The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-26

The Office, type. and presses Of the Ro|cigh (N.
c. .Sfan!osv!, edited by William lIollen have
been destroyed by a party of Georgia soldiers.
Mr.. Holden was in Petersburg at The time. In
return for this outrage the citizens and fri' nds
of The S.ag,l,d destroyed the office of Tie Stcts
.IomnaL Gov Vance reached the spot after the
work of destruction was nearly completed, and
begged the crowd to desiss, rebuking them for
the act, and telling them that no such example
had been set in "Lincoln's dominions."
Gov. Vance of North Carolina, in n procla
nation against those who oppose the Confederate
conscrip,ion law, appeals TO the people thas:
sLct us exert ourselves to the utmost to return
to duty the many brave but misguided men who
have left their country's flag i'll the hour of DAN
GER" Another admission Of the extent Of deSer-
tions from the rebel army. His proclamation is
ample proof OF the wide disaffcction among the
people of that state-a dSatfection so formidable
that the governor find, i; prudent to beg instead
of threaten.
Beside the three ships Yorktown, jamestown,
and Richmond at Richmond, the rehels have
three iron -clads there, one finished and the other
two nearly 40. They arc bull: on the same geE-
eral model as the Merrimac, and plated with
railroad iron. The monitor SangamOn and the
triple-turrcted Roanoke, are awaiting the advent
of the rebel ram, whose casing can hardly with
stand the effect of the l5-inch guns. 1t Is sup
posed by some that these rebel iron-cladS are
waiting to cooperate with the expected English
pirates in raising the blockade. Another Suggcs
tion is that they are to aid in an attack upon
Norfolk.
The Navy Department has contracted with the
Mcssrs. Cramp OF Philadelphia for the conS:fua-
ton of an immense cruiser, intended for fast
stcaming. She will be over 5000 tuns burden,
and longer than any other vessel ut present in
the service The price to lie paid for her, !
understand, is S9Gi.OOO. Contracts were inri-
tod generally from ship-builders throughout the
country. None in New York, believe, would
do the work under million OF dollars; bat Sec
retary Welles did not seem disposed to give so
high figure. 1t is understood in naval circles
here that fleet of rapid vessels will be built.
Indeed they would have been commenced now,
had the contractors and the Nary Department
come TO an agreement abont the price.
An unofficial estimate of the number Of colored
seamen in the navy shows that there are now
about 5000 in that branch of the pablic service.
They were originally introduced as cocks and
stewards, and for years were not seen on deck
Long before the war, however, they were allowed
in the after-guarG," and got along so well with
the sailors and marines that the propricty o.
putting them in tie top" soon became aFp"-
rent. At present they are scamen, ordinary
seamen, lantlmen, and boys-:he marine corps
and ward-room being the only portions OF /"
nlan-of-war from which they are excluded.
Acting Rear Admiral Bailey, under date o,
Key West, Sept. 6, states in order to corrcc! aR
erroneous impression, thar not single instance
of yellow fever or anything approaching ii: i'a
made its appearance either in the town OF har5o:
during the entire season, and the hcalth OF tic
place in every respect is remarkably good.s
y boat from Gen. Sbley's conmInI: AHE.
81, has reached L,ayeawort'l. He WAS JUS;
starting for Sioux camp OF $500, intending :
capture OF destroy them. All the way down the
river the boat was watched and frequently NJ
tackled by hostile Indians. a parry OF thirty
miners were supposed to have been killed near
Mill River.
Gen. James w. Ripley, Chief OF Ordnance,
was by an official oyJcr, retired from active duty
today. Col. Ramsay, lately on d"ty III the
Washington Arsenal, is appointed Chief OF the
Ordnance Reau.eau. Capt. Benton, formerly
G,n. Rpey's chief OF staff, is ordered cn duty