The New York herald., 1865-02-16

yesterday The purser viii accept our thanks Tor psomJ
delivery Of dispatches
Our New Orleans Correspondenos.
NEW oRLxAx, La, Feb 2 lsoe .
MATHIS Al xouLl
IN my lAss stated that Mobile was being evacuated
the enemy. Though NO Official news has arrived
headquarters announcing the faot there s no doubt b
that ID true. am informed from very high authors
that thers ID nothing but strong provost guard lef
the city.
The order to evacuate Mobile arrived from RchmooI
the 14th ult, and preparations were at made
carry the order into effect with little secresy posi-
bls BY the 22d It was q secret longer; everybody
high and low rich and poor knew Of the intended sv
cuation and tho greatest excitement was the consI
quence Troops, artillery, powder, stores and cotto|
were shipped to Selma by rail and in wagons Abou|
eighteen thousand bales OF cotton in Mobile whs
the news for evacuatng the city arrived There
between fifteen and sixteen thousand bales stored in th
government buildings, the majority Of which belongs Il
private parties.
DETERMINATION 10 DESTROY THE CITY.
The authorities in Mobile have determined its ds|
sruction should forces advance upon tho city and
said that turpentne and powder has been stored wit
It, with trains leading thereto ready TO be fred at an
moment. General Maury supcrntended the evacuation
The citizens who the cotton protest strongly aganf
its destruction; and nearly all the influential citizen
are in favor of saving II, the probability Is that Il wi
not be destroyed.
There is considerable Union sentiment in Mobile be
the parties are afraid to show it, Rebel money y
becoming more worthless every day, and the cit zen
show their estimation of it by gctting rid Of it in larg
quantities for small consideration and by paying thirty
forty, and even fifty dollars for dollar greenbac.
NEW ORLEANS La, Feb 2, l8o6
RxBHL AFFAIRS WEST THE MISSISSIPPI
Kirby Smiths and Prices commands are mostly In th
neighborhood Of Shreveport though detachments ar
scattered all along through the trans Mississippi Depart
ment Kirby Smith may be termed tho Rebel Min
tary Supervising Agent for tho rreng out taxing,
shipment of cotton into Mexico. His soldiers hunt y.
the cotton and tho parties owning 1t required TO coz
tribute one half for the benefit Of the rebel States
while the other half is purchased by Kirby Smith
agents at twenty-five cents rebc scrip per pound, equs
in coin value and half Tho cotton 10 the
transported in wagons from Shreveport to Brownsville
General Prico recently sent into Mexico BY Kirb
Smith. Whether his mission relates solely 20 cottol
transactions is of political nature Is not known
The family Of General Prico reside in Texas. Yanks
cotton spccuators not wanted in Kirby Smiths Do
minions, and woe 70 tho trader who falls into hi
clutches.
TIE RkBEL GENERAL FRANK 0AkDNkR SudrEH1hOkDs
On Thursday last flag of truce from Jackson, MIsR
brought into vicksburg Through II lcarn tha
General Frank Gardner, formerly commanding th
districts of Mississippi and East Louisiana has been
perseded by Major General W. T Martin. General Mart
formerly q resident Of Natchcz, and = very abl
lawyer
ARRIVAL BRITISH CONSUL.
Dennis Donohue, Esq, British Consul for New Orleans
vice VIM. Murc Esq., deceased, arrived in this city III
morning, from New York. on tho steamship Nornir
Star Mr. Donohue formerly acted in this capacity
Buffalo, Now York.
YyRxNEN's BALL
There was grand hremens ball at the Opera Housa
Saturday night last given by Pelican Hook and LAdds
Company No. A. The whole fire department of Nev
Orleans represented. There were upwards Of ~
thousand persons present The Opera House was beaut
fully and artistcaly decorated. Yagers band was 4
attendance. This the finest ball Of the