The New York herald., 1862-02-03

durable safe and less expensive than othershe ouIy
ection laying in tne expansion and contraction Of
material by being exposed 10 different OF tenn
perasurc Modern skill has, however, overcome this
difficulty, and they looked upon the best and
been brought to such perfection in these latter days
py no means as simple as many suppose Tho construc-
ton Of small BRIDGE may be easy process while
tnat OF iarge ons may be extremely difficult for the
strength OF the material does not increase with its
weight, and there arc limits beyond which no struc-
ture could DO carried and Withstand its own gravity
But enough OF this as not writing an essay on
bridge building but merely putting down fow random
thoughts which presented themselves while standing be-
fore Frink's patent suspension bridge ovsr the sast
branch Of the Elizabeth river.
Zie Of the defeat at Someyssf ssds yeceued here
meas men, on tie part general officers ", ere = es. ,.i
about AS definite information, beyond that contained
in the Yankee account had been received, twas gene
rally conceded the better plan to wait for further nte
gence before condemung any one. 1T seems to be a
tied opinion, hoscver that something soronq, for no
tanco or the locality Of the BATHS causes less Interest,"
than II II had been in Virginia by. StiU
disaster % our avms i kesy & 10 matter in soAa a
anxiety in Norfolk regarding tho Army Of tho Potomac,
and everyone 10 hmsnting the absence Of reliable
dencs in General Bsauregard and Generals Smith Long
Stuart and others every ono foeng satisfied that
rites they daring soldiers 70 giortoss VIC
tory psfore many more weeks roll away. ,t. asn
THE LATE sT0RM--c0NMUNICATroN WITH THE YEpE-
RALs-LOuIsIANA rRooPs--FEDERAL RINANcEs.
NORFOLK Jan. ~, 1869.
The heavy storm which for nearly weeks has ragsd
upon our coast left Saturday night and Sunday
ing was quite like May bringing its hopes for early aow
ers and spring roses The shone clear and bright and
all nature looked sweetly as young girl after pot
SO warm and pleasant was the atmosphere that the
der grew what had become Of the Iito birds; and ven
ture to say. such decided verns change caused the
overhaulng OF more than wardrobe ascertain the
condition OF spring colors and spring garments. This
morning also is very warm and pleasant although those
hoccuent Clouds suggestive of coming snow the
sun. What remarkably mild winter this has been.
And how kindly God has dealt with us In tempertng the
season to necessitiesi ia t-
Since my last letter there have been three ags Of truce
TO with the onsmy at Fortress Monroe but
porant items probably, regarding the question OF
finance now troubling tho Yankee rulers seriously.
Immune plans have been suggested for tho purpose
Of "rais.ng the wind, - and day by day now and
brilliant scheme has been laid before Congress for Its
consideration. majority Of these have been thrown
aside of their complex and difficult provi-
sons some because the delegates Of tho New York Bos
ton aud Philadelphia banks would not listen to them
others because they gave offence to the people Of tbs
Northwestern States, upon whom the heaviest part
their burthcn would TALL Considering the that the
is deeply debt these plans are somewhat remarkable
on account OF their boldness and their gigantic
at the Treasury Department. and looking suspiciousy
the enormous OF the government would
suppose the financial leaders would be little modest
in their demands upon the public purse but, the
trary, they entertain schemes OF magnitude unheard Of
In history and beside which the little speculation OF the
ps IN the purchase Of r.
tail business All Of these have said been thrown
aside and decided upon based system OF direct
taxation. / have hoard from private souIce-and the
newspaper accounts TO corroborate that the fol-
lowing plan meets with the approval OF the CabinstA
bill has beon reported by tho COMMITTEES Of Ways and
Mcals to levy direct tax OF hundred and ity mil
lion dollars for q series OF years. and ur0n this basis to
issue immediately ve hundred million OF Treasury noses
The objections TO this this plan arers the people or
the Northwest decidedly opposed TO direct taxation
second the banks not disposed to receive the Teasu
~ notes. third it Is doubtful in the face OF such opposi
tion il they be forced into circulation My business
s merely TO state facts So shall enter into argument
upon these but leave every one to draw y their %
meets with tho public approva will furnish the means
OF greatly rrolongng the war have no doubt but that
all other projects have fai,ed. e'li faie' et.
