From Washington

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.

The Tribune’s special stated that letters continue to be received from eminent bankers, favoring the “legal tender bill.”  There is no reason to believe that Gen. Butler was assured before he left Washington that he should have a Major General’s commission as well as the title.  He will land several brigades at a point on the Southern coast not now occupied by Union soldiers.  The capture will be more important than any yet made.

Secretary Stanton insisted that Butler should have what he wanted, although McClellan disapproved of it.

Fort Pulaski is now thoroughly invested.  Gen. Sherman has daily repots of all that is done there, and will take the place when he chooses to attack.

Time’s Dispatch

A movement is making here by members of Congress from the West and Northwest, headed by Frank Blair and Mr. Arnold to have Gen. Sigel made a Major General, and it will probably be successful.

Herald’s Dispatch

The select committee on the defence and fortifications of the great lakes and rivers are prepared to make a report.  They will recommend the erection of such fortifications at Mackinaw as will make it the Gibraltar, as it is nearly the key of our Northwestern frontier.  Their report will provide also for the establishment of a naval depot and National armory upon Lake Michigan, probably at or near Chicago, and that preparations to be immediately made for the accumulation of the necessary arms and munitions to arm the whole of the American vessels engaged in the commerce of the northern lakes.

It is estimated that there are in this trade 1,200 American vessels to 300 British and 15,000 American sailors to 3,000 British.  It is represented by the committee that the majority of the population of the loyal States is west of the Alleghany mountains; that the line of lake coast exceeds the whole length of our Atlantic coast, and that our commerce on the lakes is greater than our whole foreign trade.  To complete the defences and render communications with all parts of the Northwest secure form interruption by a foreign foe, it will also be recommended that a military railroad shall be immediately constructed from the mouth of the Menomonie River or Badenouquet, on Lake Michigan, to Marquette, on Lake Superior, and that a ship canal shall be built from Chicago to the Mississippi River.  It is said that these recommendations have the approval of Gen. McClellan.  The report will probably be made on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2

It is known that a number of Southern secessionists are in Canada, whose business is to collect money from sympathizing friends, and to forward and received dispatches from Europe, and place them in such secret channels that they may reach their ultimate destination.  It is not likely that such proceedings will be much longer continued.

Lieut. Col. Sir P. Windham, late commanding 2d brigade of the Italian army, has been appointed Colonel of the Michigan regiment of Lancers.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3

So vast an army has been martialed in this District, that no proper arrangements have been made for even a decent interment of those who die in our hospitals. – This matter is under consideration, and will receive the immediate attention of Congress.

The result of the examination recently instituted by telegraph interests shows that the number of messages transmitted over the lines during the past year was 2,800,000, yielding a total revenue of $15,220,000.  Should Congress in the next tax bill impose 3 cents on each message, a little over $84,000 would be realized from that source, or 5½ per cent. on the aggregate amount of business.

The following communication has been received at the Navy Department from Capt. John Marston, dated U. S. steamer Roanoke, Hampton Roads, Feb. 1st:

“I have the honor to report to you the arrival, during the past night of the bark Gemsbock, from Beaufort, N. C.  Capt. Coventry informs me that on Tuesday, 28th, he heard heavy firing in the rear of Beaufort, but he has no conjecture from when it proceeded.

“Capt. Coventry also reports that on Thursday, 30th Jan., at 9 o’clock in the morning, while off Roanoke Inlet, he heard heavy firing in the direction of Roanoke Island, which leaves no doubt in my mind that flag officer Goldsborough is at work.”

Representatives of the telegraphic interests now here, have suggested to the committee of ways and means their readiness to pay a tax on their messages and thus contribute to the support of the government.

The chairman of the ways and means committee, Mr. Stevens, will endeavor to bring the House to a vote on the Treasury bill on Thursday.

Representative Hooper’s speech to-day, was listened to with marked attention, it being considered a clear exposition of the views of the Treasury Department on the financial question.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 4, 1862, p. 1

A petition has been circulated in Detroit . . .

