The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-10 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Some petitions were presented in favour of a reduction of
the duty on fire insurances, against the modified revised
code.

LANDED ESTATES COURT (DUBLIN).
On the motion of Sir E. GROGAN, the following
return was ordered :—Copy of any correspondence between
the Chief or Under Secretary for Ireland and the Board
of Works, since the removal of the Landed Estates Court
to the Four Courts, Dublin, in 1860, with reference to an
additional court, or further accommodation for the judges
and officers of the Landed Estates Court.
DISTRESS IN THE WEST OF IRELAND.
Mr. GREGORY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether any report had been presented to him by the Poor
Law Inspector accompanying the steamer that had been
sent to the west coast of Ireland to relieve distress in that
district ; and whether he would lay the report before the
house. Also, and whether relief had been afforded, of what
character, and to what extent?
Sir IL PEEL said chat the Government was quite ready
to lay the report in question before the house. Some relief
had been afforded to the poor classes in Ireland in the dis-
trict to which the hen. member referred, and means had
been adopted to mitigate the distress in that locality.
ORDER FOR SHOOTING PRISONERS IN ITALY.
Mr. 'ISRAELI asked the Prime Minister whether the
order which was alleged to have issued from the Executive
of the Neapolitan district was correct, namely, as related
to the shootinc, of women, which was repudiated by the
Government of Turin.
Lord PALMERSTON said that he had made inquiry at;
the Foreign Office as to whether any communication had
been received on the subject to which the hon. member re-
fel red. The Government had received no information re-
lative to the proclamation alluded to, but they must neces-
sarily participate in the disgust which must be felt in regard
Ito such a brutal proclamation. (Hear, hear.)
SANDHURST COLLEGE.
On bringing up the report of supply,
Sir G. C. LEWIS, in reply to questions, said that he
would ask the house to reconsider the decision they had
come to in reference to the vote for Sandhurst College.
That vote amounted to .tlO,OOO ; but if it were not granted,
it would bring the country in an expense of £12,000 annu-
ally without any return whatever, He concluded by mov-
ing that the vote for civil privileges, including the vc'te for
Sandhurst College, should be recommitted.

TB_E CAPTURE OP .17 _ET DONNELSON.

The New York Times publishes a letter from its
special correspondent, giving an account of the cap-
ture of Fort Donnelson -
" It was determined by General Grant to make
the attack from two directions—by laud from the
direction of Fort Henry, and by water up the Cum-
berland, assisted by an adequate column of troops
on the banks. All arrangements being made—in
carrying out of which some of the commanding
officers failed—the river expeditions started and
reached Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland
river, on the night of the 12th. The scene here
was magnificent beyond description—the night was

as warm as an evening in August in our more

northern latitudes, a full moon looked down from
an unclouded sky, and glanced off from bayonets,
plumes, and sword-hilts without numbers. At in-
tervals long jets of fleecy smoke burst our along
the parapets of the two forts on the heights over-
looking the town, and the boom of the welcome
went reverberating over the hills, till from the long
distances in Kentucky it came back like a whisper.
In turn the bands on the boats charmed the ear
with most eloquent music, which, added to the
effect of scores of gaily dressed ladies promenading
the upper decks, gave the scene more the character
of some vast drawing-room gathering—so much
like was it that no one would have been surprised
had the whole crowd suddenly resolved into eddies
of whirling waltzes or the swift changeful currents
of quadrille or galopade. It was midnight before
the expedition again got under way, and proceeded
slowly against the stream. On the following
morning, the 13th, Eddyville, a small town on the
east bank of the river, was reached. If one may
judge from the demonstrations of those who stood
on the shore watching our passage a more loyal
town than Eddyville exists nowhere beneath the
sun. The women waved handkerchiefs of all
colours, or, in lieu of that an apron or bonnet; the sun
swung their hats or vociferated alternately, Hur-
rah for the Union !' and ' Hurrah for Lincoln!' until
hoarse beyond utterance. Even the dogs of Eddy-
vine were loyal, and barked and wagged their tails
in patriotic joy at the national inundation. There
was only one case, however, that bore the marks of
sincerity. An old man whose head was white as a
snowdrift stood on the shore leaning heavily on his
cane, and watching with seeming apathy the pas-
sage of the boats, whose full appearance his faded
oyes probably failed to catch. Just as the Minne-
haha passed opposite him the magnificent band of
the 57th struck up ' Yankee Doodle. Its strains
seemed to awaken stirring memories in the old
man's mind—off went his hat, and with a ' vim'
that sent his hair flying around his head like a
snowbank lifted by the wind, he gave three hearty
cheers for the Union—the Union in which himself,
his children, and his grandchildren had been born,
reared, and protected. Amidst a severe storm of
hail and sleet the expedition landed at a point be-
low the fort, joining the column under General
Grant which marched from Fort Henry, and which

