The New York herald., 1863-07-28
THE sITUA ALTON

- AA~-> 80 - - - - A>>4Ns
There is very little news from the Potomac
relative to the positions of either army. On
Thursday last the Excelsior Brigade, now COM
manded by General Spnola, was ordered to
prevent the passage of General Longstreet's rebel
corps through Manassas Gap. The brigade, after
severe bayonet contest, drove the enemy back
and occupied Front Royal. General Spinola was
slightly wounded in the heel and side, and is now
on his way home. The rebels, it is said, con-
siderably outnumbered our troops, and suffered
severely.
Our cavalry held the line of the Rappahannock
on Saturday, from Kellys ford to Waterloo.
Our latest news from Charleston is from the
Richmond papers of yesterday which contain in.
telligence of the state of affairs to the 25th inst
The bombardment was continued from our batteries
on Morris Island on the oath and 25th, both day
and night Forts Sumter and Wagner responding
vigorously. Our batteries are said to have been
strengthened. The Monitors and the Ironsides
took no part in the action. The map which we
give to-day showing the position of the batteries
and the range of fire, will be found very interest
ing at the present stage of affairs.
The Ricmond Dispatch of yesterday has tele.
gram from Morton, Miss. dated on the Gath, to the
effect that the Union troops evacuated jackson
on the day before, and that the rebel cavalry had
dashed into the city, capturing q few stragglers.
The same authority states that Grants army was
he to-
Richmond, with view to sustain the Union army
Of Virginia.
We give very interesting account of the recent
operations in North Carolina from our special cor.
respondent to-day. The destruction of rebel
property is valued at FIVE millions of dollars.
MIsCELLANEoUs NEWS.
The steamer Roanoke, from Havana, arrived at
this port yesterday morning. She brings the in.
telligence Of the declaration Of the empire by the
Junta, or Corporation of the City of Mexico, and
the choice of Prince Macmillan, of Germany, as
the presumptive occupant Of the imperial robes.
The decision of the city Of Mexico was welcomed
by o salute Of one hundred and one guns from the
fortresses of Vera Cruz. There rumors OF the
assassination Of Generals Ortega and La Lave by
their own soldiers at Queretaro; but there is no
positive statement regarding such bloody occur
renee. A good deal of sickness prevailed in some
parts of Mexico, smallpox and measles being
among some of the mildest Affections of the eli.
mate. AS the Roanoke was leaving Havana, on
the 22d, great smoke seen in the direction of
Reglas which evidently proceeded from an extern
sive confagration. The full results of this fire
will be made known by the next arrival. Such
particulars as have already transpired will be
found reported elsewhere in to-day's paper.
We publish to-day some interesting additional
information from Europe. II will be seen that the
assertions OF some journals, that Spain intended
to reooe oenizs the South, are entirely unfounded
Spain will await the initiative Of England and
France In this matter. General Meade has been
highly lauded by some Of the London papers; but
the Times has sadly blundered in its appreciation
of the progress of our arms before vicksburg and
Port Hudson. A new war has begun against Eng
land in New Zealand.
The ship Leonidas Captain Wood from Monte
vdeo. which arrived at this port yesterday had on
board as catgo one hundred and sixty-five mules,
all in fine condition. having lost only six during a
passage Of fifty-seven days. This, we believe, is
the only cargo Of mules ever brought into this
port from Monteyideo. The ship lies off the Bat
terry.
Yesterday opened with an intensely hot dry at
mosphere, promising to be one of the warmest
days Of the season. AT eleven o'clock A. NJ. the
mercury rose up to eighty.six degrees in the
shade, and at noon had advanced to eighty
seven, when q sudden change took place, and the
temperature became much cooler and more plea
SAINT. shower of rain fell about two O'Clock in
the afternoon, and the rest Of the day was quite
agreeable.
special meeting of the Board of Councilmen
was held at two O'Clock yesterday, when large
amount of routine business, which had accumulated
during the last two weeks, was disposed Of. The
President, Morgan Jones, Esq, offered series
of resolutions that the thanks of the city be
dcrcd TO General Daniel Il. Sickles, for his
bravery as soldier and his conduct as an
officer; that q copy Of the resolutions, suitably
engrossed, be presented to him by joint special
committee of three members from each branch
of the Common Council, and that gold medal,
bearing an appropriate design and inscription, be
also presented to him. Laid over. resolution
was adopted directing the Street Commissioner
to cause the speedy removal of all the artile-
ny and cavalry at present stationed in the pub
lie parks and squares Of this city. The Comp.
trolers usual weekly statement was receiy.
ed, from which II appears that q balance OF
~ l,602,9s7 remained in the city treasury on the
15th inst On motion OF Mr.. Gross, the Hoard ad.
Gourned until the.second Monday in September AZ
flour o'clock p. NJ.
According to the City Inspectors repor,. ,bo,o
averc es4 deaths in the city during the pas. week
IN increase Of 81 as compared with the mortality
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