THE JULY ENGLISH MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 141, 25 September 1863, Page 3

THE JULY ENGLISH MAIL.

The s.s. Auckland, Captain Gibson, arrived from the Southern Ports last evening about seven o’clock, bringing the July English mail. Mrs. H. Parker and child and Messrs. Watt and Nelson are passengers by her, and she has on board 135 volunteers for Auckland. The Aldinga arrived at Port Chalmers on the IGth hist., having sailed from Melbourne on the 10th. She sailed again for Melbourne on the 18th with the homeward mail. The. Auckland was detained by the Post-master-General till the 19th, to bring on the tenders for the steam postal contract. The insurrection in Poland has not yet been suppressed. Intelligence of the Oakura murders had

been received in England, nml Sir George Cir(-y liavl sent fin - one European and two Sikli regiments —not to tlie Governor-Gene-ral of India, but to Her Majesty’s Government in England.

AMEUICA. Tin* following summary of events is from die Hume News :

Tin; events of the American war throughout the j month are full of variety, and if they have not as ; yet conducted us to decisive result, they have cer- i tamly brought us nearer ;o a consummation of , some sort limn we had previously been. I Ihe first grand movement was that of Lee’s army, winch, estimated at 150,000 men, invaded Maryland, and taking up a strategic position which commanded several important points, finally succeeded in isolating Washington. At this juncture, when the danger was at Us height. General Hooker resigned tne command of the Federal army, and was succeeded by General Meade, an unknown man, who bad the advantage of being a soldier and not a politician. Meade Had no sooner placed himself at the head of the army, than he put it into immediate motion. 'lhe Confederates appear to have gatiiered in their fortes, and massed them in the shape of a triangle, the base resting on the railroad that runs between Chambersburg and Sbippenburg, the apex being formed by the small town of Gettysburg. To this point Meade at once pushed forward. General Reynolds, who commanded the first Federal division passed though Gettysburg, and finding the enemy collected in force, ra-ldy prepared to give battle, in the expectation tout lie would be soon joined by the second division under General Howard. Reynolds occupied one of the hilly ridges near the town, but the Confederates took possession of still higher ground, and he was consequently exposed to a heavy fire in flank and front. In this perilous situation Reynolds displayed great heroism. For two hours he fought under the most disadvantageous circumstances, and when, at the end of that time, he was at last joined by Howard, it was too late to turn the f. r une of the field, ilowaru, in endeavoring to eifect a junction with the first division, lost 5,(.UU men, and Reynolds had already lost half that number. After an ineffectual struggle both divisions were finally obliged to retire wall the loss of -1,500 men, including many olllcers of all grades, one of them being Reynolds himself.

On the evening of the same clay, Ist July, Meade arrived, and took up liis position on the south side ol Gettysburg, occupying a low hilly ridge, where he awaited an attack. On the iud both Generals were employed in placing their troops in position: General Lee evidently conleinjliting a llank movement. ; nor is it likely that the engagement would have been renewed on that day, had it not been for an accidental collision with a wing of the Confederate army, which rapidly spread' until both lines were fully engaged. ihe fury with which the Confederates assailed the wings of the Federal arniv, especially the left wing, was at first highly sneeesslui ; but with the aid of reinforcements the Federais linaliy drove them hack, and regained their positions. i hive times victory iluetualed in this way, but wh.ti night closed in, both armies held their original ground. On the trd, General Lee renewed the attack with undiininished ardor. For three hours he directed a heavy cannonade against the Federal army, and twice a.-sauited its left and centre, without making any impression. The slaughter was tremendous, but. as usual to i o result.

