The New York Herald Newspaper, May 18, 1862, Page 1

ae ——=——— WHOLE NO. 9381. ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC. IMPORTANT FROM SOUTH CAROLINS Effects of the Abolition P.dict ‘ of General Hunter, ong aie - attalog a good degree of size and ferocity in in ver, tude, and vies with the sandiies and thy, fleas udering life a torture and a bore. Hirron Hep, 8. 0., Mayy"14, 1862. Heroism of Nine Cclored Mew—They Seize a 7 tedet Guvibout and Run Out of Charleston Harbor—I¥ ,eir Impotsant Services to the Government—How They ’ devised ante Car- ried Out Their Scheme—They Bring Yj Their Families— Recommendation to Cailon the Gy vernmentte Reward Them—The State of Affairs in Che irtestom, des, de. One of the most daring and by jroic advew*tures since the war commenced was undert? ken and suecessfully ac- complished by a party of negr?.es in Charleston on Mon- day night last, Nine colored men, comprtsing the pilot, engineers and crew of tho rebel gunboat Planter, took the vessel under their exclv sive control,”passed the bat- terics and forts in Charle ston harbor, ‘hoisted a white flag, ran out to the bio’ cading squadron, and thence to Port Royal, via St. Hél :»a Sound and Broad river, reach- ing the flagship Wabash shortly after ten o'clock last ‘ovening. The following wv the names ef the black mon who ]} performed thig «gallant and perilous service:—Robert Smalls, piloy; Jdin fmalls and Alfred Gradine, engi- neers; Abrulvaw. Jackson, Gabriel Turno, William Morrison, Samtuel Chisholm, Abraham Allston and David Jones. They brought with them the wife and three chil- Aron of thepilot, and the wife, child and sister of the first evgiteer, John Smalls. The balance of the party were witieut families. ‘Tho Plaster is a high-presstre, side-wheel steamor, ove » The Contrabands ¢:schew a Military “c/fe. HEROISM OF NINE, COLORED SEAMEN. They Seize a Vo’ mable Rebel Gunkoat Under the ‘fans of Fort Sumter. Sree Lamen‘fabie Death of a D txtin- guished Officer, Dumaunen in the Ranks of theRegro Missi ‘ hundré@and forty feet in Tongth, fand about fifty fect ho mela! deem ad draws about five fect of water. She was built rs ke, Wo. in Chtrteston, was formerly used asa cotton boat, and The steamship Atlantic, Captain O y"yyariage, arrived at this port yosterday morning from port "Royal, having loft that port on the 14th inst., at Jigtreycdye minutes post five P.M, with maits and pa fpyngere:to Colonel 1). D. Tompkins, Assistant Quartern ghter'Genoral at Now York, and two hundred and or 4 iagwor cotton seed to wieein Barney. Mad.» Collector 0 Atherpdrt of New York. following is @ list of t F y Peta ng Mes parsbagers by the At- | Brigadior Goneral J. A. Gi dng command of the butte etorming of Fort Puliwki ita:t General, of Gene: and Mra. J. M. mty-ninth High ty-cighth regir t P.M re is oapable of carrying about 1,400 bales. On the organi- zation of the Confederatenavy she was transformed into agtaboat, and was the ‘most valuable war vessel the Coffederates had at Charleston. Her armament consist- a: of ono thirty-two-pound rifle gun forward, and a urontyfeur pound howitzer aft. Besides,she had on ‘teoard whqa she camo'into the barbor one seven-nch rifled gum, one cigit#fnch oolumbiad, one eigl:t-inch owitz long thirty-two pounder, and about two hun- rod r of ammunition, which had been consigned oi] known as bay. {to Beet Ripley, and which would havo been % delivered at that fortification on Tuesday had not the desigus of the robel authorities been frustrated. She was commanded ‘by Captain Relay, of the Confederate sy—ull the othor emplpyes of the vessel, excapting the first and second mates, being persons of color, th whom I hada brief interview at s healquartes,this morning, is anintel- t negro, Dorn in Charleston, and employed for many cars ag a DHOt in and about that harbor. Hoe entered pon his duties cn board the Planter some six weeks sinco, and, es ho tuld ine, adopted the idea of running the vessel to sea from @ jcko which one of bis companions perpetrated. .He immediately cautioned the crew against alluding tolthomatter in any way on board the boat, but asked thera, if they wanted to taik it up in sober earnest- nos to teet at lis house, where they would devise and determine upon a plan to place themselves under tho: pro- lection ef the Sturs aad Stripes instead of Ghe-stars and more ; 48° Ol mn; Major Hay, ervant ; Major 'T.' font ; Major Gerhardt and son, @, RevrJ. Brush, Lieutenant! AMBedins Troutenant W. W. Tyse AjMaptain J. L. Cummins, Liewt mG. @riith, Mr. Roupel, S. i pvalry ;¢. W. Allen, Re Freach and sou, Miss Curtis, ngin. W. S. M. Borgen, Captain hh Weghianders ; T. A. Fisher, rement ; P. Haas, Engineer Corps: fin, Quartermaster's Dopar Gaartatraastor Tepartmens ; Department ; Ca; Marshal,d. bars. Various plans’ were proposed; ut tinally + ReMeylor, Quartermaster’s Pepart- | the whole arrangement of the escape was left Mb; Onemnce Department—and d9inthe | to the disoretin and eagacity of Robert, ‘his Pa, comp promising to obey him end bo © folloWiD @punitish of the vessels lef af Port | ready sat & moment's notice to adcompayy him. For Royal:— ‘ three daya-he kept the provisions of the party -secreted p. a in the-hold, awaiting an opportunity towlipeway. At emer? jurenae, Jun Eldridge; Cosmopotitan’, Cook- | fengtts; os Mouday evening, the white officers of the ves- Carncy; Ma: (2; Common; Honauras, Cligord; Mattan sel wonton shore to spend the night, intending to start Elizabeth nwer, Young. Ships Win Curnusins 53) on the following morning fer Fort Ripley gndto be ab- wniton, White. Parks Huuaming Bir seut trom the city ‘or some days. The funiltes of the tn By Be Neatly Tor sea; Houston, Shaw. contrabands were notified and came stealthily*on board. Ms, Coker, ready for wer’, New Zealau 1. Still, @ At about three o’clock tho tires were lit under the Doilers, and the vessel steamed quievly away down the harbor. ry oy ae, OF ‘The tide-was against her, and Fort Sumter was not ‘cargo of 4 Rowea; W. F. Garrison, Corson; Hero, Be reached till broad daylight, However, tie boat passed di- BD st O62 (clenred for New