Later from the North.
exchange of prisoners agreed upon.
Gen. Halleck Commander-in-chief--Infamous order of Gen. Pope.
We have received New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore papers to the 24th inst. The news by them is important. The fact of Gen. Halleck's appointment to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the land forces of the United States is thus officially announced:
Executive Manson, July 11, 1862.
Ordered, That Major-General Henry W. Hallock be assigned to the command of the whole land forces of the United States, as General-in-Chief, and that he repair to this capital so soon as he can with safety to the positions and operations within the Department now under his special charge.
The New Federal Commander-in-chief.
Henry Wager Halleck is one the four Major-Generals who were first appointed in 1861 to that rank in the United States army. Gen. Halleck is about forty-two years of age, and was born in Weston, Oneida county, N. Y., where his grand-father--one hundred years old, and hale and hearty — lately resided. General Halleck's father was the Hon. Joseph Halleck, who died about three years since. General Halleck entered the Military Academy as a West Point cadet in 1835, stood third in the class, and was brevetted second lieutenant of engineers July 1, 1839. He was Acting Assistant Professor of Engineering at the Military Academy from July, 1839, to June, 1840. In 1811 he was the author of a military work on ‘"Bitumen and it's Uses,"’ &c. In January, 1845, he was appointed first lieutenant, and during the year he was selected by the Committee of the Lowell Institute, at Boston, to deliver one of the regular course of lectures, the subject being ‘"Military Science and Art."’ These lectures he compiled in a neat volume during the following year, adding thereto a lengthy introduction on the ‘"Justifiableness of War."’ The work contains much valuable elementary instruction, as well as abundance of historical illustration, and is written with ability. In 1847 he was brevetted Captain for gallant conduct in affairs with the enemy on the 19th and 20th days of November, 1847, and for meritorious service in California. He was Secretary of State of the Territory of California under the military governments of Generals Kearney, Mason, and Riley, from 1847 to the end of 1849. He was chief of the staff of Commodore Shubrick, in the naval and military operations on the Pacific coast in 1847 and 1848, and was a member of the convention in 1849 to form, and of the committee to draft, the Constitution of the State of California. In July, 1853, he was appointed Captain of engineers, and resigned August 1, 1834.Gen. Halleck was appointed a Major General in the United States Army in August last, at the instance of Lieut.-Gen. Scott, then about to retire from active service. His commission bears date the 19th of August, 1861. At the time of his appointment, Gen. Halleck was the leading member of a most prominent law firm in San Francisco.
Major Gen. Halleck, in personal appearance, is below the medium height, straight, active, and well formed and has a brisk, energetic gait, significant of his firm and decisive character. His nose is delicate and well formed, his forehead ample, and his mouth by no means devoid of humor. His eye is of a hazel color, clear as a morning star, and of intense brilliancy. He bears a most striking resemblance to some oleaginous Methodist parson dressed in regimentals, with a wide, stiff-rimmed black felt hat sticking on the back of his head, at an acute angle with the ground. His demeanor in front of his tent is very simple and business-like.--No pomp, no unusual ceremony, and no lack of order. When on horseback his Wesleyan character is more and more prominent. He neither looks like a soldier, rides like one, nor does he carry the state of a Major General in the field, but is the impersonation of the man of peace.
Infamous order of Gen. Pope.
Gen. Pope is imitating and excelling Butler. He has issued an order which will, by depriving them of their protectors, lay the families of Confederate citizens in Virginia towns at the mercy of the Yankee troops. The following is his last order:
Headquarters army of Virginia, July 23, 1862.
General Orders No. 11--Commanders of army corps, divisions brigades, and detached commands, will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal made citizens within their lines, or within their reach in rear of their respective commands. Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish sufficient security for its observance, shall be permitted to remain at their homes, and pursue in good faith their accustomed avocations. Those who refuse shall be conducted South, beyond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that if found again anywhere within our lines, or at any point in rear they will be considered spies and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law. If any person having taken the oath of allegiance, as above specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and his property seized and applied to the public use.All communication with any person whatever living within the lines of the enemy is positively prohibited, except through the military authorities and in the manner specified by military law; and any person concerned in writing or in carrying letters or messages in any other way will be considered and treated as a spy within the lines of the United States army.
