SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 22, 1861
THE DAILY PICAYUNE (LA)

GEN. FLOYD’S ENGAGEMENT WITH ROSECRANS

The Richmond Dispatch, of the 18^th inst., has the following account of the engagement at Carnifax Ferry, in Western Virginia:

Surgeon Clark, of Col. Wharton’s Regiment, in Gen. Floyd’s Brigade, and Adjt. Oley, of the same regiment, reached the city yesterday evening from the camp of Gens. Floyd and Wise, at the foot of Sewell Mountain, which they left on Friday noon. They bring dispatches to the Government. The former gentleman relates to us the following particulars of the engagement at Carnifax Ferry:

Gen. Floyd had warning of the approach of Rosecrans, and had thrown up a small earth work in the centre of his line, which was formed across a bend in the Gauley just at the ferry. Some logs, rails, and brush were also thrown up here and there before the regiment, forming a very imperfect protection, not deserving the name, and anything in the world but the powerful fortification spoken of by Rosecrans. For the centre breastwork there were six smooth bore guns, possibly ten-pounders, and one rifled cannon. These had just arrived, under Capt. Gay, of Goochland, and but for them the general would have had none. These seven cannon are magnified in Rosecranz’s report to sixteen! Out of five regiments Gen. Floyd had seventeen hundred available men; Rosecrans estimates them at five thousand!

Rosecrans had 11,000 men under his immediate command below Summersville. Five thousand of these he ordered to the attack of Floyd’s line at about 3 o’clock on Tuesday, the 10^th inst. Six thousand were held in reserve. The attack was received firmly, and the fire of the enemy was vigorously returned. Three attempts were made to flank our little army, and each was repulsed with severe loss. One bold charge was made to take the battery; but such a “terrible fire” was directed upon the assailants by Capt. Gay that they were swept back, and did not renew the attempt. The last charge was made on the extreme left by a German regiment, which was driven back with heavy loss; and this is the regiment which is said to have been “called off.” It was not until after dark that firing ceased and the enemy retired.

Gen. Floyd, ascertaining the number of his adversary, and moreover that four thousand, besides the eleven thousand in front of him, had been sent above Summersville to cross the Gauley at Hughes’s Ferry, and to march by way f Meadow Bluff to get behind him, determined to recross the river that night, and at once proceeded to do so. His means of crossing consisted of one small boat, that could hold only one wagon at a time, and a small foot bridge, very ingeniously built by engineer Frostburg, a Swede, attached to Col. Wharton’s regiment. Every soldier, well, sick and wounded, was safely taken across before light; but owing to the absence of  large number of wagons, transporting stores from the railroad depots, there were not enough to secure the entire of the baggage, provisions, &c. A portion of these were unavoidably left behind, including some tents, cartridges, &c. A part of Gen. Floyd’s private baggage, and also that of some of his officers, was with the abandoned effects. It is proper to notice that to the humanity towards the sick, of whom there were a large number, much of the loss is attributable. Some five horse, and twenty or thirty cattle also fell into the hands of the enemy.

Gen. Floyd left not a single man. This result is extraordinary. The battle lasted four hours, and the enemy’s loss was heavy, while on our side there were only six men slightly wounded and not one seriously. Gen. Floyd himself was among the wounded. A musket ball, at the first fire of the enemy, inflicted a flesh wound just below the elbow, but it occasioned no inconvenience to the General.

The enemy’s loss was certainly heavy. Rosecrans’s first report said fifteen killed and seventy wounded. His second raised his figures to twenty killed and one hundred wounded. Gen. Floyd took six of the enemy prisoners. By their account the killed and wounded were from three hundred to five hundred. One man said that sixty were killed in his regiment alone.

Early on Wednesday morning, the enemy appeared on the river and fired a few shots. Gen. Floyd formed a junction with Gen. Wise, and the combined force returned to Sewell Mountain. A message from Gen. Lee met them there about noon Friday, and they went into camp. What that message was is not known, but we may hope it indicates reinforcements.

Thursday, Col. Hownshell, with 700 men, returned to the Gauley river to bring away fifteen of our sick and twenty-five wounded Yankees of the battle of Cross Lanes. This he did; but finding the enemy preparing to cross, he ordered a fire upon them, which was obeyed by his men from the heights with effect, no doubt, for the soldiers of the southwest are good marksmen.

Floyd’s defence was most gallant and his crossing of the ferry, under the circumstances, deliberate and well directed. His men fought with signal bravery, and their fire was admirably directed.

