The national Republican., 1861-05-23

litical, moral, and physical perdition, into which
Tennessee has been madly plunged
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS.
The following important circular has been
of the different States:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Nay 70, 1861.
DEAR SIR: By reference to General Orders
No. 10, of the War Department printed copy
of which herewith forward you, giving the
plan of organization Of the volunteer forces
called into the service of the United States by
the President, you will perceive that all regi
mental officers of those volunteers, from colo
nels down to second lieutenants, inclusive, are
appointed by the Governors Of States.
Having thus con6ded to you the appoint.
ment of all these officers for the regiments
furnished By your State, you will, trust, ex.
cuse this Department for impressng upon you,
in advance, the necessity of an absolute adhe.
renee, in your appointments, to the following
suggestions, which are deemed Of the highest
Importance by the General in. chief, under
whose advice they are submitted to you.
lst. To commission no one Of doubtful
morals or patriotism, and not Of sound health.
I'd. To appoint no one to q lieutenancy (sec-
ond or iirst) who has passed the age Of % years,
or to a captaincy over 80 years, or to appoint
no field officer, (major lieutenant colonel, colo.
nell unless a graduate of the United States
Military Academy, or known to possess mill.
tary knowledge and experience, who has
passed the respective ages Of 35, 40, and 40
years. -,
This Department feels assured that it will
not be deemed offensive to your Exceency to
add this general counsel: That the higher the
moral character and general intelligence ofthe
officers so appointed, the greater the efficiency
of the troops, and the resulting glory to their
respective States.
am, sir, respectfully, SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary Of Var.
The TRUE RING.-At meeting on Mon.
day at Reisterstown, to elect delegates to o
Union Nominating Convention in the second
Congressional district, the following resolutions
were adopted
"Resoloed, That without any IFS, ands, butts,
or contingencies, we are for the Union as be-
queathed to us by our fathers, and can recog-
Mise no flag as our national emblem but the
old Stars and Stripes.
"Resolped, That we have met and eschewed
all past and party creeds, and that we pledge
ourselves that henceforth our motto shall be,
principles and not men; and woe to the pub.
lie servant that betrays our confidence.
"The annexed questions were ordered by
the Convention to be proposed to the candi
dates for nomination:
"lst. Are you an unconditional Union man
"2d. If you are elected member of Con,
gress, will you give your vote to aid and sup
port the Government in the enforcement of the
Constitution and the laws?"
INTERESTING FROM FORT PICKENS
GREAT STRENGTH OF THE SOUTHERN FORCES.
The New York Times contains letters dated
on board the United States ship Powhatan, of
Pensacola, May 10. We make the subjoined
extracts:
"The commanding officers of our men. of
war here have again been changed. At pres
ent, they are as follows Powhatan, Lieutenant
| ID. Porter, of Pennsylvania Sabine, Captain
| Adams Brooklyn, Commander Poor; St. Louis
Commander Gibson Supply, Lieutenant Mul
lany. The other vessels have their old cap
tains.
"There is now no use in concealing the fac
that the fight here will be one Of the most des
perate of the war. Our preparations are pro
crossing rapidly, and fully justify us in thu
opinion that Fort Pickens is almost impregna
BILE. But the gigantic strides making BY
Braggs command may well prevent US frou
anticipating quiet capture OF the navy yart
and Barrancas the possession Of which is neces
sary to the ~end OF hostilites in these parts
Now, it is on the best authority that inform
you that the secessionists ashore muster 10 ,00l
available fighting men, Notwithstanding pre-
vious estimates. They are scattered for mile
| a,l hoxyn nF thn haot niEn !,
| America to regulate their movements.
"There are at least six batteries that ma
open fire on Pickens now concealed, and O
course the exact places in which they are stu
ated no one of US can find out. The skill o
three United States military and naval officer
has been concentrated to make these most pow
erful, and Cummings Point ravages on Sumte
indicate what hidden battery may do. Let
be distinctly understood, then, that on land, a
present, the secesSionists number, at least, .fr
times more than the Federal troops. Take al
our available men from the ships, and you can
not make up one third OF our enemies strength
There have been serious impediments, toe
placed in the water within eight days, and it
now very doubtful whether, forts left out, ship
could go up to the yard. Then Montgomery an
Warrington are connected by the iron railwa
horse, and rein(orcements may be poured in.
mention these matters only to plainly establis
one fact, namely: We cannot take permanen
and offensive stand in Florida with i 800 mer
"The evening muster of the Southern troop
has just gone on. 1t was certainly an impt
sing sight. There cannot be less than so
mounted men attached to Bragg's command
and patrols of them ride along the road, Frenc
sentry fashion, all day and night. They ev
dently begin once more to think of acting o
the offensive. Ten days ago. their pluck wa
oozng out fast, but fresh arrivals from Miss
sippi and Georgia have fred them up again.
confess that they exhibit no signs Of starvation
although an unusual temperance among ther
proves that specie is scarce. Several pieces
ordnance have been received from Alabam
since the I'd one Of them is a tremendou
Dahlgren, said to have come from the Noriol
navy yard. Many pieces Of cannon have ais