Smyrna times., 1863-03-26

WUdJ l. see anu near,
should have no hesitation in saying chat the
Army of the Potomac is improving every
day, and that it was never in as good and
efficient condition as at the present time
The study of the science of war is not per-
mitted to do away with the necessity of a
knowledge and practice of the art of war
| think the three requisites to constitute a
good military organization, the physical,
the moral and the intellectual, are now in
more happy accord than they have ever
been before, and trust and pray that they
may remain SO; and that this army has
ceased to be an engine with which to ex-
pertinent and to test generals, or rather
men, to find out if they could ever become
generals"
The KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE IN
INDIANA.-The indianapolis Journal says
that news comes from every part Of Indiana
that the Knights of the Golden Circle are
supplying themselves with arms 1t adds
that immense quantities of revolvers and
bowie knives are daily shipped from Indian
apOlis, Cincinnati and other places, into diff
tcrent parts of the States, and that they are
sent into the country neighborhoods in lots
of ten to one hundred, showing that COM
panles and societies are all armng at once
Refugees are constantly coming within
the Union lines. They all tell the same
story respecting the suffcrings and prva-
tlons to which the rebels are subjected The
prices of all things have increased very much
within short time in consequence of the
immense depreciation of paper. Greenbacks
are worth $50 per cent. premium over pa
per of State banks, and $50 over Contcdcr-
ate scrip the last named is worth only one
quarter its face in gold.
The State of Missouri is now about clear
ed of guerrillas, bushwackers and iayhawk-
erS, and the farmers are about laying down
the bloody instruments of wa, and will re-
sumo those belonging to peaceful agricul-
ture. Vast quantities of corn, wheat, rye,
oats, hemp, flax, &c, will be raised this
year, but in no particular will the increase
of products over those Of the last two years
be more noteworthy than the article of
tobacco.
The HEALTH OF TIE ARArY-Gen. Hook
er and Medical Director Letterman pro-
nounce the Army of the Potomac to be the
healthest army the world has ever known.
The Health ofthat army is much superior TO
that Of the rebel army lying on the opposite
bank of tle Rappahannock
From positive information, the mortality
in the rebel army is known to be nearly sew
enty per cent. greater than that of the Union
army.
PRovosr MARSHAL GENERA1-An order
has been issued announcing that Lieut.. Col
Fry, of the United States Army, has been
appointed Provost Marshal General Of the
United States, provided for in the enrolment
act, with the pay and rank of Colonel
The order announcing the above appoint
ment revokes the old orders appointing
deputy provost marshals throughout the
United States.
SOUTHERN COMMUNICATION TO BE PREVENT
ED.-Gcn. Lockwood, commanding the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, has adopted
efficient means to prevent communication
with the South. He has issued an address
in which he promises to respect the laws
and institutions of Maryland and to protect
all loyal citizens but to the disloyal who
attempt any overt acts he threatens severe
punishment.
NAVAL ARCHTTECTURE AT THE WEST
BY far the most important fact in the his.
tory OF naval warfare is the development Of
remarkable building capacity in the West
of naval vessels Of modern descriptions II
is, we believe, something not yet generally
known that within sight of the city of St
| IOnIc fhnr0 in 81
not less than six of the most complete
most powerful, and largest iron Monitors
ever built.
TAX on SLAUGHTERED CATrIE-by the
provisions of the supplement to the Excise
Law, passed just before the adjournment oI
Congress, the tax on slaughtered cattle ex
ceedlng eighteen months old has been re
duced from thirty to t~enty cents per head
and the tax on hogs from ten cents to 81
cents, and when not weighing over 100
pounds, exempt from duty.
TOBACCO GRowrNG-The Messrs Brown.
ing, of Camden, N. j., last year prepared
about eighteen acres of one of their farm.
near Camden and planted it in tobacco. The
result has been highly satisfactory, they hav.
ing gathered thirteen thousand pounds OF
good tobacco. They hope to raise nearly
double the amount on the same land mex,
year.
WE HAVE JUsr BEGUN TO FIGHr.-Tbe
Navy Department has just issued proposals
for immense iron-clad, sea-going steamers
of 5000 tuns burthen to draw q feet Of
water The construction of these monsters
will be hurried on as fast as possible, so as
to be ready tor any emergencies that may
arise Besides these, nine new Monitors OF
larger size are in course of rapid construc-
ton.
EMANCIPATION IN Missouri Utv.
March, IA bill passed the Senate to.
day providing for calling new State Con.
vention to take into consideration the grad
nal emancipation of slavery in Missouri.
Mr.. Ritchey's proposed amendments to the
constitution regarding slavery were discus.
,e1 iitethe House, and The Ss,rate amend
uents adopted