Ely Virtss. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1862. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST - SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.—g" The conspiracy to break up the Union is a last now known to all. Armies are being raised, and war levied to accomplish it, There can be but two sides 'to the controversy. Every man most be on the side of the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in Chit war. Tiers can be none but patriots and traitors:2 THE LATEST WAR NEWS Further particulars of the bombardment of Fort Donelson by the Federal forces will be found in another column. It will be seen that the fight was one of the most desperate that have taken pleats sines our national troubles began. The principal redoubt . commanding the whole rebel fort had been stormed by our troops, and the stays and stripes are now floating over it. The hist despatch from . General Grant is a...tea flaturday 7 and he was then confident that he could capture the fort yesterday. Our gunboats suffered materially. Commodore Foote, in his official report, states that he made an attack on Fort Donetson with four iron-clad gun- Wats and two wooden ones, and that, after an hour and a quarter's bombardment, the wheel of the St. Louis and the tiller of the Lonisvells were shot away, rendering the two boats so unmanageable that they drifted down the river. The two other boats were also damaged to sueh an extant that they had to retire from the fight. The news from Missouri, this morning, is im portant. On the morning of the 13th, the Third division of General Curtis' Union army entered Springfield, where they found 600 of Gen. Price's sick soldiers, and a large amount of forage and wagons belonging tells army. General Curtis having learned that Gen. Price had only evacuated the place a few hours before our troops entered it, immediately despatched a strong cavalry force in. piranit, which encountered the rear guard of Price's army, and, after a' hort engagement, dis persed it, taking a large number of prisoners. The St. 4.ouis Reimbhcan- has information, by correspondence and through private sources, that the Secession element in that section of the State, and especially in the interior, is daily losing bel ligerence, 'Wend of Union men being scowled upon and threatened, their friendship is now being sought, and their favor solicited. The news from Roanoke and Tennessee is beginning to have a wholesome effect in Missouri. A joint order of the Secretaries of War and the Navy was issued on Saturday, in the name of the President, thanking Generals Burnside and Grant, and Commodores Goldsborough and Foote, with their respective commands, for the victories of Roanoke Island and Port /teary. The order, while acknowledging the valor of the living, pays a fitting honor to the gallant dead. One of the most gallant exploits of the war was the attacking and dispersing of a rebel camp at Bloomery Gap, on the Upper Potomac, by General Lander. ills forces, led by himself, surprised the camp, and captured seventeen commissioned offi cers, some of them of high rank, and a number of others—amounting in all to seventy-five men. This affair Opektft thb line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as far as Hancock, and clears Gen. Lan der's department of the rebels completely. The Norfolk Day Book of the 14th inst. learns test the aemmittet of Como eharged with de termining upon a design'for the flag of the South ern Confederacy have adopted one. The emblem of treason is to be a blue " Union" on a red field ; the stars being white, the national colors of red, white, and blue, being thus reproduced. There are four stars disposed in the form of a square within the Union. The official. report of Gen. Drayton, the rebel commander of the fortifications at Port Royal, at the time they were bombarded by Commodore Dupont, has just been published. The gallant Commodore's tactics puzzled the rebel general, and he says that the enfilading fire which was kept up by the Union fleet on Fort Walker was very an noying and damaging to him. When the fight was most warmly contested, he left the fort to bring up - his "reserves" to the support of the garrison, but when he re'm ned he found the troops coming out Of the fort and retreating, when he took commend of them and continued the retreat. The total kill ed, wounded, and missing, is stated at 00. Further rebel accounts of the doings of the Burnside 'Expedition will be found in another eolumn_ Hertford, Edenton, and Plymouth have been occupied by our forces. General Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough are striking their blows so fast that they bewilder the rebels. The steamship Asia, which arrived at New York ob Saturday, brings important intelligence from Europe. From the tenor of the despatches, it appears that England and France will respect the blockade. Earl Russell had issued an official order to the Admiralty, in which both the Ame. riean belligerents are prohibited from using British aorta. The port of Nassau and other ports of the Bahama Islands are specially mentioned. When driven in 'by stress of weather, provisions may be supplied, but only tuoit quantity of coat as may be sufficient to carry the vessel to the nearest port of her own country is to be given, and no second supply is to be allowed to the same ship in the same port within a period of three months. The Tuscarora had left Southampton, and it was rumored that she had gone in search of the Samp ler, which at the latest dates had beets eommitting deprOdations on American commerce in the Medi terranean. The Nashville, as already reported, bad been ordered to leave Southampton in twenty four hours after the Tuscarora had sailed, but Cap tain Pegram begged so hard to be allowed to stay, for if he had to go to sea, he and his ship would be blown to pieces by the Federal gunboat, that the authorities', on the grounds of humanity, extended the time of her departure. IT is a somewhat curious circumetartee thA the only rebel steamers saved after the late victory at Roanoke Island were the Beaufort and the Roanoke, boats named after the locali ties which have fallen into our possession. Having gained the stragegc . pctiut,l which they so much rized, however, we can well afford to allow them to temporarily retain vessels which, whenever they sail, will remind the traitors of two of onr most important triumphs. Public Amusements. Mr. John Drew enters to-night upon the sixth week of his engagement at the Arch-street Theatre, when he will play handy Andy and O'Callaghan. These are both sterling portraitures, and, as the class of pieces to which they belong is soon to be withdrawn for dramas of a different character, the populace will do well to enjoy at once something after their own hearts. hir:Haeltett, the great impersonator of Falstaff, and the only living representative of that eccentric knight, will appear at the Walnnt•atreet Theatre to night, in Ring Henry IV. Edwin Adams will play ilotapier, - ael Sam "Temple Bardolph, Five nightiMptid to he the limit of Mr. Msokett'a tenure in Philadelphia. &ORME RUTZ AND DR. VALENTINE have en gaged the Academy of Music for Tiesday, Wed nesday, and Thursday evening", and Wednesday af ternoon, next week, and will give their amusing performances, introducing a varied programme, embracing much that is new and novel. Dr. Va lentine will make everybody laugh , at his humoroua representations of character, many of which he has never exhibited , in this city. Blitz is to surpass all his foimer endeavors. The magic and ventrilo quism is to be such that will be amazing. The au tomaton rope dancer will alio be introduced. MR. SIDDONS, who is now well known to many Philadelphians for his charming readings of the poets and comic prose-writers, announces three en tertainments in the parlor of the Continental Hotel, beginning this evening. Mr. Siddons has just re turned from a prolonged tour to the westward. ilia old summer friends will, we trust, give him a cordial Welcome. The Granting of Passports to the South. WAR DEPARTHRNT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., Feb. 13. 