Year: 1865

DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,


FORTRESS MONROE, vA Feb. IL, 1865. !
TO the Editor Of The Press:


Having been absent from the good old State
of Maine for many months, and not having
seen the Portland Press during my sojourn in
Dixie, it cannot be expected that / should
know much of what is going on in the "out-
side world" as we used to say when on that
ever memorable "excursionn of the editorial
fraternity away up in 'Roostick;;" but ven
turing to assume that the public in general
and yourself in particular may feel somewhat
interested in matters pertaining to this De-
psitment, take the liberty to infict upon
you brief correspondence, which you are at
liberty to cast "under the table," either before
or after perusai, as you may deem advisa-
BILE.


Since the removal of Gen. Butler as Com
mander of this Department-an event which
caused considerable of furry all the way
from here to Lowell, and throughout the rest
of creation-there have been many ''changesY
In the administrative force,Y of minor impor-
tance, throughout the Department, and a gen
eral posting up OF things" in order that the
new commander may have a fair start, and as
certain his latitude and longitude in season for
casting an sanchor to the windward" in case
of emergency. f5aF a
General Ord, the successor of General But
Ter, is Regular Army officer of distinguish
ed ability, and his administration of affairs
seems to give the utmost satisfaction. We
trust this "change of base'' will not prove in
any wise detrimental to the interests of the
Government. As Gen. B., in his famous Low
ell speech-which, by the way, was not, in our
judgment, in very good taste, to say the least,
though decidedly smart, as his speeches always
are, and pithy withal-does not deem it pru-
dent to inform the public Of the cause of the
requirement for him to report at Lowell, it is
of course expected that we all shall remain in
the dark upon the subject, for the present, at
least; and so will advance no speculations
in that direction.


l had the good fortune--or i'll, as the case
may be considered by some-to witness the
first bombardment and attack on Fort Fisher;
but as [ do not consider myself sufficiently
skilled in military matters to express decided
Judgment" as to the merits of the case,
leave it for Commodore Porter and Gen. But
Ter to ''adjust" the matter to their mutual sat
isfaction, even il it results in spistols and cof
fee for two, with Jim Brooks to stir up the
cofeel The expedition was a very unfortu-
nate one for Gen. Butler, to say the least; and
although he may have been perfectly justified
in ordering the decentralization of his troops
on the representation that the Fort could not
be carried by assault, still the fact that the
same rebel works were subsequently, stormed
and successfully carried under more disadvan-
tageous circumstances, cannot be "rubbed
out" Whether or not the Fort Fisher failure
was instrumental in the removal of Gen. But
Ter, the country will be slow in deciding that
the "higher power" acted otherwise than for
the best interests of the loyal cause, in their
judgment, in requiring him to domesticate
himself at Lowell for tie present.


The famous "Peace Conference" which
came off here last week, resulted, as we sup
posed it would. and as all its predecessors in
that particular line have done from the begin
ning-in utter failure; and it gives us encour-
agement to notice that the peace-at-any-p price
leader in the q. S. House of Representatives
has finally concluded that the only method o.
securing peace on the basis of the Union il
through the instrumentality OF negotiators o
the Grant and Sherman school. We trus
that all at the North will now unite in furnish
ing the men and means necessary for making
the opening spring campaign SHARP, shor
and decisive" in crushing this internal rebel
lion that so long has deluged our land wilt
blood.


Already important movements to ascertain
the strength of the rebel position in front O
Richmond and Petersburg are in progress
the result of which you will learn by telegraph
much sooner than by correspondence. There
will soon be thunder all around; 2 and unles
our Judgment is sadly at fault. the insurgen
leaders and their deluded followers will fin'
and occupy the "last ditch" when the "coils
of Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Terry, Foste
and our other noble leaders and invincible ar
mics shall tighten around them. Our navy
too, is doing valiant service, and there nov
appears to be hearty cooperation on al
sides. May the happy day of peace, on th
firm basis of Union, Liberty and Justice, sool
dawn upon us, when we all, so long separates
from the associations of home and loved ones
may return with joy and gratitude that W
have ascountry preserved to US that we shal
not feel ashamed to transmit to those VIII
may follow.


The exchange of prisoners is now going OF
uninterruptedly, and we doubt not our brav
boys who have SO long endured the horrors Q
Southern dungeons, will all speedily be restor
ed to liberty and the enjoyment of civilize,
society.


This is most delightful climate; the win
ter thus far as mild and pleasant as Septembe
or October at the North, with no snow an,
but little frost. But will not weary the pa
thence OF yourself or your numerous reader
by expatatlng upon the climate or "sacre
soiP' OF this naturally favored State, which tn
curse of slavery and rebellion has rendered


barren waste in comparison with even steril
and rock-bound New England.


Should opportunity offer hereafter. I ma,
if agreeable to yourself and readers. furnis
occasional "jottings' relative To matters I
general interest that may come under nv oil