The New York herald., 1862-10-30
New York. Thursday, October 80 1854
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The whole army of the Potomac is now in mo.
Gon-pressing on into virginia-with the exception
OF General Summers corps which remains on
Bolivar Heights. The headquarters of Genera,
Mcclellan at Berlin. II is believed that the main
body Of the rebels have rotreated through the
mountains at the gap near Front Royal and the
passes on the other side of the mountains, and
that the pickets observed by our accommodating
parties at Uppervile, Smokers Gap, and in front
Of Sharpsburg and Charlestown are only watching
the movements of our army. 1t is said that unless
Lees retreat is more rapid than it is
supposed to be, General Mcclellan has it now in
his power. by making vigorous advance, sus-
taned by similar move from Washington. to
compel General Lee to turn and fight before he
reaches Gordonsve.
The news received at headq, arteIs Yesterday
from the vicinity OF the main body of the rebel
army shows that Generals Hill. achson and Hamp-
ton are encamped between Martinsburg and Bun.
ker Hill the majority being near the latter place.
The sick and wounded have been sent to S,aunton,
as if they expected an attack by our troops
terrible fire took place at Harpers Ferry yea
terday afternoon, destroying forage train Of 6f-
dred feet Of the trese work Of the railroad bridge
.s3ou which the cars stood.
A new military department has been crested,
2Slled the Department OF the Cumberland,
ID which General Rosccrans has been as
Signed the chief command. II comprises
the State Of Tennessee east of the Tennessee river
and such parts of Northern Alabama and Georgia
as may be taken possession Of by the United States
troops. This command constitutes the Fourteenth
Army corps, and that now under General U. S.
Curtis the Thirteenth.
The news from the West is important. General
Grant dispatches from St. Louis account Of an
affair at Putnam's Ferry on the 2Ith, in which
500 rebels were beaten by a body Of Union
troops under Colonel Lewis and large number
killed and captured Gen. Grant also recouats that
the expedition to Clarkson. Mo-, thiriy-four
miles from New Madrid under command Of Capt
Rogers, has been entirely successful, disposing Of
the gnerilas, killiag ten and mortaly wornding
two, capturing Colonel Clarke, in command.
Captain Esthen, three lieutenants, three surgeons
thirty-seyen mea, seventy stand of arms, forty.
ewo horses, thirteen mules, two wagons. q large
quantity Of ammunition, burning their barracks
aud magazines, and entirely breaking up the
whole concern, without any loss to our troops.
We learn from Jackson Tenn. that General
Prices rebel pickets were driven cut of Grand
junction on Moaday by the Second Illinois
cavalry, and that place occupied BY our
troops.
We publish to-day very full accounts OF the fai
Of the city OF Galveston, Texas. which we an
nounced few days ago. map accompanies oul
story which embraces Sabine Pass, recently cap
tured by our fotces-sn important position to fal
into the hands Of the government troops, as viii
be seen by its relative position to the South
western frontier and the elaborate description
Of the locality which accompanies the map.
In addition to the above win be found in oul
columns excellent map of the vicinity Of the
late battle on the Charleston and Savannah Rail
road, together with s.ill further details of tha,
adair-which does not appear 70 have been very
decided succ ss-from our correspondent a. Hilton
Head. Ind ed, dispatches from Charleston to tn,
Richmond papers claim it as a glorious rebel vic
sorry, and represent their loss at only fifteen killc'
and forty wounded, while army lost two hun
dred killed and wounded. Among the other int
resting items from that point is the statement ths
the British steamer Wschuta, Captain Gilpin, wa
brought into port on Thursday last, prize to tn
gunboat Memphis, Commander Wartmaugh. sh
was captured, after full days chase of the coas
of North Carolina. She threw overheard th
greater portion Of her cargo, and SO strained he
engines as 70 be unable TO make steam. She
believed 10 have been loaded with arms an
ammunition. The wachuta is an iron steamer
built In London, and will prove valuable prize.
The Richmond papers report everything quie
In General Lees army. The command of th
rebel army Of Northwestern Virginia has beef