The New York herald., 1862-01-25
THE SITUATION.


Our new Secretary of War furnishes fresh evi-
dence from day to day of his talents and foresight
The general order issued recently, approving the
gallantry of the soldiers engaged in the battle of
Mill Spring, upon which we have previously COM
mented, ia followed now by an order from Mr.
Stanton providing for the comforts of the brave
soldiers of the Union ncarcerated in Southern
prisons. Recognizing as the first duty of
the War Department that of taking mea-
sures for the relief of the prisoners of war,
he has ordered that two commissioners
shall be appointed to visit the cities
in the South where our officers and men arc
in confinement, and there to adopt such measures
for their comfort at the expense of the United
States as the rebel authorities will permit Such
. course of action will bring consolation to hun
dreds of afflicted families in the North will impress
our soldiers in the field with the grateful assurance
that their government will not desert them in the
hour of drest need and must necessarily stimulate
Thousands of others to enrol themselves in the
service of country which is thus mindful of their
wants when the fortunes of war throw them into
the hands of the enemy.
Our correspondent at Somerset, KY, furnishes
full description of the battle of Mill Spring to-day
which will be read with intense interest, the de.
tails of the whole action being carefully given II,
appears that General Schoepff did not actively
participate in the engagement; the work was
accomplished by General Thomas. The fighting
on both sides was desperate, and the gallantry of
the troops almost unparalleled throughout the en-
TO late hour, when General Zollicoffer fell, but
the victory and the rout were complete We give
map of the field of battle in connection with our
correspondence.
We also publish to-day map of the vicinity of
Columbus, KY, and the ground over which
Generals McClernand and Grant made their late
admirable and successful reconnaissance with the
Cairo expedition. Every mile of the country,
from the Ohio river to Columbus, was carefully
surveyed drafts and charts of all the roads leading
from Carlo, Forts Holt, Jefferson, Mound City,
the map is clear and most interesting account of
the expedition its objects and successes from our
Cairo correspondent In every respect the recon.
noissance was highly satisfactory one, the results
of which will be better comprehended when our
troops again move in that direction.
Dispatches received by the Norfolk Day Book
from Savannah dated the 22d instant state that
the Union troops took possession of Cedar Keys,
Florida, on Thursday last, in which direction heavy
firing was heard on that day. Cedar Keys small
group of islands on the west coast of Florida,
eighteen miles below the mouth of the Suzanne
river, is most important point, forming as it does
the Atlantic terminus of the railroad across the
Peninsula to Fernandina. Being in the possession
of our troops, the land connection between the
Gulf Of Florida and the Atlantic is completely cut
on The islands are remarkable for their splendid
growth of timber, valuable for ship building.
Official dispatches from Flag Officer Mexican. at
Ship Island, received at the Navy Department yes
terday, put US in possession OF the details of the
late naval expedition to Biloxi previously reported
BY the steamer Rhode Island at Fortress Monroe,
and published in our columns. II will be remem.
bered that when the Rhode Island left the mouths
Of the Mississippi three steamers had been des
patched to Biloxi, and that one of them was seen
returning, with schooner In tow, supposed to
be Q prize. II proves from Captain McKean's
acc cunt that the schooner was the Captain Sped.
.den. loaded with lumber, ON article much
needed at Ship Island for erecting stores. She
was captured by the Henry Lewis. The object Of
the expedition was to seize rebel steamer, said
to be M Biloxi but she was not found there. The
town was surrendered to our troops and the bat
teries destroyed. Nearly all the male population
had abandoned il.
We learn from Mobile that the rebel schooner
Wilder, from Havana, was captured by one of our
cruisers OF Fort Morgan on the 2oth inst. She
showed fight but had finally to succumb. The re.
bells state that the Union vessel lost her ships oo
in the contest, and that none Of their men vers
damaged. No mention Ia made of the name Of th.,
vessel engaged.
The Richmond Enquirer Of January 2l publishes
slsngthy editorial on the federal war policy, writ
cen, - doubt, for foreign readers. Tho rebel ed.
Cor seems virtuously indignant ct the efforts of the
fsdsral govsrnmsnt to crush out ths wicked rsbel.