Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-01-29

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you extend to them the recognized RIGHTS
Of prisoners of war by the code of the
civilized world Do you regard the
destruction of important roads. transpor-
tation facilities, &e., for military PURPOSES
as the legal right of a beligerent power ?
Do you intend to regard men whom
have specially dispatched to destroy roads.
burn bridges, tear up culverts, etc, as
amenable 10 the enemy's Court Martial
or will you have them tried. as usual bv
proper civil authorities according to the
statutes Of the State.
Signed, STERLING PRICE,
Maj. Gen. Com. NJ ). @.
The following embraces the main por-
lions of Gen. Hallecks reply:
Headquarters Department of Missouri
Gen Sterling Price, Commanding, s Sa, = $50
GENERAL - I our letter dated Spring
field, Jan. l2-h, is received The troops
which you complain Of on the Kansas
frontier and ut Fort Leavenworth are not
under my command. In regard 10 them.
| respectfully refer you to Mai. Gen. David
Hunter, commanding the Department of
Kansas, Headquarters Fort Leavenworth
You also complain that individuals and
parties OF men, specially appointed by YOU
to destroy railroads, culverts and bridges.
by tearing them up, burning, &c, have
been arrested and subjected to a general
Court Martial for alleged crimes This
statement is in the main correct Where
Individuals aud parties Of men violate the
laws OF war they Will be tried. and if
found guilty will certainly be punished.
whether acting under your special ap-
polntment and instructions or not
GU, must be aware, General. that no
orders OF yours can save from punishment
spies, marauders. robbers, inceudiaries,
guerilla bands, etc, who violate the laws
OF war \ on cannot give immunity to
crime.
But let us fully understand each other
on this point. If YOU send an armed
force wearing the earb of soldiers. and
duly organized and enrolled as legitimate
belligerents, to destroy railroads. BRIDGES
DC, as a military act, we shall XII them
II possible in open warfare, or if we cap
tu"e them, we shall treat them as prisoners
OF war, but it IS well understood that YOU
have sent numbers of your adherents in
the garb of peaceful citizens, and under
false pretences, through our lines into
Northern Missouri to rob and DESTROY the
property of Union men. and burn and
destroy railroad bridges, thus endaneerine
the lives of thousands, and this, too.
without any military necessity or possible
military advantage
Moreover, peaceful citizens of Missouri.
quietly working on their farms. have been
Instlgated by your cmissaries to take IN
arms as insurgents, and rob, plumber. and
commit arson and murder They do not
even act under the garb Of soldiers, but
under false pretences and in the euisr of
pea ctul citizens.
You certainly Will not pretend that men
guilty OF such crimes, although specially
appointed and instructed by YOU. are
entitled to the rights and immunitics of
ordinary prisoners of war
If YOU do, will YOU refer me to a sinaIe
authority on the laws of war which rec
ognlze such a claim? / am daily expcctinr
instructions respecting the exchange Of
prisoners of war, ! will communicate
with YOU on that subject as soon as they
are received
(Signed.} II " Uu1rcr
Maj. Gen. Commanding Dept
FROM VERA CRUZ VIA HAVANA.
New York, Jan - = The steamship
Columbia, from Havana, 18th, arrived this
evening
Sugars dull and declining. Stock p. 600
boxes Molasscs in moderate demand
Exchange declining; Stirling Exchange
l2I g. l3e premium, and Exchange on
New York ] O. DC discount
MeX!ctn ncws IS to the 10th Commu-
nication with the interior is cut off. \
Regiment of Spanish troops who started
forth on the Medellin road for a reconnoi-
sance We're driven back, after proceeding
mile, by an unseen foe
Our correspondent SAYS Vera Cruz is
surrounded inlandward, and almost be
siegcd No vegetables or fuel reach the
city, and many articles Of home necessity
are sadly needed Many Of the Spanish
troops are sick, and there are many Lesser
tons. There ere great fears of an attack
upon Vera Cruz. Several Spanish senti-
nels have been shot
The American steamer Stal had arrived
at Vera Cruz with 1000 guns and 300
pounds Of powder, &c, for the Mexican
Republic This was seized by the Span
lards, as also small lot of arms aboard
the brig PHebIn More were expected and
would also be cOniscated
The English French and Spanish FLAGS
wave over the Castle Of San Juan DTlloa
the French and English fleets have arrived
Gen. Prun was also at Vera Cruz. and
considerable discomfort existed among the
French and English at want of courtesy
IN the advance Of the allied expedition
not having hoisted the three flags at first
Three thousand men were to make
sortie to cndcayor to clear the environs of
the city that the market might be supplied
with fresh provisions Most Of the French
troops had disembarked
Nassau dates are to the 18th. The
ENGLISH ship-of-war Conqucror will be a
total loss. The crew reached Nassau,
also forty cannon. The Glqdiator was
stiii N port with a cargo Of arms etc.
Com McKeon had sent the Hassachu-
sets, towing four schooners loaded with /
sand, to be sunk in Horn Island Pass
The health f the troops at Ship Island /
WAS excellent
Great activity prevailed among the
troops at Havana, and rumor saws they /.
will be sent to Vera Cruz Several cases I
of INSTRUMENTATION had occurred among
them and three non-commissiened officers /
had been killed by them The murderers |
were publicly garoted
Latest ria Queenst0cn-Th Ciy Of,
Washington and yura both arrived here .
on the 9th, and brought the announcement
of the satisfactory adjustment of the
Trent affair The rendition of Mason and
Slidell to Il e custody of Lord Lyons was
received with the greatest satisfaction. but
some Journals complain of the unorarious