LATENT AMERICAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 141, 26 April 1864, Page 3

LATENT AMERICAN.

Via California we have received considerably later .North .American news than by tlit* English Mail, our daton froni tlie* :27th l''obrnary to oth March inclusive. Under date New York, February 27. —We Irani that the U.S. corvette ' liuu;t>tonie' wjus destroyed in lh«; Charlestoil hill'lKMir OIL istll, IIV IL lvlirl tOl'lH'dd. It struck her quarter, and in a short tunc sunk oft the lieach Inlet. It amusing to note the diilereiice beIwcen the two accounts given by North and South of t lie same event. In the following rase, tin- battle of Florida Bend,the Yankees are obliged to acknowledge that, they were pretty smartly whipped. The annexed is their own version :— The 'J'imrn Ht.ys, tlie steamer ' Fulton,' from Port itoyal, on Wednesday lust, brought inlormatioii of sad" reverses to our Floiiila expedition. W'u are unable to give details, it says, because after the 1 X 1 ultoll went out into the bav she was boaiihd by the Provost-.Marshal, with orders l'roui General Gilmorc to deprive passengers ot all private letters in thru* possession. J- i-.j.ii passengers by the ' Fulton ' we are indebted lor tin; following main fact* of the battle Oil the afternoon of the 2Uth. Our troop*, under iSrvinour, met the enemy 10,000 strong, 10 miles beviuid Jacksonville, and 8 miles beyond Sanrteison, on the line of the Jacksonville mid Tallahassee railroad. The battle was desperately fought during three hours, and at suntict uur forcwi, overpowered by numbers, retired to Sanderson, taking with them the greater part of their wounded. Col. Fribev, of the Bth United Slates, waslel'L dead on the field. " Col. Keed, a Hungarian oflieer, was mortally wounded. All the otlieers of J lamilton's battery Mere Wounded. The ' Cosmopolitan' arrived at iieaufoit on .Monday evening, with 210 wounded — Col. lioed being among them, who was living when the ' Fulton ' left on Wednesday. The enemy's loss is not known. They captured five guns. It is supposed Unit the troops were from Jiragg's army. General Hardee himself w;is on the tieid, having come to Florida on a, visit to his family. (Jar loss is variously estimated tit lroin •)00 to 1,-Hio.

Tlio following is tlio Confederale account of tlio allair :— Washington, March !i.—The Kichmond papers have Hid iollowing rebel accounts of the battle of Ocean Bend, Florida : — Baku City, Florida, February 2-. —Gun. Gordon mot tlio enemy in force to-day, under lien. Seymour, and defeated him with great loss, lie captured f> pieces ol' artillery and a large number of small arms, holding possession ol' the battle tield and the killed und wounded of the enemy. Jlv cavalry are in pursuit. i don't know the precise number of prisoners, as they are being brought in constantly. Mv total loss will not exceed IiOO killed and wounded. Among them 1 mourn the loss of many brave ollicers and men. Joseph Finnehan. Charleston, February 20.—Gen. Finncgan s last despatch lroin Gamp Beauregard, the 'Jl!nd, via Tallehi'tisco the 2ord, so.ya the victory at Ocean Bend

was complete. \Vo capiuiud all tl e artillery r.nd UOO i,small aim*. Iho w<>«>(U ur« with tbn cn« ~n\ ilw.d and wonud.il lor th.vo miles. The enem'v's lorce was, lrom all accounts, 10,000 inlai.Uy, with one regiment and fair companies of cuvuliy." \\f ''Ctffefc to see that the war is. fast \ergiug into one of the moat revolting barbarism :— Intelligence has just been received that 'ho enemy hung ol soldiers, captured in tho recent movement against Newbern, all of whom belonged to the -2nd North Carolina Volunteers. Tho report has created considerable excitement, and, if confirmed, must result in the hanging of the same number of rebels by Gen. Butler. Here is another Federal account of the fight in Florida :— New York, February 27.—'The Express savs in regard to tho light in Florida It is the -opinion of the ollicers who took "part in the expedition that our total loss in killed, wounded, and missing is between 1,200 and l,.j(H>. Our troops were:right in In tut ol the Confederate batteries, in a piece ol wood belore they were aware of their presence; and when the batteries opened a galling (ire our men tell back panic stricken. This rebel loss itnot known, but is supposed to have been large. I'rijouers captured stated that thu troops were from Charleston, and that lieauregai-d was in command. .Sherman, tho Federal General, had made an attempt, to read) "Washington, but was met by Longstrcet and driven back. The following are the conflicting accounts, the firist is lrom the Federal press:— The Memphis Bulletin says : —A Vicksburg lettei mentions high military authority as the source ol knowledge that Sherman is in full possession of Sclnia, Alabama. Tho letter adds that tile occupation ot the place was gained after a severe fight. It i.- understood that the next place to be attacked is Montgomery, which is one hundred mile.- distant 'Vol 11 Sel'nia. Knowille, February 27.—At last accounts Longstreet was still retreating, his head 'jiiaiter.i being at lil'.-cnviUo. On Wednesday night our cavalrv had a slight skiimish with his rear in tho vicinity of liettn's Station. Sclii'lickl is pursuing, but owing to the rapid retreat of the enemy no engageiie-nt i.- expected this si.l'- o( the Virginia line. Tin? railroad bridge at Strawberry anil the track are injured beyond the possibility of present use. Deserters say Liuigstreet is retreating to Richmond, leaving Johnston and Huckiicr to protcct the Virginia bolder. The Jiir/uiioiulJZxamhicr tells quite another tale :— The Kiohmond Keominer of February 21, says an otlieial despatch was received at the AVar Department last night lrom Polk, stating that Sherman's forces hail evacuated Meridan, and were retreating in two columns towards Vicksburg. It is supposed that, finding his designs upon Mobile thwarted, by his cavalry reinforcements being intercepted, and being in dislros for supplies, he was lbrciMl to abandon expedition, and take the desperate ex]XAlient ot retreat Ihiough a country stripped ot supplies and laid wast.- by bis adva-ui-c. Whether h-i cun retreat oucec»wtidly ivmsinH to ko seen. The intelligence which we receive by way of Kurono is far more lilsoiy to bo authentic than that wliiim is cooked to suit the California); palate, but from England we learn of i lie continued successes of the Southern armies in every point. The following description of the stiite of Longstreet's army may be true, but we verv much doubt its

