The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-12
New York, Monday, August IL, 1861.
THE SITUATION.


has been gathered from letters received by friends
of the prisoners and statements of those who have
effected their escape. General Mcdowell, in his
official report, places the figures of missing at
1,2l6. The total number of prisoners in the
hands Of the rebels is ascertained to be GAO
leaving a balance Of SIC to be accounted for.
Many of these are supposed to have returned to
:. their homes; some may be working on farms in
Virginia or Maryland, and many of them may yet
turn up, will be shortly published aeserters.
Our list of names, as far as we have been able to
complete it, numbers 24O.
The Secretary Of War has addressed On impor.
tant letter to General Butler respecting the dispo-
sition of fugitive slaves seeking protection at his
hands He states that it is the desire of the Presi
dent that all existing rights in all the States be
fully respected and maintained. The war now
prosecuted on the part Of the federal government
is war for the Union, for the preservation of all
constitutional rights of States and the citizens of
the States in the Union. Hence no question can
arise as to fugitives from service within the
States and Territories in which the authorities of
the Union is fully acknowledged. Buthe says that
in the States wholly or in part under insurrec.
tionary control, where the laws of the United
States are 80 far opposed and resisted that they
cannot be efectually enforced, it is obvious that
the rights dependent upon the execution of those
laws must temporarily fall and it is equally
obvious that the rights dependent on the
laws of the State within which military
operations are conducted must be necessarily
subordinate to the exigencies created by the in
surrection, if not wholly forfeited by the treason.
able conduct of parties claiming thom. To this
the general rule of right to services forms an ex-
ception. The act Of Congress approved August
6, 1861, declares that if persons held to service
shall be employed in hostility to the United States
the right to their services shall be forfeited and
such persons shall be discharged therefrom. 1t
can be recognized by the military authority
Of the Union for the services of such per.
sons when fugitives. With respect to the slaves
of loyal masters, Mr. Cameron says that careful
record should be kept of the name and description
of such fugtives, in order that Congress may pro-
vide for q just compensation for their services
not to permit any interference by his troops with
the slaves of peaceful citizens nor encourage them
to leave the service of their masters nor prevent
the voluntary return of any fugtives to those from
whom they may have escaped.
Our bockadng squadron have succeeded in re-
capturing another vessel seized by the rebels, and
at the same time reducing the list of privatecrs by
the destruction of one of them. The Quaker City
brought up to Fortress Monroe yesterday the
schooner George G. Baker, of Galveston,
Texas, with rebel prize crew Of four
men on board in irons. The history of
this schooner is somewhat curious. It APP
pears that she was captured some time ago by one
of the United States bockading squadron off Gal.
weston, and sent to New York with prize crew of
United States sailors on board On Saturday morn
ing, while ofCape Hatteras, the privateer York fell
in with her. captured her, and put prize crew on
board. Soon after, the United States gun
boat Union overhaulcd the prvatccr York,
fred into her and burned her. The crew,
however, after scuttling her. made their
escape in boats, and the Union pursued and took
possession of the schooner Baker, which she soon
after transferred to the care of the Quaker City,
who brought her to Fortress Monroe. The crew
Of United States seamen originally put on board
the Baker remain in the hands of the prvateer's
crew, and we are as yet uuacquainted with their
names.
The Spanish Minister waited upon the Secretary
Of State yesterday, and gave him official informa
ton that the seven American vessels captured by
the rebel privateer Sumter and sent as prizes into
Cienfuegos, Cuba had been discharged from that
port, by order of the Spanish government.
The houses remaining from the confagraton at
Hampton have not since been destroyed by Gen.
Magruder's troops. The rebel forces are said to
be located in numbers in the vicinity Of Big Bethel
We publish on our first page to-day correct
map Of those interesting points around Cairo ant.
in southeastern Missouri which have been the
scenes of many stirring exploits by General Lyon
and the officers under him, and which are destined
yet to prove highly important portion of the
theatre of war in the West. 1t will be seen by the
description accompanying the map that there are
$4,000 rebels now posted at different points
within fifty miles Of Cairo. The main OBJ.
ject Of these forces is to get possession of the
Iron, ooPo. and lead regions--for the South needs
lead ->n' .a' probably t. advance on Jefferson