The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-21 00:00:00

AMERICA

[-REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]

,Per the City of Manchester, via Roche's Point,
Jan. 21, 12 35 a.m.)
NEW YORK, DEC. 9.

There is no important news from General Meade's
army. A detachment of Confederate cavalry drove
in the Federal pickets at Flint Hill, near Fairfax
Courthouse, on the night of the sth inst., but re-
treated after exchanging a few shots with the skir-
mishers sent out to meet them. Many of the
veteran troops are re-enlisting for the war, and the
condition of the army is said to be excellent. Con-
federate deserters report that many of Lee's troops
would gladly avail themselves of Mr. Lincoln's
amnesty if they had the opportunity. A trade
agent has been appointed to sell to the destitute
population within the Union lines provisions, cloth-
ing, and other necessaries of life.
Despatches from Cumberland, Maryland, state
that the Confederates in West Virginia are very
active. The garrison at Petersburg was surrounded
yesterday by the Confederates, who have driven
the Federals out of Burlington. Cumberland, Md.,
is threatened with immediate attack by Fitzhugh
Lee and Rosser. The passenger trains on the Bal-

timore and Ohio Railroad have been stopped, and
great excitement prevails. The Confederates are
reported to be moving in three columns. They
captured a train of 36 waggons yesterday. General
Imboden has been attacked at Winchester and driven
back. A heavy snow storm prevailed.

Coles' Maryland Cavalry encountered a large
force of Confederates near Rectortown, Va., re-
cently, and lost 57 out of 75 men.
A despatch, dated Cumberland Gap, Jan. 6th,
announce that an overwhelming force of Confede-
rates, estimated at 4,000, under General Samuel
Jones, made a descent upon the Federal troops,
numbering about 300, at Jonesboro', Va. The
Federals, who were guarding a region, which was
the main reliance for forage for the Union troops
in that department, made a desperate resistance,
but finally surrendered, after losing 60 men in
killed and wounded.

Latest advices from Chattanooga disclose no im-
portant events in that region. The weather had
been very severe, and several soldiers had been
frozen to death at Bridgeport. Many of the troops
were re-enlisting for the war. The Confederate
lines were 35 miles from Chattanooga. General Joe
Johnson was reporting to be making every exer-
tion for increasing the number and efficiency of
his troops.

The Confederates are making great efforts to
complete the railroad from Greenborough to Dan-
ville, Virginia, in order that they may have by
spring a double means of communication between
Richmond and the gulf States.

There is nothing definite from Knoxville or
Longstreet's army. Latest accounts represent
Longstreet's position to be "stubborn and strong,"
as he had open communication with Virginia end
North Caroline, and was believed to be receiving
reinforcements.

The rebel Generals Marmaduke and Pribe, with
about 6,000 men, mostly cavalry, were near Arka-
delphia, Arkansas, on the 23d of December. Union
sentiment in Arkansas is said to be rapidly in-

creasing.
Advices from Texas disclose some stirring events
f.n that region. The rebel General Magruder is

said to be very unpopular on account of the severity

of his rule. He issued an order to burn the towns of
Indianola and Lavacca, lest they should fall into the
hands of the Pederals, the inhabitants not only
refused to obey the order, but are said to have orga-
nised to resist it. Refugees were continually
coming into Baronsville. All citizens who have
remained there have had the oath of allegiance
administered to them. Those who refuse to take it
are sent across the Rio Grande into Mexico. It
is
reported that the rebels are concentrating all their
available forces in Western Texas, at San Antonio,
and Austin.

The minute men have been ordered by General
Magruder to report at those points. It is said
that the rebels have a small guuboat in Lavacea
Bay, but nothing has been see❑ of it yet. General
Banks will probably not move into the interior of

the State until ho received such additions to his
present inadequate force as will insure success. At

all events there will be no active operations on his
part until the secret expedition which left New
Orleans on December 30 is heard from.
Governor Bramlette, of Kentucky, has issued
orders that five rebel sympathisers shall be arrested
for every loyal citizen carried off by rebel guerillas.
The rebels have been for some 'Lime past concen-
trating near Jackson, Tennessee, under Generals
Forrest, Roddy, and Chalmers. It is believed this
force now numbers from 20,000 to 25,000 men, and
that they purpose making a dash upon Paducah,
Kentucky, Columbus, or perhaps Memphis. Gen.
Grant is fully informed as to the contemplated
movement, and is amply prepared to guard against
disaster.

Advices from New Orleans to January 1 have
been received. A mass meeting of loyal citizens
was called for the Bth January, the object being to
consider the formation of a Free State Government.

Nearly enough have been enrolled to enable the
State to return to the Union under President Lin-
coln's proclamation. A secret expedition left New
Orleans on December 30, the strength and destina-
tion of which had been successfully disguised from
the public. It is believed, however, that it is in-
tended to operate against Mobile. An entrenched
camp will probably be formed at Pascagoula, and
an advance from thence against Mobile as soon as

;he rainy season is over.
A line of signal stations is to be established along
,he Mississippi to assist in preventing the depreda-

.ons of the rebel guerillas.

General Kirby Smith now commands the entire
rebel force west of the Mississippi, and is said to be
organising a force of 1,500 for an attack upon Little
Rock, Arkansas.
In the Senate Wilson, of Massachusetts, intro-
duced a resolution to expel M. Garrett Davis, of
Kentucky, for alleged treasonable sentiments con-
tained in his resolution relative to prohibiting
military officers from interfering with elections. No
vote was taken on the subject. A petition was pre-
sented by the Society of Friends, asking exemption
from the draft. M. Howe, of Wisconsin, offered a
resolution, requesting the President to call out one
million of volunteers for ninety day 3, to terminate
the war ;referred to IVlilitary Committee. A reso-
lution was offered by Senator Movill, of Vermont,
requesting the President to notify to the British
Government the desire of the United States to ter-
minate the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada; re-
ferred to committee on foreign relations.
In the House of Representatives the joint resolu-
tion to extend the payment of bounties to volunteers
from the sth of February to Ist of March was
adopted. After a short executive session in the
Senate, both houses adjourned until January 11.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
World states that the official reports place the
Union losses in killed and wounded at Chancellors-
ville at 28,000 men.
A Mr. Palmer, secretary to the collector of the
port of New York, has been arrested and bent to

Fort Lafayette, undoubted evidence having been
produced of his participation in the blockade run-
ning. He was a prominent Republican, ar.d
secretory of the Union Central Committee. &co-
ral prominent and supposed loyal citizens are im-
plicated with him.