The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-16 00:00:00

AMERICA.

Our advice. from New York are to the 4th inst
Bulletins issued by the War Department at
Washington report that Grant's communication
with White House is complete. On the 30th ult.
the Confederates attempted to resist the Federal
advance on the Mechanicsville Road, but were
repahied with serious loin. The New York Herald
correspondent says of the battle :

At 5 p.m. the peaty assaulted oar line ; it was a
tad sodden attack ; they advanced in two lines of
a heavy skirmish line. Simultaneously with their opening
volley of musketry came solid shot and shell from the
angry mouths of a score or more of manta. Firm and on-
shaken stood our men. the rebels shot too high ; our
men coolly waited to return the fire, it was a roost murder-
ous volley, and the assaulting column was staggered end
fell back. Several batteries of artillery which had been in
politica opened responsive to the enemy's canucia. Assault
after assault was made by the desperate foe, but each time
our troops burled him back. Upon General Crawford's
division the assaults were made more repeatedly and more
fierce. The enemy sought to turn his left, but each time
wee handsomely repulsed, and more than special glory was
woo by the men meeting sad repelling these earaulte. The
Pennsylvania reserves behaved magnitiosatly. in the divi-
sion, and holding the extreme left, was General Lockwood ;
his troops, most of them for the first time wider fire,
behaved like veterans. Colonel Hitching's brigade of
heave artillery were but novices, but stood their
grouiscl with great resolution. His brigade aloes . cap-
tured eighty prisoners. The contest closed with our having
driven the enemy as stated above, and recopying the
battle ground. Our loss is 200 tilled wounded, and
missing. The enemy's lass was much heavier, probably
1,500. We took 200 prisoners, among them 10 oariunia-
signed odricers. Among their dead are said to have been
a rebel general end two colonels. Prisoners all say the
whole of -Ewell's curve was engaged against us ; the corps,
they say, however, is commanded by General Early, and
General Ewell is in command of the army, General Lee
being sick at itiehrnoad. A rumour has prevailed that
General Lee was wounded in the leg at Spottaylvania Court,-
house, but it is not authentioated • there an be no doubt,
however, of the fact that he does; not command the Confe-
derate army at preemie.
Gemmel Les's army is now in the entreochniente at
Meadow's Bridge and Bottom Bridge.

Advice" from Bermuda Hundred, of the Ist,
ay:

At seven yesterday morning the enemy attacked General
Bothr's left wing, Lod a spirited fight with musketry was
kept up till 9 o'clook, when the rebels were again repulsed.
30 rebel soldiers came ioto our lines yesterday morning
and surrendered. The eoemy's lows has not bees weer-
Seined. Our loos was very slight.
It is reported that Fitaltugh Lee and UV of his men.
maniL cavalry, were captured last night, while attempting
to make a raid in the direction of the Whitehouse. Gene-
ral Smith's force made the capture.
Information from deserters and prisoners shows that
everything that can be spared has been sent to Lee. About
15,0U0 troops are located at Petersburg in our front, and
the defences around Richmond on the south side.
The 11'cw Turk Tribune of the 3rd says :

After hi. return, Butler worked his men night and day on
the defences, until, in the °piston of his engineers, his
position was sufficiently strong to be held by a reduced
force, meaning to create a mobile column of 20,000 men far
offensive operatioes against Petersburg. At the time the
latter arrangement was completed, orders were received
from Washington to send every available man, leaving suf-
ficient to hold the line to White•house under General
Smith to establish a new base of sapplies.
General Butler, although he bad his pontoon laid across
the Appocnatoz, and the troops were to march that night
upon Petersburg, at once decided to hold the line with the
lame and halt, and send forward all that could possibly be
spared to aid General Grant. He has dews everything in
his power to harass the enemy and employ the troops in
front of him. He has also seat more reinforcements to
General Grant than Beauregard has to Lee, and has put at
least 10,000 of the enemy !tors de combat.

The followin* official despatches had been pub-
lished by the NN ar Department :
_ _

Waakingtom, June 2, 9.30 p.m.

