The New York Herald Newspaper, December 5, 1863, Page 6

o NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GURDON BENNETD BDITOR AND PROPRILTOR OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NaSSaU STS. ANARARAADAARAAD NAA TERMS cash io advance. Money sent by mail will be ‘Ot the risk of the sender, Nune but bank bills current {a New York takea. THE DAILY HERALD, Taree cents per copy. NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspoadeave. We Go not return rejected communications. © Volume XXVIII ..... ee AMUBENENTS THIS EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Irving Plice.—Tux German Oreas—Fipxnio. NIBLO'S GARDEN, broadway.—Laxes or Kivtarner— Tigss, WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Rosxpiua, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Tionet or Leave OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Sraiogen Heant~ Aoraxss sy Dariigut—Yanuux Leoacr. ME’ BOWERY THEATRE, Bowers—Dumi —_ Maszurrs—Ben tax Boat:wain—Buack Doctor. edhaiceh BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory.—Jaox S: pr Aituxveno—[uniand As It fe) s UNfPARO-Quoer BARNUM'S MUSEUM, Broadwar.—Aramian Gtant, want Girt, Giant Boy, Liturerian Kino, + Bfscs Fontes Bunowriowan Drsuon—Afanssoe' abt BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Broad. | peal Bonas, Dancus, BuuLusques, &c.—Jurans WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 614 Broadway. —! Bonon, Dances, bo Cautuce, bala a QEO. CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS. 685 Brondway.—Bua. teques, Sonas, Dances, dc.—Dovaiu Broped Room AMERICAN THEATRE, Pasrouinxs, No, 444 Broadway.—Bauer: Buntxsques, &c.—Firz Foopurs Vorace iy BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 485 Broadwav.—Gre- ee Bquestaan Puaroraances. Afternoon and ‘SOPR CHAPEL, 718 Broadway.—Tuag Srzuoscortican MEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Bi —— ©umoernas ann Lectures. tromed a, M. ‘till Wee HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSK, Brookiyn.—! Bones, Dances, Buniesques, 40. ea TRIPLE SHEET. Sew York, Suturday, Decemb: THE SITUATION. The Army of the Potomac remains quiet; but t rebels are not disposed to afford our pickets gmuch relief. On Thursday night they were driven {n at Germanna Ford by the rebel cavalry, and the Yong roll was sounded throughout the camp; but the enemy retreated back across the river before damage was done, aad the army'soon regained usual quiet. ' We give a splendid map to-day of the battle ‘eld of General Meade’s late advance, the rebel on Mine run, and the scene of the fight at Pocast Grove. ' Washington gossip hints at the removal of General Moade, and points to the appointment in his place of General Sedgwick. Other names are Qlso mentioned; but we must await further de- volopments for the denouement of General Meade’s fate failure as far as the command of the army is Concerned. We give the full details from our special cor- tespondent of the battle at Ringgold, Georgia— ho last fight of General Grant with General Bragg for the possession of the important triangle of the failroads connecting Tennossee aad Georgia. A yery fine map accompsnuics our correspondent's ription of the five hours’ hard fighting in which rebels were completely defeated. Despatches from Knoxville to the 30th alt. con- the reports previously pablished of the re- ot Longstreet's troops, and their loss of over thousand men in killed, wounded and missing. was quiet there. Despatches received Cincinnati yesterday from Cumberland Gap, ted the day previous, report that severe fighting took place at Walker's Ford, two miles from the gap, between General Foster's and General Longstreet's cavalry, that in attempting to cross the Cliach river forces were repulsed, with the loss of fifty men; but that we captured four of the enemy's jas. Later reports thau those we have had pre- Viously say that Dragg has been relieved by Gen. ) who is eaid to be endeavoring to reor- os the army, if possible, and tuke an offensive ‘The latest news from Charleston is to the Lat fast., at four o'clock in the afternoon. General Gilimore was then shelling the city, throwing twonty shells day, with considerable damage. All the inhabitants bad been removed to the rear Of the’ city, the fire proving, it is pre- fumed, destructive. The firing on Fort Sum- fer had been discontinued, but Fort John- poa and the other defeaces inside the harbor were feceiving a terrific fire from our batteries. The gebel flag which bas heretofore floated over Fort Bamter is no longer displayed, and ouly an occa- ional ahot is Gred from the ruins. The rebels, it Appears, have been erecting new batteries near Fort Moultrie, under cover of a hospital flag, ‘which they, kept flying 00 the Moultrie House, aad which was reapected by our forces, in accord- ance with the usages of war. But it is stated that the walls of the Moultrie House were torn down @ few days ago, and revealed a formidable battery ‘which had been erected by the rebels under the Protection of the sacred hospitai flag. EUROPEAN NEWS. Our Buropean files by the Scotia, dated to the Blet of November, reached us yesterday. We @lso reesived the vory latest news roports, which @ppear in our columns this