The New York Herald Newspaper, December 4, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. SAMEs GOKDUN BENTETE, PITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OPFIOR WW. COKNER OF FULTON AND NAS8A0 8S. Volume SAUTE sone Mo. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Oreks tue Ba Irving Place. Tue Grevis kK OW BuYLLy pATBLO'S GARDEN, Browgway.—Laxzs ov Kittens WALL\CK 8 THEATRE, Beoadway,—Rosao We pRisTeR GARDEN, — Broadway.—Ticest oF Lxave OLYMPIC THE, Aoriess uy Dave SracKen Heanr— ‘NEW BOWERY Rowory—Cannien ano THEATRE. He Dog—Nazeera—Warr ov tux Wisu-t0s Wis POWERY THKATRE, Bowery.—Docs or tux Juxcor— Foving Dutouxsas—Mutinnes Ho! x BARNUM’S MUSEUM, Broadwar.—Aramian Granr, | Qraxt Gi Gast Boy, Linurutian Kine, &@., at all ‘onest Baxpit—KovGe DiaMonp—Aftermoom aud BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. way —ErmiortaN SONGS, Darces, BUMLKSQUES, Be —JErMKS ux Powe WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, Slt Broadway, —Eraioran BONG, Dances, AC CAMILLE, OFO. CHRISTYS MINSTRELS, 635 Broadway.—Bun- Eesques. Sonus, Dances, 4€.—Dova.x Beppky Roow A {CAN THEATRE, 444 Broadway.—Battxrs, Tantosinns, BURbesgunt &c—Fitz Foopias Vorscu BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 4835 Broadwav.—Gru NisTIO ANG LquksiKIAN PERFORMANCKS, HOPE CHAPEL, 718 Broadway ‘Tut StxeKoscortican KEW YORK MUSRUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. Cumosities sop Leerumks, trom 94. M."ON 10 2. | EW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, ‘ourt be- | complete change — It idéhere stated to be bis in- | of @ slockboider | yesterday reversed the decixion of the ( renders tho sale of his shawps } low, winch had Jemned (he pree sehooner | Lention to withdraw the Prenel as promptly as | necessary ia tha settlement of bis estate. They jeneral C. C. Pinckney possible trom Mexico, and order to enable | aro essentially close corporations. They are The number of iumates in the various inatite him to do this the provisional government is | immensely rich, amd as arrogant as they are ioue Of the city ot present 6,169 ‘The mumPer | pecomucndod to push forward energetically | wealthy. Like the manufacturing and ingu- | rdmitied last week was I Me set ioe ‘apis the organization of the Mexican army, Ex- | rance companies of New England, they consti- | gr Bi eckson we peal ction | PFCs denials are eso given of any intention tute the aristooracy of mosey making corpora- held their fortnightly mecting yesterday—Simeon | 0 the part of France to recognize the Southern tions. They make money at the expenso of the | Draper yreauing but the business before them | Confederacy or of her having concluded any | public, and are notorious for failing to satiaty 44 routine in its character. treaty with the Richmond government for the | even the moat reasonable demands of their cus- Tho Swrogate yesterday directed new accounts | cession of Texas and Lonisiana. tomers, who comprise that public. If they desire tobe filed by the exceutor of Caleb Kirby's ea- Some six months ago these assurances would | ary alteration in their charters, the city or State The exec motion for an attuchment against lauteh stor of Hogan's estate, was denied he Surrogate heard argument on an application for leave to issue execution on a judgment of | $1,100 against William Messer’s estate. ‘The trial of the contested will of James Thomas was re- sumed. The will is opposed by the children of Mr. Thomas’ first wife, from whom he e¢laimed to have been divorced. The estate is valued at 210,000. The assets of Francis Waas' estate were ordered transferred to the jurisdiction of the St! Louis Court of Probate. The rise in gold rendered the markets generally Armer yesterday, and the transactious ia most commodities— both foreign and domestic—wero at rather higher prices. Jn Some articles there was a marked advauce. At the Produce Exchange there was a firmer feeling iu nearly all articles, Flour was Se. a 100. higher; wheat and coro were about Ic. better. Provisions were rather botter. Whiskey was excited and higher; 83c. was asked, aud asalo ot Western. for futuro delivery, was reported atthat price, Petroleum was more active and Ormer. Groceriea were rather quiet, but very Grm. Imported merchandise was generally firm, but with little doing. Gen. Meade on the Back Track Again— What Does tt All Mean? The late pursuit of the rebel army of Vir- ginia by General Meade, and his return from the immediate presence of that army, without a HOOLEY Bons, OPERA HOU Biooklya.