The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-09
New York, Thursday, February o, 1865



THE SITUATION.
The movement of the Second and Fifth corps OF the
Army of tho Potomac, commenced Sunday las. and
prosecuted so successfully, continued Monday.
All the ground captured by the Second corps Sunday
was held the enemy hastily retreang during the night
and leaving largo number Of his dead behind. Nearly
all the lighting Monday done by the Fifth
corps and Grcgg's cavalry. Soon after the
commencement OF the advance by the Fifth corps,
the rebels met and for a time driven
steadily back but being lag reinforced they rallied
and checked the forward Of the Union troops
The lighting then became severe but when night closed
In the rebels had boon completely baked, and the
Fifth corps held its ground and maintained its
neoton with the Second The casualties in the Fifth
corps the two days estimated at about five hun
dred; in the Second, hundred and fifty. Gregg's
cavalry advanced TO Dinwiddie Court House. and
captured number Of the cncmys horses and wagons It
rumorcd in Washington yesterday that the War De-
parment had received intelligence that General Lee had
commenced the evacuation Of Richmond, and it
supposed that these movements Of the Army of tho
Railroad Our dispatches that has been sasfac-
tory ascerancd that Lee has up this tme at loas
sent worry few Of his troops south We publish list Of
the casualties in the engagements far asceraincd
II is reported that President Lincon's official account
OF tho peace conference Hampton Roads will be
sent into Congress to-day resolutions requesting Of
him having been adopted in both houses yesterday.
General Grant yesterday Informed the War Department
that the rebel commissioners had submitted the Rich
mond junta their report in which they say that Mr..
LncoIn's terms were, among other things return to
the Union and compliance with the laws Of Congress
regarding slavery.
In Cape Fear river and vicinity, at the date Of
latest dispatches active hostilitcs had not been
sumed, though the Monitor Montauk and the gunboat
Shawmut had each gone up the different
sons and thrown shells into the rebel Fort Anderson and
occasional shots exchanged between the opposing
land pickes On the 9Th inst Admiral Portcrs vessels
engaged in Smelling the woods beyond our front
line, with what result we have not learned The firing
on Fort Anderson which is q strong work on the west
side OF tho river, defended by about fifteen hun
dred troops, failed to draw forth any response
and this at first gave rise to tho suspicion that II
had been evacuated which afterwards proved erroneous
The rebels still held 1t on Monday last In front of
they have sunk largo number OF torpedoes, which
connected with gavanc batteries on shore Deserters
from the rebels represent that the greater portion OF
sher force has been withdrawn from General We tells
immediate 'front.' and concentrated Wilmington.
They that the greatest excitement prevails in that
town that business is suspended and that many are
without the necessares Of life.
After conferences with Mr.. Oud rebel Exchange Com
missioner extending through nearly month, Colonel
John T.. milford, Union agent for the exchange OF
prisoners OF war, has under tho direction Of General
Grant, in whose charge everything relating to exchange
has been placed by the government succeeded in max
ing all tho arrangements for complete exchange OF
oil soldiers belonging 70 the one side held in
captivity by the other, including the coored troops
The transfer will be proceeded with rapidly possible
henceforth till all are exchanged The nag Of truce
boats will run regularly between Annapolis, Md and
Akens Landing, James river taking rebels down and
bringing released Union soldiers back 1t Is stated that
out OF detachment of five hundred rebel prisonrs ut
Camp Chase Ohio, who placed the List for OK
change two hundred and sixty voted TO remain in prison
CONGRESS-.
Both branches Of nc national Legislature convened in
che hall Of the House Of Representatives yesterday for
Tho purpose Of counting the electoral vote for President
and Vice President Of the United States for the term
commencing on the 4th OF March next Upon counting
The votes II was asceriaincd that Abraham Lincoln
sciyed two hundred and twelve votes for President aud
Andrew johnson for Vice President the number,
who wers then declared duly elected George Il.
Mcclellan and George H. Pcndeton received the votes
Of three statcs-New Jersey, Delaware and Kentucky.
The principal feature OF interest Ia the proceed
ipgs Of the Senate was the 1ussagc Of the bill
relating to postal affairs before that body The first sec
uon provides that all domestic letters deposited in post
once, either wholly unpaid, short paid TO tho OK
tent Of more than single OF postage shall be
turned TO the writer's, With the stamps uncan eed and
notified Of the deficit postage due thereon; but insu
cienty prepaid letters deposited any post ONCE which
are short paid single rate Of postage only shall be
warded TO destination charged with the unpad single
rate 70 be collected delivery Various other aud i'm.
u,rtant amendments 10 the bin in other respects we're
also made. resolution, similar " one va.sed by tho