The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-31 00:00:00

AMERICA.

Oar *dykes from New York are to the 19th lost.

The Nato York Times of that date thus refers to
the latest monments of Hood and Sherman
"The news from General Sherman'a department con-
tinues encouraging. Hood's raid on our com-
munications, so far as any military results are
couoerned, baa proved a gigantic failure, and the
miserable rebel has drugged his army iato a mesh
oat of which he will probab only get by the
loss of half his forceOn Moaday morning at
daylight Hood's force left Lafayette, Ga., in great
haste, moving south toward the Coosa River, with
Sherman on his flank, holding the gaps in Tay-
lor's Ridge. Thii country is very bad for
an inferior army hotly pursued, being full of
ridges, bills, and small valleys. If Hood gets
away, it will be by the vigorous use of his legs. He
his declined battle whenever offered, and will not
fight unless forced to do so. O'eneral Slocum
occupies Atlanta, with plenty of forage and pro-:
claims. Hood demanded, over his own signature,
the eirrentler of Ramos and Dalton, and said that if
surrendered, the white offieen would be paroled in
a few days, but that if the poet was carried by
assault, 'no prisonen would be taken.' Dalton
assergresiessik. -1114-11111•66 WY' bat ROMP ill

The Near York Herald of the 19th gives the fol-
lowing particulars of Hood's movements, by which
the " great flanker wan to be flanked"
After his signal defeat at Joueshere . mid merest from
Admits Hood esoamped Lida army mar Lovejoy's IllaniCe.
On the Macon Railroad, covering Granted ILsece, Georgia.
While here •truos was declared to exist from September
13 to the 23rd, during which Hood made his preparations
for active work. As soon as the truce was concluded, he
freedoms! his arrey from his position on the Mama read
to the Atlanta and Wass Nisi road, mar Hawke; the
of General Stosentan's surrender , July 30, with the evident
intention of miming any movemeut of Sherman against
Columbus, Georgia, It was while encamped here
,that the army was visited by Jefferson Dm*
end the neweinest spinet Sberman's rear was began.
It is a very plausible argument that these movements
were !creed up= Hood by the necessity of some active
employment for hie um, who are represented to Mitt
a most demoralised state, to which idleness would odly
stThis idea is bones out by the reception which we
hived was accorded to Jeff. Davis os his arrival at
ate headquarters. The sea bad sot forgotten that the
maitre of Davis bad deprived them of the cans, kiodwies,
pertems. of Joe Juhastos, sad placed them under a
7 sad inexperienced man. Many of them had bees
end at 'Vicksburg, am they supposed. from themes'
felt by Davis towards J Amato°. The consequenes '
that Davis set with such a cold receptioa that be could
#d
t notice it, and he requested of his corps commodore
aa explanation of the 'angular fact. Davis was told
the men were dissetisfied at Johristoe's re-
; _ that a change ought to be made in the
command of the army, and • string derociastratim in
faller of Joe Johaston mimed@ ; but in vain, Davis was
Weed told. idol, Hood, as he had formerly been to Fein-
Whop, and only granted in part the demands al the coumil
of acmes with whom he had consulted. The army was
toothfied by a chasms of departmental commanders, Beau-
•ralind Imam made commander of the " Department of the
Southwest," sod Hood retained in tbe immediate command of
the" Army of Tennessee," hot coder Beauregard's orders.
restored the old order of things as they existed nodes.
J in the fall of 1863, Beaciregard filling the lass of
Johnston. Johnston was effectually shelved by
decid and will doubtless sever spin receive a com-
Hardoo, ee, deputed, asked to be relieved, sad was
is ilmareprd's old place at amitotic..
..
lesegeently Davis urged upon Hood the movemeet
is program, and os September 29 the march began,
army moving direct to the Chattahoochee river near
Mintowe, sometimes called Seadtown. fiter:part's
was employed during the same attenuate is crosehig
river, and S. D. Lee's imp followed on the waning
. The army, however made but a abort march so
ber 30, and mounpik for the night six mile, north
of wder Springy, and near the old battle ground of New
Ho Church. Here Hood comentrated hi forms, bringing
16
's maps and Wheeler's cavalry, and full of imithei-
Dream el having emessefully crossed the Chatta-
