The New York Herald Newspaper, May 9, 1863, Page 2

NEW YO 2 = -_- -- - ‘We were informed, however, that if wo chose we could rough it on sofas, in a lage apartmont formerly used as a restaurapt. Here some six or seve ‘of usare snugly stowed away, untit, as tho clerk im formed me, we can obtain rooms clsewhero, whisk tk seems may be somewhere about the Greek islands, for every evailablo room in the town is already goount 4 and thero is no space left to pack the “still coming multt tudes, { called on an officer in the Hritish army, whose acquaintance | had made some years ago, and found bim in solitary apartment in the officers’ quarters, gald apartmont serving him Tor bedroom, parlor and every thing. Ho informed me that he had to pat up with his his house was in the bunds of the prosont quarte painter and ho could not get another in the interim on ng is excessively dear, ho said, on any terms. Every account of the great influx of blockade runners. Prices do not affect these people, he added, for they make #0 much monoy dy the business they are engaged in that they car ford to scatter it broadcast, He concluded bv informing me that he knew one gentleman who owned a yossel that ran the blockade thirty times before she was captured. What wonder is it, under such circumstances, ‘that the rebel government can alford to bave Alabamas and Fioridas built in England ? The guests I met at the Victoria are seccasionists to a man, and they do not think for @ moment of disguising their sontiments, They openly speak of the abolition government” in the most contemptuous terms. This sort of conversation is intermingled with the frequent reitera- tic of the word ‘nigger,’ which seems to possess a fas- cination over then: almost amounting to superstition. In- deed this word seems to be used as frequently as the con- junction: ‘and"’ and the article “ the.” Tho blockade runners are of all ages from senilityo youthful adolesence, They are all, save the latter class, more or leas hirsute, and their getting up comprises every variety of style and fashion, Among them are many to whom the term ‘ bloods’? would appropriately apply, and a great deal of jewelry is sported by them. I observed oue good looking gentleman seated in the piazza, of apparently twenty-five years of ago, who was desig. nated as ‘‘colonel.”” He was dressed in a plain suit of citizens’ clothes, of a gray color, and on one of bis fingers was @ massive ring, with a shield shaped cameo of such portentious magnitude that, had the ancient Spartans been Lilliputians, ® shield of that size would havo served for one of them to bo carried nome on in the event of his being slain in battle. Opposite this military officer was another good looking young fellow, done up in blue flannel! with gilt battons and a navy cap, with a white cover, on his head. Ashis companion is a colonel he cannot be under the rank of a post captain. This gentleman, too, sported a maasive gold ring with some sort of red stone, as large a3 the cameo, set in it, I ought to have noticed the Colonel's watch chain before, It certrinly is the heaviest L havo ever beveld. Made of iron, it would be strong enough to secure the fiercest mastiff or bull dog. There 1s, altogether, in the air of the secessionists here a sort of dovil-ma-carishness which speaks loudly fer the security with which they carry on their operations. T was much amused during the day at the conversation off group in whose company I gradually found myself, A vease! had arrived from Havana, biinging New York papers to the 18th. One of the company had a Hxratp of that date, from which he read a fow passages here and there which gave rise to some observations on the paper more emphatic than complimentary, Said one gentleman, “I camnot understand the course the Hxratp is pursuing. When South Carolina seceded it is a known fact that the Hrrarp advocated the right of secessiog, spoke boldly for State rights, and denounced any attempt that might have been made to coerce any State intb remaining in the Uaioa. Many other Northern papers took up the same Ground, and we counted on them for a continued advocacy of ous cause. How they came to change quite puzzles me. I cannot understand the divided opiaions that pre- vail in the North, Why doa’t they unanimously come out, as we have done, and determine ou some definite policy?” Anethor gentleman said he remembered a Northern man in the South at the time of the commencent of hostilities, who was poring over a map of the United States witti some Southerners, who wished to designate the future boundaries of the Southern Confeleracy, when the Northern man put his flugers on the map and pointed to Now Jersey and New York as States Vkely to be included im the new republic. The gentiomaa added that such was the general ex- pectation. This led to some remarks on the Probability” of the Northwestern States heing event- ually included in the Confedsracy, to which an old gentle- man most emphatically expressed his disapproval. “No, sir,”* he said; ‘let us keep thom out; they have nothing in common with us,” and we are better without them. Another observed that of all the rascally, thieving States in the Union, there was none that came up to Ohio in despicable meanness, “Why,” he remarked, warming with his subject, ‘‘it is worse even than Massachusetts,” which, of course, brands Ohio for even as being at the ‘cme of moral degradation. Poor Ohio! Worse than Massachusetts. What harder thing could thy worst ene- my say of thee. However, it isto be hoped that Ohio will survive the denunciation yet @ few years longer. Illinois was next reviewed, and whilo it admitted that the southern portion of the State was right enough, it was intimated that the northern part was no better than it ought wo be While this discussion was in progress one of the com- Pany read some vorses out from a newspaper—an ac- count of old John Brown's descent into Hades, and the refusal of Charon to received the fare in greenbacks—an anachronism that cauzed a general roar of taughter, while it showed that the infernal boatman must have rather a lucrative post, if not simply a greenback. but