Orleans; Eliza Maul, Haey; | jectiy-wnder its walls, giving the usual signal—two long ty \Mahew ; J. 8. Hewitt, Luke. pally and & jerk at the whistle cord—ag-she pasged the a put op hipssaealoatndes 6. urd harpaleaaane | peal ene of the rebel guns, :the-white fla - pitet, ~ yuce out of range ns, ‘bbe taper PHRMA: pilot, crow and their familles/was also | wis raised, aud the Planter rteamed. dircetly for. the ea &. ‘Thevpilos aud crow ran away with ‘her from ng steamer Augusta. Captain Parrott, of the vessel, as you may imagine, reacived them cor- heurd their report, placed Acting Master Watson, ship, in charge of the Pi: rand sent the Con- foderate gunboat and crew forward to Commodore Du- pont. The families of the crew have been sont.to Beau- fort; where General Stevens will make suitable provision for them, The crew will be taken caze of: by Comino- ‘Boe just such a vessel an ie ncoded to navi- gatethe sbaliow waters between Milton: Head and the adjacent islands, and will prove almostinvaluable to the overnment. It is proposed, I hear, by the Commodore & sccommend an apprepriation of $24j00%es a reward to the plucky Africuns who bave disfingnished them- selves by this galiant serv 060 Wo de given to the pilot aud. the remainder to be divided:among. his com- panions. s ‘Fhe contrabands who came by the Mlantor represent that the feeling in Charleston approaches nearer to a panie' than at any time since the rebellion was maugu- rated, . ‘The women and chiliren have ben ordered out of the place, and have taken whatever.oi could carry. with them. ‘The troops are ie cc pectation. of an attack, and the remaining cit nightly holding meetings to devise furtae. defence. ‘the steamers in the harbor.are s=ven yy wim: ber; but only oue of them—the Marion—is arined, and she is not capable of doing any damayo -or.olfering any resistance to an attacking force. Progisiows are terribly searce and dear. servon; wih papers of 12th inst., alsoseven-hoavy Cue: yee one eight-inch rifled gun on board, iatended for For griyiey sanrew fort now being consteueted on ‘the pita ground; Charleston harbor. Our Hilton Head Correspendence. Hoy Heap, 8, C., Mayl3, 1863. © ectrips up-the Savannah River—Actteily of the Redes adsirvicting the River—The Contraband Movemant—Theiv Witike to Being Soldicrs—Some of the Delights of Hilion Sead; de. ‘énapy last-tetter I mentioned that the steamer Mattano Thad gone up-theCavannab river with a fagof truce. She weturned on Saturday evening, having made ¢wotrips— ‘eens on Friday, to deliver General Hunter's »message to ‘the rebel commander, and another on the following day, \4e reesive thelatier’s answer. The messegeawes in rela- 3 s4éon»-40) an exchouge of prisoners; but the rebel au- * ‘\ghorities.at Savannah declined to release any of cur men, ‘Gor, the reason, as they alleged, that none of the \ @nien: forces were in their possessi¢n. It.ie surmised, .dbowever, thatthe real ground of the refusai.was for the purpose of preventing us from learning anything of the +ondition of the town and the state of feeling among the jabeditents, Bho first visit of the Mattano; wibeagh .on. a peaceful errand, evidently cre. + @ted wt profouml sensation among the .rabels; for on faturday sho was stopped at a point .about two 2, miles farther frova-the city than that she was .ailowed to ereach on tho preceding day. With their gissece the officers of.the party accompany ing the flag.could discern the revels busily atework, sinking more hulksend driv. . fag mes> pilosa inthe channel. These preparations de- note a degree of yigilance op their port which wil enable whom to savexemselver and their affects on tho approach of our forges. Indeod, it is pretty definitely. uscortaim d that the city is now nearly or quite donuded \ + Of-troops, and that such of the poyple as have rhecn able to doceres have left Savannah behind them and sought » Places of exfety in thadaterior, «Major Geuoral Hunter's order of the 0th dost.—-n gopy + Of which wan soot yau by the Cuhawba—has bad the natural efact of creating aschiem im the Union, agny. _ There are ,t!ose who aprlaud it, but more whocondeng , i. One of the soquencys of this order is the arming of «the freedmen, one @f,two thousid of whom . are @ become... portion ef the American army—ihav «®, if it is, gossible to. screw their courage to the -tlicking pole’, aud imdyce them, by the promise. of , dood clothes, good victuala, good wages and bot work, to . Te, b's end lrigg’ier General Stevens, \- ing at Bye viort, was gr: aud forward to liter, boy's” on Boavfort, St : 8 in the-vicinity. They have been arriving ‘of from ans to four hyndred for two daps ja, Je erry faugiven hundred sre now ‘tered at this Z pend manggrore are to arr ve. on the eure ‘eoloret poy iu 18 Assemble, the neyrues are to.ke fe xl Dy (he, ommaddiog Gouvral, aud an opportu. yg vou them Lo volunteer, after which, those whe.do bot che to take ap artns et the (Sone. e alowed ty return to private li if. The scqre at the dock at Beaufur! last oveaing, as the ; platings acith about four huudred, negroes on'bewed, pera ad here Of ibe mowtidydicrous I ever wit- . Jie the purpose of ascerisining the mini of Mega” with regard (© their future paryied one of the @cicers in charge 0 tf WAS @ motley, crowd und fo ea J and young, phe stiff’ aud nim- nd stag ight ain ye exigroys erbtusion. hing eouke oudlipty of (ue © frags » Pe Mauyof them iysd jee Viet Jn somo way 9 beer 1 apponge! to prefer eu fac Uawenomy with tse of them <bed tea Huzox Hea, 8. €., Bey 14, 1862. Results of General Huster’s Edict—How Sombo Appreciates the Attentions Showered Upon Him—AItusdeation of the New System of Freedom—The Exjeriment.of Forming Negro Reyiments—Great Dissatisfaction *n the Arme— Colonel Nobles Sent Out of the Depastaveni— Ww ix Band Grows Less, de. irrepressible Sambo bas. in the cast-.if toga and buckins of his fugitive-master) threadbare and seedy to ke sure, but adding aevronder- ful air of grace and dignity,!o the noble contraband who now clyims aud receives the largest attention of. abe mili- tary.authorities in the depagment. This new acter, who hai