The New York Herald Newspaper, February 3, 1862, Page 2

, ition, he agricultural and ‘was gained by his brave aud tin) should be insvantiy reinforced aa. allowed to aecomplish ‘the objeots of bis cam is too piain to admit of argu- Ment The War Department is doubiless awake to the ¢ Fesignation of Cameron is interpreted here asa coup 00. prop je of Kentucky and Missouri, Tt cannot suceced, With his ultra emancipation views, the Lincoln administration was growing amall by degrees and beautifully less in this Stat policy dictated that the ship of State should be lightened by throwing overboard the most fanatical of the crew. The people of Kentucky canuot and will not longer be deceixed, it is hoped, by the hypocritical professions aad base policy of ‘Abe Linen, ‘Captain Boswell’s company, of the Fifty-sixth regiment, bas just been calied to deplore the loss of one of its most waiued momber George W. Loafman, of Mecklenburg, ig dead. At a méeting of the company, Lioutenant John B. MoPhail delivered » handsome eulogy in commemora- tion of his virtues, THE REBEL FORCE IN THE FIELD. THE MISTAKES OF THE NOKTH-—THE WAK POLICY OF THE SOUTH—PROMPT LE LATION NEEDED, ” (#rom the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 25.) A review of the past history of this war brings out one feature in bold relief, which is, thas the people have at bo moment been wanting in the duty demanded of them. There are those who fecl some appreheusivn of trouble onthe subject of enlisting 2 sufficient army to take the place of the men of twelve months who will go out of Bervice next spring, summer and fall; but our own fears on this account are removed by s recollection of the alacrity which has a cheractar ied the preie ‘a meetin every emergency that arisen 1D 0 war. Eveu t this moment there are many thousands of ‘enlisted for the war, secking admission in the Couledorate service, who eanot: yet be accepted on a0- count of the deficiency of arms; and we believe that with proper odort, the fact wili continue te be as it here- tofore has been at every moment of the war, that more < troops offer than there are arms to place iu their bands. ‘The capacity of tho Southern confederacy in arms we believe to be from two hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand. ‘This isa full large enough force to keep in the field, and we do not fear but that enough troops will ulways be sceking admission into tne service to give em-. ployment to this number of arms. ‘The enemy have commited a great mistake in bringing so largo an army into the field as anything like their ‘Doasted six hundred thousand. It is too large a force to be employed to the best advantage; and while producing an onornizus drain upon their Treasury, supplies whole- sale food for death and camp disease. “They will break down ‘heir Treasury and friguteu their people by heavy taxation out of all taste for the. war, long before they can bring their vast and curmbrousmachiney for invasion into play, and long before they can succeed in subjugating the Sovth. ‘The blunder they are committing is apparent, and they have gone too far init io retrive it, although they have now Plainly discovered the error they have committed. We must not copy their fatal mistake by bringing a too large and utterly unwisidy force into the eld. Our policy is to employ asmailer force, and to hasband our men, sup- plies aud finances, in proportion as they lavish and waste theirs. Those of ‘our Southern people take a very misia- ken viow of the war who think onr cause is ruined if we fail to meet the vast hordes of the enemy with propor- tionate forces. A mighty army of our own, dispropor- tioned to the resources of our country, would do us iafi- nitely more damage than a like army of the enemy invad- ing our soil. ‘The invader may lay waste particular dis- tricts of our territory; but the support of his army would at last fall wholly ou his own treasury; while the loss we ‘would sustain would not be a hundredth part of the cost of @ yastopposimg force placed by ourselves in the field to confront his own. ‘That view, therefore, is a most erroneous one, which supposes we must meet the North, py the greatest Diunder commitied, merely be- cause he bas set us the fatal example. No; two hundred ‘thousand men would be a force fully adequate to mect all ‘the requirements of the South, and to conduct this war ‘to a glorious conclusion. Nove can doubt that we can and keep that number in the field throughout the Will that it roquird‘ot present is the proper legislation present proper is) ooking to the organization of our military forces. It is 80 exsential that this legislation should be exactly todo nae ens ee ream he and operation. laws, whatever should already be upon the statute book, “ag refperencd enlistments should be at it the i estetyeet ge anit &. g i i LE ‘will characterize their proceedings. The present week Dot to close without witnessing the consummation Of the proper laws for this purpose, because the time is the troops of the all go to one side, while the ia distribution of juriatiic- two confeda- taxation. We hold it to be a plain proposition that the agriculture id, whose soil is thin, and of Kentucky and Missouri, situated remote from the seabourd: markets, cannot sustain a heavy systom of taxation. These States ‘are, moreover, in comparison with free States, sparsely inhabited. Immigration has been Spettarchal institution, reqaiiog © is'ge' pl s itution, requ: ® lar 5 tation, & numerous establishment, and 4 pol ensive organization, to be conducted with highest Cag ge fal oer large plantations profit employment the States where slavery Immigration seeks cheap It, therefore, turned sparse populat! si rs planters. it slave labor is not very profitable when employed in cultivating the coreals, either on thin soils, like those of Maryland, or in the inland districts remote the seaboard, like those of Kentucky and Missour'. While the actual labor of the slave in these Fegions is meagerly remunerative, the value of the slaves themselves, owing to the high prices imparted to them by the cotton and sugar culture, raises the ad va- lorem of assessment for taxation upon them toa very figu-e. So that the slave owner in Maryland, Mis- gouri and Kentucky, if subjected to federal taxation, ‘wou!d be assessed with very high taxable values upou y indifferently productive. n if relieved from this extraordinary excess of tax- eneral industry of those tes could not sustain the wy taxation which the federal government wil! be compelled hereafter to tmpose. It is to be presumed that these people perceive these ‘thingy, and that a dosire to eseape the frightful burden “of federal debt, will grow stronger and stronger amonz With cach month, week and day that passes. Zhe . of John G. Davis, in Indianapolis, the other day, re- @ strong sentiment of dissatisfaction, even in the Novthe ‘west, at the rapid increase of the Northern debt and the witefulness of litures thot characterica the of the war. If such a sentiment has root in Cod a! Northwest, teeming with population, and able s a heavy system of taxation, what must be the eteay Bic wos must it soon grow to be, in the border lave ; whose agriculture is 80 poorly able to wus. taln beavy burdens? ‘Amon, results of the North’s stupendous pro- me Of six huadred thousand men—a programme cOBts bbe Fan) millions a day, which ha theit debt already to portentous figures, and w! Jaf? the foundation of an Increase of federal it tan amourlt that must make its people the ‘taxpayers On tho globe—among the results, we say. of this ruinous programme, may already be accounted the @finetation of Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri to the Southern confederacy, with the hearty assent of ali their people, The cholce between an honest government ‘with & small debt on one hand and a corrupt ment witha vast and increasing debton the other, will be too , plaww to jeave room for amoment's hesitation in the popn- ‘mind. The troacheries of Hicks and Crittenden, and the sophistries of the Louisville Journal and the Bal: timore aa epee ann to mislead or obfus- cate tof a well tneaning people, The: will en