New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-09-16

100 yards with fatal effect have seen newly in
vented explosive shell for rife cannon, which
be thrown three miles and not explode for four
| five days after it has been fred. Ihave seen the
various substitutes offered for bullets and balls, on
the event of a scarcity of lead: but my astonsh-
ment was complete, when on visiting nail factory
on yesterday, with Major Nixon heard him ask
for 400 kegs 8.penny nails. made enquiries of
the Major to the he interded putting The nails
to, but on my ruIninations on the subject, have
come to this conclusion, that if Scout Scott intends
using cut nails instead of buck.shot in his battal
ion, the war must soon come to a close. The man
is not living that could stand second Voey of
S-penny cut nails. ] am not positive that the nails
are for war purposes, but if they are the war ques
tion is nailed. CuICoT.
Special to tho New Orleans Crescent
RIrHH0Ep, Sept. O. 1861.
Mr.. Edaor-The Treasury Department is consd-
erably exercised at the discovery that counterfei's
are in circulation of the recent issue of Confeder-
ate notes. Some of the denomination of IS have
been paid into the Bank Of Petersburg, purporting
to have been autographed by J. Manouvrier of
New Orleans. 1t is true that the Treasury Depart
ment had engaged the services of that accomplish
ed lithographst TO print some notes of the denom
nations of $40 and $, but have up to this day
been issued here. An agent was dispatched to
Petersburg by the Secretary of The Treasury for
| the purpose of obtaining a copy Of the spurious
| issue, who, instead Of finding it counterfeit im
tat0n OF the genuine plate, discovered that it was
the original. He called to his assistance some de-
tectives, who had the good fortune to arrest the
| guilty parties. There we're six engaged in the
| Illegal transaction, and among them driver
| OF Adams Express wagon, who had distracted the
notes from the bundles sent at various times to the
| Treasurer from New Orleans. They all in
prison here, and it is to be regretted that they will
escape the heavy penalty imposed by the C0nfed
| crate Congress for the crime Of forgery. The law
aiXing the death penalty for Counterfeiting Treas
| ury bonds and notes was enacted on the Gath OF
| August, aud not promulgated until the 18th. The
| uttering Of the forged notes discovered before
the PRONUNCIATION, and this fact will it is presumed
| save the torgers from telonious death. The num-
| ber of sheets abstracted is unknown, and the Trea
| surer has been assduously engaged for some days
| in an effort to ascertain the amount There is at
this time deficit Of $40, 300 900, but hopes are
| entertained that some OF the missing packages may
| have been detained amongst the express matter,
| which has accumulated with Government freights
and parcels for our volunteers at Knoxville. 4
| few days will be required to ascertain the fact.
There has never been a note issued which had been
| Autographed st New Orleans, and the impressions
will be suppressed without it is discovered that the
| amount stolen IS Insignificant. From the great
scarcity of bank paper in the Confederate States,
the suppression Of the New Orleans plates is to be
regretted. The ten dollar notes are handsomely
| printed on bank paper with the water mark Of
TEN in the body OF the bill. The notes are with
| out vignette, and are very pretty and neat The
plate OF the fves is copied from that of the tens,
and are printed on bank paper of inferior quality,
and without water mark and are blue on the
| back. The only loss that the Government can sus-
tain is in the paper, lithographing printing, etc,
and up to this time there has been but five notes of
! S offered for circulation.
| The concentration of troops in and around Fair
| fax Courthouse is immense. The city is cOnpar
atvely clear Of the officers and soldiers who have
heretofore been crowding the hotels and boarding
| houses: all appear to be at their posts. Munitions
of war are still being sent towards Manassas. The
| loaded .HolUmhia1g a
non and hOwitzers The transportation for the i'm
mensc force is ample and complete. Provisions
are abundant, medical stores sufficient for the sick,
| and marked Improvement in the condition of the
| sick manifest. Cheering news comes in from all
quarters, and as tar as human Judgment can pene-
| trate beyond the conCealmens thrown around the
action OF the commanders on the Potomac, we are
| oB the eve OF most important events: a day, an
hour may develop the results, and set all cacula-
tions at rest. The anxiety here is naturally in
| tense-a great battle is imminent and inevitable,
| and our leaders are sahguine Of success.
On Wednesday last, Gen. Jones sent an order to
Major Walton for section Of his artillery, to pro-
ceed in all haste to point designated by the Cen
era. The Major hastened to obey the order but
was delayed trifle, in procuring Gen. Beaure-
CARDS endorsement of the order, as his battalion
was under his immediate control. Gen. Jones'
| pickets had discovered large encampment of the
| Federaists near the Potomac. The pickets having
ventured eight miles within the enemy's line, and
| having reported the same to the General, he con-
| ceived the idea of astonishing them with a few
rounds of artillery. For that purpose Mai. Walton
| dispatched Capt. Squres with four guns, which ar
rived after a night march, little after daylight,
| at point distant about seven hundred yards from
| the Federal encampment; and the first intimation
the Yankees had of the proximity of battery, was
| q volley from the cannons. Their establishment
and consequent confusion was even ridiculous:
| The first shot was seen to enter large tent and
in rapid succession was discharged shot and shell
| until their dispersion was complete. We fred 100
rounds, and it was on this occasion tha tthe Wash
ington Aqueduct received such serious injury:
| This was one of the boldest movements executed
during this war-having ventured eight miles with
in the line of the enemy, firing 100 guns carrying
| death and confusion to our enemies, and retiring
unscathed and unmolested, without loss or acci
dent OF any description, and succeeding in reaching
| the headquarters of the battalion before dark
| Washington City, as reported by an eyewitness
was thrown into the widest excitement; drums
beat, officers gaoped through the streets, the cti
Zens retired to their houses there no Longer
| any doubt of the advance of the whole army
Capt Squires, with four guns and the usual accom-
paniment of the gallant men who compose the bat
| talon, REPRESENTING most efficiently our entire
army. These harrassng forays upon the Yankees
| are of daily occurrence and the frequent killing
and capturing of their pickets is fast demoraizina
| the soldiers. In detailing for guard duty. every
expedient is adopted by the men to shirk: nor car
they be blamed for every relief finds one or more
| OF the old guard dead or missing.
| Col. Bradford, of the Fourteenth Louisiana Volun
feers, moved into quarters last night. His regi
| lhELt HAS Ii pedutuul plueuL uthr hOCkelS
| He is actively engaged in perlecting his men il
drill and instructiug them in their dirty soldiers
He will make his regiment equal to the best in the
| service-if capacity, industry and answering at
! tentlons to his duties are guarantees OF success
have been invited to visit his camp tomorrow
and to be present at his first dress parade. shal
not neglect it; for, like all Louisianaus feel s
reasonable pride in the efficiency and appearance
OF our volunteers.
m Col Pouakowski has succeeded in cleansing the
thirteenth from the ipsubordinate element o
| winch 1t was composed, and it may now be con
sidered, in drill snbordnaton and s0ldieriy qualiii
catons, inferior to none. The Colonel deserve:
Inc greatest praise for his selfwill and determina
| tlon' lie mas surmounted all and every obstacle
anu mas Kept within the line of his duty withou
any divergence, winning for,himself the respect
ms ms snnalterns and men. He is regarded by the
| war Department as most accomplished soldier
DreuX's battalion has been recently in 8
snarl about successor to the Lie1tenant
Colonel; and, for the life of me, | am unable
to give clear Interpretation of its present
Ta,,A