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News Items. northern news, etc. The Baltimore American contains official re ports from Sheridan, which represent one of his divisions as being at Scottsville on the 6th inst., destroying the railroad from thence to Amherst Court-House. Sheridan says he found great abundance lor men and animal-s in the country. The center guard 1 cks were de stroyed on James river canal, and v the banks wevo swept away to the bottom of the cabal. He had met with no obstruction up to.date, and he reports the capture of twelve canal boats laden with ordnance, commissary and medical supplies. Commodore Hollins was shot near Gordons ville, while attempting to escape. Newbern telegrams of the 17th mention the arrival of Schofield at that point. No news from Sherman. Tiie Imperial Government of Mexico has been recognized by Great Britain. The Canadian Parliament has adopted the confederation scheme. . Advices to the I3ih, from Seuatobia, say that the War Department at Washington has received information from Halifax that the rebels iu Canada contemplated a raid on Oswego and Roclj£ter, N. Y. A New York telegram -ays that the Imperial Mexieau Government has ordered the police to arrest all persons expressing sympathy for the United Siates. Nashville and Memphis papers are filled with accounts of the operations of guerrilla bands, who are said to be more numerous iu Tennes see and Southern Kentucky than ever. Northern papers received at the above place, on the 15th, represent Sherman Within sixty miles of Wilmington, trying to form a junction with Schofield. The New York Commercial says a letter from au officer on board the Niagara, dated tit serial, iu Spain, February 18th, says the rebel ram Stonewall, alias the Olinde, is lying near that place. The Spaniards allowed her to make limited repairs, and her commander asked per mission to leave her iu povt while he went to Paris to annul the contract of stile, and throw her on the hands of her former owners. ■ Sheridan’s victory over Early, which the Yankees rejoiced over so greatly, turns out to have been a small affair. Sheridan had 15,000 cavalry, while, according to a dispatch from Grant, Early had but 1800 men. They fired one volley and retreated. Early is safe. The Chattanooga Gazette says that the Cir cuit Court at Knoxville has awarded Browtilow $25,000 damages for impressments and perse cutions by the rebels, to be raised from the property of Ramsey, Sneed, and others. A verdict was also rendered for $40,000, in favor of the heirs of Senator Pickens, who died in prison, in Tuscaloosa, in 1862. Tito United States Consul at Halifax informs his government that the iron-clads built in France, and said to have passed into rebel hands, are iu one of the West India islands, preparing for a cruise. The rumor that these vessels are going to New Y’ork, is revived. A New York telegram of the 9th says ten thousand prisoners are being forwarded t<j Wilmington for exchange. Parties from the Mississippi river report that Gen. Shelby defeated the Yankee forces near Little Rock, capturing four hundred prisoners and thirty-two cannon. The cavalry raid under Grierson has returned to Memphis, having gone no further than Rip ley, Tippah county, Miss. FUNERAL OF YANKEE DOODLE. A special to the St. Louis Democrat says the Imperialists celebrated the death of the United States at Bagdad, Mexico. A dead dog was carried at the head of the procession, which marched through town to appropriate music— Yankee Doodle, we suppese. PETERSBURG. The situation on the 14th instant was un changed ; some slight skirmishing had taken place, without result. Active hostilities were looked for on the commencement of good weather. Both houses of the Confederate Congress resolved to adjourn on the 14th inst. Advices from Augusta say that Foster’s com mand is treating the ladies of Charleston and surrounding country outrageously. VICTORY AT KIgHTON. Headq’rs Confederate Armies, 1 March 9th, 1865. j //on. J. C. Breckinridge, Secretary of War : Gen. Bragg reports that he attacked the ene myjjesterday, four miles in front of Kinston, anil drove him from his position. He dispu ted the ground obstinately, and took up a posi tion three miles from his first. Ye captured three pieces of artillery and fifteen hundred prisoners. The number of the enemy’s dead and wounded 14ft on the field is THE ARMY & NAVY HERALD. large. Our loss is comparatively small. The troops behaved most haudsomely. Major Generals Hill and Hoke behaved with their accustomed