Late Federal Telegrams.
Northern papers of the 31st ult have a variety of news and rumors, a portion of which we copy:From Washington — exciting rumors in circulation.
Washington, March 30.
--The violent thunder storm which visited Washington this evening was accompanied by flying rumors of an exciting character respecting General Banks' column and the Merrimac.
I learn from the highest authority that the reports are false and that everything connected with army movements in quiet as far as is known here.
The government has learned through parties under arrest for disloyalty that General Beauregard stated seven weeks ago that he should never fight General McClellan at Manassas, but that his plan would be to draw our army as far into the centre of the Southern country as possible, and cut off his retreat.
Secretary Seward returned to lay from Winchester, whither he went with two physicians on an errand of mercy.
A passenger who arrived here from that town says that there is no apprehension that Gen. Shields's arm will have to be amputated, and that the is in the best possible spirits; also that the rebels under Jackson were yesterday still in fight beyond Strayburg.
The citizens of Washington are rejoicing in the prospect of a larger supply of provisions and manufactured goods, through the removal of the blockade of the Potomac and the reopening of the canal above.
Water was let into the canal yesterday, through its entire length, and as the canal is under the control of the Government, it is expected that the stipulations of depth of water shall be kept as far as the foot of Seventeenth street, will be observed Coal, wood, lime, grain and flour ought now to come here in profusion.--The prices of many articles have already fallen materially.
The Troubles in the Episcopal Church.
Washington, March 30.
--The majority of the vestry of Trinity.
Episcopal Church, having essayed to depose their pastor for non-compliance with the order of Bishop Wittingham to read the prayer prescribed by him for the late Union successes, the minister denies their authority to act, and has given them formal notice that he will submit the question to the membership.
He officiated in that church to-day.
The Church of the Ascension, the rector of wich also omitted the same prayer, was closed to- day; not, however, primarily on that account, but as a measure of precaution against excitement, which might result in a disturbance of the peace.
A guard is in attendence at the promises.
Removing the slaves.
The owners of slaves in the District of Columbia are removing them as fast as possible, and by the time an act abolishing slavery here can be passed. hardly one able-bodied bond servant will be left. Over one hundred slaves have been taken from the city in the last two days.The War in the Southwest.
Cincinnati, March 30.
--A special dispatch to the Cincinnati Commercial, from Indianapolis, says that Gen. Buell has assumed command of our forces, and at the lastest advices was within fifteen miles of Beauregard at Corinth, Miss.
Morgan's rebel cavalry captured another train on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad on Friday.
Col. Currin Pope, of Ky., was taken prisoner with a few other Union officers.
The locomotives was run into a ditch and the cars destroyed.
A Sensation story.
St. Louis, March 30.
--On the night of the 26th inst, a band of from five to eight hundred rebels attacked four companies of State militia at Hammonsville, Polk county, Mo. They were completely defeated, with a loss of fifteen killed, and alarge number wounded.
Our loss was none killed, but a number wounded.
Among the latter were Captains Stockton and Cosgrove, severely.
News from Island no.10.
St. Louis, March 30.
--The army correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, writting under date of Catro, March 20, says the firing on Friday st Island No.10 was quite heavy, the rebels opening from a new custody mounted, it is supposed, with 128-pounders.
The enemy could be seen cutting away trees and rapidly pushing forward other means of defence.
They seem to have no idea of evacuating at present, and are daily getting more cannon in position.
Word reached the fleet last night that four rebel gunboats, partly clad with railroad iron, had appeared below Point Pleasant, but as General Pope's batteries extend in an almost continuous line for fifteen miles, it is not believed they can force a passage.
Rather Discouraging to the Yankees.
A correspondent of the Chicago Times, writing from the flag-ship Benton, three miles above Island No.10, March 22d, says: ‘ I know the country generally is expecting every day to hear of our success at this point, and is chafing with impatience at the delay. God have mercy on the poor country and give it a large stock of fortitude; for it is feared that not only Island No.10, but many other points on the Mississippi, will be defended and fortified in such a way that our hearts will grow sick from hope deferred before we have safe and open navigation to the Gulf. Each day makes a revelation of added strength to the enemy's works here, and the industry shown by them in continually strengthening their old batteries and adding new ones evinces their conception of the importance of this point and the determination to make a long and desperate fight. Indeed, that the gunboats above, without the co-operation of land forces, will not be able to drive them from here, is to say the least deportful. ’ so far we have obtained no deceitful success, though shelling them continually for over a week, and in fact we have not succeeded in drawing the fire from a portion of their batteries, though our gunboats, and a portion of Col. Buford's command, have been temptingly exposed. They are very cautions in showing us the exact location of their cannon by firing them and than giving us the range. But Com. Foots thinks too much of his gunboats, and appreciates too well the enormous consequences that would attend their loss, to venture with them upon foolhardy experiments. His flotilla is now not only the guard of the river proper, but of Missouri, Kentucky, and Catro; for we have above Island to no army now that could withstand a well disciplined and effective force of 25,000 men, and it is precisely at this juncture in the Southern armies that we should look for bold and desperate measures; they are necessary to retrieve a failing cause and cheer disheartened troops.From Fortress Monroe.
Fortress Monuron, March 29th.
--On Friday evening the rebels throw a ball from one of the rifled guns at Sewell's point, which came within three hundred yards of the shipping in the upper roadstead.
During the blow last night the steamer Flushing had a hole knocked in her side, and now lies on the bar careened over, and in a somewhat dangerous position if the storm should continue very much longer.
The Lincoln gun has been mounted, and this morning was tried, in order to rest the carriage.
Only ten shots were fired.
The second shot was a splendid ricocheted shot.
The immense ball, weighing 487 pounds, after making three plunges and renewed flights, finally sank away off near Sewell's Point.
If the Merrimac could stand one of these Lincoln pills, as they are called here, she is indeed proof against all appliances of modern gunnery.
There were some signs of activity towards Norfolk this morning.
A steaming came down to Sewell's Point, and the smoke from a large vessel could be seen off Craney Island.
A propeller, apparently a gunboat, came down James river within three miles of Newport News, and after reconnoitering apparently returned up the river.
The present high wind and low water, however, forbids all expectation of the appearance of the Merrimac until the storm is over.
Operations in North Carolina.
Baltimore, March 30.
--The rebels burned the bridge on the railroad between Newbern and Beaufort, but it was in progress of repair and the road would soon be in operation between the two places.
So far as our informants know, all of whom came from Newbern, and had not been at Beaufort, there was no destruction of property at the latter place, and a large majority of the citizens remained quietly at their homes on the approach of the Union forces.
All the rebel soldiers in the vicinity shut themselves up in FortMacon.
Their numbers were variously represented by citizens of Beaufort at from three to six hundred men.
The fort was said to be but slighly provisioned, and it was not believed, it could hold out more than a week.
Its ultimate capture is of course a matter of certainty.
Gen. Burnside was at Beaufort.
Perfect order reigned at Newbern, and a number of citizens had returned.
Gen. Fasher was Military Governor of the city.
The rebels were believed to be in strong force toward Kinston, thirty-five miles on the road to Goldsboro', and their soon a frequently appeared in the vicinity of Newbern.
The expedition to Washington was successful.
It consisted of about one thousand men, with an escort of gunboats.
Two companies of the Massachusetts Twenty-Second landed and took the place.
The Stars and Stripes were-nailed to a tree in front of the Court House and left there.
The citizens received the invaders without any apparent excitement or apprehension.--Some few expressed Union sentiments, whilst the great mass had nothing to say either way. After holding the place one day, and gathering all the information they could, the expedition returned to Newbern. 