DECEMBER 1. 1863

The President Maturing a Plan for the Return of the Rebel States

A special dispatch of the 20th, from Washington to the New York Tribune:

"The attention of the President and the more prominent members of the Cabinet, and of other gentlemen whose counsels are valued, has been largely given of late to the consideration of the important questions connected with a recall to the Union of the truant Southern States, several of which may soon be knocking at the door. The precise course to be adopted is not yet determined. Several theories claim the President's ear, but he is, himself, engaged in maturing a practical plan by which to secure a re-union upon the only practicable basis, the basis of freedom and equality before the law to all. Recent utterances of the President, and instructions approved by him, to recently commissioned representatives of the Government in districts of the South now in our possession, leave no doubt that the policy of this administration, to permit none of the vagrant States to come back with a slave constitution, is fixed. The present discussion relates to the ways and means of effectuating this result." December 1, 1863

Sword to General Hooker

There is on exhibition at Baltimore, a sword for Gen. Hooker. The scabbard is of silver with gold mountings. The tip is mounted very heavily, and the engraving is exquisite. Midway, the mounting is formed of the American shield, surmounted by an eagle studded with diamonds. Near the top the mounting is eighteen carat gold, on which is inscribed the following words:

MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER From his fellow-citizens of San Francisco, Cal., December 25, 1862 Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Germantown, South Mountain, Antietam, Lookout Mountain.

The blade is of Damascus steel, and is of the finest quality. The handle is of solid gold, and is composed of a Cupid supporting a basket, which contains an original piece of quartz. The guard is very large, and the trimming of is of blue enamel, upon which are the initials of the general set in diamonds--underneath is an American eagle holding in his mouth the inscription, "E Pluribus Unum." The eagle is of solid gold, and his wings are studded with diamonds. This beautiful piece of workmanship is alike creditable to the donors and the workmen. The whole cost - $3,000. December 9, 1863

Our Ship of War on Lake Erie

By the terms of our treaty with Great Britain, we have but one vessel of war on the lakes. We have the Michigan.-- The following, from the Cleveland Leader, will be read with interest: "The steamer, Michigan, has, within the last few days, received her new armament, consisting of thirteen additional guns, and is ready for any and all of the gunboats from Montreal that are coming this way. She now carries four 12- pound howitzers, four 10-pound Parrotts, four 30-pound Parrotts, one 64-pound bow gun and her old stern gun, which has for many years been her only artillery. She has also been thoroughly overhauled and repaired, and is in excellent trim. She will winter in Sandusky." December 10, 1863

Recruiting for the Twenty-Fourth – It is well known by our citizens that a detail from the 24th has been sent home to recruit men to fill up the thinned ranks of this regiment. These men, under command of Capt. Kennedy, have gone to work in earnest at the business they have been sent home to do, having opened recruiting offices at two or three different points in the city. They are doing what they can with unaided effort; but they should not be left to do this work alone. If there is any regiment in the field in which our citizens ought to be interested, this is the one. Raised here in our very midst, and made up of the sons, brothers, and husbands from our own community, Milwaukee should feel an especial pride in seeing the decimated ranks filled up, and the regiment placed in good condition again. It has done hard and honorable service, and it would be an honor to belong to it. If our people would take hold of this matter in earnest, a large proportion of men to be drafted from the city might be obtained by volunteering, and a fine regiment filled again to the maximum. December 10, 1863

Business on the and Milwaukee Road

Any one not conversant with the business on the Chicago and Milwaukee road, would be surprised at the magnitude of it, if they could get a just idea concerning it. Having occasion to visit their depot in this city, a day or two since upon the departure of the afternoon train, we noticed five passenger coaches full to overflowing. It is a pleasant and popular line of travel, and is constantly increasing in favor. December 11, 1863

One of Mr. Lincoln's Jokes

It was given out a few days since in Washington, and telegraphed all over the country, that the President was quite sick with varioloid, and hence could not see visitors. It is more than hinted now that this was the innocent method which Mr. Lincoln took to rid himself of the swarm of bores and office-seekers that infest the Capital about the commencement of the Congressional terms, well-knowing that nothing but the dread of small-pox would prevent these hungry cormorants from breaking into the White House and invading the privacy of his bed chamber. By this harmless ruse he was enabled to find time to complete his Message in season for delivery as soon as the House was organized. December 11, 1863

DEATH OF COL. WM. WHISTLER, U.S.A. -- This veteran officer died at Newport, Kentucky, on the 6th inst., at the advanced age of eighty-three years. At the time of his decease, he was the oldest officer in the army, and had been the longest in service. Entering it in 1891, he passed through every grade of rank till he attained that of Colonel of the 4th Regiment U. S. Infantry. He participated in the last war with Great Britain, the Florida and the Mexican war. He had been quite infirm for the past ten years, and on the passage of the law, two years ago, authorizing a retired list, he was placed upon it on his own application. He is one of a family whose every generation has been represented in the United States military service since our national birth. His father, John Whistler, entered the army as an Ensign under Washington; fought through the revolutionary war and the last war with Great Britain, and died a Major in the . His brother John fell at his side at the battle of Brownstown, in the . Washington Whistler, a younger brother, graduated with great distinction at West Point, and resigning some years [after], became one of our first civil engineers, building several of our most important Railroads. He died in Russia, having been sent for by the Emperor Nicholas to build the great National Railroad in that country, at which work he spent the last seven years of his life. Col. Whistler leaves a son, Col. J. N. G. Whistler, commanding a regiment of artillery at Washington, who also served with distinction in the Mexican war. He also has several grandsons in the service. Few soldiers in our country have seen more or harder service in camp, fort, and field than Col. Whistler, in all of which he acquitted himself faithfully and with honor. The best years of his life were spent in the various posts in the western frontier. He was for many years stationed at Fort Howard, Green Bay, Mackinac, and , and is well known to all the old settlers of this state and Michigan, who will hear of his death with regret. His declining years were passed at Newport, Ky., the home of his youth. Col. W., though a southerner by birth, and up to within ten or twelve years of his death a slaveholder, was unconditional and uncompromising in his loyalty. He did not allow the interests or traditions of the peculiar institution to, for one moment, obscure his vision in contemplating the means necessary for the suppression of this iniquitous rebellion. Though too aged and infirm to personally participate in it, he exhibited a most lively interest in the progress of the war. Col. W. made many friends during his long career. He was frank, noble-hearted, and generous to a fault. He had survived most of the companions of his youth and early manhood, but the aged partner of his life was spared to close his eyes in death, and with their children and children's children, to consign him to his final place of rest. A grateful Republic will enroll his name among the host who have braved and breasted battle and storm, and laid down life in her defense. December 16, 1863

