Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-29

accept it, Lee and JEFF. Davis are on bad
terms, and the latter would have TO retire.
Davis is very unpopular, in consequence OF
| keeping bragg 80 long in command. He has
even thought, since Btagg's dismissal, Of Civ
ing htm Bragg the command of the Army
of Virginia, and sending Lee to Dalton, but
had to abandon his plan on account of the
great influence brought against it.
Johnston. who took command Of Bragg's
! demoralized Army, thought of retreeting to
! Atlanta. but was kept at Dalton. by orders
| from Richmond, that he might take advantage
of the probable weakening Of the Northern
army by furlough and the expiration Of terms
I Of service.
/ JEFF. Davis plan is to keep the armies on
/ the offensive, though Gen. Lee geve his opin-
ion that with the miserable condition Of the
army in regard to clothing and provisions, it
was impossible to do so.
Gen. Early's expedition was miserable
failure, more than 1000 veterans returning
hors d. combat, having their hands and feet
( frozen.
/ The news from Charleston. the writer says,
is discouraging. Beauregard has expressed
the opinion that he could not hold Charleston
/ much longer, AZ General Gimore's guns were
/ in position 60 reduce il TO ashes in few
]
/ Carolina regiments doing duty there intend
! ed to desert but were prevented by one Of
the number giving information. Twenty Of
I the ringleadefs we're shot on the 4th Of Jan.
I and the rest divided among other regiments.
The 18th Virginia Regiment we're ordered
1 TO Alabama, but they refused TO go, and we're
/ disbanded and used in filling up other regi-
ments, which was the only plan to avert mu-
/ tiny.
/ Bread riots occur almost daily in the South.
! and the people are getting disgusted with the
John Morgan has been given the command
of Magruder's army.
The writer concludes by saying that the
days Of the confederacy are numbered and the
! back bone broken
A letter from rebel prisoner at Point
I Lookout says there are 5000 men there who
I would be glad to take the Presidents oath,
and more than half would gladly join the
( Union army.
( -Four women have been banished South
! from Vicksburg for suddenly leaving church
on Christmas day at that point in the services
I whore the officiating minister prays for the
: welfare of the President of the United States
and all others in authority This was con-
4 sidered by Gen. Mcpherson discreditable to
} the Government, and an insult to the congre-
I CATION in The Church.
I A Chattanooga letter states that the re bel
{ General Longstreet sent by flag Of truce a
: communication to General Foster, complain
ing of the insidous circulation among his
! men, by Union soldiers, Of President Lin
coins Proclamation of Amnesty, with Gen.
! Grants order concerning rebel deserters
: Against this the rebel general protested, and
said that f General Foster had any communi-
cation to make it should be made through
the ordinary channel. In answer to this Gen.
Foster dispatched to Bongstreet "a quantity Of
the documents referred to, with the request
that they might be read every morning to his
men, and otherwise circulated among them.
CINCINNArI, Jan. rs.
A dispatch from Louisville to the Gazette
says This city is filled with rumors Of an
intended rebel raid into East Kentucky. It
is said that the rebels will enter the State at
three different points.
New YORK, Jan. 26.
The Tribune's dispatch says Gen. Hal
leck expresses the belief that last desperate
effort will be made by the rebels to transfer
the real fighting to Northern soil IN the spring.
The Hersld's dispatch says that the gang
which captured the gunboats Satellite and
vicinity of the Rappahannock, and are prepar-
ing for another raid, Several new boats have
been built and new recruits added to their
number.
The Herald's Army of the Potomac dis
patch says that our plckc;s near Racoon ford
were driven in few days since by about six
ty rebel cavalr,, who crossed the river, and
had quite skirmsh but were re?ulsed aad
compelled To retreat IN confusion. A cousid-
cradle force of cavalry and infantry were also
visible the other side OF the kapidan.
Deserters say Lees army is widely scat
tered, but do not believe that any portion Of
il has been sent off. They represent that for
age is difficult 20 obtain, also, that the horses
are reduced in numbers, and that no supplies
are received by Lees army in advance Off
actual necessities.
The roads are very bad. and the mud deep.
I The Vribune's Washington dispatch says
I Gen. Longstreet is to be recalled from East
Tennessee and placed at the head of new
army, with base at Suffolk, and to operate on
the south side of James river.
Vice President stephens has not attended
Congress this session, ard has not visited
JEFF Davis for over year. Report say he
had gone to Europe.
The utmost distress prevails in Richmond
for food. Fresh beef is 81 per pound
The lower two-thirds of Charleston Is un-
inhabitable and in ruins.
rhe report that Lee, at the time Of Gen.
Z Meade's late advance made every preparation
to fall back to Richmond, with his 10000
: troops, is also confirmed
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 20.
A note from the Army Of the Potomac re-
presents all quiet, with no indications of ac-
tive operations.
The following has been received at the War
Department
FoRrREss MONROE, Jan. 25
TO Hon. u. NJ Stanton, Secretary of War
] Brig. Gen. Graham, by my direction. went
with three armed transports, and a competent
/ force to the Peninsula, made a landing on
the James river, seven miles below Fort Pow
haitian, known as tho Brandon Farms, and
captured % OF the enemy, seven OF the sig
nal corps, and brought away 70 negroes.
! They also destroyed "a 900 pounds of pork
and large quantities of oats and corn, and
captured a sloop aud schooner and $40 boxes
tobacco and Jews preparing to run the
/ blockade, and returned without the loss of a
man. h. +. BUTLER.
Major General Commanding,