370 
MOORE S RORAL MEW-TORKER. 
that scene of dismay! Fancy its aggregate of woe 
from the description given by a witness of this awful 
drama. 
A most painful scene transpired at the sinking of 
the launch, In which were some sixty wounded men, 
and twenty or thirty members of the California First. 
The launch had been safely taken half way across 
the river, when, to their utter consternation, it was 
discovered that it was leaking, and the water gradu¬ 
ally, but surely, gaining upon them. The wounded 
were lying at the bottom of the launch — some shot 
in the head, others mangled by the tramp of cavalry, 
and others suffering intolerably from their various 
dislocations, wounds and injuries, and all soaking in 
water, which at the very start was fully four inches 
deep. As the water grew deeper and rose above the 
prostruted forms of the wounded, their coruradeH 
lifted them iuto sitting postures, fbat they might not 
be strangled by the fast rising water. But it is said 
that the groans and cries, screams and moaningB of 
the poor fellows who were thus tortured, were most 
distressing and indescribable. 
Despite all that could be done, the fate of the 
launch, and all that were in it, with the exception of 
a few expert swimmers, was sealed; suddenly and 
like a flash of lightning the rotten craft sank, carry¬ 
ing with it at least fifty dying, mangled, groaning 
b offerers, and some twenty or thirty others who had 
trusted their lives to its treacherous hold. The 
imagination revolts at the dreadful vision which 
rises before it; as were seen the vain attempts of the 
drowning to keep their aching heads above the level 
of the water; as the long Hubs of bleeding, crying 
men became a confused mass of gory bodies, strug¬ 
gling, the strongur with the weaker, for some place 
where for a little while yet they might be secure 
from the dreadful but impending fate; as the well, 
forgetting their brothers In their anxiety for self- 
preservation, rushed frantically from end to end of 
the launch, fearing to attempt the Bwimming of the 
river, while they added pain and misery by their 
thoughtless trampings, to their less fortunate com¬ 
panions who lay beneath their feet; and finally, as 
the launch, unable longer to maintain its place above 
the surface, sank; while the farewell cry, the feeble 
groan, the terror filled prayer, and the grateful 
expression of relief from pain, mingling, rose in 
one wild outcry, which terrified the hundreds who 
were swimming for their lives, and filled with sorrow 
and dismay the hearts of the survivors who Btood 
upon the friendly and not distant shore. 
Departim-nt of the West. 
Illinois. —An expedition left Cairo on the night 
of the 7th, under the command of Generals Grant 
and McOlernand, and landed at Belmont, Mo., three 
miles above Columbus, at. 8 o'clock next morning. 
Our forces consisted of the following regiments: 
22d Illinois, Col. Dougherty; 27th Illinois, CoL Bu¬ 
ford; 30th Illinois, Col. Fonlke; 31st Illinois, Col. 
Logan; 7th Iowa, Col. Daman; Taylor’s Chicago 
Artillery, and Delano’s Cavalry. They left Cairo on 
the steamers Alexander Scott, Chancellor, Memphis, 
Keystone State, accompanied by the gunboatH Lex- 
ington and Tyler. The land force was 3,500 men. 
After landing, the troops were formed in line of 
battle, Gen. MeClernand in command of the Cairo 
troops. Col. Dougherty commanded the Bird’s Point 
troops. They were encountered by the rebels 7,000 
strong, and fought every Inch of the way to the 
enemy’s camp, making »a<l havoc in their ranks. 
Col. Buford was the first to plant the Stars and 
Stripes in the enemy’s camp. Col. Dongherty’s 
regiment captured the rebel battery of twelve pieces, 
two of which they brought away. Col. Foulke's 
men Buffered greatly, as they were in front of the 
batteries before they were taken. After taking pos¬ 
session of the rebel camp and destroying the same, 
it was discovered that the rebels were crossing over 
from Kentucky for the purpose of attacking ns in 
the rear. The order was given to return to the boats, 
when our men were attacked by a re-enforcement of 
Beverai thousand from Columbus. Another severe 
engagement took place, in which our troops suffered 
severely. The gunboats rendered efficient service in 
covering the retreat, mowing down the rebels with 
grape, but killing bodio of our own men. 
