The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-30 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)

(Per City of New York.)
NEW YORK, April 16.
The New York Herald says the latest news con-
cerning the state of affairs around Suffolk, Va., is
to the 16th inst. The attempts of the rebel Gen.
Longstreet to cross the Nansemond river with the
aid of pontoons were defeated by the fire of our
artillery. One of our gunboats—the Mount Wash-
ington—was fired into and disabled by the rebel
batteries while coming down the river on the 14th
inst. She was, however, taken in tow and brought
safely through the heavy fire of the enemy.
With regard to the news from the vicinity of
Suffolk we may state that there is a good deal of
feeling in this city relative to the shooting of Lieut.-
Col. Kimball by General Corcoran. The letters
from Suffolk are conflicting in their statements, but
the truth of the matter will, no doubt, be received
on the return of the committee who went on for the
body of Col. Kimball.

Our extracts from the Southern papers to-day
are very interesting. The most important item is
the full confirmation of our success over General
Van Dorn at Franklin, Tenn. The rebels admit
that their loss was heavy, and that they had to
retreat after six hours' hard fighting.
Our news relative to affairs at Charleston came
from Fortress Monroe yesterday, on the authority
of the Richmond papers. Everything was quiet
there. Our troops are in occupation of Coles' Island
and the islands of Kiawah and Seabrook in con-
siderable force. Ger. Beauregard had issued a
congratulatory order to the rebel troops in his usual
bombastic style, conveying to them certain com-
mendatory resolutions of the Legislature of South
Carolina.

The only intelligence we have from the West is
the statement of the Richmond papers, of the 16th
inst., that two gunboats and three transports had
been destroyed on the Cumberland river by
Wheeler's rebel cavalry.

By the arrival of the British Queen from Nassau,
N. P., We learn that fourteen vessels from rebel
ports had arrived there from the 16th of March to
the 10th of the month, all bringing cargoes of
cotton.

The following ar© the latest despatches from
Charleston :

FORTRESS MONROE, April 17.
Richmond papers of the 16th inst. are received,
.rom which we obtain the following intelligence ;
All is quiet at Charleston.

The Federals occupy Coles', Kiawah, and Sea-
brook's Itlands in considerable force. They are
protected by their gunboats.

(From the _Richmond Enquirer, April 15.)
Charleston, April 13.
All quiet here. A few blockhders and the fri-
gate Ironsides off the bar are the only vessels iu
sight to-day.

A steamship arrived this morning from Bermuda
with a cargo of army equipments, &c,, for the Go-
vernment.

(Flom the Richmond Eontinel, April 15,)
Colonel L. M, Keitt, Twentieth Regiment South
Carolina Volunteers, has been for twelve months in
command of Sullivan's Island, and for some of the
time his command included the Main of Christ
Church Parish.

The batteries on Sullivan's Island have been in
great part erected and prepared under his orders.
During the bombardment on Tuesday, 7th inst,, he
was actively engaged in Fort Moultrie and Battery
Bee, and between them.

(From the Charleston Mercury, April 11.)
GENERAL ORDERS—NO. 55.
Headquarters, Department of South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida.
Charleston, S. C., April 10.
The commanding Gsneral is gratified to have to
announce to the troops the following joint resolu-
tions unanimously adopted by the Legislature of the
State of South Carolina :

Resolved, That the General Assembly reposes
unbounded confidence in the ability and skill of the
Commanding General of this Department, and the
courage and patriotism of
,his bravo soldiers, with
the blessing of God, to defend our beloved city, and
to beat back our vindictive foes.
Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be
instructed to communicate this resolution to Gen.
Beauregard.

Soldiers! the eyes of your countrymen are now
turned upon you on the eve of the second anniver-
sary of the 13th of April, 1861, when the sove•
reignty of the State of South Carolina was
triumphantly vindicated within the harbour which
we are now about to defend. The happy issuo of
the action on the 7th inst.--the stranded, riddled
wreck of the iron mailed Keokuk—her baffled coad-
jutors forced to retire beyond the range of our guns,
have inspired confidence in the country that our
ultimate success will be complete. An inestimably
precious charge has been confided to your keeping,
with every reliance on your manhood and endurin
patriotism.—By command of g
Gen. BEA:UREGARD.
THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of Staff.
JOHN M. eTEY, A.A. G.
Tha following additional despatch was published
in the New York journals:—
The British steamship British Queen, Captain Le