The New York Herald Newspaper, January 17, 1865, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. ‘ WHOLE NO. 10,368. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1865. = PRICE FOUR CENTS. WILMINGTON. RENEWAL OF THE CAMPAIGN Another Naval Attack on Fort Fisher. FAIR WEATHER AND A SMOOTH SEA A Fleet of Transports with Troops from Grant’s Army Arrive Off Fort Fisher on the Sth Instant. The Plan of Battle to be the Same as Pursued at the First Attack. Evidence of Rebel Deserters as to the Weakness of the Rebel Works and Garrison. Tho Reinforcements Sent to Bragg During the First Attack Have Been Sent to Charleston, &e., Baurmons, Jan. 16, 1865. ‘Hho special correspondent of the Baltimore American, ‘wader date of the 9th inst., communicates the following ‘Mmportant information relative to the renewal, or rather ‘Gemtinuation, of the great movement against the defences of Wilmington situated at Federal Point, mouth of New ‘This correspondence has been withheld from the public ‘Bere until it should become known that the attack had ‘actually been commenced. Sreamemrp Saxriago pe Cuss, Orr Buavroat, Jan. 9, 1865. } ‘Baving ridden out a heavy southeast sterm at our ‘gmohorage during the past two days, off Beaufort harbor, ‘we are now enjoying one of those periodical calms pecu- ‘Mar to this latitude, which can scarcely be expected to Jest more than twenty-four hours, ‘Yesterday morning, the wind having got round to the Mortheast, and the sun shining out brightly, we were Blessed once more with a quiet sea, and our eyes were G@elighted also with the approach of the fleet of transports ‘With the troops furnished by General Grant to co-operate wih Admiral Porter’s fleet in the capture ef Vert ‘The first vessel that arrived was the fingship of the @ommanding General, which crossed the bar at once, and (Broceeded up Beaufort harbor to communicate with the Gegahty of Admiral Porter. Next came the steamers Baltic and Atlantic, each with mearly two thousand men on board. The other transports alse arrived soon after, the names of which, Rowever, @oakl not be ascertained. All the transport ficet, as I write, are now anchored ‘@eteide the bar, along with the naval-vessels, THE PLAN OF BATTLE. ‘The plan of battle is fully arranged, and the com- ‘ander of euch vessel has been supplied with a new qhast, indicating not enly his exact position, but the pre- ‘igo point of the works of the engmy on which bis fire is te be directed. ‘The 6 being commanded by the senior captain of the gunboat fleet—Capt. 0. 8. Glisson—ie stationed at Whe lead of the line of vessels of her class, eleven in ‘Bamber, and whilo the others of the line are to concen- wate their fire on the outworks of Fort Fisher our guns ‘me to throw a flank fire into the fort. ‘My position to witness the fight will therefore be most ‘Bavantageous—I having a full view of the operations ef the Monitors and Ironsides and the heavy frigates on he right of the line, and of the gunboat attack on the exter works of the onemy, including Mound battery, on ‘Be heft of our position. ‘The positions of the vessels are nearly the same as in Me former fight, excepting that the iron-clads will take position about a quarter of a mile nearer to Fort Fisher @an at the first attack, and the Dictator will also join ‘them with her two fifteen-inch guns, making the monitor Geet twelve guns strong, including the four guns of the Menadnock. Then the Ironsides, with her tremendous @leven-inch broadsides, and the Minnesota, Wabash, Brooklyn, Susquehanna, Tuscarora, Seneca, Ticonderoga, Mohican, Colorado, Shenandoah, Pawtuxent, Mackinaw, Meameo, Powhatan, Juniata, Yantic and Kansas form the second line. ‘The Nyack, Unadilla, Huron and Pequot, which act a8 fenders to the monitors, are also in the inner line. ‘The gunboat fleet is to form a line in front of the shore atteries, extending to the right of Fort Fisher, in the ellowing order:—Santiago de Cuba, Fort Jackson, ‘Tacony, Ovcecla, Chippewa, Sassacus, Maratanza, Rhode Yaland, Monticollo, Mount Vernon, Quaker City and Tosco. ‘The roserves of the various divisions, consisting of the amaller class of gunboats, are assigned to « position out- ‘aide of the line of battle. AN BARLY MOVEMENT. A steamer has just arrived from the inner barbor, and veperts that at noon to-day the signal was hoisted on the ‘Bagship for the entire fleet to prepare for sea. The pro- ‘Pability therefore is that we will sail to-morrow morning, @ the weather should continue favorable, ‘The Geet outside the bar are all ready to sail at a moment’s notice, and will fall in line as soon as the forest of masts comes out of Beaufort harbor. ‘The larger transports are also outside, about fifteen miles from the shore, awaiting the movement of the Geot. Statements of Rebel Deserters, Showing &., &. the Weakness of Fort Fisher During the First Attack. ADMIRAL PORTER TO BEORETARY WELLES. Norm At.axtic Squapson, ‘Umireo States Fac sur MALvean, Buavrorr, N. O., Jan. 7, 186% fa—I have the honor to enclose you a letter received from Lieutenant Commander Temple, containing in- pevedting watter relating to Fort Fisher. Mt 4s important as @ matter of history, and tells tho whole story. Tem, sir, your obodient servant, DAVID D. PORTER, Rear Admiral. Bon. Ginzon Weiixa, Secretary of the Navy. COMMANDER TEMPLE 70 ADMIRAL PORTER, Usrreo Spare Steamer wetted Orr New Imar, Jan. 2, 1865, Meer Admiral Davin D. Ponrm, U. & N., commanding \ Forth Atlantic Squadron:— Sm—TIt may be of assistance to you to receive (together wwii the six rebel desorters mentioned im my letter of Gils date) the following momorandum of information ell- ‘etted from one of thelr number, Corporal Thomas Lawler, af the marines:— \. He rays ho was stationed, both during and sinee the