The New York herald., 1863-12-18
TIL H SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The condition of affairs in the Aarmy of the Po-
fomac remains unchanged. There is no later ne Us
from Charleston. The latest news from the West
Is from Memphis to the l4th. We are therefore
without any particulars of the late affair between
General Shackleford and the troops of General
Aongstreet. on the Cumberland and Morrstown
Railroad, which occurred on the same day.
The steamer Chesapeake was recaptured yes.
terday by the United States gunboat Ella and
Annie-which went in pursuit from Doston-at
Sanbro harbor The officers and crew all ESCAPED
with the exception of three, who fell into the
hands of the captors The prize was taken to
Halifax, according to orders received from the
United States slcop-ofwar Dacotah, which ar.
rived o short time after the capture The govern.
ment of Nova Scotia, it appears, has issued orders
ior the arrest of the crew. and hence, no
doubt, the reason why the commander of the
United States steamer Dacotah ordered the CAPTAIN
of the Ella and Annie, who was about taking his
British port, there to settle the matter with the
remnant Of the crew found on board. The rest
including Lieutenant Braine got off safely into the
woods at Sanbro harbor. The British authorities
will, therefore, have to deal only with the subordi.
mates.
The news which we give from the South to-day
10 iyh1 nta Tho or
mond papers on Mr.. Lincons Message and pro.
clamation are characterized by the most un.
equvocal contempt for these documents and the
most positive refusal to accede to the demands for
what they claim to be a cowardly submission,
a. set forth in President Lncoln's proclama-
ton. They denominate the latter document
an "impudent production" and state that while
Mr.. Lincoln offers the Southern people "forgive-
ness" on condition of abandoning their leaders, it
is they who never can forgive him for invading
their soil and slaughtering their people. "The
inismous proclamation y they say, Twill but drive
Che Confederates to new zeal and new efforts"
The Richmond Enquirer makes light of Senator
Foote'S attacks upon JEFF. Davis, and calls the
former a variable mercurial man, whose illtemper
towards Mr.. Davis is not regarded as Of any
weight.
despatch from Newbern, N. c., says that the
running of the blockade into Wilmington continues
to increase. 1t is estimated that half million Of
dollars worth of goods arrive there every twenty
four hours.
North Carolina is nearly abandoned by the rebel
troops, there being but two brgades in the State.
General Butler is raising an army Of colored
troops in his department. The three black regi-
ments Of cavalry recently started are said to be
rapidly filling up.
We learn from Fortress Monroe that al out eigh
O'Clock on Wednesday evening the ho' ,pital In For
Yorktown took fire. The fire communicated I
the bakery, and about half -, ors o,c,ock
magazine exploded The fire continued, causir
the frequent explosion ., s,su, a,r,nc ,,. ,,,,
At four o'clock yes sraav morniou another .xp,
sion took place. -, ,..,,,;.,. ,voro a..,,o,.
Inc 'oSA =" known, and the particulars had n
re'Ss'' up to late hour this morning.
rs CONGREss.
In the Senate yesterday, Mr. Hale caused
newspaper paragraph TO be read in which M
England Senator was charged with being brib
for three thousand dollars 70 procure the relea
Of two prisoners from the Old Capitol prise
Believing tha, he was the Senator alluded to, n
Hale entered at length into explanations of
circumstances Of the case, showing that nothi
improper had been done by him, and closed W
n resolution directing the Judiciary Committee
investigate the subject, which was adopted.
Wade offered resolution. which was agreed
calling on the Secretary Of the Navy for all ofic
dispatches and papers relating to actions in VIII
ehps.of.war have been engaged, but especia
with regard TO the operations of the iron-cla
from the engagement between the Monitor