Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-02
TIL T. w AR.
Predictions of an Advnnoe

ted we shall see something done. The Wash
ington correspondent OF the New York WoTl
says THE assurances Of Mr.. Chase to the
bankers in your city will be carried out TO the
letter. Unless all the signs fail the armies o
the rebels will be attacked before the middle OF
January. 1t will not be an attack upon one
quarter, but upon every assailable point. Peo-
pie in the confidence of the authorities here
distinctly assert that Richmond will be in the
possession of our troops before the first of
February. The placing of Gen. Rosecrans in
command at Romney; the concentration of
troops there; the movement of Gen. Banks ;
the expected sailing Of Gen. Burnsides expedi-
tion within two weeks, and the significant prepa-
rations in the army in front of Washington,
together with the news we hear from st. Louis,
Cairo, and Green river, all points to Il simuta-
neous attack upon the rebels within a short
time"
The rebels also profess to expect TO be at
tacked-they no longer talk about making an
advance themselves, which is significant. The
Rchmond Dispatch predicts that the affair at
Drainesvillc will induce the federals to advance
and seek general engagement, and adds =
Trusting to large superiority of numbers,
the enemy seem steadily to be pushing forward
their troops in Kentucky, for an attack in force
upon our army under Gen. Sydney johnson.
From all the indications in that quarter, grand
engagement within a few days seems unavoida-
6le. Thus circumstances all combined to bring
ABOUT two great engagem 9nts on either side of
the All-ghanes, which, but for the relations of
Great Britain to the North, would be decisive
OF the war. II the South should be beaten on
Doth fields, she could hardly expect for some
time TO get together two armies of any magni-
tude, and would haye to depend altogether upon
the virtues OF Fabian policy, and general
system OF skirmishing against the enemy. If
lhe south, on the other hand, should gain both
battles, the North would he compelled to desist
from aggressive measures for such a length of
time as it would require to organize and disci-
pune other new armies. Considering the low
state of the exchequer, the period required for
this purpose would be 50 long that a virtual
suspension Of invasion would be the result, and
the South wodld be enabled to carry invasion
to their own doors. Such an invasion, though
only partially successful, would virtually end the
war; especially if it resulted in stampeding the
Lincoln government from Washington. The
appearance of England on the field of strife
would have decided influence on the contest.
The first effect Of the imbroglo even if it
should not result in war between that country
and the North, must be to precipitate the latter
in whatever action it may have been preparing
against the South, during the last few months
OF busy activity. An attack upon our armies
in Kentucky and on the Potomac might other
wise have been postponed until the spring; but
the complication with England must at once
determine the administration to strike its blow
without delay. A successful battle on the Po-
tomac and in Kentucky might avert war with
Great Britain; for defeat by the South on
these two fields would be taken by The world as
conclusive proof of her inability to make good
her independence"
Affairs in Missouri
The following resume of the recent military
| operations in Missouri is obtained from re-
liable source:
| Within the last two weeks the Union army
has captured 25O0 rebels including about 70
commissioned officers. 1900 horses and mules,
HOO stand of arms, two tons of powder, 100
wagons, and an immense amount of commissa-
ry stores and camp equipage. \ large foundry
at Lexington, used by the rebels for casting
cannon, shot and shells, most of the rebel craft
ON the Missouri, including ferry boats, have
been destroyed or captured. A pretty clean
sweep has been made of the whole country be-
tween the Missouri and Usage rivers, and Gen.
Price cut off from all supplies and recruits from
North Missouri and is in full retreat for Ar
kansas wi h his army having passed through
Springfield on Monday last. Our loss in ac-
compllshing these important results did not ex-
coed one hundred killed and wounded. These
are the points of brilliant strategicll combina-
tons OF Gen. llalleck, which have been so ably
executed by Gems. Pope, Prentss and Nckson,
and Coils. jeff. c. Davis of Fort Sumter fame,
and Fred Steele of the lth regular infantry,
and the brave officers and soldiers of our army,
regulars and volunteers. Gen. Prices designs
to stir up rebellion in north Missouri, and
simultaneously burn all railroad bridges, sta
tions and rolling stock, on the Goth of this
month, in accordance with plan promulgated
from the rebel camp, have been foied to
great extent by the energy of Gen. Halleck,
and the activity of our forces, which are kent
in constant motion, Notwithstanding the severi-
ty OF the weather
The damage done to the North Missouri and
Hannibal and st. Joseph raiload has been
greatly exaggerated. Repairs are being rapid
ly made, and both the North Missouri railroad
and telegraphc wire were to be in working or
der to Wellsville Friday night Ten bridge
burners have already been shot, and 30 are in
close confinement to be summarily dealt with
under Gen. Haleck's stringent orders. 1t is
confidently expected that our moving columns
will as efiectualy in few days, break up bridge
burning in North Missouri as the rebellion has
been crushed south of the river. No mercy
VIII ue SHONU lUe ScOunufels. Oen. Ilaleck S
emphatic orders with reference to all bridge
burners are, to shoot down every one making
the attempt.
Major Glover has just returned from scout
in Camden county, with ten wagon loads of
subsistence, a rebel captain and Is men, who
left Prices army since his retreat commenced.
Gen. Pope's official report of his expedition
in Central Missouri, has been received, but con
tains nothing important which has not previous
ly been reported
In accordance with orders from Gen. Halleck,
the provost marshal general directs that the
sixteen slaves now confined in the county Jail
at st. Louis, and advertised for sale under the
state statute, be released from prison and
placed under the control of the chief quarter
master of the department, for labor, till further
orders the said slaves being the property of
rebels and having been used for insurrectionarv
purposes.
Success of the Stone Fleet.
Charleston is now pretty effectually block
AIDED, and probably for all time. The stons
feet has done ite work. Sixteen old hulks.
laden with stone, have been sunk in the main
channel leading to the harbor They were not
placed straight across, as in other cases where
the experiment has failed, but in three rows.
with special reference to the fact that the inland
waters must flow to the sea. An intricate maze
of shoals and eddes will thus be formed, which
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