The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-22 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per the Asia.)
NEW YORK, March 9.

There is no news of importance from the Army
of the Potomac. A reconnaissance on the sth to
Ely's Ford discovered very few rebels north of the
Rapidan. Rumours of General Meade's removal
from command are again current at Washington.
General Kilpetrick's cavalry expedition reached
Williamsburg, after having sustained a loss, vari-
ously estimated at from 150 to 500 men. General
Kilpatrick destroyed a large portion of the Vir-
ginia Central, and Richmond and Fredericksburg
Railroads, and several flour mills on the James
river. Skirmishing occurred at various points on
the roads, and on the Ist of March Kilpatrick passed
the outer line of the Richmond defences, and reached
a point only three miles from the city. The rebels
were found to be fully prepared for defence, and
some heavy artillery fighting ensued. Colonel
Dahlgren, with 500 men, after destroying the rail-
road at Goochiand, was led into an ambush by a
negro guide, who was hung for his treachery on the
spot. Col. Dahlgren, who was a son of Commodore
Dahlgren, was killed, and his command suffered
severely, but finally cut its way back to the main
body. It was generally expected that this expedi-
tion would succeed in releasing the Union prisoners
in Richmond, and in making important captures.
Its failure is attributed to the early discovery of the
movement by the rebels, who were consequently
enabled to organise too formidable a resistance.
The Richmond Sentinel, of March 5, says that
papers found on the body of Col. Dahlgren, and
other evidences, prove that the intention of the
Federals was to give Richmond over to the soldiers
to sack, after which it was to be burned, and that
for this purpose a force was detailed and provided
with oakum and turpentine. A column of troops to
co-operate with Kilpatrick was expected to be sent
up:the peninsula by General:Butler ; but that force
had not appeared.
Advices from Knoxville to the sth state that
Longstreet was at Greenfield, and that a portion of
cis force held Bull's Gap, 54 miles from Knoxville.
Very few of his troops are thought to have gone to
Georgia. The Federal advance was at Morristown,
42 miles from Knoxville. General Schofield is in
command. Longstreet's movements are still con-
sidered mysterious, and it is not known why he re-
treated from his strong position at Strawberry
Plains.

A diepatoh from Chattanooga states that the re-
bels are passing the Federal lines. The Federal
advance has been withdrawn from Tunnel Hill to
Ringgold. A tremendous rise in the Tennessee
River had swept away the pontoon bridge at Chat-
tanooga.
Nothing official from General Sherman is known
to have been received yet, but several reports re-
present that his army had retreated to Vicksburg,
bringing in a great number of negroes and live
stock captured oa the march. Deserters state that
as soon as Sherman's advance upon Mindan was
known, a large force was sent from Atlanta to
Montgomery, and 10,000 negroes were set to work
upon the defences of Montgomery. General
Withers, recently assigned by General Polk to the
command of Southern Alabama, was superintending
the work upon these fortifications, which were of
a very formidable character.
Confederate accounts state that General Sher-
man's army was at Canton, Mississippi, on the 28th
ult., in full retreat upon Vicksburg, with the rebel
cavalry harassing its rear and flank with decided
effect.

