New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-12
rue BATTLE OF SHILOH.
qhe Reported Surprise Of Gen. PrentisS.
THE LOYALTY OF BEN WOOD QUESTIONED.
The Congressional Mileage Reform.
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, June II. 1851.


each House, to-day, long communication calling
renewed attention to the subject of armored ships,
and the necessity Of preliminary measures for the
future construction Of vessels for the naval service,
topics already discussed in the Secreays letter Of
March Is. Congress is urged to take action before
its adjournment on the subject Of supplying itself
with the immature and heavy ordnance for ships, and
the substitution of iron for wood, in whole or in
rsrt, in the construction of naval vessels. Mr..
welles after remsrkng upon the necessity growing
out of various considerations, that the Government
should build lite own ships-ofwar, and manufacture
its arms, and many other articles requisite for
tho naval service, and advcrting TO the nadequacy
Of our present Navy Yards TO the work required,
proceeds to call attention to the fact that ma
tssls rendered necessary by the recent
change in the construction of vessels for
lighting purposes, such as heavy iron besms, shaft
ing and thick iron plates, only be procured from
two or three parties in limited quantities, and snb-
ject TO great delay and danger or imposition. He
then adverts to the eiorjs which other nations,
striving for maritime supremacy, making in the
matter of platHs wooden vessels and building iron
ones. Tbe,e fact. Mr.. Welles considers suggestive,
and calculated to draw attention to the necessity Of
sndrepairing navy such as the strength and chaac
ter Of our Government require, IN order to maintain
its true position among maritime nations. The Sec
rotary goes to say that the Government ought TO
be Independent. of private establishments in respect
20 impotsht and expensive works, and that the hbe-
raj appropriations q Congress for building vessels
cannot be made available in obtaining the proper
locations, mills, FORCES, ETC., without time and
careful consideration. He, therefore, suggests an
appropriation Of million or two for this purpose at
once, in order to CONNER ce other nations
nencing he work Of building an iron-elad navy
Commensurate with the wants and magnitude Of the
country. This comparatively small expenditure
now. be adds, may save hundreds OF millions and the
honor of the nation hereafter. The Secretary con-
cludes by remarkog that if any Of our present
kavy-Yards are adapted TO the purposes indicated,
they will require considerable enlargement and sug
gests that authority be given to designate and pro-
cure one or suitable locations for additional
yards one Of these should in hs opinion, be IN the
Valley Of the Mississippi where recent experience,
the vast resources in iron and other capabilities Of the
West with the radical change in naval architecture
Semopstrnte the propriety Of establishing Navy
Yard, fouDdery and shops.
THK REPORTED SURPRISE OF GEN. PRENIlsS.
The officers captured at Shiloh, who are here en-.
deayorng 10 effect general exchange OF prisoners,
conditioned upon the release Of Gen. Boekner, deny
alphabetically that Gen. Prenss was surprised at that
battle. They say that Prentiss WIS the only officer
in the advance who had any pickets out, he having
half a regiment stationed mile and quarter from
his lines on the road TO Coriuth which enabled him
10 get bis division in order Of battle and hold his
ground, fighting desperately from O'Clock In the
morning to O'Clock in the afternoon, and until the
divisions on bis right and left had been driven back
and Gen Folks corps was established on ridge, d.
recy in bis rear. Tbeyssy also that Hardees corps
sS,,,. cked on Saturday night, April D. within 3oV
vard. of Gen, Sherman's camp on the Pnrdy road,
Sherman having no pickets out al al. al 1u7 heoc'
army under Albert Sidney Johoston, $4,000 strong,
marched from Corinih ON Wednesday, April :. and
were four days in reaching Shiloh, being greatly i'm
oeded by rains which had filled the low ground ard
mad it necessary to plank the roads to got their ar
tillery over. They also Say that, 80 far as human
calculation and foresight could co. Johnston ought
to have overwhelmed Grant and Boell IN detail.
Morgan. the Rebel seout. had brought him POSITIVE
assurances that Buell. could not JOIN Grant before
Tuesday, TIE Sth, and Johnston had made LIS plans
TO attack Grant on Friday, at furhest on the Dat
urday previous These facts were obtained from
Rebel officers after the battle.
DISCHARGE OF SOLDIERS FROM TIE PESi-
TERTIARY.
The House passed to-day the joint resolution SEMI
over from the Senate dischai9ng q number OF SOL
dsrs from the PsDiteuary in city, in conformity
with sentences of Courts Martial II also Instructed
the judiciary Committee to report bill prohibiting
Courts- Martial from sending any more soidier
thher except for infamous ohenses under the civil
law while in transit for trial by the civil authorizes.
TIE CIRCUITS OF UNITED STATES COURTS.
The bill recognizing the circuits OF the United
Ststes Courts passed the House a. reported by Mr..
W;l.,, of Iowa, aud since modified BY him On the
soo0ssiop Of the Tennessee members. itconstltutes
ercuits ss follows: Kentucky and Tennessee, ONO
aad Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois ana inoiana'
low. Minnesota. Missouri and Kansas, Arkansas,
Texss and Louisiana. Circuits formed Of other
States 70 remain "a at present. This bill is a snbsti-
tute Tor that passed by the Senate, ana must 20 DScA
TO that body before ii can become law.
THE LOYALTY or BEN. WOOD QUESTIONED
The House Judiciary Committee will tomorrow
commence the examination into the loyalty OF Ben.
Wood, which they were directed 10 make by vote
Of the House to-day.
DESTROYING SHIPS on THE HIGH SEAS.
Senator Trumbull from the Judiciary Committee,
reported W day substitute for his bill referred to
that Committee 1t provides that whoever, not an
owner shall, on tho high seas, wiiliuly and cor
ruptly destroy any vessel belonging TO q citizen OK
the United States, shall be deemed guilty Of felony
=. and DO punisbed by fine not exceeding $4,000 and
su.rss foxf Aunt thar