ml |jtcHr-%rlicr. 
NBW9 DEPARTMENT. 
mi 
“ IIeavkn’8 blessings upon itf Its stars never shone 
With a luster so pure and bo warm; 
J.ikfi a beacon’s calm my, pointing nnt the safe way, 
They gleam through this gathering storm. 
Their heart cheering light led our fathers aright 
Through all the dark perils they knew; 
The same magic glow shall lead U8 to the foe, 
And guidn ns to Victory, tool” 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., DECEMBER 7, 1861. 
THE WAR’S PROGRESS. 
FACTS, SOENBS, INCIDENTS, IT/ro. 
Cruise of llio San Jacinto. 
The correspondence of the Boston Traveller, 
concerning the cruise of the San Jacinto, and the 
capture of the rebel commissioners Slidell and 
Mason, is very interesting, and we quote us follows: 
0. S. Htkamkr San Jacinto, Nov. 20, 1801. 
The "San Jacinto,” a lirst dims scrow steam sloop, 
monnting 15 guns, lately attached to the United 
States African Squadron, under the command of 
Flag Officer Wm. Toman, left St. Paul <le Loaodo on 
the 10th of August last, on her return to the United 
States, in the temporary command of Lieut. D. M. 
Fairfax, U. S. N., who was ordered to await at Fer¬ 
nando Po the arrival of Captain Charles Wilkes, 
U. S. N. On tlio 20th of August, Captain Wilkea 
took command of this ship, Lieut. Fairfax returning 
to his former position ns executive officer. 
* * * On our arrival at Cienfnegoa, we learned 
that the Theodora had run the blockade at Charles¬ 
ton and arrived at Havana, after landing the Con¬ 
federate Commissioners, Messrs. Mason and Slidell, 
with their Secretaries, Messrs. Fust is and McFarland, 
and the families of Mr. Slidell and Mr. Eustis at 
Cardenas, and that they would proceed overland to 
Havana. As soon as Capt Wilkes hfeard of it he 
determined to pursue the Theodora and intercept her 
return to Charleston. He took, therefore, sufficient 
coal to go on a short cruise, and left Clenfuegos on 
the 26th of October, arrived nt Havana on the 28th, 
and learned that the Theodora had departed on her 
return to Charleston, after being well received by the 
authorities of Havana. 
Messrs. Slidell, Mason, and suite, were still at 
Havana, boarding at the Hotel Cubana. * * * 
One of our officers visited the hotel with Home friends, 
and met Mr. Mason in the parlor. Wo learned from 
our Consul General that the Confederate Commis¬ 
sioners were waited upon hy H. II. M. Consul, Mr. 
Crawford, In full dress, and officially introduced by 
him to Captain General Serrano, of Cuba. When 
Capt. Wilkes beard of their intention to take pas- 
In the British packet for Europe, bo conceived 
the bold plan to Intercept, the British mail steamer, 
and in the event of those four persona being on 
board, to take them prisoners. Wo filled up with 
coal in great haste, took in provisions, (as a part of 
our daily rations for tho crow were exhausted,) and 
left Havana on the 2d Inst. 
* * * Ou the morning of the 5th wo left Key 
West, and running to the north si to of the island of 
Cuba, touched at. Sagua la Grande, for the purpose of 
telegraphing to our Consul General at Havana, Mr. 
Schufelt, to Inform us of the time of the British mail 
Bteumer's departure from Havana, but received no 
Information, From thence we steered for the Old 
Bahama Channel, abont 20 miles east of the north 
aide of Cuba, 2 iO mi lea from Havana, and about 10 
from the light house of 1’uredou del Grande. The 
channel contracts there to the width of 15 miles, and 
we could not very well miss the object of our search. 
