The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-11 00:00:00

have been also overlooked, both by the public and
the Government, and those cheap re wards so justly
due to long and faithful services seem to sve b,en
withheld from him to be bestowed upon others who
were less of soldiers and more of politicians. It is
well that the Republic can yet boast of men to whom
the voice of duty speaks more potently than the in-
sieuations of public ingratitude and personal injus-
tice. History will for ever honour the men who have
done the real work of this war; while she will
utterly ignore the politic)l scramblers who by wire
working have obtained lofty promotion, and on very
small capital have managed to obtain a sort of fire-
fly reputation. In the repulse of yesterday the
enemy received a damaging blow, from which he
cannot fully recover. It is almost to be hoped that
he will continue to spend his strength in such crazy
attempts to destroy this army. By no other means
can he more surely bring himself to that just retri-
bution which is the proper reward of his crime
against his country and the civilisation of the age.
Let the rebel legions continue to precipitate them-
selves against the iron lines that press them towards
the gulf ; it may ultimately give relief to their in-
sane hate, and bring them, by the dreadful argu-
ment of blood, to the conviction that they are wrong
and we are right.''
The following accounts of the battle, including
Gen. Hood's official despatch, are from the _Rich-
mond Enquirer of the 25th :
" The glorious news from Northern Georgia ab.
sorbed the public attention on Saturday and yes.
terday. The city was lively with delightful ex•
citement, and even the grim savans, who affect to
see an almost interminable war, grew buoyant with
hope. The fate of Sherman, and its bearing upon
the result of the general campaign and the war,
was liberally discussed, and it was generally ac-
cepted that, should the effect of Hood's initiatory
engagements be sustained and culminate in a de-
cisive victory, no fears, not even doubts, need be
entertained as to the result of the campaign in Vir-
ginia. Grant having expended the force of num.
bens at his command in vain, strategic force may
then be employed by him to about the same pur-
pose. The following is the official despatch of Gen.
Hoed :

"' Atlanta, July 22, 10.30 p.m.

" The enemy shifted its position fronting on
Peachtree Creek last night, and Stewart's and
Cheatham's corps formed line of battle around the
city. Hardee's corps made a night march and at-
tacked the enemy's extreme left to-day at 1 o'clock,
and drove him from his works, capturing 16 pieces
of artillery and five stands of colours. Cheatham
attacked the enemy at 4 p.m. with a portion of his
command, and drove the enemy, capturing six pieces
of artillery. During the engagement we captured
about 2,000 prisoners. Wheeler's cavalry routed
the enemy in the neighbourhood of Decatur, cap-
turing his camps. Oar loss is no fully ascertained.
Major• General Walker killed ; Brigadier-Generals
Smith, Gist, and Mercer wounded. Prisoners re-
port M'Pherson killed. Our troops fought with
great gallantry. " J. B. HOOD, General.
" Hon. Secretary of War.' "
THE PRESS DESPATCHES.

"Atlanta, July 22.

" About 2 o'clock this afternoon the enemy at-
tacked:our left under Gen. Ste wart with great vigour.
They were received with a galling fire from both
artillery and infantry, which caused them to falter
when the order was given to charge. Among their
killed is General M'l'herson, who was shot through
the heart; Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith and
(the Yankee) General Hood ; General Graham lost
a leg. Our troops left their breastworks and
charged with great rapidity, driving the enemy
from two lines of intrenchments and inflicting
great slaughter, capturing a large number of pri.
soners and 22 pieces of artillery. Gen. Hardee,
having passed round the enemy's flank, is now in
their rear, doing great execution. The fighting
still continues."

" July 23.
" Gcncral 'Wheeler last evening attacked the
enemy's left, in the neighbourhood of Decatur, and
drove them b.,clc, capturing 500 waggons with
supplies, and a large number of prisoners. He is
still pursuing. There was very little fighting after
dark yesterday. 2,000 prisoners, including 75
comroissioned offia3rs, 25 pieces of artillery, and
seven stands of colours have been brought in.
The losses on either side are not yet known. Ours
was seve7e in officers. Comparative quiet reigns
this morning. There is some little skirmishing on
our left."

Despatches fron Waahington, of 1110 29th ult.
say:—

" latest official despatches from Gen. Sher-
man's army state that he is steadily drawing his
lines closer around A tlanta. He has as yet re-
ceived no tidings of the cavalry force sent out to
cut the Macon and Columbus Railroad, which is
the only means of escape to the rebel army from
Atlanta. A despatch received here states that
Gen. Hood has made efforts to renew the assault
upon General Sherman's lines since the battle on
Friday last. They were, however, feeble efforts
and easily and promptly repelled, with on aggre-
gate loss to Sherman of only about 100 men."

