unable force, with ths expend, turi jof money, and labor, supP to be within the means If the government, that the lm was not done, and the defences constructed were wholly inadequate for its paction from aa attack, either br land or water ; and the committee have no difficulty m assigning at tht cause of oar disaster and defeat, on the 8th of February, the want of necessary de fences upon the'lsland, the, adjacent waters, aod upon the mainland upon the Tyrelt side ; tha want of necessary field artillery, arma ment and ammunition, and the great and n- pardonable deficiency of men. together with the entire wanioi transportation, uj which the whole command might have been convey ed from the Island after the defeat at the bat tery. But the committee have had much difficulty in locating the responsibility far the neglect of this exceedingly important point, owing to the tact that tne command of that Island bas been ttsnsferred so fre quently from one military commander to ?.!. ... .11 .1-. .!. '..(-.- anoiaer, oeiween ine nine mv m'c vumcuc fate government became responsible for the coast defences of North Carolina and the at tack UDon that Island upon the 7th of Feb ruary, 1862. That IslanJ, upon the fall of flattens, was taken possession oi ny uoi. Wright under instruction from Gen. Huger, and the principal defence constructed un der the authority and direction of Gen. Iiu ger, who sssumed jurisdiction over the 11? and. attnougn it waswunin inemiiuary com mand of Gen, Ctlin. Afterwards Brig. Gen. D. 11. Hilt was assigned for a short time to the immediate command of ihat pott, who immediately entered upon his duty, made an examination of the defences in per son, and was making active preparation far putting the Island in a state of defence, when he was suddenly superseded, and Brig. Gen. Branch given the command. It does cot appear in evidence that General Branch ever visited the Island, or made any move towards its defence, lie. however, was su perseded by Bi;. Gen. Wise, about the 1st of January." 1862, who immediately proceed ed, to the Jsland in person, about the 6th I January, spent several days in a recun- rniunr. nf th Itlutid and its defences, ami in examining the adjacent waters, with a view of constructing obstructions in Croatan Sound , to preveot tne passage ol a hostile fleet; and from that m roent up to the 7th of February, the committee are satisfied, that General Wise baa devoted his whole time in a zealous, energetic and indefatigable ef fort to place that Island in a state of defence, and has cone au ana every tiling in nis pow er, with the means he had at his command. to effect this important object. At Norfolk, upon the 2d of January, on his way to Roa noke Island, he met an express from Colonel Shaw, (who was then in the immediate and temporary command of the Island) to Gen. Harer. informing him of the defenceless State of the Island, and urging the necessity of strengthening Fort Bartow, by mounting other guns, obstructing Croataa Sound and making requisitions lr ammunition, pill driver, and other things necessary. General Wise endorsed and appioved o( the requisi tion, and seconded the demands of Colonel Shaw.- : - . '.. ; , ' 1 .. Geo. Wise arrived at Roanoke Island up on the 6ih, and assumed command at that point upon the 7th of January. 1662. Af ter making a reconnolsauce of the Island and its defences, Gen. Wise, on the 13th January, informed Gen. Huger, ' that Ro anoke Island was in a defenceless condition and in presence of a very formidable ene my's force. The Burnside expeditions re ported to have sailed. Independent of that, the force now at Hatteraa inlet, can pasa or take Roanoke Island, and. pardon me for aaying that, I respectfully differ from the opinion you expressed in your orders of to day, that to prevent the enemy's gunboats from passing the mushes at the south cod, will also prevent any landing Batteries at the marshes are vitally essential to re vent the gunboats from pasting into Croatan Sound, they will nut prevent the landing on the south and east end of the Island. At least 3,000 infantry are needed on the Isl and, and a considerate furce, say 1,500 men, are needed on the beach, and if the enemy pass Roanoke, 5,000 at least are neces.ary to fight them on the tongues of land and on the North aide of Albemarle Sound. We seed on the beach and on the Island at least 8 field pieces and the carriages and caissons! necessary, require o2 horses for the artillery. We need at least 6 heavr oieces , at the south end marshes and two at least at Fleetwood point" On the same day General Wise addressed the Secretary of War, in which he ys, that " it is very important that my Legion should be