Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-06-05
WHOLE NO. 1855.
IRON Gen. RosEoRANZs COMMAND.

"Hatrees5oro', May 2b.--Col. Wilder, with
his mounted infantry, returned this afternoon
from trip in the direction Of McMiunvile,
whether he had gone in search of the rebel
avalry under Col. Breckenri ge. The enc
mys pickets were encountered a short dis
iance from Woodbury.. The firing attracted
the rebels in the vicinity, who collected a con-
siderable force to annoy and impede our ad-
vance and skrmishing was kept up for sew
eral miles Twelve miles this eide Of Nc
Minnvile our forces came on the camp Of
Breckintidge's forces, who hastily decamped I;
pressing them closely, however, Wilder sue
eeeded IN capturing nine prisoners, twenty
five servccable horses and thirty head beef
cattle. Having secured the prisoners, and
burned the huts and baggage left by the reb-
ell cavalry, our forces pushed rapidly forward
sklrmishing with and driving the enemy until
within seven miles Of McMnnyille, when the
pursuit was abandoned, and our forces return
ed 70 Murireesboro, scouting the country on
both Hanks, and capturing number Of sol
diers who we're at home on furloughs.
Among the papers captured general
order issued by Bragg on the l7sh inst, di-
rectlng that sick and disabled soldiers and
wagons and baggage calculated to retard the
march be removed to the rear.
Prisoners also say that all the cavalry un-
der Wheeler and Morgan are ordered to re-
port at Columbia within 6ve days that the
forces at Liberty under Harrison, comprising
h'e regiments, were preparing to move and
tnat Morgan is falling back to Sparta to join
Gen. Wharton's forces, which are also pre-
pairing to move
lhe opinion is that Bragg will evacuate
The railroad between Tulahoma and Me-
Minyllle is repaired with the exception Of the
hrtd md h.
road.
Murireesboro adyices of the 26th state
that the movement commenced by a portion
OF Braggs army under Breckenridge has be-
come general and Hope and Hardee have
Withdrawn their forces in the direction of
Ncksbuig
Ihc fact that Gen. Rosecrans began to move
a week ago tenus to confirm the report that
Bragg Is falling back from his front.
FRON lrASHINGTON AND VlOINlTK
Washington dispatch says From the
most trustworthy sources we are informed
that the whole rebel force in Virginia does
not reach $4,000 men. and this statement al
lows them 10000 reiniorcements received
since the battle OF Chanoellorsyile
A Washington dispatch to the Post says
military men here do not credit the report
that the rebel leaders are concentrating an un-
usual large force in Virginia, but believe
rather that every soldier who can be spared
from Virginia, North and South Carolina.
have been sent to Mississippi to relieve
Johnston and Pemberton, or il too late To
save Vlcksburg to seize some other point on
the Mississippi river, or strengthen Port
Hudson as to make ito capture matter of
great difficulty
Z (3ovprrnr (urttn k,yavar = 81 ItN.ront
opinion, and is conlerring with Gen. Schenck
for the deieuse Of the Pennsylvania border.
The Times dispatch says the Secretary Of
War complains of the recent panic-stricken
stories about heavy rebel invasion column
moving on Pennsy ylyania, and says there has
been no time since the beginning of the war
when the rebellion was really so weak.
Ii private adyices be relied upon We
shall have startling news from Rosecreans' ar
my within ten days. 1t is net improbable
that bis columns az already in motion.
Washington dispatch to the Evening
Post says the city is still greatly excited over
the news from Nicls sburgh. There seems to
be not particle Of doubt in any quarter that
Gen. Grant will succeed in capturing Vicks-
burg and the most of the rebel army there.
There seems to be a growing impression
here that Gen. Lee is meditating an attack
upon Gen. Hooker or an advance in the di-
roction Of Washington.
The Hetald's special Washington dispatch
says The following is understood here to
be- the verdict Of the Court Of Inquiry in the
Corooran- Kimball affair: That Lieut. Col.
Kimball died on the morning Of the 18th Of
April, 1868, from the effects Of wound in
the neck produced by pistol ball, said pistol
having been fired by Brig. Gen. Michael Cor
10 fub I
Col kimbal halted Brig. Gen. Coreoran and
demanded the counlersign refusing to allow
him to pass until be should give it, that
Brig. Gen. Corcoran refused to give the
cjunlcrsign as ordered that an alteration
ensued. resulting IN the death of Lieut.. Col.
h. A. Kimball The Court further find that
Lieut. Col Kimbal was, at the time of halt
ing Gen. Corcoran, intoxicated, and that he
was not authorized in so halting him"
The probilties now are that the Govern
ment will carry into effect the $500 clause in
the national enrolment law. 1t is under
stood that Solicitor Whiting has given writ
ten opinion in favor Of constituting the clause
to be binding upon the Executive. 1t is now
doubtful whether the first draft for troops
will be, as was originally intended, confined
to those States which have failed to furnish
their quota under the previous calls. The
deficit is so small in all the States where any
exists, with perhaps, the exception Of Penn
sylyania, as to render so restricted a draft
practically unayaiing.
From the statement OF gentlemen who have
Just arrived from the Rappahannock, it seems
probable that the rebels have greatly reduced
their strength and are maintaing mere she'll
in front of our lines. II this were positively
known to the military authorities, it is not
probable that our forces would much longer
remain inactive.
II further represented that in consequence
Of certain information having been received
by the citizens of Falmouth in relation to af-
fairs in The enemy's lines and as it is believed
such information had been communicated by
rebel soldiers who have been engaged in haul
ing seine, in the Rappahannock, note was
addressed to Gen. Lee, requesting dsoon-
tinuance of the practice The result is the
fishing has been discontinued and the pickets
Withdrawal to considerable distance from
either shore of the river This also breaks
up the friendly visits VI the pickets and the