a 
'*Oa t. 
solid iron, from two to three inches'in length, 
according to the size of the rocket. Tho remaining 
portion of the rocket is a hollow iron tube, filled 
with a highly inflammable compound, which, being 
ignited in the rear or tail of the rocket by a fuse, 
gives the Weapon its impetus. The composition of 
this inflammable substance is a government secret. 
“To form some idea of the noise and force which 
they make when fired, you may multiply the noise 
and fury of a Fourth of July rocket by one him-* 
dred. Wo have made but one experiment with 
them since coming here, and that was at the arsenal, 
and more for the purpose ot testing some conduc¬ 
tors or tubes from which to tire them than tho rockets 
themselves. The tubes we used were of two pat¬ 
terns—one of drawn-iron with a bore of three 
inches, and the other made by uniting three three- 
quarter inch rods or wires, spirally fastened by 
strong collars or bands, leaving a boro or tunnel of 
about four or fivfl inches. 
“ Both were placed on stands something similar 
to a theodolite stand. Tho rockets were old and 
not very perfect, yet wo executed some satisfactory 
firing. The results from the wire tubes were most 
satisfactory. Two throe-inch rockets tired from the 
latter went magnificently. The lube was pointed 
across the river (Potomac) diagonally, at an eleva¬ 
tion of nearly 45'. Away went the lire-spitter, out 
of sight, and probably found a grave in the “sacred 
soil.” Turning the tube down the river at the same 
elevation, a second was fired. If. went bountifully— 
direct as the path of a bullet, and buried itself in 
the Potomac at a distance of more than three miles. 
That was the estimate of Gen. 13a r.itr, Major Ram- 
sky, and others familiar with the locality. The 
rockets wo are to have for active service are a 
decided improvement on those we used which I 
have described. The head, instead of being solid, 
will be hollow and filled with musket balls and 
powder, and exploded by a time-fuse in all respects 
similar tu ‘Sohrapnel’ or ‘Spherical Case’ shot. 
The advantages from that improvement aro palpa¬ 
ble. The head will be heavier, (on account, of being 
filled with lead.) which will materially add to the 
directness of the line of flight and to the distance. 
Then, by being tired by a time-fuse, it can lie 
exploded at any desired time or place, scattering a 
storm of bullets and fragments around. 
“Another improvement is this:—The tube or case 
containing the combustible material is to be perfo¬ 
rated by tangential, spiral holes, from which the liro 
will be thrown with great force and fury, giving a 
whirling motion to the missile, which, as you see, 
will also assist in giving directness and distance to 
its flight, as well as scattering fire and destruction 
on every side. Our organization is the same as 
light, artillery. We shall liavu gun-carriages, and 
limbers followed by caissons. But instead of mount¬ 
ing one gun cm a carriage, wo shall mount four 
rocket tubes. Our c mpany will work four car¬ 
riages and tubes. Just think of us drawn up in bat¬ 
tery before a regiment of cavalry arid infantry. At 
one volley wo could send into their midst sixteen 
rockets, each rocket spitting tire, fury and destruc¬ 
tion on every side, and carrying in Us forehead 
soventy-lbur bullets, ready to burst from their shell 
at just the desired point, and scatter death iu every 
direction. 
There are now more heavy guns in position in 
New York harbor than there were at Sebastopol 
when attacked, or than aro now In the world- 
renowned fortifications of Cronstadt. The fire of 
two hundred and fifty guns can be simultaneously 
concentrated at one point upon a fleet attempting 
the passage of the Narrows. 
General IIallkok is described as being a pat¬ 
tern of official blunt ness. Perfectly accessible, be 
has, nevertheless, an effectual way of ridding him¬ 
self of bores. Before the visitor has had time to 
make either his name or his business known, he 
salutes him with, “Have you any business with me, 
sir?'* finds out what he wants; nips his long speeches 
in the bud; gives him a prompt reply; and bows 
him out. Once in a while a man comes out of the 
audience-chamber with a suspicion that, be has been 
snubbed; but the great minority admire his direct¬ 
ness. 
