Litchfield enquirer., 1862-01-02

BY THE arrival of the steamship Empire City we have advices from Beaufort, to Dec, "A. and Port Royal to the 25th. Nothing of importance had transpired since the sailing of the Baltic A reconnaissance fifteen miles from Beaufort had been made by the 18th Hghlanders on the 2Oth, resulting in the capture of six prisoners. A rebel boat, which came down in Warsaw chan nel to see if the coast was clear for the English steamer Fingal, (now cotton-laden at Savannah to get out, was obliged to run ashore where she was taken. Two of her crew were captured .- The much needed hospital is to be built, but as the expedition of Gen. Tiele is not to sail, and achievements are constantly arriving, it is ob- vious that the original estimates will need to be enlarged, to provide sufficient shelter for the sick. A skirmish with the enemy had taken place at Port Royal Ferry without loss on our side. By the Charleston papers it appears that moro than half of their troops have been with drawn from Virginia to defend the soil of South Carolina. Recent reconnoisances make 1t ap peer that the rebels expect us to advance upon Charleston, and have resolved to abandon every point between that city and Port Royal, south of James Island. A desperate stand is evident ly to be made at Stono Inlet, whose entrance, on the south of James Island, is the appfoach to Charleston. An additional force has been sen, to Tybee Island, and affairs appear to be ap preaching crisis there Our men are erecting batteries, and Fort Pulaski is battering away at them, but doing them no sort of mischief. There are now from 5000 to 1000 more negroes on the islands than when our troops first landed, many of them often coming long distances, leaving homes and families, enduring fatigue and bray ing dangers, to be free Four came from Flori- da in an open boat. Did they come in vain ?- A Charleston telegram to Fortress Monroe re ports that tSsf~e of our gunboats had passed up to White Pond, on the North Edsto, and made demonstration on the 27th against c Gen. Evan s forces, and that battle was hourly expected. This is probably the previously announced move- ment to take possession of tho Charleston and Savannah railroad at that point.
 THE Louisville Journal reports q skirmish in Ad ,ms county, Ky, in which the confederate loss was five killed and the federal none. Hum phrey Marshall, heading 6,5oo troops, is forify ing Prestonburg, and it is expected that he will soon march towards Maysville. Gen. Buell. has ordered q brigade under Col. Garfield, forward and battle is expected very shortly. Attach ments were filled in the Chancery Court on sa- turday, under the law subjecting the property of rebels to con6scation who remain in the ofoIo do ftor sage. Processes were issued against the pro- perty of General Buckncr, ex-Minister Preston, and Edward Contchfeld to the amount of $20,- 900 each. and in smaller sums against severa others.
 THE provisions of the bill for promoting the efficiency of the Navy by retiring all officers who have been in service forty-fve years, recently passed by Congress and approved by the Presi dent, affect forty-nine of our commodores, who are thus swept overheard. The President, how ever, with the consent of the Senate, can con tinue in service such as he may deem competent for active service; and it is understood that he will thus continue Commodores Goldsborough, Dupont McKean and Bell.
 THE Irish inhabitants of Montreal (Canada) held a meeting on Monday last to consider the propristy of raising a militia battalion for the British service, and Darcy McGee and others was very boisterous, and considerable opposition was made by tho Irishmen present. Cheers were given for Thomas Francis Meagher and for the sixty-ninth New York Regiment, and good deal of sympathy was exhibited for the Ameri- can cause. When McGee professed extra loyal ty to England the audience made some very sharp and cutting retorts. It is evident that England cannot depend positively on her Irish subjects in the provinces.
 THREE regiments of Gen. Wardworth's Bri- gade accompanied by reserve of two regiments went on foraging expedition on Friday to within mile of Fairfax Court House and re- turned with eighty leads of forage. Another expedition obtained seventy loads on Saturday from the same neighborhood.
 It has been discovered that despite the pre- cautions of the government, merchandise and mails are continually carried from St. Mary's, county Md to Virginia. It is also known that communication is held with the rebels on the Upper Potomac.
 The smaller class of vessels still run the rebel blockade of the Potomac with impunity. The schooner Three Sisters, loaded with wood which was sunk of Boyds Hole week since suffered from field artillery that had been drawn close to the Virginia shore by the enemy ata point 50 far below their fixed batteries that the officers of the vessel were taken unawares. Such mis. hap will not occur sgain. ..
 TIE Thirteenth Regiment is steadily filling up. having already about 500 men. The regi- ment has fine quarters, and the men are rapidly improving in drill and discipline under thsif excellent officers. A large number spent tno'r Christmas at home. The ladies of Norwicn nave offered to furnish the hospital with all the 'y"- forts needed by the sick. This is noOie'
 GENERAL HALLrcK has issued m order In rsss lation to fugitive slaves which prevents tneir being confined or sold on the presumption tnat they are slaves.