Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, May 24, 1865

Twelve of us officers went to town with orderlies. Ran guard. Saw Johnson, Stanton, Welles, Speed, Grant, Sherman, Howard, Slocum, Logan, Cadwallader, Sanford, Farragut and several other distinguished men. Grand affair.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 164

James Chesnut Jr. to Mary Boykin Chesnut, June 22, 1861

We are very strongly posted, entrenched, and have now at our command about 15,000 of the best troops in the world. We have besides, two batteries of artillery, a regiment of cavalry, and daily expect a battalion of flying artillery from Richmond. We have sent forward seven regiments of infantry and rifles toward Alexandria. Our outposts have felt the enemy several times, and in every instance the enemy recoils. General Johnston has had several encounters — the advancing columns of the two armies — and with him, too, the enemy, although always superior in numbers, are invariably driven back.

There is great deficiency in the matter of ammunition. General Johnston's command, in the very face of overwhelming numbers, have only thirty rounds each. If they had been well provided in this respect, they could and would have defeated Cadwallader and Paterson with great ease. I find the opinion prevails throughout the army that there is great imbecility and shameful neglect in the War Department.

Unless the Republicans fall back, we must soon come together on both lines, and have a decided engagement. But the opinion prevails here that Lincoln's army will not meet us if they can avoid it. They have already fallen back before a slight check from 400 of Johnston's men. They had 700 and were badly beaten. You have no idea how dirty and irksome the camp life is. You would hardly know your best friend in camp guise.

SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 75-6

Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: July 4, 1861

Russell abuses us in his letters. People here care a great deal for what Russell says, because he represents the London Times, and the Times reflects the sentiment of the English people. How we do cling to the idea of an alliance with England or France! Without France even Washington could not have done it.

We drove to the camp to see the President present a flag to a Maryland regiment. Having lived on the battlefield (Kirkwood), near Camden,¹ we have an immense respect for the Maryland line. When our militia in that fight ran away, Colonel Howard and the Marylanders held their own against Rawdon, Cornwallis, and the rest, and everywhere around are places named for a doughty captain killed in our defense — Kirkwood, De Kalb, etc. The last, however, was a Prussian count. A letter from my husband, written June 22d, has just reached me. He says:

"We are very strongly posted, entrenched, and have now at our command about 15,000 of the best troops in the world. We have besides, two batteries of artillery, a regiment of cavalry, and daily expect a battalion of flying artillery from Richmond. We have sent forward seven regiments of infantry and rifles toward Alexandria. Our outposts have felt the enemy several times, and in every instance the enemy recoils. General Johnston has had several encounters — the advancing columns of the two armies — and with him, too, the enemy, although always superior in numbers, are invariably driven back.

"There is great deficiency in the matter of ammunition. General Johnston's command, in the very face of overwhelming numbers, have only thirty rounds each. If they had been well provided in this respect, they could and would have defeated Cadwallader and Paterson with great ease. I find the opinion prevails throughout the army that there is great imbecility and shameful neglect in the War Department.

"Unless the Republicans fall back, we must soon come together on both lines, and have a decided engagement. But the opinion prevails here that Lincoln's army will not meet us if they can avoid it. They have already fallen back before a slight check from 400 of Johnston's men. They had 700 and were badly beaten. You have no idea how dirty and irksome the camp life is. You would hardly know your best friend in camp guise.''

Noise of drums, tramp of marching regiments all day long; rattling of artillery wagons, bands of music, friends from every quarter coming in. We ought to be miserable and anxious, and yet these are pleasant days. Perhaps we are unnaturally exhilarated and excited.

Heard some people in the drawing-room say: “Mrs. Davis's ladies are not young, are not pretty,” and I am one of them. The truthfulness of the remark did not tend to alleviate its bitterness. We must put Maggie Howell and Mary Hammy in the foreground, as youth and beauty are in request. At least they are young things — bright spots in a somber-tinted picture. The President does not forbid our going, but he is very much averse to it. We are consequently frightened by our own audacity, but we are wilful women, and so we go.

_______________

¹ At Camden in August, 1780, was fought a battle between General Gates and Lord Cornwallis. in which Gates was defeated. In April of the following year near Camden, Lord Rawdon defeated General Greene.

SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 74-6

Diary of Judith W. McGuire: July 3, 1861

A real fight has occcurred near Williamsport, but on the Virginia side of the Potomac. General Cadwallader crossed the river with, it is said, 14,000 men, to attack our force of 4,000 stationed there under Colonel Jackson. Colonel J. thought it folly to meet such an army with so small a force, and therefore ordered a retreat; but quite a body of artillery remained to keep the enemy at bay. They retained with them but one gun, a six-pounder. The Rev. Dr. Pendleton, now captain of artillery, commanded this gun, and whenever he ordered its discharge, he was heard to say, reverently, “The Lord have mercy upon their souls — fire!” The result was almost miraculous; but four of our men were missing, two of whom were killed; twenty were wounded, and have been brought to the Winchester hospitals; sixty-five prisoners were taken, and are now in Winchester. Many of their men were seen to fall. Our men, who did this deadly firing, retreated in perfect order. I heard this from one who was on the field at the time. It is said that in Dr. Pendleton the soldier and the chaplain are blended most harmoniously. A gentleman who went to the camp to visit his sons, who belong to the “Rockbridge Battery,” told me that he arose before daylight, and was walking about the encampment, and when near a dense wood his attention was arrested by the voice of prayer; he found it was the sonorous voice of Dr. P., who was surrounded by his company, invoking for them, and for the country, the blessing of Heaven. What a blessing it is for those young men, away from the influences of home, and exposed to the baneful associations of the camp, to have such a guide! It has almost reconciled me to the clergy going upon the field as soldiers. The Bishop of Louisiana has been to Mountain View, to consult Bishop Meade on the subject of his taking the field. I do not know what advice was given. These reverend gentlemen, who were educated at West Point, are perfectly conscientious, and think it their duty to give their military knowledge to their country, and their presence may do much for the spiritual good of the army.

Brave Richard Ashby is dead; how I grieve for his family and for his country, for we cannot afford to lose such men!

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 33-4

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, May 28, 1864

May 28, 1864

A little before eight we left the neighborhood of the squeaky Mr. Thompson and, turning presently to the right, pushed along towards the Pamunkey. We now had struck a classic ground where the old McClellan men began to have “reminiscences,” worse than you and Anna Curtis, when you get together. “Ah,” says Cadwalader, “that is the house, the very house, where I came up with my regiment — Rush's Lancers. We drove the Rebs across that field, and then we burned the bridge, and picketed the river,” etc. The bridge destroyed by the valiant Cadwalader had never been replaced, and now our engineers had thrown a pontoon, over which the artillery of the 6th Corps was rapidly passing, while the flat was full of batteries, and of waggons waiting their turn. These canvas pontoons are funny looking; they consist of a boatshaped frame, which is wrapped in a great sheet of canvas and put in the water, this making a boat, on which part of the bridge-floor may rest. It looks as if the Commander-in-Chief had undertaken the washing business on a large scale, and was “soaking” his soiled clothing. At about half-past ten I crossed (having been told to go back and inform General Grant of General Meade's whereabouts) and tried to find my General on the south side; but I got among a lot of German artillery men, who could not tell whether they were on their heads or heels, much less whether they had seen the Staff go that way. Really it is surprising how poorly the Germans show, out of their own country, where they are an honest and clever, though rather slow people. But here they seem almost idiotic, and, what is worse, they will plunder and they won't fight. Really, as soldiers, they are miserable. Actually, a Yankee regiment would drive a brigade of them. They have no grit as a rule. The Paddies, on the contrary, will go in finely, and if well officered, stand to it through everything.

Having ascertained the Headquarters, I rode over to Mrs. Newton's, where I found a romantic lot of officers reposing, very flat on the grass.  . . . Poor Mrs. Newton! — she was the one whose husband fell in my Raccoon Ford fight.  . . . Presently arrived an aunt, a Mrs. Brockenbrough, a conceited, curious, sallow, middle-aged woman, itching to “tackle” a Northerner. She said the Cavalry Provost-Marshal had been very kind to her. She then began to catechize Grant, with an eager relish, who replied with entire calmness and candor, whereat she was plainly taken aback, as she looked for a volley of gasconade! Their negro houses were full of wounded cavalry men, some of them Rebels. As we sat there the cavalry cannon began again, in the direction of Haw's store, and there followed, in the afternoon, a very desperate engagement in which we lost from 400 to 500 men, including the extraordinary proportion of nearly fifty officers killed and wounded. We drove them at all points, after a desperate resistance. Our cavalry is full of confidence and does wonders. The whole army had crossed by evening. . . .

SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox, p. 130-1

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 25, 1863

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., May 25, 1863.

I have addressed a circular letter to each of the officers present at the much-talked-of council of war, asking them to give me their recollections of what I said, and unless I am terribly mistaken, their answers will afford me ample means of refuting Hooker's assertion that my opinion sustained him in withdrawing the army.

We have to-day the glorious news from Grant.¹ It is in sad contrast with our miserable fiasco here, the more sad when you reflect that ours was entirely unnecessary, and that we have never had such an opportunity of gaining a great victory before.

Did I tell you that Curtin promptly answered my letter, saying that General Cadwalader had entirely misapprehended what he said to him; that he (Curtin) had never so understood me, or repeated to Cadwalader that I had lost all confidence in Hooker?

_______________

¹ Vicksburg, Miss., invested by the Federal troops under Major-General Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate troops under General John C. Pcmberton.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 381

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 19, 1863

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., May 19, 1863.

I am sorry to tell you I am at open war with Hooker. He yesterday came to see me and referred to an article in the Herald, stating that four of his corps commanders were opposed to the withdrawal of the army. He said this was not so, and that Reynolds and myself had determined him to withdraw. I expressed the utmost surprise at this statement; when he said that I had expressed the opinion that it was impracticable to withdraw the army, and therefore I had favored an advance, and as he knew it was perfectly practicable to withdraw, he did not consider my opinion as being in favor of an advance. I replied to him that this was a very ingenious way of stating what I had said; that my opinion was clear and emphatic for an advance; that I had gone so far as to say that I would not be governed by any consideration regarding the safety of Washington, for I thought that argument had paralyzed this army too long. I further said that if the enemy were considered so strong that the safety of the army might be jeopardized in attacking them, then I considered a withdrawal impracticable without running greater risk of destroying the army than by advancing, and that it seemed rather singular that he should set me down as the advocate of a measure which he acknowledged I asserted to be impracticable. He reiterated his opinion and said he should proclaim it. I answered I should deny it, and should call on those who were present to testify as to whether he or I was right. The fact is, he now finds he has committed a grave error, which at the time he was prepared to assume the responsibility of, but now desires to cast it off on to the shoulders of others; but I rather think he will find himself mistaken. At any rate, the entente cordiale is destroyed between us, and I don't regret it, as it makes me more independent and free. I also told him that it was my impression at the time, but that of course it could only be known to himself and his God, that he had made up his mind to withdraw the army before he had heard the opinions of his corps commanders. To this he did not make any reply, and I am satisfied that such was the case. I have not seen Reynolds, or any of the others present on the occasion, since I had this conversation with him, but I intend to address each a letter and ask for their impressions of what I did say. Such things are very painful and embarrassing, but I have always feared the time would come when they would be inevitable with Hooker; for I knew no one would be permitted to stand in his way. I suppose he has heard some of the stories flying round camp in regard to my having the command, and these, in connection with what George Cadwalader told him Governor Curtin said, have induced him to believe that I am manoeuvering to get him relieved, that I may step in his shoes. God knows the injustice he does me, and that I have never spoken a word to any one except Governor Curtin, and to him I never referred to Hooker's being relieved, but only criticised his recent operations, saying nothing more, or if as much, as I have written to you. I can tell him that if he had no stronger enemy than I am, he might rest much more secure than he can, knowing all that I do. I wish he could hear what some others say; he would look on me very differently.

There are two English officers on a visit to the camp. One of them, Lord Abinger (formerly Mr. Scarlett), Lieutenant Colonel of the Scots Fusileer Guards, brought me a letter from George Ramsay. I am going to-morrow to review my corps, and have invited them to be present. Lord Abinger seems a very nice fellow. He was in Philadelphia in 1857, and speaks a great deal about his visit and the people there. He recognized Major Biddle, asked after his mother, and altogether appears quite at home in Philadelphia society.

