The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-12


THE SITUATION.
General Hooker had long conference In Wash.
ington yesterday with the President, Gen. Halleck,
Mr.. Stanton and the Committee on the Conduct Of
the War, and returned to the Rappahannock last
night. accommodating party sent out few days
ago, consisting of detachment of the First
Maine cavalry, to scour the neck of land be-
tween the Rappshannock and Msttapony rivers,
returned on Sunday to Falmouth and made
good report Of itself, to the effect that
all the court houses ON the neck, and all the fer
ries on the Rappshannock for eighty miles below
our lines, were visited, and that another smuggling
nest was broken up and the smugglers captured.
together with several rebel officers. valuable
lot Of medical stores, contraband goods, such as
boots shoes, caps and blankets, and number of
horses and mules were taken. Several boats en-
gagged in carrying goods across the Rappahannock
were destroyed, and large warehouse filed with
wheat and corn, ready for transportation, was
burned. This is doing very well in that infested
region.
It is said that before many days elapse the Pres-
dent viii issue call for more troops.
The rumors that Major General Butler had been
appointed Provost Marshal Of the Eastern district
are not true. g.8
The news from the Southwest to-day il i'm.
portant. 1t was believed in Memphis yesterday
that an engagement at Port Hudson was progress
ing report reached Cincinnati from jackson,
Tennessee, that o portion Of General Sullivan's
division, composed of two hundred men and two
pieces Of artillery, had been surrounded by the
rebels and captured.
Amovement took place on Monday afternoon at
Rutherfords creek, one Of the tributaries of the
Duck river. Tennessee, which may eventuate be-
fore many days In serious battle between the
Union troops and Van Dorn's large rebel force of
some 900 men, now on the line of the Duck river.
General Granger, sent forward by General Rose.
Grams, arrived at the creek on that evening, and
his advance guard Immediately commenced skir-
mishing with the enemy, capturing several Of them
who report that Colonel Coburn and two thousand
of his men--who, it will be remembered, were
captured by Van Dorm at Thompsons Station on
the 7th inst.-had made their escape. battle in
tho vicinity Of Nashville may therefore be contsm-
plated before long,
The Richmond Examiner Of Monday says that
the latest accounts from Fort McAllister report
that the Union feet had again retired, after ter.
rife bombardment 1t says that the fire of three
iron-clads and three mortar boats was concen-
trated on the fort at the same time and shell and
solid shot literally raned on the garrison The
fire commenced about nine A. NJ, and continued
up to late hour in the evening and through the
night.
This is the enemy's fourth attack on Fort
McAlIister. and he has failed strange to say: and
as unequal as the contest was, It states that the
fort sustained but little damage and the rebel loss
is said to have been but two wounded and none
killed.
The Examiner regards the Yankee" gunboats
and mortars as humbug, and adds that so accus
toned have become the people Of vicksburg to
them. and 80 little is the fear manifested at their
Smelling. THAT when the fire commences the
people 60 out to witness il as q kind OF amuse.
mcnt."
A rather dangerous kind Of amusement, we
should think.
We give to-day On interesting history Of a new
arm introduced into the United States service to
meet the exigencies Of the times on the Western
rivers-nameiy; the Mississippi Marine Brigade
The object OF this organization is TO operate
against the rebel guerlas on the river banks. The
force consists Of infantry, cavalry and artillery.
and all are provided with quarters on a feet Of
steamboats,. They will. act in conjunction with
the rams, and win be landed at those points
where rebel batteries or ambuscades may be dis.
covered, to clear them out The brigade is under
the command Of General El!et.
The rumors prevailing in Havana on the depar.
turc Of the Roanoke Of the probable destruction
Of the rebel priyateer Florida, noticed in yestcr.
days issue, had no foundation except the state.
ment made by the captain OF the schooner Ocean
Herald, that he had seen the wreck OF a steamer
on Absco; and az the steamer Florida had not
been heard from in Havana since she was pursued
by the Sonoma, during gale Off Abaco. II was
snrnised that the wreck might possibly be that of
the rebeleroyer. Tint the Florida was no, WRECK.
cd at the time supposedis evident from the fact Of
her having captured and burned the ship jacob
Bell two weeks after she was chased by the SO.
MONA.
Ny the steamships Kangaroo and CITY OF Ba,,.