The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-04 00:00:00

LONDON. SATURDAY EVEN

AMERICA.

(nom ova owe coaassetEgor.)
BMW, War. 19.
The greatest battle of the war is undoubtedly
that which was fought on Wednesday of this
week. The entire armies on both sides were
engaged, and though on the whole the Fede-
rals had the advantage in gaining certain posi-
tions, the results were not decisive. At this time it
seems to have been an open fight maintained on
both sides with obstinate and determined courage.
From early morning until late in the day the
ground shook as with the force of an earthquake.
The lines of the opposing armies swayed backwards
and forwards, alternating as numbers predominated,
until night drew near, when the rebels
were driven from the ground, leaving their dead
in the possession of the enemy. So far there
was a clear Federal gain. It is not enough now
for the rebels to maintain their position. Disaster
stares them in the face unless they obtain a great
victory. They can march to Washington and
Baltimore only over the vanquished foe. To turn
back into Virginia is to face starvation and im-
peril their rear. To remain where they are will
soon exhaust their supplies. They can only cut
the knot by a somplete victory. The amount of
the rebel loss it is impassable now to state. The
reporter of the Associated Press thinks their
loss in killed and wounded does not es-

coed that of the Federals, but that th
latter took a large number of prisoners. The fight-
ing seems to have been about equal on both sides
in bravery and steadiness. Eveu the new regi-
ments were cool under fire, and the newspapers are
full of the praises of one from Michigan, which, in
one of the early battles after it had used up its
ammunition, marched deliberately to the ammu-
nition waggon, obtained a supply, and then,
charging over a stone wall, entirely cut up a South
Carolina regiment. For this it has the soubriquet
of Stonewall Regiment. From what I have seen
of the men who are now marching to Wash-
ington I have no doubt that they will prove
themselves, after they have had more discipline and
experience, equal if not superior to the best troops
in the field. If M'Clellan should succeed in de-
feating, or even driving Lee across the Potomac, a
great step would be made in the progrciu of the
war. Very soon the gunboats will be thundering
at Charleston, Mobile, and Savannah, and these
cities must either be given up or draw on the main
army for defenders. If they fall, then will come
into practical operation the late confiscation
laws. The entire labouring population of the
cotton States will fall into the hands of
the Federal government, and must be dealt with in
some way. The rebels will expose their weak point
the moment the United States government touches
the status of the slave. But I will not anticipate
events which will contribute so much to shape the
future policy of statesmen. A great deal depends
on the issue of the next decisive battle. The re-
stilt of the campaign in Maryland has brightened
the feelings of the North. A wide-spread distrait
of the capacity of politicians and generals
began to weigh on men. " What is the use
of raising armies if they are to be sacrificed
by incompetent officers r "Why continue a contest
in which our statesmen are overmatched by their
superiors at Richmond ?" These and kindred
questions began to take form, and if unchecked by
some evidence of will and agility would soon breed
divisions. The vigour and skill manifested by the
army during the last week have done much to ex-
pel this vague and wide-spread distrust which, if
continued, would eat out the pith of faith and
courage. But while referring here to fluctuating
feelings of the hour, I would not give the least
show of currency to those absurd stories which
appear in the Washington correspondence of the
New York Herald, such as the formation of a plot
to overthrow the government. All this is only a
trick to cast a stigma on political oppo-
nents ; and the thing is so well under-
stood in this country as to pass unnoticed •
but when copied into foreign journals' and spread
before European readers it may carry the impres-
sion that a counter revolution is brewing at the
North. The Secessionist& will not be slow to use

such reckless and unfounded stories, by circulating
them as reliable facts. In a revolutionary. period
like the present it is not safe to say what is, or is
not, possible in the future, but we can speak with
positiveness of the present; and the names of the
men who have been charged with revolutionary
designs are in themselves proof that the whole story
is as false as it is reckless. Then again the bugbear
of foreign intervention has woke up, after
a brief slumber. Now it is Napoleon who
figures, and although the report of his
having suggested to Mr. Seward that the
contest promises to be interminable, and therefore
should be put au end to, or his hint to Mr. Slidell
that no treaty could be made with the South until
some movement looking to the end of slavery had
I begun—though these stories have no intrinsic im-
possibility, as yet they do not rise above unfounded
I rumours, and need more authentic confirmation to
give them any weight. Until one of the contending
parties gets soundly thrashed on the battle-field,
neither will be in an mood to seriously discuss
terms of settlement. The dirtiest chimney of the
century—to use an image credited to Mr. Carlyle—
now on fire must burn itself out.

Since writing the above, later despatches have
reached us from the seat of war, which are favour-
able to the Federal cause. It was the opinion of
Id`Clellan yesterday that another battle was neces-
sary before a decisive victory could be obtained,
and that the question would turn on which could
get reinforcements first. A portion of the Federal
troops near Hagerstown, which were sent from
Harrisburg, could join Welellea, while Lee had
probably received all his available force. Such was
the position of things yesterday, but this morning
it was discovered that the rebels were in full retreat

crossing the river. General M'Clellan ,elegrapbed
to Washington at 8.30 a.m., that the enemy
bad abandoned his position, leaving his dead and
wounded on the field ; and two hours
later be sends another telegram, saying, " Our
victory is complete. General Pleasanton is driving
them across the river. They have been forced into
Virginia. Maryland and Pennsylvania are safe."
This is virtually the end of the campaign into the
enemy's country, and now the chief can of Lee and
Jackson will be to get back into connexion with
their base. It is not yet time to speak with cer-
tainty, but there appears to be in many respects
a parallel between the rebel position now and that of
M'Clellan during his memorable retreat from
Richmond to the James River. It is evi-
dent that Lee and Jackson did not dare
to risk another day's battle, which is a confession
that they did not feel themselves able to cope with
their adversary. They, therefore, very wisely
made baste to put the river between them and
their foe. Before my next letter, the materials
will be at hand for a judgment on the rebel position
in Virginia. We can safely say that in every im-
portant respect the rebel campaign in Maryland
was a failure. It proved that only a very few of
the people in that State were wil to take up
arms for the new Confederacy, and also that their
foe was able to drive them out. Instead of dic-
. . .

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tiding terms in Independence Hall, Philadelphia,
the leaders have their wits tasked to the utmost to
make good their escape from defeat and capture.
But while sueoese follows the Federal. in the
east, if reports from Kentucky and true, the rebels
have gained a victory at hiumfordsville. Unless,
however, the rebels can Sow defeat the fumes on
the Potomac the tide must turn. The new recruits
are swelling the Union hosts, and ere the winter
closes there will be many important military move-
ments. In a week we shall be able to era will
more °Ftliilltl; hat even now it mans as if the
great crisis hear of the Federal cause had pained,
and thc, reverses may still eons, yet on the
whole the Union will make headway in maintain-
cg its national existence.