There we laid off and on, during the night of the Tib, 
all our battery loaded, and tho bulwarks around tho 
pivot gun on tho forecastle removed. Capt. Wilkes 
issued an order to IJeut. D. M. Fairfax, to have two 
boats ready manned and armed to board the British 
packet as soon as she should be hove to under our 
guns, and in the event of Messrs. Mason, Slidell, 
Eustis, and McFarland being on board of her, to 
make them prisoners, and send them immediately on 
board the Han Jacinto, and also to offer, in Ids name, 
to their families, his cabin, in tho event they should 
determine to take a passage to the United States in 
the San Jacinto, assuring them that all the attention 
and comforts we could oommaud would bo placed at 
their service, and closed the order with the following 
remark: “I trust that all those under your com¬ 
mand, in executing this important, and delicate duty, 
will conduct themselves with all the delicacy and 
kindness which becomes our naval service.” 
Iu accordance with this order, Lieut. Fairfax had 
the second and third cutters of the ship manned, 
armed, and kept in readiness, he having tho command 
of the enterprise. * * * On the morning ofibe 8th, 
the officers and crew of the ship were anxiously and 
impatiently looking out for the mail steamer. About 
11.40 the look-out at the mast head reported a smoke 
as from a steamer from the westward, and about 12 
M. she waB visible from the deck. We were all 
ready for her, beat to quarters, and as soon as she 
was within reach of our guns, every gun of our star¬ 
board battery was trained upon her. A shot from 
our pivot gun was fired across her bow. She hoisted 
English colors, but showed no disposition to slacken 
her speed or heave to. We hoisted the "Star Span¬ 
gled Banner,” and as soon as she was close upon us 
fired a shell across her bow, which brought her to. 
Our Captain bailed' her and said he would send a boat 
on board, and ordered Lieut. Fairfax to board lier; 
be went in the second cutter; at the same time Limit, 
Greer was all ready in the third cutter to shove from 
the port side should his assistance be required. 
On coming along side the packet, Lieut. Fairfax 
ordered the other officers to remain in the boat with 
the crew until force should become necessary, and 
went on board alone. The Captain of the mail 
steamer refused to show his papers and passenger 
list, knowing very well tho object of our visit and the 
character ntn] mission of the four gentlemen above 
named. But Mr. Mason being recognized, a part of 
the armed crew was ordered from the boat, uud eayie 
on board. Messrs. Mason and blidell were then 
invited to come on board the San Jacinto, but de¬ 
clined, and said that they would only yield by force, 
'•*- : :^ 
' : •• - 
teh*-V V- : 
Wm ' 
/.f ■-■■■■ 
II RIG-AD IK R - CrF.N K HAL T. \V. SHERMAN. 
We take pleasure in placing before our readers the 
portrait of Brig.-Oen. Hiikum an, commanding the 
land forces on the recent expedition for tho capture 
of Beaufort, Sooth Carolina. Gen. Siikrjh an entered 
tho military service from Rhode Island, and graduated 
in 1830. He was appointed second lieutenant 
in the 3d artillery July 1, 18IIG ; assistant commis¬ 
sary of subsistence In March, 1837; first lieutenant 
of artillery in March, 1838; captain in May, 184(1; and 
brevet major in May, 1818, for "gallant and merito¬ 
rious aervlces at the battle of Buena Vista,” on the 
23d of February, 1817. Gardner's Military Dictionary 
says that he was distinguished by bis prudence and 
Slidell ranking the remark that "it would require 
considerable force to take liim on board t,ho Sau 
Jacinto.” Lieut. Fairfax then ordered Mr, Houston 
to return to our ship ami report that the Confederate 
Commissioners were on board the mail steamer and 
refused to come on board the San Jacinto by other 
means than force. Lieut. Greer then shoved off and 
went along side the Trent, sent his armed crew and 
marines on board, and stationed them at both gang¬ 
ways, and then, after a "gentle application” of 
force, I be four gentlemen were taken in the 2d cutter 
and conveyed on board of our ship, whore they were 
received by Capt. Wilkes at the gangway, and shown 
into his cabin, where they are at the present time. 
