Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-24
NOON DISPATCHES.
REPORTBB FoRTHE DAILY PRESS
TIE ARMY ON THR POTOMAC,
The Rebels Acquainted with
our Secret Signals.
THE REBELS AGAIN SHOWING
THEMSELVES.
Later from the Gulf Squadron
u. s. Frigate Potomac Sent to
Vera Cruz.

ST, JOINS, N. f., January 23.--The news
station will be kept up at Cape Race all win
ter, and steamers to and from Europe, when
practicable, will be boarded by the press
yacht
NLw YORK, January "a Specials contain
the following: The House Military Commit
tee to-day authorized the chairman to report
bill to enlarge the Illinois and Michigan
Canal to ship canal, for war purposes
A. j. Mead, of Kansas, has declined his ap-
pointment upon General Lanes staff. 1t is
understood that the staff announced will not
be confirmed, as a whole, by the Senate.
A correspondent Of the Times, writing
from the camp near Budd's Ferry, Nd, says
the rebels on the opposite shore not only
frequently come down to the beach of a
morning, and derisively cry out to our pick
cts our countersign of the night previous,
but acquaint US with what is known by but
one officer of the entire division what is
to be the countersign of the ensuing night.
They also boast of having, by means of our
countersign, travelled along our entire di-
vision lines, and ascertained our exact 10.
cality, numbers, &c. If this be so, they must
be familiar with our secret signals, which
are now issued in connection with our coun-
tersign.
The Times dispatch says the postal reform
bill introduced by Mr.. COlfax, now pending
each on all telegraph messages, except those
on business of Government, of the company
owning the line, and except, also, news and
Congressional reports for the press.
MIR. Holt, the predecessor of the present
Postmaster General, estimated that by tele-
graphic dispatches Government lost 81, ,00O,-
COO OF revenue annually.
[Herald's Dlspatch.l
Early this morning our advance pickets at
BaTretts Hill saw eleven mounted rebels at
distance of about two miles on the Aexan-
dris and Leesburg Turnpike: They came
within mile of our picket line, and then
turned up dirt road, in the direction of
Fairfax Court house. Subsequently, Lieut.
Seymour of General Morrell's staff, went out
with detachment of dragons, in quest of
the reconnoitering rebels but without OBJ.
tanning any glimpse of them. This is the
first time any rebel force has shown itself
this side OF Difficult Greek since the removal
OF their picket lines, about a month ago.
WASHINGTON. January "a The Navy De-
partment has received dispatches from Flag
Officer Mexican, dated Ship Island, January
8, in which he reports the arrival at that
place ofthe U lifted States steamer Hercsditd,
and the United States gunboats WinOna and
Sycamore. By the first named he had re-
ceived the communication of the Secretary
of the Navy, and says in accordance there
with he shall dispatch the frigate Potomac
to Vera Cruz
Having been informed on the 3lst Of
December that a rebel steamer was at anchor
near Biloxi, he dispatched Commodore
Smith with The steamers Water. Witch, Neto
London and Henry LelOis to capture her; but
upon reaching Biloxi it was found she had
been removed.
Commodore Smith demau ded the surrender
Of the town, which was complied with, and
detachment of seamen and marines landed
A small land battery was destroyed, and two
guns, nine and SIX -pounder, brought off.
The place was found almost deserted by
the male population, but was crowded with
women aud children. A schooner loaded
with lumber was captured, and brought out
by the Henry LesOis She is a very useful
pij2e. The lumber was much needed by the
army Qu4rtermaster for the construction of
storehouses, and the schooner making SER
viceable lighter.