—E wows, BURLESQTKS, & eeinasinstnye New York, Friday, December 4, 1863. LHE SITUATION. The position of the Army of the Potomac was unchonged esterday. We publish inour columns to-day a very interesting and most claborate account of the advance from the Rapidan, the attack at Mine run, and the falling back of our lines to Brandy Station. It is de- scribed by one of our special correspond- ents in the field. The cause of Gencral Meade’s reverse movement to the north bank of the Rapidan was simply that the enemy were found to be too atrcngly entrenched and protected by abattis on the right, and a succession of dams which raised the water in the run to nearly five fect, while the margin was wholly unfit for heavy operations in consequence of its swampy nature. The position of the enemy on the left ‘was #0 KLrong that it was found impossible to dis- lodge them. General Meade having made a careful gurvey of all the enemy's works, and having con- ited with bis officers, decided that it was advisa- ble to fall back, being convinced that he was on the wreng road to compass the defeat of his ad- versary. Our loss, a8 before stated, was 1,000, and that of the enemy is estimated at 2,500. The news from Chattanooga states that Bragg has been reinforced by Joe Johnston, near Dalton. Some rumors were afloat that the rebels had made @ raid across the Chickamauga river, at Red House Ford; but they are not traceable sojfar to any re- liable source. It was reported by deserters that General John C. Breckinridge has died from ‘Wounds received in the late battle at Ringgold, on the 27th ult. We have an account of the attack of General Tongatreet on Saturday night, which continued nearly all night by skirmishing and cannonading Ou Sunday morning the rebels charged on Gene- ral Ferrero’s position at Fort Saunders, and were fearfully repulsed, with a loss of nearly seven hundred men, iocluding two hundred and thirty-four prisoners. Our loss was only twenty- five men. General Burnside offered and General Longstreet accepted a truce until seven o'clock fin the evening, to take care of the wounded and dead. The fight was not renewed up to morning, at which time our despatches are dated. The rumor that some five thousand rebela were captured is not confirmed. Des- patches from General Foster at Cumberland Gap yesterday say that he may be able to damage the rear of Longstreet’s army on its retreat into Vir- ginia. Reporta from Fort Smith, Arkansas, represent the rebel Generals Marmaduke, Price and Cabel @s being in force on the Little Missouri river, and | contemplating an attack cither on the fort or on Little Rock. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship Scotia, from Liverpool on the 21st Q1.d Queenstown on the 22d of November, arrived at this port about two o'clock this morning. A | digest of her news, telegraphed from St. Johns, | Newfoundland, was published in the Henaup of | last Tuesday morning. A grand demonstration of the citizens of New | York, in favor of prosecuting the war with re- mewed vigor and of suppressing the rebellion, took place last evening in the Cooper Institute, Mayor Opdyke presiding. Strong resolutions in favor of the object of the meeting, calling upon Congress to increase the pay of soldiers to twenty dollars per month, and lauding General Grant's Peceat victories at Chattanooga, were adopted; ‘and speeches were made by Mayor Opdyke, Mr. Gilbert Dean, Judge Daly, Hon. Mr. Kelly, of Philadelphia; General Daniel E. Sickles, James . Brady, Parke Godwin and others. The great och of the evening was that of General Sickles, howe appearance on the platform was greeted ‘with tumultous applause, and whose remarks were Listened to with the deepest attention. He ap- pealed to the people to treat with kindness, gratitude, honor, respect and consideration the private soldiers who were hi = rably discharged, and then there would be no difficulty in replenish. fing their armies. Letters from President Lincoln and General Dix were read. On the whole, the demonstration was a significant one. The regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, A. A. Low, Baq., in the chair, The only business transacted was the eloction of the following members:—Judge William Marvin, Geo. A. Jarvis, Charles Anderson, H. B. Tngalla and William Scott, The Chairman called Attention to the opening of the canal communica- tion between the Mississippi and the seaboard, aod said that, from interviews which the committee ‘eppointed by the Chamber had had with the heads of departments at Washington, it was evident that no money would be appropriated at present for any other object than that of carrying on the war, after which the Chamber adjourned. Board of Aldermen met yesterday, but ad- battle, to the north side of the Rapidan, ap- pears to us one of the most inexplicable, profit- lesa and discreditable military exploits of the War Office since the first battle of Bull run, We have every reason to believe that a de- cisive defeat of the army of Lee at this time would put an end to the rebellion; we know that the Army of the Potomac was never in a better condition, physically and morally, for this important enterprise; we dare say, too, that, horse, foot and artillery, our army is al- most twice the strength of that of the enemy. And yet, when the enemy is brought to bay, and the long wished for opportunity is offered to our brave soldiers for the crowning battle of the war, instead of the word forward they are ordered backward, and are now once more on the north side of the Rapidan. What are the excuses trumped up for this miserable fiasco? Here they are:—First, the army was advanced on an allowance of fifteen days’ rations, and, having consumed