furwarded as speedily as possible. The defences of Roa noke Island, which is the key of til the rear defences of Norf Ik, and its csnals and rail roads, is committed to my charge, and I have just teturiied from a retonno.satice of that point, , I is now utterly defenceless. N preparations have been made there at all ad equate. General Ilutrer has given me i large authuritv to do whatsoever is necessa ry, aod hat advised what he deems proper in my command ; but we have very limited roeai.s and not half time enough to prepare to meet an enemy, who is now almost in im mediate presence, io very f orraidsble force. in c funuer oi my Region is necessa ry, and I beg ih.t the plac of my 3d regi ment may spsed.'y be filled or that it may be restored.' On the 15th January, 1882, General Hue mtXt , hf gftrelif uf ..... . .... ....... a B,,f aojuan me im portunate, wnea 1 j ,u,t, yt- mi return d from Rosiuke Mnd t Norfolk last Sat urday. I hastened back after a short recon noissBce to IraJquariirt and apprised the rw" Mrs 9 dStnui litre. no adequate preparation whatever to meet the enemy, and to forward all the means in my reach as speeuuy as posaioie, to mw the key of all the rear of Norfolk, with its - . . a t canals and rauroaas, sate, msiae oi uauer- as inlet 1 tound 24 vessels of, light dralt, eight of which at least are steamers, said to carry four guns each. They are, at farthest, DUt oU muea irom ivoanote isuwiu, mu v reach there any four hours or less, to attack five small gunboats under uapt. Liyncn anu four small land batteries, wholly lnetnctent. Any boat drawing seven feet of water, or less, can pass the Croatan Sound as far off as 11 mties irom any oatierj, anu mc cucuir o guns can silence our batteries there in a ve ry short time. Neither battery is casemated, and our men now there are untrained to hca vy pieces mounted on navy carriages. . The moment the enemy 'passes Croatap Channel, the North landins: river. North "river, Pas quotank, Chowan, Roanoke, Alligator, and Scuppernong rivers, and the Dismal Swamp and Albemarle and Chesapeake canals will be blockaded effectually, aud Norfolk and Portsmouth will be cut off from supplies of corn, pork and forage. The force at flatte ns is independent of the Burnside expedi tion. No nutter where the latter is, the former is amply sufficient to capture or pass Roanoke Island in any 'i Hours, wt we say, then, sir, that if we are to wait for pow der from Richmond, until we are attacked at that Island, that attack will be a capture. and our defeat will precede our supply o ammunition. The case is too urgent for me to delay speaking this out plainly at once ; and in another part of the same letter he says: ". We want ammunition and men. In a word, almost everv prepirat'mn has to be made. Delay is defeat now at Roanoke Inl and ; and with present mean, Capt. Lynch and I conbiued cannot guarantee successtu defence for. a day. 1 beg, sir, that you wil urge this upon the Navy Department, and believe that 1 am cot superserviceaiue this urgency." in , Gen. Wise, finding that hi written ap peals for aid in the defences of tire Island to Headquarters at Norfolk and to the Depart ment at Richmond were neglected, and treated with indifference, repaired in person to Richmond, aod called upon the Secretary of War, and urged in the most importunate manner, the absolute necessity of strengthen ing the defences upon that lland, with ad ditional men, armament and ammunition. The Secretary of War replied verbally to his appeats for reinforcements, that he had not tne men to spare for his command. Gen. Wise urged upon the Secretary that Jo eral linger had about 15,000 in front of Norfolk lying idle in camp for eight months, and tliat a considerable portion of them could be spared for the defence of the rear of Norfolk, and especially as his (ueneral ise s; dis trict supplied Norfolk and his army witn army with nearly or quite all of his corn, p-rk and forage, that reinforcements at uoa noke Island were as absolutely necessary lo the defence at Norfolk as forces in its front, and that particular or spec'ul posts should hot be' allowed to monopolize nearly all ihe men, powder and supplier" la reply to all his urgent appeals for the means of defence, General Wise on the 221 January, received the following military order.No. 17 " Brigadi'-r General Henry A. Wise, Pro visional Army, will immediately proceed to Roanoke Island, North Carolina, aod assume command of the Confederate States troop at that place. By command of the SecV f War, (Signed) JOHN WITHERS, Asst. Adjt. General. It is apparent to the committee, fmm the correspondence on file of Gen. Wise with the Secretary of W,r, Gn. flayer, his sj perior