eo suddenly stepped from *he menial positionctcupe, aomg tho, heavy standing.pronnd, and assumed tho charscter of first class comedian, is dazzled by thecoot- lights and faint applause, but bears bravely up ander the attentions showered wpon;bim by the militany, au- thorities. Jie has not yet beceme entirely aceustogecd eto the change in his condition, sand hardly knows why to think of it. | It is a novel senagtion for those wie for. tuwately live ia the Department.ef the South to see shelr zene mentioned in nearly every general and specie! pxcor emanating from headquarters, and to find the en- tire onergica of the department ben\.!n their behal’, to the exch sion of their anasters, who are essembled in arme: agajact the constigetion of our coun$r, a few miles trom our comps, and ,cgainst whom loys! citizeus have come from nearly every State to suffer fatigue and dis- ease, acd perhaps death, to disperse and destroy. Contrabynds in otber Ctates have pot beer treated with so high, gonsideration; but these cannot be expected apprepiate the psculiar necossities that compel General Manter to devote 606 mh tgw to them, while the yhite man gseds #0 much attgation, -Per- haps they may never kuger the tranecavdent isportance ofewents that induce a change of policy froma military 4e apolitieal line. If they are (gnorant they mug ta that thore are thoueands cf volunteers tn tua Cepart- meut who caunat understand<e strange euange,)ii tho drift of affuirs here; and thege are thousands of|rave volustesrs who turn with sag hearts from the. half realize (act that. twey are not fighting for the constit.- tion and qhe Union, but for the aogroes, who can uevorm (ree them 48 you will-—justly approcinte their position or rightly ejoy the'r new condition. The volunteers have no hear out by General Jlunter, and a widespread dissatisfaction in already found aruevg them, which will naturally ine 2 14 the caueo alyances, But enough of this, We pants. «id commentary on tho “freedom ven to the nogro was afforded a day or two 1 Dawter issued private letiers to the cole- and, sormewhat of th ‘wanizo tho vontrabande {n thie department ‘tructious from the Secretary of to me Smpmediately the names of ie) office: tes, 6 willing tom red ou Saturday; Head all tb », Kane, Cat te ng ps adi righ to be 1 ay pow ed 14 ip v eaaes at a stolid Curloaity witch itte usalee: to W cdeseriiya. 1 i ein Oe Apt sted a ilarg a ne'lo das ny nF wige that been ies 1 the Mogae bi 1 ops sdationod on » hs dowaver, ter ibe dis: | whe are ii | ye his recor Of hie maluly ew! gimentariio a cupiains Of dbo wegroos in 2, lee and ro, 8 on the company rolls wad grant them comelseions, That } ts sobmtandtin Og age used, In respurrse a ema pombe of mes wore rent in from some of te regi- ¥ | iments, while tk Others nob @ single man yetuntoer o' who aco "Pted Ue offer are men pesser partion iy'Wal optulon whatever, or, whatever vn enum bare, mea of iuaonse ambition LAT caet Ropes, ating ained the dritin piers, be teHaed OF ers to coum #of brigates to sendail | Cores | eit coded vagreas [a Mit fespective commands to ot of | Bilton beac. to enlist ax wolh@rs. On Monday and Tues: ey | ony the piantatens and elelavde wore swept by annie ———— , Nal les?— The Reasons Causing Him to Laavathe Soutern Devartment—Arrival.of the Pembina— Ther Missionary Since the appoaravee of Major General fianter’s as- tounding edict, proclaim™.g freedom to all slaves in tho States of South Carolina, Ceorgia and Florida, ahe great, iked upon the #lage, attired for the-fight if it is torun % she channel marked i a | a detachments of armed soldiers, and ail negroes brought fa Yo central points, when they were transferred to this it. The orders were imperative, and every o ntra- nd was obliged to go, whether willing or pot. Nearly allwere very reluctant,and went with the press gang only becaus> they could not help it. Mouy ran away when they learned t: bjects of the visit of the soldiers, and secreted themse! in the swam)6 and out of the way places, At leust two huudred are imissiug in Gene- ral Stevens’ district alone, probably lying perdn until the cloud passes over. Tho beantifut consisiency of dectaring the contrabands forever free on ore day, and on a day or two subsequently forcing them into the ranks as ‘“vohmteers”’—a position which not one in a hundred would of his own tree wil! assume—nust be apparent to the duitest mind. If the contrabands but dimly perceive it, we ema attribute hott pose, to iin dull comprehension, lt certainly requires a very keen ap- Tretiation for any of us to sce the consistency of ihe General Commanding in his recent acts. His conception bas caured, as I have before observed, the most intense dissatisfaction and disgust among the officers and men in the department. The privates fee! injured because the negr:es are placed upon an equality with them, both as regards position and pay; and they do not feel at aj] anxious to fight si¢e by side with iguo- rant and brutalnegroes ina cause in which theiatter have little or no tuiterest, The officers regard the recent move- ment a radical departure from the true objevts of the war, which are to put down the rebellion and restore the Union in all its original vigor an’ parts. If it is to be an abolition war, they desire to be counted out ; and-Tam satisfied that three-fourths at least of the officers in tho department will resign rather than aid ip the movement. In some of the reximents this determination is unani- mous, while in others it is nearly so. All have con- cluded to wait the development of affairs, and if tho movement is countenanced an‘ approved at Washington they will take the step indicated above. Hereafter you need not expect any subject to be al- luded to in my letters from this department except that bearing, directly er indirectly, upon the negro question, Tt is the question of the day, and I must harp on the only string afforded me. Of couree the military has been sunk into the political,and fumanitarian and philan- throptc movements will crowd out all extrinsic and for- eign matters from the command, an account of the conscription