Gen. Pope has also issued orders to the different Generals commanding divisions in his army corps requiring them to seize all horses and mules in their vicinity, especially in Culpeper county, not absolutely needed by the inhabitants of the surrounding country. They are also directed to seize all stores not absolutely needed for the maintenance or subsistence of the inhabitants.
From Washington.
The Federal forces reoccupied Murfreesboro's Tenn. on the 18th inst. Wm. Pugh, the Union postmaster there, who was seized by the guerrilla Forrest, and carried off with the avowed purpose of hanging him, was subsequently released, and has returned to the discharge of his duties.This forenoon the President, Secretary of War, and Major General Halleck were long in consultation at the War Department. For a portion of the time Generals Pope and Burnside were with them.
The patriotic members of Congress who went home to raise troops, in response to the President's call, are doing their duty well. Hon. Mr. Diven, of New York, reports that the entire quota of the two counties of Chemung and Schuyler, in his district, is now raised.
Executive order.
Second. That military and naval commanders shall employ as laborers, within and from the said States; so many persons of African descent as can be advantageously used for military or naval purposes, giving them reasonable wages for their labor.
Third. That as to both property and persons of African descent, accounts shall be kept, sufficiently accurate and in detail, to show the quantities and amounts, and from whom both property and such persons shall have come, as a basis upon which compensation can be made in proper cases. The several Departments of the Government shall attend to and perform their appropriate parts towards the execution of these orders.
Descent upon the Virginia Central Railroad--full Details of the Affair.
[Correspondence of the New York Tribune.]In order to secure their retreat, two squadrons were detached to guard the bridge over the North Anna river, several miles from the railroad, and other squadrons were detailed to guard and watch the several roads. Only about one hundred and forty men, under Col. Davies, reached the railroad station, where they were entirely unexpected. They captured Capt. J. L. Moseley, of Virginia, an aid of Gen. Stuart's, who was waiting for the cars. He had upon his person a letter from Gen. Johnston, recommending him to that officer, and recommending that officer to study Napoleon's maxims.
From its contents it appears that Gen. Stuart was at Athens Station, nine miles from Richmond, and that General Stonewall Jackson was between Charlottesville and Staunton.
Capt. Moseley was bearer of dispatches from Gen. Stuart and Gen. Jackson. Col. Davies destroyed the railroad and telegraph lines for four or five miles, and the station containing ammunition, flour, and other valuable property, the water tanks and a large quantity of coalwood in the
which Captain Moseley had expected to take which had on board a brigade of troops to reinforce Jackson, was due.
It is a mistake to suppose, as a Washington paper states, that any railroad bridge was destroyed as there is none at Beaver Dam. The only bridge in the vicinity is a turnpike one across the North Suns river, which was guarded as stated, and left uninjured.
The railroad was rendered useless by the falling, at frequent intervals, of trees across the track, and by tearing up some of the rails. It is believed that it will take at least thirty six hours to repair damages.
The information with reference to the movements of the enemy derived from papers which fell into the hands of our forces, and from residents in the vicinity, was extremely important.
The white residents on the road were thrown into a state of great consternation, not having been accustomed to offensive operations by the National troops. The blacks manifested no apprehension, however, and in a number of cases the Virginia women waved their handkerchiefs supposing the cavalry to be a rebel troop.
The private, who was seriously wounded by two buckshot in his head, came from Troy. He had struggled from the ranks with two others and stopped to eat his dinner, when he was suddenly attacked by five rebel scouts. He was left at Spotsylvania court house, the surgeon considering it unsafe to carry him forward.