Latest accounts from General Grant's army are
as follow

"Bermuda Hundred, July 27, via Fortress
Montroc, July 28.
" An important movement is in progress from this
point. This morning, while our troops Iv ere cress-
lug the James River to its north side oa two pontoon
bridges, a rebel force came down and attacked our
men on the banks before they had time to organise.
A spirited engagement took place, and the rebels
were finally driven back to their intreuchments.
Our forces continued to arrive, and organised and
attacked the rebels, carrying their position and
capturing four guns. These guns were marked,
Captured from the Yankees at Drury's Bluff.' We
also captured many prisoners. The rebels were
finally driven from their position into the woods,
and far beyond them, where skirmishing still con-
tinued, when our informant left. The gunboats
were on hand and rendered valuable assistance in
covering the landing of our troops. The guns cap-
tured are no doubt the same that were captured
from Captain Bilger's battery by the rebels on the
17th of May. These guns are now at City Point."
" Washington, Friday, July 20.
"A letter from the army of the Potomac, dated
July 28, says :
" The arrival of some troops in the vicinity of
Bermuda Hundred a day or two ago attracted the
attention of the enemy, and caused them to believe
an advance on Richmond, by the way of Malvern
Hill, was intended. A force, consisting of Ker-
shaw's division of Longstreet'a corps, and Wilcox's
division of Hill's corps, was immediately withdrawn
from the vicinity of Petersburg, and sent down to
check the movement. To counteract this macceuvre
of the enemy the 2d Corps was detached and sent
across the James River, and at half-past 6 o'clock
yesterday morning our advance met the rebel skir-
mishers in an open field opposite Jones Neck, with
a battery in position at the edge of the woods, on the
further side of the field. A long line of skirmishers
was at °net, thrown out, who soon drove the rebels
to their brliastworks, where they were kept hotly
engaged, while a brigade of the let Division moved
around on. the left of the enemy's line, and getting
on their flank, charged and drove them from their
guns into the woods, capturing 50 or 60 prisoners,
fear guns and a quantity of small arms. The enemy
fell back on their reinforcements, who occupied
strong works built there two years ago, and our
troops follo.,ved, taking up positions on their front
and flacks, and before this reaches you the entire
force may be captured or routed. The guns taken
were four 24-pounder Parrotts, marked May 29,.
1864., near Richmond—the same which were cap-
tuev d from the Bth Corps at Drury's Bluff last May.
Or,r loss was only about half-a-dozen wounded, none
seriously. General Grant rode to the front in tLe
afternoon, in company with General Hancock, and
viewed the position the enemy were in, He seemed
well pleased with the morning operations. General
Poster's command had quite a lively time with the
(mealy yesterday at this place, but his force being
weak he fell back half a mile to a stronger position,
which he held until the arrival of the 2d Corps. He
lost 46 or 50 wounded during the day. An attack
was e:cpected on Warren's front yesterday, but it
was z ICA made. Picket and artillery firing is in,

Bulged in to the usual extent, and was sharper than
usual in front of the 18th Corps."
" City Point, Virginia, Thursday, July 28, via
Washington, Friday, July 29.
"All last night and this morning ('Thursday)
there has been very heavy firing on the other bide
of the Appomattox. There is a rumour in circula-
tion here that one of the rebel rams has sunk one of
our gunboats, and that the rams contemplate an ex-
cursion to this place. If they do they will meet
with a warm reception. Two of our monitors have
gone up the river."

Respecting the second Confederate raid in the
Shenandoah Valley the New 3 orb; limes says:—
" Nothwithstanding the exciting rumours which
still prevail in regard to the movements of the rebels
on the Upper Potomac, it appears to be tolerably
certain that the second movement up the Shenan-
doah Valley was solely for the purpose of driving
back the Union forces, in order to secure for the
raiders the unmolested occupation of the valley
while they gathered in the rich harvest. Well-in-
formed persons affirm that there is, to-day, in the
Shenandoah Valley breadstuffs enough to feed the
whole of Lee's army for a twelvemonth; and it is
obvious that a rebel force of 20,000 men could not
be more advantageously employed than in gather-
ing, for the famishing armies in Richmond, the
precious staff of life, especially as the railroad com-
munications of the rebel capital with the grain dis.
tricts of the Confederacy have been severed, or are
procariously held. It is not unlikely, however, that
the rebels may send cavalry parties across the river
in order to distract attention from their agricultural
operations in the valley. We have but little tele.
graphic news from the reported new rebel raid into
Maryland, for the reason that it is peremptorily
withheld by the military authorities."

" Washington, Wednesday, July 27, p.m.
" A gentleman who has just arrived here informs
us that Harper's Ferry has been evacuated by our
forces, and the rebels have their line of skirmishers
oat about four miles distant from that place. He
cannot give me an estimate, but states that they are
in large force. He also informs me that there was
more or less fighting on Sunday between Martins-
burgh and Williamsport, and that our forces fell
back sullenly and resolutely. Passengers from
Western Maryland who came down this morning
report that heavy firing was heard on Monday in
the direction of Martinsburgh, and yesterday firing
was heard ftom up the river, apparently in the di-
rection of Williamsport."