half of those rations, it was compelled to return for a tresh supply for tear of running short. Secondly, when we over- hauled the army of Lee it was so strongly in- trenched on a marshy brook that it would have been a hazardous business to attack it. In the third place, newspaper reporters had prema- turely discioved the plans of General Meade, or the War fice, and thus we failed to catch the rebel army sound asleep. We are out of patience with these paltry pre- varications. If the army had consumed its six or seven days’ allowance of provisions, what was there to prevent the forwarding of another supply for seven or eight days? There was the railroad, and there was nothing be- tween General Meade and Washington, except Mosby and his fifty or one hundred guerillas, to interfere with our transportation. But the enemy were too strongly posted on the hills across the swampy brook. Strongly posted, were they, on that short and insignificant stream, Mine run, where they could be flanked by an hour’s marching? Humbug. How was Bragg posted and fortified in front of Chat- tanooga’ On a semi-circle of precipitious moun- tains—the key to his almost inaccessible posi- tion being nearly three thousand feet above the level of the sea. But you must not forget that General Meade’s—or rather General Hal- leck’s—plans were blown too soon by the news- papers. Bosh! We have had enough of this nonsense. There was nothing disclosed by the newspapers in reference to General Meade’s late advance calculated to be of the slightest value to the enemy; nothing that General Lee did not know for days before it was published. Ask Mosby. The simple truth is that no satisfactory or even plausible explanation has been given of this mysterious advance and retreat of the Army of the Potomac. The advance was en- tirely too late to be putin as a diversion in favor of Burnside at Knoxville, and it was un- necessary as a mere reconnoissance. The most charitable construction which we can give to this movement is that it was intended to fright- en the rebels at Richmond into something like the usages of civilized warfare in their treat- ment of our poor soldiers held by them as pri- soners of war, But we fear that their situation will only be made worse than it was before by the inglorious return of our army from its fruit- less expedition. We can hardly imagine that its main object was merely to amuse the coun- try, after the fashion of a tub to a whale, and | that the real purpose of the administration is rather to prolong than to shorten the war, in order to make sure work of African slavery. Whatever may have been the purposes, the causes and the plans of General Meade’s ad- vance, we must now take him as we find him— on the north side of the Rapidan. The ques tion then recurs, what next? Who knows? Can the War Office enlighten us’ It is useless to conjecture. The War Office will have it that there is only one road to Richmond, and that having been reported impracticable for winter campaigning, the Army of the Potomac may next be recalled for the winter to Arlington Heights, in order to take a fresh start again, by way of Bull run, in the spring. The Mexican Question Solving Itself. The wisdom of the policy pursued by our government in regard to Mexico is daily be- coming more evident. The key to the question lay in our putting down the rebellion in our own | States, and as we advance nearer to that object matters become simplified beyond the Rio | Grande. It is only afew months since Napo- leon’s letter to General Forey was published, announcing his intention to permanently estab- tablish French influence on this continent. Whether by this he meant to place the new empire under French protection, to seize upon Sonora or obtain a cession of Texas from the rebels was not clear. Any one or all three of these schemes may have occupied his mind at have been regarded with doubt; but we may now take thom as reflecting fairly the views and sentiments of Napoleon. The menacing aspect of affairs in Kurope would be in itself a sufficient explanation of this change in bis pur- poses. But when, in addition to that, he sees the strength of the South rapidly giving way before the blows inflicted oa it, it is no wonder that be should hasten to back out of designs which he is now convinced are beyond his power to carry out. That be does not even contemplate the possibility of Maximilian going to Mexico is evident from bis letter to General Bazaine. He says that the Archduke's election by the Notables is only a first indica- tion of the sentiments of the country, and that it is for the provisional government to collect its euffrages in such a manner as to leave no doubt as to its will. Of the sentiments of Mexico Napoleon is just as well informed as weare. Tiey may be summed up in the few words of General Banks’ despatch pubAished yesterday:—“Three revolutions,” he says, “have occurred in Matamoros affecting the government of Tamaulipas. The first was ad- verse to the intereats of Mexico and the United States. Everything now is as favorable as could be desired.’” Such would be the result all over the