The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-16

VOL. XAVL
ADDITIONAL From TMg noaTR
We give some additional fntesl esce from the
latest Northern Haes received - Gsia quession
10 rapidly getting beyond secseAsf Case,s power
Of control. On Tuesday last, shs - fnss.. Il Vas
quoted At i59k @t5oK, and EsSnaes II i74k.
The Herald, commenting on he 1llos, makes ths
following statement Of one Of the 4 pemse moves
to get the quotations down: az
The stock gamblers' extra. wtst7h purYostcd "a
nave been issaed from this oflice, AtAintne dis
pateh rom Gen. 8anks, anaoune the sskinf q
Mcotie, had an effect on the psIEo Of gold thfs
morning to the extent Of one cent; but the
swindle soon became known, and opening rates
were 70 estXblished.
xsADR's MOVEMENT At THuz ztAnpAM.
Meade's movement across the Raptdan 10 mot
fd'y explained in the Northern pspsrs, though the
fact IL exposed that the army had ee days ra.ions
cooked aud In their haversacks, and was ssunin
cumbcred with other trains thaa ambulance aad
pontaons I" Whatever the expsridAent Of crossing
was made for. 1t was rather costiy- We ind iist
Oils men wounded, Including Co. Lockwood,
Of the 7th viginia, and several foid officers. The
following dispatches give what sasticuIars are
publishcd:
Ford was made by 100 men Of the l9sth New York
volunteers, under Lieut.. Col Bald, and the 3Sth
New York (Garibaldi Guard.) oe1. Hays, divis-
Ion commander, foFded the rivef on foot, accom-
crossing was effected by fording wIist deep under
the cheering excitement of picket hdng from the
approaching baaks; hut ahout the rehsis, II.
ci~diue three officers, hanked BY our rapidly
and
river. Our skirmshers steadily advanced and gal
tanty forced the rebel skirmish line back 10 the
protection Of their works. Our position, the line
constantly wavering as II swayed forward aud
backward, delivering and receiving Il heavy and
Calling fire, wns maintained until dark. At that
period two regiments came up 10 their support,
shortly after which Col Baird reported TO General
owen that the 55 rounds of ammunition had been
exhausted by his command. He was then ordered
to Withdraw his skirmishers to the rear Of the line
OF battle. About ten O'Clock the entire command
recrossed the Rapidan. The loss Of the l26th was
WAsHINGToN, Feb. s.-PartIes coming from the
front represent that we experienced considerable
loss On the return OF our troops from the late dem
Onstration.
1t Is stated that some of our pontoons were lost
nj the Kapldan, whereby the enemy was enabled TO
pick up some Of our men who had not recrOssed
Parties arriving from the front this forenoon state
thai when our troops pushed across at Gerniana
Ford they found tho rebel rife pits i'm that im.ne
diate vicinity occupied by but twenty five pickets,
who threw down their arms and surrendered, stat
ing that there rebel force within ten miles
of their position.
immediately thereafter our forces pushed ahead
In the direction OF Orange Court House, but had
hardly proceeded two miles before they were
opened upon.
Attacking the rebel force working and supporting
the battery. we drove them from their position
with considerable loss In killed, wounded, and
prisoners, our loss in the affair being ID
The mass Of our infantry then reerossed the
| Rapdan.
aES SCOTT ON The wAR-THlNss NOT 80 BRIGHT
FOR TIE UNIoH-JAcK BUNsEy's OPINION OF rHR
DURATION OF TIE CONTEST.
a correspondent of the Boston Journal sends
that paper, from New York, an account of u visit
to Gen. Scott. He has broken up housekeeping, we
are Informed, and has taken rooms at Dclmonico's.
The letter says:
IE suit Of parIors on the lower floor, furnished
In a style suited tO his rank, Gen. scott has his
headquarters His are such as a military
gentleman of position and fortune would desire.
They are Ornamentcd with busts, statues, maps,
paintings, and implements OF war. Ills daughter
lives near him. and her children, Intelligent and
sprightly, may be seen roaming round the room,
climbing his knees for kiss, n smile, a kind
word, aud throwing halo of youth and pleasure
over The home and declining years of the invalid
hero. Gen. Scott is great favOTiie OF the ladies.
Every day rare and fresh flowers are laid by fair
hands Oh his table, fl Ing the with exquisite
sweetness Fruits of all kinds are sent to him
daily, and of these attentions he Is especially
proud, and makes particular mention of them to all
familiar friends who visit him. His bodily health
Is not firm.
Five years ago he met with an accident that af-
fected his spine, since which time he has not been
able to sit on his horse. Indeed he had not been
on horse hut once sin0e the accident, and then he
was helped on and off, remaining but few mill
ntes, that his portrait might be paiEted He seldom
leaves his room, and walks about ii with great dii
iiculty. But his mind is just clear as when the
1872.
He is well posted in all the acts of the Govern =
mcnt and of the army He reads everything that
relates to the national peril, has his own decided
opinions Of movements and of men, and expresses
himself freely, without the vel! of secrecy re-
serve, about the war; its duration and termination,
the courage aud skill of our Generals, and the Oh
stacles that still lie in our path
had an interview with him of about an hSur'J
duration. lie did not regard the future prospects
very bright. Indeed, he said he did no. one
bright spot In our national horizon. One thing he
Thought very remarkable. No war of any magni-
tude had ever been prosecuted any where before
this one without throwing to the surface men of
marked military genius and marked public virtue.
But this war has been fruitful of such result SO
iar. Ihose VINO had inspired momentary conf
dence had disappointed the public expectations
We nave had some splendid lighting, but with no
marked results. Our Generals seem to have no
ability to reap tire fruits of well fought battles.
To figh: the enemy, to gain a decisive victory,
aud then let him escape with his men, guns, and
baggage, Is simply to make the war endless. He
considered the Presidents amnesty proclamation
as imrracttcable, In consequence Of the large num-
bsf OF persons exempted from the hope Of pardon
Ihese would be made desperate aud fight 10 the
last. II the large number exempted from pardon
were In the hands OF the President to- day, and un
der lock and key, 80 thai he could, II tie would,
march them out 10 death, he could not execute
that large number.
Humanity and civilization would revolt at II. In
the Judgment OF Gen. Scott, II would be better to
offer pardon To the great mass Of the rebels, and
reserve severe punishment for the leaders only
More than year ago Gen. Scott supposed that
Corfu h and Richmond would be taken, and taken
at once. He uM only expected II, but hal never
seen any explanation or reason why IL was not
done. Confident OF that result he sent To the
President plan for the settlement of the difficulty
North and South. "A basis for the reconstruction
Of the Union was sent In. 1t was made the sub
ject Of one or mere Cabinet meetings, and Gen
Scott IL confident that when the war IL over the
plan will form substantially the basis of final set
tlenlent.
Of Gen. McCieltan's military career Gen. Scott
deciiaes 10 speak--first, because he recommended
him for the position Of Commander m Chief, and
may be one Of the judges, he does not wish 70 pre-
Judge the case. I could not understand whether
Gen. Mcclellan desired the court marshal, or
whether II was to be ordered by the Government.
He was clearly disappointed that Richmond was
not taken but whether II was the fault OF Gen.
Mcclellan, den. Mcdowell, or the interference Of
tue Government, General Scott declined TO give an
opinion.
or Gems. Burnside and Hooker, and other com
manders OF that stamp, he regarded them US loyal
men, brave men, good division commanders, but
wholly incompetent to PLAZA or execute 4 military
campaign. Of Gen. GRAFT he expressed himself
surprised and delighted. He said he knew Gen.
oUnA Ao