The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-25
New York, Saturday, May 20. 1851.
THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.


THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.
The comparative quiet which characterized the
condition Of affairs at the seat OF war for the past
few days, was broken yesterday morning by the
sudden and splendid movement Of thirteen thou
sand federal troops across the Potomac into Wiz
ginia, andthe occupation Of Alexandria, with al
Che brilliant and sad details Of that operation
Tile passage of the troops 10 the still moonlight
morning in complete order, and with punctuality
tast must have gratifed the veteran Commander
in Chief, We give very fully in our news columns
40 day. together with the particulars Of the assas-
tination Of the gallant young commander Of the
New York Fire Zouves, Colonel Ellsworth, at
Alexandria, and demand no comment here. II is
eicieht to say, that the intelligence Of the latter
event has created sensation Of horror and indig-
Yat.on throughout the entire North and will leave
O lasting stain upon the reputation and the cause
Of the Southern insurrectionists.
The disposition of the troops, who, it appears,
entered the city of Alexandra at the different
points and not in solid body, Is as follows:-The
New York Seventh is stationed at the Virginia
tnd of the Long Bridge. The Second New Jersey
regiment is at Reaches Springs, about half mile
1eilitia is posted three miles nearer Alex.
kandria. The Michigan volunteers, the Fire zou-
pyes and Sherman's battery occupy Alexandria.
.he Fifth, Twelfth, Twenty eighth and Sixty
finth New York regiments, together with the
Third and Fourth New Jersey regiments, with two
companies of cavalry and some artillery are
posted at different points along the base and
summit of Arlington Heights, the Sixty ninth
WHO, it was said captured force Of 800 re-
Jels on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
being stationed at the chain bridge. A body Of
federal troops had been advanced towards
Fairfax or Culpepper Court House-the head
quarters Of large force Of the rebel army--thus
outing OF all communication with Richmond, Har
ier's Ferry and other points South on the Alexan
Iiria, Orange and Manassa Gap Railroad. The out
posts OF the rebels are believed to be stationed on
This road, sixty.two miles from Alexandria The
body Of cavalry captured by the Michigan volun-
iesrs while attempting to make their escape from
Alexandra, are composed Of gentlemen's corps
from Fairfax, and were handsomely uniformed,
Ilumed and accoutered. They were placed on
board steamer and sent TO Washington, there to
be dealt with as traitors.
We may expect to hear some startling news
from the vicinity of sewali's Point very soon.
General Butler left Fortress Monroe yesterday for
Shat place with four thousand men on propellers,
Gor the purpose of demolishing the Notifications
there, and landed at Lynnhayen. Commodore
Etringham, with the frigates Minnesota and
Cumberland, Is to conduct the attack from
Che water side. II has been ascertained with
erected by the rebels near Norfolk and that there
fre Is, 900 troops located between that city and
Eewall's Point, 30 that General Buffers men may
expect sharp brush with the enemy. Sewall's
Point is commanded by Captain Colquit, formerly
p graduate of West oint.
There were $4,000 rebel troops reported to be
IN Richmond yesterday, and additional forces were
arriving every hour from the South.
We learn from Charleston that there are, beyond
doubt, $500 rebel troops between Point Of Rocks
and williamsport being the outposts Of the force
at Harpers Ferry. These are composed Of 1000
Nirginians, and the rest are companies from Ala.
bama, Mississippi, Georgia and the Carolinas, in
GLIDING 300 Cherokee Indians from North Carolina,
In full war costume, with tomahawks and scalping
knives. Great fears are consequently entertained
"a the Cumberland valley Of torsy upon the cattle
In that locality.
A rumor was prevalent in Baltimore yesterday
evening that an attack had been made on Hsr.
rer's Ferry by a body OF Federal troops, The
coal trains had been stopped at that point, and
none arrived In Baltimore during the day. No
confirmation Of this report, however, has reached
va at the present writing, though It Is not at all
nnlikely that some movement Of the kind took
place in that quarter.
The news from Missouri Is important, and may
be considered as final disposition Of that State
10 the Union BY compact entered into between
General Harvey, Of the federal army, aud General