AMERICA.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 23 August 1862, Page 3

AMERICA.

(From the “ Home News,’’ June 23th.) The events in America of which we have received intelligence since the publication of lust may bo briefly summarised. Id our May number we described the fall ofNew Orleans, the advance of the Federal army under M‘Clellan to within a few miles of Richmond, and the gathering for a final struggle of the Confederate forces in the West under Beauregard, at Corinth, in the south of Tennessee. At the end of May, the Confederates evacuated Corinth, with their usual secrecy and despatch, before General Halleck was able to attack them. According to our latest advices, however, their army has since been completely disorganised. General Pope, who was sent by Halleck to pursue them, reports that he has captured about 15,000 prisoners. He represents the Mississippians ns demoralised and as departing for their homes; but according to other accounts General Beauregard has still 80,000 nica. The Northerners believe his force is in want of provisions. It is considered not impossible that the best portion of his army may be able to make its way to Richmond. In the neighbourhood of Richmond a "sanguinary engagement has occurred, but the decisive battle, so long looked forward to. has not vet been fought. As accord-

’. n ? 0 a accoun . ts > thfl Confederates are determined to ( a ,? n . ( leir ca pital, that battle, when it does happen, " 1 , ,l e , rca * Waterloo of the war, and as obstinate ana bloody a contest as desperation can make it. The preliminary engagement adverted to—the battle of * au Ua , k r S ~ haß both sides precisely where they wcio. M Clellan continues his preparations against tnc enemy, who are posted right in front of Richmond, me principal obstacle to his advance is “ the weather,” heavy rains having flooded the country round. The capture of New Orleans and Baton Rouge has been followed by other important Federal triumphs on the Mississippi. The Confederate flotilla near Memphis has been defeated and destroyed; and Memphis itself las surrendered. Here, as at New Orleans and elsewhere in the .South, all thc cotton was found burnt. Vicksburg i s now the only stronghold on the .Mississippi which holds out against the Northerners; but it cannot be supposed that that place will give their ascending am descending fleets much trouble. Meanwhile, the Federal government is straining every nerve to strike heavy blows at once at Savannah, Mobile and Charleston. rhe public desire in the North is to have possession of these cities, as well as Richmond, before the 4th of July, “on that day,” says a New York letter, the grand finale of the spectacle is to be exhibited to the admiring world in a blaze of blue and crimson fire, and a splendid tableau vivant of the triumph of brotherly love, achieved by the cannon-ball and the bayonet, and of thc renewed union of North and South, cemented by the blood of a hundred thousand men.” Already a commencement has been made at Charleston, without the possession of which the tableau and tho triumph would be alike incomplete, and victory, in thc estimation of half thc North, not worth winning; but the commencement has been rather unfavourable to the assailants. It is evident, however, that important news may be daily expected from that quarter, as well as from Mobile, where a Federal squadron has been tor some time engaged in attacking Fort Morgan, and irom Savannah, which lias been powerless to offer any effectual resistance since the capture or surrender of Fort Pulaski. “ Charleston,” say tho New York correspondent of thc ‘ Times,’ is thc one sweet morsel of victory that is most intensely coveted; and a New England journal declares that it would bo a fitting termination of the war to burn and level that ‘ worse than Gomorrah’ with the ground, and sow tho site with salt us a warning to all rebels til! the end of time. Another amiable editor of the same sentiments thinks that not even this vengeance would meet the justice of tho case, unless gibbets as high as those of Hainan were erected on the spot for Jeff. Davis, Beauregard, Floyd, Tooma, Cobh, and half-a-dozen others.”

