Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-14
Military News BY Rebel Sourses from the
Various Theatres Of War.
WASHINGTON, Sunday, jan. ]

WASHINGTON, Sunday, Jan. 1.
The following is from Richmond papers OF
the 18th of December:
The Sentinel bawls for reinforcements in the
following strain: "Grant has divided his two
great armies into three, Meade's, Shermans
and Thomas, with a corresponding arrange
ment nc shall have to meet him. Sherman
on the Atlantic coast is far less formidable
than Sherman in the interior. By the ex-
change of Atlanta for Savannah, he has
thrown away an advance and an advantage
that cost him thousands of men. His new
position entails upon US no further incon-
venience than the necessity of making new
disposition of our own forces. That is all,
and that is nothing. The great and the
anxious duty that is now upon US is to suita-
bly, strengthen our armies. We entreat Con-
gress, and we warn the people, not to neglect
or delay that most imperative obligation
through any selfquieting cOnceits of the mint
of our commanders. We must not make our
admiration and confidence in our commanders
either a reason or an excuse for Withholding
the means demanded by the work assigned to
them. If an array of eminent military &c
MUS could alone have sufficed, if distinguish
ed talent could have supplied the place of
men, then Sherman could never have reached
the coast while Generals Beauregard, Bragg,
A. w. Smith, Richard Taylor and Hardee OPP
posed and even such as these and all OF
these were comparatively powerless because
comparatively alone. They had not the
means to work with The pressure of the
war threatens, as some suppose, to fall on
Gen. Lee. We know not how it may prove.
The enemy may perhaps join their packs to
pull him down; if they attempt it, we must
and we will stand by him. To cram him with
compliments when he asks for more men,
would be to give him stone in answer TO
for bread we must GS mot not expect @p9sS 81
our cause, for which we cannot be sufficiently
thankful, will prove snare and may work
our ruin. Let the work of strengthening our
armies be now our great concern, as it is our
great business, and as there is nothing else
to excite our solicitude. The military opera
tions, over which the enemy are at present
joyous, amount to nothing. Sherman may
cackle over a few thousand bales of that cot
ton of which we have millions, and he may
exult over the city for which he has paid an
other. All this is as nothing, but the re-
| enforcement of our armies we may not neglect.
We learn from up the country that Col.
Mosby received the wound of whic-l mention
has already been made, while at supper in
the house of Mr.. Lake, on the 2lst. He was
shot through the window The Yankee who
shot him did not know him. He robbed his
person even to pulling off his boots, suppOs
ing him to be dead, remarking as he lett him
that he would do no more harm. The gall
liant Colonel has probably reached his family
ere this, and if his wound is not worse than
is supposed, he will soon be in the saddle
again.
By the Western train Saturday night news
comes from LyEchburg, Va, of the 22d, CIV
ing some particulars of the fall of the salt
works. They were attacked at l o'clock on
Tuesday, by the whole force OF Burbridge's
command, numbering 5000 men. The fight
lasted all the evening, mostly With artillery,
our forces being commanded by Col. X. L.
Preston, and numbering, it is said, not over
| $50. When night set in they still held their
own, but under cover of darkness the Yam
KEGS succeeded in reaching Fort Breckenridge,
one of the main defeuces, placed in an over
towering number, aud captured 1t. Col
Preston, deeming it impractcable to hold the
works any longer, ordered its evacuation. He
| and 500 of his men are known to have es-
capped in safety; it was believed that some
Others would succeed in making their way
out. The works were fired the next morning.
| 1t is believed, however, that no serious dam
age has been done, and that they will be in
operation again in a month. The Yankees
| did not remain long and are reported To have
| left for Tennessee. AT Abingdon, we under.
stand they destroyed two entire blocks of
buildings, including the court house and Jail,
the office of the ViSyinian, and private resi-
dences, besides the railroad building.
WILMINGTON, Dec. 27.-Bragg telegraphs
| from below that the enemy have abandoned
their position above Fort Fisher and re-em-
barked. Our troops and officers behaved
well throughout. The enemy has been de-
feated at all points.
WILMINGTON, Dec. 80, P. MO his Err
cellency the President of tie Confederate States !:
The enemy has re-embarked under cover
of his fleet. His movement is not yet devel-
oped. have visited Fort Fisher and find
the damage slight except buildings not ne
cessary for its defence. Only twenty-one
guns were disabled. The marks remaining
| indicate that the bombardment was a very
heavy one. Maj. Gen. Whiting, commanding
the defenses at the mouth of the river, Col.
Lamb, commanding the fort, and the officers
and men comprising the garrison, deserve es-
pecial commentator for gallantry, efficiency
and fortitude displayed under very trying cir
cumstances.
| (Signed) BRAxToN BRAGG.