The New York herald., 1862-12-22
TIL H SITUATION.

III h STU ALTON.
The deepest sensation of anxiety was felt ia the
national capital yesterday, arising from the Cabi-
net difficulties and the uncertainty Of Mr. Iincolns
position between the radicals, on the one side.
and the cons ivatire sentiment of the people and
the army on the other. It was felt that the most
important crisis in the fate of the country was
upon US, but it was said last night that the diff
Guilty was settled and peace apparently restored
to the Cabinet for the present. II is said that the
PRESIDENT has announced that he himself is the
proper judge Of the conduct of his ministerial ad-
pisers. and will not be influenced byany attempted
dictation on the part Of any body of Senators
whatever, nor had the President accepted the
designations of Secretaries Seward and Chase
that of the latter gentleman and of Mr. Blair having
just been rendered II is said that the retirement
Of Mr.. Stanton and General Halleck was the oriei.
nal alternative of Mr.. Stewards remaining in the
Cabinet. Stanton was unwilling to 60, and the
counter claims Of General Fremont's friends and
those Of General Mcclellan rendered the course
oi the President with regard to General Hallock
exceedingly embarrassing. Rumors Of the resig-
nation of the whole Cabinet were rife yesterday,
but. IS will be seen they received confirmation.
Mr.. Seward will probably remain, but Mr..
StAnton's withdrawal il still urged by strong
party.
Everything is still in the army Of General Burr.
side. 1t was not known by his staff that he had
offered his resignation, as reported
We learn from Baltimore that the rebels are
supposed to be moving large bodies OF troops from
Fredericksburg 70 the West. uader the impression
that the former pout can be held against
army with q much smaller force than is now con.
centrated there. Our correspondent says that
there are literally no troops Of any account at
Richmond or on the peninsula. General Lee has
seventy five thousand at Fredericksburg and not
= man more. Except guerilas, there are no
other troops in Virginia, unless il be fifteen
Thousand at Petersburg. But there are forty
thousand at Charleston and thirty thousand at
Savannah, both under Besuregard, and twenty-five
thousand at Mobile. The great strength Of the
confederacy, however. is row being concentrated
towards Nashville and vicksburg, and it is safe to
say that there viii be, in few days, fully one
hundred thousand rebel troops at each of these
two points.
Our news from Nashville up TO yesterday states
that General Van CIeye's division had a brisk
skirmish with the enemy. The rebel cavalry force
rf r.;ty
uoitered General Van Clcve's position, but we're
driven Of after the exchange Of few shots
Confirmation is received Of the reports Of the re-
enforcement Of the rebels by Van Born.
Twenty rebels in Union uniforms, attacked
General Negleys body guard yesterday, but were
dispersed.
General Bragg complains that the country for
miles around the military stations is full Of officers
and soldiers, visiting, lettering and msrauding.
The railroad bridge over the Tennessee is com.
plsted, and the trains run through on oil the
branches Of the Nashville and Chattanooga road.
Dispatches from Cairo state that body Of 70
bel cavalry vsriously estimated at from two thou
sand to eight thousand, ms3e raid On the rail-
road three miles from Jackson Tenn, Saturday
morning. After firing into train, they tore up
Che track for Q considerable distance, and burned
s. long trcsltc work. The operator at Trenton
yesterday evening reports an attack on that place.
There has been considerable excitement at Coluni.
aus in anticipation Of rebel visit TO that place.
The latest letter Of the London Times CORES.
yondcnt al Richmond will be found in our columns
to-day. 1t is dated December 8, previous 10 the
removal Of General Mcclellan, and IL, as usual, az
strongly abusive Of the North and the cause o. tlc
government. as its tone is encouraging and aatter
sng 70 Jen. Davis and his party. The annibilatoI
OF The Northern army is boastingly predicted, an,
the vsior, strength and unity Of the South, men
women and children, black and white, clergy an,
iaity are Landed to the skies.
We give very interesting chapter today from
the rebel correspondence found In the Pos, Office
si Kinston, North Carolina. The letters contain
Soms curious incidents OF the war. and viii b,
found ~ StSsh perussl.