Gen. Grant telegraphs from Cairo to headquarters 
at St. Louis, on the 0th Inst., that onr victory at 
Belmont, Mo., was complete. We captured 230 pris¬ 
oners and all of the rebel artillery, but were obliged 
to leave part of the guns behind for the want of 
horses to haul them. Some of the prisoners report 
that a large force was preparing to start to re¬ 
enforce Price, hut the attack will no doubt prevent 
it Our loss is about 250 in killed, wounded and 
missing. Belmont has been abandoned by the rebels. 
They have 150 prisoners, and acknowledge 35o killed, 
but w'onld not permit the Federal officers sent to 
Colnmbus with a flag of trace yesterday to visit the 
place to which they conveyed their dead. 
Missorui.—The removal of Major General Fremont 
having been decided upon, and the order to that 
effect having been received by him, on the 2d inst. 
he issued the following farewell order to the troops: 
Hkadquahtkks, Wkstkrn .Division, > 
SramoviKi.n, Mo. j 
Soldiers of the Missouri Army: — Agreeably to 
orders this day received, 1 take leave of you. Al¬ 
though our army has been of sudden growth, we 
have grown up together, and 1 have become familiar 
with the brave and generous spirits which you bring 
to the defence of your country, and which makes me 
anticipate for you a brilliant career. Continue as 
yon have begun, and give to my successor the same 
cordial and enthusiastic support with which yon 
have encouraged me. Emulate the splendid example 
which you have before you, and let me remain, as I 
am, proud of the noble army which I have thus far 
labored to hr!ng together. 
Soldiers, I regret to leave yon, Most sincerely I 
thank you for the regard and confidence yon have 
invariably shown to me, 1 shall not have the honor 
to lead you to the victory which yon are about to 
win, hut T shall claim to share with you in the joy of 
triumph, and trust always to be fraternally remem¬ 
bered by my companions in arms. 
J. C. Fkkmunt, Major General. 
Gen. Hunter, of the IT. 8. Army, succeeds General 
Fremont. On assuming the duties of the position, 
Gen. H. ppent the day in visiting the various camps, 
and examining into th%cneral condition of the army. 
fiiegel has been appointed commander at this post. 
The success of Governor Gamble, of Missouri, in 
obtaining the aid of the General Government for the 
defence and pacification of that State, has already 
been stated. The Intelligencer Buys:—The President 
has authorized the organization of the militia of 
Missouri, to be employed in defending the State 
against invasion, and suppressing the rebellion 
within its limits. The number of troops to be 
raised is not specified, but they are to be mustered 
into the State service — armed, equipped, clothed, 
and subsisted ani transported and paid by the gov¬ 
ernment. Gov. Gamble stipulates that there shall be 
but one Major General of the militia, and to secure 
unanimity of action, the General commanding the 
Department of the West becomes also the Major 
General of the [State Militia by the appointment of 
General Gamble to the position. As many Brigadier 
Generals are to be appointed as there are brigades 
of four regiments each, and the staff officers shall 
not be paid more than the same are allowed in the 
regular service, whatever be their rank under the 
State law, as the money to be disbursed in this ser¬ 
vice is the money of the general government. 
Department ot Ohio. 
The United States Army in Kentucky, under Gen. 
Sherman, are thus divided: Gen. Schocoff commands 
the Eastern, Gen. McCook the Central, and Gen. 
Crittenden the Western Division. 
Col. Burbridge has advanced to Woodbnry, the 
Central troops have advanced to Bacon Creek, and it 
is thought our troops, arc able to assume the defen¬ 
sive with all security. Col. Burbridge forced a pas¬ 
sage across Green River nt Woodbury, near the Bar¬ 
ren Co. line, attacked 300 rebel cavalry with portions 
of his command and Col. Jackson’s cavalry dis¬ 
mounted, and routed them completely, with an infe 
rior force, after u continuous march of sixty miles 
with nothing but a few crackers to eat. The enemy 
lost 50 men and all his camp equipage. 
Col. McHenry has been fortunate enongh to drive 
the rebels back near Morgantown, and Capt. Netler 
liaR killed sixty of them in a skirmish near thersame 
locality. All these victories have been accomplished 
without the lose of a single loyal man. The irnpor- 
tancc of these actions may be appreciated from the 
fact that Woodbnry is not more than twelve or fifteen 
miies from Bowling Green, Brown’s Lock being inter¬ 
mediate to the two places. 
Great numbers of the citizens of Kentucky who 
joined the rebels are now leaving their camps and 
returning to their homes, half starved, half clad, 
thoroughly disgusted, and wiser men. 
