The New York herald., 1862-11-22
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
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WASHINGTON, Nov. a, 1859.

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WASHINGTON Nov. n, 1861.
THE ARMY ESTIMATES POR TuB ENSUING YEAR.
The estimates for army expenses for the ensuing year
amount TO four hundred and twenty eight millions
($42S ooOO OO0) dsllars. The requsons upon the Pay
masters Department, yet unpaid amount 70 forty eight
million dollars.
DISTRACTIONS TO THE nARCH OF THE Army 70 RIcH.
xoNb. e. n ~
There Is reason TO believe that the Army OF the potS
mac will find strongly ntreuched positions in its road 10
Richmond. The fact has been mentioned to-day that,
during the past summer, q corps of engineers was
sent from Richmond to sdrvey the country the
North Anna and ssath Anna rivers, with view the
erection Of fercatons and is believed that strong
defensive works have been constructed in that vicinity
where the etreang army under Lee will probably mako
o stand
IMPORTANT FORTHCOMING REVELATIONS FROM THE
SOUTH.
II stated here thai letters, written by Southern men
who members of the Peace Convention to Northern
or loyal members Of that Convention TO be published
and extensively circulated In the loyal States about the
time Of the meeting Of Congress- II said that these let
ters contain strong appeal Tor an armsce and the sct
tlement Of the difficulties between North and the
South upon basis which debated in the Peace Con-
venton and that they disclose portions Of the his
tory or that body which have been published.
THE REPORTED REBEL CAVALRY RAID TO FAIRFAX
COURT HOUSE.
The report current Washington this morning as
to the raids of rebel cavalry Fairfax Court House are
untrue. Colonel wndham, who made the brilliant move
through Thoroughare Gap recently states that his
scouts the country between Manassas and
Ieesburg He promises If allowed TO clear the Shenan.
valley Of all the rebels in with proper cavalry
force.
GENERAL cAMERoN's OPINION OF THE CONDUCT OF
THE WAR.
Secretary Cameron remarked TO General Mcdowell, in
Wizards Hoel, to-day, al should like to mere fight
ing and less Investigations If the programme of the
year ago had been carried out the rebellion
would have been crushed before now"
THE NuMRER OF SICK SOLDIERS.
From the returns in the Adjuant Generals Office II ap
pears that hundred and six thousand soldiers
ported all the armies Of the United States. This
is onesxth of the whole forcefas appears upon
paper
THE CASE OF GENERAL FIrZ JOHN rORTER.
The Court Martial in the case of General Fitz John
Porter is now in session at Buffers Hall, Fourteenth
street. All the members are present; but as yet nothing
has been done except to arrange premnarics General
Porter desires open court and tho fullest publicity OF
any and all charges inquiries made in reference his
conduct during the It is believed that the President
will allow this TO be done.
General Pope has not yet arrived to prosecute his
charges against General Fitz John Porter.
The charges against General Fz John Porter to be In
Pope, which found its way into the New York
HERALD in the shape Of letter from OF
that journals regular correspondents the day be-
fore It appeared In the papers as an ofic ia
document from under the hand OF General Pope The
of his allegations in that report against Gen.
eral Porter will doubtless be thoroughly sed by Judge
Advocate General Holt.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL SCHOONER ELIAS REED.
On the 9th tho United steamer Octorara
captured of the Little Bahama Bank the rebel schooner
Elias Reed laden with turpentine, rosin and few bales
Of Sea Island cotton.
VALUE OF RAILROADS FOR TRANSPORTING ARMY
SUPPLIES.
During the rest Of the Army Of the Potomac at and
about Warrenton, large amount Of supplies
thrown forward over the poor onehorse Orange and
Alexandria Railroad that least two hundred and
ty6vs loaded cars, baving capacity OF four mil
lions Of pounds have been returned unused This fact
proves several important points regard army sup
pes-that single track railroad, in bad condition
under the efficient management Of such superintendent
as j. H. Devereaux can do In forwarding supplies
than many thousands Of wagons the best common
roads the stringent orders Issued by the Secretary
War and General Haleck, at the instance Of General
Haupt whereby officers in charge OF advanced dspots
compelled 10 unload trains Immediately on their
arrival under penalty OF dismissal from service aided by
other rules aud prescribed by Gen. Haupt
actually given this single track Orange Alexan-
dria Railroad capacity for transportation exceeding
that Of the double track Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
when the army was at Harper's Ferry: and this
ment-amsunting sometimes to nearly two hundred
Ter day double the estimated capacity OF tho road
Potomac upon leaving warrcnton must have been sup
piled in excess there must have been great inequality
in the distribution the loaded sent back and
which are blocking all the streets sdngs and tracks
OF Alexandria, would contain raons enough to supply
the whole army for ten days.
THE PRESS AND THE TELEaRAPHs.
The obstructions 70 telegraphing to the New York
papers precisely the same intelligence that is published
here with mpunity by ocal favores twelve hours be-
fore the New York papers could reach have induced
the serious consideration by correspondents Of the pro-
prcty of dispensing entirely with che Of the tee.
graph and sending all their communications by mail
NAVAL ORDERS.
Len. F. NJ Bunce has detached from the penobscot
and ordered To the Pawnee
Lieut. Commander Maxwell has been detached from the
Pawnee end ordered TO the Juniata.
Lieut. Commander Robert i. Bradford has been dearh.
ed from the Juniata and awaits orders.
Lieut. II. Seely has been ordered to the Narrsgssset
Pacific squadron.
William IOngshore, Jr., has been appointed Assistant
Surgeon.
Lieutenant Tecumseh steele has been ordered 70 II
steam sloop Lancaster. Pacific squadron.
Lieutenant Commander William X. Mayo has been de-
ached from the Houstonic and ordered comm and
Of the gunbsat kanawha
Lieutenant Commander j. Young has bccn detached
from the Powhatan and ordered TO the command Of the
gunboat Cayuga.
Lieutenants Edward A. Walker and G. w. Hayward
have been ordered 10 the South Atlsnic blockading
squadron.
Lieutenant Commander Feoizer and Commander Fair.
fax have been detached from the gunboat Cayuga and
ordered to return North