The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-25 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(Per the Arabia.)
NEW YORK, JULY 13.

There is no late news of importance from the
army of the Potomac. Oa the evening of the Bth
inst. the Confederates attacked the works held by
Turner's division on the left of the Federal centre.
They were repulsed by artillery. At latest ac-
counts both armies were vigorously strengthening
their position. A rumour was circulaEed yester%
terday which, however, could be traced to no re•
liable source, to the effect that Grant had captured
Petersburg and 5,000 prisoners.
The Confederate demonstration in Maryland, at
first regarded as a mere foraging raid, having now
assumed the grander proportions of an invasion,
seriously threatening the national capital, absorbs
the public attention.

After falling back from their first demonstration
against Frederick, on the 9th, the Confederate
forces concentrated on the Boonsboro' road, and
advanced and occupied Frederick, the Federal
forces under General Wallace having retreated to
the Monocacy river, where they were soon after-
wards attacked by the Confederates in large force.
A desperate battle ensued, lasting from 9 a.m. until
5 p.m., when the Federals, after suffering severely
in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and losing most
of their artillery, were forced to retreat in disorder.
Among the prisoners taken by the Confederates
was General Tyler. General Wallace retreated to
Baltimore. His force was about 10,000 men,
while the Confederates are believed to have
numbered at least 25,000. After defeating Gene.
ral Wallace, the Confederates seem to have been
divided into several bodies, and to have immediately
moved for the destruction of the railroad communi.
cations of Washington and Baltimore, their cam.
bined operations being thought to indicate an at.
tack upon the latter city, where the greatest excite-
ment prevailed. The streets were barricaded,
business suspended, and no one was permitted to
enter or leave the city without a military pass.
The Confederates, although continually menacing
the city, did not attack it, but directed their atten-
tion to its railroad and telegraph communications.
On the afternoon of the 10th, Governor Brad-
ford's residence, four miles from Baltimore, was
burned by a squad of cavalry. The inmates were
permitted to escape, and were informed that the
house was destroyed in retaliation for the destruc-
tion of Governor Letcher's house at Lexington by
General Hunter.

On the evening of the 10th the Confederates
appeared in large force at Elliott's Mills, 16 miles
from the city, and, after having destroyed the Bal-
timore and Ohio Railroad to that point, commenced
to destroy bridges on the Northern Railroad con.
neeting- Baltimore with Harrisbarg, Penn. The
extent of damage sustained by this road is not
known, but is believed to be serious. The Balti-
more, Wilmington, and Philadelphia Railroad was
next attacked. Some accounts represent that the
bridges over Bush River and Gunpowder Creek
were destroyed, but a Philadelphia despatch states
that these structures were successfully defended by
Federal gunboats. The damage to other parts of
the road is known to be great.
On the morning of the 11th a passenger train
was captured by the Confederates at Magnolia Sta.
tion on the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad,
and a number of soldiers and officers, among the
latter Major-General Franklin, wore made pri-

soners.
While detached squads of the Confederates were
operating in the vicinity of Baltimore, their main
force were concentrated and advanced towards
Washington, on the Rockville road. A Philadelphia
despatch states that yesterday (12th) a force of at
least 15,000 had appeared before the northern
defences of Washington, and that fighting was in
progress miles from the city.
The absence of official intelligence and the inter-
ruption of railroad and telegraphic communication
between Washington and Baltimore and the north,
naturally result in the circulation of exciting and
contradictory rumours. The capture of Washington
even is reported; bat this, although by no means
impossible, is highly improbable, as the defences of
Washington on the north, although not very formid-
able, are still of sufficient strength to hold an enemy
in check for a long time, and these defences are
known to be sufficiently garrisoned.
As to the actual strength of the Confederates in
Maryland, no definite idea can be formed from the
report thus far received. It is said, however, that
38,000 men with 140 pieces of artillery has passed
through Frederick, under command of General
A. P. Hill, and were moving rapidly to effect a
junction with the forces under Earley. If this
report be correct the entire invading force must
number considerably more than 40,000 men. It is
also reported that the commands of Sigel and Sulli-
van had effected a junction, and that Hunter's
advance had occupied Martinsburg on the evening
of the 11th. It was rumoured that Gen. Morgan,
with a force of 6,000 Confederate mounted infantry,
was following Hunter's column.
It is not definitely known whether any of Gene-
ral Grant's troops have been sent North from the
James River, bnt it is rumoured that the entire 18th
army corps, under General Smith, reached Baltimore
on the 11th.

Great apprehensions exist in some quarters for
the safety of the capital, while in others the fullest
confidence in its security is entertained, and the
Confederate invasion is regarded as affording Gene-
ral Grant an exe.llent opportunity to avail himself
of the reduced force ef the enemy in his front, and
capture Petersburg,
The Governor of New Jersey has called upon
citizens of that state to volunteer for 30 days' sex+
vive to protect the national capital.
The 84th regiment of New York Militia left
yesterday for Washingtcn, and several other regi-
ments are under orders to start for the same point,
but the Militia manifest a decided objection to
leave the State. Major Gunther, of New York
City, has protested against the troops being re-
moved from the city, asserting his belief that their
tnet f thet h
e
departure would be a signal for the reepcetteiti°
riots of last year. It is therefore capd that
troops sent will be from other portions of the State.
i u fielp i
The Governor of Pennsylvania has earnestly
appealed to the people to n
and rather reproaches the Philadelphians e h
for shortans
for
n serviceot
displaying more alacrity in responding to his first
call.
There is no further reliable news'from General
Sherman's army. A Memphis despatch, however,
states that the Federals were preparing for an
immediate advance against Atlanta.
Advices from the south-west report all quiet at
Little Rock and Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas. The rest
of the State, however, was overrun by Confederate
guerrillas.
In Western Missouri the guerrillas were very