The Portland daily press., 1863-12-05

Coiiision-s pec"fations on the Ar"y o! the
Potonac-Chan9es and Assfgnments-fron
Conference.-The Foreign Opposition
Cducas-RebeI Reconnaissance.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.
The L. 5. steamer Sassacus, last evening,
while towing down the Potomac another yes
sci, was run into near Mount Vernon, by the
brig Alice Lee, of Wilmington, Del, bound up
with a load of lumber. The wheelhouse of
the Sassacus was torn off and the wheel in
jured. Four OF her men fell overheard, two of
whom were rescued by the brig, which was
also injured. The Sassacus returned to the
Navy Yard, for repairs.
The Star, under the head OF The Army of
the Potomac and its hesltating Generals"
says:
80 long as our army in this quarter con-
tinues to be guided by its present councils in
the field, it is now clear that it will fail to
command public confidence. Though the re-
cent movement amounted only TO a reconnois-
ance in force, its purpose was certainly TO
give Lee battle wherever found. There can
be no mistake in this fact, though it Is now
sought to be denied. We know, further, that
the season for active operations, under active
commanders, in this section, has not closed, as
is being represented by more or less news
papers. So if Lee, relying upon continuance
of the chronic hesitancy that has afflicted the
councils of Gen. Meade, ventures to reinforce
LOuS,tiSSb SohoiuSiduiy hou MS OMH Muly,
which he has yet time at least to attempt, the
Government will promptly seek to make him
pay dear for his temerity, as our Army Of the
Potomac is as ready at this moment to move
again as it was when undertaking so TO do,
few days since"
Admiral Stringham has been ordered to
relieve Commodore Montgomery, in command
of Charlestown Navy Yard, aud Com. Mont
gomery has been ordered to relieve Com.
H.rwnnJ of ha W6Shinuton NAVY Ward
Capt. J. NJ. Bradford has been appointed
Fleet Captain, vice Simmons relieved.
Admiral Farragut, commanding the West
Gulf Blockading Squadron, who has been for
some time on leave of absence, reported this
morning to the Navy Department in person.
J. W. Deable, of the District of Columbia,
has been appointed storekeeper of the Wash
ington Navy Yard in place OF George n Beal.
Longlellow the poet is in this city, attend
ing to his son, who was wounded in the en-
gagement OF the 9th beyond the Rapidan.
The correspondence OF the associated press,
dated Charleston Haibor, Tuesday, Dec. LIST,
says: 1.-The position of affairs here Is I'M
changed. General Gilmore continues TO shell
Sumter from his mortar batteries. The west
wall of Sumter has been undermined by our
fire, and the last vestiges of the fort as forth
fled work is disappearing. The rebels now
only occasionally display small battle flag
from the ruins of the fort. On Thursday last
the land batteries engaged the rebel forts on
James Island and Sulyans Island for several
hours. The firing was very heavy. The
weather up TO yesterday has been stormy and
the Navy, in consequence, inactive"
Official statistics show much more favor
able condition of our foreign trade than has
been generally supposed. The balance is
largely in our favor for each oil the three years
of the war.
The opposition members of the House of
Representatives, about fifty in number, had a
free conversation tonight al the Capitol Rep
resentative King. the only Border State man
present, presided. The Border States men also
had consultation tonight. No definite ac-
ton was taken with regard to the election of
officers OF the House.
All was quiet in front of the Army of the
Potomac to-day. Last night the enemy made
a reconnaissance in force, consisting of art-
lery, infantry and cavalry, and crossed at Rae
coon Ford, with the probable intention of as
certaining our strength and position, but they
were repulsed by detachment of our cavalry
csrps, and rapidly retreated to the south side
of the Rapidan. We occupy Culpepper with
a cavalry force.