at the Des Moines Rapids of the Mississippi River, 
he was chosen Chief Engineer, and took up his 
residence at Keokuk. He was elected to Congress 
from Iowa, as a Republican member ofthe Thirty-fifth 
Congress, and re-elected to the Thirty-sixth. On the 
breaking out of the war he resigned his seat to 
accept a commission os Brigadier-General, and in 
May last entered on his duties. He was assigned to 
duty in Missouri, which was then in the throes of 
revolution. He did much active service under Fre¬ 
mont, and shortly alter Gen. Ilalleck took command 
of the Department, he was appointed to command 
the expedition intended to clear the rebels out of 
South-Western Missouri. Deleft RoIIain January, 
with a force 20,000 strong, drove General Price from 
Springfield, routed him at Cross Hollows, and now 
has defeated the combined commands of all the 
rebel Generals in Arkansas. Congress, a few days 
ago, signified their approval of his merits by appoint¬ 
ing him a Major-General of Volunteers. 
General Ulysses S. Grant was born at Point 
Pleasant, Clairinont county, Ohio, April 27, 1822, 
and entered West Point Military Academy from 
Ohio in 1839, where he graduated with honors in 
1843, and was attached as brevet second lieutenant 
to the Fourth Infantry. lie was promoted second 
lieutenant_at Corpus CKristi in September, 1845, and 
served as such through Mexico, under Gen. Taylor 
at Palo Alto, Ilesaca de la Palma and Monterey, 
and under Gen. Scott from Vera Cruz to the city of 
Mexico, and was twice promoted for his bravery. 
He was regimental quartermaster from April 1, 
1847, and when he resigned the service on the 31st 
of July, 1854, he was a fall captain in the Fourth 
Infantry of regulars. After his resignation he set¬ 
tled in St. Lotus county, Missouri, and moved from 
there to Galena, Illinois, in I860. Upon the break¬ 
ing out of the present war he offered his services to 
Gov. Yates, a^id was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and 
served with bis regiment until promoted a Briga¬ 
dier-General, with commission and rank from the 
17th of May, J8G1. He was engaged as Colonel and 
Acting Brigadier-General in several of the contests 
in Southeastern Missouri; and his course as com¬ 
mander of the Southeast district of Missouri has 
been thoroughly scrutinized, and among his most 
praiseworthy acts was the occupation of Paducah, 
and the stoppage of communication and supplies to 
the rebels via the Tennessee and Cumberland 
rivers. The manner in which he conducted the 
battle of Belmont is still fresh in our readers' 
minds. The rest of his course, us commander there, 
is too well known to be repeated here, and certain 
it is that his action, in every instance, has been 
applauded both by his superior officers and the peo¬ 
ple. After the capture of Fort llenry a new district 
was created, under the denomination of the District 
of West Tennessee, and Gen. Grant was assigned 
by Gen. Ilalleck to the command of it. After the 
capture of Fort Donelson Congress made him a 
Major-General. 
The Commander of toe Monitor.—T he follow¬ 
ing brief sketch of Commander Worden we copy 
from the Eveninq Post: 
“John L. Worden, the commander of the Moni¬ 
tor, is a native of New York, and entered the navy 
in 1834. Early in April last he was sent as bearer 
of dispatches to Capt. Adams, of the Sabine, com¬ 
manding the fleet off Pensacola, with notice that 
Fort Pickens would be re-enforced by two com¬ 
panies of artillery, and instructions to Capt. Adams 
and Col. Brown as to their conduct in ease of an 
attack by rebels upon the fleet and fort. He went 
by the land route, and on the way he destroyed Lis 
dispatches. As he anticipated, ho was arrested at 
Montgomery, and as no papers were found on his 
person he was allowed to pass. On his arrival at 
Pensacola, he obtained a pass from rebel Bragg, 
permitting him to carry a verbal message from Sec¬ 
retary Cameron to Captain Adams. He went to 
him and repeated from memory liis dispatches. The 
fort was re-enforced, and on Worden’s return he 
was again arrested at Montgomery aud thrown into 
prison. There was an intense excitement against 
him, as rebel Bragg had collected a force of 1,000 
men and intended to attack Fort Pickens the very 
night it was re-enlbrced. Lieutenant Worden was 
kept in confinement until the middle of November 
last, when he was exchanged and went to Fortress 
Monroe, where he joined the Minnesota. He has 
recently been appointed to the command of the 
Monitor, and his brilliant condact in the fight of 
Sunday week shows that he is a hrave as well as 
competent commander.” 
