The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-29 00:00:00

(Stamped„ Id. Additional.l

the 16th, and that the Confederate forces suffered
great loss, and were completely defeated.
A supplement to the New York Herald, pub-
lished at noon on the 17th, contains the following
despatches :

RECESTART STANTON TO MAJOR-GENERAL DEL

War Department, Washinnton, Dee. 17.

Major•Geeeral John A Dis,—The following report of the
great victory achieved yesterday by 3lajor•Geneal Thomas
and his gallant army over the rebel forces under General
Hood in front of Nashville was received this morning.
One of the most surprising eircumstsocee connected with
the great achievement is the small loss suffered by our
troops, evincing, among other Chirp, the admirable skill
and caution of General Thomas in his disposition of the
battle. In our rejoicinp at the defeat of the enemy thanks
are due to the Almighty for his protection to our gallant
officer" and soldiers in the great conflict they have paned
through. The report of General Thomas and also an un-
official report containing interesting &trans are wabjoioed :
Headquarters, Department of the Cumberland,
18 miles from Nashville, Dec. 16.
TO THE PRESIDENT OE THE UNITED STATER, HON. EDWIN
M. STANTON, AID LIECTEHANT•GEDERAL U. S. L.RANT.

This army thanks you for your approbation of its cooduct
yesterday, sad to assure you that it is not misplaced. I
have the honour to report that the enemy Lu beim pressed
at all points today in his line of retreat to the Brentwood
bills. Brigadier-Gene& Match, of Wilsoe's corps of
cavalry, on the right, turned the enemy's left, and captured
a large number of prisoners—the number not yet re-
ported. Major-General Schofield's corps, next on the
left of cavalry, carried several hills, captured many
prisoners and six pieces of artillery. Brevet-Major-General
Smith, next on the left of Major-Gen. Schofield, carried the
Delimit point of the enemy's line with McMillan's brigade
' of McArthur 's division, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery,
two brigadier generals, and about two thousand prisoners.
Brigadier-General Garrard's division, of Smith's command,
next on the left of Mc A rthur's division, carried the enemy's
entrenchments, capturing all the enemy on the hoe.
Brigadier-General Wood's troops on Franklin pike took up
the assault, capturing the enemy's sotreochnients in his re-
treat, captured eight piano of artillery, something over six
hundred prisoners, anddrove the enemy within one mile of the
Brentwood-hill Pass. Major-General Steadman, commanding
detachments of the different armies of the military division of
the Mississippi, most nobly supported General Wood's left,
and bore a most honourable part in the operations of the
day. I have ordered the pursuit to be continued in the
morning at daylight, although the troops are vary much
fatigued. The utmost enthusiasm prevails. I must Dot for-
get to report the operations of 'Brigadier General Johnson,
in successfully driving the enemy, with the 00-operation of
the gunboats, under Lieutenant Commander Fitch, from
their batteries on the Cumberland river, below the city of
Nashville; and of the income of Brigadier-General Saxton 's
brigade, in covering and re-turning our right and rear.
In the operations of yesterday and to-day. although I have
no report of the number of prisoners captured by Johnson's
sad Croxton's command, I know they have made a large
number. I am also glad to be able to state that the number
of prisoners captured yesterday greatly exceeds the number
reported by telegraph last evening. The woods, fields, and
intrenchments are strewn with the enemy's small arms,
abandoned in the retreat. In conclusion, I am happy to
state that all this has been anted with but a very small
toes to on. Our loos probably does not exceed 300, and very
few killed.

GEORGE H. TUOMAS, Major-General Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., Doc. 16, 9 p.m.

During last night Hood withdrew his right from the river
and took a position covering Hillsborough, Grannywhite,
and Franklin pikes, which his. bad been carefully prepared
for just this contingency. He was drives from the first line
easily ; but the second was very stubbornly resisted, and at
last heavily am►ultd three time before succeeding. It
was carried, however, and twenty pions of artillery, 2,C00
men (including General Jackson and the remnant of his
division), were takes, the many forced beck two mile*, and
his army broken into two parts, one on the White pike, and
the other on the Franklin, with range of Bluffs, Hills be.
teams them, Steadman and Wood passing down the latter ;
A. J. Smith, Schofield. and the cavalry down the former.
Small arms lay as thick on the contested line as the rebels
stood there. Hood can't make another such day's fight,
while Thomas is in good condition to press him. Caught
more waggons. Can't say number. Everybody, white and
black, did splendidly.
Enwin N. STANTON. Secretary of War.

