The New York Herald Newspaper, March 21, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. |" JAMES GORDON BENNETT, RDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OFFICE \. W, CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS cash im advance, Money sent by mail will be et the risic of the sendor, None but bank bills current tn New York taken, TRE DAILY HERALD, Twres cents per copy. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every ay, ot Five conte per copy. Annual subscription price. — On9 Copy... ‘Ten Copies... fe Postage Ave cents per copy for three months. Any larger number, addrossed to names of subscribers, GE FO cact. Av extra copy will be sont to every club of (en, Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $25, and ‘any larger number at same price, An extra copy will be sent to clubs of twouty. These rales make the WEEKLY | subject in its usual style. if Grant Should Fail! Since the accession of General Grant to the command of our armies, we have watched the organs of the administration with more interest | than their usual dull verbosity would justify, We bad expected to find them filled with at- tempted explanations of the singular position that Grant’s elevation bas forced the President into, But we have been disappointed. They are afraid of the whole subject, and go oyer it ws cautiously as sinners are supposed to go over the rough places in St. Patrick’s purgato- ry. Only one of the organs approaches the This is a Western journal—the choice organ of the smutty faction of the republican party—which revolves on the outer circle of civilization, and has consequent- ly all the ignorance and vulgarity of that kind of forest life that gets from civilization nothing but “the wet damnation” of the distilleries. That organ reviews the position and indulges in some sneering, sneaking allusions to Grant, Hxrain the cheapest publication wm the country. ‘The Furorgan Epron, every Wednesday, at Five conts per oopy, $4 per annum to any part of Great Britaiu, or €6 to any part of the Contiuent, both to include postaze. ‘Tho Catsrorma Eprriom, on the 3d, 13th and 23d of each mouth, at Sex cents per copy, or.§3 per annum. Apvrrrisemsnts, to@ limited number, will be ingertod fo the Wrest Herarp, and in the European and Califorvia fidttions. Volume XXIX AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Enowanrsess. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Baurr’s Srnata. Gum. ures GARDEN, y.—-Ticxet or Leave AN, OLYMPIC THEATRE, Brosdway.—Lrar Yuan. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, bowery. —Srinit Farnxp— Inst DEaGouNJOaN OF AKC ROWBRY THEATRE, Bogut) A0K SURPPARD ery—Hoxrers oF Tax Mis His Dog—iravarers Room SARNUM’S MUSEUM, Broadway,—Fovr Granrs, TWO Dwanrs, Atvtwos, Wuat Is It, &0., a all hours. ArHRO sta. vint oF Byavty—At Sand 7% P, M. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. way.—Ervortan SONGS, Dancks, BuRLESQUKS, &.—TAx 4 BUTTERFLY, 1 WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 54 Broadway. —Ermiorian fonce, Dances sc.— Tue Riprs, AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Bai Parromies, BURLESQUES. Ac—Tux Rival ARTISANS, BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 435 Broadway.—Gru- ammo axe Eqvesteian PeRrorwances. A‘terucon gad HOPA CHAPEL. 718 Broadway.—Tie Stzrroscorricot = Mrenor oF THe UsiVERSE, AND TWENTY-SEVENTH STREET HO: NEW YORE MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Gunrosities axp Lectures, from 9 A. M. till 10 P, M. HOOLET'S OPERA HOUSE, Bi Es a Boxas, Daxces, Buriesavas, &0. Siete peor New York, Monday, March 21, 1862. THE SITUATION. Geseral Grant and staff arrived at Cincinnati last even- tog, on rewte tor Washington, It i9 said that General Meade will retain his position at the bead of the Potomac army, aud will ald by his coun- noi nad experience the operations of Genera! Grant. Tuere is no news from the armies efthor in Virginia Or ip the Southwest The calm which precedes the storm bas literally fatlen apon both regions. The arrival of Govoral Grant at Washington, however, may be the signal for 4 brilliant and successful campaign. An arrival from Hilton Head with dates \o the 14th brings Bo news of any importance. Despatches from General Sigel's department yesterday @tate that the rebels made a raid iuto Bath, Morgan county, West Virginia, and captured a Senator and As. gembiyman of the Legislature of that State. The enemy ‘were pursued by our cavalry, and some of them taken prisoners. General Sige! is very busy organizing his de. partment, It ts reported that the enemy are preparing for a movement in the Kanawha region towards New river, and that e aumber of pontoons have been forward 4 to that point. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. We have advices from Bermuds to the 10th fost. A number of disasters to trading vessels in that vicinity, which will be found noticed in our sbipping news, are re- Ported. Tue steamer Coquette cleared on the 2d inst., ani the Thistle on the Sth, to run the blockade. Io other matters there is nothing of importance. Tho Hamilton Royal Garetle is pleased to learn tat the Pirate Captain Coxetter and crew were not drowned when the steamor Faunie and Jetsie was destroyed by the Aiarricin gunboats. Ovr London correspondent states that United States greenback Treasury notes bring precisely the came amount now tn the English capital that they did one year ‘ago —two shillings aod nine pence sterling on the dollar— while rebel scrip is unsaleable at any price Our city tax levy estimates for the yoar 1964 contain mattor of mue interest to every taxpayer, and the items wil! co doubt be closely scanned. The estimates of the Finance