The Daily Dispatch: May 25, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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From Northern papers.
some Additional Items from Files of the 20th.

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Alarmed about Kentucky.

The Northern papers display a good deal of alarm about Kentucky. Telegrams flow about from different places on the Ohio representing that the rebels were invading Eastern Kentucky in large numbers, under General Buckner. Rebel pickets were stated to be all along the Cumberland, and the river was falling and would soon be fordable. A dispatch was, however, sent from Louisville (dated the 19th May) to quiet alarm. It states that the startling dispatches about rebels were from rebel sources, and meant to divert Federal reinforcements from Rosecrans — that save eleven small regiments under Morgan on the South side of the Cumberland, there were no forces menacing Kentucky. This was the opinion at head quarters. Still there was much turmoil about Kentucky, who is not fully confided in of late, as shown by the summary executions of her citizens under Burnside's order.

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Reported evacuation of Vicksburg.

A telegram from Washington, dated the 19th, to the Philadelphia Inquirer, states that the President had information from General Hurlbut, who had dispatches from General Grant confirmatory of the evacuation of Vicksburg.

[This news probably had as favorable an effect on stocks in the United States as the news published here Saturday morning had upon sugar in this market!]

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Washington Items.

Dr. Miller, an old resident of Washington city, was arrested on the 19th, at the instance of the War Department, for uttering disloyal sentiments. When brought before the authorities, he stated that his sympathies were with the South, and that he had no concealment in the matter. He was paroled for three days until a decision is rendered in his case.--He would probably be sent South.

The property of W. W. Corcoran, the wealthy banker of Washington, was to be seized under the Confiscation Act. Mr. Corcoran is now in Europe, and is charged with engineering the Confederate loan. His property is said to be worth over a million of dollars. He is father in-law to Enstace, Secretary to Slidell, in France.

[How very much obliged to Mr. Corcoran are the Yankees for giving them occasion to appropriate his property. No man could confer a greater obligation unless he were to put them in possession of more than a million!--Between Mr. Corcoran's loyalty and his money the Yankees prefer the latter by at least $900,999!]

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Colored Volunteers.

A Washington letter announces that two colored companies were mustered into service in that city on the 19th.

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Captured prizes.

The following prizes are reported as having arrived at Washington:

The schooner Harriet, captured by the steamer Juniata, off Charleston, with eighty-four bales of cotton; the schooners Martha Ann and A. Corson, from New York, with cargoes of whiskey, molasses, wagons, furniture, &c., captured near the mouth of the Chesapeake, charged with violating the Federal revenue laws, and two other schooners for smuggling goods into Virginia.

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Banks's victories, etc.

The Herald's New Orleans correspondent writes that "the great importance of Gen. Banks's recent victories can scarcely be appreciated by the people of the North. Let me assure you that their results will be of incalculable benefit to our country."

In the usual style of Northern newspaper correspondents, the writer proceeds to speak of the "Union feeling" which manifested itself at various points along the line of march of the Federal columns. He says:

‘ Throughout the section of the country through which the army has passed in this short but decisive campaign, to a point twenty miles north of Opelousas, all classes of people have signified not only their readiness, but their desire to renew the oath of allegiance. The force in the field has not been such as to enable General Banks to leave a garrison at the different towns through which the army has passed. The column will move intact, with all its power, and no encouragement has been given at present to those applicants for the privilege of renewing their allegiance to the United States. They have been told, however, that all well-disposed persons will receive from the Government reparation for their losses, and that in due time protection will be given them against all enemies whatever.

’

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Destruction of the sloop-of-war Preble.

The same correspondent furnished the following particulars of the destruction of the sloop-of-war Preble:

A gang of men were at work in the fire hold, emptying a barrel of tar oil into the tanks used for that purpose, when, by some unknown cause, it took fire, and the barrel exploded, throwing the burning oil in every direction.--It was impossible to extinguish the flames; they spread with great rapidity, so quickly, indeed, that the officers and crew had to abandon the vessel with nothing but the clothing they had on. In one hour only the flames reached the magazine, which blew up with an awful explosion, tearing the vessel into a thousand pieces, and scattering the fragments all over the bay of Pensacola. At the time the accident occurred the Preble was anchored between the Navy Yard and the city of Pensacola, fortunately in a position where her guns going off, which they did when they became heated, could do no damage. But one life was lost on the occasion.

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Shooting of Capt Dwight.

Capt. Dwight, of the Banks army, was recently shot dead. The Herald's correspondent furnished the following account of his shooting:

He was endeavoring to reach the advance of infantry beyond Opelousas, and as he was riding along the road he met three men, who ordered him to halt. He did so, and asked the question, "Who are you?" They did not reply, but said, "He is a damned Yankee, let's kill him," and presented their revolvers. Capt. Dwight then remarked, "Do not shoot, you are too strong for me, and I surrender." Their reply was, "Surrender, be damned, kill him;" and as they said so one of them fired, but missed. The second shot, however, struck him in the nose, passing entirely through his head, killing him instantly.

