The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-12-19
Noon Dispatches.
PROM WARRINGTON

SffsagfA and Coadifisa Of che Rsbei Army
Postal ifairs-Bisaku's Pickefs drirea
sa-The Rsb<is drircH back srifh Loss
Fas for fhe Western Observation-Disclosures
Of Wsxhington--Cossf Detnces-Inpesfi-
gafs1g Corssaiffes's Report.
WASHINGTON. Dec. IA man came with
In Gen. Heintselman's lines. to-day, who left
Alexandria in July for more distant South
err quarters. lie stated that he had been
living ~ Charlottesville for sometime. that no
rebel troops had recently gone south from
the army Of the Potomac. but during the
last three weeks two Georgia regiments had
been added 20 IL. That the sickness IN the
army vas great. sad averaged from Manas-
sss and centreviie = cart lo1d E 1vaiids a
day conveyed 10 the hospital 3 ,harlottes-
vile.
uxIs' plsrArCH.
The Hoasc Post Onice Com. .siee decided
90 introduce a bill 10 abolish the fank:ng
privilege. The Committee have alo conclu-
ded 20 grant no further privileges in the case
Of soldiers letters. other than that now civ.
en-. OF sending their letters forward without
prepayment.
uERAID's DISPATCH.
This afternoon she pickets Of Blenkers Di-
tA~t'n Htt' v "a " a. satar* -
rebels werc soon driven hack. and many Of
them killed.
The Secretary OF War has submitted to
Congress a statement of Quarter Master Gen
eral Meigs asking the sarly appropriation Of
81 600 900 20 complete and pay for the gun
boats. mortar boats and tug boats Of tho
western iotilla. 80 that they may not be de.
layed at ST. Louis until the interruption Of
navigation by ice.
He states that the 81 500 900 appropriated
by Congress at last session Is sufficient only
for the construction equipment and mainten.
ance Of seven OF the gunboats. and without
expressing any opinion a. 20 the necessity of
the feet ordered 20 be built by Gen. FIRE.
mont. lie thinks the Government Il bound
"a nav for them. and that II armed. equipped
and we'll manned. they will add to the strength
Of the army in the west. AMI the success Of
the expedition intended 20 open the Missi-
sippi.
The report OF Chief ERginees Barnard.
which has Just been submitted 10 Congress
| by Gen. Camcran, shows that the defences
around Washington consist of forty works,
mounting three hundred guns; that the
whole defences occupied are about thirty
Eve miles, exceeding by several miles the
famous works on Torris Vidos. the most ex-
tensiye forliicatious of the kind known in
modern times.
Gen Barnard ask she appropriation of
81 500 900 from Congress for the compile
ton Of the works.
Secretary Cameron has also submitted 20
Congress a report in favor of an appropria-
ton Of 81, 200, 900 for putting our coast de-
fences in order, from the lakes around TO
San Francisco, a largo portion of which Is 10
be devoted 10 defences OF the New fsrk
harbor.
Van Wyck's Investigating Committee, 10
inquire into the Government contracts. say
in their report they have examined two hun
bred and sixty. FIVE persons. The report en-
braces eleven hundred pages, and their Ia
bors are far from being finished. They pro-
pose TO push the investigation vigorously so
long as they are demanded by public in
terest.
The affair of tho steamer Catalina was
thoroughly sifted.
There was great conflict in evidence as 10
what could be a fair price fos charter and
cost of running the steamer.
The Committee especially call attention
TO the srrangsmecs between the Secretary
Of the Navy ald Mr.. Morgan, for purchasing
vessels for the Government.
The Committee next devoted themselves
to the subject Of the purchase of farms, the
extraordinary demand for them, resulting
from the conspiracy 90 overthrow the Union,
has resulted In an extraordinary expenditure
aud exciting the cnpidity Of large numbers OF
persons both in Europe and America. haE
opened a system Of unprecedented specula
ton. The Government has been the victim
of more than one = conspiracy. Culpable
combinations have been formed TO rob the
Treasury.
The profits from the sale of arms 10 the
Government have been and real
i,ed in many instances even BY our own citi
zens, through a system . brokerage, ss un
principled, dishonest and a. unfriendly 10 the
success and welfare Of the nation, AZ IN,
plottings OF actual treason
The Government and the several States
entering the market in active and direc
competition. IL is true, 10 some slight extent
and temporarily. the importation and manu-
facturc Of arms, hut scarcely compensatinI
for a general prohigacy IN the expenditure o
the public treasure
The Committee examined into army sup
plies, and say. in the Western Departmen
especially, acquisitions have supplied IN
place Of contracts.
The Committee SAY in the purchase o
cdtic tnefc nH- Dttu tfVcs acknowledgement
and In the purchase Of horses and wagons
In New York they End great Irregularities
The Committee also say a man by the nam
OF Wood. enjoying the confidence of tn
President. was appointed Commissioner q
Public Buildings, a place requiring not onl
great business capacity bat unfinching IN
tecriiv. and that Wood. from hi own decls
ralons, made himself an instrument for plut
, / S.-fun Tie arnrarnmeuf
The Committee in discharge OF their dut,
made y representation OF the fact 20 the &
ecntive but before any action WAS taken. "a
Government Wa relieved by his resignation
The Committee next Approach the subje'
Of Notifications NJ ~. Louis. The cIrcun
stances surrounding this work being Of q
most extraordinary character. AMI msrke
by extravaganza. reckicssnes-. iusaboFdin'
ton aud fraud. They expre>. the hope thl
some means may be found 70 make the -
ties % the atrocious contract disgorge Il
sums out Of which the Government has bee
dcfaaded, ard that the laborers Who hs'
done the work on tho faith q the Cover
meus. all not Do longer delayed IN receiVi'
their just dues.
The Committee found that mest astoun
inr add u~nhlushing frauds had been perp
-. I. - -.--t.a. 80 ha@raa and nulf