The New York Herald Newspaper, April 20, 1862, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. 2Az S GORDON DENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE NS W CORNBR OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, TEKMS cash im advance. Money sent by mast will be at the wish of the sender, None but Bank (rile current in New York taken THB DAILY HERALD, two cents Volume XXVII. AMUSEMENTS TO. MORROW BYES ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Irving Place,—Itautas Orwsa— Rigosrro. WIBLO'S GARDEN, Broudway.~Tux Evouanrnuss, WINTER GARDEN, Brosdway.—Tux Huwcusace, WALLACK'S THEATRE, No ‘4 Broadway,—Tas Lavy oF Lyons. LAURA KEENP’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Taz Ma- CamTHT; O&, THE ’'eEP OF Day. NEY BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory.—Pavsr0s—His List Eaaeny Paeciovs sunste T a OLYMP1O THEATRE, 485 Broadway.—Eostacus Bau- Dis—LavisibLe PRINCE. BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM. Broadway.—Com. mM Lavina Wate, &0., at a hours—cor 9 Me ‘Paume—Lavy OF MUNSTEX, afternoon and evening. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Meohanlo# Hall, 42 Broad. way. Wo Srkuck biLLY Pat Raqua, MELODEON CONCERT HALL, 539 Broadway.—* ces RIAN PER, ORMANCES, SONGS, Dances, BURLESQUES, SC. CANTERBURY MUSIO HALL, 535 Mroadway.—Soxas Danosa, BUSLESQUES, BOLD UxUam. GAIETIES CONCERT ROOM, 615 Broadway.—Drawura Room HxraxtamaunTs, BaLLErs Pastouiaes, Fances, 40, AMEBICAN MUSIC HALL, 414 Broadway.—Jeaous Dawaex—KAaiLRoaD—COLLSiON—JOLLY MILLEXS, ORYSTAL PALACE CONCERT BALL, No, 45Bowern — Burinsquas, Songs, Dancks, 40.—-Uxar as a fos. PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 Broadway.— Open daily from 10 A. M. ul 9 P. NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 Broadway,—Bunzs Bexgs, Dances, £0. ee New York, Sunday, April 20, 1862. THE SITUATION. General McDowell made a dashing and success- ful advance, with a portion of his army, from Warrenton Junction upon Fredericksburg, on ‘Thursday, accomplishing a march of twenty miles by seven o'clock on Friday morning. The rebels, Consisting of a regiment of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery, intercepted their foute, but were driven across the Rappahan- nook, and our troops occupied the suburbs of Frodericksbarg, having pushed forward in spite of the successful efforts of the enemy to destroy the bridges, which retarded though it did not prevent the pursuit of our troops. The Ira Harris cavalry played a conspicuous part in the action, and suffered considerably. Our full ac- count of this aflair, in another column, will be read with interest. Some hard fighting was done, but our loas was not very heavy. The rebels, how Over, are reported as having been pretty badly cut ap wherever they made a stand. We publish to-day Gen. McClellan’s official re- Port of the skirmish near Lee's Mills in front of * Yorktown, on Wednesday. Our loss, in killed, wounded aud missing, was one hundred and sixty- four, The rebel accounts put down their loss at sixteen killed and seventy-five wounded. We gave the full account of this action in our columns yesterday. “General Banks’ army has pushed on as far as Sew Market, which they occupied in force on Fri- day night, after driving the rebel Colonel Ashby’s cavalry from that town. Ashby set fire to his camp and retreated in haste, burniag the bridges on the turnpike road as he went. Our troops fol- lowed as far as Sparta, eight miles farther on. Our news from the West reports progress south- wards. A despatch from Cairo says that General Mitchel was at I-u-k-a, Mississippi, yesterday, hav- (ng burned the bridges across the Tennessee river, ‘at Decatur and Florence, in Alabama. Gen. W. T. Sherman has moved his division two miles farther towards Corinth, and on Wednesday ast had a brisk skirmish with the rebels, in which he defeated them, killing fifty or sixty, and main- tained his position intact. The rebels are said to be strongly reinforced at Corinth, where they are putting up abatis and constructing intrenchments. {nformation, however, has been received from re- fugees to the effect that they were sending off their Stores from Corinth, preparatory to abandoning it, while others affirm that the rebels are strengthing the defences at that place and erecting batteries & Lick creek, half way between Corinth and our sdvances. That a serious conflict is about to en- tne in that vicinity oan har lly be doubted. MISCELLANE|US NEWS. In our State Senate yes’ ley, a uumber of bills were passed, among whi! was that providing for payment of expenses i ‘red by individuals and towns in fitting out \o\unteers for the war. Among the bills ordered‘. a third reading were those to prevent frauds in the laying out of our streets, and for the contruction of railroads in cities, A great partof th» day was occupied in discussing the Supply bill. In the Assembly, among the bills passed were the Annual Appropriation bill, the Congressional Apportionment bill, and the bill to increase the nuniber of notaries public ia this city. The Metropolitan Health bill was again diseussed for some time. The bill to regu- late the Harbor Masters’ Department of New York was laid on the table. The bill for the defence of the northwestern part of the State was orders+to ® third reading. A committee of five was ap. pointed to present Captain Ericsson, Lieutenant Worden and others connected with the battery Monitor, the complimentary resolutions voted by both Houses of the Legislature. Tho Assembly’ agreed, if the Senate shall concur, to sdjourn sine die on Tuesday, at six o’clock P.M. Yestorday City