The subjoined details concerning the above and other incidents arc compiled from the journals and correspondence of the past month:— The Federal iron-clad llotilla lately received an important cheek in the James River. The Monitor, Galena, Naugatuck, Port Royal, and Aristook were repulsed by the Confederates at Fort Darling, about seven miles below Richmond. Washington despatches state that the James River was clear of obstruction to within eight miles of Richmond. At that point there was a heavy battery on a high bluff, the river being temporarily closed to navigation by sunken vessels, piles, and chains. The Monitor could not elevate her gun sufficiently to reach the high battery, and was therefore useless. The 1 00- pounder gun oftlm Naugatuck exploded at the first fire. The banks of the river were filled with rifle pits, born which a constant fire was poured on the Federal fleet, part of which was engaged at 600 yards distance from the main battery. After an action of four hours the Federal fleet withdrew. The Federal® arc stated to have lost from 1000 to 1100 men. Colonel Campbell’s report states that the Federal dead were interred on the banks of the river, and adds that part of the gunboat fleet had returned to Jamestown Island. Eighteen shots penetrated the Galena. The Monitor is reported to be uninjured. Later intelligence does not add much to our information respecting the above remarkable action. We arc told that the Galena was injured by shots which “ entered her deck.” It appears that the Galena and her consorts, in ranging up under tiie guns at Fort Darling, sustained a vertical tire, to which it was impossible to reply, and which the construction of the vessels was not prepared to resist. General Hunter, the Federal general in command of the Southern Military Division at Hilton Head, South Carolina, recently issued a proclamation, declaring that martial law exists in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida; that martial law and slavery arc incompatible, and that, therefore, all slaves arc henceforth made free in those States. The proclamation has excited great displeasure and alarm throughout the North, and the President has issued a proclamation of his own, declaring that of Gen. Hunter null and void. The President further declares that he reserves to himself to decide whether he is competent, as commander-in-chief of the army and navy, to declare slaves of any State free, and also to decide whether, at any time or in any case, it shall become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of government to exercise such supposed power. He refers also to the resolution adopted by Congress to co-operate with any Slave State for gradual emancipation, and says: “I now earnestly appeal to the people of those States. I beseech all to make arrangements for yourselves. You cannot if you would be blind to the signs of the times. Will you rot embrace the proposition? May the past and future not have to lament that you have neglected an opportunity to do so much good!” Meanwhile, General Hunter has formed a corps of 1000 negroes to garrison Port Royal, and lias armed them—to the no small annoyance of the Federal officers.

At New Orleans, the conduct of the Federal General Butler seems to be preparing difficulties for the North. Ho lately seized the consulates of Holland, France, and Spain, and placed guards over them. These acts admit, it is said, of an explanation; but another act of his has excited the indignation of all Europe, not to speak of the intense fury of the Southerners. Finding his men exasperated by the impertinence of the New Orleans women, General Butler ordered that any woman who insulted a soldier should be “ treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation.” By a local law of Now Orleans, all such women are liable to 24 hours’ imprisonment. The Mayor, on receipt of the order, refused to be responsible for the peace, whereupon ho was arrested and sent to Fort Jackson, hut after a few hours’imprisonment apologised and was restored. Beauregard immediately reprinted the order, which was read at the head of every regiment, and in every church in the South,' It is, wc perceive, generally condemned in the North; but wc have not yet heard that Gereral Butler has been removed from his command.

The news of the surrender of Norfolk by the Confederates and the destruction of the Merrimac, was received in New York on Sunday, May 11. Of course the excitement it caused was immense. The New York correspondent of the ‘Times’ writes:—“ The churches in the afternoon were almost wholly left to the women and children, while the men swarmed into the hotel lobbies or gathered at the corners of the streets to read and discuss the telegrams in the extra editions of the newspapers. The newsboys kept up a continuous and discordant shout of ‘ Glorious news!’ and drove a prosperous trade from morning till night. The uproar which they created in the proclamation of their wares, especially when they announced the ‘ Destruction of the Merrimac I’ interrupted the services in many of the churches; and scores of men (the ladies could not for shame’s sake) slunk from their pews as quietly as they might, to hear glad tidings that for the moment were far more interesting to their hearts than the glad tidings of salvation which they had come to hear, and many a sermon came in consequence to a more sudden close than was originally designed for it. This time the telegrams told the official truth and no more. There is an end of the short but brilliant career of the

