The New York herald., 1864-12-24

very means adopted by the rebels to save thom-
selves will contribute immensely to save sup
plies, trains and transportation, depots and
guards on the part Of General Grant We turn
over this important fact to tho special cousids-
ration Of John Bull.
CAPTURE or BRrrrsH ARMS FOR THE REBxIs-
Admiral Porter telegraphs to the War Depart
mont that the blockade runner Petrol was cap-
turod BY our gunboats on the 10Th Instant, on
New Inlet, having largo cargo Of arms and
on board. This may seem, In the
ordinary course Of events, very Insignificant
circumstance; bat, for all that, We think il IL
> very Important and significant incident, as
We shall show. In the early part Of thb month
The blockade runnee Vixen was captured by
the United States gunboat Rhode Island.. off
Wilmington, with large and valuable cargo,
consisting Of rides, ordnance stores, medicines
and blankets.
1t will be remembered that we published
letter from our correspondent in London, on
the 10th Of November. giving the particulars
Of q contract entered into with an English firm,
Alexander Collie d Co., and the rebel govern
ment, for the manufacture and delivery OF
two hundred and fifty thousand rifles, which
were to be paid for at the rate OF bale Of
cotton for each ri1e--the English speculator
agreeing to take the double risk of landing the
rifles at some rebel port and getting the cotton
safely into England. The cost Of these guns
would be about $4,000 900, and the price of
tho cotton In England would be fully
$50 ,O00,000-thus leaving an immense margin
OF profit to cover the risk. Now, it is pretty
evident that We have got two cargoes at least
Of these rifles and other implements Of war
which were probably included in the contract
with the English house; how many have been
landed at Southern ports we know not. II will
be remembered, also, that among the papers
taken by General Thomas recently was pro-
clamation Of General Breckenridge, imploring
the rebels to be careful of their small arms
and lead; to save up every gun and dig up
every bullet out Of the earth and sand works.
A supply Of small arms is then evidently the
most pressing necessity of the rebels. and hence
the large price paid for them; and by captur-
ing these two vessels, with their cargoes, we
have virtually won two important, substantial
victories, because the euemy are driven to
strait out Of which there is no outlet, as
they cannot get small arms from any other
source
Thus people, when they read q newspaper
account Of the capture OF two blockad ran-
ners, with cargoes Of rifles, have very little
idea of how important an event It is In crush.
inQ the power Of the rebellion
Tnn wuAIN0rox ExPEDr1oN-BRAoa ON
HASD AoAm-The Richmond papers report
the arrival Of tho Butler-Porter expedition OF
the inlets to Wilmington, and awaiting only for
the stormy weather to subside little to open
the ball. The rebel General Bragg, however, is
on hand, and reports himself able to take care Of
any force which the Yankees may bring to bear
against him. So the rebels say. This Is an old
story; but the promises Of Bragg, like those OF
Hood, have always fallen short, very short In
his performances. He began his unfortunate
career in this war at Pensacola, with the pro-
mise that Fort Pickens would be taken, cost
what It might; but instead Of taking the fort he
lost the town. Next, with considerable army.
ho started from Northern Alabama for the spoil
alton of Louisville and Cincinnati, but CON-
peled suddenly to change his mind, he skedad-
died to the mountains of East Tennessee Next,
wbile threatening Nashville, he was so roughly
treated by Rosecrans that he left between two
days, and was never fairly overhauled again
till he reached the borders of Georgia. Next,
while besieging Chattanooga, and promising
its early capture, General Grant took him in
hand, and Missionary Ridge, it was supposed,
had ended the career OF Bragg. But after q
long rest and careful nursing by JEFF. Davis at
Bragg turns up again at Whining
ton, Dragging a. usual, but one Of those
special pets Of JEFF. provided by fate to bring
him to destruction. Bragg says he is able to
hold Wilmington. Let us wait and see.
A CoRLcArED SYsrEM-The operations,
commissions, profits and divisions Of the spoils
Of the sheddy jobbers, a. developed in the tss-
timoay Of the Opdyke-weed libel trial. The
business, in fact, Is a. much Of mixture IS the
mixture Of old rags that arc worked up into
the soldiers shoddy overcoat
SALTrN0 THE SrREErs.-We learn that two or
three Of the city railroad companies have again
commenced sailing their tracks. II they persist
in this, and are tolerated in the outrage by the
city government We shall have plenty Of dip
theria. Our carmen, carriage drivers and other
owners Of hsrses will lose their animals, and
the city will be immersed in slush. Will the
proper authorities attend to this matter In time,
"A Bro THING ON Ios."-A Maryland rebel
podIer. about this time, crossing over the
frozen Potomac with bis pack Of yankee no.
tions."
The Army.
Hugh DnuIp Hospital Steward OF The Tammaay regi.
.s -. sho or ryrsN rAautenant