to meet at Louisville; 3, the delegates to agree | responded to in an able speech by Rev. Mr. upon a modified Constitution; or 4, a peaceable separation. One of its plans for reconstruction is to have a Northern and Southern section in each House of Congress, and no bill to become a law until agreed to by a majority on both sides!-(Doc. 160.) Willets, of Brooklyn, and Paymaster Bingham, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.-(Doc. 162.) -ADMIRAL SIR ALEXANDER MILNE, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, at Halifax, in a private letter to the British Consul at Boston, says: "I see a long article in the papers and extracts from a letter from Fort Pickens, alluding to orders have given; all I can say is that it is not my version of blockade nor my orders on the subject."-Buffalo Evening Courier, August 5. -AN engagement took place at Messila, N. M., between a body of Federal troops and seven hundred Confederates, under command of Capt. Baylor. Capt. McNeely and Lieutenant Brooks, of the Federal army, were wounded in the engagement, and twelve of the Confederates killed. Night coming on put an end to the engagement.-Baltimore American, August 21.manded by Colonel Charles Wharton, brother of -DELAWARE has contributed two regiments for the war. One is already in the field. The other has not yet been complete, and is com -THE secret expedition from Fortress Mon- George M. Wharton, of Philadelphia. One comroe to the eastern shore of the Chesapeake pany of the regiment is entirely made up of Bay, under the command of Captain Crosby, U. Philadelphians. It is the Hancock Guards, S. A., returned to Old Point Comfort. The Capt. John F. Heishley. The men are remarkobject of the expedition was to search for ves-ably well fed, clothed, and sheltered. In this sels engaged in illegal trade, and to reconnoitre particular Delaware has equalled, if not surthe coast for defences erected by the rebels.- passed, the other States. They are encamped (Doc. 161.) at Camp Brandywine, Wilmington. -- Philadelphia Bulletin, August 5. August 4.-About five o'clock, this morning, the Second Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, passed through Philadelphia, Pa., on their way home. The regiment is under Colonel A. H. Terry, and participated in the engagement at Bull Run. In the fight they lost sixteen men killed and wounded. The officers of this regiment deny that it was through hunger that the men were exhausted. The Connecticut men were supplied with full haversacks; and the only drawback in their opinion to final success, was the impetuous feeling to go ahead and fight. In order to get within the enemy's lines, a long march was necessary to this end. From two o'clock A. M. until ten they marched; and even then the men were unable to rest. To this fact alone, the officers of this regiment attribute, in a great measure, the reverse. The regiment acted as part of the reserve, and did not get into battle till late in the day.-Philadelphia Bulletin, August 5. August 5.-At Washington, the representatives of the newspaper press held a consultation with Gen McClellan by his special invitation, when it was unanimously decided that the following suggestions from him be transmitted to the editors of all the newspapers in all the loyal States and in the District of Columbia: 1st. That all such editors be required to refrain from publishing, either as editorial or correspondence, any description, from any point of view, of any matter that might furnish aid and comfort to the enemy. 2d. That they be also requested and earnestly solicited to signify to their correspondents here and elsewhere their approval of the foregoing suggestion, and to comply with it in spirit and letter. It was resolved that the Government be respectfully requested to afford the representatives of the press facilities for obtaining and immediately transmitting all information suitable for publication, particularly touching engagements with the enemy. -THE following queries were put to the Confederate District-Attorney at Charleston: First-Is it lawful for a citizen of the Confederate States to purchase of our enemy State stock or bonds of any of the Confederate States, | their advance was from ten to fifteen miles and demand the interest when due ? Second-Is it lawful for the same parties to purchase notes given by merchants of the Southern Confederacy to Northern houses, and demand payment for the same? distant. Three of the routes on which the enemy were moving, were the Neosho, Carthage, and the Overland roads. Gen. Lyon called in two thousand five hundred Home Guards from the neighborhood. Farther than this addition to his force, no other reinforcements seemed to be near. It was expected that the enemy were Third—If lawful and proper to pursue the above course, would it not be equally legal for the small trader to buy merchandise of the ene-resolved on an immediate attack, from the fact my; or, in other words, does the law intend to operate in favor of the fortunate holders of capital against the humble dealers in wares and merchandise? The response is as follows:--The acts specified by you certainly constitute "trading with the enemy" peculiarly objectionable, because they afford a direct assistance to the enemy, by the transmission of money to foster his resources. And, in addition, such conduct is highly unpatriotic, because directly injurious to the interests of the States and citizens of our Confederacy, whose obligations are thus withdrawn from the enemy's country, where it is for the interests of the States that they should remain, since they could not there be called upon for payment during the war. Such operations are certainly worse than the simple purchase of merchandise in the enemy's country, because they, at the same time, aid our enemies and injure our friends.