1862. It is ordered— F irst, That all applications for passes to go South across the military lines of the United States shall be made to Major General John A. Dix, commanding at Baltimore, who will grant or refuse the same at his discretion. Second. That all prisoners of war, and other per -1101011 imprisoned by authority of any-dapartment of the Government, who shall be released on parole or exchange, shall report themselves immediately to Major General Dix, and be subject to his direction while remaining in that city. Any failure to ob serve this order will be taken as a forfeiture of the parole or exchange. The regulation heretofore existing, which re quired apace norm' the military lines of the United States to be signed by the Secretary of State, and countereigned by the General commanding, is re scinded. By order of the President. EDWIN M. STANTON, • 0911449/7 of War. REAL ESTATE, STOCKS, LOANS, 10., te-morrowy 'at the Exehange. See Thomas & Sons' advertise ments. The Capture of Fort Dottelsou. A troubled Sunday—full of alternate hopes, and fears—has at lengtkpassed away, and left us a clear sunset. Fa 4 Donelson, the .main . defence of the'Cumberipd river, and the key, by navigation, to 3 tidd*Teanessee, has fallen into our hands after in stubborn defence. This news will carry joy to millions of loyal hearts, and none will more grate fully welcome it than the overawed Unionists of the Valley of the Mississippi. Our suc cesses have been so frequent and decided of late that an intensity of expectation had been awakened relative to the battle on the Cum berland. Defeat would have been most de plorable, and the advance of the Union arms would have been long - retiyrfied. Kentucky, now almost entirely -rid of treasonable in might have fallen again into dis loyal hands, and her citizens submitted to her enemies as the surest means to obtain permanent peace. Indeed, the con sequences of defeat at this place might have been felt in Europe, as it is well known that the first decided check of the .Federal armies . will be urged afar as a rbason for the recog nition of rebeldom. Our doubts in these matters aili f at rest, and the effects of the victory will be as noteworthy as the contrary results in case of repulse. The garden of Tennessee will be almost im mediately redeemed, and the navigation of the Cumberland probably opened to Nashville. The retreat of Jonserox and BUCKNER'S column from Bowling Green will be cut off by the southwest, and the seizure of the rail road to Memphis perfected. In the mean time, access being being obtained to interior Tennessee, the Union sentiment will be en couraged and the Union strength enlisted.' Indeed, the northern districts of Mississippi and Alabama may be reached, and the sup pressed hate of the masses thereof fomented and made effective. For our brave soldiers who fell in this fight—and their number is said to be considerable—we are assured that they died valorously and confident of victory. The enemy suffered fearfully, and fought with the reeklessli . ess of despair. Of their complete loss we shall, be advised, and it pro bably comprises many noted officers and for mer 'public citizens. Our gunboats were damaged somewhat, but this is a material loss that can be replaced with little delay. In fact, the victory is one cheaply bought at the cost of a whole army, and it will resound through both continents,. and be bailed everywhere with profound satisfaction by the friends of law, liberty, and Union. [Since writing the above, a later telegraphic despatch "tom the scene of hostilities has been received, which states that Fort Donelson had not been taken by our troops up to Satitr day evening. The principal redoubt of the rebel fortifications had been stormed and captured by our forces, and as it commands the whole rebel fort, General GRANT was confident that he could force it to surrender yesterday.] The Evacuation of Bowling Green. General BUELL has telegraphed to General MCCLELLAN that the enemy are about evacua ting Bowling Green. Thus the last rebel, stronghold in his department has been broken up. In Eastern Kentucky, Colonel GARFIELD routed HUMPHREY MARSHALL ; in Southern Kentucky, Gen. THOMAS perfectly annihilated the army Of &MOWER. and CRITTEII. DEN ; and now the columns ,of our grand Kentucky army are ,closing in so reso lutely and powerfully around Generals A. S. JOHNSTON add BOCIiNER S .9 forces that they WO compelled 'to retire front a posi tion which they once vainly styled a secondMa- Basses. BUELL is not a general of proclama tions or pronunelamientos, but of action. De voting his whole attention to the great military work before bite, he has assiduously labored to perfect the organization of his troops and to push them forward as rapidly as possible at every point where a-victory could be gained or the Union cause advanced. In a short time hence there will be no barrier left to his tri umphant entree into Tennessee. The Tax Bill The tax bill which is in order for this week is the foundation on which the financial mea sures necessary to the success—indeed, to the very existence- 7 (lf the Government are to rest. From the tax bill the interest on the loans, the redemption of the demand notes, and the means of ultimate. payment of the loans, are to be derived. Confidence in the Government securities is to come from its provisions and operation. They are the evi dences of debt ; the_.tax bill is to show the means of payment. Our -arms are now everywhere triumphant. The genius of Mc- CLELLAN, which has planned the overthrow of the rebels, now so happily commenced, will carry it on to completion, if only money, the sinews of war, be not denied the Govern ment. The money will be freely accorded for the preservation of the Union, if _CengresS does its duty promptly and efficiently. Heavy taxation has happily been hitherto unknown in this country, but the people are ready to submit to it ungrudgingly for the sake of the end it is to accomplish. They will not faille do their part ; let Congressmen not: hesitate, therefore, to do their work at once and thoroughly. It has been shown that a tax of two hun dred millions of dollars a year is but two cents a day for each individual. What, after all, is such a tax when weighed in the balance against national existence? Pass the tax bill at once. Fort Sumpter The rebels began the war by attacking Fort Sumpter, and they not only gloried like fiends over its fall, but they have boasted of its cap ture as if it was one of the greatest military achievements of modern or ancient warfare. They may learn now by the capture of Fort Henry, and of their works on Roanoke Island, how amply the nation they have defied is preparing to avenge the humiliations trea son inflicted upon it at the outset of the war. They need not be much sur prised either, if Fort Sumpter itself should soon fall into our hands. Our Tlilton 'Plead correspondent writes us that one of the late expeditions of Gen. SHERMAN marched to a point not more than fifteen miles distant from Charleston; and the city is so completely at our mercy, That whenever the fiat for its capture goes forth, the alternative will speedily he presented to the Palmetto metropolis of being destroyed, or of seeing the glorious flag it spurned and sought to dishonor waving in triumph in all its streets. The Union Prisoners. One of the most gratifying results of the re cent sucesses achieved by our arms is the cap ture of so large a number of prisoners that our Government will be enabled, we trust, to se cure the release of every Union soldier now in the possession of the Rebels. The families and friends of the brave men who are now pining away in the gloomy prisons of the South have a double cause for rejoicing in the tri umphs of our troops, as they can congratulate themselves upon a great national triumph, and the speedy realization of their earnest prayers for the restoration to- home, country, and friends, of the victims of the disastrous battles of the campaign which is now progressing so gloriously_ The Next News The British Parliament was to be opened on Thursday, the 6th instant., and the mail steamer of the Bth, with the Queen's speech, and two night's debate on public affairs and ministerial policy, will scarcely arrive before Wednesday or Thursday. The latest advices from Eng land state that Lord FALMIRSTON had deter• mined to remain neutral on American affairs —which, of course, means non-recognition of cf the so-called Southern Confederation." The intelligence of our last week's successes, on Hood and field, will naturally keep any Euro pean Power from recognizing the South. THE PARADE ON THE 22D OP FEBRUARY.— ArrAngelnents have been made for, a grand pa rade of all the national, State, and municipal troops in our city on Saturday next. It is a significant proof of the rapid development of the military spirit among us, that on that oc casion from 10,000 to 12,000 menwill probably appear in line, or five o'r six times .as many soldiers as we could ever muster in our parades in peaceful times. We have already sent more than a score of thousands to the war, and yet have a large reserve of armed and disciplined volunteers among us ready to obey a summons to the field, and to share the glories now being won by the gallant defenders of, the Union. The naturally martial nature of our citizens has -been fully aroused, and henceforth the Government will never again be paralyzed and helpless when it is assailed by domestic traitors or foreign foes. 