The New York herald., 1862-03-08
TR RIPLE SHEET.
New York, Saturday, March 8, 1864.
THE SITUATION.


THE SITUATION.
The reports received yesterday from every part
Of the military line of the Potomac contain nothing
of material interest.
No news of Importance comes from the division
OF General Banks. The reconstruction of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad bridge is progressing
rapidly. The rebel pickets between Bunker Hill
and Winchester show themselves occasionally to
our lines, but no engagement has taken place.
brisk cannonading took place on the Lower
Potomac at four o'clock yesterday morning, when
The Freeborn, Satellite, Island Belle and the Reso-
lutte opened fire on the line of batteries extending
from opposite Liverpool Point to Boyd's Hole
including three at Aqua Creek. The rebels
returned the fire, but without striking any
OF our vessels Proceeding up to Wade 8
Bay in the afternoon in which direction
heavy firing had been heard during the day,
the Island Belle and the Satellite again opened fire
on the railroad depot and some trains of cars filed
with rebel troops that were constantly arriving
from fredericksburg The depot was riddled by
the shot and shell. The enemy returned the fire
from battery on the water line and another on
bill little back. Their shots fell thckly around
the vessels, but not one of them took effect. The
troops at Aqua Creek were constantly receiving
beinforcements. The batteries at Cockpit Point and
Shipping Point opened fire on Professor Lowe s
balloon. when in the air Budds Ferry, but the
balloon was not hit on either side.
Governor Andrew Johnson, with his staff. accom-.
panied by Messrs. Etheridge. and Maynard, left
Washington yesterday evening for Nashville to
enter upon their charge Of the new government of
Tennessee.
From Fortress Monroe we hear of an accident
which occurred to the steamship Mississippi, on
her way to Ship Island, with General Butler and
his staff. and number of troops on board at Fry
ing Pan Shoals; but although she was injured by
going ashore on dangerous point, she was not
disabled, and was towed of by the steamer Mount
Vernon on the afternoon of Friday last and pro.
ceeded to Port Royal.
We present our readers to-day with large and
full map of the Mississippi Valley and the sur.
rounding country. The military and naval opera
lions which have been and are taking place, and
others shortly to be developed, will render the
map very valuable for reference. Every important
place has been carefully located according to scale,
and our readers, by comparing the map with the de-.
spatches received. can be able to follow the pro-
gress of our armies with some degree of accuracy.
The news which we publish from the Southern
papers to-day will be found very interesting. The
whole tone Of the rebel journals, apart from
the occasional attempt at braggadocio-which is
very feeble-indicates q most uncomfortable
feeling nervous anxiety lest the soldiers whose
term Of service Is just expiring will not resn.
list, and in illconcealed fear Of the desperation Of
the cause Of rebellion. In the articles from the
leading newspapers the orders of military leaders,
and the discussions in the rebel Congress, the same
general conviction Of approaching disaster can be
detected.
Our latest news from Tennessee, received from
Cairo last night is embodied in a despatch from
Lieutenant Gwin, Of the gunboat Tyler, who made
landing at Pittsburg under flag Of truce. He
says that the cry Of the people Is TO send us arms
and sufficient forces to protect US in organizing
ourselves, and we will drive the rebels out Of
Tennessee ourselves" The utmost ioy was
exhibited at Nashville on the Stars and strpes
being displayed there, and the familiar tunes of
"EIan Columbia" and. yankee Doodle, y PLAYED
by our bands, were welcomed with enthusiasm.
The reconstruction Of trade between Nashville
and the North was rapidly being availed Of by the
people With regard to the disposition Of the
rebel forces we learn that at Corinth, Miss.
eighteen miles from the Tennessee river, they
have fifteen hundred to two thousand troops
Az Henderson Station a mile from the Ten
pessee river, there were from one thou.
sand to two thousand rebels. At Bear creek,
seven miles back of Eastport, Miss, there
we're from eight hundred TO one thousand.
and II was reported that the rebels were ortIfvinp
Chicshaws.
The result Of the recent election in Hardin and
McNairy counties shows the strength Of the Union