. . . , t . _ .- . . . , . , ... . . . - i. - - 1 \- ' . . . . . . . , . • . i „,,,,, r , ~... . , 0- ....._ , ._ N , '..• . , ,•'... ... .i . I'' :, I " , .. ~' •"- ~... •!. 1 / 4. 41 . ,: .•)3„ -- : :-- . .. . ... t ....... _ .... .. ! , •• .- .. •:--.- .. L- ---, • • , • • .N. ir ' . - • 7 : t ' ~ , , . . , , 'i ~, _ . 7 i '._ '.. -'• ',- •:, - ' -.-:_ -' - " L . ; ,` ': - . . . .. , . , - - 11111 BY 11.'CLURE & STONER. ffiiiiddiu ItiquiAbovt. THE ARAI' OF TIEE• 'POTOMAC Again has the . Army of the Potomac become the central point of. the world's attention. A new and peculiar interest has been given it from its - passing under the personal command' of the most suc cessful soldier of the age, upon Wliem a grateful republic has just thrust unwont ed honors, nod who seems to have wisely, selected :this army as that which will best test his elaiins to be considered a great, as be has hitherto been known to be a vie loriims, general. Should victory, whose . benignant smile brightened the banners of Grant, in his marvellous sweep of tri umph down the Valley of the Mississippi, as, with a, glory greater than De Soto's, he' pened its glad waters to-freedom for ever, deserthim now; history will not be so false to her-proudest records as to charge such a reverseof fortune upon the Army of *Potomac. The Lieutenant General,. -clothed with the amplest authority, the favorite of the Adthinistration, and sup ported .by the conlidenee and affection of the people, can form and strengthen his forces at his will. At once - upon his ask. Suming supreme command, the organiza tion of this army was re-constructed; high officers; who_ have not realized ex • peetations, , were quietly exiled, others, Whom trial has approved, were placed at .thetteailof corps; _and re-inforcements are \drawing in from all permissable sources. •The territory to . be traversed, iti , its 'mini march, 'is thoroughlymap ped,- a moat every acre from the defences of Wu hiugton to the very fortifications of Richmond bein occupied by the body Of a martyred patriot, : who yet holds it in trust for his country. ! The. position of the enemy is well known—his tactics fmder stood ' his capacity fully appreciated. Abov all, a concentrated and simultane i ma ()wawa "against hiS workS," can now, ,Under the co-ordinating will, of the commander-in-chief, be secured. All that ageneral can ask to effect his ends is in the p ).sseseion of the hero who stakes his fame upon what is called the "ill-starred" Army of the Potomac. In what sense is this term "ill-starred" applicable ? As applied literally to the' skotdder-straps of some of it,s,command-, erg, -past and present, it has indeed "felt `the influence of Malignant star," but in regard to its achievements, it is question- , able whether-it can be considered as ill starred, 'in , 'a • figurative sense. The ac credited prime object of its formation, the capture of the rebel capital, it has failed to effect ; butt it has come witch nearer this great triumph than we should lave reason, to expect,, could we have ap preciated the immense obstacles in the. way, as afforded by the topography of the country (its frequent river courses, its, dense forests, its mountain ranges and its defensible hills;) , by the vast 'disadvan: tdge of operating in an enemy's country, in which its movements were easily ob served, where, too, the suicidal leniency of • the government protected spies .all about it ; with long, ever weakening lines of communications to keep, up ; with the necessity of defending our own, while menacing . the rebel metropolis, and pro tecting the otherwise defenceless North which lay invitingly open to the inroads of a Bedouin-like foe, who could have in vaded it by so many routes that the Ar my of the Potomac had to divert its brave soldiers to guard, In its two-fold 'charac ter of an aggressive and a defensive force, it was in discord. its ventures must be cautious, and it could -not risk the bold stroke of flute that had the chances in its favor, while the mischance of a severe defeat would have left the seat of govern ,ment and the loyal States a sure prey to traitors. The Army of the Potomac is striking at the very heart of the rebel power.