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Sljc Wcckto Constitutionalist BY JAMES GARDNER From the Petersburg ( Fia.) JCxprc»», May IBM. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC. No event of the war has created more intense excitement, nor a greater outburst of popular mdignation, ihan has the destruction of this fot> midable iron clad war vessel. Such were our emotions upon first hearing the startling tidings. We find, however, that tin re are many who lustify the act. and as we have conversed with prominent officers who were on board, we give their reasons tor the deed, and let our readers make their own deductions. These, gentlemen aay that, since the evacuation of Norfolk, the course which has been pursued, though a pain ful cne was an imperative necessity. In proot of this assertion we have ui.inv reasons, but we have only.space to enumerate a lew. It is stated that there are but two rivers in the Confederate States which can accommodate a vessel drawing as much water as did the Mein* uuc. When she last left the Navy Yard, her draft was 22 feet. Upon going down Thursday, and driving oft'the bombarding fleet from bew* oil’s Point, she lay under the guns of Craney Island, that she might protect the evacuation of both the Island ana the Point. Early Fnd«y morning, the iron clad vessels Monitor and Gale na, moved up in the direction of Newport’s News, an’<i lay off at a distance of two miles in shoal water. The guns of the Merrimac were very pows erful, but of short range, and it was out of the question to think of engaging the Federal vessels unless they would come into deep water. All day Pr.dav these vessels maintained their position, and Saturday morning, the Roads was filled with naval vessels of various descriptions. The guns ut Craney Island and Sewell’s Point bad been dismounted, and the Merrimac was com pelled t keep close by, to protect the retreat of our troops from those points. Saturday after noon the’roops all got oft’from Craney Island, those at Sewell’s Point having left in the morn kUg. A council was now held among the officers, and it was determined to try and get into James River, but upon consultation with the pilots, tne commander was assured that the vessel could not tee run in Janies River, unless her draft was re duced to IS feet. This’fact was announced to the crew, who received the information with loud cheers, and went to work with great industry, throwing out coal, ballast, etc., to lighten the vessel.£By midnight, she was lightened to the re quired draft, but Here new difficulties interposed. She bad come up so high as to expose her hull, thus rendering her as vulnerab'e as any wooden vessel, and the pilots came to the conclusion, that even with only IS feet, at the present low stage of the water in James River caused by the s’rong westerly winds, they could not cany her any dis tance beyond Newport’s News. To think of giving battle in the now exposed condition was out of the question, and to remain Hkher then position rendered her capture only a matter of time. It was then determined to de* stroy her, and steps were immediately taken to consummate the deed. Her roof, already covered with tallow and other fatty matter, was saturated with oil, and her decks also received a copious supply of the same material. Her crew num bering 350, were then safely disembarked in small'bos'*, and ten men detailed to apply the torch. This was accomplished by laying small trmns ofpowder from each part to various parts of the ship, which upon being ignited, speedily eijyeloned the nob’e vessel in a sheet of fl iQtg.— j but not . ?."w rr» i t i -“?'.*iW' ii tt??7 i of' the Federal i vessels dared approach the burning mass to ex- I tingntsb the fire and secure the prize. She con , tinned to burn until 4 o’clock, when the fire reached her magazine and caused an explosion which shook the earth at Suffolk, 32 miles dis« tant, and sent her enorm >us guns and nine bun- of iron plating flying in the air to a height of three or iour hundred feet. Tbe plates heated to a cherry red, we are told, presented an awful but magnificent sight. A Moment or two more, the flying fragments fell into the water, and all that remained of the most formidable war vessel ever constructed, was her charred and burning bull. We can well imagine the fiendish delight with which our enemies chucE'ed over th.s annihilation of wbat had been to them a “rod of terror,” since the Gtb of March last, and bow soundly Gen. Wool must have slept tor the first time since the terrible havoc of that memorable day. Her destruction has caused many & heart to throb with painful anxiety for her fate, but if she could not have been made useful for the purpose desired, then it was far better sbe should nave been burnt a thousand times than to have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Let us now go zealously to work and fill our rivers with such obstructions that the Yankee gunboats cannot pcss.bly reach the cities-lying on their banks. The French Minister's Visit to Richmond. —There is equally as much speculation among the northern as among the southern journals in regard to the late visit of M. Mercier, the .French minister to Richmond. The Washing ton Star asserts that he held no official com munication whatever, while there, with any person but the Consul of his own Government, but that he saw and conversed unofficially,with many persons he had known in Washington, society, and among them Benjamin, the Secre tary of State. The Courier des Plats Unis, of New York, very likely to be well informed, says the visit of M. Mr rcier was to “learn for himself the con dition of affairs and the direction in which they tend, especially in what nearly or remotely con cerns French interests. If the word‘recon noisanoe’ can be applied outside'of military movements, the general object of his visi may be defined as a * diplomatic reconnois aance.’ ’’ We think this opinion more liable to be cor rect than any speculation we have yeU seen on the subject.— Memphis {Tenn.) Appeal, May Ith. FROM FOR?~PIL.LOW. [SECOND DISPATCH TO THE CHICAGO TIMES.] Cairo, 111, April 28.-—The steamer Shing hiss reached here to-night from Fort Pillow. The bombardment is still progressing, though our mortars fire but few shots. Twenty-nine deserters from the enemy came in on Sunday, and were taken on board the gun boats by order of the flag-officer. The bombardment will soon be opened in earnest, and the rebel stronghold will be shelled constantly until the enemy surrenders. There is a report, which is deemed reliable, that the rebel gunboat fleet is coming up the river to attack our flotilla, and then make a cold strike for the possession of the Mississippi. *fne enemy are known to have a number of powerful gunboats quite equal in strength and capability te our own; but whether they dare nltack us is a far different thing. On the reception of news of the intended at tack, a steamer was immediately dispatched to [eland 10, having on board a force of gunners sufficient to man the batteries on the island. This step was thought advisable in view of the reported attack by the rebel fleet. .* : M. Louis deGeofry, First Secretary of the French Legation at Washington, has been pro moted to be the French Minister to Greece. Vi cotnpte Julius Trellhard takes his place ae First /Secretary of Legation at Washington. ARMY CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BAVAN NAH REPUBLICAN. Corinth, May 3.—The movements of the enes my are inexplicable. According to the best in formation at hand, it would appear that be had moved out upon our right alone. There are three roads by which he can advance upon Cor* inth from the river, viz: the Purdy road on the left, the Monterey road in front, and the Far mington road on the light. We bear of no de* monstration on the first, and none on the second this side oi Pea Ridge, ten miles distant. On the last, however, Gem Pope’s division, lately at New Madrid, has advanced from Hamburg to Farmington, aud be now occupies that point and the country to the right. Possibly this force has been thrown forward, for the purpose of drawing us beyond our lines, while the mam body »'t the Federal army moves down upon our left. Or, it way be that. Halleck has his forces massed together in the rear of Pepe, and that the latter has received orders io retire before our forces until they shall have encountered IlalieCK in position and upon bis own ground, Should bis plan be to occupy the line of the Mobile and Ohio road to the South, he will find himself wofully disappointed. Beaur regard is fully prepared to meet him there, er indeed at auy,oiber point, whether upon the right, the left, or in front. I The destruction of a part of the Mobile aud Ohio road near Bethel, above, and of the Mem phis and Charleston road, to the east, does not occasion us any inconvenience whatever. • ■ A prisoner reports that large quantities of plank and bridge timber hf. w e been sent up the Tennessee river, to be used in the advance of the army. We hear, also, that heavy siege guns have been received, and that the difficulty of transporting them over the muddy roads leading out from the river has delayed the