In the last Rural we gave telegrams relative to a 
skirmiali at 11 Wild Cat,” and from later intelligence 
it appears that about eleven o’clock on Monday 
morning four companies of the Thirty-third and part 
of Col. Wolford's cavalry regiment (not mounted, 
however,) were attacked by two or three regiments 
of rebel infantry with one battery of nrtWlery. Our 
men were intrenched upon a ridge which completely 
commands the only available pass toward Camp Dick 
RoliinBon, which it was the design of the rebels to 
reach, and they were allowed to come within seventy- 
five yards of the breastworks, when the Indiana boys 
sprang from their shelter, and poured their fire with 
unceasing vigor upon the foe for nearly two hours. 
There was little regularity in the engagement as 
far as tho rules of battle are concerned, for each 
Union soldier fonght as though tho fate of the day 
rested with him alone, and such bravery has rarely 
been recorded during this rebellion as was shown by 
the Indiana boys upon this occasion. The rebels 
too, fought like tigers, but the great disadvantage of 
approaching their opponents up hill, and under a 
steady lire from behind intrenchments, soon began to 
tell npon them, and they kept falling back at each 
volley, dragging their slain and wounded with them. 
Our loss is four killed and thirteen wounded as far as 
we can learn; but it is likely that more recent intel¬ 
ligence will show an increase of both. The loss of 
the rebels is variously estimated at from three hun¬ 
dred to six hundred. 
Department of Western Virginia. 
The following proclamation was issued at Rom¬ 
ney, Oct. 28tb, by Brigadier General Kelly, to the 
people of Hampshire county, Va., and the Upper 
Potomac : 
My object in addressing yon is to give you assu¬ 
rance that I come among you not for the purpose of' 
destroying you, hut. for your protection in all your 
rights, civil, social and political. 1 am here, backed 
by the forces of the United States, to protect you jn 
the rights of property *« well as person, so long as 
you are peaceful citizens and loyal to the Government 
of the United .States, the (lag which has so long and 
so well protected you, and under the folds of which 
you have lived long, happily and prosperously. But 
ir you attempt to carry on a guerrilla warfare against 
my troops, by attacking my wagon trains or messen¬ 
gers, or shooting my guards or pickets, you will be 
considered as enemies of your country, and treated 
accordingly. 1 shall put as few restrictions upon 
the ordinary business of the people a* possible, and 
will give as free ingress and egress to aud from 
Romney as the safety c.f my troops will admit. 
Citizens who have fled, under an erroneous belief 
that they would he imprisoned or killed, arc invited 
to return to their homeH and families, assured that 
they will be protected whenever they can give evi¬ 
dence that they will be loyal, peaceful and qniet 
citizens. Every reasonable facility will be given the 
people to seek a market on the railroad for their 
surplus produce, und to obtain supplies of merchan¬ 
dize, groceries, Ac, 
All persons who have taken up arms against the 
Government are hereby required to lay them down, 
return to their homes, and take an oath of allegiance 
to support the Government of the United States; by 
so doing, they will receive all the protection due to 
an American citizen. B. F. Kei.lv, 
Brigadier-General. 
A dispatch from Western Virginia, dated the 9th 
inst., says that Gen. Rosecrans and his command 
are in fine condition, and are prepared to receive 
the enemy at any quarter from which they may 
approach, and the commander is confident of success, 
The Cincinnati Commercial has advices from Gen. 
Rosecrans’ army up to 8 o’clock on the morning of 
the 5th inst. 
The rebel batteries command, from the west side 
of the river, the road on the cast side used by Gen. 
Rosecrans’ supply trains from the Kanawha Falls, 
which is a mile and a half below the junction of the 
Gauley and New rivers, to Gen. Rosecrans' headquar¬ 
ters at Tompkins Farm, on New River, five miles 
above the junction. The snpply trains of onr army, 
therefore, have been discontinued during the day, 
and are now used only at night. The rebels had 
three batteries, of two guns each, opposite Tompkins 
Farm, one opposite the Gauley, and one opposite the 
Kanawha Falls—the latter being the most dangerous. 
The firing was very sharp on Wednesday morning, 
but slow in the afternoon, and it is supposed that 
the rebels are short of ammunition. Our artillery 
replied, and silenced the batteries opposite the mouth 
of tho Gauley. Two ol' our men and several horses 
were wounded by shells on Monday morning. 
