The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. access + NO. 75 = New York, Wednesday, March 15, 1865. —— == THE NEW TAX LAW. ‘The new Internal Revenue law, so important to the interests of the country and of every individual, will be published in the Weexiy Heraup of this week. Itis alphabetically arranged, ,and will be found very valuable and useful to all taxpayers. Bingle copies, in wrappers, five cents. Agents are requested to hand in their orders to-day. THE SITUATION. ,, Exciting reports regarding General Sheridan's move- mentenorth of Richmond are furnished by @ released ‘Union soldier who left Castle Thunder on last Monday morning, and reached Annapolis yesterday. He states that om last Saturday night the rebel capi- (al was thrown into the greatest terror and @onfusion by the announcement that Sheridan's bavalry bad arrived at Beaver Mills aqueduct, only twen- ty miles north of the city, where they were engaged in flestroying the James River Canal. Thealarm bells were rung, oMfo-rs rushed to and fro, and every fan that could be spared, including Pickett's di- vision, was hurried off to repel the raiders. The Game high state of excitement continued to prevail in Richmond down to Monday morning, when the Union Poldier left, at which time it was understood that Sheri- @an had effectually destroyed the acqueduct, and was passing around the right of the rebel lines defending Petersburg, to cut the Danville Railroad, thus severing the last link of Richmond's connection by river or rail- foad with the outside world, and join General Grant. All this it is believed in Washington Bhoridan has by this time succeeded in doing, and is now either with the army of the Potomac br pressing on to clear the way northward for Sherman. Our despatches in Monday's HekaL> made allusion to Bhis same report of Sheridan’s arrival In close proximity $0 Richmond, and the consequent excitement in that City, including the sending off of Pickett’s division to Fepel him, General Sherman bas again opened direct communica. tion with the North, and, though be tells us little, that little is very satisfactory. On the 8th inst.—one week ee NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARUH 15, 1865. ~<* day was a day of election, very few people would have been aware of the fact, The ceremony passed off very quietly; fow people exercised the chérished right of casting @ ballot, and, indeed, no interest whatever seemed to be taken in the result, The election was to accept or reject a proposed amendment to the State con- stitution, to enable the Governor to appoint Commissioners of the Court of Appeals. In this city the total vote was 6,800. Of this 8,910 votes were for the constitutional amendment and 2,890 opposed to it, giving a majority in its favor of 1,020. In Brooklyn 5,285 ballots were polled, 8,222 being im favor of the amendment and 2,068 against it, showing s majority for it of 1,159. Returns from other portions of the State give an equally small com- Parative vote, but indicate that the amendment has been adopted by the people. The steamships City of Washington, from Queenstown March 2, and Peruvian, from Londonderry March 8, are due at New York and Portland respectively to-day, The Peruvian carries two days later news. At a mocting of the Board of Aldermen yesterday a communication was reccived from Senator Laimbeer in reference to the site for the proposed new Capitol, and asking an answer to the circular of the Senate Committee before the~20th inst. The ordinance prohibiting the storage of petroleum and other combustibles within the city limite im larger quantities than five barréls was called up, and a substitute for it was offered, which was referred to the committee having the subject under con- sideration. No business of special public interest came up yester- day in Colonel Baker's office. There was a good deal of the ordinary business of the office transacted, however. The Senatorial Investigating Committee continued their examination of tho affairs of the City Inspector's dopartment yesterday, having before them a number of witneases, the testimony of all of whom related princi- pally to the condition of our streets and transactions connected with the work of cleaning them. The com- mittee will meet again at half-past three o'clock this afternoon. Isaac Wirtman, keeper of a saloon in Thompson stro ct, and Margaret Whelan were yesterday committed for ex- amination, in default of fifteen hundred dollars bail each, charged with having stolen from John Jones, in the house of the first named, # gold watch valued at one hundred and fifty dollars, ‘A coroner's inquest was held yesterday at the Black- well’s Island HospitaLover the body of Thomas Donald- son, whose death resulted, it appears, from the acci- dental explosion of a pistol in the hand of Jacob Stefiln, while the two, who were friends, were together in a drinking saloon in Third avenue on last Sunday after- oon, Readout eight o'clock last evening @ fire broke out fin the rear of the second story of No. 17 Dey street, which spread rapidly to the upper floors, and before it could be subdued the four upper stories wore entirely destroyed. The building was occupied by three or four firms, Rich & Brewster, hardware dealers, being the heaviest sufferers, their loss amounting to about twenty-five thousand dol- lars. The total loss on stock and building is about fifty thousand dollars, The insurance was not ascortained, Yesterday was the Israclitish anniversary of Purim, a festival in commemoration of the deliverance by Queen Esther of the children of Abraham from the massacre designed for thom by Haman, the chief minister of King ego to-day—he was at Laurel Hill, Richmond ®ounty, North Carolina, about forty miles from Fayetteville. Richmond