The New York herald., 1862-01-09
Great Activity at the Headquar-
ters Of the Army.
Gen. Sherman's Report Of Gen. Stevens
Operations on the COOsaw River.
important Reports from the War De-
partment to Congress.
Rbbnator Summers Speech on the
xrent Affair,
- H., &s., ~.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1862

H., As., ~.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1862
CONDITION OF GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
General Mcclellan out to-day, attending to busi-
ness but did not extend his abors the number Of
hours usual for him when well. Tonight he much
exhausted and retired carly declining to his own
staH on business.
ACTIVITY AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY.
Adjutant General williams, in charge Of all tho
business at tho headquarters Of the Army Of the Poo
mac with the entire staff Of General Mcclellan, are as
busy bees tonight The greatest activity has been
going in the Quartermaster's Department to-day and
tonight For hospital purposes the elaborate pre-
parations have been made for some time.
THE RUNoRs RESPECTING THE FAMILY OF THE AD'
JUTANT GENERAL.
II is ascertained on inquiry that 1t Is settled to
the satisfaction Of all parties that there grounds
Tor the charges against Adutan General Thomas any
member Of his family.
MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL ROsECRANs.
General Rosecrans, with Major Crawford, Of his STAFF
have left for New York They will arrive there route
Tor the West.
SIGNALS FROM TIE REBEL LINES.
Last evening colored signal rockets thrown by the
enemy, were seen in the direction Of Hawkhurst Mill.
They displayed red and blue colors II Is supposed they
had some connection with Gen. Smiths foragng exped
ton and that this pan adopted TO give information
M the rebel headquarters Of the retirement Of the orag
ing force. Union guide informed me today that
regiment Of tho rebels 10 encamped the back Of hill
one mile northwest Of Hunters MILL and two miles from
Shs main encampments about Hawkhurst MIL By climb
ing any Of cump Of tall trees this hill panoramic
view 10 obtained Of all the country in this direction, and
thus enabling prompt information TO be given Of any ad
Vance Of our troops.
TEE FORTHCOMING SPEECH OF Mr.. SUMNER ON OUR
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Considerable anxiety 10 manifested to listen to the
speech Of Senator Sumner to morrow the front affair
This desire only arises from the fact that he s chair
man Of the Committee Foreign Aairs but that he is
known to be largely in correspondence with the leading
statesmen Of Europe and that he is lnguist finished
scholar and fine orator Hence public expectation is at
The tip TO hear him. He win commence speaking at
O'Clock and will occupy one hour and half Senator
Sumner will defend Who position taken by secretary
S,ward In the surrender Of Messrs Mason and sidc
the only legal and just that the government could
honorably assume.
ROYAL FERRY-sUCCEss OF THE EXPEDITION.
The following letter has been received At the Adju-
sant Generals ONCE from Brigadier General Sherman,
dated
HEADQUARTERS, Z. c., I
PoR1 ROYAL, 8. c., Jan. 2 1862.
aR-As the Vanderbilt leages 10 morrow, deem IL pro-
us enclose 10 you letter Of instructions to General
evens, commanding the Second brigade Of this division,
The simple object Of this dash was to destroy the bat
shs Coosaw river for the obstruction Of the
navigation and the passage Of that stream; and
INTO tho steamer Mayaower, on her recent passage
through that stream for the purpose OF sounding the
depth Of the channel The affair succeeded perfectly and
the enemy driven of their batteries their bat
tories demolished and the property found there brought
away destroyed, with little or no loss Of life on our
side After the object of the movements executed,
General Stevens eeaby TO his instruction. returned to
Port Royal Island. AZ his report reaches me 1t
viii be forwarded.
poNGs IN THE SENATE.
In the Senate to-day the amendment 10 the iron clad
steam vessel bl authorizing the President instead Of
tho Secretary Of the Navy 70 contract for them
acknowledged TO be intended a censure upon the
1stter
The Senate has been engaged to-day in discussing
very prontless subject, namely, whether Senator Lane
Brgadicr General tho last session Of Congress-
and whether Mr. Stanton could have legally been
sdered his at that when every Senator
knows that tho whole matter has been settled by tho
formal nomination Of Lane TO the Senate at this session
- o Brigadier General, and that he has sent his
resignation as Senator 10 the Kansas Lcgisla-
turs. The Senators seem TO ~ engaged in
discussing dead horse instead Of meeting the ve quss
sion Immediately before them, whether the regular s
poinsse Of Governor Robinson shall have his seat,
whether they win be able 10 stsve Stanton on 10 please
Lane until the Kansas Legislature meets next week. when
hoped by tho friends Of Lane that the legislative
machinery OF Kansas will the reelection OF the
latter Of his friends. This IL small business for
The Senate Of the United States.
To-day the President sent to the Senate the nomination
Of General James Shields as Brigader General in tho
army. Tho Senate not going into executive session 10
day, action was not taken on the nomination.
norNaa n n uOueR n urpp rryra
This has been q soody day in the House, a. usual
nothing having been done OF consequence except ap
proprate fifty thousand dollars to DO employed by the
head Of the Agricultural Buroau In the Interior Depart
ment for the purchase Of seeds.
In the House to-day Mr.. Ward OF New York presented
his hill favorable TO mint in that city. Ex Congress
man George Briggs is here working for the Gill; he claim
ing 70 have bsen the father Of the measure.
AFFAIRS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.
There report Of anything Of Importance from tho
Potomac notilla Tho King Philip arrived to-day. She
- heavily armored and keeps open the channel the ice
On the nats having become several inches thick.
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
The machine shops at the Navy Yard are kept busy
aght and day. boring and riding heavy gun castings,
numbers Of which are daily received by railroad.
THE TRIAL OF COLONEL KERRIGAN.
In the ksrrgan trial to-day, the accused introduced
tsstimony to show that his conversations with vrgini
at the outposts held with view to drav from
them inior nation useful to the federal cause.
se yeant Nolan, Of the sixth cavalry testified thai he
accompanied Colonel Kerrigan to his picke tho Sun
day when the rebels took sasons Hill They sred
upon and returned ths nre killing Of tho enemy,
after which Kcrrigan brought his pises OF In good
order.
RETIRRNEKr or COLONEL HARrAN
Colonel Harlan Of the. Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry
has been removed, the Recommendation Of e Examin
Ing Board.
COMMISSIONS roH oypIcERs OF THE FIRST NEW YORK
CAvALRY.