tenant General Polk, and issued farewell orders, this class will be fraught with the most disastrous as follows: "Having felt great pride in this army, consequences. If more men are wanted in the the undersigned leaves it with much regret. He line, let the thousands of able-bodied men alassures his brave comrades of his full apprecia-ready in the pay of the government be placed tion of the high soldierly qualities they have ex- there, and the drones and non-producers who inhibited. Harmony of opinion and purpose has sult honest toil by their constant swagger, and existed in all ranks. Amid events tending to who have been shielded by the corruptions of produce gloom and despondency, they have pre-office-holders since the war commenced, be sented the rare spectacle of the constant improve- gathered up and compelled to fight for that liberment of all arms in efficiency and discipline. He ty for which they ever profess to be so ready to offers them his best wishes for their future suc- pour out their precious blood. cess. "In leaving this command, it is a source of great satisfaction to him that it devolves upon the distinguished General chosen for it by the President-one who, on each of so many bloody battle-fields, has proved himself worthy of such troops as constitute this command.” December 23.-A bill, prohibiting dealing in the currency of the United States, was passed in the rebel Congress: "Any person violating the provisions of the act was subject to indictment and prosecution in the confederate court holden for the district within which the offence was com -THE Yankees made a raid on Luray, Va., and burned P. B. Borst's large tannery, the old Baptist Church, and Mr. Booton's workshop; broke open all the stores, and robbed them of all their mitted, and should, upon conviction, forfeit the goods, and what they could not take off, they amount so bought, sold, circulated, or used, or a distributed among the negroes. They also broke sum equal thereto, and be moreover subject to a open the meat-houses, and stole, carried away, fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars, and destroyed nearly all the pork and bacon in nor less than five hundred, and be imprisoned the place, besides killing nearly all the chickens not less than three months, nor more than three they could find. They also burnt the tannery years, at the discretion of the court; and it was of William R. Barbee, about six miles east of declared the duty of the judges of the several Luray.-Richmond Despatch. confederate courts to give the act specially in -LIEUTENANT-GENERAL LEONIDAS POLK, ascharge to the grand-jury: Provided, that the pur-suming command of the rebel army in Missischase of postage-stamps should not be considered sipppi, issued an order at Meridian, in which he a violation of the act." -THE rebel forces, under General Longstreet, still remained in the neighborhood of Rutledge and Morristown, Tenn. "General Longstreet was unable to follow up his advantage in consequence of the large number of bare-footed men in his command. The weather was extremely cold, and the mountains covered with snow." recognizes the defeats and discouragements the confederate cause has sustained of late, but seeks to stimulate his troops to fresh efforts, by assuring them that there is still, in the South, ample material for a continued and successful prosecution of the war. "The vigorous employment of our own resources," he closed by saying, "with unity, harmony, and an unflinch -A PARTY belonging to the rebel Colonel Har-ing determination to be true cannot, under God, rison's guerrilla band, headed by James Cavalier, but crown our efforts with triumphant success.' entered Omega, La., and after capturing twelve or fourteen negroes, proceeded to murder them in cold blood, after which they hurried away upon mules captured in the town.-IN discussing the conscription proposed by the rebel Congress, the Raleigh Progress says: "There is not another man to spare from the farms or other industrial pursuits of the country, and a further draft on December 24.-Yesterday a foraging party was sent out from the Union camp at Tullahoma, Tenn., under the command of Lieutenant Porter, of the Twenty-seventh Indiana volunteer infantry. There was a guard of the Fourth Tennessee cavalry, and a detail from the battery, to guard and load forage. They went to Lincoln County, loaded up, and were on the way to camp for the night. The train was divided-one half under Sergeant James, of the battery, was in camp about one mile ahead; Lieutenant Porter, with the rear part of the train, was on his way to the same place. There was one wagon considerably ahead of the others, accompanied by George Jacobs, driver; John Wesley Drought and Newell Orcutt, foragers; and James W. Foley, battery wagon-master-when they were surprised by four guerrillas, and told to surrender or they would blow their brains out. They being unarmed, could make no successful resistance. Lieutenant Porter then came riding up, when he was seized also. They were then taken through the woods some eight miles, and halted to camp, as the guerrillas said, for the night. They then tied their hands behind their backs, asked if they were ready, and fired, when all fell except the Lieutenant, who being uninjured, ran. The bodies were then dragged to the end of the bluff and thrown into Elk River. Drought was killed instantly. His body floated down and lodged on a tree-top. Jacobs was only wounded in the arm and was drowned. Orcutt was shot through the bowels, and managed to get out of the river, but died next day. Foley having loosed his hands, reached shore, but being severely wounded in the groin, lay near the river all night, where he was found next day by a citizen and properly cared for.