Later from the North.
no truth in Seward's resignation — the attack at Westover — War meeting, &c.The New York World, of the 2d inst., contains but little of importance, and does not contain any confirmation of the news about Seward's resignation, &c., published yesterday. The only thing like the telegram of yesterday is the fact that Rev. Dr. Brooks, of St. Louis, and Rev. Dr. Hoyt, of Louisville, have been arrested in Ohio for treason. It was reported that important papers were found on them, implicating Vallandigham, who will be taken to Cincinnati. The following is the first account we have had from the Yankee side of the night attack on McClellan's fleet and camp:
Fire from the rebels on the South side of James river — the rebel guns silenced.
Headq's of the Army of the Potomac, Friday, Aug. 1, 1862.
About twelve o'clock last night the rebels opened fire from the opposite side of the river with two batteries of light artillery.
Their fire was principally directed at the mail boats landing at the headquarters of Col. Ingails and the shipping and encampment at Westover.
The rebel pieces were handled well and fired with great rapidity.
Four men were killed and some five or six wounded. Several horses, also, were killed.
The rebels had it all their own way for some time, as our troops did not anticipate an attack; but the 32-pounders stationed at Colonel Ingail's headquarters soon silenced their guns after they opened.
A few of our vessels were struck, but no serious damage was sustained by any of them.
With this exception, nothing has occurred worth mentioning.
Washington, Aug. 1.--The increase of rebel troops on the western bank of the James river, is fully confirmed, as also advices of the movement of the rebel army and the new Merrimac at the same time.
Beauregard is reported to have been disgraced, and is remaining in Alabama.
The Harrison's Landing correspondent of this evening's Star says it has reliable information that the Southern States have been drafting for rebel soldiers.
Fifteen thousand men have been taken from North Carolina and Savannah to reinforce Jackson.
The only men drawn from Beauregard's army for the defence of Richmond were the 47th and 48th Alabama regiments.
Philadelphia, Aug. 1.--A letter from Fortress Monroe, dated July 30, to the Inquirer, says: ‘
Com. Porter's fleet, in part consisting of the following vessels, arrived and came to anchor in the Roads early this morning:
Matthew Vassar, George Manchan, T. A. Ware, Adolph Hugel, Daniel Smith, Wm. Bacon, and the Racer.
Twelve of the fleet in all left the Southwest Pass on the 17th of July; of these seven have reached Fortress Monroe, and the five others are hourly expected.
The officers and crews of all the vessels think they are to reduce Fort Darling, and intimate a perfect willingness to undertake the job.
Flery times may be looked for in that direction shortly.
Fortress Monroe, July 31st.--The steamer Georgia arrived at Fortress Monroe at 7 o'clock this morning.
She is from Washington, D. C., and has on board over 200 rebel prisoners.
Captain Higgins, of 86th New York regiment, is in charge of them.
They are now at anchor just above the fort, having received orders to remain here till tomorrow.
The mail steamers between this place and Harrison's Landing go up the river every trip loaded with soldiers from different regiments returning to duty.
Some of them have been away sick; others are new recruits.
Captain Porter's mortar fleet arrived here last evening.
The rebels last evening attempted to capture a schooner which was lying at anchor above Harrison's Landing, but were foiled in the attempt.--They came over in two boats from the opposite shore, and were discover and fired into, when they beat a hasty retreat, after firing some half a dozen shots.
Some twelve to fifteen shots were fired at them, with what effect is not known.
The new Merrimac is daily expected down the river. ’
Military movements.
From Washington, the World has the following: There is much excitement, here in relation to the military movements now on the tapis. Our armies are marching along in pursuance of a fixed plan, and it is believed that matters are so timed as to insure the safety at once of Washington and Gen. McClellan's army. There is a larger force operating against the enemy in Virginia than the people are generally aware of. There is no doubt expressed as to the coming conflicts, which cannot be long delayed.Important news expected.
We are in expectation here of the receipt of important news from several quarters. It is supposed that Vicksburg will be taken, that a fight has taken place, or will soon take place, in Eastern Tennessee or Northern Georgia, and that Gen. Pope's army will soon engage the enemy. Now, that the mortar boats have arrived, stirring work is also looked for from the James river.Great War meeting.
Cincinnati, August 1.
--A war meeting was held here last night, which was an immense affair.--Business was generally suspended after four o'clock in the afternoon.
There was speaking from three stands.
The speakers were Governor Morton, Gen. Wallace, Lieutenant Governor Fiske, and many others.
Several bands of music, a display of fireworks, and the ringing of the bells of the Fire Department, enlivened the occasion.