Floyd and Wise had not six thousand effective men. Rosecrans has eleven thousand with him, while four thousand more are marching by the Meadow Bluff to enter the turnpike between the Sewell Mountain and  Lewisburg. Cox has five thousand and five hundred; in all, twenty thousand five hundred men, against a little more than five thousand! If this estimate of the enemy’s forces be correct, it is indispensable that reinforcements must be rapidly concentrated beyond Lewisburg, or our army there will be compelled again to fall back at least to that point. We hope that gen. Lee’s message to Gen. Floyd indicates the intention of that officer to carry his men where they may find active service.

African Exploration—Two letters were read at the meeting of the Geographical Society of Paris, from Dr. Peney, who is at present exploring the Senhaar and the country watered by the Upper Nile and its tributaries. Dr. Peney’s last letter is dated from Gondokoro, the 20^th February, where he had arrived from Khartoum, after a journey of 53 days. Dr. Peney left Khartoum the end of October, under the official protection of the Egyptian Government. He had at his disposal two boats and twenty-five soldiers, and no other instruments but a watch, thermometers, a mariner’s compass, a sextant and a telescope. He had not been able to procure a chronometer, which was much to be regretted, as he cannot give an accurate description of the position of the places he has visited. At the beginning of January, Dr. Peney arranged with a caravan of merchants engaged in purchasing ivory, to travel with them to Niambara. It required eight days to perform a journey of twenty leagues in the district of Mourn.¹ He came to the river Djour, or, as the Arabs call it, Behreel-Djour, at one degree west, and on the parallel of Gondokoro. It runs from southeast to northwest. Its breadth, when the water is low, is eighty yards. Dr. Peney traversed, in his peregrinations, the territory of several Negro tribes. He remarked among them one called Niam-Niam-Makaraka, which is supposed to be a generic name rather than that of a tribe. Dr. Peney, though he was sometimes plundered by the Negroes, is not dissatisfied with the result of his expedition. Having returned to Gondokoro, which he fixes at 5 degrees north latitude, and not at 4½, he was waiting for the floods to cross the falls of Gardo and of Makhedo, and to ascend afterwards by land, accompanied by M. Debollo, a Maliese, already known as having accomplished a very interesting journey. The next accounts from Dr. Peney are anxiously expected, as it is believed they will announce some important discoveries.

MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 23, 1861
THE ST. ALBANS (VT) DAILY MESSENGER

THE VERMONT BERDAN SHARPSHOOTERS

N. Y. Herald--One of the most efficient of the companies of sharpshooters attached to the Berdan regiment, has been contributed by the State of Vermont. The men comprising this company are all natives of the Green Mountain State, and have acquired their proficiency in the deadly use of the rifle in pursuit of the  wild game of their native mountains.

New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have also contributed each a company, who are now at Washington, the Vermonters being the last to join, the company numbering 112 men, under command of Capt. Edward Weston, Jr., a graduate of the Norwich Military School, who was selected by Governor Fairbanks for this responsible post. The men are all picked rifle shots, and have been selected with the greatest care from many hundreds of practiced riflemen who were anxious to take part in the conflict for the defense and preservation of the Union. The company reached the encampment at Weehawken on Sunday last, where every preparation had been made for their comfort during their stay. They took their departure for Washington on Tuesday afternoon. The steamer Red Jacket was chartered for their conveyance to South Amboy. A 5 o’clock precisely, the steamer was brought alongside the pier at Weehawken, when the men went onboard, receiving, as the vessel steamed away, three rousing cheers from the men still in camp and a large number of the inhabitants who assembled to see them off. There now only remains in camp about half a company, but as recruiting is going on briskly, a few days will suffice to fill it up to the required complement, when it, too, will be dispatched to Washington.

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PETER McQUEENY, was found dead in the cellar of Mrs. Dillon’s House, about 5 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. He died, it is supposed, from the effects of poor rum, obtained of Mrs. Dillon. A coroner’s inquest was held yesterday, but adjourned until to-day to complete its work. Mrs. Dillon was arrested, and has quarters with Sheriff Sherman.

Franklin County Agricultural Society
Reports of Committees and Awards of Premiums for the Fair of 1861

BUTTER AND CHEESE

The Committee to whom was assigned the duties of judging upon Butter and Cheese would respectfully report, that they found on exhibition some ten or twelve specimens of excellent butter, and had some difficulty in deciding which was the best. But your Committee would say that for a general thing we found most of the butter rather high salted, and would recommend salting a little less. There were but few specimens of Cheese which were most excellent, and did honor to the manufacturers.