country if the Mexicans were sure of our co-operation. The suppression of the rebellion would leave us free to give this, and, as Napoleon is no longer in doubt as to the re- sult, he declares his intention of backing out of the involvement while there is yet time. The Coal Question. One of the ideas advocated by the Southern press in connection with General Lee’s cam- paign in Pennsylvania last summer—an idea almost gubl'me in its malignity—was that the Southern army should take possession of the coal fields of the Keystone State, and, by proper arrangement, effectually fire the coal. Had the authors of that idea been able to make the at- tempt, and had it been found practicable, it is probable that the remembrance of that cam- paign would have gone down to posterity in some such tremendous disruption of the earth’s crust as we have faint evidence of in Niagara Falls; for as far only as now explored not less than one-third of the whole area of Penn- sylvania covers coal. Beneath the surface of that single State there is enough coal, apparent- ly, to furnish the whole country with illimita- ble caloric for centuries to come; and yet in New York city, at only one hundred miles dis- tance from the most fertile of these fields, coal sells now at eleven dollars per ton. We have already shown in these columns that there is no reason worthy of popular re- spect why coal should command this price. We will show this again. Apparently it is safe to assume that the price of coal through any given series of years must represent that natural price that it should command, both in respect to its own value, to transportation and to the labor of miners. Take the price of coal in this city for the fifteen years previous to 1863, and we find the average to be five dollars and twenty- five cents per ton. That, then, is a fair price» a price that pays for the coal, for the labor of miners, for transportation to this city, anda profitbesides. If labor were scarce and less coal were mined this year than usual, the price ought to be higher. But, instead of this, we find that in the present year there has been mined a surplus over last year, and that this surplus reaches the enormous extent of one million and six hundred thousand tons. There is, therefore, no reason in the ecarcity of coal. Has there been more consymed this year than in previous years? On the contrary, there must have been less, for none of the Southern States now derive their supply from the North. It is said that the immense number of | vessels in government commission consume im- mensely; but a large number of these vessels have gone into the service of the government, not from the shipyards, but from other busi- ness, and in their previous service they con- sumed as much coal certainly as they do now. Thus there is some reason—in the surplus of coal on band and in the consumption— why coal should be cheaper, but none why it should be dearer than usual. Nor does the difference between the value of green- | backs and gold give any reason why it should be held at exactly double its natural price. Regarded, therefore, as a natural product, and as an absolute necessity of our condition of life, the people have a right to have this commodity at the natural price; and whoever stands be- tween the people and that right deserves popu- lar reprobation. Hitherto, in our attempts to trace the cause of this high price of coal, we came to what seemed to be a combination on the part of the trans. portation companies. That there is such a com- bination we cannot say; but we cannot see what else should cause this inflation of prices. The New Jersey Central Railroad is one organization | deeply interested in the transportation of coal. Besides this, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, the Lehigh Valley, and the Lacka- wanna and Bloomsburg roads, are interested in the same trade. Some of these companies are required by their charter to “carry coal at reasonable rates.’’ The presidents of these four companies are respectively Mr. J. T. John- ston, of this city; Mr. ©. R. Robert, of this city; Mr. Asa Packer, and Mr. E. McNeil. Perhaps | these gentlemen can throw some light on the causes of the present price of co: nd, if they | can, they certainly owe it to themselves and to | the community to do so. Let us know who are the persons who desire to realize a profit of five dollars a ton on coal at the expense of untold misery to the poor people of this city; who it is, that wants to acquire sudden wealth out of the poor man’s pocket; who it is that wishes to build his magnificent mansion, and cause such agonies thereby in every little hovel that no human life is long enough to expiate; who wishes to cover his daughters with diamonds, every gem of which might be the concreted the time. That they have been discarded by the force of events is now evident. The cor- Jeurned to Monday next, without transacting any Doasinens. The Board of Coancilmen did not organize last @ven.ng for want of a quorum, Pe4ge Nelago, in tho United States Circuit Gauss respondence which appears in the Blue and Yellow Books, published