was composed of 20,000 men, artillery, cavalry, and
infantry. General Grant disposed his forces by ex-
tending both up and down a line parallel with the
river, and then bending in the extreme right and
left, thus enclosing the fort in a semicircular line.
This was not done without much trouble. The
enemy's pickets and sharpshooters seemed endless
in number, and had to be driven from every ravine
and hill top at an expense of much blood-letting.
No very serious damage resulted, however, to our
forces, and by night they had driven the rebels
completely within the line of their fortifications,
and had sharpened their appetites for a:more serious
brush on the day following. At 10 a.m a body
of Federal troops, comprising five regiments of
infantry and four battalions of artillery, ad-
vanced towards the ridge. The national troops
were met at a distance of 1,000 yards
or so by a heavy force of the enemy.
and a sharp engagement ensued, which, however,
was confined mainly to artillery practice and bush-
',Necking' on both sides. The enemy gradually gave
ground, and in an hour had taken refuge within
their works, and our troops were in possession of
the series of hills which lie adjacent to the ravine
next to the outer line of fortifications. The distance
from these ridges to the nearest defences of the
rebels was not more than 300 yards, and being
covered with timber, while they were slightly
higher than the works, they afforded a capital posi-
tion for our sharpshooters, of which they were not
slow to avail themselves. Birge's regiment of rifle-
men were so disposed that they might inflict damage
upon the Confederates who exposed themselves
above the parapet. At 11 o'clock another advance
was made. The 4th Illinois on the left, the 49th on
the right, and the 18th in the centre, under com-
mand of Colonel Morrison, started on double-quick
down the declivity with a view of storming the outer
breastwork. As they reached the bottom of the
bluff Colonel Morrison received a ball in his hip and
fell from his horse. Seeing their leader fall and
nobody appearing to take his place the regiments
wavered and finally fell back, gaining the top of
the hill in good order, but with considerable loss.
Again, in the course of the day, the 25th Indiana
made a break for a breastwork in front of them, but
were met by a force of the enemy triple their own,
and were, after fighting desperately for nearly an
hour, forced to retire. During the time that the land
forces were engaged the iron-clad gunboat Caron-
delet went up and singly engaged the rebel batteries.
She fired 102 shots, and received no great damage
in all the tremendous fire to which she was exposed,
save in the case of a single shot. This, a monster
mass of iron, weighing at least 1281 b., entered one
of her forward ports, and wounding eight men in
its passage dashed with terrific force against the
breastwork of coalbags in front of the boilers, and
there was stopped. Soon after this she retired
from the unequal contest, having covered herself
with glory for having so long singly withstood the
enormous force of the rebels' entire water batteries.
During the night the troops suffered severely from
cold. The 14th proved a beautiful day, and the
troops had a good opportunity of viewing the
enemy's position. The ground around the fort is a
rolling upland, covered with heavy timber and
dense undergrowth, and broken for miles around
into ravines, bordered by precipitous bluffs, whose
sides, steep and rocky, almost forbid the passage of
even a goat. The fort itself is situated upon a high
bluff, which slants with an easy descent to a point
at the water's edge on the north, and is probably
not less than 100 feet above the level of the water.
To the rear the bluff has been to some extent le-
velled for the distance of a mile. On this artificial
table land stands the fort, whose lines of fortifica-
tions and rifle pits cover the entire levelled space.
Bordering this fortified portion is a ravine of no
great
depth, across which, and forming its cuter
boundary, i,a timbered ridge, or rather a series of
ridges, for it
which floe in is divided at intervals by ravines
all directions, like streams emptying
into °driver.
During the fort. About two the day the guns bombarded
p.m. the fort threw a few
shells at the traj
but, however, failed in
reaching them byaaboutput
half a mile. Soon after the
whole fleet of seven gunboats moved up—the four
iron boats in advance and ahead,
iead, the three wooden
boats at a discreet distance n
he
a mile the iron boats opened, fro
their bow guns,
the rear. At about
and were replied to promptly by the
fort. I se-
cured a position about halfway between the boats
listening
and
e
and the fort, a little out of the line of
there for two hours had the pleasure of
to a concert of the mostgigantic
ord r
At first the roar from fort and boats was un-
broken for a single instant, so rapid was the firing,
while the air high overhead seemed filled with a
million of hissings, as the heavy storm of shells tore
furiously ahead on their mission of destruction. In
half an hour the fire from the fort began to slacken
and shortly after was continued from only three
guns—the rest apparently having been silenced by
our fire.
At this time the boats were within some
400 yards, and were on the point of using grape
shot, when a shot disabled the steering apparatus of
the Louisville by carrying off the top of the wheel-
house and knocking the wheel itself into fragments.
There was a tiller aft, and this was instantly taken
possession of by the pilot; but he had scarcely
reached it ere the rudder was carried away by a
shot from the Taylor. Of course, the boat became
instantly unmanageable and swung round, receiv-