Gen. Banks, hearing of the affair, issued the following order:

Special Orders — No,108.

Hdq'rs Department of the Gule,19th army corps, N. O.,May 4, 1863.

[Extract.]

12. Brigadier General Dwight will cause all white male persons, to the number of 100, in the vicinity of the scene of the murder to-day, to be immediately arrested and sent under a strong guard to New Orleans, where they will be kept in close confinement till further orders, as hostages for the delivery of the murderers into the hands of the military authorities of the United States.

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Cotton Estimates.

With reference to the amount of cotton which this expedition of Banks's is likely to succeed in stealing on its route, the correspondent writes:

It is estimated by those who have the means of knowing, that at least two hundred thousand bales of cotton will come to this market out of the country recently occupied by our forces. This is a very large amount; but I see no reason why it should not be so. General Banks is determined to make the most of his conquest in every way, and I can see clearly that his campaign will far more than pay expenses. Louisiana is conquered; it is to all intents and purposes ours; and Jeff. Davis may make up his mind fully that such is the case, no matter how disagreeable the dose may be.

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The New York Republican Press on the arrest of Vallandigham.

Even the organs of Lincoln's own party condemn the course of the Government officials in the Vallandigham case. The Evening Post, one of the most radical of all the Republican journals of New York, says that dangerous fallacies run through the response of Gen. Burnside to the Circuit Court from which a writ of habeas corpus was asked, which ought to be exposed. It adds that no Governments and no authorities are to be held as above criticism; or even denunciation. It concludes by asking if Vallandigham may not question the justice or propriety of Burnside's orders, may the Evening Post, or a thousand other journals, venture to hint a doubt of the superhuman military abilities of Geo. Halleck?--We know it may be said that his motives are base and treasonable, while those of the others are loyal; but tribunals and commission cannot inquire into motives. Deeds are terrible, but not thoughts.

Speaking of Vallandigham, Greeley says his politics are as bad as bad can be, and if there were penalties for holding irrational, unpatriotic, and inhuman views with regard to political views, he would be one of the most flagrant offenders. He says "he agreed fully with Gen. Burnside that Vallandigham ought not to make such speeches as he does; that he ought to be ashamed of himself; but then he will make them and won't be ashamed — so what will you do about it?" "Send him to the Dry Tortugas," says the General, probably as a hint to him to "dry up." "Set him over into Dixle," the President is said to suggest as an alternative. But this is the worst joke Mr. Lincoln has yet made.

These articles are evidently not from any sympathy with Vallandigham, but from apprehension of the effect his treatment will produce in Ohio and elsewhere.

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Hooker's command.

The Herald's correspondent, writing from headquarters 11th army corps, says:

‘ Col. Jones, of the 154th New York, wounded and taken prisoner, arrived here this morning. He makes the following statements:

Jackson was wounded on Saturday evening by men of Col. Buschbeck's command. He desired to lead his men into action the next day; but Gen. Lee insisted upon relieving him from his command. The command was given to Gen. Stuart, who was execrated by the men for the recklessness with which he led them against artillery. Gen. Lee first heard of our retrograde movement when everything was safety across the river. An Alabama Colonel told Col. Jones that Lee was much chagrined when he heard of our safe retreat, and that he was expecting the arrival of Long street's forces.

’ Col. Jones overheard Gen. Lee, in conversation with one of his staff officers, pay a high compliment to the ability of Gen. Hooker.

The rebels have buried 17,340 dead from the recent battles, including, of course, many of ours. They claim to have taken 8,500 prisoners, besides the wounded.

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The imprisonment of Col. Talcott.

In alluding to the imprisonment of Colonel Talcott, who was some time ago arrested and thrown into Fort Lafayette, the World says:

‘ An old man who has but few years to live, and who during his past life has done nothing in violation of his duty and allegiance to his country, is lying in Fort Lafayette, arrested without warrant, imprisoned without trial, and now refused the opportunity to prove his innocence or even to allege his loyalty. With a damnable ingenuity the War Department contrives to outrage law in every conceivable way, and to trample daily upon some new rights of the citizen. The weak-headed men in Congress who strove to conceal the shame of the nation by arguing that the arbitrary arrests worked no great wrong because any State prisoner might get free by merely taking an oath of allegiance, now have not even that poor excuse. The War Department refuses to allow one of its prisoners to swear to his innocence or make oath of his allegiance.

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Miscellaneous.

The World, of the 18th, says there are rumors prevalent in Washington relative to a prospective change in the Cabinet, and some of them appear to come from reliable sources.

Lieut. Col. C. A. Hills, editor of the New Orleans Daily Era, has been placed under arrest for admitting into the columns of that paper an article reflecting upon the official character of the commanding General. T. G. Tracey, his assistant, was sent out of the department, and also the author of the seditious article — J. E. Noyes.