Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-08

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ksy crew. u thls Ia The sass IL can ealiy b. in.
II aSlnea what damage might have been dote had the
OnOndaga remained al her post, instead OF falling
down the riRer on the first appearance ~ the reoel
/ feet A 30 stands under the gallant Blake,
We can scarcely desire more than to have the enc
\ Iny repeat the experiment -
PREPARATIONS FOX AYOTuEK NAVAL ATTACK
Semmes, since his appointment AS Rear Adn,,rAIA
| has been buSly engaged in conjunction WIN Lee
in organizing another .desceat upon as. u appears
thai tL,.y have determined % strike one more blow
ON the river, aud then abandon tho heet. sending
the commissioned oficcrs west OF The NlSSlSslpP
and transferring the warrant officers AND laen 70 me
army. That this blow viii be desperate one there
eau be no doubt. Whatever they seek 10 accom-
plisb il is At least certain that they will have no
ieStancy ia sacrificing every one Of their Vessels to
carry ID through.
roRpIBoEs IN ruE RIVER.
The enemy are busily engaged in improving their
torpeoes for river defence. They have arsady laid
some new ones below Fort Darling aud are freparing
Others OF the same description, The principal
feature of these new torpedOes is that they will he
ignted by galvanc batteries ON shore.
roRrEDoEs IN FRONT oF OUR LINES.
ID has tong been known that the rebels have an
enormous number VI torpedocS in front of the lines
Of this corps We now ind that these deadly
machines number four thousand, and are. laid out
regularly at intervals of three feet. Scarcely
night but some careless reDei rum uppn
wire, and the explosion following either kills or
mains him for liIes
GIN. N0SoUERA AND SUITE VISIT GEN. GIANT.
The only event of interest is the arrivalat Gen.
Grants headquarters Ut Gen. Nosqucra, eN-freSi
deul OF the republic Of Colombia, aud now minister
penipOtentary and envoy extraordinary 10 the
Court OF st. James. General MOSquera IS accom-
panied by General SalZar, minister from the re-
public OF Colombia to the United States, aud the
respective suites Of the two distinguished gentle
men. They having an interview this hI1rnlhg
with General Grant, are expected to spend new
days in looking over the military stuation ana VIII
then doubtless return to their respective posts and
duties.
THE REBEELS HAPPY.
The rebels we're cheering considerably last night
along the right OF their line, but what Was the cause
ct their unusual eNubermce of spirits am unable
t. divine. Picket firing indulged in to linn
tied extent in front Of the 9th corps, probably 10
prevent deSeTters from coming into our lines.
A variety OF contradictory TumorS aud reports
concerning the doings apd movements OF the enc
my have gained circulation 10 The army Euhh q
week but very lew OF them deserve OF receive much
credeuce. IL was first asserted a. lndispntablN
trae on the evidence OF deserterS aud our own OBJ
,eryat,Ons OF the fact thar the evacuation OF Pc
tsrsburg had actually commenced and was lapldy
being carried forward from day to day Yet alter
weeks continuance the place proves 20 be 40
more evac uated' IN point OF fact than at any former
period OF It's Disagreement. The rumor most
k ely originated a. suggested TWO days ago M the
precautionary removal from the city OF a large
amount of tobacco and cotton that has loug been
there IN store, and the posi- bile diSmounting and
transporting Oi portion OF the heavy ordnance To
place OF greater security. These would 100 'leu-
surss engendered by the most ordinary aud common
kInd oi military prudence, and should by no means
be considered evidence OF the euemy' intention 10
Immediately withdtaS his forces from the place
There is indeed no likelihood OF his doing the lat
ter until he las resolved upon thu evacuation "i
Richmond also. Eyeu then the probabilities are
that Petersburg will br the last abandoned iOr his
Intentions could be better masked aud longer con
cealed by leaving Richmond inst
LoNGSrgEEr TEMPORARILY IN COMMAND Ar RICH
NoND.
stories Of the assignment OF General Joseph =.
Johnston To the command OF the rebel army ct
Northern Virginia were rite throughout both our
armies two DAYS ago, aud Slirang from the concur
rrut testimony Of deSrrter> to the fact aud the
nouncrment ct the rebels that his newly assigned
command was a very important one. Ii was AIS"
known that Lee had gone to Sherman front to
overlook operations in that quatter, and there APP
pcarrd no one likely TO command IA his absence
a. Johnston. 1t nov appears that Lon2streei was
lelt la temporary charge here aud that Lee ACCOM-
panird Johnston southwark, aud duly installed him
n Bean, egard's place On last Thursday. Therehel
papers OF Yesterday announce the fact Of hlN as
Stunning command on Thursday, but have not al any
time alluded 10 Lees absence from here.
There are some tangible stories Heating around
our lines demanding notice. Some 81 these have
already found their way North, and columns OF edl
tnral have been based upon them. Que OF tlleSe IS
that the Rebel position here is already in prOccsS
at evacuation. many troops aud guns having al
ready been removed. However The fact may he
north ct the AppomattoX and the JaMc>, there is
certainly but little reason, n ana, to suppose II
true OF the Rebel lines confronting the Army vi the
Potomac from the App0hlattON Ia llatcher's Rnn.-
kyer since the battle ot Dabney Mills, Hills corps
aud uu, division OF .AnderSOns corps have been
holding this Rebel line, and, tar as the iniorna-
.iuu 0i deScrtrrs aud refugees coming into our lines
can De relied on, are doing So yet. We certainly
haze sufficient evidence every night of this corps
being still on the extreme right OF the Rebei line
eautrOnt,ng us Rt Hateher's Kun in the deSerters
from that command who seek refuge in our lines.
Within day OF two past these deserters and
reiueees have given some Information that true,
would tend o. Indicate the evacuation of Peters
burg as one of the possible events vi the near tu
ture Their stories are, that during the latter part
OF the past week the rebel authorities began remO-
wing the public property from Petersburg 10 Lynch
burg and the citizens taking the initiative from the
Government, lad cOnlmeRced migrating with their
chatteis in the same direction. These are rumors,
and on them ls Fes
AZ OPINION
is based that General Lee will abandon Petersburg,
will leave one corps inside the deiences ct Rich
mond aud with the other two will attempt 10 steal
by Us aud throw them upon ShermanS array in
North CaroliHA. This Is OF course, merely an opin
ION aud given such for what II is worth. That
L Lee can successfully carry out SSch programme,
nobody believes; that II he could, IL would not ma
teriay add 10 the mTicacIes of the suaton, every
body u willing to admit. or
FnG Stunning o. COLUMBIA CoNFIRNED.
The r. s. steamer Garage" arrived at New
York on the Isl, from Charleston on the 9th. She
brings the confirmation Of the report that the Nan
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