officer, the Govern' of North Caroli na, nd oilier peoc, that he was fully alive to the importance f Ktiiuke Iota til, and has devote ! his whole tuns and energies and 1 ued to organize, and shall elect ih -ir c i o means to the defences of that position ; and j pany, hattal nn, aud regimental oli :er. , that he is io way responsible f.r. the unfor- ?r.c. 3. Be it further enacted, ihat for the tunste disaster which befel our fortes upon enrollment of all persons comprehended with tlut Island on the 7lh and 8th of February. fj the prov sions of this act, who are n.i al But the committee cannot sy the same in Ueadv itt aenice in the armies of the Con- reference to the efforts of the Secretary of $r and the Loramanilinjrolticer at. orlolk, ; General Hugcr. It is apparent, that the 1st and of Roanoke was important for the de fence of Norfolk, and that Gen. fluer had under his command at that point upwards of 15.000 men, a large sopp'y of armament an I ammunition, aod rould hive thrown in a few hoars a large reinforcement up-n Roanoke Island, and that himself and the Secretary of War had timely notice of the entire inadequacy of the defences, the want or men and munitions of war, and the threat ening attitude of the enemv. IYaX General Huger ad tin Secretary of War paid no practical attention to ihoie urgent appeals of General Wis', sent forward none of his important requisitions, smI p-rmittrd Gen eral Wise and his inconsiderable force to remain to meet at least fifteen thousand men well armed and equipped. If the Sec retary f War and the Commanding Gener al at Norfolk had not the means to reinforce Gen. Wise, why was he not ordered to a bandon bis position, and save his command; but upon the contrary, he was required to remain, anu saennce ms command, win no means In his intula'ed position, to mske hit escape in eae of defeat. Tne Committee, from Ihe testimony, are therefore constrain ed io report, ihat, whatever blame nd re sponsibility is justly attributable to any ene for the defeat of our fnops at Rnannk Isl and, on the 8th of February. 1862. should attach to Major General B. tfoger and the late Secretary of War J. P. Benjamin. AU of which is repectfuily submitted. 8. S. GAJTHER, Chairman, THE NEW, ARMY BILL. j This important measure has passed both houses of Congress. For the information of our readers, a large majority of whom are interested In its provisions, we append a copy of the bill, as follows: y A BUI to be entitled ''AnJct to further pro vide for Ihe FuiUe Defence." In view of the exigencies of the country, and the'absolute necessity of keeping in the service our gallant army, and of placing in the field a large additional force to meet tne advancing columns of the enemy now invad ingoursou. Ineretore - r Section 1. The Coneress of the Confede rtte States do enact r That the President be and he is hereby, authorized to call out and olacc in the military service of the Lunleile- rate states, lor tnree years, uniess ine war shall have been sooner ended, all white men . . t .L who are residents of the Confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years at the time the call or calls may be made, who are not lezallv exempted irom militarv service. All of the persons afore said wSo are not now in the armies of the Confederacy, aod whose term of service will expire before the end f the war, shall be . . . . r .i coutinued in the service tor tnree years irom the date of their original enlistment, unless the war shall have been sooner ended: rro vided, however, That all such companies battaliuns, and regiments, whose term tf oi iiMial enlistment was lor twelve tnomns, shall have the richt, within forty days, on day t be fixed by the commander of the; brigade, to reorganize said companies, bat- i talions, and regiments,. by electing all their o:hcer, which they had a rijjht heretofore to elect, who shall be comuitstioned by the President : Provided further. That fmlouhs not exceeding sixty days, with transportation home and back, shall be granted to all thus retained in the service by the provision of this act beyond the period of their original enlistment, and who have not heretofore re ceived furloughs under t'ie provisions of au cteiilitted An act providing for the grant ing of bounty aod fuiloahs l private ami non-coinnnssioned officers in the Provisional Armv," approved Uth December, eighteen hundt c i and sixty -one, said furloughs lo be crauted at such limes, aTid in such numbers. a the Secretary hi Var my deem most compatible with the public interest; and Prntidld, further, That in lieu of a fu'louh the commutation value in money of the trans portation herein above granted shall be paid to each private, muaiciaii, or nun-commissioned officer who may elect to receive it at such time a the furlou"h wo ild otherwise be granted t Provided, fuitiier. That all per-: sons under the se of eiHteen years, or o?r the aeof thirty-fiv yea.