THE tllEiT REBELIIOH.
EVACUATION OF COLUMBUS, Ky.
Rebels at Murfreesboro Surrouuded.
Destructiveness of the Rebels.
Gen. Halleck and the Prisoners.
WASHINGTON, February 29,1862.
The Secretary of War this evening received
a dispatch from Gene. al Bucll announcing that
onr troops bad taken possession of Nashville
without opposition. The rebels abandoned
every thing in their flight. A vast amour tof
stores of various kiuds fell into our hands.—
The Uuion sentiment is represented as being
very strong among the people in and about the
city. Intelligence bus Also been: received by
the Secretary that Columbus is being evacuat
ed, and that the rebels are erectiug fortifica
tions lour miles above Memphis, for the pro
section of that city.
CAIRO, February 28, 1362.
The following is t. special dispatch to the
Chicago Tribune:
The rebel army in their retreat from Nash
viile left I,GOO sick and wounded, destroyed
all the briugos, burned nil the steamboats but
one, which escaped. The Texans fired the
city in many places;, hut the citizeus extin
guished the flames. The great majority of the
property owners remained. The excitement
was intense. Gov. Harris made a speech, aad
said that he had done all he cou'.d, and he was
going tc leave and advised them to follow.
Wo lcaru from a gentleman thoroughly con
fersant with Keutucky that the rebels are
dismounting their lirgc guns at Columbus, and
that the wo"k of evacuation is now going on.
Several transports are lying at Columbus to
carry off the troops. Every man coming into
Colutnbus is impressed ; tveu farmers with
their teams. Several hundred negroes were
rent into the interior yesterday. This is from
a trustworthy source.
The Rebel War Department has called on
Tennessee for thiriy-two regiments.
An official dispatch received at Kuoxville,
says that an ample force will advance from
Richmond to protect East Tennessee.
Gov. Harris has taken the field in person.
The report of Gen. Beauregard's illness is uu
founded. He left Corinth for Columbus on
the 19th.
The Memphis Avalanche of the 24th says
persons reported to have left Gen. Johnson's
command say that he entertains no doubt of
his aoility to enter Nashville whenever he
wished to do so.
CHICAGO, February 28,1862.
A special to the Tribune, dated Cairo, 28th,
states :
A report from Murfreesboro states that the
rebels have concentrated at that place, and
that Gen. Buel! had surrounded them so that
none cculd escape. The rebels offered to sur
render their position if allowed to march out
with the honors of war.
Gen. Buell refused, and demanded an uncon
ditional surrender, and said he would allow
two days for consideration, aud if the place
was not surrendered at the expiration of that
time, be would open fire upon them. The time
expired this morning.
ST. LOOS, February 28,1862.
The Memphis papers of the 19th instant
say that Gen. Polk issued orders yesterday
that the track of the Memphis and Ohio Rail
road should be torn up, preparatory to the
evacuation of Columbus and the demolition of |
the fort ideations there. The Columbus forces
are to fall back to Island No. 10, about forty- !
five miles below Columbus, which, it is said, j
completely corrmauds the river, and can be
fortified with heavy guns, and made impregna
ble against any river attack.
The St. Louis Democrat has a dispatch
dated Clrcrksville, 26th lust., which says that
the rebel soldiers, before leaving Nashville, |
plundered many dwellings and business houses, j
and excited great alarm among the people.— j
Several rebels were shot by the citizens whom I
they were robbing. Gen. Nelson is in com i
maud at Nashville, GOD. Buell being still on j
lh*e north side of the river. The Union senti
ment is very strong, and our troops are receiv
ed with the greatest cordiality.
Gre*t indignation is expressed against Gov.
Flarris, who'iraS fairly driven away by the
Uuioc men, they having become bold at the
proximity of b nioii troops, and dariug to as- i
sert their rights. Before leaving, Gov. Harris
made a speech the citizens to
burn their private property, a..d calling on
Ttaneeseeaus to tally and meet him at Mem- .
phis, but no one paid any attention to uim, a-a
it is thought lie will not receive ftny considera
ble rcenforceraccts. .