is one of the southern border counties of the State. General Sherman gays:—‘‘We ure all woll and have done finely. Details aro for obvious reasons omitted,”” The military authorl- ties at Washington entertain no doubt that Sherman has bre this reached Fayetteville, without having encoun- tered any opposition from the enemy worth considering. At Fayetteville he would form a junction with Schofleld’s forces, and sweep on thence towards Richmond. From the important scene of conflict in North Carolina we have additional intelligence of national succcas. By the steamship General Meigs, Captain Watson, which arrived here at a late hour last night, we have Gespatchos from Newbern to the 12th instant. The Snticipations regarding the movements of the rebel General Bragg at Kinston expressed in yesterday's Henatp have proved correct. A despatch from General Schofield, Gated at Newbern on the 12th inst., states that Bragg's army, after being fairly beaten by General Cox, retreated across the Neuse river at Kinston, and took up a position ‘on the north side of that stream. Our own despatches ptate that on the morning of the 11th inst, another furious Bttempt to break the Union lines was made by Hoke’s Kivision of rebels; but they were driven back with jovere loss, killed, wounded and captured deing estimated at between two and three thousand. Their killed and wounded they left behind, and commenced their retreat the north side of The Union losses in this latter affair were their to the river. only three or four hundred. This disparity in casualties The tebol ram Neuse, lying in the Neuse river, near Kinston, was owing to General Cox's men being intrenched. has been partially destroyed. In this morning's Henarp is given a comprehensive and vory accurate map showing the extensive field in which are now progressing the {important military pperations directed on the one side by Generals Grant, Shorman, Sheridan and Schofield, and on the other by G nerals Lee, Johnste The two houses have adjourned on § arly and Bragg. the rebel Co: ress, which were to ray last, postponed their adjourn- ment till yesterday, at the request of Jeff, Davis, who Informed thom that he desired their presence in the rebel capital for afew days longer, as he expected to have something of imporianc: to lay before them, Tho United States transport mer Thorn was blown ap by a torpedo in Cape Fear river, just below Fort An dorson, on the afternoon of the 4th instant, and sunk in mid channel within two minutes afterwards, the crow As the river was barely escaping with their liv thoroughly dragged, and all the torpedoes removed after the evacuation of Fort Anderson, it is supposed that the torpedo had been recently planted by some prowling band of rebels, probably with a view of blowing up one of the Union transports going out of the river loaded with paroled prisoners. Somb further partievlars of the rebel attack on tne Union Fort Meyers, on the Flori us by the steamship Union, day from Key West. Tho rebels surprised and exptured the pickets and made a demand for the surrender of the brought to } arrived here yoster. garrison, which was refused, when they opened on the fort, and continued their cannonade for half a day, but wore compelled to retrent with: effecting its capture, The Union Generals Crook and , captured at Cum. Derland, Md., a short time ago, have been exchanged THE LEGISLATURE. yesterday bills were reported to provide for the care n in Brooklyn; and In the State Senate ‘open Prince sireet, Br ‘and instruction of t tural purposes. suthorizing the increase of | Croton Water bonds, and on Urooklyr Folative to seworage in Brooklyn; to increa stock and extend the charter of the @t amship Company; incorporating the K Gas Company of New York; relative to rows \ York, and giving the Croton Aqueduct Bowrd power ove the same. The bill authorizing all horse railroad panies in the State, except thore wholly operate York and Brooklyn, to Increase their presout far Por cont was discussed, An amendment was ofered, ex tending the jprovisions of the bill to this ey and Brook- lyn, which was unanimously rejected. County bonds; | the capital ‘ail Paci In the Awambiy a bill wae introduced to amend the Quarantine law. A number ef bills were moved for Action to-dey under the resolution appeinting a grinding committee. The dil cod to a third reading were those for the better protection of seamen in the port and harbor of Now York, to amend the General Fire Insur: Ahasuerus, The Jews in this city, in addition to observ- ing the occasion as a holiday, celebrated it in the evening by a grand-masquerade ball at the Academy of Music. The subscriptions to the national seven and three- tenths per cent loan yesterday amounted to over five millions one hundred thousand dollars, in sums ranging from half a million down to fifty dollars. The election for State officers and members of Congress and the Legislature took place in New Hampshire yester- day. The returns recetved indicate that the republican candidate for Governor has been elected by an‘ increased majority over last year, though in the aggregate vote there is a considerable decrease. The republicans clected all three of tho members of Congress, boing a gain for them of one member: Three mysterious fires occurred at Newark, N. J., be- tween Saturday night and Sunday morning, destroying property valued at thirty thousand dollars, The two houses of the New Jersey Legislature meet in joint session to-day for the purpose of electing » United States Senator. ‘The stock market was dull and lower yesterday. Governments were depressed. Gold was in a state of panic, and, after opening at 184%, sold down to 177%, Dut recovered to 180%, which was the closing price down town. At the evening board it