left Hatteras Inlet at 7:30 on Wednesday morning, 
the ]2th inst., and arrived without an accident or 
delay at a point which bad been selected for disem¬ 
barking troops, and within sight of the city ol New¬ 
born, at sunset on the evening of the same day, 
when we anchored for the night. On Thursday 
morning I hoisted my penant on board the Dela¬ 
ware, at 8:30. Our gunboats commenced shelling 
the woods in the vicinity of the proposed place o! 
landing, taking stations tit intervals along the shore, 
to protect advance of troops. 
At !):30 A. M troops commenced landing, and nt 
the same time six naval boat howitzers, with their 
crews, under command of Limit. It. S. McCook, of 
the Stars and Stripes, were put ashore to assist 
attacks. The army commenced to move up the 
beach about 1) :30 A. M.. the debarkation of truopB 
still continuing. In the meantime our vessels were 
slowly moved up, throwing shells into the woods 
beyond. At 4:13 1’ M. part of the enemy's butteries 
opened fire on the foremost Of our gunboats, which 
was returned at long range. The troops were now 
disembarked, and steadily advancing without resist¬ 
ance. At sundown tiling was discontinued, and the 
fleet came to anchor in position to cover the troops 
on shore, . .... , , 
At, 6:30 on Friday morning, the 14th, we heard 
continuous firing of heavy guns and musketry 
inland, and immediately commenced throwing our 
shells in advance of the troops. The fleet steadily 
moved up. The lower fortifications were discovered 
to have been abandoned. A boat was sunt, and the 
stars and stripes were placed on the ramparts. As 
we advanced the upper batterlea opened fire upon 
us, which was returned with effect, the magazine of 
one exploding. 
Having proceeded in one extended line as far as 
the obstructions in the river would permit, the signal 
was made to follow (he movements of the flag¬ 
ship, and the whole fleet advanced in order, concen¬ 
trating the lire on Fort Thompson, mounting thir¬ 
teen guns on which rested the enemy’s land 
defences, the army having, with great gallantry, 
driven them out of these defences. Several of our 
vessels were slightly injured in passing piles and 
torpedoes, which had been placed in the river. The 
upper battery having been evacuated on the appear¬ 
ance of the combined forces, it was abandoned and 
subsequently blew up. 
We now steamed rapidly up to the city. The 
enemy had fled, and the place remained in our pos¬ 
session. i pon our approach, several points ol the 
city were fired by the enemy, where stores had been 
accumulated. 
A large raft, composed of barrels of tar and bales 
of cotton, which had been prepared to send down to 
the fleet, was fired and floated against a railroad 
bridge. II was completely destroyed. 
A quantity of pitch, tar. a gun bout and another 
vessel on the stocks, several schooners afloat, and 
an immense quantity of arms and munitions, fell 
into our hands. 
At about 4 1’. M. I sent several of our vessels to 
the right bunk of the Trent river, to carry Foster’s 
brigade to occupy the city of Newbern. 
1 am, Ac., 
S. C. Rowan, Arc. 
The Conduct of tlio War. 
We extract the following graphic passage from a 
late speech of Ihe eccentric yet successful American 
now in England, George F. Train. 
“I have often read descriptions of the wholesale 
game-hunting of some lands—the sportsman sur¬ 
rounds the woodland for miles and heats steadily up 
to the center—where the rattle of rifles deals death 
and destruction on every side. Such is now the 
Federal policy. 
“No better analogy can be found than that of' the 
Bastile prisoner who was placed in an elegant 
apartment, with light, and fruit, and flowers. His 
punishment seemed a luxury, till one day ho im¬ 
agined that, while the proportions of his apartment 
were the panic, the room hud lessened in size. 
Again he looked, and sure enough there was a Change. 
Where is the wonderful machinery? Pale with 
doubt—listening with suspense—each day he no¬ 
ticed the contraction of the walls. Closer and 
closer they came shutting out window after win¬ 
dow—but no hand was seen, no noise heard all was 
as still as death, llis doom was sealed.* An inch 
to-day, another to-morrow—one grip of the four 
walls, and all was over. The man was pressed to 
death foot by foot, inch by inch, and he knew not 
from whence emanated the secret power (hat crushed 
him! So is it with this ungodly revolution. Little 
by little step by step battalion by battalion—the 
camp is being surrounded—and another mail may 
bring the startling news of the death-knell of 
treason.” _ 
Department of tlio MiHNiagipjii. 