—N. Y. Times, August 5. -CLAIBORNE F. JACKSON, the deposed Governor of Missouri, publishes in the Memphis Appeal a document entitled "Declaration of Independence of the State of Missouri," and addressed to the people of that State. The ex-Governor says he takes this step by virtue of authority conferred upon him by the State Legislature to do such things as to him might seem proper to " suppress the rebellion and repel invasion." He thereupon assumes that the waging of war by the Federal Government upon the sovereign State of Missouri, ipso facto, sunders the connection of the latter from the former, and accordingly so declares-subject, however, to the ratification of the people at such future time as their impartial and unbiased verdict can be obtained through the ballot-box. —(Doc. 163.) -GEN. LYON with his forces fell back on Springfield, Mo. The rebels were advancing on the latter place by four different roads, and that their commissariat was in a miserable condition, the rebels depending on forced contributions for temporary supplies. It was generally remarked in Springfield that Gen. Lyon was perfectly confident of success, in the event of an attack. The latest estimate places the rebel force at twenty thousand. Their arms are thought to be very inferior, judged by the specimens taken during the skirmish at Dug Spring, where Gen. Lyon had no intrenchments, depending upon his splendid artillery in the open field.—St. Louis Democrat, August 9. Teakle Wallis, from the committee to whom -IN the Maryland Legislature to-day, S. was referred the memorial of the police commissioners, submitted a long report, followed by preamble and resolutions, setting forth as arbitrary and unconstitutional the course of the Government in superseding the police board, and imprisoning Marshal Kane and the commissioners. The committee appealed in the most carnest manner to the whole people of the country, of all parties, sections, and opinions, to take warning by the usurpations mentioned, and come to the rescue of the free institutions of the country, so that whatever may be the issue of the melancholy conflict which is now covering the land with sacrifice and threatens to overwhelm it with debt and ruin, there may at least survive to us when it is over the republican form of government which our fathers bequeathed to us, and the inestimable rights which they framed it to perpetuate.-N. Y. World, August 6. —THE bark Alvarado, having a prize crew from the privateer Jeff. Davis on board, was chased ashore near Fernandina, Florida, and subsequently burned by the sailors of the United States ship Vincennes.—(Doc. 170.) -A SHARP skirmish took place this morning in Virginia, opposite the Point of Rocks, between a detachment of sixty men of the Twenty eighth Regiment of New York Volunteers, un- | the blockade, was published in the Baltimore der the command of Lieut.-Col. Brown, and a | American.-(Doc. 165.) party of cavalry of Capt. Mead's company of -A BAND of rebels, numbering from one the Confederate army. The Colonel ordered thousand to twelve hundred, made an attack the Confederates to halt, which was not obeyed. upon a camp of Union men at Athens,* MisThe Unionists then fired on them and killed souri, this morning at five o'clock. There was three, wounded two, and took twenty horses, a considerable amount of arms and ammuniwith their equipments, and seven prisoners, tion for United States troops stored at that who were taken before Gen. Banks. None of place, under a guard of the troops composing the Federal troops were hurt. The engage- the camp. The United States Volunteers numment occurred at daybreak. The advancingbered about three hundred and fifty men, under party forded the river, and caught the cavalry pickets of the enemy at breakfast. The prisoners were brought into camp at Sandy Hook. Nearly every man captured had sword-arms and revolvers. On the sword-belt of one was marked in ink, “John II. Rollins, Leesburg, Va." One captain of the rebels was killed. Previous reports from Colonel John C. Starkweather, of the First Wisconsin Regiment, stationed at Edward's Ferry, stimulated the action which resulted so successfully. Colonel Starkweather had already made reconnoissances on the Virginia side, destroyed the rendezvous of the rebel pickets, and had but one man wounded, Mr. W. II. Langworthy, of Company E. All the captured are from Loudon County, Va.-(Doc. 164.) the command of Captain Moore. The fighting lasted about one hour, when the rebels retreated. In the mean time Captain Moore, having been reinforced by about one hundred and fifty men from Centralia, Iowa, on the opposite side of the river, gave chase to the rebels for about a mile and a half, killing one, taking eighteen prisoners, and capturing thirty-one horses and two secession flags. Several of the rebels were also wounded in the chase. After the battle, six or eight rebels were found dead on the field. In the afternoon the bearer of a rebel flag of truce to the Union camp was admitted. They carried off fourteen killed, and as many more wounded and missing. The rebels were led by Martin Green, a brother of ex-Senator Green. Of the Union men there were three killed and eight wounded.-(Doc. 166.) -SEVERAL shots were exchanged between the U. S. blockading steamer off Galveston, Texas, and some sand batteries on shore.