An immense co-operating exoedition of naval and
military forces has gone from Fortress Monroe, to
►trtke at some point on the Southern coast. The
naval portion is composed of most of the large
vessels that have rendezvoused at Hampton Roads
during the past two months, and is led by Rear-
Admiral D. D. Porter. The fleet left on the 12th.
On the 14th the army transports went out. Of this
branch of the expedition Major-General Godfrey
Weitzel has active command. General Butler also
has gone with the expedition, having left Fortress
Monroe with his stall on the 14th. It was expected
that news of the expedition would be received iu a
few days. Ample preparations, it was said, had
been made for a formidable attack on the enemy.
The following peace resolutions have been intro-
duced into the North Carolina Legislature :
" Resolved,—That five commissioners be appointed
by this general assembly, to act with commissioners
from the other States of the Confederacy as a me-
dium for negotiating a peace with the United States.
Resolved,—That each of the other States of the
Confederacy be respectfully requested td create a
similar commission, with as little delay as practi-
cable, and to co-operate with North Carolina in
requesting of President Davis, in the name of
these sovereign States, that be tender to the United
States a condition for negotiating a peace through
the medium of these commissioners. Resolved,—
That the goveruo; make known to each of the
other States of the Confederacy this action of the
General Assembly of North Carolina, and endea-
vour to secure their co-operation. Resolved,—
That whenever any five of the States shall have
responded by the appointment of commissioners,
the governor shall communicate the proceeding
officially to President Davis, and request his
prompt action upon the proposition."

THE CONFEDERATE RAIDERS IN CANADA.

The discharge of the St. Alban's raiders by the
Montreal Court appears to bare caused great
racitement in the United States, especially along
the border.

The New York papers of the 16th contain the
following despatches from Canada, announcing tbMt
the raiders are to be re-arrested. Judge Coursors
decision is strong :

Quebec, Thursday, Dec. 11

The discharge of the St. Alban's raiders surprised the
members of the government, and the ground of the dis-
charge is pronounced ridiculous. The magistrate is likely
to be severely dealt with. New v have been issued
by a superior court judge for the re-arrest of the raiders, and
constables are in pursuit.. An efficient military force is to
be sent to the border towns immediately to prevent further
depredations.

Montreal, Thursday, Dee. 15.

The coeduet of Coursol, the magistrate, and Lamothe,
the chief of police, is denounced. Lunothe is accused of
complicity. A. investigation is going on by the couaciL
It is thought that Lamethe will be dismimied.
Toronto, Thursday, Dec.

There is • profound sensation in regard to Connors deci•
sioa in thecae of the r.idere. The best legal authorities
pronounce it contrary to law, and it mists with general
condemnation.

Quebec, Dee. 15.

The cabinet had a long session to-day, and it is
that the mambas unanimously denounced the act of Judge
Counol discharging the St. Alben's raiders. The pretence
was that the Canadian Extradition Act of 1861 was not in
force, because it had not been scented to by the Queen in
counciL If the judge had inquired of the government
be would have found that her Majesty had specially
astheted to that act. as made an assertion *genet the
solidity of the set of the Osesdiss legLLtate witheat

[TWO PEN CE

proof. It turns out that his assumption was false.
The Attorney-Geueral, it is understood, advised the issue
of new warrants on the same night by the judge of the
Superior Court of Montreal, for the re-arrest of the raiders,
come of whom have gone east to Halifax, and some west.
Officers are ors their tracks, and they cannot escape if they
remain in Canada. The Canadian government has no legal
right to act directly, as the courts have independent joie
diction. If the judges refuse to do their duty, or act cor-
ruptly, they may be suspended, or in some cases dismissed-
It is probable Mr. Coursol will be dismissed. Parliament,
which usually meets in February, will be summoned to as-
amble in the middle of January, when laws will be passed
to meet the exigency of the great change of public feeling
toward the Confederates since they have shown an inters•
tion of embroiling the two countries in war.

Montreal, Dee. 1:3.

The Attorney-General decides that the tnagistrate'a
Milton was wrong io the cue of the St. Alban's raiders, and
orders their re-arrest and the money to be given up.
The New York papers of the 17th contain the
followiug additional despatches :

Quebec, Dec. 16.
Another cabinet meeting was held to-day. Parliament
has been summoned to meet oo the 19th of January. SU-
peadiary magiitrates have been appointed on the frontier
especially to take cognisance of breaches of the international
laws, and they are to be aided by s strong polio force.
The Jortrned de Quebec Ur-night says General Dix's procla-
mation is disapproved by the Washington government.
Boston, Dec. 16.
A private despatch from a reliable source at Montreal
states that there is a perfect panic in Canada amongst rail.
way managers, in anticipation of non.ietercourse with the
United States, which is expected, unless the government
takes prompt action to allay the excitement on the bor-
ders. At 1 o'clock p.m. to-day nothing was known at Mon.
treal of the Confederate raiders, nor were there further de-
velopments in relation to the restoration of the money
stolen from the St. Alban's banks.

MUSIC.