Demmdardment, in naval battery Buchanan, commanded By Licutenant Chapman, and situated near the Mound; Shes there were betweon five and «ix hundred men in the forte on the two days of the attack, and no troops in Wik mington or its vicinity to reinforce them; that the fre from the fleet was 80 force as fo drive the rebels from thelr guns and into the Bombproofs throughout the greater portion of thelr ‘works soon after the commencement of the ‘action; fhet two of thelr Brooke guns burst, killing and wound. fing sonic twenty-five mon; that we dismounted eight of Disir guns, besides destroying several of thoir carriages, kilitag Wirteen men and wounding about thirty; that Govoral W Niting suppored the boats which were sent into tho bar on thes 26th fo be a storming party of kenmen, to which he would beve boen obliged to surrender; that Bho subsequent ray bombardinent, af cunaot of tho fame day, was eo terrific that when our troops appeared 4m front of the fort immediately afterward, the garrison only awaited their assault to surrender wikhout resist ‘ance; that they could not imagine why the attack had Been abandoned; that matters remained im the same condition on the morning of the 26th and through- out that day; that we could easily have possessed ourselves of the forte until late in the afternoon, when General Bragg arrived at Wilmington with six thousand men from Lee’s army at Richmond; that, find- ing our troops re-embarking, Bragg decided not to molest us, and sent the six thousand men on to Charleston to re- inforce General Hardee; that General Whiting retains only his original garrison, with whom he is busily en- gaged in repairing damages and in getting down four other guns (being all that he can get hold of) from Wil- mington to replace those that were disabled; that the works are stronger against an assault on the land side than on the sea front, and that there are no obetructions fm the channel other than some dozen or fifteen torpe- doce—a portion of which were put down a week ago. He farther states that William T. Lynch ie acting as admiral of the station, and lives at Smithville; that Robert F. Pinckney is acting as commo- dore of the station afloat, having only a-amall tug, with- out any considerable armament, under hie command; that the tron-clad ram, formerly in the river, got aground ‘and buret open, and was dismantled of her engincs and armor; and that the Tallabassee put to sea on the night of the 22d or 23d of December, with from six to eight hundred bales of cotton on board, by way of the western bar, with a view to bring back a cargo of hard coal suf- ficient to enable not only herself but the Chiekamauga also to put to eea on another privateering expedition. He assigns ae @ reason for his desertion a long continued and growing discontent with his officers, his treatment and fare, and the cause for which he has been fighting. Respectfully, WILLIAM G. TEMPLE, Lieutenant Commanding. Casualtics Among the Crew of the Sloope of.war Ticonderoga, in the Naval Ac- tion off Wilmington, Oaused by the Bursting of a One Hundred-Peunder Parrott Gun. KILLED. oh ge ‘Hill (colored), seaman, Rodman street, Philadel- James T. Duffy, landsman, 250 East Twelfth street, New York, see ehedanie! ordinary seaman, 128 Callowhill James fect ar) nena: at Francis Mulery’s, 144 J lard, landsman, at Thos, Milford’s, Port To- Gian inne aeie Se Bay, 1,004 Sansom st Inton, class Philadelphia. vO mire) Ludyick Wits, seaman, born in Prussia, residence un- W. McMillen, landsman, born in Geor; resi- acuta taknowe. ig Rta td The above were buried ashore at Beaufort, North Caro- lina, Assistant Surgeon Franklin, United States Navy, of the Naval Hospital at that place, has been kind enough to interest himeelf in their burial, and has had neat head boards placed on their graves. He will no doubt furnish any information required to the friends of the deceased. WOUNDED. Edward R. Borrman, scaman, simple fracture of Charles Brown, seaman, fracture x thigh. id james T. William Jones, seaman, fract forearm ba Williams, arse poaman, mr ar Phineas Snyder, ordinary seaman, fracture of 5 compound fracture of ood "'Guults'B: Martin, landoman, slight injury of lett hip. a agCarmetits Cline, private ia Mastne Gore, sight bralso abne HL Milliken, ordinary seaman, slight injury The above wounded men were transferred to the United States Nava) Hospital at Norfolk, Va. REBEL ACCOUNTS. Another Flect Off Wilmington eon the 14th Inet. {From the Richmond Examiner, Jaz. 14) Yankee gunboats, upwards of fifty in number, are again visible off Wilmington, and were yesterday said to be engaged in shelling the woods near Fort Fisher. There is aleo a rumor that the Yankee Jand forces have com- menced an attack against the fort itself; but the War Department has received no intelligence as yetof it. ‘The Yankees wit! not take Fort Fisher. [From the Richmond Whig, Jan. 14.) An official despateh from Wilmington, dated this morn: ing (the 14th), says that about fifty federal vessels are in wight. They are mostly opposite the point of former landing, with fair weather and a smooth sea. Fort Fisher im Better Condition than when Batler Attempted to Take It. {From the Riehmond Dispatch, Jan. 14.) An official despatch received yesterday says:—"‘About fifty vessels are in sight, mostly oppostte the point of the former landing of the enemy. The weather is fair and the sea smooth.” There was a report last night that the enemy's fleet had begun the bombardment of Fort Fisher. There wasp however, no official despatch on the subject. They will find the fort in much Detter condition for re- sistance than when Butler made his attempt upon it. ‘We learn that the two valuable Brooke guns which we lost in Fort Fisher during the last attack were burst