The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-04-01
War News OF the Week.

Although many single weeks, since the
va. commenced, have seen more hard fight
ing than the past, the events of no former
week were more clearly indicative OF the uiti-
mate solution of the grea; problem IA hand.
Sherman grand movement, commenced with
his march from Atlanta last fall, is coming
to close, and its success all eyes now clear
" see, decides the fate of the confederacv.-
If he reached the rear of Richmond in safety,
with an army to defy all the troops Lee could
spare from Gen. Grants front, nothing on
earth could save the Coniederacy from ruin;
AMI this Sherman has nearly accomplished
As he approached Goldsboro, the question
mus. be tried whether Bragg and Johnston
could arrest his march, for once there lie
would he Joined ny Schofeld, and Terry, and
with these acce3sion7, ne would be iuvinci-
bic. So Bragg undertook to arrest Terry in
bis march TO Join Sherman at kinston, but
wns defeated and himselfdriyen off He and
Johnston then united and undertook to arrest
Sherman's march upon G"ltsb They
fel! Upon his left wing near Ben'onville on
,he 10th and claim that they won victory,
but fell back 30 miles, and Sherman marched
ON. Again they attacked him at Boon Hill
on the Goth. won another victory, is they
said, but again ell back 30 miles. Mean
ime Schoield enters Goldsboro with scarcely
Any opposition, and bringing Terrv's force
with him, uni,es with Sherman. Hencetorth
there is clearly nothing 20 interfere with SLer
mans march III solid column 10 the North
and TO the rear of Richmond.
Lee see ing this and that there was nu
help for him in that quarter, makes he bold
attemp. TO break through Grants lines. This
attempt he made On Saturday morning Of
last week. Early that ..trorn.ns & furious rs
suit was made On Fort S,eadnian. oil Grants
right, south OF Petersburg. and at the first as
suit the fort was take. bu; afterwards rctak-
en- by our troops. An assault was also make
GU Fort Haskell. but successfully repulscG.
- Lee, in these attacks on Grants right,
must have drawn troops from his own right.
Grant followed up lis failure BY an attack
cu i-'- anu e4-It'. 2N--'~ I.4i't u-!4cS
ofground ia that direction. Lee afterwards
attempted to regain this ground, but was
able 10 do So. Grant claims that MS loss
during I'll this fighting was less than loco
men, while Lee lost $500 IN prisoners alone.
to say nothing o: a thousand or two in killed
and wounded
While Sherman a2i Grant are thus rapid
ly and surely drawing rhe;rto:!s around Loc:n
In Richmond on the cas-; south aud south
west, an immense column has started towards
Richmond from Knoxville, TO close up any
back door re rebels MI 81. at;emptto escape
through IN that direction. This : the i,h
army corps, numbering from fifteen :" twenty
thousand men, under command o. MAJ or
General STANLEY Is field Of operation viii
be western Virginia. and i Is more than likely
tina. no: cnis will tie passes which Lee would
be l;kelj to select in any attempt to escape.
be GUARDED hu; i-Hchbury may receive az
ten'ion- ine 'i.nes IF communication will
be destroyed. and every possible difficulty
placed III the wmy 10 prevent IRE rebel army
from making hastr retreat into the noun
tain region.
Meantime Sheridan has also started on an
other expedition proposing 20 put
finishing stoke TO co nrnuu,caticns with Rich
mond TO the west and north
And no. the latest news IS, that there la.
been a grand conference between President
Lincoln. Gen. Grant. Gen. Sherman, Gene
rails Ord Mead, Sheridan and others, The re-
suit of ~h.cl. VAS, that on Wednesday morn
ing the whole CT the Potomac army was put
in motion, though III VIVA; direction is not
stated.