Gen. Crittenden's commttod ha J joined Gen.
Johnston at Murfreesboro
Tne railroad bridge at Nashville had been
destroyed by order of Gen Floyd, against the
urgent entreaties of the citizens, the oestruc
tion of the bridge eaused much icdiguation.
Gen lla!leek, iu a ganeral order, states that
sufficient information has been received that
the rebels, in evacuating Mudtown, Ark , poi
soned the provisions they were oblige J to
abandon, and that forty two ©tiers and men
were poisoccu by eating the same. He says
we cannot retaliate by adopting the same bar
barous mode of warfare, nor can we retaliate :
by punishing the innocent for the guiby. Tiie
laws of war forbid this Bit the same code
authorizes us to rctahato upon the gniify par
ties. Persons guilty of such acts, when cap
tured, will not be treated as ordinary prisoner?
cf war ; uor will they be shot ; but suffer the
ignominious pnuishmeot of being hung as
felons. Officers of troops guilty of soch acts,
although not themselves the advisers or abet
tors of the crime, will, when captured, be put
iu irons, i.nd conveyed as criminals to these
headquarters. The laws of war make it their
duty to prevent such barbarities. If they neg
lect that duty, they must suffer the couse
quoces.
COLUMBUS CERTAINLY EVACUAT
ED BY THE REBELS.
WASHIMITOX, March 2, 1862.
Toe despatch was received to dey
i n - dated Catrlo, Marcu
from . ro - v
TIR8 R I IN V M, EENT WSTJL
Lieutenant Commanding I
a flag of truce to-day to Columbus, has '
moment returned, and reports that Columbus
is being evacuated. He saw the rebels burn
trig their winter quarters and removing thoir
heavy guos on the bluffs. But the guns in the
water butteries remain intact. He also saw
a large force of cavalry drawn op ostentatious
ly on the bluffs, bat no infantry was to be seen
as heretofore. The encampment seen in our
armed reooouoissance a few days since has been
removed. Large fires were visible in the town
of Columbus, and upon the river banks below,
indicating the destruction of the towu, military
stores and equipments.
A. H. FOOTE, Flag Officer.
It is expected that Columbus will be occu
pied by the Union forces to-day.
DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.
WASHINGTON, March 2,1862.
General Lander died this afternoon, at Paw
Paw, Western Virginia, from the debilitating
effects of bis wound, received at Edwards'
Ferry. His body is on the way to this city,
where his widow resides.
General Lander bad every attention which
his old. and well tried friends around him could
bestow. His death was somewhat sudden. —
It wa p , not until five o'clock this afternoon that
his wife received intelligence of his illness.—
She immediately took measures for obtaining
a special train to proceed thither ; but before
the arrangements were completed Secretary
Stanton called iu person, and with much feel
ing and delicacy acquainted her with the lact
of her husband's death. Secretary Chase and
other distinguished friends subsequently visited
her in her affliction.
General Shields succeeds Geucral Lander
! in command.
Message of Jefferson Davis to the Rebel
Congress.
liALTiMOBE, February 28.
To the Semite ami House of Representatives of the Con
federated Siuies:—
lii obedience to the Constitution and pro
j visiou requiring the President from time to
[ time to give to Congress information of the
gUte of the Confederacy, aud recommend to
their consideration such measures as lie shall
judge necessary and! expedient, 1 have to com
municate that since my message at the last
session of the provincial congress, events have
demonstrated that the government had at
tempted more than it had power successfully to
achieve. Hence iu the effort to protect by
our arms the whole territory of the Confeder
ate Stales, seaboard and inland, we have been
so exposed as recently to eueouuler serious
disasters.
When the Confederacy was formed, the
States comprising it were in the pecuiiur char
acter cf their pursuits aud a misplaced confi
dence in their former associates to a great
extent, destitute of the means of prosecution
of a war on so gigantic a scale as that which
it has attained, the workshops aud articles
were mainly to bo found iutlie northern States,
and one cf the first dnties which devolved upon
this government was to establish the necessary
manu'actories, aud in the meautime to obtain
by purchase from abroad, as far as practicable,
whatever was required for the public defence.