by being loaded and fired with shell that did not belong to them. From the very heavy charges of powder used in them, the Brooke guns require shell of extraordinary strength, The shells used at Fort Fisker were crushed in the guns, and the fragments becoming jammed caused the guns to burst. Railroad Commanication Between Rich- mond and Wilmington Restored. (From the Richmond Examines, Jan. 14.) ‘We learn that the Picdmont connection will be in run- ning order to-day or to-morrow. From what we hear there are certain obvious facilities of transportation which the government may command by the altera- tion of the gauge of this road, and which {t should take advantage of at the earliest moment. In our great line of Southern communication, extending say from Richmond to Augusta, the road is of the same gauge, excepting the Piedmont link, which extends forty-eight miles. It is only necessary to conform the gauge of this forty-eight miles of railroad to that of both ite connections, by moving one of its rails three inches and a half—a work which a gang of negro laborerg might do tn a week—to have a single gauge from Richmond to Atlanta, over which trains might pacs without once breaking their freight. As itis, we hear there ie great occasion of delay in the reshipment of freight; and we are informod that ftis not an unfre- quent occurrence for trains to be detained at Goldsboro for two days at atime, waiting to shift their freight, ‘Phere is no occasion for these stages of tranaportation which choke up the road, and no reagon that we can dis- cover but the neglect of obvious facilities why the gov- ernment should not ran through trains from pointe as far as Georgia to the depot in Richmond. NEWS FROM NORTH CAROLINA. Parties from North Carolina report that the new rebel ram, on the Roanoke river, is nearly finished. She is an improvement on the Albemarle. A company, with sub- ‘marine tmplements, are on their way to Plymouth to seo if the Albemarle can be raised in timo to resist tho ox- pected attack from the new ram, which isto move with the rebol ram at Kington, above Newborn, which is now in good condition, and only waiting for the flood tides, which the spring showers will bring. ‘The expected arrival of ono of the light draught mont- tors In the waters of North Carolina has given the aseu- ance that arrangements have boon made to meet theee rama, which are very formidable, Deserters from Wilmington state that Fort Msher was garrisoned by unwilling conscripts at the time the recent attack was made, who were anxious to surrender the fort, had an opportunity beon offered. Military and naval officers in North Carolina are very open and severo in condemning the failure to take Possession of Fort Fisher after resistance on the part of the enemy had been made imporsible. , Ohio, Robhea. Owerewany, Jan, 16, 1866 ‘The Rank of Maryeyitio, Ohio, was robbed af jan thou fu! dollar on Thureday int ARREST OF REBEL SPIES. One of the Hotel Burners im Oustody— The Prisoners te be Tried by Court Martial. ‘While some of the press have complained that no effort ‘was made—or, if made, that the knowledge of it was tmpre- perly withheld from the public—to arrest the rebel in- cendiaries who attempted to fire the otty, Major General Dix and Mr. Kennedy, Superintendent of the Metropoli- tan police, have been diligently at work, and the com- plete secrecy with whieh they have acted has seoured some important results, which would never have been accomplished bad publicity been given from day t day of the proceedings of the public functionaries. The many complaints which have been made that nothing was going on, though unfounded, perhapa may, by throwing the rebel raiders off their guard, have da, He was arrested near the Suspension Bridge, with @ confederate, who is also in the rebel service. They had come from Buffalo, and had in their hands with few days after information had been partment headquarters that Buffalo was to be a gi sereadlaries pom Toronto, iy 8 8 The third ia ono of the New York incendiaries, The name by which he is commonly known is “Stanton,” ‘Dut his real name is known, and rebel service. He and the from Lewiston, New York, to in pursuit of the arrested. It rily ascertained the namber of attempting to fire thts city did not exceed six or seven, and that one person set fre to two hotels and another to one hotel and Barnum’s. Museum. A general court martial has been organized by Major Soe tae pm eee the laws of war, It jats of the following officers: — Brigadier General Fitz Henry Warren, United States Volunteers. Brigadier General W. H. Morris, United States Volun- teers. Colonel M. 8. Third United States Cavalry. Colonel H. Day, United States Army. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel RF. O’Beirne, Fourteenth United States Infantry. bra G, W. Wallace, Sixth United States Infantry. John A. Bolles, Ji Advocate. It fs understood he *ourt will meet at Port Lafayette to conduct the THE INTERNAL REVENUE. Excitement Caused by the Publication of Incomes—Over Twenty-seven Mil- Ifoms Collected Since 1962 in this Oity. ‘The publication of the incomes of prominent taxpay- persons on incomes amounting to or exceeding tleman, a prominent shipbuilder, has an 183,230. There are quite a number above ecee apd 600. Mr. Fernando Wood and Mr. Jacob Vanderpool 5 -—s the ind that all tact no tax at all, being ex Nh A Ty. Ee By these figures it will be noticed that the lower die- trict, consisting of the First, Second and Fourth wards, and which, singularly —, ig denominated the Thirty- has afforded the second ic revenue. The next if the Fourth and the next the Bighth district, THE PUBLICATION OF INCOMES, TO THE BDITOR OF THE HERALD. ‘The Collector of the Eighth district in ‘‘a card’ which — this morning, iting the publication of the iment list, says:—‘The law does not require the collector to allow notes to be taken from the copies in his office.”’ This statement seems to it necessary for me to say that both the law and the ractions of the ent render mo less tO prevent it the @: irections of the Secretary Commissioner of Internal fication or publication, ate mat- ig my from, extent, classi! ters exci oly belonging to the press, which alone is responsible for ‘selection of names here and there, either for reasons,” or otherwise. As for the wisdom or the impolicy of the lew, its ‘“impro- pricty”’ or “injustice,” it s for the Iaw makers and ex- indi and not for its humble ministers to jud; I now nothing but obedience to its requirements. ‘These are the extracts referred to, instructions of the Commis- sioner, July 12, 1864, with the heading “Public Charac- tor of the Lists,” ‘The attention of assessors is particularly called to ths 5 tion of the foguintions issued by the Kecretary of the Trea sury, which regulates the publicity to be given to the liste. The regulation referred to is contained in the Seore- tary’s circular of July 20, as follows :— by the act of June $0, 1964, thet tor shall remain in anor, and shail be open to the Inspection of all persons who may apply to inapect the same. It is of expectal Linportance that assensors give full effect to this pro- viston with reference to the lista heretofore made up, and the aasessments for the income for the yea r that the amplest opportunity may be given for the detection of any fraudulent returns that may bave been made, aud any omiarions that may have occurred, and for this ep nv seaeasors should seek the oo-operation of all tax paying citizens. As the Collector's statement that the “law permits and requires the lists to be open for inepection for a certain time at the Assessor's office’ may mislead judgment, ‘and leave it to be inferred that after @ “certain timo” the lista shall be closed (as is now the care in reference to aro I would ray that there is eae of the kx. cise act of June 30, 1864, to which the Collector makes ‘no exprows reference, It is as follows (Section 27) :— And be it further enacted, that each collector, on reoetving from time to time late and feturns from the said asmessore, hall subscribe three receipts, one of which shall be made on a full and correct copy of each list or return, and be de- wees, by HHetrict, aad bas] ‘on ve = assessor of hie collection district, and shal a inspect person who may apply to inspect the same. gociunn It is only necessary to add the following copy of a De on by ay an upon the ject of ublicity so far as any undue reeponsibility may Brava On either Mewes or ‘Asvensor. 7 5% je order was pu’ ed in the Henann of yesterday. AS. BLEECKER, Assessor Kighth District - General Grant and the §| a montal, RADQUARTRRS, Ansy or Tux Usirep Bra Orry Port, Va., Deo. 22, iow} BML Hevren, D. Tautatace, Joun T. Braver: — Daan Sine—I have just this momont received your printed letter in relation to your propored movement in Acknowledgment of one of Ohio's greatest sons, I wrote only yesterday to my father, who resides in Coving Kentucky, on the same subject, and asked him to in gurate a subscription to present Mra. Sherman with a fur- nlehed house In the city of Cincinnati, General Sherman is eminently entitled to this mark of ooneideration, and I directed my father to head the subscription with '$500 for me and balf that amount from General Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster of this army, who is equally alive with myself to the eminent of General Sherman. hatever direction this enterpriee in favor of General Sherman may take, you may set mo down for the amount named, T cannot saya word too highly in Praise of General Sherman's services from the beginning of the re bellion to the present day, and will therefore abstain from flattery of him. Suffice it to say, the world’s his tory gives no record of his superiors, and but few equals. Tam truly giad for the movement yon have eet on and of the opportanity Of adding my mite in testimonial of po good and great a man. Yours, U & GRANT & Coll rman T ant Genovak | others of the leading mon of the South, but those re- Carolina thinks sho has a very clear understanding ‘of the grounds of difference Detween the contending par- ties,” and while sbe has no desire for a “continuance of the’ strife, nor for farther bloodshed,” yet she has no intention of returning toslavery, which is the long and the short, the pith and aubstance of reunion and recon- tru ction. If Mr. Blair will fully and truthfully report the public sentiment of Richmond—if he will teil his countrymen that, though he found many persons in Richmond low spirited and gloomy, yet he could not discover any signs or surrender, any indfeations that this people would, upon any terms, return to the Union, and that the inera- dicable hatred that now separates the two nations would not render reunion profitable or desirable to eithor, bis mission will prove one of peace, and bis country and posterity bless him for the visit. MB. BLAIR ON A RECRUITING EXPEDITION—UE WANYS TO GET FACTS FOR A TALE THAT WILL FIRE THE NORTHERN HEART AND HELI THE DRAFT. ‘The press of the United States, not lees than that of the cont is puzzling ite bfains to know what is the meaniug ‘of Prancis P. Blair's mission to Richmond, if that can be called @ mission in which the missional comes of hia own accord, and is sent by nobody at all, Blair's ¢: ig eminently and peculiarly of that de- seription, He comes without credentta s, and nobod: asked him to come, so far at loast aa we cin understan The viows he sball express and the propositions he may make are his own views and his own