Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877, October 29, 1862, Image 2

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BRAGG’S MOVEMENTS IN KENTUCKY- | Oar people have been greatly deceived in refer* ence to Bragg's movements in Kentucky. There was a singular unanimity in Northern accounts and Southern reports of the battle of Perryville, and the natural inference predicated upon these reports was, that Bragg had defeated Buell in three pitched Battles; was pursuing him towards Louis ville; an d that, in a brief space of time, Kentucky would be entirely relieved of the presence of the invading Hessians. When we took this view of affairs in Kentucky, we admitted that we might be mistaken, and subsequent information from the army there has proven that we, unfortunately, were mistaken. It appears, now, that there was but one battle fought, and that that was on the Bth inst., at Perryville ; that our forces were greatly inferior to those of the enemy; but that our men fought with a determined and untiring gallantry, driving the enemy some two miles, leaving about 4,000 of his men hors de combat, and capturing 15 pieceaof artillery, with a few prisoners. At this battle, onr troops were commanded by Gen. Polk. At Frankfort, on the Sth or 9th instant, there may have been a slight engagement, in which Smith’s and Withers’ Divisions were engaged, and a few hundred of the enemy taken prisoners. Gen. Bragg, then, finding his depots of supplies threatened, and the enemy endeavoring to flank him, fell back in the neighborhood of Cumbers land Gap, bringing off several thousand wagon loads of supplies, and the addition of two or three thousand recruits gathered in Kentucky. Thiei is the substance of the latest reports from Kentucky; and the general impression upon the minds of the public will be that Gen. Bragg has been out-general led and defeated by Buell, and that the campaign in Kentucky has been a total failure. This impression should not be encour aged. Until fuller statements of the movement into Kentucky are made public, it would be un wise and ungenerous to condemn the commander of that expedition. Our people are too apt to imagine plans, and, in the event of their non-ful” fill meat, blame the Generals who were charged with them; when, most probably, Such plans were never., for a moment, entertained by any person in the army. This is an unwise policy; and no General or other officer should be censured, until there is unmistakeable cause for it. ’The campaign in Kentucky may or may not be a failure; but it is not a total failure. For the acquisition of large army supplies, and even of but a few thousand recruits, is of the utmost import ance at the present time; and it is not yet, even, too late for a decisive battle to take place in that State. The Knoxville (Tenn.) Register, of Oct. 19th, says that the glorious tidings of victory may be heard within three days. And if an attack is made by the enemy, the result cannot be doubt ful. Buell, drawn off a great distance from his base of operations and reinforcements, worn down by long and forced marches, and beyond the reach of his depots of supplies, even with superior numbers, will be overmatched by Bragg’s concen trated army, reinforced and united, and within a short distance of their supplies and reinforces mentis. There is no cause, then, for despondency, or even for dissatisfaction. A decisive victory on the con fines of Tennessee would be as advantageous to our cause as though it were fought before the gates of Louisville; for, Buell’s grand army routed, the way is open then for another advance to the banks of the Ohio, if necessary. And in that event, Nashville will not be left m the hands of the enemy, but seized and defended as the best basis of communication between Kentucky and Tennessee for our army. We are not advised that this programme is to be carried out. But we think it not unreason® able that important army movements are in pro* gress which will result in ridding Kentucky and Tennessee of the Federals before the winter cam paign closes. If not, then we have an army suffi cient to hold Tennessee, and provisions enough to supply that army. This ought, at least, to be satisfactory, and sufficient to prevent any feeling of gloom or despondency in the minds of our people. The Confederacy can, no doubt, sustain its present army during the winter months, and when spring opens, it will open upon renewed successes and greater victories for our arms, victories, per haps, sufficient to enforce terms of peace at the hands of our enemies. The Steamship Minho.