The military news from America is more striking than important.
The accounts from the West all represent that Rosecranz, though not yet joined by any reinforcements, holds his own at Chatta- nooga, and that Bragg's attention is turned without much result towards Burnside, who is still at Knoxville. In Virginia, General Lee, on the 10th and 11th inst., made a movement as if to throw himself between General Meade and Washington, and a Federal force sent out to reconnoitre was driven back. General Meade immediately retreated, first to the north bank of the Rappahan- nock and then to Fairfax, where, by the latest intelligence (17th October) he still continues, General Lee having advanced to the old ground of Bull's Run. The news caused, at first, some little excitement ; but the whole movement seems to be one of those indecisive efforts to which we are accustomed in this war. If General Lee crosses the Potomac he will be driven back again, and if he does not cross it he can accomplish nothing. The only Southern benefit from the advance is the clearness with which it marks how very little ground the North has yet gained in Virginia. General Meade has received reinforcements, there is a considerable army behind the works in Washington, and the President has called for 300,000 volunteers.
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