The retreat was executed in the daytime, yesterday, with as much skill as the advance. A division of cavalry and a regiment of infantry pursued for for a long distance, but gave up the chase. There were 16,000 armed rebels at Louisa court-house to the left, and a considerable force at Bowling Green to the right. After riding eighty miles is thirty hours, the command returned in excellent condition, with not a horse or a man permanently the worse for the journey.
The fight at Cynthiana, Kentucky--Union loss one hundred and Twenty-five killed and wounded--Morgan's from Sixty to eighty--Destruction of bridge, Etc.
[From the Cincinnati Commercial, 21st.] We obtained from Capt. Wm. Glass, who arrived in this city yesterday, the following narrative of the fight at Cynthiana:‘ His force consisted of sixteen men, an 18 pound cannon, caisson and ammunition, together with eight steam fire-engine horses from this city.
The train arrived at Cynthiana at 2 o'clock P. M., and the nine were ordered by Col. Landrum to go to Judge Perrin's (sucesh) to dinner. After dinner Col. L. ordered them to hitch up, and started out to show them the positions, though no battle was expected at that time. They moved out on what might be termed a scouting expedition, crossing the Licking bridge on the Georgetown pike. Col. Landrum, Capt. Glass, and Lieut. Moore were together. When they arrived about half a mile beyond the bridge, our pickets came riding in in hot haste, crying out that Morgan was coming in force to attack the town. Col. Landrum then ordered them to return; recrossing the bridge, the gun was posted at the intersection of two streets, about six hundred yards from the bridge, commanding it, the street intersecting Main at that distance from the bridge.
As Morgan afterwards told Glass, he commanded this division in person, with four hundred men. As they made their appearance, through the bridge, Capt. G. opened on them with grape. Morgan replied with a brass howitzer, firing shell. The rebels were here held in check about fifteen minutes, Meantime, a second division of Morgan's force made its appearance at the head of Pike street from an opposite direction. Wheeling his gun he fired at them there, immediately afterwards opening on the first division again. Pretty near the same time they made their appearance upon the north, coming down the hill into Main street, beside Camp Frazier, (where the 35th Ohio, Colonel Vanderveer, encamped when that regiment took possession of Cynthiana) Seeing himself surrounded, Capt. Glass told his men to disperse and save themselves, which they did, each one finding the best hiding place he could. A company of Home Guard, numbering about fifty, held the band that approached from the north in check a little while.
Morgan, with two men, set fire to the depot, a large frame building, which was burned to the ground. About 300 Union muskets were taken and broken over the wheels of platform cars. A large number were piled up near the court-house and burned; among them were rifles. Mr. Thomas C. Ware (father of our city solicitor,) an old citizen of Cynthiana, was shot through the back of the head and killed while fighting on Pike street.--From 14 to 16 men were buried in Desha's cornfield, across Licking bridge. Twenty-five rebels were killed in the streets. Seventeen Union citizens were killed and wounded. Three of Glass's men were missing. He feels sure of the safety of all but one--Tom Barry — who was asleep in the depot when the fight began.
After the fight Thursday evening, Morgan paroled about two hundred men he had disarmed, including about half of Billy Glass's party. Glass himself escaped; was secreted (together with others) by a good Union lady. He remained secreted until eleven o'clock next day. The bulk of the men had been under guard in the court-house all night. When they came out Glass thought he would be looked upon as paroled, and ventured among them.
A company of cavalry, to the number of fifty, posted on Main street, a few yards to the rear of Captain Glass's position, conducted themselves shamefully, as they broke and fled at the first fire.
’
Morgan at Lebanon, Ky.
The Louisville Journal, of the 15th, gives some extraordinary accounts of Morgan at Lebanon, Ky. It says:‘ Morgan took possession of the town near three o'clock in the morning. He was detained at New Market bridge nearly two hours, by thirty men and failed to force his way across the bridge until he brought his artillery to bear upon it. During the engagement he got two bullet-holes through the top of his hat. He awarded great praise to Lieutenant Catlin and men for their daring and accuracy in shooting. The Lieutenant and men made good their escape, and lay out in the woods until Sunday last.
