Mr. Pierce Butler, who was confined Aug. 20 and released Sept. 24, subsequently commenced action against Mr. Simon Cameron, ex-Secretary of War, for assault and false imprisonment. Mr. Butler was liberated in five weeks from the time of his incarceration, without reason being given for his discharge any more than for his arrest; and speaks in his complaint of being locked with nine other gentlemen in a cell twenty-six feet long by fourteen wide, in one of the casemates of Fort Lafayette, where he was allowed egress only at meals, and during one hour in the morning and evening for exercise in the quadrangle of the fort. The fellow-occupants of Mr. Butler's cell were Charles J. Faulkner, James W. Wall, of Burlington; Thomas S. Serril, of Philadelphia; McMasters, of the New York "Freeman's Journal," De Bebin, of Wilmington, N. C., and others. On the 30th of October all the prisoners at New York were removed to Fort Warren at Boston, a large and commodious structure. There were one hundred and nine political prisoners from Fort Lafayette; also six hundred and thirty-three of the prisoners taken at Hatteras Inlet. Others were subsequently added to this number. HACKLEY, REV. CHARLES W., professor of mathematics and astronomy in Columbia College, N. Y., born in Herkimer Co., New York, in 1809, died at his residence in New York, Jan. 10, 1861. He entered West Point Academy in 1825, graduated in 1829, and was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point until 1832. He then studied law, and subsequently theology, and was ordained as a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1835. He was professor of inathematics in the University of New York until 1838, and afterwards President of Jefferson College, Mississippi, and rector of St. Peter's church in Auburn, N. Y. In 1843 he was elected professor in Columbia College, and from that year until the time of his death filled the chair in mathematics in that college. He was the author of the following works: a "Treatise on Algebra," New York, 1856; "Elementary Course on Geometry," New York, 1847; "Elements of Trigonometry," New York, 1850. He was also a large contributor to scientific periodicals, as well as to the weekly and daily journals, and exerted himself particularly in behalf of the establishment of an astronomical observatory in New York City. HAMPTON is the capital of Elizabeth City County, Virginia. It is situated on the left bank of the James River, about 2 miles from its entrance into the Chesapeake Bay, and 96 miles southeast of Richmond. The part of the estuary of James River situated between this town and Norfolk is called Hampton Roads. It is an old town, possessing much historic interest. The distance from Fortress Monroe is two and a half miles. The town contained about 1,400 inhabitants, and early experienced the effects of the war. On the 2d of July about thirty inhabitants remained. The quaint old church was occupied as a guard-house by Federal troops, and two companies were stationed in the graveyard, which was surrounded by a high brick wall. Its tombstones bore date from the 17th century. In the new cemetery four companies of Col. Packard's regiment were posted, while the Federal force occupied the town. It was subsequently evacuated by these troops, and then burnt by the Confederate force on the order of Gen. Magruder, to prevent its reoccupation. A few minutes after midnight on the 7th of August the torch was applied. The greater part of the five hundred houses having been built of wood, and being very dry, were soon in flames, and a strong south wind fanned them into a terrible conflagration. The fire raged all night, and on the next day, at noon, only seven or eight buildings remained. Among the buildings were four churches, and about four hundred and seventy houses. Thus was a pleasant town almost deserted and laid in ashes. From the inhabitants of this county six companies were furnished to the Confederate army to serve through the war. HARPER'S FERRY. The situation of this town is at the confluence of the Shenandoah River with the Potomac, in Jefferson County, Virginia. The united stream at this point breaks through the Blue Ridge. It is 160 miles north of Richmond and 53 miles northwest of Washington. It is on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the other side of the Potomac passes the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The village is compactly though irregularly built around the base of a hill. A United States Armory and a National Arsenal were located here. At the armory 10,000 muskets were made annually, and the arsenal often contained' 80,000 to 90,000 stand of arms. On the 2d of January, orders were received from Washington for the Armory Guard, Flag Guard, and Rifles to go on duty, as a precantionary measure. A few days afterwards a detachment of unmounted U. S. Dragoons, numbering sixty-four, under command of Lieut. Jones, arrived there. Affairs remained in a quiet condition until the excitement created through the country by the capture of Fort Sumter, and the issue of the first proclamation by the President calling out troops. A movement was immediately made by friends of the Southern Confederacy in Northern Virginia, to take possession of Harper's Ferry Arsenal. As early as the 18th of April, Lieut. Jones was informed that between 2,500 and 3,000 State troops would reach the ferry in two hours. Deeming the information positive and reliable, he gave orders to apply the torch to the buildings. In three minutes or less