portunity has now been offered, and they have | acquisition was a perfect god-send.—Missouri cheerfully consigned to the flames the labors of Democrat, December 12. the year. -GEN. HALLECK issued orders stating that the Mayor of St. Louis, Mo., would require all municipal officers immediately to subscribe to the oath of allegiance prescribed by the Missouri State Convention in October last, and would direct the provost marshal to arrest all State officers who had failed to subscribe to such oath within the time fixed by the Convention, and had attempted to exercise civil authority in violation of the ordinance. -THE Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiment, Col. Thomas G. Stevenson, which had been encamped at Readville, left Boston, on its way to Annapolis, at which place it was attached to Gen. Burnside's Division. regiment numbered one thousand and twenty men, all of whom were thoroughly uniformed and equipped, and armed with the Enfield rifle. The -COL. WILLITTS, of the Kansas Brigade, arrived at Leavenworth, Kansas, this evening, and reported the following facts: Gen. Price was at Osceola on the 1st December, with about eighteen thousand men ; he made a speech, and told them he was going to Kansas to avenge the burning of Osceola. —THE U. S. flotilla on the Lower Potomac was actively engaged to-day in shelling the woods and burning the buildings of the rebels at Freestone Point, Va. The Harriet Lane, Anacostia and Jacob Bell, supported by the Reliance, On Friday last, December 6th, thirteen perStepping Stones, and Herbert, poured a heavy fire for an hour and a half upon the enemy's sons started from near Olathe, in company with position. The rebel batteries at Shipping Point a Union man who had been driven out of Miskept up a brisk fire, which was responded to souri, to get some hogs belonging to the refugee. by the Union battery at Budd's Ferry with a They were attacked from the border in Missouri few shells. Lieut. McCrea, with a boat's crew by about thirty or forty rebels, when they from the Jacob Bell, and another boat from the retired back into Kansas, and soon raised near Anacostia, went ashore and burned down the two hundred men, with whom they returned. rebel buildings at Freestone Point, containing They soon met the enemy, who also had been stores. (Doc. 218.) reinforced by a considerable body, and a skirmish commenced, which lasted all day Saturday, resulting in a drawn battle, with two Nationals wounded, three rebels killed, and five mortally wounded.—Leavenworth (Kansas) Times, December 10. —ADJUTANT S. K. HALL, of Colonel Eads' Twenty-seventh Missouri regiment, came in to Sedalia, Mo., this evening from Dunksburg, twenty miles distant, with fourteen rebel prisoners and an escort of twelve mounted scouts. The prisoners were captured by Capt. McGuire's command, Company A, while on their way -F. W. PICKENS, Governor of South Carolina, issued a proclamation, stating that the "State is invaded, and Charleston is threatened, by land and by sea, with large forces," and calling for twelve thousand volunteers, to be furnished for a term of service, not less than twelve North. Eight of them were members of a cornet band from Price's army, and had their instruments, drums, and trumpets along. They were well provided with transportation, having a large band wagon drawn with four horses, all months, unless sooner discharged.—(Doc. 219.) of which were taken to Sedalia. The names of the band are as follows: Joseph Rosenthrall, leader; Charles Prentice, "E flat; " A. J. Cunningham, tenor; W. B. Lydick, cornet, B flat; George W. Wise, alto; W. H. Stephens, bass; Wm. H. Cunningham, drummer; Jacob Gains, driver; Robt. Fathing, baggage teamster. The Twenty-seventh regiment were sadly in want of music to cheer their drooping spirits, for every paymaster who had been detailed to pay off troops since the 1st July, had invariably ignored their claim for pay, and this band -REV. A. A. VON PUTTKAMMER, pastor of a German Baptist Church, Albany, N. Y., assumed command of the Havelock Flying Artillery, one hundred and sixty men and six guns, nearly ready to take the field. Mr. P. is a graduate of the Berlin Military Academy, and was twenty-three years in the Prussian service, where he obtained the rank of Captain of Artillery. He admits none but men of Christian character into his command, and proposes to observe worship three times a day when practicable.