Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-01
MIsoELLANEUUs DISPATCHES.

the Conduct Of the War unequiyocally clears
the President Of even the suspicion Of at
tempting to direct or control the actual mill
tary conduct Of operations in the Department
of the South aud it also fully justifes the
policy and practicabilitY Of the scheme to oo-
oupy Florida as proposed and ordered 20 be er-
ectded by Gen. Gilmore. The testimony, af-
ter tracing the course of the expedition TO
the South Fork Of the st. Mary's establish
es in substance the following facts
" Gen. Gilmore, having given orders for
the immediate construction Of defensive
works at the soath fork Of the ST. Mary's, at
Jacksonville, and at Baldwin, and having
clear understanding with Gen. Seymour that
no adDaace toas 10 be made WITHOUT further in
st,uctions. and not until those defensive wotks
we're constructed and having again satisfied
himself that the expedition thus far was en-
tirely successful, returned to headquarters at
Hilton Head, leaving Gen. Seymour in com
mand in Florida.
On the 7th, Gen. Seymour determined to
make an advance to point 100 miles from
Jacksonville, near the Suwanee, for the pur-
pose Of destroying the railroad there. He
had no instructions from Gen. G llmore, and
acted upon his own judgment. He advanced
without supplies for his army. Intelligence
Of his intended movement was received by
Gen. Gilmore on the 18th; and, surprised
at the want of foresight and the assumption
OF such authority on the part Of Gen. Sey-
mour in ordering aud hazsrdng such an ad-
vance, he instantly dispatch ed, in a special
transport, Gen ohm w. Turner, his chief Of
staff, with orders to stop peremptorily the
proposed advance. The weather grew stor-
my, protraciing the voyage Of the transport
TO an unusual length, and seeming to conspire
with the characterization of Gen Seymour in
frustrating the attempt Of Gen. Gilmore to
stay the advance of our forces, and TO save
them from the consequences Of this unauthor-
lied raid toward the Suwanee When. Gen.
Turner arrived at Jacksonville it was too late
TO effect the object Of his mission, because
Gen. Seymour was then actually engaged
with the enemy near Olustee, which is on the
railroad, and about As miles from Jackson
vile"
An extract from a rebel paper was forward
ed to Washington on Monday by On. Meade,
from the Army Of the Potomac, containing
full details Of the reorganization Of that ar
my in advance Of any received at headquar
tiers. The General is desrous Of knowing
how the leak can be stopped
Santa Fe papers report large public meet
ings in various parts OF New Mexico, vndi-
eating Gen. Carlton against calumnies in GER
tain New York papers.
Kit Carson was at Santa Fe in excellent
health. The campaign against the Navajo
Indians is ebded. Nearly 5000 Indians had
been captured, and submit TO being placed on
the reservation established by Gen. Carlton
The Santa Fe Gazette contains long edi
torial explaining the conflict between Gener-
al Carlton and Judge Knapp. soserious has
the matter become that the Supreme Court
is not held
The Posts Washington dispatch ssys Gen
Grant waited on the President this morning.
j is supposed he leaves for the front tonight.
II is probable Gen. Smith will be assigned
the general charge CT the armies in the West,
when Gen. Grant is absent.
1t is said he will be confirmed as a Major
General to-day.
The Commercials dispatch says Senator
McDougal endeavored yesterday to force
from the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, OF which he is member, some sort
OF q report either for or against the French
invasion Of Mexico. Failing in this he fell
back upon the resolutions, which he subse-
quently introduced into the Senate, and up
on which he will endeavor to speak in few
days, insisting that it is the duty Of the Gov
ernment to interpose in behalf Of Mexico,
even at the risk of a war.
a refugee from Richmond reports that the
deienses of that city are very extensive and
elaborate. They are in the form OF a semi
circle, the outer embankment being continu-
Gus, almost without break, around the city.
Inside of this another line Of intrenchments
extends around the city, with frequent breaks.
Between the two is fine military road, so
that it is easy to reinforce any part Of the de-
fenses at short notice. These Notifications
are heavily armed with the best of artillery.
What seems strange to us at this distance is
that csc extensive Notifications are not man
ned by any considerable force, but the citi-
zens are formed into companies, ready at the
tap Of the drum TO proceed to the ntrench-
ments to resist invasion A large picket force
is stationed outside the lines, and il is ex-
pected il any attacking forces approaches, that
the alarm can be given in season for every
man to be at his post There is no consider
able force of regular military in the capital,
but Gen. Pickett's division is within about
thirty miles, and can reinforce the home mill
tia at short notice.
Col. McCobb officially communicates the
part taken by his command in the late action
in Vadalia, Ga, which resulted in victory
to our troops. His force of three hundred
colored troops put to fight in great confusion
four OF five times their number of rebels with
loss of one killed and five wounded, some
mortally A number of prisoners were taken.
Not man on our side was hurt. Major G..
w. Smith. of the Reserve Battalion, says he,
with the line officers, we're obliged to place
themselves before their men with drawn
swords, to preven: them from rushing into
the fight.
The Enquirer's letter from New Orleans
says Gen. Banks took the field on the 9th
inst, The forces Is composed Of thirteen
thousand cavalry and twenty four light guns,
under Gen. Lee. They will sweep across the
country, and thence into Texas.
The World has a letter from Huntsville,
Ala, 18th, which states that General Smith
who commanded the recent cavalry raid
in Mississippi, says be has obtained positive
and reliable information that Vice Presi-
dent Stephens Of the rebel Confederacy
is hostile to the present policy of the rebels,
and has written to Richmond that he will not
r,sume the Presidency of the Senate until
the recently adopted oonscription law is re-
/ penled he regarding its massage violation