From the North.
A flag of truce boat arrived at
City Point Tuesday evening with two hundred Confederate prisoners on board, who were carried up to
Petersburg.
Among the passengers were several ladies, near relatives of
Judge Campbell, of
Alabama, and among the prisoners several officers and surgeons.
Most of these prisoners were captured near
Warrenton, Va., and sent to
Washington, where they have been confined ever since.
The advices by the arrival are only a few hours later than those previously published.
The Baltimore
American, of the afternoon of Saturday, (15th,) has the following in its summary of the situation.
Gen. Foster's army, which lately invaded
Eastern North Carolina had returned to
Plymouth, and was on the point of embarking for
Newbern.
Gen. Foster's reconnaissances were stopped within five miles of
Tarboro', by finding a large force of rebels massed to give them battle
The news from the
Southwest is interesting A part of
Crittenden's, corps, under
Matthews, and
Wood's divisions entered
Lebanon on the 10th inst., driving
Morgan's cavalry out, and capturing a large amount of flour, bacon, wheat, boots, shoes, mules, and some prisoners.
On the next morning
Morgan made a dash on
Wood's camp, eight miles from
Lebanon, and captured thirty of our men.
On the morning of the 9th,
Parker's brigade entered
Gallatin, and encountered 800 of
Morgan's men. He captured 20 of them and one piece of artillery.
All of
Morgan's cavalry joined
Breckinridge at
Murfreesboro', and it is supposed had left for
Chattanooga, whither a large rebel force was going.
It is reported that an immense amount of rebel arms and supplies have been collected opposite
Chattanooga, without facilities for transportation across the river.
Reports place
Breckinridge's force at 20,000.--
Cheatham's force is reported to be at Tallahoma.
Nashville, Tenn, Nov. 13.--A great Union meeting will be held at the
Capitol to-morrow.
The Union refugees met in secret to-night.
Their resolve is to follow the
Union army, and establish an organization preparatory to the holding of the Congressional elections in this State.
The guerrillas continue to attack the trains, but undue importance is given to their raids.
Communication between
Nashville and
Louisville is now comparatively unrestricted.
Anticipated Movements of the rebels in Tennessee.
A dispatch from
Nashville, dated the 13th, says the
Confederates are assembling in heavy force at
Murfreesboro', Tenn. The dispatch adds:
‘
Military authorities have no faith that these demonstrations mean anything more than a cover to enable them to convey their stealing and subsistence, which are said to be enormous, to the other side of the river.
The rebels will retire when our army moves up.
Exciting reports touching rebel movements here, aborts may be sent forward, but the foregoing is the substance of our trust worthy reports.
Our cavalry is doing good service.
Col. Kennett, of the 4th Ohio cavalry, commanding the region about
Hartsville, reports the capture of large quantities of rebel supplies, and that their foraging parties are skedaddling as rapidly as possible.
’
Arrest of two of Gen. M'Clellan's staff officers.
Lieutenant-Colonels A. P. Colburn and
J. C. Dane, of the Engineer Corps, both belonging to the staff of
General McClellan, were sent to
Washington from
Trenton, N. J., Friday morning, under arrest.
Colburn, it will be recollected, swore he would never draw his sword for
Lincoln again — The telegram communicating the fact of these arrests says:
‘
It is said that the orders were received by an officer of the United States army in this city, and that the persons named repaired at once to
Washington to place themselves at the disposal of the authorities.
A report prevails here that other members of
General McClellan's staff are to be put under arrest.
The charges against them are unknown.
A large number of the citizens of
Trenton and others are paying their respects this morning to the recent commander of the Army of the Potomac.
The
State Street House is thronged with persons anxious to greet him, despite his wish to remain perfectly quiet.
A deputation is on its way from
Philadelphia to pay its respects.
’
Affairs in the Army of the Potomac--two resigned officers recommended to be Dishonorably Dismissed — Incautious officers Reprimanded.
A dispatch from
Manassas Junction, dated the 14th, says
Gen. Burnside was engaged actively for three days before in getting supplies to the front and preparing for a forward move.
The New York
Tribune has the following dispatches from the Army of the Potomac:
‘
Two resignations, in consequence of a change of commanders, have been reported to
Gen. Double- day from his division.
They were endorsed with the recommendation that the applicants be dishonorably dismissed from service.