propositions, Not 80, however, the information he may pick up, or the observations he may make. These will not long, at any rate, remain his sole property. They will be distributed to the whole world through the medium of the Northern press as soon as he shail have returned to Washington. ‘ankeedom, just at this time, is hard pressed for men, to fill up the call for three hundred thousand men lately made by Lincoln. Blair has no moe See any terms, and Lincoln will hear of none but te submission. Blair will propose absolute submission, and it will, of course, be } Then -he will publish to the North the fact that the rebels have rejected all overtures, and by that means tt is hoped the North will be induced to send forth ite recruits more liberally, That the North is bard run for recruits does not admit of a doubt. That basest of all traffickers in human flesh, Governor Andrew, of hu: is already in Savannah buying up negroes for the shambles, to sub- stitute the Yankees, who are quite particular about keep- ing their skins whole. This of itself is proof ae that there is no fluity of conscripts there. The tale that Blair will tell may possibly help on the draft. In addition to the refusal of our authorifies to accept tho only terms Lincoln will offer, he will discover, as every Yankee has discovered for the last four yea we are in a bad way here, and that Grant is quite as near taking Richmond as he was last May. Another great object of this mission is, no doubt, to aid inthe cry for which is raised in certain quar- ters, and in with apertinacity which leaves no doubt that those who olamor for it would take it on any terms; would, in fact, rather prefer to take {t on tho terms upon which Lincoln offers t—that is, absolute sub- mission. These gentlemen know that Lincoln will not even receive a deputy from ur, or Msten to anything we have to say; bat no matter; Blair has been bere on a amps mission, and as there is no peace the fact will af- ample ground to aesail the government. The peace mania last summer did us infinite mischief—brought us to the verge of ruin indeed. What a feather in Blair's cap if he ean produce another such furore/ Then what an opportunity to operate on the discontented in certain States, and produce a disintegration of the sea tecenscy | ‘What purpose the Executive hopes to accomplish dringing ile man bere we areet s ioes to understan since he comes clothed with no diplomatic power. But it does not seom that the Yankees anticipatesfrom tt all lhe geod which we fear they will derive. The Tribune, indeed, boldly declares that no can come of it at all, ‘The government, it says (meaning the Yankee govern- mont), holde, and has held from the firet, the proper po- sition with regard to the rebels, in refusing to have any- thing to do with or say to the so-called Confederate ernment and its agents. To admit the power of the federate rennet to make peace would be, it in- BLAIR. HIS MISSION TO RICHM WHAT THE REBELS THINK OF IT. Mr, Blair a Self-Constituted Commis- sioner, Visiting Richmond Without Authority or Invitation. He ts Believed to be Hunting Items for Mr: Lincoln’s Inaugural Address. Davis Said to Have Expressed a Willingness to Treat of Peace, and to Have Ap- pointed Three Commissioners to Meet Those of Mr. Lincoln. Another Rumor Says Mr. Blair ‘Was Snubbed and Dismissed with a “Fiea in His Ear,” he. ke ae ‘Wasuroron, Jan. 16, 1865. Mr. Francis P. Blair, Sr., arrived here about four o'clock this afternoon, from his trip to the rebel capital. His mission there was one of purely a private character. The Pass accorded him to enter the rebel lines not only re- cited that he was understood to come upon private busi- ess, but restricted him to the transaction of sach bust- ness exclasively. The delay of a few hours between the Picket limes while this pass was being obtained afforded en opportunity for the news of his coming to be spread throughout the city, and not only was tho Spottewood Houge crowded with people curious to see the peace com- missioner, but numbers of his old friends and ecquaint- ‘ances came out upon the road to meet him. On his arrival he proceeded directly to the War Department to see the Secretary of War, and while there,was waited upon by Colonel Hatch, of the rebel army, formerly a ‘warm pérsonal friend of F. P. Blair, Jr., and became the guest of Colonel Hatch during his sojourn in Richmond. Mr. Blair's chief object in going to Richmond was to recover, if possible, somte valuable title deeds abstracted from his bome by the rebels during the rebel raid against Washington. Some of theve papers were recovered. Mr. Blair wos not authorized to make any peace propo- | sists, to admit its Letra gene and Greeley [naiste tition, But hoped to be able to lay before his quondam | tures “with whom, the Pears rl pnp Srienda, who are now leaders of the rebellion, euch eug- gestions as might tend to bring about a conclusion of the war. He was everywhere kindly received, and had frank and free convernations with Mr, Davis and numbers of RICHMOND. Major General John Gibbon to be Assigned to the Command of the Twenty-fourth Corps. Reported Mutiny Among Virginia Troops, key &e., &e. THE SECOND CORPS. Mr. Wm. J. Stark’s Despatches, Hrapquarrers, Sxcoxp Ansty Conrs, Jan, 12, 1865, The usual quiet prevails along the lines. In front of the Ninth corps yesterday a truce was agreed upen by the opposing troops, and numbers passed to and fro, exchanging tobacco and other articles, The good feeling seemed to continue during the night, as the usual picket firing was not observable, REVIEW OF TIF SECOND DIVISION, ‘The Becond division of this corps, Major Gencrat John Gibbon commanding, was reviewed in the afternoon by General Humphreys. A large number of general officers