Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-28
FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The repairs TO the
Island Belle were completed at the yard on
Saturday, and, taking on board Gen. Sickles
and some officers of his brigade, she ran down
past the rebel batteries On Saturday night
without being fred at, and, after landing her
passengers at Liverpool Point, laid by until
Sunday night, when she returned to Indian
Head. On her-up trip six shots were fired at
her by the coRiederates, none taking effect.
The rebels appear to be enlarging and
Strengthening their works at Cockpit Point,
as if to make the Occoquan the main line of
defence on their right wing.
Gen. Mcclellan will appear before the spe
cial congressional committee ON western har-
Dor detences on Wednesday.
The house committee on agriculture will
probably report in favor of establishing an az.
ricutural bureau in the patent Office.
The investigating committee nave invest.
gated charges against over five hundred per
sons. The most important case is that of
Lieut.. Col Maynadier, assistant to the chief
of the ordnance, who, it is alleged, abetted
Floyd in his reasonable robberies Of the gov
eminent, of arms. etc. District Attorney Car
rington's sympathies are divided, and, con
sequently, he is not trustworthy. Paymaster
Dodge is proved to be secessionist. Lloyd
Harrison, first lieutenant in Sherman's battery,
is a secessionist. Watt, late gardener at the
White House, is secesslOnlst
Senator Hae's report from the naval COM
mittee censures Secretary Weles and MIR,
Morgan, and concludes that Qle $4,000 of
commission money now i'll the hands of the
latter belongs to the government, and should
at once be restored to the national treasury,
and a reasonable compensation be paid him
for his services.
Mr.. Reynolds, the agent of the secretary of
the treasury at Port Royal, had long inter
view with secretary Chase last night. He says
he has already secured about million dollars
worth of cotton. He has now in his employ
ment about 5000 negroes, who are at work on
different islands, gathering cotton. They are
badly clothed, and one of the objects of his
mission was to procure 1000 or 1000 suits of
clothes. He also wants four or five good ply
scians. He says the negroes work very well
and attend to their labOrs properly.
Advices from Mexico report the allies as
greatly dissatisfied with. their reception, and
accuse MiramOn of deception. Expecting to
find strong friendly party, they find the pop
ulatCn as one man against them, and realize
their present forces entirely inadequate to the
task before them. Already an outbreak, at
tended with bloodshed, has taken place be.
tween French and Spanish regiment. In
consequence it was determined that the French
forces were to land at Tampico, where, accord
made. The English at the same time are to
attack Matamoras,
The resignation of Gen. Siegel not having
been accepted, and his military abilities being
highly appreciated, he will not renew it. AS
a strong friend OF the Union he will continue
where his services can be of most use, either
In Missouri or on the Potomac A series OF
events prompted him to retire from the army,
but the more recent cause OF complaint, 1t Is
believed, will be remeded
Gen. Don Don,ngo dc Gocoaria has arrived
here to day, on important business from the
Mexican government. Advices from the city
OF Mexico, from distinguished sources, con
firm the published accounts OF the union gen
orally OF parties heretofore opposed to eacl
other, they making common cause against Eu
ropeau Invasion.
The sanitary commission has had severa
conferences recently, both with the war de
partment and the military committee of con
grcss, relative to a reorganization Of the hos
pital department 1t appears that they desire
the selection OF officers of the regular medica
staff shall be made more with regard to eff
cheney than to the prevalent usuage of senior
ity. The commission say they are acting OF
the principle that 1t is better to take precau
tonary measures against sickness in camps
than 10 fill hospitals.
The committee on lake defences, of which
representative Arnold is chairman, have beel
delayed in their action by the sickness of Gen