both the arsenal buildings, containing nearly 15,000 stand of arms, together with the carpenters' shop, which was at the upper end of a long and connected series of workshops of the armory proper, were in a complete blaze. Lieut. Jones then withdrew his small force, and marching all night, arrived at Carlisle barracks at half-past 2 o'clock the next afternoon. This was done by orders of the Government. The place was then taken possession of by the Virginian troops. Most of the machinery which was not destroyed was removed to Richmond. About six hundred arms were recovered. The official report of Lieutenant Jones to the War Department was as follows: CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA, Į Assistant Adjutant-General, &c.: There is every reason for believing the destruction was complete. After firing the buildings I withdrew my command, marching all night, and arrived here at 24 P. M. yesterday, where I shall await orders. Four men were missing on leaving the armory and two deserted during the night. I am, sir, very respecfully, Your obedient servant, R. JONES, First Lieutenant R. M. Rifles. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 22, 1861. Lieutenant R. Jones: } MY DEAR SIR: I take pleasure in apprising you that, in consideration of your very skilful and gallant conduct at Harper's Ferry, I have ordered a commission to be issued to you as assistant quartermaster-general, with the rank of captain. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Lieutenant R. Jones: Harper's Ferry. The invasion of Maryland by Virginia caused a remonstrance from Governor Hicks, addressed to Governor Letcher, of Virginia. The latter replied that the movement was unauthorized and should be countermanded. On the 14th of June the ferry was evacuated by the Confederate troops. Their total force on that day in and around the place was about 10,000. The population of Harper's Ferry, previous to its occupation, and the adjacent towns of ` Bolivar and Virginius, consisted of about 5,000 people. About 350 armorers and laborers were employed in the arsenal, and the whole population depended for their support upon the Government's annual expenditure in the fabrication of arms. Besides, the place afforded a market to the neighboring farmers of Loudon and Jefferson counties in Virginia, and of Washington in Maryland, for wood and produce of field and garden. The workmen and others who were not forced into the army, have been scattered, and their families mostly left in a state of destitution. The region had once been called "the garden commenced, the bridge over the Potomac was spot of Virginia." On the day the evacuation destroyed, having been partly blown up and then set on fire by the retiring force. It was a long and costly structure. This retreat arose in consequence of the movement of Union troops up the Potomac, from Washington, and from Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, towards Harper's Ferry. At a later day, a small force of Confederate troops returned and burned the bridge over the Shenandoah and other property. After the passage of the Union troops across the Potomac at Williamsport, under Gen. Patterson, the Confederate force retired, and the ferry remained in possession of the former until the 29th of July. Subsequently the entire Union force under Gen. Banks, who had succeeded to the command in place of Gen. Patterson, recrossed the Potomac to the Maryland side, except one regiment left as a guard. This movement was in consequence of the indefensible nature of the place from the south. The army stores and provisions were removed to the Maryland side, about three miles from Sandy . Hook, and five miles from the ferry. The construction of the bridge was also stopped. Previous to the close of the year, however, the bridge was rebuilt, and the town relieved of all apprehensions of an approach of the Confederate troops. HARRISONVILLE, a village in Cass County, Missouri, 115 miles in a direct line west from. Jefferson City. On the 13th of July, a body of Home Guards, in the United States service as a reserve, were attacked about three miles north of this place by a considerable Confederate force. The fight continued for four hours, when the latter retreated, having had fourteen killed. HARVEY BIRCH, SHIP. This ship, owned and registered in the city of New York, sailed for Havre on the 20th of September, with a cargo of wheat, and arrived on the 9th of October. Having discharged her cargo and taken in ballast, the captain sailed for New York on the 16th of November. On the morning of the 19th, the ship then being in about lat. 40.6 N., long. 9.52 W., a steamer was made out, bearing for her, which was found to be an armed vessel, and hoisted at the peak the flag of the Confederate States. When within hailing distance a person on board hailed the ship, saying: "Haul down your colors and heave the ship to," the ensign of the United States being at this time set at the peak. This order was complied with, and the captain received the order, "Lower your boat and come on board," which he also complied with, taking the ship's papers with him. After arriving on board the steamer he was introduced by the first lieutenant, by name Fauntleroy, to Capt. Pegrim, commander of the Confederate States steamer Nashville, to whom he produced all the papers of the ship for examination. Capt. Pegrim took the ship's papers, and then told the captain that he should hold him as a prisoner of war by authority of the Confederate States. Capt. Nelson