a plurality of greeubacks, are tendered to him as payment of the fare across the Styx, ant that he can even afford to refuse payment in that shape. ‘This will be news of importance to the shoddy contractors, rascally speculators and swindling soldiers’ boarding house keopers of New York. The berth would bo s capital one for some clever gentiomaan of this numerous class, and I dare say Any one of them possesses braina sufficient to oust old Charon and get himself mstalled tu bis office, But this is Sdigression. The “poem” procesda to speak of the in- terview botween Pluto, or Satan, as he is sumetimes designated, and tho ghost of the old anarchist; how be was seated at the let hand of Old Nick, while the chair on the right is reserved for “Old Abe,” who is shortly expested, On bis arrival, says Satan, another attempt, with such able aids,ean be madé against the Almighty, which may succeed in destroying the Trinity. This awful biasphemy was received with shouts of laughter aod oxpreasions of hearty approval, This evening | was present during another canversation, in the course of which it was confidently affirmed, as @ thing that admitted of no doubt, that during the ensu- ing sumtuer the yellow fever would clear out every Yan keo from Now Orleans; that not one, “from tho brigadier gencral down to the private,” would escape, and that the rebels would march in and oecupy the city. Wishes were fervently expresso! that such would be the fact. It was forgotten that the same wishes and convictions wore expressed Inst veur, and that hey wore singularly fais. fet. Not long after tho conversatien turned on some captain of a Northern rummel, who ts said to have ox. Pressed @ wish that Charleston might be taken, and overy man, woman and child in i burnt, when one of the company—nhe who was loudest in Opening up the yellow fever sehome—denounced such a barberous wish in good set terms, declaring that a man who could entertain it was not fit to live, and added that the coroser would #000 have to look after the utterer all this time the indignant gentieman conventently forgot the benevo. lant wish he hed jest expressed with the force of comvio- doa for the extermination of Yankees by yellow fover, Sauce for the goos was net sauce for the gander in this ome, Aran, 29, 1865, The steamer Corvican, from New York, arrived this morning, and I was just going down town to make the necessary inquiries about the names of the principal resident biockade runners, and the vessels in port, when I learued that the steamer leaves tor Havana at two oelock to day, which compels me to close at once. and dover my inquires, the result of which will form the sub. ject of 4 future letter. Personal Intelligence, Gen. A. J. Hamilton, of Texas, arrived at the Metropo: titan Tote! yesterday. Mra. Semines, the wife of the captain of the pirate Alaba- ma, who with her three daughters and two sons have re cently been sent South by the way of Fortress Monroe, i@ about fity or fifty five years of age, and by no means pre- femme ga her manner, and very homely. She lws no front teeth, and has & sarcantte santo and took. She was very indignant about having her searched, and baid all sorta of bard things about, the ollicers. She has two sons in the rebel army, aud the letters that were in tercemed by General Burnside from them sey that .) cy bad not becrd from their mother for nearly two years. ‘The three 4) ters are all very plain looking ft but are ver} like. for Tt was quite evitont from manner and conversatian that they of being sent into Seconeia. Nathaniel Ames, the on'y relict of the Key otuiion resid. ng in (he State of Wikconpin, hax just celebrated his one Bundred wd second birth day Father Ames, as he is cated, Wy: 8 iu Name county. @id not like the idee | OUR HARBOR DEFENCES. New Method Proposed for the Defence of New York Harbor, by John Wyatt Keea. The a intended to represent, in a general posed for the defence of the harbor against the attack of un enemy’s fleet The diverging lines at various points—Pandy Ho'k, the Dry Romer beacon, tho forts at tho Narrows and at tho proposed earthworks on the Staten and Leng Island shoros, ag well a8 at Robbing? reof—indicate the lines of fire to which a hostile fleet would be subjected in endea. voring to fores an entrance in the face of these defences. To assist the land defoncea, and to bo ready for any emergency, two hoavy flouting batteries (sce ietters A and B) should bo stationed in the lower bay. These should be armed with fifteen inch smooth bore guns, tor short range, and tea or eleven inch rifles, for long range sor vice. The fifteen inch guns should throw solid shot at tow velocities, in order to smash and strip off an enomy's armor rather than to pierce it, while the ten and eleven inch rifles might be fired with full charges 80 as to com- meuvoe action at long range simultancously with tho ene- my, who would doubtless be armed with this class of ordnance. These gunboats or batteries should not be used agrams. Aram, to be effective, should be built and specded for this special purpose. ‘The ongives and boilers on those batteries should be placed well under tho water lino, and they should be provided with compartments, to be flood- 04 previous to going into action, ao aa to lower the vessel to “fighting trim.’”’ ‘Until the appearance of an enemy’s fleet in the offing, these batteries should be safely moored’ fa the ‘*Horse- ehoe,’’ under tho lee of Sandy Hook. As soon as the enemy heaves in sight one of the batteries (B) should be moved sout to spoint covering the intersection of the South and Gedney channel. The enemy would of course wait for a calm day and a flood tide bofore attempting to force an entrance. Battery B should, therefore, be anchored by spring cables on or about the point indicated im the chart, so as to command both en- frances. In all probability this battery would be sunk by the concentrated fre of the cnemy. The crew should, therefore, be plentifully supplied with life preservers, and the mattresses for the wounded should be stuffed with cork shavings, 0 as to form each a raft in case of need. ‘The floating battery marked A should take up her frst Position, as ghown on the map, in Gedney’s channel, sup- porting the fort om Sandy Hgok and raking the ohannel. Should the enemy follow the Swash channel, then, slip- Ping her cables, she should make for her second position, at the point of junction of the Swash and Gedney chan- nels, thus raking. both. Should the enemy succeed In forcing the primary obstacles and be making for the Nar- rows, then battery A, after a few broadsides, should retire under the guns of the forts commanding the Narrows, taking up her third and final position nearly epposite the Quarantine ground, #0 as to sasist the land batteries, represented by the diverging lines. on the msp. Of course, if mot sunk or disabled, battery B should imitate her proceedings, retreating by the Swash channel. By reference to the map a series of black dots, obliquely to the channel, will be observed in front of the va- tious forts. These dots are intended to reprosent submerged fron buoys,er floats supporting heavy wrought iron chains, each buoy held in place by two heavy anchors, and placed thirty or forty feet apart. By placing these floating obstructions oblique to the channel they will offer Jess resistance to the tides, anf as an enomy’s ram could thus never strike them fairly with any speed, they would be found very dificult toremove. Meanwhile, the enemy entangled among them, would be detained helplessly un- der the guns of the forts. Added to this, each float might be provided with a pole, or bowsprit, extending under water and furnished with a torpedo, to be discharged on contact with an enemy's vessel. The principal novelties connected’ with this pian of de- fence ste the proposed cast tron forts on the beacons, the cast iron embrasures in the proposed new earth. works, and the plan for anchoring only, instead of other. wise fixing the obstractions for delaying an enemy under the guns of the various fortajexisting and proposed. The limits of this article will not permit a detailed descrip- « tion of the mode employed for floating the chains, but the chief object to be attained by this method may be briefly referred to, It will bo seen on examining the chart that it is not Proposed to place in or near the channels any obstruc- tons ‘to the currrents other than those already existing at Romer and Robbins reof beacons, on accounts of the tendency such structures possess of changing the tidal streams aad producing shoals and ssndbare in places where they did not previously extst. Several schemes are afioat, and have received some attention for defending New York harbor among which one recommending the placing of immense iron towers, built ‘on piles, on each side of the channel, below the Narrows, and another, censisting of a series of booms or chains, fastened to piles, may be mentioned. But let the opinion ofany of our New York pilots, who understand the capri- cious nature of our continually changing channel, be taken ag to the effect of such schemes, if carried out, and there is little doubt that this would be the last we would hear of them. It is dangerous matter to tinker with any channel, much Jess so one so liable to injury as ours. Let us hope, then, that whatever may be the plan of de- fence adopted, the channel—that precious artery which supplies life to our city—may remain unmolested; other- ‘wise we may discover when,too lave that while endeavor- ing to keep an enemy outside of our doors we have forever shut in oursobres. As regards the defences for the East river, similar Plan to that just described, the works to commence at Willett’s Point, would be found equally effective. Accerding to this plan a hostile tleet would be exposed vo fire from one or other of the batteries for a space of nearly nine miles, The Iron-Clad Frigate Roanoke—The ‘Vessel Almost Ready fer Service—Her Formidable Armor, Turrets aad Ma- chinery—Ri Magazine and Shell Rooms, &e., &e. In the course of a few days the new ironclad frigate Roanoke, which is destined to protest the harbor of New York from the attacks of all enemies, either domestic or foreign, will be finally ready for service; and, in view of the very deep interest which is taken in hor successful completion, a short sketch of her progress up to the presont time will certainly be deemed acceptable by our readers. This immense battery lies at present at the Navy Yard, fitting out, it is said, for a short cruise. Before proceeding to give a detailed description of the Roanoke, the carly history of the vessel is proper to be recounted :— The Roanoke was one of the five steam frigates built in 1855, consisting ef the Niagara, Wabash, Minnesota, Colo- radoand Roanoke. As she dtands she is the dearest ship in the navy. Her first cost was $500,000, and after a few Montha’ servioo as flagship of the Home Squadron she was Tepaired at a cost of $300,000. Some time afver that, after &@ little service, she came again to New York, aud was put in good shape again at a cost of about $40,000. Her last service was in bringing the Japaneso from Aspin- wall. It was found after her operations in Hamp- tom Roads that it would require about $100,000 to put her ja proper trim again. As $0 much outlay was re- quired whatever was dove with her, it was deemed the better plan by the naval anthorities to mail her, and thus make her one of the most formidable vessels of our Davy. She was accordingly put in the dry dock, and alterations commenced to fit her to receive the iron armor. Hor bulwarks were cut down almost to the water's edge, The timbors and fasteniugs were found ap- parently in ag good condition as when she was built, and after lightening her immense hall as much as possible she was amply strong enough aad buoyant enongh to earry with ease the vast weight of iron which has been placed upon her, She bas a bomb-proof deck and three turrots. Her plates were manofactured at various iron works. They are two feet wide, and the thickness of the whoie armor averages about four and « ball inches, Hor armament consists of two fifteen.inch, ome eleven inch and three 200. pounder Parrott rides . ‘The first point which strikes the attention of the