'lon. Henry Wilson Whenever the enemies of the good cause attack a public man who devotes himself en tirely and unselfishly to his country, they re sort' to every means to 'crush him. In some eases ridicule is their weapon ; when this fails they invent and circulate the most atro cious personal calumnies. Few men have been more recklessly assailed than the ion. HENRY WILSON, Senator in Congress from the State of Massachusetts. Senator WiLsott is a self-made statesman. Born among the toiling millions, he has advanced to the position he now holds by the triple influence of energy, integrity, and great natural ability. Earnestly identified with the Republican party, he has controlled large masses by his activity, perse verance, and persuasive eloquence. When this war broke out he was not one of those who remained in private life; but, taking an early stand in support of his flag, ho has shown masterly and unees.sing zeal in his efforts to . fire the public mind and strengthen the Go vernment. After the Massachusetts troops had been murdered in Baltimore, by the mob of April 19, Senator WiLsott, thqn in New York, at once returned to Washington ! Gene ral BUTLER, at that time commanding the An napolis department, asked hint to go back to New York and procure a number of coarse grained cannon for the use of the army. Thiti mission he successfully and promptly accent; plished, and received the warmest thanks of General BUTLER. Senator WILSON remained in Washington during the dark days that followed, at the re quest of the Secretary of War, and labored with herculean industry to assist in military preparations. When Congress was summoned by the President, General Wlmow was chosen Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate. This position, always import ant, became a post of great labor and responsi bility in consequence of the war. More than twelve hundred military nominations were made by the President, and referred to this committee. A number of intricate bills had to be prepared, and when prepared, the chair man was called upon to defend and explain them upon the floor of the Senate. During the whole of the called session Senator Wu, sox not only discharged these manifold duties, but was in constant consultation with the Aa minisiration and the military chiefs. And it is not going too far to say that, as chairman of the Military Committee, he has done more work than any chairman since the beginning of the Government. So Well Mid to ably, in deed, were all his obligations fulfilled, that the veteran Lieutenant General SCOTT addressed him a letter on the 10th of August, of which the following is a copy : WASHINGTON, August 10, 180 L Den Sin In taking leave of you, some days ago, I fear that I did not so emphatically express my thanks to you, as our late chairman of the Senate Committee, as my feelings and those of my brother officers of the army (with whom I have conversed) warranted, for your able and zealous efforts to give to the service the fullest war development and efficieney, It is pleasing to remember the pains yon took to obtain accurate information, wherever it could be found, as a basis for wise legislation, and we hope it may be long before the army loses your valuable services in the SAM, capacity. With great esteem, Tours, very truly, Wtittrinue SCOTT. Hon. Dien. H. 'WILSON, Chairman Senate Military Committee : After the adjournment of Congress, and upon the application of General MCCLELLAN, Senator WiLsoN was called to the staff of that distinguished officer, a position he was induced to accept by the representations of the Presi dent, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of the Treasury, on account of the knowledge he had. gleaned 44 chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. It will be recollected that there was a great need of troops at Washington in August and September. Senator WILSON, at the request of the Cabinet, weal back to Massachusetts, took the stump, called a great meeting at Faneuil Hall, and after three weeks of inces sant labor in addressing the people, he raised, in thirty-two days, twenty-six companies of infantry, including two full batteries, and two companies of sharp-shooters—in all, more than two regiments. He assumed the command of one regiment as colonel, but with the distinct understanding that, while he was ready to Offer up his life for his country, he could not leave his place in the Senate, at the same time pledging himself to secure a regular offi cer as his successor. The material of which this regiment was composed, its numbers and its discipline, excited great enthusiasm on its way from Boston to Washington, . its journey being one complete ovation. In New York a grand dinner was '`'given to Senator WILSON and his men, at which distin guished men of all parties were pre sent, and in Philadelphia the regiment was cheered along the streets by thousands of enthusiastic people, and entertained at our Refreshment Saloons. Senator Wimsort de voted himself to his soldiers with all his ener gies. He saw them provided with subsistence and clothing, and protected them against fraud. It is a fact highly creditable to him, that while he performed this service he was not interested to the value of a farthing in a single one of the purchases, all regimental bills being paid as all contracts had been made, by the State authorities. He did not take a cent of pay, while acting at the request of the War Department and Gen. Scorn, after the 19th of April—while serving on Gen. Meamari'S staff—while laboring• to raise Men, or even after he had taken the field as their beloved commander. Every dollar of his expenses was paid out of his own pocket. He remained on Gen. ItfcCLELLAw's staff until the 9th of January, when his exacting duties in the Se nate compelled him to resign. When the fact of his -resignation became known to Gen. McCLELLAx, he addressed Senator Wasort the following complimentary letter : HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ? WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 1362. COLONEL The Major General Commanding de. sires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in which you tender your resii.- nation of the appointment of Aid-de-Camp upon his staff. The reasons assigned in your letter are such that the General is not permitted any other course than that.of directing the acceptance of your re signation. Be wishes me to add that it is with regret that he sees the termination of the pleasant offimal rela tions which have existed between you and himself, and that he yields with-reluctance to the necessity created by the pressure upon you of other and more important public duties. I am, Colonel, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, S. WILLIAMS, A. A. G. COLONEL H. WILSON, U. S. Senate. Senator WILSON had previously resigned his position as colonel of his regiment, Wing fulfilled his promise to secure a competent re gular officer as his successor. On reselling Washington directly afterwards, he received news of the fatal and disastrous massacre at Dall's BlutT, and he immediately returned to camp, ready to advance with his men, who were expected to move every minute, thus showing his willingness to share their perils in the battle•fteld. Their devotion to him is such that, till this day, they regard him as their father and their friend. After General CAMERON retired from the. War Department he wrote Senator WILSON the following grateful letter WAsitteurou, January 27, 1862. Mr DEAR Sin : No man, in my opinion, in the whole country, has done more to.aid the War De partment in preparing the mighty army now under arms, than yourself, and before leaving this city, I think it my duty to offer to you my sincere thanks as its late head. As chairman of the Military Committee of the Senate, your services were invaluable. At the first call for troops you came here, and.up to the meeting of Congress, a period of .more than six months, your labora were incessant. Sometimes in 6156.511kagibg the Administration by assurances of support from Congress—by encouraging volun teering in your own State —by raising a regiment yourself when other men began to fear that compulsory drafts might be necessary, and in the Senate by preparing the bills and assist ing to get the necessary appropriations, for organ king, clothing, arming, and supplying the army, you have been constantly and profitably employed in the great cause of putting down the unnatural rebellion. For the many personal favors you have done me alese the beginnifig of this' struggle, I ebell ever be grateful. Your friend truly, SbuOtt CAMBnow. Hon. .IiNNRY WILSON. How well he discharged his duties as chair man of the Committee on Military Affairs, du ring the present session, even his enemies will bear witness. For months past he has scarcely been able to see his own family. Day and night he has been engaged in preparing bills, serving on committee, answering letters, and consulting with the leaders of the army, inclu ding General McCLEuart,.taking part in de bate on the different questions, and thinking of nothing but his country. We have deemed this reference to HOMY WILSON eminently just and deserved, in view of the fact that his enemies, and the enemies of his country, have made him the subject of the foulest misrepresentations. Even Ware H. Resszu, the famous, or rather infamous, cor. respondent of the London Times, has not hesi tated to charge Senator WasoN with being in terested in large shoe contracts, and with ha- THE PRESS.-PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1862. ving taken better care of himself and his for tunes than of a sabring nation. This cruel falsehood, which originated in the columns of the Abington (Mass.) Standarq, was itself re futed by Senator Witsos on the 9th of No vember, in a letter, from which the following is an extract: NATICK, Nov. 9, 1861. To the Editor of the Boston Journal: I ask you and other conductors of public journals in Massaohusetts, willing to do me a personal favor, to publish this explicit denial of the truthfulness of the story some person or personi lave invented and put in circulation, that I hays a Government contract for one million pairs of shoes, by which I am to realize the sum of a quarter of a million of dollars. This story, in • all ! its parts and in every form, is utterly false, and the person or persons originating it knew it to be a false and wicked slander. I have no so:strut—t have had no contract with the Government, either directly or indirectly, for shoes or for anything else; nor have I now, nor have I bad, any interest in any contract of any person whatever with the Government. I not only have no contract with the Govern ment, nor interest in the contracts of others but no man now has, or has had, any contract with the Government through any agency or influence of mine. The Government, awe the 4th of March, has made no contract with any man, for any pur pose whatever, through any agency or influence of tome ; and it never will make contracts through any Meney or influence of mine. As a Senator of assachusetts, mindful of her interests, I have sometimes reminded the Department of the manu facturing and mechanical skill of her people ; of their losses by thisVtiiked rebellion; of their readi ness to furnish men and money to sustain the na tional . cause ; of their capacity to furnish the army, at the lowest rates, needed articles ; and I have expressed the hope that the agents of the Government, in their purchases, would not forget the people of my State. This much I have. said ; this much I felt I had a right to say ; and this much I felt it my duty to say. But to all men who have asked me, by word or letter, to aid them in obtain ing contracts of the Government, I have said that soy sense of propriety would not permit me to have anything to do with contracts; that I could not, in any way, aid in procuring contracts ; that no man ever bad, or ever would have, contracts through my agency or influence. This has been, now is, and will ever be, my position." 0 Every word of this is confirmed by Senator WiLson's previous and subsequent conduct, and, as if to clinch his own statement, the author of the original charge voluntarily ad dressedd him the following full, an frank apology and contradiction : Ant:carom, December 2, 1861, HON. HENRY WILSON—DEAR SIR :Ton will ex cuse my trespass upon your time in replying to your note. -I only desire to express my regret in the publication of what has proved to be a sense less or malicious hoax, and should, in courtesy, have made fl etutemeat to you of the circumstances at an earlier day. It was a source of mortification to me, on reading your published letter, that I should have acted so indiscreetly in giving credence to such a rumor, and thereby presented an opportu nity for opposing newspaper editors to vent their spleen, without any ground, for their exhibition of malice, or rather political rancor. To rob one of his good name I believe to be one of the most contemptible of crimes, and I thank you for the confidence with which you have received my state ment of absence of evil intention in this matter. Hoping you will excuse my troubling you with this further communication, We never knew a public man so atrociously assailed, who has been so completely and pub licly vindicated. These charges may have grown out of the supposition that the Senator intended to reduce the pay of the soldiers in the late bill reported from the Military Com mittee. We may state, in reply to this, that in a late bill reported from his committee the Senator caused this clause to be inserted : &sc. 9. And be st fnrt4tr ensued, That, during the continuance of the present rebellion, there shall be deducted from the compensation of all persons employed in the military, naval, and civil service of the United States, except warrant officers and sailors in the navy, and non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates in the army, ten per centum of the amount of their eishvelitb.tiotk. The only measure the Senator introduced was a measure of reform and economy, taxing officers' salaries ten per cent., and abolishing the commutation for horses and forage—this very commutation system, as all men know, haring grown into a mofiltrous and wicked abuse. The same bill that taxes the officers of the army upon their pay, taxes every other officer in the civil service, and Senator WILSON himself will bear the burden in common with others. The conspirators at Richmond are, no doubt, greeting the news from all quarters with a gloomy, despair. They can read- their own doom without the aid of au interpreter. The language of victory that Ills every honest heart with joy comes to them as the fiat of an avenging God. Like the prisoner in his iron cell, which daily contracted!, they see the army and navy of the Republic they have insulted, and the Constitution they have violateth diming around them with inexorable and unpanaineecer tainty. The thunder of our destructive eihnin tells them that there is no escape. As if to add to their remorse, they behold the people they have plundered and impoverished, the masses they have betrayed and brutalized, hailing the onward march of the soldiers of the . Government, and taking these soldiers to their arms as so many deliverers from a despotism as grievous as any that has disgraced human annals. Presently the example which became so contagious in Tennessee will manifest itself in Richmond. That city has always been a conservative city. The Union spirit, stifled by a few tyrants, will break out like a Vesuvian eruption, and the traitors will be compelled to fly to save their worthless lives. Their is in fact no avenue by which these wretched men can escape from the ter rible calamities they have biought upon them selves. Europe, upon which they depended for succor, turns from them with contempt, and when she realizes that they aro at weak as they are wicked, she will net hesitate to,regard them as a banditti, that have been justly pun. ished for attempting to destroy an indulgent and generous Government. Riot reigns in their midst e red-handed murder stalks through their streets; bankruptcy broods like a horrid pestilence in their marts ; and their ragged army is instinct with fear of the ven geance about to be precipitated upon the conspiracy, and with secret hatred of those who have led them to their fate. Their navy, partly stolen and partly impro vised, is being crushed into fragments, and martial law is declared in order that the heads of the rebellion may be protected from their own people, What a fearful sequel to a reek. less career! Our most experienced captains and statesmen predict that in sixty days the head of the serpent will be annihilated. . 1 As 'victory after victory comes pouring ill • upon us the treatment to be extended to thesS conquered people is generally discussed. For the masses who have been led into treason, either against their will or in a moment of fa natical delirium, there will, of course i be a full and generous pardon, on the express conditiolk that they cheerfully submit to the laws, re., swear allegiance.to the Constitution, and aid t 4 deliver up their tyrants, or to banish them tii, other lands. The State governine.int at Wheeli ing will soon be inaugurated at Richmondot else Richmond will be made to bear the rela tion to the western metropolis of Virgini heretofore sustained by that metropolis to her The process by - which rebellion has beel put down in Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri will of course be resorted to in all the seed_' States. There need be no,fear, unless•som unexpected change phould taire•place it: th :1 I course of time, that the men who hate ere tofore domineered in the Slave States will permitted to take part in our. national couni cils. They are a miserable minority, and,/ having preyed their treachery to the Federal power, will either be expelled or punished. I have an abiding faith in the Union sentiment' of the South, and I believe that nothing is required to give it life and organization Ind a perseverance in the same moderate and mag nanimous policy that, from the first, has chime tufted Mr. Lincoln's Administration. 'lion sands of - men known to be loyal have refised to take part in the rebellion, and these, backed by the strong arm of the Government, Will reappear upon the scene, and aid to restore oiler to society, trade to its accustomed channels, and prosperity and peace. If such men are not to be found in the South, then the woi will have to be done by others. Northe emigration will roll in to occupy the desert cities, to cultivate the desolate fields, and .o take advantage of the abundant resources 4f one of the most fruitful regions on the fade of the globe. As to slavery, that can well it, submitted to the purifying alembic of tint,. In this wonderful age of startling revolution!, the great problem may be solved by oth4r agencies not now foreseen. Slavery has al ready received a death-blow in at least four Si' the Southern States, and whatever may become of it, it can never again be used as a po litical element, or employed to enrich a few arrogant and despotic agitators. The aboli tion of slavery in the District of Columbia with compensation to the loyal owners, is re garded by many of the most conservative men • as a fixed fact. It is estimated that the thirty -one hundred slaves in this ten-miles square can be liberated to ot a cost of less than 'a minion of dollarjliand one of the ablest I remain yourih truly, C. G. EAsTunartoor LETTER FROM "OCCASIONAL." WAsnrIMON, February 16,1862. and most profound lawyers, a supporter of Breckinridge last fall, and now holding a high military position, is prepared to show that such an act will not