ing rEotin th woodwork icardg fho gtern,

which, I believe, wounded several seamen. Under

these circumstances it was thought best to retire,
and accordingly the whole fleet fell back to the
position it had occupied in the morning. The most
serious damage sustained during the action was
from one of those monster 128-pound shots, which
passed through a bow-port of the Louisville and
dismounted the second gun on the starboard quarter
killing three men and wounding six others. A
captain of one of the guns was cut completely in
two, and spattered his brains over Captain Dove,
who stood by him, and otherwise so mangled him
that scarcely a semblance of humanity remained.
The same boat also received a shot near the water

line, which, while it did not penetrate the hull,
started the timbers,-so as to set her leaking badly.
During the night, however, all damage was re-
paired, and this morning she is as ready for active
service as ever. The total loss on the Louisville was
six killed and eight or 10 wounded. One of the
other gunboats had some of her woodwork shot away
but was not materially damaged. The iron boats in
action were :—the Louisville, Captain B. M. Dove;
St. Louis, Lieut.-Com. Paulding ; Carondelet,
Lieut.•-Com. Kelte ; Mound City, Lieut.-Com --.
The other three boats were the wooden ones,
Taylor, Lexington, and Gonestoga. Early on the
morning of the 15th the enemy made a sortie.
Almost before it was fairly light the enemy poured
forth in a mass of not less than 3,000 men, and
hurled themselves with tremendous force against
the 45th and 12th Illinois regiments, that were
nearly on the extreme right. Accompanying them
were 12 batteries of artillery. The 45th and 12th
sustained the shock manfully for a short time, and
then withdrew. The 18th and 9th Illinois soon
after came to their support, and for a short time
held the enemy in check. Soon after, the 30th, 31st,
and 11th Illinois Regiments, the Bth Missouri, 58th
Ohio, and 25th Kentucky, and Willard's battery
were added to the National forces, and the fight be-
came of terrific proportions. 11PAllister's battery

took position on an eminence, and for four hours
their heavy 24-pounders were not silent for a single
instant. During all this time they were exposed to

a heavy fire from the rebels, who had, erected bat-
teries 63 as to command M'Allister's position from
three points—two directly in front, and one on his

right. Taylor's battery stood a little to the rear of
the other, and somewhat to the left; the other Na-
tional batteries were distributed at various points
along the line, as the nature of the ground would
permit ; all kept the air incessantly filled with their
music, and with showers of grape and shell. This is
but an outline of the position of the national forces,
for there can be strictly no correct sketch given, as

at no time during the fight were the regimeots sta
tionary. Now they pushed forward, again fell back,
withdrew, and were replaced by others. The fight
itself was prolongued and desperate. Nov it rolled
over a hill, anon poured along a ravine, always in
the woods, and always marking its track in cha-
racters of blood. The conflict was not conducted
according to any particular military plan ; men sta-
tioned themselves behind trees, logs, rocks, any-
thing that would afford shelter, and blazed away
whenever a hostile head appeared. The 25th Ken-
tucky Regiment was on the extreme right, and was
attacked by a swarm of the enemy with such vigour
that they broke and fled in disorder. At another
part of the National line the attack was conducted
by such overwhelming numbers that the line was
broken through and the battle seemed well nigh
' likely to become a total rout on the part of the Na-
tional forces. It was at this last gap broken through
the National line that M'Allister's battery was sta-
tioned, and where for a time it fell into the hands
of the rebels. The battery had only 150 rounds of
ammunition, and at about 10 o'clock these were all
fired away—not a single shot was left. Captain
M'Allister in vain endeavoured to obtain a supply
from the rear ; a shot from the enemy passed through
three of his horses ; another tore off the trail from
one of the guns ; a third smashed the wheel of a
second gun. Just at this time a heavy force of the
enemy obtained a cover near him, and opened fire
at about 200 yards with musketry. Hitching six
horses to the only undamaged gun, he endeavoured
to haul it off, but the weight was so great, and the
roads in such a muddy condition, that it was found
impossible to get along with it, and after dragging
it half a mile it became mired, and he was reluc-
tantly obliged to leave it. The horses were driven
off, dragging the limbers and empty caissons, and
the guns were left to their fate. In the course of
the day a tremendous charge on the part of our
troops reoccupied the lost ground, closed up the
gap, and recovered the pieces. They were found
where they were left, their great weight—being 24
pound siege guns—probably preventing the enemy
from taking them away. The fight raged from
daylight until nearly noon without cessation, and
resulted in the enemy's being driven back to the in-
trenchments. The battle ground extended over a
space some two miles in length, every inch of which
was the witness of a savage conflict. The rebels fought
with the most determined bravery, and seemed bent
upon breaking through the right wing at any cost.
They poured against our lines a perfect flood, and
it was only by a bravery that equalled their own,
and a determination to conquer and out-lasted their
efforis, that our gallant soldiers were at length
enabled to stay the fierce tide, and finally to hurl it
back to its former boundaries. Our men determined
that they would win, and win they did, with a gal-
lantry that entitles every man to the name of hero.
The whole of the fight was of the most terrific
character. Without a single moment's cessation,
the rebels poured into our forces perfect torrents of
canister, shell, and round shot, while their thou-
sands of riflemen hurled in a destructive fire from
every bush, tree, log, or obstruction of any kind
that afforded shelter. The roar of the battle was
like that of a heavy tornado, as it sweeps through
some forest on its mission of destruction. Small
arms kept up an incessant cracking, mingling with
which came up occasionally the roar of company
or division firing, while all over came every moment
or two the resonant thunders of the batteries.
Never fought men better than ours on this bloody
day. They clung to a position till driven from it
by the direst necessity, and in many individual cases
men refused to retreat, but stuck to their tree or
bush till the enemy's force rolled about them and
swallowed them up. Many in this way were taken
prisoners, while others found a speedier, bloodier
end to their daring. The victory was a vastly one.
Some of the regiments were cut completely to
pieces, others were reduced to a size that scarcely
left them a respectable company, while all suffered
more or less severely. Lieutenant-Colonel Quinn,
of the 20th Illinois, while gallantly urging on his
men in the hottest of the fight, was struck by a
grape-shot that cut his heart completely out. The
mortality among officers was terrible. Our entire
loss is not yet known, but will reach a figure not
much short of 600 killed and wounded. The number
of men wounded is beyond all precedent, but in an un-
usually large number of cases they are not of a serious
nature, The enemy used generally the buck and
ball' cartridge; that is, a cartridge with one ball and
three buck-shots. Almost everybody got a scratch
from one of the latter; one could scarcely go any-
where where the air was not filled with them.
Affairs had scarcely quieted down on the right wing
when the ball was opened by General Smith's divi-
sion on the left. The 2d, 7th, and 14th lowa, and
the 11th and 25th Indiana Regiments, had a sharp
engagement, with very brilliant success. In front
of them was the outer breastwork of tho enemy, and
this it was determined to storm. About 3 o'clock a
heavy body of men was thrown forward as skir-
mishers, between whom and the rebels there ensued
an exchange of compliments of a very exciting na-
ture. Finally, after fighting an hour or so, with no
great danger to either party, the 2d lowa rushed.
forward
charged the breastwork on a run, and with
a tremendou
s cheer swarmed over the top and car-
ried it with the bayonet. They were soon after sup-
ported by the rest
the
next linea by a savage fire of mus-
ketry that swept
a gun which had placed
albl scores. Soon after
all day from the Confede-
rate batteries was silenced, and the combatants rested.
Thus ended the bloodiest day of the
siege. No day
has ever before seen in this war a
conflict more
Thderee-
termined, or an endurance more unyielding,
was at no time a doubt as to the result, or a heart
that quailed as it entered the lines, where the bullets