Nothing decisive from Island No. 10. The 
bombardment by Com. Foote was resumed on Fri¬ 
day, but without definite results. The rebels show 
no signs of evacuating the place; on the contrary, 
they are fortifying themselves, building new bat¬ 
teries, mounting new cannon, felling trees, and 
rapidly pushing forward their means of defence. 
Their gunboats are also making desperate efforts to 
get past General Pope's batteries at New Madrid; 
but have been, thus far, repulsed in every effort. 
There is nothing important from the Tennessee 
river. It is not expected that active operations will 
commence until the arrival of Gen. Buell's army, 
unless our forces are attacked by Beauregard. 
The latest advices from the rebel camp at Corinth 
give the strength of the force there at 70,000. 
On Sunday last a force was sent to Nicholas Lan¬ 
ders, GO miles south of Savannah, which seized 15,- 
000 pounds of fresh pork, and 4,500 pounds of cured 
ham and shoulders. 
For a long time this has been the mart for the 
pork business for the Southern Confederacy. Within 
the last two weeks large quantities have been sent 
southward by the trains. 
Information has been received at headquarters, 
that a detachment of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, under 
Captain Thompson, overtook the guerilla band of 
Colonel Parker on the night of the 28th, about ten 
miles west of Warrenslmrg. Fifteen rebels were 
killed and twenty-five taken prisoners. Among the 
latter are Colonel Parker and Captain Walton. Our 
loss was two killed and several wounded. 
General Halleck has issued an order that in view 
of the rapid extension of steamboat navigation into 
the disloyal States, and the importance of having 
the boats engaged in such navigation controlled by 
loyal citizens, it is ordered that all the licenses of 
pilots and engineers navigating the waters of this 
Department be revoked after the 15th proximo, and 
said pilots and engineers take out new licenses from 
the Supervision Inspector, who will only grant 
licenses to persons of approved loyalty, or in case 
of doubt, will require bonds with security for the 
loyal conduct of such pilots and engineers. 
Department of the Kum. 
On Saturday, the 22d, the rebels advanced upon 
Winchester, under Generals Jackson, Longslreet 
and Smith, and drove in our pickets with their cav¬ 
alry. They approached within three miles of the 
town, and bringing up a battery of artillery, com¬ 
menced playingon our troops. Gen. Shields ordered 
Robinson's Ohio battery to return the fire, and 
while he was directing the operations, a splinter of 
a rebel shell struck him on the left arm and disabled 
it. One man and one horse, belonging to the bat¬ 
tery, were killed—the only casualties besides this 
on our side that day. The rebel loss is supposed to 
be twelve men. A few of our pickets w r ere cap 
hired. At night both armies drew up in front of 
each other, and awaited morning to renew the con¬ 
test, The rebel force was 7,000 infantry, 28 pieces 
of artillery, and 1.200 cavalry. 
On Sunday morning the rebels received re-en- 
fbreemonts, under Gen, Garnett, amounting to 5,000 
more. The Union forces did not exceed 10,000 men, 
and with the exception of about 500, were of Gen. 
Shields' division exclusively. 
At half-past ten the enemy made a feint on our 
left, commanded by acting Brig.-Gen. Sullivan, 
opening a heavy fire of artillery, while the real 
attack was directed against our right, with theobject 
of flanking it, Gen. Kimble commanded on the 
right, where the heaviest fighting was done. The 
enemy were strongly posted in the woods and 
behind a stone wall, and the rebel artillery was 
posted on eminences from both sides of their left, 
wing. Our whole artillery force engaged consisted 
of four batteries of twenty-four pieces in all. The 
contest raged furiously till 3 P. M., the fighting 
being done chiefly by the artillery and musketry, at 
a range of not more than 300 or 400 yards, and often 
much less. The rebel infantry opposite our right 
now debouched from the woods, and attempted to 
Capture Doan's battery by a charge. The first effort 
was nearly successful, but the heavy discharge of 
grape compelled them to retire in confusion. A 
second and weaker attempt likewise failed, and the 
enemy fell back, with heavy loss, behind the stone 
parapet 
Gen. Tyler now ordered his brigade to charge the 
enemy's batteries on the left, and a most deadly 
encounter followed. Twice our men reeled under 
the storm, but in the third effort they routed the 
rebels, with tremendous slaughter and loud cheer¬ 
ing, capturing two of their guns arid four Caissons. 
