We have received New York papers of Tuesday, the 17th instant.
Gold was quoted at 218 1-4.
The attack on Wilmington Renewed — the fall of Fort Fisher not yet heard from.
The
Yankees have not yet heard of the fall of
Fort Fisher.
A correspondent of the Baltimore
American, writing from the fleet on the 9th instant, says:
‘
Yesterday morning, the wind having got round to the northeast, and the sun shining out brightly, we were blessed once more with a quiet sea, and our eyes were delighted also with the approach of the fleet of transports with the troops furnished by
General Grant to co-operate with
Admiral Porter's fleet in the capture of
Fort Fisher.
’
The first vessel that arrived was the flagship of the
commanding general, which crossed the bar at once and proceeded up Beaufort harbor to communicate with the flagship of
Admiral Porter.
Next came the steamers
Baltic and
Atlantic, each with nearly two thousand men on board.
The other transports also arrived soon after, the names of which, however, could not be ascertained.
All the transport fleet, as I write, are now anchored outside the bar, along with the naval vessels.
The plan of battle is fully arranged, and the commander of each vessel has been supplied with a new chart, indicating not only his exact position, but the precise point of the works of the enemy on which his fire is to be directed.
The
Santiago, being commanded by the
senior captain of the gunboat
fleet--Captain O. S. Glisson--is stationed at the head of the line of vessels of her class, eleven in number, and while the others of the line are to concentrate their fire on the outworks of
Fort Fisher, our guns are to throw a flank fire into the fort.
The positions of the vessels are nearly the same as in the former fight, excepting that the iron-clads will take position about a quarter of a mile nearer to
Fort Fisher than at the first attack, and the
Dictator will also join them with her two fifteen-inch guns, making the monitor fleet twelve guns strong, including the four guns of the
Monadnock.
Then the
Ironsides, with her tremendous eleven-inch broadsides, and the
Minnesota, Wabash,
Brooklyn,
Susquehanna,
Tuscarora,
Seneca,
Ticonderoga,
Mohican, Colorado,
Shenandoah, Pawtuxent, Mackinaw,
Maumee, Powhatan, Juniata,
Yantic and
Kansas form the second line.
The
Nyack,
Unadilla,
Huron and
Pequot, which act as tenders to the monitors, are also in the inner line.
The gunboat fleet is to form a line in front of the shore batteries, extending to the right of
Fort Fisher, in the following order:
Santiago de Cuba,
Fort Jackson,
Tacony,
Osceola, Chippewa,
Sassacus,
Maratanza,
Rhode Island,
Monticello,
Mount Vernon,
Quaker City and
Iosco.
The reserves of the various divisions, consisting of the smaller class of gunboats, are assigned to a position outside of the line of battle.
A steamer has just arrived from the inner harbor, and reports that at noon to-day the signal was hoisted on the flagship for the entire fleet to prepare for sea. The probability, therefore, is that we will sail to-morrow morning, if the weather should continue favorable.
The fleet 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 fleet.
The following statement of a deserter from
Fort Fisher is published in the
Northern papers:
He says he was stationed, both during and since the bombardment, in naval battery
Buchanan, commanded by
Lieutenant Chapman, and situated near the
Mound; that there were between five and six hundred men in the forts on the two days of the attack, and no troops in
Wilmington or its vicinity to reinforce them; that the fire from the fleet was so fierce as to drive the rebels from their guns and into the bomb-proofs throughout the greater portion of their works soon after the commencement of the action; that two of their Brooke guns burst, killing and wounding some twenty-five men; that we dismounted eight of their guns, besides destroying several of their carriages, killing thirteen men and wounding about thirty; that
General Whiting supposed the boats which were sent into the bar on the 25th to be a storming party of seamen, to which he would have been obliged to surrender; that the subsequent rapid bombardment at sunset of the same day, was so terrific that when our troops appeared in front of the fort immediately afterward, the garrison only awaited their assault to surrender without resistance; that they could not imagine why the attack had been abandoned; that matters remained in the same condition on the morning of the 26th and throughout that day; that we could easily have possessed ourselves of the forts until late in the afternoon, when
General Bragg arrived at
Wilmington with six thousand men from
Lee's army, at
Richmond; that, finding our troops re- embarking,
Bragg decided not to molest us, and sent the six thousand men on to
Charleston to reinforce
General Hardee; that
General Whiting retains only his original garrison, with whom he is busily engaged in repairing damages and in getting down four other guns (being all that he can get hold of) from
Wilmington 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 obstructions in the channel other than some dozen or fifteen torpedoes — a portion of which were put down a week ago. He further states that
William T. Lynch is acting as admiral of the station, and lives at
Smithville; that
Robert F. Pinckney is acting as commodore of the station afloat, having only a small tug, without any considerable armament, under his command; that the iron- clad ram, formerly in the river, got aground and burst open, and was dismantled of her engines and armor; and that the
Tallahassee 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 sufficient to enable not only herself but the
Chickamauga also to put to sea on another privateering expedition.
He assigns as a 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.
The peace mission of Blair — his return to Washington.
