The New York herald., 1863-07-24
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The position of the two armies on the Potomac
is now said to be fully comprehended at Washing
ton, although for some days past their movements
were enwrapped in mystery. The rebel army is
reported to be now completely entrapped by Gen.
Meade, and not only is the retreat Of the enemy
to Richmond improbable, but it is doubted
whether they shall ever reach the upper end of
the Shenandoah valley.
1t is reported from Baltimore that about four
hundred rebel cavalry, encamped near Nolan's
ferry, three miles from Point Of Rocks, attempted
to cross the Potomac on Wednesday night with the
intention of tearing up the rails of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. But their designs were frus-
trated by band Of Independent Rangers COM
manded by Captain Means, who drove them
from the river. It is further stated that
at three o'clock yesterday morning General
Lees entire army was moving rapidly in the
direction of Winchester. Ewell, who had made q
move in the direction Of Cumb berland, also fell back
and followed Lee. There remained but few Of
the rebel cavalry between Martinsburg and the
river. Scouts report an increased body of rebel
cavalry near Harpcrs Ferry, supported by two
regiments of infantry.
From the rebel side Of the story We have yester.
days Richmond E1aminer's comment on the
situation" which says:-"From the Mississippi
we have no news, which il good news. From
Northern Virginia the lines Of General Lee ex.
the Northern Cfeade's) army we know nothing
except that it cries loudly for renforcements and
has received none."
There is nothing later in detail from Charleston
than the news brought by the Circassian to For.
tress Monroe on the 10th. The last news received
in Washington report General Gilmore still pro-
crossing with the siege of Fort Wagner. All ru-
mors of his repuse at that point are discredited
by the government.
The news from the Southwest is still of the
most cheerful character.
The reports of our successes at Matches, Yazoo
City and Jackson, are fully confirmed. Large
amounts Of munitions ofwar, especially of ammuni-
ton, have fallen into hands as we before stated.
A despatch from Memphis, dated on the 2lst,
says that General Hurlbut's scouts from Okalona,
Miss, report Johnston at Brandon. The rebel
Generals Ruggles', Chalmers, Saunders and Fer
guson's forces are ut Tupola. Ruggles is concen-
trating his forces with the intention probably of
making dash on our lines Correspondence
from Bragg's and Johnston's armies depict
them in great destitution and greatly de-
moralizcd. They give up Mississippi and advise
the planters to stay and make the best terms pos.
sibe. Our scouts report the majority of the
planters anxious that we should get possession OF
the country before Jef. Davis has time to con-
script there. Great CONSERVATION exists through.
out the whole Southern country, consequent upon
the recent successes Of the Union armies.
General Morgan is making desperate efforts tc
escape with the remnant Of his band (which Il
said still to number 1,oOo) out Of Ohio, but he Il
closely hemmed in. His last effort appears to bs
directed to crossing the Ohio river near the
mouth Of the Muskingum. He crossed tina,
stream at Eastport, eighteen miles below
GAINESVILLE, at ten o'clock yesterday morning
Colonel Lemont, Of the Eighty.sixth Ohio, sent
his regiment and large number Of militia after
him. The latest reports from Eastport say the
Eighty.sxth regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel
Mcfarland, are fighting the rebels, and driving
them up the river towards GAINESVILLE, but tho
news was not quite reliable.
The Petersburg Express (rebeD Of the 22d en-
lgbtens us as to the object and result Of the recent
expedition sent out from Ncwbern, N. c., BY
General Foster on the 18th, to which we alluded
In our columns on Wednesday. II ID admitted
by the rebel journal that the expedition
was most successful. Tho troops did fear
th destruction. They burnt the railroad
bridge across Tar river, structure three hundred
yards long on the Wilmington and Weldon road
burnt The depot at Rocky Mount, destroyed two
miles Of the track, Eve thousand bales OF cottor
md a large cotton factory, and captured train o
)srs, two Of which contained ammunition. which
sgssher With thirty thousand pounds Of bacon
hss dss1oyed.
The rcbs, ryivateer Georgia has captured n.
New York ship Geo. Griswold bound from Cardiff
Wales. for Cslao. and bonded hsr In N0o 900, l.