We have received New York and Baltimore papers of Tuesday, the 18th instant.
Latest from Nashville — more Fighting reported.
The papers contain a scattering sort of dispatch about affairs in the vicinity of Nashville on the 12th. It says:‘ Block houses Nos. 5 and 6 were abandoned by Colonel Morrison's forces, the enemy surrounding them; but they bravely fought their way out, and reached Murfreesboro' without loss.
’ On Sunday, the 4th, block house at Orville creek was attacked by General Bates's rebel division, with a battery of artillery. Seventy-four shots were fired at it, doing, however, no damage.
The same afternoon, three regiments, with a section of artillery, went from Murfreesboro', under General Milroy. The enemy's force was unknown. Our troops attacked and routed the enemy. The Union loss was four killed and forty wounded. The enemy's loss is unknown. Night coming on, our forces returned within the fort.
On Monday last, the enemy was reinforced by two brigades of infantry and twenty-five hundred cavalry, under Forrest in person. During Tuesday and Wednesday, the enemy demonstrated against the fort at Murfreesboro' and the town, coming up within one mile of the fort and skirmishing heavily.
On Wednesday, the enemy's infantry moved around to Wilkilson's pike, about one mile and a quarter northwest for the fortress, near where Negley's command was formed at the battle of Stone river.
Seven regiments and a battery were sent out on the Salem pike, where they encountered the enemy near Wilkilson's pike, entrenched behind breast-works of logs and rails. We attacked and utterly routed the rebels, who were drawn off in great confusion, Forrest's cavalry making a race against time in their hurry to escape.
Our loss in the engagement was thirty killed and one hundred and seventy-five wounded. The enemy's loss largely exceed ours. In this fight we captured two hundred and seven prisoners, including eighteen commissioned officers. Two guns and twelve Napoleons were captured, and one is now in position on the fort.
Just previous to General Milroy's attack on the rebels, Buford's division of cavalry attacked Murfreesboro' and entered the town, shelling it fiercely and destroying many houses.
General Roussean, with one regiment of infantry and artillery, drove them out of the town.
Four Thousand Confederates Cross the Cumberland river into Kentucky.
A telegram from Cairo, dated the 10th instant, says:‘ On the 9th instant, the rebels, under General Lyon, captured the Government transport Thomas E. Tutt, at Cumberland City, on the Cumberland river, twenty miles above Fort Donelson. The Tutt was used for crossing the river. The rebels are on the march into Kentucky. Their force is estimated at four thousand men. The Tutt was loaded with Government forage, and was burned to the water's edge after the rebels had crossed the river.
’ Another telegram says:
‘ When last heard from he was moving towards Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and threatening that place. If he attacks that point, the garrison, being small, will be compelled to fall back to a stronger position. Breckinridge's position seems to be in doubt. A loyal gentleman says he is at Sparta, Tennessee, with about ten thousand men. This gentleman speaks of what he knows, and the fact indicates that Breckinridge intends to reinforce Hood, and, if possible, reach the main rebel army; but the movement of a portion of our troops, under Stoneman and Burbridge, indicate that he will have some difficulty in forming a junction with Hood.
’
Affairs around Richmond — Longstreet's reconnaissance — Warren's return.
A letter from Grant's army, dated the 10th instant alludes to the recent reconnaissance of General Longstreet, and adds:Simultaneously with this attack at the right, the enemy opened their mortar batteries n Fort Durham (Harrison).
Some few casualties have occurred during the day's operations, but to what extent I am not able as yet to state.
A letter from the south side announces the return of Warren from his unsuccessful expedition South. It claims that fifteen miles of the Weldon road was destroyed. Of the repulse, the writer says:
‘ On Friday morning an early start was made, and in the afternoon the advance reached a point near Hicksford. Here the enemy was found to be in some force, and having a battery in position, with strong works on both sides of the Meherrin river. After the position had been examined, an attack was deemed incompatible, on account of the strength of the works and the difficulty of approaching them, particularly with artillery; therefore it was determined to carry the line of works on this side and destroy the depot, which was successfully done. During this charge colonel or major sergeant of the First Massachusetts is said to have been killed.--Troops were seen moving into position at this point, although they had just arrived, and the fire from the batteries of the enemy soon after showed that they had been reinforced.
’ It now got dark and began raining, snowing and freezing. The troops camped in the vicinity for the night, and in the morning started on their return, reaching Sussex Courthouse and halting there on Saturday night. The enemy's cavalry and a small body of infantry followed and endeavored to annoy the rear guard, but each time were driven back with loss.
This afternoon the Nottoway river was reached, and the entire command crossed in safety, where they found a part of the Ninth corps, who had started to their aid in case of an emergency. To- morrow they will all be back to their old positions in front of Petersburg.
The Yankee Congress--"peace"resolutions.
In the Yankee Senate, on Monday, Garrett Davis offered a series of fanciful so-called "peace" resolutions. They propose a convention of all the States as the agency by which these ends are to be attained, and they then propose to refer to the consideration of such convention, as a basis of a settlement of all difficulties among the States, numerous amendments to the Constitution, arranged in eleven separate paragraphs:The first paragraph proposes to form the States of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont into one State; the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut into one State; the States of Maryland and Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Virginia into one State.
The second provides that the officers, President and Vice-President, be chosen alternately from the free and slave States; but both never at the same time, either from the free or slave States, for the term of four years; and that any person who may have filled the office of President shall be forever ineligible to it.
The third provides that all the States, in the month of January next, before the expiration of the Presidential term, shall present candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency, the free States for the one office and the slave States for the other, as they may be respectively entitled to one and the other office; and shall certify, severally, to the two Houses of Congress and to the Supreme Court the names of the persons so chosen, and for which office they have been chosen; and on the first Monday in February following, the Supreme Court, in the presence of the two Houses of Congress, shall select from the persons whose names have been certified for the Presidency a President, and then a Vice-President from the names which have been certified for that office; the Justices of the Supreme Court to be ineligible to any other office.
The fourth provides that the President shall have power to remove from office the heads of the State, Treasury, Navy, War and Interior Departments, the ney-General, all diplomatic officers and secretary of legations. All other officers, except those office during good behavior, whom he is nominate to the Senate, he may suspend their offices.
The fifth asserts the absolute right to the writ of habeas corpus in all places and under all circumstances; to trial by jury according to the mode prescribed the Constitution; the freedom of reliable on and worship, of the press and speech; from arbitrary arrest, and the right to and bear witness for their own defence.
The sixth provides that each State shall have the exclusive right and power to establish within its own borders on what subjects there may be property, and all its local and domestic institutions, and to make all laws and regulations concerning them.
The ninth, that no negro shall be a citizen of the United States.
Miscellaneous.
Gold in New York on Monday opened at 233, sold down to 232, and advanced to 237½ rumors of disaster to General Warren's army. From this point it receded to 235, and closed at 283¼.The bill intended to become a National Bankrupt Law passed the House on Monday by the triumphant vote of seventy-six year to fifty-six nays. Last session it was beaten by one majority. It has still to run the gauntlet of the Senates, but the New York Tribune cannot believe it destined to be there arrested.
Charles Edgenton, M. L. Rice, Lincoln electors; J. W. Ricks, Dr. Barnes, Judge Embry, and Colonel C. L. Miller, all influential citizens of Kentucky, are in Washington to persuade Lincoln to a positive radical administration of affairs in Kentucky, and particularly to vouchsafe to Kentucky Ben. Butler as a military commander.
