The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, , 1863.

TEE WAR IN AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY,

The Canadian Mail steamship Norwegian has
arrived, with advices from Portland to the 27th ult.,
and 24,000 dols. in specie.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in compliance
with the request of the Committee of Ways and
Means, has prepared and sent them a bill embody-
ing his views. The first section gives authority to
raise 300,000,000 dole. for the service of the current
year, and 600,000,000 dols. for the next fiscal year,
and to raise these sums in any of the modes hereto-
fore sanctioned by Congress, as public exigencies
may require. The nT&les include the issue of 6 per
cont. bonds, 7.30 bonds, 7 per cent. bonds, or bonds
bearing less rates of interest, and also the issue of
small notes bearing 3.65 per cent. interest, and legal
tender notes bearing no interest. The Secretary, in
his letter to the Committee, expresses a strong de-
sire to have the limits as to the modes of providing
funds, and the amounts to be provided in each mode,
defined as precisely as possible by Congress. The
remaining sections authorise the formation of bank-
ing associations to issue notes furnished by the
United States, alike in form, and secured alike by
United States bonds, but payable on demand pri-
marily by the issuing associations. The bill, in its
main features, is the same as introduced by Mr.
Hooper, of Massachusetts, during the last session.
In his letter the Secretary expresses his profound
sense of the importance of this measure to the nego-
tiation of loans, to the collection of internal revenue,
and the security of the people against the evils of an
enormous unredeemable paper money circulation.
An investigation into the frauds on the Govern-
ment showed that, out of 1,600,000 dols. paid out in
one city alone from the special appropriation of
20,000,000 dols. for recruiting, organising, and
drilling volunteers, nearly one-half has been paid on
fraudulent accounts. Nearly 1,000 persons had been
engaged in the matter, but they were not all crimi-
nally implicated.
The President had arrested the assessment on dis-
loyalists in Missouri, ordered by Gen. Schofieid, in
view of the recent manifestation by part of the peo-
ple of their willingness to adopt the emancipation
policy.

The New York Tribune says that African soldiers
would be employed to guard the banks of the Mis-
sissippi, garrison the forts below New Orleans and
on the coast, and to enforce the proclamation of
freedom to their brethren.

Rumours were current at St. Louis on the 26th
of an intended insurrection of negroes in Missouri.
Mr. Seward had replied as follows to an invitation
to attend a festive gathering :
~ Department of State, Washington, Dec. 23.
cc To JAMES W. FORBES, JAMES L. WOODWARD,
AND ROBERT Y. HUNTER, NEW YORK.

" Gentlemen,—l received only at this time your
kind letter of the 16th inst., inviting me to meet
the Sons of Orange and Sullivan at the anniversary
celebration in New York this evening. Thus far,
although electricity consents to convey our thoughts,
yet it absolutely refuses to go into competition with
steam in carrying either passengers or freight—of
course I cannot come. Nevertheless, for every son
of Orange or of Sullivan who may be with you, and
who is loyal to his country in this her hour of dan-
ger, I send my hearty greeting. There ought to be
no one of them who is disloyal. For what did the
Almighty cast the blue mountains amid the green
valleys of Southern New York but to form a
cradle for freemen, vigorous—physically, in-
tellectually, and morally vigorous ? Men thus
constituted, if they are forced into a war for
the defence of freedom and their country, will
demand that that war, which is on their part so
just, shall be prosecuted with vigour. While many
things are important to that end which they may
not be able to effect, there is one indispensable thing
which they can do, namely—they can and mus
unite sons of Orange with sons of Erie, sons of New
York with sons of Massachusetts, sons of Missouri
and sons of California—brothers in fact as they are
in name—as inseparable members of the American
itepublic.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen,
your very obedient servant,
" WILLIAM H. SEWARD."

The Government had decided to increase the
wages of the shipwrights employed in the dockyards
to 3 dols. per diem.
From the Army of the Potomac we have the fol-
lowing advices :
Tobago Bay, on the Rappahannock, 30 miles
below Fredericksburg, Wednesday, Dec 24.

"A bold attempt was made last night by the re-
bels to cross the Rappahannock on rafts, 14 miles
below Port Conway, and capture a squadron of the
Bth Pennsylvania Cavalry, doing picket duty along
the river. Major Keenae, who is now in command
of the regiment, and is stationed at Port Conway,
got wind of the movement through some trusty
blacks, and was fully prepared to receive them, and
would have taken the entire party had not some of
his men fired their guns too quickly and frightened
them all back under cover of the woods. One hun-
dred head of fine cattle, which had been purchased
for the rebel army, were yesterday taken from the
plantation of Phelan Lewis, a wealthy farmer, and
appropriated to the use of our own soldiers. Upon
demanding the usual receipt, Mr. Lewis received
one with thee( encouraging words written beneath
it I believe Phelan Lewis to be a disloyal man,
and a traitor to the Government of the United
States,' One division of rebel infantry, one bri-
gade of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery,
all supposed to be under the command of A.
P. Rill, are stretched from ti point four
miles below 'Port Royal to three miles below To-
bagoßay,the lowest point to which our own pickets
extend. The gunboat fleet, under the command of
Captain Maay. in order
to avoid the danger of
being ice-bound, and to be secure from attack by
rebel infantry, has fallen down ten miles below
Port Royal. The planters on the rebel side of the
Rappahannock are sending all their negroes south
as rapidly as possibly, fearing the approach of the
Ist of January. Many of them, however, manage
to escape during the night, and cross the river on
logs and planks, or anything that will float. Fif-
teen escaped from the plantation of Mr. Pratt, one
mile below Port Conway, last night, and were
kindly cared for by our pickets. They say Mr.
Pratt has separated nearly all his negro families
sad sent them to different parts cf the South. A
few wealthy planters, however, who were old
Whigs and strong Union men, persistently refuse
to sell their slaves, separate their families, or sell
them off. They say that if their `servants' desire to
leave them they are at liberty to go whenever they
please. With this understanding most of them re-
main and are obedient. The leading rebels along
the Valley are furious in their denunciations of
General Lee for not having destroyed the army of
the Potomac while it was massed in the streets of
Fredericksburg, and say that if he does not afford
them protection from the ravages of the Yankees,
they will soon take the oath of allegiance to the
National Government. What they most desire is
protection, and they are beginning to be very indif-
ferent what Government gives it to them."

