The New York Herald Newspaper, May 19, 1862, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. the meeting being to advocate the restoration of the State to the Union if it will only bring peace with it, They acknowledge that they despair of the Southern confederacy, and are anxious to re- turn to their allegiance, We publish to-day an official account of the gal- lant conduct of the eight negroes who ran the armed rebel steamer Planter out of Charleston harbor on the 13th inst. and delivered her to Com- mander Parrott, of our blockading squadron. The first news of this daring affair was given exclu- sively in our columns yesterday. OFFICEN. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be at the risk of the sender. None but Bank bills current in New Yorks ‘on om. THE DAILY HERALD, two cents per copy. $T per annum. THE WEEKLY HE eve de postary st, Lthand 21st of each month, at six per enna, HEKALD, on Wednesday, at four cents per Y CORRESPONDENC cents per copy, THE FAMIL containing important pies potted from any quarter o! used, will he herally paid ‘nr. BAPOUR For Conmesronve: i i Pasnovcancy Beguetenoao Gait cul Lemeune se Pe The rebel warfare in Tennessee having degene- AGRS SENT US. Ni rated into mere raids of guerilla bands, General Negley has notified the people that the property of all citizens who may be found aiding the ma- rauders will be confiscated, and that every citizen found in arms in connection with these guerilla bands will be shot. General Halleck'’s army has been largely rein- forced from General Curtis’ command in Arkansas and from the troops that were stationed in Kansas. Colonel Mulligan, the hero of Lexingtan, has gone from Camp Douglas to Corinth. No fears need be entertained in tegard to Genera] Halleck’s posi- tion. When the proper time arrives to atrike there will be a terrible retribution on General Beaure- gard’s rebel army. ymous correspondence, We do not ved every day: advertisements in- » Famity HeRatp, and in the European E:titions. im DB PRINTING executed with neatness, heapness and des- patch, Volume XXVIII. No. 137 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING MIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tax Excuantexss, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Tus Huxcmsack. pwaleuene THEATRE, 844 Broadway.—Rowancs or a ‘oum 200NG May. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Sza or Ick. NEW BOWERY THEATKE, Bowery.—Zantax—! ano His axkx—GOon rou Nuvimine. ia BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. —s Vow—Puan- Tom BRip’—SixTREN STRING Jack. nn ie Cera BARNUM'’S AMERICAN USEUM, Broadway.—Com Nurr—Living Wuats, Dog Suow, &c, at all bours.— Nowa CusNA—DeAD SuoT, afternoon and evening. ’ MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The pleasant weather of yesterday tempted a large number of persons to leave their pent up domiciles and visit the Central Park, where they could breathe the fresh air and wander amid the blossoming treesand shrubs. In the Ramble both the senses of sight and smell were agreeably re- freshed; but the sense of feeling was somewhat hurt by the loose coarse gravel that covers the walks. Surely this might be remedied; for if it be painful for men to walk upon it, what must it be for the ladies, with their thin soled gaiters? Jones’ Wood was opened yesterday for the sea- Son. Several thousand of our Teutonic friends during the day visited the wood, as there they could, without molestation, ramble about on the grass or join in the many little innocent amuse- ments that are customary to these grounds. The usual number of amateur rifle shooters, scuppers and lager bier drinkers were present, and were accommodated, and the hotel having been newly fitted up, the visitors found everything they re- quired ready to hand. The circular of Mesars. J. Sacot, merchants at the port of Ponce, Porto Rico, given in our paper this morning, contains some important information for merchants and captains of vessels trading to that port. By a regulation, to go into effect on the 12th of August ensuing, masters of vessels will be permitted to add to their manifest any omission made therein, on condition that such change is at once reported to tne Custom House or the official visiting the vessel. By the same re- gulation vessels visiting the island will have to pay, besides the port charges, tonnage dues on the measurement expressed in their registers, and not on Spanish measuroment, as is practised at pre- sent. By this law American vessels will have to pay at the rate of $1 23 per ton, as by the Spanish tariff one American ton equals 1 23-100 tons Spa- MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hail—{72 Broad- jukD Fare. DODWORTH'S HALL, Broadway.—Vocar anp INstRv- MENTAL ConcERT. GATTTIFS MISTC HALL, 616 Broadway.— Room Entertainments, AiR alae PEOPLE'S MUSIC HALL, 45 Bowery.—Seuect Concer g. NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 Broadway. —So1ure Mus:- PARISIAN CABINET OF WOND) road: - Opeadsily from 1A MAUS Mee Bron waR, ATHENAUM, Brooklyn.