The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-16 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.

(Per the Europa.)

NEW YORK, AUGUST 2.
The news from the Army of the Potomac is of an
important character. Another attack upon the de-
fences of Petersburg has resulted in disaster to the
Federal arms. Oa the 28th June, under the super-
intendence of Col. Pleasant, an experienced Penn-
sylvania mining engineer, the Federals commenced
to undermine a fort mounting six guns, considered
the key to the first line of the Confederate works,
By the 28th July the work was successfully accom-
plished. The tunnel leading to the mine was 800
feet in length, four feet wide at the bottom, and two
feet at top, its height being five and a half feet.
Six tons of powder were deposited in the mine :
co-operate arrangements being effected, early on
the morning of the 30th of July the mine was ex•
ploded with tremendous effect ; an immense column
of dirt, timber, and other debris was thrown to a
height of 300 feet; the fort was utterly demolished,
and the garrison, composed of South Carolina
troops, all either killed or wounded. Immediately
after the explosion the Federal artillery opened a
furious fire, under cover of which the Federals
charged and captured nearly the entire first line of
the Confederate entrenchments. The coloured
troops of Burnside's corps were then advanced in
two columns to sustain tha assaulting force and
carry the minor works. The negroes at first ad-
vanced in good order, but, being furiously charged
upon by the Confederates, they finally gave
way and fled in confusion to the rear. The
Confederates now bore down upon the white
troops, forcing them beck, and inflicting upon
them severe loss. General Bartlett and staff, and
twelve or fourteen hundred Federals were made
prisoners. The officers of the coloured troops suf-
fered severely while endeavouring to ral'y their
men. The slaughter of the negroes is said to have
been fearful. The entire Federal force finally re-
treated, under a severe fire of grape and canister,
back to their own lines. The total Federal losses
are estimated at from four to five thousand. Dur-
ing the charge immediately following the explosion
of the mine the Federals are reported to have cap-
tured four hundred prisoners. The Confederate
troops engaged were mostly South Carolinians,
under the immediate command of Beauregard. It
is reported that on the day following the battle
General Grant went to Fortress Monroe, and had a
protracted consultation with President Lincoln.
Latest advices, which are up to nine p,m on the 31st,
state that hostilities had not been renewed. Grant
had asked a truce to bury the dead. This the Con-
federates refused, but a truce was finally agreed
upon, and the dead were being buried, and the
wounded lying between the two lines cared for.
The Confederates refused to exchange newspapers,
and had suspended all communication between the
pickets. This was thought to indicate that Lee was
executing some important movement, and was
guarding against the possibility of its detection.
Cars were heard running all night on the 30th, and
it was rumoured that Lee was throwing forward
heavy reinforcements either to Early or Hood.
Prisoners report that Lee has for some time past
been undermining the Federal works. No Con.
federate accounts of the battle on the 30th have been
received.

The new Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania
and Maryland seems to be enveloped in mystery.
It is not known definitely to the public where or
in what force the invaders are. A Harrisburg de.
spatch reports them moving to Bedford County;
another despatch represents them to be marching
against Hancock, whi!e another report is that they
have entirely evacuated Pennsylvania, and are only
in small force in Maryland. Nothing positive is
known, but the general belief is that the main
body of the Confederates is still between Winches-
ter and Martinsburg in the Shenandoah Valley,
and that small bodies of cavalry are still operating
in Pennsylvania. The report of the destruction of
a portion of Chambersburg by the raiders is con-
firmed. It is stated that a force of about 250 under
M'Causland entered the town on the afternoon of
the 30th ult., and after an unsuccessful attempt
to levy a contribution on the inhabitants of 500,000
dole., fired the town in several places, after inform-
ing the people that the town would be destroyed
in retaliation for outrages perpetrated in the Shen-
andoah Valley by the forces under Hunter. The
Federal forces under General Averil came up during
the conflagration, but, being unable to subdue the
flames, started at once in pursuit of the raiders,
who had fled upon Averill's approach. It was re-
ported that Averill overtook and routed them at
M'Connellsburg. About 250 houses and public
buildings were destroyed at Chambersburg, in-
volving a loss of several millions of dollars, and
causing great suffering among the inhabitants.
Latest advices from General Sherman's army
report that on the 27th ult. General Hood made
another attack upon Sherman's intrenched position,
bat was repulsed with a loss of nearly 1,000 in
killed. The Federal loss being a little over 600

in killed and wounded. v
Confederate accounts state that on the night of
the 24th of July General Sherman attempted to
break Hood's lines, but was repulsed by Cheatham
after a sharp fight lasting an hour.

General Hood has issued an address to his troops
elling them that their safety in time of battle eon-

slated in getting into close quarters with their

enemy, that if the Federale were allowed to con

tinue their flanking movements the Confederate
cause would be imperilled, but that recent
operations had proved that his soldiers had the

power to prevent it.

The steamer Clara Bell was attacked on the 24th
ult. by a Confederate battery near Carrollton Land,
ing and entirely destroyed.
Richm)nd papers announce the re•eleotion of
Governor Vance, in North Carolina. Holden, the

peace candidate, receiving but few votes.
The Southern papers regard Vance's election as
an endorsement by the people of North Carolina of
the policy of the Richmond Government.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, AUG. 2, P.M.

The money market is active, 7 per cent. being
the current rate for loans on first-class securities.
Government Securities are depressed on account
of the war news, but the heavy European orders
sustain prices against any serious fall. Registered
Sixes of 1881, 105; Coupon do., 104; ; Seven Thir-
ties, 107; Five Twenties, 107; One Year Certifi-
ficates, 931.

Gold is quiet at 258, and exchange moderately
active at 28 for bankers' bills.

The Share Market is active. Erie, 1101; New
York Central, 1301 ; Hudson River, 1291; Read-
ing, 137 ; Illinois Central, 138; Michigan Southern,
891; Chicago and Rock Island, 11%; Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne, and Chicago, 1161,

Flour.—Market quiet. 9 dols. 20c. to 9 doll. 40c.
for superfine State and Western ; 9 dole. 80e. to 10
dais. for extra Statc ; 10 dots. 15c. to 10 dol.?. 250.
for choice State; 10 clois. 250. to 10 dots. 60c. for