THE PRESS, FOLIOED DAILY (SUNDAYS EXCEPTED.) By JOHN W. FORNEY, a rra No. 111 SOUTH FOURTH STREET. THE DAILY PRESS, fogrilitic Crutss Pm Wank, payable to the Carrier, 0 04 to Subscribers out of the City at Etairr DOLTASS Ns Assoc Fotra DOLLLB. FOR edxlifogrits., Two Dino fon Texas MONTHS — lnvariably in advance for the '.0.9 ordered. a r Advertisements Inserted at the usual rates. Six c onstitute a square, • TILE TRIWEEKLY PRESS, SAted to Subscribers out of the . City at POOR Dor, o,c; ANNUM, ln advance. COMMISSION MOUSES. ADELPHIA " BAG " MANUFACTORY. i; It LAP BAGS, OF ALL SIZES, FOR CORN, OATS, COPES, BONE DUST, Sic ALSO, SEAMLESS BAGS. ,standard makes, ALL SIZES, for File . oheap. for net o .li on delivery •GECY: qI4 . G-43i. No. 919 and sximuitok examr. L QEAMESS BAG. • . 2,x(x) CANADA A, all Cotton,l7 ounces. 3,03 OZARK'S, I • CM KELLY'S, " " 1.0 AMOSKEAG C. " SO HAMPDEN E., half Cotton. Her halo low by • GRIGG & LIARNISTEA.D, BERCHANDIZE BROKERS, ' JODI No. 21 STRAVirBERRY:Street COTTON -YARN. BTPERIOR COTTON YAW, No. 10, FOR SALE BY NEOT.HINGH4M & :WALLS. • 5132 , iszkir v —ma .A-7, 14.. R D h it HUTGIIINSON, . • • No. 112 ONESTNIIT STREW OOMMISSION MERCHANTS ; FOR THE SALE OP PHILADELPHIA-MADE GOODE!. 4826-8 m ATLANTIC COTTON MILLS. BHEETINGS AND SIIIRTINGS. CHARLES AMORY, JR., & 00., IWO .CHIIRCH ALLEY, PurLeDnpur 1,2)51:i I,teliki : I 0,1 DFAII SIN GEIV S SE WING MACHINES, Tor Fatally Sewing and Manufacturing Purposes. 810 CHESTNUT STREET. ialS ym WHEELER & WILSON SEWING MACHINES, 6218 CHESTNUT STREET, O-2.53m PHILADELPHIA. • THE WILCOX & GIBBS .• • • • AUTLY • SEWING MACHINES bate been greatly improved, making it ENTIRELY NOISELES.. tad with . Self-adjusting Remmers, are now ready for Bald by PAIRBANIES & 715 ClißSTNirr- Street CLOTHES - WRINGERS. THE GREAT CLOTHES WRINGER. if PUTNAM SELF-ADJUSTING CLOTHES WRINGER" A warranted to be superior to any other in cule. EVERY FAMILY SHOULD POSSESS A CLOTHES WRINGER. 8EC1A3783, Idld. It is a relief to the hardestpart of washing-day. . It enibles the washing to be done in one-third less ane. 3d. It saves clothes from the injury always given by tifisting. 4th. It helps to wash the clothes as well as dry them. WE BELIEVE IT ADVISABLE TO PROCURE ONE OF THIS HIND I 11410A1782, FIRAT. The rolls being of vulcanized rubber, will bear hot and cold water, and will neither break nor tear off buttons. beconn. The frame being of iron, thoroughly gal venizsd, all danger from rust is removed, and the lia bility to shrink, swell, split, Sto., so unavoidable in Wooden untoitines t is prevented. THIRD. The spiral springs' over the rolls render this ma chine self-adjusting, so that small and large articles, as Wail CA articles uneven in thickness, are certain to rth aeiva uniform pressure. • Fonnyn. The patent fastening by which the machine lc tightened to the tub, we believe to be superior in aim ?licity and officious, to lintloLorra&-- Firms. It will bterantisciiloiln orsAttlaro.trdm one- SW to onolind-a-goirter Whoa -ha •thlOmeoe, without the least alteration. RriTAIL No. t, 86.00 Tro:2, 85.00. 13 - • Agents wanted in every county. Sir Reliable and.energetio men will be liberally dealt with: For Sale at the "WOODENWARE.ESTABLISHMENT" A. H. FRANCIigOTJS; No. 433 MARKET St. and No. 13 North FIFTH St.. 7a13-tuth9'tmbB' ' Wholesale agent for Pennsylvania. WILLIAM YARNA.LL, DIALER rN HOUSE-FURNISHING GOODS, No. 1020 CHESTNUT STREET, Agent for the sale of HALEY, MORSE, St BOYDEN'S PATENT SELF-ADJUSTING CLOTHES-WRINGER, Believed to be the beat CLOTHES-WRINGER in use. It wilt wring the largest Bed Quilt or smallest Hand kerchief drier than can possibly be done by hand, in very much less time. N. B.—A liberal discount will be made to dealers. n0.3.3m CABINET FURNITURE. CABINET FURNITURE AND BM. LIARD,TABLES. • MOORE & CAMPION, No. 261 South SECOND Street, In connection with their extensive Cabinet Badness, are DOIT manufacturing a superior article of BILLIARD TABLES, •••• And have now on band IMP R OV E DI p C U SHIONSth the MOORE & CAMPION'S which Ire pronounced by all who have used them to be mge• riot to all others, For the quality and finish of these Tables the manna hctorers refer to their numerous patrons throughout the Union, who are familiar with the character of their Work. strl3-43m MIMVrI MR.'nM ROBERT SHOEMAKER & C o.i Eorthesst Corner Fourth and RACE Streets. PHILADELPHIA, WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS. IMPORTERS AND DEALERS EOREIGN ADD DOMESTIC. WINDOW AND PLATE GLASS, MANITFACTURERS OP WHITE LEAD AND, ZINC PAINTS, PUTTY. &a. sauna FOB, TUB OIMEBRATIIII FRENCH ZINC PAINTS. Dealers and consumers supplied at tio274m VERY LOW PRIORS FOR GABEL CAUTION. The vrell-earned reputation of FAIRBANKS' SCALES Rat induced the makers of imperfect balances to offer theakas " FAIRBANKS' SCALES," and purchasers hays kliereby, in many instances, been. subjected 'to fraud. and iwpoettloa Fairbanks' Scales are manufactured Only by the original inventor's, B. St T.' FAIRBANKS at CO., and ikre adapted to ,overy branch, of the business. where a morreca and durable Scales is desired, FAIRBANKS & SWING; General`Agents, 1014( MASONIC HALL, 715 CHESTNUT ST, 517 ARCH STREET. C. A. VA.NICIRK CO. Have on hand a fine assortment of CHANDELIERS AND OTHER GAB FIXTURES. Also, French Bronze Figures and Ornaments, Porcelain oari Him Shades, and a variety of FANCY GOODS WROLERALE AND ` RETAIL. Please call and examine goods. "Mr 11E RRI N S F RANKLINITE IRON DRILLED. :From New York Journal of Commerce, of Jan. 8,1808.] UNDERSIONBD were preiont - -at an experiment r the Purpose of testing the drill-proof qualities of a r opto ofIFRANKLINITE or CRYSTALIZED IRON, left 1 ; 1 th the Manhat tan Bank of New York, by a HER -11;/.0 St CO., as drill-proof. The Iron'was tested with vats d (%) inches in diameter, *tad Wats -.Jed readlirin our preseitte. W3I. L. jA.COBS, EDWARD BURNS. GILBEIiT LAKE. J an . .4.18a3. jala.tntits-et 5 OASES MINCH BLABKSTONE UMBRELLA GLOTTIS. sale by NATTHE•••• Birt ' SONS, , Maas. CRAIIIPAGNE " •AN 1144:PICE to " rrit,ivicoLa,i'f' andl. treen Soil" o,q t riftiOnne 1/7 • ' • 203 and ' • Sreet. VOL. 6.-NO. 144. UP STAIRS DEPARTMENT. BOYS'• CLOTHING LADIES' CLOAKS, READY MADE OR MADE TO ORDER. COOPER ib OONARD, Jabtfel S. IC COB. NINTH and-lILLEICIT JAMBS R. CAMPBELL & CO., IMPORTERS AND CASH DEALERS IN DRY C4OODS, AT'WHOLRBALE AND RETAIL, ••• "7a7 OHESTROT STREET. Have 3!iatreeetvedisnil• ace now olteglnt. magnificent lines of ... • • :1411,1D3;.SHAWLS;141D DRESS GOODS, • ... ESPRC-lAILY.ADAPTED TO THIS SEASON. `, nol-aor • TRESS GOODS, _-.-A_T__7l D II C E D PF.I C 5,000 - 1 4 DS.. ;',2IIO:USE P EEIA DXT:daREQ, . .• : • OP CHOICE STYLES. On band, Sazony.:*rinfu . DßESS 9qati . s; itnd SI cents per : - • • ; • ' • • OURWEN 5T0.15 aiEtito;, 91150, CM. and 484.1 . 1. SECOND Street:oo , e W)Ilow. .1417-4 t • • • • • . : • : LINENS, WHITE GOODS, LACES, AGENTS. A fall assortment always on hand at LOW PRICES. Just received, lace-trimmed Embroidered and Mourning Muslin Bows and Beek-Ties, for-the house and street. Also, all-linen Hemstitched Handkerchiefs, at hi cents. Also, all descriptions of Linen Handkerchiefs, for Ladies, Gents, and Children, at EDWEN'''HALL k BRO., 26 Sonth SECOND Street, Rave reduced the priceslof Fanoy Silks, Rich Printed Dress Goods, Choice Shades of Merinoes, Beautiful Colors of Reps'or Poplins, All-Wool De Lathes, All kinds of dark dress goods Also, • : 'Fine Long Broche Shawls, - *.f Open Centre Long Cashmere Shawls. Rich now styles of Blanket Shawls. 44 Lyons Silk velvets. Me Silk. TRY GOODS FOR WINTER. Rep. Poplins. bench Merinos, Colored Morisselines. Poult De Soles, Foulard Silks, Blanket Shawle, Balmoral Skirts, Black Silks„ Fancy Silks, Black Bombazines, • Worsted Plaids, Cheap Delaines, • French Chintzes, Shirting Flannels, Broohe Shawle, Fine - Blankets, Crib LESS kets. SHRP BROTH CHESTNUT and RD:MTH SM. MEN'S AND BOYS' WEAR; Cassimeres for Bust aess Suits. . Cassimeres for Dress Suits. Cassimeres for Boys' wear. Cloths adapted to every use. Boys' Clothing, ready made. Ken's and Boys' Bulls made to order. • , BLANKETS.. • A..tiptop lot at $6. - .V.Damaged Gray Blankets akin 60 and $3.60. Horse Blankets—Army.BLanketa. Domestic Goods at lowest prices. • • •TABLE LINENS. Fine Table Damasks and Cloths. • The famous no wor-loom,Table Linens. Bargains in 'Napkins, &c., &0.. - • DRESS GOODS. • - • - 2,631 yards newest styles Delaines at 'Ke. Blue Reps, Blue Poplins, Blue Paramattas. Brown Reps, Brown Popl ins , Brown Coburg& Balmorals at $/76, $3, 7h and 83.60. OPER & CONARD, FLN: battier NINTH and MARKET Strea:, H• STEEL SON: HAVE A LARGE .• • assortment' Of DRESS GOODS, *table for HO. LIDAY PRESENTS. Rich Fancy Silks ; Plain Silks; choice colors. Plain and Figured Black Silks. Plain and Figured Rep Poplins. .: Plain and Figured Merinoes. Plain Solferino Cashmeres, at 3734 c, worth 62 WINTER SHAWLS, in great variety, MERINO SCARFS, BROCHE BORDERS. CLOAKS—Of New and Fashionable Styles, made of Black Beaver, Frosted Beaver, and Black Cloth. W Call and examine our stock. e guaranty to give sa tisfaction, as we sell nothing but good articles, and at lower prices than they can be bought elsewhere. delS Nog. 713 and 715 NorthsTENTH street. CRIB AND CRADLE BLANKETS. Large Crib Blankets. Fine Cradle Blanketa. lal V/RE & LANDELL, POIIRTEI and ARCH 'PYRE &. LAN DELL; FOURTH AND A-. 4 ARCH, have a flue stock of ' ' GOODS FOR FAMILY CUSTOM. . Good Large Blankets. Good Linen Sheetings. Good Muslin by the piece.' • Good Unehriuking Flannels. Good Fa.st.Colored Prints. Good Table Linen and Towels. Good Quality Black Silks. • Good Assortment Colored Silks. • lel GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS. 606. ARCH. STREET. I` .:S • AND .r A-p 50a• t • GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS, SUPERIOR QUALIrT, AND AT MODERATE PRICES. isS-atuth Sza I'INE SHIRT MANUFACTORY The subscriber would invite attention to hie IMPROVED CUT OF SHIRTS, Which be makes a specialty in_ his , business. Also, con stantly receiving, NOVELTIES FOR GENTLEMEN'S WEAR. J. W. SCOTT, GENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING STORE, No. 814 CHESTNUT STREET, • Four doors b flow the Continental. .HOLIDAY PRESENTS. Nos. 1 AND 3 NORTH BUTE STREET. JOHN 0. ARRISON, Has now In store an elegant assortment of GENTLEMEN'S WRAPPERS, U. S. REVENUE STAMPS. A O , ENCY: - FOR THE SALE :Or UNITED STATES TAX ' STAMPS, No. 57 South THIRD Street, first door a'boye Chestnut. A full supply of all kinds of REVENUE STAMPS that have been Issued by, the Governiaeut for sale iu =entitles to suit. A liberal discount allowed on amounts of NO and up. Wards. Orders by Mail promptly attended to. JACOB-lE. RIDGWAY, No. 57 South TIIIRD Street. 1000 - DOZEN HICKORY SHIRTS. 1,000 do• GI RAR D EI A I T IIIR B TV E . 500 d° ' I "S WALIVO9I r iIIn 500 do. rris C ITYSLIH SHIRTS; 1,000 do. DENIM OVERALLS. 