Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-01
The Position.


Tie Union armies are stlll making progress.
In the Department Of the Mississippi, the attack
upon Island No. 10 has lost much Of the intense
interest which it commanded week since
There has been but little apparent progress made
in the reduction of the rebel deienscs Mt that
point In fact, it seems probable that the rebel
position is stronger than when the first shot was
fired, as they have erected new batteries and
strengthened their old ones, in the work upon
which they have had no scruples ab.ut employ
ing negroes. The mortar boats are not doing
SO much execution as was hoped, chiefly because
they are obliged to fire at long range, and can
not attain the accuracy that IS required in shell
ing isolated batteries or scattered Notifications.
The rebels have very heavy guns in position,
which keep our gunboats at very respectable
distance up the stream These gunboats are
IRON cased only in front, and the rapdlty Of the
current of the Mississippi together with the
position of the rebel batteries, makes it too dam
gerously hazardous for Com. F0ote to think Of
moving down into the close range which told SO
decidedly at Fort Henry, as boat once disabled
would Immediately BE- at the mercy Of the re els.
The rebels have communication constantly from
below BY the way of Merrlwoather landing. just
across the neck Of the " Ox-bow, but Gen. Pope
has batteries planted FOR fifteen miles along The
shore, below the Island, preventing any trans
ports going up the river to the assistance Of the
enemy The reduction Ct the place will not
take place neutrality-suspicious. moro than
another week will be consumed in the work
Land forces and land batteries will doubtless
soon Jin the expedition, as it is now generally
conceded that they will he necessary to II sue
cessful attack In Arkansas the rebels have
retreated to the western line Of the State, and
our troops under Gen. Curtis had fallen back
toward the Missouri line, on account of the
scarcity Of forage. That country hardly seem,
worth fght ting for.-ln Tennessee u battle i.
imminent, if one has not already been fought
Gen. BealregarI is at Corinth, in the Northern
part OF the State OF Mississippi with large
army and Gen. Buell. has justassumed the com
mand Of the Union forces from 60 900 to IS,
600 strong, which are within fifteen miles Oh
the rebel General. We may expect to hear o
Il great battle there at any moment. The res
Of the Western Department. the exeep
ton Of such marauding as that Of Morgan OF
the Louisville and Nashville railroad, and Guam
trel, at Sedalia,-s tolerably quiet and sub
mlsslve under the Union flag
The Department OF the Potomac is unques
tsonably upon the eve of great events. Although
there is no certain news there is every reason
to believe that II movement, supported by i'm
mensc strength, is being made upon Richmond
from The direction of Fortress Monroe, and "
suppose Mcclellan must be in the immediat
command, US he would not be likely to entrus
SO important an advance to any subordinate Of
6cer. The Vermont brigade will doubtless pa
tcIpate in this attack. We have the more rea
sou to suppose that it has been linal y conclude
to thps attack the rebel Capital inasmuch 4
We do not hear OF any very large force moyin
forward from Manassas or that vicinity Gel
Mcclellan has promised to bring his army fac
to face with the enemy, and from the gener'
disposition Of the rebels to run away, he Wi
be obliged to get in their rear Gas an Irisl
man would say,) to do this, and is probsbl
doing so. The announcement of the arrival
several paymaster'a at Fortress Monroe, strengt
ems the suspicion that there are more troo
than usual there to be paid off, And we advi
our readers to keep sharp lookout for new
from that direction. The attack may first
made upon Norfolk, and very likely will be, b
ultimately, and thu. soon, the rebel Capital "
be menaced.
From Burnside's Expedition we learn Of pr
gres'. He has quietly occupied Beaufort Al
cat of the supplies Of Fort Macon, which W
soon be compelled to Surrender
There is but little news from Port Royal U
iouists are reported to be frequent in Florid
"uete'o' uou S"ci"a" scApeultion mas iahu'
That State has been abandoned by the rebe
and although it is not very valuable acqui
ton, it may be said, since the evacuation
Pensacola by the rebels, to be entirely recover
and repossessed. The coas, and forts occupi
by our troops are important, and they have be
restored to the control of the government at We
little sacrifice OF lie, and with scarcely al
fighting. Bragg, after spending year waite