There is still a prospect of a general exchange of prisoners, although there is as yet no definite arrangement on the subject.
The machinery of the new steamer Pensacola was tested to-day, and worked satisfactorily.
A movement upon Mathias Point — death of Captain Birlaski.
The Washington Republican, of the 12th instant, has the following:
"We learn from a gentleman of intelligence and character, who left Point Thomas (three miles below Port Tobacco) at 8 o'clock yesterday mant left Point Thomas, but a conflagration on Matthias Point was visible.
What was burning was only a matter of conjecture"
This expedition was doubtless designed simply to make a thorough examination of the lay of the land on and about Mathias Point, and also to burn not only the brush covering of the locality, but also certain houses upon it that might be occupied hereafter, as heretofore, to considerable advantage by the enemy.
The conflagration seen and mentioned above, we have reaso
has been wrecked, had on board twenty-nine persons, all of whom are supposed to be lost.
The following are the chief officers of the vessel:--Captain, Wilkes Traverse; engineer, Alexander Kent; mate, Louis Ranhen; clerk, Mr. Ritt.
The steamer belonged to Messrs. Ritt & Handel, of Detroit, and was valued at $7,000.
Col. Graham restored to his command.
It is stated that Col. C. K. Graham, of the Fifth Regiment, Excelsior Brigade, who was arrested for destroying some building at Mathias Point, in his late reconnaissance, has been honorably restored to duty by Gen. McClellan, and ordered to join his regiment without delay.
Officers retired from the army. Washington, Nov. 27.
--In addition to those heretofore announced, the army board have retired the following-named officers, in consequence of physical disability: Majors Henry B Judd, Llewellyn Jones, and Christopher S. Lovell.
The President has approved the finding of the board.
Reported capture of a cargo
Latest Southern News.
Our Southern exchanges furnish us the following items of interest:
From the Potomac — sinking of a Yankee vessel by a Confederate battery.
From the Fredericksburg Recorder, of the 24th inst. we take the following:
The only item of striking moment from this line that we can gather is the fact that on Sunday evening about dusk, Capt. Cook's battery, than which there is none more efficient in the Southern service, opened near Mathias' Point on an upward bound three masted vessel, (merchantman,) and in some five or six shots succeeded in sinking her.--Our informant was not able to say whether the crew was saved, but is certain as to the sinking of the vessel.
Shortly after this occurrence the Freeborn came steaming down, and opened upon the battery but after some fifteen or twenty well directed shots from Cook's battery she was induced to retreat in good order to the Maryland shore.
We learn in a conversation with soldiers on furlough fro
. Fremont assents to the acceptance of the command, but further proceedings show that Mr. Stanton understands the matter, and puts a quietus on the affair.
In answer to resolutions previously passed, asking the consent of the War Department to raise these 50,000 men, the Secretary stated that the raising of volunteers had been assigned to the Governor of the State, and that no military officer of high rank could be authorized to organize military organizations.
News from the Lower Potomac — Depot and cars at Aquia Creek burned.
The Washington Chronicle says: A gentleman who came up the Potomac last evening informs us that the depot buildings and a number of cars at Aquia creek were burned by the crews of our gunboats yesterday.
There are several gunboats lying together at this point doing nothing, while at Mathias's Point, Smith's creek, and other places, regular ferries exist for getting Secessionists into the "Southern Confederacy," and for smuggling goods across.
Trying to escape.
--A very little darkey, named Cornelius, owned by Mr. Wm. Harre, of Mathias Point, was apprehended yesterday of the Central Depot, while endeavoring to escape from the city.
It will be remembered that the house of the master of this negro was battered down by the Yankees.
d captured at Gettysburg, were brought to Baltimore on the 21st.
All the rebel officers in hospital in that vicinity, who are sufficiently recovered to be moved, are to be sent immediately to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie.
Fernando Wood was in Boston, Tuesday, en route to Canada, where it is said he is to meet Vallandigham and other exiled Copperheads for the purpose of holding a council.
T. C. Bledsoe, of Richmond, and Thos. J. Thompson, of Washington, were recently captured at Mathias Point with a rebel mail of about one hundred letters, many addressed to parties in Washington.
The Southern Bank of Kentucky, in Carrolton, was robbed Thursday morning by sixteen men in uniform, who represented themselves as belonging to Call's rebel cavalry.
After removing all the money from the bank, amounting to $130,000, and burning the papers therein, they mounted their horses and fled.
Gen. Hooker is expected to resume active service on the 1st September, either in a separate
Daring Exploit and murder of Lieutenant Walter Bowie.
In the early part of September last, Lieutenant Walter Bowie, of Maryland, at his own instance, received from Colonel Mosby orders to take ten men and cross into Maryland for a special service.
Immediately upon receiving his orders, he selected ten men of his command, crossed the Potomac at Mathias' Point, and proceeded at once to Port Tobacco.
Here he surprised and captured the Yankee picket and paroled the men with orders not to leave the town until the following morning.
Upon some of the horses thus secured he mounted his men (armed and fully equipped) and proceeded up through the State, visiting the prominent and wealthy Union men, depriving them of their best and finest horses.
Passing near his own home, he was joined by his younger brother, Brune Bowie, who was at home recruiting his health, having been, some time since, severely wounded while serving gallantly in our army.
Having secured a drove of about sixty of t