—Gust Cae rooklyn. Ustavus Grary’s Battap New York, Monday, May 19, 1862, THE SITUATION. Our despatches from Washington to-day explain the nature of the “repulse” of our iron gunboats on the James river, below Richmond. It appears that for some time past the rebels have been ob- structing the river at that point with sunken stone, immediately under the guns of a strong fort upon a bluff so high above the river that the guns of our vessels cannot be elevated enough to reach it. An attempt was made by our gunboats to remove these obstructions, under fire from the fort, which ‘was able to pour its shot with accuracy down upon them, while they could not reply with any effect. The river is mow clear of obstructions to within eight miles of Richmond. At that Point there isa heavy battery mounted ona high bluff, and the river is temporarily closed to navi- gation by sunken vessels, among which are said to be the Yorktown and Jamestown, and by piles and chains. The Monitor could not elevate her guns sufficiently to reach the high battery, which ren- dered her useless. The banks of the river were filled with rifled pits, from which an incessant fire ‘was poured upon the fleet, a part of which was engaged at from 600 to 1,000 yards from the main battery. Afteran action of four hours the fleet, finding it impracticable under the circumstances to silence the battery on the bluff, withdrew. Our loss was thirteen killed and eleven wounded. It is confidently stated that the recall of Gene- ral Hunter is fully determined on by Mr. Lincoln. His proclamation will be made the subject of a communication by the President to Congress, and in that way to the country, condemning the course of General Hunter, and announcing very distinctly the policy of the administration in the conduct of the war. The news from General McClellan's command is highly interesting and encouraging. His advance forces on the main road to Richmond, by way of Bottom’s Bridge, drove the ememy acrose the Chickahominy at that point on Saturday morning. When the troops arrived within half a mile of the bridge, which is burned, they were opened upon by a brisk fire of artillery from the opposite side of the river. This bridge is fifteen miles from Richmond. At this point, it is said, that our troops will experience considerable difficulty, a* the country is low and swampy. This is only one succcasful movement of General McClellan's army within a few days; the other he tells himself briefly in the following despatch to the War Department, dated from White House, Va., on Saturday night: —‘‘A combined naval and army expedition under Captain Murray, United States Navy, with troops and artillery under Major Williard and Captain Ayres,of the army, went some twenty-five miles up the Pamunkey river to- day, and forced the rebels to destroy two steamers and some twenty schooners. The expedition was admirably managed, and all concerned deserve great credit.” The news which we publish to-day, from the North Carolina papers—the Newbern Progress and others—will be read with the interest which its significancy deserves. Governor Clark, the Executive of that State, has refused to furnish any more troops to Jeff. Davis, and has recalled all the North Carolina soldiers now in the rebel army. North Carolina has held a convention of its citi- gens, and pronounced against giving further aid to the rebellion, thus virtually returning to fhe Union. In reply to the demand of Jeff. Davis for additional troops and means of transportation for his army to and through the cotton States, Governor Clark said that Davis had received all the aid from North Carol.na that he could expect, and that hereafter no more troops would be permitted to leave the State, and has ordered all the North Carolina State troops home. Governor Clark also informed the rebels that they could use the railroads in retreating homewards, and that they would run their own risk of being intercepted by ® Union force at any part of the Btate. We give in another column an interesting letter ‘addressed to us from Richmond by Colonel Crocker, of the Ninety-third New York Volun- teers, who, together with Major Cassidy, it will be remembered, was captured by the rebels néar Yorktown. The statement of Colonel Crocker fully explains the mode of his capture, and sets ag rest the reports of his desertion to the enemy. WeJearn on good authority that the prominent ssces@toniste in the interior of Tennessee are or- ganizing a public peace meeting, entirely inde- pendent of the svowed Union men—the object o% nish. Jef Davis and his Cabinet, it is said, are oppos- edto going back to Montgomery, Alabama, the first bogus confederacy capital, when they are driven out of Richmond, because the Alabama ri- ver, on which it is situated, is navigable for gun- boats. Confederate money is quoted in Richmond at 97, and gold and silver at 80 cents premium. This would make Jeff Davis’ Treasury notes worth about seventeen cents on the dollar. All accounts from the West represent the crops as recovering from their backward and apparent- ly stunted growth, and the prespect is now fully as cheering to the farmers as any previous year has presented. From the South we have very lit- tle intelligence, beyond the fact that corn has been substituted for cotton; but what the condition of the crops are we are not informed. Corn planting in Kentucky commenced last week. The War Department has ordered that the com- pany officers of the two regiments of Indians now forming in Kansas shall be full blooded redskins. It is said that there is not an Indian in Kansas who can make out a muster roll or put a company through the manual. John Barry, who says he is a Catholic priest, educated in Maynooth College, Dublin, and who for some time has been delivering lectures around the country, has been arrested in St. Louis ona charge of vagrancy. He admits that he is a great lover of whiskey. Andrew J. Vallandigham, who represents him- self as @ brother of the Congressman of that name, has been arrested at Clinton, Missouri, for marauding upon Union