Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-04
THE SITuATION.

win lOnR accounts OF desperate Dattlthf WIN
large numbers of killed and wounded, but
they have been none the less important
Preparations have been going on to renew the
attacks which nave resulted 80 favorebly, and
we are assured from all quarters that we are
on the eve Of active work with the prospect
ofstill glorious results.
From Arkansas we have somewhat conflict
ing reports First, that the rebels we're con-
centrating large forces under Gems. Price and
Van Dorm for an attack upon Gen. Curtis,
who has fallen back from Poa Ridge, proba-
bly, to give his army a little rest and await
supplies. But later reports state that instead
olmarching against Gen. Curtis, they have
been ordered to move towards Memphis to
reinforce the rebel army under Beauregard
And still another report says they are to at
tack Gen. Pope at New Madrid, and by dis
lodging him to open the blockade Of the Miss
issippi river below Island No. To-. This last
report looks to US the more probable, but we
hardly fear that they will be enabled to ac-
compish their object
There is no great change in the position Of
affairs at Island No. 10. Com. Foote is eth
or holding the bel army there while active
operations are carried on elsewhere, or is
awaiting new mode Of attack. The gun
boats and mortars are found TO be less elIec-
tive than il was supposed they would be, and
il is difficult for him to operate against the
rebel batteries while going down stream as
edectually as at Forts Henry and Donelson,
where the current Of the river was in the OPP
posite direction. 1t ia said that a channel is
being prepared across peninsula by which
Com Foot can send transports to Gen. Pope
at New Madrid, enabling him to land forces
in the rear Of the rebels at Island No. 10, to
cooperate with his gunboats in capturing the
whole force These movements necessitate
delays in active operations but we are as
sured that Commodore Foote is complete mas
ter Of his position, and the only alternative
for the rebels will be in surrender or a speedy
evacuation His design evidently is to ac-
compish his object without the dangers and
loss that must attend a more direct but not
surer attack by his gunboats. The rebels
evinco but little disposition to abandon the
place, but still keep sharp lookout on their
means Of retreat.
OF the situation Of affairs in Tennessee, we
can give no better summary than the follow
ing from the Boston journal
Our army in Tennessee, as is well known, is in two
main diysipn.the one having It's base at Nashville and
the other al Piusburg on The Tennessee river about ill.,
teen miles from the Misssnpp State line The former
while taking care Of Nashville, Is steadily advancing
southwatd On the 22d Gen Mitchell, in command Of
the advance column, had reached Shehyyile 63 miles
from Nashville aud not quite half way To Decatur iu
Alabama where the reoels, under Sydney A johnston
SUPPOSED 10 be concentrated in considerable force
ShehYye is between the Decatur and the Chattanooga
railroads and 10 Is not, therefore, apparent ia which de
rectou this column is TO be thrown.
The main interest or the public, however, is now de
rectcd the other division Of army the Ienncs
see river Il was for short time under the command Of
Gen. G.. + Smith, until Gen Grant was reinsiaed But
last dispatch from that quarter speaks Of Cen Buell.
having assumed the command and having marched with
n fifteen miles Of CoInih. This change is rather
the main landing place Of our troops, is twenty-ihree
miles from Cornih, which is about As near as any other
point the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. II may
De proper t1 remark that this road has not yet heen
touched hg troops. Two attempts for that purpose
have been made under Gen sherman and the other
oy cavalry i"rce al night GUY heihet suoceeieu iHce
therefore latest adyces uninterrupted com
muncauon betvteH BeauregArds forces at Cornih and
Johnston a. Decatur The only railroad that mas been
seized that nom Corinth TO Jackson, Tenn, being
part Of the direct line from Mobile 10 Caitobut round
about line still connects jackson and Couth 80 that the
0rtakage is of no great importance.
or the rebel forces In this vicinity We have no reliable
intelligence Il has been put in the aggregate at lz5OlO
consisting of 10000 well armed and disciplined troops az
Co NTH and the remainder, comprising unarmed and all
snrs. Decatur Our force is not accurately kuuH %,
and no estimate is in order just at TINS time. II be-
heycd however 70 be fully adequate to achieving de-
cided victory whenever an engagement Is brought on
And would seen that conflict cannot long be delay
3D. IT, reported, the march on Couuih mas begun
battle must soon follow. because the railroad c1mmuui-
cation too important % be given into our hands with
out desperate struggle Once established on the line
C1uuth not only viii the rebel forces be split asuuder,
tut Memphis Mobile. aud the whole REGION m TACT
must yield 70 advance terrible conhct, therefore,
be- impending, 10 be followed with vast results
aud sc hope and trust that Providence will give us the
victory.
Gen Fremont has arrived at Wheeling,
Va, to enter upon his new command in the
Mountain Department, but there has nothing
new transpirod worthy of note.
From Winchester and Strasburgh we have
but little new since the battle of a week ago
last Sunday in which the rebels were so sig
naly trapped and whipped by Gen. Shields
Their route was complete, and it has been
followed up by the Union forces so speedy
that they were obliged to abandon Strasburgh
which is now held by our troops. 1t is doubt
ed if they will attempt to make another stand
against such desperate onslaught as they re-
Gently encountered.
"All is quiet on the Potomac" This phrase
now has in it more Of significance than ever
before, inasmuch as our forces are no longer to
be found opposite Washington, having taken
up their march towards more active scenes Of
operations. a part of them have moved on
towards Richmond by the way of Manassas,
and are forcing the rebels back to their new
lines of defense, which our troops have not
yet succeeded in finding. How large force
have gone in that direction we know not, but
undoubtedly sufficient to meet all the resist
anee which the rebels may be able to offer
The largest art Of the recent army of the
Potomac, however, have gone down the river
on transports towards Fortress Monroe-a
large part probably as far as that place.
We have been comparatively shu. out from
news from Fortress Monroe for the past week,
but enough is known to convince us that the