The New York herald., 1862-01-28
OUR COMMISSIONERS TO THE SOUTH.

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Sketches Of Bishop Ames and Hamilton
Fish.
The Recommendation contained in the late order of
Secretary Stanton, urging tbe appointment Of
missionsrs the South after tho interests Of
Union prisoners, has been acted upon by the Presi.
dent, and ex-senator Hamilton Fish and Bishop Ames
have been appointsdg a. said Commissioner We sub
join short sketches Of these two psrsonaees,-
BISHOP EDWARD ANEs.
Edward Amss 10 Bishop Of the Methodist Episcopal
church in the United States. born at Athens Ohio in
1906. After receiving his education in the Ohio Upiver
sty he was for three years instructor in a college
in Illinois He was licensed 10 preach in 1880
was soon after assigned 70 tho Indiana
Conference. and ordained sucoessively Deacon and
Elder Ho took part in tho General Conference Of the
Ms,hodists held in Baltimore ls4o. and In ls42 on
cated a. Chaplain to . council Of Choctaws being the
first Chaplain ever elected by Assembly Of Indians
From 1874 until 1852, when he was made Bishop, he
travelled Presiding Elder through various dstrics Of
Indiana.
HAMILTON FIsH.
Hamilton Fish, ono Of tho Commissioners TO the South
though Of late not very intimately Identified with public
affairs, 10 still man well known and esteemed throush
out the country He has occupied not few very mpor-
tan and responsible Positions sustaining always fair
reputation statesman and politician He the son
Of the late Colonel Nicholas Fish, and born in this
city in the year 1soS being at present. therefore, the
ffty-fourth year Of his age. On his mothers
side. he descended from Governor Peter Stuy-
vesapt, the last Dutch Governor OF New Amsterdam.
His schooling principally derived at old Columbia
College, where be graduated with distinction. subss
quenty studied law but the management Of his
family estate has monopozed most Of his business
II will thus be that Mr. Fish Of the good old
Knickcbocker stock, being dssesndent Of Of The
fixtin al hat al
before the peaceful little colony fell under the sway Of
James II. In is4a the whis party elected him .
ber OF the twenty-sghth Congress. In 1s47 he was
chosen Lieutenant Governor, and the year following
elected Governor OF the State. His appearance on
the political stage United States New
Yo which Office he assumed IN 1851 and held for six
years with credtabls ability. His antscsdents and
char acter would At him well for the responsible
position which he has just been appointed by tho
mnis,ration. He ID exceed ngly mild, III bans and
polished in manners, possessing One ngure and gifted
with powers Of persuasion in a high degree.
Our Naval Correspondence.
UNITED STATES STEAMER De Soro
SHIP ISLAND, Doc 2S, 1861. I
CoUi ien B,t~esn ae Steamer De Soto and the French
s'oomr Nidn-A Supposed Eaemy-7he Chase-TAe
Collis;cr-Lia Of Officers, de-, dc.
On the night OF Thursday, December 20, the United
States steamer De soto while lying anchor or tho
mouth Of the Mississippi river in company with the
rigate Colorado, discovered light TO the norhward and
eastward, and supposng it to be vessel trying 10
the ckade, ordered Immediately get under
way by the captain Of the Colorado which accord
ipgly done. At O'Clock, everything being 10 readi.
ness proceeded to sea- and at half past O'Clock
all hands called to quarters, the magazine opened
and shot and shell passed on deck At two O'Clock
commenced burning signals. At this time two
miles of the pursued vessel. At fifteen minutes past
two approaching her very fast and they
und rtalsing slgnas In ny manner what
ever, began TO think her privalce and ships
company seemed anxious for the fray. The captain Of
ship at his station giving orders TO his officers
and men. The marine guard were stationed the
quarter deck, fully armed and accoutrcd, and
with this vessel, carrying away her wheelhouse
and internally iniuring her machinery, and at
the same time injuring sarboard wheel rem
der almost useless Both vessels struck broadsde on
and very lucky for both. they separated In a few mo-
merits The utmost confusion prevailed board OF the
French vessel, whic board OF ours there was not
murmur and every stood at his quarters until
dcrcd by captain who for coolness and precision
be exceled The entire ships company place the
gr atsst confidence In him. and seaman and trust
worthy they ready and willing 70 70 any place
with him. There persons injured on either
sci The De Soto fast steamer, and can overhaul
almost anything anoat
The following 10 q list Of her ofncers:-
Commander-w. VI. walker.
First Lieu cnont-R. T. B. Lewis.
Acting Nastrs-H. W. Bonoy, W. ". hastp, q. ".
Ward
Assistant ynrgen-B. Hoyt.
lssiaanf Pdym0acv-C. Adams.
Assisfanf CHEF BnstNeer-0. W. simmons.
Orderly Sergeant, In Charge Of kdrnesJohn H. Psrci
Actino Masters Ma,ss-C B. Postinssr, w. NJ McCar.
tee, g. Taylor Q. Z. STAR John Leeds.