I he next chapter opens a new phase in the history. (Jn llie following morning, .July -1, tlie anniversary of imlcpeiidenee, General Lee retreated and succeeded in carrying olf Ids wounded, hi# trains, and, it is said, large stores of booty, before the enemy were aware uf Ids movements. Tile retreat was conducted with masterly skill ; and when the Led era Is commenced a pursuit, the Confederates were enabled to oiler so successful a resistance that they ultimately established themselves without less or ditlieulty in a position of considerable strength. Ten days had elapsed after the battle of the tml, and the Federal# had ell'ected nothing more than tlie transport of their troops to a position in front of the invaders, where they either await the signal of battle, or intend to ini-

tiate it themselves, the latter is not probable. Let’s position is so strong that it would require a more powerful army than bis own to dislodge him; and although both armies have received reinforcements, it docs not appear that Meade is in sullicient force to act on the diffusive. Jhe ( onlederates are posted at a place a little to the south-east of Hagerstown nearly due south down to a point covering the Williamsport fords over the Potomac; and the Lederals occupy some heights in their front. Lee is believed to have already transported his wounded and a portion of his stores across the river into Virginia, and to have secured his retreat sho 11 fortune prove adverse to him. A battle was considered iininii o t

it is remarkable enough that on the same auspicious and memorable morning when Lee r tired from Gettysburg, Gen. I'emberton is said to have surrendered Vicksburg. The statement is not credited in some quarters ; but it has not jet been authoritatively contradicted, and the report has an air of circumstantial detail that looks us if’ there was some truth in it. I'cmberton is reported to have committed the absurdity of offer. ng to surrender, and of declaring in the same breath that he "as able to prolong the resistance indelinitelj. Grant refused (o accept the surrender unless it was unconditional, and to this Pemberton at once agreed ; whereupon Grant conceded parole to the garrison of 2i ,Oon men, and entered Vicksburg, taking possession of 102 field-pieces, GO siege guns, and 50,01)0 stand of arms, it appears that the garrison yielded to starvation, which, if true, shows that Pemberton’s boast of bis pouee to maintain the place was mere bunkum. There are flying reports of movements of the Confederates within a few miles of .hew Orleans, by which General Banks's supplies are likely to be cut off; but they are not entitled to much attention. It is hardly possible that the Confederates can be in sufficient force in that quarter to effect any very irupor.

tiint diversion of a force which, b\ the surrender ot Vicksburg, is replenished by the liberation of iOO,Uoti men.

A ministerial crisis is spoken of at Washington. Mr. Seaward is said to have suggested a line of policy which’ Would have reversed nearly all Mr. i.incoltfff previous aets. The advice of the erhtary was summed up in the recommendation of a Presidential proclamation offering an amnesty, Withdrawing the Emancipation Proclamation, suspending the Confiscation Act, andl ottering security to the property and rights of the' Southern people —in fact granting everything to the South on their own terms and in their own way. A decisive majority of the Cabinet opposed this proposition ; and the Republican party counterbalanced it by demanding the restoration of of peace and Union on- the basis’of the extinction of slavery in 187 G. It docs' riot appear that those differences in the Cabiuet'havc produced any consequences. LATEST INTELLIGENCE.Monday, July 1.7, 1-8(53. The American news of this morning is : important. General Meade officially announces to General Halleck, under date of Lull July, General Lee and his whole army had crossed the Potomac at Falling Waters, with the exception of one brigade of 1500 men, two guns, two caissons, and a number of small arms, which were captured by the Federals. Later intelligence says that 500 have been captured in addition. General Pettigrew, a Confederate, has likewise been killed.

The latest advices from Vicksburg state that the parolling of prisoners had been completed, and that they numbered 31,277. Immediately after the surrender. General Sherman moved in the direction of the Big Black River, and on the following day fought a battle with General Johnson, whom he defeated with a loss of 2000 men. This statement needs confirmation.

Bichinond journals of the 14th July, publish a despatch slating that a New Orleans paper of the 10th announced the unconditional surrender of Port Hudson to the Federate on the previous day.

The attack on Charleston has recommenced. This time the Federals are seeking to take Fort Sumter in the rear. They had driven the Confederates with heavy loss from every part of Morris Island except Fort Wagner, which they were attacking both from land and sea. In Tennessee General Rosencranz was still driving Bragg before him, and hail captured 4000 prisoners.

There had been serious riots in New York caused by the enforcement of the draft. The city appears to have been fur two days at least given up to the ravages of a lawless mob, who plundered private property, destroyed buildings, murdered negroes, hanged a Colonel O'Brein, and perpetrated outrages of every description. Something like martial law had been proclaimed when the latest intelligence left New York, and there could be no doubt that the rioters would be put down \vuh a strong hand. The riot seems to have degenerated into thieves’ row.