The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-01
General w. r. Smith Assigned to General
Buffers Department.
Rumorsd appointment Of General Mcclellan
TO Command the Deisnces Of the Capital.
General Ord Ordered to General
sigels Department.
Action OF the House ON the Cur
rency Bill.
Report Of Secretary Welles on the Scar
city Of Seamen in the Navy,
De-, &e.s Az

city OF Seamen In the Navy,
4sss &e.s 49,
WASHINGTON March 81, 1854.
THE PRESIDENTS VISIT TO GEN. BUTLER POSTPONED.
The intended visit Of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln TO General
Eutlers at Fortress Monroe, has been postponed.
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL 0RANT-HIs DEPARTURE FOR
FORTRESS MONROE, ETC.
lieutenant General Grant, accom- panied by General
Rawps Chief OF STAFF, and Colonel Comstock, Inspector
General arr lived In Washington at O'Clock to-day He
left Cupepper at eight O'Clock this morning. Brandy
station General Grant Was joined by Major General
Meade with Major Riddle and other staff officers,
and Brgadier Generals J. c. Robinson and J. H. Hobart
Ward.
Lieutenant General Grant, General Rawlins, Colonel
C0mssock and General Robinson left here this afternoon
for Baltimore whence they viii proceed 70 Fortress Mon
General Grant has gene bold private conference
with Major General Butler II Is believed that his visit
viii have important bearing the approaching spring
campaign. as44 KS s .lnss
TIE LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND THE SOLDIERS.
u 10 said that when General Grant was going down TO
Washington day this week when the tran having A.
tached 70 he special stepped q Brandy Station,
soldiers who waiting 20 60 down asked II they
could get into the "No,n the answer ri
officer ',this is General Grants special car" where
upon Grant, who sitting by the window, spoke and
sad Goneral Grant occupies only one seat The soldiers
can ride" 49, ft&
InraxAr,oNs or A CHANGE m THE HEAD or rns
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The previous limitations o. change in the WaF Do
psrmcnt add much Significance 10 the VISIT OF Lieutenant
General Grant to Fortress Monroe believed that the
preseD, Of the War Once has lost bis prestige aud
power, and that he violently assailed weA by Ex
scutive as Congressional influence.
GENERAL W. p. SMITH ASSIGNED TO GENERAL But
frufc v,upA orxrr
Major General W. F. Smith, whose name has been err
roneously mentioned connection with the chief posi-.
tiou on Genera CRAFTS STAFF and 10 connection with
the command OF the Army Of The Potomac has been
signed 10 duty in General Buffers department.
RuMoR ARDrSG GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
rumor Is prevalent here that General Mcclellan s
Immediately be placed command cf the de'ences at
washington in view Of prospective military operations
THE REORGANIZATION OF the ARMY or THE
POTOMAC
Major General Meade has performed an immense amount
Of labor reorganiziug bis splendid army. lie will soon
return 70 bis headquarters in the field.
GENERAL ORD ASSIGNED TO GENERAL sIGEL's DE-
PARrMENr.
Major General E. D. O. Ord, formerly commanding the
Threenth army corrs the Department Of the Gulf, and
who has recently relieved BY Mayor General Mccier
nand, has been assigned TO duty IN West Virginia, 10
General siges department.
STRENGTH OF GENERAL CURTIS ARMY
Il appears official q the Score
tay Of War strength OF tho force Kansas ard
Indian territory, subject to the order Of General
Curtis, is 16, COO men.
CAPTAIN AsHE ASSIGNED TO THE CAVALRY BUREAU.
Capt. NJ. Ashe for moths past Chief OF Cavalry
In the department Of the Northwest been ordered to
Washington, TO serve in the Cavalry Bureau.
THE NUMBER OF COLONIES COMMANDING BRIaADEs.
There are one hundred and sixiy.two colonies now
rariIy commanding the absence Of the proper brigade
commanders. They are thus disirbuted:-in the Army
Of the rolomac, 3d. Department OF the South T. Western
Virginia, III Tennessee, 49, Arkansas, IL; Kansas 1;
Gulf, TO- Washington, H. Ohio, Il; Virginia and North
Carolina, 7.
rHB SCARCITY OF sRABEN IN THE NAvY-rHE CAUSE
AND 1Hs REMEDY PROPOSED BY SECRETARY
wELLEs.
Tbe Secretary the Navy in his response to Senate
she army 10 the navy have been effected under the
act Of Congress, and thrty.hve vesses-of
awaiting compliments OF men Not only these vessels
waiting for crews, but the terms Of many seamen in
the service have expired, and the men detained TO
mapase ships, though justly entitled 70 discharge
We're they not detained many OF the vessels blockade
duty would have 10 60 out Of service.
This state OF tLipgs 10 be deplored, and Is in great
measure, not entirely, attributable to unfortunate
icgsiacn Tor the Enrolment OF the last Congress
&C utterly guored the naval service that enstments
10 tnat service were not permitted 10 be credited
on the quotas OF those ctmmuntes from which
they we're drawn when the draft came 10 DO
90 orced In addition TO these obstacles the
appropriations for extraordinary bouns for army
istments. While not q dollar paid 10 the sailor,
operated to dscredn the naval service and held out
strong inducements for the military service The fact
that rigid enforcement Of the law would be disastrous
IN all It's efeca cpOo the navy go obvious that at
temrts &C made 70 procure such modification
oS the drt the OF lis execution, should
prevent the withdrawal Of mariners from their profession
and the inc rporaiiou absorption OF them the army
thereby weakening and GRIPPING the navy. But the
military authorities objected, the strict letter q
she law permit exemption OF mariners from the
draft credit any place fer naval euhstmenis, In
the OF the law there any OF tbe
Enrolment act whereby navy could be sneng hsDed
and maiptained.
Earnest appeals made BY the executives Of seve
raj maritime States epd many Of the municipal author
ties on The seatoasd, claiming that the naval recruits
ought justly BE- credited their quctas but they
NOT allowed Ccnscq ,entIy the local Influences became
adverse TO naval cnlistnepts and the navy itself soon
began 10 feel The effects Of this policy Vessels intended
90 protect our commerce abroad, which should have
sailed last autumn are st without men, for our whole
force hteqnired Tor the bockadc.
There undoubtedly reluctance on the part OF mil,
tssy officers 10 part with any portion OF their commands
custhe true insrest q the country Il the paramount
copsideratIn and should govern on that oues,,. n
He recommends, In order 10 supply tho existing do.
nclepcy 10 No navy. hat mar'rara N not jess than