Semi-Weekly Dispatch

Reports that no decisive action has yet taken place at Yorktown. Predicts "one of the mot determined and sanguinary battles that has occurred in the present age."

"Occasional," the Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia Press, looks back on the achievements of President Lincoln and his cabinet during the past year, briefly comparing Lincoln to Buchanan.

Reports that the Senate has passed a bill to allow the President to appoint diplomatic representatives to the countries of Haiti and Liberia.

Reports that nineteen Southern ships have been captured.

Preliminary reports that Union troops have taken New Orleans and that there has been "great destruction" of property, cotton, and steamboats in the city.

Announces that Fort Jackson, six miles below Savannah, has been taken by Union forces.

Reports that a reconnoitering party, under Brigadier-General A. J. Smith, routed about 3,000 to 4,000 of the enemy from Pea Ridge, Tennessee. In addition, news from Cairo reports that the Ohio River continues to rise.

Provides an account of the situation at Yorktown.

Announces that a town meeting will be held for the Union Republican voters of Chambersburg in the court house next Friday evening. The purpose of the meeting will be to nominate candidates for town council, school directors, and borough constable.

Reports that a young man from Chambersburg, Jeremiah Bellis, was wounded in the leg at Pittsburg Landing and will arrive in this town shortly. He is a member of Captain Wishart's company.

Relates that the name of the soldier from Captain Wishart's company that died from wounds he received at Pittsburg Landing was Thomas J. M'Elwee, of Franklin County.

Reports on the Union meeting held at the Lutheran Church the previous Sunday evening. The various congregations of Chambersburg met together to listen to the Reverend Mr. Cross of Baltimore speak. Donations given at the meeting are to go to books and tracts that will be distributed among soldiers in camp and hospitals.

Lists the many improvements being effected in Chambersburg of late.

Notes that the national flag was raised in the public square and bells were rung when the news was received that Union forces had taken New Orleans and Fort Jackson.

Reports that James A. Ritner, son of Mrs. Ritner of Chambersburg and grandson of former Governor Ritner, is in the soldier's hospital in Cincinnati, due to a wound he suffered at Pittsburg Landing. He is a member of the Third Iowa regiment.

Mr. Jacob Held and Miss Mary Bowers, both of Chambersburg, were married in the German Lutheran Church on the previous Sunday evening.

Dr. A. B. Madden, aged 32 years, died at his residence in Loudon on March 29.

Asks why the United States has not yet put to work the former slaves on the government's fortifications.

Points out that the bill to free the slaves in the District of Columbia was authored by Colonel Keyes of McClellan's staff, a lawyer from Ohio. While still in Ohio, he also drew up the bill giving married women a right to the result of their own labor and the right to hold property in their own name.

Reports that the Senate has unanimously approved the Seward-Lyons treaty that attempts to destroy the "last vestige" of the African slave trade.

Denounces Vallandigham for calling Senator Wade "a liar, a scoundrel, and a coward" and expresses the wish that the resolution of censure of Vallandigham that has been introduced would be transformed into a resolution of expulsion and then passed.

Speculates that in many portions of the South, Southerners are not aware of the Union victories that have occurred because of "misrepresentation" of these victories by "the rebel leaders."