The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-21 00:00:00

[Stamped. ld. Additional.)

trying ineffectually, by throwing shells among the
baggage waggons, to put them into contagion, made
an attack on the right and left flank, but was re-
pulsed after severe fighting. But the brunt of the
battle was in the rear. Heintzelman was on the
road nearest James River ; to cut him off from
this base was the great thing. Early,
therefore, on Monday afternoon the enemy
brought up solid menace of artillery and infantry,
hurled them now on the right, then on the left,
and then on the centre of Heintzelman's
Though his ranks were terribly thinned, be held
his ground until six o'clock. Then M'Call, with
his troops already wearied and weakened by pre-
ceding fights, was ordered up in aid of the Fedi).
rals. The rebels were not idle ; fresh troops from
Richmond also poured in. Now the struggle be-
came fiercest. With great impetuosity the rebels
charged upon their enemy's batteries, and at this
time captured Rendall's battery, and took a large
number of prisoners. It was in this charge that
M'Call is supposed to have been ooanded, and
Reynolds taken prisoner. Now came the turning-
point of the day. While the Federal line swayed
and trembled at the repeated charges of
fresh troops, Sedgwick, Hooker, and Kear-
ney came to the rescue. They rallied with one
concentrated effort for a desperate charge
The mares of the enemy were borne down before
it, and were sent flying over tie fiel4. Twat,
pieces of artillery, an entire brigade of three rep-
mente, and several officers of note were captured.
The enemy had rushed to the attack flushed with
auccesa—he retired broken and discomfited. Bat
the Severest fight of all wax on Tuesday. Then the
flank movement was to a great extent accomplished,
and the Federal army could give its undivided
attention to its foe. The battle began at 5 o'clock
in the morning, and oontizued until 9 o'clock at
night. It was on this day that the superiority of
the Federal artillery is described as being very
manifest. The enemy came up to the attack these
and four deep, with the same disregard of life, and
if the meagre accounts which have reached us up to
this time me trustworthy, great havoc was made in
their ranks. Twenty-four guns are reported as
among the spoils of victory which at night
remained in Federal hands. On the sth of
July, the fight was feebly renewed, and it is doubtful
whether anything more than skirmishes will take
place at least for a short time to come. We shall
not be able to learn the rebel loss until the next
steamer sails. It is conceded that General Jack-
son fell in the attack on the right wing, and this
loss is irreparable. He was one of the ablest officers
in the rebel army. Throughout the valley of the
Shenandoah, in which he performed many of his
brilliant exploits, he was regarded with feelings of
reverence. Judging from the services be performed
his name stands out in the history of this rebellion
as not inferior to Beauregard. The latter has been
the boast of the soldiers, but Jackson has written
his name in imperishable deeds ; and now that the
body of this brave and gallant officer lies cold in
death, even his Federal foes bear witness to his
brilliant generalship.

I have thus endeavoured to give a few features
of the successive battles near Richmond from the
best and most reliable sources at command. The
retreat was conducted with indisputable skill acd
success. Nothing but the discipline of the Federal
army and the manner in which the men were han-
dled saved it from annihilation. The soldiers
fought under great disadvantage. They were out-
numbered, were on a retreat, and obliged to guard
their long trains, were exhausted by continued
labour, deprived of sleep, and short of food ;
yet with all these drawbacks (with the exception of
the attack on the right wing) they not only main-
tained their ground, but even repulsed the enemy.
If the accounts which have reached us can be
relied on, bad they met the enemy on equal
terms, they would have been driven to the
wall. But why was M'Clellan placed in this
critical position The army which marched from
Yorktown with the cry " On to Richmond," has
now to fight its way to a new base on James River.
His inferiority in numbers exposed him to an attack
in the rear. The rebels had gathered at Rich
mond the bulk of their entire army. Almost every
officer of any note was at the bead of troops. The
energies of the Confederacy had been strained to
the utmost for this decisive resistance. In all this
they were wise. Beauregard and a portion of his
forces could aid the cause of the Confederacy far
more at Richmond than at Corinth. Jackson would
be of more use in turning the Federal right and
seizing the immense stores at White House than in
' achieving the most brilliant victory in the Shenan-
doah valley. While the balloon reconnaissances
told M'Clellan that camps multiplied around the
city, and scouts reported the arrival of Beauregard
and the junction of Jackson's forces, his own
army was growing weaker. Disease, fatigue, and
casualties iu battle were thinning his ranks, and
reinforcements were not iu any comparison with
those of the enemy. In this the War Department
at Washington was at fault. They were guilty of
a lack of eneru sufficient for the new emergency.
Some writers maintain that lit•Clellan's original de-
signs were interfered with, and that the present
position of his forces was not in accordance with
his previous plan of the campaign. I know not
the truth of this, but that before the attack his
army did not exceed 100,000 effective soldiers,
while the enemy numbered at least 150,000, is posi-
tively maintained by correspondents. This dispa-
rity made it evident to the Federal commander that
ne must change his position. He began to move
his storeafrom the York to Jame, River. Hundreds
of transports quietly moved up to White House,
and were loaded with rations and munitions of war.
This was not a moment too soon. A week's delay
would have been too late. The rebel force,
which, after the fierce attack on the right wing,
swept round to White House and did not find
enough to give them a supper, would, bad he waited
a few days, have found rations for over a
hundred thousand men. The position of affairs
after Porter was driven across the Chickahominy
made it necessary that be should retreat to the
James River, the manner iu which this was ac-
complished, and the fighting of the three days, prove
good generalship and persistent courage. The ad-
dress of General M'Clellan on the 4th of July,
which reaches me while writing, very briefly but
clearly sets forth the object of his movement and I
its successful accomplishment. This flank move-
ment, considered the most hazardous of military
expedients, was performed in the face of a foe superior
in numbers, and most skilfully massed and !ed. The
material, trains, and guns, except the few taken by
the enemy, were saved ; and after a series of en
counters, in which the foe was driven back with
great slaughter the army of the Potomac secured
its new base full of hope and with high spirit for
now contests.

