The Portland daily press., 1865-01-23
FROM WASHINGTON.

FhOm w A0A4NQxVNs
From the Arny before Richmond Loss In
the Attack on Fort FISHER = Movements of
Gen. Sherna's's Army-Bwrning of Rebel
Government Cotton.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.
information from the army Of the Potomac
states that considerable firing took place in
front OF Petersburg near the Appotomax. on
| Friday morning, but with what result ia not
| known. N u
About forty one deserters came into our lines
! on Thursday, many of them being in a sad
state of restitution.
Reports are current of the evacuation of
the city OF Petersburg. The rebels appeared
very jubilant over something Thursday night,
as they INDUCED extensively in cheering, bell
ringing, &C., for hours. 1
Admiral Porter, in his detailed report of the
attack on Fort Fisher, gives the total number
of naval officers killed and wounded at TWEEN
ty-one, and of others killed, wounded and
missing, including those by the explosion, at
300. He states that the rebels have blown up
Fort Caswell. and the rebel steamers Talla-
hassee and Chickamauga, and that he will be
in Wilmington before long.
Since the first OF January $40 rebel desert
ers, all of whom came within the lines of the
armies OF the Potomac and James, have passed
through Washington.
Richmond papers of the 20th have the fol-
lowing items: 49, AAD
Charleston, Jan. live have nothing d.
rect from Gen. Wheeler. One of the line Of
fcers from below McBrides brigade yester-
day morning, report that corps had crossed
at Port Royal.
The Courier says there was cavalry, artil.
lery and infantry coming from Coosawatchie.
The forces OF the enemy are believed to be
concentrating above McPhersonville.
Charleston, Jan. 19-The enemy made
move In the direction of the Cambahee River
yesterday. All is quiet to-day.
The Richmond Wing reports = destructive
nre at Augusta, Ca, on Sunday night, burn
ing over 400 bales of cotton. On Monday
evening another fire occurred at Hamburg,
opposite Augusta, burning from 1900 to 1000
bales Of cotton belonging to the rebel Govern
ment.
The Examiner of the goth saws there have
been some recent dispositions of rebel troops
in the west and south, details of which at this
time it would be inadvisabe to furnish.
The Charleston Is. CO. Mercury states that
a large number of reinforcements had arrived
in that city.
The resolutions of the rebel Senate creating
the office of commander in chief of all the ar
mics of the rebel States, and recommending
Gen. johnson to be reinstated, has been pass
SA Al bA1b uAohSu Va Tie IoU6l OOuSTeSSs 1llS
will, if carried into effect, make Lee comman-
der-in-chief of all the rebel armies. 4 " AAa
Railroad bridge, Oconee River, Ca. report
ed having been finished, passenger trains
would soon pass over.
5 WASHINGTON, Jan. %. ii
Fifteen thousand dollars worth of new three
cent currency will be issued from the treasury
to morraw, and for some days thereafter about
half that amount will be put into circulation.
Richmond to be Destroyed before bei,.0 Evacu-
.Alar ated-Wdr Items.
New YORK, Jan. %.
The Sunday papers are almost barren of
news.
The Herald's Shenandoah Valley cores
pondent, says an intelligent gentlemen of Madi.
son county, who recently visited Richmond,
states that hel conversed with government
officers who told him that the holding O { Rich
mond for any considerable time was despaired
of by Davis and Lee, and that the public ar
chieves not necessary for immediate use, are
being sent into the interior of the south
Hundreds OF families have removed to North
Carolina and Georgia, on hint from officials.
The whole city is said to be in a process of
mining, and Davis is determined that Rich
mond shall not fall into our hands except as a
heap of ruins.
Intelligence from up the Shenandoah VAL
ley, represents that there is great suffering
there from the Impeachment of the country.
The rebel forces were still in the neighbor-
hood OF Newmarket and Staunton, subsisting
as they do upon the citizens there, their pres
ence is only calculated to increase the suffer- !
ing. aa sp.e.g IA "a
Brig. Gen. Fessenden has succeeded Col.
Edwards of the 9th Mass, as commander of
the post as Winchester.
-
per's Ferry, is in good order, and trains run
regularly. iorga lagea19 t5,aE ssft9 se-ts}-s
The good conduct of the people of Savan-
nah after coming under the old flag again, has
had its effect here. People who had hereto
fore been warm supporters of the rebellion,
have recently shown a material change.
Great preparations have been made to re-
tain Harper's Ferry as great Military depot.
In consequence of great family Affections,
Gen. VIM. 81, Powell rendered his resignation
some time since. A protest against its ac-
necessity was so great that Gen. p, urged its
acceptance, and the War Department has
finally accepted it to the great regret of the
army. He has proved an excellent officer.
The Richmond Despatch accounts for the
great rise in gold by the fact that the pro-
perty of refugees is being sold to escape con-
flscation, and then the rebel currency is con-
Vorbeo lntO gOiu aLsany price, also JnaJ the
negroes who have been boarding the rebel
currency, are selling 1t of.
In the rebel Senate resolution was adopted
to inquire into the treatment of prisoners of
war on both sides.
Gen. Early has made an earnest protest
against the charge of the committee to inquire
into his drunkenness. He challenges any one
to prove that he was ever drunk in camp, on
the march, or in battle. he claims that he
whipped the enemy twice, and was whipped
himself twice, and the last time il his troops
had stood, they would have won the rubber.
A bill has been introduced in the rebel con-
gress to consolidate depleted companies, bat
talions and regiments. oE5s ia