The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

[stamped, la. Additionla

On the next day Mr. Stanton sent the following
extraot from the RicbmOnd papers to the New Yoe*
pries :
War Department, Wish's(los, Dec. 28.
To Major-Genenl John A. Dix, New York—The fol-
lowing sunsets from the Richmond papers of today have
been received by the department :—"The latest official
advises from Georgia indicate that Shemin hr aka*
followed up the occupation of Savannah by seeding a force
of cavalry, artillery and infantry upon an expedition, whose
destination me ooly be palmed at from the directios in
which it km moved. Three troops ere reported to ham gone
toward the Altamaha River, and we shall no doubt next
hem that they have crowed that stream and are moving to
South-western Georgia, in quest of the prisoners of war who
were snowed to be at Andersoaville. Sherman's pro-
rename for his grand campaign northward seems to be no
secret. He will start from Port Royal, sad more straight
for Branchville, the point of junction between the Georgics
and Cuolieka railroads. He then proposes to fellow the
mei' liner of railroad toward Virginia, steeling sad murder-
ing sr mach as be can by the way. All vary fine ; but if
Sherman proposes, Lee disposes."

- -
THB 'EXPEDITION AGAINST WILMINGTON.
Richmond papers of the rah December an-
nounced the commencement of the attack of the
land and naval forces under Genteel Butler and
Admiral Porter on the confederate Fort Fiber, at
the mouth of Cape Fear river, 20 miles below Wil-
mington, N.C. On the 24th December over kfty
vessels, many of them heavily armed, and inclucTing
two monitors, made their appearance below the fort,
and at one o'clock in the afternoon commenced on
it a furious attack, which was kept up till night.
At ten o'clock the next day (Sunday) the attack was
renewed, and was kept up all day, the fire being
very severe and continuous. Under its cover three
brigades of Union infantry were landed two miles
and a half above the fort, and, although the Confe-
derates endeavoured to drive them off, they held
their ground. Late on the night of the 25th an
infantry attack was made on the fort, but this the
Southern despatches say was repulsed.
The following are the official despatches respecting
these operations :
War Deportment, Washingtol, Dec. 27.
Najor•General Dix, New York.—The following extracts
from Richmond papers of to-day bare been forwarded to the
department by General Grant :
" Wilmington, N. C., Deo. 25.
"Ths esesny's fleet, over 60 vessels, inaludieg two
Ifosibn, several armed vessels, and many heavily armed
frigates and alcepo-of-war, made a furious attack on Fort
Fisher about one o'clock yesterday, and kept up an average
fin of 30 shots per minute until night. Our loss is 23
wounded. The attack wee renewed at ten o'clock this
morning, and has been vary furious sad ocntinnoes. No
report of casualties to-day. Colossi Lamb, who is in oma.
mend of the fort, replied to the saansy's Are slowly sad
deliberately. The mew, wider wear of the heavy tires
landed about three brioche tero-and.o-half miles above Feet
Fisher. They were immediately engaged by a smaller force.
The enemy held the ground at night."

" Wilmisaiont N. 0., Dee. 26.
"The enemy'a infantry attacked Fort Fisher latelast eight.
Thiry were remised with coesidsrable Ica There was
heavy rain and wind during the night. Prisoners report
the Twenty-kanth corps of the Yankee army present
modem Butler."
The above despatches are commuted an as follows :
" From our Wilesioaton despatches it will be men that
the Yankee fleet attacked Fart Fisher about one o'clock

p.m. en Saturday, sod bombarded It heavily until
aightlell, renewing the bombardment at tea o'cleek c
Smithy rooming, and continuing it throughout the day
that midst cover of the fire of the Seel the enemy landed an
infantry force above Fort Fisher, which attacked this fort
on Sunday night and was repulsed. Foil Fisher is situated
on a wuxlspit on the right bank of the Cape Fear River, at
its mouth, twenty miles below Wilmingtoa. The enemy,
we presume, reached their position shove the fort, not by
palming up the river, where they would hays been obliged
to m the gauntlet of the guns both of Fisher and of
Caswell on the left bank, but by landing on the beach east
of the mouth of Cape Fair River. The essay bevies
effected a lodgment above the fort is a serious matter. It
will cost double the tone to dislodge him that would have
prevented his landing."
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of WY.
Wu Department, Washington, Dee. 28.
- -

Major-General Dix, New York.—The following extracts
from Riche:wed papers of today bay* ban received by
the department :