of negroes and the at- tendant scenes will be given by auother of your conres- pendents, who has watched it irom 4ts inception to its culininating point. By ab imperative order from district headquarters Colouei Nobles was sent out of the department with tho briefest possible notice, on the Cahawba, which sailed on Su; last. e.cmuse of this sudilen and singular pro- cel may found Mm the fact that ColovetNobles pobM@ly chastised Mr. E. L. Plovce, tho agout of the Treasury Department here, fer injurics and insults show." ered upon him Uy the autocrat of the centvabands, which he had endured jong. Mr. Pierce had appropriated Col. Nobles’ private property, and would offer no apole- gy tor the wrong or ‘a restitution of the pro- perty. He added insult to injury, until heman testi coukd no longer endure it, and he was soundly flogged By the Colonel, and ll who knew ¢he cause approved the act. But Gen. Benham could.net-seest, and he sent Col. Nobles home, greatly to the detriment of the public service. Col. Nobis has the sympathies of hun- dreds of friends, who regret his departure from thecom- mud. ‘The Colonel has earned a world wide reputation as anexplorer on tho American continent, aud as the discoverer of Nobles’ Pass, in the Sierra Nevada Moun- tains, through which the greater part of ‘the overland travel to Calivornia now procecds. He came:here in coni- mand of the New York Seventy-ninth regiment, with the expedition. He was placed first in command of Bay Point, and while there discovered two valuable lenses do!onging to the Lighthouse Department, whiéh had been stvlen from the government by the rebois and secreted on Ladies Island. He restored thom to Commodore Dupont, and received from that oiticer ‘the ‘thanks and acknowledgments of the gowerument for his services, At an early day he was appointed by General Sherman Superintendent of the Collection of Cot- ton in the command, and placed in charge of the work. In order to give ail his energies and time to'the work, he resigned his position in the Seventy ninth regiment, and devoted himself to his new duties. For several months: he ha: solo charge of the work, and performed his duties: withan energy aud fidelity worthy uf all praise. Giving his persona! attention to the matter, he red an im. mense quantity of cotton on the different plantations on the islands about here; got gins in operation to clean it, and reduced the work to perfect order and system. For this he received the praise of Geveral Sherman, Commo- dore Dupont and the goverpment; and when Colonel Rey- nolds, the prosent agent, came here, he-wively-continued him 1h bis position, and gave him the immediate charge of the wrk, When Mr. Pierce and the Gideonites ar- rived, Mr. Pierce attempted to ugurp the entire control of the business, but was soon infortwed by Colonels Rey- nolds and Nobles that it was not in his province. There- apon Mr, Pierce seemed to relizquish his. impertinent caims, but ever afterwards wored in every way to throw obstacles ia the path of Colonel Reynolds and Colonel Nobles, and cripple their-movements. Absord and exaggerated reports were sent w Secretary Chase by Mr. Pierce, affecting the honor add: impairing who ‘cf ciency of the above gentiomen, andhy-was.most strenuous in his exertions to remove Colowl Nobles from his po- sition, But his efforts failed, and he then allowed bim- self to stoop to petty acts to agsoy-and: insult the Culo- nel. All e insulig were ondured: calmly and with patience by the Colonel, until patience ceased to be a virtue, and ina moment whe: @ fresh insult had been ven Colonel Nobles knocked down Pierce and fogged im. ‘The affair was’ brought to the-attention of General Benham, and Pierce d ded 4olonel Nobles’ arrest. But, both being civilians, and sholding equal rank as agents of the Treasury, General Benham declined to ar- Test one and allow the other to go.seot free. ‘The eaine principle should have applied.in settling the demand that Colonel Nobles be sent from the depart- tit did not, and Colonel Nobles was obliged to joavo ina most hurried manner, without settling his ailuirs, which, of necessity, were of great importance and interest to the government and himself. No excuse can be found for General Benhaw's hasty and inconsiderate activa in the premises, and the on}y way for him to deal Out exact justice is to send Mr. Pierce from the dopart- mat, in which he has become a guisance and tbesource of ionumerabic troubles, Pieroe mover wag fitted for his position, and he has been a constant source of expense to goverument, and aneyesare to thi people. | The ‘ker he is transported lence, the better all hands, Lat the goverument direct ite atteution to the true state of affairs hi and confer a universal favor by instantly recalling Pierce, and thereby relieve General Benham of an uupleasant duty. all hope that the authorities in Washington will 1 Nobles back'to his postof.duty, in which he iself an invaluable eervant, and se nation upon the danatical and insane course of Pierce and bis worthy coadjutors In this de- pargnent. Let justice be done. ‘Tho (lag of truce to Savannuh, alluded to the other day, wasesuccessful. An exchange of prisoners will not be effected. ‘Theweather is bot and oppressive. The health of tho is generaliy very guod. broyght by the Plant- of Beauregard yom At A (arleston paper of the 12th, or, clans two Confederate victories—ene over Foye and the other of Jackson.over Banks. We don’t babi them. We have detaile of the Norfolk evacueg on and destruction the of Navy Yard, Merrimac, &e. All very good. ‘She Penbina, Commander John P. Bankhead, came up from St.Jyhus river on Mouday, where she has boen for ‘some time, gacod in keeping open the river aad pro- tecting the v of Jacksouville from the ineursions of the ‘‘regulators,”’a body of rebels unattached to any een recognized by State or Coufederate aathoritias. Jus: before Commander Bankhead left Jacksonville he had au interview with the Second Assistomt Engineer of the iron-clad frigate Merriinec, who recently resigned, with Commodore Tatnall, and all the officers of the ship. ‘This