The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-16 00:00:00

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Barr. 3.
The New York Times of the 2n41 inst. gives the
following account of the capture of Fort Hatteras
and (sark :

We published yesterday morales a brief announcement of
the result of the expedition which lately left Fortress
Monroe under the joint command of Genend Butler
and commodore Striagham, and this morning we
give the full particulars as furnished by our special
arrespoodent who accompanied the expedition. As
we anticipated its destination WAR Hatteras inlet,
which has for some time been infested bye number of
pirates, who have run out and in whenever they saw fit with
the etanost impunity. The rebels have also recently erected
there two forts—one called Fort Hatteras, and the other
Fort Clark, moo ntioir about thirty guns, and occupied by
some 600 or 7011 men. The expedition left Fortress Monroe oa
Monday last, and made their rendezvous off the inlet on
Tuesday afternoon, when preparations were immediately
made for totaling troops on Wednesday morning. The
number landed was about MO, the gunboats inearitime
sweeping the beach with shell, to prevent any interference
on the part of the rebels. The batteries were then engaged
by the Wabash, Minnesota, and the Cumberland with the
greatest effect, sod during the first day were pan
tially silenced, the troops on shore remaining'
in readiness to lend their aid at the proper
moment. On Thursday morning the bombardment wma".
commenced, the ships having taken up new positions, add
such was the terrible effect of their fire that the rebel com-
ma ndm were speedily drivels to capitulation when our
force on shore marched iutu the forts and took pagandom
The surrender was absolute nod unconditional, General
Butler refusing to treat on any other terms. Up-
wards of 600 prisoners were taken, including Commodore'
Barron, coinmanding the rebel naval forces in Virginia and
North Carolina, and assistant-secretary of the Confederate
navy, and several colonels, captains, and officers of lesser
note. The rebel loss in killed is uuknown, as they are said
to have carried away • number of bodies. Two were
found inside the forts. Eleven of their wounded were
brought away with the other prisoners, who will soon mak
this port on board the Minnesota. On our side there
appears not to have been • single man killed or wounded,
Three vowels were captured, one of which was loaded with
cotton ready to run the blockade, and a number of im-
portant documents were found, which will be of great
advice to the government, in determining who are sad
who have been its enemies. On the whole the expedition
may be regarded as eminently brilliant and suoossefal
The facility with which the rebel privateers have been en-
abled to overhaul and capture so many Northern vessels is
explained by one of the documents captured at Hatteras.
It is • copy of • letter from Robert G. Scott, late American
Coral at Rio Janeiro, giving a list of all the yowls leaving,
or to loan that port within a month, with a full descrip•
doe of their cargoes and destination. The privateers thus
knew precisely when and when to look for the vessels, and
six of three amased in the last have been captured.
A dimpled', dated IaOILiAViIIA. Kentucky, Sept. 1, mays :
" A special dispatch to the New (Means Delta. from
Richmond, the 28th, says that Jeff. Davis is so ill that Con-
gress had adjourned to await his convalescence. After the
adjournment of Congress Jeff. Davis will take command in
person of the army on the Potomac." The Washington corre-
spondeut of the New York Herold dada, =Sept. 3 :—" A
despatch has been received here to-day from Richmond, via
Louisville, announcing the death of Jeff. Davis. This
accounts for the display of flags at half-mast from the rebel
ramparts to-day."

The New York Herald of the 3rd inst. gives the
following summary of the situation of affairs :
Isformatios reached Washington yesterday shames,
which, if true, may make a considerable champ is the for•
tunes of the Southern rebellion. News arrived by way of
Louisville from Richmond that Jefferson Datil was dead.
Our latest accounts of Lim were to the effect that he was
very ill, and that the rebel Cowess hail adjourned to
await his recovery. If the report of his death is 1:101TOOS,
Yr. Stephan, the Vice-President, is now at the head of the
rebellious states, and, singular enough, recent accounts re-
port him also to be sick at Manassas. It appears that the
rebel flap within sight of the Union lines were observed to
be flying at half-mast yesterday, and this would seem to
confirm the rumour of Mr. Davis's death.