-Cincinnati Gazette, December 11. -A FLAG of truce went from Fortress Monroe to Norfolk, Va., this morning, carrying thirty-two rebel prisoners discharged by the United States on their parole. A rebel flag of truce met the boat and transferred thereto some ladies coming from Richmond, Va.-National Intelligencer, December 11. December 10.-Resolutions expressive of the opinion of the Legislature of Tennessee in regard to their future policy, and determination to maintain their Declaration of Independence of the old Government of the United States, were introduced to the Tennessee Legislature by Mr. Cardwell, of Weakley County.-(Doc. 220.) -A BATTLE took place to-day on Bushy -THE Court-martial of Col. Kerrigan was Creek, near the Verdigris River, about one convened at Washington, D. C., to-day, and a hundred and eighty miles from Fort Smith, large amount of evidence was taken. His Arkansas, between the forces of Col. Cooper and the Yankees, under Opothleyholo, estimated at four thousand or five thousand: Colonel Cooper had only about one thousand three hundred men. counsel was E. L. Hearne, of New York, and Reverdy Johnson. J. W. Coombs was the judgeadvocate.-N. Y. World, December 11. -THE question of the exchange of prisoners seems to be fairly settled. The New York The Yankees attacked Col. Cooper about Executive Committee, consisting of Messrs. eleven o'clock, and the fight continued all day until sundown. Col. Simms' Texas regi-lengthy and interesting interviews with the Savage, O'Gorman, and Daly, have had several ment fought with great bravery, and the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks fought like tigers. The Yankees followed Col. Cooper several miles, and attacked him with great fury. Col. Cooper drove them back to the woods, a dis-ject briefly, but warmly. tance of two miles. A large number of Cherokees were with Opothleyholo; likewise about one hundred and fifty Seminoles. Col. Drew, with his men, who remained with him, fought well and did good service. The Choctaws took about one hundred and fifty scalps, and the Chickasaws nearly fifty. The Creeks did not scalp any, because the enemy was their own people. President, Gen. McClellan, and senators and members of the House, all of whom favor it. The committee's interview with Gen. McClellan was especially gratifying. He spoke of the subThe Military Committee in both houses have reported favorably on the subject, and a joint resolution which has make an exchange, will pass the Senate topassed the House, requesting the President to morrow. In point of fact, an exchange has been practically going on, thirty prisoners having been sent from here yesterday to Fortress Monroe, while large numbers have been likewise released from Fort Warren. Richard lector Barney were before the cabinet to-day, O'Gorman, John Savage, Judge Daly, and Colwith reference to a general exchange of pris A white man, by the name of Eli Smith, was taken who had gone over to the Yankees. He was tried by a court-martial and shot. He was a deserter from a Texas regiment. Other desert-oners, and particularly with reference to Colonel Corcoran.-N. Y. Herald, December 11. ers were taken and dealt with in the same manner. Col. Cooper behaved with the greatest coolness and bravery.-Fort Smith (Ark.) Times, December 15. -MAJOR LYONS' Rocket Battalion, one hundred and fifty men, from Albany, left New York this afternoon for Washington. Their side arms will be sabres and carbines, and their battery is to be constructed on a new plan, so as to throw rockets as well as balls and shells. This arm is expected to be useful in burning towns or fighting cavalry. The battalion consists of two companies, that from Niagara commanded by Capt. Alfred Ransom, and that from Wyoming and Morris counties by Captain J. A. Lee.-N. Y. World, December 10. December 11.-Two companies of infantry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes, and two companies of cavalry, under command of Major J. J. Mudd, had a skirmish with the rebels near Bertrand, Missouri, to-day, losing one man. They took sixteen prisoners and a number of horses and fire-arms.—Missouri Democrat, December 12. -IN the Legislature of Western Virginia, in session at Wheeling, to-day, Mr. Carksadon, of Hampshire, introduced a resolution to prohibit any person engaged in the rebellion from ever holding office in the State. Mr. Snider, of Monongahela, introduced a resolution modifying those parts of the code which prohibit writing or speaking against slavery, so as to make them | were forced to retreat by a company of rebel conform to the spirit and genius of the National institutions. -THE Eleventh Michigan infantry, twelve hundred strong, commanded by Col. Wm. J. May, arrived at Jeffersonville, and were at once despatched to Bardstown, Ky. They are a fine body of men, and will doubtless do good service in the Union cause. Michigan has done nobly thus far, and the Eleventh is considered as good as, if not better than, any regiment yet sent to the war from that State.