The Placer herald., 1864-04-16
EASTERN NEWS.


The telegraph has given numerous items
from the East this week, but among the
mass there has been little of striking inter-
est. The war campaign for the summer has
not yet been inaugurated, unless minor events
be taken as the prelude of the coming storm
The army of the Potomac is represented as
mud bound from the effects of storms Of un-
usual severity. Bridges have been swept
away, and roads rendered nearly impossible
to troops and wagons To those who know
something Of the qualities of the clay mud
roads Of the East, this does not sound i'm.
probable. OF course Lees army is similarly
embarrassed, and the rival commanders must
possess their souls in patience, until the ee-
ments permit, the commencement, Of what
is considered the grand campaign of The wa r.
Some cavalry skirmishng has taken place
at Winchester, in the valley of Virginia,
which indicates the approach of Confederate
forces in that direction, but the fighting so
far has been unmportant.
From Chattanooga there is nothing that
gives an insight to military affairs. Gener-
ais Sherman and Johnson seem TO be keep
ing watch and ward over their respective
positions--but neither moves to the attack.
Longstreet is represented to have left East
tennessee, and gone to reinforce Lee That
portion of the field has always been fruitful
in rumors, and it is difficult to learn what
transpires there
There are stirring times, however, in
West Kentucky and Tennessee The rebel
Gen. Forrest, with force represented from
1000 to 5000 strong, seems 10 be rang
ing with impunity, from the Ohio river south
as far as Memphis. He has captured Fort
Pillow, within three miles of Memphis,
slaughtered some six hundred negro soldiers,
and dismantled the works--and portions of
his command are threatening Columbus. on
the Mississippi and Paducah, on the Ohio,
both fortified places. Forrest is said to have
obtained immense quantities of supples.--
Small bands OF Confederates are operating
in Central Kentucky, and Buckner is an
nounced as making his appearance at the
mountain gaps in the eastern portion of the
State. These demonstrations look as if at
tempts were being made to harrass the rear
of Sherman's army, and compel the evacua,
ton of Tennessee.
Gen. Banks, for the third time, has occu-
p. ed Alexandria, Louisiana, and delegates
were Immediately elected to State Conven-
ton to abolish slavery. Military movements
in that department are always so much mix
ed, that it is difficult to form an intelligent
opinion respecting them.
Banks has withdrawn his troops from the
Rio Graude. and other places in southern
Texas Under Grants new policy of con
centration, the white troops, it is said, will
be principally massed in Tennessee and Vir
ginia, while Banks will be mainly strength,
ened by negro soldiers.
As little or nothing is said of the sieres
of Charleston and Mobile, it is presumable
that their reduction is not being accomplished
very fast. Indeed, eastern papers say. the
siege of Charleston is virtually relinqnished,
and Gen. Gilmore has so far lost popularity,
that his confirmation as Major General is
doubtful
The Committee on the Conduct of the
War; find nobody to blame for the Florida
expedition, in which the Federal army was
cut to pieces, as the President ordered the
movement.
The lower House Of Congress has passed
resolutions reprmanding Harris, of Mary
land, and Long, of Ohio, for expressing
opinions that they would prefer recognizing
the independence of the South to making
the war one Of conquest an subjugation.
The Abotionsts could not obtain the re-
quisite number of votes to expel these gen.
temen.
A bill has been introduced in Congress to
tax the issue of State Banks, that they may
be forced to operate under the new National
Bank (yreenback) law.