The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-03
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
relative to the battle near Somerset, Kentucky on
the 30th ult., have been forwarded by General
Burnside to the War Department. The action
lasted five hours The rebels were driven from their
first position, which was defended by six cannon,
and the second position was finally stormed and
carried. The rebels, commanded by Pegram and
were driven in confusion to and over the Cumber-
land river, with loss that twill not fall far short
of five hundred men," Between three and four
hundred cattle were taken, and "Scott's famous
rebel regiment was cut off from the rest and scat
tered" General Gilmore is the officer who COM
manded at the reduction of Fort Pulaski last
April
A cavalry skirmish took place near Broad run,
Va, on the lst instant between the rebels, under
Captain Mosby, and q portion Of the Vermont
cavalry. The rebels appear to have maintained
their position, although full particulars have not
yet been received.
A portion Of the Illinois cavalry, belonging to
General Hooker's army, on Tuesday captured ten
rebels In the woods near Dumfries, Va, the neigh.
borhood Of which place is infested with guerias.
A rebel mail has been captured below Frede-
ricksburg, and is said to be valuable.
A preliminary report Of General McClelian's
military operations, from the evacuation Of Harri-
sons Landing to the close Of the campaign in
Maryland, has been published In Washington, hav
ing been furnished by the government for that
purpose. It is merely simple outline Of the bril-
liant operations, owing TO the absence Of full re-
ports from corps commanders. He says:--"Tho
easy and disgraceful surrender Of Harper's Ferry
deprived his operations Of results which would
have formed brilliant sequel to Q substantial
and gratifying success" He alludes to skulkers
on the field in severe terms and says that death
on the spot must hereafter be the fate Of all such
towards"
The case OF the captured vessel Peterhoff is
pondence before coming before the prize courts,
es the captain has laid it before Lord Lyons, who
will doubtless communicate with Secretary Seward
on the subject.
The news from vicksburg is very unsatisfactory
and the statements contradictory relative to the
operations on the SunAower.
From Baton Rouge intelligence has been recciv
ed that an expedition under command of Genera
Dudley made reconnaissance above Port Hudson
on the opposite side Of the Mississippi, to False
river, to communicate II possible with Admira
Farragut and having learned his destination and
safety returned to Baton Rouge without serious
damage. The command succeededalso in destroy
Ing rebel signal station and capturing the on
GERS and men on duty therein.
The operations Of General weitzel on the Bayou
Teche and Boeuf are interesting. Our map illus
trates this heretofore almost unknown region.
From the South we learn that all spectators Il
food In Virginia are 10 be punished for misdcmea
nor that the salt works Of that State are to be i'm
pressed into State service, and that the foreig
arrivals at Charleston now even exceed thos
during the pressing times Of peace in spite Of tn
blockade. The correspondence between Beaurs
gard and Bragg relative TO captured battery
Interesting, although catering" to each particr
lar commander.
Two rebel steamers laden with cotton are n
ported ~ having arrived at Bermuda from reb'
ports on the 22d and Esd of March.
The prvateer Florida has again been seen, an
reports having been chased by the Vanderbilt nea
Barbados, which vessel she eluded by cunnin
device. She afterwards captured the Star
Peace and the Aldebaran, Of Rocllhaven.
A splendid demonstration in honor Of Majt
General Butler took place last evening in II
Academy OF Music, which was filed TO overaowin
with an influential and fashionable audience. II
General made q speech, reviewing the war, h
own administration Of the Department OF the Gul
tho ground that the Union armies have gained Il
last year, the mode Of reconstruction, the Engl,
hias to the rebels, and their Northern sympstlzer
He spoke for nearly two lturs.
The Paris Nation Of the 18th Of March says:
rhe numerous satisfactory accounts which ha'
arrived from Mexico, both by way of Spain al
England, since the coming I'm Of the last FrenC
transatlantic packet are Of nature to allow u
ext steamer-thc Vera Crux-beina waited &
snhout much impotence.