No effort has been spared to tffect both these
ends aud though the results have not equalled
oar hopes it is believed that an impartial judg
ment will upon full investigation, award to the
various departments of the government, credit
for having doue all which human power aud
foresight enabled them to accomplish.
The valor and devotion of the people have
cot only sustained the efforts of the govern
ment but have gone far to support its deficien
cies. The active state of the military prepar
tions iu arming the nations of Europe iu April,
the date when our agents first went abroad,
interposed unavoidable delays in the procure
ment of arms, aud the want of a navy has
greatly impeded our efforts to import military
supplies of all sorts.
1 bad hoped for several days to receive
official reports iu relation to our discomfiture
at Iloauoke Island and fall of Fort Donclson.
They have not yet reached me, aud 1 am,
therefore unable to communicate to such in
formation of the past events and consequences
resulting from them as would enable me to
make recommendations founded upon the
changed condition which they have produced.
Enough is known of the surrcdner at Roanoke
Island to make us feel that it was deeply
humiliating however imperfect may have been
the preparations for defence, the hope is still
entertaiued that our reported losses at Fort
Donelson have been greatly exaggerated, inas
much as I not only unwillingly, but unable to
believe that a large army our people have sur
rendered without a desperate effort to cut
their way through, aud investing forces, what
ever may have been their unmbers, and to
endeavor to make a junction with other di
visions of the army ; but in the absence of
that exact information, which can only be
j afforded by official reports, it would be prema-
I ture to pass judgment, and my own is reserved.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
WHAT WE GOT AT BOWLING GREEN. —Our
success at Bowling Greea, writes a correspon
dent, is much more important than at first sup
posed, viewing it merely iu reference to what
property we have taken possession of. The
rebels did not destroy a? much of their stores
as we imagined, but concealed them iu various
places in the town aud neighborhood, hoping
that they might escape the vigilauteyes of our
quartermasters and ciminissaries. But their
hopes were vain. Such quantities of provL
ious of all sorts, flour, pork, Ac., having been
fouud, that we should have no difficulty iu
subsisting our army for a considerable time,
even it we should receiv no supplies whatever,
from the North. In every imaginable place
these articles have been found—up in garrets,
down in cellars, iu wells, in cWrus, iu houses ;
belongiug to professed Uuiou men,and, iudeed,
in every situation wbicti any individual would
be apt "to select as suitable for concealment. —
This organized system of hidiDg was uot con
fined to~the town. A great many hundred bags
and barrels of corn were discovered coucealed
in the woods iu the vicinity. It was astonish
ing how speedily and surely these were hunted
up' No matter whether the hiding place was
oue, two or a dozen miles off,the hiddeu goods
were smelt out,and a party soon on their way for
the purpose of bringing them iu. I suall uot
pretend to estimate the value of the prope ty
thus captured. I have uot seen the whole of
it, but havo been informed that little less than
a'hundred thousand dollars'worth have been j
found.
Richter Jones' Regiment left
Phildelphia on Monday, and Angeroth's on
Tuesday, for Woshingtou. From Harrisburg,
the Regiments of Colonels Laman, Schlao
decker, Wilson, Campbell, and Meredith, are
! moving on as fast as transportation can befur
- ■* and five more Regiments are to start
uisbeu Usa Thus, twelve more Reg
from Pbiladehpu.- in response
iments are added by Penn*,. "
1 to * recent call from the Governmeu.,
E. O. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
TOWANDA:
Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862.
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.
No active operations in the Army of the
Potomac are reported. Accounts from every
military department received duriug the past
week represent the troop 3as being in good
condition, and that there prevails among them
a vigorous patriotic spirit for aetion in the
held.
General Bauk's division still rests in the
vicinity of Charleston Va. No accident or in
terruption marred his advance. The condition
of the country from Harper's Ferry present
the usual appearance of agricultural prosperi
ty. Negroes are flocking in the lines of Gen
eral Banks in large numbers. Various reports
as to the movement of the rebels at Winches
ter were circulated, bnt as they come from ref
ugees aud-contrabands, no reliance is placed
ou them in the camp at Charleston.