—The report of heavy cannon was heard in the city about three o’clock, Tuesday morning, which, about daylight, was dis covered to have proceeded from the Yankee block aders, who, observing that a steamer had passed by them, and was coming into port, opened fire, but did not do her any damage. This steamer was the Minho, with a valuable cargo from Ber muda, which, after escaping the blockaders, had the misfortune to get ashore on the stone break water at Sullivan’s Island, and has had several holes punched in her bottom by the rocks, which let a large quantity of water into the ship, and which has perhaps damaged a portion of the cargo. At low water, yesterday, the leaks were stopped in a measure, and as the tide rose in the afternoon, several steamers worked at her, trying to tow her off, but had not succeeded up to a late hour. As the ship is divided into several water tight compartments, it is hoped that the vessel and cargo may be saved. A sloop, with a part of the Cargo, came up to the city yesterday after noon.— Chas. Courier, Oct. 21. South Carolina to be Auctioneered Of?.—The Cincinnati Gazette very gravely publishes the fol lowing special dispatch from Washington; Washington, October 9.—Dr. Wm. Henry Bns* bane, formerly of Cincinnati, and three others, of Wisconsin, have been appointed tax commission ers for South Carolina, and are here awaiting final instructions before sailing for Port Royal. It is understood in some quarters that they are to pros ceed to open offices and assess taxes on the whole taxable property of the State. If the planters through the part of the State under rebel control come forward and pay their taxes, all will be well. If not, the commissioners will proceed to sell their estates for the taxes; and, in the event of there being no bidder at rates sufficient to pay the taxes, will forfeit them to the government. If this plan is really to be adopted, it is, of course, but another name for confiscation. We find the subjoined paragraphs in the Knoxville (Tenn.) Register, of Oct. 21 : Battle op Perryville —Incidents, Losses and Casualties —Maney's Brigade lost 679 in killed, wounded and missing. The Ist Tennessee regis ? ie *? 8 » l° Bt seen, 43 of whom were killed. Colonel McDaniel, of the 41st Georgia, Cant 7° u , nded >, b ! 8 thi ß h having been broken. SL r a 1 ? above the elbow. Capt. thUh ’tL Jw a Tenne 1 BSee ’ wounded ln ’ he wnnnd o 7 h ‘. Geor « la lost 159 in killed and u h ? abo y? ts furnished by Adjutant Thomas H. Malone, Gen. Maney’s Adjutant. J haul! no officer nor soldier, from the i’n tht flLki° f * Perrjville ' who estimates our forces *« ht at more than tift «en thousand. Thia of brSadTs In the fi V t gant ® Btimate - The number X m l ght - and their known strength ed request ot „G< n.Polk, we are not advised In that event, we would have “ fifty thousand prisoners P ° red SOffie fort 7 or THE ELECTIONS IN THE NORTH. The recent elections in some of the Northern States are, we believe, of some importance at the present time. They serve, at least, to show that Lincoln is, in some of those States, supported by a comparatively small minority. His emancipation proclamation, and his coercion measures, have meYwith a prompt condemnation at the ballo; box. W e should have preferred to have seen them condemned by the cartridge box; but as that could not be, it is some satisfaction to know that it was done at the ballot box. What the result of these elections will be, in regard to the present war, we can only conjecture. In our opinion, it will be of some advantage to us, inasmuch as it will give strength and courage to the anti-war party at the North. It will con.- vince them that Lincoln is not all-powerful, and that thousands are ready to back them in the exercise of their right of free speech; and, therefore, cause them to speak and write their sentiments more openly and boldly. Free speech will be apt to open the eyes of thousands who have been blinded and deceived by free lies, and convince them ot the utter impossibility of sub jugating the South, and make them as clamorous for peace as they have been, and are ’now, for war. It will, also, have a demoralizing effect upon the army. The soldiers will take sides, and political discussions will engender strife and ill feeling in the army. And, if Lincoln, finding himself de serted by the people, should attempt a coup d'etat, counting upon the support of his army, he will, we are satisfied, find himself egregiously mis taken. He cannot trust his soldiers any more than he can his civilians, and neither want a dic tator at this time. These are, we believe, some of the results which will follow the triumph of the Northern Democrats in the recent elections, if the majorities are as large as the telegraph represents them. But these are mere speculations, after alb and time alone can verify or refute them ; and, in the meantime, if we should be in error in our speculations, there is one consolation —if the re sult of these elections do us no good, they cannot make affairs any worse than they are at present. There are some who beheve that the effect upon Lincoln will be to cause him to relax his rigorous war policy, and adopt milder measures, thus to curry favor with his opponents, and strengthen the war party. Perhaps it may have that effect; but we cannot think so. It may be better, how ever, for our people to adopt that view, and to acr in accordance with it. We have simply given out opinion, with no desire to enforce it upon the minds of our readers, as the whole subject is a mere matter of speculation; and, to encourage hopes of peace parties and peace results at this time, with no better foundation than speculation and opinion, would be unjust to the people and injurious to the cause. Therefore, while hoping that our view may be the correct one, we must urge upon our readers the policy of acting as if the reverse were true, and to relax none of their efforts and energies in the [prosecution of the war. OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE- LETTER FROM KENTUCKY. Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 30, 1862. This army is destitute of information from home, except through Federal sources. The Louisville Journal tells us that Lee bas been driven from Maryland with terrible loss, and that McClellan has vindicated his claim to the title of the Young Napoleon. According to the same authority, Price has been defeated by Rosencranz. A dispatch from Tupelo to our side, dated 15th, reverses the last account. We met with contretemps yesterday at New Haven, fifteen miles behind us on the road to Mun fordsville. At daylight,a party of Federal cavalry dashed into the camp of Col. M. J. Crawford, of the 3d Georgia Cavalry, and captured him and 290 of his command, without firing a gun. Per contra, we heard yesterday that John Morgan was in the rear of Gen. Morgan, retreating from the Gap, and had picked up 600 of the enemy and a part of his train. Smith, Marshall, and Stevenson were on all sides of Morgan’s army, and Gen. Bragg believes that none can escape. They are 8,000 strong. The accession of Kentuckians to our ranks de* pends upon their belief in the ability of Gen. Bragg to maintain himself. They say that if left once more in Federal hands their past oppressions will be light in the comparison with what they will have to endure. I believe the intelligence and the excellence of the State is heartily with us, but Yankee tyrannny has Immensely augmented their bumps of caution. A very few see their policy and duty in the true light. These propose to send their families and slaves to the South, and rush en masse to the Confederate standard. Buell is at Louisville and taken lodgings at the Galt House. Rumor says that there are large num bers of new troops there besides his Sequatchie Valley army. We shall hear from there before long. This army hopes that they will hear from us first, either at “Cincinnati or Louisville. This movement of Gen. Bragg is a bold one. In a com missary point of view it ought to be sustained by our Government. A good supporting column would make it a success. I send you several pro clamations issued by Gen. Bragg. Press. LETTERS FROM VIRGINIA- Camp 20th Ga. Reg’t, Toombs’ Brigade, [ near Winchester, V a., Oct. 9,’62. J I Mr. Editor : In Brigadier General Wright’s >eto ter, of September 3d, published in your paper of September 13th, I notice the following paragraph, viz: “Three brigades had been repulsed and driven out of the woods just at this point, when I was ordered in, namely, Anderson’s, (formerly D. R. Jones’) Toombs’ and Eveans’ (of 8. C.,) brigades. My brigade not only held the position, but ac tually drove the enemy for some distance through the woods and across a field in the rear of the woods.” Great injustice is done the Twentieth Georgia Regiment, of Toombs’ Brigade, which I com manded in the battle of 30th August at Manassas, in this statement of Gen. Wright. His troops occupied no ground on that field from which the Twentieth Georgia were “repulsed,” or “driven out,” at any time that day. We first engaged two regiments of the enemy (the one, the” Twenty ninth New York, and the other, I believe, the Seventy-third Pennsylvania,) in a dense pine thicket, some two hundred yards in rear of what is known as the Chinn house, and drove them out, capturing a battery of two guns. We were, then, ordered by Col. Benning, commanding the bri gade, to charge a battery of six guns some four hundred yards to the left of the ground which had been occupied by the regiments we had just driven back. The order was obeyed, and the cannoniers were driven from their guns, although supported by seven regiments of infantry. The Twentieth Georgia held the position against this fearful odds until the enemy bad put in position a battery on the right which thoroughly enfiladed our ranks. The order was, then, given by Col. Benning, who bad condacted the charge in per son, to fall back. The regiment fell back to a ravine about three hundred yards distant from the battery in front, where a stand was made and fife opened upon the enemy and continued until he left the field. The single attempt made to advance upon u s was repulsed almost instanly. We were in the 1 front, and remained in the front on our part of tlje field throughout the fight; and the only Con