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

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 8, 1864.

turn his left columns. There is no official informa-
tion to show that our troops have entered Atlanta."
Despatches to the New York papers of the 27th
state that the force which made the late raid in
Maryland had turned upon its pursuers. The fol-
lowing appears in the Baltinzore American of the
26th :
"The city last night was full of rumours of rebel
movements in the Shenandoah valley, together with
vague accounts of disaster to the force under Gen.
Averill which last week attacked and defeated a
portion of Gen. Early's raiders near Winchester.
Among the rumours prevalent were the deaths of
Generals Kelly and Averill, as well as of Col. Mul.
ligan. The facts, as far as we have been able to
ascertain them, are that General Averill, after his
successful encounter with General Early's forces,
pursued them to the mountains beyond Winchester,
where Early made a stand, and, after heavy fight-
ing on Saturday and Sunday, the rebels having in
the meantime been reinforced, Gen. Averill was
compelled to fall back to Harper's Ferry, bringing
with him the forces at Bunker Hill, and causing
also the evacuation of Martinsburg. The rebels
appear to have pursued him in his retreat, and yes-
terday afternoon again occupied Martinsburg, where
they cut the telegraph wires and commenced again
the destruction of the track of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. Our forces, according to the best
advices we could obtain, are now concentrated at
Harper's Ferry, under command of Gen. Hunter.
The rebels hold Martinsburg, and rumour states
them to be in large force, but this can hardly be
possible beyond the strength of the forces under
Generals Early and Breckinridge, The object of

the rebels in returning is doubtless to give time for
the safety of their trains of plunder, and to secure
the collection of a portion of the crop in the She-
nandoah valley. That they may again come into
Maryland for more plunder is highly probable,
especially if they find the way open to them, as is
generally the case in the military management of
affairs along the border. As to the extent of the
disaster to our forces in the fight beyond Winches-
ter we have no authentic information, nor have we
any confirmation of the death of Generals Averill
and Kelly and Colonei Mulligan. It is not likely,
however, that eli three of these officers have fallen ;
we are inclined to doubt the story of their death. We
learn that orders were sent to remove the army and
medical stores from Frederick last night, as a
matter of precaution, and to prepare to evacuate
the city in case of the advance of the rebels un-
checked in that direction. That the official intel-
ligence from the valley last evening was not as
favourable as could be desired may be inferred from
the fact that General Wallace convened the Loyal
Leaguers last night, to advise with them as to hold-
ing themselves in readiness in case their services
should be required for the defence of the city.
These precautions are of course advisable, and our
citizens should be in readiness at all times to meet
the invaders and to prevent their repeating the
outrages recently perpetrated in the neighbourhood
of this city. The despatches received here last
night merely announced that General Averill had
been compelled to retire before a superior force to
Harper's Ferry, but mentioned no serious disasters
as having occurred."
A Washington despatch of the 26th of July
states :

"General Crook met the enemy on Sunday at
Winchester, and was repulsed and driven back to
Williamsport by way of Martinsburg. General
Crook had not his old command with him, General
Hunter for some cause having given him command
of the militia."

The Baltimore American adds to this :

"The train which left here yesterday morning
for the west and proceeded as far as Sandy Hook
returned about half-past 7 o'clock last evening. All
of the cars were crowded with Union officers, who
reported that a heavy fight had taken place between
Harper's Ferry and Winchester, and that General
Hunter had been repulsed ; also that several pieces
of artillery and a large number of men of two bri-
gades had been captured by the rebels. it is im-
possible to ascertain the true state of affairs in that
region, but there is no doubt that a serious disaster
has occurred to the forces of General Hunter.'