I have lost nearly a division by the expiration of service of the two-years' and nine-months' men, so that I have had to break up Humphreys's division, and he is going to take command of the division recently commanded by General Berry, in Sickles's corps. I am very sorry to lose Humphreys. He is a most valuable officer, besides being an associate of the most agreeable character.

My relations with Hooker are such that I cannot ask for the necessary leave to go up to Washington, to receive my sword; so unless they take some action and get the Secretary to authorize my going up, I fear it will be some time before I come into possession.

Just think, it is nearly two years, indeed over two years, since we have been separated.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 377-9

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 15, 1863

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., May 15, 1863.

I received to-day your letter of the 12th instant, advising me of George's¹ arrival at home, which relieved me greatly, although I only yesterday learned of his being sick and having gone to Washington. In utter ignorance of his being sick, and supposing him with his regiment, I saw Hooker and got the order issued assigning him to duty on my staff. It was only my accidentally meeting Lieutenant Furness,² of George's regiment, on Stoneman's staff, who first told me George had been very sick on the expedition, but that he was better, and that he (Furness) had seen George and Benoni Lockwood both in the cars on their way to Washington.

I have been very much worried to-day by very extraordinary conduct on the part of Governor Curtin. He came to see me, and in the familiarity of private conversation, after expressing himself very much depressed, drew out of me opinions such as I have written to you about General Hooker, in which I stated my disappointment at the caution and prudence exhibited by General Hooker at the critical moment of the battle; at his assuming the defensive, when I thought the offensive ought to have been assumed; and at the withdrawal of the army, to which I was opposed. This opinion was expressed privately, as one gentleman would speak to another; was never intended for the injury of General Hooker, or for any other purpose than simply to make known my views. Imagine, then, my surprise when General Hooker, who has just returned from Washington, sent for me, and said that General Cadwalader had told him that Governor Curtin had reported in Washington that he (General Hooker) had entirely lost the confidence of the army, and that both Generals Reynolds and Meade had lost all confidence in him. Of course, I told Hooker that Governor Curtin had no warrant for using my name in this manner. I then repeated to Hooker what I had said to Governor Curtin, and told him that he knew that I had differed with him in judgment on the points above stated, and that he had no right to complain of my expressing my views to others, which he was aware I had expressed to him at the time the events were occurring. To this Hooker assented and expressed himself satisfied with my statement.

____________

¹ Son of General Meade, taken sick with the measles while on Stoneman's cavalry raid, and having to ford a deep river, the rash was driven in, making him ill, necessitating his being sent home.

² Frank Furness, of Philadelphia.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 375-6

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, February 27, 1863

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, February 27, 1863.

I wrote you a few lines yesterday from Major Woodruff's office, advising you of my detention in Washington.

I met hundreds of people whom I knew, such as Generals Cadwalader, McCall, Hartsuff and others. I had seen Hudson (McClellan's aide) in the morning, and he asked me to come at six and dine with the general. I declined the invitation on the ground of previous engagements, but said I would drop in after dinner. As it was past eight o'clock when I got back, I went in to the private parlor where McClellan was dining, and found a party of some dozen or more, all officers but one, a Mr. Cox, Democratic member of Congress from Ohio. Among the party were Andrew Porter, Sykes, Buchanan, General Van Allen and others. McClellan received me with much distinction and seated me alongside of himself, and asked very kindly after you and the children, etc. The subject of conversation at the table was general, and referred principally to military matters and pending acts of legislation. My friend –––, who doubtless had heard of my confirmation and was in consequence disgusted, said he heard I was to be given an Army Corps of Niggers. I laughingly replied I had not been informed of the honor awaiting me, but one thing I begged to assure –––, that if the niggers were going into the field and really could be brought heartily to fight, I was ready to command them, and should prefer such duty to others that might be assigned me. As this was a fair hit at –––'s position, it silenced him, and I heard nothing further about commanding niggers. After spending an hour in pleasant chat, I withdrew, and meeting Cram, we spent the night till near twelve o'clock, talking and walking about among the crowd in the hotel. This morning I left at eight o'clock and reached here about one P. M., being half a day behind my time. On the wharf at Acquia Creek I met Reynolds, on his way out, having just received his leave, and having been, as I expected, awaiting my return to have his granted.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 355-6

From Washington

Special to Tribune.

WASHINGTON, March 28.