Our loss in these struggles was heavy. The ene¬ 
my’s killed and wounded strewed the ground. Now 
in confusion, their left wing was entirely broken, 
and their center wavering. On their side, the 4th 
uml 5th Virginia regiments suffered the moat. The 
former was terribly decimated. Several attempts to 
rally the right wing failed, and to add to the conlu- 
sion. the Irish battalion of 150 men was brought for¬ 
ward and ordered to fire upon the Union troops. 
They refused to fire, and a rebel regiment imme¬ 
diately drove this gallant little band forward, but 
could not compel them to tiro upon the Union army. 
Forty corpses of the 150 afterwards strewed the 
field. Meanwhile the rebels gave way on their lelt 
and center, with a loss of 7(10 killed and wounded, 
and 23(i taken prisoners. Besides these, about 1,500 
muskets were taken, and many other valuable tro¬ 
phies. Our loss does not exceed J00 killed and 300 
wounded. 
Gen. Banks, who was on the way to Washington 
Sunday, returned and .resumed command. Gen. 
Shields’ division pursued the enemy beyond New¬ 
ton, shelling them the whole way. Jackson’s men 
were perfectly demoralized and beyond control. 
They threw overboard the dead and wounded to 
lighten the wagons. 
On the 25th, Gen. Shields received a dispatch 
from Bunks, dated live mites beyond Slrasburg, as 
follows: 
“ The enemy is still in retreat, and our forces arc 
in hot. pursuit The loss of the rebels lias been enor¬ 
mous. They have abandoned the wagons ulong the 
road, filled with dead and dying. The houses on 
the route are found crowded with the wounded and 
dead. The dwelling* in the towns adjacent to the 
battlefield of Sunday arc also found filled with Ihe 
wounded. The inhabitants aided the rebel soldier* 
in carrying off the wounded during the. day, and 
in burying them quickly as soon as dead. Our 
artillery makes terrible havoc among the enemy in 
their flight, and the rout bids fair to be one of the 
most dreadful of the war." 
Gen. Shields telegraphed on the 26th, that our 
victory at Winchester has been more fatal to the 
rebels than at first supposed. The Union prisoners 
who escaped from Mount Jackson prison, just 
arrived, saw eight wagons, loaded with dead and 
wounded, enter Mount Jackson on Monday, at 10 
P. M., forty-four miles from the battlefield in thirty 
hours. The rebels admitted that they had 11,000 in 
tile field; also that, they lost between 1,000 and 1,500 
in killed and wounded. We are finding their guns 
at some distance from the side of the road. The 
blow has struck terror to the heart ol the Shenan¬ 
doah valley. 
Faihkax, March 27, 1802, 
To Brigadier- General Shields: -The General com¬ 
manding congratulates you and the brave troops 
under your command, on Ihe splendid achievement 
commenced in your depart meat, which lie has just 
received. 1 le desires you to follow up rapidly the 
enemy's troops, as fur us Slrasburg, it possible. 
S. Wri.i.iAMH, Assistant Adjutant-General. 
HKAOQr ATcmi* or run I’otoh at, Marrli 27, 1802, 
To Jirvjadicr-OnurcLl Shields:— Tlio Commanding 
General congratulates you and the troops under 
your command, upon the victory gained by your 
own energy and activity, and their bravery, oil the 
23d. lie is pained to learn that; the wound you 
have, received, in the skirmish of the 24lh, is more 
serious than at first supposed. 
By command, Geo. B. McCi.ku.an. 
S. Wii.i,i a us, Assistant Adjutant-General. 
The following, as near as fit present can lie ascer¬ 
tained, are the number of wounded at the battle on 
Sunday last: In the 7th Ohio, 45; 29th Ohio, 3; 5th 
Ohio, 16; G!)th Ohio, 24; 8th Ohio, 10; 7lh Indiana, 
11; 13th Indiana, 13; 14th Indiana, 12; 84th Penn¬ 
sylvania, 40; llOlh Pennsylvania, 36; 1st Virginia, 
(1; 28th New York, I; 1st Ohio battery, 1; 20tb 
Pennsylvania, 1; 5th Connecticut, 2; 3d Wiscon¬ 
sin, 1. The list of the killed is not yet received, but 
the number is believed to be one hundred and titty. 