be in violation of the original cession of the District by the adjoining States of Maryland and Virginia. No man who has any claims to the support of the Government will be dispossessed of any of his rights by this measure, and it is believed that if Congress should take this step no future legislation will interfere with it. Washington, in truth, is already a free city. It is surprising to observe the marvellous change that has been produced in a few months by the presence of capital, enterprise, and wealth, which have made the great. States of the North and Northwest so prosperous and powerful, and if the war should terminate now these auxiliaries would reinain in a greater or less degree for all time to come. OCCASIONAL. LATEST NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. FROM WASHINGTON, AN IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT. CONFERENCE WITH RAILROAD MANAGERS DESIRED. &c., &c., &c. Special Despatches to 4 . The Press." Wasinaurow, February 16, 1662. Sick and Wounded Soldiers Sent to Flu ladelphia. The following is a list of the names of eighty-two side and wounded soldiers, sent to Philadelphia lad evening, from the General Hospital at Alexandria W. A. Wright and George Lee, Second Michi gan; B. F. Griffith, Fifth Michigan; James Ka vanaugh, Thirty-seventh New York; Henry !lo bar, George Egnaroh, John Eitle, John E. Ford, Ralph Stone, 'and George Hobbs, all of the First New Jersey Cavalry ; Michael Powers, John S. Kimball, Bernard Todd, Frederick Boyer, T. H. B. Geiger, Sylvanus Vangorden, and Charles Bridge, all of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Vols. ; Edwin Foolies, Thirty-third Pennsylvania.: Jahn Poster, Fifth United States Regulars ; Daniel S. Smith, Fifth Penna. Vols. ; A. F. Faucher and John John iron, Sixth Wisconsin; Jas. Arnold, Fifth Wisconsin; Wm. Brooks, David Dutcher, and George Flood Seventeenth New York ; Henry Carroll, Way, McKinney, August Berthold, Frederick Edict, Frantz, Martin Mack, Elder J. Owner, and Harri son Weand, all of Col. McCarter's Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers; John C-. Hessy and Ja cob Reale, of the Twenty-seventh Indiana; A. Teuteberg, Fifty-fourth New York; Frederick Shearer, First Pennsylvania Artillery; J. Whitty, Third Wisconsin Volunteers ; Reuben Hill, David Riche, Edward S. Chamberlain, and E. S. Lan ders, Fourth Rhode Island ; Anthony Reinhard, First U. S. Cavalry ; Albert Bahpey, Seventh Pennsylvania ; H. Dove, Sixteenth New York ; Edward Battsford, Philip Wall, and George Scott, Fifth Connecticut; F. Jeffards, Ninth New York State Militia; Wm. M. Wockman, Pat O'Boyle, and R. Whittier, Second Massachusetts ; M. Dean and Robt. Bradford, Sixteenth New York; James Fogle, Cameron Dragoons; D. Carrier, Third Wisconsin; Ira Odell, Forty-fifth Pennsyl vania; D. Atwater, Thirty-second New York; John C. Stoddard, Second U. S. infantry; Jacob Zimmerly, Eighth New York cavalry; Pat. Foley, Fifth Conn. Vol. ; John Hennessey, Twentyseoond N.V.; Orrin Howes, Forty-fourth N. Y. ; Jas. W. kiessener, First Pennsylvania Cavalry ; Benjamin T. Fuller, Twenty.fifth New York ; John Dixon, Third U. S. Infantry ; W. H. Carpenter, Eleventh Pennsylvania Voltuiteers ; Lewis Lessee, Fifth Vermont; Antonio Cellar, Thirty-ninth Hoer York; Robert McMoran, Twenty-fifth New York; James R. Benson, and John Oliver, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers; James Martagore, Frank Hart, and Edward Costello, Sixty-sixth New York; Henry Thirtyleoond Pennsylvania; John Eldinger, Seventy-third Pennsylvania; Simeon Chapman, One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania; Edward Merritt, Sixteenth New York ; and Martin Jennie, Twenty-ninth, New York. The Hospitals at Alexandria. RANI the Ist of Deeember last there haie been admitted into the Mansion-house Hospital, at Alex andria, 599 patients, of which number only 32 have died. There are now remaining 269 patients. The charges brought against the principal of this insti tution, Dr. PORTER, are now, at his urgent request, being fully investigated, and from outside reports, will result in entirely vindicating him from the charges alleged against him. The Doctor is a regular army surgeon, and the patients speak of him in the highest terms. There are now 58 pa tients at the Fairfax-street Hospital, 29 at the Wolf-street Hospital, and 49 at the Washington street Hospital. They all receive the best of medi cal attendance. The Slave-Pen Closed. At the request of the Secretary of Wat, Dr. Panama, accompanied by Dr. SELTZER, of the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, made an official visit to the slave pen at Alexandria yesterday. They found it even worse than it has been represented. Both these medical gentlemen recommended that it be closed, which has been dyne: The prisoners are now Comfortably housed. Reported Resignation of General Mont- gomery. A report was prevalent last evening that General MONTGOMEnT., the Governor of Alexandria, had tendered his resignation. This, it seems, was brought about by the many charges which have been alleged against the General of his being too lenient with the Secessionists with whom he is sur rounded. WNW MCLEAN, of the Eightpeighth Pennsylvania, and Colonel FARNSWORTH, of the Eighth Illinois cavalry, are among those named as his 01/0001380T. Colduel MCLEAN was for some time the acting governor of Alexandria, and• was much astound for his ezecutivo and aoldlikly qualities. There appears to be a constant conflict of authority at Alexandria, and the sooxer a new government is organized the better it will be for our arms. Presentation to Pennsylvania Regiments. Gov. CURTIN yesterday presented to Col. Wra- LlAna' Thirty-fret Pennsylvania Regiment, and Col. CAMPBELL'S Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, their regimental State colors. Several distin guished gentlemen from Pennsylvania were present. The Governor was received with a salute of 21 guns. A Drunken Chaplain. A chaplain, belonging to one of the volunteer re giments, was arrested in the street, yesterday, while in a beastly state of intoxication. He was kept in the guard house l slight, and released this morning so that he could perform Divine service in his regiment. The Harriet Lane. It is stated, this morning, that the Harnet Lane ran the blockade during • the snow storm last pjgbt, Notice from the War Department 00NPERENCE W/TII RAILROAD MANAGERS DESIRED WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. 15, 1862. The railroad operations of the War Department acquire that there el:mid be a just and efficient system of railroad transport that would secure to the Government energetic action with a fair tariff of charges. The Secretary of War, be lieving that he may safely appeal to the practical experience of the officers of the rail road companies, and to their patriotic feelings, for aid in devising such a system, he invites the chief officials of the respective railroad companies in the loyal States to meet and eenfer tgith hila on this subject at Washington, on Thursday, the 20th day of February, 1862. The Ron. Erastus Corning, and N. S. 'Wilson, now in this city, are requested to act as a committee of arrangements. EDWIN N. STANTON, Secretary of War. Hospital Supplies The Sanitary CoMmisslon, on Thursday, sent from Baltimore two inspectors, with a large amount of hospital supplies for the wounded at Roanoke Island. Sudden Death The well-known old• colored man, FRANCIS DA- Tian, was taken sick suddenly in the War Depart ment this morning,, where he bad been employed forty-two years awe messenger, and died just as he reached his home, Be was appointed under .111.antsores Administration. Washington News and Gossip The heavy enow storm of yesterday and the merry jingle of the sleigh-belie het night have given place this morning to bright sunshine and mud and slush. It is expected that the boat from Fortress Mon roe, to-morrow, will bring the news of the capture 9f Savannah. This will soon be followed by the capture of Charleston and Columbia. When Savannah is captured Charleston cannot hold out long. The Quartermaster's Department has extended, till *lst saturday, the time for receiving bids for the supply of army. horses. A large number of dealers are still in Washington. s. C. Ileitis, in charge of the Government De tective Civil Police, bas resigned his position. By his untiring energy and Alevotion to the Govern ment the eontraband trade with the rebel States has been almost entirely broken up. lie intends entering the military service as an officer. Gen. Funuorer will probably leave here toward the close of the week. It is believed by his friends that he will soon be assigned to important military duties.• The• Sumpter Overhauls a Baltimore Vessel. BALTIMORE, Feb. 16.—A letter from Captain Rodgoro, of Om Alp Aloraiflay, from lion York, abaci that be was boarded by a boat from the Sumpter near Genoa, but, on learning that - abe balled from Baltimore, was allowed to proceed wlthent molestation. BOMBARDIENT OF FORT DONELSON. DESPERATE FIGHTING ON BOTH SIDES. ONE OF GEL GRANT'S BATTERIES TAKEN BY THE REBELS. TT Di RECAPTURED BY OUR FORCED The Principal Redoubt of the Rebels Taken. IT COICK&NDO THE WHOLE REBEL FORT. Our Gunboats Badly Damaged and Forced to Withdraw. _ THE REBELS RAISE THE BLACK FLAR, Si. Lours, Feb. 16.