The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-15 00:00:00

(Per Europe rid Boston and Queenstown.)

NEW YORK, Seri. 2.
The steamship North American was intercepted
off Cape Race on the 31st August.
The following are accounts of the events in the
Virginia valley.
A letter from Alexandria, dated 31st August,
published by the Associated Press, says :
" According to all accounts Stonewall Jackson
yesterday succeeded iu forcing his way through the
Union troops surrounding him, and effected a
junction with the remainder of the Confederate
forces. This result was not attained without fear-
ful loss on both sides, as the most desperate fiht-
ing took place. From all that can be learned, in
the absence of any regular report, the corps of
Generals Mg:tow:11, Hautzeltuan, Porter, and Sigel,
were engaged, the former having the left, Heint-
zelinan the right, and the others operating in the
centre. The principal fighting seems to have been
on the left and the centre. The left was thrown
op from Manassas Gap, the right at about Centre-
ville, and the centre on the old Bull Run battle-
field out from Manassas. The action was com-
menced by the enemy opening his batteries upon
our left, between 1 and 2 o'clock iu the afternoon.
Their guns were strongly and advantageously
posted upon a ridge, while our batteries had to fire
from the open plain. General Morell's division
supported our batteries at this point.
" After some severe cannonading, General Bn-
ford's brigade of cavalry, comprising the let
Michigan, the lst Virginia, and the Ist Vermont
Cavalry, were ordered to our extreme left to re-
connoitre and guard against any attempt to turn
our left flank, which movement was threatened
by the enemy. Riding beyond our left, where
übsouprtotenta,Lanetvartyemhic;i7erewwehreafeuprmeloauyraintroog ci!rpti: grewbeihipcithZingoonur
vociferously, our cavalry reached a slight eminence,

and were about to send out a detachment to -
lore, when the enemy were seen conning ~p,,,force along the line of the adjacent wool,. A
rebel battery was Keen to whirl into
tion, and then cline shell thrown into the iisi.kt
of our cavalry, followed by canister and to-ape.
Thus was discovered the intention of the
enemy to attempt a think movement. Lung line. of
rebel infantry could plainly be seen hurrying up to
take position, and soon other rebel batteries were
brought up and opened upon our left. Our car:dry,
forced to rAire, retreated behind a low ridg.!, bit
the clouds of dust revealing their place of retread,
the rebels continued shelling them, and anoinT
change of position was made. Here a body .4
cavalry was observed riding toward the ,isit,
and the sabres of our cavalry were drawn to in,et
the coming foe. The squadron proved to
be friends, the 4th New York Cavalry. Where
they had come from, as Sigel was on the right, was
and is a mystery. They reported the rebel criva!ry
under General Stuart as about making a charge.
The New York cavalry fell in behind General
Buford's brigade, the bugles sounded, and over the
hill galloped our men to meet the advancing
As our men approached them the rebel cavalry
discharged double-barrelled shut guns, and
then met us in full charge. Our nwi,
broke the enemy's line and pursued them. The
rebels rallied in splendid style, and dashed forwanl
again to meet the charge. Again their line ws.
broken, and as our cavalry were preparing t..
charge again the rebels opened fire upon them from
their batteries and with musketry, compelling thsom
to retire.

"Meanwhile our left had given way, and was nu the
retreat, passing the cavalry. A battery which had
run abort of ammunition was on the poin t of beiugcak
tured, but under the determined resistance 01 our
cavalry, it was safely brought off. The troopti fell
back upon General Franklin's division, which had
just come up, and were formed in line to prevent
andanything like a panic.
Franklin's division retired to Centre-
ville, after preventing confusion, and giving our
retreating troops time to rally.
" During the fight a body of the enemy, cono•aled
iu the woods, annoyed our forces much by thou
rifle practice. General Martindale's brigade charged
them, and drove them from the woods, amid the
cheers of our line.

" General Hartetuff's brigade made a similar
charge, but with a different result. They pene-
trated into the woods, when a deadly fire of grape
and canister was opened upon them from a
masked battery. At the same time a mur-
derous volley of rifle balls came from one side, and
a desperate charge of the enemy from the other.
Our men fought bravely, but were forced to retire.
The enemy remained upon the battle-field over-
night.
To-day there has been some skirmishing. Re-
inforcements are going up to-day, and a battle is
anticipated to-morrow."
The special correspondent of the New York Tri-
bune of the Ist inst. describes the situation of the
Federal forces upon the previous day in • lengthy
report, from which the following is condensed :

. ,
" Ws;hiogtee, August 31.
"At half-past 8 this morning, at Centreville,
all the artillery, the supervision of which was
entrusted to General M'Doweli, had found its
place. All seemed ready to meet au attack, and
strong picket guards had becu sent out to look for
the enemy, one being ordered to push on to Man-
chester. .