Nothing definite is known of the strength of the 
rebels, but their operations indicate desperation or 
great confidence. 
Monday evening Gen. Benham's brigade was two 
miles below Gauley, and it is believed to have crossed 
the river during the night. A steamboat was de¬ 
tained at that point for transportation across the 
river. The troops were ordered to prepare four days’ 
rations and be ready to move. 
Gen. Rosecrans has just received a battery of ten 
T’arrot 10-pounders, , 
The telegraph this (Tuesday) morning brings intel¬ 
ligence of an attack upon Guvaudotte, Va.”—a town 
upon the Ohio River, 36 miles below Gallipoli*, 
Ohio,—by 800 rebels under the notorious CoL Jenk¬ 
ins. About 150 Federal troops were quartered there, 
of which 8 were killed, and a considerable number 
wounded and taken prisoners. Col. Siegler’s 5th 
Virginia regiment were ordered forward, and when 
they arrived the town was foimd deserted, although 
evidences were plenty that the rebels bad calculated 
upon a good time, a bountiful supper being in course 
of preparation, which they did not find time to eat. 
Col. ft. fired the town and returned to his post 
Department of the Kast. 
Gen. McClellan has been recently occupied in 
ascertaining the strength and disposition of the 
army of the United States, the command of which 
has so suddenly devolved upon him. He has called 
npon the War Department for a statement of the 
whole number of men, and where posted, and the 
total estimate of material on hand, and how distrib¬ 
uted. Fie will be occupied several days in systema¬ 
tizing and arranging these matters, so lhatthe bur¬ 
den of the management of military affairs may be 
safely confided to the Adjutant-General's office, and 
afford the General an opportunity to devote his atten¬ 
tion especially to the affairs of the army of the 
Potomac remaining under bis command. 
Major Doubleday, one of the heroes of Fort Sump¬ 
ter, has been assigned to duty as Assistant to Brig.- 
Gen. Barry, Chief of Artillery, and will have special 
charge of the armament and fortifications on the 
Virginia side of the Potomac. 
Tho movements of the rebels on the Lower Poto¬ 
mac are apparently mysterious. Ten days ago they 
were busily euguged increasing their forceR in the 
vicinity of Shipping Point and Evansport. For the 
last few dayK they have been remarkably qniet in that 
locality. Not a gun has been fired from their batter¬ 
ies. Their blockade of the Potomac is not so com¬ 
plete as these batteries might render it, as vessels 
are nightly running the gantlet of their guns with 
impunity. 
Secretary Welles received a dispatch at 2 o’clock 
A. M. ( on the 8th inst., from Commodore Craven, of 
the Potomac flotilla, stating that the rebel* at und 
below Shipping Point were moving, apparently going 
southward. Gen. McClellan received aimilur inform- 
ation^ 
The steamer Belvidere, one of the expedition, 
laden with horses and stores, returned to Old Point 
on Monday, the 4th inst., and reported that she was 
separated from the fleet in the storm of Friday, and 
a portion of her upper works stove in, — in fact so 
roughly handled as to be compelled to return. 
Twelve of the horses were killed. 
No less than seventy-nine contrabands arrived at 
the Fortress and fleet on Monday. They report that 
many of the troops had been withdrawn from Great 
Bethel, Yorktown, and the vicinity of Norfolk, bnt 
do not know where they have gone. They were 
picked up in boata and canoes. One boat bad 
twenty-four In it. They were from Northumberland 
and Lancaster counties. They escaped to the Cam¬ 
bridge, which with the Rescue, is doing blockade 
duty on that river, and they represent that the entire 
negro population in that part of Virginia are on the 
move. 
The steamer ft. R. SpanldiDg returned from Hat- 
teras Inlet, on the 5th inst., bringing Col. Hawkins, 
who proceeded to Washington on business connected 
with his post. The storm at llatteras Inlet was very- 
severe, and the recent high tides have completely 
overflowed the space outside the forts, and as a new 
channel is forming between the forts, it is appre¬ 
hended they may become untenable. About a quar 
ter of the much needed clothing of the 20th Indiana 
regiment had been lauded from the ft. R. Spaulding 
on Friday night, when the gale came on with tremen¬ 
dous severity, and it was washed away, ftmne other 
stores were also landed and lost. Ten days rations 
for the post were safely landed, but the Spaulding 
brings back the greater part of her cargo. 
Five rebel steamers came near the inlet, but retired 
after tiring a couple of shots. 
