The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-01-14
LATER AND IMPORTANT!
BY THE BRIG
HALLE

By the arrival on Monday of the Halle Jackson,
Captain Hampstead, from San Francisco. We have
papers from that place one day later than those by
the Eldridge and Comet. We extract the following:
CHICAGO, Dec. 24th-Nothing of Importance in
Congress. Both houses have adjourned TO the 9th
prOximo. Gen. McClellan's report was transmitted
TO The House yesterday. The report covers the pc
Rod from the 18th of July TO Nov. 9TH.
WASHINGTON, Dec. th.-Th following was re-
ceiyed to-day from POcahontas county, Va. the DIST:
81 have the honor TO report that | cut the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad at Salem on the 10th, and
have arrived safely at the front with my command.
At Salem three depots were destroyed containing
1000 barrels Of -four and u large quantity of wheat,
corn, oats. and various other stores, together with
one hundred wagons. The telegraph wires were cut
and burned, and the track torn up, rails heated and
destroyed as much as possible in six hours time.
Five bridges and several culyerts were destroyed,
and for an extent of 10 miles a large quantity of
bridge timber and repairing material was also de-
stroyed. My march was retarded occasionally by
the tempest on the mountains and ice on the road.
l was obliged to swim my command, and draw my
artillery with ropes, across Scroggs' Greek, seven
times in twenty-tour hours. On my return L found
six separate commands under Early, Jones, Fitz Lee,
Imboden, Jackson, Reynolds and McCoslin, arrayed
in a line, extending from Stanton 10 Newport. upon
all the available roads, 10 prevent my return. L cap
tured a dispatch from Gen. Jones to Gen Early, CIV
ing me his position and that of Jackson, at Clifton
Forge. | marched from the front of Jones 10 that of
Jackson, at night, and his cutposts were pressed in
ut a gallOp cy the Stn virginia Mounted Infantry,
and two brigades crossed Jackson river, although
fngots had been piled, ready TO ignite the bridge.
My column, four miles long. FASTENED across, regard
less Of the enemy, until all but my ambulances and
a few wagons and one Regiment passed, when u
strong effort was made by the rebels to capture the
First Brigade, in which they did not succeed. The
ambulances and some sick men were lost, and by
darkness and difficulties the last Regiment was de-
tanned on the opposite side until morning, when it
was ascertained that the enemy seemed determined
to maintain their position up the cliffs which over
looked the bridges. So | caused the bridges, which
were long and high, TO be destroyed, and the enemy
Immediately changed position 10 the flank and rear
Of the detachment which was cut off. | sent orders
to the remnant to destroy our wagons, and come
across the river over the mountains. They swan the
river with a loss Of four men, who were drowned,
and Joined me. In the meantime the forces of the
enemy were concentrating, and moved over every
available road but one, which was deemed by them
TO be impracticable, but by which | managed to cross
over the top of the Alleghanies with my command,
with the exception of four caissons, which were de-
stroyed, in order to increase the teams of the pieces.
My loss is. six men drowned, one officer and four
men wounded four officers and ninety men missing.
We captured about 200 prisoners. My command has
marched, climbed and swan 355 miles since the Sth.
(Signed) W. W. AvERILL, Brig. Gen."
FoRTREss MONROE, Dec. 24th-Tbe Richmond pa
pers publish a dispatch from Dalton, Ga, the 18th,
which says Gen. Johnson has been appointed to COM
maud the Army of Tennessee. Sherman's corps has
fallen back from Knoxville, and passed through
Cleveland yesterday.
y ulSpltCU TOm Suh SAO tIC Olu says IL
enemy opened fire on the city between IL and / to-
day. throwing fifteen shells. This afternoon twenty
more were fired. No damage was done.
4 dispatch from Charleston the Dist, says No
important movement of the fleet has been made. \
calcium light has been discovered for two nights, re-
fecting on the city.
BR1sToL, VA, Dec. 24th.-In the skirmish on
Monday, Mt Beams Station, the enemy, after a stub
born resistance, retreated towards Knoxville. We
captured seventy wagon loads of stores. Our loss in
killed and wounded was eight hundred.
New YORK, Dec. z4th.-The special telegram to
the Tribune, from Washington the 231, says inform
alton has been received here from London, by the
last European steamer, which states that all the Reb-
ell rams in England had been offered to the English
Government ut certain prices. Lord Clarence's an
swer, on the part of the English Admiralty, had been
written to the builders stating that no decided answer
could be given for the present, but the project was
before their Lordships for consideration.
Instructions have been sent from Secretary Welles,
to the commanding officers at the different navy
yards, to have a feet of vessels ready to take position
at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
other points, for the purpose of carrying out the new
regulations relative to passports of vessels aud pas
sengers.
The special telegram to the Times, from Washing
ton, to the oath, says that the President has sent into
the Senate the names of n lot of Major Generals, ap-
pointed during the recess. Among them is that of
Gen. Schofeld. He is understood to recommend the
latter for the Middle Department in place of General
Schenck. There is a growing feeling in the Senate
that no more Major or Brigadier Generals should be
appointed than are actually required for the needs of
the army and the interests of the country.
The Navy Department is going to build four case
mate steamships-to carry 4 20 inch guns to be of
wrought iron-45O feet lon G, IS feet beam. four cyl
inders, go inch stroke, 4 feet 2 inches propellers,
with n draft of 10 feet. and an expected speed of l6
knots. They will cost five millions each. %
The steam transport Star of the South. from Hill
ton Head the Dist, states that the report Of the Iron
sides and monitors being entangled in the obstruc-
tons of Charleston harbor. is untrue.
The monitor Lehigh. while on picket duty, near
Fort johnson. got aground, and a rebel battery OPEN
ed on her, doing considerable damage, when the other
two ironclads went 10 her assistance, and succeeded
in getting her off.
The Lehigh is so badly damaged by the fire Of the
rebel battery, that the Star of the South had to tow
was injured. Gen. Gilmore is Smelling Charleston
daily, from his 200 Founders, but nothing further Of
importance had transpired.
The HeraLd's special telegram from Washington
the 23d, says " 1t is expected that Arkansas will
be represented ut an early day in Congress. Ar
rangements are progressing in that State for an cleo
ton, and there is reason to believe that n State Gov
eminent will be in operation there shortly. Congress
having failed to amend the Consumption Act previous
to adjournment for the holidays. the draft will proba-
bly, he postponed till the LIST of February, to give
Congress time TO amend the law, which will proba-
bly, undergo a thorough revision. In the meantime
recruiting will be stimulated by bounties, etc.
4 special to the Philadelphia Bulletin, says Long
street has joined Lee. and that the latter had crossed
the Rapid Ann, Meade falling back. There have
been several skirmishes with Stuart's cavalry lately.
1t is rumored that the National Conservative Union
Convention, now in session in Philadelphia, has re-
affirmed the nomination of Gen. Mcclellan for the
Presidency, and have nominated Judge Campbell, Of
Tennessee. as Vice President.
~ NJ