ARRIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 159, 20 May 1862, Page 5

ARRIVAL

THE QXJEEN,

WITH THE

MMICH MAIL.

By the Queen, which nrrived at Port Chalmers yesterday evening, we arc in receipt of the Englifh mail to March 26th, We tukc from the ■Home News the following particulars, in addition to the telegraphic summary published iv our issue of yesterday :— AMERICA. GiIEAT I'KDBUAL SUCCKSSrjS. In our lust number we stated, that although the army of the Potomac, under General M'Clclluri, had not been able to advance a step, the Federals had commenced a scries of vigorous operations, and luiil gained two considerable victories, in Kentucky and Tennessee. We remarked, also, that we should probably hear ere long of further action* in the same States. In the beginning of the present month the news readied us of an affair which is regarded by the Northerners as the greate.t achievement of their arms. This was the capture by General Grant of Fort Donnclson, on the Cumberland Kiver. Fort Donnclson not only contained an army, but it was the key of a position, and the Confederates held it for the purpose of preventing the advance of the Federals upon Nashville. The obstinacy with which both parties fought for the possession of the place showed what value they set upon it. Tlio Confederate garrison must have exceeded 20,000 men, for it is stated that no fewer than 15,000 surrendered with the fort as prisoners of war, and 5000 escaped under General Floyd in the night preceding the capitulation. The Federals, however, had a surioriry over even this powerful force. The besieging nrmy was 40,000 strong, and it was assisted in its operations by a flotilla of gunboats on the river. Three days were spent in hard fighting before the fort could be reduced, and the proceedings reported show both the difficulties of the attack and the stubbornness of the defence. The place was commanded by redoubts on higher ground, which the Federals captured first, but one of their batteries was taken in the course of the siege by a sally from the fort, though it was afterwards regained. The gunboats; too, were disabled by the fire of the fort, and the loss of the assailants in killed, wounded, and missing, is computed at 1000 men.. But the gain was proportioned to the effort and the cost. A large body of prisoners, including three general officers, and a vast quantity of military stores, which the Confederates could but ill afford to lose, attested the magnitude of the victory. These trophies have been succeeded by important results. The Federals now occupy Nashville, are solidly established ou the Cumberland, and command the Tennessee River as far as the frontiers of Alabama. The Confederates have retired through MuriVeesboro' to the left bank of the southern, bend of the Tennessee ; and the general who '.commanded at Columbus has burnt and abandoned that place, and lias retired, it is said, to an island iv the Mississippi known as No. 10, lying in a loop of the' river near New Madrid. The new one of the Confederates, therefore, is the Tennessee between Knoxville and Florence, and Memphis, with the fortified island above it, No. 10. The Federal forces were on the Cumberland, with their advance beyond Murfreesboro', and on the Mississippi as far as Columbus. Both parties have thus concentrated between the Cumberland and Tennessee. It 13 stated that Ueauregard went to Columbus to withdraw the force there, and assign them a new position to cover Memphis. The Federals advanced upon Columbus by land and water, and found the place nearly destroyed by fire. It miiot be admitted that the movements in Kentucky and Tennessee are creditable to the Federal troops and their leaders. Their plans were well combined, and executed with commendable speed. The Confederate generals showed no skill whatever, for they shut themselves up in an entrenched camp, without securing any line of retreat, and they made no offensive movement of any kind. Instead of keeping their troops in well connected masses, prepared to act in the field against one army or the other, they scattered them in detachments, and placed the largest body Jn a pnl tie sac. In other directions tha Federal armies have also been successful. General Curtis has driven General Price over the Boston mountains, and probably over the Arkansas Kiver. To show tine spirit in which the war is carried on, we may notice that the Confederates at one place left behind them poisoned food, and temit Fayettcville before they fled from it over the mountains. Missouri, except in the neighbourhood of the Mississippi, is now clear of Confederates. On the coast the Federals have interposed between Fort Pulaski and Savannah, as a preliminary to an attack on the latter ; and General Jiurnside has occupied Winton, on the Ciiowan Kiver—a proceeding supposed to indicate an attack upon Norfolk. THU AIMIV OP THE POTOMAC. The gran'! army on the Potomac was about to move early in March. General Banks, crossing the river "ut Harper's Ferry, had occupied both ■tanks, of the Shcnandoah with 35,000 men. He hail been reinforced by troops from Baltimore, and General M'Clcllan had paid him a visit. The object of the movement is supposed to be ■\Vinchestor, thence to Fort Royal, and from this port to the Manassas Gap railroad, on the flank 01 lho Confederate position at Mantissas. General M'Ck-lian was to move from Washington j and tke brigades were already in motion on the right and left of the famous lines, when snow and rain descended, the country roads became swamps, and the movement was adjourned. The grand game is to be played ' out here. General M'Clellan appears to have determined upon a combined . operation, and he will be lucky, indeed, if all h-is plans succeed; and till his divisions come up in time. His project is said to be this —He will leave a garrison at Washington, cut oft' or drive off the Confederate force at Lecsbarg on his right, move his columns on that side, bkirting the mountams, and uniting with Banks, who will coma through the pati-.es, turn the position of Mantissas on its left. At tho same time, the forces on the Occoquan will haiuss the Confederate right. Time will frhow whether this complicated operation can be safely executed. In the meanwhile, the Confederated will probably keep their main armies in two masses, one in Eastern Virginia, the other on the Alabama bank of the Tennessee, and try the fortune of war in the field. rnorosAi, to purchase tiik slavus. A new aspect has been given to the contest by a proposal of President Lincoln to purchase the slaves with Federal money, and set them free. The avowed object of tho proposition is to bind tJie Border States totho North, in the event of the N.orth being compelled to recognise the States which seceded originally. - The plan is not without skill, but it indicates the existence in Washington of an opinion that the South cannot be conquered except at immense cost, and possibly after years of war. The Southern President, while frankly admiting in his Message the "humiliating" reverses he lias suffered, shows, as om' readers will perceive, no signs of yielding, but coolly contemplates the protraction of the war over' ** a series of years." And, indeed, the great trial for Northern aims will begin when they penetrate the cotton States. The sides, bows, and stern of the Merriinac ■were covered with sloping iron plates, extending two feet below the water line, and meeting above . like.the roof of a house. At her bows, on her water line, were two sharp iron points resembling prows, six or seven feet apart. Her number of guns is stated to' be 12, which were seen projecting from long elliptical portholes. The Nctv York World publishes an. account from the pilot of the Cumberland, stating that the Merrimac was not disabled when she retreated to Jjprfplk. ' The Norfolk TDity Booh compliments the crew of the Cumberland" for their brayery, and says ■ that some shot "from the Cumberland entered the Merrimac, killing i' 7 men, and wounding Commander Buchanan, who afterwards died. The Pay Book admits that the Monitor, 18 a for-

