Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-14
THE SITUATION.

ton the aid Of his military abilities in devils
ing the plans of the campaign, and having
seen them so far matured as to render his alb
sence from the more active duties Of the field
no longer necessary has assumed the direct
command Of the army Of the Potomac, leaving
the rc.ident and the Secretary Of War to
conduct the general movements Of the cam
paign. On this point We submit the follow
ing from the Washington correspondence Of
the New York Evcning Post;
NR LtNclLv PROMISES Active orEuArfovs.
The President stated yesterday to several " his
friends that ihc recent victory over the rebels al, Fort
Henry vas pf che utmost Importance and 10 was intend
ed 20 follow 10 up Immediately with blow upon the rail-
way connection hfeeu miles from the captured fort lie
further stated that hot work Is expected 10 that region
ourc The question was distinctly asked Of Mr. lincoln
30 the government were Boz possession of any adyccs
from England or France which threatened Interference
WIN me existing war He replied that the go'ctnmcut
had nothing which not in the foreign ournas-that
there uo special danger " interference At the present
time, Though n evident that the interference party
England and France bat that the victories which the
government expects 10 win over the rebels n the next
two or three months would put 10 flight al thoughts N
meddng iu uur affairs. The fact ds'ictly Announce
cd ihat thr government fully determined 90 press
onward 40 once upon the enemy, and thus answer the
JUST expectations OF the people
HsrAKEs The ABANDONMENT or THE wARfNro HIS OWN
HANDS.
This conversation has the more importance from the
wcllknoTu iact that Mr. Lincoln has lately taken the
management " the into hs own hands This Is the
true explanation u the statements 10 the nevspers that
General Mcclellan was relieved Of bis general command
/ N The Z. $. armies. and Mr. Stanton really 10
charge Of the general management There has been
una change. bat tho Ptcsdant has quietly as.tntl his
constitutional power as Commandfr-in'cbiet OF the arm
cs OF the United States OF course in doing this be
commits The mere active duties OF that office to his Sec
rotary OF War one OF Mt STATIONS recent orders was
iasucd "by nrdT OF Abraham Lincoln Commander i'm
Chief" etc etc Heretofore similar orders have been is
sued "ly order Of General Mcclellan" The change At
I NUT 4
bis purpose push the % speedy conclusion,
aud admits that the people right in demanding that
when they uxCd rpuniy 1t is proposed 60 tax
them, something shall be done toward exiting ushiag the
rebellion. western governor was recently with The
Wcst su-t1u tie government through the oncrous
alien which must be Imposed upon themf The reply
was emphatic 'IhJ will endure ayhmg, II they are
convinced Nat Mey hGrcgot % government
GEN. MCCLELLAN PREPARING TO MOVE.
1 The correspondent Of the New York Com
mercial writes from Washington:
Gen McClelans head quarters will soon beremoved
'cross hc Potomac, every hing has for some weeks
evident that DE will bcor rather that he expects 10 be-
ar away fnm the shops Of the metropolis. The station
cry alone put up by Philip solomon. who supply all the
urccs nils four large cases Convenences fIf cooking
baking sc have been provided with butcher and
baker in addition to the cooks and servants necessary for
che large party az headquarters, whore provision has also
60 De- made iOf the large number Of officers who To
report"
Gen. Halleck is pushing his forces forward
in Missouri for the purpose of routing the
rebel General Price from Springfield, where
Price must either give battle or beat hasiy
retreat into Arkansas. His retreat, however,
is quite likely to be cut off by the flank move
ments that have been made, and the alterna-
tive may be to fight or surrender, Should
he venture on a battle, we have no doubt Of
his being forced to speedy surrender
Should this be accomplished, the rebellion is
broken up in Missouri.
The capture Of Fort Henry in Tennessee
and the clearing out of the rebel gunboats in
the Tennessee river, opening up communica-
ton for the federal forces from Cairo into
northern Alabama where there is known to
exist a strong Union feeling and stronger
hatred of the rebel despotism, is another glo-
rious work for the week. Communication
between the TWO strong holds Of the rebellion
in tucky-Columbus and Bowling Green
lis thus cut off, and the rebel armies at these
two points are isolated from each other. Ac-
tive operations are also being made against
Fort Donelson, aud although the attack has
been delayed for the purpose OF receiving re-
Inducements, we have assurances by our tel
cgraphic ,lespgtches that e was soon to be
made, and before this meets the eve of the
reader we hope for the still further cheering
news that the Fort has fallen into our hands
This done, and direct communication is open
cd up from. Cairo to Nashville, Tenn.
Cen Thomas is pushing forward his forces
through eastern Kentucky into Tennessee for
the purpose Of gaining possession of the rail-
road communication from Nashville, Tenn. to
Richmond. Va, which will break the rebel
u H,, y,.d
on both sides with Gen. Buell. to make the
attack on the north The perilous situation
in which Bowling Green is thus placed must
be manifest to the rebels, and even now we
have rumors that it is being evacuated Be
this true or not Gen. Buell. is prepared for an
immediate advance on the place, and unless
it is given up without struggle, we antci-
pate warm work and we hope glorious news
from there.
OF the Mississippi expedition we hear but
little said but judging from the secrecy in
which Gen Halleck has made his preparations
for an attack on Fort Henry, we may be
walked up some quiet morning with the an
nouncement of its commencement of active
movements
From the Upper Potomac we have the news
" NnN Nf uAAatAoh VI MUMMY " VIC ANptlH
and its occupancy by our forces under Gen.
Lander This opens the Ohio and Baltimore
railroad, which it is said can be repaired in
a few days. for communication between Wash
ington and the West and prepares the way
for offensive movements against the rebels at
Winchester which it is said Gen. Lander is
preparing to make. Large reiniorcements
are being sent to him.
On the Potomac, "all is quiet" Not ex-
acty so either, for it would seem from the
tenor of eur dispatches that forward move
ment is in preparation, and the winter
quarters there are to be broken up
Whether the advance is to be made directly
on Centerville and Manassas, or by the way
of the-Aaaiomac, cleaning out the rebel bat
teries on the Virginia side Of the river, and
thence iank the rebels by an attack in the
rear, is not known. We have no doubt,
however, that the army on the Potomac ia
about to commence the performance Of its
part in the general programme.
From Gen. Burnside's expedition we have
the most cheering news. After encounting
reverses OF the most severe kind, he has at
last commeneed his attack on the North Car
olina shore, by the capture of Roanoke Island