LATEST NEWS FROM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 782, 20 June 1864, Page 6

LATEST NEWS FROM

AMERICA.

NEW YORK DATES TO 2nd APRIL.

SAN FRANCISCO, sth APRIL,

Via Auckland and^San Francisco, we have later news from America.. The " Southern Cross" of tlie 6th makes the following extracts.

NEWS OF MARCH 28,

New York, 28th March

The "Post's" special despatch from Washington says that an attempt will soon be made in Congress to reduce the volume of currency, by taxing the circulation of State banks. Newburn advices of Thursday state that two steamers with 700 bales of cotton ran the blocade on the night of the 12th.

A number of paroled prisoners have arrived at Annapolis, and have been paid. A large number of officers left for the North on twenty days' leave of absence. Eight or ten have died. Some fifty more will probably die from the privations undergone in the Libby prison. Further proof of the placing of gunpowder under the prison by the rebels is furnished by these prisoners.

HEWS OF MARCH 29.

Chicago, 29th March.

The Senate yesterday debated its special order namely, the joint resolution to amend the Constitution so as for ever to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude, except for crime. No action was taken.

A correspondent gives the following facts in connection with the rebel attack on Paducah. A detachment of Forrest's force, under Falkner, to the number of 1200, attacked and captured Union City. They afterwards rejoined the principal command, numbering in all some 6500 men, and marched on Paducah, reaching there on the afternoon of Friday. As the rebels advanced, entering the town near the depot, the Union troops- retreated to the fort. The garrison of the place consisted of three companies of the 102 nd Illinois, a few Kentucky cavalry just organising, and about 300 soldiers, numbering, all told, about 600, under Hicks. The rebels sent a flag demanding the surrerder, which was refused. The rebel sharpshooters then occupied the houses nearest the fort, and commenced to pick off oar men. To drive out these a fire was opened on the house by the guns of the fort and our gunboats lying in the river. Owing to the exigencies of the case but little time was given for the removal of the women and children, and in the fight that followed several were killed and wounded. A large number of them were sent across the river, but the ferry boat in returning for another load was fired on by the rebels, and could not land. The rebels made a gallant charge at the Fort, but were repulsed with great slaughter. They sub?equently sent two summonses to surrender, and each time were refused. The rebels then scattered-through the town, contenting themselves with plundering and destroying property. The Quartermaster's buildings were destroyed, and a quantity of commissary stores, not large. A number of other buildings, including the railroad depot, and one steamboat on the stocks, were burned. The negro regiments, it is reported, have behaved admirably. The rebels remained in the vicinity until Saturday morning, when they left in the direction of Columbus. The gunboats fired six hundred rounds and had three men wounded.

New York, 29th March,

The "Herald's" special says:—Gen. Blair is about resigning his seat in Congress to return to the army. There are indications that the report is true that Grant desires M'Clellan and Fremont to have commands.

Advices from Richmond state rebel plans have been for reclamation of Tennessee and Kentucky to the rebels. Jeff. Davis believes that Richmond is almost impregnable, and the great bulk of the rebel forces will be concentrated at the West, where they intend recapturing Chatanooga to reach the Ohio, and again close the Mississippi. A special to the " Commercial " says:— It is asserted that the Senate Committee on foreign relations will report the French spoliation bill, with provisions for auditing and paying the claims.

The special to the "World" says:—A letter from Louisville says the inhabitants of the interior are in a state of constant perplexity and fear. Rebel agents are said to overrun Kentucky in all directions increasing by false reports the feverish

anxiety prevailing everywhere. The idea of the invasion of the rebels is now the fixed opinion, and rumours of their advance are constantly circulating among the people. Several of the Kentucky delegation in the rebel Congress have returned and are inciting the people to revolt. St. Louis, 29 th March.

A special despatch from Charleston, Cole's County, Illinois, says the Copperheads came into that town to attend Court, yesterday, with guns concealed in their waggons and armed with pistols. Some soldiers in the Court House yard were drawn into an affray, and a general fight instantly occurred. The County Sheriff sprang from the Judge's stand, and commenced firing his pistols at the Union men. Major York, the Surgeon of the Fifty-fourth Illinois, was one of the first victims. The Union men at the Court House ran to the adjoining houses and stores for arms, and were fired at from the windows, and from ten to a dozen were wounded. Several soldiers of the same regiment were wounded. Several more of the regiment arrived during the afternoon, and formed in the Court House square. Detachments have been sent in pursuit of a gang of .Copperheads, about seven miles distant. Some twenty prominent Secesh are implicated£in J ,the affair, and are under arrest.

Halifax, 29 th March

Measure to unite Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, into one Government and one Legislature, passed the House of Assembly last evening unanimously.

Washington, 30th March,

The Senate took up the House bill for the establishment of a Territorial Government for Montana. Mr Wilkinson moved to strike out " white male inhabitants," and insert " male citizens of the United States, or those who have declared their intention to become such," The morning hour having expired, the bill was made the special order for to-morrow. The enlistment of coloured troops in Middle Tennessee goes on rapidly. At Sherybyville and Lebanon there are nearly 5000 ready for the field.

news];of 30th mahch.