Your Committee awarded premiums on Butter as follows:

1^st to Harvey Ryan                     $4 00

2d to Harmon Northrop, Jr.     3 00

3d to J. M. Soule                            2 00

Your Committee awarded premiums on Cheese as follows:

1^st to Joseph Eaton                    $4 00

2d to B. W. Northrop                    3 00

3d to Moses Elwood                     2 00

BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE MESSENGER

St. Louis, 22d—The following account of the battle at Blue Mills Landing s from authentic sources:

Lieut. Col. McOllwith with 550 men of an Iowa regiment, and one piece of artillery, left Cameron Monday in pursuit of the rebels who left St. Jose on the Friday previous.

Scott arrived at Liberea, Clay County, on the morning of the 17^th, and moved from that place at 1 P.M.; at Blue Mills he fell in with the enemy, 4500, occupying a strong position.

Our skirmishers received a galling fire, and steadily retreated to the main body, when the action became general. Our six pounder was brought to bear on the enemy, and shots fired which proved destructive.

At this time a heavy fire opened on our single gun, killing one gunner and wounding two others.

The action continued, when our column was slowly withdrawn to more open ground, bringing off wounded and dragging the gun by hand—all the horses killed.

About this time Col. Smith who left St. Joseph with 1400 men about the time Scott did Cameron, for the same general purpose, joined the latter, having moved forward his mounted men and his cavalry at a rapid pace, on receiving a message from Scott ten miles back, that he was advancing on the enemy, but, it being night, camping their men, completely exhausted.

Kansas City, Mo., 20^th—Approbate letters from Lexington today say Price attacked the federalists at ten o’clock yesterday morning, with a force of thirty thousand. The federalists are estimated at three or four thousand. The federalists fought two hours, when the rebels drove them down into the entrenchments, carrying everything before them.

The Irish Brigade came out and charged upon them at the point of the bayonet, scattering the rebels everywhere. Price was to attack them again in the morning with 17 pieces of artillery.

Frankfort, Ky., 22d—The proceedings of the Legislature yesterday were unimportant.

Jefferson City, Mo., Sept 20^th—Jim Lane is reported to have formed a junction with the force at Lexington with 4000 men. Reinforcements from St. Joseph have reached that place and Lexington is now considered safe.

Price will doubtless be surrounded and cut off.

Heavy batteries are placed at Glasgow and our troops will have to disembark below the town and attack them in the rear.

Washington, Sept. 22d—In addition to other distinguished foreigners commissioned in our army are Lieut. Col. De Councy, of the English army, Crimea, and 1^st Lieut. Breudener, of Prussia.

TUESDAY
SEPTEMBER 24, 1861
THE SPRINGFIELD (MA) REPUBLICAN

IMMIGRATION TO AMERICA CHECKED

The immigration of Europeans into New York, up to the 18^th of September this year, as compared with the corresponding period of 1860, has fallen off 21,060 souls—the numbers being 77,526 in 1860 and 56,466 in 1861. Nearly two thirds of this decrease is in the Irish element alone. The lessened demand for rough labor, owing to the stagnation of business by the war, has thrown thousands of this class among us out of employment, who communicate the bad news to their friends in the “old counthry” and keep them at home. But although the United States receives less immigrants this yea than previously, Great Britain has suffered a greater drain of population than ever, partly in consequence of bad harvests and partly of continued bad institutions. Canada has received nearly 10,000 more new settlers this year than she did up to the same time last; and the better classes of British emigrants have also gone in large numbers to Australia. The Scotch emigration has been heavy to Queensland, Tasmania and other colonies. Great inducements are held out to settlers in these colonies; and the British government is doing all in its power to turn the tide of emigration away from the United States to its own vast, undeveloped possessions. For this purpose our political troubles are adroitly used. Many Norwegians have been enticed to settle in the Ottawa district in Canada, instead of joining their countrymen in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Germans, however, are shrewd enough to understand that the most desirable soil now open to settlement is that located in our northwestern states, which is hundreds of miles from the scenes of actual or probable warfare. Consequently they flock hither in nearly as great numbers as in any former year, but those destined for the Mississippi valley come to New York instead of New Orleans, the latter port being pretty well sealed up on account of the rebellion there raging.

