SUNDAY
JULY 7, 1861
THE DAILY TRUE DELTA

A DARING ADVENTURE AND SHARP WORK
NEAR ALEXANDRIA, Va.

A few days ago we had a dispatch from Alexandria, stating that a citizen of Richmond was killed while attacking the Federal pickets. The Richmond Enquirer, of the 3d instant, in the following account of a daring adventure near Alexandria, show show the gallant citizen lost his life:

By a gentleman who came passenger over the Central and Orange roads yesterday, we learn that on Sunday evening last a sharp skirmish took place between a scouting party of our troops and a strong picket of the enemy, posted near Hunting Creek, and within a short distance of Alexandria. The Confederate party were composed of five men from the Governor's Guard, five of the Goochland Cavalry, and twenty Alabamians, besides three guides: thirty-three in all.

By some means they possessed themselves of the countersign of the enemy, and thus succeeded in passing two lines of sentinels, intending to get as far down as possible, and gather up all on their return. They now came, however, upon a strong picket of about fifty men, who had become apprised of their approach, and fired upon  tem as they advanced, killing one of their number, Sergeant Henry Haynes, of the Governor's Guard, Capt. Cabell, of Richmond city. The fire was promptly returned, when the enemy fled, leaving five dead upon the ground. The fugitives rapidly gained their camp, which was near by, and spread the alarm; whereupon our party saw the necessity of an immediate retreat, which they effected without further loss or incident.

Intelligence subsequently received represents that the daring stroke above described filled the invaders in Alexandria with alarm and expectations of a speedy and general attack.

THE PRIZES CAPTURED BY THE ST. NICHOLAS

The Richmond Enquirer, of the 3d instant, (for which we are indebted to a gentleman just arrived in the city), says:

The vessels captured by the steamer St. Nicholas, on Saturday last, the 29th ultimo, after the St. Nicholas herself had been taken by our daring adventurers, under Capt. Hollins and Col. Thomas, are as follows:

Brig Monticello, from Brazil, bound to Baltimore, with 3500 bags of coffee.

Schooner Mary Pierce, from Boston, bound to Washington City, with 260 tons of ice.

Schooner Margaret, from Alexandria, bound to Staten Island, with 270 tons of coal.

Lieut. Simms, C.S.N., was put in charge of the Monticello; Lieut. Robt. D. Minor, C.S.N., in charge of the Mary Pierce; and Lieut. Thorburn, of the Virginian Navy, in charge of the Margaret.

The vessels as well as the captured and capturing steamer are all in the Rappahannock.

We wanted, coffee, ice and coal, and we wanted the steamer and the vessel, and the country is loudly praising the bold officers and brave men who have supplied the market. If the enemy had not been whipped on Thursday night at Matthias's point perhaps more might have been accomplished by our brave fellows while their hands were in. But they have done splendidly as things now stand.

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ADVERTISEMENT

The attention of planters, traders and others is particularly called to the sale of No. 1 Mexican mules, which takes place on Monday, the 8th instant, at twelve o'clock, on Philippa street, foot of union, by R. M. Montgomery, auctioneer. The stock is fine and will be sold without any reserve.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY
1,000 SLAVES
WANTED BY HIRE OR BY PURCHASE

We will purchase or hire, for a term of five years, Nine Hundred or a Thousand Slave Laborers, to work on the Southern Pacific Railroad, in Texas--immediately west of Shreveport, La.--in a region secure and protected from invasion and molestation during the conflict which does exist between the two sections of this country. The country through which the road passes is entirely healthy, and for the distance of 400 or 500 miles west of Shreveport, it penetrates one of the finest agricultural countries on the continent of America.

The company has a magnificent land grant from Texas, i.e., 1,010 acres for every mile of road the company constructs, for the distance of 800 miles from Shreveport on the eastern, to El Paso on the western boundary of Teas. In times like the present, the company cannot command cash to pay for labor essential to the rapid development of the company's interests; but for  term of a year, by hire or by actual purchase, this company will make the most liberal ad advantageous arrangements with slave-owners in Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, or elsewhere, for the hire or purchase, with payments in the most undoubted securities, of 900 or 1000 slaves. Families entire will be taken, either by hire or by purchase. The company is enabled to propose liberal terms, because of the munificent land grants by Texas, and its ability to to purchase the iron and rolling stock for the entire road across Texas, with the construction bonds of the company, at rates almost equal to cash. All the rights of this company are fixed and vested by the laws of Texas. This company has secured the sympathy, and the route on the 30th degree of parallel of latitude has the sanction, of several of the most powerful European Governments--amongst them are France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland--as well as of large capitalists, commercial men and contractors of these countries. The late Congress of the United States passed a bill, at its last session, donating to this company, through Arizona, New Mexico and California some 13,000,000 acres of land, and a loan of thirty-six millions of dollars, to be repaid in postal and other public services. This bill passed the House of Representatives, was amended in the Senate, and only failed to become a law, for the want of time and the startling political events familiar to the nation.

