The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-28 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. River,
11i2n70:8
CNeenwt r
al Yorkl2s. Central,Michigan
(7aln34i-.
e;ntßraeladli3lif:
LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] Michigan Southern, 84 ; Chicago and Rock Island,
109 ; Pittsburg, Fort Wagner, and Chicago, 113 ;
PdOlfie Mail, 280.

AMERICA.
(Per the City of Baltimore.)
NEW YORK, JULY 16.
Advices from the Army of the Potomac up to the

SOUTHAMPTON, JULY 28.

The steamer New York, with mails and passen-
gers from New York, arrived off the Needles at
11,35 a.m. to-day.

4th have been received. Some skirmishing had

occurred along the lines, but the general situation
of the army remained unchanged.
The troops were vigorously engaged in strength-
ening the works, and heavy siege guns were about
to open upon the enemy's position.

THE BOMBAY MAILS.

ALEXANDRIA, JULY 27.
The Maine and Massilia, with the above mails,

left here at 4 p.m. this day.
The former may be expected at Mar, e.illes about
the 2d, and the latter at SouthamP'con about the Bth
August.
The Salsette, with, the outward mail of 12-18th
July, left Suez for Bombay at noon this day.

Recent movements of the Confederates indicate
,hat they purpose a demonstration in heavy force

against the Federal rear. The Petersburg and
Weldon Railroad has been repaired by the Confe.

derates, and is now in use by them.
The Confederate demonstration against Washing.
ton appears to have terminated in a manner justify-

ing the belief that no serious purpose of capturing
the Federal capital was entertained by the invaders,
A Washington despatch states that skirmishing
continued all day on the 12th at a distance of from

five to seven miles from the city. In the evening
the garrison of Fort Stevens made a sally upon the

Confederates, who were mcnacing the fort, and
drove them back. They left one hundred of their

wounded behind, and on the afternoon of the 13th
the entire force passed through Rockville, mov-
ing rapidly towards Edward's Ferry, at which
point they crossed the Potomac, it is believed, in full
retreat to Richmond. They take with them an
immense amount of supplies, including several
thousand head of cattle, gathered during the raid.
Most of their infantry returns mounted. It is now
believed that the strength of the invading force has
been greatly exaggerated. No definite idea, how-
ever, as to their numbers or future intentions can
be formed from the reports thus far received. Tbr
general belief is that the raiders numbereP
from
8,000 to 15,000 men, under the comm.-
-.ad of Early
and Breckenridge, and that their
object was to col-
lect horses and supplies, tr
destroy railroad pro-
perty, and to menace 1'
,faehtngton, with a view to
draw away a pot";ion. of Grant's force from before
Petersburg, thereby affording General Lea an
°PP°rt'..nity to assume the offensive with better
elr..nces of success.

it is even rumoured that the Confederates only
retired across the Potomac in order to secure a safe
transfer of their booty to Richmond, and that they
were expecting reinforcements, and would again
cross the Potomac on receiving them. A Federal
force is said to liave crossed at Edward's Ferry in
pursuit, and it is also reported that an expedition
under Sheridan has started to check their retreat
un`..ii the pursuing column can overtake them.
Railway and telegraphic communication between
Baltimore and Washington is reestablished.
The principal damage sustained by the Phila.
delphia and Baltimore Railroad is in the destruc-
tion of the bridge over Gunpowder Creek, The
damage done to the Baltimore and Ohio Road is
not stated, but is believed to be quite serious. The
large iron bridge over the Monocacy, by reason of
its great strength, escaped serious injury. The
country through which the raiders passed was en-
tirely cleared of its live stock and other supplies,
and the loss sustained, which falls principally upon
Union farmers, amounts to several million dollars.
The property of Secessionists was generally re-
spected.

The escape of General Franklin, and his safe
arrival at Baltimore, is announced. Gen. Franklin
escaped from his guards while they slept in a
bivouac near Reicesterstown. He secreted himself
in the goods all night, and reached the Union,lines
on the following day.
The immediate danger to the capital being over,
the militia called out for its defend() have been

mustered out of service.
General Auger now commands at Washington,
and is taking precautions to guard against any
further demonstration against the city.
Nothing further has been heard from the com-
mands of Hunter or Segel.
Advices from General Sherman's army state that
after the assault on the Confederate position at
Kenesaw Mountain, on the 27th ult., General Sher-
man, finding that the works could be carried only
by a fearful sacrifice of life, resolved to flank them.
With this view, M'Pherson's corps was moved, on
the night of the Ist of July. towards Nickajack
Creek, on the extreme right. A reconnoisance on
the following morning developed the fact that the
Confederates had evacuated the position during the
night. Sherman immediately moved in pursuit,
and on the evening of the 3d, his advance occupied
Marietta. About three miles south of the town,
the Confederates made a stand behind some hastily-
,
constructed breastworks, from which they were
promptly driven by assault. Skirmishing continued
between Sherman's advance and Johnston's rear•
guard until the sth, when the entire Confederate
forces retreated across the Chatahoochie river. It
is unofficially stated that the Federals had also
crossed the river, and were pushing on after their
retreating enemy, whose force had been reduced to
less than 50,000 men.
Confederate accounts to the 9th state that John-
ston had fallen back to an impregnable position on
the south bank
of the Chatohoochie river, and-
that his troops were in splendid condition end

spirits.
A Natchez despatch, which however lacks con..
&motion, states that Johnston had been forced
back to Atlanta, and that Sherman's army was '
before the fortifications of that place.
Guerillas were active in Sherman's rear, but had
effected nothing of serious importance,
The Richmond Examiner states that a Federal
force of 4,0003 occupying Jackson, Mississippi, was
attacked 011 the 7th by the Confederates, under
General West Adams, and
/that the Federals were
driven with severe loss back to Clinton.
A Federal fleet of six gunboats and seven trans•
ports
were at the mouth of the White River, Ar-
!causes, on the 11th. Its destination was unknown.
The Confederate forces under Price were reported
to be moving towards Missouri.
Advices from South Carolina state that the Fe-
derals had captured a battery on the south end of
James Island. The position had been entrenched
and occupied by a force under General Schemel-
fenisg, It was believed that this lodgment could
be held against any force the Confederates could
bring it, and that it would prove of great value in
further operations against Charleston.
The Federals had been repulsed in a night attack
on Fort Johnson, the entire assaulting force of 150
men, under Colonel Iloyt, being made prisoners by
the Confederates,