-THE schooner. Fox captured the British schooner Edward, from Havana, off the Suwanee River, while endeavoring to run the blockade.—THE United States steamer Sunflower, off Tampa Bay, Florida, captured the rebel sloop Hancock. -A BATTLE took place near Bolivar, Tenn., between a party of rebel raiders belonging to the command of General Forrest, and five hundred of the Seventh Illinois cavalry, under Colonel Edward Prince, who had been sent out to scout and patrol the crossings on the Mississippi Central Railroad. Finding himself overpowered by numbers, Colonel Prince fell back on Summerville, with a loss of three killed and eight wounded. (Doc. 50.) -THE rebel House of Representatives, by a vote of four to one, resolved that a "person otherwise liable to military duty shall no longer be exempt by reason of having provided a substitute. It declared also that the substitute should not be discharged, and rejected a proposition to refund to the principal any portion of the money paid for his substitute."-THE enlist ment of colored troops at Nashville, Tenn., continued with great success.-THE ship Martaban, from Moulmein to Singapore, was captured and destroyed by the rebel privateer Alabama. December 25.-Colonel Prince again advanced upon the rebel forces under Forrest, and attacked them, but in a few moments discovered that he was surrounded on all sides. He did not sur render, but after fighting for three hours, with terrible loss, cut his way out, and carried most of his command safely into La Grange.-COL ONEL R. R. LIVINGSTON, of the First Nebraska cavalry, assumed command of the district of North-eastern Arkansas, headquarters at Batesville, and issued a proclamation in accordance therewith.-A CORRESPONDENT of the Richmond Sentinel says: "The plate that is in our country, and its value to the government, if the people can be induced to relinquish it, has doubtless occurred to many minds-been, perhaps, weighed and repudiated; but yet, I presume to think, might be made to act, if not a principal, a valuable subsidiary part in any well-digested scheme to restore the credit of the Treasury, to give staciation of confederate notes and stock, by furbility to any system of finance, to arrest deprenishing that in kind, which is the basis of all and in large amount. credits-gold and silver. I think we have it, We have in the possession of our people, in the form of gold and silver plate, a vast and unproductive fund -- every household more or less of it. Was there ever a better time to bring it forward? —ever greater need for it ?—ever stronger inducements to tender it to the government for the common good?" -A BATTLE took place in Stono River, S. C., between the gunboat Marblehead, at anchor off Legareville, and two masked rebel batteries on shore. The fight continued until the gunboat had demolished the batteries and driven out the gunners.—(Doc. 29.) -BRIGADIER-GENERAL B. F. KELLEY sent the following from his headquarters at Harper's Ferry, Va. "General Sullivan's column has returned safely, bringing in one hundred prisoners, about one hundred horses, equipments, etc. My different columns are all now safely back. They have captured in all over four hundred prisoners and a large amount of property. My plans and others have been promptly and faithfully executed, with a single exception, and with but a small loss on our part." December 26.--General Rosser returned to national character, shall be fined, banished, or Orange Court-House, Va., having completed an imprisoned, according to the grossness of the entire circuit of the Yankee army, starting from offence." Fredericksburgh and entering the valley at Con- December 28.-The Seventh Wisconsin regirad's Store. He burnt the bridge over Pope's ment left the army of the Potomac for home to Head Run, near Sangster's Station, just out from recruit, under the general orders lately issued.Alexandria, capturing and dispersing the troops THE Legislature of Alabama has voted that the left as a guard. Owing to the high water and carpets that cover the floor of the Senate Chambad weather, he was prevented from doing more ber, Hall of Representatives, and all officers' and damage. Gregg's Yankee cavalry pursued, but did committee-rooms in the capitol at Montgomery, not overtake him. General Rosser was forced to be cut up and given to the soldiers of the rebel swim Bull Run. His loss was very slight, if any. army for blankets.-AN attempt at informal reThe enemy, while in pursuit, destroyed two tan-newal of the cartel was made by the enemy, neries and a lot of leather at Sperryville, Rappa- der the immediate agency of General Butler, who hannock County; also, two tanneries, a flour-mill initiated his effort by sending five hundred conand some government workshops at Luray, in Page County. They also committed many other excesses, including the taking away of negroes, and shot a confederate named Smedley, at Washington, Rappahannock County, after he had surrendered.-Richmond Papers. -THE rebel privateer Alabama captured the American ships Sonora and Highlander, both lying at anchor at a point about ten miles east of the North Sands light-ship, near Singapore, East-Indies. Captain Semmes ordered the captains of both ships on board the Alabama, examined their papers, and allowing them to take a small quantity of clothing, burned their ships, and sent them adrift in their boats without any water or provisions. December 27.