, 1863-02-28
NO. II.


Hreturned the fire with she'll. The conflict lasted
4till near daylight, when the rebels retired Their
Aforce was believed to have been $500 or 5000.
" This demonstration caused considerable excite
Mment.
81 The following has been received from the Fed
xIeral camp, opposite Vcksburg. January 29th
s Generals Grant McClernand, Sherman, Nc
FaArthur and others are here with their divisions.
xGen. Logans is the only one behind, but it is ex-
s5pected here soon. The engineers are making
sgnew surveys for the canal, but will probably de-
ascide to enlarge the old one 1t is believed that
transports can go throug to the river, four miles
ssbelow within week. We hear nothing from the
s force below yet. The whole peninsula is in pos
Session of the Federas.
n Washington Feb 4th.--The House to-day
s%passed bill authorizing the Secretary Of the
II Treasury to contract for telegraph cable from
%lFort McHenry, or Fortress Monroe. to New Or
q cans and intermediate points. ..a
A bill was reported to-day from the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, for the protection of the
ssoverland emigrants to States and Territories on
zlthe Pacific 1t approprates $4,000, to be ex-
Expended under the direction of the Secretary of
9War. Passed.
81 Mr.. McDougals resolution relative to the
8 French intervention in Mexico was taken up
%lhe question being on a motion to lay on the Ia
sabe, which was agreed to-34 to 8.
II Nashville, February 4th.-Stokes' Tennessee
aCavalry and one Kentucky regiment dashed into
sthe rebel camp at Middleton on the I'd, and cap
sstued 100 prisoners, all the camp equpage, hor-
Sses, wagons, etc.
q News of February 9Th. ..
81 Washington, Feb. 5th.-P II. Watson has
sbeen confirmed Assistant Secretary of War.
"A The Navy department has ordered the follow
saing ron-clads to be prepared for sea and sent
feSouth at once, to-wit: the 'Keokuk,' Nawga-
8stuck,' 'Catski' and 'Sagam ore 1t is believed
shere that they will be ready in four days. The
s1Department has received information that the
Il Patapsco left Fortress Monroe to Join our mailed
vessels South. Thus all the Errcson batteries
Simay be expected to be engaged i'll fight within
sstwo weeks.
a A bill was introduced into the House yester-
saday which will tend to discourage speculation in
5gold. All contracts for the purchase or sale Of
sgold as a collateral security are made to bear
STAMPS to the amount of per cent. on sums of
us 100, if the contract is to be fulfilled in three
Mdays if contract not to be fulfilled within 60 days,
s4then to be taxed II l.2 per cent. r.
News OF February 9th. -r
The editor of the Dispatch says: We learn
Ethat steamer was despatched from Charleston,
saafter raising the blockade, to Nassau, to inform
Fthe British authorities there of the fact 1t is un-
ssderstood that an official notice being given Of the
6openng of the opening of the blockade, it cannot
ssbe renewed uatil sixty days previous notice have
Abeen given to neutral maritime powers.
II Cairo, Feb. ga staff officer who arrived this
s3evening says the rebel forces at Vieksburg does
ssnot exceed 10000, and thinks this number is all
s5they can bring to its defense. 1000 negroes
Sat be sent from Memphis to work on the canal
Il A dispatch from Fort Doneson 10 night, says
that the Federal force there, 700 strong, with one
s8bnttery, were attacked at o'clock on the Sd, snd
Salhe fight lasted until 8 o'clock in the evening,
3when the rebels retired southwark in great disor
4der, their fight being hastened By the force un-
fder Lowe, which arrived during the evening
The enenys loss was 200 killed and 500 wound
Fed. Our loss was - killed and IL wounded and
missing.
New York, Feb 6th-The Times's Washing
Aton special dispatch says, the Special Committee
s4on the Pacific Railroad, have had under consid-
Iteration for several days the Pacific Railroad bill,
sNnd have authorized Senator McDougal to report
IN back with several amendments. They modify
" he former bill that the amount retained by the
sGovenment shall not interfere practically with the
4Rccnstruction ofthe road, and also makes provis-
zion for the right of way through the Territories Of
1.-THE United States, omitted in the old bill and con-
firnng the adjustment made between California
.sinteress.
n The Richmond correspondent of the Charleston
sMercury says the French bankers have rendered
sthe Confederacy loan Of S75,000,000 francs.
A bill was introduced into the rebel Congress
for the condemnation to public use all cotton with
lin the Confederate States to give the owners
recept for it at u ID cents per pound and to sell
sSt to French and English Dealers and let the pur-
3chasers see its expectation.
II One thousand men are on the frontier awaiting
ia chance to join the Federal army.
q A letter from the consul at Matamoras says
here is up the river force Of l30 Mexicans
half of whom are we'll armed and mounted who
shave been driven from Texas. They keep the
rontier as far as San Antonio The Mexican
8General has been appealed to by the rebel COM
Smander at San Antonio, to prevent their invasion
Hof Texas.
Cairo Feb. GA dispatch has just been received
from Memphis, which announces the arrival of the
Z. .4deLine, from Vicksburg.
8 TIE ram Queen of the West ran the blockade
Con Monday morning at daylight. Over 100 guns
5opened on her as she steamed swiftly past. The
srebel steamer also opened on her
e Washington, Feb. 6th.-Ihe House concurred
Gin the Senate's amendment to the Postoftice APP
&propriation BILL authorizing the Postmaster Gen
9eral to contract for carrying the mails, by steam
ships, from San Francisco to Oregon ports, for
Snot exceeding $4,000.