correctness: — ' News irom lluntsvillc, the '2oth, says'most distressing- stories arc brought in by deserters as to the (oinliticn ol' l.ongstieel's l'orecs. It is repotted that tin y aie nearly naked, and frightfully worn down by the expo.-iucs of the wilder campaign. Men naked to indecency, and barcloot, compose his rank and tile. A rich specimen of these " Yankee telegrams " we published yesterday under the following sensation heading. CI.OHIOUK NI.WS-GKEAT UNION YICTOKY- 1.1.K l>l'.l''K,\Ti;i 1— 1.(K)0,i;(i0 K 11.Ll'.l> —I N I'AliA I.LKLI.I' SKA L'lillTl' K—'ll IK IOTOMAC RUNS I.'EI) Willi l; I.OOl)—I'll K t o.M-KDKKATK A KM Y ANN IHILA'IKJ) AND TIIK J:A( KHoNK Hl' '1 11 K IiEHELI JON FINALLY AND IHKEI'AKALLY ISKOKEN. the next day a telegram was received announcing "thai yesterday's des petch was a little premature." Oil the third day a telegram was received which put the matter in quite another light, the rebels, as the Yankees call them, "had beaten back the Union advanced guard'with great slaughter, had out Hanked ihe light of the Aaiikee army, and had remained in possession of the liclil." So much for Northern telegrams ! ! We give the following extracts from Northern journals for what they are worth : — New York, March '2.—Liverpool advices say the (V-nledeiate cruiser ' Florida had escaped irom U1 est under cover ot' a thick tog 1 . The ' Kearsage ' on being apprised of the ' Florida's ' sailing, stood to sea the same evening. The shipping interest was considerably cxcitid over the fresh danger to vessels now on the Atlantic.

