Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-15


SToNEsiN's RAID.-A correspondent Of the
Boston Journal writing from Fredericksburg
on Sunday last, gives us the information that
Richmond papers Of that morning were cir
culating in Fredericksburg. and infeIs that
the line Of communication had not been cut
up 10 that date. Our news Of this morning
VIA Fortress Monroe, SAYS that ''the city Of
Richmond battalion went on sunday TO see
what the matter was, as the oommur ication
wac cut off with Fredericksburg by railroad
and telegraph" This lead- 70 the conclusion
that at some hour on Sunday Gen. Stoncman
reached and interrupted the line Of commu-
nicntion between Richmond and Fredericks-
burg We have vet to learn whether he was
in season To prevent tho passage Of reinforce
ments, bat a. rcinforccments came from
Lynchburg by way Of Gordonsville, it is not
improbable that the route from Richmond
would have been made available had there
been NJ interruption. These seems to b. no
room To doubt that Stoneman has been emi-
nently succes,ful in accomplishing the object
he had in view, and if he succeeds in e1tri-
eating himself from his position in the rear
Of Lees army. or still better in infictins fur
tier damage upon the enemy and establishing
communication with our forces at Yorktown,
he will make complete egccess, Of that
which thus Ear appears to have lcen the
mo.t daring cavalry raid Of TIE war.
1t will be remembered that Stoneman
crossed the RaPFabannock on Tuesday, and
his delay in reaching and intcrruptinG the
line Of communication between Lees army
Is yet to he accounted for. II will be gratify-
ing should we learn that no advantage accrued
20 Lees army in consequence, or that posi-
bly, information thus far received is errone-
Gus as {, Gates.
Success Is NE SOUTHWEST, ,-TAkNG OF
GH,>D Gtu.-On bend Of the Mississippi,
about o5 miles below Yicksburg, is situated
Grand Gulf. which our news last week
informed u-.has been captured by our forces.
together with 500 prisoners, guns, ammuni-
tion and stores. On Wednesday the tele-
graph informed u that the attack bad been
made, which it now appears was suec,rsful.
A letter in the y. Y. inns, dated Millikcn'a
Bend, Apr -, givee the following informa-
ton in regard to the general movement in the
rear Of Vickshurg, showing the relation and
importance Of the position now taken to tie
entire enterprise
All interest in this and other points above
Vickshurg is being rapidly transferred to Grand
Gulf, New Carthage. and cur forces below
Nearly everybody and everything have gone
Southwark. Some have proceeded down by the
way Of the river. and run the gauntlet Of bat
teres, as in the case Of the guuhoats; others,
like Adjt. Gen. Thomas, have gone in skifs
along = tOrtuous inland route, which IS free from
danger; but the majority Of the multitude have
taken the overland road, and reached Carthage
by the way Of Richmond. La. BY this it will
be seen that there is, at least, one Richmond
that We can tske-a Richmond that has been
as many would like to see it, iniquitous name
sake-purged by FIRE.
Nearly everybody who can shoulder a musket
or handle a swori has leh here, with the excep-
ton Of Gen. Steele. He returned here last night
with his division from Greenville, with orders to
Join Gen. Grant at Carthage; but to-day he was
commanded 10 remain here with his forces, and
at once defend and command the position
cannot resist entertaining some forebo1ings
relative to this new movement The line along
which we receive our supplies from Memphis is
a long one, aud is liable to frequent anloyances
if not positive interruption From this point
begins new line of communication which Is a
thousand times more iudefensbe and liable to
interruption than the other single roa1
thirty miles in length, narrow, il-conditioned
and tortuous, leads 10 within three miles Of Car
th1-e. Along this road the supplies for an i'm
mense army must he conveyed, which, as every
body knows. will prove an imposSbihty In a
short time j; viii become so badly damaged that
the moving Of trcoDs or heavily laden supply
trains viii become nearly impracticable, and
then there will remain to Us only the precariou.
channel c0mmandei by the Nicksburg batteries
in other words. when this road fails, las it
econ will,) all our supplies will have to be sent
directly down the river under the very uuIzles
Of the rebel cannon. At the end Of the road Is
a bayou. along which the supplies and troops
are taken 10 steamers.
Then come forty or fifty miles Of river trans
portaton, and Grand Gulf is reached. Up to
this point the line OF supplies is variable and
uncertain as well can be imagined and vet il is
far better than that which viii be created in
case our forces push eastward from Grand Gulf,
with view Of getting into the rear Of Vicks-
burg Along this route We are in an eneny's
country separated from a formidable line Of for
tihcations onlyby narrow river, Big Black )and
will be exposed at every step to raids that will
destroy supply trains. and more or less perma-
nently interrupt our rear communication.
Could ue take Port Hudson, many Of these
difficulties couii rdnish. for then our supplies
could reach u by way of New Orleans. Now
we are liable at any moment to be placed in the
position of Pope when he found the enemy IN
force between him and Washington, cutting him
off from his base of supplies
None of these difficulties may occur the
rebel. may conclude to let our supplies alone;
our Generals may determine not to advance in
the direction [ have indicatei--in short, 'he
h st. as in any other affair in lfe may b hoT--i
for
Ever since our troops ccnmsncei coucentrst-
ing at New Carthage and Grand Gulf, ths rebels
have been moving forces down from Vicksburg.
The only ridges along which we can proceed run
east Of Grand Gulf for some hfteou miles, and
then, turning north, rua near 20 and parallel
with Big River.
Tar F.,T-p,r PKocLAxATIoy IN NV Or
LEANs.-There was good deal of excitement
in some Of the New Orleans churches on the
Sabbath preceding Fast Day, relative to the
reading of the President proclamation. The
Era says:
In a number of churches in which the procla-
nation was read, there were disgrsceful mani
I festation of displeasure. The women generally
3 led of, and were followed by the men. They isft
the building in the most oFenSire manner, shuf-
fling their fect and making as much noise as
possible in their retreat In many instances,