Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-17

I
The rapid Arrivailof achievements for General
Mcclellan induced General Lee to withdraw his
troops to Sharpsburg, for the purpose ofeffecting
junction with the corps Of Generals Jackson and
A. p Hill, who had not yet returned from the cap
ture Of Harper's Ferry, On Tuesday and Wednes-
day, the 18th and i7th instant Gen. McCellan, with
dred and any Thousand men, attacked Cen Lee
with great fury, while the latter Atill separa
.ed rom ne corps Of Jackson and Hill, and had
not more than forty thousand men TO meet the as
sault. Incredible as Il may appear, OUT uncon-
| 9uerable soldiers met the shock with unyielding
armhess, fought with desperation, although terri
bly, outnanked on both wings and, slowly retiring,
maintained an unbroken front, until the arrival OF
Jackson at noon, followed by that Of 4. p Hill at
four p. M, enabled them TO turn the tide, 10 drive
back the advancing columns Of the enemy. and to
regain their hrHt position, when the approach Of
night put an end to tho most desperate conflict OF
the war each party sleeping on It's arms 10 the re-
spectlye positions occupied BY them when the bat
Tie began Gen: Lee prepared to renew thS engage
field.
Another letter Of Mr.. Benjamin, dated Aug
ust l4th, 1852, to Mr.. Dudley Mann, treats
mainly OF the slavery question. II speaks Of
certain supposed arrangements entered Into
between the United States Government and
Denmark, and rcjolces over the embarrassment
which Mr.. Benjamin Is sure the United States
will experience from this negro question.
We then have another letter from Mr.. Bon
Iamln TO Mr.. Slldoll, complaining that there ID
some attempt, on tho part OF certain French
conTuls, to separate Texas from tho rest of the
Confederacy.
In tho name Of his master, jefferson Davis,
Mr. Benjamin protests against this movement,
and SAYS
In endeavoFing to account for such a course Of
action on the part Of the French Government,
can only attribute to one or both OF the following
lat. Tho Emperor Of the French has determined
to conquer and hold Mexico As a colony, and Ia de-
sirous of interpreting weak power Between his
new colony and the Confederate States, in order
that he may feel secure against any interference
with his designs on Mexico.
ID. The French Government 10 DESTROYS OF Sc
curing for itself an independent source of cotton
supply, to oset that possessed by Great Britain in
india and designs to effect this purpose by taking
under Its protection the state Of Texas, which, az
ter being acknowledged as an independent rcpub-
nc would IN rs opinion be, IN erect asdependent
II q French colony.
Mr.. Benjamin uses good deal of bravado,
as is usual with Southern statesmen, In his let
ter, ard then, in his postscript, backs square
down, and takes It all back.
Tho correspondence relating TO a supposed
intrigue Of the consular agent Of the French
Government, residing at Galveston, Is OF con-
sider"olo importance, and We should like, had
We inc space 70 give II ehtlro' Inc hrst Is
lctIcr from f. H. Lubbock, Governor OF Texas,
to Jefferson Davis. InClOsing n letter from r
M, -.
theron, french ana spanish consul, and also
from himself (the Govcrnor) to B. Theron.
There is another letter from Mr.. Oldham.
The upshoL of this correspondence is, that
this consular agent Is convicted of an intrigue
,,,., ,,,...,.,...t,.. .,,-,., A., g
anu PcIeihptorlIy ulsllIsecu, anu lhaI thc Coh-
fudGrate authorities suddenly back down and
Ali ..... i, - =, ,,,n M,
tllls tempest III teapot, OccaslOncd by Is. lIe-
ron the consular aren't of Franco and Snain
Subsidies, and nobody any longer believes that
the Wlnnn STAR, L. IN leaye ia nFhii mud ,ybecI
- ,,., :. O'' anu "'''''
into limo under the French Emperor.
ri, ,,, A.,
Inc SiSt OIL tue correspondence between Mr.
Mason and MIR. Benjamin appears to be that
Mr. Mason Is not well treated at London by the
officials ut the court OF St. James. Mr.. Mason,
however. Is CDmfDFtgd bY Mr.. RpOIamiO thDurh