The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-04-29
WAR NEWS.

INV lOkhf AllI -Vs- Nv 4 ''tNN
Washington dispatch says:-Rumors
are ahoat that tue whole of Long
streets army is marching down the |
valley toward the Maryland line.
The U'crld's dispatch says. Gen. |
Grant has taken measures to add num- /
bers enough to the regular armies III
the field to make them irresistible
The main armies, when the shock OF
battle comes will be found in stronger
force than ever before.
The Heraids letter from Williams
burgh, Va, 23d, says Contrabands are
again coming into our lines The reb-
els are strengthening themselves at
various points on the Peninsula, to
provide against an attack in that quar-
ter. Cen Fitz Hugh Lee is in the
neighboshood of Charles City Court
House with a cavalry force, variously
estimated at from 1900 to G000. That
place is garrisoned by Pickets old in
fantry regimentsu under Gen. Elsay, and
q regiment of heavy artillery Is at
Brimley $, York river. and is throwing
up earthworks. Troops are concen-
trating ON all the intermediate points
between the York and james rivers.
COntrabands state that great excite
ment prevails among the scattered IN
habitants, a Yankee advance being
momentarily expected.
Commodore VIM ID. Porter has re-
turned from an expedition up the Rap
pahannock, having destroyed over
thirty boats and brought away twenty
two boats with forty-fye contrabands
and large quantity Of provisions.
Maor-General Frank p Blair Jr,
has been ordered by the President to
take command Of the 17th Army Corps,
and left Washington ON Sunday for the
field
Gen, Lees Movements and Forces.
WAsmNGroS, April % The star Of
this afternoon says -
Information from the rebel lines as
late as Friday morning last, is to the
effect that Lee was not as has been re-
ported, moving toward the Shenandoah
Valley but was at ihat time in his old
position on the Rapidan. Such move
ments Of his cavalry as were going on
seemed TO be in the nature of a recon
noissauce to ascertain Gen Grant's
purposes, and the fact of Gen. Grant
having sent ont unusually large picket
forces seems to have mystitiod the enc
my ON various occasions Lees army
was preparing for a sudden move, but
was seemingly disposed to wait for
Gen. Grant to open and deyelopc his
game. The presence Of our gunbOats
up the Rappahannock had raised an
alarm in Richmond that Gen. Burnside
was effecting a landing there, and Q
new alarm had been raised among the
rebels Of a movement by the Federals
up the south side Of James river The
rebels are divided between the fear that
Lee may be invested in Richmond
should he fall back there, and the fear
that he may be outhanked by Grant
should he remain in his present posi-
> ton. Two weeks ago Lees forces
amounted to 10000 men, and it is be-
heyed now that with the reinforce
ments he has been able to bring up
they do not amount to over $1,000.
From North Carolina.
FoRTHss MONROE, April 24-The
following has been received here:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF /
North Carolina, April 2. I
General orders No. GO.
With feelings Of the deepest sorrow
the Commanding General announces
the fall Of Plymouth, n. c., and the
capture of its gallant commander, Brig.
Gen H. w. Vessels, and his command.
This result, however, they did not OBJ
tain until the most gallant and deter
mined resistance had been made. Five
times the enemy stolmed the lines OF
the General, and as many times were
they handsomely repulsed with great
slaughter. But for the powerful re-
sistanee of the rebel iron clad ram and
the floating sharp shooter battery, the
Cotton Plant, Plymouth would still
have been in our hands For their
noble defence the gallant Gen Vessels
and his brave band have deserved the
warmest thanks of the whole country
while all will sympathise with them IN
then misfortune. To the officers and
men of the navy the Commanding Gen
eral tenders his thanks for their heart,
cooperation with the army and for the
bravery and determination which
marked their part Of the unequal con,
test, With sorrow he records the
death of the gallant patriot, Lieuten-
ant Commanding G. w Frusse, who
t III the heat of the battle, fell dead Oh
+ the deck of the ship, with the lanyard
Of the gun in his hands. The Com.
manding General believes that these
misfortunes will tend not to discourage
but nerve the army of North Caroline
to equal deeds of bravery and gallantr,
hereafter, until further orders.
BY order of MAI. GEN, PECK.
= NEwBERN, N. c., April 22.-Gen
p Vessels, who gained such distinction
3 III the seven days fight before Rich
. mond has made in this seige mos
e heroic resistance with his little bane
Z of veterans. Several weeks since h,
I called for 5000 men, stating in tn,
] most solemn manner that it would b,