The New York herald., 1865-02-25
RICHMOND.
Heavy Firing Before Peters
burg on Feb. FL.
>~~~~~~~>~~~~~~So~~~~>~-
NO EXPLANATION OF The CAUSE.
-ae-- -~~
The Enemy Making Prepara-
tions for a Movement.
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THEIR PROBABLE DESIGNS.
Ha g>~>>r>>>c~~>~>r~>r~~rr~
Universal Celebration Of Washlngtsn's
Birthday BY the Army,
&c., Co., &c..
THEIR PROBABLE DESIGNS.
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

@7 Cns Posxf, Feb. q, 1885,
wAsuM0rox's mRrHDAy N THs Army.
The Observance Of the 22d general and noticeable
everywhere in this vicinity. ~ early hour In the
morning flags unfurIed in every direction. Tho
army and he navy We'd with each other In honorng the
anniversary Of the birthday Of the who In the hands
Of Providence "nade and preserved . nation" and
aass banBsy psnnants and streamers presented mar
tial and holiday appearance in every direction.
Either by accident design the nrng the front OF
the Army Of the Potomac was commsuced about hour
earlier and prolonged into respectable cannonad
ing Of the enemys lines before the order given TO
cease The practice somewhat ntful, but rapid
and furious at intervals The rebos probably expected
something Of the kind proper Interpretation,
but comparatively little notice was taken Of our bonn
bardment along the line.
DKsERrERs REPORT AN INTENTION 10 ATTACK.
Rumors OF the evacuation OF Petersburg are rife in
camp again. but dcserers bring In the story that rebel
attack IL threatened. Information has bcen received
that A. p Hills corps under marching orders at
moments notice, and the rebel army 10 just now mani
Testing unusual activity in every department
PRoBABIE PLANS or THE ExExy.
There is but Interpretation TO give thia Alarmed
by Shermans undisputed in the heart Of the
saunches rebel territory his rapid advance In this drec
ton and ultimate cooperation in the reaSc
Schofeld has tskcn Fort Anderson, and no doubt
compelled the evacuation Of Wilmington, they
Of both Petersburg and Richmond and the concentra
ton Of all the available forces Of the confederacy ut some
point nearer the centre Of what territory Is stu ie 10
their possession They may possibly conclude a fierce
attack some part OF line would surprise and
promise temporary success Or they may make .
evacuation Of works. But neither can blind us
to their real movements, enable them got away
They are by Richmond and Petersburg ~ Henry Clay
by the goat he had BY the horns"he couldn't hold
on and he darsn't let g9'
will Co. and where Il will make It's next stand Its losses
Wal lnquestionaby be heavy BY dcserticn, and the o.
rebel capital But the discipline Of an old army is
such that be kept together and rendered effective
under circumstances that would appa and disband new
sdly leave Richmond for any point he chooses, with
large army Of veteran troops II equally certain the
Or the army destroyed The most plausible theory, 70
my mind, Il that he win fall back TO Lynchburg. AZ
and will have the additional advantage OF 90 threatening
the region Of the Upper Potomac 70 compel W TO keep
large force in THAI quarter @ repel him, unless no
should be hard pressed In his retreat and ~ closely in
mo1sments By day and night the picks.s strength
ened st various points, and portion Of the army kept
under arms for any emergency. sr ig.r1
TEMPORARY ABeENE or GENERAL MEADE
General Meade was summoned home hurredy yester
day by the death Of son. and left noon on special
boatthe Thomas Coliyer In his absence the command
Of the army devoives on General Psrke.
General Warren returned by last evenings mail boat
from short furough, and will resume command Of his
old corps AM
this vicinity, and have had interviews with General
Grant within week
Robert Lincoln son Of the President reported 70 these
headquarters yesterday for duty on the stan He has
lately been appointed assistant ajuant general with
the rank Of captain
Three hundred and fifty officers and Ave hundred en-
listed exchanged and sent TO Annapolis yes
terday Over four thousand have been exchanged here
within ten days. The rebels acting In good faith In the
details c exchange and the prisoners recently delivered
have not the starved emaciaed appearance Of some
who have gone before Among the officers sent down
yesterday Generals Hays and DUNE, Major Aatock
and Lieutenant Sholes.
government for the distribution Of supplies sent 70
prisoners in the Danville Salisbury and Richmond
prisons; but these have all been cmpticd by the
energy Of those having the matter In charge there
no further need Of his services
The 1rst lot OF negro soldiers exchanged during the
war; fourteen in number delivered to Lieutenant
Colone Milford Yesterday, among lot OF white soIders
II left TO unocially there Is question but that
the Confederate authorities viii gladly exchange negroes
for white men; but II called upon 10 recognize the
rghtful status Of black soldier in any on1cial FORM
Mr.. Theodore Q. Wilson'S Despatch.
CAvALy HEADQUARTERS,
ARny OF THE PoroxAc Feb %, 1885.
Yesterday ofcer Of ours had talk over the picket
lines with rebel officer, when the two getting into
conversation the subject Of the evacuation OF Charles
ton the latter sad "That is nothing We will astonish
you than that before March goes out" Does this
refer the evacuation OF Richmond or Petersburg
bohf The evacuation OF both Of said places 10
The following wounded yesterday while on picket
VIM. H. Butler, Co. D, oath New York cavalry.
John Williams, Co. H. 10th New York cavalry.
REPoRTED FOR DUTY
Major BENZ T. seva, Tenth New York, has reported In
the field for duty.