Two other boats were then sent on board to remove 
the luggage, and the ladies having declined the hos¬ 
pitalities offered them, at 3.30 wo parted company 
from the Trent. During the time our officers were on 
board tho Trent, tho British passengers expressed 
*yuipainms wiui trie seemed marcs in the 
strongest possible manner, and our officers were 
mnoh abused and threatened by the crowd; they 
were called pirates, robbers, and other opprobrious 
epithets, expressing great satisfaction at our loss at 
Bull ltun and Leesburg. 
* * * Tho rebel Commissioners and their Sec¬ 
retaries occupied the Captain’s cabin, and messed 
with him at table. When they first came on board 
the Sau Jacinto, Captain Wilkes made the following 
add l ess : 
"Gentlemen: — 1 shall endeavor to make yon as 
comfortable on board as my means will permit. 1 
wish to have it distinctly understood, however, that 
this iH a vessel belonging to the Government of the 
United States, There must he no political talk on 
board.” 
Acting upon this gentle bint, tho Commissioners 
refrained from political talk, and indeed, said little 
or nothing. Slidell kept his room during most of tho 
time. Occasionally he and Mason played a game of 
backgammon in the cabiu. Eustis and McFarland 
were frequently in the ward room, and conversed 
freely with the officers on general subjects. They 
behaved very well, but none of the persons on board 
enjoyed the long and rough passage of one week 
between New York and Boston. 
Capture ol' Ibis I’rlvutoer llruiircgaril. 
Tub capture of tho pirate schooner Beauregard, 
Capt, Gilbert Hay, and her arrival at Key West in 
charge of tho United States aloop-of-war Anderson, 
Lieut. W. C. Rogers commanding, has already been 
announce(1 by telegraph. Tho following are tho clr- 
ourastances of her capture, with other particulars, 
from tho correspondent of the Now York Express: 
She was captured on the morning of the 12th ult., 
100 miles E. N. E. of Ahaoo. No resistance was 
made by the Beauregard, the superiority of the arma¬ 
ment of the Andyrson being ho great, that it would 
have, been madness to measure their strength. While 
the Anderson was approaching her the crew were 
engaged in throwing over shot, shell, muskets, Ac., 
and before tho capture, most of the ammunition was 
lost, only powder, a few pistols, one or two lilies, and 
the pivot gun on deck remaining. The crew, twenty- 
seven iu number, were at once placed in irons, and 
transferred to the ship. Prize master Davis, with a 
picked crew, took charge of the schooner and safely 
brought her to port. Capt. Rogers, on arrival, imme¬ 
diately consulted with the civil authorities as to the 
disposal of his prisoners, when it was decided that 
they should he placed in the hands of the United 
States Marshal. After an examination on board, the 
officers and crew were taken to the shore and placed 
in tho county jail, where, properly guarded, they will 
remain until their trial. 
Captain Gilbert Hay, tho master, was born in Scot¬ 
land; was naturalized in Charleston, where he has 
lived twenty eight years. He testified that the Beau 
regard sailed for Charleston on the 7th of November. 
Captain Hay says the vessel is owned hy a stock com¬ 
pany, and that her hills when ready for sea were 
$15,000. Mordccai Himes fva-t the agent of the com¬ 
pany. Capt. Hay served on board the Jeff. Davis as 
prize master. He also taught the young midshipmen 
navigation. When the bark Alvarado was taken ho 
waH placed in charge as prize master. She was 
chased ushore by one of our fleet anti burned. John 
B. Davis, tho First Lieutenant, was on board tho 
Confederate man-of-war Winslow when she seized a 
vessel oil'the North Carolina coast. While Anderson 
firmness in preventing a war with certain of the 
Sioux Indians, 1857, Ho has for years been iu com¬ 
mand of the light artillery well known as Sherman’s 
battery, and lias always «t«od well in the estimation 
of the army for bis skill and attainments as an artil¬ 
lerist. On the breaking out of the rebellion, when 
the new regiments wore authorized to be added to 
the army, he was appointed a lieutenant colonel of 
the fifth artillery. His was among the first appoint¬ 
ments of brigadier generals of volunteers, and soon 
after the battle of Bull Run ho was assigned to the 
important duty of organizing the land forces of the 
present, expedition. 
