Latest from the North.
the Slidell and Mason Affair--Affairs on the South side of the Potomac — grand review and sham battle — the death of Col. Croghan, &c.
We are enabled to present our readers this morning with a summary of Northern news taken from the Baltimore Sun, of the 23d inst.:
The Mason and Slidell Apfair--Lord Lyons Expresses no opinion on the subject.
Important advices from England — her Relations with the United States, Etc.
‘"Ion,"’ of the 22d inst., has correspondence from Washington in the Sun, from which we make the following extract:‘ Advices were received from London by the last packet from the leading American bankers, Mr. George Peabody and Mr. Bates, stating their own opinion to be that the British Government is desirous of preserving peace with the United States, and that it will not recognize the Confederate States, nor attempt to raise the blockade of their ports.
Some hesitation in business is caused in Boston and New York by an apprehension that the British Government will resent the arrest of the ministers Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Stocks have also fallen in consequence of the uncertainty as to future relations with Great Britain.
Upon the authority of the British Annual Register, I mentioned that Mr. Laurens, on passage to Holland as minister from the colonies, was captured in a ‘"Congress packet, the Mercury."’ It appears however from Mr. Lauren's correspondence that the Mercury was a Dutch packet, and that Holland was then a neutral.
’
Grand review — a sham battle.
The infantry and artillery first opened the fire which was continued by the entire division for nearly an hour, movements as in actual battle being observed. They imagined the enemy to be in the direction of Lewins ville.
Ayree's battery, which occupies Smoot's Hill, took part in the engagement. The exercises were closed by a change from Friedman's cavalry on a fancied column of the enemy's infantry. The only accident was that to Charies Trenter, of company I, of Philadelphia, who was thrown from his horse and severely injured. Both the review and the sham battle were in the highest degree creditable to Gen. Smith's division, and showed that it has rapidly progressed in discipline and efficinacy.
From the South side of the Potomac.
The party returned late last night, having been altogether successful, and met with no casualties whatever.
Information was received that the rebels had constructed an artillery road from Flint Hill to Germantown.
From the Lower Potomac — successful Running of the blockade.
Two schooners loaded with wood also ran the blockade of the rebel batteries successfully on Wednesday night.
The enemy is apparently at work on a new battery on Possum Nose, which is for above the others, on Mr. Otterback's lands.
Shipment of Arms from England to the United States Prohisited.
Interview between Governor Pierpont and President Lincoln.
Interesting from the Hanawha — particulars of the fight at M'Coy's Mills — the fall of Col. Croghan.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, writing from Fayette county Court-House, Va., Nov. 15, gives some particulars of the late fight at McCoy's Mills, between the Federal forces, under Gen. Benham, and a portion of the Confederates, under Gen. Floyd. We quote as follows:Our skirmishers, under the command of the gallant Capt. Gardner, of the Thirteenth Ohio, were in advance of the column on both sides of the road, and proceeded cautiously. Just as they reached a bend in the road, one of the company crawled over and espied two squadrons of cavalry, under Col. Croghan, of Ky., and here commenced the battle of McCoy's Mills.
A volley was instantly opened on the enemy, who were, as their wounded afterwards acknowledged, taken completely by surprise. At the first fire several saddles were emptied, and Col. Croghan fell mortally wounded in the abdomen. The rebels, though surprised, showed fight and retired slowly, firing as they went; but our men having possession of the elevated ground on both sides, exposed them to a galling cross-fire, and forced them back. The main body then advanced, having, as before, strong parties of skirmishers. Colonel Croghan was carried to the nearest house, and was eared for as well as the state of the case would admit of by Surgeon Chase, of the Ohio Thirteenth.--He was a gallant man and an accomplished officer, and though an enemy the sight of his dying agonies ‘"drew tears from the eyes of men unused to weep."’ The Colonel's father and Gen. Benham were old acquaintances, (in fact, I believe, classmates at West Point,) and the interview between them was of course unusually painful. We did all we could for the unfortunate man, but human aid was vain, and he expired the same afternoon. We brought down the body on our return, and Gen. Benham intends forwarding it to his friends at once.
At 12.20 our advance reached McCoy's mills and a sharp action at once ensued. The enemy's forces consisted of the cavalry engaged in the former skirmish, and at least one--I think two--regiments of infantry. They held their own against our skirmishers, and having the advantage of ground, bid fair to give us considerable trouble and delay, for some time at least, in our pursuit of their main force.
Gen. Benham at once ordered the Seventh, under Col. Creighton, and half of the Thirty-seventh German, to take possession of a ridge on the right of the road. The advance, consisting of the Thirteenth, Col. Smith--who did the work as well as man could do it — occupied the left, and Capt. Schneider's battery being brought to the extreme front, we prepared to dislodge them.
