Litchfield enquirer., 1861-11-14
GENERAL BENHAM.-The Palladium says it

GENERAL. BENHAM.-The Palladium says i it does not know who Gen. Benham now il command of division of the army in Westerl Virginia under Rosecrans is, where is he from or anything about him. He is native of Che shire or Meriden, and was an apprentice in thi office at the same time the Palladium man wa! learning his trade here. He was appointed tt West Point from this ofice and graduated there in l832 attached to the Engineer corps, ane has been distinguished for his great ability. He has superintended the construction of the fortl ications around New York until recent period and is known to almost every body except tae editor of the Palladium as one of the best OIL cers the country affords. ,,,o.,
 The senior proprietor of this paper renemoers '.n him we'll as a fellow apprentice and room."ate M > He was peculiar man in ms aPpea,a;h' n;th ,;nbt e ldisposition. He had fiery red halr, With hgnt eyeIashas: a nervous temperament, and was eycaedinoIv fond of citing the examples ot Wasbngfon. Franklin and other mem who had aconirad eminance, and wondering whether he oond aver arrive at the same distinction. Thronoh the influence of his employer and other friends he was appointed to West Point where h;s eneroy and ambition won him the first rank in his class. He served with distinction through the Mexican WAT. and though his modesty al- ways prevented bim from sounding his own trum pet, he has beon as highly and widely praised as any man connected with his branch of the ser yice-N H. Journal.
 The Greek Professor in the Rochester Univer- sity has wit as well as words and often delights the students of that institution with his clever and sparkling toa mots. The man who can make his own verbal blunder an occasion for a good jost, is certainly lucky fellow and Prof. K. is one of that sort as appeard the other day in the course of some remarks in the recitation room. The professor spoke of 8 "calfnine years old" The remark struck the class as an odd one but before the general smile had broken out in laughter, the Professor added, "That's bull. :" Well, so it was and the boys thought it a re- markable fine one.
 "sir," said guest to the clerk of a Chicrgo hotel, "you must have made mistake in my bill" Why" Because can pay it and have money left"
 ARM1NG OF THE MILITIA OF MISSOURI Washington Nov. 8.-TLe success of Governor Gamble of Missouri, in obtaining the aid of the general government for the defence and pacihca- tion of that State, has already been stated. The hateiligencer says :-
 The President, we learn, has authorized tho organization of the militia of Missouri, to be employed in defending the State against inva- sion, and suppressing the rebellion within its limits. The number of troops to be raised is not specified, but they are to be mustered into the State service, and be armed, equipped, clothed, subsisted, transpor:ea and paid by the govern ment.
 Governor Gamble stipuates that there shall be but one Major General of the militia, and to se cure unity of action, the General commanding the Department of the West becomes also the Major General of the State militia, by the ap- pointment of Governor Gamble to the position. As many Brigadier Generals are to be appoint ed as there are brgades of four reg iments each, and the staff officers shall not be paid more than the same are allowed in the regular service, what ever be their rank under the State law. As the money to be disbursed in this service IS the mon- cy of the general government, it is to assign its own staff officers to make the expenditures or, l if the United. States officers cannot be spared from the regular service to perform these duties, | then Governor Gamble is to appoint from the State militia slch otIicers as the President shall designate.
 OFFICIAL REPORT TO THE WAR DEPART NESr.- Washington, Nov. 9.-The War Depart meat has received an official despatch concern ing the battle at Belmont, Mo-, which generally conHfinS tnc newspaper Stat2EienLs It says that Captain Bieiask of General Nc Clernani's staff, was killed, and among other particulars, tllat we fought all the way ia.o the ! camp of tue enemy, immediately under the guns oi Columbus; spiked two guns, and brought away two, together with two hundred prisoners. 1he Union loss is stated at three hundred, and that of the enemy much heavier.
 The War Department has received despatches from General McC!crnand, in reference to the recent battle at Belmont, Missouri. It is repre- seu.ed to have been 8 dcsperata engagement, with great loss on both sides. No further de- tails than have already been published were given.
 FRou WAsH1SGTcs.-It is said that three weeks hence half million of troops will have been raised and in the field.
 1t is rumored that the rebel pickets have been extended all along our lines, which is believed only to be 8 feint covering the withdrawal of their troops to the coast
 I The Navy Department has been all day ex- pecting intelligence from the naval expedition. but none has been received. This is regarded as favorable augury, as it is certain that if the rebels had the slightest advantage on their side l it would have been made the occasion of great rejoicing, and would have been communicated by the iiag of truce from Norfolk to Fortress Monroe yesterday. Their perfect silence on the subject is an evidence that the enterprise is sue cessfu.
 l An extraordinary Cabinet meeting was held tonight, to which General Mcclellan was called for consultation upon military affairs. The de- cisions arrived at arc not at present to be divul ged.
 In compliance with the promise made by the President to General Scott, that his staff officers should be properly cared for, Colonel Cullor 1 has been assigned to the staff of Ma jor Genera IIal!eck, with the rank of Brigader General Col. Van Renssalaer has been appointed lnspec tor General, in the place of Colonel Scott, late!y retired Colonel Hamilton has been offered position in the staff of General Mcclellan, ant
 Major Wright goes into the field with his regi nent.
 Seth P. Staples, lawyer widely known il this State, died in New York Nov 9th, in the 85tl year of his age. He graduated at Yale in th, of F97, being a classmate of the old Doctor
 Beecher. He was the founder, in fact, of tn, Yale Law School; man of acumen, industry always faithful to his clients and his case. H, was in the Legislature of Connecticut during tn, war of 1872, as one of the representatives of New Haven. and voted with the fcderalists, to ap prove the report of the delegates to the famou, Hartford Convention. From 1916 to 1856 h, kept out of politics, and attended to his law practice.
 FOR THE TWELFTH REGIMENr.-Companie have been accepted for Colonel Deming's Regi
 ment-to join Buffers Brigade--as follows :- From New Haven two companies, Captains D
 J. Peck and S. E. Clark from Hartford tw companies, Captains Lewis and Dickinson Nev London one company, Captain Nathan Frankau