Since the breaking out of the renellian the South¬ 
ern Confederacy have lost the following named 
rebel Generals:—Major-General David E. Twiggs, 
resigned; Brigadier-General Henry R. Jaekson, 
resigned; Brigadier-General Robert 5. Garnett, 
killed; Brigadier-General W. H. T. Walker, 
resigned; Brigadier-General Barnard E. Bee, killed; 
Brigadier-General Gideon .). Pillow, resigned; 
Brigadier-General Thomas T. Fanntleroy, resigned; 
Brigadier-General Thomas P. Flourney, died; Brig¬ 
adier-General John R. Grayson, died; Brigadier- 
General Felix K, Zol lie-offer, killed; Brig&rlier- 
Genoral Phillip St. George Cocke, committed sui¬ 
cide. 
The expedition which is shortly to start down 
the Mississippi gives interest to the following table 
of distances from St. Louis to New Orleans: 
Milos. Miles. 
SI. Genevieve.(10 Columbia ...._ Of, 
St. Mary's Lauding_12 Princeton.. 50 
Chester... 8 Luke Providence..25 
Liberty.. 10 Vicksburg_ 75 
Wilkinson's __ 10 Grand Gulf. 50 
Cape Girardeau. 50 Rodney__ 20 
Commerce __ 15 Mouth Red River_ 65 
Cairo__35 Ruyou Sara_35 
Columbus.. 20 Port Hudson.12 
Hiokmnn's. 17 Baton Rouge_23 
New Madrid_38 Plmpjemine_20 
Memphis_165 Tlonaldsonville_35 
llelenn...... S6 Now Orleans_78 
Napoleon_100 
The value of the munitions of war captured from 
Zollicoffer’s rebel army at Mill Spring and Cumber¬ 
land River may lie estimated as follows:—Horses 
and mules, $100,000; Wagons, $00,000; Ordnance, 
$35,000; Muskets, $25,000; Boats, $20,000; Stores, 
$10,000. Total, $250,000. 
Tub mere mention of the names of Jennison and 
Montgomery will blanch the cheeks of the rebels in 
the West, and yet, physically, both men are very 
inferior. Why is it then, that the stroke of their 
weapons is thus dreaded, — why has their rallying 
cry been so often the death-knell of Weatern 
traitors? Read the following and find the answer: 
Colonel Jennison, Kansas 1st Cavalry, is a small 
man,oi delicate constitution; a physician—originally 
from Livingston County, N. Y. When Ilic Border 
Ruffian horde went into Kansas to elect the first 
Territorial Legislature, they passed Jennison’s 
house. His wife and only child, attracted by the 
cavalcade, went to the door, and while standing 
there, were both shot dead by the ruffians. 
“Jack" Montgomery, of the Kansas Cavalry, is a 
Kentuckian—a mild, gentlemanly, highly educated 
man — u clergyman, and a graduate of Oborlin. 
When the Border Ruffians, iu one of their raids, 
reached Montgomery's house, they took him pris¬ 
oner, tied him to a tree, and brought out his wife— 
an educated and accomplished lady — and violated 
her person in the presence of her husband. 
The “ (Jump Kettle ” is the title of a newspaper 
published by the Roundhead Regiment at Beaufort, 
— the first “Black Republican” newspaper ever 
printed on the*saeied soil of South Carolina. Thus 
it discourses of the climate at Beaufort: 
“ It seems strange to us ‘Northern Vandals’ here 
in Beaufort, to receive letters from dear ones at 
home, tolling of sleigh rides, skatings, aud coastings, 
while we arc sitting before our open windows, in 
one of the deserted palaces, surrounded by shrub¬ 
bery green as the leaves of' June, and the air filled 
with the perfume of roses that bloom in beauty all 
around us. As we write, two vases filled with flow¬ 
ers of every color, gorgeous as the dreams of 
fairy land, stand before us, and their graceful 
forms and brilliant hues seduce our eyes anon to 
look on their blushing beauties. Ah! 1 land of the 
sunny South,’ where summer lingers in the lap of 
winter, and impatient spring, with hurrying steps, 
resumes her reign ot roses. Eden was scarce more 
fair; but Eden, too, had an evil spirit that seduced 
its happy citizens and lured them to their ruin. 
