The New York herald., 1862-12-04
THE SITUATION.


The news from General Burnsde's army is not
Of vital Importance. cavalry picket, sixty
strong, stationed at King George Court House,
Va, was attacked early on Tuesday morning by
party Of rebels. three hundred strong, who crossed
the Rappahannock in small boats between the
Court House and Fredericksburg, thereby cutting
of the picksts from the main army. Forty out of
the sixty men escaped, and others are expected to
arrive. Captain Wilson, the commander, is still
missing The loss OF life on either side is not vet
ascertained. Citizens residing in the neighbor
hood are known to have been engaged in the
contest. General Burnside has issued an order
dismissing Captain George Johnston, of the Third
Pennsylvania cavalry, for allowing his command
to be surprised while on picket
The correspondence, as published in the South
ern papers. from General Sumner to the Mayor
and Common Council of Fredericksburg, explains
why that city has not been bombarded.
reconnaissance in force was led by General
Geary from Harper's Ferry on Tuesday morning,
and was reported the same afternoon three miles
beyond Charlestown on the Beverley turnpike, ca
route for Winchester. Further intelligence of
their movements was hourly expected.
An expedition sent out by General Peck on
Monday from Suffolk, Va, recaptured the celebrat-
Cd .Pittsburg battery and drove the rebels across
the Blackwater at Franklin. Several of the rebels
were killed and wounded and over thirty taken
prisoners.
brilliant naval affair took place on the 25th of
November, near the mouth of the New river.
North Carolina. The gunboat Ellis, Lieutenant
Gushing commanding, went on an expedition up
that river to Onslow, and captured the town,
several arms and vessels. When returning the
vessel grounded and was fired upon by the rebels
To prevent her from falling into the hands Of the
enemy the vessel was blown up, the commanding
officer himself applying the match.
Aspecial despatch from Holly Springs, Miss, to
Chicago, reports the evacuation on the st inst of
Talahatchie and Abbeville by the rebels and the
occupation of those places by the Union troops.
The rebels are reported falling back to Oxford,
Lafayette county, Mississippi.
Thenews from the South breathes deeply of re.
taation and prospective heavy fighting. The re.
bels demand ian Austerlitz or jena" before any
peace can be obtained. They assert that Sigel is
afraid Of Jackson, and runs away from him when.
ever he or scouting party Of his command sp.
pears in his front. An outcry is made for the
raising or purchasing Of an effective navy. The
Conscript law is still subject of contention be-
tween Governor Brown, of Georgia, and the rebel
government, and the Lynchburg paper compares
the position Of that State with Virginia asserting
that Georgia has as yet suffered nothing from the
war. Generals Johnston and Polk have Joined
their commands In the West, and other generals
have recently been sent to new positions.
The rebel privateer Alabama was spoken by the
British bark Mary on the Goth Of October, in lat.
Al, Ion. Go 30.
The steamships Ruby and Giraffe sailed from
Gseenock November IA, for the purpose OF running
the blockade.
EUROPEAN NEWS.
BY the steamship China, OF Cape Race, we have
news from Europe to the 23d of November
two days later.
The news Of General McCiellans removal. which
had just been received in England, caused de.
pressisn in American securities.
The London Times says that Mcclellan is sac.
rdced 10 political jealousies," in consequence 0,
The result Of the recent State elections by the party
fn power tho General % bcing known to be a ron
servatve man and opposed TO the violent acts Of
the Executive" The Times adds thatMcClellan
viii be regarded ss o" conservative Martyr
The London Army and Macy Gdzeue says =
General MoClellsn's removal 10 an executive " de.
hance TO democrat" and that the moment was
favorable FOR bold Confederate movemsnts.v
The London Army and Nary Gazette questions
General buruside's ability for bis new appoint.
oout.
Ihs 'exi o. The Russian note refusing Yapoleon's