"New York, Dec. 26.
"An army letter of the 22d in the limes reports
the return of General Averill's cavalry expedition
to camp. They have been in search of the rebel
cavalry, who were north of the Rappahannock, but
they had recrossed the river. The result of the ex-
pedition reveals our right insecurely guarded, and
unlcss more precaution is taken something serious
may happen. It is expected the rebels will soon
make a demonstration on our right."
°• He:,dquarters, Army of the Potowse, Dec. 26.
"All quiet here to-nght, and nothing occurred
for the last 24 hours worrh telegraphing."
From the'.;outh- West we have the following in-

" Cairo, Wednesday, Dec. 24.
parole prisoners taken at Holly Springs, arrived
here, furnish the following facts :—Oti Thursday
telegrams were received at Holly Springs from
Jackson, saying the place Was menaced by rebels,
and asking for reinforcements. (1--n Friday morning
all the troops but about 800 were sent to Jackson.
The same night, the commander at Holly Springs
being apprized of rebels approaching that place,
pickets wore stationed three miles out on the roads,
but the rebels seem to have come in between the i

roads, as the pickets made no alarm. The first heard
of the enemy they were in town firing at our sleep-
ing men. Some resistance was made, but of course
feeble. In a short time the Unionists were over-
powered and compelled to surrender. The attack
was made at daybreak ; 200 Unionists were reported
killed and wounded, and 150 captured, who were
afterwards paroled. The remainder escaped. It is
reported in Memphis that the rebels have gone to-
wards Grand Junction with an intention of tearing
up the road, but nothing is known positively. At
Holly Springs they burnt large quantities of cot-
ton, over 100 waggons, d depot full of commissary
stores, ammunition, &c., valued at 500.000 dollars.
The number of rebels are estimated at 5,000, and are
under Van Dorn. A small rebel force made a raid
on the suburbs of Memphis, Sunday
night, pillaged
several stores, carried off 100 cattle and 180 mules.
Excitement in Memphis exists
meeting called on Monday night nt
oc considernseu consequence
chee °ble sat
means of defence.
Geano:realdoSwhnertmhaenrhivaesr. reacheditis
Helena, preparing to move
reported heve:sloaZdith 2,000 men from Pocahon-
t night that Jeff. Thompson is mov-
ing on NOW
and that he was within 40 miles of that
place ok:
Monday. The rebel force operating in
paisa' Ark,,
North-Western Tennessee burnt Union City and
the bridge over the Onion River last night. Every
effort is being made to meet them."
The Federals had occupied Winchester without
opposition, the Confederates having previously re-
tired, destroying the railroad.
A telegram from Washington mentions an abor-
tive attempt to obtain the suffrages of the people of
Smithfield, Virginia :
" A letter from Suffolk, Virginia, December 23,
states that the election for members of Congress
took place the day before, agreeably to the procla-
mation of General Dix. Contrary to the laws of
Virginia, ballots were cast, instead of viva voce.
In order to give the people of Smithfield an
opportunity to show their attachment to the
Union, two ballot boxes were sent down to them
in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Onderdonk,
with 200 of the Ist New York Mounted Rifles.
Suspecting the rebels would be anxious to visit the
polls, Colonel Onderdonk sent the boxes direct to
Smithfield in charge of a small squad, and pro-
ceeded with the remainder of his command to NV ind-
sor. Learning that the rebels had left that place
before,' Col. Onderdonk proceeded cautiously to-
wards the Isle of Wight, and when about three
miles out he came up with them. A short skirmish
revealed one regiment of rebel infantry with two
pieces of artillery and some cavalry. Col. Onder-
donk, then thinking it would be safer to look up
voters nearer Suffolk, slowly retired. The rebels
attempted to surround him, and were at one time
only 150 yards in his rear, whereupon Col. Onder-
donk suddenly wheeled his command about and
fired a volley, which emptied 20 rebel saddles. The
skirmishing continued for six miles. Two prisoners
and one horse were taken from the rebels. None of
our men were lost or injured_ It is thought it will
be a long time before the election returns come in
from Butterfield. Nansemond polled 39 votes, 26
of which are for Mr. Cooper, 12 for Mr. M'Cloud,
and one scattering."
General Foster had arrrived at Washington to
solicit reinforcements for further operations. After
leaving Kinston his forces took Goldsborough, tear-
ing up the railroad, burning the ties, and destroy-
ing the rails and telegraph. The forces had re-
turned to Newbern in safety.
Richmond papers of the 20th contain the follow-
ing despatches respecting Gen. Fosters operations :
" Goldsborough, Friday, Dec. 16.
" A reconnoissance last night by a squadron of the
3d North Carolina Cavalry, under Capt. Carroway,
found the enemy encamped about two miles below
Whitehall. The citizens represent them as scared
and out of food and ammunition. A rumour on
the streets this morning says reinforcements have
passed Kinston on the south side of the Neuse, to
succour their skedaddling friends. As the smoke
of battle clears away it reveals a considerable
slaughter among the Yankees at Whitehall on
Tuesday. A hundred of their dead were
left unburied on the field, and a pit, 100 yards
long, filled with dead has been found. Only three
companies of the 59th and 11th North Carolina
were engaged. Colonel Ferribee, of the 59th, with

