The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-06-18

Newbern, ION the Virginia and tennessee ralt
road in South Western Virginia. who holds the
railroad at that point, and another under Gen.
Sigel, at Strasburg, who has recently had a fight
with Gen. Breckenridge. and seems to have got
the worst of the engagement, being compelled to
retreat to that place.
From GEORGIA, our dates are to the 29th of
May, at which time, after fighting several bat
ties with the rebels, Gen. Sherman was in pos
session of Kingston, Rome and Marietta, only
twenty miles north of Atlanta, with free commu-
nication with Chattanooga by railroad, and with
Washington by telegraph. His advance seems
to have been a series of victories, more brilliant
even than those won by Grant, though the rebels
under Johnston contested his march inch by
inch, and fought worthy of a better cause. Con-
siderable supplies and valuable material of war
had been captured by him, which the rebels can
i'll afford to lose at this time. The point which
Sherman is pushing for is Atlanta, which is the
central depot of supplies and the most important
strategic position in the State, as it is the centre
IF the network of railroads which traverse it.
The fighting in this State is by no means over,
as Johnston has still a strong army under him,
and by some strategy may obtain temporary
advantage over Sherman, as by getting posses
sion of the railroad between Rome and Chatta-
nooga. The success thus far is all on the side of
the Union arms.
From Louisiana, we learn that the forces I'M
der Banks had all been compelled to retreat
down the Red river, and with the g~unboats had
reached the Mississippi River. The latter, it
seems, were in great peril of being captured,
owing to the falling of the river, SO as to pre-
vent their return. By some skillful engineer
ing, the particulars of which have not yet
been received, the water in the river was so
damned up us to enable the boats to float again
and proceed down the stream. This expedition
to northwestern Louisiana appears to have been
very unfortunate, and attended with great loss
of men, material of war and gunboats. The
| result is that Gen. Banks has been superseded.
The rebel forces in that State will now probably
overrun Arkansas again, and may do some dam
age there, though really, no advantages that
they may gain west of the Mississippi can affect
the-fnal suppression of the rebellion.
We do not find that any measures have been
taken by the American Government regarding
the Fort Pillow massacre of three hundred negro
soldiers by the rebels. 1t is a difficult matter to
retaliate in any way so as to receive the approval
of an impartial and observing world. The least,
however, that can be done is to proclaim those
engaged in the massacre as outlaws, to be shot
without mercy if captured. The account of
the Investigations before the Congressional Com
mittee will make the blood of every man burn
with rage against the Southern savages who are
guilty of such horrid cruelties. The event has
shown the negro soldiers what to expect from the
Southern barbarians, and as a result we find the
following telegram among the latest received,
which shows ttat they can fight and teach the
rebels to keep at a respectful distance
New YORK, May 25th "A Ninth Corps correspon-
don't says Simultaneously with she attack on our
left on the night of the 18th, a Division of cavalry
attacked our extreme right wing, composed of Fer.
rero's colored troops. The attack was impetuous,
but was met with great steadiness. A heavy volley
from the rifles of the colored troops brought the rebels
to a halt. They reformed, however, and advancing
more steadily, were again met with unhinching
bravery. Finally, finding they could make no i'm
preston, they left the field.
The negro regiments have still to play a prom
inent part in the suppression of the rebellion,
and their rights will be protected. 1t is said
that there are some twelve or fifteen thousand of
them in the Army of the Potomac under Grant
and Burnside, and we shall soon hear of their
being called into action.
Never before has there been such united action
and such cooperation between the army. the gov
eminent and the people as at present exists.
Much of the efficiency in the movements of the
army during May is no doubt attributable to the
plan of placing the whole direction of the war
into the hands of one man, Lieutenant-G General
GRANT, who is now clothed with supreme power,
so far as the direction of the plan of the war is
concerned. Under that direction, all the move
ments are made with one object in view, striking
at all points at once so as to prevent assistance
being given by one army to another.
The people, too, are sustaining the Government!
and army most nobly. The sanitary fairs il
progress are n perfect marvel, and excite the
wonder of the world. That of New York has
realized over ONE MILLION dollars, and The tota.
realized thus far in aid of the war or rather for
the relief of the soldiers wounded in battle Is
about TWO MILLIONS.
still Later News.
The Young Hector, which arrived yesterday
morning, brings us advices from the seat of war
to the 29th of May. The San Francisco BuHe-
tin gives the following position of the two armies
up to the 9th, showing Grants strategy, by
which he designed to place his army between
Lee and Richmond
The latest news this morning from Virginia was to last Fri
day, the 9th. At that time Lees army was drawn up, be-
tween the North and South Anna rivers, in the form of two
sides of a triangle, the apex opposite Oxford (Which is on the
north bank of the North Anna its left stretching toward the
southwest across the Virginia Central Railroad, its right ex-
tending southeriy across the fredericksburg and Richmond
railroad. Our main army is also south of the North Anna
Burnside holding the south bank opposite Oxford and confront
ing the angle formed by the two wings of the rebel army.
Hancock's corps was drawn up opposite the rebels right and
parallel to it, crossing the line of the Fredericksburg and Rich
nond railroad. Meanwhile Grant has thrown a force across the
panrDEv toward Hanover Court UOusp There rera ip1ira- ]