Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-29

immediately and send them to their commands
Every effort must be put forth to i'll up the
ranks, strengthen our armies and aid the patriotic
and gallant troops now shifting the reelng enemy
With victorious blows.
By order of the Secretary of Var.
(Signedl E. D. 70 " SEND, A. A. G.
FROM REBELDOlT
| NEw York, Dec. %.
In the rebel House of Representatives on
| Saturday last Mr.. Mcmillan, of Virginia, of
| fered a resolution in favor of sending within
| the Union lines Commissioners to treat with
| the representatives of the Government at
| Washington for restoration of peace. In
reply to question, Mr. Mem stated that
Bishop Lay, who recently arrived in Rich,
mond, had been assured by Gen. Grant that
any such Commissioners would be allowed to
pass through his lines
Senator Foote has retired to private life in
disgust. In the rebel Senate, while the cur
rency bill was up. he withdrew from that
body after making frank statement of the
situation of the rebellion. He said:
"SIR: I beseech honorable gentlemen, on
this last occasion perhaps that I shall have
the honor of addressing this House, to look
with me into the present condition of the
country before they resolve to withhold their
support from this measure
"What is our situation2 Let US look
danger in the face and provide for it. What
is it possible to do? Sir, we are upon the
verge of ruin. Congress is rapidly abandon
ing all its important powers and building I'D
an irresponsible military despotism, the like
of which has never been seen before upon
this earth.
"The policy of the present House seems to
be to crush out dissatisfaction by armed VIC.
Ience alone, in imitation of that thorough pol
icy introduced and enforced in England by
the celebrated Earl Of Stafford the enforce
ment of which speedily brought Charles the
lst to the block, but not before Stafford had
lost his own head. Ten days hence, freedom
of deliberation will have been etfectually ex-
tinguished in this body by means which l may
not specify.
&" The unjust, unwise and deeply criminal
displacement of the gallant and efficient
Johnston from the command of the Army of
Tennessee, and the transfer of that army to
the neighborhood of Nashville, have opened
all Southern Georgia, South Carolina and
Alabama to the army of Sherman. Fort
McAlhster has fallen; Savannah is about to
fall the fate of Charleston seeems only to be
deferred few days later; Hoods army has
already met with a great disaster at Frank
lin and my judgment is fatally compromised
if Presidential interference is not the cause
of these dire mischiefs, as it was of the result
OF the unfortunate battle of Murfreesboro and
the still more disastrous one at Missionary
Ridge. Should Hoods army be destroyed ,an
event which | fear is but too probable, and
Sherman could come round to this vicinity in
ships, which do not doubt he now intends,
what will be the fate of Richmond?"
The Hero7NS correspondent in front of
Richmond says it is reported that Lee was
wounded in front of Petersburglast Saturday,
and will be unable to report for duty for
some time, Deserters say assertions from
the rebel army will be very heavy IN future.
The Savannah Republican, of the 18th SAYS:
" Saturday and Sunday artillery firing was
kept up actively on both sides, with more or
less skirraishing There is no change in the
aspect of affairs. Everything goes on well,
and all are in the best of spirits"
The Charleston Murcuy of the 18th saws
Sherman appears to have abandoned a direct
attack on Savannah, and seems to be turning
his attention TO the reduction of the out
works, 1t regrets the fall of Fort McAlles-
ter, and says the enemy will next make a
desperate effort to take Genesis Point.
The Richmond Sentinel Of the 10Th SAYS
Burbridge is retreating from Southwestern
Virginia, and Vaughan is trying to get in his
rear Large quantities of stores and troops
are being sent to Knoxville from Chattanooga
The Richmond Wing of the 10th says jeff
Davis has suffered several days from. neural
ga. Absurd rumors had been afoat to affect
the gold market. The Wing also says that
Kirby Smith is defrauding the Government
out Of large numbers of fine beef cattle
which, by his orders, are run into Mexico
from TEXAS
The Iribune'S army correspondent, giving
extracts from recent rebel papers, says, the
rebel Senate, last Saturday, went into secret
session, and a stormy time was had. The
question of at once arming the negroes was
brought up, and is believed to have been
passed by almost an unanimous vote. For
several days past every able bodied negro
has been quietly seized and hurried off to
camps Of instruction. This may account for
theig ssampeding, noted in another para
graph,