The discontents are officers who, being ashamed to go home without some excuse, and afraid to fight, make the removal of
McClellan a pretext for resigning positions they were unqualified to fill.
General Burnside rode out to the front yesterday, and was cheered in the camps of his old corps, the Ninth.
When his promotion to the head of the army was first learned in that corps, the troops gave the most extravagant manifestations of joy, cheering themselves hoarse, singing, building bonfires, and dancing around them.
A young officer in one of the Rhode Island batteries, while at
Fitz John Porter's headquarters yesterday, remarked, "After this we may as well give up and acknowledge the independence of the rebels." Half an hour later he was surprised by a summons to
Burnside's headquarters.
He admitted he made the remark, but stated that he did so under excitement, and said more than he meant.--"You now have an opportunity to retract it," said
Burnside; "but if I were not personally acquainted with your antecedents and your loyalty, you would have been instantly dismissed.
Neither you nor any other officer, high or low, can utter such sentiments and remain in this army."
The offender made a full retraction and apology, and the reprimand, which was administered in the presence of a large number of officers, evidently had a wholesome effect.
The rebels, reported to be
Stonewall Jackson's corps, are in strong force near our advance.
They drove
Pleasanton in four or five miles on Monday, as they had heavy infantry supports, while he had only cavalry and horse artillery.
He afterwards recovered the ground, skirmishing as he went.
Pleasanton lost five or six killed. His infantry supports skirmished briskly with the enemy, driving him back two or three miles, and sleeping on their arms on Monday night.
Up to this morning no renewal of the fight is reported, but it may be resumed.
Small-pox is prevailing greatly through the region south of the
Rappahannock, now occupied by our advance.
’
Depredations of Sigel's troops.
A correspondent of the New York
Commercial makes an exposure of the conduct of the troops under the
Dutch General,
Sigel, who, by their robberies and outrages, are making themselves infamous.
The
Commercial says that the letter is ‘ "from one who has the best opportunity for observation in
Gen. Sigel's corps, and gives a graphic description of the ravages of war and of the habits of life of many of the German officers and soldiers."’ We have room only for one extract from the letter:
Gainesville, November 10.--The court-martial now sitting brings out the facts of the atrocious conduct of the staff and other officers in the burning of
Haymarket in such a manner, that to ‘"mit
Sigel"’ a town will hereafter be a word of terror to all. The work was done under the direction of a Lieutenant and a Count, both connected with the staff.
They claim to have had authority, which, however, does not appear.
The former, with an orderly and some soldiers, went into a shed and split and prepared the kindlings for burning the houses.
All protestations on the part of the women and children (for such only, with a few old men, were left in the village,) were unheeded.
The fires were set in various places amid terror and shrieks.
One poor woman, whose child was very ill, begged that the house might be spared.
Her plea, it unintelligible in words — for German was the only language in which the soldiers spoke — must have been understood in actions, for she held the poor sufferer up before them; but it was in vain, and the next morning the body of the dead baby laid by the side of the smoking ruins of the house.
One old man, who pleaded earnestly that one house at least might be left to shelter the houseless inhabitants from the cold, was struck three times by
Count — with his sword, and badly wounded.
He has, however, been able to attend and give his testimony before the
Court.
I understand that every house, barn, shed, and every description of building was utterly destroyed, and that, during the pitiless weather of the last four days, the poor inhabitants have been endeavoring to keep themselves warm under the shelter huts made from the boughs of trees.
The Horrors of War — a wife on the battle-field.
The following extract, from a letter dated at
Corinth, on the 6th ult., has been communicated to the New York
Evening Post for publication:
‘
"Oh, my friend!
how can I tell you of the tortures that have nearly erased me for the last three days! Pen is powerless to trace, words weak to convey one tittle of the misery I have endured.
I thought myself strong before.
I have seen so much of suffering that I thought my nerves had grown steady, and I could bear anything; but today I am weak and trembling like a frightened child.
"But do not wonder at it. My dear husband lien beside me, wounded unto death, perhaps.
I have lost all hope of saving him, though I thank God for the privilege of being this moment beside him.--And besides this, all around me the sufferers lie moaning in agony.
There has been little time to tend them — poor fellows.
True, the surgeons are busy all the time, but all the wounded have not yet been brought in, and it seems as if the time will never come when our brave men shall have been made as comfortable as circumstances may permit.
