Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-05-06
IRON THE SOU1n.

blow tor the redemption OF his native STATE.
His command was composed Of North Caroli-
mans, and they have nobly and CALAMITY lib
Grated a most important part Of their state
from the invader. We shall have more and yet
greater news from this and cooperating eI-
petitions.
The cooperating naval expedition lie under
the command Of Commander X. f. Pinkney.
Commander J. w. Cook commands the iron
clad gunbost Albemafle, in Roanoke river
Lieut.. b. p. Loyal commands the iron-clad
gunboat Neuse in the Neuse river, and Lieut..
X. b. Minor commands fotllls Of cutters
in the Chowan river.
Plymouth is in Washington county, near
the mouth Of the Roanoke river, and the
country around is said to be very rich and full
Of supplies"
The Richmond Examiner is jubilant over
recent operations in the field, exclAiming
From the hesd-waters Of the Red river
to the coast Of North Carolina, the horizon
ia fairly radiant with Confederate victory
Forcing its way through the darkness Of
Yankee concealment, Banks defeat tells that
all is well in the Trans Mississippi Depart
ment. Forrest, at Fort Pillow, undoes in an
hour the years work Of Grant, and obstructs,
in very inconvenient manner, the free nav
igation Of the Mississippi Confederate horse
men career confidently in Western Kentucky,
and white flags are hanging out at Column
bus"
The Examiner dwells with much sstisfac
ton upon the rebel triumph at Plymouth, but
is evidently disappointed because the garrison
was not slaughtered, as at Fort Pillow, and
thus approves that horrible butchery
Gen. Hoke, judging from the large num-
- - L "A al urn
made such thorough work az that by which
Forrest has so shocked the tender souls and
frozen the warm blood Of the Yankees. The
resistance he encountered was, probably, not
so desperate, and the blood of the victors not
so heated though in a ratification carried
by storm the loss OF the garrison must inevi-
tally be large.
The strict laws of civilized warfare ac-
knowledge the power Of the victor to put all
to the sword in such cases. However severe
such an example might seem, 1t would strike
a salutary terror in the Yankees, which will
be useful to them IN the end, and their me-
lsncholy whine at meeting part Of the pun
ishment their bsrbarities merit is absurd
Gov. Vance Of North Carolina delivered a
speech at Fayetteville on the 22d inst, in
which he declared that he was for peace, and
that measures be taken to close the war by
negotiations in December last He also
wrote to Gov. Brown of Georgia on the same
subject but Brown thought separate State
action iniudcious. Governor Vance showed
that he had been in advance of Gov. Brown
and A. II. Stephens in opposition to the bill
to suspend habeGS corpus. He read letter
which he addressed to President Davis, pro-
4a.f;no .na;nat tho naaaana n tho hill He
sent letters also to the Senators and Repre-
entatives in Congress. Gov. Vance's audi
ence was very large one, and is reported to
have received his remarks with great applause.
A dispatch from Dalton, Georgia, 10Th,
says there wat review Of the whole rebel
army on that day. The Federals were &C.
tive in front, and stirring times were looked
for.
A refugee, recently from Mobile, repre-
SCENTS that place az almost impregnably forth
fed. The bay is defended by two rams, four
IRON clAds and two floating batteries.
The correspondent of tho St. Louis Demo-
crat at Vicksburg, Esd inst, says the steamer
Lucy has arrived, bringing news from the Red
river that no more fighting had occurred up
to the goth.
The rebels were reported marching on
Grand Ecore. end our troops were going out
to meet them. Our army is reported to be
securely intrenched at Grand Ecore on both
sides of the river.
Partial returns from an election for a Con-
gresham in North Carolina, to supply a va
cancy, indicate the defeat of Holden (antl-
wary candidate.
Joel Burgess, Federal prisoner, who late
ly escaped from Shreveport, La, has arrived
at little Rock, Ark, and reports that at
Shreveport he saw two gunboats, one of
which was iron-clsd, called the Webb. There
were, however, no guns aboard her, they hav-
ing been taken out to put upon the forti6ca-
tions. He also counted thirteen or fourteen
| transports. They have good pontoon bridge
! there and earthworks to protect it. But there
are no Notifications to oppose river attack
The town ia built on a high bluff. The camp
| for prisoners is below the town and two miles
| from the river. II is on high ground, but
surround ed by swamps. The prisoners num-
bar about 600, including the crews Of tive
gunboats. captured a year ago. They live il
huts built by themselves. The camp includ.
ed about two acres. and was surrounded by
chain of sentinels. There were only from
eight to ten sentinels on q relief. Beside
this guard the Confederate government KEEP
a pack of bloodhounds, numbering abou
twelve, which we're placed on duty general,
about four o'clock in the morning. Never
theless, the guard was so weak, or had 81
many Union men among them, that prisoner
frequently escaped. The rations we're poo
in quality and small in quantity, but the mel
were in good health and had no hospital
At the time Mr.. Burgess escaped twent
; others got away, crawling out at night be
tween the sentinels. 1t is the opinion Of MI
Burgess, after all he has seen of the peopl
and soldiers Of rebellion, that a very larg
, majority despair Of the Confederate caus,
, and heartily desire the restoration of tn
Federal authority.
The Port Royal New South sage that tn
thirty-pounder Psrrott gun which did sue
admirable execution in Smelling Charleston
, and whisb exploded on the forty-six hundre
and fifteen round, and has been replaced b
gun equally as effective. Shells are no'
tossed into the city at points the rebels sup
posed we would not be able to reach. Tn
, inhabitants, who supposed themselves com
parAtively safe in the middle Of the city. hay
been compelled to take another journey to
ward the northern limits.
Deserters and contrabands continue to al
rive from the enemy's lines aud report Beau
I regard travelling continually between Charlie,
ton and Savannah, and uneasy at our sur