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

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday.
The North German Lloyd screw steamship
America, Captain H. Wessels, from New York on
the 30th inst., arrived off Cowes at 1 p.m. to-day,
and went on to Bremen after transhipping mails,
&c., for this port. She brings 22 passengers for
Southampton and Havre, and 71 for Bremen ;
50,000 dols. for England, 6,150 for Bremen, and
2,000 tons of cargo. Southerly winds and clondy
weather have prevailed throughout the voyage. On
30th nit. the America spoke the English ship
Garibaldi in New York Bay; on the 3d of August,
in iat. 44 58 N., long. 51 40 W., the ship Flora
Nl'Donald ; and in lat. 45 8 N., long. 51 5 W., the
schooner England's Rose.
The Cincinatti Gazette nublishes the subjoined
account of the great battle in front of Atlanta on
the 22d ult. from the pen of a young officer in
General Hooker's corps:—
" 41 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia, July 21.
" On yesterday occurred one of the most san-
guinary and brilliant conflicts which have befallen
this army upon the soil of Georgia. I shall endea-
vour to write an account of that portion of it en.
gaged in by the first division of the 20th corps,
and I trust the same may not be unacceptable to
your readers. On the 19th inst. the army of the
Cumberland arrived in position south of the Chatta-
hoochee and north of Atlanta. The 14th corps oc-
the 4th the left, and the
cupied the right wing,
20th the centre. The line extended along the north
bank of Peachtree-creek, and in a direction per-
pendicular to the line of rebel works bordering
the Chattahoochee. The position thus adopted
compelled the enemy to change his front and
assume a new line of defence. In the mean.
time the armies of the Tennessee and the
Ohio were expected to shortly sever the Georgia
Railroad near Stone Mountain, and to march
towards Atlanta in a direction threatening the right
flank and rear of the rebel army. On the 20th inst.
a general advance in the direction of Atlanta was
begun. By 10 o'clock a.m. the 20th corps had
arrived in position on the heights skirting Peach-
tree creek on its south bank. The Ist division
joined the 14th corps on the right, the 2d division
held the centre, and the 3d joined Newton's division
of the 4th corps on the extreme left. A heavy
picket was thrown out, and was considered a suffi-
cient precaution against any hostile demonstration
of the enemy, since nothing was thought of but an
advance against his position. The troops were per•
mitted to rest quietly in the shade, and were not
troubled with building the usual breastworks
deemed necessary at each change of the line of
battle. Temporary barricades of rails were thought
a sufficient strengthening of the line for all neces.
eery purposes. Thus the day wore away until two
o'clock p.m. Comparatively little firing had fol-
lowed the movements of the troops—just enough to
reveal the presence and position of the enemy. The
developments anxiously hoped for in the movements
of M.Pherson and Scholefield seemed to be awaited
as the signal for active demonstrations by the army
of the Cumberland. But the enemy, appreciating
the desperate condition to which he was being
rapidly brought, bethought himself to make one
bold, dashing, determined effort to thwart our de-
signs. Accordingly, early in the afternoon a fierce,
rapid Ere broke out along our picket lines, which
quickly grew into a volleying roll of musketry in
front of Ward's and Geary's divisions. The storm
soon extended along the line towards the right,
where Williams's division lay grouped along the
crest of a rather high and densely-wooded hill. Be-
tween Williams's and Geary divisions lay a deep
hollow, down which, washed by the timber, the
enemy was now advancing in heavy masses. Gen.
Williams, with that sudden inspiration which cha-
racterises true military genius, saw at a glance the
arrangement of his troops which, according to
the nature of the ground and the unexpected exi-
gencies of the movement, was best adapted to meet
this unlooked-for demonstration of the enemy. He
hurried his brigades into position on the double
quick, and though they moved with all possible
celerity, was unable to get them in their proper
places before they received a terrific fire from the
enemy. Robinson's brigade hastened along the
crest of the hill, then, facing by the left flank

marched down the slope to receive the swarming
masses of the overconfident and defiant foe, The
fire of the enemy was so murderous, and his advance
so impetuous, that it seemed for a time as if Robin-

son's line must surely yield. It was an awful mo-
ment. The combatants were mingled with each
other, and fighting hand-to-hand. The safety of the
corps, and indeed the entire army, seemed to depend
upon the courage and determination of these devoted
men. Should they give way the enemy would get
possession of the hill, command the rear, break the
centre, capture hundreds of prisoners, all our artil-
_

lery, and drive the remnant of our troops back to
the creek, and perhaps to the Chattahochee. But

not one inch would those intrepid veterans yield.
Though their ranks were fearfully thinned, and the
tangled forest became strewn with bleeding forms
as with autumn leaves, yet they determinedly main-
tained their position and compelled the enemy to
withdraw, leaving his dead and wounded mingled
with the brave heroes who had fought and fallen
beneath the starry folds of the 11 Ag of the Union.
While Robinson's brigade was thus contending
against fearful odds, Knipe's (First) brigade had
formed a line of battle stretching along the crest of
the hill, in continuation of Robinson's line, and
forming connection with the 14th corps. Knipe had
no sooner got into position than the enemy poured
down upon him in an onslaught no less fierce and
desperate than that made against Robinson. The
awful picture of the battle as it raged at this
moment no pencil can paint, no pea describe. The
noonday air became dark and heavy with the
powder smoke, which hung like a gloomy canopy
over the pale bloody corpses of the slain. Wounded
men were borne to the rear by scores, the blood

streaming from their lacerated flash, and presenting
a sight which at any other time would sicken the

heart with horror. Etch instant some patriotic
heart, some noble form, the treasure and the light of
some distant household, fell prone upon the earth,
and added a new martyr to freedom, a new victim
to the causeless crime of Southern traitors. The