When Morgan took possession of Lebanon he declared that he would respect private property. But his men failed to do it, and he failed to make them do it when his attention was called to their misdemeanors. The soldiery stole horses by the wholesale. It is a low estimate to say that Marion county had 250 horses stolen. They wanted shoes and took $150 worth from Edmonds & Brother. Indeed, whenever they wanted anything they went and took it — sometimes proffering Confederate scrip as pay. They took the express wagon and pressed Uncle Ben. Spalding's buggy into service. Indeed, they did anything but respect private property. His men were respectful to ladies, and not generally insulting to citizens. They seemed to be of that class to which we apply the term ‘"sporting gentlemen."’ Although the men profess to be Kentuckians. I found that they had men from all the Southern States with them. A vast minority of them were Kentuckians.
He at first refused to parole the citizen and Home Guard prisoners, denouncing them as guerrillas, and deserving death.
Morgan himself severely misused Mr. Hastings after he captured him, sticking his spear in him in half a dozen places, from the effects of which he has not yet recovered. He afterwards begged his pardon for it.
While the majority of the gang were as kind as could be expected, conversed freely with citizens without insulting them, treated the prisoners very properly, yet many were ruffians of the lowest cast, deserving to be hung as high as Haman. They (the ruffians) eared neither for feelings, person nor property — gloried in insulting defenceless old men, and in stealing horses. All of the men had the most implicit confidence in Morgan. He does not appear to care much for discipline, permitting his men to go as they please. The men had no general uniform, and were armed to suit their own taste.--They all had Adams's patent six shooters, an English pistol, received, they said, from England a short time since. Many of them had shot guns; a few only had sabres or bayonets. They left many of their guns here, and took United States guns with them. They had two pieces of artillery here--two small howitzers.
’ The same paper, of the 21st inst., says:
‘ Early on Sunday morning Gen. Green Clay Smith, with a cavalry force much inferior to Morgan's, attacked the latter near Paris, defeated him, put him to flight, and, at the last accounts, was pursuing him, aided in the pursuit by Col. Leonidas Metcalfe and Col. Maxwell. We have strong hopes of hearing that his gang has been captured, or, better still, annihilated.
’
Greenville (Mo.) captured — a desperate fight with Heavy loss.
[Greenville is a post village and capital of Wayne county. It is situated on the St. Francis river, about 150 miles southeast from Jefferson City.]
From M'Clellan's army.
A letter dated Harrison's Landing July 20, gives the following information about the ‘"grand army:"’Two deserters were brought to headquarters yesterday afternoon, but nothing new could be learned from them. They corroborate the fact that the main lines of the rebels are at least ten miles from here, and occupy the same ground that we once did — that of Fair Oaks Gaines's Hill, and the Trent estates.--They tell the same old story: that thousands of others are willing and ready to desert whenever a favorable opportunity turn up. In our judgement that is so long in coming that the hard possibility of it ever offering sector further off
ing arising from the want of proper nourishment.--Yet, somehow, notwithstanding this destitution, they seem to retain their health and strength, and when the fighting in going on they do not seem to be in the least debilitated by either hunger or thirst.
The latest news from Richmond.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, of the 23d, has the following ‘"news"’ from a released Surgeon:Dr. Fox, of this city, a Surgeon in the army, arrived in the city yesterday, direct from Richmond, where he was held a prisoner, having been captured on the Monday morning following the battle at Savage's Station. He had been stationed at the White House, of which Dr. Watson was in charge. About the 30th of June word was sent to leave the White House and proceed to Savage's Station.--Seven Surgeons and about fifty nurses were left at the White House, at the request of Dr. Tripler, Surgeon of the Potomac. On his arrival at Savage's Station he found a large number of wounded there, who had previously arrived. He was kept very busy attending to them until late at night.--On the following morning the battle of Savage's Station took place, in front of the hospital, which increased the number of patients considerably, and furnished the Surgeons with plenty of employment. On the following (Monday) morning, all those at the Station, including the Surgeons, &c., were taken prisoners.