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STORIES FROM CONTRABANDS

Thirteen contrabands, picked up on the Potomac, were taken to Washington on Friday. Seven were slaves of Dr. Stewart, who resides three miles from Mathias Point; three of Mr. Grimes, ten miles distant; one of Mr. Hoes, and one a woman of Mr. Mason. These twelve took a fine large pleasure boat belonging to Dr. Stewart on Sunday night last, and rowed out to the gunboat Union. Three of the number are carpenters, and possess more than ordinary intelligence. They state that the battery of brass guns which some time since was mounted at Mathias Point, were removed about the time of the battle of Bull Run, and that since there has been nothing but infantry and cavalry, numbering about 500 men there, though they heard that a large gun captured at Bull Run was to be brought there. The men are indifferently armed, but few having any better weapon than old fashioned muskets. A thousand good men, they think, would clear the point of the rebels entirely, and hold it. The tents were made of the sails of the Virginia vessels now lying idle in their rivers. The provisions furnished are fresh beef, flour and coffee. Even families are getting short of groceries. They state that everywhere the slaves are told that the Yankees are coming down to seize them, if possible, to sell them upon the plantations in Cuba, to raise money to pay the expenses of the war. Though they profess to believe the story, they say the Negroes regard it as a ruse, and their hope is that the North will conquer. Another contraband, who came out from Freestone Point, north of Aquia Creek, substantiates this statement.

OUR PRISONERS AT RICHMOND

Capt. Hurd, of the second Kentucky regiment, who recently escaped from Richmond, states that there are 1700 prisoners confined  in five large tobacco factories. They are supplied with sufficient rations of bread and meat only—no vegetables. No tea, no coffee, and no blankets or bedding of any kind are allowed them. Such as have money are at liberty to get materials for comforts and bed quilts, and to purchase such articles of food as they please. Since the Hatteras Inlet affair, all privileges of leaving the prisons under guard, on parole, &c., have been withdrawn, and no one is permitted to leave the building, buy a newspaper, or send out any letter, unless inspected. The treatment is becoming constantly more rigid. The health of our prisoners is much better than that of the southern troops. The climate appears to agree with them, and almost all of our wounded men and officers are out of bed and able to get around. Col. Corcoran was perfectly well, and never was wounded. The condition of the building in which Capt. Hurd was confined is disgusting. It is a three story building—the upper one occupied by privates, who, having no change of clothing, are of necessity very filthy; the second by 70 officers—gentlemen—many of them wealthy. The vermin which crawl on the men in the upper story fall through the loose flooring upon these officers. Mrs. Ricketts, wife of Capt. R., of the U.S. artillery, taken prisoner at Bull Run, a member of the Lawrence family, refined and ladylike, is compelled, in order to be near her wounded husband, to stay in the same room where five wounded officers lie in their beds, and is not even allowed to retire at times when, if her love for her husband did not outweigh her modest inclinations, she would certainly be out of the way.

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SOUTHERN OFFICERS IN THE NAVY

Some of the papers call attention to the fact that in the recent changes in the officers of the navy the preference is given to southern officers, and they are placed in the most important and responsible positions, which strikes many as rather risky. Capt. Goldsborough, who relieves Com. Stringham, is a citizen of Maryland; Capt. Dupont, flag officer of the South Atlantic  squadron, is from Delaware; Commander Missroon, ordered to the Cumberland, is a native of South Carolina; Commander William Smith of the Congress is from Missouri; Capt. Powell, in command of the Potomac, is from Virginia; Capt. Ringgold, in command of the Sabine, ifs from Maryland; Capt. Mercer of the Wabash is also from Maryland; Commander Drayton, ordered to special duty in the South Atlantic squadron, is a native and citizen of South Carolina.

WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 25, 1861
THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER

THE FIFTEEN-INCH GUN AT FORTRESS MONROE

The fifteen-inch gun now at Fortress Monroe is the largest in the world, and marks a new epoch in the history of naval gunnery; for no mailed frigate or iron-clad floating batteries hitherto constructed are proof against its destructive force. Although the weight of this immense gun is 49,100 pounds while each charge requires thirty-five pounds of powder, and the shells vary from three hundred and five to three hundred and thirty-five pounds, still its efficiency as one of the most formidable engines of war is now placed beyond a doubt by direct experiment, and by the favorable report of the Board of Officers appointed to examine its merits.

This success is the more interesting as the honor of it belongs solely to this country, Captain T. J. Rodman, of the United States ordnance, being the inventor, and Messrs. Knapp, Rudd & Company, of Pittsburgh, the manufacturers of the monster gun. There is, moreover, a great probability that, by the new principles adopted in casting and cooling, ordnance of still larger size may be produced, so as to destroy any ships of war, however thick may be the iron or steel plates with which their hulls are shielded.

