Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-23
From Washington.

| Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times
WAsHIEGToN December lO-The Senate bill ad-
mitting Western Virginia a State passed the house
to-day it from the Senate It provides for sub
mitting the present Constitution to the people for rs
feation.
Senator Henderson of Missouri will introduce a bill
tomorrow varying but little from the plan Of the Prss
dent, for gradual emancipation in Missouri
bill introduced in the house to-day for a special
session Of the United States district court in Indiana
February lst next
Gen Mcclellan testified again to-day in the Mcdowell
court Of inquiry, which was crowded. His evidence
was highly important GensMeD put questions. and
Gen Mcclellan stated the substance Of communications
TO him from the President was, that the President
suned the responsibility Of the change Of McDOwells
corps from joining the army Of the Potomac regarding it
a necessary for the Gefenge Of Washington. He
learned from Gen. Franklin that Gen. Mcdowell had
nothing to do with this change. Gen Franklin st that
time, commanding division in McDOwels corps
The sle CATION that Gen. Mcclellan had stated that #
Gen Mcdowell had not failed to reinforce the army Of
the Potomac he would have taken Richmond, was de-
MED by Gen Mcclellan. He then said -'sIt has ever
been opinion that the army Of the PotOmsc would
have taken Richmond had not the corps Of Gen. Nc
Dowel been separated from g. It is also my opinion
hat had the command OF Gen. Mcdowell Joined the
army Of the Potomac in May last by way Of Frederick
and Hanover Court House, We should have had Rich
mOnd in week from the junction I do not hold
Gen. Mcdowell responsible, in my own mind for the
failure to join me. l think that Gen. Franklin
Joining me on the Peninsula, brought verbal message
from Gsn Mcdowell expressing bis wish to aid me By
a demonstration via Fredericksburg"
Gen. Mcclellan then proceeded to say, in answer to a
change of base at Yorktown, to 20 Fredericksburg
All the active troops to in the drestion Of
the Peninsula. Gen Mcdowell here introduced num-
Der Of communications between himself and the Pres
dent, Secretary Stanton, and Gen. Mcclellan, showing
that he (McDowelD acted ander orders in giving
support 10 Gen. hcC elan. Among them q tele
gram dated May oath, by the President to Gen. Ne
Dowel, nsrncting him TO lay aside the movement to
Richmond and 20 cooperate with Gen. Fremont for the
destruction Of Generals Ewell and jackson. tele-
gram of the same date, FROM Gen. Mcdowell to The
President said that his order had been obeyed and
that was crushing blow to HIM The President in
a telegram Of the same date to Gen Mcdowell.
presses himself highly graisd with the aacrity with
which he had Obsyed the order and said that was as
painful to himself as to Gen. Mcdowell. telegram of
the same date, from Gen. Mcdowell 10 the President
said that this order would be carried with all energy
but pointed the impossibty of eeeting the pur-
pose proposed; that he could effect nothing In the d
rectisn in which he was being sent, and would lose
much where he was and that by lOboying the order
of government all our armies would be psralyzed
from Richmond to the Shenandoah.
Gen Mcclellan then again testified that he had known
Gen Mcdowell twenty year5, and had known that he
abstained entirely from the use Of liquor and he be-
lieved also, Of tea and coffee.
Gen Hslleck has issued order to-day that many
officers absent ftom their commands without au-
thorty and on one preext and Otherand hatits the
intention OF the department 20 dismiss without honor
and without pay all such They commanded to re-
turn without delay duty, upon pain of having dis
graceful discharge published in the newspapers well
general orders.
The report Of the committee on the conduct Of the
war, 1t is believed will be Immediately furnished in obe-
euCe 70 tue febOluLOu SBuAte To-Day. Inc de-
velopments in sSme respects promised to be import
ant and startling.
There was nothing new in the Porter court martial
to-day.
The Banks expedition is still secret though it is known
that the Of its having landed the Peninsula
untrue Speculation locates it at almost every point
this side of Florida
The rebels have all disappearedin in front of sge and
abandoned the Blue Ridge region.
The Army cf the Potomac will furnish stirring news
before Christmas
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times
WASHINGTON, December 1L-COngress has adjourned
till Monday.
