The New York Herald Newspaper, March 10, 1862, Page 4

ne ce es pai ar--or il uP SUD eunrgunssaraciuarsp-qrane ren lammEEe?=F==rerareesrreerrrammend NEW YORK HERALD. SAMKS Gorpon BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFICE XN. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, advance sent by matt will beat the Py Tits current in New York ‘ae DALEY BERALD (wo cntaper con $7 per annum. (EEKLY HERALD, aory een ot fe ayad Soper aman. the imroery Watnes ly, TEs pereopy; 4 per to w —aeeae Ba 12 to OAS coatinent, sath nce pte ‘the com the Let, 11th anc 2lat af each month, atsia 1 per copy, or $2 75 per annum. “THe AML 16. HEALD, on Wetneatay, at four cents Der Pore RESPOND LN CE, containing important “ake fay Cons lquarter of the world: if used, willbe fon.” pr OUR FORKIGN CORRESPONDENTS ARB a, ARLY REQUESTED TO SKAL ALL anp Pack: we Shu Nee taken of anonymous correspondence, Wedona vetvenreleciad communications TO VERTISEMENTS renewet every day; advertisements ine sertad i the WaexLy Hinarp. Faxitr Wismarp, and tn the Californie nd Buronean Editions Son PRINTING executed with neatness, cheapness and de watch Volume xxvm.., “AMUSEMENTS ms EVENING. ‘NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway.. —Couizey Bawx—How to Pay rae Rest. WALLACK'S THEATRE, No. rs Broadway.—Butr’s B-Raracen, LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tum Ma- Oamrny; OR, THK PREP oF Dar. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Rivitoo Rexats Duxo—PixasaNr Nziciuok—/Tuarns OF THX KAVANNAM. BOWERY THEATRE, " Bowery.—Sricexrr's Narioman Cimovs. BARNUM'S AMERICAN | MUSEUM, Broadway.—Com Norr—Living Hirrorotauvs, Wax, &c.. ai ull ture amp KaLanave, afverdoon aud evening. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, way.—Down Uv OLD k-r-Ky. HOOLEY’S MINSTRELS, Stuyvesant Institute, No, 659 Broadway.—Eruioriay Songs, Dances, &c. 6) MaLCDRON SORE T HALL, 539 Broadway.—6om Danons, Buruusques, &0.—Uosvict Lirg on Buceweess Mechanics’ Hall, 473 Broad CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL, 585 Broadway.—Soxa Dancxs, BuRixsques, £0.—0'F LNNIGAN AT THE Faulk, . Saree. Smee ROOM, 616 Broadway.—Drawixa Room Entuxtainuxnts, BaLusts, Pantomines, Fances, £0, _AMERIOAN MUSIC HALL, 444 Broadway.—Sonas, Bat- PANTOMIMES, &0.—KOsERT Macalxs. CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERT HALL, No. 45 Bowery. — Buaesques, Songs, Dances, £0.—1 Wo CLowi as PARISIAN OABINET OF | JroNpERS, Broad’ - Open daily from 10 A. M. till - hay Pini ny nd as —) BALL, Broadway. —Boriusques Kew rank, Monday, March 10, 186. THE SITUATION. We have to record to- -day @ slight reverse, com- bined with a reactionary success of the Union Navy, at Newport's News, on the James river. The reverse recounts the destruction of two of our old wooden sailing frigates by the rebel naval monster, the Merrimac, and two iron-clad rebel gunboats. The success includes the subsequent defeat of the whole rebel force, and the disabling of the Merrimac by our new Ericsgon battery iron-clad gunboat, the Monitor. The facts, as officially reported are these. The Merrimac, which is said to be commanded by Captain Buchanan late of the Washington Navy Yard, came out of Norfolk on Saturday morning, and together with the rebel iron clad gunboats Yorktown and Jamestown, steamed down towards Newport's News, where the frigates Cumberland and Congress were lying. Signals were at once displayed for assistance from the steamers Minnesota, Roanoke and St. Law- rence. The frigates being sailing vessels were completely at the mercy of the monster Merrimac gnd her attendant iron mailed gunboats. The Merrimac made an attack on the Cumber- Iend with ber iron prow, and fairly put her open; then drawing off she fave her @ broadside and dashed into her egain. The Cumberland immediately went down under this terrific shock, and it is said that about a hundred of her crew of five hundred were lost. The Merrimac, Yorktown and Jamestown then en- Baged the Congress with a heavy fire, our batte- ties from Newport's News playing briskly on the rebel boats meanwhile, and the encmy returning with shell. The Congress, though she fought gal- lantly, had to succumb to the superior force of the enemy, and surrendered. Her officers were taken prisoners, the crew were allowed to escape in boats, and the frigate was then burned by the ene- my. The steamer going up to assist the frigates, although they opened @ severe fire on the enemy, unfortunately were unable to approach near @nough to disable them. The Minnesota also went @ground. Darkness coming on the progress of the fight could not well be observed. The following morning, however, changed the features of the conflict, for the Ericsson battery gunboat Monitor, which left New York on Thurs- day, arrived at Fortress Monroe at ten o'clock Sa- turday night, and at daylight yesterday morning she went gallantly into action with the whole three rebel steamers, having herself only two heavy guns. The fight continued for five hours. Part of the time the Monitor and Merrimac were actually touching each other, that is to say, from eight o'clock in the morning until noon, when the Merri mac drew off and was towed towards Norfolk in a sinking condition. The little Monitor is said to be uninjured and ready to repel another attack at any moment. She went to Fortress Monroe merely on an experimental trip and it would appear that the experiment