The New York herald., 1862-02-04
New York, Tuesday, February 4, 1854.
THE SITUATION.

Information received from our scouting parties
yesterday, as well as from other sources confirms
the report that large bodies of the rebels have
been transferred from Manassas by railroad to
some ether point, within the past few DAYS.
portion OF them are most probably gone with
General Beauregard to Kentucky. This move
ment is supposed to be based upon the conviction
that our troops ON the Potomac cannot advance
in consequence Of the bad condition Of the roads.
flag of truce, conveying dispatches from the
rebel General Johnston, arrived at General Nc
Dowels headquarters on Sunday evening, under
escort of Colonel Harrison, of the Second Virginia
cavalry. The documents, which were sealed, were
delivered to the General by the officer who took
them from Colonel Harrison on the -outposts, but
their contents have not yet transpred.
By the arrival of the United States bark Gemsbok
atFortress Monroe, from the Southern coast on sun
day. we learn that heavy cannonading was heard in
the direction of Beaufort or Newbern, N. c.,
on the 2sth ut., and that at nine o'clock on the
morning of the s0th firing was heard in the vicin-
i,yof Roanoke Island. The inference among the
officers ut Fortress Monroe was that the Burnside
feet was making an attack at two points, the YES.
sells probably having divided into two parties
one proceeding up to Core Sound to attack Fort
Macon, at Beaufort, and the other up the Nuese
river, to make landing of our troops there. If
this theory be correct the Burnside expedition has
begun its work in earnest. The official account of the
news brought by the Gemsbock was received at the
Navy Department yesterday from Captain Maester,
of the United States steamer Roanoke, lying at
Hampton Roads. No further intelligence has
reached the government; but the impression in
official quarters is that Roanoke Island has been
taken and is now occupied by our troops
We have already referred to the rumors extant
concerning the ineficiency of the rebel iron-clad
steamer Merrimac, but whether she should prove
fit for service or not, it is quite certain that our
naval authorities are quite prepared for any attack
either from the Merrimac or any other rebel vessel,
for the guns the parapets, classmates and water
readiness for any emergency, and all the frigates
and gunboats in the harbor have their guns double
shotted, so that warm reception awaits any
attacking party that may shsw itself.
General Thomas F. Meagher commanding the
Irish Brigade, was confirmed by the Senate as
Brigadier General yesterday, together with Gene
rails wadsworth, Slocum, Cooper vele and large
number of other officers, whose names will be
found in our Washington dcpatches.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather,
the swollen streams and bad condition of the
roads, our troops in Missouri are making some
progress in their advance movements. General
Davis was moving on Wednesday last towards
Lebanon to join General Curtis, having arriv ed a.
far as Versailles, Morgan county; General Sigc
had left Rolla for the same point, while General
Prentiss is also en- route for that place The rebel
General Price remains still at Springfield, where
another terrible battle Is expected to take place
unless Price wthdrsws before the combined d.
visions of the Union Generals reach there.
We have received another supply Of late South
ern papers, from which we collatc numerous inter
cStlng cAuhcts, Wh1CH We puonbn uuuer Tue hppIO.
pirate head in to-day's HERALD. The quartette Of
traitors, the Cobb brothers, Toombs and Crawford,
have recently published an address to the
people of Georgia, in which they enumeratc the
progress of the rebellion, and the share which
they have contributed TO the iniquitous work.
They ssy:-"our enemy has exhibited an energy,
q perseverance and an amount Of resources which
we had hardly expected, for our destruction, and
raised an army which is being disciplined to the
unthinking stoldity of regulars The attempt will
be made in early spring to crush us
with o giants grasp by simultaneous move
ment along our borders" They think, with
Whatever alacrty our people may rush TO arms
saa With vhassvs energy our government may