The New York herald., 1862-01-19
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
>~~~~~~S>~~-~~>~-~~~~~>~~
Effect Of Gen. McClellan's Disclosures
Before the Congressional
War Committee.
No Furlozghs to be Granted to the
larmy Of the Potomac.
Naval Operations on the Gulf and
~ aa Atlantic Coasts.
0Tkial Reports Of the Affair at Fort Pickens,
the Expedition to Biloxi, and the
Burning Of a Rebel Lightship.
1Ae BIN Before Congress to Enforce the Col
80 lection Of Taxes and to Lberate
-.r and CeIenize Slaves, -
&C., &C., &c.

-.r and CeIenize Slaves, -
&C., &C., &c.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s, 1862. =
THE POSITION OF THE coMMANDER-lN-CHIEF.
General Mcclellans firm and dignihed position taken
Before tho Joint Committee the Conduct Of the War,
has produced the most wonderful change in his favor
Hb startling narrative OF the detail work Of raising,
sanippng and drilling the army, showed him to be q
man Of wonderful genius and great executive ability
The tone of public sentiment towards General Mcclellan
has altogether changed growing out Of tho sudden fright
about face Of certain Congressman towards him since
bis appearance before the committee Men who claim
be statesmen have been bowling against General McCol
Ian for weeks in manner that would be unbecomng
in boys, mainly because they did not understand
al his secrets; and, secondly, because the COM
nttee failed to obtain from Of Mcclellan generals
statement Of the plans of the General Chief The
General alluded to, when called before the committee,
was asked IL he had ever been invited by General
Mcclellan to council Of war; He replied that he had
,Coxm1rEEMAN-Do you think General Mcclellan has
any plans Of operations?
GEEERAI-I know he has
CoMnrrEEMAS-Has he ever submitted his plans to any
council Of that you have attended,
GEHERAI-He has.
CoAMriEENAN-Win you please state 10 the committee
what General McCcllan's plans are9
GENERAI-No sir; not until am ordered TO do so by
General Mcclellan.
This prompt and sodierke reply brought tho commit
tes suddenly TO the consideration Of the fact that they
were meddng with affairs that did not concern them
end about which they had no business interfere The
General in question discharged and returned over
the Long Bridge to the headquarters Of his division
Inc orebodng and dissatisfaction the inactivity Of
IL army which recently apparent here, is rapidly
disappearing before the evidence Of energetic prepara
tioas for grand blow at the vals Of the rebellion The
people who were wont 10 murmur at the seeming delay
~ reason for which they did not understand now begin
- perceive glmmering Of the wisdom Of preparation
- means Of insuring success. Confidence in tho Com
handing Generals is constantly increasing.
IMPORTANT ARMY ORDERS.
mo following have been issued from headquarters
~. CIRCULAR.
~ HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoToNAC,l
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1862
1.-The attention Of DIVISION brigade and independent
eenmahders is again specially invited TO the serious
nnce to the public business caused by permitting ap
pcans to present their papers in at these head
quarters contrary to the provisions Of Paragraph TO- OF
General Orders, No; Q, Of 1851, and the Circular
notice will be taken Of any application presented
N person at these headquarters without the express per-
mission of the division commander or the Commander OF
body Of troops not serving in division, such perms-
sion 70 be granted only In whore evident that
will suffer by the delay incident to the usual course Of
1Uiness and TO be signaed in the endorsement the
Division other independent commander by the words
ters, Army of the Potomac' Except such cases and
n this mode, desired that passes be granted to
e3cers soldiers 10 visit these headquarters for the
result.
1.-THE exigencies Of the service demand that every
officer aud soldier Of this army able to do duty should
n0w be at his post The Commanding General therefore,
deems it necessary TO Direct that unless by Of
Sickness upon medical certcate no leaves OF absence
Or furloughs shall be granted the present time except
in urgent and exceptional cases where the necessity for
the Indulgence must be clearly forth in the appica
Non. proper TO remark that many the reasons for
which leaves Of absence and uroughs have heretofore
been granted, cannot now be allowed.
- BY command OF Major General MCCLELLAN
g. WiIIIAMs Assistant Adjutant General
RICHARD B. IRWIN, Aid dc Camp.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. Z.
HEADQrARIERs ARMY PoToMAC,
WASHINGTON, jan 13, 1862. I
I-paragraph $50, Revised Army Regulation Of 1861
requires that when a soldier is placed in general
hospital his company commander shall certify and send
70 the hospital his descriptive list and pay and
clothing containing all necessary information relating 70
his account with the United states Hereafter COM sny
commanders must comply in oil cases with this pro-
vision as its neglect proves serious injury to the
H.-Thc duplicate report Of forage issued TO officers
required by General orders No ST. Of 1851 from these
General will bo sent instead TO the Paymaster General
BY command Of Major General MCCLELLAN.
8. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant General,
RscHD. IRWIN, Ad-de-Camp.
INSPECTION OF THE ARMY TRANSPORTATION DE.
PARTMENr.
There general inspection Of the transportation
Department Of the army yesterday this city over one
thousand wagons and teams reviewed in one body
They were formed in detachments three abreast. and
moved with groat regularity. The appointments were
complete but the ncongruous apparel Of the
remarkable and has suggested more complete
organization Of that portion Of the army and the uni
forming Of the teamsters Those constitute large body
o men, who VIGOROUSLY uncontroabe and dsorgan-
ised. There 10 room for much improvement In this
respect
THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR.
Mr.. Cameron continued to Secretary of War TO-
day. surendorns his portfolio Mr. Stanton this even
ag The latter win assume the duties Of the oco TO-
aorrow
MOVEMENTS OF Mr.. CAMERON.
Gen. Cameron win remain in Washington some days,
Cd visit his home before departing for Russia
ACTIVITY OF THE REBEL BATTERIES ON THE LOWER
POTOMAC.
Firing down the Potomac heard last night betvesn
eleven and twelve O'Clock II has since been sscertaned
that the rebel batteries had opened Gen. Hookers
command on the Maryland shore, but without damage
There is no intelligence of interest from down tho
river. The steamer Baltimore up to-day An sbe
passed the Harriet Lane and the Yankee their launches
were out along the Maryland and Virginia Shores probs
bly, for practice.
THE FIGHT AT SILVER CREEK, MISSOURI.
An official report from Major General Haleck Of Mis-.
scuri, says that Major Hubbard's cavalry attacked
rebel force OF nine hundred at Silver creek 10
howard county, under Colonel Pondexte on the 1eth
Instant and routed them. The loss OF the enemy was
forty killed and sixty wounded Our loss was six killed
and nineteen wounded Our force also captured one hum
rsd and sixty horses, sixty wagons ono hundred and
i've tents eighty kegs Of powder two hundred guns and
twenty eight prisoners
THE ARMY.
J. II. Cole, recently appointed by the Governor OF
Michigan Major Of the Fourth Michigan regiment Colonel
today reported himself for duty. Hc is
prominent citizen Of Adrian and for years has been cash