The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-30 00:00:00

GREAT LOSS.

The royal mail steamship Persia arrived at
Queenstown at 4.15 a.m. this day. She brings
189 passengers and 622,919 dollars in specie.
The Persia landed 30 passengers and 77 sacks of
mails, and proceeded for Liverpiol at 4.30 a.m.
NEW YORK, APRIL 19, Morning.
The Confederates have withdrawn from Fort Pil-
low in a Northerly direction. General Sherman's
account of the capture of Pillow states that 300
coloured troops were murdered by the Confederates.
President Lincoln has made a speech at Baltimore
stating that if the reports concerning the murdering
of negroes at Fcrt Pillow were confirmed, he should
retaliate, but he asked if it would be right to take
the lives of individuals or only one man, therefore
it would be necessary to determine hereafter upon
the form of retaliation.

It is reported that Hardee's corps has left Dalton,
Tennessee, for Virginia. General Kilpatrick has
been relieved from his command in the army of the
Potomac, and ordered to report to Sherman.

It is reported that General Grant will give
M'Clellan an active command.

A naval court-martial is in session in New York,
for the trial of the mate of the barque Saxon for

murder,

Both houses of the New York State Legislature
have passed a resolution to pay the interest of the
State debts to all creditors in greenbacks.

The steamer Alliance has been captured in

Savannah River.

Mr. Chase has returned to Washington.
The Saxonia has arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, APRIL 19 (Evening

Money tight. Government Securities are much
lower. Gold has fluctuated since Monday between
71 and 67, and is quoted to-day at 69. The large
sales of gold and exchange by the Government, the
public purchases of customs and gold certificates,
and the subscriptions to the 10 40 loan being all
payable in greenbacks, have created a scarcity of
that currency, and an extreme stringency in money,
resulting iu a general derangement of financial
matters and a violent panic in stocks, which con-
tinued unabated from Saturday till this morning.
Money is easier to-day, the panic has subsided,
and stocks are rallying. Greenbacks are quoted 1
per cent. above Bank currency, The Government
has stopped selling gold certificates. Bills for
largely increased taxation and duties will shortly
be introduced in Congress.

Exchange on London, 84 86k. Stocks, prices
lower. New York Centrals, 136, Illinois, 128 i.
Erie, 1131. 6 per Cent. United States bonds, 108.
Cotton quiet. Middling Upland, 80. Flour and
wheat very dull. Corn declining. Provisions dull,

DEFEAT OF BANKS.

NEW YORK, APRIL 20 (Morning),

A severe engagement occurred on the Bth be•
tween the advance of General Banks' army and the
Confederates at Pleasant Hill, beyond Grand
Ecore, Louisiana. The Confederates fell back
skirmishing for five miles, when they sud-
denly assaulted the Federals with sui*rior
forces. The Federal cavalry in front were
routed, causing a demoralised retreat of the infantry
in the rear. The 19th army corps of 7,000 then
advanced, checking the Confederates progress.
Banks' army has fallen back to Grand Ecore. The
Federals estimate their loss at 2,000 men, and one
battery ; the Confederates, however, estimate the
Federal loss at 14,000 men. A large number of
wounded have arrived at Baton Rouge.
General Lee is rumoured to have crossed the
Rapidan.

The Confederate Gen. Wirt Adams is reported to
have defeated the Federals on Big Black River with
the loss of several hundred prisoners.
The New Fork Herald asserts that Grant has
relieved General Butler from military duty, and
appointed him to the civil supervision of the Penin-
sular Department.

The following military changes are reported from
Washington :—Gen. Gilmore has been superseded
by Gen. Hatch in the command at Charleston; and
Gen. Hurlbut, at Memphis, is replaced by Gen.
Washburne.