds, and before her lie fruits and flowers—the gifts of her ignorant votaries. As we turned away, the old Brahmin asked us for " Bucks heesh "---a gift—but we felt more like giving him a little Amer ican boot leather, and the old she abom ination a tumble into the fire. SHOPPING IN THE BAZAAR Wishing to make a few purchases, and finding that we would have to pay exorbitant prices at the English stores, we concluded to go to what is called " Old China Bazaar." These Bazaars are small . buildings, on either side of very narrow streets. A soon as we entered the Bazaar we were surround ed by shop keepers, offering their wares, &e. Every one would tell us that his goods were the best, and that the other " Baboos," as they call their merchants, would tell lies and cheat us. They never make a practice of telling you the right price of any thing, but when you ask the price, they will name a figure about twice the value, then when you refuse to pay so much they will ask you bow much you will give. We found cotton and woolen goods about as cheap as in America, but almost every thing else is much more expensive. TRAVELING UP THE COUNTRY. On the morning or the 234 we left the groat city of Onleutta and turned our times toward the north-west. We came by railroad about 130 miles to Runegunge. There we took coaches for 370 miles to Alahabad. These coaches are built very low and are drawn by one horse. Two of us rode in one, and our trunks were carried on the top. Each horse takes the coach five miles. They are diminutive crea tures, and are almost invariably balky at fleet, but after they get started, they go at a terrible rate. The roads are the finest lever saw in my life. There is but one hill of any importance on the entire road between Calcutta and Lucknow, a distance of over 000 miles, and so smooth that'one can sleep quite comfortably while driving at full speed. While riding along we met caravan saries of camels carrying immense bur: dens. Asses of a very small size would frequently go trudging by with loads of inercha»dize, &c. Bullock carts we met by hundreds. These are the means of transportation throughout the entire country. The country through which we passed is beautiful indeed. Fields of grain in all stages of advancement, were to be seen on every hand. We saw much most excellent wheat. Some just up, some out in head, and some quite ripe. When I speak of fields I do not want my read ers to get the impression that there are fences here, for such is not the ease. The cattle are all in flocks and each flock watched by its respective shop. herd, as in the days of Abraham.— Flowers of the richest colors arc blooming everywhere in gardens such as Americans seldom see. Even now while I am writing, there are four large vases filled with most magnifi cent flowers on the tables around me. The ,government has provided " Bun galous " along the road at which trav elers can procure chickens, milk, su gar, &c., but it is only at the largest that one can procure bread. We car ried bread and a few jars of jelly with us, so that with fresh potatoes, peas, &e., we lived very well during our journey. At Sherghotty [ saw the first leper I ever beheld. lle was a miserable looking object. Ms hands and feet were nearly eaten cif, and he went on his hands—or rather on blocks of wood fiistened to his stumps—and on his knees. Acting according to the Bible custom he did not come near us, but from a distance, asked alms, which we threw him with a willing heart.— Of beggars in India there is no end. But of all these things I purpose speak ing in a course of letters, on "Manners and Customs in India." At the city of Benares we stopped a few hours to rest. This city has a world-wide re nown for the manufacture of wooden toys, of every possible description.— This, by the way, is the custom in In dia. Each city is devoted to the man u fiteturing of a particular article : thus, Benares makes toj,*Cawnpore saddles and harness, Moradabad carpets—all cotton—Barull3- furniture, ate. As we passed along the narrow streets we observed recesses in the front of almost every house, filled with images of va rious shapes and sizes—the household gods of the poor beings whose. hearts and minds are still beneath the death shades of idolatry. To the honor of the English government we found a large and well endowed college in the city, in which a great many young men are receiving a fine education.