Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-17
BY TELEGRAPH
TO n FREEMAN.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TIE PotoNAC,
February Is, {

AbAHlAt " NV nOAlNg vi NAD NAIll q Nv
ing, a now course has been adopted by the Poo
yost Marshal General to detect and punish all
who are engaged in Illicit trade within the
lines OF TINS army.
The traffic in contraband articles Is not CON
hued to regularly appointed suffers, only a por-
ton Of whom are believed to have been guilty
Of these violations, but by many Others not
having permits to trade in the lines OF the Army
L!rgU seizures Of contrabahd goods have been
made aud distributed for hospital uses. TIE
offenders Will hereafter be summarily punished
Another rain set in this afternoon and still
continues to fall.
The Phillips House was destroyed by ire yes
lerday, H. was the finest dwelling in this sec.
ton Of the State. The fire was Of accidental
origin. The mansion was located on a beauti-
lul location overlooking Fredericksburg and the
surrounding country, and had been occupied
by several Generals ~ their headquarters, includ-
ing Gen. Sumner.
NEW YORK, Feb. II. The steamer Empire
City, Capt. Baxter, with intel igence from New
Orleans, to the 4th inst, arrived here at 10
O'Clock this evening.
The forces of Mai,.Gen. Banks, after a
months drilling, were in a condition to take
the field, and it was thought that a forward
movement would be made at once to clear out
The whole Of Lalourche county.
The weather is very cold in New Orleans and
the thick coats were numerous; this, too, not
withstanding the prevalence Of Strawberries.
IL was generally believed in New Orleans that
Ben Butler would return ID that city, il not
made Secretary OF War.
The Jews in New Orleans, and indeed in all
the South, run tie blockade, and are always
found to be al the bottom Of every new yillainy
Reys. Drs, Lec0ck, Fulton, and Goodrich ,
the JEFF Davis praying parsons, had reached
New Orleans On the 3d, but refusing to take
the oath Of allegiancJ Gen. Banks would not
allow them to land.
The water flows through the Williams cut IN
front Of Vlcksbufg, and Il small steamer tad
PASSED through the canal. If it deepens and
wideus, our fleet can pass down, leaving Vlcks-
burg four miles distant. This intelligence
seems B. brighten the rebels.
There is nothing new from Texas.
New YoRK, Feb. lG. Kingston, Jamaica, pa
pers per steamer ralismau announce the arrival
Of the Alabama on the Goth ult,, with the OIL
GERS and crew, l60 in al, Of tho l~Iatteras. The
Alabama was severely riddled in the encounter
Two federal men-ot- war were reported Of ia
maica.
Capt. Semmes bad a reception at the Com
mercisl Exchange Of Kingston, from the NEE
'hants Of the city, and was Justify cheered.
The American Consul had chartered the ship
B)rodino to bring the crew OF the l~latteras to
the United States.
A portion of the crew Of tie Alabama were
before the Kingston Magistrates, for a row 10 a
dining saloon.
Adyices from Europe, state that lleenan has
been matched for a prize fight, with an IN
known man for tlO,0OO.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. Is. The brig Trenton,
when coming out of st. Johns, y. p, wa-
hailed by the captain Of a Hamburg barque,
who reported that he spoke the Alabama, the
same day, 2Sth ult, 80 miles North East oil ST
Johns.
Toe San Jacinto was at Porto Rico on the
20,h.
new York, Feb IS A despatch from Stat
ford Court House. dated yesterday, says Gen.
Hooker visited Gen. Sigel 10 day, and was &C.
conpanied on his return by Gems. Slgei and
Stahl.
The new iron-clad gunboat Barrataria has
received orders ior immediate sery o..
WASHINGTON, Feb Is. From information re
ceiyed from the Army of the Potomac, 1t AZ
pears that the rebels are t rowing up breast
works and rifle pits north OF Frederleksbureh.
1t must not be inferred by the absence OF in
terestng news from the Rappahannock, that the
army is in a condition OF idleuess.
The abolition OF the Grand Divisions, has
thrown many welghty matters upon the Com
handing General and his Stail, and the various
departments are seduluusly engaged, without
regard to hours, in matters pertaining to the
discipline az consolidation OF the army.
4 WASHINGTON, Feb. ii. 1t. Fitch's official
report dated Feb. 4th about the attack on Fort
DOnelson says 1t is reported the attacking forces
numbered some 1900, with < pieces OF artillery y,
under command OF Moi. Gen. heller aud
Brig Gems. Forrest anu Wharton, 1t is GER
tainly gratifying for us to know that this entire
force was cut up, routed, and d~espoiled OF il.
prey by the timely arrival Of the g%unboats aud
that Col. Harding and his gallant little band
were HNdItu ~ wear Nut Hnilblo NiiNN ldu ~ ldlE
ly won. At first | regretted that | was no
here sooner with the eunbOats, but upon relec-
ton, | do not think | could better have arranged
the line, had it been in my powerr Had w
been here belore Gen. Wheeler, he would moi
have made the attack, but most probably would
have marched 90 Fort Henry.
Had we arrived during the day he would have
seen our strength and would have retreated
bu, with httle loss. Arriving as we did, altel
dark, and when he least expected US. aud wa,
50 sanguine Of success, we caught his forces ar
ranged in the most favorable position to recelv,
a raking fire from our guns.
Nsw YORK, Feb. Is. Gen. Wool, was no
tilted Yesterday by the War Department, tba
the order for recruiting volunteers in the regu
lar service has been rescinded. The new orde
takes effect Immediately.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquire
who came up to Washington yesterday, lrou
the army, reports that deserters give lniorma
ton of large bodies OF rebel troops moving NJ
/, towards the Orange and Alexandria railroad.
Nav York, Feb. l6. The 7ribuae's Wash
ingtun despatch says an important but Yagu
rumor comes through rebel channels that Gen
Banks has fought u %tattle, seven miles below
Port Hudson, tho result OF which was that tn
rebels fell back to Port Hudson, while Gen
Banks returned to his camp.
Tue Tine, Washington despatch says Ii, Col
!, Dnrr, of Gen. Fosters staff, has arrived fron
Port Royal, with dispatches Tor the Govern
meut. lie utterly denies the report vi II qua,
rel between Gems. Foster aud Hunter, The sam
denial is made by the President.
Gen. Shields has been ordered to the Depart
mont If tho Pacific