The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-19
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
Gen. Hunter to be Recalled from the
Department Of the South.
Annunciation of the Policy Of
the Government.
Official Account Of the Gallant Exploit Of Eight
COntrabands in Charleston HarbOr.
An Armed Rebel Steamer Seized and
Delivered to the Union Squadron,
&C., &C., SC.

WASHINGTON, Nay IS, 1862
agNxRAL HUrTER TO BB Observation-Disclosures
or THE POLICY oF,raE GOVERNMENT IN TIE CON-
DUCT OF THE WAR.
The recall Of General Hunter is fully determined
His proclamation will DO mado the subject Of comzu
nica.on BY tho President Congress- and In that wsy
TO tho country Enthusiastically condsmniDg the course
Of General Hunter and clearly announcing the policy Of
the administration in the conduct Of the war.
An effort has been made to have General Benham
placed in command Of the Department Of the South iu-
stead OF General Hunter He soldier Of great ability,
and from several years. service engineer during the
construction Of the forts In the Florida waters IA
miar with the military advantages OF the whole of that
region 1t is stated that he could have induced the
Of General Hunter he would long ago have re-
Charleston
THE AUTHENTICITY OF GENERAL HUNTERS PROCLA-
NATION.
Yesterday many still unwilling to believe that
the proclamation OF General Hunter genuine twas
doubted even by the President To-day its authenticity
is verified by officers arrived from Port Royal and by
printed copies Of the General Orders No. IL Of the Depart
Of the south, dated May g. and mailed to members
of Congress here, postmarked Port Royal, May TO-
ascertaned that in tho PRONUNCIATION Of this order Gen.
Hunter consulted with OF tho officers in his do
parment with any Of the officers of tho government
here. 1t was exclusively his own production. The
Secretary OF War well the President, expresses
great indignation it. Probably hereafter army officers
or all grades will be required to attend exclusively TO
military duties and leave the management Of social and
political affairs tho civil jurisdiction Of the govern
mont.
DISSATISFACTION OF THE SOLDIERS IN TIE DEPARTs
MEEr OF TIE SOUTH
Intelligence received from tho Department or the
South states that army there is impatient at tho
kind OF duty assigned TO them They object seriously To
maintained sort or special armed police, mssely
IN facilitate experiments in the social development o.
tho race and are anxious TO % engaged IN more
soldery duties pertatain9t tho prosecution Of war
for tho suppression OF rebellion and the restoration ok
federal authority throughout the robel States.
REPORTS FROM GEN. M'oLELLAN's ARMY.
Accounts from General McC3slian's army are, thae
General Sumner released from active service
by reason his refusal to reinforce General Hsintzo
man at the battle Of Williamsburg. Congressman who
have Just reached from the army Of General Mo-
Cean state that OF rains the roads the
peninsula o in a wretchsd condition
A gentleman OF much observation and experience,
who just returned from the peninsula and has had
an opportunity infinitely the condition Of Con-
eral McCelans army and his proportions, reports thaa
no anxiety need be entertained about his This
army is in splendid condition, the preparations for the
forward movement complete In every DETAIL and the
occupation OF Richmond by General Mcclellan In few
days-whatsver obstacles the rebels may oler-may b.
regarded as beyond shadow Of doubt.
THE EXPEDITION UP THE PAMUNKEY RIVER.
The expedition up the Pamunksv river has proved .
complete success and has opened the way for easy
supply OF the army.
OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM coMMoDoRxS DUPONT.
The following was received to-day at the Navy D..
partmeat
PoRr ROYAL, 8. c., May ID, 1862
SRI have the honor to report the capture on tho
10th Of the schooner Maria Teresa by the United Staos
gunboat Unadia. She formerly pilot boat No. To-
Lieutenant Commanding Collins sent her to New York
for adjudication SEM by United States steamer Mas
sachusetts the master and crew OF schooner Flash,
which vessel captured by the Restless and sent TO
Now York for adjudication. The had abandoned
the schooner ana were escaping to the main land with
her papers when taken by the boats Of the Onward I
forward by the Massac the papers directing
them TO the United states Prize Commissioners New
York also send by the same steamer live Of the
tho schooner General G. pnckney captured BY the
Ottawa the 9th inst. also I'VE Of the OF the
schooner Albert captured by the Huron together with
passengers who were on board at the time. very
respectfully, your obsdisnt servant
Flag Ofncsr Commanding s. A. B. s..
Hon GIDEON WELLT, secretary Oh the navy.
THE GALLANT ACT OF THE coNTRABAHDs IN CHARLES
TON HARBOR.
Tho following interesting report from Commander
PARROT has been received at the Navy Department.
having been forwarded by Commander Dupont
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP AuGusrA,l
orr CHAIR ELTON, May Is, 1862.
SIR have the honor TO inform you that the rebel
armed steamer Planter brought out to this
ing Charleston by eight contrabands and delivered
up to the squadron Five colored women and three
chi ala on arrie two
FOUNDER and twenty four FOUNDER howitzer and has
also board four large which she was engaged in
transporting send her Port Royal at once,
TO take advantage Of the present good weather send
charleston papers OF the 18th, and the very ntogsnt
contraband who in charge, will give you the nfor
maj ion which he has brought on. have the honor
request that you will send back vsnient,
the officer and sent on board.
Commander Dupont in forwarding this despatch, says
in relation the rebel steamer Pantor-She the
despatch and transportation steamer attached to
the Engineer Department at charleston under Brigadsr
General Ripley, whose bark short time since waa
brought the bockading fleet by several contrabands
The bringing out Of the steamer under all the crcum-
stances, would have done credit to any At four
o'clock in the morning. in the absence OF tho captans
who was on shore she left her wharf close to tina go
vernrnent office and headquarters with the Palmetto
rebel flags fly passed the successive Forts salut-
ing as usual by blowing the steam whistle After get
the rebel flags and hosted white The Onward
the inside ship Of bockading squadron in the main
msds on. sh. white flag hs Of the stsamor
s thirty FOUNDER or pivot, aud fine twenty four
FOUNDER howitzer Sne mas beside on ner deck TOUR
other guns--ons ssvennch rinsd-whch to be
aken on tho morning Of the escape, to the fort
the middle ground. One Of tho four belonged Fort
sumter and had been struck in the rebel attack tho
fort on the muzzc Robert Small the intelligent slave
and pilot Of the boat, who performed this bold feat
skully informed me Of this fact, presuming would bo
matter OF interest have possession Of this gun.
This man Robert Small, Is superior TO any who have
come into our lines, intelligent As many Of them
have been. His information has been most in.
tercsting, and portions Of II OF the most i'm
portance. The steamer is quito valuable acquisition
he nv harU mn wapdr
draft The officer in charge brought her through ST.
Helena sound and by the inland passage down Beauors
river, arriving here at ten o'clock last night. board
the when she Left Charleston were eight men,
five women and three children. | shall continue To
employ Small piIpt board the Planter for inland
waters, with which hSAppears 70 be very familiar.
do not know whether, in the vsws OF the govern.
mont, the vessel will be considered prize bnt II SOL
respectfully submit TO the department the claims OF the