— At Alahabad, another large city, on our course we made no stay, as we were anxious •to get on to this place where we expected to meet some of our missionary brethren and their families. Rev. Walsh, the author of "The Martyred Missionaries" resides here. We had met with him in Cal cutta, but could not accept his invita tion to stop and visit the mission in that place. He was Providentially on a visit to America at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny, and thus escaped the fate of his co-laborers here. At Cawn pore we saw the well into which the unfortunate victims of heathen cruel ty were thrown headlong during the mutiny. In the evening at SP.M. we left Cawnpore and reached this place at daybreak the next morning. To attempt a description of this city would be folly on my part. I may, however, say it is the grand old ruins of former magnificence. Ten thousand ' houses were utterly demolished during the mutiny; and it is said one hundred thousand are still standing. The iron bridge over the Goonteriver—a branch of the Ganges—built by ono of the former Icings, is an imposing structure. Of course the object of most interest to the traveler is "The Residency" in which a few English soldiers and citi zens so nobly defended themselves du ring the long seige, before they were reinforced by the forces under the il lustrious General Havelock. 1 cannot describe my feelings while passing here and there through the shattered buildings. I passed through the gate way in which Neil was shot, mid stood beside his grave in the Residency Cem etery. I saw the room in which Sir Henry Lawrence was mortally woun ded by the bursting of a shell from the enemy. A tomb is erected to his mem ory and the following inscription, by his own request, is placed upon it : " HERE ITES HENRY LAWRENCE, WHO TRIED TO DO lIIS DUTY." The buildings are so completely rid dled with shot that scarcely a spot, a yard square, can be found that has not the mark of a ball. The old Residen cy stands to-day as a monument of the awful effects of war. I became ac quainted with two or three persons, who were in it during the seigo. For many days they had nothing to live upon but a little water and a coarse kind of grain, used for horse-feed; and to add horror to their position, they were almost out of ammunition. The palaces of the former kings of Oudo are still grand, but are crumbling slowly away. At Lucknow we met three of our missionaries, who, with their families, have been in India for some years.— One of them—Rev. Ralph Pierce—was once a teacher in Cassville Seminary, and inquired, particularly, after sonic of his pupils, Messrs. Corbin and Speer, of your town, and others in the county. I was glad to be able to give a fitvora ble report of some of them. Hope they may prove themselves worthy of the remembrance of so excellent a man as Mr. Pierce. My letter is already lengthy, so I must, stop, Your old correspondent and friend, P. S.- CITY OF 1110RADABAD, March 1, 1862. This letter was not closed in time for the mail one month ago, and, un fortunately, my time has been so much taken up, that I *have not mailed it up to this time. We arrived at this city on Saturday, Feb. 15th, after traveling by land and sea nearly 20,000 miles, during more than six months. Here we ex pect to make our home for sonic time, to commence our labors in a heathen land. Strange as it may seem, the Globe— a dear old friend—was here almost as soon as we. May it never cease its visits. Farewell. J. D. B. * We aro sorry to say that we never received the corn munleal ion alluded to.-81,e. k.&" Gen. Siegel bas been very sick with typhoid fever. /dee' There are now no armed rebel soldiers in Missouri. n The Charleston Mercury says " it must rain blood before the South will yield." That would no doubt be a rain of terror. Ziss - A rebel account of the battle of Pittsburg says that many of the cap tured Union banners bore the inscrip tion " to Corinth or hell !" ge' An, army of 600,000 men carry on their shoulders 15,000 tons, and eat 600 tons of provisions, and drink 1,200 hogsheads of water per day. KV- Great Britain is largely increas ing the production of flax as well as of cotton. "King Cotten," by the time he quits fighting, will find but few subjects. Aug" A New Orleans paper of March 20th states that a company of 103 young girls, armed and equipped for the war, was to embark the next day from that place. The Confederate papers are longing fot " Yellow Jack" as an ally to rebellion against the Federal troops. Does the Confederacy intend to send commissioners to negotiate ? ugaj,„ The number of graves found in the vicinity of Manassas, is said to ex ceed three thousand. The Rebels, from estimates made, lost by disease at that encampment over five thou sand men. to_ A story has been started that the Prince of Wales has contracted a secret marriage with a beautiful Irish girl whom he met and fell in love with while at the military camp on the Cur ragh of Kildare. ttgA„, Joseph P. Woodbury, of Boston, a somewhat noted inventor, has devised a bomb-proof vessel, armed with guns to fire effectively under water, with which he proposes to sink such vessels as the Merrimac,. ge. The rebel prisoners at Colum bus, Indianapolis, Chicago and St. Louis, are said to have gained ten pounds apiece upon an average since their capture. It would seem as though we had taken them to fatten. 