10,000 PAIRS COTTONADE PANTALOONS. For sale by BENNETT, RUCH, & jalS-lm Mant,fitotarers, 217 CHURCH-ALLEY A OPPENHEIMER, No. 231 CHURCH Philadelphia. CONTRACTOR. AND MANUFACTURER OF ARMY CLOTHING Of EveriDesoriPtion.. ALSO. - TrarrS. - CAW BLANKETS, KNAPSACKS,and „ BED TICKINGS FOR HOSPITALS: MATERIAL BOUGHT FOR KCONTEA6TORS. All goods ninde wii2 be gasrantied rregulattoi in sizes' add make.. Orderi of any size filled with despatoit: ja7-tf COTTON SAIL DUCK AND CANVAS, of all numbers and brantlo.4 , eß . t . Raven's Duck .Awning Twit* of all descriptions for Tents, Awnings, Trunk, and Wagon Covers. Also, Paper Manufacturers' Drier Felts, from Ito feel wide:' Tarpaulin, Bolting. Sail 'Fwine JO .N W. WilittMAN & do.; - - .11kY44 , • .102, JOBB& Alley; nARD PRINTING, 'NEAT AND CbeaPe at RINGWALTas REOWN'SOLU l i t o ortb romali bqiew Cheap*. • 7/ ..; a „„. • • , • \ ,AA•\:tl kt "' 'f".. / I Y. • . ' • ) _ .4) • 4 OHIO MIR r i c. • •-lin • - .• ..- 1111 . • ; .1!0 ,1 1"" r ?' : 4 1, . . "ike• inni •' Tft • LI . _ •••••fo , • ' . •:. : • ' • RETAIL DRY GOODS. i~_ . y 1' :y ::~ NEEDLES. AND EMBROIDERIES. WHOLESALE PRICES. JaB-tf 1024 CHESTNUT STREET. Full Assortment 'of IN GREAT VARIETX O. A. HOFFMANN, Successor to W. W. KNIGHT : . 606 ARCH STREET. 606. (FORMERLY J. BURR MOORE.) SCARFS, NB= TIES, GLOVES. age.. In Great Varietir. HAVERSACK% PONCHOS, TUEBDAY, JANUARY 20, 1863. James Dwight Dana, Silnman Professor of Geology and Natural History in Yale College, and also Editor of the 'Avieriarn Journal, of Science, has the, ' reputation.abroad of equalling the late Dr..auekland • and • Sir Henry Delabechc, and.the liVl4 Sir Richard ..Murchison and Sir Charles in the'extent, variety, and Vane of his tidien-,. title-attainments. Like these eminent. men; 'ilso,'Professor Dana has the faculty of corn: inunicating his knowledge in the- plainest :language—his .noble simplicity of - eijirci `slc4 making - Ids. writings;Clear even to.thOse: 'who take them. up.as studentil: iaavork on MinralogY has a , guieetW. and has gonelbrough several' editions. In the -. second of _Coriumidore .Eli 7 ploring ExpePition (1.838-1.80);he Geolo giCal -and Natural 'History :Reports were written by. PrOfessor Dina; who was ralogist.md geologist to the Expedition.: His illustrated "•Geology of the Pacific " is one of • ..these Beno*,—of which so few copies were .iesued bytheThliad',Sta ‘ tes-Geiennentztliat• the work is known more - by. rernitation :than, perusal: AfisYoatid- fora *any, rs, in th.r.; litbo.Wof Professor -Silliman, .his :father-in law, to __whose chair in ,Yale College he suCceeded eight yars ago, his,leisure . ; ever since, has been mainly eniployed, upon 'a Manual of Geology, whiCh has lately been published in' this eitY. It "foinii'*i:edtavo volume of over 800 -p,. - g - sirit is illustrated a 4 Physiograplue . art of ,the World, engraved on steel by John 14....,8ut1er-; 3 it is enriched with.over thousand well-exe- : cuted W,00(1-cUbi, • every which has . been newly engraved---genirally. from dra.*; ings on the box-wood byafx. T. itiMeelc, a "good palaeontologist,, as Well as artist.; In numermi& Cases, these drawings have bee.n made from the specimens themselves, or from Professor Dana's own works, partieularly the reports connected with Wilked' Explo ring Expedition. The illustrations of Ame rican paheozoic life have been largely Copied, the author states, from - the reports of Prof. Hall. The _wood-engravings'. have been executed by Lockwood Sandford, .of New Haven, under Professor Dana's own surveil lance. Being original, chiefly from Aineii can subjects, and rarely copied from foreign geological works, they place additional ori ginal object-teaching before the student. Besides a full table of, contents, the book is completed by a capital Index. There is also an Appendix, one valuable portion of which is a Synopsis of the whole work7which must facilitate its use as a class-book. More , over, the book is handsomely got up: : - printed, on fine paper, by C. Sherman & Son; electrotyped by L. Johnson & Co.; and published by Theodore Bliss & CO., all of Philadelphia. It is sold at such; a re.-; markably low price ($4 in muslin coVers; and $4.50 in half turkey-mbrocco), that it is: placed ;within the reach of that vast army of inquirers and readers, the . public at, large, and will:be:mailed - by the publishers, to an r, 'address, prepaid, upon receipt of the price. Many persons, we are confident, will thank us for giving these particulars. • A treatise, specifically intended for educa . tiorial purposes in this country, irstands to reason should have special relation to Ame rican Geological History. • The manual under notice, has been prepared 'With. Unit .view. • The anthor-saysOnhis pretice : i "" "Two reasons have led him to give this manual its American character—a desire to adapt it to Ame rican students, and a belief that, on account of a pe culiar simplicity and unity American Geological 'History affords the best basis for a text-book of the, science. The author has, therefore, written out American Geology by itself, as alntinuous history. Facts have, however, been added from other coati.- , nents as far as was required to give completeness to the work, and exhibit strongly the comprehensive ness of its principles. "It has been the author's aim to present, for study, not a series of rocks with their dead , fossils, but the successive phases in the history of the earth —its continents, seas, climates, life, and the various operations in progress. Dynamical' Geology, con trary to the views of some geologists, has been placed after the stratigraphical or historical por tion. It will, however, be found that through the latter the facts have been followed by statements and explanations of principles; so that the stu dent, on reaching the„ pages treating of geological causes, has already learned much of what they con tain. "The manual has been adapted to two classes of students—the literary and scientific—by printing the, details in finer type. The convenience of a literary class has been further provided for by the addition of a brief synopsis of the work, in which each head is made to present a subject, or question, for special attention." ' Geology teaches the Natural History of the Earth, and elucidates the Past by inductions drawn from facts by Science. It shows the various changes in the " great globe which we inhabit"—changes which were made by the active •.prin ciple of Progress, which, the Omnipotent Creator has unceasingly carried on. Never before has' this science been placed before the world in a manner'which is full without diffuseness, and lucid without being dry and hard. We, 'who have 'sat under Buckland, can tell young students of both sexes that there' is no science' more. interesting, •more instructive, or more fascinating than Geolo br; none which more plainly shows the Wisdom and Greatness of •the Creator none, with such a Manual as Professor Dana now places in their hands, which can be so easily acquired, or so practically ap plied. Eveiy quarry is a lecture-room for students of geology—even in a lump of 'coal, or stone, a lesson of knowtedge may be found. How to apply and extenkand systematize this knowledge isprecisely what Professor Dana's Manual of Geology 'dear ly teaches. .. 606. * Manual of Geology : treating of the PrincipleS of the Science with especial reference to'American Geological History, for the use of Colleges; Aca demies, and Schools. By James D. Dana, IL A., L.L. D., Sillirnan Professor of Geology and Na. tdral History in Yale College ; Author of " A Sys tem of Mineralogy," &c. Illustrated by a Chart of the World, and over One Thousand figures, mostly from American Sources. One.volume, Svo., pp. xvi. and '798. Philadelphia : Theodore Bliss & Co. The British Enipire. To Me Editor of The Press SIR : Your correspondent, "A Reader," in your is:- sue of the 13th inst., refers to my communication, pub 'lobed on the 6th inst., and wishes to be 'enlightened as to a portion of it, which I am not unwilling to do ; though he has misquoted my letter, wbich.was a statement of facts, rather than eulogy. I stated (in ter die) that "England has the largest, empire, the largest population, the largest navy, -the largest debt, the highest credit, and is by far the, most wealthy—le.nding to all nations, whose banker she also is ;" and might have truly added that she also has the largest mercantile marine. Your ,coirespon dent wishes me to explain " how and by what means this grand result has been accomplished." • - The question, as a whole, is too large to be dealt with in a newspaper`Whose space is valuable;, but I may briefly state that •It has been accomplished by treaties, conquest, invincible courage, commercial enterprise, industry, toil, and inherent and indomi table energy. Many of Great Britain's most eminent men were of humble origin, who raised.. themselves to the highest state by indefatigable application and' honesty of purpose, apart from polities, and bargain and sale, The celebrated and learned Lord Chancel ,. for Eldon's father was a coal-hauler in the north of England. Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst, whose father was an aitist,was born in Boston, Mass. The fathers of Lord. Chancellor St. Leonards and Lord,. Chief Justice Tenterden Were eountry barbers. These men, and thousands of their compeers, statesmen, iner chants and others--English, Irish, and Scotch 7 have added great lustre to the fame of Great Britain. I ant then unreasonably charged with not men tioning " the squalid poverty, misery, degradation' and crime which exists in that emplre, nor the thousands that are starving.". This is somewhat the case in all countries, and if ymir correspondent has ever been in Europe, I..defy.hinr-to.;name the counterpart of _the unfortunate, abominable, criminal and filthy &Welters Bedford: street, its-neighbor hood,; and many other localities of this beautiful city, where may be found all he names t in_ its moat hitleoust , and revolting forms. _ . "11. Reader," , in a spirit of badinage, calla on meto explain the means used whereby the wealth produced by the labor of the millions has been absorbed by the few. My reply is, that in many cases the law of ".primogeniture " is doubtless the cause of this, and -=Whether this right is, an unjust prerogative is ts .." - vexala quatio." The British laborer has, however, same chance of acquiring wealth as those of other countries, and among the thousands who have become rich and great may be named the late Lord Mayor of London, now a member of Parliament, who, when = a young man, was a carpenter, with his brother, at s7a week each.' -Another : Sir S. M. Pete,_ Baronet, once : a bricklayer at small, wages him ob tained honors and riches and dispenses $60,000 yearly to his church (Bapthst) and the de.: serving poor. The men I have mentioned ennobled themselves, but "What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or eowardsl/1-.4: Alas! not all the blood of all, the liowards."l O. E. T. Dana's Geology.