went down again, and closed at 17854. The markets were unsettled yesterday by the large fall in gold, and prices of nearly all kinds of merchandise were entirely nominal. Foreign goods were quiet and nominal. Domstic produce was dull and lower, almost without exception. Cotton was dull and 2c, lower. Petroleum was very quiet and 1c. a 2c. lower, On *Change, the four market was quiet; but prices were without change. Wheat was 3c. a 5c. lower, while corn declined 4c. a 6c, Oats were dull and le. lower, The pork market was dull and decidedly lower, while beof was depressed. Lard wasa trifle casier. Freights wore dull and rates were nominal, Whiskey was firmer. The market for beef cattle has ruled heavy this week, owing to the fact that the receipts have been much hea- vier than last week. Prices about 1c. lower. The range was from 12c. to 20c. a 22c,, with scattering sales at 23c. a25c. The decline would have beon greater but for the fact that the government took about 500 head. Milch cows were unchanged. Veals were im fair demand at provious rates. Shecp and lambs were in plentiful supply and rather cheaper, Hogs were also about 30. lower, varying from Ife. to 13%¢. The total receipts were 5,400 beeves, 156 cows, 643 veals, 9,916 sheep and lambs, and 5,899 hogs. News from Sherman—The Progress of the Campaign at All Points. General Sherman, as will be seen by the de- spatch in another column, was at Laurel Hill, North Carolina, on the 8th inst.,and in such good condition, physically and mentally, that he was not at all disposed to complain of the resistance that he had met with from the Southern comtederacy. This may seem a little strange to those who have taken much notice of the recent intimations of the Southern papers as to his whereabouts and his “safety.” Those papers, three weeks ago, discovered from the rebel War Department, and announced to their readers, that Sherman was finally “to be stopped” and “crushed.” Then they gave us every day intimations of some news that they had that was too good to keep, thongh it would be contraband to tell it. But they slyly hinted at it; they chuckled over it; they rubbed their hands and laughed with very evident delight apit. They said it was “good” news a dozen | times over, and that it would rejoice the heart of every Southerner, and s0 forth. One of the Richmond papers, so late as the 8th inst., went so fur as to say that “Sherman’s opportunity to establish a military reputation was gone for- ever.” But on that day he was evidently in ignorance of it, and had so far recovered from the “defeat” that the enemy had inflicted upon him at Cheraw, that he had advanced into another State. Or is this last advance only a retreat, like the advance across Georgia! One of the Richmond papers was afraid that Sherman would retreat after that terrible battle at Cheraw. The ‘Taiest rebel victory was gained by Hampton. This, of course, is just like the victories that were gained over | Kilpatrick in Georgia, The only difference is that Hampton is the hero now as Wheeler was then. The fight on the Neuse river, near Kinston, had fairly reopened the act would have had less the appearance of an attempt to swindle the public, _—_——_—_ Tas War ro Avom ras Dnarr—It will be seen by Governor Fenton's announcement yes- terday that the draft, which was to have com- menced to-day, is indefinitely postponed. But there is a condition attached to this forbearance on the part of the government, and that is that the number of men required should be furnished by volunteer enlistment, ‘Therefore, while the city is temporarily relieved from the draft, the duty of our citizens, in order to avoid it alto- gether, is obvious. We must get recruits to the amount of thirteen thourand by every available channel. We have now the ’ Com- mittee in full operation, doing very well with its complete organization. General Dix is lending his aid to fill up the quota. The ward recruiting associations scattered throughout the city should put themselves upon their mettle to help the thing along, and no doubt they will. The committee which organized the grand patriotic celebration of the 6th instant is natu- rally looked for to throw its influence into the scale. The gentlemen who comprise that com- mittee have succeeded in arousing the patriot- ism of the people on the late occasion to an extent only equalled by the grand demonstra- tion of 1861, when the national flag was insulted at Fort Sumter, and the whole metropolis rose to protest against the act, Now, then, is the fitting time for them to exercise the same power in filling up the ranks of the army in the exist- ing emergency. With thirty thousand fresh men General Grant can bring all his plans to a successful conclusion. Let this committee open recruiting depots all over the city, raise a fund out of the abundance of their wealth to pay bounties, and, in connection with the other organizations, they can relieve the city from the onus of the draft. This will be exhibiting a more practical patriotism than processions, speeches, or illuminations, ever so brilliant, can furnish. We expect this of them, and we trust that they will set to work about it speedily. Virarxta Tosacco vs. MARYLAND Bacoy.—It is known that a detachment of the Potomac flotilla recently ascended the Rappahannock river to Fredericksburg, and captured there some two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of Virginia manufactured tobacco, and that the lot was carried off or destroyed. Ac- cording to the Richmond papers this tobacco was the venture of a number of speculators of that city, who had been promised, if they would run it up to Fredericksburg, a tremendous pro- fit in a good lot of Maryland bacon in exchange. According to the Tribune, several New York speculators were concerned in this business to the extent of an investment of filty thousand dollars each in this aforesaid Virginia tobacco and Maryland bacon enterprise. If this be true, we may be excused in making the inquiry, who aro these parties? -All that we know is that this Virginia tobacco was a dead loss to the speculators concerned, and that the expected Maryland bacon was not forthcoming. On that side, at least, they saved their bacon. A Vicrm To Mr. Szwarp’s ConrEsPonDENCE.