18 men of the 14th, fought the enemy for several
hours, until reinforced by three of his own compa-
nies, who were subsequently relieved by the 11th,
Col. Leaventhorne, under the immortal Bethel flag,
who ultimately drove them from their guns into the
field. The 21st North Carolina, Col. Jordan, was on
the field, but, with the exception of one company,
seems to have taken no part in the action. Col. Fre-
mont, chief engineer of the Wilmington Railroad,
has just arrived in town from Wilmington. He
passed over the entire track to the Neuse on a hand
car, and says he can repair all damages on the road
in two days, and the bridge over the Neuse in six
or eight. All quiet here.
The _Raleigh State Journal of the 18th says :
" Nine regiments and two batteries of artillery

arrived on Tuesday, and several brigades are on the
way. Prudence will not allow us to specify whence
they were drawn, but the concentration was rapid,
and by this time a force is in and around Goldsbo-
rough sufficient to baffle, if not capture, the invaders.
The Examiner states that the Confederate forces
at Goldaborough on Wednesday evening were about
17,000, with reinforcements hourly arriving and ex-

pected.
A correspondent of the Progress says :

" Intelligence has reached Goldsborough that
Banks's column had probably joined Foster's, mak-
ing some 40,000 or 50,000 of the enemy.
" General Smith is represented as sanguine of
success, and it is reported that Gen. Lee had tele-
graphed him that he could spare him, if necessary,
30,000 men. The railroad south of Goldsborough
has been torn up for some distance by the enemy,
and, of course, all communication with Wilmington
has been cat off.

"Ala ter despatc h to the North Carolina Standard
states that the enemy had disappeared south of
Goldsberough."
heChattanooga Rebel of Dec. 18 contains the
following account of President Davis's tour in the
I West :_.

" His Excellency the President of the Confederate
States, accompanied by Gen. Joe Davis and Col.
Fitzhugh Lee, of his staff, arrived at Chattanooga
from Knoxville on the night of the llth, and left
the next morning at 6 o'clock for Marfreesborough.
Colonel E. W. Cole, superintendent of the Nashville
and Chattanooga Railroad, with that thoughtful-
ness and good taste which is characteristic of the

man, had provided an elegant new carriage for
the occasion, and a splendid train, to convey the
distinguished passengers to Murfreesborough. To
Col. Cole, therefore, his Excellency was indebted
for a most agreeable conveyance, and to Col. Cole
the State of Tennessee is indebted for the befitting
manner in which her distinguished visitor was wel-
comed within her borders. The carriage which
brought the President to Murfreesborough was one
of the most elegant intheon e Southernof theC Confederacy,
and f edheireas fc yo,
and may well be considered
thecom war.pany,s
brought from
advance
mthcee
f It
was
i c t oars the la
y at
1 Nashville carriagehvillepi bro
iort to h
of the Yankees and has been carefully preserved
by Col. Cole ever since, who was determined to keep
one m
respectablecarriageorning for special occasions like
this. As the train left the Chattanooga depot on
Friday
ro Dix ai
e splendid,
'
struck up ' The Bonnie Blue Fla ' and afterwards
upon the ear as the tthreaitrain
brass
s
lively
wsteinsas w bandee sweeping
i noi in
fg attendancewrohuinedh
thef.el
base of the giant Lookout. i

"At Shellmound the axle of one of the box cars
attached to the mail train which immediately pre-
ceded the special train for the President broke short
vff, and the end of the'axle was dragged some dis-
tance over the cross ties, jolting the cars and passen-
gers in a most alarming manner. Some one jerked
the beflrope, and the engineer promptly whistled
' down breaks,' and brought the train to a stand-
still before any serious damage resulted. It was a
miracle that the whole train was not precipitated

over the bluffs of the Tennessee. As it was, thanks
to the caution and steadiness of nerve of the engi-
tieferpvery little damage was done, and the accident,
_ _