were present, and, the weather Being very fine, the review passed off admirably, showing the condition of the troopa to be most excellent, EMBALMERS ORDERED OUT OF THB ARMY. In accordance with orders from the Lieutenant General commanding, General Patrick bas informed all embalm- ing surgeons that they will be no longer allowed to carry on their business within the lines of the army, and directed all thus engaged to leave the army with the least practicable Say It is understood that this ig owing to the very unskilful manner in which many of therm have performed the duties of their profession. ASAGNMANTS. Brevet Major General Alexander 8 Webb, formerly commanding the Second division of this bers has been assigned to duty as chiof of staff to General . Brevet Brigadier General John Barney has been as- oye to the command of the Fourth of the First division. Heapquantsrs, Sucorp Corrs, Brrons eneaeee tae 14, 1865. } GENERAL GIBBON TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THB TWENTY-FOURTH CORPS, In accordanee with orders from headquarters, armies of the United States, Major General John Gibbon, who, for nearly two years past, has commanded the Second di- vision of this corps, has been relieved and ordered to report to the Licutenant General commanding for assign- ment. General Gibbon is to take command of the Twenty-fourth army corps, Army of the James, in place of General Ord. The following members of his stall accompany him to his new sphere of action:—Major A, H. Embler, Eighty-second New York; Captain Edward Moale, Nineteenth infantry, and Captain Potter, Twelfth Now Jersey. General Gibbon parted from his division, with which he has been 0 Jong and ably conneeted, at four o'clock this after- noon, taking a special train from Warren station to Cit Point. Previous to his departure the brigade and ned mental commanders catled upon hie in abody, and many of regret at past ‘The arcades wan unced vy the Cenemit-ia tak was y leave of the divivion:— a y sulted in nothing definite. Haesnquarrers, Broonp Drvimon, ‘The story published in the Richmond Dispatch of Sa- au bag for rene. with his to give i Seong Ava Conta dan, 14 Thos ‘tatday is all Bosh. No propositions, either written or ver- peek ‘Now, tin cae rests seize hold Sorpmns oF Baconp Divison—' order peace agitators sepapates us has arrived. For nearly two years have Tal, wore made by Mr. Davis to Mr. Blot, nor was he | Biatr’s miasich, and tell the people that the Precideutis | sePeoachasrmny command and divide. this period, we the Pearer of any to this governmont. Asfaras | rejecting offers of peace, when no offers are made. have passed through many bloody battles together, I afiys are concerned bie mission was witout RUMORS PREVALENT IM RICHMOND. have ever found you faithful, and brave. The veoult. the Richmond Di Jan. 14) dones of your and the maimed forme of your * My. Francis P. Blair, @r., 1s still in this city, and te nos | Wounded comrades fo your he ligenn ee Seo oh ihe Rpsterond, Vata tik private residence of Colonel | Sivayn be dour io me, Continue to exercise fd eherish ‘The Richmena Wg of Beturday contains the follow. | {otarviows with the President, Gad. there are varicas end | toes sound doctrines of mllHary ine which it thas ing:— conflicting of the results of their interviews or eee ee eee a cae acne you tnt ge ro ‘There were Do devel relative fe that President, has agreed to glory colors Shrow ion of Me Freak F Dla, Br Tite movements evecare fires commissioners io hee Be Soin by fr dear country ie now paring: OS Rot revealed to the public. to settlothe diMculty between the JOHN GIBBON, Major Genera’ neers. Confederate States and the United States. Another re- Jno. M. Nonve.n, Majorand Assistant Adjutant General, ‘The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday says: ‘and we thin the most Hkely to be true, is that the GENERAL GIBRON'S CAREKR 48 AN ORFICER. Francis P. Blair, Zag, of Lincolndom, is still in this Frecldent hae breben ‘all with Mr. Blair, and | _ At the breaking out of the war General Gibbon was @ city, stopping at the Spsttawood Hotel. Nothing setedie dimen Ne is Laon en It fe ex; that | captain in the Fourth artillery, commanding Company B. has yet tcpeppirel tm regard to His mission, Mr. will leave mond in the flag of truce boas | This battery, during the Mexican war, was commanded me! the Confederate Congress and of the ‘thaygoes down to Varina to-day. oo. John M. Washington, of Virginia, and greatly pope Es reeans ces Jae Sacer once resolved themeelves a Committee le a e rn cl on the Bate of the Union. ORTRESS MONROE, _| cversnclming assault. "Tho good service of the batery MR. BLAIR A SBLF-OONSTITUTED COMMISSIONER— BE 18 NOT AUTHORIZED BY MB. LINCOLN. [From MR, 8. T. BULKLEY’8 DESPATCH. Forrnege Mownon, Va., Jan. 16, 1865, with General Butler, and left for the front this morning. n ‘THE DEPARTURE OF GENERAL BUTLER FROM FORTRESS MONROR. " The received version of e Davis he (Blair) wrote Davis s little letter inquiris ps Bee he Goal receive a social visit from an old ; that Davis re- sponded, angi that the interview took place, at tho end of which Davis delivered to Blair a letter to Lincoln, in which he declared his willingness either to receive cominis- sioners from the United States to treat of peace, or to send ly credited, {f they would be received at Wash- ntgomery Blair did not come further than City Point, MR. BLAIR HUNTING ITEMS FOR MR. LINCOLN’S IN- AUGURAL ADDRES#. me Hon FP Blain Br fron Waconia ¢@ Hon. F. P. ir, 3 ‘ost a u intimate friend and confidant a4 ° Teginent Pennsylvania hea duty here, He leaves for he bas been ordered to appear before the Senate Investi: gating Committee, MEW DEPARTMENTAL PROVOST MARSHAL. = The chan, to be m of Provost Marshal of the department. sell, who bas occupied that pert has been relieved, and a1 Major John C tion for many mon tain Gilchrist, of the Ow in his place. 