A despatch received at headquarters on
Saturday evening annouuees the death of Gen.
Lander at Paw Paw, Virginia,a town between
Ilomney and Winchester, at five o'clock in
the afternoon General Lander's brilliant con
duct at Rich Mountain, and his energetic
inarch to open the railroad at Hancock, which
won for him the special thanks of Secretary
Stanton recently, will be remembered. Gen.
Lander was wounded at the battle of Ball's
Bluff, from which accident he never fully re
covered, and it is said that his late exertion in
bringing forward his troops in the remarkable
forced march alluded to, eventuated in the to
tal breaking up of his feeble health,on account
of which he some time since asked to be relieved
temporarily from his command. General Shields
has been appointed to succeed General Lan
der, and will enter upon his duties immedi
ately.
The evacuation of Columbus, Ky., is official
ly announced by a report frcm Commodore
Foote. Lieutenant Phelps returned to camp
on Saturday, and states that the rebels are re
treating from Columbus. Several fires were
visible in the town, indicating that they were
destroying the military stores and equipments,
if not the town itself. The Huioo troops were
expected to occupy it yesterday. The War
Department has received such encouraging
intelligence of the restoration of Tenuessee to
the Uuion that it is"contemplated to appoint
Senator Andrew Johnson Military Governor .
of the Stale until the civil government can be
reorganized. With this view it is said that
the Presideut will nominate him as Brigadier
General, and place in his hauds the pleasant
duty of restoring his old State to its original
position.
The Treasury Department ba3 ordered the
eottou taken at Nashville, valued at SIOO,OOO
to be sent to New-York.
As an evidence of the anxiety of the solid
men—Unionists and conservatives —of rebel
dora to reconstruct the business connections
between the North and the South at the earli
est opportunity, we can refer to the fact that
telegraph despatches of a purely busmesschar
acter were received in New-York on Saturday
from Nashville. No sooner do the people in
the capital of Tennessee feel themselves re
lieved from the incubus of secessiou, by the
occupation of the Union army, than they hast
en to restore the old relations with the com
mercial capital of the country. Circumstances
like these, trival as they may appear, show
very forcibly the disposition of the oppressed
Unionists of the South to avail themselves of
their disenthralment. We may look for simi
lar indications from other parts of the South
as the soldiers of the government advance
and break the chains of the overridden peo
ple.
The rebel batteries on the Virginia side of
the Lower Potomac make a demonstration oc
casionally. On Saturday night while General
Sickles was reviewing bis brigade, on the Ma
ryland side, a shell exploded within a few feet
of his position, and on Monday night the Cock
pit Point battery threw several shot and shell,
with what intention or with what effect it was
not known.
Gen. Shields left Washington on Monday
to take command of the late Gen. Lander's
Brigade ou the Upper Potomac.
Nothing of importance has occurred in Gen
eral Bank's division. Nearly a thousand bar
r Is of Hour, belonging to the rebels, together
with a woollen factory, owned by a man of
the ominous name of Davis, well stocked with
cloths, were seized at Charlestown, by Gener
al Banks' troops.
The burning of Columbus by the rebels is
confirmed by news from Cairo, which repre
i sents the appearance there of a terrible con
flagration there on Saturday night.
Despatches from Louisville state that rail
road communication between that city and
Nashville is now perfect, except about ten
miles damaged by a rise of water, which would
be speedily repaired.
Our news from Fortress Monroe is interest
ing. General Wool and General Cobb bad
another interview off Craney Island on Satur
day last, relative to a general exchange o!;
prisoners. There appears to have been some
unexplained delay in sending down the expect
ed released prisoners by General Huger.—
The steamer Express went up the James river
on Friday to receive them, and again on the
next day, bnt they did not arrive at the ap
pointed rendezvous.. The commanding officer
pf the rebel styamer Jamestown stated that he
bad *o knowledge of any prisoners being ex
pected, although the Express was sent np to
take them on beard on the strength of infor
mation furnished by Gen. Hunger. The time
of their arrival is, therefote, considered uncer
tain in consequence of these two disappoint
ments. It ie not positively known whether
Col. Corcoran will form one of the number
when they do come.