proved quite successful. The telegraph line from Fortress Monroe was completed yesterday just in time to enable the in- telligence to reach Washington, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox, who had gone down to examine the little gunboat Monitor, availed him- eelf of the opportunity to telegraph the glorious feat of the new gunbost, which he was fortunate enough to witness, General Wool also sent a despatch to General McClellan, detailing the af- fair. We publish both despatches to-day. It is to be presumed ‘that the War Department will at once avail itself of the means now at its Gisposal to reinforce our naval squadron at For- tress Monroe, The steamers San Jacinto and Da- Cotah are now lying at Boston, ready for sea, The frigate Babine, it is said, will leave this port to-day, Gnd the steam gunboat Oneida sailed yesterday for the South, and will probably receive a Gespatch in time to run into Fortress Monroe. We give an excellent map in another page of the Vicinity of this remarkable naval engagement, | As a set-off to the loss of our ships off New- Port's News, we havo iatelligence of the clearing Out of the troublesome rebel batteries at Aquia Creek by our troops yesterday, and the destruetion Of the notorious rebel steamer Page, which has been running about Occoquan and Quantico Creeks #0 long, and,s0 often succocded in os Meplog the Gre of our beitericg, Our gunboats | nat witc ten opened fire yesterday afternoon on the battery and Cockpit Point, and after cannonade of an hour and a half our troops landed, and hoisted the Stars and Stripes on the Point. The rebels set fire to their tents and all other property which they could not remove, and also burned the steamer Page. It is evident that the rebels are withdrawing from their former lines on the Lower Potomac, and concentrating their strength at some other point. General Hooker reported to headquarters yester- day that all the enemy's batteries in front of his lines, opposite Budd’s Ferry, are abandoned en- tirely and the gunsspiked. He has taken posses- sion of some of them, and they prove to be very valuable pieces of “ordnance. The evacuation of these batteries opens the Potomac, and the block- ade, such as it was, is virtually abandoned. We give to-day a map of the vicinity of Cockpit Point: The evacuation of Leesburg by the rebels, and its occupation by Colonel Geary, on Saturday, is officially confirmed. A large amount of property fell into our hands. The rebels fell back, as we stated yesterday, towards Middleburg, bat it is not certain that they have not gone as far as Winches- ter. We give to-day a sketch of Colonel Geary’s eventful life and a description of the town of Lees- burg. Up to last night all was quict on the fron- tiers of the Upper Potomac lines. Scouting parties sent out in the direction of Winchester yesterday, failed to meet with any resistance, except from @ small cavalry picket; but on Friday a brisk skir- mish took place between a company of our cavalry and a part of Colonel Ashby's rebel cavalry, be- tween Bunker Hill and Winchester, in which six rebels were killed. It was thought at Charlestown that the force at Winchester was greatly reduced. Yesterday morning the pickets of Colonel Hamil- ton, near Smith’s Mills, were attacked by rebel scouts, and one of the Twenty-seventh Indiana re- giment was killed. The Third Wisconsin regiment pursued them, and was not heard from at latest accounts. us The Tennessee Legislature is having a hard time at Memphis. Another meeting was held on the 27th ultimo, when each house resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, for the purpose of counting noses, and the following was the re- sult :— Senate..... House. . The terms of the following named members of the United States Senate will expire with the pre- sent Congress, on the 4th of March next:— James Dixon (rep.), Connecticut. Milton S. Latham oon , California, James A. Bayard (opp.), Delaware. Joseph A. Wright (opp.), Indiana. Lott M. dorril (rep.), Maine. Charles Sumner (rep.), Massachusetts, Authony Konnedy (opp.), Maryland, Zach. Chandler (rep.), Michigan, Henry M. Rice (opp.), ’ Minnesota, Preston King (rep.), New York. John R. Thomson (opp.), New Jersey. David Wilmot (rep), Eenneyivaais. James F. Simmons (rep.), Rhode Island. Andrew Johnson (orn) ), Tennessee, Solomon Foot Vermont. Wiley (opp.), Virginia, igoonsin. Waitman T. Wi James R. Doolittle (rep.), W! The Memphis Avalanche says that General Sam Houston, of Texas, is not dead. A Galveston pa- per contains a letter from him, dated January 27. It appears that there are some shoddy shoe con. tractors among the hordes of patriotic citizens who have taken upon themselves the task of keeping our soldiers comfortable. General Hal- leck writes to the Quartermaster General at Wash- ington that the shoes issued to the troops wear out in four days. He says a change must be effected if the government hopes to keep the army of the West together. The Hon. Benjamin F. Rexford, appointed in November last as commissioner on the part of the United States to adjudicate the claims of citizens under this government against the government of Costa Rica, accompanied by his son, arrived at the Astor House in this city on Saturday last, and will leave for Washington this afternoon. The com- missioner on the part of Costa Rica is Senor Molina, Minister, residing near the seat of the United States