gallantry. (Signed) R. E. Lee. The Goldsboro Journal, of the 9th. says that a stubborn fight occurred ai Southwest creek ou the Bth. A movement «n the riar of the enemy caused their demoralization, and we cap tured 1500 of their men, and‘inflicted heavy ; losses otherwise Casualties on our side slight. Col. Neal, of Georgia, was killed. On the 9th the enemy was fortifying at Wise’s fork, a point to which they retreated during the battle of the Bth. AU accounts represent the strength of the enemy to have been very great. Parties who arrived in Augusta represent the | Yankee killed and wounded as nearly six tliou ! sanu. | A terrible battle commenced the 19th, at Bentonvi’de, sixteen miles south of Smitlifield, N. C. It raged all day, and the enemy were driven a mile, and it is supposed with great slaughter. This morning, the 20th, the battle was renewed, hut no particulars have reached | us. [Snmhfield is the county site of Johnson i county, N. 0., on tire railroad from Goldsboro l to Raleigh, and about, twenty-seven miles E. 8. !E. of tiie last named city. Consequently, Ben j tonsville is about forty miles South-east of i Raleigh. —En. pi.. A •'unfed.,] Papers received a‘ Senatobia on the 18tli, contain a dispatch from Gen. Lee to the Secre tary of War, which says that Gen. Hampton attacked Kilpatrick iu his camp and drove liyu from it, taking his guns, wagons, and several hundred prisoners, including a number of our men who tiad been captured, j Dispatches of the 20th." from Augusta, report i that the Charlotte (N. C.) Democrat, of (he j 14th, states positively that Sherman had j reached Fayetteville the head of navigation of I Cape Fear river, 120 miles by swater above | Wilmington, and 60 from Raleigh. Nearly all the Kentuckians and Missourians who were prisoners at Camp Douglas, have ar rived at Richmond. CONGRESSIONAL. The House passed, on the 14th, the bill sus pending the writ of habeas corpus. Yeas- Speaker Bocoek, Baldwin, Bradley, Bruce, Carroll, Chrisman, Clarke, Cluskcy. Conrad, DeJarnette. Dupree, Elliott, Ewing, Funston, Gholson. Goode, Gray, Ilartvidge, Hatcher Heiskell, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Macliin, Miller, Moore, Perkins, Reed, Rus sell, Sexton, Sweeney, Triplett, Villierre and l Wilkes—37. Nays—Anderson, Baldwin, Barksdale, Bay lor, Blanford, Branch, Burnett, Clop ton, Col lins, Darden, Farrow, Fuller, Gaither, Gilmer, Henley, Herbert, J. M. Loath, Marshall, Mc- Collum, Miles, AlcMillcn, Ramsey, Rogers, Simpson, J. M. Smith, Smith of N. C., Sneed, Staples, Turner, Welch, Wickham and Wither spoon—32. The bill suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus until otherwise provided by law, in all cases of arrest or detention by order of the President or Secretary of War. The General officer commanding the Trans-Alissis sippi Department may also suspend said privi lege for sixty days from the time of an arrest, or detention by order of any General officer commanding an army, or military district or department. On the 15th, the Senate passed the House bill; furnishing transportation to discharged soldiers On the 16th, the Senate adopted the commit tee report upon the President’s Special Mi ssage. The measures recommended by the President to promote the efficiency of the army, were a dopted, (except the entire repeal of the exemp tion,) and some other measures, such as the creation of the office of General-in-Chief, pas sed by the House at the suggesiion of the Pres ident . In consequence of the abuse of the power to detail, Congress at its present session passed an act revoking all details, and limiting the power to conscript, the ministers of religion, and re quire them to obtain details to preach the Gos pel, as a measure that would tie troy all reli gious sentiments, and inflict an injury upon the country which cannot be described, The Confederate Senate met at 5 o’etoek, on the 18th inst., after executive session. The bill to provide for the payment of arre nrs to the army and navy, was lost for want of a quo rum, yeas il, nays 4. Mr. Watson, fromjhe joint committee to wait on the President and inform him of the readi ness of Congress to adjourn, reported that the committee had discharged that duly alul that the President stated he had no further commu nication to make; that in his recent message to Congress, lie had fully explained his views as to the legislation needed by the country, and as Congress had not acquiesced in his opinion, he hoped it would turn out that he was mista ken. He said that to the full extent of the pow ers