The New York herald., 1862-01-09
THE SITUATION.

THE STU ATION.
General Mcclellan was out yesterday, and at
tended to business during a portion of the day.
The staff of General Mcclellan, the Quarter
masters Department and the hospital authorities
have been unusually active for some days, indi-
eating an important movement in some direction
Our army in Western Virginia continues active.
brilliant affair is announced to have taken place
at Blues Gap, east of Romney, at daybreak on
Tuesday morning, when detachment of General
KeIy's forces, commanded by Colonel Dunning
of the Fifth Ohio regiment attacked two
thousand of the enemy, routing them CON-
pletely. The rebels lost fifteen killed, two
pieces of cannon, their wagons, &C., and
twenty prisoners, including one commissioned
officer, were captured. None of the Union soldiers
were killed A force of three hundred Union
troops, belonging to the Thirty Ohio regi-
ment, under command of Captain Lacey, de-
spatched by General Milroy into Tucker county,
large quantity of stores, commissary, a first
lieutenant and private soldier. Four of the
rebels were found dead on the field, and large
number of wounded At last accounts the Union
troops were in hot pursuit of the fugitives.
We have no intelligence respecting the move.
ments of the rebels on the Upper Potomac, except
that report was current at Wheeling yesterday
that the enemys forces were in full retreat from
Hancock.
We have no intelligence from the fotila on the
Lower Potomac. The navigation of the river is
still unobstructed by ice. The steamer King
Philip, with her iron armor kept the channel open
at the Navy Yard.
despatch has been received at the War
Department from General Sherman, giving a
General Stevens recent expedition from Port
Royal Island. The object was to destroy the bat
teries of the enemy on the Coosaw river, and to
punish him for firing into the steamer Maynower
on her recent passage through that stream. The
expedition was successful in every respect. The
rebels were driven of, their batteries demolished
and the property found there either destroyed
or brought away. The objects of the expedition
having been accomplished, General Stevens, in
obedience to instructions returned to Port Royal.
The war feeling i'm England has somewhat sub
sided, although by the last arrvals-viz: the Bre-
men, Bohemian and Canada-we find the fame is
still hickering. A call has been made by some Of
the daily journals upon the reasonable men Of
both England and America to interfere and prevent
with each other. Notwithstanding these feelings,
the military and naval preparations that has been
and were being made at the departure Of these
steamers were Of very threatening character
Additional troops had sailed for Canada, and more
were soon to follow; home regiments were TO be
strengthened, and recruiting was said to be pro-
crossing rapidly. Seven hundred men of the
Royal Engineer corps were TO be sent to the Br-
tish American provinces, and q reserve Of troops
was TO be located at Bermuda. very formi-
dable naval force was under or awaiting orders,
and the coast guard vessels were put on the q,a
uiue.
NJ. Thouvenel's despatch to the French Minister at
Washington had been carefully considered by the
English press, and gave great apparent satisfac
ton TO the government Of Great Britain The
London Times asks, with England and France
united, what third Power would dare differ with
their decisionss And yet England is very sus-
pcious of her next door neighbor. and the Times
gives . reason why Napoison's oner Of arbitration
was not accepted BY England.
Secretary Chass's financial report excited some
amount Of ridicule from the English press, who
thought the great country Of immense rivers, 81.
gantic mountains, terrific waterfalls, &C., could
not have gotten out 90 vast scheme.
The Spanish Ambassador OF Rome urged Francis
IT. not to yield 70 the solicitations Of France, but
TO remain st Rome.
The funeral Of Prince Albert engaged the prin
c.pal portion Of the space Of tho London journals,
40 the exclusion Of ell other news except that re-
ferring TO America.
49, CONGRESS-.
n the Senate yesterday, resolutions Of the Ken
,ucky Legislature, in favor Of constructing rail-
road TO connect Kentucky with loyal East Ten.