The New York herald., 1865-02-18
Mr.. william HI. Merrfam's Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, I
ARMY or THE JAMES. Feb. ia. n !

FEELING SENTIMENTS or LEES ARMY.
For several days the results Of the late abovs
peace negotiations have come to be known In Lees
army and the effect upon the rebel sodiery asceraned
have been attentive listener at the Office Of Colonel
Manning Provost Marshal General Of tho Army Of the
James, to the views wishes and opinions of the ve.y
large number Of deserters coming daily within incs
elected and reduced to writing they pass on down
to Bermuda Hundred and thence to their new homes
in the North The class Of soldiers dcsertng the
rebel In every day is far better physically
and intellectually than any have ever before seen.
They all tell tho doleful story Of discourage
ment and disgust at being compelled to look forward .
another and utterly hopeless campaign, wherein their
lives will be sacrificed without STINT there being not ths
slightest hope Of achieving Southern independence o.
anything else save death. The assurance h given by
these men, without exception that the armies of tho con
federacy animated by this feeling, and that the men
will not nght any longer One Of these deserters sail
yesterday that believe there were twelve bayo
nets in his regiment az having oesn zen
DEsERTION
southwards and homewards Of both officers and men =
represented as truly alarming In instance recently
nine rebel officers left for their Southern homes Of
whom alleged by rebel lieutenant who dcssEtsA
yesterday 10 lines, would never return to duty.
The much vaunted meetings Of the regiments, whoee
proceedings ostentaously paraded In the rebs
feelings Of the sodicry II the OF the constant
influx OF deserters may be relied upon For instance IN
the Fifteenth Virginia command, numbering lea6 tnao
hundred and fifty men, Ave really voted resola
tons looking to continuance Of the war The rest were
by their brothers in the ranks to be not only for
peace but for immediate laying down or their arma
In the Seventeenth Virginia regiment official order was
actually issued directing OF the companies TO pese
resolutions These facts show for themselves the
true Of feeling in the rebel ranks The concuS0a
irresistible that the rebellion literally approaches -
close and few months more at longest will witness ~
termination forever.
TIE DISTRACTIONS IN THY JANIS RIVER.
has been discovered that previous TO tho late -
tempt OF the rebel rams 10 come down the James, the
obsructions had been several times sounded by rebel
pilots and twice since the great scare 1t would appear
from this that necessity exists for the more thorough
pcketing Of the James river In that vicinity Three
night attempts made by the rebels TO secure
the pilot boat lost by them near the obstruceons some
time SINCE
rHH REBEL VIRGINIA.
This monstrous rebel craft suffered most severely n
the attempted descent or the 70 the
Drewry which was totally blown up The Virginia was
injured severely by Of our Monitors, shot COM
pletey smashing In one OF her batteries 0ee1nsdovo
Mitchell s command Of the rebel feet thought
created rebel admiral Ishould have stated that ths
Virginia said to be the most formidable cft that the
rebels have a1oat She is plated eight Inches for
ward and six aft
gxCHAxGs PRroNHRs.
Yesterday Colonel Milford, United States agent for The
exchange OF prisoners effected exchange OF upwards
OF eleven hundred and to-day will exchange eight hun
dred more This interchangeable ofncer will now make
short work OF all this business
SURGEON suCKIKy CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Surgeon George Suckley has been announced AZ Mcdl
cal Director OF the Department OF Virginia, In place o.
Surgeon Charles Mccormick relieved BY orders from The
War Department