WASHINGTON, March 16.
From contrabands who have acted as teamsters for the rebels, it is ascertained that the main body of the rebels have crossed the Rappahannock and were making a stand at Fredericksburg in conjunction with the army at Gordonsville.
Tribune Correspondence.
Messrs. Holt and Owen, commissioners to examine and allow or reject all contracts, orders and claims on the War Department for ordnance, arms and ammunition, will commence their labors to-morrow. They have taken rooms in the War Department.
Gen. Fremont’s department extends, if we are rightly informed, no farther south than Knoxville.
Gen. Totten has advised the division of the seven million dollars appropriated this session for coast defences, to the construction of iron-clad vessels of war.
Com. Smith, the head of the bureau of yards and docks, has been authorized by Secretary Welles to build an iron-clad gunboat within 60 days.
A letter from Newport News, Dated 14th, in the World, says: About 9 o’clock yesterday morning, companies of the 7th N. Y. regiment, encamped at this place, started on a reconnnoisance on the Willliamsport road, running parallel with the James river. About ten miles from camp, they came across 3,500 rebel cavalry stationed at the junction of the Williamsport and Great bethel roads. When the enemy were discovered, our troops charged upon them. – The enemy after firing a few shots at our skirmishers and setting fire to the house they had lately occupied, turned and fled.
Times’ Correspondence.
Gen. McClellan’s proclamation to his army is the theme of universal conversation and enthusiastic praise. His popularity with the army is unbounded, and his friends increase by thousands among the people who admire his patience under persecution and his single-hearted devotion to the union.
The docks at Washington begin to be thickly studded with masts of vessels that have reached here with supplies since the blockade has been raised – a vast relief to all who have to buy in Washington.
Messers. Odell and Baker, members from New York, yesterday called upon Secretary Welles and urged that Com. Stringham be assigned to active duty. It is understood that the Secretary gave them assurance that the meritorious officer would soon have command.
Herald’s Correspondence.
Gen. E. A. Hitchcock, who recently declined the appointment of Major General of volunteers, was summoned here from St. Louis some days ago, when he was visited by the Secretary of War. What transpired at the interview has not been announced, but it was of sufficient importance to the interests of the country to induce General Hitchcock to reconsider his declination of the Major Generalship.
WASHINGTON, March 17.
Gen. Fremont has had an interview with the President and Secretary of War. We will press his affairs for promptly starting his department. His staff will therefore be determined on at an early day. His headquarters will be in the field. Col. Shanks will accompany him.
The Senate was four hours in executive session to-day.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1