— From the evidence produced from the British Foreign Office it appears that Lord Lyons was utterly broken down, and so compelled to resign bis post of British Minister at Washing- ton, in consequence of the unparalleled task to which he was subjected in his efforts to keep up with Mr. Seward’s voluminous diplomatic cor- respondence. The letters connected with her Majesty’s Washington embassy for one year filled sixty large folio volumes, Lord Lyons has succumbed to the pressure and retired, and Sir Frederick Brace, thoroughly trained in the long-winded diplomacy of China, comes to take his place. We congratulate Lord Lyons, and we sympathize with Sir Frederick Bruce. A Beut rrom General Les Amono Hamr- ton’s Horses.—In his report of Hampton’s al- leged victory of the 10th, General Lee says that be “attacked General Kilpatrick at daylight this morning, and drove him from the camp, taking his guns, wagons, many horses,” &c.; and then he says that “the guns and wagons could not be brought off for want of horses.” This is the old story of the Arkansas lawyer and the iron pot:—“May it please the Court, I submit, in defence of my client, first, that.when she borrowed the pot in question it was broken; secondly, that when she returned the pot it was sound; and thirdly, that she never had that pot.” Virainia anv Soutn Canorina.—Virginia was dragged into this rebellion to serve the pur- poses of South Carolina, the Palmetto chivalry little imagining that before the end of the game they would be compelled to abandon their own State to “the Yankees” to serve the purposes of Virginia. Sherman’s march through the heart of South Carolina setiles that little bill. Travan Orgra—Brooxiyy.—A magnificent house, in point of numbers and fashionable toilet'es, assembled at the Brooklyn Academy last night to hear La Fbrea del Destino for the first and the last time in Brooklyn. The opera was produced in the same admirable style as it was in this city; the scenery, costumes and all the pro- pertios having been transported thenco for the occasion. Never since the days of opera commenced in this house ‘was there so fine an assemblage as that of last evening, nor was La Forza ever better sung by this company. ‘Zucchi and Massimiliani were in splendid voice, and did not receive half the applause they deserved. However, the Brooklyn people are proverbial for their slowness in waking up to @ thorough appreciation of art, and we wore, therefore, not surprised to find them cold when other audiences are enthusiastic, or to lot the finest pas- sages in the opera pass without any demonstration. It was only to the last two acts that the audience displayed any enthusiasm and appeared to comprehend the numer. ous beauties of this splendid work. This ovening Fra Diavolo will be given at the New York Academy, To- morrow evening Norma will be produced, with Zuccht in her great character of the Druidess, which is per- baps ber very finest part. ———— Open of the New York Tobacco change. The above association was inaugurated yesterday at twelve o'clock, at the rooms 50 and 62 Pine strect, when the first auction sale took place, The Exchange has been organized in order tosupply a want long felt by the tobacco merchants in this city, and is the first of the kind established in the United States, It differs from the tobacco brakes existing In Louisville and other parte of the States, in sales being made by sample only, and in affording a place for the interchange of the ideas of rebel troops are in North Carolina, that battle field was their proper place, inasmuch as that battle was an attempt on the part of the rebel forces in that State to overwhelm the co- operating force under Schofield before it could reach Sherman, or Sherman could come to its assistance. Hence the, of this bat- tle. A decisive rebel ‘at that point might have shown us that that little battle was a vital one for the operations in North Caro- lina—though now, that the result is in our favor, that fact is not 80 obvious. Had Schofield been overwhelmed, all the forces above named would have been concentrated against Sher- man’s single column, with, of course, an in- finitely better prospect of success than they now have. It is indicative of the rebel weak- ness that they could not concentrate enough force to destroy Cox’s little column, when the destruction of that column offered to the enemy the only possible chance to delay Sherman’s advance. Cox’s column was reinforced on the 11th by troops from Wilmington, under General Couch, and the advance from that direction is very probably at Goldsboro by this time. A ltttle while ago’ the country was very well satisfied with the military situation when Grant held Lee at Richmond and Sherman advanced with a comparatively small force on his front. But now it is much better still, for Grant holds Lee at Richmond, the force that was on Sher- man’s front is matched by a fully equal force under Schofield, and Sherman moves on un- resisted, except by Hampton, who, to gain a small success, resorts to his pen, and is not above the poor subterfuge of a quibble. Sheridan has fallen like a thunderbolt on the lines of supply in the upper valley that the enemy considered most remote from danger. His destruction of the railroad communications at Charlottesville