citizens, horse stealing, robbery, bushwhacking and jayhawking gene- rally. of the rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas, Chica- go, three hundred and forty-two have died, and there are three hundred and twenty yet in the hospital. The whole number of rebel prisoners at that place is over six thousand. The Jerry rescue paper in Syracuse is jubilant over Gen. Hunter’s emancipation proclamation, and says it is far better than winning the battle of Corinth or the taking of Richmond. A fire is raging in the mountains, along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from Cran- berry Summit almost to Piedmont. Hundreds of persons are out fighting the flames. McClure & Co.’s drug store, in Albany, was destroyed by fire on the 15th instant. Loss $31,000. Insured. ‘The stock market was steady. Prices did not vary much, except in the case of Pacific Mail, which rose 3 per cent, closing about 116, dividend off. Governments were firm. Money was very easy at 4 and 5 per cent. Exchange, 113% a %; gold, 103}; a %. The bullion ex- port of the day day was $702,703. The cotton market was unchanged on Saturday, while the sales embraced about 350 bales, closing on the basis of 27 4c. a 28¢. per Ib. for middling uplands. The mar- ket for breadstuils was heavy and drooping. Including sales before and after the receipt of the Great Eastorn’s news, the flour market exhibited a decline of about Sc- a 10c. per bbi, Wheat was heavy and lower, with a fair business doing et the concession. Corn was also lower, with sales of Western mixed at 0c. a1 },c., in store, and at 2c. a 52}¢c., delivered, ‘and at S6c. for round yellow, and at 640, a 56¢. for Jer- sey yollow. Pork was dull and heavy, and prices in- clined to droop. Sales of mess were made at $12 60, and of prime at $9 75 0 $9 874. Sugars were in good demand, with @.Megulative movement. The sales em. braced 3,168 hi and 155 boxes at full prices. Coffee was more active. Salos of 8,000 bags Rio were made at p. t., stid to have been at full prices, and 2,200 do, choice quality do, at 22c. Freights were quite steady, with a fair amount of engagements. Ti Stck anv Wounpen Votunrsers.—We un- derstand that the Sisters of Charity and Mercy have offered their services to the United States government for the care of the sick and wounded soldiers arriving in this city from the South. M the government should conclude to accept their offersthey will place themselvei ita disposal. Would it not be a gdod idea to employ the former buildings of Mount St Vincent and the old Arsenal in the Central Park for this purpose? They could not be put to a better use. The Sisters of Charity could take charge of one and the Sisters of Mercy of the other, and the sick and wounded suldiers would be delighted to know that they would be taken care of by those who take a deep in- terest in them. & NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY 19, 1862, | The Repulse of Oar Iren-Clad Gunboa: im the James River. The brief, incomplete, but very suggestive despatch which we published yesterday of the repulse of our gunboats—the Monitor, Galena, Naugatuck, Aroostook and Port Royal—from Fort Darling, on the James river, seven miles be- low Richmond, passed like the shadow ofan ugly cloud over this metropolis. It was well for our stockjobbers and financiers, speculating upon another victory as the next thing in order, that this ominous and sinister looking first report of this repulse was published here on Sunday; for had it come upon them suddenly this morning the bears would doubtless have seized the opportunity fora panic and a raid among the astonished bulls and lame ducks of Wall street: As itis, we presume there will be no such ridiculous sensation among them to-day. In the absence of any official details in ex- planation of this repulse, we think that we may undertake to account for it, and to the satisfac. tion of our readers. First, the officers of our little squadron were ignorant, until they reached it, of the strength, and perhaps of the ex- istence of Fort. Darling. Secondly, while it was. doubtless. extensively armed with rifled guns of the _ heaviest calibre, from the Tredegar’ Works at Richmond, our squadron could hardly bring over thirty pieces to bear against it. In the next place, our gunboats, in the very narrow channel of the nar- row river at Fort Darling, were almost in a cul de sac, in which they could neither mancuvre to assist each other nor get beyond the point blank range of the enemy’s batteries without withdrawing from the contest; for we have no doubt that the advance of our ships above the fort was prevented by obstructions in the channel of the stream. We dare say that this explanation of this un- fortunate affair will be sustained by the facts. We speak only from some general knowledge of the lower James river in the neighborhood of Richmond, and from the defensive preparations there which have been recently hinted at by the Richmond newspapers. It is evident that the gallant men of our little fleet did all in their power to silence the enemy’s works. If we were disposed to find fault with the conduct of our commanding officer, we should say that, having ascertained the real strength of the enemy’s position, and the supe- rior weight and pressure of his artillery, our ves- sels should have been called off to await the assistance of a co-operative land attack. But we have no complaint to make against any brave officer, soldier or sailor who is slow to be convinced that he is fighting against impos- sibilities. It was this spirit