War News.
From the latest Northern and Southern journals which have come to hand, we make up the following summary of interesting news:
Movements of the Anaconda--Gen. Butler's expedition — efforts to capture the Sumter.
From the New York Herald, of the 1st inst. we copy the following:‘ While the plans of General McClellan are being carried out at all points, after the fashion of the anaconda's embrace — as described by the leading rebel organ at Richmond — the movements of the army of the Potomac are still retarded by the miserable condition of the roads, which absolutely prohibits the advance of artillery, cavalry, or wagons of stores and ammunition. Hence we have nothing of moment to record from that portion of the theatre of war to-day.
Gen. Butler's expedition, with the troops on board the Constitution, has been ordered to leave Hampton Roads as soon as possible for Ship Island, at the mouth, of the Mississippi, and it is not improbable that she will start to-morrow. The men are now in excellent health, after their brief rest at Fort Monroe.
The Government is actively engaged in forwarding projects for the capture of the rebel privateer Sumter, which has just been compelled by the Spanish Government to leave Cadiz, and has gone for protection to Gibraltar. Four steamers and three sailing vessels are now put on her track; the Constellation is fitting out at Portsmouth, N. H., for the same duty. The career of this mischievous pirate will, therefore, probably be very soon brought to a close.
’
The Sinews of war.
The value of real and personal estate in the United States, according to the last census, is set down at over sixteen thousand one hundred and sixty millions of dollars. The New York Herald says:‘ Here, then, is the vast capital upon which will be based the bonds and Treasury notes about to be issued by the Government for the sustainment of the war. All this property will be pledged to the public creditor and he will have a first lien upon it for the payment of the interest and the redemption of the principal of the debt already incurred for the war; and the estimated expenditure for its completion, it is proposed to impose an annual tax of $150,000,000, in addition to the present receipts from customs. This whole tax, large as it may seem, is only the one hundred and seventh part of the value of the resources upon which it is to be levied, or considerably less than one per cent.
Taking the most gloomy view possible of the war, and giving the widest margin for expenditure, let the period for the pacification of the South be extended to the 1st of July, 1863, and let the cost be one billion and two hundred millions of dollars, ($1,200,000,000,) as Mr. Spaulding calculates it, which is three hundred millions ($300,000,000) more than the estimate of Mr. Chase, it would not break us if we were to pay the whole amount during the next twenty years. It would be only three and one eighth per cent. per annum upon what we are worth. But when it is raised gradually in the form and manner proposed, it will not be felt by this great and vigorous young nation. Let it be spread, not only over the whole of the real estate of the country, but the personal, on the banks throughout the United States, the specie in their vaults, on commerce and manufactures, on railroads and steamboats and their passengers, on gas companies, on news papers, and on all kinds of production and business whatever.
’
Waiting till the twelve months volunteers go home.
The following piece of policy is suggested by the New York Herald:‘ The present armies of the rebels were enlisted for one year, under the idea that within this limitation King Cotton would call in England and France and settle the question. The year, however, to a large body of the rebel troops, is drawing to a close, and just as the Government of the Union is beginning to show its strength. Our troops, enlisted for three years, are all right; but with the expiration of the one year of the rebel volunteers thousands of them will go home to look after their families and private affairs; for they have been depending on this important privilege, and they will have it, unless forcibly detained. That they will, however, be thus detained by some compulsory process is very probable, from the discussions of the subject going on at Richmond; but that this fighting upon compulsion will tend to demoralize the rebel army, and thus do much to disorganize and break up the rebellion itself, we think is very likely.
’
Yankee Reasoning.
The New York Herald says that the English and French journals have far more reason to condemn the conduct of the South than the North in the present war; for, although we have closed one harbor, we have opened another and a much finer one, close by the old port — that of Port Royal — having capacity sufficient to accommodate the Great Eastern. But the South has done what we should never have done under any circumstances. It has destroyed no fewer than a hundred and twenty-five lights on different parts of the coast, the loss of which may result in the destruction of the lives of thousands of innocent people and millions of dollars worth of shipping and other property. Charleston, it is well known, has been the hot-bed of rebellion for thirty years, and in closing that one harbor by the sinking of vessels, we have not acted contrary to precedent.
Capture of the schooner Wilder.
In the affair of the schooner Wilder, captured on the Gulf Coast, the loss of life on the part of the Yankees was considerable. After the schooner was beached, and the Yankees were unloading her, they were attacked by the Confederates, forty-seven in number, under Captain Cottrill. The Confederates took an advantageous position with fifteen rounds each for their Sharpe's carbines. They waited until two of the launch showed themselves beyond cover of the Wilder's hull, when Lieut Stone's party poured in a deadly fire. In one boat every man was shot down but three, and they, as soon as they recovered from their surprise, fell into the bottom of the boat. The boat immediately lurched to one side and capsized. A second launch pushed to the rescue of its unfortunate comrade, when Captain Cottrill's detachment gave them a volley.
Gen. Buell threatening.
The Bowling Green correspondent of the Nashville Union says:‘ Startling reports from Green River have also reached here this evening. It is said that the Yankees have crossed Green River in force estimated at 16,000 strong, and that General Buell is making active preparations to pour his entire command against this place. We very much question the correctness of this statement. The Federals have doubtless sent reinforcements across the river to protect the bridge, etc., but not in such numbers as reported. We regard an early advance against this place as being by no means probable. In this place all is quiet, not an event of interest having transpired for some days.
’
Hatteras Inlet and its sand Bars.
The narrow sandpit which divides the waters of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds from the ocean is nothing more than a long heap of shifting sand thrown up by the sea. The outside shore line is changed by every storm, as are the soundings near the shore, and the inlets of that sandpit by those shifting sands. Thus we have no reason to doubt that Hatteras Inlet carried over eight feet of water three weeks ago, although Gen. Burnside's vessels, carrying over seven feet three inches, stuck fast in attempting to run through. Those terrible storms had driven the sand from the shore line into the inlet.
Poisoned quinine.
The Memphis Avalanche discovers that a quantity of poisoned quinine has been introduced into the South by our enemies, since the demand for that drug has become so great. Several packages of quinine have been lately tested, and acid morphine was discovered to be mixed with the quinine in such quantity as to render it poisonous, Strychnine was also detected in many other packages.
Miscellaneous.
An overland expedition is fitting out to attack Galveston, under command of Gen. Lane.Old Scott is going to Key West, in the steamer Richmond, to remain there for his health.
