Semi-Weekly Dispatch

As our readers are aware, numbers of slaves have been escaping from their masters, and taken refuge with Major General Butler, since his occupation of Fortress Monroe. In many cases their reputed owners have asked their delivery under the Fugitive Slave Law. The invariable answer of Gen. Butler has been, in all such cases, that the slaves would be promptly returned to their owners, provided they would take the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States.

The Secretary of War has issued the following letter of instructions:

"Washington, May 30, 1861.

"SIR: Your action in respect to the negroes who came within your lines, from the service of the rebels, is approved. The Department is sensible of the Embarrassments which must surround officers conducting military operations in a State, by the laws of which Slavery is sanctioned. The Government cannot recognize the rejection by any State of its Federal obligation, resting upon itself, and among these Federal obligations, however, no one can be more important than that of suppressing and dispersing any combination of the former for the purpose of overthrowing its whole Constitutional authority. While, therefore, you will permit no interference, by persons under your command, with the relations of persons held to service under the laws of any State, you will, on the other hand, so long as any State within which your military operations are conducted, remain under the control of such armed combinations, refrain from surrendering to alleged masters any persons who come within your liens. You will employ such armed combinations, refrain from surrendering to alleged masters any persons who come within your lines. You will employ such persons in the services to which they will be best adapted, keeping an account of the labor by them performed, of the value of it, and the expenses of their maintenance. The question of their final disposition will be reserved for future determination.

"SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
"To Major General BUTLER."

On Saturday last, our town was the scene of a most disgraceful affray, which resulted in the death of a mullato resident, named Frank Jones, and the wounding of three soldiers stationed here. The particulars, as nearly as we could learn, were as follows:--

On Saturday afternoon, a party of soldiers went to the house of Frank Jones, a mulatto residing in Wolffstown, a suburb of this place, and wanted admission. They found the door fastened, and were informed by Mrs. Jones that they could not come in, when one of them threw a boulder at her head, which she dodged, and called her husband, who was in the garden transplanting cabbages. The men attempted to force the door, and fired a shot through the window, while Jones, in order to defend his own house, seized his double-barrelled gun, which was charged with buckshot, and warning them not to force the door, stood with it ready when the door was burst in, and after retreating to the wall, fired at one wounding him in the thigh about six inches above the knee. A scuffle ensued in which Jones was floored, and while down, his wife begged them not to kill her husband, when one of them struck her a severe blow in the face, others knocked the children about, when Jones recovering his feet, wrested the gun from the soldiers' hands, and, as they were beating a retreat, fired the contents of the other barrel, which took effect in the leg of another of the soldiers. The news of the occurrence spread immediately; a crowd collected, and the sight of the wounded men, who had been conveyed to a neighboring house, so exasperated a number of the soldiers, that a rush was made for Jones' house. He fled, was hotly pursued by the crowd, shouting, "kill the nigger," and other similar expressions. He ran about three-quarters of a mile, and finding no escape, made for the house of Geo. Eyster, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney, and secreted himself in the chimney. His pursuers, representing to Mrs. Eyster that they wished to convey him to jail, obtained permission to take him from the house. As they were taking him away, Lieut. Bryan came up saying, "stand aside, men," when he fired his revolver at Jones, wounding him in the side. A second shot by Bryan, struck him in the other side, when some other person fired into his back, the ball passing through the shoulder blade, and wounding him fatally. He then became a mere target for pistols, bludgeons and bayonets, he at the same time begging piteously for his life. While he was yet moaning, it was stated, this lieutenant stood over him and thrust his sword nearly through his body. In the promiscuous firing, a soldier, who had just arrived, a member of the 2d regiment, Comp. G, received a wound in the hip, the ball glancing down to the thigh.

A post-mortem examination was held, when it was ascertained that Jones had received five shots in the back, several in his head, one passed directly through his heart lengthwise, and, at a coroner's jury held yesterday morning, it was testified that there were several wounds each of which would have produced death. The cause of the assault, as stated before the jury, was, that a neighbor of Jones has been keeping whiskey, and wish to purchase in such quarters, and that Jones a few days ago, fearing disturbance from it, entered complaint against him for selling liquor without license. The frequenters of the "hotel," finding their supply cut off, swore vengeance against Jones, and came with the intention, it was supposed, of carrying heir threats into effect, with results as have been stated.

Mr. Editor:--It is indeed with pleasure and gratification that I offer, through your columns, the most deep and heartfelt thanks of the officers and members of the "Juanita Rifles," to the Ladies of the neighborhood in which we are at present quartered, the Parsonage of the German Reformed Church, situated near the head of Main street. Those ladies have stepped forward in our behalf, exhibiting all the patriotism and philanthropy of their illustrious Revolutionary mothers. At the present time, when the good city of Chambersburg is completely overrun with the military of our land,--and at a time, too, when it behooves her citizens to exercise the greatest caution, as well as economy, in order to protect them against the evil designs and characteristics of this multitude of strangers--these kind-hearted Ladies have freely and voluntarily provided for our every want, regardless alike of trouble and expense. We have been abundantly supplied with everything the most fastidious taste or yearning heart could desire. Luxuries such as our anxious eyes have heretofore been strangers to, have been, and still are, freely lavished upon us; and Mr. Editor, it is with deep and heartfelt gratitude that I tender to those kind Ladies, the grateful acknowledgements [sic] of every man in the company, accompanied by our sincere wishes for their happiness and prosperity.

I desire also, in this connexion, to tender thanks to Mrs. J. H. Eyster for her untiring devotion to her country's cause, by way of numerous favors supplied the worn out soldier. In gratitude we place ourselves subject to these truly philanthropic Ladies. They have but to command, and their slightest wish shall be our command, and their slightest wish shall be our command, and their slightest wish shall be our law. For the sake of such noble-hearted lady friends no danger can be too great for us to dare, no feat too daring for us to accomplish. May the righteous God cherish and protect such truly noble hearts.

In behalf of Comp. H., Capt. A. M. Lloyd, Third Reg., P. V.
Wm. I. Blain.