THE WEEK ABROAD.
AMERICA.—The surrender of Yorktown and its occupation by the army of General McClellan, on the 4th May, the march on Williams- burg, and the great defeat of the Confederates near that town on the 5th, the occupation of Williamsburg and the pursuit of the Confede- rates to the Chickahominy, and the retreat of the main army across the James River, have all been reported since our last issue. The last fact alone still needs confirmation, but it is not probable that, once between the Chickahominy and the James River, with Federal gun-boats occupyinc,n the stream, the Confederates would attempt to hold the country north of the James River. Another battle, toe, of great importance, is said by the latest accounts to have been fought in the same peninsula between the York and James Rivers at West Point, also ending in favour of the Federals. Within four days, there- fore, from the 4th to the 7th May, three very important successes, including two considerable battles, have been gained by the Federals in Virginia. Yorktown, on the York River, the northern boundary of the peninsula between the York and James estuaries, was aban- doned on the 4th after a hot debate, it is said, between the Southern generals, President Davis, and Generals Lee, Johnson, and Magruder. The former agreed that the works of General McClellan had rendered the town no longer tenable, but General Magruder hotly persisted that if a stand could be made anywhere it must be at Yorktown,—an assertion which he is said to have embodied in a violent public speech, much cheered by the Confederate troops. However, he was over- borne,—the powerful fleet of the North telling greatly against the retention of the position,—and Yorktown was abandoned, great quantities of ammunition, of course, falling into the hands of the Federate. On the 4th May, General McClellan entered, occupied, and passed on in pursuit, and his left wing, under General Heintzelman, encountered the first resistance at Williamsburg (a town about half way between the two rivers) on the 5th. Here the enemy was posted in great force, while General Heintzelman had not above 8000 men during the greater part of the day's engagement. Their suecess at first was checked by large reinforcements of the Confederates from Williamsburg, who are said to have been for many hours more than double the Federals in number. The Northern soldiers fought well while their ammunition lasted, but then showed a disposition to take to the woods ;—on this, Captain McKeever posted some Pennsyl- vanian cavalry in the woods, with orders to fire upon any stragglers, and force them back into their lines. This was effectual for the time, but it was hard work standing in pouring rain to be shot at without any ammunition to return the fire, and it is said that for an hour or more a great defeat was imminent. General Heintzelman had mean- time been sending frenzied entreaties for support to Generals Kearney, Hancock, and the nearest troops, but the roads were in so terrible a state that the thirteen intervening miles divided him by many hours from his nearest support. Finally, at the last moment, up came a part of General Hancock's division, covered with mud and drenched with rain, but eager for battle. The bayonet charge which ensued carred the day, and the Confederates retreated in confusion into Williamsburg. On the 6th, it was found that they had aban- doned the town which General McClellan occupied, and pursued them to the Chickahominy, a tributary of the James River, over which they passed, burning the bridges, and leaving large numbers of pri- soners and great stores and ammunition in the hands of the Federals. On the 7th May, another great battle is said to have been fought opposite West Point, at the north corner of the peninsula (but on the Southern bank of the York River), under Generals Franklin and Sedgwick on the Northern side, against General Lee on the Southern. Victory again declared for the Federals, and General Franklin was said to be pureulng General Lee towards the Chickahominy. If this be true, no doubt the Confederates will all cross the James River, and in that ease they must abandon Richmond, the greater part of the capital being on the north side of the river, and connected by a bridge, with the smaller portion on the South.
From New Orleans we have fuller details of the extraordinary naval operations which resulted in the capture of that city. The fleet under Commander Farragut passed the boom, and began the bombardment on the 24th April. On the 28th April New Orleans surrendered. Twenty-one Federal mortar boats, and three gun- boats—but none of them, as we understand, iron-plated,—were in action, while the Confederates brought against them eleven gun- boats (most of them iron-plated in part), a steam ram, and a powerful iron-plated battery, besides the forts, which seem to have been heavily armed. Fort Jackson was described after the surrender as a per- fect ruin. Everithing near it was burnt up. Near 1800 mortar :shells had burst in the fort proper. Fort St. Philip gave little trouble after Fort Jackson was destroyed, and the smaller forts none. The worst news for the Federals from this part of the country is the violent spirit shown by the conquered Confederates in burning their cotton and rolling their sugar into the river. The property thus -destroyed at New Orleans is estimated at from eight to ten million dollars; and a Southern paper says that the whole line of the Missis- sippi becomes a bonfire of cotton as the Northern gunboats approach. But this is as yet only a rumour in papers of Southern bias. That -such a disposition is more or less general is too probable; but the question of more or less is the important one. In Yorktown General McClellan found infernal machines, deposited by the Southerners be- :fore their departure. He compelled the Southern prisoners to re= "'move them at their own risk. The news from Pittsburgh is not im- portant. It is said that Beanregard had abondoned Corinth, and was retreating towards Memphis. This is extremely improbable, and has not been confirmed.