governmert. The claims have their origin in the recent disputes between the States of New Granada and Costa Rica, and out of which grew the seizure of a large amount of property belonging to American merchants, and adequate in worth to justify the institution of the commission which Judge Rexford represents on the part of the federal government. Judge Rexford is a native of Chenango county, in this State, and a graduate of Union College, in the class of 1830. He is a lawyer by profession, and occupies an honored position at the bar of this State, being chiofly and most favorably known at the West. The commission will commence its sittings in the city of Washington, for the reception and filing of claims, on the 13th instant, and will adjourn in the course of ten days or two weeks following fora period of three months. During the adjournment the claimsfiled will be sent to Costa Rica for final examination, immediately subsequent to which Senor Molina, commissioner on the part of the Costa Rican government, will receive instructions touching the determination of his government in regard to their ultimate disposition. At this junc- ture an umpire will be appointed and the claims will be definitely settled. General McClellan has ordered the following tariff of exchange of prisoners of war:— For a General Commander-in-Chief, sixty men. Lieutenant General, forty men. Major General, thirty men. Brigadier General, twenty mea. Colonel, fifteen men, Lieutenant Colonel, ten men, Major, eight men. Captain, six men. Lieutenant, four men. Sub-Lieutenant or Ensign, three men, Non-commiesioned officers, two men. Privates, man for man. Captain Wm. D. Porter, commander of the Mia- sissippi gunboat Essex, is fast recovering from the injuries he sustained at the attack op Fort Henry. His vessel is on the stocks at St. Louis, and will soon be again in fighting trim. In the face of General Halleck’s order, that no distinction must be made between friend and foe among the sick and wounded soldiers, a lot of se- cesh women in St. Louis had the presumptton to demand that they should have the privilege of con- tributing articles exclusively for the rebels in the hospitals. The Sanitary Commission informed them that donations were used indiscriminately for all the inmates who needed them. The State of Arkansas has spent two millions five hundred thousand dollars to serve the rebellion. Thia is nearly eight dollars a head for every free Person in the State, All the newspaper editors in Nashville seceded and followed the rebel army to Memphis, except sg of the Lanner, which continnes its publica- on. The @mnada papers have worked themaelveg into another big fright over a report that our government is building at Ogdensburg, in this State, and at other points on the St. Lawrence tel twelve or fourteen gunboats for lake ser- e. The Toronto (Canada) Leader (secession) says ah “the Horgaleg @ She Viet Qoveciaens hee NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MARUH 10, 1862. handcaffed the American press and plucked the life out of it.” It recommends the papers to revolt. A man named Horsely, from Summer county, Tenn., one of the wounded rebel prisoners at St. Louis, ia sixty-three years old. Four hundred and ninety-one of the rebel pri- soners at Alton, Ill., have taken the oath of alle- giance and been released. The Britsh steamship Plantagenet, Captain Beard, which arrived yesterday, reports having met the schooner Idiasa, from Philadelphia for Halifax, 300 miles from New York, with masts cut and signals of distress fying. She was laden with flour, but no one on board. The Plantagenet towed her forty miles, when the hawser broke, and she was obliged to leave her in consequence of the roughness of the sea. A despatch from Boston, dated the 8th, gives the safe arrival there of the Idiasa's crew in the gunboat Dacotah. They abandoned her at sea on the 4th inst., in latitude 40, longitude 70, The following wero the quotations of currency in Richmond at last advices:— Gold... Silver. United States Treasury note: Confederate States Treasury notes... Bank shinplasters.. . Corporation shinplasters The cotton market was again excited and active Sa- turday. The sales embraced about 2,000 bales, closing on the basis of 273,c. a 28c. for middling uplands, The Liverpool Brokers’ Circular of the 21st of February gives the stock of American cotton in that market at 177,990 bales, against 628,540 at the same time last year. The stock of India was 245,330, against 117,810 last yoar. The total stock of all kinds was 479,250 bales, against 791,240 at the same period last year. There was none reported atsea from America, against 387,000 last year, and 178 bales India, against 150,000 bales last year, The average weight of American bales is about 450 Ibs., and those of India about 300 Ibs. Flour was heavy, with a moderato demand, while prices,though easier for some grades, were without quotable change for most descriptions. ‘The chicf demand was from the home trade, Wheat was dull and sales were quite limited, while prices were irre- gular, Corn was lower, while Western mixed closed at 69c. a6134¢., in store and delivered. Pork was heavy and rather lower, with sales of new mess at $14.a$141214, and new prime at $10 623 a $10 75. Sugars were steady, with sales of about 700 bhas. Cuba at full prices. Coffee was quiet and ales limited. Freights were steady and rates unchanged, while