which was certainly unavoidable, was soon reme-

died. Col. Cole gathered about him in a trice a small

army of mechanics and engineers, and in 30 minutes

by the watch had a new'wheel and axle, got the car
shifted, the mail train on a side track, and the
Presidential convoy, with colours flying, once more
dashing along the banks of the Tennessee.
" A live President is still something of a cariosity
in Tennessee, notwithstanding she has been visited
by many, and her own sacred soil is to day the
resting-place of a Jackson and a Polk. It may
not be out of place here to attempt a description
of the personnel of so important a personage as
the President of the Southern Confederacy. Mr.
Davis is a man rather above the middle stature ;
of slight but well-proportioned figure ; features de-
cidedly handsome for a middle-aged gentleman, and
wearing a perpetual expression of good humour ; of
exceedingly pleasing address and graceful manners,
and not without a certain senatorial dignity which
sits well upon him. His head is slightly sprinkled
with gray and his whiskers are gray, yet he is a
younger man in appearance and in feelings than we
had conceived him to be; his voice soft and per-
suasive, yet distinct and full-toned, and he is in the
habit of speaking occasionally an exceeding good
thing in a most quiet, accidental sort of way. His
dress was plain and unassuming, and his baggage
limited to a single leathern valise, with the initials
'J. D.' marked upon the side. Attended by one
body servant alone his mode of travel was without
ostentation or parade, and I could not help contrast-
ing the President of the young Confederacy, tra-
velling securely as a citizen and incognito from one
extremity of his native Southern land to the other
without even so much as a bodyguard, with the
miserable despot of Abolitiondom caracoling through
the streets of Washington 'with a file of armed dra-
goons each side of his coach of state, and in constant
apprehension of the assassin's dagger in his own
capital. The President seemed much interested in
the wild mountain scenery along the route, and his
occasional allusions to the various scenes and objects
of historical interest proved his familiarity with
the geography of Tennessee to be equal to his culti-
vated appreciation of the beauty of her mountains
and streams. He expressed himself as much
satisfied with the general appearance of the coun-
try. His reception of his fellow-citizens of Ten-
nessee at the different stations was exceedingly
cordial and hearty, and crowds of soldiers
and citizens gathered around the window of the
carriage where he sat whenever the train stopped,
and proved conclusively how impossible a thing it
is for a great man to travel incognito through as
inquisitive a country as ours.
" The train reached Bridgeport at midday. The
carriage bearing the President and party was de-
tached from the locomotive, and shifted from terra
firma to the deck of a barge prepared for that pur-
pose under the attentive supervision of Superinten-
dent Cole, and in less time than it takes to tell of it
was floating on the Tennessee, and towed across to the
opposite bank to the accompaniment of rolling drums
and reverberating cannon. The battery of the
Washington Artillery fired a salute of 13 guns in
honour of the distinguished visitor. President
Davis dismounted frem the car as soon as the oppo-
site bank of the river was reached, and walked up
to the head-quarters of General Jackson, command-
ant of the post at Bridgeport. The guard came to
a ' present arms 'as he approached, and he grace-
fully acknowledged the salute by lifting his hat,
and then passed on. The party remained a few
moments at Bridgeport, until the train was got in
readiness, and then proceeded on to Dechered sta-
tion, where the President and his compagnons de
voyage stopped a short time for dinner; after which
interesting event they were en route once more for
Murfreesborough.
"Night came on. The puff! puff! of the steam-
engine, the jarring roll of the wheels, the flying
comets of sparks scattering far behind a train of
smoke and fire, which curled above the fertile
valleys and cornfields of Middle Tennessee, and
rolled off into the dim hollow and dismal glen, to
mingle with blendid wreaths from farming-houses
and camp fires. The occasional roll of drum from
wayside depots told that we were nearing the heart
of the great western campaign and approaching the
central rendezvous, the city of Murfreesborough. At
last, between the vista of a pair of meadow-crowned
hills the glimmering lights of the town uprose
twinkling through the mist, while innumerable re-
flections on the inky blue above copse and tree-top
pointed out the long circular line of tenting spread
around about the old burgh. Toot ! toot ! shrieked
the whistle, dingleling rung the bell. Then a long
plaintive shriek on down grade. Then a jerk, and
here we are in among the depot-houses, and soldiers,
and citizens, and the motley assemblage of dogs, 1
donkeys, carts and carriages, and hackmen and
lackeys, and porters, and the homogeneous assem-
blage
of humanity which most does congregate about 1
a railway depot. 1

" The next day, Saturday, the grand review of the
troops by the President took place. Perhaps a more
imposing spectacle than that review has not been wit-
nessed in America since the war began. The Rebel's
correspondent was apprised of the important event
through a general order which circuited through
the camps the night before. And as I happened on
that night to be the guest of the gallant young field
officers of the 'Old 20th Tennessee,' I was ' posted'
as to coming events, and was among the first on
the field of review the next morning. The sun rose
gorgeously above the spires of the city, and sabres
and bayonets glittered in every direction as the
regiments of the first division for review filed into
the open area selected for the ceremony. The re-
view took place in an open plain, on the road lead-
ing to Shelbyville, about one mile from Murfrees-
borough. An immense concourse of people
assembled to witness it, and the elite of the beauty
and fashion of old Rutherford and the surrounding
country was fairly represented in the graceful per-
sons of many of the fairest of the daughters of the
old volunteer State. The outskirts of the plain
were bordered with people of all ages and costume,
horses and vehicles of every description presenting
altogether a scene of bustle and excitement that re-
minded one of England's racecourse on a Derby-day,
while the lines of infantry, with waving banners
and gleaming bayonets, the superbly mounted
cavalry and gaily caparisoned chargers, together
with the generals and their respective corps of staff
officers and outriders, on mettled steeds, with rich
housings and trappings, revived old and pleasant
reminiscences of the Champ de Mars, and suggested
vivid pictures of the glorious time of the First
Napoleon. The lines were forming, and I was
looking about me for a safe place of observation for
a quiet citizen observer and 'reporter,' when an
incident occurred to me. You have heard of the
Oracles of Delphi. You have heard of the mystic
temple, the hazy depths' thereabouts, and the sup-
posed god who held his habitation within these dim
shadows. Well, the whole thing was nothing to
the sight that broke upon me at this moment. A
noise of clattering hoofs was heard to the right—l
suddenly turned my eyes in time to behold a great
cloud of dust approaching, from which issued the
forms of riding men vaguely. For a moment more
the dust cleared away. I look again and I see a
charger, the most superb of charger kind, splendidly
equipped. A soldier sits upon him, and every inch
a soldier. Dark locks of hair,

