Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-11
News Items.

fRANCE.--Ine AfcnDtSnOp OF DeSancan 5
letter respecting the Popes encyclical has
been referred to the Council of State as an
abuse of ecclesiastical authority.
ITALY.-The Minister of Justice reminds
the Italian Bishops that the encyclical must
be submitted to the royal exequatur. Gov
eminent reserves to itself the right of sup
pressing whatever portions are contrary to
the laws of Italy. The Turin correspondent
of the London News reports that the French
troops are to be withdrawn from Rome before
March.
Il Is said that evidence of the cession of
the northern states of Mexico to Louis Ma
poleon by Maximillian, has been on file in the
office of the French legation at Washington
for some months past. It is also announced
Minister of State, has asked Secretary Sew
ard for an explanation of the recent Congress
sional censure of the policy of Mr.. Lincoln's
administration in regard to Mexico.
The result of Mr.. Blair's volunteer visits
to Richmond is this: That JEFF. Davis is will
ling to waive formalties and send to Wash
ington or receive from there, commissioners
to treat for peace, upon the basis of sepera-
ton. The President of the United States,
on the other hand, is willing to give a hear
ing to any person of influence who may come
from the States in rebellion, with or without
Davis authority, TO treat of peace on the
basis of submission to the Union. OF the
above facts there is no doubt.
The Herald publishes the rebel army ros-
ter, which it says was obtained from the most
authentic source. The figures accompanying
the organization show that the full strength
of the rebels is only one hundred and sixty
eight thousand, nine hundred and fifty men
of all arms. This is their fullest strength,
and these forces are scattered from the
James to the Red river, and from the Allan
tic coast to the Indian Territories. It is
shown very conclusively that the only army on
which the rebels can depend Is the army OF
Northern Virginia. This the only organiza-
ton which the enemy has deserving the
name, and the only army which We now have
to overcome.
The Here!ds st. Louis correspondent gives
the outlines of a reported rebel project west
of the Mississippi, of an extraordinary char
acter. 1t is to the effect that Gen. Kirby
Smith, commanding the rebel Trans Mississip-
pi Department, including all the rebel terri
tory and troops west of the Mississippi river,
| has been for some time negotiating for a
| transfer of all his forces to the Emperor
MaximiIliau, of Mexico. 1t is anticipated
1
portant transfer of his services, he will have
some difficulty in effecting it, as the rebel
troops of that region, already so lawless and
semi-disorganized, have become additionally
| demoralized since the death of old Sterling
| Price, their favorite chief and may resist this
wholesale military colonization.
The HerabFs correspondent near Peters.
burg, dating he 2Sth, learns that the recent
rebel ram movement on the James was deep
er in design than appeared on the face of it.
| The rams were to move down the river just
as they did and destroy our pontoons. Sig
mails, rockets, &C., were to be sent up, by
| which means intelligence was to be conveyed
TO Gen. Lee that the pontoon part of the
| business had been accomplished. After de
stroying the pontoons the rams were to pre-.
vent reinforcements being sent from the
South to the North side of the James. Stimuli
| taneously with the above Lee was to com
mence dashing, surprising attack on Gen
| Ord's lines on the North side of the James,
having massed a heavy force in front of then
/ for that purpose, and attempt by overwhelm
| ing numbers and the suddenness and brillian
| CIV of the attack, the destruction of that par
] of Grants army.
A Natehez letter of the 23d to the New
| Orleans Delta has the following news from the
trans. MISSISSIPPI department. iHe eheml
are fortifying Grand Ecore and have an en-
tire Division stationed there. One Division
of rebel cavalry has been sent to Texas late
ly with orders TO be dismounted for infantry
service. Kirby Smiths headquarters are a
i Shreveport, but there is no considerable
body of troops garrisoning there. The mail
body Of Prices old army Is reported to be a
Fulton, on the upper Red river, near the Dor
ders of the Indian country, suffering all th'
horrors of cold and nakedness. The mel
have come back from their recent campaign
very poorly supplied with the necessarie
they anticipated getting there. Fag ms AM
Parsons brigades are stationed at Camden
Ark, they compose all the troops of Price
army that have returned from the Missouri
expedition who originally set out on it. De
sertions are very frequent from these demon
allied forces"