Gen. Quinbt.— The Senate created about a dozen 
brigadiers on Monday week. Among them are sev¬ 
eral capital appointments. Isaac F. Quinby belongs 
in this city, and is a professor in the Rochester 
University. He is a graduate of West Point, and a 
thoroughly educated artillerist and engineer. He 
had military experience in the Mexican war, and as 
Colonel of the 13th N. Y. S. V., led that gallant 
regiment at both the Bull Run battles—Blackburn’s 
Ford on the 18th and Stone Bridge on the 21st of 
last July. Shortly after he resigned and returned 
to his professorship. We understand that he is 
appointed now at the special request of General 
Halleck, who knows the value of General Quinby, 
and who desires the advantage of his experience 
and services in the Department of the West. 
M. L. Patrick is also an old West Pointer, and 
an army officer of many years experience. He did 
good service in the handling of volunteers in the 
Mexican War. Some years since General Patrick 
retired to a farm in Jefferson county, lie is known 
to all agriculturists iu connection with our State 
fairs, and as the President of the New York State 
Agricultural College. He is a man of singular 
force of character, independence, and executive 
capacity. Since last spring he has been Inspector 
General of this State, though for many months 
posted at Washington iu the discharge ol his duties. 
He recently resigned, and was succeeded by Gen¬ 
eral Arthur. 
Capture of the Skiddaway Batteries. 
From the correspondent of the N. Y. Commer¬ 
cial Advertiser , writing on board U. S. gunboat 
Seminole, in Warsaw Sound, Ga., March 25th, we 
gather the following interesting particulars relative 
to the Skidd away Batteries: 
The Attack and Landing.— To-day at 12 M., 
signal was made by the senior Captain, John P. 
Gillis, commanding the Warsaw squadron, for the 
vessels in the harbor, consisting of the Wyandotte, 
Norwich and Seminole, to get under way. The 
Norwich drawing the least water, Capt. Gillis 
boarded her and led the way in line of battle, 
and stood up Wilmington to attack the batteries 
on Skiddaway Island, which have been building for 
some time. All hands in the squadron were 
delighted at the prospect, particularly after having 
arrived again at Warsaw from our bloodless victory 
at Cumberland Sound, and the hope of a little work 
before us animated both officers and crews of these 
noble ships. 
When we arrived within a mile of their batteries, 
the Norwich fired a shell from her Parrott gun into 
a body of cavalry that was seen there. The horse¬ 
men curvetted about in utter confusion, and fled. 
Proceeding up a quarter of a mile further, the Nor¬ 
wich sent the rebels a couple more shells into their 
encampment, that was a little back in the woods, 
which routed them all out As they did not seem 
inclined to return our fire, we drew up directly in 
front of the battery and let them have a broadside, 
which cleared them all out, and keeping up a raking 
fire upon them on their retreat, our boats were man¬ 
ned and formal possession taken of the fort, the flag 
being planted on the highest rampart by Captain 
Gillis in person. 
Tiie Stars and Strifes Hoisted over the 
Headquarters, —Acting-Master Steel, with a picket 
of eight or ton men, then went to the rebel head¬ 
quarters, tore down (be dirty secession dish-cloth 
flying there, and nailed the glorious old gridiron— 
the Stars and Stripes—to the staff, in its place, never 
to be removed, amid salvos of musketry. The 
rebels left everything behind them in their baste to 
get away, even to their dinners, which were still 
cooking over a hot fire. Captain Gillis then ordered 
all the works of the enemy to be destroyed, aa we 
had not troops with us to hold them, and accord¬ 
ingly they were fired. The sight was beautiful. 
The flanieB bursted forth in every part, utterly 
destroying everything. All the flat boats, scows, 
and other means of transport, belonging to the 
enemy, were also destroyed; but the private pro¬ 
perty and buildings were humanely spared by 
order of Captain Clllis, although after we left, the 
rebels, fearing our occupation, themselves destroyed 
tbera. During the destruction of the works, the 
enemy tired on us from behind the trees in a wood 
three-quarters of a mile distant, but killed no one. 
