The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-04-24

FoRT DoNELsoN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN WASHING
ToN-The rejoicing over the capture Of Fort Donel-
SON has been general and enthusiastic. Ringing OF
bells. bonfres, illuminations, aud all other modes OF
rejoicing in vogue was called into requiSition in all
the cities and larger towns of the loyal States. |
annex two paragraphs referring to the reception OF
the news in Washington and in Congress
When Gen. Mcclellan received the dispatch an
nounciug the fall Of Fort Donelson, he was sitting in
his private room with Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania,
the latter consulting relative TO the disposition of ten
Pennsylvania regiments still at Harrisburg. The
General apOlOgiZed for reading the dispatch, which
he did with a strong but suppressed emotion. Gen.
Mcclellan then took the dispatch to Secretary Stan
ton on foot through the rain. There were some 500
spectators assembled at the War Department. Gen.
Mcclellan in bTeathless haste, barely announced the
fact, when Secretary Stanton threw up his hat and
proposed three cheers, which were given amid the
greatest excitement.
The announcement o: the great victory Of Fort
Done,son to Congress. by Gen. Mcclellan, caused the
most frantic excitement. In the Senate, the audience
which crowded the galleries rose and gave one tre-
mendous cheer, which was followed by repeated onea,
when the Vice President said such demonstrations
did not interfere with the business of the Senate.
Great laughter was caused b. the announcement of
the fact that Floyd stole away.
In the House, the scene was equally enthusiastic.
During the reading of the brief but intensely exciting
dispatch, just sufficiently long, and fraught with
tidiDgs TO stir The hearts of all patriotic men, there
was an evident effort to restrain the feelings which at
its conclusion burst forth in a ringing cheer and
cllpplnP OF nahuS Sucn as we're never nelru IN the
hall before. For the first time the professional eui-
quette of the reporters gallery was broken, and this
at all times orderly, amid the d~isorderly portion of
the house, echoed with the notes of joy which in full
volume rose from floor and galleries. In vain the
punctilious Speaker struck his gavel to bring back
the House TO order. None could see improperly or
infIaction of rules in such an indulgence of patriotic
feelings, and the rejoicing went on unconfned upon
the floor. Members sprung frantically from their
seats and rushed around Mr.. COlfax as a common
centre, he retreating to the open space outside the
seats. Here congratulations went on apace as the
dispatch went from hand to hand. Amid the throng
the venerable member from Kentucky. Mr.. Critten-
den, with his gray hairs. was most distinguishable,
and for soue minutes, wherever he moved he encoun-
tered the outstretched hands of his compeers, who
congratulated him on the glorious event which had
cleared Old Kentucky of the rebels. who had so long
held in thrall the Union people Of his native State;
and heartily, and with a beaning face, did the old
patriot respond to the general feeling. The Speaker
had q busy time of it with his cArping gavel, but for
some time TO no purpose, rs it was felt that there was
no indecorum committed in such = demonstration of
joyous and loyal feeling over the victories of the
Union.