, 1861-06-04
To Clarity the r1iasissippi Water.

and was often surprised 10 find Whist appeared
to be clear spring water on the wharf boats, ut
different points. But, on enquiry, found It
TO be river water clarifed. They dissolve
quart Of water, and pour it into ba7el full
Of river water, stir t5e whole up thoroughly,
and let 1t stand tor twelve hours, and ii viii
be as clear as spring Hater.
but has tendency TO prevent summer com.
plants. Hoping this may be Of benefit to the
soldiers at Cairo, and other points On the
river, give it to the press. j.
Oaher Matters,
Especial Dispatch to the N. 7. Tribuue]
WAsuRo1os, Friday, May 81, 1861.
1t noon to-day, when the Keystone State,
6n unaImed transport, passed Acqufa Creek,
the Freedom and Anacosta were engaging. and
had almost silenced the battery there, consist
Ing Of ej1 guns, manned BY 600 men, On re
ceipt Of the intelligence, the PaHnee wus sent
down, and the Yankee ordered to stop On her
way to Gen. Butler with dispatches and aseist-
anee.
The Pawuee draws TOO much water to get
within lese than two miles Of the battery, ut
which distance her guns would not be very
Cspt. Ward of the Freedom was down the
river to stop smuggling The Pocahontas was
cent to help him. lie has been itching for q
fight, and made the attack on bis oEn respon.
sibility. Capt. Trenchard. Of the Keystone
State, nov at the Eavy-Iard, makes the fol
On Our way from Old Point to Washington,
with dispatches, stores, &c, at noon We came
withlng sight Of Acquia Greek, where we
found the Freeborn and Auacosta holly en-
geged with The batteries, o3e Of which was
near the wharf, and one in the valley, a mile
from the water.
The battery near the wharf was soon si-
fenced By the guns Of the vessels, end that In
the valley, which, when we frat eaw it. wns
was most active, although It's shots fell short
Of the yeeeels, appeared to have been partly
si!enced before we got ont Of sight
The vessels, 60 for 9 we could see, were
entirely uninjurcd. They were under way,
and changing position from time to time,
With the view ofselecting the best points Of
attack.
We were at no time nearer than two miles
from the vessels, which were, perhaps, three
quarters Of q mile from the landing, and about
hundred yards from each other. Since we
arrived, the Pawnce and Pocahontas have been
sent down to participate i'd the attack.
The Baltimore ard Philaaetphia City Ice
bosts are lying with steam up at the Navy
ment, which is under marching orders at
moments warning. All On the Keystone
State were crazy for the fight, but, unfortu-
nately, her draught Of water was SO great as
to prevent them from participating in the
engagement, much to their modification.
4 RETIRED LIFT.
The necessity Of a retired list for the army
is evidenced by the fact thht out Of fourteen
Co1oncls OF ARTILLERY only two are fit for ser
Vice II The field, one or two Of them being
over IS years old. The proportion Of aged
and inf1r1n Lieutenant Colonies Is nearly as
great, and some Of the Captains arc 70. Gen.
scott fayor6 the establishment of retired List,
ard Senator Wieon, Cairnaa Of the Military
Committee, will introduce and do his best to
carry bill for the purpose.
PERSONAL.
The N. T. Times gravely and officially de-
nies the report Of Gov. sprague'a marriage
with the daughter Of one Secretary, and an
uounces his betrothal to the daughter Of an.
other Secretary. 1t Is almost unnecessary to
state that the whole paragraph, as well as that
upon which it comments, Ia the idlest gossip,
without the slightest foundation in fact; the
simple truth Is, TINT these gentlemen tele
graphcrs, thinking that If they we're unmar.
Hed women they should regard 2 rich Govern
or rs valuable matrimonial acquisition, log.
ically infer that the young ladies whose names
they have dragged before the public hold the
same yleEB.
TIE TWELFTH VOLUNTEERS.
The Swiss Consul General Hitz threw open
bis doors this morning to the New York 18th
Volunteers, and bountcously furnished them
with an excellent warm breakfast. The ladies
and officers Of the 18th nre the guests Of the
Consul. The members of the 12th are nearly
all f1eFfnann and ETftyerH