ox- amniner is the gigantic charactor of the vessel. A small piece of the ram, whieh ts expected to rip open the sides of anything with which she may come in contact, is seea above the surface of the water, projecting from the bow, and looks formidable enough to plough through 4s stone wall, much less the side of a wooden vessel. The seam? and joints of the iron plates are almost imperceptible, . moch #0, indeed, that it requires a vory close seruting to | | do sway with the notion that (he “rr Is ove solid piece | of ptating. The upper ‘ec® is plated with iron and covered with « wooden sheathing, «vt all the batchways are secured by immense iron gratings, which render the entrance of prep rng eray bina The three turrets or | | Gum towers—tore, aft ond amnidehino—are the eueet re markable fextures on this portion of the wee RK Y, sel. They rise some leven fect from the deck, having an inside dymeter of twonty-one foct and an Outside diameter of pearly twonty-throe feet. These are built of a sories of iron plates, layor over layer, fasteved Cogecher tightly, making an outire thickness of eloveu inches, ‘There are two porta in oach turret, fur nishing apertures through which the heavy guns will belch forth thow destructive charges ‘iho stoppers for the ports have been so arranged that inmcdiately alter discharging the guns they will close so accurately aud tightly a8 to prosent mo chance for the entrance of tho enemy's missiles. Tho recoil of the guns will alao be broken by moaus of an ingenious conurivauce, and tho ventilating apparatus is contrived in such a way that, by turning a tap, a fresh supply of atmosphere will rush into tho turret, and drive off the amoke almost instantaneous. ty, Above the turrets are pilothouses, alao built of tho strongest trou, and protected overhead ty grating of im- meonse thickness, Kach turret revolves around a shalt passing through its centre and resting on tremendous Stanchoons going down to the very bottom of the vossol. ‘Two engines are employed to work each turret, the revo- lutions of which are rogulated by signals from the persons 00 the lookout in the pilothouses kK Passing down to tho avcond dock, the uoxt polut of in terest is the captain’s quarters and tho rooma of the offt cord, which will be quite spacious and fitted up im a most. comfortable and tasteful manner, all ¢hings considercd. Hore, also, one is afforded an opportunity to examine tho vontilating apparatus, whiok deserves a passing ndtice. It ts worked by Cour @ngines and four largo blowers, ‘Which force the atmosphere into an immense tube thirty inohes in diameter, running tho entire length of tho vessol at cach side, and communicating with anumber of emallor ‘tubes, 60 contrived ag to ventilate each stateroom, and in fact every portion'of the veasel. This arrangoment is of ‘tho complotest character, an@ the cupply of air is vanily Fogulated by means Of a tap, whioh fias already been al luded to when describing the turreta, Going down atill further into the bowels of the monster, the visitor ts brought over alittle square hole loading into a chamber, whioh, at frst view, ia vory suggestive Of the lower regions, Notwithstanding, and with the ald Of a lantern, it requires a large degree of careful naviga- tion to. avoid stumbling into maatraps or knocking one’s shins against bars of iromend other unpicasant obstacles. Be that as it may, the candles appeared to be of little use in lighting the way to the chamber just alludedito. One of our guides cautiously thrust bis candle bofore him, and then lowered hia\body through the holo, and descended by of a small iron laddor into the chamber. We fol- }, and on reaching the tmtorior found ourselves in a ‘room, and after. becoming ‘accustomed to the light were jenabled to distinguish dimly the character of the eur! ling objects. ‘Thig was the passage. way to the zine; but it would mot be proper to enter into a Dy stating the portion of the vossel in which it {a lopated, or describing the intornal arrangements. It is enough tostate that themagazine is down far beyond tho ‘Feach of hostile-sbelis and bullets. The shell roomaand Powder ehambers are lined with lead, and aro supplied witt cocks by'whioh they can be flooded with water in Qn instant, incaseof fireor other accidents. The work- manship and improvements oxwibited in all the arrange ‘ments connected with this portion of the esset are of the very highest order, and reflect no small degree of credit upon the mechaaios who have had charge of it. The next thing to be examined was tho machinery, which is certainly of an excellent character. This has deen supplied entirely from the Novelty Works, im this city, and the very best quality of iron has been used “for this purpose. The vessel bas twenty-one engines for propelling purposes, six for managing the turrets ,four for the ventiating apparatus, and the rest for manufac- turing fresy water for the orew'auia other purposes. .The rudder and prepelior are covered with armor, which pro- jects:from beneath the counter of the vessel, to protect them from injury during an engagement with the enemy. ‘The ram, which ig fastened to the bow , will Be complete: ly under water when the vessel is infighting trim. It is five feet long, ten inches thick and three fect deep, tlie whole boing ruanufhotured of the best wrought iron. Notwithstanding all the heavy iron plating; the weight ‘| of machinery, turteta, chains, anchors, &:, besides the immense weight of iron which she isto carry by way of Dallast, the Roanoke, when im action, will be about eight foot above the water line, and will be capable of a high Gegres of speed, Before concluding onr sketch of the vessel, we should allude to the neq contrivance of Mr. Taylor for cepstans, Samsoa posts and chain stoppers, which appear to be no slight improvement upon the old arrangements. It may be of interest to repeat here also—what has been stated mother aketehes of the Roanoke published in this ‘Paper—that her armor plates are four aud a half inches in thitkness. She was almost ready for service some weeks ago; but, the frigate Colorado Raving arrived bore in ® disabled