The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-02-13
WAR NEWS

The great Mississippi Expedition. General
Grant commanding, is now mostly concen-
trated on the Peninsula near Wick sburg.-
They have commenced digging another
canal. Grant declares that he will take
Nicksburg, but that it will be hard task
! On the I'd inst. the Steam Ram Queen oil
the West ran tie blockade at Vicksburg
without harm. They poured their loo
pound shot at her to no purpose. She ran
boldly up under their guns, gave the gun
boat Vicksburg two severe butts and a. fire,
and then passed on. She has since been
cleaning out the river as fa1 down as Nat.
chez.
Nothing new from the Rappshannock,
except that Joe Hooker is hard at work. re-
dGcing all things pertaining to his army to
perfect order.
The Senate adopted resolution calling
for information relative TO alleged communi-
cations BY Mr.. Seward. to the Richmond
rebels, through NJ. MERCER, French Minis
ter, and the President having referred the
ter made reply which was on the l1h
communicated to the Senate. Mr.. Seward
fatty and specifically denies the several re-
ports, rumors and insinuations-
B4S On the goth ult.. Col. Conner had a
desperate engagement on Bear River. Wash
ington Territory, with the Snake Indians
He killed. alter four hours fight, 224, and
many were supposed TO be drowned In
trying 10 escape. He lost ! 5 killed and 4
Officers and 80 men wounded. This will
probably stop the depredations on emigrant
trains, which those savages have long been
engaged in.
In the late battle on the Ogeechee the
guns of the iron-clad Montauk worked to
the entire satisfaction of her commander, as
did the turret machinery. The last doubt
as TO her imperviousness has been done
away by this, her first trial. Thirteen shells
and solid shots struck her deck. sides and
turrei, without making any impression be-
You'd hardly rreceptible dents. So slight
was the effect Of the enemy's missiles that
her crew did not know that she had been
combat was over. None Of the wooden
vessels were struck. nor is there single
causslity reported in the fleet.
The Republicans returned to their seats
in the Illinois Senate on Monday, and legis-
lation was progressing as usual. The Dem
ocrats agreed that they would not take up
the Convention resolutions. for a North.
western conference at Louisville.
Majo Gen. Burnside has been assigned
to command in North Carolina, and his old
army corps has been transferred from the
Army OF the Potomac to that Department.
~In Boston on Thursday week Gen.
McCiellan's admirers presented him with q
thousand dollar sword with the inscription,
J" To Major General Geo b. Mcclellan,
from many citizens Of Boston - and Lat
in quotation, of which the English is, :" For
his sovereign otten-tor his country aluays.'
George Lunt. ex editor of the ultra con
servative Boston Courier, made the pre-
sentation speech. The General, in reply.
merely thanked the donors, and made the
usual promise about never unsheaihing the
weapon except in the cause of justice and
right 4 casket of shell, ornamented with
gold, was given him, containing list Of the
subscribers to the sword and the names Of
the sympathizing merchants who shut their
stores on the day Of the Generals levee-
He was also presented with silver pitcher
by the children of the aristocratc locality
of Mt Vernon street.
@ In the Indiana Legislature, on the
9th, pending a resolution authorizing a reg.
lister of the fallen soldiers OF the State, an
amendment was offered that 'sthe sacred
cause in which they fell should never be
given up, nor traitors feet allowed to tread
upon their graves" The amendment was
tabled by vote Of 40 to 80. only three
Democrats sustaining the amendment.
~A Fort Clinch, Florida letter of the
3!st, states that fight took place on ST.
Mary's River, at Scrubby Bluff, between
some rebel cavalry and three companies Of
colored South Carolina volunteers. The
rebels attempted to take the steamer John
Adams by boarding, but the negro soldiers
beat them eff bravely. The Captain of the
John Adams was shot, his murderer being
shot Immediately by a negro sergeant =
Our loss was two killed, aud six wounded.
We took seven prisoners. The steamer
was not injured.
AN INTERNAL INVENTION There NAV be
but few persons outside OF the army who
are prone TO credit the reports of atrocities
which are perpetrated BY the Rebels upon
the unsuspecting and innocent; but neverthe
less there is much perpetrated that is almost
too shocking to be brought before the pub
nc at home OF cruelties committed abroad
by the Rebel soldiery. The last and most
demonieal thing brought 10 our notlce is q
small instrument invented by them to Grip.
PIE the horses of our cavalry 1t is construc-
ted of four pieces of rod iron hardened, less
than quarter OF an inch in thick ness, and
about two inches long. Four of the ends
are made to centre together, and they pro-
lect from the middle In the form of arms
To the extreme end of each is welded out a
very sharp spherical at the point. These
ere sprinkled through woods aud over roads.
10 preyen: the advance OF cavalry. Nomat-
Ter how thrown, one of the points viii stand
perpendicularly. and when the horse treads
upon 1T, 1t Will enter his foot, and disable
him on the spot Phil Enquirer.
re- Like The "Montauk' under the ERE