frome te Lincoln ship like rate from a sinking hulk, and profer any political fave to (Lat of a people over- wheimod by taxation. ‘Tt mattors sot how long the Unionists of there border States may delay thie movement and choice. They may not have as yet realized the full truth of their condition; ‘that eccentric and unrelenting divinity, Nemesis, has that the very ormies which the North have te fe ‘have created ‘wovereigniver ‘THR-REBELS ANTICIPATING THE BLESS. CB. the Richmond he wltrags on pene ie onoreily et orate Ry ot have Dorne the trials and or « i Beale ant her Cleeotngs the aingone 4 oct alt 1 ’ timated by those whe have besa’ deprived of it. hat be be worth irritation. Pence, to yield ines ln a & persevering and trivrophant demonstration of our ity to maintain our independence, aven thongh it cost @ longer war than that of the Ame?ican Revolution. Such * pence Will bo sweet end gloriows indeo!, and all the Sweet and glorious that {1 bas been accttplished Oat Owe unaided valor and fott-drnial. Tt may well animate and eneourege the hearts « Shose now toiling and battai: of the Cause o to look forward to re all indepen. tof thoir labors i NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3,, 1862 ; Saowa on warywormvn wa tr eg | 4 fom, vial prima ech Oe | epee cuntr Oe webmgtn mpl resi ety ut deigh and mle | the ah Bap ood «ator Ww take [fe bm clei a Sgn erase Ramm ode ovcty he wooing he exotic racata | wna, thr > 5 Ge aoa the erie | the moh pear to ond ato vena to tae | fhe bt colin of trig a ore sh Tames ob deert with the thow of na beyond tne sweiting flood of J may anid as the Caper host, st amid & falls and persecubions hastte wort tok forward to, that ‘rest which re maincth to the people of God,” so may the great, pa- trivtic souls of this war for all that man holds dear, refresh themselves amid their mighty toils and solici- tudes by anticipations of a peace which they can on 4 gain by their own virtue and fortitude, and which thoug long delayed, wil! come at iast if they are faith!ul to the end. The same Divine hand which guided the ebiluren of Israel through tue desert, has over and over again manifested itseif in our behalf. and if we do not prove, like the Israclites, faithless in the midst of wonders, and disobedient in despite of mercies, we shall not be coma pelled to wander many years ia the wilderness before e reach the promised land. {With peace fixed on permanent foundations, the pros. Peet arises before the South, not only of repose. end security, but of a career of prosperity aud baypiness rarely paralleled in the bed Zz Ses, wih | ir own rich soit an ‘unezar be sole masters of ow te Ta uild up our own cities, and our wealth through our — borders. We a, a + separ: avd homoge Sertebing clasents of Noviherm, wakes, ond from the tyrannical race who, because we refused to re- rain forever hewers of scood and drawers of water for 4 y trying Fim be delivered from all future association, in ovey bape and form, with the rascally, hypocritical, swind- ling, bumbugsing, wooden nutmeg making sons of the Pugrims. We shail have our own laws, literature, civ! DESOLATION OF SOUTHERN HOMES. ‘From the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 27.) A Nor! journal, commenting on the long expected advance of McCiellan, declares with complacency that “it will spread weeping and wailing through many a Southern household.”’ This is an aspect of the invasion peculinrly agreeable to Northern imaginations. The idea of widows and children through a whole land raising the: piteous ery of bereavement isbne which all beliigerents, except only the heavenly minded peopie of the North, endeavor to hide from theirown views and dismiss from their con- vemplations ag far as possible. We have never heard, in all the wars cf history, of an enemy who, however eager to annihilate the opposing combatants, ever solaced its imagination with the anticipated anguish of their deso- lated households. There is something in this consequence of war so distressing to the sternest heart that, 6o far from dwelling upon it with satisfaction, and much more speaking of it with pleasure, brave men steel their minds against the thought; or, if it finds entrance there, it is only to melt their own souls in sorrow over the calamities upon the weak and dependent they are compelled to inflict. We do not bolieve there is a Southern man—we have not heard of one—in the un- reatrained freedom of private conversation, although tho South is standing on the defensive, and engaged’ in the holy cause of protecting its own firesides and altars from desolation, express s arnenatoe Somme as = wo we quoted from @ Nort isin keeping. eames tid race hich “has made women | an children targets for its soldicry victims of cruel im- is aie derek Demoniac must be the nation ‘which can look forward with exultation to the idea of weeping and lamentation more bitter than that of Ramah, caused by the butchery of the brothers, sons, fathers and husbands of a | maces whom they still claim as their own countrymen. precious, priceless and glorious @ Union which can only be ved and cemented b; such sacrifices—a Union wholesale murderers, wit! the dead bodies and broken hearts of a desolated land. REBEL ACCOUNT OF MARSHALL'S DEFEAT. HUMPHREY MARSHALL'S Vicrory (?) IY KENTUCKY— & CLEAR STATEMENT OF FACTS—INTERESTING DE- TAILS, WRITTEN BY AN EYE WITNESS AND PAR- TICIPANT IN THE CONFLICT, ETC. ‘From the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 29.] ‘The foliowing brief and clear narrative of this impor. tant conflict is furnished us by a participant in the affair. Its trathfulness is its recommendation, but its particular interest to a Virginia reader lies {n the honor- able mention made of one of our own regiments:— Knowing that every item of news the State of Kentucky is hailed with great interest by your numerous readers, 1 bave thought, proper to give you a short account of the movements of General |, from the 6th to the 16th of q had taken @ position and fortified himself some three miles above Paiatville, on the, river. the movements of he wo slowly began our retrograde movement, noticing the enemy” untit'on the night of the 9th we rested at the foot of the mountain, some four miles west of Prestonburg. During the night of the 9th we learned that the enemy, in large numbers, was moving towards us from the di- ‘Un the morning of the 10th we took our line of march Is. regiments and some cavalry, as a reserve, had taken their position at the foot ef the hill toour front and the left, while the main body of the enemy was formed into line of battle at the foot of the hill, to our front and right, ‘awaiting our approach. General Marshal ed his artillery, four pieces in tt number, to the right of the Cross ‘Roads, and Colonel ‘Trigg’s Fifty-fourth Virginia regiment in the rear to pro- tect it. Our cavalry were placed to our left, across the on the brow of the hill, at whose base the ene- of Colonel Moore’s regiment. ‘The enemy looked grand and imposing, com; , im the woed. Colonel A.C. Moore’s Twenty-ninth Vi ; ia twas posted to the front and right of the ie may had line of battle. Colonel Williams’ Kentucky regiment was on the same hill, protecting the right ‘Thus posted, the two armiesfor » moment, rolerwice | gazed on each other. What a contrast they —— equip- and neatly dressed. Our line was si and seem ly of little firmness, when compared with the enemy. Badly ipped and uuiformed, and well nigh exhausted by long heavy marches thi the mod and rain, living on less than ions for the last few weeks. Bui we feared them not, and were anxious to try them. But the time to view the enemy was of short duration, for s00n the boom of our art ill announced to ua that the battle had began. and then hissing of the ball and cracking of the brush over our heads told us that the hottest of the conflict would fall on Colone! Moore’s Twen- ty-ninth Virginia regiment; but our boys were calm end ready. For two long hours the enemy poured upon Coloneis Moore and Williams’ regiments @ perfect storm ball, which unr boya received with coldness, and responded to with sueh terrible res that the enemy began to