It is awful to look around me. I can see every imaginable form of suffering, and yet am helpless to aid them any of consequence.
"Since night before last I have not left my husband's side for a moment, except to get such things as I required, or to hand some poor fellow a cup of water.
Even as I write my heart throbs achingly to hear the deep groans and sharp cries about me, F. is sleeping, but I dare not close my eyes, lest he should die while I sleep.
And it is to keep awake, and in a manner relieve my overburdened heart, that I am writing to you now under such sad auspices.
"On the morning of the 3d inst the fight begun.
The attack was made on
Gen. McArthur's division, and we could plainly hear the roll of the artillery here, as it is about two miles and a half distance only from this place.
Oh, the fearful agony of that awful, awful day!
I had seen F. a moment early in the morning, but it was only a moment, when he bade me good-bye, saying hurriedly, as he tore himself away: 'Pray for me, my wife, and if I fall, God protect you!' There was something in his look and tone which struck a chill to my heart, and every moment after I know the fight had begun I felt as if he had indeed fallen.
I cannot tell how long it was before I heard that
Oglesby's brigade was engaged, but it seemed an age to me. After that my agony was nearly intolerable.
I never had a thought of fear for myself; I was thinking only of F. Then I got the word that he had been hotly pursued by the rebels and had fallen back.
"Later in the afternoon I succeeded in gaining a little intelligible information.
Poor
Gen. Hackleman was shot through the neck while giving a command, and fell mortally wounded.
He died between 10 and 11 o'clock the same night, I have since learned.
Up to the time of receiving the wound he had acted with the greatest bravery and enthusiasm, tempered by a coolness that made every action effective.
When dusk at last put an end to the first day's conflict, I learned that
Gen. Oglesby had been dangerously wounded, but could gain no intelligence of my husband.
I could not bear the suspense.
Dark as it was, and helpless as it seemed to search for him then, I started out to the battle-field.
"O. how shall I describe the search of that night?
It looked like madness.
It was madness.
But all night long I struggled amongst bleeding corpses, over dead horses, trampled limbs, shattered artillery — everything that goes to make up the horror of a battle field when the conflict is over.
They were removing the wounded all night.
Oh, think how awful to stumble over the dead and hear the cries of the wounded and dying, alone, and in the night time.
I had to start off alone, else they would not have let me go.
"As you may suppose, I could not find him, either among the living or dead.
But the next morning, just after sunrise, I came to a little clump of timbers where a horse had fallen — his head shot off, and his body half covering a man whom I supposed dead.
His face was to the ground, but as I stooped to look closer, I perceived a faint movement of the body, then heard a faint moan.
I stooped and turned the face upward.
The head and face were both covered with blood, but when I turned it to the light I knew it in spite of its disfiguration.
Oh, God!
the agony of that moment sickened me almost to suffocation.
With a strength I thought impossible in me, I drew him, crushed and bleeding, from beneath the carcase of our poor old horse, whom we had both so loved and petted, and, dipping my handkerchief in a little pool of water amongst the bushes, bathed his face and pressed some moisture between his parched, swollen lips.
He was utterly insensible, and there was a dreadful wound in his head.
Both limbs were crushed hopelessly beneath the horse.
He was utterly beyond the reach of human skill to save, but as soon as possible I had him conveyed to the hospital.
I have nursed him ever since, hopelessly and with a heart breaking with grief.
Oh! how many wives, how many mothers, are to day mourning the dead and dying!
He has not opened his eyes to look at or spoken to me since he fell.
Oh I could he but speak to me once before he dies, I should give him up with more resignation.
But to die thus — without a look or a word!
Oh, my heart is breaking!"
’
The Progress of the draft in Maryland.
The Yankee draft is progressing without any resistance in
Maryland.
The Baltimore
Sun, of Saturday, has the following about the state of things at Camp Bradford, the headquarters of drafted men, near that city:
‘
The order of
Gen. Shriver relative to the amount to be paid to substitutes, has had a salutary effect in bringing up only such as had made up their minds to adhere to their contracts and keep faith with the
Government.
There were plenty of substitutes on hand, and there were some who wanted them; but a difficulty occurred first in the difference between the parties as to the amount, and secondly with the substitutes with regard to depositing their money with the
General until they shall be assigned to regiments.
