The Portland daily press., 1863-02-16
xxxvII OoNGREss.--seoond Session.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA.


section, providing that all contracts for NUM-
tons Of war or supplies of every kind hereaf-
ter made, shall contain provision that any
| person making such contract shall be consider
ed in military service, and subject to the rules
of war confined entirely to contractors.
The amendment of Mr.. Wilson was with
drawn and the second section stricken out
| The bill then passed.
The bill establishing the gauge OF the Pac-
fc Railroad ut four feet and eight and one-half
inches was then taken up. The bill was post
poned until Tuesday.
The bill authorizing letters of marque was
taken up.
Mr.. Grimes offered substitute, authorizing
the President in all domestic or foreign wars
to issue letters Of marque, as he deems fit.
The bill was then postponed.
The Senate went into executive session.
Adjourned.
Nj. dawes, from the committee on Elections,
reported adversely to Mr.. Piggott's claim to I.
seat from North Carolina.
A bill wss reported to establish navy yard
| at st. Louis. Referred to the committee of
| the Whole.
The bill to enlarge the canals and Fox and
| Wisconsin rivers was reported back from the
Military Committee. hare.
The report OF the committee on Elections
adverse TO j. b. McLoud, also adverse to w.
| u
| plantations from Mr.. Dawes.
The report adverse to the claims of J.. B.
Rogers to seat in Congress from Tennessee,
| was adopted.
The case of L. Byington, as contestant of
the seat Of Mr.. vandeyer, from Ohio, was
then taken up
Mr.. Byington addressed the House in sup
port of his claim.
After debate the House rejected the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Cox that Byington was duly elect
ed, and the committee was discharged from
further consideration of his case. ls-
| Mr.. Kelly asked leave to report from the Sc
lect committee the bill for a military road be-
tween Washington and New York.
Mr.. Moorehead read q quotation from a
speech made by Mr.. Riddle, Of Ohio, which he
| characterized as an assault on his State, Penn
| sylyania- ssh
Mr.. Riddle replied, and retort involved
charge OF falsehood made by Mr. Moorehead.
MI. Riddle responded that he had represent
ed the Views of the West, and put himself be-
hind no rules of the House.
The colloquy was interrupted by the House
| proceeding TO take up the Indian appropriation
BILL The bill was amended but not definitely
acted upon.-Adjourned.
Investment Of Dover, Tenn. by the Rebels.
They are Driven on BY Federal Gun
| boats.-Brilliant Achievement.
|
The Navy Department has received the fol-
lowing:
| y. s. gunbodt Fdirptay, of Dorer, Tenn,
| February Al have the honor to report that
on the Sd inst. / left Smithland, KY, with
feet Of transports and the gunboats Lexing-
ton, Fairplay, st. Clair, Brilliant, Robb. and
Silver Lake, as a convoy up the Cumberland
river When about "a miles below met the
steamer Wild Cat with a message from Col.
Harding, commander of the Post at Dover,
informing me that his pickets had been driven
| In and he was attacked in force. Immediate
| ly left the transports and made signal to the
| gunboats TO follow on up as fast as possible
! short distance below the town met another
steamer bringing the intelligence that the place
| was entirely surrounded. Pushing on up with
all possible speed, arrived here at about in
the evening, and found Col Harding's force
out Of ammunition and entirely surrounded by
the rebels In overwhelming numbers, but still
successfully holding them In check. The enc
my, not expecting the gunboats, had unwisely
| posted the main body of his army in line Of
battle In the graveyard at the west end Of the
town, with bis left resting on ravne that led
down to the river, giving us a chance to throw
raking fire along his line. simultaneously
the gunboats opened fire up this raviue into
the graveyard and over into the valley beyond,
| where the enemy had horses hitched, and most
4 probably kept his reserves. The rebels were
|
even fire shot, but Immediately commenced
| retreating. So well directed was our fire on
them that they could not even carry off
caisson that they had captured from our forces,
but were compelled to abandon it after two
fruitess attempts to destroy it by fire. After
having disposed Of the main body of the ene-
my, l stationed the Robert and Silver Lake
below the town to throw shell up the ravine
and prevent the rebels from returning to car
ry off the wounded, while the Lexington, Fair
| play, ST Clair and Brilliant went above and
shelled the roads leading out to the eastward.
Snpposing the retreating forces would follow
the river for a short distance, l sent the Lex
ington and St Clair up to shell the roads and
harrass and annoy the enemy as much as pos
sible, while this boat and the Brilliant lay OPP
posite the upper ravine and threw shell up the
| roads. About 10 o'clock p. NJ. we ceased fir
ing, with the exception Of now and then
random shell up the roads. At II =. NJ. hear
ing from Col Harding that the enemy had
entirely disappeared, We ceased firing and took
position to guard the roads approaching the
| town. Although much of our firing was at
random, We have the qualification of knowing
that scarcely projectile went amiss, and that
| out OF the 40 bodies buried to-day the gum
boats can claim their share. Even when the
Lexington and st. Clair went above, many Of
their shells fell In the midst Of the retreating
rebels, killing and wounding many.
| IL 70 Itpofttu liidt tne dttdCkinH lOICcS NUM-
bered some $500 with pieces OF artillery,
under command Of Maj Gen. Wheeler and
Brig Gems. Forrest and Wharton. II Is GER
tainly gratifying for us to know that this entire
force was cut up, routed and despoed of its
! prey by the timely removal Of the gunboats,
and that Col. Harding and his gallant little
band were spared to wear the honor they had
so fairly won. At first l regretted was not
here sooner with the gunboats, but upon re-
Election do not think could better have ar
| ranged the time had it been in my power
Had we been here before Gen. Wheeler, he
would not have made the attack, but would
have marched on Fort Henry. Had we arrv-
ed during the day he would have seen our
strength, and would have refreated with but
little loss. Arriving as we did, after dark, and
when he least expected and was so sanguine
OF success, we caught his forces arranged in
| the most favorable position to receive raking
fire from our guns. The officers and men were
| very glad TO have a shot at these river invest
ers, and only regret that they did not remain
| within the reach Of the guns little longer
As it is, they claim something of the honor of
dispensing them and saving Fort Donelson.
Very respectfully your ob't serv't
LEROY FITCH, Lieut. Commanding.
To Capt. A. NJ. Pennock,
Commanding Naval Station, Cairo.