morning. From these @ources we are enabled to publish a very Interest- fing and important resume of the e s tranapir- fing in the Old World to the moment’ of the de parture of the Scotia from Queenstown. The Baropean journals inform as that Napo- eon’s proposition for a congress has been accept- 4 in principle by ail the Powers invited; that the of them will attend, and that the remain- Gor awaited Napoleon's programme of tho bases of the subjects named for discussion, It is said that the Emperor had already forwarded a second fetter of instructions to the French miniaters abroad, enabling them to give this explanation. The Sultan of Turkey accepts the invitation to the congress, and has tolcgraphod that he will at- tend it iv person. * Tho anew King of Denmark also accepta, and our correspondent thinks that the Federal cil of Bwitzerland will send delegates to the ee tlag. f The London Spectator raya that Parl Russell ts dou 0 retire from tue Palmerston Cabinet. ant & NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1863.—TRIPLE SHEET. that the Earl of Clarendon will take his place at the head of the Foreign Office. Russia was preparing to meet, or share in, the impending war conflict in Europe on @ gigantic scale, Three hundred lighters laden with stone have been alrealy sunk in the south channel en- tranoe to Cronst#dt, and General Todleben, with other engineers, was engaged in constructing and improving # vast system of defensive works com- posed of iron and earth combined, in the most scientific manner. It is said that the English Blakely gun has been adopted, after investiga- tion, by the Russian authorities. The London Times acknowledges that the Czar defies all the other great Powers, allied or single, on the Polish question; that he is about to obliterate the nation- ality of Poland in blood, and that England cannot in any way aid the Poles in their attempts to avert the fate of their country. The specie held by the Bank of France amount- ed to two hundred and four millions of francs on the 21st of November. Two very curious and important oases had been tried in the English Divorce Court. Lady Crampton, nee Miss Victoire Balfe, sued for a divorce from her husband, Sir John F. Crampton, late Minister of England in Washington, and now Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain in Russia, and obtained a decree dissolving the mar- riage. It was necessary that Sir Charles Locock, with others of the mo#t eminent obstetrical practi- tioners in London, should be examined in support of Lady Crampton’s case. ‘The second trial dissolved an American marriage, celebrated at Winchester, Virginia, between the Rev. Mr. Wm. Yates Rooker, an English clergy- man, and Miss Sarah Massingberd Walker, a native of Virginia. It is eaid that financial agents had been sent out from England to the rebel States in order to ne- gotiate a loan based on all the cotton in the actual possession of the Davis government, and also to rearrange the first Anglo-rebel cotton loan, so that the new promoters may enjoy its profits. The new steam blockade runner Will-o-the- Wisp, just from the Clyde, is described in the Herawp to-day. Spanish reports from Mexico state that the Juarez government was dissolving rapidly, and that when the French troops reach San Luis Potosi Juareg will cross into Texas from Monterey. The latest intelligence from the British prize ring and turf is published in our colunms, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The trial of the contested will of James Thomas was continued yesterday before Surrogate Tucker. In the absence of any marked change in the price of gold, there was more steadiness observable in the mar- ket yesterday, and our commercial reviow contains no radical changes, except in some two or three articles. Dreadstufls were less active, and prices favored tho buyer. Provisions were steady. Petroleum was active, and about 2c. higher; tho sales were very heavy, inde- pendent of large operations at prices which were reported for the purpose of influencing the market. Groceries were firm and rather quiet. Cotton was steady. Whis- key was very active, with large sales at higher prices. Freights wre more active, and with pretty heavy ongage- monts anda temporary scarcity of freight room, rates may be written plump lc. higher. To Great Britain the flour and grain engagements were considerable at the enhanced rates. The Mecting ot Congress—The President's Message. The Thirty-eighth Congress.will assemble in the national Capitol on Monday next, and from all appearances the House will be organized ] and, together with the Senate, be 'r me Tuesday morning for the reception of the Preai- dent’s annual message. : In the House and in the Senate there will be a satisfactory working majority in favor of the administration in the vigorous pro- secution of the war, and, we trust, in the work of the restoration of the Union under the “constitution as it is.” The im- portant task of providing fleets and armies, and the ways and means, for the suppression of the most formidable rebellion in the history of mankind, was so far discharged by the last Congress, in its various legislative acts, as to leave but little to do beyond amendatory or supplemental