Committee of the Board of Couucilmen were taken up and considered in that body on Saturday last, fand,after being reduced seventy-five thousand dollars, ‘by striking out the appropriations fora parade ground for the militia and for the proposed purchase of Clark ‘Mills’ statue of General Jackson, were adopted; but they @till largely exceed the estimates of both the Board of Aldermen and Comptrolier, Tue estimates of each are as follows:—T . Comptrolier’s, $4 990 978, the Aldermen's, $5,602,066, and the Councilmen’s, $6,86) 944 w we An addition to our foreign naval visitors in the Swedish steam corvette Gefle, Captain Adelborg, which | arrived in our harbor @ few days ago, {rom tho West | Indies. she is a very neat looking vessel, carrying o | Dattery of ix thirty-pounders in broadside and two sixty- pounder pivot gues forward aud aft, aod is manned by a doe crew, oumbering about one bundred and sixty men. ‘The Gefle is expected to remain with us uot!! about the Ast of next month. ‘The weather was too cold and boisterous yesterday to ‘allow the usual Sunday visitors to the Park to bave eveo & slight opportu ity of enjoying themselves during stroll through the grounds,and the number was com- paratively sm li, the drive was, however, lively with ‘vohicles, but most of them were close curringes. The | drivers are doubticss pleased with the fact that the block. ‘fade at the Fifth avenue entrance bas at last been raised, aod we would now advise the authorities concerned to | speedily relay the pavement of Fifth avenue itself, in order that those wishing to visit the Park may be able | to reach that spot with comfort and safety ‘The new and magvificeut North river etoamer St. Jobn arrived mt ber wharf in this city about six o'clock yestor. | day morning, on ber first return trip from Albany, hav. ing on board about seveoty-five members of our State Legisiature, who made an excursion from Albany op her i response to the javitation of her owners. The leg’ dative excursionists remain in the city till this evening. ‘The St, Jobn is the largest river steamboat io this coun- try, being over four hundred feet lung by eighty five feet wide, ‘The wpeciai term of the Supreme Court, Judge Moncriof Presiding, will be held in the general term room, corner Of Contre and Chambers streets, during the remainder of the present March term The etatomont that the government has seized, or Threatened to eoize, certain locomotive shops at the North @s sai to be unfounded. The locomotive manufacturers have roayonded cheerfully to the request of tbe euthori ties for a large supply of (hese invaluable articles, Gold waa duil on Saturday and the sales more than ust. ‘ily light, at quotations ranging between 161% and q Blocks were irregular but not weak,amd prices in the iternoon were woll sustained. Governmont eecurition rosumed their former Arinness under the influence of # more livoly demand, ‘There was not much activity in business circles on Aat. forday, but there was « good deal of buoyancy neverthe Joss, and the sales reported were generally at full prices ‘Tho High quotations of gold and forciga exchange pre vent any decline jo imported goods; but domestic pro- duce was irreguiar, Petroleum was dull for refined, intended to show that Grant is not, after all, so great a man as Lincoln is, and will do no bet- ter than Lincoln has done with all our armies on his hands. That the organs of the President should touch his present position lightly is notto be wonder- ed at. The vote that placed Grant where ho is was less the reward of his Western victories than’ broad decTaration that the country has no confidence in the ability of the administra- tion to carry on this war. It is very well that the President and his immediate adherents have the philosopby to look pleasant and utter agree- able sentences over it, and it is probable that they may in that way make some persons be- lieve that this change—which practically puts them out of power—was just what they longed for. But it is to be hoped that while they de- ceive others they will not go so far as to de- ceive themselves in this respect. It will have a wholesome effect upon their future conduct ifthey keep in view the fact that their humiliating position and Grant’s as- cendancy are exactly what they did not desire, but have been forced upon them by the popular will, expressed in the pro- per way through Congress. Let them take their bearings from tbat single faet, and find their present position, and it is possible that they may keep much nearer the proper course in the future. Grant was their revolution. He repre- sented exactly what they did not represent— success. Congress declared that there should be a lieutenant general, and, though it had at first placed Grant’s name in the bill, it erased that name, in noble compliment to the hero as well as in bold acknowledgment of the position of the country. Congress would not even seem to make the implication that there was any man in the country who could stand in comparison with Grant, or any man whose claims the most ubscrupulous partisan could place in competi- tion with the claims of the- Western conqueror fog that high place. Congress acknowledged Grant to be obviously the necessity of the country, and by erasing his name from the bill challenged the administration to dispute it, and name another man. By this means the ad- ministration were forced to the admission it has made, that Grant—the man who has fought on his own plans and not on theirs—was the man to conduct the war. If Grant, who has never failed in the past, should fail in the future, it will be because there is treachery in Washington. It will be because in that spirit of partisan fury