Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-30
SPECIAL DISPATCHES
10 THE
CLEVELAND LEADER.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC GONE
INTO WINTER QUARTERS.
Government Feeding Starving
Rebsls.
Outrageous Treatment Of Coll
trabands.
Escape and Recapture OF Co.
l9nel Straight.
lskeeiaI o DC Qeveland LrApEa.l

/
QUARTERS.
The Army of the Potomac has finally
settled down, mud bound, into winter
quarters. Cedar Mountain, the key tc
the position there, is held by our forces.
GOVERNMENT TEEDHG srARvIEG REBELs.
People all over that section are in q state
of starvation. They daily thrOng our lines
to procure provisions, which our oommis-
saries are ordered to sell them st govern
ment prices. In this way many are re-
lieved while, also, struggling nests Of guer-
rillss are enabled to obtain supplies and
thus protrsot their thieying and murder
ing system.
oHAEGEs IE zHE ARMY.
Some important changes have been
made in the Army Of the Potomac, to be
followed by others also. General Ingalls,,
Chief Qusrtermaster, apd Colonel Clark,
Chisf COmmisssry, have been relieved
from duty and ordered TO report here.
These changes have grown, it is believed,
out Of recent revelations In the quarter
master department at Alexandria.
INVESTIGATION OF FRAUDS.
Investigations Of vigorous character
are going on in the Qusrtermaster's De-
pIrtment. Secretary Stanton hopes to
have this branch Of the service represent
ed in the Old Capilol Prison before mapy
days.
AcQUITTAL OF C. EDWARD LESTER.
C. Edward Lester, arrested as a Spy, at
Harper's Ferry last summer, and held in
durance vile ever since, has been scquit-
ted by court martial, no evidence having
been brought against him.
EELIsEKEET OF ooIoRED TROOPS.
In order to facilitate the enlistment Of
cOlOred troops, the county of St. Merry, in
the State of Maryland, and the counties
of Northampton and Accomac in Virginia,
have been annexed to the Department
under command Of General Butler.
OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT OF oosrRABANDs.
Colonel Truemsn, connected with the
Sanitary Commission Of St. Louis, has just
arrived here and made his report to the
War Department in regard TO the contrs-
bands. In his report on the plantations
now in our possession in Tennessee, Mis-
souri, and Arkansas, he represents that
their treatment by our people is Outrs-
geous. He has keen clothed with proper
authority in conjunction with Mr. Mullen,
agent of the Treasury Department, to visit
each plantation and remedy at once exist
ing evils.
AvERIL's RAID IN RICHMOND.
Files Of Richmond papers tC the 22d
inst. has been received. Much excitement
was caused by Averilrs daring raid,
and all the accounts Of the vast
destruction of property by his commands
are fully confirmed. 1t was thought at one
time that he was endeavOring to reach
Danvill to Hberate the Union prisoners
confined there. The rebels were confident
of capturing him, and declared that if be
escaped, their cIVslry had better reorgan-
izs.
ESCAPE on COLONEL STRAIGHT.
Colonel Straight had escsped from Libby
Prison, but was subsequently recsptured.
Captain Alexander, oOmmandsnt at
Castle Thunder, has been arrested for ez-
tOrting money from prisoners confined
there.
TIE REBELS REFUSE TO H0LB INTERco URsE
WITH GENERAL BUTLER.
The exchange Of prisoners has again
ceased, after five hundred had been brought
from Richmond. The rebels refuse to hold
Intercourse with General Butler and give
notice that they will not respect any flag
of truce which covers him. This deter
minaiion on the part Of the rebel author.
tiles is the result Of the Cabinet meeting
ct Richmond, at which it was resolved to
persist in the declaration of outlawry
against him. General Ould expressed his
satisfaction with General Buffers plan Of
exchange and was willing to act on it.
Indeed they had commenced exchanges
under it before they lesrnad Of the ap-
pointmsnt Of Butler as Commissioner.
They had agreed to make no discrimina-
ton against colored soldiers and their
officers, except slaves. They refuse to ex-
change slaves on any terms. General
Butler now proposes to suspend all fur
ther intercourse with the rebels on the
subject, aud resort to oOereive measures
to compel them to terms.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Some members Of committees remain
here through the holidays.
The Committee Of Ways and Means
have under consideration more particu-
lsrly The tax on tobacco, petroleum and
distilled spirits. The tax on tobacco will
be placed on the manu- actured artiole-to
what extent is a matter Of discussion, but
all members favor high rate. Sine mem
bers are in favor of putting the tax on
spirits as high as the present tax. The
question as TO petroleum is whether it
should be put On the crude or manufac-
tured article. The policy will be to avoid
taxstiOn on raw products If possible.
oFFAL LIT.
The offsl Of army bssves, slaughtered
here, was let to-day to the highest bidder,
at 81, ,26O, by which, it is understood, that
Government viii not be a loser by Corn
walls embeEllemsnt in the Redemption