- General McPherson, from his headquarters, Seventeenth army corps, at Vicksburgh, Miss., issued the following circular: "The following named persons: Miss Kate Barnett, Miss Ella Barrett, Miss Laura Latham, Miss Ellen Martin, and Mrs. Moore, having acted disrespectfully towards the President and Government of the United States, and having insulted officers, soldiers, and loyal citizens of the United States who had assembled at the Episcopal church in Vicksburgh, on Christmas-day, for divine service, by abruptly leaving said church at that point in the service where the President of the United States and all others in authority are prayed for, are hereby banished, and will leave the Federal lines within forty-eight hours, under penalty of imprisonment. "Hereafter all persons, male or female, who by word or deed or by implication, do insult or show disrespect to the President, the Government, or the flag of the United States, or to any officer or soldier of the United States upon matters of a un federate soldiers to City Point. Commissioner Ould returned five hundred Federal soldiers, but informed Commissioner Hitchcock that the confederate authorities could hold no communication with General Butler, and that there must be no further effort at a partial exchange. If the enemy desire to renew the cartel, it must be done upon fair terms, and through an agent not outlawed and beyond the pale of military respectability.-Richmond Enquirer. -A SKIRMISH took place at Charlestown, Tenn., between the rebels under General Wheeler and a body of National troops, under the command of Colonel Laibold, of the Second regiment of Missouri infantry, resulting in the total rout and defeat of the rebels.-(Doc. 30.) -THE following memorial, signed by Generals Hardee, Stevenson, Cheatham, Breckinridge, and nearly all the other officers in command of the army of the Tennessee, was read in the confederate House of Representatives: "In the existing condition of affairs it is hoped your honorable bodies will pardon the variance from custom of addressing you from the army. It is done in no spirit of dictation, but in the conscientious conviction that the necessities of the country demand the voice and labor of all, and that delay, even for thirty days, in enacting proper measures, may make present disorders incurable, and the dangers of the moment omnipotent for our destruction. "In our opinion, it is essential to retain, for the term of during the war, without reorganization, the troops now in service; to place in service immediately, for the same term, all other white males between eighteen and fifty years of age, able to perform any military duty; to provide for placing in service, at the discretion of the President, for the same term, all white males be- pairing the defence made by the United States cept in cases of permanent disability, from all "In the mean time, accurate accounts will be duty; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except kept of the receipts and expenditures, and the exunder uniform rules of universal application, cess of profits, which no doubt will be considerabased, as far as practicable, on length of service ble, will be paid to those who are loyal in the and meritorious conduct; to prohibit, to the sense of the word as understood by loyal men." greatest extent, the details of able-bodied officers and men to posts, hospitals, or other interior duty, and to place in service as cooks, laborers, teamsters, and hospital attendants, with the army December 30.-A skirmish took place in the and elsewhere, able-bodied negroes and mulat-outskirts of St. Augustine, Fla., between a detoes, bond and free. -THE battle of Mossy Creek, Tenn., was fought this day, and resulted in the defeat of the rebels, after a severe contest.-(Doc. 31.) tachment of the Tenth Connecticut regiment, de "These measures, we think, if promptly enact-tailed to guard a party of wood-choppers, and a ed as laws, so as to give time for organizing and disciplining the new material, would make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable us to win back our lost territory and conquer a peace before that campaign shall be ended. "We beg further to suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfaction, apprehended or existing, from short rations, depreciated currency, and the retention of old soldiers in service, might be obviated by allowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of retained troops; an increase of pay; the commutation to enlisted men of rations not issued; and rations, or the value thereof, to officers."-EIGHTY-Two rebel prisoners from Camp Douglas, Chicago, went to Boston, Mass., to enter the United States naval service. They were taken directly to the North-Carolina, receivingship. December 29.-THE Ninety-third New-York, First Delaware, and Fifth Michigan regiments, left the army of the Potomac for home to recruit, under the general orders lately issued.-THE gas company at Norfolk, Va., having sealed up their works and refused, for several months, to light the city, General Butler ordered the establishment to be seized and "carried on efficiently and economically, so that the city of Norfolk will be fully lighted, and its peace and quiet in the darkness of the night be assured, until it is made certain, that in case of an attack upon the city of Norfolk, the rebel proclivities of the owners will not leave the city in darkness, as a means of im squadron of rebel cavalry, who attempted to seize the teams. The rebels were unsuccessful, but in the fight three privates of the Tenth were killed, and Lieutenant Brown, the officer commanding the detachment, was so badly wounded, that he afterward died. -YESTERDAY an affair occurred, at Matagorda Bay, Texas, between the Union gunboats, a company of the Thirteenth Maine regiment, and a large force of rebel cavalry and a rebel gunboat. The small party of Union troops, under General Herron, had landed with the object of cutting off the rebel pickets, but were attacked by the cavalry, who