The national Republican., 1861-08-19
SOUTHERN NEWS.

SOUTHERN NEWS.
MONSTER BATTERING RAM.-At Algiers, CD.
posite New Orleans, formidable instrument
OF destruction is being prepared and was ex.
pected to be launched about the Goth. Il Is
intend d to operate as q battering ram, and will
be directed against the frigate Brooklyn or
any other blockading vessels at New Orleans
The tugboat Enoch Train, built in Boston, and
one OF the most powerful tugs Of her class, has
been converted to purpose never Intended by
her builder, or the gentleman whosc name she
bears. The upper portion of the boat has been
covered with railroad iron and perfectly shielded
from the attack Of an ordinary cannonade. At
the bow, ram has been constructed. The bow
has been built out 10 the extent of five feet
heavily framed with timber and then covered
with heavy wrought metal.
At the extreme end n formidable mass of
iron projects In the form of knob. Beneath
this knob, aud beneath the surface of the water.
two strong grapples have been arranged, so
fashioned that, upon collidng with ship, the
claws will fasten into the side of the vessel and
take firm hold. Protected by these grapples
In manner not unlike an insects lance or
sting, there projects an auger, connected, by
means of shafting, with an Independent machine
on the boat. This instrument Is intended to
operate as follows: Upon the attachment of the
grapples to the side Of the attacked vessel the
| auger will be ret In rapid motion, and bore its
way into the side. When one hole has been
forced through, the auger can be withdrawn,
and, by means of an Independent axle, the po.
sition will be changed 30 as to operate upon
another portion of the ship thus boring holes
| rapidly and large enough to sink the vessel.
The boat will have o crew of six men, who
will be protected beneath the iron roof, the
pilot observing the direction through tube or
| sm, Ill telescope.
The Algerines are sanguine Of the success of
| their pet Invention, and have spent O large
amount Of money to perfect it.
The New Orleans custom. house, upon which
the Government have expended so much money
| has been converted into foundry, and guns
are cast for special use at New Orleans. The
armament will soon be completed, aud the
city placed in state of defence. But few
soldiers are in or around the city; the Louis.
lana troop, having been drafted for service at
Pensacola or Virginia.
| CoNFIsCATING REAL PRoPERTY.-Ths Confed.
crate States have hitherto authorized and
adopted no measure affecting the rights or
property of non-residents and alien enemies,
beyond a suspension of the payment of debts
and dividends. It may become expedient to
consider other measures looking to the confls
cation-temporary at least-of the value or
proceeds Of all merchandise, stocks or personal
or real estate Of any kind held in the name of
abolitisaists or aliens. Every Southern State,
we believe, has some foe plantations owned by
Northerners. Charleston Is. C) Courier.
SICK AND WOUNDED CONFEDERATE TRoops.-A
letter in the South Carolinian, dated Cha, lottes.
vile, Va, Aug. 3, says:
| Charlottesville is city of refuge. Upon q
population of 5000, with scarcely Government
preparations for 800, some 1900 cases of
wounded and sick have been suddenly precip.
itated. Every house Is hospital, and from
two to twenty are accommodated most kind
ly. The population has turned out most nobly
| in the work Of benevolence, and made up for
the deficient preparation of the Government.
Several. public hospitals have been opened,
and further preparation is going on, but the
citizens have responded to the call for accom-.
moda'ion with characteristic Virginia hospi.
tality. The young and old have been all en-
gagged, and the ladies are night and day untring
In their work Of charity. They are won down,
and need muses. to assist them. Supplies are
coming in from the South, but nurses are in
the greatest demand. Two hundred and fifty
wounds are 10 be dressed daily-many twice a
day-and eight hundred cases Of fever and
measles have to be nursed.
Typhoid fever is prevailing, and threatens
alarmingly, but precautions are in progress to
remove them from the hospitals and scatter
them, so that the crowd may be diminished.
| The medical staff Is not sufficient, and voluu-
teer surgeons would be acceptable.
BURNING OF HAMProN.-The following letter,
which we find in the Petersburg Express, con.
firms the previous statement that Hampton was
burned by the Confederates
Camp at Bdrteu's, August 9-On Wednes.
day evening 1t was decided by Gen. Magruder
to be expedient and proper to burn Hampton.
In furtherance of this object, just after dark,
the troops were moved from ih sight of Hamp.
ton to another road which approached nearer
to Newport News, and not far from the town.
The Old Dominion Cavalry, under command of
Capt. Phillips and the Mecklenburg Cavalry,
under command OF Capt T. F. Goode, and a
command of infantry, under Colonel Hodges,
we're detailed for the hazardous purpose OF
firing the town. The cavalry companies march.
ed in front, with the infantry behind.
We were now ordered to proceed with the
burning, and harder work, o set of fellows
never did. We continued to set fire to house
after house, until all were In flames within and
below the fortifcation. portion of the cav
airy companies were then detailed to complete
the burning above the fertilization, which they
did and then covered the retreat of the infan.
try to CAMP about three miles distant. The
town was most effsctually burned, and | feel
sure that no person was burnt, though 1t was
about midnight.
Five hundred unprepaid letters from the
Federal prisoners at Richmond, left on the
| Dali hna hu tha L.