Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-08
LATE NEWS FROM MEXICO.
THE MEETING OF CONGRESS.
The Clerk Playing the Fool |!
Rebel Reports Of cur Losses at
Chattanooga.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsHEGToN, December 6.


Special to the Tribune:
Though there has been much ferment
and apprehension with regard to certif-
oates Of members of the House, and the
action of the Clerk thereupon, 1 see no
reason to doubt that the House will be or
gsnizsd in good season tomorrow, by the
choice of Mr.. Colfax as Speaker. 1 doubt
that any States will be excluded by
Clerk but at all events there will be
votes enough for Colfax to elect him
Probably no other officers will be chosen
till Tuesday.
Officers and men from the Army of the
Potomsc concur in opinion that an attack
could and should have been made upon the
rebels at Mine Run. If an attack had
been made at first the loss would not have
been so great upon our side as afterwsrd,
but success was certain at any time. 1t
is rumored that charge will be preferred
against one. at least, Of the corps com
manders.
Your army correspondent furnishes the
following information, on Saturday after
noon.
The rebels made their first crossing at
several fOrds Of the Rapidan. Our forces
kept on the alert, and everything was in
readiness to retreat if an assault had been
made by superior forces.
During the night the enemy crossed over
three regiments at each ford, and took
possession of the North bank of the Rap
idsn and our old signal station, IS they
can now overlook all our movements
while we remain posted as at present.
Eight Of Mosby's guerrillas were cap
tured by our cavalry soouts within three
miles Of Vienna.
General Meagher, who was with the
army as visitor to his old brigade, was
captured In citizens clothes, near Mine
Run, during the recent engagement, and
is nCg in the hands Of theeDemy.
Times special;
The Presidents Message will make about
five columns of the Times, the War Office
Report about five and half columns, the
Treasury about four and half, and the
Navy six or seven. The reports proper Of
the other Secretaries are brief. ALI will
accompany the message.
The first session Of the Legislature Of
the new Stats of Virginia, comprising the
eastern counties of the Old Dominion, will
convene in Alexandria on Monday at u
O'Clock.
The Commissioner Of Indian Affairs to-
day received q letter from G. E. Usher,
Special Agent appointed by the President
TO confer with the Blackfeet Indians, in
the vicinity cf Fort Benton, dated Salt
Lake City, Nov. 10Th Mr.. Usher says
from Information obtained from miners
direct from Saltwater Mines, he learns
that the Indians are all quiet and peace
full, and no difficulty is anticipated with
them during the winter, unless it be with
the Mountain Crows, who claim all the ter
ritory on both sides Of the Yellow Stone,
from its mouth clear to It's source in the
mountains, and are determined the whites
shall not occupy nor explore 1t. An expe-
dition is now being fitted out to explore
this region, which abounds in precious
minerals, and trouble is expected with
the Crows.
Tribunes special;
Frauds TO the amount Of over q million
dollars have bsen discovered in furnishing
supplies to the Army Of the Potomac. On
Friday night Csptsin William stoddsrd,
Quartermaster of fAlexsndria, was arrest
ed, by order of the Secretary of War, and
lodged in the Old Capitol Prison. satur-
day night Captain Ferguson, of the Regu-
lar Army, was also arrested and sent to
the Old Capitol. These frauds have sll
been unearthed since Gen. Meigs went 10
Tennessee-frauds in which these and q
number Of other officers, some very high
In rank, who sre yet to be arrested, are
implicated. They consist principally in
large purchases Of mixed grain, that is
oats and corn SO compounded thht Govern.
ment is cheated Of twenty cents on every
bushel. Enormous frauds in purchases Of
lumber and horses for the Army Of the Po-
tomao have also been discovered. Colonel
Thomas, Acting Qusrtermsster General,
deserves credit for unmssking these
knsVes.
The Hersld's special, dated Headquar-
ters Army Of the Potomac, December 9Th,
says All is quiet with the army, with 8
prospect of quiet being long continued.
Trains are running regularly to and
from Alexandra, and the army is getting
we'll supplied with qusrtermssters and
eommissary stores.
1t is sseertainei that Lee occupies his
old position South of the Rspidan, and is
preparing winter quarters.
A dispatch dated Washington, 9Th, says
Culpepper is occupied by cur cavalry, the
enemy's line Of pickets extending quite
near the toPn.
1t is said that the enemy has two regi.
ments Of infantry st Fredericksburg.
Hampton's cavalry is between that point
and Orange Court House, guarding.
The lower fords Of the Rspidsn and those
Of the Rsppahannook Railroad track from
Acquia Creek to Falmouth is in perfect
order. with the exception Of the bridge al
Potomac Greek, and q single rail near Fal
mouth Station.