-(Doc. 167.) -IN the House of Representatives at Washington, Mr. Calvert, of Maryland, introduced a resolution providing for the appointment of a Committee to consider and report such amendments to the Constitution as may restore confidence and insure the preservation of the Union. Houses of the Congress of the United States, August 6.-All the bills which passed both Laid on the table.-Mr. May, of Maryland, was were approved by President Lincoln, who yieldrefused permission to introduce resolutions pro-ed a reluctant approval of that for the confisca viding for the appointment of Commissioners tion of property used for rebellious purposes.— to procure an armistice, and so compromise as (Doc. 159.) to preserve the Union if possible; if not, to provide for "the peaceful separation of those States -THE brigs Naiad, Machias, and Ben Dunthat have seceded or may hereafter secede."_ning, seized by the privateer steamer Sumter, Mr. Diven offered a resolution declaring that, as rebels are now in arms against the Government, all resolutions looking to a compromise are either cowardly or treasonable. The House refused to suspend the rules to receive Mr. May's resolution. The Senate bill, increasing the pay of the volunteers and legalizing the acts of the President, was passed. -A LETTER Written on board the steam-sloop Brooklyn, off the mouth of the Mississippi River, giving an account of the manner by which the rebel privateer Sumter was suffered to run near Cienfuegos, arrived at New York. They were released by order of the Spanish Government, and sailed with others as far as Cape Antonio, under convoy of the U. S. steamer Crusader.-Official advices from the Gulf squadron state that, on the 4th of July off Galveston, the United States steamer South Carolina captured six schooners; on the 5th, two, and ran one ashore; on the 6th, one, and on the 7th, one-making in all eleven sail destroyed or cap Athens is a small town in the extreme northeast of Missouri, on the Desmoines River, twenty-five or thirty miles from Keokuk, to draw out the national forces, attack Camp Hamilton or Newport News if practicable, and at least to destroy Hampton, so as to prevent its use by the U. S. troops for winter-quarters. Gen. Butler at once repaired to Hampton Bridge, where he remained until 11 o'clock P. M. Col. Weber erected a barricade near the Hampton end of the bridge, and placed a strong guard at various points near. tured. The names of the captured vessels are | up a position on Back River, three miles the Shark, Venus, Ann Ryan, McCaulfield, from Hampton, Virginia. The intention was Louisa, Dart, Covalia, Falcon, George Baker, and Sam. Houston. A portion of them had cargoes, chiefly of lumber. Among other things captured were 13 mail bags, and 31 bags containing express matter.-N. Y. Times, August 7. —QUEEN VICTORIA, in her speech to the British Parliament this day, said:-"The dissensions which arose some months ago in the United States of North America, have unfortunately assumed the character of open war. Her Majesty, deeply lamenting this calamitous result, has determined, in common with the other powers of Europe, to preserve a strict neutrality between the contending parties.-London News, August 7. -THERE was great excitement in the House A few minutes past midnight, Gen. Magruder, with about 500 Confederates—some of them belonging in Hampton-entered the town, and immediately fired the buildings with torches. A greater part of the five hundred houses were built of wood, and no rain having fallen lately, the strong south wind soon produced a terrible conflagration. There were perhaps twenty white people and double that number of negroes remaining in the town from inability to move, some of whose houses were fired without wakhis wife, both of them aged and infirm, but fifing the inmates. They gave Cary Jones and teen minutes to remove a few articles of furniture to the garden. Several of the whites and also of the negroes were hurried away to of Representatives at Washington this morning. The near approach of the hour of adjourning, and the busy and exciting scenes which always attend the adjournment, attracted quite a crowd of ladies and gentlemen to the galleries. The Senate went into executive session at an early hour, and thus sent their spectators into the galleries of the House of Representatives. Within a few minutes of the hour of adjourn-be pressed into the Confederate service. Mr. ment, a most exciting scene took place in the House. A lull had occurred in the business, when Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, arose and stated to the House that the elections in his State had gone largely for the Constitution, and that the people of Kentucky had declared that their State, among the first in the Union, should be among the last in the Union. The announcement created a scene of indescribable enthusiasm. Cheer after cheer arose from the floor and galleries, and the Speaker, unable to control the assembly, yielded to the general enthusiasm of the moment.-Phila. Press, Au gust 7. above the town. Two negroes were drowned Scofield, a merchant, took refuge in a swamp while attempting to cross the creek. A com of the bridge, but were repulsed with a loss of pany of rebels attempted to force the passage three killed and six wounded. They then with drew. The fire raged all night and entirely destroyed the town.