The telegraph this (Monday) morning says the 
report that Gen. Beauregard has been relieved frqm 
his command of the rebels on the Potomac, seems to 
be well founded. A letter just received in Washing¬ 
ton from Richmond states that a strong effort had for 
some days been made on the part of the people of 
Booth Carolina and Georgia, to induce .Tell'. Davis to 
detail Beauregard to command the fortifications at 
Bull’s Bay or Fort Royal, in the event that the fleet 
should attempt a landing at either of these points. 
The letter states that the general belief was that the 
fleet was destined to Beaufort, and that a pretty large 
force had been dispatched from the Potomac to 
defend that point. 
The following is the official announcement to the 
army of the retirement of General Scott, and the 
assumption of the command by General McClellan: 
War Department, Aujctant Gwnkuai.’s Officb. } 
Wash i no tun, November 1, 1801. 5 
The following, from the President of the United 
States, announcing the retirement from active com¬ 
mand of the honored veteran, Lieutenant-General 
Winfield Roott, will be read by the army with, pro¬ 
found regret: 
Executive Mansion, Wakhinoton, Nov. 1,1801. 
On the 1st day of November, A. D., 1861, upon liis 
own application to the President of the United States, 
Brevet I.ieut.-Gcn. Winfield Scott is ordered to be 
placed upon the list of retired officers of the Army 
of the U. S., without redaction in his current pay, 
subsistence or allowance.-,. The American people 
will hear with sadness and deep emotion that Gen. 
Scott has withdrawn from tho active control of the 
army, while the President, and a unanimous Cabinet 
express their own and the nation’s sympathy in his 
personal afllietion, and their profound 6ense of the 
important public services rendered by him to his 
country during his long and brilliant career, among 
which will ever be gratefully distinguished bis faith¬ 
ful devotion to the Constitution, the Union, and the 
flag, when assailed by parricidal rebellion. 
Abraham Lincoln. 
The President is pleased to direct that Major-Gen, 
George B. McClellan will assume the command of the 
army. The headquarters of the army will be estab¬ 
lished iu the City of Washington. Communications 
intended for the Commanding General, will hereafter 
be addressed direct to the Adjutant-General. The 
duplicate returns, orders and other papers heretofore 
sent to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters 
of the Army, will be discontinued, 
L. Thomas, Adjutant-General. 
The storeship Nightingale arrived at New York on 
the 9th from Passes off Now Orleans; has on hoard 
the cargoes of five schooners captured by the steamer 
South Carolina, including two cargoes of munitions 
of war; also an immense quantity of powder and 
10,000 stand of urms. 
An official dispatch from Chintoheague Inlet, Vir¬ 
ginia, shows that the United States steamer Louisiana 
has been actively at work. A party from that vessel, 
with five volunteers from the Island, went on an 
expedition, und proceeding np the creek a mile or 
more, they found and destroyed by fire one schooner 
and two sloops. 1 he party left the Louisiana in three 
boats at 10 o’clock on the night of the 27th of Octo¬ 
ber, and returned at 10 o'clock the next morning — 
all well. The whole affair seems to have been con¬ 
ducted with so much georecy and discretion that the 
enemy, said to be about three hundred strong in and 
about the town, was unconscious of the presence of 
our expedition. 
Affairs at Washington. 
The new minister resident from Sweden and 
Norway, Edward Count Piper, was presented to the 
President on the 8th inst., by the Secretary of State. 
He addressed the President as follows: 
Mu. President: —The King, my august soveriegn, 
having vouchsafed to name me as his minister resi 
dent near the government of the United States, I 
have the honor to deliver letters which accredit me 
near yon, Mr. President, in such capacity. The 
King, my sovereign, having sincerely at heart the 
desire of maintaining the good relations which have 
at all limes subsisted between his Kingdom and the 
American Union, has ordered me to become near 
you the organ of the sentiments of friendship which 
"animates hi* Majesty, and of expressing the value 
which his Majesty attaches to cultivMtingand cement¬ 
ing still more relations ho happily existing between 
the two government*. Upon my heart, Mr. Presi¬ 
dent, I shall be happy if, during the period of my 
mission, I maybe enabled to maintain and strengthen 
the bonds of perfect understanding, which at all 
times, to the profit of international interest*, have so 
happily united the two governments, and I shall not 
fail, believe me, Mr. President, to give my entire zeal 
to contribute thereto. 