1 . „. Gen. liunter states that in the fall of Fort Pulaski we captured 47 puns, 700 shot and shell, 10,000 lbs. powder, 360 prisoners, with small arms and provisions, with loss of one man killed and not ono wounded. De rs , Dr. Reilly, who was wounded at Pittsburg, by a Minnie ball, says the sensation was similar to that °fa smart blow. There is nothing of a piercing, cutting or a tearing pain, the swift missiles' taking the nerves entirely by surprise, and deadening the adjacent parts before sensation can begin. nes.. The Louisville Journal says as " the steamboat Fitzburg came up the river with prisoners last Saturday, on nearing West Point, all the prisoners cried " Hurrah for the Union," except one, who shouted "Hurrah for Hell." There seems to be but two parties now —one 'for hell and the other for the Union." Alexander Hamilton once said to an intimate friend : "Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies just in this : when I have a subject in hand I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I ex plore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. The effort which I made the people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought." A Historical Event-•-Visit of the Presi dent to a French War Vessel. The President's visit to the French frigate Gassendi, on Saturday last, was an event of historical importance. It was the first time a President ever went on board a foreign ves sel-of. war, and the first French vessel•of--war that ever came to Washington. The Pi esident was received with all the hon ors paid a crowned head, being the same as are usually shout n the Emperor of France.— The yards were manned, the ship was dressed with flags, the American national ensign float ed at the main and the French flag at the fore mizzen and peak. The national salute was fired on the President's arrival and again on hiedeparture. Admiral Itamten received him at the foot of the ladder, and the seamen shouted " Viva LE PRESIDENT !" on his arriving and leaving. Captain Gautier entertained him hospitably in his cabin, and presented the officers of the ship. The President was attended at the landing by a full guard of marines and the band, who played the National airs, Captain Dahlgicen and the other officers of the yard receiving him in a body. The President was accompanied on bhard by the Secretary of State, and Captain Dahl green. The French minister was aboard to receive him, and present his countrymen.— The reception was a gratifying ono to the Pres ident, and the affair passed off to their mutu al satisfaction, and was deemed a happy au gury fur the future amicable relations of the two countries. The Navy Department is desirous of learn ing the address of Mr. Birney, the inventor of the combustible shell. THOUSANDS of persons have read with as tonishment the accounts that historians give of the conduct of a large number of women in Paris during the reign of terror throughout France. The women are said to have been fiercer and more bloodthirsty than even the fiercest and most bloodthirsty of the men.— The she-devils had more of the spirit of hell than the he-devils. They were loudest in their clamors for" blood !" " blood !" "blood r and every morning they thronged around the guillotine, some of them taking their knitting or their sewing with them and sitting•all day to behold the heads - of the victims rolling into the executioner's basket. . . Many of our people have supposed that the accounts given of these things must surely be fictions or exaggerations. They have felt themselves unable to conceive that woman's nature could become a thing so utterly revolt ing. But, if they will look and listen in this region at the present time, they will find that they have no further reason for incredulity or skepticism. The hitter and ferocious spirit of thousands of rebel women in Kentucky, Tennessee, and other States, is scarcely, if at all, surpassed by that of the female monsters that shrieked and howled for victims in the French revolution.-40nissille Journal. J, D. BROIV:si m. Au assortment of 00.4 Photo graphs at Lewis' Book turc; Short Paragraphs, WAR NEWS. From General Halleok's Division. Heavy Cannonading Heard in The Di rection of Pittsburg.—A Battle Suppo sed to be in Progress at Corinth.—The Union Gunboats at Huntsville, Ala bama. [ASpecial dispatch to the Chicago Times.] Cnicano, April 25.—Cairo passen gers, by the Belle of Memphis, say that at Savannah they heard heavy firing in the direction of Pittsburg. The cannonading was brisk, and gradually grew louder, being heard for miles this side of Savannah. It is the belief that a general engagement was brought on, which is strengthened by the fact that on Wednesday significant preparations were made by Gen. Ilalleck for an at tack. Our gunboats on the Tennessee bad effected a passage Over the muscle shoals, and penetrated as far as Hunts ville, Alabama, where they captured a quantity of rebel commissary stores. From the Tennessee River. Steamers Fired into by Guerillas.