The papers contain a great many dispatches from
Washington about
Mr. Blair's mission to
Richmond.
He returned to
Washington on the afternoon of Monday on the steamer
Don--flagship of the
Potomac flotilla.
A telegram to the
Tribune (
Blair's organ for the time being) says:
‘
Nothing was known to her officers about the result of his mission to
Richmond, but it was observed that
Mr. Blair was in a remarkably good humor, from which the inference was drawn that he had accomplished a gratifying success.
’
The
Don arrived at
Aiken's landing, on the
James river, on Monday last, and remained until Saturday.
All that is certainly known in
Washington to-night of the much talked of mission is that while
Mr. Blair was courteously treated by
Jeff. Davis, he accomplished nothing whatever.
He had a full and frank conversation with the rebel
President, but it was private, and resulted in nothing.
Mr. Blair has not repeated this conversation, and will not; and any accounts which may go from this city to-night touching his mission which differ from this will be fabrications or speculations.
It is needless to say that
Jeff. Davis has sent no letter to
Mr. Lincoln, and made no sign of lowering the
Confederate flag — none whatever.
Ex-Governor Jacobs, of Secesh and
Kentucky, came up from
Richmond with
Mr. Blair.
He represents the feeling for peace to pervade all classes in that city, and to extend to officers of high grade in the army.
Among the working classes, he says, it amounts to an aching demand.
He predicts that there will be a cessation of hostilities within two months, and proposal of peace upon some terms of re-union from the Confederate Government to ours.
This is quite in contradiction of the indications of a fact reported by an officer arrived to- day from the interior of
North Carolina, that the rebels have already in the field, armed and equipped, thirty regiments of freed slaves.
The
Tribune says, editorially:
‘
Mr. Blair has returned from
Richmond.
He reached
Washington yesterday.
Of course, he has not yet proclaimed the result of his visit, if it has had any result and will only do so when he (or the
President) shall think fit. Meantime we may safely presume that the war is not over — that the rebellion has not yet collapsed — that the
Union is not practically restored.
But we abide in the faith that, whatever the direct issue of
Mr. Blair's visit to the
Confederate capital, its influence will conduce to the re-union and pacification of our country.
Mr. Blair went animated by a profound desire and a modest hope that he might be instrumental in hastening the return of peace.
There is nothing sinister, nothing underhand, in his effort.
Should it be crowned with success, he will account this the chief glory of a long and useful life.
And should he fail to effect a pacification — as we deem more likely — he will yet have done his country a signal service by assuring the
South that our Government is not vindictive, and does not insist on an unconditional surrender, but is ready and eager to co-operate in the restoration of an honorable and lasting peace.
Only to achieve this much is worth the cost of many journeys from
Washington to
Richmond.
’
A Washington telegram in the
Herald gives the following incidents of the visit:
‘
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 recited that he was understood to come upon private business, but restricted him to the transaction of such business exclusively.
The delay of a few hours between the picket lines while this pass was being obtained afforded an opportunity for the news of his coming to be spread throughout the city, and not only was the
Spotswood House crowded with people, curious to see the peace commissioner, but numbers of his old friends and acquaintances 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 personal 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, some valuable title deeds abstracted from his home by the rebels during the rebel raid against
Washington.
Some of these papers were recovered.
Mr. Blair was not authorized to make any peace proposition, but hoped to be able to lay before his quondam friends, who are now leader of the rebellion, such suggestions as might tend to bring about a conclusion of the war. He was everywhere kindly received, and had frank and free conversations with
Mr. Davis and numbers of others of the leading men of the
South, but these resulted in nothing definite.
The Philadelphia
Inquirer's correspondent says:
‘
He was accompanied by no one, and seemed in excellent spirits.
He got into a private carriage, which was in waiting, and drove directly to his residence here.
This evening he called upon the
President and spent several hours there.
To a gentleman who addressed him upon the subject, he remarked that he had an interview with
Mr. J. Davis, but it was merely such a one as could take place between gentlemen and two old friends; that what passed he would not divulge to any one at present except the
President; that his expedition was highly satisfactory, and might be known in proper time.
’
The
Herald, commenting editorially, says:
‘
Does any one suppose that either
Blair or
Singleton can change the expressed determination of
Jeff. Davis and the other leaders of the rebellion that there shall be no peace until the "Confederacy" is an established Power, or until the last man and the last shinplaster are gone?
If there be any who think so they are deceived.
Both parties are going to fight this matter out. The suppression of the rebellion, the submission of its insurgent leaders and followers to the
Government and laws they have endeavored to overthrow, are the only terms upon which peace can be restored.
’
The Yankee Congress--"peace" resolutions.
In the Senate, on Monday, the question of the treatment of prisoners of war was brought up by
Mr. Lane, of
Indiana, who urged that rebel prisoners should be guarded by released Union prisoners, and receive the same treatment as our soldiers receive at the
South Mr. Wade, of
Ohio, offered a joint resolution in favor of exact retaliation as regards prisoners, and was vehement in denunciation of the barbarities of the
South.
