The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-13
oUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON Oct IL, 1861.
ADVANCE OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR BAT
TIE, BUT NO FIGHT.
During to-day the rebels advanced large force in the
direction Of Prospect HILL driving in pickets to that
point The result that tho division Of General Nc
Call formed in line Of battle with orders TO ad
vance. 1t was supported by cavalry and artillery
Several shots fred by the rebel battery but being
out Of range injury sustained by troops The
divsions of Generals Smith; Porter and Mcdowell were
also prepared for appreheEded emergency; but
nothing further in addition TO what already stated oc.
CURED TO induce an advance or hostile movement.
INSPECTION OF THE CAMPS BY GENERAL M'CLELLAN
General Mcclellan day made personal inspection of
the camps and ouposts along the whole lines He gave
important directions to the commanding Generals.
THE UNION ARMR ON THE POTOMAC.
An impression pcrvades the country regard
70 the size Of the Union army Of the Potomac
II is unquestionably grand army-one Of the largest
that has been assembled in any country; butt great
is its sze it is hardly half large that with which
Napoleon I. invaded Russia, The army with which he
le France consisted Of three hundred and seventy two
thousand FIVE hundred and eight infantry heavy artillery
and engineers and hundred and thirty nine thousand
eight hundred and seventy seven cavaly and horse
cannon. His whole army Of invasion upon
his entrance into Russia numbered x hundred and fifty
one thousand three and fifty eight men, hun
orea ans eighty thousand hundred and twenty
One horses and thirteen hundred and
II we had now the Potomac oven half SO largo army
well disciplined and drilled the On to Richmond" people
would soon be grated with the intelligence Of its sweep
ing like an irresistible over Virginia. and
rolling on the Cuff coast crushing every vesge Of
treason and rebellion in its path.
MORE REBEL BATTERIES ON THE POTOMAC.
The steamer Baltimore, which came up from Fortress
Monroe last night reports indications Of the cree
ton OF rebel battery at Timber Branch, between
tho mouth Of Quantico creek and Cockpit point blind
Of logs and brush had been thrown up behind which
was supposed that the erection Of the battery was in
progress. Quito number Of mounted men and teams
were noticed that vicinity At the point where it
presumed the battery being placed the river is mar
row, and the channel close to the Virginia shore
THE COMMAND OF THE FORCES AT HATTERAs,
FORTRESS MONROE AND MISSOURI.
Major General Wool has temporarily resumed command
at Fortress Monroe and General Mansfield has for short
period gone Hateras Inlet but will return Immediately
70 the Fortress Brgadier General Williams is to
mand at Hattcras Inlet 1t is not yet definitely settled
whether General Mansfield will relieve General Wool or
take command Of Camp Hampton.
The decision of the pending question in reference to the
Department of the West is still unsettled. 1t win not,
probably be determined until the of the Secretary
Of War and Adjutant General from st. Louis.
REVIEW OF GENERAL BUTTERFIELD's BRIGADE.
General ButtcrGeld, who is in command of brigade
under General Fz John Porter reviewed three regiments
ri the usual urfoevening parade The review fine
affair and great satfacon expressed the efficiency
Of the troops.
MOVEMENTS OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
A despatch received here tonight announces that
Secretary Cameron and Adutant General Thomas left
st. Louis to-day for Upton, Mo-, forty-fve miles
above jefferson City, where General Fremont has
his headquarters in the field Their object is to hold
an interview with General Fremont, and ascertain
from him person the condition Of affairs in his depart
ment.
EXPLANATION RELATIVE TO NEWSPAPER STATEMENTS.
Unrounded statements Of character preudcal to the
public interests frequently appear in the teegraphic
news Of journals published at distance from the cap
tai The inquiry is often made why this government
permits such dispatches to pass the wires It is
therefore proper to say by request, that these state
monts really go by mail, and not by telegraph or are
prepared at the points where they appear.
CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST COLONEL HECKER.
Colonel Hccker who came hher on business connect
cd with troubles in his regiment now in Kentucky has
left Washington. Major Kune, Captain Mauf and
Lieutenant Klape representing their own interests and
those OF the other four officers who discharged
through Colonel Hecker's instrumentalty stil in
Washington. They have preferred serious charges
against Colonel Heckor and asked to be martaed
but decision has been made.
THE ARMY.
Lieutenant James Mcmillan, Second United States in.
fantry, has been assigned to the staff OF Briga.
dier General Andrew Porter, Acting Assistant Adju.
tant General, in the place OF Captain Averili who
has been assigned to the command Of the.hird Penn.
sylvana Cavalry known hitherto "Youngs Kentucky
Cavalry"
ARMY POSTAL AFFAIRS.
About month ago. for the postal convenience Of the
soldiers under his command General Banks appointed
6. Houghon to supcrintend the mail matters for his
division A few days since the Post oaco Depart
ment was surprised by tho return OF FIVE hundred
and forty dollars postal receipts from this source.
Yesterday Mr. Houghton appointed special
agent of the department for the sale OF stamps and
stamped envelopes for General Banks division.
THE NEW POSTAGE STAMPS.
The Post Office Department has already issued fifty five
.miKions of the new stamps. As many more will be
quircd to supply the demands for them now on Gle
TBU State DEPNRTMENT AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
The State Department has set apart Saturday exclu
sve for the transaction Of business with foreign Minis
ters
RE-ELE,cTIoN OF GOVERNOR RAMSAY, OF MINNESOTA
privae despatch from St. Paul, Minnesota, to-day
announces that Governor Ramsay has elected by
majority ,wceeding Mr. Lincolns in the Presidential
oleCtiop