The debates in the senate and house. to-day, were
very bitter The tenor against the administration.
Mr. Fessanden sadhe could not indorss all its conduct
but at the same time, pitched Into Mr. Powell and com
pared the atters speech to-day smisr to Mr. Breek
nrdges old speeches, except that impossible fO
Mr. Powell 10 improve those Of his late colleague now
in the rebel army Mr.. Powell retOred th the Sen
stor meant to charge dsoyay upon him. let him gay
plainly without GRIMM alton inuendo, and he would
meet il in way that would prevent all debate that
subject in the senate chamber.
The Senate passed bill providing that the Bnted
States circuit court for Wisconsin should be held here
after at Milwaukee on the first Monday in May, and at
Madison on the fret Monday in October
General McClelans EVIDENCE to-day, in the Mcdowell
court Of inquiry stated that, without Gen Med
corps he (McClean) left seventy thousand for the
sensation and was backed up General Mcclellan adding
that be ef' more than was recommended by any corps
commander.
Question by the court =" Explain what you referred
to as defenses of Ws'hingt-nf
Answer" / referred to the approaches to Warhiug-
ton both in the direction of the Orange and Alexandria
railroad and by the Shenandoah valley. The insruc
tons given in regard to the position Of these troops
tempsed the posting of the of them in the vicn-
ity Of the Manassas gap, Front Royal that the
whole force would be avalb BILE either approach to
the G On the first Of April wrote letter of in
struction T. Gen. Banks, for his guidance in posting
troops in front of Washington which letter would be a
fuller answer 10 the question than the general
have given and which will also submit the II
they desire it,
In reply questions by thu court General Mcclellan
said 81 think General Mcdowell correct in his
opinion that Il safe and prop for him unite with
the Army Of the Potomac 1 think that Immediately
after the occupation Of Hanover Courthouse by pOr-
ton Of the Army of the Potomac there rebel
force between Hanover Courthouse and Gen Mcdowell.
There might have been some rebel cavalry, but no
forces Of any consequences. think the main object Of
Jscksons movements against Banks was to prevent
Inducements being sent TO the Army Of the Potomac
and expressed thai opinion in letter the President
within day two Of the time 1 received information
of JacksOns movements. think that if Mcdowell had
moved directly upon Hanover Courthouse, instead Of
he direction Of Front Royal Jackson would have rap
idly rerAeed his steps TO join the main rebel army at
/ Richmond With strong army Of our own in the vi
einty Of Richmond, and threatening it, do not think
the rebels would have detached sufficient force
have seriously endangered the safety Of Washington
The above is the pith of tO-day's examination.
The military committe Of the senate today reported
bill for telegrsphe communication between San Fran
cisco aud the Amoor river, in Eastern Asia
| The President has ordered the execution OF thirty
nine Indians Of the number sentenced in Minnesota and
transmitted to the senate to-day all the information IN
his touching the late Indian baTbarties The
transcripts of evidence in this did not reach him
till three four days before the meeting Of Congress
and since that time be has received numerous letters anC
appeals the subject lie then adds Anxious q
not act with much clemency to encourage another
outbreak one hand, nor with much severity L
be real cruelty or he other caused careful examina
ton Of the records II the trials etc made. in view
first ordering to execution such had been prove,
guilty Of violating females Contrary to my expeeta
tons, only two OF this class found then direC
ted further examination and classification Of al VIII
proved TO have participated in massacres dis
tnguished from participation in battles, and that elias
only numbered forty and included two convicted Of Il
male violation. One is strongly recommended by ID
commission which tried them to Communication Of ser
tence to ten years imprisonment have therefore
dsred thrtynine to be executed Friday, the 10th
| December"
Gen Sbley was ordered, on Monday, to carry out tn
execution.
In the Porter courtnartia today, Col Srlth Unite
States volunteers did to Gen John Pope, was exam
ned and testified that he had Informed Gen Pope th
he believed Gen. Porter TO be traitor, aud would IA
him he further testified his belief that if Porter Ia
attacked the eDemys right flank ordered, he wou
not only have beaten the enemy, but the battle wou
have been g complete rout He subsequently GRO.
= examined BY counsel for the defense principally wi
i reference to his own military experience.