Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-23
FROyT WAsUTgCTOy.

| Ihe Administration have never had be.
fore them for confederation, any PROPOSE
ton from Rebel authorities relating to
pacihcation, nor Is IL known that any such
paoposition has been received and what.
ever may be the facts concerning the re-
ported conference ut Niagara rails, the
presumption here Is that, while there has
been no formal action on the part Of this
Government, looking to initiatoTy meas
ures for q negotiation of peace Il is not
lndlsposed to hear from Niagara, or else
where, whatever prominent Rebels, acting
either as volunteer or authorised commits
sioners, may have 10 say regarding this
subject, without however, in any degree
committing itself to the consideration Of
any proposition or views that may be
suggested.
lac National Republican commenting
on tho topic says Maj Hays may con
verse with people in Canada upon his own
responsibility, but Is not there in any OH
cial capacity, nor has the President made, ,nor
docs he propose to make, any proposals to,
or compromise with, the rebel officials ut
Riehmtnd, or their real or assumed agents
En Canada or elsewhere.
The quotas Of the States under the recent
call have besn s9nt to their respective
Governors.
Eighty-one rebel prisoners have been
brought here from Sandy Hook, Md
They state they were in charge Of one OF
the plunder trains, and were overtaken
Near Smokers Gap by a portion of tho
pursuing force under Crooks. A aght i'm
mediatly followed but the train guard.
finding 1t impossible to save the train, de-
stroyed it by ire and retreated, leaving
5eaInsters and others to the mercy of our
forces.
a letter received by en- ofioer IN Wash
ington from Sandy Hook, Nd, states that
many stragglers from the retreating rebel
forces come into that place daily and sur
rendering themselves-men worn down
by rapid marching, and many of them
barefoot, and thin clothes torn to tatters.
The Evening Star learns from former
citizen OF Madison county, who has for
some time been sojourning at Fairfax
Court House, that he has reliable informa-
ton showing that the rebel raiders met
with 50 many mishaps In getting away
with their plunder from Maryland, that
what they have managed to keep hardly
pays them for their trouble.
1he Herald Washington special saws;
AImost universal regret exists here that
Secretary Stanton's resignation was not
confirmed.
Secretary Stanton has issued an order
prohibiting clerks from giving information
10 outsiders respecting business matters.
Secretary Fessenden has gone to New
York
The Times special says;
The public debt on the Ieth inst. was
Sl,796,2O ,366,94 against 81, ,7sO, O,O53, ,56s,34
on the I2tn.
The reports of the official demand ofthe
surrender of Semmes ara unfounded.
The Tribune Winchester special says:
General AverilFs fight lasted SIX hours,
in which the rebels lost a general killed, 4
pieces Of artillery, 200 prisoners and 500
killed and wouaded, and some missing.
The Herald's Smokers Ferry cores
pondent, goth, says the forces under Gen
eral Wright pursued the rebels under Ear
iy and Breckenridge TO that point, slCr-
mishing with the rear guard, which was
"a hours behind the main force. When
near Purcellsville, south of Smokers Gap,
Duties cavalry captured So Of their wag-
Ons. More fighting was had, when our
troops succeeded in reaching the ferry
Here they fonnd the enemy in force, and
General Wright coming up, he threw
several regiments across the stream, who
maintained their position. He then COM
menced man@uvering around to destroy
the enemy, when Early, receiving news
from Lee, and fearing thrashing from
Wright, packed up and loft at double
quick for Strasburg.
General Wright crossed and proceeded
a-few miles toward Winchester, but learn
ing nothing to change his mind as to the
direction the enemy had taken, he c0un-
termached his force in obedience to orders.
General Averill reports the defeat OF
Early at Winchester, which must have
taker place Immediately after he slipped
away from Wright.