measures. Had the radicals of the last Congress been wiser, or the conservatives more powerful, there can be no doubt that the rebellion would have been ended some time ago, and that in all pro- bability most, if not all, the rebellious States would be represented in this new Congres. As it is, however, the administration and the loyal States, with the legislative ways and means provided, have reduced the rebellion to its dying struggles, so that the work of completing its subjugation will be comparatively light and easy. But then will come the grave responsi- bilities and the momentous consequences to be considered in the work of the restoration of the rebellious States to the benefits and the protec- tion of the Union. In this view, and in view of the manifest des- tiny of the United States, the task devolving upon the new Congress is more imposing and more important than any similar duty that has ever devolved upon any national assembly of modern or ancient times. But the public opinion and the wishes of the loyal States, as expressed in their elections of 1862 and 1863, ought to be sufficient to guide their re- presentatives into the right course, and to hold them to it. From these elections the mem- bers of the present Congress are admonished that they must follow neither the revolutionary counsels of the abolition radicals, nor the de- lusive jack-o’-lanterns of Northern rebel sympa- thizers or the peace democracy; that, while the object of the war is nothing more nor less than the restoration of the Union, the prosecution of the war is the only alternative for the suppres- sion of the rebellion. Under these plain and comprehensWwe instruc- tions from the people, there need be no diffi- culty in the legislation of Congresa touching this great question of the reclamation of the rebellious States. From their impoverished and helpless condition, we may anticipate o general popular reaction among them in favor of the Union, in view of the trials of the gloomy winter which is before them, although our active military operations, East and West, may for the time be suspended. We have no positive information as to the recommendations which the President proposes to submit to the two houses on the subject; but we are not without the hope that his message will be of euch @ character as to be accepted by the Southern people in the light of a favorable in- vitation to abandon the hopeless cause of their Southern confederacy. Between the administration and this new ‘Congress the powor and the means are amply possessed to bring this rebellion to an end, and to re-establish the Union in its territorial and constitutional integrity before the expiration of President Lincoln's term of office. We ex- pect him to adbere to his position—that this war, on our part, is for the restoration of the Union, and not for the extirpation of Southern slavery; that the Union is the paramount ob- ject, and that slavery is a secondary issue. Let the conservative elements of the House sustain him in this position, and the completo triumph of thé Union will soon be acnomntished. General Gra Chattanooga—The Battle of Ring A brief telegram from Cincinnati vaguely an- nounced, a day or two since, ment had taken place at Ringgold, Ga., between part of the forces of General Grant and those of the rebel Bragg. One of our correspondents with General Grant's army furnishes us this moroing with the details of the engagement, which bas proved more gorious than the first announcement warranted us in believing. It appears that a portion of the forces of General Grant, consisting of the corps of Generals Hooker, Palmor and Sherman, etarted on the 26th inet.—the day after Bragg’s defeat at Mis. sionary Ridge—in pursuit of the retreating rebels. On the 27th Bragg’s rear guard~ was encountered at a gap in the White Oak Moun- tains, below Ringgold, Ga., covering his retreat to Dalton. It will be seen from our corres- pondent’s account that General Geary’s division made @ vigorous assault on the gap, and that Canby’s brigade suffered heavily. The battle of Ringgold was the last desperate effort of Bragg to cover his hasty and disastrous retreat, All the evidence given tends to show that he retreated in great confusion, destroying valuable stores and leaving his dead and wounded in our hands, This affair closes active operations for the winter, and leaves us in undisputed possession of the line of the Tennessee from Bridgeport to Knox- ville, and of the great railroad triangle, of which Chattanooga, Dalton and Cleveland are the angles. The roads which are thus joined have been heretofore ef incalculable benefit to the enemy, in affording him rapid communication with the different districts of the rebel central military department; and doubtless we shall soon find the energetic Grant using the roads to the name advantage. He appears not to have been content with the immediate results of the great victory at Chattanooga, but only rested from his labors when he found himself in pos- session of the great railroad triangle, whose strategic importance is plain to the most casual observer of the map. Its possession, firmly es- tablished by the fortification of a few strategic points, forever closes the only valley route