That ‘evil spirit’ was the first ‘secessionist.’” 
Of- that system of splierra olnTUlil but one At the track, 
Or with others conspire for a general dispersion, 
By the great central orb they would all be brought back. 
Or held, each in her place, by a wholesome coercion. 
Should one daughter of light 
Be indulged in her Right, 
They would all be engulfed by old Chaos and Night; 
So must none of our sisters be suffered to run. 
For - K 1‘iuribui Unurn ■—we all go if one.” 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., FEBRUARY 15, 1862, 
THE WAR’S PROGRESS 
Savannah and Newbern. 
These two points possess special interest at the 
present, time, as both are liable to attack by the 
Federal forces, hence we give brief descriptions 
of each locality: 
Savannah.— This city, now threatened by the 
forces of Gen. Sherman, is the capital of Chatham 
Co., Georgia, and had a population of 22.292 in 1860. 
It is the center of a very extensive system of rail¬ 
roads con-necting Macon with Savannah, 192 miles: 
tho VVaynesborough and Augusta, 53; the Milledge- 
ville and Eaton, 39; the Southwestern, 50; the 
Muscogee, extending from Columbus to the South¬ 
western, 71; the Macon and Western. 101; the West¬ 
ern and Atlantic, 140; the Georgia, 170; tho Athens 
Branch of the Georgia, 40; liie Washington Branch 
■of the Georgia, 17; the Rome Branch of the Western 
and Atlantic, 20; the Atlantic and Lagrange, 80; the 
East Tennessee aud Georgia, 82—making the tolal 
length of these railroads 1,055 miles. It is 90 miles 
W. S. W. of Charleston, is situated upon a sandy 
plain elevated about 40 loot above low water mark. 
It 1ms 14 Protestant and 2 Catholic churches, 1 syno- 
gogue, 5 banks and a public library. 
The city is defended by Fort Wayne on the east 
side, Fort Jackson at “Five Fathem Hole," and 
Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island, 14 miles below 
the city. The latter is the principal fortification, 
and is one of the strongest and best conslructed in 
the country. Although our latest intelligence said 
that it was completely invested by the Federal 
forces, when it is taken there will be warm work, 
and in order that our readers may see what a job 
the loyal men of the North in the command of Gen. 
Sherman have before them, we give a sketch of the 
Fort from the Rochester Union and Advertiser: 
“The work was commenced in 1831 by Capt. (now 
Brigadier-General) Mansfield. It was finished a 
few years ago at a cost ot $963,000. The fort is of 
pentagonal form, covering several acres. Its walls 
are 40 feet high, and present two falls on the sea ap¬ 
proach, with ranges of fire radiating at opposite 
angles. The tort is embrasured on the front and 
channel side for one row of guns, under bombproof 
casemates, with an additional tier of guns open, or 
en barbette. Tho salient points aud flanking ap¬ 
proaches on tho rear of the work have no embras¬ 
ures for heavy cannon, but are thoroughly covered 
by enfilading musketry loopholes, which renders a 
landing or escalading extremely hazardous to uu 
enemy. The full af-mament of the fort will consist 
on the lower tier of 65 32-pounders (iron pieces,) 
and the upper tier of 53 24-pounders, 4 18-pounder 
flanking howitzers, 1 13-ineh mortar, 12 8-inch 
columbiads, and 7 10-inch mortars—in all 150 guns. 
The columbiads are heavy and very destructive 
weapons of long rauge and adapted to the use of 
spherical shot or shell. They are capable of an ele¬ 
vation of 18 degrees, and a horizontal range of § de¬ 
grees, depressed to 36 degrees elevation. 
