The New York herald., 1862-02-12

meeting Tomorrow to consider the subject OF horse
railroad between Georgetown and the Navy Yard which
10 to be treated as a military road.
APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION TO WEST POINT.
The President has the appointment OF ten cadets to
enter the Military Academy at West Point. For these
places there are now eight hundred applicants.
RETURN OF GENERAL PORTER.
General Porter who has been absent several days. has
returned and assumed command Of his division.
PRESENTATIONS.
The tent Of Colonel McQuads, of the Fourteenth reg
ment New York Volunteers was last evening tho scene
Of three massive silver goblet to General
horel and one respectively to Colonel cQuads and his
wife. Lieutenant Colonel skly, Of the Fourteenth reg
ment, made the presentations, which were accompanied
by the usual amount Of reciprocal and happy speschyng
THE POTOMAC FLoTILLA.
The Harriet Lane, King Philip and Jacob Bell left the
Navy Yard this afternoon for the otila. The Jacob Boil
had new boilers made for her. but time would not admit
OF their being taken board she left with the old
boiler patched.
THE ARREST OF GENERAL STONE.
The arrest Of General Stone treason has taken tho
troops on the Upper Potomac by surprise There is little
regret however, that General German succeeds him in
command-at least temporarily.
THE SUPPLIES OF FORAGE FOR THE ARMY.
The operations Of the Quartermasters Department a.
10 forage may be judged from the fact that Captain DANA
Assistant has In his employment On this
side Of tho Potomac S14 teams, and issues daily 200
tons Of hay and 5000 bushels OF grain supplying in this
distribution tho divisions Of Generals Smith and MCCALL
the south side Of the river. 1000 employees engaged
in this work. at monthly aggregate salaries of about
$s6 900. On the south side Of the Potomac under Qua
there issued daily 100 tons ofhay and
$500 bushels Of grain, employing 600 Tho Quarter
masters Department at Alexandria under tho supervision
ofLeutenant Ferguson, has hand nearly 900
bushels of grain and all contracts further delivery
at that point have been annulcd in consequence.
The forage and subsistence Of the army brought from
Baltimore arc now conveyed direct from Washington
station to the camps in Virginia by railroad over the
Long Bridge This continuous line was opened yester-
day. and prevents the delays heretofore experienced
SEVERE ILLNESS OF THE PRESIDENTS SON.
Willie Lincoln, the Of the President who has been
worry i'll for several days, is much improved.
BANQUET OF THE IRISH BRIGADE TO GENERAL
MEAGHER.
This evening the officers of the Irish brigade gave
grand banquet honor Of their new commander General
Thomas r. Meagher All tho arrangements were made on
the most liberal and extensive scale. Elegant dccora
tons inspiring music and stirring speeches conspired
render beautiful and brilliant the convvia scene. At
the principal table, Captain Duffy, Of the Sixty.
ninth regiment, presiding. There sat General
uAoa6AoiS uouvt0A CuiSiuo, uouebt 11eintZciWati.
General Howard and General Richardson; Colonel Nu-
gent, Of the sxtyninh who commanded the Irish bri'
gade until General Meagher took charge OF IT, Colonel
Terry Of the Fifth Michigan and other guests Of equal
rank. The ofncers Of tho brigade occupied the two
tables extending the entire length Of the long marquee
The banquet prepared in elegant syo quite to the
asonishment Of tho guests who did anticipate such
grand display in camp nearly dozen miles from the
capital.
Captain Lynch, Of the Sixty ninth, in behalf
Of the ofhcsrs or the Irish Brinade, read
brief address Of cougratulaton and welcome II stated
that In this day Of trial and danger, when the
country demanded the devotion and service OF its people
il was fitting that General Noagher should become the
representative Of that which had suffered 50
much aud 80 deeply the wrongs laid heavy upon her by
dsspotic government, and that having aided in saving
the land Of their adoption from destruction It might b
bis proud privilege to be with thom in the effort to
for their native land tho blessings Of freedom and good
government which they had experienced in this
Gen. Meagher replied in a speech which was distiu
sushed for eloquencs and warmth he returned his
thanks for their upon his assump
tion Of grave and serious trust, upon which, he said
not only his honor, but the honor Of his race a.
represented BY the Irish brigade vitality involved
and he would add also the honor iu degree,
three thousand could affect IT, Of that hitherto
impeached and involable flag under which they were
proud TO enter on military service. Complimentinr
General Shields he said he would feel too great an
sumption to take command Of the brigade in his presence
he not satisfied that higher position awaited Gene
raj Shields than that of which he seemingly deprived
him. e responded to the sentiment that the education
the Irish soldiers receiving might bs of service
in the future towards the achievement of tho ndepend
once OF Ireland. He promised his entire devotion
tnt thn If tbn I'm md
the decree Of Heaven that he should fall in this
conflict he could state in all sincerity that he would be
satisfied to have those who should survive him write
upon his tonbstone-and nober opitaph no Irishman
exied Irishman could desirs-Fghtng for the Irish
sxies most happy homs, Thomas Francis Meagher died
at the head Of his brigade"
General Hentzslman then called upon 10 speak but
the General being more Of q soldier than an orator,
briefly returned his acknowledgment and pointed out the
absolute necessity there for those who were en-
gagged in the military service Of the country give the
entire attention and devotion 10 the work Of asserting tho
supremacy Of the government.
General Shields followed In some patriotic remarks in
which he said that 1t the exigency Of the hour alone
that called him to the field again. and to give what stl
reputation he had, and IL need bo what blood there was
left in himhe having been, Supposed ''mortay
wounded in Mexico-towards rcdcemng the American
and character from the andcrous attempt that was
now being made by the rcbos TO crush II down into de.
gradatiou He euogzcd the American nag predicted tho
speedy downfall Of the rebellion and said n England and
France should interfere IL would only cxasperate the
North cnrod and the Union soldiers would lay down
their armor until they had carried our ag victorious to
the Gulf In spite OF France and England.
Speeches were also made by General Richardson Gene
raj Howard Colonel Terry Of the Fifth Michigan rcsi.
mcnt Colonel Cass Of tho Ninth Massachusetts regiment
and others.
A series Of resolutions, highly complimentary 10
Colonel Nugent OF the Sixty ninth, were read The
Colonel acknowledged the compliment in a becomins
manner.