Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-18

company OF guerrillas
The following special dispatch Of March | /
to the Boston Daily Advertiser shows thut
Gen. VIM. f. Smith is to he placed in com
maud Of the Army of the Potomac. We
have expected it. Gen. Smith is highly es
teemed by Lieut.. Gen. Grant, who has tried
him we'll.
BY order Of the President the following
military arrangements have been made
Lieutenant General Grant has been assign
ed TO the command Of all the armies OF the
United States.
Maior-General Halleck is relieved from duty
ss General-in- Chief, and assigned to special
duty at Washington as chief-of-staf of the
army.
Ma jor- General Sherman IL assigned to the
command of the division Of the Mississippi,
lately commanded by General Grant, and COM
prising the Departments of the Ohio, the Cum
berland, the Tennessee and Arkansas.
Major-General Mcpherson is assigned to
the command Of the Department of the Ten
| nessee. recently commanded by General Sher-
man.
Lieutenant General Grant will establish
his headquarters in the field, with the respec-
tive armies operating under his personal su-
J pervision.
! General Grant returned from the army of
the Potomac this morning, spent to-day in
b conference with the President, and LETT here
! for the West on the afternoon train.
Gen. W. F. Smith was today nominated
for Major-Ge Of Volunteers, as q neces-
sary preliminary to his assignment to the
command of the Army Of the Potomac
WAsHiNoroN. March 8.
Tho sudden return Of Lieut.. Gen. Grant TO
tho West prevented him from participating in
the military dinner at the Executive masion
last night.
It ia said in military quarters that Gen.
Grant will return to Washington in the course
Of the next two weeks
BALTIMORE, March 49,
Gen. Fitzpatrick arrived here this morning
from Fortress Monroe and proceeded to Wash
ington.
New York, March Ia
Gen. Grant returns here in eight or ten
days. He will organize the Army of the Po'
tomac and head the first movements in the
spring campaign. Gen. Smith may receive
its command.
Gen. Haeck has been offered the command
of my part Of any department he wants.
1t. Col. Sanderson is under arrest on The
charge preferred by Col. Streight, OF dsclos
| ing 10 the TeOtl hutnOfllltb tue plob VI Wv
Union prisoners 70 escape from Libby prison
None Of his friends have any doubt of his in
| nOcense,
Gen. Lew Wallace has been ASST med q
the command of the middle department.
Gen wadsworth has gone to Fortress Mon
roe with orders to suspend further exchange
on Gen. Buffers plan. Under that arrange
ment, we are getting only seyenty-ive of GU
! nrisoners for one hundred rebels.
II The Tribune's dispatch says Admiral Dahl
gren ia on his way here without having oh
tanned the body OF his son.
Adyices from Jacksonville, Fla, the III
inst, are unimportsnt. Our troops are sub
iect to occasional annoyances from rebel cav
airy, who are making strenuous efforts to de
plete Florida of cattle, Occasional skirmish
es occurred. but nothing serious.
> Gen. Seymour is still in command. Gu
loss at Ousiee reaches 1900, Of whom two
thirds were slightly wounded
Hilton Head letters report that firing Of
Sumter and Charleston ceased last Tuesday.
A jacksonville, Fla, letter states that Col
Henry's forces, had routed body OF cavalr
at Three Miles River. The rebel force no'
consists Of seventeen regiments Of infantr
: and two Of cavalry besides artillery.
The Herrld' Western Virginia dispatc
reports Sigels arrival at Cumberland Frda
night.
WASHINGTON, March IA.
The Intelligencer Of this morning says
The rumors to the effect that Gen. Meade
Z health is so much impaired az to induce hi
resignation. and appointing his successor, ar
unfounded We are happy to state that Ger
Meade has entirely recovered from his lat
= indisposition, and that he has never entertain
. IL IL If raradtnu frof
his position.
The Worlds New Orleans letter think
: there is reason to expect success from the Re
River Expedition. The cavalry force hu
been sent to the front. The 18th and l9t
cor9s, under Gems. McClernand and franklin
with cooperating force from Vicksburt
\ form part of the expedition.
1t was asserted in debate on Tuesday, 5tf
that neither the President nor the Secretar
: Of the Treasury has recommended that uthoi
ity be given to sell the surplus gold This
n mistake. 1t is known that Secretary Chas
has not only asked for it in a letter to the Fl
nance Committee. but has urged the passag
! Of bill for that purpose upon individus
members of Congress.
Thaddeus Morris, well and favorably know
TO the members of the House of Represents
tives for the last eighteen years, died lo-da
of pneumonia.
CAIRO, H., March ID.
The following are some of the particular
of the expedition up the Ouchta river:
Trinity was found strongly fortified. III
IRON clad Usage was allowed to pass withot
molestation. The flagship Human follow
ed, when heavy fire opened on her, whic
after a time obliged her to retire in a damat
ed condition with the loss OF two killed an
eight wounded. The flag was then transfe
ed to the Ouchita, whose powerful guns soc
silenced the rebel battery, which consistt
of three S2-pounders. But little difficult
was experienced in driving the rebels fro
their position at Harrisburg. Our fore
burned tae-town. The gunboat ouchita r
ceived but slight injury during the engag
meut. The Human will require considerab
repairs.
The gunboat Conestoga ool,ided with Il
Gen. Price, on the Mississippi, on the 10
p, inst a short distance below Natchez. II
Conestoga with her cargo and ammunition WI
sunk. They are a total loss.
. Gen. Fitzpatrick, who has arrived in Wasl
a. ington, attributes the failure to capture Ricl
..kall, 10 tba ttaaeharv Of the neU