engagements wore moderate, The Exciting News from Fortress Mon- roe—Operations of the Union Iron-Clad Steamers. The news we receive from Fortress Monroe is of an exciting character. It gives us the parti- culara of the coming out of Norfolk of the iron- clad rebel steamer Merrimac, and the descent of the James river of the rebel steamers Jamestown and Yorktown, also iron-clad, and their attack on our veseela at Newport’s News, sinking the Cumberland and burning the Congress, two sailing frigates of the navy. The attack on these vessels led to a spirited naval engage- ment, in which these three iron-¢lad vessels on the part of the rebels, and the Minnesota, Roan- oke, St. Lawrence, Mystic, Congress and Cum- berland took part on our side, aided-by such artillery as the troops at Newport’s News could bring to bear. This is briefly the first day’s news. But it ap- pears that the rebels were not permitted fully to complete their designs; for, fortunate- ly, the new iron-clad gunboat Monitor, sometimes called the Ericsson Battery, soon af- ter arrived there, when she was attacked by the three rebel steamers, and, after a gallant and brilliant engagement of five hours’ duration succeeded in beating off the three and sending the Merrimac back to Norfolk in a sinking con- dition. These two engagements clearly show that suffi- celent heed was not given toour admonition con- cerning the intended mission of the Merrimac, as soon as she was prepared, and of the visit of the Jamestown and Yorktown to Newport's News for the very purpose attempted on Friday. So far back as the 3d of October last we stated that information had been received from Norfolk that it was the intention of the rebels to do this very thing, and we forewarned the government, so that our forces at Hampton Roads and Newport’s News should always be atrong enough to guard against any surprise. But the great success of the Ericsson Bat- tery proves that we now havo the means of preventing any more operations such as this news describes on the part of the rebels and their gunboats in that vicinity. It also shows the great value of this class of vessels and their superiority over the old wooden war ships, both steam and sailing. Our iron-clad vessels have been tested at Forts Henry and Donelson, and now in a most decisive manner at Newport’s News—the last case being the only one in which iron vessels were op- posed to iron vessels. That the Monitor was superior to the combined three of the rebel ships was plainly shown in the combat, and Captain Ericsson will feel justly proudof the great success of his noble vessel. Now that we have these two actions before us, it is to be hoped that the Naval Committes of the Senate will at once reconsider” ‘their “action in regard to the appropflation of fifteen millions of dollars for additional iron gunboats for our navy. Their value is so strikingly mani- fest at this time that there should be no delay in adding as many more of them as possible to the naval arm of our service. The money" should therefore be appropriated at once, and the vessels begun with all speed. Meanwhile let the Navy Department make the most vigorous efforts to repair this disaster, and be prepared for any further emergency. Ovr New Corrs p’Armet.—It will be seen that General McClellan has divided the Grand Army of the Potomic into five corps d’armee,and has placed at the head of each an officer of known firmnesa, courage and ability, in the persons of Generals Heintzelman, Banks, McDowell, Sun, ner and Keyes. This measure will insure still greater efficiency in the army, and will enable the Commanding General to operate with his whole immense force with greater facility, But, while there are only five corps d’armee in the army of Virginia, there are in fact four more under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief— namely, the armies of Generals Halleck, Buell, Pope and Curtis,in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee; and very effective corps d’armee they aoe, eat their late brilliant successes prove, Our Late Brilliant Victories and fa I TT sy Lan isea mum | Our Laas Mistakes Winkedse oom Waele | qaldienssa iecchotan Gants). . FREASRIAAA-AGID Mammioea.. Important Results. The occupation of Leesburg, on the Upper Po- tomac, by a detachment from the column of General Banks, under the command of the in- trepid Colonel Geary, gives us the practical ad- vantages of a great victory. Leesburg was the object of that lamentable blunder of Ball’s Bluff, the disasters of which, in a military view, are now atoned for in the stampede of the rebels from the town and its defensive works, without even the show of resistance. It is manifest, we think, from their hasty evacuation of Leesburg, that their late instruc- tive defeats and retreats in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas have convinced the rebels in Virginia that their situation is exceedingly desperate, and that there is no such thing as Southern invinei- bility against superior military combinations, appliances, facilities and forces, by land and sea. But, without assuming to anticipate the brilliant impending justification of General McClellan’s “masterly inactivity,” we may find in the present confusion and demoralization of the rebellion in every quarter abundant evi- dences that the final issue is completely within his control. Jeff. Davis and his Confederate rulers were not