The News.
There is still a lack of official news. We might publish reports concerning Sherman's movements, but it is not considered expedient to afford the enemy information which they cannot obtain through any other source.
The Richmond and Petersburg lines.
After three days of continuous fine weather, Grant still keeps quiet on Hatcher's run. There is a general impression that he will renew his attempt to capture the Southside railroad so soon as the roads are firm enough to bear his artillery.The Petersburg Express says the Yankees in front of our lines near the Appomattox got drunk on Saturday evening in honor of the inauguration of President Lincoln, and asked for a truce of an hour, which was refused them.
The negro soldier question.
The question of arming the slaves has been revived in the Confederate Senate, and will, almost certainly, be decided one way or the other to-day. House bill to increase the armies of the Confederate States by authorizing the Secretary of War to arm such a number of slaves as he may deem expedient, which bill has laid upon the Senate table for the past two weeks, was on yesterday taken up in secret session, transferred to the open calendar, and made the special order for 12 o'clock to-day, when its merits will be fully discussed.The majority of the Senate are believed to be opposed to the policy of arming the slaves, but the outside pressure in favor of it is so great as to induce the belief that the bill will be passed.