General WOlellan says, after personally inspect-
ing his lines, he is ready for an attack. " Let them
come, and we will convert their repulse into a final
defeat."

It is now the general opinion that this movement
places the Federal troops in a much better position
for an advance. They are in a far more healthful
position, and if they design to move in connexion
with the gunboats, they must first make an attack
on Fort Darling, which is about eight miles from
their present base. Reinforcements are landing
at the Federal headquarters, and received
with enthusiasm. M'Clellan himself feels
confident of success, and, in his address,
assures his soldiers that "on this our
nation's birthday, we declare to our foes, who are
rebels against the beet interest. of mankind, that
this army shall enter the capital of the so-called
Confederacy ; that our national constitution shall
prevail ; and that the Union, which can alone in-
sure internal peace and external security to each
State, must and shall be preserved, cost what it
may in time, treasure, and blood." Unless the rebels
make another attack, there will probably be a brief

(TWOPENCE

lull in the war. The soldiers, after the fatigue and
severe labours of the past week need rest. Time
will be required to MAO DOW combinations of forces,
and then the conflict will be renewed with more
desperate fierceness and with more decisive results.
Commodore Wilkes has received the command of
the naval forces on the James River ; the graduat-
ing class of artillerists from West Point School are
on their way to the Potomac army, and all things
indicate increased activity. Now that the facia are
fully known, the public mind, which has alternated
between hope and fear, and been filled for more
than a week with harrowing suspense, is relieved.

(Per Arabia by Telegraph to Halifax, and via Queenstown.)

NEW YORE, JULY 10.

Since the 4th Genteel Iff‘CleHan has advanced
seven miles up the James River. A reconnoitering
party found the Confederate pickets one mile from
the Federal outposts. It is supposed that another
battle is close at hand. The Federals are throw-
ing up braiatworks at Hampton, two miles from
Fortress Monroe.

The reported Federal evacuation of Yorktown
was untrue.

It is privately reported that the Federal General
Buell has arrived at Wheeling, Virginia, with
50,000 man from General Ballades army.
Coups has adopted • resukatios Wen the
Ooyernmeut for aE the correspondence with
General Id'Clellan.

The press continue unanimous in their cry for
superseding Secretary Stanton, and continue to
urge the people to arms. Recruiting is, however,
not very rapid, and a general public impression pre-
vails that resort will be had to drafting. The city
of New York is to raise four new regiments.
A bill has been introduced into Congress em-
powering the President to fix the time of
earner for militia when called out, and to
organise them like the volunteer forces. An
amendment was also offered that there shall be no
exemption from military duty under the militia
laws of the United States on account of colour or
lineage, but that whenever the militia shall be
called into service all able-bodied persons shall be
called to the defence of the country. The President
shall have full power to organise the militia into
battalions, brigades, and divisions, according to
their nationality, raoe, or colour, as he may dem
best for the public interest.
The New York 'Jerald, discussing foreign inter-
vention, says that if America is forcibly broken up
by foreign interference, the loss of American Bonds,
amounting to six or eight million dollars, due to
English capitalists, is inevitable. If the Republic
is divided it is no longer the United States, and
the question is, which half of it will be responsible
to foreign countries for the common debt.
General Burnside Ilse arrived at Fort Monroe.
His army has joined General M'Clellan at Harri-
son's landing.
. .

