The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-20

From Neutrality-suspicious. from Southern
Sources.
WASHINGTON, Feb. is.
The Select committee on the rebellious
States in their amendments to tho reconstruc-
ton bill as reported to-day, provide for recon-
struction by the President of the State gov
eminent of Tennessee, ii such government
shall be established byloyal citizens in conform
ity with the Constitution prior to the LIST of
May next.
The report also provides that the constitu-
ton OF Tennessee, shall prescribe: first that no
person shall vots who has held a Confederate
military Office higher than colonel, or a civil
office, unless it be ministerial; second, that
slavery shall be forever prohibited: and third,
that no State or Confederate debt, created I'M
der the action OF the usurpng power, shall
be recognized or paid by the State; aud no
rebel law ofcondscition shall be binding.
During four days OF the present week, over
200 rebel deerters came within the lines of
the armies of the Potomac and James. This
morning forty sixty arrived here, all of whom
deserted from the rebel picket posts ON the
night of the 14th
The Massachusetts delegation, bearing a
petition, asking for the appointment of Gov.
Andrew to place in the Cabinet on re-
organization, were introduced to the President
to-day, by Senator Wilson.
Richmond papers of the 10th inst, have been
received.
The Despatch contains the following:-
! There was a cannonade of several hours
duration on our left near the Appomattox,
Wednesday evening. With this exception
nothing of moment has occurred.
On the Petersburg lines, picket firing has by
the tacit consent of both parties very much
slackened. The enemy is quiet in his entrench-
ments on Hatcher's Run.
/ Throughout Tuesday night, the rumbling of
wagons and artillery was heard On Cd ant's
| lines in the neighborhood of Deep BOTTOM
L. was supposed that Grant was transferring
heavy body oftroops to the north side. This
may be simply thereturn Of troopt sent over to
Petersburg to participate in the Hatchers
Run affair last Monday.
It was reported yesterday that our troops
were evacIatng Wilmington. The report is
not confirmed however by official dispatches.
Gen. Baker ia command Of our forces at
Goldsboro'. reports that he has reason to be-
ieve the enemy are concentrating at Newbern
and have with them materials for repairing
the railroad from Newbern to Kinston.
Scouts who came into Kinston on the night
of the 18th, report 1000 ofthe 18th army corps
had arrived there, making the number o.
troops at that post about 5000. 1t is believed
in Knston that the enemy have landed two
locomotives, and two cargoes of railroad iron
at Morehead City, but it is not apprehended in
Kinston that the enemy design an early move
ment in that direction.
Our troops abandoned Branchville last Sun
day night.
Wheeler on Friday last attacked and whip
ned Fitzpatrick at Aiken, fifteen miles north
east of Augusta, and drove him back five miles
in the direction of Branchville.
Augusta papers of last Wednesday state
that at that time Slocum was at Windsor, ten
miles east of Aikens, advancing on Augusta
his right flank being protected by the Soutl
Edisto, and his left by Kilpatrick's cavalry.
Two days after this Fitzpatrick was whipped
by Wheeler.
Slocum has with him the 10Th and 16ti
, corps.
The 14th and 10th corps comprise the fore
. operating against Columbia and Charleston.