The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-01
Over Six Hundred Thousand Union
Soldiers in the Field.
Secretary CamerOn'S Position Oh the
Emancipation Question.
Reports from Gen. Stones and Gen.
1osecrans' Divisions.
Dissatisfaction Among the Rebel Troops on
the Upper Potomac,

WASHINGTON, Nov 30, 1851
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF wAR,-HIs POSI-.
TON ON THE EMANCIPATION QUEsrION-PUBLIC
ACTION OF CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT.
The report Of the Secretary OF War is completed Is
carefully written document and highly creditabs TO
Secretary Cameron. II gives detailed view OF the army
showing that have al the present time over six hun
dred thousand troops in the service points with CON
siderable force to the fact that Notwithstanding the i'm
army has been in so short time that It is
spendidly appointed and In fine condition for the field
and what BETTER that the disposition Of the people in
very loyal State Is 70 rush to in overwhelming
numbers.
Secretary Cameron defines his position on the slavery
question He says distinctly that every agency employ
cd by the rebels TO destroy tho federal when
II falls into hauds matter what may be- should
be Immediately turned against them that contraband
negroes should be put work Notifications construct,
ing bridges engaged hostlers wagoners horseshoers
&c &C., and that they should be paid FOR their labor He
Is opinion that under circumstances should any slave
who belongs to rebel master be returned either before
or after the
From present appearances, proposition will be brought
before Congress authorizing each commanding General rs
he advances into any rebel State to issue
to tho people thereof, that after the expiration
Of . brief period, to be named tina, property
Jaws Of the State in which such proclamation is issued
shall be con1scated If tho owner thereof under such
State laws does within the time mentioned take the
oath of allegiance TO tho federal government.
Reconnaissance TOWARDS MANASSAS
gentleman who arrived from the Virginia sdo Of tho
Potomac to-day states that the Fifty seventh Sixty
first regiments Of New York-the latter commanded by
Colonel Cone-made a reconnaissance from Springfield
which is nine miles from Alexandria, on Thursday, and
went three miles and a half beyond pckets towards
Manassas, when, discovering rebel force numbering it
is supposed eight thousand men, they returned to their
starting point, reaching it in good order and without
casualties
REPORTS FROM THE REBEL CAMPs-pfssArisrsc ACTION
or THE REBEL SOLDIERS.
The following despatch from General Stone, gives the
ss the statement of the rebel desertcr whose arrival
at General stones headquarters was mentioned in the
HrRALD's dispatches yesterday
PooIEsLnlK, Nov. rs, 1861.
TO MAO. GENERAL McCIELLAN-
Yesterday deserter came In. from the Mississippi
Twenty first regiment at the risk OF his life Two others
OF the regiment and company impiored officer
bearing flag OF truce to bring them with him
Or course he could not make such of
white flag. u s represented that nearly dozen in
that company wish TO leave. The reasons given are,
neglect when sick, and want Of proper food The total
force in the vicinity Of Leesburg Mt for duty repre-
scned to be about 600 There from 600 500 sick
There are two companies OF lrsnen in the Twenty first
Mississippi regiment, represented to be greatly dissats
fed 1nforners say there are no troops between Man
sas Junction and Goose creek. on Gun Spring road.
G. p. STONE, Brgadier General.
NEWS FROM GEN. R0sEcRANs' DIVISION.
Dispatches have been received at the army head
quarters from Gen. Rosecrans. They give details OF
interest Gen Rosecrans still occupying his old po-
stion. Gen. Benham had been placed under arrest
understood here for permitting the escape OF the rebel
Floyd and his gang.
CAPTURE OF TWO scHooSERs By THE REBEL
STEAMER PAGE.
Captain Mister Of the oyster soop Broom that escaped
the cluthes Of the Page Thursday night, confirms tho
statement OF Captain Paul He says be the Page take
two schooners into Quantco creek. One loaded with
coal and the other with lumber for the government The
coal vessel had white bottom, and he supposcs her
be the John Francis, Of Baltimore. There we're four
vessels opposite the batteries that night besides the Della
One &C them, oyster boat has not yet up
TEE Foley OF THE GOVERNMENT REsPEC TING COAST
AND LAKE DEFENcEs.
The correspondence between the Cabinet and the au
thoritcs Of tho State Of Maine ofth the policy of
the administration the subject OF and lake de-
fences, and the viii be made the subject Of spc
cia message 70 Congress Hence the Secretary State
has declined the reques, Of the Governors Of other States
its publication IL is understood however, that the
federal government will accept the loan Of money from
to be expended by the federal government and REIN
bnrsed within reasonable time, for which government
bonds Time TO be issucd
REPORTED CAPTURE or A CARGO OF WAR MUNITIONS
FROM CANADA.
Authentic information has beer received here that
small light draft Canadian steamer has been seized Off
the coast OF Maine By United States CATER
me steamer had board about ten Thousand sprin!e!d
msksts clothing boots bank paper caps and munitions
OF war She was cleared from Canada, and the cargo
was consigned TO parties in the Southern states.
ARRIVALS OF CONGRESSMAN, INCLUDING SENATOR
POWELL, OF KENTUCKY, AND GREEN, or MISSOURI.
There evidently LEGS excitement than heretofore
the OF the reassemblipG Of Congress, and compare
Ii, ely fewer arrivals Of members, among whom is sena
tor Powell, Of Kentucky.
Among The Congressional arrivals tonight were Soma
tors Hale sumner Thompson Ioster, siminors, Dixon
resscnden Morrill, King and Ten Eyek and Representa-.
tvcs Blair Hickman, Train, WALL Pike, fesscnden,
BAXTER Rice of Maine, Merritt, Watcu, CuESlin Horton
sneilsld ana Law. Nearly vi. The members Of both
Houses from tho oyalSta,cs arc aireacy here
Senator Green Of Missouri tnynci up IN Washington
to-day TO the surprise OF every loyal citizen IL is said
lie IS on parole
y;ce.rrcsident Hunlin aud family arrived this morn
GENERAL CALEB CUSHING.
a strong eHort Dtctl making t1le lntca friends
OF Caleb cushing to induce the President appoint that
egratc statesman TO the position Of Brigadcr General IN
the arm. bat IL has not aud probably will done
Caobs record is not sufficiently clean IL is thought TO
en,rukt him with brigade Of loyllists
TESTING THE ELLSWORTH cANNoN.
The twenty Ellsworth gans which arrived here this
week from Worcester, Nass tested the Arsenal
to-day under the Supervision Of Colonel nns bury OF
General McClean's star, with tho most satisfactory
results 1t found that their range AZ i've degrees
elevation about Two miles al ten degrees three Aes
at twenty degrees tho balls went oUt II sight u is
claimed that expert fire of these grrs twenty
times minute, This battery was ordered by the 60
vsnment about tho LIST Of October ut Some cf them
are be assigned 10 General Parks. These guns are
named after the lamened Colonel Ellsworth, because he
was tho first to order the for his regiment.
DESTRUCTION OF sUrLEH's RsTABLTsHsENT By FIRE.
Ore occurred night 10 the centre Of the city de-
s,royirg suffers establishment with one or two horses
II was extnguished mainly by the efforts OF soldiers.
This es another evidence Of the neciency Of the Wash
in,on re department and the necessity Of new orsaD
cation.
THE WORLDS FAIR IN LONDON.
wor dc Eufr ba, hpa0