The New York herald., 1862-12-04


was une'r own p ',metree negroes who went out fro
here TO the second Dull 80 !. ~. n.,,a asla ~s
rebels wno aiding the wouh
subsequently liberated. .ovra
ACTION or THE SENATE ON Th y ApfoiNrh>
The Senate In executive session. reerred to their -
propriate Committees large number o. appointments
made by the President during the recess mat
Justice Of The United States supems Court DAVIS
EFFECT OF GENERAL HALLEcK's RBpoEr.
General Hal ecks oppose of operations OF ths ATmy
the Potomac is regarded by General McCleans friends
as benefit TO him, since it brings out his loyal and
patriotic letter protesting against withdrawing great
army that practically within twelve miles OF Rich
mond, and Ganked by gunboats.
As General Pope made a speech at Chicago praisinR
General sgel people asionishod by the publication
OF his letter 10 Gen. Halleck tabooins Gen Sgel
GEN. a'cLELLAN's HISTORY OF THE WAR.
II is known that General Mcclellan is preparing q
history Of military affairs while he was in command.
THE MESSAGE AND THE PRESS.
Great efforts have been made by correspondents here
to have the frcsidents Mess ge and the reports Of
Secretaries &c. transmitted to tho press the old and
reliable way but ideas have begot confusion and
delay.
THE COURSE OF THE RADICAL ORGANS.
The senior radical organ here keeps up its opposition
onward move of the army and approves the Presi
deAas policy OF using the money of the ridden people
10 buy slaves and deort them Forney's paper is
wary er is apprised OF tho unmeasured denuncaton
o the Message by the radicals Congress nd out OF t
sSoveFheess Forney wants concert of actIoa. a-d he
therefore bees senators aud Representatives to receive
the lresiGeat's ideas IN a kiadly way.
THE M'DowEIL COURT or INQUIRY.
The Mcdowell court mad its eleventh session today Col
X. D. Goodwin, Of New York The fret and only witness
exmined. He SAID have Gen. Mcdowell under the
ineuce OF iquor several tunes, and have seen him at
other times when ne So the irst time saw him
Intoxicated Pennsylvania avenue, between Four
tecnh aud Thirteenth streets; gong the
drccIion his hand rested upon tho hit OF hs sword
the middle Of lie street the period of time refer 10
previous to Gca Mctcans going with his army 20 Fair
fax Court House; observed him another occasion
this state at Fairfax; cannot name tho time but suppose
it TO bs upon the llth, 18th or 18th Of March,
but it was the same day on which General
Mcclellan made q countermarch from Alexandria
to Fairfax. Witness testified in reference to the ratcns
given TO McDowes troops at this time that they
INFERIOR he said he would have gone hungry before he
would have eaten the meat, ana his teeth would not
make impression the crackers and the water Of the
region unpaatable Witness could not testify, 10
his personal knowledge the truth Of the charges
made by him in his ST. Marks place letter against General
Mcdowell.
After Colonel Goodwin had finished his testimony he
questioned at length in regard to his position in the
volunteer service by General Mcdowell He claimed, in
his replies TO be duly Colonel of the Presidents
Life Guard Of New York City, under orders the Pre-
sidsnt and the Secretary of War.
Pending action this point the court adjourned at
three O'Clock till tomorrow. A.5f,
THR CASE OF GENERAL FITZ JOHN PORTER.
In the Porter court martial the charges and specica
tions preferred by Brgadie General Roberts, chic Of
General Popes staff we're read by Judge Advocate Holt
The FIRST charge is violation Of the ninth article Of war;
and has Ave specifications Of disobedence Of orders
ceved from General Pope the 2sth aud goth August
1862 The second charge s violation OF the fifty
article Of war; in failing TO attack the enemy according
to orders while General Popes army fighting superior
numbers The specifications three in number this
charge and refer to the action Of the Goth and S0th Of
August 1862. The last specification was abandoned BY
the Judge Advocate the government having testimony
70 sustain IT, This relates to the tardiness Of General
Porter, his allowing the enemy TO know of his move.
ments, and the feeblcness OF his demonstration the
30h Of August ut Manassas point Of egality In tho
present proceeding against General Porter raised BY his
COUNSEL Reverdy johnson and Mr. Eames, overruled
The court then adjourned
REPEAL OF THE ACT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF BRI-
GADIEK GENERALS.
One OF the first OF the session, under the
mendation OF the military authorities will be the repeal
Of the law limiting the number Of brigader generals
ARMY APPOINTMENT.
Raiston Skinner, Of Cincinnati, late In the Second
Comp,rollers ONCE Treasury Department. has been ap-
pointed Judge Advocate the staff Of General Rosecrans
and has left for the scene Of his duties.
THE coNvALEscENT CAMPS.
Representatives covode and GoOch, members Of the
JOINT Committee the Conduct Of the War having heard
unfavorabe accounts respecting the condition Of the con-
valescents camp Alexandria, visited il this alter.
noon for personal inspection They found that large
number OF soldiers there totally ncapactated for
active SERVICE and should be promptly discharged whe
they discovered abuses which they will mako al carly
effort to have removed They attach blame whatever
mel Belknap the officer in charge, being satisfied
that he has done the best he could under the crcum
stances There TO- 900 convacscent recruits
&C. at the camp, Of whom 900 are from Pennsylvania
Officers have been detailed for dividing on the soldiers
in the Conyaescent Camp into the respective regiments,
brgades divisions and corps to which they properly be-
long avoid and facilitate their return 10 their
regiments In the field There are several thousands Of
this description or troops and 1t Is desirable that they
shall now rejon tho army as the paymascrs the
eve OF paying or the troops. Parcled prisoners that
have been exchanged of whom there hundreds
here, are to be treated likewise.
CAUSE OF SICKNESS IN THE ARMY.
II has been ascertaned by the inspection OF medical
officers that the chief OF dseae among the soldiers
Of the army the improper preparation Of their raton
Dr. vollum has recently made proposition, which vii
be strongly recommended BY the Surgeon General that
system OF cooking shall be organized in the army By
which this evil may be remedicd. 1t Is proposed that
corps OF cooks shall be appointed enlisted, or that
men already enlisted familiar with cooking shall
be specially and permanently detailed from each
company for that service, with the view as FAR as
possible utilize the rations Of the soldiers and make
dgestibc rdd 1t is believed that tho Introduction Of
such an organization will tend vsry greatly to improve
the health of the troops, and prevent tho practice Of
struggling, which is found difficult 70 correct In mos,
instances struggling begun in search for food and
IL the food were properly prepared by regular cooks
for each company or regiment, the sodiers would BE-
mora eager TO get to camp for good meal than fal
h.h,ua IN soek ~ on tho roadside.