Daily National Intelligencer

Our city readers are already informed that John P. Van Ness, Esq. resigned the commission of Major-General of the Militia previous to the late capture of the city. We are now informed that Gen. Van Ness, after having promptly ordered out his division under the late requisition of Brig. Gen. Winder, and actively aided in promoting every measure necessary to the effectuation of the call, informed Gen. Winder and the Executive that, considering himself as a part of his division, he held himself also in service. Very unexpectedly he found this position not admitted: and presuming from circumstances that developed themselves in the progress of those communications, that the command of the principal expedition or service on the present occasion was intended for Gen. Winder, and being desirous of taking some active part, he intimated, that if it were not agreeable or eligible to employ him immediately in connexion, or in the same operations, with Gen. W. which would of course give him the command according to the rule established by law, a separate command might be assigned him; which, whilst it would afford him an opportunity of serving the country, would obviate the difficulty as to rank or command with Gen. Winder, and thus not interfere with the views of the Executive in that respect. But the decision being conclusive that he was not considered in service under this requisition, and no separate command or service being proposed or offered, he sent in his resignation. By this act he transferred himself, a few days before the battle of Bladensburg, from a situation in which he found himself useless, to one in which, as a private individual, he might associate himself with his fellow-citizens in some useful operations in the present interesting crisis: which, we are informed, he has repeatedly done.