The New York herald., 1862-02-14
New York, Friday, February IL, 1854
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
No official dispatches from General Burnside $
deet have been received up to this time, nor is it
probable that they will be for some days yet, as
the General, no doubt, intends to keep his move
ments to himself until the plans of the expedition
are carried out to completion. The intelligence
which the rebels themselves have furnished how
ever, is sufficient for the time being That our
success at Roanoke Island has been all that could
be expected is certain Dispatches from Fortress
Monroe yesterday assure Us that fearful panic ex
lists in Norfolk, where an attack is hourly ex.
pected.. The opinion prevailed at Norfolk
that had it not been for the treachery
of the North Carolina troops Roanoke Island
would not have been captured; but when we con-
slider the superior strength and unexampled
bravery of our troops, we can hardly attribute our
splendid success to the detection of any portion of
the enemy. The condition Of Norfolk is repre-
sented as desperate. According to the statement
of arcbel fugitive picked mp in a small boat, en-
deavorine to make his escape, the city has been
teers to defend it has received no oldia response
from the citizens.
We regret to learn that the great Sawyer gun
at Newport News, burst on Tuesday afternoon
wLie being fred of, killing two privates of the
Massachusetts, Twenty-nint regiment and wound
ing ave or six others more or less seriously.
We learn by a despatch to st. Louis, dated
yesterday, that Commodore Foote, with the gun
boats St. Louis, Pttsburg and Louisville, left
Cairo for the Cumberland river on Tuesday night,
and that the Carondelet was to join them at Pa
ducsh, their destination being Fort Donaldson, on
the Cumberland river. The rapidity of the cur
rent against which the gunboats had to stem
would probably delay their arrivA at the fort
until yesterday, at least At this season Of the
year the tributary streams which supply the great
Western rivers discharge their waters with tre-
mendous force, and the ascent of such small boats
as Foote's squadron is composed of must be
necessarily very slow. Hence if we should not
hear Of the reduction of Fort Donelson for a day
or two we need NOT be surprised. No dispatches
from that quarter were received at headquarters
yesterday.
The only important news from Genera. Banks
division, at Frederick, Md. Is that the rebels are
concentrating their forces between Leesburg and
Point Of Rocks, and that they are erecting bate.
res in that vicinity.
Another important step towards the successful
prosecution of the war was adopted in Washington
yesterday, by the passage of the Treasury Note
bill by the Senate with the illegal tender" clause
inserted. The government is thrs placed in pos
session Of the sinews Of war; and with the speedy
passage Of the Tax bill the hands Of the admins
traton viii be strengthened for the present emer
gency, and the credit Of the nation will be placed
upon a safe and satisfactory basis.
Our correspondence from Port Royal, Tybee
Island aud Warsaw Sound, published in to-day's
HERALD, gives graphic account Of affairs at those
places. The military and naval expedition to
Warsaw Sound is slowly advancing and the rebels,
by .he cid Of Tatnas fotila appear to keep fully
informed as to its movements. Teegrsphc com.
muntCatlOn mas Dcen cut Oh DctNeen OH PULASKI
and Savannah.
The steamship Winfield Scott in attempting to
make an inland passage in the direction Of Pulaski
ran ashore, broke in two, and is now total wreck.
She cost the United States 100000
ve would call the special attention Of our read.
cr3to tie highly interesting letters Of our cores
uot nj at Key West. From them 1t will be seen
ra lie Union feet in the Gulf has at last got
ze at work, aud rebel craft are being cap
t1a Wholesale. The capture Of the rebe
sttl caihoun has been already noticed in the
H@ Her cargo was very valuable, and the
vcss self Is being converted into gunboat
ehe IL prove quite acquisition to our Gull
fs5i, IS SO is very swift and Of light draft
Tie rcw gunboa' Itasca recently captured
a. tae Gui the rebel schooner Lizzie Yves
a., formerly the W. c. Atwater, of New