federate troops between us and the enemy were our own dead and wounded—one hundred and forty, out of three hundred and fifty-nine carried into the fight. From Gen. Wright’s high reputation, 1 am sure he will be as happy in having his mind dis abused of the erroneous impression (to the extent indicated, at least,) as those cognizant of the part performed by the 20th Georgia iu that great bat tle were surprised at seeing it published oyer his signature. Very respectfully, Ac., J. D. Waddell, Maj. Cotn’dg 20th Ga. Regiment. Jas. Gardner, Esq-, Editor, Ac. Bivouac 20th Ga. Reg., 1 Near Winchester, Va., Oct, 9, 1862. j’ Mr. Editor : My attention has just been called to au article in voiir issue of the Ist inst., enti tled the battle of Sharpsburg, from the army cor respondent of the Charleston Courier, “Personne,” in which, I doubt not through a mistake of the printer, our regiment, the 20th Georgia, com manded by Col. J. B. Cumming, of Macon, Ga., does not get the credit to which it is entitled. It was the 2d and 20th in place of the 2d and 10th, as published in your paper of that date, which successfully met and defeated seven regiments of the enemy who were endeavoring to cross a bridge for the purpose of securing an advantage ous position on this side of the river. These two regiments, the 2d and 20th, both belonging to Toombs’ Brigade, not only held their position against this vastly superior force for five hours, but until they had entirely exhausted all their own ammunition, as well as using up every round they could get from the killed and wound ed of our own men. As I was not with the regiment at that time, being on my way from home to join it, I make this statement in justice to the officers and men of the 20th Georgia regiment, to which I have the honor to be attached. Recpectfullv yours, William Craig, Captain Co. K., 20th Regiment Ga. Vol. THE SPEECH OF JOHN' VAN BUREN AT THE DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN NEW YORK—A SPEECH TO THE POINT. From the Richmond Dispatch. We published in our Northern news yesterday some extracts of the speech ot John Van Buren at the Democratic mass meeting in New York, on Monday. If there is any real significance in any of these addresses lately launched against the Lincoln Administration, by the Democratic orators in the North, that of Mr. Van Buren is far more important than any yet published. He is the only speaker yet who has dared to meet the question of peace squarely, without making suojugatiou a sine qua non. We make some highly interesting extracts from the speech as reported in the New York Herald: VIEWS OF A REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN AND GENERAL THE SOUTH TO BE WHIPPED AND THEN LET GO. I have no acquaintance with General McClellan, even, by sight, and no communication with him, direct or indirect, but I tell these Republican gentlemen that if they keep on they will make him President of the United States. '(Loud cheers.) Now, I say that Wadsworth is his open, malig nant, bitter persecutor. I never make a statement . without authority. Mv authority for that state ment is that of a Republican State officer, high in office, coming directly from Washington as be did, who assured me that such was then the fact with regard to Jas. 8. Wadsworth—and the name of that gentleman is Benjamin Welch, Commissary General of the State of New York. (Cheers.) I will produce that witness and rest—(laughter)— and when Mr. Wadsworth denies it I will furnish him with a thousand more I say, then, when the country is at war the bitter enemy of the Com mander-in-chief should not be placed at the head of the Government of this State. (Cheers.) As a friend of the war, determined to see it carried on until an honorable peace is accomplished, I say it is the most unsuitable thing for’me to do to support James 8. Wadsworth for Governor of the State of New York. I had a conversation with him myself—not a private one, for these Republicans never make confidants of me; if they have any secrets to keep they choose some other depository; and I said to him, mthe presence of several people, who will appear if he contradicts what I say—“how do you propose to terminate the war?” I wanted to see a Republican who sees where we are coming out; I never met one yet. I agree to go on with the war; I agree, most of all, not to stop when we are whipped; but when we get through I want to know what then. “Will you hold the States of the South by armies, and call upon us to pay the taxes necessary to subsist the troops, amounting to some millions of men?” [A voice— “No!”] That is what Wadsworth said. ]Laugh ter.] “Will you change the form of this Govern ment, so that instead of being the government of our liberty and of the Constitution, it shall be a military government?” “No.” “What then?” “Why, we will whip them and let them go!” [Cheers.] “But,” said I, “would it not be easier to let them go without whipping them? Would they not be a little better