into Tennessee and Kentucky. The map which we publish this morning gives the important features of this triangle of railroads, and also clearly locates the soene of General Hooker’s latest exploit. The Discreditable Campaign en Rapidan—Whose Fault is It? Tho recent campaign on the Rapidan, judged by comparison with the achievements of our armies elsewhere, is a most discreditable fail- ure, and a disgrace to all the porsons concerned in it or responsible for it. Undoubtedly this is but another of those enormous blunders that originate in the War Department. Upon the War Department depends the choice of the sol- diers who shail command our armies; and if General Meade were incompetent for his posi- tion the War Department should bave known it by this time and chosen his successor; for we have now plenty of men able and ready to lead our armies, and possessed of all the requisites ofability and courage. But we shall not be- ‘Vieve that General Meade is wanting in any of these requisites until there is some good evi- dence of the’ fatt,"which now there Is not. In this lamentable failure we see the War Depart- ment and the War Department only} and since this war began we bave seen enough of the War Department’s work to be able to recognize it at the slightest glance. Since the wise men at Washington assumed the control of the Army of the Potomac its history has been a series of disasters. General McClellan’s well judged plans failed through their interference. Burnside’s advance, and the consequent fight at Fredericksburg, was forced by the same power, and Hooker com- plained bitterly of its blighting influence. Gettysburg, fought by the corps commanders, and won by the soldiers—without plan almost, and without even the knowledge of the War Office—showed what the army could do when left alone; and the failure to destroy Lee on the Upper Potomac indicated again the return and reinstatement of that malign Washington influence that—like the Fate of the old Greck drama—hungers for destruction, originates all evil counsels, and recognizes the existence of good ones only as it can oppose, pervert or ab- solately destroy their effect. Look at our armies elsewhere removed from the sphere of this influence. Success is as con- stant with them as success ever was in war. Grant, Rosecrans, Banks, encceed in the exact degree of their removal from and indepen- dence of this power. How must the men of the Army of the Potomac—just now returned to camp from the fifth onward movement by that overland route upon the superiority of which General Halleck has “‘staked his military repu- tation”—how must they envy the men who went out West with Howard and Slocum, with Steinwehr, with that rough old fighter Williams, and with the impetuous, passionate and magnificent old Geary? For out there our armies achieve victory—which is more delight- ful to the soldier than it can possibly be to any one else. But in Virginia, under the shadow of the War Department influence, our men have only the constant chagrin of defeat and failure. We regard this latest failure, therefore, as entirely caused by that bad influence that ema- nates from Washington city; but those who judge of these events abroad are not able to fix their causes so nicely. In France or Eng- land it is merely another Northern failure; and unless the House of Representatives, at ite egy. liest session, appoints a committee to inqults the foreign ignorance and malice will rate the fail- ure on the Rapidan as an offset to our South- western victories, and the country will be dis- graced by it. Tut Croton Aqvepvct Boarp.—A bill was passed at the last session of the Legislature empowering the Croton Board of this city to construct a reservoir on the upper end of the island for the purpose of supplying that por- tion of the city with Croton water. The neces- sity of this bas long beem apparent to every one at all conversant with that portion of Man- hattan Island. Fer some cause or otber the Croton Board has not acted in this matter. Nearly nine months have passed away since the bill became a law, and as far as we are able to learn nota single step has been teken towards executing the law. Tho people in that portion of the city, unable to obtain a supply of Croton water from the present resorvoirs, can see no hope now, after they have secured the passage of the law, of obtaining it from that source Why this delay on the part of the Croton Board? Who is the jobber that they are holding it back fort There is no reasonable excuse for their delaving the commencement of the work all Later Operations Near | this time. The law provides ample means for raising the money and everything else neces- sary for the Croton officials to have moved in that an engege- | this matter he moment that the bill was signed. But yet they have not taken any action, nor dogs it look as though they intended to. They may have been too busy saving party machines. If 60 they now have the consolation of know- ing that the party machines have all been smashed to atoms, and unleas they attend to their duties and look to the interests of the people, whose servants they are, better than they have done, they will find ita very hard task to save themselves. We would like to know