The New York herald., 1862-11-23
New York. Sunday. November 20, 1864
THE SITUATION.

The official response Of the civic authorities Of
Fredericksburg to General Summers demand for
the surrender of that city Is published in full in
our columns to-day. The delay allowed BY General
Sumner for the removal Of the women and chill
drcn was occupied by the rebels in throwing up
earthworks to the right and rear Of the town, as
the daylight yesterday morning revealed. Up to
Friday night we had not opened fire on the city
The civic authorities conceded all within their
power. but the military force occupying the hills
defending the town-that is to say the army corps
of General Lopgstrcet-- would not consent to it's
occupation by General Burnside's troops without
offering obstinate resistance. and so the matter
stood Mt last accounts.
Intelligence from Sigels corps, near Fairfax
Court House, up to, Friday night states that the
rebels still hang about our anks in that direction
Stuart was at Warrenton on the previous night
with large force and pushed his pckets on the
Manassas Junction road and the warrenton "pike."
They were driven back by our cavalry under Lieu.
tenant Koenig. II is confidently stated that Stuarts
3
cavalry, numbering five hundred men, is at Lees.
burg.
The working parties Of our army in front Of
Harper's Ferry were attacked yesterday morning
by the rebel cavalry near Halltown; but General
Geary opened masked battery Of six guns on the
assailants. and drove them back, shelling them as
far our guns could reach them in their retreat.
Cen Geary is very active in the prosecution Of the
defensive works around Hsrpers Ferry.
There is considerable of stirring charac.
ter from the Southwest. Dispatches from Cairo
state that "Reminiscences from Lagrange to Rip
ley, Miss, have just returned. having occupied
that place and Orizaba eight miles south OF it, in
twcnty-four hours. Our forces took sixty or sew
enty prisoners and seventy horses and mules, with
ont losing man.
Reports from Nashville on Friday state that
Generals Bragg, Cheatham and Buckner had eva
cuated Murfreesboro, and were falling back on
Tullahoma; but more recent dispatches state
that General Bragg is advancing upon Murfrees-
boro and not abandoning it. Heavy cannonadng
was heard yesterday morning in the direction of
Lebanon; but the cause was not known. II is said
that JEFF. Davis required Bragg TO fight every inch
OF Tennessee soil General Brecknridge's divi-
sion had occupied Shelbyville The rest Of the
rebel army is reported to be south Of Duck river,
fortiiyng Elk Ridge.
grand expedition down the Mississippi river
is now being organized at Columbus. KY, by Gen.
McCernand. II Is designed to open the whole
river as far as New Orleans, and will consist OF a
force Of 40, 900 men. The gunboat feet Of Com
modore Porter will participate in the movement.
The feet consists OF ten gunboats, carrying
III guns. vicksburg will probably be the mos
Important point Of attack; but with such force,
anl Commodore Fsrragut with his feet OF gun.
boats below that city TO cooperate with Porter
and IcClernand, the defences at vicksburg will
m, resent any very formidable obstacles.
me bombardment and partial destruction Of
ts cty OF ST. Msrys. Florida, on the sth instant,
by the United States gunboat Mohawk, is graph
cally described in our Fernandins correspondence
to-day. The treschery Of the inhabitants de-
msnded this terrible retaliation ct the hands OF
Captain Hughes. Our map Of the locality will be
found Of much importance in connection with this
afsr.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
A despatch from San Francisco, dated 2lst inst.
states that thirty thousand dollars had been for
warled on that day. by the steamer Constitution,
fol the fund Of the National Sanitary Commission.
making the total amount sent from the Pacific
coast for the relief Of sick and wounded Union
soldiers half a million dollars
lie Coroner's investigation into the circum.
stances attending the death Of Miss Clementina
a Auderson was concluded yesterday, and resulted
. verdict Of the jury against Or. Edward NJ.
Browne, the alleged abortionist and Augustus l..
shims, as accessory before and after Ne fact.
Browne was committed 70 prison i raF he
action Of the Grand Jury, AID hi, t.Q.akstpet
Gz. Gordon, was held as wilma. t0.
scror of the Testimony 'aktn tctatdavle ..,.
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