The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-11
NEW York, Wednesday y, December IL, 1s6 L
THE SITUATION.

II r. Sill lJAIIoN.
gentleman from Maryland, who escaped from
the rebel lines, arrived at Washington yesterday,
under charge of an officer from General Hooker's
division. and has informed the government of the
disposition Of thousands of Marylanders, who are
now IN the rebel srmy on the Virginia side, to re.
tu IN to their homes and their allegiance.
Information has been received that the rebel
force in frct Of the lines of our army ON the Poto
mac aumbcrs 100 900 men.
The reconnaissance of Generals Hancock por
ter and Mccall. towards Centreville, Flint Hill and
Drainsvlile, wh'chwcre commenced on Friday, have
proved very successful. General Hancock secured
ninety -four loads Of foliage, aud General Mccall
over fifty. Memo of the enemy, except few ca.
yalry scouts, vasascoversd.
We give to-day some more particulars Of the re-
prt OF the coIored boy who escaped from the
rbels At Centrevi!le, as mentioned yesterday.
hey will be found highly interesting, and we may
I'D that his statement is looked upon as reliable
Our aota on the Lower Potomac was actively
engaged on Monday in Smelling the woods and
burning the buildings of the rebels at Freestone
Point The Harriet Lane, Anacostia and Jacob
Bell, supported by the Reliance, Stepping Stones
aud Herbert. poured heavy fire for an hour and a
res at Shipping Point kept up brisk fire, which
was responded to by the Unioa battery at Budds
Ferry with few shells. Lieutenant McCrea, with
boats crew from the Jacob Bell, and another
boat from the Anacostia, went ashore and burned
down the rebel buildings at Freestone Point, con.
thinning stores. The buildings are said to have
been burning for eighteen hours.
by way OF Fortress Monroe VIC learn that des
patch to the Norfolk Day Booh from Savannah
dated December Z, announces the arrival of Cen
Buffers expedition on that day at Port Royal No
further account of the affair at Fort Pickenss pub
ished.
Our news from Kentucky reports that General
Zollicoher has not advanced north of the Cumber.
land river. and that General SchoeT has withdrawn
to Somerset where he awaits reinforcements.
CONGRESS-.
In the Senate yesterday Mcssrs. Fessenden and
Sumner presented petitions for emancipating slaves
under the war power. A petition from Francis A.
Treadweil, representing that complaints he had
made to the Supreme Court against jefferson
Davis and others had been called improper papers,
was referred to the Judiciary Committee. reso.
luton to expel Waldo P. Johnson for sympathizing
and acting with the rebels was laid over The sub.
ject of the payment Of the commissioners for in.
vestigating claims in the Western Military Depart
Bills were introduced to authorize the Presi
dent to acquire territory for the settlement oil
free negroes, and for the reorganization OF
the Medical Department Of the army.
Mr.. Hale called up his resolution Of yesterday in
structing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into
the expediency of abolishing the present judicial
system Of the United States and establishing an
other, which was agreed to. bill to provide for
the protection Of overland emgrants to California
and Oregon was introduced by Mr.. Nesmith. A
DILL to render more operative the law passed last
summer relative to the sale of spirtuous liquors in
the District of Columbia was also presented. The
death OF Senator Bingham announced by his
colleague, Senator Chandler, and appropriate tes-
tmoniais offered by members to the memory of
the deceased Senator.
The greater portion of the days session in the
House was occupied by Mr.. Pendleton, of Ohio. in
sspeech on his motion to refer back to the Judi.
ciary Committee the memorial OF the whilom Bati.
more Police Commissioners, now resident at Fort
Warren, Boston harbor. Mr.. Pendeton wished TO
have the committee instructed that Congress alone
has the power to suspend the habeas corpus writ.
and acclaimed at length against the President TO.
lts suspension in the cases of these as well az
other State prisoners. He was briefly replied to
support Of the course pursued by the President