, 1863-12-30
the WAR I'M VIRGINIA,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC,
Dee. 29.-All qniet, ,..mud-bound in camp. The
gan left to-day for home to recruit under re-
cent general orders. The It'll Wisconsin left
yesterday for the enme purpose. These are
MI veteran regiments.
The report Of the removal Of Gen- Ingalls,
is totally discrcdited.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-An expedition to
cooperate with Gen. Ayeril, consisting Of
woregiments Of infantry 400 cavalry. aud
battery Of six guns, the force numbering l, 400
In a1l under command Of Col. Geo D. Wells,
Of the 3ath Massacbnsetts infantry, returned
to Hnrper'e Ferry without the loss Of man,
lfter penetrating to Harrisonburg, where
Averilf Ind finished lis work. Alter Wells
Ind accomplished lis diversion, strictly ac-
cording to orders, he found himself confront
cd by 1000 to ID, 900 Of Lees forces, with
Gen. Rosseau's brigade and part of stuart's
cavalry in his rear, at Front Royal.
By clever strategy and forced marches he
escaped the former and avoided the latter
forces, and reached his post with his men and
munitions unhatmed. So desperate ut one
time seemed the chances Of the expedition,
that the rebels in Winchester offered bets
that not man would return.
One hundred rebel prisoners were safely
brought oil.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 229.-The 93d Ncw York
and 5th Michigan passed here tonight, home
ward bound. The 9Th Wisconsin passed pre-
viously.
The President and Secretary Of War re-
ment Of rebel prisoners ut Point Lookout
It Is understood tl1at they satisfied them
selves that about one thousand, or one-tenth
Of the whole nrmber, were ready to enter
The service Of the United States.
The President Of the Western Sanitary
the purpose Of representing to the authori-
ties the needy and suffering condition Of freed
men on the Mississippi River, and urging the
immediate adoption Of measures for their re-
Lief It is understood that be has been d.
rectcd, in conjunction with the special agent
make thorough inspection Of the abandoned
plantations under lease, and report at Wash
ington-' He left here yesterday.
Adjutant General Thomas reports Colonel
HaWkins' brigade Of 1000 colored soldiers,
at Mlllken's Bend, in excellent condition,
and its commander MYERS that it can whip
any 5, 1000 rebels now In arms.
Gen. Thomas thinks that By spring there
viii not only be negroes enough In tic field
10 guard the banks Of the Mississippi River
Its whole length, but also to give large sur
plus Tor duty 1t other points Or in the field.
says: The subject Of the exchange and the
treatment Of prisoners hitherto left exclu-
Riyely to the management Of the War Depart
mcnt, ia understood to be made tic topic Of
I0p1ncL consultation.
A contract has been awarded By the Sur
Eeon General Of the army to ]. ". Parish,
Nm. l. House and Geo. c. Had1ey of st.
Louis, for furnishing all the ice req1ircd for
the use Of I'LL the United States general hos
pita1s ut the West, and those Of the Division
Of the Mississippi and the Department Of the
Gull for 1861.
A destructive fire broke ont in Alexandria,
on Christmas, destroying SIS 600 worth OF
Government hay and a lnrge amount Of other
vnluable Government property.
New YoRk, Dee. 29.-The New York Times
Washington dispatch Of lust night says:
Officers from tho front tonight say small
rebel cavalry force hold the north bank Of
the Rapldon at Raccoon Ford Our forces
occupy Cedar Mountain. There was little
skir1ntsl!!ng on SATURDAY., oeessioned, it is
lines On the right The rebel army hos gone
into winter quarters between Gordonsville
and Orange Court House.