The New York Herald Newspaper, September 21, 1863, Page 4

4 JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PKOPHIETOR OFFIOR ¥.W. CORNER OF FULTON anu sasdaU B18. YERMS cash m advance. Money sont vy mali will bo +thbe rie® Of the gender Nove but bak Dilio current ib ew York taken, THE DAILY BERALD ‘tummcenis er copy ‘THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five coat vercopy, Ams usl sudecription price — Any larger number, ddressed to paraes of aubeoribers, $3 50 cach An extra oopy wit! be sent te evory olub of ten. ‘Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $95, and apy larger Dumber at ame price. Anextra copy will be went to clubs of twenty. These rates mate the WEEKLY LiKRALn che chempert publication om the couniry. ‘The Funeraam Komos, every Weducsday, at Frve cents per copy; @& per annum to any part of Great Britain, «x @6 to ary part of the Continent, both to include postage ‘The Catrornta Fverox, Oa the Sd, 13th and 284 of each mouth, at Bx cents per copy, or §3 per annum. ADvERTSEMEMES, to @ limited number, will be inserted ihtne WaeeLy Heaatp, aud im the European end Califor- Bie Faditions, VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing import- sut news, solicited from any quarter of tho world; if used, wili be liberally paid for. gge Our Fonxox Cor- RESPONDENTS ARM PARTIOULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LEY ‘URN@ AND PACKAGES SENT UR. NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence, We not return rejected communication AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. —OrugLL0. ‘Hamer. Bowery.—Nigur Dexon— BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery.—Tux Misixtor Bovca— Poxco—FiLse CoLors, BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM. Brosdway.—Tas Vyrvo\e=.Npia» Caixes, WARRIORS AND Squaws. &0.. ab a¥hours. Browm.pa—Guost. Afternoon and Kvenins. BRYANT'S MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. yov.—-Bruortax Sones, Dances, Buxcesqums. &c.~Hiau Avoy. WOOD's MINSTREL BALL su Broadway.—Krwiortax tency Dani ma, Ac. THe Gust. AMERICAN THEATRE. No. 444 Broadw Pantommms, Bousxsovas, &0.—Sructre or IRVING HALL. Irving = StEREOFTICON. NEW YORK MUSEUM |ATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Cuntosrtigs amp Lecroxxs. from 9 A, M. ‘till 10 P. hind HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, B: ae Fores, Daxcxs, Bustesques, ac. COR ®—Eturoriax —BaLerre, TCHLEY. A desperate engagement between the forces ander General Rosecrans and the rebels took place @aring the forenoon of Saturday last near Chatta- nooga. The rebel attack was made on the Union left in force, and on the right by afeint. The fight on the left was of a very desperate character and the rebels were repulsed; but on being rein- forced regained their position, from which they wore not sgain driven until after a severe engage- meat of an hour and a half. The Union troops thea charged upon the retreating rebels with good effect. About two o'clock in the afternoon a fierce at- tack was made by the rebels on the Union centre, driving it and scattering the troops. The wings of Rosecrans’ forces then closed upon the centre, and after a hard fight recoved the lost ground. ‘The whole general engagement, which was almost entirely fought with musketry, lasted about seven hours, ‘The plan of the rebels was to get between Rose- crans’ army and Chattanooga, but in this ma- nativre they were completely foiled. They were commanded by Generals Hill, Polk, Longstreet and Johnston. The fight was expected to be re- newed on Sunday. Advices from the Potomac Army states that Ewell’s corps has also gone in this direction. Our map will be found very useful in showing the locality of the scene of strife. THE SITUATION. Skirmishing still continues along the banks of tho Rapidan between the Union cavalry of Meade’n army snd the rebels. It is currently reported among the troops of the Union army that Lee's forces bad gone south en masse, and it is said that this fact had been definitely ascertained by the Union scouts and by advices direct from Rich- mond. Ewell's corps is said without donbt to have gone to the reinforcement of the rebel army opposed to Rosecrans, ‘The statement of a refugee from Richmond puts us in possession of Southern news that cannot be gleaned from the rebel journals. from it we learn that the shells from the marsh battery of General Gillmore did some considerable damage to the city amd created a yencral alarm. It also *ppears certain that the rebels bave determined | not to surrender Charleston; but prefer rather that | p 4 | soldiers of the rebel army will remain in Vir- it shall be destroyed entirely either by the Union | A missiles or their own torches. Our map desig- nates the positions where the four shells fell into the city. One of our Washington correspondouts (urnishes us with certain statements of an extraordinary character made te him bya gentleman recently | Virginia to some safer point farther south arrived from Richmond. It is to the effect that an alliance has actually been made between the NEW | wards the Iate German Congress; while the duchies—Holatain, particularly, with its German | popnlation—support the Austrian prepositions for a reform of the Bund. Prussia and Deamark being absent the Germanic constitution could not be changed, as & unanimous vote of the Bundia re- quired for that purpose. In return the German Princes have