Our news from the Southern papers is rath
er important. The Lynchburg Virginian says
that the rebel forces at Centreville had receiv
ed orders on the 16th ult., to send all their
sick to the rear and prepare for marching or
ders. The women children are said to
have been sent away.
The Norfolk and Richmond papers announce
the landiog of a large force of our troop* at
Newport News, and they predict an immedi
ate attack on Pig Point. Jeff. Davis has
placed Norfolk, Portsmoth, and the vicinity
within ten miles around, noder martial law,
by special proclamation.
The Savannah Republican not only admits
that the communication between Fort Pulaski
and Savannah is wholly cut off, but declares
that the Unionists have erected three batteries
on the river in the form of a triangle, which it
is impossible for aoy vessels in the rebel service
to pass.
STATE LUXAITIC HOSPITAL. —The report of
the trustees and superintendent of this institu
tion has teen received, and in which we find
that the total number of patients admitted to
its benefits, for 1861 was 134, of which nam
ber 84 \w;re males and 54 females The whole
number of those discharged, or who died dur
ing the same period was 145 ; of whom 30
were perfectly restored,so in an improved con
dition, 40 without any material improvement,
and 16 removed by death. " 111 health" ap
pears to be the most prolific cause of insanity
which is closely approximated by " domestic
trouble -/'--males appear more liaale to the af
fliction, and the married relation most favora
bly to suuity. The farmers take precedence
upon the list (281) closely followed by the la
borers (218), whilst the printers have bud but
4 representatives, these numbers having refer
ence to the patients received,since the opening
of the institutions. Insanity, from the tables
appears to be more generally developed be
tween the age 30 and 40 than through any
other decade of humau li f e. The hospital
through the past year has been so crowded
that for the first time Bince its establishment
several of the counties have been applied to
to provide for some of the insane. The re
port, which is quite interesting, insists upou
some provision for isolating the criminal in
sane, and concludes with asking for an appro
priation of $20,000 for repairs, outstanding
debts, and several uecassary alterations in
the economy and conduct of the iustitutiou.
Tux HOMESTEAD BILL —A correspondent of
the New York Tribute of the 28th ult., says
the passage of the Homestead bill by a major
ity of nearly oue hundred, after the doubts
that hang over it a month ago, was duo in a
great measure to the persoual effort? of Mr.
Potior of Wisconsin, and Messrs. Aldrich and
Windom of Minnesota, who made a thorough
canvass of the House, urging it earnestly on
nearly every member.
The bill provides that on and after the first
of next January, any person 21 years of age,
who is a citizen, or who has declared his iuteu
tion to be such, and who sball,euter upou the
land and cultivate it for five years, shall be en
titled to 160 acres of land, upou the payment
of the Land Office fees and teu dollars to cov
er the expenses of survey. The same privil
ege is accorded to all men'who have been in
the military or nav.il service ot the Govern
ment during the present war.
This last clause was appended to the bill
origiualiy framed by Messrs. Aldrich aud Grow
for the purpose of putting an end to the Boun
ty Land system, under which many frauds
have been perpetrated for the benefit of spec
ulators.
i®-Everybody seems to be anticipating an
immediate forward movement of the army of
the Potomac—another " On to Richmond," cr
" Manassas" movement —under better auspices,
however, thau (hat, which terminated in the
" Bull Run" affair. There is, indisputably,
much to give plausibility to this conjecture.—
The Uniou army is no doubt as thoroughly
prepared for carrying ont such a movement
triumphantly as it ever will be. But, it is said
by those just from that locality that the Vir
ginia roads are in a worse conditiou than ever.
If the condition of the highways has hereto
fore been an insurmountable barrier to a for
ward movement, the same condition of them
still exists, and a forward movement with ar
tillery will be impossible until the March winds
shall have dried np tho mud. It is said by
those professing to be familiar with the climate
of Virginia, that this rarely occnrs uutil at
leastjas late as tho 10th instant. So that we
shall have to wait some time yet before anoth
er demonstration in that direction can take
place.
