The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-01 00:00:00

AMERICA,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM,)
(Per City of Baltimore.)
NEW YORK, March 20 (Morning).
The Southern journals report that St. Htlena, 25
miles in the rear of Port Hudson, was attacked on
the 9zb by the Federals, and that heavy firing was

heard there on the 13th inst.
This attack in the rear of Port liaison is snp-
posed to have been simultaneous with an attack in
front from the Mississippi River.
Pie Ginfederates have erected formilable batte-
ries at Gllveston, mounted with guns captured
from the Federal steamers ifirriet Lane and West-
field. Three batteries are eructed on the island
where the city is located, and Pelican Island is

fortified with equal strength.
The Fedecal fleet of GAlveston consists of the
steam frigate Brooklyn and four gunboats. The
fleet approaches within a mile and half of the town,
where the vessels anchor and occasionally throw
shells into the town and forts, but they cannot

bring their broadsides to bear, and have to operate
exclusively with their rifled pivot guns. The
Brooklyn sent a few shells into the town, setting it
on fire in three different places, but the fire was

soon extinguished. The Brooklyn was compelled
to withdraw, as the forts began to send shot from
their 15-inch rifled guns, one of which cut the
rigging. The Harriet Lane is up the river some 70

miles, where she is being iron-clad.
The Confederates are said to be constructing five
gunboats at Selma, on the Alabama river. Two of
them ate on their way to Mobile to receive their
guns and are all to be ready by the Ist of April.
Two are built for rams and three for sea steamers.
Deserters from Savannah report that the Confe-
derates have three iron-clad floating batteries at

Savannah, two of which are completed, and the

third is nearly ready.
Large numbers of troops have left Savannah for
Charleston, and large camps are organised at
Grahamville, Hardenville, Coosawatchie, and Pota-
taligo to resist any advance in those directions,
and to have the troops so that they can easily be

thrown towards Savannah or Charleston, as one or
other of those cities is attacked.

The Peace resolutions passed by the New Jersey
Legislature protest against war waged for uncon-
stitutional or partisan purposes, or for the subjuga-
tion of States with a view to their reduction to a
territorial condition; against military law and the
domination of military over civil law in States not
in insurrection ; against arbitrary arrests and the

•
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act ; against the
admission of new States into the Union by the divi-'

sion of existing ones; against the Emancipation
Proclamation, and the expenditure of public money.
The New Jersey Legislature believes that the
appointment of Federal Commissioners to meet
Commissioners from the insurgent States to consider
if any plan may be adopted, consistent with the
honour and dignity of the National Government, by
which the present civil war may be brought to a
close, is not inconsistent with the integrity, honour,
and dignity of the Federal Government, but as an
indication of the spirit which animates the adhering
States would, in any event, tend to strengthen
America in the upinion of other nations.
Hoping that the Southern States would recipro-
cate the peaceful indication thus evinced, and be-
lieving that great benefits would arise from such
conference, the New Jersey Legislature recommends
the subject to the Federal Government, and requests
its co-operation therein.
The resolutions will be forwarded to the Federal
Government and to the Governors and Legislatures
of the other States, requesting them to give the
subject immediate attention.
A steamer arrived at Port Royal from Fernan-
dina, Florida,-reports that the force of 1,000 negroes
which ascended St. Mary's River on the 9th of
March, has met with a most severe reverse, and
probably been captured. This negro force carried
with it several thousand muskets to supply all
which could be incited to insurrection. If the re•
port of their capture proves true, it is supposed
that Colonel Higginson and all the white officers
who commanded them have been shot, in accordance
with Jefferson Davis's proclamation.
The New York World says it is understood that
the New York shipbuilders decline taking contracts
to build 8,000-ton iron-clad vessels wanted by Go-
vernment, for fear of loss from the depreciation of
the currency. The contractors require the Govern-
ment to build by day-work, to which the Navy
Department will not consent. The vessels required
are designed to surpass the largest class of English
and French iron-clads.
Mr. Seward has given a State dinner to the
Haytian Minister at Washington, at which the
British, Russian, French, and Prussian Ministers
were present.
The New York Tribune learns from Savannah
that private advices were received there that ar-
rangements had been made for the steamers Harriet
Lane, Alabama, and Florida meeting at a designated
point, with a view to an attack upon the California
steamer from Aspinwall.
General Burnside has received his final instruc-
tions, and will leave for his own department imme-
diately. It is not publicly announced where he will
proceed to.
The appointment of Colonel Fry as Provost-
Marshal is said to be the prelude to the appoint-
ment of various Provost-Marshals throughout the
country preparatory to enrolment under the Con-
scription Act, which it is supposed will commence
on the Ist of April. Colonel Fry is understood to
be a man of character and discretion.
It is stated that Government will sustain Federal
justice in Utah. The arrest of Brigham Young by
Judge Kinney is said to have been an arrangement
agreed upon between the two to test the constitu-
tionality of the anti-poligamy law, and to create the
impression that there is no resistance to judicial
process in Utah.
In South Carolina, General Hunter, nine days
after his proclamation announcing the commence-
ment of the advance, had made no movement. On
the contrary, one of his positions has been threat-
ened by a dash from the Confederate lines.
levees, and compelled one considerabletocorrep-emt-
It is stated that the Confederates have cut thoe.
General Grant's army before Vicksbaurreport is also
if confirmed,
bark and retreat up the river, and 9
snefrerous movement of
o f
rtcurrentbantdhoanti hge
viwholeck s
beuxrpge. d t i.An
icdaodle Tennessee, and lend
Confederate force against
the fears of a Confederate invasion
General Rosecrans in
w Generalould poiJohnston'spoint
directly
w whole
of Kentucky.
some colour to
Mr. Chase's
.financial trip to New York has not as
yet borne visible fruits. His confidential adviser,
Mr. Walker, returned to Washington yesterday,
confident that the policy of a domestic or foreign
loan would very soon be publicly adopted.
Mr. Cyrus Field has addressed a large meeting
at the New York Produce and Stock Exchange
upon the subject of the Atlantic cable. Resolutions
declaring confidence in the success of the under-
taking, and appointing committees to raise the re-
maining capital necessary, were unanimously passed.
The news which arrived this morning by way of
Fort Monroe from the Soath of the entry of the
French into Mexico is not considered itnprobab e
by those best informed of the previous pregriss of
affairs. The Mexican forces at Puebla were the
only real defence of the capital. The dissensions
known to exist between Generals Comonfort and
Ortega may well have resulted in breaking up the
Mexican army at that point.
Late previous intelligence from Vera Cruz had
indicated General Forey's intention of turning
Puebla, and pushing directly for the capital.
Either of these contingencies may have deter-
mined the fall of the city.
MARCH 20, Afternoon.
The Federal army still occupies its old quarters