From Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.

A very large number of army and volunteer appointments were confirmed, including captains, lieutenants, adjutants, surgeons, assistant surgeons, etc.

The promotion of Gen. Grant to the Major-Generalship gives him a superior command to Brig.-Gen. Buell in the same department.

The Secretary of State says he sees indications of satisfactory reaction in favor of the United States in Great Britain as well as on the continent.

World’s Correspondence.

The recent news from Europe, touching the determination of the allied powers to put Hapsburg as ruler over Mexico, and thus create a monarchy on our borders, is exciting profound emotion here.  The fact that some such [scheme] was on the tapis [sic], has been in possession of the department for some time past, and it will be found that dispatches have already been sent to our ministers at London, Paris, and Madrid, protesting energetically against any such project.

Tribune’s Correspondence.

The Navy Department will issue proposals to-morrow, for the building of a number of steam men-of-war of various kinds.  The department will withhold, for the present, the proposals for iron clad steamers.  The construction of gunboats will be urgently pressed.

(World’s Dispatch.)

Among other things presented to the House yesterday was the memorial of the American Geographical and Statistical Society, asking the intercession of Congress in reference to the ship canal connecting the river St. Lawrence and all the great lakes on the northern boundary with the Atlantic Ocean in the bay of New York, in any future adjustment of the commercial relations between the U. S. and Great Britain.

Tribune’s Dispatch.

In well informed circles here it is positively asserted that Gen. Fremont has completely vindicated himself of all charges brought against his conduct of the war in Missouri, by the vote of the joint committee of investigation.  A highly important command is indicated for him in the far west.

Herald’s Dispatch.

A disposition has been manifested in the Senate to pass over most of the nominations for Brigadier Generals for the present, and let the nominees win their stars by gallantry and efficiency on the field before they are confirmed.  A broad line of distinction has been drawn in the Senate between officers who lounge about the hotels or dawdle in drawing rooms, and those who devote their attention to the improvement of the efficiency of their commands or in active duties in the field.  Whenever their comes up the nomination of any one against whom or in whose favor there is nothing particular to be said, by common consent it is passed over to await the future conduct of the candidate, and let him prove his merits by his deeds.

WASHINTON, Feb. 19.

Col. Garfield, now in Eastern Ky., has been nominated a Brigadier General.

Secretary Stanton has prepared from official reports full lists of all privates who have distinguished themselves, that they may be promoted.

It is rumored that Stephens has resigned the rebel Vice Presidency.

Gen. Bishop Polk is said to have recently written letters advising emancipation as the last resort of the South.

On Trumbull’s motion, Gen. Grant has just been unanimously confirmed as Major General.

This morning’s Republican says that the private soldier who told of Gen. Stone’s communicating with the rebels on one occasion, was a few nights since furiously attacked by a midnight assassin, who had burglariously entered his room.  The assassin was obliged to yield to a superior force.

The Capitol will be illuminated on Saturday from basement to dome.

A bill will to-morrow be introduced into the Senate, repealing the black code of the district, whether embraced in the Maryland laws, or city ordinances, and putting the blacks on the same footing with whites as regards trial, punishment, and giving of testimony.  It will be accompanied by a thorough analysis of the infamous code.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.

Numerous applications continue to be made for permission to trade at the several captured points on the Southern coast. – None of them have been granted.

Information has been received here that the iron clad gunboat, on the Ericson plan, is thus far satisfactory to the official inspector.  A trial trip to Fort Monroe is contemplated.

The President’s son, William, aged eleven years, is so sunk as to preclude the possibility of recovery.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.

A dispatch boat from Gen. Burnside has just arrived at Baltimore.  The official report of Gen. Burnside is now in its way to Washington.  The Federal losses at the battle of Roanoke Island were 50 killed and 222 wounded.  The rebel loss was 13 killed and 39 wounded.  The enemy were protected by entrenchments, and poured a destructive fire upon or advance column, so that our loss is the heaviest.

NEW YORK, February 20.

Specials state that Senators Wade and Andrew Johnson had an interview with Gen. McClellan yesterday, and urged the necessity of action with the army of the Potomac, as well as in the West.

The Senate will take up the Mexican treaty in executive session.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1