—The Lower Mississippi Fearfully Overflow ed.—Great Loss of Property. CAuto, April 25.—The steamers Belle of Memphis, and Choctow, from Pitts burg Landing on Thursday morning, arrived last night. They were fired into thirty-five miles below Pittsburg by a band of guerrillas, from behind dwellings on the left bank of the Ten nessee river. The Choctaw received seven shots, and her mate was killed. The Belle of Memphis received twelve shots, mortally wounding ono negro boy on board. The roads at Pittsburg are i mprov i n g. Skirmishing of pickets continue. The river there is still rising. The lower Mississippi is fearfully overflowed, causing the greatest loss of,property over known. Rebel Account of the Bombard ment of Fort Jackson. FORTRESS 310.NRDE, April 25, 1862. To the lion. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: The Norfolk Day Book, of this morn ing, has telegrams from New Orleans, dated the 23d inst., from which the following information is Obtained ; There was a heavy and continued bombardment of Fort Jackson, which was still progressing. The rebels in the. fort represent themselves still cheerful, with an abi ding faith in their ultimate success. They state that they are making re palm as befit they can. Their barbette guns were still in working order, though most of them had been disa bled at times. They assert that we had fired 25,000 13-inch shells, of which one thousand had fallen in the fin t. They think our ammunition must soon be exhausted, but assert that they can stand it as long as we can. The Rebel Congress has adjourned. eons Assistant Secretary of War. FROM YORKTOWN The Enemy's Works Shelled by One of the Gunbont3.—Firing Along the En• tire Line. it BEFORE YORKTOWN, April lip ; ,, be principal event of yesterday u rth mentioning was the shelling of York town by one of the gunboats. She moved up to the mouth of Wormly's creek during the morning, opening a well directed tire on their works, which was promptly answered by the rebels. The boat then fell back a distance of three miles from Yorktown, when she again opened, the shells exploding each time within the enemy's works; but obtained no response. A few shots were fired during the day along the whole line to keep the rebels from strengthening their works. No one injured. It is raining this morning but the indications are that it will soon clear up. The object of the flag of truce that went to the enemy's lines on Tuesday, by order of Gen. McClellan, was for the purpose of exchanging four rebel prisoners for a similar number of our wounded in their hands in order that they might be bettor cared for. The answer showed that they were dis posed to comply with the General's re quest, but the wounded had been sent to Riehinond. Nineteen Rebel Vessels Taken in the Rappahannock WASHINGTON, April 25.—The gun boat Yankee has arrived from the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, Va., and reports that one day this week the Anacostia, while passing Lowry's Point, on the Rappahannock, was fired upon by a small body of rebel infan try. She threw a few shells, thus rapidly dispersing them. The flotilla is still actively engaged seizing rebel craft. In all, nineteen rebel vessels have been captured. FROM PORT ROYAL Fort Jackson in Possession of Our Troops.— The Union Pickets Within Four Miles of Savannah.—Large Ar rival of Cotton. NEW YORK, April 27.--The 31creury states, on the authority of the officers of the steamer Boston, that Fort Jack son, six miles below Savannah, is 'in possession of our troops, and that our pickets are within four miles of Savan nah. The steamer Atlantic from Port Royal with dates to the 24th inst., brings eighty-five prisoners from Pu laski and 1957 bags of uno Q inned and 36 bags of ginned cotton. 'She brings no news. Official Despatch from Gen. Wool. HEADQUARTERS OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT, April 26. To the Hon. Edward Stanton, See repuy of War. Assistant surgeon Warren, uncon ditionally released with 17 prisoners and four attendants, arrived horn this evening from Norfolk. They were the wounded left on the field in the affair of the South Mills. The troops of the United States 'con sisted as reported, of 3,000 men, under the command of Brigadier General Reno. The Surgeon says the rebels repor ted that they had only a Georgia Reg iment and three pieces of artillery. The Norfolk Day Book reports a heavy bombardment of Port Jackson, on the Mississippi river. • Major General Lovel is represented as saying that it was terrific, .I . (was still continued at the latest advices. (Signed) JOHN B. Moor., Raj:Gen GLORIOUS NEWS 'I FROM FORTRESS MONROE,,- DISPATCH FROM GEN, WOOL. CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. Great Excitement in the City.