, 1864-01-04
FROM WASHINGTON,


Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.l
WATERMELON, Jan. 8, 1854.
TIE War N y1NG1T1A.
TaGdng advantage Of the recent cold snap
which has rendered the roads somewhat pas
trating in the shcnandoah Valley for raid
on Winchester and Martinsburg. The rebels
arc under command Of Early.
Gen. Kelly has made ample preparations
for any enterprise Of this sort, and the only
fear is that they viii abandon their design.
II the cold continues few DAYS longer, the
monotony In military affairs west Of here may
be broken in upon by lively episode.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
It is understood that at an early day move
mcnt will be made in Congress for the ap-
pointnent Of special committee to 1nyesti-
gate the affairs Of the Interior Department.
1Dasmnch as SO much has been said outside
of Irregularities in this Department, an inves-
tigatiou into Its management cannot well be
avoided. II such irregularities exist they
should bs exposed. II current rumors arc
untrue 1t is proper that the public should
know the fact and stop be put to ground
less imputations.
LAlAA01A VI 1[kAo0ALHa.
Gen. Butler Will be here tomorrow to
consult with the War Department in relation
10 the exchange Of prisoners.
PERSONALS
lieutenant Robert P. Porter, Sd Indiana
cavalry, has been dismissed from the service
by court-martla1 -.
Hon. Samuel J. Bowden, United States
Senator from Virginia, died herc, on yester-
day, Of small pox.
Mr. Speaker Colfax has returned f-om his
visit West during the holidays.
It Is yumored that Frank B}a1r hns resigned.
Gen. Burnside has been ordered to report
10 Washington.
Gen stoneanan, Chief Of Cavalry Dnrcan,
has resigned.
D1eGusTEp.
Andrew jackson Done1son, who ran for
Vicc President on tic American ticket in
1856, is in trouble for having said that he
wouid not trust JEFF. Davis farther than tn
blind mule could kick" He was arraisned
fer this, bnt let of; and when he returned
home he found that his rebel friends had
stolen aa Ills corn and bacon. He is very bit
Ter In Lis dcnunciations Of tho Confedcrates.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
By a recent decision of the Commissioner
Of the General Land Office, homestead set
tier has not complete legal right but mere
II an inccptive title liable to be defeated for
non-perormancc Of conditions, and can there.
fore only use timber fol. fencing, building and
repairs. Under bounty Of Congress he is
permitted to acquire homestead in public
domain for agricultural purposes on condi-
ton Of settlement and cultivation for i've
years.
Until this condition is satisfied be cannot
commit waste by telling the timber for mar
ket, as the land rcvcsts to the United States
on failure to comply with the terms Of law
As to any supposed purchase by party
from homestead settler no right can attach
to the sale The homestead settler has no
power to sell, hence the timber cut by him
is Liable to seizure.
THE POPULAR LOAN.
Brt sixty millions Of the Five Twenty
lonn remain unso1d. The statement that this
balance was about to be sold to combina-
tfon Of speculators at premium is untrue
The 1oan will be kept open for the benefit Of
the people at large
The ten days notice required By law before
closing it will not be given by Mr. Chase. It
has been peoples loan and he has no dispo-
sition to withhold the-small balance now re-
naming, from them. =.
sK1RM1sH WITH GEER111As.
Last Friday a detachment Of tho I'd Massa-
chusctts cavalry while or scouting cxpedi-
ton in the neighbornood Of Hay Market, be
yond Manassas, came suddenly upon gtcr-
lila encampmcnt killing and Wound1ng a
number and capturing about thirty guerillas.
Our loss was one man l-iled and six wound
ed. The gucrillas were clad in our uniforms
Secretary Chase 6treuously insists On limit
ing the appropriations to the means, and in
providing By taxRtion for every dollar 'appro-
pTfated beyond the amount which can be
certainly obtained By loans, and that without
too largely increasing the public debt,
The attendance Of the diplomatic body
upon the Ptcsidcnt upon New Years day with
fluctuations which were evidently as cordial IS
they Here democratic, was among tie cheer
ing auspices with which the country begins
the year. The entire corps were present
with the exception Of the cstimab1e Minister
from Nicar gaua who, being detained By ILL.,
friendly apology.
WASHINGTON, Jim. "A number Of col
bred men, belonging to this District, on
| their way to New York to be used as substi-
.tutes there, were taken of the steamship
Baltimore at Georgetown yesterday, BY one
Of the detcctires.
Among the first persons to pay their re-
spects to the Presidcnt4 yesterday, were Sec
retary Seward and the French Minister.
The gunboat Commodore Reed arrived yes.
| icrday at Alexandria, bringing up two Lieu
tenants and five prfyatcs Of the rebel army,
| and several ladies, among whom YVES Mrs.
pavte, wife Of rebel Colonel Davis, who
were captured while attempting to Cross the
| Potomac
There are indications that Gen. Early con-
templates movement or raid towards
Winchester, and perhaps beyond that town
An order has been issued from the army Of
the Potomac prohibiting a1l newspaper cor
respondents connected Herewith from pub
fishing, or causing to be published, the num-
bcr or designation Of regiments rc-enlisting
In the army, OF leaving the same, and the
number Of men ft1rloughed.
Another order from Provost Marshal Pat
| rick requires correct enrolment made Of
all ctvl1ians or army followers, exec 3ting &C.
tual residents within the limits Of their re-
sEectire corps. THIS Is designed to reach
those who have sought refuge in the army to
avoid the draft
Fifty prisoners and deserte1s reached Wash,
irgtCn To-day.
To-day's Chronicle says: IA year ago had Q
colort d man presented himself at tic White
| House, at the prCsident'B 1cyecx seeking ar
introduction to the Chief Magistrate OF th:
uaiiou, he would hive been, il all probabili
ty, roughly handled for Ills impudencc. Yes
tcr1ay, four colorcd men, of gentccl exterto
and with the manners Of gentlemen, JOINED
in the throng that crowded the cxtcnsiv,
mansion, and were presented to the .Presi
dent Of the United States
EnNRR nER RAnlMEa