* PIIIL/DE4gl4, TU E SDAY, JANUARY 20,:1863: aßenTliart OF - 311 E GULF. . , ....4144.11veialfiss - ilfidisseiter—Detalls of the Sur- ItSl4O-. . orthetPnlion Forees—The Fight on . the. Ilsirriet- Lane Blowing Up of the ,Westfield—Governor Hamilton Safe-71415t • "of the; Stilled . rind - Wounded—The Owasso` • --lie'vissitigetisme . in Progress. ' • NEw On:LEArre, Jan. 6, ilia. - •*: SITUATION OF GALVESTON. . A glance at themap and an understanding of the situation of the island and harbor will satisfy one :that Golventorelas strategical advantages. It is situated rizealcer, sandy island, about thirty miles lotig,' arid , on an' average about a mile and a half Wide- It isiseparated from the mainland by shallow •Viater,Whielf almost fordable. Abolit four Miles from the eity, arid% to the west of nits a long rail= 'road bridge, spanning this water and connecting the - -island mainland. This bridge :was -in- pos.': session of the rebels, who had three batteries etzt-'- tioned at the end of I_t on the •mainland, and one battery on the island.' But even had•it not been' in their possession the extent of-the island and the shallawness of,the water; which is actually fordable •in placei; rendered it an easy matter folthe enemy to throw troops across. The water, in fact, scarcely added strength to the situation, and; our forces would, perhaps, have been as secure upOn the Main; land as upon the island. • Three companies were certainly inadequate to guard a - coast thirty miles in extent, even if it had all been in their possession. It was naturally sup .posed thatthe railroad bridge Was the point of dan ger; and the giinboats were expected to prevent the , army from crossing. . The Harriet Line, for this purer pose, had been sent up the channel' as near -the bridge as she could 'get, and the channel where she was lying a the time of the attack was so narrow and shallew that she. could neither turn nor /fiancee vre with effeof and the event 'showed with, sue:lsle& clearness that she was quite unable to perform.' the part to which she had been assigned.'- of= Galveston posseaserrthany advantages as a base operations for the rebels. The communication by, railroad with numerous points inland and on the coast renders it easy forithem to;concentrate alltheir • available trooPs there in a' short time ; and General Magruder, who is now in command of the Seceseion army in Texas, did not fail to avail himself proreptly of all' these advantages: Be collected upwards of: , three thoinnil' meni and on the night of Efec. had his` prePayrillims complete for a combined ettack by land and . - , • Hints/lad been thrdwn out-by the .Texan news papers sometime before ; that an attack was about to be Made upoiithe Yankeegunboatie; brit these hints were generally regarded' as empty - boasts: On the evening in question, two white women came-to the flagship in a small 'boat,' from the mairijand;. and warned.Commodore Renshaw, who was.an- command df the fleet, that he mould be attacked before morn ing. -But he did not. credit' their statement, vegard ing it as one of the many idle 'tales had so`often heard reeeated. The-fleet consisted'of the ` following Vessels : The. Westlieldillagship, l liron-ela‘nine guns), Commis dere Renshaw ; -the. Harriet Lane, - Commander , Wainwright; the: oOrizmander Law, arid The trarisPort IVlaryEoardman, with supplies es board, arrived , and" crossed the liar. about seven o'cloek on the eveningbf the attack. Fortunately • she did not arrive in timeNflarid any supplies. She lay i inside the' harbor, arid'carried' a twelve-pound howitzer on her bpw, • .. .1 • . • „ • THE'ATTACK. '• The night was as still.sie-the grave, and no One' appeared to belleVe in - an attack: Whether this sense of security was such that proper vigilance was . nit - exercised lam unable to say. In any event, the-darkness of the night greatly favored the sole niy's mevements.• -•- -He commenced the attack about three o'clock in the morning, the moon having sunk imveria hours' before. He came down from Galveston bay with five vessels, and one of them sufficiently-formidable,': as the event showed. This was a steamer of. very light draught; built after the -manner, of a Milais-r sippi ricer ..boat, -with ; her- machinery completely, protected,with cotton, compactly fixed .on every side. Frm her deck cotton had been built up to' the height-of twenty.five or thirty feet, planked. and fastened with bolts, forming 'a high parapet; wall, from behind which sharpshooters, with: comb parative security, could fire-down upon the. deck of any one of our gunboats ,as soon as they came-, within range. She appeared like a long floating,l house, smoke-stacks for chimneys:, and Carried' several guns. The other foil? vessels, although less ' formidable, were all protected by cotton and all ears: lied guns, and they were all crowded with infantry, ' 'the majority of them - riflemen. THE FIGHT WITH THE HARRIET LANE. As might have been expect ede, the Harriet Lane was the first object of attack. Her position in the channel rendered her comparatively helpless, and - it was important to the enemy that she should be die posed of first, in order that the bridge might be left free for the passage of his. troops. Two of the ene-- My's Vessels, including the most formidable,:accord 'ingly bore down upon her, and seemed to :have a,p peached very near, before tkey were discovered. As • . soon as they were seen, the - Harriet Lane opened ; upon them, while, at the same time, the enemy, opened his shore batteries upon the Harriet Lane. This artillery fight lasted more than an hour, with-. • out inflicting- any serious damage, on either side. :•The two ships, however, succeeded in getting-doss; Up to the Harrietane, oneon each side of her; for . they were of such li ghtdrauhgt that run all around her, and. were thus enabled to colic( to Mese • quarters. As soon as they came; within range, the- enemy's riflemen opened a destructive fire, ' ,pouring a shower of bullets upon the, deck of the doomed vessel, and killing - the gunners at :their poets; and as soon as, they got well along .;• side they boardedher in overwhelming force. There 1 'were about one hundred arid thirty men, all told, on, the. Harriet Laife, :oho made a desperate, but hope less fight. The odds against themwere so great that ; ' ,theywere- crushed by the.merenszeight-of . --szezerbbref and - the War inimediately . became . the scene of - a sanguinary . slaughter of 'ghaatly Proportions. The poor fellows fought hand 'to , hand - with their cut-. lessee, With the splendid valor with Which.eur sai lors always do fight;. . but it availed them nothing: against the shower of bullets thatiall like hail from': the high cotton-walls, and: the crushing tide of hoe- - -; tile men which swept over them from either side. • The deck became 'slippery with blood, and, in a mo ment's time, was literally covered with dead bodies.• ;It was a hopeless contest, and the tragedy of blood :and horror was soon at an end. • Of the one hundred and thirty men who fought 'Upon the deck of the Harriet Lane, it is believed that less than thirty escaped death and wounds. ...We have as yet no list of the brave men who fought- And died there, nor can we ever know the deeds of • • valor they performed in their last devoted service to . their country. The enemy's attack was thus wholly aucceseful. 'The Harriet Lane, a favorite vessel in the navy, as it had been with the public for years, fell into his possession, and it is believed that she had not been materiallidamaged, either in her machinery or her . . - arinament. . PROBABLE CAPTURE OF-OUR SIGNAL SYSTEM. • Itis feared, and generally believed, that the signal -hook of the Harriet Lane was captured by the rebels. ••If so, this, for the first time, places them in posses sion of our system of signals. . " THE LAND ATTACK. While this successful attack was made upon the Harriet Lance the enemy pushed a heavy force across the railroad bridge without opposition, and marched, nearly two thousand strong, to attack the small body of Union troops which was stationed in the city. Colonel Harrill had his men drawn up on the wharf, and, although he was attacked by more than five times his own number, he made a stout resistance, and actually repulsed the first attack of ...the enemy. Of course it was a hopeless struggle un less he could get relief from the fleet, and he •despatched his adjutant, Lieutenant Davis, to the .Commodore, to notify him that he was attacked -by a force he could not long resist, and that he should .be compelled to surrender. When Lieut. Davis left ' the -wharf there had been but very few of our men killed, and, as he surrendered-soon after, it is probe . ble that but few lives were lost. The whole foice . was, of course, made prisoners of war. , • : THE FIGHT BY DAYLIGHT. The darkness had effectually covered the opera tions of the enemy, and all were ignorant of what had occurred beyond their own ship.- When morn ing dawned, signals were sent up frcini the flagship, which,were responded teby all the gunboats except the Harriet Lane; and now it was that the commo dore first discovered that she had , fallen into the hands of the enemy. The light also revealed the position of the enemy's fleet, and his preparations fore an attack from the shore with artillery and riflemen. It was now determined by 'the commodore to re take the Harriet Lane, and he ordered the Owasoo to round to and open fire. This gunboat has an ar mament of one 11-inch and two 9-inch guna, and she opened with her heaviest. - • No sooner had she sent one of her shells than the rebels crowded our prisoners—some of them wound ed'anddying—upon the deck of the Harriet Lane.. „They then raised a flag of truce, and paroled and • sent the acting master of. the Harriet !Lane, and her only surviving officer, on board the flagship, with a message to Commodore Renshaw, to the of-- I feet that another shot was fired upon the Harriet Lane every Union prisoner would. , be instantly thrown overboard. In consequence , of this message Commodore Renshaw ordered the firing to, cease, and made no further attemptto recapture the vessel: The position of the enemy's fleet was at this time as follows : The two vessels whichhad accomplished the capture of the Harriet Lane were still lying near that vessel, swarming with sharpshooters. Two more lay further off toward the bay, while' the fifth beldherself aloof at a considerable distance. This . fifth vessel was reported to be the fl ship,' and, throughout the engagement, was said to have on board the precious carcass of General Magruder, whom the fortunes of war, since the outbreak of the rebellion, have carried from Yorktown to Galveston. But it is probable that Gen. Magruder was on land. • During the morning the enemy opened fire upon our vessels from the shore and the city, of .which they were now in possession. Their sharpshooters, . breaking open the houses along the shore, took pos session andfired from the windows, while the batte lies which had been placed in position also opened. They were responded to by our gunboats, and this 'mutual exchange of courtesies continued for some time, without much effect on either side. - The rebels had placed two guns , upon a point of land inside of and near the entrance-to the harbor. The gunboat Clifton was directed to silence these 'guns, and performed her, work very handsomely. • She fired first 'from her bow gun, then rounded and ,poured in a broadside, then turned and fired from her ••gun aft, then rounded again and delivered a broad side. 