Additional from the North.
In addition to the Northern news published by telegraph yesterday, we make up a summary from New York files, of Wednesday and Thursday last:Butler's views on the refusal of the Confederates to continue the Exchange of prisoners.
A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing from Fortress Monroe, December 29th, is very indignant at the action of the Confederate Government in refusing to continue the exchange of prisoners in accordance with the wishes of the Yankee Government. The correspondent says: ‘ I have conversed with Gen. Butler on these matters. He tells me that the rebel Commissioner of Exchange, Mr. Ould, insists that unless the United States give up all claims which they have made in behalf of their own soldiers who are prisoners of war, consent to sacrifice the colored soldiers, pass over their officers for punishment under a special law made for their punishment by the rebel Congress, and employ another Commissioner of Exchange to represent the United States, no exchange can be effected. This, you see, is pretty much as I have stated it on the authority of other sources. The General thinks that there is but one way to meet this new state of things, and that is by the sternest retaliate on. He secured at the threat hold out in Jefferson Davis's proclamation against himself and his officers, and declared that if a hair on the head of one of his officers or soldiers be injured, except in just warfare, the day that is done shall be a day of sorrow and mourning for a men included in the so called "Confederate States of America." He pronounced the interruption of the exchange on Sunday, by the Richmond Cabt net, a fetch. He now thinks that our Government, having exhausted every form of appeal to the rebel Government to exchange prisoners whom they cannot save from starvation — a state of things which all writers on the usages and laws of nations declare to be just grounds for the men so held by an enemy to be liberated — there is nothing left to the United States but to authorize that a sufficient number of rebel officers be placed under such keeping and be put upon such diet as shall in all respects correspond to the treatment, as to clothing, food and fuel, that our wretched men receive in the stench houses of the rebel capital. I did not think the General in any degree excited, but he was emphatic in all that he said in regard to retaliation; and I think he but interests in all this nothing more than the common feeling of the whole army. ’ It is evident that he thinks the time auspicious for an appeal to the nation; for, as he reasons, the country having now exhausted negotiations, conciliation, and offers of pardon, it is time to call upon the loyal North for volunteers to relieve the national prisoners confined at Richmond; "and there can be," he added, "sir, no occasion for bounty or other inducements to fill up our armies." "Why," he remarked, "the relies could have done no better thing to units the North, to revive anew the spirit evoked throughout the nation to the point at which it stood upon the receipt of the intelligence of the attack on Fort Sumter." And I believe all this to be true; and further, that no man, loyal or disloyal, would dare to raise his voice in opposition to such an appeal for succer for the national prisoners.Gen. John N. Morgan's escape.
A dispatch from Chattanooga gives the following particulars about Morgan's escape: ‘ The bold bandit whose hair mildewed in the Columbus penitentiary during the latter part of the summer and through the autumn, has at last reached a place of safety within the rebel lines. He crossed the Tennessee river at White Creek Shoals, sixty miles above here, last Sunday morning. Staunch friends have aided him all the way from the prison door in Ohio. Reaching the foot of the Cumberland Mountain, eight miles from the mouth of White Creek, he impressed all the inhabitants, seized such tools as he needed, and proceeded with his escort of forty men to the bank of the Tennessee, one mile below Gillespie's Landing, taking care that none of the citizens who saw him should escape to give the alarm to the Un on videttes at Kingston. An old man who had been seized managed to elude the vigilance of John's guards, and traveled on foot to Gillespie with the exciting intelligence. Infantry being the only available troops at Gillespie, they were buried, off to White Creek Shoals, with a view to intercept the guerilla chief, but they arrived a few moments too late. Morgan himself, mounted on a five-thousand- dollar stallion, presented him in Kentucky, and accompanied by one mounted man of his escort, dashed away just as the panting foot soldiers came in sight.--Two of his Captains — Robert and Wm. Cummings, of Lexington, Ky.--were not so successful, and were taken, together with fifteen of the rebel troopers who had lost their horses in the stream.--Intelligence was sent to Gen. Howard, at Athens, who attempted to arrest the bold johnny, but without success. A male cousin of Abraham Lincoln's, who resides near White Creek Shoals, was active in assisting the flying chief. Morgan will undoubtedly have some important cavalry command, although I do not see at present where his troopers are to come from unless he supercedes Forrest. ’Capture of a supply train by Wheeler's cavalry.
The following is an official dispatch from Gen. Thomas to the War Department at Washington: Col. Long, of the 4th Ohio cavalry, commanding the second division of cavalry, reports from Calhoun. Tenn., December 23, that the rebel General Wheeler, with one thousand two hundred or one thousand five hundred cavalry and mounted infantry, attacked Col. Liebert and captured a supply train from Chattanooga for Knoxville about 10 o'clock this morning, at Charleston, on the south bank of the Hiawasse. The train escort had reached the encampment at Charleston last night. and Col. Liebert's skirmishers were wholly engaged with the enemy this morning before Col. Long was apprised of their approach. He immediately moved the small force for duty in his camp (at the time one hundred and fifty men,) and crossed to Col. Liebert's support.--The rebels shortly afterwards gave way, Col. Long pursuing them closely. Discovering a portion of their force cut off on the right, he charged them with sabres, completely demolishing and scattering them in great confusion and in every direction. Several of the enemy, number not known, were killed and wounded.--One hundred and twenty-one prisoners were captured, including five commissioned officers. The main rebel column fled, and was pursued for five miles on the Dalton road, and when last seen was fleeing precipitately. Colonel Long's loss was one man slightly wounded. The officer in command of the Courier Station at Cleveland also reports that he was attacked early this morning, December 26th, by a force of one hundred rebels. He drove them away.Reported "rebel" operations in the Valley.
The Northern papers contain the following intelligence relative to alleged Confederate movements in the Valley of Virginia: General Sullivan's column has returned safely, bringing in one hundred prisoners, about one hundred horses, equipments, &c. My different columns are all now safely back.--They have captured in all over four hundred prisoners and a large amount of property. My plans and others have been promptly and faithfully executed, with a single exception, and with but a small loss on our part. B. F. Kelly, Brig.-Gen.
Cumberland, Md., Dec. 30, 1863.
--Gen. Kelly has received information from Gen. Sullivan--the latter getting it from nine deserters just from the Shenandoah Valley--that the rebel Gen. Early, with nine thousand men, is between Newmarket and Mount Jackson. Gen. Rosser has also seven hundred rebel troops, and Gen. Imboden fifteen hundred men.
There is great dissatisfaction among the rebels, and the deserters heard of the President's proclamation, &c., with surprise, and hastened to come in. They declare that if the proclamation could be distributed freely among the rebel troops thousands would at once come into our lines.
They say the proclamation is kept from the men, although the officers have received it.
Gen. Kelly is anxious that Gen. Early should extend his march towards Harper's Ferry or Martinsburg, as Gen Kelly has made full preparations to give him a suitable reception.
