Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-02-01
THE WAR NEWS

he f1BTUtI , va Val hi'Si VA 'PNN
dent gives details of the important success
there of our army and navy. Besides all
the guns and ammunition captured in the
forts, immense supplies of rebel provisions
were also secured, and much other property
of great value. The rebel troops in front
of General Terry made slight demonstration
on last Monday, but it amounted to nothing.
Deserters report that two rebel divisions
from Lees army at Richmond lately passed
through Wilmington on their way to South
Carolina. General Terry's army is in fine
condition, and is being rapidly prepared for
further operations Admiral Porter gun
boats were gradually working their way up
towards Wilmington. Deserters continually
report that the rebels are evacuatlng Rich
mond. Whether this be correct or not, 1t
is generally understood that much of the
rebel machinery for the manufacture of war
material and considerable of the government
archives have been removed from there.
The Richmond Ecaminer says: ''The ex-
petition of our iron-clads down the river had
been designed to break the enemy S pontoon
bridges, and thus destroy his communica-
tions, and to take advantage of the ascer-
tanned fact that he had withdrawn most of
his naval force from the river, probably to
Wilmington, leaving but one iron-clad and
some wooden vessels in the channel above
Varina The recent freshet had washed out
a portion of his distractions, and thus open
ed the way to the attack on his pontoons.
We may say here that the expedition is un-
derstood to have been planned by General
Lee, in view of the circumstances referred to.
The Richmond Ecan,iser of the 24th
says: A long series of blunders, convincing
some sooner and others later, have now pro-
duced a very general, indeed, we may say,
universal belief among all intelligent obser-
vers that our Government, as it is now con-
Quoted, is not equal to the great occasion.
That feeling so carefully nurtured has been
hopelessly broken. That great element of
success is gone from us, unless in some way
we reform the administration Of our Gov
ernment
General Sherman has issued IAN order in
reference to the negroes within the lines of
his army. The young and able-bodied men
are to be encouraged to enlist in the military
service, and the South Carolina sea islands
and the abandoned rice and cotton fields on
portions of the coasts of Florida and South
Carolina are to be set apart for the settle
ment of the old men, women and children.
Gen. Rufus Saxton has been appointed to
superintend colonization on the lands.
California journals are discussing the
subject of Napoleon's colonization scheme
in Northern Mexico, and generally take
the view that it will relieve the State of
Southern malcontents and rebel sympathi-
zers. Many are already preparing to leave
under the invitation of DIR. Gwyn, and in
thateVent American settlers will revolution
ize the country if the Monroe doctrine is
not soon asserted by the United States Gov
ernment.
Late rebel papers continue to show the
confusion, doubt and dependency regarding
the success of the Cenfederacy now preva-
lent among the chief rebels themselves, as
well as the mass of the people.
y Charleston correspondent of the Rich
mond Dispatch says that if Sherman sue
ceeds in getting possession of Branchville,
the fall of Charleston will soon follow.
All the rebel obstructions have been remov-
ed from the main channel to Savannah har-
Dor, and it is now open to navigation.