One of our men was slightly wounded, by a llinie 
ball passing between his legs and grazing the flesh 
on the inner side of his thigh. During the fire of 
the enemy, our men displayed great coolness and 
bravery. Captain Duncan should he especially 
mentioned for bis coolness, courage, and energy, in 
the destruction of the works amid the fire of the 
it been the requirement to the fulfillment of the 
object of the expedition. 
A- H. Foote, Flag Officer. 
enemy. 
Description of rnit Batteries.— The works on 
Skiddaway Island extend for about half a mile 
along the Wilmington river, and are built well and 
very powerfully. Had the enemy remained and 
fought, our squadron would have had much trouble, 
but our gunboats seem to strike terror into them at 
every approach, and their only resource is igno¬ 
minious flight The success of this achievement 
was great, more on account of its dash and daring, 
and shows wbat our noblo sailors will do when led 
by a brave commander. The channel of Wilming¬ 
ton river, as well as Skiddaway Island, is now 
thrown into our hands. Our glorious cause is still 
blessed, aud our arms victorious. 
Savannah in a “Bad Wat.”— After the com¬ 
plete destruction of all their works, that had taken 
the rebels over three months to put up, the squad¬ 
ron returned to its former anchorage. Yesterday, 
we took a prisoner, who for sometime was sullen, 
and would not answer questions, buthefinally came 
round, and told us “Savannah was in a bad way, 
and was short of provisions.” By a Savannah 
paper that lie gave us, we learned that they were 
trying to raise money to build a ram, for the 
destruction ot Captain Gillis' squadron at Warsaw. 
This prisoner was taken in a small boat, trying to 
run the blockade to Fort Pulaski, it is supposed 
with a mail, but the letters were thrown overboard 
when be was taken. From this quarter there is no 
further military news. 
Department of the Mississippi. 
On the 31st ult, Col. Buford, accompanied by 
the 27 th and 42d Illinois, and a part of the 15th Wis¬ 
consin, from near Island No. 10, and a detachment 
of cavalry and artillery from niekruan, under Col. 
Hey, made a descent upon Union City after a forced 
march of 30 miles, aud fell upon the rebel encamp¬ 
ment at seven o’clock in the morning, dispersing the 
entire force stationed there under Clay and King, 
consisting both of cavalry and infantry. They fled 
in every direction. Several of the enemy were 
killed and a number taken prisoners. A large amount 
of spoils was captured, 150 wagons tilled with Com¬ 
missary and Qarteriuaster’s stores, Ac. Our loss is 
one man killed from an explosion in a burning tent 
Tlie rebel force numbered 700 infantry and between 
700 and 800 cavalry. 
On the 1st inst,, 40 or 50 soldiers came into Hick¬ 
man, gave up their arms, and desired to return to 
their allegiance and join the Federal army. They 
were a portion ot those escaped from Union City 
yesterday. They report large numbers of the rebel 
troops are also disposed to yield. 
The telegraph line was discovered to be cut in a 
dozen places on the 3d inst., between New Madrid 
and Sykeston. Gen. Pope immediately issued a 
special order, informing the residents along the 
route that they would be held responsible for the 
safety of the telegraph, and that if any damage is 
done at or near their farms or residences, their houses 
shall be burned, themselves and families arrested 
and brought to camp, and shall be visited with the 
severest punishment. 
A special from Memphis states that General Buell 
had reached Savannah, on the Tennessee River, 
from Columbus. There had been brisk skirmishing, 
and great activity on both sides for the great 
struggle. 
Reliable information has been received from the 
Tennessee River. The gunboats Cairo, Lexington, 
Taylor, and transport Tigress, made a reconnois- 
sance as l'ar as Florence, Ala. They met with no 
resistance on the way, and only discovered one bat¬ 
tery, where the enemy had nine guns placed. 