stagger from the effects. Just at this point Colonel Movre or- dered his regiment to charge, leading it im person. With snch firmness was the cl made that the enemy broke atour approach. Bat just as the foe was disioaged from his position, we were cross-fired from the right and left with deadly effect ,sappored pert!y to have been done by our own men through mistake. At the xame time some one— no one knows who—gave comiaand to fall back to our old position. ‘Thus, in ao instant, we lost all we had gained in two long hours of hard fighting. In the charge we lost five or eix of our brave boys. ‘On reaching the bf@w of the bill we gavea shout for Jeff. Davis, resolving to Dave the field or die. Again we opened res with double energy. Now the battle raged the whole brow of the hill. Colonei Williams fooght likea tiger. Twice theenemy tried to flank him; twice | were repulsed. e cavalry having dismounted, poured a dreadfal and destructive tire into the right Gank of the insolent foe. ‘The artillery was likewise in @ better position, throwing shot and shell with fatal efiect. Colomel Trigg’s regiment was called forward to reinforce Colonel Moore; but be- fore they could reach their position a victory was pro- claimed in favor of Jeff. Davis. Theenemy’s guos were silenced, and aa soon as the Yankees could got off the field we were left its possessors. Had not night been on us the rout would have been complete; but the day was gone, we tired and hungry, eight miles from our camp, thought best to gather up our dead and wounded and seek rest for our ier. Much might be caid of individual acts of bravery, Dut time will not permit. Alldid their duty. Most ‘of our troops hed never before seen a battle field, yet they fought with the courageand boldness which characterizes the people which they represent. With » united effort they Cor mney Baer sl ‘& foe numerically five times stronger than themselves. ‘Colonel A. ©. Mi ‘a Twenty-ninth Virginia regiment bore the heat of thetday. He was under the most terrific fire for more than four consecutive hours; yet his ranks never |. Our Colonels, Moore and Leigh, were constantly at the head of their column, cheering their men and directing their fire. ‘The gloomiest part of the day was after the enemy had loft the fled. shrieks of the wounded end dying ‘were truly beartren ¥ Our joss is five killed and four wounded in Colonel Colonel hundred to five bondred killed, and about the same oum- ‘ber wounded. A DYING GEoaN, OF A REBEL GENERAL. ie our ee waiewing ndenta sends = the Agusn Dopereee, , which he says has ins Stimulating effect upon his brethren in arms in that sec- tion, and which may prove equally bepeficial in other q Haapqvatrers, Aqui Diermer, Jap. 11, 1862. GTXWRAL ORDERS—NO. The Major Genera! commanding this distriet urges upon the troops the importance of re-enlisting for three years, Of the war, #0 soon fs the rolls are that purpose. Nobly as our people me oes of Ce caeay Breet as are the sacrifices whic! e been made by all, the present indications do not instify the belief that our struggle is near its end. It would be wicked to disgmise the truth. We have to contend against a power. fi} and wealthy pation, possessing vast resources for'war, with an fmmense atmy already ocoupy- ing our territory and our strong places—with an active navy closing our ports, and with a whole people maddened by battled bxtro: The Northern army now in our front, wil im a fein months be sufficiently organised and weil disciplined. Hts ale commander craftily ant ourely bides the tine, When the term of enlistment of mr troops et. fives, as the propitious moment for hit advance. He organize can po weakened battalions #ud triumplantly execut Our ex) @ 43 @ nation, the defence of our homes and the honor of our women, forbids us to be laggards now. It fs the solexan duty of every man to dedicate himself to his country until every foot of Southern soil is purged of the pollution of invasion until this war is ended. We da @ aot for one moment relax our vigilance or lay aside our arms until we have discharged this sacred duty, Ly order of Major General Holmes. DABNEY HH. MAURY. A. A. G. THE REBEL STRAMER CALHOUN. HEB COMMANDER—WHO HE 15. ‘The Charleston Courier of Jan. 25 sa, that informa tion has-been received from New Orleans that the Confe- derate steamer Ca boun, on her way from Havana, wiih a large and valuable cargo, was chased by a Lincuia cruiser, and eheudoned, and totally burned. Capt. Wilkou, who comrmanded the Calhoun, wa: merly the captain of the brig Minnie Schiffer, the v that rescued the passenger? of the ill-Lated steamer Con- navght. Wilson isan Englishman by birth, but fo forty years ‘been a citizen of the United States. Dur- ing the Mexican war he ownedand commanied a vessel cailed the Star, which was seized on the Southern coast d condemned by our government. He pres claims pune, the government for daraages, which w ward by the Court of Appeals, whose. ent was sustein- ed by the Supreme Court at Washington. ‘The goveru- ment, however, for some reason, ined, bas never remugerated Capt. Wilson for the loss of his vessel, in whieh he had invested all his property. ‘The refusal of the quthorities at Washington to make the reparation Wilson to enmity agatnst the gov- a revenge, toate redress. A company in New Orleans having fitved out the privateer Caihoun, the command of that steamer way. ‘to Capt. Wilson, who accepted it. THE SOUTHERN RAILROADS. DMPOBTANT BNTERPRISE—4 KAILROAD OONVENTION. ‘The Richmond Dé of the 27th, i learn that a wel ment is on foot for a general meeting of railroad office tm Richmond on the 6th of February next, to devise measures for the manufacture of railroad iron and such other articles of indispensable necessity as have hitherto been procured from countries outside the limits of the shout the South requires an occasional renewal of material; and if the approaching meeting can suggest a plan by which the South can place herself on an independent tm this respect it wil} have done as much towards solving the great problem of national free- dom as any class individuals have done since the breaking up of the old Union. We therefore hope that a large number of practical minds will be brought together in Richmond on the day designated, and that a combined and well considered project will then be sent forth to the people. AND HOW MUCH GUNPOWDER, IRON SILVER If TAKES TO KILL SOUTHERNERS. (From the Savannah Republican.} A calculation not long since appeared in the papers, showing that every Confederate killed by the Lincolnites during the first six months of this unholy war, cost the Lincoin government oue hundred thousand dollars, Additiona! facts corroborate thia statement, and give saascene other points of interest concerning tho battie of ‘ort Royal. ‘The cost to the federal government in fitting out the armament engaged to that action, and set bya writer iu the northern papers, who seemed to know what he was about, was $4,300,000. Let us put it, for conveni- ‘ence sake, in round numbers, ‘millions, Recently the federal “Urdnance report of the amount of ammunition expended”’ on that occasion has appear- ed, and we gathor from it the following details:— The amount of gunpowder consumed was, lbs... 22,880 The number of shot and sbell of all sizes project- ed by that amount of powder was............ 2,694 ‘The weight of sizes of all these missiles being given, shows that the weight of iron huried against our unfortunate battories in that action was little, if any, short of, Ibs............... 200,000 Now the number of men on our side killed or mortally wounded by all this expenditure am them bas never been raised higher than fifty—indeed, sixty-five or seventy in killod, wounded and missing is the highest figure that has been mentioned. let us set down our loss at fifty men, and a comparison of facts will give the following results'—Ihat every Confederate soldier killed in thas battle cost the federal government upwards of four hun- of cannon powder and fifty- shell of largess! weighing in the eeere, gate four thousand pounds, and brought to the field of action and discharged at a preparatory cost of one