and of the James River Canal are pieces of irreparable damage, and will cause a depression at Richmond that may almost throw the rebellion into its final spasm. It is not possible that the rebel authorities can even make the attempt to repair these injuries; but Lee must, in his present straitened circum- stances, make up his mind to do permanently without one more source of supply. Moreover Sheridan has, before this, in all probability, cut the Southside road at Burkesville; and, with that road cut, there is nota single line in the enemy’s possession leading from his capital to any distant point. Lee’s army, for the support of which the North Carolina farmers are already asked to contribute, must then be fed from the country immediately around Richmond—a dis- trict that must by this time be very nearly eaten out. Napotuon on Cssn—REMARKABLE CHARAC- TER oF THE Worx.—We publish to-day some very interesting extracts from the long ex- pected work of the Emperor of the French, entitled “The Life of Cesar,” with a remarka- ble preface, also from the pen of Napoleon himselt. The book, which is announced for publication in France on the Ist of March, would appear in England on the 7th of the same month, and in a short time will doubtless be reproduced in this country. It has already been translated into several European lan- guages, and on all sides the greatest interest is felt concerning its contents, That the book will have a large circulation and numerous readers is not to be doubted, seeing that the author is Emperor of a great nation; and, as is well known, he strives in this “Life of Cmesar” to institute a comparison between the career of that illustrious Roman and the times of the First Napoleon, with a continuation of the parallel to his own reign and imperial dynasty. The preface to the book and the extracts which we publish to-day will give our readers | 8 fair idea of the work; and it will be seen that the opinions which we have already formed of it and published in the Heraxp, of the 5th inst., are borne out to the very letter. Faith in the ascendancy of the “Napoleonic star,” and in the inevitable decrees of destiny, are the foundations on which the fabric has been raised. As the First Napo- leon was the imitator and reflection of Cwsar, so is the Third Napoleon, according to himself, to be the great agent of civilization, and the restorer of the Augustan age. “We must,” he says, “recognize in the incontestable influence of a man upcn his age the proof of his genius;” and again, “the greatness of a man is to be recognized by the sway of his ideas, when his principles and his system triumph, despite his death or his defeat.” In this he clearly al- Indes to the impress which he firmly believes has been made upon the world by the ideas of the First Napoleon, whose efforts to found an empire in France failed for a time, but were eventually crowned with success by the bold- neas of the present Emperor. For, says our author, “the imprisonment of St. Helena could not prevent the resuecitation of the French em- pire.” Thus he shows his faith in his “star” and in his destiny. In the latter part of the preface the imperial author uses these strong expressions:—“When Providence raises up men like Casar, Charle- magne and Napoleon, it is to stamp a new era with the seal of their genius, and to accomplish ina few years the work of many centuries! Happy the nations who comprehend and follow them! Woe to those who misunderstand and resist them! They act like the Jews—they erucify their Messiah!” Thus he classifies Cesar, Charlemagne and Napoleon the First among the saviors of the world; and, as he has risen to the empire which his uncle founded, he, too, is logically a savior of the people! We commend the extracts from the Emperor’s book to the attention of our readers, Ayticiratep Rise mm Coat.—It is announced that the coal trains on the New Jersey Central Railroad have been stopped and the engines are laid up for repairs, and that it will be a month before the coal carrying business on that road can be resumed. As @ con- sequence of this coal will i advance in pricé, and it is reported that it is now selling at Elizabethport, N. J., for thirteen dollars a ton. The necessity for the adoption of such a course on the part of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company is ques- on the 10th inst, was en important one. It ap- pears to have been stubbornly fonght, and the fighting was certainly altogethe in our favor. Any result at that point which did not compel the absolute retreat of our forces would be a | Fesult in our favor; but Schofield seems to have gainod there somothing much better than a negative success, The corps of 8S. D. Lee and ance law; and to incorporate the Huntington and Hicks ville Railroad Company. A bill was introduced to Incor- porwr Cie Hrooklyn and New York Gentral Warehousing MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Ls aie tive alld ABBQUBCOE in Lhe paDars that Yosler- Stuart, from the army formerly under Hood, are reported to have been there, Hoke’s force, late- ly’at Wilmington, was there; and it is also said {hat another part of R. 1. Lee's army, under A. P, Hill, was there. If thase several bodies tioned in some quarters, and is a matter which will probably receive the strictest scrutiny. It requires more than the bare announcement to convince the public that they were forced to suspend operations in that important >ranch of their business just at this critical time, when the stock on hand is supposed to be comparatively of the leaders of the tobacco interest throughout the country. The spacious hall of the association was P terday crowded \ resentatives of the trade from @hio, Loulsville, New York, &c., anda plentiful supply of refreshmenta ‘war done ample jratice to by those pre- sent. A number of | of tobacco, factory dried, lng and other leaf were put up at auction, and aales were somewhat brisk. We make tho following quotations :— Factory dried leaf. ‘ Ke. a — Oiye. a 1030. light, and before the demand be materially tee arm ot mperehants, including Rott. ‘ eh, of Movsra, Arkenbu ryan, Preat- diminished. It looks very mvecl as ff there * gen nc. M: Connaty, “f iM ae. Conncly Co, gran e atic n which the | Vice Prerident, have identified themsclves with the asso- errs wee pil mi ciation, and ~ have no doubt of ‘ite being of infinite New Jersey Central Company or some of its | value tg the tobacco interest of this country. officers have @ very large inierest. if they had Th waijed to repair their engines un) paylgation } at twelve y'glock, 5,600. thousands ‘towns foots up as follows:—: mythe, 20m. and roof of the building were entirely dest xchange meets exch day at eleven o'clock, The next suction will take place on Thursday, 16th inst, ~ ~ NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. ILLNESS OF THE PRESIDENT. ’ President Lincoln has been suffering with a severe at- tack of influenzs for several days, He is confined to his ‘Ded to-day, and consequently not reosiving visitors, THE COTTON CAPTURED AT SAVANNAH. A statement has been extensively published that the Beoretary had decided to send the cottom captured at Savannah to Europe, He has come to no such determi- mation, nor has he had the subject under consideration. ‘THE TRIAL OF THE NEW YORK ENLISTMENT PAPER 4» FORGERS. The trial of the Devlin brothers and John Cahill, charged with forging enlistment papers, has been pro- gressing some days before General Bragg’s commission, of which Colonel Chipman, of the War Dapartment, is Judge Advocate. James Devlin’s and Cabill’s trial closed to-day. John Deviin’s will conclude to-mor- Tow. The evidence discloses the fact that John Deviin applied his official aignature and notarial seal to bogus papers, representing that men came personally before him and made the necessary oath of enlistment, while the truth as shown is that no such men were ever before him. The name of the navy receiving officer on board ship was forged, as also the name of Captain Young, at the naval rendezvous. Who committed these forgerica is not yet known; but that John Devin knew they were such is proven. Cahill turned States evi- dence, and confessed the whole thing. The proof thus far conneots these parties in the sale of some sixteen sets of falso papers, which were sold to Colonel Baker, and which led to their discovery. No witnesses were called for the defence in either case. John Devlin will try to show previous good character. He seems much troubled, and several times during the trial has manifested it by tears, He is not a very wicked looking man, but in this business seems to have had very little conscience, What will be the finding cannot be told; but unless the facts brought out thus far are controverted conviction is inevitable, ‘There are many other cases to come before this commis- sion of the same nature, showing stupendous frauds upon the government, and explaining how the State and city of Now York came to recetve so large acredit in General Fry’s office, which had to be cancelled and filled by real enlistments, THE ELECTIONS YESTERDAY. New York. THE VOTE ON THE OONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ‘The election on the question of amending the State constitition, 80 as to allow of the appointment of Commis- sioners of the Court of Appeals, took place yesterday. The subject excited very little attention, Annexed are the returns as far as received :— Agrinst the Amendmvnt. 2 sea out maj. 118 maj. 62 maj. 130 THE ELECTION FOR STATE OFFICERS AND CONGRESS- MEN. Conoonp, N. H., March 14, 1865. The election of State oflicers and members of Congress and Legisiature took place to-day. The republicans sup- ported Frederick Smythe for Governor, and the demo- crats Raw. H.-Harrington. Both geutlemen are residents of Manchestor. The returns recelvod up to an earty hour this evening indicate that Smythe’s majority will excecd. 6,000; Many towns make considerable Ui tho vote of last year, when Gilmore's majority was about inion gains over The azgregate vote to-day will be leas by some than that of last year, The vote for Governor in ene hundred and twenty-seven 24,6665; Harrington, eneral Marston is elected to Congress Im the First istrict nearly 1,500 majority, and in the other two districts ins and Patterson are re-elected by about 2,000 majority—a republican gain of one member. The rep” blicans have elected all the Councilors, nine out of twelve Senators and a majority of about one hun- dred in the House. Fires in New York. Fma rm Dey Srnrer.— About eight o'clock last night a fire broke out in the rear part of the second floor of No. 17 Doy street, in the premises occupied by Leahman & First, dealers in clothing. The flames spread rapidly to the upper floors, and at enc time fears wero entertained for the adjoining buildings, and orders were given to telegraph for the exempt firemen. The four upper floors ed. The first floor and basem nt were oce:pied by Rich & Brew- ster, dealers In hardware, Their stock is damaged by water probably to the extent of $25,000. The second floor, where the fire commenced, was occupied by Leah. man & First; loss about $6,000. The third and fourth floors by Berg & Co., cigarette manufacturers; loss $10,000. The upper floor as a shoe manufactory; loss 1,500. The di ye to the building will be about 10,000. Owing to the absence of the ownors it was im- bie to obta'n the insurances, Tho orgin of the fire sat present unknown. Some vtight domage by water was donc to the stock of Mead, ttowel & Co., boots and shoes; J. Shepardson, straw goods, and C. H. Carpenter, boots and shoes, 14 Cortlandt strect, Fire Marakal Baker bas the cause of the fire under in- vestigation. Fre iv Vanick Strent.