The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-01
THE SITUATION.

l.
The history of the mysterious naval expedition
despatched from Fortress Monroe under General
Butler and Commodore Stringham, has been fully
developed by the arrival yesterday, by special train
and boat, at Washington of General Butler.
The rebel fort at Hatteras Inlet has been captured
and the garrison taken prisoners.
Dispatches also reached us from Louisville, KY,
which arrived there by way of Richmond and Nash
vile, to the effect that the feet attacked the rebel
fort at Hatteras on Tuesday and after firing twenty
rounds the ammunition Of tho fort was expended,
The fort has, it appears, only been built within
few months, ant had twenty guns mounted.
The neghborhood of Fortress Monroe appears to
be the scene Of much naval activity in the absence
Of important military movements in that direction.
A small rebel tugboat, mounted with riaed cannon,
ran out from Norfolk yesterday morning to within
two miles and q half Of Newport News, and fred
twenty three shots at the United States frigate
Savannah. without doing any damage. As soon as
the guns Of the frigate were brought to bear on
her she rsa out of range, and fred two shells, one
at the Seminole and another in the direction of the
Rip Raps, after which she got under cover at
sewslls Point.
The War Department has Official intelligence
that the skrmish of Colonel Tylers troops, near
SummersviIe, was a truly brilliant affair, and that
he completely crippled the enemy, although they
.outnumbered him Eve to one.
The Department also issued an order yesterday
to Colonel Thomas F. Meagher, accepting his offer
of the Sixtyninth regiment Of volunteers for three
years, and authorizing Colonel Meagher to ar
range with the colonies of four other regiments to
form brigade, the commandsnt Of which is to be
hereafter designated by the government.
The War Department is acting with great wis
dom in its mode of filling vacancies in the volunteer
forces, by selecting for commissions privates who
have distinguished themselves by good conduct and
fitness for command. Upon this principle the De-
partment is rapidly filling up vacancies without
any regarl to regular grades Of promotion. and in
this way it will undoubtedly succeed in procuring
good officers.
We give to-day in full tho result of tho court
martial ON Col mel NcCuan, Of tAe Thirty.
seventh New York Volunteers, comprising the
charges, the sentence and the order Of General
Mcclellan thercupon, conveying stringent rcpri-
mand to tho accused. THIS episode goes far to
show the necessity Of reforming altogether the
mode of appointing officers to command regi-
n,eIlts, and proves also that General Mcclellan
will rot tolerate INSTRUMENTATION or other unoai-
cerlike conduct in those who serve in his army.
Major General Fremont has issue. most i'm.
portant proclamation, declaring the State Of Mis-
sons found in arms against the government will
be tried by court martial, and il found guilty, will
be shot that all persons destroying bridges rail.
road tracks or telegraphs shall suffer the extreme
penalty of the law, and further pronouncing all
the property, real and personal Of persons found
in arms against the United States authorities con
Ascated to the public use, and their slaves, if they
possess any, to be emancipated and henceforth and
forever to be considered as freemen. This extreme
course, which the perilous condition of Missouri
would seem to render necessary, may bring tina,
state to sense of its duty. Just nav the rebel
lio'ls element there is undoubtedly strong, auda
cious and dangerous.
Intelligence from the interior of Missouri is TO til,
effect that skirmish had taken place at poin
east Of Fort Scott, in Vernon county, between
Coonei Montgomery, OF the Kansas forces anC
not stated. 1t Was said that G,0oo rebels were en-