rattling roll of the musketry sounded like the con-
tinuous roar of a cataract, and was joined by the
thunderous chime of the deep throated cannon, which
spouted unceasing volumes of flame and iron into the
faces of the foe. Bat, amid all this carnage and
confusion, Williams's veteran heroes wavered not,
and the red star (the badge of the Ist division 20th

corp;) of the Ist division never gleamed more
valiantly than it did in the hour of that dreadful
conflict. Too much cannot be said in praise of men
who would thus so nobly do and dare for the cause
of country, God, and truth. The enemy, finding it
impossible to break the line or drive it from the
hills, suddenly withdrew a short distance into the
woods, but the fight did not end here. Ever and
anon the rebels would surge forward again to the
charge, as if goaded by some spirit of madness, or
fired by a desperate resolution which would not listen
to the failure. The sanguinary recklessness of Chicka-
mauga Was repeated, but with different results.
Every effort of the enemy was foiled, every attack
repulsed. Evening came on apace, and the battle
subsided into the irregular firing of the pickets.
The last beams of the declining sun, though
they gleamed on a sad and revolting spectacle,
yet seemed to set the bloody field aglow with the
almost unearthly light of complete triumph and
glorious victory. Thus terminated the fifth battle in
which the Ist division has participated during this
campaign. In each previous instance, as in this last,
the enemy, has been thoroughly beaten, and in no case
has he gained the slightest advantage of Gen.Wil-

liams's veterans. Twice at Bessacca, once at Dallas,
once at Kenesaw, and, finally, once at least in the

great struggle before Atlanta, the enemy has been
compelled to eat the bitter fruit of defeat and disas-
ter by this splendid division. Yet comparatively

little has been said of its exploits in the public
print 9, and the credit of much that it has done has
been unfairly awarded to other commands. Its in.

trepid and skilful leader, who has the most unli-
.

mired confluence of his entire command, seems to

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 have been
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-
sinuations 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 political 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 abs
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, grow 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.
Hood :

" 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 today 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. Our loss is not fully ascertained.
Major-General Walker killed ; Brigadier-Generals
Smith, Gist, and Mercer wounded. Prisoners re-
port M'Phcrson 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. Stewart 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'Pherson, 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.
" General Wheeler last evening attacked the
enemy's left, in the neighbourhood of Decatur, and
drove them back, 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
commissioned officers, 25 pieces of artillery, and
seven stands of colours have been brought in.
The losses on either side are not yet known. Ours
was severe in officers. Comparative quiet reigns
this morning. There is some little skirmishing on
our left."

Despatches from Washington, of the 29th ult
say;—

"The latest official despatches from Gen. Sher-
man's army state that ho is steadily drawing his
lines closer around Atlanta. 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 an 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
Mentroe, July 28.
"An important movement is in progress from this
point. This morning, while our troops were cross-
ing the James River to its north side on two pontoon
bridges, a rebel force came down and attacked onr
men on the banks before they had time to organise.
A spirited engagement took place, and the rebels
were finally driven back to their intrenchments.
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 Dfury'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
L 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's corps, and -Wilcox's
division of Hill's corps, was immediately withdrawn
from the vicinity of Petersburg, and sent duwn to
check the movement. To counteract this manoeuvre
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 once thrown oat, who soon drove the rebels
to their breastworks, where they were kept hotly
engaged, while a brigade of the Ist 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,
four 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 followed, taking up positions on their front
and flanks, and before this reaches you the entire
force may be captured or routed. The guns taken
were four 24-pounder Parrotts, marked May 29,
1861, near Richmond—the same which were cap-
tured from the Bth Corps at Drury's Bluff last May.
Our loss was only about half-a-dozen wounded, none
seriously. General Grant rode to the front in the
afternoon, in company with General Hancock, and
viewed the position the enemy were in, He seemed
well pleased with the morning operations. General
Foster's command had quite a lively time with the
enemy 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 40 or 50 wounded during the day. An attack
was expected on Warren's front y esterday, but it
was not made. Picket and artillery firing is in•

dulgal 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 side
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 I 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 breadstnffs 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
precariously 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 telex•
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
out 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 from 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 rebels 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 are 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 warts disloyal masters and employers
not to interfere with these orders. The Leagues
are also engaged in perfecting their military organ.
isation. The order restricting the press here from
publishing anything relative to rebel movements is
still in force, much to the perplexity of the editors,
who do not appreciate the wisdom (?) of the order.
The statement in the special despatch to the
Bulletin that Harper's Ferry hes been evacuated 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 liter that is authentic from
the Upper Potomac. One thing is certain, end that
is that the rebels have not crossed the Potomac, but
had, at last advices, disappeared from the line o'
the river. Oar forces are understood to be vigor-
ously pushing the rebels south of the Potomac.
General Wallace has informed the editors of news-
papers in this city that information was received
last night which renders it unnecessary to continue
any longer the restrictions upon the publication of
news, as heretofore orderer.), except so far as it
relates to the movements of troops in this depart-
ment."

"Philadelphia, Friday, July 29•
i‘ The Bulletin has the following special de
spatches

Baltimore, Thursday, July 28, 11 p.m.
" ' Martinsburg is supposed to have been evacu-
ated by the rebels to-day. General Hunter sti 1
commands the department of Virginia, and General
Crook the troops in the field. The rebels are be-
lieved to be falling back, preparatory to an advance
in another direction. Our forces are moving i❑
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 Bedbrd
Spring?, where Governor Curtin now is."
"Philadelphia, Friday, July 29.
" The Bullettn has received 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 3espatch from Lancaster, a nuounc-
in g that the rebels were crossing the Potomac at
Williamsport, is without foundation in fact."
" Baltimore, Friday, July 29, 10 40 p.m.
" The American's 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 scene 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, 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 U 9 success. It will not 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