, 1862-12-25
LETTER FROM SPRINGFIELD.
State of Feeling In the Couutry-What
is Thought at7Ss sasl11u&ton-IuIuo
and michigan Canal Enlargement
Gen. McCIernandss Exped1tI0n-Ma-
rIne Art111ery-Co1. FFF,s Surrender.
[special Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribu,,e.1
SPRINGFIELD, Dec. %, 1861,

4 great degree OF depression and gloom
hangs over the community on account Of the
state of affairs at and about Washington-thc
defeat on the ppahannock, the unsatisfactory
Of the relations existing between
the President and his Cabinet, and majority
Of tic Senate. do not e1aggerate when I |
say that the people are fast settling down into |
a state Of despair as respects the sublugation |
of the rebels, and the reconstruction Of the
Union. They could go any length-emanci~
patton, confEcation, &c.-in order to bring /
the var to successful termination but they |
begin to stand appalled, at the future. When |
they see DISTRACTED councils at Washington, !
traitors in the army, traitors in the Northern |
States, men who have no heart in the pres
er1ation Of the Union, unless they can also
preserve slavery, thus placing slavery above
their patriotism, they begin to despair Of the
Republic. Why, I notice that some Of the
Democratic papers are already announcing in
advance that they will not support tile war if
slavery is to be interfercd with. With the
Eame pgopriety they might oppose the war If
any species Of rebel property is to be injured
by it. Do not these men see that they are
dcifying slavery as national not domestic in
stitution; in fact placing the right Of proper
ty in slaves above ill other rights; making it
more sacred thing than the Constitution aud
the Union,
WHAT IS THOUGHT AT WASHINGTON
4 private letter from an Intelligent gentle
man in Washington says: " Mattere here are
getting more and more complicated and dis
that Burnside had been compelled to recross
the Rappahannock, after most terrible de-
feat, iB lumilIating and disastrous. suppose
the army will now 60 into winter quarters.
Affairs arc certainly most bungling1y 1nanag-
ed, and have been from the first, as regards
| the army. What is to come next, or where
We are finally to 1and, is beyond human
ken IT is sur1nised here, that the develop
ments Of the Porter inquiry Will make it nee
| cesaary to call court~martiai npon McClel-
Ian himself Where is Banks? That's the
| question often asked, but never answered.
| What folly to send hin away round the capes,
| when his aid is required nearer home? But
| of course there is q plan i'll all this, and we
| outsiders must wait its full Development,
| confess, for one, don't see it.h
! ILLINOIS AID MICHIGAN CASALE.SLARGEMENT.
l. On the subject Of the Illinois and Michigan
| Canal the same letter says. III heard last
| night That Commodore Foote expressed some
doubt as to the feasibility Of taking guu-boatE
through the contemplated enlarged canal, Of
seas OF the lakes. And yet Col Webster has
reported very confidently that it may be done,
He is backed up by Commodore A. D. Porte1
Of the Hotilla fleet. There are several Chiea
60 men here, I suppose to 'lopbEn fog tht
Island Railroad, E. Anthony and Judge Nor
ton Of Joliet"
In this connection 7 might add that a 1arg,
number Of the English gunboatE, which bar,
been taken around the Cape Of Good Hope tx
China, draw but from three to four feet Q
water, and are but twenty to one hundred an'
fifty horse power. Surely such boats as then
could pass the canal locks.
| THE RAID INTO KESTUCKT AND TENNESSEE
ILLINOIS TROOPS CALLED FOR.
The news Of a rebel raid in Wester
Kentucky, and the tearing up Of portion {
.. | the Columbus and Corinth railroad, Of courE
| caused fresh demand for troops from thi
| State. The regular army officers, suppost
!, link that Coz. Yates Keeps spare regimen
: OF two in his breaches pocket all the tim.
9 and al they need to do is to ask for and ol
> tain them. In this instance two regiment
|. were called for, and ono, the lasth, Colon
. raised principally in Williamson county, ar
= is COMPOSED Of a very fine looking set Of me-
:, The loyalty Of many of the men in this reg
ment having been questioned bF some Of the
:, neighbors before they enlisted, SINCE til
:; time, and Just before leaving home, the MI
II 50 doubted employed themselves in goi1
y about the county and licking the doubte1
- | Some men whom Eot Of would have Eot
& mauy rounds to fight were they to choo
- - this mode Of settling that question.
re BILLIARD MATCH
&c Agraud billiard match for $3.50 side #
r. decided here last week, between two me
g, named Michael Higgins and Charles Curt
Ii Tfese men, who appear to have obtaln
nr quite q reputation in their peculiar line, ne
b originally billiard markers, and probably ha
d devoted their whole minds to the anu:
Us mcnt, from childhood. Curtis is from Sprir
sc field, and said to be the best player in t
'r- Northwest. Higgins is from Peoria In t
he first game Curtis was, Of course, the favor
= with the spr5ngfeldites, who bet largely :
en on him, and lost corresponding1y, for H
ly gins beat him handsomely, and is
IT, IT, asy engaged in gising Curtis su1ta .. %s hst,
to ! Curtis, in this last game, made some "
Ill fine runs, and vas. ahead at 1ast aecoun
ad a great crowd surrounded the table, a
aP- quite heavy bets appeared to have been ma
g. The first game Of billiards ever saw plaJ
on was between the celebrated Lord Cardjs
he {then Brudeneln Of Ba1aklava charge fal
he and = distinguished member Of the Brit
U.s. Parliament, colleague Of Daniel O'Conn
by Sir Walter Scott icon Of the celebrated Il
0" elist, and then in Lord Brudene1's regimen
rs nel vas subsequently dismissed by CO
ost martial from the regiment for the seducf
Of the Lieut.. Colonel's. wife. This NJ
1ge matter Of thirty years ago.
q, T. THEATRE N SPRINGFIELD.
to 4 theatre has been established here ;
of Mr. Hale, and appears to be doing sulasl
oud business. The people Of Springfield seen
Va Of concerts, negro minst1els, &C., but esc1
IN lectures and other entertainments Of u
5 10 | intellectual character.
lore / sHIN PLAsTER5 PLENTY.