thatfor- gets all else but its object the Washington men have determined to employ all their power to ruin another man who stands high with the people. At this hour the energy and in- genuity of the adberents of the President are intensely concentrated on the game for the vext Presidency. No scheme that can make capital for them is forgotten. Wires are pulled in legislative halls, in custom houses, post offices, and in contemptible county conven- tions. No one can fai! to see how infinitely more advantageous and grand is that field upon which a successful soldier like Grant may work for the Presidency in the campaigns of this summer; and the public may well believe that, while the politicians work in their mole-like way at the North, they will not fail to damage to the extent of their power the chances of the man who has this nobler field. But let them take care. If Grant fails through their treachery, it will not conduce to the success of Lincoln. It will initiate a Northern civil war. It will, perbaps, destroy the public confidence in Grant; and, the people thus -cast loose from another faith, confusion and anarchy of the worst description must ensue; or if public order is still kept, the hopes of the people will gnce more fall upon General McClellan, and a grand tide of popular enthusiasm will carry that/hero to the Presidency. The District Orr Biockapine SquavRoy urt of the United States for the Southern rict of Florida has been engaged for two months past making decrees of distribution in prize cases brought before them for adjudica- tion. The results are very satisfactory. Not- withstanding the impediments thrown in the way of the operations of our blockading flect by the head of the Navy Department, these de- cisions of the Florida court show that some of our vessels have been more than ordinarily ac- tive. The total sales of prize property made by that court from the commencement of the war to the lst of March amount te the sum of $3,984,250, and there yet remains in the eustody of the court property valued at $387,000. The total sum decreed for distribu- tion by the court since the blockade com- menced is $2,902,544. Decrees for this amount are now in the bande of the government, and « large proportion has been already distributed. A few months more will suffice for the final payment of the share of every offi- cer, sailor and marine claiming prize money. ‘These are some of the results of the operations of our blockading fleet. Tae Moxnoe Docrrate anp tan War 10 Strix Ir.—There is a great deal of talk about the Monrve doctrine introduced into the Presi- dential canvass. It affords opportunity for much speechmaking; andin the manufacture of platforms it is found most available plank, But thie is entirely unnecessary. There fsa very simple plan of settling all fears about the violation of the Monroe doctrine at rest for- ever, Let General Grant be sustained with mon, and authority to carry out his measures in the field; give him a chance to crush out the rebellion and the Monroe doctrine will take care of itself, With the rebellion put down, end Grant at the head of one million of men, neither France nor Spain will trouble us on this continent after that happy consummation is achieved. Therefore let us fill up the muster eh ye Vo. Me lower, Colton wae uti aod bevay. | roll of the army, Tax Trwune’y MoTuenLan Srory.—With characteriatic malignity H. Greeley & Compa- ny lately seize | upon a vile story against Gene- tal MoClellau by which be was accused of an improper correspondence with General Lee on the night of the battle of Antietam. This story, through tho falsehood of which every man of common sense saw at once, appearod eminently reasonable to the maniac miscegena- tors, and they spread it to the best of their ability, and gloated over it, and shouted and Clapped their hands in the wildest kind of gloe to think that finally they had discovered a real crime in the gallant soldier whom they have hated cordially for 60 many months. Finally this story proves to be as miserable a manu- facture as Tribune stories generally; but il is a little odd to find that it came to the Tribune office directly from the War Department. For it should be known that between the Zribune establishment and the War Office there are very intimate relations. It is not dificult to explain this. Some time ago a new position was made in the War Department, for the convenience @ that department—and for other reasons—in the form of an additional Assistant Secretary. At the time that this place was made it was proposed in Congress that one of the wnem- ployed major generals should be appointed to fill it, since he would doubtless possess a prac- tical knowledge of army matters that must be: of value to the department. But the makers of the new placeopposed this, They said that, though we had unemployed major generals who knew a great deal about war, and unem- ployed major generals who knew a great deal about law, we yet bad none possessed at once of “the necessary military and legal know- ledge.” Such an announcement gave an ade- quate idea of the abilities that the new Assist- ant Secretary must have, and Congress modest- ly kept still. Apparently it was impossible to find 8 man possessed at once of the necessa- ry “military and legal knowledge,” and so the place was given to a man possessed of neither. Undoubtedly this was quite fair. He would not be likely to have prejudices either way. An Assistant Secretary who had been a soldier might be foolish enough to think a nol. pros. of ndbt much account ia bat- tle, while one who had been a lawyer might be 80 absurd as to pooh-pooh brass twelves and their attendant shrapnel. In that way the War