New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-28

H.. India Pacific and Brazil. until near!
abreast of ST. Thomas, where he Pu. III ,o'
oo.l on October 9, and where his last dls-
patch is dated
TIVE MATTHIAS POINT BATTERY MYTH
The battery of eighteen guns, discovered
,ueek since on Matthias Point is myth. IL
must have been fed-Pieces which ired upon
a.. F,oehorn and Island Belle. Lieut. A. d.
Harrell. commanding the steamer Union, few
days since landed and thoroughly examined the
.-,isre. He found neither guns, intrenchments,
nor Rebels. The woods were sufficiently
cleared to enable feld-guDs to operate. The
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, on his return
from Hampton Roads, where he delivered seated
orders to the commander Of the great naval
expedition, passed without mOlestation by Ma
thias Point in the Baltimore.
THE BLOCKADE OF THE POTOMAC
The rebel batteries between Shipping anu
Freestone Points are believed to comnanu 'N'
river for space of five miles. AT EVan'por'
is new battery. The Assistant SECRETARY
found the population of the section Oh Mai!-
Iand through which be passed hostile, ana Tue
country very poor and wretched. The story
that zoo rebels crossed to Maryland in the
George Page is untrue. A few yentured over
and celebrated their captures of Oyster-bOats at
one POSeys mansion.
THE ARMY RETIRING BOARD.
The Army Retiring Board yesterday disposed
Of the cases of Col. Erying, LIST Artillery, and
Msor Edgar s. Hawkins, I'd Infantry. il has
been incorrectly stated that Col. Erying was
retired on his own application; he was unwil-
ling to retire from service in the face of the
enemy, but gracefully submitted himself to the
action of the Board. Major Hawkins lost his
reason iring the bombardment of Fort Brown.
THE REBELS IN MISSOURI SCATTERING.
We have intelligence from st Louis, OF the
highest military authority, OF date Oct. y,
that the rebel forces in Missouri are scattering.
and feeble at all points. Hardee is giving no
support to JEFF. Thompson at this end of tie
State and McCulloch is doing little or nothing
for Price. Both are retreating. Price viii
keep up a show, to inveigle Gen. Fremont into
the Ozark Mountains, and Thompson can be
caught in the New-Madrid swamp, if pursued
with vigor.
A PIECE OF FOLLY.
A 6O.pound shell, buried in bank opposite
ouantico, was dug out by some Of Gen.
Sckles's men aud empied Of its powder, as
was supposed. A bOyish curiosity to make
% fzn of the scale and cake within induced the
insertion of live coal. A fatal explosion fol-
lowed, killing the pyrotechnist, John Rowse
Company L. Sd Regiment, Excelsior Brigade,
and severely wounding Michael Daley in the
legs and face, Dan. DOnobue in the shoulder,
Of Company Z, and Martin Boyden of Company
D. Seven others were slightly wounded.
GEN. MCCLELLAN ON THE RECENT ENGAGE
MEST.
Gen. Mcclellan W.. probably issue general
order in day or two, in which, while prais-
ing the yalOr of our troops who participated IN
the action near Leesburg, he sounds the
charge for the whole army"
THE REPORTED ESCAPE or MASON AND
sIIDELL.
Three or four days before the false news
that Mason and Slidcll had sailed from Char
lesion for Europe in the Nashville, reached
here, a letter from one Rebel in Richmond to
another was intercepted, containing this pas
sage:
~ have just hidden farewell TO Sldell, who is
about starting for Europe with Mason. They ale
going through Texas, and win sail IRON Mexican
port
Recent intelligence leads to the conclusion
that they went by this route.
TIE REBEL Loss NEAR LEEsBURG.
Gen. Evans, in his official report Of the en-
gsgement near Leesburg, published in the
Richmond papers on Thursday, gives 500 as the
number killed and wounded on the Rebel side.
THE SURRENDER OF TIE PENSACOLA NAVY
YARD.
The Special Committee appointed by the
Senate to inquire into the surrender of the
Pensacola Nsvy.Yard, and other public proper
ty South, and the destruction of the Norfolk
Nayy.Yard, will meet here TO take testimony
on the 9th of November. John p. Hale of
New-IIampshre is Chairman.
THE GEO. PAGE PENyED.
The Geo. Page is lying in the mouth of
QuaniicO Creek, where two Of our gunboats
have her penned up. An incredible statement
accompanies this news, that the officers of the
eunboats had orders not to fire on the Psge.
COLUMBUS CAMP or INSTRUCTION.
The 10th Infantry, one of the new regiments,
now some five companies, has been ordered
from Chicago to Columbus, Ohie, where
camp of instruction viii be formed
sAPPEns AND MINERS ORDERED TO WASHING
TON.
Capt. Dusne's company Of sappers and