Col. Smith discovered a large body of cavalry in an exposed part of the hill, within fair range, and the gallant German took deliberate aim, and bang went the gun, whiz went the ball, and — away went the cavalry under cover. I rode by the side of the artillery, and distinctly saw the shot strike among them. We now poured it in hot and heavy, and they scattered in all directions.--All this time our troops on the right were firing whenever they had a fair chance, and constantly advancing.
At or before this time a portion of the Thirteenth took up a position on their extreme left, threatening to get in their rear.--The rebels finding the climate too warm fied in disorder. It is difficult to correctly estimate the loss of the enemy, as we were too much hurried to make search for them, but it could not have been less than fifteen killed and wounded.
We did not lose a man. This all sounds rather fishy, but they had no artillery, and all our men within reach of their musketry were kept carefully under cover by their commending officers.
Gen. Renham wisely received to proceed no further that night. We bivouacked in the open fields, and if I had loved Western Virginia before with all the ardent affection of one of her own gallant bushwhackers, that night would have turned my love to bitter hate. That night at 10 o'clock the General received orders from Gen. Schenck--who had crossed the river at Gauley, but none of whose reinforcements had reached us — to return. We took up our line of march at two o'clock A. M., and reached this place at about one P. M., where both brigades are now stationed.
From Washington — the Engineer brigade--Promotion, &c.
From the Washington Star, of the 22d inst., we copy the following:‘ Lieut Col. Alexander, of the U. S. Engineers, who is in command of the engineer brigade of the army of the Potomac, is industriously perfecting the Fifteenth and Fiftieth New York regiments that form his command in the pontoon bridge drill. Their current practice is upon the eastern branch. Yesterday they completed a bridge a hundred yards long in thirty minutes from the time of the arrival of the paraphernalia at the bank of the stream. So far as it extended, it would have sufficed to cross the whole grand army of Gen. McClellan over a stream a hundred yards wide in as short time as it could cross over as much space on a common road.
Lieut. Henry A. Wise is the acting chief of the Naval Orduance Burean in the absence of Capt. Harwood, who is off on a tour of inspection, in the course of which he will doubtless inspect the ordnance in all the United States navy-yards. This is the first instance on record in which a lieutenant has been charged with the chieftainship of a naval bureau.
We are gratified to learn that to-day Col. Phillip St. George Cooke, U. S. A., recently made a Brigadier General of volunteers, was promoted to be a Brigadier General in the regular service.
It seems to be understood that Brig. Gen. Sumner is about to be placed by Major-Gen. McClellan in command of an important division of the army of the Potomac.
’
The coming session of Congress — Efficiency of the army of the Potomac--Opening trade with the South.
‘"Ion,"’ the special Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, writing under date of the 22d inst., says:‘ The approaching session of Congress will no doubt be protracted into the summer months, not with standing the desire of members to spend their time and wages at home, and the credit they might claim of a month's service already at the extra session. The business of the session will be as important as it will be novel. It will open a new era in the history of the country, and perhaps determine its fate for some time to come. The extent of the operations of the war will demand much at tention, and a number of investigations into its incidents will be necessary. Several committees appointed at the late session with make their reports, and others will be appointed. Foreign complications may arise, and require attention. The character and objects of the war may undergo an essential change; for already there exists a large party that favors the prosecution of the war for the purpose of emancipating slaves.
It is just four months since the battle of Bull Run, and though it is not to be signalized by an advance, yet every one seems to be convinced, by the splendid review of the grand army of the Potomac, that the preparations requisite for a movement are comprete. The rumor that the Confederate army on the Potomac was disorganized is quickly followed by another that it is re-organized.--The two armies face each other and are almost in sight. Which will move forward arst is the question, for neither will retreat.
As to winter quarters, the Federal troops on the other side of the Potomac have already much improved their accommodations. Their tents are made comfortable by log and clay basements, and many of them have somes at of a fire place. It, say some of the officers, the troops be informed that they are to remain where they are, they will soon make their quarters quite tolerable, with the means they have at hand, in logs, brushwood, clay, empty barrers, &c.
Complaints are made in some quarters of the project of Senator Simmons for furnishing the enemy with salt, sugar, coffee, &c., in exchange for cotton. It is objected that the Government policy is to deprive the Confederates of such necessaries. There is no danger, however, at present, that much commerce will be opened with them. All the cotton that we obtain must be taken by force, it, indeed, it can be forced in any large quantity.
’
From Missouri — Price reported to be again advancing.
Kansas City, Nov. 20.--Captain Burchard, with twenty-four of Jennison's brigade, attacked Capt. Hays, with 150 Confederates, at the latter's place of residence to day, and succeeded in driving them away, burning Hays's house, and the house of a man named Gregg. Both Hays and Gregg are captains in the Confederate army.