was overhauling the Beauregard this officer attempted 
to fire the 21 pounder, but was prevented by the 
crow. Archibald Lilly, of Charleston, is the purser 
of the privateer. He oould not have had aooess to 
the treasury department of tho Confederacy very 
lately, for his fiscal balance showed tho amount of 
cash on hand to be twenty-five cents. Paymaster 
Lilly is a very seedy looking individual, and by no 
mean* a fair specimen of the chivalrous Soul.li Caro¬ 
linian. 
Tlio twenty-seven sailors are the hardest looking, 
mo-it desperate and wretched set it has over been our 
lot to encounter. We pity the late of tho unfortu¬ 
nates who might have fallen Into their power, had 
they not been arrested in their wicked career by tho 
gallant Captain Rogers. That such a vessel, such a 
crew, and so miserable an armament, and outfit should 
have been permitted to leave tlio harbor of Charles¬ 
ton, is most wonderful Their ciui^j must be a dcs 
perate one when defended by sin* rascals as now 
disgrace the walls of the Jail of Key West. 
Extracts front the Southern Press, 
It iciiki, Testimony to tub Ekkioirnoy ok tub 
Blockade. 1 — Hero are sorao more gleams of truth 
which flash out through the New Orleans Crescent, 
Coming from the source it does, the importance of the 
testimony can hardly be overrated: 
"There has been mneb talk and a great many com¬ 
ments on wlnit has been termed running tlio blockade. 
Reports sav that, 516 vessels have run the blockade 
since the llitb of May last. This it a very wild esti¬ 
mate, even if it i,i supported hy returns or statements \iu 
the departments at Richmond. The binds mb' was en¬ 
forced off the mouths of the Mississippi River on the 
25tb of May, at which time there were forty sails of 
vessels in this port outward bound, which were per¬ 
mitted |.o go to sea. The blockade commenced off 
Mobile and Pensacola about tho same time. Vessels 
were allowed to letve these ports till the fit,h of June, 
So far as New Orleans is to be considered, tho last 
arrivals via the Bali/.e, were on the 29th of May last.. 
There have been some arrivals and departures of 
schooners from the bayous on the Gulf. Thor* have 
been some coasting vessels on the coast of Carolina 
evading the blockade; but all these will not count tip 
51(1, On tbe other hand, the Hessian steamer South 
Carolina has raptured seventeen schooners attempt¬ 
ing to run the gautlot betwoch New Orleans and 
Texas ports. There have been only three or four 
vessels from Europe — one the Bermuda- that have 
successfully run the blockade. Rome few West India 
traders have met with success on the Carolina coast. 
It is misleading foreign governments to make asscr 
tionsef this character, that the blockade is easily 
avoided, when not a vessel, has entered the port of New 
Orleans, via the river, for over Jive months, and only 
one via the lakes from a foreign port." 
Rebel Ahmy. Dreadful bard up must thoy be In 
New Orleans if there is any truth in the following, 
which wo clip from the Delta . 
"Tho old table of schoolboy days, "ten mills 
make one cent, ten cents one dime, ten dimes one 
dollar,” is played out. A dime or a dollar, in hard 
spelter, is a sight good for diseased optics, and a live 
minute*' survey of ten dollars iu specie would euro 
the most hopeless case of Asiatic cholera. But, wo 
have a new table of currency, and it is published here 
free of charge, for the benefit of those who choose to 
cot It out and paste it up for reference: 
10 Omnibus tickets make half a collar. 
6 Schelke's beer tickets make a man drunk, in¬ 
vested in lager. 
