The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-09-24

line opposed to them Break through some
where-at any cost OF life, or OF success al
other points. Here also the attack is upou
the flank, and its object Is TO cut off our
forces ut Chattanooga, purpose which Il
successful would equally have resulted In
cutting our army in two. But It was not
successful. The momentum Of the rebel
co umns carried them through ut least one
weak spot in the centre, where Van Cleve
and Reynolds commanded, and apparently
also carried at one time the portion. or 4
part, ofthe portion held by Gen. Thomas on
The left. Bnt the latter calamity retrieved
whatever disaster he may have suffered at
flrsf, aud co operating with Gen Davis on
the tight, drove back the rebels on the right
and lett, and recovered the ground which
had been lost We jud,. also that the
centre was regained by the same manruvre,
since repnlse on either flank would have
made it Impossible for the rebels to main,
tain their ground, if they really held for any
length Of time the centre which they once
seized. At all events, either hy This or some
similar movement, the whole battle field was
bnally rcgained. the rebels repuised and p,,r-
sifc,l, and the line reestablished alOn. the
river, just where the colors had been plant ed
when the battle begun. We lost no general
officer, and but few killed. The casualties
IN wounded are numerous, hut no estimate
is given. Since, therefore, the rebels at
lacked, and the attack was beaten of. the
day ended with clear success for the Ma
tiOnal arms-such success as Yesterday or
to-day may be expected to develop into q
decisive victory. The rebels can have no
choice but to renew the attack, if they have
strength to renew it; but, failing at first,
they will remember Gettysburg too keenly
to be likely to succeed in the second at
tempt.
Later or ct least fuller news is on the way
from Chattanooga, but cannot be received in
season for comment. We rejoice i'm the be-
lief that the forces entle, Gea. Burnside uY,p
last meek so tar on MeI aoay 10 Gen. Rosecruay
that they DW orripe Ia season for tie present
tonHtct-at latest must come up in season to
prevent disaster or to press pursuit. II is
an assurance for which the country has too
often waited in vain, that all available troops
were to be on the spot at the decisive mo.
ment, and being there would every man be
put into battle and wisely handled. The
country has all confidence in Gen. Rosecrans
and his army. Well is ii for us that the con-
fidence is not misplaced, for no battle OF mare
,itai Importance has bee,. fought during Tie re-
deltioa than that which is impending or al
ready decided.
BRILLIANT AFFAIR IN TEYAs-TwO YAM
KEE GUNsOATS REPULsED AND DESTROY
ED-FAlLuRE OF THE EXPEDITION.
The great Texas expedition, so often
hinted at in the Yankee papers, has been
repulsed, with the loss of two gunboats
composing it. The 10th Army corps,
under Ben Franklin, left New Orleans on
the 4th inst, in transports. accompanied
by four glnboats, to capture Sabine City,
a point Of great strategic value on the
line dividing Louisiana from Texas. They
arrived off the city on the Sth. \ cor
respondent Of the \. Y. IriJune says:
In the course of Monday night the entire
fleet gathered in the vicinity of the Sabine.
The gnnboats and vessels Of highest draught
crossed the bar, and preparations were made
for the attack. Capt. Crocker, of the Cliff
ton, was to feel the enemy, uncover the bat
terics, and ascertain his strength and posi-
tion. Gems. Franklin and WeitZcl examined
the shore of the Pass to find the most el@i-
bic point tor landing the forces. The Clifton
steamed up the Pass, occasionally throwing
shell fcom her rifle guns at the only work
,isible--an earthwork Of six large guns. No
reply was made. She steamed within easy
range Oft the fort, and received no response.
She then returned to her former position
without drawing the tire of the enemy.
When the Clift0 on returned fhc order OF
battle was Immediately arranged. The gun
boats Clifton, Arizona, and Sachem, were 10
engage the eTcmy's works, while the Granite
City was to cover the landing Of Il force of
800 men of-Gen. WeitZel's division, selected
from the Port Hudson heroes, and composed
OF two companies of the 10th New York,
four companies Of the l6lst New York, and
detachment of the 10Th New York regi-
ment, under command of Capt. Fitch, CT the
latter regiment.
The Clifton opened the engagement with
4 shell from one of her large pivot guns,
which burst inside the enelnys works, raising
4 cloud of dust and dirt; instantly another
SHOT followed; then the SaChem opened Il
brOadside from her guns; next the Arizona
followed. The firing was excellent; from
thirty 10 forty shells had exploded i'll the
for! Of the enemy. Not n shO. had been fired
in retnrn-nut Il soldier nor IA civilian could
be seen-tkc only evidence that the neigh
horhood was not deserted was the move
ment of i couple Of steamers vibrating be-
tween the city and the fort.
Presently Il heavy shot was fired AT the
Arizona, pas ing over her; soon another was
directed at the Sachem and 1T the Clifton,
but without effect.
Soon the conflict became general and
stormy, the shot and shell from our vessels
making terrible havoc in the parapet. just
as the Sachem was passing out Of range and
victory seemed about to perch on our hag, a
shot struck her amidships, rendering her
useless, her flag was lowered, aud the enemy
concentrated his fire upon the Clifton, whose
gallant officers aud men fought brayeiy until
a shot passed through her boiler, and she
was compelled to raise the white flag The
Clifton hid, besides her crew, 10 sharpshOot-
ers on board. The Sachem had detach'
ment OF so sharpshOOters. Five soldiers,
one sailor, and one signal man, escaped down
the beach from the Clifton. The number ol
killed and wounded is not known.
The Arizona, being unequal TO the contest
fell back, and the order was issued to the
feet to withdraw. The expedition returned
to New Orleans, Sept. T., with its designs
prostrated at the feet OF adverse c'rcum
stances.
Another letter thus sums up the disas
ter:
just ~ soon, however, as an attempt wa:
made to land, the rebels poured i'll shot thict
and fast, which they sent through and through
our gunboats, and very soon sn one-ths
Sachem-and blew up another. All on
sharpshOoters on one Of the boats were cap
tured, and it was only by prompt and rapis
movements that the Commanding General
Franklin, manaSed TO get away.
FROM CHARLESTON.
The New York papers have news from
Charleston to the 10th inst:
Gen. Gilmore WAS mounting heavy gun
on the upper part of Morris Island for tn
purpose Of bomharding Charleston, and, al
though Fort Sumter was still held hy tn
| rebels, the siege was progressing iavorably
| The fire from the rebel works on Jame
Island had proved somewhat annoying Il