" ' In gloss and hue the chesnut when the shell
Divides its folds to show the fruit within,'
and yet faintly flecked with tiny sprays of silver
white. A face full and oval ; eyes large and lumi-
nous with life and thought; a small mouth, over-
shadowed by a moustache of amber colour ; a com-
plexion clear and roseate; and a form as finished,
compact, and symmetrically rounded as an Apollo.
A full suit of Confederate gray set off the figure and
completed the imposing presence of the rider, It
was Breckinridge. I never saw him look so grandly,
field
the memorable except on one oasioofn.
Shiloh,Th amid theoccasionat
smokewasupon
heand
c
na heate. of ah g
I must
Ile wastifrst be Pi/o dyi °
General greatouhho
w conflict,sefiery d
e surroundedbyfols he
passed a
a perfect
o f flame,s
harmless as the favoured children in the fiery fur-
hisgmuempoonrable
Mississippi campaigr, and I have an
picture.
honest parti•
ality for him above the rest. He was not the only
distinguished personage, however, that composed
r edfor
i dwelling
we
thatllin
the Presidential cortege of that review morning.
There was Bragg, the veteran of grapeshot memory
—Braxton Bragg, to whose ear the belching of a
howitzer is sweetest music, and to whose sight no-
thing is more refreshing than a charge of Southern

bayonets against the enemies of his country'. He
was the picture of a soldier, and sat his horse like a
tourney knight. Then here is another veteran. Do
you see that old man yonder—sunburnt, brawny,
stout limbed ? Vigour displays itself in every
muscle—activity in every movement. An old man
truly, but a bravo, bold, young old man. Big fea-
tures, flank open face, rubicund health. An eye
like Mats to threaten and command, but to love
also. A loving old man and a soldier, albeit a
bishop. Yes, a bishop, a bona fide bishop, and a
lieutenant-general to boot. His Right Rev. and
Lieutenant-Generalship Leonidas Polk. Here's a
health to him. And here is General Hardee, whose
excellent textbook of tactics was the bane of our
youthful military education, but whose volumes,
nevertheless, have acted the drillmaster for both
armies in this war—Gen. Hardee, whom the ladies
all adore. I know two fair ones myself who are dying
about him. He always was a gallant and graceful
gentleman in the parlour as well as in the field ;
but he has been disappointed in love, says my little
bird, for all that. Caddy -- was an early flame
of the general's when a mere captain in the United
States army. She was beautiful, sprightly, and ac-
complished. The captain wooed and apparently
won her. About this time he was ordered to West
Point. His only rival, a sprig of a Congressman's
son, came in as a cadet—young, goodlooking, and
desperately dull at his books. He would have been
turned off last year but for the generous chivalry of
Hardee, who could not think of allowing his own
position to be suspected, compromised, or ques-
tioned, and who stood between his rival and harm's
way until he put him through. The fair beauty,
proud, false as fair ! All women are ungrateful,
as most women are flirts at heart. Two days after
the young buck received his brevet lieute-
nancy the girl married him. The little sim-
pleton! She might have had a general and a hero
for a husband. Hardee is a philosopher as well as a
hero, recovered like a man, and has been in love a
dozen times since. And then comes the hero of Bel-
mont and Perryville—' Frank Cheatham' as we used
to know him, and as we all still love to call him.

Last but not least in the bright galaxy, he stood
pre-eminent as a warrior and a general. He was
elegantly attired in a suit of blue, and, mounted on
a splendid and spirited charger, was a distinguish-
ing feature in the cortege of the President in the re-
view. There was a host of other generals—briga.
diers and colonels commanding brigades—whose
gallant services in the present war have already en-
deared them to the hearts of their countrymen, and
whose bright names will live for ever in the memory
of the people of the South. The division of General
Breckinridge was first reviewed—the President,
followed by the corps and division generals, the bri-
gadier-generals of the command and their staff-
officers, riding down the lines at full gallop. The
general of each division rode on the right of the Pre-
sident, and their respective divisions were drawn up
for review. The men,
in open ranks, stood with
arms presented, the officers saluting, and the regi-
mental bands playing, each band taking it up in
succession as the cortege passed. The regiments
were then wheeled into column and passed in re-
view' before the President. As he sat there on his
horse, and those gallant spirits, the heroes of many
a well contested field, the survivors of many a dread-
ful march and battle, passed before him to the mar-
tial measures of the bands, I fancied his eye to
kindle and his features to lighten up with the natu-
ral enthusiasm of a soldier when he looks upon such
a scene. No doubt it awakened
within him memories
of his own experience of the tented field. He cer-
tainly looked the soldier on this occasion and every
inch the President of a nation of warriors. Cheat-
ham's division and Withers's division, with the ar-
tillery commands belonging to each, also passed in
review, and thus the ceremony concluded. The
men never looked in better condition, and seemed
never before to have marched with a lighter step
step or more soldierly carriage. With few excep-
tion, they were comfortably, though not altogether
uniformly clad. Their arms and accoutrements,
generally, were in unexceptionable condition, and
their manoeuvres executed with the skill almost of
regulars. His Excellency the President expressed
his gratification at their fine appearance and discip-
line, and congratulated the commanders present on
the efficiency of their respective commands. The
President returned the next day to Chattanooga,
whence he will probably proceed to Mississippi to
review our armies in that portion of the Confe-
deracy."
The Richmond papers state that on the 18th ult.
a new large steamer, freighted to the Confederate
States' Government, safely arrived at a Southern
port, bringing a heavy stock of shoes and blankets,
an immense quantity of cloth, and other supplies.
Gen. Bonham had been unanimously elected Gover-
nor of South Carolina in place of Gen. M. Gregg,
who was killed in the recent battle of Fredericks-
burg.