soon after the meeting of the French Chambers, shows that his views in regard to Mexico and the balance of power »\ on Sha Qunccican, gontianal bere, tears of a mother clasping a frozen child to her breast. Suortcominas ov THR Crry Gas Cowpantes—A the city gas companies. Their stook is sel- Qgu.do Backes opd Wencaly when the decease goverament grante it with but little inquiry or scrutiny into the purpose. They are powerful and saucy, and wield a tremendous influence when it is to their interest to take a hand in public matters. ‘There are four of these corporations in this city. As they throw some light upon the pub- lic ways, it is but fair that some light should be thrown upon their ways, for those ways are often devious and bad. The two principal gas companies are the New York and the Manhat- tan. They own the leading gas works in the city, the New York supplying the down town and the Manbattan the up town sections of the city. The two other companies do a sort of side show business. It is evident that the New York Company ia trying some experiments, for what purpose, except to annoy the public and to augment its already fat dividends, can- not be readily divined. But it is a fact that the experiments go far have resulted in giving the public a worse light at a higher cost than before they were commenced. Whether from bad coal, imperfect apparatus, or from some other cause known best to themselves, it is certain that the light now furnished down town is misera- ble. If the company be experimenting for the purpose of economy in the manufacture and the reduction in the price of gas, or for the purpose of getting rid of the foul odor which continually assails the organ of smell in some localities, it bas signally failed to secure either of those ends, with the exception, perhaps, of cheapening the manufacture of the article. This company is rich enough to do something for the accommodation and good of the public, and not to allow itself to become a nuisance under their nostrils. That it has become 60 any one can satisfy himself by making a visit to the vicinity of the company’s works up town; and it is not necessary to approach very near to be satisfied upon the point. By the leakage of the main metre,or some other ap- paratus, gas is allowed to escape in such volume as to fill the atmosphere from Twelfth street to Thirtieth street with an intolerable stench when the wind is from an easterly direction. So potent is the odous smell, and so completely does it fill the dwellings in the vicinity, that the residents run to their own metres expect- ing to find them broken and the gas escaping at a fearful rate. The cause of this annoyance has been now ascertained to rest with the gas company itself; and we call upon the Grand Jury speedily to indict the company for main- taining a foul nuisance, and one which menaces the health, as it certainly destroys the comfort, of citizens living in the neighborhood of the gas works. NEWS FROM ARKANSAS. MOVEMENTS OF THE REBEL FORCES. Price, Marmaduke and Cabel Prepar- ing fer an Attack en Fort Smith, &e., ae, Be, Fort Surtu, Ark., Dec. 2, 1863. General McNoil bas re!iabie information that the enemy are stretched along the Little Missouri river. The right wing of the rebel forces, under General Price, is near Washington; the left wing, under Cabel, is at ‘Suddo Gap, aud the centre, under Marmaduke, is in the vicinity of Murfreesboro. It is thought that these forces are preparing to attack Fort smith or Little Rock. The revel General Cooper is in the Red river valley, end Stanwaite Is in tne Creek Nation, Their total force is estimated at twenty-two thousand; bat this is mo doubt exuggerated. Geveral Blunt is here INTERESTING FROM FORTRESS MONROE. General Magruder and the Texan Union- Rich- Prisoners from NewDern—Belle Boyd En Route to Dixte, dic., de. Fortress Monros, Dec. 2, 1863. The steamor George Washington left this morning for City Point, with @ cargo of provisions for the Union prisoners in Richmond and vicinity. ‘The Petersburg Vaily Register of November 30 says:— Three of the ‘lexan traitors sent out of the country by General Magruder are Dr. Peeples, D. J nm lawyer, of Houston), and Zurkic, of ‘Victoria, They will be put acrogs the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass Two boards of Yankee officers have been organized for the proper distribution of the clothing and provisions sent by the North for their prisouers on Helle Islo—one for the quartermaster’s and one for the commissary’s de- | partment, Colonel Sanderson, «former hotel keeper in New York, was chief of the proceeding, and managed the distribution jn a business like style. ‘The steamer Conqueror arrived last evening from New bern, N. ©., with fifty rebel prisoners. They were con veyed to Fort Norfolk this morning. Miss Belle Poyd arrived this morning from Wasbing- ton, in charge of & lientenant. She is to be sent over the lines, to remain during the war. The steamer New York will leave for City Point early | to-morrow, with a large lot of express freight from the North for the Union prusovers in Southern prisons. Rebel Guerilias