The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

■lOO w file AT 110110011 Meet

-3 ii:11/71 1101111;1;11:
2..
Ism
TPMYOf 11.raloss. /010.1..... Mime"

LONDON, adrusDAr. MARCH 15.

effect. But, according to the accounts which have
just been received, General Bases has crossed
the Potomac from Sandy Hook on the northern
bank to Harper's Ferry on the southern bank, and
has taken possession of both banks of the Shenan-
doah and the surrounding country. Now it must
be observed that General Balms commands the
extreme right of General Dilemmas's army, and
that the Shenandoah flows into the Potomac from
the south. Along the Shenandoah runs • ridge
of mountains which protects the left flank of the
Confederates. But these mountains are pierced
in various places by roads and even by
railways. It is obvious, therefore, that
if General BANKS can obtain possession
'of one or two panes he may be able to place a
force on the flank, and even in the rear of the
Confederates, so that they will be compeUed to re-
treat in order to save themselves. It is scarcely
requisite to add that, if they do retreat, they will
be speedily followed by General Dilemmas at
the head of the great army, 1111 MASSZSA was fol-
lowed by the Duke of W6LLINUTON when the
French army retired from before the linos of
Torres Vedras. It is not to be doubted that if
General BANKS succeeds in placing himself in the
rear of the Confederate army by crossing the moun-
tains which border tho Shenandoah, it will be
better ties an advance from any point further

south ; bemuse the country in the rear of Gene-
ral Bums will be in the pomession of the Federalists,
and the base of operations will be Washington, so
that the whole army will, in the possible case of
diester, be abbe to unite its various columns.
It is clear that the movement of General BANKS
implies an advance of the army on the Potomac,
sad therefore the time has probably come when
the great battle is to be fought. According to the
newspaper accounts, there is an expectation at
Washington that some great movement is immi-
sent ; nor is it probable that our patience will be
tried much longer before the important result is
made evident.

IT is certainly time that the prophets who so
coonileutly predicted the defeat of the Northern
troops in advancing southward, should change
their parable. The war, which was declared to
be so utterly wicked because it must be so utterly
fruitless, seems to be proving • remarkable we-
aves. Even Mr. Jarreaaox Davis admits that
the fortune of war is "for the moment" against
him ; but at the same time it is obvious that he
regards Kentucky and Tameness as finally look
and his appeal to the ALRIONTT at the ens*
elusion of los address really means that M he
does not " despOr of the Republic," he is allied
oniewhist desponding as to its prospect,. Lam
meantime it nay be interesting to glance at the
military position of the sonbatants.
Mare are All three peat lines by Ada the
Northern ensile are advancing into the Southern
States. Beginning at the West, there is the army
under GOORTRI HALL/NIL, which, according to the
last accounts, has cleared the State of Missouri on
the western side of the Mississippi; and whilst the
Confederate I lesieral Puce has retired still further
westward into the Indian territory, the Federal
Gomel Ct art. has occupied Fayetteville within
the State of Arkansas. Although this city is •
considerable distance from the Mississippi, still,
having regard to the fact that the Federalists have
advanced on the eastern bank of that river to a
latitude even further South than that of Fayette-
ville, it is clear that some progress has
been made towards the success of the
expedition to New Orleans. It is said,
indeed, that the Confederates are about to abandon
Columbus, on the Mississippi, fifty miles below
Cairo, where the Ohio joins the Great River • but
that they intend to make • stand upon an :island
forty miles below. What the object of holding such
a position would be it is difficult to imagine,lunless,
indeed, the Confederates hope to regain Kentucky
within • short period ; for if they do not regain it,
the troops left must infallibly surrender.
Proceeding eastward, it appears that the army
under General I ;KANT has now taken possession of
Nashville. The result of this success is, that the whole
of Tennessee is probably now in the hands of the
North. It was generally thought that Nashville was
strongly fortified, and that evens preparation had
been node fora vigorous defence. It now seems
that this is a mistake, and that the Southern generals
confidently expected they would be able to defeat
the Union troops in their attack on the entrenched
camp of Fort Donelson. In this they were
grievously disappointed, although, from the
number engaged ou either aide, the extent of
the entrenchments, and the length of time during
which the contest lasted, it is clear that the re-
sistance must have been obstinate, and that the
Federal troops are not only well commanded, but
have acquired habits of discipline and the power
of acting in large bodies. Moreover, the fact that
the occupation of Nashville took platy scarcely
a week after the capture of Fort Donelson, shows
that the means of transport of the Federal army
must be well organised. Even previous to this
lame Federal success the Confederates were ready
to confess that they must confine themselves to
the Slave States which border the Mexican
Gulf ; and it may be doubted whether they can
still entertain any confident hope that they will
be able to retain even so much ; nor are their
hopes likely to be revived, if it be true that General
Ilext.t. has surrounded the Confederates at Mur-
freesboro, an important town more than fifty miles
south-east of Nashville, and given them two days
to surrender unconditionally. At all events, it is
clear that the Confaderate army on the Potomac
must not expect any reinforcements from the
West and South, since at present the rebel leaders
in those Stet** will have enough to do to prevent
the further advance of General GRANT and has
victorious army. It is certain that Mr. Dives
finds it difficult to obtain recruits in the place of
those whone term of service has expired, and it
may be doubted whether there is errs anflioisnt
number of disciplined soldiers to auk* head against
the advancing Northerners in the West.
But, as has been said more than once, the
Potomac is the real field of battle which will de-
termine this great struggle. Mr. Davis himself
declares that the numbers of the Southern army
are uncertain, and certainly there are no eletuousta
from which they can be calculated. Nor is the
precise position of the Confederates on the
Potomac known to the public. This, however, is