neighbors? You do not propose to remove the continent away; the people will be there; and would they not be a little bet ter neighbors if you let them go without whip ping?” [Cheers.] “No,” said he, “we will whip them and let them go.” And he, being a military man, and I a civilian, he started South to whip them, while I staid here after he not through, to let them go. I Laughter and applause. | What is the Republican plank? They make no secret of it. It is to emancipate the slaves of the South ; it is to make colonies of the South, and to plant upon them, after driving out the people that went through the Revolution with us. and formed a more perfect Union and Constitution, and fought side by side with our people in the late war on the plains of Mexico, in every great contest till this fearful calamity came upon us— to drive them from the country and plant settlers in their place. To that I am unconditionally op posed, [loud cheers,] and to that I believe the people of this State to a man are opposed. They will have an opportunity on the 4th of next No vember to express their opinion in regard to this measure, and it will be heard and heeded at Washington, in my humble judgment. [Ap plause.] RICHMOND TO BE CAPTURED—A CONVENTION TO BE CALLED, AND IF THE SOUTH THEN WON’T AGREE TO STAY, LET HER GO. We propose to have a vigorous prosecution of the war now—[applause]—and in’my judgment McClellan ought to be authorized to march to Richmond and take the capita!. [Cheers.] Tak ing the enemy’s capital is the natural resting place in every war. When Vienna was taken, the Austrian Government was subdued; when Paris was taken upon two different occasions, France was subdued. It was never heard of that you carry out the war in detail, so as to conquer every province of the country that you are’at tempting to subdue. When Mexico was taken, although there were seven millions of hostile Mex icans in every part of that Republic, Mexico was conquered, and peace was declared. I say it is, if not the end of the war, the natural resting place in the war, and after that will be time, in my humble judgment, to treat of peace, and to deter mine what ought to be done. And I am just as well prepared now to say what ought to be done as I should be then. I believe a convention should be called, [“That’s right,” and applause.] I believe our Southern brethren ought to be invited to such a convention. [“That's the doctrine.” [ I believe that when Richmond is taken they will be satisfied of their inability to contend with the gigantic resources of the free and loyal States of this Union. They have suffered prodigiously and must suffer more, I will not believe that they have utterly forgotten the glorious and precious histories of our past career. [Applause.] I will not believe that they are willing to relinquish their share in our com mon heritage of fame. I will not believe that they will consent to see this great model republic, star*’- ing in its career and challenging the admiration of the world, and being the hope and light of freedom throughout the world, strangled in its ins fancy. I believe that under those circumstances they would come into a convention, that we would agree to live together under the Constitution as it is or with more distinctly defining what the Con stitution now is, [Applause.] And if they wont consent then I know that I am in favor of so amending the Constitution as to let them go, saying to them, io the language of the gallant Scott, “wavward sisters deoart in peace.” I say they have no right to go. It is a wanton and wicked attempt on their part, in de fiance of tlje Constitution and the law, peaceably to secede from the Union ; but if they, after due reflection, think it desirable to form a Confeder acy of their own, I should feel in regard to it very much as I should if I had a wife who told me that she was going to Lave. I would say to her : you cannot go according to law. You'can make me mighty uncomfortable if you stay; you had better think this thing all over before you out, and, if upon mature reflection, (though there is no law under Heaven authorizing you to go), I eter or Thomas, whoever it was, will pack your trunk, stop at some lawyer’s as you godown street, and find out how we can get apart at the least possible expense, and go. [Laughter and cheers.] I had rather pack your trunk mvself than to have you stay, if you want to go. V Honor, self-respect, the commonest feelings of humanity, would dictate to any one of us, if thev did not want to live with us, let them go accord ingto law ; but they won’t go, you will find.