long expect* ed attack. Possibly, Halleck hopes to invest our position, to cut the lines of railway by which our supplies are drawn, and to force us to with draw, in which event be may think he will be able to fall upon our rear and cut us to pieces. : If such be hot his scheme, then to what i use can he apply siege guns in this muddy wil» i derness? | Information has been received, also, that be , is digging rifle pits and planting batteries at the | crossings of the streams and ot her commanding points along the road. This, it true, would in dicate that he does not consider hi* defeat an utter ktanossihilitv; otherwise, he would not be consul’tciiog defences along the road over which he b&4g£ady advanced. •Halleck may be brave and conSflent ■ imseif, but it is evident he has manyTuTen m his ranks who, like Let’s wite, look wistfully back from the hills to the piains below, and'who would gladly return. It is believed in official circles that Curtiss will not be ordered from Southwestern Missouri to the Tennessee, and tuat Fremont will be kept in North-western Virginia. Ti\e latter was re moved from the Western department, and it he were sent back now, he would rank Halleck and • take command of the army - It is not proba ble, therefore, that he will be ordered to the West, or that any part of his troops will be i seDthither. . . • Assuming this to be true, it is not believed that Halleck’s effective force can exceed 75,‘j00 j men. This number is diminished daily by sick- I ness and ’be Morgan,' fitflU *,*n*tue direction of Columbia and Nash- | rille, will make it necessary for the Federal j commander to send off large detachments J to guard his rear and protect his provision j | trains. There was considerable skirmishing this after- I noon, in which the Confederates suffered some loss. The casualties of the enemy have not been i ascertained, beyond the fact that he lost a Major i of cavalry killed, aud the Surgeon ot the 27th Ohio regiment, taken prisoner. It was mostly an affair of artillery. The sth and 41st regiments are here from I Georgia, together with the Washington Artillery ! and Capt. Avery’s Mountain Dragoons. I sent j you some account of the part taken by the two ’ last commands at the battle ot Shiloh, The Washington Artillery lost ene of their guns, not by a charge from the enemy, but because some of the horses were killed, which rendered it im iGssible, under the circumstances, to bring off •.he gun. ■ P. W. A. Postscript - May 9th—6 A. M.—A report has come in that the enemy fell back last night, leav ing some of their tents. I cannot vouch for the I c.. rrectness of the report; but, if true, they did | not leave a moment too soon. P. W. A. ~ THE WAR NEWS The hour of trial seems to have arrived, and although we would avoid giving publicity to anything calculated to excite alarm, or give un easiness, we deem it useless to disguise the fact that there exists grounds for the most seri ous apprehensions. The news of yesterday is of the most exciting character, and a doubt can no longer exist that the gunboats of the enemy are making their way up James river. This may be relied upon, the last accounts repre senting them as one mile and a half below City- Point, cautiously and slowly advancing. It is not for ub to speak advisedly of the obstruc tions intended to impede their progress. They mey be formidable; they may not. We can only hope that our Government has foreseen the storm, and wisely made preparations to meet it. Tne Monitor, Galeaa, and Stevens’s battery, all iron-clad, are embraced in the fleet that now menaces our beautiful capital. At half-past 12 o'clock yesterday this armada was within thirty miles of the obstructions in the James, intend ed as a barrier to their further ad valley’s. Yes terday afternoon the Curtis Peck, Jamestown, and Northampton, were all sunk in the channel, to add to the existing obstructions. Reliable information from the command of Gen. Jackson states that the fragment ot Mil roy’s army, which escaped destruction at the battle of Sutlington Hill, had been reinforced by Fremont with iour additional regiments, and had taken position four miles north of Franklin, in Pendleton county. The advance of Gen. Jackson’s army was six miles south of that point, and still advancing on the enemy It is thought a battle was imminent yester day. Official dispatches, received yesterday, from General Beauregard, states that the scout's from Oceola say that the enemy’s gunboats Mound City and Carondelet ran aground to prevent sinking. One pilot and seventeen! men killed pen. B. thinks the report reliable. There has oeen no firing from the enemy since yesterday morning. Their mortar boats have all been tow-ed out of range. The river defence men are greatly elated, aud feel oonfideece in their boats.