hoochee river, be unbosom:lM himself to his army, amazing
his men that be had as many modiste as Sherman ; that
the Federals bad but forty days' ratio= of berm and so
bread, and in treclusioe, epromised to compel Sherman
to retreat. Forrest bad been eodeavouriag to do good work
on the left, and Wheeler was now to be despatched to
operate on the right. At the conclusion of this confidential
speech Hood gave the order to march. Wheeler moved
upon Marietta, mid skirmished about that town, but did sot
succeed in occupying it and destroying the valuable stores
accumulated there. Stewart moved upon Big Shanty,
maim the railroad at that point by going around KODOISW
Mountain, and destroyed about ten miles of track.
Stephen D. Lee's corps, the advance of which was under
General S. G. French, moved further to the left and north,
makisgfor the important aad marrow defile of the Allatoona
Mountains, through which the railroad runs. Bat Gomm!
John M. Corse, of Howard's army, having been ordered from
Boras, Georgia, by General Sherman, had succeeded in
reaching the gap, and held it whist his best efforts. Fritsch
made several attacks, but all failed. Our Ices was about
300 killed sad wounded, the rebels lousing over COO. A
large somber of killed sod wounded were left on the field,
while many prisoners have been forwarded to Chattanooga.
General Corsi was slightly wounded. The enemy Boding
his efforts to take the gap in vain, sad having accomplished
all the damage to the railroad in hi power, motioned his
march, moving slowly north by the several roads seat of the
railroad in the direction of Dalton.
In the meantime Sherman had not been idle, but, leaving
Slocam's corps in Atlanta, be moved forward with his main
force ; bat up to the time Hood crossed the railroad be bad
Dot been able to come up with him.
Hoed made hie appearance at Ramer* on Oct. 12, and
demanded the surrender of the place; but he met
with such stubborn resistance that he was forced to
retire. He then marched spot Dalton, which, it
is reported, was captured. Accounts respecting this
me conducting ; but there is no doubt he was unable
to remain there, as we afterwards bear of his
passim through the famous Bossard Roost Gap
of Rocky Fars Mountain and going west. His cavalry
and advance guard made some demonstrations towards
Rismold, Mt no venous damage was dom. He remained
io the valley between Rocky Face and Taylor's moun-
tains is efforts to seize the pp 'at Ringgold—sow known
as Hooker's Gap, until Sherman, who had been march-
ing north along the railroad. had reached Remote and
Snake Creek Otp, when the rebel general pared west,
through Gordon's Gap of Taylor's Ridge, sad entered the
valley of the Chickamauga river.
Our latest advice@ report him emeoped near Lafayette,
with Sherman at Ship's Gap of Taylor's Ridge, twelve miles
south seat of Lafayette. If Hood permits Sherman to pees
through Ship's Gap and get into tbe,narrow val ey of the
alike:ileum, it will be too small to hold both peacefully.
Hood cannot well go further west, as the Lookout Yountein
range, at whose feet be now lies, cannot he crossed by a
large army without mewl preparation. Many days would
be consumed io crossing it with so large an army as Hood
bossts of Saving. Should be Mimeos further north in the
valley he will be inevitably hemmed in sad &road to cur-
reader. Hood will, is all probability, bold control,
es
be can do, of Ship's Gap until his troops are
well moth of Lafayette io the valley, and then
allow Sherman to one. the mountain. He will
hays an easy route ,by way of Somerville, but is takes
such a route he abandons all attempts to cut Sherman's
communications. Hood may be foolhardy enough to hold
Sherman in check at Ship'aGap long enough to enable him to
cross Lookout Mountain, I. the bops of making a succeedul
movement against Bridgeport, Alabama, and the railroad
between that point and Chattanooga. He could here
totally destroy the road in a short tine as it passes through
a very mountainous country, and bridges and trestle works
are very numerous He will, however, run great den ill
making this movement of being followed and attacked by
Sherman, whose army is able at any time to defeat that of
Hood. It is more than probable that the next sews of him
will place him of the retreat vie Somerville into
Melissa'. We shall be greatly and agreeably surprised if
be crones Lookout Mountain la a movement farther west
and north.