No company in the world has a larger basis for the successful prosecution, and no company has attracted and secured to itself the approbation of so many American States and European Governments--promising so much benefit to stockholders, and to the world such stupendous results--bringing inevitably with its completion across this continent, the trade of China, Japan, Australia, and the whole Pacific coast--distributing the treasures derivable from the trade, travel, &c., of each and every city from the Gulf of Mexico to the most northern harbor on our Atlantic coast--giving each its due and natural share--a COMMERCE which has never failed to enrich every nation on earth that has ever controlled it in the past; and as it is annually increasing, it will only more enrich those who shall control it in the future.

We want the labor to progress with the work, for most unquestionable securities; and for it, the most liberal arrangements will be made with slave-owners--giving them terms which must, we think, be satisfactory--without endangering, by position, employment or terms of contract, the safety of the slaves themselves, or admitting the slightest uncertainty of ultimate payment.

All applications will be made to Hon. V. K. Stevenson, President, Nashville, Tenn., Col. Samuel Tate, President, Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company, Memphis, Col. J. R. McDaniel, Lynchburg, Va., or to myself, Memphis.

JEPTHA FOWLKES
General and Financial Agent of Southern Pacific Railroad Company of Texas

MONDAY
JULY 8, 1861
THE ST. ALBANS DAILY MESSENGER / THE NEW LONDON DAILY CHRONICLE

NO FAVOR TOWARD THE REBEL GOVERNMENT
BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT

The well informed and careful correspondent of The National Intelligencer in his letter of the 18th of June writes the following.

The friends of secession will perhaps gather hope from a few lines of the close of an article on Italy, published in The Paris Patrie, and copied into The Moniteur of Sunday last, to the effect that "the great European Powers will recognize the new Republic of the Southern States when that Republic shall have constituted a government founded on a basis which will allow of international relations advantageous to the general interest."

I hold in my hand a note, dictated by no less a personage than a Cabinet Minister of the Emperor, declaring the above allegation concerning the "American Southern States" to be "purely gratuitous, and utterly in conflict with the actual policy of the French government.

GALLANT CONDUCT OF MICHIGAN VOLUNTEERS

On Saturday a scouting party from the 1st Michigan regiment penetrated the rebel lines to the neighborhood of Fairfax Courthouse. There encountering a force of the enemy's troops, they opened fire upon them. The rebels, evidently thinking they were to be immediately attacked in force, after firing a few hasty shots, precipitately retreated leaving seven killed and a number of wounded on the ground. The daring Michiganders then coolly turned about and made their way back to camp, unmolested.

SICKNESS IN A REBEL CAMP

Advices from Nashville, Tenn., bring dismal accounts of the condition of a large force of rebel troops encamped near that city. Small pox and measles are frightfully prevalent among them--30 or 40 per day is the average number of new cases--and scarcely a train passes without taking on board corpses of the victims.

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Capt. John Carson of the revenue cutter Crawford, at New York, on Friday morning attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat. He inflicted a dreadful wound upon upon himself but not an immediately fatal one. He was removed to the New York Hospital where he is under the care of skillful physicians who think his case a doubtful one, but are not without hope that he may survive. Capt. Carson is a resident of this city, and his family are here.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

The report of the Secretary of the Navy states that the force in commission is 82 vessels, carrying upwards of 100 guns, besides several steamers and other small craft, temporarily in service. Three gunboats have been contracted for. Since the 4th of March, 259 officers have resigned or been dismissed. The report recommends the appointment of a Director of ordnance to have supervision of all details, of that branch of the service; also a provision for frequent supplies of fresh provisions to ships, also the appointment of a Board to inquire into the expediency of building iron-clad steamers; also to give the Department the appointment of an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary estimates for the service $30,609,520.29.