All is quiet at Strasburg to-night. 
The following is Gen. Banks’ general orders rela¬ 
tive to the battle of Sunday: 
Heaoquakteus Kirrn Army Corps, ) 
SniAsmrfUi, March 26, 1862. j 
The Commanding General 5th Army Corps con- 
f miniates the officers and soldiers of Gen. Shields’ 
dvision, and especially its gallant commander, on 
tll« auspicious and decisive victory gained over Ihe 
rebels on the 23d Instant. The division has already 
achieved u renown against superior forces- -against 
a subtle and barbarous enemy. N. P. Banks. 
il f.AiMjL AfiTSIi.^ <!)CN S/IIKfie' lOVIMuN, ) 
Winchester, Virginia. 5 
General Orders, No. 11.— Brig.-Gen. Shields 
congratulates the officers and soldi* rs of his divi¬ 
sion upon the glorious victory achieved by them on 
the 23d inst., near Winchester, Va. They defeated 
an enemy whose fore*' outnumbered theirs, and wbo 
are cunsided the bravest and best disciplined of the 
Confederate army. He also congratulates them that 
it has tallcn to their lot to open the campaign on the 
Potomac. The opening has been a splendid suc¬ 
cess. Let. them inscribe Winchester on their ban¬ 
ners, ami prepare for other victories. 
BwioaDIEk-GknisRaj. Shiki.us. 
The Union troops, on the 26th, advanced Upon the 
rebel outposts beyond Warrenton Junction, driving 
the enemy, estimated at 10.000, before them, all 
along tlfli Gordonaville Railroad. The road beyond 
Warrenton Junction is utterly destroyed, bridges 
gone, the cross-tics burned, and the rails burned 
into every conceivable shape. The Union troopR 
are in excellent health, and are pushing after the 
retreating rebels as rapidly as circumstances will 
allow. The telegraph lines will follow the advanc¬ 
ing army, and of course are established from clay to 
day. 
An excursion party went out from Washington on 
the Manassas Railroad, about five miles beyond the 
Junction, cutting away fallen trees and clearing 
other obstructions from the track. The road was 
otherwise in perfect order, and the water stations 
uninjured. They also proceeded on the road to 
Gordonsville as far as Briston's Station, at which 
point the bridge over Broad Run ip destroyed. 
Mr. James Crockett, who has been an engineer 
upon the Manassas Gap road nine years, accompa¬ 
nied the party, and fortunately had the keys for 
unlocking the switches upon the route. He remained 
with the relwls until their recent evacuation of 
Manassas, and brought down the re-enforcemente of 
Gen. Johnston when the rebels were retreating at 
Bull Run last July. He states that the rebels com¬ 
menced their evacuation of Manassas on the 3d of 
March. The troops moved off' very hurriedly, and 
were in such great fear of being routed by the 
advancing Union troops, that their officers threat¬ 
ened instant death to every man who fired a hut, 
alleging as a reason that the smoke would hasten 
the Federal advance. The rebel cannon, he says, 
were of small caliber and few in number; but their 
amount of stores wos enormous, much of which 
could not be removed, and was burned after the 
main body of the army had left. 
The following, dated at Manassas, March 29, has 
been received: 
Conductor Franks to-day took out a large excur¬ 
sion party to Munassas. consisting of Gob Baker, of 
the Government Defective Police, with a number of 
other officials. The telegraph lines were completed 
to Warrenton Junction last night, and are working 
admirably. The Colonel, this afternoon, found live 
cannon, which the rebels hud buried, a mile and a 
half beyond the Junction. It appears that the car 
broke down, and the guns were tumbled one side of 
the track and buried, and the ground smoothed over 
them. Three are iron, ihe others brass, Tlio heav¬ 
iest weighs 4,600 pounds. The guns will be taken 
to Alexandria. The freight train returning from 
Manassas to Alexandria lost night, found several 
rails placed across the track, just above Fairfax Sta¬ 
tion, and in the darkness ran over them, but without 
throwing the locomotives off. These wereevidently 
placed there by Secessionists, as a number of them 
live in the vicinity, who make no secret of their dis¬ 
loyalty. 
