Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-21
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.

IHE CABINET ADVISE THE OMISSION OF THE
ILLUMINATION.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
The President OF the United States was last
evening plunged into 5fFliction by the death of a
beloved child. The Heads OF the Departments,
in consideration Of this distressing event,
have thought it would be agreeable to Congress
and to the American people that the oficial and
private buildings occupied by them should not
be illuminated in the evening Of the 22d inst.
(Signed) WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
81 CHASE,
T.. NJ. STANTON
GIREoN WKLLEs,
EDWARD BATES,
NJ. BLAIR.
WASHINGTON, February 81, IS62.
AFIeHT AT occcQUAN.
The steamer Stepping Stones arrived at the
Navy Yard this morning from the upper fotiIla
Yesterday morning this steamer, with a launch
and boats ~ from the Yankee, went on
reconnaissance up OCcoquan Creek about four
miles. Lieut.. Eastman sent GU. Acting Master
Lawrence with the launch, who visited the
north and south sides of the creek, penetrating a
short distance into the interior, bu: without
fading aRysE Of the rebels Just as the launch
was leaving the south side of the creek brisk
fire from i've or six field pieces, posted in clump
Of woods, was led upon them by the rebels
Nearly forty shells were thrown by the enemy, all
of which few uncomfertably nsar the stepping
Stones, but doing no damage save sl Chilly tearing
the flag. The fire was returned from the Step
ping stones ard howitzer in the launch
plunging shower of rifled shell into the correr
Of tie rebels which evidently did considerable
damage, as the fire Of the enemy soon siackencd.
The Stepping Stones, after Smelling the eremya
short time, hauled of and returned TO the Potc-
mac with " nobody hurt"
The King Phillip went down 10 the upper
fcti'ia this morning with party OF ladies'
Arrangements are being made for a grand illu-
Mutation Of the gateway and shops of the Navy
Ssrd TO morrow night.
The NOBLE NORTH ALABAMA UNIoNIsTs.
The act Of the North Alabama URionists In de-
stfoying span Of the North Alsb ana railroad
bridge near Decatur in that State night or two
since has doubtless caused the ofsr 20 surrender
Nashville, Of which We have news from south
efn sources) to-day. The destruction Of that
bridge cuts off the rebels IN Nashville from any
succer whatever from their forces in Memphis
and Columbus since we have possession of Clarkr-
Vile, through which their other remaining rail-
road connection passed.
There were three lines Of railroad between
Nashville and Columbus and Memphis-one
which we broke up by taking Fort Henry, an
other by GAINESVILLE, and still third (round-
about) by Decatur, Ala.
At the same time The destruction Of these three
lines Of rail In that quarter has DESTROYED the
connection between the rebels In Virginia and
those in East Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana,
Texas and Arkansas, by the line of rail they
have most depended on for their supplies Of men,
munitions, &c, from these regions, which have
up to this time been transported almost wholly by
those lines-the slutheastc:n lines being poorly
equipped and very ineficien'ly managed.
THE PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED.
The following is the form Of application for
release to be made by all The State prisoners now
in confinement at UaitCd States military posts
save those few excepted in TIE general order TO
which IL refers. |, has been furnished TO them so
that they can be sent here in time to have the
orders for the releases made out to-morrow-the
glorious 22d OF February. The application is Of
course TO be addressed to the Secretary OF War:
I, -, Of -. a prisoner confined In
Fort -, hereby make Application to be re-
leased from custody my parole of honor 10
render no aid conn fort 10 the enemies iH hostI-
ifg 10 the GOrsrNHIsHt Of tie United States, in
accordance with the terms of Executive Order,
No. |. Of the War Department, dated February
IL, lSG2, in reference TO political prisoners.