10 Frost's beer tickets make one city sbinplaster. 
1 handful of sliiuplasters (with the pictures worn 
off) make a man swear. 
10 half dollars make a fool of a poor man. 
25 beer tickets (Schelke's or Frost's) make half a 
cinq. 
40 beer tickets, 10 omnibus tickets, I handful of 
shlnplasters and nary half dollar, make an 
honest man steal. It they don’t, we should 
like to know what will.” 
The Thoublkh ok oub SptiTHKKN Bkkthhkn. The 
Raleigh Standard has the following in reference to 
the North Carolina Union Convention, of which we 
gave an account last week: 
" Unless this movement is stopped at once hy tho 
stroug arm of the Confederate Staten, more than half 
of the counties in this State will, he attached to the 
Black Republican ( government Inf ore the Union ('ou¬ 
ter ess meets," 
Tho Standard also has a slap at the Confederate 
Congress “for leaving this matter with North Caro¬ 
lina to attend to, when it is very evident that the 
State authorities will never make a move in this 
direction, owing to the reason that they are in the same 
boat with (he Unionists," Tile same paper also says: 
"It would not be so surprising if the counties 
should grumble a little at the heavy tax imposed upon 
them; but to talk about repudiating the entire Gov¬ 
ernment) because they are taxed higher than usual, is 
trilling with a serious matter. If wo were to have a 
new election to-day for the Legislature and State Of¬ 
ficers, no one knows, amid the present discord, what 
stato of things might turn up.” 
Five of the North Carolina regiments who were en¬ 
rolled for the war have been disbanded and surren¬ 
dered their arms to tho State. The Confederate 
Government gave them neither pay, food nor clothes, 
and the Standard fears that the " other regiments will 
do Likewise unless their demands are promptly met," 
The Expedition down tub Mississippi Rive it.— 
An important expedition is about being sent down 
the Mississippi river from St. Louis. A large num¬ 
ber of naval officers are in that city, tho gunboats at 
Curondolot are nearly complete, the troops under 
Gen. Halleek are being concentrated at that point 
and every movement indicates ft speedy advance. In¬ 
telligence from Memphis states that preparations are 
being extensively made for the complete defence of 
that city, against an expedition down the river, 
which is fully expected. Families, with their move¬ 
able properly, are constantly arriving at Memphis 
from various parts of Missouri. Tho rebel army is 
being vigorously augmented both at Columbus and 
Memphis, and any attempt to pass down the river hy 
federal troops will, tho rebels say, ho defended to the 
death. Gen. Pillow is confident that Gen. Halleek 
will move southward within the next ten days. The 
Memphis Appeal alludes to the withdrawal of the 
federal army from Southwest Missouri, and says: 
“Tho descent of the Mississippi will be made hy a 
probable force of from seventy-five to one hundred 
thousand troops. To meet this force will require all 
tho resources that can be brought to bear against it., 
and what is more, there Is no time to bo lost. The 
I'cderals at St. Louis are building, and have well nigh 
completed, six or eight gunboats, to be accompanied 
by one hundred and fifty barges us transports. These 
demonstration!*, together with the fact that troops 
are pouring Into Cairo by regiments daily, aro preg¬ 
nant with significance, ami should serve to arouse 
our whole people to u sense of their danger. Every 
man in the country almtild he prepared for the 
emergency.” 
V iRcipi a Payinci foh the Music.—' The Richmond 
Enquirer states that tho war has already cost, Virginia 
Dome $10,000,000; ami it considers tho price a heavy 
one for making itself "tho chopping block of the 
North arid South, and cock pit of contending nations 
tho Flanders of America.” 
Florida wants all hick Soldikkh. Tho Gover¬ 
nor of Florida has refused to allow anymore soldiers 
to be enlisted for the "Confederacy,” and ordered 
that all persons enlisting now to go out of tho Stato 
shall ho arrested. Tho Governor is evidently getting 
alarmed for the safety of his own "sovereignty.” 