folly comsirms the report of their resignation, and he — the cause to have been reaptory trese ip y to she York river, to destroy our flotilla 4 shell out our camps before York! . .Com- ‘atnali dil not consider the execution of the pomeible, abd in that conclusion all his e Project officers c neurred. The order was given a second time, +} and Commodore Tatnall, rather than attempt to cart out the wild scheme, resigned, and with him ali his oft ors. He knew nothing of other officers being appointed 4 the vacancive. He described the concussion of the Merrimac’s own une ag being terrific. He was knocked senseless wo or three times tho concussion, and his red in the same iman- ner. The 80 badly injured in her contest with the Monitor as to be compelled to draw OT aud retire from the t. Theofiicers and men de- clinga to enter into another o ment with the littie Mowiior, as they regarded her the suporior to the Merri- ud feared that the second contest would result in nction of their imapense frigate. Af Whe Atlantic sails immediately, Foannot give further details.cf tho engineer's report, but will send them on by the vext mail, imber of missionaries go home in The Eng Ma) Jess, and more leas. every week, it will have disap- pores ¢ irely by J red entirely by June. Peicrce’s Agricultural scheme is knocked by General Hunter’ All his contrabands are taken from him, alropping the hoe for the musket. The corn and cotton ewill have to get up without assistance, as far asl can sp. It’s @ melancholy stroke; but the cern and cotton \w survive i, if Pierce does not. Mane of this here- wfler. Our Nort Palaski Correspondence, Four Purasnt, Ga., May 34, 1862. Painful Death of Lirutenant Colonel Germain Yellernich— He Falla into \the Arms of His Wife—Sketch of His Life, de., de. Lieutenant Colon § Germain Metternich, of the#orty- sixth New York Vol wiwers, was necidontally killed at ‘Tybee last evening, 1 W# circumstance of his death was poouliarly sad and dis.“sening. Some soldiers of the Twenty cighih Massachusetts segiment, encamped pear the Forty sixth, were ongagd (Aa drunken frolic, and it became necessary to arrest sump Of the ringleaders. For this duty awergeant and guard ws't@ detailet from she Forty-sixth, who took tho rioters Jn custody and mapched thom toward the guardhousad As the ner grant, With one hand on the shoulder of fh. prisouer, and th@ether supporting bis mueket over his Shoulder, was pasetitiy, tho quarters of the Lievtenant Coie, the Jatter stopped te the opening to ascertain the cau? of the disturbance and restore quiet. At that moment an taruriated comrade of the Masenchanatie soldier rushed up an ck the sergeant a vi > pashing wine backward and forcing his bayo- not thro:gh the jugular vein of Colonel Metter- nich, woe fail and immediately expired, His wife, who has asiended hin through a dangerous illness, and who Dnt a few weeks since had the satisfaction of seeing her Raband restored to health, stood. by his side when the fatal stab was given, and received hin ashe fell. Her ageny | will not attempt to describe. Lioutennt Colonel Gerratin Metternich was born in the city of Maye: ca, in April, 1811, and recived a,thorough military e treation im the national school of Prussia. He was known in his native covntry as a gallant officer and au able stateaxman, Ju the time of tho revolution he espoused the eause of the oppressed people, and fought as a colonel under Franz Sigel, whom be accompanied in exile to this country tn 1640. "His fine personal appear: ance, benevolent disposition, modest deportment ant true soldierly abilities rendered him a gencral favorite among his acquaintances in the army ; and to the country, not less than to his family and his regiment, will his death prove a serious loss, FUPORTANT FROM JAMES RIVER. Engage! _with the Rebel Batte js Near Richmond. Bursting of the Naugatuck’s One Hundred Pounder Gun. REPULSE OF OUR IRON-CLAD GUNBOATS. Arrival of a Portion of the Fleet at Jamestown Island, &., do, Be, Wasurnaton, May 17—11 P. M. The following despatch has just been re- ceived at the War Department:— Witiramspure, Va., May 17, 1862. To Hon. E. M. Sranron, Secretary of War:— The gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Naugatuck and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling, seven miles below Richmond, yesterday. A portion of them have returned to James- town Island, near this place, in James river. Lieut. Morris, commanding the Port Royal, sent overland to me this morning for intelli- gence regarding the condition of the forts be- low the island, and also to assist in burying the dead, which he drought down with -him. Seventeen have been interred on the banke of the river, and there are a number of the wounded on board, including Lieut. Morris. The one hundred pound gun of the Nauga- tuck exploded at the first fire. ¢ DAVID CAMPBELL, Colonel of the Fifth ‘cavalry. By authority —G. B. McCretian, NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. ‘Wasmxaron, May 17,1862, REPORTS FROM GENERALS HALLECK AND M‘CLEULAN’S ARMIES. Advices from General Halleck’s army, dated yesterday, and from General McClellan's army, dated to-day, have been received at the War Department. The former was in close proximity tethe enemy, but no-engagoment had taken place. Tho latter was concentrating and bringing ‘up supplies preparatory 'to.a movement. MEETING OF THE CABINET—REVORTS RELATIVE TO THE RECALL OF GENERAL HUNTER, EF. A special meeting of the Cabinet was held this morn. ing, but nothing definite in regard. to the Hunter imbrog. lio was done, Secretary Seward and Secretary Welles are still absent. Secrétary Chase went to Philadelphia this afternoon. It is stated upon reliable authority, that General Hun- ter has express instructions to iesue no proclamations. ‘The Secretary of War-bae, since the Fremont and Phelps blunders, discountenanced the irsue of proclamations by commanders of military departments, as hazardous, in_ judicious and an assumption of the prerogative of the President, Rumors of the recal! of General Hunter are rife, but have no other foundation than the