— And now, gentlemen, let us see what is our condi tion just at this time. We have already, as I have stated to you, carried on this war at this frightful loss of human li'e and th is great destruction of property; we have come to a state of things when the widowed mother calls upon you to stop at the first honorable point; when the wife whose hus band goes out to battle for the Union and the Constitution , when the sister who finds a brother coming home; when the betrothed, who parts from her future Lord and master, dedicates him to the service of the country: when the bride who seperates from her groom at the church door to go forth to battle—ail appeal to you not to stop the war dishonorably. With firm lips they tell you to go forward as long as honor and justice require it; but when you come to a point where peace can properly be made, then to make it. A DEMOCRATIC VOTE TO BE GIVEN IN NEW YORK CITT— SOMEBODY TO BE KNOCKED DOWN QUICK. This city can give a vote that will appall the Abolitionists of the interior. [Cheers.] And it will meet a support in the interior that you little expect. Unless lam greatly deceived, we shall carry this State triumphantly. But the first thing to be done is to get into the’ box the votes of the people of this city. [Applause.] Now, it requires care and attention, and it does not require what I am doing so foolishly—talking. Do not argue with those people on election day. Their object will be to get you into a dispute, which may pre vent the polling of votes where we are in a majority. To interrupt the polling you will be called everything, and, of course, you will be called “traitors.” If a man calls you a traitor— A Voice—“ Knock him down.” Another voice—“ Don’t stop to fight; put in your ballot.” [Laughter.] There is a difference of opinion. I know how provoking it is to have a man say things you do not like. I have had it done in Court; I have had it done when I was Attorney General, and I have been sent to jail for having it done to me. | Laugh ter..’ All I say is, do not stop to talk. If you must knock a man down, knock him quick. [Cheers and applause. | But you had far better not knock him down at all. j Cheers.] Get your vote out; get it into the box, and my word for it, you will be met throughout the State by corres ponding exertions, which will carry joy’to every friend of the old Union, as it was. throughout the borders of this Confederacy. [Cheers.] The only possible way to restore this Union is to make that expression at this election now. At any future election it would be no use on earth. We are told they cannot live, and m my judgment the Southern people ought not to live under an Abolition sway. [Applause.] I would not live with them if they would. [ Loud cheers.] They call upon us now to show that we are not an Abolition State. They say, throw aside your politi cal organizations, throw aside your past political contests, combine once and show us that, however you may differ about other things, this pestilent faction can be overthrown by you, and we may once again live in peace,with our rights protected. [Cheers.] Show them this. Show it to them on the 4th of November, m time to save what is worth saving in this country. STILL LATER FROM THE NORTH. From the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, Oct. 21. We are indebted to the kindness of several friends for a copy of the New Ycrk Times of Saturday, the 18th instant, and also a copy of the Baltimore American of the evening of that date. We make room this morning for the following se lections: The following summary of the news is from the New York Times: Our advices from the army of the Potomac, this morning, indicate unmistakably that Gen. McClellan is again about to measure strength with the Rebel hosts under Lee. There appears to be no doubt that the latter intends to give battle at or near their present location, which is now well known to oui Generals through the reconnoissanca recently made. Simultaneous with the movement of Gem Hancock’s Division to Charlestown, on Thursday.anoiher movement was made across the Potomac, at Shepherdstown Ford, by Gen. Wood* berry’s Division, which took the road leading to Smithfield, a small village half-way between Charlestown and Bunker’s Hili. This division encamped, on Thursday night, between Leetown and Ke .rneysville, having met with but slight resistance during the advance. Yesterday morning the cavalry attached to the division advanced toward Smithfield, and formed a junction with Hancock’s cavalry, having mean time discovered the enemyHn very heavy force. The object of the reconnoisance was thus attained without loss. To-day may bring us the news of another great battle. Official dispatches, received in Louisville from Nashville, sta|e that the rebels were In consider able force near the latter city on the 11th inst., and that they sent a flag of’ truce demanding a surrender. This modest demand Gen. Negley declined to accede to, as he had a National force ample for defence. We have a rumor from Fortress Monroe that au engagement took place at Backwater river, be yond Suffolk, on Tuesday last, the result of which is yet unknown. A Lieutenant and three men belonging to the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry are said to have been killed. Within the last three or four days the rebels have run two