The following dispatches have been received at 
Washington: 
U. S. Steamer Benton, off Island No. 10, April 2. 
To lion. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy :— 
Last night., an armed expedition was fitted out for 
squadron and land forces, under llte command of 
Col. Roberts, of the 22d Illinois regiment. The five 
boats comprising the expedition were in charge of 
first master J. R. Johnson, of the 8t. Louis, assisted 
by the fourth master. G. P. Lord, of the Benton, 
fourth do., Pierce, of the Cincinnati, do. Morgan, of 
the Pittsburg, and do. Seovell, of the Mound City, 
each with a boat's crew of ten men from their 
respective vessels, carrying in all 100 men exclusive 
of officers, under command of Col. Roberts. At 
midnight, the boats reached the upper or No. 10 
fort, pulling directly on its face, earned it. receiving 
only the harmless fire of two sentinels, who ran, on 
discharging their muskets, while the rebel troops in 
the vicinity rapidly retreated; whereupon, Colonel 
Roberts spiked the six guns mounted in the fort, and 
returned with the boats uninjured. 
The commanding officer represents all under his 
command, from their cbolness and determination, as 
being ready to perform more hazardous service had 
Cairo, April A, 1S62. 
To Hon, Gideon WeUes, Secretary of the Navy :— 
This morning the Benton, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg, 
with three mortar boats, opened and continued for 
more than an hour a lire on the rebels’ heavy float¬ 
ing battery at Island No. 10, when the latter having 
received several shells from rifles and mortars, 
cut loose from her moorings and drifted two or 
three miles down the river. Shells were thrown 
from a propeller into different parts of the island, 
and into the rebel batteries lining the Tennessee 
shore. The return (ire produced ho effect upon the 
squadron. No more men than were actually neces¬ 
sary to man the batteries, were visible. 
A. H- Foote, Flag Officer. 
By telegraph from New Madrid on the. 5th, we 
learn that the gunboat Carondolet arrived on the 
night previous, having run the rebel blockade at the 
island without damage, She had in tow on the side 
exposed to the fire of the rebel batteries, a barge 
loaded with bay, arranged in such a manner as to 
protect her. The night was intensely dark and 
stormy. She passed the first ba!forty before l>eing 
discovered; the second fired on her as soon as its. 
guns could be brought to bear, but owing to the 
darkness and the speed with which sho moved, the 
fire was totally harmless. A third battery also con¬ 
centrated its fire on her, but not a shot struck the 
boat She passed the fourth and fifth batteries with 
the same fortunate result. Fifty-three shots were 
fired at her. Three miles below the island the rebel 
floating battery opened on her, and continued firing 
until the Carondolet passed out of the range. All 
through the passage a continuous fire of musketry 
was kept up from the shore, and many bullets 
struck tbe boat; but all hands being below, nobody 
was hurt. The Carondolet did not discharge a gun 
during the entire passage. She passed tbe lost bat¬ 
tery within an hour after leaving the fleet. 
A telegram from the island at six o’clock P. M. of 
the 5th, says very heavy firing was heard in the 
direction of New Madrid. It is thought that the 
Carondolet was engaged with some of the rebel 
gunboats. From one to eight heavy reports were 
heard per minute. Her escape from injury in run¬ 
ning the blockade is attributed to the fact that she 
hugged the shore of the island so closely it was 
nearly impossible for the rebels to depress their 
guns sufficiently to hit her. There is great rejoicing 
throughout the fleet at her signal success. 
Firing was resumed on Saturday morning last by 
the gunboats and mortars at tbe island. One of our 
shells burst upon the rebel steamer Winchester, 
which set her on fire and burned her to the water’s 
edge. The Winchester was sunk by the rebels on 
the morning of the arrival of the Federal gunboats 
in the main channel on the north side of the island. 
The rebels are erecting batteries all aloug the 
Tennessee shore, to prevent the landing of Federal 
troops from Missouri. 
A telegram received from St. Louis, dated the 3d, 
says, “Gen. Steele’s advance guard has reached 
Putnam’s Ferry, Ark. Col. Carline had an engage¬ 
ment w ith the enemy on the first instant in crossing 
tbe river. We killed one Lieutenant and wounded 
several others, and captured five prisoners, camp 
equipage, horses, forage, aud a large number of 
small arms. 
