, 1864-01-09

Gen. Howard's command at Athens has cav
airy scouting the country. Possibly Morgan
may yet be taken.
Boston, Dec. 19.-The New Orleans cor
respondent of the Traveller, under date of
Dec 10th, says Gen. Washburn holds the
coast of Texas from the Rio Grande to with
in 100 miles of Galveston. Another divi.
sion of the 18th corps starts for the Texas
coast to-day, and the expectation is that
Galveston is the next place to be put down
in the history of the war as having been re-
duced by the Federals.
The Times special dispatch says The
Tax Commissioners have prepared their lists,
and announce that thesa of estates will take
place on the 1lth of January. The first par
Gel offered will be in Arlington, the place
of Gen. Lee.
Gen. Hitchcock has returned from For
tress Monroe, having given his sanction to
Gen. Buffers plan, by which it is hoped our
suffering soldiers will be released from south
ern prisons. Gen. Butler is to send to City
Point 600 or 800 rebel prisoners with an
offer to Commissioner Ould, to exchange
them man for man If this experiment
proves successful, exchange on this basis
will be resumed. No instructions have been
given tending to ignore the rights of cOored
soldiers as prisoners of war. On the contra
ry the most stringent orders have been issued,
under which the rebel authorities are to be
held strictly accountable with regard to col
ored prisoners.
A very large proportion of the rebels in
our hands-not less than one third it is said
are desirous of enlsting in the navy.
Baltimore, Dec. ia dispatch dated
off Charleston, l3th says Gilmore again
shelled the city on Thursday night, throw
ing number of shells into different parts of
the city, and it is believed, doing much
damage All the rebel batteries opened
heavy bembardment and continued for sew
eral hours
New York, Dec 10.-The Herald's Nor
ris Island correspondent says the cause OF
the washing away of the distractions In
Charleston harb0r was the famous floating
battery getting adrift in the last gale and
smashing through the distractions. She
now lies ashore near the north end of Folly
Island.
Washington, Dec. 19.-Seward's diplo-
matte report will be ready for the press in
day or two.
The Senate of Virginia, in session at Alex
andria, passed bill yesterday for the cleo
ton of delegates to Convention to be held
on the Goth of Jan, to alter and amend the
Constitution so as to abolish slavery in the
counties of Accomac, Northampton, Princess
Anne, Elizabeth City and York, including
the cities OF Norfolk and Portsmouth. BY
the Presidents proclamation Of January LIST,
| 1861, all the slaves in the remainder of the
State are free The Act sets forth as a rea-
son for the change that, without it, officers
of the State, in executing the laws between
master and slave, will be brought in conflict
with the authorities of the United States
The Evening Star has the following The
authorities here have dispatches from Gen.
Grant at Chattanooga, dated last night at
o'clock. They do not indicate any recent
change in the State of affairs there. Grant
is in constant and direct telegraphic commu-
nicaion with Cen Foster, at Knoxville /;
and had there been a fight between Gen.
Longstroet's forces and ours pursuing him,
as the press dispatches state, Grant would
doubtless have sent such dispatches here
The fact that he says nothing about such en-
gagement induces the belief that the state
ments via Cincinnati are exaggerated.
Washington, Dec. l9.-In the Senate to-
day, Wilson, from the Committee on Militia
ry affairs, reported back with amendments,
the bill amending the Enrolment Act. One
amendment repeals the $500 commuta-
ton The amendments were ordered to be
printed.
New York, Dec 17-Proposed excise tax
on whisky, 80 cents. Sales of whisky 80
cents.
News from San Luis Poosi says: "Mexi-
can officer has just returned from the U. S.,
where he has made arrangements for vessels
to sail under letters of marque from the
| Mexicans to attack French commerce on the
Pacific.
Meagre advices from Vera Cruz state that
the French are slowly advancing towards the
| interior.
Creditable witnesses from Richmond state
that our prisoners are better fed than their
own people, and better than they would be
were it not that the desperate straits of the
| Coniederacy must be kept from our knOwl-
edge. Fresh beef is now 81 per pound fresh
bread So 80 per loaf. The consequence is
that thousands must starve, or go into the
army, and divide their rations with their
! families
1t has been determined by the reDels TO
conscript every male citizen between Is and
90, inclusive, for one last desperate effort in
favor of the Confederacy. This CONSUMPTION
includes negroes and whites, thrown into the
ranks together indescrimnately. With this
immense mOngrel horde, JEFF. Davis means
to precipitate himself upon Washington,
Pennsylvania, and Ohio, commanding in
person. He will endeavor to stimulate the
passions of these hordes by the most extrav-
agant stories.
LIEUT.. B. F. WHITE, of Captain Kery's company
has been appointed Adjutant of the lst Oregon Cav
airy, instead of Lieut.. West as VIC before stated
OregouiGn.
KING Kamehameha ", ruler of the Sandwich ISL
ands died on the 30th of November AGED % wears