fell like a hailstorm. Even the sight of the savage

wounds, or the still more sickening one of the ghastly
faces of the dead, seemed to have no effect upon our

men. It did not unnerve or unman them. They

fought on just as tranquilly as though the hideous
Angel of Death had been a thousand leagues away.
When a man was wounded his comrades would help
him to the rear, and then return instantly to their
position, and resume their fighting as if nothing had
happened. Of cases of individual daring there
were a multitude, some of which I hope to present
in another letter. All the regiments fought gal-

lantly, with, perhaps, one or two exceptions. The

Kentucky Regiment which retreated has but lately
been recruited ; the men are undisciplined, and lack

that confidence in themselves and each other which
is obtained by military training. The 45th Illinois
is also accused of having made a rather precipitate
and unwarranted retreat, but probably they have
sufficient reasons to satisfy themselves at least, and
possibly the public. Next morning, the 16th, the
Confederate General agreed to capitulate. General
Buckner, commander of the fort, to the great as-
tonishment of everybody, sent out a request for a
cessation of hostilities until noon, that some arrange.

runt might be agreed upon for a surrender of the
position. General Grant required an unconditional
surrender, and this, after some grumbling on the
part of the rebel commander, was agreed to. Soon
after the Stars and Stripes were floating from the
parapet of the fort, and swung gracefully a little
later from the cupola of the Court-house, in the little
town of Dover.",
In the correspondence of the Chicago Tribune it
is stated that during the sortie on the 15th great
confusion prevailed in the Federal ranks. A regi-
ment fired into a division, which became panic-
stricken and fled, crying " All is lost." "We aro
all cut to pieces." Some even fled 12 miles dis-
tant, to Fort Henry, and the woods were filled
with stragglers.
The following telegrams give the latest infor-
mation from Fort Donnelson :
" CAIRO, Feb. 18.—A large number of rebel pri-
soners were brought down yesterday, who belonged
on the Cumberland River, and as they passed their
homes they looked wistfully for some face for
recognition. Many were under the impression
that they would be paroled, but when they found
they were to be sent north they were ready to take
any oath. Two-thirds of the prisoners manifest
a desire to return to their allegiance, and some
acknowledge that they had been humbugged
into their present unfortunate'. position. 6,000
prisoners have already arrived here, and others will
be brought down as soon as transportation can be
procured."
The following is a special despatch to the Chicago
Tribune :

