Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-01

storm cannot Soc long delayed May its effects be
the crushing out of all opposing clenepts to the ma
tonal arms, and9Ae complete destruction OF the re-
hellion in the Southwest.
. Military movements having been prospee'Neiy
transferred TO Mississippi and Aiabana, VIII neces-
sarily leave Nashville base OF operations, our ~
the cold Hitherto IL has been the 'maln utPot oi
supplies for Shermans armies, but the deVsopmentS
ahead leave 10 announcement and not lmmeua'eS ac-
cessible thus rendering necessary the SUBSTITUTION
Of some other point more eligible supply depot.
IL IS not now cOnraband state that the mann army
under Thomas Is concentrating AZ EaStporl, On phe
Tennessee River, about 20 miles below riorehce.-
The river alone would be sufficient LOT the trahss-
sion OF SUPPLIES for the army, but u is quite Prod
abe that the Memphis and Charleston Railroad VIII
be immediately repaired and put in running order,
al least as far as Florence, thus allowing the Msss
Sippi TO contribute part IN the way oi FURNISHING
s,Innlrs With a secure base AT PASSPORT or Flor
ence Thomas eau strike out through MISSISSIPPI and
Alabama, and with his present enes'iIe ioice can
sweep everything before him until he reaches Mont
rolnery or Mobile. 1t is absurd to suppose that
Hood-if that sapient General Is still III command
can offer any tangible, serious resistance toIhomaN
victorious columns. He will, undoubtedly, with the
feeble and thoroughly CrcSttsllcn force at his com
mabd do what little his bunglmg brain will inspire,
but thai little will be perfectly futile against the
oyery he lining odds that cOmbiningto crush him.
Hoods army was a small affair when it made its
escape across the Tennessee. After the battle be
fore Nashville ITS loss ia klled, wounded and prs
6ncrs reduced it nearly one half and then, during
the retreat through this state, hundreds, might
saw thousands mostly from tennessee and hchtuc-
kN deserted and made for their homoS or gave
themselves up. Indeed great was the number
le M Tennessee, AFTER Hood had crossed the RIVER
that General Thomas found IL convenient 10 deSig
nate sin different points in the State where desert
erS might for q stated period, report 10, take the
amnesty oath and return To their homes. Since
then, they have been nocking in freely. In this
city, thr Provost Marshal is kept continually busy
attending to such cases The other day, seeing
quite a crowd az Rebels-ean Naliow faced, cold
and hungry looking, passing through the street, |
inquired Of ore ol the guard where uIey were cap
turcd. s.Wercnt captured at all, sad he, call de-
serterS." There were l95 i'm the batch, going tn re-
port 10 4 aptsin Goodwin, aud take the oath. AN
informed that there are emily very few tennessee
ans left in Hoods army, and those are, every day
growing smaller and beautifully less.
Under'these circumstances, and with deSertionS
,till gong on and the proud, martial spirit of the
rebel army broken and plraly led-with Tennessee
now held bv the National forces with iron
grasp, and the waning, flIcsering power of armed
opposition recedmg and growing feeble in resist
ancr the coming contest, the final struggle can
hardly end otherwise than IN complete success To
the Union arms, and the death.hnell to the rebel
lion.
General Thomas is at EaStport. Blue coats and
brass buttons OF every grade aud pattern, who are
going tramp, are all bound for PASSPORT. Sut
lerS with hurried gait, anxious looks, and curly
hair are on the gt UiUe looking after permits pre-
paratorv To starting to Edstport.. Newspaper cor
re,pondcnts now attracted by the State Convention
here as soon as that body has ceased its squabbes
- make a grand rush Tor PASSPORT. In Short
...Shyille, batting its standing army OF sleek, easy
going auartermasters clerks, gamblers, cut-throats
and The whole retinue OF legal2ed nyaphS du pdue
presents forlorn, deserted appearance, compared
to the aspect of a few weeks since.
wHITEwAsHISG BUTLER.
The AbolitiOuistS, 10 whom Butler has sold him
self soul and brooches, are still engaged in the labor
Of whitewashing him III connection with the Fort
Fisher faSco, as will be seen from the following
correspondence
WAsHIyGToN, Jan. l4.--"G. W. b. in a com
Iuunication addressed to the Tribune last Monday,
was very positive that your correspondent from
Norfolk VINO gave you the facts OF the Wilmington
expedition, was mistaken IN asserting "that the
military authorities expected Admiral Porter to run
by Fort Fisher and into Cape Fear river, end that
Admiral Porter, when on the ground, was requested
ana refused 10 do So"
Tie official report of Gen. Butler, and the in
structonS OF Gen. Grant respecting the expedition
made public this day sustain Your Norfolk cores
poEdeut' assertion in every particular.
Ii is fllrthcr,to be noted fact, that when re-
qucstcd to run by, Admiral Porter mace no pre-
tcnsc or suggestion whatever, tbccausc it would not
be trucl that he lad no vessels that could float
through the entrance TO the river. Ms only oblcc
ton was that he would lose vessel Ivy torpedocs.
One other word on the troubles OF which this ex-
petition has been made the occasion Gen. Grant
saws in his commentary on Gen. Buffers report,
iii was never contemplated that Gen. Butler should
accompany this expedition" by which statement
the Lieutenant General necessarily means to imply
that Gen, Butler accompanied the expedition with
out the assent il against The orders OF his supe-
-, rncpoucililifV OllpUSp.
But il will I've seen in General Grants letter; ad-
dressed to General Butler at Fortress Monroe, nm
der date OF December H. that the Lieutenant-Gen
raj writes to htib ''If y0p do not get off immcdi-
ately yoa willlose the chance of surprise and weak
garrison
Dut even without this little item of evidence, it is
not credible that General Butler went with the OK
petition without the knowledge and assent OF his
commcndcr, and it is To be regretted that the Lieu
tenant General should charge that he did because,
under the circumstance, the charge seems disin-
genuouS.
BUT more of this subject upon another occasion.
BUTLER DEMANDS SATISFACTION.
The following is among the proceedings in the
Yankee House OF Representatives, on the 24th.-
James Brooks, member from NCw York, is the per
son who charges Butler with beinsa gold rob
Der :.
ssMr Brooks said that not long ago. in the course
OF his remarks he had occasion TO speak of Ger
tain Major General as gold-robber. But in some
| OF the prints he represented as saying bold
robber' No doubt this a misunderstanding. -
lie had received letter from Major General, who
ii seemed supposed that his remark particularly
applicable 10 him, though at the time there wa
| another Major General in The city OF New York.
At his desire the letter was read follows
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. 1868.
JANIS BRooTs, Member Of Congress, House OF Rep
reSertdtiCeSs
| tinl IN the Ddiy Gote OF fhe 9Th Instant re
port of your reVlarks in the House on the 9th inst
au extract from which, personal to me, is appended
| 1 have the honor 10 inquire whether your remarks
are correctly reported, except, perhaps, III the mis-
print gold" for bohi' aud also whether there wa
any modification, explanation or limitation made b!
YOU other than appears in this report The gentle
man who hands YOU this will wait or call for YOU
| answer at anytime or place you may designate.
| (Signed) b. +. Butler, Mai. Gen.