The New York herald., 1862-11-15
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ETC.
gentleman arrived here to-day who hs spent several
weeks ia rebeldom, and ID familiar TO the rebel
Army Of ths Totomac aud all the principal points between
Mobile and Harpers Ferry There is much in the inor
maton he possesses which improper at this time "a
publish. His observatin shows that the rebels have
concentrated in their Army OF the Potomac nearly the
whole of their available military force in the ATLANTIC
States, leaving only o snd number TO garrison other
points. When they lett Richmond, upon their march
into Maryland, their army numbered one hundred and
eighty thousand but 1t rs now reduced about one hun
dred and thirty thousand and since the battle OF An
ietam has been terribly demoralized, dsheart-
esed ana destitute The retreat from Antieam lde
in great disorder and II WAS believed that r the un9u
army had followed IL tho day after the battle, least
fifty thousand straggers would have been captured 90
the Maryland side OF The Potomac Preparations for con-
tinung tho retreat up the Shenandoah made
diaey aud rapidly the disordered forces could
Brought together. Arrangements made fail back
towards Saunon. AS usual such cases, the rebels
made show OF large force by exhibiting portions OF their
guard at several different points thus maannying
small number into great THIS insrmants repre-
eenta that the conscpton has been failure and that not
than fifteen thousand conscripls had been brought
into Richmond, and those being drilled principally
without arms.
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MIR. ADAMS AND EARL
Private is,ters OF .oicil nature relative 10 the
C0ntraband trade carried on by English merchants with
the rebels, containing some information about the views
cnte taned by the English Cabinet that subject have
been received in Washington. II that, long
since our Minister in London bad conversation with
Earl Russell in which he complained, in energetic Ian
guage, OF the damage Inflicted up the North by the
tnual shipping OF goods ard munitions Of to the
rebels upon English bottoms aud by English merchants
fntinating, at the time that long such in
tercourse would not be dscounteuanced by the English
people and their government there would be hope for
prompt restoration of leace in New World. He
Stoned also the OF the Alabama obviously vessel
sfwar cited up by English money, for the purpose Of
preyng upon the ships OF endy Power OF capturing
and ioying them said such odous system
OF ession pracssd mp tho Northern states without
the !ca provocation their part, constituted in tho
eyes Of the Americans and OF al civilized nations an n
frnesmcu Of the rights Of ncuras the responsibility OF
which would later be felt by the British Csb-
net both 1t home and abroad II word, Mr. Adams
proved that acts such these not calc to
6rm the United states in tie nunencss of the protesta
tions q ne9iralty and good will proered at different
times by tis Exccency Mr.. Lincoln, and that
doubtful whether they would reflect any credit upon the
impa TALLY and honor OF the English nation.
To ts tarI Russell sal in reply that IL With the
ulmos, regret that he had learned the facts OF winch Mr.
Adam ianing and that he had done al he
coud prevent the contmut on OF The Illicit trade hc
tween lngsh subjects AMI the rebels. He would, bow
ever. remud his Excelency that English laws grant.
cd su-h inrnuues 10 private industry that it was i'm
possible to hinder an English citizen from dealing in con
erabaud II he choosed do so that the responsibility Of
such unlawful traffic incumbent upon the pdIv vdu,
and that eject could but in very limited way be
controlled by the government
On z~cti. hat tba poIir or no
EpglisL government concernng contraband trade was
chat &C ali other nations and the United States them
seives whose preceients that very question "a
clear and precise could he desired. as ilustra
ton Of this lie said to Mister that, at the time
or the between the Allied Powers and Russia, the
Unitcd had ostcnsiby carried contraband goods
Russian ports and constructed ships for the Car Nicholas
and that outstanding the protest OF France and Eng
land lie ala not want 10 believe he had been told
tha, the President OF the United States Mr. Fierce,
or b. secretary cf State. Mr. Marcy, we're at all encodr
agiug such unlawful lie preferred to think that tncy
did a Trey could 20 oppose Them but the fact that they
csu not succeed ought provs the Minister of the
United States how diicul for the English govern.
mso q stop the coutrabanG trade between Eugls sub
sects AND the rebels.
The private letter which brings the details OF this
versaoa says that CONCLUSION, the British Minister
promised Mr Adams TO send OF his Complaints
70 the Admiralty, with recommendation TO exercise the
utmost wchruress upon All cargocs in clearance Tor the
United states.
Trouble ABOUT NEGROES IN KENTUCKY.
The CLronsck OF to-day says.-.We are authorized TO
stat jht information havng hcen received at the War
Depar of negro Il we kontucky having been re-
turned loyal well rebsi ma ters IA violation
or tie Of Cougre tie Secretary OF War has ordered
repo ts of any such be de to his depart
mcut crder thar the ocers 50 vioating the laws q
the bnlcd States may be duly punished"
TIE CHIEF or THE ouARTERMAsTEa's DEPARTMENT.
II sru,nogcd that Brigadicf General Meigs viii very
soon We transferred from the Qrariermasters Depart.
ment ~ In important command in the Geld, where his
sxrerieaco and ability viii be Of much value. In the
syent of this transfer is said that Colonel G. H. Cros
man viii he called TO performance Of the duties OF
Qua General for which position he is ciacut
" fitted and has eviaced peculiar qualifications through
maLy years o! active service quartemastc in whco
be has sustained an unsen,shca reputation.
THE rIRATE ALABAMA.
The Secretary of the Navy feels confident that he will
ne able 10 capture the rebel Alabama within
few days.
TIL. THIEVES IN WARRINGTON.
washington was never 20 much infested with thieves,
or all grades as now They congregats boldly in public
plsces and actually bully the municipal and government
omeers some OF the government detectives from New
yo,k ii, know these scoundres well, and epecs
obecs o, hate 10 the light fingered fraternity is 10
be hoped that the most stringent measures will be
adopted Tor the expulsion Of this class from this vicinity
opISIos or THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RELATIVE TO
TIE PUBLIC LANDS AT ROCK ISLAND, ILL.
xuunver Of squa;ers having recently made appIica-
ton 10 tho General Land once 70 be allowed recmpon
vshs OF so,temsrt on Rock Island, Ia the Mississippi
river the Secretary the Interior referred to the A'sor
asy General the question whether tho island was par
OF the public lands subicc, the empton laws Inc
Attorney General has responded In an e!aosras opinion
10 which he holds that Rock Island, having been re-
served OF tho psbIc lands by the Executive Tor
military purposes, under tho authority OF the act
Of tsus ia not subject 10 pre- emption or saie
under geners, land laws Of the Cnited States aud
snat ,r alleged REIMBURSEMENT OF the reservation By the