demanded of Denmark the restora- tion of the provincial form of government, both te Schleswig aud Holstein. Denmark bas replied that this will be effected only at the point of the bayonets of the Germans. She seeks to ally ber- self with Sweden to prevent it; and great oivit struggle, even a Kurepean war, may ensue from the facts stated by our correspondent. We give to-day a very interesting and conclusive statement from Colonel Sir Percy Wyndham, the brilliant cavalry officer of the Army of the Peto- mac, in reply to a communication published in the THaexatp on Wednesday last, signed ‘Percy 8. Wyndham, M. P."” The Lindell Hotel, now nearly completed, in St. Louis, will be the largest on this continent, and will exceed in dimensions any other hotel in the world, except one in France. It will cost five hundred thousand dollars, is ‘272 feet front, 227 feet deep, seven stories high, and will be capable of accommodating one thousand four bundred guests. movement, he can at once make Ligeelf master of the position. Our correspondent at New- bern, N.C., advises we ef @ lange and very mysterions increase ef the rebel forces in that State. We suspect that this increase is from | the army of Lee, and en route to Georgia. Woe | have great confidence in the skill and sagacity | of General Meade; but we cannot forget how | Joe Johnston elipped out of the Shenandoah valley, nor how Beauregard slipped away from Corinth, nor the consequences which followed at Bull run and at Richmond. Now is the time for action. If he is not in Richmond before December, experience has shown that General Meade will be ombarcoed in the muddy soll of Virginia till May. In the meantime the late conjectures of » probable treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, be- tween Jeff. Davis and Louis Napoleon are be- ginning to assume tho shape of positive and cir- curastantial etatements, Thus it is at length announced that, for the equivalent of Texas,’ Alexander H. Stephens, the so-called Vioe Pre- ‘aident of the so-called Confederate States, has scoured from Louis Napoleon the promise of his armed co-operation, to the extent of three hun- The draft in Albany, which was to have com- | dfed thousand men, in behalf of ‘the .indepen- menced to-day, has been postponed. General Ben. F'. Loan, member of Congress elect in Missouri, has given up the sword and opened a law office in St. Joseph. Emancipation movements are very lively in Mis- souri. Slaves go into Kansas at the rate of one hundred and fifty a day. The stock market was dull on Saturday, but very strong, especially on New York Central. Gold rose to 185 and ex- change to148 4 3%, Money was eray at 6 per cent for call loans, Cotton was active and advancing on Saturday. Flour, wheat and corn were more sought after and higher tn Price. V’rovisions were firm, with a fair inquiry. Whis- key was heavg and a trifle cheaper. Coffee, teas and Molasses were in moderate demand, while sugars were in brisk request at rising prices. There was more doing fn hay, hops, wool, tallow and tobacco, which Were quoted firmer, Hides, leather and sking were io fair demand. Manila hemp was inquired for. Fisb at- tracted more attention. There was loss activity in the freight market. Important from Rosecrans—Severe Bat- tle near Chattanooga. The news from Chattanooga, given in another column, is important. The great conflict in that section between Rosecrans’ Union army and the combined rebel forces of Johnston, Bragg, Hill, Longstreet and Polk, began on Saturday morning, and is probably in progress now. The first day’s fighting was in our favor. For some days past the reports and rumors of the depletion of the rebel army of Virginia, to strengthen Bragg in Georgia and Beauregard at Charleston, have been thickening upon us, until at length they are magnified into the statement, at Fortreas Monroe, that the enemy are evacuating Richmond. Nor do we think this information to a certain extent incredible, con- sidering the present desperate situation of the rebellion, although we adhere to the opinion that Richmond and Virginia will not be sur- rendered without another struggle. We have heretofore exptained to our readers the vital importance to the rebellion of those lines of railroads which centre at Atlanta, Georgia—that with that point in the possession of Rosecrans. and with Charleston in the pos- seasion of Gillmore, the Davis confederacy will be cut in two again ax effectually as it was divided with our reopening of the Missiseippi river. In this connection we have shown | the danger to the rebel establishment in : Virginia from the active and unmistakeable reactionary Union movements which are agi- tating the people of North Carolina, and the urgent necessity on the part of General Lee either to advance ouce more against Washing- ton or to detach at least a portion of his army to the relief of Bragg and Beauregard. Any intelligent observer of the late events of the war will now perceive that Lee cannot afford to stand simply upon the defensive, watching the movements of the Union army in bis front, while Rosecrans, Burnside, Gillmore, Foster and the people of North Carolina threaten bis destruction from the rear. Hence we believe these numerous concur- rent reports from Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, that Bragg’s army has been materially strengthened from the army of | to crush the army of Rosecrans or to prevent | its