soon returned to his ship, with orders from the captain of the Nashville for all the crew to get their things ready as soon as possible, and go on board the Nashville, as they intended to destroy the Harvey Birch. They were allowed an hour or an hour and a half for this purpose, and got part out. The men from the steamer took most of the provisions, with the ship's chronometer, barometer, and some of the charts, permitting Capt. Nelson to retain his own chronometer, but he lost $1,200 or $1,400 of personal effects, books, charts, &c. They then set fire to the ship fore and aft, apparently in the deck-houses, and the vessel was soon in flames from stem to stern. The three masts were seen to go over the side, and the hull was still burning when the steamer left her. The Harvey Birch was a full-rigged ship of 1,487 tons, American measurement. She had a total of 29 souls on board. The men were put in irons on board the steamer, (with the exception of the captain and mate, who were treated with great politeness,) and kept as prisoners until the arrival of the vessel at Southampton, when they were immediately landed in the docks, and set at liberty with all the personal effects belonging to them. HATTERAS INLET. From Cape Henry, Va., which is the southern point at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, low sand islands and shoals lie between the shore of the mainland and the Atlantic Ocean. These extend for 200 miles along the coast, forming between themselves and the mainland the Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds, navigable for vessels of light draft. The first practicable ocean inlet is 135 miles south of Cape Henry. It is a narrow and difficult entrance, known as Hatteras Inlet, with seven feet of water on the bar. A single vessel of light draft would be sufficient for the closing of this channel. It was to this entrance that the military and naval expedition under Gen. Butler and Com. Stringham was destined. (See EXPEDITIONS.) HATTERAS ISLAND. The occupation of Hatteras Inlet was followed by some events of interest. Hatteras Island, upon which the forts are situated, extends in a northeastern direction. 13 miles to Cape Hatteras light-house, thence north nearly 30 miles to Loggerhead Inlet, making a total length of about 40 miles. Its width varies from half a mile to two miles and upwards in various parts. It has an irregular sandy surface, interspersed with marshes and occasional spots covered with dwarf oak trees. The population is about 500 in number, who subsist by fishing, piloting, and similar pursuits. There are a few schools and a church upon the island. Col. Hawkins, commander at Fort Hatteras, having learned that a Confederate force had taken possession of Roanoke Island, with the intention of making it a permanent stronghold, and also for the purpose of guarding an important inlet at that point, so that their privateers might have undisputed entrance, determined to place a force in that vicinity for the double purpose of protecting the loyal citizens and watching the enemy and preventing him from landing on the island, and also to prevent, if possible, their privateers from entering the channel which runs from the ocean at the junction of Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. On the 29th of September the Twentieth Indiana Regiment left on the small steamers or gunboats Putnam and Ceres, and arrived at their destination on the same afternoon-but on account of the shallowness of the water, they could not get nearer the shore than three miles. On the next morning the regiment was landed by means of small barges, but with only a few days' provision. Their camp equipage, intrenching tools, and supply of provisions were to be brought up the next day by the tug Fanny; which did not leave, however, until Tuesday, two days after, and arrived early that afternoon. No sooner had she come to anchor than three Confederate gunboats made their appearance and captured her with all her stores, consisting of 60 barrels of flour, 1,000 new overcoats, 9,000 pounds of beef, and all the sutler's goods. Learning now the true position of affairs, a Confederate expedition of between two and three thousand men was fitted out to capture the Indiana regiment. Their plan was to land part of this force above and the remainder below the regiment. Thus placed between the two forces it would be compelled to surrender. This movement was attempted on Friday morning the 4th of October. A part of the force was landed above and the steamers proceeded to land the remainder a few miles below, but were detained so that a landing was not effected until dark. Meantime Col. Brown of the Indiana regiment, perceiving the object of the enemy, commenced a retreat, with a small loss of pickets, and passed the lower force in the dark just after it had landed, and reached Hatteras Light at midnight, having marched 28 miles. The first 10 miles were terrible. The sun was shining upon the white sand of the beach, heating the air as if it was a furnace. The men had neither provisions nor water. Having at first rushed out in haste to repel the enemy, and then being unable to return to their camp, they were prevented from taking a supply. They were unused to long marches; the sand was heavy, and the soldiers sank into it at every step. As the regiment pushed along, man after man would stagger from the ranks and fall upon the hot sand. A large number of the islanders left their homes through fear of the enemy. They could be seen in groups, sometimes