'This she did twice, when the enemy's gums were effectually silenced- ,• . • - • TERRIBLE EXPLOSION--DEATH OF COM MODOREPENSHAW. •• The flagship Westfield was aground, and, a little before ten o'clock in the forenoon, the Commodore • determined to burn her. The determination resulted in a terrible accident, which cost the Commodore his 'life. He covered, the deck with turpentine, and made all necessary dispositions to insure her burning and *had her set on fire. He then got into his boat, with Lieutenant Zimmermann, Chief Engineer William B. Green, and two sailors, to proceed to another vessel. But the _magazine had been left open, and scarcely had the Commodore and his comradesseated • themselves in the boat when a terrible explosion oc aurred. The magazine, which was stored with am munition, ahells, &c., caught, and half t,he flagship C and the C ommo dore's boat were scattered through the air in ten' thousand fragments. Not one of the unfortunate men on board the vessel at the time or in boat escaped instantaneous death. It is not known how many perished by this terrible explosion, but the number is estimated at ten to twenty officers and sailors. The explosion left the smokestacks • standing and the vessel aft unharmed, but what re.; mained wasenoon burned. Meantime the rebels were making formidable pre parations on shore to prevent the escape of the ves sels. 'They were seen to drag artillery with heavy 'Mule teams'-to the point commanding the bar, and :were busily engaged in planting their batteries and - fraininetheir guns to prevent the exit of our ships. :The transport Mary 13osoliman, which is rigged pre- Wisely like a gunboat, wail Wing near- the flagship at the time of the explo sion , e and the fate of the Com- . AnOdore was known only on board this vessel. It . ;wee supposed on board the other 'vessels that the . Commodore had gonk on board this ship. They . .therefore signalled her, Joking " What shall we dot , ' Major Burt, a volunteer aidde-camp on the staff of Governor Hamilton, told the captain of the vessel that they had no signals with which to reply, but that there was one signal which they could make which he thought would be heeded. He proposed to , sail at once, and the captain, agreeing to this, im mediately started. This was taken as a signal of re treat, and •the Boardnian was followed by all the other vessels in our poesession. The passage over the bar wan exceedingly dangerous, and the vessels Were near grounding hopelessly several times; but they all escaped before_ the .enezny had- treined his - gabs sufficiently to' dCrtheiii ithY 'harrie:in 'crossirig. !.- 1 7:(73 . . . The transports, which had gone to carry supplies to the island, immediately put to sea and returned to this eity,'the gunboats remaining behind. List OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. Commander Win. B. Renshaw, otthe Westfield, killed by.the explosion. Commander Wainwright, of , the Harriet Lane. CoMmander-Wainwright was a son of Bishop Wain wright, of New.'York, and was killed during the fight on the deck of his ship. Mrst Lieutenant Charles W. Zimmerman, of the "IN'estlield, killed by the explosion. • Chief Engineer William R. Green, of the West-- field, oy the explosion.. Mr. Green was a resi dent: of. Nework where he has a family. He. volunteerethhis services on the Westfield. .. Firit Lieutenaht Lee, of the Harriet Lane, shdt throligh both shoulder blades, and mortally wounded. ' Acting. Master Monroe, of the Harriet - Lane, had his right arm shot off'. • - man' on board the . Clifton, whose name is ult.'. known, was killed by a rifle ball from the shore. .Onv board the Harriet Lane it is supposed that a hundred men were killed and wounded ; but there is yet no record of their names. , On hciard,,the Westfield ten to twenty-men were also.killedof whom we have no list. - • • THE TRANSPORTS. 'bid or three schooners were . Wing off - Galveston, • •which were captured by the enemy. One of them ?was the Cabello, andanother of them was the yaaht lornierly_ owned by Geniiral Mansfield Let , ell.- The 'Elias Pi ke; Fortamouth, loaded with coal,'•was also captured. 9 VEEN,OR IfAMILTON AND THE TEXANS. - -, Gbv;•Efsunliton •Is in; this c ity, and••the rebels un - doubtedlY Wafted soreidisappolntment in not find .ing:him 'among their prisoners. The Governor was oppoied to the expedition to Texas, !twits - generally 'eurfpdsed, and, ow-account of his belief that it would - effect, nothing,' refused .to join it. •He sent Major Boit to report the progress of events t 'and; like most of tlie• Texans connected with this expedition, re •• mailed in.thitkity. • - • , Ool. Davis, of-the 2d Regiment • Teets 'Volunteers, sailed in the Oumbria••on - Thuri.: 'day-hist; and' there hs much Apprehension that the . iieakl-will 'fall into the hands of the enemy. [The Chitabria -has since returned safely to New Orleans. EdrHeraldt] -, * c lit IS a sutjject of:general remark and surprise that dll-thegunboata should have left and come here im mediately. Had they remained outside the bar they, fight have warned any of our approaching trans (Lets ; but they all sailed immediately for New Or gems, leaving the coast entirely unguarded. The transport Honduras,_ which sailed on Friday, vi as:met and warned; and has returned in safety. • She had on board Halcomb , s battery. soon -as the neNits Of the disaster at Galveston -.retched the headquarters here, a consultation was :;held between general Banks, , Admiral Farragut, afistivernor Hamilton,-and General Augur ; but the .nature of the discussion s or the conclusion reached, 'has not transpired.. It is known, however, that the '.Afintiral immediately 'despatched a fleet to Galves . :ton. *-,.c.The following le.trlist.of-the officers, and crew of -thsVWcattield, wlio•toOk.'Rainutge and escaped on ti :bbard the traneporilfoordsnan mamas. Acting Master—L. D. Smally. • .* , Acting' Master's Mates—J. B. 'Johnson; John P. Arnett. -Acting 'Second Assistant Engineers—George S !Sillier, Chas. W. Smith. . • . , - , Corporal David Oiriell. „ ' , .;:P ath iiv_ D at t nDag e d o nnzh ir Geo. Alton, Geo. Donehoe, 4.314ey,.J0ih1n n. " Dian, John Fitz, Henry . PETTY OFFICERS. David Johnson, armorer. ''Biwrenos Lxnch,'inastei-at:artni. James Bflunitord, captain of forecastle. :Dunes Stewart; quartermaster. 'lllam Tayloroursees steward.-' James Johnson, messroom steward. . Henry Chevar, Captain's cook. ItichardHevel, quartermaster. -Richard C. Halloran, sailmaker's mate. • DaziletCargen;carpenter's mate. • l'ohnßrokenberger ship'sook. ',W• W. Blake, mes s _ .c room•sook.'.... William Sloan. , OharlaiT. Rodden. obert Saddler J. B Wallace: , • • pear, , • • ORDINARY SEAMEN. Charles H. Roberts. John Gordon. -John Rowland.. Charles Thompson. Peter Johnson. Thomas Collield. Boyd. William R. Chaney. Jades- McPhee. Louis Dedericks. LANDSMEN. ' i . . • Williant-.T. Flynn. John Rengan. v..Tifijii:Gfiruld. Ed. Doyle. Ihisid*Wbildey. .. John McOurty. • Thothas.Cotter. John Rielly. t i LyiL Granville Bailey, first-class boy. . ENGINEER'S DIVISION. John Glover, Henry Piper, Eugene Sniitli:Patriek Callen,- Theodore A. Smith, Francis Whihei,_Wun Maurer. - • •• - Coal Passers—Patrick Larkin; James Percy; Jere - Edgerton, 'WariV•Sinith, Philip &fifth, John Meenan; Wm.:Raton, Eugene McCarthy, Charles "Morria, Geo. Campbell. ' The, Diary Boardintus also brought one pritioner— • Philliri; of Gliveston7 - The, above Bat embraces only the men who were taken osf - board'the Mary Boardman. The total num ber faired was one hundred and thirty. • "' • ' INCIDENTS. Thif Weather On the day'of this affair was warm, 'Cleat arid delightful, and no doubt the rebels had- a 'grand celebration of New . Year's after our gunboats lett. • . ..ThieeiPlOsion:of-the Westfield. occurradat aboutt ten O'clock. Commodore :Renshaw, having deter mined to burn her, put all hands working smartly to remove cutlassed,, smalL arms, hammocks, furniture, office.rs , baggage and the boats were kept busily ,plying between (lie Westfield and the Mary Board manidischarging ;nen and baggage, only the oars men returning for other loads. Most of the baggage „and all the men - were thus transferred, and only' „about twenty sailors were. on board. the Westfield ' when the Commodore left the ship, with orders to fire her, eipeeting, of course, that there would be • plenty , of time for all to escape safely. A large boat load at this moment was lying alongside the Mary Boardnian,,iibout to go aboard. The oomniodore had sent by this boat two swords and pistols and a bible; with the following directions in regard to their disposition; and in giving this message he uncon ' sciously , uttered his last words : " Tell them to seed these things to'-my sister, at the corner of Four teenth street and Fifth avenue." Major Burt has charge of the articles. • Two oarsmen were in -the Commodore's gig. En gineer Green descended and took a seat, followed by Lieutenant' Zimmerman. 'The Commodore de scended last, and was yet standing when the torch wee applied :to the turpentine with which the deck was covered. • There was a bright flash, and . the Commodore turned his face 'to look at the vessel - ; the sailors - all - stopped work, and from every boat and vessel all eyes were turned in - the direction of the Westfield, attracted by-that flatal flash. It was a mordent of suspense and of perfect silence, and it was only a moment Then there was a flash of light blue smoke, and then a fearful explosion, which shook the Mary Boardman as an earthquake shakes a house. The shells of the magazine, rising in the air, 'burst farup ; then there was a plunging noise in the water,auch - as is occasioned- by the falling of a heavy body, and then, for a radius of five or six hundred Feet, there was .a shower of fragments which sounded like the falling of rain. ' The Westfield was seen to part or burst out for ward, like a chestnut.bur, .and when the smoke cleared away there was no sign of life about her. For ward she was blown into fragments down to the water ;ibut the machinery bad not been spoiled,_ as the singing of the steam was distinctly heard after the explosion. The Commodore's boat and all in it were annihilated in the terrible catastrophe—scat tered through the airin fragments. . The smokestack and the after part of the.ship lay a black mass in the it ater for. ten minutes, when there was another flash, and she was speedily wrap ped in flames. Her guns exploded one after another, and then it was that the Mary. Boardman moved off, -leading the'retreat. She was followed by all the vessels, including , the gunboats, the Cliftonbringing up the rear. . LAST. SIGHT OF THE REBELS. The retreating fleet was followed by one of the cotton-clad - vessels of the rebels. The Clifton gave her two shots from her gun aft, when the rebel ves sel backed off and made no further