Latest from the North.
[from our own Reporter.]
Fredericksburg, March 3.
--I send you a summary of the news from the Washington Chronicle of yesterday, March 2d.
A dispatch from Cairo, on the 21th of February, says it is rumored that on the 25th the famous "cut-off" was completed, the dredging machines having been at work several days.
It is asserted that all the gunboats have passed through, and that the transports are preparing to follow.
After the batteries at Warrenton shall have been reduced, the whole force will be first sent against Port Hellion.
It is also stated that the small gunboat fleet has reached Yasoo river, by the way of Union Lake, and are "playing the mischief" in the rear of Vicksburg.
It is also reported that some of the Union boats have reached Red river via Lake Providence.
It is also reported that serious disasters have happened to the Union forces and troops, and that gunboats had been captured; but these rumors are not credited.
On the 25th ult. 80 rebel cavalry went inside the Federal lines on the Strasburg road, near Winchester, and, after skirmishing with the infantry pickets, in which two were wounded, retired, after capturing a cavalry picket and twelve then.
Five hundred of the 13th Pennsylvania and 1st New York cavalry were sent in pursuit, and to captured, beyond Strasburg, most of the prisoners and horses, and also took a number of the rebels prisoners.--The commander transcended his orders, and pursued the enemy beyond Woodstock and after driving in the rebel pickets stood preying in the road without guarding against surprise.
The enemy returned in force, charged upon and threw them into confusion, killing and capturing 200 in then fight of twenty miles. Our men made no stand, though outnumbering the enemy.
The British frigate Pettel arrived at Hampton Roads on the 27th ult, from Charleston.
She reports the rebels have a strong not work across the channel to the entrance of Charleston harbor, and that the network is flued with torpedoes, designed to blow up say of the naval fleet which may attempt to enter the harbor.
In the United States District Court, at Indian-spoils, on the 1st inst., four persons charged with resisting the military authorities in the arrest of deserters, were convicted of treason.
A minority of the Indiana Legislature are still absent, and, unless a compromise can be effected with the majority, no further legislation will be had during the present session.
Bermuda dates to the 19th ult. state that the neutral British steamer Cornubia, with a cargo of cotton from Charleston, had arrived, and would discharge and load with arms for the Southern ports.
The steamer Mirian was also loading with arms, and would sail for Charleston in a week.
The Senate early Sunday morning concurred in the House amendments to the bill passed by the Senate February 16, (the conscription,) and that "most necessary, well-conceived, and impartial act" only needs the President's signature to become a law. Of the many acts of legislation demanded by the war, but one or two may be said to be as important as that providing for the enrollment of the militia.
It was demanded to prevent the Republic from alter annihilation.
It reached all classes, and exempts but few special cases.
It was passed by a vote of 31 to 5.
Mr. Chase's financial measures have finally passed, and the Chronicles congratulates him on has triumph.
Brigadier-General John Cochrane has resigned, in consequence of "serious physical maladies"2014;The officers of his brigade accompanied him in a body to the cars at Falmouth, on his departure.--He gives a "highfalutin" farewell address.
He concludes thus: "Comrades in arms, your future is fraught with the destinies of coming generations.
Though sometimes checked, yet never defeated; though sometimes baffled, yet never beaten; the victories of your past are still within hall of your victories to come.
Your country's cause rests upon your arms, and your standards will yet gild the day of its success.
Soldiers, farewell."
The Chronicle correspondent denies that there is any demoralization in the army, and adds: "There are within the lines a few men, in 'citizens' clothes, who say the war is a d — d political concern, gotten up to free the negroes, and these, when they go home, say the army is demoralized.
Many officers have been absent for months without proper leave.
Many of the nine months men are discussing the propriety of re- enlisting.
The new troops are expressing the frequent with that the weather would improve, that they may have affair chance at the enemy before their term expires.
General Hooker is in good spirits, and each day rises in the estimation of able, true men. This army will most enthusiastically follow their leader.
The movement will be made at the proper time and in the right way. Several New England non-commissioned officers are asking to be commissioned to raise coffered commands.
They are men of good standing"
Another correspondent of the same paper, writing Feb. 28th, says: "This army has become more formidable than ever before, and although in numbers not equate what it was in September, it is stronger and more enable.
Its discipline is to reported.
One reason for the change is, the New York World and other sheets of similar tone have been excluded in a great measure from our camps.
They were sent here wholesale by the enemies of the Government.
The Conscript act also has revived the spirits of the army.
The thinking portion of the army, by an overwhelming majority, are in favor of organizing African regiments.
No such decisive blow at treason could be struck at treason as arming the blacks.
The enlisted men of the South, whose prejudice against the negro far exceeds our own, would not bought him (?!). They would compel their leaders to resorts to aid from the slaves, who could not successfully oppose the brawny arm of the unchained negroes of the North.
Black regiments will not be opposed in the army.
The soldiers grow more bitter against their enemy as their absence from home is prolonged, and are willing to resort to any and every means to secure peace.
The Chronicles, Press, and Baltimore American are freely circulates in the army.
[Surely this correspondent "Now and Then," is the biggest fool that ever wrote for a newspaper.]
Rear-Admiral Porter instructed the Captain of the gunboat Indianola, as he was on the point of starting down the Mississippi the other day, to visit the plantations of President Davis and his brother Joe, and carry away every bale of cotton and every able-bodied male negro he could find.
Thomas Hays, 17th Va., and J. Conway, Trip Lett's battery, deserters from the rebel army, were forwarded from Alexandria.
They will probably be released on taking the oath of allegiance. --Large numbers are constantly coming in. Poor people cannot live in "Secessia. "
Greece.--The Queen in her opening speech to Parliament mentioned the desire of Greece that Prince Alfred should become King of that country.
A letter from Rev. Dr. King, from Athens, of Dec. 27, says: ‘"Of 10,107 vote given here, 10,097 were for Princes Alfred — of wrote, " Alfred or death"’ They are willing he should remain a Protestant, &c. It is seldom that so much unity exists among this people on any subject.
