New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-18

NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
INTERCEPTED CORRESPONDENCE
asACCOuNT OPTHE REBEL TORPEDO PLOTS
he Artificial Explosive Coal Scheme
Official Documents from the Rebel
war Office.
ESTDEVIEWS OFTHE CONFEDERACY
The Boat that Sunk tho Housatonic.
Rebel Account of Sherman's Expedition.
THE MOBILE COMMANDMENT
TIE MOBILE COMMANDMENT
MUTINY AMONG THE TROOPS


eaptured by tho gunboat Signal while the Rebel mail
carrier was crossing the Mississippi River. 1t gives
complete history Of the Rebel torpedoes and Of new
Invention resembrF humps of coal and an inside view
Of Richmond and Mobile.
RIcHAoSp Va. JAM 10, 1894
My DEAR COLONEL: 1 hope you have re-
eeyed all my etters: pI wIoIe ~o 70 AoOi'' 0i'' "
j now send this by party who is going TO shreye-
port and promised 70 learn your Whereabouts go as to
forward 1t to YOU
I have met with much delay and annoyance since you
left The castings have all been completed some time
and tie coal perfect that the most critical eye eod
not detect it, Tie President thinks them perfect but
Mr. Seddon will DO nothing without Congressional oc'
tioni have been engaged for the past two weeks
In getting mp bili that viii my case At last IL
has is approval md win 80 to the Senate, hence
20 the House in secret session.
A SECRET SERVICE CORPS
1t provides that tho Secretary Of ar shall have the
power to organize :" Secret Service Corps Com
mission enlist and detail parties. who shall retain former
rank and pay also give such compensation as nc may
deem Gt not exceeding 80 per cent for property pnr
Italy and ola4g destr9yed Gso TO advance when neees
sagiGg to injuIe the enemy.
ARIsPEcTABLE GANBLER. ~
AZ soon 'as this biil becomes law have
20 doutt but / stall get suitable commission ana
mems TO progress with and that oil the appoint
merits you or have made win be confirmed. Ihope TO
b. in funds very for If the Government CO.'S not
edyGnce me have most respectable gambler ready
o. any thee to buy interest and put up the money II
viii only be necessity that viii cause me 10 make such
sn assOciaton-but the old adage, ANY port In
storm"
Iwlste Mr.. Campbell and Afeckau that could not az
present send the Secretary Of Wars indorsement l
advised tic latter 10 come on here il he wished enter
into the business With yigor for would Ike to Know
rs field Of operations
Not expecting that you still on this side, cannot
send you any castings, had you teegraphed me, and
written rs you promised, would have Known at what
tme you would leave Brandon will take the frs, op
portuny Of sending TO Shreveport. any point
on this side that you designae-in the meantime you
uirst use the anger and get what powder You can.
en- certain il Will prove effective As get mat
trs arranged here viii send special messenger 70
Shreyeport where l suppose, le VIII hear Of yonr
rbereabOata Your friend
T. f. CouRTRyAY.
Col. IT, T. CLARK 7th Missouri Cavalry, Mai Gen. |
Prices ueadgusTter, Arkansas.
Hk1DQUARTgRs DIsTRIcr OF ARKAssAs,
LlITLg ROCK, Aog 10, 1865.
Is b. direction u he Lieut. General Commanding tho Depart
nent Of Trsus hspp authorized 10 eulst Secret Ser
s cSD S ss s %tssns &c cs Sf % 5s 2 be
!. By Command Of Maj Geu. PHIos, eun.,~,o
n TsonAs T. couArsSAY, e.q.
oenber Of tie Secret Service GSrP' to report to me at -
~ VI '''''' Taos Y. CouRrExAr, Captain q. g. G.
OFFICIAL REPORT on SINGERS TORPEDO.
EaenEEEs' HEADqUARTERs, DEPARTNEsT u V.)
