The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-17
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

President and also with the Secretary of state.
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
-~~>~>~<~~~~~->~-~--->~->e->~
OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
What Jeff Davis Says About the Capture Of
John ii. Surratt--No Present Prospect Of His
Trial Before Spring-A Friendly Offering
Interesting Artillery Experiments Chasing
mn Alleged Fugitive g0rger TO England, &c.
FORTRESS MONROE Dec. IA, 1905
JEFF DAVIS AND THE CAPTURE or suRRArr
Ever since the or John Surratt and the
mens appearing in the papers Of his charging the
sination Of President Lincoln having been devised
Richmond, with the knowledge and sanction OF JEFF
Davis, have been anxously awaiting authoritative
expression of Mr. Davis opinion regarding the arrest
and the serious allegations professed have
against him by the prisoner supposed have
conversant with the original plot and potters than any
Of the conspraor and next to Booth the assassin
deeply implicated in the terrible tragedy depriving Mr.
Lincoln Of his life and the country OF Chief Mags-
trate whose tragic death cast such q deep
gloom over the whole country. Mr. Davis
as / have been told, expresses qualification
at the arrest of Surra He Is gratied because he
the way clearer than to the establishment of
his innocence connection with the death OF Mr.
Lincoln Even If the captured fugitive prefers the
cusations 1t s claimed he will he that will be
very simple and easy matter to dsprove them and his
anxiety in regard the result has this depth and
pass and more--the desire of early opportunity
meet and refue the charges. Whatever Of crminality
ay attach to him the head and front OF the late
belion, whatever of treason there may have been
his country in his official acts the chosen chief OF the
confederacy, he is willing impartial jury shall do.
termne and If he is proven traitor and moriting
traitors doom, he is willing to pay the penalty of his
DEATH for then the knowledge Of tho motives prompting
to his and sbi cn,scid reci will sustain him.
The penalty Of defeat in the great struggle Of great
people for 2 great principle he would ohecrfully
sober discretion his course may have been
premature and ill-advsed, and though tried by tho
technical tests Of the law he may be adjudged guilty Of
treason there would yet be something Of glory In such
fate but every feeling Of his nature revos
sination, and particularly OF such man as Mr. Lincoln
who, although his opponent Of arms, he
spec'ed for bis integrity. high magnanimty Of character
sred right All h relates 70 He capture Of
and the interests and destiny Of Mr.. Davis involved
IN the case and particularly the expressed qualification
Of the latter at the arrest does not much favor the
theory of Mr. Davis implication in the murder Of Mr.
Lincoln. Disregarding his assertions, his friends
feel confident that II Surrat does attempt 70 shoulder
the assassination plot on him, q rigid investigation
will show the charge as groundess as that attempted BY
the alleged peTurer Conover and bis tools before the
special Investigation committee of the last Congress
Concluding this topic will therefore add that the
ture Of surratt has not diminished the appetite Of Je
Davis that his sleep has been the less
OF II; that he maintains the tenor OF mind
and spirits and cordial and social towards
the officers OF the fort and visiting friends daily calling
| TO see him.
THR TRIAL OF JEFF DAVIS.
hs al % e 70
until next spring. This confirms similar state
ment OF mine made some time ago, which statement l
based facts given by Mr. s. N. Chandler. United
States District Attorney for this district. The
OF the United States Circuit Court for this district
appointed TO meet the 9Th OF May possible that
session Of the court may be called before this
time or that some unexpected turn OF events growing
trial but neither Of these ccnnsenses IL calculated
upon strongly probable. Meantime the confident
| surances entertained some time since Of general am
nesty proclamation are daily becoming beautifully less
/ THE JErr DAVIS CANE.
Tho cane to be made in Norfolk ont Of the rebel ram
have already been appraised is completed, and will be
rallied for tomorrow evening at tho Ladies' Catholic Fair
M the making Of and p ns
sides are the following inscrgsiOns;-A rsllc Of
Fair Norfolk Va, 1885, 1.-THE Offering Of one and the
tribute Of many" The cane OF that heavy calibre
moral Congressman are given 70 carrying, and for this
reason i'll probable that Mr. Davis, who affects light
jauny walking sticks, will keep II for ornarnent
| and the value OF the gold than for use.
INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS WITH ORDNANCE.
| The experiments under the direction Of Colonel + g.
| Baylor commanding Fort Monroe Arsenal TO test
he endurance OF eight and twelve inch rincd Rodnan
guns pursuant TO the recent recommendations Of Secre
tary Stanton, have been commenced here with deter
roughly and 10 accomplish decisive results for the future
ea use SS o. the
inch rned gun, originally known the Floyd gum after
that called the Lincoln gun and afterwards the Union
was cast in Pittsburg Pa, and, a. is well
known by the thousands who have seen IT, is
monster In size, weighing ever twenty.six tons The
charges weigh fynve pounds EACH and the projsctes
| used known az the tiger projecle weigh about six
Sssn about and
a. strong ever II is proposed 70 continue the nring
thousand times unless Il should explode or become
unscrvceablc before this number OF shots havo been
fired In the eight-inch gun the charge weighs fifteen
pounds and the proectile about hundred and hfty
pounds The gun Of this cabrc to be tested has been
here several months and has already been fired
three hundred and fifty tines II Is proposed also 70
test The experiment viii las, several weeks These
proposed tests connected with the late ironclad
get practice, and comprise part OF series Of most inter
esting and valuable artillery experiments which the gov
eminent has wisely nauguated the very udicously
defensive msxm lin time Of peace prepare for war;"
UNSUCCESSFUL TRissarLASnc CHASE.
some weeks In pursuit OF e. G. Flint, former propre-
les by which tho Norfolk banks found themselves losers
TO the tune Of $40 600 has just returned without
having accomplished the object Of his transatlantic
mission He got The track OF the fugitive, who
travelling about under variety OF aliases but tho latter
| managed 10 give the final slip
i 1yyr DsABIKn sTgAMgRs
The Thomas keso, disabled by the late explosion has
been tcwed 70 Baltimore for repairs thorough m
arrival there amer nearly foty.eght hours detention
The Merrimac wreck, the Adelaide successfully
got Oh this sftcrncon she was taken 70 Norfolk and
owing 10 her eaky condition aud shattered keel, an
EFFORT will be made 70 get her placed the Portsmouth
Navy Yard dry dock TO be repaired II estimated that
viii cost fully $4,000 70 put both steamers In good
Ealing order again
CHESAPEAKE AND ALBrNAsLr ctyN.
This important CHANNEL Of water communication be-
tween Virginia and Narth Carolina after months OF
dredging, widening and building new locks 70 make
good the damages Of the war has at length been re-
opened for the passage W yessols u was formally
opened yesterday. good many vessels were waiting
creasng trade.
4 a. WEATHER AND SHIPPING.
The weather costumes cold, with sin norherly
breeze. During the day several sailing vessels have
come into the harbor for safe anchorage. large sdc
wheel steamer has ao anchored in the Roads, whose
name have not been abe TO learn Last evening the
steamer Monterey, Captain Edwards. frrivcd FROM New