Letters from our army in the South-West stale that 
information has been received there that the rebels 
under Price and Van Dorn are moving toward 
Memphis, in response to a call from Beauregard for 
help, and all the rebel forces in the West are 
ordered to concentrate in Tennessee in time for a 
great and desperate struggle. 
Correspondence to the St. Louis liepuLliean from 
Fort Union, New Mexico, March Is, says: 
CoL Slough’s Colorado regiment of volunteers, 950 
strong, arrived here five days ago. The effective 
fighiing force now here is 1,400 men, sufficient to 
defend tin's depot against any force the rebels can 
bring against us. We have stock enough to last our 
troops three months. This fort is the strongest on 
the western frontier, being 750 feet square, with 
parapets seven feet high, and a ditch eight feet deep 
and fifteen feet wide. It contains well stocked mag¬ 
azines. Ordnance for tbe w r orks have been received, 
and will probably be mounted immediately. At the 
latest advices. Colonel Can by was still shut up at 
Fort Craig, 250 miles south of here, and the Texans 
2,400 strong were at Albuquerque, with twenty 
pieces of artillery, about half way between here and 
Fort Craig. Other accounts say that the rebel 
Colonels Steele and Baylor, with 1,800 Texans, are 
advancing on the. fort. 
The Texaus hold Santa Fe, where they have 
organized a Provisional Government, with General 
Pelham as Governor. 
If a forward movement can be made without 
jeopardizing this department, it will be done, and an 
effort made to relieve Colonel Canby, and then 
reclaim. Santa Fe and Albuquerque. 
Department of the East. 
A kegiment of picked men, belonging to the 
Excelsior Brigade, left Liverpool Point, under com¬ 
mand of General Sickles, early on the 1st inst., lor 
Stafford Court House, ou a reeonnoissunce. The 
troops landed at Shipping Point batteries, and 
marched from thence past Dumfries aud through 
Acquiu to Stafford Court House. There was skir¬ 
mishing between a body of rebel cavalry aud the 
advance corps of General Sickles' command, six 
miles this side ot Stafford, and firing ou both sides 
was continued until we reached that place. The 
rebels, in their retreat, set fire to the town and all 
the stores. Our forces promptly stopped the confla¬ 
gration as soon aa they entered. A number of'pris- 
oners, horses, stores, <tc., fell into our hands. 
From Burke’s Station, a force of 1,200 rebel 
infantry, and a battery of six field pieces, were 
moving up to support their cavalry. After remain¬ 
ing three hours in Stafl'ord, camp fires were built on 
the hills to deceive the rebels, while pur forces with¬ 
drew from the place. Gen. Sickles, with part of his 
corps, arrived back at Shipping Point on the 3d 
inst. The rest came in at Brent's Ferry, opposite 
Liverpool Point. Our casualties were two wounded 
and a few missing. The corps marched forty-eight 
miles in seventeen hours, over the worst mountain 
roads. At Fredericksburg there are few troops. 
They are tailing back to Richmond. The citizens 
state that the Confederate government intend aban¬ 
doning Virginia. 
Col. Geary’s advance encountered 300 of Stew¬ 
art’s and White’s cavalry, aud a force of infantry, at 
Middleburg, Va., last Saturday. He drove in the 
rebel pickets outside ot Middleburg, when he 
entered the town and discovered the enemy in 
retreat and the cavalry posted to make a stand. A 
gun was placed to command the main street, the 
28th advanced by all the approaches of the town, 
and with the main body rushed through it, bayonets 
fixed, and on a double quick, driving the enemy 
before them. The charge through the town was 
fraught with great excitement. Knapsacks were 
thrown aside in the streets as the men rushed for¬ 
ward. Overcoats and blankets line the sides of the 
road. Stores were closed, and everything was 
excitement 
Col. Geary dashed on at the head of his troops, 
and at one time was within 200 yards of the rebel 
cavalry. 
Col. Geary’s command has scoured the country as 
far down as Alvie, from which place it returned as 
far as Sinckerville. 
A gentleman just returned from the Rappahan¬ 
nock, reports that Major Vanstein Housen and 
Capt Camp White, while out on service, were sur¬ 
prised and taken prisoners by the Louisiana Tigers. 