— Richmond Dispatch, May lAth. The successor of the late Governor Harvey, of Wisconsin, is Edward Solomon, Esq., of Miiwau-, kee, who, says the Milwaukee News, is the first German born citizen that has ever filled the gubernatorial chair of any State in the Union. In polities he is a Democrat. The New York Leader, a democratic paper, has been notified by .Secretary Stanton that its trans mission through the mads would hereaftet be prohibited AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 21, 18G2. LATEST FROM PORTSMOUTH We have intelligence from Portsmouth as late as Sunday, 10 A. M. ®p to that hour our infor mant states, that Confederate flags were flying all over the city, but that the gridiron banner was nowhere to be seen. All the cotton and navr.l stores of every description, were bnrnt, and the tobacco was placed beyond the reach of the invaders, by knocking the ends from the boxes and pitching them into the Elizabeth. The peo* pie generally submitted to this execution of the government’s orders without a murmur. We heard of but one or two instances where objection was interposed, and in tbese the Provost Marshal quickly settled matters by the aid of an armed force. The destruction of the Navy Yard and al! the buildings, including stores, timber, etc., was complete. The officers’ quarters m the Yard were spared, for two or three reasons--the most potent being the dangerous proximity of the buildings near, owned by private citizens. There are con flicting reports relative :o toe burning of ’he elegant Naval Hospital, just below Portsmouth. Some say that it has been burned, others say not. Oue statement is, that a squadron of the Massas ch u setts cavalry slept in the Naval Hospital Saturday night. We have no later reliable information from Norfolk, than that already given, there are many rumors. One is that the Atlantic and National Hotels, Norfolk, have been burnt. Another is, that the Confederate flags were fluttering to the breeze there more profusely than in Portsmouth. And a third is, that one Gen. Ballow, or Barlow, has been proclaimed Military Governor of the city. If the latter, we hope it is not the famous , ‘Billy.” We are again assured by those likely to know, that nothing of value in either the Quartermaster or Commissary’s Department at Norfolk was left to the invaders. Here, as in Portsmouth, the cotton, etc., was all burnt. It is stated by an hundred or more persons that a man in Norfolk, •a well known dealer in West India fruit, before the blockade, was hung by order of the military authorities for his outspoken sympathy with the Lincoln cause ; and that a man recently employed in the Navy Yard named Mahone was shot through the head for a similar offence. The proprietor of the B<wfc, Mr. Hathaway, has determined to remain in Norfolk and publish the Day Boole, if the Lincoln authorities will permit. He wili now be enabled to procure the late Northern news without trouble. Petersburg ( F«.j £xpress, May YZtn. Destruction of Cottos in the South.—The following is a copy of a dispatch, dated Camp Moore*, La., May the Bth, received in Richmond May 9 : Hon. J. P. Benjamin : The Governor of Louis* iana direct me to inform yon that all the cotton on the Mississippi river up to the mouth of Red river has been burnt, and all on its tributaries is ready for the torch. He issued a proclamation ordering its destruction in the event it could not ba removed into the interior, but the spontane ous action of the people anticipated his order. ! >,Ve have traveled on the Red and Owachita rtvs jers since the fall of New Orleans, and find-the ise ntimenfs of the people unanimous to destroy i the whole crop, rather than permit a pound to ! fall into the hands of the enemy. The capital i= , j j-L.i.l fn'tat-Opelo’’.saß. . Publish this if neceg*—ryT-Y - •—w of the pe-'ple. T. C. Manning, A. D. C. The Federal Fleet Gone Back. —The Vicks burg Vt'hig, of yesterday, says: A dispatch was received in our city yesterday, stating that the Federal fleet, which was lying at Ellis’Clift’, about fifteen miles beiow Natchez, weighed anchor yesterday and started down the riveragain. This will enable our authorities to add to the preparations already made for their reception; and we trust that everything pessible i will be dane before their arrival. They will not i give us much time to prepare, and we must strain I every nerve in completing everything