After they were captured, the surgeons, ten in number, including Dr. Fox, had some two thousand wounded of both armies to attend to. The conduct of the wounded men is spoken of in the highest terms by the Doctor. He remained with his fellow-prisoners at Savage's Station, until the next Sunday two weeks, when he was sent to Richmond with six hundred and seventy-seven of our wounded, being the only surgeon accompanying them. On the arrival of the party at Richmond the authorities there did all they could under the circumstances to make them comfortable; both officers and men were treated with much kindness. Dr. F. offered to attend the rebel wounded as far as lay in his power, and his services were gladly accepted. Lieut. Enack, of the rebel army, who had charge of the he ‘"did not expect such a friendly offer from a Northern man."’
Major Rey, of the rebel army, who commanded at Savage's Station, treated Dr. Fox with the greatest consideration, and evinced much gratitude for the Doctor's offer to attend the rebel wounded, remarking, ‘"it did him good to find a whole souled man from the North." ’ Major Rey told the Doctor that he would be kindly received on reaching Richmond. On reaching there he was furnished with a pass to go where he pleased, and walked about unmolested. The wounded were all placed in a large building called the Tobacco Warehouse. The captured officers and surgeons were quartered at the Libby House, near the railroad depot. They were allowed to walk up and down on the sidewalk, and were generally well treated. They were told that in consequence of the scarcity of provisions they could be allowed but two rations a day; so they messed together and purchased many things they wanted.
The following are some of the market prices of different kinds of provisions at Richmond, as Dr. Fox found out by actual experience: Beef, 50 per pound; ham 75 per pound; sugar, 70 per pound; coffee, $2.50 per pound; whiskey, $10 per gallon, and very bad at that; brandy, $15 per gallon; milk, $1 per quart; onions, $10 per bushel; potatoes, 50 per quart; cabbage, $1 per head; eggs, $1 per dozen; butter, $1 per pound; flour, $15 per barrel; lard 50 per pound; boots, $30 per pair; gaiter shoes $20 a pair. On the way to Richmond the Doctor noticed a very large siege gun lying near the railroad track, and entirely commanding it. The gun is covered with sheet iron, the covering shaped like the departed Merrimac, after which it is named.
It cannot be seen at any distance, and on the approach of an enemy along the road towards the city, could sweep everything before it on the track, destroying a whole train of cars at a single shot. The Doctor heard some rebel officers remark that ‘"Beauregard was lying about five miles from Richmond,"’ and that Magruder had left for the South. On approaching Richmond from Savage Station, he saw the encampments of the rebels on the left of the road, stretched over the hills and woods. He passed one fort commanding the road to Savage Station, and says another one commands the James river. The rebel camps are very much scattered, but he heard during an alarm they concentrated in a remarkably short space of time. The Doctor says that the people of Richmond are heartily sick of the war. Everything in the shape of business was at a standstill but people bad to pay rent as if business was particularly brisk.
He states that the energy of the people is astonishing. Gentlemen owning large plantations, who have never done a day's work of any description, perform the most arduous duties as soldiers, serving in the ranks, &c., without the slightest word of complaint escaping them. The officers are nearly all finished soldiers. Drafting is going on regularly. Boys of twelve and fourteen years are frequently seen in the ranks. Men, except those in the army, are scarce in Richmond, but there appears to be little diminution of women and children. The German Jews of Richmond were among the first to don the secession cockade at the commencement of the war, but have not been willing to serve in the army, generally purchasing substitutes at high prices. Richmond, apart from the military, is described as presenting a very dull and gloomy appearance, as if the whole city was in mourning — houses are closed, but few windows are seen open, and little or no life visible in any direction except the usual military routine.
The streets, however, are full of rough, uncouth looking soldiers of a bold, ferocious, and brigandine appearance. On leaving Richmond, Dr. Fox, with a number of others, was taken to City Point in a large number of ambulances, and transported from thence on board the steamer Louisiana, which vessels came up under a flag of truce to receive them. They were taken down the river to McClellan's army, and from thence to Fortress Monroe, on their way North.
