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October 31.1862

s Gazette.

NUMBER 26,311.

THE REBEL INVASION OF KENTUCKY.

The Lexington (Ky.) Observer and Reporter, which was suspended during the rebel occupation of that town, has reappeared. It is filled with accounts of the rebel rule at that place. One of them headed "Six weeks in Dixie," is worth perusal.
It is quite jolly to hear the negro minstrels sing of Dixie-"look away! look away!" etc., but to live there, is a very different thing. We have had six weeks experience of Dixie-life, and understand it pretty well. On the 2d day of September, 1862, Lexington, Ky., was suddenly transported into that fairy-land and so remained until the 14th of October; and we being a resident of said city, and at home, of course became, however much against our will, for the time, a Dixieite. The change was so rapid - so sudden - unexpected and unprepared for,that at first we could hardly realize it, but in a few days we felt thoroughly satisfied of the stubborn truth, and used every exertion to become familiar with the new locality and its new faces. 
We should like to give in our experience - to tell all we saw and heard, and picture forth some memorable scenes - but all of this would occupy too much space in our columns; and just merging from the hurly-burly which has recently surrounded us, we doubt our capacity to do justice to the subject, and shall for the present attempt but a bird's-eye glance. There are others who have had more enlarged experience than we have, who could do more justice to the interesting theme, and perhaps will, particularly our dealers in boots and shoes, hats, and woolen goods generally. The pleasures of Dixie business transactions have been made quite familiar to them, as the piles of trashy currency left in their hands in payment for their valuable commodities by ragged armies can amply testify. 
The entrance of Kirby Smith’s army fairly and at once transported us to the dream-land Dixie. The whole city, as if through the wave of a magician’s wand, seemed to awake as from a quiet dream, if not in a new loca[[???]] at least with new surroundings. Everything assumed a new phase. The beautiful lawn surrounding the court house was almost instantly converted into a stable yard, and the house itself into something very like a hostelry. Carriages, carts and wagons, freighted with holiday dresses, decked with Dixie flags and streamers, poured into the streets from all directions. Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford, Scott, and all the surrounding counties, sent in their delegations with ribbons and shouts, whilst hosts of women and children of the city lined the sidewalks with welcoming smiles - waving of flags and kerchiefs and words of cheer, as the mud-colored uniforms marched through the streets. Then, as if by the work of magic, the "s'ars and bars," the white and red, floated from all the public buildings - Gen. Smith was master of the situation, and we were Dixieites.
After we had become somewhat familiar with the strange faces that thronged the thorough[[?]]ares - outside of the mud-colored uniforms - and matters had quieted down somewhat, the following proclamation from the Dixie chief made its appearance. [And just here let us say, that we entertain a very high regard for General Smith; because during his stay among us, he bore himself as a soldier and gentleman; and if the bogus government which he is so faithfully serving fails to provide food and raiment for his men, it is not his fault.]

Here is the first bulletin:

Kentuckians! the army of the confederate States has again entered your territory, under my command. Let no one make you believe we come as invaders, to coerce your will, or to exercise control [[not visible]] your soil - far from it. The [[not visible]]


BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.
FOR THE N. AMERICAN & U.S. GAZETTE.

FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

An Unknown Ship Burned.

Fortress Monroe, Oct. 29. - The Baltimore boat Georgiana, Capt. Pearson, arrived here at 8 o'clock this morning. Capt. Pearson reports that about two o'clock this morning he saw the light of a burning ship, which was about twenty-five miles distant. At four o'clock Capt. Pearson sent a boat to the burning ship. Just before it reached her the mizzen mast fell, and the ship was so much burned that her name could not be made out. Her lifeboats were all gone, and she was at anchor, with her two quarter boats on deck, bottom up. There was no one on board and no one in hailing distance. The ship being at anchor, leads to the conclusion that she had been fired and deserted. There are a variety of rumors afloat here respecting the ship. Some facts make it appear as if there had been a mutiny on board, while some persons think that the rebels have committed the act.
The steamer Metamora, left Fortress Monroe at noon for Aiken's Landing. She only took up four chaplains and three doctors for exchange. The Maple Leaf arrived here this afternoon, but did not bring the 200 rebel prisoners as was expected from Fort McHenry. The last lot of rebels prisoners sent to Aiken's Landing was not responded to by the confederate government, and that may be the reason for the detention of the prisoners at Fort McHenry.
The gunboat Miami arrived at Fortress Monroe this afternoon, and now lies at the government wharf taking on board heavier guns than she has heretofore carried.

THE MERRIMAC  NO. 2.

Fortress Monroe, Oct. 29. - A man who says he was taken prisoner by the rebels several months ago, and who finally succeeded in obtaining his release, publishes the following account of the rebel steamer Merrimac No. 2:
I have been at Richmond for some time. During my stay I went on board the Merrimac No. 2. She is thoroughly and heavily clad with iron, and in every way a tough customer. She has yet but one gun on board, but the other guns were ready when I left and the rebels were about placing them on board. They intended to have them all mounted in three weeks. Her machinery works well, and she can easily make eight miles an hour. The rebels have every confidence in her capability, and are certain that she will prove a success. When the people of the north hear that the Merrimac No. 2 is a failure, and that the rebels declare her to be so, then they may expect her out to do all the damage she can. Their intention is to delude and deceive as much as possible so as to take us napping. For this reason a rebel officer made the remark that the obstructions of the James river at Fort Darling had been removed, intending evidently to convey the idea that the obstructions had been removed to let the Merrimac out.

The Baltimore Arrests.

Baltimore, Oct. 30. - The loyal citizens arrested on Tuesday night and sent down the bay have no yet been released.

Governor Bradford had gone to Washington to see the President. He has demanded the uncond[[cutoff]]