The New York herald., 1862-02-18
GENERAL NEWS.

Tho intelligence Of tho progress OF the Union army
along the whole border and the coast has wrought
ial change in the views Of many members OF Con-
ess in regard to the pending Treasury Note BILL and
has occasioned suspension OF its passage for more ma
ture consideration whether it will be at all necessary.
The opinion prevails that the capture Of Fort Done son.
the retreat OF the rebel armies from Kentucky and Mis-
,ur and the CONSERVATION known exist in the rebel
rmks have completely broken the backbone Of the re-
bell n and that less than sixty days will witness Its
absolute reduction and the restoration Of federal autho
rity In all the seeded States.
In this event Is considered there will be need for
ch bill as this but that totally different financial
scheme should be resorted On the other hand there
many who think the principal features OF tina system
of finance Of which this bill is a part should be pre-
served, beneficial to the country under oil circum-
stances and essential to the public welfare in establish
ing an enduring plan Of finance, that be easily
accommodated to any changes whatever in the wants
o tho government
For the present however account OF the changing
aspect of public affairs the will not be pressed
THANKS TO CON. FO0TE AND CON. GoLDsBoROUGH
AND THEIR OFFICERS AND MEN.
The Secretary Of the Navy has sent q congratuatory
letter to Commodore Foote and one to Commodore
sbOrough The officers and under their respective
commands also highly compmented for their heroic
achievements, accomplished under extraordinary cir
cums,ances, and after surmounting great and almost
insperable difficulties, while the hearts and wishes of
tho nation have been with them through the long trials
they have endured and Most sincerely" the Secretary
gays eve rejoice with you in the success which you
I'VE obtained.
ADMIRABLE SUCCESS OF The PLANS or GENERAL
M'CLELLAN.
The celebrity OF tho movement 0! our troops in tho
West to suit tho change Of the features Of the
cr
the General commanding is conducting the war. No
SCORER was 1t asceraned that the rebels were moving
from their Bowling Green fortidcations towards Mash
vile and Fort Donelson, than General Crittsndon who
was advancing with his column Graon river towards
Bowling Green, was ordered to transport his division
upo steamboats, into the Cumberland river to support
General Grant, and another body Of twenty thousand
detached from General Bues army for the dssti-
nation Il s not known whether these troops arrived
in time participate in the reduction or Fort Donelson
but they already nearer to Nashville, this Cumbor
land river than they would hayo bcen at Bowling Green
ami Generals Mitchell and Nelson holly pursuing
the fugitives from Bowling Grecn while Gen. Thomas
with three brgados has changed his from the d.
rection Of Knoxville and Is making forced marches to in
tercept portion Of the flying rebels their way to.
wards Nashville
BY the aid Of tho sunboats and mortarboats CIarks.
and tho retreating rebels will find themselves surrounded
at Nashville and completely cut on from succor from
Virginia
Columbus Is already fanked and must be evacuated,
and in few days tho rebels will be driven not only
from Kentucky, but out Of Tennessee Not anticipating
such sudden and terrible they have provided
no formidable Qualifications elsewhere in tho southwest.
and Of transportation are vastly superior
TO theirs they will DO followed up rapidly thoy will
have no opportunity to ontrcnch themselves any where
Tho fall of Fort Donclson is the kncll OF the rebellion
THE pEPEN0Es OF WASHINGTON.
Lieutenant Hazlet, Of Grifn's battery, todey made
an examination of Forts Corcoran Do Kalb, Woodbury.
and Haggerty. Guns, magazines and equipments are in
god iton The eunners chow splendid training and
discipline.
TROOPS.
Again the camps are buried deep In snow This s &C.
knowedgsd he the most unsettled winter experienced
here for many The few delightful days which
ne had immediately preceding this last fall of snow and
the news tho recent brilliant Union victories in the
South and West have had most nspiritng effect upon
OR soldiers front Of Washington After the slterna.
a. ms Of rain and and MIST not TO mention mud,
which maic the last month in camp lto cise than
ssicn Of dreary days, the sight Of the clear blue
sky the sum- which getting to be such novelty,
ape red be fully appreciated by every the city
heIe tho river Ia the camps. On this sda the
ladies having taken advantage of tho fine weather to
appear on the avenue, the principal thoroughfare
tho capital was gay with pedestrians On the other
morning afternoon, tho fields presented the brilliant
sceno Of thousands upon thousands Of soldiers spendy
cluipped going through the various cvolutons OF the
line The roads considerable improved. and bat.
talon and brigade drills resumed with regard TO
regularity. Hero regiment deployed AZ skirmishcrs
thero another approaching at double quick, yonder
third forming in square 10 resist charge OF cavalry
thcre brigade drawn up in line Of baltic hi and
another marching in solid column, with Its mass Of
brstlng bayonets These the sights that have been
seen for the last few days on tho Virginia side
OF the Potomac. When tho intelligence OF each SIC
cessivs triumph Of has beon announced
TO The various regiments, they have received
the with the most enthusiastic demonstrations Of
a pIause. They have boon vory much elaiod at tho
sccming prospect II speedy active operations on tho 70.
I mac Any rumor Of movement is speedily circula
ted and in going from camp camp sometimes mag
nided into almost Official order. But now this last
fall of snow, the heaviest we have had this year, has
we'll nigh covered up the camps. Drilling must to a
great extent he again suspended for a while In the
meantime the Army Of the Potomac, watching the rapid
opencnt Of General McClcan's plans has been i'm
proving all tho favorable hours and has been fulfilling ts
appointed mssnn In awaiting its opportunity to deal the
d ath blow 10 the rebellion.
AFFAIRS ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
From the Point Of Rocks everything reported quiet
party just returned from there states that nothing has
confirm tho statement that the rebels are
r. sssembling In the vicinity OF the point.
OPERATIONS OF THE POTOMAC FLoTILLA.
The stepping Stones came up this afternoon to the
Navy Yard. Tbs HrRatp's Potomac correspondent re
brts that last night the Stepping Stones ordered TO
proceed o. Holland Point and keep watch there Tor the
night About nine oc.o,k the quartermassr on duty re
ported that he had heard number OF persons talking
op the Virginia shore. Upon this Captain Grumoy went
Tho hurricane deck when he heard tho voices on tho
shore One man was distinctly heard TO say "Come this
way" The vessel was got under weigh, but as IL was
possible that the men might he Union plckots CAPTAIN
q Lmlcy besissd TO tire. The voices soon ceasod and
tie Stepping Stones came to an anchcr This
morning IL was asccrtained that number of Texap
Ringers are in tho ne ghborhood Of Holland Pint
fcaty nring was heard down tho river this ,nor,;,