Skirmishes were going on all dey yesterday between the
rebels and the outposts of the Unitas army near Bailey's
Cross-road. The rebel earthworks on Munson'. Hill are
completed, and it is momentarily expected that they will
open fire upon the camps at Bailey's l'roes.roads. In this
event it will become necessary to silence them, and a general
engagement may thus be provoked.
The State Department has received information from Mr.
Adams, our minister in London, that in his opinion the
British government does not contemplate any change of
position towards this country so long as the blockade is
continued.

Mr. Secretary Chase has issued au important
appeal to the public, in behalf of the popular
*bowies that it is the interest as well as the duty
of every one who has money to invest, to piece it at this
crisis is the hands of the government. He points to the fact
that the real and personal values of the loyal states *menet
to eleven thousand millions of dollars, that the surplus
earnings of the people of these states amount to four bun-
dredmillions,whereas thereat of the war on the calculation
of high military authorities if judiciously conducted
will not be more than two hundred and fifty millions.
The interest oa the loses at the rate authorised by Con.
gm', namely, 7.3-10 per cent., wiU he on loans of 50 dots.,
one cent per day ; on 100 dole., two cents. ; on 500 dole.,
ten cents ; on 1,000 dole, twenty cent+ ; and on 5,000
dole, one dollar. Mr. Chase urges the speedyacceplanee cf
this loan, and announces that books will be opened at
ogee in the several cities and towes in the United States
to receive subscriptions.
We have some further details of the affair at Fort
Hatteras. The steamer George Peabody arrived at Fortress
Monroe yesterday with one of the prism in tow. She re-
porta that the Harriet Lane was got off the shoals On Satur-
day afternoon, but not without throwing her coals and her
guns overboard. It is said that the guns will be recovered.
Another Untied States' ...-anboat also west ashore os Smith's
Island, near Cape Charles, on the Ist lost. Three pro-
pellers were at once deapstched from Old Point to her
assistance.

The frigate Minnesota arrived at this port 7esterday with
674 of the prisouers taken at Fort Hatteras, including Com-
mander Harrow and the other officers who surrendered.
We have intelligence by wav of Cincineati that a Collision
took place at Howie Court-house, in Western Virginia, ou
the lit inst. between the Union and rebel forces, in which
the latter were badly beaten, losing 30 killed, 40 prisoners,
aad a large Number wounded. The Union troops, it is said,
burned the tows.

The following important proclamation has been
issued by Major-General Fremont :

"Head-quarters of the Western Department,
84. Levi, August 31.
" Circumstances, in my judgmens,of sufficient urgency ren-
der it necessary that the commandiargenend of this depart-
ment should assume the administrative powers of the State.
Its disorganised condition, the helplessness of the civil au
thority, the total inaseurity of life, and the devastation of
property by bands of murderers and marauders who infest
nearly every county in the State, and avail themselves of
the public misfortunes, and the vicinity of a hostile force,
to gratify private and neighbourhood vengeance, and who
And an enemy wherever they find plunder, finally demand
the severest measures to repress the daily increasing crime,
and outrages which are driving off the inhabitants sod ruin-
ing the State. lu this condition the public asfety
and the success of our arms require unity of purpose with-
out let or hindrance to the prompt adminstration of public
affairs.

Tim order, therefore, to suppress disorders, to meiutein es
far as now pnctiesble the public peace, and to give security
and protection to the persons and property of loyal citizens,
I do hereby extend acid declare established martial law
throughout the State of Missouri. The lines of the arm►
of occupation in this State are for the pnnent declared to
extend to Leavenworth, by way of the poeta of Jefferson
City, Rolla, and Trenton, to Cape Gireodeau, on the ]Mrs.
siesippi River.
" All preens who shall be takes with arms in their bands
within these line shall be tried by court-martial. and if
found guilty will be shot. The props y, real and personal,
of all peons in the Wan of Miosoer who shall take up
arms spirt the United Siestas, or who shall be directly
proves behave takes active part with their enemies in the
field, is declared to be esnilacated to the public use, and
their slaves, if any the► have, are hereby declared free men.
" AL persons whoshall be proves to have destroyed, after
the pubbeation of this order, named tracks, bridges, or
telegraphs, shall suffer the extreme purity of the law.

