The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-22
WEEKLY SUMMARY.


That war is soon to be waged in Virginia
on gigantic scale, is now sufficiently evil
dent. The constant stream of men, NUM-
nitions, and resources pouring from all parts
of the North towards common union in
that famous battle-ground, indicates that the
government is determined there shall be no
lack of men and metal to make the coming
battles successes. The organization of the
army is still going on. Extra baggage is 60
ing to the rear, and suffers are shutting up
their booths. Detailed men are returning,
and but very few furoughs are granted. All
citizens were to leave the army by Saturday
of last week. All these details show that
the time is at hand when the army {" will re-
sumo active operations" No less strenuously
are the rebels making preparations for the
coming campaign. Conscripton is silently
but steadily filling their decimated ranks,
and Lees force, on the first of May cannot
be far short of one hundred thousand men.
We thus see two great armies pitted against
each other both commanded by eminent and
successful generals. 1t may safely be pre-
dicted that the bloodiest battles of the war
will be fought during the next three months.
Unexpected news of disaster comes from
the Red River expedition. Up to the 9th
our forces had marched forward with little
opposition, and the expectation was that the
enemy would fall back to Shreveport and
make stand there. But on the 10th the
advance Of cavalry and infantry under Gen.
Sherman encountered the enemy in superior
numbers at Pleasant Hill, and after severe
fight our troops were driven back with loss
OF 1000 men. The timely arrival of the 10Th
corps prevented utter disaster. The details
are not received. If the repulse was as Sc
rious as is represented it may put an end to
the expedition and SO delay the expected con-
summation Of the trans Mississippi campaign.
The New Orleans Era says the report that
Dick Taylor had got in the rear of our army
and attacked Alexandria has not the slight
est foundation in truth. There has been no
fight at Alexandria, and no enemy in that
vicinity since its occupation by our forces.
The army is moving on in good health and
spirits. Hundreds of citizens are focking
into Alexandria and eagerly taking the cath.
Great numbers of men who have been con-
cealed IN swamps to escape CONSUMPTION are
also coming in and enlisting in the service
of the United States. The number of those
wto have so enlisted already amounts to
hundreds.
From Florida we learn that the rebels sue
ceeded, on the morning of April lst in blow
ing up, by torpedo, the steam-wheel trans
port Maple Leaf, while running down from
Pllatka to jacksonville. The steamer, cargo
and four of her crew were lost. Gen. J. p.
Hatch has been temporarily appointed to the
chief command in Florida, in place of Gen.
Seymour. The confederate army now in
Florida is estimated at from $4,000 to 90 900
men.
The Port Royal New South learns from
Jacksonville that dead negro was discover
ed in the St. Johns On. Wednesday, some
SIX miles above Jacksonville, anchored to a
torpedo. No attempt had been made to re-
move the bo1y or the torpedo. 1t is some
what singular that the ebels should bait their
Internal machines with contrabands, but such
seems to be the fact
Gen. Banks command at last accounts,
was above Natchitoches and there had been
no battle with the rebels. Considerable
skrmlshing had taken place with Dick Tay-
iors rear and things promised collision.
A dispatch from Louisville states that on
Thursday, Col. Gallup, while falling back to
get an advantageous position, attacked 1000
Rebels. killing and wounding %, including
Reoei colonel, and capturing 30 rebels, 100
horses and POO saddles.
Gen. Halleck has placed his resignation in
the hands of the President, and will insist on
It's acceptance. He will afterwards visit
his relations in Oneida county, N. Y, and
then return to CALIFORNIA, where he has large
interests in city property, lands and mines.
Garibald has arrived in England, and met
with a most enthusiastic reception. AT
Southampton, he was the guest of the Mayor
and at London will be the guest of the Duke
OF Sutherland.
Letters from the blockading hotilla off Mo-
bile, March IS, report the formidable rebel
ram tennessee getting ready to pay the fleet
q visit. SO she was not sunk. On, the Sc
liars
u The Boston Post ha, the folloviro
semi-apology for the horrid barbaritv com.
mitted upOn our soldiers nv tha rohols L