Tho taking of Pensacola and our landing nt, Per- 
nandina, would cut tho Stato off entirely from its sis¬ 
ter Confederates. Florida was otic of the first States 
to rush into rebellion. It, will be one of tho first to 
bo brought back again to the Union. 
Bniooit Buhning in Tennessee. From the Knox¬ 
ville Register of Nov. 12 we extract tho following: 
Tho deep laid scheme to destroy tho railroads in 
East Tennessee, on Friday night last, by an organiza¬ 
tion of Linoolnito traitors, extending from Bristol to 
the Georgia lino, resulted in tho burning of the fol¬ 
lowing bridges: 
The bridge over tho lliwasso river at Charleston, 
on tho East Tennesseo and Georgia railroad. Tho 
bridge over Lick Crock, on tho East Tennessee and 
Virginia railroad. Tho bridge over the Nolston rivor 
at Union, on the East Tennessee and Virginia rail¬ 
road. Two small bridges on Ohlckaniauga creek, on 
tiiu „..,i ji.iaui.iu miiroau. i no iciugnipii 
wires were cut at various places between Knoxville 
and Chattanooga, and Knoxville and Bristol. No 
attempt seems to have been made upon the bridge at 
Loudon, that being well guarded by a cavalry 
company. 
Tbe unsuccessful attempt t,o burn the bridge at 
Strawberry Plains, and its preservation by the cour¬ 
ageous conduct of the watchman, was alluded to in 
our last, issue. We learn that his narnu Is Jas. Keclan, 
and are glad to hear, that notwithstanding his severe 
injuries, there is strong hope of his recovery. It is 
known that the man whom ho shot in the act of ap¬ 
plying tho torch to tho bridge was Wm. Pickens, son 
of tho late Senator from Oreene, Cook, Sevier and 
Blount counties, who was carried by bis fellow-con¬ 
spirators to Sevier county, and is reported to have 
died yesterday. 
The Lick Creek was guarded by several soldiers 
attached to Capt, McLlnn’a company, near Midway. 
They were approached by a gang of ruffians, who first 
eugaged them in friendly conversation and then sud¬ 
denly overpowered them and executed their hellish 
Incendiarism, They carried t.ho captured sentinels, 
wc arc told, ton house at some distance, and after 
forcing them to take an oath to support the Lincoln 
Government, released them. They hurried to their 
Camp and gave such information as led to the imme¬ 
diate arrest of »lx of the incendiaries, who were yes¬ 
terday brought to this city, and safely lodged in jail. 
Wo learn that they have made confesslona which will 
probably lead to tho capture of all engaged iu this 
extensive conspiracy. 
Union Gamkh in Tennessee. The Knoxville Reg¬ 
ister says "that largo numbers of Uuion men are 
arming and mustering, in Blount and Sevier counties, 
for the purpose of protecting the incendiaries who 
attempted to fire the Strawberry Plains bridge, all of 
whom, numbering some sixteen, were from Sevier 
county. We have rumors also of tho uprising of 
about fifteen hundred Linoolultes in Bradley and 
Hamilton counties.” 
Amenities of I lie lint lie Field. 
