Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-03-24
Washington News.
The Smelling Of Charleston and the Flori
dn ErpeditiOn.

a. u0 EfptUNtOH
General Gilmore's Chief of Staff arrived
on Thursday with dispatches. He states
that the city of Charlesten is nearly all
demolished. But one portion of it is oc-
cupied, and that only by troops The
Committee on the Conduct of the War
learning this officer was in the city, sum.
moned him before them to testify in re-
ference to the Florida affair. He gave {
detailed account of the expedition. its OBJ
jects and purposes. IT was partly politica
and partly for the purpose of destroying
or capturing supplies of the enemy, il
the shape Of cattle and corn, which wer'
on their way from Florida to the Rebe
army. The committee have not received
the orders originating the expedition, ant
cannot tell whether they emanated from
here or not. The officer examined to-day
is not clear on that subject.
Sherman's Expedition.
A letter received to-day by promi
nent citizen from General Sherman, give
some particulars of the late raid in A la
bama. When the command returned
the Vicksburg train was ten miles il
length, and composed of negroes, horses
and mules, and provisions in wagons, OF
horses and mules. In the section o.
country traversed everything of use tc
the enemy was destroyed. There was
found to be no lack of supplies among the
people, and in one days foraging sufficient
could be obtained for horses and men te
last two days. General Sherman could
have taken Mobile had he known Com.
modore Farragut was near the place te
cooperate. The people, as well as Rebe
authorities, civil and military. were pan.
ic-stricken, and rendered unable to Offer
any formidable resistance. This raid, in
every respect, was a complete success,
and one from the effect of which the enc
my cannot fully recover.
Runtored Conspiracy in Kentucky.
There is a rumor in town of a vast
conspiracy, embracing several counties
and cities of Kentucky, and having for
object the the annexation of that State to
the Southern Confederacy. The leaders
Of the reasonable movement had, it is
their headquarters at Monticello
and were corresponding, through Stony
and Founding Gaps, with Longstreet at
and with the Kentucky dele
CATION at Richmond. The conspirators
had, it seems, secret utilization with GER
tain parties at London, Manchester,
Mount Vernon, Dahvllc, &c, with
whom they were carrying on an active
correspondence. Their plan was to es-
tablish in every county central committee
invested with dictatorial powers, to COM
pei the inhabitants to join in the Southern
Confederacy as soon as Longstreet or
Breckenridge, who are anxiously waited
for, would have invaded the State. This
infamous conspiracy was discovered. it is
said, by the seizure at the post office of
letters addressed by the Kentucky dele
gates to some of the leaders of the plot
These letters bear the signature of the
notorious Rebels, such as Humphrey
Marshall, G. W. Triplett, B. +. Bradley
and other members of the Rebel Congress-
Rebel Preparations for the Campaign.
Private adyices from the South state
that the Rebels have organized a very
strong force in North Carolina. and that
they have distributed it all along the rail-
road line which connects Petersburg to
Weldon and Weldon to Wilmington
The forces are said to be the nucleus of
an army of observation destined to watch
the southern part of James river, which
in the calculation of the Rebels, will be
next spring by the Federal ar
my, commanded by General Grant in
person. 1t is lso stated that General
Longstreet is to be recalled from his COM
mand, to be appointed commander of the
forces in SoutheA Virginia, and that
General Kirby S&fh will take his place.
The Rebels are now actively engaged
in manufacturing rails and rolling stock
for the establishment of new lines of rail.
road in North Carolina and Georgia A
branch of the railroad has been already
built, commencing at Ashby, running tc
Bib iron works, in Bib county, Geor-
gia, thence to the rich coal region o.
Catawba county, and ultimately to Elyton
Jefferson county.
The Internal Revenue.
1t is understood that the sub Commit.
tee of Ways and Means have concluded
their labors on the Internal Revenue bill
The tax upon tobacco is not as heavy a.
was anticipated no tax is put on leaf and
none on crude petroleum; twenty cent:
will be reported on refined The addi
tional tax on whiskey has not yet beer
determined, but the recommendations o
Secretary Chase and Commissioner Levi:
of one dollar from July, will probably BE-
adopted. The tax on malt. will not b.
less than thirty cents.
The Reciprocity Teq,y.
The House Commerce Committee have
General Ward to report back
a substitute for the House resolution alb.
the Canadian Reciprocity treaty
1t authorizes the President to give the re.
quired notice, and in event of no new
treaty being made. for It's final abrogation
1t has been stated that the Canadian au.
thorities we're willing to either modify the
present treaty so as to meet the objections
of our Government, o.elsc to negotiate a
new one. The resolution agreed upon by
the Committee leaves the matter in shape
for them to accept, if they choose. The
notice will be given by the Pres
ident in the meantime.
The Vest Point academy Bill.
The Ways and Means Committee occu-
pied all of Thursdays session in consid-
cring the Senate's amendments to the
West Point Academy bill. They finally
agreed to all, and added proviso adding
one additional cadet from each Congress
sional district for the coming year. This
will increase the classes to their number,
and make up for a deficiency existing since
the withdrawal of the Rebel States.
Chief Justice 7aney's Etghty-SerentA