“ The interior ot the fort is well supplied with 
massive furnaces for heating shot, officers’ quarters, 
soldiers’ barracks, and an immense supply of shot, 
powder, and muskets. A wide ditch surrouuds the 
work, which, when dry, can be used by sharp¬ 
shooters, or could, if necessary at t.he approach of an 
enemy, lie easily flooded. Beyond the ditch is a 
glacis, or inclined bank, which is enfiladed by the 
guns from the lower or casemate row of the fortifi¬ 
cation. The full war garrison of the fort is eight 
hundred men, but one-half that number could hold 
it successfully against a very large force. Vessels 
of any considerable size in beating up the channel 
to Savannah, are obliged to approach within seventy 
yards of the fort, and at this point many guns of 
large caliber can bo made to concentrate their fire. 
The fortification is pronounced by expert army engi¬ 
neers one of the trongest and most perfect of its 
kind on this continent. It covers a larger area than 
Fort Sumter, but has one tier of guns less. Our 
naval forces have been enabled to get in between 
the fort aud the city by way of Warsaw Sound, 
which is south of Savannah River, and St Augus¬ 
tine Creek, which connects the sound with the 
river above the fort." 
Newbern, which the Burnside Expedition has 
kept in constant condition of excitement since the 
appearance of. the fleet in Pamlico Sound, is situ¬ 
ated at the contlueuce of Ibe Neuse and Trent 
rivers, near the head of a sound or extended bay 
which itself empties into Pamlico Sound, the com- 
Tioisr. KIIWIX M. STANTON, 
Edwin M. Stanton, now Secretary of War, was 
born in Steubenville, Ohio, and is about 45 years of 
age. In bis native town, he began the study oflaw, 
after graduating at Kenyon College. During his 
residence in Ohio, he undertook the authorship ot a 
portion of the Ohio Supreme Court Reports, and 
these now bear his name. In 1848, he removed to 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and at once took position 
at the head of the bar. Early in the Administra¬ 
tion of Mr. Buchanan, he was selected by Attorney- 
General Black to represent the Government in the 
important land cases ot California. Through the 
changes incident to the resignation of Secretary 
Cass, Mr. Stanton was made Attorney-Goneral, 
and he accepted the position, although at a great 
pecuniary sacrifice. In the Cabinet, he soon found 
himself associated with Holt and Dix, and to their 
efforts is due the patriotic course which marked the 
closing weeks of Mr. Buchanan's Administration. 
Mr. Stanton has ever been a firm and uncompro¬ 
mising Democrat, and bis nomination and unani¬ 
mous confirmation as head of the most important 
Department under a President of another party, is 
the best proof of bis eminent fitness for the post. 
He brings to it great administrative skill and execu¬ 
tive fairnesss, and his recent order in respect to the 
transaction of business, published in our issue of 
the 1st last., shows that he is fully aware of the 
work to lie accomplished. 
As illustrative of the boldness, energy, and integ¬ 
rity of Secretary Stanton, we cannot refrain from 
publishing the following chapter in his history, as 
given by the St Louis lie publican ; 
When General Cass— grieved and indignant—left 
Mr. Buchanan’s Cabinet, Mr. Attorney-General 
Black was transferred to the portfolio of State, 
and Mr. Stanton, then absent from Washington, 
was fixed upon as Attorney-General. The same 
night he arrived at a late hour, and learned from 
his family of his appointment. Knowing the char¬ 
acter of the bold, bad men iu the ascendency iu the 
Cabinet, lie determined at once to decline; but 
when, the next day, he announced his resolution at 
the White House, the entreaties of the distressed 
and helpless President, and the arguments of Mr. 
Black, prevailed upon him to accept. 
At the first meeting of the Cabinet which he 
attended, the condition of the seceded States aud 
the course to be pursued with the garrison of Fort 
Sumter was discussed. Floyd and Thomson 
were dwelling upon the “irritation of the Southern 
heart,” and the folly of continuing a useless garri¬ 
son to increase the irritation. No one formally 
proposed any course of action, but the designs of 
Ihe conspirators were plain to the Attorney-General. 
