The New York herald., 1862-05-31


THE SITUATION.
The evacuation of Corinth by the rebel army
under General Beauregard is announced officially
by General Halleck, in despatch received at the
War Department yesterday evening. The Thirty
ninth Ohio regiment, the advance guard of Gene
raj Pope's brigade, entered the city at few min
utes before seven O'Clock yesterday morning, and
planted the Union flag on the dome of the Court
House. The enemy had abandoned the place pre-
viously. The last display of resistance they made
was in responding to the batteries of General Pope
on Thursday morning, as we announced yesterday.
To what point the rebels have retreated re-
mains, up to this time, uncertain. Rumors
are aaoat that Beauregard has made o
march upon Richmond to join General Johnston
It is possible that he may have been forwarding
portion of his force, in small bodies, in that drec
ton for some time past; but it is quite probable
that the main force of his army is still in the vic
nifty of Corinth. at some point on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad. In one Of his dispatches to the
War Department General Halleck says that the
enemy evidently in strong position some four or
Eve miles south of Corinth on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad. and that he (Ialleck) anticipates flank
movement from Beauregard. This surmise Of Gene
raj Halleck is based evidently upon the knowledge
be has gained from contrabands and prisoners
from Corinth, to the effect that General Beaure-
gard had been for the past two months fortifying
the hills on the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
for twenty-five miles south of Corinth. The object
in thus intrenching himself can only be explained
by supposing that General Beauregard hopes to
entice General Halleck's forces far enough from
the river, so that flank movement from the d.
rection of Jackson, Tenn. would compel the
federal army to retreat and fight their way back
to the river at Pttsburg Landing and Hamburg.
Another report says that the rebels are falling
back to Okolona; but the latest news by telegraph
does not seem to confirm it. However, as the
strategy Of the leaders Of the rebellion has been
all through so mysterious, it would not seem
strange If such was the fact.
Okolona, to which place Beauregard Is reported
to have gone, is small station on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad, sixty-seven miles south Of Corinth,
and two hundred and sixty-one miles north of
Mobile. About. ten miles south Of Okolons, at
West Point the Nashville and jackson Railroad
leaves the line Of the Mobile and Ohio road, and
runs southwesterly to Canton, Miss, . few miles
north Of Jackson. The only advantage to be oh
tanned by the occupation Of this position Is, that
there are two roads leading southwark from It
one to Mobile and the other to Jackson. There
the Tombigbee river and swamp TANKS the posi-
tion upon the east. making it necessary for
Gen. Halleck to march down from the north
via Corinth. At all events the rebels thus gain
time, and unless they are, as General Halleck sup
poses, "in force upon his flank !" no news Of great
interest need be looked for from this quarter for
some time. Our map will illustrate very plainly
she whole scene Of the late operations around
Corinth.
We give in another column highly graphic ac-
count from our special correspondent Of the re-
lease Of fourteen hundred Union prisoners from
Salisbury, North Carolina, and their arrival at
Newbern. The soldiers so released, however, do
not include single commissioned officer Colonel
Corcoran and all the officers are still retained az
hostages at Salisbury. The prisoners are on their
way North, and full list Of their names will be
found in our columns to-day.
Our dispatches from General Banks column at
wiHamsport contain some very interesting de.
tails Of the causes and circumstances Of his recent
retreat from Virgins. It would appear that com
munication with the enemy as to the movements
OF our troops was freely held by o woman,
well known at Martinsburg, and that she was
observed subsequently, at'Frons Royal-whero
Che attack Of the rebels was ommenced-making
signals TO the enemy from hill in the vicinity.
Although suspected by our officers Of meditsting
mischief, she contrved to evade punishment by
On assumption Of innocence and the absence Of
positive proof against her.
We publish some additional news from New Or
leans today, showing the manner in which Gene
raj Butler deals with the bankers and brokers in
Ga. city.