—The city is perfectly wild with excitement and rejoicing at the announce ment, just made public, that the American flag now waver; over Fort Donelson. The loss has been heavy on both sides. One of General Grant's batteries was taken by the _reboil, but was soon recaptured by our troops. The gunboats are said to be badly damaged. We expect the particulars of the victory to night. CAIRO, Dee. 16.—[Special despatch to the St. Louis Densocratd—Commander Foote reached here at 12 o'clock hist night on board the gunboat Conestoga. He stormed Fort Done Leon on Friday afternoon with the gunboats St. Louis, Louis tale, Pittsburg, Carondelet, Tyler, and Conesto ga. After fighting a little over an MU he With drew. Fiftyfour were killed and wounded on our gun boat', Pilots Riley and Hinton being among the wounded. Commodore Foote, while standing on the pilot house of the St. Louts, his flatship, was slightly wounded. The Bt. Louis was bit by 61 shot. The of the gunboats were disabled. The Tyler and Conestoga remained out of the range of the eneiny's guns. The line of battle was as follows : The St. Louts on thc riot, Peg. the Tonintlic, then the Pitts• burg, and the Carendeist on the left. The enemy's firing was very accurate. They had three batteries—one near the water's edge, one fifty feet above this, and a third fifty feet above the Second, The upper one mounted four 18. pounders. This was held in reserve until our boats got within 400 yards of the fort. Our fire was directed principally at the water battery. One of the enemy's guns burst, and a number were dismounted. The enemy could bo seen carrying the dead out of their trenches. AU the gunboats were left up the Cumberland, except the Conestoga. She left there yeeterday morning. A rifled gun on the Caro/tete/et burst, killing six men. The rudder of the Patsburg was shot away. The mortar boats left here yesterday morning for Fort Donelson. The above is gleaned from statements made by gentlemen who were aboard the St. Louts during the engagement. LATER. A gentleman who left Fort Donelson yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, and reached here at noon to-day, says that the fight had been going on all day yesterday. The right wing of the enemy's fortifications were taken, and the Stare and Striped were waving over them. The forces were breast to breast, and the fight was to be renewed. CAIRO, Feb. 16.—The steamer lllinne-ha-ha arrived here from Port Dumdum, having left the fort at five o'clock last evening, bringing a mili tary mail and despatches, and one hundred and fifty wounded to the hospital at Paducah. The fight oommenced on Thnraday, and was con• tinned on Friday and Saturday. The fight during the latter day was desperate. The Illinois Eighteenth regiment suffered severe ly, and the lowa Ninth sustained considerable -loss. Swartz's battery, which was taken by the enemy, was recaptured by our men. • Two colonels were wounded and two killed. The loss is heavy on both sides. The upper fort was taken at o'clock, and the, Union flag now floes over it. Our troops behaved with great gallantry. • The gunboats St. Louis, Louisville, and Pitts burg were disabled. The Minne•ka•ha met the mortar gunboats at Paducah, going up. The upper redoubt taken by our troops com mands Fort Donelson, and Gen. Grant telegraphs that he would be able to capture that fort to day, Sunday: The Official Despatches. ST. Louis, Feb. 1.6.--Despatehes received at headquarters say that all the gunboats are pretty effectually disabled, ere opt one. Commodore Foote was wounded twice, but not fatally. Official Despatch from Com. Foote. IrasmanTorf, Feb. 10.=-The following despatch was this morning received at the Navy Depart ment, from Flag Officer Foote U. B. FLAG-SHIP ST. LOUIS, ) NEAR FORT DONELSON, VIA PADuce.m, Feb. 15,1862. ) I made an attack on Fort Donelson yesterday at 3 o'clock P. M., with four iron-clad gunboats, and two wooden ones, and after one hour and a quarter severe fighting the latter part of the day, within less than 400 yards of the fort, the wheel of the vessel and the tiller of the Louisville were shot away, rendering the two boats unmanageable. They then drifted down the river. The two remaining boats were greatly damaged between wind and water. This vessel alone re ceived 59 shots, and the others about half that num ber each. There were 54 killed and Tranquil in this attack, which we have reason to suppose would in fifteen minutes more, could the action haws been continued, have resulted in the capture of the fort bearing upon us, as the enemy was running from his batteries, when the two gunboats drifted help lessly down the river front the disabled apparatus, as the.relieving tackles could not steer the vessels, when the fleeing enemy returned to the river battery 'guns, from which they had been driven, and again hotly poured their fire upon us. The enemy mAiitliave brought over twenty gam to bear upon our . kats from the water battery and the main fort o n hill, while wr'd oould only re turn the tire with twelve of the boats' guns from the four boats. One of the rifled guns aboard the Carondelet burst during the action. The officers and men in this hotly.contested but unequal fight behaved with the greatest gallantry and determi nation, all deploring the accident which rendered two of our gunboats suddenly helpless in the nar row river and swift current. On consultation,with Gen. Grant and my own offi cers, as my services here until we can repair da mages, by bringing up a competent force from Cairo to attack the fort, are much less required than they are at Cairo, t shall proceed to that place. I have sent the Tyler to the Tennessee river, to render the railroad bridge impartible. A. IL If 00TH, Flag Officer Commanding the Naval force, Western Division. arnmoN WELLES, Socretary of the Navy further Particulars. thimseo, Feb. 16.—The following special des patch has been received by the Trtbono; CUMBERLAND RIVER, NEAR. FORT DONELSON, Feb. 16—Forenoon.—The firing commenced again to-day at daybreak, and was continued at intervals all day long. Up to 4 o'clock no movement or as sault by the land force bad been made. The night before last, an attempt was made by the rebels to take Taylor's battery of light artillery, but they wore repulsed by two regiments, and dris en back beyond their entrenchments. Oar loss in wounded is eonsiderable, but not more than three or four are dangerously wounded. BIZ gunboats arrived yesterday and commenced an attack on the fort at 2 o'clock P. M. The firing was rapid and severe, and lasted an hour and twenty minutes, when our gunboats fell back. The iron gunboats went within three, hundred yards of the fort. All the rebels' river guns except six Were either dismounted or silenced. . The first shot fired from the St. Louis dismounted the rebels' 128-pounder. The Louisville received 57 shots, two of which took effect, one striking the starboard side of her deck, passing through the entire length of the boat, killing three men, and breaking her tiller rope a short distance from the pilot house. The rope was then managed by some of the hands when a shell from the Tyler, which lay some distance astern, burst over the Louisville, scattering the men at the tiller rope, and so much disabled the steaming apparatus that the boat was compelled to fall astern. One shot struck the Fittsburein the bows and stove an immense hole in her, which caused her to drop out of the action. The leak, however, has been stopped. One shot struck the pilot house of the .Si. Louis, passing through it between the legs of the pilot without injuring him., All the boats were more or less injured, but none but the Louis ville seriously. There were Ave killed and two wounded in the .. .Louisville., The gunboats will not be in condition to renew the attack before to- morrow morning. In.consequence of the height of the bluffs on which the rebel fornication are built, our cannon cannot have as much effect on them as on Fort Henry, therefore it will require a much longer time to reduce We fort. The reboil have relied the black flag, and it can be seen flying from the bank, a short distance above. Union Commando:an Engaged, The troops engaged on the Union side numbered probably 50,000 men, consisting of lowa, Ohio, In diana, and Illinois regiments, and were under the command of Generals Ulysses S. Grant, John A. McClornand, and C. F. Smith. General Grant being the senior brigadier, had beintnand of the whole force. He wee formerly an old army officer, but resigned his position to engage in new pursuits. At the breaking out of the war be was appointed to a brigadier generalship, and assigned to the poet at Cairo. He commanded the Federal forces when they attacked Belmont and destroyed the rebel camp situated there. General John A. ltleClernard was formerly a member of Congress from Illinois, but, on the breaking out of the rebellion, he resigned his seat, and was appointed by the President a brigadier general of volunteers. General C. F. Smith is a Pennsylvanian, and holds the position of colonel in the regular army. He was lately in command of the Federal forces at Paducah. The Gunboats Engaged. The follerrlog le a lief of the amen of the gang boats taking part in the bombardment : GUNBOAT SAINT LOUIS Lieutenant Commanding, Leonard Paulding, U. S. N. First Master, Samuel Black. Seeond Master, James Y. Clemson. Third Master, Charles