New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-04
The Distinction Between Regulars
and Volunteers.
THE NEW CONFISCATION ACT.
fen. Mcclellan and Fugitive Slaves.
ipecial Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribune.


ton Of the road west from the old Court
House to Vienna, for the purpose OF cutting
off 1000 cavalry which daily makes its appear
ance in and about Hunters Mills. The force
numbered about $500 men. The Dist and
23d Now.York regiments, the first commanded
by Lieut.. C.. w. Wadsworth, a con OF the
General Of that name and the latter by Lieut..
Cross advanced about II O'Clock Last night.
They marched to within "a miles of the Court
House, and saw nothing Of the enemy. Gen.
PortsE;e troops consisted of two regiments oi
Infantry, anu cavalry force of 300 men, ui'
der the command of Col. Ayerill and Lieut.
] Col. Owens. Col. Owens, with squadron VI
cavalry, was in the advance gong as 'af Us
Hunters Mills. At distance .. WV '''''
twenty Of the enemy were de,cred. They
kept out of range. The force of Gems. Smiths
and McCall's divisions was composed of about
I 5000 men, infantry and cavalry. The enemy
not appearing at any of the points to which
ne marched, the troops returned at late hour
dur,n.g the evening
FALLS CHURCH HOSPITAL.
Fall, Church is about being converted into a
hospital, under tho supervision Of Brigade-Sur'
geon Gen. Pineo.
REPORTs BY REBfi DEsERTER.
On Sunday evening Private james Welsh,
lst Regiment Virginia Volunteers, came within
our lines Two months ago he was at Rich
mond. That city, he says, is converted into a
hospital. Thousands Of soldiers have been
living sick at that point. Beapregard was at
Fairfax Court-House last week, and promised
that the Secession troops should be in Wash
ington this Winter. He represents that the
troops are but poorly clad, and much diSsatis-
faction exists among them. The facts of the
capture Of Slidell aud Mason, and the capture
Of Beaufort, were news to him. No news
PAPERS are received by Southern troops. They
are kept in perfect ignorance of the condition
Of matters.
TIF REMOVAL OF THE REBEL CAPITAL.
Notwithstanding the contradiction, via For
tress Monroe, of the report that the rebel
capital is 10 be moved from Richmond to Nash
vile, two Government spies, who arrived from
Richmond yesterday confirm it and say that 1t
created the greatest excitement among the L.
+. vs.. Possibly their rage was so great as to
Brighten JEFF. aud his Congress into recon-
sderation of the project. According to the
information of these and other recent visitors
to Richmond there are from $1,000 to 10000
troops there. This is probably an overesti-
mate although some of these men say that they
counted 5000 themselves, aud that there were
two other bodies Of about the same size en-
camped on the other side of the city.
TIE DISTINCTION BETWEEN REGULARS AND
VOLUNTEERS.
The leading features of Senator Wiknson's
bill abolishing the distinction between regulars
and volunteers, are as follows:
Section first grants all the rights and privileges /
granted TO officers, musicians and privates Of the
regular army OF the United States 10 volunteers of
the same grade, and they to form and be
thereafter considered part OF the regular army.
Section second provides that all volunteer regi- |
menis of foot shall be considered regiments Of In
faniry and shall be numbered IN the series rs
regular regiments of infantry, the oldest volunteer
regiment TO be numbered 10th, and the next Oldest
2lst aud 10 on.
Sections third and fourth apply the principles
teer Cavalry, Seventh Artillery, Sixth.
Section fifth relates 10 promotions. 1t provides
that promotions shall hereafter be made as hereto
FORE except that regard shall be had to the fact
that the vacancy TO be filled occurs In an old "regu-
lar" or a new " volunteer" regiment, or that the
officer to be promoted belongs 10 old or new re-
giment.
Section sixth provides that all commissions issued
by Governors Volunteer officers shall he consld-
cred the same as if issued by the President, and
hall tka dat Qf
commissions
Section seventh requires the President to fll all
vacancies henceforth occurring in volunteer regi-
mentb.
CONFIsCATION.
The bill to be introduced by Mr.. Trumbull
provides for the absolute forfeiture OF oil prop
erty of Rebels who are beyond the reach of
Judicial process. The property in insurrec-
tionary districts is to DO seized and appropri-
ated by military powers. That in the districts
where it can be reached by legal process is to
be confscated through the courts. The pro-
ceeds, after the payment of the expenses and
just claims Of loyal creditors, are to be applied
to reimbursing loyal citizens despoed of their
property by Rebels, and the balance to paying
the expenses Of suppressng insurrection. Rebel
owners of slaves are TO forfeit their right to
them aud the negroes are to become free.
The President is to provide for their coloniza-
ton, if willing to go, in some tropical country
where they will have the protection Of tue
Government.
TAE CASE OF COL. KERRTGAS.
The TRIBUNE is right in discrediting the re-
port that Col. Kerrigan has been sentenced to
be shot. 1t is utterly false. Col. kerrigan
has not yet been tried by court-martial. The
LII -rna IMAM .,.hinh he will he arraiQned ara