tn Kentucky. Lovumviiie, Dec. 3, 1868. Colonel Tune, of the Fortieth Kentucky regiment, ro ports that bis pickets were driven in at Mount Sterling, Ky., by seven hundred rebels. Headquarters here think the pamber of rebels greatly exaggerated Camo, Til, Dec, 3, 1863. i Reports prevail to the effect that the rebel force threat ens Columbus. ESTReTaneMeNT At Gewenst Srinota's Heapgcanrans— | Recsion oF re Orricane or fis Stary. —Brigadier Gene- ral Spinola since bis return from the field of active ser. vice, where he received a severe wound, has without any intermission exerted himself for the purpose of for- warding recruits to fill up the ranks of the army. The | recrniting hendquarters of General Spinola in this city | are situated at Lafayette Hall, Broadway. Here recruit ing goes on briskly, and the ranks of the army are weekly replenished with quite a number of men, In consequence of the efficient exertions of the General and his officers. Yesterday afternoon a reunion of the General's stat took place at Lafayette Hall. A semptaons repast was | pre vided upon the occasion. Among those present were General Spinola, Colonel Lowry, Colonel Pinckeey , Colonel Holt, Hon. H. D, Clapp, Colonel James F. Kerrigan, Cap tain Kory. Excelsior Hrigade; Charles Baker, Eaq.. H. A. Moore, Eaq.. Peter Muldoon, Faq..and others, after the good things provided had been appropriately dis pore! of, sohrt speeches were made by the centiemen present as above mentioned. General Spioola’s career in the field was particularly jauded by the speakers, and the | etrongest eentimente of support were guaranteed during bie recruiting canvass in the city ‘The entertainment closed at a late bour in the evening The Missouri islatare. dnerenson City, Mo., Dec. 2, 1868. In the Senate to day an act providing for the calling of anew State Convention was tabled by ate vote, the President voting in the affirmative. In the House Mr. Waguer oftered & series of resolutions, te the following effect —The abolition of siavery , that the down or deliver ap their surrender the forte and arsenals, the people DECEMBER - £ 1863, SOU Ea tists sent fata ata’ | CHATTANOOGA, wee Reported Reinforcemert of Bragg by Joe Johnston. The Hospitals Filled with Wounded Soldiers of Both Armies, Depredations of the Rebel Guerillas, &e., Cuarranooga, Doc. 2, 1668. Tho movements of this army now going oa cannot be roported. ‘Tho hospitals ere full of the woundod of both armics. Rofugocs and deserters report that Gouoral Bragg has been reinforced near Dalton, Ga., by Joe Johnston. ‘Thore are questionable reports of a rebel raid across the Chickamauga rivor at Red House Ford, and that the families thore took refuge in the town. Rumors continue to thicken of rebel doings in the bor- der counties of Tennessee. Koports say that Faulkner and his men are not only consoripting all the men they cam lay thoir hands oa, ‘but that they are takéng all the horses, mules, cattle and ‘bogs, without regard to the political sentiments of owners, that they can find. Reported Death of John O. Breckinridge. Cuartamooca, Dec. 3, 1863. Desorters and citizens report that Jobo C. Brickinridge died of wounds recetved at Ringgald. A sou and cousin of Breckinridge are prisoners. e., bo. Guerilla Attack om the Steamer Biack- hawk. Cinormnai, Dec. 3, 1 863. Momphis advicos of the 30th of November say that the steamer Blackhawk was fired into by guerillas noar the mouth of Red river, and several on board wore wounded. ‘The Blackhawk had to put back to Now Orleans. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasitncron, Dec. 3, 1863 THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. The President's Message hag not vet been completed, owing to bis sickuess, It may almost certainly be stated that this document will firat find its way to the country over the telegraph wires, as on previous occasions. THE FORTHCOMING DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. As the report of tho Socretary of the Treasury is much larger than horetofore, arrangements will be mado to send copies to some of the principal cities in advance of its transmission to Congress, and so with the other reporta of the beads of.departments; but it is not certain with regard to that of the Secretary of War. The matiuscript of all the documents is for the moat part io the hands of the public printer. The estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury will,as usual, be laid before Congress on the day of meeting; but the financial report not, perhaps; till several days thereafter. For some days and nights past the Secretary of the Troasury bas been devoting himself exclusively to the preparation of bis financial report, which is not yot finished. Meantime the Aas.st- ant Sccretary of the Treasury Field bas been closely occupied ia the transaction and direction of all other busi- ness of the office. Mere visits of ceremony have there- fore to be devied, and matters comparatively trivial give place to those of pressing public importance. THB N8W YORK AND WASHINGION THROUGH RAIL- ROAD LINE. The railroad excursion party, on a tour of inspection of