New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-24
The Reported Destitution Of the
Potomac Army.
NO FOUNDATION FOR The COMPLAINT
Every Call for Supplies Promptly Answered
THE POSITION Of THE MAIN REBEL ARMY IN DouB
The Instructions Given Ouf Blockade Officers


WHAT IDLE SOLDIERS DO WITH THEIR BULLETS.
Special Di,pstch 10 The n. z. Tribune.
WAsHfseroN. Thursday Oct. ~. 1861
THE REPORTED DEsTTTUTION OF THE POTOMAC
ARMY.
1t IL sscertsped that the current complaints to the
effect that the Army Of the Upper Potomac lacks
necessary supplies, and 10 unable to advance against
the enemy for the reason that they have been with.
held, are utterly without foundation. When the
MISTER was brought TO the attention Of the Secretary
Of War, he instituted an investigation, which was
pushed from Quarerma.ter-General Meigs TO bic
subordinates II disclosed the fact that every requi
siion from the army under Gen. Mcclellan had been
immediately answered, and that every article called
for had been promptly delivered at the point specl
fed in the requiston for it, shoes not excepted. This
We are enable 10 aats dhtinctly and positively.
THE wHEREABOUT OF TIE REBEL AMRY.
Reports differ respecting the present whsreabout
Of the great Rebel Army Of Virginia. Tho general
opinion among our officers 10 UNDERWOOD to be that
their main body remains In the vicinity Of Win.
chester Intelligent residents Of Frederick City,
however, protesting to speak on the authority Of
dessren and refugees, black and white, are conf
dent that little more than the shell remains in the
front Of our forces, most Of the Rebel army behind
Il having crawled away. The circumstance that
Bragg has In like manner escaped Buell., by svscu-
a,ing Kentucky, lends pIsusbty to this latter sug.
| uestion in the eves Of some persona
TIE REPORTED FRENCH EXPEDITION uP THE
MISSISSIPPI
Tho author Of tie sensation paragraph which
beads the telegaphic column Of one Of your CO.
temporaries to-day oysrdid his work. However
delicate" may Be our relations with France in
consequence Of the complaints Of the French Consul
General VI Nsw-Orlesns IL ID not reasonable to sup
poss that Napoleon would dsregaTd all mode Of
proceeding In such cases recognized by international
law as he would do were be 10 take the course
suggested BY the psnersphist. Such demand must
10 made through ths French Minister TO the Gov.
eminent Of the United States not over bic head BY
feet sailing under sealed orders. Il 10 to be added.
that to transport at this time Of the year go 900 men,
several hundred sailing vessels or steamers Of the
hrst-class would DO requisite, and to embark them
with al necessary equipments il would take several
weeks II not months - it did TO prepare smaller
expedition to Mexico.
TIE BURNING OP THE REBEL STEAMER
BLANCHE.
No official report has yet been received from
Capt, Hunter Of the gunbost Montgomery Of his
action in chasing tho Blanche Ashore near Havana,
Of which yesterdays TRIBUNE contains an account.
The Circumstance that he did not follow bic orders
70 70 10 Havana indicates belief In his own mind
that bis conduct had been wrong. Capt. Hunter 10
q brother Of Chief Clerk Hunter Of Tie State do.
psrtmsut. His vessel belongs 70 Flag. Officer Far
rsguts squadron. The following general instruc.
lions from Secretary Ws!ss 70 the officers Of our
blOcksding squadrons clearly show that If the cir
cumstsnces of the Montgomery. Blanche case are ~
represented, the Government will repudiste Capt.
Hunters action.
Nav DsYARrxKsy. Aug 10. 1861 -.
Sin: Some recent occurrences in the capture oil
vessels and matters pertaining TO the blockede rem
der II necessary that there should be recspuation
OF the instructions heretofore from time to time
given and also Of the restrictions and precautions "
Ie observed BY our squadrons and cruisers. III II
essential In the remarkable contest now waging that
we should exercise great forbessnce with great frui
nesr and manifest to tho world that 1t is the nten-
ton OF our Government, while asserting and main
tanning our own rights, 70 respect and scruPulousiy
rsosrd the rights Of Others Il 10 in this view that
the following instructions are explicitly given:
First. That you will exercise constant vigilance
TO prevent supplies Of arms, munitions, aud contra
bsnd OF from being conveyed to the insurgents;
but that under no circumstances VIII yon seize any
vessel within tho waters Of friendly nation.
Sseond. That, whils diligently exercising the
right of visitation on all suspected vessels, you are
In no case authorized 10 chase and fro at foreign
vessel without showing your eoIors aud giving her
sl;n of "a
and visit her.
TRiyd: That whom that Wait IL made. the vessel
Il NOT then to be seized without = search carefully
made, 40 far as TO render il reasonable to believe
that she IL engaged 10 carrying contrnband OF war
for or to the insurgents and to their ports directly,
or indirectly by transhipmeut, or otherwise yolai.
ing the blockade and that. II after visitation and
search Il shall appear to your Satisfaction that sue
il IN good faith and without contrsband actually
bound aud passing from QUO friendly Or socsied
TO or from port in the possession Of the insurgents,
then she cannot be lawfully seized.
Fourth That 10 avoid difficulty and error 10 rel'.
zion to papers which strictly belong TO the captured
vessel. and mails that are carried, or parcels unae'
official seals, you will, In the words OF the iaw'
preserve the papers and writings found Oh board
And transmit the whole Of the originals, unmuti'
lated. to the judge Of tue district TO which such
prize is ordered 10 proceed" But official seals. or
locks or fassnings Of foreign authorities, are IN no
case, nor on any pretext to be broken, or parcels
covered by thein read by any naval authorities but
all bags or other things covering such parcels, ana
duly sealed or fastened by foreign authorities, VIII
be. in the discretion OF the United States Oicer to
whom they may como, delivered to the Consul,
commanding naval officer or Legation OF the foreign
Government, 10 10 opened, upon the understanding
that whatever u contraband or important ~ evil
dsnce concerning the character Of captured vessel
will be RENTED 70 the Prize Court or 70 tho secretary
ofsssss u wash,gssD, @s0sb sealed bsr erRsFsl.