-Tms afternoon, Richard Gatewood, a private soldier of the First Kentucky regiment, was executed at Charleston, Va., for the combined crimes of desertion, mutinous conduct, and a murderous assault upon a sentinel while on duty.-Cincinnati Gazette, Jan. 1, 1862. an American-built steamer, and until within a | ning half a dozen times under the very noses few months the property of American owners, of the Yankee cruisers.-Charleston Mercury, should be one of the first employed in the trans- Dec. 21. port of British troops to the northern part of the American continent, to operate, probably, against the country in which she was built. "On the two vessels leaving the docks, the volunteer band took up a position on the extreme end of the jetty, and as the Adriatic slowly moved past, they played the appropriate airs I Wish I Was in Dixie,' and 'The British Grenadiers,' followed by 'Cheer, Boys, Cheer,' and 'Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot,' as the Parana passed, in each case closing with 'God Save the Queen,' after which several parting rounds of enthusiastic cheers were exchanged between the multitude of spectators on shore and the gallant fellows on board the vessels." -MAJOR MCKEE, with one hundred and three men of Col. Bishop's command, encountered and repulsed four hundred rebels four miles south of Hadson, Mo., and killed ten, and took seventeen prisoners and thirty horses. Five of the National troops were slightly wounded. The rebels had attacked a stock train, captured all the stock, and held the railroad men as prisoners. They were in the act of unloading the stock, when the train, stock, and men were rescued. -YESTERDAY morning the stone fleet of sixteen old whalers arrived off Charleston Harbor, S. C. In the afternoon, one of the lightest draught was sunk on the right of the main ship channel; during the night four more were sunk, and to-day the remainder, eleven in number, were made to complete the work. All the vessels but one, which was reserved for a pyrotechnic display, were dismantled, and deprived of masts, rigging and every thing but the hulls. The sinking of the fleet was under the direction of Captain Charles H. Davis, U. S. N., who, by his able and scientific management of the work, effectually closed the main ship channel of Charleston Harbor.-(Doc. 235.) -THE brave little steamer Theodora, which has won for her name so prominent a place in the history of the Confederate States, is still "bobbing around" on the high seas. A despatch from Thos. J. Lockwood announces that he has arrived safe, "as usual," in the flourishing Confederate seaport of after paying a flying visit to several foreign lands, and run December 21.-The Kentucky House of Representatives, by a vote of sixty-nine to eleven, concurred in the Senate's amendment to the bill reported by the House Committee on Federal Relations, thanking the President for his modifications of General Fremont's proclamation and Secretary Cameron's report, and requesting the President to dismiss Secretary Cameron from the Cabinet. At Baltimore, Md., this morning, the deputy provost-marshal overhauled the steamer George Weems, as she was about leaving for the Patuxent River landings, and arrested a man named W. T. Wilson, an Englishman, who had secreted in his clothing, and in a bladder in his hat, a quantity of morphine and quinine. He also arrested a man named Hanna, of Chester County, Pa., formerly of California. Both were supposed to be rebel agents. THIS morning a little before daylight, the pickets at Stump Neck, on the Potomac River, saw a boat with a man in it approaching from the Virginia shore. They concealed themselves till the man landed, when they arrested him. He brought with him a number of letters, which were taken charge of and conveyed, with the prisoner, to General Hooker's head-quarters. Another man was waiting with a horse, upon which to convey the mail-bag. He was also arrested and the horse seized. Early this morning, as the U. S. gunboat Resolute was on her way down the Potomac, from Washington, some pickets of rebel cavalry were seen at Holland Point, near the White House. Acting Master Tole, in command, fired a few shells among them, scattering the rebels in all directions. A number of them ran out of a house, near which their horses were picketed, and rode off as fast as they could. A boat's crew was then sent on shore in charge of acting master's mate J. L. Plunkett. On their way they saw some women and children busily leaving the houses. On entering, the building was found to be deserted, but there were traces of recent occupation by cavalry.-N. Y. Herald, | out with orders to gather such fuel as they December 23. could easily remove. A march of twenty minutes soon discovered the presence of the rebels, who consisted of cavalry, supported by infantry. Seeing no chance of successfully competing with such a force, they retreated in good order toward their works; but, being reinforced by Col. Max Weber's New York infantry, again advanced, when a sharp en -CHARLES ANDERSON, brother of General Robert Anderson, addressed a large audience at Cooper Institute, New York, this evening. The cause of the rebellion he attributed to the check received by men in their greedy pursuit of political power. -THE Southern papers of this date are filled with articles expressive of delight at the pros-gagement took place. The rebel infantry dispect of a war between England and the United States, in reference to the seizure of Messrs. Mason and Slidell. December 22.