Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-16
FROM THE SOUTH.

The Freshet on the James River-ad.
vance of our Picket Linss--Visit Of Mr..
Blair to Richm ond-Re eported Official
lDterviews-Cordlal Reception by Old
Assoeia.es-Sprculatisn as to His Mis-
.ion-fhe Arrest Of MIR. foese-Jeff.
Davis Message to Censress-The Whole
subject Referred to u Commttsee-Tne
Prisoner on his Parole-HIs Alleged
the NoFth-Csmm ent of the Rebel Press
Union Demonstration Near Mobile,
The Richmond Enquirer Of the 13h instant
has the following from the Mobile Advertiser:
"rhe Yankees, aoout 1890 strong. are at
Franklin Mills. on Dog river, without trans
pcrtatIon. Their supplies are received by WAY
of Dog river. Owing to the conformation o; the
country their position is unassailaole.
sour forces are in the proper position to
thwart any move they make.
"In a skirmish the other day two or three
Yankees we've killed and i've captured"
The Richmond Dispatch of the i3th says:
"The freshet in James river commenced
falling about o'clock yesterday afternoon and
in less than two hours had subsidized upwards
Of fifteen inches. Further than q small break
in the canal, and the filling up of several first
and second stories OF buildings in the 10 wer
part of he city, we have not heard OF any Sc
rious damage occurring therefrom in this neigh
borhood. The hydrants throughout Rich.
mond stopped running yesterday. but will
donbtless yield their accustomed ilew Of water
to day and to night.
"Itis reported thatIthe enemy, during the
storm OF last Tuesday, advanced their picket
lines on our extreme right, south of Petersburg.
we nave NO positive Information on the SUBJ
Jecf, but the news is not very important, if
true.
"There is report that the explosion heard
on Monday night WAS another attempt OF the
enemy to blow out the western end of Dutch
Gap canal. The freshet in the river has, we
hope, by this time, filled up the ditch, AID OBJ.
liberated all traces of the canal I. is likely
that one OF our pontoon bridges, which by
good management, was allowed TO be washed
away, has pulled up in the neighborhood ofthe
submerged canal
commissioner, arrived In this city late Wed.
Desday, attended by q servant. Mr. Blair
oame into on- lines at point in front OF Fort
Harrison, held by the City Battalion. He was
delayed several hours in our lines, waiting for
apeImit to come to the city, which was not
procured until 4 late hour Of the night Since
his arrival he has been kept, or kept himself
from the public eye, and his movements and
wbereabous s are shroudedfin mystery. He is
believed to he lodged at the Srotts wood Hotel,
and we think there is little doubt that he is,
though his name does not appear on the regis
ter.
"He has been met accidentally BY several of
MS old dacquaintancss, and their meetings were
chaTactetiZed by the utmost cordality on both
sides. He Is said TO have had inter vie VS. with
the chief Executive officers OF the Government.
What passed at these interviews we need not
expect TO learn until Mr.. Blair return to the
United States, when everything will bs pub.
Nshed in full in the New York Tribune and
other New York papers. Mr.. Blsirs ostensi-
Bile business here for tn is nothing ostsnsIbIe
about him or his business or moveRents-is to
ascertain whether anything can be done TO
bring about cessation OF hostilities and end to
the war.
.'We think his real business lie to place the
Lincoln Administration In good position be.
fore the Northern people, who are just called
npon 10 flliup another draft. Linceln knows
that the pI opositions he will make are such
that they will be spurned by onr Government;
but our rejection OF them will enable him to
go before bis people, and, with Blair's aid, to
prove that The rebels will acceptof no terms OF
peace, and that nothing is lett him but o vigor.
Gus prosecution OF the war.
"Mr. Blair will return to Grants lines on
Saturday If the freshet subsidies suffi GENTLY TO
enable flag. of-truce boat to go down the
river.
ave have no news from South or South
west"
from the Richmond Examiner, Jan. 13
1.-THE great overflow Of the James continues,
and may do more for Buffers canal than all
1t up with mud and sand. Until the water SUD-
sides, nothing can be known, even by those on
The spot. The freshet is not 30 high as tha. OF
last year by severarfeet.
The chief news ON the lines Is the continual
activity Of Grants army railroad. Il ruus day
ait night and is said to be Transporting vast
stores TO the extreme left OF his lines, where,
without doubt his next effort will be made,
perhaps the commencement of a long march.
Several bomb proofs on our lines caved in
under the late rains, and some causalties are
The enemy keeps up his artillery practice
on Chesterfield, without the slightest damage
OF any sort.
Francis P. Blair is reported to have entered
our lines at Eilicott's Hill, coming from Fort
Harrison, and is said to have been sent on to
Richmond by General Even. Here 1t is further
reported that he is lodging at some private
house and that he has held an interview with
the Secretary OF War. These are the stories
current; we hope they are not true. No good
can come OF such mission, and evil may be its
result.
The following is from the Richmond Wing
Of Saturday. the i4th instant:
"The Arrest of Hon. III 5. Faose.
"The following communication was re.
ceived in the House OF Repre- sentatIyes yester-
day at one O'Clock, from the President, through
his privats secretary, Colonel b. N. Harrison:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Jan l3. 1865
Is Tothe House Of Rspressn Gtires, O. s. A:
Il have just received the accompany
irg report from the Secre tary OF War,
stating that Henry s Foose, a member OF the
House OF Representatives, has been arrested
by military officer in Northern Virginia,
while endeavoring to pass our lines, on his
way to the enemy's country. AS this arrest
may involve question OF privilege, submit
the matter 10 you, in order that such disposal
of the case may be made as you shall deem
proper. "JEFFRRsoN DAVIS"
nWAR DEPARTMENT., @. S. A., RICHMOND,
Jan. -, ISIS - To the President of the Confederate
H0tes-Sir: have the honor to submit, tor
yOnr information ard direction, the COPY OF a
telegram Just received from the Provost Mar.
shal of fredericksburg.
"No special Instructions lad been given for
such arrest. Very respectfully, &c,
JAMES A. Seldom, Secretary or War"
"FRRpERIcKeHuke, Jan. 10. 1885 - To Hon
Secretary # Wdr: L have arrested Hon. Henry
s. foote at OccoquRn, on his way 20 Washing
ton, Ter the purpose of negotiating peace, as he
avoWs. Full particulars through Major Car
rineton by mail Have paroled him to awsit
Instructions.
.Pleaee instruct me what disposition to
make of him, H. s. DAGGBTT,
"Commanding post"
ION motion of Mr Clarke, OF Missouri, the
matter was referred 10 select committee Of
hve."
IOccoquan is in Prince William county on
the stream of that name, near the Potomac
The village Is about seventy nvs miles from
Richm ond and twenty from Alexandria
The Draft and General Fry's Explanation
Of ITS Principles and Operations.
Appended we publish in fun the letter Of
Provost Marshal General Fry, which presents
officially his understanding and purposes re-.
spec,ing the draft, and OF which we gave an