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BT S. W. MASON AND CO.
SAVANNAH, TUESDAY, PER. TANARUS, 18#5.
Utra.
LATER FROM THE NORTH.
DATES TO FfiBRUABY 3.
HZ SHOT IMPORTANT.
YHE REBEL PEACE COSBISSIMERB.
Am Interview Expected at City
Point.
Dspiriare of Senator Scvaid for that
Place.
LATEST WAR NEWS.
SLAVERY ABOLISHED BY
CONGRESS.
d)ld Down to 200 1-2.
[Special Dispatch to the New York Times]
Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Peace matters liave assumed anew
phase instead of Commissioners arriving
here, as was anticipated, Secretary Sew
ard left this morning in a Government
vessel for the purpose of meeting those
gentlemen at City Point. The object of
his mission is undoubtedly to ascertain
the exact status of these gentlemen,
what they propose to do, and by what
authority they are sent. Mr. Seward
does not carry any ultimatum from the
Government, neither is the President
' aware of what these gentlemen propose;
and until he ascertains that fact, it is
uncertain whether they will be allowed
to proceed to this city. Richmond pa
pers of Monday last would convey the
idea that tney were appointed in ac
cordance with the understanding
brought about by the mission of Mr.
Blair.
Dispatch to the Aseiciated Pres*.
Baltimore, Wednesday, Feb. 1.
" The Annapolis correspondent of the
; American annqunces the arrival there
ibis morning of Secretary Seward, ac
companied by his private Secretary,
who immediately left for Fortress Mon
roe on Gen. Grant’s dispatch steamer to
meet the rebel commissionors. They
were met at the depot by Gen. Berry
and escorted to the Executive Chamber,
where they were welcomed by Gov.
-Bradford.
Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1.
' The rebel Peace Commissioners have
• not arrived here. If they come, it will
not be before to-morrow.
THE EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON.
The city has been much excited all
day by the intelligence _ respecting the
.*■ Southern Peace Commissioners, and re
ports were constantly put in circulation
and as respectfully contradicted, that
they had actually arrived here. One of
them originated with a porter of a hotel,
who said he was perfectly familiar with
v their faces, but who mistook a party of
three gentlemen returning from a tour in
, Baltimore for the Commissioners.
I (Special Correspondence New York Times.)
Headquarters Fifth Cqurs,
Tuesday, Jan. 3J, 18G5-8 A. M.
We are still agog with our new excite
ment, the “Peace Commissioners ” but
as yet haye not laid eyes upon them.
When the boat started from City Point
yesterday morning, the arrival of the
commissioners was not decided, and I
was unable to forward you any reliable
intelligence regarding the event. It now
appears that a meeting wa3 to have been
held at daylight this morning, and it was
: .supposed that Messrs. Stephens, Hunter
• and Campbell would be permitted to
across over into our lines yesterday fore
noon.
t Several meetings, under flag of truce,
in front of Fort Morton, took place dur
ing all of yesterday, despatches were ex
changed, and much formality g»>ne
through with, but no decisive action or
understanding arrived at. The last in
terview heltl was at half-past five, p. in
Col. Hatch, of the nbd army, and Capt.
Brackett, of Gen. Wilcox a staff, being
the bearers of the respective flags of
truce. Auother, and, it is hoped, final
interview, will take place this morning
at 10 o’clock.
The absence of Gen. Grant from his
headquarters at City Point, no doubt, has
caused the delay; for were he here this
matter would have been decided, one
way or the other, before this time.
Nothing is known as to what may be the
intention or mission of the rebel commis
sioners, for no one is allowed a peep into
any ot the numerous despatches ex
changed.
Considerable excitement prevailed
during the greater part of yesterday, along
our front, and I understand that it is
currently reported at City Point that the
commissioners have actually arrived, but
nevertheless, the fact that tney have not
yet crossed the lines of our pickets is in
dispensable.
The greatest degree of confidence and
quiet is still existiug along our lines in
front of Petersburg. The two armies
moved about in open view of each other
while the different flags ot truce were in
actual progress, and the men were seem
ingly glad of the chance of enjoying
themselves with more freedom than is
customary. No other event worth re
cording has happened within the limits
of this army during the past twenty-four
hours. George F. Williams.
[From the New York Times, Feb. 2.]
The St. Louis Democrat learns that
a fight took place on the 15th instant at
DardAuelle, Ark., about halt way be
tween Little R<>ck and Fort Smith, in
which the rebels were defeated. A fleet
of light-draught steamers were en route
to Fort Smith, and took on board a reg
iment of cavalry at Lewisburgh, to clear
the river banks ot guerrillas. This force
landed at Dardanclie, where rebel# were
ia strong force, under command of Joe
Shelby. A fight ensued, during which
the transports passed up the river. Our
loss was twenty-five killed. The rebels
fell back, and the next day evacuated
the town. No further particulars have
come to hand.
