The New York herald., 1862-03-01
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsHrsoros, Fob. %, 1852.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Fob. %, 1892.
axPokTs RESPECTING BATTLES THE POTOMAC.
Thste authority for stating in ropy to inquiries from
distant points that battles have been recently fought
In the neighborhood of the Potomac II any had been
fought reliable Information would have been given by
telegraph The public cautioned against false reports
of battles, defeats, 60. put into circulation by stock
spectators and designing individuals Whenever there
is any news Of importance to the public any matter
rslstng to the will be forwarded In an authentic
form at the earliest possible moment.
CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN VIRGINIA.
The continuous wind and sunshine Of to-day and yes
terday drying the roads the river very fast
"A fev days Of such weather will put the roads In fine
order.
INSPECTION OF TIE TROOPS.
II has been busy time to-day among the divisions
aoross the river Being the last day Of the month"; each
regiment has undergone the usual monthly inspection.
There Is additional labor attending the present nspec.
aion owing the necessity Of making out the pay rolls
preliminary to paying the troops on the rst OF the
month Il being two months they last paid.
THE ARMY PROMOTIONS.
The army promotions for gallant services In the late
brilliant Victories will probably be announced during
ext week. They have been delayed until all the ooial
reports have been received
Tho following appointments were made at the Navy
Department to-day
Rufus Gray OF New Bedford, Mass; 7. W. Partridge
of Now Cambridge, Mass; Abe Ingraham, Of Boston;
Jas. Brown, Of Bucksport. NO.; J. W. Saunders, Of
sBucksport Me-; E. G. Healy, Of Rockland, Me-, were
appointed Acting Masters, and ordered TO the Navy
Yard Il Now York.
Acting Assistant Paymaser sam G. Thorn, is ordered
to the gunboat sebago, at Portsmouth, NH.
Acting Master J. E. Johnston, at the Philadelphia
Navy Yard, has been dismissed the service.
THE RETURNED PRISONERS FROM RICHMOND.
The federal prisoners who returned from Richmond
several days ago arc waiting impateny for their
pay order that they may home upon furlough The
change Of climate and location has produced sickness
among them, and tw enty one Of them are In hos
pital.
About eight hundred Of prisoners
here The pay department busy night and day arrang
ing their accounts the uroughs will bo prepared at
che earliest possible period in order that they may visit
their families and friends
ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS CORRECTED.
In order to correct statements Ia proper
70 say
Fra-That permits licences for trade In tho block
aded ports been granted. The only permits
those granted on the Of the War Depart
ment for supplies MO suter stores to the troops
pying military positions in the Southern States. This
correction made tho instance Of friendly foreign
Mnister who thinks statements likely mis-
lead European merchants and their governments.
Second-Mr. Cameron has not received his definite In
structons, and is not contemplating immediate dspar
ture his Secretary obligation has been
appointed. Green Clay, appointed with Cassus NJ Clay,
still retains his placs although he Is leave Of Absence
holding command in Buells army in Tennessee.
1kjrd-Nsither Jefferson Davis nor any other person
has made any communication to the government con-
cerning terms Of submission Of compromise The flag of
truce some time ago by General johnson 10 General
Mcclellan a. also Howell Cobb's appearance at Fortress
Monroe, related only to exchange Of prisoners
The above facts derived from tho best Of
Information.
COLONEL LOGAN RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUND.
The friends Of COL John A. Logan will be gratined to
learn that although badly wounded at the capture Of
Fort Donsison, hs IL doing we'll He struck by
ball. which entered the shoulder below the clavicls
collar bone passing out through the scapua shoulder
blade, and shattering the BONE Tho wound is danger
Gus, but hopes are entertained Of his recovery.
Nh. VOORHEES, SPEECH IN THE HOUSE.
me special despatch TO the Tribune ths other day does
great injustice to the speech Of this gentleman, and
grossly missatss the public sentiment here in regard
IT, Ii looked upon by all conservative men
bracng the line Of policy to be pursued towards
the seceded States A evidence Of this twenty
~ many minutes after was delivered; and the names
% tho list embrace the leading Union mep Of the House
He also warmly congratulated at the close by the
representatives from Kentucky Missouri and Maryland,
a. well by Northern conservative members generally.
The abolition element Of the House was indignant, Ii
true; but s favor, presume Mr. Voorhees, does not
He has every TO be grathed at the effect
Of his maiden effort.
MORE MISREPRESENTATION OF THE TRIBUNE.
A. vvo
dispatches Of Tuesday to mpugn the honesty OF the
Clerk Of either the Senate the House Of Representa-
tives In reference TO the amendment TO the bill autho
rxng tho President take possession Of railroad and
telegraph lines, wanton and outrageous. The
Tribune correspondence intimates that the amendment
inserted while the bill course transmission
between the House and the Senate The fact 10 that the
record Of the Senats's proceedings shows that ths
amendment made in the Senate by Senator Wade
and agreed to by the Senate. The Tribune should
look closely record, and cast upon public
officers stigma Of dishonesty when the IL attii-
butable exclusively TO their want OF observation.
COTTON SEED.
Some timo ago the House passed o resolution autho
rizing the purchasing and distributing Of . 0srtain
amount Of specified kind Of cotton seed. The demand
for this seed immense, and daily increasing Tho
amount authorized to bo obtained and distributed has
not yet bson obtained, although small quantity has
been procured and Is being given out People have
actually long distances to obtain this seed and al
kinds Of influences being brought into requisition
sending TO place portions Of said seod in the possession
OF different individuals. This plainly shows that the
question has become Of great II not national
Interest," and 1t also points toward the presumption that
the Southern States will have (as the rebellion
broken down) TO enter into extensive competition
che matter Of the cultivation and selling OF certain va
rieties Of cotton.
REGULATIONS RESPECTING SOLDIERS LErTERs.
The following letter has been addressed to all the Gcne
rails commanding departments; in the expectation that
thoy will the information 10 be communicated TO
their respective Commands
Posi- OrcE DxrARrxESr.l
APPOINTMENT 0FT1CE, Feb. 20, 1852. !
SfR-ln order to prevent far possible, losses OF
valuable letters mailed by soldiers In the camps,