The New York herald., 1863-12-07
New York, Monday, December r. 1863
THE SITUATION.

All Ii quiet IN tne Army OF the P0t0nT1C. So
says the last despatch from that quarter General
Lee is putting his army into winter quarters in his
old position on the south side of the Rapidan.
General Meade will, no doubt follow his example,
and. with the exception of some fights between
pickets or guerillas, we need hardly expect much
news of warlke character from tho armies of
'ether leaders until the winter begins to break up.
The condition Of imprisoned soldiers in
Richmond rs considerably improved by the receipt
Of the provisions forwarded to them. During the
past week three hundred and thirty five packages,
consisting mainly of solid food, deicacies for the
,sck, clothing reading matter and stationery were
.received by them. They were conveyed to Libby
Prison, Belle Island Castle Thunder and the to-
bacco warehouses.
There is nothing new from Chattanooga or
Knoxville up to last accounts.
The Richmond papers Of the Sd instant contain
some interesting news. The Examiner says that
General Hragg's successor has not been appointed,
but that General Hardee remains in command.
: The EScmtner congratulates the Southern public
6at chi lnte disasters in East Tennessee are coun-
tterbasrced by the activity of the rebels in West
= Teuncs cssee which is now formed into new mill
&ary district, including West Tennessee, West Ken
tacky and Northern Mississippi, and placed under
command OF Colonel r. V. Richardson. The Rich
mona Wh;s says that the tobscco belonging to the
French government is about to be removed from
Richmond within the next Few weeks, on French
>ycssels
FROM Charleston we have nothing to report
The Union feeling gains strength in Arkansas
The people taking the oath Of allegiance by num-
dreds. Al convention held at Fort Smith, which
WAS most patriotic in the sentiments expressed
Colonel Johnson, of the First Arkansas infantry
uas nominated for Congress, and IT was votet
that Arkansas should be a free State after the war
py the arrival of the steamship Evening star
+b;s mort on Saturday night last we are in receip
Of four days later Intelligence from New Orleans
The dispatches from our correspondent whic
wal be found in another place, contain much il
t.res,inr matter. 1t appears thereirom that u
navigation of the Mississippi for miles above al
below the mouth Of the Red river is seriously
corrupted by the presence in force Oh repei DAN
crov;ded with field artillery, with which they h
uron ALI unarmed boats trading to and from Tt
Orleans. This force. estimated at four ,nousau
"a under command Of Gen. Dick Taylor, and is
sort Of flying corps, appearing sSc- time to time
different points Of the rl-er, preying upon its co
mcrcc as opportunity offers. The merchants
New Orleans and traders generally arc serou
Alarmed at the sudacity, the frequency and s.
cess Of these attacks. and have applied to
xr,,,,arv authorities TO have all the river DO
armed and manned by few artillersts.
steamer Black Hawk waslatcly attacked ana
esoanea entire destruction through the eoolt
and ooursre of Captain Fulton his officers
crew.
Adju,an, General Thomas has made ton
ynspection Of the government plantations, ana
given much attention to the working OF the
negro labor system. The results oil
system have been such that it has ehc
the Adjutan, Generals warmesi encoml'
and he expressed himself to the eject
what he saw Of the working Of the system
monstrsted 10 him tha, the question Of com
stated negro labor had passed from an enign
q fact.
Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in New Or
10 the plessantest manner by all classes
Iieu,enau, Bauer, Of Company F. OF the Sc
Rhode Island cavalry, and Sergeant Fischer
came company and regiment we're sentenced
former 10 hard labor on Ship Island, with bal
chain. ant the latter to Imprisonment 'O'
months. for plunderiDs from planter wm''
- scouting sxpe diaoA.