-- : When its mission is accomplished, it Will be but holiday soldiering to carry the Stars and Stripes around the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and back to the historic shores of the Potomac. To thwart its progress, the rebels have htbored with the genius and energy of fiends. On the river banks, and bill sides, and mountain Shipes in front of it they hive the' 'choicest troops and ablest generals, and when the notes of it advancing bug - card and her _aided by the hundreds of traitors that hang about it, and when /its banners.are seen coming • in ' the Spirit of the master of the vineyard to claim their heritage, tens of thousands of the, rebels against their government and humanity are hur ried up frotr(all quarters of the Confede racy And crowded behind their fornaida ble defences. Against these tremendous oddilitid fearfed barriers, the Army of the Potomac, has dashed with wondrous valor, and, though often foiled, has been surely wearbag out the enemy, and strew ing 14. hills and valleys, ofyirOia with the vcsry-thiiwe of the Southern chivalry.. 1 The Army of the Potomac has failed to take Richmond,because our loyal'peo -1 ple had inadequate conceptions about the 'feasibility of the work.. The lesson of the fittal mistake at the first Bull; Hun engage ment, when a handful of ha Lily collected and raw troops, :natder an ill-fated leader was supposed sufficient to defeat a con sOracy carefully Ana delibeiately planned and disclosed when completed, has never been properly regarded; and, again, and again, and again,i,our, national pride - has forced our tirmyb attempts beyokal.its ability. The . _ Yof the Potomac should have marched , 1 , 1 . thrice its strength or been supporte by a heavy auxiliary force. . But has it ackved nothing? Alter our deadly idleneSs in the fall and winter of '6l and '62 enabled the rebels to pre pare against ns, rind when the army crept slowly up through the swamps and rains of the Peninsula, and was lying in weak lines along the pegtilential Chiekahominy, the confident rebels summoned all their strength,-and bore fiercely upon it with a . sudden dash. loreSh, healthy, high-hi4,' sure of swallowitig it up in their vast masses, they bore'_impetuonsly upon our feeble and fatigtied ranks. Seven daYs incessant fighting 'followed—the rebel hordes were held back by our men, fam ishing and worne by loss of sleep, and en ervated by a sickly climate as they were, until at Malvern Hill the proud traitors ceased, for a. timer- . to be ail organized , army. , • Incompetence and treason under the blessed Stars and Stripes, co-operating with treason under the ilonfederatestand ard, sacrificed the army again at Bull Run. But straight from this disastroUs battle field it followed tinder its, trusted leader, as rapidly as it could re,anite its fragments, the rebel conquerors, and found them poised upon the mountains Of Mary 7 land for a fatal swoop upon Baltimore and the Capital. Half• fed, half clothed, with their blood poisoned by the malaria of the Peninsula, the men' Of the Ariny of the Potomac charged up, the - kountain sides, and drove the invaders iiioken and • bleeding. across the Potomac, .a.Ooss the Rappahannock, and—now, inde`ed,, starred "—were broken by mail-misman agement against the heights of Freder- icksburg. in mid-winter. During the in clemency of this flea Son, they toiled. and marched and proffered battle, until the snows, and rains, 'and mud locked them in friendly fetters. In the spring follow= ing, its rash but gallant commander, has the army lost and repulsed with slaughter in the labyrinths of a" wilderness" in which the great Roman,conqueror might have desponded and been bewildered'. Pursu ing their success, the legions of Lee, heavily re-inforced by the selected troops, put& rapidly above the Potomac, and the loyal North lies p4pitating at their mercy. , They fix themselves quietly- among us, and at a theirleisure,digest plans of captur ing our cities, and .settling upon terms of peace But their hour- - of triumph is brief. In the midst of their security and power, the motmtains around about them are alive with armed men, and their old antagonist, which they believed bleeding and weeping, and- keeping a sorrowftil Watch by the banks of the Rappahannock, breaks resistlessly upon them, and as they fall back broken, routed, from the hills of loyal Pennsylvania dark with rebel gore, they exclaim in horror—"the 'Army of the Potomac!" Halfshorn of their strength, deSpoiled of-their prestige, abandoned by hope of success, they hasten' before the patriotarmy back to their strongholds, away beyond the Potomac, beyond the Rappahannock, beyond the Rapidan; and there tremblingly await the final stroke, with which the -Army of the Potomac will end Lee's army and the Rebellion. Since the days at Gettysburg, the Army of the Potomac has had frequen t skirinish ing with Lee's forces, and has always tii umphed---in anything like