New Yobk, 30th March

Hilton Head advices of the 24th mention an attack made by the rebels at Jenkins' Island, on the flotilla boats; but their plans were frustrated by our picket boats, which also fired into them. Major Hill, of the 18th Regiment Corps d'Afrique, has been sentenced to degradation from his rank in presence of the troops, and confinement to the Dry Tortugas for one year. General Banks, in approving the sentence, says his offence was an attempt to effect by violence advantages over powerless women, and was disgracful to himself and criminal in the eyes of God and man.

Chicago. 30th March

A detachment of the 54th Ilinois left Charleston on Monday night to attack 300 rebels entrenched at G-alfiday's Mills, ten miles north-east of Charleston. A portion of the same regiment was stationed at Mattoon, for the protection of the place— it being threatened from Shelby and Moultrie counties.

In the fight at Charleston, on Monday, the surgeon, three privates, and two Union citizens were killed; Colonel Mitchell, five privates, and two citizens were wounded ; two Copperheads were killed, and several wounded were taken off by their friends.

Advices from the Red River expedition say the rebels are concentrating at Shreveport, and expect aid from General Harrison's force, which is at Columbus.

Chicago, March 30,

The troubles in Cole's county are more serious than first reported. The forces sent from Matton pursued the insurgents who had left Charleston, and succeeded in capturing about thirty prisoners. These were brought to Matton, when the Copperheads of that and adjoining counties began collecting, with the avowed purpose of rescuing their friends. Reports as yet are obscure, but it is known that a considerable force is entrenched twelve miles from Charleston, under command of the sheriff of Cole's county, and has been joined by a band of desperadoes from Edgar county, under command of the sheriff of that county. A spy sent out by the insurgents was captured in the vicinity of Matton this afternoon. Pie confesses that a large force is at Copairn's Mills. ten miles from south, and another force eight miles west of Matton. The Forty-first Illinoise regiment has been ordered from Camp Yates, and 500 men from Indianapolis. A despatch from Maton, at midnight, says that scouts just in report a force of 1500 rebels within three miles of that place. An at tack is expected to-night. It is believed that with the united efforts of the citizens and soldiers in the camp there the place can be held until the arrival of reinforcements in the morning. The excitement there is intense. The number of insurgents is probably exaggerated.

Cairo, 31st March,

The New Orleans "Delta" af the 23rd, says official information has been received that a reconnoissance was made to Natchadoches, seventy-five miles above Alexandria, on the 213t, where the enemy was met in some force. A fight ensued, in which we turned the enemy's flank, captured four pieces of artillery, with caissons, and two hundred prisoners.

St. Louis, 31st March,

TheProvost-MarshalGeneral has ordered the seizure of all rebel publications, such as Pollard's " Southern History of the War," the "Life of Morgan and Stonewall Jackson," circulating for sale in this department. The steamer Florence sunk in the Missouri river on Monday; valued at fifty thousand dollars. She had a cargo of bacon, grain, and hemp, which was mostly lost.

Fort Smith, 31st March,

About ten thousand effective troops have gone South from this district, and the whole number in the department under General Steel are now moving South. The force is about thirty-five thousand strong, and is sufficient to oppose any rebel force opposing them. A scout from Price's command reports Cabell's force os seven or eight regiments, fifteen miles this side of Washington, Missouri. Troopl are being moved to Camden. Genera Garo has seven or eight thousand Texans at Tannerport, under Marmaduke. Shelby was at Camden. The rebels are well supplied with clothing, and imported shoes from England are said to have just arrived. A large number of negroes have been concentrated at Camden and Washington. Quartrail is south of the Red Riyer. Governor Edwards, of the Choctaw Nation, has issued a proclamation urging the Indians of that tribe to return to their allegiance to the Government, and repossess themselves of what they have lost during the last three years by associating with the rebels'

Denter Crrr, 31st March,

An arrival from New Mexico reports the unconditional surrender of the entire Navijos nation — numbering nearly six thousand—to General Carleton. 'A majority of them were in a destitute condition, and to feed them Carleton was obliged to put the troops on half rations. Louisville, 31st March.

Parson Brown telegraphs from Knoxville, " General Sherman left this morning for Chattanooga, after returning from the front. All is quiet at Massy Creek, and Knoxville is so well fortified that we caa hold it against all Lee's army. Longstreet's forces are at Watuka, more than one hundred miles east of Knoxville. lam of the opinion that the rebels intend forthwith to make a raid into Kentucky."

New York, 31st March,

The "Evening Post's" special says that all the settlers have been ordered to leave the army of the Potomac by the 4th of April. Admiral Dupont reports that on the 28th ten miles south of Abscom, he spoke the ship Wizard King, hence for San Francisco, with the loss of fore and main topmasts, mainmast head, and mizen topmast. She was steering south, and did not ask for assistance.