-f, win. are now ri- j rolled in the military service of the Confede- rate States, in the regiuvnts, battalions and companies hereafter to be re-organized, shall be required to remain in ineir rcpentvej companies, battalions and regiments for nine- ty days, unlets their places cat be sooner j supplied by other recruits not now in the service, who are between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five year-, and all la a and part of laws providing for the re-enlistment of volunteers, and the organization thereof into companies, squadrons, battalions, or regi ment, shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed. ' , ' V ' Sec. 2 Be it further enacted. That such companies, squadrons, battalions, or regi ments organized or in process of organ;za-ti-.n by autiori'y from the Secret try of War, as ii ay be within thirty days from the pas sive of this ct fir completed as to have the whole number of men reijui-ite for or gatiizttion ai tually enr l!c I, not em 'racing in sai l organizations any persons now in service, s'ua'l be m etered into the service ol the Confederate States a part of the land forces of th tiuie, to be received in that arm oTthe servlc- in which thev are atW- federate Slates, it shall be lawful for the Preident, with the consent of the Goernr of tne respective Slates, io employ State of fibers, and, ot failure to obtain such cons'iiJ, he shall employ Confederate officers, charg ed with the duty of making surlt enrollment in accordance with rules and regulations U be prescribed by him. Stc. 4. Be it further enacted. That per sons enrolled under the provisions of the preceding section, shall be assigned by the Secretary of War to the different companies now in service, until each company is filled to its maximum number, and the persons so enrolled shall he assigned to companies from the Suirs from which thty respectively come. We:. s. He it further enacted. That all seamen aod ordinary seamen in the land for ces of the Confedeiate States, enrolled un der the provisions of this art. may, on appli cation of the Secretary of the Navy, be transferred from the land forces to tht oaf al service. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That in all cases where a State may not have in the ar. my a number of regiments, battalions, squad rons, or companies, sufficient Io absorb the number of persons subject to military service under this set, belonging to such State, that the residue or excess thereof shall be kept as a reserve, unuar ucn regulations as may be established by the Secretary of War and that at stated periods of not greater than three months, details, determined by I t, shall be made from said reserve, so that each company shall, as nearly as practicable.be f kept full. Provided, That the ptrions ne" n reserve may remain at home until called into service by. the President. ' Provided, also, that during their atay at home tney shall not receive pay. rroviueu, lurtner, that the persons comprehended in this act shall not be subject to the rules and articles of war until mustered into the actual service of the Confederate States : except that said persons, when enrolled, are liable to duty j if they shall williuliy refuse to ooey said can, each of them shall be held to De a deserter, and punished as such under said articles. Provided, that whenever, in the opinion of the President, the exigencies of the public service may require it, he shall b.e authoriz- eu to can into actual service tne enure re serve, or so" much as mav be necessary, not previously assigned todiflerent companies in service under provision of section four of this act. Said reserve shall be organized under such rules as the Secretary of War may a-font. provided the company, battalion, and regimental officers shall be elected by the troops composing the same ; provided the troops raised in any one State shall not be combined in regiments), battalion, squadron, or company organization, with troops raised in any other state. 1 Skc. 7. Be it further enacted, That al soldiers now serving in the army, or muster ed in the militarv service of the Confederate States, or enrolled in said service under the authorizations heretofore issued by the sec retarv of War, and who are continued in the service by virtue of this act, who have not received the bounty of fifty dollars allowed bv existing laws, shall be entitled to receive said bountv. Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That each man who may hereafter be mustered into service, and who shall arm himself with musket, shot-gun, rifle, or carbine, accepted as an efficient weapon, shall be paid the value thereof, to be ascertained by the mus terinjolbcer under sich regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of War, if he is willmz to sell the same, and if he is not then he shall be entitled to receive one dot far per month for the use of said received and approved musket, rifle, shot-gun, or car bine. ' .- . Sac. 0. Be it further emcted, That per sons not liable for d ity may be received as substitutes for those who are, under such regulations us luav be prescribed by th Secretary of War. Sac. 10. Be it further enacted. That a vacancies snail De nneu by the rrrsnient fru'O the company, battalion,' squadron or regiment in whic such vacancies shall oc cur, by promotion according to seniority, except in cata of disabdilv or other incom petency : rroviile', tnwever, That the Pre sutent mar, w hen, in his opinion, it may be proper, hi such vatancv or vacancies hv ih promotion of any officer or officers or private or' privates from such company, bat talion, squadron or regiment who shall have been distinguished in the service by exhi bition of valor and skill, and that whenevsr a vacancy siall occur in the lowest grade of the commissioned officers or a company, said vacancy shall be filled by election t Provid ed, all appointments made by the President i ii. i i . l . . i . snau oe uy ana wiin me auvice anu consent of the Senate. Sec. 11. Be it further enacted. That the provisions oi the first section of this act re lating to the election of officers ahall apply to those ngiments, battalions, aod squadrons which are composed of twelve months' aud war companies, combined in the same or g.nizatioii, without regard to the manner in which the officers thereof were originally appointed. Sec. 12. Be it further enacted. That each company of infantry shall consist of one bun drd and twenty-five rank and filet each company of fie! I artdlery of one hundred and filty, rank and file j and each of cavalry of eightv rank and file. Sec. i3 Be it further enacfed. That all persons subject to enrollment who are now i the service, nn fer the provisions of this act shall he permitted, previous to such en rollment, to volunteer in companies now in the sen ice. EXEMPTION UNDER TUB CONCRIPriON I..WV OF CONUREHtt. The following exemption bill was passed by t'ongres, and signed by the President jit before the adjournment t t A till to bt tutitlrJ "AivJU exempt terlain pertom fmm enrolment for ttnuet in tht armies of Ike Can. f derate Ktulu'' Sectiom 1. 77ie Congrta of the Confede rate Xtaltt of America do tnatt, That all persons who shall be held to be unfit lor mil itary service under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of War (all in the service or employ of the Confederate States; all ju dicial and executive officers of Confederate or State Governments; the members of both houses of Congress, and of the legislatures of the several States and their respective officers i all clerks of the officers of the State and Confederate Governments allowed by law j all engsged in carrying the mails all ferrymen on post routes; all pilots and per sons engaged in the marine service, and in actual service on river and railroad routes of transportation J telegraphic operatives, minis ters of religion in ihe regular discharge of miqisierui duties; ail engaged in woikmg iron mines, furnaces and loundries J all jour neymen printers actually employed in print ing newspapers; ml presidents aod professors ot colleges and academies, sod all teachers having as many as twenty scholars; super-intendsnts- of tht public hospitals, luriatie asylums, and the regular, nurses end atten dants therein, aud the teachers employed in the Institution! for the deaf and dumb and blind ; in each apothecary store now eitab lishf i oat ajpnthect ' eood sta"' U s a practical druggist t superintendents and peratives in wooi anu omer lactones, wno . iav be exempted by the Secretary of War, shall be, and are hereby, exempted from mil itary service to the armies ot the Confede rata States. From the Fsysttevills Observer. ' ... .iinnuuf BV THE LADIES- We had seen with pain statements in the mvru-un' . - - papers, that ladies Id Statesville, Newton and Thomasville, in this State, had banded together , and seized and destroyed aundry barrels of whisky belonging to other persons thsn themselves; but we felt unwilling to . remaik upon the procedure because the par ties were ladies, though thus traveling far outside of : the pale, of , female -duty, as we thought. A Isdy, having, however, remon , strated