The New York herald., 1862-01-19

General Mcclellan has issued peremptory order
to commandants of divisions and brigades. enioin.
ing the absolute necessity of keeping every officer
and soldier at his post at this critical juncture
Nothing but medical certificates of i'll health and
other urgent reasons shall entitle any officer to
seem to foreshadow the approach of some immedi-
ate movement of Importance
The information which General Mcclellan laid
before the Committee on the Conduct of the War
Is said to have worked a complete revolution O
opinion in those who were dissatisfied with the
proceedings of the army. 1t appears that he has
convinced them of the efficiency of his plans, of the
thorough organization of the army under his com.
mand and the certainty of success which is to fol-
low the mode of operations he has decided upon.
1t has been confidently stated at Fortress Mon
roe that General Wool has notified the rebel Gene.
raj Huger, at Norfolk, to remove all the women
and children from that city. This report if true,
Is highly important, inasmuch as it would mean an
immediate attack upon Norfolk by the Union
troops.
The tone of the rebel press betrays the utmost
excitement and CONSERVATION with regard to the
Burnside expedition. The mystery which sur
rounds it, and its temperance in any Southern
port, evidently keep the rebels in a ferment of
anxiety, not knowing where or when it may strike
From the Upper Potomac we learn the pleasing
intelligence that the rebel General Jackson, with
all his force has vanished from the vicinity of Han
cock, and it is reported that he has retired to Win
chester.
Our news from the Army Of the West is interest
ing to-day. General Grant made a reconnaissance
in large force yesterday afternoon in the direction
of Columbus, KY, surveying all the roads leading
from that place to Blandville and the neighboring
towns. He passed over, with his troops, a dis
tance of forty miles in six hours and although they
reached point within five miles of Columbus. no
traces of the rebels were discovered. The move
ment of the Union troops from Cairo had created
great CONSERVATION among rebels.
We have received another large and interesting
instalment of Southern papers, from which we make
copious extracts in to-day's paper. They will be
found highly interesting
The Richmond Examiner of the leth inst. has a
highly interesting article, which contains more
truth than it usually gives to the public, contrast
Ing the rebel and Union situations. It says that
since the war began the rebels have been acting
strictly on the defensive--they have gained moth
ing. The rebels now find themselves in the face
Of superior forces wherever they look, whether to
the North, West, East or to the South itself The
Examiner tacity admits that Generals Johnston
and Beauregard are held by Mcclellan on the Po-
tomac as in vice."
The New Orleans Bulletin Of the 7th inst has a
long and labored editorial on the blockade of New
Orleans. It admits that the port is hermetically
sealed to tho commerce Of the world. II seems TO
despair Of foreign aid to raise the blockade, and
thinks the only for the rebels to build
navy and do IL themselves.
M1sCELLANEous NEWS.
The Second Ohio cavalry, Colonel Doubleday,
with 1,240 oflcers and men, and l1s4 horses, left
Cincinnati on the 18th inst, bound for Leaven-
worth, Kansas. This regiment is to form part Of
General Lanes expedition.
Among the prisoners taken by the Union
& ps in their attack on q portion of Humphrey
iiall's rebels, near Pantvie KY, was ano-
Pegram. This last Is named Enoch, and he
third Of the name that has been taken pri-
sincc the commencement of the rebellion.
umber Of released rebel prisoners from Fort
IN, who were on their way home to the South
err ties, had fashionable and brilliant entertain.
ment given them on Wednesday evening in Balti.
more, by prominent secessonist Of that city.
Among the party we're Colonel Pegram and Captain
Tapsall, Of the rebel army.
A party Of twenty-five secessionists, who had
chartered schooner and had their arrangements
pcarly completed for starting for the South, were