The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-17 00:00:00

they carried the entire line, capturing from two to
three hundred prisoners, and 15 pieces of artillery,
and driving the Confederates back in confusion.
During this engagement General Burnham was in-
stantly killed, and General Ord severely, though
not dangerously, wounded. General Heckman as•
sumed the temporary command of the corps. While
the battle was progressing Fort Darling, on the op-
posite side of the river, and the Confederate iron.-
clads opened fire, but they were not within effective
range of the battle-ground. On the afternoon of
the following day, Sept. 30, the Confederates made
three desperate attempts to retake the position at
Chapin's Farm, but were repulsed severely on each
occasion, They subsequently, however, succeeded
in recapturing the redoubt near the river. The
Federal General Stannard was seriously wounded
on this day. On the day following, Oct. 1, General
Butler sent out a reconnoitring force of two brigades
of infantry with some cavalry and artillery. These
troops are said to have gone within a few hundred
yards of the inner line of intrenchments defending
Richmond; but it was deemed imprudent to risk
an attack, and the forces were withdrawn.
These new combinatioes of the Federal com-
mander seem to involve the entire force under
his immediate command, for the operations on his
right wing on the north of James River were im-
mediately followed by a vigorous renewal of the
offensive by his left on the south of Petersburg.
On the morning of the 30th five divisions of the
sth and 9th Corps, under General Meade, advanced
from the line of the Weldon Railroad, and, after a
sharp engagement, captured the first line of the
entrenchments of the Confederates, who fell back
half a mile to s stronger line of works. This posi-
tion was then attacked by the Federals, and dome
very desperate fighting ensued, during which the
Federals sustained more severe losses than were at
first reported. The Confederates charged suddenly
through a gap between the sth and 9th Corps, and
flanked the first division of the 9th Corps, captur-
ing from 1,000 to 1,200 prisoners, the entire
Federal loss being estimated at about 2,000. The
Confederates lost lightly, as they fought mostly
behind breastworks. It being ascertained that the
position could only be carried at a fearful loss of
life, it was determined not to assault it, and the
troops fell back to the line they had captured, and
strongly intrenched themselves. On the afternoon
of the following day, Oct. 1, the Confederates at.
tacked Ayre's division, but were handsomely re-
pulsed. This, and a demonstration against Gregg's
cavalry on the Vaughan Road, to the left of the 2d
Corps, by Wade Hampton's cavalry, which was
also repulsed, canstituted the entire operations of
the day. On the morning of the 2d the Confederates
in front of the 9th Corps fell back to their main
line, and a division was thrown forward to develop
its strength. The result of the reconnaissance was
that it was deemed inadvisable to attack the posi-
tion, and the troops were withdrawn.
General Lee has sent to the Confederate War-
office a report of Mosby's, with an endorsement
stating that Colonel 'Mosby has rendered very im-
portant services to the Confederacy, having, at a
loss of only 20 men, captured at various times 1,200
Federals, 1,600 horses and mules, 230 beef cattle,
and 85 waggons, besides having furnished valuable
information respecting the movements of the Fede-
ral forces. Mosby is reported to have sustained
wounds that will disable him from taking the saddle
for a long time.
A despatch from General Sheridan, dated Har-
risonburg, September 29, states that he had pur-
sued Early's forces to Port Republic, and had de-
stroyed 85 of his waggons, and that Early's army
was "completely broken up and dispirited." An-
other despatch from General Sheridan, dated Har-
risonburg, Oct. 1, states that his cavalry had been
to Staunton and Waynesboro, destroying the rail-
road between those points and the iron bridge over
the South River at Waynesboro'.
It is now five days since any official intelligence
from Atlanta has been published. The telegraph
is not working at Chattanooga.
Mr. Stanton announced on the 3d inst. that noth-
ing had been received at the War Department
from General Sherman for the past three days, but
that it was believed he had taken vigorous measures
to protect his communications. A Nashville de-
spatch of the 4th inst. states that a large force of
COnfederates, supposed to be Forest's command,
demanded the surrender of Dalton, Georgia, on the
3d. No further particulars had been received
Confederate guerillas had captured two or three'
commissary and forage trains near Athens. Nothing
further is reported as to the movements of Hood's
army, which at last accounts was moving west-
ward towards the Alabama line. The commands
of Wheeler, Roddy, and Forrest are reported to
have effected a junction. Beauregard is believed to
have gone to take command of the Confederate
forces in Georgia.
