The New York herald., 1863-02-11

THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
There has been no movement in the Army OF the
Potomac since our last accounts
rash attempt to force the picket lines Of the
enemy, six miles from Yorktown, last Saturday,
was made by Captain Faith, of the Fifth Pennsyl.
vania cavalry, which resulted in his men being
drawn into al ar,buscade, near the "Nine Mile
Ordinary" and thirty of them being killed. He
was himself mortally wounded. His second in
command, Capt. Hagerston, was taken prisoner
~ were the two lieutenants- Williams and Little
who were serving as volunteers.
The account which We publish to-day from our
correspondent on the Ogsechee river, detailing
The events of the late contest between the iron.
clad Montauk and the rebel battery, proves salts
factorily the nvulnerabty of the gunboat. She
came out unscathed from terrific fire, notNith.
standing the rebel boast that she had suffered Sc
verely. She dismounted two OF the guns on the
battery, and although the range was short and
the aim perfect, the heavy shots from the enemy
failed to damage her. The battery opened on our
wooden vessels at long range; but their aim was
bad and they did no harm.
The pirate steamer Alabama is reported to have
turned up at Kingston, Jamaica. on the goth ult.,
where she landed the and officers of the Unit
ed States steamer Hatteras, numbering over one
hundred. 1t was reported that the Alabama had
suffered severely in her fight with the Hattsras;
that Rhc had Ave shot in har I,nll ono of which
through her stern post-was a very bad one.
She put into Kingston to repair damages,
AMI expected to be ready for sea in four days.
Immediately upon this news being received in
Oneida sailed direct for Kingston, and the Santiago
de Cuba and r. II. Cuyler, then on the south side
Of Cuba, were ordered at once to the same port,
and the Tioga and Sonoma were also steering in
the same direction. II is quite likely then, that
che Alabama is now hemmed ia by squadron OF
not less than six ships, which, if they are active
enough in their movements, may place Captain
Semmcs in an awkward position.
The news from the Southwest is not very i'm.
portant. Our troops entered Lebanon Tenn, on
the sth inst, and captured six hundred Of the
rebels. most of them longing to Morgan's men,
including Paul Anderson and a number of field
officers.
By the arrival OF the North Star from New Or
leans have some important intelligence, the
most striking being the details of the capture of
the United States gunboat Morning Light, car
rying nine guns and the bark Velocity, with
one howitzer, off Sabine Pass. The former
was set on fire by the rebels upon the
approach of Union vessels coming to her assist
ance. and she totally destroyed. They were
blockaiing the Pass, and the attack was made by
four rebel steamers, protectcd by cotton bales and
filed with sharpshooters, on tae plan the
attack was made on the Harriet Lane at Galveston.
raid o; n similar kind was anticipated at Apala-
chicoia steamers Somerset and Port Royal;
but the commanders were on the qui rtre, and are
not likely to be taken by surprise.
The rebels are strengthening their position at
Port Hudson, and are daily receiving reinforce.
meats.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday the bill reorganizing the
Post Office Department was passed. bill to in
crease the number of Major and Brgadicr Gen
erals Was reported by the Military Committee. A
resolution was offered and adopted requesting tht
President of the United States IL not incompatible
with the public interests to lay before the Senat,
any correspondence which has taken place between
tins government and the government Of France on
the subject of mediation arbitration or other mea
sures looking TO termination ofthe existing civi
war. The bill to provide a national currency wal
then taken up. The amendment requiring bank,
to keep in their vaults specie the amount of one
fourth of their circulation rejected. Seyera
other amendments were proposed and also reject
ed. The bill to prevent and punish frauds on tn,
revenue was reported back with amendments j
bill to allow the United states to prosecute appeal
and writs of error without giving security was in
troduced, and the Senate adjourned.
In the House of Representatives the Commtte
on Ways and Means was instructed to examine an
report the practical operation Of the Excis
law upon the interests OF manufacturers of limite
means The joint resolution for the adjustment q
the Claims Of contractors for naval supplies, &c
was recommitted TO the Naval Committee. TIL
consideration OF the report Of the Committee OF
Elections, In favor OF admitting Messrs Flander
and Hahn, members elect from Louisiana. 10 seats
was then resumed, and a lively debate ensued
which continued until the adjournment.
THE LEGISLATURE.
considerable ariount Of business was trans
acted n olt state Legislature yesterday In IN
Senate, among the bills passed were those amend
ing the act enforcing the responsibility of ban
sf1ckhot liens: amending the general banking 1, /.