" At headquarters the generals were cool and in
good spirits. They regarued their position as im-
pregnable, were disposed to invite attack, and were
not apprehensive of any flanking movement by the
enemy.
" Although the officers did not seem disposed to
admit it, the inevitable inference was that we were
defeated on Saturday. Friday closed with a vic-
tory. We were driving the enemy back when night
came on. But in the morning he was stronger. A
force, estimated at 40,000 strong, bad marched to his
relief through Thoroughfare Gap. Our line of battle
was formed about six miles from Centreville, not far
from the old Bull Run battle-field. Geu. Di'Dowell
was on the left, Fits John Porter in the centre, and
General Reno on the right. The left fronted a
heavy piece of wood, in which there was little show
of force, while opposite the centre and the right
the signs were that the enemy had massed his
troops. But it was discovered soon after the battle
began that the real strength of the rebel army was
on our left. General Lee, who was in com-
mand, had massed his troops on our left, and
poured iu a terrible fire, which caused General
fd `Dowell's corps to waver and fall back. The battle
raged all day, but theenemy proved too strong tor us,
and towards night our forces fell back to Centreville,
leaving the killed and most of the more seriously
wounded in the hands of the enemy. The retro-
grade movement was executed in good order.
General Reno said that the real cause of our
defeat was the want of supplies. The horses had
had hardly anything to eat for from three to tire
days, and the men had fared little better. All
agreed that a column of 10,000 fresh troops would
have changed the fortunes of the day. Provisions
are now rapidly coming in.
" Up to ten o'clock to-day no firing worth speak•
dog of was beard at Centreville, nor after that hour
on the ride to Alexandria.

" The number of prisoners paroled by the enemy
was 650. The thousand prisoners, of whose cap-
ture General Pope speaks in his first despatch, were
taken to Alexandria to-day.
" General Reno said in conversation to-day that
he never saw a more daring act than the one per-
formed by the rebels on Saturday. Out of the
woods, on the flank of several of his batteries,
swarmed what appeared to be stragglers from our
forces—first a few, then more and more, until not
less than a regiment or two had emerged. He au
completely deceived until they were nearly Upon
his guns, when he caught sight of the 'red patch,'
knew them to be rebels, turned his artillery in a
twinkling upon them, and destroyed almost every
man.

" The precise facts about Banks, his troops, ash
his transportation, it is difficult to arrive at. It I;
stated here, upon the best authority, that lie 13.
safe, but was obliged to destroy all his tram., 01
which he bad more than his share, much unia.,&,-
nary baggage having been left in his charge by tbr
divisions which moved forward. Mr. Fitiell,
master of railroad transportation, is report. 4
as saying that Banks has saved all—himself, Im
command, and his trains. Another authority sap
that be is entrenched at Manassas Junction.

" A young surgeon professionally engaged at
Centreville to-day stays that between Fairfax sad
that place he found thousands of stragglers, and
within our lines at Centreville there were to he
eyes evidences of disorganisation. At Alexandria,
also, according to several witnesses, not a few
officers and men from General Pope's army were
about the streets, and engaged in disseminating the
most preposterous rumours.
" The latest official despatches are dated fuss
Centreville at 2 o'clock. The enemy was then some
two miles distant, and appearances indicated that a
great battle would be fought to-morrow. The
soldiers were represented to be in excellent heart,
and ready for the battle."
The following items relating to the events that
have taken place in Kentucky and Tennessee were
published in the New York papers :

"Cincinnati, Angina 31.
" On Friday (August 29) afternoon the rebels
beyond Richmond, K.entucky, drove in our twain'.
General Manson, with the 69th and 71st Indians,
moved up, and after throwing a fow shells the enemy
retreated beyond Rogersville, leaving one gun be-
hind. Manson bivouacked for the night, and en the
next morning advanced with two regiments and
four guns, and coming up with the enemy the fight
began, with heavy boas on both sides. The enemy
attempting to turn our left flank, sharp fighting
occurred between the skirmishers. The 6901
Indiana advanced to the relief of our skirmisher",
but the rebels finally turned our left Bank,
and advanced in full force on our column.
General Manson ordered a retreat, fell back three
miles, and reformed in line of battle on high hills,
with artillery in position on the right and left flanks.
" The firing by artillery was recommenced and
kept up by both sides ; the enemy advanced on our
right flank under cover of the woods, and after