Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-25
Great Destruction Of
Property:
FROM SALT LAKE CITY.
UTAH ALL RIGHT,
Coo. cGCs Coo
From, Warrington.

| NhW IoRkJ JAM S4-opeclal6 from wash
ington contain the following. The House mill
tary committee day authorized the chairman
to report bill to enlarge the Illinois and Mich
| igan canal to ship canal for war purposes
A. ]. Mead, Of Kansas, has declined his ap
pointment upon Gen. Lanes staff IL is under
stood that the staff announced will not be con.
| firmed as whole by the Senate.
A correspondent of the Times writing from
Camp near Budd's Ferry, says the rebels on the
opposite shore not only frequently come down
to the beach OF a morning, and derisively CRY
out to our pickets Que countersign Of the night
previous, but acquaint us with what Is known by
but one officer OF the entire division, what is to
be the countersjgn of the ensuing night They
also boast OF having, by means of our counter.
| sign, Travelled along our entire division lines
and ascertained our exact locality, numbers,
etc. If this beso, they must be familiar with
our secret signs, which are now issued in con.
nection with our countersign.
The Times dispatch says the postal reform
bill introduced by Mr.. Colfax, now pending iu
the House, proposes tax of three cents each
on all telegraphic messages except those on
business of the Government, of the company
owning the line; and except also news and
Congressional reports for the press Mr. Holt,
the predecessor of the present postmaster gem
bThl, eSllWulou buhb Dy tolckrhpulC ulBDHLCueH
the Government lost $40 900, 900 Of revenue an
nually. ,.... H'
The Herald dispatch says that early tbia
morning our advanced pickets at Barrett's Hill,
saw eleven mounted rebels at. distance OF
about two miles on the Alexandria and Lees.
burg Turnpike, They came within q mile of
our picket line, and then turned up dirt road
in the direction Of Fairfax Courthouse Snb-
sequently, Lieut. Seymour, OF Gen. Morrill's
staff, went out with detachment of dragons
in quest of the accommodating rebels, but with
out obtaining any glimpse OF them. This ia
the first time say rebel force has shown itself
this side of Difficult creek since the removal of
their picket line about month ago
The Navy Department has received dispatch.
es from Flag Mexican, dated Ship Isl-
and, jan 9Th, in which he reports the arrival
at that place of the U. S. steamer Mercedita,
and.U. s. gunboats Union and Sycamore. By
the first named he had received the communi-
cation Of the Secretary Of the Navy, and says
in accordance Herewith he shall dispatch the
frigate Potomac to Vera Cruz. -.l Ip a..
Having been informed on the 3lst of Deem
ber that rebel steamer was at anchor near
Biloxi, he dispatched Commander Smith, with
the steamers WaterWitch, New London and
Henry Lewis TO capture her; but upon reaching
Biloxi 1t was found she had been removed
Commander Smith demanded the surrender of
the town, which was complied with, and de-
tachment OF seamen and marines landed. A
small sand battery was destroyed, and two guns,
a 8 and 6-pounder, brought off. .-1fr-.s'
The place was almost deserted BY the male
population, but was crowded with women and
children. s- ~. ~ f.lr ....
A schooner loaded with lumber was captured
and brought out by the Henry Lewis. She is a
very useful prize, the lumber being much need
ed by the army quartermaster for the construc-
ton of storehouses, aud the schooner making q
servicable lighter. 80
The undersigned committee appointed BY he
Sigel mass meetings held on the 10Th and 18th
inst, in New York and Brooklyn, in order to
present the unanimously accepted resolutions to
his Excellency, the President, hereby respect
fully report that his Excellency the President
has honored US this morning by an audience,
and after the reading and presentation of the
resolutions, we have received the following
reply T ,as na att
Neither the original resignation Of Gen. Sigel
nor any official dispatch In regard to 1t has as
yet been received by the President from the
commander-in chief of the army in Missouri,
and all the information the President is so far
in possession Of has been gathered from the
daily journals. However, being desirous to re.
tain in the service Of the United States so emil
nent an officer as Gen, Sigel, whom none could
esteem higher than his excellency did, he (the
Presldent) had already, before being informed
Of the petitions and resolutions of the adopted
citizens of German birth, instituted Inquiries
with q view to redress any wrong which may
have been done to Gen. Sigel. ssass-ss
AT the same time his Excellency the Presi-
dent reassured US of his determination that
while he should decline the acceptance of Gen.
6igel's resignation, he intended to give him
command In or out of Missouri, In accordancs
with his established abilities. The interest of
the service did not demand at,preeent an addi.
tion to the number of the Major Generals of the
army, but as soon as such necessity should ex-
ist the claims OF Gen. Sigel should be consid-
cred as among the first in order. as...
The President further remarked that since
sigel bad been appointed Brigadier General,
nothing had transpired to diminish his exalted
opinion Of the eminent talents and capabilities
of Gen. Sigel; but on the contrary, all ascer-
tanned facts had combined to confirm the same
in every manner possible. N t'N
y His Excellency the President took further oc-
easion to express his sincere satisfaction with
the patriotism shown by the adopted citizens of
German birth during this unholy rebellion, and
particularly acknowledged the go well known
and meritorious services of Gen. Franz Sigel.
Signed by the committee """
10 executive session, the Senate confirmed
Judge Swayne as Judge of the Supreme Court,
and P. II. Watson as Assistant Secretary of
War. saSs4 N2 S'.a " = 14.s.@ ~,
The House committee on Commerce has be-
fore them the question Of the reciprocity treaty
between the United States and Great Britain y
81 = ! 81 u :