The Portland daily press., 1862-10-02
BY TELEGRAPH,
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Appointment Of Examining Sur
geOns.
Destruction Of Rebel Magazines
at Shipping Point.
Appointment Of Provost Marshal General.
MEDALS OF HONOR.
ppointment of Provost Marshal General.
MED AIS OF HONOR.
Officers Of the Army and The Excise Tax.
WASHINGTON. Oct. |

WASHINGTON, Oct l. 4
| Capt. lowell, of Gen. McClellan's staff
reached here this morning from the headquar-
ters oil the army of the Potomac, in charge OF
the trophies, flags, &C., taken at the battles OF
| South Mountain and Antietam.
Surgeon Edward B. Dalton, OF the u. S.
volunteers, not long since dismissed from the
| service, has been restored to his late rank and
| position, by order of the President.
The Commissioner of Pensions has made
the following additional appointments of ex-
aminng surgeons: VIM. S. Perry, NJ. D., of
| Exeter, n. H., c. NJ. Rublee of Montpelier.
VT, Nathan Allen, NJ. d., of Lowell, Mass.
Navy Department, Washington. Sept. 3O.-
| Sir: Lieut. Commanding Morgan reports the
destruction of the rebel bomb-proof magazines
at lower Shipping Point, which | had instruct
ed him to blow up. They were seven In num-
Der, and the work was found heavier than was
anticipated. A small body of rebel cavalry
made its appearance, but dispersed upon the
discharge OF a volley of musketry from our
side. VIM. Benson, of the SATELLITE, was
wounded by the discharge of his own pistol
which he was handling carelessly. He came
up in the Dragon, and has been sent to the
hospital.
l have the honor to be with great respect.
(Signed) ANDREW HAYWOOD.
Commodore, Cong Potomac Flotilla.
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of Navy
Differences of opinion among the members
OF the Cabinet about the Presidents proclama-
ton to emancipate the slaves, involving the
retirement of some of them, and new arrange
ments as a consequence, are pronounced i'm
aglnary by those who ought to be best inform
ed upon the subject.
Acting Assistant Paymaster Niblo, of the
navy, and late of the U. S. steamer Montgom-
cry, is missing.
Hon. Richard Francot has resigned the col
onelcy of the 21st N. Y. regiment He ac-
cepted the position only temporarily. A cap
tain of the regular army has been placed in
command of the regiment-an arrangement
agreeable to all parties, considering the mill
tary experience OF his successor
Secretary Stanton has appointed Simeon
Draper, Esq, of New York, TO be Provost
Marshal General of the War Department; the
new post created few days ago under Gene
raj Order No. l40.
James Munson, Of Ohio, has been appointed
Consul at Rio Janerio, in place of Richard c.
Parsons.
The address presented by the Governors of
the States to President Lincoln, will probably
be published tomorrow.
Col. Van Wyck has arrived here from his
command at Yorktown, where he represents
affairs as very dull. This is the first time he
has been absent from the Peninsula since
March. lie viii leave Tomorrow afternoon on
brief visit to New York. on business.
Mason Brayman, of Illinois, has been ap-
pointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers.
During the late session of Congress the Sec
retary OF the Navy was authorized to cause
two hundred medals of honor to be prepared
with suitable emblems and devices, which
shall be bestowed upon such petty officers.
seamen, landsmen and marines as shall most
distinguish themselves by galiantry in action
and other seamen-like qualities, during the
present war, and one thousand dollars were
appropriated for that purpose. The depart
ment to-day received three of the medals as
specimens, from the Philadelphia mint, where
they are manufactured. They are in bronze
silver and gold beautifully and elaborately ex-
ecuted. The diameter is about two inches,
and the medals are in the form of star, with
five points. Within the circular border is the
represention of a male figure in relief, with a
serpent in each hand his attitude and counten-
ance expressive of discontinue by the genius
of liberty, who, with an air of apparent calm
ness, but firmness, interposes her shield as a
defence from his designs. The medal is sur
mounted by an anchor, above which is
buckle, and at the termination of a strip of
woven silk, the colors arranged after the man
ner of those of the American flag. is pin for
the attachment of this mark of honor TO the
breast.
steamer from New York will carry sufficient
amount of money to the Gulf for the payment
OF all amounts due to our soldiers in that de-
pratinent. Sometime ago the necessary funds
were transmitted TO South and North Carolina
for similar purpose. With comparatively
few exceptions, no part of the army is more
than one payment in arrears, and the reasons
for this are the inattcnton of company officers
and paymasters, and the large numbers of
SfrnOularS frntt, Ia -,
Difficulties, too, exist in consequence of the
necessity of furnishing United States notes of
the denominations of five, ten and twenty dol
lars, although the printers use every effort to
answer these very large demands, besides all
the bountles and advances to volunteers and
recruits, amounting to twelve or fourteen mil
lion dollars, have, as fur rs known, been paid
and those disbursements have required the
use OF notes of the smaller denominations.
1t not unirequently occurs that drafts are
suspended owing to informalities and other
causes. The immense expenditures of the de-
partment requiring close attention and accu-
racy, the following regulations Tor the guild
ance OF paymasters of the United States are
hereby established, in conformity to the Seth
section OF the excise law, namely :-First-
Paymasters and disbursing officers will deduct
and withhold the sum of three per cent from
all salaries and payments of every kind made
IN money to persons in the civil, military,
naval or other employment or service of the
UnltetkStates, including Senators and Repre-
sentatives and delegates in Congress. upon the
excess OF such salaries or payments over the
rate of six hundred dollars per annum.
Second-Suppies issued in kind are not re-
garded as payments and are not subject to as
sessment or reduction. Third-It is under
stood that each commissioned officer of the
army receives from the paymaster compensa-
ton at the rate Of not less than six hundred
dollars per annum. Therefore all payments
made by quartermaster or disbursing agent
should be treated as being in excess of the
rate OF six hundred dollars per annum, and
the rate of tax OF three per cent. should be
deducted and withheld from the amount there
of accordingly.
Brig General Emery has been assigned to
duty with the Sth Army Corps, and ordered
to report in person to Major General Wool.
Counterfeit Bank Notes.
PHILADELPHIA Oct I