The price at which substitutes held themselves was three hundred dollars, and the largest price paid was two hundred and twenty- five dollars. There were several who presented themselves who were entirely acceptable, but they refused to hand over their money until they could be assigned to regiments, and the
General refused to receive them.
Subsequently, all but one agreed to the terms, and were accepted.
That one was escorted to the gate and another substitute was immediately procured and accepted, who did not feel apprehensive that his money was safe, while he entered upon the work in good faith.
The order of the
Commanding General had the effect to keep almost all the middle-men away from the camp, only two or three having presented themselves during the day, and then only those who felt disposed to accept of a fair remuneration for their services.
The proceedings are now seconducted that it is next to impossible for fraud to be perpetrated.
The principal yesterday was required to declare under oath what he was to pay, and the substitute what he was to receive, and the amount was then paid into the hands of
General Shriver, so that if the substitute shall escape there is left an amount sufficient to procure another substitute without forcing a loss upon the
Government.
Late in the afternoon a detachment of eight of
Captain Clayton's cavalry was detailed to escort a squad of substitutes to the
Camden station, where they embarked for
Clearspring, in
Western Maryland, to join the Maryland 7th regiment.
Colonel Dushane, of the Maryland 1st regiment, was at the camp in search of men for his regiment, and there was a disposition evinced by the substitutes to join some of the regiments already organized.
A dress parade took place in the afternoon of all the drafted men and substitutes who had not been detailed to other commands.
They are progressing very finely with the drill, and the men seem to take an interest in the work.
’
The demonstration at Trenton in Honor of Gen. M' Clellan.
Gen. McClellan has been receiving many tokens of respect since his arrival at
Trenton, N. J. The people assembled in large numbers around his hotel on Wednesday night, and gave him a grand serenade.
A letter says:
After the serenade,
Andrew Dutcher,
Esq.,
ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives of
New Jersey came forward to introduce
Gen. McClellan to the assembled multitude.
As soon as the
General appeared at the front of the hotel he was greeted with the most tumultuous applause.
Cheer followed cheer throughout the entire square.
Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and joined in the applause.
It was with the greatest difficulty that any kind of order could be restored.
When the cheering was but partially checked,
Mr Dutcher addressed the enthusiastic throng in a few remarks, to which
Gen. McClellan responded as follows:
‘
"My friends — for I feel that you are all my friends — I stand before you, not as a maker of speeches, not as a politician, but as a soldier.
I came among you to seek quiet and repose, and from the moment of my arrival I have received nothing but kindness.
Although I appear before you as a stranger, I am not. I am not altogether unacquainted with your history.
Your gallant soldiers were with me in every battle from the siege of
Yorktown to the
battle of Antietam, and here I bear witness to their devotion to the cause for which we are fighting [Here the uproar compelled the
General to cease for a few moments] I also have to speak of the ever faithful, ever true
Taylor; the dashing, intrepid
Kearney — men who have given their lives for the maintenance of our Government.
And before bidding you good night, I have this piece of advice to give you: While the army is fighting, you, as citizens, see that the war is prosecuted for the preservation of the
Union and the
Constitution, for your nationality, and your rights as citizens."
’
It was almost impossible for the
General, after concluding his short and most appropriate speech, to return to the interior of the hotel.
Every avenue was crowded to suffocation, even the stair ways.
After reaching his rooms the band performed a chorus from the opera of ‘"Eridani," ’ and the ‘"McClellan Polka."’ composed by the leader of the band, and dedicated to the
General.
Here the crowd called again for the
General in the most vociferous manner, when he appeared at his window and reiterated his former words.
Here the ceremonies ended, and the crowd dispersed with three times three and a tiger for
General McClellan.
Large numbers of visitors are arriving at
Trenton from
Washington,
Philadelphia,
New York, and other places, all anxious to pay their respects to the recent commander of the Army of the Potomac, who expresses an earnest desire to remain perfectly quiet.
Foreign Relations — Difficulties with France and Spain.
The rumors of foreign complications are again revived by the
Washington correspondents of the
Northern press.
We take the following from a Washington dispatch to the N. Y.
Times:
‘
The official announcement made some days ago by the State Department that there is no reason to apprehend serious embarrassments with
France on account of
Gen Butler's operations in
Louisiana is now proved to have this foundation and no more: The French Government demanded full and immediate indemnity for all injuries inflicted upon French citizens by
Gen. Butler, the immense armament — now nearly ready at
Marseilles — being pointed to as the commentary on the diplomatic request.