It is well known that up to this time no serviceable guns have been produced larger than the eleven-inch Dahlgren. And even these are principally used as shell guns, though they are not too weak to project a solid shot with light charges of powder. Indeed, ten-inch cannon have usually been regarded as the most useful, reliable and durable that could be made from cast iron. For in practice it has been fund that in proportion as guns have an increasing calibre and a larger mass, flaws and irregularities of structure are produced which impair the strength of the guns and render them more or less unserviceable. So long as pieces of  a small calibre were the only kind in use, the evils resulting were not very serious,, though it was invariably found that in boring these guns, the hardest and most compact material was in the centre, while as the cutters approached the circumference, the density of the metal grew appreciably less. Thus when a gun is cast solid, as is usually the case, the hardest and best metal is bored out, while the softer and weaker is left to form the cylinder of the gun. Hence it is that after prolonged firing guns are rendered so soon unserviceable, by cracking at the vent or by an enlargement of the bore around the seat of the ball. This gradual expansion of the interior of the gun, as very many naval officers know, may be readily detected and measured by instruments constructed for the purpose. It is rarely absent even in the best solid-cast guns after a few hundred rounds of firing; while the trouble increases as the gun is used again and again, until at length, after from one to two thousand discharges, the maximum of endurance is reached the gun bursts or becomes useless.

Now as these inconveniences are found uniformly to increase in proportion to the mass of metal in the gun, and are obviously due to irregular cooling when first cast, it occurred to Captain Rodman that the difficulty might, perhaps, be met by casting the gun hollow. For by lessening the weight of metal he would, he supposed, be better able to control and graduate its cooling. Gratified by the result, he proceeded to construct the core which forms the mould of the bore so that a stream of cold water could be directed through it, and the metallic mass be cooled from within. Still successful, he tried a third experiment, which also was followed by further satisfactory results. He applied to the outside of the mould containing the iron a graduated amount of heat during the whole time of cooling so as to make sure that the refrigerating processes should start from the interior of the gun, and should go on from within outwards. As the new plan answered well for small guns, the ingenious contriver of it was emboldened to test its adaptation to larger ones. The result was that he succeeded in triumphing over all obstacles, and we have now a fifteen-inch gun doing service in Fortress Monroe, while several others will shortly be completed, and there is every probability that guns of twenty-inch or a larger calibre may be made by the same plan, with certain modifications, which are now being submitted to the test of experiment.

The gun being completed, another difficulty arose, which put Capt. Rodman’s ingenuity to a further trial. It is found that when heavy charges of powder are used, and the deflagration of the whole is instantaneous, a prodigious strain is caused on certain parts of the gun at the moment when the ball begins to move, but that this tension is much less violent when the initial pressure of the explosion is lessened by a slight retardation of the firing of the powder, so that, burning gradually, it may not exert all its explosive force till the heavy projectile is fairly started from its seat. By a series of most ingenious contrivances, which we have not space to describe, the inventor of the fifteen-inch gun at length succeeded in completing his discoveries, and rendered them thoroughly available by making a new kind of powder adapted to larger ordnance. For though it projects the ball with full force, still it burns gradually, and its initial pressure on the interior of the gun is only one-seventh of that of ordinary cannon powder. It will at once be seen that the immense saving of strain and pressure, effected by the new plan, must secure much economy, and greatly diminish the danger in the use of large cast-iron ordnance. Indeed, without some such modification in the qualities of the powder used, the adoption of guns of extraordinary calibre would be attended with considerable inconvenience, inefficiency and risk.

THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 26, 1861
THE PITTSFIELD (MA) SUN

FROM HATTERAS INLET

Fort Monroe, Sept 22, via Baltimore, Sept. 23—The S. R. Spaulding arrived from Hatteras Inlet this morning. On Thursday last the propeller Fanny ran down Ocracoke Inlet with a company of troops who entirely destroyed the fortifications abandoned by the Confederates. The magazine was burnt and the cannon sunk.

It is said that the Confederates were assembled in force at Washington and Newbern, and that 300 had landed on Roanoke Island with the intention of destroying the light house and dwellings of the Unionists. A detachment of 700 men, accompanied by a naval force, was about to leave Hatteras Inlet to prevent the inroad.

The privateers Coffee and Winslow had visited Ocracoke Inlet to carry off the Confederate guns, but left on the appearance of the Fanny.

The Pawnee and Susquehanna were still at Hatteras Inlet.

The Argonaut, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, laden with fish and salt, ran into the Inlet and was secured as a prize.

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The Launch of Sloop-of-War Housatonic—Saturday, the 15^th of October, has been fixed upon as the day for launching the new sloop-of-war Housatonic, at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The work on the vessel is being pushed forward with all possible dispatch, and she will undoubtedly be ready at the specified time.

