, 1862-10-02
MATTERS AT THE CAPITAL:
The Runners Concerning
McClernand.
CONDITION OF WESTERN Pa
ROLLED PRISONERS.
Especial Diepatch to the Chfcago Tribune. I

Especial Diepatch to the Chfcago Tribune.1
WASHINGTON. Oct. !, 1862,
Secretaries Stanton and Seward we're sera-
naded last night. Neither did more than
make simple acknowledgment OF the serena
ding party, which stopped at the presidents
house, but he had gone out to the Soldiers
Home.
Heavy firing was heard to-day from Uptoa's
Hill in the direction Of Winchester. Nothing
Is known Jet as to It's origin
There are 1900 patients in the hospitals
here now
Commissioners have arrived from the In
dian country.
The statement recently te1egraphed that
Major Gen. McCIernand had been assigned to
highly important command in thu depart
ment Of the Ohio, vas derived from an usually
very well informed quarter, and believed to be
undoubtedly correct. Subsequent inquiry,
however, fails to confirm the statement, and it
seems exceedingly unque5tfonable whether
General McClernand has been assigned
to any command at all. II he has,
at least two Of the members Of the
catiret are ignorant Of it. McC1ernaod re-
Gently had IN interview with the president
fcr the purpose Of presenting q plan for the
campaign in the Southwest The president
rxferztd il to Halltck, and that officer is un-
able to say when he will have time to con-
sider it.
Its stated that Lee is still enforcing the
conscript Law throughout the whole country
adjacent to Winchester and Ronney, and that
tEum those 1t las collected himself aud those
forwarded to him from Richmond he has, in
all, received 90 600 to $4,000 reinforcements
Of conecripts since the battles.
On the other hand it is stated that his con-
scripts are deserting in large numbers.
Seven locomotives, taken by the rebels on
our retreat from Briatow aud Manassas juno
tlen, were rtcaptured by Col. Mclean in his
lite Reconnaissance. The rebels had partially
repaired them, aud we're only awai:ing the re.
construction of one or two railroad bridges to
run them down to Richmond.
Among the additional appointments Of ex-
an,ining surgeons for pensions, made BY the
commissioner Of pensions, the only Western
name il Myron H. Harding OF Lawrence.
burg, Irdiana. Applications for these up.
point1nents are pouring in at rapid rate.
The Indians military agent, Dennis, has been
investigating the condition Of the Western
parolcd troops at Fort Delaware, some
fifty miles down the bay from P4iladel
| phia. They are mostly from Ohio
and Michigan and are without shoes and hats
and have no change ofuuderclothes, and sic (
On plank without blankets.
In addition to what has already been sale
about the rep orted assignment Of 3tcC1ernant
| to an important command in the western de
partment, it Is proper to add that the original
| statement here was that it was in cuntempl /
ton at the headquarters Of the army to assigr
| ucClernand to Bue1l's place. This state
Eent carne from q government off
Ger whoec position enabled him to know
It Is certain that Gen. Hooker's name has alst
been considered very favorably in connection
with the general management OF the western
department. The whole matter Of sel5ctiu!
generals for important commands in th
West, however, seems, till 3 very recent pe
riod, to have been in ar elastic and unsettled
| state.
It is understood that hcClernand is nov
denying Oh the streets here that he had en-
| uUEstQ hAe Ilte1ItAI RIVC4&4Atl1uA. NAGu
ever any such statement is made in any au
thentic form, the government official will b
produced to whom he gave the endorsement:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The differences Q
opinion among the members Of the cabine
abunt the presidents proclamation OF EN- II
cipating e1aves, involves the retirement {
st me Of them, aud new arrangements in con
sequence are pronounced Imaginary, By thos
| who ought to be best informed.
The commissioner Of pensions has made tn
| following additional appointments Of ex unit
burg, Pa; M,ron II. Harding, n. D., Law
| rencthurg, Ind