Merrirrmc. Her first battle was her last. The naval officer in command of Fortress Monroe and Hampton Hoads—goaded apparently to the display of a little energy and daring by the recital of the deeds of Commodore Farragut at New Orleans, if not by the presence and express command of President Lincoln, who came from Washington to be for once the practical ns well as the theoretical commander-in-chief of the land and sea forces of tiic Union—impressed the Confederate authorities at Norfolk with the idea that the force opposed to the Merrirnac was more than sufficient to capture or destroy her. The military authorities in that great arsenal and depot were of the same opinion as regarded the city of Norfolk and its suburbs. On Saturday General Wool, accompanied by Mr. Secretary Chase, landed 5000 men from Fortress Monroe at Willoughby Point, a place indicated by H deserter ; and immediately afterwards commenced his march upon Norfolk. He was met within five miles of the city by a deputation of the inhabitants and municipal authorities, by whom, after a few minutes, parley, it was surrendered into Ins hands without the firing of a shot, together with its suburbs of Portsmouth and Gosport. The Confederate army had previously retired, after destroying the Navy-yard at Gosport, with a large quantity of naval stores and ammunition. On Sunday morning between 2 and 3 o’clock, the Marrimac was set on fire by the Confederates to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, and, after burning for two hours—a sublime spectacle to all who witnessed it—blew up with a terrific explosion, and now lies in broken ruins at the bottom of the sea, leaving only some floating portions of her woodwork to float upon the surface, and tell the talc of her glory, and to bo collected by enterprising boatmen and fishermen as relics for the curious. And as if this was not victory enough for one day, it was aunounced later in the afternoon, on the authority of official despatches from th« officer in

Mississippi from Cairo to Memphis, that the Confederate flotilla had put off for Fort Wright (sometimes called Fort Pillow), and commenced an attack upon him ; that the battle which ensued had lasted one hour,, and that the result was the repulse of the Confederates, with the destruction of three iron-clad gunboats New York, though veiy greatly excited, was too decorous to display its flags of triumph on Sunday, and remained under bare poles until this morning (May 12). Ihe world of business, however, was no sooner astir than Broadway hoisted its bunting from almost every house-top, and the citizens proclaimed to one another in street and market-place that M‘dellan would be in Richmond before night-fall. The prediction, however, was not verified. This evening an immense crowd congregated in the space opposite the iifth Avenue Hotel, to hear the serenade given by the band of the 7th New York Regiment to Mrs. M'Clellan, the wife of the general. The appearance of the lady on the balcony—the one Juliet to 10,000 Romeos was the signal tor a burst of applause that rang through the whole city, and that thundeied louder and louder still when some one waved from a window the ‘ star-spangled banner,’ and a voice from the crowd called out • Three cheers for that flag 1’ Nine tremendous cheers were instantly given, amid an enthusiasm which any one can imagine who remembers how contagious and electrical are the feelings of a multitude and how easy it is to arouse them to a warlike or any other frenzy by exciting music or impassioned oratory. Not the least significant part of the evening’s display was to call for the famous Abolition tune—

John Brown’s body lies mouldering in the grave, lint his soul is marching on. Hallelujah ! The band responded to the call, and elicited new bursts of applause that seemed to drive the people wild with excitement. The performances lasted till after midnight, when the assemblage quietly dispersed.’’ In reference to the utter absence of “ Union sentiment” in the South, a New York letter says:— At New Orleans the ladies not only talk secession in the streets, but waive secession flags from the windows as the soldiers pass, and no gentlemen will exchange a word with a Federal officer, except in reply to a civil question. The Creole population are quite as hostile as those who speak English, and, as the French language is very little cultivated in the North, and not one ofliccr in a thousand adds any knowledge of it to his other accomplishments, the Creoles hurl secession sentiments at their heads in French, and utter language which would speedily consign them to prison, along with the mayor and aldermen, if the Federals could but understand it. In Virginia, in the trail of the retreating army, the correspondents and reporters who accompanying the march to Kicnmynd, do not find any traces of Union feeling, except among the black population. “ The negroes,” says one letter, ‘are, I fancy, the only Union people now in Dixie. With respect to the whites, the feeling that their country is invaded has overborn all antecedents. They hate us with the hate of hell, and will yet do bloody work if they have the opportunity.” ‘‘At Williamsburgh,” says the abolitionist on his travels, “no scrutiny with candles or by daytime can discover a single Unionist, man or woman.” When the people of Williamsburgh discovered that the Federal army paid in cash for what thev wanted in the stores. ‘ thev found ’ he adds ‘ the.