prevailing impression that his presumption'will be summarily dealt with by the President, As the government has received no oM- ial notification that General Hunter ‘has issued the pro- clamation published, no official action in the premises can yet be tak No doubt is now entertained that the President wil) act promptly and firmly and consistentiy with his ex- pressed qpiniom and purposes in reference to the ques- tion of emrncipation'in the States. The iron sternness of his composition will be manifested in his vindication of the policy enunciated atthe beginning of the war and has maintained ever since, however beset by those who have tried every means in their power to turn hin from the line of conduct he prescribed for the adminis. tration. EXECUTION OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. Since yesterday eight or ten fugitive slaves bavebeen returned to their claimants. It js estimated that there were in Washington recently about « thousand slaves, principally from Prince Georges, Mary- land, adjoining tho District. At least forty slaveholdens from that county wore at the Court House to-day, filing their petitions for reclamations. The ranaways—in some cases as many as twenty-one—are claimed bya single person. In several instances, after the Coart had issued the necessary writs, the Marshal and iis deputies wore unable to find the fugitives, who, having by some means deen informed of the judicisl process, removed beyond ithe reach of arrest, ARRIVAL OF GENERAL M'DOWELL, Major General McDowell was in Washington to-day. INTERESTING STATEMENTS OF REBEL PRISONERS, The rebel prisoners who arejbere express astonishment at the treatment they receive. Thoy say that thoy are them selves heartily tired of the war. They enlisted for one year, and at the expiration of their term of service they expected to be discharged; but this was refused. They were not even permitted to change the arm of ser- vice they had adopted,and were compelled to return to duty under menace of being shot without oven boit allowed s conrt martial. They have & poor opinion of the North Carolina regiments, which are said to have beon always ready to shun the post of Gauger,and to aceept special duty in the rear whenever @ battle was regarded as imminent. These regiments were esteemed the pets of the rebel leaders to the coat of the restof the rebel army. While in the rebel service thoy were permitted to reed no news from the North, They were told that the Yankees would give no quarter in battle, and taught that they would suiter less to die on the field than to fail into the bande of the federals. Some of them contrast their com/erts lo quarters here, as prisoners, with those assigned to the faderal prisoners in Richmond, and draw from this faet alone conclusions faF from favorable to the rebel lenders, Many of those pri- soners have signified their willingnes# to take the oath | of alleginnce, It im probable they will be released op is condition, GRES FROM FLORIDA~ NMENT FOR FLORIDA BROOMMENDEDS A Jarge mimber of refugecs from Florita are here, in- cludigy some of tho wealthiest proparty owners in the Ftato, Having no Senator or representative in Con gress, thoy applied to Senators Wright, of Indiana, and Browning, of Illinois, 10 represeut them. ‘They ase tho eregiigy of Florida soto @ geparate mill. EKRALD. tery department, and express a preference for General Dix to command it, with @ sufficient military force to maintain order and protect peaceably disposed citizens from the violence of rebel marauders. They aro anxious that a provisional government, gimilar to that in Tennessee, shall be established in Florids. 0. M. Dorman, for twenty-five years a prominent citizon of the State and a staunch Union man, is recommended for ap- pointment as Provisional Governor, REVORTED SERVILE INSURRECTION IN MARYLAND. A letter received here to-day from Leonardtown, St. Marys county, Maryland, has produced much excitement. It states that a plot for @ negro insurrection in the ad- Joining counties—Charles amd Prince George-—had been discovered, and that great alarm exists among the white population, The planters were preparing arms and pa- trolling every neighborhood. Several negroes ‘impli- cated in the insurrestionary movement have beon ar- rested, ‘These three counti2s have the largest propor- tion of the negro population in the State, THE CASE OF THY. COLLECTOR OF NEW ORLEANS. ‘The cage of Mr, Lathrop, the recent appointee as Col- lector at New Orleans, was under investigation today. ‘A number of witnesses wore examined, but the com- mittee has not yet arrived at any conclusion. The friends of Mr. Lathrop insist that the charges against him, which are very serious, will bo refuted. They are activo in their efforts to secure bis retention in the office. THE PROPOSED COINAGE DEPARTMENT IN THE NEW YORK ASSAY OFFICE. : It is confidently expected that the Dill to establish a coinage department in the Assay Office in New York, re- ported on Thursday by Mr. Ward, will be passed. Thero was never so favorable an opportunity for its passage. ‘Through the fatherly affection of Mr. Cameron so many favors have boven lavished upon Pennsylvania, since the outbreak of tho rebellion, that her representatives can- not with good grace oppose this morsel of patronage to New York. Tho West, too, aro clamorous for a national foundry, the location of which is claimed by Peunsylva- nia, ‘There are indications that the West and Now York will unite upon the coinage bfland the Western foun- dry, and insure the success of both in spite of Pennayl- vania. THE CALIFORNIA COLLECTION DISTRICTS. The Sonato Collection District bili abolishes the dis- tricts of Monterey, San Diego, Sicramonto, Sonora, San Joaquin and San Petro, merging them ali in that of San Francisco; provides ea inspector at Monterey, San Diego, Sacramento, Benivia, Stockton and San Pedro, and re duces tho salaries of officers to au equality with those in other eoliection districts. SOLICITOR OF CUSTOMS AT NEW YORK, The amendment reported by the Committee on Com morce, as a gubstitute for the bill providing for tho ap- pointment of a Solicitor of Cxstoms in New York, willbe ‘THE SICK SOLDIERS FROM THE PENINSULA, Alhthe golliers of tho Union army on the peninsula, who are too sick to be fitfor duty, have been sent to bospitaia. The surgeons report that they amount to only two aud a-ha'f per cent of the wholo force. Up to to-day sixtecn huudred have arrived hore on trangporta, aud been transferred to the several hospitals prepared for them. Most of those who were wounded havo been sent to the Northern cities. Three of the sick soldiers— J. A.Steo!, of the Sixty-fourth New York ; J. W. Kelley, PRICE THREE CENTS. ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT EASTERN. TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE VOYAGE OF THE “BIG SHIP.” Exposition of M. Mercier’s Visit to Richmond. THE FRENCH AND BRITISH OPINION. poversoes Napoleon to Propose a Cessation of Hostili- ties and a Vote of the States on Separation or Union. VICTOR EMANUEL IN NAPLES His Hopes for Italy and Rome. —e THB MEXICAN QUESTION. SPANISH WAR VESSELS FOR CUBA, Kee Sy ae ‘The steamship Great Eastern, Captain Walier Payton, which left Milford cn the afternoon of tho 7th instant, ar rived here at ono o’clock P.M. yesterday, with paseen: gers. Her news is two days later. ‘The London Times of the 5th inst., in an editorial en American affairs, says:— m or Jater the federal taxes must be actually col- jected, and then will come the test of public feuling. Sa Jong as the foderals are not absolutely winnors they are losers; whereas, 80 long as the confederates are not actn- ally subdued they may regard themselves as winning. ‘Lhese are conditions which counterbalance the superiority of the North in its resources and magi:itude of its armies. ‘A dospatch from Madrid of May 4 says:— According to advices reccived here from Havana to the f April, Juaroz had ordered Generals Pinzon, Galves shot. Ihe Spanish government is about to sen nforcemont of four thousand soldiers to Havana as a precautionary measure. Accounts from Cherbourg state that the Freneb fron-plated frigate Couronne had arrived there after an excelient passage from Bellvisle. During the passage her eight fires were lighted, and she performed the one hundred marino leagues iu twenty fiye hours: with a heavy sea running from the west, which consid. erably impeded her speed. The Couronne is now lying alongside the iron-plated frigate Normandie, whose first of the Fifth New Hampshire, and John Borst, of the One Hundred and Tiird Pennsylvania, died on the trans. ports'ew route for Washingtan, and were buried here with the customary ceremonies. On tho passage from Yorktown four men died in the transport Stute of Maine, two in the Elm City, and one ia the Kenueboc, whose namesare not yet registered; but they were properly inter- red by the government undertaker. Their names, and the corpe they were attached to, will be regularly registered ‘ag s00n as returus are received from the surgeons. DEATHS OF SOLDIERS, ‘The following deaths of soldiers nere are reported:— Private Rufus Slicker, Company H, Eighty-sixth New York Volunteers. ‘Thos. B.. Thicken, Company H, Ninety-second New York Volunteers. John Cramer, Company G, —— cavalry. ‘Wendell Hoffman, Company II, ae Hundred and First New York Volunteers. Moses Wilcox, Company G, Eighty-ffth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Geo. Stott, Company H, Sixty-third New York Volun- teers. James Bowman, colored servant of Major C. L. NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE. Fortress Mownog, May 16, 1862. There is no news from General McClellan's army to-day. He is pushing on as fast as practicable. Arecent order appoints Major Richard Nixon, of the Ninety-ninth New York Volunteers, Assistaut Provost Marehal of the Department of Virginia, for the city of Norfolk and the surrounding country. Captain Talmadge, until recently Chief Quartermaster of this department, has been ordered to reliove Captain Sawtelle,who has been performing the duties of the oftice for some weeks past. Captain Sawtelle, being a member of tho staff of General BicCiellan, and at the request of the Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potdmae, is relieved, and will report to General Van Viiet. Thirty-five rank and file and three officers, taken prisoners, are on board the steamboat Johu Brooke, and will leave for Fort Delaware to-morrow morning. The John Brooke also takes Nerth a lot of sic® and wounded from our army. General Wool visited Norfolk again to-day. It is in contemplation to remove the headquartersof this depart- ‘ment to that city. Allen. Bartiwong, May 17, 1862. The Old Point steamer has arrived, but brings no letters. Several of the crew of thesiferrimac came up. Somo of them are Northern men, and claim to havo been im- Pressed. NEWS FROM GENERAL BANKS’ CORPS. Skirmish With the Enemy's Cavalry at s Rectortown. ‘Wagairoron, May 17, 1862. The following is extracted from a despatch to the Secretary of War by Cclonel Joba W. Geary, dated Rectorrown, Va., May 16, 18¢2. A company of infantry of my command was yesterday ordered to Linden, to remain stationed there. A detach- ment of seventecn men, guard to the company wagon, reached there @ short time betore the main body of the company, which was on atrain. They were attacked by a body of cavalry variously estimated at froi three to six hundred, coming upon them from four directions. Our men resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire under shelter of the depot, which was riddled with bullets. My men were overpowered. One was killed and four- teen taken prisoners, three of whem were wounded, when the enemy hastily retired, under fire and with some lose. 1 have been informed that a portion of Gene- ral Shields’ commaud had « skirmish with thers. JOMN W. GEARY, Brigndtor General Commanding. NEWS FROM GEN. HALLECK’S ARMY. Advance of Gencral Pope's Divisa' Reports of Deserters from the Rebel ar tex Caieago, Mey 17, 1962, A despatch from Cairo says The steamer Meteor, from Pittsburg Landing, has arrived. Geu. Pope's division has again advanced, and now resis three miles from