A despatch from General (slant, dated this morning at
Bethesda Church. at 7 o'clock, has just been received. It
states that yesterday p.m. an attack was ordered to be made
Oft our left at Cold Harboar by the 6th corps, end the
troops trader Warren, Burnside, Smith, and Hancock being
held in readiness to advance to their respective (routs,
the attack was made with spirit about 5 p.m.,
continuing until after dark, resulting in our car.
rying the enemy's works oa the right of the
6th corps where we still hold them, and also the first lime
in frost of Smith ; the latter, however, were commanded
by another line ia rear, which made these carried unten-
able. The enemy made repeated assaults co each of the
corps Dot engaged in the main assault, but were repulsed
with loss in every instance. Several buodred premiers were
taken, but I esnoot say what number, nor estimate either
oar or the enemy's casualties. During the sight the enemy
made several as to regain what they had lost, but
failed.

2~odenpatchea from any other quarter have reached thin
department to-day. E. L. STAbTON.
Washington. June 2, 12.15 p.m.

A despatch from General Grant's bead.quarten, dated
yesterday at 10 sari. her been received. It states that at
about 5 p.m. yesterhy, General Sheridan perceiving a force
of rebel cavalry at Cold Harbour, which proved to be Fin-
Hugh Lee's divisioo, he attacked, and after a Lard fight
routed it, together with entirety?' brigade of infantry,
which came to Lee's support. General Sheridan remained
in pmesesion of the place. He reported at dark that he
bd. coasidurable number of prieoaers, and that them were
many rebel dead on the field. lie was ordered to hold the
position, and at 10 p.m. the 6th corps was sent out to oc-
"V'e itave not yet heard from Generals Wright or Sheri-
dan this morning, and do not know whether the former got
hie troops to their destination.
General Smith most be close upon Wright's column.
This morning the enemy Are also moving a heavy column
in the same direction. The order has just gone to Warren
to fall upon their flank.
Wilson hada fight last night sear Hanover Court House,
with Young's brigade of cavalry. He routed Young, killing
and capturing many ; but there has been a great deal of
artillery firing in that direction this morning.
General Warren reported last night that in the fight of
liciedev afternoon sear Betteadys Church, Col. Tyrrell,
of tbe 13th Virginia, and Colonel Willsye, commanding
Program', brigade, were killed. Colonel Christian, of
the 49th Pennsylvania, was wounded and captured ; so was
the adjutant-general of Pomeroy's brigade. Ten other com-
missioned onions were captured, and 70 privates. Sixty
rebels were buried on the field in our centre. General
Burnside reports his advanced line as being this morning
within • mile and a half of Meehancisville.

.No other military istelligeace has beau received by the
department since yesterday.
-• • " Wasbiaattio June 3 10 p.m.

Nothing has been beard from General Grant since his
deep•teh dated at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Tele-
graphic communication has been delayed by • violent
storm on the Peninsula yesterday evening and last night,
and cannot be re-established before some time to-morrow.
A Washington despatch dated evening of the 3rd says,
that weenier' in a steamer arrived at that city from
Whit* House at noon that day stated that heavy cannon-
What, indicating a severe fight. was thee going on. A
soldier who arrived at White House from the front re•
C=lthat the fith corps was engaged at noon, having
ht on a conflict by • rapid end sudden movement
bees the left to the right.
General Birney defeated Breckieridge's corps on the 314
Hey, on • rising ground over Tolopatomy Creek, taking BO
primed's.

The North German Lloyd's steamship America.
from New York cm the 4th fast., ►rrind at Southampton
lad night. She bring. 2211 sworn and 149 bap of mail; of
which 53 are for Southampton ; and epee* 57,950 dole. far
England, ►nd 2,750 dolr. for Bremen. Her sees has beta
oaticipataL

THE GERMAN DIET AND THE DANISH
QUESTION.

