The New York herald., 1862-01-21
New York, Tuesday, January FL, 1869.
THE SITUATION.

H.,
THE SITUATION.
The most exciting and satisfactory news of to-
DAY comes from our army in Kentucky and it is of
the utmost importance to the fortunes of the Union
cause. The defeat and death of General Zolcoffer,
the rebel General, alone, would be q matter of
great interest; but being followed as it has BEEN
by the capture of the rebel positions at Mill Springs
it becomes a matter for increased congratulation.
From our dispatches it may be almost safe to as
sert that there were two battles fought-the one
at Somerset under General Schoepf, and the other
ot Wells Roads, under General Thomas. The
former appears to have taken place on Saturday
and. if we examine the map given in this morn
ngs HERALD, there can be but little doubt
that the beaten army having had to retreat during
the night from Gen. Schoepf followed the road
from Somerset towards Bowling Green, the posses.
sion of which had been already taken up by the
Union troops under General Thomas, who had ad.
vanced from Columbia. Finding these troops in
their way the rebels doubtless made an attack
upon them on Sunday morning, but second defeat
was the result and General Thomas drove them to
their defences at Mill Spring; but, being deprived
Of their leader. it is very probable that the rebels
thought the place untensble for any length Of
time. and consequently Effected retreat under
cover Of the darkness of Sunday night; 50 that
when the Union troops arrived at the fortacations
made precpitate retreat across the Cumberland
river, leaving all thefr stores behind.
The news of this Kentucky victory created the
greatest excitement in Washington yesterday on
the arrival Of the official report of it.
The Secretary Of War CMr. Stanton) as
sumed his duties yesterday, and was waited upon
by large number of army officers in full uniform,
in compliance with an order Of General Mcclellan.
The officers subsequently called on General Cam
eron to bid him farewell. Adjutant General
Thomas spoke on behalf of the officers, in the alb
sence of the Commander.in.Chief, who was de
tanned at the War Department.
No official intelligence confirms the rumor set
anoat few days since that Gen. Wool had notified
the rebel Gen. Huger to remove the women and
children from Norfolk.
Parties who arrived in Washington yesterday,
direct from Manassas, state that the rebels had
evacuated that place and fallen back to point
farther south. The exact position was not known,
but it is supposed that the movement, If made, is
designed to counteract the plans Of the Union
troops on the seaboard.
Our European files by the Arabia contain full
reports of the news-dated on the 9Th inst-which
was published in the HERALD last Thursday morn
ing. The more complete information shows that
the arrival of Mason and Slidell in England will
not take the people by surprise, that event was
very fully anticipated in their opinion by an article
in the New YORK HERALD Of the 2lst of Decem-
ber. which was received at Southampton by the
steamship Hansa on the Sd Of January, some ten
days prior to the departure of the Arabia from
Queenstown.
The comments made by the British journals on
the news in the interval, are of a tone which leads
us to suppose that the announcement regarded
as of the highest Importance and most agreeable
character. The news Of the Hansa was teegraphed
to every part of the United Kingdom. Dublin
paper, on publishing IT, dds:--"The most import
ant indication of all is however the declaration Of
the New YoRx HERALD, that Mason and SIidell are
likely to be given up and again placed under the
asylum Of the English fag." Thus, we think,
that when the rebel Commissioners reach Europe
they will find that they are of particular conse
quence. and that neither their names nor persons
will excite any great curiosity or attention--it being
taken as granted that there will be no war be.
tween England and the United States, on the Trent
affair question, unless England wishes IT herself.
Some Of the most prominent writers in France
still denoupce the fierce and menacing attitude
which England lately assumed towards our
government on this matter, and the journals index
that the heart Of France is not with her in her
policy towards America.
II b said that Archbishop Hughes had ever,