The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-14 00:00:00

AMERICA.

OCCUPATION OF WILMINGTON BE THE PM:MEAL&
NEW YoBK, Feb. 25 [(Evening).—The New York
Times gays the capture of Wilmington is now of
incalculably *rester importance than ever,. on eccouet
of its relations with Sherman's Armee. The Trent*/
thinks daily events demohstrate sufficiently that the
rebels are not only in desperate straits, but are aware
of it. The Cenfederacy is crumbling from circumference
ho ceutre. The rulers gather all their forces at the
central point. The feet of their gatheriug strength for
one great blow shows they have no hope left should
they fail, The Tribune learns from trustworthy
authority that Foote, on his way from Richmond
yesterday, stated that the Confederate Senate in secret
session considered the Gagne as virtuslly lost three
months ago, and that only desperate means were
left for desperate men. Cincinnati despatches
my that if Lee evacuates Richmond he will
fall back on Lynchburg, and march through the
mountains to Rest Tennessee or Kentucky. Lincoln.
son has left for the front. Preparations are completed
at New Orleans for Grainger's expedition to fdobile. 311
vessels, mostly ironclads, are reedy to leave for Mobile.
The evacuation of that thy in reported to have corn•
menced in JentlarY. Most of the cotton ham been re-
moved further north, and the harbour fortifications
abandoned. The only impediment to the occupation
are the torpedoes. whieh are being rapidly removed.
The guerillas ass the Arkansas River are very active, and
are reported to have burnt the steamer Dane and
captured an Indians regiment. A bill has been intro-
duced in the Confederate House of Repeesentatitteil for
Lb. impressment of cotton and tobacco at specie
appraisernent, payable in the private bonds. The com-
mittee lef the Roust bah rePortlid UpCh the resolutions
expteesitig all unalterable determination to prosecute
the War. The committee invites a mass meeting of the
people to renew the vow of devotion to independence.
The New York Herald states that General Sing and
Judge Hughes left for Richmond, with panes from
Lincoln. The leading peace democrats think it may be
another peace negotiation.
Tne Daily News asserts that the mission it a peieete
one. A private letter from Sherman says :--" Ido omit
subjugate the South in the sense so offensively aesnmed.
All *hottld obey the coremon law, and submit to the
same es we do—no better, no worte—doh Atials, het,
' our soPeriors."
The RiehYtakei 1111 stye there wee no cotton in
Charleetee itt the time of evacuation. Riehmond
papers infer that Sherman is consummating a plan to
lever Lee's oommonications, finally combining his forces
with Grant, and to compel the evacuation of Richmond,
or capture it by overwhelming number.. This course
would expose Sherman's army to absolute destruction
in case of failure. Sherman will be met, and in such
position that the check will be defeat ktod distraction.
New Yoele, Feb. 24,—The captere of Fort Anderion
is confirmed by deipatchte from Admiral Porter and
General Scholofield, The killed end woended are Said
to be small on either Side 'The combined Utica
Immediately adeanted Upon Wilelingtote and Aderral
Porter announced that he took pomessioo of that city
an the 22nd February. Confederate aooounts of the
21* repeat the statement that a Federal column is
4dvancitig westward from Newborn, and smother from
Laa.arille eastward, to reinforce or co-operate with
General Sherman, who is believed to be march'
lug directly upon the rear of Richmond. Papers
*port from Petersburg that Grant's left has
'abandoned its new intrenchment beyond Hatcher's Rum
and retreated to the position held previous to the late
..advance. The muddy cendition of the toads reader
military movements impossible. Both branches of the
genteelly Legislature have refused by a large majority
to ratify the constitutional abolition of slavery, even
though it should be coupled with compensation to the
owner.
! NEw Toes, February 25, (11 a.m.)—The latest
' amounts state that the Confederates evacuated Wil-
-1 mington on the night of the 21st, after burning the.
bridge across Cape Fear River, and 1,000 bales of cotton,
and 15,000 barrels of resin. The Federate occttpied the
city on the following morning, and report the oeptere
of 600 prisoners and 30 cannoo. The new Bill for arm-
'og the slaves passed the House of Representativea on
20th February, but its eonsideration was indefinitely
' by the Senate on the following day. Captain
Confederate raider, given up by the Canadian
at, was executed on Governor's Wend at 1.30