The New York herald., 1862-02-04
this momcnt have not heard anything of an attack or

this mamcnt have not heard nythng OF attack
Yesterday morning Acting Brgadier General Max
Weber went a reconno ssance to Newport News. He
accompanied by company OF mounted rifle mon, in
Command Of Captain S A. Mellck Major Chas. @ Dodge,
who commands the battalion, also mpaned the expe
dition, aud highly complmented by General Weber
the efficiency and discipline ei his command. Beside
the above officers laut lo Francis Weiss and Adutant
Charles Lorch, Of the Twentieth regiment New YORK
Volunteers; Captain H. 81 Burley, Provost Marshal OF
Camp Hamilton, and Dr. X B Brown, Brigade Surgeon
were also o. the party. On the way 10 Newport News
not the slightest obstruction Observed aud on ar
Camp Butler, Newport News, the reconnoiterng
party were received with great enihusasn and deaIen
ing cheers given for Cen Max Weber by the troops
at The latter place When the reconnierng party
turned it after dark. and the object for which 1t
went out was obtained to the satisfaction Of the ccm
manling officer
commission. consisting of Major Joseph Roberts,
CAPTAIN Il. " W. Howard. Company L; Captain Frederick
NJ Foeti Company d. and Captain Richard Lodor. al OF
the Fourth regiment United States Artillery. is at present
in decide the merits Of an invention OF
Casta in Joseph Stewart. Of the Third artillery, whereby
barhete Guns be 10 and from battery by means
of 81: di.ss with great ease and rapiity. captain
Stewa. has been here ow days and yesterday applied
tho ap- ten-inch coumbad, in the p'esence3
the Commission, all OF whom expressed themselves
highly satisfied with the result of the experiment
The advantages Of this apparatus so great that ono
ha.de the heaviest gum whereas tho Old and
prescribed rule makes necessary for four men at least
TO heave gun into battery. The commission nave not
yet reported; but have no doubt that tho Invention
viii be adopted by the government and at once applied
Of the above commission has received splendid new
battery Parrot guns and also new set OF horses and
equipments Captain Howard is deserving of this dis
tincton a. he IS braye and gallant olG0r Prior TO
his coming here he served in Western Virginia with
General Rosecans where ha was terror 70 te eJt a ~
At a future time shall give sketch OF TIE le OF
Captain Howard; also, some other nne o!cefs s'atoeo
hero
FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. 27, 1862.
The Harlan Court Martial CSmmenced-DepG't'ae o. NE
United States Sloopef- Var Pensacola for Ship i&and-
A17iral of ahe United Saates GunJoat Monticello fyom
WGnlingcon, ~. C.-The United Stats Brig Perry RanS
the Potomac Bloctdde AMI Arrires Safe in Hampto"
Roads-Tne Bockadtng Steamer Daylight paired
Nos-Arrirat Of Ue s. n. rau,ding from Port Royat-
Ansicty About Her--Scom Of the Niney-ninh RGimen
Nco Fork Vorsntetrs-They Cap.ure Teo Boats and De
st,ou eren Oilers Ne,p Establishment If he adams En-
press C1mpany-Appotntn,ert Of Special De'ity Pro-
poa MoiShdl-Decfces for Smn0ctasg Ltlaors-Hedvy
Firing at c. aney Land-Masonic Cesetaim de-, dc.
The Harlan Court Martial commence! its session this
morning eleven O'Clock Acting Erigader General Max
WcSer, who appointed President Of the court, was
excused from serving the trial, inasmuc as lie had
been engaged tho Board of Examination having the
ect of the efficiency &C., of Colonel Harlan undor
consideration, which consumed about sixteen days
Colonel Joseph b. Carr of the Second regiment New York
Volunteers stationed at Camp Butler (Newport News)
being next in rank, appointed President instead
Major George Stcze sonor Major Of the Eleventh reg
ment Pennsylvania cavalry. was the only witness cxa
mined before the court adjourned for the day. From
p esent indicate it would seem that the trial OF Colonel
Harlan will occupy long time, large number Of wit
M sses dc subpenaed for the prosecution and tho do
fence. = =
Tie United States soop war pensacoA, Capaia Nor
rs has ordered to proceed to Ship Island aud 10
carry Majors Watson and Locke, United States paymas
ters to pay the troops at present stationed thero
Cbo aft har anchor 90 at
o'clock p From tho fact OF her having made 80 mar
row a. escs n o fthe rebel batteries while running tho
blockade Potomac tho Pensacola has excited con.
