AMERICA. New York, Dec. 26.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 5, 24 March 1864, Page 6

AMERICA. New York, Dec. 26.

Letters from New Orleans report that 7000 Confederates were descending the Bayon La Fonrche in Louisiana, aijd had burnt two Federal steamboats. Reinforcemeuts from New Orleans were to be immediately s-ent to the support of the Federals stationed near the Bodeaux, who had fortified themselves at the railway crossing 1 the Bayon. Nine vessels belonging to Philadelphia, while fishing- for oysters in the New York River in Virginia recently, were captured by the Confederates, who put oft' fiom the .shoie in boats. The ciews, numbering in all upwards of sixty men, were sent to Richmond as pn&oneis of war, and the vessels destro) cd. New York, Jan. 1 (Evening). — There is no news of importance Gold 131 J. Cotton and hieadstuffs quiet. The " Times' " Washington despatch says orders have been issued by tke War Department, postponing the draft until the 10th of January. An order has been issued fm'tiug a militaiy department of Kan.sas, and assigning Major-General Curtis to the command. This moi nuig the MinMeis from foreign couits, with their attaches, as also the officers of the anu\ and ua\y, paid their respects to the Piesidont. New York. Jan. 1 (Morning). — The Federal Government have officially denied that they have stated they would never toleiate or recognise the Mexican monarchy. The correspondence ii'initted to the ('ingress will show the position of the Federal Go\ernn ent with regard to this question. In the Confederate Congress, Senator Browne urged that the consciiption should be extended to all men, without exception, capable of bearing dims. The "New York Times," states that Lord Ljons has had numerous iutei views with Mr Seward concerning the Chesapeake aftnir. New York, Jan. 2 (Morning) — General Lon»&treet is lepoited to have retired to a position in East Tennessee capable of being fortified, and ha\ing open communication with Noith Carolina and Virginia, thus necessitating the presence of a heavy Federal force in East Tennessee. The Chattanooga Coi respondent of the " New York Tunes" asserts that General Giant has forwarded to Washington a plan of campaign different fiom any hitherto submitted. General Pillow reports that Sullivan's column has returned to Harper's Feny from a raid in Western Virginia, in which he captuied 1.00 prisoners and a large amount of property. The Richmond papers assert T,hat General Rosse has just completed an entire circuit of General Meade's army. Mobile despatches state that the mutiny in Foil Jackson, below New Oi lcans, was- serious, three gunboats having been sent to quell the disturbance. The Confederate Congress has passed a bill that no persons were exempted fiom military duty because they furnished substitutes, and ibi bidding people to deal in Federal cuiiency. The "Richmond Sentinel" urges the people to assist the Southern cause by sending their gold, silver, and plate into the heasury in exchange for bonds. New York, Jan. 2, 2 p m.— (By telegraph to Portland.)— -The Fedeial Government has postponed the drafttill the middle of Jauuaiy. The Government of New York has removed the New Police Commissioners, on the ground that their reports of the \ew Yoik riots were sectarian and partisan. Several more merchants of New Yoik have been arrested for carrying on a contraband trade with the South. Archbishop Hughes, the Roman Catholic Aichbishop of New Yoik, is dead.