condition, the boilers.and some of the ma- chinery intended for the Roanoke were fitted into the for- mer vessel, tn order to enable her to proceed on active service. This has rendered the manutacture of new boilers and machinery mecessary, and is the main cause of the delay in her proceeding on her trial trip. It is ex- pected, however, that she will be entirely finished in a few days, when our citizens will be gratified with a view of this magnificent vessel ploughing through the waters of our noble bay on her first trial trip. The work. manship upon the vessel altogether refleots the highest credit upon all the parties have contributed to her construction, The following is a list of the officers of the United States. steamship Roanoke (iron-clad), six guns:— Capiain—Stephen C. Rowan. Lieutenant Commander—Ralph Chaadier. Pimater J. . D. Murray. Acting Masters—P. J. Hargous, J. 8. Lama Pwo en age ering re ee bm Co pee. Savage: its, H. 3. Pwo pga iyo, T. J. Me. K. iels, E. P Banke, As yet not all of the ollicera have beon ordered to her. but probably they will be during the week. Capture of Five Valuable Prizes. OUK NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE. ‘Unsrep Staves Srsamen Ds Soro, Orr Key Wasr, Fia., April 27, 1863. HERALD, SATURDA iY Prise Money—Fraad: upon Sailors. TO THE BDITOR OF CHE HERALD, Your articlo beaded “Prize Money—Frauds apon Sailors,” is rathor sweeping, and from ite tenor you throw upon the shoulders of agents who collect prise money ‘the wrong said to have been done the seamen by the Prize Commissioners, who are government efficials, and with whom tne agents who collect prize money have ao connection. ‘You state that‘ prise mousy is credited to the ao- counts of seamen, &o., by the Navy Department,’ but you w ve that @ goaman's accounts with the depart- Trebare closed upon his discharge from service at the ex. piration of hie cruise; and, a* nany prizes duo said seaman are pot ready for payment for months after he leaves the service, the claimant to whom said prize money thoreafter becomes dve must make |is application for the amount duc him according to the rules and roguiations siready issued by the department; and it is under these rules regui agents apply for price m aa | and which the department have aiready paid upon euch Applications, made im accordance with the said forms | You further state that agents are lable to prasscution | for taking « fe for the cotiection of said prine money. A | moment's considerati oovinee you of the error yet & learn that Con. | Laddress you for the purpose of throwing the stiema, if | any there be, wpon the shoulders of the lrize Commis Somers. as it is their acts which are now being investi- gated, andthey are « government officials’ —not agents for cotecting prize money. 1 am, iaost respectfully, yours, ke. THOS [, BRAYNARD, 41 Wall street Deetmecrive Hai, stom ie Pew a nevere hail storm in York conat ama. —There was rent. & few milion | southwest of Wrighteviile, oo onany aftornoon =the Dau was six inate. Unick on the grown Five mill ponds | wollen that they j pe Poy Mee Ty a had | Cawld not be cronsed by persces um foot, and the crops eereusiy Oamayed MAY 9, 1863.—TRIPLK SHEET. the counties of Gates and Isle of Wight are again in our possession Some \ ery important movements are at preseat in pro- gress hero: but as the particulars thoroof are highly oon- traband, and migit frustrate a grand strategto move, it ts Lard'y poicy even to bint at them. But ima fow days ling news may be expected from this depart ment. Mur General | ix is straining every nerve (0 ac- complish bis project, and he ia too careful ® planner not to accomplish his designs. Tho prisouers on board of the flag of truce boat State of Maine have requested me to acknowledge through theac columns their thanks to Mr. A. A. Hill, the gentomanly porser of that boat, for bis kind treatment of them dur- ing thetr journey from City Point to this place, and also to Captain John’, Mulford, who leaves uothing wndone to minister to those under bis charge. THE BEBEL RAID IN WoSTERY YaRUINLA. Gallantry of the One Hondred and Sixth New York Volunteors. OUK GRAFTON Cou rONDENCE. Guavron, Va., May 5, 1863. The Entry of tne Rebels Int» kairmont—Ihe Defenders of the Lridge—Seven Charges Made by the Rebels—Seren Times Repulsed—Capture of the Gallant Band—The Prisoners Pavoled—Casualties, de. ‘The defence of tho bridge at Fairmont, Marion sounty, Va., made on the 29th ult., by a detachment of the Ono Hundred and Sixth regiment New York infautry , Colonel James, was among the most gallant of the war. Fearing ‘the destruction of tho magnificont trestiework ovor the Monongahela river at that point by the band of rebels thon Toported at Morgantown, Va. ,Colonel Mulligan, command- ing the forces at Crafton , despatched Company F, Captain M.J. Chamberlain, aud Company-D, Captain A. W. Briggs, One Hundred and Sixth regiment New York Volunteers, & protect it. The force was too small for such an under. taking, but waa all that could be apared from our small numbers at this point. They reached Fairmont on tho aftermmoon of the 28th of April, and immediately took up Vue best position for the defence of the bridgs “At aix o'clock om the morning of the 29th the robola entered Fairmont with a force of cavalry about three thousand atrong, and commanded by Briga- dier Genoral Jones. Our pickets. wore immoriatoly driven in, and goon after the companies at the bridge were furioualy attacked by tho rebels iu full force, ‘They seemed to cloud the hills-with uumbers, and from every tree and cover poured in volley after volley upon Panishes itecreamt corse. GHNERAL ORDERS—NO. 25. Fieapquanrens, Div akrumer oF VmUixtA, Saver Army Coars, Forri 8 Sennen, Se ’ March 31, 1 Im publishing How General be , 1868. Genoral Orders No. 61 of the War Do Partmont, containing the proceed: of @ court martial, of which Colonel 1. W. Wardrop, Ninety ninth regiment New York Volunteers, was President, dismissing from the service Lieut. Cortiandt Van Kenaseluor, of tho One Hundred and Forty-eighth Now York Volunteora, and Taout, John D, Loe, Quartermaster of the Fires