The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-08 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
By the arrival this afternoon of the Cunard
Royal Mail steam-ship Africa, Capt. Wm. Harrison,
we have advices from New York to the 25th, Boston
to the 26th, and Halifax to the 27th ult.
The Africa passed the America, hence, between
Halifax and Boston, on the 27th ult. ; the Pacific,
hence for New York, on the 29th ; the North Star,
from Havre and Southampton for New York, on
the 30th ult. ; and on the 31 inst., the steam-ship
Canada, hence to Boston.

The Africa brought 223 passengers and 556,315
dollars in specie.
• The news by the Africa is four clays later than
that brought by the Arago, but there is no intelli-
gence of importance in the advices to hand.
The New York fieraLl of the 25th ult. says :
" The immense consumption of gunpowder which has
been for some time going on between the belligerents in
the Eastern war has begun to tell upcn the prices of
lead and saltpetre. Since the arrival of the Baltic,
lead has advanced to qn. to Gilc. per lb , with free sales
on speculation, of both foreign and domestic. 3,200 pigs
of Galena changed hands at the above quotations. At
last accounts the stock in England was very materially
reduced, while prices ruled at higher figures. The
stock of saltpetre in the United States has become very
small, and prices have undergone a great advance. Crude,
which before the war sold at about 7c. to 74,0., is now
very firm at 15c. There can be no deArUctive wars
without " villanous saltpetre." It must be had in large
supplies, or the system of war must go back to the use
of hand-to-hand implements. Our government, having
experienced great difficulties for the want of it during
the Revolution, as well as in the war of 1812, has since
been more provident for future contingencies, and Con-
gress bas for some 20 or 30 years past appropriated about
$20,000 per annum for the purchase and storage of salt-
petre, so that we might now probably stand a five or ten
years' war even without entirely exhausting our supplies.
"Accounts from the south respecting the epidemic are
still gloomy. At Norfolk there is no abatement of the
fever. At Memphis, Natchez, Vicksburg, and in fact
at all the towns on the Mississippi, the epidemic rages
with fearful virulence, and the citizens are fleeing from
their homes. At New Orleans, however, the fever is no
longer regarded as epidemic.
"The telegraph reports that the yellow fever has made
its appearance at Canton, Mississippi, and that GO cases
and 10 deaths had taken place during the week ending
on the 11th inst.

From St. Louis, under date Sept. 24, we have the
following intelligence :
" A great battle took place on the 3d inst., at Sand-
hills, near the south fork of the Platte river, between
the Sioux Indians and the entire force of United States
troops under General Harney, numbering about 450
men. Major Cady commanded the infantry, and Colo-
nel Cook the dragoons, mounted infantry, and artillery.
The battle commenced early in the morning, and lasted
several hours. The Indians fought desperately, but
were routed. A running fight for some ten miles fol-
lowed, during which the Indians fought with much
gallantry. They were, however, defeated, with the loss
of 80 men killed, and 50 women and children taken
prisoners. The Indian women fought furiously. Gene-
ra,' Harney lost six killed and as many wounded. No
officers were killed. The Indians engaged in this
battle were the Brule and Sioux—the same that mas-
sacred Lieutenant Gratton's command, and murdered
a mail party, the waybill of the mail having been found
with them."