The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-17
THE 1IrUATIoN.

THE SITUATION.
We learn by dispatches from Cairo that the ex-
pedition of MoClernand and Porter up the Arkan.
sas river has achieved victory over the rebels at
Arkansas Post, about fifty miles from the mouth,
on Sunday last. The enemy surrendered, leaving
all their guns, stores and ammunition in our hands,
They lost FIVE hundred and ffty killed and wound.
cd, and we captured between five and seven thon'
Sand prisoners.
General Brown, in despatch to General Curtis,
describes the late battle at Springfield, No., IS
terrible and protracted engagement, lasting thir.
teen hours. The rebels numbered Eve thousand.
Dispatches from Nashville state that Genera
Bragg has been superseded by General Long.
street. The army Of Longstreet is said to be at
Shelbyville.
We give in full to-day the annual Message Of
Jefferson Davis to the rebel Congress, . summary
of which we published in our columns yesterday.
The Alabama is again at her work of destruction
upon our merchant ships. The schooner Union,
which arrived at Jamaica on the ST. inst was
released, her cargo belonged to British subjects
She brought with her, however, the crew Of q
Boston bark-the Parker Cook-which had only
the protection Of the Stars and Stripes and not the
ensign Of England, to protect her, and hence
<thanks to the Navy Department. was seized and
burned by the Alabama. The Harriet Lane, which
has been sent to sea by the rebels to assist the
Alabama. has now half dozen United States YES
sels on her track, Admiral Farragut having sent
the Brooklyn. the Sciota and other vessels to re-
capture her IL possible, and to destroy the rebel
gunboats in Bayou Buffalo.
Major General Dix contradicts the statements Of
The Richmond papers that our troops were defeat
cd BY the rebel General Roger A. Pryor on the 9th
inst, at Providence Church, near Suffolk. II ap.
pears from the official report Of General Peck that
the enemy crossed the Blackwater in considerable
force and attempted to drive in right wing. In
Gansry, cavalry and artillery were employed by the
rebels but they were repulsed BY Major Wheel
ans New York mounted rifles. At dusk the enc.
my's advance was charged upon and driven back
upon his support. 30 that II was victory for our
arms, instead Of defeat, as boastingly claimed by
Pryor.
coNGRRss.
In the Senate yesterday q communication was
received from the Secretary Of the Interior asking
for an appropriation Of half million for the CAPT.
tol extension, and two hundred thousand dollars
Tor the new dome. The Military Committee re.
ported back the bill to suspend the sale Of land
Che South Carolina and Georgia coast, with an
amendment rs a substitute. A bill to prevent and
punish fraud on the government was introduced
and referred. A resolution was adopted directing
the Finance Committee to inquire into the
expediency Of making an appropriation for
the purpose Of encouraging emigration from
Europe to the United States. reso-
luton was adopted calling for informa
Zion o. to whether the limitation in the act au.
thorizing Missouri to raise ten thousand men TO-
local defence has been exceeded. A resolution
directing inquiry as TO the prac,icability OF widen
ing and deepening the Fox and Wisconsin rivers
vas adopted. A resolution directing the Naval
Committee to inquire into the efficiency Of the con-
ptruction Of iron-clad vessels of war was intro.
Uuced. II was stated that the whole matter had
Been referred to board OF competent engineers.