The New York herald., 1862-08-11
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, August 10, 1852
THE EXCHANGE OF PRIsoNERs-How UNION PRISON.
ERs ARE TREATED BY REBELS.
gentleman who was at Aiksn's Landing Thursday
gives an interesting Of the exchange OF prisoners
NJ that point Our vessels arrived there at in the
afternoon and the course Of six hours delivered the
three thousand and thirteen rebel prisoners 70 Commits
sioner Robert Ould The United States prisoners had
walked thirteen miles, and were In almost famished
condition. their food having been small biscuits each
for the entire day They had suffered extremely want
OF water and only after the entrsay OF Mr. Ould
with the Colonel having charge Of them they per-
mitted In squads to quench their excessive thirst 1t
WELL Captain J. 8. Stevenson OF the marine artillery,
connected with boats, distributed food aud other
wise relieved their nscsssitiss They remained over
night at the landing, Mr. Aiken the proprietor OF tho
plantation, furnishing them with straw which TO
Sleep Early the next day they taken board
transports. Mr. Oud acknowledged the rsbe prisoners
had been better treated By the United States authorities
than at Richmond, ana certainly the con-
trast between the two parties furnished proof Of this
fact.
The exchange has been completed 20 far - con-
csrns private soldiers lately confined in Richmond,
and vicinity; and time this week the arrangemsnt
for the exchange OF officers 10 expected TO be consum
mated. An order has bsen issued calling upon all officers
who parole 70 report their names, rank and ad
dress to the Aduant General arrangements may
mado for their exchange ....a
1hs following named officers have been exchanged and
may at enter upon duty:-Colonel Henley. First
Maryland Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman. Eighth United
infantry; Major Ctz Twelfth infantry; Major
Dwight, Second Massachusetts, Captain Wallace, First
infantry; Captains Bowman and Hopkins Lieu
tenants Stsine. Van Horn and Lay, Third infantry;
Captains Gibbs, Third cavalry Stevenson Potter, and
Leutenants Plummer, Hancock and Ryan. Seventh In
fantry Captain Gordon, Eighth infantry Leutenants
M0Nsly and Crsssy. Third cavalry.
COLONEL C0R00RAN TO BE ExcHANGED.
Colo mel Corcoran will be exchanged for Colonel Hanson
THE EMPLOYMENT or CONrRABANDs-LErTRR FROM
GENERAL BIRNEY.
In reply to letor from General Brney relative to the
employment Of contrabands, General Ksarnsy writes
from Harrisons Landing foows:-s.Ths southernsru
employ blacks military unarmed element-vz
ruralists. l am opinion we should employ them un
armed. in like manner, for anything which they
render service and thus enable the whites TO carry the
muskst Therefore fully advise their being employed
Transfers pioneers unarmsd, and cooks in reg.
msnts."
THE POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN REGARD
TO THE NEGRO QUESTION.
The opinion expressed In General Keaneys letter pre-
walls among nine-tenths Of the officers Of the army,
regulars and volunteers 1t Is also the idea of tho Presi
dent and the basis Of the policy Of the administration
conducting the The President looks the negro
question in plain, practical manner, and
with Of tho responsibility dsvolved upon him
President Of the United satss which the advocates Of
extreme measures neither feel appreciate He
infinitely more harm than good In the utterancs OF
proclamation Of universal emancipation which cannot
enforce and he relies upon the hundred thou.
sand white men from the border States, who are
fighting the battles OF the Unon and whose would
be turned against BY such pervesssa Of the purpose
Of the than upon all the negro regiments that might
be raised both North and South There number Of
important questions growing out Of the issues
and urged by the radicals which Mr.. Lincoln has care
fully considered, which the radical hOwlers have
themselves not taken into account. He sees but one
great ssushe reduction OF the rebellion aaA the
ration Of tho authority Of the government oil tho
United States In following this issue he has determined
upon the policy to bo pursued, and TO he will firmly ad
hese, uninfuenced by tho appeals Of prc-slavery
extremists and unintmidated BY tho
of abolition agitaters. " thing, besides,
the people may rest well assursd--that is, that
The for the Union will h,ncerorth 70 the end bo pro-
secuted with unexamplsd vgor There to bono moro
mistaken sny towards traitors and sympathsers with
tfoo3Dn. WnOlo power OL tho BOVofnmont auu the
people will be put forth in mighty, unremittng and
irresistible effort crush out tho last spark OF rebellion
without delay Nothing will be left undono that
tribute this result. The rebels will be made realize
that Is they have invoked and they will have
until the whole Union shall be restored They
will be taught that the government they have attempted
destroy can be IS stern and relentless has
mild and forgi wing.
TEE POSITION OF cAssrUs n. CLAY.
There has besa much speculation to the probable
desg nation or Cassius NJ Clay TO the commanded i'm
portant military department in the West whore Mr. Clay
enjoys parts ulary high reputation for courage and
those qualities Of head and heart essential to able mill
tary commander but there greater probability that
he viii not any military position. He has not
yet accepted appointment of Major General his
return from St. Petersburg He has to the conclu
son there already at the heaa Of important
armies too many generals taken from cixu life. He has
arrived too late 10 avail himself Of ths experience OF
years service enjoyed by other officers, and although
anxious to heart into this contest and prove his
patriotism upon the field Of battle for his country, he
believes he be useful elsewhere He enjoys the
fullest confidence OF the European Powers among whom
he spent the last year and confidently expresses the
opinion that there need for apprehension Of immediate
foreign Intervention from any Of them. It fact TOO
that Mr.. Cameron far from popular at the Court Or
Russia, and IL 10 not impossible improbable thai
Mr. Clay will resume the position OF Minister atSt Peters
burg as soon he shall have gathered all the information
here requisite for confirming and pepetuatng the kindly
feelings Of the Emperor ana other European poentsss
towards the government Of the United States
UNcoNpIrIoSALLY RELBAsED.
william H. Mitchell recently arrested by the Provost
Marshal for publishing letter in the Lawrence (Mass)
American, rejecting tho colonel and major Of the
Fourteenth Massachusetts,, has been Internationally re-
leased.
TIE WANT OF TROOPS IN VIRGINIA.
An officer writing from Harrison's Landing says
While mass meetings being held from one end Of
the countryto the other all saying "go," but compara
lively few saying come the rebels are quietly march
Ing regiment after regiment to the support Of those who
arc gorying in their strength. What We want now %
mon. We want them to-day.
oUARrERxAsTERs' SUPPLIES.
Ouartermastsrs' supplies have been furnished the