an equal con test it always will triumph and always _ wbild have triumphed. Has the World furnished a nobler illus tration .of endurance, forbearance, pa - - -Hence, valor, than this army of heroes' It is an easy task, comparatively, to press. through difficulties, when success cheers us on and a defeated foe is before us; but how much more sublime the courage that outlives frequent disaster; that , sust troops repeatedly cut to pieces when vic tory seemed in their very grasp; that nerves them to rise from a diwistrous field to pursue a victorious enemy; that ani mates them in wearily retracing paths crowded ivith graves of comrades who seem, to have died ie vain. It has become too much the habit todecry the Army of the Potomac as a failure—to make invidious comparisons between it and the 'gallant Army of the West. Such is not the mate of the South. Tliefappreciate its surpassing loyalty as well as its surpass ing :bravery. ' They.have flattered them selves upon _its defection, when favorite • CIIAXBERSBITRa t WEDNESDAY,' APRIL. 20, - 1864. leaders have been taken from it ; and have Irepeatedly' regat;led it as destroyed after: reverses, to be amazed at its ;resurrection - to victories. Bathed in blood, shattered, decimated, famished, as it liar been, they know it is incapable of rout or paide; they feel the prophetic foreliOding that it is destined finally to March unbroken Over. , the rains of their accursed tyranny. They , knoWithat the'clioieest blood of loyalty is; in its ranks; ,that it is inflamed by a holy. „zeal for its , country, and.that it is instinct, with that high sPhit which "though baf- ' fled 'oft is sure, to win."- ,We believe, and we are assured the re helshelieve also, that its comingcampaign will seal the triumph of the goternment ; • and 'while' we regard the leadership of errant ,as 'greatly securing this end, his failure, if it can be possible he shall fail, may not be blamed upon the long 'suffer in,r, heroic Army of the Potomac. 1' THE FLORIDA CAMPAIGN. We give herewith the official report of Gen. Gihnore relative to the Florida battles which the -Democratic preSs has so persistently and maliciously charged to Mr. Lincoln as. a political campaign. Will the Spirit publish. Gen. Gilmore's report, and correct its slanders trpoulhe President'? It has done much to mislead its•readers in relation to the movement of Gen. Gilmore, and it wouldbo but simple justice to allow its readers to,sce the truth. The following is the official report: ittiADOISiiii:PARM. OF Fours ifILTON HEAD. 1 South Carolina, March 6.1864. M"j. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief, Wwthing ton. L.C. GENERAL:—/ have the honor to submit here with copies of certain letters and telegraphic dispatches which , comprise the instructions given to Brig. Gen. T. Seymour, relative to the operations in Florida prior to the fight at Olous tee on the 10th ult., and a brief narrative of events connected with the recent occupations of Florida. west-of St. John's River, will not be out of place. Under date of the g2d December, 1863, I was authorized by :youti to undertake such operations in my department as ndght deem best, suggesting conference with Admiral Dahl gren, etc., etc. On January 16, 1864, I wrote you that unless it would interfere with the views of the War Department I should'occupy the west bank of the St. John's River, in Florida, very soon, and establish small depots there, preparatory to an advance west at an early day. On January 15th I wrote - to the Secretary of War that I had in contemplation -the occupation of Florida on the_west bank of St. Johns River at a very early day. Under date of January 2•2 d, you informed me that as regards to any proposed operations in Florida the Secretary replied that the matter had been left entirely to myjudgmenlanddiscretion, with means at my command, and as , the object of the proposed expedition had not been explained it waS impossible for you to judge of the advank ages and practibility. On January 31st, I wrete -informing you that the objects to be attained by the operations were: First, to procure an outlet for cotton, lumber, timber, etc ; Second, to cut off one of the enemy's commissary supplies, etc., etc.; Third, to obtain recruits finr my colored regiments; Fourth, to inaugurate measures for the speedy restoration of Florida -to her alle giance. in accordance with the instructions which I had received from the President, by' the hands of Maj. John Hay, Assistant Adjutant General. On February sth I directed Gen. Seymour, whose command was already embarked, to goo : to Jacksonvile, Flu., effect a landing there, and push forward a mounted force to Baldwin, sev enty miles from Jacksonville—the junction of the two railroads from Fernandina. A portion of the command reached Baldwin on the 9th, at which point I joined it on the evening-pf the same day. 