, 1863-08-26
FKDAa WASHINGTON.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1

WASHINGTON, Augg. ee5 q, 1863.
The Richmond Thtg Of the 10th has Inch.
rimoee..article uponabsenteeism in the Confed-
crate army, in which 1t makes the remarka-
bic statement that at the battles around Rich.
mond last June, twelve months, the number
ofsoldicEs on Gen. Lee's roll was 10000;
the largest number present ut these battles
Was 48.eo0. At the battle of sharpsburg the
number Of the Generals roll was 140, ,0o0; the
number actually present and in the fight was
Only s. Goo, and that at the battle Of Gettys-
burg the ratio Of absenteeism was about the
same. Tie 1YAig despairins1y says it is USE
less to conceal the fact any longer that our
cause will ere long become hopeless if tho
evil Of absenteeism is not arrested.
The Nhy says that the Yankees are making
large hospital accommodations at the Peusa-
cola Navy Yard, and thst vessels arc congre-
eating there, indicating that they contem-
template moving on Mobile from TINT point,
directly or Indirectly. The Hhig thinks the
matter should be attended to.
The Richmond Eraminer lntim.tes that the
garrison will be Withdrawn from Fort Wag.
ner and Morris Island when the place gets too
hot tor them.' 1t uayu o@eeto In command ut
Charleston understood their profession too
well to permit the battery on Norris Island
10 become another Of the many maatraps
which have done the country so much moral
as well as material injury during the war.
We have never been able to learn why this
battery is one essential to the safety Of
Charleston.
The Augusta Constilutio,.aiist breads lest
Gilmore should get footho1d on James
1slnnd, compelling the surrender Of the city,
which is probably the secret Of the great ef-
forts the rebels are making to foriify James
Island. The city is fanked on right and left
by Cooper and Ashley Rivers. Cooper River
ard Town Creek being too wide to ALLOW Of
much uneasiness from that quarter; but on
the right side Of the city, as we lock toward
the eea, the Ashley only. separates Us, with d
comparatively NARROW stream, from that
sandy bar go long and hardly contested for
james Island.
It is said that General Gilmore has the old
tng which waved oyer Fort Sumter when
Major Anderson surrendered 1t, No doubt It
now floats again over the waters Of Charles
ton harbcr aud OF what was once Sumter.
The subscriptions to the $50 loan for the
week ending yesterday, amount to 81, 4oo, 600
at the office Of Jay, Cooke s. Go. The num-
ber OF orders for them from Europe in
creascs, and sales have been made to parties
in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Officers recently arrived In Washington
from the front, report that no movement
whatever has taken place In either General
Meade's Or Gen. Lee's army, beyond occa.
sioua1 skirmishiug, in which the cavalry are
daily engaged. The position Is in both armies
unchanged.
Efforts will be made by the Government,
By means Of divers, to recover the money
sunk BY the burning Of the Ruth, or to obtain
proof Of its destruction. Aspectal agent has
been dispatched to oversee operations and
represent the public interests.
WAsEHGToS, Aug. 25-The largest num-
ber Of applications for Lands under the Home
ttead Law are In Wisconsin, Michigan, Kan
ees and Washington Territory. Tha revenue
from the public domain is scarcely more than
nominal. No additional lands Will be inme-
d1.telv advertised for sn1e