The New York herald., 1862-02-18
NEW YORK HERALD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 49, 1862

Oh engineers las been extensively circulated through th
army and now intelligent and practical knowledge of
ths effective use OF tho bayonet is fast becoming
favorite as it is importan, branch of the soldiers
education The vast preparations and brilliant opera
tons Of our armies demonstrate that il the war, as
Mcclellan said. cantt be long," it certainly "may be
desperate"
TROPHIES OF VICTORY.
dozen Confederate flags, taken upon the field Of
battle at Mill Spring, in Kentucky, and exhibited
at tho Atjutaht Generals Office in the War Department
as tro hies of tho campaign, attract much attention
Each be rs the name Of the corps regiment to which
1t belonged, ami notices peculiar to socessonism.
THs CONGRESSIONAL CELEBRATION OF wAsHINGToN's
BIRTHDAY.
The for the Congressional celebration of
the ed OF February grand SCALE The House of
Representatives is 10 no appropriately decorated II Is
long since there has been 70 NAL by Cong
Of wsshingtons birthday and this WILL under the
supervision Of Speaker Grow and his assistants be made
worthy Of the occasion.
THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES.
There is much speculation to the purpose Of the
House Judiciary Committee In the singular course
adopted in their Investigations under color Of the reso
lution authorizing them to inquire into the teegraphc
censorship of the press The particular subject of the
resolution appears to have been utterly lost sight Of and
the committee after having nstituteda dgent search
for the by which the Herald into possession
Of information which not intercepted by the tee-
graphic censor apparently devotng their ener
gies to investigation Of the domestic economy
of the White House. The course Of the examination
OF nearly all the witnesses that have been before the
committee for week past has been almost exclusively
to this point This evinces much curiosity than
pertinence to the subject Of the resolution but neither
the searching catechzaon Of Wikon Sickles and Watt
the voluntary statements Of the President himself
find out something that does exist They have evl-
IDENTIFY been sed by false SCENT and the they
to the original purpose Of the authority conferred
upon hem the better will be for themselves for Con-
gress and the country.
TEE ARMY IN THE WEST AND THE TELEGRAPH LINES.
Yesterday the military telegraph, tho lines Of tho
American Tel 81 aph Company and those OF the Western
Union Company connected with the headquarters
Of Major General Mcclellan and put in direct commune
cation with General Buel, at louisville General Halleck
at ST. Louis, and Commodore Foote at Cairo. By the
arrangement tho messages of the Gensral-inC Chisi
to each commander repeated at the
time to the others. The distance travelled by
the electric fluid at writing was over
300 miles. The communication was maintained from
eleven o'clock in the morning till six in the evening"
with tho promptness Of personal interview; and not
only gave entire satisfaction but called forth the warmly
expressed admiration OF the distinguished correspon-
dents
CONSOLIDATION OF THE IRISH REGIMENTS.
General Thomas It. Meaghsr and the principal olcsrs
of tho Irish Brigade except Colonel Nugon of the Sixty
ninth, who is out with his regiment upon picket duty
waited upon Secretary Stanton to-day and laid before
him request that the various Irish regiments scattered
throughout the Army Of the Potomac may be consolidated
In division, under under cVnmand OF General Shields
with the ranl, Of Major General. Secretary Stanton
ivcd ilio nd med To
subject before the President and the Chis
At the earliest opportunity.
ENLARGEMENT or THE CANAL FROM CHICAGO TO TIE
MISSISSIPPI.
special meeting hold by tho House Committee
on Military Affairs this morning, consider the prqpo
stons Of delegation from Chicago, headed by Dr. Bra
uard in reference to the enlargement OF tho present
canal from Chicago to the Mississippi tho construction
of ship canal. 1t was urged upon tho committee
that military as well q commercial necessity, exists
for such improvement, for In the event Of with
England gunboas could bc brought into this akos through
tho proposed canal from the Mississippi river. Three
propositions wcro mado estimating respectively the cost
at thrteon eleven and nine millions Of dollars II was
proposed onquish to the the tolls Of the
Illinois canal which would be much increased BY tho
contemplated enlargement, and In the opinion Of the
delegation would be sufficient 10 pay the interest of the
COST Mr. Blair chairman Of tho committee, direcled
10 prepare bill.
Tho construction Of this ship canal 1t will be rscol
lected, strongly recommended by the select
mttes on the doonces and Notifications Of tho great
lakes aud rivers as part Of their system Of national
dcfencos.
TIE DEFENCEs OF MAINE,
The agent OF tho State OF Manc Mr. Poor has received
official notification of the passage by the Legislature Of
that State Of rendering TO tho federal government
loan Of whatever amount Of money may be required to
be expended in the construction and completion OF fort
ncations and works OF national defence within the boun-
dares Maine for the protection Of her harbors and
coast Mr. Poor Is directed to lay this act before the
President and Congress. and request immediate action
Maine has thus nob'y AID promptly responded 10 NJ
Stewards circular 10 the Governors Of tho States border
Ing upon the lakes and the seaboard.
ARRIVAL OF coNrRABASps.
Thirteen contrabsnds came in this morning within tho
picket lines of Genera! McDowolls division Tboy Of
various ages from old whitoheaded man, who says
no is JUS, seventy infant in tho Of its mohcr
Lieutenant Livingston OF General Buttcrlelds stan
brought them this city, and delivered them the care
OF the proper authorities.
contaband also brought In to-day by the Fourth
Michigan regiment, on their return from picket duty
Colonel Woodbury. sent him to this city. Hs says
he was the slave OF Mr.. Iahm, an officer in tho rebel
army.
ARMY.
General Dirney has boon assigned 10 the command OF
brigade in Como. al Hcintzemans division in place OF
General scdgwck, who detailed to the command Of
General Stone division.
Captain Thomas II. Noale of the Third regular infantry
has appoated Colonel to Oil the vacsncy rnado by
tho promotion Of Colonel Brney.
ARRESTS OF SPIES.
The pickeis attached to General McIowelis division
this morning brought In spy. Ho dressed cit.
zens clothes, had throo days rations and refused
surrender until he fred al throo times. He was
taken to General wadsworth's headquarters, where he
refused 10 give mis- nams. any particulars regarding
himself. General wsdsworth ordered his transfer TO
this city and he is confined in tho Capitol Hill
pison.
As party Of the Fourth Michigan regiment, Colonel
Woodbury. was out target shooting to-day they ssred
suspicious looking ndiv dua rapid tracks toward