THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur.” WANGANUI, FEBRUARY 25, 1864.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 8, Issue 380, 25 February 1864, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur .” WANGANUI, FEBRUARY 25, 1864.

When tTie Lapwing left Raglan on Sunday morning last, theie was no further news from the front. The Advertiser announces a candidate for the Superintendency “ who will pursue a policy, in mostf distances, the very opposite of that which has been adopted by the present Superintendent.” The English .mail'arrived in Wellington on Monday evening and was brought on by the tVoncja Wonga, being delivered here yesterday at noon. We regret that a pressure of advertisements at a late hour has obliged us to curtail our description of the month’s events ; but nothing important is omitted. The most interesting part of the news is that. from America, which will be found in another column. The latest intelligence is to the 16th December, whpn the army of the Potomac had estab-lished-itself in winter quarters, while in Tennessee General Longstreet was slowly retreating before the Federals. The Confederates have now obtained large supplies, 200 vessels being engaged in running the blockade into Wilmington alone, so that prices of everything are now reasonable. There are to be no substitutes allowed; in the Confederate Army ; and altogether 4shere is no sign of this dreary struggle being nearer a close than ever ; although there had been rumours in Liverpool, that the Con-

federates would be obliged to ask for an armistice within three months. Of European news the most important is that relating to Schleswig Holstein. A number of the smaller German States have recognised the right of the. Prince Augustenburg to the sovereignty of these states, and the German Confederation have mar-ched troops into Altona ou the 24th December, their commissioners having the temporary administration of affairs in Holstein. The Danish troops wisely retired before the Federals, and thus a collision was prevented, which might have brought on a European war, and strong hopes are entertained that the dispute will be settled amicably by the intervention of the great] European powers. The Emperor Napoleon’s arbitration scheme has fallen to the ground, his invitation not having been accepted by any of the"great powers ; but meanwhile the financial state of the Empire almost necessitates a disarmament, as, notwithstanding the flourishing state of trade, a loan of 12,000,000 Z is required to cover the Mexican aud other extra expenses. In Mexico the French army had occupied Queretaro on the 27th November, and the opposition of Juarez seemed to be at an end, bis forces being completely dispersed. The hopeless struggle goes on in Poland, to be supplemented, it is, said, by a rising in Hungary, where an insurrection is being organised under the management of Kossuth. William Makepeace Thackeray died suddeuly on the 24th December, of effusion of blood on the brain. Colonel Crawley has been fully and honorably acquitted on both charges brought against him. A great fire has occurred in the City of London. The destruction of property is estimated at -£IOO,OOO. The fight between Heenan and King terminated in the defeat of the former. At the end of the 2,oth round, Heenan lay senseless, beaten out of all semblance of himself. King is thus winner of £lm Champion Belt and ,£2OOO.

AMERICA. We take the following from the Home News : Onr last contained the details of the defeat of the Federal General Rosecrans at Chickamauga by General Bragg, and hi.s retreat to Chattanooga, and that of the Federal General Burnside;, on his advance to veinforce Roaecvans, by General Long-tveet, who subsequently laid .siege to Knoxville. Resuming the thread of the story where it broke off last, the hostile armies in Eastern Tennessee draws, the most attention. At Chattanooga, where Grant superseded Rosecrans, the condition of the Federal forces was considered almost desperate ; but the arrival of reinforcements under General Sherman enabled tlie Federals to commence active operations.

On the 23rd November General Grant made a reconnaissance in force, by which he discovered that the “ army of General Bragg was falling back towards Cbickamauga.”. Assured of this, Grant on the 25 th advanced his whole line, and attacked on the right and left of the Confederates. Two Federal divisions were twice repulse d but the field was abandoned by the Confederates, and they lost their position on Lookout Mountain, from which they had for several weeks been watching the Federal lines, and shelling the hostile camp with very little effect. The number of prisoners taken by the Federals ranged from 5000 to 7000, with 00 pieces of cannon. Whatever reason may have compelled Bragg to abandon the heights, the result can hardly be disputed. He gave up an advantageous position, and which was gained by one of the most sanguinary engagements of the war. Both sides had been receiving reinforcements during the preceding six weeks, though no authentic statement of the numerical strength, of the two armies has appeared. The above battle is described as having ended in the complete rout of General Bragg, who fell back towards Dalton in disorder, a distance of several miles, de. - troying the bridges behind him and the stores which impeded his movements. Generals Sherman and gHooker advanced in pursuit, arriving in the afternoon of November .26 at Ringgold, a place about half-way between the field of battle and Dalton. The Confederates appear to have rallied at the latter place, where the Federals, owing, perhaps, to hunger, exhaustion, or lack of means of transport show little inclination to attack them.