and resources placed at Ids disposal, all might res: asstired of his purpose to fully pro tect and defend the country. At 2 o clock P. AT. the President pro tcm ad journed the Sen :?e sine. die. (he House passed the Senate bill amending the impressment law. After transacting some other business of no special interest, the House adjourned sine die. Richmond. March 18. The President appro vs ed a bill passed by Congress in secret session, to raise com for the purpose of furnishing the necessary supplies for the army. The first section authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow from any bank, corpo ration or individual. any amount, in coin, not exceeding $3,000,000 in the aggregate, and se cure repayment at such time as may be agreed upon, not exceeding two years after the conclu sion of a treaty of peace, by the issue of bonds payable in coin, bearing six per cent, interest, payab’e semi-annually in specie. Tiie Secretary of the Treasury is rmpowered to pledge the cotton and tobacco owned by the Government to the extent of its value, for the loan obtained, or to convey the same in pay ment of such loan with export to London free of duty, except to tHe extent of one-eighth of one per cent, as now impo-ed by law. The second section provides furthermore that there shall be levied and •ollected a tax of twen ty-five ,25) per cent, upon all gold and silver c nn. bullion and foreign exchange in the Con federate Exchange, payable in kind by the first, of April, or ns soon thereafter as practicable, amounts not exceeding three hundred dollars value excused from the tax; and also all amounts loaned to the government under the first section. Stirring Words.—The subjoined is the con cluding part of Governor Watts’ late speech at Montgomery : “But a few week- ago, when the dark gloom of impending woe teemed to overshadow our land, wo sought bv the acts of diplomacy and negotiation to stop the red stream of blood which has so long deluged our country. Our propositions for peace war scornfully rejected. We were insultingly told that the only terms of peace for us were to lay down our property, our wives and our children, our liberties and our sacred honor, to the tender mercies of a heartless despot. I am told,' in whispered words, that we have amongst us men who are willing so submit to such terms. Great God! are we the sons of revolutionary fathers, and have wo fallen so low—are we dogs! that, we are ready to lick the hand that smites us? Whoever is so base a coward, is unfit to live iu a Southern land—is unfit to receive the smiles of Southern women—unfit to he buried in Southern soil ! llis real home is amongst our foes. ‘Heis on the wrong side of the line.’ “Fellow-Citizens, when the report of our commissioners announcing the ignominious terms of peace presented to us by Lincoln, was made iu the capital of the Confederate States, on the soil of old Virginia, the indignant re sponse brought a thrill of joy to my heart. The echoed music of Patrick Henry’s words grew louder, deeper, stronger, on Virginia's plains and amid her mountains. Her people again were thrilled with the prophetic words of the patriot hero. Tiie people—the men, women and children—her statesmen, and her war-woihi heroes, caught up the swelling tones of the, echo. The army of General Lee, the repre sentatives of all the States, echoed back the lofty strain with the sound of mighty waters. And, now, like the tones of archangel, from people to armies, and from armies to people, the words- ‘ Give me liberty or give me death,’ come pealing over our broad land, fill onv hearts with pride, and mingle in the very air we breathe, God grant that every heart, niny catch the inspiration of the heaven-born words, and that the united voice of a great people may send back to heaven, in God-like chorus, ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’ ” .a, Do not speculate about Chi istianity, but re ceive and live it. Do not. demand an analysis of the medicine, but make up your mind to try itseffects. No man from a deatli-bed over said —I have tried the Gospel,l have found that it neither made me holy now happy. ■ Wa are grieved to see some journals publish blasphemous articles, and call thefi anecdotes for children. “How many deaths?” asked the Hospital physician. “Nine.” “Why 1 ordered medi cine for Ten !” ‘ “ Yes, but one would’nt take it. “Let the Extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the Strangers spoil his labour.” “ As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far home to the soldier.” Tranquility of Spirit. Tranquility of spirit is a very different thing from indifference. If we cease to think upon questions of momentous in terest. and close our eyes to the events that agitate the country, we may become quiet; but it is a most unenviable and si ifish still ness that then reigns within the breast. We do not obtain moral tranquility by ig noring facts, but by rising above them. We do not defeat an enemy by forgetting hiua, but by rendering him impotent. It is the Christian's privilege to enter into the pavilion of the Most High and .