ASSASSINATION OF A ZOUAVE

One of the new York Fire  Zouaves was assassinated in front of a row of houses of bad repute in Washington, on Friday evening.

Afterwards a company of Zouaves went to the houses and after destroying the furniture and driving the inmates out, set the houses on fire, and prevented the Fire Companies from extinguishing the flames. The houses were consequently entirely consumed by the flames.

REBEL TROOPS KILLING EACH OTHER

Washington, July 6--The rebel troops stationed at Fairfax Court House, Va., yesterday imitated the fatal blunder of the federal forces at Little Bethel. The rebels were advancing at an early hour in the morning upon the federal lines, when a regiment of their infantry fired by mistake upon a company of their cavalry, killing seven or eight me, and wounding several others.

ADVERTISEMENTS

A MASKED BATTERY!
1,000 KILLED!!

The Lightning Fly-Killer is an active poison, rendered attractive to Flies, to their entire destruction. It kills instantly. Try it. You will see them dead and dying within five minutes. They cannot get away to fall into anything, but generally die near the plate. Buy it, and rid yourselves of these pests.

CIRCUS COMING

Nixon and Sloat's Great Circus will exhibit at this city on Friday, July 12th, afternoon and evening, on  a lot near the as Works.

TUESDAY
JULY 9, 1861
THE NEW LONDON DAILY CHRONICLE

DESPOTISM IN NEW ORLEANS

The fiction is industriously maintained by the rebel presses and orators that the southern people are fighting for their freedom--for escape from some intolerable bondage and tyranny. What sort of "freedom" is enjoyed among them under their own bogus authorities may be judged from the fact that a proclamation has been recently issued by General Twiggs, the military ruler of the city of New Orleans, strictly prohibiting any communication by letter or otherwise, with relatives, friends or business correspondents at the North.

We copy the proclamation as issued by this insolent military tyrant: an acceptable edict, perhaps, perhaps, to a people pretending to be fighting for their liberty, from one of their public servants:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 1,
NEW ORLEANS, La., June 26.

General Order, No. 18.

Communication of any kind and under any pretence, with the Black Republicans, is positively and peremptorily forbidden.

Any citizen detected in communication with them will be arrested and prosecuted.

By command of Major General Twiggs.

D. BELTZHOOVER,
Major A.A.A.G.C.S.A.

WASHINGTON ITEMS

When Col. Davies of the New York 16th regiment was marching through Baltimore, without drums, some of the lookers-on sneeringly asked, "Where's your music?" "In our cartridge boxes," said the grim Colonel.

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A letter received from Fernandina, Fla., by  a gentleman who was recently employed by the company who own the  railroad between that point and Cedar Keys, states that the rebel forces were being concentrated there, and that two heavy batteries had already been erected. The position is an important one and the government will undoubtedly tae some action in the matter.

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On Sunday a detachment of the Third Connecticut regiment visited the residence of Colonel Mason, brother of Senator Mason, and found the family in the act of moving farther into Virginia. In view of the fact that Colonel Mason is at present an officer in the rebel army, and that his family have been acting as spies for the rebels since our forces reached Falls Church, the Connecticut boys concluded to take his slaves, eleven in number, and considerable amount of stores.

POLICE COURT

Monday--Patrick Farrell was convicted of an assault upon Mrs. Ellen Sullivan, and fined seven dollars--which he paid.

Mary Magrudy had been "found intoxicated," and the court fined her five dollars and costs--more money than she happened to have about her, and she was committed.

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Blue fish made their appearance in great numbers. At Block Island 1370 were taken at one haul of the seine last week.

Mr. Vallandigham, the unpopular member of the House from Ohio, visited the camps across the Potomac on Sunday afternoon in company with several other members. His unexpected appearance in the Ohio encampments was the signal for an intense excitement. In a few moments an effigy of him was suspended from a tree, labeled, "Vallandigham, the Traitor," and simultaneously with this stones, onions, etc., were hurled at him. The excitement increasing, the officers interfered, and with great difficulty removed him from the ground. It would have resulted seriously had he remained much longer. The Ohio boys were very indignant at what they term a most impertinent intrusion, and it was hard for them to restrain a further manifestation of their wrath. Afterwards Vallandigham visited some other camps without molestation.

ADVERTISEMENTS

GROVER & BAKER'S
CELEBRATED NOISELESS
Sewing Machines
For Family and Manufacturing Use.

The Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Company are now manufacturing and have an exhibition at their different salesrooms, machines making the Shuttle or Lock-Stitch, of the same patterns and at the same prices as their celebrated Grover & Baker Stitch Machines, thus affording the public the advantage of comparing the stitches of the two leading machines and exercising their own judgment as to their respective merits. This is the only company that manufactures both kinds of machines, and herefore the only one that can offer this privilege to the purchase.

"We speak from experience when we say that after having tried all the principal Sewing Machines, we must accord to that of Grover & Baker the preeminence. Those indispensable features of sewing, strength, uniformity and elasticity, all of which are brought out in this incomparable invention, make it the first sewing machine in the country. Others have their good points, but this combines all, and possesses every characteristic necessary to make it most desirable." --N.Y. Christian Advocate and Journal.

"The points we conceive most necessary and important to meet the wide range of requirements in a machine for family sewing, we find more fully combined in the Grover & Baker, viz., extent of capacity, simplicity of construction, ease of management, advantage of using thread from two spools without re-winding, strength of work, elasticity, durability and regularity of stitch, and quietness of movement. We therefore mark award to the Grover & Baker." --Report of Committee of Tennessee State Fair of 1860; also of St. Louis State Fair of 1860

J.P. BURDICK.
New London.

PHŒNIX GUANO
FROM McKEAN'S ISLAND

This article has been thoroughly tested the past year by experienced cultivators, and its value as an efficacious fertilizer is established. It contains
Over 50 per Cent. Phosphate of Lime.
besides other valuable ingredients, all fine, soluble and ready for immediate use.

WEDNESDAY
JULY 10, 1861
THE SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN

UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION

Mr. X and his wife lived in Cincinnati. They were blessed with a plenty of this world's goods, with a nice home, with a handsome little son, and $10,000 in gold. But one unhappy day Mr. X came home cross to his dinner. He and his wife had some words; they quarreled; and they parted unhappily. Mrs. X went to the bureau where the $10,000 in gold was. She took half of it and said adieu to Cincinnati. She arrived in Chicago on Friday morning, 28th ultimo. A telegraphic message arrived previously, requesting her detention as a fugitive wife. She was detained, and spent the day in tears at the police station. At 7 o'clock p.m., her husband arrived, in anxious expectation, on an express train. Te twain met, looked at each other, cried, laughed, rushed into each other's arms, cried again, laughed again, kissed and made up. They left for Porkopolis* the same night, taking the sleeping car; and if it was provided with Hapgood's patent ventilators, there was no drawback on their happiness.

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The late fire in London was inferior only to "the great fire" Three acres were burnt over, and property to the amount of at least ten million dollars destroyed. The  buildings were mostly occupied for commercial purposes, and many of them filled with ship chandlery. The stock of tallow on a single wharf was valued at a million dollars. Three acres of ground were covered with a mass of fire, glowing and cracking at a white heat like a lake of molten iron. The saltpeter, the tallow, the tar, and other combustibles ran blazing into the river until the very stream appeared to be covered in flames. Ships were burnt as well as houses, and the danger to life was almost as great on the Thames as in the street. The glare of the conflagration was not only visible, but strikingly conspicuous, 30 miles off.

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The news from St. Domingo is important, a bloody reaction having taken place against the invasion by Spain. The Spaniards find the work upon their hands growing warmer every day, and a reinforcement has consequently been called for from Puerto Rico. It was thought at first that 10,000 soldiers would have been more than sufficient to subjugate the country, but already they begin to feel that twenty thousand will not be too many.

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Prof. Mitchell thinks the reason the comet came unobserved is, that during its approach to the sun it has been above the horizon only during daylight, and hence escaped detection; that on passing its perihelion, it made tracks uncommon. The last isn't the professor's phrase, but expresses his sentiments.

A Richmond paper proposes to call the comet the Southern Confederacy. The Providence Journal responds that the name might be appropriate to that body, which ahs the least conceivable head with the largest conceivable tail, and is running way as fast as possible.

ADVERTISEMENT

WANTED IMMEDIATELY,
to work upon Artillery Carriages and Railway Cars--

40 good Wood Workmen,
10 good Machinists,
15 good Blacksmiths,
10 good Blacksmiths' Helpers

T.W. Wason & Co.
Springfield Car Works.