'At that time the tummy had no force in Florida, except the scattered fragments of Gen. Finnegen's 'eenooand. We had taken all his artillery ,o 1 the 14411. A portion of our for ces was sent toward Sanderson, and I returned to Jacksonville. Telegraphic communication was established between Jacksonville and Bald win on the 11th. On that day I telegraphed to Gen. Seymour not to risk a repulse in advanc ing on Lake City, but to hold Sanderson, unless there were reasons for falling back which I did not know; and also in case his advance met with serious opposition to concentrate at San derson and South Fork of St. • Mary's, and if necessary to bring back Col. Henry, command-, ing the mounted force, tolhe latter place, •On the 17th Gen. Seymour informed me, from San derson, that he should hill buck to-the South Fork of the St. Mary's as soon as Col. Henry, whom he, had orderdd back from the front, had returned. ,Ou the ;same day. I telegraphed to Gen. Seymour that -I wanted his command at and beyond Baldwin, and concentrated at Bald -win without ,delay, for reasons which I gave him. Gen. Seymour joined me at Jacksonville on the 14th, the main body_of his force being at Baldwin, as directed. He 'had, however:, sent Col. Henry towards the left to capture some railroad trains at Gainesville, on the Fernandi na and Cedar Keys Railroad. After arranging with Gen. Seyniour for the construction_of cer tain defernies at Jacksonville, Baldwin and the south fork of St: Mary's, I started for Hilton Head on the 15th, leaving behind me Captain Rose, of the Engineers, to give necessary in structions for the defences referred to. I con sidered it well understood at that time between General Seymour and myself that no advance would be made without further instructions from me, nor until the defences were well ad vanced. On the 18th I was greatly surprised , at receiving a letter from Gen. Seymour, dated the 17th, stating that he intended to advance without supplies, in order to destroy the rail road near Swantee river, 100 miles from Jack sonville. lat once despatched Gen. Turner, my Chief of Staff, to stop the movement. He was the bearer of a letter to General Seymour, Upon arriving at Jacksonville, after eonsidera-. ble delay, due to the inclemency of the weather, -he learned that General Seymour was engaged -With the enemy in front, near Olnstee, forty eight miles from Jacksonville by railroad.— When I left Jacksonville on the 15th;I was en tirely satisfied with' the success. of our opera tions up to that time. I briefly communicated to you my plans • with regard to Florida in my letter.of February 13th, from which I extract as follows: Gen. Seymour's advance has been within a feW miles of Lake City, but as his in structions were not to risk a repulse, or to make an - attack when there wasra:prospect of incurr ing much loss, be has - taken up, a position at Bald Win, the junction of the railroad fioni Jack- 1 1 ISM sonville with the' one from Fernandina. He holds alto the crossing of thei St. Marra south fork, about twelve miles weseof Baldwin. He intended to construct small works capable of .resistingn 'coup do main: a JaoksetWille, Bald win, Pitette, and perhaps one or two unimport ant points - So that from 200 to 300 men would be sufficient each of these points. - Twenty five-hundred men in' addition to two regiments that have been permanently stationed in the State, one at St. Augustine and one at Fernan dina, ought to he 'ample in Florida. The artil lery captured here will be sufficient for such' defensive works as may be deemed . necessary.: I desird; te see the lumber and turpentine trade on the St. John's rivet' revived by loyal! men, and for that purp fl ose ' and to give assur ance that our occupation of these rivers is in tended to be permanent, I have written to the Secretary of the Treasury, recommending that the port of Jacksonville be declared open. 