effort to pursue. The passage over the bar was extremely difficult and dangerous, and the interest of the occasion was not lessened by the sight of the rebels with their mules, busily engaged in hauling artillery, with which to prevent their escape. - The vessels would bUrnp . against the ground every minute, and the, bia s f a tnit, l 2le and bend as if about to fall mortal terror. The passage of the Ltr c...6(Air,lf-d some hours, and it was two o'clock before the fleet was outside ready to sail. , The last seen of the wreck of the Westfield was a cloud of smoke. She - was still burning when the fleet left. . It seems that , the French and English consuls have made themselves quite busy in our affairs at Galveston. They, had notified . Commodore Ren shaw of certain claims they, had upon private pro perty in Galveston, including all the cotton in the city and many residences. These claims are founded upon' an advance or pretended advance, of money upon the ; propert y in queation. There was but a small quantity of cotton in the city, but this would' have been seized but for the recapture 'of the place. STATEMENT OF A REFUGEE. I have conversed with a gentleman who effected his escape from Galveston after the enemy was in Possession of the city, and who witnessed a part.of , the fight between the Harriet Lane and the rebel fleet. From his statement I gain the following in formation': ' • - It was reported that this attack was to be made a long time before it actually occurred, but the story was generally discredited. There was the hulk of an old vessel sunk in the channel, and the Harriet Lane running foul of this, stuck-fast; and, at the time of attack, was entirely unable to manoeuvre: The enemy's vessels were nothing but small steamboats, well protected with. the exception of one—the larger one—which was iron-clad on her ,bow, and constructed fora ram. The object of the enemy, however, was to capture the Harriet Lane, and not. to damage her, and the artillery firing from the enemy was only intended for a'diversion. • The fight on the deck of the Harriet Lane was fearfully desperate and bloody. The brave-fellows fought hand to hand, killing a great number of the enemy, whose loss was probably greater than ours in killed and wounded. Commander Wainwright was killed early in the action on the deck. He was shot in the left knee by one of the enemy's sharpshooters, and had dropped upon the right knee, and was exhorting his men to fight. " Stand up tosit boys;" he shouted ; and this directed special attention to him. Two of the enemy rushed upon him'; but be had a revolver in his right hand and shot them both dead. A third came up, and, placing a pistol to his head, shot him. The men fought until all but - the acting master and eleven men lay dead or mortally wounded upon the deck of the ship; and these made no formal sur render, but were disarmed and overpowered. The fight in the city was of short duration. Col. .Burrill's command consisted of Companies A, B, and C, and my informant saw the colonel taken prisoner. He reports that three of the Union men were killed and about twenty wounded, My in formant then. effected his escape to the transport Saxon.. He is a Texan, and•had come to Galveston to enlist in the service. He is now here, and has offered his services to Governor Hamilton. I am enabled to give you the following trust worthy statements gathered from the officers of the Owasco : • • - CASUALTIES ON THE.OwAScO. Killed.—Thoralts•Jeff, ehot through the heart. , ...Woinded.—L. V. Gassallo, acting master, shot through the thigh. Frederick Saunders, shot in right shoulder and chest., • . Isaac P. Hews, seaman, skull fractured by a piece of shell. Michael Wreck, coalheaver, through the eye. Titus Freeman, colored, shot through the thigh. John Carney, seaman; fracture of skull by shell. ' Frederick Ether, landsmen, shot through the thigh. . - John Honan, t ordinary seaman, shot through the ' • ' Wm. J. Murphy, landaman, shot through the hand. Charles Burnham, captain of the after guard, shot through the right cheek. Win. Reed, captain of,the forecastle,- shotthrough the arm and buckshot in shoulder. James Penny, slight wound on leg. ' Henry Brown, bullet in the arm. Georgelichier, slight wound. . ... - Wm:' Taylor, 'seaman, bruised by splinters,• Hen4 , :fierk del. Ward. Total of casualties on the Owiipso t One killed and fifteen wounded. •,..; • - CASITA.LTINS ON THE N4Blan LANE. Killed.. •.: • Commander Jonathan M. Wain ht. ' Lieutenant and Executive Officer Edward Lee. Assistant Surgeon Thomas N. Penrose. Acting Master Charles H. Hamilton. Acting Master Willis F. Munroe. Assistant Acting Master Julius Richardson. Second 'Assistant Acting Master.Charlea H. Stone. - Third Assistant Engineer JohreE:'Cooper. Third Assistant Engineer Robert N: Third Assistant Engineer A. T. E. Mullen. Master's Mate Charles M. Davis. •, ' • LOSS ON THE WESTFIELD. There were thirteen men missing from the Weat field ,•" but two are believed to, have been picked up. The total loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, is probably as follows: •Troopii taken in Galveston city .210 Killed and wounded on Harriet Lane .............110 Killed and wounded on Owasso .. 16 Killed and wounded on Westfield .. 11 Total • 407 A man named Shaunessey, from Boston; was se verely wounded in the engagement on the wharf; The troops on shore built kbarricade, and twice repulsed the enemy before the surrendef. ' THE OWASOO IN THE ENGAGEMENT—A FLAG OF TRUCE FROM GEN. •MAGRUDER —THE REBEL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS ON BOARD, &v. The °wimp,. under command of Capt. Wilson, was lying "on the wharf on which the Union troops were stationed when the attack was made on the. Harriet Lane. She immediatelysteamed upto take part in the fight, and got 'within 300 yards. of the scene of action; when She was so'near getting aground that she could not approach'nearer.. she was within easy range of the rebel riflemen, as the bullet marks through her bulwarks plainly show. Her shrouds were shot away, and most of the injuries received by her men were the result of musketry, as will be seen by the above list. Just at daybreak the enemy got possession of the Harriet Lane, tore down the United States flag, and raised a small Confederate"flag and a flag of truce: The Owasco, finding the Harriet Lane was in the hands of the rebels,' sent a shot clean through her machinery, just' above the water line, having first steamed down out of musket range. The shot pro bablydisabled her, as the rebel vessels subsequently towed her off to the xharf. -The rebels replied to the Owasco with the guns of the Harriet Lane. • About an hour after daybreak, General Magruder 'sent a flag of truce, in charge of two' rebel officers, on board the Owasco. He demanded the surrender of all the vessels in the harbor, and gave three hours for deliberation. The captain of the °was%) sent the flag of truce to Commodore Renshaw, saying he had no powerin the matter. . • • - The . rebel Governor of Texas (Lubbuck) accom panied the flag of truce, and became so much in terested in the Owasco, and so much 'amused by his own conversation, that he remained on the Owasco, while the officers went to the Westfield with the flag of truce. " She is aline vessel," said the Governor, looking about admiringly. "She will be a fine Addition to the Confederate navy." The captain of the Owasco, not seeing the subject exactly in that light, put on steam, and started toward the bar, passing the rebel batteries with the Governor on deck,. earnestly conversing on the prowess of the Confederate soldiers, and the ad vantages of capturing the vessels then in the har bor, bestowing especial praise upon the Owasoo. He wanted to know how much the vessel cost. He _walked from gun to gun, asked the calibre ' and many other questions, until he suddenly awoke to the fact that the' ship was gradually slipping out of rebel power. "I wish to go ashore now, captain, if you please," said the Governor. . "The weather,"-replied the.captain, "is exceed ingly line to-day. Governor, do you always get so+ pleasant a New Year's day as this in' Galveston? It is really charming." "This is not right," said the Governor; " I wish ow to go ashore." "By the way, Governor," replied the captain, the Owasco meantime pushing on with good speed. " '!1 the way, Governor, you are the successor sat tat Sun Houston in the gubernatorial Omit), :Houston was quitepopular North of ono time; but he seems t's L';'. - ve gone óVer io the rebels. Do you know where he is nowt" ' - • - " said- the Governor, "this is all wrong... came litre under a flag of truce,- and 'I now demand that _you stop this vessel and put me ashore." Houston was a singular man," .replied the cap tain, "a very singular man, indeed," speaking in apparent unconsciousness of Governor's dearest thoughts. "He won a great reputation as the cham pion of Texan independence;and was regarded as one of the firmest Union men in the whole South." • The .GoVernor discovered, when too late, that, having allowed the flag of, truce to depart without accompanying it; he could . no longer claim its pro tection, and he .now began to fear not only that the Owasco would slip off, which she was all the time doing, but that he would be carried off as a prieoner.-- However, the captain kept him on beard only until he had passed all the rebel batteries in safety, wheh he obligingly sent him ashore, • . There is little doubt that the shot tired through the Harriet Lane saved her from getting aut to sea, and tkatif not retaken by us, she will at least -be de- Ftloyed. - • - The rebel officers who bharded the Owasso with the -flag of truce boasted thalthe Confederates hturkilled nearly all the men on the Harriet Lane, and stated that only Acting Master Hannum and -eleven men -were left alive. . _ DEPARTURE OF THE FLEET After the death of Odmmodore Renshaw, the Qom: mend of the fleet devolved upon Commander Law; of the gunboat "Clifton, the senior surviving. officer. Commander. Law • immediately ordered the whole fleet to sail for New Orleans. . „.. . 'INVESTIGATION ilsr-PROORE§S. Admiral Farragut has ordered an investigation of the whole affair, and it is now in progress on board his flagship, the Hartford, which is now stationed here. • The Admiral promptly Bent off a fleet sufficient to demolish the whole city of Galveston and everything else on the coast.—Herald. ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE' The Rebel Raltrtato Holly Springs—Rebel Account orthe Affair—A Graphic Misstate ment. [From the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 15.3 YAN DORN'S BRILLIANT CAVALRY RAID INTERESTING PARTICULARS. . _ The recent cavalry raid of Genersl Van Dorn in the. West was one of the most brilliant feats of the war, not falling short of any that have been made by the renowned Stuart or übiquitous Mor gan. A correspondent the Mobile er gives the following interesting particularso his bril liant achievements in the vicinity of Holly Springs, Miss. • . Van Dorn took -a by-way and meandering route through the swamp, and came within eight miles of Holly Springs in the evening, where he bivou acked his force until two hours before day, when he moved cautiously into town, leaving the Texas brigade .upon the heights outside as a reserve. As our forces dashed in from all sides the entrance proved a complete surprise, the breaking streaks of daylight showing the Yankee tents, with their yet undisturbed slumberers. A charge was ordered upon them, and the torch applied to, the canvas Ivl.ch covered them. To paraphrase "Belgiuffi's" picture-- "Al,, then and there was hurrying to and fro, And running in hot haste, And cheeks all pale and blanched with woe, Exhibiting Yankee cowardice." The rapidity with which the tents of the enemy were vacated was marvellous; and, impelled by burning torches and rapid disch.arg of aide-arum, the Yankees took no time to prepare their toilets, but rushed out into the cool air of a December morn ing clothed very similarly to Joseph when the lady Potiphar attempted to detain him. The scene was wild, exciting, tumultuous. Yankees running, tents burning, torches flaming, Confederates shouting, guns popping, sabres clanking, Abolitionists begging for mercy, "rebels" shouting exultingly, women, en dishabille, 'clapping their hands, frantic with joy, crying "Kill them ! kill them !"—a heterogeneous mass of excited, frantic, frightened- human beings— presented an indescribable picture, more adapted for the pencil of Hogarth than the pen of a newspaper correspondent. The surprised camp surrendered 1,800 men and 160 commissioned milkers, who were immediately pa roled. And then commenced the work of destruc tion. The extensive buildings of the Mississippi Central depot—the station-hi:me ; the enginehollaes, - and immense store hor,i, eB .;_were filled With' supplies of clothing and 00Miniasary stores. Outside of the de rv& the barrels of flour were estimated to be half a mile in length, one hundred and fifty feet through, &tie fifteen feet high. Turpentine .was thrown Over this, and the whole amount destroyed. Uptown, the court house and the public buildings, livery stables, and all capacious establishments, were filled, ceiling high, with medical and ordnance sores. These were all fired, and the explosion of one of the build ings, in which were stored one hundred barrels of powder, knocked down nearly all the houses on the south side of the square. Surely such a scene of devastation was never before presented to the eye of man. Glance at the gigantic eatimates : 1,809;000 fixed cartridges and other ordnance stores, valued at $1,500,000, including 6,000 rifles and 2,000 revolvers. 100,000 suits of clothing and other quartermaster's stores, valued at $600,000; 6000, barrels of flour and other commissary stores, valued at $500,000. - $1,000,000 worth of medical stores, for which in voices to that amount were exhibited, and 1,000 bales of cotton anti $600,000 worth of sutler's gores. While the capture of the camp, paroling of the prisoners, and destroying of the stores was going on, the Texan Rangers, comprising the Ninth, Sixth, and Third legions, became engaged with the Michi gan cavaliy, and drove them pell mell through town and run them off north, with a considerable loss to the. Abolitionists, and a loss of thirty in killed . and wounded on our part. wild The ladies rushed out from the houses l with Joy, crying out: "There's some at the Fair Grounds, chase them, kill them, for God's sake." One lady said, " the Federal commandant of the post is in my house • come and catch him ;" and a search was in stituted, but without success, when the noble wo ble insisted that he was there, concealed ; and finally, after much ;ado, the gallant. (save the mark) Col. Murphy, the intrepid Yankee commandant- of Hol ly Springs, was pulled out from under his bed, and presented himself in his nocturnal habiliments to his captors. ' The provost marshal was also taken, and, address ing Gen. an Dorn, said :.well, General, you've got us fairly this time. I knowed it. I was in bed with my wife when I heard the firing, and I at once said, 'Well, wife, it's no use closing our eyes or hiding under the cover; we've gone up.' " Our attention was given to Grant's headquarters, Which he had left twenty-four hours before. All his papers; charts, maps, &c.,were captured,together with his splendid carriage, which was burned. Among his papers was found a pass to pass the bearer over all railroads and steamboats in the:United States at Government expense ; to pass all pickets and guards, and other papers, at once interesting and valuable. Mrs. Grant was also captured, but no indignity was offered to her. Nearly every store on the public square was tilled with sutler stores, and, after our men had : helped themselves, the' balance of the goods were burned. When our forces first reached the depot , i there was a train about leaving. The engineerjumped off and ran away, and one of our men took is place, shut the throttle valve, and stopped the train. Sixty cars and two locomotives were then fired and destroyed. After the complete destruction of all' public pro perty about the place, and after each man had sup plied himself with a suitable quantity.of clothing and boots, at Mx o'clock in the morning th•-march was renewed, and Davis' Mill was the next place attacked. Here the enemy were entrenched, and sheltered themselves in a block house and fort formed. of .cotton bales. The cavalry were com manded to charge, and attempted to do so; but the swamp and intricate lagoons breaking off in front of the enemy's position would not permit it. The Yankees opened fire' with 'some effect from their fort, and were supported by a nine-pound rifled gun, mounted-on an iron-clad railroad car, forming a rail road battery. The Texans were again ordered to charge, and Major Dillon, of Van Dorn'e staff, whose gal lantry during the expedition was particularly con spicuous, attempted to lead them to the attack, but the men refused to follow, believing the way imputa ble and the position too strong for cavalry demon stration alone; 'Colopel lltioUullough, of the Mis sissippi cavalry, was ordered to get in the rear of the railroad battery, cut the track to prevent its escape, antbeapture it. I believe he succeeded in cutting, the - road, but"our forces were compelled to. withdraw, `and the steam battery was not taken.' The force then pushed onto Middieburg and Bolivar, and attaoked both.placetf r tnitiynind'theta too strongly defended .• cciSl. • THREETENTS. and garrisoned to succeed in taking either of the points. When .the command turned back after its unsuc cessful attack upon Bolivar, the enemy sent a force of 10,000, comprising the three branches of the service, out after Van Dorn, and made great efforts to flank and cut off his force; but this dashing officer was too wary for them, and succeeded in returning with 400 head of captured horses and mules, laden with spoils taken from the enemy. . The peopleefTennessee are represented as having been aost frantic with joy at the appearance of our forcemonce more upon their borders. They fed our soldiers with ;a, bountiful hand, and wept for joy. " Thank God, .you have come at last !" one and all exclaimed. Their hospitality was not a little sur prising to our soldiers, who have been so uniformly swindled and extorted from in Mississippi. The people of Tennessee had been induced to believe that General Grant% headquarters were at Jackson, Miss., and that our whole army had been captured. Judge, then, of thesurprise, when they were visited by Van Dorn's command. The entire number of prisoners captured and paroled during the raid is two thousand one hundred privates, and one hundred and seventy-five commis sioned officers. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. Preparations for Another Adyanme—The Rebels Apparengly Ready to Meet Us— Change of Army Corps Commanders. Lssrr GRAND DIVISION,. NEAR FREDERIOKSBITRO, VA., SAM 16, 183. The ominous quiet of the past few days proves to have been the, calm which precedes the storm. The tempest has not yet broken forth with the thunder of artillery and the surging roar of musketry ; yet the signs of the heaveneare too apparent to doubt that they:presage a speedy renewal of the unsuc cessful attempt of December 13. ,The heavy rum bling of the pontoon trains is again heard at night, and red signal fires which blaze out in the daikness suggest that important movements are on foot: The point or points on which the forthcoming efforts are to be made must not, of course, be mentioned. A few days will, however, tell the story of success or defeat in another attempt at orossing the Rappahan nock. • Everything has been, thus far, auspicious.. The • roads are hard and dry, and the recent rain has, for tunately, not interfered with the success of the un dertaking. A strong south wind has also favored us for two nights past, concealing from the enemy the rumbling of the pontoon trains, which was so clearly revealed by the still and frosty air of the night in which it was last attempted. Wednesday, when darkness bad insured seoreosr, the boats whickrhad been 'at Belle Plain were moved up •to the neighborhood of headquarters, where a guide was furnished to conduct them to their desti nation. So secretly has the movement thus tar pro greaaed, that few in the army are aware of the im portant events which are close at hand. It is to be feared, however, that the enemy, who are so frequently in the secret of our operations, have too . much knowledge of what is impending. Activity is too plainly visible on the other side of the , river to permit the hope that they will be unprepared for the present movement. ,C ounter movements are observable, 'and it seems more thaa probable that the enemy are at present watching to see how they may besticheckinate us in our undertaking. The rebels are td-day known to be extending , their lines. Rebel pickets to-day shouted to our own pickets across the Rappahannock, "We know what you are at; we are ready for you." • It is to be feared that some of the inhabitants have made their way into the rebel lines with valuable information in respect to recent operations. It. is much to be regretted that the Army of the Potomac could ilbt have been paid before the pre sent movement had been commenced. It is useless to deny that, duringthe inactivity , of the past month, a universal murmurhaa gone forth from the soldiers, . who have been—many for six months, most of them for four months—without a Any of their hard earned wages. Thousands 'of letters have been sent to the men from their 'half-starved and destitute families, de picting their needy condition, which have made the inactivity , of camp almost intolerable: Had not the Potomac baen in their rear,we should have heard of hourands of desertions, from the ample fact that. the men have been unable ,t 0 Send mil7ley to their families at home, The Pro,4;ect of a movement may possibly dil!pel all discontent and. despondency; but certainly Gen. 13urnside is the most courageous of men to lead this army against the enemy in its pre sent condition.