The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-28
THE SITUATION.

", n,
THE SITUATION.
The retirement of Generals Burnside, Sumner
aud Franklin from their respective commands in
the Army of the Potomac, and the appointment of
General Hooker to the supreme command thereof
Is officially announced by an order from the Pres-
dent The farewell address of General Franklin
and the Inauguration order of General Hooker are
given in columns to-day. The weather at Fal
mouth is mild but rainy. General Hooker has
changed his headquarters to a different locality
from that occupied by General Burnside The
divisions of Generals Franklin and Sumner have
not yet been assigned new commanders General
Hooker had an interview with the President and
Mr.. Stanton yesterday in Washington. II is said
that eighty army officers are to be summarily dis
missed the service for violating the army regula.
tions BY the use of improper language in reference
to their superiors and the Commander in Chief in
connection with the removal Of General Mcclellan.
and the court martial and sentence Of General Fitz
John Porter.
We have late news from Hilton Head. Genera,
Hunter has resumed command of the Department
Of the South, and General Brannan has been or.
dered North.
Our Key West correspondence contains a
very interesting account OF the first ad
ventures Of the rebel pirate Oreto, She
ran the blockade from Mobile on the 10th,
sank the brig Estelle, Of Boston, on the
next day, and on the 2lst was reported at Havana
The United States gunboat Oneida started to Cuba
rom Key West after her, but we have not heard
That she found her there her arrival. In another
column will be found an interesting sketch Of the
Oreto and her commander, Captain Maffitt Our
news settles the point that it was the famous Ala.
bsma which attacked and sunk the United States
gunboat Hatteras, of Galveston.
BY the arrival of the transport f. S. Terry from
Newbern. N. C., We learn tina, an expedition com.
prsing three gunboats and a number Of trans.
ports. under command of General Foster,
had sailed from Hatteras Inlet on Sa,rr.
day. 2lth inst. Destination supposed to be
Wilmington. Another expedition was fitting out
with quick despatch and would sail soon. Proba-
bly, Il has the same destination. II is said to com.
prise the entire command of General Ncglee.
Our correspondence from that vicinity will he
found full of interesting details. as II gives the
particulars Of the expeditions referred to.
EUROPEAN NEWS.
The Saxcnia at this port, yesterday. brings news
from Europe to the 18th inst, three days later.
The session Of the French Legislature was open.
ed on the 9th of January by Napoleon in person.
The Emperor delivered a speech which attracted
the almost universal attention of the rulers states.
men and diplomats OF Europe.
His Majesty unsuccessful attempt to induce Rus.
sia aud England to join him in putting stop to the
American war hy mediation is alluded TO in terms
which add little to the knowledge on the subject
already In possession OF the readers Of the HKRALp
II was deduced from il as fact. however. in Eng.
land that the mediation offer would soon be renew
ed by the Emperor and rendered. in some shape or
other. simultaneously TO the United States Cabne,
~" s"c '"c's w TUG rcoct cohicucfacy. Inc
Emperor indeed said that the refusal of the grea,
maritime Powers OF Europe to cooperate with
him 10 an effort TO induce peace in America, had
"obliged him to postpone TO more suitable op.
portunity the offer Of mediation"
The French expedition to Mexico il enly spoken
OF by the Emperor parsnthetcally and jointly
with China and Cochin China. in a paragraph
asserting the power Of France TO punish insults "a
her honor even 10 the uttermost parts Of the
world.
Four or i've vessels had been chartered TO con
veg reinforccmcnts to the army under Genera
Forcy. The Marquis de Gulifct. an orderly Office,
Of the Emperor, had left Paris, bearing important
Dispatches to Gen. Forey.
The debate on the Mexican question was con
tinned IN the Spanish Cortcs with much ANNA.
ton, y not aermony. The opposition party cen
Sured the government severely for withdrawing
the army after spain chad lost two millions o,
pastries aud the lives of many q her soldiers
The loaaon journals for the most mar, rcj,iee =,
the news Of the removal OF General Bn,,,r fran,
his command IN New Orleans. and cSprcss =, la,.,o
amount 81 confidence in The ability and moacr,
ton Of General Banks.
Jed. Davis retaliation proclamation l. rer
surci IN very strong language by he london
Times, aud the rebel President advised not Ia n,
tempt it, enforcement. a. u NAV cause him I'll
los. Of the friendship Of both France and rnglahl
TIE "Yp "f.'etun' 81 of thp ruhsal i'ot