1 understand relieved at his own request. and is rey to have held an intervio: ‘Seddon. is mission, though not likely to dous any] Escape of Newspaper Correspondents good, cannot Teeult in the to from . curse. Mr. Biair is no apy, and if he was he could GAYE ARRIVAL OF MESEKS. find ont anything that would do hia government an: or ours any harm. We would use fir. Biair tocaal ¢ loa? into the enemy’s camp. Lot him visit our commissary warehouses, and even give him the exactamount on hand; take him to the Ordnance Department, to the Tredegar Works, to Congress, to the Logisiature, and we would not object to his iting the Bnquirer office—perhaps a peru- sal of our old files might roeall the memory of beppler We can show hin some volumes of the old lobe BROWN, OF THE TRIBUNE, ACCOMPANIED BY MR. DAVI8, CORRESPONDENT OF THE CINCINNATI GAvETTE, BTC. Nasnvn.x, Jan. 16, 1865. Major General Ord, commanding the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, arrived hore yesterday morning on his flag boat River Queen, He spent the day General Butler takes final leave of thie department this evening. He is to be escorted to the boat by the Third artillery, doing garrison fashington, where it is said in commanders will cause many changes je of subordinate officers on detached duty here. Among those that have already occurred is that and Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, ap- thes Major Cassell ICHARDSON AND Albert D. Richardson, of the New York Tribune, with William E. Davis, correspondent of the Cincinnati Gasette by General Taylor. In the spring of 1862 Captain Gibbon was made ehtef of artillory on the staff of General McDowell, and aeeompa- nied that officer to Frederickelurg, where he wee shertiy afterwards made brigadier general of volunteers, and placed in command of a brgade in King’s division, which, under his command, earned for itself the sow- of “the Irom Iingade.”” It was composed of the Becond, Sixth, Seventh and Nineteenth Indiana With this command he went through the memorable canipa gn under General Pope, and the battles of South Moontain and Antietam. In’ November, 1862, he was assigned to the command of the Second division of the First corps, succeeding General Ricketts. At the battle of Fredricks- burg he was severely wounded, and was absent on count thereof until March, 1863. Upon hie retarn ho ‘was avrigned to the division from which he baa thie day deen called. At the battle of Chancollorevilie he was ordered to report with his command to General Sedgwick, of the Sixth corps, and took part in the eniiant chargo which resuited in the capture of Fredrieksborg heights, At Gettysburg, after the concentration of the First, Eleventh and Twelfth corps, under General Gibbon took command of the § ‘was wounded in this engagement, and remained abeent until March, 1864, when, having recovered from his in- Juries, he returned and resumed his command. Duri & portion of the time he was absent he had command the draft depot in Philadelphia. The Second —— y “4 pan of the labor and fighting in which the ariny has beenengaged, and Saati has ever found ite late commander one ot the strictest of disctplinarians, it has learned t hove and re- spect him, both as a soldier aud a man. One of the last and most pleasing dutics which General Gibbon had to perform priot to leaving hiv division was in restoring to the Eighth New York heavy artillery, the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin and the Ofte Hundred and ty- fourth New York their colors, which these regimenta were deprived of the right to bear by General Orders N. 63, Augurt 30, 1864, having lost them to the enemy Reams station. This right was restored by Gener days. and Clerk of the Obio Senate, arrived here to-day. They | Orders No. 179, of Novi 16, 1864, on seouunt of the and make him blush to compare his past profersiqgs with | escaped from the rebel penitentiary at Salisbury, North manner tn which the regiment conducted them- his present practices. Atany rate, we d dis. , t Hatcher's run. In the ow nets of toget isto silty es is, | Carolina, on the night of December 18, in company with , presented Junius H. Brown, also of the New York Tribune. ‘ar for granting a passport to Mr. Blair, nor seize upon They came three bpndred and forty miles, by a cir- hat perinisaion to point malignancy against the Prost- ent. But what brotght Mr. Blair to Richmond may be dl. vined from the be pee preee The army of the enemy needs recraits, and volunteering is not brisk enough; the draft has not, heretofore, furniehed men; conscription will not answer. Hence the Tribune saye:— We pray the I mi!lion: t to efor dio rales teete reepeetive questa last call. We sincerely trust thi rmennel vd _ it ie not x raw raise an them. a Ray embodied and ready’ to take dhe Unes, fifteen miles from Knoxville, For the first fifty miles thoy were assisted by neg! afterwards by Union men, They received the most devoted kindness, their good friends secreting them in the woods and in barns, and sometimes in their houses by day, and piloting them through secluded pathways by night, along the en- tire route, at tho peril of their lives, They found snow « foot deep on the mountains, and suffered much from hunger and from cold in regions where they dared not build fires. Abundtod miles from Knoxville they joined seventy Union refugees, who were on thelr way to the Union lines under mountain pilots; but the next night, at Kelly's Gap, they were surrounded by rebels, and com- pell it a moment's potice, to separate into two parties. Tho horsemen wero piloted in the darkness from (he febel eamp by ® young lady, and they rode by forced marohes of such severity as to kill many of their ant- mals, Mr. Brown, with the other footmen, undor an excellent pilot, took to mountain pathe, and reachod our lines on Saturday. Meesra Richardson and Brown were captured while flomting on} hay bales in tho Minsissippi river, opposite Vicksburg, om the night of May 3, 1863, after their boat had been exploded and burned by the rebel batteries, and half the persons on the expedition killed or wounded. They have nince been conflued in seven different rebel prisons, Mr. Davis was taken while with Sherman's army, near Ressacca, Oa, May 19, 1868, Tho Richmond authorities refused all proporals for their exchange, declaring that they should be held during tho war aa hostages and for retaliation. They left reven thousand prieoners in Salisbury, eu for. Ing the greatest barbarities from the rebe Ia, They represent that there {s the most earnest loyalty to the government still prevailing In the revel lines nd Tennensee, hly the rebeliton obvious seo it and Ho lat ua apendily All up the new Inay confidently trast that, In.oke way OF anpther: our long distracted, devastated country shall sovu rejoice in the return of welcome peace. Here, then, is one object to encow' recruiting. Noxt, the enemy's finances are sadly of, for the Henau> says: e present condition of our financer stro that «rs cannot garry on the war beyond another oan seine out risking & collapse of the Treasury, anda rulnous finan ela! revulsion, The enemy are more despondent and sick of the war than we are. Notwithstanding their recent successes, they see no hope for our speedy overthrow, and nothing that promises ultimate success to their army. If Mr. Blair could discover in Richmond any reliable indications ‘that our were yearning for the ‘comforta and conveniences of civilized life,’ or die to stop fight. ing and try negotiations, or that the indomitable spirit of Viryinia wag sinking under the recent heavy blows dealt our cause by the enemy, then Mr. Blair's nrtenion would be @ most profitable one and Afr. Lincoln would know how lo point and paragraph his approaching én- augural pon this mission of Blair the Tyidune says: — What we hope from this effort Ina closrer understanding, erpecially at the Bouth, of the grounds of difference between the contending tioa—the reasons which, on, ether shir, i further Mloodshed In deemed necesanry. Pherae. von 6 pe nd ope vely ascertained and definitely set bef ik, “‘ Sine ge By the 8c 0 North, na, w Je a bellion unavailing, if not ‘impossibie,. date ineteaalas It would be well to permit Mr, Blair toextend bie vivit. to North Carclina; for—notwithstanding the gallantry | and horot#m of North Carolina soldiers; notwithstanding pea Raet frome Yoo patriotiam exhibited exclusively — throughout Weetern North Carolina and Fast Tenneaee, in the defence of Fort Fisher by the noble soldiers of | and that the peo hom bs heir none that State; notwithstanding the number and eMicien’y of cid goncmen dhe oidhaeshetd ats cabenee the voldiers from that State, their geal. and brothers wurdered, and thelr houses robbed aud yotlon otitis nding the patt 0 burned by the rebels, are jooking and praying for the her eatin a femonstrati@ f in and uDemonsteatly 6 advance of our aries, Hundreds of tho citizens are fight (tout Wke mon’ the enem: a that State by i fe ebiet iy the Union service outtous route through the mountains, before reaching our by General Gibbon in per expressed himaelf as in the highest degree grat 1 at the manner in which the regiments had conducted themselves in the action last referred to, which he regarded as a sure guarantee that their colors would hereafier be safe in their hands. Brigadier General Smythe, of the Third brigade, as mmed command of the division on the departure of Gen, pbon, MORE RUMORS OF FVACUATION, Rumors that the enemy were evacuating Richmond were rife In the army during the day, but could be traced to bo reliable source. THE ARMY OF THE JAMES. Mr. John A. Brady's Despatch. Hranqvartens, ARMY ov THR Jaws, Jan, 16, 1965, The rebois along the front of the Twenty-ffth corpa still remain quietly engaged at thelr interminable digging, and thelr works are gradually assuming the mows formidable appearance, They get along, however, in the most friendly manner, and we do not manifest tho lightest desire to annoy them. One thing, however, is observable, namely—the gradual falling off tn the nut. ber of desertions from the enemy. This te attributable to the fact that they have imbibed prejadices against the negro soldiers that prevent them trusting themselves a their hands. The dosertions on the Twenty-fourth corpa t have, on the other hand, greatly increased. REPORTED MUTINY AMONG THR ViRGINTA It te now well known that the rebel Inning to have troublo with the | Virg troopr, Ickett's division when ordered South absolutely refused to leave Virginia, and carried their point, Deserters from Virginia regiments are ynanimous tn the statement that the men are determined to resist being sent out of the State. {HOR KORTH CAROLINA AND GRORGIA TROOPS that were on this front have all n sent South to defend their own Staten It is serreely probable that theee troops will ever fight us again in Virginia FLA OF TRUCK, Colonel Molford went outside the lines yeeterday to meet the rebel commissioner and make arrangermens for fa more complete exchange, He carried with bim a nume ber of ludies travelling inte the confederacy Wo rejoin their husbands. Important from Canada, Tonowro, Jan, 16, 1968. Non, George Brown arrived from England on Saturday | night | Tho Globe to-day sye:—"Wo aro eredibly informed that the best legal opinion in England favors the extre \ dition of the raiders pow before the Onnadiaa