-Louisville Journal, December 12. -RELIABLE news reached Fort Smith, Arkausas, to-day, from the Indian country, from which it is learned that a large number of Creeks, Cherokees, and Seminoles have joined Opothley holo. The Cherokee regiment, under Colonel Drew, has disbanded, a part have joined the Nationals, a portion have returned home, and a part remain with Colonel Cooper. Opothleyholo is encamped about the Big Bend of Arkansas, with a force variously estimated at from two to four thousand men, well armed, and all naked to the waist, and painted. Colonel Cooper is encamped within five miles of the Nationals, with a small force, consisting of Colonel Simms' Texas regiment, Colonel McIntosh's Creek regiment, and the Chocktaw and Chickasaw regiment.-Fort Smith (Ark.) News, Dec. 12. -FIVE Vessels of the stone fleet, and the ships George Green and Bullion, of Gen. Butler's expedition, sailed to-day from Boston, Mass. -AN expedition, under Commander Rodgers, U. S. N., left Port Royal harbor, S. C., and explored Ossabaw Sound, Ga. It passed up the Vernon River, Ga., and was fired on by a fort on the eastern end of Green Island, without damage. Returning to the Sound, the expedition sailed up the Great Ogeechee River, and landed at Ossabaw Island, but found it abandoned. No batteries, except the one on Green Island, were discovered.-(Doc. 224.) THIS morning a party of rebels commenced firing on some National pickets in the vicinity of Dam No. 4, on the Potomac, near Sharpsburg, Md., but were forced to retreat to the woods, more than a mile from the river, after losing seven killed and many unded. When the rebels disapper" sc1] [l infantry. Before reaching the river, however, their escape was cut off by a troop of eighty cavalry, and the whole party, after a slight skirmish, captured. No assistance could be sent them by the National troops on the Maryland side of the river, and it was afterward ascertained that the prisoners had been taken to Martinsburg, Va.-(Doc. 225.) December 12.-The Montgomery (Ala.) Mail, of this day, says that "there have been six alarms of fire in that city within the two previous days. The Commercial Hall was fired twice in broad daylight. There was much excitement and great exasperation among the citizens." -IN the Maryland Legislature, in session at Annapolis, a resolution was introduced declaring the seat of Hon. Coleman Yellott, Senator from Baltimore, vacant, on the ground that during three successive sessions of the body he absented himself from his seat therein, without assigning any reason therefor; and whereas, it is a matter of public notoriety, established also by testimony before the Committee on Judicial Proceedings, that the said Senator from Baltimore City has gone to Virginia, and has no intention of resuming his seat in the Senate; and whereas, it is right and proper, in these times of public peril, the large and populous city of Baltimore should be represented here; and whereas, the Constitution of Maryland provides that in the event of the removal of a Senator from the county or city for which he is elected, the President of the Senate shall issue his warrant for the election of another person in his place : therefore, &c. Quite an animated discussion ensued between several of the members on the preamble and resolutions, when the vote was taken and the resolution declaring the seat vacant was passed. -LAST night and this morning a terrible conflagration raged in the city of Charleston, S. C., consuming and totally destroying nearly all the business portion of the city east of King St., in the direction of the Cooper River.—Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, Dec. 15. -THE authorities having learned that a number of rebels in the vicinity of Bagdad, Shelby County, Kentucky, on the line of the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad, were becoming troubleNational some, and had even gone so far as to compel tre, but loyal citizens to take the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, a squad of men from | seat of Bates County,) and returned with a large Col. Whitaker's regiment, at Spring Garden, number of refugees, quantities of stock, &c. near Louisville, Ky., were despatched to the They had two men killed at Butler. These neighborhood to-night, with orders to arrest towns had for a long time been the resort of a the rebels. Arriving on the ground, they were guerilla band of rebels. proceeding to make the desired arrests, when they were fired upon from the residence of a rebel, which was occupied by about forty persons. The fire was returned by the squad of half a dozen National troops, who were finally overpowered and forced to retreat, but one of them, however, having been wounded, and he not mortally.-Louisville Journal, Dec. 14. -A SCOUTING expedition, composed in part of Col. Merrill's regiment of cavalry, returned to Sedalia, Mo., bringing as prisoners four captains, two lieutenants, and about forty men. They also captured a mortar and a large number of horses. The expedition went as far as Waverly, Mo. The man who hauled down the American flag after Colonel Mulligan's surrender at Lexington, was arrested as a spy. -THE Bowling Green Courier publishes what purports to be a message from George W. Johnson, who signs himself "Provisional Governor," addressed to "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Legislative Council." The socalled "Provision Council" has been organized as follows: President of Council, Willis B. Machen, of Lyon; State Treasurer, Judge T. L. Burnett, of Spencer; State Auditor, Capt. Richard Hawes, of Bourbon; Secretary of State, Robert McKee, of Louisville; Clerk of Council, A. Frank Brown, of Pulaski; State Printer, W. N. Haldeman, of Oldham; Sergeant-atArms, John E. Thompson, Jr., of Mercer.-N. Y. Times, Dec. 14. -THIS day one of the hardest battles of the war was fought at Alleghany Camp, Pocohontas County, Virginia, between Gen. R. H. Milroy, commanding the Union troops, and Gen. Johnson, of Georgia, commanding the rebels. The fight lasted from daylight till three P. M. The Union loss is about thirty, and the rebel loss over two hundred, including a major and many other officers, and thirty prisoners. Gen. Jolinson was shot in the mouth, but not fatally. The Twelfth Georgia regiment suffered the most. Gen. Milroy's force numbered seven hundred and fifty men from the Ninth and Thirteenth Indiana, and the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-second Ohio and the Second Virginia. Gen. Johnson's force numbered over two thousand inen. The Ninth Indiana regiment fought bravely to the last. After driving the enemy into their barracks no less than five times, the Nationals retired in good order. The rebels set fire to their camp and retreated to Staunton. -(Doc. 226.) -Wм. H. JOHNSON, of the Lincoln Cavalry, sentenced to be shot as a deserter, was executed to-day. According to his own confession, he enlisted in order to desert, that he might thus reach New Orleans where his mother resides. In carrying out his plan, he got beyond the lines, but mistaking the Federal pickets for those of the enemy, he ran towards them, throwing up his hands and crying that he was a deserter. They assured him that they belonged to "the other side," took his arms, and said that he must prove his good faith by giving information. Thereupon, he told them that they could capture a party of our men, behind a hill, where they really were, and gave abundant details touching the Nationals strength and position. He was then taken prisoner, and carried within the National lines. -A SKIRMISH Occurred to-day on the banks of Green River, Ky. Company I of the Fifteenth Ohio was attacked by about one hundred and fifty rebel cavalry, who had dismounted from their horses and approached the patriots unobserved. The rebels fired one round without killing or wounding a man, and it was returned by the Ohio infantry with a couple of volleys, wounding several. The cavalry then. -THE British ship Admiral was captured retired, bearing their wounded with them.-off Savannah, Ga., by the Augusta, while atLouisville Journal, Dec. 16. December 13.-Major Williams of the Third Kansas regiment, made a dash into Missouri from Mound City, and burned the villages of Papinsville and Butler, (the latter is the county tempting to run in. She adopted a very ingenious mode to escape the scrutiny of the cruisers, by pretending to be one of the stone fleet, into which she had forced herself. But the ruse did not succeed, and the commander of the Augusta, |