The New York herald., 1863-12-05
TRIPLE SHEET.
New York, Saturday. December 5, 1863.
THE SITUATION.

III d STU ALTON.
The Army of the Potomac remains quiet; but
the rebels are not disposed to afford our pickets
much relief On Thursday night they were driven
In at Germanna Ford by the rebel cavalry, and the
long roll was sounded throughout the camp; but
the enemy retreated back across the river before
eny damage was done, and the army soon regained
Its usual quiet
I We give splendid map to-day Of the battle
feld of General Mesde's late advance, the rebel
Line on Mine run, and the scene of the fight at
Locust Grove.
Washington gossip hints at the removal of
General Meade. and points to the appointment in
bis place Of General sedgwick. Other names are
Also mentioned; but We must await further de.
velopments for the denouenent OF General Meade's
(ats failure - far a. the command of the army is
concerned.
We give the full details from our special cor.
respondent of the battle at Ringgold, Georgia-
fhe Last fght Of General Grant with General Bragg
for tho possession of the important triangle Of the
evs~ASess@6 AoiAAAVooo0 a
very fine map accompanies our correspondents
description Of the Ave hours hard lighting in which
ehe rebels were completely defeated.
Dispatches from Knoxville to the soth ult. con.
pFm the reports previously Published Of the re.
pulse Of Longstreets troops, and their loss Of over
pns thousand men in killed. wounded and missing.
Everything was quiet thcre. Dispatches received
n Cincinnati yesterday from Cumberland Gap.
dated tho day previous, report that severe
6ghting took place at Walkers Ford,
two miles from the gap, between General
Fosters and General Longstrcets cavalry,
hnd that In attempting to cross the Cach river
bur forces wcre repulsed. with the loss of fifty
mon; but that We captured four of the enemy 3
COOS. Later reports than those we have had pre-.
viously say that Bragg has been relieved by Gen.
Hardce. who Ia said TO be endesvoring to reor-
gsnisc the army IL possible, aud take an offensive
part.
The latest news from Charleston is to the lst
Inst, st four O'Clock in the afternoon. General
Gilmore was then shslling the city, throwing
twenty shells day. with considerable damage.
All the Inhabitants had been removed to the rear
OF tho city. the 6re proving. 1t is pre-
Duncd. destructive. The firing on Fort Sum.
soa aod The other defeoces inside the harbor were
receiving terrific FIRE from our batteries. The
rebel Hsg which has heretofore noated over Fort
Bumter 10 no longer displayed, and only an occa.
sional shot IA dred from the ruins The rebels, it
appears, have been erecting new batteries near
Fort houltrie. under cover OF hospital flag
which they. kept flying 90 The Moultrie House,
aad which wss respected by our forces, in accord
ance with the usages OF war; but it Ia stated tha,
sAs walls Of The Moultrie House we're torn down
Q few dAys ago, and revealed formidable battery
which had been erected by the rebels uader the
protection Of the sacred hospital Gag
EUROPEAN MEwS.
Our European nles by the Scotia, dated to th,
xist Of November. reached us yesterday. WI
elso received the very latest news reports, which
appear in our columns this morning. From thes,
sources We ere enabled 10 publish very interest
ing and important resume OF the events transpir
ing In the Old World 10 the moment OF the de
parture Of The Scotia from Queenstown.
The 9uropean journals inform us that Napo
Icons proposition for congress has been accept
Cd In principle by a, the Powers invited that the
majority Of them will attend, aud tha, the remain
dor awaited Nspoleon's programme of the bases
OF the subjects named for discussion. 1t is sale
that the Emperor had already forwarded secont
letter OF instructions TO the French minister
abroad, enabling them TO give this explanation.
The Sultan Of Turkey accepts the invitation 4
the congress, and has tolcgraphod that he will al
tend II In person.
The new King OF Denmark also accepts, and ou
Zurich correspondent thinks that the Fedora
Council of Switzerland will send delegates 10 th,
meeting.
y The London Spectator soys tba, Earl Russell q
Abeut 10 retro from tho PAlmsrsIoo Cabinet. an'