The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-15 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE ETNA.
QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 15.

The Inman steamer Etna, from New York on
the 3d inst., arrived here at 8,30 a.m. today. She
brings, 710,245 dols. in specie, and 166 passengers.
She landed 29 passengers, and pruceeded at 8.40

e. in.

NEW YORK, DEC. 3.

The Richmond pspers believe that Grant is pre•
paring an early demonstration against Lee, who,
they say, was never so well prepared to receive him
as now.

The Richmond Whig thinks that Grant has sent
troops to Port Royal to co-operate with Sherman.
The latest intelligence from Tennessee reports no
further fighting, but says that Hood's forces were
thought to be demonstrating in the direction of
'Murfreesboro, with Federal Gen. Steadman closing
on his rear and Gen, Thomas in his front.

Richmond papers state that a portion of Sher-
man's cavalry, sent to Savannah River to communi-
cate with the fleet at Beaufort, was intercepted and'
dispersed. Beaufort is supposed to be Sherman's
destination.

Louisiana advices state that Banks is soon to
return to New Orleans to resume the command of
that department under Gen. Canby.

The Confederates are constructing formidable
defensive works at Alexandria, Louisiania,
rendering it impossible for the Union gun-
boats to ascend the Red Riyer. Mr Allen, the
Confederate Governor of the State, has organised
ten regiments of negro troops at Shreveport, where
they are engaged at present in strengthening the
defences of the place, but are regularly drilled and
disciplined. Governor Allen was endeavouring to
induce the Confederate Government to incorporate
them into an army.
Captain Semmes, of Alabama notoriety, arrived
at Bagdad, Mexico, on the 15th October, on his way
to Richmond, via Matamoras,
Money easy. Gold 2'29. Exchange cin London,
252; Paris, 2.281 to 2.13 t. Stocks dull. New
York Centrals, 120; Illinois, 129 k ; Erie, 93-;
5.20 Bonds, 1071.

Cotton slightly firmer. Middling Upland, 128
to 130.

Wheat and flour slightly firmer.

Corn qaiet. Provibions tending downwards.
Coffee slightly tirmur. Sugar good inquiry.
Molasses heavy. Petroleum, crude, 481 50;
refined, 69.

Telegraphic News Association.
(Per Etna via Roche's Point.)

It is reported that the two columns of Sherman's
army are endeavouring ,to form a j motion. The
Richmond papers say he is still 100 miles from the
sen, ant' harassed on all sides.

Five thousand negroes are working on the de-
fences of Augusta,
The steam ship North Star is one week overdue,
and fears are expressed for her safety.
Hood's forces stilt confronted Thomas near Nash-
ville yesterday. The retreat of Thomas for 29
miles after the battle of Franklin is now pronounced
a piece of strategy.
Richmond papers of Thursday report Sherman
across the Oconee, and on his way to the coast. It
is supposed that his destination is Savannah or
Beaufort, but his advance cavalry had been foiled
in an attempt to open communication with the
latter place.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per the Nave Scotiaa.)
NEW YORK, DEC. 3.

The following is the cincial despatch of General
Schofield, skinounoing the repulse of Hood at
Franklin :

4 FRANKLIN, Nov. 30.

" Major. General Thomas,—The enemy made a
heavy and persistent attack with two corps, corn.
mencing et 4 p.m. and lasting until after dark. He
vas repulsed at all pointawith heavy loss—pro..
bably of 5,000 or 6,ooo•men; Our loss is probably
not more than ene-fourth if that number. We
Plisoners, including one
gave
acciaipe
rt u.
or eedn
earbaotut 1,000

"JOHN ScHoPIELp, Major-General."
The correspondent of. the New York Tribune
gives the following additional particulars of the
battle :

FOURlellLdEsySes.toedar OF
—NASHVILLE, Dec. 1.
General Sho
fought one of the
prettiest fights of the Wars *suiting most dims
trously to the rebels, with little loss to ourselves.
Schofield fi
After three days' skirmishing, the rebels crowded
onr first line of works yesterday. afternoon, and at
4 p.m. made a most desperate attack on our right
.and centre, forcing our lines to our breastworks,
which were thrown up from river to river in an
open field on the Cumberlard_pike, which ran
through the centre of the field.
At least half the rebel force Engaged endeavoured
to pierce our centre, d
calte down viciously on
Wagner's division, which, 4-f.
ket desperate fighting,
fell back, and Maury's rebel division of Frank
Cheatham's corps got inside our works and captured
two guns. Our centre was nq broken, however,
and better still, General 'Wagner successfully
rallied his troops, who charge( on the enemy, re-
captured the two guns, and drove the division over
the breastworks, capturing one entire brigade and
ita commane.er.

At 4 30 the battle was waged with unabating
vigour, the enemy having made luring half an hour
several attempts to break our centre.
The Union position was a magnificent one, and
the result of these four days' work was magni.
ficently grand.

All this while the rebels had appeared in front
of our right. Their plan was to pierce our centre
and crush our right wing before dark. A portion
of our infantry was engaged three-quarters of an
hour firing on the rebel columns, who stood their
ground like madmen.

During every charge
made on our right and
centre, volleys of grape and canister were hurled
into their lines, and only darkness brevented their
sacrifice being more awful. It is said that no
canister shot was used
,by the rebels during the
day, but fired shot and shell.
After the first break of Waguer's division and its
recovery, our line never budged a step. All was
quiet after 10 p.m. It was not only one of the
prettiest, but cleanest battles of the war. The
excessive slaughter of the enemy was owing to our
wholesale use of canister and grape, 61(-1 on "lee"
tion of the ground.

The battle was fought in an open field, with no
trees or undergrowth, or other interruption, The
eremy'rc loss in killed and wounded approxi-
mates 7,000, and We have over 1,200 pri-
soners, and one general officer, and eevoral
field officers. The colonel of the 15th Missis-
sippi, a northern man, of Illinois, was wounded
and taken prisoner. Four fifths of his regiment
were killed, wounded, and captured, Our loss does
not reach 1,000.

General Bradley. of Illinois, while gallantly load.•
ing his troops,was severely wounded in the ehoul det