whether the law of last session of the Legislature is to be executed, or is to be left for future generations to put in force? Who will enlighten ua on that subject? The Rapidan Campaign—The Ficld of Operations. The elaborate report of the recent move- ments and operations of the Army of the Po- tomac, furnished by our special correspondent and printed yesterday, scarcely needs any illus- tration. But Mr. Alexander, topographical engineer with the headquarters of the Third army corps, has furnished so fine a map of General Meade’s several situations south of the Rapidan, and the localities of the battle of Locust Grove and the succeeding mancuver- ings and skirmishings, which 60 fully corrobo- rates the story as told by our correspondent, and places the campaign 80 clearly before the public, that we are compelled to find apace for it in this paper. The map needs noexplanation. The position of our troops at different dates is marked, with the exception of the changes that occurred on and after Sunday. On that day the Second corps and one division from the Fifth were withdrawn from the front and placed in posi- tion on the left flank of our line. On Monday the Third division of the Third corps was sent in the same direction, while the Sixth corps and the remaining division of the Fifth were moved further to the right, to demonstrate on the enemy’s left conjointly with Warren's attack on their right. When these dispositions were accomplished the First division of the Third corps was required to extend its line so as to cover the territory the whole corps had previ- ously occupied, and the First corpa covered its own and the ground previously occupied by the Second and Fifth corps. This was the last position taken by our forces previous to the withdrawal. As we obtained no permanent possession of auy part of the rebel position it is impossible to represent their works in detail. The map simply shows the appearance of the ground occupied by them as viewed from the east side of Mine run, with a continuous line of works upon the summit of the hills. It is known that they bad several lines of works, one within the other, and detached breastworks and rifle pits in advance of their main position. But as these could not be accurately located and defined, the draughtsman has very proper- ly confined himself to representing general line of works. The rebg! position, as shown on this map, was certaialy a formidable one, and, well man- ned, might stagger even the boldest assailant. But it-is Ewown that when General Meade crossed the Rapidan General Lee had, at the utmost, not exceeding fifty thousand men. | With this force scattered over so long a line there could have been wanting not a few weak points, where, by a rapid cencentration and earnest assault, the rebels could have been routed. This was demonstrated when, on Mon- day, Birney advanced his single division and gained possession of the works opposite him. The trouble seems to have been in manceuver- ing our forces too slowly and making our move- ments too public. But the case is before the public for their judgment. They will condemn or justify the movement and its results with a just regard to the truth. Oxp Parties Broxen Ur.—From the muddle of the recent elections one fact is evolved, and that is that the old parties are entirely broken up. The democratic party lost the State election, and it has lost the city election. The republican party has gained nothing; tor the State election was an uprising of the people in favor of supporting the administration until its term expires; and the city election was an uprising of the people against the party ma- chines and in favor of common sense in poli- tics. If Tammany Hall had followed our advice, by running an independent ticket on a war platform in the State election, its leaders could have carried that election and the city election, and smashed the Albany Regency; and they would thus have placed themselves in a posi- tion to form the nucleus of a new, strong and successful Presidential party. Now it is too late. The Tammany leaders thought they knew more than any body else, and could do more than any body else, They were wise enough to want advice, but not wise enough to follow it. Like the blind leading the blind, they and their rank and file have tumbled together into the pit, Now is a most favorable time to start a new, popular and conservative party, with a new name, new principles, a new platform and a new organization. All the old parties appear to be groping in the dark. Somewhere out *Weat the old fogies ef the constitutional Union party have called a convention to nominate poor Pierce and Governor Seymour for the next Presidency. Why didn’t they dig up into, explore and ventilate this whole matter, | Brutus and Cassius, or some other fossils of centuries ago? Pierce helped the country to its present predicament by repealing the Mis- souri Compromise. Seymour has shown, during the past year, that he has no capacity for any responsible office. While men can be found in- sane enough to trot out such candidates, what hope is there for the politics of the country, ex- cept in entirely new parties, led by now men? Tue Revet Boast or Brvrauiry axp THE Trvts or Curvarry.