SMALL NOTES.—A bill is pending the Legi
slature, authorising the banks each to iocrease
their issnes of small notes from twenty to fifty
per cent, of their capitol stock paid in. From
present indications we are to have no lack of
paper currency. By and by a bit of gold or
silver money will be a curiosity to be treas
ured.
fgy* Gordon,the Slave Trader, has expiated
crime with his life. A desperate effort was his
mado to secure him a pardou ; but the Pres
ident was justly inexorable. He gave him a
reprieve of two weeks to make preparations
for bis final end.
Letter from the Secretary of War.
The Tribune publishes the following letter
from Secretary Stanton which is worthy of
special attention and commendation. It is a
noble, magnanimous and characteristic doca*
ment. It has the spirit of Cromwell. The
Secretary proposes to fight in the name and
under the inspiration of the Lord of Hosts
and God of battles. Such a spirit must lead
to success. It will find an enthusiastic re
sponse in the American heart.
" SIR :— I cannot suffer undue merit to be
ascribed to my official action. The glory of
our recent victories belong to the gallaut offi
cers and soldiers that fangbt the battle. No
share of it belongs to me.
Much has recently been said of military
combinations and organizing victory. I hear
such phrases with apprehension. They com
menced in infidel Fiance with the Italian cam
paign, and resulted in Waterloo. Who can
organize victory ? Who can combine the ele
ments of success ou the battle-field ? We owe
our receut victories to the Spirit of the Lord,
that moved our soldiers to rush into battle,
and filled the hearts of our euemies with terror
and dismay. The inspiration that conquered
in battle was in tho hearts of the soldiers and
from on high ; and wherever there is the same
inspiration there will be same results. Patri
otic spirit, with resolute courage in officers and
men, is a military combination that never
failed.
We may well rejoice at the recent victories,
for they teach us that battles are to be won
now aud by us in the same and only manner
that they were ever won by any people,or in any
age, since the days ot Joshua, by boldly pur
suing and striking tbe toe. What under the
blessing of Provideuce, 1 conceive to be the
true organization of victory and military com
bination to end this war, was deolaired in a
few words by Gen. Grant's message to Gc-u.
Ijjckner—" 1 propose lo move inmedialtly on
your works
Yours, truiy,
EDWIN M. STANTON.
Probability of a Retreat from Manassas.
A very general opinion seems to be gaiuing
ground at Washington that the rebel army at
Manassas will speedily retreat from iis strong
holds. It is said that Gen McClellan is pre
pared for such intelligence at any hour ; and
there certaiuly are considerations which reu
der sucli a step by no means improbable. The
army at Mauassas is already in a perilous con
ditiou. It is virtually surrounded by the Fed
eral armies, and its connections with the South
are on the poiut of being cut off. Burnside
and Wool threaten it from Norfolk and Rich
iiioud, and Lander and Bneli from Western
Virginia and Kentucky, wuile Gen. McClellan
coutrols the position in front. A juncture be
twecu the forces invading North Carolina arid
the troops of either Buel or Lauder would
draw across the country a military line, sever
ing the Virginia rebels from nil southern eou
nectioD.s, exposing them to a conbiued attack i
on every side, and rendering the capture of the
whole army inevitable The spleudid success
of the Federal arm}' during the last few days
are sufficient to convince the rebel Generals
that we are capable of accomplishing this, and
that with a rapidity that leaves them but little
choice betweeu lighting and retreating. In
accepting the alternative of remainiug to give
us battle, every chance is against tlwrn. Mc-
Ciellau's force exceeds theirs by probably two
to one. Before the rebel army went into win
ter quarters, our troops on the Potomac num
bered three to two ol the rebeL ; and there is
good reason to believe that, since then, large
numbers have been seut from the huts behind
Manassas to protect the exposed points south
and west. Moreover, a defeat from a force
surrounding them at all points would be final.