We learn via Baltimore, on the 80th nil, the fol¬ 
lowing facts from the Burnside Expedition: 
The rebels burned the bridge on the railroad 
between Newbern and Beaufort, but it is in progress 
of repair, and the road will soon be in operation 
between the two places. Solar as our informants 
know, all of whom came from Newbern, .and had 
not been at Beaufort, there is no disturbance of 
properly at the latter place, and a majority ol the 
citizens remained quietly in their homes on the 
approach of the Federal forces. All the rebel sol¬ 
diers in the viciuily shut themselves up in For*' 
Macon. Their number was variously represented 
by citizens of Beaufort at from 300 lo 600 men. The 
Fort waa said to be slightly provisioned, and it was 
not believed it could hold out more than a week. 
Its ultimate capture is, of course, a matter of cer¬ 
tainty. Gen. Burnside was at Beaufort, 
Perfect order reigns at Beaufort. A number of 
citizens hiul returned to the place. Gen. Foster is 
Military Governor of the city. 
The rebels were believed to be in strong ibreo 
towards Kingston, 25 miles on the road to Golds- 
borough, and their scouts frequently appeared in 
the vicinity of Newbern. 
Intelligence, per steamer Constitution, at Fort 
Monroe, 28th ulk, state* that Commander Faraught’s 
licet numbers 23 vessel*, including the Hartford, 
Pensacola and Brooklyn, and Commodore Porter's 
mortar fleet numbers 29 vessels. The officers of the 
Constitution supposed the work of reducing Forts 
Jackson and St. Phillip was commenced some days 
since. It was supposed that some of the mortar 
boats would take position in an inlet in the rear of 
Fort Jackson, while other* would advance within 
shelling distance in the river, and endeavor to drive 
the rebels out of the forts. In the meantime the gun¬ 
boats would silence a battery about a mile below the 
forts, which protect* a barricade of logs. If (lie 
forts should continue impervious to the bombs of 
the mortar fleet, those acquainted with the character 
and energy of Farnught anticipate that he will lead 
his whole fleet directly under Ihe guns of the forts, 
and by repeated broadsides of grape and shrapnel 1, 
endeavor lo drive the gunners from Iheir posts. 
At New York on the ‘28lh alt.,tlio gunboat Hunts¬ 
ville arrived from Key West the 25th. The Niagara, 
South Carolina, Mohawk, Water Witch, Marion, and 
eighty other vessels, were at Key West The prize 
Magnolia would sail for New York the 26th. The 
ship Nightingale sailed the 21st for Tortugas and 
the Passey, , 
Advices from the Mississippi passes state that 
heavy firing was heard from Home of the passes, 
where some of our vessels had gone. The remain¬ 
der of Porter’s fleet all left Key West, together with 
several of our gunboats. An attack on New Orleans 
was momentarily expected. 
An expedition against Apalachicola is in contem¬ 
plation from Key West. Considerable cotton 
stored there, and is defended by thirteen guns and 
three thousand rebels. 
The health of tlx* troop* at Key West was good. 
The small pox broke out in a New Hampshire regi¬ 
ment at Tortugas. 
Two of the crew of the Magnolia reported great 
preparations at New Orleans to resist an attack 
Several gunboats were building, and martial law 
will soon be proclaimed. 
No truth In the reported capture of Yancey. He 
engaged passage in the .Mallory, which was cap¬ 
tured, but changed his mind, and was to sail from 
Havana in the schooner Break O’Day. 
The Huntsville has 200 bales of cotton and 
237 bates captured from the rebels. All her officers 
are well. 
The steamer Empire City from Port Royal arrived 
at New York on the 30th. The following is from 
the New South newspaper of the 22d lust.: 
Gen. Sherman visited Jacksonville on the 19th 
and was waited on by a Committee of citizens, who 
represented the feelings of all In town as strongly 
Union. Many inhabitants left Jacksonville with 
the rebels, Who threatened to hang all that remained 
Bands of rebel regulator* or guerilla* were pillaging 
and destroying all the property of suspected Union 
ists, under orders from the rebel Gen. Tropier. At 
Jacksonville, the night before the Union troops 
arrived, the regulators burned a large foundry, sev 
eral sawmills, and 5,000,000 feet o f lumber, a large 
hotel, and a large dry goods warehouse, supposed to 
belong to Union men. They threatened to destroy 
the entire city, hot the gunboat* making their 
appearance, they postponed doing so. Many are 
retiring to Jacksonville—among whom are rebel 
deserters anxious to take the oath of allegiance, and 
who state that desertions will be numerous. 
The sentiments of Eastern Florida are declared 
to be loyal, many being willing to take tip arms and 
defend themselves aguinst rebel tyranny, and on one 
occasion, when the regulators were reported coming, 
even the women seized arms. 
The National troops are treated to every hospi¬ 
tality which the town affords, and people state that 
they will go with the gunboats if they leave. But 
measures have been taken to protect them. 
The gunboat Ottawa has been 120 miles up the St 
John* river beyond Jacksonville, meeting no oppo¬ 
sition, while flags were displayed by the inhabitants, 
who claim protection of the boat 
I’ensacola has been evacuated, including also the 
forte. Also Forte Barrancas and McRae, and the 
rebels announce the entire abandonment of Florida. 
Troops raised In Florida have been ordered off, 
but refused to go. 
General Sherman had issued a proclamation to 
East Florida in which he states that the troops of the 
United States come to protect loyal citizen* and their 
property, and enable them to resuscitate the Gov¬ 
ernment. All loyal people who return or remain at 
home in quiet pursuit of their lawful occupations, 
shall be protected In all Constitutional rights. The 
sole desire and intention of the Government is to 
maintain the integrity of the Constitution and Laws, 
and reclaim the State* which have revolted Irom 
national allegiance to their former prosperous and 
happy condition. He expresses great satisfaction at 
the evidences of loyalty which he finds, and recom¬ 
mends citizen* to assemble in cities, towns, and pre¬ 
cincts. throw off t!*.u sham government forced upon 
them, swear true allegiance and fidelity to the 
Constitution of the United States, organize a gov¬ 
ernment, and elect officer* in the good old way* of 
the past. When this is done, he predicts a return of 
the prosperous and happy times, a community res¬ 
cued from want and suffering, and the enjoyment ol 
the finite of honest labor and the sweet* of happy 
homes, and the consolation of living under the wise 
and salutary laws duo only to an industrious law- 
abiding people. 
At a meeting of tbe loyal citizens of Jacksonville, 
Ha , on the 20th, a declaration, a protest, and reso- 
utions were unanimously adopted to the following 
effect: 
That no State has a Constitutional right to sepa¬ 
rate from the United States. 
That the act of secession adopted by the State 
Convention of Florida is void, being in conflict with 
the Constitution, and never having been submitted 
to the people f'gr ratification. 
That Florida is an integral part, of the United 
States, subject to Constitutional jurisdiction, and we 
believe that thousands of her citizens will hail with 
joy the restoration of the Government, bringing 
deliverance from the terrors of unrestrained military 
despotism. 
They protest, against all the acts and ordinance* 
of the Convention, depriving them of rights as citi¬ 
zens ol the United State*; against the despotism 
which denies the freedom Of speech and of the press; 
against contribution* of property and labor, and 
military assistance forced upon them; against 
tyranny which demands abandonment, of houses 
and property, Hie exposure of wives and children to 
sickness, destitution, famine, and untold miseries; 
against the barbarous policy which sendB brutal 
soldiers to pillage, and burn property and destroy 
life as a punishment for remaining at their homes; 
against the government which threaten* to hang 
them because they will not tamely submit to such 
indignities. 
Having been released from such dangers and 
indignities, and being restored to the Government 
of the United Slates, and the reign of terror having 
passed, it now becomes them a* loyal citizens to 
raise up a State Government. They recommend 
that a Convention of all loyal citizens be held forth¬ 
with to organize a State Government, of the State of 
Florida; also that the Chief of the Military Depart¬ 
ment of the United States be requested to retain a 
sufficient force to maintain order and protect the 
people In person and property. 
AFFAIKS AT WASHINGTON. 
The Commission appointed by Gon. Wool, to in¬ 
quire into the condition of vagrants or contrabands, 
say in their official report that they started with the 
general proposition that military power has not only 
the l ight, but it i* among its highest duties to avail 
itself of any and all mean* within its control to per¬ 
fect, its discipline and its position, and secure or 
make it, effective for au advance against an enemy, 
and for these ends it, has the right to compel the ser¬ 
vice or use from anything animate or inanimate, 
which military necessity may demand. 
