The New York herald., 1862-03-01
THE SITUATION.

The right wing of the grand army, in General
Banks division, on the Upper Potomac, has made
An advance. Crossing the river from Sandy Hook
on Monday night to Harper's Ferry, the ad-
vance guard, consisting of the Twenty eighth
Pennsylvania regiment, took possession of the
town. Strong reinforcements went over on Tues.
day and occupied the towns Of Bolivar and
Charlestown, and considerable portion of the
country on both banks of the Shenandoah
The rebels, with the exception of q few
who were captured, retired on the approach of
our army. The sentiment among the people is
strongly in favor of the Union. General Banks has
established his headquarters on the road from Har-
per's Ferry to Bolivar. The rebels shelled the
trains yesterday, near Berlin, their way to Bal.
timore, but the firing was so bad that they did no
damage. These facts Of the unobstructed advance
of Major General Banks division into Virginia we
received by a telegraphic despatch from Bolivar,
by way of Sandy Hook, last night, which we
publish elsewhere, and they definitely set
ct rest the rumors circulated in the
city yesterday, for interested purposes, of
battles and defeats sustained by the right wing of
the army. 1t is hardly necessary to state that we
ment in giving publicity to this information Of the
movement of our troops, nor to mention that In the
conscientious discharge Of our duty to the gov
eminent and the sacred cause in which it is en-
gagged, we do not, or shall not publish anything
concerning any important movements of the
army unauthorized. 1t will be seen that our
despatch from Bolivar mentions that up to last
night call goes well" in that vicinity.
Tho occupation of Nashville by our troops is
now officially confirmed. A despatch was received
at General McClellan's headquarters yesterday an
nouncing that General Buell. arrived at the north
bank Of the Cumberland. directly opposite Nash
vile, on Tuesday, where some Of the rebel pckets
were found, who Immediately retired. On Thurs
day the brigades of Generals Nelson and Critten.
den marched through Nashville, and en-.
camped four miles beyond II on the road
towards Murfreesboro' without encountering any
opposition. Reports reached Cairo yesterday that
fhe rebels had concentrated at the latter place.
and that General Buell. had surrounded them 80 as
10 render escape impossible. The rebels offered
10 surrender their position II allowed to march out
with the honors Of war. General Buell. refused
and demanded an unconditional surrender and
said that he would allow two days for considera.
lion, and II the place was not surrendered at that
time he would open fire upon them. The time
expired yesterday morning, and the probability
u that the town is now in possession of our
trsops. General Nelson commands at Nash.
vile, where his troops are welcomed with great
cordially by the people. It is said that the rebel
troops committed many excesses in plundering
houses and stores, before abandoning the city and
the citizens filed with indignation at this CON.
duct.
> With regard to the evacuation Of Columbus. the
Memphis papers of the 10th say that the rebel
Sprrn Twe ordered to fall back upon on island