, 1864-02-25


It happened that, while the expedition wns
in its carly stage Of preparation, drunken
repr otnte pamed Boyle, who belonged to q
company at Williamsburg, became mutinons,
and, with drawn pistol, resisted an arrest
His Captain, with view Of soothing him,
advanced before the guard, and appealing to
Boyle, kindly nsked him to trust to his known
good will, and deliver up the pistol. But the
brutal fellow warned him back, and seeing
him still approach, lowered the weapon on
his breast and shot him dead. The niscreant
WIS at once secured; In due time he was con-
dtmued by a court martial to be hung, and
Gerera1 Butler, in his character as revising
officer, approved the yerdict, and fixed the day
and its execution, some influences, which are
not yet ascertafncd, were brought to bear on
President Lincoln, and the murderer was
granted reprieyc. On the night Of the
movement from Williamsburg against the
rebel capital, tho Irish sentinel who had
Boyle IN chnrge gave him his liberty, IL, and ,n3 he
lines. Immediately on reaching the Confed-
erate pickets, he asked to be taken before
the superior authorities. To secure conf
dcnce il his sincerity, hc acquainted his list
cners with his crime and scntencei aud In
addition to the details in regard to tac mass,
ing of our troops, informed them that he had
been Imprisoned where he could overlook
our magazine, and that for several days pre-
yfous 10 his escape, TIE had been &C.
cumu1atinc at Williamsburg vast quantities
Of ammunition. There could be no misin-
terpTotation Of this latter circumstance by
ns:ctieed soldiers, and the combined On news OF
IT. ~ fhe f ' telerraph froa, tbe Chiekahomiuy
f1ashcd tie wheic danger cu their minds.
The alarm bells Of the city were rang; the
home guard gathered; the veterans Dis
pnfched 10 Lee were ordered bnck, and tic
result was, that when Wistar's cavalry pre-
scented themselves at Bottom's Bridge, ex-
pectine clear field and rapid ride to Rich
inopl. they found themselves. confronted On
thc opposite bank OF the Chickahominy With
two batteries and force nearly equal to
We could have given battle, and perhaps
have forced the river, but the success Of the
main object depended on surprise, and that
was lost 4 slight skirmish folio wed during
the eyolutlons for retreat, and the expedition
returned, to expose Gen. Butler temporarily
to the unjust sneer from the lips of the dis
loyal of another military failure. He left be-
hind him, however, wholesome trembling
in the hearts Of the Confederates, and il be
permanent reduction Of Lees army ofseyeral
thousand men, which must now be retained
for the protection Of their capital.
Extraordinary Iase1 nsmenia1 Perform-
On Thursday, the 18th inst, Parson David
Winters, Of this city, solemnized the ma1-
riage of 4t,en eouIIest We make tic an
noancement here for the purpose Of calling
tie public attention to what we haEe reason
to believe Ia the most remarkable hymenial
performance ever made in one day ty any
other minister in this country. Parsoa Win
ters, on two former days, performed the mar
rfege, ceremony for fire couples; and We hare
! ed minister, he has united several thousand
persons IN marriage. :--5Dagton 1onrna'. :.'::-