Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-03
LATEST NEWS
By the Mails.
From Washington.

FROM " 00nl0StO0s
WAsnINGTos, Aug 81.
Especial to the Chicago Tribune.
One hundred names of officers Of and below the
grade Of Colonel are before the Army Retiring
Board, upon which they will act. OF these oficers
only two-Col. Martin Burke, Of the Second Ar
| ti!lery, now in charge of the forts in New York
harbor, and Col. Butler, Of the Fourth Artillery
have signi6ed their intention to be Voluntarily
retired. 1t is thought the work will be much him
dered BY this ndispoRiton Of the foges to get out
of the war and from the way in which the Board
itself is organised-being made uF mainly Of old
men-it is feared that th labor will not be very
| searching
The case Of Col. Albert, Of the Engineers, has
been acted on-the drst one. His retirement is
recommended. COL Kearney's case is now under
consideration. He is also Of artillery. The case
of Col. Lngs, of the same corps, Is under discus
sion. Both of these last have been over forty
years in the service, and Are very old and in6rm
but there seems neither on their part nor the
part Of others any ready disposition to get out Of
the way.
The Brigsdier Generals, whose appointments
foreeh ehadowed yesterday, have received their COM
missions to-day, and are Generals by breyet. Col.
Charles Smith, three times breve ted for gallantry
in the Mexican war-is ordered to report to Gen.
Fremont, and the others to Gen. Mcclellan.
Capt Geo. F. Flint, appointed Assistant Adju.
tant General, reports to Gen. Thomas at Louis
vile.
Oliver ]. Wetherill of Indiana, aud VIM. G. Tir.
rell, have been appointed additional Payma stcrs
The Republican Of this evening has q story of a
skirmish near Munson's Hill across the Potomac,
where q thousand rebels are throwing up en-
trenchments, between eighteen of our men and
sixteen hundred q the enemy. Five o; our side
we're wounded and six taken prisoners. OF the
rebels, four werc killed AID several wounded.
Tho same paper says that eight ten rfed
cannon are planted on Munsen's Hill but Profess
sor Lowe saw but two from his balloon when he
made his ascension yesterday.
q Thirteen rebel boats were seized by one Of our
tugs last night, on the river near Fort Washing
ton The capture is thought to be important.
There is no apprehension here that an attack on
Washingtonis is among the near probabilities. Ex-
citement in relation TO the matter has died away,
if any has existed. All agree that the attack,
when made, must be on eur right flank, near Lees
burg. 1t is believed that the Government is pre-
pared for any emergency.
The labors Of Gen. Mcclellan are ncessant, in
Office and camp. His old blue blouse has become
as famous here Napoleon's grey overcoat. The
Gen. spent most Of the day across the river.
Apprehensons of sickness begin to be entertain
ed but the general health Of the camps are pret-
| ~ good. few Of camp dysentery ap
pearng.
The question of Capt. Fry's attachment to Col.
hunters staff is not yet settled Hunter wants him
Tor Chief but he is needed here.
Intelligence of Gen. Fremont's proclamation
reached here to-day but nothing is known Of the
opinion Of the Cabinet in relation to it. 1t is be-
lieved that he will be sustained in his osition,
and that more rigorous measures will be iLauguT
ated everywhere.
To the eye everything is quiet here to-day,
though the work Of preparation goes on.
Prot. Lewe came within three rods OF death on
his descent with his balloon yesterjay-two ried
cannon shots having struck within that distance
of him at Balls Cross Roads. A squadron of our
cavalry on the spot were struck only five minutes
before.
Especial Dispatch to tine Chicago Tribune
WASHINGTON, Sept L.
There has been no fighting to-day on the other
side Of the Potomac, except unimportant skir-
msh between pickets at Alexandra Sem nary. in
which no one was killed. The story in the Re
publican of last evening. about fight at Nun
sons Hill, is all moonshine.
From New York.
NKw York, Sept. l.
The Irtbune's special has the following ad-
ditional particulars: The feet arrived of Halter
on Wednesday. Two forts have been erected
by the rebels, commanding the mouth Of the in
let which commands the entrance to Pimlco and
Albemarle Sounds, which thus affords connection
with Virginia and the sea. The forts replied to
our incessant FIRE, but without much damage
After three hours cannonading, the flag on Fort
Clark was hauled down, and the rebels re treated
to the other fort. Our land forces soon occupied
the abandoned fort, hosting the stars and stripes.
At 1880 our shells were beginning to play on the
magazine, when the rebels hoisted q white flag.
Gen. Butler refused acceding to any terms except
unconditional surrender, which was At last
cepted. Barron delivered his sword to Com.
Stringham, and the other officers theirs to Gen
Butler. A thousand stand Of arms, twelve can
non, thres hundred knapsacks and large guam
tity OF munitions were captured. Nobody on our
Si0q W huPf kaur hun6ppl yehais had ran
forced the fort the night previous to the attack.
Thursday forenoon steamers with thousand reb
els approached, but were kept away by our force
in Fort Clark.
Col. Max Weber was placed in command of Fort
Astteras, and Col. Hawkins in Fort Clark
portion of the feet remains there. Several inn
portant books and papers were captured, disclos-