Corinth. Dororters report that a great deal of hard feeling exists between the Missouri aud fonnesses troops and those from the Southern States. The former were ufging that they have wothing to fight for, their States having been ad they see mo reason why thoy should be compelled to fight for tho igdopondenco of tho cotton States. Capture of Part of Jef. Thompson's Band, Care Ginanvesc, Mo., May 17, 1862, Despatchoe just received from Colonel Daniels’ head quarters, near Bloow/leld, Mo., contain accounts of the capture of the nuterious Colonel Phelan, of Joi. Thomp: trial hag been so successful, The two frigates are shortly to make a trial trip together, in order that their relative capacity may be compared. ‘The London Criticrays:— Mr. Geo. Heseltine, editor of London American, has re-igned his office in order to give his attention. exelu- sively to American law and agency business in London. ‘The editorial conduct of the London American wili hereaf- ter be under the sole direction of Mr. A. W. Bostwick, who has bad the practical management of that depart- ment during the past year, when Mr. Haseltine was away on a visit to the United states. The number of season ticket holders at the Great Exhl- bition on Saturday, the 3d inst., was estimated at 12,000. General Goyon will shortly ‘be nominated a Senator of France. Prince Napoleon was about to proceed to Napies. A Peace had been permanon:ly cstablished in the Argon- tine republic. The very latest telegraphic report by the Great Fastera is dated at Liverpool on the 6th instaut, P, M. It saye— Parliament is engaged on the educational question. Government views are generally accepted, The Archbishup of Canterbury was seriously \i1,but has railied, and is now out of danger. The bids for the [tu 8 an Joan in all the cities were one- third more thas called for. The Asia arrived at Queenstown on the evening of the 4th instant, and at Liverpool en the afternoon of the 6th. ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT EASTERN. The Run from Milford Haven—Passen- gers on Board and Opin! of the Big ship. The leviathan steamship Great Eastern arrived in New York harbor yesterday forenoon, and cast anchor oppo- rite pier 37 North river at one o'clock. She was boarded by the agent of the press off Sandy Hook yester- cay morning, and her newspapers, &c., were taken off by him. She brings twenty-five cabin passengers and 110 second cabin. Among the former is a Mr. Wilford, an attache of the Loudon Times, who, it is intimated, is to take Mr. Russell's place as a correspondent. Capt. Walter Payton, master of the Great Eastern, reports that she left Milford Haven heads at half-past tbreeon the 7th inst., and arrived yesterday morning, at half-past soven, off Sandy Hook lightship. During the whole pas- sage she experienced contrary winds, She ran onan average of from eloven to sixteen knots an hour, On the 11th she sigualled the bark Alcione, in 60 north ana 36 west. On Friday last passed the brig Albion Lincoln, ip 40 north and 68 west, and on the 14th passed a large American ship, supposed to Le tho Vanguard, in 45 north and 54 west. Immediately on the announcement of her arrival off the Highlands being communicated to her agent, Mr. Charles W. Whitney, of No. 7 Broadway, that gentioman despatched a tug to her for her mails, &c., andjeouveying the Surveyor of the Port, Mr. R. F. Andrews, with Deputies Brown and Shirley, Detective Alexander Isaace , Capt. J. C. Lowber, Inspectors Gardiner, Couch, and other gentlemen of the revenue servico—ail of whom boarded the ship near Sindy Hook, rendering every fa-" cility to the aumerous passongers, and onabling the ‘agent to enter the ship in tho Custom House in the un- precedented timo of ten days from the timo of her depar. ture from Europe. On ber way upto the city she received salutes from the camp at Fort Richmond, the Norwegian corvette at Quarantine, from the outward bound steamships Etna and Hammonia, from the Cunarders at Jorsey City, aud demonstrations from every conceivable kind of craft, We found on board of her Mr. R. N. Musgrove, for- merly of the steamship City of Washington, as parser: to whom we are indebted for official favors. On the passage she experienced some very heavy weather, during which, the passengers inform us, the ship ected nobly, there being but the least porceptible motion, On Friday, the 16th, when off Nantucket, she recerved on board Mr. Henry Harbinson, pilot, from the Edwin Forrest, No. 14, and immediately after a meeting of the passengers was organized, whon the following complimentary card was presented to Capt. Waller Pa ton, with an appropriate address. We, the passongers on board the Great Eastorn steam- ship, desire in tho most earnest mauner to express our fatiefaction with the general arrangements and commo- dious accommodations of the #hip,as also of the con- stomt efforts of the captain and every officer of his staf to promote, in the largest degree, the eomfort of eacl individual passenger. We fee! most emphatically that Captain Walter Paton and the officers he gathered around him are tho right men and imthe right places, ‘and we wish the ship the success she really desorves. From her log we observe that the greatest day's speed was 948 miles, with a fresh southwost wind, and hev Jowest fm tho fro of @ westoriy gale. ‘The ship is advertised to sail on ber return to Liver. pool on May 31, and from the presout appetrance of her Kasi will no doabt carry over & large number of passen- “ne ‘now lien off the foot of Canal street, North river and aftor a day of two will be open for the inspection of the pubtic, rgo of the Great Eastern consists of « little cut quantity of atecl, Sho looks remarkably well, tarding Net rough passage, and steamed up the ton’s gang o/ marauders, and over one hundred of his men, Pity of (ue mem, it is sau, gave Uhemeeives up, eal eapresse( a desire W feturn to a quiet and poagetyi we river in beautiful style, wit American ensign at her tore. Thore wore but few spMtators watching her. Shere was LtU@ of Bo sicknoas among the passonge: The “tmmortal Cox’? and ethers who rendered thom,