trains of cars from the other side of the Rappahannock to Bristow. They selected their opportunities immediately after Union re connoitering parties had passed through and about the intervening country. These trains, doubtless, carried cattle or horses for the use of Lee’s Army, which could be rapidly driven up from Bristow, through Thoroughfare Gap and Front Royal, to Lee's position. The subjoined extract of a letter from aa officer on the staff of General Terrill, who was killed in, the late battle of Perryville, will correct some errors committed by newspaper accounts; The papers are m error in regard to Bragg at« tacking McCook; it was the combined forces of Hardee and Polk, or two of the rebel army divi sions against one of ours. The rebels are in re treat toward Harrodsburg for the purpose of forming «. junction with Kirby Smith, and cutting off General Sill, who has the’flower of the West ern army. Our army fought after being two days without adequate supplies of water or provisions, and all of them green troops, never before in ac tion; nevertheless, they withstood the combined attack, and were able to ioilow the retreating re bels twenty hours afterward.” The Washington correspondent of the Philadel phia “North American” hears that the naval ex peditions that have been in progress at several points for a number of weeks past are now ready, and will sail for their destinations as soon as the troops for land service are ready to accompany them. When this will be, however, is nut at present known, though possibly a month hence wilt find everything in perfect readiness for a res petition of the splendid achievements at New Or leans and Port Royal. Admiral Dupont, who is now in New York, will leave for Port Riyal in a few days. Headquarters in St. Louis have received diss patches to the following purport: “Papers and dispatches dated as late as the Sth inst., have been received by Gen. Combs from Little Rock, Ark. Hindman was then at Duval’s Bluffs, Par sons was represented as moving toward North Missouri, and seeking to unite nis forces with Stearn and Mcßridge at PocahonM- The Rebel commander, Holmes, was at Little Gen. Schofield had arrived at Cassville, in Barry county, near the Arkansas line. South-western Missouri is once more cleared of Rebel forces, and the telegraph communication is complete to Cassville. Two divisions of the army are left At Helens, under Gen. Carr.” WHAT GEN. PRENTISS SAID. . Gen. Prentiss was serenaded in Washington on the night of the 17th, when he made a speech. In the course of his narrative he had occasion to speak of the negroes, who, lie said, were the best Union men of the South, when a voice id the crowd exclaimed, “We are fighting for the negro. ‘‘Yes, sir.” replied the General, “I tight for the freedom of every man on earth.” [lmmense apa plause.J He spoke of the cruelty with which Federal officers and soldiers were treated, and o. the reign of terror existing throughout the South. They were determined to fight it out, and ’hey did light desperately, because they knew their cause was desperate. No one dared to express any love for the Union at the South, and there was more real slavery there now over whites than there ever was over blacks. Tnere are more men. too, in the Southern army than the people of the North think for. Now is the time to strike, for their army is somewhat demoralized. He saw thousands of men going home on parole, and at the battle of Antietam the rebels were pun'shed a great deal more severely than was generally supposed here- He saw train after train of their wounded ; and Union prisoners, if they did not rejoice at the misfortunes of their enemies, cheered lustily for the success of the Union arms. He also remarked that President Lincoln’s proclamation had done more to end the rebellion than all the battles that have been fought, or anything else that has been done. He would take the field again the very moment he was ordered to, by his commanding General. He would obey orders; but let bim once get twenty-four hours ahead of orders in Georgia, and he would do everything in his power to crush the hellish rebellion. The New York Times says the speech of Preu* tiss receives the sanction of the Administration. THE GRAND RETREAT 0 F THE REBELS. Louisville, Oct. 17.—The Journal discredits all reports of a recent fight having taken place at Big Hill. a force of one hundred United States cavalry entered and occupied Lex ngton to-dav, Genera!. Bragg, with 40,000 men, was at Crab Orchard on Tuesday. He intends to camp a few miles below there. He is rapidly retreating toward Mount Vernon. Kirby Smith was going out of Kentucky on the road to Manchester, Clay county, thence by the road whereon Bragg is retreating, towards Cum..