—Tribune. • CAMPAIGN ON THE PENINSULA, The following official documents were submitted before the ZdcDowert , court of inquiry at Washing ton PROCEEDINGS. OF A COUNCIL OF GEN.& RALS. HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF POTOXACI, FAIRFAX . OOI7II.T HM4E, March 13, 1862. A Council of the generals commanding army corps at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac were of the opinion— , • • ' l'irst. That the enemy, having• retreated , from Manassas" to Gikdensville,, behind the RapPahan nock-and Rapidan, it is the opinion of the generals commanding. army corps that the 'operations to be carried on will be best undertaken'fronV. Old Point Comfort, between the York and James-rivers, upon Richmond ; provided, first, that the enemy's vessel, the Merrimac, can be neutralized ; second, that the means of transportation. sufficient for an immediate transfer of the force to its new base can be ready at Washington and Alexandria, to move down the Potomac ; third, that a naval , auxiliary force can be had to silence or aid in silencing the enemy's bat teries in York river ; fourth, that the force to be left •to cover Washington shall be such as to give an en tire feeling of security for its safety from menace. Secinul. If t h e foregoing s:annot be, the army should . then be moved against the enemy behind the Rappa• hannock at the earliest possible moment, and the means for reconstructing bridges, repairing railroads - and stocking them with material sufficient for sup-, plying the army, should at once be collected for both the Orange and Alexandria and the Acquia and Richmond Railroads. Unanimous. • Note—That with the forts on the right bank of the Potomac fully garrisoned, and those on the left bank occupied, -a covering force in front of the Virginia line of 25,000 men would suffice Keyes, Heintzeiman, McDowell. A. total of 40,000 men for the defence of the city would suffice Sumner. SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL Mc- CLELLAN. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 13, 1862. • To . Major General George B. McClellan: The President having considered the plan of opera tions agreed upon by yourself and the command ers of army corps, makes no objection to the same, but gives the following directions as to its execution : First. Leave such force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely certain that 'the enemy shall not repossess himself of that position and line of communication. Second. Leave Washington entirely secure. Third. Move the remainder of the force down the Potomac, choosing a new base at Fortress Monroe, or anywhere between here and there, or, at all events, move such remainder of the army at once in pursuit of the enemy by some route. \ • EDWIN Pa. STANTON, . Secretary of War. REPORT OF GENERALS THOMAS. AND HITCHCOCK. Forty minutes past seven o'clock. Wasnilarrox D. 0., April 2, 1862. In compliance with your instructions, I have exa mined the papers submitted to me, and have the ho nor to make the following report : First. The President's war order No. 3, dated. March B,.requires that on taking up any new base of operations the city of Washington shall be left entirely secure. The other points of the order it is unnecessary to' consider, as the enemy since its date have abandoned their positions and batteries on the Potomac and retired behind the Rappahannock. Second. The council . of general officers held at Fairfax Court House, March 13, took place after the enemy had retired from Manassas and destroyed the railroad in their rear. The council decided unani mously to take up a new base of operations from Fort Monroe, and three of the generals—a majority— decided that the force necessary to be left should be sufficient to fully garrison the forts on the,right bank of the Potomac, and "to. occupy" those on the left • bank with a covering force of 25,000. It is, we think, thejudgment of officers, that some 30,000 men would be necessary thus to man these forts, which,with the number of the covering force, would make a total of 55000., Third. The President's directions of March 13, to Gen. McClellan, direct: First, to leave such a force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely cer tain that the enemy may not repossess it ; second, that Washinton shall be left entirely secure ; • third, that the remainder of the army move down the Po tomac or move in pursuit of the enemy. In regard to occupying Manassas Junction ' as the enemy have destroyed the railroadsleadingto it, it may be fair to 5881131 e that Ls:py have no intention'of returning for the reoccupation Of their tail; i ?esition, and there fore, no very large force would be necesisary to hold that position. Fourth. Major General Majlellan's report to the Adjutant General of April 1, after giving the several positions of thetroops proposed to be left for the de fence of .Washington, gives a representation as fol. low.s : At Warrentonthere is to be 7,780; at Manas sas say 10,859; irithe valley of the Shenandoah,3s,467; on the Lower Potomac, 1,350. • Total in all, 55,456. And there would be left for the garrisons and the front of Washington, under Gen. Wadsworth, some 18,000. In,the above enumeration Gen. Banks' army corps is included; but whether this corps, operating in the Shenandoah valley, should be regarded as a part of the force available for the protection of the immediate front of Washington, the undersigned ex press no opinion. Fifth. Gen. Wadsworth's report of April 2d gives his' force as folloWs : infantry, 15,835; artillery, 858—six404; cavalry, companies only mounted. Total, 20,477. • Deduct sick, in arrest and confinement, 1,455. Total for duty, 19,022. Prom this force General Waffinvorth is directed to detach two good regiments to Richardson's divi sion, Sumner's corps which should be deducted from his command, one regiment to replace the 37th New York, in Heintzelman's old division, and one regi ment to relieve a regiment of Hooker's• division at Budd's Ferry; total, four regiments. He is also or dered to send four thousand men to relieve Sumner at Manassas and Warrenton. General Wadsworth represents that he has no mounted light artillery under his command ; states that there were several companies of reserve artillery still here, but not under his command or fit for service. General Wadsworth further reports that nearly all the force 'is new and imperfectly disciplined ; that several of the regiments are in a very disorganized condition, some of them having been relieved from brigades which have gone into the field in conse quence of their unfitness for service, the best regi ments remaining having been selected to take their places, two heavy artillery regiments and one in fantry regiment, which had been drilled for months in artillery service, having been withdrawn from the forts on the south side of the Potomac, and their places supplied with new infantry regiments entirely unacquainted with the duties of that arm and of little or no value in their present position. If there was need of a military force for the safety of the city of Washington within its own Unite, that referred •to in the report of Gen.• Wadsworth would seem to be entirely inadequate. In view of the opinion expressed by the council of the commanders of army corps of the force necessa ry for the defence of the capital, though not numeri 'cally stated, and of the force represented by General McClellan as left for that pure we are of the opinion that the requirements of poa the President, that this city shall be left " entirely secure," not only in the opinion , of the General-in-Chief, but that of the "commanders of the army corps," also has not been fully complied with. All of which is respectfully. submitted: - • . L. THOMAS__, Adjutant Oe.l.lerlil. • E. A. 114TOIWOCK., iffejorGegi.l7. S. A. , _ REPORT OF GENERAL HITCHCOCK TO THE . PRESIDENT.' The following is a copy of a paper handed to the President by General Hitchcock : MA.nex 30 1862 .— The main line of the enemy ex tends from Richmond through Chattanooga and Co rinth to Memphis, and at Corinth there is a connec tion south. Gen.. Halleck, at St. Louis is aoting west of this line, with Gen. Buell as his immediate commander, having , Corinth in view as one ()fleet, and some point at or near the Cumberland Gap as another object. Gen. McClellan, before Yorktown, - has Richmond for his object, with Washington un der his safe-keeping. • The immediate interest of this war is connected with the above indications, and all adjacent operations are incidental. It is ne cessary to break the line of communication between Corinth and-Richmond. This may be done by Buell, and if he should occupy the Cumberland Gap. near the railroad, this object will be sufficiently accom-' plished. If some point east of the Gap be also made an object, as proposed by the President, it will re- THE WAR PRESS. CPUBLISHED WEEKLY.) TEN Wan Panes will be sent to • subscribers by mall (per annum In advance) at • 82.00 Five " '• 9.00 Ten .. 17.00 Twenty Coptea " 32.00 Larger Clubs than Twenty Will be charged et the same rate, 01.60 per copy. The money must alwaye aocomweny the order, and La no instance can there terms be deciatedimmi, as the* aford very tittle more than the coat of the paPer. Pokmatters are rettneate4 to act as Agents foz Tim Wan Paws. /Fr To the getter-up of a Club of ten or twenty. as extra copy of the Paper will be given. quire a large force to reach and maintain it, or that force' might be destroyed by the . enemy. Instead, therefore, of einSeYing a force necessary' for seizing a point east of the Gap, it inlertlie better to employ a less force in.the protection of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad—the duty assigned to Gen. Fremont. From present indications it - might be better, in stead of sending to ilertiountatit department all of the force desired by its commander,. to- divide' that force, one part to go to litimfor theprotection , of the Baltimore and Ohio rafkioad j and the country imme diately south of it, and the other prat tb strengthen McClellan's right, now ermined by Shields, the route to Richmond in that directiOs being:open- to the enemy, who, though not likely to take it', might be invited by its weakness to make wane desperate attempts similar to one already made-by Jackson upon' Shields. A movement from-McClellitnts Deft is known to the enemy. Hence nothinwis.morena tural than a blow on McClelinn , s right, Nothing has intervened since that madea fewilays- since- to prevent a repetition of it with a larger. force. If McClellan shall fail at Yorktown—nut likely to happen—but if he should fail, what would: be' the movement of the enemy I It might he it desperate attempt to turn the right of the Army of. the Potomac—the Shenandoah valley. This should be guarded against by a part of the force called , for by. Fremont, instead of 'sending that force tb cut the Richmond and Knoxville railroad, the success of which might , even aid in forcing the-enemy to. make some desperate attempt on the-right og Wash