The following has been published as the declara-
tion made by the Plenipotentiary of the Germanic
Confederation at the sitting of the conference on the
9th inst. :
I atetained from participating in the discussion which
took place in the last sitting but one upon the froatier
question, not finding myself authorind to pronounce for
any particular lies. The instructions which I have since
received from the Diet subsequently to rendering an ac-
count of the sitting of the 28th May, approve the declass-
Boos made by me on that occasion in concert with the
plenipotentiaries of Austria sad Prussia, and it is by them,
consequently, that I mast be guided.
These declarations are noted in the protocol. Count
Beesetarff, spooking in the name of the German pleni-
potentiaries, allowed it to be understood that there was a
dispaition to cede a part of the northern territory of Slop
wig and to consider the abandonment of the Duchy of
lossabarg as an equivalent. He mid at the mon time
that the line of demarcation proposed by the government
of her Britannic Majesty
.could not NM the object of a
solid and durable peace, once the priadpal subject of com-
plaint and agitation with the greater part of the popula-
tions of Steswig would net only continue to exist, but
would even be infinitely aggravated by their separation
from the rest of the duchies and their incorporation with
the kingdom of Denmark.
In my opinion the terms of this =affectation clearly in-
dicate that it is not Intended to consent to the abandon-
ment of any part of the Sleswig territory, where the
majority of the population should refuse to accept it.
I am happy to state that the Confederatioo, is placing
itself at this point of view. ie able to take advantage of the
manner in which it has pleased the neutral power to regard
the question. The plcroipotentiariee of Great Britain un-
derstand that the future destiny of the Duchy of Holstein,
the Duchy of Limburg, and the southern portion
of Slams, should not be determined without
their comet. The plesipoteetiary of France has declared
for the waist/moos of the point of view of his govern-
meat, according to which no new state of things could be
establishedy
withoutns the
lb. sod
tenitories detached
whom
ntht :mona ,
the po-
pulatioos when legally consulted- The plenipotentiary of
Sweden has also stated that his government understands
that the future destiny of the provisoes which might be
ceded by the King of Denmark should not be regulated
without their consent.

It appears to me impossible to admit that the 'antral
powers wish to establish a principle with the intention of
enchain its logical and impartial application. It is im-
possible for me to attribute to them the idea that it is
nesessary to 000sult populatious which ought to bolos( to
Germany, in order to saoertsio w both*: this future suits them.
but that this precaution is noels.. with those which are to
remain foreign to it. It's finally impossible for me not to
call to mind that I consider Skeels 's haviog ceased to form
part of the Danish monarchy, sad that following this order
of ideas the question is of detaching a portion of Sleswig,
not from the monarchy, but to the profit of the monarchy,
with the °assent of its ecwartign, who will not mime to
take into meows' the wish of the populations.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

CHATHAM. Jinn 15.

- ----
A royal warrant laying down an improved code
of regulations relative to soldiery who may re.eolist on the
completion of their first term of limited service has bees
promulgated at this garrison. Under the new warrant, by
which all previous warrants are cesoelled, soldiers who may
re-engage tbetmelves on the completion of the first term of
their limited service will be allowed the value of a new kit,
21. as a bounty, 11. re-engagement money, and 1/. gratuity,
receiving at the same time a furlough for two months.
They will also be allowed to count the whole of their former
service, and will receive the good conduct pay of which
they were in receipt previously. Soldiers serving in India
will, oo re-enlistment, be allowed the sum of 5/., in lieu of
two mouths' furlough.

INSPECTION OP THE CIVIL SERVICE RIFLES
BY THE PRINCE of WALES.

The inspection of the 21st Middlesex (Civil
Service) Ride& which, in consequence of the preence of its
honorary colonel, the Prince of Wales, will be reedited
as the anneal (Alicia inspection of this excelle•tlydrilled
corps, took place lest evening in the quadrangle of Somerset
Haase, before • large and distuiguisbed assemblage. Every
preparation to do honour to the auspicious event wes made-
The quadrangle was tastefully hung with a varied series of
Admiralty signals, interspersed with union jacks and stan-
dards ; on either side were ranged temporary seats for the
accommodation of visitors admitted by tickets, while
on the west side of the square a raised dais, deco-
rated with Minting and covered with • deli-
cately white awning, over which dusted the Prince of
Wake' standard, was erected for the reception of the Prince
and Princes. Soon alter 3 o'clock a body of the A Division.
under the direction of Superintendent Durkin, assisted by
Inspector Denning, were stationed at the entrance gates
and in the enclosure.

