ing that for the subsistence of a human Yankee slaves. -THE Marine Brigade, under the Comcarcass vegetable diet was the most proper! For mand of General Ellet, and a portion of Colonel the honor of the country, this Northrop should Gresham's command, returned to Natchez from be ejected at once." an unsuccessful expedition after the rebels under Wirt Adams, who had mounted a battery on Ellis's Cliff-THE English steamer Minna, while attempting to evade the blockade of Charleston, S. C., was captured by the United States gunboat Circassian. -PRESIDENT LINCOLN, in his Message to Congress, appended his Proclamation of Amnesty.(Doc. 32.) -THE following is an account of an affair that took place to-day, near Great Western Furnace, Stuart County, Tenn., about twelve miles December 10.-Major-General Grant, from his from Canton, Ky.: "The guerrilla, Colonel Mar- headquarters at Chattanooga, Tenn., issued the tin, who lately robbed the citizens in that secfollowing congratulatory order to his army: "The tion of nearly all they possessed, passed through General commanding takes this opportunity of Golden Pond, Tenn., with his gang, taking returning his sincere thanks and congratulations horses, and plundering indiscriminately. The to the brave armies of the Cumberland, the citizens of the neighborhood organized a squad Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades from of fifteen men, composed principally of the late the Potomac, for the recent splendid and deciEighth Kentucky cavalry, headed by John Mar- sive successes achieved over the enemy. In a tin and F. M. Oakley, and started in pursuit of short time you have recovered from him the the guerrillas. They came upon them about mid-control of the Tennessee River from Bridgeport night, in camp, eating a supper furnished them by one Dawsy Griffin. The citizens demanded a surrender, which was refused by the rebel leader, and the order was given by Martin to charge upon them, which was done in a handsome manner, resulting in a complete rout, and the capture of all their arms, horses, clothing, camp equipage, and two contrabands. Three of the rebels were killed on the spot."-THE National House of Representatives unanimously passed a vote of thanks to General U. S. Grant and his army, and ordered that a medal be struck in his honor, in the name of the people of the United States. -PRESIDENT LINCOLN sent the subjoined congratulatory despatch to Major-General Grant: "Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than thanks-my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all!" This was immediately published to the armies under the command of General Grant. to Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge, repelled with heavy loss to him his repeated assaults upon Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regaining the possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this the General commanding thanks you collectively and individually. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and bellion are with you daily. Their faith in you prayers for your success against this unholy rewill not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will yet go to other fields of strife; and with the invincible bravery and un flinching loyalty to justice and right, which have characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no December 9.-President Lincoln granted a defences, however formidable, can check your pardon exempting E. W. Gantt, of Arkansas, onward march.” from the penalty of treason, which he incurred -GENERAL GILLMORE again shelled Charleston, by accepting and exercising the office of Briga- S. C., throwing a number of missiles into differdier-General in the service of the rebels. The ent parts of the city. The rebel batteries openpardon also reinstated General Gantt in all his ed fire, and a heavy bombardment ensued for rights of property, excepting those relating to several hours.—THE steamers Ticonderoga, Ella, and Annie, left Boston, Mass., in pursuit of the Chesapeake.-THE new volunteer fund of NewYork City reached seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. December 11.—The annual report of the rebel Secretary of War was made public. He refers to the operations of the army in its several departments, and says that the campaign in Mississippi was certainly disastrous. It is difficult to resist the impression that its disasters were -THE steamboat Brazil, while passing below Rodney, Miss., was fired upon by rebels on shore. Three women and one man were killed. -ROBERT OULD, the rebel Commissioner of Exchange, addressed the following official letter to Brigadier-General Meredith, the agent of the National Government: As the assent of the confederate government to the transmission, by your authorities and people, of food and clothing to the prisoners at Richmond and elsewhere, has been the subject of so much misconstruction and sion of so much vilification and abuse, I am di rected to inform you that no more will be allowed to be delivered at City Point. The clothing and provisions already received will be devoted to the use of your prisoners. When that supply is exhausted, they will receive the same rations as our soldiers in the field.” one hundred and ninety-nine salt-works belonging to companies and private individuals, with five hundred and seven boilers, kettles, etc., the whole worth three millions of dollars. not inevitable. That a court of inquiry, to investigate the whole campaign, met in Atlanta in misrepresentation, and has been made the occaSeptember, but in consequence of the vicinity of the enemy, requiring the presence of witnesses and judges at other points, it has been temporarily suspended. It is expected soon to reassemble. A deficiency of resource in men and provisions, rather than reverses in battle, caused the withdrawal of the army to Middle Tennessee. He alludes to desertion, straggling, and absentee- -MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, in obedience to ism, and says that the effective force of the army orders from the War Department, resigned the is but little over half or two thirds of the men command of the army of the Ohio to Major-Genwhose names are on the muster-rolls. He re-eral John G. Foster.