Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-31
From Wasbinptonl.

I
requesting of the Secretary of War to fur
nish all the general orders issued Will
Preference to the transportation of troops
and munitions of war by railroad, and also
all orders designating the amount to be
Ipaid for such purpose, the Secretary sub
mits report from Quartermaster General
Meigs, in which it is stated that the Quar-
termastcr General has issued no general
orders on the subject. Accompanying the
report is copy of letter from the War
Department, dated July 18th, 1861, es-
tablishing a tariff of prices for the trans
portation of troops and stores and direc-
tons to Assistant Quartermaster Generals
and others engaged in providing transport
tation to send the troops and stores by the
most direct route.
The following is general basis of prices:
Each passenger per mile cents for the
distance moved, aud for equipments, mu-
nitions and supplies accompanying the
regiments at first class local rates, which
will average about as follows; 80 miles or
less 10 cents per pound, there being a cor
responding reduction tor greater distances,
SO that for three hundred and fifty or four
hundred miles the amount would not ex-
coed ninety cts per hundred pounds.
AS to the transportation of horses full
car loads of thirteen or fourteen horses
Il were u9ublly shh lONV puuuuS- all
other supplies furnished by freight trains
are charged local rates, according to the
classification of property which will usu-
ally averageon provisions;and heavy freight
two or three cents per ton of2000 pounds a
mile. Dry goods, clothing, or light goods
will average three to five cents per ton OF
1000 pounds per mile.
Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson who arrived
here on Saturday evening, will tomorrow
present stand of colors to the seth volun-
teers, Dickinson Guards, at their camp near
the city. The colors will be received by
Hon. r. H. Duell, member of Congress from
Mr.. DickinsoRs District in behalf of the
regiment,
USITED STATES STEAMER PAwSEE,
Dec. 81, 1861.
Sir. In obedience to your orders of the
14th instant, left the harbor at daylight
on the 16th, accompanied by the gun boat
Seneca, Lieut.. Commander Daniel Ammon,
and coast survey steamer Nixen, Capt. O..
A. Boutetle, but at the bar found that the
heavy Nbrth-eRster which was blowing
hard, raised to such a sea as to render it
out of the question to attempt entering the
rivers which was directed to examine. 1
then returned to my anchorage, which lett
second time however, on the following
morning, and reached the North Edisto ut
2 o'clock. Shortly after crossed the bar
with the Seneca, piloted in by Capt. Bou-
telle in the Vixen, which vessel he however
left when we were inside for the PaWnee,
his vessel remaining astern of us. At this
time we could plainly see fertilization ahead
in Edisco Island, distance mile and a
half. Asst was reported they werefilled with
men. Icommeneed firing slowly from my
bow guns, as did the Seneca, but receiving
no answer, soon ceased, and anchored in the
North Edisto river. On landing, found
the fort, which was entirely deserted, to
consist of two redoubts for five guns each,
connected by long curtain aud projected
in tie rear by double tluce of thick
flank, with earth between, and loop holed.
The guns, as the negroes informed me, had
all been removed toward Charleston some
weeks back. While was making this eX-
animation, Lieut.. Com. Ammen had pro-
ceeded up the river for about five miles,
the effect of which was Immediately apPa-
rent in the firing of cotton houses and out
buildings.
During the night some negroes came on
board, and informed us that at the small
town Of Rockville, which was in full
sight, there was a large encampment of
soldiers, ut least 500, and Capt. Bartelle
offering to go up the creek on which it was,
/ determined TO make them n visit in the
Vixen, and ut daylight of the 18th went on
board of that vessel for the purpose of
taking with me the boats ani marines of
the Pawnee and Seneca, under charge of
acting master Smell. Owing to our running
ashore we did not reach the town until
near 8 o'clock, little above which was a
sloop laden with cotton and provisions,
which l took possession of and towed
alongside. There being no signs of life
ON the shore landed without men to re-
connoitre, and was soon satisfied that the
troops had left, as the first thing seen was
the negroes pillaging building in which
there was large amount of commissaEy
stores, consisting of rice, sugar, bacon,
corn, &c. This stopped at once and had
what was left removed to the Vixen. Be
ing then informed that the camp, which
was mile from water, was entirely de-
s:royed, 1 went there, but although, so far
as could learn, the troops had left at day
light and it was then only little after 8,
the negroes, whom found as busyas bees,
had removed the most valuable part of
what had been left, which was nearly
everything excepting their arms.
The encampment was large one and
had been occupied for many months, and
its late tenants had evidently been in the
possession of every comfort. removed TO
I06 OOALS AAiA4 A0uE
tents, besides quantity of articles of no
particular value which were lying about,
and found at neighboring house which
seemed to have been used as headquarters,
Confederate flag.
Having pretty near cleared the ground
of what was worth removing, and being
DESTROYS of examining above, i left at two
o'clock and proceeding up the river with
the Vixen, not liking TO trust the PaWnee
| in SO narrow a channel, came on the Sem
eca which had started at o'clock to ex-
plore, fast on mud bank; we remaiced
| by her until o'clock but found it impos-
sible to pull her off owing to the night tide
not being as high Us the morning one
While lying here, however, sent the boat
and burned sloop which had been run
ing to escape from the Seneca. and which
could not be got afloat
L The Vixen afterwards returned for the