The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-03-16
News from Washington.
From the New York World.
WASHINGTON, March

DEPARTURE OF GENERAL GRANT-RUMoRED
CRITICAL MILITARY SITUATION IN THE
WEST. GFE
Lieutenant General Grant left for Nash
vile on the evening train, accompanied by
Colonies Rawlings and Comstock. He did
not intend to leave here until Sunday next,
but matters were sooner settled than he
anticipated.
His sudden departure has given rise to
rumor that military affairs In this immediate
department are somewhat critical. 1t will
DO remembered that one of the Southern
journals uttered prediction, few days
ago, that the rebels would give battle in
East Tennessee, within two weeks, and that
they were prepared to achieve victory
1t is considered not unlikely that General
Grants departure has been accelerated by
this cause, together with the urgent need
of thoroughly recognizing this depart
meut for the grand and systematized move.
ments which are expected to be made in
April.
THE SPRING CAMPAIGN.
1t is stated upon good authority that the
spring campaign will be opened as early as
the 1st of April, and that it will be stimuli
taneous along all points Of the line. The
veterans are now hurryiDg to the front from
their furloughs, and many of the recent re-
cruits have acqui, ed steadiness enough to
be trusted upon the battle field. If posi-
BILE, some decisive military results will be
achieved before the meeting of the June
Baltimore Convention.
ANOTHER MAJOR GENERAL AND POSSIBLE
:. COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE
POTOMAC.
1t is reported tonight on good suthori
ty that Gen. Grant requested that Gen. B..
Smith should be appointed to the Major
Generalship made vacant by his (Grant's)
prom otion, and that the President has &C.
cordingly sent his name to the Senate. 1t
is also stated on high military authority
that Gen. Smith is to be the new com
mander of the Army of the Potomac at the
particular request of Gen. Grant.
GENERAL HALLEcK's POSITION.
Gen. Halleck's status is no longer mat
ter of doubt; he reported yesterday to Gen.
Grant for orders, and was assigned to, speci-
al duty here Generals Meade and Ingalls,
came here with Gen. Grant from the Army
of the Potomac. The former had not yet
returned.
FREMONT MASS MEETINGS.
A great Fremont meeting was held to-
night in St. Louis, Missouri, and another is
shortly to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, and
early in the coming month great Fremont
meeting is to be held in New York city
The Germans are very largely interested in
this movement.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
A GOOD MOVE.
The Senate has confirmed Mr.. Linculn's
appointment of Mrs. Smith, widow of Lieut..
Col. Smith, of the 45th Illinois, who was
killed last summer, in one of the assaults
upon Vicksburg, as Postmaster-or Post
mistress, rather-of Rockford, Illinois,
The country will indorse this appointment,
and the people will unite in saying there
ought to be more of the same kind. There
are thousands of such positions that could
and ought to be filled by the widows Of our
fallen braves not of officers alone, but of
private soldiers who, in sacrificing their
lives for the cause of the nation, have left
destitute families behind them.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The efforts now being made by officers of
the army in this department to destroy the
confidence of the public in the hero of Get.
tysburg are key to the comparative such
cess of the Army of the Potomac ever since
its organization, and should be frowned
down as prejudicial to the best interests of
the country. Too many instances Of this
effect are already on record. One secret of
Gen. Grants success in the Southwest is
the unvarying good feeling that has always
existed between him and his subordinates.
If any one Of his corps commanders have
had their faith in his ability shaken at any
time they have at least bad the patriotism
and good sense not to impair his usefulness
by appearing before smelling committee
and ventilating themselves on the subject.
Ii it had been otherwise. We would have
had no Donelson, no Shiloh, no Vicksburg,
and no victory above the clouds
"DoRGs."
Mr.. Sherman presenteda petition, in the
Senate, yesterday, from the wool growers
of Ohio. praying the extermnation of the
canine population of the Buckeye State.
said to number 100000, and to have pen.
chant for mutton quite prejudicial to the in
terests of the petitioners. The question ia.
whether Congress has right to ruin the
prospects of the mince-pie manufacturers to
satisfy the whims Of farmers? The matter
is second in importance only to that about
which the Senate has been cudgeling its
brains for the last three months, to.wit
If white man and a negro take passage on
q street railroad car, at the same time, and
there is but one vacant seat, which Of the
two is entitled TO that seats The radicals
say the negro BY all means: the Democrats
propose to kick the colored Individual out
and tho conservatives have it
that the white man ought to have the seat,
but he must compromise by taking the dar
key on his knee ~
CRIME IN WASHINGTON.
Every body knows that the moral atmos-