Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-10
FROM W1SRLNGTON AND TLCLNITY

FROM WASHTNGTONA AND VICINITY
The 7rbane's Washington dispatch says it
was doubtful whether all the correspondence
between this and the European governments,
touching the rights Of neutrals and belliger-
ents ON the ocean, will be made public
Enough has been made public, however, to
show that Russia, Spain and the smaller mar
time powers are almost ready TO accede to
Mr. Marcys doctrine by which property is
guaranteed the same immunity on the ocean
as on the land that France is not far behind
them; and that Great Britain alone, despite
her recent championship Of neutral rights,
stands by her old precedents
The Tim@' Washington dispatch says rebel
scouts came yesterday some 80 rods this side
Of Fairfax Court House. on the little River
Turnpike and the Falls Church roads, came
within half a mile Of our pickets, and watch
ed them closely Squads of their cavalry oc-
cupy the hills surrounding Fairfax. a large
force is two miles beyond and eight regi-
ments are at Trent Hill
The Heruids Washington dispatch says
that last Wednesday night the Apacosid,
which had left Warrington with quantity Of
shells charged with peculiar combustible
material, threw several Of them INTO the rebel
battery at Cockpit Point, but without appar-
ent effect, the shells did not explode.
The Hsralfs dispatch says that fight oo-
CURED on the % inst. between the Union
gunboat Ymkes and Anar0sia. Of the Poto-
mac hotila and the rebel battery at Cockpit
Point. Missiles from rhed gun Of the
battery struck the Yankee, doing small dam
age.
The Trluns's Washington dispatch says
official information received at the Medical
department of the army Of the Potomac show
that the mortality is less in proportion to the
number than in any American city. The de-
partment has the official list Of lS 900.
Contrabands are auiying daily. and are
sent to Gen McClellan's headquarters. 1t is
stated that at least two-thirds Of the slaves Of
Loudon county have made their escape, and
some from Fairfax, Fauirquer and Culpepper
counties occasionally turn up
IL is not probable that there will be a fa-
vorable report from the military committee on
Mr.. Gurley's con6scation and emancipation
bill The views Of the committee are gem
orally adverse 70 it, and will undoubtedly a
dopt Instead OF IL, a bill predicated upon the
suggestions Of the Presidents message and
will sooa report. This committee are also
in favor OF removing the restrictions limiting
the President to a call for only 10000
volunteers, and propose to authorize him to
bring into the service whatever number Of
troops the War Department and the COM
manding general shall require for the prose-
cution of the war.
1t is almost certain that the English will
occupy Matamoras, with design, it is feared,
Of opening communication with the rebel states
by way of Brownvlle, exporting cotton and
importing contraband goods.
The Washington correspondent of the Phi
ladelphia Press says orders have been given
/ for movement by way of the Occoquan; also
that Burnsides expedition will probably
cend the Rappahannock
The Stepping Stones came up from the
Flotlla last night This steamer on her re-
connoitering strip lately Of the Occngasn bay,
scattered the rebels with three well directed
shots from her 24-pounder riaed gun, the
shells bursting right in the midst of some
rebel soldiers, but on her return she was fol-
lowed by rihemen who, concealed behind
trees, fred several bullets through her sides
One Of these shots passed through the head
Of the Captains berth.
The new rebel battery is on Possum Nose,
this side Of Cockpit Point, and is therefore the
nearest battery to this city. At least one
heavy riaed gun is planted there, as shells
have been fred into the mouth Of Maltawo-
man Creek.
Capt. Dickinson of the Sd Infantry, T. s.
A., and Capts Shillinglaw and Manson of the
10Th N. y. regt., late prisoners in Richmond,
have arrived in Washington.
The Times dispatch says the six rebel pris-
oners sent to headquarters to-day were taken
by our pickets on the left wing. Their infor-
nation is deemed of high value. The rebels
we're expecting advance Of our army along
the whole line. They are more demoralized
than ever by diseords among public men,
There is well-founded belief of serious dis
affection to the rebel government at Charles
ton, amounting almost to an insurrecton, by
reason of the apparent abandonment of the
South Carolina coast to national invasion,
and the immense destruction of property that
the owners will willingly consgn to the flames.
They destroyed not less than Sl0,000,000
worth OF cotton which at last accounts they
were deplUring, as they supposed the block
ade about to be raised by England, aud they
might have shipped and sold it. They were
holding jeff Davis responsible for these dis
astrous losses, and many citizens were bold
enough to say the old government was better
than the new.
The reporter of the Associated Press did
not, as is publicly and privately asserted, re-
port or circulate the report that Gen. Me-
Clellan had dismissed the charge brought by
Gen. Rosencranz against Gen. Benham. nor
has he, until now, said a single word upon
the subject. The facts are briefly these The
charges involved the conduct Of Gen Ben
ham as to the pursuit of Gen. Floyd as the
cause Of the escape of the latter with his army.
Gen. Benham has denied the truth of the
charge, and asked for court martial, but
this was refused, at the present time, from
the fact that the chief witnesses are attached
to the army Of western Virginia, and are now
serving in Kentucky, and cannot be tempo-
rarily withdrawn. In other words. the trial is
postponed to await the convenience of their
attendance without detriment to the public
interests.
From PORT ROYAL
The Her0lds Port Royal dispatch says the
British steamer FiBgqf attefnpted 10 run the