courage to come out and scowl upon us.’ ‘ Your soldiers are largely foreigners,’ said a Virginian in Norfolk to this gentlemen, as the 20th New York, a German regiment, passed up the street, but you yourselves will be conquered soon. This is but a reverse to our arms, and we must expect ups and downs in war.’ * Yes,' replied the Federal, ‘ but docs it not strike you that we have all the ups and you all the downs ?’ The Confederate turned on his heel, muttering something about Bull’s Run, and closed the parley.” From New Orleans we learn that the planters not only declare that they would rather convert the whole country into a howling wilderness than leave a bale of cotton or a pound of sugar or tobacco for the detested “ Yankees,” but they curry the threat into execution. They continue to make bonfires of the ungluncd cotton wherever the Federal armies or flotillas advance, rolling their sugar and molasses in immense quantities into the Mississippi. The conduct of the Confederates is distinguished by the same stubbornness and ferocity in all the towns which have been occupied by the Fcderals. At Norfolk, for example, we arc told that the people rent the air with cheers when the Confederate mayor, in his address, spoke of their attachment to their own govern 1 merit. They hurrahed for Jefferson Davis, and groaned and hissed President Lincoln, in the midst of the Federal troops. They talked boldly of their future, declared they would take nothing but Confederate money, and that they would have nothing to do with Lincoln’s “ shin plasters.” One account declares “ they scowled upon the hated Yankees, and the women almost spat upon the officers and soldiers.” The houses through the city were generally closed, especially those of the wealthier classes; but, says one great physiognomist, “ there was a subdued quiet among the middling classes, their countenances implying a desire to wait and watch for future developments.” The battle of Fair Oaks, briefly referred to in a preceding paragraph, was fought on May 31 and June 1. It is claimed by the Federals as a’ decided success on their part; but, judging from the evidence afforded by the published reports, we are unable to discover that the Confederates were in a worse or the Fcderals in a better position after the battle than before it. The Fcderals recovered, on the second, the ground won from them in the first day’s action, and the Confederates fell back upon their original positions to meditate new methods of preventing General M’Clellan from compelling them to quit their capital. Both sides have suffered a loss of men. and the Fcderals a loss of 19 guns. The capture of those guns fairly entitles the Confederates to the honour of victory in the first day’s

encounter. The loss of men was estimated in the first reports as being 3000 on tlic Federal side; but later reports reduce the number to 300 ; subsequently the number rose to 7000; and now by the official reports, we perceive that it was between 5000 and 6000. The Confederate loss was probably about the same. The battles were marked by two striking facts ; a telegraph carried up into the air by a balloon to an altitude of some 2000 feet, is said to have kept M’Clellan informed of his enemy’s movements, and the reconstructed railroad from West Point brought up men, guns, and amunitions. In order to understand what happened it will he necessary to attempt, in outline, a sketch of the ground. The Chickahominy is a narrow stream flowing through a tolerably deep valley on the eastern side of Richmond. To the north-west the hill sides arc high, and on the left bank the bottom is swampy. Lower down the swamps extend on both sides of the stream, and these swamps are intersected by numerous rivulets. On the high and firm ground the country alternates forests with corn-fields, covered with crops. Man}' roads cross the river and make for Richmond. The common road from Williamsburg crosses at Bottom’s Bridge ; above it the railroad, and on both sides of these roads there are swampy lowlands, Higher up, the road from Hanover runs over New Bridge, and above that the stream is crossed by other bridges leading to Hanover Court-house. General M’Clellan’s army lay across these roads. During the last week in May he'had thrown a large force, the leading divisions of the left of his army, across the Chtckahhominy at Bottom’s Bridge, the railroad bridge, and New bridge. They were posted between the White Oak swamp on the right bank below Bottorn,s Bridge, and the road leading from New Bridge into Richmond. The foremost brigades were in advance of the Fair Oaks station of the Richmond and West Point Railway. The remainder of the army was on the left Bank of the Chickahominy, partly behind the bridges, and partly above them, towards the rai hvay leading to Fredericksburg and Gordonsuille. It will thus be seen that General M’Clcllan had cut his army in two by the river, and that ho threw forward his left, while he held back hii right The Confederate generals were not ignorant of these facts. They may also have known that General M’Clellan contemplated an offensive movement, and that the Federal gunboats had endeavoured to ascend the Appomattox towards Petersburg, and they may have conjectured that General Porter, who had occupied Hanover Court-house, was still detained in that quarter.

