The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-19 00:00:00

[TWOPENC:

AMERICA.

Advice' from New York by the Asia are to Jan.
5. There is no news of importance from the army
of the Potomac. A reconnsuisanoe made by Grng's

cavalry on the 2nd of January, as far as-Warrewn-
ton discovered no rebel force in that vicinity. The
convalescents, conscripts, and volunteers daily
arriving equal in numbeis the men furloughed.
An order has been issued by General Meade, pro-
hibiting all newspaper correspondents from pub-
lishing the number or designation of regiments re-
, eulistmg or leaving the army, or the number of

met, fluioushed.
Provost Marshal General Patrichrequirea.

rectenrolment to be made of all the civilians

within the army lines. This is designed to reach
those who have sought refuge within the lines to
avoid the draft. _ _ .

ilTeilattintu; Sun states that General Meade

will soon be superseded by General Hancock.
The rebel General Early, with three brigades of
Ewell's corps, besides the forces of Imbodeu,
Neil, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, at last ac-
counts, had advanced down the Shenandoah Valley
below Newmarket. On the Lt of January the
Federal pickets at Winchester were driven as far
as Bunker Hill, and it was expected that the rebels
would make a further advance. The Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad has not yet been disturbed, and
ample preparations are being made for its defence.
The Federals there are prepared for any attack.
There is no further news from Knoxville or
Chattanooga.
Charleston dates to the 30th December have been
received. At midnight on the 24th the Federal
batteries opened on the city, which was set on tire
in several places, and much damage is believed to
have been done. The Confederates had been erect-
ing batteries along Stono river, and OR the _pith
upon the gunboat Marblehead, doing the
vessel serious damage. The steamer Pawnee came
up and silenced the battery, four guns of which
were captured by a force landed for the purpose.
There had been no movement by the fleet.
An arrival from Key West brings news of the
destruction of the Confederate salt works, worth
nearly 3,000,000 dole., on St. Audrew's Bay, by
the steamers Bloomer and Restless. The town of
St. Andrew's was burnt to the ground by the crews
of the vessels. These works were the principal
source of supply for salt of the South, and the loss
will be irreparable.
It is said that the government has despatched a
special commissioner to inquire into and report
upon the efficiency of the blockade, as rumours of
successful blockade running at Wilmington con-
tinue to be received.
Advices have been received from New Orleans to
the 27th December. Everything was quiet in the
city. The 13th army corps was encamped back of
Algiers. It was rumoured that Commodore Porter's
gunboats, supported by • force of infantry, were
soon to ascend the Red River. In the Teche
country the condition of affairs remained unchanged.
The 19th army corps guarded the line from New
Iberia to Berwick Bay ; beyond that the country
was entirely in the hands of the Confederates.
In Western Texas the Federal forces were making
steady progress. At last accounts they had occu-
pied Indianola without opposition. General
gruder had issued a proclamation declaring that the
defence of Western Texas would not be abandoned,
but that the Confederate troops were marching
to repel the invaders, that San Antonio and Austin
were being rapidly fortified, and that the " Van-
: dale" would be driven back to their ships. He
' urged the minute men, and all capable of bearing
arms, to organise at once and proceed to the camp
of General Bee at Victoria. There is nothing
further from Brownsville. . .

A despatch from Leavenworth, Kansas, states
that a light occurred on December 14 in the
Cherokee country, between one thousand Coefede-
rates under Quautrill, and the Indian brigade under
Colonel Phillips ; the light lasted several hours,
and resulted in the defeat of the Confederates, who
were scattered in all directions. The Indians in
that region are said to have become quite loyal.
Five hundred parolled Union prisoners from
Richmond arrived a few days since at Annapolis.
They were in good health and condition. It is
said that the government is determined that the
Confederates shall recognise General Butler, and
that the exchange shall only be effected through him.
All the Southern prisoners in the North are to be
placed in his hands, and 30,000 of them are about
to be concentrated at Point Lookout to await the
result of pending negotiations. President Davis .
and Commissioner Ould are said to be in
favour of recognising Butler; but Secretary
Benjamin, who outlawed him, has secured
a majority in the Cabinet vote on the
subject, and seems determined that Butler
shall not be recognised. The obstacles to an ex-
change presented by this new difficulty appear to be
as insurmountable as the original dispute between
Commissioner Ould and General Hitchcock.
The examination of three of the Chesapeake pri-
vateers was commenced at St. John, N. 8., on the
4th of January. The counsel for the prisoners took
exception to the form of the warrant,and contended
that the case did not come within the provisions of
the extradition treaty,as the offence was committed
on the high seas, and not within the jurisdiction of
the United States. The magistrate reserved his
judgment on these points.
A letter recently intercepted by the War Depart-
ment disclosed the fact that W. X. Hilton, a print-
er in New York, was engaged under contract with
the Southern Confederate Secretary of the Treasury,
in furnishing notes, bonds, dio., to the South, and
that he was about to proceed to Richmond to
superintend a printing and engraving establish-
ment. Hilton was arrested and consigned to Fort
Lafayette. In his p sion were found six mil-
lion dollars in Confederate bonds ready for signa-
ture. _ . .

Major D'Arinsay and Lieutenant Davis, two
Confederate officers recently convicted by court-
martial of recruiting within the Federal lines, were
conveyed to Fort Warren last week, and sentenced
to 15 years' imprisonment.
The Cincinnati Gazette publishes information
received from a gentleman recently from Richmond,
whom the Gazette believes to be perfectly reliable,
to the effect that the Confederate leaders Lave
determined upon a desperate concentrated effort to
regain possession of Tennessee and Kentucky, even
if they sacrifice the coast to do so. The informant
also states that the Confederates have received
copies of all recorded papers in the War Department
at Washington up to last November. They know
what regiments will serve out their term in the
spring, and are determined to raise by that time a
force sufficient to overpower General Grant and
LI regain the lost territory. Negroes are to be used
for garrison duty, and the new conscription is to
embrace every male capable .01 bearing arms.

DESPATCH 07 THE WERT INDIA AND PACIFIC
Maim—The Royal Mail Company'. steamabip Shannon,
Captain Abbott, sailed from Southampton yesterday at
three p.m. with the fortnightly mails for the British and
foreign West Indies, the Pacific, California, and Central
Americo. The Shannon took out C 3 masenrrs ; sod on
freight, English specie, 2001. ; jewellery, 3.01. ; French
specie, I,ooof. ; jewellery, 2,4151. Also 273 bottles of
Quicksilver, valor 1,7231., and a full cargo of French and
English no:rehaodies.
The Prince of Wales, Captain Deacon, from Port
Phillip Heads Oct. 14, hair reseed up and through the
Downs for London. She brings 80 passengers, 35.4 moose
of gold, and a cargo of wool and modem. Amami her
pessimism are Archdeacon Webs, end lady.
Sorra Krirsisoros Messuw.—During the week
ending Jan. 18 the chillers have been as follows :
Oa Monday. Tuesday, and Saturday. fret days, apse from
10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 8,135; us Wedseeday, Thursday, and
Friday, student.' days (edmirsiou to the public 6d.), open
from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.. 1,180 ; total, 9,324. From the
oriole; of the museum, 4,4440111.