—About four o'clock yesterday morn ng a fire broke out in the porter house No. 185 Var- ick strect, owned by Thomas Ruach. It originated appa- rently from the fireboard igniting from soot in the fire- place. The damage to the stock and fixtures will be about eight hundred dollars; inscred for one thousend dollars in the Pacific Insurance Company. The building damaged about one hundred dollars; insured, Volunteccring. HOW IT PROGRESSES— EXAMINING SURGEONS TAKEN FROM THE COMMITTER—MORE WARD MEETINGS— TUE DRAFT TO-DAY, BTC. There was another heavy day yesterday at the fuper- visors’ Committee rooms, ¢ome one hundred and twenty volunteers having been paid the bounty and a goodly number received as substitutes, From the note of Governor Fenton, which we published yesterday, it would appear as though the draft was post- poned; but so many fulse lights have been held out in reference to tho quota of this city and State, and the mode and time of filling, that we are not yet fully satis- fled that the Governor's surmiros are correct. It is cer- tain that at the present writing no orders have been re- ceived in this city from Washington to postpone the draft, but such may come during the night. Draft or no draft, lot us crowd on the volunteering and reduce the numbers: 4@ manded from us as much as possible. Mr. Blunt has furnished every facility for receiving any number of men per day, no matter how great it may be, and al! the public have to do is to crowd them in. The committee Joat some fifty good men on Monday from the fact that the government had previously withdrawn from the naval rendezvous connected with the committee's room the examining surgeon. Large wurubers were con- seq:.ently dancing attendance all day at the office waiting for this goverament functionary, and they finally went off elsewhere and were lost to cur quoia. Yesterday a new surgeon appeared and matters went on better. This isa sample of the assistance New York receives from the government. The meeting of citizens of the old Tenth ward to aid in procuring volunteers is likely to be attended with most exeollent effect, not only inthe increase of volun- tocrs, but as an example to other wards. The Ninth and Fifteenth, we learn, are already moving, and there are others doubWess which will not be disposed to allow Supervisor Purdy to carry off all the honors of these ward meetings. There is one thing, however, of which he cannot be deprived—the fact of oy been first to move in them. Let them be organized throughout the city, and the effect towards filling our quota will be aston- ishing. The Army. RECEPTION HOME OF THE ONK HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT. The Ono Hundred and Third Now York regiment ar- rived at this port last night, and are to have @ reception to-day. New York, March 15, 1865. Tho members of the late Ninth iment New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves) intend! x3 wo i od to re- ceive the One Hundred and Third New York Volunteers, aro hereby notified to assemble #* tne Mercer Dees, cor. ner of Broome and Mercer streews, to-day, at hall-past eleven o'clock A. M. The uniferm yhomes of overcoats, fez, uniform or black pants, and white gloves. Thowe members viiteg to turn-out as civilians will be aerigned a position. It is earnestly requested that every member now In the city will unite in paying tits tmark of respect to our old in arms order. Comrades Im ARLES CHILD, Captain commanding, Jows K. Pornay, Acting Adjutant. ‘The friends of the above regiment mot last night for the purpose of organizing @ friendly reception for them ‘and their recomplished Colonel, Wm. Heine, Cotonel Julius Korn was elected chalrtoan, and Lew's donessohn eretary. feCaptaina Child, Webster and, Perloy and Tieutonants Rogers and Perley wore present, and proralsed their co- Jon, as well as Captain Rocbrig and \aptain Schmidt, B the Ninety-sixth regiment NewYor¢ National Guard, ‘Tho procession will move from the “armory of the Ninety- steht Rew Pg National Guard, ‘No. 291 Bowery, at one ol a . After the collgion will be served at Mr, Hub- ner'a, No. 7 Bowery, bi SCHOFIELD, The Defeat af Brags Before Kinstow. The Rebel Ram Neuse Par- tially Destroyed. Repulse of Hoke’s Division with Terrible Slaughter. THE UNION LOSSES LIGHT, ke, ke, ae Secretary Stanton to General Diz. ‘Wasuoroy, D. 0., March 14—11 A. M, Major General Dix, New York:— General Schofield, in a despatch dated at Newberm, March 12, states that on the night of the 10th, mear Southwest crock, Bragg was fairly beaten; that during the night he retreatedacross the Neuse at Kinston, amd now holds the north bank of the river at that place, EDWIN ‘M. STANTON, Secretary of Wax, Despatch from General Schofield. Wasuivatow, March 14, 1868, A letter has been received here from the headquarter of General Schofield, dated March 11, etght o'clock A. M., which says:— We are holding our own before Kinston, though ep posed by Bragg with a heavy force. Our battle field ts very extensive. We have a long skirmish line, and there is sharp manoeuvring on both sides This morning Hoke attempted to break our lines, but was repulsed with errible slaughter, Our own loss is not more than three or four hundred killed and wounded. The rebel loss t= killed, wounded and prisoners is eight timesgreater. We have possession of the field, and the rebel dead an@, wounded are in our hands. Sanitary supplies are abume dant at the front. General Cox is in command. The Sanitary Commission has sent to Newbern, N. GQ, one hundred thousand dollars worth of supplies, and i loading several more