He went homo troubled. He bad intended, coming 
at so late a day, to remain a quiet member of this 
discordant council. But it was not in his nature to 
sit quiet longer under such utterances. 
The next meeting was a long and stormy one, 
Mr. Holt, feebly seconded by tho President, urging 
the immediate re-enforcement of Sumter, while 
Thompson, Floyd, and Thomas contended that a 
quasi-treaty had been made by the officers of the 
Government whh the leaders of tho rebellion, to 
offer no resistance to their violations of law and 
seizure of Government property. Floyd especially 
blazed with indignation at what he termed the 
“violation of honor.” At last Mr. Thompson 
formally moved that an imperative order be issued 
to Major Anderson to retire from Sumter to Fort 
Moultrie —abandoning Sumter to the enemy, and 
proceeding to a post where he must at once sur¬ 
render. 
Mr. Stanton could sit still no longer; and, rising, 
he said, with all the earnestness that could be 
expressed iu bis bold and resolute features, “ Mr. 
President, it is my duty as your legal adviser, to say 
that you have no right to give up the property of 
the Government, or abandon tho soldiers of the 
United States to its enemies; and the course pro¬ 
posed by the Secretary of the Ulterior, if followed, 
is treason, and will involve you aud all concerned 
in treason.” Such language had never before been 
heard iu Buchanan's Cabinet, and the men who 
had so long ruled and bullied the President wore 
surprised and enraged to be thus rebuked, Floyd 
and Thompson spraug to their feet with fierce, 
menacing gestures, seeming about to assault Mr. 
Stanton. Mr. IIolt took a step forward to the 
side of tho Attorney-General. The imbecile Presi¬ 
dent implored them piteously to take their seats. 
After a few more bitter words the meeting broke up. 
This was the last Cabinet meeting on that exciting 
question in which Floyd participated. Before 
another was called, all Washington was startled 
with the rumor of those gigantic frauds which have 
made his name so infamous. At first he tried to 
brazen'it out with his customary blustering manner; 
but the next day tho Cabinet waited long for his 
appearance. At last he came; tho door opened, 
his resignation was thrust into the room, and Floyd 
disappeared from Washington. Such was the end 
of Floyd and the beginning of Stanton. 
Goldsborough it is but forty-eight miles by the 
North Carolina railroad to Raleigh, the capital of 
that State, but which possesses at least equal im¬ 
portance as the point through which the secondary 
aud indirect communication of tho Southern sea¬ 
board States with Eastern Virginia is kept up. This 
is effected by the connection by railroad of Charlotte, 
the western terminus of the North Carolina road, 
with the Columbia branch of the South Carolina 
road, and tho connection of Raleigh with Peters- 
burgh, Virginia, by the Raleigh and Gaston rail¬ 
road. If, then, a competent force could be landed 
at Newbern, and pushed rapidly and boldly into 
the interior, Goldsborough might be seized, and 
thus the principal rebel line of communication 
would be cut off. This accomplished, tho same 
spirit and decision of movement might soon place 
Raleigh in our hands; and thus the second and last 
avenue would be effectually closed. The harbor of 
Newbern has water enough for any vessel that we 
would desiro to send on such an expedition; and at 
our last advices there had no fortifications of any 
importance been thrown up near it. To check by 
military force the passage of our army from New¬ 
born to Goldsborough would cost the insurgent 
leaders such a loss from their main body in Vir¬ 
ginia as would expose them to a fatal advance 
by General McClellan. 
and no charge need bo used except that contained 
in the missile itself. 
•• The rocket is of a very complex construction, 
made in long tubes. The largest are thirty-two 
inches in length. There are many sizes and various 
descriptions. The tubes have three or four cham¬ 
bers or compartments. The posterior chamber con¬ 
tains the powder which acts as the propelling agent. 