Lieut.-Col. Clayboil and Capt Koenig, in encoun¬ 
tering a rebel scouting force, killed two of the ene¬ 
my’s officers, whose horses were brought into eur 
camp. Capt. Muostadter was taken prisoner by the 
enemy. Shots are frequently exchanged between 
pickets or scouting parties. A reconnoissance was 
made yesterday, and twenty wagon loads of forage 
were secured. 
The gunboat Seminole arrived at Fortress Monroe 
from Port Royal on the 3d inst. Fort Pulaski had 
been thoroughly invested for thirty days, and was 
momentarily expected to surrender. It was said 
that about M0 rebels were in Pulaski, and that they 
had offered to go out with the honors of war, but 
that General Sherman demanded an unconditional 
surrender, and would on the first of April open fire 
on tbe fort, if they still refused to yield it The 
rebels had withdrawn all their forces from the coast 
of Georgia, and had abandoned the works at Thun¬ 
derbolt, taking away all their guns to Savannah. 
The SemiDole landed a force and destroyed Thun¬ 
derbolt Fort, whioh is within five miles of Savan¬ 
nah, over a good shell road. 
Refugees from Savannah say that the friends of 
the troops inside of Fort Pulaski had offered $30,000 
to any one who would rescue them. A refugee from 
Charleston represents that there is a great panic 
there since the capture of Newbern. Women and 
children were leaving, and the general expectation 
was that a terrible blow would be struck there. 
From Florida the intelligence is most gratifying. 
The Union sentiment was strongly developing itself. 
The steamer Atlantic arrived in New York on the 
6th, from Port Royal the 4th. Among her passen¬ 
gers are Gen. Sherman and staff. 
Advices from Jacksonville, Fla,, of the 1st,, state 
that an attack was expected there from Mississippi, 
by a Florida guerrilla regiment, a battery and troops 
of rebel horse, but General Wright is confident of 
being able to sustain himself against them. Rebel 
deserters state that their troops have to subsist 
entirely by foraging, are out of food, and in a des¬ 
perate condition. The yacht America has been 
raised by our naval forces, and, with the steamer 
Darlington, is a prize. 
The report was current that Burnside had been 
ordered to evacuate Newborn within six days, and 
that he had returned a reply that he would meet the 
rebel commander at Goldsboro and Raleigh. Little 
change in the state of affairs at Beaufort. Fori 
Macon still holds out, and is to be beseiged. Exten¬ 
sive preparations are going on, and operations will 
be commenced in a few days. A few shells hare 
already been thrown into the Fort. 
Dispatches this (Tuesday) morning state that 
Yorktown is now enduring a siege by the Federal 
forces. On Saturday the enemy’s works were care¬ 
fully examined by General McClellan, aud were 
found to be very strong and the approaches difficult. 
Yorktown will fall, but, it is thought, not without a 
siege of two or three days. Some of the water 
works wore taken yesterday. 
A dispatch from General Wool states that General 
Magruder had 30,000 men at Yorktown. 
The first shot fired was by the rebels, the shell 
passing over the head of General Porter and staff 
without exploding. The batteries of Griffin’s 3d 
and 4th Rhode Island and 6th Massachusetts were 
placed in position, replying to every shot sent by 
the rebels. The cannonading continued with but 
Blight intermission until dark. About 400 shots 
were fired by both parties during the day. The 
loss on our side was three killed: Ed. Lewis and 
Chas. L. Lord, of the 3d Massachusetts battery, and 
John Reynolds, 4th Rhode Island. Wounded—Tim 
Donahue, in the arm; Freeman Carrig and Charles 
Tucker, contusion of the chest—all of the 3d Massa¬ 
chusetts battery; Sergeant Jas. North, Co. C, in the 
arm; Carrus Wilcox, Co. C, piece ol shell in the 
leg; C. W. Peck, of Co. F—all of Berdan’s sharp¬ 
shooters. 
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON. 
