Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
REVIEW OF THE WEEK

on the IOtOmaC, ana success mas IN every case
crowned our arms. Victory after victory is
being rolled up for the Constitution and the
Union. The stars and stripes are in the as
cendant, aud the rebellion quails before the
onward march Of men determined to conquer
or to die.
Missouri is virtually cleared Of the rebel
army, in the routing and dispensing of Gen.
Prices forces at Springfield, which was done
by Gen. Curtis forces on Thursday On
Wednesday the attack was made by General
Curtis advance guard on Prices pickets about
six miles from Springfield, in which some 80
or 40 rebels were killed. Thursday morning
Gen. Curtis prepared to attack Prices army.
but upon entering Springfield he found that
Price and his whole army, save about 600
sick whom he left behind, had taken leg
bal" leaving Cen Curtis TO take peaceful
possession of the town. which he did, and
Immediately started in pursuit Of the rebels,
attacking their rear guard and fastening their
flight, leaving the road strewn with baggage
and wagons, which he secured, taking " more
prisoners than he knew what TO do with. -
Price is evidently more successful with his
legs than his arms. and this last specimen of
his ability to use them has found him leaving
the State Of Missouri in the peaceful posses
sion Of the Union forces.
The capture Of Fort Henry,-now named
" Fort Fooie, in honor Of the gallant Com
modore Foote by whose brayery it was cap
tured,- on the Tennessee rives, has been fol-
lowed by another and more signal victory in
the capture Of Fort Donelson on the Cumber-
land, twelve miles from Fort Henry. The
details of this battle have no, yet reached us,
but it was unquesiinnaby the hardest fought
and most closely contested batlle thc pres
ent war, if not the fercest this country ever
witnessed. so 900 federal troops surrounded
and teseged 80 600 rebels strongly entreneh-
Ell and well provided for a long and vigorous
resistance, under four Of their best Generals.
For four days the battle ragged aud victory
hung in doubtful scale, but at last the rebels
yielded and the Cumberland river is opened
zap to navigation by the federal guuboats as
far as GAINESVILLE, where the Memphis and
Louisville railroad crosses the Cumberland
river, about forty miles from Nashville
Nothing daunted by the fearful experience at
DOnelson, Commodore Foote Immediately
pushes on his gunboats towards Clarksville,
where we anticipate still further and peril rs
hotter work Here he will no doubt meet
those 5000 rebels who escaped with Floyd,
together with perhaps the larger part of the
rebel army which recently evacuated Bowling
Green. But with the heavy iand forces Of
Gems. Grant and McCiernand tho place must
finally fall before their irresistible march.
Bowling Green, the rebel stronghold in
Central Kentucky, has been evacuated, and
the rebel army, said to have been impregnably
at that place, have retreated to the
South. This move is said to be a military
necessity" on their part, nasuiuch as Gems.
Thomas and Crittenden were gaining their
right flank, and Commodore Foote and Gen
Grant we're coming fcarfully near their rear,
while Gen. Buelfs forces under Gen. Mitchell
we're moving on them in front. The place
ihus beseged was Of no possible strategetic
Importance to them, and if held longer it must
be at the risk OF sure capture. Under these
the place has been evacuated,
and the army moved back into Tennessee.
either to Carksville or Nashville. General
Mitchell in the mean time has crossed Green
river and taken possession of Bowling Green,
and is pushing on towards the retreating reb-
Il army. Should the rebels have gone to
1larksville they will probably soon find VAIN
work with Com Foote and Gen. Grant on the
d hand, hard pressed on their flank and rear
1y Gen. Mitchell. Should they have gone to
Nashville. as it is more than probable they
nave, Clarksyile must soon be in our posses
sion, and the free navigation Of the Cumber-
and river opened up to Nashville. where Gen.
Beauregard is said t. be working out his
,lans for the defense of the city, and where
he next battle in this department is quite
likely to take place
In all Kentucky, and we may say in all the .
the rebels pow hold but one po-
ition Of importance, Columbus and that is
solated and untenable The rebels will soon
y from there, as they have fed from Bow
ing Green, if our Generals will only permit
hem to do so.
On the Upper Potomac, Gen. Lander has
gain routed the rebels and forced them back
o Winchester, capturing la.ge quantities Of
torres camp equipage, &c, completely clearing
is department and opening the Baltimore and
)hio railroad.
The army on the Potomac opposite Wash
ngton is IN aat quo, firmly held by the ir-
esistabe mud. Two or three important
econnoisauces comprise their weeks work.
Iessels continue to run the rebel batteries
n the lower Potomac, with few if any casual
les. They may well be thankful for the I'M
onquerable mud that allows them to contn-
e this harmless. but to them rather expen-
i've and unsuccessful, practice.
Gen. Burnside rests not a minute from his
ecent victory at Roanoke Island, but is occu-
wing all the important points in North Caro-
ina on the Albemarle Sound, and pushing
is way on to Weldon, the junction of the
ailroads from Richmond and Norfolk to the
outhern seaboard states. This place secured,
nd the rear of Norfolk is at the mercy Of
zen. Burnside whenever fleet shall be ready
Or an attack by water from Fortress Monroe,
nd but one outlet by railroad is left for Rich
lond, that being into East Tennessee, where
zen. Thomas will soon. if rs has not already.
ave possession OF the road. Burnside is do
ny a glorious work for the Union, and none
re more conscious Of the fact than the rebels
themselves. 1t is reported that there was no
lea at Richmond that any attack on Roanoke
sland would be successful. The strength Of
be Notifications and the spirit Of the troops
y whom they they were defended, seemed to
reclude the idea that the former could be re-
d. ~