The New York herald., 1865-02-25


THE SITUATION.
The nationas have achieved another i'm
portant though not unexpected, triumph Schonold's
soldiers and Porters sailors celebrated Washing
toms birthday Wednesday last by taking
poss ssion Of Wilmington, North Carolina. The
rebels Tcrrys front after the loss of Fort
Anderson, made stand about four miles below the city
but here they attacked in the rear and routed
b. the troops under General Cox, last Monday.
They then fed to Wilmington, burning the bridg over
Brunswick river behind them, aud also immense
quant cs Of cotton and rosin. They hastily evacuated
the city on the night of Tuesday and carly wednes
day nig the 22i, General Terry's command marched
in and occupied it. capturing large quantities of supplies
OF all kinds Sewn hundred prisoners and thirty guns
were captured in Fort Anderson and Wilmington to-
geher. 1t is sad the rebels burned a thousand bales
of cotton and fifteen thousand barrels of rosin before
leaving the city.
Unusual movements and activity have boen observed
In the rebel lines around Richmond during the past few
days, indicating designs of enterprise on the
part o 1d il il srmised that alarmed by the
progress national forces he has
concluded that the time for giving up both Richmond
and Petersburg and falling back to Lynchburg
other dcensibe position has last arrived General A.
p Hills corps Of his army is said 70 have been
under orders Thursday of this week 70 be
prepared to march at . moments notice; and
considerable commotion within the rebel lines was
displayed yesterday. There also
that Lee med ates attack Grant. All these matters
with the tho rebel journals
have received orders from the authorities 10 be
particularly rcticsnt regarding military affairs, give
color tho belief that something more than
ordinary in process Of execution within their lines
The influx Of rebel descrers however remains unintr
mi,tcd washingtons birthday celebrated with great
spirit throughout the Potomac and James armies As
part Of the festivities the rebels Of Petersburg
treated to vigorous shelng early in the morning
Tho exchange OF prisoners still being pushed forwsrd
pidly and Will out interruption James river The
Richmond papers say there furious cannonading by
the Union guns Of Petersburg on last Monday
many Of their shells exploding in the town, and that
there aso heavy artillery firing in the vicinity OF
Dutch Gap Tuesday They have learned that
General Grant is extending his military railroad TO his
position on Hatchers run. The Petersburg Esprea
says the Union forces throwing up heavy works
miles below Monck's Neck bridge, between that place
and Rcam's station, on the Brunswick stage road.
Great excitement Is said to prevail in Knoxville, Ton
nesscc, owing to report that tho rebel General Long
street Is moving that place is said that the intent
OF tho late of national troops from Knoxville
is 70 defeat his plans Other important dispositions Of
Union forces looking the circumvcntion Of designs
East Tennessee which General Lee is supposed to enter
tain, arc reported to be In process Of execution.
As the rebel newspapers have received Official noti
ncation to suppress military news, VIC arc without
any later intelligence regarding General sherman's
progress in South Carolina. The Richmond papers
no, conceal their modification over the capture
of Charleston and Columbia. The occupation
OF the latter by General Sherman they acknowledge TO
have been very unexpected at Richmond and serious
arc expressed in reference to the ability
Of Bcaurcgard TO make any effective opposition to the
northward advance Of the rational forces 0fg
somc agreeable intelligence regarding blockade
runners Is furnished by one Of New Orleans
correspondents. On the night Of the 9th insl
two boats crews from the United States
steamers Princess Royal and Bienvile, under Acting
Ensign George H. French, boarded, captured and
ran out 70 the bcckading feet om under the guns Of
the rebel forts In Galveston harbor the blockade run
ming schsoncrs Pot and Annie SOPHIA laden with about
two hundred and any bales Of cotton EACH On
shc night Of the I'd inst the somewhat noted
blockade running steamship wilLo-the-wsp, while at
tempting 70 ges Into Galveston, went sshoFe and was
rendered useless by sAe gems Of The bockadsrs The
steamship Wren attempted 70 run the blockade outward
the nigh, Of the 9TH but was driven back By the
Union guns.
The bill 70 arm the negroes which the rebel House Of
Representatives passed tho inst indefinitely
postponed BY the Senate on the following day. The
rebel journals give Texas items Of interest includ
ing Of the defeat rebc force on the South
Coueha river that STATE the 18th Of January by the
Indians The fight said have been most desperate
one The Indians are giving the rebels there much
ky,kle. - Le Austin Ga.ae u susplGgys thai