The New York herald., 1862-03-15

1'AG SITUATION.
General Mcclellan reviewed division of the
army in the vicinity Of Manassas yesterday after.
noon, and as he rode along the lines he was greeted
by the most vociferous cheers and the widest en-
thusiasm. The spirit of the army is represented
as exceedingly fine. The men are full of anxiety
to be led into immediate action.
A fugitive from Rappahannock, probably the
village on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
thirtyseven miles from Gordonsville, came into the
camp of the Ira Harris cavalry yesterday. He
states that there were 10000 rebel troops in town
when he left, and that they continued to pour in
wildly and hurriedly, under the impression that the
Union army was in pursuit Of them. General John.
ston and other rebel officers were dining at the
tavern when he left. He states that the
road from Rappahannock to Manassas is strewed
with muskets, knapsacks, haversacks, blankets
and provisions, flung away in the retreat, and that
numbers Of soldiers lay fainting and exhausted by
the roadside.
Affairs in the West go on bravely. The Presi.
dent received brief but significant despatch last
night from Brigadier General Strong, that " New
Madrid il ours" Hence the advance of General
Bragg with his command of 10000 rebels from
Pensacola, which was supposed to be intended to
reinforce New Madrid, comes too late.
Dispatches from Cairo last night state that the
rebels abandoned New Madrid on Thursday even.
ing, leaving quantity Of guns and stores behind
them. Some fighting took place between the rebel
gunboats, under Captain Hollins, and our siege
batteries, in which we lost twenty killed and
wounded. The loss of the enemy is not known, as
they carried of all their dead and wounded with
them. 1t was reported that Island No. 10 had also
been evacuated by the rebels.
The United States frigate st. Lawrence, from
Fortress Monroe, with portion Of the officers and
crews of United States sloop-of-war Cumberland
and United States frigate Congress, arrived of the
Navy Yard at Philadelphia, yesterday afternoon,
where she is to repair damage sustained in the
late battle from the rebel iron cladsteamer Mer.
rimac.
We learn from Winchester that portion of our
pickets, thrown out on the Strasburg road on
Thursday, came into collision with party of
Ashby's rebel cavalry, while our men were NOV
ing into the town with some teams laden with hay.
The cavalry made no charge upon them but some
shots were exchanged on both sides. Colonel
Ashbys cavalry are supposed to be protecting the
rear Of General Jackson's army on their retreat to
Strasburg. The rebel General was said to be in
person at Middetown on Thursday morning, o
point FIVE miles north Of Strasburg.
The Senate appears to be awake to the neces-
sity Of providing iron.clad war steamers for the
navy. bill was introduced by Senator Hale.
from the Committee on Naval Affairs. Yesterday.
providing for the construction, under the direc.
ton Of the Secretary Of the Navy Of an iron.claa
steam vessel Of not less than five or six thousand
tons burthen, and Of great speed aud strength. TO
be used only as ram, for which purpose 81 900 900
are to be appropriated; also, $4,000 900 for the
construction of iron-cad gunboats, s7s3 900 for
tho completion of Stevens battery, and $500 900
for extending the facilities of the Washington Navy
Yard as to roll and forge plates for the armored
ships.
This ia proper measure, and we hope IT will
meet the prompt acquescence Of both Houses.
The rebel batteries at Aqua creek are not yet
silenced. As tho steamer Achilles, from New
York, was on her way up the river yesterday, six
shots were fred at her from the batteries on the
creek, but they did her no damage.
The arrival Of the Africa at this port yesterday,
from Queenstown, enables us to publish the lead.
ing points of the British blue Book,n Just sub.
mitted to Parliament on the subject Of the Ameri.
can blockade. This correspondence shows that
che English Consul, Mr.. Bunch, at Charleston, re.
uorted that the measure was inefFectiye hut Will,