, 1862-11-10
;zNE HARpER's FERRY lfsv1fS-
7iGATl0h.
General Julius Hhite Commended
GEN. McCEELEAM STRONGLY
GEMSUhED.
OTHER OFFICERS REBUKED,
Rhode Island Henors Her
Gallant Son.
Rum0red Reconstruction Of the
the Cabiaet.

Especial Dispatch TO the Chicago Tribuue.l
WAsuwaToS, Nov. Q. 1861.
Burnside is to be permanently McClellan's
aooker's most important COM
1nand Is under him. BanM is here tonight.
SALEM, Va, s O'Clock p. m.-TLe order re-
ievlng Mcclellan WAS received at headquar-
tsrs ct II O'Clock last night II was entirely
unexpected, and every on. WAS taken By sur
prise.
On its reccipt the command was immedi-
Etc1y turrsd over to Burnside
Mcclellan and staff 1avc tomorrow for
Trenton, New jersey whe3e he Was ordered
HIS lest official act was tssuing an address
to his soldiers, informing them in t:w
words Of the change. aud taking leave. There
is 60 other news wofthE iof mention cxcep:
that the army is in motIon
WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-The Heruzds dis
patch Gays burnside is appointed in the
position
Gen. McClc1lan's- removal caused great ex-
eitement here tonight
There are reports that Mcclellan passed
through here to-day for Trenton.
PROVIDENCE, r. l., Nov. 9.-By order of
Gov. Sprague, salute Of 100 guns will be fred
in honor of the appointment Of Burnside to
the command Of the army Of the Potomac.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9-The removal of
McClellan caused great excitement here.
Among ru1nors Of the cause is one that some
frnr1 ha 4 a. aF
not followed, and Lee escaped in ccasc-
quence. Forneg's Press says that i:
Was purely military act, and the result Of
military consultation and discussion.
Although recommended to the president,
and approz ed by him some time ago, 1t was
only finally resolved upon after change be-
came Inevitable. No act Of the present ad-
1ninistra;ion has been subject Of greater de-
liberation.
Especial Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.1
WASHINGTON. Nov. O. 1854
Gcrcrl Lee is said to have crossed the Rap
pahannoek with bis whole force md to have
arrived Ut Richmond fortnight ago.
Or Friday night and Saturday morning an
attack was made by the enemy Oh Gen. Bay
ard's cavalry at RaIpahanrock Station.
The attacking force consisted Of cavalry, ar-
tIlcry end infantry. Gen. Bayard finally
drove them back and took possession of the
tords across The Rappahannock, at the same
time sending for reinforcemente.
LArEK.-On Saturday he again attacked the
| enemy and was again successful.
Tie report that Schuyler Colfax is to take
| Secretary Smiths place as secretary OF the iu-
terror, is without foundation, according to
Smiths friends. 1t is not certain tEag Smith
| u III retire, and Colfax is needed in the next
| Congress, otherwise bis chance Of successor
ship would be excellent. It. will not probably
| be announced before January as the present
heads Ut the department mske their reports
to Congress in December.
! TIE rebe1 preparations for retreat had been
| going or fer two months. Al their plans arc
sntwn to be matured for winter quarters at
Richmond. We hold Nar1enton Junction,
| whence the rebels fell back yesterday.
| TIE STOW storm will delay military opera
| tions in Virginia tTo or three days.
The President notifies all who cali On hin
ttat he will rot modify or withdraw the cman-
cipation proclamation.
| The following is the stunning up of the
| report Of the Harper's Ferry commission: +:
| The court acqules Cols. D'Utassy and Trim
bic of h1ame. Gen. White Is commended.
| Of Col. Ford, tue commission finds that be
t was placed in command BY C01. Mites Of MI
! ryland flights, with ordsrs to defend it to th+
last extremity. Col. Ford, finding the place
uuprapared by fortifc 1t1ons, earnestly de-
msnded mea: to foFtify it. The demsnds we're
not complied with when the enemy appeared
t il EeayT force. Col, Ford frequently aud
earnestly called for achievements, which
ecrc feeb1y or not at al1 furnished. As lite
ss the 18th, Col. Ford sent two written dis
patches, stating that uuless he hed reinforce
ments he could not hold the Hi2hts. and with
| out other instructions or relief, he would have
| to abandon them i few hours before the
abandonment, Col Miles was On the flights
and told Col Ford he could rot have another
uan; he must do as well as be could, and ii
rhe worst came. he must spike his siege guns.
throw them over the bills. and withdraw In
good order to Harper's Ferry. The coumis-
sion is then satisfied that discretionary pos-
er to hold or abandon the flights WIS given to
Col. Ford, and it believes from the evidence,
circumetantial and direct, that the result did
not surprise or in any way displease the officer
in command at Huper's Ferry. But this re
suit, so much relied upon BY the
defense, forces the commission to the
consideration OF the tact, did Col
Fcrd, under the discretionary po~el
thus rested in him msde proper defense o
the Hights and held them as he should hag:
done, until driven off By the enemye The evi
dcnce shows that the torca WIS badly placed
The point moat pressed was badly defended
after the wonnding Of the gallant colonel 0
the 126th New York 1t wss left without
competent officer In command, Col For
himself not appearing nor designating an.
one who might lave restored order or en
conraged the men. The abandonment VA
premature. Our forces were not driven fro1
the Hights at the next day regiment II
turning found them unoccupied and unms
; 1ested, with four abandoned guns and lar;
!. quantity of ammunition In 20 grave 4 cas-
) as this, says the commission. with sue
) disgraceful, consequences the commisaio
! cannot permit an officer to shield himself, b
hind the fact that he did As we'll as hs cout
itIn so doing he exhibits lack Of military c