AMERICA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 133, 31 July 1863, Page 3

AMERICA.

Now York, May 14. The 2nd and 3rd May two tremendous engagements took place at Chancellorsville, between the Confederates under Generals Leo and Jackson, and the Federals under General “ Fighting Joe Hooker.” Both armies fought with desperation, and the slaughter was frightful. The Federals were again totally defeated. Their loss is estimated at 20,000 men. The Confederates loss was about 18,000 men placed hors de combat. On the 29th April General Hooker effected a passage" of the Eappahannock at two points, two miles distance from each other with an effective army of 100,000 men, encountering little opposition while crossing; his plan was to press quickly on with his right wing to the rear of the Confederates, and thus place tnem between two bodies of his army, and thereby cut off the Confederate communication with Richmond. Hooker was so confident of the success of this movement as to boast that the expected engagement would almost annihilate the Southern armies, but on the 2nd of May that indomitable soldier General Stonewall Jackson by a secret and swift march suddenly fell upon the Federal right wing with 40,000 of the best troops of the Confederates. The onslaught was so tremendous and crushing that a universal panic spread through the whole of the regiments. The Federals throw down their arms and fled ; all attempts to rally them were vain, and Jackson pushing furiously on, nearly turned the Federal flank. The next morning Jackson resumed the attack, the battle raged fiercely for three hours and a half; again were the Federals repulsed, and again they fled, pursued by Jackson’s division. Sheer exhaustion atTast closed the pursuit. The fierce attack of Jackson placed the Federals in such a position that they could only extricate themselves by fight. On the sth May the famous army of the Potomac. beaten at all points again, returned to its former lines. In Sunday’s battles General Stonewall Jackson received two wounds by mistake, unfortunately by his own men, one wound was in his arm, and amputation was resorted to, but the Southern General died under its effects, regretted by all admirers of true greatness and genius combined with strong religious faith. The Federal General Berg was also killed. Most conflicting accounts of the above engagements agitated public feeling in the North. The Government prohibited the telegraphic wires being used for the transmission of the real facts, while reports were industrously circulated that Hooker was victorious and in possession of Richmond, In spite of the crushing defeat and retreat of the Federals, General Hooker, in a pompous address to his army denied that a general engagement had been fought; “it was,” he says, “ merely a withdrawal from the Rappahannock, for strategic reasons,” and not a defeat. This gasconading is characterised by even the New York press as a boastful and arrogant lie. The Federals have captured Grand Gulf on the Mississippi. Great riots in the North, owing to Mr. Yallandigham’s arrest and just sentence of banishment. The Federal Government intends to the conscription forthwith. The Alabama burnt two British' vessels and cargoes. Captain be {involved in serious difficulties through this proceeding. Several Federal regiments, their term of service having expired, positively refuse to serve again.