"FORT DONNELSON, Feb. 18.—Two more regi-
ments were captured to-day to the east of the en-
trenchments. A number of rebel troops have come
in and delivered themselves up. About 12,000
stand of small arms have been taken. Many of the
rebel troops destroyed their arms, and large num-
bers were thrown into the river. There are two
water batteries to the fort. The upper one has a
heavy rifled gun, 32-pound bore, and two 32-
pounder carronades. The lower battery contains
eight 32-pounders and one ten-inch columbiad,
mounted in embrasures. 1,200 boxes of beef and a
large amount of other provisions have also been
found. All of to-day has been occupied in embark-
ing the prisoners, gathering up the stores and muni-
tions, and burying the dead. There are a great
number of dead rebels still unburied. Captain
Layone, Aide to General Grant, goes to Clarkesville
to-morrow, under a flag of truce, with the bodies of
two Colonels, and to effect the exchange of wounded
prisoners who have been sent to Nashville by the
rebels. Taylor's battery was charged five times on
Saturday, and each time the enemy were repulsed
with great slaughter. It is currently reported that
Governor Harris, of Tennessee, has ordered all
Tennesseeans to lay down their arms.
" CAIRO, Feb. 20.—There remain only 16 mem-
bers of the Company G, 11th Illinois Regiment, who
are not killed or wounded or taken priEoners ; and
of the whole regiment not over 140 effective men
are left, 2,000 prisoners left this place last evening,
and two boatloads have just arrived.
" ST. Louis, Feb. 19.—The Republican's Cairo
despatch says that the latest advices from Fort Don-
nelson report that the gunboat St. Louis, Captain
Paulding, proceeded up the Cumberland to Clarks-
ville, and found the enemy abandoning that place
in a panic. Two large flatboats laden with muni-
tions of war were captured at Bolling Mill, just
below Clarkesville. The rebels were moving every-
thing to Nashville, where the next rebel stand
would be made. Everything at Fort Donnelson
was progressing satisfactorily, Our army is en-
camped in the captured works of the enemy, living
comfortably in the log huts and tents of the late
rebel soldiers. Our army was very enthusiastic
and anxious to march against Nashville. With the
exception of severe colds, consequent upon their
recent exposure, the army was well. The actual
number of prisoners taken was 13,300. Among
them is Gen. West, who has not previously been
mentioned. Gen. Halleck has received despatches
from Fort Donnelson, stating that 1,000 more rebel
prioners had been taken. They came down the
river to reinforce the fort, not knowing it had sur-
rendered, and were bagged by our troops. The fol-
lowing despatch has been forwarded to Washing-
ton :—St. Louis, February, 19.—T0 Major-General
M'Clellan. 1,000 more rebel prisoners have been
taken. They came down the river to reinforCe Fort
Donnelson, not knowing that we had captured it.
" H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, &c."
Fort Donnelson and its garrison are thus de-
scribed :—The first thing that strikes upon entering
Fort Donnelson is its immense strength. Fort
Henry was thought to be almost a Gibraltar, but
its strength is weakness when compared to that of
Donnelson. Along Dover the Cumberland River
runs nearly north. A half male or so below it
makes a short bend to the west for some hundred
yards or so, and then turns again, and pursues its
natural course due north. Right in this bend, on
the left bank of the river, and commanding it to the
north," are two water batteries, side by side, and
nearly down to the water's edge. The main battery
has nine guns, all looking straight down the river.
The left hand gun is a 10-inch columbiad—the
rest are 32-pounders. The other battery has three
guns, the middle one a formidable rifled 64-pound
columbiad, the others 64-pound howitzers. All these
guns are protected by breastworks of immense
thickness, the tops of which are composed of coffee
sacks filled with earth. Back of these batteries the
shore rises with a pretty steep ascent till it forms a
hill, whose top is nearly or quite 100 feet above the
water. On the top of this hill is Fort Donnelson,
an irregular work which encloses about 100 acres.
The only guns in the fort are four light siege guns,
a 12-pound howitzer, two 24 pound guns, and one
64 pound howitzer. West of the fort, in the direc-
tion of the place occupied by General Grant, and
south towards General M'Clernand's position, the
country is a succession of hills. For several hun-
dred yards around the fort the timber has all been
cut down, so as to afford a fair sweep for the Con-
federate grins. Surrounding the whole fort and
town, and distant from the former about a mile, is
a trench for riflemen, which runs completely around
from the river bank above Dover, almost to a point
near the river some distance below the water bat-
teries. Directly west of the fort, and within the
rifle pit, are formidable abattis, which would render
an advance from that direction almost an impossi-
bility. Soon after entering the fort we found that
General Pillow had been in command, but, in com-
pany with General Floyd, had that morning made
a precipitate retreat up the Cumberland upon a
rebel transport. Accompanying Floyd was his
brigade, consisting of the 51st and 57th Regiments
of Virginia Infantry; all the rest of the garrison,
Dme 12,000 men, remained and were captured.
The number of guns captured was about 146 all of
-.which were batteries of light artillery, except the
heavy guns mounted in the fort and water bat-
tories. There were also from 10,000 to 15,000 stand
fsmall arms, the larger part of which are shot-
g'un s, rifles, and flint-lock muskets. The regiments
o
which surrendered were as follows :—Colonel Gant's
Battalion, 9th Tennessee Cavalry,Boo men ; Forest's
Brigade Louisiana Cavalry, 1,100 men ; 49th Ten-
t nowee Infantry, Colonel Bailey; 30th Tennessee,