further advance. But it does not follow that to secure this object Richmond and Vir- ginia ure to be absolutely abandoned. On the contrary, while it is probable that the local demands of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama , and that a di te effort will be made | Let ah SS eee ee i war, rise from the humblest ta the highest posi- dence of sald confederacy. And why aot? ‘What is Texas to Jeff. Davis or to his confede- racy while we hold the Mississippi? And what is Mexico to Napoleon with the Union restored? And why is it that, with the armies of the rebellion defeated, routed and retreating on every side, their leading newspaper organs should still be as defiant and confident of the final result as ever, if they do not confidently count upon a rescue by Napoleon, with the con- sent of England? How is Napolcon to back out of Mexico without disgrace? How can he hold Mexico without a bargain with Davis, including Texes? Let Bragg and Joboston be sufficiently strengthened from Lee to overthrew the army of Rosecrans, and let this disaster be the conee- quence of this conjunction, and we may expect it to be accepted by Louis Napoleon as a suffi- cient justification for armed intervention in support of Davis. At all events, with Rose- crans down in Georgia, between the great rebel Army of Virginia and two or three armies con- centrating in his front, his success, and the speedy success of the Union cause, depend upon the superior fighting qualities of his troops and the Army of the Potomac. The news which we publish this morning from Chattanooga is of the most cheering character, and the telegraph to-day may bring despatches telling of a decisive victory of Rosecrans over Johnston and Bragg. Tae Retictovs Exewenr iw Oor Army.—The English journals: cannot: conceal their morti- fication at the fact that the young men of Ireland prefer coming out to enlist in our army to remaining to garner the barvests of their revilera and oppressors. The consequence is that their unusually abundant orops will this year be partially lest from the want of hands to gather them in. The English have them. selves to thank for this. Although Catholic disabilities have been nominally removed, they are still, as regards the English army, practi- eally in force. The Irish soldier, but especially the Catholic, has no chance of promotion in it. | His religion is an effectual bar to his advance- ment, and there are but few instances of the brave Irishmen who have fought the battles of England onso many bloody fields being raised from the ranks. Here the case is different. Our constitution recognizes no religious disabilities, and the Roman Catholic, the Untversalist and the Jew stand upon the same footing as the Pro- testant. So little is even prejudice allowed to interfere with the religious rights of the Ame- rican citizen that it was only the other day, in a dispute for precedence between the ministers of different persuasions, one of our military commanders decided in favor of a rabbi, on the ground that the Jewish was the most ancient of the creeds. Is itextraordinary, then, that [rishmen, who have a natural taste for the military career, should prefer a service in which there are nei- ther national nor religious obstacles to their ad- j vancement? They have seen many.of their own countrymen, since the commencement of the tions in our army. And so far is Catboliciem {from being a barrier to the promo tion of the deserving soldier that four of our most important military de- partments are commanded by Roman Catho- and Mississippi for their own troops for their own defence have resulted in the movement of those troops to tlie assistance of Bragg, John- ston and Beauregard, we do not think it proba- ble that the forty or fifty thousand rebel soldiers in Virginia, whose homes are in that State, have been, or will consent to be, em- ployed in the defence of a coufederacy which involves the abandonment of Virginia to the “old Union.” We know that when Bragg abandoned Tennessee his soldiers from that State abandoned him by hundreds and by thousands. ‘They had been fighting for a Southern confederacy; but what was this con- | federacy te them with Tennessee left out in the cold? The same was the case in Kentucky and Missouri, aud more recently in Mississippi, with the overthrow of the rebel armies therein. We conclude, therefore, that the Virginia ginia still to fight for their sinking cause, | while they concede the justice of allowiag their | confederates from Georgia, &c., to return home to defend their States against the invading | “Yankees.” the removal of the rebel government from | ward; but still the advance to an occupa- | tion of Richmond by General Meade may be | | Stoutly contested by the rebel forces belonging This arrangement may involve | French Emperor and the rebel confederacy, by | to Virginia. ‘Thus the rebel leaders may calcu- | which the former undertakes to supply his navy | Jate that the advance of Meade upon Richmond, and an army of three hundred thousand men to the | and beyond that city, may at least be delayed : service of the confederacy, and the latter agrees ) until the heavily reinforced columns of John- | to turn over to him the whole of the trans-Missis. | #lon and Bragg stall have destroyed the army | of Rosecrans, and in season for @ junction of | Johnston and Bragg with Lee and bis Vie- ginians for the destruction of Meade and a