rogt- mont Now York Mounted Rifles, the Genoral Command- ing deems it proper to estate the reasons which in- fluenced him in recommending thoir dismissal to the President of the United States, In the case of Lieut. John D. Lee, Quartermaster of the Firat regiment Now York Mounted Itiles, the proceedings, finding and sentence of the Court wore pdt approved, be- cause the General believed that tho Court should have met their responsibilities ax guardians of military discipline and good-order by & more severe punishment. it. Lee's conduct was in tho highest de. unsoldierlike and insnbordinate; aad the Commend fag General gqula mot quile understand how the Court, while floding hit our devoted baad; Gur men, however, protected by the ira. ge using foul and abustvo lan. guage, of aa) Aasiatant nator (Opt, fron work of tho bridge and the ntone, abutments, sufler- | Tidiow) wo joy Breda hight who bad Sener gar ed but little from their hoavy fusillade, With better st Gnsres chune sone padi gnacaaaneneis’n Peper offect did they answor this fre, and many gaddies wore taking them, should vo Aoqu ‘him emptiod by the well, directed stots from our Kafler) | 4D charge of conduct unbecoming an offoar and riflea, Seven times did the rebels charge our men, aud, | language of Liout. too was not only foul aod although thirty to one, they were seven times repulsed. | SbUsive, but oxocedingly profane. That his oon duct was unbecoming an officer admita of no doubt. If it was the opinion of tho Court that uae of auch langua, aa was disclosod by the testimony was wot unl ing @ gontioman, the Commanding General does not understand tho intention to be to give countenance, sven by indirection, to ap um- gentlemanly vice, but to recognize the fact, without ap- Proving it, that itia @ practice in which persona othér Wise gouttetanly sometimes indulge. ‘tho Rules and Arti- cles of War have atampod it with public disap, jou, and thus Lieut. Lee wag gutity, not only of & breach of the law in this respoct, but, to gay the least, of the highent Official indecorum. The whole proceeding was a groad of military propriety on his part, and of Colonel Dodgo, of tho Mounted Kifies. ‘The Colonel was aware that @ difference had taken place between Lieut. Lee and Capt. Ladiow, the Aasistant Quartermaster at Norfolk, in regard to the horses in the custody of the latter; and his orders to Lieut. Lee, who was sent with a party of armed taen into Gen. Vielo's Command for the purpose of obtainiug them, were not to come back without them. The testimony of Stephon F. Mills, quartermaster sergeant, a witness produced for the At length, after throe hours’ Aghting; the robols with an overwhelming sweep rode over the little forces, taking them all. No sooner wag the capture complete than the repels geveour boys three Cheers for their gallant de- fence, i Moanwhile Major Mooro, of the Twonty-third Minois Volunteers, with Company B, One Hundred and sixth New York Volunteers ; Company. /K; Twouty-third Illinois Volunteers, and one gun of the Mulligan battery, had beea sent from Grafton by rail to save Fairmont if possible. ‘Vhey wore too Jate ¢@ reacue tho little band that pre- ceded them, bat not too late, however, to receive the full force of attack from an enemy flushed with victory. The ‘engagement soon grow warm, thd rebels prossing for- ward to intercept and capture tno train, and our mon stubbornly resisting. Our force was deployed as akir- mishers, covered by the gun, and failing back steadily ax dofcace, ahows clearly a distinct purpose on the part of the tralg'neceded. In this manner they reached Graftom | 62) Colocet to take che Moraes without Capt. Ludiow'® in safety. cousent, if necessary, whereas. if be had been actuated by the propor spirit of his profession, be would have directed Liout. Tee not to take them without Capt. Ladiow’s consent, and he should have directed the Lieutenant, In cago the Captain refused to give them up, to appeal to Gon, Viele, the commanding officer of tho district. for an order for them, Tho question was troated by the coungel ef the acoused as mainly one of title lo the horses. This question had nothing to do with the grava- ‘men of theoffence. If Capt. Ludlow withheld the horses wrongfully, the obvious course was an appeal to his imme- diate superior for redress. They could not be taken out cf hts custody forcibly or against hia wishes, without a gross breach of disolfline. it waa not ai an offence against the officer in whose rightful custody the horses were placed for the time being, and against Gen Vielc, commanding officer of the Norfolk district, but It was every rule of military order and subordi- nation, which the Commanding Genural fools {t hts, duty , to stamp with markod disapproval and censure. *Su examples are destructive of all discipline, and are calcu: into contempi. The Our toss in this engagement in killed and wounded, sp far as heard from, is about twenty-five, with some one hundred and twenty,taken prisoners. The rebel Genoral Sonos is said to have acknowledged a loss of nearly one hundred. The bodies of their dead were thrown from the railroad bridge into¢he Monongahela river, having been first weighted with @tones to sink them. The part of their wounded carried off. Our priseners were paroled and sent North, have not yet reported. It is believed that under ex! orders the parole is in- valid, and if guch is the casa will soon return to duty. ; . The following is a list of the glee the One Hun- ret and Sixth regiment New York Volanteers, as far ag First Lieutenant Chas. S. Glass, Co. Second Lieutenant Robt. bao Co. right. severely. =" severely. to bring milit ‘knee, seve x seinen of the conduct of Lieut. Lee is to be found left hand, ‘soverely. ie tho natare he and the Gom B, “ ‘severely, General concurs, with deep regret, in the opinion Lp ra logs, id the , that in the major portion of fence com- ‘casualties occurred in the Twéaty-third nnn ieee Sip ee his superior Miinols Volunteers, ae far as heard from. — in disapproving tlee-neatovee by the Gourt meen belber a arti, severely. - itm the onse of Lieut, Cortlandt Van Rensselaer, of tho Corporal