Yesterday the 2sh being the anniversary Of the %.
Of a now IN s r.. ah ns
upon Sunday, the entertainments were mostly given
to-day; but some. believe, chose Saturday a.
their reception day, while others followed the
creole custom and gave dinner on Sunday. In
company with delightful party Of Norfolk ladies' and
gentlemen visited tho camp of the Third Louisiana hat
tnlion some few miles out OF the city where wo wore
promised review, flag raising dinnor. dance and
warm welcome. Leaving the city at twelve by special
train, half hours ride placed beside and
quiet village Of log huts located in small pine clearing
close by which was drawn up body Of as fine and sol
diarly looking men as would wish to see. AS tho
cars stopped greeted by tho music Of an
excellent band which escorted through the line Of
soldiers dc into the % pacs formed ey the rows
pants While the ladies retired 10 their reception room.
few Of wandered around the enclosure to how
volunteers lived, and agreeably surprised at the
neaucss and orderly appearance Of the quarters. y
Before going further will that this is the battalion
which many hard thngs have boon said by the
public account Of its having contained desperate
and bad men, who brought disgrace upon ALL II has
since well pruncd and under command Of Coanei
Bradford has become really well disciplined and desra
BILE corps II was originally raised by Tochman and was
known az the Polish brigade. Perhaps some may hold
but wait until you hear through. The following IS
the prcsen. organization OF the battalion:-
Lieutenant CoIonc--C. NJ Bradford.
Maor-Edmund Pendlston.
Adjuiant--A. Marks. .f .f.- -...4 .
surgeon--Dr Cromwell, OF Georgia
First CornpanyCaptain, A. Brady; Iieu.enants Mer-
rick McCefand and Marks
second Coupany--Captain, r. A. Wilkinson; I.ieuten-
ants Egan ,Penrcse and Jomison. r
Third Comiauy-CaptaiD. VIM. Patrick; Lieutenants,
Bowman, Pardce and Cram. 4t
Fourth Company--captain, Levi T. jennings; Lieuten.
Fifth Company-captan, S. D. Mechcsney; Iieutenaa,s
Haynes, Murray and shaw.
!. sixth company-cap,ain, W. H. Murphy; IAeu,snanss
Seventh company-csptan. william C. Niche; Lieu
tenants Brigham, Bowman and Andrews.
Eighth CompanyCz plain, Jos. r. Withurup; Iieutcn-
ants Doubilier, Miller ond -. 8. rr.sr.
The companies are all full and the men in as nne health
and physical condition as any have seen since coming 10
this post. ~ t.a-fh
In passing around tho quarters found that the
order quiet and prevailed in everything
How s IT, said TO my guide, ''if these men as
wild and nruy as represented that they take such care
Of themselves, their and their hocseg;'
'Because, ~ he replied ''Coiune Bradford has taught
them he motto, "A place for everything and everything
in its place."
The cabins about forty in number built in the
form OF square, leaving large and level compass Of
parade ground in the centre. They uniform in size
and appearance thirty by twenty feet having capacious
frcplaces tne brick chiunies and in a majority or
cases, glass windows and half glass doors The roofs
covered with shingles made by the men, the batta
lion having drawn from the government brick for their
chimnies, instead Of shingles. Inside tcrc some
similarity in the arrangement Of furniture although that
was left entirely the Of the II optional
with them Sleep IN double single beds, To have the
hunks arranged like Steamboat berths, es double
beds a. in ordinary houses, or like the single cots
OF hospital ward. The best arrangement undorbt
ediy hunks above the other placed in OF tho
room. Tho beds neatly made up and had plenty
OF warm and clearly looking blankets, furnished nm
told BY the State OF Louisiana. In every house thcro
WIS table several ingenoasy constructed cupboards
board chairs rocking chairs sofas, otoans and in
instance saw q charming tee-ateto setting before
blazing pine knot rc All had racks upon side for the
arms and cleaner brighter get OF muske's have
seen in the army since commenced writing about 10,
than twelve months ago. There many othsr
little arrangements I would like TO montpn dd rot
forbid. for house contained some peculiar