were driven off by the gunboats. The cavalry, aided by the rebel gunboat, subsequently attacked the Nationals, and caused them to vacate their position; but, this morning, a strong gale of wind drove the steamer ashore, and she was destroyed by fire. - COLONEL MCCHESNEY, commanding Pamlico Sub-District, N. C., while reconnoitring within six miles of Greenville, with about one hundred and forty men of the Twelfth NewYork cavalry, First North-Carolina volunteers, and Twenty-third New-York artillery, was attacked by a superior force under Major Moore, who attempted to cut off his return to Washington. After a hand-to-hand conflict the enemy retired, leaving one lieutenant and five men dead, with one piece of Starr's fine battery, caisson, and horses. Darkness prevented further knowledge of the injury sustained by the rebels. The National loss was one killed, six slightly wound ed, one missing, and three horses disabled. Lieut. was once competence has become poverty, povWilliam K. Adams, of company L, First North-erty has become penury, penury is lapsing into Carolina volunteers, a gallant and dashing officer, was killed while making a charge at the head of his command. The Commanding General, Peck, thanked in general orders, Colonel McChesney, the officers, men, and guides, for this bold and successful af fair. December 31.-The following review of the year and situation, was published in the Richmond Examiner of this day: pauperism. Any mechanical occupation is more profitable than the most intellectual profession; the most accomplished scholars in the Confederacy would be glad to barter their services for food and raiment; and in the complete upturning of our social relations, the only happy people are those who have black hearts or black skins. The cry of scarcity resounds through the land, raised by the producers in their greed for gain, reechoed by consumers in their premature dread of starvation and nakedness. We are all in the dark, and men are more or less cowards in the dark. We do not know what our resources are, and no one can tell us whether we shall have a pound of beef to eat at the end of 1864, or a square inch of leather to patch the last shoe in the Confederacy. Unreasoning confidence has been succeeded by depression as unreasoning, and the Yankees are congratulating themselves on the result, which they hawk about as the 'beginning of the end.' There "To-day closes the gloomiest year of our struggle. No sanguine hope of intervention buoys up the spirits of the confederate public as at the end of 1861. No brilliant victory like that of Fredericksburgh encourages us to look forward to a speedy and successful termination of the war, as in the last weeks of 1862. Meade has been foiled, and Longstreet has had a partial success in Tennessee; but Meade's advance was hardly meant in earnest, and Bean's Station is a poor set-off to the loss of the gallant men who fell in the murderous assault on Knoxville. Another daring 'Theologians will tell us that the disasters of Yankee raid has been carried out with compara- the closing year are the punishment of our sins. tive impunity to the invaders, and timorous cap- This is true enough; but a cheap penitence will italists may well pause before they nibble at eli- not save us from the evil consequences. gible investments in real estate situated far in is no forgiveness for political sins, and the rethe interior. That interior has been fearfully sults will as certainly follow as if there had been narrowed by the Federal march through Ten- no repentance. As all sins are, in a higher sense, nessee, and owing to the deficiencies of our cav-intellectual blunders, we must strain every alry service, Lincoln's squadrons of horse threat- of the brain and every sinew of the will if we en to be as universal a terror, as pervasive a nui- wish to repair the mischief which our folly and our corruption have wrought. The universal sance, as his squadrons of gun-boats were some months since. The advantages gained at Chancel-recognition of this imperative duty is a more cerlorsville and Chickamauga have had heavy coun-tain earnest of our success than the high spirits terpoises. The one victory led to the fall of Jack-of our men in the field, or the indomitable patrison and the deposition of Hooker, the other led first to nothing and then to the indelible disgrace of Lookout Mountain. The Confederacy has been cut in twain along the line of the Mississippi, and our enemies are steadily pushing forward their plans for bisecting the eastern moiety. No wonder, then, that the annual advent of the reign of mud is hailed by all classes with a sense of relief -by those who think and feel aright, as a precious season to prepare for trying another fall with our potent adversary. "Meanwhile the financial chaos is becoming wilder and wilder. Hoarders keep a more resolute grasp than ever on the necessaries of life. Non-producers, who are at the same time nonWhat speculators, are suffering more and more. fibre otism of our women at home, from which newspaper correspondents derive so much comfort. The incompetence and unfaithfulness of government officials have had much to do with the present sad state of affairs, but the responsibility does not end there; the guilt does not rest there alone. Every man who has suffered himself to be tainted with the scab of speculation has done something to injure the credit of confederate securities; every man who has withheld any necessary of life has done his worst to ruin the country; every one, man or woman, who has yielded to the solicitations of vanity or appetite, and refused to submit to any privation, however slight, which an expenditure, however great, could prevent, has contributed to the general de |