of unshrinking courage which carried the fleet of Commodore Farragut through impediments supposed to be impassable to the city of New Orleans. But the stubborn fact is before us that our advance towards Richmond, by way of the river, has met with a decided check, and that, in conse- quence thereof, the restoration of the “old flag” over that rebellious city depends only-to » greater extent upon the army of General McClellan. If we had a dashing, enterprising and vigorous man of war of the present day at the head of the Navy Department we should say witheut hesitation that this repulse of our iron-clad gunboats in the James river is only the result of a mere reconnoissance to ascer- tain the position and strongth of the enemy's works, and that, having made these discoveries, the necessary means by land and water will be immediately employed to reduce those works. But, as the venerable Mr. Welles be- longs to the old slow coach establishment of the last generation, we cannot undertake to promise that he will do anything to restore the prestige of his important branch of the public service at the very point where it has been so seriously shaken, unless President Lincoln shall stir him up to his duty. In default, however, of any further attempts to run the rebel gauntlet of the James river to Richmond, we are quite easy, under the con- viction that the way will be opened by Gen: McClellan, although this repulse of our little naval expedition will doubtless result in en- couraging the rebel army to a very stubborn resistance. Earopean Intervention in Mexico—Napo- leon in a Tight Place. The want of sympathy manifested by the principal European Powers. for the American republic since the commencement of its in- ternal troubles, and even the indirect aid afforded to’ the rebellion, have rendered the American people particularly sensitive about the armed intervention of those Powers in Mexico, in the face of the well known tradi- tional policy of the United States. Little has been said about the matter, because we are en- gaged in the crushing of sn insurrection which absorbs all our attention ; but we do not feel it the less. The European Powers have taken advantage of this; for if we were at peace they would not venture to set a hostile foot upon Mexican soil, nor would any of their agents dare to broach the idea of setting up a monarchy on this con- tinent. But the tremendous extent of our Jand and naval forces, our immense prepara- tions by land and by sea, and the splendid suc- cesses achieved by our arms, have alarmed two of these Powers—Spain and England; for they know that half the splendid fleet that captured New Orleans, commanded by Far- ragut, could take Havana in one day, and give Cuba to our arms; that all the West Indies could be as easily annexed by the same mighty agency, and Canada would fall like a ripe pear at the first gentle shake of the tree. By that instinct of self-preservation, which is the first law of nations, as it is of individuals, England and Spain have drawn their horns within sheir shells, and left France alone in her glory and in her peril. Louis Napoleon evidently does not under- stand the temper of the American people, per- ceive the approaching dissolution of the rebel- lion, or feel sensible of the dangerous position in which he has placed himself In six weeks the insurrection will have been put down, and if by that time Mexico should then call upon our government for aid to repel the high- banded outrage committed upon her independ- ence, we could not refuse her the desired assistance without renouncing all our American ideas. What woud be the result? With a portion of the squadron which reduced New Orleans we could capture the French fleet at Vera Cruz, and shut in the French army, which would never return to France. The expedi- tion would speedily become the victim of a second Moscow. This may prove Napoleon's downfall, as the invasion of Russia resulted in the overthrow of his uncle. It is not that he has much to lose in the way of territory in the New World; but the loss of his army and fleet and the loss of his prestige would be more than the loss of terri- tory. If it suits him to play fast and loose with principles, that is mot the part which the American republic can play: It must be true to itself, true to its his- tory and traditions, and true to the spirit of the age. Napoleon plays Pope one day and revolution next, two ideas in antagonism with each other. He went as far as he could in Italy without overthrowing the temporal sove- reignty of the Pope. I order to atone for that offence he seizes an insane interval in our his- tory, and sends a fleet and an army to Mexico in order to restore the domination of the Church in that country, and to overthrow popular in- stitutions. But we are fast returning to our senses, and if he does not make haste to remove his ships and troops they will never return. And we hereby give notice to the said Empe- ror of the French, to her Britannic Majesty, and to her most Catholic Majesty, Queen of Spain, and to all other European Powers whom it may concern, to quit the soil and perts of the re- public of Mexico on or before ‘the Fourth day of July next; otherwise it will then beoome the bounden duty of the peopte and government of the United States: to employ their magnificent. army and navy to clear the American continent of every vestige of foreign sway. Tactics and Prospects of the Orleans Family. While the representative of the elder branch of the French Bourbons is wasting his time in some obscure corner of