Sr. JAMES'S-HAM—The boys from the Royal
Greenwich Hospital School, over SOO strobe, accompanied
by their double band and attractants, visited Professor
Anderson, oe him ievitatioo, at St. James's-hall, as Satur-
day afternoon. Upon their arrival at the Nelson Mono-
meat, in Trafalgar-equare, the boys marched round the
base of the column, greeting the statue of the hero with
three cheers. At the isonclosioe of the meal programme
the Professor gratified the mat easembly by. the introdoo-
tion of Miss Lizzie Asdersou, to illustrate the so-called
Rope•tyeing Manifestation, who, having been securely and
elaborately booed by Iwo of the maim saml pupils, placed
oe a table, sod coesseled by alerge mama wicker-work,
wee discovered in a vary abort imam of time, tabooed,
with the rope in her hand. She was thou again encoded
from vies for a few minutes. and wiles aboworsd was
securely self-bound, bead aid hoe ,• say, week end hods'
together,
together, to the estesiebtent of 01l present, wend mi-
ssies being weesamiry to relines bee. Professor Andersoa
pmoisted WOO 11KI of the elder boys each with a shop
bilk. The wised will repeat (111 pablis) his anti-eptri-
Waist &MUM es Wildeseie, ellersom,„ seat.
GIZA? NOWTAIIaN ROKRITA.I., 4.1111.11.101T1ALN-ROAD.
—Number of patinae for the week soles
,Oeloble
et whisk Moore sew mem

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

ADMILLIST, Ocr. 29. Arironenuarro.
tenants Jobe McNeill Boyd, of the Meeenee, to be addi-
tional of the Hibernia ; C. O. & Smolay, of the Exaellent,
to the filesowee, fer gunnery duties, eine Boyd; W. H. M.
Moly nen:, of the Reesarch, to the Excellent; nod P. H. W.
Mayow, to the Baseereh.
• Second Master Thomas Steel, to the rank of 'neater.
Olial Engineer W. Lewis, to the Lulu, to/ionic° in the
OPlaiax.
• FWet Chas Assistant Engineer Daniel dadomos, promoted
IP tbir4orloo.

Engineers H. Haight, to the Fisgard as sapernamenu7
George Hunt (b), to the Fisi,ard, forservioe in the Landfall •
sinal O. B. Orenswell, t the Pembroke, toe rterrioe a he;
tinder.

POILTSMAHITH. OM. XX
The gunnery experiments untried on under the
supervision of the Armstrong and Whitworth Committee
me about to be temporarily trinsferiad fro
terefillneitibi Ain somnilersLirtithert Mureerrow
einsees %t rim ofoaperitomatis on the F.:Wiest,
voith > Mew to posrleis, Vie comparative Merits of the
Itlitouiderd sip fitirdt %gum. In • Abe got pima sixty
mends of ball- forklifts will be RIM from emb
gun to len the ,rspidity of firing ; and elterwsuls
60 rounds will be 'lnd from inch far accuracy of aim.
The gromwlll then be tel to ass gunboat for
obeli practise et the Alfred, moored, in Irks, to
smortain their dastrocitive power. The miss
70.
will be a breesb-lenift,Arrostrawg. 6,44,L601.
ea the peineitste r Wpanusdar- samisksaitelnt
Armstrong, riled oo the shunt principle ; end a 70.ponisder
Whitworth musarlosder. Tits experiments will of arum
eacropy several days.
As order hex bees issued from the controller's &pert.
meet of the Admiralty to the effect that all wooden ships
fit for service shall be fitted with eye-bolts on these parte of
the nroadaides which enclose the asolsioory, that they may
in case of emergency, reesort to the plan adopted by the
American ship Keersarge when she slung her cables o'er her
sides to protest bawl( from am shot of the Alabama. •
The Aurora, 36, screw frignto. Captain Sir F. Leopold I
Y'Clintock, arrived as Spatted yesterday from the Baltic
and the North Bea.

