The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-03-25
Rebels have Difficulty in
COnsCripting Negroes.
News from Sherman-His Fight At BEN
tonvile-What Southern Papers Say.
New York. March q

New York, March "a.
The Tribune's Washington special SAYS
news of,he occupation OF Colds sboro pub
llshed yesterday. has been confirmed by
Statements of trustworthy parties who ar.
rived here direct from Newbern
Sherman's force was divided and
marched towards Nicholas station, on the
K. X. to Raleigh to destroy an important
bridge across the Neuse river. The cen.
ter had arrived at Golisboro and the right
on Thursday, the 2l,t, formed junction
with Schoheid's force q, a point III miles
east OF toldsboro. The victory claimed
by the rebels at BentonvilIe. assuming
that an official statement is correct.
amounts to nothing more than moment
AIRY check to Sberman's left. The next
news from that quarter will dosAtless be
40 entire accomplishment of the plans of
sherman
The Wosl4's special says the fight al
luded to IN Richmond papers Tuesday as
having occurred between portion of
the forces of Sherman and Johuston's
army is understood in military circles to
have merely been a small fight With de-
,achment sent BY Gen. Slocum to burn the
fine railroad bridge across the river rear
S.nith6ed, between Goldsboro sad Ra-
eigh.
The Herald's special says the report OF
Johnston to Lee, that he had met the en-
emy near Bentonville aud routed him, is
regarded here as referring to the cavalry
fankers of the extreme left wing of Gen
Sherman's army 1t ie surm,sed that
Sherman may have sent small force IN
that direction for the purpose OF cutting
the railroad CONNECTION between Gods
boro aud Raleigh aud drawing ohnston
away FROM Goldsboro while il was being
occupied by the main body OF Sherman
army. lni rniasi1n has been received
that the occupation ot Goldsborn was ef-
f.cied on The same day of The reported
battle at B n,unviilc Johuston states
sha. the Union troops snbseqas nily as
snmed the oGso>isa, ihus admitting that
hls success was caiy temporary aud un.
important.
The Washington R publican says gen
| tlemsn from Richmond reports the rebels
admitted the damage done BY Sheridan's
raid amounted to S5O,000,0 900 and est
mates the strength of the army in the
Richmond entrenchments at 60 600 ex-
elusive of 10000 home guards and
emergency men in Richmond. Z. He does
| not believe Johnston has over $4,000,
and it is thought he has drawn several
divisions from Richmond Deep gloom
prevails in Richmond aud everybody
seems to feel that the day OF reckoning
has come.
The Richmond Examiner says the con
scription OF negroes goes on with diff
Guilty. Guards are stationed Mt every
camp, and yet the negroes escspe There
is great panic among the blacks and as
much reluctance among the whites upon
the question of armiDg slaves.
The Dispatch of the 2lst reports that
Kirby Smith has $4,000 negro troops or.
ganized and armed. The Examiner Of
the 2lst says there are in that city be-
tween Eve and six thousand women and
children belonging to the families Of men
who have fed from the rebel conscrip.ion
and escaped to tho North. As provis,
ions are scarce in Richmond it is proposed
to send these non fighting, non-produc,ne
consumers to The North also.
/ The Mlledgeville Union insists that i,
is time Jeff Davis administration and
his executive officers we're oyerhauled.-
II thinks the masses have been fightipa
and suffering and paying taxes without
asking questions long enough, and an.
nounces that if the people Of Georgia de
eide to have convention they viii hole
it in spite Of all the soldiers 10 The State
i The Montgomery (Ala.) Mail say
that the depression which is laying hols
on the couatry i sappiDg the vitals Of It
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