The Quartermaster of Gen. Blenker’s division states that a party or rebel soldiers, numbering about 500, visited Fairfax H. H. yesterday, there being at that time no troops there, and with arms in their hands drove away the soldiers and destroyed the Union flags.  A part of the German division was ordered there from Centerville to guard the town from such marauders.

The President will to-morrow send into the Senate the nomination of Bayard Taylor as Secretary of Legation to St. Petersburg.

The President placed at Minister Cameron’s disposal a [frigate] to convey him to Europe, but he has declined the courtesy.

It is said that Secretary Stanton authorized Judge Thomas, of Boston, to say that as soon as officers of rank could be convened without injury to the service, Gen. Stone shall be tried by a court-martial.

Herald’s Dispatch.

The Union troops advanced yesterday upon the rebel outposts beyond Warrenton junction driving the enemy, estimated at 10,000, before them along the line of Gordonsville railroad.  The road beyond Warrenton Junction is utterly destroyed, bridges gone, the cross ties burned and the rails bent into every conceivable shape. – The Union troops are in excellent health, and are pushing after the retreating rebels as rapidly as circumstances will allow.  The telegraph lines follow the advancing army, and offices are established from day to day.

An excursion party went out on the Manassas Gap road about five miles beyond the junction, cutting away fallen trees and clearing obstructions from the track.  The road was otherwise in perfect order, and the water stations uninjured.  They also proceeded on the road to Gordonsville as far as Bristor station, at which point the bridge over Broad river is destroyed.

James Crockett, who has been an engineer on the Manassas Gap road nine years, accompanied the party.  He remained with the rebels until the recent evacuation of Manassas, and brought down the reinforcements of Gen. Johnson when the rebels were retreating at Bull Run last July. – He states that the rebels commenced evacuating Manassas on the 3d of March.  The troops moved off very hurriedly, and were in such great fear for being routed by the advancing Union troops that their officers threatened instant death to every man who fired a hut, alleging as a reason that the smoke would have drown the federal advance.

The guns of the rebels, he says, were of small caliber and few in number.  They had numerous quantities of stores, which could not be removed and were burned after the main body of the army had left.  The inhabitants of Fredericksburg are in great consternation, expecting an immediate attack from Union troops, many are leaving with their effects.  It is expected there that the rebels will fall back towards Richmond, between which place and Fredericksburg they will give battle.  Their depot at Aquia Creek was not burnt as late as Monday, for it was then plainly visible from the vessels of our Potomac flotilla.

On Friday last a schooner from Baltimore came up the Rappahannock, having on board a large quantity of stores and clothing for the rebel troops.

Times’ Dispatch

The President to-day nominated Gen. Cadwalader as Major Gen. of volunteers. – He will take the field at once.

Francis Gallagher, of Baltimore, a prominent lawyer there and well know in this city, was killed at the battle of Winchester on Sunday last, while fighting for the cause of the Union.

The Senate committee agreed, yesterday, to reduce the tax upon newspaper advertisements, proposed in the tax bill from 5 to 3 per cent and decided to establish an ad valorem tax of 3 per cent upon paper instead of the proposed 5 mills per pound.

To-day the president nominated, on the recommendation of the Indiana delegation the following cols., of Indiana volunteers, as Brig. Generals:

A. P. Hovey, W. Kimball, W. P. Benton, J. C. Veitch and P. H. Hackleman.

Secretary Chase means to carry out the principle announced some time ago, that commerce shall follow the flag, and he has accordingly issued instructions to the Treasury Agents, Collectors and surveyors on the Ohio and Mississippi, dispensing with applications to the Secretary, for licenses to trade, and authorizing the shipment of all goods not intended to aid the rebellion to all places occupied by our troops.  In the valley States applications for permits can be made henceforth, direct to the Collectors or Surveyors of the different ports.

WASHINGTON, March 29.

A military department to be called the middle department, and to consist of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia, and the counties of Cecil, Hartford, Baltimore and Annandale, has been created.  Maj. Dix, U. S. volunteers, is assigned to the command – headquarters at Baltimore.

No troops in the U. S. Service will hereafter pass through the city of New York without reporting to the U. S. military authorities entrusted with the duty of providing subsistence and transportation in that city.

Special to N. Y. Times.

The Times’ correspondent, writing from Warrenton junction for two days past, says the rebels have been crowded steadily towards the Rappahannock.

