The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-05
The Eastern News.

As We anticipated in our last issue might be the
case, the Lotus mad a long passage of twenty days,
having met only calms and light airs on the
passage down. The news brought by her reaches
TO May IL from San francisco, and Washington
May 9; and embraces telegraphic dispatches
from May LIST to 9th. From all quarters of the
Seat of War, the news is favorable to the Union
cause, which is moving steadily onward in the
great task of putting down the rebellion, as fast
as its magnitude and the elements Grain and
mud, which have impeded rapid prosress) will
permit.
In Virginia, Yorktown was evacuated by the
Rebels, 100, 900 strong. with 400 pieces of artil-
lery, headed by JEFF. Davis and Gems. Johnston
and Magruder, on Saturday night, May 3, and
was occupied by the Federal army early on the
following morning, which continued its pursuit
of the retreating rebels, till they were overtaken
at Williamsburg, a village about eight miles
back of Yorktown, on Monday, May 5, where a
battle was fought between 10000 Union and
about 40 900 Rebels, resulting in a complete Bull
Run rout of the latter. The details of this
news will he found on the next page. At the
latest dates from that quarter, Mcclellan was
hurrying forward his troops, by means of trans
pOTls, up tHc IoTk IiNtE " IOiht, ne
head of navigation hoping to cut off the retreat
ing rebels, and compel them to surrender but
the probability was that the latter would escape
TO Richmond. From West Point to Richmond,
is about 81 miles, connected by railroad, and the
next news will undoubtedly chronicle the capt.
tai of rebeldom beseiged if not taken.
From New Orleans, we have full confirmation
of the occupation of that city and its entire re-
lease from the thraldom of the rebellion. 1t
appears that the vessels that composed the expe-
dition were prepared with extraordinary care for
the difficult task, their sides being protected with
chain cables and bales of wet hay, against which
the shots from the forts struck harmless. They
were also armed with the terrible Parrot guns,
and steel-pointed shot, which it is said will pene-
trate templates of any thickness and demolish
the strongest stone walls of forts. The rebels
acknowledge that their shots did the fleet no
harm, while the shots from the fleet spread
death and destruction in the forts, sunk the rebel
iron-clad gunboat Louisiana, and swept every
thing before them. Gen. Buffers forces now
occupy the city, having entered from Lake Pom
chartrain. The port has been proclaimed open
to the IN of the world, the blockade re-
moved. a Union collector of customs appointed,
anu the prospect now Is tndt the trdue Oh new
Orleans with the rest of the world will be speed
lily resumed. The Federal gunboat and mortar
fleet had gone up the Mississippi River, and at
the latest advices was near Vicksburg, some 300
miles north of New Orleans, where it is thought
they might find some resistance, as it is a strong
position and there are several forts there. But
so powerful is this fleet that it will be able to
and will clear that river of every craft that floats
the rebel flag. In short, in three months, the
free navigation of the Mississippi will be re-
stored. and the 1000 steamers, which, for the
last twelve months, have been laid up on that
river useless, under the blockade, will again en-
liven her shores.
From Corinth, we expected to hear of some
fighting, but the rainy weather which had pre-
vailed had delayed advances. At the latest dates,
however, MAY 81 the hostile forces were but
tIco miles apart, and an engagement could not
be long delayed, especially as Gen. Halleck is
reported to be eager for the contest. Among the
news received, are the details of the losses in the
battle of Pittsburgh Landing. The exact loss of
the Federal army, in killed, wounded and prison
ers, was Is ,575. The report first received was a
loss of l 5000. For a rough estimate this was
not far out of the way. The rebel losses in the
same battle were 1000 killed and II, 1000 wound
ed, making a total of 10 ,000-or nearly 80, 900
on both sides. The number engaged in the bat
tie was not far from 40 900. This is, by all
odds, the bloodiest battle of the war, as yet
recorded.
Since the capture of Fort Macon, y. c., by
the Burnside Expedition, which occurred during
the latter part of April, We see no reference to
Gen. Burnside's movements but judging from
the celebrity he has thus far shown in them, we
shall not be surprised to hear that he has under
taken to look into the condition of Norfolk OF
Richmond by knocking at the back door. At
the latest advices Norfolk was trembling in e-
p~ectation of him, while the rebel seat of govern
ment has, through fear of attack, been removed
from Richmond to Danyille, l23 miles southwest,
the two places being connected by rail and tele-
graph.
The telegraph reports that the commander of
the rebel forces at Savannah, Georgia, has an
nounced his intention to surrender to Com. Du-
pont. By this it may be inferred, though there
is no news received TO that effect, that the latter
has demanded a surrender from the authorities
of that city, and the federal army is ere this
occupying the place.
The British steamer Bermuda. and several