victorions march upon Washington. ‘This, in all probability, is the present pro- gramme of Jeff. Davis. It is a desperate game; but it holds aut the possibility of a rescue, and | itis the very beat game which the desperate | Duchy of Holstetn—sends us an importunt letter, | situation of Jem. Davis will justify. In this | dated on the Slat of August, on the subject of the | view, therefore, we recognize the importance critical state of the relations which exist just now | of vigorous measures on the part of General | Dotween Doumark and the duchies of Schleswig | yfoado and the co-operating Union forces on | snd Holstein, and which, it is expeewd, will pro. way in the end involve the great Powors of | ments of the enemy, should not, we are in- Varope. The King of Dromark ogreca with ang | clined to think, be allowed to delay the ad exproves of the ection of the King of Pravin to. | vaace of General Meade, when by o flank sippi region—when it can get it. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS Our Boropean files by the steamship Damascus, from Liverpool on the Sd of September, reached this city yesterday evening. The contents of the papers have been fully anticipated by the mails of the Arabia and Clty of Cork. Oar correspondent in Altona—in the Danish the Richmond, peninsnta. ” A range of fortified | ; lics—namely, South Carolina, by General Gill- more; North Carolina and Eastern Virginia, by General Foster; the Army of the Cumberland, by General Rosecrans, and the Army of the Potomac, by General Meade. These distin- guished officers set an example in their per- sonal habits which we wish waa more generally imitated. Before Gen. Gillmore went to South Carolina he might have been seen regularly receiving the sacrament at the Roman Catholic church of St. Peter's, Brooklyn; and one of the first acts of General Rosecrans after the success of his brilliant strategical operations in Tennessee was to have a high mass cele- brated in Cincinnati in devout thankfulness fer the favor accorded to his efforta by an all- ruling Prayidence. With such facts before them it is not surprising that young Irishmen should be eager to embrace a military career in this country. They are the only recruiting agents that the United States has employed at the other side, the assertions of Raglisl tory | journals and secesh organs to the contrary not- withetanding. If England were to treat [rish- | men with but common justice the inducements + to emigration which are stripping the United ¢ Kingdom of its best fighting material and field labor would not now be operating in such force. + Tux Crors—In another columo will be found a brief summary of the condition of the crops for the month of August, extracted from the last monthly report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. It will be seen that but for ihe frost of the 30th of August the crops of corn, tobacco, sorghum and buckwheat, would all have been excellent. The general average in- jury from the blight in question is calculated ‘ at about one-third, or thirty-three per cent; but this is believed to be greatly above the mark. The September circular will give us the result more accurately, and it is hoped that the above estimate will be greatly reduced by it. The flax crop is uninjured, and will, it is expected, reach # general average of one hundred and tweaty per cent more than that of last year. Of the injury done to cotton in the States which are experimenting in ite culture we ave nothing specific in this report. The ! gpeculations that have been published on the most therefore be accented with reserve. YORK HERALD, MUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, The News from Sabine Pars—Ferry and Cai Boate Upposed te Fortifications. “It bas long been an established fact that wooden ships, armed even with the heaviest ordnance, cannot be sccensfully opposed to fortifications constructed of stone, brick, or ovea earth. When we speak of wooden ships we refer to properly constructed men-of-war, vessels that are as perfect as can be made for the purpose for which they are intended. His- tory furnishes no instances of forte being de- stroyed by ships where the guns ashore were equal ia number and catibre to thog afloat. The attack on the fortifications of Sebastopol by the combined squadrons of France and England fully demonstrated the folly of at- tempting to demolish, or even materially injare, works of such magnitude with ships, although of the heaviest olass. 2 The bombardment of the Fortress of Kinbura, in Russia, by the same squadrons, was more successful, because, for the firet time in naval warface, iron-clad floating battaries were em- ‘ployed, which were proof against any ordnance in use at the time. ‘The work was compelled to-surréender, not, however, without ini peer ge Aad the wooden vessels engaged in the attack. works at Hattores Inlet -and Port Royal’ were compelled to surrender by an, attack-made with wooden vessels, but only for the reason of the ships being kept in motion, thus destroying the accuracy of the fire from the guns ashore, and on account of the superior number and calibre of the armament brought to bear against forts that were armed only on barbetic, exposing the gunners to the hail storm of bullets that was hurled against thom. With ell the experience we have bad, not only in all former wars, but in the present, we do not appear to have profited much by it We