—The Southern papers of late dates devote considerable space to show what» brutality and malignity mark the conduct of the rebels in this war, and in- cite all their actions, whenever they deem that retaliation is not likely to follow upon their atrocities, The particular instance over which the papers are gloating is in connection with | Quantrell and his fellow guerilias’ attack on Goneral Blunt and his staff and escort while on their way to Fort Smith. Our previous ac- counts of this massacre fall far short of the pic- ture presented by the perpetrators themselves, With demoniac pleasure the Southern papers enter, with a minuteness of detail which is re- pulsive and sickening, into the particu- late furnished them of tho attack and the slaughter which followed. Quantrell reports that he suddenly attacked General Blunt, killing the whole of his staff and escort, with the exception of twenty-five Persons, who succeeded in escaping. In one day, triumphantly eay the papers, Quantrell killed one hundred and eighty persons, and since “coming out,” at loast six hundred per- sons. “When the boys came on Blunt,” they Continue, “he was on his ambulance, enjoying quiet smoke. He fled into the prairie, but had Oot run thirty yards when one ef the boys omp- tied about forty buckshot in his back, killing him instantly.” The slaughter then became in- discriminate and ruthless, Quantrell reports that he also killed A. W. Jones, of Indepen- denoe, ono of General Blunt's staff. After the slaughter the bodies of the slain were stripped, and every indignity that hate and bru- tal ingenuity could prompt was inflicted on them. This horrible report is the subject of the highest commendatory comments on the part of the Southern press, furnishing but additional evidence of the malign influence which that press has throughout the war exercised upon the people of their seotion. The only comment needed here is to state that the press must take the will of their hero, Quantrell, for the deed, in ao far asa part of his statemont is concerned. From our despatches we ascertain that General Blunt reached Fort Smith, and that he is now there ready to repel the anticipated attack upon the Union force stationed there. Tus Two Minuion Bounty Bonps.—It appears that of the two million loan required by the city and county of New York for the soldier's substitute bounty fund, only $82,900 worth have been taken, and the Comptroller ts about to issue a circular calling upon the moneyed in- terest to come forward and invest in these se- curities, in order that the city may be amply provided with funds to pay for substitutes, and that the community may be spared the tortur- ing and perhaps dangerous alternative of a draft. The government must and shall have men to aid in putting down this rebellion. Every one interested in the cause of the North, and who has means to aid it, should come for- ward and invest in these securities to enable the authorities to send to the ranks willing substitutes. NEWS FROM KNOXVILLE. Repulse of the Rebels with Heavy Loss. Engagement Between Foster’s and - Longstreet’s Cavalry, Gey &., &e. Cinonmart, Dec. 4, 1863. ‘The following despatch has been received at the mili- tary headquarters in this city :— Kwoxviiiz, Nov. 30, 1863. All well. The enemy was repulsed yesterday with na loss. Everything is going on weil and we feel very confident. Despatches state that in the assault on Knoxville, on the 29th ult., the rebels lost over one thousand killed, wounded and prisonors. Engagement at Cumberiand Gap Be- General Foster's and Longstreet's Cmommatt, Dec. 4, 1863, Special despaches from Cumberland Gap, dated Decem. ber 3, report that there was fighting yesterday at Walker's Ford, two miles from the gap, between Foster’s and Long- street's cavalry. In attempting to crose the Clinch river we were re. Pulsed with the loss of fifty men. We captured four gums. Two of our surgeons were found murdered in Jones- ville. INTERESTING FROM CHATTANOOGA. General Bragg Said to Be Relieved by General Hardee, ae, Cuatranooaa, Dec. 4, 1863. Nothing-from Knoxville. The weather is mild and the roads have beon drying during the past week. This is ‘most favorable for the rapid march of our relieving col- umn, whicb is probably witbin reach of Longstreet to- night. 4 bumber of refugees from Walker county, Ga., came iu to-day. They represent that a perfect reign of terror Prevails in Northern Georgia. Males of all ages are con- ecripted, and all supplics are impressed. The citizens are escaping to the mountains. General Bragg has been relieved by General Hardee, who is making desperate efforts to patch up the shattered army and assume the offensive. ae, aa Theatre Francais. Last Thursday evening M. Chol made hia debut at this theatre witb great success. In the vaudeville ‘* Tambour Battant”’ he playod the role of Antenor Desroseau with considerable nerve and enirain. Mile. Maillet, as tho laay whom he persecuted into taking him asa husband, that she might thus got rid of bim, played ber part well, and sang her couplets successfully; but she dressed in vory bad taste. The publicexpect, on the contrary, that the artistes of the French theatre shall be dressed in the most becoming manner. A word to the