Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-05

A Communication IN the Free IreSs
this morning, understood to have been
written BY Gen Cass, not only iustifying
the arres tof Mason and Slidell, but shows
hat it was in strict accordance with the
position Of the Government upon the
right of the search question, as main
tanned in the correspondence with the
British Governmeut IS lisa
LFron Sunday MOrnin Baietin.l
QUrNcY, %.
Letters from prisoners of the California
regimen al Richmond, show that most Of
those supposed to have been killed Al Balls
Bluff are prisoners. Officers are conf
dent that so includes whole number dead.
The Philadelphia Enquirer's Fortress
Monroe letter says the rebels report Pen
sacola evacuated. The Navy Yard en-
tirely DESTROYED. Gen. Bragg sent for
endorsements. Five vessels assisting
Col. Brown were riddled with shot.
Adiutant General Thomas sent instruc-
tions to Gen. Sherman, at Beaufort, to
take possession of all crops on the island,
not wanted for the army, to be sold for
Government. Also to use slaves to Sc
cure the crops.
The rebels are falling back from the
Potomac before the slow but certain ad-
vance of the Union force. They hardly
offer resistance to our vessels the lastfew
days.
NEw YoRK, 90.
A letter from Port Royal, reports an
expedition to St. Helena Inlet; without
striking a blow they took enemy's works,
and the guns which had been carried in
land They report IA, 600 rebels at Her
dyville, ten miles from Hilton Head, nm
der Gen. Drayton.
LOUISVILLE, Nov. %.
The Bowling Green Courier of the
2Ist says the rebel Brigadier General
George B. Crittendon, brother to John ].
Crittendon. has been promoted toa Ma
ior Generalship. and assigned to the de-
partment at the Cumberland Gap.
David Patterson, son-in-law Of laWyer
Andrew Johnson, was arrested upon the
18th. and brought to Knoxville for trial.
The rebel Conventions at Russellville had
made a declaration of independence, had
passed an ordinance of secession, and
adopted a resolution that the laws and
constitution Of Kentucky were not consis-
tent with the rebel Government.
Richmond advices say that the British
Steam sloop Racer is expected soon.
The privateer Sumpter is reported cap
tured off the coast Of Texas by the frig-
ate Niagara.
WASHINGTON, %
According to pavsent indications, the
Presidents Message viii not be sent from
Washington IN advance of its delivery
to Congress. The reason for this is the
fact that it, as well as the reports of the
Secretaries of Wa and Navy, will be kept
open until the latest moment IN order to
make such additions and alterations as
the constantly recurring events may re-
quire.
Dispatches received to-day at the Navy
Department from flag officer Dupont. da-
ted Port Royal, Nov. 25, gives the graf
flying intelligence that the flag Of the
Z. S. is flying v e the Territory Of the
State of Georgia. Tybee Island, which
he says is within Mortar distance of Ft.
Pulaski has been taken possession of, and
the approaches to Savannah completely
cut off.
On the island is a strong martllla tow
er, with a battery at its base.
The following is the Philadelphia En-
quirer's Pensacola report: Passengers by
a flag Of truce from Norfolk 10 Fl. Mon
roe. Nov. 81, furnish further news re-
garding the fight at TT Pickens. The
particulars, it must be remembered, come
through a rebel source. Gen. Bragg
had not made a breach into the fort, as
was before reported. Great excitement
was prevalent throughout the South re-
speeding the battle, but it was thought
Bragg wonld be able to make Brown sur
render. A message arrived from Pen
sacola on Sunday last, with a peremptory
order for reinforcements. Bragg at hat
time was hopeful of an easy success, and
was replying At intervals on the Fortress
with great effect. HE regular salvos
are described as being truly terrible
The General was perfectly cool and con-
6dent. No breach had yet been made,
but on Monday one would be manifest,
when Brag expected achievements, and
would storm with fresh troops and ord
nance, Col. Brown had concentrated a
perfect storm of shot and shell upon the
Navy Yard, and had burned it down to.
gether with all the out buildings, and a
considerable amount of ordnance stores.
Pensacola had been evacuated by order
Of Gen. Bragg. Col Brown had called
to bis assistance FIVE vessels of war, all
of which had been driven off by the bat
teries. The frigate Niagara had been
riddled by shot. The steamers Colorado
and Monongehela were disabled. Col.
Brown had declared to his trOods that he
would never surrender alive, and the
greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the
men. On Tuesday Bragg would engage
Col. Brown in front, and land a large
force on the island so as to take him in
the rear, aud it is generally believed by
Union men that an action has taken placs
at Pensacola between our forces and the
rebels and that Bragg has been whipped
and his whole force captured. The dis
patches in the Southern papers have no
4 nnaranf end or b~arinrinUC and are very