The New York herald., 1862-12-29
THE SITUATION.

4 k1A STU ATOM
There 10 no news Of Importance from General
Burnside's army. Military movements in the West
are equally dull. We have nothing TO report from
that quarter to-day.
The Banks expedition arrived safely at New Or.
leans on the l4th instant, whereupon the General
assumed command Of the Department Of the Gulf,
recently under the charge of General Butler. The
stato Of Texas has been added under the new re.
gtme. On the 10th General Banks issued . general
order, announcing the fact that he had assumed
command, and also . proclamation. to the people
Of the Southwest, promising, among other things,
the enjoyment Of all the privileges which .
bsne6cisnt government can confer consistent
with public safety. General Butler has delivered
parting address to the army, in which he con
graduates them for having restored order and
quiet in the turbulent city Of New Orleans, for
having aided in feeding the famishing wives and
children Of their enemies, having checked pestilence
and disease, and replenished the public treasury
with half q million Of money. General Banks lost
no time in commencing warlike operations. On
the 10th inst. he despatched feet and strong
force to Baton Rouge, the capital Of Louis
Jana, then occupied by the rebels. The
place was garrisoned only by few troops,
and they retired upon the advance Of
che gunboats. The Union troops under General
Grover were then landed, and the Stars and Stripes
hoisted on the State House. We give all the par
ticulars of the progress Of affairs at New Orleans
IN the letters Of our correspondents to-day.
Captain Jones, Of the California steamer Ariel,
Left this city for Washington yesterday evening to
lay his statement of the capture of the vessel by
the Alabama before the authorities. We are en-
abled to give to-day some more minute details Of
the affair, including an interesting account from
Cuba journal Of the manner in which the pirate
escaped from the United States steamer San ia
ointo Of Martinique.
The Alabama 10 likely to be aided soon by an
othsr famous rebel privatssr which has escaped
from blockaded Southern port to prey upon the
commerce of the North. BY our advices from
Havana, Published this morning, it will be seen
that the steamer "Florida," otherwise and better
known a. the "Oreto," has succeeded in escaping
6rom Mobile, with crew Of one hundred men,
having run the gauntlet Of the blockade in the
darkness Of night. This vessel and the two others
reported by Captain starrsts, Of the ship Lizzie
Bouthsrd, and Captain Weaver, Of the bark Mar
ths's Vineyard will increase TO four the number Of
pirs,ical crafts now securing the seas for the de-
struction Of our richly laden argosies.
We have further news from Key West. The
United States steamer Sycamore, Lieutenant Com.
manding Earl Bngnsh, recently captured the
schooner Alicia in Indian river, Florida. tn,
schooner was loading cotton for Nassau, N. p.
The Ninetieth New York regiment, Colonel j.
g. Morgan, has been superseded as the garrison Of
Key West. The Forty seventh Pennsylvania regi
msnt, Colonel Good from Port Royal, succeed,
the Ninetietb.
Key West has been restored 10 the government
Of the city authorities.
A letter from Falmouth, England, says:--Th,
United States corvette Onward, Captain Nickels
Pat into Falmouth on Saturday, the 9Th Of Decem
Der. from Fsysi. to repair ssme slight damage