yesterday gave an interesting account of the capture of the United States steamers Clif- ton and Sachem by the rebel forces at Sabine Pass, because of their having been disabled by the fire of heavy batteries on shore. That the public may know the character of the ves- sels composing the naval part of the expedi- tion for the invasion of Texas, and how utterly unfitted they were for the werk to be per- formed, it may be well to, say that the Clif- ton was an old Staten Island ferryboat. the Sachem a flimsy propeller, the Arizona a side- wheel steamer, and the Granite City @ cap- tured English blockade runner. {fn all these vessels the boilers and machinery were above the water line, exposed to shot and shell, and it was by reason of fujury to these--the only propelling powor of the two vessels—that they fell into the hands of the enemy. ft may be well also to state that the channel over the bar and into Sabine is very narrow and intri- cale, and the water there hvala, aot being over eight feet at half tide. Here we have a cave in which the sue- cess of a military expedition, composed of deveral thousand men, depended upon the.work of four small and comparatively worthless steamers. They were expected to engage filence aud destroy the-fortifications of -saad bags—-none the weakec foe that, however. -and effect an entrance, in order that the troops might land and establish a foothold. What was the consequence? Not only was the entive af- fair failure, but we lose two vessels, their officers and crews, and furnish the enemy with fourteen heavy guns wherewith to make theie Position fac slronger than ever it has been. It may be said, however, that there were no other vessels in the Western Gulf squadron fitted tor the duty. This ix true. But why make an attempt with such material, when it must have been known that every chance was against success? We do not know who is responsible for this failure, neither do we care to inquire at present. Rip Van Winkle Welles must be in- formed on the subject, and al! we ask is that he may profit by the experience thus afforded, and, before permitting again any such wild goose chase, provide such vessels as are fitted to carry on the projected operations with some slight hope of being successful, and not let us hear again of canal and ferry boats being op- | posed to strong earthwork fortifications. JiFreRENCE IN THN Treatment o« Usionx ann Reset, Prisoners. In another colamn will be found a revolting account of the manner in which Captains Sawyer and Flynn—the two Union officers under sentence of death at Rich- mond—are treated by their rebel jailers. It is furnished by a young officer recently released | from the Libby prison, and is no doubt reliable, These unfortunate gentlemen are, it appears, confined ina sort of wooden cage, measuring six feet by eight, light and air being only ad- mitted through an aperture in the ceiling about a foot square, through which also their food is passed. The condition of this den is described te be horrible, no arrangements being made for either cleaning or ventilating it. What a contrast is this to the treatment of Geueral Lee anf Captain Winder, held by us as hostages for the safety of those unfortunate officers. Not only liave they every comfort in the way of food and clothing, but they are taken out regularly every day for exercise, and have even thelr segars and tobacco furnished them. The barbarous manger in which Union prisoners | have been treated since the commencement of the war will reflect eternal disgrace on the Southern chivalry. And this is done under the directions of a ruler who is always denouncing Northern inhumanity, and who rivals Oliver Cromwell in his sanctimonious invocations to the Almighty. How any cause can expect the blessings of Heaven which is stained by xo | much hypocrisy and cruelty is difficult for us God-fearing people of the North to understand. Evora JBALOvSY or Awmnicay Rivatnr.— | We publish elsewhere a remarkable statement | from the foreman and delegation of the Man- hattan Steam Fire Engine Company, who went to England on the invitation of the Chief of the | London Fire Brigade, 10 compete at the recent “contest hetween the steam fire engines of the world.” No psrallel can be found for the meanness aod trickery practised towards the American company on this occasion, except that which bag marked the conduct of the Fng- lish government and press towards us as a people since the commencement of the war. It will stir the blood of every American to think that any portion of our countrymen should have been seduced by expectations of fair treatment inte soch a trap, It ia plain that we sha! have to do with the English as we are doing with the rebely—uamely, whip them into respect aod commonly decent treatment of us 1660, 1587, 1509, S784, 3906, 3538, $408, BATO. 3412, S410, 2415, 2264, 3aR6, GHA, 1858. Sc ramwe Korn Atevan a, Deny. — Non epamsrelad mo (en 1863, MEADE'S ARMY. Continued Skirmishing Along the Front. POSITION OF THE REBEL LINE. Troops from Lee’s Army Moving South- ward Through Richmond. Ewell’s Corps Gone to Rein- force Bragg, od de. &e., Mr. F. G. Chapman's Despatires. Haw ARMY OF Tax Potomac, eee Amr eL iD, 108s.” f RIBCUTION OF ARTEN DRErRTERD. Yesterday wus spengic dey with the Army of tho Poto- mac, Ne less than seven wore shot betweoa, the hours of tea A. M. and four P. M., as followe:— Edin Eltiqtt, company B, Fourteenth Connecticut, and