Litchfield enquirer., 1863-12-17
A bold, piratical decd was that of the seizu

of the steamer Chesapeake, plying between New York city and Portland, Me-, by party of rebels who had gained admission to the vessel, at New York, in the guiss of passen- gers. Capt. Willets wss fired at nine times, bat was not hit. He Was then seized and put in irons. The secoLd engineer, in attempting to throw hot water cn the party, WAS sho, dead. The first engineer Was wounded in the face, but was taken away by the pirates to manage the engines. The commander of tie pirates was Henry Braine. Lieut.. Parr, one of Morcan's men, is second in command.
 A St. John, N. B., paper states that the scheme for seizing the Chesapeake was c'a- tured in that city by rebel agents, who selected the men, paid their passage 'o New 1olk. furnished arms there, and promised $J0o te each man in case of success. It Was believed thst the cargo shipped on the Chesapeake was mainly by the rebel agents and of such art- cles us would give aid and comfort. When the Chesapeake stopped off St. John Ilarbor she took on board Capt. Parker. formerly of the pirate Retribution. The people of St. John nra said to condemn the whole proceed ing very decidedly. A formidable fleet is in pursuit of the Chesapeake.
 Capt. Willet, late of the Chesapeake, with eight of his crew, passed through Boston on Saturday, en route for New York. The pi- rates forced the chief engineer. Joseph John son, who was wounded, Augustus Starbeck,t the third engineer, and three Bremen to remain with the vessel.
 Reports of the whereabouts of the Chesa- peake are contradictory. The most probable is that she is in La Have river, four miles south of Bridgewater. There has been dense fog since Saturday. A United States gunboat passed Yarmouth on Monday.
 La Have river, the supposed location of the Chesapeake, is about sixty miles southwest of Halifax, and but a few miles in the same direc- ton from Lunenburg.
 STANDING CONGRESSIONAL CoNMlrTEEs.-The Senate honors Connecticut by placing Mir. Eos ter second ou the committee of foreign relations (Mr. Sumner, chairman), second on the judi ciary (Mr. Trumbull, chairman). and chairman of that on pensions, three very important com mi,tees. Mir. Dixon is second on that of Dis t,ict of Columbia, and second on post office.
 In the House, MT. English is second on pub lie lands, MT. Deming is on the military com mittes, and chairman of expenditures of war department, Mir. Brandagee is Oh naval affairs, and on expenditures on public buildings, and Mr. Hubbard on patents and post office expen- ditures.-Hartord Press.
 Extracts from Richmond papers. published among tie telegraphic news, speak of some bold assertions in the Rebel Congress. Sens- tor Foote, of Tennessee, openly charges Jeff Davis with interfering with the efficiency of the army by his frequent visits, and asserts that such-v visits are always followed by disas- ter to that army. Furthermore, he claims that Jef. by his acts and counsels has nearly ruin. ed the country, and indirectly hints that his room is better than his company.
 1 S.nator Foote also censures the rebel com. missary for his treatment of Union prisoners He gives instances when these prisoners have been insf6ciently supplied with meat rations aud refers to one period when they received none whatever. In his opinion the North has just cause for complaint, and for the honor 0! the Confederates he demands the immediate removal of some of their officials connected with this department.
 News is received from Knoxville up to Mon day. Foster was in command. Burnside had l gona to Cincinnati. Scouts report much o L,ngstreets artillery and trains falling into the hands of our pursuing troops.