with a little cart carrying their provisions, but mostly with nothing, fleeing for life-mothers carrying their babes, fathers leading along the boys, grandfathers and grandmothers straggling from homes they had left behind. Relying upon Federal protection, they had been friends to the regiment, which in an evil hour was compelled to leave them. At Hatteras Light they were joined by Col. Hawkins, with 600 men, supported by the frigate Susquehanna and the gunboat Monticello. The latter proceeded up the beach, and soon found the enemy marching down with bands playing and flags flaunting in the breeze. The Monticello then ran within a half or threequarters of a mile of the shore and sent a 10inch shell into the enemy's front ranks, which exploded with apparent destruction. They attempted to retreat, but the gunboat kept on with them, pouring in a storm of shot and shell. They sought shelter in a small copse of wood, but were compelled to break from cover and rush in squads of hundreds across the barren beach, exposed to the fire of the guns. This continued for three hours and a half, and 180 shells were thrown at the enemy. The sand was covered with swords, accoutrements, and clothing thrown away. Finally the Confederate gunboats came down inside, and with barges the troops were taken on board under the cover of night; not, however, without some loss in embarking, and serious injury to one or two of the vessels by the shells thrown from the Monticello. The loss of the Confederate force was unknown, but stated by them to have been one man. They made a prize of the Fanny, estimated at $80,000, and a part of the camp of the Indiana regiment, and took a few prisoners. But the force on the island had occasion to contend with the elements, by which they were threatened with greater destruction than by the Confederate troops. On the night of the 1st of November, a gale of wind commenced with rain, which in the morning had reached a fearful violence. About 3 o'clock before daybreak, the waves of the ocean began to sweep over the island into the sound, and at daylight these two bodies of water appeared to be united. Not a spot of land was to be seen. All the lower portion of the island where Forts Hatteras and Clark were situated was under water, and all chances of escape were cut off. It was not until a breaker swept across that the soldiers were aware of the presence of a great flood. The waters commenced to decline about 7 o'clock in the morning; otherwise if they had continued to rise a few hours more, all must have perished. Much property was destroyed, consisting of army stores, &c. A new inlet or channel was also cut between the forts nearly six feet deep. HERBERT, SIDNEY, BARON HERBERT OF LEA, an English statesman, born in Wiltshire, Sept. 16, 1810, died near Wilton, England, Aug. 2, 1861. He was the second son of the 11th Earl of Pembroke by his second wife, a daughter of the Russian Count Woronzoff. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated with high honors as a classic in 1831. In Dec. 1882 he was elected to parliament for the southern_division of the county of Wilts, and continued to represent that county till his elevation to the peerage in 1861. His family connections had given him a strong leaning towards the Conservatives, but he gradually approached nearer to the Liberal party, and in 1841 supported Sir Robert Peel in his changes of the commercial policy of the Government. He became Secretary of the Admiralty in the Peel Ministry, and held this post till 1845, when he accepted the office of Secretary at War, with a seat in the Cabinet. In 1846 he explained to the House of Commons the views of the Government in relation to the repeal of the corn laws, and the introduction of the principles of free trade. During the premierships of Lord John Russell and Earl Derby, Mr. Herbert remained in opposition, but on the accession of Lord Aberdeen to power, in Dec. 1852, having been sworn a privy-councillor, he again accepted the portfolio of Secretary at War. In 1855 he resigned on a partial reconstruction of the Cabinet, and for a few weeks under the administration of Lord Palmerston held the Secretaryship of the Colonies. On the appointment by the House of Commons of a committee of inquiry into the state of the army before Sebastopol, he retired from the Government, regarding the raising of that committee as implying a censure on the Aberdeen Cabinet, though he had been very earnest in that Cabinet in his efforts to promote reform in the management of the army. He remained out of office till 1859, when Lord Palmerston urged his acceptance of his former post of Secretary at War, which he retained till his death, which was said to have been caused by excessive labor. