Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-12-02

dgnaion, Davis is accused Of design to
make himself an unrestrained Dictator, and it
is prophesied that he will ere long reap the
whirlwind. A convention of editors is called
to protest against his attempts TO muzzle the
press, and condemnation OF the secret sessions
OF the rebel Congress is expressed in the strong
est terms.
Rcpuisc Of Hood mt Columbia.
The rebel army under Hood made an assault
Saturday on our works at Columbia, south of
Duck river, and was badlyrepused. A small
portion of rebel cavalry have succeeded in
crossing Duck river, and the impression gains
ground that Hood will move east, across the
Chattanooga, possibly, with the hope of accom-
plshing something by cooperating with Breck-
inridge. Hood has accomplished nothing thus
far but the conscription of few secesh. The
situation is considered satisfactory by our mill
tary authorities.
Rebel papers give accounts of two Yankee
attempts which they admit barely failed of sue
cess, to destroy Hoods pontoon bridges across
the Tennessee river, while his army remained
in the vicinity of Florence, Alabama.
Capture Of Roger A. Pryor.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. The rebel ex-Gen.
Roger A. Pryor, now private soldier in the
Confederate army, was captured on Friday last,
by the 9th corps pickets of the army of the POI
iomac, while attempting to exchange papers
with our pckets. This was done for retaliation
in the recent capture of Capt. Burbridge by the
rebels undes similar circumstances. Pryor says
that Gen. Lee has issued an order for the re-
turn of Capt. b., on Saturday, and he will prob
ably be returned as soon as Capt. Is. is sent
back. Since the capture OF Pryor, Capt. Bur
bridge has been dismissed the army for diso-
beying the order oil exchanging papers or hold
.,,a. A.
text whatever Pryor has been brought to
Washington and been committed to the Old
Capitol Prison.
UNION DEsERTERs. There are at this time.
according to reliable information in the possess
sion Of the authorities at Washington, some FIVE
! thousand deSerters from our army in Canada,
whittier they have fled to escape the vigilance
OF the local provost marshals, whose arrests of
them are daily increasing in number. Recently
there was large meeting of them near the Can
ada end of the suspension bridge, resulting in
the forwarding of petition asking that they be
received back into their respective regiments
without being subject to the military punish
ment usually accorded in cases like theirs.
Their condition is as pitable as deplorable.
| Half of them are barefooted and not half cloth
ed at this inclement season, and their only
means or prospect of Keeping body and soul to-
geher is in working upon the Grent Western
Railroad, and other Canadian public works, at
pay which scantily feeds them, without sutfi-
GENTLY clothing them. They are intensely I'M
popular with the people of Canada, who take
every means in their power to crowd them back
into the United States. On the whole, their
condition is tenfod worse than that of the free
negroes.
WATCH THE REBEL DEsERTERs.-One hun
dred and twenty one rebel deserters from Lees
army arrived in Washington on Thanksgiving
Day, and fifty more were sent to the city on
Friday. They were all dispatched North, and
by this time are scattered among our principal
cities The majority of them are unquestona.
bly, well meaning and honest in their intentions
but there are some who have taken that meth.
cd to gain an unsupported admission into oui
midst for purposes the most vile and treacher-
Gus there cannot be doubt We think, there
fore, it behooves the proper officers of the gov.
eminent to be on their guard and to closely
scrutnize these rebel deserters.
; WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s The Evening Stal
! says the mail steamer which arrived here to day
reports that Yesterday morning heavy canonad
ing was heard at City Point from the direction
of Petersburg, but this is of frequent occurrence
and was probably occasioned by an artillery
, duel.
! On Wednesday night last the rebels made {
sudden attack on our picket stationed neal
: Broadway Landing on the Apfomattox. The
} attack was speedily repulsed and the ground
lost by our men in the surprise, retaken. Dur
ing the rain and darkness of the night the reb
els were able to gobble up Calonel and forty
men.
! As the steamer Webster was coming dowr
= the James river yesterday, when near Hog Isl
and. she discovered that the steamer Grey hount
(Buter's dispatch boaD was making signals o
S distress. On nearing the Greyhound she wa
e found to be on fire.
:, Gems. Butler and Schenck and Admiral Por
ter were on board the Greyhound, but tn
i steamer Pioneer came up and took them off,
S They were afterwards transferred to Fortres
Monroe.
The Webster took off the officers and crew
The Gre, hound had been up to City Point, AM
. was on her return when the accident happened
y Gen. Butler was at dinner at the time. Sud
4 denly the furnace doors blew open and scatter
y ed Goals all over the floor, driving the freme
:, and engineers from the room. The Greyhoun
4 was almost Immediately enveioped in flames
N and notwithstanding every effort to save hel
/ she was burned to tn waters edge
a The horses belonging to Gen. Butler and hi
staff were burned to death. Shortly before ,h
= accident the Greyhound had received the arm
mail for Buffers department, which left Wash
|, ing,on yesterday morning, and it is supposed
:, be lost.
n The WAR IN THE SoUTH.-A corresponder
e of the Cincinnati Commercial writes. That It.
3 scene around the depot at Atlanta for days pre-
n vious to its final abandonment was heartrent
ing in the extreme. Old age and lettering it
1t fancy huddled together, awaiting their chant
y of escape. Men, who were almost millionaire
a short time since, were reduced to few do
lie lars, end eagerly sought to fly from the lend'
o mercies OF the Southern soldiers. 1t was sd
ene-home-ties, home-as ociations, were a
IS severed. Some, too old or sckly to traytl, ha
a to remain at home, and wrung their hands an
TT wept as they parted from their children. VT
preferred struggling for their subsistence
OF safety than await the unbrdled insolence
n rude euerrillas and rebel bands. The rush WI
IN so great that it took some days TO get them a
off, and some of the railroad employees, it
h said, made n rich harvest out of their SUITE
:" ings. The poor people were so scared vii
t. the thought Of being left behind that son
gave their last dollar as Il bride to get away.
in The following from letter to the Chicas
ID Tribune, shows that it is intended to make Il
is occupation of Chattanooga permanent:
to "Vast amounts of machinery and voluab
IS material have been received here from Atlant
d. The last train loads are just coming in. 1t W
h. be found very useful in repairing our steam
ia boats as well as sawmills and other manuiact
o. res, and in constructing the water-works no
in in progress on Cameron Hill, by means
..,l 40 fhn NIT "a