The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-10
New York, Monday, June 10, 1851.
THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.

THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.
An important change in the position Of the
forces about Washington is to take place this
morning. Six regiments received orders last
night to move by railroad towards Frederick,
Nd, including the Third, Fourth and Fifth
battalons of the District Of Columbia militia, and
the Rhode Island regiment. Their destina-
ton is believed to be Harper's Ferry, and
the move is probably made upon sudden informa-
ton received by General Scott from that quarter.
The Rhode Island regiment was to break camp at
midnight and proceed by railroad early this morn
ing. Their marine battery, with guns numbered
and loaded, together with the artillery and staff
horses, were put on the cars at six o'clock last
evening.
The other regiments moving are the First Con-
necticut, First Rhode Island, First New Hampshire,
First Maine, Fifth New York, Ninth New York,
and Nineteenth Auburn regiments. These will
go by turnpike roads to Point Of Rocks.
General McCIeland will move from the West,
with fifteen or twenty thousand men, by way Of
Winchester, and General Patterson, with twelve
thousand, by way of Hagerstown. The order to
close up on the rebels at Harper's Ferry on all
sides will soon follow and they will be COM
pletely hemmed in.
We have highly important intelligence from vir-
giria relative to the contemplated military policy
of the rebel forces. 1t appears that Jefferson
Davis, General Beauregard and General Lee had
been in consultation at Richmond for several days,
during which they were in constant communica-
ton by couriers with General Johnston comm and
ing at Harper's Ferry. General Lee was eagerly
in favor of aggressive action. He made a
statement in detail, showing that there were
147OOO troops at different points in Virginia, and
that 10, 900 men in North Carolina were ready to
march to any point in Virginia that their presence
might be required. He advised an immediate at
tack on Washington and Alexandria by three
Lynchburg, Manassas Junction, Fredericks-
burg, Petersburg and Culpepper, and fur
ther urged an advance movement from Har-
per's Ferry on the Ohio and Pennsylvania
troops. His views, however, did not prevail
with the other Generals, and it was finally
decided by General Davis and conceded in by
Beauregard, to act entirely on the defensive, and
that no troops were to cross the Potomac in any
event. Harpers Ferry is to be held or abandoned
as circumstances may demand. The line of rail-
road from Manassas Gap to Aqua Creek is to be
the first basis Of military operations, and will be
defended by force of 50, 900 men, to be strength
ened by an addition of Ii, 900 more if necessary.
From Fort Pickens we learn on the authority of
an army officer who arrived in Washington yester-
day, that an attack Of the rebels, under General
Bragg, is anticipated. 1t is stated that the garri
son ia ready to meet it. The blockade there is
perfect, and the ships are all on the alert.
Important movements are on foot at the
West. Troops from Cairo are moving down into
Kentucky, and now that Tennessee has gone
over tn 10 TehAs, it is not improbable that
e 6sIpio1 soe&ment in Missouri and Ken
f'cSy 1E qsaS7 holder. There is very lit
doubt 15sis &eneral Beauregard has got
4 comnan6oT.. Lat department, and will super
;xf;General Pillow in the supreme command, the
latter acting under him. The apparently contra
dctcry reports of the whereabouts of General
Beauregard, received at intervals of two or three
days, which represent him to be one day at Ma.
nos tvhe ba ON Erid nd nd f1,o
troops there, another at Memphis, and again at
Richmond, may be reconciled by the fact that he
is doubtless passing from point to point, receiving
his instructions meantime at Richmond; but his
ultimate destination will prove to be in the Depart.
ment of the West, conducting movement on
Cairo, should such be decided upon.
The rebels at Harper's Ferry destroyed the
bridges by fire near that point yesterday morning,
between one and four o'clock-one at Point of
Rocks, twelvemiles east Of the Ferry and another
at Berlin, six miles east of the same place. They
are seizing and destroying every skif and other
craft whereby the river can be crossed by the
federal troops near Williamsport but as there will
be several parts Of the Potomac fordable in that
direction as soon as the water falls, their efforts
may prove of little avail
Major General Banks has been put in command
of the Department of Annapolis with his head.
quarters at Baltimore. He takes the place OF
General Cadwaader, who has been superseded
the government having reason to find fault with
hls course while in command Of that district.