The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-22


No more Developments relating TO the arrest of
Mason and Sdell have been made in Washington
pending the arrival Of the Americas mails II il
thought, however, that the instructions to Lord
Lyons received by the Europa are complete
though nothing definite appears as vet to have
resulted from them
We publish to-day further particulars of the
brilliant skirmish Of General McCait's division.
under General Ord at Drainesye. which we
illustrate with An excellent map of the locality
Our account includes list of the killed and
wounded in the action
Everything in the vicinity of Williamsport in
Gen. Banks department is reported quiet. In the
recent attack on Dam No. s no less than four hun
dred shells were thrown by the rebels. many of
them being of the latest British patent, Notwti
standing the heavy fire which the rebels brought
to bear upon the dam it was not DESTROYED
The rebel batteries on the Lower Potomac con.
tnue their artillery practice the vessels passing
up aud down the river but only to demonstrate
their inability to do any damage. During yester.
day and the day before the whole line of batteries
Kept up continuous fire upon the propellers and
schoonors bound up and down the river, but al
though the expenditure of shot and shell was ex.
fravagant, they did not succeed in arrestine the
progress OF single vessel or in hitting any one of
them.
A despatch was received by General Mcclellan
yesterday from General Halleck, dated at St.
Louis, stating that Captain Woods scouting party
has returned from Rolla. 1t pursued the enemy
south of Houston, killed one of them, and brought
in Major as prisoner Of war. About one hun
dred of Prices men were captured and released
on parole the scouting party not being able to
bring them in.
i We give in full to-day the official report OF Gen
eral Phelps of his landing at Ship Island in the
Mississippi Sound He states that on the It'll inst
{the latest date of his reporD, the New London
and De Soto were engaging the rebels vessels in
the direction of New Orleans.
The Kentucky Legislature, sitting at Frankfort
has passed q resolution through both houses thank.
ing the President for his modification of General
Fremonts proclamation aud Secretary Caneron's
report, and requesting hiin 20 dismiss Mr.. Cameron
from his Cabinet.
The America at Halifax yesterday, with news
from Europe to the sth instant, reports that the
feeling for war with the United States on the qucs.
ton of the arrest of Mason and SIidc on the
steamer Trent, was then undated in England and
that the preparations Of the government for such
an emergency were on very extensive scale and
carried on with the greatest activity.
The frigate Warrior had taken her coal on board
preparatory to setting gu, for North America,
and the Hero (eighy-six guns) was TO leave Ports
mouth on the sth instant for the same destination
Several battalions of infantry, with division of
artillery, were also under orders for Canada, and
additional transport steamers had been chartered
Tor the conveyance as well as that of large
quantities Of Armstrong guns and other munitions
Of war.
Inc most exciting scene which has been wit
messed in the Tower Of London for many wears
took place on the occasion of the packing and
forwarding of the huge supplies of war material
ordered for immediate shipment at the naval
ports. The men worked a Saturday night and
all through the Sunday, and the amounts ordered
were, as will be seen ready in an extraordinary
short space Of time,
Both the London and Paris press agree in stating
That the instructions sent out TO Lord Lyons were
simple and terse, and couched in firm and con
,ciliatory language, being merely demand for the
h. -,
eurrender Of the men or an announcement Of hi.
immediate departure from Washington.
9he Paris journals agaa s:s1sf-. .-s az. .
S1r ~sc -