Judge McCunn rendered a deci- Sion in favor of the motion to quash the indictment Against James B. Taylor for an alleged attempt to bribe Alderman Dayton. The decision will be found in another part of to-day's paper. ‘The Grand Jury of the Oyer and Terminer were discharged yesterday by Judg» Barnard. Among the indictments foand was one against the Militia Marshal, who has for some time annoyed our citi- wens by demanding fines for the non-performance of military duty. The trial of tiis indictment will question of the imposition and collection A letter from Malte, dated on the 29th of says:--Yesterday her Mo) xty's steamer sarrived at Malta with the Japanese Em. . On landing they received the wisi uo ore, They are staying at Dinning’s Hotel. The follow. ng is on oxact copy of 8 list of their antes, write ton by the intorpreter, in @ good, plain Eng!\.) hhand:—" First, Takanovtehy Serotookysokaire, Beoond, Matoodira Ewamenokame; third, Kiogoiof Notenokame; i Sebate Fadatare.” Nearly all of them English aad several speak it whens ce of them have besn in the Wnited States of America, and year very proud of their oxporience. ; Wall stroot wae very Gall yesterday «gain. Govern. it if scteeadie a the speculative railway shares ashade lower, Gold w dullat 101% @ 3s Money very abunaantat5a6. Ex change dulf at 112 a 39. The export of the day was 666,000. ‘The cotton market yesterday was firm, and about balf Scent higher. The sales embraced about 1,800 bales Glosing at 23¢c. or middling uplands. A small lot of middling New Orleans sold at 30c. Flour waa again hoary, and lewer for most descriptions, while sales were moderate, Wheat was lower and prices irregular, while sates were limited. Corn was in moderate request, with ‘sales of uew yellow at 57/c. a 68c. and Western mixed tm store and delivered at $80. a 59c., with some lots quoted at 600, Pork was heavy, with moderate sales at $12 25 2 $12 37}4 for new mess, and $10 a $0 26 for Prime. Sugars were steady ; while the sales embraced about 300 hhds. aud 600 bagsjCaloutta. A sale of 5,500 bags of 8, Domingo coffee, in bond for export, was made at private torms, said to have been at about 1430. cash. Fraighta were firm but not active. Corn in bulk to Liver- pool, was taken at 6¢4., and wheat, 1m ship's bags, at 7d. The Crisis of the Rebellion—The Two Great Impending Battles. Upon the two great hostile armies con- fronting eech other at Yorktown, in Virgi- nia, and at Corinth, in Mississippi, the fate of this beleaguered rebellion now depends. Wo" have, in several instances heretofore, expressed the opinion that by the Fourth of July the armed resistance of our rebellious States to the supreme authority of the Union would be vir- tually at an end, and in all probability before the day indicated there will be such an over- throw of the rebel forces at Yorktown and at Corinth as will immediately be followed by the dispersion of the rebel government and its armies, and by the general breaking up of its political machinery, authority and power throughout the South. In January last the inland defensive line of the rebellion extended along the Potomac river for one hundred and fifty miles, menacing Washington in front and on both flanks, From the Upper Potomac this defensive line stretched across Northwestern Virginia into Kentucky, and thence westward through that State, its strong positions therein being near Somerset, and at Bowling Green and Columbus, this last named place having been so strongly fortified ag to be deemed capable to repel an attacking force by land and water of a hundred thousand men. Protecting this stronghold and Bowling Green against a side attack, there were the two intermediate forts, Henry and Donelson, in Tennessee, near the Kentucky boundary. From Columbus this defensive line ran up into Mis- souri, and through the heart of that State, General Price, with the main body of the rebel forces of that section, having snugly established himself in log hut winter quarters at Spring. fila. ; On the 19th of January this defensive line was broken by our troops at the battle of Mill Spring, near Somerset, Kentucky, and it was completely swept away, from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi, in February, with the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson. Our armies and gunbosts having thus turned both Bowling Green and Columbus, the rebels saw that these laboriously fortified positions were un‘cnable, and accordingly abandoned them; and thus, without further opposition, Gen. Buell -ad- vanced to the occupation of Nashville. Mean- time Price had been driven out of Missouri, and soon after Gen. Jo. Jobnston commenced the work of his abandonment of Manassas and the whole line of the Potomac. And so to-day, while we fiud the remnants of the routed rebel armies of the West and their reinforcements gathered together. in a great army away down at Corinth, Mississippi, we find the rebel Army of the Potomac moved back two hundred miles from Washington, and with its new regimeuts concentrated at York- town. It thus appears that, including the States of Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, and a part of Arkansas and another accession from Virginia, we have recovered by our arms to the Union since January last s territorial area exceeding in extent three times over the great State of New York, and embracing the very States and districts upon which the rebel armies have almost exclusively relied for their subsistence. We believe, therefore, that, with the defeat of the rebel army at Corinth and the overthrow of the rebel army at Yorktown, the rough work of suppressing this