The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-22
CHE gattst S)sma.
BIZ LAST NIGHTS MAIL.

ts
CULPEPPER, G. H., Dec. I9.-almost ST.
muItaneous with the recent raid by Col
Jones through our lines near Fairfax
Station, and attack was made on the
picket lines of the 1st cavalry division
in front of this place. 0ae Of eur pick
cts was gobbled, and tbs raid ended.
Recent rains made the roads almost
impossible, especially for artillery.
Citizens here9eI US we are soon 10
evaeuate their toWP, but designs Of such
movements are apparable incredible.
Witness Just from Richmon state that
our prisoners there are better fed than
their own people, and much better than
thew would be were it not that the des-
perate straits of the citizens of the Con-
federacy must kept from orr knowledge.
Fresh beefis now 81 per pound, and
flesh bread So so per loaf, such as for
meriy cost only five cents. The conss-
quencs is that thousands must staiye or
90 into the army and divide their rations
with their families.
It has been determined by the rebels
to cOnEcript every mao between Is and
45, Inclusive, for one last desperate and
decisive effort 10 faVor of tbs Confede-
racy. The attempt will probaly be made
upon Washington or q portion of the
North. In this csnscription both negroes
and whites are TO be included, ard they
srs also to be thrown into the sme ranks
together, indiscriminatelY. With this
immense mongrel army Davis means TO
preeipitsiste himself on Washington,
Pennsylvania, or Ohio, perhaps ali three.
Commanding ia person, he will ende.vor
ID stimulate the passion of these hordes
by most txtaVagsnt stories of fsncied
wrongs suffered at our hands by South.
ern people, and by most fabulous promi-
sss of plulder to be obtained through the
victories which shall be gained in Nor
therR towns and cities.
WASHINGTON, Def. 2).-The Joint
Committee, ofthe Senste and House of
Virgins, at Alexandria agreed last night
on bill calling q convention for the
abolition of slavery in that State, which
will be passed to-morrow.
The funeral OF Mai. Gen. Buford tolk
place this evening. 1t vas largely at
tended. Eight Mi Generals acted as
psll-boarers. President Lincoln attn
ded the services.
The report Of the commission appoin-
ted by the Navy Department. consisting
ofihree chief Engineers, who have made
careful experiments for months, show
ing the prac!icsbility of using petroleum
or by drO carbon oils for the purpose of
generating steam, has been issued, and
proves satisfactorily.
Its said by thOse who have seen it
that it shows great saving not ONLY for
yatch steamers, but naval steamer can
keep at SEES, under steam three times as
long with less labor and gresier ease
than with coal.
II is understood that s majority of the
Committee on Military. affairs 10 the
Hou are opposed to repeating the COM
mutation clause in the enrolment act IS
reported from the Senate.
Members Of Congress are receiving
large numbers Of letters containing sug-
gesLiOns and opinions relative to the pro-
posed change in the Enrolment Act.
Dat of 1,05l applicants for commits.
sions in negro regiments, 500 have been
recommended for appointment, viz: 5
COlonels, 10 Lieut.. Colonelp, 25 Majors.
104 Captains. 153 First Lieutenants, and
263 Second Lieutenants.
Thirty Generals were present at the
complimentary supper TO Speaker Colfax.
1t was pleasant and harmonious gatb-
ering. Samuel Wilkinson, Esq. presId-
ed, and, at the conclusion Of his remarks
proposed 4 sentiment which elicitet
from COlfax brief apporiate, eloquend
aud patriotic speech, in which be said
the House of Representatives, had chosen
newspaper men for Speaker, Clerk, and
POst-master--a good share for the pro-
fession-snd in the Senate it waa near
ly the same way.
New ORLEANS, Dec. 1l.-Three or four
thousand troops under Writ Adams, Cros-
by, and Logan appeared in the vicinity Of
Natchez early this week and attacked our
forces, under Gen. Grahsm, but were re-
pulsed and pursued. It is said we took
00prisoners.
Lieut.. Gooe, of Boston, and seven others
of the Massachusetts, cavalry, were cap
tured few days agOnear Port Hudssn by
3 party of Logan'S men. Lieut.. Gooe
was wounded and four of his men more
or less seriously mi ured.
Brig Gen. Weitzel, commanding the
lst division, 18th corps, goes North To-
morrow by the Morning Star. Itisex-
pectsd he viii be transferred TO General
Buffers department, in compliancs with
the wish of the latter General. Others
think he will return TO this department
withtEo stars.
The reports which have been current
Of . conspiracy between the colorsd
troops aud rebel prisoners at Fort ] ackson
are false.
A destructive Gre occurred here This
morning. The loss is estimated a. sos
coo. The buildings consumed on Tebo1.
pitOulss street, between Grsvier and
Natchez alley, consisted of the large
hardware store of Griff, Byrnes & Co., the
store Of Smith & z ,egler, and two stores
well stacked with liquors belonging 10
Jonas Pickles. Several other buildings
on Natchez alley were injured. Oas fire.
man Was killed and several injured.
Nav 0RLEANs, Dec. l2.-rhe excite
ment occasiOned here by the reported
natiny at Fert Jackson on the Oh has
barely subsidized yet, Toe most wild ana
improbable rumOrs prevsiled-thate every
white man in the fort had been mas-
sacred, that the negroes were about 10
kill every white man in the vicinity, &c
but the truth was known at hesdouar-
tiers early on the morning Of the 10Th.
The facts are As follows: The negroes
had taken offence al. one Of the officers in |
command, and swore vengeance sgainst
him. In trying 10 get possession Of his /
person, they encountered more opposition !
than they anticipated, and fred shots at
random into the air, but they never in
tended to create mutiny or shed blood. /
Not person was injured. The whole |
affair did not last half an hour. The /
Officers easily qaisted the men, and they |
have not since made any dsmonstr ations.
There is no news from Texas, excep. the
capture Of Espersnez Matagorda.
NEW ORLRAss, Dec. 9.--Phs United 4
States gunboat KsnSWha has arrived
here with the prize schooner Winona,
captured while boud for Havana from
Mobile. Her cargo consists Of zig bales