The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-17
7HE NEWS.
PETERSBURG.

Between . and . O'CLOCK on W edneS~
aev morning there was some mortar.
firing on the Petersburg lines near the
,npomattex. This was somewhat Of a
novelty. 81. for months past, mortar
ming has been discontinued. With this
exception, nothing of interest has oc>
Cured.
Scouts from Grants rear report all
met within the cnemy's lines.
FROM THE FAR SOUTH.
No dispatches we're received at the
War Office on yesterday from South
Carolina. We are consequently, unin-
folmei Of Shermans latest movements.
He was at orangcburg, forty eight miles
south of Columbia, on last Tuesday, and
our troops were falling back before him
towards Columbia. Where hc is now
we DO not know.
twas said on cdncsday that a dis
patch had been received. saying that
diminishing was goinc on within a few
miles OF Columbia. We stated this yes
tellav rs az on dit, and, as yet, have
not the means of either confirming or
contradicting it. Sherman may be at
kngSyille, the junction Of the Whining
ton and Columbia railroads, thirty miles
southeast of Augusta or he may be
even nearer the city.
GENERAL LEES ORDER ASSUMING THE
COMMAND OF THE ARMIES OF TIE CON
lEUERATE STATES.
The following is copy OF General
Lees General Order on assuming com
mand Of the land forces of the Coniede-
}atc States:
"HrApavtnTtR4 CnxffptRArE ARMY, =
- February ., lsG'.
"t.,Hc,a} Ordft, Ne. |:
"In obedience to General Order No. 2, Adlutant
and Inspector General Office, 9th February, 1863.
/ assume command OF the military forces Of the
Confederate States. Deeply Impressed with the diff
cutie, and responsibility Of The position. and
liumhly invoking the guidance at Almighty God,
rely for success upon the courage and forttude OF
the army sustained ny the patriotism and finne3s
Of the people, confident that their united efforts
under the blessing Of Heaven will peace and
. independence.
1.-THE Headquarters of the Amy, to which all spc-
cial reports and communications will be addressed
will be- for the present, with the Army of Northern
Virginia The stated and regular returns and re-
port of each army and department will be for
warlcl, heretofore. to the office Of the Adlutant
and naycctor-Gencr X. l.. LIt, General"
THE COMMIsSARY- GENERAL. =
The appointment, by the President, Of
Colonel Isaac NJ. st. John Commissary-
General of the Confederate States was,
on yesterday, confirmed by the Confedc-
rate Senate. The new Commissary-
General will enter at once upon the dis
charge of his duties.
MICRO DIERS-EXEMPT{ONS AND De
TAILS.
In the Confederate Senate, yesterday,
Slr Browns bill, reported back with an
amendment and the recommendation
that it be passed by the Military Com
mittee, was transferred to the secret Ca
lendar, and is being considered in secret
session.
The bill Of the House of Representa-
lives to abolish the fife en- negro clause;
TO take from the President and Secretary
oi War the power to make details and
exemptions, .sAsept Of mechanics and
artlzans in the employment of the Co.
yernmcnt; TO revoke all exemptions and
details heretofore granted by the Presi-
dent and Secretary of War; and to res
woke the exemptions o! mail contractors
not personally engaged in performing the
contracts: was recotnmtted to the Mill
tary Committee, with instructions to in
4ulre into the expediency Of bringing in
more liberal bill. There is strong
disposition on the part u the Senate TO
preserve, untouched, the present cxcmp,
ton law.
tSr A II