FOREIGN EMIGRATION

Emigration to this country is not materially checked by the civil war, as might have been expected. The arrival of emigrants at Castle Garden, New York, during the first six months of this year was 43,637, against 49,383 in the same time last year. The Irish emigrations has fallen off about five thousand, while the German has increased some 3,000. Indeed the existence of the war has been a motive to emigration with many Germans, who have seen service at home, and declare that they have come to America to fight for freedom.

BREAKS OF THE TELEGRAPH

The crudities and inconsistencies of much of the news transmitted by telegraph to the press, is a frequent topic of remark. No wonder a lunatic out west attributed the crazed condition of his mind to reading the telegraphic news, where in one edition an event is said to have happened, in the next edition it is positively contradicted, and in the third edition it is declared not to have happened yesterday, but as certain to happen to-morrow. Bu the tricks which the telegraph plays most persistently are those not visible to newspaper readers, because masked by the editor in decent garb. It mangles sentences, misspells names, ignores punctuation, and commits diabolical murder on the King's English an the president's message. Read the following, exactly as it was received by us last Friday:

"All conceive powers however mischievous or destructive but at most they only were known the world as time as government powers an certainly a power to destroy the govt itself had never known as a govt itself had never known as a govt as a merely destructive power rights as a principle in no other than the principle of locality whether concerns he who should be confirmed to the whole general govt while which concerns only the states should be left exclusively state this is all the is of original principle about it."

One would think the original principle of the telegraph in transmitting news, was an obscenity much darker than a thunder cloud.

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Gen. Scott has prohibited the sending of dispatches from Washington to the press in relation to army movements. This is right, as it is evident much mischief might sometimes occur by premature disclosures. It is also a relieve to newspaper readers, who will be spared a large amount of the merest bosh. We shall have no more positive predictions of "a grand forward movement to-morrow," and every man will be allowed to do his own guessing.

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Jeff Davis's special messenger to the president, about whom there was no little curiosity and excitement at Washington, was put to the right about face and marched back again in double quick time. It is not known what his message to the president was, but if it was an impudent proposition for a truce of a compromise it was very properly refused any answer at all. The more probable account is that it was a mere trick to get a spy within our lines sagacious enough to make observations that could be useful to the enemy. The trick failed entirely, however, as Davis's emissary was not allowed to communicate with anybody, and went back no wider than he came.

THURSDAY
JULY 11, 1861
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENTINEL / ST. ALBAN'S DAILY MESSENGER

THE MILITARY POSITION

Gen. McClellan is at Clarksburg, in Western Virginia, with the main body of his forces--10,000. At Philippi, Gen. Morris commands a detachment of two or three thousands, acting in conjunction with the Clarksburg column. The rebel forces are at Laurel Hill and extend to Huttonsvile. The rear guard of McClellan's force has reached Buckhannon, on its way to Laurel Hill, where Gov. Wise and his forces are.

Gen. Patterson is at Martinsburg, having been just reinforced with 5 or 6 regiments from Washington, and some Ohio troops. Seven or eight miles from him is Gen. Johnson with some 20,000 to 25,000 rebels and 22 pieces of artillery.

A large number of regiments have recently crossed the Potomac to the Virginia side, and our lines are being daily strengthened, either for an advance, or to repel attack. The indications now are, that we shall hear of a general battle or a rebel flight, before our next issue.

HARD FIGHTING IN MISSOURI

There has been some severe fighting in the south-west corner of Missouri, exaggerated in the first accounts, but evidently attended with great losses on both sides. The federal force under Col. Siegel encountered a greatly superior force of rebels, and was obliged to retreat, but inflicted serious damage on the rebels. The latest accounts put the reels on the retreat, pursued by Col. Siegel, who had been reinforced. The rebels were expecting reinforcements from Arkansas, and there is prospect of more hot work immediately.

REBELS ROUTED AT BUCHANAN, VA.

Brig. Gen. Morris, with a sufficient federal force, attacked and routed a division of Wise's army on Monday morning, at Buchanan, Va., killing 23, taking 200 prisoners and 73 horses. It was a foot race on the part of the reels to get away. Not one of our men was killed, and Gen. Morris has sent a large force in pursuit.

Gen. McClellan expected to attack the main body under Wise, at Laurel Hill, on the 4th.

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John C. Fremont, whose return from Europe has been noticed, immediately repaired to Washington on his return, when he was made a Major-General and appointed to the command of the Department of the West. His military education and experience on the frontier, as well as his energetic character and bold daring, are well known, and will inspire confidence. He will probably direct the movement down the Mississippi river, whenever such a movement is made.