" Wilmington, Dec. TA
"To his Enslimey the Pmaidont of the Oodeden

States :—The enemy lu rwenebarked under the cover of
his fleet. His movement is not developed. I have viaited
Fort Fisher, and find the damage slight, excepting the
buildinp not necessary for defence. Only two guns were
disabled. The marks remaining indicate that the bombard.
mint was very heavy. Major General Whiting, command.
lag the defends at the mouth of the river; Colonel Lamb,
commanding the fort, sad the officers and men comprising
the garrison, deserve especial commendation for the gallan-
try, efficiency, and fortitude displayed under very trying
circumetanoes.—(Signed), BRAXTON BLUM."
The latest despatches revealing the Wilmington
expedition are cnitradictory. and somewhat difficult
to understand. The New York Times of the 29th
thus refers to them :—" First came one yester-
day afternoon from Fortress Monroe, which was
published in the evening papers, and professed
to be upon official authority, announcing that both
the land and naval forces bad returned from Wil-
mington to Fortress Mouroe, and conveying the im-
pression that the etepeditiou Iliad suddenly and un-
expectedly proved unsuccessful. It did not seem
possible that this despatch could be correct, as
we were otherwise informed that opera-
tions were still in progress on Monday
last. This first despatch was soon followed
by another from Washington, staying that it would
seem to be a mistake that the naval and military
fleet had returned ; that the Navy Department
had no such intelligence;' and giving some details
of movements. In the course of the night, Secre-
tary Stanton'. official bulletin came to mini ; but
all it contained regarding the Wilmington expedi-
tion was an extract front the Richmond papers of
yesterday, which averred that Admiral Porter's
naval bombardment had done very little damage
to Fort Fisher, and that Butler's troops had re-
embarked on fouday night. We shall have to
wait for later advice. before we can comprehend
the situation at Wilmington."
_ . .

Tan Hos. MULTI( STAWLZT ox Tail ANZMICAN
Wen.—On Thmseday mash. the Hes. Lyolph Steam ass
of Lord Stanley of ilderley, delivered an interesting letter*
at the Macclesfield Sitadaysatiool. on the subjeet of the
civil war in America. The hon. gentlemee hes namely re-
sumed from • tour im the United Staten, sad hie lecture was
based on observations and facts which came before him
&Mai his sojourn of several months is swims parts of the
republic. 1 the North triumphed (be said) them
would be DO danger of the cootinuancie of slavery.
There was that danger previous to the ne-Secties
of Mr. Lincoln, but by his re-election they have
expressed their determination to proseenh the mar
with the utmost vigour. their nice object him
the seoleration of the Union, hut, side by side with
*4 the besiege el the slave throsighoot the whole el
their doesiaions The boo. sontleman thee ably err,
Solid on the inusems power sod natural resources of the
Uteted Seeks, red the nosminetty of holism on the pert of
the people to seldom! the ?Melbas and emancipate the
slam. The lecturer coosidated that Ms arming el the
soma by the Federal government was a pest step
towards the aemooplilummt of their object ; redNM,
should the Southerlies' cony out their avowed iatestios of
making soldiers of their Mama, the end of the war sad the
emsecipaties of the mega ran will be Featly accoleseled.
AUSTRIA STOPII Tail War.—Ftguree allow, year
after ear, that every °sultry which Suletes itself from
sea by prohibition, no maths what may be the eaten!
voice of w soil sod ellesate, within under the iefiesoomof
protective tariffs. The people oat of the epee air of mow
I tithe grow idle sad weak. The exports of 1861 in England
, wee of the mho of 217 millions steelier, sad the impacts al
160 mitiwaa, ierhidias 35 maims el foreign and ideal
membastdias ; the revises was 70,000,0001., sad excelled
, toe almoditore. What do the statistics of Austria stew
li• ? Why, is 1861-62 loor Meal impede were 23 dams
Media& bees exports 34 minima ; her mem 40 milliems,
bra expenditure 51 millions ; sad, sa conememos het
debt is tecumelatkig im gommelele pregreames ; her meet le
low, sal kar paper is deapmeigeL This metaillosal
BALTIMORE. WIDIFISDAT, DEC. 27. s wain, km, of Um, with.=
The Antedated Press correspondent telegraphs ales in the Oarpathhas, Balleritad the Alm with 64
the following from Fortress Monroe : 1 maim laseteam al lands, eametebing over the= on
Mame, Toesaar, Dee. 27. via t" Upper El" and tits Damao. ir thancsilltard • oat
Magma sad • patriotie &amber. ma the s
Vireshiegtos, Welnesdoy, Dee. 23. , , muds skaasmong titio,„tAy is Ass& fr
I have just marked her on the Sentiaps do Cake, from mwd sis ammenriiirie N. im pines of tM muse
eft Wilmington. The attack oa Fort Fiehersommesend al ger 101110 hidden' time.—Dr. Parr, la Journal of Stedistical
lames of larankul, the 24th, ONalizO•ri all day. wee ressowl I &nag. for December.

The despatches above referred to are unofficial,
and run as follows :

Washington, Wednesday, Deo. 28.

It would seem to be • mistake, as reported this moratag,
that the naval sad military fleet has returned from Mirth
Cep:dins to Fortress Monroe. The Navy Department has
no such intelligence, but that °es vowel only yesterday re-
tumid to the latter place, bringing despatches from Ad-
renal Porter. The messenger has sot yet reached Wash-
ington. It is sassrtaised from an authentic source, how-
ever, wider date of Fortress Monroe. yeerterday,
that the powder-ship was exploded within 300
yards of Fort Fisher about 2 a.m., on the 24th.
o Later in the day Admiral Porter attacked the fort
and adjacent defences, and renewed the bombardment on
Christmas-day. Os each occasion we drove the rebels from
their guns to the shelter of the bomb-proofs, so as to
effectually silence their fire. Ina very few minutes after,
the frigates and heavy ships got into pillion. A &lad-
meet of troops landed on Sunday afternoon. The skirmishers
gashed up gallantly to the fort under cover of our ire.
Some at the more daring actually seised the works sad
brought off the Sag- The bombardment of the Beet sea.
tinned on Monday. The Santiago de Cuba captured a tom-
piny of North Carolina soldiers in the outworks sad brought
them off.