Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13
Special to Tribune.

Special to Tribune.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 10.
A bill has been introduced into the Senate
providing for an entire reorganization of the
medical department Of the army. 1t authori-
yes the President to select from all the army
doctors, without regard to present rank, a
Doctor General, with the rank of Brigadier
General, sanitary Inspector General, with
the rank of Colonel, six sanitary inspectors,
forty surgeons of the LIST class, fifty of the I'd
class, and sixty assistant surgeons are to be
appointed and promoted by seniority, as now;
vacancies to be filled from civil life or from
the brigade surgeons of volunteers after due
examination. Seventy-five medical cadets are
provided for One object of these radical
changes which will cause great fiuttering
among doctors, is to do away with sanitary
commission and also with Surgeon General
Finley, whose trial commenced to-day. He
finally raised question as to the jurisdiction
of the court, maintaining that he, as head of
a Bureau, could not be ordered to trial by the
General-in-C Chief, but only by the President.
Senator Harlan's bill authorizes the Presi-
dent to purchase, if possible, a country for
the colonization of such free blacks as want to
90 and appropriates a million dollars.
The House almost unan !mously passed the
Senate resolution for committee of inquiry
on the conduct of the war.
There will be an effort to refer all slavery
resolutions and bills to a select committee.
Reverdy johnson has been employed as
Col. Kerrigan's counsel. New charges have
been presented against him for deserving his
outpost, withdrawing pickets, holding cores
pondence with the enemy-in substance,
treason. His application for time to meet it
was denied. The evidence adduced to-day
touches only his neglect of duty.
The Republican caucus lastnight closed too
late to enable me to send an account of its
proceedings. The speeches were all, with the
exception of Divine of New York, earnestly
for the prosecution of the war even to the
confscation of rebel property and the manu-
mission of their slaves. There was much less
difference of opinion than was anticipated by
some among them. %
Mr.. Lane thought the Executive policy was
really for freedom. Others doubted this
Mr.. Potter, of Wisconsin, made strong
statement of disclosure touching Republicans
in the employ of the Government.
Mr.. Stevens said that Gen. Mcclellan hao
threatened to resign, unless Cameron's repor
was emasculated.
NEW YORK, Dec. II.
The steam transport City of New York
from Port Royal 9Th, has arrived. Gen
Stevens with 1000 men had occupied Beau
fort.
The gun boat Pawnee, several transports
and q number of troops left Hilton Head OF
the 4th for Tybee. Gen. Sherman had ap
pointed superintendent for the picking al {
securing of cotton at Hilton Head and the ad
iacent Island Health of soldiers good. Nc
fighting had occurred Gen. Velie's expedi
tlonwould probably sail about the 10Th.
New YORK, Dec. II.
The steamship Columbia, from Havana, 9th
1893 tons, arrived at Havana on the Sd, five
days from New Orleans.
Chas. Anderson and family arrived on thu
Columbia. He is brother of Gen. Rober
Anderson, and escaped from the hands of thu
rebels at San Antonio, and walked to Monte
rev, Mexico. He was treated with kindnes
by the Mexicans He sailed on the British
steamer Clyde to Havana. He reports tina
though British subjects whom he met wer
violently indignant at the seizure Of Masol
and Slidell, himself and family were treate'
with kindness Andcrson's family was sen
originally to the Mexican frontier, while h,
was prisoner of war.
The Clyde met the Spanish fleet and arm
within Sc hours sail of Vera Cruz, with fin
weather.
The Mexicans are daily expecting the a
lied feet. The general feeling appeared to b
hatred of Spain. All feuds were give
way to united resistance to the common en'
my. The frequent remark was if Spaniard
come alone they will be heartily welcomed
No resistance, however, was to be made :
Vera Cruz or Tampico. The guns of tt
castle San Juan D'Ulloa were being carrie
inward. If Mexican resistance can be truste
determined resistance will be made to an
Spanish invasion.
BosToN, Dec. IL.
Ex-Minister Faulkner, released from Fo
Monroe on parole, has gone to Richmond
endeavor to exchange himself for Mr.. Ely
New YORK, Dec. II.
By the steamship City of New York, trol
Port Royal, we learn that the 46th New Yor
regiment were to embark for Tybee, with
view of stormlng Fort Pulaski, by land, an
that the feet was seen off Port Royal fc,
days prior to the 9th, which has doubles
since arrived at its destination, and startlin
intelligence may soon be expected from ful
Their South
WASHINGTON. Dec II.
There was an alarm along The lines las
night, and the enemy was supposed to b
approaching in strong force all night. SIEVE
divisions of the grand army were under arm;
The alarm proved to be false, and at noon tt
day all was quiet
Nav York, Dec. l L.
"A private letter from Martinique, date
Nov 23d, states that the Iroquois is off thi
port, waiting for the Sumter.
Another, dated 18th, says the Iroquois ar
rived last night, but the SHUTTER has escaped
| A private letter from on board the steame
Richmond, which took part in the fight a
Fort. Pickens, dated Nov. 23d, states that tn
vessel commenced bombarding Fort McRae a
10 o'clock on the 22d. The writer states tina
he had been complimenting the captain of on
Of the guns on the accuracy of his aim, whel
a shell bounced through our bulwarks, tool
his head off and wounded six more men,
This shell on exploding raised the ship out O
water and made her stagger like drunken
man. Another shell burst feet below tn
water lin, causing bad leak, but the steam
pumps kept the vessels free
| The firing continued all day and was resum
ed by the enemy next morning; when WI
moved out of their range the steamer Niagara
still kept at them, but, being outside the bal
she cannot be much damaged. Fort Pic!.en:
had, up to date, lost but DAG man killed, ant
seven wounded. Fl. McRae ismuch damaged
but we cannot destroy it with our sinoothbort
guns, as they are no match for the enemy's
rihed cannon. The bombardmcnt was to be
renewed the next day (Sod) with the deter
mination to whip or be whipped.
Since leaving the passes of the Mississippi
several rebel vessels have managed to escape
A Spanish vessel had come down with q
number of fugitive Spaniards, to escape i'm
pressment, who report that the rebels bad
three iron clad steam battering rams ready te
repel an attack, each carrying from IS to at
guns. Additional steam rams and fire-rafts
we're being constructed.