The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-13 00:00:00

LOSDON, MOND.At BVBNING, MARPR
.Is, 1865.

AMASICA.

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•
ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN.
(VII Onsecestle.)
NZW YORK, Pm. 26, 7 P.N.
A despatch from Admiral Porter confirms the
ciompeaion of Wilmington by the Federal,. The '
tea eo-operated with the army in capturing the
city. Porter got two gunboats over the middle
ground of Big Island, and opened fire on Fort
Rising, commanding the principal obstructions
whim the Confederates bed sunk large steamers.
The Federal fire drove the Confederates from the
fottl A shot struck the Elaseaces below the water-
mark, nuking her leak badly.
Daring the night the Confederates sent 200
floating torpedoes down the river, but Porter oink
them by musketry. One torpedo entered, add
blew up the wheelhouse of the Osceola, and knocked,
down the bulkheads. No dronage, however, was.
done to the hulL The following morning Porter
spread fishing nets semis the river.
The Montauk could not omen the shoals without
being lightened. Porter planted thedrideral flag
ots Xert Strang. Ame'e dividon .bad a sharp
eacatanter with the C7oatedanstes sew the do&

Grant reports that since May List 17,000 da-
nerters have come In from Lee's army.
the Richmond papers announce the arrival of
Admiral Buchanan. and add that Admirals Bu-
chanan and Semmes being in the right places can-
not fail to give a good account of the Confederate
iroaciads.

Schurz has been appointed to the cammand
of ilanoock's corps. •
General Joe Johnston has been ordered to report
himself to General Lee for duty.
Several guerillas have crossed the Potomac at
Edward's Ferry, driving in the Federal pickets.
They afterwards retired with some plunder.
A public celebration of the late victories will
be held is New York on Saturday mat.
The steamer Sacramento left San Francisco on the
23rd for Panama, with 1,000,000 dollars in specie,
of Ithich 430,000 dollars are for New York.
COMXZECIAL INTELLIGINCE.

Money euy. Gold, 1991. Ixobango on London,
21r5.0: Paris, 2.53. Stocks dull. New' York
cills ; Illinois, 118 j ; Brie, ; 5-20 Bonds,
1 . Cotton slightly firmer. Middling upland,
84. Flour declining. Wheat quiet. Corn good
encpiiry. Provisions steady. Coffee quiet. Sugar
mulmelsemes Wady. Petroleum dull; crude, 43 ;
refiied, 66.

ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPA.
(Via OrooMania.)
NEW YOBX, NAB= 2 (Noninta).
Deserters state that the last of Hardee's anal
craned the Sautie on the 25th ultimo, at Char-
lotte, and the last of Hood's army, 12,000 strong,
passed through Augusta on the 19th, to join
Beauregard.
Qeorgerown baa been evacuated, and I. now in
posseesion of the Federal..
The steamer Arago received off Charleston, ors
the 26tb, news of the burning of Columbia and of
the Federal occupation of Augusta.
The Charleston correspondent of the Herald, on
the 26th, annoences that official news has been re-
ceived that Sherman bad burnt Columbia in reta-
liation for his troops being fired upon from the
houses.

---
The Berald correspondent at Hilton Head on the
26th does not confirm the capture of Augusta.
Charlotte papers denounce the shelling of
Columbia by Sherman without warning, and before
the women and children bad left the town. Several
citizens were rhot down after the occupation. Char-
lotte despatches of the 25th report that no alarm
was felt there. The direction in which Sherman is
moving is not stated, but he is supposed to be mak
iug a flank movement. The weather and the con-
dition of the roads interfere with military move-
ments. Sherman's headquarters ars at Columbia.
The Herald thinks that the Southern despatches
show that Sherman, after sending Beauregard,
Hardee, and Bragg upon a false scent to the north-
ward, has moved to the east, to form a junction with
Scofield from Wilmington.
The Richmond Examiner inveighs against the ides
that the evacuation of Richmond would not damage
the Confederacy, and declares that it would result
in the loss of all respect for the authority of the
Confederate government, the disintegration of the
army, and the abandonment of the scheme of the
Southern Confederacy.
The Engnirer says that the enemy have lately
thrown their forces across the lines of every Con-
gressional retreat, since when the members of
Congress have left Richmond one by one, until
only the skeleton of the legislature remains, which
is rapidly diminishing to a number of members in-
sufficient to form a quorum. If the President is'
firm, and does not imitate the Congressional ex-
ample, he will be esteemed as the founder of a sew
people, and his name will be written with thous of
Washington, Tell, and Alfred. Should be, however,
abandon his post, historical instances can be found
to illustrate his disgrace.
The Sentinel says, in view of the opening of the
campaign by two armies destined to wrestle for
Richmond as the prize, it would be proper to put
the capital into fighting trim, and recommends the
departure of useless non-combatants and con-
sumers. -

Grant has marched his troops out of Hatcher's
Run, it is supposed to make another effort to gain
the south aide of the railroad. The condition of
the roads, however, has caused a temporary aban-
donment of the movement.
The Petertfring Express of the 25th believes that
an important battle will be fought within two or
three days.
It is reported that Sheridan bas sent an expe-
dition to aseertaia if preparations are making for
Lee to fall back upon Lynchburg.
Forrest has assumed the command of the cavalry
in Mississippi, east of Louisiana and West Tennes-
see, and threatens to exterminate all Confederate
stragglers, robbers, and deserters.
Lincoln, in reply to the committee informing
him of his re-election, acknowledged with grati-
tude that the people continued to have confidence
in him, and he accepted the trust, with its yet
onerous and perplexing duties and responsibilities.
Lincoln has approved the Fortifications Bill, the
appropriations for which have been reduced to half
their original amount.
The Senate has pawed the Loan Ball.
The House of Representatives have pawed a bill,
to become valid on April 1, increasing the duties
on liquors and spun silk, and imposing a duty el
5 cents per pound on raw cotton, 20 on etude