To which the President replied: —Sir:— I receive 
with great pleasure a minister from Sweden. That 
pleasure is enhanced by the information which pre¬ 
ceded your arrival here, that his Majesty, your sov¬ 
ereign, had (-elected yon to fill the mission upon 
grounds of your derivation from an anceBtral stock, 
identified with tho most glorious era in your coun¬ 
try's nOble history, and your own eminent,"social and 
political standing in Sweden. This country, sir, 
maintains, and means to maintain, the right* of 
human nature and the capacity of man for self gov¬ 
ernment. The history of Sweden proves that this te 
the faith of the people of Sweden, as we know that 
it )b the faith and practice of their respected eover 
clgn. Rest assured, therefore, that we shall be 
found always just and fraternal in our transactions 
with your government, and that nothing will he 
omitted on rny part to make your residence in this 
capital agreeatile to yourself and satisfactory- to your 
government. 
At 11 o’clock A, M., on the 4th inst., a fire broke 
out. in the lower story of the General Hospital, on 
Judiciary Square, originating from a furnace. The 
combustible part of the main building and of the 
right wing, together with the roof, were destroyed. 
When the flames were first discovered, preparations 
were made for the removal of the sick and wounded 
soldiers, about 50 in number. This was effected in 
good order and safety to the patients, who arc now 
comfortably cured for in the neighboring City Hall 
and other buildings in the immediate vicinity. Most 
of the chamber furniture was saved. 
• 
Gov. Gamble has arranged with the Government 
that the United States shall arm, equip, clothe, and 
transport and pay the Missouri State Militia, who 
volunteer for service within the State, or in its imme¬ 
diate defence during the war. Details of plan secure 
unity of action between the State and U. 8. A., and 
safety in disbursing money. 
Several clerks at. the Treasury Department are 
engaged in a search for historical precedent on the 
question of the right of the Government to re-open 
particular ports during the period of a blockade of 
its own coast. This circumstance is regarded as an 
indication of the probable intention of the Govern¬ 
ment in reference to the South. 
Government lias contracted with parties in Phila¬ 
delphia for the construction of an iron-clad steam 
frigate, and the laying of the keel has been com¬ 
menced at Kensington. The vessel will be 240 feet 
long, 58 feet beam, and 30 feet depth of bold, and 
her armament is to consist of 16 of the largest rifled 
cannon. 
By orders of the War Department, the Provost 
Marshall of Alexandria has been directed to suspend 
the service of the civil functions he has recently per¬ 
formed, and to dismiss all the civil cases of which 
he has taken cognizance. 
The President has recognized Camile Martin as 
Vice Consul of Spain in San Francisco, and Godfrey 
Suybuoker as Consul from the Principality of Schum- 
burg. Jacob M. Howard, of Michigan, has been 
appointed Minister resident at Honduras. Thoma* 
Sparks, of Baltimore, now of Washington city, has 
been appointed Consul to ftt. Johns, N. B. 
A highly intelligent and trustworthy gentleman, 
who has been on duty in connection with the block¬ 
ading squadron off Charleston, asBnrca the President 
that since five weeks ago, w ben Captain Marston took 
command of the station, it is absolutely certain that 
no vessel has put to sea directly from that harbor. 
Through the narrow channels leading along the 
south islands to Savannah, and even to points on the 
coast of Florida, small craft, such as schooners of 
light draft and sloops, may have made their way Otit; 
the watch of these passages is not carried on by the 
orders of the squadron, and would in fact be beyond 
its power. 
The following is the report of the United States 
Sanitary Commission to the Secretary of State, npon 
the condition of the prisoners in the forts at New 
York: 
Naw York, October 31. 
Sir: With your permission 1 visited the prisoner 
of war and of State, on (lovernor’a Island, on Mon¬ 
day last.. I should have extended my visit to Fort 
Lafayette and Ellis to]and, where a small portion 
were placed, had 1 not heard that they were all to be 
removed next day to Boston Harbor. I suppose, 
however, that none of the prisoners could tie badly 
off, if those crowded in the easements of Fort Wil¬ 
liam were not, and therefore the report of the condi¬ 
tion in which I found them may property serve as 
sufficient reply to complaints which have appeared 
In New York papers, No doubt the circumstances 
under which these men were brought to Governor’s 
Island made their condition fora week or two very 
trying, and almost inhuman. Ill clothed, already 
sick from the voyage and previous exposure, they 
were suddenly precipitated upon a post not prepared 
to receive them, where there was neither adequate 
warm clothing, nor medical force. But these 
unavoidable deficiences were supplied with all the 
expedition possible. All alacrity was shown, It. 
appears, by the commandant, his surgeon, and other 
officers, to meet the case. 