George Joy, alias Vharica Eastman, of the samo regiment. ‘@eot in tho’ Second corps ; Private George Van, Company D, Tweifth Now York infantry; Corporal Jacob Wierdaio,, company G, One Husdred and Ninoteenth New York, in Use Fleventh corps; privates Corncliue Trace, Company K, Soventy-cighth New York; William Stith, Company EF, Seventy-sighth Now York, aud Albert Jones, Company K, Third Marytand, in Twelfth corps. MEAVY FIRING ON THK RAMDAN. ‘There was considerable beavy fring yesterday in the direction of Raccoon ford,on the Rapidan; but T cannot Joarn the result of it. Tho Rapidan raised several fet yesterday, and it would seom impossible for either our Own oF the revel army to oross to offer baltic until it re codes, The rebels appear to be preparing to contest the occupancy of the country south of the river to the last ditch; bat what we can leara of their movements must not be takea as certainiy indicating thoir designs, vor need people be disappointed if uo great battle takes place jomedingely io this vicinity. The rain yesterday and ‘Thursday has so aoftened the roads an@ewollen the smail stroams as to render land transportation extremely toil wore, and some delay will be inevitabio. TEM RRUMT, CITIZEN TALKING OF REUNION AND KROOW STRUGHON. 1 fud a vaatly improved state of society-horeabout since was here a year ago with General Popo. The rebel people are aot as sanguine of success now, and taary who were thea rabidly in favor of fighting to the Iast man talk hopefully of reconstruction and reunion. This change in sentiment may be partly ascribed to the presence of a few anti-rebolitous Virginians, chief among wiom ig Jobn Minor Botts, whose residence ix near hero. Heapquaerees, Agu ov tan Voromso, Sept, 20, 1863 OPRRATIONS AT THK PRONT—CUKAR WRATHRR There was but litte skirmishing at the front yesterday. ‘The storm has cleared away, and we have the promise of afew days of fine weather. The coads aro getting in good condition (or marching. OUR (OSE IN THN SATE SacIRMIAHAR, Our entire logseq in the skirmishes duriag 44> past wook amount (0 only aincty-three mon end five officers, ‘killed, wounded and missing, instoad of two Ruadred, as atated in your Washington despatch. HAR CONWHNON OF THR 2AMY. Our troops were never in velter condition or mere anxious to go forward. Moat.of.the wousdod in the recent atirmishes Wore seut to-day to Washingtoa. PAYMESY OF THE TRODPR, A aumber of paymasters, having completed their work of paying off the troops, left to-day. In two or three days wore, unless somoising intervenes to prevent it, ali the troops will have been paid. Mr. J. H. Vo rg’s Decpaten. Cureurrne Come Howse, Va, Bopt. 18, 1868. CULEFPYRR COURT HOUSR has been principally known @uring the present war in connection with the rocket-like career of Major General Pope as commaader of the Army of Virginie, Since that time the vicinity of the town has been almost constantly occupied as the camping ground of Stoart’s rebel caval ry, once thé terror of Union pickets and owners of horses in Marytand and Peonsytvania, but whose glory has now apparently forever doperted, The decay of much of the equine portion of the force is sufficiently evidenced to the olfactories in this neighborhood. The towo of Culpepper and the cirevmiacent country are well kuown as among the most beautiful im Virginia, to go no farther to seek comparisons, The lovely natural features of the scenery still remain; but in respect to adornments atrictly humen. and particalarly in the town | of Culpepper, the devastations of war are sadiy apparent. | Like everything which the rebellion hes touched, the town is wofully defiied. Itis not now by any means a deantiful place, but a very dirty and desolate one. There are many inhabitants still ieft; bat they gener ally try to keep aloot from the at present dominant party, and show, by every means in their power, tnat they have ic detestation of the Yankee rage. I have ¢ two conditional Union men, persons of intelligence, to whom has not yet been semonstrated the lovely resnits of secession. One of these men bewalied the falling off of the mbabitents ta respect to morality, which retrogradation he characterized as shock- | ing. Such « state of things as he described is really saddeniug, but probably an inovitable consequence of the continued occupation of a place by an army, partioutarly an army of friends, apd more especially an army of the cbivairy. 1862 aso 1963. A little more than one year ago General Joba Pope led the newly formed Army of Virginia through tuis region, bie assumption of command being be raided by « universally echoing biast from the Press. Yet among the preparations by which Pope's campaign was to be made the most brilliant of the war, was (he order probibitivg any correspondent of (he press from accompanying the army, Tt wasa long time be- fore the public was weil informed jn regard to this realy and woprecedently disastrous campaiga, !e consequence of being deprived of accurate information through ite usual and trusted source of information—the press. A few days since it was feared that the present campaign was ; 10 be inaugarated by similar nonsensical orders respecting the preas, the authorized medium between our brave | army and the futelligent public im the North, which wishes to know and has aright to know what the army in doing, and whether it ie properly generaled. GENERAL MRADE ‘a certainty « very different