Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-12-26
From the Norfolk Day Book, 10Th ms


By permission of friend, we have copied the follow
ing from the New York Times of the 18th, the latest
date received from the North
THE REBELLION
Important Reconnaissance were made yesterday along
lines of the Potomac to ascertain the positions and
strength of the rebels One made in a balloon by Pro
lessor Lam ountan establishes the facts that the rebel
forces at Fairfax Courthouse is very light that be-
tween that point and Vienna there is increase OF
strength and that all along the line very considerable
additions have been made to the scouts of cavalry and
infantry.
Our Washington correspondent sta es that the dis
patches from Mr. Adams Minister to Great Britain
brought by MIR. Goodrich informs our Government oil
the determination of the British Government to allow
the rebel steamer ashvile to complete her armament
at Southampton Captain Pegram, it is stated, had
arranged for the steamer complete gun deck, which
would make her most formidable steamer, and she
to be allowed to depart without let or bindrance.
We have highly interesting intelligence from Port
Royal by the arrival of the Government transport stea
mer City of New York which LETT on the 9th inst
Gen. Sherman had at last decided to occupy Beaufort
and General Stevens brigade consisting of about twen
tyhve hundred men, to go up for that purpose the
day the steamer sailed. Another diversion of troops
to be made to ybee Island, which would be
pied permanently by force OF five hundred men, which
would doubles be sufficient, with proper Notifications
aided by the gunboats of the foti, which have been
detached to operate in those waters
These movements bad rendered necessary the post
ponement Of the expedition under Gen Vee, until the
arrival of reinforcements.
| Measures had also been taken by General Sherman
to all the cotton in tie neighborhood with the
aid of the negroes and Col Noble of the Seventynnth
Regiment VINO is fully acquainted with all the details
of cotton picking, had been selected by General Sber-
to superntend this important business assisted by
| Colonel Snydam The health of tie troops continued
good.
We have last very brief intimation of the truth
in regard to the recent fight at Fort Pickens which the
rebels have had full liberty for the past two weeks OF
dstorting to suit their fancies.
The Columbia. which reached here yesterday from
| Havana, brought mail from Fort Pickens, and the
letters received state that the rebel batteries ienc
ed by the fire of the Fort but that Bragg and bis army
were allowed to remain because Col. Brown had not
force enough to land and drive them aw8y. A few de-
tails given private letter. from which 1t appears
| that the firing commenced by the steamer Rich
mond, assisted by the Niagara-the FIRST point OF at
Ia being Fort McRee. The Richmond was consid
erably injured but the Niagara very little The loss o.
| life side very small.
An important report reaches up from Kentucky, tC
the eff that the bridges on the Memphis branch Rail
road at WhippoorwiIl, five miles from Russelviie
close to the Tennessee line, have been destroyed by
small detachment of National troops beongg to Col
BurbrdgeS Regiment, under command OF Capt Ne
witt This cuts off direct communication between Bowl
ing Green and Memphis.
The Secretary of War has issued an order that Their
will be more reg iments companies raised by Sta
Governors except upon the regustion of the War De
partn7ent but those forming may be completed IN
der direction Of the Governors The recruiting veun
eer service is placed under charge of general supcr
tendenCs for each State with general depos for th9 col
lection aud instruction of recruits. The superintendent
fer the State is Major L. Spra9ue aud tn recruiting
depots are located at Etmira and Albany. The system
goes into operation the first day OF the coming
when volunteer officers recruiting service will
relieved The officers and the depots for all the States
with other details, will be found in the order in tet
graphic columns.
Letters received in this city from ST. Thomas, stat
that the prvateer Sumter succeeded escaping froI
the U. s. gunboat Iroquois at Martinique, after til
latter had taken her station off the harbOr waiting 70
the rebel cruiser to come out.
Gen. PrentisS, at the head of 600 troops, ba
lett St, Joseph, Mo, on secret expedition, which it
hoped will result in the capture Of ST Gordon and tn
band of reb desperadOes who doing SO mucf, dan
age in Platte aud other counties Of that region. Ii
may also have occasion to pay attention to return
ing squads of Prices men, cong regating ab0u
Lexington.
1t is ascertained from reliable source that the bac
flag has been hosted and now floats at Columbus, Ky
A dispatch in the Chicago Tribune, dated Cairo
Dec l. states that the conference between Gen. Gran
and the rebel Gen Cheatham, under the flag of truce
the preceding day, resulted in the release of fifteen
the National prisoners now at Memphis.
Letters divulgng extensive contraban trade fror
Illinois with rebels have been received by Gen. Grant