A Federal transport, conveying supplies up
the James River, was fired into by the Confederate
batteries below Harrison's Landing on the opposite
side of the river. She was obliged to run ashore to
escape being sunk. On the same side of the river
the Confederates have constructed batteries between
Harrison's Landing and the Chickahominy River.
The batteries are not of a heavy character.
Confederate stock in Richmond rose from 93 to
97 as the result of the late battles.

The Richmond Examiner says that Mr. Slidell
bad written lately that he expected the immediate
recognition of the Southern Confederacy by France.
A call has been made in New York for a pubho
meeting in support of President Lincoln and the
cabinet. It is directed to all who favour vigorous
prosecution of the war to put down the rebellion
quickly, and is opposed to those who gave aid
directly to traitors when they could not attempt to
give aid indirectly by abuse of the administration
and its progressive measures.
President Lincoln has gone to visit the Potomac
army in its new position on James River. Be bad
an interview with General Burnside at Fortress
Monroe. Mr. Lincoln's visit is said to be caused by
important official despatches received in Washing-
ton from M'Clellan's command. The nature of
the despatches has not transpired.
The Federal Congress is expected to adjourn
before the end of the seek, for want of a quorum.
Since the late battles the Richmond Examiner
urges the filling up of the Southern armies and pre-
paring for the contest as long as the Federals may
choose to urge it, and to let the preparations be as
energetic as possible.

Tkie Sepias) has passed the Naval Appro-
priation Bill, giving authority to purchase pro-
perty to construct a new navy yard at Phila-
delphia, and for the extensiou of Charlestown,
Massachusetts, navy yard. The Senate bar also
passed a bill to establish a new grade of admirals
and commodores in the Federal navy ; also a bill
authorising the President to make arrangements
with foreign governments, especially with Denmark,
for the colonisation of captured negroes. A bill
has been introduced into the Senate to declare
another punishment for the crime of treason ; also
a bill to employ negroes in military service, and
declaring for ever free the mothers, wives, and
children of such 'legume.
The New Yo►k World attributes the return to
Europe of the French Princes to the fact that they
would object to tight against Frenchmen, and thinks
that the unexpected aspect that the Federal military
affairs have assumed render an early recognition of
the Southern Confederacy by France and England
next to certain.

An important proclamation is shortly expected to
be issued by President Lincoln, defining the future
policy of the administration in the present crisis.
Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, was in favour of the
slaves working in trenches, but strongly opposed.
arming the slaves, and said, "The Border States
would resist to the death the plan to arm the
slaves."

Mr. Rice, referring to the remark of Mr. Davis,
said that strangers would think Mr. Davis was an
emissary defending the rebel government.
The debate then terminated.

The New York Evening Pod, speaking of the
late battles before Richmond, says :

There is good reason to believe that notwithstanding the
valour shown by our troops in that terrible series of con-
flicts, and the extent to which they dealt death among the
many till be was &tally beaten back, the list of our losses.
when at last made up, will be far greater than has generally
been supposed.
There is almost equal reason to believe that, for the sake
of strengthening the army which sat down before Richmond,
the City of Washington was shipped of the troops which a
wise forecast deemed necessary to its safety. The sad truth
ie regard to our lows is coming out by degrees. The truth
in regard to the situation of Washington is of such •
nature that the facts from which it is inferred cannot
be placed before the public. Both together—a deci-
mated army sod a menaced capital—instead of causing
oar hearts to faint within us, should inspire us with •
sterner and loftier resolution, sod beget • determination to
retrieve the ground we have lost.
The spirit of a generous people ever rises with the calls of
the oucasioo. Our previous victories, the conquest of the
coast, the capture of the enemy's sea-ports, the rebels driven
from two of the Border States, end swept out of the great
Mississippi, from its morose to its month, show what is in
our power to do, and what, by a wise non of our strength, we
may do in I utere.
The Courtier des Etats Unia says :—" The 55t11 Re-
giment, known as the Gerdes Lafayette, has been
so decimated before Richmond that scarcely fifty
men are fit for service._

A large public meeting is to be held in New York
next week to pass national resolutions.

The New York Chamber of Commerce will pre-
pare an address to the American people.
The Great Eastern was intercepted off Cape Rao*
on the Bth, and the City of New York on the 10th.
The Hibernia and Europa have arrived out.

ONTIITAL PAL&CM.—DiumAino Commix Fsm—
liLux-A-Csowx DAT.--SATUIDAY, JOLT 19.—Admimiems
ea piyment, 13,462; ditto by smarm tickets, 4,033 ; Mktle
0.11115.

HENRY BRETT and CO.,
Brandy DOUllers and Wine Marehanta.
HOLBORN-SAM and 30, JIHOINT-STERET, WATERLOO.

PLAOL