hun- dred thousan COTTON SEED COFFEE. The Charleston Courier says:—We have been favored by a friend with a sample of cotton seed coffee, prepared by Dr. H. Ravenel, of Pooshee, St, John’s Berkley, which we bad served up at breakfast yesterday morning and found very palatable, The aroma is very like that of coffee, and in flavor it is similar to coffee but rather more like broma. We havo little doubt that a mixture of one- third or one-half coffee and the rest of ground or pow- dered cotton seed would pass for good, if not pure THE SALT MANUFACTURE IN “REBELDOM. {To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch.) |, embracing these ‘are now operated, rs. I have some acquaintance with this property, and am persuaded that the purchase ought to be made at that price, if it can be teva ay igh Be Dh chartemagh ter botaene ymbirtied tt is in danger of passing into the hands of a joint stock company ata higher price than the State would be r quired to give, viz:—at twelve hundred thousand dollars to the capital of which com; dred thousand dollars is Secantig: tier. coon terete eae ‘monopol: ownership, they pess into a . Es meavic' ctdine alles er atone tae nee em. out of, 'y is proved to be worth more than is de- manded of the State; not only by the fact>thas it will bring more, but by the fact that the State officers have Deen assessing it for ten years post (I mean the propert iteelt, irreapectively of the lease), at about half a mil- lion for the ton and over half # million for -the King estate; more than ® million for the two. The lessees have s contract with the Confederate it, which they can Oil in four months, that will of a bundred thousand dollars; and if the proposition before the Legialature, to direct a contract on the part of the State for four hundred thousand bushels of salt be carried, the profit of the lessees ou this alone wil) be onc hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars mere,and can be executed im six months. Nevertheless, with this presence of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dol- rs; the lease can be bought out by the State at leas than their tg On these two coniracts. The Preston estate can be bought for $450,000, although ou the King estate; but those on the Preston estate, in- eluding inachinery, buildings and apparatus of all sorta, is worth upwards of $100,000; they cest more than $125,000. This estate consists of 7,000 acres of land, which could be sold im farms at an average of $20 an ‘acre; the mere land alone being worth $210,000, which, with the ents, make $310,000, leaving the salt and plaster to stand the State in only $140,000. The King estate has 4,000 acres, worth $30 au acre, and many improvemenis, the value of which I am not ac- quainted with. ‘When a magnificent property like this is offered the State at a price lees than will be taken from private in- dividuals the proposition is certamly relieved from all color of speculation and extortion. ‘The State ought to own works like these producing nn- limited supplies of those two important articles, salt and plaster. The ceat of making salt by boiling the brine ia thirteen cents a bushel; and of barreling or sacking it for market, seven cents more. The cost of manufacture could be reduced to three cents @ bushel by constructing vats for solar evaporation, which would, enable it to be put into depot for shipment at ten cents per bushel. The ‘State could sell it anywhere within ber limits, except in seaport cities, at fifty cents a bushel, with transportation added; or at a profit of thirty to forty cents per bushel. She = mine gd atone doliar fete sell it an re except upon the border naviga- tienen three dollars a ton, with transportation added, She may manufacture any quantities of both salt and plaster for any length of time in these salines without supply of either. The present manufac- tare of salt Saitviile is at the rate of nine hundred thousand bushels a year. Four times the quantity, in addition, could be manufactured by constructing vats for solar evaporation. It requires only twenty gallons of the Saltville brine to make @ bushel of salt; of sea water it requires three hundred and {ifty gallons; that 16-17th of the labor and expense of evaporation is saved by mak- ing salt at Saltville, rather than on the seaboard. State ought to own bens nos for the reason that salt aod plaster are that should be in the bande of public agents rather than of private monopolies, and for the further reason that the lon of these articles can always be secured on the most economi cal terms by the State; whereas this transportation in so tardy and costly when on private account as to give op- portunity for the enormous speculations in these essential Articles, suet: aa we have just witnessed in times of scarci- ty. If the State herself prodused these two articles, she could enforce such action ou the part of her public works, as to make thia transportation adequate, regular an cheap, and as would it the posribility of a oy ‘iow of that system of speculation and extortion wi the last few months have witnetsed. The ety and necessity ‘of the purchase of this salt atl plaster property, on the cheap and liberal terms on which they are now offered the State, seems #0 obvious as to need no argument, and I trust that thero is enough gagacity in the Legislature to give effect to the proposi- tion. if this purchase be not made, the people havo yet troubles to experience in regard tos supply of salt, to which those of the past have been trifling in comparison. Thave no further interest io this subject than belongs to a citizen of Virginia, certainly not more than is natu- rally felt by one. WEIGHTS, MEASURES AND COINS, [From the Richmond Disprtoh, Jan. 23.) Guizot, in his history of representative government, ‘weil remarks that “The age in whiot we live has taken too mucb pains to seek guarantees m physical force, and has neglected to seck for them in the power of ioral ideas,” and De Tocqueville, purauing the same thonght, bas said that “to constitute society, great many people should think alike om & great many subjects.” The Northwest has adhored to the Union because its moral {deas coincided with thore of the Northeast, and diffored from thoke of the South, although off its pecuniary inte. rests wore tied up with Ours; and the Northeast w. and must ever coutinue to be, its greedy and rapacious taxmaste New, thore are no subjects that #0 often of eo seriou oceupy the thoughis, atrent babitw @ and coins; an ons peouliat te whoa them. hard to cut off our trade and intercourse with the North after peace is restored, avd ruinous not to do so. Chaug- jug the language of trade is tho most efficient barrier that has yet been suggested to prevent a renewal of business and social relations with that @etion, which if renewed will nko our bard earned independence a mere shadow and @ name. ‘The adoption of a decimal system of weights, measures: and coins, based upon some fixed, exact and immutable standard, like that of Frauce, was recommended to (he Macon Commercial Convention in an essay entitled Com- mercial Kviranchisement af the South;”” which essay will be found in the October and November numbers of De Bow's Review. The conveution.recommended the whole essay to the attention of Congress; and Congress will probably take action on the part relating to weights, measures and coins, at this or the ensuing session. Many able pens Desides that of the phil ‘author, have siace been employed in aiyocacy of this measure, but it is a very dry, recon lite and abstruse subject, though one to us of vital and pressing importance. We woul! add « single suggestion to the many that have been made by others. The pro} measure would facilitate our trade and intercourse with France and other Mediterranean nations, and thus we should acquire new thoughts, Dew manners and cusioms and & new and distinct civilization, compounded of PE terials and derived from many sources, instead of being mere imitators or copy ists of England and New England. ‘We would cultivate the mos} friendly relations with England, but not with hor alone, else we might become a mere parasite of