C. G. Einley, attery ; band, weverely., Hundred and’ Forty-eighth New York ' Volun Frank Muller, battery, ecrotum, severely. » the Commanding General ie PIERS REN determination of the Court to dismiss him from bye ag Accounts, wervice should have adhered to, aad {From the ing Intelligencer, May 7. the punishment should not have been rediced, on ‘The raiding foroe into West Virgivia ia divided as fol- } gubsequent reflection, tos suspension of rank, pay ‘aud the Sixth, Seventh. Tenth, Ele ‘emoluments for six mouths. ks cng Ri ele rnb ts. He bas nea ifbtry and two sec- Tn sil five men. by tho testimony that he sent a ihe Niletesasa Twenty-ffth, juad of men to & farmhouse to get a sheop. miirtyret es bapsmepmatt ~ “im =~ x. GS Pretended that he gave them permission to goand buy “In all three thousend men. fa ide Pls insane was not Known certainly where this force and unpleasant way ere long, unless we con- | the accused—Van Van Cortlandt——thuis be trive ta know more about its mover associated with the pli of a poults yard. it More vim—more of the knowing and the doing faculty | ig by “acts like ‘worthy Of yeclicgiam and un honest men—that the military profession is dishonored and abased. No punishment can be too severe for those ‘who, by their unscrupulouspess, carn not o:ty for them- rolves, but forthe honorable men with whom they are ; for it we no food and no and, fence, if they ate not gone they will strixe soun, THE LADIES OF MORGANTOWN. Tho ladies of Morgantown, and especially, we rejoice to po Ue po and unmarried portion, acquitted them- ives with great credit during the recent raid of the goodly place. The invaders inclined to be ‘but it was in our Leader,’’ and when they played it was the Union edi- tion of ‘My Maryland! My Maryland!” and other such tantalizing performances. Never a song or a note could the in praise of their miserable cause and its miserable bunting, and when they insisted they were tartly told that Morgantown was not the place where they could make an impression. LOYALTY IN WHEELING. ‘The patriotism of the of this city bas been well illustrated in the present troubles. The incon tected women is the work of cowards, and not of brave men. While, therofore, tho Commanding General pro claims his determination to visit with the severest penal ties every outrage of this description, be calis on all un. der his command to aid him by their influence snd by their zoaloas co-operation in maintaining with the utmoat strictness the rules of the service, in preserving the cha- racter of the profession of arms from all taint,and in submitting to the just restraints of honorable warfare of Major General DIX. Lovis Hl. Prvovan, Assistant Adjutant General interior, carrying & musket and doing soidier duty. Many of them are men who never were exposed to ths weather bofore in their lives—men who havo led indoor lives and are connected with heavy business. Su ui a hody owen hare ach been cai out of anv covn oc our | INTERESTING FROM SUFFOLK. stores and offices have contributed the very best ma ~en ~_ terial that was in them. and without murmuriog plates The Results of the Recent Reconnoissances. THE REBELS MOVING TO JOIN LEE, bey be, we Our Suffolk Correspondence. Svuvroux, Va., May 4, 1863, The Reconmoissance in Force of Sunday, May 3—The Re- dele im Full Retreat—Hill Joins Longstrea—Retal Pris- oners—The Enemy's Fortifications—Letters Found in the Rebel Port Mississippi, dc. Yesterday, at carly dawn, the bridgo was ralaid across tho Ni and a heavy force, under command of General Harlan, wag sont over on the Petersburg road, to test the enemy's strength. The One Hua- dred and Third New York regiment was the first to cross, headed by their brave leader, Cotonel Ringgold. After driving tho rebels to the edge of the woods, some ‘three-fourths of a mile distant, we opened upon them from our field batteries, which hed also crossed the bridge, and also from some howitzers belonging to Colonel Speare’s regiment of cavairy. The enemy showed @ very determined resistance; but our forces drove them gradually from the edge of the timber, and the One Hundred and Third advanced sev ora} times to the edge of their rifle pits, but, not being suf ficiently supported, were at length driven back to the edge of the woods again. Thus the fortunes of the day varied, our rita alternately reaching their breast works ‘and then retiring. COLONEL RIFOGOLD WouNDED. Oolone! Ringgold, who in the morning bad led his regi. ‘ment into battle on foot, mounted his horse later in the day, and became a victim to the efficiency of some sharp. shooters. He was mortally wounded by a bulles through the abdomen, while bravely leading his regiment ® the INTERESTING FROM FORTRESS MONROE, Oar Fortress Monroe Correspondence. Forraus Mownos, May 6, 1563. Arrtcal of Released Union Prisoners from the South— Whe They Arc—Release of Mr. Veslurg,One of tha Herald Correspondents—The Plan of Eschange and Rules Agreed Upon by Colonel Ludlow and Mr. Onld—No News from the Nansemond—Important Movem-nis in Progress— Ar. rival from Port Beyal--Thanis to Copiain Mulford and Purser Hilt by the Prisoners, dec., #. ‘The steamer Henry Burden, Capt. Cole, arrived Inat evening, having on board Lieutenant Colonel William H. Ladiow, commissioner of oxchange, from City Point, Colonel Ladlow having succeeded in effecting tho release of all the Union officers in the hands of the enemy. Short. ly after the arrivalof the Henry Burdea, the steamer State of Maine, Capt. Allen, came down, haying on board nearly throe handred officers, among them Generals . H. Stonghton and Willich, Colonel Coburn, Captain Raward Fddy, Jr., captured at Ossabaw Sound; Capt. Strothers and Lieutenants Simmons and Kuight, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, kc., &c. Resides these officers, ‘who were in charge of Capt. Joha E. Mulford, ihe ef. cient fag of trace officer, there were several ladies on board, one of them Mra, Stewart, wife of Gen. Stewart , and adopted daughter of Gen. Hanter; also Mr. Voaburg, the correspondent of the New Youx Hamatv, who was captured by the rebels on the 27th wit. ‘The propeller John Rice, Capt. Garvin. alse