The Commission state that a considerable amount 
of clothing Inis been distributed among tbe contra 
bands, while, with funds derived from their labor, 
the Quartermaster has issued clothing up to March 
1st, to the amount of $835. 
The mouth ending January 1st, rations were 
drawn to the extent ol’ $382 per day, which were 
issued to about 650 women and children aud old 
and infirm men. 
The number of contrabands is given as 1,508, thus 
distributed:—At Fortress Monroe, 691; at Camp 
Hamilton, 748; at, Camp Butler, and Newport News, 
74. Some are employed in trading and oystering, and 
about 100 by officer* and sutlers. Some have accom 
panted, a* servants, officer* geyug South, whileothers 
have unceremoniously disappeared. Little inclin¬ 
ation is manifested to go North. Comparatively few 
contraband* now come to our camps. Tbe navy i* 
decidedly popular with thorn, us therein they are 
treated as hoys, and receive $10 per month. I he 
Commission point, out various abuses, and suggest 
remedies. It, further appears from a report that 
Gen. Wool has issued an order that hereafter all 
wages earned by them will he paid to contrabands 
lor their own use and support, under such regula¬ 
tions as may lie deemed proper. 
The House having addressed an inquiry to the 
Secretary of War, he responded on the 26th ult,., by 
inclosing a letter from the Assistant, Secretary of 
War, Tucker, in which the latter says that very 
large transportations by water being required by 
MeClel Ian, the Quartermaster-General detailed Capt 
II. C. Hodges, Assistant-Quartermaster. to this duty, 
and I was required to assist him. All parties who 
have offered suitable vessels in answer to an adver¬ 
tisement, for transports were required to meet us 
without further resort to newspapers. It was mudo 
as public as possible, that the Government was in 
want of transportation, and desired to deal directly 
will) owners. A very largo number were chartered 
by direct negotiation with owners, while some made 
their application to ship brokers. A decided prefer¬ 
ence was given to tbe former. Capt. Ilodges and 
myself received only our regular compensation as 
Assistant Quartermaster, and Assistant Secretary of 
War. No other person* have been acting under au¬ 
thority or by direction and permission of Hodges or 
myself to effect such charters, and consequently no 
compensation has been or is to be paid for such ser¬ 
vices, and no person acting directly for the Govern¬ 
ment ha* charged the persons for such vessels any 
percentage on the amount of the charter, or any 
other compensation. 
Frequent applications are made as to the disposal 
of public lands in Neveda, but as land districts 
have not yet been organized therein, there are no 
species of floating claims, aud there is no doubt, that 
persons wheat present occupy lands will be secured 
in their locations by future legislation. ' 
The Provost Marshal has issued an order that no 
liquors will be passed by sentinels at the different 
ferries and bridges of the District, except by pass 
from the General Officer, stating purpose, design, 
quantity and description. 
The attempt* that are made toconnecj the present 
supervision of the telegraph with the censorship 
lately reported upon by the Congress Committee, 
render it proper to state that the censorship of tele¬ 
graph was abolished by the Secretary of War, on 
taking military possession of the telegraph, and 
military supervision of the telegram* throughout 
the United States substituted. The duty of the su¬ 
pervisor is to prevent the transmission by telegraph 
of information concerning late, present, or contem¬ 
plated movement* of the army of the United Slates, 
and all other information which is of military char¬ 
acter, tfiat ought to be concealed from the enemy; 
in all that, relates to political or private affairs, the 
telegraph is as completely unrestricted as before 
the rebellion. 
Postmaster-General Blair lias issued tbe follow¬ 
ing notice: 
TO Unite! Stoles l‘o8tmaslcrs: —The Secretary of 
War now regulates the transmission of information 
by telegraph affecting the conduct of the war. In 
order to prevent the communication of such inform¬ 
ation to the rebels, it is also thought necessary by 
the Secretary to put restriction on the publication of 
I acts uf till* character, however derived, and the aid 
of this department is requested for tins purpose. 
Yon will, therefore, notify publishers not to publish 
any fact which ha* been excluded from tne tele¬ 
graph, and disregard of this order will subject the 
paper to be excluded lrom the mails. 
