The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-10-15
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THTRSDA y. OCTOBER 10.
The Foreign News.

The full and extremely interesting letter OF
our San Francisco correspondent on our next
page, leaves us but little TO add in the way of a
digest Of foreign affairs. Yet there are some
Items that will bear a few remarks.
The capture Of Forts Wagner and Gregg and
the possession of the whole of Morris Island by
Gen. Gilmore, which took place Sept. 7, were
expected events. The details will be found on
our third page. Had not the forts been evacu-
ated by the rebels at the moment they We're. the
entire garrisons would probably have been taken.
From the position that Gilmore now holds,
Forts Sumter, Moultrie and johnson, are all
within easy range of MS guns, and must ere long
feel them. A large shipment of shells was made
from New York TO Gilmore on the 18th of
September, supposed t. be for the bombardment
of the city. The national forces are % moving
on the eneny's works in Charleston harbor.
slowly but most effectively, and the recapture of
all the forts as well rs the city is only a question
Of time. 1t should excite no surprise, however,
if it does not take place for some Weeks yet.
Gilmore will not advance till he is prepared to
hold what new positions le may capture.
Lees army has evidently been very greatly
reduced in numbers TO reinforce Bragg near
Chattanooga and Beanregard at Charleston, and
there is no doubt that the main body OF what
army he has left has fallen back towards Rich
mond. and all intention of offensive engagements
in Virginia for the present given up. The
Union army is near Culpcpper, on the line of
the railroad to Gordonsville, and if it was in
strong force could probably advance south with
out much opposition.
~ ,
The latest adVices report that a severe battle
was being fought between Bragg and Rosecrans,
in the northern part of Georgia, near the Ten
nessee State line, and about fifteen miles S. E.
of Chattanooga. All the particulars that have
come are given on our fourth page. 1t is certain
that Bragg had been largely reinforced from
Lees army and perhaps from other quarters,
and suddenly fell on ROsecrans' army, which at
the time was on the march southwark. From
all we can gather from the brief accounts by
telegraph, Rosecrans was surprised by the rebels,
who endeavored to get in his rear, between his
army and Chattanooga. One account, referring
TO the evening of the first days engagement, Sat
urday the 10TH, says that " both armies occupy
the same grounds as when the battle began
The dispatches dated Monday morning, which
appear to have left Chattanooga Sunday after
noon, are contradictory. One says: Rose
Grams has been badly beaten by Bragg and
compelled to retreat to Chattanooga" Another
says, L" Two and only two divisions of Rosecrans'
army gave way in utter panic and confusion, but
from g 900 to 10 600 of these had been rallied and
got back to their places, while the remainder of the
army had not rctreated, and at the latest mo-
ment was driving the rebels back. This we
know is the latest news here"
The last telegram is evidently later than that
preceding it, and corrects the story of the dehat.
1t is easy to see how the report of Il defeat of
Rosecrans' army was started, for there was a
panic of tIco divisions, a portion of which praba-
bly, reached Chattanooga. Putting the differ
ent accounts together, the true statement would !
appear to be this:
Rosecrans' army was surprised by the rebels
on Saturday Sept. 10, and ut the close of that
day both armies held the ground they occupied
ut the commencement. On Sunday the battle
renewed, and two divisions 8 gave way in
utter panic and confusion, - but were partially
to order. During this day there was no
retreat of the main army, and at the attest mo-
ment, Rosecrans - was driving the rebds back"
On Monday, Sept. q, ii A. NJ, a Dispatch re-
ports that - the engagement was renewed, and Is
is still going on without any decisive result
So far from Rosecrans having been beaten or
driven back, the battle was at the latest date,
and taking the worst view, only Il drawn con-
and still undecided. 1t is possible that
may fall back to Chattanooga, as that
is L very important base of supplies for his army,
md the rebels were evidently trying To regain
of it. Whoever holds it, holds the
of East Tennessee. On this account we
not be surprised to hear by the next news
hat Rosecrans has fallen back to Chattanooga.
specially if the rebels were likely to cut him
'f from that place with new reinforcement that
we're not connected with their main army. The
position there armies are fighting for is 4 very
one, and it is probable it will be hotly
by all the forces that the combatants
IAN bring together.
Although the rebels deserve no sympathy in
heir struggle against the National Government,
he tact and generalship which they occasionally
in the management of their side of the
must challenge the admiration of all.
Here we see Bragg's retreating army almost
broken up and demoralized, suddenly reinforced
rom distant quarters, turning back on their
Dursuers, and bringing them to a dead halt.
All this sudden shifting of forces is done SO
quietly, that no one appears to have dreamed
t possible. Twenty to thirty thousand men are
by rail hundreds of miles with all their
military accOuterments and not a soul in the
opposite lines knows Of it. The rebels have 4
,reat advantage now in operating from the IN
ide Of the circle which hens them in, and can