LATEST FROM AMERICA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 348, 3 January 1863, Page 3

LATEST FROM AMERICA.

Gold at New York has gone up, premium 23 per cent. The Confederate Government have been empowered by Congress to procure a million bales of cotton and to sell to foreigners for the benefit of the Revenue. Federal army under M'Clellan entered Virginia, and advanced on Charleston. Some severely contested undecisive battles had taken place in Maryland and Kentucky, between Federals and Confederates,- generally in favour of the latter. Confederate General (Stewart) with 3,000 men made a dash across the Potomac into Maryland and Pensylvania, re-crossed in safety, capturing 1,000 horses and large quantities of stores, making the entire circuit of Federal army without their knowledge. This daring feat caused profound sensation at New York. M'Clellan could not follow the Confederates, who re-crossed the Potomac in safety and order, takingall their materielytith. them. " Stonewall " Jackson conducted the retreat. Lincoln has issued a proclamation for the emancipation of all slaves. It has been condemned gftierally in America, and universally in Europe, and has produced intense sensation in the South. The Confederate Congress has conferred power on Davis to take retaliatory measures : putting all Federal officers to hard labour, hanging all who are in command of negroes. Lincoln is thought by some to have played his last card ; there will soon be new administration, and peace with dissolution of Union. Confederate successes are such as to justify them in making proposals for a Peace, and Commissioners, it is said, proceeded to Washington, but the report requires confirmation. Wilkes, of "Trent" notoriety, is reported as blockading Bermuda. The English Admiralty ordered two additional vessels of war to proceed to that station. The Expenditure of the Federal Government for three months, ending 30th June last, is at the rate of 160 millions sterling a-year. Butler commanding at New Orleans, has ordered all persons refusing to take an oath of allegiance to be registered as enemies of the United States. An attempt is shortly to be made by the Confederates to re-ocupy New Orleans. Butler has told all women who apply for passes, that while he is fighting the enemy in suburbs, he will deliver the town to the mercy of 20,000 soldiers, and if obliged to evacuate the town will leave it a heap of ashes. The command of M'Clellan's army is to be given to Hooker, and M'Clellan will succeed Hallop at Washington.