Colonel J. M. Head ; 53d Tennessee, Colonel Vor-
hees ; 50th Tennessee, Colonel Abernethy ; 10th
Tennessee, Colonel Rieman; Ist Battalion, Colonel
Colmes ; 51st Tennessee, Colonel Suggs ;
14th Mississippi, Colonel -- ; 4th Mississippi,
Colonel Drake; 3d Mississippi, Colonel - ; 20th
Mississippi, Colonel -; 20th Kentucky, Colonel
-; 3d Tennessee, Colonel Brown ; one Alabama
regiment, Colonel Hughes; 2d Kentucky, Colonel
--. There were in addition to this force a large
number of field batteries, commanded respectively
by Captains Ross, Beaumont, and Graham. The
troops were mainly in citizens' clothes, their only
military insignia being black stripes on their pants.
Many of the officers had the regular gray uniform,
while others wore the army blue, the only differ-
ence from the United States' style being in the
great profusion of gold lace. In conversation with
many of the officers and men I learn that a majority
of the Tennessee regiments enlisted for 12 months,
and since they have been in service have not received
a cent of pay, but have been obliged to defray their
own expenses from the beginning. Their hatred of
Pillow and Floyd is bitter, as it is thought that
these worthies deserted them in a most cowardly
manner. The feeling was so strong against Floyd
that several of the Confederate soldiers fired at him
as he was leaving, and it is asserted by many that
he was killed. Floyd some time since proved him-
self a thief, and now he has shown himself in
addition a coward."

The following list of Federal casualties, and num-
ber of prisoners captured at Roanoke Island and
Elizabeth City is official :

42
••

TILE LO.

THE PETITION.
DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENIA G.
This election continues to be the chief topic in the
Dublin clubs and newspapers. The debate in. the
House of Commons last night rather startled the

public. It was previously known, indeed, that in-
timidation had occurred; but until Sir Robert Peel
replied to Mr. Lefroy, it was not believed to have
been carried to so extreme a length. At the decla-
ration of the poll yesterday, Major O'Reilly and
the high sheriff both spoke of the quietness by
which the election had been characterised; but
quite consistent with the fact that no riot took
place in Longford are the statements which crowd
upon the journals this morning of tenants beaten
and voters maltreated in remote districts. The en-
tire constituency numbers 3,000, and only 2,300
polled. Whether a considerable number of the re-
mainder were kept back by menaces remains to be
seen by the Parliamentary investigation. Colonel
White publishes in the Dublin papers this morning
an address to the electors, in which a petition is
spoken of. This document is as follows :
" Gentlemen,—l have to express my gratitude to
those amongst you who had the courage (in many
cases at the risk of your lifes) to record yoar votes
in my favour. I had hoped that the antecedents of
my family in Longford might have procured me a
trial, and my well-known attachment to the prin-
ciples of civil and religious liberty would have pre-
vented the contest from assuming a character so
lawless and disgraceful. But every species of vio-
lence and intimidation was put in force to prevent
my return, and no candid mind can accept the re-
sult as the fair expression of freedom of opinion in
the country. If such results were submitted to,
there would be an end to freedom of election, and I
therefore feel it my duty to you to endeavour, by
every means in my power, to expose those practices
of which I complain, and to restore to you the op-
portunity of selecting, undismayed by violence or
faction, the representative of your choice."
The Longford Journal gives the following account
of outrages in various places, adding that the priests
stood at every polling-booth, to "see" and " hear"
the votes recorded, a practice, says this journal, the
effect of which it is unnecessary to explain to per-
sons having a long recollection of Irish elections:—
" On Tuesday and Wednesday, at an early hour,
the polling for the two candidates, Colonel Luke
White and Major Myles O'Reilly, commenced in
_ _

Longford for the baronies of Longford and Ardagh;
in Granard for the barony of Granard • and in
Ballymahon for the baronies of Moydow, Rathcline,
and Abbeyshrule. The booths in each place were