ColJF. Gr1MER, Chief.Ensneer-Coionel: ne
IA accordance with your order Of tho 18Th appointing
fhe undersigned commission to examine and report
Hpon the merits Of lir Z. G. Singers Torpedo we beg
10 state that have carefully examined thc same au
xulynit the following report;
T1a: "As TO tie place for exploding the charge,
IN s plan or LOCK- In s P1 SF .Sns rone te Snd
rot liable at any time to be out Of order and es the cops
which ignite the charge are placed within the powaer
IagaziDe, they not likely TO be affected by moisture
wbo tbe percussion is upon the exterior Of the maga
kneactaal contact with the rod which acts as uig
ger is NECESSARY but by mechanical contriyances the
la aoi,fa nod iu NtriOu
ssoend, The certainty Of action depends OF course
upon contact but by the peculiar and excellent arrange
rlent OF the lock and plan Of percussion mentioned
s6oye the certainty Of explosion Is almost absolute
One great advantage this torpedo possesses over many
hers that its explosion does not depend upon the
action judgment Of an individual that Is safe ron
premature ignition and at the time is cheap and
portable while IT'S position in river harbor cannot
feadly be asccrtSined BY an enemy vessels.
7AtTd 1.-The efficiency Of its explosion II made in |
deep channel" cannot well be asceTtained without e1-
pertinent bat would be the came as submarine fluids
sver from the best information accessible. that the
powder say 100 pounds quantity Is within the distance
efficient action is not materially effected by the depth
OF channel or course the quantity Of powder required
voeld have 70 be determined by experiment.. Eife
powder from its perfect combustion would be pre-
tersbe IN deep water to common powder while come OF
the dctonatDg compounds wdSld doubtless effect cer
tain destruction to vessels passing ever torpedoes at
even much greater depth.
TIE peculiar arrangements for firing the batteries
Eo9d have 70 be Determined by the Circumstances OF
tents depth and width Of channels and would require
ne exercise OF great Judgment on tho part OF those In
EaStod witn the duty OF placing then. We are 50 wen
fetsed with the merits Of Br. Singers torpedo. that
We recommend the Engineer Department TO give 1t |
thorough test and il practicable ~ have Of them
paeed at an early day IL some Of the river approaches
,Gsaeal Res.a,tIThc mode Of loading this torpedo
spehses with any connection through the case Of the
"sssekine, involving no packing Of any kind.
Inc risk Of the lock foung by sand or mud on the
cCltotn of stream, think can be prevented by in
tight "'-@ ~ N''-'' "'
In lrow streams these could be placed In quin eunr
20 thst vessel attempting 10 pass would lie sure 10
come IN contact with some one ~ w "
Inc Inventor elso claimed to be able 70 20 to and
g. b, - 40 & &uoaseSt 20 as 10 explode. This can be
o., Gus ~ ausA depends the and daring Of
tDcyiouak, that theIe is no certainty of II Indnn
from the success Of blasting rocks by powder snnsrrosea
nRon the rock yl!h q deep column Of water over Il,
torpedo would not interfere witt itS snccSs. m
Bolton who saw and blasted great deal u Eos, Ris
New. York, Gays 100 lbs of pOwdor * fast 60,
the bottom Of vessel would break her sides or boton
We would add that proposed ada ptatiou OF tbosa o
10 Tie explosion Of sLol batteries undeT p +,
tracks. for deienoes Of approaches to fortified worts
and for blowing up bridges US very srupe and
eneetivei also Ingenious plan for llxng tOrpedoes
10 spar o. bow Of ironclads.
we consider rse employment OF submarines as a le.
gitnate mode OF defence VI Richmond and feel Il Our
guy 70 recommend torpedoes Us powerful accessory
10 our limited means. -
The moral effect Of explosion upon enemy would
&c lbcaicusple and would doutless deter them from at
sptlBg TO bring troops by transports TO points as &C.
ecssiDie ~ the city as White House brandon
Respectfully submitted,
w III. STEVENS. Colonel Engineers
JOIN "A. WILLIAMS, MAJOR, Engineers
on w: q. TARPIE Captain. Engineers.
ymeiai copy; A. l.. RIYEs LiepIenent CVlonel and
Astisg Chief of Bussu