'Very respectfully your ob't servant, Q. A. GILMORE, Maj. Gen. COM. WASHINGTON. The calm before the storm—Ylovetnents of Gen. Grant—Arany Changes--,Speeeh of GeorgO Thompson—Yl'Clellan's De spatehes÷lttehmond _Prisoneritidge, Taney—Capt.; DrGowan. -Correipande+ oy,the Franklin RepoAtory. WM?ill. INTON CITY, Aprifl6, 1864 The lait week has been one of exceeding qui etness in military 4:ireies. Both armies have come to a stand-still. each enjoying!rest prepar atory to the 'grand and fearful struggle which must inevitably take place as soon as.the roads and weather will permit. Even Moseby and his marauders have gone, no one knows where. General Grant, however,' is not idle . Every thing indicates tint at the earliest moment pos sible, he in r eendS to "move,:_on the enemy's works." Premier stops in this city more than a few 'hoursat a time. During the past week he has Visited Butler and Bu'rnside, and no doubt from what we can learn, has been lust as active there, as with the Army of the Pdtornac. On his arrival - here from Fortress Monroe, he im mediately left for the front, accompanied by Maj. Gen. I P. Sheridan, formerly a division commander in the Army of ,the Cumberland, but now assigned to duty es commander of the cavalry of the Arley of the Potomac. The staff of Gen. Grant consisti-of the follow ing named officers ' - Brig. (Gen. JAW A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff; Lieut. , Col. C. 73. Com:dank. Senior Aid-de-Camp: Lieut, , Col. 0. E. Babcock, Aid-de-Camp; Lieut. Col. W. •R. Rowley and Col. Adam Iladeau, Military Secretaries: Capt 4 E. S. Parker: A'c't Adj't Gen.; 'Capt. G. K. Left, Asst Adj't Gon.: Lieut. C01. , W, 11. Dunn, Jr., Aid-do-Camp: Lieut. Col. T. S. Bow era. A:s't Adj't Gen.- Lieut. Col. W. •L. Duff,,Ass't Inspector General: Lieut. Col. F.S. Dent. AM-de-. .Camp; Lieut. Col. Horace Porter,. Aid-de-Camp; Capt. 11. ISr Janes, Staff Quartermaster,. A total reorganization of every brunch of the Potomac army has taken place. The Provost Marshal General's Department ; bas been'ren dared muchmore efficient, and new rules have been established for the mrganization and equip ment of the pioneers of the army. New orders - have also boi o u Promulgated from the' Inspector : General's oface., _ ' ' The follawin&ordnrjraB been issued from.the War Departinezit: .1. 1 WAR DEI'ARTNRYT, 1 ADJUTANT GRNERA L'S OFFICE. , . , WASHINGTON April 4, 1864. ) By direction of the President of the United States, the following changes and assignments are made in Army Corps commands: Maj. Gen. P. li,i Sheridan is assigned to the com mand 'of the CO•alry gorps of the Army of the Potomac. , . . . the 11th and 12th-;Army Corps are consolidated, and will be called 200 Army Corps.:, Maj, Glen. J. Hooker is'assigned to command. Maj. Gen. Gordon 'Granger is relieved from the command of the 4thiArmK,Corps. and Maj, Gen. 0. 0. Howard4s assigned in is stead.- ' Maj. Gen. Schofield is assigned to the command of the 2&1 Army COT 4 I/34 Maj. Gen.. Slocum will report to Maj. Gen,Sher man commanding the Division of the Mississippi, and Maj. Gen. Stoneman will report to Maj. Gen. Schofield, commanding the Department of Ohio', for assignment. Maj. Gen. Granger will report by letter to the Adjutant General of Army. Capt. Horace Porter, Lnited Statiis Department, is announced as an Aide-dc-Camp to Lieut. Gen. Grant, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel: - By order of the'Seeretary of War:l - I D. D. TOW NS Fin, Assistant Adjutant General. Also by a recent order, Brig. Gens. 'Stone (so long held a prisoner after 4,he battle of Ball's Bluff) Andrew Porter and iNagice, have been reduced to their original rank in the regular arm's-, and ordered to join their r4inaenta. George _Thompson, of England, delirbred a lecture in the Hall of - the Hodge of Repre sentatives on Wednesdily Reek_ than immense audience, among whom were the President, Vice President, Secretaries, Senators and Members. At the commencement he eo.u.. pletely used up the copperhead Mr. Morits, member of Congress; emphatically denying and .cliale.tiging Mr. Mortis to produce proof that he had ever said "that the diisolution of the Union must be constantly kept in 'view." On the con trary- he had always been„ its most steadfaat friend. His 9pressions of Thank God the hour of -compromise is Past. The South, so much of it as still in rebellion-r-can plead no constitutional guarantees, - no Pledges, no coin prieti. She stands with- one foot *on the Consti tution of the United :StateS, j and one upon th neck of the . negro, brandishing the" bloody weap ons of treason for the desttuction of the national life," was moat , enthusiastically applatided. A large delegation of :contractors of engines and hulls for the Navy are here, trying to get a. bill through Congress to. remunerate them for losses which. they have titer with owingio the rise in the price of all kinds of Material, labor, &c., since the contracts