, 1862-01-09

The Rebel Pickets Strengthened Along
the Upper Line.
HEAVY FIRE AT MENDOZA, I'LL.
Pennsylvania has Furnished l24,.
600 Men to the War,
INDIANA DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION


Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1852.
A brief report Of the Port Royal ferry af-
fair has been received from Gen. Sherman.
He incloses his instructions to Gen. Stevens,
who, he says, carried them out completely.
He was to make dash on the enemy, destroy
their batteries, because they obstructed the
river, ind had fred on the Mayhower, and then
return to the Island, which he did with little
loss.
Norfolk papers lie this affair into rebel
victory, and talk about bayonet charges, Of
which there were none. Of the next days
operations no account is received.
The Norfolk Day Book Of the 9Th says the
Ella Wortlcy, now blockaded at Charleston,
escaped from Nassau while the Flambeau,
forbidden By British authorities to coal there,
was gone for coal. The vessel was chased
and barmlessly fired on BY the blockading fleet.
A Confederate bearer Of dispatches from Eu-
rope was'a passenger. The other passengers
were English and Scotch.
Several more fires had recently occurred in
Charlcston.
The saw mill in the Norfolk Navy Yard was
fired By an inceudiary, but the fire was extin-
guished.
Mr.. Hcmphill, formerly Senator from Texas,
died at Richmond on Saturday
The British frigate Imn,ortaiite las been at
Annapolis for three da.S. She unqucstiona-
bly, came there from Bermuda for Lord Lyons,
who won't take her at present. Capt. Ham
cock, her Commander, is here.
Gov. Gilpin, Of Colorado, is here. He speaks
very favorably Of the product Of Pixies Peak
mines, from which he has fine specimens.
At a Cabinet meeting, lasting from to II
O'Clock, Monday night, a joint committee on
tile conduct Of the war was present, and urged
the necessity Of movement BY the army.
Wade and others used the strongest language.
Singu1arly enough, no Cabinet officer is more
war]ike than Bates; none less SO than Blair.
1t is questionable whether the rebels will
take the Missouri recruits recently captured
in exchange for their Union prisoners. Five
hundred more rebel captiyes will be sent
South Immediately.
/ The Provost Guard are for the first time
carrying into effect the regulation adopted af:
| ter Bull Run, forbidding negroes from wear
ing military costume. These yaliant troopers
may be seen hourly on tho Avenue strip
ping the luckless African.
The Philadelphia delegation have appointed
| d committee to cooperate with the committee
! the House on the harbor dcfcnccs Of Phila-
| dclphia.
| The released Richmond prisoners are still at
Baltimore The three months men will be
| paid and discharged, and all others fnrloughed.
| In the Kerrigan case the prosecution il
| closed, and the defence arc introducing evi
dence, explaining his visit beyond the lines.
Some more serious frauds in the clothing dc.
partment, the Board Of Survey are now exam.
| lining. They find fimsey material and bad
| workmanship. A clothing bureau will he re.
commended to Congress, comprising main
! depot at Washington, with branches at Phila
| dclpAia, New York and Boston Mcigs has
more to do than is possible for one man.
Rev. Wilmer, Of Philadelphia, arrived a few
days since at Fortress Monroe, On his way te
Richmond, with twenty trunks, which, on cx
animation, were found full of cloth, sewing
and writing materials, coffee, and other con
traband articles, and in the lining Of his clothes
were numerous maps and letters. In his
white cravat were Illustrated weeklies and
full account Of Burnside's expedition, will
epeculatioDs as to its destination.