At the recent assault on Fort Fisher,
Lieut- Commander F. B. Blair, Commo
dore Godon, Lieut. John R. Bartlett,
First Lieut, of Aiarincs W. Wallace, and
Ensign W. W. Rhodes, all of the Sus
quehanna, landed with two boats’ crews,
numbering about eighty men, and took
an active part in the attack. They were
among the first to reach the enemy’s
works. Lieut. Wallace was severely
wounded, and they lay four or five hours
in the sand, close to the san I, before he
could be removed, the shot and shell
falling so fast that his men were unable
to reach him.
Mr. Frank Lawler’s letters from Rich
mond to the London Times are so often
intercepted, that each one published is
said to cost the proprietors of the Times
one hundred and fifty pounds.
Gen. Grant, with Capt. Fox and sev
eral other officers, has just returned from
a visit to Fort Fisher. Gen. Grant is
said to have expressed the opinion that
it could riot have been carried, if the naval
fire had not dismounted all the guns on
the side assaulted by the soldiers. Nu
merous circumstances w T ere found con
firmatory of the belief that the rebels
supposed that the main assault was that
made by the sailors and marines, and
were but poorly prepared for Terry’s
assault on the other side. Extensive as
the fort is, the gentlemen are of the
opinion that it was not finished accord
ing to the original plan.
'flie St. Louis Republican states that
Brig. Gen. itoddy, who has earned a
high reputation during the war, as a par
tisan Cavalry Commander, and who has
co-operated with Forrest in several im
portant operations, grew tired of the
contest a few weeks ago. He found
means to communicate with the Federal
authorities, and through them procured
a full pardon from the President as a
precedent to laying down his arms. His
pardon was .orwarded to Gen, Thomas’
headquarters by Mr. Lincoln last week,
and by this time, doubtless, is in the
•muds of the repentant rebel for whom
it was prepared. He will soon be heard
of, therefore, as having resumed civi 1
pursuits at his old home, which we be
- was in Tennessee. The informa
tion upon which this statement is made,
comes from a loyal officer, who has just
arrived from Tennessee. His position
in tne army there is such to give him an
opportunity of personally knowing the
truth of what he asserts.
Washington, Jan. 31, 18G5.—The con
stitutional amendment was passed this
afternoon by a vote of one hundred and
nineteen to fifty-six. The scene was
one to be remembered by all who were
privileged to be present. The floor ot
the halt was crowded, as were also the
galleries, the intense interest of the occa
sion having attracted the large numbers
present.
At the commencement of the session
Mr. Ashley, who had the amendment in
charge, gave notice that at three o’clock
a vote was desired ; but it was not until
.alter four P M that a vote was reached.
Several members discussed the amend
ment until that time. Mr. KalbfieUch,
of New York, made a speech against the
amendment, in which hepresentei the
case in opposition with much ability;
but he failed to convince the House. Mr.
Sweat, of Maine, was the only New Eng
land representative wlio voted against
it. Mr. Cox, of Ohio, had a letter from
Mr. Guthrie, ot Kentucky, urging him to
vote for it, but could not see his way
clear to do it, and his vote was finally
recorded against it*
Os the New York Representatives
seven D smoerats voted for the amend
ment, namely: Messrs. Odell, Ganson,
Steele, Radtord, Nelson, Hess and Gris
wold. There were nineteen votes in
favor of the amendment from represen
tatives of Slave States, and in all twenty
Democrats in its favor. Os the New
Eugiand delegation only one— Mr.
Sweat, of Maine —voted against it. Ev
ery Republican member was in Jhis seat,
and voted in its favor.
Upon the announcement of the vote
loud and continuous cheering arose
spontaneously from the crowd on the
floor and in the galleries, and the House
immediately adjourned.
This success has inspired a jubilant
feeling throughout the city, and the
ante-rooms of the betels were crowded
this evening, and general congratulation
and rejoicing were indulged in. A salute
of one hundred guns was first immedia
ately upon the passage of the amendr
nients es its houor.
Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1. —
The Senate went into executive session
to- day, at an early hour, for the purpose
ot considering the confirmation of Maj.-
Gen. Meade. It is said that a very ani
mated debate ensued, which lasted up
ward ot two hours, in which several-gen
tlemen animadverted very severely upon
the military career of this gentleman.—
The Senate, however, preferred to take
the indorsement of Lieut.-Gen. Grant,
as Gen. Meade was confirmed by a very
large majority.