deceived by their ephemeral and delusive victory of Manassas; they were content to hold their ground on the defensive through the sum- mer and autumn, in expectation that “King Cotton” would in the winter bring England to their rescue. The settlement of the Trent affair dispelled that illusion, and the despondency and Imbecility of the rebel government from that day are as remarkable as its previous confidence and energetic action. In January, away down in the wilds of Southern Kentucky, the important and decisive little Union victory near Somerset came off. It created a sensation of alarm throughout the South compared with which our splendid naval successes at Cape Hatteras and Port Royal produced only a ripple upon the surface of the water. The rea- son was, that, while Cape Hatteras and Port Royal touched no vital point, our Somerset vic- tory made a serious breach through the inland defensive line of the rebellion. This reverse suggested the immediate neces- sity of strengthening the works and reinforcing the rebel army at Bowling Green, while our menacing gunboat preparations at Cairo and St. Louis resulted in a rebel encampment and fortifications at Columbus of the grandest pro- portions to resist our passage down the channel of the Mississippi. But, while the rebels were thus expending their strength upon these widely separated camps of Bowling Green and Columbus, their two intermediate defen- sive positions at Fort Henry, on the Ten- nessce river, and Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland, were comparatively neglected. Thus the loss of Fort Henry reduced them to the alternative of abandoning Bowling Green to save Fort Donelson and the navigable water line to Nashville; and in losing Fort Donelson they lost Nashville, and Columbus ceased to be useful or tenable; whence its hasty evacuation. In all these movements the splendid cam- paigning and fighting qualities of our troops were amply proved; but the capture of two such strongly defended places as Bowling Green and Columbus, without the Recestity of firing a shot, is due to the superior military combinations of our commanding generals. A month ago, against the defensive works on the biuffs of Columbus, with their two hundred pieces of heavy artillery and their exterior lines of rifle pits, with the river in front and a pro- tecting swamp in the rear, an army of a hun- dred thousand men, andall our Mississippi gun- boats, and a bloody siege, would have been re- quired to take the place. A few days ago a reconnoitering gunboat found it evacuated, and thus all the vast labors and expen- ditures of the rebels to make this place the Sebastopol of the Mississippi were thrown away. Columbus was their main re- liance for the defence of New Orleans; and, hav- ing abandoned Columbus, where now are they to make a final stand on the line of the Missis- sippi this side the Gulf of Mexico? The expulsion of Price from Missouri, and his disastrous flight, with Ben McCulloch, over the Boston Mountains of Arkansas, vindicate” as forcibly as our glorious campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee the wisdom of ample prepara- tions and skilful arrangements before pouncing upon the enemy. And so with the Burnside ex- pedition in North Carolina, The very presence of its overwhelming power reduced the rebels on Roanoke Island to a surrender, before their men slain outright amounted to a dozen in num- ber, defended, as they were, by their elaborate earthworks. Is it any wonder that the dispirit- ing effect of these defeats and disastrous re- treats has resulted in the occupation of the valley of the Shenandoah and of Leesburg by our troops without opposition? And who does not now comprehend the fact that in its effects the most disastrous battle to the South of all the battles of this rebellion, ten times multiplied, was the battle of Bull run? It has cost the South many thousands of men, and hundreds of millions of dollars, which otherwise would have been saved. Fort Sumter and Bull run, however, still con- tinue among our outstanding accounts against this rebellion; nor will it be long, we predict, before these balances are satisfactorily settled. We await with cheerfulness and absolute confi- dence the final development of Gencral Mc- Clellan’s — combinations. Destrvctios or Corrps axp Tosacco—An effort is being made by the rebel leaders and politicians to induce the people to burn all their cotton and tobacco whenever there is a chance of its falling into the hands of the Union army. The rebel Congress had a motion before it to indemnify the owners of these staples for the quantity destroyed, and it was reported that the measure had passed; but such is not the fact. Congress did not adopt the resolution to pay for the merchandise so patriotically destroyed; nor do we sce that it makes a particle of differ. ence to the unfortunate owners whether they did or not, as they would only be paid in Con- federate bonds, redeemable when the Confede- rate States are free and independent; and they might as well throw the worthless shinplasters into the fire with the cotton and tobacco, and make the conflagration bigger. Tas Revet, Army In A Bap Way.