Latest from the North.
the fighting at Suffolk — a Gunboat riddled — Rumors of the Withdrawal of the rebels — Hooker Urged to go in and gather Lee, &c.[from our Own Reporter.]
Fredericksburg, April 24.
--I have received the New York Herald of Saturday, the 18th inst., and send you a summary of the news it contains:
A dispatch, dated April 14th, from Lieut. Com. Cushing, of the U. S. steamer Com.
Barney, to the Navy Department, says: ‘
The vessels from above came down this morning, the Mount Washington disabled.
At 11½ A. M. the enemy's artillery opened on us with a cross fire.
At once we went into action and silenced them in an hour.
At 1 P. M. the enemy opened on the Mount Washington (which was grounded,) with artillery and sharpshooters at 700 yards. I kept close to the disabled Mount Washington and bought until high water, and then ordered the Stepping Stone to take her in tow, although under a heavy fire, and at 5 P. M. silenced the enemy's battery.
Loss 3 killed and 7 wounded. Casualties on other vessels yet unknown.
My engine is not disabled, although I have eight rating shots.
The Barney and crew are in good fighting trim, and will beat the enemy or sink at our posts. ’
A dispatch dated "on Newport News, April 16th P. M.," says: ‘
Near Admiral Lee's report says reports from Lieuts. Cushing and London are received.
The enemy have not crossed the river.
There is every evidence that he is retreating.
We shot down a Sumter of their man to-day on the with minister.
In all our loss is five killed and eight wounded in our to which the fight has been pretty much confined.
The Fortress Monroe correspondent says Longstreet has twice laid down pontoons, but was driven off by our Parrots guns.
The St. Washington was completely riddled by rifled field artillery on the mond, Tuesday night. Another steamer was fired into coming from Suffolk.
Skirmishing is constantly going on. Longstreet has 50,000 men. Deserters say the troops are being rapidly withdrawn from the Rappahannock and sent to Eastern Virginia and North Carolina.
Gen. Dix has gone to Norfolk, and probably to Suffolk.
No fears of Suffolk being cut off.
The Herald says "there is a good deal of feeling in this city about the affair" of Corcoran's killing Kimball.
It is said he drew his sword, halted Corcoran without authority, used insulting language, and swore he should not pass, etc.
A Washington telegram says the roads in Statford are again impassion.
From "off Charleston" it is stated that the Yankees are in force on Coles's Island, and on Klauch and Seabrook Islands, protected by their gunboats.
Five hundred negroes are to be sent to Hayti by the Administration.
The Herald thinks they will be wanted after the war to cultivate cotton.
The British Queen has arrived in New York from Nassau, with dates of the 13th.
It gives list of and clearances of blockade runners — it 9 of which were with cotton from Wilmington and Charleston, and 10 clearances, with coffee, salt, and assorted cargoes, and 4 of them for Confederate ports.
A French officer, who saw the Charleston fight, says the only way to attack rebel batteries batteries, perfectly tight with nothing object above door, covered all over with iron, and two of guns, placed one or two rest above water.
The turrets offer too large a surface.
Their have not the best implements of modern warfare.
The French have a projectile which goes through any iron plate, however their, at 400 yards, and explodes with force sufficient to blow up a Monitor.
The New York Herald thinks the Confederates purpose to attack Norfolk, or Washington, S. C., and says there will be no excuse for Hocher if he left Lee get away at McClellan 1st Johns on get off from Manassas.
It adds that the rebels, having exhausted the country between Fredericksburg and Richmond, may wisely abandon it to Hookes. "We apprehend that the War Office is still solicitous about the safety of Washington, and hesitates to make a forward movement, not so much because of the muddy roads as to get Lee back to Richmond and one of the reach of Washington."
A Washington telegram says that General has sent out an expedition which has surrounded the rebel cavalry about Culpeper, and will capture them almost certainly.
Gold opened on the 17th at 154 and closed at 153 Exchange 168.
Cotton 65 cents. Virginia 6's 62 Missouri 6's 10½.
Confederate scrip was put up at auction in Halifax, N. S., on the 10th inst., by John D. Nash Co., and the only bid that could be for it was says the Herald. ’
The Herald has the following on the Confederate loan in England: ‘
A subscription for the relief of the rebel Government — now reduced to the most indigent circumstances, and in peril of immediate dissolution — has been started in England under the guise of a loan, the security for which is the cotton remaining unburnt by the rebels or unseized by the United States. ’
The Herald adds: The loan is already at a discount.
There is not the remotest prospect of a single being repaid.
England's object is the destruction of the U. S. Government, and is indifferent whether the money she subscribes to the belligerent mendicant is expended in pirate ships or in support of African barracoon.
The Herald is contest Jeff. Davis should swindle stupid Britishers, and regards it as one of the biggest things that the rebels have yet done not even excepting John B. Floyd's operations "When we get over our present little difficulties we can see what is the best way of trusting this last manifestation of British neutrality."
Mrs. Femmes, wife of Capt. Semmes, of the Alabama, has been ordered, under Burnside's proclamation, to prepare to leave Cincinnati and cross into Dinis.
The Herald proposes to use the "All for Ireland" fund in "bringing out the Irish poor to this country," and if any of the able bodied are disposed to fight they can get good bounties as substitutes, and food and clothing, and pay.
The London Times's correspondent, writing from Vicksburg, says: ‘"The only plan to take Vicksburg is to land in front and attempt to storm the batteries; but this requires more bravery than the Federals possess"’
A telegram from St. Louis.
April 17th, says Col. Phillips has swept the north side of Arkansas river clear of rebels.
Dispatches from Gen. Foster, at Washington, N. C., up to Sunday last, say that he can still hold out three weeks.
Admired Wakes has been a rested at Havana, and will be held as a prisoner on parole until he accounts satisfactorily for firing on a Spanish steamer.
Seward has sent another dispatch to Minister Adams, to go by next steamer, warning Great Britain against allowing any more Alabama to go forth to prey upon American commerce.
Marquis of Hartington, lately in Richmond, has made a speech, saying the North can only exterminate the South, and that the South will fight to the last.
The London Post hopes, by the end of the year, the Confederate struggle will be crowned with success and its independence recognized.
A draft is to be had to fill up the old regiments in Hocker's army.
The British Sibion, speaking of the loan, says it is a virtual recognition of the South.
The iron clads which were engaged in the Charleston fight are to be sent to Farragut, to assist in the reduction of Port Hudson. 