In ft very short time, bedding, blankets, and suffi¬ 
cient food, aud suitable medical attention was fur¬ 
nished to all. As I saw them they were in better 
condition in all respects than half onr own men in the 
field. Not crowded as most soldiers in the tents, 
abundant food, with as good blankets, and more 
devoted medical attendance. Nothing to complain 
of except the unavoidable fact that the casements, 
although here quite roomy, furnish very poor venti¬ 
lation. and are in no case comfortable quarters. The 
men complain of nothing, although I gave them 
ample opportunity to do so, except the loss of liberty. 
They speak kindly of their physicians aud officers in 
command. The climate seems to he their chief 
objection to this region. It went sore with them to 
lie sent still further north; they wanted to stay where 
they had made friends, knew their prison and 
keepers, and where they were nearer to sympathisers 
and home. The casements were singularly clean. 
I purposely went unannounced and found the floors 
bright ana sweet. Every man had his own bed and 
adequate blankets. 
In addition to Government supplies, the State of 
North Uaroliua had been permitted to send some 
comforts to the prisoners, and disinterested beueii 
cencersin Now York had done something more. I 
could really find no rerun to add anything from the 
stores of the Sanitary Commissioners. Hospital 
stores weie humanely and tenderly administered by 
Surgeon fcwam and Assistant Surgeon Peters. The 
sick men looked perfectly comfortable in the Hospi¬ 
tal. Medicines of the best kind, and limited quanti¬ 
ties ol' necessaay stimulants, were supplied to the 
sick. Several very desperate cases of typhoid had 
M>¥. 16. 
been saved by the assiduity of the physicians. Low 
spirits of all the prisoners of course was highly 
unfavorable to cotivalesence, and doubtless the sick 
list and bill of mortality—seventeen had died—were 
both larger than they would have heen had not neu¬ 
ralgia prevailed. Men were not usually known 
either to wash or to exercise. They had to be driven 
to both. Pains were taken to compel them to be in 
the open air several honrs each day. They were 
not confined within narrow bounds, bnt had many 
acre- for play ground. The Snrgeon told urn he had 
seen only one tooth brush in use among the rank and 
file. They were evidently careless in their personal 
habits. I he officers were perfectly comfortable for 
provisions, and complained of nothing. 
I saw, on the whole, abnndant evidence of the 
unreasonableness of the comptoints made of the 
treatment of those men. It would be a source of 
great consolation to believe that our prisoners were 
treated half as well. Very respectfully yours, 
Henry W. Bellows, 
President, of the U. 8. Sanitary Commission. 
To Hon. W. H. Skwakd, Sec’y of State. 
The following important notice has been issued 
from the Pension Bereau: * 
Pension Office, Nov. 2, 1861. 
>'|R:—The application for bounty land, forwarded 
by you in behalf of a soldier of the present war, is 
herewith returned to your address." A sufficient 
number of similar unfounded claims have been 
presented to require special attention on my part. 
Both to pvevent imposition upon soldiers who may 
be misled into the assertion of such a claim, and to 
“aTt this office much melcss labor, T have to inform 
yon that no paper of this character will he placed 
upon our files, or in any manner entertained. 
There is no law granting bounty land for any ser¬ 
vice rendered subsequently to March 3, 1855, nor 
will any application be treated as valid, under a future 
act of Congress, if made before the dato of the 
approval of such act by the Executive. Respectfully 
y°WB, JOBErB II. Barret, 
. Commiaaioner. 
The unavailable bullion fund ia $902,000. The 
total balance to the credit of the U. S. Treasnry in 
the States now under insurrectionary control, ia 
stated at $6,500,000, and alter making a deduction 
for the unavailable, gives ‘the available balance at 
$4,600,000. 
The Department, last week, was paying with the 
greatest possible expedition the accounts from the 
Army and Navy — these being considered the most 
urgent and important. Other accounts are necessa¬ 
rily suspended until that branch shall be completed. 