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Fatal Case of Stabbing—An Irishman named Collins, whose wife was employed as a washerwoman at the U. S. Hotel, and who, a few weeks since, was assaulted by her husband, causing a separation between them, was again, on Thursday evening, about 7 o’clock, while at work in the kitchen of the Hotel, stabbed by Collins with a bayonet, inflicting two wounds, which proved fatal on Friday night. The man came in to the house unexpectedly, said “good evening,” and immediately made the assault, rushing at once from the house, followed by persons who were present, and attempted to reach the street by the passage way between Apothecaries Hall and the next building south. The cries attracted the notice of Mr. L. F. Sperry, a worthy occupant of the adjoining building, who happened in the passage way, and who, in attempting to secure Collins was struck by the villain in the breast with the same instrument, inflicting a wound which, Prof. T. Childs remarked to us, would have been fatal had the blow struck one-fourth of an inch above the place where it did. Collins was caught and thrown to the ground by Mr. Lyman W. Van Loan, as he came into the street, who held him until more help arrived, when he was conveyed to the lock-up. On Friday he was brought before the Police Court, and is now in Lenox Jail, awaiting his trial for murder.

Mr. Sperry, though suffering considerably from his injuries, we are happy to say is doing well.

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The National Fast—Several of the religious societies unite to-day (Thursday) in the observance of the National Fast. At 10½ A.M., there will be a Prayer Meeting at the Baptists Church, and at 12 M. there will be exercises at the First Congregational Church, and a Sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Dimmock, of the South Congregational Church.

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Upwards of 3,000,000 rations for the army of the Potomac, are now stored in the receiving depots at Washington. Some idea of the bulk of these rations may be formed, when we state that there are 18,000 barrels of flour, 9,000 barrels of beef, 3,000 barrels of pork, 500,000 pounds of coffee, 500,000 pounds of sugar, and 1,500,000 pounds of bread, with hominy, crackers, vinegar, candles, soap and salt in proportion. An army of 250,000 men will consume all these rations in 12 days.

The News

A person who left a point on the Missouri River opposite Lexington on Wednesday night, reports at St. Louis that gen. Price attacked Col. Mulligan’s fortification several times on Wednesday, but was repulsed with a loss of 3 or 400 men. Full reliance is not placed on this report.

Another more reliable statement is that the attack on Monday occupied about two hours, when Gen. Price was repulsed with a loss of 100 killed, and between 2 and 400 wounded. Our loss is reported at 5 killed and several wounded. The attack on Wednesday was determined, and lasted all day.

Gen. McCulloch, with 2000 men, is reported as marching on Jefferson City. Col. Richardson has taken a position to defend the place.

Gen. Fremont telegraphs that a reconnoissance towards Gen. Hardee’s position at Greenville, resulted in driving in the enemy’s pickets. Two were killed, 3 taken prisoners, and 60 muskets and 35 horses captured.

Cumberland (Md.) papers say that two companies of our troops made a descent on a rebel camp in Hardy CO., Va., on the 12^th instant, and put the enemy to flight, killing and wounding several, and capturing and destroying the camp and all its equipage.

Col. Zeigler attacked and routed 250 rebels while drilling near Barboursville, on the 12^th inst. The leader and two others were captured, and several killed and wounded.

Two wagon loads of military clothing, arms, &c., destined to be smuggled across the Potomac for the use of the rebels, were captured 15 miles from Leonardstown, Md., on Thursday, by Col. Gordon of the 1^st Mass. Reg’t.

Gov. Morton of Indiana, and Col. Wood started on the 19^th for Louisville, with arms and ammunition. The Home Guards and the regiments on the border are ordered to hold themselves in readiness. Ten thousand additional troops could leave Indiana in 24 hours.

Brig. Gen. Buckner issued a proclamation at Bowling Green, on the 18^th, stating that the Confederate States occupy the place as a defensive position, and that the forces under his command would be used as an aid to the Government of Kentucky in enforcing strict neutrality whenever they undertake to enforce it against both belligerents alike.

Gen. Anderson has issued a stirring appeal to all true sons of Kentucky to aid him in expelling the invaders who are now seeking to conquer the State.

A special dispatch to the Chicago Times states that Col. Mulligan and his whole command at Lexington, Mo., surrendered to Gen. Price on Friday morning at 5 o’clock. The siege continued from Monday until the time of the surrender. The federal troops were without water all Thursday and Friday, and were completely exhausted. They fought desperately, but were compelled to yield to superior numbers.

Other accounts say the stars and stripes were floating over Lexington on Saturday; and at St. Louis the report of the surrender was not believed.

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A Philadelphian makes the astounding discovery that Baker’s loaves have the faculty of growing smaller when flour is higher, but they do not seem to grow larger when flour is low.