most earnestly through the Raleigh Standard, we have no longer any hesitation . . . ,. .i. . in expressing our own opinion, wnicn is inai dare not commit for fear of being held to proper responsibility.. As this lady aaya through tne etanuaru, Uf all persons living the ladies are the oortlon of our community who need the strong arm of the law, and the most strict ob , servance of alt its rules for their protection. What then can we say when thev themeetvet are the very first to trample .under foot that law. the observance of which, alone, is the only, the forlorn hope of protection for them i of strong repugnance to au sucn masculine domes bv ladies. When a lady cow-hides a man, as is sometimes uone at tne norm, or North-west, the press Is generally in high - " . . a .a vT . a glee. So. in regard to these whisky mobs. B a. .... t. - ItAAM K 1 al t rsat&V as nivts ' II U V V SISJ V V SJ V B " w f " any of them as otherwise thsn degrading to the sex, They tske upon themselves to do what men cannot do without responsibility lo the law or to the personal vengeance of other men. They presume upon their sex , to protect them from either, in committing unlawful acts, which their male relatives 1 am astonishedI am alarmed for the dire consequences that may result therefrom. Depart from the observance of the law, and liberty, safety, every thing is gone. Enough ol tnis npieaani suujeci, aim a oopo sin cerely that heresfter all my sex, (for I claim to be a Lady.) will leave alt action, either ff .-I . .i a ... If fif tv, fn Itia m.R til urhnifl it belongs, al neither the one nor the other - department of ihe government belongs, or at least ougni io ocivp;, iv vwr sri. ' u -. - r .....l.kr. iliiokl tj K. K 9itttlAl pereuaiion and exampia. Tuck Evxar Woan or (T. We take the, following frem the Richmond Enquirer. It ' is so and no mistake, and we must go about the matter at once t . Ibux-Clad Smra. The victory of the Virginia and the conflict between that vessel and the Monitor has estsblished new ideas of naval offense and defense. It was very" luminal imleeil foe as that the Virrinia was ready in time for the Monitor, or the latter might have done us gieat damage. It i in dispensable now, that we press forward the construction of as many vessels of te same description as possible. We ought to pro vide one for James river, one for Wilming ton, one for Charleston, one for Savannah, and a sufficiency for the Mississippi. We need these for our defences. We should add to the number by all the means in our power. The inhabitants of every city should co-operate with the governmest in securing an iron clad ball-proof battery, or ram, or both, for the protection of their waters. It is ptain i i see mat n mis is no. uone, aeia ing can be held m the shores of our naviga ble waters in a few months, for the enemy will betake themselves to the building of these formidable engines with great dili gence. CANNON UAKINU I.N THE CONFEDERATE . STATES. "A Foundryman' writes ti the Mobile Ad vertiser, in reply to a question whether the contributions of old brass for cannon were serviceable, as follows! . The Government has copper enough in Mobile to mke four or five brass canns. out it cannot oe maae ior ine nt oi un, which cannot be had, or at least Is very scarce. This scarcity of tin (not tin plate) was probably known io General Beauregard, and may have prompted his appeal to the. community for contributions ol bells; for bell metal is gun metal, or nearly so. lie certainly did not mean to call for house bells, and brass and broute utensils and or naments, such as are used in private fami lies. These are of no ase to foundries or the government. There is no gun metal in them; and we are daily refusing to receive any such articles. The large bells which sre used by churches, taverns, aleambnata, and sugar plamationa are articles the gener al desired. The foundries in Mobile can make no more brass cannon at present. Their whole time is devoted to making mora useful articles, namely; iron cannon, and shot and shell, and rifling cannon. For the shells copper is needed, and for which tht foundries will pay the highest price in cash also, for lea I and heavy Tiraia, but none of these articles are to be found in family households. Why General Beauregard de sires some brass cannon ia not (or ma to ssy. They are gradually going out of army use, and iron cannon being substituted. If the war lasts a few years iron will be meas urably discarded, and steel cannon wilt tt their place. Napoleon is already initiating this change.', , . v IxroxTaNT Dcctstotr. Judge M'grsth of the Confederate Court in South Carolina, haa decided that Congress hat no right to lax Stt