Advises from Havannah are of the 17th. A
Spanish steamer having landed a cargo of 1,400
negroes near Cienf-egos, General Dulce sent Mr.
Ortemback, the chief officer in the Custom-house
police department, to look into it. The same day
Mr. Zulneta and Mr. Toca sought audience of the
Captain- General, who denied them, saying he was
acquainted with the object of their visit (doubtless
to offer a bribe to allow the negroes to go free of
governmental interference).
On the 15th the ship Energy, from Liverpool for
New York, was boarded in lat. 41, lon 54.15, by
the Vanderbilt, which vessel was in search of the
Alabama. The Vanderbilt was steering east.
The steamship Giraffe, from the Clyde, with boots
and Whitworth guns and a 'arge quantity of stores,
and the Ares, from Sunderland, had run the
blockade.

LETTER FROM GENERAL NEAL DOW.

From a letter to the Secretary of the Alli-
ance, dated " Head-quarters, Pensacola, District
of West Florida, Dec. 6," we extract the follow-
ing interesting passages, by Brigadier-General
Neal Dow :—" The climate here is delicious—
very little rain, and skies bright and warm as sum-
mer. This will be a glorious country when slavery
shall be overthrown, as it will be by this war.
The soil and climate are capable of yielding two
crops in the season, and of many things three
crops; nothing is lacking but that sort of activity,
energy, and enterprise that will come with freedom.
As to the great rebellion, what can I say, except
that it yet lingers in the lap of time ? We have
wondered that the Government, with all its vast re-
sources of men and money, its boundless superiority
over the rebels in all the appliances of war, has net
yet been able to suppress the insurrection. But the
delay of sharp measures and the procrastination of
the final issue are ruin to the insurgents, as ft equent
disagreements of a jury upon any case in court are
disastrous to a poor suitor, while his rich adversary
cares little for them. At the North money is more
plentiful than it ever was before; food of every de.
scription is abundant and cheap ; and the various
channels of trade and industry are far less ob-
structed than they were in the commercial revul-
sion of 1837. At the South, on the contrary, every
branch of industry is entirely dead ; nothing' is
done in any industrial employment whatever, ex-
cept by the rude labour of slaves in the cultivation
of crops for food that have failed almost entirely, so
that every article of subsistence is so scarce that the
prices demanded in exchange for it are scarcely less
than those which prevailed in the beleaguered cities
of the Netherlands in the days of the Duke of Alva.
The coast is so perfectly blockaded, and the rebels
so entirely shut in from all the world, that the
prices of imported articles are fabulous. Flour is
from 50 to 8() dots, a barrel; salt is 1 dol. a pound ;
shoes in many places are 20 dole, a pair, and boots
40 and 50 dots.; bacon is 60 cents (2s. 6d, English)
a pound, and everything else in proportion. The
rebel armies are very poorly
clad and worse fed, so
that their sufferings this winter must be very great;
and the rebel Government are entirely destitute of
money and credit, and have no hope of final suc-
cess, and can have none, except in their expecta-
tion of foreign aid. This has been their reliance
from the beginninc,and tho deli-talon is coutin-aally
fostered and encouraged by such utterances of im-
portant personages as those of Mr. Gladstone,
at Newcastle. In this way the rebel leaders
are stimulated to further endeavours, and tp

exertions almost superhuman,- when without
such encouragement they must sink down
in despair, and abandon a contest so hope-
less of svccesP, and fraught with mischiefs and
miseries so dreadful to the masses of the people.
This is no war of the people, and has not been from
the beginning, but of ambitious and disappointed
politicians. These see clearly that the result of the
contest to them is a matter of life, or of exile, or of
death. All they have and are is staked on the issue,
and the people having no power or influence in the
Government, are compelled to serve and suffer at
the will of their rulers. The Southern armies are
at this moment recruited by a conscription of all
males able to bear arms, between the ages of 16 and
60. And small parties of mounted men scour the
country and seize all such, carrying them off to the
war, precisely in the mode practised by the Pacha
of Egypt in recruiting his army. The people fly
to the woods and conceal themselves there for weeks,
as the poor Scots used to hide themselves from the
fury of Claverhouse and the; troopers in the dark
days, when in England and Scotland religion waa
taught by the bullet and bayonet. and its precepts
illustrated and enforced by the faggot. Arrange-
ments are now in progress to capture Vicksburg,
and thus open the Mississippi river, the only ob-
struction being at that point. A considerable num-
ber of powerful iron-clad ships of war will soon be
completed, NI, hen we hope and believe that Charles-
ton, Savannah, and Mobile will be captured. During
the past season the quantity of cotton produced at
the South has been so very small that I may well
say there was none. Much of the crop of 1861 re-
mains, though some of it has been sold and shipped,
and some of it destroyed by the rebels. When the
war ceases the quantity of cotton in the country
will afford a very insufficient supply for the needs
of those markets that have depended upon the
American article for their stock. There is a neces-
sity that European consumers should be active and
earnest in their efforts to obtain a large share of the
cotton they require from other countries. It is in-
evitable that this rebellion must interrupt and de-
range the business of the world for some years
after the war shall cease. The effects of it will
not be worse, nor so bad, for us of the free
States of America as for you in England; be-
cause we have such vast amounts of the most
fertile land in the world that any man may have,
without any payment whatever, if he will only
cultivate it. Our labourers, if out of employment,
can easily be sent to agriculture, by which they can
readily support themselves in comfort. The per-
sons in this country are not few who believe that
this war is a punishment inflicted upon us by a just
Providence for our great national sin, in connection
with the enslavement of 4,000,000 of our fellow-
men. So strong and entire is this conviction, that
such persons have no desire that any peace should
come—that there shall be any settlement of the
strife, that shall not provide for the effectual over-
throw of this system, which is so utterly at variance
with every sentiment of humanity, every rule of
right, and every precept of our holy religion. Give
my love to all our circle who remember me, and say
that not a day passes ever that I do not live over
again pleasant hours with them.—Ever affection-
ately and faithfully your friend,

" NEAL Dow."