Burn side, in the meantime, was shut up in Knoxville, which was closely invested by the Confederates under General Longstreet. The utterly unexpected news of General Bragg’s discomfiture at Chattanooga i-endored it imperative on General Longstreet either to take the city or raise the siege. Accordingly on the 29th November he attempted to effect its capture by assault, but was repulsed with some loss. The arrival of Federal reinforcements from Chattanooga on the 4th of December compelled General Longstreet to retire. He withdrew bis forces towards Bristol, on the liue of the Tennessee railroad , pursued by a large force of Federal cavalry, of whom, however, he had 36 hours’ start.

The army of Virginia, under General Meade, after a long period of inaction, ci'ossed to the south of the Rapidan on the 25th and 26th of November, “and advanced towards-General Lee’s position on the west side of Mine Run "Valley,'which he reached on the 25th. Finding that he was not strong enough to attack General Lee successfully, he returned to his former quarters at brandy Station, where he is expected to remain during the winter. ... The bombardment of Charleston still continues,’but with no effect. Both Houses of Congres met on Dec. 7.

Congress has unanimously passed a vote of thanks and voted a medal to General‘Grant. President Lincoln is reported convalescent, but yet unable to leave his chamber. He lias issued a proclamation raising of the seige of Knoxville, and, estimating it to be of great national consequence, recommended all loyal people upon receipt of Hie information to assemble at their places of worship and render homage to the Almighty for His great advancement of the national cause. On December 9, the President forwarded to the Congress bis Message, of which the following is a summary : It states that the Federal government is in peace and friendship with all foreign Powers ; that the crisis which .threatened to divide the friends of the Union is past; that the rebellion is pressed within its narrowest limits, and declares the President’s determination to adhere strictly to his emancipation policy so long as he shall remain in the executive. The British Government, it says, as was further expected, has exercised its authority to prevent vessels of war for tlie rebels leaving British poi-ts and the French Government has acted similarly. Blockade questions have been adjusted amicably, and the rights of aliens partly defined by treaty with some governments. The total receipts during the year were 900,000,000 dollars, of which 69 millions were from customs, 37 millions from internal revenue, and 776 millions from loans The disbursements were 895,000,009 dollars, of which the war department absorbed 590 millions,' and the navy l department 63 million dollars. Accompanying the Message is a proclamation in which Mr. Lincoln proffers an amnesty to all the people of the Confederate States, excepting the heads of the government, the principal military ' and naval officers, and those who have been concerned in treating coloured per- ' sons captured in the Federal army other than as prisoners of war, upon the condition that they will swear to support the Constitution and the Union, all the Acts of Congress, and all proclamations of the President made during the war, until such acts and proclamations may -be declared void by the Supreme whereCourfc. He further proclaims that ever the citizens of any of the Seceded States not less in number than one-tenth oi the votes cast in such States in the Px-esidential election of 1860 shall reestablish a local government which shall not contain their prescribed oath, the State .-'shall be remitted to the Union-. The proclamation contains the following additional provisions for State government formed in ! accordance with the terms of the proclamation : State, governments may make any provision in relation to negroes which shall recognise and declare their permanent; freedom, pi*ovide for their education, ami which may yet be consistent as a tempo vary arrangement with their present;'' condition as a laborious, landless, houseless, class. State governments may l’etain the name of the State, aud the same boundary, constitution, and general ewdeof laws as existed before the rebel 1 ie-Sy subject to the modification made necessary by the conditions mf the tion. : Not oniy is air amnesty granted, but full pardon and restoration of the rights of propertjv except slave property, to those taking the oaths described in the proclamation. -

Ths Confederate Congress assembled on December 7. Mr. Jefferson Davis delivered his Message on the same day, of which the following is a summary. : He says : “ Whatever obstinancy. may be displayed by the enemy in his desperate sacrifices of life, money, and liberty in the hope of enslaving us, experience of mankind has too conclusively shown the superior endurance of those fighting for home ( liberty, and independence to "permit ' any doubt of the result.”- He bitterly criticises Earl Russell’s policy in regard to the blockade, and referring to Earl Russell’s speech that Englishmen would have been for ever infamous if, for the sake of their interests, they had violated the law of nations and made wav with the slaveholding states against the Federal states, says Earl Russell would have been less severe on the former if he had remembered that slavery wa a legacy from England Mr. Davis suggests two courses in respect to their foreign relations, the oue paper blockade of the north which ho rejects, the other the adhering to the Paris declaration that a neutral flag covers an enemy’s goods except contraband of war, which he adopts in the hope of ‘redress from the returning sense of justice of the great p< ople, who will awake to the consciousness that the war in which the South is engaged ought rather to be a reason for forbearance of au advantage than the occasion for unfriendly conduct.’ He says, “The enemy refuse proposals for the only peace possible between us. The only hope for peace now is in the vigour of our resistance.”