certain, that the Confederate army occup'es a line
opposite to I% mliiiigton, having its left protected
by the Blue hello Mountains, and ita right
by the Potomac—the direction of the line being
from north-west to south east. The army, in fact,
bars the way to Richmond. No doubt if General
felt himself strong enough, or if there
were no other means of forcing his opAirent bac',
he would advance against him and try the fortune
of war. But there is no mama, for so reckless
an attack, and General M'Ctnktrin is quite pre-
pared to bide his time. Sense days ago the sug-
gestion was made that by threatening Biehinend
be might oompel the Confederates to rebel* ha
order to save that city ' • and the position of Far-
tress Monroe on the north side of the James
river, and that of I/risers' BrIVIBIDR, who has
effected a landing some So/ or 80 miles south of
Norfolk, mid who might easily reach the south
mils of the James rivet, gave ground to hope that
03:11 • plan might be successful. As yet, how-
ever, oo stet,' have been taken to carry this into

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1862.

EXPII

(nom ous owl,

FROM PARIS.

PARIS, FRIDAY Rsiumgo._

Although M. Billault said, yesterday, that the
French troops must be by this time in the city of
Mexico, the Patrie publishes a note suggesting the
probability that they will not be there till the 1
"second fortnight" in March. It says that Ad-
sniral Jurien de la. Gravii,re received the news at
Vera Cruz on February 11, that General de Loren-
Ices was coming out with reinforcements, and that
be then decided, in concert with the allied com-
manders, to advance to Jalapa, encamp there, and
wait for General de Lorenoez (expected at Mexico
on February 28) to march on with him to Mexico.
Nevertheless, the Patric thinks that, inasmuch as
the admiral did not calculate upon being ready to
march before the 25th, he would wait three days for
General de Lorencez rather than leave Vera Cruz
without him.

It appears from the debate of yesterday that M.
Roques Salvaza's exhortations to the majority to
defend their own address, and not allow the go-
vernment speakers to do all the work, produced no
practical effect. Broad-shouldered M. Billault had
to sustain the weight alone of combating all amend-
ments about America, Mexico, Cochin-China, &c.
Certainly M. de Moray's sensitiveness about the
address of the deputies being called "official," is
not borne out by the course which the debates
have taken. The committee supposed to have
drawn it up have not a word to say for themselves.
M. Amigo% de Cessna, who, ever since the cowp
&Mat, has been a writer in government journals, has
a pamphlet on the stocks entitled, " Italy and the
Address," in which he advocates the evacuation of
Rome. Bullier's Correspondence observes that such
• manifesto from such a man, after M. Billault's
speeches, is a striking symptom of the formation
of a " left " party in the imperialist ranks.
The Bourse was better to-day, in consequence of
she favourable construction put upon the Bank of
France returns, which denote an abundance of
capital likely to seek investment. The Rents rose
to 69fr. 95c., and, although this quotation was not
maintained, closed with an advance on yesterday
of 16c. and 10c., the latest prima being 69fr. 80c.
and 69fr. 85c. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents.

rose 25c., closing at 68fr. 90c. )(obilier was
without change, as was the Italian Loan. The
Western Railway rose 151 r., and Rutern, 3fr. 75c.,
but in the other lines there was no change of any
moment.

A considerable rise has taken place at Marseilles
in the price of silks. Orders for purchases sent
from Lyons are said to have produced this move-
ment, the last news from America leading to the
hope of an early resumption of business.
The Pays, although generally a supporter of all
governments, especially when they are bad and
despotic publishes disastrous news for King Otherlt says that the insurrection of Nauplia has spread
to Arta, Proves., and Larissa, in all which places
revolutionary committees are openly sitting, with-
I out the least fear of molestation. Tripo-
I litra has driven out the royal authorities, and
replaced them by a military junta, and, which is
more serious still, the insurgents have cut off all

communication between the firms and the western
ports of the Peloponnesus. The amnesty pro-
claimed by the King is a failure. Not a corporal
or a soldier left Nauplia in consequence of it,
although the document was read to the insurgent
troops by their commanders. The insurgents have
taken a fresh oath to stand firm to their cause. It
is thought that the Senate will call upon the King
to make concessions.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)