here instead of @ distinct, separate and independent people, bia Hichmond Dapaigh son ze Jan. Thecchailend bnaee manner tho journals at soteeeriodens she extent of the disaster ‘at Somerset—and, tn fact, overstated it—) rast ¢o the continual have notsuilered one single disaster which they did not deny at the time, and never admitted their discomfiture till tho trath fas Ferry, Grosabrice rvgry Spriaghela’ Belasont, Lac » Greenbrier river, Spr a, barg, Al y, each and all were absolutely claimed as Northern victories, and each and all, in the end, they were compelled to acknowledge were disastrous defeats. Woy is it that this uniform system of deception is cx- hibited by the North, whilst the South admits the truth boldly, however disagreeable it may bb? It results simply from a radical difference in the of the two people. The one is sly, secretive and has.little vene- ration for truth; the other open and above board, and more sensitive to the degradation of falsehood than the pain of disaster. Which character is worthiest of suc- cess? Which will be most likely to win the approval of Heaven and the respect of mankind? NEW ORLEANS AND THE WAR. STATEYENT OF ANOTHER REFUGEE FROM THE SOUTH— THE SOCIAL AND COMMMRCIAL ASPECTS OF THE WAR—THR FEELING AMONG THE ORLEANAISB— WHAT A REBEL SPY SAW. [From the Chicago Tribune, Jan. 26.) - ‘We have just had the pieasure of enjoying a protracted conversation with a highly intelligent geutieman, long a resident of that city, who left New Orleans for the North about ten days ago. Without further particulars as to our informant himself, it is enough to say that he is emi- nently reliable, a gentleman of mature judgment and ex- cellent sense, and thus worthy of the utmost confidence in his statements. We shail do injustice to his lucid and graphic statements of the condition of affairs in the mo- tropolis of the Southwest, trusting ovly to memory to seize the detaijs, but some points will interest our read- ers, even thus imperfectly 3 Louisiana was 8 strong Union State, and the influence of New Orleans eminently so, long after the secession of other States. The ‘‘co-operationists’ represented the intermediate stage of public sentiment from loyalty to disloyalty; but leaned most strongly im favor of adhe- renee to the constitution and the Union. They took their name and shaped their policy on the scheme of a co-ope- ration of the Southern States in order to seoure additional Pledges from the general ernment,and they carried the State to this measure; but'the ground taken was not high enough, and secession came next, and became domi- it, Overpor thing. Diwhat of the Union ‘clement’ in New urleans today? it of the Union maguentionstianns be asked in midwinter of a snow Covered field, to what it is seeded down, and what it will boar. Just now secession holds sway and Union- ism is crushed out. Only one sentiment is expressed, ‘but one is safe, and matyrdom would be gure to the reatoration of the federal power, and unite with it in utterly sweeping away the rockless ues who peat Te Manel a out: the . Our in- formant speaks hopefully with reference to the men who are thus ‘*biding their time.” Is New Orleans, under the .all-overpowering influence ef secession, there is but one opinion expressed in public. The city is quiet and orderly, for tho lower order of white society have gone tothe wars. There are no riots nor disturbances. The city i dull in commercial respects. ‘Whatever products belong to their market are plenty and without sale, whatever they have been accustomed to seek from abroad are proportionately high. Thus sugar is one and 8 half to two cents per pound, and mess pork is $50 per barrel. All fabrics are high, and stoeks are very light. Owing to the scarcity of meats, the planters are feeding their siaves on mush and molasses—tho latter ee tees tities i ae ee ) quant are being Pabatectered into New England rum, which the whiskey ah renmne passe rt of the coveted but scarce In monetary matters the change is astriking one. All specie has disappeared from circulation, It has gone into private hoards, and bills of the sound banks of Louisiana (‘aud there are none better in the United States) are also ing stored away by holders, whoece ne advantage in presenting them for redemption in Confederate notes. Said a bank officer of the State Bank of Louisiana to our informant, *‘Out of $250,000 in currency received in making our exchanges with other banks, only twenty-five dollars of our owe issue were received.” an institu- tion with a circulation of one and e half million, this isa significant statement. Another proof of the distrust of the people in the notes of the Confederate States of America is seen in the fact of greatly stimulated prices of New Orleans real estate. Secessionists who do not look beneath the surface wax vastly jubilant over the aspect. ‘There, sir, look at it—see what the war and this cutting loose from the North hag done for us: real estate in New Orleans has gone up one- half. Glorious, sir; don’t you see it?’ The cause of exul- sation diminishes rapidly when it is understood that all this és but the natural cause of holders of property who Say to their possessions, in view of the everywhere pre- sent Confederate notes, ‘Take any shape but that.” No wonder they Prefer real estate at exorbitant prices, and inplasters out of their flugers as fast as possi- ‘This i# the sole secret of the flush times in New Or- Jeans real estate. ‘Tho money in cireufation frou hand to hand ia “‘every- body's checks,” and omnibus tickets for small change, two, aud the dissevered portion ting about, dis- tressedly looking up its better halt (or otherwise, accord- ing to whieh end Lears the bank ares). As to the foeling of the commun! oceans ey war, the outspoken ventiment is one of intense hatred to the North, or ‘the United States,” as ox] it. ‘They affect to believe that spoliation, r and outrage of every dye would follow the invasion of Northero troops. Their own troops are oul; with ontfit, and camp comforts are scarce. A very sig- nificant statement was recently made in the St. Charles Hotel, in the hearing of oer informant, which we desire to give as nearly in his own words as possible. A gen- tleman had gone up to the camps at Nashville, having in charge donations from the citizens of New Orleans. On his return his unofficial statements were about as fol- Jows:—'‘L,tell you, you have no idea of the cos there among our It would make your heart bieed to see them lying there sick and dying without nurses and medicine. New Orleans has done a great deal, but she must do more.” A Brstaxper—But why don't people up that way do something ?: = ‘well cit tell you. The fact is, about one-half of them say they never wanted the troops to come thero at all,and don’t care how soon theyare removed, The other half are doing all they can, bus cannot do all.’ ane don’t they sett hese niggers to tending the + Well, that’s the squalliest point in the whole. The niggers say that if they were Lincola soldiers they would ‘attend them.’” A Bystanper (hotly)—Why don’t they shoot the —— treacherous sons of ——? « Well (meaningly) they don’t think it’s quite safe up there to begin that sort of thing.” A pretty ificant confession, one would think, to be made publi im the rotunda of the St. Charles. And this brings us to speak of the position of the blacks. What do they think of the war? The gentieman we uote says ‘tho blacks have been educated fast within the past six months. They are @ different race from what they were. Thoir docility is «thing of the past, and their masters stand appalied at the transformation.” In several of the parishes about New Orleans, what were believed to be the germs of dangerous insurrections: have been several times discovered within the past few months, In St. Mary’s thirteen slaves were shot atone time. ‘The South have thought it would aid their plans by an slaves that the enemy of the Unien was tho bn, freedom,’ and the biacks believe it. Certainly no abolition sheet of the North is responsible for theeir- culation of such a statement. An instance was told: us of @ man sent to the North from New Orleans, with the purpose of looking about him ‘a little there, and gaining an idea of matters, He aceom- his mission aftor divers ded statement he made open! St. Charles. Said he:—'f went to New York; business is ing on there about as ever—never saw things moro sy there; should judge anybody had not gone to the war; didn’t actually hear much about the South. Then T went where they wore turning out the things for the war, aod saw how they were doing it, and then was when I began to smoll hell."’ We are exceeding the limits wo had proposed for our statomeht, but let us add afew brief facts. Aw to the defences of New Orleans. There are two forts on the river below the city, which, once passed, Now Orleans would be in federal hands in twonty-four hours, for it has no defence in itself. Karthworks were thrown up south of the city, but no gins have been mounted. The soces sionists feel the danger of thelr postion, and are loud in consares Of thoir Confederate government for Its dilato. rin ‘The foreign popnlation of New Orleans are alarmed at tho aspect of aliaira. A large moi o French eitigens har & 1, aud @ delegation waite tho French Consul to ask bim to prevent thelr petition to (© It ts upon a community thus constituted and filled with these real sources of alarm that the news of Zollicofter’s defeat must fail. It will be spread like wildfire all it the South. If Co..federave notes were a drug bofore,and only taken under protest and unwillingly, what will happea when notes ‘redeemable on the esta- Dlisument of the Southern confederacy” are made even more shaky as a currency by the imminent danger of the Febel government, The beginuing of the end is at band, and that at fo distant day, VIRGINIA, THE LEGISLATURS—THE RE-RNLISTMENT OF VOLUN- TEERS—NEW MILITARY BILLS—-I4B EXIGENOIES OF THE TIMES, {From the Richmond Dispatch, Jan, 27. The ition of the Legisiature bis been for some time Occupied with the subject of enlistments; but the pro- gress Made in maturing the proper bilis has not been equal tothe demands of the emergency. It is a subject for thought and.action; it is emphatically a subject not meet for tedious and windy debate, Tha present Logis- laturé should be characterized by great attention to and despatch ca business. We ifowr it is in a fair way of equalling its predecesaors loquacity, that most iil- timed of all indulgence. These aro times for earnest work; they are not tho times for idie and tedious discus- sion, even of the most important subjects. No man who has au idea worth toa deli body, but can state it, conversationally, in ve minutes; it is only reno who wish to air their oratory that require to speak Oratory is at best a faculty of secondary 7 for tho maha of reat teas and sear press them upon a deliberat without the aid of To deciaim is ly to consume time, and there are very few who posress the elog gift of eloquence. Spe poses sicampt the performance without the war- rant of genius, and their constant effort to soar upon. the of is & eonstant struggle with nature, accompanied b; over get thoir feck offthe ground.” not be converted into a school declamation; and prosy harangue, at the present ses- sion at least, should be coughed down without mercy, ‘The military bills ought to have been perfected and enact- ed into laws long before this. The Logislature has been two months in session, and no step bas yet been taken tayaris enlisting an army in the spring for the service of ‘That army ought now tobe enlisted and in process of for service by the firat months of spring. It ought tosmell the first gunpowder that is’ burned, and become veterans in some degree before tho twelve months’ men are disbanded. It is well known that all troops liave to pass through a period of disease on first ing into camp; and our new levies should be entisted in time to got through with this process, before active sorvice in tho fleld4s required of them. But why dwell upon these considerations, so obvious to all, and so. painfully impressed upon the universal con- viction? There should be no further delay in the pas- sage of laws | to the recruiting of our armies, Debate stiould be cut down to five minutes, and the bills should be taken up in a business like way, matured and enacted with tho least delay. counsels of all should be freely invited, every idea should be presented that occurs to members; but it is & very poor and diluted idea that cannot be stated in five minutes. Set 3; should be eschewed and cut short, for they restrain de- bate and gag free discussion more than any possible rules limiting the length of speeches coukido, «It is ab- surd to hear a man, whose habit of speaking enables him to spread @ single common place idea over a two hours’ ry » denouncing a five or ten minutes! rule as abridg- ing the liberty of speech and the freedom of discussion, Sensiblo men could have prsoanies: two dozen ideas, much more worthy of consideration to the Legisjature, me five minutes’ conversation cach, while the declaimer is is one thought in a hundred different forms through a t wo hours’ har: \. Long put free discussion out of countenance and drive debate from the public halls. The presence of one head and. restless tongue will silence @ whole council of sages. The military bills now be- fore our Legislature are mesures peculiarly demand- ing the largest array of counsel and advice, Every man should be enco@raged and invited to oxpreas his views upon them; and’ yot, if the long-winded speakers who are eo charmed with ‘the sound of their own voices as never to be satisied when they are silent, are permitted to engross the tim the Assembly, the very smallest stock of ideas possible will have been evoked upon the bills. To make the time of holding the floor so short that the member up is compelled to converse, and fure- stalled fromm Jannghieg forth into vapid harangue. is to ensure @ hearing to all, and to elicit the largest amount possible of counsel and suggestion on the subject in hand. We trust, the present week will not close without sering @ eullstments matured which will en- Ba oe jont army in the field by the ‘opening of spring. FROM NORFOLK—MATTERS IN THE CITY AND VICINI-” TY—A SEVERE STORM—THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE AT NORFOLK—THE NEWS OF THE DEFEAT AT MILL {Bpecial corre spondence of the Richmond Dispatch. corres} of on ispatch. Nonronc, tan, 24, 1863. Without, a furious storm; warmth and comfort within. Without, the wind howls ‘through street and alle; in some elemental war, and the rain beats 4 dis- maal tattoo upon the casement. The storm spirits are abroad, and one can fancy their weird and discordant voices mingling with tho distant, sad, continuous roaring of the surf. Within, a bright fre burns in the grate; a comfortable warmth pervades the roon white paper lie upon the table; ‘your own” has donned bis smoking cap—the gift of an unknown friend—and site before them with pen suspended over tho yet unsul- lied page, preparatory toa quict chat with his distant friends. A wreath of blue and fragrant smoke curis up- ward, forming itself into a gorgeous, dreamy cloud. Do you like the picture? Go on, Old Boreas, Wor the chinks and crevices, whistle at the keyh« shutters, do your best, eld fellow; but you are impotent to-night. This chamber bids defiance tv your power. ‘The storm increages in vigor; a blast of unusual flerce- ness dashes against the windows, and it comes laden with dreamy, saddening momories of suffering in the Twelve months of war has made us familiar with ling storm; no bright and comfortable fire; none of the sweet household music that makes life happy. Notice well our vastarmy and see the men of genius, education, of moral rectitude, of chivalric daring that compose its rank aud file; thin them leaving comfort in far off Southern homes to fight for the honor of their country, and whata picture of patriotism, of true, manly heroism is presented to the tind. Think, too, of such men challenging death and ex- posure in defence of the right. Think of them to-night, crouching beside some scanty fire, wearing the weury, hours away. What heart is there in this whole which doce not throb with sympathy at the