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

battle. There is a race for Staunton or some of the
gaps, in which the rebels have the advantage both
of start and distance, and as they generally lead us,
so lam inclined to believe it will be this time. There
is one other point to be taken into consideration,
and upon it may depend the whole question. The
enemy may be sufficiently in need of the crops of the
valley to make it an imperative necessity that they
should fight for them. It is undoubtedly the fact
that these crops have furnished to a very consider-
able extent the substance for the army at Richmond.
The question as to who is the master in the valley is
once more to be tested. There is nothing important
from up the river. The rebels withdrew their pickets
opposite Williamsport on Wednesday night, and yes-
terday Gen. Kelly reoccupied Martinsburg. Tele-
graphic communication with that point has not been
re-established, nor has any train yet returned up,
as the condition of the road and bridge at Opequon
Creek is not known. The bridge over Back Creek,
beyond Martinsburg, is reported to have been de-
stroyed. The train crossed the bridge into Hare
per's Ferry to-day for the first time since the last
rebel occupation. Harper's Ferry has been burnt
over again, this being the fourth or fifth time since
the war began. None of the private buildings of
the town have been injured. The general belief of
officers engaged in the recent fight is that Colonel
Mulligan was killed. He is known to have been
very severely wounded, and was left on the field.
An effort is in progress to learn his fate and obtain
his remains, if he is dead."
The New Orleans Picayune publishes General
Forrest's address to his command :
"Head-quarters, Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo,
Mississippi, June 28.
" Soldiers,—After a long and laborious campaign
the MajoreGeneral commanding deems it an appro-
priate occasion to address you a few words of re-
capitulation, acknowledgment, and congratulation.
About the 15th of February last the campaign which
so gloriously terminated at Tishemingo Creek was
inaugurated. Major-General Sherman, with a large
and well-appointed army, undertook to penetrate
the central counties of Alabama and Mississippi.
His object was avowedly to capture Selma and
Mobile, and to desolate that productive region of
country, from which the granaries of a large section
of the Confederacy were supplied. Generals Smith
and Grierson had their duty assigned theni, and
were to act a conspicuous part in the work of spolia-
tion and piracy. With a large co-operating cavalry
force, thoroughly armed and equipped, they were
to descend through Northern Mississippi, carrying
fire and sword with them. On they came, like
a blighting sirocco. At West Point you met
them. There you threw yourselves across
the rich prairies, a living bulwark to stay the
desolating tide. Compared with the enemy you are
but few in numbers, but every man became a hero,
for all seemed impressed with the importance of the
momentous struggle. You proved yourselves equal
to the expectations of the country. You met the
proud and exultant enemy. The result is known
to the world ; you drove him howling back in ignoe
miny and shame, broken and demoralised. Sher-
man's campaign was thus brought to an abrupt
conclusion, and Mississippi and Alabama were
saved. The victory was a glorious one, and with
heartfelt pride the general commanding acknow-
ledges your unexampled gallantry. This great work
was accomplished by Col. Bell's brigade, commanded
by Col. Barteau, Col.M'Colloch's, and Col. Forrest's
brigades. But great as was this victory, it was not
without alloy. The laurel is closely entwined with
the cypress, and the lustre of a brilliant triumph is
darkened by the blood with which it was purchased.
It was here that Col. Barksdale gave up his life, a
willing sacrifice upon the altar of his country. He
fell in front of the battle, gallantly discharging his
duty. He sleeps, but his name is imperishable.
Here, too, fell the noble brother of the general com-
manding—Col. Rffray E. Forrest. He was a brave
and chivalrous spit it, ever foremost in the right. He
fell in the flower of his youth and usefulness. But
his dying gaze was proudly turned upon the victo
rioub field which his own valour had aided in win,

ning. Peace to the ashes of these gallant young
heroes. Gen. Grierson, not satisfied with this test
of your prowess, united with Gen. Sturgis, at the
head of one of the best appointed forces ever
equipped by the Yankee nation—complete in in-
fantry-, cavalry, artillery, and supply trains. They
came forth with threats of vengeance towards you
and your commander for the bloody victory at Fort
Pillow—made a massacre only by dastardly Yankee
reporters. Again you respond bravely to your gene•
rat's call. You met the enemy and defeated him.
Victory was never more glorious, disaster never
more crushing and signal. From a proud and de-
fiant foe en route to the heart of your country, with
declarations, both by negro and white troops, of
`No quarter to Forrest and his men,'.he became an
enemy beaten, defeated, routed, and destroyed. You
drove the boasted minions of despotism in confused
flight from the battlefield. 17 guns, 250 waggons,
3,ooostand of arms, 2,000 prisoners, and killed and
wounded 2,000 more, are the proud trophies which
adorn your triumphant banners. The remainder
are still wandering in the bushes and bAtoms, for
ever lost to the enemy. There was not over 3,u00
of you that achieved this victory over 10,000
of the enemy. Had you never before raised an
army in your country's cause, this terrible over-
throw of her brutal foe would entitle you to her
deepest gratitude. Again, your general expresses
his pride and admiration of your gallantry and won-
derful achievments. You stand before the world
an unconquerable band of heroes. Whether dis-

mounted, and fighting
shoulder to shoulder, like
infantry veterans, or hurling your irresistible squa-
drons on the living foe, you evince the same coura-
geous bravery. Soldiers! amid your rejoicings do
not forget the gallant dead upon these fields of
glory. Many a noble comrade has fallen a costly
sacrifice to his country's independence. The most
you can do is to cherish their memory, and strive to
make the future as glorious as they have made the
past. The smoke of your burning homesteads, the
screams of your insulted women, and the cries of

starving children,
arms with strength. Your fathers of 1776 had much
will again nerve your strong
to fight for, but how little and unimportant was
their cause compared with yours. They fought
not against annihilation, but
simply to be in-
dependent of a foreign,
yet constitutional and free,
government. You are struggling against the most
odious of all tyranny—for existence itself, for your
property, your
homes, your wives and children—
against :;our owe enslavement, against emancipa-
tion, confiscation, and subjugation, with all their
attendant horrore. In conclusion, your command-

ing General congratulates you on the brilliant pro.
spEcts which everywhere pervades our cause. The
independence of the Confederate States is a fixed,

accomplished, immutable fact. The ray of peace is

glimmering like bright sunshine around the dark
clouds. Be true to yourself and your country a little
longer, and you will soon be enabled to return to

your desolated homes, there to collect together once
_ __

gods.—By order of more your shattered household

" Major-Gen. N. B. FORREST.
" C. .V. Anderson, Acting Adjutant-General."
A despatch from St, Louis, dated the 28th ult.,
gives the following particulars of the alleged con-
spiracy for the creation of a North,Western Con-
federacy :

" The Democrat publishes a long account of the
conspiracy for the ererticn of a North-western Con-

federacy reported a few days since, The organisa-

tion engaged in this conspiracy is known as the
Order of American Knights,' and its real object
is to embarrass the Government conduct of the war,

and to overthrow the Government, if necessary, for
the supremacy of the Order. Its professions and
purposes are different in different States, proclaim-

ing a war policy in New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and other Eastern States, while in the west
it is for peace. The Order is of Southern origin,
being erected on the ruins of the Knights of the

Golden Circle. The rebel alen. S. Price is supreme

commander. Vallandigham,wbile in Richmond, was
made supreme commander of the Northern section,
and a conspiracy was entered into between him and
the rebel authorities to divide the East and the West,

,hus to aid the Southern rebellion. Vallandigham's

itne in Canada was principally spent in furthering
,his scheme. He had a conference with some of the

eading spirits in the North soon after his arrival in

Canada, and arranged for the establishment of the