—The Southern leaders, commanding generals, Gover- nors of States and rebel newspapers, are mak- ing desperate appeals to the people to enlist in the service of Jeff. Davis, and to give up every- thing in the shape of a weapon which they may possess to the government. The people are warned that if they do not peremptorily obey Ree ee ST INS seetng eoldiers—a forced conscription, in fact—will be resorted to in every town, village and ward, and the male population, without regard to age or any rule of exemption from military duty, will be compelled to turn into the ranks and serve as soldiers, This is a desperate strait to which the poor Southerners are reduced. It is unnecessary to say that the morale of an army so raised will be exceedingly fine, and that they will fight very cheerfully for their task- masters, Fraups or Army Conrractors—A Rewon- STRANCE FROM THE ARMY oF THE Wuas?. In another column will be found an interesting correspondence between General Halleck and Quartermaster General Meigs, in which the former remonstrates in energetic terms against the quality of the shoes and clothing furnished to the Army of the West, He states that the shoes issued to the troops on the march wear out in four days, the space between the inner and outer soles being filled in with pieces of old plate iron, which cut the stitches. The cloth sent to the army for making clothingis also of such inferior quality as to be nearly worthless for service. The General very justly says that it is an outrage on the troops to issue such shoes and clothing at all, and a still greater one that they should be charged at full price. He tells the government in plain terms that the fault lies in the appointment of incompetent and dishonest agents in the Quartermaster General’s Department, and demands that the workshops in St. Louis shall be reopened for the supply of proper shoes and clothing to the army. We hope Mr. Stanton will reform all this. There is much to be said in fuvor of this recom- mendation. Under the system by which the large stock of worthless clothing on hand was furnished to the government, there is no possi- bility of tracing out the contractors. This will always be the case so long as the Quartermaster General, whose honesty and efficiency no one ventures to impeach, cannot have more power in the appointment of his agents. Where possible, it would be desirable for the commandants of all the great military departments to be able to control the quality of the clothing furnished to their troops. This could be done by giving out contracts in all the great cities which are fixed upon as the centres of such departments. Should the government inspectors prove un- faithful to their trusts, the commanding generals would be able at once to lay hands on the de- linquent contractors, and deal with them as Wellington used to deal with the same class of scoundrels during the Peninsular war—hang them up to the nearest tree. The red ‘tapeism of which General Halleck complains, and which* exposes the troops under his command to un- necessary hardships and sufferings, should be instantly put an end to, and some plan adopted by which the commanders of departments shall not be compelled to endure in silence rascalities 80 injuridus to the morale of the troops. It would be betier for the government to at once make the pecuniary sacrifice which General Halleck recommends rather than to continue a state of things which will interfere seriously with the progress of our arms. Tax War Fort Doxerson Was SURRENDERED. — In his official report of the fall of Fort Donel- son, General Pillow gives a curious account of the manner in which the surrender was agreed to and accomplished by the conclave of rebel generals, within the walls of the fort. It ap- pears that when affairs became desperate a council of war was held by the three generals, Pillow, Floyd and Buckner—General Floyd then holding the supreme command. Pillow says that he himself was averse to surrender, and would never consent to it—that Floyd declared positively that he Would hot allow himself to be taken prisoner, because he would certainly be hanged if the Union army caught him. Buckner, on the contrary, was in favor of a surrender, being convinced that the troops could not hold out against an attack of half an hour’s duration, But Buckner was not in command of the fort, and hence fte could not adopt the plan he advo- cated. What was to be done in this dilemma’? The ingenuity and peculiar morality of General Floyd came to the rescue. He proposed to turn over the command to Pillow, and Pillow to turn it over again to Buckner, thus enabling the lat- ter to surrender the place, provided that he and Pillow were allowed time to cut and run, with their commands, out of danger. This plan, General Pillow says, was agreed to. The transfer of the supreme command was made, in this hocus pocus fashion, in double quick time, and sauve qui peut was the word with the heroic Floyd and the gallant Pillow. We know the rest. Buckner, with all his men, fell into our bands, and Floyd and Pillow saved their skins for the present. This is about the nicest specimen of military” morality we have seen. And yet General Pil- low, we are assured, is regarded in the South asa second Washington. When he resigned his position, some time ago, in dudgeon about some fancied slight, the rebel soldicrs made a great deal of fuss about him, and he magnani- mously withdrew his resignation. His own story of the way Fort Donelson was surrendered settles him, New Reve Estimate or tae Yannun Cuarso- ter.