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The New York Ledger reports the arrest of agents in New York and the discovery of a carrier pigeon communication from the suburbs of that city with Richmond. A pigeon was shot by a rifleman and under the bird’s wing was an important dispatch on its way south. A shed somewhere on Long Island was used as a starting point for the pigeons.

FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 27, 1861
THE BARRE  (MA) GAZE TTE

Massachusetts Army Wagons in Relief—No better evidence is wanted of the superiority of the army equipments furnished by the State of Massachusetts to her own and the troops of other States, from the fact that from the first we have supplied whole regiments in Maine and Vermont, and are now called upon by the general Government to furnish means of transportation for the regular army. Massachusetts has the reputation of having equipped her troops in a manner second to no one of the loyal States, and equalled only by those of Rhode Island, and such is the reputation which our army wagons have attained, that a requisition has been made upon the Quartermaster General for two hundred wagons, to be forwarded to Major General Fremont’s division of the army.

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A Caution to Mothers—It is a very common thing to see mothers and servant girls pushing along the sidewalks the little carriages in which they are giving their children an airing on pleasant days. The practice is a very dangerous one, and is liable to do great and permanent injury to the child. The position of a child, riding backward instead of forward, is an unnatural one, and directly affects the brain. Some grown persons cannot even ride backwards in a railroad car without experiencing faintness, and to expect a child to do what a strong adult cannot, is unreasonable to say the least. It is believed by medical writers that infants have died from diseases produced by riding backwards. It is a law of nature always to move them forwards. We hope mothers will remember this, and impress it upon the minds of their servants. Check the first attempt to ride the little innocents backwards, and you will remove one of the causes of congestion and brain fever to which children are so liable.

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The Firemen at Cattle Show—At a meeting of “Conqueror Engine Co. No. 2,” last Saturday evening, it was voted to accept the invitation extended to them by the committee of the Worcester County West Agricultural Society to do escort duty on the occasion of the annual Fair next Wednesday. The company will appear in uniform, and we doubt not will constitute a noticeable feature in the procession. A meeting for drill is to be held Saturday (to-morrow) afternoon, at 5½ o’clock. Every member is expected to be present at that time.

From the South—D. A. Barnard of Shelburne Falls, who has been engaged at bridge building at the South more or less for several years past, has arrived home from Cheraw, S. C., where he has been since March. He states that thee is no small change at the south, the circulating medium being five, ten, twenty-five and fifty cent bank notes. Gold is at a premium of from 10 to 16 per cent., produce plenty, clothing and dry goods scarce. Brown sugar is 25 cents per pound, coffee from 10 to 60 cents, bacon 18 to 20, salt $6 to $7 per sack, &c., There is a great deal of sickness in the southern army; some regiments of 1000 men having but 200 fit for duty. No business and everybody engaged in the war. Many northerners are unable to get away and many who attempt, are robbed of all their funds.

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Improvements and Changes—Mr. E. B. Shattuck has been enlarging and re-modelling his brick block on the east side of the common, and now has it nearly completed. For convenience, location or beauty the rooms thus secured can hardly be excelled. The firm of E. B. Shattuck and Co., having been dissolved, Mr. Shattuck will occupy the south store with a general assortment of dry goods, groceries, &c., and Mr. Wadsworth the north store as a clothing and furnishing establishment. His advertisement will be found in to-day’s Gazette. Mr. Shattuck has purchased a stock of new goods which he intends to advertise when he gets his new store thoroughly fitted up and in order. In the meantime he will be glad to see his old customers and the public generally at the north store.

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The Hartford cartridge works now employ from fifty to seventy hands—mostly girls—and the number of cartridges sent off is enormous. The bullets used in the cartridges call for nearly six tons of lead a week, and they use up two tons of powder every week.

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The End of the World to Take Place in Three Weeks—The New York Tribune says that the Millerites are re-organizing and holding meetings in various places. They predict the end of the world will take place the 12^th of October.²

SATURDAY
 SEPTEMBER 28, 1861
THE PORTLAND (ME) DAILY ADVERTISER

ARRIVAL OF PONY EXPRESS

Sweet Water, 24 miles east of Salt Lake City, Sept. 25—The Pony Express with San Francisco dates to the 18^th inst., passed here to-day.

The sloop of war Wyoming and the Revenue Cutter Joe Lane, have been sent in pursuit of the ship Ashland, probably loading with guano, at Georges Island. She belongs in New Orleans and will be confiscated.

Soon after the arrival of the clipper ship Sea Serpent, the revenue officers seized $12,000 worth of tobacco consigned to Green, Heath and Ollin, on receiving information that the property belonged to southern owners.

