The Express.
London, England, 1865-02-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENIF(G, FEBRUARY

LATEST 114TELLIGENC/4
(nanszawitana).
ICS.-
The Royal Mail steamer Africa, from Boston and
Halifax, arrived at Queenstown at 2.30 a.m. to-day.
She brings 68 passengers and 7,981 dollars in
specie. She landed 96 sacks of mails and 2 passen-
gers, and proceeded immediately, all well. She
was detained off Halifax one day by fog.
NEW YORK, Faa. 15, Moans°.
A despatch from General Grant says, the Rich-
mond papers of Monday state that Sherman has
crossed the Edisto, which was the line held by
Hardee for the defence of Branchville. A portion
of Sherman's troops were two-thirds of the way
from Edisto to Columbia, an important point
forming the junction of the Charlotte and South
Carolina and Grenville and Columbia Railroads,
thus severing railroad communication with Rich-
mond except via, Wilmington.
It is reported that General Grant contemplates a
movement on Goldsborough, North Carolina.
The Tribune says that deserters assert that dis-
satisfaction prevails among Lee's army at the result
of the peace conference, and that numerous deser-
tions would be the consequence. The troops were
on what the Federal army would consider half
rations, and were suffering from want of clothing.
Lieutenant Cushing has sent in a report of an
expedition made with four boats and 50 men eight
miles up Little River, South Carolina, to All
Saints parish. He destroyed a considerable amount
of cotton, and also the stores collected at Charlotte
Inlet for the garrison of Fort Anderson. The
South Carolina planters expressed their willingness
to return to the old'government ; they only awaited
emancipation from military rule.
A large Federal force has landed at Smithfield,
North Carolina, with locomotive engines, it is sup-
posed for use after the capture of Wilmington.
It is rumoured that the Confederates are mining
the Federal works at Petersburg.
The correspondent of the World re-asserts that
Lee will concentrate the Southern armies inland in
two divisions, one in Eastern Virginia under Lee,
and the other in South Carolina under Beauregard.
The latter has been instructed not to attack Sher-
man until he is far advanced into South Carolina.
Lee's movemeute will depend upon the result of
the battle in South Carolina. The World anti-
cipates a long war in any case.
The Federals have defeated Shelby at Darda-
nelles, Arkansas.
Shelby has retired to Fayetteville.
Lincoln's son, Robert Lincoln, has been nomi-
nated to the Senate as assistant adjutant-general
of volunteers, with the rank of captain on Grant's

staff.
The question of a general export duty is being
agitated in Congress.
Indiana has ratified the constitutional amend-
ment.

In the case of the St. Alban's raiders, George
Sanders gave evidence that C. C. Clay, claiming
military and civil ambassadorial power, informed
him that he directed and promised to assume the
responsibility of the raid. A messenger from Rich-
mond has arrived with a document proving the
belligerent character of the raiders.
Advises received here from Peru state that Ad-
mind Pareja was about to proceed to Chili to de-
mand of the government the money he paid for
coal over what it would have oost if supplied at
Cots, and also to demand an apology for the an-
noyance caused thereby. Should his demand not be
complied with the admiral will seize the ports of
Cota and Caldea until it is granted.
The general government of Bogota has issued an
order to the President of Panama, stating that in
consequence of • note from the French Mi-
nister, calling attention to an order forbidding
the passage of the French marines across the Isthmus
for the frigate Pallas, while offering no obstacles to
the passage of United States' troops for California,
prohibition of the passage of foreign troops across
the Isthmus shall be absolute without dis-
tinction. The government thinks the situa-
tion of the United States' Pacific territory is a
reason why Congress should consider innocent the
passage of United States troops across the Isthmus
until the matter is settled by a convention already
proposed. Meantime, the rule ought to be general.
All will be considered troops if organised according
to military law, even if not armed.
Colonel Bulkeley has arrived at San Francisco,
en route for the exploration of • telegraph
route between the United States and Russia.
He will leave immediately for British Columbia.
whence he will start on an exploring expedition.
NEW YORK, Fss. 18, Emma.
General Gilmore has superseded Foster.
Charleston despatchee state that 2,000 to 3,000
Fedoras landed at Grimballs, on James Island,
two miles south west of Charleston (the Ashley
river, 1,000 yards wide, intervening), and drove in
the Confederate pickets. Skirmishing ensued, but
no general engagement took place.
A Federal attack on Salkehatchie was easily
repulsed.

Another body of Federal troops advanced on the
Charleston road, near Blue House, and opened with
their artillery, but made no impression on the Con-
federate lines.
The Federals have crossed the river at Bennaker's,
and were moving on Edisto.
The Times says this doubtless means that the
Federals are moving in force on Edisto Island.
Blue House is on the Charleston and Savannah
road, in the direct line of march pursued by the
right wing towards Charleston. It would appear
that movements in flank and rear are being made
on Charleston in co-operation with the advance from
James Island.
Charleston despatches also state that the Fe-
derals landed at Little Britain and Secret Post,
and after advancing to King's Creek retired. The
object of this movement was probably to form a
11 base near Charleston for the use of the right
11 wing of the Federals advancing along the Charles-
' ton and Savannah Railroad. Sharp firing was
heard and seen off Charleston on Saturday.
The Richmond Wnig, of the 13th inst., states
that Sherman had crossed the South Edisto, flank-
ing Branchville on the west, and advanced to
Orangeburg, on the Columbia and Branchville
road, 16 miles west of the latter.
Richmond papers of yesterday announce that
communication with Charleston had been cut, and
think that Sherman's cavalry are operating on the
railroad vitt Raleigh, Wilmington, severing the last
line of communication between Virginia and the
South.

The Richmond Examiner states that Beauregard
was on the Edisto and the line of the South Caro-
lina Railroad with the army of Tennessee, ready to
offer Sherman battle. It is reported that Wade
and Hampden's cavalry have reinforced Beaurrgard.
The Governor of South Carolina has called the
whole population, including foreigners, to arms,
and those refusing to serve must leave the State.
The army and navy made an initiatory move-
I meat preparatory to a general attack against Wil-