The Portland daily press., 1862-12-29
BY TELEGRAPH,
Portland Daily Press.
FROM NEW ORLEANS.
Arrival of Gen. Banks and Staff.
Welcome Of Gen. Banks by Gen.
Butler.
Gen. Buffers Farewell Address to his Soldiers
GENERAL ORDER.
GEN. BANKS PROCLAMATION.
CAPTURE OF REBEL STEAMERS.
Escape of the Steamer OvietO.
Gen. Buffers Farewell Address to his Soldiers
GEN RAJ RIDER.
GEN. BANKS PROCLAMATION.
CAPTURE OF REBEL STEAMERS.
Escape of the Steamer Ovieto.

| She brings news OF an interesting character.
The North Star, with Gen. Banks and staff
arrived at New Orleans on the evening of the
| 14th, and the news transpired on the following
| day that Gen. Butler had been superseded.
which occasioned the utmost surprise among
all classes. Even the registered enemies OF
the United States were sorry to part with an
officer who had at least brought order aud Sc
curity to the city.
On the 26th inst. Gems. Butler and Banks
met at headquarters. Gen. Butler welcomed
Gen. Banks to the Department of the Gulf.
and assured him that he would here find troops
who were ready to yield cheerful obedience to
every order.
Gen. Banks responded, saying that the only
pleasure he had in taking the command was
that in doing so he was obeying an order of the
government of the United States.
The meeting was most cordial, and the in
terchange of sentiments was of that character
which marks the coming together of friends.
Alter the Introduction of each others stats,
Gen. Banks and staff withdrew. Gen. Butler
then addressed his staff, requesting each mem
Der to take pains to enlighten and assist his
successor. He spoke in the most generous
manner of Gen. Banks and staff. Gen. But
ler's parting address to his troops bears date
of the 18th. He aludes in eloquent terms to
their successes in the field, and the restoration
of order and quiet by them to New Orleans,
drcn of their enemies. He states that the ex-
pedition with which they were connected, cost
the government less by four-fifths than any
other, and closes by saying that the speaking
OF the word farewell is the only sorrowfnl
thought he had. He commends them to their
future commander as worthy of his love.
On the 10th Gen. Banks issued general
order, in which he assumed the command of
the Department of the Gulf and of the State
oi Texas, and names his staff who are already
known at the North. Gen. Banks also issued
an order that all military and civil officers in
the department should report to him, and
another suspending all sales of property on
account of the United States until further or
ders Gen: Butler, accompanied by Col Shat
fer, COL Turner, Major Strong, Major Bell,
Capt Davis, Capt. Keuzel, and other members
OF his staff, was to sail on the 22d for New
York. Capt Clark was TO remain on duty at
New Orleans. Gen. Banks was pushing things
with characteristic energy. Five thousand of
the troops who accompanied him had landed
at Baton Rouge. and the remainder of the ex-
pedtion would be sent forward as fast as they
arrived. The weather in New Orleans is fine
The troops are in good health. On the 18th,
Gen. Banks issued the following proclamation:
Headquarters Department of the Gulf
Netc Orleans, Dec. 16, 1S62:-In obedience to
orders from the President, l have assumed
command of the Department of the Gulf, to
which is added, by his special order, the State
Of Texas. The duty with which am charged
requires me TO assist in the government of the
United States. II is my desire to secure to
the people of every class all the privileges of
possession and employment which are consis-
tent with the public safety, or which it is pos
sible for beneficient and just government to
confer In the execution Of the high trust
with which | am charged. rely on the COOP
Grafton and counsel OF all loyal and well dis
posed people, and upon the manifest interest
of those dependent upon the pursuits of peace
as well as upon the support of the naval and
land forces. My instructions require me to
treat as enemies those who are enemies, but
shall gladly regard as friends those who are
friends. No restrictions will be placed upon
the freedom OF individuals which are not i'm
peratively demanded by considerations of
public safety. But while their claims will be
liberay considered, it is due also TO them to
state that all the rights of the government
will be unflinchingly maintained. Respectful
consideration and prompt reparation will be
accorded to all persons who are wronged i'm
body or estate by those under my command.
The Government does not profit by the pro-
longation OF civil contest, or the private or
public sufferings which attend it. Its fruits
are not equally distributed in the dsloyal
States. Desolation has empire on the sea and
on the land. In the North, be it known, the
war is an abiding sorrow, but not yet cal
amity. Its cities aud towns are increasing in
population, vealth and power. The refugees
from the South alone compensate, in great
part, for the terrible decimation of battles.
The people OF this department who are dis
posed to stake their fortunes and their
lives upon resistance to the Government may
wisely refec. upon the immutable conditions
which surround them.
The valley of the Mississippi is the chosen
seat 0f nOnuiafion prahrct nd Al;
continent. In few years 25,OOOO00 of peo-
pie, unsurpassed in material, resources and ca
pacity for war, will swarm upon its fertile riv-
ers Those who assume to set conditions
upon their exodus to the Gulf count upon a
power not given to man.
The country washed by the waters of the
Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi, can never be
permanently severed. Ii one generation base
ly barters away its rights, immortal honors
will rest on another that reclaims them. Let
II never be said either that the East or the
West may be separated. Thirty days distance
from the markets of Europe may satisfy the
wants of Louisiana and Arkansas, but it will
not answer the demands of Illinois and Ohio.
The Valley of the Mississippi will have its
detas upon the Atlantic. The physical force
of the West will debauch on its shores with a
power as resistless as the torrents of its giant
rivers The country cannot be permanently
divided. Ceaseless wars may drain its blood
and treasure; domestic tyrants or foreign foes
may grasp the sceptre of its power, but its
destiny will remain unchanged. 1t will still
be united; God has ordained it. What avails
then the best government ever devised by man,
the self-adjusting, self-correcting Constitution
of the United States.
People of the South West, why not accept
the conditions imposed by the imperious
necessities of geographical confguration and
commercial supremacy, and re-estabsh your
ancient prosperity and renown? Why not be-
come the founders of States which, as the en-
trepotrs and depots Of your own central and
upper valleys, may stand in the affluencies of
their resources without superior, and in the
privileges of the people without peer among
the nations of the earth.
(Signedl NJ P. BANKS, Commanding.
The only additional news in the New Or
leans papers is the capture of two steamers
loaded with sugar, and launch filed with
arms, ammunition and one small brass cannon,
by an expedition sent to Atchafaloia river, by
Commander Buchanan.
The Roanoke brings Havana advices to the
22d. Advices received there from Ship Island,
18th inst, state that all the ships that sailed
from Hampton Roads for Gen. Banks had
reached there except two-the Thames and
the Georges Creek. The latter was still at
Key West. The Curlow had got ashore there,
but was got off safely.
The rebel schooner Relief had arrived at
Havana from Mobile, with cotton. She reports
that the rebel steamer Florida, alias Oveto,
had got out with a crew of 100 men, passing
the blockade during the night.
Among the vessels from New York which