arrived here about the time of the State of Maine, having om boara about six hundred prisoners, of whom about one bundred and fifty were comm) aoved oMorrs, all of whem are now en rowe to Annapolis, Md. Celene! Ladiow bas accomplished the following ex changes with Judge Robert ald: — 1. All officers and caliued men, aad ail persons, what. over may have been their classitfeation or charaater, who have delivered at City Point, Va.,up to the dth of MAT’ An efteers who have bron captured and released on | parole up to April t, 1965, wherever they may hare been The One Hundred and Third suffered severely, losing more in Killed and wounded than any other regiment of the three engaged. Our loss yesterday was about one hun. dred and five killed and wounded. ‘That of the enemy jaa much greater, as our shelling of the woods was the cause of their suffering severcly. It is said that Provi- dence church, some seven miles distant, on the Petersburg Toad, was crowded with their wounded. Our force was withdrawn about nine o'clock P, M., sad the bridge taken up. THR REUMIS RETREATING NO JOIN LEE Farly this morning (the 4th) there were indiostins that (be enomy bad evacuated his riffe pits and the ap | proaches which he had made for the siege, aod taken up | red. Tit. Ali en{istod mon who live bean captured im North | 08 line of march for the Blackwater. A foros was imme | Carolina “ee and released on parole, wp to the Igt diately thrown out on each of the main roads, advancing — of March, 1863 cautiously towards the surrounding woods; but no indica. tions of the enemy were to be discovered. If we except their vacant fortifications which surround us | ‘The reveis are vow in fail retreat to jota the forces of General Lee in opposition wo Hooker. They cromed the The delivery of the above prisoners has clearad the Southern dungeons pretty effectually, and we bate also Calvetye > ae imber of prisoners to the rebele In. aemuch as exchanges have commenced, tt to be hoped that there wil be po further bitch t the speedy retonse officers and men who should be a0 unt : we roa fe the region pani ' Me ee wale. ne they are. ‘— they new from Ni an - in fret, 5 . s weet. Tho onem'y hving fallen back to ua ack water, Thouta be for solve work, «n the em eling order. re, ‘unatiture rebel Fort Mi-sisaippi, which stale a then ‘within four miloe of General Langs an juesti Tho orders, as Ww eon, es lost orders. ordel PRISON TRS, Small quads of rede! prisunera are oonatantly a: There have been token, in wll 40 day, xbO0U0De and soventy-five.. Th y'are wretchedly clad, but and apparently well fed, Some of them wi bare’ ‘and along the line of retroat of Ly shoes bave been th I would to - een thrown away which would 10. cling to the feet of the woarers, Some o' the pri from tho Mississippi. and A-abama. rogimenia.be. paroled. 1 asked ono barefooted, sulitary aud looking peisoper, who was being eacurted nlong by acavalryman, whether he would like to be His anawer was, “No, by God! not if. ben A ba ge N me that tis whole —the rd Arkansas—hd been eui i siege of Sufloik. The fact that Arkunsas, scent ing here is a nut for military men to © ack — ‘Troopal be #carco, or the fortunes of the rebellion hinge on, ginia, if thoy can aflord to'transpors men tut 4 ur cavalry pickets have been out soms eight mile! find nothing of the enemy. Upon examination. tt ia that on the South road, towards the | burg Railroad, there are threo tines of rifle! and redoubts thrown up, The inner Ine was | six hundred yards from our South Quay batter) the bunle of ‘the Nanfemond river ‘The secon was about ono thowand two hundred yarda | the yriver, and supported fuely by tho ihe of road to the north of it, Four miles diatant they erected a splendid earthwork, which they namod Mississippi. The parapet at the top waa B tne fiftee wide, and at the tom about thirty. Tue brasures - were finely out, the rebutmens timber, and hurdics and’ everything arr: with @ view to @ strong de‘ence in Of this Meldwork is attack. On @ach side ‘a line aM. extending about @ mile exch way the defence was ovidently inteaded to shelter their fm case of au assault upon our wouks, whiok might ” unsuccessful, Theso works will ‘be lo; within a (ow days. } Ib Fort Misstasippi were found two letters toC Speare, of our cavalry. They invited him to make an “gallant chargo!’ upon their tines, especially upo “Palmetto Sharpshooters.” Oue of the letters ¢ that wo must be ‘“groat whiskey drinkers,’’ for the, scoured all the country ia this vicinity, and foun a es They promise to return + in the duc cow evonta. bs A captured rebel liontenant of the Palmette & shooters very suggoatively aske, ‘© Who is reaper far tho safe retreat of Longstreet?’ Bourvoa, Va., May 6,18 A VALUABLE TROPHY, Among tho trophies of the reconnoissange mac) Gon. Corcoran day before yesterday, and whichfell in’ poasesaion of Colonel MoMabon, of the Corcoran Z Que Hundred and Sixty-fourth New York regiment) was in the expedition, and to whom [ am indebted f pertusal, was a letter written by a rebel quartermaat} his mother in Alexandria, in which there are many (| which explain the reason of the late presen the rebel army in this Moser AE writer is © ly & man of inte!ligence, and igh be poiata yet his Jeter is xenerally interesting. The is dated ‘Confederate Camp, near Suflvik, Va, M. 1863." He commences by alluding to their (the departure to the rear (to Bixckwater), and thon go to write that the rebel army had been tn this vicin! about three weeks, busily engaged in furaviog the try in their rear as well in North (a: where they secured ‘f ge that when ina people were deli whow thvy entertained ner. aud to without restriction. Hoeays they ¢ ceived orders to sond no more w gous out, as tho through the country have been usted; #0 th) thinks the ordi r for the rebel army to move is of base. the rebel supplies not wi] have been st red.on eSER.FE i Fees i z 2 g iH y (a8 some of 5 He i! i ‘ 3 : E & a ae | | i # f a8 Fi iu t zi i \ i a ‘ i il 1 : ! i i Rs Fi i i £ i 1 * # i fe z & i § i 5 i a fq 3 i z= £ ot from our front, Geveral Peck haa the congratulatory order to the troops under bis