The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-25
Position and Movement of Our Armies.

During the past week but few changes have
taken place in the position of our armies
The announcement of the arrival of Gen
Banks expedition at Brownsville, Texas, was
received by those, especially, who understood
the Importance Of the position with the highest
degree of pleasure. The Maine 18th and 18th
Regiments are with this expedition, the former
of which was the first to land Gen. Banks is
charged with an important mission which
could not have been entrusted to better man.
The land force of the Army of the Gulf is at
Vermillionville, having had several attacks
bat have been able to maintain their position.
Much that has been reported of their disasters
proves to be unfounded.
Gen. Burnside is still in command at East
Tennessee, and has had some hard fighting
during the past week. Fears were entertained
at one time for the safety of his army there as
they were attacked by Longstreet with an
overpowering force and were obliged to fall
back to Knoxville. Gen. Burnside has quite
large force OF his own, and since his occupa-
ton of East Tennessee has recruited between
five and six thousand men, white and black.
He can be easily reinforced from Lexington,
Kentucky, and his line Of retreat is open,
clear and wide. No one wishes to see
him retreat, however, or believes he will,
as that would leave East Tennessee in
the hands of the enemy. The rebels at
lacking Gen. Burnside are thought to con-
sist of two columns,--one from Lees army
10000 strong, under Gen. Bradley T. johnson,
and Longstreet's force, estimated at $4,000.
Longstreet will not attempt to wholly invest
Burnsides position, as such move would fear
fully ieopardise his own army. The two par
ties respectively under Longstreet and john
son may attempt to carry his works and crush
him within his lines. But they have not a
sufficient number Of troops to successfully
carry out any hazardous undertaking. What
ever Longstreet does must be speedily accom-
plisheds as undoubtedly Gen. Grant is closely
watching his operations.
There is every indication of forward
movement on the part of Gen. Mead's army
but the statements are too contradictory to
be relied upon. 1t is said Lees army will
number $4,000 troops and occupies a favora-
BILE position. We would not awaken the hope
that the Army of the Potomac will be in Rich
mond until after Christmas, however much we
might desire it and however heartily we might
rejoice over it, Whatever movement the reb-
els may make in other directions an eye will
be kept constantly upon this, to them, impor-
tant porsition. If the n. Y. Herald's 100000
more could be raised, as easy as the parapragh
recommending it could be written in the edi-
tors sanctum, we have no doubt Richmond
could be taken and the prisoners released in .
very few days. But it is found TO be no small
undertaking to raise 100000 men with all the
inducements that have been or can be offered.
Progress is being made at Charleston. II
"a continual dropping will wear away a
stone,' continual pounding will demolish
Fort Sumter and open the door to that hot
bed of treason which we trust at no distant
day will meet the fate of the Temple at Jeru-
salem. From last accounts we learn that 10
shells were thrown into Charleston on the 18th
with what result is not stated.