during the little time we have got. Who knows but that here on the. old hills so famous in the early days of America we may again make history and add fresh laurels to Mississippi’s present celebrity for heroic achievement. — from the.CharlMion Courier, May THE STEAMER PLANTER Our community was intensely agitated Tues* day morning by the intelligence that the steamer Planter, for the last twelve months or-aacre em* ployed both in State and Confederate service, had been taken possession of by her colored (j.rew, steamed up and boldly run outtoibe bloeka&ers. The news at first was not credited; and it was not until, by the aid of glasses, she was discover ed, lying between two Federal frigates, that all doubt on the subject was dispelled. A great va riety of rumors and surmises were circulated in reference to the parties concerned, and the num ber of the fugitives on board the steamer. The most authentic particulars that we could gather are as follows : Between three and four o’clock, Tuesday morn ing, the steamer left Southern Wharf, having, it is supposed, on board five negroes, namely three engineers, one pilot and a deck hand. Upon leaving the wharf the usual wharf signal was given by those on board, and the usual private signals given when passing Fort Sumter, The officer of the watch at the latter post was claled, as usual, but observing the signal and supposing all right, allowed her to proceed. Sbe Ban im mediately out to the blockading vessels. The Planter had on board four large guns des* tined for one of our new fortifications, and were as follows: One rifled forty-two pounder, lately put in Hplendtd condition at the Foundry of Eason & Brothers, und said to be a splendid piece; two eight inch Columbiads and one thirty-two poun.-> der. In addition to these, sbe had on board her own armament, which consisted of one thirty-two pounder and one twenty«four pounder, making six guns in ail taken put to the fleet. The Planter was a new high-pressure steamer, beloning to Captain John Ferguson. She was re garded as one of the fastest boats in the harbor, and very valuable for river service, but unfit for sea work. Three of the negroes who left also be* longed to Captain Ferguson, one to Mrs. Mitchell; arid one to Mrs. McKee. I Theie are rumors of othe* - s havieg gone, who were missing from the city yesterday, out for in formation on this point we suppose we must await the next arrival of Northern news from Portßopal. The Planter was observed alongside of the fleet yesterday afternoon, and from appearances it was supposed that one of the Federal gunboats was engaged in removing the arms from her deck, Such are the material facts so far os we have been able to gather them m relation to this extraordinary o«currence. if>l The Afetcwry has the following additional in formation on this subject ■ Hiie officers of the Planter were Relyea,Captain, Smith, Mate, and Pilcher, Engineer They have been arrested, and will, we learn, be tried by court martial for disobedience of a standing general order, that the officers and crews of all light-draught steamers tn the employment of the Government will remain on board day and night. The result of this negligence suay be only the loss of the guns and of the boat, desirable for transportation. But things of this kind are sometimes of incalculable injury. The lives and property of this whole community are at stake, and might be jeoparded by events apparently as trifling as th:.;:. YANKEE AND MEXICAN NEWS. From the Tribune, of the 6th, we clip the sols lowing additional items of news : THE NEWS FROM MEXICO. Some official adviceshave been received here from Havana to the 29tb, and from Vera Cruz to the 22d ult. They chiefly deal with the rupture which had taken place between the allies, the French declaring that they must obey the Emper or’s orders to disregard tbe La Soledad agree roentand enter into nc treaty with the Constitu* tional Government. The English and Spanish Commissions, on the other hand, say that by the refusal of France to abide by the La Soledad agreement, and tbe pro tection she was affording to Almonte and other Mexican refugees, sbe had broken the treaty of Loudon, and if she insisted upon her hostile course to Mexico, they would retire from the al liance aud from the country. The French notified the Mexican Government of their hostile intentions, and the Spanish forces had left the interior for Vera Cruz. Gen. Prim sent a courier to the Captain-General of Cuba asking transportation to take his troops to Ha« vana. Gen. Serrano refused to send any vessel, and ordered Gen. Prim to remain