-The rebel commissary and ordnance stores at Nashville, Tenn., were destroyed by fire to-night. The loss was estimated at nearly a million dollars. -PART of the prisoners captured by General Pope at Black Water, passed through Otterville, Mo. Among them were Colonel Magoffin, brother of Governor Magoffin, of Kentucky; Colonel Robinson, who had command of the rebel force at Black Water, and who was in the battles of Dug Springs, Wilson's Creek and Lexington; Colonel Alexander, who said he fought in all the battles; Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, Major Harris, Dr. Smith, one of the wealthiest men and largest slaveholders in Missouri, who had done every thing in his power to aid and comfort the rebels; McKean, sheriff of Benton County, who, it is said, by mis representations, gained admittance into one of the Federal camps, made a diagram of it and left that night (when the rebels made an attack and killed sixteen or seventeen of our men ;) Dr. Moore, of Syracuse, and many others, who had gained notoriety by their zeal and labors in the secession army.-N. Y. Commercial, December 24. -AT Richmond, Va., the citizen volunteers, under Captain T. M. Ladd, who offered to escort the one hundred and seventy-five Yankee prisoners who were to be sent South, assembled on the Capitol square, near the Bell House, and after being formed into line and manoeuvred for some time, were conducted to the Arsenal, where they were furnished with muskets, balls, and powder for the occasion that called them into being.-Richmond Dispatch, December 23. -A SLIGHT Skirmish occurred this morning at Newmarket Bridge, near Newport News, Va. About eight o'clock, four companies were sent charged several volleys at the Federals, but at such distance that only five of Col. Weber's command were wounded. At two o'clock in the afternoon both parties retired.-(Doc. 237.) -AN account of various hostile operations between the rebel and National forces on opposite banks of the Potomac, near Williamsport, Md., was published to-day.—(Doc. 236.) -AT St. Louis, Mo., Gen. Halleck issued an order, in which he says that any one caught in the act of burning bridges and destroying railroads and telegraphs, will be immediately shot, and that any one accused of the crime will be tried by a military commission, and if found guilty, suffer death. Where injuries are done to railroads and telegraph lines, the commanding officer nearest the post will immediately impress into service, for repairing damages, the slaves of all secessionists in the vicinity, and if necessary, the secessionists themselves and their property. Any pretended Union men having information of the intended attempts to destroy such roads and lines, or other guilty parties who do not communicate such intention to the proper authorities and give aid and assistance in punishing, will be regarded as particeps criminis and tried accordingly. Hereafter towns and counties in which such destruction of property takes place will be made to pay the expenses of all repairs, unless it shall be shown that the people of such towns and counties could not have prevented it on account of the superior force of the enemy. December 23.-The prize schooner Charity, captured off Hatteras Inlet, N. C., on the 17th of December, by the steamer Stars and Stripes, was wrecked off Hempstead, L. I. She had been placed in charge of Captain George Ashbury, to be taken to the port of New York.-N. Y. Times, December 29. -A FIGHT occurred at Joseph Coerson's house, in Perry County, Ky., between one hun dred and eighteen rebels and forty-seven Union St. Joseph's Railroad, were burned by the rebels men. The rebels were completely routed, with this night.-Cincinnati Enquirer, December 27. sixteen wounded, and the Union loss nothing.— N. Y. Tribune, December 28. -Ts day about noon, the stout gunboat Florida, C. S. N., concluded to celebrate Christmas eve by a small set-to with the insolent Lincoln cruiser New London, which was lying off the mouth of the harbor of Mobile, Ala. The Florida ran down to the westward of Sand Island, and challenged the New London to come on, which she did, and for an hour or two a lively cannonade at long taw furnished an excit -GEN. ROSECRANS issued an address to the army of Western Virginia, in which, after alluding to their triumps during the campaign, and their gallantry and devotion to the National cause, he urged them to perfect themselves in all that pertains to drill, instruction, and discipline, and promised to provide for them every thing necessary to prepare them for their com-ingly interesting exhibition for the entertaining work. He further stated that he should organize boards of examiners, who would rid the service of the disgrace and the soldiers of the incubus of incompetent and worthless officers, who hold the positions and receive the pay without having the will or capacity to perform the duties of their positions. December 24.-Gen. Pope's cavalry, sent to Lexington, Mo., captured two rebel captains, one lieutenant, and four men, with horses, &c. They destroyed the foundry and ferry boats at Lexington.