wise, Ac. Mme, Donatien was admirable as the ex-vivandiere, This ar- tate 1a certainly destined to become a great favorite. In the comedy ‘La Fille de L’Avare,” M. Chol gave hee! of great artingic ability. As the avaricious father, @ was inimite DM a ee the play he evinced a Perfect conception ef the c! ter. He was much - lauded. Mile. Homburg, as ‘* Bugenie,” played w: ir ueual excellence. This artiste pgs § sympathetic, M. Faye played commendably the role the nephew. At the conclusion of the play, where he avows his love for Eugenie, he acted remarkably well. Mesers. Guignet and Edgard were, as usual, effective in their parte. We must call the attention of the management to the length of the entre-act-s. wear out the patience of ths public. To give two short plays, and then make the entre-actes long, that the evoving may pass, is a course the management should avoid by all means. There was a lal audience present last Thursday night. It ta evident the Theatre Fraucais bas be- come a faverite resort of the beau monde. Condition of the Union Prisoners at Richmond. Purapetrma, Dec. 4, 1863. The Bulletin publishes a private letter from s prisoner in Libby prison, which came through without the inspec tion of the rebel officers, dated November 16. It says:—- The rebels have again reduced our rations. We now receive per diem three fourths of @ pound of corn bread and one gill of rice to ten men, and as much water as we cao dr! Meat was stopped a week ago. The rebels allow us to receive letters, but won't les us write com- plaints to the North if they can help it. Coal Specaiat THB COAL OPRRATORS RESOLVED TO SUSPEND MINING OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO KESP UP THS HIGH PRICES. Pamapecema, Doo, 4, 1868. The Bulletin publishes the following — Wo learn this afternoon from an agent of a steamebip company that be has been endeavoring to-day to pur- chase ope thousand tons of coal, but (hus far unsuccess- fully, He Das received toformation that a meeting of coal operators was held last evening, at which it was resolved in order to keep up the present high prices, to suspend Mining operations, The suspension waa to commence immodiately, but it was finally devermined that it should bot commence until the 14tb of December. The Missourt Legiatature. Javrnwos City, Mo., Deo. 4, 1863, In tho Flour to-day the rules wore suspended to allow the introduction of a resolution providing for (he appoint. inert of @ committee to investigate the, transactions of the State Provisional government. The resolution passed, ceeeeerennemecemstitcleate Colored Cavairy. Bostox, Doc. 4, 1862, ‘The Secrotary of War baa authorized Governor Andrew (0 recruit’s regiment of colored cavalry ia Massachusotis, Arrival of the Massachusetts at Philadelphia, General Gillmore Still Shell- ing the City. The Inhabitants Removed ¢o the Rear. s THE FIRING ON SUMTER DISCONTINUED, The Rebels in Florida Said te Be Starving, &e., Partapecpma, Deo, 4, 1868, ‘The United States supply steamer Massachusetts, Liew- tenant Wm. H. West commanding, arrived at the Naw Yard thie morning, from Charleston bar Tuesday afters noon at four o'clock. She brought back the marine battalion, comprising twe hundred men, and several refugees from St, Johas'river, Florida, who represent that State to be im « etarving condition, ‘She also brought one of the rebel party who attempted to blow up the Ironsides—Robert Scott by name, formerly of New York. , Lieutenant West reports that General Gilimore ett continued to throw sheils into Charleston at the rate of twenty per day, and it was evident that they were doing considerable damage. The shells were seen to buret af night, : All the inhabitants of Charleston had been removed te the rear of the city. The firing on Sumter had ceased, and General Gilmore ‘was turning his attention to the forts toside the harbor, A terrific fire was kept up on Fort Johnson. & On the reception of the news of Grant's victories em Tuceday our army and navy fired grand salutes, Soom afterwards the rebel batteries opened fire, which was vigorously going on when the Massachueetts left. The rebels had heretofore kept a hospital flag flying from the Moultrie House, and of course our forces re be. eo. Gpected it and avoided firing upon it. But @ few days ago the rebels commenced tea ing down the Moultrie House, and revealed to our forces a formidable battery, which had been erect ed behind it while it was under the protection of the hos- pital flag. No flag now floats over Sumter, and only an occasional shot is fired from its ruins. Cuartxston Harnor, Dec. 1, 1668. ‘Tho position of affairs here is unchanged. ‘The west wall of Sumter bas been undermined by cur fire and the last vestige of the fort as a fortified work te disappoaring. ‘The rebels now only occasionally display o small battle flag from the ruins of the fort. On Thursday last the land batteries engaged the rebel forts on James and Sullivan’s Islands for several hour. Tho firing was very heavy. The weather up to yesterday has been stormy and the navy, in consequence, inactive. Captain J. M. Bradford has been appointed Fleet Captats: vice Emmons relieved. