Northern items.
The Victorious Yankees (?) Generals of Somerset.
The New York Herald publishes sketches of the lives of the two Yankee Generals engaged in the last battle at Somerset, Ky., and of our own lamented Zollicoffer:Brig. Gen. Alvin Schoepff,
the commander-in-chief during the engagement, is a foreigner by birth, and was appointed by Lincoln to his present position as from the State of Maryland. Schoepff, when he came to this country, was penniless. He hired himself as a porter in one of the New York hotels, from whence he went to Washington, still acting in this capacity. In the Federal Capital he became acquainted with Mr. Holt, then Commissioner of Patents. To this gentleman he is indebted for his first lift in the world.Gen. G. H. Thomas.
Is an officer of the regular United States Army. He is a Virginian, and is between 40 and 45 years of age. He was appointed a cadet at West Point in 1836. He was brevetted a captain for gallant and meritorious conduct in Mexico, at Monterey, and afterwards Major for services at Buena Vista. He served as instructor of artillery and cavalry at West Point in 1850. Having passed through the different grades of his profession, he was finally appointed to command the Fourth Division in the Department of Tennessee and Kentucky, headquarters at Columbus.The Yankee Government's finances.
The Cincinnati Commercial has a long editorial urging the people to stand by the Secretary of the Treasury, and endeavor to keep up the value of Federal Treasury Notes. The article is a virtual admission of the sinking condition of the Yankee Government.Another Yankee General overboard.
The clamor against Gen. Stone, of Ball's Bluff notoriety, has become so great that the Yankee papers announce that his removal has been determined — upon. He is said to be ‘"intensely unpopular"’ with his men. Gen. Halleck has abolished the passport system at St. Louis. He thinks his military lines have been so thoroughly and effectually established that there is no longer any necessity for continuing it.Attempt to burn the depot at Cleveland.
An unsuccessful attempt was made on Sunday night week to burn the depot of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, at Cleveland. Bales of hemp, saturated with oil, were fired; but being discovered early the fire was extinguished before it had made much progress.British fortifications Threatening Detroit.
The Yankees are chafing under the construction of fortifications by the British opposite Detroit. One of their papers says: ‘ The construction of fortifications opposite Detroit cannot be for defensive purposes, for there is little there to defend, and that would be no better place for an invading force to enter Canada than many others on the river. The fortification is merely to threaten Detroit, by placing guns within shelling distance. It is vastly more menacing than a squadron on the lakes would be. It is a violation of national comity, and a hostile act, and should be met by a prompt protest and demand for explanation by our Government. ’Northern finances and taxation.
The House Committee of Ways and Means of the Washington Congress, have reported the bill providing for the issue of one hundred millions of dollars of demand notes, convertible into seven and three-tenths bonds, redeemable in twenty years, and making the notes a legal tender. They have reported no other bills of the series contemplated to complete the system of finance recommended by the Secretary of the Treasury and approved by the committee. The Tax bill to raise one hundred and fifty millions of revenue annually is not yet matured by the sub-committee having it in charge. The question of income tax has not yet been under consideration in the committee.The Missouri U. S. Senatorship.
St. Louis, Jan. 20.
--John B. Henderson, a Douglas, Democrat, a member of the State Convention, an uncompromising Union man, and a Brigadier General in the State service, has been appointed by Lieut. Governor Hall, to fill Trustee Polk's seat in the U. S. Senate.
More bloody Battles expected,
The N. Y. Herald says: ‘ We are entering upon the most exciting period of the war. Its real work is only just commencing. The victory just obtained by our troops at Somerset has been a most sanguinary affair, and will be followed by a succession of other conflicts of a similar character. Between this and May we shall either have to subdue the rebels, to deal with them as we please, or we shall have ourselves to submit to the Southern yoke. ’The "hero" Doubleday.
On the 20th inst., Lincoln sent to his Senate the nominations of Cassius M. Clay, Minister to Russia, to be Major General of volunteers, and Major Abner Doubleday, hero of Sumter, to be Brigadier General.Release of Miss Poole.
Miss Poole, recently an inmate in the prison appropriated to women, left here this morning in charge of an officer, on the way to Richmond. She was released on parole not to give aid or comfort to the enemy.Gen. Butler's expedition.
Gen. Butler is still here arranging with Gen. McClellan and the Navy Department about the movement of his expedition. It was only temporarily detained. The troops did not disembark from the steamer Constitution at Fortress Monroe.The Army.
Col. Astor, of New York, has resigned his place on Gen. McClellan's staff, and returned to his business in New York, which demands his personal attention.Jessie Fremont and Old Blair.
Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, while on her recent visit to Washington to ferret out the origin of the hostility which had manifested itself towards her husband, had an interview with the President, during which Mr. Blair, Sr., father of the Postmaster General and Frank P. Blair, were present Mr. Blair turned to Mrs. Fremont and said.--‘"Mrs. Fremont, allow me to say to you that, in my judgment, madam, your proper place is at the head of your husband's household at St. Louis, and this intermeddling with the affairs of the State is, to say the least of it, in very bad taste on your part; and, in conclusion, I wish you to understand that here is where we make men and unmake them."’ To which Mrs. Fremont instantly replied:--‘"Mr. Blair, permit me to say to you that I have seen some men of your making, and if they are the best you can do I would advise you to quit the business."’Northern Estimate of Southern Traitors.
In a notice of Commander Mathias C. Marin, of the Yankee cruiser St. Louis, now fitting out at the Philadelphia Navy-Yard, the Herald says: ‘ The Commander of the St. Louis is a native of Florida. The Republic has great reason to be proud of the large proportion, of the Southern officers of the navy who have remained faithful to their allegiance, notwithstanding the vile examples of so many of their fellow citizens, and despite the urgent solicitations to resign with which many of them have been assailed from parents and brothers, and often wives and children. Many of the most brilliant naval exploits of the war have been performed by these officers. The country is familiar with the bravery and energy of Dupont, of Delaware; Steedman, Drayton, and Bankhead, of South Carolina; Fairfax, of Virginia; Spotts, of North Carolina; Braine, of Texas; Howell, of Tennessee; Stevens, of Florida; Porter of Louisiana; Price, of Kentucky; Russell, of Maryland; and many others from each of the States in rebellion. Undoubtedly Commander Marin will emulate the deeds of these gentlemen and retrieve the honor of his native Florida, do credit to the great Republic in whose service he is enlisted, and establish a lasting reputation for himself and the vessel he commands. ’Affairs at the Charlestown Navy-yard.
Boston, Jan. 20, 1862.
--There are now 11 vessels of war at the Navy-Yard, finishing repairing, undergoing alterations, or awaiting stores or orders, and three on the stocks.
Among these are the ship-of-the-line Vermont, frigate Macedonian; and steam sloop-of-war San Jacinto.
The Ino yet in the stream.
The sloop-of-war that is building will be one of the most powerful and beautiful of her class in the navy.
There are two months pay due the workmen in the yard. 