man from Genera! Pope: for modesty is characteristic of the former. God grant that his present campaign may be as much more satisfactory as his personal character ie admirable, General Meade not chargeable with the recent besitating umid attempts to prevent the people from He | and | tnowing the truth in regard to the present campaign. has no desire to attempt to deceive the people tempo rarily, not wishing to obtain any credit that history will not confirm THR Renars are evidently frightened, and feel their weakness. They | lave taken the only realty strong position between the Rappahannock und their defences in the vicinity of Richmond. I» May last, while a prisoner, and taking this route to Richmond, | was shown the position to §which Lee tntonded to fal] back In case the movement of Hooker compelled him to defend this tine of approach to the rebol capital. 1 then thought, and #0 declared in my letter describing my captivity, that this waa a very strong position, and could not be taken unless turned, This isthe same position now taken by the rohols to reetet our’advance, OUR PREPARATIONS aod our pluns f cannot @ay anything about, ox cept that the present commander of this army understands | very woll the requirements of the esas, and Is fully pre pared for all emergencies. This army was never in so good condition as now, aad never more calmiy, deter. minodty conddent, The [public may frely upon it that the army can be dopeaded upom, and that accurate re. | porte of all important operations wiil be forwarded to the } Dress Crom persons who are on the spot, aod speak of | what thay geo with thelr own practised oyes mary, Te geome to be a settled and discouraging fact that the boaveng Always weep when the Army of the Potomac | mower.” We derive no ttl-omeaed conctusions (rom this, “aad the Beayy slotm wh iak commenced iaat ereoing end Loaninwsd, wea to have beoo lowitmd for at thames | orm, 205, Mer 08 8 WH oT Mgal, 14 a9) Uae omar ww - rn ee @retied , oxcent oa account of the poor soldiers whe are waubettored m Whe waking rain. Cureurren, Va. , Sept. 20, 1868. ‘Pm NME'S LRPT—A AKIRA. ‘The toft of the enemy's tine is ascertained ty be ae Wieland’s 411s, on Crooked Kun, Yesterday two squad. rons of the Sixtosoth Pennsylvania Cavalry bed & ekir mieh near that points with a cavalry force, driving the robela across the stream. Two rebels, one a cal wore killed, aud we mado prisoners ef a captain and Privates. ‘The Ninth. Virginia rebel cavalry are scouring the Country vorth of the Rappahannock river, principally im the viotnity of Stafford Court House. WILLS OORPH GONK TO CHATTANOOGA. It ts madd to be definitely ascertained that Kwell's corpe bas gona to Chattanooga, Mr. George H. Hart's Despatch. Neon zum Rarwan, Sept. 19, 1868 A RECONNONB ANCE. . A reconnoinaance made thia day by Captain Kobingof, with a detachinent of tho Sixtgepth Pennsylvania discovered tbe rebels Afteon hundred , at Rive Ford, On thie ido of the Rapidan, The disparity of numbers Of course precluded the captain from making any comea- strations, but be, however, succesded in capturicg three Prigouers. The rebels are nol believed to be in force orcas the river. Captain Mason and three men of the Second New fork cavalry were captured yesterday near tho Rapoabannook river. Captain Barker, of the Fifth Now York cavalry, was yesterday dangerously woun'cd through the chest by « abot fired by. concealed bushwhacker, whilo on the marob from Grove obarch. Oar Washington Deapatch. Wasninaron, Sept. 20, 1865. Alady who hag jast reached Washington from Rich. mond confirms the report of the pnasage throagh Rich- moad of quite a large number of trons from General Lee's army. It was genorally conceded when she loft that tho destination of these troops was the Southwest, where tho rebel authorities hope by a bold coup to recover gome of the ground they have recenily lost there Moaby has recovered from his wounds and is as active a8 over ‘This lady goes to-morrow to Genoral Heade’s boadquar tore to give bim much valuable information. Theatrical. ‘e ‘Manager Jackson begins bis fal! and wioter goasoe at {he Winter Garden this evening. We suppose that he will conduot it with bis “customary liberality.” Mr. A, B. Davenport will be stage manager, Mr. tobn Cocke leads vho orchestra. Mr. Jackson, the second, attends to the treasury department, aod we hope he will have pieaty todo. Mr. Fdwin Booth ia tho first etar, und appears im “Hamlet” tiie evening. It is almost }is worst part, tm ‘an artistic point of viow; but it draws money. Mr. Booth will be heartily walcomed Mr. Forrest plays Othello to-night at Niblo's Gardem for tho last time thia season. We aro very glad to bear it, We can cordially praise Mr. Forrest in melodramace parts like Metamora and Spartacus; but we cannot honestly praise him in Shakspereun parts, and it is much ploasaator for all concerned tbat we should rather praise thaa blame, Mr, Forrest is losing that vigor which asad to cover at hia dofects and redeem even his physi- cai peculiarities. His Hamlet and Ochelio now excite Amiles ingtoad of admiration. Let him confine himself to those molodramatic charaoters which he has fairly created and he will be as immortal na bo desires (o be, 204 will draw crowded houses up to the very night ®e- fore the Day of Judgment. Asthe same, theatro Baadmann repeats wnls Waroi seo ‘This week for Nae tact time, Wo are not giad tohear thus The play.ie, admirable, aad Mr. Randmana’s acting: 13.60 Freeh, aalurel and powerful as to excite the atten- on and admiration of even the most Slase thentre-goera. Alter Readmana.we aro to have Vestcall, who.will make her @rat appearance in Engtish dram, on the 29th inst. ‘Too play will be Gamoa, the Jewish Mother,” trans- tated “trom tii Fronob of Mocquard by Matilda Heros, Mr. Robert Stoopet has composed the ‘acideatal muste, which consists of three songs by Vestval! and a fue cborns, Voateali wilt play in Romeo and Juliet,” “Ruy Gomes” and ‘ide Duke's Motte” at the conclusion of this eagage. ment. ‘Me, Watleck announces that he will shortly reopen his ty’ moags aoxt Monday, wobvelicvo, As to the regtidiag, is not that ‘gilding refined zold?’’ Mr. Mollenhauer takes ‘Stoopel’s piace in tha orchestra. Miss loue Burke and Me, Daly have been added tothe company. Mies Burke te very protty aod vory clever; butwhy Mr Daily? The opening piece isa vew drama by awell knowa author, who bas suddenly become eo modest that he does ast waat bis namo mentioned ta the Haran at presest. in cousideration of the extreme rarity of this phenome- non we shall grati(y the gentieman in question. The t081 of the old.atock company Buve been retained, aad we hear rumors of a young detn’ap's belonging to one of our fest (amiies Mrs, Joka Wood will open her Olympic theatre about the jta of Oviober, The louse is being altered and re. farnishod, and will uodoudtedly be a4 hasdsome as Mrs. Wood herselt, Mr. Charto: Walcot, Mr. Davidve and Mr. Rea sre to be members o tho Olympic company. The specialty of the theatre will be burlesques, traves- ties and burictwas, and we hope that Mra. Wood will carefully avoid high comedics and low molodramas— the doylia and Coarybdts of such ag establishment. A revival of the favorite old Olympic, with all the moderm improvements, caanot fail to sacceed. Paria and London have such theatres, and they are crowded nightly. There is no rewon why New York should got be similar'y bieesed and amused; and of all our actresses Mrs. Wood ‘ae ope who has the best capabilities (or properly cou- ducting sucts au institutioa, Mr. Eddy. baving concluded bts long engagement ab | the New Bowery, Mauager Lingard now agale adds Mrs. W. G. Jones, aa admirabie actress, to bis stock company, she will make Ler rentree this evening, sup- Ported by Mr. Boniface and the Ghort. Verrecke, the great gymaast, is also engaged, aad will perfurm these wonder. ful feats which he could vot attempt at the Alhambra cirogs because his trapeses could not be properly arranged. Mr. Fox atitl runs the Ghost at the Old Bowery, and it is at- tracting such crowded houses that be cannot withdraw it, ‘This may be a matter of regret (6 couscieations critics, Dut Mr. Fox does not seo it im that light. A melodrama and a capital pantomime com- plete the programme at the Old Bowery to-night. Oer- taioly this is enough for the money, At the Park theatre, Brooklyn, “ Beauty and the Beast” will be produced to night. ‘This theatre has made a bit, and promises well. Mise Mary ‘Shaw is the attrae- tion, A new secoad tier entrance will be arranged shortly. At tbe Brooklyn Academy of Music Miss laura Keene begins a series of performances this evening with “Maske and Faces.” Peg Wofiugton is one of Miss Keene's dest parts. She plays i delightfully, and wilt be supported by a good company, who will do ample justice to the comedy. A new burietia, burieequing the Ghost, will be brought out on Wednesaay. It ie written by Mr. Frank Wood, and in calied “The Marbie Maiden.” Miss Keene will build a naw theatre im this city next year, Baroum sti has bis ghosts, hts Indians, bis snakes an@ his fishes on exhibition. There is eo change in his estab. lishment oxcept what w taken atthe door. The New York theatre has achieved @ success. The performances are excellent and the house well mansged. The‘American theatre bas ite tittle ghost, which hundreds of poople go to wooder st nightly. The Stereopticon will not be ox- hibited at Irving Hall after this week. Go early. Mr. and Mrs. Florence are at the Boston theatre, making the (‘hub of the universe’’ laugh with their farces and bur: leaques. “Fra Diavolo” has succeeded, as it deserved. Mr. Florence i# Inimitable im thia travestic, Bulwer's “Lady of Lyons’’ and & new drama called “Kathioen Mavourneen’’ are announced for this week. The Florences will appear at the Winter Garten on the 24 of November. Manager Glonv is making money at the Norfols theatre. He has the Ghost aod Mr. Neatle and Miss Mary Mitcheti, and haw engaged Mrw, Gladstane, Reddy and the Webb atv. tare. These sisters will probably produce a new aude. ville by De Nyne, called “The Pet of th Family.’* Mr. Dion Bouctoault writes that hie wife (Misa Agnes Robertson), will leave Liverpool for this country on the Léth of October. She haa engagements st Boston and Philadelphia during December. If Mrs, Boucicault bo well received beremand why should ehe note—my, Roucidault will probably follow her with several sew comedian in his pocket. Feand Drowned at Fort Hamtiten. Foe Haman, 1. [., Sept, 20, 1868. ‘proper Begoott beld an inquest this aMerneen opon the body of aman fonmd lying on the bench. The deceased wag about thirty years old, had good tooth, black hale, whiskers under the chin, and was dressed in grey steipe® pants, gray mired yodershiri, plaid fenvel overshirt sed coarse shows The jury rendered (he verdict. ‘(Found Preto