la this they were mistaicen. mat general naa returned from his expedition nothward, and rejoind the right of the army on the 29th of May. Another incident occurred calculated to quicken the Confederate movements. A heavy storm swelled the waters of the Chickahominy, and of course imperilled the pontoon bridges erected by the Federate to facilitate the communication, and might be fairly thought to leave the Federate at Fair Oaks and Seven Fines in a very exposed and dangerous position. It was therefore resolved to assault that wing of the Federal army. The Confederate plan appears to have been to attack and defeat the division of General Casey, interpose between him and the divisions of Hooker and Keys, cut oft'the latter from Bottom’s Bridge, and, crossing the river, break into the midst of the main Federal position, and deprive the enemn of two of his main lines of communication with the Pamunkey. As at Pittsburg, the Confederate onset was completely successful. Their troops, breaking out of the woods, surprised and routed Casey, capturing his camp and his guns. Ho was driven back toward the river in utter disorder, and the prospect of the Confederates was most cheering. The road to the river lay before them and their project seemed to be in a fair way of execution. But either their advance was not pushed with sufiicient vigour or the position of the Federate was too strong. During the whole of the afternoon of May 31 the Confederates were fighting lor the road to the river. The question was, could they reach it before the reinforcements ? They failed at

left came up in time to restore the fight on that side, and stop the progress of the Confederates along the road leading to Bottom’s Bridge, while above that bridge, General Sumner thrust two divisions across the only pontoon bridge which the floods had left standing, and appeared on the left of the attacking Confederate columns. This decided the action for the day ; night fell, and the Confederate troops had failed in their design to drive their enemies over the river. The next morning it was not possible that they should succeed. The newly arrived Federals were of better temper and training than those routed the day before, and the action which ensued was over before noon on Sunday the Ist of June. The Federals reoccupied their original positions; that is, from left to right, they held Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, New Bridge on the right, and the high ground on the left of the Chickahominy to as far as the Virginia Central Railroad. The main lines of communication with the

Pamunkey were as secure as ever; and the immediate effect of the two days’ fighting will probably have made General M'Clellan’s brigadiers more cautious, and General M'Clcllan himself more solicitous to keep his army closer together. The ulterior effects it is not at present possible to foresee. It is worthy of remark in this battle of Richmond and in other recent engagements that a practice is rife with the Federal generals which has seldom been heard of before, except among the leaders of Asiatic soldiers. It is constantly stated that cavalry are placed behind the Federal soldiers to drive them on upon the enemy. In the recent case it is related that fugitives were shot by troops sent after them by their own generals. We observe that President Lincoln himself has \ hardly been more successful than General Butler in

his efforts to control the uncontrollable tongues of the fair portion of the rebel community ; but he has avoided the general’s blunder, and punished the ladies without calling them bad names. A Mrs. Greenhow, and some others, long held in a kind of half durance and surveillance at Washington, were politely expelled the citv a short time ago, and conducted under proper escort to Baltimore, where they were set at liberty, with a caution to be discreet. But, having much zeal and no discretion, they made their exile their triumph. Having a whole host of sympathizers amid the belles of Maryland, they took care to let their arrival be promulgated by the busy voice of fashion. The result was that they held a great reception all day, and were visited by everybody who thought himself or herself worthy of being thought anybody ; and that in the evening they were serenaded by a band that did not play “Yankee Doodle,” “Hail Columbia,” “The Star-spangled Banner,” or any other tune that is supposed to express or to represent the martial ardour or national patriotism of the North. For the last few weeks it has been rumoured that a black brigade, destined for service in Virginia, was in process of secret organization in New York, though nobody knew the place of rendezvous or the white men who were at the head of the movement. It turns out that the rumour was correct; tnat the black brigade or regiment, numbers already about 800 men; and is to be commanded by a white colonel and white captains. But among the many peculiarities of this war, not the least remarkable is the erroneous estimate which the North has formed of the Southern negroes individually and in the aggregate. It seems to have scarcely entered into the calculations of any one that if black armies are raised to support the Federal cause, they may be opposed by black armies in support of the Confederates, and that black may fight as desperately against black as white is fighting against white in this unnatural contest. The Southern people allege that they aae certain of the attachment and honesty of their slaves: and the Northern generals are for the most part so distrustful of the fidelity of the negroes that bring or pretend to bring information to their camps of the movements of the enemy that they discourage their visits, disbelieve their statements, or treat them either as spies or prisoners. A proposition which was first made in a Richmond journal for the immediate levy of a negro army of 10,000 or 20,000 men. to oppose'either the “Yankee niggers” that may beb rought into the field or the Yankees themselves, has met with the general approval of the South. It must certainly be admitted that the whole experience of the war supports the view that, as a rule, the Southern negro is warmly attached to his master, and that he would not only obey his orders with the utmost faithfulness and docility, but fight for him to the last extremity.