S. Kendrick. Fourth Master, Alexander Fraser. Acting Paymaster, Llewellyn Curry. Surgeon, -- McDill. Master's Mates, S. H. McAdams, James P. Paulding. Pilots, Frank Riley, Robert G. Baldwin. Gunner, Hall. Chief Engineer, W. Carswell. First Assistant, T. F. Ackeman. Second Assistant, James L. Smith. Third Assistant, John Wilcoxen. Carpenter, Robert H. Medill. GITNIIIOAT CONESTOGA. lieutenant Commanding, RAO, U. S. N. First Master, John A. Debts. Second Master, Charles P. Noble . Third Master, Benjamin Sebastian. Assistant Surgeon, William H. Wilson. Actin Paymaster, Alfred Phelps. Chief Engineer, Thomas Cook, First Assistant Engineer, Alex. Magee. Third Assistant Engineer, Michael Norton. Master's Mates, James Kearney, Richard H. Cut tee. Gunner, Henry Hamilton. Carpenter; Andrew Woodloek. Armorer, James O'Neil. GUNBOAT PITTSBURG. Lieutenant Commanding, E. Thompson, U. S. N. First Master, C. Bentley. Second Master, Andrew Wilson. Third Master, W. Snyder, Pourch :Muter, E. F, Morgan. Paymaster, Cephas G. Gunn. Pilots, David E. Wade, Charles S. Tennison. Master's Mates, J. F. Nichols, Charles H. Mat thews. Chief Engineer, J. McDonald. First Assistant Engineer, George IL Atkinson. Second ASsietant Ensineur, George Santora. Third Assistant Engineer, Charles W. Blessing. Gunner, vacant. Carpenter, George `N. Rodgers. Armorer, Thomas Smith. GUNBOAT LOUISVILLE. Commander, Benjamin M. Dove, U. S. N. First Master, Robert Getty. Second Master, R. A. Bausman. Third Master, Thomas M. Parker. Fourth Master, Samuel C. Harrison. Paymaster, L. Jargensen. Surgeon, A. L. Vail. Master's Mates,RobertSherman, Charles L. Fel ton, Pilots, Samuel Mcßride, Samuel Williamson. Chief Engineer, James P. Fulton. First Assistant Engineer, A. W. Hardy. Second Assistant Engineer, John C. Parkinson. Third Assistant Engineer, Deodatus Chapel. Carpenter,— Boggs. Gunner, James G. Austin, Armorer, Charles Degleman. GUNBOAT CARONDELET , THIRTEEN GUNS. Commander, Henry Walke, United States Navy. Masters—First, Richard K. Wade; Second, John Doret7 ; Third, Charles C. Gray; Fourth ; IL 4, Pilots, William Benton and Daniel Weaver. Surgeon, James S. McNeely. Paymaster, Georg_e J. W. Nexsen. Masters' Mates, Theodore L. Gillman and Ed ward E. Brennard. Engineers, Chief, W. IL Faulkner ; first assist,. ant, Charles H. Caven ; Second assistant, Samuel S. Brooks; Third assistant, Augustus F. Crowell. Carpenter, 0. Donaldson. Gunner, Richard Adams. Armorer, H. H. Rhodes. DESCRIPTION OF THE GUNROATS. The gunboats Sr. Louts and Cincinnati are about one hundred and seventy-five feet in length, fifty-one feet and a half in breadth, and draw five feet when loaded. The bows and bulwarks con sist of about three feet of oak timber, bolted to. gather. and sheathed with the best quality' of wrought-won plates, two and a half blokes thick. The sides have the same sheathing , with less bulk of timber. The St. Louis and 'Cin cinnati are pierced for thirteen guns each. The bow-guns are heavy eighty-four-pound rifled cannon ; the others are eight-inch columbiads. The sides of the boats, both above and below the knees, incline at an angle of forty-five degrees, and nothing but a plunging shot from a high bluff could strike the surface at right angles. [he iron plating had been severely tested by shots from rifled cannon at different distances, and had shown itself to be im pervious to any shots that have been sent against it, even at a range of three hundred yards. The boats, it will be perceived, were built very wide, in proportion to their length, giving them almost the same steadiness in action that a sta tionary land battery would possess. They were constructed on the same principle as the famous iron battery at Charleston, the sides sloping up ward and downward from the water line at an angle of fortpfive degrees, The boats were built so that in action they could be kept " bew on ;" hence the superior strength of the bow battery. Broad sides were so arranged as to be delivered with terrible effect while shifting position. To facilitate move ments in action, the engines and machinery are of the most powerful kind. The boilers are five in number, constructed to - woris in connection with, or independent of, each other. In case of damage done to any one or more o€ etiem, a valve was ar ranged to close the connectioh between the damaged and undamaged boilers, and the latter operate as if nothing had happened. ItVaunt:suave . , February 9C.—The despatch an nouncing a victory at Fortponelson has occasioned intense joy, but up to 10 o clock to-night no official despatch his been received in confirmatibn of the report, further than that the upper fort had been captured 14; the land forces. A BRILLIXNT EXPLOIT ON THE • urrtn POTOMAC. GEN. LARDER ATTACKS AND DISPERSES A ItE.BEL CAMP A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PRISONERS TAKEN, CuMBEBLAIin, Md., Feb. 15.—General Lander made a forced march on Thursday night, surprising and breaking up a rebel camp at Bloomery Gap, killing thirteen rebels and capturing seventeen commissioned cflicers and forty.five privates, and losing but two men and six horses. Be led the attack in person, at the head of the First Virginia Regiment of cavalry. This opens the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Hanceek again. General Lander, haying cleared his department of the enemy, requests to be relieved of his com mand, on account of ill-health. A portion of General Larder's command, under Colouel Dunning, has oaappiod Sicotaitaa, end captured 225 head of beef cattle. WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—The special despatch from General Lander has been received at head quarters PAwrAw, Va., Feb. 14-8 o'clock P. M. Major General G. B. MCCLELLAN. The - railroad was opened to Hancock this morn ing; also the telegraph. We had an important forced reconnoissance last night, which was completed to.day. We broke up the rebel neat at Bloomery Gap. We ran down and captured seventeen commis sioned officers, among them colonels, lieutenant colonels, captains, Az. We engaged them with four hundred cavalry. Our infantry were not near enough to support the cavalry, and the enemy were retiring, We have in all seventyllve prisoners, and killed thirteen of the enemy. We lost two men and six horses at their first fire. I led the charge in person. it was a complete surprise. Col. Carroll, commanding the Fifth (or Eighth) Ohio Regiment, made a very daring and pocessful reconnoissanceimmediately afterward to Unger's Store. Major Frothingham is entitled to great credit for buCtling, under my direction in four hours, in the dead of the night, a complete bridge across the great Cacasson,- at an unfrequented mountain road. Two columns of two thousand men each have marohed thirty-two miles, and ono column forty three miles, sineefour o'clock yesterday afternoon, besides bridging the river. Papers that were taken from Cur prisoners, and my own reconnoiseance to the south, prove that the country is elm and Jackson and Loring are in Win. cheater. We made a move and occupied the Bloomery Gap and Point Mills in the belief (by information from deserters) that General Casson'e brigade was there. • General Dunning has jug arrived at Now Crook from Moorefield, forty miles south of Romney. lie has captured 225 beef cattle, and broken up the guerilla haunt there Two of his men were badly wounded, and he killed several of the rebels. The enemy have thus been driven out of this de partment, . F. W. LAMM, Brigadier General. Arrival of the Steamer Matanzas front Port Royal. NEW YORE, Feb 16.—The steamer Matanzas has arrived from Port Royal, with dates to the 12th inst. No military or naval movements are re ported, but all was well there. The Matanzas brings the crew of the steamer Premiera, the latter having been abandoned in a sinking condition while being towed front Port Royal on her way to New York during a heavy storm, on the 14th inst., off Hatteras. Death of Ex-Speaker Pennington. NKWARZ, N. 'J., Feb. 16.—Ex•Seeaker Pen nipecn. died at dig T9/149P.99 this Pligr.lll4 7 aged os, Sailing of the Nova Scotian PORTLAND, Feb. 16.—The Mesmer Nova Sea ttan.miled for Lirorpool last °Timing at 10 o'olook. THE WAR IN MISSOURI. PRICE'S REAR-GUARD ROUTED ! ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15.—Gen. lialleok has received despatches from Gen. Curtiss stating that General Price's rear-guard was overtaken by the pursuit from Springfield, and after a briof resistance the rebels fled, leaving the road strewn with wagons and baggage. Gen. Curtiss reports having taken more pri soners than he knew what to do with. It never rains but it pours! The Pursuit of the Rebel Price, ST. Louts, Feb. 10.—The following io a special despatch to the St. Louis Democrat : SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 15.