-General Halleck's Despatch. -A CARD from J. J. Mc Keever, President of an organization known as the "Southwest Co.," appeared in the Memphis Appeal, announing that the third special messenger would leave Memphis on the 1st of January, "taking mail matter for all parts of the world." THE U. S. War Department issued orders stopping the enlistment of cavalry soldiers. The Government had all the cavalry that were necessary. ment of the great audience which viewed it— the four thousand men who garrison Forts Morgan and Gaines, as well as the crews of the blockading vessels, being the spectators. The Florida could not come to close quarters with the enemy by reason of the shoal water of a bar intervening, and could she have got out it is likely she would have had more than she could attend to with the several blockaders that were lying off in deep water. The engagement was lengthy, and many shots were fired on both sides, and ended by the New London backing out, as usual. The Florida was not touched, but it is thought that three of her pills took effect on the enemy. All but these three were seen to strike the water, but the thousands of eyes which watched could not tell where these three went to if they were not stopped by the New London. She was evidently hit hard, for after backing out of the fight she signalled the fleet, and one of them ran down and lay alongside of her for several hours, rendering assistance, it is supposed. The spectators say that the Florida's long and terrible guns were admirably served, the practice being excellent, placing the shot and shell all around the mark, so close, in many instances, as to apparently dash the water upon the Lincolnite's decks. The engagement is said to have been a most -A BILL to increase the duties on tea, coffee, sugar, and molasses passed the U. S. Congress. The duties were raised on tea to twenty cents per pound, on coffee to five cents, on sugars to two and a half, three, five, and eight cents, and on molasses to six cents. It was estimated that the increase would add to the revenue six mil-animating and exciting scene as witnessed from lions of dollars a year. -BLUFFTON, S. C., was occupied by the Union forces under General Stevens. The town was found deserted.-N. Y. Herald, Dec. 30. -THE Thirty-fifth regiment of Indiana volunteers, under the command of Colonel John C. Walker, left Jeffersonville, for active service in Kentucky.-Indianapolis Journal, Dec. 26. December 25.-Two spans of a bridge across the Charleston River, Mo., on the Hannibal and the forts.-Mobile Evening News, December 26. -THE Lighthouse, situated on Morris' Island, Charleston, S. C., harbor, and which for many years has guided the mariner to the harbor, was blown up to-night by order of the military authorities. Only a heap of ruins marks the spot where it stood. - Charleston Courier, December 28. December 26.—A skirmish took place near Camp Boyle, Columbia, Ky., this evening. Last night the National pickets having reported | Md.-General Banks issued a stringent order a strong force of rebels in the neighborhood, in regard to the seizure of forage without the Colonel Haggard, commanding at the camp, owner's consent, and another prohibiting the ordered out a party of men, with Major Ousley sale of liquor to soldiers.—Philadelphia Press, at their head, to go in pursuit. Arriving in the December 28. vicinity this morning, they saw nothing of the enemy. They waited, however, for some time, ad leing hungry, ordered supper at the hotel, and supper being ready they all sat down and were enjoying it finely, when a sentinel rushed in and gave an alarm. The Nationals all broke for their horses, but before a horse was mounted, a shot from one of Capt. Palmer's men brought the rebel color-bearer to the ground. The poor fellow was a Scotchman-too brave a man to be enlisted in such a cause. The troops rushed up to him and wanted him to surrender, but he would not, and hurraing for Jeff. Davis, drew his revolver and was about to shoot, when one of the Nationals gave him a quietus that brought him to terms. The rebels were about six hundred strong, but retreated after receiving some two or three rounds. Colonel Haggard's small party then also left the field, having killed five of the enemy and wounded some others.-Louisville Journal, December 30. -MAJOR GOWER, commanding a squadron of the First Iowa Cavalry, arrived at Jefferson City, Mo., with one captain, thirteen men, and ten wagon loads of stores, captured from Gen. | Price's army.-Gen. Halleck's Despatch. -PHILIP ST. GEORGE COCKE, Brigadier-General in the Confederate army, accidentally or designedly killed himself at his residence in Powhatan County, Va. He was a wealthy, public-spirited gentleman, and a well-behaved and accomplished officer. Brigadier-General Cocke was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He entered that institute as a cadet in 1828, graduated July. 1832, was immediately appointed to a brevet second lieutenantey in the Second artillery; promoted to adjutant of his regiment in 1833. He resigned in 1834. He was a native of Virginia, and at the breaking out of the present rebellion was commissioned a general in the Confederate army.-Norfolk Day Book, December 28. -IN the Senate, at Washington, Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, offered a resolution calling upon the President to transmit to the Senate copies of all despatches which had passed between the Government and that of Great Britain relative to the seizure of Mason and Slidell. Mr. Sumner objected to its consideration. Mr. Hale advocated its passage in a speech of considerable length, in which he opposed the restitution of the rebel envoys, and advocated in preference a war with Great Britain. The resolution was laid over under the r ule.-Mr. Garrett Davis, Senator from Kentucky, gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill confiscating every species of property of all persons who have had any connection with the rebellion, either in a civil, military, or naval capacity.