-THE rebel government saltcommends the repeal of the substitute and ex-works on West-Bay, Florida, were destroyed by emption provisions, and that all having substi- an expedition from the United States armed vestutes be put back into the field, and that the sels Restless and Bloomer. The government privileges which Congress granted to put in sub-works were three quarters of a mile square, and stitutes can be regularly and constitutionally abrogated by the same power. He says that no compact was entered into between the government and the person furnishing a substitute, as has been alleged, but only a privilege which government accorded. Instead of complaining of such abrogation, the person ought to feel gratified at what has heretofore been allowed him. He recommends an abridgment of exemptions and the conscription of them all, making details according to the wants of society at home. He says that the three years' men, when their terms expire, cannot be finally discharged, and should be retained, allowing them to choose the existing company under its present organization in the same arm of the service. He recommends the consolidation of such companies and regiments as are reduced below a certain complement. He pays a glowing tribute to the heroism, endurance, and unfaltering devotion of the soldier, and of the lamented dead who yielded their lives as sacrifices upon the altar of liberty, and closes by saying that our very reverses, showing a united and determined endurance of every thing for independence, must convince the enemy of the futility of his efforts to subdue us.—Richmond Examiner. December 12. - General Scammon attacked General Echols at Lewisburgh, Va., routing him effectually, killing and wounding quite a number of the rebels, and capturing many prisoners. General Kelley's Despatch. December 13.-Major-General Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tenn., issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States. December 14.-Between two and three o'clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tenn., on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a until that liberty and independence for which fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the rebels succeeded in driving the Nationals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and command; and a heavy force of rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly's Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the programme was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect.-(Doc. 36.) -THE United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida. -GOVERNOR THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.-COLONEL WATKINS, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tenn., from a cavalry reconnoissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a rebel signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the large force of rebels fled. they have been so earnestly contending shall have been at least achieved, and made sure and steadfast beyond even the probability of a future danger; and that, in spite of the reverses. which have lately befallen our armies in several quarters, and cold and selfish indifference to our su ferings thus far, for the most part evinced in the action of foreign powers, the eleven millions of enlightened freemen now battling heroically for all that can make existence desirable, are fully prepared, alike in spirit and in resources, to encounter dangers far greater than those which they have heretofore bravely met, and to submit to far greater sacrifices than those which they have heretofore so cheerfully encountered, in preference to holding any further political connection with a government and people who have notoriously proven themselves contemptuously regardless of all the rights and privileges which belong to a state of civil freedom, as well as of all the most sacred usages of civilized war." Mr. Miles regretted that the gentleman from Tennessee had introduced such a resolution. The true and only treatment which that miserable and contemptible despot, Lincoln, should receive at the hands of this house was silent and unmitigated contempt. This resolution would appear to dignify a paper emanating from that wretched and detestable abortion, whose contemptible emptiness and folly would only receive the ridicule of the civilized world. He moved to lay the subject on the table. -Ax expedition sent out by General Wistar from Yorktown to Charles City Court-House, Va., under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburgh, Va., having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.-resolution should be tabled, with the understandMr. Foote was willing that the preamble and (Doc. 26.) December-15.