LIEUT. ALDEN tells a good anecdote of one of the prisoners who was taken at Chickamauga: Johnny Reb was looking at one of our guns, and remarked that he "didn't think the Yanks would use them big guns much longer." "Why not?" inquired one. "Because," said he, "the Confederacy is getting so narrow that you'll fire clear over it and hit your men on the other side." December 16, 1863

A Flying Ambulance Corps

The Sanitary Commission have organized a "Flying Relief Department" under the supervision of Dr. H. R. Baalan, similar to the plan so successfully adopted in the Russian army in the Crimea, before the battle of Inkermann in 1854, and afterwards in both the English and French armies. This Department will consist of two four- horse wagons, each wagon attended by one relief agent, two assistants, and one driver. The wagons are loaded with supplies needed on the battlefield--refreshments, medicines, bandages, and a hundred little articles that come in use just when they are most badly wanted and most difficult to get. The agent and assistants will mounted on saddle-horses. The agent of this ambulance has command of the entire establishment, issuing supplies, and directing the movements of the wagon, which is intended to circulate generally on the outskirts of the army in line of battle, to assist the wounded and sick soldiers who may have been left behind, uncared for and neglected; but, at the same time, no shelter will be given to stragglers or outsiders. Two of these wagons have been stocked preparatory to going to the Army of the Potomac. December 19, 1863

From the Thirty-First Regiment

Correspondence of the Sentinel STONE RIVER BRIDGE, TENN., DEC. 12

EDS. SENTINEL: – Our Regiment is at present at Murfreesboro, except three companies, B, G, and K, which are at this place, together with two companies of the 22d: H and K. We are doing guard duty at present. We have been building breastworks till within a few days, having finished them. We have built breastworks all around the camp, and done some heavy guard duty besides. But at present the duty is very light. The health of the Regiment is very good, especially of this detachment. We have very good water here, and a plenty of grub. We are having very fine weather at present, the finest that I ever knew at this season of the year. We have had only one snow storm since we have been here, and the snow lasted about as long as it took in coming down. The weather is quite warm at present, but appearances indicate a change before long. This is a very desolate country; there are no improvements whatever going on and all around is waste and destitution. Here and there stands an old chimney, the house to which it belonged having been burned down –all the fruits of this vain rebellion. The people are beginning to see it now, I guess, by their actions–that is about here; I cannot pretend to say how it is elsewhere. The soldiers begin to think the Government is in earnest now, and that things look more like a near and honorable peace than ever before, since the war broke out. Gen. Grant seems to be doing up things just right, and he is the "right man in the right place." The boys felt rather sober when they heard that "old Rosy" was removed; but when they heard that Grant was put in his place, they seemed satisfied. We hear that Rosecrans is in command of the Army of the Potomac, but we don't know how it is; all we can do is to hope for the best, and do the best we can ourselves. Yours, W. B. F. December 24, 1863

UNITED STATES MARINES. – This branch of our military service seems to be in particularly good fortune. Scarcely a month ago the British Admiral spoke of them as "the finest soldiers he had seen in America," and recently, when Admiral Lessovski and suite visited the Washington Navy Yard, they were again highly complimented, both in Russian and English. The entire garrison was turned out in full dress, under command of Lieut. Cochran, United States Marine Corps, and presented a magnificent appearance, which was much enhanced by the presence of the famous Marine Band, in their gay red uniforms. December 25, 1863

SANTA CLAUS ARRIVED

Some very matter-of-fact people have always pretended that this fine old fellow was entirely an imaginary being; and that the stockings which were hung in the chimney corner at night and found filled with good things in the morning, were not stuffed by old Santa Claus descending through the sooty chimney, but that rather the children's minds were stuffed with nonsense by the same persons who had stuffed their stockings with gifts. Now we were always loth to give up the idea of a real, personal Santa Claus, and were glad to be confirmed in our original impressions by seeing, dashing down past the post-office last evening, a strange looking equipage, “With a little old driver, so lively and quick, We knew in a minute it must be St. Nick.” But his carriage is no longer drawn by eight tiny reindeer. He has got reduced some way or other to a single donkey, and that a small one, but of good mettle, and he dashed bravely through the crowd, down to the Newhall House, and up the steps into the office, where Santa Claus dismounted and hopped briskly about the house with his huge basket of candies and other "goodies" on his back, peering into the corners for stockings to fill with his favors. But he was evidently too early by several hours, and disconcerted at seeing so many present, and soon made his exit. "He sprang to the sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down from a thistle."