midable vessel. Batesby Jones commanded the ■Merriinac. The same journal states that some slight rcpairTwili-be-nccessary-to.the Merrimac.

[President Lincoln's Message was received ■with" great surprise throughout the North. At this dale of our Initial news, it continued to puzzle tho politicians, and no one could" see what ils ultimate fate would lie. The Senate had referred it to the judiciary committee.]

INAUGURATION OF I'RKSIDENT DAVIS. Jeflenon Davis was inaugurated at Kichmond on the 22nd of February as, President of the Southern Confederacy for,six years. In his address, after reviewing the events of the rebellionI,' he said:—

Although the contest is not ended yet, and the tide for the present is against us, the final result in our favor is not doubtful. ' The period is near tit hand when the North must sink under a. loud of debt, which has assumed dimensions which will oppress luture generations. If foreign acquiescence in the pretended blockade has deprived us of foreign tfade, it is fast making us self-supporting and independent. The interests involved in the present stiuggle arc not only Southern.' The world nt large is interested in opening the Southern markets. After their recognition the Southern States will offer most favourable markets for foreign manufactures. Cotton, rice, tobacco, and sugar would furnish an attractive exchange. -The constancy of supplies would not be disturbed by war. The Confederate strength would be too great to attempt aggression, and the character of Southern productions would make the people too much interested in foreign commerce wantonly to disturb it. The constitution admits no war of conquest. Civil war cannot occur in States held together by volition only. This voluntary association does" not, however, diminish the security of the obligations by which the Confederates may be bound to foreign nations. At the time the States seceded they proposed a settlement on the basis of common liability for the obligations of the general government. At tho darkest hour of the struggle a permanent government takes the place of the provisional government. After a series of successes and victories we have recently met with serious disasters,.but in the heart of a. people resolved to be free, disas- . ter stimulates to increased exertion. _ A resolution has been introduced in the Confe- , derate Congress to the effect that the South will pledge the last man and the last dollar to prose- I cute the war and to maintain the right of selfgovernment. The resolution has been referred to the Military Committee. Another resolution was offered, providing a compensation for cotton and tobacco burnt.