LATE NEWS CONDENSED

The Sultan of Turkey has recently died of fast living, leaving his brother, Abdal Azis Khan in power. Lord Chancellor Campbell, of England, has also recently died suddenly, by the rupture of a blood vessel. Senator Green, of Missouri, was recently arrested and jailed while attempting to get another traitor out of jail. Major-General Fremont's head-quarters is to e at St. Louis, and his command embraces Missouri, and all states and territories west of the Mississippi. Capt. Thomas, alias the "French Lady," who, with a number of piratical conspirators, captured the St. Nicholas steamer, was himself captured. He, with a number of his men, are now prisoners in Fort McHenry. Congress is going on finely. The House on Tuesday passed a bill--which met with no opposition--appropriating six millions of dollars to pay the volunteers and militia called into the service of the United States by the proclamation of the president of April 15. A fitting tribute was paid to the memory of the late Senator Douglas in both Senate and House, on Tuesday.

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The Daily Freeman says that five dollar counterfeit bills on the Bradford Bank are in circulation. They are well executed, printed on red-tinted paper, and calculated to deceive. The genuine bills are printed on paper which ahs no red tint.

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These two vigorous sentences of Speaker Grow's somewhat overwrought speech, on taking the chair of the house, broke down all order on the floor and in the galleries with the vociferous applause they evoked:

"No flag alien to the sources of the Mississippi will ever float permanently over its mouth till its waters are crimsoned in human gore, and not one foot of American soil an be wrenched from the jurisdiction of the constitution of the United States until it is baptized in fire and blood.

"A government that cannot command the loyalty of its own citizens is unworthy the respect of the world; and a government that will not protect its own loyal citizens, deserves the contempt of the world."

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The President's Message, reaching the North wholly b telegraph, as it did, appears somewhat mutilated by the telegraphing process.

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Poisoned with Ivy--It is stated that by rubbing the part poisoned with Ivy with sweet oil as soon as possible after the poison shows itself, will effect a  speedy cure. Oil rubbed upon the hands previous to going where the poison ivy grows, will be a protection.

FRIDAY
JULY 12, 1861
THE CALEDONIAN

THE SEIZURE OF THE ST. NICHOLAS

The Baltimore Exchange gives the following account of the seizure of the steamer St. Nicholas, by a party of rebels, which was at least shrewdly done: "The St. Nicholas, on her last trip from Baltimore, took on board as passenger a French lady, of dark complexion, of rather masculine features, but of quiet manners. There were also a number of passengers who were proceeding to different points on the Potomac. At Point Lookout two more passengers were also taken on board. Soon after this in the middle of the night, the French woman, after having retired for a few moments to her state room, suddenly emerged, her wig and petticoat doffed, in full military costume, with revolvers and cutlass by her side. Twenty-five passengers drew revolvers at the same time, and in a trice, officers and crew were made prisoners. The boat was put in charge of the Point Lookout passengers, who proved to be retired navy officers. The steamer was then run into Cone river, on the Virginia side, where the passengers, who were treated with great civility, were all landed, and a company of one hundred Tennesseans, who were in readiness, were taken aboard. The St. Nicholas then headed up the river in search of the Pawnee, it being part of the program of this gallant young colonel--for such he is--to run into the Pawnee, take her by surprise, leap on board and take possession. Not being able to find the Pawnee, the St. Nicholas turned around, and steamed for the bay, between Smith's Point and the Rappahannock. The steamer fell in at different times with three vessels--one loaded with coffee, one with coal and one with ice. These were all captured and taken to Fredericksburg, where the heroes of this achievement were received with military honors."

A DASTARDLY ACT

As the extra train was returning from Barton the night of the 4th, some fiendish being fired a gun at John Scott, the brakeman, the ball passing within a foot of his body and through the "bonnet" of the car he was on. The place of this act was the Bugbee cut, this side of West Burke, and the time about 9 o'clock in the evening. It was quite dark, but a lantern which Scott had at his side plainly revealed his person. On hearing the report of the gun, Scott immediately jumped up (he was on the rear car, which was a saloon car) and looking about saw the hole that the bullet made, but having no way to communicate with the engineer the train had run a considerable distance before the fact of the shooting was known to the other train hands. It being dark, and having gone so far from the place where the act was committed, it was thought useless to attempt to discover the perpetrator at that time, and so the train was run slowly to this place, passing many noisy, drunken rowdies who were returning from the celebration, but without encountering other annoyance or accident. Nothing but pure devilishness could actuate a man in making a dastardly attempt upon the life of an inoffensive stranger. We trust that before many more trains are thrown from the track and fired upon, some unmitigated rascals will get their deserts; at any rate, we hope strenuous efforts will be made to bring them to justice.

