The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-08

THE SITUATION.

new YORK, sunday, FEBRUARY D, 1903.
THE SITUATION.
There is no news from the Rappahannock to-day.
The condition Of the roads is such as to prohibit
oil possibility Of any advance movements.
Rumors are sfoat-slthough not substantated-
that the President was disposed to recall General
Mcclellan to the command of the Army Of the
Potomac within the past few days. and that GER
tain members of the Cabinet, including Mr.. Chase,
had threatened to resign il such measure was oar
rled out. It was further stated that, while the
President succumbed to the expressed wishes Of
the Cabinet for the present the reappointment Of
General Mcclellan was by no means unlikely. We
give the report for what it Is worth.
It's said that che rebel forces at Fredericksburg
have been reduced to 5000, that number being
regarded rs sufficient to hold the position. The
remainder Of the army has been despatched to the
Blackwator and to vicksburg.
The progress Of cutting the canal near vicks.
burg goes on rapidly. Tho largest force which
can DO employed ON 1t are at work night and day,
and will continue 10 until its completion to that
point opposite which formidable rebel battery
is said to be now constructed. II has been dc.
oided by tho engineers that the canal must be cut
by artificial means to its full width, o. no
reliance can be placed upon the action Of
the water in washing out the banks. 1t
Il ascertained that some weeks, at least, must
slapss before the work oan be advanced 80 far a.
to enable our gunboats to effect anything Of i'm
portance against the rebel stronghold ut vicks-
burg.
A special despatch from Cairo states that the
Union ram Queen Of the West ran the blockade
CALAMITY at vicksburg on Monday morning last
about daylight hundred heavy siege guns from
the shore. and rebel steamer In tho river, opened
fire on tho Queen Of the West, and kept up the
storm Of shot and shell for three quarters Of an
hour. The rebel steamer was crippled by the fire
of the Union vessel, which ran the gauntlet in
safety.
The official account Of the attack on, and the dc.
fence Of Fort Donelson, forwarded by General
Rosecrans. shows that the Union victory was COM
pets, and that inferior force Of our troops made
gallant stand against q largely superior number
OF tho enemy. It appears that the rebels, under
Generals Wheeler, Forrest, Woodward and whar-
ton. numbered four thousand men and eight pieces
of artillery. while our troops in the fort, IN
der A. G. Harding, were only eight hun.
dred. THE rebels" says General Rosecrans,
Charged the Notifications several times, but
we're repulsed by our artillery and infantry with
great loss-the enemy, as usual, before and after
the fight demanding surrender. and offering to
spare life II accepted. Colonel Harding replied
that "he was roady for all the consequence
The enemy's loss In killed was over one hundred,
and in prisoners three hundred. The forces under
Colonel Lowe, from Fort Henry, are pursuing the
rebels, and others have been sent to intercept
their retreat. Our loss Is twelve killed and thirty
wounded.
The division Of General Davis. comprising
strong force Of artillery and cavalry, was sdvanc.
ed from Nashville to intercept the rebel forces Of
General Morgan, which were engaged in the attack
on Fort Donelson.
c0NGRRss.
In the Senate yesterday the bill to promote the
efficiency Of the Commissary Department was
passed. The Secretary Of the Interior sent ia
communication asking for an additional sum o.
s2S 900 for land Offices in Kansas. The President
sent in despatch from our Minister TO China.
relative 70 the death Of Mandarin Ward. A me.
mortal from merchants and impor tiers Of New
York. asking that legal tender notes may be
used for paying customs dues, was presented.
A bill for he construction Of a mill.
hry and postal railroad from Washing.
ton to New York was introduced and re-
ferred. Mr.. Sumner offered resolution. that the
10 inquire into the condition Of tho Army Of the 10.
tomac, both officers and men; and to consider what
measures are necessary in order to promote its Ell.
cheney increase the mutual confidence Of the officers
and men, and 70 secure from all an unwavering and
soltAer.ike devotion to the declared policy Of the
government, with power to send for persons and
papers. This was laid over. The remainder of the
session was occupied in debate on the Missouri
Emancipation bill.
In the House Of Representatives the Illinois and
New York Ship Canal bill was under con.idera,,sp.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
The steamship Bansa, from bremen and sop,b
amptcn, with three days latsr European nsus
arrived at this port this morning The co,nr,.
ton OF the news will be found N another con
General Mcclellan arrived a, Hartford ,e,.er.