" Baltimore, Wednesday, July 27.
" The American, of this morning, has the follow-
ing :—"rhere is no confirmation of the report that
the rebels have re-entered Maryland by way of
Shepardstown and Sharpsburgh. It is hardly pos-
sible that General Early will poke his nose far in
this direction as he must be aware that in doing so
he will speedily encounter some very different fight-
ing material from the tired and broken down
columns of General Hunter. Harper's Ferry is still
in our possession. There has been no attack upon
that point as yet, and the rebels are believed not to
have entered Maryland. A scout, who left Martins-
burg at 7 o'clock last night, and crossing at Shep-
ardstown arrived here this morning, reports heavy
skirmishing at Martinsburg, between Gen. Crook's
forces and the rebel,: under Breckinridge on Mon-
day, up to 5 p.m. Our forces fell back to this side
of the Potomac, from Martinsburg to William's-
port—but the rebels evinced no intention of crossing
and refugees from Washington and other western
counties were returning to their homes. It was
generally supposed that the object of the rebels was
to keep our forces out of the valley while they
gathered in the harvest. Later reports assert that
we have reoccupied Martinsburg. General Wallace
has issued orders for the immediate enrolling of all
the ablebodied coloured men in this city, directing
that they be forthwith organised in companies and
regiments and armed and equipped. They aro to be
drilled and furnished with arms. The officers are
to ba appointed by the mayor, and the force will
constitute a part of the military defence of the city.
The order warns disloyal masters and employers
not to interfere with these orders. The Leagues
are also engaged in perfectirg their military organ-
isation. The order restricting the press here from
publishing anything relative to rebel movements is
still in fine, much to the perplexity of the editors,
who do not appreciate the wisdom (?) of the order.
The statement in the special despatch to tht
.Bulletin that Harper's Ferry has been evcuated is
undoubtedly incorrect, as the telegraph to that point
is still working. The reported occupation of Mar-
tinsburg is generally credited.'"
"Baltimore, Friday, July 29.

"We have nothing later that is authentic from
the Upper Potomac. One thing is certain, and that
is that the rebels have not crossed the Potomac, but
Lad, at last advices, disappeared from the line o!
the river. Our forces are understood to be vigor-
ously pushing the rebels south of the Putt-inn.
General Wallace has informed the editor. of news-
papers in this city that information was received
last night which tenders it unnecessary to continue
any longer the restrictious upon the publication of
news, es heretofore orderer.", except so far as it
relates to the movements of troops in this depart-
ment."

" Philadelphia, Friday, July 29.
,4 The Bulletin has the following special de-
spatches :

" Baltimore, Thursday, July 23, 11 p.m.
" 'Martinsburg is supposed to have been evacu-
ated by the rebels to•dey. General Hunter sti 1
commands the department of Virginia, and General
Crook the troops in the field. The rebels are be-

ieved to be falling back, Preparatory to an advance
another direction. Oar forces are moving in

pursuit.'

" Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Friday, July 29.

" The rebels have now possession of some of the
fords on the Potomac. They have crossed and re-
crossed at Falling Waters, and have again crossed,
or were crossing, yesterday and last evening. They
were in force, and are said to be at least 4,000
strong. At Hancock they were also crossing, and
fears are expressed that they may get to Bedford
Springs, where Governor Curtin now is."

"Philadelphia, Friday, July 29.
"The Bulletin, has receivcd the following special
despatch from Lancaster

" Official reports state the rebels are crossing the
river at Williamsport, Maryland, and the telegraph
operators at Hagerstown have left.'
" The special despatch from Lancaster, announc-
ing that the rebels were crossing the Potomac at
Williamsport, is without foundation in fact."
" Baltimore, Friday, July 29, 10 40 p.m.
" The AllieriCall' 8 special, dated Harper's Ferry,
says :

" There is an invasion going forward here, but it
is not an invasion of Maryland, Harper's Ferry is
once again, in its varied experience during this
war, the f..crie of active military operations. Thus
much I may say without imparting any informa-
tion to the enemy, for by the time this goes into
print they will well know that before Maryland
can be invaded again, the question to be decided
is who shall be master in the valley of the
Shenandoah. Without touching on contraband
news by any reference to the troops which on
our side are to be employed in settling this problem,
their numbers, commanders, &c., I may say that,
the military authorities have pushed forward their
counter-movements against the schemes of the
rebels with an unusual degree of vigour, sagacity,
and secrecy. If the rebel force lingers anywhere
near Winchester, a battle is among the probabili-
ties within the next days. If fought at all, it will
be fought under circumstances that ought to, and I
believe will, give us success. It will Rot be a fight
in which a portion of our forces are exposed to the
whole rebel strength. There will be no whipping
us this time by detail. We shall not be obliged
to fight against superior numbers of the
enemy, and also bad management on our part.
If we are whipped, the rebels will have
to show a larger force in the Shenandoah valley
than has yet been developed, except by rumour,
and they will also have to fight for what
they get. It is doubtful whether any serious
engagement will occur, unless, indeed, our move-
ments have been sufficiently rapid to take the re-
bels by surprise, We have had abundant experience
of the unfruitfulness of a chase of the enemy up the
valley when they find it expedient to avoid giving