Europe, the younger branch keeps a sharp eye upon the events of the day, and seizea every advantage which could promote its interests or give new hope to its aspirations. Accordingly, in a short time after the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, we find the Prince de Joinville and his two sons proceeding to America and espousing the side of the North, well knowing that it was the strongest side, and that ultimate success could not fail to crown its arms. The young princes are in active service in the war, and are thus made the subject of conversation and newspaper comment in France and in all Europe. This is borrowing a leaf from Louis Napo- leon’s history, and it is evident he does not like it. Though the Bonapartes were exiled from France, the present Emperor determined to occupy the attention of the country in some way or other from time to time till his oppor- tunity at last came of seizing the reins of power. Hence his apparently silly exploit at Boulogne—which he knew could not succeed— was merely intended to attract attention. His escape from the fortress of Ham had the same effect. The Orleans princes are imitating his example. ‘They hope for the posscssion of the throne of France at ao distant day; They xnow that the French are @ volatile, fickle people, prone to change, and they calculate that the next revolution may be in their favor, through the sid of the Pope and the Church. This is their motive for entering the Northern army. Napoleon is greatly an- noyed at these tactics, and it has been observed that his hostility to the North and secret friendship for the South date from the accession of the Orleans princes to the cause of the North. From that moment the organs of the Orleanist party in France and the Bonapartist organs have taken opposite sides— the former in favor of the Union and the latter in favor of secession. The Emperor desires to establish his own dynasty, and he thinks that it will be a point gained towards that end to pre- vent the restoration of the American Union—a result from which the Orleans princes would be sure to reap laurels and gain immense eclat. Hence his schemes of intervention in our affairs, which have been already opened by the diplo- macy of Mercier. At the time of the last revolution in France there were four great parties: the legitimists, who believed in “the divine right of kings,’ and supported the reigning dynasty of Louis Philippe; the party of constitutional reform, who inaugurated the Revolution; the repub- licans, who triumphed at first, and the Bonapartists, who superseded them. The con. stitutional and legitimist parties were ex- tinguished by the Revolution, and the repub- lican party was suppressed for a time, not extinguished, by the coup d’efat. Out of the ruins of the legitimist and constitutional par- ties bas arisen the present Orleans party. There are now, therefore, three parties—the Bonapartists, the Orleanists and the repub- licans, or democrats. Each of these is seeking to gain or maintain an ascendancy for itself. The devices of Louis Napoleon are nearly played out. The people are tired of him,and want a change—a feeling which is greatly enhanced by the manufacturing distress arising from the American war. There is thus a chance for the Orleans family to regain the throne, or for the democrats to restore the republic; hence the activity of the young princes in America. There are breakers ahead for the Napoleon dynasty. Summer Comrorts ror tHe ARMY anp Navy.— As the warm season approaches the men en- gaged in the armies and navies, which are now advanced considerably southwards, will need several comforts, especially the two grand essentials—ice and fresh meat. The govern- ment should not overlook the fact. To the sick and wounded ice is an absolute necessity, and it should be forwarded in large quantities down the Western rivers and along the Atlantic board by steamboats. The ice crop is plentiful and cheap. The Northern lakes and rivers— Michigan, Erie, the Upper Mississippi and the Ohbio—can furnish abundance of it, gathered last winter. Every steamboat, therefore, going down the Mississippi or Tennessee rivers should take its quota of ice, fresh meats and other indispensable articles of comfort for our sol- diers and sailors. The facilities to supply our army in Virginia with the same articles are equally good, and their wants in this respect should be attended to at once. It will prove not only beneficial to the men, but, in a sanitary point of view, it will be economical to the government to provide them with these comforts. Tue Centrat Parx ts Scmmern—The pressure of the times or the political difficulties of the country do not seem to depress the spirit or love of amusement in our metropolitan popu- lation. Central Park, rich as it now is in sum- mer beauty, bears testimony to the fact that the freshness and life which adorn it are in keeping with the beauty and gayety which every day add new charms to that delightful scene. To judge from the brilliant equipages, happy faces, splendid costumes and joyous crowds of visitors which Central Park displays, one could hardly suppose that there was sor- row or suffering throughout the land. So much the better. Sad hearts, after all, are but poor companions ; and the merrier we are, even in trouble, the more vigorously we can contend against our difficulties. We hope, then, to see, throughout the summer, Central Park still as gay and crowded as it is at the present time. Distress or Tae Worxwna Ciasses ABROAD.