THE WAR 'FOR THE UNION FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTO MAC. WASHINGTON, April I.—A - letter from the Army of the Potomac says that the rebels for the past two days have been busily engaged in digging rifle pits along the south side of the Rapidan, in the vicinity of Raccoon Ford. It is also reported by deserters that they are tearing ap the railroad between Fredericksburg and klanover Junction. Six deserters came in yeaterday,bringing their wives. and twelve children. They traveled by way of Madison Court-house, where, their fami lies had been living, encountering great hard ships on the route. _ Seventy-two prisoners, sentenced by court martial to labor on the public works for terms varyingirom one to ten years, were sent to Al exandria yesterday, on the way . to the fields of their future labors. FROM NEWBERN; N. O. FoirrnEss MoriaoE, March 31.—The steamer Ellen S. Terry, from NeWbern, N. C., arrived to-day, and after landing her paSsengers sailed for New York. • NEWi3ERNi March 29.—The enemy is guard ing their lines with unusual care to prevent in formation of their movements from reaching the Union forces. • Four escaped Union prisoners have reached Washington ' N. C., from Danville. Their names are John C. Ifforrongh, 38th Illinois; George W. Bean, 21st Illinois; John Hamilton, 89th Illinois; and William Neideigh, 21th Illi nois.: .EMANCIPATION MEETING IN BALTIMORE. BALTratean, April I.—An enthusiastic meet ing of the friends of Emancipation was held at the Maryland Institute to-night. Among the speakers were Mr. Boutwell of Massachusetts ; Kelley and Myers, of Pennsylvania; Davis, of Maryland, and. General Lew. Wallace. Mr. Davis, . sfrenuously advocated Emancipation without compensation either by the State or by the General Government. - THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION. SAN FaAsersco, March • 31.—The delegates to the Republican National Convention at Bal timore are Messrs. Blame Tailing, Chairman ; Smith Hirsch and Hiram Smith. FROM WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, April 1,1864.—1 t has been decided to receive the new ten-forty United States Bonds as security for the circulation of the National Bank - s. As the five-twenty bonds are now worth in the market a large pre mium, and as the new ten-forty bonds can be procured on subscription at par, a slight differ ence is made in the rate at which these two securities are received by the Banking Depart ment as the basis of circulation. The Con troller of the Currency some time ago fixed the rate at which five-twenties are deposited for circulation at ninety cents on the dollar, and he has just decided -to receive the ten-forties at -eighty-seven and a half cents on the par. This decision will stand at present as the rule, .unless Congress shall prescribe some -other. t • Major-General Ord has been ordered to re -port to General Sigel for duty in the Depart ment of Western Virginia. He will be the Tanking officer under Sigel. He has left to re -port at Cumberland for duty. A delegation of wool growers were before the Ways and Means Committee, to-day; urg ing that a higher tariff be placed on all foreign ',Tools. Their wishes will probably be acceded to. The Committee have about half com pleted the tax bill. - General Fremont is not here as has been ru mored. Speaker Colfax's levee was largely attended to-night, notwithstanding its being a rainy night. The Navy Department has received infor mation of the capture, by the steamer Honey suckle, of the sloop: Florida, on the 20th of March, with a cargo of powder, shoe, hats, and coffee. She was: Prom Havana, and her captain said she was bound to no particular port. The following nominations were confirmed by the Senate in Executive session to-day. To BE BRIGADIER-GENERALS OF VOLUNTEERS. —Col. Patrick E. Connor, 3d California Vol unteers, from March 30, 1863; Lieut. Colonel Gabriel R. Paul, Bth Infantry, April 18, 1863 ; -First Lieut. Adelbert Ames, sth Regiment Artillery, May 20,,1863 ; Col. Benj. H. Grier son, Gth Illinois Cavalry, June 3, 1863; Col. Robert S. Foster 13th Indiana,june 12, 1863 ; Capt. Alex. S. lrebb, 11th Infantry, June 23, 1863; Colonel Alfred N. Duffle, Ist Rhode Is land Cavalry, June 23, 1863; Colonel Walter C. Whittaker, 6th Kentucky, June 25, 1863; First Lieut. Judson Kilpatrick, Ist Artillery, June 13, 1863- ' Captain Wesley Merrett, 2d -Ca.valry, June 23,1863 • Captain Kenney Gar rard, sth Cavalry,' Uly 23, 1863; Captain Charles R. Woods, 9th Infantry, Aug. 4, 1863 ; Colonel John B. Sanborn, 4th Minnesota, Aug. 4, 1863;Colonel Giles Smith,Bth Missouri,Aug. 4, 1863; Col. Samuel A. Rice, 33d lowa, Aug. 4, 1863; Col. Walter. Q. Gresham, 53d Indiana, Aug. 11, 1863- ' Col. Manning M. Force, 20th Ohio, Aug. 11, 1863; Col. Robert A. Cameron, 34th Indiana, Aug. 11, 1863; Col. John M. Corse, Gth lowa, Aug. 11, 1863; Captain Alvin C. Galan, Assistant_Quartermaster U. S. A., Aug. 17, 1863; Colonel James 0. Rice, 44th New York, Aug. 17, 1863; First Lieut. George A. Custer, sth Cavalry, June 29, 1863; Colonel John C. Starkwether,lst Wisconsin, July 17, 1863; Colonel H. L.Eustis,loth Massachusetts,' Sept. 12, 1863; Colonel H. E. Davies, 2&New York Cavalry, Sept. 16,1863; Colonel Aew .J. Hamilton, of Texas, Sept. 18, 1863; Colonel Henry W .Birge, 13th Connecticut, Sept. 19, 1863. The Senate also confirmed Lieut. Byron Wilson to be Lieut. Commander in the Navy, from November, 1863. Representative Basson's amendment to the National Bank bill, which was adopted to-day, providing that the tax shall be such as may from time to time be imposed by Congress, in lieu of the present taxes, is preliminary to the introduction of a bill now pending before the Committee of Ways and Means prescribing other rates of taxation applicable to such insti tutions. The amendment of Representative Blaine