. . . on the subject of fortifying the lake coast, which according to the Advertiser, sets forth that there is not, at the present time, upon the five hundred miles of frontier coast line, a single defense, nor any way of communication with the Upper Peninsular of Michigan except through the St. Mary’s Falls canal and the river.  The Canadian Government have built a military road from Toronto to St. Mary, which gives them the advantage of communication with Lake Superior by two routes, and in the event of war with England Lake Superior would easily fall into the enemy’s hands.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

Specials to the New York Papers

(Herald Dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, May 20. – All are filled with the expectation of the great battles, at Corinth and Virginia before the week ends.  It is expected that these two battles will practically conclude the campaign, and leave nothing else to be done but put down the guerilla fighting.

The recent proclamation of the President begins to give great satisfaction to all classes. – The conservatives are satisfied and the ultras do not find fault.  It is manifest to all that Mr. Lincoln has taken the bit in his teeth and intends to have his own way.  Cabinet or no Cabinet. – The general impression here is since, the utterance of the proclamation, there is no one can approach Abraham Lincoln in popularity.  It is regarded as an evidence of unalterable firmness and true grit.

(Tribune Dispatch.)

A call is soon to be made upon the states for additional volunteers to the number of at least 100,000.  Careful inquiries have elicited the fact that our army is smaller than has been represented, even in official accounts – numbering not 300,000 effective men.  This fresh force is to be merely used as a reserve to be stationed at convenient point to meet emergencies.

The subject of lake defenses and lake commerce was very forcibly and fully presented this morning at a meeting of the New York delegation in Congress by the Hon. Samuel B. Ruggles, who appeared in behalf of the State. – the Principal topics discussed were the present undefended condition of the lakes and the great extend and rapid growth of the commerce on the waters, also the vital importance of the cereal products of the States surrounding the lakes, in furnishing the elements of foreign commerce, and consequently in swelling the amount of duties on imports to be received in exchange.  The two cardinal measures growing out of these discussions, and which must occupy the attention of congress, will be the opening of adequate channels from the eastern and western extremities of the lakes, the first to be effected by enlarging the locks on the Erie and Oswego Canals, and the other by the enlargement of the Canal from Chicago to the Illinois River.  It is hoped that these two great measures may be united as integral portions of one harmonious system, extending from the Hudson to the Mississippi, permitting the passing throughout the line of mail-clad vessels sufficient for the defense of these great waters.

The following is from the World’s correspondent, under the date of Baltimore Cross Roads, Va., 16 miles from Richmond, May 18:  I make the prophecy that Richmond is abandoned by the enemy without a fight, and that we occupy it within forty-eight hours, if not sooner.  This is the advance division towards Richmond – Cavalry are beyond at Bottom Bridge.  The enemy blew it up yesterday.  Little will it impede our progress, the stream is narrow, the water is but 13 feet deep and an easy ford.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3

Enlargement of the Illinois Canal

WASHINGTON, April 28. – Mr. Arnold, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported in favor of the bill for 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. She having expended thereon over six millions. The canal has been in operation since 1848, and now yields an annual revenue of about 2,000,000 dollars. This will be greatly increased by the enlargement of the Illinois river as proposed. The State of Illinois offers this canal and its revenue to the United States on condition that the Congress will provide the means of enlarging it, so as to pass gunboats from the Lakes to the Mississippi. – This will place us on equality with Great Britain, that power being able by her canals to pass by war vessels from the Ocean to the lakes.

The report, in view of the fact, that by the treaty of the United States is prohibited from building or maintaining armed vessels on the Lakes, urges the necessity and importance of the immediate enlargement of this canal by which the gunboat fleet in the Mississippi could be passed through to the lakes. Had this medium of communication been open at the beginning of the rebellion, the 1200 vessels and 15,000 sailors now shut up on the lakes would have been at the disposal of the Government. The saving to the Treasury during the past year would have been vastly more than the cost of the complete work.

The committee believe its income will more than pay the interest on its cost, and ultimately pay the entire investment.

The Senate Executive Session to-day, confirmed a large number of military nominations including the following named to be Brigadier Generals of Volunteers:

Col. Max Weber, 8th New York, Thomas P. Crittenden, of Illinois, Col. Wm. H. Benton, Jeremiah C. Sullivan, James C. Neator, and P. A. Hackleman, of Indiana.

The bill reported by Mr. Colfax, from the P. O. Committee, provides that all persons carrying the U. S. mails, shall enter into a contract with the Post Office Department, and if they disagree as to the price, it shall be referred to the Committee on Claims.

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