M. Bi.juu, Postmaster-General. 
Secretary Chase means to carry out the principle 
announced some time ago, that commerce shall fol¬ 
low the flag, and has accordingly issued instructions 
to the Treasury agents, collectors, and surveyors on 
the Ohio and Mississippi, dispensing with applica¬ 
tions to the Secretary fur licenses to trade, and au¬ 
thorizing Ihe shipment of all goods not intended to 
aid the rebellion, to nil places occupied by our 
troop* in the valley States. Applications for per¬ 
mits can be made hereafter directly to the Collectors 
or Surveyors of the District ports. 
Secretary Welle* has addressed the following let¬ 
ter to Lieul. Worden of the Monitor: 
Navy Dkfautrknt, March 15, 1862. 
Sir: —The naval action which took place on the 
10th inst.. between the Monitor and the Merriimic, 
at Hampton Roads, when your vessel, with two 
guns, engaged a powerful armored steamer of at 
leust eight guns, and after a four hours’ conflict re¬ 
pelled her formidable antagonist, has excited gene¬ 
ral admiration und receive* the applause ol the 
whole country. 
The President directs me, while earnestly and 
deeply sympathizing will) von in the injuries which 
you have sustained, but which it is believed are but 
temporary, to thank you and your command for the 
heroism you have displayed, and the great service 
you have rendered. 
The net,Ion of the 10th, and the performance jmd 
the capabilities of the Monitor, mutt effect a radical 
change in naval warfare. 
Flag Officer GolcUborough, in your absence, will 
be furnished hy the Department with a copy of this 
letter of thanks, and instructed to cause it to be read 
to the officers and crew of the Monitor. 
I ain, respectfully, your ob't serv’t, 
Gideon Weu.es. 
The following dispatch wa* telegraphed to Gen. 
Shields: 
Wak J)i;i'AiniiKNT, Washington, M*rcli 26. 
To Brigadier-General Shields :—Your two des¬ 
patches relative to the brilliant achievement ol the 
force under your command have been received. 
White rejoicing at, the success of your gallant tri¬ 
umphs, deep commiseration is felt for those who 
have been victims in the gallant and victorious con¬ 
test with treason and rebellion. 
Your wounds, us well as your success, prove that 
Lander's brave division is siill bravely led, and that 
l .... _ .. drill 
wherever its standard is displayed the rebel* will 
be defeated and pursued. 
To you, and the officers and soldiers under your 
command, the Department returns thanks. 
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 
The Secretary of the Treasury has recently issued 
special licenses tor commercial intercourse, under 
the act of July last, which prohibits shipments from 
those ports of the United States heretofore declared 
by the President to bo in Insubordination, without a 
written permit. The licenses do not extend further 
than Nashville and intermediate points. Nothing 
shipped under them is to be disposed of to persons 
in arms against the government. 
It 1* expected that the new legal tender notes will 
be paid oat by tbe Treasury about the 1st of April. 
The President lias unconditionally pardoned two 
subjects of Great Britain wbo were convicted three 
years ago in the District Court of Florida, and sen¬ 
tenced to imprisonment in the District of Columbia 
penitentiary for seven years, for resisting and pre¬ 
venting the master and pilot of an American vessel 
in the Lee and lawful exercise of their authority ami 
command on board thereof. The President, in his 
proclamation lo Marshal Lainon, says the convicts, 
it, now appears,were guiltless Of criminal intent, and 
that Lord Lyon* caused special inquiry to bo made 
into the merits of their case, and besought him to 
.extend to them the Executive clemency. 
Arrangements are nearly completed for establish¬ 
ing a line of steamers between Washington and 
Fortress Monroe, so as to secure daily arrivals, the 
trip to lie made in nine hours. The proprietor will 
extend the facilities for carrying the mails, and it is 
more than probable that the Post-Office and War 
Department, will entourage tlio enterprise. 
A Military Department to be called the Middle 
Department, and to consist of the States of Mary¬ 
land, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the eastern 
shore* of Maryland and Virginia, and the counties 
ol Cecil, Harper and Ann Arundell, in Maryland, 
has been created. Maj.-Gen. Dix is assigned to the 
command, headquarters at Hatimore. 
Tho Commissioners appointed by tbo War De¬ 
partment. to adjust claims of contract* have made 
important reductions in the final settlement ofsomo 
bills. The Commissioners will save the Treasury 
millions oi dollars. 
jMaA - 