On the 22d ult. Gen. Bonham in his chase after 
Floyd came up with a regiment of the enemy and 
opened upon them, tho rebels fleeing in tho greatest 
confusion. Only one officer attempted to rally them 
and ho finally fell, mortally wounded. He proved to 
bo Col. Croghau, son of a U. 8. officer, who, in our 
last war with England, distinguished himself In the 
defenso of a western post against a combined attack 
of a largo force of British und Indians. General 
Bonham conversed with him, received his last 
wishes, and placed him In care of tho brigade sur¬ 
geon, but he died. General Benlmra immediately 
sent a messenger to Floyd, with a note in which he 
says: 
"In the skirmish which occurred yesterday be¬ 
tween the IJ. S. forces under iny command and your 
brigade, l regret to be obliged to inform you that 
Colonel St. George Groghan, commanding your cav¬ 
alry regiment, as he stated to me, was mortally 
wounded. He was shot through the right wrist and 
side and the upper portion of the abdomen, the hall 
passing entirely through the body, and lived from 9,1 
A. M., when bo was wounded, till 2) P. M. I saw 
him in passing, a few minutes after he was wounded, 
and ho recognized me, conversing freely, but with 
pain, and, shaking my band on leaving him, ho 
requested mo to state that he ‘ died the death of a 
bravo soldier,’ — as he did, in every way worthy of 
his gallant and noble father. 
I left him in charge of my brigade and one other 
surgeon, with hospital attendants and a guard, and 
oil my return, this morning, from the camp ground, 
the hospital steward handed too a small blank memo¬ 
randum book, in which was a history made by his 
roqucHt, of which I inclose you a copy. Ho left his 
address, Ac., witli tho chaplain of the Tenth (Ool. 
Lyttlo’s) Ohio Regiment, Rev. H. E. (). Higgins, and 
told mo that his family were residing in Newburgh, 
New York. 1 will endeavor to cointtinnicato with 
them as soon as possible, and send each little memo¬ 
rial from him as I shall bo able to collect them, for I 
cannot yet ascertain where most of his property has 
gone, as tho peoplo of tho house whero he died 
would not attend to it. I have sent his remains 
towards Fayetteville, whero they will ho interred, if 
wo aro not able to take them to Gauloy, though I 
will, if possible, place tho body there iu a box with 
salt, to preserve It for his friends. It will be Hubject 
to the order of Gen. W, 3. RoeccrAns. 
Ami now, having for tho third time the opportu¬ 
nity of extending courtesies somewhat of this char¬ 
acter to your officers as first, in returning tho bag¬ 
gage, uniforms, Ac., of Ool. Porterfield, at Phillippi, 
and afterwards, in preserving the sword, effects, and 
body of Gon. Garnett, at Garrick’s Ford — I trust 
your officers will appreciate the desire thus exhibited 
of mitigating in overy way tho horrors of this fratri¬ 
cidal strife, as I think you yourself will do me the 
justice to believe that I most earnestly wish it. 
I send this by ft private citizen, as I thought you 
would prefer it to a flag of truce, and on account of 
tlio uncertainty of the means do not send forward 
any of tho little memorials preserved.” 
Our Condition What to l'lx|iect. 
We select from our exchanges East and West 
several articles showing the condition of military 
matters throughout tho North, all of which Indicate 
a general advance movement, and that shortly. Tho 
first presented is from the pen of Geo. Wilkes, Esq., 
than whom, it is generally conceded, there is no 
more reliable correspondent upon tho Potomac. Mr. 
W. says: 
"Though nobody preteuds to know McClellan’s 
plans, tho impression is very general that ho intends 
to drive forward directly at Manassas, and, having 
thrown out powerful corps d'armee on either flank, to 
move upon tho center, or very apex of tho frowning 
triangle, with compact mobile columns. These aro 
to sneered one another with rapidity and freshness, 
each in turn falling oil' and giving placo to Its suc¬ 
cessor as soon as the tempest of its energies begin to 
flag. Blow after blow of this character, each smiting 
with tho quick hardness of refined steel, and all 
delivered, and incessantly kept up upon tho same 
shuddering point, mUHt necessarily penetrate its 
object; and tho triangle once entered by our Imypn- 
Cts, the fracture will he sure to extend to tho base of 
Its position. This accomplished, tho remainder of 
the picture can be seen. The "Hhorl and hitler” 
phrase of tho master of tho situation will lie verified, 
and the rebellion perhaps he virtually over before the 
next year is six weeks old. It is always tho policy 
of a general, who has superior forces, to find his 
enemy where ho is in greatest number, so that his 
blow may be wholesale and utterly destructive; atul 
McClellan is statesman enough to know the import¬ 
ance to a nation’s pride and prestige, of wiping out 
tho recollection of a loss on the very spot where it 
was endured. Moral effects aro as valuable to a 
People ns physical successes, and the boastful rebels, 
who are to depend again upon tho favorable positions 
of the 18th and 21st -Lily, must he made to hate the 
very sound of Bull Run and Manassas. There are 
maty timid patriots, however, who look witli doubt 
and uncertainty in that direction, and who, mindful 
of the vast resources of that terrible triangle, fear 
that wu cannot force it, and that, all the power which 
wc can deliver there, will come back broken and 
shattered like the first. But they do not sufficiently 
deliberate the contrast. The army of McDowell, 
though composed of gallant men, was, in reality, but 
little better than a military mob. They were not 
skillfully marshalled to the fight, and through lack of 
Concert, had to depend upon mere desultory valor. 