the new through route between Now York and Wasbing- ton, inaugurated the opening of the route by a grand din ner at Willard’s Hotel to-night. The press of New York, Philadolphia, Baltimore, Washington, Newark, N. J.,and Wilmington, Delaware, ag well as many of the Western ities ; and the officers of various railroad lines, the Mayor of Washington and the Superintendent of Military Rails roads , participated im the festivities. Mayor Wallach and Mr. Prescott Smith, Master of Transportation of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, presided at either end of the table, which groaned with gooa things, fruits aod flowers, bounteously prepared and tastefully arranged. The din- nor was succeeded by speeches from Mr. Smith, Mayor Wallach, Pen, Porley Poore, in behalf of the press; Colo- neil) C. McCaliom; Mr. Zabriskie, of New Jersey; Mr. Stearns, of Pennsylvania, and others. The opening of the through route from the national metropolis to the great metropolitan city, without change of cars, was appro- priately and festively inaugurated. CALL FOR AN OPPOSITION CAUCUS IN TH® HOUSE ORGANIZATION. In the Constitutional Union, this afternoon, is published a call for a meeting of the democratic couservative and constitutional Uaion members of Congress elect, on Fri- day cvoning, in the representative chamber, at the Capi- tol, for consultation, and for # regular caucus on Saturday evening, for action, in reference vo the orgaoization of the house next Monday. THE GOVERNMENTAL MAPS OF MEXICO. The statement that Gen. Forey or the French Minister was furnished by the State Department with General Scott’s military maps of Mexico, or otver information preparatory to the French invasion of that country, is erroneous. Neithor General Forey nor the French Minister, nor any other person, ever asked for or received any such information. THE RUSSIAN NAVAL OPFICERS IN WASHINGTON. A large number of Russian officers visited the various departments and military headquarters bere to day, oc- casioning on the avenue no listle sensation. Four vessels of the fleet are lying off Alexandria, the state of the river not being favorable to a further advance of the fleet in this direction. THE CHARTER ELECTION. Counciimen Elected. ‘The follow Mg are the candidates for Councilmen elected in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh districts:— FIFTH COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT. Samuel T. Webster. Democrat. Frederick Repper Jeremiab Heflermas... M.C. Gross. John Ryan 6 Owen Keenan seed - Democrat. SIXTH COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT. Jono Houghtalin. caste J. G, Haviland... George Scbafler. Jeremiah Pangburn Davia R. Jaques. Wm. 8. Opdyke. SEVENT! Alexander Brandop Valentine Cook... David Fitzgerald... Jobp Brice... Patrick Russeil William Joyce... Tenth Ward School Ticket. In the Tenth ward Mr, Jesse G. Keys was elected School Inspector, instead of Mr. William Greve, and Mr. George Kinzer School Trustee, in place of Mr. F. Krugier. TO THE BDITOR OF THE HERALD. New York, Dec. 3, 1863. Will you please give the correct list of the school offl- cers of the Thirteenth ward elected on last Tuesday a place in your valuable paper, bay Sw BER? Commissioner—Thomas Brown. Inapector—Kobert Fair. Trusters—Vetor Relyea, Frederick Germann This ticket was elected by over 600 majority THE STEAMSHIP AMERICA AT PORTLAND. Pontiawp, Me., Deo, 3, 1868. The steamship America, from Londonderry on the 17th ultimo, where sve pat back on the 15th to repair, arrived here this morning, The America reporte:—November 90, at half-past twelve P. M., passed steamer North Ame- rica in latitude 42 59, longitude 60 09, bound east. Bortoy, Dec. 3, 1863. The America’s mails will be forwarded to-night. They will be due in New York to-morrow morning, at an early hour bi HIBERNIA AT PORTLAND. Tho stoamahip Aibernia (iy , 9 0, " p 5 {1 on ultimo, via on the 20th, arrived bere this morning. News anticipated. The Penobscot Closed. Banoo, Dee. &, 1868, The Penobsont river, at this ci "was cloged by ico Inet night. The weather is very cold. Bonds. Deo. 3, 1868. ‘af $801,400 five. 000 was ordered about equally Lope The subscription a ee twenties eae. thie amount, $200, Dy Western agents, the balance beipe divided qnoag large oy OM KNOXVILLE. Change of the Rebels Upon tho Unice Position at Fort Satindors. Gallantry of General Ferre- ro’s Command. Two Rebel Colonels, Several Captains and Over a Hundred Men Left Dead on the Field, Capture of 284 Prisoners and Three Stand of Colors. REBEL LOSS ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED. UNION LOSS SLIGHT. Generale Sherman's and Foster's Junction with Burnside, be, Ken an Me. James O. Fitzpatrick's Despatch. Knorvute, Nov. 30, 1868. During Saturday night laat, November 28, the onomg made a general attack In force upen a large portion of our skirmishing line, and at about midnight succecdap tm driving in our pickets. ‘This movement of the rebels was tatonded as a fotnt to confuse us, and to conceal the real point of tho contem- Plated aasauit. Cannonading, skirmishing and picket @ring contiaued