The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-02-10
LATE WAR NEWS.

the week just past, and no military
operations of Importance are hcralded.
But all our large armies remain in po-
sition, and preparations for an active
spring campaign arc going on. This
is wise in any event, and we appre-
bend there will be full need of both
men and preparations before peace, so
desirable, but so difficult to obtain, is
finally secured.
GEN. snERMANs DEPARTMENT.
The report is repeated that Sher-
man has left Savannah with the main
body of his army, and is advancing in
to South Carolina; but since the cap
ture of the Pocotaligo bridge, there
are no reliable details of his progress
and plans, except the occupation of
Salkehatchee, on the railroad from
Savannah to Charleston The federal
captures at Pocotaligo included 2OO0
robels-and their artillery The Rich
mond papers have information that
Sherman's army is advancing in three
columns, the main column going
towards Charleston, with nearly all
the transportation, and the other two
columns moving in light marching or
der towards Branchvillc. There is
nothing to indicate that Augusta is
menaced at present, though Gen. Hill,
commanding the rebel forces there,
has ordered all non-combatants to
leave the city. Sherman will avoid
fortified places altogether, repeating
the strategy OF his Georgia campaign,
and devote himself to cutting the rail-
roads that lead to Richmond, and per-
haps finally assisting in the reduction
of Wilmington; but we cannot know
certainly, and have only to wait the
progress of events. Part of the sup
plies sent to Savannah from the North
have arrived, been thankfully received
by the mayor, and distributed to
the needy in the city. Some letters
from Savannah continue to dwell on
the Union sentiment manifested there,
and in the interior of the State. But
other accounts say that real love for
tho old flag is a scarce article, and the
people only submit because they are
obliged to- Time and the blessings
attendant on the new order of things
will naturally bring about great
change. That there are some bitter
rebels at heart still remaining in the
city, is shown by destructive incendi-
airy fires which ragged on the 9th and
2Sth ult. and an attempt made to blow
up the arsenal, which contained thirty
tons of powder Gen Grover sue
ceeds Gen. Geary as commander of
the city, and he viii be obliged to keep
pretty tight rein for the present.
The object of Secretary Stanton's late
visit to this department is explained
by a general order by Gen. Sherman,
parcelling out to the cmancipated ne
groes the South Carolina sea coast for
thirty miles back from the sea- in
South Carolina, Georgia and northern
Florida. Every family can come in
possession of forty acres of cotton
lands, and the order provides against
all interference by white men, and APP
/ points Brig Gen. Rufus Saxton to see
that the order is carried into effect
The cotton at Savannah will soon be
sent to New York under convoy of
vessels of war. The cotton now in
the interior of the State is also to be
invited to Savannah, and paid for III
/ government money by the treasury
PEACE MOVEMENTS
Mr. Blair's private mission to the
rebel capital has produced unexpected
results. On Sunday morning last
three confederate officials, high in
office and inhucnce-Vice-P President
Stephens, r. NJ T. Hunter, president
of the confederate senate, and W. j.
Campbell, confederate assistant sec
rotary of war-started from Richmond
for Washington, 'to confer with Pres
ident Lincoln on the subject. of putting
an end to the war if possible" as Mr..
Dayiss paper represents. Gen. Grant
was absent from his Headquarters
having just returned to Fortress Mon
roe from Fort Fisher, and the com
missioners We're delayed some hours
in awaiting his return. On Tuesday
they were sent down the James on a
dispatch-boat, but were detained
again at Fortress Monroe, and Sec.
rotary Seward went down on Wednes-
day to confer with them there and as
certain what propositions for peace, on
for negotiation, they are prepared tC
make. The president went to Fort.
ress Monroe on Thursday, which
wSuld indicate that Mr. Seward found
the commissioners disposed to lister
to some terms. The statement of the
Richmond Sentinel is that Messrs
Stephens, Hunter and Campbell are
not commissioners with power to ne
gotiate terms of peace, but merely in
formal agents empowered to see if any
basis of negotiation can be agreed up
on. The effort is not merely prelim
mary, it is pre-preliminary to actua
negotiations; it is tentative motion
toward peace. Nevertheless it gives
rise to vague hopes that peace is near
because the rebel leaders are full,
aware that peace can be had only by
their submission to the government
: and they have no need to send agents
to Washington to verify that fact. L
is true that they protest as stoutly az
, ever that they will have no peace til
| their independence is established; bu