Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-05
wAsHNoroSrrsNs FROM NORTHERN PAPERS
We extract the subjoined items from tie letters
Of Washington correspondents to Northern jour

nalS
THE NEW MAJOR AND BROADER GENERALS
The Senate Military Committee to-day had again under
consideration the question Of repeating the law limiting the
number of major and brgadier generals 1t fully de-
cded not to repeal this law but to return the list of
to the President the ground that there law
thorIzng them This deberation made known to the
Senate in executive session. and motion it referred
to the Judiciary Committee for the purpose of settling
question of law raised by the Military Committee. The
probability that they will all be returned to the President
The number of hrgader generals in the service is
about two bundled aud of major generals forty The Pre-
sdent has recently nominated to The Senate hundred
and ftyfour additional of the former grade and fifty OF
the Observation-Disclosures Inquirer.
THE FRENCH EMPEROR AND MEDIATION
There is the best authority for saying that the statement
that the Emperor Of the French has made renewed pro
posa of mediation to tho British Government since the
battle of Fredericksburg is entirely without truth The
unfiendy interpretation put upon the Emperors remarks
respecting the United States by portion Of the press and
the reports Of conferences with Mr. Sde unjust aud
unlounded
SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAs CORPUS.
The Administration engaged through eminent counsel
in preparing to bring before the Supreme Court of the
United States the important question of the power of
President in times of rebellion, to suspend the writ Of
habeas corpus. The Administration sdetermned to settle
this question at there many pending
in several State Courts and additional sprngng
up almost daily The Wisconsin is the one on which
the Administration expects to make the issue.
EXPLANATIONS FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER
Full and satisfactory explanations have passed between
the French Minister and the State Department in regard
to the recent alleged efforts to induce M Mercer to de-
part from just and friendly of proceeding respect
ing our national affairs
RECENT OCCURRENCES AT HAVANA.
Conversations have been held between the State Depart
ment aud the Spanish Minister the subject of the
naval occurrences at Havana.
GEN. BUFFERS NEW MISSION.
Gen. Butler has had several interviews with the Pres
dent and Secretary of War; who have formally renewed
resume Command Of the Department of the Gulf Texas
and the troops which Gen Banks will lead thther but
with additional powers and responsibilities including those
attached the organ of an African army on the
Mississippi 1t is said that Gen Butler hesitaes about
accepting the command ia the shape offered fearing that
The to be given him altogether dsproportionate
to the end to BIO accomplished.
BALL AT SECRETARY CHAsE's
A brilliant ball was given on Saturday by tary
Chase. The Diplomatic corps and number of Generals
among them Butler, Hooker, aud Mcdowell, and leading
Members OF Congress and influential Treasury officials from
The North and West We're present more distinguished
assembage of I" fair women and brave men" has been
rarely gathered in this capital.
THE FoRTIFICATIoNs AT ARKANSAS POST.
The Navy Department has received plan aud drawing
of the rebel Notifications at Arkansas Post both before
and after bombardment which are to be Autographed
There three casemates supposed b. mpenetable
of heavy tmbers rarosd ron and earth
baokments These were all smashed by the guns of the
fee and the officers quarters and guncarrages knocked
into kndlngwood in the Of two hours work.
sttutng the first of casemaed fort being reduced
by naval force. The gunboat Baron De Kalb lay within
one hundred feet OF the rebel works.
MITIGATION OF SENTENCE.
The President has determined TO rescnd much of the
general order which dismissed Col Tom Ford of thu 2d
Ohio from The service, for cowardice at Harpers Ferry
condition that he tenders his sgnaon to take effect
the day he cashered This does not mitigate his
cowardice but merely allows him to accept office again,
should any ever be offered him.
ARMY MOVEMENT.
Gen Hooker is believed to have insisted on the removal
of Generals Sumner and Franklin from the Army of the
Potomac but the War Department has not been equally
willing to approve his selection of Gen c. p. Stone his
chief of staff This quite disappointment TO the Cali
forna friends OF Gen. Stone some of whom joined sud
denly IN the antiMcClean movement perhaps to bring
about the appointment of Gen Hooker and the
restoration Of Gen. Stone to active servce-Com. Adc
DEPLETION OF THE ARMY
We have heard great des about the loss Of life 10 tie
army year ago sent out full regime nts, which
reduced to handful of men, We jump at the concu.
zion that they have nearly all fallen In battle by disc
Now for the facts in regard to New Hampshire regi
ments. have official statements The Second Regiment
from the Granite State reached Washington in June,
1901, IN tnaL Dattle
it in nearly all the battles the Peninsula
fredericksburg and yet there about eight hundred
of ITS original members alire The Fifth Regiment from
that State joined the army in the fall of 1861,
nearly all the Peninsula engagements at Antetam and at
sbura in the hottest Of the fight and yet
informed by the Hon. Mr. Mascn the state Agent that
out of eeren hundred and oyoas members nine hundred
and forty get aire 1t has nearly six hundred
enrolled, You wonder what becomes Of the soldiers!
Some discharged in hospital have been
detailed for service separate from the regiment have
deserted some furlough take that from these
TWO may draw legitimate conclusions that
estimates OF depletion have been too great-Boston Jour
CAUSE OF THE CHANGES
The removal of Gen Burnside took place at his own
request He demanded that certsn conditions should be
complied with on the part Of the Government; smong
others nat he should be permitted to choose his Gen.
whose entire full cooperation could be relied
upon His demands not being acceded to- he felt that
victory could not crown his efforts snd accordingly asked
to be relieved In doing he exhibits clearly than
that exalted patriotism ond freedom from all per-
sonal ambition which have marked bis from the
begnniog. He leaves the Army of the Potomac not be-
cause he does rot believe that will his
Efforts but from the hope that another leader may
psh what the Washington authorities have not permitted
him to do. Said he to this afternoon, Gen Hooker
is good General, and the army is good one, and
they pin rcory almost any day they choose He
believes that the Army If the Potomac as 1t now is can
If properly welded administer most crushing defeat to
the rebels who lie entrenched the heights Of Fred
ercksburg drive them pemel Richmond and capture
that wicked city With all the disadvantages under which
he abpred there 10 not shadow Of doubt but that Gen
Burnside would have achieved glorious victory last week
had the elements been propitious This state the
authority Of him wbo next 10 Gen RnrGside ranks the
most able and scientific General in the field The ssme
mic ian lly abs al hy all ban g..