The New York Tribune has the following in re-
ference to this new raid :

" Yesterday afternoon brought intelligence of a
sudden disaster in the Shenandoah Valley, reported
at first to consist in nothing less than the total
defeat of General Hunter's advance under Averill
and Crook, with loss of guns, and men, and stores.
It was subsequently modified into a prudent re-

tirement of General Crook from the vicinity of
Winchester and from Martinsburg, with slight
losses in men and none in material. And the latest
reports seem to justify the opinion that there has
been no very serious battle in the valley, but that
our forces withdrew in the face of an enemy deemed
to be superior in strength. The reported deaths of
Averill, Kelly, and Mulligan receive no confirma-
tion whatever. Of the precise location and purpose
of such forces as were operating on our side we
have had no information that could be trusted for
some days. The pursuit, so called, of the rebel
force retiring from Maryland had never reached the
dignity of an offensive movement. Crook and
Averill seemed to be hanging on the rear of the
rebel rear guard, picking up a waggon or two now
and then, but inflicting no serious loss upon the
enemy. But it becomes pretty clear that the rebels
grew tired of the annoyance to which they were
subjected, and rather suddenly sent Crook and
Averill to the right about. Hence the reports of a
return of the rebel forces, and a new invasion of
the North. We may remark, however, that there
is no reason why the rebels should not return.
They have laughed at a pursuit which they knew
was not undertaken in earnest. They gained rest
and strength as they slowly retreated with abun-
dant supplies. They knew that the 19th Corps had
been sent to the James. They inferred from the
weakness of the effort directed against the retiring
columns that no formidable force was left in Mary-
land. Why should they not return with the small
yet insolent band which was flushed with great
success, gorged with plunder, stimulated by the eclat
by an attack on the capital, and instructed by new
orders frorc Lee to try another diversion in his behalf?
The previous raid was a grand reconnaissance; this
may reap the fruit which the other from over haste
left behind. We are far from suggesting that any
serious effect is to be apprehended from these reports
and inferences. But we do mean to say that it is
not a creditable administration of military affairs
which leaves even the apprehension of such a return
to be felt by the North. Lang since the valley ought
to have been closed absolutely against such demon-
strations. The force under Gen. Halleck is and has
been ample for the purpose. The forces under Gen.
Hunter and Gen. Wright were alone sufficient, if
used with ability, to have prevented the possibility
of a renewed invasion or raid, for we know not which
is the least respectable term since the last rebel
attempt fluctuates between both."
Fears are entertained that an invasion of Penn-
sylvania is contemplated. Reports are afloat in
military circles that Hill's corps has reinforced
Early, but they are deemed improbable by some.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE OF FARMING STOCK.—A most
disastrous fire broke out on the premises of Mr.
Pitcher, the Nunnery Farm, about two miles from Worcester,
on Saturday afternoon. At 5 o'clock everything was safe,
and some men were engaged in making a rick of barley, when
t hey observed smoke issue from a barn at the end of the rick-
yard. Before they could reach the barn the flames burst out,
and, spreading with great rapidity, extended to the rickyard,
setting fire to the half•made barley rick and all the other
ricks in the yard. By half-past 5 the whole place was
in a blaze, the flames reaching to a great height, and,
although the sun was shining brightly, being visible at a
considerable distance. Three fire-engines were quickly on
the spat; but, as it was evident no effort could extinguish
the fire in the ricks and barn, their energies were confined
to the saving of the house, The garden hedge was already
on fire, and the fruit on the trees against the house shrivelled
up with the heat, when providentially the wind changed
and blew the flames in another direction, or the hens() must
have fallen a prey to them. As it was, the fire was confined
to the barn and rickyard. Tho former contained about $0
bags of beans, a great number of agricultural implements,
three waggons, and a cart, all of which were destroyed.
The barley rick and several ricks of straw were burnt, but
same hay ricks in an adjoining yard were saved. The fire
is conjectured to have arisen from some men employed at
work smoking on the premises, but nothing certain is
known. Mr Pitcher is fully insured. Only two nights
previously there was another fire at an adjoining farm not
half a mile off, when a large rick of half worth over -£'oo
was destroyed.