Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-21
THE SITUATION.


spot on which the rebels can look for en-
couragement. Along the whole length Of
the lines oar troops have made gradual but
sure advances, the rebels having apparently
forgotten their self-suficiency by manifesting
a remarkably retiring diSpsS.-Sos- Wherever
the rebels have made the leaet show Of resist
ance, they have uniformly been driven like
chaf before our advancing columns.
The battle Of Pea Ridge, in Arkansas, an
account Of which we published last week, was
more disastrous to the rebels than was then
supposed Two Of their leading Generals
McCulloch and Mclntosh-were killed, and
their whole army driven into the mountains,
where they have been again attacked by Gen.
Curtis, and again forced to fee, with another
large loss in killed. wounded and prisoners.
The demoralized and crippled forces of Price
and Van Dorm are moving South with the
Union army in close pursuit
On .he Mississippi, the rebels have been
driven from New Madrid, Mo, and Hickman,
KY, leaving Island No. 10, situated in the
Mississippi river between the two places, ex-
posed to the attack of Commodore Foot's
gunbOats, and at last accounts he was she'll
ing the Island, and driving the rebels to an
overland retreat. they not being able to pass
Cen Popes batteries, at New Madrid, with
their gunboats and transports. Between this
place and Memphis there is but one place
where the rebels have made any preparation
for resistance to Commodore Foots passage
down the river This is at Randolph, and
judging from the panic that prevails at Mem
phis, and the evident expectation Of an i'm
mediate attack on that place, there is but lit
tie reliance placed upon a successful resist
ance there The way down the Mississippi
to New Orleans is now nearly opened, and
unless Commodore Porter's mortar feet is in
hot haste, Commodore Foote will snatch
from him the lauras he hopes to win in the
capture of New Orleans.
Large reinforcements are being sent for
ward from all points in the West to Gen
Buell., ana he is pushing forward to prevent
the retreating rebels from entrenching them
selves for another battle A large force is
on its way up the Tennessee river towards
/ Alabama and Mississippi, and should any
sistance be made TO the occupancy Of Mem
| phis by the troops accompanying Commodore
/ Foote, an atack Will be- 5nGzlu IN the reeT-ol
the city by Gen. Smith, while Com. Foote is
operating from his mortars and gunboats.-
U
| Vile, or the worse fate Of Fort Donelson.
Gen, Fremont is making preparation to
sumo command of the new department that
/ has been assigned him, and we shall soon
hear from him at the head of an army in
Western Virginia and Eastern Kentucky,
marching down to the release of the Union
men in Fast Tennessee and North Carolina.
Gen. Banks las taken possession of Win
chester, the rebel stronghold in the Shenan-
doah valley, and the rebel army are immita-
ting their Western associates in retreating to-
wards the cotton State.
Gen. Mcclellan, having found no enemy to
attack at Manassas, is making vigorous recon-
noissances in the direction in which they fed,
and repairing the bridges and roads destroyed
in their flight preparatory to speedy pur-
suit. The division under Gen. Hooker has
crossed the lower Potomac, and taken pos
session o. the rebel battefies alahg the river,
and we have reason to believe that Gen. Nc
Clelan is sending large reiniorcements to him
to enable him to drive the rebels back from
the entire length of the river. Operations
against Richmond and the new line of de-
lenses which the rebels have taken can be
better conducted from the lower Potomac
than directly from Washington, on account
of the facility of sending forward the supplies
and we look for more active operations from
the vicinity of Aqua Greek and the Kappa
hanock river than from Manassas, though the
latter will undoubtedly be pushed forward as
fast as the supplies for the army can be for
warded While these preparations are being
made by Gen. Mcclellan for a pursuit of the
enemy, his enemies-not Southern rebels, but
Just now quite as injurious to the cause--are
in hot bursuit of him in the rear. These,
however, will find themselves engulfed in
their own iniquity, while Gen. Mcclellan
leads his army to victory over the minions OF
jeff Davis.
There is nothing new from Fortress Mon
: roe The rebel monster Merrifsac has not
l yet made her appearance for another trial Of
strength with the Monitor. 1t is now known
, that in the last engagement the Captain of the
Merrimdc was killed, and the boat seriously
injured, while the Monitor has been ready at
at any moment to receive another visit from
; her, and her officers are confident in their
/ ability to sink her when next she ventures
out from Norfolk.
From Burnsdes Expedition we have glo-
rious news. Newburn, N. c., has been cap
tured with large quantities of guns and am
, munition and number of prisoners, This
gives Gen. Burnside position in the rear Of
Fort Macon, where the rebel steamer NashviR'
l lies closely watched by our blockading feet
. 1t also opens up to him the route to the
/ main railroad from Virginia to the South
Towards one or the other of these, if not both
he will Immediately direct his forces. These
successes Of Gen. Burnside are more disas'
, trous to the rebel army in Virginia thar
y would have been their defeat at Manassas
as it tends to the cutting off OF their final re.
treat, and prevents their escape not only from
Richmond but from Norfolk Crippled or
all sides, the evacuation of Virginia by the
= rebels must now be speedy OF their capture
: by the combined forces of Gen. Mcclellan in
front, Gen Wool from Fort Monroe and Gen
Burnside in the rear will be sure and effective
The position of tho whole Union army il
now most encouraging while that of the reb.
, els is desperate in the extreme. Quick and
d decisive blows will tell short and effective
story. Let us hope that We arc about to sec