Half•past 5 was the appointed time for the arrival of his
royal highness, bug lowa I before that hour every seat was
occupied, the fair sea being the moat numerous. At 4 o'clock
the various companies assembled in the quadmagle, to the
number of 400 rank and file.

The men having been put through ► preliminary drill by
Major Mill, assisted by Captain and Adjutant Lombard,
Lieutenant-Colonel Viscount Bory, M.P., took command,
and reheaned the min is the movements through which
they subsequently pissed before his royal highness, leaving
them formed in wings in readiness to give the royal saline,
Se. During the inter►al that elapsed between this and
the snivel of the Prince and Princes', Viscountess Bury,
accompanied by the Countess of Albemarle, Lady Suffield,
Mrs. Loyd Lindsay, Lady William Compton, Miss Coombe,
and Lady Augusta Koppel, took their seats on the dais
behind the chairs of state. There ;were aleofpreseat,
amongst other distinguished personages, the Earl of Albe-
marle, Lord Suffield, Lieutenant-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, ire.

A little before ti o'clock distant cheers announced the
approach of the Prince and Princes, and immediately after-
wards the royal :carriage drove through the lints of volun-
teers, to the dais. Upon! alighting their royal highaesee,s
were received with a royal salute, the men presenting arms
and the band striking up the drat hare of the National
Anthem. The Princess was received by Lady Bury, and
ushered to her seat, while the Prise, upon ascending
the chip, graciously acknowledged the general greeting
Resided him by all preset. The Pinta, who wore the
undress uniform of a general ofßcer. was attended by Genera
Kaolin and Colonel Keppel. The Princess was attired in
mourning, and attended by Lady Carmarthen. The Prince,
accompanied by Lord Bury and followed by General
Knolkis and Colonel Keeps!, walked down the lines, and
inspected the men ; he then returned and took up his
position on the dais, and the menu:urns, directed by Lord
Bury, were commenced. At their conclusion, the Prince
stepped into the centre end said, " Gentlemen, I Deed
hardly tell you the great pleasure I feel at being present
at this inspection, and the satisfaction I have experienced
in witnessing your niameuvres. Coder the able tuition of
Colonel Lord Bary, you have bad great opportunities of
becoming efficient in your drill. It occurs to me. from the
great steadiness Sou hays acquired, that you most have paid
great attention to drill. I had this square funned so that I
might present you with my challenge cup, and I have gnat
pleasure in doing so." The Prince then handed the challenge
cup to Lord Bury. and a cup to the winner, Mr. Burroughs,
of the Whitehall Company.
Three cheers were then given for the Prince, three for
Denmark, and the Prince and Princess drove away amidst
the cheers of all preseat.

The iron-cased corvette Wolverine sod the Re-
sistance end Enterprise mos left I•eronouth•roads on Tues-
day. for the north. It wee understood that they were
going northwards ea far as Leith.

TRAMS MARINE OPTICLRI4 TRAINING SHIP.—The
distribution of prises to the cadet& ori board the Worcester
will take place on board the ship, off Faith, on the Zird
w►ea Mr. Mauer Gibson, M.P., will priment the prism, sod
Yr. Fleury Grimm will lake the chair. Many of our leading
London shipowners will also give employment to the boys
lesviog the ship, mid to all who bare been two years on
board. A large compel.; is ezpootad to be present : sad a
spaced steamboat has Wee provided for the aosveyarias of
visitors, to loam Blackwell ►t 12 cie that day.

HORBlllaarea Tas is choice and strong, moderate
in price, and wholtronse to use. These advantages have secured
for this tea a general preference. It le sold to pechete bs 2,280
nada. —[Advertisetoeut.