Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-14
NEWS OF The WEEK.
THE WAR.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE poroaAc,

uniuyorable character Of the country through
which troops had to move and large force or
posing their advance 1t IS not strange that the
enemy should gain temporary advantage
The country from the crossing oil the Run to
Dabney's Minis is very woody, with swamps and
ravines 10 all directions, ana the only road 10 a
narrow by road not wide enough to allow w0
wagons to pass, in many place IN very bad
Condition
The third Division Of the 9Th o)rps advanced
and was supported By the lrsI ana s'coud
divisions, ana by brigade OF the oh corps.
The enemy were driven 10 ard by,nd the MllI
on this road about TWO miles from tne UsAns
line of breastworks. There were no lees than
four divisions OF the enemy appearing IN front
of our men namely; Mab0ne's, Pegram 3, Heath
and Gordon's old dylsl on, the latter three OPP
posing the 9th corps, while Malone 8 Was acting
independently, and engaged Gregg on the
Vaughn road for some time, when Gregg ordered
his cavalry TO dsmount and held his opponent
back we'll, inaicting some loss. Malone find
ing no chance to accomplish anything at this
position, wheeled round and marching on a by
road running norLhwesterly, struck the lett
flank of the 9Th corps, doubling ltup, and caus
ing il to fall back on the centre. Ihe woods
here being so thick as TO render the i.rmat0n OF
q continuous line impossible, the command be
came Somewhat confused and u heavy fire was
poured in by MahoDe's men which made things
still worse, and IN lew minutes the entire line
lett their position, falling back rapidly towards
the point started from. The tear Of being cut
of IRON the crossing at be Vaughn road in
creased the conluslon and for q short time IL
seemed as though panic had sciz d our men,
but upon reaching The open country on the
Vaughn road ana inding no enemy there anu
bridges all safe IN Possession Of our troops, they
became treasured. 10 a short time the greater
part OF corps were IN limo aud ready to meet the
enemy as soon as ne appells
few minutes after when they did show
themselves at the edge OF the WOODS they were
met by such a severe storm Of bullets as to send
them back into the woods very quickly.
Our loss during the day amounts to about
GOO, that OF Sunday about 25U, making total
for two days about 500 killed, wounled and
missing.
The loss Of the enemy is nos knowo bu. 1t 10
believed to be fully as large as ours We took
altogether about $50 prisoners, among whom
are number OF officers. Notwithstanding the
severe storm Of rain which set in last night and
continuing all day to-day iGeezlnA as II tell, tue
80 division OF the 9th corps advanced to point
intrenched yesterday at DObney'S mills, driving
the rebels before them and into their works be-
yond. The casualties OF this affair have not
yet been reported but are said to be very few.
This was ali the lighting done to-day Oar per-
mapent lines now extend from what was iOrmer-
ly the extreme lett al Fort Cummings on the
Squirrel level road 10 aud across llatchers Run
at Armstrong; mill with the advance well Out
towards Dabney's mill, u distance oi about three
miles, all Of which ground has been wrestej
from the enemy In three days, aud makes
our line much safer and more formidable than
heretofore. As soon Us the weather permits tut
Their active movements in this yciuity one
or Two more like the last will bring US within
easy striking stance OF the South Side Road
which it is Hoped will soon be in our possession
Loss in the whole movement turns out to be
quite heavy, considering the small force engaged.
The II division Of the 9th corps suffered prlncl-
pally. The following are the figures Killed,
8 officers and 10 men woundel, p officers and
49l men missing officers and 1856 men. To-
tai officers 81 men, ll43 Aggregate loss
llo0, olhcers aud men, out Of about 1000 whl
went into action. NJ doubt a large proportion
OF those put down as missing will appear in d
few days, US is usual.
Gen. Kelley telegraphs that on the 9Th scout
ing party ot Gen. Sberldan's Cavalry encOun
tered the forces OF Maj. Harry Gilmore, neal
Mooreheld West Virginia, whipped them hand
somely, capturing upward Of twenty officers au
men. Among the officers captured was the nc
ted guerilla and robber Harry GllmCrc himself
An application has been made to the author
ties at Washington, by Major Gen, Rousseau
for permission to raise and organize corps
troops somewhat similar to that OF Gen, LA,
cock. The organizitlo will consist OF ten reg
nets OF infantry, armed with the iormlda0
seven shooting Spencer rifle, and hive battoTi
OF light artillery each battery 70 consist OF fo'
Rodman guns. None will be admitted into q
corps except such as have already served at lea
one year, and only be most TIED aud capat
officers will be placed 10 command. At the Ell
vi their term OF service. or at the close of /
war, the men are TO be allowed to retain thl
arms.
PEAcR NEGOTIATIONS --sIC aErARY EDWARDS II
TER TO NlNl.TkR ADAM.
DEPARTMENT on STATE,
Washington, Feb. ., 1861
SIR 1t is true that III times Of peace there
always instigators oil war. 30 soon as war
gins there are citizens who emphatically demu
negotiations Of peace. The advocates 0i vi
ait r an, agitation longer or shorter, genera
gam thelr fearful eud though the war decla
is not unfrequenIy unnecessary aud UNIV
SO peace sgitators, n time OF war, ultimat
bring about an abandonment OF the conf
sometimes wtbou, securing the adyanta
which were originally expected IRON the conf
Tbs ngitatofs Tor war IN time OF peace, and
Ieace n time OF war, are not uuuecg ssarlly
prohaps ordinarily, unpalTl0tlc 10 their purp,
or motives. Results alone determine whet
they are wise or unwlse The treaty OF pc
concluded at Guadalonpc llIdalgo was sacu
by an irregular negotiation under the Dor
the Government.
Some Of the Efforts which have been mad,
bring about Negotiations with "a view 10 end
osll war are known to the Whole world, G.
they have employed iOrelgn as well rs dome
agents, Others with whom you have had
deal cOnbdenuall, are Known 20 Yourself,
though they have not publicly trauspu
0,her Efforts have occurred here which
known only 10 the persons actually moYin,
the n, anu TO this Goyernm,
am now to give Tor your information AN
count oil an affair OF tho same general chAra
winch iegeutiy received much attention IA
anu which doaOttss Will excite inquiry abr
A lew days ago Fra. els P Blair, Esq, Of NJ
lani, obtallei from the Pies dent SIMPLE il
TO pass through our lines without definite Vi
known " the Government
MT. Blair visited Richmond, aud on has
turn he showed To the President a letter vi
Jeiierson DAVIS had Nutten to MIR. Blair
which DAVIS wrvte that Mr.. Blair wasat lib
TO say to President Lncoln lhAi DAVIS was 1
as he always had been, wiling To ,end com
slonefs II assured they would be received. d
receive any that sholli b5 rent that hv
not disposed ~ hud obstacles IA forms tia