Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-22

The Committee on reconstruction Of the
rebellous States will soon report bill.
In regard to the resumption Of active work
by the Army Of the Potomac, respecting
which sundry hints have been casting about
recently, Gen. Meade, in his speech at Phila-
delphia last Tuesday, said 1--WE are making
every effort to improve the present, and, as
soon as ue wedther m0derates and the season
ioH allotO, atcive operations will be commence
ed anew aud in earnest"
The Memphis correspondent Of the st.Louis
Republican writes as follows al am credi-
bly, informed that the rebels west Of the Miss
issippi-all Of them, leaders aud led, military
men and civilians ,-consider the secession
game 'playel out that Arkansas, Louisiana
and pexas must inevitably pass out Of their
control, and that all struggle to hold those
States is vain. They perceive two things -
|. That the Federal power is fully adequate
to dispossess thcm-that they cannot main
tain an army in those States for the very CO.
gent reason that their soldiers are tired and
hopeless, and that every new conseript runs
away the first opportunity. ., That the peo-
pie Of those States, the masses, are deter
mined to get back into the Union, and that
the war shall end Rebel officers and rebel
convictions on the subject, and the whole
country may be certain Of speedy and COM
plete re-possession Of the entire trans -Missis-
sippi region by the Federal power. No one
could be here a week, and meet, as have
done, citizens of Arkansas, Louisiana and Tex
as, who, for two years and more, have lived
within the rebel lines, in constant intercourse
with rebel generals, subordinate officers and
- Al. ak.l II -, .f
those States, and hear their statements about
the prevailing hopes and fears of the people
among whom they have lived, and for one
moment doubt that the rebellion is practical
ly dead in that region, and any vigorous or
protracted fighting on the part of the rebels
impossible"
A letter from Chattanooga dated on the
I'd instant, states that, through the concen-
tration Of the rebel army at and in the neigh
'borhood of Dalton, in order TO cover Atlanta,
Ga, our cavalry have opportunity Of doing
good service in cutting off rebel railroad com
munication with north and central Alabama
and with Mississippi Circumstances, it is
said, invite cavalry raid which will isolate
Mobile and probably Montgomery; for while
! Forests rebel cavalry in East Tennessee and
North Mississippi amount to comparatively a
handful we have large force of effectively
trained and magnifcently equipped mounted
troops. The confederate attention is SO es-
sentialy directed to the preservation OF At
lanta, and the Importance Of retaining that
place so great, that few troops can be spared,
only for guerrilla warfare, and that only in
the vicinity Of Dalton and Cleveland. The
secessionists on the front at these places band
themselves together and make attacks on our
weakest picket stations. the particulars re-
garding which they well know, and thereafter
return to their farms and their professed 10y
atty, to re-appear as robbers again when op-
portuniiy offers. Such has beeh the trouble
from this source Of late, and such the diff
Guilty OF correcting it, that Gen. Thomas will
probably order the removal of every person
within our lines-loyal and disloyal--genu-
inc and pretended Union men. The weather
is very cold, but the health of our troops good.
A letter from Knoxville, Tenn, says that
Gen. Sturgis is very active with his cavalry
force, and our advance guard is again in pos
session of Bean Station, from which it was
recently driven by Longstreet. The cavalry
on the south side of the Holster have driven
the rebels beyond Talbot Station. General
Fosters wound, received in Mexico, be-
comes daily more painful, owing the severity
of the climate. The Genera! was lately
thrown from his horse, which aggravated the
wound, and it is doubtful if he can remain in
command. The troops are re-enlsting in
great numbers. Ihree-fourths of the old
9th corps have re-enlisted for three years.
On his late raid in Western Virginia, Gen
, Averin found the country people in complete
Z ignorance as to the status of the rebellion.
They had not heard OF the opening of the
Mississippi, or OF the success Of Gen. Banks
|, in Texas. The population generally were
suffering, and non producers were in cvndi
ton bordering ON starvation.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Ameri
can thus describes the recent attack of th,
! guerrilla Mosby upon Federal cam p in Lou
J don county, Va, in which he was signally re-
pulsed:
"Loudon County, "a, Jan 10. 1s64.-Oui
new camp on Loudon flights was, Just be-
fore the early dawn this morning, baptized in
t blood. Precisely at half-past four O'Clock
Mosbys rebel battalion, himself in person at
, their head, avoiding our p ekets on the roads
crossed the fields and dashed into our CAM
t with fend-like yell. They poured a volley
: of bullets into the tents where our officer
and men lay sleeping, wounding many at th'
. uTbL uIt. nlhuJ Vi bub ttutb Vi OIlCtIo hut
: men we're soon surrounded by mounted ant
dismounted cavalry, and demand for instan
8 and unconditional surrender made. The de
Q mand was answered by shout Of defiance
. from our boys, as they rushed from thei
tents, half-naked, in the midst Of their assail
ants, aud with their trusty carbines anC
n revolyers drove back the astonished reb
T els. who had promised themselves sucl
an easy victory over the sleeping Yankees,
: The rebels rallied. and SO did our men a
: they could, and rough aud tumble fight o
: fifteen minutes ensued. when Mosby sun
out, Retreat, boys they are too many 70
n us And the discomfted Major and hi
: midnight assasins made precipts,e fight i
e the direction Of Hillsborough. The rebel
i fought with the most desperate vindiclive
y ness, which was only equaled by the coolnes
i and Undated valor of our gallant boys, VIII
e fought, will venture to say, as scarcely eve
s men fought before, partially surprised, as in
: deed they were.
i Al the first assault OF the rebels. Capt. W
X. Smith called out to bis men give tn
70 damned Yankees no quarter, but secure tn
) arms and horses. Horses, was the las
y word he ever uttered, for at that instant
l. Yankee bullet went whzzing through hi
Is heart. and he fell lifeless from the saddle.