The New York herald., 1863-02-20
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
No movement has been made in General Hook
er's army within the past few days. Our cores
pondence from there to-day however, is very in.
teresting. The men are in good spirits and in far
better condition than the roads. The enemy are
said to be considerably reduced in numbers, and
we are told that if the army could only be shut of
from communication with Washington for one
month we could wipe out the rebel force at Frede-
ricksburg with little effort; but nothing can be
done with the army while it is so near the capital
by rail and steamer. We are told further that
"our generals unfortunate in being near enough
to the Secretary of War to have all their orders
ccantermanded and their best plans thwarted."
Our news from the South to-day is important
and interesting.
General Beauregard, as military commander Of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, has issued
sproclamation declaring it to be his solemn duty
to announce to the citizens and authorities of
Charleston and Savannah that an attack by the
land and naval forces of the United States is about
to be made upon either or both cities, and warn
jng those who are not able to take up arms for
their defence to retire to some place Of safety.
He urges, however, upon every one who can join
in the struggle at "this hour of trial. to do 80
without regard to the kind Of weapons they may
have in their possession. Pixies and scythes, he
says, will do for the destruction of their enemies,
and spades and shovels for the protection Of their
fresides, affairs and the graves Of their fathers.
General Beaurcgard is evidently alarmed at the
anaconda grip which is closing round him.
1t is earnestly pressed by the Southern journals
upon the consideration Of the planters that vital
necessity demands the growing Of cereals for the
next crop of the South instead of cotton or sugar.
The planters are urged to remember that the
South is engaged in war; the end of which can
not be foyeseen that the ports closed against
the receipt of supplies from abroad, and the idea
Of their being opened by foreign intervention is
exploded; that the supplies from the great West
are efectually cut off, and that every planter
should devote himself to raising hogs, rice, pota-
toes sheep and all things that sustain lfe forget
ting " that such thing as cotton or sugar was
evcr raised for any other purpose but that of do.
mestic use.'
The Mississippi has been rising rapidly for the
past two weeks, and it is stated by the Port Hud.
son Ne,rs that if it continues another week it will
be out of its banks The water is already running
through the crevasse in West Baton Rouge and
"in day or so it will be through the Lobdell cre-
vase
The pirate Alabama has added another chapter
TO her predatory history. She captured and burned
the brig Cbsstelaine, of Boston, from Guadaloupe
for Cienfuegos, on the 9th ultimo, of Altwela
Rock. The crew were landed at st. Domingo
City. Captain Semmes took out all the naut
cal instruments and eight hundred dollars in gold
The bark Golden Rule, vessel Of two hundred
and fifty-four tons burthen, belonging to the
Panama Railroad Company, was also captured by
her and burned January 26. about fifty miles south
of 81. Domingo. The Golden Rule was on her way
to Aspnwall with valuable cargo, consider
able portion Of which was on Spanish French and
English account. The schooner Hanover, from
Boston for Aux Cages, was also captured by a
priva,eer tprobably the Retribution, or it may
have been the Alabama,) on the 3lst ut., OF
Ansed Hainanst, Hayti.
General Butler visited Baltimore yesterday, and
got q most enthusiastic reception at the hall OF
the Maryland Institute in the evening. He made
apstriotic speech, which was warmly received by
the audience. The pleasure Of General Buffers
ovation, however, was marred by lamentab BILE
accident which occurred by the firing Of q gun
at Fort Marshall during the salute, by which Com.
rnandcr Maxwell Woodruff. Of the navy was killed
his body being blown over the ramparts to dis
tance ot thirty feet The dinner to Gen Butler
which was to have come of at the Eutaw House
last night was postponed out Of respect to the de
ceased officer.
c0NGREss.
In the Senate yesterday the credentials o
Mr.. Morgan, tho new Senator from New York
were presented. A communication from tn,
Secretary Of the Treasury, exhibiting the dcbi
and credit account of the contrabands Of the Sci
Islands cotton district, was received II shows q
balance Of more than half million dollars in fayo
OF the government. The bill organizing the sigma
corps during the rebellion was passed Bills 1,
promote the efficiency Of the navy, and TO amen,
the act equalizing the grade of naval officers wer,
reported back by the Naval Committee. A hill