COTTON

It is said there is more cotton in New York than in all the southern ports put together, while the demand for cotton in Liverpool to-day is less than it was a month ago. This is not what Davis & Co. counted on. With a small supply of cotton has come a small demand for calico. One balances the other, and makes the supply a matter of much less importance than it was supposed it would be, The falling off in the demand for calicos and muslins is what the rebels forgot to take into consideration before they took the fatal step which has annihilated their prosperity.

THE MAN WITH THE SNAKE IN HIS HAT

Dr. Dixon, in his New York Monthly Scalpel, states that a gentleman of the highest veracity related to him the following snake story, which beats anything we have read lately:

"Going into a very public ordinary for his dinner, he was surprised to observe the extra care with which a gentleman, who took a seat opposite him, took off his hat. He turned his head as nearly upside down as possible without breaking his neck; then, placing his hand over the inside of his hat, he again turned it, and received its carefully guarded contents, concealed by  a pocket handkerchief in his hand; then gently laying the back of his hand on the cushion, he slid the hat and its contents off, and commenced dinner. The attention of my friend was irresistibly directed toward the hat, and his surprise greatly increased, the reader may well imagine, on observing the head of a sizeable snake thrust out and looking sharply about him The gentleman, perceiving the discovery, addressed him: 'My dear sir, I was in hopes to have dined alone, and not to annoy any one with my poor pet. Allow me to explain; he is perfectly harmless, only a common black snake. I was advised to carry him on my head for rheumatism; I have done so for a few weeks, and I am cured--positively cured of a most agonizing malady. I dare not yet part with him; the memory of my sufferings is too vivid; all my care is to avoid discovery and treat my pet as well as possible in his irksome confinement. I feed him on milk and eggs, and he does not seem to suffer. Pardon me for the annoyance--you have my story. It is true. I am thankful to my informer for the cure, and to you for your courtesy in not leaving your dinner disgusted.' "

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Forney's Press has the following timely rebuke to masked traitors:

"The only true way to gain a permanent and substantial peace is to teach those who have unfurled the black banner of treason so grave and terrible a lesson that for centuries to come none will dare imitate their pernicious example. And those among us who are ever ready to cavil, to condemn, to criticize, and to weaken the Government, for the sake of indirectly benefitting the secession cause, are in reality, the foes of peace, as they are the foes of the country; because peace can only be reestablished on a just, enduring, and honorable basis, and by the complete re-assertion of the authority of the whole people of our country over its whole territory."

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They have introduced gas into the houses at Windsor. The Journal calls it a great luxury. St. Johnsbury is behind the age in the matter of lights. Villages all over the State of half or two-thirds the size of this burn gas.

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Baltimore, July 3--Steamer Hugh Jenkins left here several days hence with 3 companies of federal troops on board on a secret mission to Easton, Talbot county, for the purpose of recovering certain arms said to have been sent from here by marshal Kane to a military organization in that section of the state. The officers in charge of the expedition waited on Cols. Lloyd, Tilligman and Carroledrum and anotehr officer, all of whom refused to give any satisfaction in regard to the arms, and drew a pistol on the federal officers. They were arrested and brought to Fort McHenry. Several houses were searched but only a few rifles were found.

SATURDAY
 JULY 13, 1861
 THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER

A PLOT TO DESTROY THE POTOMAC FLEET
BY INFERNAL MACHINES FRUSTRATED

Washington, July 12--The Freeborn gunboat, Lieut. Lowry commanding, arrived up this morning from Aquia Creek. She has been running between that point and the mouth of the river, preventing communication between lower Maryland and Virginia. The service was active, arduous and dangerous. Sunday noon she was at Aquia Creek with the Resolute, Pawnee, and Pocahontas. Two large oil tanks were discovered floating down towards the fleet with the ebb tide. When within a quarter of a mile a small boat was sent from the Pawnee to reconnoitre them. It was discovered that they were infernal machines. One struck the rudder of the Resolute, and became detached from its buoy and sank. The other careened over and the fuse was put out by dipping in the water. The latter was brought on board the Pawnee. It had a cylinder made of boiler iron, 3 feet long and 15 inches in diameter, and was filled with all sorts of destructive elements designed to blow the Potomac squadron to atoms. The machine weighed about 400 pounds. Connecting the cylinder with the cask or buoy, which was full of the coil of a slow match, was an India rubber coated fuse. The machine looks devilish. The Freeborn brought it up to the Navy Yard, where it attracts great attention, thousands visiting it.

