The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-03-25
War News OF the Week.


The situation at the east grows exciting As
the great movements in progress approach
common focusE Sherman has passed Colds
boro and Is probably now IN front OF Raleigh.
lao miles from Richmond, distance lie Cain
,rsserse in eight DAYS. If he goes from
Raleigh to Danville, it will lengthen bis
march by but day or two. Either way. he
il within two weeks march of the rebel capt.
tai. Johnson anf Beauregard are in front Of
him. but ara clearly too weak to oppose any
effective barrier to his progress. If Lee re
mains in his present position, bound IN the
iron grip Of Grant, the result is inevitable,
Johnson and Beauregard will be driven into
Richmond, and the whole rebel army Will ne
besieged in their capital, CT compelled to light
their vay out against superior hers The
only hope left for Lee and the rebe! cause
seems to be, that Lee shall first fall suddenly
upon Sherman and ovcrwhe!m him, and then
turn upon Grant. Desperate as are the
chances for the success OF such mannuvre
this, from present appearances, is all the
chance the re is left for the rebels. And this
climax must come within two or three weeks
The latest direct dates from Sherman are
10 the 10Th He left Fayetteville on the 18th.
His left wing. on leaving Fayetteville, moved
in the direction of Mitchell station, 4 point -
miles west of Goldsboro. Sherman Is report
ed to have arrived before Raleigh. and to
have demanded its surrender; Gen. johnson,
however, sends despatch 10 Lee, that On
the 10Th that he attacked Sherman near Ben
louisville. routed him, and captured three guns
A mile in the rear he rallied ca fresh troops,
but was forced back slowly until e Z. NJ,
when, receiving more troops, he apparently
assumed the offensive. which was resisted
without Ell Guilty until dark. This morning
he is intrenched. Our loss is small. The
troops behaved admirably. Dense thickctS
prevented active operations" If sherman .
in front of Raleigh he must have defeated
Johnston and driver. him back about the 10th,
and reports that he has done so had reached
New York and Washington on Thursday.
Before leaving Goidsboro Sherman asked
io- reinforcements, and in response large
numbers have been sent 70 hun. from Beau
fort and Wilmington.
From the vicinity Of Richmond The intelil
gence is, that both Gen Grants and 6an-
Lees armies haze their kuapsack5 packed
and are ready for movement. Deserter:
say, Richmond is now being evacuated Z" a.
fast as possible The lines Of Grant and
Lee are, however. so close together, that TO
movement can vel. lie made By the one with.
out the knowledge of the other, and
the signal for Lees army to move would ais
start Grant after i:im.
Gen. Sheridan 5 Column, alter the big raI'
along the LyHchbuEg r. Z. and the jaime
:iver canal. got back to the White house Oh
the 10Th, without meeting with any accident
lie proposed to stop hut q few days 10 recru.;
when be woall move again up James river
From Mol. We have oniy q repetition 0
the staten eat current for Ike last three week,
that the federal forces were a! in READINGS
and would certainly move against Mobile in
dar or two.
From Thomas, on the Tennessee river thcr
is not word. His force is supposed 10 hav
been materially reduced, as there - no seri
Gus rebel force in his front. Forrest IS re
ported at West Point. Mss, with 5000 men
Jackson at Verona with S.o90; HcCailoch a
Oakalona with 1000; and Chalmers at Til
bvha Station with 1000. L. is suppose
these figures are considerably OYER the mar
but the location Of the respective command
is probably correct. The horses OF all thes
rebel forces are IL bad condition, and the
neither have artillery nor infantry. Fore.
has abundant supplies in the rich pralri
country along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
and can defend himself against any fore
likely 70 be sent across the desolaie countr
between his present location and Mem phis
A large majority Of the people OF I'll
country in wi; CHI these rebel forces are Ci
.tribrted are DESTROYS of peace en- any term
The Union sentiment, though denounced
and, in some cases. prosecuted ~ the KILN
secesh, is rapidly growing