The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-29

The cavalry of the rebel General Stuart have
been making another raid. We learn from head
quarters of the Army of the Potomac that on
Tuesday night our pckets at Chantilly were
driven in by detachment of Stuart's rebel cav
airy. Colonel Percy Wyndham, commanding the
brigade. Immediately started with some two
hundred men of the Fifth New York and First
Virginia cavalry, in pursuit of the enemy. After
pursuing them at q rapid rate some thirty-two
miles, he came up with them at Middlebury.
Major Hammond, of the Fifth New York cavalry,
had the advance, and fell upon their rear with
great CELEBRITY. After brilliant skirrlish he sue.
seeded in capturing twenty-six of them and scat
sering the others in all directions We also
captured forty head of fine cattle.
General Hooker is busy making up his staff.
Everything is quiet at Falmouth.
The most important news from the Southwest
3 that General Joe Johnston. with an immense
rebel force, is marching to the defence Of vicks-
burg and that the combined forces of General
Mcolernand and Commodore Porter have arrived
vt q point within twenty miles Of the city. at
place called Young's Point. 1t is stated that the
rebels are determined to hold vicksburg and Port
Hudson at all hazards. Another battle may there
fore be anticipated in that direction before long.
The Southern papers, from which we give several
extracts to-day, contain some interesting comments
upon affairs in the West.
Accounts given by rebel dcserters at Hilton
Head, $. c., represent that about thirty thousand
troops are now massed in and around Charleston
twenty thousand men. Sullivans Island brstles
with batteries, garrisoned by two regiments Of in.
fantry and two artillery companies. Fort Sumter
holds force Of six hundred and fifty or seven
hundred mon, under Colonel Rhett, and the fort on
the Middle Ground Ia also well manned. The force
on Morris Island numbers about one thousand
men. and the entire shore of Charleston harbor is
lined with heavy guns. The two iron.cad bate.
ries constructed for harbor dsfences are afloat
and il Is generally thought that they will prove
very effective.
II will be seen by our Suffolk correspondence
that portion Of the First New York Mounted
Rifles madc nice haul Of contrsband goods which
the rebels had stored away at q place called Sandy
Cross roads, In The direction Of the Chowan river.
The goods embraced cotton, provisions, salt and
other merchandise They are valued a, $50 600
and were ready to be shipped across the river be-
yond the rebel lines.
xUROP1AN NEWS.
The Minister Of Foreign Affairs of France has
submitted to the Legislature his lirre joune Cor
yellow Book") in the shape Of an official report
OF the situation and policy Of the empire abroad at
I'll. close Of lsG2.
With reference to the United States he SAYS
That tie Emperor's government had mot neglect.
cd any one opportunity which authorized il TO OK.
plain its opinions to the federal government on
thc dangers and difficulties Of the situation Tho
offer OF an allied mediation was made TO England
and RI ssia after witnessings disastrous struggled,
for two years. Had the plan been arranged and
an srmstice effected, the conditions Of reconcilia
ton 'vcre OF course 70 be left entirely TO the free
I.,.oe u t4e bs..gereIts." England and Russia