December 24.—Gen. Pope’s cavalry, sent to Lexington, Mo., captured two rebel captains, one lieutenant, and four men, with horses, &c. They destroyed the foundry and ferry boats at Lexington.—General Halleck’s Despatch.
—A card from J. J. McKeever, President of an organization known as the “Southwest Co.,” appeared in the Memphis Appeal, announcing that the third special messenger would leave Memphis on the 1st of January, “taking mail matter for all parts of the world.”
—The U. S. War Department issued orders stopping the enlistment of cavalry soldiers. The Government had all the cavalry that were necessary.
—A bill to increase the duties on tea, coffee, sugar, and molasses passed the U. S. Congress. The duties were raised on tea to twenty cents per pound, on coffee to five cents, on sugars to two and a half, three, five, and eight cents, and on molasses to six cents. It was estimated that the increase would add to the revenue six millions of dollars a year.
—Bluffton, S. C., was occupied by the Union forces under General Stevens. The town was found deserted.—N. Y. Herald, Dec. 30.
—The Thirty-fifth regiment of Indiana volunteers, under the command of Colonel John C. Walker, left Jeffersonville, for active service in Kentucky.—Indianapolis Journal, Dee. 26.
