The New York herald., 1862-02-24
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

for the portions Of the South from
the rebels number OF bills have boen presented pro-
vdiny territorial provisional governments, but tho
manifestations Of loyalty by the people Of Tennessee and
Alabama have made deep impression upon the minds Of
public men here, and induced them to hope that the
people Of the seeded states like those in Maryland and
Kentucky WILL when the opportunity is afforded choose
loyal state ocers and bring back the renegade States
as they were before the rebellion.
THE DISPOSITION OF PROMINENT REBEL PRISONERS.
Mr. Richardson's proposition in regard to tho dsposi-
ton OF the prominent rebels who may be taken
prisoners meets with general favor. The disposition is
to turn all these to the civil authorities be
treated traitors. The indictment against Simon
Bolivar Buckner, the spy and traitor, offers in
point upon which the provisions Of this bill founded
REPORT OF THE sURRENDER OF COLUMBUS.
despatch from Cairo, dated to-day received at head
quarters, says the steamer that up hrst from Co
umbis brought the report that Columbus had surrcn-
dered. and il reported all over town in ve minutes
and seemed 10 be reliable information This, however,
turns out to be a mistake.
INTERNAL MACHINES IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER.
Dispatches have been received at tho Navy Depart
ment from Commodore Dupont, dated Port Royal Feb
ruary IS, enclosing report from Commodore Rodgers
in which he says, while sounding in the Savannah river
short distance above the mouth the Wright river Ia
which appeared first sight be empty cans and as
such not regarded by him worthy Of notice.
Lieutenant Sprotson Of tho Seneca, shortly after
hailed him, and told him that tho objects al
luded to buoys attached to an Internal
machine Upon closer examination they saw
enough to satisfy them that the suspicious were
correct. The buoys, five in number, placed seve
raj yards apart at right angles the shore Immediately
IN tho channel leading from Wright river and visible
only at low water. They connected by spiral
wre tho end Of the wire entering orhce the upper
ends Of the buoys They also secured by wires
to what they presumed TO be weights al the bottom
but which further examination led them TO believe were
vessels containing explosive matter.
An attempt was subs sQuently made to pro
duce explosion by pulling the wires which
failed. The wires wers then cut, and the outer buoy
brought Off in one Of the expedition boats In conss
quence Of tho delicate nature of the exploding
and the result Of the examination of the buoy brought on
board it deemed moro prudent to endeavor sink
the remaining buoys rather than attempt to remove
them that the enemy should not have the saiisac
ton of feeling that single life had been lost by the dia
bolical invention.
The buoys were sunk by firing rife shots into them
having exploded the night previous from cause
unknown, and shortly after LAUNCH had passe
the spot where the buoys were placed having in
low uedVy u8utor guns. appears that
the torpedo internal machine brought on board the
Unadila afterwards set upon bank and rifle ball
fired through it, when it exploded.
THE oBsEQcIEs OF WILLIE LINcoLN-cLosINo THE
DEPARTMENTS.
Tho embamed body Of little Willie Lincoln was visited
to-day by number Of the friends Of the family The
body laid out 10 plain Of brown clothes with
blossom Of mignonette his left breast. The ombam-
ing process proved perfect and the features OF the de-
ceased have natural appearance The funeral will take
place at two O'Clock tomorrow afternoon. The youngest
son Of President Lincoln Is considerably better to-day
WASHINGTON, Feb "a, 1862.
Tho departments will DO closed to-day in consideration
Of the funeral ceremonies at the Executive Mansion
WILLIAM u SEWARD.
SP. CHASE.
GIDEON WETIES
CALEB q. SMITH.
NJ. BLAIR.
EDWARD BATES
THE REPORTED nEaARxs OF sEcRsrARv STANTON
AT THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.
Tho following paragraph was, heretofore stated,
added the Official report Of the FIRST day
Of the late Railroad Convention
Secrstary Stanton paid high compliment to the Young
and gallant friend at hts side, Major General Mcclellan in
whom he had the utmost conadouce, and tho result Of
whose military schemes, gigantic and well matured,
now exhibited TO a rejoicing country"
Tho officers OF the Convention having been applied to
in various quarters to say whether this language was
used by Secretary Stanton eo bound to state that such
was the case and these words above quoted wore
added after the report had been furnished to tho agent of
the Associated Press This is signed by Eastus Corning,
President, and Thomas Kimbsr, Secretary.
As the article in question occasions much comment
especially among those unacquantsd with the
few and plain facts in the case tho agent Of the
Associated Press ropeatsa former assertion that the
paragraph added by himself to the Official notice Of
the proceedings II based upon statement Of recol
lection of what said that occasion without pre-
tending to verbal accuracy; and further that tho nfor
nation was offered, but furnished on application It
appears from the only authentic denial obtanabe
viz. of the President and of the secreares-tha.
the impression made on the mind OF tho informant was
erroneous.
AFFAIRS on THE LOWER POTOMAC.
The Twenty second Of February was appropriately cole
braed by Potomac hotla. AT sunris, In the morn
ing gun fired from the flagship Yankee, and in a
few seconds sho gaily decorated with flags from
stem TO stern At precisely national salute OF
thirty four guns was fred from the same vessel two
seconds intervening between each gun. Tho Anacostia
followed the example OF thu Yankee, and awoks the
echoes Of the Maryland and tho Virginia shores The OIL.
Of both vessels appeared the quarter deck in full
nniform and tho rgged out in their best
An impression prevails that the rebels have
evacuated Cockpit Point, and perhaps hayo dis.
mancd tho batteries below. as several vessels have
recently passed in broad daylight without being fired
soop and schooner came up without mo.
csation tho latter passing coso under the Point
suspicious Of her loyalty and justify her de-
tcntion for time. The explanation Of the captain
being satisfactory, she released.
court Of review, composed OF Brigadier. Genera,
slocum Colonel Mel Murphy and Colonel Thomas Cass
has boen ordered in the of Colonel r. G. Enwrght
late Of the Sxty-third New York Volunteers. He was
mustered out Of service weeks ago upon the report
Of board Of inquiry but have been presented
for review Of tho proceedings, In order to determine
whether he should not be restored service and rank
Two OF the whitworth guns, breech.loadng Ave mers
donated to army by the loyal Americans in Europe,
received by Hookers division on Thursday, ana
placed in position. They to open on the rebol bat
tories opposite Budd's fcrry to-day.
The rcgimental officers in General Hookcrs division
have sent up remonsrance to Congress against the
proposed abolition briqading bands in thu army