at Vera Cruz until instructed from Madrid. Meantime, before Gen. Prim received this re*, ply, his traops had taken passage in an English man of war, a part of them had already arrived at Havana, and the res.t were soon expected. THE SLAVE TRADE TREATY. The slave trade treaty, royally domiciled in a rosewood box, left Washington on its way tc London, in charge of Mr. Geo. E. Baker of the State Department, this afternoon. He delivers it at New York into the hands of the special mes senger who will carry it to England. THE GREAT FORTRESS AT SANDT HOOE. The Governor of New York and a select party of military and civilians recently made a visit to j the great fortress at the month of the harbor. ‘ The following is a general description of* the j work; ; About noon, the boat reached Sandy Hook, , where the party disembatked, and proceeded to examine the extensive fortification now in pro gress at that point. For obvious reasons, we are unable to give a minute description of this fort, ; but this much we may say, that the work is the most stupendous of the kind ever projected on this continent, and, when completed, it will be tbe largest and most formidable fortification in tbe world. It will cover 47 acres, including the outworks, and will present three water and two land fronts. The water fronts will be defended by over 105 guns in the casements, and as many on the parapets. Quite a large number of 8 and 10-inch cohitnbiads are on tbe ground ready for mounting. Tbe wall is of granite, neat ly all of the blocks used in thejconstruction qf the same, weighing from five to eight tons. The embra sures are eight feet deep, aud are protected cn the outside by marginal plates and iron shutters. At each of the salient water bastions are small service magazines, there being three large maga zines at tbe East, West and South points of the work. A deep ditch is to surround tbe Fort. There are, at present) about five hundred man em. gaged on the fortification, who Jive in barracks at the Hook. We clip tbe following paragraphs irom tbe Richmond (Va ) BRaxmlner, of May 13 Dhstructivs ot the Virginia-Merrtwac— the Evacuation of Norfolk.—News reao’ued here yesterday morning that the Virginia-;’Merrimac, the pride of tbe Southern Confederacy and the terror of the Yankee navy, had been destroyed about five o’clock Sunday morning'oy direction it is supposed, of the Confederate Authorities. The crew of the Virginia arrived here yester day morning by railroad from Petersburg. They r. port that the vessel was destroyed near Craney Island. She was fired in k,er woodwork and abandoned, and the fire rea/aing her magazine, the splendid naval structir,*e was blown to the four winds of Heaven by terrific explosion. We learn that tbe grea yest reluctance was ex pressed by the crew of the Vitgmia to abandon and destroy her withe j>t leaving some monument other prowess, and tl*ey expressed a willingness to steam down to Foi -tress Monroe to assail that fortification and to stand to their guns to the last. Thfe Virginia wAg provisioned and loaded with coal to her fullest, capacity. Her armament was the most powerfu l known to modern warfare, and she was-perfectly invulnerable to the combined attacks of the whole enemy’s fleet. A report w»n nut in circulation yesterday even ing that the authorities of tbe government were not response ble for tbe destruction of the Vir ginia, and that her fate had been determined by a council j.f the officers of the vessel. The statement put out in official quarters yes* terday evening is, that on learning the evacuation of Norfolk it was at first proposed to run the Vir ginia up the York river; that the four pilots who were consulted about this proposition advised against its practicability, and that it was aiso considered advisable not to withdraw the vessel from the source of its supplies. It appears, then, according to the allegations of the statement re ferred to, the pilots expressed their opinion that if the Virginia, which drew twenty-three feet of water, could be lightened so as to draw only nine teen feet, they could get her up James river. The experiment of lightening the vessel was then tried; all her coal and her ballast were thrown overboard. It was found that she still could n*t get up the river, and the lightening bad had the effect of raising her beyond the line <-f her ar mour, exposing her wood work above the water. It is declared that in this emergency Commodore Tatnall determined, en bis own responsibility, to destroy the vessel, and did so by exp.oding her magazine. Notwithstanding that this statement has the official