— We publish elsewhere several extracts from the Engtish journals giving painful accounts of the distress existing among the operatives of Great Britain. At Bethnal Green, in the im- mediate neighborhood of London, an inquest had been held on a Spitalfields weaver, who had died of starvation sooner than be com- pelled to submit to the degradation of the workhouse. In Manchester there were upwards of eight thousand operatives working on short time. In one district in Ireland there had been forty deaths from actual want, and in several counties there had been a complete failure of food. All this is very shocking. The relaxation of the poor law regula- tions, which -is being pressed upen the English government, would no doubt alle- viate the prevailing distress; but Parliament has always been opposed to interference with them, from the dread of the abuses to which it would open the door. We see thatthe rebel agents in England have been furnishing large sums of money to some of the old chartist agi- tators to stir up the factory hands and get them to call upon the government to put an end to the warhere. The movement does not appear to have been very successful thus far. Wherever the attempt has been made to intro- duce the topic it has been immediately put down by the working men themselves. We have no fear that England will be induced to join in any scheme of intervention that Louis Napoleon may be concocting. For the sake of humanity, however, we should use every effort to put an end toa state of things which is causing such deep and widespread distress among the operatives of both countries. INTERESTING LETTER FROM COLONEL CROCKER. Arrival of Captain Farrish and Lieu- tenant Dempsey—Release of Federal CMcers from Imprisonment, Captain J. A. Farrish, of the Seventy-ninth regiment, and Lieutenant J. W. Dempsey , of the Second New York Volunteors, who were taken prisoners at Bull run, and havo been since imprisoned tn half a dozen different jails, castles and forts of the South, arrived in this city on Saturday evening last, having been released from con finement, as we have already announced in our tele- graphic despatches from Washington. We are indebted to Iieutevant Dempsey for the fol lowing interosting letter from Colonel J. S. Crocker, of the Ninoty-third New York, who, atter his capture in front of Yorktown, in company with Major Cassidy, of tho same regiment, became a fellow prisoner of Lieu- tenant Dempsey. The: letrer of Colonel Crocker speaks for itsel!, end removes all doubt concerning the mode of the capture of these genticmen, piacing Colonel Croekor aud Major Cassidy rectus in. curia:— 70 PHB BDITOR O8 THE NSW YORE HERALD. va Depot or Uniow Prisonseg, Ricuwonp, Wa., May 7, 1562. } I,agw aa Major Cassidy, was very much pained to Jeafn that several Richmond papers contain extracts from the New York Tribune, stating that our capture and con nement in a loathsome prison at Richmond had boen infamously represented as desertion to the enemy. Is i, not sufficient to suffer bere, without being maligned by so-called frieuds at home? Allow me to give you, as brief 28 possible, the facts. It is difficult tofurnish com. munications from here, or our friends should bave learned the particulars of our capture ere this. On the 224 of April, our regiment (the Ninety-third) was moved from near Warwick Court House to a position near the enemy's lines before Yorktown, which was reached late in tho afternoon. The tents, baggage and portions of the regiment did not arrive until the 23d. The grand guaru® detailed from the regiment for duty on the 23d were sent off without their rations, but with @ promise from mo that I would send them their rations #8 soon as they -arrived, which J did about two P.M. Tho location of the rogimont was slightly ¢hanged again on the 234, and Major Caasidy and myself, with the Adjutent of the regi- ment, had been coustantly employed in performing the executive business and arrarging the camp of the regi- ment until about five or six P. M. Being unacquainted with the nature of the country and of the ground in the immediate vicinity of our new location, as wel! as of the location, name, number or character of the troops near us, and algo the line of our own pickets, and Major Cas sidy having Leen informed that be would be detained a, Field Officer of the day for the following day, and believ- ing it to be our duty to inform ourselves in regard to those particulars before night, so as to be able to select favorable ground to form regimental lino or otherwise manoarre the regiment understandingly.should circum. stances render {t necessary during the night, and to ascertaia if the rations sent to our regiment had reached them, and also to enable the Major to post himself as to |. the line of his duties on the following day—for this Purpose we started from our quarters a& between five and six P. M., for the first time since oor late arrival, and soon after met Captain Norton, of the Seventy. seventh New York, of whom I inquired the direction and distance to our pickets. That officer pointed oyt to us the direction, and gave tho distanee as nearly bait a mile. ‘The Major and myself proceeded in the direction indi. cated by Captain Norton @ few hundred yards, without coming up with or seeing any of our pickets or guards in any direction, but suddenly found ourselves within an ambush of a scouting party of the enemy's Mississippi riflemon, numbering from twenty to thirty, who had been scouting in front of our linox, and who, as we have since been informed , had just before captured one of our pickets at or