The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-13 00:00:00

GENERAL HOOKER'S ARMY ACROSS THE

R&PPAHANNOCIL
NEW YORK, NAY 1, Nourtio.
(Paz Jars.)

General Hooker's whole army is moving. A
portion of the army crossed the Rappahannock at
Kelly's Ford above Fredericksburg, on Mon-
day last, and captured the Confederate
pickets. General Hooker sent out skir-
mishers, but found uo enemy. Since that time
the remainder of the army has been crossing at
three other fords above and below Fredericksburg,
and it is supposed that the whole army is now
across the Rappahannock. The Confederates are
reported to have been everywhere surprised and
to have offered no serious resistance to the passage
of the army at any point. The Federals have
captured from 900 to 500 prisoners.

Prisoners state that Stonewall Jackson com-
mands the right wing of the Confederate army.
General Banks has seized the Opelousas Rail-
road, and communicated with Admiral Farragut
above Port Hudson. During his expedition to
Opelousas General Banks is reported to have cap-
tured large amounts of stores, cotton, and ammuni-
tion, with numerous prisoners, who are said to be
arriving at New Orleans at the rate of 500 a day.

The Confederates in Tennessee have advanced to
Beech Grove, nine hours' march from Murfrees-
borough, but it is not supposed they will risk an
attack on Murfreesborough, which is strongly
fortified.

No confirmation of the shooting of General
Bragg, by Breckenridge, has been received.
The Confederate Secretary of War has visited
Charleston, and expressed himself satisfied with the
arrangements.
The New York Herald says that General Hooker's
declarations before the War Committee, attributing
the failures of Burnside and M'Clellan to incapa-
city, place him in an extraorclinary position of reopen-
' sibility, and he has now no alternative before
him but death or victory—death in the field or
death to his military reputation. He has volun-
tarily set himself up as superior to M'Clellan and
Burnside, and he must make good his pretensions
or sink into irretrievable disgrace.
The New York Times hopes that, if General
Hooker fails, the nation has acquired sense enough
to dismiss him to obscurity, without wrangling for
half a year.
The story that a telegraphic cable had been dis-
covered by which information was conveyed across',
the Rappahannock from the Federal to the Con-
federate
camp has proved a canard.
The Richmond Inquirer of the 20th says
there is some reason to believe that General
Hooker is changing his base of operations from
Fredericksburg to the peninsula, and would not
be surprised if the Federals were found ascending
York River. Skirmishing along the Upper Rapp►-
hannock will not alter this purpose, as this may be
undertaken to ascertain the presence of the Confe-
derate army, as well as to make Gen. Lee believe
that a real advance from Fredericksburg is intended;
but the Inquirer thinks General Hooker cherishes
an idea that by leaving a strong corps well fortified
at Fredericksburg, and moving his army to White
House, he will compel Lee to fall back to Rich-
mond.

The Mobile Register says that Fort Pemberton is
now the key of the Mississippi valley, and
should be held at all hazards. It is said
to be a line of breastworks composed of
cotton bales and mud running across from
the Yazoo to the Tallahatchie rivers. The right
rests upon the Tallahatchie and the left upon the
Yazoo, the distance across in a straight line not ex-
ceeding 250 yards. General Loring, a very skilful
officer, commands at Fort Pemberton.
The San Francisco correspondent of the New
York Herald says :

Much is spoken about conspiracies to take California oat
of the Union. The natives of Southern states are spoken
of as active parties in thin affair, but Northern men,
feeling the weight of heavy taxation, are the men
who secretly harbour the project of a pacific republic.
If California ever throws off the Federal control,
it will be the work of Northern men, who
will refuse pay cinching taxation or to regard
the conscription laws. A eignificant fact is that
the Federal war department assumes the duty of daffodils.
California, thus postponing the bill before the California
Legislature, which, if psased,would have put into the hands
of the people arm+, and other munitions of war.
The Federal government has purchased a large fleet of
steamships at sae Francisco, for the coast sad harbour
service, which are to be immediately fitted out for active
service.

The authorities have warned large dealers in arms and
ammunition not to sell cannon without informing them.
Secretary Chase has left New York for Boston,
and will afterwards visit the Western cities. It is
stated he will not offer a foreign loan, and that the
alleged departure of agents for Europe for this pur-
pose is unfounded.

. The Polish Committee of New York has issued
an appeal to the American people for aid. The
New York Herald urges the people not to contri-
bute, as Russia is the only country showing sym-
pathy with the North, and such proceedings would
be certain to destroy the cordial relations existing
between the two countries.

The property of Dr. Boyle, in Washington,
valued at 50,000 dollars, is to be sold under the
Confiscation Act. Dr. Boyle is provost-marshal
in the Southern states.

The Mexican Minister has left Washington for
Mexico. The legation will be closed during his
absence.

Judge Connor, of Toronto, is dead.
Several regiments from the seat of war have
arrived at New York, and have received an enthu-
siastic welcome from the populace.
The steamers Alice and Nita► arrived from Mobile
on the 19th April, and several other small craft
have arrived from the South, all with cotton.
Four Confederate schooners left Havana for
Matamoras on the 20th April.
The bark Lysander, which has arrived at Boston,
reports that on the 10th, while standing in toward■
Colorado reef, she saw a burning vessel, supposed
to be a privateer. Upon the 12th, she was
overhauled by a privateer schooner, and
ordered to send a boat alongside ; but the captain
of the Lysander refused, and ordered the crew to
arm themselves. The privateer, seeing an armed
crew, tacked the ship and left. This was in long.
83.45, lat. 23.18.

NEW YORK, NAT 1, Eviarrna.

The Federal army at Milliken's Bend, above
Vicksburg, received orders on the 24th ult. to
march with six days' rations.
Four Federal transports which attempted to pass
Vicksburg on the 23rd were sunk, and two others
badly damaged.
Some Confederate rams were expected to come
down the Yazoo to attack General Grant's position
at Carthals, above Vicksburg. _

A man in Ohio bas been sentenced to four
months' bard labour for expressing publicly hie
sympathy with the fkoessionista.