The New York herald., 1862-02-05

THE SITUATION.
With the exception of some skirmishing in the
direction of Pohick church and the village of Oc-
coquan there is nothing to report from the Army
of the Potomac. A party from the Third
quan on Monday, and had slight brush with a
picket of the rebels, in which four of the latter
were seen to fall. An attempt to follow the recon
noitering party of the Michigan regiment was made
as they returned, but the rebels did not come near
enough to do any damage.
The documents brought under the flag of truce
intimation from JEFF. Davis to President Lincoln
that if the rebel bridge burners in Missouri are
hung, according to the orders of General Halleck,
Colonels Corcoran, Lee and others now held as
hostages for the privateersmen in our hands, will
be hung in retaliation. A Cabinet meeting was
held yesterday to discuss this extraordinary com.
munication, but the result is not divulged. 1t is
evident that the rebel leaders are determined to
make the most of the advantage they have OBJ
tanned in the possession of our gallant officers.
The condition of the negroes, or ''contrabands,"
who have been deserted BY their masters and are
now enjoying the refuge of the Union army at
Fortress Monroe, is occupying the serious attention
of Major Gen. Wool. Over three thousand of these
negroes are now receiving support, and are being
employed in the several camps, and their number
is increasing every day. The difficulty of taking
care Of them is very great inasmuch as many Of
them are composed of women and children, and
reports having reached General Wool that these
unfortunates are in some instances q source of
embarrassment to the different military com.
manders under whose protection they have come,
the Major General has issued an order instituting
Q commission, composed of Colonel J. 7. Cram, In.
spector General, and Major Legrand B. Cannon,
contrabands and provide for their wants.
We publish, under the appropriate head In to-
days HERALD, highly interesting letters from our
correspondents at Somerset, Mill Springs and
Monticello, Kentucky. Our Somerset correspon-
dent says the movements of the Union troops at
that place and Mill Spring are in unison. but
thinks the idea of invading East Tennessee to aid
her loyal men is not practicable at present, owing
to the difficulty in procuring commissariat and
quartermaster stores to subsist troops and
horses. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the
Union troops are bound southwark. General
Schoepff's brigade has been moved five
miles to the southwark of Somerset, to the
Cumberlan river. General Thomas has his head
quarters at Somerset. On the 9th ult. rebelfag
Of truce came to Mill Spring; the escort consisted
of two prominent rebel officers and ten or
twelve men. The chief of the party, Captain
Henry Ewing, of the late General Zolcoffer's
staff was the bearer of two letters from the rebel
General Crittenden, in which he requested the re-
mains of Zolliconer. Brigadier General Manson,
the Union commander, received the letters, and
replied that Zolcoffer's remains had already been
sent to his relatives in charge of a rebel
urgeon who was captured at Mill Spring
While in the Union camp the rebel Captain
Ewing made an interesting statement relative to the
battle of Mill Spring, and the circumstances of the
death of Zollicoffer. He thinks General Geo. Crit
tenden is a "paltroon and coward" and says he
was one of the first to retreat from the advance of
the Unonists The other rebel officer, who accom-
panied the flag Of truce, stated that Generals Crit.
tendcn and Carroll are 1.-TWO whiskey bloats.r Our
Monticello correspondent gives a graphic descrip.
ton of that place, and dwells at length upon the
deplorable condition of the surrounding country,
and the devastation and vandalism committed by
the rebel troops. Each Of the letters referred to
will be found highly interesting.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday, Mr.. Sumner, chairman
Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported
bill authorizing the appointment Of diplomatic
representatives to the republics Of Liberia and
Hayti. The resolution relative to the command of
the Department Of Kansas, and calling on the Sec
retary of War for the orders and directions in re-
gard to supplies for that command, and whether it
is to be commanded by General Lane, and whether
the orders have been changed since General Lane
left, and whether the order of General Hunter is
according TO the orders Of the War, Department
was taken up. Mr.. Pomcroy said the resolution was
offered in accordance with a suggestion from the