near the point where we were takon. When we first saw them we took them for our own pickets. They were mostly concealed behind trees, their persons as was necessary t us. We soon discovered them to be enemies, and that from twenty to thirty of them, in front and on each side of us,had their rifles at a deadly aim at our own per sons, at distances varying from ten to forty yards. To escape was impossible. An attempt at eacay been attended with instant death. We w tured and taken to the quarters of Generals Griffith, McClaw and Magruder successively, and during the night started on for this place, where we arrived on the 24th, and were immediately after consigned by Gen- eral Winder to this prison as prisoners of war. Since which time we have been confined, with other Union officers, among whom are Colonels Corcoron and Wilcox, Captain F ,0f New York; Lieutenant Dempsey, of New York, and some forty. others, Such military papers as I bad tn my possession when taken prisoner 1 immediately ate up, so@hat when they were called for by General Mgaruder I had none to deliver. Neither of us answered a question that was put to us of a military character Yours, &c., JOHN 8. CROCKER, Colonel Ninety-third regiment N. Y. V. We learn from Messrs. Farrish and Dempsey that the Oight hundred privates of the Sixty-ninth and seventy- ninth regiments, the First Fire Zouaves, the First Michi gan and one or two other regiments, who have arrived at Washington, will be paid off to-day and return home im- mediately. Those who may have friends and relatives among the prisoners in the South, who bave been confinea with these officers, will find Captain. Farsish at the Farrish House, No. 16 Kast Houston street, and Lieutenant Dempsey at his residence, 186 Bowery, where they will afford all the information in their power. Captain Farrish is still protty stout, though he has los, considerable flesh from his lsng imprisonment and harsh treatment in the Southorn dungeons. Lieutenant Demp. sey looks well, but bears the marks of the severe wound on his head which he received in the battle of Bull run. Sreamen Fins Cracker.—This splendid steamer, built for and under the superintendence of Captain H. W Johnson, is now on the balance dock roceiving her first suit of copper. She ts intonded for tho Yang-Teo river, in China, and is comsidered the finest speciinen that haw over been built im this country, Those who ary foud of fine models would do weil to sea bor. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Gen. Hunter to be Recalled from the Department of the South. Annunciation of the Policy of the Government. Official Account of the Gallant Exploit of Eight Contrabands in Charleston Harbor. An Armed Rebel Steamer Seized and Delivered to the Union Squadron, &., &., &e. ae Wasmwaton, May 18, 1868. GENERAL HUNTER TO BB RE-CALLED—ANNUNCIATION OF THE POLICY OF-THE GOVERNMENT IN. THE. COM, DUCT OF THE WAR. ‘The recall of Genoral Hunter is fulty dctermined on ‘Bis prociamation will be made the éubject of a commau- nication by the President to Congress, and in that way to the country, uomistakeably condemning the course of General Hunter, and clearly announcing the policy of the administration in the conduct of the war. An effort has been made to have General Benhaus placed in command of the Department of the South im- stead of General Hunter. He is a soldier of great ability, and from several years’ service as engineer, during the construction of the forts tn the Florida waters, is fa- miliar with the military advantages of the whole of thas region. It is stated that if he could have induced the consont of General Hunter he would long ago have re- captured Sumter and restored federal authority im Charleston THE AUTHENTICITY OF GENERAL HUNTER'S PROCLA- MATION. Yoaterday many were still unwilling to believe that the proclamation of General Hunter was genuine. It was doubted even by the President. To-day its authenticity is verified by officers arrived from Port Royal, and by printed copies of the General Orders No; 11, of the Depart- ment of the South, dated May 9, and mailed to members of Congress here, postmarked Port Royal, May 10. It is ascertained that, in tho promulgation of this order, Gen. Hunter consulted with not one of tho officers in his de- partment, nor with any of the officers of the government here. It was exclusively his own production. The Secretary of War,as wellas the President, expresses great indignation at it. Probubly horcafter army officers of all grades wiil be roquired to attend oxclusively to military duties, and leave the management of social and political aiairs to tho civil jurisdiction of the govera mont. DISSATISFACTION OF THE SOLDIERS IN THE DEPART? MENT OF THE SOUTH Intelligence received from tho Dopartment of the South states that our army there is impatient at the kind of duty assigned to them. They object seriously to no maintained as a sort of speciat armed police, mesely to facilitate experiments in the social development of tho negro race, and are anxious to be engaged in more soidierly duties pertaigingto the prosecution of a war for the suppression of rebellion and the roatoration of federal authority throughout the rebel States. REPORTS FROM GEN. M’CLELLAN’S ARMY, Accounts from General MeCielfan’s army are, that General Sumner has been released from active service by reason of his refusal to reinforce General Heintzel- man at the battle of Williamsburg. Congressmen who have just reached bere from the army of Genoral Mo- Cieilan state that on account of rains the roads on the: peninsula ar «in a wretched condition. ‘A gentloman of much observation and experience, who bas just returned from the peninsula and has had an opportunity to observe minutely the condition of Gen- eral McClellan's army and his prepartions, report that no anxiety need be entertained about his success. The army is in splendid condition, the preparations for the forward movement are complete in every detail, and the occupation of Richmond by Genoral McClellan, in afew days—whatever obstacles’the rebels may offer—may be regarded as beyond ashadow of doubt. THE EXPEDITION UP THE PAMUNKEY RIVER. The expedition up the Pamunkey river has proved & complete success and bas opened the way for an easy supply of the army. : OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM coumononn® DUPONT, ‘The following was received to-day at the Navy De partment. Fiacsmr Wasasa, Port Rovat, 8. C., May 13, 1862. Sir:—I have the honor to report the capture on the 10th of the schooner Maria Teresa, by the United States gunboat Unadilla. She was formerly pilot boat No. 10. Lieutenant Commanding Collins sent her to New York for adjudication. 1 senda by United States steamor Mas- sachusetts the master and crew of schooner Flash, which vessel was captured by the Resticss, and sent to Now York for adjudication. The crew had abandoned the schooner and were escaping to the main land with her papers when taken by the boats of the Onward. I forward by the Massachusetts the papers, directing United states Prize Commissioners, Now . ond by the same steamer tive of the crew of the schooner General C. C. Pinckney, captured by the 6th ingt.; also five of the crew of the captured by the Huron, together with two passer who were on board at the timo. Verg. respectfully, your obedient servant. 8. F. DUPONT, Flag Officer Commanding 8. A. B. 8, Hon. Grogow Waive, Secretary of the Navy. THE GALLANT ACT OF THE CONTRABANDS IN CHARLES- TON HARBOR. ‘The following teresting repost from Commander Parrott has been ‘received at the Navy Department, having been forwarded byCommander Dupont:— Unrrap States Srmameurr Avcusta, )- Orr Cant maton, May 13, 1862. Str:- ve the honor to inform you that the rebel armed steamer Planter was brought out to us this morn. ing from Charleston by eight contrabands, and delivered up to the squadron. Five colored women and three children are also on board. She carries one thirty-two pounder and one twenty-four pounder howitzer, and.has also on board four large guns, which she was engaged im transporting. I send her to Port Royal at once, in order to take advantage of the it good weather. I send Charleston papers of the 12th, and the very intolligent contraband, who was in charge, will give you the infor- mation which he has brought off. I have the honor to request that you will send back, a8 soon as convenient, the officer and crow sent on board. Commander Dupont, in forwarding this despatch, saya in relation to the robel steamer Pianter:—She was the armed despatch and transportation steamer attachod to the Engineor Department at Charleston, under Brigadior General Ripley, whoso bark a short time since was brought to the blockading fleet by several contrabands. ‘The bringing out of the steamer, under all the circum~ stances, would haye done credit to any one. At four o'clock in the morning, in the absence of tho captain, who was on shore, she left her wharf, close to the go- vernment office and headquarters, with the Palmetto and rebel flags flying, passed the successive forts, salut- ing as usual by blowing the steam whistle, After get~ ting beyond the range of the last gun she hauied dowm and hoisted a white one. The Onward was adi quadron in the main when her commander the steamor -4wo pounder or pivot, and a fine twenty-four pounder Towiteer. She bas beside on her deck tour other guns—one seveu-inch rifled—which were to be taken, on the morning of the escape, to the now fort om tne middle ind. One of the four belonged to Fo Snmter, and had been struck in the rebel attack on fort om the muzzic. Robert Small, the intelligont slave and pilotof the boat, who performed this bold feat so skilfully, informed me of this fact, presuming it would ba. ‘&@ matter of interest to us to have possession of this gun. This man, Robert Small, is superior to any who have come into our lines, intelligent as many of the: have been. His information has been most’ in- teresting, and@ portions of it of the most im- portance. The steamer is quite @ valuable acquisition to the squadron by her good machinery and very light draft. The officer in charge brought her through st. Helena Sound, and by the injand passage down Heaufurt river, arriving here at ten o’clock last night. the steamer when she left Charleston were oight men, five women and three children. 1 shall continue ta employ Small asa on board the Planter for inlan® waters, with which # to bo very familiar. Ido not know whether, in the v of the govern. ment, the vessel will be considered a prize, but if so, 8 roapectfully submit to the department the claims of the man Small and hie associates. Very res obedient servant, F. 8. DUPONT, 4 Flag Officer Commanding, &o. REPAIR OF THE FORTS AT THE SOUTH CAPTURED BE ‘THE UNION ARMY. “Accounts from the South State that the forts which hove been reduced by the Union army and navy are being repaired. This fact shows that in the estimation of our officers they wil! be useful for d eb any Attack. Jt ie averred that twenty thousai troops could have heid Fort Donelson against one hun- dred thousand of be enemy, 16 i mot doubted that the