Litchfield enquirer., 1863-10-22


 We have from Washington contradiction of the report published, that the Army of the Potomac had ensconced itself within the de- fences of Washington. We are told that General Meade has disposed his forces in such a manner as to meet all contingencies depend ent upon the uncertain movements of his op- ponent. The exact position of the rebel ar my seems to be unknown, but our special cor respondent at Washington gives as the general impression now that it has retired south of the Rappahannock. The presumption is that Lee, misled by the reports of the weakening of venture forth and feel his lines. Finding his mistake, and experiencing great difficulty in obtaining supplies in consequence of the swol- len condition of the streams and the destruc- tion of the railroad by our forces at well-se- ected points, Ire Was glad to return to his base, after an expenditure of l,500 men by his experiment. It is certain that there was no simultaneous movement of the rebels up the Shenandoah Valley at the time of the advance across the Rapidan. Yesterday there was heavy firing for an hour in the direction of Manassas, where the bulk of Lees army is re- ported to have been massed on Saturday, but whence, on Sunday, it had disappeared. The firing is believed to have been a smelling of the guerilas in the woods. The report that the enemy had crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks, is said to have been totally without foundation.
 The Navy Department has received lnform- ation of the destruction of the blockade-run- ming steamer Douro. at New Inlet, N. C. She was run ashore and abandoned by her Cap- tain to escape becoming prize to the United States steamer Nansemond. The surf was running high at the time, making it impossi- ble to get her off, and therefore the order was given to set her on fire. Vessel and cargo wer, utterly destroyed. The Douro was cap- tured last Spring by the Quaker City, con- demned, sold and then taken to the British Provinces, whence she was dispatched to Mas sau.
 FROM CHATTANooaA.-Offcial returns from the infantry engaged in the late battles, show a loss in Thomas corps, in killed, wounded and missing, of 6,3Ol McCook's corps, 4,52O; Crittendens corps. 3,3OO two brigades of Changers reserve corps, 1,732-making an az gregate of l5,s53. There were killed, 1896 wounded, 9,323 missing, 5,O67. Of the missing, about 2500 were wounded. Thirty six pieces of artillery were lost, and few wagons.
 southtrn papers of the 9th are received. They still insist that their whole loss will not exceed l2,00O, but partial returns published by them indicate that it is greater. Hin6-,l mans division alone lost 2,lOO men out of 3'4Oo men. The tone of their editorials con- Sinues very Respondent over the failure If Bragg to take Chattanooga Joe Johnston is proved by correspondence to have been all the time in Mississippi and not with Bragg's arr my. Their reports from Mississippi say that two corps from Grants army are moving to succor Rosecrans-one overland from Mem. phis, and the other by water Jeff Davis is repo,ted to have arrived in Bragg's army on the 10th.
 The Hibernian and City of New York bring one weeks later news from Europe Mir. Bee cher had made Q speech which the 7in,es criticses severely. Paris papers speak coolly of Vice President" Stephens mission. They i assert that the abolition of slavery is the sine qua non of confederate recognition by Euro- pean powers. The notorious Anglican rebel Linsay had made long speech on American affairs. He denied the statement of Lord Russell that a majority of the English people sympathise with the Federal States. He be- lieves in-she final disruption of the Union, not merely into two, but into four fragments As he has hitherto proved very untrustworthy prophet, no one will be alarmed at his random vaticinations Archduke Maximilian has for maly replied to the Mexican deputation. He is willing to accept the throne on condition that it it is spontaneously offered by the people of that country, and the integrity and pepma- nencc of the New Empire guaranteed. No further diplomatic correspondence has taken place between the three Powers relative to Poland and the Russian replies.
 There are l,76E vessels on the Northern lakes, including l34 steamboats. 253 propellors and tugs, l9l barks 7s brigs, l.o3o schooners, and 59 sloops and barges. So writes the Os- wego Times
 , One of the fifteen shells thrown into Charles ton is said to have shivered statue of the prime mover of secession, John C. Calhoun,