all wight. : Farly in the morning the enemy charged in atroag force on General Ferrero’s position at Fort Saundere They wore met midway by a murderous diacharge of grapeshot and canister, and by the steady fire from the Union rifle pits, under which thoy faltered and Gnaily feli back, in broken fragments, leaving two coloneis* several captains, aad, in all, over one hundred dead on the fleld. A considerable force ef the rebols reached the foot ef the parapet of the fort, only to be tumbled into « ten foot ditch gorrounding the work, where the wounded and the dead, the living and the dying, were piled together in an undistinguished mass. We captured twe hunared and thirty-four prisoners. ‘The enemy's loss 6 not far from sevea hundred mente the assault. The Union loss is loas than twenty-five. General Burnside humanoly offered a truce to General Longstreet until five P. M., to afford time for removal of the enemy’s wounded and burial of the dead, which trace was agreed to, and afterwards extended twe hours be- yond the specified time. The badly wounded rebels were piaced in our hospitals, ‘and those abieto be meved were conveyed im our amie lances to the enemy’s line. Three stands of rebel colors were captured. ‘This morning the weather is quite clear, and It is frees- ing at the time I write. All is quiet now along the lines, The Cincinmati Despatch. Corcannati, Deo. 8, 1868. A despatch bas been received from General Foster's Chief of Staff, dated Cumberland Gap, the let inat., which says nothing of the capture ef five thousand rebel pris- oners at Knoxvitie. The Loufsville Despateh. Lovmitis, Dec. 8, 1868. A midnight special despatch says General Wicox tele graphed General Burnside, at Knoxville, oa Nov, 80, ¢hat at eleven o'clock on the evening of the 26th the revele attacked bie force, and succeeded in driving our skirmich- ing line to the right on the Kingston road, and forced it back to Fort Saunders. We afterwards regained the position, after sharp ekir- misbing all night. ‘Dn Sunday morning, at seven o'clock, the rebels moved three brigades against Fort Saunders, or « portion thereof. Notwithstanding our heavy fire, they gaiaedche ditch, but could not ascend the parapet. We took three hundred men and three stands of colors. ‘The rebels loss in Killed and wounded is over three hundred, Our entire loss is not over two bundred. The wounded rebels were exchanged for loyal soldiers who were wounded in previous engagements aad the rebel dead sent through our lines, Colonel Russ, commanding the assaulting party, Colonel ‘Ivoy and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas, were killed. Stmultaneously an assault was made on the right of our line, but the rebels were driven back. Our loss on that side was about forty. The enemy's las was much greater. Our supplies are ample for the present. The rebe's bave been reinforced by one or twoof Bush- rod Johnson's divisions, The W M ing Despatch. Wastunatos, Tec. 3, 1863. The military authorities received a telegram this mora- ng (rom General Foster, who was joined at Cumberiand Gap by the forces previously sent thither from General Burnside to guard that important point. The fow troops under the former might, perhaps, be able to infliact some damage on the rear of General Longstreet, who is retreat- ing into Virginia. General Sherman would reach the aoeighborhooa of Knoxville to-day. News from California. iY Frawomco, Dec Se. ‘The money in the market is adequate for the jemand ; ‘no surplus. Capital is well eau Jy exchange Tules at 388 it por cent id in New York. Lg yet ty days, 148 a 14856. The ‘oSbing rood, with @ slightly {ncroased demand from 1 . The weather is rainy ‘An unsuccessful attempt was made to pump out the ship Aquilla yesterday. entertained, there Fears are h being #0 leaks in ber, that it will be impossible for the divers to make her light enough to allow the to free her. In cage of failure on the noxt trial the ua- dorwriters wil eovertien for & proposal to raise her on some pian to be proposed. Legal tender notes are at 67 a 67 bs Six Francmco, Dec. 3, 1968, yesterday rendered a decision Captain R. H. Pearson, in favor of Charles P. ‘The iatter was oxiled by the Vigilance Mga Ppalled, the seemed ‘ter of a million for New York. Pank THxaThe, BRooxLs —A new three act arama, en~ titled (The impostor,"’ was successfully produced at thim house last night. It is adapted from the French, and is bighiy sensational. The pleco owed much of its succssm to the exceilent acting of Mise Irving and Mr. Harrison, the latter of whom was called before the curtain and compelled to make @ speech at its close. The piece will ‘pe repeated until farther notice. Henry Ward Beee ‘An immense andionce assembled at the Acsdemy of Music to-night to hear the leoture of Rev. Heary Ward Beecher, Governor Curtin’s introductory eddress was principally a9 appeal for the widows end amie, Beecher treated national < , nen cosartamea of them im, wire Beecher spoke with evident satisfaction of his of. i ick A ‘& high tribute to the general . very favorable to the Worm of entbugiaatic ang lous continaed MN ae . meas Is