Department might come to be laughed at. So those who take care of the dignity of the War Department decided that the next best man to one who knew both was one who kaew neither, and the place was given to Mr. Charles A. Dana—a graduate of the Tribune office. Mr. Dana had lost his last place through undue zeal. He was too bitterly radical for the Tribune office. He was the man who “did” General McClellan on that paper; and when the Tribune was in the wildest of its vielence against the populer favorite its owners dis- covered that this delirium of denunciation damaged General McCieliga much less than it did their cash accounts. It: could not’ be hidden that the Tribune was in a decline, finan- | cially and otherwise, and its owners deter- mined that the McClellan donunciatioas must stop. Two or three compromises were tried; but they did not do, and Dana finally had to go. Where could he go? Stanton had been appointed Secretary of War to kill McClellan. One who had been a martyr to his denuncia- tion of McClellan ought, therefore, to nd affiliation in the War Department; and Dana went there. But, though thus parted from the Tribune estab!ishment, he retatas an indirect association with it, and has been for the first time heard from in his new position through the Tribune. Some of the War Department creatures, it appears, found in Washington lately a drunken chap who lived near to the battle field of Antietam, into whose ears they pumped the sewerage of their brains in the form of the story of which the 7ribune has made so much. Having pumpe! this story into the man, they pumped it out. But it bad not the expected effect. It was too absurd for the credence of even the radicals; and thus this contribution to the Tribune from its attache in the War De- partment has failed, and the Tribune and its agent must try again. War Geverat Sterway Fateo ro React Serma—Tue Vatvr or Mounts Iveanrey,— It is known that the special object of General Sherman in his late inland expedition from Vicksburg was the capture of Selma, on the Alabama river, and the destraction of military magazines, foundries, factories and warlike materials, including several iron-clad boats in the stream at that point. Itis known that after reaching the Meridian railway junction, near the Alabama border, and after waiting there a week for the arrival of the cavalry forces of Smith and Grierson from the north, General Sherman was compelled to return, from their failure to join him. We have known for some days that Smith and Grierson were beaten back; but how the rebels could so sud- denly have raised in Northern Mississippi a force sufficient to cope with a body of from five to seven thousand Union cavalry has been to us a perplexing puzzle. The mystery at length is solved by the ex- planation which will be found in another part of this paper, from the Richmond Dispatch. It will thus be seen that “the junction of Smith’s cavalry force with Sherman at Meridian was the key of the whole scheme of the Yankee plan for the occupation and subjugation of the Southwest;” that “if successful Sherman would have been in a condition to advance upon Demopolis and Selma, or Mobile; and that “these important points, as well as the rich counties adjacent, would have been at the mercy of the enemy.” To prevent the junction of Smith with Sherman, the rebel General For- rest had only @ force of some two theusand four bundred men to oppose Smith's five, six or seven thousand. Yet Smith was repulsed and driven back, and by a very simple process. As he charged with his horsemen to fight the rebels with the sabre, “they (the rebels) slipped from their horses, and, converting them- seives into infantry, each man taking the most favorable position, availing themselves of every advantage the ground afforded,” and 40 the Union borsemen “did not advance far be- fore the balls of two thousand riflemen began to rattle through their ranks with fearful ef- fect;” and thus, by this simple device, Smith and Grierson were driven back (their sabres being of ne use against riflemen @fty or @ hundred yards off), and so General Sherman failed to reach the main object of his expedi- tion. ° Now bad Smith's cavalry beon sent forward as mounted infantry, they too could bave dis- mounted {row their horses, aadin an infantry _ NEWe YORK, HERALD, MONDAY, (MARCH: 12, 1864. charge thelr superior numbers would have carried the day. We would therefore call the especial attention of General Grant and the War Office to this subject, in view of the superior efficiency of mounted infantry to regular cavalry for detached operations in the enemy's country. Wo have various squads of mounted infantry at work; but the results of this Smith and Grierson expedition show that wo bave not enough. Let General Grant and the War Office supply the deficiency and try it again. More Pnarisarcat, Leaistarion—We ace that a bill iatroduced by Mr. Bell to prohibit the sale of vinous, spirituous or malt liquors on Sunday has been read twice in the Senate and bas been favorably re- ported upon by the Committee on the Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties. Persons violating its provisions are to be held guilty of a misdemeanor, and to be punished by imprisonment and a fine of fifty dollars for each offence. Concurrently with this a bill bas been introduced in the Assembly prohibit- ing the publication of drawings of lotteries by newspapers or periodicals, under @ penalty of oue hundred dollars fine and thirty days’ im- prisonment for each aud every violation of the act. It is hardly necessary to say that legislation of this kind has always failed, and must always ' fail, inits object. Its tendency is, in fact, to aggravate the