were taken. The losses on their: part, thoy:say, amount to over" two' millions of: dollars. It is hardly probable that Corigress'Wilf allow any such claims. " A new deportment of - the Pacific; is to be compesed of , Oregon, California and the territories West of the RoOkY Mountains. Gen. Iravin M'Dowell has been assigned to the cow—, mend, and will go thence in a few days. He is authorized to raise ten new volunteer regiments. " All the despatches which Gen, M'Clellan, for some cause, saw fit to leaVe out of his report, have been ,collected and are nearly ready for the press: They will make :a volume about as large as his repett,:alk many of them, An fact till of them, are of the atinostiroportance as throwing more light into the historTof tfie Po ..; -:^~ i c- MI The last week htis Veen an important one in legislation. The apportionment hill has passed the Senate—the first section cinder the previ ous quistiont It unites Adams and Franklin for Senator; and associates }lrani;lin with Perry to elect two members. The House bill, which has not yet been tiCted on, makes the same dis tricts in your section, so they may be regarded as settled. The Senate also 'passed the bill providing for the payment of the interest in currency. It was finally disposed of on' - Wedneiday night/ after , a protracted session; lasting until mid night, and enlivened at times with spicy debates. The Democrats voted solid against the measure with the exception of Kinzey, of Bucks, who voted with the Union men. The bill is now a law, and the August interest will be paid with out robbing the peeple of another half million.' The lionse passed. the general appropriation bill on Friday. Itidiffers little freiii the usnal approPriations. Tie committee had originally , agreed to report a general increase of salaries,' including State offieers, legislators and their of-; ficers, and jiidges;l but the Union men subse quently held a canclis z and resolved to go against any increase of salaries. A few, however, were carried in the House. The DemoCiats vote for_ all manner of apprOriations, although they well know that the treasury has not the means wherc- With to pay. Theyaeem to want it bankrupted, ilia labor and vote, steadily to embarrass it.— . -They would appropriate millions to-day for any plausible purpose, and at the same time refuge to levy a dollar of tax, or in any other,way pro- vide revenue to meet their extravagance. -- The House will pass the apportionment this week, and the Senate will pretty certainly dis pose of the appropriation bill. Both will very likely go to Committee of Conference, and then be adopted. - There seems to be no reasonable prospect of a revision of the revenue or militia laws this session. The,ansiety to 'get home is groWing stronger every day, and the body of the Dena oasts seem 'to want the State as helpless 'as possible, both in military and firmacial view. The military, plain] bill will pretty certainly page, nuthOrizing the adjudieation 'of the claim!, and pledging the faitikpf the State, to pay theta a't the close of the war. The Connellaville and Southern Pennsylvania Railroad`bill will pretty certainly pass. -It will secure a railroad at an early day from Connells ville to Cliumbersbnrg:' HonAci.. tomac'arrny; than inythingwhieh is embr ced in the very important reportof Gen, M'Clellan. A number of large fortificationd:are to be built on the hills'near Culpepper, so'as toliave a safe and permanent depot -of supplies for the army when it -moves forward, - .By this ar rangementthe fifteen thousand- men which are now required to guard the railroad can be re lieved and made available in any forward movement.' I learn from a friend juSt returned from An-; napolis, that over five hundred of our men lately released *ern` Richmond prisons, are inmates, of the hospitals there. 'Alan!" have already diel, and many more 'will, despite the great care which the physicianEi and nurses are giving them. Starvation' and exposure have so effectually done the work to these men who Weneout to the warstoutand hearty, that all the skill and science of man cannot save them from the grave.' Chief Justice Taney; of the Supreme Court, resumed his - seat on' the bench to-day, after a long illness. He looks as thougb.he might still live tg swear-in another President, or rather a second time, Abraham Lincoln, for really here l and elsewhere, it does seem as if nll opposition for nomination at the Baltimore Convention had given way to hirn, The numerous , friends of Captain Theodore McGowan will be gladlo learn that he has been