A PRIVATEER ON THE COAST

The startling report that a rebel cruiser has been overhauling vessels within a hundred and fifty miles of the Massachusetts coast is further confirmation of the disagreeable hints which have been occasionally given of late as to the laxity of the blockade at some of the ports. Since the escape of the Savannah from Charleston, the Sumter has also got out into open water from the Mississippi. The government plainly needs more light vessels on the coast at once, and it seems as though it might advantageously use some of our fast merchant vessels to look after these stray pirates, if they attempt to run into Southern ports.

Meantime if it is settled that this privateer, the Jeff. Davis, is prowling about the Northern coast, we shall hope to see an armed steamer run out at once from Boston or New York and see if some further account cannot be given of him.

THE MEASLES

The measles seems like a very unmilitary disorder, but it certainly has prevailed in both camps to a greater extent than almost any other disease. This may possibly be due to the great change in diet on the part of so large a number of men living in close intercourse. How the rebels are troubled by the measles may be  seen from the following extract from  a letter in the Louisville Courier, written from Johnson's camp:

"I regret to chronicle the ravages made in our ranks by the measles, which has, in many instances, proved fatal. The Eleventh Mississippi and Fourth Alabama regiments have suffered more than all the army, the former having at one time had 360 on the surgeon's list. Among the Kentuckians, Captain Bowman's have been the sufferers, having 27 on the list."

AFFAIRS IN ALABAMA

Chicago Evening Journal, July 9--Mr. H. Savage, formerly of Delevan, Walworth county, Wisconsin, who has just returned from Mobile, Ala., whither he went  as an agent for the sale of a shingle machine, and who has had six years of experience in the South, has just returned, and from him we gather the following budget of facts.

He says that it is now utterly impossible for a man to come away from the South, northward, unless he can succeed in getting a permit from the Governor of the State, which is no easy matter. Mr. Savage succeeded in getting away, (after receiving two bullet shots from an officer for refusing to bind himself to serve for three years in the rebel army,) by being secreted on board a boat whose captain felt interested in him. The passengers on the boat were examined at several places along the river, but he was "stowed away" so that they did not discover him.

Mr. Savage says only a few days before he left Mobile, he saw a company of from six to eight hundred men, many of whom he well knew, parading the streets with a banner on which was printed "Bread or blood!" and they emptied the bakers' shops of the city, and none molested them. Afterwards a meeting of citizens was held on the subject of providing for the suffering poor. The meeting quarrelled nearly all night, and finally broke up in a row, without accomplishing anything.

He says on the boat on which he came up the river, he saw thirty Germans with their families from Texas, emigrating northward. The men having no "passes," were compelled to go on shore--furnished with guns and impressed into the rebel army. Their families were mercilessly sent up the river to shift for themselves as best they could.

Mr. Savage says the general impression in Mobile is that they can never beat the North, but they say, "We must now make the best show we can, and scare the North into submission." Others, who are of French descent, of whom there are many, encourage themselves with the belief that France will come to their help.

A JUDICIOUS CHANGE OF TUNE

There is constant danger of underrating the strength of the rebels, but the following extract from a late issue of the Charleston Courier is certainly a significant symptom of declining confidence on their side. It would be a very elaborate piece of deception for them to undertake to depress the feelings of their own people for the sake of deceiving us, and so we may take the warning as sincerely addressed to the reader of the Courier:

"We should prepare for defeat." In the confidence of our might and courage, this admonition may appear unnecessary, and, in calling to mind the disgraceful behavior of our enemies in recent battles, it may strike us as ridiculous. But it is  a needful and wholesome caution, and we urge it with sincerity and earnestness. Our enemies are mustering in large numbers; they are armed with the best weapons; they have been under the instruction of competent officers, and each body is strengthened by the presence of old United States regulars. Some of their Generals have abilities and resources. And, in addition to all these considerations, battles are not always decided by strategy, or even courage. A single mischance may turn the tide of success. A circumstance, in itself insignificant, may snatch victory from an army at the moment it is about to grasp the glittering prize.