occupied by the priests of the respective districts ;
in some instances two and three at a time, and al-
though there were no blows dealt out in the court-
houses of the respective polling places, still no
Roman Catholic dare to vote in favour of Colonel
White, or against Major O'Reilly; and indeed were
it not for the immense police force which lined our
streets, and at least a dozen stationed in each gate-
way, even in the streets, either Protestant or
Roman Catholic that went against O'Reilly was
sure of being hooted, and in many cases spit on all
over till they looked more like men that had been
out under a shower of snow than any thing else.
Mr. Thomas O'Farrell, of Cobra, a respectable
Roman Catholic, and uncle to Mr. John O'Farrell,
the Clerk of the Crown, for presuming to promise
to give a vote to Colonel White, had his pew in his
parish chapel torn up and broken into pieces, and
if he acted as he ought he should never enter it (the
chapel) till the pew was completely restored. On
Saturday night a herd's house, newly built, the
property of Mr. Thomas Gregory, the sub-sheriff,
was burned near Newton-Forbes, and many other
acts of violence and mischief perpetrated on the few
Roman Catholics and Protestants who dared to
exercise the franchise and vote for Colonel White."
Opinion is divided regarding the prospects of
success for a petition. The Ultramontane journals
of course deride it, the Nation particularly.
Nevertheless they are uneasy under their tri-
umph. A short extract from the .Nation will show
in what character that journal considers Major
O'Reilly to be about to enter the House of Commons,
and to what influence his election is due :
" The most important and startling election fought
and won in Ireland since O'Connell stood for Clare
1 has been bravely fought and nobly won in Longford.
Victory has crowned the people's struggle against
as base a coalition as ever confederated for political
villany. Enthusiasm, deeply stirred by the inci-
dents of this memorable struggle, is silenced by the
gravity of its meaning. Neither Col. White nor
his master, the British Minister, nor the Whig
Catholics of Ireland, believed that the bishop and
priests had the serious resolution and the power of
successfully opposing such a candidate. The Ca-
tholic bishops had very nearly come to be regarded
in political matters as mere framers of excellent de-
clarations, by which no one was hurt and nothing
changed. They might reason and write on, about
free education, and tenant right, and poor-law re-
form, but it was generally considered that their
action towards Irish members ended there ; and
Irish members accordingly read the pastorals very
attentively, and—never mind them. Their enemies
began first to whisper, and next to openly boast
that political influence had passed away for ever
from the Catholic clergy. We repeat it, a week
before the writ was moved for Longford, the influ-
ence of the Catholic clergy in politics—as distinct
from, much less opposed to, the Whig-Liberal
party, recently grown quite insolent and patronis-
ing towards them—had fallen to be almost regarded
as a thing of times long past. To the bishop, priests
and people of Longford—faithful and fearless—will
the Irish prelates and clergy be indebted if they
shall note an increase of deference and respect to-
wards them now from every party in politics. Lord
Palmerston must now seek elsewhere if he dream of
an Irish seat for one of his officials. He was plainly
warned that, so detestable had the policy of his
Administration become, that he dared not try its
merits before any constituency in Ireland. After
months of deliberation, patient selection, and
active preparation, he made the trial. He has
the result before him now. ;The constituency whom
he deemed most certain to endorse his anti-Papal
and anti-Irish policy has kicked out his official
(previously acceptable enough to them), and re-
turned, as a peculiarly significant answer to his ap-
peal, a brave Irish soldier of Pope Pius the Ninth
—Myles William O'Reilly, M.P., defender of
Spoleto, and Commander of the Irish Brigade."
THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

At half-past eleven o'clock yesterday the high
sheriff, Mr. Walter Nugent, accompanied by Mr.
Thomas Gregory, sub-sheriff, took his place on the
bench.
The poll-books were then opened, and the num-
ber of votes totted up.
The Mon SHERIFF rose, amid cheers, and said
—My lord, ladies, and gentlemen--This is the day
appointed for the declaration of the member whom
you have elected to represent you in Parliament.
I will read you out the gross poll, and then the
numbers that have voted for each candidate. On
both days the numbers polled for Major O'Reilly
amounted to 1,468, and those for Colonel White
were 894, leaving a majority for Major O'Reilly of
574. (Loud and repeated cheering.) I therefore
declare Major MylcsWilliam O'Reilly to be the mem-
ber chosen by the electors of Longford to represent
them in Parliament. (Enthusiastic cheers, con-
tinued for several minutes.) I have to thank you,
on my own behalf, in my capacity as sheriff, for the
quietness which you have exhibited during the
whole of this time. (Hear, hear.) Though there
was a large military force in the town, I am happy
to say that their services were not required. (Hear,
hear, and applause.) I believe Major O'Reilly will
now address you.
Major O'REILLY, M.P., on coming forward, was
greeted with enthusiastic plaudits. He said—Mr.
High Sheriff, ladies, and men of Longford, my first
duty, and a most pleasing one it is, is to thank you
—and I do it sincerely—for the high honour which
you have conferred upon me, and all I shall say on
this subject is, that I ask no higher honour. (Cheers.)
You have made me member for Longford, and that
distinction is enough for me. (Hear, hear.) My
duty shall be to prove that the confidence you have
placed in me has not been thrown away.' (Hear.)
It were idle now to waste your time and mine with
professions. Gratitude and fidelity is to be proved
by deeds, not by mere words ; and my actions must
prove, as I said, that theconfidence you have shown
in me is not misplaced. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
I must sincerely congratulate, you on the victory
which has been won—l congratulate not only my-
self but you, because this is far more your victory
than mine. (Hear, hear.) You honoured me by
choosing me to fight the battle of the independence
of Longford, but that battle you fought yourselves,
and the victory is your own. (Cheers.) On one side
we saw arrayed almost all the territorial influence
of the county, all the pressure which could be
brought to bear on those dependent for their tenure
upon the landlords under whom they hold—all the
pressure which could be brought to bear on the
electors by wealth and influence; and on the other
side nothing but the determined resolution of the
electors of Longford. (Hear, hear.) That deter-
mined resolution of the electors of this county to
vote as they themselves thought right and proper,
has carried the day. (Loud cheers.) Unpurchased
by gold, as untarnished by violence, their victory
has been won,—and it is one on which they might
well congratulate themselves. (Hear, hear.) They
have vindicated in the most striking manner at
once the purity and freedom of election; and the in-
dependence of their county. (CI-eers). From first
to last they showed that same steady calm, determi-
nation—no violence, no idle enthusiasm—but the
calm determination of men who knew their duty
And Nyere determined to do it. (Moro.) They