The others contain the explosive mixture, and a 
fuse is so arranged as to keep up the rotary motion 
communicated by the spiral barrel, and at the same 
time to increase the velocity of the projectile. The 
rocket may he used as a fire-ball, a percussion shot, 
or a bomb-shell. 
“ The range of the rocket is from five hundred 
yards to five thousand three hundred yards, accord¬ 
ing to size and power. The smallest rocket weighs 
ten pounds, and the largest two hundred pounds. 
With the two hundred pound rocket a mark no 
larger than the mast of a ship may be bit three times 
out of four, at a distance of three thousand yards. 
The firing can be very rapidly performed. There is 
much facility in loading, the rocket boing inserted 
at the breech of the gun. 
“The rockets are ranged among the most terrible 
engines of Avar in existence. When the missile of 
medium size is in motion, a body of fire, fifteen 
inches in diameter, produced by the spiral fuse, 
accompanies it, filling the air in every direction. It 
may be so arranged as to produce a continuous and 
almost Inextinguishable fire, consuming every com- 
bustiblo substance with which it cornea in contact; 
or it can lie exploded in the air, falling in burning 
fragments. Or, by affixing u percussion cap, may 
be made to burst at the iustuut of falling. Of course, 
being lighter, it has notthe same power as the bo mo- 
shell ordinarily used, but its destructive capacity is 
infinitely greater than a bomb." 
A company of volunteers raised in Perry, Wyo¬ 
ming county, has been attached to this battalion, 
and one of the members writes to the Wyoming 
Times, giving liis description of the arm that is 
used: 
“ Tlie rockets which I have seen vary from twelve 
to twenty inches in length, and from two to three 
inches in diameter. The head is conical and or 
Statement of n Richmond Prisoner. 
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the Bal¬ 
timore American states that an old gentleman, about 
GO years of age, named Taylor, of Cincimmti, Ohioi 
who has been over six mouths confined in one of the 
tobacco warehouses at Richmond, arrived at Fortress 
Monroe by a flag of truce on the fflstult., having been 
released in exchange for a rebel officer. He Btatea 
that lie was visiting the house of a friend in Fairfax 
County, two days after tho battle of Bull Run, tor 
the transaction of some private business, Avhere he 
was detained by a sprained ankle. He was not 
connected with the army, was not at the battle of 
Manasas, and considers himself to have been very 
harshly and brutally treated, both at the time of his 
arrest and since, considering his age and his physi¬ 
cal infirmities. 
Mr. Taylor was accompanied by a detective, who 
was instructed not to allow him to carry any papers 
Avith him, or hold any communication Avith others 
on his way to Norfolk. 
The panic, in reference to Gen. Burnside’s expe¬ 
dition, Avas very great at Norfolk and Richmond, the 
uncertainty of its destination and magnitude of its 
proportions causing a general consternation. The 
reports from Ilatieiaa represented it to be much 
larger than it really is. 
The inauguration of Jeff. Davis as permanent 
President is to take place at Richmond, on the 22d 
of February, and it is said that he will immediately 
thereafter take the field in person as commander of 
the forces at Mimosas. 
REPEL VIEWS OP M’CLKLLAN. 
Mr. Taylor says that Avhutever may be the esti¬ 
mate of the policy of Gen. McClellan in the loyal 
States, lie is regarded by the rebels as pursuing a 
The New York Rocket Battalion. 
There is now in Washington a Rocket Battal¬ 
ion from this State, under command of Gen. Barry, 
The following is interesting, as describing their 
remarkable armament in detail, constituting it one 
of the most formidable engines of war: 
“Each battery comprises four rocket guns and 
four caissons. The guns are of very peculiar con¬ 
struction, formed iu sections Avhich may be detached 
or united with the greatest ease. Each section con¬ 
sists of ttvo rings or collars, to which are attached 
the ends of iron bars, spirally twisted, and the whole 
forming a tube. Three of these tubes united com¬ 
prise a gun. No carriage is used, but in its place a 
stand, on which the gun may be elevated or 
depressed. This stand is light and portable; easily 
carried by one man. The gun is breech-loading, 
