The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-03 00:00:00

MGR WA'S= AT WIDOW WDOL

MP DA[
Itkins Yoram& ilk.....drew. .lea

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3.

The wisdom of the new military policy of the
Confederates, that of collecting their widely scat-
tered forces and combining them to arrest the ad-
vance of the Federal armies,has received a striking
demonstration. The capture in succession of the
fortified positions of Shelbyville, Tullahoma, and
Chattanooga by General ROSECRANS, and the sub-
sequent occupation of Knoxvilleandall Eastern Ten-
nessee were events which made it imperatively ne-
canary that the Confederate Government should
give its beet attention to the means of checking the
Federal army of the Cumberland. ROSECPANS had
become more formidable than Means. By seizing
Chattanooga and Knoxville he bad severed the
northern line of communication between Lee's army
and the South West, and he waaevidently operating
with the intention of getting hold of Atalanta, and
with it of the only remaining railway connecting
Richmond and Montgomery, the present and
former capitals of the Confederation. The
Richmond Government applied itself with
great skill and industry to defeat this object,
calling in and concentrating their forces as
they did after the loss of Fort 'Donnelson.
For the present they have succeeded. It remains
to be seen whether they have done more, and
to any extent regained their footing in Eastern Ten-
nessee. We know by caviler advices that great
movements of men were taking place all over the
Confederacy in the 'scud week of September.
Regiments were drawn from Alabama—all imme-
diate solicitude for Mobile having ceased upon
the departure of the Federal army of the
Gulf for Texas—and from JOHNSTONE'S former
army of the Mississippi, and sent to join the
Way retreating army of BRAM Further and
more•important reinforcements of old troops were
sent from Lwe's army, advice, from the head-
quarters of ROSECRANS, dated two days before the
battle, speaking of the presence of Ewzu.'s and
LONGSTREET'S corps in Georgia as an ascertained
fact.

General ROSECRANS learning that BRAGG had
withdrawn to Lafayette, in Georgia, about fifteen
miles south-east of Chattanooga, appears to have
advanced in that direction, and to have taken up
• position on the Chickamanga creek, separated
from the enemy by the Pigeon Mountain, the three
gaps of which were held by Baron. After several
days' skirmishing BRAGG having oompleiml his pre-
parations made a grand attack on the morning of
Saturday, Sept. 19. It would be an unprofitable
task to attempt to construct out of the conf used and
hurried telegraphic reports a connected and accu-
rate account of the battle. The topography of the
mountain region is obscure and complicated, and
the whole significance of the movements is not ap-
parent. We are told that the Federal army was
assailed simultaneously and with great fury on
both flanks, the combat being maintained for
several hours with varying fortune. The first
crisis of the battle appears to have been an attack
made on the Federal centre at two o'clock in
the day, of course with the design of cutting
the army in two. It was partially successful,
for the centre was driven in, and made to
retreat in disorder. The Confederates were, how-
ever, arrested in their pursuit, and were in turn
themselves driven back. General DAVIS'S divi-
sion, attacked by the Confederates, suffered
severely and lost several guns, but afterwards
retook them all. That of General REYNOLDS,
similarly attacked, held its ground. General
Palmas's division lost two guns. General Vas
Ctzvz's division was driven from its position and
did not regain it. When darkness put an end to
the battle, it is said generally that the two armies
occupied the same ground as at the commence-
ment, the Federal' having taken more guns than
they had lost. On this day it is evident that
BRAGG had failed in his object. He must have
Buffered equally with his enemy, and he had gained
no appreciable advantage.

The second day's battle had more important re-
sults, highly favourable to the Confederates.
Baaoo, massing heavy forces on his own right,
made an impetuous onslaught on the Federal left,
completely overpowering THOMAS'S division, and
compelling Rosecaaws to march four divisions to
his support. Upon the Federal centre, thus
weakened, and before the battalions composing it
could form, BRAGG hurled two divisions, whose
impetuous charge broke it, and threw it into
disorder. By these operations the important
end was gained of dividing the Federal army.
THOMAS'S corps, cut off from the main body, was
unable to effect a junction, but later in the day
rallied two divisions, with which it withstood the
enemy until nightfall, and then, according to orders,
retired to Roseville. General Roexcussse fell back
on Chattanooga, where, at the last advice., dated
the evening of the 21st, he was concentrating his
troops. It was doubtful to what extent the Con-
federate general was pursuing his advantage.
Taomss had not at that date reached Chattanooga,
although Roseville is only eight miles from that
place. Bcausree was stated to be advancing from
Knoxville to join ROSE MANS with 30,000 men,
and to be within six hours' march of Chattanooga.
The Federal general was said to be full of confi-
dence, and in ability and resource he is not sur-
passed by any commander on that continent :
but it is to be borne in mind that
he is operating in a very difficult country,
in a mountain region, and at a great distance
from his base. His future movements will depend
almost entirely on his ability to effect a junction
with BITINSIDE and reunite the divisions under
THOMAS to his army. Should he succeed in this
endeavour we may expect to hear of his renewing
the battle with a fair prospect of again driving
the enemy before him. Should he fail, it is not

easy to see how he osa kid the line of the Ten-
nessee. The news by the next mail, therefore, is
likely to be more important than that now re-
ceived. The honours of the battle of the 20th
belong to General Bitsaa, but he must do more
than he has hitherto done if the Confederate cause
is to gain solid advantage from his sword.

trbe Court.

BALMORAL. Ocr. 1.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louia of
Hesse, drove oat yesterday morning, and her Majesty again
drove in the afternoon to the Ballochboie„ accompanied by
Princess Helena, and attended by Lady ChurchilL
The Prince and Prisms Louis of Hesse rode on horseback.
The Prince and Primes of Wales dined with her Majesty.
The Judge Advocate-Hemel Bight Hon. T. E. Hesdlam

arrived at the Castle yeatarday. aiid had as audience of her
Majesty.