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. . Wasuraton, Dec. 4, 1868. RUMORED CHANGE IN THS COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. It ts rumored that another change is to be made im the Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Previous te the recent campaign Gen. Warren was a prominent eam» didate for the command of this graveyard of great geam Tals; but bis errors in the last engagement with Leo’ army will most probably occasion his Jaid upee the shelf instead of being promoted. Bedgwiel is now most generally spoken of as the star whie@ is to be called forth to attempt once more ize execution: Of the project 90 obstinately adhered to by War De partment of taking an army to Richmond by a route tha is impracticable to @ great army, even without ay enemy to dispute its progress. ‘THE PARSIDENT’S MESSAGE. It {8 understood that the President’s message will 0. intensely radical in character; so much so, indeed, as te settle the question of the republican nomination for the Presidency. The President regards the slavery questieg: 8 practically closed, and that the legisiation of the coum. try should treat it as a thing that is passing away forever, leaving only the debris ofa broken down institution to be disposed of. He will urge that now is the time to makes fiual disposition of this great political ourse upon the se tion, while the war shall be prosecuted most vigorously for the preservation of the national life and the integrity of the Union, CAUCUS OF THE DEMOCRATIO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, The democratic membera of Congress héld a meeting for consultation this evening, in one of the committee rooms of the Capitol, The attendaace was very fall, nearly all the members of that political stripe being Present. The caucus was organized by ealling ex-Gow ornor King, of Missouri,to the chair. He is to be te Permanent chairman of the organization, which te im tended to be kept up during the session. None of the border State men, except those wha were elected on the Gomooratic ticket, were present, The meeting was ia. tended only to perfect the preliminary arrangements of the regular caucus which ts to be beld to-morrow night, and to afford opportunity for the democratic mombers te become mutually acquainted. Nothing was done towards the selection of candidates or the indication of the of the opposition in the House, It was generally undef- ‘stood that the democratic candiate for Speaker shall be Presented by the Obio delegation, and, as the minority party ip the House are ready to unite with whomever they oan fing wiling to aid them in the contest for the Speakership, it is not probable that avy nominations will be made; but all the subordinate offices will be left ope for consideration after the selection of the Speaker, for whom the democrats are willing to give all the other of cors to their allies if strength enough can be commanded to insure success. ‘The Ohio democrat’: members had a talk together te day. Geo. H. Pend! on and 8. $8, Cox are the two whe were named as the c. didates for Speaker, bat the pre feronce was decidedly in favor of Mr. Cox, for whom the ‘yotes of the opposition will in all probability be given. The caucus to-night was adjourned until to-morrow evening, when it will be determined whether any caucus nomination shall be made and who shall be the candidate. THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM LOUISIANA: The Loutsiana members elect to Comgress who are now bere, attended by Governor Riddell, with # stroog array Of testimony as to the legitimacy of their election, do not expect to participate in the organization of the House, Dut will present their claims to seate afterwards, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE CITY. There aro aiready more than a hundred members of the House and fifteen or twenty Senators in Washingtoa. There is much consul@ation and electioneering going e@ in relation to the organization of the House, THS LOGGES IN THB RECENT BATTLES SOUTH OF TED RAPIDAN, None of the wounded in the recent engagements with the enemy south of the Rapidan will be brought to Wash. fagton, arrangements having been made for thoir treat. ment in the Alexandria hospitals, Tbe loss in killed, wounded and missing is estimated at thirteen huadreé and afty. THE HEALTH OF THE PRESIDENT. The health of Presidemt Lincoln ts still feeble. He te unable to leave bis chamber, but fs engaged in the oom- pletion of his message. ADMIRAL PARRAGCT IN WASHINOTON. Rear Admiral Farragut, commanding the West Gulf blockading squadron, who bas been for some time og leave of absence, reported this morning to the Nevy De partment im person RAISING OF TROOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA, Governor Curtin bas submitted, for the approval of the President, a plan for raising troops in Pounsylvaniq, which, it ia sald, if acceded to, will place that State amoug (ho foremost Ip Billing the required quota. PRISONERS COMMITTED TO THE OLD CAPITOL PRISON, Nino guortiles and fourteen prisoners of war were com. mitted to the Vid Capitol to-day, PRIFONENS SENT TO COLUMBUB, ONTO, Lieut, Col, Radew!tz, Major Joboson and Captains Cat. ting, Bankard and Raymond, of Gen. Augur’s staff, loft Washington this mornt «, with several hundred orison. ora. (or Columbus Chia,