abuses which it is its professed object to put down, by enlisting every rational mind against such foolish and arbitrary re- atrictions on the liberty of the citizen and in- ducing a taste for law-breaking. Of the sin- cerity of some of those who advocate them we have notable examples in the conduct of the men who endeavored to exclude champagne and raffling at the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair. While ostensibly prohibiting them they winked at private tippling rooms in the building and at sly evasions of the lottery interdiction in the form of grab bags and fishing ponds. If there is an argument at all that can be urged in favor of the first of these bills, it is to be found in the pranks played by our Albany legislators when they visit the metropolis; for certainly no class of men patronize more extensively the rum shops and other places of bad repute, or give more trouble to the police. As tg the idea of preventing the newspapers from publishing the drawings of lotteries, it is simply ridicuious. There is no enactment, for instance, which can prevent them from giving insertion to the adyertisements of the Havana Lottery. That institution violates no law of the State, and the Legislature cannot create 4 legal offence out of such a phblication. This example is in itself sufficient to show how in- effective such legislation must prove. Again, admitting the theory that lotteries are an of- fence against publis morals, how is the press to be compelled to observe silence in regard to them? Why the Legislature might oa well at- tempt to prevent the publication of iarcenies, bargiaries and all other crimes. All such ab- surd attempts to interfere with the liberty of the press must prove as impotent as the Maine law has shown itself in its attempted invasion of the rights of individuals. Our Albany So- lons had better commence by reforming their own morals before they proceed any further in this line of legislation. Tue Exorsirant Prick ov Eveayrasva.—it is proverbial that war creates “war prices” for everything consumable; but there is usually a standard by which the price of goods, whether fabrics or provisions, isregulated. In the present time, however, thore does not appear to be any recognized standard at all. For instance, sup- posing the price of gold or the rate of ex- change, which is heavily against this country, to be the base upon which the extraordinary advance upon all the necessaries of lif is established, {t does not appear that either gold or exchange has gone up to twice its regular value, while the price of alt, or nearly all, the articles in ordinary consumption has been doubled. There is no reason for thfs, nor any explanat‘on of the fact, except that an unfair advantage 4 taken of the opportunity to ex- tort enormous profits under the pretext of the increased value of gold. It would be reasona- ble to suppose that thea rate of exchange, through which medium the cost of imported goods must be liquidated, or the advance on gold, in which the customs duties must be paid, would enhance the value of all articles of foreign manufacture; or it may be admit- ted that the price of cotton fabrics of domestic manufacture ia not exorbitant, in the absence of the staple article, from our present relations with the cotton-growing States, al- though it bas more than quadrupled within three years; but there is no reason whatever why the products of the soil and of agricul- tural labor—such as flour, butter, meat, poultry, and vegetables—should increase in price beyond the increase in fhe value of gold. Specie bas not advanced more than sixty per cent, but provisions, the absolute necessities of the peo- ple, bave been put up a bundred per cent, and in some cases even more. This is simply a fraud. There is no necessity for it, and the public should take a firm stand against the extortion in some manner, as may best be devised, and compel the venders of these articles to main- tain an equitable rule in regu'ating their value. Tue Way To Repvcn tae Price or Goin. Congress is bothering itself considerably with measures to bring down the price of gold, and people outside are somewhat bewildered with all the plans and speculations by which that desirable result may be arrived at. There is a very easy way of doing it, however. Fill up the ranks of General Grant’s grand armios. Give him plenty of men, money, and power to pat down the rebellion during the coming campaign, and gold will come down with it with arceh. That is the way to settle the gold question. Sixty-voon Misoxennatons.—The Rev. Li- berty Billings, of New Hampshire, gives an ac- count of some cooings at Port Royal. He is Neutenant colonel of a regiment of negro troops, known a3 a South Carolina regiment. He says that sixty-four of the philanthropic damsels who went to Port Royal to enlighten little niggers have increased the population of that place by sixty-four little mulattoes pring The annual spring salo of the Now York Booksellers’ Association is announced to commence on the 201h inet, and to occupy cight days, The catalogue is before us, and contains about four hundred pages. The list of con- tributors ia lengthy, embracing one hundrod and Atty fevoices from tho principal bouses in the trade, com- moncing with W. H. Appleton's, eccupying twenty pages. From the immense domand for booke during tho past winter thore ia little doubt that tho spring sale will be ono of the beat and bring as high prices as at any timo ginge the commencement Bf tho war. ae THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. A TO THE Eprom OF THe HERALD. Waa Naito, Maron 16, 1864 to tho Naw Yoré Uepaco of tho 12th tuat. ® communi- cation over the sigaature