Letter from Gen. M'Call.
Thomas A. Biddle, of Philadelphia, has received the following letter from Gen. McCall:
Richmond, Va. Tobacco House Prison, July 9, 1862.
My Dear Sir:
I enclose you herewith a note from your brother Harry, the only reply I have had to two notes written to him.
My Dear Sir:
"On my arrival in this city I was politely offered quarters at the Spotswood Hotel, where I remained three days. While there, on the 3d inst., a Tennessean called with a message from Harry, who, I learned then for the first time, was a prisoner.--It had been reported to me on the field, on the 30th ult., that he was wounded while returning from the left, whither he had carried an order from myself; but I thought he had been carried off by our own men.
"I at once wrote to General Whider, requesting permission to send a carriage for him, in reply to which I received the enclosed, notifying me of his arrival at Chimborazo Hospital, No. 3. I at once requested permission to visit him, but this was not deemed consistent with established regulations.
"I trust he will soon he well enough to travel; and, perhaps, visit his family on parole. Do be pleased to express to Mrs. Biddle my sincere and deep sympathy, but, at the same time, my sincere and deep conviction that it will not be long before her husband joins her, with all his honors.
"My division had a desperate fight that day. I was under fire all day, encouraging my men and urging them on against superior numbers. I am under great concern for the other members of my staff. Scheetz and Lewis both left me, to deliver orders, and did not return. Late in the day Beatty was shot in the leg and left me with but two orderlies.
"The reserves fought nobly, but they are terribly cut up. Simmons, commanding first brigade, killed; Meade, commanding second brigade, wounded, and a large number of officers with them.
"After dark, the battle still raging on the right, I brought forward some five hundred men, rallied by Lieut. Col. Thompson, and riding in advance, in the obscurity of the evening, I rode right into the 47th Virginia, drawn up under some trees, and so ended the chapter.
The enclosure in the above letter was as follows:
"Henry J. Biddle, Assistant Adjutant-General, McCall's division, U. S. A., is wounded and a prisoner, now at Chimborazo Hospital, No. 3; he wishes to be reported to our authorities, and to be parceled, if allowable.
(Signed) ‘"E. H. Smith, Surgeon."’
"Chimborazo Hospital, Division No. 3, Ward F, July 8, 1862.--Captain Biddle desires me to say that he is wounded twice by bullets, (in shoulder,) across the back and through the left arm, besides two scratches on thigh.
"N. B.--I think him not mortally wounded.
‘"J. B. McCAW, Surgeon."’
"Capt. B. says he knows nothing of the members of the staff.
(Signed) "J. B. J. B. McCAW,
‘"Surgeon-in-Chief, Chimborazo Hospital."’
The words in parenthesis in the above note are interlined in the original, in Capt. Biddle's own handwriting. His own note to Gen. McCall is as follows:
Captain Biddle's note.
"General McCall--Seneca Simmons, Colonel 5th Pennsylvania infantry, commanding brigade, died in hospital in woods by my side; is buried here. I laid out in field, mud holes house, and woods till dusk on 2d, and reached here at midnight.(Signed) "H. J. Biddle.
‘"General McCall."’
Letter from a Union prisoner.
The following letter is from a Union officer in prison at Salisbury, N. C.:Depot for Union Prisoners, Salisbury, N. C., June 28th, 1862.
There are nearly two hundred officers and privates, and one hundred and fifty citizens, confined here. Privates Gould and Schwarts, of Philadelphians--, of Buffalo, and six citizen prisoners, have died within the last fortnight. There are fifty patients in the hospital. Scurvy is the prevalent complaint.
There has been very little sickness among the officers confined here, and that only
joying good health. We have this morning received permission from Major Gordon, C. S. A., commanding the post, to celebrate the coming anniversary of our independence, with certain restrictions.