The Committee on Commerce to-day
continued* the examination of several
gentlemen who hold permits to trade in
cotton. It appears from all he evidence
elicited that these permits have been ob
tained from persons connected with the
Treasury Department. The witnesses in
most cases refused to tell where or how*
they obtained permits.
J. S. Rbck, (Colored) of the Supreme
Court ot Massachusetts, was to-day, on
motion pf Senator Sumner, admitted as
Attorney and Counselor in the Supreme
Court of the United States.
The Gold Room left off w,eak yester
day at 203 1-2 per cent. The Railways
w*ere also depressed in the early part of
the day, and closed lower than on Tues
day. Governments steady, Money
easy.
Flour, Wheat and Corn were in limited
request yesterday, at declining prices,
as were also Cotton, Petroleum, Whis
ky, and the principal kinds of groceries.
Provisions were in fair demand; Pork
was dearer. Hay, Tallow and Clover
Seed were moderateiy inquired for.—
Fish, Hides, j rather, Oils, Naval Stores,
Wool and Tobacco were inactive. .* The
freight market was quiet.
LATE REBEL. PAPERS.
Richmond Sates to Jan. 30.
TOE REBEL PRESS 01 THE PEACE
ISOVEHEIT.
Petersburg, Monday, Jan. 30, A
gentleman who was at the army on yes
terday when Messrs. Stephens, Huuter
and Campbell passed through our lines
on their way to Washington, says that
shouting all along the lines was prevail
ing, and it would indicate that they
hoped for preparation for such terms of
peace as would allow the armies to dis
perse. Once before the acclamations of
the armies were united, as when they lav
before Fredericksburg. A fine military
band played “Secessia,” “Yankee Doo
dle,” “Dixie,” and other tunes and other
national airs. They were appropriately
responded to by the two armies alter
nately; but when the band struck up
“Home, Sweet Home,” the opposing
camps forgot their positions and united
in vociferous cheering.
[From the Richmond Examiner, Jan. SO]
Rumors were in circulation yesterday
wdich need not be repeated here. It is
understood that the nomination of Gen.
Lee will be sent into Senate to-day to
till the newly created office of Command
er-in-Chief of the armies of the Confed
eracy. It is known that no steps what
ever have be.en taken by the Executive
under or with reference to the resolution
recommending the reinstatement of Gen.
Johnston.
Gen. Breckinridge has been appointed
Secretary of War. He does not expect
to assume the duties of his office until
this day week.
[From the Richmond Dispatch, Jaa. 31.]
We learn that the President did not
send to the Senate yesterday, as was
said, the name of Gen. R. E. Lee as Cotn
mander-iu-Ghief of the armies of the
Confederate States.
Charleston, Friday, Jan. 77.—The.
Yankee gunboat Dai Ching got aground
in the Combahee yesterday. Our batte
ries opened on her, and set her on fire.—
She burned to the water’s edge. All the
crew, except a Lieutenant atd five men,
escaped. Tne prisoners were brought to
the city to-day, and report that the mon
itor sunk off Sullivan’s Island recently by
a torpedo was the Patapsco. Only five,
out of a crew of eight hundred, were
saved. All the rest were drowned. No
thing important from below.
Charleston, Monday, Jan. 29. — The
■enemy’s infantry are encamped near
Eames Cross-roads, on the road to Gra
hamsville, on the road towards Sister’s.
Ferry. They have wagon trains with
them. A recounoissance in force was
reported within four miles of Roberts
ville on the 29th. Robertsville is 50 miles
north of Savannah, and five miles east of
the Savannah River. A small party of
Yankees landed on Little Point Island
near Legree, on Saturday night, and were
driven off.
[From the Richmond Whig, Jan. 31.]
Gen. Hardee telegraphs that the ene
my crossed at Springfield on the night of
the 2Gth, and moved northward in two
columns. On the morning of the 27th
he reports that all attempts to cross the
Combahee have been so far baffled.
• [From the Richmond Sentinel, Jan. 30.]
We think, says the Goldsboro’Journal,
we may assure our readers that, beyond
the garrison of Fort Fisher and a few
co-operating vessels, there are no Yan
kees below Wilmington. The fleet is
said to have disappeared, and it is pro
bable also that the bulk of the infantry
is gone to reinforce Sherman. In all
probability, the fleet is destined for an
attack on Charleston. If this be true,
Wilmington is all safe for the present.
[From tfie Lynchburg Republican.]
We have direct advices from the Army
of Tennessee to the 13th, and learn
through private sources that Gen. Beau
regard would assume command,. and the
army was about to move, but in What
direction is not known.
Most of Thomas’ army are represented
to have marched from Columbia to Clif
ton, on the Tennessee River. Part of
A. J. Smith’s corps are said to be in the
vicinity of Huntersville and Eastport.