-(Doc. 168.) -THE Ohio Democratic State Convention met at Columbus to-day and nominated II. J. Jewett for Governor and John Scott Harrison for Lieutenant-Governor. A series of resolutions were adopted. The third recommends the legislatures of the States to call a National Convention for settling the present difficulties and restoring and preserving the Union. The sixth resolution condemns the President's late attempt to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. August 7.-John C. Breckinridge was serenaded at a hotel in Baltimore, and in response essayed to address those assembled in the street, but was compelled to desist by the uproar of the crowd, who shouted for the "Union," "Crit--National Intelligencer, August 10. tenden," "Scott," etc.-Baltimore American, August 9. -GEN. MAGRUDER, C. S. A., with a force of 7,000 men, including 200 cavalry and eight pieces of artillery, viz., three Parrott guns, four howitzers, and one rifled cannon, took -THE United States gun boat Flag arrived at Fort Mifflin, on the Delaware River, this morning with thirty-six rebel prisoners, taken from the rebel war vessel, Petrel, formerly the revenue cutter Aiken, seized at Charleston last winter. The Aiken fired at the St. Lawrence, off Charleston, mistaking her for a merchant ves- | turn march, they were overtaken with word sel, when the St. Lawrence returned a broad- that another detachment of about 130 cavalry side, sinking the rebel. Five of the crew were had entered the town. Tired and worn out, lost, and the rest rescued and placed on board almost shoeless, and hungry, the brave fellows the Flag.-Philadelphia Press, August 8. with a shout at once voted unanimously to return and attack the rebels. Starting at a -ISHAM G. HARRIS, Governor of Tennessee, appeals to the people of that State "to raise, organize, and thoroughly prepare a reserve force of thirty thousand volunteers.”—(Doc. 169.) August 8.—This evening, at Baltimore, Md., Charles King, from North Carolina, was arrested by officer Stevens, of the Southern District, by order of Major-General Dix, on the charge of being concerned in the raising of a number of men, whose purpose it was to organize themselves into a crew, and take passage on some boat, intending to capture it in the same manner as the St. Nicholas, and then turn her into a pirate. Baltimore Patriot, August 9. -THE Nineteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers passed through Philadelphia for the seat of war.-N. Y. Herald, August 9. double-quick time they reached the town, and under the cover of a corn-field gained sight of the cavalry about thirty rods distant. Resting for a few minutes, they heard the rebel captain give orders to mount, and believing they had been discovered and were about to be charged at a double-quick, firing two volleys as they upon, Captain Kennedy charged upon the town ran. The enemy, after firing a few harmless shots, made their way, concealed by houses, out of the opposite side of the town, but not until they had one lieutenant killed and five men wounded.-N. Y. Times, August 13. -THE office of the Democratic Standard at Concord, N. H., was completely relieved of its contents this afternoon by a mob composed of the soldiers of the returned First Regiment and citizens. The Standard published an article reflecting on the soldiers. They demanded retraction, and the Palmers-the editors and pro dows and dared the mob, while the city authorities endeavored to quell the disturbance. The Palmers fired four shots, wounding two soldiers. The office was immediately stripped, and the materials burnt in the street. The Palmers took refuge in the attic, but were finally found and carried to the police station, protected by the police, though with great difficulty.—(Doc. 172.) —F. K. ZOLLICOFFER was appointed a brigadier-general in the rebel army, and assigned to the command of the Department of East Ten-prietors-shook pistols and axes out of the winnessee. On assuming his command, he issued a proclamation assuring all who desire peace, that they can have it by quietly and harmlessly pursuing their lawful avocations.-(Doc. 171.) -THE Massachusetts Fifteenth Regiment, under the command of Colonel Charles Devens, left Camp Scott, Worcester, Mass., for the seat of war. This regiment is armed with the Springfield musket, and numbers 1,046 men. They❘ are all tall, muscular men, possessing the lightness of limb and full development of natural powers which denote the true specimen of a soldier. Their dress consists of the regular army uniform-gray pantaloons, blue coats, and hat, which is as neat and useful a thing as our fighting men could have.-N. Y. Herald, August 10. —ONE HUNDRED men of the Nineteenth Regiment N. Y. V., commanded by Capt. Kennedy, crossed the Potomac at Rock Ferry, at 1 A. M., and marched to Lorrettsville, Loudon co., Va., where it was reported that a company of rebel cavalry were engaged in the impressment of citizens. When they reached the town the rebels had left, and they retraced their steps; but late in the afternoon, while upon their re -DISSATISFACTION at the supposed intention of the Government not to receive men in its army who could not speak the English language, and a misconception of a War Department order upon the subject, led to the withdrawal as thus stated: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEAR SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 5th inst., and to state in reply, that the order to which it refers was officially explained a day or two since by the Secretary of War, but having still been a subject of great misapprehension it has now been entirely rescinded and vacated. Consequently there is no obstacle whatever to the acceptance |