FEANCE.—The French papers have been eagerly discussing the new and dictatorial policy of the Emperor in Mexico, the opposition party condemning vehemently the vast expense threatened for no purpose of French importance. The hioniteur has at least spoken to vindicate the Emperor from the charge of caprice in separating himself from :Spain and England. The apology is curious; it consists in showing that as evly as 11th November last the Emperor did deliberately -anticipate that the convention of London was inadequate to his own purposes. On that day instructions were addressed to Admiral de la Graviere, which, in obscure language doubtless, but still, as read by the event, sufficiently distinctly prefigured what has happened, and as a copy of these instructions was communicated both to the English and Spanish Governments France holds herself absolved from all bad -faith. In accordance with the convention of London the instructions nay "The Allied Powers interdict themselves from interfering in the -national affairs of the country, and particularly from exercising any pressure on the will of the people as to the choice of their govern- ment." This is satisfactory enough, but then comes the saving clause, -to which France now appeals as a proof of her good faith in forcing General Almonte and his Austrian Archduke-scheme upon the Mexican people :
"There are, however, certain hypotheses Which impose themselves on our foresight, and which we have been obliged to examine. It may happen that the presence of the allied forces on the Mexican territory might determine the right-thinking part of the population, who are tired of anarchy and anxious for order and repose, to attempt an effort to constitute in the country a Government present- ing the guarantees of strength, of stability, which have been wanting to all those which have succeeded each other since the emancipation. That interest must engage them not to discourage attempts of the nature of those I have just pointed out to you, and you ought not to refuse them your encouragement and your moral support, if, from the position of the men who take the initiative in them, and from the sympathy which they may find in the mass of the people, they should present chances of success for the establishment of an order of things of a nature to secure to the interests of the foreign resi- dents that protection and those guarantees which have hitherto been wanting to them."
These instructions contemplated certainly moral encouragement to a party of order rising up in Mexico,—searcely, perhaps, positive military aid to a Mexican exile who had matured his schemes in Paris. General Prim has published a strong protest against the French policy. The Moniker has published a notice forbidding the French papers to publish Mr. Mir6s' prospectus for his State loan of 300,000,000 francs.
The French Government has consented to prolong the delay passed for the ratification of the treaty of commerce concluded with Prussia and the Zollverein. The small German States are withdrawiug some of their opposition.
Mexico.—War has been declared between France and Mexico. At Orizaba, on the 9th April, General Prim showed that the conven- tion of London did not authorize the allies in imposing a political party on Mexico. The French Admiral and General replied that they would treat no more with the Juarez Government. General Prim said that in this case he must withdraw the Spanish forces. When the Mexican Government was informed of the result of the Orizaba conferenee. Sion or Doblado replied that he would willingly treat with England and Spain for the satistactioa of their claims, but that he would resist Fiance to the utmost. At Cordova, on April 6th, the French accordingly issued an appeal on their own account to the Mexicans, and gave notice that operations would be commenced on the 28th April. The French accordingly advanced from Cordova on that day, occupied Orizaba, and were stilladvaueing at the last adv ices. Ahnonte had issued a proclamation, approving of the intervention, and it was said that large numbers of inhabitants had adhered to Al- raonte's view. ITALY.—The King still remains at Naples, and the enthusiasm excited by his presence seems still on the increase, file followingflie in rapid succession. A hasty visit to Messina was also the occasion of a thoroughly cordial reception, short as the notice for the festivi- ties had been. Besides all these rejoicings, the King's visit to his southern province is to be signalized in a more practical manner by the commencement of works for the improvement of the port of Naples—a step of great importance towards the welfare of the city ; and more railways and a new sewerage system are also in contem- plation. Prince Napoleon also arrived on the 14th instant, but was not received with any peculiar demonstrations. An attempt to organize an expedition to cross the Austrian frontier has been discovered in the district round Brescia by Government. 100 of the principal movers, chiefly old Garibaldians, were arrested, and on the 15th a rescue was attempted by the populace. Shots were fired, and three persons were wounded and one killed. Gari- baldi thereupon published a protest in the Diritto of the 20th, reflecting upon the conduct of the Commandant at Breads. The Diritto was seized, and the Official Gazette, referring to the protest, called upon the country to reject such an insult to the military. Garibaldi subsequently explained in the Puttgolo of Milan, that he merely meant to say that the business of generals was to combat enemies and not to massacre unarmed citizens, and dis- claimed any intention of insult. It is said that Austrian troops have advanced to the line of Lago di Garda, and that an order of the day has been issued by their general in which he says the road to Milan has been opened to them by the affair at Brescia. A. somewhat similar movement at Bergamo has been peaceably suppressed.
PRUSSIA.—Besides the mission of General William to Cassel, of which a full account will be found in another column, the only great events of the week have been the opening of the Chambers on the 19th, and the celebration, on the same day, of the Fichte centenary.
Seam —The Government of Spain has endorsed General Prim's action in the Mexican intervention.
Previous page