vessels for the same destination, Newbern is to be made a base of sanitary supplies for the ‘armies in North Carolina. Our Newborn Correspondence, Newssan, March 12, 1866, My last advices were from the front, at Kinston, yom terday morning early. The Intest I wasthen able te communicate concerning movements in the field, was up to Friday afternoon, the 10th. Some of the heaviest fight- ing there has been since the corps commanded by Genera} Cox reached the vicinity of Kinston, ocourred on Friday. ‘The rebels had evidently icarned that General Couck, ‘with a portion of the Twenty-third corps was not far of, and would soon join Cox, and it urged them to extrasp dinary desperation. They charged again and again upom our works, making ten or a dozen s7parate charges through the day. General} they spent their fury mpes the left, but some of the time they would charge upen the entire line, vainly hoping that the momentem ef a9 arge a body would break down everything. Our men, however, stood their ground heroically, @@ attested by piles of slain rebels lying before our works fn various directions. The enemy also fought witha valor worthy of a better cause. It was all ia vain, however. Friday night and Saturday morning Couch’s foress: came yp from towards Wilmington, and effected a jane tion with Cox, which gave us an advantage, of course, ef which the revels were not slow to become informed, Se they at once began to fall back, abandoning all further this side of the Nouse river, and they are new on tho north side of the river, with the bridge that cresses over into Kinston partially burned. The much talked of ram Neuse was also partially destroyed. Our forces followed them up vigorourly, and will dou’ less prepare to cross over the river at once, by means e@ a pontoon bridge, or by relaying new timbers over the old bridge, for the cars to pass over. Tapprehond that there will be no difficulty now in driving the rebels baci from any point where they may sce fit to make a stan, Tho railroad has to be completed, however, as thearmy moves along, inasmuch as that is necessary for purposss of transportation. It is now laid wp to within about four or five miles of Kinston, and assoonas itcan be com» pleted to the river depend upon it our forces wilt crea» over. All throngh the fighting of Friday both General Com ‘and General Schoeld wore frequently present where danger was greatest, and displayed » coolness, courage and gallantry which haye won the love and admiration 8 the army. General Cox had two orderlies shot near him in the course of the day, and was himself often exposed as much as they. Amid all, however, he was never otherwise than calm, earnest and brave. The movements of the army were directod by him, although General Schofield was com stantly present, and, as his ranking officer and the com~ mander of the Department of North Carolina, was advised with and his suggestions heeded. There was some artillery firing yesterday afterncos, the result or nature of which I have not learned. General Sherman has been heard from at Fayotteville, N.G, and was all right. That is about one hundred miles from Wilmington, up the Cape Fear river, am@ about the same distance southwest from Goldsbore, Saturday morning some gentlemen arrived here from Connecticut, commissioned to take the vote of the seb diers from that State, at this point, for their State and Congressional election next month. They as rived just too late for the Connecticut regiment which was captured on the Sth. There were not far from one thousand of them captured, the loss of which makes quite an item, ‘The wounded from the recent battles are being carefully attended to by our surgeons, and the extra wants of the soldiers are being amply supplied by the Sanitary Com miseion, under the officient superintendence of Dr. Page. His corps of assistants have been constantly at the from, and he himself is there much of the time. He has made ‘out a fall list of the killed and wounded, which he is t send to New York for publication. ‘There has been no fighting to-day so far as known o@ headquarters. General Schofield and staff are to locate here for the present. His staff is as follows:— io = Colonel J. A. Campbell, Assistant Adjutant brevet Brigadier General G. W. Schofield, Chief of An . ras et Tieatenant Colonel W, J. Twining, Aid-de oie 8, M. Letcher, Commissary of Musters, Brevet Brigadier General Geo. 8. Dodge, Chicf Quartes. master enant Colonel J. W. Barringer, Chief of Sub tment. ge y ‘Cnlonel R. B. Treat, Chief of Subsistence, army in the field. Lieutenant Colonel J. F. Boyd, Chief Quartermastes,, army fn the fleld. Lieutenant Colonel P. ©. Hayes, Acting Provost Marshaa General. Surgeon Ed ippen, Medical Director, Captain Jas Chief of Ordnance. Major Win. erry, Sevior A. D. C. Br-vet Major Wm. A. Lord, A. D.C. Lientenant E. H. Russell, Chief Signal Officer. Captain 4. Windreker, Chief of Ambulance ccapmh News from Kentucky. FREEDOM FOR THE WIVRS AND CI'ADAB OF COLORED SOLDIERS AND BATLOAA. Lovisvinus, Margh, 14, 1868, An order from Major Goneral Palreer, ‘published this morning, announces that by the act of Congress passed on the 8d of March the wives and chitiren of colored men who have oniisted or may culishin the army are free, It promises the enforcemen' of thotr rights by the military authorities if necessary, “and urges loyal mem ‘and women of Kontucky to @noourage the enlistment of colored men in the army, ‘and afterwards to recognise them as upholilepe of the government and defenders of thoir homes, and itoxhoris them to exercise Kentucky’® accustomed Levevélenos and chayity towards the help. Jeas women 671d children thue made . General James 8. Brisbin has been appoin'sd to tend the organt sation gS"wints and colored (rope Kentucky.