IRON' FORTIFICATIONS.
_

On Saturday a large party, comprising oyes of
else army and navy, mink& gentlemen bonneted in the
question of artthary venue iroo plans, met by levitation at
the Halloran Ira' Worke, Ship Building and Craving Dock
Company, to infant a three-gun wrought-iron shield, a/em-
brasure, which has been viootrccted for the Ronan govern.
moot, and which is to be esperimaotally tried, and if
approved to form the basis of a sew plan for the fortifica-
tion of Cronstadt. Amongst those present were Sir John
D. Bey, R.N., M.P., chairman of the °anyway; Admiral Sir
Henn Leeks, Canal Aiteheaco.R. A., Coornotlansfkowarta
E.N..C.8., („Nipt. Chant, R.N., C. FL, Capt. Hall, R.N., C.&,
C.pt. Moran anon, R.N., Hoe. Capt. Fgartos, Dr. Percy,
Mr. Reed, Constrootor of the Royal Navy ; Capt. Harrieoo,
of the Inn Plate Committee; Mr. Luke. Capt. Heath,
R.N., Xr. Lancaster, Mr. litascombs, kc. The coostroctioo
_ _

of this dedinsive and offessive work has been pr.:46**d in '
coneriqueece of the now geemally received opiaiou that
grand** fortilcations are inadequete to resist the force of
'seders Granaries ; and the fast that it is thought necessary
that iron should be applied to the strengthening of
the batteries of • fortress like Cronstadt—hitherto
deemed to be impregoable—is reed no ordinary *telltale**
and may be taken as conclusive at least of the theory of de.
• (este against artillery fee the future. The shield in goes-
ties 1. 43 feted *oleo long and 10 feet high, and is can-
posed of bars IT' x 12" (rolled with projections on the
under side and corresponding hollows on the opposite side)
strengtheced by dovetailed ribs at their back is thick-
nem, which are attached by keys or wedges in dovetailed
holes to upright beams or girders 14" x 4" on each side of
the port holes and at the sods, and in two eqeal divisiee
of its length to four frames or breasts like the letter A
with rue vertical side. The loselatioe plate upon whisk
the whole structure stands is 4T 6" xT x 3i" rolled in one
length. Its total weight is about 140 toes. This structure,
as it stands in the yard at Millwall, presents an ap.
*wake 6f great masititrei; sod itrtigth;
most enioitiated eye seems highly finished in all its parts. It
is proposed to erect the embrasure on the bees of the granite
walls of ono of the forte of Cronatadt in substitute* of
the stone parapet, eight fest high, which at present steads
on the ramparts, and the guns which are Dow laid en bar
bens will be mounted at the embrasuree. The shield will
afford ample protection to the gunner from any point-blank
Ere; but for the effect upon its interior from a vertical fire
of shells there does not epees: to be any positive
protectioo. The relative power of resistaace to the impact
of shot between gamete sad iron is hers distinctly illus-
trated, the proportiote heist as utterly as possible inches in
the ow of the latter to feet in the instance of the former.
The value of the experiment in iron fortification is Decease.
rily considerable, for if it succeeds the revolution
in the system of the defeooe of fortresses and
forts will hare practically begun. Is the course
of the day the capabilities of the Yill.aii Works were
exhibited in action, several operatioria in the preparation
iron having been performed is the presence of the orenpany
auestobled. Much interest was excited by the mating and
preparation of an armour plate 6 loch* thick end 18 feet
6 inches long, and 6 feet 6 inches wide, weighing between
10 and 11 tons, which was manipulated io • state of whits
hog, something in the way in which a coefectieser may be
supposed to deal with pi -crust. Beasarks reify favourable
to the quality of tbe.iron is use at the works were made
by several gentlemen, who seemed to naderstaad whet they
were talking about.