The New York herald., 1861-12-18

L.
taste por tho beautiful and artistic. There also
tepsye law horary IN this ROOM which the Secretary
mas roqucnt occasion TO explore, especially with refer
encc to our international affairs So much for tho White
House and its new decorations
THE DEfENcEs OF WASHINGTON.
The following report of General Barnard Chief Er gnocr
OF the Army Of the Potomac reference to he compile
tion Of the defences of Washington has been submitted
to Congress- by Secretary Cameron and referred 10 the
Committee Of Ways and Means -
OrfIcE or CHIEF ENGINEER ARMY or THE PoroMAo,l
Doc. 7, 1851.
GkNKRAI-By letter Of the 9th requested that an i'm
mediate appropriation Of hundred and fifty thousand
dollars be asked for for completing the dercnces OF WASH
ngton. mentioned in that letter that our defensive
system thus far consisted Of about forty eight works
mounting over thrce hundred guns, some Of which
are OF very large size, and may add that the ac-
tual defensive perimeter occupied is about thirty
vs Niles n;,ns,e exceeding tho length Of tho famous
extcmporzed field workslncs OF Torres vedns by
raj miles, The amount which has been expended will
NOT therefore considering the pressure under which the
works nave been built, appear extravagantly large
now remark that in asking for the or hundred
and fy Thousand dollars for completing the deencos Of
Washington, have in mind The fact that many Of the
works have been thrown up In the very face OF the
my, and are deficient in profile, and in many other
respects the system requires auxiliary works TO complete
II, which VIII probably he deemed advisable to under
take early IN tho spring For this reason have asked
the sum OF one hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
ana ior which payment must be made this
month, WI require moro than tho balance
remaining available. Hence the necessity Of an ilnmc-
asns as,s spprSp.aon am very respectfully your obo
Brig. GEN Chief Engineer Army Of the potomac
MAJ oen =. .: MCCLELLAN, Commander in-Chief com
mand'ng Armyoi the Potomac
Respectfully referred 70 the Hon Simon Cameron, So
cretary q War, with the urge nreques that the
aiy steps may be taken 10 this appropriation.
GEO b. MCCLELLAN, Maj Gen. Commanding.
RECONNOISEANCE ,'c
DivIsIoN--sHooTING OF LIEUTENANT JANEvILLE.
reconnaissance was made 70 day by squadron Of
tho FIRST New Jersey cavalry, belonging to General
Heintzlemans division, under command Of Captain
Shellnsu portion Of tho squadron, commanded by
Lieutenant Janeviie, Of Company D. Of Jersey City,
ordered to proceed TO the Bone Mills to the left Of Spring
field station, on the Orange and alexandria Railroad
about seven miles from the headquarters Of General
Heintzleman Tho company thcre halted, when tho
Lieutenant with an orderly proceeded Two miles beyond
On attempting to return they found themselves sur.
rounded by rebel infantry The Lieutenant was shot in
six Places and the horse OF the orderly killed The or
dery made his escape The company In reserve hearing
the firing proceeded to render assistance and on its
approach the enemy hed leaving the Lieutenant behind
after robbing him of his small arms and nearly all his
clothing. He was brought into camp, and still alive
at eight O'Clock to night.
sKIRAlSH BETWEEN GEN. BLENKER'S DIVISION AND
THE REnELs-A NuMBER OF REBELS KILLED.
This afternoon the pckets Of Gen. Blenkers division
were driven in BY the enemy. Eenkcr's gallant boys
were soon on the march, anu Tho rebel hirengs wero
driven back in dismay many of the enemy being killed
The reached the city too late night to enter into
details.
Early this morning Captain Johnson Eighth Pennsyl.
vania reserve came to General McCas headquarters,
having been scouting expedition a night with cav
airy company They went far Difficult crock nearly
three miles outside picket lines squad OF mounted
rebels lay in ambush for them, waited until they
advanced within shooting distance, then fred plunged
their spurs into their horses and shortly disappeared
Our men returned the rc and pursued them short dis
tance, and then wheeled about decming it prudent to
return None Of our mon were wounded and, far as
known, the firing on our side was likewise Intellectual.
CAPTURE OF THEE UNION SOLDIERS BY THE REBELS
Yesterday morning eight men, three from the Second
and five from the Fourth New Jersey regiments in Gene
raj Kearneys brigade, General Frankn's division left
thor respective companies, which were on picket
duty at Edeos HI, and went to house
between Bnrke's station and Anandale While
there apparently obedience to signal by the occu-
pant body Of about hundred and fifty rebel cavalry
suddenly caino upon them, and three who In the
house taken prisoners. Their Dennis H.
williamson, whom they wounded Cornelius Lowe and
Hiram r. Parsons all Of the Second regiment The other
Eve escaped.
NEWS FROM THE REBELS.
A man came within General Hentzlcmans lines to-day
who left Alexandria in July for distant Southern
quarters lie stated that he had been living at Char.
ottcsville for tme that rcbo troops had re-
Gently gone South from the army Of the Potomac but
during the last three weeks two Georgia regiments had
been added TO IT, that the sickness in the army great
the average from Manassas and CenrcvAlc being car
load of nvads day conveyed 10 the hospitals Char.
ottesvle that he made three atteps pass the rebel line
before he succeeded making his escape being Obliged 10
the woods in order to avoid skrmishing parties
AFFAIRS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.
The Reliance up from the Potomac otila yester-
day and that rebel batteries are
above those heretofore reported One Of them is nearly
opposite the station Of the noa at Indian Head the
other nearly opposite the mouth of Matawoman creek
AT both batteries heavy guns mounted evidently as
they threw shot over upon the Maryland shore.
The stcamtug Pnssey left Indian Head last night and
reached the Navy Yard early this morning. When she
left the Harriet Lane and Yankee Indian Head
and tho Anacosa Resolute Reliance Jacob Bell Stepping
Stones Murray and the Herbert were between the new
batteries above mentioned and the station Of the rebel
steamer George Page in Quan,ico creek.
The Union, Freeborn and Satellite below Quantico
The Reliance to have run the blockade last night
MOVEMENTS OF SECRETARY SEWARD.
Secretary Seward visited General Porters division
day Tho various brgades going through their usual
daily review at the time but his presence became
known and each; gave him the accustomary compliment
aiuta