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Herbert of Lea early in 1861. He was an able and elegant writer, and his contributions to the reviews on State questions were models of political writing. In private life he was distinguished for his abundant charities and his hearty zeal in the organization and promotion of schemes of social benevolence and general 1 utility. In the efforts of Florence Nightingale and others to promote the welfare and relieve the sufferings of the soldiers in the Crimea, they had no more zealous and efficient assist ants than the Hon. Sidney Herbert and his amiable and accomplished lady. One of his later acts of benevolence was the erection of a beautiful church in the Lombardic style for the people of his native town of Wilton. HOUSTON, a town of Southern Missouri, capital of Texas Co., situated on the Piney fork of Gasconade River, at the foot of the northern slope of the Ozark Mountains. Here, on the 4th of November, an expedition, under command of Col. Gresnel, sent by Col. Dodge, attacked a Confederate force stationed here, and captured 32 prisoners, several of them officers, 500 cattle, 90 horses and mules, a considerable amount of stores, and a large mail for the Confederate army, containing information respect ing the position of the entire Confederate force in Missouri. HOUSTON, SAM, a general, president, and governor of Texas, born near Lexington, Virginia, Mar. 2, 1793, reported as having died at Austin, Texas, Oct. 8, 1861. His life was one of remarkable adventures and sudden changes. His father was a soldier of the Revolution, and held the post of brigade-inspector at the time of his death in 1807. Soon after his death, his widow, with nine children, removed to Blount Co., Tennessee, on the very borders of civilization, within eight miles of the Cherokee settlements. Sam was sent to an academy, and made rapid progress in his studies, and begged permission of his teacher to be allowed to add Greek and Latin to his other studies. He was refused, and thereupon left the school, and could not be persuaded to return. After a short stay in a store as clerk, a situation not at all to his liking, he absconded, crossed the Tennessee River, and took up his abode with the Indians, with whom he remained for three years; Oolooteka, one of their principal chiefs, adopting him as his son. In 1811 he returned to his family, and opened a school for his maintenance; he soon had an abundance of pupils, though his price was high for the country and time. In 1813 he enlisted as a common soldier in the U. S. Army, distinguished himself by his good conduct, and was soon promoted to an ensigncy; and in 1814, at the battle of the great bend of the Tallapoosa, led the forlorn hope in a storming party to capture the Creek fortification, and was three times severely, and as it was supposed, mortally wounded. His daring attracted the attention, and secured him the lasting friendship of Gen. Jackson. For nearly three years he suffered severely from his wounds, and finally underwent a painful and dangerous operation, which nearly cost him his life. He had been promoted to a lieutenancy in 1815, and in November, 1817, was appointed as a subordinate Indian agent to carry out a treaty with the Cherokees. The next winter he conducted a delegation of In dians to Washington. His zeal in preventing the unlawful importation of negroes from Africa through Florida, then a Spanish province, into the Southern States, had made him enemies who were loud in their complaints against him. The Government acquitted him of all blame, but as its justification and approval of his course were not so decided as he thought it should have been, he threw up his commission on the 1st March, 1818, and returning to Tennessee, settled in Nashville, and began to study law. Applying himself to his studies with great earnestness, he was admitted to the bar within six months, after a rigid examination. He was soon appointed adjutant-general with the rank of colonel, and in Oct. 1819, one year after his admission to the bar, elected districtattorney of the Davidson district. He was remarkably successful as a prosecuting officer, and rose rapidly in reputation, although the bar of Nashville at that time was composed of an unusually large number of men of superior ability. In Dec. 1821, he was elected major-general of militia, and in 1823 chosen to Congress without opposition; he was reelected in 1825 by an almost unanimous vote, and in Aug. 1827 chosen Governor of Tennessee by a majority of 12,000. His popularity was such that he had not a single opponent in the State Legislature. In Jan. 1829, he was married, and in April of the same year, for reasons never publicly explained, separated from his wife, resigned his office, and went to the Indian Territory, whither his old friends the Cherokees had removed, and presented himself before the old chief Oolooteka, who received him kindly, and through whose influence he was formally admitted to all the rights and privileges of the Cherokee nation. He remained among the Indians till 1832, when he went to Washington to protest against the wrongs which had been inflicted on them by the Government agents, and to demand redress. The President ordered an investigation, which resulted in the removal of five of the Government Indian agents from office. This action involved Houston in numerous personal difficulties and annoyances, and led to a personal rencontre between him and Mr. W. R. Stansbury, of Ohio, in consequence of a charge of fraud made by him against Gen. Houston. In this rencontre Mr. Stansbury was severely beaten, and Gen. Houston was arrested, brought before the House, and publicly censured by the Speaker; he was also indicted and tried for the assault and fined $500 and costs, but the fine was remitted by the President. The charge of fraud made against him was investigated and effectually disproved. Houston, on quitting Washington, returned to his Cherokee friends, but soon after removed to Texas with a few companions, professedly for the purpose of rearing herds of cattle on its prairies, but, as was commonly reported and believed, to take part in the impending revolution there. Soon after his arrival there he was a delegate from Nacogdoches to a Convention, to form a Constitution |