The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-10-09
TRIPLE SHEET.
New York, Friday. October ., 1859.
THE SITUATION.


Dispatches from Chattanooga up to the 7th do
not report any general engagement. Both armies
were still fronting each other. Considerable
desultory firing had been going on. The Rich.
opened fire on Chattanooga on the 5th from Look.
out Mountain, and the fire was answered from
Moccasn Point. The Tennessee river had risen
so rapidly that the pontoon bridge constructed by
General Rosecrans was swept away. 1t is stated
that General Bragg has been reinforced since the
battle of Chickamauga by one division from Rich
mond, commanded by General Arnold Ely; one
from Western Virginia. commanded by General
Sam. jones' one from Petersburg and Weldon,
commanded by General Ransom: three brgades
from Florida, commanded by General Howell
Cobb and the three famous batteries from Lees
srmy-Cutts', Blodgett's and Walton's. His
whole force is now estimated at one hundred and
Beveuty-fve thousand men.
Dispatches from headquarters at Nashville on
Wednesday evening say that there is no doubt
that the enemy is being rapidly pursued by our
forces, and that while he may stop to do some
damage to the railroad, he will have to retreat
with rapidly.
The latest from Charleston is to the 9Th, and
comes from Richmond. An attack was made by
the rebels on that day on the frigate Ironsides,
damaging her somewhat and alarming the feet
News from General Meade's army yesterday
states that indications OF collision were mani.
tested during the past 'twenty-four hours, but so
far no general action had taken place.
The report that rebel brigade occupied posi-
ton north of the Rapdan river, near the railroad,
ia incorrect. Our forces picket the entire north
bank of the river to it's confluence with the Rap
pahapnock, and the presence there Of single
rebel brigade or division would necessarily bring
on a conflict.
The recent movement Of General Burnside a
army upon Knoxville is finely described in our
columns to-day from special correspondent
and the Knoxville papers.
Our correspondence from General Foster
department representa- the mysterious expedition
which left Fortress Monroe on Sunday last as
progressing favorabIy, with the prospect Of an
immediate happy result.
1t will be seen by our dispatches from Wash
ington that the question Of a settlement of the
difficulties between the Northern and Southern
States withou, further bloodshed has been under
consideration both there and in Richmond. At
present the matter 10 yelled in mystery; but our
correspondent assures that before many days
elapse il may be shown that the government has
either accepted or rejected plan proposed to try
to bring the wsr 10 a speedy and bloodless con.
clusion wiLh0,t dishonor to the North or humilis-
ton to the South.
The steamer Josie, which cleared for Havana
with on assorted cargo from this port yesterday,
but fell under the suspicion Of the Custom House
authorities that she was q blockade runner, has
been detained under guard in the lower bay until
her case Is investigated,
Some excitement exists in Leavenwor,h from
fear that the rebels medtatc an attack upon Fort
scott and Kansas City. All the troops from Lea
venworth had been sent down, and the militia
were about to be called out at last accounts.
BY the arrival at It. Johns, N. r., on Wednes.
day night OF the steamer Columbia, from Liver.
pool. we have three days later news from Europe.
rarl Russell made an important speech on the
american question, at Blair Gowrie, in
scotland, In which he justified England
inrecognizing the Confederates as bell gerents, and
answered some Of the imputations brought by the
people OF the North. particularly the speech Of
Senator Sumner. He also asserted that, although
sclf.intercst demanded that England should break
the blockade OF Southern ports, she prefers the
course of honor, as 1t would have been
infamous TO break II. He showed tina,
the government had not sufficient evidence
against the Alabama to detain her until after
she sailed, and explained the difficulties ia