The 4th of July committee consists of Col. Murphy, Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania; Lieut. Colonel Neff. Second Kentucky; Dr. Gray, United States Army; Paymaster Stockwell, United States Army; Lieut. Watson, Third Connecticut; Capt. Fish, Thirty-second New York; and Major Cassidy, Ninety-third New York.
Colonel Crocker, of the Ninety-third New York, was selected to read the Declaration of Independence, and Lieut. Col. Benedict, of the Seventy-fifth New York, to read Washington's Farewell Address.
An original poem is to be recited by Capt. Drew, of the Second Vermont. Vocal music, under the direction of Lieut. Lombard. Games and races by the privates in the afternoon, for which the officers have contributed prizes.
Major Gordon displays a willingness to do all in his power for the comfort of the officers. We live in hopes of exchange.
Pay of New York volunteers.
A private enlisting in the State of New York, under the new call for volunteers, if the war should close within twelve months, would receive, besides his regular rations and clothing, the following amount of money.
| State bounty | $50 |
| Government advance bounty | 27 |
| One month's advance pay | 13 |
| Pay per year | 156 |
| Government bounty at close of war | 75 |
| Total | $221 |
| Rations $9 per month--one year | 108 |
| Clothing, about | 20 |
| Total one year's pay | $149 |
General exchange of prisoners agreed upon.
We find the following in Wednesday night's Star:We take great pleasure in saying that we have been authorized to state an agreement for an immediate and general exchange of prisoners has been consummated between Major-General Din, on behalf of the Federal authorities, and Major-General Hill, on behalf of the rebels. The detailed terms of this agreement are not yet known at headquarters here, but the Government is prepared to carry them out without the least delay.
From Fortress Monroe--Reinforcements.
A despatch from Fortress Monroe, dated the 23d, announces the arrival of wounded prisoners there. It says:‘ They say they were very well treated by the rebels while imprisoned by them, only they were kept closely confined, and their food was bad, but this was not so much from design as from necessity. They say that our surgeons at Richmond have acted nobly and self-sacrificing toward our sick and wounded prisoners, going where they go, and remaining with them while in prison, taking care of them both night and day.
Union troops are almost daily arriving at this place, making a very short stay, and then passing up the James river to join Gen. McClellan or Gen. Burnside's divisions.
The weather continues cool and the sick are rapidly recovering. Many are now convalescent who would have lost their lives had the excessively warm weather continued for a few days longer.
All quiet up James river to day.
’
Defeat of the Enlistment ordinance in the Baltimore City Council--great Excitement — Mob law.
The committee of conference in the Baltimore City Council on the ordinance appropriating $300,000 in aid of volunteers, &c., on Wednesday evening made a majority report in favor of the passage of said ordinance, which was adopted unanimously in the first branch, and rejected in the second branch by a vote of yeas 2 nays 6--Messrs. George and Robb only voting for it. The Sun says:‘ A crowd of some two or three hundred persons assembled in and about the City Hall yesterday afternoon, and there was for a time considerable excitement, but the police prevented any demonstration of violence. It was expected that the committee of conference on the ordinance to appropriate three hundred thousand dollars for military purposes would make their report, and those who assembled were anxious to know what would be its fate in the second branch, which body had before rejected it. Messrs. Alricks and Swindell were absent, so that but eight members were present. Shortly after six o'clock it was announced to those outside that the ordinance had been again rejected by a vote of two for to six against it. Shortly after Charles J. Baker, Esq., President of the branch, passed out of the front door of the City Hall and was groaned.
After that the excitement became intense and an additional police force was ordered up from the central station. A half hour elapsed before any of the other members who voted in the negative made their appearance, by which time the crowd had partially dispersed, a rumor having gained currency that, they had passed out through the rear of the building. Soon, however, Messrs. Marden, Deane, Wilson, Higgins, and Miller, left the hall under the protection of a squad of policemen for each. The crowd made a rush for Mr. Miller, but the police force was sufficient to protect him, and in a few minutes the excitement had subsided and the street was clear. While leaving the hall the members were groaned at by those of the crowd who remained. Messrs. George and Robb, who voted for the bill, were cheered as they left the hall.