Capt. Burchard and Lieut. Bostwick were slightly wounded, and their two horses were killed.
The Confederates had five men killed and eight wounded.
Jefferson City, Nov. 20--[Special to the St. Louis Democrat.]--The old terror has settled down upon the counties of the southwest since the retrograde movement of our army, and refugeas are beginning to arrive again, driven from their homes by fear of Price's men, who are reported to be again advancing.
Mr. Gravelly, a member of the State Convention, arrived here last night, from Springfield, which he left on Friday last. He says a body of 3,000 of Price's cavalry have made their appearance at Sarcoxie, and that foraging partles follow up the track of our receding army, plundering the Union citizens, and renewing with impunity every species of outrage. He passed a train of emigrant wagons a mile long, containing Union refugees, and another train of five wagons arrived here to-day.
Five prisoners were brought in to-day from Calloway county, being the first fruits of an expedition which was sent into that county yesterday. These prisoners are charged with repeated outrages on Union men.
The latest from the Astern shore of Virginia.
The Baltimore Republican, of the 21st inst., says:‘ The steamer Georgeanna, Capt. Solomon Pearson, which left here on Thursday afternoon for the purpose of carrying six hundred troops to Fortress Monroe, reached here at a late hour last night, and brings some news from Northampton county.
While passing up the bay, she was boarded by the Captain of the United States gun-boat Rescue, who informed Captain P. that the Federal forces, in part, had succeeded in marching into Northumberland county, and that over eighteen hundred men laid down their arms.
Before the troops advanced a flag of truce, dispatched by the commanding officer for the purpose of circulating Gen. Dix's preclamation, which was said by all who heard it to be fair, and, if carried out, could not but result satisfactority to them. But in yielding to a superior force it was not to be supposed that they have abandoned their principles, but as choosing the least of two evils — of resisting and being overcome by a superior force, or of losing many of their own lives. The captain of the Rescue did not state the oath had been administered to any of the parties, and it was supposed that it was not. The entire county had not been explored, but that part which extended as far as Cherrystone Light-House had been explored and heard from, and the people seemed disposed to receive the soldiers with a good feeling.
Arrangements will be made forthwith for the opening of trade between the two counties, and vessels will no doubt, before the close of the week, be leaving laden with produce.
’
Pensacola to be taken.
The Washington correspondence of the New York World says:‘ You may soon expect to hear that Pensacola is taken. The Navy Department make no concealment of the fact that dispatches are expected daily from the Gulf with an account of the opening of the guns of Fort Pickens upon the rebel batteries. Colonel Brown has repeatedly written for orders allowing him to blow Bragg and his batteries off the opposite shore. He has been chafing like a hound in the lash; but if I am not mistaken the work has been given that will make Pensacola ours.
’
The selected prisoners.
The New York Journal of Commerce, of yesterday, says:‘ We learn from a surgeen recently returned from Richmond, that the apprehensions of the people in regard to the horrible ill-treatment of Col. Cogawell and other officers selected by lot to meet the fate awarded to privateers, is not realized. The field officers have been removed to a large room, well ventilated, and are comfortably taken care of, while the inferior officers are also confined in one room, but not to their personal discomfort. On the whole, it is stated, the officers find themselves more comfortable than they were when in the public quarters of all the prisoners, and do not complain of the change.
’
Passports of passengers for California.
A letter from New York, dated Thursday Nov. 21, says:‘ There were some rich penc this morning an board the steamer Champies, previous to her departure for Aspin wall, is of the rigid scrutiny of the passports of the passengers. There were 800 passengers on the steamer, and the passports they presented were of all sizes, from note paper to double foolscap, some of which cost the owners five dollars. Thirty individuals who had come from Boston presented envelopes with government seals on, which they stated they had received from the agents in that city as passports. They were rejected, amidst the wallings and curses of the luckless wights.
The French and Spanish Consuls are particular in furnishing their countrymen with passports, but the British Consul, it is said, seems to think them unnecessary, and throws every impediment in the way of obtaining them. One English family presented theirs, but it not having been properly rised, they were not permitted to depart.
’
More Federal Lies about the fight at Pirston, Ky.
From the Brooklyn (N. Y.) City News we extract the following:‘ Some wonderful things have been done during the war, but the smartest thing yet was the battle of Piketown, Ky. The Confederate force consisted of 740 men--615 infantry, and 125 cavalry. Of these the Federal troops killed 400 and took 2,700 prisoners! What became of the balance we are unable to learn. We hope they are yet living to repent of their treason. The success of the Federal cause can no longer be doubted. We can beat the Confederates at everything — even at lying.
’
Consular Appointment.
Andrew Johnson in Kentucky.