Our State Department, therefore in announcing that there will be no difficulties, leading to a rapture of relations, merely informs the
French Minister, in advance, that it is ready to back down to any extent from
Gen. Butler's acts, and that no defence of that officer's conduct and no adequate examination of the
French complaints will be made as a bar to this further effort to conciliate.
The fact is, however, that a powerful sentiment here supports the justice of
Gen. Butler's course; and that there are many influential advisers of the
President who think that this mode of invariably purchasing peace with
Europe, by conceding every demand, is bad policy, certain in the end to result in still further claims of an even more outrageous character.
They think we are strong enough not to sacrifice our own best officers to foreign clamor.
The Spanish Minister has addressed to our Government a demand for an apology for the burning of a vessel in Spanish waters by one of the ships of
Admiral Farragut's fleet.
This act, it is complained, was made more heinous by insults to a Cuban magistrate, who remonstrated against this wrong done in a neutral port.
Spain evidently thinks herself strong enough, and the
United States weak enough, to justify her threats, in case apology and reparation be not granted.
The Spanish squadron now cruising in the
Gulf might undoubtedly give trouble to the large fleet of our transport vessels which will soon, from all indications be obliged to navigate that region.
Looking at the course of
France and
Spain together, it would seem possible that the
entente cordiale. broken by
Gen. Prim in
Mexico, may be renewed in a more northern latitude.
’
A correspondent of the
World remarks:
‘
The demands actually made by the
Minister of
Spain in connection with the affair of the
Blanche are believed to be fully supported by the representatives of
England and of
France, and it will need all the tact and skill of
Mr. Seward to steer the vessel of state successfully through the present imbroglio.
All that is now known here in regard to the actual condition of affairs gives a peculiar significance to the stress laid by the exponents of English opinion in the last published advices from
England upon the fact that Lord Lyons has returned with instructions to take no "individual" action in regard to our relations with that country, but to "co- operate earnestly" with the representatives of other
European powers in any course collectively adopted by them.
’
An Associated Press dispatch from
Washington says:
‘
Much curiosity is manifested to ascertain the purport of the recent interview between Lord Lyons and
Secretary Seward.
The desire is not at present likely to be gratified, but enough is known to warrant the statement that nothing whatever of an official character has been received from
England or any other
European power indicating an intention to interfere with our political affairs in connection with a recognition of Southern independence.
’
Alleged attack on Imboden.
A dispatch of
Gen. Wright, dated at
Cincinnati on the 13th, says that
Gen. Kelly; on the 10th inst., attacked
Imboden's rebel camp, eighteen miles South of
Moorefield,
Hardy county, Va., routed him completely, killing and wounding many, and captured his camp with fifty prisoners and a quantity of arms, besides a large number of horses, cattle, hogs, wagons, &c. The enemy were entirely dispersed and fled to the mountains.
A brother of Gen. Pillow captured.
A few days since a Federal scouting party, engaged on the
Mississippi side of the
Mississippi river, opposite
Helena, captured a prisoner who proved to be
Jerome Pillow, brother of
Gen. Pillow, to whom the
General's letter — published some time ago — was written on the subject of securing the negroes on the
Pillow plantation at
Helena.
Mr. Pillow was on his way to his plantation when he was captured.
Miscellaneous.
A letter received in New York, from Caraoas, under date of October 9th, states that an iron clad war steamer, bearing the
Confederate flag, and supposed to be the Ovieto, has been cruising off
Cardenas for two or three weeks past, and is known to have made several prizes.
Two other of their cruisers have also been seen hovering about the Bahamas.
The following
Major Generals are now without commands:
Geo. B. McClellan,
John C. Fremont,
Geo. Cadwallader,
Edwin D. Morgan,
Irwin McDowell,
Cassius M. Clay,
Ethan A. Hitchcock,
Fitz John Porter, and
Gen. Harney.
Gen. Butler, it is stated, will soon order a draft in New Orleans, to fill up vacancies in his several regiments.
Thos H. Clay, a son of
Henry Clay, has accepted the appointment of Minister to
Nicaragua.
Gov. Buckingham has called an extra session of the Legislature of Connecticut, to convene on the 9th of December.
A petition is in circulation in the
West asking the
President to give
Gen. John C. Fremont command of the forces of the
Mississippi Valley.