Their whole army would be captured, and all
chance of prolonged rebell.on thereby ended.
It would seem therefore, to beonlycommou
prudence, on the part of the General com
manding the Virginia rebels, to march their
[ whole force out of the position in which they
are being confined, to a poiut further South.—
This would give them the temporary advantage
of having cimuged the whole plan of the Fed
tral campaign, aud thereby thrown our move
ments into confusion. Moreover, our past
successes at the South might thereby be re
versed ; our army drawn into a climate hostile
to their health, and, for several months, unfav
orable to operations. This would at least be
a gain of time to the rebels, although it would
involve a loss of territory ; and it would not
be surprising were they, under a blind hope of
success, to adopt the expedient.
4®- A Union Man, who left Nashville on
the day following the fall of Fort Douelson,
represents the of excitement there as beiug un
paralleled. A perfect panic reigned throughout
the whole city. The streets were thronged
with people perfectly wild with excitement.—
Leading rebels were makiug speeches from
storcgoods boxes, from the street corners, to
the excited populace, stating that the " Fede
erals" were upou them, the city was defense
less, and appealing to every man who had any
species of tire-arms, to rally to the defence of
the place. He says taese appeals had but
very little effect, and there seemed to be lit
tle, if any, system about anything that looked
to resistance. During the confusion, he made
good his escape to Muiufordsville.
WHAT THE HORSES EAT. —Gen. Yan Vliet,
who is at the head of the Quartermaster's De
partment of the Army of the Potomac,finds it
easier to provide for the men than the horses,
Captain Ingalls, across the Potomac, has six
hundred men at work every day, distributing
one hundred bushels a grain ; which Captain
Dana, on this side, has about twice as maoy
teamsters and laborers, who daily distribute
two hundred tons of hay.andabont sixty thou
sand two hundred bushels of grain. In addi
tion to these daily supplies, are those issued hy
the quartermasters of the divisious up the Po
tomac, at Fredrick, and down at Boyd's
Ferry. The horses are now in fine condition,
with the exception of those of a few compa
nies.
OREGON SENATOR. —The United States Seu
ate is very bnsy discussing the right of B. F.
Starke to his seat. On the one side it is al
leged that he is not loyal, having given utter
ance frequently to sentiments that prove him
a rebel sympathizer. On the other, it is al
leged that the proof of this is insufficient, and
if it were uot, others assert that the Senate
has no right to entertain any inquiries into the
loyalty of a man lawfully accredited to that
body.
Destructive Conflagration -IT***
$75,000 to SIOO,OOO <"
Elroira was visited lt night witk.t
destructive conflagration which W the **
here for years, involving a lomof
000 worth of property. Al . at
past seven o'clock smoke w as Zen?
iog from the north end of the ex.? %
Shop bel ngiog to the Erie RailwaTo * P, '6t
situated ou the corner of Wim
streets. By the time an a | orin w J #a
aud before an entrance into the h u ;i.
be effected, the fire had gamed
headway, aud the flumes com mw
almost inconceivable rapidity throu-rh t **•
tire length of the structure, and f r ?' e# -
to the two Large Car Shops,Blacks^? l *
Snperinter,dent's office, etc., adjoining p
than auhour's time the work of destruo !
complete, and where bat j esterdav [ u
burn of industry was heard,there now J 4
a heap of smoulderiug ruins. 111
The alarm of Ike was promptly .
the bells throughout the town, and oar v*
men responded with commendable &
alacrity. The night was bitter cold"
st ff breeze prevailing from the North •
the flames into an intensity which
their mastery by human efforts irapojjw^
The effort of the Firemen were therefore -
ed to preventing the fire from spreading
large piles of wood and lumber,the Erie I ■*
Depot and the freight cars adjacent to'*?
burning buildings. Many of our citizens *
the employees of the Road were also mi-. * '
ting in their assistance. The fire hydra:
longing to the company was found to be'
zeii when the fire commenced,and was of eo
useless. Had the wind been in a northed.'?
rection, the buildings belonging to the L •
A Williamsport R R Co. could hardb .
been saved. ; '
Notwithstanding the severe could, theF
men remaining manful'y at the post of d.i
working with determined energy, until %
surrounding property was considered out
dainrer.
