The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-12
THE SITUATION.

Now York, Thursday, September IL, 1861.
THE SITUATION.
The news from Kentucky is very important and
highly gratifying. The Legislature has adopted
resolution directing the Governor to Issue pro.
clamation ordering the robel troops now, encannea
IN that State to evacuate the soil of Kentucky.
Ahe resolution was passed by seventy-one yeas
gafnst twei,ty-six nays. A counter resolution Or
bring both Union and rebel troops to leave the
Epil was negatved under the rules Of order. This
cotton of the Legislature demonstrates the LOYALTY
a Kentucky to the Union, without the slightest
shadow of question or contradiction.
A reconnaissance party started from the Chain
Bridge yesterday morning at seven o'clock, under
the charge of Colonel Stevens OF The Seventy-nntl
New York State Militia. As the skrmshers adj
vanced the rebel pickets retired beyond Lewins-
Vile, which is situated at about seven miles from
the starting point. The object of the party having
peen accomplished, they began to retrace their
steps, but the rebels were determined they should
not do this without some Suffering They therefore
sent far superior force Of infantry, with cavalry
and artillery to out them off, while line of battle
was formed by the remainder of their forces.
Their battery opened with SHE'LL to which CAPTAIN
Griffin replied. Several rounds were fred ON either
side, when our troops ceased firing SO as to allow
the rebels to advance ont of the woods in which
they were concealed if they dared, in order to
have an open field fight. But to this the rebels
would not agree, therefore q thirty.two FOUNDER
was brought into action; the shell om wIIlo soou
silenced the rebel battery. Captain Griffin next
gave the rebel cavalry, which had made their ap-
pearance on the road to Falls Church, specimen
OF his skill, and soon sent them flying, some with
empty saddles, the shells burst in their midst.
The command then withdrew and reached the
Chain Bridge in good order. General Smith ar
rived on the ground soon after the engagement
commenced and at once assumed the command.
Charles Henry Foster, claiming to be a Congress
man elect from North Carolina, called upon the
President yesterday, and rendered the services of
brigade of loyalists for the war.
From Cairo tidings have been received of an
engagement between the Union gunboats Canes
toga and Lexington, and the rebel forces. The
vessels encountered battery of sixteen guns at
Lucas bend, on the Missouri shore, near Columbus.
Near the battery were two rebel gunboats. The
Union vessels silenced the rebel batteries and
disabled one of their gunboats, the Yankee, which
would have been captured, but from the srrong
support which she received from the shore when
opposite Columbus at which place there are If
teen thousand rebels in camp, and reinforcements
arriving rapidly.
At Fortress Monroe vigorous measures are being
taken for fitting out expeditions from Old Point to
the Southern coast and the military department
has, under General Wool, attained to high state
of efficiency in discipline, the troops being impa
tient for an engagement with the rebels.
Renforcements and supplies have teen forwarded
to Hatteras Inlet, at which place General Reynolds
has been appointed to the chief command.
The batteries at Aqua Creek are reported to OK.
tend for about six miles along the coast to be in
good condition, and to be able to throw shell
from their rifed guns to the opposite shore-a dis
lance of four miles. About fifteen thousand rebels
are estimated as the force in this vicinity.
The Pensacola dry dock has been entirely de-
stroyed by re-at least it is so reported by rebel
newspaper.
Fort Lafayette continues to receive visitors, and
30 pressing is the host, who is always at home,
that his guests should stay for short time that
the parties are compelled to accept his hospitali-
ties almost against their will.
The intelligence gathered from the files and let
tiers from Bermuda gives information of suspi-
cious schooner being or those shores but novs
has been received in town that the privaeer Sum
ter, which was last reported at Trinidad, seeking a
supply of coal, had again commenced operations
among the West India Islands. The required fuel
is said to have been supplied by merchants at Port
Spain, with the approval of the Attorney General
After shipping the coal the Sumter proceeded to
sea, and soon after captured four American ships
dad for the Northern ports of the United States
1t is quite time this rebel craft was either captured
sunk or wrecked.
Our readers will be facilitated in their efforts TO
understand the relative positions of the hostile
armies on the Potomac by an excellent man
of that region, which is published in this davis
HERALD, showing all the pointe of r,;t;toru to-,
lance from Harper's Ferry, on the northwest, to
Fort Washington in the southeast The area
'here represented is abou. forty miles from north
p south, by thirty miles from west to east The
decisive conflict in the present war will be fouyb,
there, and that probably within the presen,
Eeek. The map is, therefore, necessity of the
hour.