Four of the N. Y. 66^th, Col. Pickney, were captured night before last while on picket duty.  Shots were exchanged constantly with the rebels during yesterday.  Two brigades of the rebels being closely pursued, retreated across the Rappahannock towards Gordonsville, and blew up the Railroad bridge.  The rebels are now south of the Rappahannock river.

Special to the Commercial.

The commissioners appointed by the war department, to adjust the claims of contractors, have made many important reductions in the final settlement of some bills.  The commissioners will save the treasury millions of dollars.

The committee on bankrupt law held a long session last evening, and agreed to report Mr. Condling’s [sic] bill, with some amendments.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1

Specials to the New York Papers

(Times Correspondent.)

WASHINGTON, April 28. – The President has received a special dispatch to-night from a source altogether different from that through which the information came yesterday of the fall of New Orleans, confirming the same.

The news from the Department of the Rappahannock is important. Our forces have not yet occupied Fredericksburgh but stay at Falmouth, on the opposite side of the river.

Information recently received renders it pretty certain that there is a large rebel force in the neighborhood ready to dispute Gen. McDowell’s progress toward Richmond. Report places this force under the command of Gen. G. A. Smith.


(World’s Special.)

The confirmatory news of the occupation of New Orleans by the Union forces, has just been received. It removes very materially, the doubts which have existed in the minds of some as to the entire reliability of the rebel telegrams.

There is reason to believe there has been a discussion at the Treasury Department, respecting the policy of raising the blockade of Southern ports, as they come into possession of the Union forces. We are assured by a gentleman who is in constant communication with the Government, that there is little doubt that the blockade of New Orleans will be raised immediately on the Union authority being reinstated there.


(Herald’s Special.)

Rumors are in circulation that the rebels are preparing to evacuate Yorktown.

WASHINGTON, April 29 – Specials state the there is a rumor that the Government is in possession of information which may possibly lead to a cessation of hostilities. A mediation on compromise is said to form the basis of the rumor. Doubtful.

It rumored that Gen’l Cadwallader is to take the place of Gen’l Smith at the west.

Mr. Sedgwick, of New York is appointed on the Special Committee of Confiscation. It is stated that a majority of the committee favor a strong bill for the confiscation of rebel property.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 4

From Washington

WASHINGTON, April 28. The following has been received: FORT MONROE, April 28. TO HON. E. M. STANTON:– The news of the occupation of New Orleans by our forces is confirmed to-day. No other news. (Signed,) JOHN E. WOOL, Major General Commanding Mr. Arnold, from the committee on roads and canals, reported in favor of the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan canal. The report states that the work has been more than half completed by the State of Illinois, having expended thereon over $6,000,000. The canal has been in operation since 1858, and now yields an annual revenue of about $2,000,000. This will be greatly increased by the enlargement of the Illinois rover. The state of Illinois offers this canal and its revenue to the United States on condition that Congress will provide the means for enlarging it, so as to pass gunboats from the lakes to the Mississippi. This will place us on an equality with Great Britain, that power being able by her canal to pass war vessels from the ocean to the lakes. The Senate in executive session to-day confirmed a large number of military nominations, including the following named, to be Brigadier Generals of volunteers: Col. Max Weber, of N. Y.; Col. Thos. J. Crittenden [sic], of Ill.; Col. Wm. P. Benton, Jeremiah Sullivan and John C. Newton. By the steamer Connecticut, the Navy Department received dispatches from Com. Farragut and Capt. Porter to April 12th. The steamers Pamlico and Mississippi were over the bar, and the flotilla is moving to take their position. Two Confederate schooners loaded with cotton were captured trying to run the blockade, bound for Havana. Prisoners report there were several gunboats building at New Orleans and five already on the keel. Several lately went up the river with the steam battering ram and 10,000 men. The schooner Columbia, of Galveston, with cotton, bound for Jamaica, had been captured by a party of men from the Montgomery. Not being able to bring her out, the schooner was destroyed. On April 4 an expedition, en route for Pass Christian, consisting of the steamers New London, Jackson and Lewis, with troops, were attacked by the rebel steamers Oregon, Pamlico and Carondelet. The Lewis was withdrawn, owing to the crowded state of her decks. The others continued the fight one hour and forty minutes, when the enemy withdrew, apparently much injured. The expedition then landed at Pass Christian. WASHINGTON, April 29. The commission on ordnance supplies have, it is said, rejected all the foreign contracts and considerably curtailed those for the manufacture of arms in the United States. The ordnance office has issued proposals for manufacturing, within, on year, Springfield rifles and muskets and Harper’s Ferry muskets, together, with carbines, revolvers, sabres, swords and scabbards. The department reserves to itself the right to reject any bid and to consider none made through any broker or party other than the regular manufacturers. Several days ago the House passed a resolution desiring the Secretary of War to communicate all the facts and circumstances within his knowledge relative to the late evacuation, by our troops, of Jacksonville. The Secretary replies, that he conceives it to be the province of the President to furnish information concerning military operations; but the President has directed him to say that the evacuation was for reasons not deemed compatible with the public interest to disclose. Specials state there is a rumor that the Government is in possession of information which may possible lead to a cessation of hostilities. A mediation and compromise form the basis of the rumor. It is rumored that Gen. Cadwallader is to take the place of Gen. Smith at the west. Sedgewick, of N. Y., is appointed on the House committee on confiscation vice Olin, declined. It is stated that a majority of the committee favor a strong bill for the confiscation of rebel property. The following was received to-day at the War Department: NEAR MONTERY, Tenn., April 25. Five companies of our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry two miles in advance of here. The enemy retreated. Five of them were killed, on of them a Major, and eighteen prisoners, with their arms and horses, were captured and are in camp. One of the prisoners named Haughan was formerly foreman in the Louisville Demicrat office. We had none killed or wounded. – Our forces are in capital spirits. Prisoners say the enemy have upwards of 80,000 men at Corinth and will fight, and that they are entrenching and mounting large guns. – Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 30, 1862, p. 1