—Our army ) under command oT Gen. Curtiss, marched from Lebanon on the 15th formed in three divisions—the right under Col. Jeff, C. Davis, the second under COI. Cliff, and the oehtio under Gee, Sigel, On the 12th, when six miles from Springfield, skirmish took place between our advance and a party of rebels, in which nine of the latter were killed. One of our men was slightly wounded. At sunset, on the same day, thirty of the enemy at tacked our pickets, but were driven back with a leo of thi*, This 1140 regarded oath° commence• mont of the battle, and 200 cavalry, with a battery, were sent forward. The battery was placed on an eminence commanding the supposed approach of the rebels, and three shells wore thrown, to which no response was made. Our force then retired, leaving a strong picket guard. pilling the night a continuous firing was kept up by the pickets. At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 13th our army advanced in line of battle, and at day-break the third division, headed by the Fourth lowa, entered and took peaceable possession of the town. Gen. Price had left at 3 o'clock on the same morning, leaving over 600 of his sick, and large quantities of forage and wagons behind him, He had 12,000 effective troops, and 50 pieces of ar tillery. Yesterday evening a battalion of our cavalry captured 10 wagons of his train, and last night firing by the pickets was heard in the direction of the retreating foe. - This morning at 6 o'clock our whole force followed the enemy, It is reported that Prise is merely falling beak to meet Mclntosh, who was coming up with reinforce ments, and, on his joining him, he would return and give us battle. The probabilities are that' ha is in full retreat. The people in and around Springfield express undoubted satisfaction at the arrival of our troop, and general rejoicing is manifested throughout the Southwest at the retreat of the rebels. This expedition is doubtless the end of the cam paign in Missouri. FROM FORTRESS mOiIRoE. Rebel Accounts of their Loss at Roanoke Federal Gunboats at Cumtnek Sound. FORTRESS MoKnox, Feb. 15, via Baltimore.— The northeast storm continuca, accompanied with rain end bail. A flag of truce was sent to Craney Island to-day with one or two passengers, but none were brought back. The Southern ?opera received contain. little of interest. The Norfolk Buy Book saya that their total 161 e during the battle of Roanoke Island was 8 killed and 30 wounded. Two of the latter died aubse quently—Capt. Wise, anceprivate Burnell, of the Richmond Blues. The killed are Capt. O. J. Wise, Capt. Robert Coles ; Lieut. Wsn. B, Beldee, and privatem. The Day BoOk also says that 2,500 prisoners were taken, and that they will be parolled for ex- / change, and sent immediately to Norfolk. A gentleman who arrived from Currituek Sound yesterday says that several of the Federal gunboatf arrived at the ousel on Thursday afternoon, and commenced firing shot and shell at the vessels sta., tioned there, the crows of which were engaged is destroying the canal. The steamers Starl and qtrflles, and the Tersei Blatt, destined for Hatter/ 1, are Still detained heri by the storm. From the tipper Potomac FREDERICK, Md,, Rob. 14,—/teports from pri vate atlyicen say that the enemy have completed their strong fort on the Catoctin Mountain. It covers one and a half acres of ground, and plat forms have been prepared for twenty gun.s, but only four have yet been mounted. The walls are seven feet high, surrounded by a deep, wide moat, Its precise location and approaohes are known to our engineere. Fresh movements of the enemy's forties are daily witnessed in front of Col. Geary's command, but flying reports of an attack by them are unfounded. The health of ou r bPig l 4 lB 4 notwithstanding the muddy condition of the camps. The Examining Board has adjourned to meet again on Monday. Many resignations have taken place by officers who have been detailed for exami nation, A horrible and heinous murder took place on Wednesday in Carleton District, Washington ottunty. A respectable and intelligent man named Freda. rick Smith had for several months been paying his addresses to Miss Tracey, a young lady of very re ipectable parentage, but with no successful result. On Wednesday she was on her way to visit the sick child of a neighbor, having some rice in her hand. Smith met her at a distal= from any house, and urged his suit in strong terms. 0 On her refusing the offer Smith drew a revolver, and saying she should never marry any ono alga, deliberately fired, the ball taking effect in her left breast, killing her instantly. The murderer, taking the rice from her, carried it to the parents of the sick child, and told them the above details of his act, on whose evidence tie was arrested, and now awaits his trial in the jail at Hagerstown. The courts meet on the first Monday in March. Of course, the people of the county are deeply indignant. The murderer has always main tained an excellent character for sobriety and morality, and the cause of the act cannot be attri buted to intoxication or insanity. A private correspondent at Sharpsburg sends the following : On Sunday last a party of rebel cavalry made their appearance opposite the pickets of the Twelfth uato,a, had, dhiplitylng a flag o f ; moo , came to the bank of the river with the request that an iperiehould cross and receive a letter for this aide ;.but, in consequence of the bloody murder per petrated at Harper's Ferri, Captain Wilson refused to damply with the i42 i iie§k. The e4rdit theta re turned to the woods, about a mile back from the river. On Monday they again made their appearance a short distance up the river, with a flag of truce hoisted, and commenced firing at the pickets of company D, but doing no injury. The pickets re• turned their Are, killing a horse and wounding the rider, when the rest took to flight. On Monday night our pickets heard martial mu sic, apparently entering Sharp's Dam, and it is sup -1/1494 there wni a considerable body of rebel in, fantry in that neighborhood. It is reported that the cavalry were under the command of the notorious blillmore ' whom we held a prisoner some two months ago. It is thought that a demonstration is intended at this point on account of the reception they met with from our pickets - but Cul. Link isconAdent he can hold them at bay ;long his whole line. Ile is watching them closely. The Flag of the Union Waves Over Bowling Green, LOUISVILLE, Feb. 16 —General Mitchell's troops bare crossed Barren river, and are now in posses sion of Bowling Green. The Recent Yietorieo—Thluiks of the Pre- sident. WASHINGTON ; Feb. 13.—The following order was issued to-day : WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 1.862 The President, oommander•in•ohief of the army PIA ;evy, returns thanks to brigadier iienerat Burnside and Fing•Offioer 4oldidiorough, and to Brigadier General Grant and Flag• Officer Foote, and the land and naval forces under their respective commands, for their gallant achievement in the capture of Fort Ilenry and Roanoke Island. While it will be no ordinary pleasure for him to acknowledge and reward in a becoming. manner the valor of the living, ha also recognizes it as his duty to pays fitting tribute to the memory of the gallant dead. The charge at Roanoke Island, like the bayonet charge at Mill Spring, proves that the close grapple and sharp steel of loyal and patriotic soldiers must always put rebels and traitors to flight. The late achievements of the navy show that the Sag of the Union, once borne in proud glory around the world by naval heroes, will soon again float over every rebel city and stronghold, and that it shall forever be honored and respected as the em blem of liberty and Union in every land and upon every sea. By order of the President. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy. Farerix M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Late from Western Virginia A skirmish occurred last Saturday on Linn creek, Lo gan county, U. A detachment of the Fifth Thettla regiment, under Captain Smith, twenty.one in number, pursued and attacked thirty-two of Jenkins' Cavalry. The result was a loss on the rebel side of eight killed and seven wounded, and the remainder captured, with me, ward of thirty horses. Of the Federate, one was killed and one wounded. The captured and their captors ar rived at Guyandotte on Wednesday evening. Mr. Reader, our informant, is a private in Capt. Smith's company, and was eugagod in the affair. Ile gives an interesting account of the skirmish: The rebels were surprised, being employed, when attacked, In foettituf their horses from the crib of a Union Alan, now a re-' fugee. Among the rebels killed was Stevens, who participated in the butchery of a small party of Platt's Zunaves, some time since. All were engaged in tho raid on Guy andotte.. Inaportint Army Order. ST. Sala, Feb. 16.—The 'following circular has been issued from headquarter.: All persons who are known to have been in arms against the United States or to have acttvely aided Use rebellion, rebellion, by word or deed, are to be arrested. Vona who are accused of acts In violation of the la we of wars suds as the destruction of railroads, briiselh sad ffilOtte property, firing into trains, assassituitions, will not be released on any terms, but etiu to held for trial before a military commission. Notoriously bad and dangerase men, though no specific act of disloyalty can be peen against them, will be tient In custody, and the. cases referred to the coia mayijing ottani. Fenimore not included In either of the above clauses p. , 4 bo r taleali 6 d uromi Mtbker 4 /0048 , 3 6 the usual o sth, a ,ot giving suftieleut bond with good security for theirfuture• good conduct. The amount or hond should in ao case - he lees.thathill,o oB . and in some catiesshould benumb larger.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers