Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-21

The Rebel Intercepted Correspondence.
From the intercepted dispatches from
the rebels to their agents in Europe, many
interesting facts are being learned A
letter from Memminger, the rebel seereta-
ry Of the Treasury, says that he has two
and slfmillions in coin, which he wants
to sell to British subjects for ships and
munitions Of war. he suggests that as
soon as such negotiations were closed, this
coin would be bona fde property of British
subjects, and as Seward had been kind
enough to allow foreign men Of. war to en-
ter their ports, there was no reason why
the same British naval vessel should not
come up to Richmond, get the coin and
take it over.
A letter from Mallory, the rebel secre-
tary Of the Navy, to Mason, says that
George N. Sanders has contracted for
building, in British ports, six irOn-clad
steamers, combining the capacities Of
freighting snd fighting ships, so as to ena-
BE them to force the blockade and enter
rebel ports, and that these ships are to be
paid for in Gotten certificates.
Benjamin writes to slidell, reciing the
history Of events from the time Mcclellan
retreated to Harrison's Landing up to
date, in 8 vein Of exaggeratiOn to which
the earliest absurd boasts Of our most SEN
sational newspapers, utterly fail to fur
nish parallel. The following, concern
ing the battle Of Antietsm, is q fair speci-
men:
BENJANIE TO sLIDELL.
aOn Tuesday rnd Wednesday, McClel-
Ian, with his entire army, amounting pro
badly to 10000 men, attacked Lee with
great fury, while Lee was still separated
from the corps Of Jackson and Hill, and
had notmore than 10000 men to meet the
assault. Incredible as it may appear, our
uncomfortable General met the shock with
unyielding frmness, fought with despera-
ton, although terribly outaanked on both
wings and slowly retired, maintained an
unbroken front until the arrival Of Jack
son at noon, followed by that Of D. f. Hill
at four P. NJ, enabled them to turn the tide,
10 drive back the advancing columns of
the enemy, and to regain their first posi-
ton, when the approach Of night put an
end to the most desperate conflict Of the
war; each party sleeping on its arms on
its respective position occupied by them
when the battle began.
a ZEE prepared to resume the engagement
next morning; but the enemy had disap-
peared from his front and left him master
Of the field. After occupying the day il
providing for the wounded and burial Of
the dead, Lee withdrew his army across the
river to ShepherdstoWn for rest, for the
purpose Of gathering large numbers Of
strarglers yet on the road from Richmond,
and no sooner was this fact known than
Mcclellan claimed the victory, and twas
trumpeted by the frantic exultations Of
the Northern papers into what he called a
pursuit Of the flying foe. This temerity
met with o severe punishment on the 2lst
inst. A division Of his army in attempt.
ing to cross the river was decoyed by q
| feigued retreat Of jackson until they were
too far advanced for retreat, and were
routed with appalling slaughter. The
road was choked with their dead, who fell
| by thousands. Out Of the first regiment
/ Of about 1900 men, who attempted tht
passage, but about $50 are believed to hsv,
| escaped. Lee, at the last accounts, was
/ about to Fe-oross into Maryland at vii
Transport, and has probably already es
tablished his headquarters at that point"
BENJAMIN TO MASON.
Judah P. Benjamin, the rebel Secretary
Of State, under date of octOber2sth, writei
to Mason, at London, as follows:
cit is gratifying to perceive that yOl
have, as was confidently anticipated, re
considered your dissemination to with
draw from London, without previous in
| struction from the President. Your cor
respondence with Earl Russell shows witt
what scant courtesy you have been treated
and exhibits marked contrast betweel
the conduct Of the English and Frencl
statesmen now in Office, il their interview
with foreign agents, which is eminentl!
discreditable to France. II is lamentabl
in this late period Of the nineteenth cen
tury, that nation 50 enlightened a
Great Britain should have failed yet L
discover that the principal cause Of th
dislike and hatred towards England, o
which complaints are rife in her parlis
ment and press, is the offensive arroganc
Of some of her public men.
HThe contrast is strong between th
polished courtesy Of Thouvenel and tn
rude inciYility Of Earl Russell. Your de
termination to submit to this arrogance il
the service Of your country, and to over
look personal sights while hope remain:
that your continued presence in Englanr
may benefit our cause, cannot fail to NEE
the warm approval Of your government.
refrain, however, from further comment
on the contents Of your dispatch till tn
attention of the President, now centered O.
efforts to repair the i'll effects Of the fail
ure of the Kentucky campaign, can b
directed TO your correspondence Of Ser
tember 10Th.
Inieresting from Washington.
Washington dispatches Of Friday hay
the following;
uHorara Grnalav had an intariaW wit