From Washington

WASHINGTON, April 25.

Com. Foote, owing to the wound received in the battle of Fort Henry, has asked to be released from the command of the Western Fleet, but the Department has, it is understood, ordered Capt. Chas. H. Davis to repair to the squadron as his second in command, thus relieving him of much of the physical labor of his responsible position.

In addition to what has heretofore been asserted in contradiction of the false statement of the Richmond papers, there is good authority for stating that Count Mercier, the French Minister, had no official communication whatever with the Southern authorities.

The Navy Department is quietly though effectually at work increasing the means of the national defense.

The Atlantic [Works] and Harrison Loring, of Boston, have been awarded contracts for building iron-clad vessels under the recent law.

The Senate to-day in executive session confirmed the nomination of Gen. Cadwallader, of Pa. and Geo. H. Thomas, of Va., as Major Generals, and Col. Alfred H. Terry of Conn., Miles S. Haskell, of Indiana, Maj. Henry W. Wessels, of the 9th Infantry, Col. John W. Geary, Major Samuel W. Crawford, of the 13th Infantry, and Leonard F. Ross of Indiana, as Brigadier Generals of volunteers, Brig. Gen. Jas. W. Ripley, to be Chief of Ordnance, W. A. Hammond as Surgeon General, with the rank of Brig. Gen. Also Chas. F. Garrett, as Assistant Quartermaster, and Harvy A. Smith, of Kansas, as Commissary of Subsistence. The Senate, it is stated, rejected Nathan Reeve as Quartermaster, and the following as Brig. Gen’ls: J. Cochrane, H. H. Lockwood, Chas. F. Clark, and Chas. Dana. J. Trumble, of Tenn., was confirmed as U. S. attorney, for the Middle District of that State. Owing to a misapprehension which cause the rejection of Daniel E. Sickles, the President to-day renominated him to be Brig. Gen. The Prospect of his confirmation is favorable.

Col. Rooslaff, the Danish, and Count Piper, the Swedish Ministers, have gone to Fort Monroe. It is believed they intend to follow the French Minister’s example and extend their tour to Norfolk and Richmond.

The judiciary committee of the House will report adversely to the memorial of citizens of Chicago in favor of Gen. McKinstry. The committee have determined not to make public the letter of Secretary Stanton to the committee.

Letters from before Yorktown give a sort of confirmation to the reported refusal of an Irish brigade in the rebel army to serve and the surrender of their arms.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 28, 1862, p. 1