The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-13 00:00:00

AMERICA.

We have received New York papers to the lst
inst. They are filled mainly with threats, rumours,
and notes of preparation. A small action the
conclusion of which was not known, is reported.
This was an attack on the batteries erected by the
Confederate troops at the mouth of Acqpia Creek,
the terminus of the Richmond, Fredericksburgh,
and Potomac Railroad, about fifty-five miles below
Washington, on the Potomac. The batteries were
attacked, on May 31, by the United States
steamers, Thomas Freeborn and Anacosta. The
last account of the affair is that of the Keystone
State, which passed them at noon, that day, and
reported that the steamers were apparently engag-
ing the batteries with good effect. Captain Dahl-
gren, the commander of the navy-yard, immedi-
ately telegraphed the fact to the War Department,
and received instructions to send two additional
war vessels to the scene of action at once. The
capture of these batteries was regarded as impor-
tant, since it would give the government posses-
sion of the railroad to Richmond. The New York
Herald of the Ist inst. has the following :

No attack on Alataadria was mad* yesterday, as was an-
ticipated. General McDowell was on the alert all day, but
aot a rebel showed himself I. that direction.

Iris con6dently stated that Genera Soots Weeds to make
a most vigorous onward movement as soon as Ide pima an
completed, with • view to occupy Richmond Wore the
4th of July. 3.5,000 men will be pushed on into the in-
terior of Virginia towards Blue Ridge ; 20,000 under General
Patterson will invade Virginia from Eastern Pennaylvania ;
313,000 under General McClelland, from Ohio, will cut their
way down to Winchester and Strasburg by the turn-
pike road from Grafton, avoiding the line of the Baltimore
sad Ohio Railroad ; sad 15,000 men under General Butler,
aided by • naval force, will make their way up the James
river. A strong force will be collected in Western Vir.
efr• addition to Colonel Sherman's corps dormer, for
e 4thin of the Unioaiste there.
oth, Bth, and 12th New York Regiments are lately
lo have a brush with the rebels to-day, and it is not at all
improbable that so attack will be ma& on AlexaDdria. The
regiments referred to had advanced six miles back from
Washington behind the Heights of Arlington, and wan
wider orders to push on to Fairfax Court.bouse this man.
ing, to drive oat • body of 1,400 rebels who are in
non then. An advance of 4,000 rebels from the direction of
Dumfries was expected in Alemodria list night, and the
Federal troops were preparing to receive them.
Great activity is preserved at Fortress Monroe. Troops
and ammunition are constantly arriving, the garrison now
amounting to 13,000 men ; sad large bodies were moving
into the interior, it was thought, with the intention of
making for Norfolk by a circuitous route. Up to Thurs.
ay evening no less than 430 slaves, including women and
obaklren, had Bed Into General Butler's camp, and they
Import that a general uprisimi of the slave population was
dartsailanaseas Junction we learn that the earthworks
erected there by the rebels command both road, to Rich.
mond and Harper's Ferry, for about four miles, brat it was
rumoured that the seceesionlate had ceased the work yester-
day. Them are said to be 12,000 men there.
The retreat of the rebel troops from Williamsport to-
wards Martinsburg is coofirmed by the statement of a gen-
tleman just arrived from there. It appears likely that
General Johnston is calling in all his outposts to Harper's
Ferry.
The trouble is not all over fa Baltimore. The mob made
a boat& demonstration upon the guard of the 12th and 13th

agiments (from what Mite not sported) while protecting
141 baggage which had been thrown off the track by the
rioters. Cheers were given for Jeff Davit, sod three shots
were Bred at the troops. It is thus evident that the rowdy
spirit of Baltimore is not yet subdued.
From St. Louis we learn that the Unionists In Missouri
are determined to crush out secession by force. It is also
stated that General Harney has been removed from the
semiarid of that department, and General Lyon appointed
is his plies.
Major.Geoeral Banks will be appointed to a new military
eat on the Atlantic, and General Fremont, who was
tostrt Liverpool on the 18th, will be appointed to a de-
portment in the west if be accepts the commission offered
to him.

Father Daly has held an open-air meeting, and
retaihed his conversation with Lord Palmerston.