United States intelligence.
The siege of Charleston — Sales of Confiscated property.
The latest intelligence about the siege of Charleston we find in a letter from there dated the 21s ult. It says:‘ The shelling of Charleston from Fort Putnam is continued night and day at intervals of ten minutes. One gun alone has fired over 1,100 rounds at an elevation of forty degrees. Charleston is gradually crumbling under this incessant bombardment. We often observe dense clouds of smoke arising from some portion of the city, which is considered good evidence that our firing is effective.
’ Occasionally we send a few missiles to Moultrie or Johnson, or some other rebel work, which are reluctantly replied to by the enemy. For some weeks past the enemy has evinced an unmistakable desire to be let alone. He invariably waits an attack before using his pieces. We do not observed any changes of note along the borders of the rebellions.
The iron-clad fleet remain on picket duty off Charleston, notwithstanding rumors to the effect that a number of the monitors had been dispatched for service to the Gulf. The Court of Inquiry instituted to investigate the circumstances attending the loss of the Weehawken, have not yet made public the result of their proceedings. The impression generally prevails that carelessness will be found to be the immediate cause of the disaster. This conclusion would accord with the belief of numerous navy officers who witnessed the sinking of the vessel, and who have since had opportunities of strengthening that conviction.
The work of raising the Weehawken and the Keokuk, although not abandoned, has not progressed actively of late. The vessels consist of such a vast quantity of metal, added to which is a tremendous weight of loose iron, including guss and ammunition, that the machinery required for bringing the entire mass to the surface must necessarily be of the best material and of extensive proportions. A few adjuncts, in the way of machinery, will soon be supplied, when the labor will be resumed. It is believed the bodies — with two or three exceptions — of the unfortunate men who went down in the Weehawken, are still encased in the cabin and turret. The exceptions refer to the bodies washed upon the beach a few days after the accident occurred.
The subjoined circular, issued by Gen. Saxton, has been extensively circulated about Beaufort and the adjacent Islands. It will be observed that the General gives wholesome advice to the people concerning matters appertaining to the purchase and culture of the soil. Pursuant to instructions from Washington the tax commissioners notified the public that they would be ready to dispose of the lands at Beaufort on Monday last. At 10 A. M., the hour appointed, the apartment in which the commissioners convened was densely crowded with officers, soldiers, and contraband — the latter class in the preponderance. Unfortunately the weather was inclement, in consequence of which the sale was postponed till the following day. At the hour announced the commissioners, accompanied by a crowd of expectant possessors, proceeded to the portion of the town and commenced the sale by offering lot No. 9. The bidding was spirited throughout the sale, and, as a general thing the property was disposed of at rales considered high for this district at this time. The contract and were foremost in the bids. How in the world these fellows manage to exhibit so much money is a mystery to many sharpers among white officers.--One sable son pulled from his pocket a roll of "greenbacks" amounting to $2,000 Of course the "white saggers" had to back out until the contraband had selected his lot and expended his capital. The desirable lots brought prices varying from $800 to $1,200. The sale was continued on Wednesday, and is in progress to-day. Ten days or two weeks will probably be occupied in disposing of the entire lands. By the terms of the instructions the Commissioners are empowered to reserve such buildings as may be required for use by the military authorities. I learn some dissatisfaction has been expressed on account of the Commissioners offering for sale premises actually occupied by the military, and found to be indispensable for the need of the service. This is a point that certainly claims the serious attention of the Commissioners.
Display of Canadian affection for the Yankees.
The following letter is from Acting Volunteer Lieutenant-Commanding Edward F. Devens, to Secretary Welles, in relation to the treatment of the officers and crew of the U. S. steamer Howqua, at Halifax, in June last:
--During the recent cruise of the steamer Howqua under my command, it became necessary for me to put into the port of Halifax for coal, and would most respectfully call your attention to the many insults offered to, and the outrageous manner in which my officers and self were treated by the citizens of the place. A portion of the facts are as follows:--
As the Howqua was dropping away from the coal wharf one of the crew attempted to desert, when three of my officers went on the wharf for the purpose of arresting said deserter; they were mobbed by the citizens of the place, knocked down, badly bruised, and otherwise treated in a most shameful manner, and the deserter rescued from them. In passing through the streets I was subjected to the most trying insults.
As the vessel proceeded down the harbor crowds collected on the end of the wharf, cheering for the rebels and Jeff, Davis. Men came down and tried to induce my men to desert, while others came around the ship with Secession flags and singing Secession songs.
As not the slightest cause for insult was offered by my officers, I attribute the treatment we received to the fact of our being Northern officers, and to the sympathy of the citizens of Halifax with the rebels.
The Yankee army and navy Statistics.
The Naval bill as reported to-day from the Committee of Ways and Mesas, appropriates for the ordinary operations of the navy proper about $97,000,000, in addition to the usual appropriations for the several bureaus of the department and for navy-yards, docks, and miscellaneous expenditures. The pay of officers, seamen, and engineers requires $19,423,000; and for construction and repair, $20,800,000; and for armor plated vessels, $3,000,000; materials, $700,000, fuel, $3,840,000; equipment, $3,000,000; provisions, $6,416,000; construction and repair of machinery, $28,312,000; surgeons' appliances and medicines, $8,300,000; navigation apparatus and supplies, $126,000.Assistant Adjutant General Townsend has made a report, containing a list of all the known desertions of non-commissioned officers and privates from the regular army to the rebels. The number is only 28, of whom 20 are from the 8th United States infantry. He also furnishes a list of the officers who have left the service by resignation or desertion, to engage in the rebellion. The total number is 277, of whom 183 entered the rebel service, and 92 are presumed to have done so. One was dismissed for surrendering his command in the face of the enemy, and one made an attempt to desert to the rebels. 242 of them resigned, 26 were dismissed, and 9 dropped.
Miscellaneous.
The prize steamer R. E. Lee has been strictly searched at Boston in an expectation that gold would be found. One hundred and eight packages were found behind a partition supposed to divide the machinery from the hold. They are valued at twenty thousand dollars.The Pennsylvania Democratic State committee have issued a call for a State Convention, to be held at Philadelphia on the 24th of March.
The Chinese have adopted a national ensign.--Hitherto they have had only local and individual flags.
Lincoln has signified his intention of granting to prisoners of war in certain cases the privilege of accepting the terms of the Amnesty Proclamation.
It is officially reported that there are twelve hundred cases of small pox in the whole District of Columbia.
