The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-07


! Secretary Chase has resigned, and
.lIon. Nv. p. Fessenden of Maine has
been appointed in his place. The
cause of this step seems to have been
the refusal Of Congress to levy an
additional tax OF So, 900, 900, recon-
mended by Mr.. e. and deemed by
him, necessary TO meet the wants OF
the government during the fiscal
year. The appointment was rendered
TO the Hon. David Tod of Ohio, but
was declined by him.
On the night Of the "a. Martins.
burg, on the Is. and O. Railroad was
attacked by considerable force OF
rebels under Ewell. The place was
defended by Gen, Siegel for a time,
but the rebel force being greatly su.
perior, it was finally evacuated. A
fight also took place at Leetown, ten
miles from Harpers Ferry, resulting
in the repulse of the enemy at that
point. Warned in time by telegraph,
the Railroad Co. succeeded in re.
moving their cars and other property
| to places of safety.
!, On the morning OF the Sd, the Lo-
Gust Point and the Matanzas the for.
mer bound for and the latter from
New Orleans, collided. The Locust
Point, sunk. Twenty three crew and
passengers were saved by Matanzas,
but some 1s were lost. The accident
happened between Baregate and Alb
Groom lights , .,.f,,t
Sherman. by the success, of his recent bold
flanking movements. has occupied Marietta.
on the Atlanta and Western Railway just
twenty miles from the city OF Atlanta. Ma.
rie,ta is an old place, containing in peace
FIJI times several thousand inhabitants. 1t
has comparatively recently been ascertained
to be a great depot Of stores for the rebel
army, and this had cauiak some to suppose
that Joe johnson was merely temporary
defense in front Of it for the purpose Of get
ting time to remove these storeA BE that
as it may, he had taken up position
strongly defensible, and which has seemed
to puzzle our officers little more than any,
thing previously encountered IN Georgia.
1t has, however. been, safely passed, and
now Atlanta is in far more peril than was
Marietta week ago, being far less defensi.
BILE. "a 80 .a.,u..t E..-...
| The amended Conscription bill passed
both Houses Of Congress on Saturday. 1t
abolishes the $500 communication clause, but
gives fifty days for volunteering before
drafting. The drafted man. if abled bodied,
must serve one year or find his own sub
stitute. Each county and township or ward
is to be credited with all soldiers heretofore
furnished, and charged with their respec-
tive quotas Blacks count on the draft the
same as whites, and may be taken for SUBJ
stitutes. The bill allows recruiting in the
rebel States. with the exception Of Tennes-
see. Arkansas and Louisiana; and fixes the
bounty at 500 for one years service. 5000
for two wears, and $500 for three years.
A call for 100000 men under this bill may
be looked for very soon. They are greatly
needed to reinforce Grant and Sherman, and
to replace the 100 day men, whose term o!
service will expire in August and Septem-
Der. Illinois is so far ahead of her quota
that comparatively few men will be required
from this State. But the Eastern States,
and especially Pennsylvania, are still large.
ly behind former calls. It will come pref.
ty hard on them. We have no tears to
shed if they are now obliged to hoe up their
rows. They have been behind long enough,
and it is well to have settlement day. The
Government wants men, not Communication
money Chicago Tribune. 81.
Tie gold market Saturday, both here and
at New York, was creature Of circum.
stance, with very ambiguous status. The
New York brokers telcgraphed to their cor ;.
respondents here pretty early in the day
that there was no market in that city for
the article, and that they had better sell in
Chicago ."any balance they may have on
hand" The brokers here tried it on, but
could make very little headway at quite
low figures. The sellers greatly outnum-
bered the buyers, and the market closed at
.2l0@ 220 with no buyers at the inside
figures. The market in New York opened
at 245, and closed weak at 233 1t opened
he, 9 at 22O, went up.to $50, and dropped
to the low figures named above. 1t is
easily understood that the change in the
Minister Of Finance haI much to do with
these fluctuations, with what advantage to
the financial condition Of our country, time
can only demonstrate. Chicago 7rib.
( as ~ State News. g
d Mrs. Ho.endalI, . German woman, and
two of her children, one six and the other
about two years Of age, were drowned by
the upsetting of q skiff at Burlington, on
Sunday last. ,ta Zu.aiem
Capt. Ruttledge captured three rebel
prisoners in Henry county, last week and
sent them to Rock Island. a,3 t9 ~
nonob,o q McCook Marble Dealers nj