The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-05
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
Gregg's cavalry division. under command Of
Colonel Taylor. Of the First Pennsylvania regi-
ment, made q reconnaissance towards Front Royal
during the past three days, but found no enemy.
suffered terribly from the cold. Another expedi.
ton to Rectortown succeeded in capturing
three rebel officers and two hundred new
rsbol uniforms at that place. Colonel Smith,
Of the First Maine, also made a successful
scout to Luray and other points in the
Shenandoah valley, for which he was compli.
nented by General Pleasanton. The stories con-
oerning the large force Of the rebels under Gen
eral Early and Colonel Fitzhugh Lee near Win.
chester are doubtless exaggerated. They have
made no attack ~ yet on the railroad, as they
would have done ere now if they were as formid.
able - report would make them. General Kelley,
hewsver. is quite prepared for emergencies.
Our correspondssce from Key West, BY tho
steamship Blackstone, which arrived here yester.
day. i OF an interesting character. The naval
operations on the coast Of Florida are active and
successful. An extensive salt work Of the rebels
drsws City was leveled to the ground by the crews
Of the steamers Bloomsr and Restless. The salt
works destroyed were valued in all at nearly
ss,ooo, 900.
Information was received ct tho Navy Depart.
uent yesterday that, at twenty minutes past six
on the morning Of the 2sth Of December, the
enemy opened on the steamer Marblehead at
Stone Inlet, which was replied to vigorously.
Soon after the Pawnse opened fire on the enemy's
batteries from her one hundred-pounder rifed gun.
On hearing the firing the G. P. Williams slipped
her cable and came down Folly river under sail,
and opened fire. The rapid fire from the three
vessels soon caused the enemy to retreat in dis.
order, leaving two of his guns in the batteries.
The Msrblehead was struck twenty times and
much injured. Her officers and men stood to
their guns until the enemy had retreated. Her
foremost Is cut, and abe has twelve shots in her
hull and one between wind and water. Three Of
her men were killed and four wounded. The enc.
my's guns were brought away by an expedition
iron the three vessels.
Major General Butler is about to proceed from
Fortress Monroe to Washington for the purpose Of
obtaining full powers to conduct the exchange Of
prisoners, which II Is said he is resolved to carry
A. Y~w
A despatch from Leavenworth yesterday states
that sdvioss from the South say fight occurred
On December Is, near Fort Gibson, in the Chero-
kee country, between one thousand rebels, under
Quantrell, and Colonel Phillips, Of the Indian
Brigade. The fight lasted several hours, and re.
suited in the complete defeat Of the rebels, who
scattered in all directions, leaving ffty killed and
wounded on the deld. Our loss IL reported to be
small.
MISCELLANEOUS NYwA
The new Board Of Aldermen was organized yes.
terdsy by the election Of Mr.. John T. Henry as
President, Mr.. d. T. Valentine as Clerk, and
Msssrs. Terence p. Smith and W. Walsh, First
ward, rs Sergeant and Assistant Ser.
gsant. Mr.. Valentine appoints his deputy and
other assistants. There will be no change made
n these encient ofcials. The President delivered
very able address. Mayor Gunther sent in his
inaugural message and an appropriate letter on
The death Of Archbishop Hughes.
The Board of Councilmen for the year 1864 or.
ganised at noon yesterday. There are twenty.four
members, Of whom only two are republicans.
tsmss Hayes, Esq, Of the Fourteenth ward was
appointed President, and Mr.. James N. Sweeny,
the clerk, together with his assistants, were con-
tinusdi An Once. Mr.. Hayes has been member Of
tho Board for two years, during which time he has
acted ss chairman Of several Of the most import
emit committees. He has also taken an active
part in oil business brought before this branch Of
ebs Common Council, and from experience thus
gained win no doubt make an able and efficient
9residing ofbcer. The annual message Of his
Honor the Mayor was received and Immediately
referred TO the Committee on Printing and Adyer
esInk and ordered TO BE- printed in the minutes.
The Board then adjourned until Monday next at
one O'Clock.
An eloquent and high sounding call for a meet.
Ing In behalf OF the freedmen and coorsd sol.
niers on the banks Of the Mississippi and else.
where,' TO be held at the Cooper Institute
brought together last evening between four and
i've hundred persons, one half OF whom, perhaps,
were colored people. IA stated during the pro.
eeedings this meeting, held under the auspices Of
lbs Freedman's Friend Society, was In no way
identified, In name or object, with the meeting Of
Che African Civilization Society. also held at the
Cooper Institute on the LIST instant, II was