" All persons mined in tremonable eorrs ji:indented Sce, in
rieligrrisZtahrienPublict°tthe ettlity byemies detting or ci'rttese-
leg false reports or incendiary document., are in their own
intoned warned that they are exposing themselves.
I "AB persons who have been led away from their allegi-
am* saw required to return to their homes forthwith. Any
such absence without sufficient cause will be held to be pre-
sumptive evideuoe agaiest them.
"The object of this declaration is to place in the hands of
the military authorities the power to give instantaneous
effect to existing laws, and to supply such deficiencies as
the condition of war demands. But it is not intended to
suspend the ordinary tribunals of the country, where the
law will be administered by the civil officers in the usual
meaner, and with their customary authority, while the
same can be peaceably exercised.
" The Commanding-General will labour vigilantly for the
public welfare, and in his efforts for their safety lie hopes
to obtain not only the acquiescence but the active support
of the people of the country.
J. C. Fitgitorrr, hiajor.Ceneral Commanding-"
The Louiarille Journal of the let inst. strongly modernism
this proclamation, and urges the State legislature, by its I
action, to avoid the contingency of any ouch action there.
It says the legislature must now decide whether it will
agonies a body of local soldiery for State purposes strong
enough to enforce the obligation of loyal neutrality, or
whether it will suffer things to go on as they have been
doing, with a prospect of lapsing at no distant day into the
conditioe which in so brief a time has brought on the sway
of martial law in Missouri.
A letter in the Cineinnatti Ga:tale, dated at Lexington,
Kentucky, August 233, says :—" It is much feared that our
fiseeesionists, aided by the Confederate States, will speedily
to civil war in Kentucky. The prevent signs of the
maw exceedingly ominous. The whole of the leadenF
that party have, ever sure the late election wes decided
by ma immense majority for the Union candidate, been ope-
ratites to the field with double activity. Although they pro- ,
MANI to abide by the decision of the people in that election,
we tears now that same of their active men have asserted
that this vote of Kentucky will not be at all regarded, but
that she shall be forced out of the Union."
The Richmond papers say that than city is now so well
protected by fortifications, masked batteries, and mines, that
if a hostile army should attempt to take it, not one in
hundred would survive.
The Treasury and Tax Act passed by the Confederate
Congress for the purpose of raising funds for the prosecution
of the war has just been published in some of the Southern
journals, and is strongly commended by them. The first
section authorisesthe issue of Treasury Dotes to the amount
of 100,000,000 dollars, redeemable six months after peace,
and makes them a legal tender in the payment of govern-
ment taxes and other duties, except the export tax on cotton.
The second section provides for the issue of 100,000,000 dole.
of Confederate Bonds, payable is twenty years. These bonds
are to he sold in effect only for specie or military stores, or
bills of exchange. They bear S per cent. interest,
art interest is payable half-yearly. The third section
gives the holders of Treasury notes the option of exchanging
said note. for Confederate Minds whenever they may choose
thus to invest. The fourth section provides a war-tax, on
all persons owning more than 500 dollars, of fifteenth in the
100 deltas,. This tax is for the purposed supporting the
government, and of providing for and paying the principal
and interest of the public debt.
The Provost-Marshal of St. Louis has forbidden any per-
son to leave the city without a special permission from hie
office, and agents of railroads aed steam ships are forbidden
to sell tickets to persons without the production of such
order.

The sum of 100,000 dollars seised by Use Confederates,
belonging to the Fayette Bank, has been returned.
The Governor of Wisconsin has received authority to
equip as quiekly as peesible five fresh regiments of infantry
and tire battalion of artillery.
The New York Herald copies all the jokes of the London
Punch on the American war into its columns, and devotes
an
a article to prove that they furnish additional evidence of
the suimus of a certain portion of the English people to-
wards the Americans of the North in their efforts to pre-
serve the Union.

—The Survivor New York has seised some 30 or 40 ves-
sels in New York harbour, under the confiscation law, which
are said to be owned at the South. Similar seizures hare
taken place at Baton.
The LIT Tortugas the place to which the Federal troops
guilty of insubordinltion at Washington have been trans-
ported, is represented to be a most desolate place, without
NIT vsgelatioa, and whirs the heat is insufferable. It is
also said to he infested with snakes., scorpions, and insects
of all dmeriptione.