There are conflicting theories as to
origin of the fire—somecontending that.i o .
inated from a stove in a passenger cai m
Paint Shop. Mr. Rutter—the Superset
dent of the works—it is of the opinion, howet
er, that it might have communicated hv the
sparks from a passing locomotive on the W
liamsport track, as the Paint Shop caught
from that source last summer, and saved
with great difficulty. Superintendent Bulle
tins always exercised the most constant prec so
lions against lire, uud is certain that there I
could have beeu no fire inside the build.ag
previous to the conflagration
In addition to the loss of the buildings, nine
or ten splendid passenger coaches—uewW tt
paired—and about eighteen freight cars
destroyed, together with a very large aui
of constructions and repair materials, t0...
machinery, steam engine, &c.
Neat ly one hundred and fifty median es mtt
employed in the works, rao-t of whom
probably be thrown out of present empl ya--
by this disastrous fire. A number of to*
have lost all their tools—oie nun lohiai
about SIOO worth. Although the losstott
Erie Company is a severe one— the proner:;
being uninsured, aud the repair chops here i>
ing the principal ones on the Road—it fa <
with greater severity upon the employe-s at;
their families, whose in iiu support is taua w..;
drawn.— F.lrmra Press, March, i.
Congressional.
Congress has passed the bill for the rep.'?:. I
isbment of the Treasury and the fiscal itmnr I
ution of the War for the Uuion. Tbektiy I
features of this important act are as folios; m
1. The Secretary of the Treasury is . :* ■
ized to borrow for the service of the'dsv 1
ment and the prosecutiou of the IVsi vx 1
amount not exceeding $500,000,0! JO in a!,W
be secured by the issue of Six per cent Stock,
redeemable after twenty years, and of which
the interest is payable semi annually in cm.
2 He may issue $150,000,000 more of De
mand Notes, which are at all times convertible
iuto the stock aforesaid at the option of the
holder. These notes, with toe sixty Million!
already issued are to be a Legal Tender in the
payment of private as well as public debts
and receivable for all public due except Dntis
| on Imports, which are payable ouly in the Fifty
Millions already issued or in Coin.
®ay~The Philadelphia Ledger reports thati
strong party in and out of Washington area
j tempting to induce the government to con
sent to an armistice of some weeks, ic order
to ascertain if some terms of settlement canno!
be hit upon between the contending parties.
The only settlement that can he at all sw
factory to the great mass of the people iM
prompt return to their allegiance by the ext
ern people, or that announced in the neajr*-
ble words of GRANT, "/ propose
move upon your works !''
We thank Heavens for a daring Gene rv
who so glorioosly responds to the earnest cm
ing of the popular heart, aud for au hone;
Secretary who so nobly snstaina. It tnalta
a man proud of his [country when men lib
Stanton aud Grant arc recognized among
public servants.
SECRETARY STANTON'S ORDER —Mr. -Jj
ford.the Government Supervisor of
will soon issue a circular explaining the cr
issued by Secretary Stantou in relation u •
suppression ol military news. It is ther
tiou of the Secretary of War to suppress -,
such items of military intelligence as
danger the success ol any future movent 1 "
our armies.
SENT TO FORT WARREN.—A DESPA' 03 *
Cleveland states that General Buckne.
Tilghmau passed through that city on T---
day morning on their way to Fort "
Boston harbor, under the charge of t
Cootes.
—lt*
FURLOUGH TO RETURNED PRISON'S®*"'
stated that Secretary Stautoo has ? ra
furlough of thirty days to the returned r
oners from Richmond, in order that t f ) •
visit tbeir families and friends.
The Rebel Generals,Buckner and T i>
man arrived at Boston at five o'clock on -
inst., and were immediately conveyed ■
quarters at Fort Wrrren.
Governor Morton, ot
pointed ex Governor Joshua A. M f 'B
Senator, to fill the place of Je6e D-