siderable interest while in Hampton Roads, and great
numbers of oces and others took occasion to visit hor
She s splendid vessel, and from tho efficiency Of her
oIlcers crow and batteries great things may
bo expected.
Tho Uutei States gunboat Monticello, Lieutenant
Braino commanding arrived here this morning from
Wilmington North Carolina, where she has boon doing
duty The blockade.
The Untol States brig Perry into Hampton Roads
yesterday afternoon from Washington, having succcss
fully run the blockade Of the Potomac Tho batteries at
Cockpit Point Aqua crock and EvanspOr opened fro ON
her but either the rebel did not their
business or the darkness Of the night prevented thcm
from Distinguishing her At all events she arrived mere
The eanbost Daylight, Commander Dennison formerly
stationed c Cape Henry came INTO inc nsroo TINS even
going repairs Baltimore and has had number cf i'm
provemcns made in her machinery and about the wood
vo sci is present in the harbor having run down
'or a fresh supply Of provisions
-uting party, composed OF four companies OF the
aAiJ'r,tb r,..iment New York Volunteers (Iormorly
M pr,eadct IA c66IfhAMd OF Captains James W. Hart
N.ya wHe and Lieutenant Csuley and s3aa.n S .,cS :.
the E!ev. nmand Of Colonel d. W. wardrop and Major
nsnt 10 co. H. sent out yesterday by Acting brsa
Kichard N1I K Weber to the Back river. last we.x
dier General NJ number Of boats thore, and could
our pickes iount my rakng for oysters Aiorryman
was apprehendcd an The scouting party mentioned
still kept in eonfncmcn possession OF tho boats, and
either bring them iu, or, accompanied the exr obi
them. A number Of wagons avy state as to prevent
tion but the roads were h. of the boats and Col;
them from bringing more than ~. ven very Gnc yiw s.
Wardrop compelled 70 Destroys crafts on tho
Back river, and in fsv days an ese.. roof are
from here, and ii larger number ~, vnors have
brought back il will be because tho rcb.A o,
become frightened and taken shem away. opened
The Adams Express e. mp@ay have at lsss dc Of
their Office, which is very fine buitSne,N -sin sin
boards, in the shape Of letter T. John D. SahbcrA ys
tho ndefatgabie superintendent, has abored L1rdtA
building finished and his efforts have been crcw'A
sinng the Quarermasters Department and ocsapics
very prominent and central location, tending to secon
nodato the vast and constantly increasing demfd OF
the occupants OF Old Point Comfort Mr. Sanbors has
appointed Special Deputy Provost MARSHAL by Major
packages containing liquor. any spirituoos liquids pas
through his office he is hold responsible. Hence the
appointment by the Commanding General which coniers
The pracscc Of sending liquor to soldiers han boon car
red TO such extent that numerous devices have
beon resorted TO TO smuggle the contrabrud article
into the lines. The latest dodge discovered by
Captain Davis efficient assistant, Andrew j. Devol,
Esq, which very fine russell leather trunk inside
Of which q tin the exact size Of the trunk
tanning whskey Of double rife range Tho only mark
thereon George Paul !" written in pencil, and the
'contaband" article would certainly have passed hal
not the liquor eaked and the smell Of tho fluid attracted
attention trap catch the owner OF the trunk and
contents when he should call for II, frustrated
seemed 10 the article. having apparently sus
pected something to be "rotten in Denmark, and never
came 10 claim il.
Heavy firing was heard this afternoon in the direction
Crancy Island But presume emanated from prac-
tsiag BY the Ninth Virginia artillery Lieutenant Colonel