were not dragged to the po 1, or forced or bribed to
the poll. (Hear, hear.) I met the electors, walk-
ing in calmly in bodies on the roads—no man lead-
ing them, no men driving thcln—walkini.--, up
steadily to the booths to record their votes as they
freely chose, and in the same quiet and peaceable
manner returning to their homes, conscious of hav-
ing done their duty undeterred by menace, uninflu-
enced by threats. (Cheers.) The county was
covered by military, and I rejoice at it for they appear
witnesses—unimpeachable, and totally disinterested
and uninfluenced witnesses, to the peace and trail•
quillity of the county. (Hear, hear.) I have re-
ceived the same testimony of pervading and undis-
turbed peace and order from every official, from
magistrates who have attended at many a contested
election in different parts of Ireland, and the oldest
among whom have testified that in their experience
they never witnessed so peaceable a contested elec-
tion as this. (Cheers.) The officers who commanded
the troops in the different quarters bear witness to
' the same fact. The officers of the cavalry who
patrolled the roads of the county have freely given
the same evidence, and declared that in the whole
of their marches they saw no violence, no intimida-
tion—that, in fact, their services were unneeded.
(Hear, hear.) I rejoice as you do, that this great
body of evidence of the peaceable conduct of the
people has been afforded, I may say, by our oppo-
nents, for'it was at their request the county was so
garrisoned. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.) I have
said that I should not occupy you with long pro-
fessions of what my conduct will be. It will simply
be, as I have said before, such as becomes the inde-
pendent member for Longford, who seeks to repre-
sent the opinions of his constituents, and nothing
else. (Cheers.) I trust my votes in Parliament
shall be dictated by no other motive but the good
of our common country, to promote the independence
of that country, and the independence of the reli-
gion which I hold, in common with more than
three-fourths of the people of Ireland—the freedom
and independence of every class and every section
of the community. (Loud cheers.) I shall reserve
any lengthened explanation of my politics to the
time when I shall come back here to render you an
account of my stewardship, prepared to answer for
every vote I shall give, asking the fullest investiga-
tion of every act of my political life. (Cheers.) I
have only once more to congratulate you heartily
on your triumph, and to thank you from my heart
for having honoured me by selecting me to be your
champion in this battle, and for having conferred
on me the proud distinction of fighting in your
name the battle of the independence of your county,
and of winning it. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Mr. HARRY M'CANN next addressed the meeting
and was loudly applauded. He said—l confess
that from the beginning this was to me a sectarian
fight. I wanted to answer, and you have nobly
answered, the insults of Derry and Belfast. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) We wanted to show the Eng-
lish people and Government that they could not
with impunity send over here any menial, however
highly titled, to insult our bishops and our people,
and defy us to avenge that insult.

A Voice—A groan for runaway Orange Peel.
(Tremendous groaning.)
Mr. M'CANN—I told the gentlemen who stood
here confronting us this day week that it was as
the menial of Lord Palmerston and the companion
of Sir Robert Peel we were to send from this county
the gentleman who sought re-election at your hands.
(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
Major O'REILLY, M.P.—lt is my pleasing duty,
and one which I am sure will be a pleasure to you
to hear, to move a vote of thanks to our worthy
sheriff, for his impartial and dignified conduct in
the discharge of the duties of his high office at this
election. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. H. M'CANN—In consequence of the ex-
tremely uncourteous conduct of our opponents in
this contest, it becomes my pleasing duty to second
that motion. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The friends
of Colonel White, in their disastrous defeat, forgot
the usages customary with gentlemen on these oc-
casions, and not one of them remained to return
thanks to the sheriff for his courteous demeanour
and impartial conduct in the discharge of the duties
of his office. (Cries of " Shame," and hisses.) I
have therefore great pleasure in seconding Major
O'Reilly's motion. (Loud cheers.)
The proceedings then terminated, and the meet-
ing separated, cheering loudly for Major O'Reilly,
the Bishop, Mr. M'Cann, &c.