FOREIGN NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1798, 29 November 1862, Page 5

FOREIGN NEWS.

AMERICA. London, Sept. 26. The great news of the week is from America. The Federals have been struck " hip and thigh" — nothing but a succession of defeats and retreats for them. The scene of the memorable battle of Bull's Run last year, has been the arena of a series of battles this year, which have ended in the utter rout of the Federal armies in Virginia, and the retreat of General Pope to the lines of Washington. It appears that on the 30th August the battle of Bull s Run was resumed by the Federal Generals Huntzelmur and Porter, who were driven back in disorder by the Confederates. General M'Dowell advanced to their support., but the movement being anticipated by the Confederates, they frustrated it by a manoeuvre from their left, with which the divisions of Generals Sigel and M'Dowell were surrounded, and the result was a complete defeat of the Federals left and centre, while it was only by the right of the Federals temaining firm that the whole array was not routed. The Federals retreated across Bull's Run, and fell back on Centreville, which, on the 2nd instant, General Pope was compelled to evacuate; and the whole Federal army, including the divisions of M'Clellan M'Dowell, Banks, Sigel, Franklin, and Sumner, retreated behind the defensive works of Washington, where it now occupies precisely the same position it held before its departure for the peninsula twelve mouths ago. The Confederates pursued the retreating army of the North up to the capital, but sud i denly withdrew nearly all their troops for the purpose of invading Maryland and Pensylvania, and of carrying the war to the North, thus completely turning the whole face of affairs. General Stonewall Jackson, who conducted tbese operations, marched up the left bank of the Upper Potomac, crossed into Maryland, and occupied Frederick with 50,000 meu, where they were enthusiastically received by the Secessionists. By these movements the Confederates have cut off from the Federals the intended reinforcements at Martinburg and Harper's Ferry. There is news to-day from America to the 16tb instant, to the effect that the Confederates are making way in Maryland — that Pennsylvania 13 in a terrible taking in consequence of the threatened invasion ; and the Northern Piess, or some portion of it rather, are beginning to espouse a return to the Union, under the Pre ■idency of Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis bad ordered a day of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the great mercies vouchsafed to the Southern cause : "To the people of the Confederate States. " Once more on the plains of Manassas have our armies been blessed by the Lord of Hosts with a triumph over our enemies. It is my privilege to invite you once more to His footstool, not now in the garb of fasting and sorrow, but with joy and gladness, to render thanks for the great mercies received at His hand. A few months since, and our enemies poured foith their invading legions upon our soil. They laid waste our fields, polluted our altars, and violated the sanctity of our homes. Around our capital they gathered their forces, and, with boastful threats, claimed it as already their prize. The brave troops which rallied to its defence have extinguished tbese vain hopes, and, under the guidance of the same Almighty hand, have scattered our enemies and driven them back in dismay. Uniting these defeated forces and the various armies which had been ravaging our roasts with the army of invasion in Northern Virginia, our enemies have renewed their attempt to subjugate us at the vety place where their first effort was defeated, and the vengeance of retributive justice has overtaken the entire host in a second and complete overthrow. " To this signal success accorded to our arms in the East, has been graciously added another equally brilliant in the West. On the very day on which our forces were led to victory on the plains of Manassas in Virginia, the same Almighty arm assisted us to overcome our enemies at Richmond, in Kentutky. Thus, at one, and the same time, have two great hostile armies been stricken down, and the wicked designs of our enemies set at naught. "In such circumstances it is meet and right that, as a people, we should bow down in thankfulness to that gracious God who has been our bulwark and defence, and to offer unto Him the tribute of thanksgiving as in His hand is the issue of all events, and to him should we, in an especial manner, ascribe the honor of this great deliverance. " Now, therefore I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, do issue this my proclamation, setting apart Thursday, the 18th day of September inst., as a day of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the great mercies vouchsafed to our people, and more especially for the triumph of our arms at Richmond and Manassas ; ami I do hereby invite the people of the Confederate States to meet on that day at theii respective places of public worship, and to unite in rendering thanks and praise to God for these great mercies, and to implore Him to conduct our country safely through the perils which surround us, to the j final attainment of the blessings of peace and j security. " Given under my hand, and the seal of the Confederate States, at Richmond, this 4th day of September, A. D. 1863. " By the President, "Jkffkrson Davis."