The news.
An official report, giving an account of the operations of our rams in
James river last Tuesday, was received at the Navy Department on Wednesday night, but was sent to the
President, by whom it has not been made public.
The facts stated therein are, however, pretty generally known.
The object of the expedition was to break the enemy's pontoons, and, if possible, to destroy their stores at
City Point.
In
Trent's reach — a stretch in the river just below Howlett's--two lines of obstructions were found, and it was discovered that the channel of the river was much changed by the late freshet.
The
Drewry grounded within point blank range of one of the enemy's batteries, and a tremendous fire was immediately concentrated upon her. It being found impossible to get her off, she was abandoned by her crew, and blow up in ten minutes after, having received 100 pound shot in her magazine.
The Virginia also ran aground, and was subjected to a heavy fire.
The
Fredericksburg passed the obstructions, but put back on it being seen that the rest of the feet could not follow her. On the high the
Virginia was got afloat, and the feet returned to its anchorage off Graveyard bend.
Besides the
Drewry, the
Virginia alone received any injury.
The casing near one of her port holes was somewhat stove in. Our casualties were five killed and fourteen wounded.
We have received authentic information that, on Thursday last, a fleet of vessels — men of war, gunboats and transports — came into
Hampton Roads.--This is supposed to be the fleet which recently operated so successfully against
Fort Fisher.
The report that the
Tallahassee had been captured while attempting to run into the
Cape Fear river is discredited by the War Department.
An official dispatch from
General Hardee, dated on the 24th, says there are no movements being made by the enemy on either side of the
Savannah river.--That is, that
Sherman was not demonstrating against either
Augusta or
Branchville; but, on Wednesday, it was reported in
Charleston that the enemy were withdrawing from
Pocotaligo, and that a large column was moving from
Savannah up the
Augusta road.
It was reported yesterday that the
President had appointed
General R. E. Lee General-in Chief of the Armies of the
Confederate States, and had assigned
General Joseph E. Johnston to the command of the Army of Northern Virginia.
The general expectation had been that
General Johnston would be assigned to the command of our forces now confronting
Sherman, in
South Carolina.
General Curtis Lee has been made a major general, and assigned to the command of a division on the north side of the
James.
The House of Representatives, on yesterday, refused to pass the midshipman bill over the veto of the
President.
The President has vetoed the bill recently passed by Congress authorizing newspapers to be sent by mail to soldiers free of charge.
His objections are, that the bill is in violation of the
Constitution and of the tax laws.
His veto message has been made the special order in the Senate for half-past 12 o'clock tomorrow.