Sir W. Miles, M.P., on Tickets-of-Leave.

At the Somerset Epiphany Sessions at Taunton,
on Tuesday, Sir Wm. Miles, chairman, in charging
the grand jury, called attention to the ticket-of-
leave system, which he said had been perfectly in-
tolerable to the people of this country. It signified
not of what nature the crime was of which the pri-
soner was convicted, if, after he was sentenced to
penal servitude, he acted according to the prison
rules, so much of his time was remitted, and he was
again started upon the country with what was called
a ticket-of-leave. Now, there could be no difficulty
in obliging these convicts to report themselves
periodically to the police until their tickets-of-leave
expired. But, according to Sir Joshua Jebb, since
1856, there had been on an average 1,400 ticket-of-
leave men discharged every year, and of 400 of these
every year he had considerable doubt as to whether
they did not return to their former habits. It was
admitted, therefore, that no less than 2,400 of these
sleek, pampered, well-fed, ticket-of-leave men had
been thrown again upon society without any check
whatever upon them. He (Sir William) need
scarcely say, after the press had been teeming for
months with the atrocious crimes which had been
committed against life and property by these men,
that there was a loud call for some alteration which
would meet the evil. He was happy to say that a
commission had been issued to take the whole sub-
ject into consideration. There was no doubt that
an improvement could be made in the present sys—
tem, for in Ireland where there had been a constant
supervision of ticket-of-leave men, the plan had suc-
ceeded very well. In compliance with his request,
Mr. V. Goold, the chief constable, who was a good
authority on the subject, having been for many years
connected with the police force in Ireland, had pre-
pared a special report, in which he said, " A return
to transportation would ba the most Effectual method
of ridding the country of its hardened criminals;
but, as it has been virtually abolished, and as it
appears doubtful whether it will be again resorted
to, the necessity arises, of considering what
changes can be introduced with a view of improving
the present system. I am of opinion that the whole-
sale discharge of convicts, before their sentences
have expired, is attended with very evil conse-
quences, and I consider that tickets-of-leave should
only be granted to those who could obtain an offer
of employment for the remaining term of their sen-
tences, from some persons certified to be of good
character. A notification should also be sent by
the convict authorities to the chief officer of police,
stating where the convict was to be located, thereby
placing him under the surveillance of the police,
who would see that the conditions upon which he
had been liberated were properly fulfilled, and that
any infringement of his license would lead to his
being recommitted to prison. This course could be
carried out without exposing the former character
of the convict, and would probably be the means of
keeping him in the path of honesty, where other-
wise he might have relapsed into crime. I also
think that no ticket of leave should be granted to
any convict who had previously undergone a sen-
tence of transportation or penal servitude, as it has
been my experience, and doubtless that of the police
generally, that it is quite impossible to reclaim the
professional thief, who has never been accus-
tomed to honest labour. While treating of this
matter I cannot refrain from urging that when-
ever an offender shall have been convicted of rob-
bery, accompanied with violence amounting to
cruelty, he should, in addition to his term of impri-
sonment, undergo corporal punishment, which, I
am thoroughly satisfied, would very soon check that
class of clime which has been so prevalent
lately." At a subsequent Fart of the proceedings
a commentary on the present system was supplied
by a report from the visiting justices of the Somer-
set county gaol, which stated that there had been
set ious misconduct on the part of some of the priso-
ners who had been received at he gaol pursuant to
an agreement with the county of Middlesex. The
report stated that these prisoners were fed too well
and had not sufficient employment found them,
while some of them had simulated illness for the
purpose of being placed in the hospital. On the
motion of Mr. F. H. Dickinson, the visiting jus-
tices were instructed to consider the question of
dietary and punishment, and if necessary to take
the directions of the Home Secretary on the subject.

At the Louvre a number of paintings are at pre-
sent being packed up for removal, having been presented by
the Emperor to various museums in the departments.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—IIoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Systematic Treatment.--Theso medicaments bo'dly face
the evils they profess to remedy—local relief and general
purification progress together— the diseased portion is
cured, the foul whole is cleansed. Holloway's Ointment,
rubbed on the throat and chest, exercises the
cial influence over sore throata, diphtheria, and most
couenegh,
whether resultin from catarrh, asthma, or bronchitis. This ttnguant acts miraculously arresting the extension
of sores, healing ulcerations, curing skin diseases, and
completely stopping all destructive ingarumation, irrespec-
tive of its exciting canso, chtthicter,
seit Holloway's Ointment, aided by his Pills, gives
situation, duration, or
severity.meata 4nd most marked relief to those irritating
itchings and painful swellings of the shins occasioned by
mercury or latent syphilitic virus,
•

Alarming Railway Accident at Knottingley.

THIRTEEN PERSONS INJURED.