It was rumoured in Now Orleans on the 29th
February that General Sherman had been totally
defeated at Chunkey River, not far from Meridan,
and his army broken up, having sustained a loss of
15,000 men. General Polk had been very heavily
reinforced by Generals Breckinridge and Celiburn,
and had overwhelmed him. On the 27th of Feb-
ruary the rebels had possession of Sherman's line of
communication with Vicksburg, and had a heavy
cavalry force pressing the rear of his army. This
rumour is not credited, although the absence of any
reliable intelligence from Sherman's command for
so long a time gives great reason for apprehension
that he has sustained a reverse.
Federal scouts bring in intelligence that the gar-
rison of Mobile is only 8,000 strong, but that the
city can make a desperate resistance in conse-
quence of its elaborate and formidable defen-
sive works, which comprise powerful fortifications
in the rear, and a network of cables and torpedoes
in the harbour. They have also four iron-clads
ready for action.
Reinforcements have been sent from Hilton Head
to Florida, and it is believed that the Federals can
hold their position at Jacksonville against any force
the rebels can bring against them. The rebels under
General Finnegan were between Ten Miles Run
and Baldwin. They admit their loss at the battle
of Olusta to have been severe.
Richmond papers announce more fighting in
Florida, and state that General Finnegan had driven
the Federals to within three miles of Jacksonville.
The Hilton Head correspondent of the Neto York
World writes that the Federal loss at the battle of
Olusta will nearly reach fifteen hundred, over 400
killed and wounded falling into the hands of the
rebels; and that the Florida expedition was under-
taken under direct orders from IVas.hington, and
that its object was a political one.
It was rumoured in New Orleans that the com•
blued rebel forces of Generals Magruder, Kirby
Smith, and Dick Taylor, 20,000 strong, were ad-
vancing over the plains of Western Louisiana
against New Orleans. Also, that the Federals had
evacuated Brashear city, and were concentrating to
oppose the rebel advance.
Advices from North Carolina state that the rebel
ironclai:s in the Neuse, Roanoke, and Tar rivers,
were ready for service, and it was expected that,
conjointly with a heavy land force, they would
simultaneously attack Newborn, Plymouth, and
Washington. General Peek was making vigorous
preparations for their reception. The .Raieigh

Standard is reported to have been suppressed by
the Richmond authority.

The Richmond Sentinel contains the following :
" CHARLESTON, March 4.

"One hundred and twenty-eight shells were fired
at the city yesterday, and one hundred and eight
to-day. One white woman was severely wounded
this morning. This is the only casualty from twelve
hundred and fifty shells fired during the last fort-
night. The monitors fired a few shells at Sumter
tn-day."
Admiral Dihlgren is in Washington, and rumour
indicate his removal from the command of tha fleet
off Charleston.

A party of thirty rebels captured the steam trans-
port Titan, loaded with commissary stores, and a
tug boat, in the Chesapeake, on the evening of
March 5. The Titan was taken up the Rappa-
hannock. An attempt to recapture her is to be
made.

Gen. Grant has arrived in Washington to confer
with the Government authorities. His plan of
operations will, it is said, have to be entirely
changed, in consequence of the failure to dislodge
the rebels at Dalton, and the failure of Generals
Sherman's and Smith's expeditions.
The rank of Lieut.-General recently conferred
upon Grant gives him command, under:the Presi-
dent, of all the armies of the United States, but
does not interfere with the position of General
Halleck, who remains a General Military Adviser.
In the Senate, Mr. Foot, of Vermont, presented
a petition praying_for the passage of a law confis-
cating rebel lands, and distributing them among
the freedmen. Referred to committee on slavery.
In the House, Mr. Cox, of Ohio, offered a re-
solution, which was laid over, calling for copies of
all correspondence in relation to the exchange of
prisoners.

The approaching Presidential contest has not yet
assumed any definite form, but the papers through-
out the country are vigorously advocating their
respective favourites. Lincoln's, Chase's, and Fre-
mont's friends are active, and the indications are
that each of them will get regular nominations.
The German papers in the West are warm in their
support of General Fremont ; and he appears also
to divide with Mr. Chase the favour of the radi-
cal or abolition branch of Republicans. The New
York Herald still supports General Grant for the
Presidency; but it is said that the General is not
ambitious of the office. That the Democratic party
will unite upon Gen. Grant or Gen. M'Clellan
seems quite apparent. The report of the latter,
recently published, is doing good service as a poli-
tical campaign document, and has greatly increased
his popularity.
The gold diggings in Colorado and Idaho terri-
tories are proving to be very rich, and bid fair to
outrival California. In both territories an immense
amount of gold has accumulated in the hands of
miners and others, but the insecurity of communi-
cation with the States prevents its shipment. A
great deal is however sent via Salt Lake City to
California.

It is reported that Gen. Win. Preston, of the
rebel army, formerly U. S. Minister to Spain, has
gone to represent the Confederate Government at
the Court of Maximilian in Mexico, and that he
expects to negotiate a very favourable treaty with
that Government.