stamp, we do know as a positive fact that tbe destruction of the Virginia, as a determined 'conclusion, was known m the department Sun day morning, and was spoken ol there at a time when the government could possibly have got no notice of the destruction, if it was the exclus sive act of Commodore Tatnall, unless by the echoes of its explosion, when it was blown into atoms. Comm jdore Tatnall, who, it now appears, re» tained the command of tbe Virginia at the solic itations of the government, arrived here last night by the Petersburg train. The crew of the Virginia have been sent down to tbe batteries or, tbe river, We are informed that, the .Dry Dock was not entirely destroyed, hut that its gates were blown off and the sluice injured ao seriomsi,- repairs necessary to make the structure of to tbe enemy would occupy twelve months at least. This dock is said to have cost five million of dollars. It appears that the evacuation of Norfolk in volved tbe destruction not only of the Virginia, bat of a number of gunboats which were on the stocks, the transport William Selden, aud anum ber of smaller steamers, tugs, Ac. The surprise effected by the appearance of the Federals Satur day morning at Ocean View appears to have been complete, and a portion of our forces stationed near Sewell’s Point is said to have narrowly es* eaped being out off. Everything was burnt or abandoned. The greater portion of the troops ’> had been moved away, while the removal of stores j and munitions was still incomplete, and a loss 1 estimated in millions of dollars has been incurred ; in the long pending evacuation of Norfolk aun i the disasters under which it has been finally ac.* i complished. Many of the womeu and children escaped from > Norfolk, and others were in great distress at not being able to getaway, We hear that groups v s VOL. 14,—N0 21 I ladies in the streets, with tears in their eyes, ap« pealed to our hurrying soldiers to protect them. Oats hasty sympathizer with the Yankees is re» ported to have been killed by our troops. The report, as we get it from a passenger from Nors folk, is that a man of the name of Parham, said to be a brother of the Provost Marshal, seeing a Confederate artillery company driving through the streets, and mistaking them for Yankee troops I dashed into the street, waving his hat and bawl - ing, “Hurrah for Lincoln.” He was immediately i seized and put to death by our troops. j From the Peninsula.—We )earn that President I Davis and Gen. Lee went down yesterday to our j line df defences on the Chickahominy. At a late hour yesterday reliable information was reoeived. that McClellan’s forces had fallen back, and the supposition is, that the astute general is about to join his forces with Burnside, and attempt opera ations on the south side of the James river, to which consummation as his plans tbe evacuation of Norfolk has broadly and plainly opened the way. Through a gentleman who has obtained sight -of a late copy of thr Baltimore San, yee learn | that that paper published some days ago an »f --! ficial dispatch addressed by General McClellan to the President, in which he writes, “Yorktown is ours, and we will press the rebels to the wall.” This dispatch was succeeded by one of later date, in which it was announced that “the rebels were in superior force.” This is very good as a pre-- face to the news of tne batt'e of Williamsburg, which by this time is fully kaown in Washing ton. Further Reports from the Valley.—-A report reached here last night by th« Central train that Gen. Jackson, who, last dispatches stated, was pursuin g the enemy, bad come upon the Y’ankees in Pendleton county, and had achieved another victory. No particulars are given to enable us to judge of the credit, or likelihood ot the report. From the Mobile [Afatawia] Advertiser A Register May 14 t LATEST FRUM NEW ORLEANS- Through the politeness of Mr. W. A. Arnold, we are in possession of New Orleans papers of Thursday, Bth inst., one day later than our latest previous advices. Mr. A. left New Orleans on Thursday by schooner, but reports that commu nication has since been cut off. A party of Fed erate from the city went, up the Jackson road to Pass Manshac, on Wednesday night, aud des troyed one span of the bridge at that point, so as to cut off communication in that direction. They captured on the way some of our people, who were at a station near by, a'nd, it is said, look them. Into the city. i The invaders are already experiencing the es- I fectsof the summer climate’m the Crescent city, I and it is stated that about sixty have already died ' there. They