The New York herald., 1861-12-05
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
MAsHlNGYoN. Dec. 4. 1851

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1851.
OPERATIONS AT THE ouTPosTs OF THE ARMY.
General Fitzohn Porter reports to headquarters that
early yesterday morning he arranged with Generals
Mccall Hancock and Wadsworth to scout the country
from Vienna TO Hunters NILS, and sent out four hun
dred men Of the Second Maine regiment under Iete an
Colonel varney and hundred sharpshooters Of tho
Twenty second Massachusetts, under Major Tiiton to be
specially stationed. General Porter followed them a,
atcr hour with the Third Pennsylvania cavalry all under
command Of Colonel Averi. The whole coiaaand re-
turned ard Colonel Avcriil reports that while pairong
tho country, and beyond Vienna to Hunters Nils
no enemy was seen except two small PARTIES
ono OF Three persons, beyond Vienna, and one
nearly two miles beyond Hunters Mills, neither Of
which could he get closer No enemy has been the
gion visited by Colonel Averill since Sunday He ex
presses great satisfaction the in which oil par
ties acted to-day, and thinks Captain Ee fortunate
In not losing his whole squadron upon his
last week the party which attacked and pursued him
Is known to have been over Ave times his number.
General Wadsworth guarded the road from Fair
fax Court House to Vienna; General Hancock near Wal
TORS Mill, and General Mccall had foragng party on
Difficult run, and discovered enemy A dense smoke
of camp fires was gcen rising from Germantown,
rear Of Frying Pam
General Hancock tecgraphs from the headquarters OF
General Smiths division to headquarters that yeser-
day boy, working Mrs. Waltors' near Walters Mill
beyond ho Alexandria and Lccsburg turnpike, who had
worked for her daughter in Germ antown has just arrived
from that place. He was weea in getting through the
enemy lines. He says the enemys scouting parties
see habtualy the old piekets each of which
quirod 10 mako scout after coming off picket duty Hc
also states that there regiment infantry Of
about one thousand at Germantown week since
but considerable force this side OF Cenircvilic.
They often come down in force and 60 back
again. This regiment Germantown, with the cavalry he
ates does all the picket duty in this region. When no
at Centrevie, three weeks since tho report among
these troops that they had seventy eighty thou
sand mon, all between Centrevie and Bull run, with
few troops road loading to Manassas. At that time
two South Carolina regiments and battery 80
South the following saturday There great deal
OF i'll feeling existing between the Virginia and South Ca
ona troops in consequence of the determination OF the
latter return homc. The boy states that there
troops at Fairfax OF that General Hancock thinks
the boy states the truth.
Our scouts up to last night report that enemy
could bo in the vicinity Of Walters Mil.
No enemy has been in that direction sun
day night, and then at the Union schooholse
this side Of the turnpike and between Peacock Hill and
General McCati's lines there considerable force
which remained all night.
Ono woek ago to day large force Of cavalry and in.
fantry mlrched from Hunters Mill, passed Walters Mi
and ten to the oligate and still another in the
wards General McCais lines The people in the neigh
berhood supposed they remained there all night.
Information has reached this city tonight that Of
advance pickes driven in at AnnandaIe this a
ternooa force Immediately sent pursuit Of the
rebels, but they bu, they had disappeared.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION IN CONGRESS-.
The irrepressibe Niger has occupied most Of the at
Of the Senate and House Of Representatives
day.
senator TrumbuM win offer his bill Tomorrow and
support il in speech providing for the confscaton Of
all properly belonging to rebels, and protecting oil pro.
perty bo,ongng to loyasts. Tho radicals in Congress
will finally settle down upon the principles Of this bill
Notwithstanding somc Of them now shouting for the
entirc abolition of slavery everywhere.
TBE REposTED DISAGREEMENT IN THE CABINET.
There is class Of people in this city who employ their
time in nvcnting falsehoods and circulating them aud
any Of those reports reach the newspapers the in
thereof chuckle In their sleeves and boast that
they have sold somebody Yesterday and last night the
Of persons alluded to started the absurd report that
here had been in the Cabinet that the quarrel
was chiefly between Seward and Cameron; that the
FORMER announced his intention to resign il Ca
neron's report was not changed, and that Came
ron sworc no would resign II 1t was; and, finally
hat IL was agreed that 1t should be partially al
erod that Cameron submitted gracefully and harmony
was restored This whole statement was an invention o
fellow who had been snubbsd by Gen. Cameron, be
the latter had refused to comply with the formers
demands contracts. The falsiner sent for by
government: ofcer and properly reprimanded. That the
Messagc and reports examined and properly dis
kussed Is the practice in such cases Is true some
we're perhaps modified but that the best Of good feeling
prevailed between the President and different members
f tho Cabinet and that such feeling exists now, Is
positive and well known fact.
yIsIT OF GENERAL MCMILLAN TO BALTIMORE TO
MEET HIS WIFE ASD DAUGHTER.
At eleven O. clock this morning engine and elegant
ar attached left the Washington depot for Bahimors
Two persons occupied the Cal, lady and the other
gentleman Tho latter about Eve feet six, stou
buils, sandy complexion, with handsome mous.ach,
md imperial. he was dressed in plain black suit Th
ady was the vito Of one OF General NcCeilan's staff
he special tran as 1t passed the principal military
ions attracted the attention of the troops who wer
offering about They gazed at the occupants Of the car
upposing them tobe soe distinguished strangers iron
broad.
The train arrived at Baltimore, where the parties wer
meet friends from the West An explosion of locomo
i've on the Western road, causing tho instant death