—The good conduct and moderation dis- played by the federal troops at Nashville and the other points of Southern territory which have fallen into our hands are evidently pro- ducing a great effect among the population of those places. After the lies so industriously propagated by their politicians and journalists about Yankee savagery, they are astonished to find friends and protectors instead of enemies in our troops. Even the Southegn newspapers, which did so much to provoke the rebellion, have no cause to complain of harsh treatment on our part. In Nashville the property of their owners has been respected, and if they are dis- posed to return to their allegiance they will no doubt be allowed to resume business operations again. Uticle Sam has no vindictiveness to gratify. Southerners as well kd Northerners are alike his children, and to all"with the excep- tion of the leaders, who are repentant for their errors he will again extend tho hand of affec- tion and protection. Bauixves HosrrraL Meoreat Conurce—-The first annual commencomont of the Bollevue Hospital Modical College will take place at Irving Hall this oveuing at half-past seven o'clock. Arrivals and Departures, ARRIVALS, AvRRPOOT—Steamer Canada at Boston—Mr McKa; rit ghd and nurse; Hon Mrs Melville and. wervant, Wes Stountain and servant, Mrs Pinchons Mr and Mey Galdwely ree children and servant; Baron J W de J Jarlsburg, Capt Bool, wife, two chliaren and servant Megara David Lew} F MéMaster, JO Lonsdale, Morrison, Jo tt Jo Wormald, WM Estecee, Falrchiid, Dahiel B 1 ’ arti Printer, Hughes John Monison Jr, H Nordit wi Jerson, ry Sol Robert Donald, J H Dunham ham, Francis aay ui dae be Stanbur 4 USICAL. ‘The pest week has been, musically and dramatically, ‘an uneventful one. The departure of Gottschalk and the opera people for the provinces deprived us of our great source of amusement, while at the theatres thoro has ‘eon little or no variation In the bills, At Wallack’s ‘The Bolle’s Stratagem,” whigh bas Proved #0 attractive, wil! be ropeated this evening. ‘To-morrow will be given ‘Tho Wonder ;”’ on Wednesday, “Tho School for Scandal;’’ ou Thursday, ‘(A Bold Stroke for a Husband; on Friday, ‘Tho Honoymoon,” and om ‘Saturday “London Assurance,” As soon as the novelty of these pieces is exhausted Mr. Wallack will replace them by other standard comedies, which have not beem produced here for several years, “The Macarthy” is drawing fine houses to Laure Keene's. The pieco possesses a dramatic interest which, notwithstanding certain defects of construction, enchata the audience from the commencement to the close. At Niblo’s “Tho Colleen Bawn’? is floating on tho Cull tide of success. The piece is #0 beautifully mounted and is diversified by such agreeable musical features that it will bear more than one visit. There is now played, im addition to it, Tyrone Power's amusing farce of “How to Pay the Rent," in which Mr. John Collins gives his inisa- itable version of the part of Morgan Rattler, On Wedmes- day next Mrs. John Wood takes her benefit. Her ad- mirers—and they are legion—will muster strong on the occasion. ‘The Winter Garden will be closed this evening and te morrow, to afford time for the preparation of the new piece, ‘The Bolle of the Season,” which is to be pre- duced on Wednesday. Miss Matilda Heron plays the principal character, and will be supported by Mrs. Glad- stone, tho handsomest actress on the American stage. ‘This will be hor first appearance before a New York au- dience. ‘The New York Athonzeum (Wallacks’ old theatro) has not realized the expectations with which it commenoed the season under its now management. It was abruptly closed on Friday last, “Unole Tom’s Cabin,” on the revival of which, juat at the present time, such golden hopes had Doon founded, having proved a dead failure. Tho fact is @ healthy one, politicatly considered, and its significance is confirmed by the refusal of the directors of the Brook- lyn Academy to allow the pieco to be represented on their boards. Asthe “moral and roligious drama’ will met pay, tho lessees of the Athensoum have now to east about for some other class of performances. In the meantime the theatre will be entirely cleaned and renovated—e process which it sadly wanted. It will be reopened om 18th inst. under a new name. Mr. Grau commences his next season of opera, at the Now York Academy, on Wednesday week (March 10), when “‘Masaniello” will be produced ona grand scale, Senorita Cubas and a corps de ballé having been engaged to give it completeness. During the week several re- heareals will take place of the “Favorita,” and on the 2ist or 24th Madame de Lussan will make hor debut, Madame Borchard will not be able to make her appear- ance for some time yet, having been unfortunately lamed by an accident. Mr, Gottachalk gave concerts in Washington on Thurs- day, Friday and Saturday. They were brilliantly at- tended, and the pecuniary rosults wore most satisfactory. To-night ho performs in Philadelphia; to-morrow, Wed- needay and Thursday, in Batimore, and on Saturday eve ning a grand gals performance will be given at the Phils, delphia Academy. The period of Mr. Gottschalk’s returs, to New York is uncertain, When he comes back it is not improbable that he will give several matiness at which ~ he will be the sole performer. ‘Tho Davenport and Wheatley combination arrived here yesterday from New Haven, where they played on Satur- day night. They will give no performances for the pre- sont at Niblo’s, the success of “The Colleen Bawn” at that establishment being such as to render it unadvisable to disturb the existing arrangements. It is their inten- tion, we believe, to leave for Baltimore either to-day or to-morrow, with the viow of Lie has 8 3 formances there. mer ane OF MM. Paul Juignet gives the next of his Soirees Prancaten on Tucsday,the 18th. Ho has hired Niblo’s charming concert room for this and the remaining performances of theseries. The Aabiues of these entertainments will be gratified at the change. The subscription opened for the continuation of the Brooklyn series is daily recoiving a large accession of names. Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Conway arrived in town from Eng- land by the last steamer. They have had considerable suocess in London, and have been most favorably spokes of by the press there. Ullman is on his way to Borlin to mect Madame Ristort , and to make final arrangements for her appearance here fm October next. Niblo’s has been secured for the per- formances of the great tragedienne, She will be a panied by the entire of J “4 company now pla) with he? at ‘The juvenile pianist, a Hilts Barnesmore Pape, has just returned from Havana, whero ho hag givéii talconcerts. The Prensa lauds the excellence of his me thod and the precision and brilliancy of his execution. Several concerts have been given in Now York during the woek. Those of Miss Brainerd and Mrs. Maggie Haight were particularly well attended. Mr. George Crozier givos a grand farowell concert a6 Dodworth’s Hall om Tuesday next. He will bo assisted by Mrs. Mozart, Miss M. E. Hawley, Miss Mina Geary and Mossrs. Geo, Simpson, Gustavus Geary, J. R. Thomas, 8. B. Mills, the pianist, and S. W. Morgan and J. B. Whea- ton, conductors. Mr. Crozier 1s about to leave for Europe, ‘The fourth concert of the Brooklyn Philharmonic took place on Saturday evening at the academy of Musie. Beethoven's ‘‘Pastorale’’ symphony was admirably exe- cuted, the four movements being rendered ina manner to perfectiy express the ideas of the composer, The cavatina from “Linda” was sung by Miss Carlotta Patt! with all the originality and grace of execution that dis- tinguish that oxcellent artist, The “Nocturno” by Mr. Schmitzon the French horn, was well performed, the ocho effects being most skilfully managed. Mendelssohn's overture, “Athalia,” was played upon'this occasion for the first timo. It is @ very beautiful composition, and was done full justice to by the orchostra. Signor Man- cusi’s romanza from the ‘Ballo in Maschora”’ was sung with greater care than he usually exhibits in his solo efforts. If he had a littlo more control over his voice, he ‘would be much more popular with our audiences, The piece that pleased most in the vocal portion of the pro- gramme was the comic duct from ‘“L’Elisir d’Amore,’* between Miss Carlotta Patt! and Mancusi. Miss Patts sang her score with'all the vivacity and playfulness that belong to this coquettish composition, and was very well supported by Mancusi. The audionce rewarded their Joint efforts with an encore. The programme was wound up with the ‘Carnival Romain,” by Berlioz, a lively an@ bustling composition, m which all the resources of the orchestra are brought into fuil play. Altogether the eom- cert was one of the best at which we have assisted this peason, both a regards the selection of the pieces ana the manner in which they were ¢xocuted. . Miss Nina Fostor will give matinee readings at Dod worth’s Hall on Saturday, March 16, and Saturday, Mareb 29. She also offers an evening entertainment of a similar character on Monday, March 24. hep Mr. Nathan Nesbit lectures this evening at Dodworth’e” Hall on ‘ The Past, Present and Future of America,” At the New Bowery the business has boen oxcellen® during qhe week. To-night will be given the popular drama of “Rinéldo Rinaldino,” to be followed by the «Ploasant Neighbor” and the ‘Pirates of Savannah.’? ‘The new Eastern spectacular drama ‘Sadak Kalasrade,’’ recently produced at Barnum’s, is web worth seeing by those who are fond of this class of per- formance. It is very skilfully put together and is gor- geously mounted. Commodore Nutt atill continues the cynosure of the Museum visiters, Ho is really e very lively andSontertaining little fellow. At the Old* Bowery Mr. Stickney will, in addition tow most attractive programme, repeat his great six horse act, ‘The Courier of St. Potorsburg,’” this evening. At Hooley’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin" will be given te hight in gonuine niggor style, and without any of the Bostonian adaptations or vampings. At Bryant's ‘The Old Folk’s Concert’? still continues the chief feature im i “Sar ‘Tunarnicars.—Ono of Charlotte Birchpfoiffer’® pieces, ontitied “Engliondor in Paris” (Roglishmen te Paris), was successfully produced at the Stadt theatre om Gaturday laste Several other important novelties are ta preparation at this establisbmont, FOREIGN. ‘The ai ished actress, Mrs. Bradshaw (Marie Tree), sistor of Mrs. Charles Kean, in doad, ‘Anew and original drama, im five acts, callod “The Life of an Actress,’’ written by Mr. Dion Bourcicault, and in which the author and his accomplished wife eppoar, was to be produced at the Adelphi on the 1st of thie Mr. Benediot’s new opora, The Lily of Killarney,’ has been Grawing crowded houses at Drury Lance. 1 sooms 0 have completely bit the taste of the Rnxtials public,