The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-05
New York, Thursday, December 5, 1861
THE SITUATION.


For several days past scouting parties from the
divisions of Generals Porter, Smith and Hancock
have been searching the country on the Virginia
side of the Potomac in the direction Of Vienna and
Hunters Mills, without finding any force Of the
enemy in that region.
smart engagement is said to have occurred on
Monday, about FIVE miles above Newport News
between the United States gunboats Hetzel, sey.
monr, Whitehead and Shawnee and the rebel
steamer Patrick Henry. The fight lasted for two
hours, but as the rebel vessel kept pretty well ont
of range of the gunboats, and was protected by a
battery on shore, she suffered no damage, as far az
can be ascertained.
We are in possession of some more rebel ac.
counts Of rumorcd conflicts on the Southern coast
With regard to the reported attack on Fort Pu.
laski the Savannah Republican Of the 2eth ultino
says that the cannonadng Of the feet was dis
modore Tatnall, with his little rebel squadron had
arrived at Savannah quite disab,ed but as the
United States transport McCleand, which has re
Gently arrived here, left Tybce Island on the same
date as the publication of the Savannah paper,
and brings no report Of an attack on Fort Pu.
laski, it is very probable that the firing alluded to
was caused by the engagement between Tatnall's
Mosquito feet and gunboats. From
the same Southern source we are informed
that Nassau, Oh the Georgia coast had been taken
possession Of by the Union army, and large
amount Of unhulled rice and uninjured cotton had
fallen prey to them. The planters are destroy
ing their cotton as fast possible, when unable TO
carry it into the interior. Bands Of Union men
were forming in the mountains, and negro insur.
rection was deemed probable and imminent. The
wealthy families Of Savannah were flying to Macon
and Atlanta, they have been led to believe that
"dishonor, if not death, awaits every female that
may remain, should the city be captured" 1t is
also stated that the Georgia troops at Richmond
and Petersburg had formally demanded to be sent
homo by the government.
General Rosecrans and his staff arrived ut
Wheeling yesterday to take up their winter quar-
tiers. The General has been offered his choice of
several rebel residences for his winter home II is
probable that the campaign in Western Virginia is
therefore at on end for the present
The Legislature Of Maryland organized yester-
day and received the Governors Message, in which
he declared strongly for tho Union; says that re-
belon must be put down, and that Maryland must
bear her share in the good work at whatever cost
He also recommends summary punishment upon
rebels within the State.
The City of Baltimore brings some very i'm
portant details of her own Geographic reports
concerning American affairs in Europe to the
2lst ult.
The allied treaty against Mexico provides that
England, France and Spain shall "seize" oil the
fortresses and military positions the Gulf coast
Of the republic. The London Times sees in the
Mexican expedition turning Of the tide from the
doctrine of manifest destny'' which has so long
prevailed on this side, and argues that the United
states cannot but view the presence of European
troops on the continent of North America with
feelings of modification and dstrust.
In an editorial on the great naval expedition to
the rebel States, the London Times regards it
rather as an expcdent Of the Cabinet to satisfy the
people than scheme devised by military cenius
In the same article the Times says that 'by dis
missing General Fremont the government repudi.
atcs the designs attributed to it by its friends on
the other side of the Atlantic. Mr.. Lincoln re.
mains true to his promises and to the American
constitution, and both these bind him to support
the slave laws with which General Fremont would
venture to tamper."
Mr.. Beresford Hope, NJ. F., in lecture at