Major Donaldson, chief of the Quartermaster's 
Department in Now Mexico, reached Washington 
last week. He brings much important information 
in regard to the rebel raid in that territory, lie 
says the rebels hold every position of value except 
Fort Craig and Fort Union. The. latter, which is 
the most important fort in the far West, containing 
millions ol dollars’ worth of government stores, is 
now- safe beyond peradventnre. It is garrisoned by 
1,600 soldiers, has water within the fortifications, 
and provisions for an almost unlimited siege. It 
will be (lie rallying point for the ample Union 
forces now marching to expel the invaders. Major 
Donaldson states many incidents of the late battle 
near Fort Craig, and says that Major Lockridge, of 
Nicaragua (filibuster fame, fell dead at the bead of 
the Texas Rangers in their last terrible charge upon 
Capt. McRae’s battery. 
Postal operations have been resumed with Mar- 
tinsburg, Va., and the office at Harper’s Ferry will 
be opened next week, under the direction of the 
Post Office Department, 
Many of the contrabands who have been tempo¬ 
rarily subsisted by the Government in Washington, 
until employment could be provided, are now fully 
occupied at the several hospitals, and considerable 
numbers have been engaged as servants in private 
families. 
The Secretary of War directs that hereafter no 
person not belonging to the United States service 
shall be permitted to take passage in any public 
transport without the Special permission of the War 
Department. 
The Provost Marshal has given notice that the 
only passes now issued are for officers and soldiers 
who wish to visit the south side of tbe Potomac and 
return, and the only interdicted articles are liquors 
and contraband of wut. The order dispensing with 
passes for citizens is to restore matters, as far as 
possible, in this section of the country, to the condi¬ 
tion in which they existed before the commence¬ 
ment of the war. 
Surgeon-General Finley has been removed from 
the charge of the Medical Bureau in the War 
Department, which, for the present is in charge of 
Dr. Wood. Assistant-Surgeon Wright has been 
removed from the Medical Directorship at St \ 
Louis, and Assistant-Surgeon Camp appointed in 1 
his place. Other important changes in the Modi- I 
cal Bureau will speedily be made, to increase tbe 
efficiency of that department. 
A military hospital has been ordered to be estafo l 
lisbed at New Albany, Indiana. The Jefferson 
barracks, near St. Louis, have been converted into 
a military hospital. 
The Secretary of War has communicated to Con¬ 
gress his opinion that the present organization of 
the Medical Bureau is inadequate to the service, 
lie has authorized the Surgeon-General of New 
York, under the direction of the Government, to 
organize a volunteer corps of surgeons, to render 
medical aid when requested. A similar organize 
tion has been made under tbe Governor of Pensyi. 
vania, and valuable service has been rendered by 
Mr. Smith, Surgeon-General of that State, and his 
assistant*, to the wounded at Winchester. 
Complaints having been made by commanders 
ot military posts that movements are impeded 
and discipline relaxed by the presence of female 
visitors, the Secretary of War has ordered that no 
passes be granted to Fortress Monroe or any other 
military post, to any persons not engaged in the 
military service, and he has authorized commanders 
of military posts to remove all persons not engaged 
in the service. Passes for purposes of trade and 
business are also refused. 
All the officers in the recruiting service have been 
ordered to their regiments, and notice given to the 
Governors of the States that no new enlistments or 
new levies will he received until further orders 
from the War Department. 
The force now in tbe field is deemed ample for the 
suppression of the rebellion and tbe speedy termi¬ 
nation of the war. 
It is ascertained on examination that Capt. Fox, 
Assistant-Secretary of the Navy, as soon as it was 
known that the Nashville had run in at Beaufort, 
N. C., telegraphed fo every gunboat of the navy 
that was available to proceed forthwith to that port 
to prevent her escape. All urgency was expressed 
in his (dispatches, but by a run of ill luck that some¬ 
times defies all human control, not one reached her 
destination in time to do any good. 
The prospect is excellent for the passage of the 
bill for the completion of the Stevens' Battery. The 
amendment, of the Senate referring 1 he mat ter to the 
judgment of the Secretary of the Navy, was merely 
meant as a respect to that, Department, it not being 
contemplated that the Secretary would veto a bill 
deemed so important. The Secretary prefers not to 
have the responsibility impliedly placed on him by 
the language of the bill, and it is probable that he 
will request the amendment referring the matter to 
him struck out. The Department is anxious to 
have everything in the way of improvement of iron¬ 
clad ships fully tested. 