On tho other hand, tfco columns of McClellan are not 
only skilled in discipline, and thoroughly Inured, but 
they are reliant on their Chief, and they know, too, 
when thoy strike Manassas, exactly tho nature of tlio 
Job. If their commander, following tho tactics of 
Nelson and Napoleon, directs them to pierce tho 
center, tbe attacking column will not bo kept for 
hours tugging, exhausted, at a single point, but, bay¬ 
ing discharged its rago and energy, It will pass 
aside, and be humored with repose ere it be em¬ 
ployed again. 
“ There is no description of resistance, material or 
physical, that cannot bo overcome by man and num¬ 
bers. Tho maiu question to be considered is the 
wifi bigness for sacrifice; and if the cause which 
Inspired tho French and British in the Crimea to find 
a lodgment on the parhpet of the Redan, or to make 
a lane of bodies through the " hell fire ” of the Mal- 
akoff, was good enough for such sublimely heroic 
efforts, ours should be strong enough to carry us 
through the rebel fastnesses that bar us from the road 
to Richmond,' ‘ Any place can bo taken with plenty 
of men and cannon,’ was tbe favorite saying of a 
celebrated European general; and I arn reminded by 
the maxim, that there is a predatory ant in Africa, 
which, ut times, turns out so potently that its 
billions overflow whole belts of country, in a straight 
march, for miles and miles, enveloping and devour¬ 
ing everything, whether it be man or beast, within 
its track. Even the behemoth, tlio elephant, and tho 
otherwise unconquerable lion, take to the water to 
avoid the stifling and impalpable attacks of tbe resist¬ 
less, creeping swarm. Let there be no fear, there¬ 
fore, that Manassas is impregnable to our arms. Noth¬ 
ing is invulnerable to due applications of strength 
and courage. We saw that the other day at Port 
Royal, and If Manassas be the object of our young 
chieftain’s eye, it will be carried, and presented to tho 
Country, perhaps, as a Christmas present, by his 
devoted troops. 
“ As to the time when , it is almost as hard to fix 
the duto of movement as it was a month ago. There 
certainly is much that is yet to be done before 
McClellan will be satisfied to move. Tho review 
which took place on Wednesday last, though it num¬ 
bered seventy thousand men, exercised hut n third of 
our entire force in that necessary stylo of massive 
evolution; and it would seem, by the patient manner 
in which the General baa conducted these field exam¬ 
inations, even from the day ho began the organiza¬ 
tion of brigades, that he intend» to bo thorough with 
them all. That, iu short, bo designs, most likely, to 
give every corps d' m-mie Its lesson, and tbe practice 
of his eyo, before making the final step of the gen¬ 
eral task. 
"In evidence of this, wo find a review of all tho 
regulars at Washington ordered for Tuesday next 
upon the spacionB grounds that lie eastward of the 
Capitol; and it is but reasonable to suppose that wo 
