Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-18
From Washington.


Gen. Fremont has had an interview with the
President and tho Secretary Of War. lie will
press his affairs for promptly starting his Depart
ment; his staff will therefore be determined on at
an early day. His Headquarters will be in the
field. COL Shanks, Of the House Of Representa-
tives, will accompany him az coon his duties
will permit.
large nunbe. Of applications have been made
by volunteer officers, TO be appointed in the regu-
lar army, but these have been unsuccessful.
Among other reasons the ifhculty OF diecrniIat-
Ing az 70 the relative merits Of the applicants.
The Senate was in executive session four b ours
to day.
WAsuikGTos, March l6
notice to postmasters, ust issued, states that
the blank agency from ard after the first o. April
will be transferred ir I'm Cincinnati TO Buffalo.
From con;rabands who have acted as teams,ers
for the rebels, it is ascer.ained that tho main
body Of the rebels have crossed the Rappah nn1ck
and are making a stand At fredericksburg, in con-
Junction with the army at Gordonsvile.
Special to tho Tribune
Messrs. Holt and Owen, commissioned to ex-
ami ne and allow ect all contracts, orders and
claims on the War Department, for ordnance,
arms and ammunition, will commence their lahors
to morrow. They have taken rooms in the War
Department.
Gen. Fremont's department extends, if We are
rightly Informed, no farther south than Knox
vile.
Gen. Totten has advised the division of tho
$1,000, 900 appropriated this session for coast de-
fences to the construction Of iron-clad vessel Of
war.
Com. Smith, the head Of the bureau Of yards
and docks, has been authorized by Secretary
Wells to build an iYon-clad gun.boat within siXty
days.
A letter from Newport News, dated the 14th IN
the World, rays: "Abeut 9 o'clock yesterday
morning several companies Of the 7tb regiment,
New York volunteers, encamped At this place.
Nhn Isov1a
road running parallel viii the James river. About
10 miles from comp they came across 800 rebel
cavalry stationed at the junction Of the Willians-
port and Gteat Bethel roads. When the enemy
we're discovered our troops charged upon them.
After firing a few shots at our skrmisheys and
setting FIRE to the houses they had lately occu pied
they turned and fed.
Times correspondence.
General McClellan's proclamation to his
army is the theme q! universal conversa.
tion and enthusiastic praise. His popularity
with the army is unbounded, and his friends in
crease by thou,aLds among tho people, who ad-
mre his patience under persecution and Ills single
hearted devotion to the Union.
Tho docks At Washington begin to be thickly
studded with n,asts Of vessels that have reach ed
here with supplies since the blockade was raised =
. vast relief 70 az who have to buy in Washing
ton.
Messrs. Odell and Laker, meMbers from New
York, yesterday called upon Secretary Welies.
and urged that Com mcdore Stringham be assigned
to active duty. 1t is understood that the Secrs-
tary gave them assurances tina: this meritorious
officer world son have a command.
Herald Corresponience.l
Gen. r. A Hitchcock, who recently declined
the appointment Ct Major General Of Volunteers,
was summoned here from S.. Louis, some days
ago. when he was visited by Mr. Stanton, the
Secretary Of War. What transpired at the inter
view has not been announced, but it was Of sufi-
eient import to the interests OF the country, TO in
duce Gen Hitchcock to reconsider his declination
Of the Msjor Generslsh:p.