, 1864-01-16
Eastern News.
Dates to Dec. 23d.

in that State, which will be passed to-mor-
row.
The report of the Commissioners appoint
ed by the Navy Department., consisting of
81 chief engineers, who made careful expe-
riments for five months, showing the practi-
cability of using petroleum and carbon oils
for the purpose of generating steam, has been
issued and has proved satisfactory. 1t is
said, by those who have seen it, that results
show great saving, not only for ordinary
steamers but for naval steamers, which can
be kept at sea under steam three times as
long, with less labor and greater economy as
compared with coal-equal parts of each be-
ing considered. This indicates a complete
revolution in the mode of generating steam
New York, Dec. 20.-A special dispatch
to the Tribune, dated Washington, Dec
10th, says new command will soon be ar
ranged for Gen. Curtis, the President hav-
ing said the charges against him in connec-
tion with cotton speculations are utterly un-
founded.
A gentleman who has resided in Rich
mond during the past five years, and who
recently reached this city, having left Rich
mond Dec 5th has furnished the following :
The garrison in the forts numbers about 3,
600 men, who are principally employees of
the Government They are armed with Bel
gian rifles. The Notifications consist Of sew
eral lines of intrenchments, earthworks and
rife pits, besides forts sparely manned. The
number of guns mounted on all the works
is qnite inconsiderable, compared with their
extent. AT the time our prisoners planned
an escape the Union men of Richmond were
aware of the intended effort, and would have
joined the prisoners, had they succeeded
From the ArmOry at Richmond, and the
works at Fayetteville, On. CD about 300
guns per week are turned out. All these
guns are rifed at the Tredegar Works Ma
chinery is being made by which they hope
to make 1000 rifles per month. The prin-
cipal powder manufactCry is at Augusta
(Ga.) Most of the stocking machinery is
at Fayetteville. The loss Of those would
prove irreparabe Until very late date
drawings Of the projectiles adopted by our
Government were received from Washington,
and in some cases their manufacture com
menced in Richmond even before begin
ming was made here. --,. --
The arrival Of French corvette for the
purpose Of attending to the removal of Frenh
tobacco had created considerable feeling
among the merchants and the people Loud
objections were being made to its being Civ
en- up, unless the French would raise the
blockade All hopes of foreign intervention
have died out. The refusal of England to
allow the rams to sail excited much indig-
nation, inasmuch as the rebel authorities had
to pay for them in gold in advance. South
Carolina was openly denounced in the streets,
with devOut wishes that the State might be
sunk. The people are very anxious for an
exchange of prisoners, and thought the ces-
sation of the exchange was plan adopted
by our Gov. to prevent them from reflling
their army. The sympathetic starvation of
our men was spoken Of as policy to compel
us to resume exchanges.
The Times special dispatch las the fol-
lowing; The Senators and members who
compose the Committee appointed by the
Democratic caucus to confer with the Nation
al Democratic Committee, to fix the time and
place of holding a National Convention are
j. U. Allen, OF Illinois; Fernando Wood Of
N. Y; G. b. Steele, Of New Jersey w. H.
Miller and Daniel Marcy, of New Hamp-
shire; Garret Davis, Of Kentucky, and 4,
A. Hendricks, of Indiana
The following were appointed to arrange
the order Of business for the Democratic
members, who are to report to the Caucus
on Monday night, Dec. 2lst: Dawson, of
Pennsylvania Brooks, of New York; Pen
dleton, of Ohio; Mallory, of Kentucky
Robinson, of Illinois
Since the Senate Committee indicated its
purpose to repeal the $500 exemption clause,
enlistments have substantially ceased all over
the country. The Governors, in many of
the States in letters to leading Senators, pro-
test against the repeal as sure to run up the
price Of substitutes to at least 81 600. The
probabilities are to-day that the exemption
fee will be increased by the Senate Commit
te to $500.
London, KY, Dec 2O-Gen ShackIe-
ford and staff arrived here, en- route home.
The battle at Blain Station, on the 14th,
commenced at o'clock P. NJ, and lasted
till dark, Shackleford holding his ground
till that time, when he withdrew Our loss
was from $50 to 200 killed and wounded -
Our forces had concentrated at Blain's Cross
Roads when Shackleford left.
St. Louis, Dec. PA Fort Smith tele-
gram of Dec. 20th says An attack was
made on the outpOsts of Fort Gibson, Dec.
18th, by Standwate, with force stated at
1900, He was repulsed and fell back taking
part of his force across the Arkansas below
Gibson, northwest The Sd Wisconsin had
just returned from successful scout south
ward. They went within Is miles of Red
river. Finding the enemy had changed po-
sition since the last advices, they were un-
able to 90 further Their return was con
stant skirmish for over a hundred miles,
strong bodies of the enemy being posted at
the crossings of the streams to intercept
them. Their loss was trifing. Among the
prisoners taken is the notorious Handy Lane,
who boasts of having killed over hundred
Union citizens with his own hands.
A special dispatch to the Times says: A
letter received to-day from distinguished
officer of the feet off Charleston, says: So
far as visible the only Instructions in Charles
ton harbor are the double line of piles across
the channel from Fort Pinckney to the Mid.
die Ground From there to Fort johnson
there is an opening of about 200 feet The