The New York herald., 1865-01-23

THE SITUATION.
We have again the report that the rebels have
atcd Wilmington that II has been taken possession
OF by General Teys troops bu, it still needs conarma
ton This time the report comes from Annapolis Md,
and added that before the rebels left the they
set fire to about thirty million dollars worth Of cotton,
but that the national forces being close at hand extn-
guishcd the flames before much damage had boen done.
Admiral Portcr's entire was in Cape Fear river on
Last Wednesday. On Wednesday night 1t captured five
blockade which coming in wholly ignorant
OF the changed position of affairs there large number
OF the vessels of the Admiras feet have since arrived in
Hampton Roads Thirteen hundred OF the rebels cap
tured In Fort Fisher and the adjacent works arrived at
Fortress Monroe Friday and Saturday last, route TO
prisons in the North.
An edngy interesting recital OF the rea-
tive the mysterious movements OF Francis r Blair,
ST in Washington and Richmond is contained In the
despatch OF Of Washington correspondents One
report is that Mr. Blair brought autograph letter to
President Lincoln from JeE Davis saying that he 10
ready for peace and that communication from
the President becn taken back Richmond express
OF willingness to send receive commissioners.
Many Well informed people In Washington said TO be
looking for important results from Mr. Blairs second
visit to the rebel capital
A very significant article appeared In the Richmond
Enguires OF last Thursday, which would to be de-
sgned break the inevitable and plainly forcscen
fall OF the rebel oonfedcracy. Admitting that "after
every manly effort they may fail achieve their in
dependence it that policy and interest well
feeling would incline the rebels to submit 10
The United States rather than TO England, France
Maximiian Joining t.er military forces to those at
present constituting national armies, they would
"endeavor extend tho power and influence Of that
rhs nation from pole pole, and uniting every country
OF America by alliance seek make this continent
unit against the world" "wth tho wealth and popula-
ton which peasc and union would develop in few
years" 1t continues, :" we might lind at least hiding
pce FOR shame, and perhaps consolation in the
fact that America would become the colossal Power Of
the world"
General Gran; arrived at Annapolis I'D, on saturiay,
board his nasboat and dltcy after departed for
Washington. lie left tho latter city saturday evening
10 rctarn TO the held OF operations James river.
General Sheridan was also in Washington Saturday
Cairo despatch states that Il is probable General
Thomas nrny vim from its present position
on the Tcnuoss,c rvr Ii Is said that his
structing winter quarters.
Oar New Orleans despatch gives additional particulars
of C.nern Cri ,tsons ast Grand rand In Missrsipni
some accounts Of which wero published IN the HRalD
on the sth and 10Th INST General Grierson left Mem
phis on the 2ist ulL with about three thousand
airy and arrived al Wick burg the 5,h lust, having
In tho destroyed about seventy miles Of tho
Mobile and Ohio Railroad and thirty mics Of the
Mississippi Central Railroad with all their brdgrs
and vast amounts of rebel military stores aud rail-
road running stock factories &c defeated scattered
Che rebels who opposed him different points their
communications, and played general havoc with them
During the expedition General Griersons marched
four hundred m les and met with loss Of less than
hundred killed. wounded and missng reaching ycks
burg with nearly hundred prisoners about on' thou
sand con,rsbands and the number OF horses and
mules.
The exchanged umon soldiers who have lately arrived
from n chmond reprcson, the sunerngs being
d,rcd by there greater even, n possible than
shey have been subjected To any previous time Out
or eighteen officers and trce thousand priva,es thirty
sx died n ono day, from starvation and exposure.
Now that the rcb IL have lost all their scapors Of
any consequence. their newspaper editors tax
tps tho utmost extent OF their ingenuity TO
prove that these disasters are really a bless
ing and that instead of having depressing effect
The fortunes OF the confcdcracy they VIII only tend
v develop Its innate and latent rcsourccs They argue
Thai the loss Of these places only puts them 10 the posi-
Zion that they shond properly bnve assumed at tho be-
ginning Of the whcu hclr entire abandonment u s
sad, was advised by some very wise rebel statesmen
Tho for would have believe hc Is much houdsomcr
without his tail As bookade running is brought 10
end tho rbcls aay that now be their sole bus
ns@; tho conscrpon must be moro vigorously enforced
and every ono who can must be made 70 hight II IL
claimed that whom Jen Davis sid .ha, al Icas.
sss-ibird Of the men belonging % his armies
vers absent. wIihou, leave he vas far be
tsv .hs mark, snd hat ,hcre arc cnoegb Of
Asss asssssss 10 make an army which would