mention such ts? Whois there in this whole land that does not God to protect them from the pitiless storms of winter? Ah! comrades, there 4s one who would gladly share his comfort with you were it in hia power; who would giadly divide your burdens i your troubles. He no longer looks with pleasure upoa fire—no longer defies the pelting storm. Old bs yon hae conquered; but you siruck the hardships of severe storms there is con- ring tbat our enemy is suffering also, and ‘extent. ‘Ihe.Burnside expedition, which already scattered and seriousiy injured, is still the wavesona perilous couct. kver since the from Hampton Roads there has been no set and nearly every day has becu stormy. was a report in Baltimore three days ago thai seve: the gunboats and one large steamer had been de- ed,and there is but little doubt that this tlerce Bort itera wind will drive many more of them ashore. It yesterday and has providentially im@eased up to this time, and, should it continue another day, none the strongest ships would be able tostand it. If not entirel; Son |, our enemy will bo decidedly weaken- ia condition to make an attack upow the const. In rae gee the city on the Norfoik and Petersburg Railroad, one ot the tant chats that strikes the eye of a at is the fine suspension bridge over the east branch of Elizabeth river, terminating within a few iu dred yards of the town. It is a splendid structure, and 80 pleasing in appearanee and so symmetrical in coutour, that I venture to give @ slightdescription of it. Com: mencing at the bottom, then, I will say the extreme depth of the water at inean tide is twenty-ti et. The foundation is of piles driven through a soft etratam of mud—say twenty feet in thickness—to a solid bottom. Upon these piles are built three massive piers aud two abutments of hewn granite, each block of stove having been laid with « diving bell. The extreme length of the bridge is six hundred and gixty-three feet, consisting of three spans, hoof two hundred and six feet, and one drawbridge of forty-five feet. The superstructure is of fron. This rests upon three cnt granite piliars, fri twenty-five to thirty-five feet high, attached by the cast iron suspension truss. The whole is a combination of cast iron bars and wrought fron braces, arrayed in a manace only to be understood after careful examination. drawbridge is aomewhat pecuitar in construction: fnstead of the tisual counverbalance, the ceutre of the bridge resting upon a pier, this swings on @ pivot near ‘ono end, and is supported by a gallows, which riseg above it, the whole being anchored some distance beyond. The vantages of the plan are several. It will be readily seen that it gives an uninterrupted channel, the expense of a middle pier is done away with, there is groater lightness an increased mobility. It is, besides, leas lin- ble to get out of ordor than the ordinary counterbalance Dridge. This is Frink’s patent, and@ was erected in the years 1865 and '56. ‘The beauty, lightness, and, at the same timé, the solid Appearance of this bridge is a subject of gonernl remark, ‘and is an example to what perfection the science of bridge building has deen brought. Ono need scarcely look into the writings of ancient authors on engineering for a de. scription ef primitive bridges, for their origin is easily discovered in the teachings of modern times. The step- Ping stone lying upon the bottom of shallow sti 185 With planks stretched from one to another, demonstrates th inciples of piers and arches which science has Drougtt tosuch a legree of perfection. In d Trivers ‘fan accumulation of stones forme a larger and stronger , and whee these were built close onough together he ancients e accustomed to form a roudway with slabs of stone, after the manner of the Vitrovian architrone of the primitive Tuscan temple, Tho Grecks fecin to have kuown very little of bridge building, but the Romans carried the science to a great extent. To them alono, of ail the ancient nations, belonged the ind of rearing the lofty, massive arch and the magni- ut deme. The construction of the numerous sewers and aqueducts of Rome, the many public edifices, the cupola over the Pantheon, the Coliiseum and the bridge over the Tiber, are ali evidences of their skill in arebitec- ture and masonry. The Roman bridges were built on- tirely of stone, and were not distinguishable for size, Wut for solidity and durability. The first of bridge ig that thrown across tho Rhi aud described in his tion many a schoolboy has puzzled his brain in futile ef. forts to comprehend. Tinbor is, undoubtedly , the most aaclont and most ready material, but leas durable. I'r pably the best specimen of a wooden bi t ing is that over the Rhine, at the fail of a Q! F ; ge Bs 5 4 H Hay rel stro) H pre Bo ad Sou! are all 9; different classes. to the skill of British architects, They are (ound to be durable, safe and less expeusive than only cbjection laying in the e: and conti of the material by being fae to different extremes of tem- perature. Modern skill has, however, overcome this ditieulty, and now they are looked upon as the best and most desirable peau in pen, ‘This science, which bas been brought to perfection in these latter days, is by no moans as siinplo as many suppese. The construc- that of large ous wey" be extremely tifocies oe tse mney be extreme! it; for the strel th of the material ‘docs, nov increase’ with fk weight, and there aro limits beyond which no struc- bare could be oarriea and withstand its own gravity. ub enor as I am not wri epsay. bridge builting, but merély putting dosnt a coe need Sass she presented themse! while fore Frink's patent suspension bri brane of the Elizabeth river. oththena aaah Tre news of the defeat at received es eS: oe a } awe about, As no definite ation, beyond that contained in the Yankee account had been received, it was gene- rally conceded the better plan to wait for furthor intelli. gence before condemning any ono. Jt secms to be a set. ( thea my however, that, something ‘was wro) forge one soldiers engaged, tance of Mosely the battle causes less | brs _ Virginia or nearer disaster to our arms is keenly felt, no matter im what pare of She confederacy may cocer, I Onda great of anxiety in Not bat ot ‘Army of tho Told, and everyoneis absence of reliable’ Coon ta Generel Repneraget. $90 Generals, Suit J - Pontoasacenopabacams aaa = ities, they will lead our daring soldiers to a. tory pefore many more weeks-roll away. THE LATE STORM—-COMMUNICATION WITH THE FEDE- RALS—LOUISIANA TROOPS-—FEDERAL FINANCES. Nonvork , Jan. 27, 1862, ‘The heavy storm which for gra Aish weeks has raged ‘upon onr coasts left us Saturday night, and Sunday morn- ing was quite like May, bringing its none for carly fow- ers and spring roses, Theeun shone 9 and bright aud ail nature looked ag sweetly as @ young girl after a pet. So warm and pleasant was the atmosphere that the won- der grew what had become of the litile birds; and, I ven- ture to say, such a decided vernal change caused the overhauling of more than one wardrobe to ascertain the condition of spring colors and epring garments: This morning algo is very warm and pleasant, although those flocewic louds, museriive of conring snow, obscure the sup, at & remarkably mild winter this Las becn. And bow kindly God has dealt with us in tempering the seazon to our necessities! Since my last letter there haye been three of truce to communicate with the onemy at Fortress Monroe, but ‘no particular news was gained by them. The most im- portant items, probably, are regarding the question of finance, now troubling the Yankee rulers so seriously. Innumerable plans have been suggested for the purpose of “raising the wind,’? and day by day some new and brilliant scheme bas been laid before Congress for. its consideration. A majority of these haye been thrown aside on account of their complex and difficult provi- sions; some because the delegates of the New York, Bos- ton aud Philadelphia banks. would not listen to them; others because they gave offence to the poopie of the Northwestern States, upon whom the Thoaviest part oc their burthen would tul!. Considering the fact thatthe federal Treasury