-Mr. Harlan, of Iowa, introduced a bill to establish a Provi sional Government in all the seceded States. -A FIRE broke out in the Government stables, near the Observatory, in Washington, D. C., and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred horses out of six hundred which it contained, were burnt to death. The fire was supposed to have resulted from carelessness. -THE Sixth New Hampshire regiment, numbering one thousand and twenty-three men, Col. Nelson Converse, passed through New York for Washington. They had been encamped at Keene, Cheshire County, since November 15. Before they left, Gov. Berry presented them with a stand of colors.-The First battalion of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, numbering four hundred and fifty men, arrived at New York, and left for Annapolis in the afternoon, to join Gen. Burnside's expedition, -THE steamer Arago arrived at New York from Europe, bringing as a passenger Lieut.Gen. Winfield Scott, and intelligence that the party in Europe advocating a war with the United States, was "greatly encouraged in their cry for blood."--N. Y. Herald, December 27. -ANDREW KESSLER, Jr., a member of the -FIRST LIEUTENANT J. C. IVES, Topograph late Maryland House of Delegates, was re-ical Engineers, U. S. A., having tendered his leased from Fort Warren on taking the oath of resignation under circumstances showing him allegiance, and returned to his home in Frederick, to be disloyal to the U. S. Government, was, by direction of the President, dismissed the service | General Commanding would again express his from this date.-General Orders, No. 110. -THE rebel general, John B. Floyd, issued an address to the troops under his command, dated at the "camp, near Dublin depot," Western Virginia, in which he expressed his admiration of the manner in which they had conducted a campaign of five months, and urged them to respond to the distinguished compliment paid the "army of the Kanawha," by the Confederate Government, in assigning them to the defence of Kentucky.-(Doc. 238.) December 27.-Intelligence was received at Washington that Col. Canby, in command of the military department of New Mexico, had retaken Forts Craig and Stanton, on the M. silla border, driving the Texans away, and was on the way to Fort Fillmore to dispossess the rebels at that post, which was traitorously surrendered by Colonel Lynde to an inferior force of Texans. Thence he intended marching into Arizona to drive off the rebels.-The Legislature of New Mexico met on the 2d of December. Governor Connelly, in his message, recommended active measures with reference to the Indians who had been tampered with by Albert Pike, suggesting that they be located on the reservations, and encouraged in agricultural pursuits. The Indians, for the greater part, were peaceable and friendly to the United States Government.-Philadelphia Press, Dec. 28. -THE burning of buildings near New Market Bridge, Va., by order of Brigadier-General Mansfield, called forth the following order from General Wool: HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT VIRGINIA, decided disapprobation of such proceedings on W. D. WHIPPLE, A. A.-G. This order was sent to Camp Butler, to be read to all the troops under the command of General Mansfield. -THE rebel privateer Isabel succeeded, after several fruitless attempts, in running the blockade off Charleston, S. C., last night. There were eleven war vessels off the harbor at the time. The gunboat Pocahontas was despatched in pursuit, but without success, the Isabel being far the faster of the two.-N. Y. Herald, Jan. 4, 1862. -Tis evening the bridges over the Fabius and North Fabius rivers, Mo., on the Palmyra Railroad, were set on fire by the rebels and destroyed. -ARTHUR RANKIN, member of the Canadian Parliament, and Colonel of the Union Lancers, deeming further connection with the United States service improper, in view of the complications with England, resigned his commission and returned to Canada.-N. Y. Times, Dec. 29. -IN accordance with orders received from Gen. Halleck, the Provost Marshal-General, at St. Louis, directed that sixteen slaves, confined in St. Louis County jail, and advertised for sale under State statute, be released from prison and placed under control of the Chief Quartermaster of the Department for labor till further orders, said slaves being the property of rebels, and having been used for insurrectionary purposes. The legal condition of the negroes is in General Order No. 50.--The Major-General nowise changed. They are only set free from conCommanding the Department regrets to learn finement, imprisonment, and sale, on the prethat some of our troops recently crossed New sumption that they are the slaves of rebel masMarket Bridge and fired some buildings in re- ters. General Halleck wishes it understood taliation for similar acts of vandalism committed that this order will not debar any one from enby the rebels on the side nearest our encamp- forcing his legal rights to the services of these ments. Two wrongs do not make one right, negroes. Such rights, if any exist, can be enforced and such conduct is in violation of existing through the loyal civil tribunals of the State, orders, and for which, in this case, there does whose mandates will always be duly respected. not exist the slightest excuse. If the insurgents The military authorities of the Department, as wish to increase the notoriety which they pos- military officers, cannot decide upon the rights sess for burning villages and frame houses, and of property or claims to service except so far as destroying property belonging to their own they may be authorized by the laws of war or people, as well as others, it affords an opportu- acts of Congress. When not so authorized they nosite policy to stand out in bold will avoid all interference with such questions. ot be neglected. The Major--Philadelphia Press, Dec. 30. |