The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-02
UNITED STATES Intelligence
THE SIEGE OF oHARLEsroN-sALEs OF COSFIsCA
TED PROPERTY,

THE SIEGE OF oHARLEsros-sALEs OF CoSFIsCA-
TED PROPERTY
The latest intelligence about the siege of Char!c =
ton we find In letter from there dated the 2is
uit. 1t says
The sheiiing of Charlcston from Fort Putnam is
continued night and day at intervals of Ten minutes
One qua alone has fred over 100 rounds at an
elevation Of forty degrees Charleston Is gr adually
erumbiibg under this incessant bombar lmcnt.
We often observe dense clouds OF smoke arising
rom some portion Of the city. which Is considered
good evidence that our firing Is effective.
Occasionally We send a few missiles TO Moultrie
os Johnson, or some other rebel work, which are
reluctantly replied To by the enemy. For Fome
weeks past the enemy has evinced an unmistakable
desire 10 be let alone He invariably waits an at
tack before using his pieces. We do not obs erve,
any changes of note along the borders Of the rebel
lines.
The iron-clad fl ct remain on picket duty of
Charleston, Notwithstanding rumOrs 10 the effrc,
that n number Of the monitors had been dispatch
ed for service to The Gulf. The Court of Inquiry
instituted to investigate the circumstances attend
ing the loss OF the Wcehawken, have not vet made
public the result Of their proceedings. The i'm
preston generally prevails that carelrssness will
be found 10 be the immediate OF the diS Sa<tsr
This conclusion would accord with the belief oi
numerous navy officers who witnessed the sinking
of the vessel. and who have since had opportuni
les of strengthening that conviction.
The work of raising the Weehawken and the
keokuk, athough not abandoned, has not progress
ed actively of late. The vessels consist Of such
4 vast Quahtity OF metdt, added to which is
Ssassd0us weight of loose iron, including gus and
ammunition, that The machinery requi red for
bringing the entire mass 20 the surface must
sariy be OF the bt st material and OF extensive pro-
portions. n few adiuncts, in the way of machine
~ will soon be supplied, when the lab will be
re nmCd. II is believed the bodies-wi,h TWO or
three eXceptionsGf the unfortunate men who
went down in the Weehawsen, are still encased
in the cabin aad turret. The exceptions refer To
.he bodie. washed upon the beach few days after
The accident occurred
The subjoiacd circular issued by Gen. Sax;on,
has been extensively circulated about Beaufort and
The djacent Islands. 1t will be observed that thi.
General gives wholesome advice to the paOre con
cerning matters appertaining To til. purchase and
culture OF the soil. Pursuant to instructions from
Washington the tax commissioners notified The
public iha' they would be ready to dispose of the
lands at Beaufort Monday last. At 10 A. NJ, the
| hour appointed, the apartment in which the com
Hissioners convened was densey crowded with
officers, sold ers and contrahandsthe latter class
in the pteponderance. Unfortunately the Wtather r
was iHc!e:neEt, in consequence Of which the sale
was postponed till the following dey. At the hour
announced the commissioners accompanied by n
crowd of eypectant posse-sors, proceeded 10 the
ca tern portion of the town and commenced the
sale by offering lot No. a. The bidding was spirited
throughout the sale, and, us n general thing the
property was disposed Of at rates considered high
for this district AT this time. The contra ands
were foremost in the bids. How in the world these
fellows manage tn exhibit so much money is II
mystery 10 many sharpers among white officers
One sable pulled from his pocket roll OF
'1grecnblcks'' amounting to 1900 OF course
| the ''wuiIe sogprs' had TO back out until
the contraband had selected his lot and expended
his capital. The desirable lois brought prices
fying from $500 to 81 200. The sale was continued
on Wednesday, and is in progress TO day. Ten
days or two weeks Will probably be occupied in
dsposing o the entire lands. BY the terms OF the
instructions the Commissioners powered to
reserve such buildings AS may be required for use
by The nliii' authorities learn some di%satis-
faction has been expressed on account OF the Com
mis- rrfYt tI,r
cupied by the military, and found to be indisrensa-
Bile tor the need of the service. This is p0int
that certainly claims The serious attention d. The
Commissioners.
DISPLAY or CANADIAN AFFECTION FOR THE YAM
KEES.
Tie following letter is rom Acting VoluntcG
Lieutenant Commanding Edward F. Dcvens, TO
Secretary Weiles, in relation TO the treatment Of
the olEccfs and crew of the U. s. steamer How
qua, at Haiifay, i'll June last
CuARLEsTowH, July 3. ls63-Sir During the
recent cruise of the steamer iiowqua. under my
command, il became necessary for me to put into
the port of Halifax for coal, and would most re
speet!uIly call your attention tn the many insults
offered 10, aEd the outrageous nianner ii which
my officers and self Weje treated by the citizens
Of the place "A portion of the facts fol
lows
As the Howgua was dropping away from the coal
wharf one of the crew attempted to desert, when
three OF my officers went on tie wharf for the pur
pose of aTresting said descrter they We're mObbed
by the citizens of the place, Knocked down, badly
bruised, aud otherwise treated in a most shameful
manner, and the deserier rescued from them. In
passing through the streets was suhje 10 the
most trying insults.
As the vessel proceeded down the harbor crowds
collected on the end Of the wharf cheering for the
r, beis and JEFF. Davis. Men came down and tried
to induce my men to desert, while others came
around the ship with Secession flags and sinsin.
Secession songs
As not the slightest cause for insult was offered
by my officers, attribute the treatment We re-
ceived to The fact Of being Northern officers
and ID the symp 4tby Of the citizens of Halifax with
the rebels. YCur mOsi Obedignt servant,
EDWARD F. DEvENs,
Acting Volunteer iieutenant- L Commanding.