A Diary of American Events.

December 16.—A fire broke out this evening in the hospital of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth New-York regiment at Yorktown, Va., and in a few moments the building was all on fire, and as there were no engines or water near, it was impossible to subdue it. The Government bakery also took fire, and communicated it to the Arsenal. For several hours, the loaded shell stored within exploded, until the magazine was reached, when a terrific explosion took place, scattering the building and shell in every direction. The loss was estimated at one million dollars.—Major-General Buford, commanding a division in the cavalry corps of the army of the Potomac, died at Washington, D.C.—The steamer Chesapeake was recaptured in Mud Cove, Sambro Harbor, Nova Scotia, by the National steamer Ella and Anna, under the command of Lieutenant Commander John F. Nichols.