-President Lincoln's Amnesty Proclamation was under consideration in rebel Congress. Mr. Foote presented the following preamble and resolution : "Whereas a copy of the truly characteristic proclamation of amnesty recently issued by the imbecile and unprincipled usurper who now sits enthroned upon the ruins of constitutional liberty in Washington City, has been received and read by the members of this House; now, in token of what is solemnly believed to be the most undivided sentiment of the people of the confederate States: "Be it resolved, That there never has been a day or an hour when the people of the confederate States were more inflexibly resolved than they are at the present time, never to relinquish the struggle of arms in which they are engaged, ing that it would indicate the unqualified contempt of the House for Abraham Lincoln and his message and proclamation alluded to. Mr. Miles said there would be no misunderstanding about that. The motion was unanimously adopted. -THERE were yesterday in the Libby Prison and its dependencies at Richmond, Va., over ten thousand abolition captives. In this number are included nine hundred and eighty-three commissioned officers, domiciled at the Libby under the immediate supervision of Major Thomas P. Turner. By the record it appears that nine were received on the fourteenth instant. Twelve died the same day. The arrivals for several days past have not been very numerous. On last Friday night, Captain Anderson, of the Fifty-first Indiana cavalry, (Streight's command,) Lieutenant Skelton, of the Nineteenth Iowa regiment, (a redheaded, bullet-eyed, pestilential abolitionist,) escaped from the hospital of the Libby Prison by bribing the sentinel, one Mack, a member of the Tenth Virginia battalion of heavy artillery. This person was purchased for four hundred dollars. Richmond Examiner. -THIS night, about eight o'clock, Rosser's brigade, of Stuart's rebel cavalry, came upon the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, from the south, near Sangster's Station, Va., and destroyed two bridges over Pope's Run.-(Doc. 115.) -AUTHENTIC information having been received that Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire, together with fifteen. men, all belonging to the confederate States navy, are now in close confinement in irons at Fort McHenry, to be tried as pirates, our efficient and energetic Agent of Exchange, Judge Ould, notified General Meredith that Lieutenant Commander Edward P. Williams and Ensign Benjamin II. Porter and fifteen seamen, now Yankee prisoners in our hands, have been placed in close confinement and irons, and will be held as hostages for the proper treatment of our men.-Richmond Enquirer. -A LIST of Steamers destroyed on the Mississippi River since the beginning of the war, was made public. Over one hundred and seventyfive were burned or sunk. ing general order: "The recent affair at Moscow, Tenn., has demonstrated the fact that colored troops, properly disciplined and commanded, can and will fight well, and the General commanding deems it to be due to the officers and men of the Second regiment West-Tennessee infantry of African descent, thus publicly to return his personal thanks for their gallant and successful defence of the important position to which they had been assigned, and for the manner in which they have vindicated the wisdom of the Government in elevating the rank and file of these regiments to the position of freemen and soldiers." -THE Richmond Enquirer, in an article on the exchange of prisoners, held the following language: "The Yankees are not going to send their negro troops in the field: they know as well as we do that no reliance can be placed upon them; but as dépôt-guards, prison-guards, etc., they will relieve their white troops. This is the use that will be made of them. Should they be sent to the field, and be put in battle, none will be taken prisoners-our troops understand what to do in such cases." -PRESIDENT LINCOLN sent a message to the Congress of the United States, communicating a letter addressed to him from a committee of gentlemen, representing the Freedmen's Aid Societies of Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, in relation to the freedmen under the proclamation of emancipation.—THE United States bark Roebuck captured off the mouth of Indian River, Florida, the English schooner Ringdove, twenty-three tons burden, of and from Nassau, Her cargo consisted with a crew of five men. of one hundred and ninety bales of salt, three bags of coffee, two half chests of tea, and three barrels of whisky. When first discovered, she attempted to escape, but on being fired at, ran aground on the bar. December 16.—A fire broke out this evening in the hospital of the One Hundred and Fortyeighth New-York regiment at Yorktown, Va., and in a few moments the building was all on fire, and as there were no engines or water near, it was impossible to subdue it. The Government bakery also took fire, and communicated it to the Arsenal. For several hours, the loaded shell stored within exploded, until the magazine was reached, when a terrific explosion took place, -FOR Several days past the detectives at Richscattering the building and shell in every direc-mond, Va., have been on the hunt for parties tion. The loss was estimated at one million dol- who are either suspected of stealing the clothing lars.-MAJOR-GENERAL BUFORD, commanding a sent by the Yankee Government for the prisoners division in the cavalry corps of the army of the now in our hands, or receiving the same, knowPotomac, died at Washington, D.C.-THE steam- ing it to have been stolen. Several soldiers, er Chesapeake was recaptured in Mud Cove, Sam-wearing the confederate uniform, have lately been bro Harbor, Nova Scotia, by the National steamer seen with blankets branded "U. S.," and in some Ella and Anna, under the command of Lieutenant Commander John F. Nichols. December 17.-From his headquarters at Memphis, Tenn., General Hurlbut issued the follow cases, shoes, with the Yankee mark on them, have been sold to citizens at uncommonly low figures by some of the guards of the prisons. Several individuals have been arrested on the |