ingkin. OUR IItORAJAD Departure' of an Important Irone-Clatl Ex pedition. from New York-Deseripticru of the Vessels and their COmirianaers: . On Sunday last a fleet of men-of-war, two of them iron -clads, took their departure &sue New York, bound on active and important service" An nexed is a brief account of each vessel : Nahant, 2, ironclad Ericsson battery, left the Navy Yard on Saturday, and anchored ofeßedleela island, where she took her powder on board: On her arrival here a most awkward bluuder_wasdiscovered by the authorities in connection with the- turret. The port-holes in all the iron-clads have been pur posely left colorless, in order that they should not present a shining mark to the enemy. The Boston people, however, painted them black, thus rendering them exceedingly conspicuous. The officers of the Brooklyn yard were then obliged to paint an entire black band around the turret which covers the porta. Thus the Nahant will easily be known.from all the craft of her class. She is said to be one-of the most 'successful of the lot. Her armament consists of the regulation battery,' one eleven and one fifteen-inch gun. Although her commander hannot had much experience in working iron -clads, heis. known to be brave and competent. The officers- of the Nahant are: Commander-John Downes. First . Lieutenant and Erectdivi. Officer-David D. Harmony. Acting Master-William Carter. Acting Engineers-Charles. C. Rutter and Charlie A. Clark. ." •• • Assistant Surgeon-ll:Merles E Stedman. Assistant Pagmaster-Edward Putnam. Second and Third Assistant Engineers-T. H. Bordiey and Abram Michener. Weehawken, 2, iron -clad, accompanied, the Na hant, which took her powder on board, and is at sea. Captain Rodgers, the commander of this vessel, worked night and day to get her off, but two acci dents delayed him. First, a sort of fire broke out on board, and tlren, through carelessness, a part of the machinery became deranged. When these mat ters were put right the weather became foggy and suspicious, a fact which, in view of recent events, made it advisable not to seed the ferry craft away until the wind changed. Upon the top of the Weehawken's turret a railing for rifle men has been placed, from which the crew can fire on the enemy's troops when ascending rivers, and which secures them in a great measure from returning balls. Of course there is nothing impregnable about this affair, which a discharge of two-pound grape would destroy. Captain Ericsson, as already stated, hag introduced an additional im prove/Wit in the gun apparatus, which enables the. celiac to work it with great ease. On her late trial trip its usefulness was demonstrated in the most satisfactory manner. The commander of the Wee hawken, Captain Rodgers, is called in the navy the " fighting Rodgers." His conduct under fire at Fort Darling, - while in command of the Galena, elicited warm commendations from tne Secretary. The fol lowing is a list of the Weehawken's officers : Commander-John Rodgers. Lieutenant Commanding, and Executive Qfficer-L. H. Newman. Master-B. W. Lorin. Paymaster-' Pynchori. Engineers-Acting Chief, J. H. Bailey; Assistants, ---Hardy, Henry J. Marton, and - Lackawana, 9, screw frigate or corvette, out ward bound on her first cruise, has just been com pleted at this station. She is one of the most symme trical ships in the service, was launched on the 9th of August last, and is in every respect a regular navy:built craft. She is a single-banked corvette, two hundred and sixty-two feet long, thirty-two feet wide, seventeen feet ten inches deep, and measures • about 1,000 tons. Her machinery was constructed in -New York, and is believed to be serviceable. It con sists of two horizontal back-acting engines, with cylinders forty-two inches in diameter, and thirty inches stroke. The propellor is a fixed brass one, fully fifteen feet in diameter. Her officers are as follows : Captain-John B. Marchand. Lieutenant Commander-B. E. Potter. Lieutenant-Stephen A. McCarty. Surgeon-Thomas W. Leach. Paymaster-James Fulton. Acting Ensign-Barker Van Vorhis. Gunner-Jobn G. Vosser. Engineers--Edward Marblane (first assistant) ; A. H. Gunnel, A. H. Fisher, Orleans Longswe, F. H. Beyinerr, - George - W. - Roche lroquois,-9, screw gunboat, is also a regular navy builtman-of-war. She is the fastest of her class, and when sotheconvoy business is performed, will be sent to reinforce the fleet chasing the Alabama. Her first service. was performed in the Mediterranean, where - she became somewhat seriously damaged on a reef. She subsequently . put into Genoa for repairs. When the rebellion broke out she was called home to serve on the blockade, which she did most effi ciently. Since her last arrival at this port she has been thoroughly overhauled, and is now as good as new. The Iroquois is 1,910 tons burden, and is rated for nine guns . We subjoin a list of her officers : Commander— Case. Lieutenant Commander—H. B. Mullen. Surgeon—W. E. Taylor. Assutant Paymaster—John A. Bates, Jr. Acting Ensigns—Joseph Avant, J. D. Deyber, Thos. Stodhart. Engineers—J. W. Storm, (Ist assistant); W. I. Howard. (acting 2d assistant); Warren Ewen Jos. H. Mathews, (ad assistants);W. J. Barrington, Hugh S. Short. Gunner—John C. Clapman. Boatswain—John H. Downes. THE REBEL NAVY. Its Condition, as Viewed by an ex• United States Commodore—Politics Worse in the Southern' Confederacy than in the Old Union.' Among the private letters captured off Charleston by our sailors was the following, supposed to have been written - by ex• Commander Arthur Sinclair, formerly of the Federal navy "NAVY DEPARTMENT, O. S. A., BunrAu or ORDERS AND DETAIL, Oct. 29, 1862. "Mr DEAR BaoxEren: Sanders . leaves in the Twining, and has kindly offered to take charge of letters. lam es busy as possible, but cannot let so good a chance slip without a line. I have written you several times since your departure, and trust you may have gotten some of them at least. The last was by Captain Lawson, who has a contract with the Government: Lelia is with me and very well, having run the blockade, and will leave for home again on the 10th of November, by fiag-of truce. "'Little Terry has just left us to rejoin his ship in Mobile, now the Florida. Rehm been very ill with yellow fever, which he contracted at Havana, and Buchanan, who now commands at Mobile, sent hint on here to see us and recruit. " MatEtt has behaved in the noblest manner, and still no notice has been taken of his conduct by the Government, and such fellows as Mercer Brook promoted for vgallant conduct.' Indeed, Terry, .1 fear we are gone in the navy; polities worse than in the old Government. But we are raising heaven and earth (that, is Commodore Forrest and niyaelf, for no one else appears to be interested in the matter). The 'gallant Fegram 'is very quiet. Terry, he had a noble chance to have immortalized himself by re fusing his commission, which, at best, is only for the war, and below some of his juniors, and said to the honorable Secretary ,' I have suffered myself too much to be willing to inflict the same sting upon my brother officers.' " But I could not get him up to the scratch, and he accepted, under a protest, which amounts to nothing, and acknowledged the compliment. Oh ! that I could have had his chance. I have refused active service until justice is done me, and told the Secretary that I want nothing but my rank, and that I will die in the gutterbefore I will suffer my self to be degraded. "I have mentioned all these cases of injustice to members of Cvngress and the Governor, and they say justice shall be done us the next session. I told them of Captain Semmes having only eleven years of sea service in the old nayy, and lost the two only vessels he commanded;also, of Brooks' and Bullock's cases—in fact, all. We have also given them a reorganization bill, which provides for admirals—three of each—six commodores, &c., and a voluntary retired list after forty years in ser vice. All, I think, will be right the next session. " The Commodore says the button, sword, and cap ornament were adopted, except the flag in the latter, which will certainly be changed very soon. He wishes you to send over one hundred vets of the large—that is, the frock-coat—size, fifty of the small, and twenty of the jacket, or medium. I want you to send me a piece of steel-gray cloth, and two pairs of good walking-boots, No. 5, but for fear their .5 may not be the same as ours, I send you the length of the foot. Lelia will add a line and tell you about Norfolk and Norfolk's doings, and what things she wants. "God bless you THE ISTHMUS. Further Details of the Fire at Aspinwall— Total Damage 8300,000. The brig Costs Rica, which has arrived at 1 1 1 - ew York, brings the following details of the destructive fire which took place on the night of the 26th De cember last, in the ship chandlery establishment of Messrs. Laimbog & Blandenon, in Front street, in that town, destroying sonie three blocks of buildings. on Front street. Among other edifices burned down we find mentioned The office of the Panama Railroad Company r. the Howard House ; the St. Charles Hotel ; the Aspin wall House; besides a number of other tine new buildings. The total loss is estimated at 000,000. This are will naturally be the cause of serious lose. to 'American citizens, who are largely interested in this rising city, which has been named after an Ame rican merchant. It was formerly known by the ge neral name of Chagres ; 'but since American enter prise infused a newlife into the place, its name was changed to that which it now bears. The old. Cha-. gres is now but a mere collection of lints, with As ; =wall eight or ninemileato the northeast..Aspin wall is an important port of Central America> on.the Atlantic side of the Isthm . us of Panairm, forty-nine miles from Panama on the Pacl2c,. about two. thousand miles from New York, azd newly equi distant from San Francisco .and Yalparais - o. Tim harbor is one of the hest on the coaat,.hnving an an chorage sufficient to rideiniiinodateime-bar the com. merce of the United States. It is the principal en trepot between the Atlantic States and California. It baa semi-monthly communication with New. York MA San - Francisco. - A railrosbd. forty-niner/idle& in length, connecting Aspinwall with Panama (on the opposite side of the Isthmus), was opened February 17, 1855. This has done away with the tiresome pro cess of crossing the. Isthmus on the backs of mules. Aspinwall is well stippiied with hotels, one of which has accommodations for six hundred visitors. A newspaper - also - exleta there. The town was founded about the year 1850 by the well known, en terprising merchant whose name it bears; and la 1855 it was estimated to contain 2,500 inhabitants. The place has been gradually increasing in import- SOUTHERN FUNDS:—It is stated, on" the au• thority of a letteffrom Paris, that Messrs. Baring, of London, hate five' million dollars on deposit be lcnging to citizens of the South, who are either now in Europe or ootho way thither, ARTHUR)'
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