—.2ll - artial Law Put in Full Operation.—Destrue tion of Cotton and Steamboats. - To Hox. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War Fon•ranss MoNnon, April 27.—A fu gitive black just arrived from Ports mouth, brings the Petersburg Express of yesterday, which contains the fol lowing dispatch : Donn, April 25.—The enemy pass ed Fort Jackson at four o'clock yes terday morning. When the news reached New Orleans the excitement was boundless, martial law was put in full force and business was completely suspended. All the cotton and steam boats, except such as were necessary to tra n spo rt corn, ammunitiki &e., were destroyed. At one O'clock t,o-day the operatOrs bade us good bye, saying the enemy had appeared before the city. This is the last we know regarding the fail. Will send particulars as soon as :they can be had. The negro bringing the above re ports that the rebels have two iron clad steamers nearly completed, and that it is believed that the Merrimac will be out to-morrow. [Signed] JOHN E. WOOL. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OP THE RAPPAHANNOCK, April 27, 1862. To lion. E. 2i. Stanton, ,Secretary of War. I have just returned from the camp opposite Fredericksburg. I was told the - Richmond Examiner, of the 26th, had been received in town, announcing as follows: " New Orleans taken—Great de struction of Property, Cotton and Steamboats—Enough saved to take away Ammunition—Great Oonsterna, tion of Inhabitants." IRVIN M'DOWELL, Maj. Gen [ln addition to the above, we• might state that his excellency 'Gov. Curtin, last night received a dispatch from the Secretary of War, announcing the capture of New Orleans.—Harrisburg Telegraph.] FROM OEN, BANKS' COAIMAND The Enemy Still Betreating.—Deserters from. their -Ranks Coming into our Army—ReconnoissaneetowardsStitun, ton.—The Pursuit of Jackson.-800 Rebel _Deserters. CAMP NEAR SPARTA, April 25, via Washington, April 26.—Several tlesor tors and refugees corrObOrato the pre vious reports that Jackson, after flying from our advanco column on Friday last, pushed -forward to a -point - one mile north of Harrisonburg, where - a turnpike branches to the left, passihg Magargheystown, the south fork, Or the Shenandoah; the .Blue-. Ridge, and running thence to Gordonvillo. Jackson's wagon train had boen pushed towards Staunton, but hearing that the town was in the 'possession of the Union troops, • ho remanded it to Harrisonburg. At an early hour on Saturday morn ing, Jackson, with his whole force and train, took the Gordonsville pike, and at the latest accohnts'had reached Ma gargh eystow n. On Saturday night a' squadron` of the First Vermont Cavalry, while scouting the Luray road, beyond: the Massanutten mountain, fell in with a body of the enemy's cavalry. , A skir mish ensued, resulting in the capture of seven of.tho enemy and eleven of their horses. None of our men were hurt, but n lieutenant had his horse shot under him. The inhabitants of this lovely and fertile valley, although they gave-an almost unanimous vote for Secession, now sincerely regret it, and appear well pleased in the belief that the war in Virginia is nearly at an end. Fresh meats and breadstuffs abound in this section, and the owners are not dis posed to conceal or spirit them' way beyond our reach. Jackson's retreat from this valley has had a beneficial effect upon the vol unteers and drafted men from'Rock ingham and the surrounding` counties; Large numbers of thorn are daily corn, ing into our lines and delivering them, selves up. It is stated that hundreds of them are now in the Massanutten mountains, hiding from Ashby's scouts, and only waiting an opportunity to escape and claim protection from Gen. Banks. One who came in - yesterday reported that ho found a cave a few miles hence, where there were con cealed sixteen refugees and deserters, who will probably come into camp to. day. A portion of Ashby's Cavalry are scouting both sides - 'the Mountain near Harrison, watching our move monts and endeavoring to catch deser ters. The maid body, however, are believed to have gone with Jackson, wherever he may be. The refugees and deserters are turn ed over to Lieut. Col. I3atchelor, pro vost marshal, and aro examined by Colonel Clark, of General Banks' staff. It is a fact worthy of notice thatthe Confederate hospitals are models of comfort, convenience, and cleanliness. At Mount Jackson, three large two story frame buildings have been re cently constructed on the most ap proved plan, being lathed and plaster ed, and divided into appropriate wards. The ceilings aro high and the ventila tiou perfect. They are capable of itc-- commodating six hundred patients, and will be occupied by our sick. The wagons are actively collecting forage 'and other supplies, which aro more abundant here than they were in