The New York herald., 1864-02-22
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The news fr m the Southwest is important and
exciting. 1t wa, rumored at Huntsville, Ala, on
Saturday. that General Sherman met the rebel
General Bishop Polk near Brandon. had fight
with hin. beat him. and took twelve thousand
prisoner. The detail have not reached us.
Official in ormation from General Dodge to
General Logan's headquart rs yesterday. states
that rebels. supposed to be General Roddy's COM
mand attempted to cross the Tennessee river at
three different ferries. but were driven back by
General Dodge, with very slight loss on his side.
General Meade had consultation with the Pre-.
sident on Saturday, relative to the re-organiza.
tion Of the Potomac Army and returned by spe-
cial train yesterday to his headquarters.
The rebels are said to be preparing to make ad-
vance movements in the spring upon our army in
Virginia, with view to drive them back to Wash
ington, and if possible. to force them to another
battle on the old Bull run field. This measure
is said to be pressed upon General Lee by the
authorities at Richmond, in order to relieve the
despondency existing there.
1t is stated by rebel deserters that the want of
forage is so great as to necesstate the disbanding
Of General Fitzhugh Lees cavalry until the 18th
Of March, when they hope to obtain grass to sus-
tain their horses.
The Navy Department has received information
that the work upon the rebel iron-clads has been
temporarily suspended.
Deserters continue to come into General Kelley's
lines. 1t is stated that since the 10th ultimo
nearly two thousand of them have found refuge
with the Union army. The scouts are capturing
gueras every day. Major Cole commanding a
battalion Of the First Maryland cavalry, had
skrmish on Saturday with portion of Mosby's
command at Piedmont Station. in which he took
seventeen prisoners and killed five and wounded
large number of the enemy. His own loss was
two killed and two wounded. Mosby and his men
were taken by surprise. II appears that the
Major had just received notice Of his
promotion to lieutenant colonelcy, and he and
his officers and a'few sympathizing friends were
celebrating the occasion, soldiers do now and
then, very jovialy when the suffers stores are in
good condition, and were no doubt making speech
ca in liquid measures, when Major Cole came down
upen them and grabbed seventeen Of them, dressed
In their Sunday Clothes in which, like Goldsmiths 8
Chemscyes TO do suitable honor to the festive
ecene. For once, therefore, few captured rebel
officers were found with good coats on their backs
and untsrnished gold lace on their shoulders.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
The steamship Africa arrived at Halifax on
Saturday. and reached Boston last evening, with
European advices to the 9TH instant. The news is
three days later. It's main points appeared in the
HERALD yesterday morning. and full telegraphic
report OF the details is given in our columns to-day
The very latest news from the theatre Of war in
Schleswig- Holstein states that the Danes had
evacuated Schleswig and their great defence work
OF the Dannewerk
Cotton was frmer. Breadstuffs dull. Provisions
and produce were steady the 9th instant.
Consols for money, 9O1l 90ss on the 9th instant.
The National Steam Navigation Company's
steamship Virginia. which left Liverpool on the
forenoon OF the I'd and Queenstown on the Sd
snst., arrived at this port yesterday after
moon. Her news and newspaper files have been
anticipated.
The United States steam transport John Rice
Captain Beaston, arrived at this port yesterday
morning, in five days from Hilton Head. She
brings the Ninth and Eleventh Maine regiments
6yeterans). There are four hundred and thirty
men of the Ninth, Of which the following are tn,
oficers:-Colonel, Sabine Emery; Leutenan
Colonel, Zina II. Robinson; Captains, Robert A
Grey, Joseph Noble, Sylvester b. Tivy, VIM. A
Barrows and Billings Brastow; Lieutenants, Levi
il McKenney. Benz +. Whtton. Josiah G. Beal
WIN. L. Hughes. James L. Thompson and Joshui
4, Ross.
The skating ball was up at an early hour yesterda.
morning and long before noon a numerous thront
OF visitors appeared on the Park. Previous Il
sbat hour the ice was In excellent condition OF
the upper ponds, but was not quite "a good on
tbe lower lake. The southerly wind and the warn
sun, however soon had their effect upon the frozen
surface, and Il became soft and porous. In the
afternoon the crowd increased 20 such numbers
"a to render the ice unsafe, and IL therefore be.
came necessary 70 lower the ball and clear the
ponds long before the usual hour The number O,
visitors to the Park before dusk was estimated a,
between eighty and ninety thousand. The drive
was also very lively with vehicles during the after
nses.
Professor Mattison, at his church In Forty mint
strcet. last eveaing. roundly denounced ell thos
DwAs ere opposed 10 the clergymen's va
- Ne iassoest psstime Of raining at fair
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