The news from -Missouri is singularly meagre, in
view of the important events known to be progress-
ing in that State. At last accounts General Price
was moving against Rolla, his right being come
manded by Shelby, his centre by Marmaduke, and
his left by Cooper. His entire force is said to
be 25,000 veterans, and 5,000 recruits received since
he entered the State. Nothing has been heard
from General Ewing yet. At last accounts he was
retreating to Harrison's Station, closely pursued by
the Confederates. It is feared that his command
has been captured. The Iron Mountain Railroad
has been so badly damaged that it will require two
months to repair it. Latest advices from Arkansas
represent the Federal forces at Fort Smith to be on
half rations, and forage exhausted.
No details of the operations on either side of the
James River on the 2d and 3d instant have been re-
ceived; but it is rumoured that Lee was making
desperate efforts to get a large force aroand the
White Oak Swamp, and in the rear of the 10th and
18th Corps. Wild rumours are afloat in Washing..
ton of a severe disaster of the Federal arms, and of
the death of General Butler. These reports have
not, however, been traced to any reliable source.
No Confederate accounts have yet been received.
There is nothing further from Generale Sherman
or Sheridan. Confederate journals still claim that
Sheridan has been whipped, and forced to adopt
the defensive,
There are no later advices from Missouri, but it
is rumoured that Price is going to make an attack
upon St. Louis with his entire force. The defences
of the city are strong, and are fully garrisoned.
Gen, Gillem reports that he is clearing the States
of Kentucky and East Tennessee of Confederate
guerillas. On the 30th ult. he drove Vaughan's
Land from a strongly.intrenehed position at Carter'a
Station.
The Hon. Lewis Cass has written a letter an-
nouncing that he is in favour of the election of
Gen. M'Clellan to the Presidency. There appears
just now to be a lull i❑ the excitement of the Pre-
sidential campaign.

A SINGULAR WILL CASE.—A somewhat extraor-
dinary will case, occupying two days in investigation at the
Preston County Court, was brought to a close on Wednes-
day night. The plaintiff was a woman named Ann Archer,
and the defendant was a man named Robert Woods. Both
reside in Preston. The action was brought by the plaintiff
to obtain possession of the estate and effects of an old man,
nearly 80, named John Woods. Some months before his
death Woods became acquainted with the plaintiff, and
eventually they agreed to get married, On the 24th of
last May he had a will drawn up, in which he bequeathed
all his furniture, goods, and chattels to the plaintiff.
Afterwards he gave her the will; but in a fortnight,
and before the marriage had taken place, he died. The
plaintiff then claimed the money, furniture, &c., of the
deceased, who was in tolerably comfortable circum-
stances; but the defendant, his son, and four of his brothers
and sisters, resisted the claim, on the ground that their
father, at the time he made his will, was in an unsound
state of mind. The case was then sent to the Probate
Court in London; but as the sum in dispute was below
/300, it was referred back for adjudication to the Preston
County Court. The evidence for the plaintiff was to the
effect that the old man Woods, although of an eccentric,
stupid disposition, vies of sound mind, that he made hi
will whilst in his right senses, and that he had "courted'
the plaintiff, who described herself as a widow, because she
had never seen her husband for 12 years, on perfectly ra-
tional and voluntary principles. Two of the attesting wit-
nesses of the will have stated that when the deceased made
his will he " was not his own man," One of them said he
read over the document drawn out two or three times, and
that deceased would have the name of the plaintiff altered
from Ann Woods to Ann Archer Woods, remarking at the
same time that although not his wife, she would ba "in five
weeks." The witnesses for the defendant showed that the
deceased was for some time before his death an imbecile
The jury did not agree upon a verdict, and they were dis-
missed, the case being left for the decision of the judges.