Resolutions were adopted declaring — we will sustain the Government in a more vigorous prosecution of the war; recommending the confiscation of the property of traitors everywhere; expressing unalterable opposition to compromise with traitors, and that we will resist hostile foreign intervention.
The World says editorially: ‘
It is now certain that an order will be issued for a draft in such States or sections of States as will not supply their quotas of men before the middle of the present month. ’
Specie and exchange Markets.
At the morning board gold was sold at the opening at 115 3/8, then 115½, and closed at 115½, and at the second board 115½. In the open market the prices quoted for assorted coins are 115½ to 115½, and for large amounts, suitable for export, the bullion dealers are not disposed to sell under 115½ to 115¾, and some ask 116. Silver is quoted at 108 to 110, and the old demand notes at 105 to 105¾. Foreign exchange is dull, but there is no desire to press sales, and rates are firmly maintained. The leading banking firms are more disposed to buy than to sell at present quotations, and there is a ready sale for all commercial bills at full rates. The quotations are: for sterling sixty day bills, documentary, 124 to 124½ commercial 124½ to 126, and bankers' 126½ to 127, and three days sight 127 to 127½.What it Costs.
[from the New York Tribune.]
Putting down the slaveholders' rebellion is a very expensive as well as bloody business.
Congress, at its recent session, passed bills which, in the aggregate, appropriated out of the Treasury the sum of $913,078,527.63. At the extra session last summer, Congress appropriated $265,103,296.39. The total amount, therefore, for the two sessions reaches the enormous sum of $1,178,181,824.62--Nearly all of this vast outlay was rendered necessary by the rebellion.
At the recent session, the army bills alone appropriated within a fraction of $559,000,000--an amount larger, no doubt, than was ever before embraced in one law or decree of any Government on earth.
Look at the aggregate of the two sessions--eleven hundred and seventy-eight millions one hundred and eighty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four dollars and sixty-two cents--and tell us if the work of crushing out this ‘"irregular opposition"’ to the National Government, which ‘"our misguided Southern brethren"’ have, organized, will not only make them expensive relatives to their contemporaries, but cause their memories to be very dear to posterity?
Affairs in New York.
New York, July 30.
--‘"Must come to drafting, sir, and the sooner the better for all concerned,"’ said a prominent and popular recruiting officer to me this morning.
He continued: ‘"You see, sir, there are men enough all ready to enlist, waiting, and holding back, expecting that the bounty already offered will be increased as the season advances, and as long as that expectation is indulged we shall get but few men. We shall get a few from day to day, as now — to be sure — but they are not the right kind of men to make good soldiers of. Once let it be known, however, that a draft is decided upon, and there would be such a rush to the recruiting offices as would enable the city and State to furnish their quota of men in less than sixty days from data.
As to the objections of the people at large to that mode of raising recruits, sir, I hear a great deal of it, but don't see it. A week after Governor Morgan has issued the order to draft, mark me, the result will be such as to make him and everybody else wonder why the thing was so long delayed."’
The man who said all this seemed to be honest; he certainly was intelligent, and, so far as I can as certain, from a pretty tree intercourse with the people, I am constrained to say that his judgment is entirely in accord with theirs.
The Governor ought to see these things in their right light.
The fifteen or twenty self-appointed ‘"committees,"’ which interpose their ‘"Toms,"’ ‘"Dicks,"’ and ‘"Harris,"’ between the recruits and the ‘"bounty,"’ must all be brushed away, and everything must be made to stand on its own bottom.
The meeting to organize the much-talked-of ‘"Merchants' Brigade,"’ in the rooms of the Chamber
of Commerce, turned out a failure.
Only half a dozen people were present, exclusive of the newspaper reporters.
The Chairman said he thought the merchants must all be out of town, and an adjournment was accordingly ordered until such times as it may please the said merchants to return.
The ignominious fate which has overtaken the House of Commons motion to recognize the Jeff.
Davis Confederacy, is the subject of general congratulation.
The London and Paris correspondents, writing in the rebel interest, had confidently predicted a contrary result, and the public here had begun to believe that upon the motion in question a division at least would have been had. As it is, the result is accepted as showing that, so far as the House of Commons is concerned, the rebel game is up--for the present.
In regard to Lord Palmerston's speech, in favor of non-action, there are different opinions.
Many detect in its cold-blooded abstention from anything approaching a word of sympathy for the cause of the Union, a secret desire to see our republic finally divided, and in his appeals to Parliament to leave the question of mediation to the Government, a desire only to defer ‘"recognition"’ until some other of the crowned heads can be brought to act in concert with England.