About half-past eight o'clock on Tuesday morning an
accident of an alarming and destructive character occurred
near the railway station at Knottingley. At a distance of
about 200 yards from the Knottingley station there is a
junction of two lines of railways, one of them being from
York and the other from Leeds. Parliamentary train
leave York and Leeds for London every rimming, arriving
at the Knottingley station, where they form one train, at
half-prst eight o'clock. Up to about ten minutes past
eight o'clock yesterday morning the weather was fine and
clear, but at that time it became suddenly foggy, and at
halt-past eight o'clock, the time at which the trains were
due, the fog was so dense that it was impossible to see
more than a few yards. It was at that time that the acci-
dent which we are about to describe happened. At about
130 or 140 yards from the station there is a bridge spanning
the rails, and immediately beyond this there is a points-
man's and signalman's box. The junction of the lines
referred to is some 30 or 40 yards beyond, and at some
distance down the lines there are signals by which the
drivers of the trains are informed whether they can with
safety approach the station. Whether the signals were
wrong, or whether the drivers of one or both the trains
were negligent in their duties in not properly observing
them, or whether in consequence of the dense fog which
prevailed the signals were misunderstood, we are not at
present able to say, but at all events the trains met with
an accident which is of serious consequence to the company
and to several of the passengers. The two lin ,s of rails are
joined into one at a distance of a few yards from the
pointsman's box, and it was just at the junction where the
accident occurred. As was perfectly regular, the Leeds
train proceeded towards the station first, and in the usual
course the York train would have been signalled to
approach when the lino was clear, but unfortunately it ran
forward before its time, became en'Angled with the Leeds
train, and caused serious mischief. Neither of the trains
was moving very rapidly at the time or the consequences
would have been most disastrous, As it was, when the car-
riages came into collision two or three of them were thrown
off the line, and two of them were turned over and smashed.
One of these carriages was empty, but several of the occu-
pants of the other were very seriously injured. The screams
of the injured and frightened were of the most alarming
character. One person, Mr. Leathern, of Higham Ferrers,
attempted to escape from the carriage, but in doing so
his leg was jammed between it and a stout signal post.
Just at that point where the leg was caught there was
an iron lever and other arrangements for the working of
the signals above, and a small projecting iron ledge on
which the lever rested was crushed into the leg in a fright-
ful manner. A woman named Mrs. Robinson, of Hull, was
also cought between the compressed timbers, and was rather
seriously injured. The driver of the Leeds train, whose
name is Knapton, attempted to save himself from injury by
jumping off the engine, but he unfortunately broke his leg.
The stoker, who remained on the engine, escaped without
injury. In addition to the smashing of the carriages, the
line was injured to a slight degree, and the levers of the
signal and that connected with the points were broken.
The brickwork of the signal station was also much
damaged, but the accident did not, fortunately, interfere
with the traffic on the line. AS soon as the accident
happened Mr. Abbott, the stationmaster, sent for all the
medical men in Knottingley, and for as many as could be
had from Pontefract, and then proceeded to see to the
comfort and convenience of the injured passengers. The
persons injured were—

Mrs. Brooke, Doncaster, fractured jaw, and otherwise
seriously injured.

Mr. Leatham, Higham Ferrers, right leg crushed, and
since amputated. •

J. Myers, Southampton, slight concussion of brain.
A. Maskill, Milford, small bone of right leg splintered.
Rebecca Allen, Ecklesby, contusion of body.
Thomas Knapton, driver of the Leeds train, right leg
broken below the knee.

Walter Robinson, ship steward, Hull, slight bruises.
Mrs. Robinson (wife of the above), much bruised about
the body, and seriously injured internally.
Jacob Friedman, Templar-lane, Leeds, bruised and
shaken.

Robert Davies, Hampton-place, Norwich, slight bruises.
Mary Woodforth, aged 13, Brattleby, Lincolnshire,slight
bruises.
Mrs. Boulby, Barnby Moor, near Retford, slight bruises.
Wm. Munby, Brattleby, slight bruises.
Other persons were shaken, but as far as we oou'd learn
none seriously. As the injured persons were extricated
from the debris they were removed by Mr. Abbott's orders
to the neighbouring hotels, where every attention was paid
to them, and everything was done which could contribute to
their comfort. They were told that everything which the
hotels could provide was at their service, and for those who
wished it telegrams of the occurrence were forwarded to
their relatives and friends. The medical men were unre-
mitting in their attention to the requirements of the
wounded. In the afternoon Mr. Beckett Denison,the chair-
man of the company, went to the scene of the accident and
ordered that the sufferers should have everything they re-
quired, and that no expense should be spared to make them
comfortable. So serious were the injuries of Mr. Leathern
that it was found necessary to amputate the limb. Amongst
the medical men in attendance upon the wounded were
Messrs. Bywater, Simpson, Atkinson, Braddon, Oxley, &c.
The injured persons sent home were Mrs. Brooke (who was
accompanied by a medical man), Friedman, Davies, Wood,
Boulby, and Munby, and it is expected that some of the
remaining persons will be able to return home to-day. Mr.
Smeathen, of Retford, and Mr. Symonds, of Leeds, district
superintendents, and Mr. Troward, engineer, Doncaster,
were sent for, and rendered valuable assistance. Steps were
taken for the speedy removal of all danger, and in a com-
paratively short space of time all was clear, An investiga-
tion into the cause of the accident is being made by the
company, and if it is found that any of the servants have
been guilty of negligence they will be punished.
A Pontefract Correspondent, referring to the cause of the
accident, says ;—•" There being a great fog the distance
signals were put on, and it appears that the distance signal
on the Leeds 1 no was thrown off— that is, for the train to
pass on. It co sequently did so, and the driver of it did not
observe the York train approaching until it was too late to
avoid a collision. Before the York train could get clear of
the points the Leeds train ran through it, smashing two of
the carriages to atoms."