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

we are confident; that many OF the
people of the South are praying Tor
peace there can be no doubt; and yet
there is nothing in the present STU
alton which justiiies us in renting a
single effort until the rebel armies are
beaten and dispersed.
WILMINGTON AND NORTH CAROLINA.
There is no account of any further
progress towards the capture of VIII
mington. The rebel papers say that
their troops are strongly intrenched'
and will defend the city to TIE last,
and also say that the federals have
disappeared from Hoke's front, and
have concentrated in Fort Fisher; also
that the federal fleet has disappeared.
The federals occupy Smithvllle,. and
are evidently meditating an attack on
Fort Anderson, the only remaining
barrier to the free navigation OF the
Cape Fear river by our gunboats,
General Grant, Assistant Secretary
of war Fox and several other officers
have inst returned from trip to Fort
Fisher. They found it completely
riddled by shot and shell, and Gen.
Grant expresses the opinion that 1t
could not have been carried if the ma
val fire had not dismounted oil the
guns on the side assaulted by the
soldiers. 1t is evident also that the
rebels supposed the main assault was
that made by the sailors and marines,
and were but poorly prepared for
Terry's assault on the other side.
Several blockade runners have been
captured at Wilmington, with valu-
able cargoes. Both the Weldon and
CASTOR railroad bridges across the
Roanoke, in North Carolina, have
been destroyed by recent freshet,
and their loss seriously interferes with
the transportation of rebel army sup
plies, and besides the Richmond pa
pers represent federal force of from
six to ten thousand men moving on
Weldon. The district of North Car
Dina has been added to the depart
ment of the South, and Gen. Foster
has levied tax of one per cent. on all
the goods brought into the southern
department, except North Carolina, to
defray expenses Brig. Gen. T.. f.
Potter has been assigned to command
at Beaufort, South Carolina, and the
department extended so as to include
the camp near Pocotaligo
IN VIRGINIA.
The Richmond papers explain the
} failure of the late naval expedi.
ton down the James to attack the
federal position at City Point, by say
ing that only one boat could pass the
second line Of distractions, and be
coming entangled the plan of opera
tons was disarranged, The Drury
which was blown up, got ashore under
/ the federal batteries, and her maya.
zine was exploded by federal shell
4 rebel deserter says that TIE success
of the Richmond fleet would have
been the signal for an attack in force
by the rebels on Gen Grant with the
expectation Of destroying his army by
Il sudden dash But the failure of the
fleet prevented this. Gen. Meade has
lately ordered the privilege of carry
ing colors to be restored to the 20tl
Massachusetts regiment, as it is PROVED
that tho colors lost in battle reflect nc
dishonor on the regiment. Gen
Meade has also ordered Limited
number of furloughs to be given tc
meritorioas private soldiers in eacl
brigade to encourage a proper spirit
of emulation among the mon, eacl
furlough to be for IS days Tho only
item Of interest from the Shenandoah
valley is the announcement that tho
guerilla Blosby, who has been killed
any number of times, but is not deac
yet, is nearly well of his wounds, anC
will soon be ready for the saddle again
On the Potomac the rebel guerillas
made a dash on Occoquap, below
Alexandria, carrying off everything o
value that remained there.
OTHER WAR NEWS ITEMS
A rumor from New Orleans has had
extensive circulation that Mobile has
been evacuated by the yebels; but
there is no confirmation of it. The
rebel Kirby Smith still holds his
headquarters in the interior of Louis
lana, though he has no great force ex
cept at Grand Ecore, where there is q
whole division. A division of cavalry la;
been sent to Texas to be dismounteC
for infantry service. Tho main body
of Prices old army is supposed to bS
at Fulton, on the upper Red river
near the Indian country, and suffering
great priyation. The federal steamers
Chippewa and Annie Jacobs, sent III
the Arkansas river to Fort Smith
were captured and burned by tht
rebels at Oak Shoal; and there is ;
report that since, federal force from
Lewisburg has routed Shelby, who
was blockading the river to prevenr
supplies being sent to Fort Smith. -
No movement is reported by Gen
Thomas force. 1t is asserted thai
this army is being mostly mounted fol
the spring campaign, and when all il
ready a brilliant programme is laic
ont, including the complete subiuga
ton of the whole of Alabama ebe
guerrillas continue to roam freel,
over Kentucky and Tennessee, anc
Quantrell, the Kansas murderer, heads