Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-25

From Washings0n.
wAsuueroS. Jan. M-The specials contain
the following: -s-s s..e - =
The House Military Committee authorized the
chairman 20 report bill to enlarge the Illinois
and Michigan canal 10 ship canal for war pur-
poses. tas ls.sss =
A j. Mead. of Kansas. has declined his ap-
pontment uron Gen. Lanes staff
3 Ii is understood that the staff viii not be con-
frmed as q whole by the Senate. -
A correspondent Of the Times, writing from
camp near Budd's Ferry, Nd, says:
The rebels on the opposite shore not only FIRE
quently come down to the beach in the morning
and derisively cry out to our pckets our counter
sign of the night previous. but acquaint Us with
what ls known by but one officer of the entire
division. what is TO be the counterisn Of the en-
suing night
They also boast of having. by means of our
countersign. travelled along our entire division
lines and ascertained our exact locality. numbers
Sc.
. Ii this be so they must be familiar with our
secret signals which are now issued in connection
with our countcrsign.
The Timess special saws:
The postal reform bill, introduced by Mr.. Col
fax, now pending in the House, proposes tax of
three cents each on all telegraphic dispatches,
cept those on business connected with the gov
eminent of the company owning the line, and
except also news and Congressional reports for the
press.
Mr.. Holt, the predecessor of the present Post
master General estimated that by telegraphic
dispatches the Government lost 81 100000 of
revenue annually.
The Heraid's dispatch SAYS:
Early this morning our advance pickets at Bar
ret's Hill, saw eleven mounted rebels at dis
lance of about two miles, on the Alexandra and
Leesburg turnpike.
They came within mile of our pickets and
then turned and went up district road in the di.
recton OF Fairfax Court House
Subsequently Lieut.. Seymour, Of Gen. Nor
rell's staff, went out with detachment of ORA
goons, in quest of the accommodating rebels, bat
without obtaining any glimpse OF them.
This is the first time any rebel force has shown
itself this side of Difficult creek since the remoy-
al of their picket lines, about a month ago.
WASHINGTON, January 2i-The Navy Depart
ment has received dispatches from flag officer
Mexican, dated Ship Island, January {. in which
he reports the arrival nj that place OF the United
States steamer Mercedita. and the United States
gun boats Winand and Sycamore. BY the FIRST
named vessel he had received the communication
of the Secretary of the Navy, and says in accord
ance Herewith he shall dispatch the frigate Pc
tomac to Vera Cruz - ~
Having been informed on the 3lst of Dec
that rebel steiner was at anchor near Biloxi,
he dispatched Commander Smith, with the
| steamers Water Witch New London and Henry
Lewis, to capture her. but upon reaching Biloxi
it Was found she had been removed. - -
| Commander Smith demanded the surrender of
the towns, which was complied with. and a de
tachment OF seamen and msrines landed. A small
sand battery destroyed. and two gurs-a 3
and 8 pouRder-brought off. as
The place was found almost deserted by the
male population. but was crowded with women
and children.
A schooner loaded with lumber captured
and brought out by the Henry Lewis. She is a
very useful prize. The lumber was much needed
by the Quartermaster for the construction of
store houses and the schooner Is making ser
viceable lighter.