The New York herald., 1862-04-07
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON,

--.--
wAsuSoroH, April Q, 1862.
GESERAL ORDER RESPECTING RAILROAD AND rELE-
GRAPH sUPERNrEsDESoE.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WAsnSGroN, D. C, April S, 1862. I
d. c. McCallum. having been appointed Colonel in tho
volunteer servce he is assigned TO specia duty in the
war department as Military Superintendent Of Railroads
Ahson Stager having been appointed Colonel in the
von'eer SERVICE he is assigned TO special duty in the
war Department az Military Superintendent OF all tho
telegraph lines in the United States
EDWARDS ). Sanford having been appointed Colonel in
service he assigned to special duty in the
War Department as Military Supervisor Of tosgraphic
dispatches and army Intelligence throughout the United
States
They will DO respected and obeysd accordingly.
Dy order Of the Secretary OF War;
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
INFORMANT FROM FORTRESS MoNRos.
There is authority from the War Department for saw
Ing that dispatches from Fortress Monroe dated tbroe
O'Clock Sunday afternooon have boon received bv tbs
department. A reconnaissance had been made toward
Yorktown Tho headquarters Of our army are about sxa
miles from Yorktown. There had been some cannon
aiding, but apparently without any injury on either side
and no engagement had TO that time, taken place.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET AT ISLAND NO. TEN
despatch TO the Secretary Of War dated New Madrid
April s, states that last night Captain Waugh with tho
gunboat Carondslst the gauntlet at Island No 10,
and is now available to General Pope. She was fred on
bv the Memphis batteries but not struck once
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE REBEL LIADRRs-rHKrR
PLAN OF OPERATIONS FRUSTRATED.
It has been ascertained that the rebel leaders are
grsvousy disappointed and disconnected by the change
Of programme in the disposition Of the Army of the
Potomac. They had early Information OF tho prepara
tions for the transportation Of Gen. McClelans army
and supposng that the whole Army Of the Potomac was
to be withdrawn from this vicinity, had ar.
ranged programme for bold dash across
the Potomac above Washington, and q foray
upon the capital through Maryland. Gen. Jackson com
mand to lead this enterprise and to be supported by
Smith and Johnstons forces. II expected that the
rebel sympathzers in Maryland would raise the standard
of revolt there and aid the execution of the project by
the destruction OF railroads and bridges the isolation
of Washington from reinforcements Of Union troops
Tho rebel leaders reekoned without their host and wer
taken by surprise at finding Gen. Banks within support
ing distance Of Gen. Shields whom the attempt was made
to execute the first part Of their programme
The rspuse OF Jackson and the creation of
two now departments in Virginia, under the
Command OF Cen. Banks and Cen. Mcdowell conynces
them that in the OF General Mcclellan no vu
nerabe point has been left unprotected. Tho Maryland
sympahzsrs, emboldened to insolsnce at the
prospect Of this bold feat Of tho rebel army have become
dshcartoned and are leaving by Numbers have
been arrested In their attempt TO escape into Dixie and
others who were known 10 have organized for tho
sion seeking southwark in small parties
Tho removal Of the restriction upon the passage of
civilians the Potomac has Afforded many Of them
tho long looked for opportunity.
PLANS P0R THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MHRRrMAc.
Since the duel between tho Nerrimac and Monitor
more than thousand plans for the destruction OF the
rebel monster have been submitted to the Navy Depart
ment American ingenuity appears to be limited only
by the occasion for Its exercise This multiplicity Of
suggestions includes some startling and novel propo.
sitions.
THE NEWLY CREATED MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.
II s not truo that there is any antagonism
oven rivalry In the movements Of General
Mcclellan and General Mcdowell. The creation Of
the separate departments assigned to tho latter was
quite necessary to the OF the plan OF General
Mcclellan that Of the Department OF North Caro-.
lima under General Burnside Each has separate duty
to perform constituting part OF the general plan for
the crushing out Of the rebellion by the destruction
Of the rebel army Virginia 80 far from there being
any rivalry between our generals each is executing
particular part Of the programme essential 10 the COM
plots success Of the whole.
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OF A NEWSPAPER PUB.
Usher.
Edmund Ellis publisher Of the Boone county Scdnddrd
was tried before . military commissioner 1t Columbia
NO., on two charges
First CAaroe-The publication OF information for the
benefit Of the enemy. and encouraging resistance the
government and laws Of the United States.
Second Charge-violation OF the laws OF by publ
cation within tho lines Of tho troops Of the United States
in public newspaper Of articles and information in
tended aud designed TO comfort the enemy and invite
persons rebellion against the United States. One Of
fvla Tafss
Army" another Root, Abe, or Die" third l." News
from General Price"
The Commission found tho prisoner guilty OF the
charges and specifications, and sentenced him TO bo
placed and kept outside the lines of the Missouri
during the and that the press types, furniture and
material Of the printing Office of the Boone Comfy
dord be con6catsd and sold for the Of the United
States
General Haleck approved the finding and sentence and
directed the printing Office TO remain in charge Of the
until further ORDERS that tho prisoner be
paced outside Of the State OF Missouri and that he
turns during tho war, without permission, that
he be arrested and placed in close confinement
in the Alton military prison. The proceedings being
returned to the War Department, they approved
by the Secretary and order issued that tho form o.
procedure should be adopted in like by the com
ma ndcrs Of all the military departments.
THE EMOLUMESTs OF THE NEW YORK CUSTOM
HOUSE,
The Committee on Commerce has agreed TO present a
bill 20 limit the emolumonts Of the Collector OF Customs
AZ New York 30 as not to exceed ten thousand dollars
por annum from all sources and to reduce aiso the pro-
port ON allowed forfeitures This under
stood to have been prepared consequence Of the in
v.stgat,ons of the Van wyck Investigating Committee
In that direction.
TIE DEpEScEs or THE COUNTRY.
The House OF Representatives some time ago instruct
ed the Committee Military Affairs to examine tho
whole system permanent defcnces OF the country for
tho purpose Of ascetaning what notifications Of the
old plans, If any. required to rspel the improved
means of attack, and 70 report by bill or otherwise
Colonel Blair the chairmsn has been bestowng much
time and labor this subject and he will bo ready,
ills understood to report. His examination into the
condition of the maritime frontier defences especially,