-touJ upon such moral vantage ground that all the disturbing giants of evil cannot make him afraid. “Sly heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed,” sung the ancient servant of Hod. The heart fixed—firm in its trust— a rock that no waves can shake from iti deep spiritual foundations. *,* * * * We are very prone to the mistake of seeking a paradise on earth. We forget this is the battle-ground—the home of rest is beyond the Hood. Our tranquility is to bo like that of a soldier—the calmness of high moral courage. Great faith, high principles, fidelity in duty’, moderate secular expectations, resignation to the will of God, a good conscience, the witness of the Holy Sprit, frequent and fervent prayer—these, and not earthly circumstances, are the con ditions of security of soul. Sound and scriptural views of life are indispensable to tranquility. There must be no superstitious mingling with our con templation-: of untoward events. 11l in formed and superstitious minds are rendered very unhappy by trifling things that excite their fears. They are "disquieted and de jected at unimportant coincidences. Thir teen persons sit down together at table; one is superstitious, and springs up in hor ror, exclaiming: “Alas! the fatal number ot thirteen I One sees horrors at almost every turn of life when looking through tiie fiilse glasses of superstition. Some ladies are so afflicted by such fears and fancies that hall of their earthly enjoyment is swallowed up by their morbid imagina tions. Dreams are great disturbers of 'the peace ot others. They go to bed hungry, or too lull, or out of temper, or with a disordered stomach—dream all sorts of curious tilings. Start up alarmed. Ponder on the dream, ’suffer it to take hold of thisr imaginations, call up the astrologers of superstition to in terpret if, and torment TtreiTfeefircs most tnr becomingly with a thousand foolish fears. Presently something unwelcome happens iu the ordinary course of events, and instantly they declare, “ Didn’t 1 tell you so! there’s my dream ! 1 knew it meant something !” Alas ! that our poor humanity should add to its essential trials such mischievous tor tures of imagination. Useful and earnest employment will be found a most excellent expedient to relieve many people of thei- unhappiness. Luay Christians—if lazy people can be Christians at all—are never peaceful. In their indo lence they maybe still; but the high re pose of spirit consequent upon aTonscious ness of having ditto one’s duty they know nothing of. A. great man once said: “The three great enemies to tranquility are Vice, Su perstition otid idleness.” The most cheer ful people are the most faithful to God. * * * * * The difficulty in the way of the tran quility ot others, is that nothin': happens to suit their wishes Everything is man aged wrong. To such we commend the words of Hath bras : “Still falling out with this atui this, A' (1 finding sometirng still amiss; Mojp peevish, cross, and splenetic Than dog distract, or monkey sick.” It becomes us as Christians, amid all our trials, to remember the words of our Divine Master : “ In your patience possess yc your souls.” We who profess to be disciples of a Christian philosophy that renders superior to the ills of life, owe it to the world to be tranquil in spirit. Men look to ns for il lustration of a calm and happy faith. We must not disappo : nt them and dishonor the religion that, we profess. fn the storm the wotld should hear us sing: “The Lord is iny rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God. my strength in whom 1 will trust; my buckler and the' horn of nty salvation and my high-tower.” When you sec the refiner cast his gold into the furmce, do you think be is angry with the gold, an 1 means to cast it away ? No. He sits as a refiner. He stands warily over the tire, and over the gold, and looks to it, that not ore grain be lost. ,And wheu the dross is severed, he will out with it pres ently ; it shall be no longer there. 3