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. 66th, 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
