Litchfield enquirer., 1862-05-22
ayt,us sf ne Wssk.
Ths Adyancs en Richmond. .. THE GKAND ABMY IN MOTION.
WHrrs Housr, Va, May l9.

e#Aho afmf Commeuceu moving at an early HOuF this morning in the direction of Richmond, and will encamp some miles in advance of this place. The advance under Gen. Stoneman reached the railroad bridge over the Chickahominy yesterday. I Nis long tressle work, and two apans only have been burned, and will be rebuilt in short time.
 The rebel pickets are guarding the whole line of the r1yer in front of Richmond, making it diff fcnlt to obtain any reliable information from that city. Gen. Clellan went. on areconnois- sance to-day to the Chickahominy The pro. gramme of operations in front of Richmond will soon be decided upon. @.
 DISPATCH from Williamsburgh on Sunday, authorized by Gen. Mcclellan, stated that the gunboats Galena, Monitor. Naugatuck, Aroo- stock and Port Royal, had made an attack upon Fort Darling, seven miles below Richmond, and had been repulsed with considerable loss. A portion of the fleet had returned to Jamestown Island, opposite Williamsburg, where seventeen l of our men had been inferred. The 1OO-pound- CT gun on board the Naugatuck exploded at the first fire. No official reports of the engagement have been received at the Navy Department, but messages later than the above indicate that the affair was less serious than represented. The James river is stated now to be entirely clear to within eight miles of Richmond, where, on . high bluff is stationed g battery, and where the river is obstructed by sunken vessels, including report says, the Yorktown and Jamestown, and by piles, chains, Sc. The Monitor could not elevate her guns sufficiently to play upon this battery, and thus was useless. The other ves- sells however, engaged the battery at from 600 to 1000 yards distance, for about four hours, when they withdrew, with thirteen killed and wounded.
 WASHINGTON dispatch says the Fugitive Slave law is being quietly enforced in the Dis trict, the military authorities not interfering with the judicial process. There are at least 400 cases pending. It is said that some of the negroes, whose owners or agents from Maryland are here seeking their recovery, mysteriously disappeared.
 1 THE Secretary of the treasury has issued in- structions to the various collectors, authorizing clearances at any time before the lst of June, for Beaufort, Port Royal and New Orleans, but vessels are not to enter such ports until on or after that date. Before granting cearances, col lectors will require masters to exhibit a manifest or description of cargo, list of passengers and crew, verifying them under oath, collectors to satisfy themselves that the vessel is intended for lawful trade, and in no way to violate the pro- visions of the Presidents proclamation, opening such ports. This is to be verified by the cap- l tain's oath, the conditions prescribing that nei- ther persons, property or information, contra band of war, shall be conveyed by said vessel to such port as she may be destined. Violation of these conditions will forfeit the vessel and cargo and exclude all the parties from further similar privileges.
 AN editorial in a late number of the Macon (Ga) Telegraph, condemns the conduct of the rebel troops at Bridgeport, (which place com mands one of the approaches to Chattanooga, Tenn.,) who, hearing of the advance of our for ces, retreated in haste although greatly superior in numbers We believe, however that our troops did not take possession of Bridgeport. as the enemy were in force near that town The rebels fear the advance of our forces upon north l western Georgia.
 FROM EunorE.-The steamship Great Eastern from Milford Haven on the 9th inst, arrived at New York on Saturday morning, bringing two days later advices. The Paris Patrie, of the All inst, asserts that NJ. Mercier, the French munster to this country. on the occasion of his recent visit to Richmond, had long conference with Jeff Davis, and that the step taken by the former is entirely of political character, and IS known by President Lincoln. The London Times says that M. Mercier has always favored the southern rebellion. The Economist makes exactly the opposite assertion. The sapient Sat urday Reriew says Mercier's visit may perhaps indicate the readiness of the federal government to commence a negotiation. Victor Emanuel still continued at Naples. After having visited the French fleet, the King addressed commit nlcatlon to the French emperor, thanking him for his courtesy to himself and his sympathy for l the Italian cause. Spanish squadron was to leave in a few days with troops for Cuba, for the purpose of replacing the sick of the Spanish con- tingent in Mexico, or to reinforceit if required
 THE Secretary of War on the application of MT. Ely, Member of Congress, has ordered the release of Col. W. F. Baldwin, of Virginia, to be exchanged for Colonel Corcoran. Two officers released from Richmond made representations to the President and Secretary of War which led to this result.
 AN order, specially emanating from the Presi- dent as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, awards to General Wool and the officers of his command special thanks for their conduct in the capture of Norfolk. SECRETARIES Seward and welles and Attorney General Bates arrived on Thursday at Fortress Monroe, and proceeded to Norfolk with Commo- 1 dore Goldsborough. Gen. Wool also visited Norfolk on Thursday. Orders have been issued by Gen. Wool, according to the same dispatch, prohibiting the sale or distribution of newspa- pers in Norfolk or the surrounding country al- | 50 prohibiting the transportation of supplies or merchandise of any kind, whether by suffers or otherwise; and also prohibiting officers, soldiers and citizens from visiting the city, except on business connected with the troops belonging to the Department of Virginia.
 THE Secretary of the Treasury has issued full instructions to the various Collectors respecting AIA -x-.-