is without a cont, and that the is deeply in debt, these plans are somewhat remark on account of their boldness and their Proportions. When the whole country is growling at the ‘treasury. Departmeht, juspiciously upon the enormous expense of the government, one would suppose the fiuancial leaders would be 4 little modest in their demands upon the public purse; but, on thy con- trary, they entertain schemes of 9 wiaghitude unheafd of in history, and beside which tho little speculation: of the Rothschilds, in taking a mor wee the Ottoman Em- pire, and in the purchase of tine, seems a mere tail business. Allof these, as I said, have been thrown asiie, and one decided upon, based on asys:em of direct taxation. I havo from a private ource—and, the newspaper accounts seem to corroborate it—ihat the fol- lowing plan meets with the approval of the Cabinets bill has been reported by the Committes of Ways and Meags to levy a direct tax of owe hundred and filty mil- Vion dollars for a series r8, and uran this basis to issue immediately five militon of Treasury notes. ‘The objections to this this plan are—tirst, the peonleof the Northwest are cecidedly opposed to direct taxation; second, the banks are not disposed to receive the Trea! ry notes; third, it ig doubtful, in the face of such oppos tion, if they can be forced into circulation. My business ia morely to, state facta; 60] shall enter into ng aceteent upon these questions, but Icave every one to draw own conclusions. It is evident, however, that if this bill meets with the public approval, it will furnish the means of greatly prolovgivg the war. I have no doubt,but that it will be adopted by Congres: as a dernier resort, since all other projects have faied. Yesterday, the 26th, being the anniv. of the go- cession of Louisiana, it was cclebrated by. of that State now in this departmont. The 26th upon Sunday, the entertainments were mostly given to-day; but some, I believe, chose Saturday as their reception day, while others followed creole custom and gave a dinner on Sunday. In company with a delightful party of Norfolk ladies gentlemen, I visited the camp of the Third Louisiana bat- talion, some few miles out of the city, where we were promi a roview, flag raising, dinnor, dance and a warm . Leaving the city at twelve, by 2 special traiu, half an hour’s ride pi us besido a neat and quiet village of log huts located in smail pipe clearing, Glose by which was drawa up a body of as, fine and sol dierly lcoking men as one would wish to ‘see. As'the cars stopped we wore greeted by the music of an excellent band, which escorted us throvgh the line of soldiers into the quadrangular 3; formed by the rows of log cabins, built by the skal hands of their ceca- pants. While the ladies retired to their reception room, afew of ug wandered around the enclosure to see bow volunteers lived, aud were agreeably surprised at the neatocss and orderly appearance of the quarters. Before going further I will say that this is the battalion about which so many hard things have been said by the public on account of its having contained some desperate and bad men, who brought disgrace upon all. It bas ce been well prunéd, and under command of Bradford has becoine a really well disciplined and desira- ble corps. It was originally raised by Tochman, and was known a¢ the Polish briga!. Perhaps some may up their hands with horror at the mention of this fact, but wait until you hear me through. The following is the present organization of the battalion: — Lieutenant Coloue!—C. M. Bradford. Major—Kdamund Pendleton. Adjutant—A. Marks. Surgeon—Dr. Cromwell, of Georgia. Virst Company—Captain, A. Brady; I rick, McClefand and Marks. Second Company—Captain, R, A. Wilkinson; Lienten- ants Egan, Penrose and Jomison. ‘Third Company—Captain, Wm. Patrick; Lieutenants, Rowman, Pardoe aad Cram. Fourth Company—Cuptain, Levi T. Jennings; Lieuten- ants Power, Stockwood and Cady. Fifth Company—Caytain,S, D. MéChesney; Lieutenants Haynes, Murray and Shaw! Sixth’ Company—Cuptain, W. H. Murphy; Fioutenante Jones and 4 Seventh Company—Csptain, William C. Michie; Liea- tenants Brigham, Bowman and Atdr Kighth Company —Cxptain, Jos. F, Withurup; Lieuten- ants Doubilier, Mill i % ‘The compauiéy are ail full and the men in as fine health and phyrical condition as any I have seea since coming to this post. In parsing around tho quarters we found that the ut- niet nnd noutness prevailed in everything. id I to my guide, “if these men are na yas represented that. they take such care of themselves, their arms and their houses!" “Because,” he replied, ‘Colonel Bradford has tanght them -he motto, ‘A place for everything, and everything in ite ploce.?”” ‘The cabins, about forty in number, were bui't in the forts of a square, leaving @ Jarge and level compass of parade ground inthe ceutre, They were uniform in size and appearance, thirty by twenty feet, having expacious fireplaces, fine “brick chimnies, and,’in a majority of cases, glass windows and half giass doors, ‘The roofs were covered with shingles made by the men, the batta- lion having drawn from the government brick for their chimnies, instead of shingles. Inside there was some similarity in the arrangement of furniture, although that was left entirely to the taste of the men, 1t waa optional with thém to sleep in double or single beds, to have the bunks arranged like stoamboat berths, as donbie beds, as in ordinary houses, or like the single cots of a hospital ward. e best urrangement was undorht- edly bunks, one above the other, placed in a cornar of the room, The beds were neatly made up and had a plenty of warm and cleaaiy looking blankets, furnished, Lom told, by the State of Louisiana, In every house thora wis a table, several ingeniousty constracted cupboards, board chairs, rocking chairs, sofas, ottoman, and in oan instance 1 saw ao charming tete-u-tete vetting before @ All had racks upon oue side for the ighter got of muskets | have never ince I commenced writing about it, more than twelve months ago. There wore many other little arrangements 1 would like to moation, dia not space forbid, for every house contained some peculiar articles suggested by the taste and skillof the oecu- oy Jn one was @ miniature steambont, which bad wen carved by some akilfal volunteer. Passing around the square, we caroe again to the oMi- cers’ quarters, which are of the same size of thore oceu- ied by the privates, but I must confess, show that much jess Val hag been bestowed upon them. Both oficers aud privates have, however, more comfortable homes than many to be found amovg tho small planters in the . piny woods of the extreme Southern estates. Lregret ene. that military necessily prevented Co). Bradford from being mt on the occasion, but the pattalion was ‘by Major Pendloton, ana aftor achort parade the regimental flagraised. Then came an olegaut collation, and afterwards the rooms wero cleared for a dance, A charming picture was then spread out be- fore us, Without, the neat village; the groups of orderly, woll dressed goldiers; crowds of country people; the dark pine f ; and the sentinels walking their solitary beats, ® picture not soon forgotten. Within, a score of beautiful women and as many inanly forms were mov- ing inharmony with the music, in rustic huts, ag por! our ancestors, more than two hundred years ago, in the primeval forests, walked through the contra danco ana stately minuet. «How beautiful,” said a German to me in bis rich na- tive tongue, ‘fit gives mo the heartache to look at it, Hihen T thie of tho May dances of Fatherland,” Tt was indeed beautiful, and it wes possible more than my German friend had the hoartache before the dusky shadows of night drove us again to the city, Twould like to any much mord“of tho diy’s pleasnre; but the mail will soon close, and I must close also my hastily written deseript'ov. ' One word, however, before writing ““inis.”” This day “your own’ has eslobratod his birthday, and les jist now ohtered vp6n His—he iN not pay What year, for foar of losing somewhat the his youthful friends. Not to be too particular im suck matters, (t May be stated that he is stilion the