Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-14

From WASHlNGTONAND VTOINTTY
The Senate Wednesday confirmed the nom
nations Of Jas. q. Spears, Of Tenn. and Major
Sam'l ID. Sturgs, to be brigadier generals Of
volunteers.
/ Official information has been received that
the Portuguese government is dcvotng its at
tention TO the cultivation Of cotton in its AZ
rican possession.
/ A communication from Baron RicSsoli to
the italian minister here expresses the satis-
faction Of the government and people Of Italy
at the news Of the happy solution Of the Trent
affair. He also expresses sympathy With our
government.
! The Heraids Washington dispatch says
skirmish took place yesterday on Telegraph
road near Pohick. between a party Of Texan
Rangers and company Of Gen. Heintzleman's
division, resulting in three killed and one
wounded on our side What loss befel the
enemy is not known. The killed on our side
were one Captain, one Lieutenant, and one
private, with one private wounded.
The Worlds Washington dispatch says the
city has been excited recently with rumors
respecting the movements Of the enemy at
Z Manassas Il is said they have concentrated
much larger force at Ihst point than has
been generally supposed. As il is impossible
to save anything at the west, what troops
we're there have been hurried back into Vir-
ginia. 1t is even said that Beauregard is
back at his old post.
The Tribune Washington dispatch saws at
Centreville there are 55 600 infantry, 1000
cavalry and 100 pieces Of artillery, light and
heavy. Behind the batteries, along the Po-
! tomac, there are from p 600 to 5000 men.
p At Gum Spring, between Leesburgh and
Centervile, there are three regiments Of in-
fautry, with sqadron of cavalry. At Lees
burgh there are three regiments Of infantry,
one battery of artillery, and 400 cavalry. Ten
, miles south Of Manassas there are one brig
ade of infantry, Of $500 men. These forces
do not include any part of Jackson's army,
forming the rebel left wing against which
Gen. Banks is operating.
The Presidents message excited deep in
terest in the House Thursday. II was evident
: that document Of such an important charac-
ter was not generally anticipated. The sub
ject therein discussed forms tonight theme
Of earnest canversation.
Gov. Andrew Johnson, accompanied by
Col. Robert Johnson. VIM A. Browning. Hon
Horace Maynard. Hon. Emerson Etheridge,
Clerk Of the House, left for Nashville, Thurs
day. Johnson will call upon the loyal people
to be charged with the duty Of declaring the
, place of Governor Harris and his rebel as
socates vacant, and of electing new officers,
and Of setting loyal State government on
its feet.
Charles Henry Foster has returned to
. Washington and again presented his petition
for a seat a. member from the ID district of
North Carolina. The case is before the Com
: mttee on Elections.
I The Senate Friday confirmed the nomina-
ton of the following as Brgadier Generals Of
Volunteers Major Lawrence Graham, of the
ID Cavalry, Eleazer Paine, of Illinois, VIM.
A. Richardson, of Illinois, Daniel Butterfeld,
f of New York, N. I. Ward, Of Kentucky,
g Major Geo. Sykes, Of the 3th infantry, Capt.
David s. Stanley, of the 10th cavalry, Thos.
= A. Davis. of New York, Col. Phillip St.
George Cooke, of the ID cavalry, and Capt.
j. b. Plummer, Of the lst regiment Of infant
ry, for gallant conduct at Springfield and
Fredericktown, Mo. The Senate also con-
frmed Henry Van Rensselaer, to be an In
spector General, with the rank Of Colonel,
and Thoe. Hilhouse, Of New York, to be an
d Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers
\ with the rank of Colonel
+ The Herald has the following At o.
: clock Friday morning the steamers Free
. born, Satellite, Island Belle aud Resolute, open
e ed FIRE on the line of rebel batteries extend
= ing from opposite Liverpool Point to Boyd's
Hill, including three at Aqua Creek. A
number of shells we're thrown, but with what
{ effect could not be ascertained in the prevail
j ing darkness. The rebels returned the fire,
but without striking any Of our vessels. Be-
tween 10 and a. m, off Blackstone Island,
heavy cannonading was heard from ab1ve.-
! On reaching Wade's Bay, in the evening, it
(. was ascertained that the Hland Belle and Sat
. elite again opened fire on the railroad depot,
h and some trains of cars filed with rebel troops
that were constantly arriving from Fredericks-
d burgh. The depot was riddled by shot and
9 shell. The enemy returned the fire from a
battery on the water line, and another on a
t hill little back, their shot fell thickly around
a the vessels, but not one of them took effect.
The troops at Aqua Creek were constantly
receiving re-enforcements. At the first bonn
bardment the rebels beat the long roll in evil
: dent expectation of a landing. but as matters
j turned out they were more frightened than
hurt. Early this morning the steamer Step
ping Stones ran past all the rebel batteries,
without eliciting shot.
, About o o'clock the batteries at Cockpit
and Shipping Points opened fire on Professor
loves balloon, when in the air, near Budd $
Ferry. The fire was returned from the Mary
a.. land shore. The balloon was not hit.