Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-03
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
NAVY YARD.

NAVY YARD.
There has been no arrival at the yard from the
notiIla since the Stepping stones came up night
before last, and we are therefore without news
from the Lower Potomac.
IL 10 not known ut the yard whether the Ana
costa bombsrded the battery at Postum nose
Point Yesterday, as expected, or not.
The Stepping stones made the run up rom
Indian Head in two hours. She started down
sgain yesterday afternoon with stores for the
lower fotiIIa, and was to have run the blockade
IL the night was dark enough. In this connec-
ton we have q suggestion to make to the ofacel
of Gen. Hooker's division. It is this-that they
remove their camp fires at Budds Ferry fur
ther from the river shore. The rebels II ap-
pears, az soon as the fires are lighted, aim their
loaded guns directly at them. IL a steamer
or other vessel passes the light Of Gre after ee is
momentarily eclipsed, and just at the instant OF
observation the guns which have been aimed are
fred and the chances fair that the intervening
object will be struck The steamers are not visi-
BILE at night when the moon 10 shining, as has
been abundantly proved, and these low camp
fires add considerably to the risk Of running the
batteries.
The laborers at the yard-about two hundred
have been busy lately under the direction of their
foreman, Mr.. White, In grading and graveling
about the yard. Thus the approaches to the sew.
eral wharves and slips on the river front are now
at all times hard and dry. The large open space
at the west side OF the yard-heretofore a mud
hole-hss been filed and covered with gravel
and cinders, making fine avenue along towards
the ordnance department. Many other recent i'm.
provements are due to the energy Of the excellent
officers In charge Of the yard.
GENERAL sRNHAM,s CASE
We apprehend that the correspondent Of the
Associated Press, and many others who are
writing to papers far and wide that the charge:
against General Benham have been virtually
quashed by the Commander-in-chief,a are wholly
In error. The court ofinquiry reported to court
martial him. and we learn he demanded Is wit
nesses necessary to his due defence the attendance
OF many officers now serving under General Buell.
In Kentucky, whose presence there at this Juno.
ture cannot possibly be dispensed with, excep
with great Injury to the public interest Hence
IL became absolutely necessary to postpone the
trial, unless denying him the attendance OF the
parties for whom he asks as being necessary tc
his due defense
IL Is plain that so soon as circumstances will
permit the attendance Of his witnesses here, the
trial will take place.
RETURNED.
Capt. Dickinson, OF Sd infantry, u 8 A. and
Captains Shillington and Monson, of the New
York 79th-late prisoners in Richmond-reacbed
Fortress Monroe, by flag Of truce, yesterday, and
this city this forenoon. They left in Baltimore
Lieut.. Hart, 81 the Indiana 10Th, and Corporal
McDonou2h, Of the New York 18th, released nj
the same time with them. All Of these GENTLE
men are as well as could have been expected afe,
their long imprisonment-since the battle Of Bull
Run.
U. 8. STEAMER CONNECTICUT
Persons. having friends on board any vessel O,
Flag Officer Du Points quadron and the SQUADRON
In the Gulf Of Mexico, can have their letters OF
packages postage and express charges prepaId)
forwarded to their destination and safely delIv.
cred, by sending them to Mcbride Bros No 176
Washington street, New York. The Connection,
will sail Monday, January 6, 1862
COMPLIMENTARY
On last evening Major Delaney FLOYD Jones,
OF The llth regiment Of U. 8. infantry, was sere-
naded at the bachelor rancho of Capts RuuyIes
Lully and Gibson, No i5I y .treet nv tho excoI
lent band attached to the First Long Island regi-
ment.
GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
Gen. Mcclellan has been transactinp business
for two days past at his residence his health hav
ing so far improved as that he will doubtless he
out again as soon the current severely cold
weather moderates.