Made Chief of. Staff.tO Brig. Gen., Martindale, Military Governor Of Jaw District of Columbia, vice Major Sherburh, who has become Colonel of "Scott 4 s 900," uOd,gone to Florida. Capt. McGoWan is one of ;the most faithful officers in the service, and his . advancement is as deserired as it is honorable. s. C. HARRISBURG. The Apportionment—State Interest—The Appropriation Rill—No Revision of the Revenue and Militia Laws Üble—lltiltary, Claims—Southern Railroad. Correspondenee'of The Franklin Repository. - HA2RISI3i'RG, April 18, 1864 GETTYSBURG Meeting of the Commissioners of the )Notional Cemetery—Nine States Rep. resented—N ati o nal Monument 'tb. he Erected. ' - cOrresponcienee of the Franklin Repository. GETTYSBURG, April 9, 3.,884 The Commissioners of the Soldiers' National Cemetery net here ou Wednesday last, and continued in session over Thursday. Messrs. B. W. Norris,- of Maine ; Ira Porley, of New, Hampshire ; t Henry Edwards, of Maisachusetta; John R. Bartlett, of Rhode Island CD t ifeids, Wills, of Pennsylvania ; • John- . R. Latimer, of Delaware; Chester I:I-Hubbard, of Week ; Gordon Lafland, of Ohio ; Thos. White Ferry, of Miohigan, were . , present, and a per manent organization was - eireeted by the elec . tion of David Wills, Esq., President, and' John, R. Bartlett, Esq., Secretary. The corninis. sioners dividedfliemselves into three elegies, by lot, in,aeC'erdance with the actef incorpormup the.lst elan to expire in 1865; ilte 2d in 1866 smith() 3d in 11867. Tho drawing resulted as follows: First Clan.—Newliampshire, Illinois. Ab o d e - i s .' land, Indiana, Now York, and - West Virginia. Second Clews.—Ohio, Delaware. Minriesota,Marr." land, Maine. and Mamaalimetts. c - Third Chas.—Now Jersey, Michigan, Coimeotioilt Vermont. Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. committee t6prepare by-laws-' ed, .and Messrs, j Wills, Bartlett, ,NOTTis Ferry were selected to invite proposals., with ,designs and estimates,-fora NationalMrsitiMent: - A resolution of thanks,to Mr. Wills Was adopt ME - VOL - .71:!..1...WH0LE..N0.1'3;653,1•-• e i fit his effiCieney in in:tinting the great eti terprise.-.He *as authorized to make ill necessary coby'rtcts to improve, beautify anti keep up the grounds. The -suit of 4254.witit appropriated to be paidte the person who shill present an acceptable design for the Monmiehi. Mr. Wills wns instructed by resolution till procure a printed list of all the officers and pri vates who fell, in the battle of Gettysburg, aA far , of as it can be obtained, and send copies th`e same to the several commissioners so that-ebui pleb, lists of the- killed may be made up froth the rolls - of the States. On motion:of Mr.. Ferry a portion of 'the I,,s_ ground. in:the Cemetery was appropriated to monumentsof individual officers, in casein Wherb friends desire to erect them. -- It is confidently' expected that the comb* summer will'Ne the National Cemetery beauti fied as far as' art can add to it; and the Monti mentin course of erection. YOtlitG 011/ARD. APPEAL FROMFGOV. CVRTIN. Gov. Curtin has Luria the following appeal to the People of , Pennsylvania to join in 'the Great Fair, to be held in Philadelphiaiin June next, for the benefit of the Sanitary Cont. mission: PENNSYLVANIA EiECTITIVE CHAMBER.). HA ttnissusa, April 11, 1861, ,To the People of Petiondoonia: I hove been, requested by the Committee of correspondence to address you on the subjeg of the Fair, to be held in Philadelphia, in June next, for the benefit of the _Sanitary Commi4 ; goo.; It gives me much pleasure to comply with this request, and to avail myself of the oppor tunity,, alio; of calling your attention to the Fair to be held in the same week and for thh same purpose at Pittsburg. I cannot, however, speak of the relief-of tho sick and wounded volunteers of the State with l out saying a grateful word in their behalf to you. Charged by a joint resolution of the Leg islature with the duty of caving for them, it has been 4uy privilege to provide for their comfort and look after their welfare. To this end the State Surgeon General has at all times, subject to the regulations of the United States, visited with corps of surgeons and nurses the battle fields,. and besides the ~General Agency main , tained at Washington, special agents have con stantly been sent to the camps, to the armies iu the field, and to the hospitals, and at all times when the occasion required or admitted of such aid, the. provisions made by the United States have, been supplemented by *lndent ) supplies of bandages, clothingoielicate