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

AMERICA.
(RF:UTER'S TELEGRAM.)

News has been received from New Orleans of
the capture by the Confederates of the Federal
steamer Dkna in the Atchafalaya River. The Diana
lett Brashead on a reconnoitring expedition, but
encountered some Coofedcrate masked batteries at
Patersonvilie, and after a sharp engigement, in
which Cipt•in Peterson and sevt-ral gunners were
killed, the Diana st.rre;,deit•d.
A Federal expedition has reached a point o❑ the
west si ie of the Mississippi half way between Port.
Hudson and Point Coupe, and after destroying a
Confedeiate steamer loaded with molasses and
burring Confederate stores, returned to Baton

Rouge.
The Federal expedition to Pontchatoula and Pass
Manchac is reported to be successful. The Federals
bad occupied both places.
The Confederates are building batteries on the
Yazoo Pass, three miles from Green wood.
A Federal gunboat expedition started for Yazoo
River on the Ist. The Confederates are construct-
ing a fleet of cotton-protected gunboats et Shreve-
port, Louisiana.
The Federal ram Switzerland is reported to have
repaired the injuries she received in passing the
Vicksburg batteries, and to have started up Red
River.

Admiral Porter's official report of his attempt to
reach Yazoo by way of the Sunflower River is pub
lished. During eight days he worked his way up
with his gunboats only 70 miles and back again.

The channels were exceedingly narrow and filled

with obstructions. The expedition was finally
checked when within 80) yardsif the point Admiral
Porter desired to reach. He estimates that the
Confederates burned 20,C00 bales of cotton along his
route, besides what he himself burned. Many plan-
ters manifested affection for the Federal flag, and
the negroes were unanimous in devotion to it.
The Confederates have burnt two Federal steamers
on the Tennessee River.
General Curtis officially announces from Missouri
that General Hicks's band of guerillas, who robbed
the steamer Samsaky, have been destroyed-17
killed and two hung.
The Confederates have crossed the Rio Grande
into Mexico, and captured two Federal officers and
three privates. The Mexican authorities, however,
having demanded the surrender of the prisoners,
t hey were all released, except one, who was reported
to have been hung by the Confederates.
The Richmond Sentinel, referring to the recent
riot in Richmond, says it was an attempt to rob
under the excuse of a scarcity of food, as the dry
goods suffered as much as others. There has also
been a breed riot at Petersburg.
Symptoms of insubordination have manifested
themselves among a Massachusetts cavalry regiment
at Bos►on. One of the mutineers was killed by the
Colonel.

The nr,j miry of the PennsylvaniA Senatorial In
v-stigating Commiree in the it rtport declare Gen
C imeron guilty of the charges of bribery preferred
against him.

The prize steamer D )Iphin, c tptured by the Fede
r steamer Wachusset, has arrived at HAvanneh.
steamer Julit has also arrived at Havaonah
from with cotton.

The New York Legislature has passed the Bill
prohibiting the banks 'Tom loaning money on gold.
APRIL 10, Morning.
President Lincoln has reviewed the Army of the
Potomac by brigades.
Confederate despatches state that the Federals,
15,000 strong, are advancing on Columbia, Ten-
nessee, and that a battle is imminent.
A new canal eight miles long has been com-
menced across the peninsula near Vicksburg, be-
yond the range of the Confederate batteries.
Admiral Farragut holds the Mississippi from
Port Hudson to Vicksburg.
Gen. Grant and Admiral Porter have gone up
the Yazoo River on a reconnaissance.
Confederate despatches from Fort Pemberton,
dated the sth inst., state that the Federals had
embarked on their steamers, and were in full
retreat.

Gen. Forster is still hemmed in at Washing-
ton, North Carolina.
A steamer left Beaufort for Washington, but
was fired at by Confederate batteries on the
shore, and compelled to return.
Southern journals state tht►t Gen. Banks, with
10,000 men, has left New Orleans and gone down
Bayou Plague mine to reinforce Weitzel, and attack
the Bayou Teche country.

The New York Tribune continues to assert that
the relations of the Federal Government with
England is the topic of anxious interest in official
and unofficial circles at Washington.

The following are the latest despatches received
'rom Charleston :

•
WASHINGTON, April 10.
It is reported here that one land battery had been
reduced by our forces st Charleston. This, lam
told, is admitted by the rebel pickets on the Rap-

pahannock.

April 10 (Midnight).
wasr e
hMa
suti: tit i o
Nothing official has been received in reference to
affairs at. Charleston, the despatches from the Rich-
mond papers of yesterday being the latest intelli-
gence that has reached sere from any Source. It
this confidence
_ns of
(7ifi,b/c.ehialeilevdaeendsxPit'ehttacytheft6ob.re"etoeflegt furtherhraemnes
everything else here. Some
eto:natelstte
officers are confident of SUCCCSS, but overetnent
is not shared by soni
have access to all the information
subject. there -
18 upon the
thinkers G Superseded
who

REPORTS FROM GENERAL HOOKER'S HEAD-
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
April 10.
The intelligence from Charleston is still meagre.
Nothing has been received as yet concerning the
success of our fleet.

fhe Richmond Whig of Thur2day, the 9th inst.,
has the following highly exciting intelligence

CHARLESTON, April 7.
The attach on Charleston commenced to-day.
Four iron-clads out of seven iu the Yankee fleet are

engagtd.

The firing from the fleet and from Fort Sumter
and Moultrie and Morris Island was very heavy.

- _
The Ironsides was hit, and she ran ashore, but
subsequently get off, and was taken out of range.
At two o'clock in the afternoon eight Monitors

COMMENCEMENT OP THE ATTACK
UPON CHARLESTON.
(Per City of Cork.)

NEW YORK, APRIL 9, EVENING.
It is reported that the bombardment of Fort
Sumter by the Federal fleet commenced on
Monday last.
The Southern journals of the Bth inst. state
that the Federal gunboats and transports had
crossed Charleston Bar, and were at anchor.
The Confederate iron-clads lay between the
forts, waiting the attack.
It was also believed in Richmond that the bom-
bardment of Fort Sumter had commenced.
The Federal land forces would not, it was said,
co-operate in the attack until after the effect of the
bombardment by the fleet was known.
Tho Confederates under Generals Hill and Petti-
grew, 10,000 strong, have surrounded Washington,
North Carolina, which is occupied by the Federal
force under Gen. Foster variously estimated at from
two to four thousand strong. The Confederates
have erected a battery five miles below Washing-
ton, commanding the channel between that place
and Newbern, thus cutting off the Federal com-
munication with Newborn. General Foster sent to
Newbe.in for reinforcements, and several gun boats ,
started, but none have yet passed the Confederate
batteries below Washington. General Hill has
notified General Foster to remove the women and
children, as he was going to shell the city.
It is supposed the attack has taken place. Faster
is strongly entrenched, and reported to be able to
hold his position until the gunboats can get to his
assistance.