rebellion will be finished; for with these defeats the warlike resources of Jeff. Davis in men, as well as in subsistence, will be exhausted. It is evidently the convic- tion among the rebel loaders themselves that if they fail at Yorktown and Corinth their cause is beyond redemption. Hence their extraordi- nary energy at both these points in collecting the men and in providing the means for desperate and decisive struggle. We have no fears, however, as to the final result at either place. Weare aware that the rebel army at Yorktown is chiefly made up of tho well dis- ciplined rebel Army of the Potomac, and that in the hands of Jeff. Davis and Jo. Johnston it will be skilfully intrenched and managed; but we have the fullest confidence in the splendid Potomac army of McClellan and in its leader. Wo know that the fighting qualities of Beaure- gardand his army are of a very high order; but we feel as well assured of the superior skill, the superior troops and arms and the overwhelming forces and resources of Halleck, as if they had already been proved against Beauregard in his expulsion from Corinth. We shall not be kept long in suspense in re- ference to the great impending battle in the East or the West. At Corinth, the forces on each side will, perhaps, reach the figure of one hundred and twenty-five thousand men; at Yorktown the number on each side will hardly be less when the final struggle comes on. With an aggregate of half a million of men thus col- lected at two points for battle, the issue, if against the rebels at both places, will un, doubtedly bring this war to a speedy termina- tion. Nor have we any idea of any other result than the defeat of the rebels, East and West. In all probability, the bloody battle of Water- loo, decisive as it was in regard to the affairs of Europe, will be eclipsed by Yorktown or Corinth, or by both, in desperate fighting and in the decisive consequences touching the affairs of this continent and the civilized world. The opposing armies at Yorktown are al- ready engaged in their preliminary sortics and skirmishes, and the general contest is not far off; our grand army of tho West is closing around Corinth, and, to keep open his baek door communications, Beauregard must very soon fight or fall back. It is still probable, therefore, that before the Fourth of July the teign of Jeff. Davis and his Southern con- federacy will be virtually ended. Tus Buockape—Apuission of a Bririsu Sraresmax.—Mr. Bernal Owborne, in ths House of Commons, admits that there never was so extensive @ system of actual blockade, and at the same time 90 effective, as that which now invests the Southern const It ie well to say NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 1862 this after British statesmen have finally made up their minds that it would not pay to attempt to break it up. When war with this country was meditated in England then we were told by all the leading British journals and British statesmen that the blockade was totally inefficient, and that nations were not bound to observe it. A change kas come over the spirit of their dream. The Fright of England, It is only by comparison that we can at all estimate and appreciate the immense revolu- tion inaugurated by the debut of the Monitor in Hampton Roads, The tone which England assumed towards us at the time of the Trent affair was vastly different from that to which our invention of iron-clad ships, batteries and boats has compelled her. Then, she blustered, ranted and stormed furiously. Now, she is content to take lessons in warfare, and humbly learn from the very nation she before threatened to annihilate. Our readers cannot have forgotten the ut- terances of the English press, and the proceed- ings of the English government, at the time when the arrest of a couple of bogus rebel am- bassadors alarmed the world with the prospect of a terrible international war. The British lion bristled his mane wrathfully in England, wagged his tail ferociously in the Canadas, and breathed forth threatenings and slaughter through the London Times and Post. The Eng- lish government stopped the export of villanous saltpetre to this country, ordered eighty ships- of-war to this side the Atlantic, and transported several regiments of soldiers to Canada, The once famous but now obsolete Warrior was fitted out by hands working night and day, and the Tower of London was transformed into a vast laboratory for the manufacture of ammu- nition. John Bull pointed menacingly to all these preparations, and declared that if Slidell and Mason were not returned the Warrior would knock New York to’pieces, while ten thousand British soldiers were capturing the rest of this blasted and outrageous country. Not many months after this tremendous dis- play of furious bombast we had a little naval engagement at Hampton Roads, and the aspect of affuirs changed considerably. The first shot from-+the Monitor rebounded from the Merri- mac, but struck the British Warrior and de- molished it completely, while before the echoes of her cannon had died away all the wooden walls and stone forts of England tumbled down like houses built of cards. The tail of the British lion is now stuck piteously between his legs, and his roar is as gentle as the cooing of a dove. Jobn Bull has taken off his epaulets, and is now studying in tently upon words of three syllables, promi- nent among which are the terms “Monitor,” “Ericsson” and “Merrimac.” Let John be a good boy and learn his lesson well. We shall have others more difficult to teach him by and by, and he will discover a use for all he can learn and more. Like most schoolboys, he