The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

of range.
" About two o'clock in the afternoon seven Monitor batte-
ries, the Keckuk and Ironsides again renewed the contest
at about one mile and three-quarters distant, as in
in all probability no obstructions were found, and for three
hours the firing was rapid and heavy. Fort Sumter seems
to have been the object and aim of the operations at that
time. At four o'clock the Ironsides and Keokuk withdrew,
leaving the other vessels to continue the work for an hour
longer. It is probable that the signals from the flagship were
not really seen on account of the dense smoke from the guns,
and it was notuntil sometime afterwards they noticed she had
left. This may account for their remaining au hour later.
It is apparent that the rebels have but little confidence in
their iron-clads, as they did not attempt to engage until our
vessels withdrew. The casualties in Fort Sumter were one
killed and five badly wounded, showing that some good
gunnery was exhibited either at their barbette or through
the embrasures. No reports had been received from the
other rebel batteries at the time of sending the despatch to
Richmond, and it is fair to presume that our wooden vessels
with their long range rifles, had been engaging some of the
rebel earth works.
"On 'Wednesday there seemed to have been no signs of
a renewal of the attack; but of course the rebels had no
means of knowing the intentions of Admiral Dupont, and
therefore they are not justified in feeling very joyous over the
tact that no signs were visible of a movemet t. Twenty-two
Uni n vessels were reported off the bar. Thee comprise
the wooden gunboats, the ordnance vessels and storeships.
The Keokuk was evidently injured—she is reported sunk
tiff Morris Island—as only eight iron. clads are reported in-
side the bar on Wednesday. It is possible that she may
nave been penetrated by a shot, and was beached, in hopes
to repair the damage by plugging up the hole, and got her off.
Such roust have been out of the range of the rebel guns, or

they would have made an effort to keep up such alot fire
upon her as to prevent us from extricating her from her
posi ion.

It is possible, therefore, that our fleet went up to draw
the fire of the forts, to feel for the rebel obstructions and
prepare for a dash by the forts; and that as soon as they
are in readiness another move in greater force would be
mAde on Thursday or yesterday, for certainly the wooden
vessels, with the number of heavy guns they carry, can do
sometLing to draw some of the fire from the forts, which
would otherwise be directed at the iron-clads.
" We learn from the Richmond papers of Thursday con-
cerning the state of affairs at Vicksburg, that the Union
forces are being withdrawn from the peninsula ; that
four transports have gone up the river filled with our
troops, and that the levee has been cut through by our
forces and the we.' er turned into our old camping ground'
A despatch from Jackson, bliss., says that Admiral Farra-
gut is still above Port Hudson with three vessels, and that
Vicksburg will be attacked positively this week. The
stores of the rebels at Bayou Sara were destroyed on Tuesday
by the flagship Hartford. The same authority says that
the "lower fleet"—part of Banks' expedition we presume—
has opened fire upon the batteries, but that they Were out
of range. The Petersburg Express of the Sth indicates
that some terrible preparations are being made by the
rebels to destroy Farragut's ships, the Hartford and
Albatross.

The news from North Carolina represents Gene-
ral Foster is in a very critical condition near Wash-
, ington, where he was pretty closely hemmed in blYs
the enemy. Reinforcements were sent to him on v_esrces
from Newbern, but had not been able to reaohhirn. Fbuo
but at
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examination by the United .
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admitted to bail."
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, April 9, Evening.
The markets are irregular and generally lower,
business being much affected by the continued fluc-
tuations in the price of gold.
Money easy. Gold 47f, per cent. premium.
Exchange on London—Bankers' bills, 161 t0`162.
Stocks quiet. New York Central, 1131 I 'i"
nois, 88i; Erie, 76; ; Six per Cent. United States
Bonds, 1t,4.

APRIL 10, Morning.

Gold, 44.

.----
SOUTHAMPTON, April 23.
The North German Lloyds steamship Hansa,
from New York on th
102 e llt
94n0 dols. for London, and
inst., has arrived hero
with 208 passengers, ,
26,000, and 400 tons of cargo.
The Bavaria arrived at New York on the evEnirg
of the 10th, the City of Baltimore on the mernic t,
1 of the 11th, and on the same day the Bremen Ehlt,,
0
No. 194.
The Hansa spoke on the 17th inst it, 13 :
bark 3D, pendant 83,47, tied ~ --(3 .i.,u.s...sian
Arnoiican ship Isaac Webb. 0— the 19th the

and the Irot.sides opened a fire at a distanceof thrfe
thousand yards—one mile and three-quarters.
At half past two o'clock the firing on both side'?
became incessant, and was kept up until five o'clock,
when it gradually diminished.
The the of the fleet was concentrated on Poet
Sumter.

The Iron6idcs and the Keokuk withdrew from
the engagement at four o'clock, apparently diL—
abled.

Intense excitement prevails in this city.
Our Monitors (the rebel iron-clads Palmetto State
and Chicora) have just gone out to take part in the
fight.

Our casualties are one boy killed and five men
badly wounded in Fort Sumter.
R ports from the other batteries have not yet
come to hand.

CHARLESTON, April 8.
Seven tarretod iron-clads and the New Ironsidfs
are inside the bar.
Twenty-two blockading vessels are off the bar.
The Keokuk is sunk on the beach off Morris

The is no disposition on the part of the Federals
to renew the conflict.
The Petersburg (Va.) Express, of April 8, says :
Since Saturday afternoon last the city has abounded
in rumours of an attack on Charleston. These
rumours were as diversified as numerous, but as
they could not be traced to any source bearing
even the semblance of plausibility they were not
credited. Yesterday early more rumours commenced
to circulate, and as the day wore on they gained con-
siderable credence. During the afternoon it was
stated that a private telegram had been received
by an officer of high position, stating that the attack
on Charleston commenced yesterday forenoon, by
the approach of the enemy's fleet, and that up to
three o'clock the Confederates had blown up one
vessel with a torpedo, and sunk three others with
our shore batteries. This, we have good reasons
for stating, is wholly without foundation. We
bear, however, from a source entitled to the fullest
credit, that three of the enemy's vessels—the Iron-
sides, the Montauk, and another Monitor built iron-
clad, name unknown—did attempt an assault upon
Fort Sumter 3.esterday afternoon. The bombardment
commenced at three o'clock, and up to five o'clock
not a shot had struck the fort or fallen any where
near it. As Fort Sumttr comprises four acres of
ground, and is surrounded by walls of 50 or 60
feet high, we must conclude that the Yankee crafts
either took position at a great distance off, or else
that they are supplied with very inexperienced
gunners. It is not stated that the fort replied. We
presume, however, that the aff..ir is only an attempt
to get the range of the guns of the fort and shore
batteries, or else a mere feint to divert the attention
of cur forces, which the real point of attack will be
elsewhere. Ot course, Geaeral Beauregard is fully
aware of the craftiness and cunning of the foe, and
will be enabled to penetrate all of his subtcrfugcs
and counteract all his contrivances. The Yaukeee
will never give a fair fight if it be possible to gain
undue advantage, it matters not what means they
may employ.
Tha following is the " situation" from the New
York llerald of April 11:--
" The long expected attack upon Charleston commenced
on Tuesday last. In the early part of the day only four of
our iron-clads were engaged—probably three fitted with
submarine devils and one other. According to the rebels
the firing from both parties was very heavy, and during the
action the Ironsides grounded, but got off and dropped out