Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-07-18

ls reported that he has bad a sharp skirmist
with the rebels in that vicinity, but that thu
p, latter were routed
Gen. Grant has issued an order requiring
the families of all persons connected with
the Confederate army or Government to
leave Memphis within five days, vt take an
oath that they have not and will not furnish
information to the enemy. This sweeping
order is in consequence of constant c0mmu-
nication between persons in the rebel army
and their friends. This order causes consid-
cradle excitement.
The Senate Monday evening confirmed the
appointments of Gen. franklin as Mai. Gen
of Volunteers, Gen. Sumner as Brevet Mai
Gen.. and Col. IIeintzleman as Brevet Brig.
Gen., for gallant conduct at the battle of
Fair Oaks, and Col Fitz. John Porter as
Brevet Brig. Gems, for gallant conduct at
the battle of the Chekahominy.
The following speaks for itself
Offers and Soldiers Of The army Of Virginia
by special assignment Of the President, |
have assumed command OF the Army. |
have spent two weeks in learning YOUR
whereabouts, your condition and your wants,
IN preparing you for active operations, and
IN placing you IN position from which you
can act promptly and to the purpose. Those
labors are nearly completed, and am about
TO JOIN You IN the field. Let us understand
each other. | have come to YOU from the
West, where we have always seen the backs
Of our enemies from an army whose "bus-
ness has been to sick the adversary and beat
him when found - whose policy has been to
attack and not defend. la bat one instance
has the enemy been able to place our western
armies in defensive attitude. presume |
AIN called here to pursue the same system |
and lead you against the enemy. Ii is my |
purpose to do 50 and that speedily. am |
sure you long for an opportunity to win dis |
Junction. You are capable Of achieving, that /
| opportunity shall endeavor to give you. In |
the meantime | shall desire YOU to dismiss
certain phrases am sorry to ftd much IN
vogue amongst you, | hear constantly OF |
taking strong positions aud " holding
them Of " lines Of retreat and of "hlsos
| OF supplies. Let Us discard such ideas
The strongest position soldier should desire
to occupy Is one from which lac can most
easily advance against the enemy. Lotus
study the probable lines OF retreat Of our OPP
pOncnts, and leave ours 10 take care O!
themselves. Let US look before rs and not
behind. Success and glory are in the ad-
vance. Disaster and shame lurk in the rear.
LIT us act on tins understanding. aud 1t l.
safe 10 predict that your banners will Doe NJ
scrbed with many glorious dccI and that
your names Will be dear 10 our countrymen
forever.
(Signed) JOHN POPE.
Maj. Gen Commanding.
\ dispatch from Gen. Lee to JEFF Davis
announced \ signal victory June 2Sth, ami
.ricyes to state our (rebel) loss in officers
and men Is great. \ Richmond telegram Of
the 29th, expressed the opinion that McClcl-
Ian would capitulatc, as has army was
thoroughly disc1mhttcd. Gen. Eisay is
among the wounded, and 1t Is feared NOR
tally. Maj Wheat was killed.
Il Is not officially known at Washington
that Commodore FSoie will be plac d at the
head Of the new naval expedition.
The steamer Pot mac frcm Port Royal,
July 9th, has arrived The health of the
troops was lay lrable. The rebe. picksrs are
annoying at Wilmington Island. Two Of
our pockets were wounded on the fifth. All
was quiet at Beaufort.
rebel dispatch says thu British steamer
Modern Greece going mt Weldon. y. c..
the - th ult., was run aground near Fort
Fisher by the b.ockaiinE feet. She had
thousand tons OF powder abroad. The Fort
succeeded in striking sd "a, % wet the pow
der and prevent explosion by the federal
shells. II is believed that large portion of
the cargo can be saved. The passengers and
crew were saved.
In response 10 the resolution Of the Senate,
the Secretary OF War has replied by commu-
nicaung instructions 70 certain commanding
off GERS relative 10 the employment and dis
position OF negroes.
ten. Slxt1n Is authorized T. take p0s- IS
sion Of all deserted plantations IN his dsnyt-
ment, and u control or employ the people
thereon as circumstances may require.
In response TO zen. Butler request lur
Instructions relative 10 the Employment uf
c0utrabands. the Secretary s-ut ,he follow
ing:
- The President is OF opinion that under y
the law OF Congress, slaves cannot De sent
back 10 their masters, hut they must rot be B
rerlnutel TO sul,r lOr want Of food Those
capable of hborlns shyull De SET at work
aud paid reasonable wages. The President
indicates that this does Rot assume to settle
any general rule at present with regard - 0
the rebel States a
1t IL stated that Burnside has all bis cow !
mand on james river. The 18th, 2}d. 2lth.
18th and 27th Mass. were lett AZ Newbcru f
heavy firing was heard up the river all day I
Yesterday. No boats have been down. \ G
battle is supposed to be going ON \ force
had been up York River aud taken some rebel
prisoners
The Richmond Examiner Of the Il IA has a v
long article on affairs before Richmond. in .
which 1t owns that Gen. Mcclellan has very
much battered his position by the late
movement. 1t thus describes his rreseut p1-
sition We believe all that was known in
city outside Of the several circuits of burcaucr-
acy was that the enemy has taken strong
position. with one Of his tanks resting on the a
James River about Berkeley, completely IN
der cover of his cunboats. and his extreme f
right reaching to Herring Creek. where his r
position is defended by an almost imUass.hle
ravine. l. is supposed that the enemy
would have boen attacked Yesterday. but
there hal been no fighting up to the
last accounts We had from the lines.
1t IS not to be supposed that the enemy
had selected these plantations as the scene
Of his last stand without good reasons Z
The first and most apparent of these Is that
The Westover Landing is perhaps the very ;
best on James River, and the stream up and
1oEn is broad and deep and affords excellent 4,
sea room and anchorage for his gunboats and
transports but this by no means the only
advantage Of the position. On the west Of
Berkeley are deep ravines running from near J
the Charles City road on the north to james a
River, making successful attack from
that quarter next to impossible Within
quarter OF a mile from where these rAyines J
begin, Herring Creek crosses the Char.esCity
road, and running IN a south-oasterly direct
on, skirts Forth and east the plantations OF
Berkeley and Westover. and cmpties into the z
James River. At the extreme eastern bound
iry Of the latter the whole course Of the
,reek Is one impossible marsh, which also, on
the northern and eastern bank, extends to the
lnirhis II nlnvntinn a lnnrr rnnrn Of hills that :