of “ Tum r!ous’ purports to Givo the account of au ‘ Rye Witness?” of the battle of Gottysburg, aud the reason for it ix aasigmed that up to this time 0 clear sy Abs of it bas appearod. I desire to call attenfon vo that portion of it which pre- tends to relate certain evonts in connection witit the part taken by Cho Fifth corps in that ongagement, and par- ticularly to what tho writer refers to as an ‘ alarming incident’ occurring tn the Firat division of that corps, which I bad the honor to command, He saya — An alarming incident , however, occurred, Barnes? division, of the Fifth corps, suddenly gave way; and, Sickles, Seeing this, put a battery in position to check the enemy if be broke through this gap on our front, and Gen. ney 3 sent to order Barnes back into line. “No,” he aid: *‘impoasible. It is too hot, my mon can- not stand {t.'' Remonstrance was unavailing, and Sickles despatched his aids to bring up avy troops they met to fill this blank, Major Tremaine, of bis stati, fell ia with Gen. Zook at the hoad of his brigade (Second corps) , and this gallant officer instantly volunteered to take Barnes’ place, When they reached the ground Barnes’ disordered troops impeded the advance of tho brigade. “If you can't get cut of the way,’” eriea Zook, “lie down and I wiil march over you.'’ Barves ordered his men to lie down, and the chivalrous Zook and his splendid brigade, under the personal direction of Gev, Birney, di march over thom and right into the breach. A! poor Zook soom (pil mortally wounded, and half his brigade perished with bim all this is a pure invention, No such occurrence as is here reiated took place. There is not a particle of truth in it. Mo order was given to me by Cenoral Birney. None wae received by-me through any one from General Stokles, 1 did not see or hear (rom General Zook. 1 did did mot meet him inany way. 1 did uot know he was there, |. and the article above referred to is the first intimation that I have had ¢hat any one pretended that any such event took place. There was no order to advance—-n0 refasal; no orders to lie down given to the command by me or by any one else to my knowledge; no passing over my command (I should bo sorry to eee any body of men attempt to do such a thing to my division); nothing of the kind occurred that over came to my knowledge; and I think T should have heard of such a thing before this lato day if it, or anything like it, had taken place; the whole story is untrue in every particu- lar, and my astonishment at now hearing of such a thing for the firet time may possibly be imagined. So much for that portion of the article above quoted. In reference to other criticisms of the movements of the Fifth corps, it may perhaps properly devolve on others to refer tothem. I shellonly add a few words as to what the First division of that corps did do. ‘Upon receiving the orders to move to the front, the First division, compozed of three brigades, was promptly in motion. In about fifteen minutes it rerched the ground which it was ordered to occupy, to the loft of the Third corps. General Sykes, commanding the Fifth corps, and myself, reached the ground in advance of the head of the column, and the position te be occupied by my division was determined upon, AS88000 a8 the hea@ of the column came up Geveral War- ren rode up in haste and earnestiy requested Genoral Sykes to permit a brigade to be sent to Roundtop—a high elevation upon the loft, not far from us—and urged the importance of holding that position. Although separating one of my brigades from the re maining two, one of which was already weakened by the detachment of a regiment—the Ninth Massachusetts—as skirmishers {n another part of the field, yet, yielding to the emergency which was apparent, Genera! Sykes con- soated,and I Immediately directed the Third brigade, thea under the command of the late much lamented General Streng. Vincent (who fell mortally wounded within an hour of receiving tho order), to proceed in that direction. The S arrived next, under tus command of Colones! Sweitzer, who immediately piaced this brigade in position. The First brigade, uuder the command of Colone! Tilton was posted.om the right of Colonel. Swoitzer, being the right of the division and on the right of the position of the Fifth corps, the other two divisions of the corps extending to and em. ‘racing the cclebrated Roundtop: ‘The Filth corps, therefore, occupied what may well le Called the poet of foaor of that « pnd, as the result proved, well deserved that proud distinction. ta com their positions it was necessary for the two des of my division to cross au“ open piece of ground mto ® thick wood, at the entrance of which a por- tion of the Lhird corps, commanded by General Birney, ‘was lying upon the ground. My brigades, advauciag over and beyond these men a considerable distance, took the position asaigued them upon the opposite of the wood, vearcet to the enemy. ‘thoy were all in piace be- fore the engagement cormmenced in their front. Av open and gentiy ascending grovad upon tho right soomed to be unguarded. To the right of this open space the remaining portion of the Third corps was posted. Gonorai Sykes, observing this, remarked (hat that portion of tho Third corps pow lying down i our roar would be s00n relieved, ent commenced immediately and with 'y. ‘The gap upon my right was atill cnoc- The First brigade was violently assailed In , and stood its ground without flisching, and goon after’ the fight became general along the whole of my front, 600n, however, the coomy, working his way through the gap upon my right, came down in large force upoo my flank and rear, Under these circumstances 1 was obliged tochangs my {vont to the right; the order was given, promptly exe- cuted in order, and the further progress of the onomy in that direction preventec. Colonel Tiiton ia his official report say jo this last movement I was greatiy embarrassed by aquads of men and parts of reximenta, whe, hurrying from the froot, broke into and throagh my lines. I retired, Oring, @ ahort: distance in tho timber and took up a new position upon the right of tho Second division. All my oflcers and men did their duty, their whole duty, and showed the greatest coolness abd courage. Colonel Sweitzer in his official report says:—The ooamy were getting into eur rear in the woods bebind us, on the right. 