Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-12-13
The War News.


Dec. 1.-The secesh ladies of Fredericksburg
have ntimated their feeling by resolving that
thev had rather see their homes razed to the
ground than that the Fsderals should occupy the
city. Large supplies of provisions and army
stores were arriving at Richmond from the South.
| The position Of the contending armies was such
that the great battle of the campaign may com-
mence at any moment The rebel entrenchments
were plainly visible from our lines Longstreet
ia in command of the right, and Hill of the left
wing of the rebel army. Five Federal gunboats
were reported to have gone up the Rappahan.
mock. opposite the right wing of the enemy. The
frigate Vanderbilt, sent in pursuit Of the Alabama
had returned TO New York. after cruise of four
thousand miles, which exhausted her coal She
spoke one vessel that saw the Alabama Several
unsuccessful attempts to run the blockade at
Charleston are reported by Admiral Dupont
Gen. Blunt had routed q superior force of rebels
at Cave Hill, Arkansas.
Dec. 3.--The transmission of the Presidents
Message over the line prevented the receipt of
any war dispatches.
Dec. 4.-Geu Stah made q reconnaissance to
Suckers Ferry, routing and scattering the rebel
cavalry. Stahl reported one brigade at VIM
chester, and Jackson's main force at Newmarket
Rebel desertera report their numbers at from
70 900 to 100000. Gen. Halleck, in his report
to the Secretary of War, states that on the lth
of July he visited the Army of the Potomac to
ascertain il there was possibility of an advance
on Richmond from Harrisons Landing, and if
not, to form some plan for uniting the armies of
Pope aud Mcclellan. Mcclellan was of opinion
that IL would require fifty thousand additional
men to go on Halleck replied that there could
not possibly be furnished more than 10000
Mcclellan asked to consider the matter until
next morning, when he agreed to go on with that
number. After IIalleok's return to Washington
he received q dispatch from Mcclellan to the
effect that at least $4,000 would be required
The report states that such reinforcements could
not bo cent without leaving Washington and
Baltimore defenseless, aud orders for the with
drawal of the Army of the Potomac were issued
August Sd. But protest was received from
Mcclellan, aud the order was not put in force for
eleven days. Lee and the other Generals In
command in Virginia are puzzled at the move
ments of our army. They believe our advance
on Fredericksburg is only q feint, and that
Richmond is to be attacked from another quar-
ter, in which they are probably correct Blunts
engagement at Cave Hill, Ark, resulted in a de-
cded victory. Cen Herrons forces had de-
stroyed the rebel saltpeter works and arsena
storehouses at Yellvlle, Ark. lie also cap
tured sixty prisoners five hundred stand of arms
and one hundred horses. The Savannah Repub-
hcdn estimates the losses to the Contederates in
the last ten months at $4,000 men, and argues
that the casualties must be equally heavy for
each year that the war continues The rebels
evacuated Abbeville, Miss, on the lst, and our
forces took possession. part of the vessels
composing Banks expedition sailed from New
York on the 3D.. The London Times shows tho
depth of its depravity by asserting that the Fed
| eral Government has no cause of complaint in
the .4iabama case. Jas. A. Seddon, of Virginia,
has been appointed rebel Secretary of War. Gen.
Banks sailed from New York on the 81.
Dec 5.--The Charleston Courier says "Tbe
enemy has ten or fifteen wooden vessels lying in
sight of this city, where they have been allowed
to be for months, notwithstanding our having tho
means of sinking every one Of them, with perfect
safety to ourselves" We suppose they toer
ated because they give the harbor of Charleston
| a business. like appearance. The Government ia
preparing TO put the railroad from Aqua creek
to Fredericksburg In running order to furnish
| supplies to Burnside Deserters from the rebels
continue to arrive daily. They represent their
army as being destitute, particularly Of clothing.
They say no salt meat has been issued since they
left Maryland. Last week an order was issued
BY General Lee, that such soldiers as were with
out shoes should make moccasins from raw hides.
or otherwise, do duty barefooted. The last of
the Federal prisoners at Richmond had been
paroled, aud were at Washington.
Dec. G.--The New York Tribune of the 5th had
the following Dr. Barney of Baltimore re.
Gently captured by rebel pckets near Centerville
aud taken to Richmond has returned. While
| there be had frequent interviews with members
of the Confederate Cabinet and was admitted
into many secrets of the rebel programme. BE.
fore leaving, he was sent for by j. +. Benjamin,
who handed him letters for Governor Seymour
aud Fernando Wood of New York, Vallandig-
ham aud Cox Of Ohio, Bayard of Delaware,
| ohnsou of Maryland, aud u number of the other
noted Democratic leaders In the verbal in
slructons given to Barney, no terms were asked,
for the S0utherners told him they would consent
! to no terms 1t not admitted into the Union
| again as equals they would not come in at all
| What they ask is the granting of an amnesty to
all the military aud civil leaders OF the rebellion,
SO that the election of members of Congress can
be held during the coming Winter, and that body
be called together at least as early as April. The
rebels were digging rife pits aud throwing up
earlh-works on the route from Petersburg to
Richmond. North Carolina papers indicate u
growing disgust for the war, and desire for peace
A dispatch from Gen. Grant, dated Dec. Sd, says
the enemy deserted their Notifications on the day
previous, destroying all the stores they could
not carry.
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