food, in, fact everything that could promote . the comfort' of our soldiers when suffering from wounds or' disease. The compensation of the general agency and the general staff, and the expense of medicines and supplies of like ,character, were of course paid by the State. The special agents, men of standing and cliar acter, performed alltheir duties with diligence,. fidelity and in no instance received any com pensation for their services. ' I have never had' to seek for such agents. My only regaet isthat: I have been unable to accept the offered servi-i -ces of too many men of. the same • kind, who being - disqualified for military services, and hafing freely , eotittibuted--oL_their means to' very patriotic purpose, were- is -- 11titit,conten' ted unless they couid cestow their time, labor ~ hid personal attendanee on cur disabled and, suffering defenders' -The - bandages, the cloth-, ing, the• kid, the supplies. f all sorts were fur nished in kind by, you indivienally. On every occasion when it has beenmade known througki the State that' a battle had t een fought or was, expected, or that from'any oher cause our sick ' and wounded volunteers were likely to suffer,: 3 the earliest trains from all quarters have brought' the needed; supplies in profusion. Everyhospi tal within :the - State has been beset by duals of both sex's, but chiefly women; eager to nurse, to watch, to aid the inm ates. Through out the cities, towns, villages, hamlets, farm- -; houses of the Commonwealth, are • found the:' Heaven-directed benefactors whoSe names are unrecorded ; for whose individual efforts no reward has been sought; but he who has wit-' 3 tiessed the results, as I. have, must have a heart of stone if it be not melted by theirtrue, unpre tending, gentle, persistent, inexhaustible aloe rity in this best and holiest of ~good works. The object of the proposed Fair is to pre - vide means for similar good works, and it ie. , . one that commends itself to every friend of hia country—to all who admire the heroic devotion of the brave men who are bearilig arms in its ' •defence. It is- understood that the managers - of these Fairs solicit donations in goods, sale—, ; able article of every description of manufacturt! , American glass, produce, fruits ' flowers, pain- „ tiags, engravings, statuary and the income of ' all the people of the States for one day. Bev- • Oral similar Fairs have been recently held, the • proceeds. of .s‘hich are stated in the news papers to exceed one million ofdollars. :Another is now being 'held in New York, and others in Baltimore and St. Louis are to be held in • this and the next month, the proceeds of all which , . will no doubt he large. The spirit ofemulation has been stimulated, and Pennsylvania has been appealed to in the hope that she willrival her -neighbors, - . I cheerfully bear my personal testimony to -; the prompt and beneficial efforts of the Sani- , - tary Commission immediately rifler several.,,' battles, and especially after the battles of Get. -1 ; tysburg, and to the abundance oflisupplies then furnished by it. Beyond this I have no knowledge"of its actual operations, nor of its internal, structure. or =, administrative arrangements. The oppression of,public duties has been too great to allowMe ; to acquire or seek such knowledge. It is well ;. known, howe that gentlemen of the highest character pa pate in its management, and that its obj cts are patriotic, meritorious and charitable. :5 ,The proceeds of the Fairs are to pastriniothe bands of the Sanitary Commission, as declared by the_ committee, for the -relief of sick and wounded soldiers, in anticipation ofthe openings . campaign of our noble armies, and the object commands itself to every friend of his country, l A. G. Ctrimw, Governor ofTennsylvanlii, 4 A " STAEIGHT " rq w ER.—The field Nao3 announced the arrival inthat toWn - ot !*. Maj. J. C. Vanada, of Ilke,Bd Ohio, than Libby ' 1 " Prison. He was captfrid with Col. Streight,' - arublid cot see the outside 'of the prisontill he , ' was liberated. ite relates that. CoL, Streighkt,..3 was frequently ,ionsulted hR thprebeligillsorr-", ties, who finallygot froze him a straight reply,'„ They asked him if theNoth:Ogrespeetedtei:.! 'iubjugate.,: -"We r .haiti bio4' fle i ting y ou tiouf:t g a littleless.thair, three years, and. have subja...,l ated three•fourtps, of yelp,. territory, andlak one-half-ail:Ur fightlig poplatfoti Afcmtehes Or in their, grave Ar... and think that in.. three.. years' more *O - ' can '.ll.rdaliylnitip."" Thafended': tin) interviewe, MI ILE / I• i 4 la