A naval engagement took place on Jane 8, on the Mississipi, near Memphis, resulting in the destruction oi the Confederate fleet. All the Confederate vessels were destroyed but one. Memphis surrendered immediately afterwards, and is now in possession of the Federals. The Confederates had evacuated Fort Wright before the engagement commenced. The Tax Bill has at length passed the Senate, very considerably modified. An income or property tax of 3 per cent, on all incomes above 600 dots, and under 10,000 dols. per annum; of 5 per cent, upon incomes between 10,000 dols and 50, 000 dols.; and of per cent, upon incomes above 50,000 dols. has been imposed. The duty on whiskies and other strong drinks has been increased. A heavy tax has been placed on the poor man’s beer. The proposed capitation tax on negro slaves has been struck out as unconstitutional; the ridiculous proposal to tax crinolines and hoops, gold and silver watches, umbrellas and walking sticks, has been rejected, and a tax of half a cent, or one farthing per lb., has been laid upon raw cotton, in order to make England contribute handsomely towards the expenses of the war. The modifications of tha original scheme amount to nearly 300, all of which will have to be reconsidered by the House of Represetatives. When this has been done, a conference between the two Houses will become nececsary, so that the Tax Bill still “ looms in the future,” and no one can predict what shape it will ultimately assume. Mr. Chase is about to apply to Congress for permission to issue 150 millions of demand treasury notes ( £30,000,000 sterling). It is proposed that 25 millions shall consist of small notes under five dollars.

Mr. Chase has recently authorised the publication of a statement of the particulars of the national debt up to the 29th of May last. From this document it appears that the whole [liabilities of the State only amounted to 491,443,984 dollars, or a little more than £98,000,000 sterling. This sum includes the loans sanctioned by Congress since 1842, the Treasury Notes, the Certificates of Indebtedness, the United States’ Notes, and the bonds of various kinds sanctioned by the same authority; but docs not include the war bounties of 100 dollars each for 700,000 men to be paid at the conclusion of the war; or the liabilities outstanding against the government, and daily accruing for iron-clad and other vessels, and military and naval expenses of various kinds, amounting, at the very lowest estimate, to 150,000,000 dollars, or £30,000,000 sterling; or any portion of the sums to be paid for the manumission of the slaves in the district of Columbia, or in any of the Slave States that have been invited to take the initiative in emancipation, at the expense of the Federal government, and scores of other items. A victory gained by the Confederates over the Federal general, Banks, caused a regular panic some weeks ago at Washington. It will be recollected that when M’Clellan transported his army from the Potomac to Yorktown, Banks and M’Dowell were left to menace the Confederates from the north of Virginia. It was lately reported that M’Dowell had been able to establish himself at Fredericksburgh, which is about 60 miles from Richmond. At the same time General Banks was manoeuvring, wo arc told in the valley of Shenandoah. The position of these two generals has always been rather dangerous, as it was obviously by no means impossible that the Confederates should attack them in detail. Nor, with this risk hanging over them, was it very probable that thev would be able actively to co-operate with M’Clellan. M’Dowell escaped attack, but the Confederates, under General Jackson, fell upon Banks and drove him actually across the Potemac, with great loss. The consternation at the Federal capital almost equalled what was witnessed on the occasion' of the affair at Bull’s Run. The President seized the railways, recruiting was commcnced, and in a few days Banks was reinforced. Jackson returned to the valley of the Shenandoah. Fremont has been sent to pursue him. Some fighting has occurred between Jackson’s and Fremont's corps, rather to the advantage, it appears, of the former. In the Senate, on the 9th of Juue, the bill from the House to prohibit slavery in the Territories, was passed by 28 to 10.