have es’.alished a hospital in Odd • Fellows’ Hail. Their conduct towards the citfo ! -.zees continued to be marked with great circum- I spection and courtesy, evidently with Vue hope ;ot encouraging the developeinent of that latent ’ Union feeling which they, have vainly imagined i to exist in our siffer city. i The papers continue to be put to great straits for interesting matter for their columns, and two ■ or three are gradually going into the “light liter- I ature” business, and publishing stories, roman ces, et cetera, original and selected. Tne Picaytute acknowledges the receipt of a Philadelphia paper, and “regrets that its con tents are of .snob a nature as to maze it almost a i perfectly sealed book to us, for any practical pur ! poses, tinder tbe recent proclamation of General Butler. .. . The same paper announces that tbe steamer St. Maurice will leave the foot of Jackson street at about 5 o'clock, this evening, under the charge of A. D. Grieff, Esq., for Red River, in accord ance with the arrangements made between tbe city and military authorities, as set forth in the resolutions of the former and the orders of line latter. The Picayune has received a copy of the Ad vertiser and Register of the 4th instant,from which it makes brief selections, tbe greater part of the paper being considered “contraband” iu that quarter. This did not prevent, however, the as semblage cf a large crowd on Canal street to bear tbe paper read, and we are informed that when the stirring address of Beauregard to the “Army of the Mississippi and Elkhorn” was read out, cheer on cheer rent the air, despite Gen. Butler and his Provost Marshals ana his Massachusetts regiments. No interruption, however, was at tempted, and the Orleanois enjoyed the news in their own way. The following record of Wednesday’s proceed ings in the “Feueral Provost Cour’.” will per ; haps be read with interest: Luther J. Carpenter. Rodolphus Allen, of Com pany A, 31st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and John E. Palmer, of Company C, of the same regiment, were charged with stealing ale at the St. Charles Hotel on last Sunday, and were made io forfeit two months' pay, and do police duty two months; Chester Devins, of the first named company and regiment, was made to forfeit three months pay _ and perform three months police duty ; Win. Martin, Florence Barnard and Peter Fold, sailors, charged with drunKenness, were remanded to their ships for punishment by their officers; Thomas A. Fitzpatrick, Company A. 13th Regiment Maine Volunteers, drunk, for* felted two months’ pay; Ales. Stewart, sailor, drunk,fined <BS or suffer one week’s imprisonment jin the Parish Prison; George D. Muribut, Reed’s Cavalry, drunk, two months’ police duty; Miles Flynn, Company B, 30lh Regiment Massachusetts do. do ; R. Philips, flth Massachusetts Battery drunk, two mor,ibs’ pay forfeited ; Michael Mc- Kern, same offence aud same penalty; E. W. Outlaw, charged with shouting, creating distur bance and insulting the troops passing the St. Charles Hotel, on Friday last, was sentenced to three months’ hard labor at Fort Jackson. The following cases were disposed of yester day : Thomas F. Meagher and Michael Corcoran 6th Massachusetts Battery, convicted ot stealing hardware, were each condemned to three months forfeiture of pay and three months police duty one in bandcuffs. 1 Robert Phillips,of the same battery, for repeat ing his offence of drunkenness and disturbance wes sentenced to do police duty in handcuffs one month. .to “Talk on the Flags.” We clip from it this paragraph; We observed yesterday at anchor off Gravier street, me steamship Tennessee, lately captured in ion? ■ 1 wo are correctly advised, she was t 1 ’ ' ®ve<-tis since with cotton, and tm- - interested, did uo t succeed n gettin-. ■■ >. -,Ve are informed that sbe was oaaer saiang orders for New York. It must be ueany one year since New York was greeted with a direct arrival from the Crescent City. The valoe of tbe dry goods imported at New Yofk during the mouth o, April was S 2 849 o ß', an excess of nearly half a million over the ’im ports cf the same month last yeat. P ’ r ,rt %’J ate of the p tt'/ - :lU ’*> ‘ idti Marsaall Carter, son ‘ > “‘ !ei ’ several months in the se '.. CCl ‘ icturoed to their homes in Ver* 1 ’ -” kCl u ‘\y> ' ,,u Saturday last. They were •' :t “ by toe Provost Marshal u s Lex m, auu sent North for sate keeping. C t tfir^ rd ’ ? ie w ' lfe of the President of - • i, w)be- daughter, w.fl visit New York i n Muy in a Hsytien man.of-war. on the" wav to Ai ‘ idatti Geff ' a, ' d has daughters