The New York herald., 1862-11-23
THE SITUATION.

HE STU
The official response Of the civic authorities Of
Fredericksburg to General Summers demand for
the surrender Of that city Is published in full in
our columns to-day. The delay allowed by General
Sumner for the removal Of the women and chill
dren was occupied BY the rebels in throwing up
earthworks to the right and rear Of the town, as
the daylight yesterday morning revealed. Up to
Friday night we had not opened fire on the city.
The civic authorities conceded all within their
power. but the military force occupying the hills
defending the town--that is to say, the army corps
of General Lolgstreet- would not consent to its
occupation by General Burnsides troops without
offering an obstinate resistance and so the matter
stood at last accounts
Intelligence from Sigel's corps. near Fairfax
Court House, up to, Friday night states that the
rebels still hang about our TANKS in that direction.
Stuart was at warrenton on the previous night
with large force, and pushed his pickets on the
Manassas Junction road and the warrenton "pike."
They were driven back by our cavalry under Lieu
tenant Koenig. II is confidently stated that Stuarts
headquarters are at warrenton and that White
cavalry, numbering five hundred men, is at Lees
burg.
The working parties Of our army in front Of
Harpers Ferry were attacked yesterday morning
by the rebel cavalry near Halltown; but General
Geary opened masked battery Of six guns on the
o;lopt nd aci- aholls
far as our guns could reach them in their retreat.
Gen Geary is very active in the prosecution Of the
defensive works around Hsrpcr's Ferry.
There is considerable news of stirring charac.
ter from the Southwest. Dispatches from Cairo
state that "Reminiscences from Lagrange to Rip.
ley, Miss, have just returned, having occupied
that place and Orizaba eight miles south of it, in
twcnty-four hours Our forces took sixty or ssv.
enty prisoners and seventy horses and mules, with.
ont losing man.
Reports from Nashville on Friday state that
cuated Murfreesboro, and were falling back on
Tullahoma; but more recent dispatches state
that General Bragg is advancing upon Murfrees-
boro and not abandoning it. Heavy cannonading
was heard yesterday morning in the direction of
Lebanon; but the cause was not known. II is said
that JEFF. Davis required Bragg TO fight every inch
OF Tennessee soil General Breckinridge's divi-
sion had occupied Shelbyville. The rest Of the
rebel army is reported to be south of Duck river
foriyng Elk Ridge.
grand expedition down the Mississippi river
is now being organized at Columbus, KY. by Gen.
McCIernand. II is designed to open the whole
river as far as New Orleans and will consist Of a
force Of 40, 900 men. The gunboat feet Of Com
modors Porter will participate in the movement.
The feet consists Of ten gunboats, carrying
III guns. vicksburg will probably be the mos
Important point Of attack: but with such force,
AM Commodore Fsrragut, with his feet Of gun
boats below that city TO cooperate with Porter
and IcClernand. the defences at vicksburg will
no rfcsent any very formidable obstacles.
gac bombardment and partial destruction OF
ths cty OF ST. Marys. Florida, on the 9Th instant
BY the United States gunboat Mohawk, is graph.
cally described In our Fernandina correspondence
to-day. The treachery Of the inhabitants de-
manded this terrible retaliation ct the hands Of
Captain Hughes Our map Of the locality will be
found Of much Importance in connection with this
nfsir.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
A despatch from san Francisco dated 2lst inst,
states that thirty thousand dollars had been for.
warded on that day, by the steamer Constitution,
foI the fund Of the National Sanitary Commission,
making the total amount sent from the Pacific
coast for the relief Of sck and wounded Union
soldiers half million dollars
The Coroners investigation into the circum.
stances attending the death OF Miss Clementina
Anderson was concluded yesterday. and resulted
n verdict Of the jury against Dr.. Edward M.
Browne, the alleged abortionst, and Aurustns l..
simms, as accessory before and after ~ ract.
Browne was committed 70 prison !. ral ,he
action Of the Grand Jury, AID h, h.u..ti,pet
Eliz. Gordon, was held as wilma. wu
seport Of the Testimony 'aAen ie.ttitdg r.. ..,.t.