The New York herald., 1863-12-17

occupy Cupepper, and extend some miles
beyond it. There is no change in the main body
OF the army. 1t was intensely cold, with some
snow yesterday. The Russian officers visited the
army and witnessed review of the Sixth corps.
The troops in Western Virginia had some skir
mishng with the rebels lately in the vicinity OF
Strasburg. On Monday last Colonel Wells took
thirty prisoners belonging to General Ewel's
corps.
Major General Buford, one of the most brilliant
cavalry officers of the Army of the Potomac, died
yesterday in Washington from sickness contracted
during the late campaign. His loss is deeply re.
GREETED.
The Southern news from Charleston up to Tues.
day is telegraphed to the Richmond papers and is
most interesting. Fort Sumter took fire on the
1lth instant, from some unknown cause, and ten
rebels were killed and thirty wounded. Heavy
cauuonading was kept up from our land batteries
during the confagration. No firing on the
fort appears to have taken place on the
three following days; but on the 18th,
Ith and 18th several shells, filed with Greek
fire, were thrown into Charleston, without doing
much damage. Thirteen Union prisoners, includ
ing, it Is said, "the commissioned officers of the
brig Perry, captured at Merril's Inlet" have
arrived in Charleston. This is the first account
we have of the capture of the United States brig
Perry. 1t may be that she was driven ashore in
the late gale.
The troops of General Longstreet made an at.
tempt to cut of and capture General Shackei.
ford's command-who were in pursuit of them
at Bear Station, on the Cumberland and Morris.
town Railroad, on Monday. heavy force of the
rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the
Holston river. intending to cross at Kelly's Ford
and take oar forces in the rear. This attempt,
however, was checked by Gen. Ferrero, who sent
The rebels fred across the river with artillery upon
the brigade but with little effect. Cen Shackelford
formed line of battle at Bear Station, and after
fighting the enemy until nightiall was driven back
half mile. II is evident the rebels were con.
centrating all their forces in that section upon
Longstreet's command. Generals Vance, Ran.
som and Vaughn had joined him before the con-
fict with General Shacklesord.
Tho Richmond Wing of yesterday says, in an
editorial, that the rebel cavalry advanced Oh the
10th above Ringgold, finding the country clear of
our troops. They proceeded thence to Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, where they found
nothing but the debris Of the Union camp.
the position seeming to have been deserted
on Saturday last. In the town OF Chattanooga
and below the force had vsibly decreased.
The presumption was that heavy column had
gone after Longstreet, and an expedition had gone
into West Tennessee to look after Forrest, who
has takon advantage OF the absence Of Sherman s
corps.
We publish some interesting news concerning
the Texas expedition and the state of afars in
New Orleans, which arrived by the steamer
Thomas A. Scott.
CoNGREss.
The Senate transacted but little business yester.
day. The joint resolution of thanks to General
Grant and his army was adopted. bill equalz.
ing the grade OF line officers OF the navy intro.
duccd and referred. The bill to facilitate the set.
tlement Of deceased soldiers accounts was report.
ed from the Military Committee. Mr.. Sumner
resolution relative to codiying the public statutes
was agreed to.
In the House quite number of interesting mat.
tiers were brought up will be seen by the repor,
of the proceedings. Mr Rollins, of Missouri
offered resolution somewhat like the Crittcnden
compromise proposition, which was laid over for
debate. A resolution declaratory OF the true
intent and meaning of the law authorizing sus
pension Of the writ OF hsbeas corpus was referred
TO the Judiciary Committee.
MIscRLLANEous NEWS
The steamship Champion arrived a, this port
yesterday evening with the mails from California
81 $50, 1913 in specie, consigned to New York and
England; news from Granada, dated at Panama
and Aspinwall on the 9TH instant, with late aud
very interesting adyices from Central Americ,
and the South Pacific Coast.
The mixed commission established by the Coa
veution Of the 18th Of January last between the
Governments of Peru and the United States CLOSED
its sessions ia Iirns on the 27th Of November tn,
Hon. j. S. Mackie, one Of the commissioners, ha
returnsd in the Champion. The commission hear
and resolved nineteen claims OF American ctinen
against Peru. and four clsims Of 'he Pe'uyisn
against The United States. The conduct OF IN