Attorney-General Bates has given his opinion 
ihat the & cts of January and August, 1813, granting 
pensions for wounds and disabilities, are applicable 
only to the forces thereby created, and will not 
cover cases of those called into service by the act 
of July 22nd last, nor are their widows and orphans 
entitled to pensions under the act of July 4th, 1836. 
Grave doubts may be suggested whether existing 
laws make provision for pensions to the widow- of 
those now in the service who may die from disease, 
or be killed in battle; and upon the whole question, 
the Attorney-General inclines to the opinion that 
there is no adequate provision oflaw by which such 
widows are entitled to a pension in addition to the 
bounty conferred by the act of July lust. The 
militia received uuder the President’s proclamation 
of April 15th, 1861, which was in accordance with 
the law of August 2nd, 1813, are, in cases of wounds 
and disabilities, entitled to pensions under its pro¬ 
visions. 
The Commissioners to examine into the affairs of 
the West, or ihe Missouri Military Department, have 
made a voluminous report, in which they state they 
examined twelve witnesses, and had claims pre¬ 
sented to them amounting to $.800,000. They 
remark that they have devoted the principal part of 
the report to the exposure of the abuse w hich char¬ 
acterized the late administration ol' that Depart¬ 
ment, and testify to the integrity which has gener¬ 
ally been displayed by the merchants, mechanics, 
and manufacturers, when permitted to deal directly 
with the*Government. 
The following was received at the War Depart¬ 
ment on Saturday P. M. 
To non. E, M. Stanton:— Sir: We have heard 
i 
< 
some firing in tbe direction of Yorktown, and two 
or three regiments have gone to Shipping Point. 
From information received to-day, it appears that 
tbe Merrimac is in the dry dock loaded with coal. 
She is to come out of the dock to-day with two 
more guns, one of large caliber. All goes on very 
smoothly. I don’t believe the army of the Potomac 
will find many troops to contend with. 
J. E. Wool, Major-General. 
The following Official Orders have been promul¬ 
gated during the past week: 
sixth — general order respecting railroads 
AND TELEGRAPHING SUPERINTENDENCE. 
War Dbeaetui nt Washington, D‘. O.,) 
April 6th, 1862. ( 
D. C. McCallum, having been appointed Colonel 
in the volunteer service, is assigned to special duty 
in tbe War Department as Military Superintendent 
of Railroads. 
Anson Stager, having been appointed Colonel in 
the volunteer service, is assigned to special duty in 
the War Department as Military Superintendent of 
the War Department as Military Superintendent of 
all the Telegraph Lines in the United States. 
Edward L. Sanford, having been appointed Col- 
Edward L. Minloni, Having keen appointed Col¬ 
onel in the volunteer service, is assigned to special 
duly in the War Department as Military Superin- 
. s.. . i i. a __. i .u .. _ a in 
tendent of telegraph dispatches and army intelli¬ 
gence throughout the United States. They will be 
respected and obeyed accordingly. 
By order of the‘Secretary of War. 
L. Thomas, Adjutant-General. 
War Department. Washington, } 
April 4 , 1862. 5 
Ordered: 1st, That the portion of Virginia and 
Maryland lying between the Mountain Department 
and the Blue Ridge shall constitute a Military De¬ 
partment, to be called the Department of the Shen¬ 
andoah- and be under the command of Banks. 
2d, That portion of Virginia east, of the Blue 
Ridge aud west of the Potomac and Fredericksburg 
and Richmond railroad, including the District of 
Columbia and country between the raiitu vent, shall 
be a Military District, to be called the Department 
of Rappahannock, and be under the command of 
McDowell. 
By order of the President, 
E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 
Post Onvick Department, Wasuington, ? 
April 3,1862 i 
The Post Office Department, deem it advisable 
that all letters addressed to officers and soldiers of 
tbe army of the Potomac, whether near Washington 
or moving south, should be mailed to Washington 
City. From that office it will be properly forwarded 
in separate packages to the respective corps and 
divisions, and their delivery facilitated. 
The commanders of divisions are requested, aa 
movements occur, to cause notice to be given to the 
Postmaster at Washington, to what convenient point 
shall packages destined to regiments under them be 
sent. John A. Kasson, First Ass’t P. M. Gen. 