On Saturday a large lot of tobacco that came on the ship Swordfish, which belonged to some companies, was seized on receipt of the same kind of information.

Reports from the interior show that the recent appeals to the military spirit of the people had not been in vain. At the rate companies are offered, five regiments will soon be filled up.

Six companies of infantry that have been encamped near San Francisco, being a part of the 1500 called for service on the overland mail route, have been sent to Los Angeles. This unexpected movement, coupled with recent information of the sudden departure of the troops already in the South for San Bernardino, would indicate that Gen. Sumner has intelligence of a want of Unionism among the Southern sympathizers in that part of the State, which are hidden from the public.

The entire overland force is for the present to be stationed at Los Angeles.

San Francisco was never so prosperous as at present.

The Yreka Journal states that the story of the recent massacre of a party of emigrants at Goose Lake, was a heartless hoax.

The Portland Oregonian of the 10^th inst., contains the following late news from the Indians: It is favorable to peace; there would be no trouble with the Nez Perces if liquor could be kept from them.

Gold discoveries have been made in a tributary of Salmon River, and a large party had left South Fork for the mines.

Trade continues fair and active.

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Betting—Yesterday, a very noisy peace man of this city, who means well, but who frequently talks wildly, offered to bet $100 that the Government never would succeed in bringing the rebel States into the Union by force of arms. The bet was taken by a good Union man, and the documents were drawn and deposited.

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The Hon. Geo. F. Shepley is to be Colonel of the 12^th Regiment of Maine Volunteers. We have no means of judging of Mr. Shepley’s qualifications as a military commander, but we have great confidence in his ability to do well whatever he undertakes to do at all; if he can fight for the Union as well as he can talk for it we shall have from him a good report before the war has ended. Mr. Shepley has our heartiest good wishes for success in his new vocation.

Y. M. C. A. –We learn that the Young Men’s Christian Association are to dedicate their New Rooms in Codman Block, Temple Street, on Monday next, with appropriate exercises, commencing at half past seven o’clock. These Rooms are newly furnished, desirably located, and are very accessible from a central point of Middle Street. We congratulate the Association on their good fortune in this removal, and hope to see a large attendance at the opening of the Rooms, on Monday evening.

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Statistics of Odd Fellowship—During the year there were 1,633 initiations, 47 rejections, 248 admitted by card, 887 withdrawals by card, 150 reinstatements, 8,801 suspensions, 197 expulsions, 206 deaths. Total number of members 20,752. Total number of brothers relieved 1,032, widowed families relieved 77. Total amount expended for relief of brothers $31, 418.79, widowed families $3,177.58, for education of orphans $100, for burial of the dead $5,601.47. Total amount of money expended for relief $40,887.84. Total amount of annual receipts $83,110.08. The foregoing statistics show that during one year there was dispensed in the ordinary routine of the operations of the Odd Fellows the sum of $510,540 for the relief of the sick, education of orphans and interment of deceased members and wives, all being done in the quiet and unostentatious manner which so particularly distinguishes the Order.

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ADVERTISEMENTS

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
TROY, N. Y.

The thirty-eighth Annual Session of this School for thorough instruction in the Natural Sciences and Civil Engineering will begin September 18^th, 1861.

A department for instruction in Military Science and Art has been instituted.

Inquiries may be addressed to Prof. Chas. Drowen, Director of Rens. Pol. Institute, Troy, N. Y.

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A GOLD DOLLAR FOUND
A NOVEL CIRCUMSTANCE

In 1859, Dr. Herrick ordered his foreman to enclose in a box of his Sugar Coated Pills a new gold dollar—also a short letter, requesting the finder of the dollar, or rather the purchase of the box of pills containing it, to address Dr. Herrick, naming his residence, date, etc. It now appears that the box was purchased by Mr. Amos Stephenson of Houston, Texas, who in a letter to Dr. Herrick, dated March 16^th, 1860, says, “On opening a box of your Pills, purchased this day, judge of my surprise on finding a gold dollar. On examining the directions your note of request was also found. My little daughter claims the dollar, through which I have made a hole, and as I write, ‘tis suspended from her neck, with  ribbon.” The druggist in Houston purchased his supply of Pills in New York and the New York druggist, direct from Dr. Herrick.

¹ A league is about three land miles or 3.2 nautical miles.

² Followers of William Miller, a self-taught amateur Bible scholar who had predicted the second coming of Christ on 22 October 1844—a date subsequently known as “the Great Disappointment,” when nothing happened. The movement splintered but never totally died out, and its adherents subsequently forecast other dates for the end of the world. Consider Millerism the 19^th century version of the Mayan calendar . . . oh my!