may find a .little whipping necessary to the com- pletion of his education. The Lords, the Commons and the press of England seem to share equally in the naval panic we have created, and they all acknow- ledge the inefficiency of present defences and the necessity for iron-clad navies. Lord Pal- merston thinks that, on the whole, the inven- tion of Ericsson—claimed, falsely, for the English Captain Coles—‘will turn out the most effectual,” and announces that he will give notice to the contractors to suspend work for the present upon shore fortifications. Undoubtedly Lord Palmerston’s “for the pre- sent” will be forever. The Duke of Somer- set, representing the Admiralty, in the “House of Lords, said that “he was obliged to the peo- ple of America for their admonition, and still more obliged to them for their experiments. If they would only make a few more of these experiments they would save the English naval authorities @ great deal of trouble,” and of course he would be even still more obliged. The noble lord shall certainly be gratified, and before long we shall show the English naval authorities not only how to make war vessels, but how to destroy them; for it would be very silly of us to invent iron ships without invent- ing the means to render futile their omploy. ment against us. In our turn, also, we are much obliged to the Duke of Somerset for re- minding us that it is impossible for England to convoy her merchant and transport ships, and that they are, therefore, at our mercy whenever we choose to go to war. But the English press, not being tongue-tied by official reserve, is still more explicit and confessional. The Times frankly acknow- ledges that the boasted navy of England now consists only of four vessels, of which but two are completed; for, “if all the rest of our navy were drawn up in order of battle there are half a dozen ships in the world which would rua them down and riddle them with shot and smash them utterly, without al- lowing them a chance of resistance.” If Eng- land eannot build iron-coated ships as fast as other nations the, Times admits that she is at our mercy; and we are told that, if we guard our harbors with iron batteries, the United States may defy the combined world. We shall take pains to have the iron batterics ready, we assure our British friends, Mean- while let them remember that if we could build Monitors to fight the rebels we could have built them to fight England; and let them reflect at their leisure upon the result of that war with this country which, at the time of the Trent excitement, the English press was so anxipus to bring about. Only the justice of this government, rising superior to all other considerations, saved England from annihila- tion then, aud she may thank us now for do- stroying forever her supremacy upon the seas. Mercier’s Visrt to Rroumoyp.—The current topic of conversation and speculation con- tinues to be the visit of Minister Mercier to the rebel headquarters, at Richmond. The unofli cial rebels at Norfolk seem quite puzzled to divine the mystery, and are aa saxious as our people to” get at’ the real truth. The Norfolk Day Boole declares, however, that Mercier’s visit has great significance, and adds that if it were only intended to preserve the tobacco crop of the confederacy it would be quite in vain, a8 the rebele have determined to devote the narcotic weed to the flames rather than allow it to fill the pipes of Lincoln’s myrmi- doms. There is no doubt, we think, but that M. Mercier’s visit is with @ political object. It is woll known that the French, as well as the English, have been very anxious to raise our blockade, and very active in*seeking a pretext for that measrva Phe following note, found by our soldiers at Tybee Island, is one of | sand men, eleven pieces of pene ell: thele-|-20-.-wenp-—tanen,-—snd.tamseasing. Mowagaparty many proofs of this:— ¥ Savannan, August 28, 1861. Daan Sin:—You will nce oblige me by informing me of the status of the bl ckade now, and whem anything bappens tw ailect its effectiveness. Very respectfull; Your moat “obedient saervant, A. A. Si Colonel H. W. i acne ee ‘Tybee Teland. This note—of which the original is in our pos- session—was addressed by the Agent Vice Con- sul of France to the rebeb colonel commanding at Tybee Island, and it shows how eagerly and minutely the employes of the French govern. ment have sought for information of the ineffec- tiveness of the blockade. France has been able to find no proofs which could justify the Emperor in extreme measures, however, and our recent victories have altogether decided the Emperor Napoleon to advocate the side of the North, and settle this struggle by advising the South to submit and return to the Union. It will be found, before many days, that to con- vey to Jeff. Davis the assurance of this change of policy is the true object of Mercier’s mis- sion. Whatever propositions he may make to the rebels, we are sure they will not be of a character hostile to this government or-deroga- tory to its dignity. . Desperation of the Rebels=Their Dee ficiency in Arms. Notwithstanding the boasts about shipments of arms from Europe running the blockade to Southern ports, and notwithstanding the quan- tity of arms clandestinely transferred by Floyd to the insurgent States, it is plain that the rebels are deficient both in cannon and small arms, A short time ago they had abundance of cannon fora large army; but their late extensive losses, following oach othor in such quick succession, have deprived them, in a great measure, of the aid of that important arm. The recent appeal, asxing for the church beils and the