The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-12
Agents for The Caledonian.
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK

A dispatch in the rebel papers, dated
Richmond, Feb. s, says: Richmond is
threatened by the enemy. Our pickets were
driven in on Saturday night at Bottoms
bridge, II miles from Richmond. The enc
nv crossed the York river near Dispatch
station. A Large force massed at Barklems-
vile moved forward to Tallirviile yesterday
afternoon, and was then advancing. Their
force consists of three brigades of infantry,
four regiments Of cavalry and twelve pieces
Of artillery. The enemy's demonstration
yesterday was probably intended as recon-
noissance preliminary to an important coils
sion to-day. Certainly the enemy has come
in numbers which preclude the idea of a
mere raid. See "Advance on Richmond"
Some excitement was caused on Friday
afternoon by a dispatch that the rebels had
attacked Newbern, n. c., got possession of
the railroad to Motrland city, and had Of
course placed the Union troops in both places
in precarious position. No PARTICULARS were
given. An hour or two sfterward, Gen. But
Ter telegraphed to the War Department that
all was right, the enemy had retired to
Kingston, and that Newborn was relieved
and so were the public.
Gen. Grant having expressed the opinion
that the restrictions on trade with the states
of Missouri and Kentucky may now safely
be removed, the secretary of the treasury
has issued an order annulling all trade re-
strictions heretofore enforced in those states.
An order is to be issued next week for the
consolidation of regiments, and no more
cavalry regiments will be authorized till the
old regiments are filed.
Acting master, VIM. c. Brown, command
ing the barque Restless, who destroyed a
large number Of salt works in St. Andrews
bay, some weeks ago, made another visit dur
ing the last week in January and destroyed
some twenty additional salt works, together
with all the boilers kettles and buildings at
tached to them whereupon the enemy COM
menced the destruction of two hundred more
which were in advance of our party, and
thus saved all further trouble, except skirt
Ing along the bay for the distance of fifteen
miles to make sure the work Of destruction
had been well performed By them. Desert
ers from Captains Anderson's and Robinson's
companies reported supse quently that both
officers and men had broken up and gone
home, as the destruction of the salt works,
which they were ordered to guard, had been
so complete, and six Of them have enlisted
in the navy after taking the oath of allie
glance.
There is authority for stating that there
are near y twenty-one millions of dollars in
geld now On hand in the United States treas
ury.
A number of distinguished citizens gave
complimentary dinner to Maj. Gen. Burn
side al the Revere House in Boston, Satur-
day evening. A. H. Bullock, speaker of the
house, presided.
Inc exchange Of prisoners has not yet been
effected by the efforts of Gen. Butler. He
has made three distinct offers of exchange
to the rebel commissioners, but in every in
stance his overtures have been refused We
Shall doubtless be obliged to await the action
Of the rebel government In other depart
ments exchanges are made by the comman-
ders. Gen. Banks has done it, and it will
doubtless become the practice in all depart
men.s.
\ remarkable document from rebeldom
has been forwarded within our lines. 1t is
no less than an address prepared by the SOL
dlers in the army of Gen. Hardee, denoun-
eng the CONSUMPTION act of the government,
which forces the veterans to remain in the
army another three years, whether they are
willing or not. 1t also acuses the leaders of
the rebellion with lying, cheating, and max
ING the soldiers abJect slaves" Those who
prepared the address say they are deter min
ed to demand their rights at the point of the
bayonet. The document in cues ton deals
IN strong languarge, and shows there is con.
siderable feeling among the rebel sol diers.-
1t may be matter Of doubt, however, wbeta-
er any such address was ever issued by the
rebel soldiers. It was first published in the
Cincinnati Commercial, and there vouched
Tor as genuine bat We think it of doubtful
origin.