’ Inside the hall the announcement of the vote is thus described:
Upon the announcement of the vote there was considerable noise and confusion in the lobby and passages of the building, which were crowded with spectators. Cries of ‘"Down with the traitors"’--‘"Jerk them out,"’ &c. The President rapped for order, and shortly after the Marshal of Police, Mr. Vannostrand, appeared inside of the railing and demanded quiet. A large police force was in attendance in the building, but noisy demonstrations continued in the passages and in front of the building for some time afterwards.
Financial.
The New York Journal of Commerce, of yesterday, thus speaks of the market in that city on Tuesday.The feeling is one of general depression, but capital is more abundant, and rates of interest are lower. Loans on call are offered at 5a6 per cent., and prime endorsed business paper is readily taken at the inside rate.
Gold was firm: sales were made at the board at 120½, and 120¼a120Ê was paid in the street. Toward the close there was less demand, and the market drooped to 119¾. Silver is bought in small lots by the brokers at 15½. Old demand notes are worth 108a108¼.
Foreign exchange does not keep pace with the advance in gold, and rates this morning were a little slack at 131½a132 for sterling. We quote: Bills at 60 days on London, 129½a30 for documentary; 130½a131 for commercial; 131¼a132¼ for bankers'; do at short sight 132½a133;Paris at 60 days, 4.35a4.27½; do at short sight, 4.27½a4.25; Antwerp 4.32½a4.30; Swiss 4.32½a4.30; Hamburg 43½a44½; Amsterdam 48 ¼a49¼ Frankfort 49a49½;Bremen 93½a94½; Prussian thalers 86½a87 ¼.
The stock market opened amid general apathy, and prices drooped, because none seemed disposed to buy.
The total receipts to-day at the sub treasury were $42,038.95; total payments $893,431.90; leaving a balance on hand in specie and demand notes of $6, 963,036.38. The receipts for duties to-day at the custom house were $275,949.22, all of which were in demand notes.
The exports (exclusive of specie) from the city of New York to foreign ports, for the week ending July 21. amounted to $3,086,937; previously reported, $68,494,321--total since the 1st of January, $71,578,308.
Stock prices at New York, July 23.
| 1st Board | 2d Board | |
| Virginia 6's | 52 | 00 |
| Missouri 6's | 46½ | 46½ |
| Tennessee bonds | 49½ | 49½ |
| North Carolina bonds | 65 | 00 |
| American gold | 119½ | 00 |
| Canton Company | 00 | 00 |
| Erie Railroad | 32½ | 33½ |
| New York Central R | 92½ | 92½ |
| Reading Railroad | 35 | 34 |
| Firm | Dull |
From New Orleans.
--The Yankee Delta, of New Orleans, July 14th, had the following as ‘"Important from Richmond:"’On Friday a dispatch was received at Mobile reporting another great struggle between McClellan and the rebels, the tone of which was so disheartening that the Mobile rebels caused it to be suppressed.
There is no doubt that McClellan has renewed the combat, and that he is gaining upon the enemy.
It rises to a higher tone on the 15th, and treats us to the following:
Mobile Silest--We have had the pleasure of perusing a copy of the Mobile Advertise of the 11th instant, and are surprised to find no mention made of the city of Richmond in its columns. This city, situated upon the banks of the James river, in the State of Virginia, has had claims upon the attention of the rebel mind in days gone by, and the acts of the citizens of that town have at Gules been made the subject of considerable remark in the papers of Alabama. Its day is over. The utter defeat of the rebel forces congregated there, and the pressure of the followers of the ‘"Star Spangled Banner"’ in its streets, make it forevermore, until at least ‘"Old Glory" ’ waves over the city halls of Mobile and Montgomery, a place of no appraisal to the publishers of the fancies of the ‘"reliable " ’ Let us hear no more