- ■ berland Gap. It is reported that the mountaineers arc felling trees and otherwise blocking up the roads over which the rebels have to pass in order to leave the State. A THE YANKEE LOSS AT PERRYVILLE. The Baltimore American says; The Union losses in the battle of Perryville (otherwise called the battle of Chaplin Hills) are, we regret to perceive, much larger’than stated in some of the reports. In Rosseau’s division alone the total loss was upwards of 2,000, as follows ; Killed. 465; wounded, 1,45-3; missing, 161; making a total of 2,089. Included in these figures are 70 commissioned officers. This division, we believe, bore the brunt of the fight. It is composed of the 9th Brigade, Gen. Harris; 17th Brigade, Gen. Lytle, and 28th Brigade, Gen. Starkweather. THE MARKETS. The Time’s money article ct the 18th says that the stock market left off steady yesterday. Gold fell to 131% a 131%, as against 134% a 131% per cent, on Thursday. Exchange closed 145%. Breadstuff* opened buoyantly yesterday, but with the fall in gold and Exchange, closed heavily. Cotton was quiet and depressed. Provisions were less freely purchased ; Pork declined. RELEASE OF GEN. DAVIS. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, on Tuesday, received an order from the War Department, releasing him from the arrest under which he has hitherto been confined since killing Nelson. TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE* BRITISH COMMENTS ON THE MARYLAND BATTLES—THE RUMORS OF “RECOGNI TION” ASSERTIONS [THAT FRANCE AND ENGLAND WILL SOON AC! IN CONCERT AND RECOGNIZE THE CONFEDERACY, &C , &C- The steamship Asia with Liverpool dates of the sth instant, two days later, has arrived. Thesum mary of her news in the New York papers says that “the English papers compliment the North for its efforts iu Maryland, and agree in favor of the most promising results therefrom.” Messrs. Mason and Slidell had written to the French journals to say they had no official know ledge of their recall, Mr. Spence, the Liverpool correspondent of the London Times, has another letter in that journal, complimenting the North on the valor of its ar mies and the skill shown by its Generals in Mary land. He says the North is now in a position to make peace without dishonor; but that the golden opportunity will ba lost. He regards no peace possible on any other basis than the inde pendence of the South, and adds : “As the North cannot be the first to acknowledge that independa ence, Europe should remove the stumbling block by recognizing the Confederate States, and the North may then follow its example.” The New York correspondent of the London Times, writing on September 19th, says : It is evident that the decisive battle of the war is not fought yet. All that has happened is but the pre liminary to the final onslaught that is to make or mar McClellan. But that onslaught, end how. it will, is net likely to make or mar the fortunes of the Confederates. He adds “that the resignation or abdication of President Lincoln is debated as a matter of course.” The London Army and Navy Gazette says: The South has tried the offensive and failed. The Confederate army has shown great daring and much tenacity, but has been beaten. Gen. Mc» Clellan has shown that as a soldier he is equal to Gen. Lee or Stonewall Jackson. The division of the Confederate forces was a great mistake. But great Generals would have known how to convert that mistake into a disastrous defeat, while second rate soldiers like McClellan, could only get out with respectable success. The exportation of arms and ammunition from England to America is rapidly increasing. The shipments of the first eight months of the year are valued at £1,308,000 sterling. The Paris Patrie hears from good sources that nothing is more likely than the recognition of the South on the basis of accomplished facts, very soon to be on the tapis, England and France act ing in concert. PRANCE. The Paris Bourse was much excited on the 3d inst., and the rentes advanced nearly a quarter per cent., closing at 72f. It is supposed that the advance was caused by a rumor that the Papal Government had shown a more pliant disposi tion. ITALY. A royal decree accepts the resignation of Cohn forti, Minister of Justice, and charges Ratazzi with the portfolio ad interim. La Discussion, of Turin, says that the King’s daughter, before quitting Italy for Portugal, im plored pardon and favor for the persons guilty of participating in the late insurrection against the Government, and that her prayer on the side of forgiveness and mercy will be heard. La Discus sion adds, bn Sunday, the 4th inst., a royal decree will proclaim an amnesty to Garibaldi and his followers, excepting only the deserters from the royal army. > Adding Insult to Injury.—The Richmond cor respondent of the Charleston Courier says that some Yankee prisoners are employed in the Com missary Department cleaning bacen. The ne groes employed in the Department treat them pretty much as they please. On one occasion a negro ran a truck over the toes of one of the Yankees, who verv naturally “hollered.” “Take keer of you’ toes,’’ said the darkey: “toes is toes to dem what runs away mes’ly all de time.”