The Jit raid publishes an inteiceptcd letter, dated Richmond, the 10th, stst l g that tiie rebel capital is guaiiieil bv onlv tW" companies of heavy artillery, live light batteries, two companies of cavalry, wilti about 1,000 Clti/I 11 soldier.-, and that part of the North Carolina u giuieius guaid the Chickahoininy, The garrison at Foil Darling lu.s hi en reduced to 70(1 etti/.en soldiers, not to he relied on. it was liehevcd that the appearance of any considerable number ol Yankees would lie the signal tor a general Mampedo. I.<ongstreot's lolccS al\; sol down at 20,000, Johnston's at 00(1, and Leu's at Jo,ooo. A .Mobile despatch ol I*ebruai v 2iivd sa\s lite was opened that dav upon Fort I'owVll, by six monilors and lour gunboats, and the shelling was continued all day. 'the Florida atlair is made much of, and with reason, but the rebels concede several losses oil their side, 'i'he editorials ol' the journals hcl'oie lis are mil of brag about the blight prospects of the South, and the desperation, demoralization, bankruptcv, and utter helple.ssn.iss ot the North. Philadelphia, March 0.- —The Richmond papers announce " with unfeigned ri gret " tile appointment of Piiaxton Bragg as Coniiiiiiiider-iii-Ciiicf of the rebel annv over the head ol Gen. Lee. J hey also acknowledge a heavy loss ot lile in I'lorida. Washington, March 2.—The correspondence between Gen. lint lor and the rebel Commissioner, Hell. Uuld, relative to the exchange ol piisoliel's, resulted in a declaration of exchange, ill which it is agreed that all persons delivered at City Point up to the 2 till January, ISIH, are exchanged. Cairo, March 3.—A band of 00 guerillas, dressed ill Federal uniforms, surprised a company of the Ist Mississipi (coloured) regiment, who were standing guard about a mile and a half Irom the main body of tin; foraging party, on the 1-ilh February, belowGrand Lake. They were captured, disarmed bctore assistance could reach them, and all were killed or mortally wounded except two. The l'ust. says reports from Virginia state that Kilpatrick's cavalry force had got into Lee's rear, and was milking its way towards Kichinond. Also, that one corps of the army of the Potomac is making a diveiMon in Kilpatrick's lavour against the main body ol tne rebel army. The account which we give below, ol flie destruction of property, of the desolation ol a whole country side, will gi\e some idea oi the horrors of the war in America, and is tin unanswerable argument, at once to those who recommend any portion of the United, or disunited Htates of America as a Held for emigration : — A "special despatch to the JfrruM ol' 'late March ;;rcl, A\ ashiugton, says :—A note irom the army ot ti.e Potomac, dated half-past !) o'clock this morning, says ttiat a messenger, who left Jvilpatriek 10 miles south ol Hanover Junction on Wednesday morning, tavs: The command lias most thoroughly and ellcctu'ally destroyed the Virginia Central Kadroad Irom lieaver Dam to Hanover.l unction, and the Kichinond and Fredericksburg Kailroud from Mattapony ilridge to the Pamunkey river. The entire distance destroved is over «0 miles. Some skirmishing occurred during the advance, but it was confined mosiy to the ri-ht liank ol' ivilpatrirk's command. If the spoliation of the roads is so complete as represented, Lee will be compelled to lviuoxe his annv from their present pasition to subsist it, lor unless the rebels havu facilities I'ur greater than any we possess tor

construting railn.,- da, it will toko at least four weeks to repair the damago«. All reports concur in estimating that at no time Ims Leo's army had a larger supply than i'rom six to ten day's rations on hand. It is reported that Kil pa trick found the country through which he passed almost destitute of food for man and beast; and as the troops went in light marching; order, he had been compelled to push forward with all possible speed. The rain storm on Monday and Tuesday had been a great drawback to his movements, but as it has been clear and cool for the past two days, it is hoped that ero this hiß command has arrived at ilie point where he can obtain supplies. From the AY oriel's spccial correspondent we learn that— There is a general understanding, if not an organization, among the negro population of Richmond and environs, to aid and comfort the Union refugees and prisoners, as well as for the purpose of helping in any attempt to capture the city. Ihe 11 urld ,v Key Wi st letter of 27th February, reports that I"arrugut had opened fire on Fort Morgan, and also gives a rumour that Beauregard is now in command of Mobile. Tlio obstructions to the harbour are similar in character to those of Charleston. It was believed that Fort Morgan will be ultimately destroyed or captured. The Ilcralcl's letter, oil' Mobile, 23rd February, renews the report that Sherman is moving on Mobile, after the capture of Montgomery. Ail non-com-batants have left Mobile. Pile AVa.shiiigtuii Senate is attempting io raise the wind by the extra taxation of spirits.— Washington, March 4-.—Tn the Senate, Mr. Sherman, lrom the second Committee of Conference on the Whisky bill, reported that the Committee lrom the Senate was unable to agree with that of the I louse, lie moved that the .Senate recede from the amendments disagreed to by the House, and the motion was adopted by 25 to 12. The bill, as it now stands, provides a tax of GO cents, on all domestic liquors manulacturcd or removed for sale after the passage of the net, until tliu Ist of July, 18(51. It retains the lax of 10 cents, per gallon on foreign liquors on bund, but does not tax domestic liiiuors on hand. iiy way uf California we have the following il.oins of Mexican newp ;— Nkw \iiuKj March 3.—A Matamoras letter to the II ot'/tf reports that the French had evacuated l'uehla, Cordova, Jalapa and Orizaba, for lack of men to garrison them. The Mexicnn armv, under Uruga, is said to bit I"), 000 strong. It is rumoured lit 1 had been defeated by General l>azaine. Large trains of col ton were arriving at Matainoras duilv. I'rom Texas. New* wns received at the Navy Department today, that during the latter part of January, two French frigates entered Acapulco and proceeded to overhaul everything, threatening to bombard the town it any resistance was ollcred. They examined all the Americans in j-ort. and caused much eonntornation hiuoiic other neutrals. Account* r*a Panama ttto tii;it a. French friga-to keeping at.riet blockade at AoMpvileo, ana had eeited a. quantity of »Kitcr:oi as contraband of war. The United SlatoH frigate Lcnc-.x-jit?*- una the Saginaw are there. The former loaves for lPamcoa on ll>e arrival of the French and the French will then take of the town, probably without resistance.