Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-03-17
1HE NEWS.


The war news continues highly eucourag-
ing. Official dispatches have been received
from Gen. Sherman, who on the 9Th was at
Laurel Hill, N. c., the despatch saying, "We
are all well and doing 6nely"-the details being
for obvious reasons omitted. He has since been
heard from from at Fayetteville, N. c., which
point light draught boats can reach from
Wilmington. 1t is certain that up to last
Wednesday be had encountered no serious op-
position, and the only fighting had consisted
of cavalry skirmishes. After brief rest at
Fayetteville it is thought be will unite with a
portion Of Scbofeld's forces and continue his
march north.
Sheridan's operations have been crowned
with complete success, and have proved i'm
meDsely damaging TO the rebels. Soon after
starting on his expedition be defeated and ut
terly routed Early, captured 81 commissioned
officers, 1857 enlisted men, 13 State and bat
lie flags, Z cannon, 100 wagons and ambu-
lanees. He then continued on, capturing
Charlottesville, and other important points,
and committing sad havoc with the railroads
and canal west of Richmond. The particulars
of his operations are given in an official des-
patch Published on the first page. At last
accounts be was continuing his operations,
producing perfect panic in Richmond. 1t is
said his raid has been one of the most
damaging to the rebels of any during the war,
as he bas for the time being utterly destroyed
their only lines of communication over which
their supplies were received.
Gen. Scho6eld has also met and after se-
ries of determined assaults on the part of the
enemy, defeated them and driven them back
to the north side Of Neuse river. The few
prisoners captured in the first rebel assault,
and over which achievement they boasted as
splendid victory, have been recaplured, and
themselves in the end dsastrously defeated
The particulars are given elsewhere.
The rebels again speak Of a large concen-
their reports are reliable, there can be little |
doubt that determined effort to capture the
city is about to be made.
The Union forces Ia East Tennessee are
largely increasing by the new regiments be-
ing sent to the field from the Western States
The rebel papers say the railroad is being re-
paired east Of the Strawberry Plains, and
from this fact infer meditated advance from
that direction into South western Virginia.
There has been no movement 90 the part |
of Grants forces. Deserters from the rebel
army continue to come into his lines in large
numbers. all Of whom concur in representing |
the affairs of the Confederacy in desperate |
condition.
An expedition recently assembled the Rap
pahannOck to Fredericksburg, capturing and
bringing Of nearly one hundred tons of man.
ufactured tobacco, and destroying a large
number of cars, slOop loaded with salt, and
considerable quantity of stores of various
kinds.
The rebel Congress hes finally prssed bill
to arm the slaves, but the measure is very un
popular in the Gulf States, and some of those
who voted for it confess that they regard it as
an exceedingly hazardous experiment.
Reports are again current of the arrival of
rebel peace commissioners at Fortress Mon
roe. They have not been traced to any re-
liable source and are probably entirely un-
founded.