Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-18
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
NAVY YARp-RIvKR NEws

The Leslie went down TO the hotilla last nj ght
and returned 10 the yard this morning. The new
batteries are not High Point, (this side Of Oc-
coquan,) a. rumored, but are between Freestone
Point and Shipping Point, on Timber Branch
They were probably erected 70 command the
mouth Of Mattawoman Creek, up which stream
our transports convey stores for Sickles' Brigade
encamped on its shores and In the vicinity The
Leslie going down met ten or Twelve loaded
schooners coming up to this city, all Of which
had run the blockade. The Coafederates have
commenced firing at every vessel which passes,
even the oyster pungies-but strange TO say hit
none Of them.
Great activity still prevails at the yard, and last
week four steamers were sent out thoroughly re-
fttsd. They were the Yankee, Ceur de Lion,
Stepping Stones, and Leslie. The repairs of the
Wysndank will probably be finished to-day
Projectiles are being manufactured rapidly; and
nearly every week heavy gun-castings are received
nom the North, and are here bored, rifed, and
fashioned into shape. One of these-a monster
gun, just finished, weighing Is, O9s pounds-has
been mounted in the practice battery, and was
hred for the first time this morning The pro-
tectile used was the Dahlgreen conical (percus-
sion) shell, weighing about 100 pounds, and the
nrst shot, with moderate charge Of powder, was
an excellent range shot, and but little out of line
OF the target The nominal weight Of the pro-
Jectle for this gun is $50 pounds.
NOT KILLED.
twas fumored last evening In the WASHINGTON
hotel halls, that Col. Cbas. Field, of XIV, now in
command Of rebel cavalry regiment, formerly
captain In the Second Cavalry, u SA., and in
structor Of cavalry tactics at the West Point
Academy, was killed Yesterday bya picket of
Gen. Blencker's divir.on. On inquiry, we doubt
the truth Of the story. The rebels have Of late
changed their custom Of annoying our most ad.
vasced picfets with cavalry, substituting artil-
terY In IN stead. On this occasion yesterday
tnsy nred eight or ten shots at one Of Blencker,s
pieketsS neither killing or wounding any one
The only effect Of their exploit was TO get the
whole Of Blenckers division under arms and a.
their respective posts In less than quarter of an
hour, an Reinforcement for which Il deserves un-
ssnted praise
considerable fnrcs Of artillery, cavalry and
Infantry was at once sent TO support the attacke
piekess; but when the enemy perceived its
approach, they instantly scampered Of
We do not believe that Col. Field was killed
In The AFFAIR; nor that our troops made dozen
prisoners or 20, as was alleged last night
GENERAL PHELPS
The extraordinary proclamation Of this oficer
on reaching Ship Island, In Mississippi Sound,
proving him to be a crazy abolitionist bent on
doing far more mischief with his pen to the cause
OF the Union than ten thousand like him could
possibly do good with the sword, which reached
Washington this morning, has doubtless already
occasioned his supercedure In the command a
the gulf expedition. II is understood that by ten
O'Clock to-day his successor was determined ON
and arrangements entered upon to hasten him out
70 the gulf with az little delay as possible, % az
% lose no time in counterscting the deplorable
mischief that Phelps political efforts mi BIT other
wise occasion.
"sALForR OF BuRLzY"-REDIvIus
The suthor Of the Mississippi Sound proclama
ton was formerly in the United States Army. and
vn accounted an excellent soldier, though noto-
fously eccentric to the point Of almost apparent
insanity. His two kinks were protestantism and
soo@itionismi upon neither Of which was be re-
gasded a. being a sane man.
These facfs account for his strange proclamation.
81 THE ARTILLERY FIRING HEARD.
The duh reports Of artillery Of very large
caiofe, beard occasionally here for the last two
OF three days, 10 Of guns Of long range placed in
battery recently BY the enemy, at CenReville, and
This 10 the rstoccasioi, since the openipp ~
ne war, when the rebel guns could be distinctly
heard here.
COMMODORE COL ps BOROUGH
This distinguished oficcr, Tin command Of the
Norfh Atlantic squsdron,) reached Washington
his forenoon, from his Gag ship at Old Point.
I.RvyR -The,. l..