The subject was finally referred to the Military Committee.
A resolution calling for information as to the expediency of terminating the tenth article of the treaty of
Washington was adopted.
In the
House:
Whereas, the country hails with manifestations of patriotic joy and congratulation the victories recently achieved by our brave armies; and, whereas, the recognized object of war, at least among civilized and Christian nations, is an honorable and satisfactory peace, and that, although we do not know that the insurgents are yet prepared to agree to any terms of pacification that our Government either would or should deem acceptable, yet as there can be no possible harm resulting from ascertaining precisely what they are ready to do; and in order to refute the imputation that the Administration contemplates, with satisfaction, a continuance of hostilities for their own sale, on any ground of mere tillo, or for any reason than because it is compelled, by an absorbing regard for the very ends of its existence; and, whereas, an established and rightly-constituted Government, combating armed menacing rebellion, should stream every nerve to overcome, at the earliest moment, the resistance it encounters, and should not merely welcome, but seek satisfactory, however informal, assurance that its end has been attained; therefore.
Resolved, That now, in this hour of victory, which is the hour of magnanimity, it is eminently the duty of the
President, on the basis of the present rightfully- constituted Government, either to send or receive commissioners or agents with a view to national pacification and tranquillity, or, by some other rational means known to civilized and Christian nations, secure the cessation of hostilities and the Union of the States.
Mr. Cox said that the resolution was modified since it was first read here by striking out of the same the words: "Before any action be taken to change the
Constitution of the United States."--This was done at the suggestion of members opposite. "This, " he said, "is
Mr. Greeley's preamble and my resolution."
Mr. Washburne, (Republican,) of
Illinois, moved that the resolution be laid upon the table.
The rebels would accept no overtures except such as would be disgraceful to us.
The question having been taken, the
House laid the resolution upon the table — yeas, 84; nays, 51.
The following are the nays:
Messrs. Ancone,
Baldwin of
Michigan,
Bass,
Brooks,
Brown of
Wisconsin, Chanier,
Coffroth,
Cox,
Craven,
Dennison,
Eden,
Eldridge, Edgerten,
English, Fiuck,
Hale,
Hall,
Harrington,
Harris of
Illinois.
Hobnan,
Johnson of
Ohio, Kellegg of New York,
Kernan,
King, Law,
Lazear, LeBlond.
Long.
Mallory, Marry,
McAllister,
McDowell,
McKenney, Morrie of
Ohio,
Morrison, Noble,
Pendleton Radford, Randall of
Pennsylvania,
Robinson,
Rogers,
Ross,
Scott,
Steele of New York,
Stiles,
Townsend,
Wadsworth,
C. A. White,
J. W. White,
F. Wood and Yeamen--51.
The Whereabouts of Thomas's army.
A telegram from
St. Louis, the 16th, says:
‘
An officer from
Clifton, Wayne county, Tennessee, where he left
General Thomas on Saturday, says no active operations may be expected for several days.
’
The truthfulness of the report that
Hood is preparing to make a stand at
Corinth has not yet been ascertained; but it is believed that his disorganized forces are still fleecing southward, leaving detachments of their best cavalry in the rear to cover their retreat.
Thomas's army has plenty of supplies, and more are constantly passing up the
Tennessee river; but heavy rains in
Tennessee render the roads impassable for military movements.
Miscellaneous.
The Toronto
Globe, the editor of which is a member of the
Canadian Cabinet, and has just returned from
England, makes the following statement in its issue of Monday: "We are credibly informed that the best legal opinion in
England favors the extradition of the raiders now before the
Canadian courts."
A letter from
Beaufort, South Carolina, dated January 8 says: "The Seventeenth corps (
General Blair's) has just arrived, having been nearly the whole week in disembarking, and are now camped about two miles from town."
The Louisville
Journal learns that the Hon.
A. O. P. Nicholson, of
Memphis, who was
Governor Andrew Johnson's colleague in the United States Senate prior to the war, has returned to his home at
Columbia, after a long sojourn within the rebel lines.
The
National Intelligencer says that the report prevails that
Secretary Seward will make the decease of
Mr. Everett the occasion for an eulogy upon his exalted character and public services.
A movement is on foot among prominent Philadelphians, of both political parties, to give a handsome dinner to those Democratic Congressmen who shall vote in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery.
So far, the list of such members embraces the names of
George H. Yeaman, of
Kentucky;
Austin A. King and
James S. Rollins, of
Missouri;
Moses F. Odell and
John A. Griswold, of New York; Myer Strouse,
Josiah Bailey and
Archibald McAllister, of
Pennsylvania; and
Ezra Wheeler, of
Wisconsin.
General Sherman has written a letter, denying the report that he was opposed to changing the
status of slavery in the
South, and saying that he is in favor of putting all the able bodied negroes obtainable in the army.
Mayor Gunther, of New York, having refused to sign warrants for the pay of the street scrapers, they threatened his residence to such an extent that it had to be protected by the police.
It is announced that
Semmes got across the
Mississippi at Tunica Bend, though the gunboats were watching for him.