'T directed those regiments to change [ront, to {208 10 that direction and mest thom, which they did I do not intend to go into any further details of these movements, nor ascribe me to others, or to Ny auy Leaponsidility uvon avy one for avy error which lod to Bo Ubreatening a dasgor tothe flank aod rear of my di 1 only design to show that the orderly movement of my command, rendered imperative by the circumstances th which it waa placed. prevented any further advance of the enemy upon my flank, notwithstanding the imminent danger to which it was cxposed by the unfortunate gap upoo mg right between portions of the Third corps It may have been eimply aaxioty, it may baye been some other affection of the mind ia the midst of a danger 80 apparent, which prevented this “Kye Witness,” if be were one. upon whose narrativo commoating, from distinguishing between an orderly and # disorderly move- ment. It is not absclutety necessary bo attribute it toe Cesire to misrepresent. The motives end the object of the writer of the parvative must be judged by its genoral tenor. * Tle has presented to (ue public what he claims te bea true and only correct account of the celebrated battle of Gettysburg. So far as [ ati able to jadge, aad | saw something of the movements of that day, I thick it flied with errors, de- tracting from the merits of some ond oxalting the mode- fate claims of others to a ritioulous excess. JAMES BARNES, Brig. Geo. U. 8. ¥ Second division, Fifth corps, at tue b et Tilton. FLAD aU ARTERS, Fi2et Beaane, Finst Divison, Ferra Corrs, Came Bannxs, March 14, 1864, Generar—! deferred ackvowledging your kind aod flattering letter of January 21 upon its receipt, as I did not know where to wend my reply, aud since then we bavo been expecting you hero. My present object ts to call your attention to an article 1 the New Youk [Heearo of the 12th inst,, purportfng to be a report of the battle of Gettysburg by “an oye witness.’ It isasiander upon many generals and sol- diers of the army for the apparent object of foisting Major General Sickles upon the public as an injured but capable soldier, giving bim, in fact, the whole credit of the vic- tory, which is sickening when we consider how near he came to losing the battle for us, Had Sickles’ orders to some of Sykes’ brigade commanders been obeyed the rebels would surely bave bad both Rowodtops early ta the fight And yet Sykes gots nothing but abuse (by in. nuendo) from this chivalric writer, who would build up@ name for bis superior apon the fallen reputation of his comrades in arms. in proof of this look at two of his statements—ove that the Third corps fought nearly an hour before Sykes’ Filth corps afforded them any support; in regard to which I can say that the Second avd Firat brigades of your division were placed 1 the front line, Dotween two divisions of the Third corps, bofora a ritte shot was fired ‘There was some shelling, but 00 mus kotry fire ‘The other statement wna that Barner’ division breke—a most diabolical li@—aud { have vo doubt you will reply {tin mproper manner, The idea of our division lying down to lot other troops pass over them to the front This is too much, and { rmust ask you to recall the event, and conside t ‘Hivision just meotioned did not badge nail Ue troops of the Third corps, on their right and eat cralie seen vay wopt buok 80 q' poo my phe oe vane qoren nearly in my right rome ed 4 Then { changed Cront to the right, supporting the Masta tery, which it its turn retired, ey ott neal Lindor aetence, which extend ‘Second corps straight to Litto foanral line of defence my bri- . ‘The enemy AON Fetirod, ae and we bigouncked in line i 1g camo back iD as geod order as ‘The regi annoyance arinag from squada of men Jonging to the Second and Third corps broaking through it burry to the roar. | halted one rogi- a or tet sade, T do ot know oat cre ue i. nm now what Beinn ty ut naw Gonoral Onidwell in the fuck, red Letter from first, that the two briades of your | mM: ~ a “cog of the position”) hour efter hour. As for Birvey’s being Bout to order you “back {ato line donate ‘s itthorolore you did not remowatrate, I do hope you will 60 get this matter it befo."@ the public, ag your Cauetio pen ia wont to punta wrong. bla seat WH TILTON: 0} 1 . , GPlousl, &: Brigadior Genera Jamas Banwaa, _ TUE CITY TAX LEVY For 3364, Estimates vy the Comptrolicr and Both Branches of the Common Counott— Amendments by the Councilmen, &c. BOARD OF COUNG! MEN, The Councilmen met at one o'clock on Saturday, Vro- sideat Hayos io (be chair. ‘There was a full board present, inclwding the two ro. publican mombora, Masars. David R, Jaques and Wm Opdyke. On motion of Mr. Ke2wan, tho regular erder of business was suspended for the purpose of taking @p the report of tho Comrnittee on Finance’on the tax levy ilor 1864, After being read, Mr. Jaques moved that oach section be taken up soparately, Adopted. Messrs. Jaques aud Orprkm then moved, as the items were reached, that the following reductions should be made:—That the appropriation of $100000 for Bel gian payement be reduced to $50,000; $150.000 for the maintenance of the Central Park be reduced to $130,000; $30,000 for the Law Department be reduced to $20,000; $20,000 for contingencies im the City Inspec- tor’s Department bo reduved to $5,000; $35,000 for dona- tions be reduced to $25,000; $160,000 for fire apparatus be reduced to $100,000; that ap appropriation for $5,000 for Gre alarm tolograph should -be stricken out; $60,000 for Gre telegraph bo reduced to $40,000; $100,000 for national Purposes “be reduced to $50,000; $75,000 for printing for the Common Counoil be reduced to $50,000: $144,800 for salaries in the Tegislative Department be reduced to $41,800; $124,388 for aalarica in the City Inspector's De- partment bo reduced to $100,000; $140,000 for repairing streets be reduced to $125,000, and $190,000 for wharves, piers and slips be reduced to $75,000. The raotions were all loat, Mr. Jaques then moved to strike out altogether tho sum of $40,000 inserted to provide a suitable parade ground for the Nationa! Guard of this city, and also the sum of $35,000 intended for the purohase of Clark Mills’ colossal statue of Genoral Jackson. ‘The motions were adopted. Tho ordinance aa amended was thon adopted, and the Board adjourned until Monday next, at two o’olock. Tho following table exhibita the estimates for the tax levy for 1864, a8 made by the Comptroller and the Com- mittees on Finance of the Boards of Aldermen and Coun. cilmen, The Councilmen recommended the appropria tiou of $69,978 more than is appropriated by tho Alder ci Lcanimneian org ey Advertising.......- Aqueduct pocelee. &eo. Y 5 84,000 420,000 36.000 208 000 903,000 187,000 a,16T 900 oe oe aes 40.000 164,000 * 34,600 34,600 60.000 100 03 108' ‘ait "aie ‘tas 39,500 39,600 ne + W16387 138,100 Salaries, Com. of 535 6G, Salaries, Fire Tepartment. 60,600 61,100 61.100 Salaries; Board of Assoa- ‘ satnrss, Ootétioa ot AB. ow sovaments . .... 3,000 Streets; repairing. Reforming Juvenile quents, Supplies, Water TREATMENT OF POLISH PRISONERS BY THE BS- STANS, 10 THE BDITOR OF THE NERALD. We canuot expect either generosity or magnanimity et the hands of our oppressors; indeed, wo bave soon and suffered too much ourselves from those Mongoliaos to lool for any Christian or human virtues ia thom, The frightful days of the Inquisition, universally condemned, have paased long ago in Spain; but they have a stronghold in the Polish provinces yet under the Russian yoke. Nay, tho most cruel treatment of the poor victims to religious fanaticism must grow pale before the rofined tortures of the great reformer of the age. Une single authentic fact, out of thousands, which, alas, our press #o sparingly bring before the public, in order to make a better ac- quaintance with the ally, will be guffictent proof ¢hat Russian rale ought to end soon fp Poland, and that the liberality of the Northern despot {s only the hypocriay of the age, I copy the folowing narrative frem the Jortrnat of Posen, No. 40, February 19, and, es {tts about ‘a relative of one who bled and died for the independence of this country, it will not be uninteresting te your readers. The Journat of Poseu says:— For the sake of truth it is my sacred duty to make pub- lic that Pulaski, a landowner of Pulaza,an old man of seventy years, pat in prison ip Bielsk in October, 1863. ges examination he was moat unmeroiiully whinped with the Cossacks’ knouts, in consequence of which treatment the flesh fell off in pieces, and the remaining skin here and there became so biack and dry that, in order to avoid mortification, the Surgeon Zawadski, from Bielsk, was obliged to cut it off several times. This aufering iotim baa no bed given, te Bim, until bis fellow prisoners, seventy-two in number, in the same cell, throueb the jallor. Paul Pletrowiox Peng! od bim . a! Mey ‘a tittle straw, for ‘The Almighty Father bad meroy upon bim, first days of November calted his spirit to the abode martyrs. His body was thrown upon & of dirt, The aack and the shirt, all saturated with blood, in order to i bis Panic among eon throw a frightful were hu on a rope in the ‘vite language is so profussly rich, #aid, who w ing bigest, abot die Lemay aftor the ly was taken away by. and carried to its last rest » There are yet others: who, in consequence of similar treatment, await asimilar end.’ Their names are Malinowski, from Malinow ; Sat kowski, steward of Alexandrow, Tyborowski, proprictor of Tomkielow; Keasowskt, from Mienia, and many others. Will you do me the favor of inserting this short narre- tive in your valuable paper, andoblige, very respec yours, R. wfully, J Sawonowsns Arrivals and Departures, ARRIVATS. erooc—Bteamehip Arabia st Boston—H A Hrown, Me Patrick, Mise Donn, Oapt F Freda aad ‘owle inslow and wife, re wi Misa Bourn, Master Bi de, Ghacien J mas Mr Kelloy, Mr Thorntoa, lows Mr Fy: W Thomas, Mr Chipnan, Mr G Taylor, J 8 Norris, G Wolkey. Samuel, Ruston, ‘ ny ony, Kile if O'Conn arren 3 Snow, Richard | SR Parrook, Franc Br vy, J 8c nl ell GY diay WH Omorne, Bk tc, Me ten homas, B Kenney and chiid, Miss & Free ay ne Ailing J Malling & Witte Cro ir ell We fornay, Jeymapir Button, J Murphy. W Barrio, Wot Coleman andson, Jd H Cone ree, H Lawes me & Kelcnp, Captain Mathaway, Mr emot, W Hyil Hiattey, M Kenting, Mee Riley and. ee oD, Jas Find _ ip City of HaltimoranJas Findiaus, wm, John Judel, of Henchman, J Atkinngn. Lovie PUN ten, Hoare Marveyed W Rule iler, David Patterson, Migs Pattornon , move spittle. Mary Bpittie, John Morten + iene, Ine Piiegerald, Me Cook—and 645 in the seer ae DEPARTURES. Pe Sie om Sou Amp HAmauRa—Biermallip Bavw' t Macrison, Le Schovidt, Now York; imor, Walt. ‘corn dTOD M Bernie J bal - wc EE