bells used by the planters to-be sent to the rebel foun- dries, to be cast into fleld pieces, is a palpable proof of their deep need of artillery. Butin small arms they are still more deficient. In- stead of muskets they have to resort to fowling pieces, which have not the requisite strength, and for which, owing to their various calibres, it will be very dificult to provide proper ammuni- tion. In his recent message Governor Harris, of Tennessee, stated that, of the fifty-nine infantry regimonts he put in the fiold, only 15,000 were arfhed by the Confederate government with regu- lar arms. To arm the remainder he had to draw heavily upon the sporting guns of the citizens, and he thought that one-fourtls of the present militia strength of the State might be armed by collecting all the sporting guns of the country. Even the sporting guns, therefore, will not suf- fice to arm thercbels. These weapons, it is true, in close encounters, are very effective, having tivo barrels, one at least of which is generally loaded with buckshot; but ata distance they are useless against the rifle, and in very close encounters they are equally usvicss after being discharged, as they are not furnished with bayonets, In order to remedy this defect, regiments of pikemen have been organized. We were in- formed by recent intelligence that pikes were being manufactured in great numbers at Memphis, and lately, in the Confederate Con- gress, Mr. Holt, of Georgia, stated that the Governor of that State had ordered the me- chanics to construct twenty thousand pikes and bowie knives, Now, as there is no machinery at the South for making pikes, we think it is impossible to produce them in any large quantity. But suppose every unarmed mao willing to fight in the cause of secession was provided with a well made pike, having an ash or hickory handle nine feet long and a blade of ten inches, such a weapon would be no match for a musket and ordinary bayonet, still less for a rifle and sword bayonet. In fact, it would require two mon, one armed with a muskot or rifle, and the other with a pike, to be oqual to ono man armed with mus- ket and bayonet. But as the rebel troops, in- stead of being double the number of the fede ral, are only half their number, consequently on tho field of battle their strength would be only as one to four. How, then, is it possible for them to succeed? As to the pike, there can be no doubt that, when supported by musketry, rifles and artil- lery, it is a formidable weapon in the hands of courageous, stalworth men who are skilled in its use. and charge withitat the right time. Like the bayonet, it requires no ammunition, is ever ready and seldom misses its mark. Being some- what longer than the bayonet and musket, it has the advantage of that weapon in a hand-to hand encounter, if the musket should be previously discharged. But much depends on being ac- customed to it With the Irish and Scotch it was long a national weapon, and was used with terrible effect, though unequal to modern arms, But Americans are unused to this weapon, and would not be likely to rely upon it at the criti- cal moment. It is stated, indeed, that an Alabama regiment of the new levies refused to take the pike. It is an obsolete weapon, and notin harmony with the military ideas of mod- ern times. When small firearms were very imperfect, and especially before the bayonet came into use, two hundred years ago, the pike was a very important weapon. [t was more offective than the sword, battle axe or any other strikiug weapon. It is the aame as the ancient spear of the invinci- ble Macedonian phalanx. Neglecting its use, and depending too much on other weapons, the Turks lost the great decisive battle of St. Gothard, in 1664, and with it their military pre-eminence in Europe. The Janissaries had given up the pike, which was one of their weapons in Solyman’s time, and the Ottoman army was entirely delicient in foot brigades of steady spearmen. The German infantry were formed of pikemen and musketeers. They wore able to repel the Turkish cavalry, while the cavalry of the Germans rode down the infantry of the Turks. Montecaculli, who com- manded the Christian army, and was oue of the greatest generals of his age, pronounced “the pike the queen of weapons,” and said the want of it was the fatal defect of the Turkish military system. In half century afterwards the celo- brated French military writer, the Chevalier Folard, expressed a similar opinion about their noglect of the bayonet, the weapon, he said, which had given the Christians thelr victories over the Turks. But even after the invention of the bayonet, and before the musket and rifle attained the perfection which they have seached in our times, the pike was a most effective weapon. Kosciusko, in 1794, near Cracow, led four thou- sand Polish peasants, armed with pikes and | scythes, and without any knowledge of military manceuvres, against twelve thousand Russians, who were defeated, with the loss of three thor. baggage, and a vast quantity of small arms. Sir Walter Scott attributes the numerous se- condary victories of the Scotch over the Eng- lish to the strength and solidity of ‘their pha- janxes ef spearmen. In the Irish rebellion of 1798 the pike was the principal weapon of the peasantry. In fact, as Hay, the historian of it remarks, they were armed not only with pikes, but “spits, pitchforks, and such like weapons.” At a place called Kilcullen a regiment of three hundred pikemen thrice repulsed a regiment of dragoons, with great slaughter. The value of the pike against cavalry was thus established in that war. Sir Jonah Barrington, in his “Historic Memoirs,” says:—“The pike, at the commencement, very frequently succeeded egainst the regular, and always against the yeomanry cavalry, and in close combat with even the infantry it proved in some instances irresistible, The extreme expertness with which the Irish handled the pike was surpris- ing. By withdrawing it they could shorten it to little more than the length of a dagger, and in a seoond dart it out to its full extent. A solid mass or deep column of determined pike- men could only be broken by artillery or a heavy fire of musketry. Well served artillery they coud not withstand, if not close enough to be rushed upon. Colonel Foot’s infantry was nearly annihilated by the pike at Oulard; only the Major and two others escaped.” Notwithstanding the skill of thege races in the use of the pike, and notwithstanding their many victories, and their prowess in war, un- surpassed by any other nations in Europe, they were vanquished at last by superior weapons ; the Scotch by the long bow, and the Irish and the Poles by firearms. But how much more are modern artillery and modern musketry and rifles, with bayonets and swords attached, superior to this antiquated weapon, which is only resorted to by the rebels as a despe- rate necessity! All things equal, the moral effect alone of the bayonet, with a ball cartridge behind it, ready to be let go at any moment, is decisive of its superiori- ty over the simple pike of other days. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasninctoy, April 19, 1862. EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON—ALL THE TROOPS MARCHING TOWARDS THR POTOMAC. Quite an excitement was occasioned, about dark this afternoon, by the sudden movement of all the troops of all arms stationed in the immediate vieinity of the city towards the several bridges across the Potomac. The streets and hotels were iinmediately filled with a variety of wild and absurd rumors, The infantry columns filled the streets and avenues, the artillery and cavalry shook tho earth with their heavy tramp, activity was every- where, and although wondering at the sudden summons, all pressed eagerly on to actidn. Upon reaching the river side, the commander of each regiment was interrogated by an officer of the staff of Genora! Wadsworth, com- mandiog the division, as to the condition of his regiment, and was informed that he had been called out by order of the Secretary of War, to ascertain with what prompt- noss the troops here could be put in motion, prepare for action, The precision and promptness of the response to this call wore particularly gratifying. It manifested the readiness of the whole division upon any omergency. ‘The Van Alon cavalry, under command of Colonel Mix, ‘was especially complimented. Within fifteen minutes after the receipt of the order it was in lino, completely equipped, and, with i's forage train with three days’ forage, reported soon afterwards at the Long Bridge. Some of the infantry regiments responded with astonish- ing celerity. The whole drill was exceedingly gratifying to the officers of the division and satisfwctory to the rat- lisary authorities, TOE REORGANIZATION OF THY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THR ARMY. ‘The act to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the medical department of the army adds to tho present corps ten surgeons and ten Assistant surgeons, twenty medical cadets, and as many hospital stewards as the Surgeon General may consider necessary. Tho Surgeon General to be appointed under this law is to have the rank, pay and emoluments of a brigadier gencral- There is to be o1 istant aurgoon general and ono me- ‘ical inspector general of hospitals. ‘The latter is to have the supervision ef all that relates to the sanitary condition of the army. There are to be, bosides, eighs medical inspectors, charged with the duty of inspecting tho sanitary condition of tho transports, quarters. and camps of the field and genoral hospitals. Tbe appoint- ments are to be made by the President, either from tho regular or voluuteer surgeons, with sole regard to quali- fications. BRANCH POST OFFICES IN CITIES, The act authorizing the Postmaster General to estab lich braueh post offices in tho cities, prescribes tho charge of onecent, in addition to the regular postage, for every letter deposited inany branch post office to be for- warded by mail from the principal office, and which shall be prepaid by stamp, snd ove cent for every letter de- liver such branch office, to be paid on dell ye THE NAVAL APPRO: STAT! Le ‘The Naval Appropriation & ta item.of near* ly $800,000 to pay for and Su:sh Stevens? battery, the money not to be expended wnicas the Secrotary of the Navy is of the opinion that the same will secure an effl- ciont steam battery. The section appropriating thirteen uillious merely says ‘to enable the Secretary tw con- tract for iroa-clad steam vessels-of-war.”’ THE CALIVORNIA MAIL SERVICE, The Post Office Appropriation bill provides one milion of dojlars for the service of the Culi- fornia central route, and repeals the acta re quiring the Postmaster Geveral, in causing the tvansportation of the mails by sicamships between the United States and foreign ports, or between any of our own ports, touching at foroign ports, togive the preference to Americau ovor fereign steamships, when departing from the same port for the same destination within three days of each other. The Postmaster General is author. ized to establish @ coast mai!, not Jess than semi- monthly, by steam vessels between San Francisco and Crescent City, California, including service at the inter- mediate ports, provided tho sum to be paid for anch sor- vice does not exceed $20,000 per annum. The President has approved and signed the above named bills. ° THE SICK IN THE Mosrirats. ‘The number of sick soldiers in the goverument hospi tals in Washington and Alexandria was, at the last week- ly report, three thousand four hundved ond seventy-four. Twelvo hundred and fifty-one of the number belong to Now York regimonts, THE NAVY, The following orders and appointments were made at the Navy Department to-day:— Jobn H. Oates, late of the Congress, has permission to bo oxaminod at Boston for Acting Master, Charies W. Cleveland, of New Bedford, lias pormission to roport to New York for examination as Acting Master. Alexander Tillinghast, of Now London, Conn., and Rd- ward A. Torrell, aro appointed Acting Masters at the New York Yard. Commander G, Gansovoort is detached from ordnance duty at the Navy Yard, N. ¥., ond ordered to the cora- mand of the new steam sloop Adirondack. Carpenter Jobu 0. Butler ts ordered to the United States steamer Michigan. $.\C. Lane aud E. W. Aldridge arejappoj ited Acting ‘Third Assistant Engineers, and ordered to the United States steamer Mishigaa. Geo, W. Gale, of Now Hampshire, ts appointed Acting Aveistant Surgeon, and ordered to the United States stentner Henry Andrew, of Commodore Dupont’s squadron. BX-MAYOR BERRET DECLINES SERVING ON THE RMAN- CIPATION COMMISSION. Bx-Mayor Borret lias declined the appointment ten- dered him by the President as one of the commissioners under the bill far the abolition of slavory in the District of Columbia, THE NEW POST OFFIC NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. ‘The much needed and very convenient article of ata- tlonery lately placed on sale at all the post offiess by Postmaster General Bisir bids fair te add largeiy to the receipts of the department. The gales Plotoriats, .pamphiets, magazines, bandbills, en-- ravings, photographs, pictupes, musis sheets, maps and noarly ail kinds of matlaple matier, iu packages or rolled, may be enclosed in these wrappers. Notuivgcould be more cunvenient<o enclose newapaperd or pampLlets to friends in the army. ‘THE MORGAN VENTILATING HAMMOCK TENTS Colone! Broadhead, of the Michigan cavairy, und Gone ral Burnside, have both approved of the Morgau venti luted hauumock tevt, having used them in their respect- ive commands. It removes the soldiers from the ground, contact with which is (ho cause of go much sickness, GENERAL SCOTT AT HIS HOME. Hite Reception, noidents at the Man- sion Since His ArrivaleAddvess of ¢) Joint Presbyteries of Elizabeth and Passaic—The General's Rep! y—Grand Serenade—The Opinion of General Scott of McClellan and Halleck, &e., Kc. ‘The return of this veteran warrior to the family man- sion in Elizaboth, N. J., has caused a spirit of enthusiasm to be evoked which has not for @ long time baon tho case” aud every day it becomes more and more increased, as the news of his arrival reaches the surrounding country. ‘That our readers may have the facts iaid before them. @ full report is given from the day of his arrival until yesterday. Ou Wednesday last, in the afternoon, the Red Jacket steamor, plying between Elizabethport and Now York, arrived, bearing as a portion of her valuable cargo the renowned General; and although he had intended te travel in his carriage to the mansion In the most incog- nito manner possible, yet it soon became known that he was on board. The intelligence spread as rapidly aa Ughtning, and before the pecessary arrangements were completed for him to leave the vessel, three hundred gentlemen, well mounted, aud headed by Mr. J. W. Woodruff, the Marshal, were ready to escort him to his home. Previous to their leaving the place thousands of pedos- triang had agsombled, aud before they started from the port a salute of thirty-four guns was firod in honor of America’s bravest of heroes. Everything being in readt- noss, the cavalcade Ied the way, at which time the dense throng had so increased that tho streets wore regularly jammed; yet it is satisfactory to state that not the slightest accident occurred. The cheering and enthusiastic feolings which wore manifested were beyond description, and the old and venerated war- rior was e0 overcome with the kindness and gympathy exhibited by the vast populace, that ho could not utter a word after his arrival at his residence, beyond these im- pressive and affectionate words, ‘I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,’ and retired. ‘As the evening advanced the excitement was still kept up, and one and all felt that they were only paying a mark of profound respect to a noble-minded man and @ determined and courageous soldier, who had shed a lustre on his country by his gallant daring and the chivalrous exploits he had enacted, which are honorably recorded in history. ‘Tho mansion itself is a very plain and substantial structure, and has boen erected upwards of one hundred and fifty yeara by the ancestors of the family. It is very chaste in its interior and well furnished. The library jaa magnificent one, and abounds with works of ancient and modern history. THURSDAY. ‘This day, also, was another joyous one, and might be called a jubilee day. From an early hour groups gath- ered from all parts of the city and country toget a glimpse at the veteran. One remarkable and very striking feature displayed itself om this occasion, The Presbyteries of Elizabeth and Passaic happened, by a curious coincidence, to be in session on the arrival of the General; but, owing to the fatigued state which he was in—although having previously determined todo so— deferred presenting an