The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-12 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(Per Etna, via Crookhaven,Feb. 11.)

NEW YORK, Jan. 29.

The contaadictory reports which have been re-
ceived during the two past weeks from Knoxville
have been reduced to intelligibility.
A letter from the correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette states that skirmishing between the forces
of Generals Longstreet and Foster commenced o❑
the 15th, and continued until the 20th, when the
Federals fell back to Knoxville, having lost upwards
of 150 men.

A great battle was considered imminent, and
much anxiety was felt in Knoxville for the result.
Cairo despatches report that the Confederates,
under Generals Marmaduke, Shelby, and Fagan,
were advancing upon Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on
the 22d.

An attack upon Marmaduke by Lieutenant Payst
hed been repulsed ; the other columns were skir-
mishing with the Federals under Clayton.
The same despatches state that guerilla firing
upon the Mississippi steamers• had been resumed
at Milliken's Bend.

Despatches from General Thomas to the 27th do
not confirm the reported failing back of General
Johnston from Dalton.

Charleston telegrams of the 23d, via Richmond,
announce that the bombardment of the city was
almost suspended. The Courier of the 26th states
that trifling damage has been done by the Federal
shells.

COMMERCIAL IN'T'ELLIGENCE.

Gold, 156 k, Exchange, 171-1.

United States Sixes, registered, 1881, 1054; Trea-
sury 7-30 Notes, 1071 ; New York Central Railway,
137 k; Erie (ex dividend), 107: ; Illinois Central,
126.

Cotton, 83c. Breadstnffd lower. Provisions quiet.
Sugars firm. Coffee depressed.
The Etna takes out 101,404 dole. in specie.
JAN. 30, 11 A.M.

Another letter from the Knoxville correspondent
of the Cincinnati Gazette, dated the 23d, recounts
still further losses to the Federals in the recent
skirmish, Two hundred prisoners were captured,
several caissons blown up, and a large quantity of
clothing destroyed. The entire Federal force had
retreated west of the Holston River, and skirmish-
ing was in progress within six miles of the city.
General Longstreet has established an impreg-
nable base of oparations at Bull's Gap,

Confederate accounts are to the 26th, which state
that the positions of the contending forces were un-
changed.
Seven hundred cattle, 900 waggons, and two boat-
loads of provisions and tobacco had been captured
from the Federals.
General Foster is ill, and the Administration at
Washington is asserted to be seriously alarmed at
the situation of affairs at Knoxville.

The Sixth Corps from the Army of the Potomac,
under General Sedgwick, has been sent to the assist-
ance of General Foster.

Richmond papers of the 28th report the capture
by the Confederate General Forrest of Island No.
60, in the Mississippi River, with all the managers,
negroes, cattle, &c.
The Federals are declared by the same papers to
have evacuated Fort Pillow; also Corinth, Missis-
sippi, having first blown up their fortifications.
General Forrest has defeated the Federals at La-
grange, Collinsville, and Germantown, Tennessee,

A large force in West Tennessee is purposing to
join General Forrest.
Despatches recently read in the Confederate Con-
gress relate that the Confederate troops ar© recruit-
ing by brigades for the war.