XXXVIIth Congress – First Session

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.

HOUSE. – House resumed consideration of the naval appropriation bill.  After considerable debate, the amendment appropriating fifteen million dollars for building additional gunboats was adopted by 18 against 25; also an amendment, appropriating fifty thousand dollars for an ordnance foundry at Washington, and for ordnance, one million dollars.  The bill was then passed.

Mr. Wikoff having appeared before the judiciary committee, and answered the question proposed, was ordered to be discharged from custody.

The House considered the post office appropriation bill in committee of the whole House, and concurred in the Senate’s amendment to the bill for the suppression of the Coolie trade.  Adjourned.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 17, 1862, p. 1

From Washington

Tribune Correspondence.

NEW YORK, Feb. 14.

The committee on the conduct of the war, to-day, in examining the case of Gen. Stone, discovered new facts, which divide the responsibility of the blunder at Ball’s Bluff between Gen. Stone and another General.

Previous to the discharge of Wikoff, the committee on the judiciary examined Gen. Sickles, whose frequent visits to the incarcerated Wikoff and his journeys from the cell to the residents of ex-Lieut. Watt at the other end of the avenue, had excited suspicion.  Sickles claimed to be Wikoff’s counsel, and to have acted throughout in that capacity.  The committee put some home questions to him, he replied sharply, and for a few minutes a war of words raged.  While his examination was pending, the Sergeant-at-Arms appeared with Watt.  He testified that he saw the message in the library, and being of a literary turn of mind perused it; that, however, he did not make a copy, but having a tenacious memory, carried portions of it in his mind, and the next day reported them word for word to Wikoff.  That personage had previously testified that the passage transmitted to the Herald was given him by Watt orally.

WASHINGTON, February 14.

Hamilton Fish and Bishop Ames returned to Washington to-day and made a report to the Government of their mission to relieve Union prisoners in the south.

They repaired to Fortress Monroe, and made known their commission to the Confederate authorities at Norfolk, by whom the matter was referred to Richmond.  A reply came, refusing the commissioners admission to the Confederate Territory, but expressing readiness to negotiate for the general exchange of prisoners.  Our commissioners opened negotiations which resulted in perfect success.  An equal exchange was agreed on, but the confederates had 300 more prisoners than we.  With commendable magnanimity, they proposed to release those also, on condition that our Government would agree to release 300 of their men that they may next fall into its hands.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.

Mrs. Senator Chandler has received a letter from Col. Wilcox, who says that himself and other prisoners at Columbia, S. C. are in good health and that their condition has been rendered comfortable by the clothing received from the United States authorities.

The Oregon Democrat and the Los Angeles and California Star have been suppressed from the mails, on the ground that they have been used for the purpose of overthrowing the Government and giving aid and comfort to the enemy now at war with the United States.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 17, 1862, p. 1

The War News

Interesting News from Port Royal.

Further Particulars of the Tennessee River Expedition.

Gun-Boat Expedition up Cumberland River.

NORFOLK PLACED UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

Gen. Stone’s Treasonable Doings.

MR. WYKOFF IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 14, 1862, p. 1

From Washington

NEW YORK, Feb. 13.

The Tribune’s Washington Correspondent says of Gen. Stone that he used to have stolen interviews with the rebels, and that a package on at least one occasion, was seen to pass from him to them. He, with surly words, refused a pass to the widow of a volunteer, who wished to seek for the body of her husband within the enemy’s lines, but in the case of the rebel ladies, who on frivolous pretexts desired to go and come, he was all urbanity, and freely gave passes – passes, too, which covered trunks not to be examined.

The Senate military committee will report, at their next meeting, a reorganization of the medical department of the army, increasing the number of surgeons and other members of the service, and making it a separate department.

Gen. Montgomery, military governor of Alexandria, is abusing his office by releasing rebels arrested by his subordinates. Not content with allowing Rev. Mr. Stewart to omit the prayer for the President from the service, he set him at liberty after his arrest on account of the treasonable omission.

The Alexandria Chronicle says much excitement has been occasioned by the arrest of Rev. Mr. Stewart, who in spite of remonstrances and warning, persisted in parading his rebel proclivities in the pulpit.


(World’s Dispatch)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.

A well known Citizen here, named Magruder, a shoe dealer, was arrested to-day on a charge of treason, he having been communicating with the enemy. The charges against him in this respect are alleged to be very serious.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.

The sergeant at arms pursuant to an order by the house of Representatives, has placed Henry Wikoff in close confinement, selecting the guard house in the Capitol for that purpose. Mr. Wikoff said to-day that this was a kind of capital punishment that he had not anticipated.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 14, 1862, p. 1