address. However, early on Thura* day this object was carried out by @ unanimous resele- tion of both Prosbyteries,and Dr. Magie was entrusted with (he responsibility of making thoaddrew. It was as foliowa:— ‘Vuxkranie ap Vankratep Sm—It affords us the sim. cerest pleasure to pay you our cordial respects. Your name is one which we love to yunce, and your ag tions, both in and war, have endeared you to our hearis. We have long regarded bet as, under God, one of the firmest piliars of our national strongth, and in perilous times wo nave turned to you as a tried man, im whom we felt that we could repose the fullest confidence. Your services to your country in the terrible pe YY 6 is now ecgnee desorve to be heid in lasting remembrance. At atiine when defection was spreading on side, and it was almost impossiblo to toll whom to trust, you, sir, constituted a polot around which loyal hearts felt that they could safely gather. God has honored you ag the instrument of uns; ood to this beloved land. The clouds which have been treme no darkly over us are,wo think, beginning te break, and it is our earnest prayer that you may live te see peace and prosperity restored, We thank you, vene- rable sir, for the privilege you have granted us of thus testi’ying our respect for your character and tho interest we foel in your welfare, To this address the General responded in terms full of tender and cordial feeling:— You, sir, he said, and your brethren of the Presbyte- ries, have done mo a very great and unoxpectod honor. ‘This is more than I could have anticipated. Nothing could have been more grateful to my feelings. 1 feel the highest respect for the denomination of Christians which you represont, and cannot but feel thankful for such ex- pressions of respect aud confidence. If I have been of service to my country in any dogroe, God desorves the praise. I feel my dependence on Him for bodily and mental vigor. Again allow me to thank you, gentlemen, and give you @ cordial greeting. Dr. Magie thon tntroduced tho ministers and elders to the General one by one, to noarly every one of whom he said sone pleasant word. It was especially gratifying te mark the interest which the veteran took in a colored preacher present. He took him by the hand and inquired where he labored, and spoke of another colored minister in whom he had been iuterosted. Aficr this part of the proceedings had tormipateds Dursts of applause rent the ai 4 cheer followed cheer for the gallant, good and In the evening a grand serenade came off, in which all tho loading citizens of Elizabeth and the Country round participated, and which was kept up until a late hour, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, On these days the old warrior recrented himself by ing a personal visit through th@city to many of his d and valuable friends, with whom be conversed and shook hands heartily. On Saturday particulasly he and General Swift, of Lrooklyn, who ia about eighty years of ago, “being Gen. Soott’s guest, reccived many visitors, to whom he gave ahearty come. A great numbor of ladics were alse at the mansion paying their compliments, as woll as many private gentlemen from Jersey City, Rahway, Nowark, &c. From. the roof of the mansion tho Stars and Stripes float proudly in the brgeze, and the flag being avery large and conspicuous one, attracts much attention. ‘This General Scott has ordered to be the case 60 loug ae he continues at the mansion. ‘The General receives all his visitors in the library, aad moeta them ia the warmest‘manner possible. On this day also one of our reporters was honored with ‘an interview. Tohim the venerable soldier spoke with frankness. He stated that he was now fast bearing down under the seenes and trials of seventy-six years. «<Although”’, said Goneral Scott, ‘my bodily ailments pree® severely upon me, yet I thank God that I onjoy excolleng health. My limbs are fast giving way,and this frame must soon yield to the call of nature. Yotl trust.that the Almighty will spare me to see our country once more restored to ite former groatness and its political grandeur. Tecan read and write as well as when in my younger yoars, and my mental faculties are in no way impaired.” ‘The Word of God lies Mearest to bim upon the library table, and ho takes great satirfaction in perusing it. Mei { Generals dicClellan end Halleck the Ge (There are two men who can be depend- ed vpon under all circumstances and in every emoergeucy--I mean General McClellan and General Hallock. ‘There is no doubt they must take thinga as they mect them—and they have great opposition te contemd with; hut MeCieilan is, at thie moment, at the vory work hia heart loves, aud which wiil call forth all the abilities of his powerful f trenching, engineering and besioging. to General Hallock, he will do his work tko agoidier, There can be no fear of those two abie soldiers doing any base or disloyal act, They are honost to the core, aud will never betray ‘their country.”’ The appointed tino for the stay of General Scott at Elizaboth City ia not yot known; ‘but ft is stated by his domestic attendants thal when the woather sete fairly in momor portion of ia season he will proceed ty Key West and remain boa during the entire summer tontha, after which he will again retura to the monsiea. Tlie daughter arrived &6 Eltzabeth City youtorday, and qill rewain come time on @ vist to ber honored, patri- Otic and crilant father. Tue groateat attention Is paid ta General Soott by hie domest\c attendants, one of whom, the footman, is al ways us his post to Introduce the many strongors ans frienda whe pay him @ viel, “He appears tm the best «