The exchange of prisoners is likely to be accom¬ 
plished on satisfactory conditions. The government 
is now engaged jn discussing the mode. Lieutenant 
Kurtz, of the Federal army, who has been released 
from Richmond on parole, in order to urge npon Bfe 
government tho expediency of making exchanges, 
expresses great confidence in the success of his mis¬ 
sion. 
The government has decided to hold the position 
now occupied at llatteras. Re-enforcements will 
probably be sent at once, including the regiment to 
replace the Indiana troops, who have suffered severely. 
To save unnecessary disappointment, it is proper 
to state that the subject of applications for passes to 
go South in order to save property from confiscation, 
has been under consideration by the government, and 
that such passes cannot be granted. 
Under all circumstances, the late action at Belmont 
is considered in a high degree creditable to onr 
troops concerned in it, and great credit for the bril¬ 
liant movement is due to Gen. Grant. 
An extraordinary Cabinet meeting was held Satur¬ 
day night, at which Gen. McClellan was present 
All the Northern Governors have by letter or mes¬ 
senger responoeo to the recent circular oi the SOere* 
tary of State, promising to see to the thorough forti¬ 
fication of our sea arid lake coasts. 
The news from Europe at the State Department is 
understood to be eminently satisfactory. Official 
dispatches corroborate the impression given by the 
telegraphic reports already published in the papers. 
Official communications from loyal citizens of the 
United States, residing iu Baris aud London, say that 
Prince Napoleon has cast off all reserve and declared 
that the insurrection cannot prevail, and our letters 
say that secession ia dead in France, or at least, that 
it gives no signs of life. 
The Great Nnvnl Expedition. 
For some days rumors concerning the destina¬ 
tion of the Expedition have been very plenty, and a 
half-dozen or more of the hot-beds of secession have 
in turn been invadod by the vivid fancies of sensa¬ 
tion creators. The fact is, we have to depend upon 
the South‘for the first intelligence,—if this was dis¬ 
astrous, we would hear of it as soon aB it occurred; 
if successful, it would be kept as quiet as possible, 
for our eytmy is not given to the chronicling of his 
own defeats. That great humbug, Hollins, sent his 
gasconade all over the country the day after his 
guerrilla affair below New Orleans—and the rebel 
Anderson at Santa Rosa blazoned a victory (another 
such, we are inclined to think, he does not covet,) 
through the length and breadth of the land a few 
hours after he had taken his thrashing. What we 
now receive comes by either Norfolk, Va., or Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn., and we think there is sufficient founda¬ 
tion on which to build a reasonable hope for a large 
measure of success. 
The flag of truce from Fortress Monroe to Norfolk 
failed to elicit any news from the rebel officers, but 
the wheelman told the sailors that Beanfort was in 
the possession of the Federate, and the National llag 
was flying upon the Court House. From the same 
source we have a rumor that the railroad above 
Beaufort has fallen into the possession of onr troops, 
with an immense quantity of stores. 
Five deserters who reached Newport News, state 
that the rebels tip James River are in consternation, 
and also bring the improbable rumor that our troops 
had advanced up the railroad as far as Charleston. 
Memphis papers received at Cairo on the 11 lb inst., 
contain dispatches from Savannah, fully confirming 
the landing of the Naval Expedition at Beanfort, and 
the capture of three forts, Port Royal, Hilton Head, 
and Bay Point. The United fttutes forces had pos¬ 
session of the town of Beaufort. The rebels acknow¬ 
ledge their loss very large. 
Capt. Dowell, of the 20th Indiana Regiment, from 
Hatteras Inlet, who has just arrived at Fortress Mon¬ 
roe, by the steamer 8. U. Spaulding, states that the 
day previous to the departure of the steamer, a man 
was observed paddling across in a small canoe from 
main land to the peninsula, and as booh as he 
reached Bhore proceeded to the quarters of the 20th 
Indiana Regiment, and stated that the people of 
North Carolina had received tidings of the great 
naval expedition; that it succeeded in effecting a 
landing at the ports of Port Royal and Beaufort. At 
the first named place they bad experienced no diffi¬ 
culty in landing, as there was but a Email settlement 
on the coast; but at Beaufort a considerable fight 
took place, which lasted for nearly two days. The 
man stated that he was not a deserter from the rebel 
ranks, for be would not join them, being a Union 
man in heart and principle. He seemed to be very 
intelligent, and his only object in making a visit was 
to communicate to Federate the success of the expe¬ 
dition. He remained in the place till the Spaulding 
made her departure. 
